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Containerised cargo imports rise 14% in six months

N19bn erosion control programme starts in seven states

‌154,846 units of vehicles imported FRANCIS EZEM Dikko

Vol. 41 N0. 930 115

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he volume of containerised cargo imported into Nigeria for the first half of this year rose by 14 per cent,

compared with the same period last year.

With the exception of dry bulk, wet cargo includCONTINUED ON PAGE 2>>

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Tuesday, Tuesday,June September 7, 20112, 2014

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Army kills 45 terrorists, repels attacks on Bama ...as fresh troops join battle, curfew extended in Borno

INUSA NDAHI MAIDUGURI

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o fewer than 45 suspected members of Boko Haram sect have been killed in an encounter with troops in a failed attempt to invade Bama Local Government in Borno State.

Also, over 30 of the insurgents sustained injuries during the fierce battle that lasted over five hours.

The fighting, according to sources, started about CONTINUED ON PAGE 2>>

Join forces to fight corruption, NBA charges FG, states P.4 President Goodluck Jonathan (middle) arriving at the Jomo Kentatta International Airport, Nairobi, Kenya, for the AU Peace and Security Council Summit, yesterday.

PHOTO: STATE HOUSE

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No Ebola outbreak in Abuja, says minister FG orders for two Japanese trial drugs Lagos residents decry high rate of police extortion

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2015: 8,000 groups root for Jonathan Chime swears in new deputy governor

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National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Containerised cargo imports rise 14% in six months CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

ing petroleum imported into the country using bulk and tanker carriers and Roll-On-Roll-Off, RORO, vessels for fully built units of vehicles, most other imported goods are mainly containerised cargo, which comprise household items, industrial raw materials, semi-finished and finished items as well as healthcare equipment.

Details of port performance statistics for the first half of 2014 ended June 30, 2014 shows that a total of 509,946 Twenty Foot Equivalent Units, TEUs, of laden containers was imported into the country through the various seaports spread across Lagos, Warri, Port Harcourt, Calabar and Onne, among others.

This represents a 14 per cent growth rate when compared with the 447,388 TEUs recorded in the comparative period of 2013.

The records also show that empty containers accounted for 364,745 TEUs, which shows a growth of 14.2 per cent over the 319, 467 TEUs handled in the previ-

ous year.

A total of 154,846 units of vehicles were handled in the period under review showing an increase of 16.5 per cent over the 132,930 units handled over the same period of 2013.

Meanwhile, the statistics shows that the total cargo throughput for the all ports covering the review period peaked at 41.3 million metric tonnes, representing an increase of 15.4 per cent compared to the 35.8 million metric tonnes that came into the ports in the comparative period of last year.

A breakdown of these figures shows that general cargo imports stood at 5.97 million metric tonnes, representing a marginal growth rate of 1.3 per cent over 5.9 million metric tonnes recorded in the corresponding period of 2013.

Also, dry bulk cargo imports stood at 4.9 million metric tonnes as against the 4.6 million metric tonnes achieved in 2013, showing an increase of 5.9 percent.

The ports also handled a total Gross Registered Tonnage GRT of vessels of

Ebola: RwandAir bars travellers from W’ African countries OLUSEGUN KOIKI

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n a bid to curb the spread of the Ebola Virus Disease, EVD, into its country, RwandAir has restricted movements into its home country, Rwanda.

The airline also said that all passengers intending to enter Rwanda from the Republics of Guinea-Conakry, Liberia, Sierra Leone and Senegal within the last 22 days would not be allowed passage into the country either by air, land or sea.

But, the airline exempted Nigeria from the travel restriction despite the fact that some cases of Ebola Virus had been recorded in the country.

The airline did not however give reasons for the exception of the country (Nigeria) from the ban, but a source close to the airline confided in our correspondent yesterday that the efforts of the Nigerian government to curb its spread may be responsible for this exemption.

Besides, RwandAir insisted that any passenger

with a fever of 37.5 degrees and above from any country in the world would not be allowed to enter into its home country and emphasised that this would be followed to the letter.

The airline in a statement further assured its clients that it would at all time adhere strictly to the instructions from the Ministry of Health of its home country, adding that all measures put in place were in line to prevent against the transmission of the virus.

The airline declared that all intending passengers with it must go through the screening processes for Ebola prevention as per measures set up by the government of Rwanda at all border posts, stressing that no one would be allowed to proceed for entrance unless such a passenger had been screened.

The statement stated, “All passengers intending to enter Rwanda coming from the Republics of GuineaConakry, Liberia, SierraLeone and Senegal within the last 22 days will not be allowed to enter in Rwanda.

70.7 million metric tonnes, showing an increase of 17.6 per cent when compared to the GRT of 60. 1 million metric tonnes handled in the corresponding period of 2013.

The Lagos Port Complex LPC, the nation’s premier port, recorded a Gross Registered Tonnage of 17.4 million metric tonnes showing

an increase of 7.2 per cent over 16.2 million tonnes of GRT handled in 2013.

Tin Can Island Port, also in Lagos, which is the second biggest after LPC in terms of cargo volume, recorded a GRT of 23.5 million metric tonnes, indicating a marginal increase of 0.1 per cent over 19.7 million GRT handled in the correspond-

ing period of 2013. A total number of 892 ocean going vessels were handled within the period.

Rivers Ports Complex recorded a total GRT of 3.7 million, indicating a 7.6 per cent growth over the 3.4 million GRT achieved in the corresponding period of 2013.

Similarly, total of 228

ocean going vessels were handled within the period under review.

Onne Ports Complex recorded a GRT of 19. 8 million reflecting an increase of 12.4 per cent over the 17.6 million GRT recorded in the corresponding period of 2013 even as a total of 425 vessels were handled within the review period.

Qualified Adamawa State Peoples Democratic Party governorship aspirants during a stakeholders’ meeting in Yola on Sunday.

PHOTO: NAN

Army kills 45 terrorists, repels attacks on Bama CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

5:30am yesterday.

This is even as an unconfirmed report revealed that another group of the insurgents were sighted yesterday around Mafa Local Government and Kayamula villages in Konduga Local Government, which is near Maiduguri the state capital.

Our correspondent however learnt that the ones sighted around Kayamula village were killed by troops, while those around Mafa were suspected to be making frantic effort to enter Maiduguri.

This development, it was learnt was responsible for the extension of the curfew in Maiduguri from 6am to 7pm as against the earlier period of 6am to 9pm under the emergency rule.

The 7 Division, Nigerian Army, extended the curfew according to a statement signed by the spokesman of the Division, Colonel Sank Usman.

The insurgents clad in military uniforms and armed with sophisticated weapons as well as Improved Explosive Devices, IEDs, were said to have attempted to enter Bama town in convoy of military vehicles and motorcycles.

A source said: “The insurgents stormed the town through Bama-Banki-Gwoza Road but were intercepted by gallant military troops near the Bama Mobile Police Unit located about five kilometers away from Bama town.”

In the battle, gun shots and sounds of Rocket Propelled Grenades, RPGs, as well as bomb explosions took the centre stage.

Hundreds of residents, including some prominent traditional rulers, were said to have fled the town through the bush and some by road or vehicles to neighbouring villages, including Maiduguri and Konduga towns.

A resident of Bama, Mallam Abba Usman, who fled to Maiduguri yesterday, told our correspondent that there was an attempt by the sect to capture Bama as they did in Gwoza some weeks back.

According to him, the insurgents were confronted by troops stationed near the mobile police unit in conjunction with men of the 21 Brigade of the Nigerian Army who succeeded in repelling the attackers, killing about 45 and wounded over 30.

Another resident, who is at present in a refugee camp at Konduga Motor Park in

Maiduguri with over 200 internally displaced persons from Bama Alhaji Masa Bukar described the situation as scary.

He said: “We are here because we woke up this morning during the subh prayer hearing gunshots around the Bama Technical College and Mobile Police Unit.

“We were advised by the military and civilian JTF to leave the town. They asked us to leave Bama to give them the chance to fully fight the Boko Haram people. So we had to leave. Nobody was killed, no casualty.

“We did not even see the military or Boko Haram fighting but we were advised to leave the town and allow the military give the insurgents a better fight that is why we are here because we don’t have anywhere to go.”

According to him, some of the fleeing residents took refuge in Kawuri, Goniri and Konduga, while others went to Maiduguri.

“We are afraid and scared.

Our people are still coming from Bama. As you can see people are still coming out from the town. A few hours ago, we saw military reinforcement moving towards the Bama from Maiduguri.

Many military vehicles and armoured cars have passed to Bama this morning to join their colleagues in the fight against the Boko Haram insurgents,” he added.

Another source told our correspondent that the road linking Bama from Banki and Gwoza has been blocked. This may be the reason for the success of the military troop who repelled the attack.

A traditional title holder who does not want his name in print told our correspondent that the people of Bama are highly excited with the new efforts of the military in the area and relocation of the 21 Armoured Brigade Battalion to the town.

“Even the reinforcement being done by the GOC now is a clear indication that the military is serious and ready to rid the state of the insurgency unlike in the past,” he added.

The Defence Headquarters yesterday confirmed the attack, noting that it was being repelled by troops.

It however stated the casualty figures could not be confirmed for now.

“Everything necessary will be done to contain the terrorists,” it added.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Tuesday, September 2, 2014

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Tuesday, September 2, 2014

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

L-R:, Director, Corporate and Regulatory Affairs, British American Tobacco Nigeria, BATN, Mr. Freddy Messanvi; Executive Director, Women in Management and Business, WIMBIZ, Ms. Mosun Layode; Chairperson, Ms. Osayi Alile; Chairperson, Funds Raising, Ms. Ronke Onadeko; Executive Council Member, Mrs. Bunmi Oke, and, Human Resource Director, BATN, Mr. Tosin Akinyemi a courtesy visit by WIMBIZ officials to BATN in Lagos, yesterday.

L-R: Assistant Brand Manager, Dettol, Reckitt Benckiser, Mr. Oladipupo Ogundele; Minister of Health, Prof.

Onyebuchi Chukwu and Marketing Director for West Africa, Reckitt Benckiser, Mr. Oguzhan Silivrili after a partnership meeting between the Federal Ministry of Health and Reckitt Benckiser on Dettol Public Enlightenment Campaign on Ebola in Abuja, at the weekend.

L-R: Managing Director, Mouka Limited, Peju Adebajo; Head, Retail Financial Services, Diamond Bank, Aishah Ahmad; United States of America Consul General, Jeffrey Hawkins; Deputy Managing Director, Diamond Bank, Uzoma Dozie and Country Manager, Intel West Africa, Bunmi Ekundare at an event to celebrate Niger Delta Legacy Engagement in Lagos, recently.

L-R: High Chief Folarin Williams; Imo State Deputy Governor, Prince Eze Madumee; Commissioner for Finance, Deacon Chike Okafor and Head, South Bank, UBA Plc, Mr. Tari Ekpebu, during the Nigerian Institute of Management Awards, Fellows and Spouses’ Day Luncheon in Lagos, recently.

National News

Join forces to fight corruption, NBA charges FG, states CHRIS NJOKU OWERRI

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he Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, yesterday called on both the Federal, state governments and individuals in the country to join hands in the fight against the growing corruption at various levels in the country.

This cooperation is needed if the country is to make headway in the next 100 years, say the lawyers.

The call was contained in a communiqué issued and signed by the immediate past president of the association, Okey Wali SAN, at the weekend at the closing ceremonies of the NBA conference.

The conference, held at the Imo International Conference Centre, IICC, Owerri, was attended by about 10,000 lawyers across Nigeria.

The association urged the Federal Government to strengthen all the antigraft agencies in the country in order to tackle the challenge of corruption.

It reads in part: “That there is the need for all Nigerians to seriously and practically confront the pervasive corruption ravaging Nigeria’s sociopolitical and economic fabrics and should not be left to government alone.

“That there’s the dire need for the Federal Government to re-engineer and re-invigorate all the anti-corruption agencies, as well as grant them more autonomy, with a view to ensuring their impartiality and for them to exercise their powers and perform their functions without fear, favour or prejudice and without interference from any person or organ of state.” said the lawyer body.

The communiqué also observed that a major portion of our socio-political and economic problems are caused largely by lack of exemplary and visionary leadership, it therefore advocates the need for national value re-orientation, through leadership by example and the entrenchment of the rule

of law and eradication of impunity.

“Our leaders must develop new visions and strategies and must summon new forms of determination and political will; demonstrate higher levels of patriotism, hard work, selflessness, integrity and responsiveness to the yearnings of the people, in order to deal with the challenges of the next 100 years,” it stated.

The communiqué also frowned that the problems of the country has remained seemingly intractable which requires the collective contributions of all, including the insecurity issues ravaging the nation, especially from the Boko Haram insurgents.

“The lawyers said the challenges of the last 100 years of Nigeria’s existence as a nation, are still very prevalent and would need deliberate and articulate measures to surmount or obviate these challenges; “That the fundamental problem of Nigeria is in

her nature as a nation, the institutions of power and how power is utilised by the Federal Government and States Governments,” said the communiqué On the area of economic emancipation, the NBA opined that all the policies of government should be re-structured to have human face, adding that infrastructural developments should be as necessary and translatable according the human development indexes.

The lawyers castigated the nation’s poor electricity generation and distribution and transmission, describing it as shameful that a country like Nigeria with huge population would be subjected at the present stage of low level of power consumption.

On the issue of Nigeria embarking on real industrial revolution, the conference emphasised the need for the Federal Government to follow through its power sector reforms so as to make power available for a population of

about 160 million people, adding that the generation of 3-4 mega watt of electricity in a day “is a disgrace and smack of unseriousness.”

The association opined that Nigerian leaders should demonstrate adequate leadership qualities, develop new vision and strategies in order to deal with challenges of the next 100 years.

It reads: “That our leaders must develop new visions and strategies and must summon new forms of determination and political will; demonstrate higher levels of patriotism, hard work, selflessness, integrity and responsiveness to the yearnings of the people, in order to deal with the challenges of the next 100years.”

On the educational sector, the conferees agreed that there should be a total overhaul of the system to make it effective and not paying lip service, adding that procedural and systematic governance attitude should be technically

adhered to.

“Governance should focus on technical problems of political legitimacy, administrative and legal capacity and the improvement of public sector management, legal framework for development, accountability through better auditing, decentralisation, policing of corrupt practices, and improved information on policy issues for both decision-makers and the public,” the association said.

While calling for robust investment in the gas sector by both government and individuals, the lawyers advised that the National Assembly should expedite action in the passage of the pending Petroleum Industry Bill,PIB, in order to enhance the legal phramework in the indutry without hindrance.

On the Ebola Virus Disease, the NBA praised the efforts of both the Federal and the Lagos State Government in containing the spread of the virus in the country.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

News

Tuesday, September 2, 2014

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THE EBOLA SCOURGE

FG orders for two Japanese trial drugs MARCUS FATUNMOLE ABUJA

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he Federal Government has requested for two Japanese trial drugs to tackle the Ebola virus disease in the country.

Minister of Health, Prof.

Onyebuchi Chukwu stated this in Abuja yesterday during the 2nd emergency meeting of the National Council on Health.

At the meeting, which had in attendance all com-

missioners for health in the country, the minister said the Treatment Research Group, TRG, set up by the Federal Government over the virus made the recommendation.

He said: “Following the TRG’s recommendation and in consultation with NAFDAC and NHREC, Nigeria has indicated interest to participate in the clinical trials for two candidate EVD vaccines and are considering a third that may be added to the list. We have also applied

for experimental drugs such as TKM-Ebola.

“The TRG has submitted a detailed profile and brief on the oral antiviral agent, which the Japanese Government has offered to make available to affected countries through the World Health Organisation, WHO. “We are now considering this profile and brief to enable us reach a final decision on making it available to our patients.

“Our initial knowledge of the agent is that it has

been shown to have strong antiviral activity against the influenza virus following phases I and II human trials, it is now going through phase III clinical trials; it is shown to have strong antiviral property against Ebola virus in vitro and in vivo.

“These and the fact that it is considered safe, having passed through phases I and II clinical trials, makes it a good candidate drug for use in emergency situations as the EVD.” This is the second time

L-R: Enugu State Governor Sullivan Chime, State Chief Judge, Justice Innocent Umezulike and new Deputy Governor, Mr. Ifeanyi Nwoye, during the swearing in at the Government House, Enugu, yesterday.

Nigeria is adopting clinical trials of drugs against the killer virus.

The National Research Ethic Group had disallowed the use of Nano Silver earlier imported for the virus.

The drug was reportedly containing some pesticidal elements.

In a communiqué issued at the end of the meeting, the Council called on relevant authorities to be on high alert over importation of bush meat into the country.

The Council also promised to discourage Nigerians from eating bush meat, especially dead animals.

The Council also resolved that the nation’s capacity to diagnose Ebola virus had been increased.

Facilities where the virus could be diagnosed in the country, according to the Council include: NCDC laboratory, Asokoro, Abuja; NCDC laboratory at LUTH, Lagos; NCDC laboratory at University College Hospital, UCH, Ibadan; Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital Irrua, Edo State; Virology laboratory of Redeemers University, Ogun State; the Irrua-based mobile laboratory which has now been relocated from Enugu to Port Harcourt.

It said plans were at advanced stage to also make use of NCDC laboratory at Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, Kano; NCDC laboratory at University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital, Port Harcourt.

“The Federal Ministry of Health plans to procure additional mobile laboratories to be based in the following locations: Abakaliki, Port Harcourt, Bauchi, Jos and Sokoto,” the communiqué said.

Besides, the Council resolved that all Ebola victims must be buried according to standard WHO protocol.

It further approved that all personal protective equipment must be procured in accordance with WHO’s specification, and from certified manufacturers and suppliers.

The Council reaffirmed that the chief spokesperson for the health sector in relation to the Ebola virus disease remained the minister of health.

It also reaffirmed the ban on the repatriation of corpses into Nigeria as well as inter-state transportation until further notice, except with approved waivers that are issued by the Federal Ministry of Health.

No Ebola outbreak in Abuja, says minister •Late Port Harcourt doctor infected patient –FG

MARCUS FATUNMOLE AND DENNIS NAKU

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ealth Minister, Prof.

Onyebuchi Chukwu, has refuted reports of the emergence of an EVD case in the Federal Capital Territory.

Reacting to the social media rumour, Chukwu said: “We have investigated it since; there is nothing like that. The person is not a Liberian. The person is a Nigerian.

Meanwhile, Nigeria’s efforts to contain the deadly virus have further been dampened by the emergence of a fresh case in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, which the Federal Government, confirmed yesterday.

This is even as two out

of the three persons quarantined by the Rivers State government, including a medical doctor and a pharmacist have been given a clean bill of health.

The newly confirmed case involves a hospital patient who was treated by late Dr. Ike Enemua, the medical doctor who died of the virus after he had successfully treated a patient.

Since Enemua’s death was announced last Thursday, he has been widely condemned for concealing the status of his patient and treating him in his own private hospital and the hotel the patient lodged within the state capital.

Speaking in Abuja, Minister of Health, Prof Onyebuchi Chukwu, revealed that an in-patient at the

hospital where Enemua was treated after he contracted the disease has taken ill with the virus.

Though he did not mention the hospital, the health facility had earlier been reported as Good Heart Hospital.

The late physician had attended to a Nigerian official of the ECOWAS Commission, Olu-Ibukun Koye, who had contact with the Liberian-American, Patrick Sawyer, who imported the virus into the country.

The official, who was placed under surveillance in Lagos, had escaped to Port Harcourt where the disease is now spreading.

Chukwu said: “As of 31st August, 2014, the total number of cases of EVD in Nigeria stands at 16. The total

number of cases treated at the Isolation Ward in Lagos state stands at 13. The total number of those discharged is seven. The total number of deaths among those treated in Lagos is five, and the total number currently under treatment in Lagos is two; and both patients are stable.

“The three confirmed cases not treated in Lagos comprise: (1) A surviving primary contact of the index case (Patrick Sawyer) an ECOWAS Commission staff who became symptomatic, evaded surveillance in Lagos, travelled to Port Harcourt and infected his attending physician.

“Presently, he does not have viraemia but other laboratory tests for antibodies confirm that he had suffered

from EVD. He is under quarantine in Lagos at the moment undergoing further tests to ensure he is totally free from the virus. “(2) A private medical practitioner, who was infected while treating the ECOWAS Commission staff; he died from EVD. It was his death that led to the investigation that revealed the introduction of EVD to Port Harcourt and the beginning of contact tracing of secondary and third degree contacts in Port Harcourt.

“Arrangements are being made to decontaminate the body in readiness for proper disposal of his remains. His death brings to six the total number of persons who have died from EVD in Nigeria. “(3) A female patient, who was on admission in the same hospital where the late Port Harcourt doc-

tor was also admitted; she is presently under treatment in the Isolation Ward in Rivers State.

“Two other contacts of the late Port Harcourt doctor (one of the doctors who managed him and a pharmacy technician working in the late doctor’s hospital) are symptomatic and have been admitted in the Isolation Ward in Rivers state.

They have tested negative to the EVD but the laboratory tests will be repeated to reconfirm their status.

“Now as of 31st August, 2014, the number of contacts under surveillance in Lagos stands at 72 while in Port Harcourt, the total number of contacts under surveillance stands at 199. There is nobody under surveillance in Enugu presently and no case of EVD in Enugu State.

As of 31st August, 2014, 278 CONTINUED ON PAGE 6>>

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News

Tuesday, August 26, 2014

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

THE EBOLA SCOURGE

Poor response causing needless deaths –World Bank T he world’s “disastrously inadequate response” to West Africa’s Ebola outbreak means many people are dying who could easily be saved, the head of the World Bank said on Monday, as Nigeria confirmed another case of the highly contagious virus.

In a newspaper editorial, World Bank President Jim Yong Kim said Western

healthcare facilities would easily be able to contain the disease, and he urged wealthy nations to share knowledge and resources to help African countries tackle it.

“The crisis we are watching unfold derives less from the virus itself and more from deadly and misinformed biases that have led to a disastrously inadequate

response to the outbreak,” Kim wrote in the Washington Post.

“Many are dying needlessly,” read the editorial, cowritten by Harvard University professor Paul Farmer with whom Kim founded Partners In Health, a charity that works for better healthcare in poorer countries.

Ebola can only be trans-

mitted by contact with the bodily fluids of a sick person but rigorous measures are required for its containment. There is no known cure, though work on experimental vaccines has been accelerated.

More than 1,500 people have been killed in West Africa in the worst outbreak since the disease was discovered in 1976 near the

Ebola River in what is now Democratic Republic of Congo. More than 3,000 people, mostly in Sierra Leone, Guinea and Liberia have been infected.

Poor healthcare provision has exacerbated the challenge. Liberia had just 50 doctors for its 4.3 million people before the outbreak, and many medical workers have died of Ebola.

Shortages of basic goods, foodstuffs, and medical equipment have been worsened by the decision by airlines to stop flying to the worst hit countries. Several neighbouring states have closed their borders and

many international organisations have pulled their foreign staff.

The World Health Organisation said last week that casualty figures may be up to four times higher than reported and said up to 20,000 people may be affected before the outbreak ends. It launched a $490m plan to contain the epidemic.

Kim and Farmer said that if international organisations and wealthy nations mounted a coordinated response with West African nations using the WHO plan, the fatality rate could drop to below 20 percent - from 50 percent now.

Lagos in control – Fashola SUBERU FRANCIS

T L-R: Minister of Aviation, Mr. Osita Chidoka; FRSC Deputy Corps Marshal, Technical Services and Special Duties, Mr. Yemi Omidiji and Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Aviation, Mr. Yemi Adelakun, during a fact-finding visit to the FRSC’s IT facilities by the aviation management team in Abuja, yesterday.

PHOTO: ROTIMI OSASONA

No Ebola outbreak in Abuja, says minister CONTINUED FROM PAGE 5

contacts have completed the 21 day observation period and have been discharged from surveillance.

“No contact in Port Harcourt has completed the 21day observation period. It is expected that a few more contacts will develop the EVD especially in Rivers State before Nigeria will see the last case of EVD. “While it is encouraging that so far, all confirmed cases of EVD in Nigeria have their roots in the index case, Mr. Patrick Sawyer, great vigilance is required particularly at our ports of entry to ensure we do not have cases of EVD from other sources other than Mr. Sawyer.”

In Port Harcourt, the medical doctor and pharmacist were discharged after testing negative to the dreaded virus.

The duo worked with the late Dr. Enemou, at Sam Steel Clinic and Maternity, at Rumuokoro and had earlier developed feverish conditions before being admitted at the Isolation Unit, at Edoha, in Emohau Local

Government Area.

They will, however, remain under strict observation and will be tested regularly to ascertain if the Ebola virus has been completely eliminated from their system.

However, Chinyere, Dr. Enemou’s younger sister who fled to Abia State because of the stigma, following the death of her elder brother has returned to Port Harcourt.

The state Commissioner for Health, Dr. Sampson Parker, who disclosed this at a news briefing in Port Harcourt yesterday, said that she had been admitted into the Isolation |Unit.

“She (Chinyere) earlier ran to Abia State apparently because of the stigma, which people are arrogating to the Ebola virus. We were able to trace her with the help of our brother commissioner in Abia State.

“She developed feverish symptoms and she had been admitted at the isolation unit at Edoha for observation and treatment.

“She is among the 50 high risk contacts in our list. We decided to take her to the

isolation unit to make assurance surer. We are currently running a test on her and the result will be out by Tuesday, or thereabouts. We chose to isolate her because we don’t want to go through the same experience we had with the diplomat, Olu-Ibukun Koye”.

The commissioner commended Chinyere for summoning the courage to come out from hiding.

“The major problem we are having is that some of the primary and secondary contacts are hiding. We are grateful to the operatives from the Department of State Security, DSS, for assisting us in tracking them,” he added.

He appealed to the media to assist in sensitising the public to the fact that Ebola is not a death sentence.

“Second: the person is working for a foreign agency.

Third: the person is a sickler (suffering from sickle cell disease). Fourth: (the person) has crisis; it is not Ebola virus disease. As at this morning, there is no single case suspected or otherwise of Ebola virus disease in the Federal Capital Territory.”

He told journalists that

Dr. Enemou’s corpse and the other corpses that were in the morgue when Dr. Enemou’s remains were brought to the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital, including those that were brought after his body was deposited will be buried in Port Harcourt, this week.

“All high risk corpses will be buried according to the World Health Organisation, WHO, Protocol. No family member will be allowed to have access to the bodies after they have been bagged.

“The families can hold their parties if they choose to, but they will not be allowed to come close to the bodies. We will take maximum precaution to combat the spread of the Ebola virus,” he added.

The commissioner, who said the medical team at the Isolation Unit has four volunteer doctors; six expatriate doctors and six nurses, revealed that all the materials which Dr. Enemou used while treating Koye, including the bedspread and pillow cases at the hotel where he treated the diplomat has been incinerated.

he Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola yesterday allayed fears on the disease outbreak, saying collaborative efforts of government has successfully brought the disease under control in Lagos State, expressing optimism that same could be done in Rivers State.

Fashola spoke while receiving a MTN Nigeria delegation that came to donate Personal Protective Equipment, PPE, for use by medical personnel attending to Ebola patients in Lagos.

He emphasised that the knowledge gained so far has demystified the disease.

The governor, who expressed sadness over the outbreak of the disease in Port Harcourt, another urban settlement like Lagos, stressed that the experience of Lagos and Port Harcourt would serve as definitive knowledge in the fight of Ebola in urban settlements.

Fashola added that the state is collaborating with the government of Rivers State to curtail the spread of the disease in that state.

The governor also confirmed that the state has received the N200m donation promised by the Federal Executive Council to support the state to fight the Ebola outbreak in Lagos.

Commending MTN Nigeria for the PPE donation, the governor said the telecommunication company is always there to lend its support to the state especially in two critical sectors of Health and

Education, adding that the gesture has helped to build the state’s human capital.

Fashola also lauded health workers who risked their lives to save Ebola victims saying,” They stood up to be counted when there was dire need, when there was fear even at the highest levels of government. But in spite of those fears some men and women stood up to be counted. We will talk about them later.

“The health team accepts this gesture and wish to reiterate that whilst we understand and fully appreciate humanitarian concern that propels these things, the real problem is the sufficiency of experienced virologists. That really is the problem; it is not always a money problem. It isn’t really an equipment problem, it is human capacity problem.

Chairman, MTN Nigeria, Mr. Pascal Dozie, said the gesture was as a result of the seriousness Lagos State had shown in curtailing the spread of Ebola in the state.

“Our coming here is very simple. When you see a good thing, you appreciate it and would want to be part of it. We have watched the Lagos State Government under the leadership of Governor Fashola when this Ebola incident occurred.

“We thank God that it started in Lagos because if it has started elsewhere, we would have had a pandemic.

We are here to express our appreciation and lend our support. We had already started supporting their cause by providing call centres, that is the Ebola hot line where their doctors are there responding to inquiries and findings.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

National News

Wednesday, Sept 2, 2014

Power minister woos Chinese investors

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he Minister of State for Power, Mohammed Wakil, has said the transmission sub-sector of Nigeria’s power sector was open to investment under a Public-PrivatePartnership, PPP, model.

This was contained in a statement by Mr. Olawale Rasheed, his special assistant on Media, at a meeting with top power sector stakeholders and investors from China, yesterday, in Abuja.

The minister, according to the statement, assured investors in the Nigerian power sector of adequate

returns and safety of their investments.

“I urge you all to participate in the planned transmission project expansion in Nigeria.

“The government of Nigeria is working out participation of private sector in the transmission sub-sector under a publicprivate-partnership.

“This has worked so well in other sectors of our economy,” the statement quoted him as saying.

Wakil, who was also at Huawei Company Headquarters in Shenghen, said the potential for profitable

investment in Nigeria was very high.

He described the opportunities in the transmission and renewable energy sector as ‘very attractive and sustainable’.

“In the renewable sector, we are open to both independent power producers and participants in the private-public-partnership.

“Whichever area you prefer, you cannot regret investing your money in our dear country,” he said.

He urged the Chinese companies to retain high standard of job delivery comparable to the projects they executed in their home country, stressing that investors in Nigeria needed to maintain high level of efficiency and standard.

“Specifically, after seeing the great wonders of the seven Gorges Dams, I call on the Chinese firm handling the Mambilla hydro projects to deliver a project as standard as the Gorges

dam.

“We want high quality job to be done in this very important hydro project. Mambilla is key to us, because it is a project too long on the drawing board.

“Our president is breaking the jinx on both Mabilla and Zungeru, hence the need for the job to be well done.

“For the North East, Mambilla holds great promise for enhanced pow-

7

er supply and job creation,” Wakil stated.

Receiving the minister, a representative of the management of TBEA, one of the firms visited, Mr. Jun Ye, said his company was ready to collaborate with Nigeria for the successful conclusion of its power sector reform.

Ye said the reform was progressing and restated that his firm was eager to be part of the Nigerian success story.

2015: 8,000 groups root for Jonathan Obiora Ifoh ABUJA

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head of the October national convention of the political parties, the number of support groups and non-government organisations rooting for President Goodluck Jonathan has skyrocketed from 3,000 to over 7,000.

The figure was released yesterday by the Special Adviser to the President on Political Affairs, Prof.

Rufai Ahmed Alkali, when he received the report of the special committee set up to restructure the Goodluck Support Group, GSG. Alkali told members of the committee, headed by General A.T Ibrahim (retd) that about three weeks ago, his office set up an eightmember committee to undertake the screening and evaluation of various Nongovernmental Organisations and support groups rooting for Jonathan for the 2015 presidential election.

According to him, all the officers saddled with the responsibility of carrying out the exercise went to the six geo-political zones and the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, for the exercise.

“I am pleased to inform you that one of the preliminary observation from the report of the team is that contrary to our earlier position that there were about 3, 000 groups rooting for Mr. President, we now have more than 7,000 support groups nationwide all calling on President Jonathan to declare for the

presidential race.

“Indeed, initially we printed 5,000 forms that were distributed to the NGOs and other support groups, but the forms soon ran out and we had to print additional 2,000.

“As I am speaking to you now, we have at least another 1,000 groups demanding to be screened.

“With the report of the Screening and Evaluation Committee now submitted to us we are going to the next level, that is to say, we shall undertake content analysis of the reports with a view to properly positioning the various support groups for the challenges of the 2015 general election.

“We want to assure every support group irrespective of their sizes, from two-man group to 20 million-man group that they are all important to us, and we shall carry them along.

Alkali appealed to the pro-Jonathan groups to start the process of stepping down the structure and operations of their organisations to the zonal, state, local government areas to the ward level.

In his response, the Chairman of the committee, General Ibrahim, said in the course of carrying out their assignment, they went round the country and interacted with various interest groups.

He said the interactive sessions were an eye-opener as it brought to the fore the huge number of Nigerians appreciative of the success recorded by the Jonathan administration.

L-R: Director, Voters’ Registry, INEC, Mr. Emmanuel Akem; Director, Voters Education, Mr. Oluwale Uzzi and Head of Department, Voters Education and Publicity, FCT, INEC, Mr. Okezie Nwankwo, during a citizens town hall on the continued voter registration and permanent voter card distribution in Abuja, yesterday.

PHOTO: NAN

Healthcare policy, a shame -Atiku Chris Njoku OWERRI

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ormer Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, yesterday in Owerri, the Imo State capital, described the healthcare delivery policy of the Federal Government as a shame.

He said the policy does not provide adequate protection for the citizenry, particularly at a time of serious disease outbreaks.

According to him, in sanitation, access to good water, infant mortality and maternal mortality rate, Nigeria was among the worst in the world.

He said even in Africa, “we do not rank well in all indexes, which is a shame, to say the least.”

Speaking at the 3rd Progressive Governance Lecture series themed: ‘Dealing With the Challenges of Building a Physically Healthy Nation Through Preventive, Protective and Innovative Medicine’ held at the new Banquet Hall, Government House, Owerri, the former vice president observed that the ar-

rival of Ebola disease has brought to fore the urgent need to inject adequate infrastructure into the nation’s service delivery.

“We are lucky as a country that the Ebola challenge was brought into our country via a progressive state, and one that takes governance seriously and had implored all services to contain the disease,” he said.

However, Atiku lauded the Federal Government for taking queue from his Lagos State Government, “and far exceeding all expectations in the management of the disease, I commend them as well.”

But beyond the Ebola scourge, he observed, Nigeria has the challenge of providing for good health of the people, adding that a good government exists primarily to protect and provide for the welfare of its citizenry, otherwise such a government had no reason to exist.

Incidentally, he said: “We are not providing adequate security for people

and we are failing to provide good health care and education for our people, as well and very high unemployment and poverty only make matters worse.”

Also speaking, the Chairman, Progressive Governors Forum and Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha, stated that over the years, the health sector had become a source of worry, despite some noteworthy efforts being made to improve the sector in some states.

He said constant improvements must be sought in the policy, strategy and management of healthcare, with the aim of building affordable healthcare for all Nigerians.

The governor said the theme of the lecture was an indication of commitment of all APC states to the provision of best healthcare service on the African continent.

He added that when eventually the party ‘takes over’ in 2015, Nigerians would not travel abroad for healthcare as efficient

health facilities would be built in the country.

In her own address, the guest lecturer and Chairperson, Association for Good Clinical Practice in Nigeria, Prof. Ijeoma Joy Okoye of the Department of Medicine, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, stated that with low level of expenditure on health per capita, “we will fall short of meeting Millennium Development Goal 4 on reduced child mortality and improved maternal health.”

She called for restructuring and reforms in Nigeria’s healthcare system to ensure access to quality essential health services.

Also, the National Chairman of APC, Chief John Oyegun, said the ‘inept’ administration of PDP must be terminated in 2015 by the APC. Only four governors -Kayode Fayemi (Ekiti), Musa Kwakwaso (Kano), Rotimi Amaechi (Rivers) and Abiola Ajumobi (Oyo) of the 16 governors were present at the event.

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National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Council boss, PDP guber aspirant clash over borehole KEMI OLAITAN IBADAN

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he recent fire incident at Aleshinloye market in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, may have taken a new twist, as supporters of Seyi Makinde, a Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, governorship aspirant, and that of Governor Abiola Ajimobi, are up in arms over the drilling of borehole in the market.

National Mirror learnt that when Makinde visited the market after the fire incident, he promised to sink a borehole for the traders, to prevent future fire incidents.

It was gathered that to fulfill his promise, he had almost finished digging the borehole when some supporters of the All Progressives Congress, APC, allegedly sponsored by the Chairman of Ibadan South West local government, Taoheed Adeleke, stormed the scene with cutlasses, guns and other dangerous weapons to stop the drilling.

The hoodlums reportedly blocked the 70-feet borehole, which was nearing completion, with stones.

But in a swift reaction, the council boss, while speaking with the National Mirror, denied ever sending thugs to disrupt those sent

by Makinde to dig borehole in the market.

According to him, the borehole was constructed under high tension wire, stating that the local government had an agreement with the traders that no construction should be made under the high tension wire.

It was learnt that the situation would have been worse if the incident had not happened on a Sunday because the traders in the market who saw the gesture as an opportunity were ready to confront the hoodlums if they came back.

During a visit to the scene yesterday, there was tension between the supporters of the two politicians as some traders in the market had gathered there, saying the council boss did not have the right to stop those working there and that they were disappointed at such brazen demonstration of political bitterness.

According to them, it was unfair to stop Makinde from sinking the borehole for the benefit of the traders in the

market who had been witnessing persistent fire incidents due to lack of water in the market.

Speaking on behalf of the traders, Mr. Rahman Olabamiji, chairman, Fancy Section, Aleshinloye market said, “On 17 August, there was fire incident in this market and many sympathisers including politicians visited us and promised to sink borehole for us. Engr. Seyi Makinde was one of them. Yesterday (Sunday), he had brought an engine and started work on the borehole without demanding money from us.

They were about to finish the borehole when some people stormed the market with weapons and blocked the borehole.

“Not long after, the local government chairman brought another machine saying they wanted to sink borehole in the same place.

If they actually wanted to help us, they can choose another place where they would sink another borehole. We need up to 10 boreholes considering the population of traders in this market. We are not politicians.

"During Senator Ladoja’s tenure, Governor Ajimobi, then a Senator bought some building materials for us and he was a member of the Alliance for Democracy then. Nobody stopped him from donating materials for us to reduce our losses then.

This is very strange to us.”

Also, corroborating him, one of the traders, Mr. Sakiru Aremu, said when the work was ongoing, he saw the council boss making a phone call when he got to the market and later hoodlums came with weapons to stop those working on the borehole.

But the council boss said, "There is no denying the fact that the present administration in the state meant well for the traders, so there is no way that it would stop anybody that comes to them in form of assistance.

Ajimobi

L-R: Ogun State Head of Service, Mrs. Modupe Adekunle; Member (South West) Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Prof. Olu Aina; Governor Ibikunle Amosun; Head of Oyo/Ogun States ICPC Office, Mr. Olukide Sesan and Chief of Staff to the governor, Prof. Ganiyu Olawale, when the ICPC delegation paid a courtesy call on the governor in Abeokuta, yesterday.

Lagos residents decry high rate of police extortion DARE AKOGUN

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agos residents have accused the Nigeria Police of devising numerous ways of extorting money from the general public under the guise of searching for Boko Haram insurgents.

Using the ‘stop & search’ strategy as a cover-up for looking for suspected Boko Haram members, the police systematically extort money from unsuspecting victims, especially youths, on the streets of Lagos, it was learnt.

Lagos is Nigeria’s commercial nerve centre and the most cosmopolitan city-state, hence a target for sharp practices.

Investigations by our reporter revealed that these policemen, mostly in plain clothes, drive around in private unmarked cars or sometimes park at strategic points like Ojodu-Berger, Ogba and Computer Village area of Ikeja.

These officers are notorious for stopping people randomly on the road to harass them. The police search their preys’ pockets, as well as their private belongings like mobile phones, especially Blackberry.

Ikeja is a major spot for ‘stop and search’ on the way to the Computer Village. It is not uncommon to see these men approach

you, wave some ID before your face and and declare themselves as operatives of the Nigeria Police.

Samuel Adejare, a mobile phone engineer, who claimed to have encountered them on many occasions, said the police will just waved down Okada riders and sometimes Marwa (Keke Napep) riders at random to search them and their passengers. “Just in case you were just passing by such spots, you would be searched too,” he stated.

“Others would declare themselves as detectives; should you be carrying a bag, envelope or suitcase, they’ll demand to see whatever you are carrying. They are usually in twos and threes, and would surround you while the questioning is going on.

“After checking your bag, they will ask to see what you have in your pockets, while one of them frisks you from head to toe.”

Not unlike armed robbers, these police men frisk their victims too intimately. They even ask to see your mobile phone, scroll through text messages etc, and if you happen to be carrying an expensive one with some features that need explanation, they would hand it over and ask you to operate it so as to locate the ‘inbox’.

Some hang around junctions waiting to pounce on

vehicles that are unfortunate to be in the yellow line when the traffic lights turn red and accuse victims of not obeying the lights.

Like a bad movie, the officers jump out of nowhere into the front of these vehicles while a colleague tries to gain entrance forcefully.

After reading out the offences committed, they will ask for the driver to either settle them or be taken to the station.

They sometimes allegedly take their victims to any nearby ATM and forcefully have a look at their account balance. They will subsequently threaten to put the victims behind bars if a certain amount of money is not released to them.

Giving his account, Tobi Emmanuel, said policemen stopped him around Ogba area of Lagos while on a motorcycle holding a big envelope containing his father’s land document.

He said on sighting him the policemen out of nowhere, stopped the motorcycle and demanded to know what is in the envelope.

He said: “After the search the police man asked if I was a business man. I replied, no. He proceeded to ask me where I worked and how much I earned per month. I was infuriated and told him that was unlike questions an armed robber would

ask, and that such info was not his business, hence I wasn’t mandated to answer his question.

“To my amazement, the policeman asked that should an armed robber ask me the same question, won’t I answer. But I was ready to pay his station a visit,” Tobi added.

Tobi urged the police commissioner and the Lagos governor, Babatunde Fashola, to tackle the issue before it gets out of hand.

“The police are meant to keep the peace and order in the country and not disorganise our communities and create unrest, sorrow for the citizens of the country,” he said.

Tricycle operators plying the Ogba, Ojodu-Berger are not left out of this scenario as they allege series of harassment and extortion in the hands of officials implementing the traffic laws in the state.

Operators lamented to our reporter their daily psychological torture, extortion and harassment in the hands of the task force officials and the police in the area.

Majeed Akande, who claimed to be a motorcyclist until its ban on highways and certain roads in Lagos few years back, stated that the officials were making life unbearable for him and most of his colleagues.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

South West

Tuesday, September 2, 2014

9

Ekiti govt urges PDP to be focused ABIODUN NEJO ADO EKITI

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L-R: Lagos State governor, Babatunde Fashola; Chairman, MTN Nigeria, Dr. Pascal Dozie; Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Lateef Raji, and Commissioner for Finance, Ayo Gbeleyi, during the presentation of preventive materials on Ebola Virus Disease as part of MTN’s contribution, in Lagos, yesterday.

Osogbo royal families laud Aregbesola’s projects BOLADALE BAMIGBOLA OSOGBO

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he four ruling houses in Osogbo, the Osun State capital, have commended Governor Rauf Aregbesola for his developmental projects.

In a communiqué issued and signed by Alhaji Nasiru Oyedijo yesterday, after their general meeting

at Gbaemu’s compound, the families assured the governor of continued support.

The families: Matanmi, Sogbo, Olahanmi and Olajomo, while congratulating the governor on his re-election, stated that Aregbesola secured another term due to his acceptability among the people.

They also lauded the administration for other

projects, especially the state capital, which has been given a facelift.

While commending the Deputy Governor, Mrs. Grace Titilayo LaoyeTomori, and other indigenes for being good ambassadors of Osogbo, the families charged them to remain committed to pursuing the interests of the town.

They also lauded the

governor for his efforts in transforming Osun State, they expressed optimism that Aregbesola would take the state to greater heights before completing his second term in office.

"We are sure he has the capacity to lift Osun State.

He has started well, and we urge him not to relent in his effort to improve the quality of living of our people," they stated.

he Ekiti State government has advised the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to focus on ways of ensuring a smooth transition to record achievements during the next administration, instead of its “current campaign of calumny against the present government.”

Information Commissioner, Mr. Tayo Ekundayo, alleged that “the lies being churned out by the PDP in the last couple of weeks" were targeted at generating public disaffection against the Dr. Kayode Fayemi’s administration.

Ekundayo, who said in a statement in Ado Ekiti yesterday that the plot would not work, said the pre-occupation of the incoming PDP government "should by now be how it would surpass the standard already set by the progressive administration of Fayemi, “instead of chasing shadows, telling blatant lies and making all kinds of unsubstantiated allegations."

Ekundayo cited instances of such to include the allegation that the Fayemi administration recruited over 3,000 workers into the state civil service and mass recruitment at the Ekiti State University, EKSU, Ado Ekiti, after the June 21 governorship election.

The commissioner, who said that the allegations were far from reality, said 500 Mathematics and some core science subjects teachers were recruited in November, 2013, based on existing vacancies, while only 493 civil servants were

recruited in February, 2014, into key vacant positions in the civil service.

"In any case, what is wrong in recruiting Ekitis into the state civil service if there are vacancies and budget provisions to take care of such?," he queried.

The commissioner, who described the EKSU allegation as a figment of the imagination of the PDP members, said the ivory tower had its governing council, which was responsible for the day-to-day running of the institution.

The commissioner also described as absurd the allegation by the PDP that landed properties and other assets of the state government were being sold to political appointees and associates of the governor at give-away prices.

According to him, as a transparent and accountable government, there was no way the Fayemi administration would allocate land in government-owned estates to anyone, no matter highly-placed, without following due process and strict adherence to the approved rates.

He added that the records were available for interested parties to peruse and also described the allegation that government assets in Lagos and Abuja were being sold as ‘another tale by moonlight’.

Amosun advises ICPC on ‘mischievious’ politicians O Lecturer dies in coma, 17 days after auto crash gun State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, has advised the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, ICPC, to be wary of ‘dubious and unpatriotic’ politicians, desperate for elective positions.

He said such politicians would want to seek ‘mischievous’ means to ‘entangle’ their opponents through false financial reports and allegations, to achieve their selfish ends.

Amosun gave the advice when a delegation of the ICPC paid him a courtesy call at his office in OkeMosan, Abeokuta.

He said as the election-

eering period approaches, the commission would be inundated with ‘dubious’ and ‘ill-founded’ financial reports from desperate politicians targeted at dissuading the commission and mislead the people.

"Though I am a politician, I would rather prefer to be remembered as a reputable elder statesman with indelible footprints," he said, adding that he would not subscribe to the ‘Politics of Fallacy’.

The governor commended the commission for its planned construction of a first office in the state before the end of the year.

He also promised that his administration would

"always continue to be in tune with the rules and regulation of ICPC." Amosun acknowledged the collaboration and cordial relationship existing between the commission and the state.

The leader of the ICPC delegation, Prof. Olu Aina, who represented the ICPC chairman, Mr. Ekpo Nta, described the visit as an attempt to refocus the mission of the commission and also meet with the governor to facilitate the location of an office before the end of the year as Ogun, like Ondo and Ekiti states don't have ICPC offices.

Aina also commended the state government for its achievements, not-

ing that it was providing ‘quality service’.

BOLADALE BAMIGBOLA OSOGBO

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he academic community of Osun State University, UNIOSUN, was, yesterday, thrown into mourning, with the news of the death of a lecturer in the institution, Mr. Wale Farawe.

Farawe, who majored in History and International Studies, had been in coma since August 15, 2014, when the vehicle conveying him and some students on excursion to Oke-Ila, a town in Ifedayo local govern-

ment area of the state, had an accident.

The incident occurred at Oke-Ila Road, during the History and International Studies Students' Association, HISSA, annual week and excursion to Ayunkunnugba water falls.

After spending several days at the intensive care unit of Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, LAUTECH, Teaching Hospital, Osogbo, Farawe passed on yesterday.

Until his demise, the varsity don was about completing his doctorate at the

Fayemi

Police College, Zaria.

He was recently awarded, along with some other members of staff, a doctoral grant, as part of the University of Birmingham and UNIOSUN joint research.

Survived by an aged mother and wife who is carrying a three month-old baby, Farawe's death was described as "huge loss" to UNIOSUN and the academic world by some of his students, who all converged on LAUTECH premises upon receiving news of his death.

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National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Don’t give FRSC money for plate numbers, Ebonyi residents warned ALIUNA GODWIN ABAKALIKI

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esidents of Abakaliki, the capital of Ebonyi State, were yesterday warned against indulging in financial transactions with staff of the Federal Road Safety Commission, FRSC, in the procurement of the national drivers’ license and number plates.

Speaking with journalists in Abakaliki, the new state Sector Commander of the corps, Mrs Anne Abhiele, said that it is illegal for its staff to serve as middlemen for the public in acquiring the materials.

According to her, “Any FRSC staff involved in any transaction with the public is a tout, and should be reported to the authorities immediately for drastic actions to be taken.”

She said the corps wanted to ensure transparency in its dealings with the public in order to justify the confidence it has long reposed in the corps.

“The public are therefore advised to visit the Board of Internal Revenue,

BIR, office in the state for assistance as its office, that of the drivers license centre, vehicle inspection office, are all located in one place,” she observed.

She noted that the board will direct applicants on steps to take in acquiring the materials or do it themselves by downloading and filling the necessary form on the internet, passing their proficiency tests by the Vehicle Inspection Office, VIO, payment of stipulated funds at the bank and presentation of teller at BIR office.

“Old and new applicants are also expected to be captured biometrically at the FRSC office at the BIR, obtain temporary drivers license which would last 60 days and collect the permanent one after the 60 days,” Abhiele said.

The sector commander further stated that individuals who lost their drivers license should obtain affidavit from the court, obtain an extract from the police and then fulfill all requirements stipulated by the FRSC to obtain a new one.

FRSC impounds 258 vehicles, convicts 101 traffic offenders FRANCIS EKPONE ONITSHA

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n official of the Federal Road Safety Commission, FRSC, yesterday revealed that the commission has convicted 101 traffic offenders and impounded 258 vehicles within a week along the Benin-Asaba-Onitsha road axis.

The FRSC Assistant Corps Marshal, Nseobong Akpabio, disclosed this in Onitsha, Anambra State, while speaking at the end of ‘Operation Shield IV’ Special Patrol, along BeninAsaba-Onitsha Bridge-Head axis.

Akpabio, however, noted that the traffic offenders were convicted by FRSC Mobile Court for offences, which included overloading, reckless driving, lane violation, non-compliance on seatbelt, excessive passengers, excessive emission of carbon-monoxide among others.

He said that in line with the FRSC strategic goal to reduce road traffic crashes

by 15 per cent, and fatality by 25 per cent, by the end of 2014, the commission put in place ‘Operation Shield IV’ with specific focus to tackle the causal factors.

Akpabio, who is the FRSC Zonal commander in-charge of Edo, Delta and Anambra states, said that the operations focused on lane violation, overloading and speed violation.

“In carrying out the exercise, ‘Operation Shield IV’ commenced from Monday, August 25 to Friday 29 along Benin–Asaba Expressway down to Onitsha BridgeHead. FRSC operatives (both regular and Special Marshals) were deployed along this ever busy route throughout the period of the exercise.

“All ambulances and recovery vehicles from Benin, Agbor, Issele Uku and Asaba were deployed strategically.

“At the end of the five days exercise, a total of 355 traffic offenders were apprehended for violating 440 traffic offences and 258 vehicles were impounded within the period of the operations.

L-R: Oyo State governor, Abiola Ajimobi; APC National Chairman, Chief John Oyegun; Governors Rochas Okorocha (Imo State); Kayode Fayemi (Ekiti) and Rotimi Amaechi (Rivers) at the third All Progressives Congress Lecture in Owerri yesterday.

FG to begin N19bn erosion control in seven states OLUFEMI ADEOSUN ABUJA

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he Federal Government has said the implementation of the N19 billion Nigeria Erosion and Watershed Management Project, NEWMAP, in the country would begin at the start of the dry season in October.

The project, which is being undertaken by the Goodluck Jonathan administration with support from the International Development Association, IDA, the Global Environment Facility, GEF, Trust Facility and the Special Climate Change Fund, SCCF, is initiated to reduce vulnerability to the ravaging erosion in targeted watersheds.

The seven states that would benefit in the first phase of the erosion proj-

ect include Abia, Anambra, Cross River, Ebonyi, Edo, Enugu and Imo. The NEWMAP National Project Coordinator, Chikelo Nwune, disclosed this in Abuja yesterday while briefing journalists about the launch of the project due for Thursday.

Nwune said the project is targeted at ecological challenges, particularly erosion.

According to him, NEWMAP is designed in response to the President’s request to the bank to support the country in addressing the age-long and yet worsening problem of land and water degradation and reduce vulnerability to ravaging gully erosion in targeted watersheds, hence supporting the country’s transformation agenda to achieve

greater environmental and economic security.

He said: "The operation is an 8-year strategic investment loan of $508.59 million consisting of a $500 million IDA concessional loan blended with GEF and SCCF grants totalling $8,59 million.

“The area on focus presently falls within the high rainfall belt; in that belt, you find that the vegetation has tall green grass because of the duration of rainfall.

“Some of this gully sites are over 90 metres in depth and sometimes in weight it could be as wide as 300 to 500 meters wide; in terms of length, some of them could be up to 5 to 10 kilometres.

“We find that some of these have devastated their host communities, and not

just affecting the roads.

“In that ecological environment, the soils are predominantly very poor and the natural environment and the topography are included in the sense that it is not you and me that did it but nature allows the topography and tomopology to do that.

“This category ‘A’ Project will take a multi-scale and a multi-sector approach in implementation in the initial seven south eastern states of the federation,” Nwune stated.

The project coordinator, who said the unwholesome use of the natural resources in the country was responsible for the level of degradation being witnessed on the land, lamented the poor implementation of the nation's environmental laws.

Chime swears in new deputy DENNIS AGBO ENUGU

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nugu State Governor, Sullivan Chime, has sworn in his new deputy, Revd Raphael Ifeanyichukwu Nwoye.

The event came after last week’s impeachment of the former occupant of the position, Sunday Onyebuchi, by the state House of Assembly. Onyebuchi was impeached for alleged gross misconduct.

Nwoye was cleared last Thursday by the House. His oath of office was administered by the Chief Judge of the state, Justice Innocent

Chime

Umezurike.

Chime, while congratulating his new deputy, said with Nwoye’s appointment, the machinery of government would continue to run smoothly.

The governor said: "Drawing the analogy of a broken down vehicle, we have just replaced a bad

spark plug, the vehicle is repaired and the journey will be smooth again.”

He said the new deputy governor was not new to him as both had served together as commissioners in the previous administration, adding that he was sure that Nwoye would bring his experience and background "not just as a minister of God but as a fine gentleman" to bear in the discharge of his duties.

On how his new deputy emerged, Chime said, "It has happened and I believe it happened in the best interest of Enugu State and not only government."

He enjoined the deputy governor to serve with due diligence and cooperation with the government, as well as the ruling party in the state (PDP).

In his response, the new deputy governor, Nwoye, expressed gratitude to God and to the governor for the opportunity to serve in his new capacity.

He lauded the vision and good works of Chime and pledged his unalloyed support and commitment to ensure that Enugu people continue to enjoy the benefits of good governance being delivered by the Chime administration.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Why we floated N40bn bond —Imoke NDOMA RICHARD CALABAR

YOLA

A Imole

support of the Tinapa project,” the statement read.

It added: “The first bond ever issued by the state government was in 2002 when the first Bond Law was passed to enable the state government to borrow funds to finance the Tinapa project. “Since 2002, state borrowing by bond a lot of interest has accrued to the Federation Account, thereby limiting the state’s capacity to raise funds to bridge the funding gap in the annual budget.

“The current bond N40bn is an accumulated compilation of past debts arising from the 2002 bond and subsequent state borrowings, which is now being recapitalised and renegotiated with lower interest rates and longer payment periods.

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Adamawa bye-election: Postponement of ward congresses unsettles aspirants LIVINUS MENEDI

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overnor Liyel Imoke has offered explanation as to why the Cross River State Government decided to float N40bn to address certain financial matters.

He said the rationale behind the floating of the bond was sequel to complaints from certain quarters condemning the action of the state government.

Imoke’s Chief Press Secretary, Christian Ita, who issued a statement on behalf his boss, stated that the bond was not a fresh debt as misconstrued in some quarters, but a ‘deliberate policy’ at freeing the state of its current debt burden.

“The bond issued by the Cross River State Government is an application to recapitalise subsisting debts in the state. It is not a fresh bond to raise loans, but to renegotiate the existing debt and spread the repayment period over a reasonable time and free up the state from numerous debts accruing from 2002 when the first bond was issued by the state government in

News

Tuesday, September 2, 2014

nxiety is trailing the conduct of ward congresses held by the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to select party delegates for Saturday’s governorship primaries for the October 11 governorship bye-election.

The fears became heightened over conflicting statements by some of the aspirants that the congresses, which were scheduled to hold yesterday, had been postponed till today.

However, one of the aspirants, Senator Abubakar Halilu Girei, vying for the governorship election, is one of those expecting the party congresses to hold today.

"What I can tell you is that formally the congresses have been postponed to tomorrow,” Girei said.

However, the PDP, through its secretary, Barrister A. T. Shehu, said everything was still going on as scheduled, since there was no formal communication from the party’s hierarchy informing it of any

change in the date for the congress.

Dr. Aliyu Idi Hong, a former minister of state for health, who is also contesting the gubernatorial election under the PDP, confirmed the arrival of materials for the elections, even as said he was unaware of any postponement.

But National Mirror latter learnt that there was a growing apprehension by the confidants of some of the aspirants that the delegates list was being doctored.

However, feelers from the field gathered by this reporter was that the allegations in some of the councils that some party officials at the wards were been given delegates’ list which they were expected to only affix their signatures return back to the party secretariat.

Meanwhile, Adamawa State acting governor, Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri who returned back to the state yesterday, thanked the people for their prayers which he said helped him return with their mandate.

Police in Benin parade 68 suspects SEBASTINE EBHUOMHAN BENIN

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he Edo State Police Command yesterday paraded 68 suspects arrested at various points in the state and beyond last month.

The parade that took place at the headquarters of the command at the Government Reservation Area, GRA, Benin City, was addressed by the Commissioner of Police, Mr. Foluso Adebanjo.

Speaking at the occasion, Adebanjo urged all citizens in the state to show more alertness to stop crimes, considering that the rate of criminal activities was always higher during the ‘ember’ months.

Adebanjo said: “It has become necessary for me to invite you, once more, for this press briefing in view of the current security challenges in the country and especially as the ‘ember’ months have

set in.

“The purpose is for us to exchange ideas on how to drastically curtail crime and criminality in the state during this months, and to reassure the good people of Edo State that the police command would strive to further strengthen the security of lives and property, at all times.”

According to him, “the role of the press in the dissemination of information to the public cannot be over-emphasised.

“I ask to you to partner with the police in disseminating these valuable security tips to the general public during these ‘ember’ months. Security, we all know, is not the sole responsibility of the police and other security agencies. It is a collective responsibility through positive partnership with law enforcement agents to expose the infamous activities of the undesirable elements in the society,” the police boss said.

Health officials screening commuters for Ebola virus at Abali Motor Park in Port Harcourt, yesterday.

PHOTO: NAN

NLC warns Chevron over ‘anti-labour’ activities THEOPHILUS ONOJEGHEN WARRI

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he Delta State Council of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, has warned the management of Chevron to stop what it described as mindless anti-labour activities, to avoid another round of industrial crisis in the country.

It, however, called on the Delta State government to, as a matter of urgency, wade into the issue to stop the oil giant and its contractors from alleged ‘anti-labour’ practices that could lead to a major setback in the state’s oil and gas sector, particularly in the company’s operations.

The leader, Comrade Williams Akporeha, made

the call while addressing journalists in Warri over alleged ‘persistent casualisation’ and ‘willful dismissal’ of workers by the company’s management and its contractors, which he said contradicted standard labour rules worldwide.

Akporeha stated: “Labour cannot continue to watch a tactical institutionalisation of slave labour by Chevron and its contractors.

“It is bad enough that the Chevron management forbids the unionisation of their contract employees,” he stated, adding that “the most wicked aspect of it is that these workers have had to agree to the less-than-acceptable work conditions just to earn a living, yet they are being

put on the firing line daily by their paymasters supervised by Chevron.”

He said the Warri zonal council of the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, NUPENG, had already asked their members to protest, a situation he described as a time bomb.

“As we speak, the Chevron branches of NUPENG are on strike, and you know how these things work. It can attract solidarity and escalate. So, it is a time-bomb that government and other well-meaning Deltans need to defuse by their immediate intervention, with a view to discontinuing the anti-labour practices and regular layoff of staff by Chevron to avoid triggering a state-

wide industrial crisis,” he added.

Akporeha described the practice in Chevron as not only a violation of human rights, but also rebellion against the provisions of the International Labour Organisation, ILO. He advised the management of Chevron to retrace its step or risk a face-off with the NLC. The chairman added: “We view this attitude by Chevron as an outright defiance and violation of the rights of workers as declared by the international Labour Organisation, ILO, and articulated in the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights, UDHR, and other international instruments,” Akporeha said.

12

North

Tuesday, September 2, 2014

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

FCT set to clamp down on unpainted cabs A

s the October 1 deadline for the registration of unpainted commercial vehicles commonly known as ‘kabu kabu’ approaches, the FCT Transport Secretariat says it is set to clamp down on defaulters.

The Head, Public Relations Unit Mr. Ifeanyi Ughamadu, of the secretariat, made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria,

NAN, yesterday in Abuja.

Ughamadu said that all commercial drivers were expected to register with any of the recognised licensed taxi operators, after which the secretariat would capture their data.

He said that the secretariat had evolved a policy that would not allow unpainted taxis access into estates in the territory, among other measures.

“We have come up with a policy that all estate

managers should allow only the registered taxis and disallow the unregistered cabs by October 1.

“You know registered taxis by their side numbers boldly written on the taxi. A vehicle may be painted with Abuja colour but not registered.

“The FCTA has directed the Vehicle Inspection Office and other law enforcement agencies to be on the lookout for enforcement.

Any ‘kabu kabu’ that vio-

lates the law will be apprehended,’’ he said.

According to him, the data capturing is being done free as only the driver’s personal data is needed.

Explaining the benefits of the registration, Ughamadu said the data of the licensed registered drivers would be uploaded and made available to estate managers to ensure a trouble-free and safe transport system.

L-R: President National Union Of Textile Garment And Tailoring Workers Union of Nigeria (NUTGTWN) Comrade Oladele Hunsu; Director Port Health Services, Federal Ministry of Health, Dr.Sani Gwarzo and President NLC Comrade Abdul Waheed Omar, at One-Day Sensitisation Workshop on Ebola Virus Disease organised by NUTGTWN in Kaduna yesterday.

Niger-East bye-election: Stakeholders decry voters’ disenfranchisement PRISCILLA DENNIS MINNA

F

ollowing last Saturday’s inconclusive Niger East bye-election, political stakeholders in the state have decried the situation whereby voters could not vote due to ‘frivolous reasons’ given by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC. In a press statement

signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Israel A. Ebije, the Niger State Governor, Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu, said after assessing the conduct of the exercise, it left much to be desired.

He cautioned INEC against misconduct, adding that members of the National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, should be properly educated on how to go about accreditations before voting.

According to Ebije, the governor, at a meeting with stakeholders that comprised commissioners, Special Advisers, Director– Generals, chairmen, heads and members of Boards of Parastatals unanimously agreed that the timing for last Saturday’s poll accreditation was too short, though the election was peaceful, and urged all Nigerlites to further conduct themselves

peacefully in next Saturday’s re-run poll.

Ballot to fill the vacant Niger East Senatorial seat following the death of Senator Awaisu Kuta had last Saturday witnessed the cancellation of results from Bosso, Chanchaga, Munya, Paikoro, Rafi and Shiroro local government areas. But results announced had PDP leading with 89,640 votes as against APC’s 84,689 votes.

Southern Katsina moves to realise guber ambition JAMES DANJUMA KATSINA

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he clamour by southern Katsina for one of its citizens to emerge as governor intensified yesterday, with the setting up of a consultative forum by retired and working senior civil servants in the state.

The organization, known as ‘Funtua Indi-

genes Civil Servants Forum’, whose membership comprise people from the southern part of the state, want the next state governor to come from the senatorial zone.

All the governors the state has had, including the incumbent Ibrahim Shema, late Musa Yar’Adua, and Sadiu Barda came from Katsina senatorial zone, with their deputies

from the southern part of the state.

Before now, several past and present political office holders from the zone had called for change of baton so other zones could be given opportunity to become the governor.

But the forum, as a way to achieve its objective, has commenced moves to secure more members and ensure “adequate contacts

with notable politicians, traditional and community leaders, wealthy individuals and public and private office holders from the zone,” according to a source.

Speaking on condition of anonymity because of his civil servant status, one of the forum’s top members said the zone for ‘no apparent reason’, has been ‘marginalised for years’.

“We regulate transport in the FCT; I do not think any hospital, hotel or company will stop a driver who is duly registered and licensed from entering its premises.

“There are a lot of benefits for using registered vehicles because their identity and personal information is known. It will curb crime and illegal activities,’’ he said.

He listed the licensed operators for taxis as NURTW Mass Transit Ltd, Painted Abuja Taxi (PAT), Self-Employed Commercial Drivers Association (SECDA), Road Transport Employers Association and SURE-P Taxis.

Reacting to the order, a cross section of the drivers who spoke with NAN, said the plan would impact negatively on their business, noting that operating with unpainted cars was profitable and prestigious.

One of the operators, Mr Ojonugba Ogboji, appealed to the government to be considerate.

“Operating unpainted taxi gives more patronage and reputation both to the passenger and driver than operating painted taxis.

“Most top officials and rich men use unpainted taxis a lot because of its privacy, luxury and comfort,” Ogboji said.

Meanwhile, the Secretary, National Union of Road Transport Workers, NURTW, Mass Transit Company Ltd., one of the licensed operators, Mr Lawrence Fadipe, said all the FCT licensed operators had agreed to comply with the order.

“Before that time, the secretariat will put in place a task force because 75 per cent of ‘kabu kabu’ in Abuja are being operated by civil servants,” he said.

Fadipe said to register with NURTW Company, the driver would pay N4, 000 to be a member after which he would be issued an Identity card and a form for data capturing at the FCT Transport Secretariat.

Kano: Intending pilgrims complain over delayed visas for hajj

I

ntending pilgrims from Kano State have called on the Federal Government to prevail on the Saudi Arabian authorities to enable the Saudi Consulate commence the issuance of visas to pilgrims.

Some of the pilgrims, who spoke to the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, in Kano yesterday, said the call was necessary in order to facilitate the issuance of the document.

NAN recalls that the Kano State Pilgrims Welfare Board forwarded 3, 724 passports to Saudi Consulate in Kano on Aug. 25.

The pilgrims, who expressed concern over the delay in the issuance of the document, said it could affect the entire Hajj operation.

One of the pilgrims, Alhaji Abdullahi Umar said the there was an urgent need for the Federal

Government to intervene in the issue so as to enable prospective pilgrims perform the Hajj.

Another intending pilgrim, Alhaji Abashe Musa, urged the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria, NAHCON, to do everything possible to ensure that the visas were issued to the pilgrims.

He said it was to enable them to perform the Hajj this year.

“I wonder what is causing the delay. The airlift of intending pilgrims is scheduled for Sept. 6’’, he said.

The Public Relations Officer of the State Pilgrims Welfare Board, Alhaji Nuhu Badamasi, said the Saudi Consulate was yet to issue a single visa in Kano.

He said that the passports which were sent to the consulate on August 25, were still unattended.

Tuesday, September 2, 2014

SUPER TUESDAY

13

Politics

Empowerment initiatives derail focus of governance –Rep. Etta

Reps lost cohesion a year ago, says Yusuf

43

14 Given recent call by 25 registered political parties in Nigeria to outlaw cross-carpeting by elective office holders, EBERE NDUKWU examines the defection of political office holders in Nigeria from one party to the other.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Curtailing cross-carpeting by elected politicians

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head of the 2015 general elections in Nigeria, many political leaders believe that the continuous cross-carpeting among elected political office holders in the country if not checked, may have negative implication to the country’s nascent democracy.

In a move to put an end to incessant cross-carpeting from one party to the other among elected political office holders in the country, the Inter-Party Advisory Council, IPAC, an association of 25 registered political parties in Nigeria, recently called on the National Assembly to outlaw cross-carpeting by politicians from the political party on which platform they win elections to other political parties.

This was the fallout of position papers presented by stakeholders in the Nigerian electoral system during a one-day House of Representatives Committee on Electoral Matters’ public hearing on the amendment of the 2010 Electoral Act. IPAC chairman, Dr Yunusa Tanko, who doubles as National Chairman of the National Conscience Party, NCP, said that the decision was unanimously taken after a meeting of the political parties.

This was coming as the just concluded National Conference recommended that anyone who got elected into office and later dumped the party which gave him ticket without any cogent reason should automatically lose the office for which he or she was elected.

This recommendation, which is meant to be enshrined in the new constitution, also aims at curbing the abuse of political process in the country where political office holders dump the parties on which back they rode to power on flimsy excuses while joining other parties at will.

There is no doubt that defection from one party to another has always been there in Nigerian politics. During the First Republic, the former Premier of the defunct Western Region of Nigeria, Chief Ladoke Akintola, left the then Action Group, AG, in a crisis rooted more in personality clash and personal principles of the need for him to move the Yoruba people into the Nigeria’s mainstream politics.

There was also the case of Dr. Kingsley Mbadiwe, who defected from the political fold of late great political philosopher, Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe, the National Council of Nigerian Citizens, NCNC, to form his political party, the Democratic Party of Nigeria, DPN, in the 1950s based on disagreement with the party leaders.

Also in the old Ondo State in the Second Republic, late Chief Akin Omoboriowo, the then deputy governor of Unity Party of Nigeria, UPN, government of late Chief Adekunle Ajasin defected to join the defunct National Party of Nigeria, NPN, and became its gubernatorial candidate.

What was usually witnessed in Nigerian political arena then was the occasional parliamentarian crosscarpeting; but the situation is entirely different now. It appears the country’s political scene has at the moment, taken the shape of a debilitating virus, threatening the very fabrics of Nigerian nascent democracy.

From 1999 to date, several politicians at the local, state and federal levels always defect from one political party

TOP STORY Jonathan

Tinubu

to the other, with some abandoning the parties on whose platform they were elected, while others after losing elections found cross-carpeting the best option to further their political goals.

Although defection has been part of the country’s political scene over the years, but the rate at which political office holders and party members defect these days call for concern. Not in the history of the country has it recorded the number of elected political office holders defecting from one party to the other since the return of

civilian rule in 1999.

Last year, five Peoples Democratic Party, PDP governors, former governor Murtala Nyako, Adamawa; Abdulfatah Ahmed, Kwara; Rabiu Kwankwaso, Kano; Aliyu Wammako, Sokoto and Chibuike Amaechi of Rivers all defected to the All progressives Congress, APC. Also to defect to APC is the governor of Imo State, Rochas Okorocha, from the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA. There is also the case of 11 PDP senators, Senator Bukola Saraki, Kwara Central; Umaru Dahiru, Sokoto Sout;, Magnus Ngei Abe, Rivers South; Wilson Asinobi Ake; Rivers West, Bindawa Muhammed Jibrilla, Adamawa North; Mohammed Danjuma Goje; Gombe Central, Aisha Jummai Alhassan, Taraba North; Mohammed Ali Ndume, Borno South; Mohammed Shaba Lafiaji, Kwara North; Abdulahi Adamu, Nasarawa Wes and Ibrahim Abdullahi Gobir, Sokoto East.

This is not forgetting the 37 members of the House of Representatives who also defected from PDP to APC, with 11 of them from Kano, 10 from Sokoto, eight from Rivers, six from Kwara, one member apiece from Katsina and Bauchi states, before five of them; Hons. Ladan Shehu Bichi and Abdulsalam Adamu from Kano State, Sani Umar Dangaladima and Shehu Gusau from Zamfara State and Umar Bature from Sokoto defected back to PDP. And till this moment, defection of political office holders from one party to the other has continued to make headlines in national dailies with the most recent CONTINUED ON PAGE 45

NATIONAL CONFERENCE RECOMMENDED THAT ANYONE WHO GOT ELECTED INTO OFFICE AND LATER DUMPED THE PARTY WHICH GAVE HIM TICKET WITHOUT ANY COGENT REASON SHOULD AUTOMATICALLY LOSE THE OFFICE FOR WHICH HE OR SHE WAS ELECTED

14

Politics

Nigerians are worried that when you come back from recess you will be more pre-occupied with reelection and probably abandon legislative work?

I don’t think we will abandon our legislative work, but I will not lie to you that there will be politics. Nigerians too should expect those who want to seek office to play politics, however, do we now do that at the expense of national interest? Do we reduce national issue to politics? That is where some of us will stand and say no? However, some persons might not be on the floor as they used to be, you can’t take that away from them, because the constituents will not understand that you have to be regular on the floor, to them if you want our votes, we need to see you.

It took me some time to balance my activities in the House and as well get to my people, because I hate missing sessions, even committee meetings. We have not matured politically to that level yet, that if you are sending someone to represent you, you should allow the person to do the job and I believe with time, we will get there. For example, I don’t like switching off my phone, but if I am in the chamber and my phone is on and someone called like two to three times, the next thing the person will assume is that he is in House of Representatives and he can’t pick call again, forgetting that at that particular time, I have an assignment I’ve swore to carry out, so, I began to think of switching off my phone during sitting. I am using myself as an example of what everybody is going through.

Yes, if we return, definitely there is going to be politics, let’s not deceive ourselves, even right now politics is going on, my colleagues are in their constituencies, because those who want to run against you are already on the field and unfortunately, it is natural that those who are outside will have bigger advantage, people tend to believe that whoever is here have a bag load of money, we still see politics as go and chop your own and let me chop my own.

What can you say about the 2014 budget implementation?

It is not different from what it used to be; some of us have advocated for the amendment of Procurement Act, because it’s a bit cumbersome, it takes you minimum of six months to go through the process of procurement, if you really want to go by the law. It was made that way to check certain excesses, but we all know that it is not the law, it is the individual, it is not how effective the law is, it is the commitment of the actors to observe the rules. In as much as it was meant to serve certain good interest, it delays a lot of things.

What can you say about the present House of Representatives in the last three years?

The last three years of the present House, in comparison to the previous House, by privilege of the records I’ve seen, this House has done creditably well, better than the past House. It is natural that the glory of the latter should be greater than the formal, there should be improvement and I think reasonably, we have not failed in that direction and looking at the happenings in the polity. I think we have responded positively, when there was need for us to be heard, we are heard, when there was need for us to be a bit docile, we are docile. We might not have achieved all the set goals we set to achieve, but reasonably, the House has fared well.

What do you think the House should have done differently?

Some of us did tried, but we assume foolishly that it was possible to insulate the House from the crisis of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and we made efforts to allow the gladiators sort themselves and come to reasonable conclusion, because I could remember, I told some of our colleagues that none of us were part of the equation that brought the crisis, our interests were not considered, it wasn’t about Nigeria, it was about ambition, so, you feel comfortable when you think what you desire is been satisfied. We tried but we failed and sincerely we lost our cohesion, I must say that the House at the initial stage was united, we take issues as it were, yes, some persons might be benefiting from those things, no matter the position you take, some persons will benefit from it, if you are convinced that you’re going to take a decision based on the information at your disposal, but we lost it a bit a year plus ago.

Tuesday, September 2, 2014

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Reps lost cohesion a year ago, says Yusuf Hon Tajudeen Yusuf is the Vice Chairman, House of Representatives’ Committee on Information Communication Technology. In this interview with WOLE OLADIMEJI, the member representing Kabba-Bunu/Ijumu federal constituency of Kogi State, speaks about House activities and implementation of the 2014 budget.

Yusuf

WE MIGHT NOT HAVE ACHIEVED ALL THE SET

GOALS WE SET TO ACHIEVE, BUT REASONABLY, THE

HOUSE HAS FARED WELL Has the House gone beyond that point now, will you say?

Beyond which point?

Return to how you started...

We can’t return. Let’s not deceive ourselves. Because we must be sincere with ourselves, the political thermometer is heating up, so, we can’t return to it. To me, it is the eighth Assembly that will do whatever is not been done, it is politics and politics now.

How will you assess the present governor of Kogi State, Idris Wada?

I must be sincere with you, I am really impressed. In his assessment, if you look at him in relative to state A or B, you might not have the full picture; I am a Kogi man and I have the privilege of knowing what is in Kogi State. I know states that have monthly allocation of about N16 to N19 billion, Kogi State has an average of N3.5 billion monthly allocations with salary payment of about N2.7 billion. Though a lot of us complained about the slowness initially, but the governor has proved that he knows what he is doing, maybe because of his profession as a pilot, he understands that you don’t take off without proper preparation. He has been able to source some funds and I am quite impressed. Like some of the things he did, he entered into agreement with the Stock Exchange, and whatever project he wants to do,

the contractor liaise with the Stock Exchange, which pays directly for job donw. The Kogi House in Abuja here, I am very sure that that building wouldn’t have cost anything less than twice the amount if it were to be other states, N2.4 billion for a ten-storey building. Because those who are providing the fund are paying directly to the contractor and they are managing the building for like 10 years to recoup their money, so he has realised the limitation and he has sat down put on his thinking cap and come up with ingenuity on how best to transform the state to enviable level and I can tell you that he is moving in the right direction, I am fully impressed and I will support him.

The opposition, All Progressives Congress, APC, seems to be making inroad to reclaim Kogi State come 2015, do you feel threatened?

Inroad? They are losing ground every day. The former governor of Kogi State, Prince Abubakar Audu, said publicly here that it is not about politics, he confessed that this government is doing very well, he publicly admitted that in the history of Kogi State, we have never had a governor like this, that carries everybody along. You know one thing about opposition, they only function in the press, and they are not on ground. To the best of my knowledge, Kogi State is solidly a PDP state and we are consolidating every day.

Come 2015 elections, what should your constituents expect from you?

What do they expect from me? I expect them to revalidate my mandate. They can assess me within the last three years that I have been here. When I was coming here, I did promise them what they should expect from me, the last time I checked, I printed out my manifesto and from my checks, what was remaining is my promise on primary health, and by the grace of God before the end of the seventh session, I will deliver on my promise to my constituents. I am not in the executive, I am a legislator, I made pledges in certain areas and to the glory of God, I have delivered. I am not God.

Tuesday, September 2, 2014

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

15

A PUBLICATION OF NATIONAL MIRROR NEWSPAPERS

L-R: Commandant-General, Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, Dr. Ade Abolurin; Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Kenneth Minimah; Edo State Governor Adams Oshiomhole and Commandant, Nigerian Army School of Supply and Transport, Maj.-Gen. E.T Nienge, during a courtesy visit to the governor in Benin City on Friday.

Soldiers thwart peace meeting in Peremabiri OSAHON JULIUS YENAGOA

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here is palpable tension in Bayelsa oil Community at the weekend as Soldiers of the Joint Military Task Force (JTF) thwarted a peace meeting called by elders and indigenes of the community over a lingering leadership crises The elders and indigenes of Peremabiri community in Southern Ijaw local government area of Bayelsa State showed signs of anger over an order by Soldiers attached to the Joint Military Task Force code named Operation Pulo Shield stopping them from visiting their communities.

The angry indigenes of Peremabiri community,who had left Yenagoa in five speedboats, were on their way to a meeting initiated by the state government for all stakeholders in the community to support the dissolution of the Community Development Committee (CDC) and resolve the lingering crisis in the community.

While some indigenes are interested in the alleged self succession plan of the incumbent chairman of the CDC,Progress Neverdie, due to the reported N5million monthly fund from the Nigerian Agip Oil Company (NAOC) and the support from the Local Government Council leadership, others argued that

the use of soldiers to thwart the Peace meeting in Peremabiri Community was to stop the implementation of the peace deal brokered by the out-gone State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Hilary Opara, They said that the CDC leadership should be dissolved and handed over to the elders as well as put in place an interim administration of nine persons for one month to streamline issues.

An indigene of Peremabiri community, Chief Clifford Ogoro, who confirmed the development, said they had no choice but to return to Yenagoa in the interest of peace since they were informed by operatives of the Joint Task Force that denied them access to the community that the same meeting they were to attend had been held at 8am.

Lamenting the action of the soldiers he said, :”I am an indigene of Peremabiri resident in Port Harcourt, we were mandated by representatives of the governor and commissioner of police in respect of an issue concerning two contending factions in Peremabiri.

“In the course of our several meetings before the commissioner of police, it was agreed that the two factions will meet at Peremabiri to forge a way forward so as to maintain peace and harmony in the community.

“So, this morning the commissioner for local government and

chieftaincy affairs came to the police to make arrangement for security including two gunboats.

This arrangement was made and the faction in Yenagoa, the police and the mediator, which of course I am one of them left for Preemabiri.”

He added that because the boats were moving at same pace they had to stop at Ikeinbiri community and wait for the police gunboats to escort them to Peremabiri so as not to cause fear in the community.

He however explained that

as they were waiting for the police gunboats to arrive and lead them to Peremabiri, a boat came and stopped them, apparently on surveillance, stressing that few minutes later soldiers led by a lieutenant came in two military gunboats to interrogate them.

The soldiers, he said, alleged that since they were on clandestine mission they would not allow them to go.At this point, he said, he called the commissioner for local government and chieftaincy affairs to notify him

of the situation when the police gunboats that was to escort them also arrived the scene.

“When the soldiers saw the the gunboats detailed to accompany us they insisted that we go with only four persons. The lieutenant also told us that the meeting scheduled for the two groups had already been held at 8am. Hence we returned to Yenagoa to report our travel to the commissioner of police and the local government and chieftaincy,” he said.

Tension in Agbor, Ika over ban on ‘Okada’ THEOPHILUS ONOJEGHEN -WARRI

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s the September deadline for the enforcement of the ban on commercial motorcycles popularly referred to as Okada draws near, palpable fears have continued to grip the people of Ika North East and Ika South local government areas of Delta State, saying such move will cripple their agricultural activities in the area.

Their outcry is coming after a recent state government directive to further extend the ban on the operation of okada in the state to both local governments, following a similar move in Warri, Effurun, Abraka, Asaba and some other towns in the state.

National Mirror visited the area yesterday and gathered that banning motorcycle in the area will further heighten suffering of residents who are majorly agrarians and petty traders striving to make ends meet. Some villagers passionately appealed to the State Government to reconsider the ban, noting that Okada is currently the only means of transport in the area.

According to them, unlike other areas where the ban has since taken effect, particularly Asaba and Warri which they described as cosmopolitan cities, Ika North and Ika South are purely agrarian communities with Okada as the only means of transportation in the various communities.

They argued that, although the state government has advanced

increasing security challenge in the area as the primary reason for the ban, the ban they asserted will heighten the challenge as according to them, it will not only swell the unemployment ratio in the area, but will also affect economic activities of the people.

A 60 year old farmer and mother of five, Mrs. Clara Odafin, 42 year old trader, Mr. Agbede Oyaghire, as well as a peasant farmer from Otolokpo, Mr. Festus Eze spoke in the same accord.

In their separate remarks, the people noted that although they appreciate the state government ‘s moves to cushion the effect of the ban by deploying tricycles to the area, the tricycles they explained, will not work effectively as “there are barely good roads for tricycle operation.

16

Tuesday, September 2, 2014

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

How cocoa buyers protested against RICHARD NDOMA, CALABAR

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he crisis rocking the cross river state branch of Cocoa Association Of Nigeria (CAN) seems to have taken a dangerous dimension when over 2,500 members of the association took to the street of Ikom, a community which is the largest producer of cocoa in cross river state chanting war songs.

The crowd carried placards with different inscriptions derogatorily defaming the characters of the Chairman for the Cross River state Cocoa Technical Monitoring Committee, Mr. Patrick Abobor, and also pointing accus ing fingers on the state Commissioner for Agriculture Mr. James Aniyom who they alleged was responsible for the challenges which members of the association have to cope with particularly the low returns in the industry as a result of numerous bottlenecks created by agents of the state government just to reduce the fortunes of the merchants..

This time around the protests had nothing to do with the noncompliant levy from which the association got respite through a court judgement which favoured it.

As if it was not enough, CAN also found itself enmeshed in another face-off with those at the top echelon of the state Ministry of Agriculture’s Department of Produce Inspection over a N20.00 trade union’s levy which the association executive claimed that the state Commissioner for Agriculture has interfered with for giving instruction to staff of the produce office not to issue documents to the Lincense Buying Agents (LBA’S) to allow them lift cocoa beans out of the state for export.

The implication of this is that cocoa industry is facing a glut in the ware houses causing the farmers not to go to farm any longer as their morale has been dampened, now that they are no longer getting something in return for all the efforts wasted to complete the production process of cocoa beans before it leaves for export market in Euroupe. “Why would I have to waste my precious energy in the name of w orking on a farm and now that I’m supposed to sell my crop and get paid immeadiately for the Lincense Buying Agents LBA`s,only to hear that they have not been stopped buying for over two weeks now, why not allow Governor Imoke to wade into the matter to root out the bad eggs creating hiccups for the industry, rather than allowing issues get out of hand” AgborMgbe a farmer from Ikom town

retorts. A situation one of the faction Chairmen of the newly sworned in exco, Prince Roland Obi Enah said had led to “Cocoa Glut ’causing the warehouses to become perpetually stockpiled and filled to the brim to an extent that players of the industry are forced to experience “dwindling fortunes, shallow and sluggish turn around in business”.But The National Publicity Secretary of Cocoa Association of Nigeria (CAN) Mr. Godwin Okwu, lamented that the crises between the state Ministry of Agriculture, and the trade union had deprived the state from lifting about 60,000 tonnes of cocoa due for export to remain perpetually stagnated in the warehouses, following the state Ministry of Agriculture’s refusal to issue the Lincense Buying Agents LBA’S with evacuation document for shipment of cocoa beans.

The Ministry of Agriculture had on August 22, written a letter tagged,Our Ref:MOA/ PD/S.1/VOL/111/323 signed by the state Director of produce, Odze-Okang,Okang for Commissioner for Agriculture Mr. James Aniyom requested all cocoa merchants/LBA’s operating in Ikom to pay what is due to CAN which is N20.00 per bag of cocoa evacuated to account No.1011964473 with Zenith bank.“ I’m further directed that this levy be paid before the issuance of any produce document to merchants please be guided, ”the letter added.

As a result of the order by the Commissioner, no merchant or LBA had been able to move cocoa beans out of the state since two weeks now! Okwu whose association represents farmers, exporters, lamented that unless something is urgently done to salvage the situation,the industry may begin to face recession since they cannot evacuate the ones they had bought for export without a storage facility to store the product.

Cross River state isthe second largest producer of cocoa beans in Nigeria with annual tonnes of about 60,000 and the world’s fourth biggest cocoa grower, Cross River cocoa export is usually destined for Europe.

But, erstwhile Chairman CAN,Cross River State branch Mr. Alphonsus Nana,now Vice Chairman,said that the 20 naira levy was normally paid to the trade body without the Ministry of Agriculture’s involvement which was why merchants/LBA’S had refused to pay.He added that CAN would not soft pedal unless the Ministry of Agriculture hands off the affairs of the association. “why would the Ministry of Agriculture involve itself in

Members of Otovwodo Community Warri South Local Government protesting the alleged imposition of councillorship aspirant Ward in the just concluded Local Government Council Primaries of the party in Warri South, recently.

the affairs of CAN? Has the Agric Ministry become an extention of CAN?”, he querried.

As of thursday last week, the logjam had caused merchants to shut down their ware houses with no one to buy the crop because merchants had refused to buy the product since according to them they do not want to stock-pile their warehouses which already had been filled to the brim due to the non evacuation of the product from Ikom out of the state for export.

Despite the situation, over 80 percent of the total population of Ikom depend on cocoa farming.

But a legal Adviser to the state branch of CAN,Barr. Rotimi Olabode ,said “ we had called series of meetings in a way that we can have a resolution to this issue that is disturbing us now ,When government started meddling with the affairs of CAN,we saw the direction that it was taking us to, the little profit that we had made usually go to the drain.

Rotimi said that the implication of government not giving the evacuation papers to merchants is that cocoa being an international cash crop will suffer price fluctuations just like oil, any issue or area of production like Iraq that is volatile to the production of oil this would affect also the price of oil,just like we see it in the Middle East . This is similar with cocoa as an export commodity .Nigeria is a major player in cocoa in the world market and Cross River being one of the largest producers of cocoa in Nigeria any thing that affects the release

of cocoa into the international market from Nigeria would affect the international commodity and the prices of cocoa. Our concern now is that when the international community begins to get feelers from Nigeria that the second major producers of cocoa, that their commodity cannot get into the international market, this would naturally create fears at the international market. And at the end of the day, it is going to affect our economy.

On the insinuation that Aniyom may just have dabbled into cocoa trade perhaps to use the association twenty naira CAN levy to cushion the effect of the 76 oil wells lost to Akwa Ibom, Olabode maintained that “you cannot increase the levies on cocoa, which amount to taxes on cocoa, if the burden on taxes are heavy,then it would affect the production of this commodity ,then you would begin to experience sharp deals in cocoa, you would begin to see those in the business begin to try to cut corners in such a manner that the quality of cocoa that Cross River State has to sell would begin g to be of very poor quality.

The C AN legal Adviser pointed out that they had told government that the policy that says that about three hundred thousand naira CAN members often pay to government coffers on every truck of cocoa from Cross River state to other states for export is killing the industry as the said tax is killing the farmers rendering farmers impoverished. ”The farmers are not get ting any returns for their labour

L-R: UN.Lead Consultant, Prof.Mike Obadan; S State Mr.Paul Evuarherhe, at the Draft Agenda f

and this is why CAN is asking government to call the state Commissioner for Agriculture to order to stop the unnecessary imposition of all sorts of levies..

However, one Mr. Udodoh, an official of the State Ministry of Agiculture Ikom Area Office of the Department of Produce Inspection refused to make any comment on the issue of the Commissioner`s directive that the controversial N20.00 CAN`s levy be now be paid into a certain account rather than the account of CAN, Udodoh said “ I have no comment on the issue”.

But the Commissioner for Agriculture,Mr. James Aniyom,

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Tuesday, September 2, 2014

17

Adamawa guber: Can Ribadu be trusted?

MUSTAPHA ABDULLAHI

T

he nation’s biggest political news in the past one week is unarguably Mallam Nuhu Ribadu’s joining the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). For those who might have forgotten, the former anti-corruption Czar was the presidential candidate of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in the 2011 general elections.

Needless to point out that the former EFCC boss followed ACN into All Progressives Congress (APC). But in what is now the familiar pattern of political nomadism by Nigerian politicians, Ribadu has jumped out of APC and into the PDP. He did that with his formal declaration in Yola, the capital of Adamawa State over the weekend.

The defection of Ribadu to the PDP may be ruffling a few feathers here and there.

For the APC, the loss signifies yet another deadly blow from its eternal rival, the PDP, in recent times. Much as the leadership of APC would want to wish away the loss of Ribadu as insignificant, the truth remains that with the loss, the party has not lost only a vote mobilize, it has certainly lost about 40 percent of its supposed integrity quotient, with the remaining 60 per cent domiciled in General Muhammadu Buhari. And because our politics is a zero-sum game, the loss of APC is, therefore, PDP’s gain. So with the capture of Ribadu, PDP can now brag also about its integrity bank – that is if Ribadu

still carries the aura of integrity for which he was wittingly or unwittingly known during his EFCC days.

Even then, the PDP that ought to be celebrating the big catch, which Ribadu exemplifies, is not much at ease with this very important sojourner. There are many within the party who fear that APC has just sold them a pig in a poke. For this group, the real electoral value of the former EFCC boss in his home state of Adamawa is yet to be known and therefore, wonder why the PDP must invest time, resources and energy in receiving him into the party. That Ribadu has made it absolutely clear from the outset that he has his eyes on the forthcoming Adamawa gubernatorial election even makes his case worse. What it means is that much as Ribadu would talk glowingly and altruistically about service to community as the leitmotif for his defection to the PDP, it does appear that selfish ambition is at the root of his new political peregrination. Mallam Nuhu Ribadu wants to be the governor of Adamawa State and he thinks that PDP presents the surer pathway to the government house in Yola.

Much as a certain section of the Adamawa PDP whines about the seeming and alleged support of the presidency for Ribadu in the Adamawa governorship race, the national leadership of the PDP must approach the Ribadu project with greater circumspection. The Adamawa PDP crisis has raged far too long for even a casual observer

ONE ONLY HOPES THAT THE PRESIDENCY IS NOT ABOUT TO MAKE ANOTHER MISTAKE IN

ADAMAWA

BY INSTALLING ANOTHER

NYAKO AS

GOVERNOR to understand that a veiled support or bias for one of the gubernatorial aspirants either by the presidency or the National Working Committee (NWC) of the PDP can only exacerbate a crisis that has already claimed the scalps of a former national chairman and the immediate past governor, to boot. It would rather be naïve for anybody to think that anointing Ribadu as the PDP candidate in Adamawa gubernatorial election would translate into a makeover for the many chinks that have developed in the party structure in the state. Apart from the bad blood it will certainly generate among the political gladiators in the state, it carries a more worrying danger of a negative outcome at the polls for the party. Once again, the “Ribadu Project” in Adamawa – if there is anything like that – must be handled with great caution before the little intra-party harmony, which came with the ouster of

Murtala Nyako, is recklessly dissipated with the PDP going to the polls as a house divided against itself. The worst thing that can happen to the PDP in Adamawa is to hand victory over to the APC as a result of an unpopular decision to foist a candidate without any proven electoral value on party members and the people of Adamawa who suffered so much in the hands of a confused and megalomaniac sailor.

Beyond the issue of the electoral value of Ribadu and the high potential of adversarial politics that an official support for his candidature would breed in the Adamawa PDP, there is a more serious concern. Can Nuhu Ribadu be trusted by the PDP? What guarantees have those putting Ribadu forward as the PDP gubernatorial candidate secured from the former police officer? How sure are those celebrating the capture of Ribadu that he is not a Trojan horse tactically placed by the APC to decimate PDP from within?

No doubt, Ribadu has a lot of guts and zeal, characteristics that easily made him the poster boy for Nigeria’s war against corruption in the eyes of many, especially the western countries. But he also bubbles with an over dose of arrogance, single-mindedness and an inclination to sidestepping due process. One only hopes that the Presidency is not about to make another mistake in Adamawa by installing another Nyako as governor.

Mustapha contributed this piece from Kaduna.

Scoring winning goal through breastfeeding BILIKIS BAKARE

B

reastfeeding in practice and application is viewed as a human rights issue by several international organisations including the United Nations International Children Educational Fund (UNICEF) and the World Health Organisation (WHO).The National Exclusive Breastfeeding Rate, according to the Multiple Indicators Cluster Survey, though improved slightly from 13 percent in 2008 to 15 percent in 2011 and 17 percent in 2013 according to the National Health Demographic Survey, this is still very low when compared with the great importance of breastfeeding to infant and young child growth.

Breastfeeding is as old as man and was considered the norm in ancient times up to the 18th century, but civilization coupled with the downturn in the economies of most nations, have fueled the impetus for women to seek for jobs outside the home, hence the growing apathy of mothers towards exclusive breastfeeding. Breastfeeding also significantly declined between 1900 and 1960 due to improved sanitation, nutritional technologies and increasingly negative social attitude towards it.

Phenomenally, from the 1960s onward, breastfeeding experienced a revival which continues till date, probably due to the massive public enlightenment by UNICEF and WHO across the world. Before the miraculous revival of breastfeeding among mothers, a large number of modern day

women had the belief that engaging in the process causes the breasts to sag, an insinuation that is farther from the truth.

In human anatomy, women’s breasts are made up of specialized tissue (glandular tissue as well as fatty tissue) that produces milk. It is the amount of fat in the fatty tissue that determines the size of the breast while the shape is determined by connective tissues and ligaments that provide support.

Breastfeeding is an unequalled way of providing ideal food for the healthy growth and development of infants. Breast milk meets the nutritional and anti-infection requirements of infants for optimal growth, development and survival; as such it is an extremely essential component in the application of effective child survival strategy. Colostrum, the yellowish, sticky breast milk produced after the delivery of a baby and the end of pregnancy is recommended by the WHO as the perfect food for the newborn. It is very nutritious and contains substances that fight infection.

It is expected that breastfeeding should commence in the first hour after birth and thereafter frequent sucking by baby to increase milk production should be encouraged. And since it is readily available and affordable, it is the belief that all mothers can breastfeed except in cases of ill health and defects like inverted, flat or pierced nipples which could make breastfeeding difficult. But with the help of obstetricians and pediatricians, this problem can be overcome.

It is essential that babies are breastfed exclusively for a period of six months and

BREAST MILK MEETS THE NUTRITIONAL

AND ANTI-INFECTION REQUIREMENTS OF INFANTS FOR

OPTIMAL GROWTH, DEVELOPMENT AND SURVIVAL subsequently appropriate complementary foods should be introduced up to two years of age and beyond. It is in the realisation of the importance of breastfeeding that the Lagos State Government has extended the maternity leave of its female employees by three months in line with the state policy of exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of a baby’s life.

Also, the policy is to address the current trend in under five nutritional status in Nigeria with particular reference to the South West region, where Lagos State belongs, of stunting rate of 41 percent in 2008 and 37 percent in 2013; wasting rate at 14 percent in 2008 and 18 percent in 2013 and underweight statistics at 24 percent in 2008 and 29 percent in 2013. This is an indication of increased malnutrition among under five largely caused by ineffective breastfeeding practice from birth, especially as it relates to early initiation of breastfeeding and appropriate breastfeeding practice.

The benefits of breastfeeding to the

mother, child and society at large are unquantifiable. It keeps baby well hydrated and promotes proper teeth and speech development in later years of the child’s development. It establishes emotional bonding between mother and child and helps protects the former from the risks of breast and ovarian cancer. Breastfeeding helps the wall of the uterus to return to its normal shape in mothers that exclusively engages in it. And the society will benefit from a mentally stable and physically strong individual.

First week of August was celebrated globally as the World Breastfeeding Week 2014 with the theme “BREASTFEEDING: A winning goal- for life!” So global focus must be on the promotion and support for early initiation of breastfeeding, exclusive breastfeeding practice, and continuous breastfeeding with complementary feeding from six months of age to two years and beyond. The World Alliance for Breastfeeding Actions (WABA) has considered that everyone in the world should identify one way or the other to measures for protecting and encouraging every breastfeeding mother for an effective and pleasant breastfeeding experience.

Bakare is of the Features Unit, Ministry of Information and Strategy, Alausa, Ikeja.

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.

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On Ebola Virus Disease cure breakthrough

F

or about 38 years, Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) has been in Africa, nay the entire global community, as an incurable disease. Since I976 when its presence was made public in a most catastrophic manner, having claimed the lives of 280 victims in the then Zaire (Congo Democratic Republic) and 151 in Sudan, Ebola, like HIV/AIDS, has posed a serious medical challenge to the world as one of the most deadly diseases known in human history, with a fatality rate of up to 90 per cent.

However, it now appears the end of the EVD mystery and invincibility is in sight. This follows recent revelations that scientific breakthroughs hold the prospect of lasting cure for victims of the deadly ailment. The development, if true, is worthy of being celebrated. The feat may be the fallout of the determination of the global community to confront the health challenge. Particularly for Africa, the prospect of Ebola cure will end the nightmare of trauma and helplessness dogging Ebola assaults since 1976.

The demystification of Ebola at present must have been partly spawned by the havoc it wreaked in West Africa between December 2013 and August 2014. Countries mostly affected were Guinea, Liberia, Sierra Leone and Nigeria. Senegal only last week joined the league of affected countries

with one confirmed case. As at August 26, 2014, suspected and confirmed cases had peaked at 3,070 out of which 1,552 died. Of the four West African pandemic countries, the worst hit is Liberia, which has recorded 694 deaths from 1,378 confirmed cases. Next is Guinea with 430 deaths from 648 confirmed cases; Sierra Leone 422 deaths from 1, 026 cases; and six out of the 17 cases in Nigeria.

Outside West Africa, Ebola cases have been recorded in the Americas, Europe and Asia.

So serious is the challenge posed by the outbreak of Ebola in West Africa that the World Health Organization (WHO), on August 8, 2014, formally designated it as a public health emergency of international concern.

Twice in medical history - the 2009 H1N1 (swine flu) pandemic and the 2014 resurgence of polio – has such designation been used. Its use invokes legal measures on disease prevention, surveillance, control, and response by 194 signatory countries. Complementing the WHO’s efforts through fund donations and personnel mobilization were international aid organisations and bodies like the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), World Bank and European Union, Médecins Sans Frontières, the Red Cross and

September 2, 1998 Swissair Flight 111 crashed near Peggys Cove, Nova Scotia. All 229 people on board were killed. Swissair Flight 111 (SR111, SWR111) was a Swissair McDonnell Douglas MD-11 on a scheduled flight from John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York City, United States, to Cointrin International Airport in Geneva, Switzerland. This flight was also a code-share flight with Delta Air Lines.

PROSPECT OF CURE FOR EBOLA SHOULD NOT DIMINISH STRICT COMPLIANCE WITH AND OBSERVANCE OF PUBLIC HEALTH MEASURES Samaritan’s Purse.

Perhaps, the most salutary effort so far is the promising drug unveiled as likely cure for EVD - ZMapp, an experimental drug made by Mapp Biopharmaceutical Inc. of San Diego, California, in the US. Others include Favipiravir, a drug manufactured by Toyama Chemical Co., a subsidiary of Fujifilm Holdings Corp of Japan, currently used for treating new and re-emerging influenza viruses; and Nanosilver, which a concerned Nigerian in Diaspora, donated to the Nigerian government. Tekmira Pharmaceuticals, a Canadian company, NIH and GlaxoSmithKline; and BavarianNordic (NASDAQ:BIVA), a biotechnology company located in Denmark, are also in the threshold of developing vaccines for the treatment of Ebola.

Possible breakthrough in the cure for Ebola is a tribute to the flexible and proactive inclinations of the WHO, which in the face of grave Ebola threat,

ON THIS DAY September 2, 1998 The United Nation’s International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda found Jean Paul Akayesu, the former mayor of a small town in Rwanda, guilty of nine counts of genocide. Akayesu (born 1953) is a former teacher, school inspector and Democratic Republican Movement (MDR) politician from Rwanda. He served as mayor of Taba commune from April 1993 until June 1994. As mayor, he had command of the communal police.

waived its strict ethical standards for applying untested drugs on humans so that the new drugs could be applied, even when their efficacy and likely side effects were in the realm of conjecture.

Though the drugs might have recorded limited success, for example the lives of two Americans - Kent Brantly and Nancy Writebol, respectively - were saved by ZMapp, even though Spanish priest Miguel Pajares and Liberian Dr Abraham Borbor, who were also on the same drug died, the clouds over Ebola cure has been significantly lifted by the drug. Remaining, nonetheless, are reconfirmation, perfection and mass production.

However, the prospect of cure for Ebola should not diminish strict compliance with and observance of public health measures. Many of the affected countries, especially Nigeria, had had recourse to traditional safety measures like the wearing of protective gloves and suits for health care workers, personal hygiene (like frequent washing of hands, etc.), isolating the sick, educating affected communities, supplying antibiotics and promoting alternatives to dangerous cultural practices (like close handling of the newly dead). These measures are believed to have assisted in containing the spread of the disease so far. They should be encouraged the more.

September 2, 2013 The new eastern span of the San Francisco–Oakland Bay Bridge opened to traffic, being the widest bridge in the world. It is a complex of bridges spanning San Francisco Bay in California. As part of ‘Interstate 80’ and the direct road between San Francisco and Oakland, it carries about 240,000 vehicles a day on its two decks. It has one of the longest spans in the United States.

The toll bridge was conceived as early as the ‘gold rush’ days.

Business Tuesday, September 2, 2014

Why we embarked on power sector reforms –Amadi

21

Stakeholders differ over incentives to airlines flying ‘unpopular’ routes

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Local players can utilise partnership with foreign insurers –ILAN Presidsent

33

31

Unhealthy competition on the rise in $10bn beer industry

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

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The battle between alcoholic beverages manufacturers for a bigger share of consumers wallets has intensified in recent times with fringe players accusing the market giants of de-marketing, unwholesome market practices, intimidation of salesmen, and in some cases outright bribery of drinking outlets to ensure that some beer brands are not displayed at all.

David Audu reports.

W

idespread allegations of unethical business practices including outright de-marketing is the subject of an unfolding battle between top players in the breweries industry which control nearly 80 per cent of market share and the fringe operators.

Recent reports in some states indicate that, in leading brewery giants in Nigeria, Guinness Plc and Nigerian Breweries have accused each other’s agents of going to sales outlets (beer parlours) to remove sale and promotion posters of rivals.

Some concerned individuals and NGOs have raised the alarm over these unwholesome marketing activities, warning that if not urgently addressed, it could pose serious risks leading to loss of many jobs for those in the brewing companies and ancillary markets at the down end of

the industry.

What is de-marketing? There are different forms of de-marketing. Sometimes a company can use the strategy of de-marketing to downplay its less profitable brand. But, here it refers to the scaling down of marketing efforts of rival brand in order to gain market edge. De-marketing over the years has been a strategy by rival brands to edge out other brands out of the market.

The big operators in Nigeria’s beer sector are on one hand accused of de-marketing each other, and on the other hand demarketing the smaller players.

The three big players, which are among the biggest global operators in the sector, are Nigerian Breweries Plc, Guinness Nigeria Plc and SAB Miller. There are other fringe operators, who are also at the receiving end of the unwholesome market practices.

A look at three of the major players based on volume of beer sales and plant expansion in recent time, shows that Nigerian Breweries the market leader, with an estimated market share of about 60 to 65 per cent of beer sales in the country.

In the last five years, the parent company has invested more than $500m in Nigeria, raising Nigerian Breweries installed capacity to about 10 million hectoliters, which accounts for over half of Heineken’s beer production capacity for the Middle East and Africa region. Through its lager brands Star, Gulder, Gulder Max, Goldberg and Heineken, it controls almost two thirds of the lager market in Nigeria.

However, Guinness Plc, a major rival, has embarked on plant expansion, introduction of new products into the market and acCONTINUED ON PAGE 20

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

Lagos-Abuja (Sat): 08.00, 08.50.

Abuja-Lagos (Sat): 10.00, 15.00.

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

20

Business

Tuesday, September 2, 2014

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Unhealthy competition on the rise in $10bn beer industry CONTINUED FROM PAGE 19 quisition of other brands in recent times.

In 2010 the company announced a N52bn investment into its operations. With its flagship brand, Foreign Extra Stout, it conveniently leads the market in the stout category.

Recently it introduced a new product into the market that is currently an excitement to some consumers, the Origin.

Guinness Nigeria Plc, which belongs to the Diageo family supplies the following other products in Nigeria: Foreign Extra Stout, Harp Lager, Satzenbrau Pilsner Lager, Gordon’s Spark, Malta Guinness, Guinness Extra Smooth and Armstrong.

Another major player is SAB Miller, reputed to be the second largest beer manufacturing company in the world. Its brewing and beverage operations in Africa cover 15 countries with a further 21 covered through a strategic alliance with the Castel group. It is reported that in most of those countries SAB Miller is the number one brewer by market share.

The company’s operation in Nigeria grew significantly due to the additional capacity provided by the commissioning of the greenfield brewery in Onitsha in August 2012 and the successful launch of Hero lager beer and the continued growth of the Trophy lager brand. SAB Miller key ‘local’ brands include Club Premium Lager, Eagle, Hero and Trophy, but with a very rich portfolio of other brands in its worldwide market.

Other players in the sector are International Breweries, Jos International Breweries; Champion Breweries, Sona Breweries, Premier Breweries, Consolidated Breweries and Golden Guinea, among others.

No doubt that there is a robust competition in the beer industries in Nigeria, with thousands of people directly or indirectly engaged in the marketing chain.

However, the industry is currently under threat of unhealthy and unethical competition by players. This is now the concern of some Non-Governmental Organisations, notably, the Consumer Rights Advocacy Network of Nigeria, CRANN. Worried by the increasing level of demarketing going on in the alcoholic beverage industry, CRAN, recently called a press conference to alert the public of the possible dangers such competition posed to beer consumers, employment opportunities and fair trade practices in Nigeria.

Its national coordinator, Mr. Shina Loremikan, said the unethical practices has been going on in the past few years, but has reached a frightening dimension in recent months, warning that they are forced to sound the alarm before it degenerate into gun fighting in beer parlours as it often happen in some south American countries, especially, Guatemala.

It stated that as a platform for advocacy on consumer concerns, following appeals by concerned Nigerians, they are duty bound to “intervene in what can be described as a carefully planned and coordinated series of incidences of pirate marketing in the alcoholic beverage industry.

He accused a major player in Nigeria of embarking on a vigorous campaign of demarketing its key rivals and competitors, with the brewers in question going to ma-

Minister for Trade and investment, Olusegun Aganga

We are surprised at this

development.

The

top players take nearly

80 per cent

of the market

share, yet they still mu ssle the smaller ones out of jor retailers across the country to induce them with very juicy incentives so as not to stock, display or sell the products of its competitors.

The group were however short of naming names of culprits in the practices challenging journalists to conduct an independent investigations themselves, saying de-marketing in the beer industries have become a major trend in cities across Nigeria.

CRANN believed that if not check, unhealthy competition will erode the freedom of Nigerians from exercising their free choice in the selection of goods and services, in this case, freedom to walk into a beer parlour and have a beer of your choice.

According Nelson Ekujumi, a consumer watch activist, anti-competitive marketing portends ill for the economy as it kills competition and jeopardises the livelihood, incomes and taxpaying capacities of numerous people who are part of the income chain tied to the ancillary levels of the competition in the alcoholic bever-

APCON Registrar, Alhaji Garba Kankarofi

ages industry”.

He therefore called for the intervention of relevant agencies of government, including the Consumer Protection Council, CPC, and the National Competitiveness Council of Nigeria, to ensure even and fair playing field for all corporate players in the sector.

There are ample indications that the two big players, Guinness Nigeria Plc and Nigerian Breweries Plc. have been at each other’s throat in beer joints and outlets.

Investigations by National Mirror indicates that the big players are quietly frustrating the springing up of smaller players through the market instrument of pricing to push up their sales volume and sometimes through subtle threats to their distributors, salesmen and bartenders to stop stocking the products of the smaller players who they perceive as competitors.

There are also evidence that the two brewery giants are also discouraging the display of rival products, particularly, in beer joint, where they supply the chillers, chairs and tables.

A staff of a popular joint on Oba Akran Avenue in Ikeja confided that they dare not display products apart from those approved by the management for fear of losing incentives from a major player; likewise, beer joints around Costain and Iganmu areas of Lagos, which have been “colonised” by another major player also shy away from displaying products of the rival player based on the same fears. But, he said if a customer requests for a particular brand and is available he would be served. However, those brands not displayed are not always available According to an analyst, the big players are hell bent on creating an oligopolistic market in the brewing industry.

A national newspaper sometimes reported ago that “a major distributor from Ondo State lamented how a big player allegedly told them point blank to stop stocking a particular product of an up and coming brewery, with a threat that all trade incentives would be withdrawn if they defy the order.

“We are surprised at this development.

The top players take nearly 80 per cent of the market share, yet they still muffle the smaller ones out of business, he lamented.

A consumer analyst, Mrs. Jill Okeke however believes the breweries are in competition and as such one should not expect them to allow the storing of rival brands in chillers they have provided for their products. But Jide Ayoboke, a consumer watch activist disagreed saying that in as much as those who branded the venue should have dominant display of their items consumers should be given free choice to choose which product they want at anytime in a beer joint without resorting to intimidation and threats.

Responding to the allegations, spokesperson for Nigerian Breweries, Mr. Edem Vindah, said there has been no official communication on the matter from the NGO accusing breweries in Nigeria of unethical practices, therefore could offer any official statement on the matter.

Attempts to reach the corporate affairs manager of Guinness Nigeria Plc were not successful as the Corporate Affairs Manager was said to be on leave. However, competent sources within the company told this correspondent that Guinness is a responsible company that adheres to its ethical and would not involve in unethical practice. The source said the market is large enough to accommodate as many players as possible.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Business News

Tuesday, September 2, 2014

21

Why we embarked on power sector reforms –Amadi Meshack Idehen

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he inability of the erstwhile National Electricity Power Authority, NEPA, and the Power Holding Company of Nigeria, PHCN, to produce and distribute sufficient electricity capable of catering for the nation’s growing manufacturing sector was a cardinal reason why the Federal Government decided to embark on the power sector reforms.

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, NERC, Dr Sam Amadi, said this in Lagos during a business luncheon for chief executives by the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, MAN. He said recent governments in Nigeria have understood the importance of ensuring that a correspondently sufficient, reliable and sustainable power sector is made available for the development of the country’s manufacturing base, thus the reforms were initiated.

Amadi said however that the

level of commitment of the three respective administration that have overseen the reforms have been varying, saying the present administration has shown the strongest genuine support to the process which has culminated in the transfer of PHCN operation assets to new owners.

According to him, several structural but legacy problems inherited from the disbanded sector have slowed progress in the new order, adding though that those problems are being gradually surmounted.

The NERC chairman said some of the problems inherited from the disbanded companies include frequent breakdown arising from obsolete and heavily overloaded equipments, the lack of synchronisation between planning authorities and electricity sector, resulting in over and additional loading or illegal connection by the consumers, inefficient billing and prevalent corrupt collection system which led to huge recoverable indebtedness, and the problem of vandalism and pilfering of

power sector equipment by staff and general public.

He explained that the new power sector being engineered through the deployment of a predictable and conducive regulatory landscape is primarily aimed at supporting the manufacturing sector, because sustained national economic growth is principally dependent on adequate and reliable electricity.

Ironically, he said, the power sector is in turn, relying on the local manufacturing sector for the manufacture, installation, sales and service of power equipments and products required for sustainable development of the sector.

Tasking the manufacturing sector, the NECR chairman said manufacturers have a task to modify existing or conceptualise contextualised solutions to power sector problems that are peculiar to the nation, saying it must be known to Nigeria manufacturers that industrial development and technological development are interdependent and interrelated, in which progress cannot be made by

L-R: Project Director, Ire Clay Products Limited, Mr. Biodun Adedeji; Ekiti State Governor Kayode Fayemi; GMD, Odua Investment Company Limited, Mr. Adewale Raji; DG, Ekiti Enterprises Development Agency, Mr. Oscar Ayeleso and Head Business Development and Strategy Fountain Holdings Limited, Mr. Akin Oluwaleye, during a visit to the governor, in Ado-Ekiti, recently.

NNPC to expedite Kano, Kaduna gas pipeline construction Udeme Akpan

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he Federal Government’s gas revolution agenda was boosted with the establishment of the Abuja-KadunaKano (AKK) Gas Pipeline Project Steering Committee which has the mandate to ensure efficient and accelerated of the project.

The action taken over the weekend by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC was targeted at enhancing the implementation of the nation’s national Gas Master Plan.

The spokesman of NNPC, Mr. Ohi Aligbe who confirmed the development in a statement stated that the project would transport gas for power and manufacturing industry usage to the key northern axis from Ajaokuta –Kaduna –Kano.

Speaking at the inauguration of the Committee, Group Managing Director of the NNPC, Dr. Joseph Dawha described the AKK assignment as a National Priority Project which is one of the cardinal programmes of the transformation agenda of the President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan administration.

He noted that while progress is being made in the execution of the adjoining OB3 gas pipeline project as well as the looping of the Escravos Lagos Pipeline System, ELPS, implementation of the AKK Project is slow and out of sync with government’s desire for accelerated implementation. ``In order to strengthen this critical government National Priority Project and have it refocused for accelerated implementation, there is the compelling need for the establishment of

a dedicated AKK Project Steering Team with clear governance structure,’’ the GMD said.

The Project Steering Committee comprises of the GMD NNPC, as Chairman with the Group Executive Directors of Gas and Power, Exploration and Production as well as Commercial and Investment as members. Also listed as a member of the PSC is the Coordinator, Corporate Planning and Strategy.

The PSC will be responsible for providing general guidance and direction for the project, grant approval for business models, equity participation, budgets, contracting strategy and appropriate reporting to the Minister of Petroleum Resources as well as endorse strategic investors and recommend as appropriate to government for approval.

one without the other.

“At NERC, we clearly understand the relativity between constant electricity and manufacturing, thus we have been pragmatic in regulating the allocation of what is present being generated

to favour our manufacturing base during their production peak.

“Electricity and electrical infrastructure has been long identified as a prerequisite for the uninhibited growth of the manufacturing and industrial sector.

Aregbesola urges CBN to ensure NIRSAL’s presence in Ekiti Boladale Bamigbola OSOGBO

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sun state Governor Rauf Aregbesola has urged the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, to, without further delay, ensure that Nigerian IncentiveBased Risk Sharing System for Agricultural Lending, NIRSAL, begins operation in the state.

He said an effectively functional programme like NIRSAL will boost and speed up agric-financing by the financial institutions.

Speaking during the weekend at the third anniversary of the Quick Impact Intervention Programme and turning of the sod and laying of foundation for the Osun Soil and Food Laboratory Complex at Free Trade Zone, Abere, Governor Aregbesola lamented the Apex Bank’s delay in application of the support programme for farmers in the state.

He said the state has embraced the Nigerian Incentive-Based Risk Sharing System for Agricultural Lending, NIRSAL, adding that, “this unproductive delay has its root in the non-operation of NIRSAL. For our counterpart

fund of N300m in the N600m QIIP 2, we made available our N9m NIRSAL Premium for its first year of operation.

“Unfortunately, NIRSAL which was supposed to be in operation was not and could not avail the premium and the money had to be returned to our treasury without the supporting benefits we intended to get for our farmers and for which the Central Bank of Nigeria had earlier assured us.”

He therefore, called on the CBN to ensure that NIRSAL begins operation before the end of the year in the state to encourage financial institutions to support a large number of small and large-scale farm-holders and promote revolvability of loans and build up the necessary wide pool of agric-financing expertise in the economy for consistent and sustainable growth and development of agriculture in the country.

Aregbesola further averred: “In addition to the loan scheme, QIIP has been working assiduously to implement a variety of other projects. One of them is the Osun Modern Beekeeping, Queen Honey Bee Rearing Project (O-Honey.)

Firm introduces new technology for road maintenance Hakeem Gbadamosi AKURE

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new technology which could reduce the amount being spent on maintenance of road in the country has been introduced by an indigenous company, Goldroad Asphalt Company Limited.

Speaking on the new technology, the Managing Director of company, Col. Sunday Foluso Saka (rtd) who said that the new technology has been tested and embraced by developed countries could reduce cost of maintaining roads by more than 50 per cent.

Saka, who stated this in Akure, Ondo State capital during an interactive session with journalists explained some of the advantages of the new technology over the conventional road construction and maintenance system.

According to the company boss, the technology, which comes in sealant series, cold patch and

crack paste is flexible, cheap and reliable adding that the new method completely eliminates the asphalt cooking and laying of the conventional construction method.

Saka explained that the new technology which weather friendly uses light equipment in applying on the road surface and could be used during raining or dry season and could be applied in salty area.

He saidn“This product is characterised by excellent adhesives, stability under high temperature, embedding resistance and aging resistance. Also, the product has enough elasticity under high temperature to prevent spill over or glued tyres”, he said.

Apart from the application of technology in road maintenance, Saka said it could also be used to provide coloured pavement in the city for specific purposes like walk ways, bicycle way and many more.

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Business News

Tuesday, September 2, 2014

National e-ID card’ll remove trust barriers in business community –Wigwe Tola Akinmutimi ABUJA

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anaging Director of Access Bank Plc, Mr Herbert Wigwe, has described the National Electronic Identity Card, E-ID Card, as a first-class initiative that will positively rub-on business practice in Nigeria.

Wigwe, who made the remarks during the formal launch of the issuance of the elecctronic identity card by President Goodluck Jonathan in Abuja, said that his Bank decided to partner with the National Identity Management Commission,NIMC, on the project based on far-reaching benefits for the economy.

According to him, the introduction and laumch of the new e-ID Card is not only a groundbreaking achievement in Nige-

ria’s efforts to build a credible database for her citizens but will also improve the quality of living in the country.

In addition, the banking expert expressed optimism that the E-ID Card would help in tackling the security challenges that have over the past few years represented one of constraints hampering government’s. Initiatives targeted at translating the country’s enormous developmental potentials to national socio-economic advantage.

Wigwe said: “The National e-ID Card is a first-rate initiative that will facilitate socio-economic development of the country. In specific terms, Nigerians, with the launch of the Card, will find an easier means of proving their nationality.

“Also, the National e-ID Card will help to immediately remove the initial trust barriers that

characterise business dealings between Nigerians and citizens of other countries thereby promoting cross-border trade and economic prosperity of Nigerians.

“I make bold to say that with this initiative undertaken by the present administration, the security of our nation will witness a significant boost because the National e-ID Card Project will provide the basis upon which future security-based milestones will be built on.

“I am proud to affirm that Access Bank is a supporter and promoter of innovative ideas that would improve the quality of lives for Nigerians. Our partnership with the National Identity Management Commission provides yet another opportunity to highlight our commitment to national development and nation building”, he added.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

British Airways, Iberia announce jumbo reward for Nigerian travel agents Olusegun Koiki

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ritish Airways and its partner, Iberia has announced plans to give its travel consultants in Nigeria a special Yuletide with bumper rewards of elite shopping experience.

The airline in an online statement by its media consultant in Nigeria stated that it would be rewarding travel consultants across Nigeria with gifts up to N1m from this October through December, 2014.

The airline stated that the offer is in partnership with Shoprite in Nigeria, adding that it is a way of encouraging and saying a “big thank you to the highly valued travel consultants because they are the ones that actually book customers in the different travel agencies in Nigeria.”

Speaking on the new packages for its travel consultants in the country, British Airways’

Regional General Manager, West Africa, Mr. Kola Olayinka, revealed that the travel consultants are encouraged to book British Airways and win the shopping vouchers, which are available in three major cities in Nigeria, namely Lagos, Abuja and Port Harcourt.

He added, “This offer is our way of saying thank you to our partners. We thought of a better way to show our appreciation to these valuable consultants, so we went into a strong partnership with one of the national biggest outlets, Shoprite who have outlets all over Nigeria and stock a good range of household items.

With this, we are giving our partners the opportunity of early preparations for the yuletide season.”

To enjoy the offer, Olayinke stated that what the airline’s partners needed to do was to continue to book with British Airways and Iberia Airlines tickets for their customers and win the shopping vouchers as they do.

Sterling Bank bags PCIDSS recertification

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L-R : Marketing Director, Nigerite Ltd, Mr. Toyin Gbede; Managing Director, Mr. Frank Le Bris; Chairman, Nigeria Institute of Quantity Surveyors (NIQS), Lagos State Chapter , Mr Olayemi Shonubi, and his deputy, Mrs. Adenike Ayanda, during NIQS courtesy visit to Nigerite’s head office in Lagos, at the weekend.

NPA completes Lekki Port due diligence Kunle A zeez

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he Nigerian Ports Authority, NPA, has concluded the due diligence required by one of its key investors, thereby putting it on a firm footing to see it become operational by 2018.

Lekki Port is Nigeria’s first ever private/public partnership, touted to revolutionise the maritime sector and spur unprecedented economic growth.

With the development, the much anticipated funding from shareholders expected to fuel rapid construction of the Lekki Port will now be ploughed into the project, so that the next phase of development can commence in earnest.

The deep seaport is a $1.5bn public private partnership project between the Federal Government (represented by the Nigerian Ports Authority), the Lagos State Government and the Tolaram Group.

A Shareholder’s Agreement to this effect was signed in December 2012 amongst all three parties.

Lagos state equity and that of the Tolaram Group are in place, whilst NPA is in the process of making its equity contribution into the project. It is standard procedure for due diligence to be conducted by shareholders before infusion of equity into a project.

NPA has carried out and concluded its due diligence on the project through a credible auditor, KPMG, to ensure accountability, transparency and value for money of the project, which is essential and crucial to a project of this magnitude. The NPA on its part has also gotten its Federal government budget approved by the House of Assembly.

Federal Executive Council approval for the project and issuance of the Finance Guarantee was received in December 2013.

Chief Finance Officer, Lekki

Port, Mr. Sandeep Parasramka, while shedding light on major developments, particularly as it concerns the company’s drive in ensuring that Lekki port becomes operational by 2018, said, “Apart from getting the concession from NPA to build Lekki Port, Tolaram has put together leading global consultants such as Standard Chartered Bank, the Louis Berger Group Inc., Delta Marine Consultants, BMT Asia Pacific, TBA Netherlands, Jardine Lloyd Thompson Pte Ltd and GMaps, following which the EPC contractor, China Harbour Engineering Company (one of the foremost builders of ports with a track record of delivering projects on time), has been appointed to build the port and the container terminal has been sub-concessioned to International Container Terminal Services, Inc, Philippines, a leader in the container terminal operations with a footprint across the globe.”

n recognition of its compliance with standard practice in cards management and having implemented all security controls to protect cardholders’ information, the Council of Payment Card Industry, PCI, has recertified Sterling Bank Plc barely one year after it was certified by the Council.

The payment card industry consists of all the organizations which store, process and transmit cardholder data, most notably for debit cards and credit cards. The security standards are developed by the Payment Card Industry Security Standards Council which develops the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standards used throughout the industry.

The PCI Council recertifies financial institutions who have fully complied with all security controls on cards management to

reassure customers of such institutions of safety of their information with the Bank.

The Bank’s Group Head, Strategy & Communications, Mr. Shina Atilola disclosed to newsmen in Lagos that the recertification of the Bank by PCI’s Council is a testimony of the Bank’s resolve to adequately protect information about its customers from going into wrong hands.

Mr. Atilola explained that Sterling Bank as a responsible financial institution has put in place the right mechanisms to ensure non-disclosure of information about customers to unauthorized persons and ensure that information is not compromised at any point in time adding that the Bank will continue to uphold the tenet of confidentiality, integrity and availability in the handling of information of its customers.

Firm embarks on sensitisation campaign Kunle A zeez

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o promote a clean and hygienic environment in the nation, the staff and management of Multipro Enterprise Limited, Hypo division has embarked on a sensitisation and sanitisation exercise in Lagos.

First of its the exercise took place in Ogba Ikeja community, Lagos State recently with top officials of the company leading the campaign.

According to the company, the initiative is part of its com-

mitment to helping the nation and its populace becomes cleaner and healthier, especially at a time when there are a handful of deadly diseases affecting the nation.

Speaking on the initiative, the Senior Sales Manager, Mr. Jude Nzenta, expressed the company’s resolve in helping to guarantee a healthier environment.

According to him, “This move, which is in line with the ongoing nationwide exercise and has already impacted more than five million households across the country, will now be on a consistent basis.”

Tuesday, September 2, 2014

Jobs & Career

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

23

Elimination of forced labour will curb insecurity, challenge unemployment study on child labour has shown that eliminating child labour in transition and developing economies could generate economic benefits nearly seven times greater than the costs.

The Secretary General of Trade Union Congress, TUC, Mr. Musa Lawal, says eliminating child labour in transition and developing economies could generate economic benefits seven times greater than the costs. In this interview with MESHACK IDEHEN, he insists that political leadership in Nigeria need to redouble their efforts in curbing corruption and unemployment

Child labour has been said by many experts as directly related to insecurity, unemployment and anti-social vices. What is your view on International Labour Standards on forced labour?

By the standard of the International Labour Organisation, forced labour is a serious violation of a fundamental human right. It is a leading cause of poverty and a hindrance to economic development.

It is universally condemned. For many governments around the world, the elimination of forced labour remains an important challenge for the 21st century as it would curb insecurity challenges.

The International Labour Organisation (ILO),s standards on forced labour, in combination with targeted technical assistance are the primary international tools for combating the forced labour scourge. The ILO from its research recently estimated that at least 12.3 million people are victims of forced labour worldwide. Of these, 9.8 million are exploited by private agents, including more than 2.4 million in forced labour as a result of human trafficking.

The research report also showed that another 2.5 million are forced to work by the state or by rebel military groups. It also showed that traditional slavery is still found in some parts of Africa, while forced labour in the form of coercive recruitment is present in many countries of Latin America, and in parts of the Caribbean.

The Forced Labour Convention, 1930 (No. 29) ratified for instance by Nigeria as an ILO member state, prohibits all forms of forced or compulsory labour, which is defined as all work or service which is exacted from any person under the menace of any penalty and for which the said person has not offered himself voluntarily.

There are exceptions such as those required by compulsory military service, normal civic obligations, as a consequence of a conviction in a court of law (provided that the work or service in question is carried out under the supervision and control of a public authority and that the person carrying it out is not hired to or placed at the disposal of private individuals, companies or associations.

Could you throw more light on discussions and resolutions made on child labour at the recently concluded International Labour Convention in Geneva?

Child labour is a violation of fundamental human rights and has been shown to hinder children’s development, potentially leading to lifelong physical or psychological damage.

Evidence, for instance in Nigeria points to a strong

What is your position on access to social protection on workers living with HIV and their households?

As we prepare for the post 2015 development agenda, I am of the view that governments of the world, especially the Nigerian Government invest in policies and programmes that leave no one behind, including people living with HIV and key populations.

I want to clarify here that the ILO has just launched a report which is the result of a process that included a global literature review, the development of a research methodology guide through consultation with experts, and research to highlights the challenges faced by workers living with HIV and their households in accessing social protection programmes.

The report shows that even though policies do not exclude people living with HIV, they face challenges in accessing the existing social protection services, notably lack of adequate knowledge about the programmes, complicated procedures for accessing programmes, and stigma and discrimination.

Also, I am of the view that a well, coordinated efforts involving ministries of labour, employers and the private sector and trade unions, ministries of health and gender, national AIDS programmes, social protection programmes, civil society organizations are needed to address existing barriers and increase the proportion of PLHIV with access to and benefits from social assistance and other forms of social protection.

Lawal

Trade Union Congress, TUC, has made it clear to the Government of Nigeria that policy to combat child labour is necessary because the lowering of human capital in the economy through child labour has been linked to slow economic growth and social development link between household poverty and child labour, and child labour perpetuates poverty across generations by keeping children of the poor out of school and limiting their prospects for upward social mobility.

Trade Union Congress (TUC) has made it clear to the Government of Nigeria that policy to combat child labour is necessary because the lowering of human capital in the economy through child labour has been linked to slow economic growth and social development.

In the 2014 labour conference, discussions on ILO

What do you suggest to the Federal Government as necessary measures to minimise corruption in Nigeria?

Well, we appeal to our political leadership at all levels in the country to redouble their efforts in curbing corruption. We are of the view that unless there are prompts deterrent sanctions against those brought to book; the problem will continue to fester.

This is because recent developments and revelations concerning the various probes in the country give much cause for concern. It is difficult for an economy bleeding from corruption to recover quickly and deliver value to the citizens.

What is the way forward for Government to transform the economy before the 2015 elections?

Nigeria economy can be transformed within a shortest time if there is self-discipline by our political leaders. This is because Nigeria has all it takes to be the most developed nation of the world, but our political leaders and Nigerians need self-discipline, because if we can discipline ourselves and take priority in the longevity of our future, it will be better for us all.

I am saying discipline in the areas of wiping off corruption and also encouraging initiatives, developing ideas and embracing people with good knowledge.

Nigeria, with self-discipline, we can emerge. This is because everything that is not working in Nigeria is manmade. There is urgent need for us to put our status-quo together for us to transform the economy and meet up the international standard.

The Vision 2020 and the transformation agenda of the Government would work if there is self-discipline because we have intellectual experts and investors both home and in Diaspora that can make the economy work in the shortest time.

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Jobs & Career

Tuesday, September 2, 2014

Tips for managing duelling employees

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any managers, in a desperate attempt to be perceived as fair, find themselves going crazy as they try to distribute praise evenly and acknowledge hard work equally. Moreover, when they are delivering criticism to one, they feel compelled to deliver it to the other, whether he or she deserves it or not.

Rivalling employees who are constantly trying to best each other don’t always deliver superior work because of their competition. In fact, the animosity they feel toward one another can stifle their creativity and cause them to deliberately undermine their “opponent’s” efforts.

Furthermore, the tension between them can corrupt the attitudes of other employees and cause managers to lose objectivity regarding the rivalry.

Managers who recognise troublesome rivalries between two or more valuable staff members, should seek to resolve these rivalries before they upset otherwise harmonious workplaces. The following is a list of tips that are easy to enact. Consistent application of these suggestions is likely to eliminate or lessen the negative impact of employee rivalries.

Collect data- Managers should keep their eyes and ears open when milling amongst their staff. Observe the two rivalling staff members as they interact with each other. Notice attitudes, body language, and temperament. Pay close attention to the things that trigger negativity. Write your observations down. See if you can identify patterns of behaviour. The important thing is for managers to recognize the symptoms of the problem such as arguing, gossiping and tattling on each other. Total resolution of employee rivalry may not be possible in certain circumstances; that’s when symptom management becomes the goal.

Effective management of the symptoms of employee rivalry can significantly improve an otherwise hostile work environment for everyone concerned.

Be willing to separate rivalling employees to reduce tension- This particular tip is a good way for managers to solve their rivalry problems with minimal managerial exertion. Consider, for example, that some personalities are

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Kasapreko appoints first Nigerian MD Meshack Idehen

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Workers on duty

very strong and, while not offensive to the majority of co-workers, may grate on the nerves of other employees. It is often like this with rivalling employees: They just don’t like each other. Their dislike for one another causes them to be overly observant about what the other is doing or not doing. They are too aware of the other’s responsibilities, deficiencies and positive qualities.

Know your limits- Managers need to decide how much energy they should spend on the problem of employee rivalry. If it has become a major disruption in the office, managers should address the problem with a plan for resolution in mind. On the other hand, if conflict resolution meetings are nothing more than fodder for drama loving gossipers, a simple, private discussion with each of the rivalling employees would be a better way to go. Specifically, don’t make a big deal out of a small matter that might correct itself in time, but don’t ignore a spreading cancer either.

Don’t strive for perfect fairnessManagers should not expect themselves to be perfectly fair, as per the opinions of rivalling employees. Rather, managers should strive to treat their employees im-

partially. If you decide, for example, that one employee should be given an extra week to complete a particular project for whatever reason you deem worthy of the extension, then do so. But be prepared to do the same for the other employee if and when that employee needs extra time. But don’t automatically extend the other employee’s deadline, whether it’s needed or not, just to be fair. Make your decisions on a case-by-case basis.

Conduct an honest self-appraisal of favortist behaviours- It’s important for managers to be aware of how their behaviours and attitudes may be perceived by those they supervise. It’s only natural for managers to have preferences when it comes to personalities and work habits.

You may have a particular affinity for an employee who has, for example, a similar sense of humour as yours. Unintentionally, you may be favouring that person to a degree that is obvious and offensive to your favoured employee’s rival. Consider whether your preference for one employee over another is personality-based or whether that employee is truly superior in terms of quality of work.

Source: www.techgrade.com

asapreko Nigeria Limited, makers of the Alomo Bitters brand said they have appointed a Nigerian, Mr. Richard Nwaobie, as new Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, taking over from Mr. Jose Roque, who recently retired from the company after years of meritorious service.

The company said in a statement that it would be recalled that the Alomo Bitters brand upon entry into the Nigerian market became an instant success and was widely accepted, thereby becoming a household name and the favorite of millions of Nigerian.

According to Kasapreko, industry watchers opine that by appointing a Nigerian to the exalted position of managing director, that the company is not only acknowledging the wide acceptance and growth potentials of the Nigerian market for its product but also confirming that Alomo Bitter is here to stay for good in the country.

Nwaobie

Job Vacancies

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

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

To access and apply for these positions, interested candidates are urged to visit the KPMG website and also send applications to corporaterecruitment@ ng.kpmg.com Leading jobs provider, www.findjo-

bafrica.com this week, has a position of a chief financial officer.

To be based in Lagos, the key responsibilities will be to provide an operating budget. The incoming will ensure programmatic success through cost analysis support, and interpreting legislative and programmatic rules and regulations to ensure compliance with all federal, state, local and contractual guidelines, alongside ensuring that all government regulations and requirements are disseminated to appropriate personnel.

The chief financial officer will also oversee the management and coordination of all fiscal reporting activities for

the organisation including, organisational revenue/expense and balance sheet reports, reports to funding agencies, development and monitoring of organisational and contract/grant budgets.

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

Still from www.findjobafrica.com is the opening for a surface / pressure control sales manager for Central Africa.

The position is based in Luanda, Angola.

Essential responsibilities for the post

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

Tuesday, Septmebr 2, 2014

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

25

Real Estate & Environment

Vehicle emission

Divergent views trail FG’s vehicular emission control programme Motorists and public affairs analysts examine the planned implementation of the National Vehicular Emission Control programme of the Federal Government and its implications on vehicle owners who may have to pay extra charges.

OLUFEMI ADEOSUN reports.

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ith the planned implementation the National Vehicular Emission Control Programme, Nigeria is set to join the League of Nations that require vehicle manufacturers to

We must protect our environment for future generations – Benebo 27

meet certain pollution control standards.

However, experts said despite the health hazards associated with the fumes arising from the millions of poorly maintained cars across the country, the programme would not have a smooth sail.

According to them, apart from the fact that the programme would impose more financial cost on vehicle owners, its implementation smack of double standards.

They stated that if government is sincere in addressing the issue of air pollution in Nigeria, it should first address The National Vehicular Emission Control Programme, which is being implemented in line with the National Environmental Control of Vehicular Emissions from Petrol and Diesel Engines,( National Environmental Standards Regulations and Enforcement Agency (NESREA) Regulations 2011,” is aimed at reducing air pollution from vehicles and removing of cars that are not road worthy from the Nigerian roads.

Some of its main provisions are the

mandatory yearly testing of vehicles for toxic air emissions and the installation of emission reduction technology in all the vehicles plying Nigerian roads. As a prelude to the commencement of the programme, the federal government has already banned the importation of 2-stroke engines.

The Minister of Environment, Mrs. Laurentia Mallam, had at a forum in Abuja spoke about the modalities for the programme, stressing that it would be based on Public Private Partnership model with the setting up of NESREA authorised emission testing centres across the country to carry out emission testing on all vehicles plying the nation’s road.

While justifying the necessity of the planned programme, the minister stated, “All over the world, motor vehicles manufacturers are required to meet increasingly stringent pollution control standards.

Vehicles that are not properly maintained or that have malfunctioning emission control systems often these standards.

TUC faults non-inclusion of workers on NHF’s, FMBN’s boards 28

“The National Emission Control Programme therefore is aimed at reducing air pollution from vehicles and removing cars that are not road worthy from our roads. Identifying and repairing these vehicles will significantly reduce toxic air emission and improve the vehicle’s performance and fuel economy and ultimately improve air quality.”

Also, in an interview with our correspondent, NESREA Director General, Mrs. Ngeri Benebo, noted that the programme would start within the last quarter of the year, adding that those who would be involved in establishing the test centres had already been identified and equipment procured.

Asked if the testing would come with extra cost to vehicle owners, she said fee would be charged by the various testing centres and stickers would be issued to successful vehicle owners.

Explaining further, she noted, “Yes, you CONTINUED ON PAGE 26

Basic interior decorating tips for bedroom 29

26

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Tuesday, September 2, 2014

Divergent views trail FG’s vehicular emission control programme CONTINUED FROM 25 have to pay for the sticker just like you pay for your vehicle license every year. It will be private sector-driven and there will be a fee attached to it. Under this programme, it would be mandatory for car owners to carry out emission text for their cars and those who have successfully done this would be given a sticker to ascertain road worthiness. Those who service their cars once in every six months will now know they have to service their cars every three months so that the car can pass the test and not be stopped on the road.”

However, an Abuja based public affairs commentator, Mr. Biodun Aturu, condemned the programme, maintaining it was another gimmick to inflict more pains on the suffering Nigerians. According to him, if government is sincere in addressing the issue of air pollution, it must start by fixing the nation’s electricity problem.

“The buck of emissions we have in this country come from generating sets. Due to lack of electricity, over 75 per cent Nigerians rely on generators with their devastating effects on the environment and people’s lives. Therefore, if government is sincere in addressing this scourge, it must first deal with the energy crisis which triggers wholesale use of generating sets, not add more pains to vehicle owners,” he warned.

Aturu however, said that why it would be a welcome development if the country has a system to regulate the air quality from vehicles, such should not come with additional cost to the people. According to him, the developed countries that Nigeria is copying have got it right in various areas it has failed and as such their citizens do not have any qualm to voluntarily submit to the vehicular emission testing.

An Abuja based car owner who simply gave his name as Kingsley, wondered why government takes delight in embarking on policies that would cause more hardship for the citizenry. According to him, the programme, coming at a time government announced increment in tariff of imported vehicles, is aimed at reducing the number of people using cars in the

Minister of Environment, Mrs. Laurencia Mallam

Transport mInister, Idris Umar

I am in support of the programme. It would not only help vehicle owners to properly

maintain their cars, it would also help to reduce sicknesses associated with inhaling toxic air country.

He said, “This government has not hidden its disdain for the people as have seen through its various anti-people policies and programmes. First, it was a systemic ban on imported vehicles through astronomical increase in tariff and now,

vehicles owners will have to compulsorily carry out emission testing. It is now obvious that this government hell bent on total annihilation of the middle class in the country.”

Also commenting, Mrs. Ilori Ayomikun lauded the programme, noting that if

properly enforced would go a long way reducing sicknesses associated with inhaling polluted air. She said because there was no regulation as to the level of fumes a vehicle could emit, some people were in the habit of going about with smoke ravaged vehicles without recourse to safety of other road users.

She said, “I am in support of the programme. It would not only help vehicle owners to properly maintain their cars, it would also help to reduce sicknesses associated with inhaling toxic air. However, my plea is that NESREA should ensure that those in charge of the test centres charge affordable prices. If the cost is bearable, I am convinced a lot of Nigerians would buy into the programme and we will all be better for it and our environment will be kept clean.”

Renting more expensive than ever in many US cities

R

enting is currently more expensive than ever in many areas in the United States, making it difficult for renters to save for a down payment on a home, according to a new analysis report.

Homes remain more affordable to buy in 94 of the country’s 100 largest metros compared to historic averages. But renting is more expensive than ever in 88 of the country’s 100 largest markets.

This comes as the latest Zillow Rent index shows that after three months of flat or negative monthly growth, national rents rose in July from the previous month.

It means that overall only a dozen are currently more affordable than they historically have been for both renters and home owners, as widespread growth in housing costs continues to outpace wage growth.

Nationally, US home values rose 6.5%

year on year in July while national rents rose 2.8% over the same period. The Zillow Home Value Index rose to $174,800 in July, up 0.2% from June 2014 and 6.5% from June 2013.

The firm points out that rental affordability is currently much worse than mortgage affordability, largely because rents didn’t experience the huge drop seen in home values during the recession, and instead have just kept climbing upward.

Nationally, renters signing a lease at the end of the second quarter paid 29.5% of their income to rent, compared to 24.9% in the pre-bubble period. In 88 of the nation’s largest metro areas, renters should currently expect to pay a larger share of their income toward rent than they would have historically.

Thanks mostly to low mortgage interest

rates, affordability of for sale homes looks much better. Buyers at the end of the second quarter could expect to pay 15.3% of their incomes to a mortgage on the typical home, far less than the 22.1% share home owners devoted to mortgages in the prebubble days.

As of June, home buyers in just six of the country’s 100 largest metro markets analysed by Zillow were paying a larger portion of their incomes today than historically in order to buy their area’s median priced home.

But mortgage rates are expected to rise in the coming year. When mortgage rates hit 5%, still very low by historical standards, the number of unaffordable metros for home owners among the top 100 will more than double, to 13. At 6% mortgage interest rates, the number of unaffordable

metros will almost double again, to 24.

‘The affordability of for sale homes remains strong, which is encouraging for those buyers that can save for a down payment and capitalise on low mortgage interest rates. But the health of the for-sale market is directly tied to the rental market, where affordability is really suffering,’ said Zillow chief economist Stan Humphries.

‘As rents keep rising, along with interest rates and home values, saving for a down payment and attaining homeownership becomes that much more difficult for millions of current renters, particularly millennial renters already saddled with uncertain job prospects and enormous student debt. In order to combat this phenomenon, wages need to grow more quickly than they are, particularly for renters, and growth in home values will need to slow,’ he added.

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Real Estate & Environment

Tuesday, September 2, 2014

27

We must protect our environment for future generations –Benebo ity to succumb to superior argument. When the programme comes up, God willing by the last quarter of this year, people will get to know why it is typical and some people do not need to be really convinced because the harmful effect of vehicular emission has started manifesting in their areas. All we need to let them know is the importance of having a clean air. By the time the programme begins and people begin to see its usefulness, they are the ones that will be calling our attention to cars emitting black smokes, as we now have in the telecoms sector.

Dr. Ngeri Benebo is the pioneer Director General, National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA). In this interview with OLUFEMI ADEOSUN, the consultant public health physicianturned-environmentalist speaks on the imperatives of environmental sustainability.

You have been at the headship of this agency in the last eight years. What would you consider as the highlights of your major achievements?

For me, being able to regulate the environment is what I would consider as the high-point of my tenure as the Director General, National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency, NESREA. Through our programmes, we have been able to make people know that it is no longer business as usual in the environment sector. In our bid to ensure compliance with environmental regulations, we have taken a number of organisations and individual to court and in many cases secured conviction.

Besides, through our activities we have also been able to curtail the activities of unscrupulous importers who are bent to make the country a dumping ground for non functional electrical electronics equipment. Regarding the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) programme, we have noted the guidelines, the National Assembly has stood up for it and everybody is buying into it. The manufacturing sector and all other facilities are buying into it. What we want to introduce in the last quarter of 2014 is the Vehicular Emission texting programme. The issue of indiscriminate mounting of telecoms masts within residential areas has also been addressed as telecoms operators now obtain Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) certificate before erecting their masts. All these would have not been made possible without the proactive measures put in place by NESREA. Definitely, it would not be an easy job for you given the fact that most of the companies that often run foul of environmental laws are powerful multinationals with corrections in the nation’s political circles. How have you been able to cope?

Where there is a rule, you have to obey, irrespective of which company or individual that is involved. If there are no rules, there is the possibility that everyone could do what he or she feels like. The rule is what we use to measure. Regulations are on ground and that means there is a level playing ground for everybody.

We are not being subjective. Whether you are big or small, you have to adhere to the regulation.

We are in a dispensation where we are transforming in every sector. We are all keying in to the transformation agenda of Mr. President and in keying into it, we have made regulations to make sure that this structure within the environment as a whole is regulated.

EIA is the most important thing that we need to carry out before embarking on any developmental projects.

To explore or exploit the environment, we need to observe it, be it multinational companies of small business concerns. Unlike before, they now know it cannot be business as usual. This is the only country we can call ours so we must do what is right.

From your experience in trying to regulate the environment, do you think there is commensurate punishment for every environmental contravention?

Yes, there is compared to what it used to be because when the regulations were made, NESREA ensures compliance. What we have on ground now to

Will this programme come with financial implication for the car owners?

Yes, you have to pay for the sticker just like you pay for your vehicle license every year. It will be private sector-driven and there will be a fee attached to it. Under this programme, it would be mandatory for car owners to carry out emission test for their cars and those who have successfully done this would be given a sticker to ascertain road worthiness. Those who service their cars once in every six months will now know they have to service their cars every three months so that the car can pass the test and not be stopped on the road.

Benebo

deal with violators of environmental regulations are in tandem with the global practices. And in coming up with these regulation, we engage in wide consultations with the relevant stakeholders such as NonGovernmental Organisations, Civil Society Organisations, the academia, the public and all other relevant government agencies to erode any room of assumed ignorance. As a result of this, NESREA has become a household name in Nigeria and all over the world.

It would interest you to note that most of our regulations are being used as templates to make regulations in other countries.

How far has the agency gone in its National Vehicular Emission Control programme?

The programme is on course. We have identified the equipment, we have standardized the equipment and we already have people who will work with us on it to kick off. The equipment have arrived and we are now in the third quarter by the time we get to the fourth quarter, it will be start properly.

For this can of programme to be successful, there has to be buy-in of the people. Aside, meeting with the relevant stakeholders, what other strategies are you mapping out to enlist motorists buy-in?

One thing we should give to Nigerians is their abil-

Yes, there is compared to what it used to be because when the regulations were made,

NESREA ensures compliance. What we have on ground now to deal with violators of environmental regulations are in tandem with the global practices

Given the fact that the programme would be private sector-driven, how would address the issue of standardisation? Besides, what would happen to cars without stickers when the programme begins?

The strength of NESREA is in collaboration with other stakeholders and to regulate the environment, you need the stakeholders to work with you. At present, we are working with the Police, and various other government agencies. On this vehicular emission control programme, our closest stakeholders are the Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC, THE Vehicle Inspection Office, VIO, the Nigeria Police Force and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, and the road transport workers.

In the discharge of NESREA’s mandate, you have been preaching dialogue and collaboration and even taking step to visit some government agencies such as the Police, Military and recently hosted the Atomic Energy Commission. Why do you consider this important?

Like the people say, ‘the more the merrier’. The more people know about the NESREA process, know what our vision and mission is, they can buy into it, help us spread the message and our mandate can be best achieved. That is the purpose of collaboration.

We believe that our job can be made easier by reaching out to other stakeholders who can help us deliver on our mandate. Our collaboration with other relevant agencies, I am confident to say, has yielded a lot of dividends.

The mandate of the agency entails protection of the ecosystem by preventing illegal trading in endangered species. How has the agency fared in this regard?

We have done very well to the glory of God. We were able to ensure that the Convention of International Trade in Endangered Species, CITES, lift the six years ban imposed on Nigeria. The lifting of the ban on Nigeria has been making it possible for Nigeria to apprehend those who use Nigeria as a trade route for endangered wildlife.

What would you say has been your challenges in piloting the affairs of NESREA? Everybody keeps talking about challenges, but my philosophy is that with God all things are possible.

It depends on how you see a challenge. You can see a challenge as a challenge and you can see a challenge as a stepping stone. In NESREA, we see a challenge as a stepping stone to improve on the lives of Nigerians and that of NESREA.

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Tuesday, September 2, 2014

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Basic in

A bedroom is a private people relax or nap du day and sleep during e course, a bedroom wo room if there is no bed a comfortable bed, it h furnishings like a dress stand, desk, and close rooms have their own p room, while some even or balcony connected one can have a breath and a view of the verda We spend most of our bedroom because we 10 hours sleeping and some nap during the d considered as someon place.

1. Choose the right colors.

In choosing colors for a bedr will use neutral colors, warm co pastel colors. These should be us ings and even your furniture. A ors for this will not stimulate yo

TUC faults non-inclusion of workers on NHF’s, FMBN’s boards ...says no deliberate policy on mass housing since 2nd Republic

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he President Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC), Comrade Bobboi Kaigama, has faulted the non-inclusion of workers on the boards of the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN) and National Housing Fund (NHF).

This is even as the TUC boss lamented that successive governments had failed to bridge the nation’s housing deficit gap because there had not been a deliberate policy on provision of mass housing since the second Republic.

Kaigama who spoke in Abuja at a meeting with the group 3, set 36 of the National Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies in Abuja, Kaigama lamented that the absence of a representative from active work-force would only pave way for corruption and misuse of funds rightfully belonging to workers in the country.

He said Nigerians workers who are the major contributors to the nation’s National Hous-

ing Fund scheme should have be given a stake by having slots on the boards of the two most important housing agencies.

According to him, the lack of representation constitutes a serious drawback on the actualisation of the mandate of the NHF in the housing sector.

He said: “Unfortunately for the Federal Mortgage Bank and the National Housing Fund, no worker representative is on the boards. Somebody will contribute and somebody will sit down on the fence and decide how the funds should be used. I think this lopsidedness is a serious drawback on the realisation of the NHF programme in the housing sector.”

However, Kaigama disclosed that TUC was working out modalities that would ensure workers operate the housing funding scheme solely, to erode any form alteration to the original plan and objective of the programmes, which according to him, is to enliven the burden of

accommodation for public servants when they depart office.

He explained the leadership of TUC had put up a Memorandum of Understanding to address membership status in housing scheme with a view to reflecting a sharing ration for various union workers who had contributed their quota to the housing fund.

“We have a MoU pending where the law will be reviewed to make sure that all board members who do not need to be there are taken out so that the owners of the bank can take position of the bank and they are the only persons that will be able to cater for the interest of the contributors.

“Now every project they are going to embark on has to be vetted by the owners. So what we are doing now is to make the beneficiaries benefit from every construction the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria embarks on and completes.

“If there are 100 available

houses, they can give TUC 30, Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) 30, Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA), 30 with the remaining 10 going to officials of the bank. When it comes to us, we will make sure we give it to our members who have contributed to the National Housing Fund directly. We are going to replicate it all over the country and that is how we strongly feel that our members can benefit from the fund” he added.

In his address, the leader of the delegation Commodore MS Garba, called for collaborative efforts in ensuring the country does not experience anarchy, stressing that collective attendance to vital issues would promote national development.

According to him, the institute is a brain nerve centre for the federal government to help address policy and strategic matters regarding topical issues.

Bad road

Roads: FG to par

A

s part of its commitments to the development of road infrastructure across the country, the Federal Government has expressed its readiness to collaborate with the Nigerian Institution of Highway Engineers (NICHE).

Some of the areas identified for collaboration include capacity building for engineers and sharing of knowledge with a view to enhancing best

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Real Estate & Environment

Tuesday, September 2, 2014

29

nterior decorating tips for bedroom

e place where uring the evenings. Of on’t be a bedd. Aside from has standard ser, night et. Some bedprivate bathn have a porch to it where h of fresh air ant grasses. time in the spend 8 to d we still take day. It could be ne’s favourite

also that the colors of your furniture and even fabrics complement each other. You have to make your room restful and relaxing so that you won’t find it hard to doze off.

2. Choose the right bed.

Your bed is the focal point of the bedroom. Make sure you could choose the right one. If you use a large bed, your bedroom will look small and crowded especially if your room is not too big. If you use a bed which is too small, it will look awkward. You have to choose the right size for your bed for this is one of primary things that could make your room look perfect.

Also, choose a good mattress. Something that is soft and comfortable would be perfect for you so that you could have perfect dreams, too.

3. Choose a good wall decor.

Some people opt to use wallpapers or have it artistically painted with a unique texture. But others opt to save on wall decor by painting it with plain warm colors and place beautifully framed pictures and paintings. You can actually look for some pictures you like or you might want to consider your kid’s art work.

This can help you save a lot.

4. Choose the right flooring material.

room, make sure you olors, earth colors and sed in your walls, ceilAvoid using bright colou to sleep. Make sure

Instead of using cold flooring like ceramic tiles, marble or granite, make use of laminated flooring, wood, or carpet. It is not advisable to use ceramic tiles because it will only make your floor cold. You wouldn’t want to get out of bed and step on a cold floor. You might even slip if you use ceramic tiles. But if you already have cold flooring in your bedroom, put a rug or

rtner highway engineers practices in the development of road infrastructure.

The Minister of State for Works, Prince Adedayo Adeyeye who made this known in Abuja recently during the Annual General Meeting(AGM) of NIHE), stated that the contributions of engineers, particularly highway engineers were pivotal to roads development.

According to the minister, the road transport sector is critical to the socio-economic and industrial development of the country.

He stated that a conference which brought together professional highway engineers together such as this was necessary in facilitating discussions and interactions among builders and managers of the national road net-

a carpet near your bedside.

your room. It would even be easier for you to rest with that ambience.

5. Consider traffic in your room.

It is important that you have a good traffic inside your bedroom. Arrangement of furniture greatly affects traffic in your bedroom. You need to allow at least 24 inches for traffic lanes. Clear your path towards the bathroom so that you wouldn’t stumble on anything when you have late night trips towards it.

6. Choose the right colors and designs for fabric.

When you choose a bedcover and curtains, make sure it will look well in the room. Consider the color of your room. You can choose darker fabrics if your room is light and lighter fabrics if your room is dark. Also, try to look for a design that suits the concept of your room. The fabric can actually show your personality. So, choose well.

7. Use the right color for curtains.

Most people want to use dark curtains so that their bedroom with look a little bit dark even during the day which makes it much easier to sleep.

Dark curtains look great especially if you will use light colored walls. But if your walls are dark, then use light colored curtains. You have to consider contrast in choosing the color for your curtain. Also, you might want to use a curtain with two layers.

8. Use the right lightings.

Instead of using lights in the middle of the ceiling, use lampshades, up lights and pin lights. Using these type of lightings will give a great mood to

work.

Adeyeye who praised the organisers of the event, added that the creation of NIHE could not have come at much auspicious time than when the Ministry of Works was vigorously pursuing the reform of the road sector.

He noted that,’ Once the Reform Bill is passed into law, it will lead to the establishment of the Road Fund, which will help to ensure better funding of road projects across the country.”

The minister stated that the creation of the Nigerian Institution of Highway Engineers forum would not only assist the government in implementing road reform bills, it would also help in eliminating the existence of quacks and unqualified personnel.

Adeyeye also urged the institution to collaborate with Nigerian universities with a view to ensuring that upcoming engineers undergo adequate academic programmes in the field of highway engineering.

In his remarks, the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Dr. Abubakar Muhammad, assured that the ministry would give all necessary assistance to the institution to enable it add its quota to the development of road network in Nigeria.

9. Have a smart storage space.

Of course, you would always have a cabinet in your room where you will place your clothes and other belongings. It is advisable to have extra cabinet to make sure your things are well kept. Be wise in placing it in order to save space.

A bedroom should be well arranged, neat and clutter-free. Having enough storage spaces will help you avoid clutter.

10. Have good ventilation.

This might not be about decorating but ventilation is very important. You wouldn’t want to stay in a place that is too hot or too cold. If you want to have that fresh and cool air inside your room, use an exhaust fan. Put in on the ceiling or wall that is farthest from the window. This will help you save a lot for you won’t need to use an air conditioner if the weather is cold. You may also opt to have wide glass windows if you want.

This can allow sunlight to get into the room.

Among all rooms in your home, your bedroom’s look should be the most relaxing. It should have a calm atmosphere. Your interior design will greatly affect the ambience and mood of your bedroom. Your bedroom will also reflect your personal style and taste, thus it also tells who you are as a person. Now that we have done our part in giving you these bedroom decorating tips, it is now up to you to make your bedroom a nice place for rest and sleep.

NIQS seeks partnership with Nigerite

T

he Lagos State Chapter of the Nigerian Institute of Quantity Surveyors, NIQS, has appealed to Nigerite Limited not to relent in its support towards the institute’s programmes and urged the firm to consider how it can join forces to further deepen its relationship with the Institute.

A NIQS team, led by the chapter Chairman, Mr. Olayemi Shonubi made this appeal during a courtesy call to Nigerite’s Lagos office whilst welcoming the new Managing Director, Mr. Frank Le-Bris, to Nigeria and to assure him of a memorable and exciting tenure.

“This visit provides us an opportunity to express our appreciation to Nigerite regarding its support for our programmes and to see how we can further deepen the relationship between Nigerite and the institute,” NIQS Chairman said.

Shonubi added that the institute hopes to build on its relationship with the building solutions company, spanning over 20 years now, which has been mutually rewarding.

“We are happy that some of your new products are out now; especially the dry construction because we believe it is the way to go.

We want to get introduced to them so that we’ll be able to specify these products to people because we know that Nigerite’s products are the way to go,” he said.

Responding, Le-Bris restated Nigerite’s commitment to the progress of NIQS, saying “We have two new embossed ceiling products we call Prestige Ceil and Legend Ceil while one is on its way.

By the end of this year or next, we will have a launch of new products and you will be informed and invited and we expect that you will be well represented. I hope that we will make a good team.”

Elaborating on the company’s efforts to promote dry construction, Le-Bris informed the surveyors that there are different thicknesses used in the technique.

Although the take-off has been quite slow, he said the company has been trying to meet with the government at all levels and other people to explain how dry construction works.

He explained that Nigerite’s parent company, Etex Group, had similar challenges in countries like Chile, Peru, Columbia, Argentina, and Indonesia at the initial stage but now dry construction is really well accepted in all these places.

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Dubai developers urged to offer rent to own schemes

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evelopers in Dubai should introduce rent to own schemes to help many buyers who can no longer afford homes in the emirate’s booming residential real estate market it is claimed.

Although Dubai suffered price falls of up to 60% in some locations during the economic downturn, prices have been rising strongly again and new mortgage rules means it is harder to get a loan, especially for expats.

International property agency Chesterton believes that rent to own schemes, which were popular during the early 2000s when Dubai was establishing its own property marketplace, would help those struggling to afford to buy amid stricter regulations designed to cool rising prices.

According to Robin The, director of valuations at Chesteron MENA, such a move would also inspire confidence in buyers and reduce the risk element in buying into the UAE market.

‘There are several expats who

have been here for years and are now looking at buying a property, but are finding it difficult due to the current mortgage cap restrictions. Exponential growth in the UAE property market has made buying a property a near difficult proposition for the majority of end users,’ he explained.

Mortgage regulations requiring a 50% down payment for expats has also hit the loans sector.

So while the regulations have stabilised the market, they have at the same time made property investment unaffordable for most expat residents who usually cannot manage the deposits needed.

‘The solution to this is a rent to own option which gives owners the flexibility to terminate the contract towards the end of the tenure if the decision has not been made to purchase the house without any penalty,’ he added.

A typical rent to own real estate agreement is structured like an option contract. It allows the tenant to purchase the property at a fixed price within a specific period

of time. A portion of the monthly rent paid during the lease period is counted towards the down payment on the property.

Usually the property is leased higher than the market rate to cover the option price or the deposit that tenant has to pay to activate the option. If the tenant is unable to exercise the option to buy, the owner is then free to rent or sell the property to another buyer.

‘Rent to own schemes have various benefits for both tenants and developers. While sellers get an option fee and potential buyer, tenants get to live in the property and try out the neighbourhood before actually settling in for the long term,’ said Simon Gray, managing director for Chesterton MENA. ‘It also provides an opportunity for the seller to sell the property at a higher asking price because buyers who cannot own a house in any other way are usually willing to offer a higher future price based on the assumption that the market will improve,’ he pointed out.

Tuesday, September 2, 2014

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

UK property prices up 0.8% in August, latest index shows

U

K house prices increased by 0.8% in August taking the average price of a home to £189,306, according to the latest index from the Nationwide Building Society.

The index also shows that year on year price growth has increased from 10.6% to 11% compared with July and prices have now increased for 16 months in a row.

‘While this is still below the 11.8% recorded in June, house price growth continues to outpace earnings by a wide margin, with average wage growth running at less than 1% in recent months,’ said Robert Gardner, Nationwide’s chief economist.

‘Nevertheless, at a national level housing affordability does not appear stretched by historic standards, in part due to the low level of mortgage rates. The cost of servicing a typical mortgage remains close to the long run average as a share of take home pay,’ he explained.

He also pointed out that the outlook for the housing market remains highly uncertain. ‘The number of mortgage approvals fell by almost 20% between January and May, suggesting that activity was cooling. However, there

was a modest rebound in June and it is unclear how much of the slowdown was due to the introduction of Mortgage Market Review rather than an underlying loss of momentum,’ said Gardner.

‘Surveyors report that new buyer enquiries have moderated somewhat in recent months, and the prospect of interest rate increases together with subdued wage growth may temper demand in the quarters ahead.

However, the brightening economic outlook is likely to provide ongoing support for housing demand. Consumer sentiment remains buoyant thanks to declining inflation and sustained increases in employment,’ he added.

When an interest rate rise is likely to happen is still unclear.

According to Gardner the first increase in interest rates still appears some way off. ‘We expect the first increase in the first quarter of 2015. Guidance from the Bank of England suggests that the increase in interest rates is likely to be gradual, and they are expected to settle at a level somewhat below the average prevailing before the financial crisis,’ he said.

Green field land prices in UK up almost 10% year-on-year

I A house property in Dubai

Ghost tenants putting landlords, estate agents at risk

B

uy to let landlords in the UK could have millions of ghost tenants secretly living in their rented properties which is putting them and lettings agents at risk, it is claimed.

The Online Letting Agents is urging landlords and agents to check their properties to avoid the possibility of hefty fines resulting from the new immigration legislation.

According to recent research at least three million ghost tenants live in the UK’s 4.5 million buy to lets and shared houses in multiple occupation (HMO) and often tenants do not realise that other adults living in the home who are not listed on the tenancy agreement can cause legal prob-

lems.

More than half of letting agents have found ghost tenants living in rented homes when they have visited for inspections.

Ghost tenants are not listed on tenancy agreements and move in without the landlord’s knowledge or consent.

‘We know from our recent studies that most landlords are not confident about making the immigration checks that will be required by the new legislation. Despite reassurances that landlords will not be responsible for illegal ghost tenants that are living in their property, one in 10 landlords is still worried that they will be responsible for any tenants subletting to illegal ten-

ants,’ said Eleanor Carroll, director of The Online Letting Agents.

‘It is thought that up to 85% of illegal immigrants end up living in privately rented accommodation. Landlords who do not use a letting agent to let their properties need to be aware that they may be targeted by individuals who do not have the required documentation,’ she explained.

‘It is important that landlords and agents check properties for ghost tenants and we advise looking out for signs such as more rubbish than expected for the number of tenants, excessive wear and tear to the property, and evidence of additional sleeping arrangements, clothing and shoes in the property,’ she added.

mage National green field land values in the UK grew by 2.7% in the second quarter of 2014, bringing year on year rises to 9.8%, the highest rate of annual price growth recorded for three years.

The value of urban land increased by 2.1%, bringing annual growth to 8.5%, according to the latest data from property firm Savills and has been buoyed by strong rates of sale in the new homes market.

Momentum continues to build in the land markets across the country but towns in the London area have performed especially well as builders seek clean, edge of town greenfield sites, pushing prices back to their 2007 levels and beyond.

Brighton, Canterbury, Hayward’s Heath, Crawley, Oxford and Sevenoaks have all seen green field prices return to, or exceed, their pre-crunch levels.

However, the national picture disguises distinct regional, and local, markets. In the south east, the best performing region, green field values are within 16% of their peak.

Even the north of England, the region where land markets suffered most severely in the re-

cession, is now seeing sustained levels of land price growth. Annual price growth in green field land is up 13.8%, outperforming even the south east over the same period, although values remain half of their former highs. Buyers appear to be taking advantage of discounted prices during this window of opportunity, according to Jim Ward, Savills director of residential research.

He pointed out that recent price movements conceal a reduction in the value of affordable housing land, offsetting stronger growth in the value of land for market housing.

Larger serviced green field sites in strong housing market locations are appreciating in value more quickly than their small site counterparts. This comes as house builders seek sites at scale to secure land pipeline while delivering at higher rates.

For example, some very large 2,000 plus unit strategic sites have traded this year, a sign of strengthened market conditions but not without government support. Sherford, a 5,500 unit new town in Devon, was supported by £32 million loan from the HCA’s Local Infrastructure Fund.

Tuesday, September 2, 2014

Aviation

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

31

Stakeholders differ over incentives to airlines flying ‘unpopular’ routes A few weeks ago, the leading Non-Governmental Organisation, NGO, in the Nigerian aviation industry, Aviation Round Table, ART, condemned the crowding on some major routes in the country by most airlines and suggested giving incentives to airlines that fly into some ‘unpopular’ routes. But stakeholders and professionals disagree on this. OLUSEGUN KOIKI writes.

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part from the Murtala Mohammed Airport, MMA, the Port Harcourt International Airport, Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano, Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport, NAA, Abuja and a few others, most of the nation’s airports are grossly under-utilised.

Airports like Yola, Ibadan, Minna, Akure, Katsina, Sokoto, Maiduguri, Ilorin, and Makurdi hardly record 150,000 passengers in a year. Some observers say not that passengers are not willing to use these airports, while commercial airline operators are reluctant to fly into several of them because of perceived low passenger and cargo traffics.

Before now, the defunct EAS Airlines single-handedly developed the Jos route. The airline was operating Lagos-Jos-Kano on a daily basis while the equally rested Chanchangi Airlines ensured its consistency on the Lagos-Kaduna route, although with some challenges.

At the moment, apart from the Overland Airways, which currently has the tradition of opening up new routes like the Asaba International Airport, Dutse International Airport, reconstructed Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa International Airport, Bauchi, Ibadan and Akure Airports, many other airlines in the country all rush to Abuja, Port Harcourt, Owerri and Kano airports early in the morning, but return to their base; Lagos with almost empty.

Based on this, Aviation Round Table, ART, led by its President, Capt. Dele Ore and other executive members called on the government to look into the overdependence of airline operators on Abuja, Lagos and Port Harcourt airports.

The non-governmental organisation, suggested that efforts should be made to support and encourages local carriers to ply domestic routes currently abandoned for reasons of low passenger traffic.

ART argued that in order to encourage movements to the less busy airports, the government should map out a deliberate strategy to develop new routes in the system, adding that airlines flying into those routes could be given incentives like free tax regime and non-payment of landing and parking charges among others to further embolden them.

But, the position of ART has been condemned by various stakeholders and professionals in the sector. Those who spoke to our correspondent said that it was not the duty of the government to provide incentives for airlines, but purely business economics facilitated and mapped out by individual airlines.

Mahonwu

Overland Airways aircraft

If you want your route to be popular, then, you need to develop your State.

For instance, if you want people to come to Akure, then, you need to go and develop Ondo State. You will build something there that will make people

come.

That is the only way to develop a route

They posited that the policy of giving out incentives to such airlines may eventually boomerang on the government as some other airlines might seize the opportunity to equally make spurious demands.

Commenting on the issue, the immediate past Chairman, Airline Operators of Nigeria, AON, Dr. Steve Mahonwu, said that for an investor to come into the sector, such was expected to carry out the feasibility study of the industry and draw up a master plan on routes it wants to operate into.

Mahonwu noted that the problem of triangle routes; Abuja, Port Harcourt and Kano have been on for several years, which the government and operators themselves had not been able to solve over the years.

He insisted that route development is a very big phenomenon in the global aviation industry, which in most cases is done through trial and error basis, adding that creation of awareness by such airline would also go a long way in aiding quick route development.

He said, “Most stakeholders talking about this issue don’t even know much about it and they don’t even know the mission of the airline operators in the air. For the fact that you have money to establish an airline doesn’t mean you know it all in the sector.

“A lot of us have been in the industry for a long time, but have no money to establish one. Even, if you give me an airline at its peak, I will not take it because I don’t have money to maintain it. The actual fact that you are a stakeholder or an operator does not give you the citadel of knowledge. You need awareness for people to follow.

“It is not a government thing to support the airlines. They should have money to run the business and have lots of revenues to continue with the business. For you to say the government should give them incentives, government should equally run your airline for you. Route development is a trial by error mechanism. People should run their airlines themselves. Government cannot help you; it

is not a government business. If you want to run an airline, you put money down and get people to run it for you and not you that put down the money.”

He urged other domestic airline operators to emulate the Overland Airways model of business by gradually developing new routes and creating awareness, which would make them grow.

“Unless you create the awareness, people will not see you developing the route. You can’t develop a route in a week or two, it’s a long time programme and then you will stabilise your authority on that route. People will know you and then will patronise you.

“Overland Airways have a good masterpiece shuttling between station to station in nooks and crannies of this nation because it knows what it is doing, know what it wants to achieve, what it has also achieved. What we should do is to encourage our members to adopt the Overland Airways method of route development and not just go to Abuja in the morning and come back in the evening either half full or empty,” he added.

Besides, another aviation expert, Capt.

Adewale Okusaga of the defunct Nigeria Airways emphasised that new routes could only be popular if the state governments on their own develop their states with several amenities that would attract investors and tourists to them.

Okusaga, stated that airports are not built just for the sake of it, but must be tied to an economic activity, adding that some activities are making people move to Abuja and some other major airports in the country.

32

Aviation

Tuesday, September 2, 2014

B.A. internship has widened my perspective about aviation –Participant

L-R : Country Manager Nigeria, Thobi Duma; Regional General Manager for Africa and Middle-East, Aaron Munetsi, and Regional Manager for North, West and Central Africa, Ohis Ehimiaghe all of South African Airways at the airline’s press conference in Lagos announcing its 8th frequency on the Lagos/Johannesburg route recently.

Stories: O lusegun Koiki

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ne of the six lucky winners of the just concluded ‘Leaders of Tomorrow initiative for Nigeria,’ organised by the British Airways, Mr. Olaoluwa Ogunranti has described the programme as one that will develop the aviation industry in Nigeria if sustained by the airline.

Ogunranti was one of the six lucky winners picked by the panel of judges from the Nigerian College of Technology (NCAT), Zaria and Ilorin International College of Aviation.

The winners embarked on two weeks internship pro-

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he Federal Government has been advised to revive the abandoned Aviation Turbine Fuel, ATF depot situated in Warri, Delta State if it truly wants the skyrocketing price of aviation fuel (Jet A1) to crumble.

The Chairman of the umbrella body of airlines in the country, Airline Operators of Nigeria, AON, Capt. Nogie Meggison said that without the resuscitation of the ATF, the price of aviation fuel would continue to remain high in the country.

At the moment, a litre of aviation fuel oscillates between N180 and N200 depending on the litres, the marketer and the airport an airline is buying from.

Speaking with our correspondent in Lagos over the weekend, Meggison noted that operators in the sub-sector spend approximately 40 per cent or more of their revenues on purchase of aviation fuel and challenged the government to intervene on the situation before it becomes sordid.

He recalled that the Atlas Cove and Mosemi pipelines – hydrant system, which before

gramme with the airline in both Nigeria and United Kingdom.

The internship also included the shadowing of the British Airways Chief Executive Officer, CEO, Keith Williams for a day in London and shadowing the airline’s Country Commercial Manager, Nigeria, Mr. Kola Olayinka for a day in Lagos, to get a unique glimpse into the workings of the airline.

Speaking on the programme, Ogunranti said that it would enable him be a better manager in all spheres of aviation industry in the future, adding that the winners benefited immensely from the two weeks programme.

Airside shegzzy4live2000@yahoo.co.uk 08186007273

He said, “I would rather say that the internship has widened my horizon in the industry. You will agree with me that, to be a good manager, you should have orientation on all the departments under you.

I got a training from practically all the departments of B.A. and now I’m not only gazing on practicing as a licensed Aircraft Engineer, but also on rising fast to be a top official of an international airline like BA as I have been tagged ‘Leader’ by the initiative.

“The summary of my experience is what I summarise as ‘how to run an international airline like B.A. successfully.’

During the two weeks internship, we were taken through sessions of trainings by BA’s top officials both in UK and Nigeria with the exceptions of some of our instructors who were experts outside the airline.

“Well, the initiative no doubt has boosted my Curriculum Vitae, it was an eye opener.

I am passionate about Nigeria and in my capacity; I will deliver my quota to the aviation industry. Although, I know I will need to be further trained because, aviation training is intensive. I wouldn’t mind to attend the training school of BA for a full course.”

AON boss proffers solutions to high cost of aviation fuel now supplied fuel to airlines was shut down by the late Gen. Sani Abacha in January 1996, stressing that before the shutting down, aircraft were being fueled through the hydrant at the Murtala Muhammed Airport, MMA, Lagos.

He further charged the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, to revive the pipelines, which he said must have been rusty and corroded due to over 18 years of abandonment by the government.

He said, “The causes of high cost of aviation fuel are the cumbersome chain of distribution and supply it has to pass through before getting to airline operators. Other reasons are cost of importing fuel, delay at seaport, which translates into high demurrage paid by oil marketers, awkward process of loading at the Apapa Port and inefficient transportation of the product by road from the seaport to the Joint Users Hydrant Installation, JUHI, at the airport.

“Some of the marketers I spoke with on the issue said their vessels get delayed for about two weeks to dock at the seaport and the cost to them is as much as $20,000 paid as demurrage on the product per day while products are on the sea.

“However, the Petrol Motor Spirit, PMS, and Dual Purpose Kerosene, DPK, have been regulated at N4 fixed margin by the federal government since 2007, but in the sub-sector this high price affects our operations and has seriously been increasing our operational costs in the past seven years with little or no area to maneuver.”

Meggison however commended President Goodluck Jonathan led administration for investing heavily in the sector, stressing that the present government had invested more than any other government in recent time.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Selling your birthright through BASA cancellation

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rom October 27, 2014, foreign airlines operating into Nigeria will stop the usually payment of the Bilateral Air service Agreement, BASA, to Nigeria due to the policy of the federal government.

BASA is a contract between two countries. The sum is paid by a carrier that operates into another country when the airline of that country cannot reciprocate the number of frequencies enjoyed by such a foreign carrier.

Before the death of the former Nigeria Airways, the sum was deposited into its account and the sum was used for training and others, but since its close of shop, and the sum was transferred into the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, with the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, is one of its major controllers.

About N19bn from the money

was spent for the remodeling of the 22 airports in the country by the former minister of aviation, Princess Stella Oduah. Airside thinks that the cancelation of BASA payment by foreign carriers amounts to selling your birthright without a challenge as this would add up to the capital flight that is already crippling the sector, no thanks to our government.

Undoubtedly, the cancellation of BASA will negatively affect the sector especially the agencies who use some of this money for training and possibly acquisition of some important equipment to shore up their operations.

Airside appeals to the minister of aviation, Mr. Osita Chidoka to change this bad policy and several others that have drew the sector backward over the years.

Airside hopes someone will act fast before the October 27 date.

A need for change in policy

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here is an existing policy of the Federal Government, which Airside thinks it is retrogressive and may likely massively affect the country’s aviation industry if not changed soon.

The Federal Government some few years ago came out with a policy to let go any of its employees from the position of General Manager upward who has spent about eight years in that position.

As good as this policy looks on the surface; Airside thinks this might spell doom for aviation one day.

Information gathered by Airside indicated that no fewer than 40 Air Traffic Controllers, ATC,

from the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency, NAMA, alone may be affected by this if implemented in the sector by the government while other departments in other agencies too are not spared.

Most of those to be affected by this policy in the sector are still young, vibrant and were trained with the country’s resources.

While Airside supports productivity in the system, it seriously frowns against easing out of young productive personnel in the system. Aviation Minister of Aviation, Mr. Osita Chidoka should take a second look at this in the sector.

Etihad supports FOCA’s review of Darwin Airline

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tihad Airways says it is comfortable with the process of review by Switzerland’s Federal Office of Civil Aviation, FOCA, concerning the agreement to acquire 33.3 per cent of Darwin Airline.

Etihad Airways was advised in June

by FOCA that changes to the agreement would be needed to secure regulatory approval. Since then, it said it has been working with FOCA and is amending the agreement to ensure it complies with regulations.

The Chief Executive Officer, Etihad Airways, James Hogan, said: “We are comfortable with FOCA’s review and understand and support the need for there to be absolute clarity that Etihad Airways does not, cannot and will not exercise control over Darwin Airline.

“While our initial agreement has required amendment, we are seeking, as any minority investor would, protection for our investment.

This is about protection, not control. Etihad Regional was,

and will continue to be, majority owned

by Swiss shareholders and operated by Swiss management.”

A 66.7 per cent investment in the airline will be retained

by Swiss investors and no Swiss interests will be compromised by Etihad Airways’ investment.

“We have a high regard for the management of the business and its capability to build a stronger regional airline that increases competition and choice for air travellers, especially in Switzerland,” Hogan.

Tuesday, September 2, 2014

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Insurance Local players can utilise partnerships with foreign insurers –ILAN President

33

Smarting from the influx of foreign insurers into the Nigeria market, the President of the Institute of Loss Adjusters of Nigeria, Chief Lebi Omoboyowa in this interview with MESHACK IDEHEN says that foreign loss adjusters should not continue to edge the indigenous firms out of the large claim settlements business.

How would you describe the insurance industry in Nigeria?

The insurance industry is doing fine; we only need to improve on our operations in the area of penetration.

Our penetration is still low unlike what obtains in advanced countries. I really appreciate the efforts of the Commissioner for Insurance, Mr. Fola Daniel, in the area of insurance penetration. He constituted and followed up and he is still following up on micro-insurance, Takaful. This is one of the areas which we have to pay more attention. Let macro business take care of them.

In micro, we have small scale industries and numerous small businesses and thriving individuals in their various trades.

The small scale industry plays a more important role in the development of the economy because that is where you have a large number of people. In the 70’s we had this home to home life insurance by the British American insurance company. I am happy the insurance companies are trying to improve on what the commission has laid down.

What would you say are the major developments in the loss adjusting sub sector of the industry?

We are making progress; we have paired ourselves with our international counterparts and I am happy to inform you that we are not lagging behind. Our association belongs to a world body- the international Federation of Loss Adjusting Association with headquarters in London. Apart from our own body being a member, we have some individuals here who are fellows of that body. I am one of them with two others. Despite that, we need collaboration and cooperation with adjusters coming from abroad to Nigeria. We would share experience and share the fee.

Do you have any challenge with the provisions of the local content law?

One challenge we have is with the foreign loss adjusters coming to Nigeria to do business without involving the local adjusters. The Local Content Act has the statutory provision that all the foreign loss adjusters who must come to Nigeria should work with local loss adjusters. That way, there would be international exposure transferred to the local loss adjusters. At the same time, loss adjusting fee should not be earned by the foreign loss adjuster alone but should be shared with the local loss adjusters.

The challenge is that when these foreign adjusters come to Nigeria, our underwriters who are always the first port of call will not ask them who their local partners are because our law does not allow you to work alone.

Why do you think local operators are exempted when foreign adjusters are invited for business in spite of the law?

The international arrangement is that the foreign loss adjuster is appointed by foreign reinsurers, and reinsurance business is an international business. When the local underwriters get the business, they may not retain more than 10 per cent. They reinsure the remaining with foreign reinsurers such as Munich Re, Swiss Re Lloyds and others. It is those foreign reinsurers that ap-

they can allow him to go to site.

Are local underwriters working well with your institute?

Insurers here on large claims appoint local adjusters on their own to represent their interest. But the international reinsurer will always appoint their own adjuster to come and look at the business for them. And because they have large chunk of the business, they have a right to appoint. When they come, instead of working with the local adjuster, they do the business on their own and earn the money and this is capital flight.

What is your position on the claim by foreign loss adjusters that there is capacity deficiency locally?

There is no truth in that allegation and it is completely false. Our members are well trained. They can do any business as far as Nigeria or West Africa is concerned.

Some of our members are outside Nigeria and they did it successfully well. Those making that allegation, watch out for them. Nobody has accused adjusters in Nigeria as not competent. If there is any, the institute will take it up; we have a disciplinary committee that will investigate the claim and discipline the errant member.

Omoboyowa

Can you imagine you employ a graduate, train him and you are not able to keep the graduate because of poor remuneration by

insurance companies?

The

international adjusters come here and charge their fee which is usually

man-hour system, not our graduated scale of fees point the international loss adjuster to come down to Nigeria and do the job, particularly when it is a huge loss.

What right does the Local Content Law confer on indigenous loss adjusters?

The law says for every business in Nigeria, particularly in our own area, at least 30 per cent should be domiciled in Nigeria. What we are saying is that since they have the technical edge over us because of their international exposure, even if we can’t keep 70 per cent for Nigerian firms and 30 per cent to the foreign firm, why can’t we come to a compromise? We can do the job jointly and share experience. That is what we actually need in loss adjusting. If we cannot share 70/30, we can always find a formula that will encourage them to be coming. But when they come, our own underwriters don’t ask them about their local colleagues, which ac-cording to the law should work with them on this claim. They should first of all ask that question and make sure there is a local adjuster that should work with the man before

Are foreign loss adjusters paid with the same scale as their local counterparts?

When foreign adjusters come here, they charge a fee.

They don’t make use of our own rate, which was agreed in 1992 and has not been reviewed. It is not only uneconomical; it is not even commercial to them. Nigerian adjusters are complaining and groaning that the scale is uneconomical, it is not enough to sustain us, how much less employ hands that can take over from us. Can you imagine you employ a graduate, train him and you are not able to keep the graduate because of poor remuneration by insurance companies? The international adjusters come here and charge their fee, which is usually man-hour system, not our graduated scale of fees. Probably it is only in Nigeria we are using that type of payment system.

How are you addressing the issue?

We are addressing it already; we are making progress with the discussion with the Nigerian Insurers Association. They invited us recently for a discussion. We constituted a committee on that. They also constituted a committee at their own end. They have met at least once. They will be having another meeting this month. We are making progress on the negotiation; what will be the outcome I cannot say for now.

What scale of payment are you suggesting to the underwriters?

For now, we are not allowed beyond the out-dated scale of fees. That is why we are complaining bitterly. However, they have invited us; they are listening to us unlike before.

Let’ see what will come out of that. Also, we are advised to formulate an alternative billing system on man-hour business. We have appointed a committee for that and they are also working. If the NIA insists on the graduated scale, as long as they can improve on that, we will make do with it. But some of them are talking about the international standard – that is the man-hour system, which is why we have a committee. We are discussing and we will put the two before them.

34

Insurance

Tuesday, September 2, 2014

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

NAICOM to partner ICPC against Tips for insurance agents corrupt insurance operators B Stories: Meshack Idehen

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he National Insurance Commission, NAICOM, has said partnership with the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission, ICPC, will be sought in order to fight insurers who engage in corrupt practices, particularly in returned premiums through third parties.

Returned premium, according to the regulators, occurs when a policyholder seeks to cancel his insurance policy before end of the policy period, which is legal and allowed by the law. However, insurers, brokers and agents, the commission said, connive to manipulate the policy by inflating the value of the premiums without the policyholder’s knowledge.

The regulators explained brokers who are intermediaries between the insurer and the policyholder (client), inflate premiums above the normal values, and afterwards, the surplus is shared by broker and others involved in the shady deal.

For instance, NAICOM said a broker negotiating for a N1 million

premium on a particular cover for government or organisation colludes with the underwriter and staff of an insurance company and inflates the premium to N1.5 million, after which the excess N.5 million is shared between the broker, underwriter and the staff involved in the deal. This inflation of premium is done keeping the client completely in the dark.

Chairman of the Governing Board of NAICOM, Hon. Chibudom Nwuche, told journalists the commission has urged the ICPC to join hands with the insurance regulatory body in the fight against fraudulent transactions or activities in the insurance industry. He said the collaboration will help deepen insurance penetration in Nigeria.

He told the ICPC that while NAICOM is saddled with regulating the insurance industry, it does not have the requisite powers of enforcement especially in terms of arrest and punishment of fraudulent culprits.

Speaking in the same vein, Commissioner for Insurance, Mr Fola Daniel, reiterated that the primary

Daniel

responsibility of the commission is to ensure protection of policy holders, adding that insurance is built on the principle of utmost good faith and thus, every insurance practitioner is expected to uphold this principle in words and deeds.

“We are seeking assistance of the ICPC in fighting corrupt practices in the industry particularly in the area of returned premiums. We assure that NAICOM will not tolerate returned premiums through third parties.”

Insurers begin Ebola awareness campaign

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he President, Association of Registered Insurance Agents of Nigeria, Mr. Gbadebo Olamerun, has urged people to take precautionary measures to prevent the spread of the deadly Ebola disease.

He said this when members of ARIAN organised an Ebola virus awareness trek on the streets of Lagos.

“We have had meetings with drivers, conductors and artisans, and given them gloves and sanitisers because they have regular contact with people. We urge them to wear gloves and use sanitisers,” he said

The ARIAN boss said regular washing of hands with soap and water could prevent the Ebola virus infection from spreading, saying people should imbibe the attitude of protecting their lives and properties with insurance and not wait until they fell sick or suffered a loss.

He observed that the government had expressed its intention to give life insurance cover to volunteers treating the Ebola patients.

“For the volunteers, they are flagging insurance for them, but insurance is not medicine after death,

they don’t provide insurance when there is eventuality, you get insurance before the eventuality happens,” he said.

While stressing the relevance of insurance, he observed that it was contributing significantly to economies of developed countries but regretted that the reverse was the case in Nigeria.

Gbadebo said people should report any Ebola case to the necessary authorities, wash their hands and reduce the contact of the hands with the nose, mouth, ear and other open parts of the body.

butions of personnel of the NPF under the Pensions Reform Act 2014, was already taking steps to receive the transfer of the over N300bn pension contributions of all the police from 20 PFAs that were previously managing the funds.

It stated that the NPF Pensions was set up and licensed to cater for the police as a compromise to prevent the NPF from exiting the Contributory Pension Scheme.

Following the enactment of the Pension Reform (amendment) Act 2011, which exempted the personnel of the military and intelligence agencies, the NPF and other agencies brought heavy pressure on the Presidency to also be excluded from the CPS. After careful considerations, following several meetings and consultations, the statement said the Federal Government decided

that the NPF personnel should remain under the CPS, but with special administrative solutions to address their grievances within the framework of the scheme.

“With the granting of operating licence to the NPF Pensions, the spirit of the compromise whereby the police remains under the CPS, being regulated by PenCom but own their PFA to cater for their specific needs and address their genuine complaints against the PFAs, which amongst others include poor service delivery, has now been realised,” the statement said.

“The safety net that covers contributors’ funds in other PFAs is also covering police pension funds.

There is no doubt that members of the Nigeria Police Force are desirous of owning their PFA in order to serve their unique needs and also use any profits there from to improve their welfare,” it stated.

Police PFA commences operations

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he Nigeria Police Force Pensions has commenced operation after the operating licence granted it by the National Pensions Commission, PenCom, thus becoming the 21st Pension Fund Administrator.

According to a statement, the NPF Pensions, specially licensed to administer the pension contri-

PenCom DG, Anohu Amazu

usiness insurance is a specialised and competitive form of insurance. Business insurance agents need to work hard in order to provide their clients with the best possible service and ensure that they enjoy a successful relationship with their firm and their clients. Agents need to be able to provide the best possible advice and service, while also building up a good client base.

Business insurance is a specialised type of insurance. Insurance agents who wish to work in this field will be more successful if they are able to focus on handling business insurance policies. It is important for an insurance agent to obtain as much experience as possible in this field and to build up plenty of specialised knowledge.

Business insurance agents need to be able to provide their clients with expert advice, so they need to know as much as possible about this type of insurance.

Agents also need to ensure that they stay up-to-date with all of the latest developments in their field in order to remain competitive.

Successful business insurance agents need to build up as much experience as they can in the field of business insurance. They also need to ensure that they have the best possible reputation among both insurance professionals and business clients. Having a good reputation is essential for success in this type of insurance since one of the most important ways in which business insurance agents find new clients is through referrals made by their existing clients. Agents also need to work hard to promote their own services and to find new clients.

Business insurance is a very competitive field, so business

insurance agents need to be as competitive as possible. This means that they need to keep their clients happy, to build up a goof reputation and work to attract new business clients. Businesses which are searching for an insurer tend to spend a lot more time making their decision than clients in other forms of insurance. They are more likely to choose an insurer based on a referral from a business associate, and they are usually going to shop around before choosing an insurance provider. It is essential that a business insurance agent is aware of this and that they make sure they create the best possible first impression for potential new clients.

Providing a high quality service is also essential in business insurance since business clients will be searching for an insurer with whom they can have a good business relationship. It is, therefore, important for business insurance agents to focus on service as well as on providing good insurance policies. A successful agent should be open and honest with their clients. They should offer the best possible advice and they should work on building strong relationships with their clients. This will encourage business clients to refer their agent to their business associates.

It will also help build a loyal client base.

Business insurance agents and businesses seeking insurance policies should ensure that they know as much as possible about how business insurance works. The Cheaper Business Insurance Quotes website is a good place to start exploring the options that are available in business insurance.

Source: www.insure.net

LASACO deploys ICT for insurance penetration

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ASACO Assurance Plc said it has eased the process of consumers having access to its numerous products through sale of products online real-time and that LASACO customers are able to obtain and pay premiums for their products on line.

Speaking on the strategic initiative of LASACO Assurance to support its marketing efforts with information computer technology, ICT, the ICT Head, Mr. Deji Ogundele, explained that LASACO is committed to ensuring its numerous customers’ as well potential ones enjoy seamless service satisfaction using the instrumentality of ICT. “The ICT operations is on 24/7 basis to ensure seamless flow of the processes so that our customers can enjoy great customer experience.

Our products are sold through e-payment systems; awareness campaign; and development of knowledge in

various electronic and print media.

The world is actually going digital and more transactions are done online real-time.

“We have put in place a number of platforms to effectively reach out to our numerous and potential clients by embarking on digital marketing and also making it more accessible through the various social media market platforms. Once the desired product is purchased, several alternative channels are available to make payments easier.”

He said payments can be made through bank branches nationwide, Quickteller, point of sale, POS, and our e-commerce portal in a seamless manner, adding that these alternative channels of payment are built on a world class web-based integrated solution, which combines the core insurance businesses with powerful administrative and marketing tools.

Tuesday, September 2, 2014

Money

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

35

CACS: CBN, banks, others partner on agric financing

The 60 per cent of the funds in the Commercial Agriculture Credit Scheme, CACS, targets improving local production of the commodities, a vision the Central Bank of Nigeria ,CBN, says would significantly reduce share of Nigeria’s food import bill. UDO ONYEKA reports.

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ith the extension of the Commercial Agriculture Credit Scheme, CACS, lending to 2015, the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Deposit Money Banks, DMBs and Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources have continued to deepen the finance of agriculture in the country.

The collaboration according to the CBN Governor, Mr. Godwin Emefiele is aimed at consolidating the achievements of the Agricultural Transformation Agenda ATA, initiated by the Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources.

The CACS has been extended by nine years, up from year 2016 to 2025 in furtherance of its strategic focus on agricultural sector lending for national economic growth and sustainable development.

Giving the hint two weeks ago at the 8th Annual Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises ,MSMEs, Finance Conference/ Entrepreneurial Award in Abuja , the governor, said that the apex bank would focus on sectors that had the potential of creating jobs and help the country reduce its growing import bill to conserve much needed foreign exchange, adding that emphasis would be placed on value chains financing in four priority commodities including rice, fish, wheat and sugar.

Emefiele said these commodities account for a significant share of Nigeria’s food import bill over the years.

He said in order to reduce the food import bill and create productivity capacity at the domestic level, 60 per cent of the funds in the CACS, would be targeted at improving local production of the commodities.

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

As part of the collaboration to finance agric, National Mirror gathered that six banks approved a total of N3.51bn for 21 agricultural projects across Nigeria in July this year, a Federal Government’s report said.

The projects, it stated, came under the government’s Growth Enhancement Scheme and funded by the Central Bank of Nigeria through its Credit Risk Guarantee scheme.

But the report, which showed the activities of the CBN’s Development Finance Department for July 2014, did not name the banks.

It said the July approved funds were a credit guarantee under the Nigeria Incentive-based Risk Sharing System for Agricul-

CBN Gov. Emefiele

Union Bank MD, Emeka Emuwa

The lending system also builds the capacities of banks to lend to agriculture as well as provide incentives for those that are financing the sector tural Lending – GES framework.

The CBN said the activities undertaken by the department in the period under review contributed substantially towards achieving the mandate of the real sector as well as financial inclusion and entrepreneurship development.

It listed the strategic initiatives implemented as NIRSAL, Commercial Agriculture Credit Scheme; Agricultural Credit Guarantee Scheme Fund, Agricultural Credit Support Scheme and Interest Drawback Programme.

Others are microfinance policy, financial inclusion, entrepreneurship development, Power and Airline Intervention Fund, Small and Medium Enterprises Credit Guarantee Scheme and SME restructuring/refinancing.

On NIRSAL, the report noted that the system was a mechanism designed to provide farmers with affordable financial products and reduce the risk of exposure of financial institutions lending to the sector.

“The lending system also builds the capacities of banks to lend to agriculture as well as provide incentives for those that are financing the sector,” it added.

The Development Finance Department, said the apex bank, collaborated with the GIZ on farmers’ business school programme to train farmers in the primary production segment in Niger State for the month.

It said 19 extension agents were trained under the “Train the trainer’s workshop” and the trained agents would train 500 rice

farmers under the scheme.

It outlined some of the challenges faced as the validity of information provided by counter parties for credit risk guarantee; low public awareness and poor perception of NIRSAL; and logistic limitation in respect of movement to the NIRSAL head office.

Going forward, the bank said the guarantee would be extended only to projects with fixed value chain.

It said NIRSAL’s exit from the CBN’s decision was still pending with the bank’s management, adding that it would continue to collaborate with stakeholders.

The report said the CBN would monitor the training programme to ensure the 500 rice farmers were trained by the extension agents.

The report noted that the Commercial Agriculture Credit Scheme was established to finance large ticket projects along the agricultural value chain.

It said the scheme was being administered at an interest rate of nine per cent for a period of seven years.

It noted that state governments, including the Federal Capital Territory, could access a maximum of N1bn each for on-lending to farmers’ cooperatives or other areas of agricultural intervention.

It said, “The sum of N236.969bn has so far been released to the economy under CACS in respect of 313 projects through 20 banks made up of N199.831bn from CACS receivable account for 273 projects and N37.138bn from CACS repayment account for 40 new

projects and 18 enhancements.

“The sum of N2.684bn was released from the CACS repayment account to five participating banks for six new projects in July, 2014. 313 beneficiaries made up of 282 private promoters and 31 state governments projects have been sponsored under the CACS. The sum of N43bn has been accessed by 30 state governments and the FCT.” In the same vein the CBN has so far released about N19.9 billion under the Growth Enhancement Scheme, GES’s Credit Risk Guarantee, CRG, meant to boost agriculture financing in the country.

The CBN in its Development Finance Department, DFD, report for January- March 2014 disclosed that the sum of N134.61million was paid to 61 projects under the Nigeria Incentive-Based Risk Sharing System for Agricultural Lending, NIRSAL, in the first quarter of this year.

The NIRSAL is a mechanism designed to provide farmers with affordable financial products, reduce the risk of financial institutions that grant them loans, build capacities of banks to lend to agriculture, as well as develop an incentive mechanism for Nigerian banks based on their commitment to agricultural financing.

The report showed that one Credit Risk Guarantee ,CRG, valued N2bn was issued during the review period. That took the total value to N16.272bn in respect of 45 CRG cover issued from inception to date.

Meanwhile the CBN has released fresh guidelines for the disbursement of the CACS. The scheme according to the bank shall be financed from the proceeds of the N200bn three (3) year bond raised by the Debt Management Office, DMO. In the guidelines available in the bank’s website, CBN stated that the fund shall be made available to the participating bank(s) to finance commercial agricultural enterprises.

It noted that each state government could borrow up to N1.0billion for on-lending to farmers’ cooperative societies and other areas of agricultural development provided such initiatives/interventions were in line with the objectives of CACS. This fund, it added, would complement other special initiatives of CBN in providing concessionary funding for agriculture.

The objectives of the scheme according to the CBN are to fast track development of the agricultural sector of the Nigerian economy by providing credit facilities to commercial agricultural enterprises at a single digit interest rate; to enhance national food security by increasing food supply and effecting lower agricultural produce and product prices, thereby promoting low food inflation, among others.

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Tuesday, September 2, 2014

Taxation

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Micro finance banks are VATable –FIRS

Chairman FIRS, Mashi

Okonjo Iweala

Stories:Tola A kinmutimi

F

ederal Inland Revenue Service, FIRS, has clarified some misgivings

about Value Added Tax, VAT, administration in the Micro finance services sub-sector of the banking industry, saying that Microfinance banks,

MFBs, are not exempted from VAT payment.

The Director, Micro and Small Tax Department of the Service, Umar Magam made the clarification during a sensitisation workshop on VAT operations by the Microfinance bank operators in the financial sub sector of the economy organised by the Western regional operators.

The workshop, which is a collaborative effort of all tax offices in the Western region, is predicated on the observations from VAT/WHT verification exercise.

The exercise indicated that although introduced into the Nigerian Tax System 20 years ago, some taxpayers still didn’t know how to accurately complete the VAT form 002

and are not clear with some sections of the VAT law.

Magam, who highlighted this in his keynote address, said that the ugly situation “must however be reversed if we are to meet government’s expectations on the revenue generation for the country”.

The Regional Coordinator, Western Region, Moses Opanike, reiterated the Service’s commitment to render efficient service to taxpayers, He said: “FIRS has put in place many reform agenda that are targeted at improving tax administration processes and aimed at serving the taxpayers better and has embarked on several projects and initiatives some which

include creation of one-stopshop, project FACT for TIN generation, re-introduction of Self-Assessment regulation, Integrated Tax Administration System, ITAS, and redrafting of all tax laws in plain English language” Opanike said.

Value Added Tax is a consumption tax, the burden of which is on the final consumer of goods and services. The National Tax Policy emphasizes the need for the tax authorities to ensure integrity and transparency, carry out proper taxpayer education and enlightenment, and create conducive taxpayer-tax administration relationship such that would encourage taxpayer confidence and thus improve voluntary tax compliance.

....urges officers to apply Tax Returns checklist on taxpayers

T

he Coordinating Director Standards and Compliance Group, CD/SCG, of the Federal Inland Revenue Service, FIRS, Mr. Samuel Ogunbesan, has urged field officers in the Service to apply their tax returns’ checklist in their assessment of taxpayers’ tax returns.

Odugbesan gave the charge during a One-Day Workshop organised to sensitize tax officers in the Federal Capital Ter-

ritory, FCT Region to ensure there is efficiency in tax returns and payment processes service wide.

Declaring the workshop open, the CD/SCG said the need to facilitate the new process of desk review of tax returns in line with the recently approved and updated checklist for the application of every tax returns reviewed had become imperative in the drive towards improved effi-

ciency in tax returns.

Represented by the Director, RRFPPD, Mr. John Ogundare, the CD/ SCG explained that the practically projected workshop was also built to enable the affected officers get acquainted with the amended checklist as well as to demonstrate, in practical terms, some of the issues for review when receiving tax returns in the field offices.

He said: “It is noted

that from the report of monitoring visit to the field offices that desk review of tax returns is hardly carried out. This is done with the excuse that all tax returns will ultimately be subjected to tax audit.

“While it is correct that emphasis is being placed on tax audit of tax returns to complement the Self-Assessment System, you will agree with me that it is difficult if not impossible for all our

live files to go through tax audit, given our current audit structure, besides, desk review of tax returns need to pass through to complement the tax audit exercise.”

Odugbesan added.

He advised the field officers to disabuse the old practice of desk examination of tax returns but also advocate that the new process to improve performance in their field offices such that the RPP Unit

of each tax office will subject every tax returns to a basic review with respect to their accuracy and completeness without necessarily calling for the documents.

The tax expert also stressed that the workshop will be held in other regions of FIRS to ensure that tax offices apply what is needful in relation to desk review of tax returns through practical examination of live tax files.

TAX LAWS AND ISSUES Spain claims loss of EUR1bn to Gibraltar tax regime Zambia to relax VAT rule on exports

A

fter the leak of a confidential letter dated July 15, 2014, Zambia’s Finance Minister Alexander Chikwanda has now confirmed that he has asked President Michael Sata to approve the relaxation of a value added tax, VAT, regulation for exporters.

In the letter, he had informed the President that the regulation, requiring exporters to obtain an import certificate from the countries receiving their goods, was impractical, and he asked the President for authority to instruct the Zambia Revenue Authority, for which the regulation had been introduced to reduce tax avoidance,

to require the document only for export verification purposes.

Although his letter used copper mining companies as an example of the rule’s impracticability, pointing out that the equivalent of some $600m in VAT refunds had already been withheld from them due to their inability to produce import certificates as they often transact through third parties, Chikwanda later confirmed that the regulatory relaxation would apply to all exporters.

It is now expected that the mining sector and the Ministry of Finance will take immediate steps to arrange for the backlog of refunds to be repaid over an agreed time schedule.

A

high ranking Spanish politician has claimed that the Spanish government misses out on EUR1bn ($1.3bn) of tax revenues each year as a result of Gibraltar’s tax regime.

Iñigo Méndez de Vigo, Spain’s Secretary of State for the European Union, EU, made the claim during an interview with the country’s ABC newspaper.

“The Ministry for Public Finances calculates that the current tax regime in Gibraltar generates losses to the Spanish treasury of close to one billion euros annually, in the form of lower returns on different types of taxation,” he said.

He called for the European Commission, EC, to investigate the British Overseas Territory’s tax policies for possible illegal state aid.

The Gibraltarian authorities hit back at the Spanish claims, describing them as “a financial flight of fancy.”

The statement said that out of the 15,673 active companies there are only 102 Spanish nationals with a Spanish address holding one or more shares in a total of 66 companies. “This helps to clearly demonstrate that Gibraltar is, unsurprisingly, not seeing significant numbers of Spanish individuals using Gibraltar’s

financial services,” it said.

Gibraltar’s Income Tax Act 2010 has, after minor amendments by the current administration, been approved by the Code Group of the EU with only Spain not approving it, according to the statement. “That demonstrates that the relevant Gibraltar legislation fulfills all the criteria required by Brussels in this respect; although Spain is continuing its attempt to ensure our law is nonetheless found to fall foul of the requirements. A state-aid investigation is still under way.”

Tuesday, September 2, 2014

Capital Market

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

37

Index drops 1.3% in August as AMCON offloads shares

J ohnson O kanlawon

I

nvestment activity in equities dropped on the Nigerian Stock Exchange in August, as the market experienced significant sell-offs. The benchmark index lost 1.34 per cent to close at 41,532.31 points, from 42,097.46 points at which it closed on July 31, 201, while market capitalisation shed N187bn to close at N13.7trn, from N13.9trn at which it closed last month.

Majority of sectorial indices closed negative in August except the Banking and the Oil and Gas sectors that appreciated. The Banking Index gained 0.27 per cent to close at 428.67 points, but the NSE 30-Index dipped 1.19 per cent to close at 1,890.50 points.

The Insurance Index was down 2.17 per cent to close at 144.56 points, while the Consumer Goods Index fell 2.65 per cent to close at 1,027.86 points. The Oil and Gas Index appreciated 1.89 per cent to close at 480.48 points, but the Lotus Islamic Index declined 2.35 per cent to close at 2,725.59 points. The Industrial Index depreciated 1.69 per cent to close at 2, 679.33 points. The Alternative Securities Market closed flat at 951.96 points, as there was no activity in the sector.

Investigation showed that the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria, AMCON may have begun to offload some of the shares it acquired from the non-performing loans of banks and other companies. The equity market last Wednesday recorded its first bullish movement in six days, following series of loss positions in trading activities.

AMCON spokesperson, Mr. Kayode Lambo, confirmed the upsurge in the share prices of listed stocks on the NSE, saying: “Yes, we know that the stock market has started bouncing back, so the shares that AMCON acquired by way of buying non-performing loans are being sold or will be sold.

AMCON is holding shares in a lot of quoted companies.

“The shares were used as collateral for the non-performing loans that AMCON was mandated to purchase and resolve. The shares came to AMCON’s possession as a result of settlements / resolutions.”

When asked the volume of shares with AMCON, Lambo said, “We cannot get you the right figure now but remember that AMCON did not acquire all of them; some were given to AMCON in settlement of debt.”

SEC DG, Oteh

AMCON DG, Chike Obi

The shares that AMCON acquired by way of buying non-performing loans are being sold or will be sold. AMCON is holding shares in a lot of quoted companies “AMCON acquired non-performing loans, backed by shares of listed companies. The end process is that the corporation takes delivery of the non-performing loans, and the banks, instead of being stuck with illiquid, non-performing assets, have bonds that they will cash as they make new loans, and use the proceeds to fund the new loans.”

Reacting on the sale of some shares of AMCON, the Chairman, Progressive Shareholders Association of Nigeria, Mr. Boniface Okezie, said there is need for the corporation to be transparent in its dealings.

According to him, the corporation is being run by tax payers’ money. “In the first place, if it is true that it has commenced the sale of those shares without the knowledge of the entire investing public, it is wrong. There should be public notice if any share is to be offloaded by AMCON so that people who are interested in buying them will do so in a transparent manner.

“I keep saying it, there should be accountability in whatever AMCON does especially with regards to acquisition and sale of shares, so that the entire public knows what they spend and re-

alise in their operations.”

On the assessment of the stock market, he said that the recent upsurge to over N13trn capitalisation is good for the market. “I think it will be difficult to sustain this trend since we are approaching election period. However, aggressive education and regulation from the regulators are needed.

“Also, stakeholders’ positive contribution is also needed and another hindering factor is the fact that 2015 is our election year and experience has shown that politicians do mop fund from all the sectors of the economy including the capital market.” He added.

The National Coordinator, Proactive Shareholders Association of Nigeria, Mr. Oderinde Taiwo, said, “First, AMCON operations and conducts are antiinvestment since inception. Minority shareholders through various shareholders associations have in various fora criticized the activities of AMCON officials.

“To me, the sale of shares of some of these companies without public awareness is wrong. Even the issue of the nationalised banks is still not settled as cases still in court are unresolved.

So if AMCON is selling some of those

NSE DG, Oscar

shares acquired as a result of bad debts, then it should be disclosed that certain volume of shares would be sold on the NSE.” On the issue of sinking fund, AMCON has reassured banks under its debt recovery administration that contributions to the sinking fund would not go beyond the repayment period of their loans.

Some shareholders have repeatedly claimed that commercial banks’ contributions to the sinking fund had eroded their dividend. The sinking fund was set up to assist AMCON meet its goals and also ensure that government will not bear the cost of financial crisis.

Under the sinking fund arrangement, each bank contributes 0.5 per cent of its total asset and another 0.5 per cent of 33 per cent of their off balance sheet items to the sinking fund.

Lambo said that banks would not contribute to the sinking fund beyond the 10 years when AMCON assignment would have been completed. He said that the loan (bond) was used to rescue the banks during the financial crisis that affected the financial industry in 2008.

“Contributing to the sinking fund stops immediately the loans are paid back. “The plan is that in 10 years, we believe that everything would have been resolved,” said Lambo. He said that AMCON had already retired N1trn in 2013 out of the N3.8trn it owed, while it expected to redeem N800bn in 2014.

38

Features

Tuesday, September 2, 2014

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Anambra: Fighting to save communities from erosion menace Erosion has remained the most intractable problem facing Anambra State to date.

Right now entire communities of Nanka, Oko and others are on the verge of being swallowed by the ravaging monster. CHARLES OKEKE reports that while many residents have been displaced, several houses are now at the mercy of rampaging gullies.

S

ince 1991, when the new Anambra State was created, erosion has posed the most daunting challenge confronting successive governments and the residents.

The state has more than 30 very serious and active erosion sites in Nanka and Oko communities in Orumba North Local Government, Agulu, Neni and Adazi Nnukwu in Anaocha Local Government, including those at Ekwulobia, Uga, Awka,Onit sha,Nnewi,Nsugbe,Obosi, Umuchu and Ebenebe, among other, where erosion has been creating gullies and destroying roads and homes. The situation is more telling at Nanka,Oko and Ekwulobia, where many villages have been wiped out, leaving the residents to seek shelter with friends and relations. The erosion menace has created many Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), who are now refugees.

Unfortunately, many of these communities scattered across the 21 local government areas of the state, are now under danger of being swallowed by the ever expanding gullies created by erosion, while thousands of homes are on the brink of extinction.

In Awka,the worse hit areas are Amachalla, Amudo and Umuayom,where a deep gully at the extreme end of Peter Onwuka Street, has since expanded to consume homes and economic trees. And since 2011, when the problem became more apparent, many houses, especially those near the ever expanding craters have seen their perimeter walls destroyed, even as the occupants are now seeking refuge in safer areas. Those worst hit are houses belonging to Okey Anigbogu, Charlie Ofodile and Sunday Ofodile, who are prominent indigenes of these communities.

It is now more than three years since the erosion became a public threat, yet no serious efforts have been made to find a lasting solution.

However,when National Mirror visited the areas in Awka, the situation was still what it had been since 2011, when the problem manifested, even as many of the houses have been overgrown with weeds.

A prominent resident on Peter Onwuka Street, Chief John Nnatu, who is also the proprietor of Festus Guest House, said that since government officials and state legislators visited the area, nothing concrete has been done to fix the problem which has left the residents in a continued state of anxiety.

Similar deplorable situation also exists at Nanka and Oko towns where many

Devstating gully erosion at Nanka

Deep gullies created by erosion in Awka

homes, including that of the monarch, are now in danger of been washed away by landslides and gullies.

The Nanka erosion which has destroyed hundreds of houses over the years is one of the biggest and most devastating in the whole of the South East geopolitical zone.

Recently, when journalists visited Oko and Nanka to ascertain the extent of the problem, some indigenes recounted their experiences and disclosed that more than 14 houses, including that of the traditional ruler of Oko,Igwe Laz Ekwueme are seriously threatened by erosion.

So far, those who spoke on the issue disclosed that several houses have been buried in the gullies, while their owners have been rendered homeless.

A community leader, Chief Ezeokeke, whose house is under threat of erosion, said he is yet to see any natural disaster comparable to what the Oko community is now facing. He said that they are now living in constant fear of their house being washed away.

He urged the state and federal governments to come to their aid and save their homes and lives from the relentless erosion monster. He said the scale of the problem is beyond what any group of individuals or communities can handle alone.

Ezeokeke, called on the state govern-

THE NANKA EROSION WHICH HAS DESTROYED HUNDREDS OF HOUSES OVER THE YEARS IS ONE OF THE BIGGEST AND MOST DEVASTATING IN THE WHOLE THE

OF

SOUTH EAST

GEOPOLITICAL ZONE ment to award the contract of tackling the Oko gully to the same company handling that in Nanka.

Already, residents of Nanka said the construction of drainage from Isiakpuenu to Amakor village has lessened the fear of a landslide in recent time.

Also, those living in Obosi town have raised alarm over the erosion at Oduke layout. They are lamenting that three people have lost their lives in floods at the layout.

Chairman of Oduke Landlords Association, Nicholas Okechukwu, said the community is on the verge of extinction, if something is not urgently done to check the erosion menace.

He stated that the problem started in 2012, when a construction company handling the Eze-Iweka Road project channeled the drainage system into the layout, thereby leading to flooding of buildings, whenever it rainfall.

Okechukwu said they have made several representations to the Government through the Ministry of Works without positive results.

He disclosed that the residents have lost properties worth more than N300 million, resulting from floods in the last one year, while many prospective tenants have fled, while children no longer attend schools.

He appealed to Gov. Willie Obiano to visit the area for on the spot assessment, in order to put in place remedial action to stop the erosion threats.

It will be recalled that since 1999, both the state and federal governments have awarded contracts for erosion control at 20 erosion sites in Anambra. And some of those contracts, including that for Nanka which was awarded to Rhino Maritime Services and Nkisi Water works erosion control in Onitsha and the Agulu erosion project have been completed.

Since the advent of the present administration, comprehensive efforts to tackle erosion problem in the cities of Awka,Onitsha, Ekwulobia and Nnewi were being executed by the joint team of local government taskforces and officials of the Ministry of Environment.

So far, the government has been de-silting the Sakamorie in Onitsha and gutters at Awka. The Commssioner for Environment, who spoke on the issue, said the essence of the current clean up exercise and de-silting programme is to ensure that whenever it rains, floodwaters will flow through the channels.

In his speech marking 100 days in office, Governor Obiano spoke on how the erosion problem is being tackled.

He said, “Our war against the menace of soil erosion has become even more intense.

My recent visit to the Federal Ministry of Environment, Abuja has strengthened our efforts in this regard. The state administration has pledged to pay up N500 million in counterpart funds to attract a planned federal government initiative that will checkmate the incidence of soil erosion in select states of the federation. At the same time, we have reached an agreement to increase the number of erosion sites currently being handled in partnership with the World Bank from five to 12�.

Obiano stated that the campaign to stop deforestation, bush burning, abrupt termination of drainages and other harmful practices that violate the natural environment, leading to the menace of soil erosion, shall remain intense. He also said that they have commenced the de-silting of water channels and construction of culverts in all the 21 local government areas of the state.

So far, as the problem posed by erosion lingers with no end in sight, even as the victims are eagerly looking forward to a permanent solution to the menace.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Features

Tuesday, September 2, 2014

Jounalists protesting the constant attacks on members

39

Benedict Uwalaka

Curbing rising attacks on Nigeria’s photojournalists For long, photojournalists in Nigeria have always been the favourite butt of attacks by the public and law enforcement agents, while carrying out their duties. YINKA ADEPARUSI and ADEMOLA AKINLABI report that the situation is exacerbated by the fact that even the law is not coming to their defence.

T

heir professional intention has always been starkly clear; get the camera out quickly, pick out the newsworthy frames through decisive but selective pressing of the shutter release, file the shots at the newsroom and hope that at least one of the images gets published so the people know what is happening in their environment. With this guaranteed, and then the effort would have been worth the while. Photojournalism is one of the most interesting careers in the world, albeit, terrible hazards on the field coupled with unwarranted reactions that follows, from the subject of matter or even passers-by has made sure that photographs do not always have a field day.

Although painful, but was understandable to certain extent, when in February 2012, reigning World Press Photo winner, Remi Ochlik, a French national was killed in Homs, alongside veteran war reporter, Marie Colvin, while covering the Syrian uprising. It was a terrible outcome but imaginable in the sense that Syria was and is still wracked by violence. So, any photojournalist working in such terrain already knows he or she is in harm’s way. Ochlik, would attest to that when he commented on the nature of his job: “I expected to see horrible things. Yes, I was afraid.” Ochlik had also emailed a friend saying: “I’ve just arrived in Homs, its night. The situation seems to be extremely tense and desperate. The Syrian army is sending back-up at the moment and the situation will get worse, according to what the rebels tell us. I’ll keep you posted.”

There was no email in the days when Nigerian ace photographer, the late Peter Obe was covering the Nigerian civil war, but that may not give us a conclusion that he might not have sent similar messages by post to colleagues and families.

Howbeit, the inhumane treatment most

Nigerian photojournalists are subjected to these days while covering events, far surpasses whatever discomforts Peter Obe must have experienced documenting the bloody Biafra war. Challenges are motivations for news photographer.

If Obe would leave Lagos by 10:00pm for Ibadan to take photos of the burning Cocoa House, and get back at 2:00am, so that the pictures could appear on the front pages of the Daily Times that morning, the typical Nigerian photojournalists of today would rather do the opposite; increase the speed of the fan and tuck in comfortably into bed. Not for redundancy, but for the unavailability of assurance of safety. Since they are targets of attacks in the daylight, then why should they go the extreme at night?

If it were an environment that protects the rights and guarantees the safety of the camera carriers, photojournalists by now would be richest in the newsrooms of any media outlets due claims of damages. As shutterbugs continue to suffer losses yearly running into millions of naira due to damages to photographic gadgets in unfriendly environment, the trend now in Nigeria is ‘bring out your camera and get a beating of your life, ’ and instances are countless.

Benedict Uwalaka of the Leadership Newspaper was covering the aftermath of the June 2012 Dana air crash, and while at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) to photograph how families of the victims are dealing with the remains of their loved ones, the ‘Neighbourhood Guards’ at the morgue felt Iwalaka was posing a menace on such a pertinent national issue, and wasted no time in beating him to pulp. It was a gory scene, as Iwalaka was left in a pool of his own blood and only regained consciousness in the hospital. Fellow photojournalist, Akinola Ariyo of the New Nigeria Newspaper

was lucky to escape being lynched but his camera was damaged in the process.

Over the years, it was always the party with the most potent connection that controls the narrative, leaving the photo journalist the victim for doing his job.

It is now an inclination that the public or police on ground at places of news events make incendiary comments about photo journalists, hoping to rile them, and by that prepare grounds for attacking them. One can simply put that when police bars journalists from a location, they are simply saying they should not come too close. The text reporter can always get a story without being there, but the photojournalists must have the camera at the scene record the event.

The late former Photo Editor of Newswatch Newspaper, Tunde Ogundeji, was taking pictures of illegal passengers crowding a train at Oshodi in August 2012, when hoodlums alighted from the coaches’ to attack him. As always, there was no police intervention, neither was any arrests made. So Ogundeji had to face the pain alone. Not quite long, in similar occurrence, it was a situation of police and two photojournalists from National Mirror, Yinka Adeparusi and Samuel Adetimehin, who were covering the fire incident at the Central Bank of Nigeria office on Broad Street, Lagos in March of this year. The security personnel saw no reason for the pho-

IT IS NOW AN INCLINATION THAT THE PUBLIC OR POLICE ON GROUND AT PLACES OF NEWS EVENTS MAKE INCENDIARY COMMENTS ABOUT

PHOTO JOURNALISTS, HOPING TO RILE THEM

tojournalists to report the situation, as they forcibly confiscated their cameras, destroying one of the lenses worth N160, 000 in the process. Yet, no official action was taken against them.

Ademola Akinlabi can still recount vividly his ordeals while covering one of the most storied Ijaw-Itsekiri ethnic violence in the Niger Delta for Tell Magazine. All pleas did not stop the hoodlums from taking away his camera and other accessories. Ademola would reveal later, that he and a colleague had earlier visited the police station for security but were refused. In spite of all this, Akinlabi still counted himself lucky,as the driver who took them out of the conflict zone was shot dead on his way back.

In one of the reactions trailing the ill-treatment of photojournalists in the country, Chairman of the Lagos State chapter of the Nigeria union of Journalists (NUJ), Mr. Deji Elumoye issued statements condemning the attacks, even as he would not pin the brutal act as a victimisation of photojournalists while performing their lawful duties: “Enough is enough! We have had enough of brutalisation of journalists on their beats. The National President of the NUJ is aware of our stand. We have informed our lawyer to commence criminal proceedings against the attackers,” he said.

And he was not the only prominent stakeholders who lent his voice to the incessant attacks; notwithstanding, the status quo remains the same.

Also, in May of 2014, policemen who were dispersing protesting polytechnic students at Yaba area of Lagos, brazenly target photojournalists who tried to document their actions, destroying cameras, one of them belonging to a photojournalist with Sahara Reporters.

There’s no single photojournalist in the country with no experience of this unwarranted attack, either by the public or law enforcers, just as there is no single case where far reaching landmark court verdict has been delivered to deter would be assailants. With this persisting situation, photojournalists are now in a grave professional quandary, finding hard to decide whether to walk past a newsworthy scene or use their cameras and risk being harassed and physical brutalised.

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Tuesday, September 2, 2014

Global Business

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

bonds advance for eighth Pound strengthens most in 8 German month in longest run since 2005 weeks amid ECB stimulus bets G

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he pound posted its biggest advance in eight weeks versus the euro amid speculation the European Central Bank will add stimulus this week even as Bank of England policy makers debate raising interest rates.

Sterling ended a seven-week slide against the dollar, its longest run of declines since September 2008. The pound reached the strongest level in more than two weeks against the euro Friday as data showed U.K.consumer confidence matched the highest since March 2005. ECB President Mario Draghi said August 22 that price expectations in the euro region have declined, fueling speculation the central bank will announce new measures, including asset purchases, to stave off the threat of deflation.

“You’ve got Draghi talking about potentially delivering quantitative easing, or a variant, and of course U.K. policy is potentially going in the other direction,” said Neil Mellor, a currency strategist at Bank of New York Mellon in London. In euro-sterling “we’ve seen this big move since the beginning of the month and it really coincides with Draghi’s” comments.

Pound

The pound appreciated 0.8 per cent this week to 79.29 pence per euro Friday, the biggest gain since the period ended July 4, and touched 79.28 pence, the strongest since August 13. Sterling was little changed at $1.6583.

BOE officials will the leave the key bank rate at a record-low 0.5 per cent on September 4, according to all 49 economists in a Bloomberg News survey. The decision comes after minutes of the central bank’s previous meeting showed two policy makers voted for a rate increase in August.

After Draghi’s comments, strategists at Royal Bank of Scotland Group Plc, BNP Paribas SA and JPMorgan Chase & Co. all said they predict the ECB will cut its deposit and refinancing rates next week.

While the pound fell 1.3 per cent in the past month, it is still the second-best performer over the past year among Bloomberg Correlation-Weighted Indexes that track 10 developed-nation currencies.

Sterling gained 7.2 per cent in the last 12 months, while the euro slid 1.3 per cent.

China eases rules on bond sales by local governments

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hina’s top legislature passed an amendment to the Budget Law laying the legal framework to let more local governments sell bonds directly to raise funds for projects of public interest.

Under quotas approved by the State Council, local authorities can sell debt to invest in such projects.

Bond sales to finance day-to-day expenditures remain prohibited, along with all forms of credit guarantees to individuals or entities, according to a statement issued today by the standing committee of the National People’s Congress in Beijing.

President Xi Jinping vowed to make policy changes to the nation’s

Jinping

tax and budget systems at a Communist Party meeting in November last year as local borrowings jumped 67 per cent from the end of 2010 to 17.9 trillion yuan ($2.9 trillion) in June 2013. Almost 40 per cent of this came from off-budget funding through financing vehicles. Moody’s Investors Service said the accumulation will be a burden on the carry risks to the central government’s finances.

“China is rolling out its most wide-ranging fiscal reforms since 1994,” Zhong Liang, a Hong Kongbased credit analyst at Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services, said on August 27. “These important policy changes should press local governments to rationalize their spending and reduce their capacity to aggressively borrow. Off-budget local borrowing will be gradually phased out.”

China’s revised budget law provides a legal framework to supervise local government debt, Finance Minister Lou Jiwei said at a briefing in Beijing today.

The revision has “solved the problem of borrowing money” for local governments, Lou said. For those governments as of the end of 2013, “there were some new borrowings and repayment of old debts, but

the overall size has not expanded obviously. The overall risks are under control.”

The law initially passed in 1994 banned local governments from selling bonds, forcing them to set up thousands of financing vehicles to raise money for infrastructure projects. The regional administrations are responsible for about 80 per cent of spending, while receiving only 40 per cent of tax revenue under the current tax-sharing system, according to a World Bank estimate.

The Politburo of the Communist Party approved a general plan on June 30 to change the existing fiscal and tax system as part of the broad reform plan mapped out at the party’s Third Plenum in November.

Priorities include improving supervision of government budgets and building a modern budget system.

The plan is looking to complete the most important jobs by 2016, and achieve the goal by 2020.

The Ministry of Finance started to allow the cities of Shanghai and Shenzhen as well as Zhejiang and Guangdong provinces to sell municipal bonds in 2011 as part of a trial programme. It added Shandong and Jiangsu provinces in 2013.

erman 10-year bonds advanced this week, completing the longest run of monthly gains since January 2005, after European Central Bank President Mario Draghi fueled bets that officials will expand stimulus to revive the economy.

Gains this week pushed yields from Ireland to Italy to record lows as reports showed euro-area economic confidence fell and inflation slowed to the least since 2009. Draghi said on August 22 that bets on price increases “exhibited significant declines,” and officials are “ready to adjust our policy stance further,” fueling speculation they may embark on a policy of bond purchases known as quantitative easing.

ECB officials next meet on Sept. 4.

“The key event was Draghi’s unambiguously dovish speech,” said Nick Stamenkovic, a strategist at broker RIA Capital Markets Ltd. in Edinburgh. “Investors have priced in a lot of good news ahead of the ECB and the risk is that they might disappoint. But even if they don’t announce any measures, Draghi almost certainly is going to open the door to further QE” which means “any weakness is going to be short lived,” he said.

German 10-year yields dropped nine basis points, or 0.09 percentage point, this week to 0.89 per cent Friday, after falling to a record 0.866 per cent on August 28.

The 1.5 per cent bund due in May 2024 gained 0.865, or 8.65 euros per 1,000-euro ($1,315) face amount, to

105.64. The yield fell 27 basis points this month, the biggest decline since January.

Consumer prices in the euro area rose 0.3 per cent in August from a year earlier after a 0.4 per cent increase in July, the European Union’s statistics office in Luxembourg said Friday. That was the weakest since October 2009. An index of executive and consumer sentiment fell to 100.6 this month from 102.1 in July, the European Commission in Brussels said a day earlier.

German one-, two- and three-year securities yielded less than zero this week, meaning investors holding the debt until it matures will receive less back than they paid to buy it.

Belgian two-year rates went negative for the first time.

The region’s bonds extended gains into an eighth month after Draghi’s speech at the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City’s annual economic symposium at Jackson Hole, Wyoming. He said officials will “use all the available instruments needed to ensure price stability over the medium term.”

Angela Merkel

Kellogg seeks stake in Egyptian sweets-maker Bisco Misr

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ellogg Co., the maker of breakfast cereals, Pop Tarts and other packaged food, is seeking to buy a majority stake in Egypt’s Bisco Misr, a confectionery-maker in the most populous Arab country.

Bisco Misr said in a statement it agreed to a due diligence by Michigan-based Kellogg before a possible acquisition of at least 51 per cent. That’s the third due diligence request Bisco Misr received this year after private equity firm Abraaj Group and Saudi Arabia’s Savola Group made similar moves.

“Whoever wants to get exposure into this market, it would like to look at someone like Bisco Misr,” Allen Sandeep, Cairobased director of research at Naeem Brokerage, said. “With

a market that has a population of 90 million, you look at any subsegments within the consumer and food sectors and and there is massive potential.”

Bisco Misr, founded in 1957, reported a profit of 5.5 million Egyptian pounds ($769,000) in the second quarter compared with 13.4 million pounds a year earlier. It previously refused takeover bids from Juhayna Foods and Halwani Bros.

Bisco Misr owns three main facilities, one in Cairo and two in Alexandria, where it produces biscuit Luxe alongside a range of cakes and wafers, according to the company’s website. The shares rose 5.6 per cent to 73.65 pounds today, the highest level on record, data compiled by Bloomberg show. Only 163 shares were traded, or 12.1 per cent of the three-month daily average.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

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Tuesday, September 2, 2014

t N20.00 levy

DSS arrests one person in Bayelsa over N1bn agric loan scam OSAHON JULIUS, YENAGOA.

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or allegedly issuing a dud cheque to farmers in Bayelsa state from the N1 billion Central Bank agricultural loan empowerment program, operatives of the Directorate of State Security (DSS) has arrested a middle aged man in Yenagoa. The agricultural loan empowerment programme is for farmers in the 36 states of the Federation.

The suspect, who is identified as an Executive Officer and Programme Coordinator of the programme known as Lord’s VineYard Agricultural Transformation,was accused of allegedly defrauding unsuspecting farmers in the State to the tune of N400 million.Niger Delta Mirror gathered that the suspect was arrested when the cheques he issued to his victims were rejected by Commercial banks in the state.

The unsuspecting farmers were allegedly asked to pay 25 per cent of the sum they intend to take as the loan before they could access the funds.

According to one of his victims, Mrs Preye Joseph, the arrested suspect conducted the exercise round the eight Local Government Areas of the state,”and that when it was time to pay the supposed loan, he kept shifting the date.”

She further stated that the farmers got fed up with his stories to the point they had to mount pressure on him to is-

on Otovwodo

sue the cheques that exposed his dirty deal. “I paid N250,000 to access N1 million. When the time came to pay the money he would say hold on that he is still working on it. That was the story he told us until out of pressure he issued the cheques that landed him in jail.”

Another recipient of the dud cheque Mr. Morris Funpere said that “he got himself into trouble when he got carried away by the monies people were giving him. He thought he could do it and get away with it. I applied for N1 million, and when he gave us the cheque, I felt I had won jackpot.”

“I felt like the world should fall on me when I got to the bank and discovered that there was no money in the account.

People can be very wicked.

Why would a man do a thing like that to many innocent Bayelsans that are struggling to survive.”

When contacted, the Bayelsa State Chairman of All Famers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), Mr. Amaran Suoyo,said that the apex body of farmers in the state has no hand in the matter and that they are surprised at the development.

It was learnt that the office,occupied by the arrested suspect,along Captain Ayeni road,has been deserted butva Woman who claimed to be working with the program coordinator and pleaded anonymity,confirmed the ar-

rest and said “our boss was arrested yesterday by the SSS. When they came they said my boss is issuing fake cheque to people, after collecting their monies. What really happened was that the cheques the bank gave us were not enough, and asked for more.”

“The problem there was the bank then delayed the delivery of the cheque to us for about three weeks. All through this three weeks, we didn’t give the once we had because we wanted all to be issued at the same time. So when we entered the fourth week, we decided to give out the once we had, and people went to the bank to claim their monies the cheque bounced.”

“As for the loan scheme, it is real. We actually had an understanding with the central bank of Nigeria to disburse the funds to farmers registered with us.

Every year the bank gives out loan to farmers but in Bayelsa we don’t get the loan. Some people in Government will sit down with its friends and share the money amongst them.”

A security source,who confirmed the development,informed leadership that investigation into the development has commenced and the DSS is trying to very the claims by the victims on the authenticity of the programme purportedly initiated by the Central Bank of Nigeria.

Senior Adviser to Delta State Governor Mr.Oma Djebah, and Head of Service Delta for the Validation Workshop on Assessment of Development in Delta State, recently.

did not pick his calls to react to allegations on the issue.

But paul Manyor Erstwhile chairman and current consultant to the association when confronted to react on allegations levelled him concerning the crises that rock the association rustled with heavy pill of documents trying to absolve himself of any wrong doing adding that he is not a member of CAN just as he averred that he is not a state exco member of CAN neither did he have any interest to install any of the candidates contesting for any state elective post, but rather he merely executed a job which the National Executive Council had asked him to do in line with article five of

the constitution.” Let Alphonso give account of their stewardship for the period that he served as Chairman of the association” he said. When asked if he would prefer nullification of the elections Manyor said CAN is the conscience of the people and not that of a few.

The National President of Cocoa Association of Nigeria CAN, Mr, Sayina Riman who was asked to speak on the current crisis rocking the association retorted that there was no crises.

Riman added that very soon he is going to call the so called factions together to ensure that peace reigns in the association.

Alhaji Asari Dokubor and other symphatisers during the signing of the condolence register at the house of MajorGeneral Patrick Aziza rtd.

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Tuesday, September 2, 2014

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

CAC choir celebrates 34-year Anniversary THEOPHILUS ONOJEGHENWARRI

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opular gospel choir, the Voice of Joy Choir, Mountain of Joy Parish of the Christ Apostolic Church, CAC, celebrated 34 years anniversary becoming one of the oldest organized singing group in the oil city of Warri, Delta State.

The four days anniversary programme started on Thursday through Friday to Sunday which is the grand finale cli-

maxing into a special thanksgiving service which attracted leading gospel singers from the Niger Delta region singing one after the other.

Notable gospel singers in the Niger Delta region including popular leading vocal singer, Evangelist Jerry Omamesiri Ekpekuro, Oghenevwede aka Niger Delta Praise Rapper and a host of others described the ceremony as worth celebrating considering the value the choir group has added to the

promotion of gospel music in the region.The 34th year anniversary with the theme “Giving God praise in the midst of difficulties”, the group said, was apt considering the difficulties facing Christians all over the world especially the onslaught of the Islamic sect on Christians in the northern part of the country.

Voice of Joy Choir’s Secretary and founding member of the group, Deacon Providence Onojeghen said one sure means

of forgetting the myriad of difficulties facing Christians in today’s world was through praises especially in this era where terrorists rampage the land, strange illnesses like the Ebola Virus Disease, EVD and financial troubles .“Our country has not known peace recently rising from political rivalry, security challenges and economic meltdown but in face of all these travails, Christians must turn to God and praise him. God is still God and ever capable in changing the story if we as a country can turn to him in praises”, Deacon Onojeghen hinted.On his part, leading gospel singer and

special guest at the occasion, Evangelist Jerry Omamesiri Ekpekuro harped on the need to praise God, noting that we do on earth a rehearsal of what we shall be doing after this earthly journey.Reading from the 2 Chronicle chapter 20 vs 20 to 22 and the Acts of the Apostles 25, Ekpekuro succinctly explained why Christians should turn their difficult moments to moments of praise as it was capable of turning their situation around.The anniversary was packed with electrifying songs ministration and praise in both the local dialects and major languages of Nigeria.

Organisation advocates review of Oil Spills Investigation

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Beneficiaries of 2014/2015 batch of Post Graduate Scholarship Award Scheme and Shell Petroleum Development Company officials during their send-off at Amasoma,Yenagoa in Bayelsa.

PTDF patners Heritage Bank on youth empowerment

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he Executive Secretary, Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF), Mr Femi Ajayi, says the fund is collaborating with Heritage Bank Limited to empower youths on entrepreneurial development.

Ajayi announced this in his opening address at the first PTDF Youth Empowerment Scheme recently in Abuja.Although the Executive Secretary did not give the financial implication of the partnership, the Bank said the global figure of the soft loan to be guaranteed by PTDF was about N500 million.

The PTDF boss said that as part of the funds commitment to capacity building, a special training and educational scheme was further set-up to develop the capacity of youths. ``Under this scheme, 120 youths from the Niger Delta and other parts of the country were trained in vocational skills including ICT, diagnostics/fault detection in heavy duty equipment. ``Also in Auto Rotary Technology at a City and Guilds Certified Centre in Cotonou, Benin Republic,” he said.

Ajayi said that the scheme was designed to run in batches of 20 and this was the first set selected based on their theoretical

and practical performance at the training centre.

He explained that the fund in partnership with the bank had designed the PTDF youth empowerment scheme to equip beneficiaries with resources required to set-up small and medium scale businesses.

Ajayi said that the essence was to ensure that knowledge and competences gained are maximised as well as to guarantee self-sufficiency for them in line with the Transformation Agenda of Mr President. ``Most of the support will be in material form, the bank will buy most of the equipment that is needed, and of course they will calculate the monetary equivalent of it. ``The bank will supervise the preparation of the business plan and how the businesses are set up so the amount of money involved will vary depending on the business,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Group Head of Heritage Bank Limited, Mr Jide Dada, said the support given by the bank was not a grant but a soft loan with interest rate at a single digit. ``We have a global figure of about N500 million, this is just the pilot scheme and once we see

the success of these ones, then we will begin to deploy the other ones. ``The loan that can be given to an individual would not exceed N10 million so that it can go round, although we are still deliberating on it as individual needs depend on business plan. ``We are going to administer the loan just the way we administer our regular loans, the loans are going to be at a concessionary rate and at a single digit interest rate which I think is fair enough,” he said.

The Special Assistant to the Executive Secretary, Miss Timipre Wolo, who enjoined the beneficiaries to make maximum use of the opportunity, said that the success of this first batch was very critical. ``There is going to be a serious monitoring, if we find out that some of you are slacking by the way, you could be pulled out because there is a long list of your colleagues waiting for this opportunity,” she said.

Mr Blankson Yenesom, who spoke on behalf of the beneficiaries, said the gesture would go a long way in resolving the agitation and challenge of making the best use of the skills acquired due to lack of finance.

non-government organisation, Sustainable Environment Foundation (SEF), has called for the overhaul of the Joint Investigation Visit (JIV) as part of efforts to achieve efficiency in oil spill management.

Our correspondent reports that JIV is a process in oil spill incidents. This is contained in a report on JIV jointly signed

by Mr Authourity Benson, Director, SEF and Mr Oyinkedi Fuofegha, Secretary in Yenagoa . Fuofegha stated that the JIV, a statutory probe comprising regulatory agencies, community and oil firm representatives, was dominated and influenced by oil firms to the detriment of oil communities.

It stated that JIV process was currently being dominated by oil firms, who exploit the weak regulatory scenario of the country to their advantage. The report stated that while the affected communities lacked technical capacity, the regulatory agencies were inadequately equipped and funded to perform optimally.

The report added that SEF and the oil communities representatives often invited to participate in such JIV lacked the capacity to make inputs.

It, therefore, added that officials of regulatory agencies like National Oil Spills Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA), Department of Petroleum Resources [DPR] and state Ministry of Environment relied on oil firms for data.

According to the report, the JIV procedure is fundamental in mitigating frequent spills and determining liabilities to be indemnified by the polluter when the cause is not sabotage. ``The data recorded on JIV report ultimately affect how much compensation a community damaged by oil spill receives, the

extent and quality of cleanup of impacted spill environment. ``Therefore, the JIV report is an extremely important document upon which the fate of communities vulnerable to oil spills in the Niger Delta is dependent for compensation,” it stated.

The report said that a situation where the regulators relied on operators to provide transport and logistics for the JIV undermined the independence of the investigation. ``There have been several deficiencies and abuses of the JIV process as oil companies persistently explore the weaknesses of the government regulatory agencies. ``They tamper and manipulate the JIV process and report to the disadvantaged of communities vulnerable to oil spill. ``Therefore, the imbroglio within the JIV process and report should be adequately addressed by the Federal government. ``Otherwise, the JIV process and reporting will continue to remain a peace-meal of mere participatory process by the various stakeholders involved,” it stated.

On the lack of technical expertise on oil industry operation by community representatives, SEF recommended capacity building. ``NOSDRA, Department of Petroleum Resources and Ministry of Environment that are government regulatory agencies should provide technical support to oil spill vulnerable communities. ``It should be done through adequate training and technical equipment to aid community representatives effectively participate in JIV process, and understand and interpret JIV form and report,” the report added.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Politics

Tuesday, September 2, 2014

Chris Etta is the member representing Ikom/Boki federal constituency at the House of Representatives. He tells RICHARD NDOMA why empowerment programmes embarked upon by lawmakers to lure electorate have adversely affected governance. Excerpts:

Empowerment initiatives derail focus of governance –Rep. Etta lucky if he gets home with N50,000. We have heard stories where people get money from empowerment programmes and end up getting home with nothing, because often times, the cash or items that they got in the public place might make the beneficiary come under severe attack from hoodlums. If you feel like empowering someone, you can go close to the person to tell the person: ‘my brother, take this machine or empower ment item and help yourself.’

I do not believe in the open show style; the question you should have asked is how do these National Assembly members get the resources to do the kind of empower ment programmes they had done in recent times? This is so because the constituency funds are given to you by virtue of project identification to the tune of the constituency fund, if people by virtue of their committee are able to have opportunity of resources to come and do empower ment, you now begin to put pressure on other persons; what that is creating now is even derailing the thinking of lawmakers because all other members are beginning to talk of empower ment of people.

As 2015 approaches, do you intend to seek reelection to the House of Representatives or are you eyeing a higher elective office?

I would like to seek for re-election to represent the people of Ikom/Boki federal constituency at the House of Representatives in 2015.That is why I seek the support from the people.

What makes you think that you are fit to return to the House for another term?

You see, legislature is like a locomotive which moves and build speed as it accelerates. I believe that currently, when you talk of having the experience, I believe I have developed the capacity needed to manage that office. I now know where, how and what to do abinitio, as we move in and we have developed the ranking and capacity that is needed, because legislature is not like the executive where you are given a portfolio to manage. In a legislative system, offices are allocated by virtue of your ranking which we believe we have already developed. Now we feel that if we get back there, we get stronger and getting stronger means, more opportunity for our constituency, that is why we are saying we want to go back to serve our people for another ter m.

As a member of the House of Representatives from the same constituency as the Senate Leader, Victor Ndoma-Egba, would you advocate for Ndoma Egba`s re-election to the Senate in 2015?

Why not? I will advocate for his retur n to the Senate, because I think Ndoma-Egba is fit and very qualified to make another ter m.

You want to go back to the House for a second term. If given that opportunity, how do you intend to impact on your constituents, considering that there were complaints that you haven’t done enough in your first term?

First and foremost, my core responsibility is legislating and in that area, I don’t think I had failed, because if you look at the records of the National Assembly members from Cross River State. I think I am one of the few that contributed to sustainable laws that can take Cross River to the next level. I have gotten Nigeria twice to discuss national issues – I initiated the bills on the state of the nation and the separation of the office of the Attor ney-General from that of Minister of Justice. Getting the nation to look at issues that can move the it forward, I have been able to do that. I think having done that, all these can help to move the country forward. On the issues of empower ment, these are ancillaries to the core responsibility of a legislator, we will continue to do that but not the way some of my colleagues have been doing it.

In what areas do you think you would impact more if given another term?

First of all, you know that as Boki people, we are not exposed to a lot of opportunities when compared to other people in the Niger Delta. I have a compendium of their needs and demands having gone round the wards and I would make sure I respond to the basic needs of our people, from here to Ogomogom community where I have a programme. I was the first person to build a block of classrooms in Bomaji. I will continue to

43

Etta

IF YOU GIVE MONEY FOR INSTANCE, LET’S SAY N200,000 TO SOMEBODY PUBLICLY, YOU WOULD BE APPLAUDED, BUT YOU ARE ONLY BEING APPLAUDED FOR EXPRESSING POVERTY PUBLICLY

improve on the welfare of my people if they give me another chance to represent them come 2015.

Every parliamentarian has now become so grossly entangled in empowering their constituents, why have you not flouted your empowerment programme?

Like I have always told people, I had never done empower ment in that style because one, it is an embarrassment and an indication of failure on the part of the political leadership for us to express ourselves in that manner in the name of doing empower ment. If you want to support people or assist develop their economy, you don’t need to showcase their poverty. How many of the rich political leaders that are given money are displayed for the public to see?

If you give money for instance, let’s say N200,000 to somebody publicy, you would be applauded, but you are only being applauded for expressing poverty publicly.

Let me tell you, by the time he get home, the money would have finished because he may not get home with the N200,000. In fact, he would be

Are you condemning empowerment programmes embarked upon by our leaders?

No! What I do condemn is the public show and the perception of followers that empower ment is something that must be done by their representatives and it has become something that tends to derail the focus of gover nance.

Now everyone is pushing funds which are supposed to be used to do projects for the needy in the name of empower ment; at the end of the day who will win? It is the society that is the loser, because you have raised the morale of the beneficiaries, who haven’t got the source and means of livelihood to sustain the cars given to them by these leaders in the name of empower ment.

If somebody gives you an object when you don’t have the economic back up to sustain it, your poverty has just been increased.

With the spate of youth unemployment in the country, how many people have you impacted in terms of job provision to youths in your constituency?

There are some people who had join the Nigerian Customs Service and other ministries and parastatals and agencies through my intervention.

But you see, the problem of unemployment is a national one and not a question of job employment. This is so, because what we do now is not job employment but job replacement, because there are no vacancies except that vacancies are minimally created by virtue of retirement. What we need is a policy on creating employment, policy on employment is creating an infrastructure that creates employment. What we also need is to create employment through minimum power generation. What is the level of power generation today? It is near zero. Now, if you say let us increase the capacity of power, to say 10,000MW, you know what would happen.

But currently, what we are doing is, we are replacing those who retire from service with new intakes and that is why the base of unemployed graduates keep expanding on yearly basis and this is becoming a national problem that is waiting to burst tomorrow. Look at what happened during the Immigration Service recruitment exercise where several people died and thousands were injured.

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Politics

Tuesday, September 2, 2014

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

APC screens gubernatorial candidates STORIES: OBIORA IFOH AND LIVINUS MENEDI

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damawa State All Progressives Congress, APC, has commenced screening of its gubernatorial aspirants ahead of the October 11 by-election, at the state secretariat of the party yesterday in Yola.

Chairman of the Screening Committee, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu,

said the exercise is going smoothly and as scheduled.

The committee members, who flew into the state capital yesterday aboard Arik flight, were led straight to the party headquarters where the seven aspirants contesting the gubernatorial election under the APC, were already seated, waiting for the commencement of the screening.

The aspirants include:

one –time chairman of Yola North Local Government, Ibrahim Mijinyawa, former Deputy National Chairman of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, Boss Mustapha, former chairman, National Boundary Commission, Dahiru Bobbo and a former federal lawmaker, Bello Emmanuel. Others were: Senators Ahmed Barata and Bindow Jibrilla Ahmed, vice chairman Senate Committee on

Army and Security.

National Mirror reported that the committee had interacted with three aspirants as at the time of filing this report. The screened candidates were, Senator Barata, Bobbo and Senator Jibrilla.

Barata, who was the first aspirant to appear before the committee, refused to talk to pressmen when asked about the screening. But National Mirror gathered

that Barata and several other aspirants are under intense pressure from former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, to step down for Mijinyawa.

However, Bobbo who is a close associate of Atiku denied any attempt to persuade him to withdraw from the governorship race, saying each of the aspirant, if cleared, could govern the state appreciably, adding that the screening was interactive and.

39 DAYS TO GO

I’m still in the race –Modibbo

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Supporters of former chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Malam Nuhu Ribadu, during his declaration for Peoples Democratic Party, and his intention to contest the Adamawa governorship by-election, in Yola recently.

Aspirants worried over doctored delegates list

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nxiety has trailed the conduct of ward congresses by the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to select party delegates who will participate in the September 6 primary to choose its flag bearer for the October 11 governorship by-election in the state.

The fears became heightened over conflicting statements by some of the aspirants that the congresses which were scheduled to hold yesterday have been postponed to today.

However, one of the aspirants, Senator Abubakar

Halilu Girei, is one of those expecting the party congresses to hold today.

He said: “What I can tell you is that formally, the congresses have been postponed to tomorrow (today).”

However, the PDP through its state secretary, Barr A. T. Shehu, said everything was still going on as scheduled since there was no formal communication from the party headquarters of any change in date for the congress when National Mirror called to seek clarification.

Although former Minis-

ter of State for Health, Dr. Aliyu Idi Hong, another aspirant, confirmed the arrival of materials for the elections, he however said he was unaware of any postponement.

But National Mirror latter learnt that there’s growing apprehension among confidants of some of the aspirants that the delegates list was being doctored.

National Mirror gathered that there were allegations in some of the councils that some party officials at the wards were been given delegates list which they were expected

to only affix their signatures return to the party secretariat.

Meanwhile, the Adamawa stae acting governor, Ahmadu Fintiri, who returned to the state yesterday, thanked the people of the state for their prayers which he said helped him return with their mandate, urging them to also pray for the hands of the Almighty God in the party primaries.

He said: “Please commit our governorship primaries into the hands of the Almighty God. As a result of your prayers, I have returned with your mandate.”

Collect their money, but guard your vote –ASC OBIORA IFOH ABUJA

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damawa State Collective, ASC, has called on delegates to the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, governorship primary scheduled for Saturday September 6, in Adamawa State not to trade the future of the state and their children with money.

In a statement issued

in Abuja, ASC chairman, Mr. Musa Ayuba, urged delegates to collect monies that would be given to them by some of the aspirants that would want to induce them, but they should in the overall interest of the state go ahead and vote for Engr Marcus Gundari, who is shoulder above all the other aspirants.

This is just as he stressed that the unwritten gentle-

man agreement reached for a rotation between Christians, who are in the majority and Muslims in the state has been breached by some forces that do not mean well for the collective interest of the state.

Ayuba further said that now that the sacrifice of the Christian majority has been taken for granted by some forces, the people may have no choice than to

use their electoral strength to do what is most appropriate for the state.

Noting that with the quantum of money at the disposal of some of the aspirants, particularly Mallam Nuhu Ribadu and Mohammed Modibbo, allegedly put at over N6 billion, the delegates might be tempted to vote for the wrong candidate owing to monetary inducements.

major contender in Adamawa governorship election, Dr Ahmed Mohammed Modibbo, has dispelled ongoing rumours that he had stepped down from the race for another aspirant on the same platform of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, maintaining that he is still in the race.

Speculations had been rife across the 21 local government areas in Adamawa State since yesterday afternoon that Modibbo and three other aspirants have stepped down for the acting governor, Ahmadu Fintri.

In a statement issued

by Modibbo’s Media Assistant, Julius Toba, in Yola yesterday, the politician called on his teeming supporters to disregard the news, calling it cheap propaganda.

On Sunday, the former speaker of the Adamawa State House of Assembly, Amb James Barka, head of Nigeria High Commission to Tunisia, cleared to contest the PDP primaries announced that he was stepping down for Fintiri, shortly after he was cleared by the PDP to participate in the primaries scheduled for September 6, with report indicating that other aspirants would soon make public their decision to step down for one of the PDP aspirants.

Modibbo, who has been kept out of the meeting of some aspirants who have planned to support a consensus candidate, said he was still in the race and does not intend to step down, describing as false the reports being peddled about his withdrawal.

He said the latest effort of his political detractors was to deliberately miss-

inform the electorate, because he has the people on his side, wondering why such news would filtered into town some hours to the delegates’ election.

He said that at no time did he sit down in any meeting to discuss consensus candidature with either Fintiri or any politician in Adamawa, reassuring that he would continue to chart his own course as a mature politician.

The statement reads: “The latest news of our purported withdrawal from Adamawa governorship election for the acting governor is an imagination of our political detractors who are bent of pushing us out of the race against the popular wishes of Adamawa people.

“As a matter of fact, at no time did Dr Ahmed Mohammed Modibbo sit in any meeting either with the acting governor or three other PDP aspirants as being rumoured to discuss the issue of consensus candidature.

“The import of this is that Dr Modibbo is still 100 per cent in the race and no amount of cheap propaganda will make him chicken out. As a mature politician that he is, he has resolved to continue to chart his own course in this race and see it to the end, as collectively mandated by ordinary masses of Adamawa, who are on his side”

Modibbo

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Politics

Tuesday, September 2, 2014

45

Curtailing cross-carpeting by elected politicians

Wamakko

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 13 of them being the cases of four members of the House of Representatives from Anambra State, Uche Ekwunife, Cyril Egwuatu, Chris Azubogu and Victor Ogene, elected on the platform of APGA, but defected to the PDP, the presidential candidate of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, in the 2011 general elections, Nuhu Ribadu, who defected to the PDP and most currently, the governor of Ondo State, Olusegun Mimiko, who last Saturday defected to the PDP from the Labour Party, LP. While a defecting governor do not have any constitutional impediment on the way to becoming a member of another political party apart from the party on whose platform he got to office, the case is different for lawmakers as section 68(1)(g) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended), stipulates that: “A member of the Senate or the House of Representatives shall vacate his seat in the House of which he is a member if– (g) Being a person whose election to the House was sponsored by a political party, he becomes a member of another political party before the expiration of the period for which that House was elected. Provided that his membership of the latter political party is not as a result of a division in the political party of which he was previously a member or of a merger of two or more political parties or factions by one of which he was previously sponsored.” Unfortunately, this provision has not been able to deter lawmakers from defecting.

The rational for defection or what some analysts call political prostitution has always been hinged on crisis rocking the parties. The case of the PDP governors and lawmakers, who defected to the APC last year, was said to have been as a result of perceived arrogance of power exhibited by the leadership of the ruling party, which did not go down well with some party bigwigs, who considered their rights as party members infringed upon.

In the same manner, APC, APGA, LP, and other political parties are all having a share of defection challenges with some APC members defecting to PDP, for reason of not been happy with the new union orchestrated by their party leader-

Kwankwaso

THERE IS AN URGENT NEED TO HAVE A FURTHER AND BETTER MEANS OR CONSTITUTIONAL PROVISIONS TO CHECK THE SPEED AND EASE WITH WHICH POLITICIANS CHANGE PLATFORMS

ships.

Although, sections 68(1)(g) and 109 (1) (g) of the constitution guaranteed the right to decamp in event of factions or crisis, but as argued among many political analysts, many politicians regrettably, now abuse this constitutional stipulation by wittingly and unwittingly precipitating intra-party crisis to pave way for incessant cross-carpeting.

The major challenge of this action by elected office holders, as argued by different political commentators at different times is that it has the capacity of not only heating up the polity and upsetting the entire political configuration, but destabilising the country’s nascent democracy.

Many political analysts believed that incessant cross-carpeting above other political issues, demonstrates absence of clear-cut political ideology among defectors in particular and the nation’s political arena at large.

A Lagos State-based legal practitioner, Osisioma Cajetan, said defection portends danger for the political system, and advised politicians to exercise patience and show maturity in the way they play politics.

He said: “It all depicts what democracy means to Nigerian politicians, quests for recognition and fulfilment of personal ambition rather than the larger pur-

Amaechi

Ahmed

pose of service to the people and nation, as stated in the letters of the definitions of democracy. o “It is sad that politics of defection has now been elevated over and above h iideology-driven politics, unlike in the First Republic, when the nation’s politiF cal turf was characterised by principles c and discernable ideology-based politics. a This I must say is unhealthy and does T not make room for stability and flourishn iing of political ideologies.”

The consequences of a political systtem devoid of ideologies leaves much tto be desired, as it is clueless and leaves tthe electorate with no alternatives or opttions to choose from when it comes to iideological block.

And for many Nigerian political anallysts, manifestoes of different political parties in Nigeria, show parties bereft p of clear ideologies and philosophies, o iirrespective of the classifications and claims of left or right wing, progressive or conservative. This according to them is unlike in other countries where true democracy is practised and party politics are driven by ideologies, manifestoes and what a party stands for, and where people fall and rise with their party, because they cannot afford to associate themselves with the ideology of the opposition party.

Giving reason for the rampancy of cross-carpeting, some analysts holds that party defection is rampant in Nigeria‘s democratic system due to some flaws in the country‘s democratic process, while others attributed the shocking rate of defection in Nigeria politics to lack of strong political ideology.

Whatever be the reason(s) for the incessant defection, there is an urgent need to have a further and better means or constitutional provisions to check the speed and ease with which politicians change platforms, especially when the new party’s programmes and manifestoes are diametrically opposed to those of the platform on which a defector was given mandate by the electorate.

This, as perceived by many, is because electoral promises which formed the basis of people’s mandate to a defector but do not fall within the province of a new party that receives the defector, can hardly be implemented under the platform of the new party.

It was to check this frequency of unreasonable defection, which the country’s political set up is currently undergoing, that formed the call by IPAC to outlaw cross-carpeting by elected office holders, lending its voice to other groups who have also suggested that sections 68(1) (g) and (109) (1) (g) be amended to the effect that politicians wishing to decamp can only benefit from the constitutional provisions provided that they did not either directly or indirectly instigate or precipitate crisis in their parties, on the basis of which they wish to defect while their terms earned on the platform of another party subsist.

This they believe will prevent politicians from precipitating crisis only to use same as basis for cross-carpeting, as well as prevent incessant cross-carpeting. It is also believed that the gale of defection will also reduce if Nigerians politicians play politics of ideology rather than that of bread and butter.

To former governor of old Kaduna State, Balarabe Musa: “The defection by members of political parties is mindless.

This is because there is a lot of loose money in the country and anybody with sufficient money can go to any other party to achieve his ambition. The root of defection is money politics.”

A political commentator once stated that most Nigerian politicians are bad tempered; always complaining and feeling embittered when relieved of positions or see somebody standing on the way to their ambitions. Hence, crosscarpeting comes very naturally to them, that, even when they are founding fathers of various parties, they flounce off to join a new party.

The irony of it all is that, as these politicians cross-carpet; they often do that with many of their zombie supporters and followers, who appear to be determined not to have a mind of their own.

Although many political analysts believe that incessant cross-carpeting is unhealthy for the growth of democracy and ideology-based politics in Nigeria and that the situation portends great danger for sustainable democracy in the country, it is yet uncertain, how far IPAC and the recommendation of Jonathan’s National Conference will go to outlaw cross-carpeting by elective office holders in the country.

46

Politics

Tuesday, September 2, 2014

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Aziza: Reps aspirant condoles with Urhobo, Nigeria ELIZABETH DAWARGA

T

INEC officials and Stakeholders during a meeting in Kaduna, recently..

Rivers council boss recounts ordeal in Police custody DENNIS NAKU

PORT HARCOURT

C

aretaker committee chairman of Omuma local government area of Rivers State, Emeka Wogu, has said that he was illegally arrested by the Police This is as the state governor, Rotimi Amaechi, through his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. David Iyofor, called on the Police to desist from harassing his supporters in the state.

Amaechi wondered why his supporters would face unnecessary and unjust harassment, intimidation and torture just for supporting him and warned that such attitude must stop.

It would be recalled that Hon. Wogu was recently arrested by the Police who alleged that one of his police orderly shot at a billboard of President Goodluck Jonathan.

Briefing newsmen at Government House in Port

Amaechi

Says: ‘I was locked up with 150 armed robbers’ •as Amaechi, APC kicks Harcourt, Wogu in company of the Commissioner for Special Duties, Dickson Umunakwe said, he was illegally arrested, tortured and handcuffed by men of the Nigeria Police Force in Rivers State over an alleged destruction of President Goodluck Jonathan’s billboard in Omuma local government area of the state.

He said: “On August 25 , my wife organised a prayer meeting with some Omuma women in the council secretariat and two policemen attached to the council by Eberi Omuma Police division escorted them to Omuma for the prayer section. As the chairman of the council, we had a Joint Account Committee, JAC, meeting same day in Port Harcourt in the Ministry of Local Government Affairs.

“I attended the meeting; I was nowhere close to Omuma local Government Area that day. It was after the JAC meeting that the DPO called me in the evening to inform me that a few PDP boys had instruction to damage APC billboards in retaliation to a gun shot by one of the Police from Eb-

eri Omuma that escorted the women for the prayer section and that one bullet hit the billboard of Mr. President, erected by the PDP in Omuma.

“My reply to the DPO was: maintain the peace, calm them down, tell them that it was not APC, it was shot by a Nigerian Police Officer and the Police officer is not an APC member and that the next day I will come home to see if the damage was much since they were accompanying my wife and some women, I promised, for the interest of peace, to repair or replace the billboard for them.

“The next morning, my local council party chairman Charles Amaefule called Hon. Kelechi Wogu, member representing Omuma constituency in the Rivers State House of Assembly and PDP leader in the council to know why some PDP supporters would engage in the destruction of APC billboards.”

Wogu explained that when he sought to know from a PDP chieftain called Kingsley Nwawu why the destruction of

APC properties, Nwawu) said: “There is a ground plan to ensure that the policeman who they claimed shot at the President billboard is dismissed and that my wife arrested and taken to Abuja for questioning and that if I want that action to stop, that he would speak to Wogu who claim to have a link with the Presidency, that he, Nwogu had spent money already making contact with Abuja, that I should look for huge amount of money before they could stop the action.”

While saying that the President’s billboard said to have been destroyed was not destroyed, Wogu said that after hours of meeting with some chiefs, elders and opinion leaders on how to restore peace in the area, he went back to Port Harcourt same day only to be arrested by the police at about 10pm in his GRA residence.

He maintained that it was the first time in his life that he would experience such horror in the hands of the police as he had never had any course to be arrested by the police.

he death of General Patrick Aziza has been described as the loss of a visionary and truthful leader whose void would be difficult to fill.

A former editor of Vanguard newspaper and former chairman of Aso Rock Correspondent Chapel, Comrade Daniel Idonor, while condoling with Urhobo and Delta people over the demise of the retired General who was also the National President of Urhobo Progressive Union, UPU. In a phone call, Idonor, who is contesting the House of Representatives for Udu, Ughelli North and Ughelli South federal constituency, said he received with rude shock in the United States of America where he is at the moment, the sad news of the great, dynamic and pragmatic Urhobo leader.

He said: “Regrettably, the death was a colossal loss to

2015: Group storms rural communities for Jonathan BOLADALE BAMIGBOLA OSOGBO

A

political group, Positive Group Initiative, PGI, working for the realisation of President Goodluck Jonathan’s reelection bid in 2015, yesterday in Osogbo, Osun State capital, said it has concluded plans to commence full scale campaign for the president, especially in the rural communities across the country.

National Coordinator of the group, Hajia Zainab Saliu, while speaking with newsmen, also added that, before going all out for campaigns, it plans to secure operational offices

2015: House to House floats campaign for Jonathan in S’West EMMANUEL EGHAGHE

H

ouse to House Campaign Organisation for Democracy, a political and pressure group, has began campaigns in the South-West geo-political zone soliciting support for the reelection bid of President Goodluck Jonathan in 2015.

Speaking recently at a function in Lagos, SouthWest zonal coordinator of the group, Comrade

Ayo Olukoya, said that the group is out to give the President the needed support for a comeback as well as appeal and sensitise the people on the need why Jonathan should be given another chance to finish the transformation agenda, irrespective of countless oppositions, who have vowed to make his administration a failure by making the nation ungovernable during his tenure.

Olukoya said: “The House to House Campaign Organisation for Democracy is an organisation established to appeal to Mr. President to declare and re-contest for the next presidential election. We are out to campaign for him because we believe in the good works he has started. We believe in one Nigeria and don’t believe in the concept of indigene and non-indigene, so we are out for all residents in

this region to solicit and advocate for their support to come out and support Jonathan in 2015.”

Stating the group’s belief in the President’s ideology, Olukoya declared the group’s determination to buy the nomination form for the President through individual donations to bring the dream of the President into reality.

She said: “With the help of everyone in the group as well as our top shots,

our motherland especially, considering the crucial role he was expected to play at this critical time in the history of the Urhobo nation, both in advising, directing and leading his people to the Canaan land in the expected new dispensation.

Saying that it was indeed a known phenomenon that man proposes, while disposing is the exclusive reserve of God Almighty, Idonor added: “It is therefore our source of solace that the creator knows the very best of time for everyone.

The Udu/Ughelli federal constituency therefore condoles with Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan, the UPU leadership and the entire Urhobo people.”

He prayed God to give all the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss. in the country with levity, calling for concerted efforts by all stakeholders to promote good governance and democratic values in the country.

we have decided to buy the nomination form for Mr. President at the cost of N19.5 million.”

Describing her group as one committed to the advancement and peace of the nation at all times Olukoya added: “We are going from house to house to sensitise people on our ideology; which is continuity.

When Jonathan completes the transformation agenda, another person and party can come.”

in the 36 states across the country, while its Abuja office would coordinate its activities at the state and local government levels.

Averring that PGI has put necessary machinery in motion in all states of the federation to see that the President is reelected in the forthcoming presidential election, she added that PGI believes in the capability of President Jonathan to lead Nigeria out of the wood into safe harbour, pledging to work round the clock to ensure his victory come February 2015 general elections.

Saliu said: “We believe that Jonathan has the capacity to lead this country. It is regrettable that we are having security issues when we are supposed to be consolidating on our achievements under his leadership. But that will not deter us, it is instead motivating us to forge ahead and win more people to our side and guarantee President Jonathan votes come February 2015.” office beyond May 2015.

The PGI coordinator further argued that reelecting Jonathan would afford him the opportunity to complete all on-going projects initiated by his administration.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Capital Market

Tuesday, September 2, 2014

47

Naira gains on dollar sale, equities shed 0.3% JOHNSON OKANLAWON

T

he naira firmed against the United States dollar yesterday, supported by dollar sales by the local unit of Royal Dutch Shell, dealers told Reuters.

The currency closed at N162.40 to the dollar, firmer than N162.55 it closed at on Friday.

Shell sold an undisclosed amount, increasing dollar liquidity on the interbank.

The naira has traded around N161.70 to N162.55 last week on the back of dollar flows from energy companies and some offshore investors buying local debt

in the wake of inclusion of Nigeria’s 2024 bond in the JP organ index.

“We expect more dollar sales from some oil firms, including NNPC and offshore investors in the coming day to boost the naira,” one dealer said.

Meanwhile, trading in equities closed on a negative note on the Nigerian Stock Exchange yesterday, as some investors sold their holdings.

The All Share Index dropped 0.32 per cent to close at 41,398.05 points, as against the increase of 0.41 per cent recorded on Friday to close at 41,532.31 points.

Market capitalization shed N44bn to close at N13.6trn, in

contrast to the increase of N157bn recorded on Friday to close at N13.7trn.

The NSE 30-Index lost 0.47 per cent to close at 1,881.58 points, while the Banking Index depreciated 1.60 per cent to close at 421.80 points.

The Insurance Index was down 0.71 per cent to close at 143.54 points, while the Consumer Goods Index dipped 0.44 per cent to close at 1,023.34 points.

The Oil and Gas Index fell 0.68 per cent to close at 477.19 points, while the Lotus Islamic Index gained 0.04 per cent to close at 2,726.69 points.

The Industrial Index rose

0.13 per cent to close at 2,682.68 points. The Alternative Securities Market closed flat at 951.96 points.

Eterna Oil Plc led the gainers’ table with 37 kobo or 9.95 per cent to close at N4.09 per share, followed

by Neimeth International Plc with six kobo or 5.77 per cent to close at N1.10 per share.

Conversely, Conoil Plc dropped N4.00 or 6.15 per cent to close at N61.05 per share, while Caverton Plc depreciated 26 kobo or 4.89 per cent to close at N5.06 per share.

A total of 222.4 million shares valued at N2.26bn were traded in 4,455 deals.

Flour Mills pre-tax profit drops 25% in Q1 JOHNSON OKANLAWON

F

lour Mills of Nigeria Plc yesterday declared a profit before tax of N3.54bn for the first quarter ended June 30, 2014, a decline of 24.5 per cent when compared to N4.69bn posted in the same period of 2013.

According to the result presented to the Nigerian Stock Exchange yesterday, its turnover declined to N9.71bn in the three months to June 30, compared with N10.5bn in the same period of last year.

The company last week explained its strategic investment in large scale commer-

cial farming to support its food processing units with locally produced raw materials.

The Group Managing Director, Mr Paul Gbededo, said it cultivates 10,000 hecters of sugar can at Sunti Golden Sugar Estate to feed the sugar refinery.

He said that the Kaboji Farms Limited in Niger State contain maize and soyabean to feed milling operations, including the cassava, which provides quality cassava flour.

“Agro Allied Limited grows 5,000 hecters of cassava on land purchased at Shao, Kwara State to feed Thai Farm’s Cassava Mill in

Ososa. Agric Palm Limited has 3,000 hectare in Edo State to support the group’s edible oil refineries at ROM Oil Mill.

“Agro Allied Farms Sunti Limited grows a 4,500 hectare rice farm along the Niger River basin. This project will add to the rice production at Sunti Farm to complement the backward integration of our rice milling operations,” he said.

On the group financial highlights for the financial year ended March 31, 2014, Gbedebo said the profit for the year excluding Golden Sugar Company Limited, up 22 per cent, saying that enhanced overhead expenses manage-

ment positively impacted on the bottomline.

He noted that the sugar company is performing in line with expectation, as volume now at 48 per cent capacity untilisation.

Gbededo, who said that the company is positioned for long term growth, stressed that the 2013/2014 is a year of transition for its businesses.

He pointed out that the good performance recorded in both food and agro-allied divisions were partly offset by low commencement year results of the sugar company.

European investors hold nerve as Russia-Ukraine warnings ratchet up

E

uropean markets cautiously navigated warnings that the conflict in Ukraine was sliding out of control, focusing instead on whether the European Central Bank will strengthen its stimulus plans when it meets this week.

Ukraine reported its forces were under fire again from Russian tanks on Monday as fresh signs emerged that the troubles are damaging the euro zone’s alreadyfragile economy.

Manufacturing output in the bloc grew at its slowest pace in more than a year and factories there reported falling orders as weakness showed up in most corners

of the region.

“Although some growth is better than no growth at all, the braking effect of rising economic and geopolitical uncertainties on manufacturers is becoming more visible,” said Rob Dobson, senior economist at Markit.

“France remains a real concern, as does Italy’s descent from solid expansion to stagnation. Signs that growth impetus waned in the key industrial engine of Germany, and in Spain and the Netherlands too, is also less than reassuring.”

Despite the uncertain backdrop, shares on Europe’s FTSEurofirst 300 index largely held their ground in morning trading

after markets in Asia had also shrugged off some mildly disappointing data from China.

Euro zone periphery bonds suggested that appetite for risk remained alive as they outperformed, while the euro clawed back to $1.3132 having hit a one-year low against the dollar overnight.

Geopolitics remained front and center. Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko warned at the weekend that a “full-scale war” was imminent if Russian troops continued to support proMoscow rebels as European leaders threatened new sanctions.

Moscow appeared in no

mood to back down though.

Vladimir Putin called on Sunday for immediate talks on the “statehood” of southern and eastern Ukraine and as fighting continued in Ukraine his Foreign Minister, Sergei Lavrov, gave a strong hint Russia would hit back against any new European sanctions.

Russia’s economy is already struggling and the threat of new sanctions sent dollar-traded shares in Moscow tumbling and the rouble to a fresh record low.

The euro, in contrast, barely budged in morning trading, while the dollar index hovered at 82.717, near Friday’s 13-month high of 82.773.

Source: NSE

Market indicators All-Share Index 41,398.05 points Market capitalisation 13.66trn

Stock Updates GAINERS COMPANY

OPENING

CLOSING

CHANGE

% CHANGE

ETERNA

3.72

4.09

0.37

9.95

NEIMETH

1.04

1.10

0.06

5.77

TRANSCORP

6.10

6.43

0.33

5.41

UPDCREIT

8.70

9.13

0.43

4.94

PREMBREW

2.08

2.18

0.10

4.81

AGLEVENT

1.47

1.54

0.07

4.76

COSTAIN

1.08

1.13

0.05

4.63

AUSTINLAZ

2.00

2.09

0.09

4.50

ABCTRANS

0.68

0.71

0.03

4.41

IKEJAHOTEL

0.77

0.80

0.03

3.90

CHANGE

% CHANGE

LOSERS COMPANY

OPENING

CLOSING

CONOIL

65.05

61.05

-4.00

-6.15

CAVERTON

5.32

5.06

-0.26

-4.89

EVANSMED

2.05

1.95

-0.10

-4.88

CHAMPION

8.30

7.91

-0.39

-4.70

PORTPAINT

5.25

5.01

-0.24

-4.57

AIRSERVICE

2.09

2.00

-0.09

-4.31

UBA

7.60

7.30

-0.30

-3.95

INTENEGINS

0.52

0.50

-0.02

-3.85

WAPIC

0.79

0.76

-0.03

-3.80

CORNERST

0.57

0.55

-0.02

-3.51

FGN Bonds Offer

Bid Description

Price

Yield

Price

Yield

13.05 16-AUG-2016

2.03

103.35

11.16

103.50

11.07

15.10 27-APR-2017

2.73

109.25

11.06

109.40

11.00

16.00 29-JUN-2019

4.90

117.35

11.28

117.65

11.21

16.39 27-JAN-2022

7.48

121.20

12.01

121.50

11.96

14.20 14-MAR-2024

9.61

111.20

12.18

111.50

12.13

10.00 23-JUL-2030

15.97 84.70

12.20

85.00

12.15

Closing Market Prices of August 5, 2014

Treasury Bills Maturity Date

Bid

Offer

6-Nov-14

10.10

9.85

5-Feb-15

10.15

9.90

7-May-15

9.90

9.65

NIBOR Tenor

Rate (%)

O/N

11.7500

1M

13.0959

3M

13.8774

6M

14.7751 The Fixings - NIBOR, NITTY and NIFEX of August 5, 2014

48

Capital Market

Tuesday, September 2, 2014

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Stock exchange daily equities summary Equities as at September 1, 2014 1st Tier Securities

1st Tier Securities Sector

Company name

No Of Deals

Quotation(N)

Quantity Traded

Value of Shares(N)

Sector

Company name

No Of Deals

Quotation(N)

Quantity Traded

Value of Shares(N)

Tuesday September 2, 2014

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Community

49

I am considering giving a shot at the presidency of this country. I believe inside me that I can transform Nigeria within a short time.

But the pressure is much from Imo people to continue as governor.

IMO STATE GOVERNOR, ROCHAS OKOROCHA

Police to partner with media on crime FEMI OYEWESO ABEOKUTA

T

he Ogun State police command has said that it would soon enlist the services of journalists on community policing to totally eradicate crimes in the state.

The Commissioner of Police, Ikemefuna Okoye, gave the assurance while speaking with the state correspondents’ chapel led by the chairman, Comrade Kunle Olayeni when they paid him a courtesy visit in his office.

Okoye, who described

himself as an ardent believer and apostle of community policing, said that the country will not have the best community policing system, without the support and collaboration of such established institutions, like the Nigeria Union of Journalists,

NUJ. “This is to make the general public know that you are part of them and they are part of you and when you are partnering with them, they can know that it is very important to give information that will assist in arresting crimi-

nals.

“With information, you can stop crimes before it is committed. But without information, you cannot achieve much. But information and intelligence gathering will help a lot and we have to get it through community policing.

“So, we are going to bring you in and make sure that you partner with us in terms of community policing. Your coming into it will improve much community policing through the Police Community Relations Committee, PCRC,” he noted.

The Police Commis-

sioner said the decision to meet journalists is further informed by genuine efforts often displayed by media practitioners towards cross-checking the facts of their stories from the command headquarters before publishing.

“I must include that we are happy with you because you always get facts on matters that concern the police before you publish,” he added.

Okoye however, expressed the optimism that they will bring same sincerity when the command eventually partners with them.

Fake KAI officer apprehended for extortion 43-year-old man, identified as Shola Onabanjo, has been arrested in the Ojota area of Lagos State for impersonation and extortion with fake KAI identity card.

Investigation revealed that the Lagos State Kick Against Indiscipline,KAI, a law enforcement unit of the Ministry of Environment received information about his activities and arrested him.

The suspect allegedly demanded and extorted N1, 000 from one Amodu Sulaimon, who was pushing yams in a wheel barrow.

Recounting his ordeals, Amodu Sulaimon ,said that Shola Onabanjo has been

extorting money from him and other colleagues at Ojota,while assuring them of security in the area.

Amodu said he others paid the money in the belief that Shola was shielding them from arrest by law enforcement agents.

But luck ran out on him when a KAI patrol team observed that some yam vendors were still selling the goods within a forbidden zone.

This brazen act led to the arrest of the yam vendor who later led them to Shola Onabanjo.

On interrogation the suspect confessed that economic hardship made him engage in this illegal act,as he had no other means of livelihood to cater for his family.

and allow some people to plunge the town into chaos, considering the enormous roles the tradition bestowed on him.

He cautioned the kingmakers against arbitrariness in performing the burial rites for the late Ogoga, just as he advised the children to consult widely in arriving at a

choice of Regent.

However, he said the regency stool was mere ceremonial without executive powers, saying: “The 1933 report by N.A.C. Weir, former District Officer of Ikere Ekiti under the old Ondo province made it clear that only the Sapetu and head of kingmakers can exercise executive powers.

FRANCIS SUBERU

Newly completed dual carriage P&T Uwani Bridge, Enugu State.

PHOTO: DENNIS AGBO

Lagos govt decries attack on LASTMA officials FRANCIS SUBERU

T

he Lagos State Government has decried frequent attacks on its officers by Nigerian Customs and military personnel, saying such acts of violence on officials will no-longer be tolerated.

It was gathered that crisis recently erupted at the Mile 2 office of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, LASTMA, when

some customs personnel attacked officials of the agency, vandalising four vehicles and destroying office properties.

The customs officers were said to have invaded the LASTMA yard in a bid to forcibly release an impounded vehicle for driving against the traffic.

According to LASTMA zonal head, Victor Adeyanju the customs officers who were in official uniform stormed the office

and demanded for the release of the vehicle but were informed of the standard procedure for release of such vehicles,even as this annoyed the custom officers who assaulted the LASTMA officials.

He said, the development caused pandemonium, as the custom officials shot sporadically into the air while holding their men hostage in the office.

He said it took the effort of the police from the Fes-

tac Division led by A. Enfanyi to restore calm.

The General Manager of LASTMA, Mr. Babatunde Edu lamented the attitude of the Customs personnel for brutalising the LASTMA officials, and preventing them from carrying out their lawful duties.

He also appealed to uniform personnel in all military and paramilitary formations to see the LASTMA as partners out to ensure sanity on the road.

A

Traditional ruler urges due process over regency ABIODUN NEJO ADO EKITI

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traditional ruler and Olukere of Ikere Ekiti, Oba Ganiyu Obasoyin, has denied any rift between Olukere and the Ogoga of Ekiti.

While clarifying insinuations of rivalry between

the two, Oba Obasoyin said: “The two of us have different roles in Ikere Ekiti. Our roles do not overlap and there is no reason for rivalry” The Olukere said the reported crisis between two daughters of the late Ogoga of Ikere Ekiti, Oba Adegoke Adegboye, over regency was unnecessary.

Consequently, he charged the kingmakers to do the needful on the regency and ensure it did not polarise the town.

Following the death of the monarch on August 22 at the age of 85 years, two of his daughters - Princesses Ayooye Adegboye and Adebisi Bello have been at each other’s throat

over the regency stool.

But the Olukere, who sympathised with the community over Ogoga’s death, said the peace of the town was very paramount, being the founder of the town and chief priest.

Appealing to the kingmakers, Obasoyin, said he would not fold his arms

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Tuesday September 2, 2014

World News

There is still time to stop all those in Europe and in the world for whom violence, force, aggression are again becoming an arsenal of political activity – Polish Prime Minister, Donald Tusk

Ebola virus and Nigeria’s response 51

Lesotho coup: Exiled PM wants regional troops to intervene PAUL ARHEWE

WITH AGENCY REPORTS

L

esotho’s exiled Prime Minister Thomas Thabane has called on regional leaders to deploy troops to his country to help restore order, his aide said.

Thabane fled to South Africa on Saturday after accusing the army of staging a coup, which it denies.

He has been holding crisis talks with South Africa’s President Jacob Zuma and other regional officials in Pretoria.

Lesotho, a mountain kingdom, has experienced several coups since independence in 1966.

The latest unrest is understood to be linked to a power struggle between Thabane, who is supported by the police, and Deputy Prime Minister Mothetjoa Metsing, who has the loyalty of the army.

On Monday, Thabane’s opponents dropped plans to protest in the capital, Maseru, over his decision to suspend parliamentary sessions in June.

Basuto Huts in Pitseng, Lesotho (file picture) Lesotho is a largely rural country dominated by mountains and surrounded on all sides by South Africa Army personnel man outside the military headquarters in Maseru, Lesotho on 31 August

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WORLD BULLETIN Libyan militias seize ministries, reappoint al-Thinni as PM Libya’s militias have captured most government ministries in the capital, Tripoli, the government has said.

Armed men had blocked staff from entering offices, it added in a statement.

On Sunday, militiamen seized the US embassy, with videos showing cheering men diving from a balcony into a swimming pool.

Meanwhile, Abdullah al-Thinni has been reappointed as prime minister after he resigned last week.

Libya has been hit by anarchy since Col Muammar Gaddafi was overthrown by the militias, backed

by Western countries, in 2011.

The militias have been fighting for power among themselves since then, with an Islamist-linked group, Libya Dawn, capturing Tripoli last week.

Kenya tackles ghost workers with biometric registry The army denies taking power

2014. The army denies taking power Reports say Maseru is now calm after soldiers were involved in an exchange of fire outside two police stations on Saturday morning.

One police officer was killed and four wounded after the military intervened, police say.

Lesotho military spokesman Ntlele Ntoi said the military had received intelligence that the police were going to arm factions involved in Monday’s march by the Lesotho Congress for Democracy (LCD).

The LCD is led by Metsing, who has been in an uneasy coalition with Thabane’s All Basotho Convention since 2012.

The prime minister has hinted that his deputy might have links to the military’s actions charges denied by his party.

Both Thabane and Metsing have attended talks hosted by the Southern African Development Community (Sadc) regional bloc in Pretoria to end the crisis.

Thabane appealed for a peacekeeping force to be deployed to Lesotho, his aide said.

“You can no longer say you

can only send a mission. You need an intervention of soldiers,” Samonyane Ntsekele is quoted by a news agency as saying.

Lesotho is entirely surrounded by South Africa.

Thabane told the BBC he would return from South Africa “as soon as I know I am not going to get killed”.

Public service minister Motloheloa Phooko said he was acting as prime mnister in the absence of Mr Thabang and Metsing.

He is a member of Metsing’s party.

Ebola: Liberia extends stay-home order iberia’s president ordered most civil servants to stay home another month in an effort to stop the spread of the deadly Ebola virus, according to a statement released yesterday.

President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf ordered non-essential workers not to come to work and promised that all government workers would still be paid.

Liberia’s schools are already closed in the effort to keep large numbers of people from gathering and potentially

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

spreading the disease.

The World Health Organization says up to 20,000 people may contract the virus before it is put under control, and that it could take six months to do so.

More than 1,500 have died across West Africa from Ebola.

Liberia has suffered the most deaths in the outbreak that has hit five West African countries.

On Friday, Senegal announced its first case.

The WHO said a student from Guinea arrived in Dakar by road on Aug. 20 and was stay-

The entrance to the hospital where a man is being treated for symptoms of the Ebola virus in Dakar, Senegal.

ing with relatives “in the outskirts of the city.” It said that on Aug. 23, he went to a medical facility seeking treatment for fever, diarrhoea and vomiting,

all symptoms of Ebola.

He was treated for malaria and continued to stay with his relatives before turning up at the Dakar hospital on Aug. 26.

Kenya has started biometrically registering all civil servants in an attempt to remove “ghost workers” from the government’s payroll.

Employees who failed to register over the next two weeks would no longer be paid, a government statement said.

The government suspects that thousands of people continue to receive salaries after leaving the civil service.

President Uhuru Kenyatta was the first person to register - he has pledged to curb corruption.

“It is in your best interest that you get registered lest you are counted as a ghost worker,” he told civil servants in the coastal city of Mombasa.

Egypt delays deadline for criticised NGO registry Egyptian authorities pushed back Sunday a deadline for local and international non-government organizations to register under a restrictive law or risk being shut down, a decision that was criticized as a way to silence critics of the government, a government official said.

The initial decision called on civil groups to register under a law that dates back to longtime autocrat Hosni Mubarak that gives the government wide-ranging powers to interfere in their work, finances and staffing. Violators risked being shut down or prosecuted.

The decision had raised a storm among a number of local and international rights groups, who saw themselves targeted by such a move. The 2002 law was widely criticized by the rights community in Egypt, most of whom registered as law firms or not-for-profit organizations to avoid government meddling.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

WORLD BULLETIN

Hundreds of Americans linked to IS - Lawmaker Several hundred US citizens may have had contact with Islamic State jihadists in Syria, the chairman of the powerful House Intelligence Committee said.

Republican lawmaker Mike Rogers, a former FBI agent, told “Fox News Sunday” he was concerned about efforts to keep track of Americans who had links to the group.

“It’s in the hundreds that have at least one time travelled, participated and trained with them,” Rogers said.

“Some have drifted back, some have gone to Europe.”

The US State Department has previously estimated that more than 100 US citizens had travelled to Syria to join radical groups such as the Islamic State.

“I’m very concerned because we don’t know every single person who has an American passport that has gone and trained and learned how to fight,” Rogers said.

He also raised concerns about the estimated 500 British citizens and “several hundred” Canadians believed to have travelled to Syria, noting that passport holders from those countries could both enter the United States without a visa.

US officials last week confirmed an American fighting for Islamic State was killed earlier this month in Syria.

‘British jihadist mother threatens to behead Christians’ A middle-aged British mother-oftwo and former rock band member has joined jihadists in Syria and wants to behead Christians with a “blunt knife”, British media reported.

The reports identified the woman as Sally Jones, 45, from Kent in southeast England, and said she now goes by the name Sakinah Hussain, or Umm Hussain al-Britani.

Security experts estimate that hundreds of Britons have gone to the Middle East to join the Islamic State (IS) militant group, the most brutal to emerge out of Syria’s bloody civil war and the most successful.

The well-funded group controls large swathes of Syria and Iraq and has proved adept at using social media to boost its profile, attract recruits and terrify enemies with images of mass executions and battlefield victories.

Last week another female British jihadist reportedly in Syria, known as Khadijah Dare, purportedly tweeted that she wanted to be the first woman to kill a British or US “terrorist”.

The Daily Mail and the Sunday Times alleged that Jones, a convert to Islam, travelled to Syria after an online romance with convicted 20-year-old computer hacker Junaid Hussain, and is now based in the IS stronghold of Raqa.

The Sunday Times said she had tweeted last week saying: “You Christians all need beheading with a nice blunt knife and stuck on the railing at raqqa... Come here I’ll do it for you!”

World News

Tuesday September 2, 2014

51

Ebola virus and Nigeria’s response JAMES ENTWISTLE

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he United States of America has been proud to work closely with the Federal Government of Nigeria and the governments of the affected states to fight the deadly Ebola Virus Disease (EVD). Nigeria must sustain this coordinated response, and we pledge to continue our support, along with other international partners and global health organizations, until the disease is defeated.

Our thoughts are with the families who have lost loved ones and all those who have been affected.

Health professionals are often at the front lines when infectious diseases erupt, and Nigeria has suffered losses - courageous doctors and nurses who lost their lives in the line of duty. They helped prevent a catastrophic pandemic, and we honour them for their dedication and professionalism, along with the many health care professionals who continue to put their personal safety second in service to their fellow man.

I recently visited the Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) at the Central Public Health Laboratory in Yaba and was greatly impressed by the response team led by the incident manager, Dr. Faisal Shuaib, and personnel of the Federal Ministry of Health, the Lagos State Ministry of Health, the World Health Organization, UNICEF, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), and my colleagues from the U.S. Centres for Disease Control and Prevention.

They have done, and continue to do, remarkable work. Their combined efforts led to increased awareness of EVD by the general public, well equipped health facilities that provide good care, and thorough contact tracing

Entwistle

– all elements that remain critical to containing and wiping out EVD and other infectious diseases.

Unfortunately, there are no tested and approved drugs or vaccines to mitigate the virus.

Strict protocols must be observed when new treatments are being explored. Any use of an experimental drug must be approved by the World Health Organization and administered under a patient-physician agreement. It has been widely reported that small experimental doses of a drug called ZMapp were made available to a few EVD patients— two Americans, one Spanish citizen, and three Liberians—some of whom were first-line health care workers fighting the Ebola

outbreak. Some of these patients have recovered and been released from care, but two of them lost their lives despite the experimental treatment. As medical experts have made clear to us, there is no way to immediately connect the patients’ respective outcomes to the vaccine; far more data is needed before we know whether the vaccine had any efficacy whatsoever. What we do know is that access to quality care and treatment makes the difference as to whether or not a patient survives.

While there has been unimaginable loss of life in Guinea, Sierra Leone, and Liberia, early testing and treatment has produced good results in Nigeria and must be continued. Seven EVD pa-

tients who received care have recovered, which underscores the importance of timely action.

Health professionals are providing full-time care to help patients fight the virus. This is why it is important to continue monitoring individuals who have been in contact with infected patients and offer them immediate care if they have developed any EVD symptoms. Rapid response is critical to contain infections and help save lives. The system in place for Lagos works, and was quickly redeployed to Port Harcourt when a case was reported there.

Even after this immediate threat of Ebola has passed, we must remain vigilant to maintain and strengthen the structure put in place to combat it, so that we will be better prepared to deal with any similar outbreak that may occur in the future.

The U.S. Government takes the Ebola threat very seriously, and we are fully dedicated to working with our governmental and nongovernmental allies to respond to this crisis and prevent its spread.

We have been engaged in fighting this outbreak since March when the cases were first reported. We have expanded our efforts and increased our number of expert personnel in the region over the last several weeks in response to the growing severity of the outbreak. We encourage all individuals who think they are or even might be affected by the Ebola virus to seek immediate professional medical help. This is critical to helping all of us save lives—including our own and those of the people we love.

We can and will defeat Ebola, but we must all work together to succeed.

• Entwistle is United States’ Ambassador to Nigeria

Ukrainian govt forces suffer setbacks as rebels advance

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krainian forces have suffered a series of setbacks, as pro-Russian rebels advance in the east of the country.

Officials said nearly 700 soldiers had been taken prisoner since the rebel offensive began.

Earlier the military said government forces had been forced to withdraw from Luhansk airport, saying they had been attacked by a column of Russian tanks.

Ukraine’s defence minister said it was now fighting a “great war” with Russia in which tens of thousands could die.

Valery Heletey said on his Facebook page that the rebels

had been defeated and Russia had been forced to begin a fullscale invasion of the region with regular forces.

“A great war has arrived at our doorstep - the likes of which Europe has not seen since World War Two,” he said.

“Unfortunately, the losses in such a war will be measured not in the hundreds but thousands and tens of thousands.”

Russia has repeatedly denied Ukrainian and Western accusations that it is providing troops and equipment to the rebels.

Meanwhile, Ukrainian and Russian officials are holding talks with separatist rebels and international monitors in

Minsk.

Some 2,600 people have died

in eastern Ukraine since fighting began in April.

Pro-Russian rebels hold the remains of the rocket in the village of Hrabske, eastern Ukraine, on Sunday.

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North

Tuesday, September 2, 2014

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APC vows to end ‘cultism’ in Gombe DANJUMA WILLIAMS GOMBE

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Dr. Ningi Adamu attending to a patient at Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital in Bauchi, as doctors in the hospital resumed work yesterday.

PHOTO: NAN

Nasarawa lawmakers boycott peace summit IGBAWASE UKUMBA LAFIA

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embers of the Nasarawa State House of Assembly yesterday vowed not to attend the peace summit summoned by Governor Umaru Tanko Al-Makura.

The meeting had been billed to hold today in Lafia, the state capital, in order to resolve the communal crises rocking the state.

They made their position known to journalists at a press briefing held at the Assembly complex and accused the state governor of sponsoring the lingering crises in the state that has led to loss of lives and property.

House Committee Chairman on Information, Security and Special Duties, Mohammed Baba Ibaku, representing Udege/ Loko, said the lawmakers had decided not to take part in the security meeting because the governor had refused to honour previous resolutions on security issues by the Assembly in the past.

According to him, the governor had earlier told members of the House of Assembly to concentrate on the business of lawmaking and stay away from security issues as security was not their business.

His words: “The lawmakers have resolved cate-

gorically that they are not going to attend the peace summit. The governor has planned, incubated and hatched the crises, and you cannot impregnate a woman and deny the child.

Let him face it.”

Ibaku averred that rather than attend Al-Makura’s meeting, they would rather go to their constituency to preach peace.

He added that the crises stemmed from the nonimplementation of the anti-thuggery law passed by the Assembly.

According to him, “the governor stubbornly refused to give assent to the law, which could have prevented unnecessary crises in the state.

He accused the gov-

LG polls: Police to restricts movement in Katsina JAMES DANJUMA KATSINA

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he Katsina State Police Command yesterday ordered restriction of movement during this weekend’s local council elections.

The exercise, which was supposed to have been held early August, was rescheduled till Saturday, following complaints by some political parties about the short notice given to them for the exercise.

Speaking yesterday during a meeting with political and security stakeholders, the state Commissioner of Police,

Mohammed Hurdi, said the restriction would last till the elections were completed.

Hurdi called on political parties to respect the electoral law and ensure sensitisation of their members for a free and fair process.

He warned those not having anything to do with the election to avoid loitering at voting centres and for eligible voters to leave premises once they were done with casting their votes.

The meeting, which was attended by representatives of all the security agencies, also graced

representatives of five political parties.

The parties include the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, Allied Congress Party of Nigeria, ACPN, Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Progressive Peoples’ Alliance, PPA, and Social Democratic Mega Party, SDMP. Two of the major opposition parties, Peoples Democratic Movement, PDM, and All Progressives Congress, APC, however, did not attend the meeting, with the latter having been in court to challenge Saturday’s exercise.

ernor of appointing two Fulani people into the government during a function in Lafia, three days before the event.

He queried the importance of appointing some Fulani people into government positions, rather than indigenes.

Ibaku berated the state commissioner of police for neglecting what he called the governor’s restriction of himself to the government house since his assumption of office.

He stated that the commissioner had never visited the Assembly, as well as ignoring security meetings initiated by the lawmakers, especially during the local council election.

he All Progressives Congress, APC, in Gombe State has promised to stop the activities of political thugs, especially those of the Kalare cadre, if given the opportunity to rule in 2015.

The party blamed the activities of the restive youths, who had been making life unbearable for the common man in Gombe State, through its zonal vice-chairman in Gombe South, Julius Ishaya.

It said the APC would never encourage youths to engage in any form of restiveness or thuggery.

The party advised the PDP in the state to put its house in order and ensure that “nobody’s son is used for inimical reasons in the name of politics, as leadership should be by example.”

According to him, “for people to be clashing and killing themselves in the name of politics is not a good development. APC is against it, and we will never encourage our youths to engage in any form of restiveness or thuggery.

“And because of the way we love the development and citizens of Gombe State, we will not want an individual to lose his life or get injured because of politics, as the centre of our

activities is the people,” he noted.

He said youth restiveness in the state was not peculiar, adding that there were measures the government could take to reduce the menace.

The party accused the state government of paying lip service to ending the scourge, “without doing anything to actually create jobs and engage young minds.”

Ishaya called for calm from the people of the state, assuring them that the APC would soon unseat the ruling party.

“And naturally, people will come to renounce Kalare. But as for this government, we have not seen any effort,” he said.

It would be recalled that PDP youths loyal to factions of the party recently clashed in Kumo, leaving left six people injured.

A week later, two corps marshals were allegedly killed in the state capital.

The police said six arrests were made in connection with the crime, adding that “the rivalry witnessed among the hooligans who were hitherto branded as Kalare, now gainfully employed by the state gover nment as marshal, are seemingly engaged in acts of hooliganism between themselves on minor issues.”

Monarch tasks NASS on confab report JAMES ABRAHAM JOS

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he Emir of Kanam in Plateau State, Alhaji Mu’azu Babangida, has asked members of the National Assembly not to treat the report of the just concluded National Conference with levity when it is finally passed to them by the president.

The monarch, who spoke with journalists in his palace, said the report deserved justice and fair play, in the interest of the nation at large.

According to him, the report concerned the well-being of the entire of people of the country and,

therefore, should be given the utmost attention it deserved.

“The people who prepared that report painstakingly deliberated on the way forward for the entire country. Therefore, it should be desired attention and passed into law which would unite us.

“If the report is properly handled by the legislators, the various agitations and the problem of leadership will be tackled to some certain level for the good of the nation,” he said.

The emir said the nation had been able to attain desired development level

simply because our leaders lacked the fear of God. He said unless the fear of God becomes the inthing in the lives of leaders and the led, Nigeria would not move forward as expected.

The traditional ruler noted: “Today, every youth wants to get rich quick, every politician wants to win at all cost, devising all manners of evil to get it, even it means spilling blood for it.

“Until we learn to be patient through the fear of God, we will not get it right in this country and development will keep eluding us as a nation,” he advised.

Tuesday September 2, 2014

The situation of last season not with standing, I believe Milan has the potential to rise again –Former AC Milan captain, Paolo Maldini

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

53

Sport

Transfer deadline: Devils capture Falcao 54

AFCON qualifier: Oboabona, 5 others in, Enyeama out

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uper Eagles camp for the Nations Cup qualifier against Congo Brazzaville opened yesterday night in Calabar with Turkey based Godfrey Oboabona being the first foreign-based player to arrive camp. He was later joined by Ebenezer Kunle Odunlami, Azubuike Egwueke, Gbolahan Salami, Chigozie Agbim and Solomon Osadunna.

Also Nosa Igiebor, Uche Nwofor and Ramon Azeez have arrived Calabar, according to team spokesman, Ben Alaiya.

Coach Stephen Keshi, his assistants, Dan Amokach, Hyadounou Valere and Ike Shorunmu are also all in the team’s Transcorp Metropolitan Hotel in Calabar, with Keshi insisting that there is no time to waste before the game

on Saturday.

Meanwhile, Nigerian officials have threatened to report German side, Schalke 04, to world soccer governing body, FIFA, if Chinedu Obasi fails to come for the Nations Cup qualifiers against Congo and South Africa.

Team Administrator, Dayo Enebi Achor, who has been working round the clock to ensure

that all invited players arrive on time for the games revealed that the German side called to say they have submitted the international passport of the player for the coming Champions League hostilities, which may force the player to miss the games, as the passport will not be released on time.

With five days to the game

against Congo, officials are angered by the attitude of the club and may report them to FIFA for appropriate sanctions.

Meanwhile, Coach Keshi has granted team skipper, Vincent Enyeama, leave of absence from the two games against Congo and South Africa’s Bafana Bafana on September 10, because of pressing family issues.

I wish Eagles all the best –Martins EVEREST ONYEWUCHI

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our days to Saturday, when Nigeria is expected to begin defence of her Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) title in Calabar, though neither coach, players nor administrators are in place for the match against Congo, Obafemi Martins has expressed his readiness to help salvage the nation.

The ex-Super Eagles reliable striker, who is overlooked by national team handlers since he transferred his professional career to the United States of America, says he wants Nigeria to always do well on the field of play.

Currently plying his trade with Seattle Sounders FC in the Major League Soccer (MLS), Martins told FIFA.com, however, that he would not force himself on the Eagles coaches to get a call-up.

Below are excerpts from the interview:

Martins in training with seattle sounders tem mates

Your second season in Major League Soccer is going a lot better than your first, with your goals and assists having led the Sounders to the top of the table.

What’s been the difference?

Last year I joined the team after playing more than half a season in the Spanish top-flight with Levante. I had no rest. I was too tight. I went from one season to another without a break. So I

wasn’t able show what I could do.

But this year I had a proper preseason camp. I got settled and healthy, and it’s showing.

You’ve been called to play for Nigeria only twice in the last three years. Do you think, considering your current form, a recall might be in order, maybe for next year’s African Cup of Nations?

I’m here and I’m Nigerian, so we’ll see if I get picked. I have no control over it. Every coach has his favourites. All I can say is that I’m playing good football in Seattle and I’m happy doing it.

If I’m in the Nigeria team, great, and if I’m not, I wish them all the best. I always want Nigeria to do well.

When you look around the world you always find Nigerians playing. I don’t think I can name a league where there aren’t at least a few Nigerians. Why is this?

We don’t have the best domestic league system in Nigeria, but we do have some of the best players - too many talented players (laughs). Go to Germany, Russia, Spain, Italy, wherever, and you’ll find Nigerians playing there. They might not be the big stars, but they’re out there showing what Nigerian football is all about. Nigerians love to play football and it’s not like here in the States where there’s American football, baseball, basketball. All we have is football in Nigeria. And we love it.

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Sports

Tuesday September 2, 2014

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Chicharito

makes Madrid switch

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eal Madrid has signed Manchester United striker, Javier Hernandez, on a season-long loan deal.

The Mexico international will move to the Bernabeu on an initial temporary basis, but Real has the option to make the deal permanent next summer.

Hernandez’s departure, after four seasons at Old Trafford, follows news of Manchester United’s move for Colombia striker Radamel Falcao, who was linked with Real all summer.

The Mexican has scored 37 Premier League goals for United but has become increasingly marginalised since Sir Alex Ferguson’s departure.

Hernandez started six league games last season and has played just 45 minutes of this season’s competition under Manager Louis van Gaal.

Transfer deadline:

Devils capture

Falcao R

e por ts yesterday said Manchester United has agreed a season-long loan deal worth between £6million with Monaco for striker Radamel Falcao.

The last 24 hours have seen the Colombia international linked with a host of Premier League clubs including Arsenal and Manchester City as well as European champion Real Madrid.

Madrid appeared to be favourites to sign Falcao after he tweeted “Hello Madrid” on Saturday, only to delete it not long afterwards, as United won the race to sign the 28-year-old.

Meanwhile, former Liverpool defender, Jamie Carragher, who is now Skysports

Chicharito

Messi misses W/ Cup final rematch

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rgentina captain, Lionel Messi, will miss his country’s friendly against world champions, Germany, tomorrow due to a groin strain, his club side Barcelona confirmed yesterday.

The match offers Argentina an immediate chance for revenge for their agonising 1-0 extra-time defeat to Germany in the World Cup final in July.

Messi suffered the injury in Barca’s 1-0 win away to Villarreal on Sunday and will also missed a charity match in Rome yesterday.

“Leo Messi will remain in Barcelona as a precaution due to a strain in his right adductor,” Barca said in a statement on their website.

“Barca’s number 10 will miss the match for peace in Rome this evening and will also not be able to participate in the match between Germany and Argentina.”

pundit, believes that Falcao’s loan move to United provides a selection headache for Manager Louis van Gaal.

The Red Devils are yet to win a Premier League game this season, despite the arrival of Angel di Maria, who made his debut in Saturday’s 0-0 draw at Burnley.

“If Falcao comes then I think it is fantastic competition for places because when you look at how the game is played now,” Carragher said yesterday.

“The way the game is going that’s going to become more dependent on players coming in, making an impact and being flexible and moving around.

“This will actually kick Wayne Rooney and Robin van Persie on a little bit–they’ll be thinking ‘ok, we’ve got to fire even further than we have been’.

“To make Manchester United improve, Louis van Gaal doesn’t just rely on reputations and Falcao’s arrival is a wonderful lift to the football club.”

Cech open to departure

D Messi

isplaced Chelsea goalkeeper, Petr Cech, has refused to rule out a late Blues departure if the offer is right, amid reported interest from PSG and Monaco before the deadline.

Cech, who joined from

Rennes in 2004, has started the new campaign as Manager Jose Mourinho’s secondchoice goalkeeper following the return of Thibaut Courtois and his future has been the subject of much speculation.

The 32-year-old is currently away on international duty with the Czech Republic squad but believes that would not hamper his chances of a leaving.

“I have not thought about that but I think it is possible.

A lot of players are on international duty but still transfers have been made,” he said yesterday.

“I don’t count on anything but, at the same time, can’t rule out anything if there is an offer you can’t refuse.”

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Lagos rewards IBILE Games winners

PAUL EREWUBA

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L

Tandoh

lokun Sanni, lead their athletes to the ceremony.

Lagos Island Local Government won the 2014 IBILE Games with 151 gold, 108 silver and 107 bronze medals while Surulere Local Government came second with 36 gold, 32 silver and 41 bronze, as Ibeju Lekki came third with 29 gold, 27 silver and 27 bronze medals.

In the Junior Category, which featured secondary schools in the state, Lagos City Senior College, Yaba emerged the best in wrestling, handball, badminton and squash in the boys’ category, while Wesley Girls Junior Secondary School, Yaba shone in weightlifting, judo, badminton and squash in the girls’ category.

Ojo Local Government had defeated Surulere Local Government 3-1 on penalties in the football final after both sides tied 1-1 draw in regulation time.

Why Bafana Bafana regressed –SA coach

B

afana Bafana Coach, Ephraim Mashaba, has said that expensive coaches had caused what he calls serious setback to the national team in recent years.

Mashaba was appointed in July among other candidates that include Carlos Quieroz, Roberto Carlos, Rudi Krol, Patrick Kluivert, Fabio Cannavaro and Stephen Keshi.

“Give me the record of all the expensive coaches and let’s go through them,” the new coach, who local reports described as the “cheapest coach for Bafana”, said yesterday in anger.

“Our football is down because of those expensive coaches, there will be a time where we appreciate things, and talk about things, this one I felt I couldn’t leave it.

“I am the longest serving coach in football here, club level or national, but people haven’t realised what I have done to South African football.”

President of South Africa

55

NFF poll: Ex-Eagle craves peaceful resolution

AFOLABI GAMBARI agos State Government will today present awards to winners of the 2012 and 2014 editions of Lagos State Sports Festival tagged IBILE Games.

Yaba Local Council Development Area (LCDA) won IBILE Games in 2012 while Team Lagos Island Local Government emerged winner at the 2014 edition held in April.

Organisers told National Mirror yesterday that Commissioner for Youth, Sports and Social Development, Mr. Wahid Enitan Oshodi, will present the awards on behalf of Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola at the Teslim Balogun Stadium Surulere, Lagos.

The winners will also get sports equipment promised by the Governor in aid of development in the two local government areas.

The event, which will be attended by Permanent Secretary in the Sports Ministry, Mr. Oluseyi Whenu and Director of Sports, Lagos State Sports Council, Dr. Kweku Tandor as well as the management staff of the ministry, will also see the chairmen of Yaba LCDA, Jide Jimoh, and his counterpart in Lagos Island, Wasiu Eshin-

Sports

Tuesday September 2, 2014

Football Association (SAFA), Danny Jordaan, however dismissed the reports as mischievous, saying they were unfair to the veteran coach.

“The fact is that we didn’t consider a salary package when we appointed Mashaba,” Jordaan said.

Meanwhile South Africa will begin the 2015 AFCON qualifying campaign against Sudan in Omdurman on Friday before hosting Nigeria in Cape Town on September 10.

Mashaba

head of Thursday’s scheduled elections into the executive committee of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) by the Aminu Maigari-led faction of the football body, former Nigeria international, Pascal Patrick, says he expects a free and fair poll.

National Mirror gathered yesterday that the election will go ahead despite the August 26 poll that produced Ambassador

Chris Giwa as president, and which has escalated the crisis in the country’s football.

“The real and legitimate election is coming on September 4 and we are all expecting things to go well without any hitch,” Patrick, who is a member of the dissolved electoral committee of the Maigari faction, said.

“We cannot be seen to have an unfair or biased electoral process since we have seen the disorder that the election held on August 26 has brought us.

“So, we have no choice but

Osaze

sustains knee injury, may miss season

S

uper Eagles striker, Osaze Odemwingie, could be out for the rest of season amid fears he had seriously damaged his cruciate knee ligament during Stoke City’s EPL clash with Manchester City on Saturday at Etihad where the visitors won 1-0.

Stoke Manager, Mark Hughes, had built the game around the Nigeria international but was served a crushing blow after the player collapsed unchallenged and was stretchered off the pitch.

Hughes had initially said the injury “was not serious” until news emerged yesterday that the former West Brom forward would endure life on the sidelines.

According to reports, whoever, Stoke City will consider acquiring Liverpool winger Oussama Assaidi on loan as Odemwingie’s replacement.

Tottenham Hotspur winger Aaron Lennon w a s

briefly considered before the close of transfer window on Sunday, but his former Spurs boss Harry Redknapp reportedly wanted him at QPR.

to have a very credible exercise where only the best candidates will be voted for,” the former Super Eagles defender added.

With the Chris Giwa-led executive committee already disowned by FIFA, Patrick believes the Thursday’s election will have representation from CAF and FIFA to monitor proceedings.

“I think this will demonstrate the legitimacy of the election and I hope all issues will be resolved afterwards,” Patrick further said.

WORLD RECORD

Southernmost permanently inhabited place Vol. 04 No. 929 Tuesday, September 2, 2014

Discounting Antarctic research stations, the farthest south that people permanently live on Earth is the small hamlet of Puerto Toro (55°04’59S) on the island of Navarino on the southern tip of Chile.

N150

The politics of waiver in Adamawa

T

he October 11 gubernatorial election in Adamawa State to replace the recently impeached governor has turned an interesting scenario given the emerging developments among the competing aspirants. The ruling party which enjoys the chances of winning the plum position of recent has however come under intense pressure of how to go about handling the screening of the aspirants for the election.

The desperation from the camps of the aspirants is gradually becoming messy with accusations, counter accusations and scheming becoming the order with little or no consideration for the interest of the voters where the ultimate power resides.

What goes on in the Adamawa case

T

he Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) led by Mr. Chris Giwa, yesterday announced the suspension of the League Management Company (LMC), meaning the registered company has been

TALKINGPOINT Seyi Fasugba

seyifasugba@yahoo.com 08053069514 (sms only)

is the reality of party politics in the country and that of individual interests over and above that of the voters whose opinion and interest should have guided the aspirants. One cannot but comes to terms with the desperation of the contestants in readiness for the party primaries since a winner in the bye election will surely enjoy the power of incumbency over others in 2015. It is therefore not a surprise why some have developed interest in getting some of the aspirants disqualified to create chances for others.

This over-bearing interest has even led to the call for some of the aspirants not to be given the privilege of waiver by the party to contest. Among the aspirants, the campaign against the eligibility of the former Chairman of the EFCC, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, has been more pronounced just on sentiment but not the benefits his candidature offers the party in the state.

Ditto for the attack on the eligibility of the former executive secretary of the Universal Basic Education, UBEC, Dr. Aliyu Modibbo, who some also wanted denied the waiver to create opportunities for their own candidate. From the campaign of calumny it is glaring that some of the contestants are actually uncomfortable with oppositions who are members of the same party without

IN

SPITE OF THE

MANEUVERING TO SECURE THE TICKET ONE THING IS ,

HOWEVER CERTAIN , THE

10

ASPIRANTS

ARE JOSTLING FOR ONE TICKET WHICH MUST EVENTUALLY GO TO ONE OF THEM even considering their electoral values against the opposition.

Rather than fight and scheme others within the same party, the politics of waivers and its campaigners however did not say that the aspirants being targeted are not in any way qualified to contest and did not even show any respect for their exposure in previous national assignments. But this is the reality of party politics in this country where some individuals think and convincingly too that their interest supersedes that of the majority.

Such individuals will not stop at that but go ahead to do everything possible

to edge others out of the race without celebrating what makes them superior to other contestants in terms of what they are capable to deliver if elected.

In times like this, the electorate will always be at home with the tested hands with the hope that they will not tarnish the reputation built over time even while aspiring to a higher responsibility.

There is no doubt that the ruling party parades an array of experienced individuals from among whom will emerge replacement the former governor, Murtala Nyarko. The same thing attends to the mystery which greeted the disqualification and the clearance later of the acting governor, Ahmadu Fintiri. He was initially disqualified by the Ibrahim Mantu panel screening the aspirants for a simple reasoning that given the position he occupies he is not supposed to be part of the election. The decision was however overturned less than 24 hours, an indication that the interest at stake goes beyond the acting governor and that no excuse will be considered tenable enough to stop him in spite of the rules given by the committee.

In spite of the maneuvering to secure the ticket, one thing is, however, certain the 10 aspirants are jostling for one ticket which must eventually go to one of them. Managing the situation to the benfit of the party is however of paramount importance. By this week the picture is expected to get clearer but one thing unique with politician is that, more often they are incurable optimists. Even when the odds weigh heavily against them each of the 10 aspirants will still believe that he will emerge the winner.

Such optimism is good to the extent that they will not however allow the same destroy the party when the final decision does not favour a particular camp.

Sport Extra Giwa NFF scraps League Management Company scrapped.

In a statement signed

by Giwa’s deputy, Chief Obinna Ogba, it said the LMC was suspended for sabotaging the league matches during day 26th

matches.

It also set up a committee headed by Dr. Chris Ekong to investigate the LMC and Nigeria Referees Association in view of their involvement in sabo-

taging the league matches.

Accordingly, a sixman committee comprising of Mr. Fatai Olaniyan, Chief Rumson Baribote, Chief Okey Ibe, Barr.

Isaac Danladi, Mr. Tijani

Babangida, Mr. Babangida Little and Tunji Babalola (Secretary) is hereby constituted to oversee the running of the Nigeria Premier League matches till the end of the season.

Danagogo

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