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FG to provide long term funds for industrialists, cash crops farmers TOLA AKINMUTIMI ABUJA

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resident Goodluck Jonathan yesterday unveiled plans to establish a new Develop-

Vol. 4 N0. 921

ment Finance Institution, DFI, to focus primarily on providing long term credit to industrialists and tree crop farmers.

The President said the proposed measure would

Nigeria’s industrial potential untapped –Aganga P.4

afford real sector operators and tree crop farmers the opportunities of assessing credit for up to 15 years at low interest rate.

The President disclosed CONTINUED ON PAGE 2>>

Wednesday, August 20, 2014

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2015: Registered voters now 70.3 million –INEC ...lists conditions for deployment of troops

OBIORA IFOH, WOLE OLADIMEJI AND OMEIZA AJAYI

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he Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, yesterday put the total number of registered voters in the country at 70,383,427.

This is even as the commission foreclosed the possibility of electronic and Diaspora voting during the 2015 general election.

With the huge number of registered voters and in a bid to decongest polling units across the country for CONTINUED ON PAGE 2>>

REGISTERED VOTERS IN SOME STATES Lagos Kano Kaduna Katsina Jigawa Ogun Bayelsa

5,426,391 4,751,818 3,743,815 2,928,046 1,817,087 1,796,024 590,679

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Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola (left), Project Manager, Salini Nigeria Ltd, Mr. Raffaello Bizzarro, during an inspection tour of the 70 million gallons per day Adiyan Waterworks Phase Two at Oke-Aro, yesterday.

Nigerian female doctor dies of Ebola

17 Liberian runaway patients found P.5 FG extends payment deadlines for 2 power firms

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Police keep mum over arrested Lagos suicide bomber P.6

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Wednesday, August 20, 2014

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FG to provide long term funds for industrialists, cash crops farmers CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

the plan initiative when he formally launched the N220bn Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Fund, (MSMDF), an initiative of the Central Bank of Nigeria, in Abuja yesterday.

He said the step was being undertaking as part of the administration’s measures to enhance the continuation of MSMEs to economic growth.

The President explained that apart from the new institution to be established, the existing DFIs would also be restructured for better performance and improved access to finance by the MSMEs. He said the move was to cut the enormity of the task in exploring the potential of the MSMEs for improved contribution to the nation’s Gross Domestic Product, GDP. He said the programmes being implemented by the Federal Government were aimed at ensuring that un-

employment and poverty rates were reduced.

He cited the YOUWIN, ATA and other programmes targeted at creating opportunities for the youths and vulnerable groups for socioeconomic empowerment.

President Jonathan noted that the drive towards making Nigeria one of the 20 most developed economies globally in 2020 would depend largely on how the MSMEs were supported for improved productivity.

He disclosed that as derisking mechanism, the Growth Enhancement Support, GES, scheme of the ATA had provided guarantees and subsidies of over N29bn for 128 agro dealers.

He added that the GES also facilitated the supply of improved seed and fertilisers to the primary producers in the agricultural value chain with visible results.

Jonathan commended the CBN, for series of interventions targeted at creating credit windows and capacity building at various sectors

of the economy, especially in agriculture, MSMEs and power sectors.

He restated his administration’s commitment to addressing issues in money and capital market options for SMEs and leveraging on technology to facilitating improved financial services delivery to the micro, small and medium enterprises.

He also expressed the

confidence that the various initiatives, when complemented by those being embarked upon at the states and local governments, would assist the government in consolidating the remarkable achievements made in the efforts to structurally transform the nation’s economy.

On the government’s commitment to women empowerment, the President

said that the CBN had indicated that 60 per cent of the N220bn would be provided to support women entrepreneurs.

He promised that his administration would tackle the problems of poverty and unemployment in the country.

To kick off the disbursement of the fund, President Jonathan presented a N500m

cheque to of Delta State Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan and N260m to his Akwa Ibom State counterpart, Mr. Godswill Akpabio, as their states’ share of the fund.

The Managing Director of LAPO Microfinance Bank Limited, Mr. Godwin Ehigiamusoe, and the representative of Grassroots MicroFinance Limited got N100m and N9.9m respectively.

L-R: Akwa Ibom State Governor Godswill Akpabio, President Goodluck Jonathan, Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria, Mr. Godwin Emefiele and Anambra State Governor Willie Obiano, during the CBN 8th Annual MSME Finance Conference and Entrepreneurship Award in Abuja, yesterday.

2015: Registered voters now 70.3 million –INEC CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

the coming general election, INEC has also increased existing polling units by 30,000.

By this addition, the total number of polling units across the country’s 774 local government areas is now 150,000 from the initial 119,973.

The creation of the additional units was contained in an INEC bulletin, signed by the Director in charge of the commission’s secretariat, Ishiaku Gali, and made available to journalists yesterday.

He explained the decision to create the additional polling units was taken at the Commission’s meeting on August 12, 2014.

According to the breakdown of the approved reallocation of the 150,000 polling units, Lagos leads the chart with registered voters put at 5,426,391, and an additional 2,870 polling units, making 11,565 polling units.

Kano State with 4,751,818 as registered voters has additional 2,053 polling units, bringing its total to 9,809.

Next by registered voters is Kaduna State which has a registered voters numbering 3,743,815 and additional

polling units of 2,878, bringing its total to 7,485.

For Katsina State with population of 2,928,046, it got an additional 1,339 polling units to increase the total number of polling units in the state to 3,818.

Jigawa State, according to the breakdown, has a voter registration of 1,817,087 with additional polling units of 346, making a total of 3,677.

Ogun State has registered voters of 1,796,024 and additional polling units of 569, bringing the total to 3, 818.

Bayelsa State has registered voters of 590,679 and additional polling units of 121, making a total of 1,925.

The 2010 Electoral Act (as amended) provides that each polling unit is expected to have not more than 500 voters.

Meanwhile, the electoral umpire has foreclosed the possibility of electronic and Diaspora voting in 2015.

The commission also supported an amendment of the Electoral Act, which constitutionally limits the role of the armed forces in elections.

The commission request-

ed the National Assembly to extend the time for conduct of run-off elections to offices of president and governors from seven days to 21 days.

Speaking yesterday at the public hearing organised by the House of Representatives Committee on Electoral Matters in conjunction with Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre on the amendment of 2010 Electoral Act, INEC Chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega, stated that while commission was seeking constitutional amendments to allow for electronic and Diaspora voting, it could only be adopted in subsequent elections from 2015.

“It will be difficult for INEC to prepare adequately for the process. There is simply no time to do that... we (INEC) will not be able to do electronic voting in whatever form on or before the 2015 elections,” Jega told the Hon. Jerry Manwe-led House committee.

The INEC chairman, who spoke on the timeframe for run-off elections, maintained that it would be ‘technically impossible’ to conduct a run-off election in seven days.

Jega said that INEC identified Section 23 of the Electoral Act, which required amendment.

He said the amendments if approved by the National Assembly would provide a level playing field and enhance the electoral process.

Some of the constitutional amendments sought are: Operational independence of the commission to be fully guaranteed in the constitution; appointment of dates for conduct of elections to be made by the commission in accordance with the constitution; persons convicted of electoral offences should be disqualified from contesting elections and holding any positions in political parties.

Others are that voting

by Nigerians in Diaspora should be allowed; that the Constitution should make provisions for access to ballot by political parties and the need for establishment of an Electoral Offences Commission with power to investigate and prosecute all types of electoral offences in Nigeria.

On the deployment of the armed forces in elections, INEC in its position paper

backed the amendment of Section 29(1) of the Electoral Act, which inserts a new paragraph(b) that limits the role of the military to “securing the distribution and delivery of electoral materials.”

The new paragraph (b) reads: “Notwithstanding the provisions of any other law and for the purposes of securing the vote, the commission shall be responsible for requesting for the deployment of relevant security personnel necessary for elections or registration of voters and shall assign them in the manner determined by the commission in consultation with the relevant security agencies.”

It also provided that “the commission shall request for the deployment of the Nigerian Armed Forces only for the purpose of securing the distribution and delivery of electoral materials.”

Also in its presentation, the Inter-Party Advisory Council, IPAC, - an association of all registered 25 political parties in Nigeria, called on the National Assembly to outlaw crosscarpeting by politicians

to other political parties after winning elections on a prior party.

IPAC Chairman, Dr. Yunusa Tanko, who is also the National Chairman of the National Conscience Party, NCP, said that the decision was unanimously agreed after a meeting of political parties.

In a related development, INEC has released the timetable and schedule of activities for the governorship by- election in Adamawa State.

INEC had earlier announced that the by-election would hold on Saturday, October 11, 2014.

This was contained in a document issued by the commission yesterday in Abuja.

The timetable and schedule of activities shows that the last day for submission of Forms CF002, CF001 and nomination forms at the INEC headquarters is September 17, 2014 while the last day for Publication of Personal Particulars of Candidates, CF001, is September 29, 2014.

Also, the last day for campaign is October 9, 2014.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Wednesday, August 20, 2014

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Photo News

Wednesday, August 20, 2014

L-R: Branch Manager, Bwari, First City Monument Bank, FCMB, Mr. Haliru Garo; winner of N1m at the second FCMB 30th Anniversary promo ‘Reloaded for the North Region’, Mr. Ose Idasho, receiving his cheque from FCMB’s Executive Director, North, Mr. Adam Nuru, at the Northern Regional Draw of the promo in Abuja, yesterday.

L-R: Former Speaker, House of Representatives, Hon. Ghali Na’abba; President, Women Arise, Dr. Joe Okei-Odumakin and Country Director, Ford Foundation, Prof. Friday Okonofua, during the National Stakeholders Summit on Gender Based Violence Affecting Young People in Nigeria, in Abuja, yesterday.

PHOTO: ROTIMI OSASONA

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

L-R: Director, Information Technology and Mobile, Samsung Electronics West Africa, Mr. Emmanouil Revmatas; Business Development Director, Mr. Daesung Ra; Samsung brand ambassador, music artiste, Reminisce; Head of Product Marketing, Ms. Olajumoke Okikiolu and Managing Director, Samsung Electronics West Africa, Mr. Brovo Kim, during the launch of Samsung’s Galaxy products in Lagos, yesterday.

PHOTO: YINKA ADEPARUSI

L-R: Director-General, National Automotive Council, Mr. Aminu Jalal; Summit Chairman, and Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of Lubcon Group, Engr. Jani Ibrahim and Assistant Director, Department of Petroleum Resources, DPR, Mr. Mudei Alphonsus, during the first Nigerian Lubricant Summit in Lagos, yesterday.

National News

Nigeria’s industrial potential untapped –Aganga ADEBOLAJI ADEBAYO

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he Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Olusegun Aganga, has said that the country’s industrial potential has remained largely untapped despite its advancement from being the third largest economy in Africa to the number one position.

Aganga, who declared this at the maiden edition of Nigeria Lubricants Summit

in Lagos yesterday, said one of the unexploited aspects of the industrial potential was the manufacturing of lubricants imported into the country on a regular basis.

He said his ministry had been working hard to unlock the hidden potential, including the lubricant subsector, in order to make the entire industrial sector the main driver of economic growth in Nigeria.

The minister said the government had developed a draft national policy for the

lubricant industry, which is aimed primarily at increasing value addition and capacity utilisation, and with the sole objective of making the country self-sufficient in lubricant production, as well as encouraging export.

He added that modalities for the implementation of the policy were currently being worked out in consultation with other government ministries and agencies.

Meanwhile, the Chairman/Technical Adviser, Lubcon Group, Mr. Jani Ibrahim,

has said that for sustainable growth in the lubricant business in Nigeria, the government must strive to eliminate artificial and avoidable distortions in order to protect the manufacturers.

He explained that greater encouragement in form of sound fiscal and stable monetary policies to reduce the inflationary trends, stable and lower interest rate regime, as well as elimination of multiple taxations were required to attract more local and foreign investors to

participate successfully in all the sectors of the nation’s petroleum industry.

For the attainment of that status, Ibrahim said there was a need for the speedy passage of the Petroleum Industry Bill, PIB. The Principal Partner of Lubeservices Associates, Engr. Kayode Sote, stated that the Directorate of Petroleum Resources, DPR, established under Part II, Section 9 of the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC Act, 1977, was the organ em-

der statutory distribution; N65.46bn for Value Added Tax, VAT, while the balance of N35.54bn was allocated to the tiers of government under the Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme, SURE-P. Giving a breakdown of the distributions, the minister said after deducting the cost of collections to the Federal Inland Revenue Service, FIRS, and the Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, the Federal Government got

the sum of N257.32bn, representing 52.68 per cent of the statutory revenue; the 36 states shared N130.51bn or 26.72 per cent, while the sum of N100.62bn was distributed to the local government councils.

Also, the sum of N62.84bn was distributed from VAT revenue, with Federal Government’s share totalling N9.42bn; the states got N31.42bn, while the local governments shared the balance of N21.99bn.

‘FG revenue declines N154.6bn in July’ TOLA AKINMUTIMI ABUJA

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he Federal Government yesterday said that the country recorded a whopping N154.56bn drop in federallycollected revenues totalling N630.32 billion in July, down from the N784.88bn collected in the preceding month of June.

Disclosing this while briefing the media shortly after the Federation Ac-

counts Allocation Committee, FAAC, meeting in Abuja, the Minister of State for Finance, Amb. Bashir Yuguda, attributed the sharp decline to ‘Force Majeure’ declared

by Shell and a series of shutdown of trunk lines and pipelines at various terminals.

In addition, he also identified the substantial decline experienced by the Federal Inland Revenue Service, FIRS, in Companies Income Tax, CIT, collections as also

contributory to the dip in revenue for the month under review.

Despite the shortfall in revenue accruals, the minister disclosed that the FAAC still distributed a total sum of N654.58bn to the three tiers of government as allocation from all revenue sources, an amount that was N30.31bn than what was shared by them in June.

Expatiating on the shared revenue sources, Yuguda said N553.56bn shared un-

powered with the responsibility for the enforcement of the various Acts and Regulations to monitor all legal and illegal and operations in the oil and gas industry.

He stated that the directorate, in collaboration with other arms of the government agencies, such as the ministries of Finance, Transport, and Aviation, Corporate Affairs Commission, CAC, Nigeria Police, Army, Navy, State Security Service, SSS, Nigerian Ports PLC, as well as Customs, were supposed to monitor all legal and illegal bunkering hoarding, tampering through weights and measures, diversion and obstruction of transportation and marketing of petroleum products, with or without licences throughout the country.

Sote said the enabling statues were favourable, as reflected by the procedures, standards and guidelines theoretically spelt out in the various laws, but the effective implementation of such policies were the bane of the recurring problems in petroleum marketing in Nigeria.

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Wednesday, August 20, 2014

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Nigerian female doctor dies of Ebola ISE-OLUWA IGE, FEMI OYEWESO, KEMI OLAITAN AND MARCUS FATUNMOLE

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he Federal Government yesterday announced the fifth death from the deadly Ebola virus in the country.

News of the death was communicated through a statement made available

by Special Assistant to the Minister of Health, Dan Nwomeh.

The statement reads: “The Honourable Minister of Health, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu regrets to announce the death, this evening, of one of the

primary contacts of the index Ebola Virus Disease case, the most senior doctor who participated in the management of the patient, a female consultant physician.

“With this unfortunate development the total number of Ebola Virus related deaths in Nigeria now stand at five. The other two patients currently under treatment in the isolation wards are stable and are being taken care of.”

Four other persons had died of the disease in the past few weeks, including the Liberian, Patrick Sawyer, who imported the disease into the country.

The late Nigerians comprise two nurses who attended to the Liberian and a Protocol Officer with the ECOWAS Commission who helped Sawyer to hospital after he took ill on arrival at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos.

At his last briefing in Lagos, Minster of Health, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu said 189 persons were under surveillance, while 11 Nigerians tested positive to the disease.

Out of the figure, five have been treated and discharged from the isolated wards where victims of the disease are given medical care.

Meanwhile, three doctors working in Liberia including a Nigerian who were infected with Ebola are showing remarkable signs of improvement after they started taking an experimental drug.

A Liberian government minister said the doctors have been using the drug, Zmapp, since last Thursday when a small dose was sent from the United States.

ZMapp was first given earlier this month to two US aid workers, who were flown home for treatment from Liberia.

Ebola has no cure but the World Health Organisation, WHO, has ruled that untested drugs can be used in light

L-R: Group Chief Financial Officer, Forte Oil Plc, Mr. Julius Omodayo-Owotuga; Chief Executive Officer, Nigeria Stock Exchange, Mr. Oscar Onyema; Group Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Akin Akinfemiwa and Executive Director, Business Development, NSE, Mr. Haruna Jalo-Waziri, during Forte Oil’s presentation of its Facts Behind the Figures in Lagos, yesterday.

Nigeria’s industrial potential remains untapped, says Aganga CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2

The CBN Governor, Mr. Godwin Emefiele, said that the apex bank would focus on sectors that had the potential of creating jobs on a massive scale in the disbursement of the fund.

He also said that government would also pay close attention to financing sectors that could help the country reduce its growing import bill and conserve much needed foreign exchange.

He said that in the health sector, the present administration would play a facilitating role by unlocking the potential that existed for the private sector to invest in the healthcare value chains, including hospital services, health insurance, pharmaceuticals, supply chain and financing.

According to him, as part of the efforts of the apex bank to consolidate the

achievements of the ATA, emphasis would be placed on value chains financing in four priority commodities including rice, fish, wheat and sugar.

He noted that these commodities accounted for a significant share of Nigeria’s food import bill over the years, adding that in order to reduce the food import bill and increase productivity at the domestic level, 60 per cent of the funds in the Commercial Agriculture Credit Scheme, CACS, would be targeted at improving local production of the commodities.

Emefiele explained that the Federal Government would be required to strengthen linkages between the local producers and major importers of these commodities under off-take arrangements to ensure excellent results from the government’s backward in-

tegration scheme.

On the CACS and moves to improve its impact on the agricultural sector, the CBN governor disclosed that the board of the bank had approved its extension from 2016 to 2025 to enable it to fund more projects.

He also disclosed that the CBN was considering funding viable gas-to-power projects by collaborating with all stakeholders to find innovative ways of dealing with the legacy gas-to-power debt so that international oil companies and other producers of gas can significantly increase the production and supply of gas to power plants across the country.

To ensure transparent administration of the MSMEs credit, Emefiele said the micro-credit would be administered through private or state-owned microfinance institutions,

finance houses and cooperative finance agencies, but disbursed through commercial banks. The CBN boss hinted that the funds would be disbursed equally to micro enterprises and SMEs by participating state governments and financial institutions at a maximum yearly interest rate of nine per cent to end users, inclusive of all charges.

Emefiele said that to ensure that the funds got to genuine borrowers, participating banks and other financial institutions would 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 apex bank would be undertaking on and offsite monitoring and evaluation of disbursement to ascertain veracity of the reports received by it.

of the scale of outbreak.

Since the beginning of the year, 1,229 people have died of the virus.

It is transmitted by direct contact with the body fluids of an infected person.

Initial flu-like symptoms can lead to external haemorrhaging from areas such as eyes and gums, and internal bleeding which can cause organ failure.

The outbreak began in Guinea and has since spread to Liberia, Sierra Leone and Nigeria.

Information Minister in Liberia, Lewis Brown, said the government only received a small number of ZMapp doses and gave them to one Nigerian and two Liberian doctors who had caught Ebola whilst helping save the lives of other victims of the virus.

Two US missionaries, who received doses of the medicine, are also reportedly recovering, but a 75-yearold Spanish priest who contracted Ebola in Liberia died in Spain last week despite being given the drug.

The US pharmaceutical company that makes the drug said it has for now run out of it, so the only way to stop the current outbreak is to isolate the victims and those who have come into contact with them.

Brown also said 17 suspected Ebola patients who went missing after a health centre in the capital was attacked had been found.

Health officials in Guinea however said the country had suffered a setback in its fight against the epidemic, seeing a resurgence of cases in Macenta.

The BBC’s Alhassan Sillah in Guinea said the town had not had any cases for two months, and the authorities had dismantled all Ebola facilities in the area.

The health authorities believed that Guineans returning from neighbouring Liberia were carrying the virus.

Also, four travellers coming into Nigeria from Guinea through an illegal border area at Imeko-Afon Local Government Area of Ogun State have been detained and are being monitored by the state government in its efforts to curb the spread of the dreaded virus.

Commissioner for Health, Dr. Olaokun Soyinka, who disclosed this at a press conference in his office in Abeokuta yesterday,

said that response teams had been provided at the local government area levels, who serve as surveillance teams.

Soyinka explained that the travellers who were coming from Guinea last Friday were in the process of crossing over to Nigeria from one of the entry points when they were accosted by officials of the Port Health Services, PHS. The commissioner also stated that the Guineans were detained and placed on observation against the backdrop of an established fact that Guinea is one of the West African countries where the EVD scourge is prevalent.

The detained travellers could not give satisfactory answer to questions put across to them as to whether they have had contact with sufferers of the virus prior to their travelling.

Soyinka also explained that the Port Health Services later handed over the travellers to officials of Imeko-Afon Local Government, who ordered them to return to their country.

Emphasising that they would be on EVD observation list for 21 days, Soyinka said the foreigners and the other Nigerian agreed to wait while they are being observed to make sure that they don’t have or exhibit any symptom of the disease.

Meanwhile, the Nigerian Bar Association yesterday said that it is not planning to cancel its annual general conference scheduled to hold in Owerri, Imo State.

The outgoing NBA President, Okey Wali, SAN, who stated this in a briefing yesterday also listed the precautionary measures on ground to prevent the conference from becoming a forum for spreading the virus.

Some of the measures taken by NBA include the purchase of hand bacterial and viral sanitisers, which will be given to every conference participant for usage throughout the conference.

“Latex gloves and masks for our service providers deployed to man registration, marshals (if necessary); non-contact laser guns for temperature monitoring and screening of participants; public installed, standing dispensing noncontact hand sanitizers in select public places, with refills.

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Wednesday, August 20 , 2014

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Police keep mum over arrested suicide bomber at Lagos Airport Olusegun Koiki

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Chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof. Attahiru Jega (left) and Speaker, House of Representatives, Hon. Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, during the public hearing for the amendment of a bill on the Electoral Act in Abuja, yesterday.

PHOTO: NAN

Insurgency: Nigerian soldiers may mutiny over weapons –Report

…FG procuring sophisticated weapons for Army –Minimah

Dennis Agbo

WITH AGENCY REPORT

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group of soldiers is refusing to fight the Boko Haram sect until they receive better equipment, one of the mutineers has told the British Broadcasting Corporation, BBC. This is even as the Chief of Army Staff, COAS, Lt. Gen. Kenneth Minimah, said the government was procuring more sophisticated weapons to unleash on and finally crush the Boko Haram insurgents.

A soldier, who requested anonymity, said at least 40 of his colleagues would refuse orders to deploy.

A Defence Ministry spokesman said the incident was being investigated.

“Soldiers are dying like

fowls,” lamented the soldier, who said he and his colleagues were just outside Maiduguri.

He told the BBC Hausa service that: “The Nigerian Army is not ready to fight Boko Haram,” explaining that soldiers were not being given enough weapons and ammunition to take on the insurgents.

“Boko Haram (soldiers) are inside the bush, everywhere,” he said, adding: “They (senior commanders) are sacrificing soldiers.”

Defence Headquarters spokesman, Maj. Gen. Chris Olukolade told the BBC’s ‘Focus on Africa’ programme that he could not confirm the reports of a mutiny but would investigate.

He denied that soldiers were being ‘sent to die’.

“We may not have all it takes but we are improving on it (equipment) regularly,” he said.

Even the vehicles the soldiers were expected to use were old armoured cars that were not up to the job, he added.

A general in the army, who asked not to be named, told the BBC that he was unable to confirm the mutiny, but said ‘cowardice’ was not uncommon in times of war - and any mutineer would be punished.

When the solder was asked if he feared being court-martialled for taking part in the mutiny, he said that a soldier could only be taken to task for refusing to go to war.

“I joined the army to defend my country, but you cannot defend it without

being equipped to do so,” he said.

Meanwhile, Lt. Gen. Minimah stated that the end to the insurgency has come as the weapons would enable them execute the ‘mother of all wars’ against the terrorists.

Minimah disclosed these yesterday while addressing officers and soldiers at the 82 Division of the Nigerian Army, Enugu during a familiarisation tour of army formations in the division.

He also stressed that the welfare of staff is paramount on his mind.

The COAS stated that with the procurement of the weapons, the Army would now be equipped to wage war with the insurgents, pointing out that very soon the war against insurgency would be over.

he Nigerian Police yesterday kept mute over the suicide bomber that was arrested at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, MMIA, Lagos on Monday.

When our correspondent contacted the Commissioner of Police, Airports Command, Mr. Waheed Salau, for his comments on the arrested bomber, he declined to comment but rather said the police was still investigating the issue.

Salau could not also confirm if the suspect had been transferred to Abuja or was still in Lagos when probed further.

But a source close to the police confided in our correspondent that the suspect was still being held in Lagos.

The Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Frank Mba, also declined to comment on the arrested bomber.

Mba told our correspondent to speak with Salau on the issue, stressing that he was in the best position to comment on the matter.

An aviation expert, Olumide Ohunayo, has however commended the security operatives for a job well done, but urged them not to rest on their oars.

He said that in a bid to prevent a recurrence, the various security outfits at the airports should beefup security within the vicinity, adding that sharing of information among the agencies too would go a long way in curb-

Umaru Manko, Lagos Police boss

ing a recurrence in the sector.

Ohunayo noted that in a bid to combat terrorism, there is a need for intelligence gathering, installation of Closed Circuit Television, CCTV, cameras at strategic places and coordination among security operatives.

He emphasised further that apart from manning the terminals, security operatives should also focus their attention on the routes where aircraft land or take off in order to prevent the Ukraine recurrence, which he said was the latest antics of terrorists around the world.

The suspect was on Monday arrested along the airport road by security operatives attached to the airport.

The suspect was arrested mid-day by the security operatives when he attempted to detonate the explosive device he wore round his body.

The suspect was said to have pretended to security operatives within the vicinity as a handicap and a beggar, but the curiosity of the officers prevented the suspect from detonating the explosive device at the complex.

We’ve never charged any institution for accreditation –NUC ...‘N65bn unaccessed at TETFUND’ Marcus Fatunmole and Seyi Anjorin

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he National Universities Commission, NUC, yesterday said it had never collected money from any university for accreditation of academic programmes.

Executive Secretary of the commission, Prof Julius Okogie, stated this during an oversight

visit by the House of Representatives Committee on Education, led by its chairman, Aminu Suleiman.

The claim was a reaction to media reports credited to the Vice Chancellor of Babcock University, Prof Kayode Makinde, on payments allegedly made to the commission regarding accreditation of its law programme.

Okojie said the commission had never re-

quested payments to be made before courses were accredited in any of the nation’s varsities.

“This is total fallacy, no university pays for accreditation; what happened was that we carried out our normal accreditation on their law programme and he challenged it, and what we did was that if you are challenging it then you must pick the bill,” he observed.

Okogie, who was represented by the Deputy Executive Secretary of the commission, Akinbode Agbaoye, also used the medium to appeal to the lawmakers to help strengthen the NUC’s laws and penal code, which he said would help in delivering a reputable educational curriculum for tertiary institutions in the country without undue interference from professional bodies.

In his remarks, Chairman of the committee lauded the commission and encouraged it to “continue in its unrelenting efforts towards creating an efficient educational environment for the country.”

Reacting to the recent massive failure recorded at the last West African Examinations Council, Aminu stated that “it is quite unfortunate; but I want to believe that WAEC

should not be held responsible for the failure, it is the duty of the students themselves, parents and teachers who teach those students.”

Meanwhile, the Executive Secretary of Tertiary Education Trust Fund, Prof Suleiman Bogoro, revealed yesterday that the agency still had N65 billion of unaccessed funds, with a chunk of it coming from the NEEDS assessment fund.

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JTF destroys illegal oil bunkering trucks Sebastine Ebhuomhan and Osahon Julius

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he anti-illegal oil bunkering squad of the Joint Task Force, JTF, nicknamed ‘Operation PULO SHIELD’ has said it arrested and destroyed two trucks loaded with 45,000 litres of Automated Gas Oil, AGO, at the Nigerian National Petroleum Cooperation, NNPC, pipeline along Imo Uzoakpo in Ukwa West local government area of Abia State.

This is as Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State urged President Goodluck Jonathan to take a drastic action against pipeline vandals like those who ‘destroyed’ his village by vandalizing oil pipelines.

A statement signed by Lt.-Col. Mustapha Anka, the Coordinator, Joint Media Campaign Centre of the JTF, gave the registration numbers of the trucks as XA 458 ABK and NSK 355 YF, He said the trucks were arrested while bunkerers were siphoning fuel, add-

ing that they were abandoned by the operators on sighting the troops of the task force.

The trucks and illegal oil bunkering equipment were moved to a safer place and destroyed in line with JTF’s mandate and the Commander of JTF, Major-General Emmanuel Atewe’s zero tolerance campaign on oil theft and illegal oil bunkering.

Present at the destruction site was the Petroleum Pipeline Marketing Company, PPMC, Manager, Aba Depot, Chairman Ukwa West local government area, Mr. Loveday Chigbu and Abia State Commandant, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, Mr. Andy Datter.

The JTF equally use the opportunity to call on the general public to provide information on the activities of the oil thieves and illegal oil bunkerers to the security agencies in the Niger Delta.

Oshiomhole urged President Goodluck Jonathan to tackle oil thieves to serve as deterrent to others.

ABUJA

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he Federal Government yesterday agreed to the request by Televeras Group, the preferred bidder for Afam Power Plc, for the extension of date of payment of the balance of 75 per cent of purchase price by additional 60 days.

The company now has up to October 6, 2014, to honour its financial obligations or risk the loss of its rights to acquire the power plant.

This is even as the government also agreed to the request of Kaduna Electricity Distribution Company, KEDC, for an extension of transaction timeline from July 25, 2014 by 60 days due to the recent security challenges being experienced within its operational environment.

KEDC had requested that due to insurgency and other forms of violence, its offshore financiers had to postpone disbursement of bank facilities already

obtained.

A statement by the Head, Public Communications at the Bureau of Public Enterprises, BPE, Mr. Chigbo Anichebe, clarifying the government’s decisions, indicated that the extension granted the Televeras Group was based on the group’s position on the non-execution of the gas agreements required to bring the transaction to a financial conclusion and security challenges.

Televeras said the bankability of the transaction was predicated on the execution of the gas agreement and that the non-execution of the agreement had made it difficult to satisfy the due diligence enquiry required for the raising of funds for the financing of its pre and post-acquisition plans.

For the preferred bidder for the KEDC, the company explained that though it had secured financing for the transaction from a foreign bank, the bank had requested for additional time to review the trans-

7

Amnesty programme: No room for fresh militants –Kuku Sebastine Ebhuomhan BENIN

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ny youth who takes up arms now for the purpose of being assimilated into the Federal Governmentmanaged Presidential Amnesty Programme, PAP, would be doing so at the risk of being considered a criminal.

Special Adviser to President Goodluck Jonathan on Niger-Delta and the Chairman of Presidential Amnesty Programme, PAP, Kingsley Kuku, disclosed this to the National Mirror at the auditorium of Benson Idahosa University, BIU, Ugbor, Benin City, Edo State, at the weekend. Kuku spoke as the guest lecturer at the institution’s Pre-Convocation Lecture entitled: ‘Challenging Current Security Issues for National

FG extends payment deadlines for 2 power firms Tola Akinmutimi

National News

Wednesday, August 20, 2014

action in the aftermath of the security challenges in Kaduna to ensure the safety of its funds.

It would be recalled that the Televeras Grouppreferred bidder for Afam Power Limited had on May 19, 2014 requested from the Federal Government an extension of time to pay the balance of the 75 per cent bid price for the power company because gas agreement that is germane to the completion under the Share Purchase Agreement, SPA, it signed with the government had not been executed.

The group had paid the initial deposit of 25 per cent of the bid price of $65,012,500 for the Afam Power Plant and Northwest Power Plc $40,750,000 for KEDC, following which the SPA were executed by the two parties.

They were required to pay the outstanding balance of 75 per cent of the bid price within six months of the execution of the SPA on August 6, 2014.

Transformation: The Way Forward’.

Speaking exclusively to our correspondent after the lecture, Kuku said anybody who deliberately takes arms and ammunition for the purpose of being considered a militant and being accepted into the programme, would be considered as a criminal and appropriately prosecuted by the Federal Government if arrested.

Kuku stated: “Anybody who takes up arms and goes into militancy now in the hope of being considered for the programme misses the point. There is no room for fresh militants right now. This is because those in the programme now have been pardoned and gazetted by the Federal Government.

According to him, “For anybody who wants to engage in militancy now

and hoping to come into the programme, it means that they only want to commit crime because those that are presently in the programme have been gazetted. Such persons would be treated like criminals.”

Kuku, who lauded the development programmes of Governor Adams Oshiomhole, disclosed that Edo State had 400 participants in the First Phase of the amnesty programme.

He also commended what he called the yeoman’s effort of ex-militant leaders like Asari Dokubo and others in the creation of peace that is positively rubbing on the national economy now.

The presidential adviser stated that Niger-Delta militants agreed with the late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua’s offer to leave the creeks, drop their guns, and embrace

amnesty because of the character and personality of the person who brought the offer, the then Vice President, but now elected President Goodluck Jonathan.

His words: “For Goodluck Jonathan, peace was extracted. For Goodluck Jonathan, they agreed to leave the creeks and lay down their arms.

For Goodluck Jonathan, Nigeria enjoys peace today.”

Relating the situation to the abuse the president suffers daily from opposition, Kuku said, “Jonathan is the most abused President of Nigeria. And he has never arrested anybody for this.”

Kuku advised the opposition to be more constructive in their criticisms as obtainable in developed democracies, rather than always being destructive and abusive.

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South West

Wednesday, August 20, 2014

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Ekiti PDP decries non-payment of workers’ salaries ….blame it on PDP - Govt ABIODUN NEJO ADO EKITI

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he Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Ekiti State yesterday lamented the non-payment of July salaries to local government workers and teachers by the Ekiti State government.

The PDP State Publicity Secretary, Pastor Kola Olu-

wawole, described the nonpayment of the salaries as wicked, adding that the action of the Kayode Fayemiled All Progressives Congress, APC, administration had vindicated PDP stance that the administration lacked human feeling.

Oluwawole said, in a statement in Ado-Ekiti, that the delay in the payment of the workers’ sala-

ries was a deliberate action aimed at punishing the workers for not voting for Fayemi in the June 21 governorship election.

The party stated: “Fayemi has decided to punish those he perceived did not vote for him in the election, among who were local government workers and teachers. Fayemi should let the people of the state

know what is delaying the payment of the salaries of these people,” adding that the governor should explain how the revenues that accrued to the state since June had been spent.

But the state government blamed the delay in salary payment on the PDP, saying it was the opposition party that advised banks in the state against

dealing with the APC government, following the outcome of the June 21 governorship election in the state.

Ekiti State Information Commissioner, Tayo Ekundayo, said the state government had “paid all the civil servants, except the local government workers who we owe July salary. We

Ogun: Three persons die as bunkering vehicles catch fire FEMI OYEWESO ABEOKUTA

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L-R: Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria, Mr. Godwin Emefiele; Ogun State Governor Ibikunle Amosun; his Oyo State counterpart, Abiola Ajimobi; Minister of State for FCT, Oloye Olajumoke Akinjide, and former MD/CEO, Bank of Industry, Ms. Evelyn Oputu, during the 8th Annual MSME Finance Conference in Abuja, yesterday.

Lagos targets 2020 to end water shortage FRANCIS SUBERU

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overnor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State yesterday affirmed that the state will meet the demand of potable water supply to residents by 2020.

The governor, who gave the assurance while inspecting the on-going construction of Adiyan Water Works, said the project was designed to end shortage of potable water supply to Lagosians.

The governor, who defied the heavy downpour to commission an 18-classroom block at Sonmori Senior Comprehensive High School along College Road, Ifako-Ijaiye and First African Primary School, Iju-Ishaga, urged the residents to vote All Progressive Congress, APC, to continue to enjoy dividends of democracy.

The governor stressed the importance of the Adiyan Water Works saying, “The construction work on the Adiyan Water

Works phase II is in top gear. The contractor has showed that they could work at night and hopefully, this will speed up the construction of the water works.

“This is the third major water works in the state.

The first was the Iju water works which was built around 1910. There was no major intervention in the state until 1991 when Adiyan water works phase I was constructed. That is a long time and the population continued to grow in

the state.

“The state government has constructed so many mini and micro water works. We started with the micro water works, and aim to construct more as a short term measure in the first term,” he revealed.

According to him, this is a medium term plan in the second term, adding that the long term plan is build more in partnership with private sector to deliver more of such projects.

Osun observes ‘Isese’ public holiday BOLADALE BAMIGBOLA OSOGBO

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sun State government has declared today as public holiday to mark this year’s edition of the annual ‘Isese’ Day celebrations.

The Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Sunday Akere, in a statement issued in Osogbo yesterday, said the day was set aside by the United Nations as the ‘Day for Indigenous Religion’ globally.

The statement en-

joined adherents of traditional religion to use the opportunity to appreciate God for the peaceful conduct of the August 9 governorship election in Osun state.

It also urged the traditionalists to use the period to pray for wisdom,

strength and good health for Governor Rauf Aregbesola and members of his team.

It stated that this would enable those involved in the governance of the state to achieve the goal of moving Osun State forward.

have never owed workers salary, despite paucity of fund.

“This happened because of PDP’s meddling in the affairs of the state. We used to obtain facilities from banks to settle salaries in the past, pending when we would receive allocation, but the PDP advised banks not to deal with us.

hree persons were roasted alive early yesterday at Temitope axis of Idiroko border town, when two vehicles being used for petroleum bunkering business collided and burst into flames.

The victims, one of whom was simply identified as Fatai, his younger brother from the same parent and a woman customer, were said to be among the Nigerians who engaged in illegally transborder crossing of petroleum products between the Idiroko Nigerian border and the Republic of Benin.

National Mirror reliably gathered that they were returning from one of their petroleum black market, generally referred to as ‘beebe’, a smuggling base between

Nigeria and the Republic of Benin, before their Nissan Sunny car, marked (LAGOS) AKD 194 BS, collided with an unmarked Ford bus loaded with fuel.

Our correspondent further gathered that the unmarked Ford bus, ladened with 200 units of 50-litre capacity jerry-cans of Premium Motor Spirit, PMS, was heading to the ‘beebe’ petroleum black market for onward movement to the neighbouring Benin Republic before the accident occurred.

In a bid to avoid capture by security operatives, particularly the Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, patrol van, the Ford bus collided with the Nissan Sunny car right in front of the FARIWARD petroleum filling station located at Temitope around 2a.m and thereafter both vehicles went up in flames.

Ogun CJ releases prison inmates

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he Chief Judge of Ogun State, Olatokunbo Olopade, has granted unconditional release to 41 inmates in four of the five prisons in the state.

Twelve inmates were released at Ilaro, nine at Oba, 12 at Abeokuta and eight at Ijebu-Ode, respectively, after the CJ visited the four prisons, including the Sagamu Prison.

She explained that the exercise, which was supposed to have taken place in July, was shifted to this month due to the judicial workers’ strike.

She, however, assured that “though the courts are on vacation, we would ensure the welfare of the inmates and decongest the prisons by setting free those

inmates awaiting trial on the ground of ‘no case file’, and some inmates who have no charges against them.”

While noting that the gesture would bring succour to the released inmates, Olopade expressed the hope that they would have learnt their lessons and would live as good citizens of the society.

She said the state government had assured it would assist the Criminal Justice sector, so that criminal cases would be brought to court promptly by approving funds for the duplication of case files in order to eradicate delay in justice dispensation.

She added that the Ministry of Justice would also be provided with adequate funds to bring witnesses to court so as to fast-track criminal cases.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

South West

Wednesday, August 20, 2014

9

INEC assures Oyo residents of getting PVC K E M I O L A I TA N IBADAN

W Scene of a fire outbreak at Oko Baba plank market, Adekunle, in Lagos, yesterday.

PHOTO: ADEMOLA AKINLABI

Lagos to prosecute illegal sewage disposal operators DARE AKOGUN

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he Lagos State Ministry of the Environment has said that it would prosecute any illegal sewage operator that flouts the guidelines for disposal of wastes, even as it admitted leasing a parcel of land at Odo Iyalaro, Ojota, to the Sewage and Waste Water Disposal Association, SWWDA, for the disposal and treatment of solid and liquid wastes.

The warning is coming on the heels of the indiscriminate and unregulated discharge of solid waste into the lagoon by some waste operators, even as president of the association, Mr. Lawrence Adebajo, described those responsible as quacks.

Adebajo said that the seeming lack of attention given to waste disposal and the absence of strict regulations by the state government has made it possible for the infiltration

by illegal operators.

He accused some solid and liquid waste disposal operators who collect sewage from individual households of being responsible for the indiscriminate disposal of such wastes into the lagoons and other unauthorised places.

When asked on what the state government is doing to punish defaulters, a senior official in the Ministry of the Environment, who pleaded anonymity, corroborated the claim of Adebajo, saying that the land at Odo Iyalaro was given to the sewage disposal association with the strict guideline of properly treating the wastes before disposal to avoid environmental pollution.

“The claim by Adebajo is true, that a place for disposal of solid and liquid waste was given to them at Odo Iyalaro subject to condition of strict adherence to the hygienic and proper disposal of such wastes.

“There are procedure

for collection, transportation, treatment and final disposal of the generated waste waters which members of the association are aware of.

“Our duty at the Lagos State Wastewater Management Office, LASWMO, is to monitor and ensure compliance to the guidelines and the development of roadmap for wastewater management in the state.

“The office has secured approval for the construction of municipal wastewater treatment plant at Odo Iyalaro. Upon completion, it will have a discharge bay for sewage haulage trucks.

It will equally have physicchemical and microbiology laboratories,” he said.

He added that it will add to the already functioning plants at Abesan, Oke-Afa, Iponri and Alausa that have been refurbished by the state government.

“In respect of coordination, our office is responsible for ensuring compli-

ance to wastewater policies in the state, specifically to ensure eradication of pit toilets, check improperly constructed septic tanks and soak away pits, ensure septic tank liquids are not discharged into drains, canals and other water bodies,” the source said.

Between last year and now, more than 20,000 tenements were monitored for different environmental offences. We have ensured that properties that generate high volume of wastewater such as high rise buildings, hotels and estates have contemporary wastewater treatment plants to adequately treat wastes generated.

“In the last one year, the office has issued 282 court summons and 117cases were prosecuted by the environmental court. About 20 facilities and 49 tenements were sealed off in 2012, while 33 facilities and 126 tenements were sealed off in 2013,” said LASWMO.

20-year-old caught committing bestiality with hen OJO OYEWAMIDE AKURE

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20-year-old boy, Jelili Ogunole, has been caught having sex with a hen in Akure, the Ondo State capital.

The act, which occurred at Continental area of the town, made residents to

wonder what could have led the boy into such a bizarre act.

Owner of the hen, Stella Akintola, said she caught the boy in the act when she went to the backyard after being attracted by some noises.

Akintola said: “I walked out of my room and noticed the door to the backyard was open. I

searched to know who was outside. Then I saw Jelili and asked him what he was doing outside in the night. But he told me he was having constipation.”

The woman added that she moved ahead to search for her hen and later found it dead in the toilet with blood all over its body.

According to her, when she wanted to shout to

know the cause of the bird’s death, Jelili confessed that he slept with the bird.

The culprit said he did not know what came over him when he was engaging in the act with the hen at the dead of the night.

“I could not control my sexual feelings because my manhood was itching me.

ith the expected commencement, today, of fresh voters re gistration by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, the electoral body yesterday assured that all re gistered voters in Oyo State will secure their per manent voters cards.

The re gistration exercise, which is for those without voters’ cards, and those that have just attained the voting age, will take place in all designated polling units and end on Monday.

The state Resident Electoral Commissioner, REC, Alhaji Nasir Ayilara, gave the assurance in Ibadan, the state capital, during a performance appraisal of INEC on the just concluded distribution of per manent voters’ cards in the various polling units in the state.

He admitted that some re gistered voters could not secure the per manent voters cards due to logistic problems.

According to him, the commission will now car ry out its plans in two phases to ensure that all voters in the state secure per manent voters cards before the 2015 general election.

Ayilara explained that the electoral body will display voter’s list in all the af fected units as a mark of assurance that permanent voters cards meant for them will eventually ar rive for distribution.

He also said that INEC will go ahead with the scheduled Continuous Voter Re gistration at the wards that received and distributed voter cards in all their units and polling units with lost data.

The state REC added

that INEC will distribute voters cards before embarking on continuous re gistration in order to prevent self disenfranchisement due to double re gistration, adding the Commission will” put on hold, continuous re gistration in wards where per manent cards are yet to be distributed.”

Ayilara then restated the commission’s resolve not to disfranchise all willing eligible voters in the state.

While giving the low down on the distribution of per manent voters cards in the state, he explained that Oyo State of fice of INEC was to receive a consignment 2,002, 866 per manent voters cards for distribution.

He however stated that 1,630,332 were received in three instalments with a shortfall of 349,539 cards, adding that the shortfall spreads across eight local gover nment areas of the state.

He was, however, optimistic that INEC would make the permanent voter cards available to all eligible voters in the state with the plans put in place, pleading for understanding from the people.

Chair man of the state chapter of the Labour Party, Alhaji Bashiru Apapa, his counterpart for the All Progressives Congress,APC, Chief Akin Oke and the state Deputy Chair man of the Accord Party, Mr. Adeyinka Adeniyi, all expressed reservation on INEC’s perfor mance in the distribution of the per manent voters cards, urging the commission to buckle up.

Prof. Jega

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South East

Wednesday, August 20, 2014

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Okorocha replaces Ilomuanya, swears in new monarch for Obinugwu CHRIS NJOKU OWERRI

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mo State Governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha, yesterday drew the battle line between himself and the deposed Eze Cletus Ilomuanya, as he swore in Eze Stanley Simeon Anaezionwu Nwangwu as the new traditional ruler for Obinugwu autonomous community.

In exercise of his right in the relevant laws on the issue of traditional rulership in the state, the governor issued a certificate of recognition and staff of office to the new monarch as the Obinugwu of Obinugwu land.

The new Eze replaces Ilomuanya, who was recently dethroned by the state government as the traditional ruler of Obinugwu.

The governor also issued certificate of recognition and staff of office to HRH Eze Charles Osuji of Akwakuma autonomous community; in Owerri North local government area of the state.

Addressing the people of Obinugwu community who had come to show solidarity for their new traditional ruler, yesterday at Government House, Owerri, Okorocha said the people of Obinugwu have been rescued from tyranny, and undue intimidation and harassment.

He said the dethronement of the former Eze was an end of a bad era while the emergence of the new traditional ruler was the beginning

of a new era of freedom, peace and unity for the people of Obinugwu.

The governor reiterated that Ilomuanya is still going about claiming to be an Eze an act which the governor said is an ‘’outright impersonation,” adding that it is within his power to recognise a traditional ruler or not.

He said nobody is above the law and that evil must not be encouraged to thrive, stressing that the era of selling the Ezeship stool in Imo State to the highest bidder no matter the person’s has come to an end.

The governor regretted that in spite of the removal of Ilomuanya as both the chairman of the Imo State Council of Traditional Rulers and as the Eze of Obinugwu, some security agencies are still aiding him in acts of illegalities.

Reacting through his Chief Press Secretary, Kennedy Ewuama, the deposed monarch said Okorocha has installed a traditional ruler from Arondiziogu, and not from Obinugwu.

Okorocha Imo State governor

Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Kenneth Minimah (left) inspecting a guard of honour at the 82 Div. Nigerian Army HQ in Enugu during a working tour yesterday.

Confusion in Ebonyi Assembly, as police arrest 14 lawmakers ALIUNA GODWIN ABAKALIKI

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bonyi State House of Assembly yesterday was thrown into confusion, as the operatives of the state police command arrested 14 lawmakers believed to be loyal to the factional Speaker, Helen Nwaobasi.

They were arrested at the gate of the Ebonyi State High Court, while leaving the court, shortly after filing their case against the leadership of Chukwuma Nwazunku, praying the court to restrain him from parading himself as the speaker of the house.

The Nwaobasi and Nwanzunku groups were in the court yesterday over the case on the leadership of the assembly.

It would be recalled that the crisis rocking the assembly started on July 21, when 18 of the 24 members of the house impeached speaker Chukwuma Nwazunku.

Although, Nwazunku debunked claim that he had been impeached describing his purported impeachment as illegal and this was also corroborated by the state Governor, Martin Elechi, recently, when he broke his silence by pronouncing that Nwazunku remains the authentic speaker.

He and nine other lawmakers loyal to him also filed a suit asking the State High Court to restrain Nwaobasi from parading herself as speaker.

But the Nwaobasi group also filed a counter mo-

tion seeking to restrain Nwazunku from parading himself as speaker of the assembly.

The 14 lawmakers are praying the court to declare Nwaobasi the authentic speaker of the house.

The court, however, adjourned the ruling of the case to September1, 2014 for final ruling on the suit.

The Police however, laid siege for the 14 lawmakers at the gate of the court and bundled them to the nearby state police headquarters.

At the time of filling this report, they were still being grilled at the state criminal investigation department at the command and all of them were asked to make statement.

A police source who spoke to National Mirror on anonymity stressed that

the lawmakers were arrested in connection with the petition before the Commissioner of Police from Nwazunku’s group alleging forgery, impeachment threat and disloyalty to the leadership of the house.

Those arrested include the Minority Leader, Enyi C. Enyi (APC) and Minority Whip, Joseph Nwaobasi (APC), Deputy Speaker, Blaise Orji(PDP), Hon. Eni Uduma Chima and Ikechukwu Nwankwo, the former speaker among others.

When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer, ASP, Chris Anyanwu confirmed the arrest, stating that the lawmakers were summoned in connection with the petition before the CP, Mr Dikko Maigari from Mr Nwazunku and his group.

Obi’s exit signals end of APGA-PDP chieftain FRANCIS EKPONE ONITSHA

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ollowing the resignation of the former Anambra State Governor, Mr. Peter Obi, as the Board of Trustee, BoT, Chairman of the All Progressive Grand Alliance, APGA, and the defection of over five federal lawmakers from APGA to the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Anambra State,

a PDP chieftain, Zeribe Ezeanuna, said that such mass movement to PDP is an indication that APGA is on its way out of Anambra State, even as he described Obi and Umeh’s media war as child’s play that will do them no good.

Obi’s resignation as APGA’s BoT chairman and active participation in the South East rally organised by the Transformation Ambassadors of Nigeria, TAN,

in Awka, Anambra State, which was believed to be a PDP affair, has since been generating a lot of heat and dissenting voices in Anambra State, as many APGA loyalists described the action of the former governor as a betrayal, claiming that his acclaimed loyalty to the Biafran warlord, Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, was a mere lip service, and not from the heart.

Ezeanuna, who is also the coordinator of G-7 Patriot International in Anambra State, lauds Peter Obi for his wise decision, saying that more big-wigs from APGA would soon declare for PDP. On Governor Willie Obiano’s comment on the defected members of APGA to PDP, Ezeanuna described the Obiano as a political neophyte who is yet to understand the po-

litical climate of Anambra State and by extension, Nigeria..

He further disclosed that his group, G-7 Patriots has the mandate of ensuring that President Jonathan continues after 2015 general.

“We want Mr. President to be re-elected so that the developmental transformation of Nigeria will continue and we intent to achieve this by partnering

with other political groups like Transformation Ambassadors of Nigeria, TAN,” he said.

Former governor of Anambra State, Peter Obi

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South South

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National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Ogoni in US to meet over gubernatorial election, UNEP report DENNIS NAKU

PORT HARCOURT

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he Ogoni ethnic nationality in the United States of America is set to meet to discuss the 2015 governorship election in Rivers State and the non-implementation of the United Nations Environmental Programme, UNEP, report by the Federal Government.

Also, the people said discussions on the future of the Ogoni people in the state and Nigeria in general would dominate a proposed conference scheduled to start on Friday, August 22, in Atlanta, Georgia.

An electronic mail posted yesterday said the conference is at the instance of the Unit-

ed States chapter of the Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People, (MOSOP-USA), wondering why the Federal Government had not done anything to implement the UNEP report on the pollution in Ogoniland.

The statement signed by Secretary-General, MOSOP-USA, Michael Akoka, read: “The threeday conference will discuss the 2015 governorship project, clamour for creation of Bori State, non-implementation of the United Nations Environment Programme, UNEP, report on the pollution in Ogoniland and security.”

It expressed worry that the Ogoni people have suffered long years of marginalisation, say-

ing since the creation of Rivers State in 1967, the Ogoni has never produced a governor, deputy Governor, speaker of the state house of assembly or chief judge.

The statement added:

“These are the most influential positions in any state. This, again, speaks about the political marginalisation of the Ogoni people.

“Our leaders should, and must not die in

vain. Let’s all seize the moment to collectively and respectfully demand what is right,” it said.

It stated: “The conference expected to attract Ogonis from home and in the Diaspora would

provide avenue for the people to reason extensively on ways of fashioning out realistic and a sustainable plan of action in the quest for a virile Ogoniland and Rivers State.”

Man arraigned for stealing N.7m church offerings OSAHON JULIUS YENAGOA

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middle-aged technician has been arraigned before a magistrate’s court sitting in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, over the theft of N720,000 offering of the Winner’s Chapel Church, with headquarters at the Swali area of the state capital.

The accused, who is also a member of the church, was reportedly apprehended by the resident pastor who hired him to do some repair works on the leaking roof in his office, popularly referred to as ‘Central Bank Office’.

An eyewitness confirmed that the technician, who was left in the room by the pastor for the repair work while he (the pastor) attended to other church matters, was discovered to be stuffing his pocket with bundles of naira notes.

The senior pastor then raised alarm, and other church members apprehended the technician before handing him over to the Azikoro Police division.

All pleas by some other church members for mercy and reprimand by the church failed as the accused was left to the police for prosecution.

‘PDP must pick marketable candidate to win Rivers’ DENNIS NAKU

PORT HARCOURT

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head of the 2015 elections, a governorship aspirant on the platform of the Peoples’ Democratic Party, PDP, in Rivers State, Barrister Dumo Lulu-Briggs, has said that the party must pick a candidate that is marketable to the electorate to produce the next governor.

No fewer than 10 mem-

bers of the party in the state, including the Minister of State for Education, Mr. Nyesom Wike; former secretary to the State Government, SSG, Gabriel Pidomson; former general secretary of the Nigeria Bar Association, NBA, Nimi WalsonJack, and former chairman of Akuku-Toru local government area of the state, Oseleye Ojuka, are jostling to pick the party’s gubernatorial ticket.

L-R: Top golf players, Mr. S.G Alli, Mr. Jerry O. Kalu, Mr. Emeka Ohaegbu and General Manager, Eastern Operations, MTN, Mr. Obinna Nweje, during the Eastern Regional Qualifiers of the MTN World Golfers Championship at the Port Harcourt Golf Club at the weekend.

We’ll protect local content law –Group THEOPHILUS ONOJEGHEN WARRI

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South-South group under the aegis of Niger Delta Indigenous Movement for Radical Change, NDIMRC, has raised alarm of a possible plot by oil multinationals, especially Shell Petroleum Development Company, SPDC, to frustrate the Nigeria Local Content Law, vowing that such move would be resisted by the people of the region.

It, however, called on the Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani

Alison-Madueke, to urgently call the oil companies to order, describing such act as barbaric, unjust and unfair to the area.

The movement, in a statement, yesterday, by its President, Nelly Emma; Secretary, John Sailor, and Public Relations Officer, Stanley Mukoro, claimed that SPDC was still undermining the Nigerian Local Content Law signed by President Goodluck Jonathan on April 22, 2010.

It alleged that SPDC, a major oil giant in the country, had been frus-

trating indigenous contractors by denying them contracts, saying, “We are not going to allow Shell to get away with this. We want an end to this injustice now.”

The group said: “We have been drawing the attention of the whole world to the unholy activities of Shell in the oil-rich Niger Delta region, but the situation remained the same as the company refused to repent.

“Our indigenous contractors who obtained huge loans from various banks over the years to

invest heavily on capacity building are not getting a better deal from the multinational oil companies, and Shell is a major culprit, hence we are urging the Honourable Minister of Petroleum Resources to call the company to order so as to end the frustration of our local contractors in the hands of Shell, ExxonMobil, Total, Chevron and Agip,” it lamented.

These multinational oil companies, the group stated, were doing everything possible to kill the dreams of local contractors.

Delta MASSOB slams Umeh over amnesty comment THEOPHILUS ONOJEGHEN WARRI

T

he Delta State chapter of the Movement for the Actualisation of Sovereign State of Biafra, MASSOB, has warned the National Chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, Chief Victor Umeh, to desist from interfering in issues pertaining to the group, saying he should be more concerned about the problems con-

fronting his party.

Anioma Regional Administrator of MASSOB in the state, Emeka Okafor, gave the warming in Asaba yesterday in a press release, describing the statement credited to Umeh that members of the movement should be granted amnesty by the Federal Government as ‘interference’.

Okafor advised the APGA National chairman to concentrate on his political career and “avoid

meddling in the internal affairs of MASSOB, only to boost his own political ego.”

While describing the APGA boss as a meddlesome interloper, MASSOB said the call for amnesty for its members was selfserving, adding that Umeh had no locus standi to speak for the movement.

“MASSOB was ordained by God. This is Igbo rebirth, and there is nothing you can do to break it.

APGA and MASSOB are

not the same thing. Umeh should concentrate on fixing the problems facing APGA,” the statement said.

The Anioma region of the movement pledged its ‘unrelenting loyalty’ to the national leader of MASSOB, Ralph Uwazuruike, urging all members of the movement to rally round him (Uwazuruike) to move the cause of the Igbo nation forward from where the late Chief Emeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu left it.

12

North

Wednesday August 20, 2014

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Shettima purchases 400 cars ‘to lobby voters’ INUSA NDAHI MAIDUGURI

T

he Borno State government, under the leadership of Governor Kashim Shettima, has awarded contracts to members of the state Motor Dealers Association, BSMDA, to supply 400 units of Volkswagen 6-seater Sharon model cars worth over a billion naira, which sources claim is to aid lobbying for his second term in next year’s general elections.

Sources alleged that in about three years of Shettima’s tenure in office, he had used taxpayers’ mon-

ey which run into billions of naira to acquire and single-handedly distribute vehicles of different types free to those he mistakenly considered loyal to him.

A reliable source, who was a member of the cabinet dissolved a fortnight ago, said, “the vehicles were awarded at the cost of N1.3 million per unit of the Volkswagen Sharon model and the vehicles are to be supplied to the Borno State government in batches of 100 units, where the first and second batches have been supplied and distributed.

The third and fourth

batches are being supplied and parked at Government House, Maiduguri, for onward distribution.

“The cars are meant for distribution to some individuals, families and friends of the governor, politicians, road transport unions and workers (NURTW, RTEAN), students unions (NANS, NUBOSS), traders association (BOCCIMA), Bolori Stores Traders Association, Monday Market Traders Forum, labour and Allied unions (NLC, NUT), women associations, secondary and tertiary schools, youths forums and clubs among

others purposely to garner their support next year,” the source revealed.

Some motor dealers at Bama and Baga roads as well as Lagos streets, Kashim Ibrahim Way in Maiduguri who pled anonymity told our correspondent that the contracts have however affected the prices of the said vehicles in the open market within the state and its neighbouring states. This, they said, follows the scarcity or nonavailability of the type of vehicles which in the past used to be between N650,000 and N750,000 but now goes for between N1

million and N1.1 million while outside the state it is between N800,000 and N900,000 in places like Bauchi, Gombe, Jos, Kano or Kaduna.

The motor dealers who said they were sidelined

and denied patronage in the state however insisted that “What the state is currently in need of is not vehicles or transportation, but how to ensure safety of all roads and security of lives and property.”

NIS promotes 128 in Kano OTHMAN SALIHU KANO

A

total of 128 officers of the Nigeria Immigration Service, NIS, were yesterday decorated with new ranks at the Command Headquarter of the Kano State Command of the Service.

Performing the decoration exercise in his office, Comptroller of Kano Command, NIS, Mr. Zittas Nanton Marzwal, revealed that much is expected from the beneficiaries to justify their promotions.

He disclosed that the Comptroller General of Immigration, David Paradang, approved the promotions in a recent exercise, as a way of rewarding the beneficiaries for their diligent service to their fatherland.

According to him, promotion is a reward sys-

tem and, in recognition of their effort, the NIS top hierarchy chose to honour the beneficiaries and urged them to justify their promotions.

“Once you are considered for promotion, it means you are doing well; and when you are promoted, it means you are expected to put more effort in the job. So, you all must justify the confidence reposed in you by the authority by redoubling your effort.

“I am sure you are aware that your promotion also means you will not be discharging your former duties, as you will be charged with new responsibilities commensurate with your new promotion. So, you should be prepared for the new challenges that will come your way,” Paradang advised.

Police elevate 8 officers to DIGs OMEIZA AJAYI ABUJA Yobe State Governor Ibrahim Gaidam planting a tree during the launching of the 2014 Tree Planting Campaign in Damaturu, yesterday

2015: Security agencies assure political parties of equal treatment JAMES DANJUMA KATSINA

P

olitical parties in Katsina State have been assured of fair and equal treatment by security agencies during the forthcoming 2015 general elections.

The Police commissioner, Mohammed Hurdi, who spoke on behalf of other security agencies in the state, said they were ready to ensure free, fair and successful elections.

Hurdi disclosed this when officials of the All Progressive Congress, APC, in the state paid him

a courtesy visit at the Police Headquarters.

He, however, said there was need for political parties to put the nation above their interests and work together to avoid cases of violence during elections.

He called on them not to unnecessarily “heat the polity by creating problems that ordinarily ought not to be” and “taking the law into their own hands.”

The commissioner said with the coming of the 2015 elections, there is no doubt that problems would be inevitable, “but

we pray they shouldn’t come from the political parties; shouldn’t be from our leaders.”

He described opposition parties as necessary tool for progress of any democracy, adding that for any peaceful and progressive political train, there must be the opposition.

The state Commandant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Ibrahim Zabura, called on political parties to restrain their members from engaging in violence during elections.

Zabura warned that the NSCDC would not hesitate to deal with anyone found to be disturbing the peace during the forthcoming council and general elections.

The APC officials, led by the state chairman, Dr. Mustapha Inuwa, said the party’s meeting with security agencies was for the success of the 2015 general elections in the state.

Inuwa said the party was working to bring positive changes in the country, especially in the area of providing good leadership to Nigerians.

T

he Nigeria Police now have a new management team, following yesterday’s elevation of eight officers to the rank of Deputy Inspectors General (DIGs) of Police.

The retirement of the immediate past Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar, effectively terminated the appointment of the former DIGs. Consequently, the acting Inspector General of Police, IGP, Suleiman Abba, had, for days, operated without a real management team, until now.

Announcing the promotion in a statement issued in Abuja, the Police Service Commission, PSC, said it approved the promotion of six Assistant Inspectors General

of Police and two Commissioners of Police to the rank of Deputy Inspectors General of Police.

The AIGs are Dan’Azumi Job Doma, Mamman Ibrahim Tsafe, David O. Omojola, Solomon E. Arase, Christopher K. Katso and Salihu Argungu Hashidu, while Hilary Opara and Sotonye L. Wakama were promoted from the rank of Commissioner of Police.

Abba, IGP

Wednesday August 20, 2014

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

13

Politics

The power play, actors, game plans in Rivers At least ten prominent politicians in Rivers State are overtly or covertly eyeing the Rivers State Government House come 2015.

DENNIS NAKU unmasks the major political actors and presents their game plans.

Amaechi

R

ivers State is no doubt a flashpoint where the unfolding political events, intrigues and power play, ahead of next year’s governorship poll and who occupies Brick House, the seat of power in the state, have set off a complex political crisis.

There is no gainsaying the fact that the April 15, 2013 judgment by an Abuja High Court which sacked the Governor Rotimi Amaechi- backed Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, executive, led by Chief Godspower Ake and replaced it with Chief Felix Obuah-led executive, changed the political temperature of the state.

Aside being the major reasons, behind the smoulthering political crisis in the crude oil and gas-rich state, the ripple effects said judgment rose to a crescendo and recorded a near fatal fisticuff in the state House of Assembly on July 9 and 10, 2013,respectively.

Following a botched impeachment of Governor Amaechi, the Assembly became divided, with 25 of the lawmakers showing open loyalty to the state chief executive, while the other six, led by Evans Bapakaye Bipi, who was picked as speaker by five of his colleagues, have continued to cry foul, though unrelenting in the quest to oust the governor.

Since the rascality played out by the factional legislatures last year, the state legislature had remained sealed by security operatives, although the pro-Amaechi lawmakers, as they now are, have continued to hold plenary in Government House whenever the need to do so arise.

The six others, tagged anti-Amaechi

Wike

lawmakers, have continued to cry foul over unpaid allowances, among others. The Police had insisted that the state legislative complex, located along Moscow Road, will remain sealed until a competent court of jurisdiction says otherwise.

Needless to say that only last week, the 25 lawmakers led by their Speaker, Rt. Hon. Otelemaba Dan-Amachree, officially pitched tent with Governor Amaechi by officially joining the All Progressives Congress, APC. In the last one year, the sharp turn of events has undoubtedly made the race to the state Government House unpredictable, as more politicians are throwing their hats into the political ring.

Names like Senator Magnus Abe, Barrister Nyesom Wike, Hon. Dakuku Peterside, Nimi Walson-Jack, Prince Tonye Princewill, Sir Celestine Omehia, Senator George Sekibo, Dumo Lulu-Briggs, to mention a few, are all political gladiators waiting to succeed Amaechi as Rivers State governor come 2015, at least, their body language does not suggest otherwise.

Nyesom Wike Wike, a lawyer by training is the current Minister of State for Education. He hails from Rumuoprikon in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State.

Like Amaechi, Wike is of the Ikwerre extraction and he has been on the political scene for a long time. A two-term executive chairman of Obio/Akpor Local Government Area, from 1999 to 2005, during the administration of former governor, Dr. Pe-

Abe

Peterside

RIVERS STATE IS NO DOUBT A FLASHPOINT WHERE THE UNFOLDING POLITICAL EVENTS, INTRIGUES AND POWER PLAY, AHEAD OF NEXT YEAR’S GOVERNORSHIP POLL, HAVE SET OFF A COMPLEX POLITICAL CRISIS

ter Odili, he was appointed Chief of Staff, CoS, to Amaechi, immediately he assumed office in 2007 and was appointed DirectorGeneral of Amaechi’s campaign outfit for the 2011 election, before he was appointed a minister.

He is said to have the financial power to pursue his ambition, even though he is being criticised for wanting to succeed his kinsman and incumbent Governor Amaechi in 2015, not minding other ethnic areas that are on the queue. Both Amaechi and Wike are from Ikwerre, in the East senatorial district.

Wike, who is currently leading the opposition onslaught against his estranged friend, Amaechi, is the grand patron and financier of the Grassroots Development Initiative, GDI, a political organisation he is obviously using to sensitise the people of Rivers State on activities of the PDP and overtly rallying support for the re-election bid of President Goodluck Jonathan.

As his political machinery in the state, Wike successfully inaugurated the GDI in all the 23 local government areas of the

state before the Police banned all political rallies and protest there.

Amaechi has said he has no interest in who succeeds him; saying to determine who succeeds him will be tantamount to playing God. Also, at a recent public function, the governor said he was waiting on God to reveal who will succeed him. However, he has not pretended about his plan to scuttle Wike’s ambition of becoming governor.

Wike, on his part, has said he will resist any attempt by Amaechi to impose a governor on the state, even as both political leaders have been throwing salvos at each other without batting an eyelid.

The Ikwerre-born politician has a large followers in Obio/Akpor, even as he is said to have empowered many of his kinsmen and others alike.

Although Wike, has not declared his intention to run for the number one position in the state, he has been getting endorsements from many groups within and outside the Ikwerre speaking area.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 14

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Politics

Wednesday August 20, 2014

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The power play, actors, game

Omehia

Sekibo

Walson-Jack

Princewill

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 13 Political heavyweights like, Chief Sergeant Awuse, former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Chief Austin Okpara, former member of the House of Representatives, Chief Olaka Wogu, have at various fora added their voices to those calling on Wike to declare his intension to contest the governorship position in the state, with a promise to queue behind him.

ally favour Abe to clinch the plum job. Like Wike, Abe also has what it takes, including the financial power to pool through and he is known for his selfless services and has been carrying out various empowerment programmes, like scholarships, rural electrification, road constructions, provision of hostel facilities, among others in his constituency, the Rivers South-East senatorial district.

Amaechi intends to use as plan B for the governorship slot, especially as agitations from people from the coastal area to produce governor in 2015 is also reverberating.

in 2015, but having tasted the power of the governor of Rivers State for six months before he was thrown out by the most powerful court in the land, there are indications that he is still making covert moves to catapulting himself to the position he lost some seven years ago, although it is not certain if he is still in APGA, the political platform he used in his bid to re-launch himself into political relevance.

Magnus Abe Abe is the member representing Rivers South-East senatorial district at the National Assembly. A former Commissioner for Information during the second tenure of Dr. Odili, between 2003 and 2007, he was appointed Secretary to the Rivers State Government, SSG, during Amaechi’s first term in office from 2007 to 2011. He held that position until he proceeded to the Senate after the 2011 elections.

A former Minority Leader in the state House of Assembly under the defunct All Peoples Party, APP, which later metamorphosed into the defunct All Nigeria Peoples Party, ANPP from 1999 to 2003, Abe cross-carpeted to the PDP in the run-up to the 2003 election. He is one of the federal lawmakers that defected to the APC at the wake of the political crisis in the state.

The Ogoni-born politician and orator hails from Bera in Gokana Local Government Area of the state and a known strong supporter of Governor Amaechi and many believed he has the governor’s backing to succeed him in 2015, following repeated agitations by the Ogoni people to produce the next governor, amidst issues of marginalisation and years of neglect of the area by successive governments.

Despite being a first timer in the Senate, Abe is one of the leading lights of the National Assembly, as he has been very vocal on a number of national issues, including the downstream oil and gas sector, where he is chairman of the Senate Committee, as well as well as the non-implementation of the UNEP report by the Federal Government.

Ogoni has not produced the governor of the state since it was created in 1967 with many believing that if considerations were to be based on these lines, then the odds re-

Hon. Dakuku Peterside Peterside is the member representing Andoni/Opobo federal constituency in the House of Representatives and chairman of the House Committee on PetroleumDownstream.

Like Abe, he was a member of Governor Amaechi’s kitchen cabinet in his first term, where he served as Commissioner for Works. He was also aide to former governor, Dr. Odili.

Widely touted to be interested in taking over the mantle of leadership in Rivers State from Amaechi come 2015, though it is not clear whether he enjoys any support from the governor, he is widely believed to be a very close confidant of Amaechi.

Many watchers of political events in the state are of the view that the young and brilliant Peterside might be the joker

IN THE LAST ONE YEAR, THE SHARP TURN OF EVENTS HAS UNDOUBTEDLY MADE THE RACE TO THE STATE

GOVERNMENT HOUSE UNPREDICTABLE, AS MORE POLITICIANS ARE THROWING THEIR HATS INTO THE POLITICAL RING

Senator George Thompson Sekibo Sekibo, who represents Rivers West senatorial district in the upper chamber of the National Assembly, is said to be making underground moves to step into Amaechi’s shoes.

A two-term senator, who not much is written or known about, he is said to be well loved by his people and is considered strong contender for the plum job of the number one citizen of Rivers State.

Sekibo, a member of the PDP, who hails from Okrika, is said to have the backing of his kinswoman and Nigeria’s First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan. Speculations are rife that Mrs. Jonathan is interested in who becomes the next governor of the state, though she has not made any statement in that direction.

He was Special Assistant to Dr. Odili on Infrastructure before contesting for the Ogu-Bolo/Okrika seat in the House of Representatives in 2003 and later moved to the Senate in 2007.

Though Sekibo has not publicly indicated interest in the job, but if it is true that tthe First Lady wants him, he may clinch tthe PDP ticket.

Sir Celestine Omehia S Sir Omehia and Governor Amaechi are first cousins. He was runner-up in the a 22011 governorship election under the All Progressive Grand Alliance, APGA. When P Amaechi was Speaker of the State House A of Assembly, Omehia was Special Adviser o tto Odili on Religious Matter.

He is one of those still eyeing the coveted position, having been denied the opporp ttunity to fully dispense his service to the sstate through the October 2007 Supreme Court judgment that sacked him from the C Brick House and installed Amaechi as govB ernor. e Omehia lost his pending case at the Supreme Court in relation with the tenure of p Amaechi. Like other contenders, Omehia A has not made public his desire to contest h

Prince Tonye Princewill Princewill is a crown Prince of Kalabari and son of the Amayanabo (King) of Kalabari Kingdom, T.J.T. Princewill, who happens to be a retired university professor.

Princewill was the governorship candidate of the defunct Action Congress, AC, which later became Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN. He had gone to court to contest the emergence of Omehia, the PDP candidate before the Supreme Court upturned his (Omehia’s) victory.

He however withdrew his case against the PDP when the Supreme Court ruled in favour of his friend, Amaechi and remained leader of the ACN, which was the leading opposition party in the state until his return to the PDP following the path of his political mentor and former VicePresident Atiku Abubakar before the 2011 general elections.

The international businessman is no doubt imbued with wisdom, even as he addresses himself as the ‘man, mentor and maverick’. He parted ways with Amaechi last year, according to him, on grounds of principle.

On his face book page, Princewill first made his stand known when he wrote among other things: “Make no mistakes, I am with President Jonathan…no dulling.”

On why he parted ways with Amaechi, he retorted that he did what he did on principle.

After a period of political lull, he recently addressed newsmen in Port Harcourt, where he declared his intension to contest next year’s governorship contest, with the inauguration of an exploratory committee to find out, consult and x-ray his chances of actualising his tall dream and report feedback.

He disclosed that he had brought in some consultants from the World Bank to

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15 15

From The Civil Service LUTH resident doctors embark on protest over suspension 16

L-R: (From 2nd left) Acting President, National Shea Products Association of Nigeria, Mrs. Nelly Osagie Ndaguba; Minister of State for Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Samuel Ortom; Registrar, Trade Mark, Patent Design (Commercial Law), N. Salman Mann and other stakeholders, during the flag off of the National Shea Nuts/Butter Season for the year 2014 and commencement of the international training programme for the grass root stakeholders in Abuja recently.

New HoS tasks civil servants on creativity OMEIZA AJAYI

N

ewly-appointed Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mr Danladi Irmiya Kifasi yesterday took over the reins of leadership with a charge to civil servants to evolve more creative ideas and innovations to make the service relevant to the government and to Nigerians.

At a brief hand-over ceremony in Abuja, Mr Kifasi said civil servants must vigorously pursue ongoing reform efforts to restore public trust in the public service as a professional, efficient and accountable institution.He also listed several challenges confronting the service, saying the survival of the nation’s civil service is dependent on overcoming the challenges. According to him,

insufficient research and information technology capacity, inadequate communication facilities, lack of innovation and red tapism are some of the major challenges.

On his plans for the service, Mr Kifasi said he will focus on building effective governance structure geared towards achieving organizational efficiency and professionalism.”I wish to reaffirm my commitment to the implementation of the strategic priorities of the ongoing Public Service Reforms which include the promotion of service-wide intra and inter-sector linkages; elimination of corruption through enhancement of transparency in the conduct of government business”, he said.

Other areas of priorities are the sustenance of e-governance, including automation of Integrated Personnel Payroll and In-

Post-2015 agenda will address MDGs’ unfinished goals, says FG P.41

formation System IPPIS in MDAs; institutionalizing the use of performance management system in the public service; implementing leadership and succession planning policy in the Federal Civil Service as well as entrench a new work culture to stem indiscipline and restore professionalism.

Mr Kifasi said he will so focus on developing knowledge incubation through critical thinking to enhance the capacity of civil servants to excel in the discharge of their official duties.

While he announced that he would soon hold a special retreat with Permanent Secretaries to strategize on the way forward, Kifasi added that he will endeavour to build strong and sustainable institutions that will implement government policies and programmes in an efficient and effective man-

ner.

“To achieve this, we need to re-tool, improve on our technology and methodology and attack corruption frontally if we are to have a service that is manageable, compact, focused, trained and high-

ly motivated.

“This requires changea change in the curriculum, a change in training and a change in critical thinking of civil servants as well as in government procedures and priorities”, he stated.

On his part, outgoing Head of Service, Mr Bukar Goni Aji urged civil servants to cooperate with their new boss in order to ensure timely delivery of government programmes to Nigerians.

DSS policy to reposition Civil Service OLUFEMI ADEOSUN REGINA OTOKPA.

T

he outgoing Permanent Secretary (Common Service Office) Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation, Mr. Yemi Adelakun has said the Direct Service Strategy (DSS) policy would reposition the Civil Service by providing better and prompt public service and enhance value for money for the government.

This is in line with the recent directive, issued by the outgoing Head of Service, Alhaji Bukar Aji, to all Minis-

Nigeria has 17million housing deficit - FCT Minister P.16

tries, Departments and Agencies (MDA) in the country, during the commissioning of the DSS centre in Abuja.

The former HoS had urged the MDAs to adopt the DSS policy towards improving service delivery, implementing government policies and moving the country to a peak on e-governing.

According to Adelakun, the adoption of DSS by the Federal Civil Service would enhance free flow and access to relevant information by public servants online to bridge the challenges posed by distance and time.

He said:”DSS is a ser-

Eastern railway line create1,600 jobs –Wogu

vice wide policy to enhance public service delivery and improve implementation of government projects and programmes. It is aimed at providing better and quick service to the public and achieving enhanced value for money for government.

“The Federal Civil Service can meet these expectations by communicating and listening to feedback through digital channels, serving citizens in the places they are without travelling long distances, ensuring transparent, open, accountable, effective and efficient service delivery online.

P.42

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Civil Service

Wednesday, Augus 20, 2014

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L-R: Director-General, National Emergengy Mangement Agency, Alhaji Sani Sidi; representative of the Minister of Environment, Hajiya Rabi Jimett; Minister of National Planning, Dr. Abubakar Sulaiman and UN Resident Coordinator, Mr. Daouda Toure, during the launching of UNDP Human Development Report 2014 in Abuja on Monday.

PHOTO: NAN

LUTH resident doctors embark on protest over suspension

T

he Association of Resident Doctors, Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTHARD) Chapter, Idi-Araba, yesterday protested the suspension of residency training in all the federal teaching hospitals by the Federal Government.

It will be recalled that the Minister of Health, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu, had on Aug. 13, issued a directive terminating the residency training for doctors until further notice.

The Vice President of the Association, Dr Afolabi Akinkunmi, told the NAN that the protest was in response to the Federal Government’s decision to sack 16, 000 resident doctors nationwide. ``The decision to terminate residency training is a draconian move designed by the government to end the strike without having to enter further negotiation with the doctors about the strike.``We are asking government to come back to the negotiation table, because a lot of the demands are genuine and should be resolved once and for all. ``The doctors them-

selves are tired of the incessant strikes but they have persisted in this strike so that when these issues are resolved, there would be no cause for another strike down the line,’’ he said.

On the Ebola Virus Disease, he said that the strike and the Ebola outbreak were two separate issues which the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) had already considered and resolved. ``You cannot treat Ebola in teaching hospitals; it should be treated in an investigation or isolation centre. ``That is the international best practice that is being used in Liberia and Sierra Leone. ``The NMA has a committee that has ensured that the resident doctors who specialise in infectious diseases have made themselves available to treat the Ebola patients during the strike. ``Some of them were at work, when they received the news that they had been sacked; this is unfair,” he said.

Akinkunmi said that over 50 per cent of resident doctors in the coun-

try would lose their positions with the suspension. ``According to Nigerian Medical and Dental Council (NMDC), there are 26,000 registered doctors in Nigeria and now the government wants to sack 16,000. ``Where is the govern-

ment going to find replacements for these doctors? ``Although Nigeria has a lot of doctors in the Diaspora, until conditions improve, patriotism will not be enough to persuade them to return to care for the country’s patients,” he said.

He said that resident doctors in LUTH were hoping the Chief Medical Director (CMD) of the institution, Prof. Akin Oshibogun, would relay the appeal to the minister and the president. ``We have presented a letter to the Chief Medical

Director of LUTH, Prof.

Akin Osibogun,`` he said.

In her reaction, Mrs Hope Nwalolo, Public Relations Officer of LUTH, said that the suspension of the residency training was a national directive and the management had no say in the situation.

Nigeria has 17million housing deficit –FCT Minister

T

he Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Sen. Bala Mohammed, on Tuesday said the nation had a housing deficit of 17 million.

Mohammed said this at the commissioning of 49 mass housing units built

by Abuja Investment Company Limited (AICL) in Apo Dutse, Abuja.

The minister, represented by the Permanent Secretary, FCT, Mr Obinna Chukwu, said the FCT had 75 per cent of the deficit. ``The housing deficit in Nigeria is 17 million and Abuja has 75 per cent shot of this; but with efforts of companies like AICL, the deficit can be bridged,’’ the minister said.

Mohammed described

the projects as a land mark achievement He commended staff and management of the company for living up to expectations and promoting the economic growth of the FCT. The minister urged the company to always deliver its mandate on time to be able to bridge the housing deficit in Abuja. ``This land mark achievement by AICL is commendable and we urge them to continue to deliver in their mandate of delivering quality mass housing to Abuja residents,” he said.

The Chairman of the company, Mr Austin Okpara, said the company would operate as an international

competitor in the FCT and beyond. ``What we have now is a re-invigorated AICL ready to do business and ready to deliver on our business and investment mandate, and what you are seeing here today is an indication of how prepared we are,’’ he said.

Okpara appealed to the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) to make land available to the company to enable them build more of such estates.

In his remarks, Dr Musa Musa, the Group Managing Director of the company, said the project, which was initiated two years ago, was comparable to other housing estates in advanced countries.

``All can attest that few estates can compete with this estate in terms of construction, design and finishing”, he said.

Also speaking, Malam Yunusa Yakubu, the Managing Director of Lubell Nigeria Limited, the project contractor, said the 49 units of different housing types marked the beginning of the execution of another project.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that AICL is a business and investment holding firm incorporated in 1994 as a limited liability company.

It is wholly owned by the FCTA with a mandate to facilitate business investment in the territory.

(NAN)

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NIPR’s strategy for sustainable democracy NDUKA UZUAKPUNDU

A

plan predicated on ridding public relations of quacks is being implemented, punctiliously, by the skippers of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), It is an exercise that is taking a cue from the slogan; “Good people, Great nation”, and thus to make it effective, it intends to liaise with the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) to prosecute erring individuals, governmental organisations and multi-national corporations – in consonance with Section 19 of the NIPR Act, which “criminalises quackery, impersonation of public relations practitioner and false entry into the register of members”.

For the president of the NIPR, Dr. Rotimi Oladele, the current democratic dispensation offers an ample opportunity of an expansive political space for some sorelyneeded reflections and crafting some strategies on the way forward for the NIPR. With more than ten thousand members nationwide, Olade believes that the NIPR is wellpositioned and equipped to project the image of Nigeria in the comity of nations.

Indeed, as Oladele said, the past 15 has been characterized by a plethora of less cheerful developments - if it’s not the daily menu of corruption in high places, it’s the blood-curdling stories of kidnapping or abduction of highly visible public officers; if it’s not the Boko Haram insurgency in the north-east of the country, it’s the plucking of airplanes from the sky with attendant colossal loss of life and destruction of property; if it’s not the scorched earth policy at

Odi, in Bayelsa State, it’s election-related violence, disastrous explosion or destruction oil pipelines, ritual killings, vandalism of public infrastructure, etc.

These negative developments could be helped stupendously, Oladele thinks, by the NIPR. The first assumption, in Oladele’s argument along that line at a recent retreat in Lagos for state chapter’s chairmen and Secretaries of the NIPR, is for every Nigerian in a leadership position to offer service and be responsive to the needs of the Nigeria on the basis of transparency and accountability as enshrined in the 1999 Constitution (as amended). The second is that by 2019, by which time it would have been two decades into the Fourth Republic, there ought to be a new Nigerian system of good governance as a basic thrust of a sustainable democratic dispensation. The third assumption is that there’s a need for a people-focused development in the steeling of security and provision of infrastructure.

And for the NIPR, the Fourth Republic springs an auspicious tide with which it has to swim. Oladele calculates that henceforward the NIPR would, through painstaking and meritorious intervention, be seen as one of the major and strategic forces engaged in refurbishing Nigeria’s image as an influential power in both African and world affairs.

Besides, the NIPR would endeavour to maximise its law potentials to record some gains by giving itself a well-deserved facelift. To that end, it would embark on prosecution of unrecognised actors on its turf, strive to improve upon recognitions accorded its practitioners, improve upon training services and research, enhance professional market

AND FOR THE NIPR, THE FOURTH REPUBLIC SPRINGS AN AUSPICIOUS TIDE WITH WHICH IT HAS TO SWIM share for its members, particularly in promotion to top management level in public and private sectors and active collaboration with local and international associations, like the Nigerian Institute of Marketing, the International Public Relations Association (IPRA), the Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR), the United Kingdom, the African Public Relations Association (APRA) etc.

The NIPR is desirous of regaining its firm grip on the oil and gas sector of the Nigerian economy, where, as in the past, it was quite gratifying that its members were top decision-makers and the creative hands behind headline-grabbing annual general meetings (AGMs). Oladele, for one, says not only is it gratifying that a fellow of the NIPR – Major-General Chris Olukolade, is the Director of Information, Nigerian Defence Headquarters, but, as well, an assuring testament concerning the intent of the NIPR to rebrand itself. Equally gratifying is the trend in having state ministries of information and strategy manned by seasoned public relations specialists with proven record of information dissemination and control, crisis management and control, and applied human psychology.

The NIPR, said Oladele, has specialised programmes that encompass effective intelligence gathering and information management that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs can buy into – even after it would have indoctrinated would-be Nigerian envoys at its Foreign Service Academy (FSA) in Badagry. Through such a long- term, capital-intensive programme aimed at professionalism, excellence and sanitising the NIPR, Oladele believes that Nigeria’s democratic dispensation would be better for it, in that all the three tiers of government and the press would have been augmented, as a result, and recognised as co-pilots in the advancement of Nigeria’s democratic dispensation.

The NIPR’s confidence that success is certain is freighted on the zeal and commitment being shown by Oladele in running the affairs of the Institute. Indeed, a vote of confidence was cast in him during the Lagos retreat. With almost nil in the body’s purse when Oladele assumed office not so long ago, its activities are fast attracting public goodwill and financial in-flow.

At the Lagos retreat, Oladele told participants from nearly all the states of the federation that the era of the NIPR relying on government aid was over. A nominee at the just concluded National Conference held in Abuja, Oladele said the NIPR under his captaincy would strive to have as many districts in Lagos, Port Harcourt, Abuja, for instance, as is the case with some highly visible professional bodies, like the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN) and the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN).

Uzuakpundu is a Lagos-based journalist.

Marc Wabara: The Abia guber game change CHINYEMIKE TORTI

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ith the expected grand entry of Sir Marcus Wabara, a high flying professional with decades of executive administrative competence in development economics, into the gubernatorial race, the stage is set for a 2015 political paradigm shift from the middling crowd to the quintessential icons of the Abia first eleven.

This trend is in congruent with the prevalent political wisdom in the South East, where stakeholders are earnestly yearning for a continuum of seasoned and prudent managers in human and material resources to occupy the driving seats in government houses across the region.

In Abia State, for instance where, the dividends of OCHENDO’s achievements are a standard fare and blueprint for any incumbent. Sir Marc Wabara is eminently ahead of the pack of aspirants in the judgment of the critical mass of the Abia civil society, which unanimously agree that he is not likely to fritter away the gains of OCHENDO Global.

For over 20 years, Abia state was afflicted with roughnecks, hustlers and lascivious characters masquerading as militicians, administrators and governors until a seasoned and hard boiled Dr TA Orji stepped in to clear the rot. To be the archetypical governor that meets the aspirations of Ndi

FOR OVER 20 YEARS, ABIA STATE WAS AFFLICTED WITH ROUGHNECKS,

HUSTLERS AND LASCIVIOUS CHARACTERS MASQUERADING

AS MILITICIANS, ADMINISTRATORS AND GOVERNORS Abia, Marc Wabara’s imprimatur as a leader endowed with proactive ideas, motivational and communicational skills that influenced his dazzling successes in his extensive tours of duty in corporate Nigeria, comes in handy.

Educationally, he is well grounded, having schooled in Ivy League institutions like the University of Lagos and the Adelphi University, Farden City, New York, USA where he bagged an MBA. Back home he worked variously at different times with Mobil Producing Nigeria Unlimited; Metropolitan Life Insurance Company, New York; International Merchant Bank Plc, the African Continental

Bank Plc, Chartered Bank Limited and Manufacturers Merchant Bank Limited.

Due to his continuous dedication and diligence he was appointed Executive Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Hallmark Merchant Bank whose growth he nurtured to greater heights. Having successfully tracked Sir Wabara’s antecedents, cynics are wont to ask how these would translate to good governance? Very simple.

Wabara’s top of the range grooming in elite schools at home and abroad, in conjunction with his tutelage and maturity in the private sector, inculcated in him the discipline of the economic market place – a virtue which is a sine qua non for any state Chief Executive today. For instance, Sir Marc Wabara, in his many economic policy debates several years ago, was one of the very few intellectuals who robustly advocated that the National Electric Power Authority (NEPA) and Nigerian Telecommunications Limited (NITEL) should be privatized to enhance their efficiency. Today Wabara is like the Biblical Daniel that came to judgment.

As an aficionado of small and medium scale enterprises as the engine-room of growth of the economy, the election of Wabara as the 2015 Abia governor is expected to impact an added fillip to the state’s historical role as an investment destination. Wabara’s economic template is expected to trip off the gold rush to God’s own state.

Politically, Sir Wabara,is a grass root

politician who has paid his dues locally and nationally. His youth economic empowerment programmes are a veritable testament to his public service altruism with tentacles all over the 17 local government areas of the Abia State. His relationship with the stakeholders, legislators and influence with the PDP head honchos in Abia is unparalleled.

His amiable mien generates confidence and trusting interface with the Abia voting communities at home and Diasporas.

He already has the support of powerful political organizations and it’s expected to tap on these linkages for policy implementation when elected. Come, 2015 when he is expected to be the state’s chief policy maker as well as direct the state’s budget, his swagger indicates that he will exercise caution in areas of spending and resist raising taxes. As a dyed-in-the-wool democrat, he believes much in powers of persuasion and knowledge of the job, solutions to problems and the ability to communicate.

Sir Marc Wabara is a phenomenon whose time has come. He matches and exceeds the expectations for the job, which Abians are yearning for, come next year.

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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Editorial

18

Wednesday, August 20, 2014

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HEAD, GRAPHICS

The protests by soldiers’ wives

T

he recent demonstration by wives of soldiers of the Maimalari Barracks and 21 Armoured Brigade at Giwa Barracks, both under the 7 Division of the Nigerian Army in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, was nothing but an unfortunate distraction from the nation’s major task of confronting the Boko Haram-induced insurgency ravaging parts of the country.

Quite confounding, according to media reports, was the fact that the action of the women had the support of their husbands. The protests, however, have no legal basis and must, therefore, be condemned by all discerning Nigerians. There are, nevertheless, salient points raised by the protesting women, despite their repudiation by Defence Headquarters, bordering on the appropriateness and efficacy of the counter-insurgency measures deployed by the military high command, that need to be addressed through normal channels.

Reports said twice in the last two weeks, wives of the soldiers in Maiduguri organised demonstrations to register their opposition to the deployment of their husbands to Bama and Gwoza Local Government Areas of Borno State, the epicenter of Boko Haram campaigns against the Ni-

THE PROTESTING WOMEN SHOULD BE TOLD IN VERY STRONG TERMS THAT THE JOBS OF THEIR HUSBANDS COME FIRST gerian state. During the protests, which first took place on August 7, 2014 and repeated four days later, the women and their children allegedly barricaded the entrances to the barracks; set up bonfires on the streets, and hauled invectives at the military hierarchy. The protesters alleged that top military commanders in both the war zone and Abuja were ‘endangering’ the lives of their husbands by forcing them to the frontlines without adequate preparations and motivation. They also alleged that the widows of slain soldiers had been exposed to untold suffering because of military authorities’ neglect.

As pathetic as the women’s narrative would seem, the methods they employed to draw attention to their grouses and the support they received from their husbands were alien to the tradition of the military. Their action is a misconception that ridiculed loyalty.

It was ignorance at work indeed

before the very eyes of a degenerated institution, which many years of self-imposed political role has inflicted on the country.

Recent developments have shown that Nigerian soldiers are sedated by long period of indolence and rustiness. Contributing also to the pervasive combat phobia among them is the media hype on the much touted relative superiority of the insurgents in terms of arms.

The military urgently need counseling and sufficient modern weapons. It must be emphasized that the core duty of the military is the defence of the territorial integrity of a country. Globally, enlistment in all arms of the military goes with heavy responsibilities that are guarded by certain core values that include loyalty, courage, selflessness, discipline, integrity and honour. Soldiers obey the orders of their superiors without asking questions; and make no attempt to undermine established authorities. Their obligations to the country are expected to be fulfilled in the best manner possible; and the needs of the country outweigh the personal needs of individual soldiers. Our soldiers must be made to internalize these values and act them at all time. Nigeria’s current low intensity warfare that

ON THIS DAY August 20, 1998 The Supreme Court of Canada ruled that Quebec could not legally secede from Canada without the federal government’s approval. Quebec is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population; and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level. Quebec is Canada’s largest province by area and its secondlargest administrative division.

August 20, 2008

Spanair Flight 5022 from Madrid to Gran Canaria skidded off the runway and crashed at the Barajas Airport. About 146 people were killed in the crash, while eight more died later. But 18 people survived. Spanair Flight JK 5022 was a McDonnell Douglas MD-82, with the registration EC-HFP. It was the first fatal accident for Spanair (part of the SAS Group) in the 20-year history of the company.

poses serious threat to her unity and stability, and exerts considerable pressure on scarce resources, human and material, must be decisively prosecuted. Winning it demands the full mobilization of the nation’s military and the unalloyed support of the citizenry.

The visible grey areas in the nation’s current preparation for the counter war against Boko Haram, which have exposed the soldiers to high risks and compromised professionalism, should be addressed. They are the very reasons why the wives of the soldiers have taken it upon themselves to join issues with the military authorities to save their husbands. It is comforting that President Goodluck Jonathan appreciates the enormity of these challenges and has moved to source $1 billion external loan to enhance the operational efficiency of the military.

We urge the National Assembly to support the move. However, the disbursement of such funds should be well tracked to ensure optimal utilization. Nonetheless, the decision to deploy soldiers and for whatever purposes, remains the prerogative of the military authorities. The protesting women should be told in very strong terms that the jobs of their husbands come first.

August 20, 2012 A prison riot in the Venezuelan capital of Caracas led to the deaths of about 25 people. Armed prisoners in the Yare I prison complex, an overcrowded Venezuelan prison near Caracas, rioted in a shootout between two groups, which resulted in the deaths. One of the dead was a visitor. Among those injured were 29 inmates and 14 visitors. Venezuela’s prison system is reputed for being heavily overcrowded.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Wednesday, August 20, 2014

19

Health & Wellbeing Sacking of resident doctors will not end strike –Omojowolo

22

Ebola: Domestic animals should be screened, says NVMA 21

Consultancy not for doctors alone, says UCH boss FRANKA OSAKWE

…No, we own the patient –NMA

U

nlike his medical colleagues, the Chief Medical Director (CMD) of University College Hospital, Ibadan, Prof. Temitope Alonge, has said that the title of ‘consultancy’ in a teaching hospital should not be reserved for doctors alone.

He however, explained that the terminology which could apply to other professional bodies that have got to a certain level in their career should not be confused with that of a consultant doctor which is based on years of practice in a particular specialty.

Prof Alonge who is also an Orthopaedic surgeon, divulged this to newsmen during a media parley in Lagos recently.

In the recent times, the issue of consultancy has caused quite a controversy in the medical sector, with the dispute largely blamed for the unresolved industrial actions, the consequential death tolls and the decay in the sector.

While other health professionals such as Pharm. Olumide Akintayo, the President of Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN), has argued that the title “consultancy” as well as the position of directors, are applicable to other health professionals, a member of Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Dr. Olubunmi Omojowolo told National Mirror that this cannot work in a teaching hospital. “Yes there are consultant nurses and pharmacists in other countries but that is only in private hospitals, it cannot work in a teaching hospital”, he said.

Report has it that the hornets’ nest was stirred when consultant nurses and pharmacists were appointed at UCH and other teaching hospitals, a development that did not go well with the doctors.

According to the Medical and Dental

Prof. Alonge

Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Lagos chapter, protesting the sack of 16,000 resident doctors at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) on Monday.

Council of Nigeria (MDCAN), the situation became unbearable when, “consultant nurses prevented surgeons, who performed surgical procedures on patients from inspecting the surgical wounds of their own patients.” In a press conference at Ibadan, the President of MDCAN, Dr Olusegun Ayodeji Oluwole narrated how a Consultant Plastic Surgeon was barred from reviewing the surgical wound he created post-operatively because a “Consultant Nurse” had reviewed the wound earlier and was satisfied with her findings. Also at the Nnamdi Azikwe University Teaching Hospital Awka, a “Consultant Pharmacist” was reported to have invaded the wards with his team, canceled patients’ prescriptions and demanded that a Consultant Cardiologist remove a key drug in an in-patient prescription, on grounds that the drug has some known adverse effects.

On the heel of these developments, the NMA commenced an indefinite strike after

NMA President, Olumide Akintayo

issuing a 24-point demand to the government, one of which include the discontinuation of non-medical doctors as Directors and Consultants in a teaching hospital.

Pledging its resolve to continue the strike despite the Ebola outbreak, and the recent sack of 16,000 resident doctors, the NMA president Lagos branch, Dr. Kola Ojo, insists that the title of ‘Consultant’ in medical practice is reserved exclusively for a doctor that has gone through a minimum of six years postgraduate academic training.

According to him, the patient is traditionally registered under a consultant, who owns the patient and reserves all rights over the patient.

However, in a shift from the doctor’s sacrosanct view, Prof Alonge of UCH Ibadan explained that the premier teaching hospital does not concentrate effort to one cadre of medical profession alone.

“Let me say that in UCH, we don’t discriminate and we implement government directives to the letters. The Federal Government has issued a mandate that everyone should get to the peak of their career”.

He expressed the view that other members of the health sector have the right to be made directors in teaching hospitals explaining that “very soon, we are going to have directors of pharmacy, nursing, physiotherapy at UCH. All of these people are Level-17 officers and we must give them their due rights”.

While reacting to the incident of ‘consultant nurses’ and ‘pharmacists’ which has its root from UCH, he explained this as a confusion of terminology, “It was an unfortunate scenario when the hospital introduced, without the consent of the ministry, the issue of consultancy in other areas.

I think the terminology is what is confusing the entire public because when the patients come they don’t have an idea that Consultancy, by virtue of professionalism is different from a consultant in a particular specialty based on years of practice as a doctor. But I think a particular committee is addressing the terminology” Professor Alonge lauded the efforts of specialized pharmacy also known as “clinical pharmacy” adding that no one can question their approach to care. “If you send a prescription to the pharmacy department and the drugs are not compatible, the pharmacists will comfortable write on the prescription back to you, asking you to kindly review the prescription or ask for a discussion.

“That is called clinical pharmacy. Otherwise, a young doctor, by virtue of the limited experience in particular area may want to mix drugs not deliberately but out of the fact that he has not had deep experience enough to know the limitation. But the pharmacy will not say I don’t want to give you the drugs, rather he will write to the doctor, so we have a good working relationship with our pharmacists,” he said.

He also narrated his own experience in 1995 while practicing as an orthopedic surgeon, “having written a prescription of antibiotics, the pharmacists called me - ‘can I have few words with you?’ He explained that the prescription may need to be reviewed but I informed him that the patient has an acute infection and I needed to contain it as soon as possible and that is why I have extended the prescription beyond the routine to 10 days. And that was accepted because it was a straight logical discussion” Prof. Alonge advised that everyone should know their limitation and other profession should also be respected.

20

Health & Wellbeing

Nutrition for Health

Wednesday, August 20, 2014

Nutritional benefits of walnut

in walnuts are also known for their vascular reactivity, or the ability of blood vessels to respond positively to changes in the environment.

Up to 90 percent of the antioxidants in walnuts are found in the skin, making it one of the healthiest parts to consume.

Mother nature has crafted them as nearly perfect package of protein, healthy fats, fiber, plant sterols, antioxidants, and many vitamins and minerals.

Research has shown that eating just one ounce (that is about seven shelled walnuts) provides more than 100 percent of the daily recommended value of plantbased omega-3 fats along with high amounts of some micronutrients.

Walnuts contain several powerful antioxidants that are available in only a few commonly edible foods. These antioxidants helps control the ageing process by combating against free radicals in the body.

Scientists at University of Scranton, Pennsylvania had re-

Chizoba Benson chizobanwobu@yahoo.com 08065651922 (sms only)

W

alnuts with botanical name Tetracarpidium conophorum belong to the family, Euphorbiaceae. They are whitish in colour with a bitter after taste, enveloped in a black thick shell.

Walnuts are seen as a potential source of useful food and drugs.

Its oil has savory aroma and exhibits excellent astringent properties. It is used as snack or added to meals or in confectionaries. It also serves as a “carrier or base oil” in traditional medicines, in massage therapy, aromatherapy, in pharmaceutical and cosmetic industry.

While nuts in general are a beneficial part of a healthy diet, walnuts contain almost twice the antioxidants as other nuts. It contains high amounts of alphalinolenic acid (ALA), which is associated with lower risk of heart attacks and blood clots. Nutrients

cently discovered that walnuts have highest levels of popyphenolic antioxidants than any other common edible nuts and this may help prevent chemically-induced liver damage.

They are an excellent source of vitamin E, especially rich in gamma-tocopherol. Vitamin E is a powerful lipid soluble antioxidant, required for maintaining several disorders such as sterility in males thereby, improving sperm quality, including vitality, motility, and morphology; it is also used in the prevention of abortion and congenital anomalies and improves skin by protecting it from harmful oxygen-free radicals.

Walnuts are packed with many important B-complex groups of vitamins such as riboflavin, niacin, thiamin, pantothenic acid, vitamin B-6, and folates. All these can help calm nerves, acts as beauty vitamin for the skin, relieves skin eruption, acts as an anti-stress factor, strengthens immunity and prevents anaemia.

They also very are rich source of minerals like manganese, copper, potassium, calcium, iron,

magnesium, zinc, and selenium.

Copper is a cofactor for many vital enzymes and helps stimulates growth of the red blood cells and work as a pigmenting factor for hair and skin. Zinc is a co-factor in many enzymes that regulate growth and development, sperm generation, digestion and nucleic acid synthesis. Selenium is an important micronutrient, which functions as a co-factor for anti-oxidant enzymes such as glutathione peroxidases.

The beneficial dietary fat in walnuts has been shown to improve

Vitamin D deficiency reduces pregnancy rate in women undergoing IVF

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ogy. More than 1 percent of all infants born in the United States each year are conceived using assisted reproductive technology, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

“Our work is the largest study to date to examine how vitamin D affects fertility in women who are undergoing IVF,” said one of the study’s authors, Alessio Paffoni, MSc, of the Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico in Milan, Italy. “We found that women who had sufficient levels of vitamin D were more likely to produce high-quality embryos and more likely to become pregnant than women who were deficient in vitamin D.” The prospective cross-sectional study analyzed vitamin D levels in women who were referred to the Infertility Unit

people with type 2 diabetes. In a study , it was observed that overweight adults with type 2 diabetes who ate one-quarter cup of walnuts daily had significant reductions in fasting insulin levels compared to those who did not, and the benefit was achieved in the first three months.

Walnuts are highly perishable and their healthful fats are easily damaged. It should be stored in airtight container in the refrigerator whether they are shelled or unshelled since they are far more palatable when they are crunchy.

SCIENCE

xx

omen with a vitamin D deficiency were nearly half as likely to conceive through in vitro fertilization (IVF) as women who had sufficient levels of the vitamin, according to a new study published in the Endocrine Society’s Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism (JCEM).

Long known for its role in bone health, vitamin D is a steroid hormone that is emerging as a factor in fertility. Animal studies have shown that the hormone, which is produced in the skin as a result of sun exposure as well as absorbed from some fortified foods, affects fertility in many mammals.

To examine vitamin D in human fertility, Italian researchers studied women undergoing IVF, a type of assisted reproductive technol-

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Compiled by Franka Osakwe

Natural light in office boosts health

O of the Fondazione Ca’ Granda at Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico for IVF during 2012.

The researchers examined the success of IVF procedures in 154 women who were vitamin D deficient and 181 women who had sufficient levels of vitamin D in their blood.

Women who had vitamin D levels of at least 20 ng/ml in their blood were considered to have sufficient levels of the hormone. Levels of 30 ng/ml are recommended for general health.

ffice workers with more light exposure at the office had longer sleep duration, better sleep quality, more physical activity and better quality of life compared to office workers with less light exposure in the workplace, reports a new study from Northwestern Medicine and the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

The study highlights the importance of exposure to natural light to employee health and the priority architectural designs of office environments should place on natural daylight exposure for workers, the study authors said.

Employees with windows in the workplace received 173 percent more white light exposure during work hours and slept an average of 46 minutes more per night than employees who did not have the natural light exposure in the workplace. There also was a trend for workers in offices with windows to have more physical activity than those without win-

dows.

Workers without windows reported poorer scores than their counterparts on quality of life measures related to physical problems and vitality, as well as poorer outcomes on measures of overall sleep quality and sleep disturbances.

The study was reported in the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine in June.

“There is increasing evidence that exposure to light, during the day, particularly in the morning, is beneficial to your health via its effects on mood, alertness and metabolism,” said senior study author Phyllis Zee, M.D., a Northwestern Medicine neurologist and sleep specialist.

“Workers are a group at risk because they are typically indoors often without access to natural or even artificial bright light for the entire day. The study results confirm that light during the natural daylight hours has powerful effects on health.”

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Health & Wellbeing

Wednesday, August 20, 2014

21

Ebola: Domestic animals should be screened, says NVMA STORIES BY FRANKA OSAKWE

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n view of the recent Ebola outbreak, the Nigerian Veterinary Medical Association (NVMA) Lagos chapter has advised on proper screening of domestic animals and fortification of the veterinary control

posts at borders and entry routes around the state.

In a release signed by the association’s president, Dr. Alao Mobolaji, the group mentioned that domestic pets should be screened and monitored especially at night in environments that are known to have significant bat populations or areas that serve as migratory routes for bats.

“The Ebola virus can be

transmitted to dogs. It is important that your pets are protected by keeping them in screened environments especially in bat infested areas”.

It revealed that the virus could also be airborne going by the trend of the spread pattern. “It has been shown through published studies that domestic and wild pigs can infect monkeys in close proximity. This has lent cre-

dence to the suggestion that there might be an airborne component (how be it limited over short distances) to the spread of the disease” it said.

The association hence called on pig farmers to provide screened husbandry facility for their livestock, and also ensure a bat free environment, particularly the fruit bats adding that this will prevent infection of pigs

from Ebola virus.

The statement also cautioned Poultry farmers to ensure a bat and rodents free environment, the release said, finally calling on government to ensure the restoration and fortification of the veterinary control posts at borders and entry routes around the state as these serve as veritable tools for disease surveillance and monitoring.

Although, the disease is now in the human to human phase, the fact that it originated from animals cannot be overemphasized, hence the need for an aggressive collaboration between human medics and veterinarians, under the one world one health drive of the WHO to further understand the epidemiology of the disease in order to find a comprehensive solu-

tion to it.

“It is important for research funds to be made available in order to further understand the epidemiology of the disease in Nigeria. Research indicators should be to determine if wider arrays of reservoirs exist and their distribution”.

“We the NVMA Lagos chapter wishes to use this opportunity to admonish veterinary professionals to be alert when called upon to examine vulnerable animals. You are hereby reminded that as members of the wider public, you should show a keen sense of responsibility in discharging your duties.

Members of the public are advised not to panic, but to do due diligence with all necessary precautions.”

Maternal and child care low in rural communities –Odumakin

L-R: Publicity Secretary NMA Lagos Chapter, Dr. Ogunbi Ibrahim; Chairman, Dr. Tope Ojo; Secretary, Dr. Kehinde Saheed, during a press briefing held at the association’s secretariat in Lagos, recently.

Sack of resident doctors will escalate Ebola scourge –NMA

T

he Chairman, Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) Lagos chapter, Dr. Tope Ojo has warned that the sack of resident doctors would escalate the current Ebola scourge in the country.

Dr. Ojo during a press briefing last weekend in Lagos explained that majority of volunteers involved in case management and all other levels of Ebola Emergency Response Committee are resident doctors so their withdrawal will no doubt affect efficient treatment of Ebola patients.

While describing the sack of 16,000 doctors as cruel and

unacceptable, he warned that the decision would impact negatively on Nigerian health sector.

“This will lead to shutting down of all medical schools because the residents contribute about 50 per cent to the training of medical students.

All major and specialist surgical operations remain cancelled in all teaching hospitals because the consultants by default perform all major surgical operations with the assistance of the resident doctors,” he added.

Dr. Ojo further expressed regret that the resident doctors, who ensure the high-

est level of medical care in a standard institution, will be dismissed with a wave of hand as inconsequential.

According to him, “the action is dictatorial and last witnessed in 1985 during the military regime under Buhari.

Aside, Governor Fashola had tried it and it was so far unsuccessful.”

“Resident doctors are the middle level manpower of the medical profession, who has gone through a minimum of six year period of excruciating, full time academic training, to become specialists in different fields of medicine.

These doctors cannot be

replaced just like that,” he said.

He stated that the sacking of the doctors was an attempt by government to divide the NMA insisting that the strike will continue despite the sack.

“The current strike is a struggle embarked upon by the NMA of which the resident doctors are an integral part. The action will continue and the only condition to resume talks with the government is for government to reverse the sack of 16,000 strong and dynamic resident doctors nationwide, unconditionally and with immediate effect.”

FG in urgent search for health workers MARCUS FATUNMOLE ABUJA

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he Federal Government has called on Nigerians with medical knowhow to apply for positions relating to the management of Ebola virus disease in the country.

Workers needed to manage the killer disease include doctors, pharmacists, nurses, laboratory scientists, administration officers among others.

Minister of Health, Prof

Onyebuchi Chukwu, who made the appeal in Lagos State recently, said the decision became necessary given the rising cases of the virus in the country.

Need for health professionals by the Federal Government might be more urgent should the government stand by its recent decision to sack resident doctors in the country.

Chukwu appealed to health workers, many of who are already panicking over high-contagiousness of the virus, not to be discour-

aged by few health workers already tested positive to the disease in the country.

Two of the nurses that attended to the Liberian, Patrick Sawyer, who imported the disease into the country, have died of the virus.

This is even as eight others are still being treated for the disease in the state.

Chukwu pledged Federal Government’s commitment towards ensuring protection of health workers managing the virus.

Sawyer had taken ill upon arrival at the Murtala

Mohammed International Airport, Lagos. He came through the airport from Liberia to attend an ECOWAS-sponsored meeting in Calabar, Cross River State.

Sympathizers who helped him at the airport including some of the persons who attended to him at the hospital where he was taken for treatment have been infected with the disease.

The death of the Nigerian nurses has since caused some fears among health professionals.

A

ccess to maternal and child care remains a huge challenge in low income communities.

Dr. Joe Okei-Odumakin, the president Campaign for Democracy (CD), had divulged this during a maternal health accountability forum held at Development Communication Network (DEVCOMS) recently in Lagos.

Speaking on the need to improve access to maternal and child health in low income communities, Dr. Odumakin explained that majority of the population access health care with their own savings which is usually not enough considering the poor economic situation of the country.

She further explained that women especially in low income communities end up patronizing traditional birth homes (TBs) due to low funding. She mentioned that more than 90 percent of Nigerians, (over 150 million) live below two dollars per day, which makes access to quality health care difficult.

“This is a call for concern. We are therefore calling on our government at all levels, to provide free maternal health services for women in low income areas.

These women need to know that they can have free and affordable maternal services at the health centres. It is time to stop unnecessary death of our mothers, sis-

ters and wives” she said.

Also speaking at the forum, Mrs. Vivian Emesowum, the Executive director Grassroot People and Gender Development Center, explained on the need to ensure 100 percent deployment of health professionals in the health sector.

She called on government and policy makers to implement plans for immediate training and deployment of sufficient number of health professionals. This is needful she said, considering the unresolved strike actions and the unavailability of doctors at government hospitals.

“Lack of medical doctors has made maternal health inaccessible and has contributed to maternal death.

Many women who do not have money for private hospitals have resorted to traditional birth attendances and religious homes”, she said.

She further stressed on the need for government to retain existing health staff as well as live up to their promise of 15 percent budget allocation to health care in Nigeria.

“In 2013, Nigeria’s budget was 9.4 percent less than the recommended rate agreed upon during the Abuja declaration hosted on Nigeria’s soil. The country’s health budget during the period was 5.6 percent as against the recommended 15 percent suggested by the world leaders”.

22

Health & Wellbeing

Wednesday, August 20, 2014

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Sacking of resident doctors will not end strike –Omojowolo Following the 50-day old doctors strike which has been on since July 1, the Federal Government, on August 13, issued a circular for the suspension of resident training and the sack of 16,000 resident doctors in teaching hospitals across the country. In this interview with FRANKA OSAKWE, the President, Association of Resident Doctors (ARD) Lagos chapter, Dr. Olubunmi Omojowolo, bares his mind on the issue. Excepts: JOHESU had in the past accused government of tilting towards doctors’ demands. So the sack of 16,000 resident doctors came as a big shock to many considering the notion that government favours doctors above the other health workers. Why do you think the government took the decision?

The sack is totally uncalled for. It is retrogressive and not in the best interest of Nigerians. Irrespective of whatever issues, I believe that sacking of 16,000 resident doctors is not the solution. The rivalry between health workers is not peculiar to Nigeria, it happens all over the world and a lot of country have undergone this stage in their metamorphoses and solutions have been found, so I believe that the Federal government rather than being draconian should look for an amicable way to solve the issue. As am talking to you, JOHESU has already issued a letter to Federal government that they will start their own strike on the 29th of August, so the issue is not doctors versus JOHESU now; it’s about government taking an action that contravenes the law.

According to the Federal Government, the strike was necessitated because doctors have refused to resume work despite the fact that government had met up to 90 per cent of their demands and considering the national emergency of Ebola crises. Do you agree?

Let me tell you that the government and its agent, they are very good at propaganda. Why can’t the minister of health tell you those 90 percent that was met and let us see and analyze them one after the other. The truth is that doctors are not satisfied with the reaction from Federal government and that is why the strike has been going on up till now. If the government had done enough that is reasonable, this strike would have been suspended. Many of the 24 demands have not been clearly resolved. Yes there are some that have been resolved, like for instance the issue of template on residency training which some of us have been fighting for long, the issue of tenure of residency training has largely been resolved but funding and restructure of resident training has not been resolved.

The issue of consultancy status, issue of position of the CMD, the issue of deputy CMAC, the issue of universal health coverage, issue of skipping, IPPIS, none of these have been resolved. So let federal

government come and tell us how they resolved these issues. The circular they said they have released are contradictory so I think the only solution is for the federal government to call a stake holders meeting of all the health sectors, let them come with their facts and figures and let them determine, which system we going to follow; is it the British system, Indian or American.

But I thought we already have a committee, the Yayale Ahmed Committee that is addressing this issue?

The Yayale Committee is already politicized. There is low funding for this committee and the man has complained bitterly so many times. I believe strongly that we don’t need any committee, what we need is a stakeholder’s conference involving all the health sectors. They can then get a non health worker to act as umpire in an unbiased manner. Let me also say that regarding the issue of consultancy, the truth is that other health workers are consultants in the UK, US, and other places, but this is just in the private hospitals. They don’t work in the teaching hospitals, and that is where the difference is. Anybody can call himself a consultant, but when it comes to a teaching hospital, the word consultant is sacrosanct and clearly defined, in terms of responsibility.

Back to your question, this strike was declared by NMA, which comprises of house officers, emeritus professors of medicine, consultants, resident doctors and others. Why did the Federal Government single out resident doctors for sack?

Yes, this is rather baffling. Why do you think the Federal Government sacked resident doctors alone?

Now, in a teaching hospital, the resident doctors constitute the major work force, they are the most vital and most important, if you go to any teaching hospital, the doctors that will likely attend to you first are the resident doctors, they work with the consultants. Their work also include training medical students, apart from that, they deliver specialized care so the implication of this sack is very grievous to the health sector in Nigeria. Already we are short of specialist doctors in Nigeria, in a country of 170 million people; we have less than 3,000 specialists. I would refer us back to

Omojowolo

THE NEXT FEW MONTHS WILL ALSO LEAD TO B BRAIN DRAIN, EVEN IF GOVERNMENT DECIDES TO REC RECALL DOCTORS, SOME OF US HAVE ALREADY MADE UP OUR MIND TO LEAVE THE COUNTRY 1985 when this same move was initiated by the then Buhari administration, it led to massive brain drain and exodus of Nigerian doctors to other countries. As of now, there are 25,000 Nigerian doctors in the United States of America and over 4,000 in Britain. This action, in the next few months will also lead to brain drain, even if government decide to recall doctors, some of us have already made up our mind to leave this country. The federal government and its agent have money to travel out for medical treatment, so they don’t really care about good health care for the masses.

But the resident doctors and their colleagues in public hospitals have already abandoned the masses by going on strike?

Now I understand the fact that resident doctors are on strike and it is understandable that nobody will like the fact that doctors are on strike but NMA has been pushed to the wall. Apart from the 3-day warning strike that was done January this year, the last time NMA went on strike was 20 years ago. So I think the best option for government is to rescind this action on time so as to

forestall disaster.

The NMA national chairman, Dr. Obembe once reached an agreement with the Federal Government to call off the strike but the association refused. Do you think the doctors are united in this struggle?

The president of NMA did not unilaterally declare a strike so he cannot unilaterally call off the strike. He first paraded the call off with the minister of health when the strike was not even called off. He came in like a draconian dictator; he did not allow us to deliberate. Now the issue is that no one wants the strike to be prolonged, if the NMA president had handled it well, we probably could have called it off by now. People were infuriated by his approach of dictatorship; however, in terms of division among doctors, there is no division. Dr. Obembe is still the president of NMA, as at last week, they had a rally in Abuja. However, I can say that we have different cadres of doctors with everyone pursuing their own interest but that does not mean we are divided. We all come together under one body (NMA) to take a stand, and we have made our decision.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

23

Arts Lounge

Wednesday, August 20, 2014

Theatre and Conflict Resolution in Nigeria

Adichie headlines 2014 Creative Writing 24

25

Nollywood: Factions woo new actors for support The crises rocking the AGN leadership at different levels are becoming blessings in disguise for up-coming acts as the factions engage in struggle to curry their favours Juliet Umeh

W

ith a global acclaim of being the third largest movie industry in the world, top actors in Nollywood stakeholders are engaged in a bitter struggle for the soul of their professional association, the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN). One of the factions, which regards itself as the authentic, is led by Fiberesima Ibinabo at the national and Victor Osuagwu at the Lagos chapter level, while the other group is led by Don Pedro Aganbi at the Lagos chapter level.

However, this factionalisation of the association is proving to be blessing for the up-coming professionals in the industry as these two groups strive to work harder to earn their respect and loyalty. The main baits are in form of programmes and events to cater for the professional advancement and welfare of the young actors and actresses.

Yakubu Abubakar, who is the secretary-general of the Fiberesima faction, said that the executives of the association are committed, through the support of other established actors and actresses, to nurture the upcoming talents. “Most of these programmes are conducted from the grass roots such as zonal levels in Nigeria. We train a lot of upcoming ones. We organise programmes such as Soap Opera Initiative, zonal film projects which will make different zones to come up with good story ideas. We also organise Cultural Festivals among states which include music and drama,” he said. The essence of these programmes, Abubakar said, is to ensure the professional advancement of the younger acting talents.

Don Pedro Aganbi, who is the Lagos State chairman of the other AGN faction, stated that AGN under his leadership has the young and upcoming actors at heart. “Our motto is: Up- comers must rise. We believe in grooming up-coming actors and actresses and they know this.

Hence, our general meetings always attract them in hundreds,” he said.

He said that in the last one year his group has organised many programmes to the aspiration of these new talents.

One of such is a 62-week soap opera, whose cast was made up of 99 per cent up-coming actors and actresses. He further revealed that the faction’s annual Miss AGN Beauty pageant is not all about stars but new acting talents in the industry.

The irony of this new found love for new talents by the two factions of AGN was the firm belief of their executives that AGN must be relevant to the aspiration of up-coming actors and actresses.

This was hinged on the fact that the association, when it was solidly one group, played a major role in nurturing many stars of today into prominence. Names like Mercy Johnson and Tonto Dike are readily mentioned. “When these ones are gone who are the people to replace them? “So we need to groom upcoming ones,” Aganbi said.

These initiatives are already wooing many of the targets to the respective factions. Blessing Anthony Ani , one of the up-coming actresses who belong to Aganbi led- AGN, said that the faction she belongs to has given her a lot of privileges, including having access to work in any part of Nigeria while her welfare is adequately taken care of. “You are free from any form of sexual harassments because if there is any of such case, you can confidently table it to the association where it will be addressed,” Ani, the winner of Miss AGN Beauty Pageant 2012, said.

Grace Essien, another up-coming actress, said she has benefited immensely from the faction of AGN she belongs to, which she believes is the authentic and recognized faction nationwide. She explained that her factional leaders create enough opportunities for the up-coming actors and actresses while encouraging them to rise in the industry. “I get a lot of jobs all over Nigeria. I am also a makeup artiste and I get job every now and then,” she said.

The political crisis rocking the AGN is more pronounced in Lagos State, where the Fiberesima faction is led by Victor Osuagwu and the other faction by Aganbi. Aganbi stated that the election which brought the rift in the association was strictly a Lagos State affair, and on that ground, the national body has no much take on it. “I am the authentic chairman of Lagos chapter of AGN because the outgoing president handed power over to me. So that makes me the authentic chairman,” Aganbi said.

Every effort to speak to Osuagwu proved abortive as at the time of this report was written as his mobile phone number was unreachable. Meanwhile, he has been quoted to say in one the papers that his rivals are frustrated people and should cease to parade themselves as the elected state executives of the association.

This was buttressed by Abubakar who

Filmmakers at work

Aganbi

said the Osuagwu-led faction is the one recognised by the national body of the association. He stated that the law court has affirmed this as he believes that there are no issues or disunity in the association; he emphasized that the AGN is one. “There is only one AGN in Lagos.

It is the AGN under the leadership of Victor Osuagwu,” he said.

For Segun Arinze, the immediate past president of AGN, the Ibinabo-led administration is the best. “Are you not seeing what she is doing? She is fantastic, the best president ever as far as I am concerned. She’s shown what women if given power or position can do. Election is here and I even insist that she goes for a second term and she is saying no that she doesn’t want but we are all putting pressure on her to complete what started,” Arinze said.

But Halima Abubakar, a Nollywood actress is more concerned about what the disunity in the association is causing

This factionalisation of the association is proving to be beneficial for the up-coming professionals in the industry as these two groups strive to earn their loyalty

Osuagwu

the industry. She is therefore preaching peace. “We need harmony, we need peace, we need love, we need understanding, we need truth, honesty and I think if we have all that, we will have united AGN. I don’t like the fact that there is ANTP, Association of Nigerian Theatre Arts Practitioners, we are all meant to be under the umbrella of Actors Guild of Nigeria, AGN, if we want to have any other organisation, you all have individual names but I would love to see everybody as one,” she said.

Still, some actors and actresses do not hide their bitter feelings for Ibinabo-led administration. Now that her tenure is coming to an end, people like John Okafor popularly known as Mr. Ibu are insisting that Fiberesima must not run for the second term. “Ibinabo has about two to three court cases. We are tired, we want another person. We should try a new person; let’s see what he or she would do. About 90 percent of the people she is ruling say no, but she is insisting,” he said.

Mr. Ibu is not alone on this view as Clarion Chukwurah and Dayo Onibiyo, had on different times declared their opposition for Fiberesima’s second term ambition. Chukwurah has always insisted that the present president of AGN has nothing to show for her administration and therefore should not dream of re-contesting as the president.

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Arts Lounge

Wednesday, August 20, 2014

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

VOICES

Theatre and Conflict Resolution in Nigeria Rasaki Ojo Bakare

T

he situation of Nigeria in terms of conflicts and conflict management efforts is unparalleled. There has been a high level of ethno-religious conflicts, among the highest in the world.

This is not surprising when one considers the fact that there are about 400 ethnic groups that either belong to the Christian or Islamic religion. The casualty toll, which is the consequences of these conflicts are equally overwhelming. Since independence the numbers have grown beyond two million and still climbing. The recent incidents are the Boko Haram conflict where thousands are killed in suicide bombings. In agreement to this trend, the UNDP states that: “in situations like this, conflicts recur after a short period of peace. In other cases, some violence continues even when conflict has ostensibly ended. There is no before and after.

This plethora of conflicts, most of which were engendered by the extremely pluralistic nature of Nigeria following Luggard’s amalgamation of the Northern and Southern Protectorates, have been captured in the artistic radar of the Nigerian theatre artiste with a view to using theatre both as a tranquilizer as well as a mechanism to communicate peace. Just like the already cited Ugandan, Rwandan and Kenyan examples where the Theatrefor-Development model has been explored to interrogate, negotiate and propagate peace, the same model has been variously and generously deployed in Nigeria as alternative paradigm for conflict resolution. The pioneer and leading efforts of the Professor Oga Abah led National Popular Theatre Alliance (NPTA) in this direction have been very visible.

In his new book, ‘The Rhythms of Transformation: Theatre and Conflict Resolution in Northern Nigeria’, Samuel Ayedime Kafewo writes on the effective resultant impact that can be achieved when theatre is utilized in projects dealing with conflict resolution and transfor-

mation, based on direct interaction with and intervention by the audience. Kafewo (2013) states that: The project “Building Bridges” was conducted by the Nigerian Popular Theatre Alliance in Kaduna and Kano States.

The project sought to find out the major causes of violent conflicts and how this may be eliminated. There was a research and intervention phase. Drama was the main vehicle of the intervention phase with the issue from the research feeding into public drama presentations and open community discussions using Boal’s techniques.

It is not only the practitioners of the Theatre-for-Development that have used theatre in contributing to the Nigerian peace process. The practitioners of the conventional theatre style have also been actively engaged in writing, directing and producing plays that seek to communicate and entrench a culture of peace in Nigeria. We have very visible examples in Ben Tomoloju’s ‘Askari’, Bakare Ojo Rasaki’s ‘Drums of War’ and Ahmed Yerima’s ‘Hard Ground’.

Ben Tomoloju informs us that ‘Askari’ looks into the harsh realities of social tension, conflict and the gory experiences of war in the last quarter of the 20th century. The story is woven around the life of a fictional feudal warlord, Askari, his territorial ambition and conflicting elements of the neighbouring communities. The macabre dimension of belligerence and destruction of human lives and properties in the ensuing war is a source of great concern and portent of a dismal future in new African nations. Remedies abound and the play highlights a few, es-

Bakare

pecially the intervention of traditional and conventional institutions whose roles are vital in the peace-building process. A performance of ‘Askari’ toured 20 states of the federation in 1997.

Bakare’s ‘Drums of War’ had explored the same concept in 1992 as he was inspired by the just simmering ZangoKataf crisis in Kaduna state, which he personally witnessed as he assumed duty in Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria. He quickly created the play to analyse the psychology of war and violence while emphasizing fairness as an ingredient for peace and dialogue as the best option in conflict resolution. After the premiere performance in Lokoja in 1993, ‘Drums of

Ben Tomoloju informs us that ‘Askari’ looks into the harsh realities of social

tension, conflict and the gory experiences of war in the last quarter of the

20th century

War’ has been staged in nearly every state in Nigeria with the height being series of command performances at Ile-Ife in Osun state at the climax of Ife-Modakeke war in 1998, 1999 and 2000.

Ahmed Yerima’s ‘Hard Ground’ in its own case addresses the Niger-Delta question. It discusses the multifaceted effects of oil exploration, environmental degradation and militant struggle; all with a view to engender peace in the region.

This play, which has been performed severally, also won the NLNG Prize for Literature as well as the ANA Prize for Drama.

The three works cited here are mere examples that time and space would allow us to mention. There is an endless list of Nigerian theatrical productions which have focused on the conscientization of the populace for the peace building process.

From the foregoing, it is evident that art is a creative, proactive, meditative and constructive apparatus, responsible for restoring societal peace when the latter becomes ruptured in the cruel grip of political, ethnic, religious or economic crisis, especially in an atmosphere like our present day Nigeria. Creative art takes on the offensive as a direct palliative or antidote to the aforementioned forms of conflicts with their attendant destructive, chaotic and counter-productive effects on the society.

The theatre exists for similar reasons everywhere in the world; to direct propitiation, reparation, libation, sacrifice and atonement to the divine for the profanity and sacrilege of the mortal beings to the divine as well as man’s inhumanity to man that has often characterized the universe especially in recent times. This, of course, is a pointer to the inevitability of the arts at any level of the society.

As long as ailments persist, medication is inevitable. A complete society is such that boasts of a great deal of sanity and a little of madness for no society is truly complete without either of them, but the sane must out-balance the insane. A society of the sane alone has only a utopian existence, too ideal for mortal men.

Rasaki Ojo Bakare, is Professor of Theatre Aesthetics and Choreography at the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Federal University, Oye Ekiti, Ekiti State, Nigeria.

Memorable Reads What book are you reading right now?

Recently, I am reading a lot about the Nigerian civil war, I read Elechi Amadi’s book, I read, ‘Why We Struck’ and then in the cause of reading these stories I came across an excerpt from a Capuchinsky book where he had been in Nigeria during the civil war and had described an area of Ibadan that – I lived in Ibadan for many years – but I did not recognise in his writing. That got me interested enough to go and buy his book. Many times I find his writing infuriating, I find some of his descriptions, I feel in many instances he exoticises Nigerians. I don’t want to be general I would have said Africans but he makes Nigerians seem exotic and he makes the black people he writes about seem exotic so I have problems with his writing but at the same time I have to say he is a very good writer.

You are reading a lot of civil war litera-

A.Igoni Barrett

Author

ture...

A few months ago I was reading a lot of village literature. A few months before that I was reading a lot of sex literature, so it just happens that now I am reading about the civil war.

Is it part of the research for your book?

No, it is not. It is just that I realised that I didn’t know much about the civil war beyond fiction and I wanted to also have a nonfictional basis of comparing, of forming impressions of that period. That, I think, is what sparked my interest.

Did your father also introduce you to the habit of reading?

Actually, yes, my parents, my mother, I thinksheprobablyhadmorehandinmybeing

introduced to reading than my father did. My father abandoned us when I was about seven, and I say that with love, but there were always books around the house. In an interview somewhere I have stated that for me growing up in the sort of house I grew up in, books were like toys, I had more books than I had toys and so it was easy to get into reading that way.

So, both my parents are responsible for.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Arts Lounge

Wednesday, August 20, 2014

25

ARTISTE UNCENSORED

I am very happy with a recent incident.

My

mother sent me a text message after watching one of my shows.

My

music encompasses

every facet of life Her brand is original, different, and revolutionary. Art is life for her and music is her passion.

She is Ayobamidele Aladekomo, aka Aduke.

Olawale Oluwadahunsi

A

t a very early age, she had passion for deep philosophical thoughts and words coupled with the love for rhythm. Music was not far-fetched for her.

Knowing fully-well that the easiest way to make money as a female artiste is to show her bodily endowments and sing about love, sex and other vulgar themes, a path which many female artistes prefer to thread, Aduke decided to sing like a revolutionary.

She heads a band named SSV (Sticks, Strings and Voices) and debuted her first show in 2010, with ‘Aduke and Fwendz: An Evening of Poetry and Conscious Music’ featuring Kafayat Quadri, Sistasoul, Adewale Oreshade’, She has performed at literary events and art festivals in Nigeria.

During the January 2012 fuel subsidy crisis in Nigeria, which led to nationwide

MEEDWEEK JUMP

From Eko with Love Series at Nike Art Gallery ‘From Eko with Love Series’ is back this year to bring out the hidden artistic talents abundant in the country.

The week long exhibition continues at the prestigious Nike Art Gallery and will feature amazing works from artists across the country. It promises to be an exciting period as there will be over 200 works on display at the event. Admission is absolutely free! Time for the event is from 4pm to 7pm

protest and strikes, the 24-year old neo-soul and afro jazz music artiste caught the attention of the young and old as a result of her ability to capture the pain and cry for change from ordinary Nigerians. Given the immediacy and poignancy of her song, ‘Hear the Voice’, Ayobamidele Aladekomo better known as ADUKE was catapulted to national prominence for capturing the frustration with her visceral lyrics.

‘Hear the Voice of the wailing masses, they are wailing for food/They are wailing for water/Hear the voice of the wailing masses/They are wailing for light/They are wailing for shelter…/Since I was a child, I have been shouting Up NEPA… Several endearing responses aroused from well known tabloids – “hauntingly disconcerting” and “another exposition from a beautiful mind…In one song, Aduke expressed the anger of her generation, who have grown up without the right infrastructural system and live with the damaging effects of a corruption and mismanagement.”

“For me, it was a moment to express long felt pain, I come from a neighborhood where people can’t sleep at night when it rains because of flood.

“People fill bad roads with dirt to level it up and make it pliable! My environment writes my story. ‘Hear the Voice’ is the voice of millions of Nigerians in unity.

I sang the song to express the feelings of those who have no means to express themselves and struggle to get by every day.”

She added.

An artiste of many talents, Aduke is also a poet and has worked as part of Segun Adefila’s Crown troupe of Africa. “My music encompasses every facet of life from love, trust, friendship, faith, hope and happiness, factors that make up the human existence. I want my music to serve as a source of inspiration and motivation and my dream is to be internationally relevant not only as a musician but also as an ambassador of Nigeria.

“I just sing... No classification, I’m African, I sing and sound the way I do so many people have tried to help me identify my genre so we are between neo-soul and afro-soul, maybe we would figure it out one day... Life inspires my lyrics. Nigeria is a

FreedomHall Live holds at Freedom Park

FreedomHall is a movement of people who are into expressing their God-given talents in music, poetry, spoken word, film, TV and radio.

The event is to encourage young professionals to come and show their gifts at the ‘open mic’ nights. It has been running in various centres in Lagos, Abuja for over three years and have built a strong following. It holds on 21st August 2014 by 7pm

She gave me her blessing and I was so touched

country where there is a story to tell all around. My environment, life and God inspire my lyrics”, she disclosed.

Aduke also revealed that her mother, who is a law lecturer at the University of Lagos, was initially not comfortable with her choice of profession. According to her, she is determined to make her proud as she has given her blessing to the career path she chose.

She said, ‘‘I am very happy with a recent incident. My mother sent me a text message after watching one of my shows.

She gave me her blessing and I was so touched. This is a career I have chosen and I will endeavour to give it my best to ensure I make an impact. I now perform monthly at Freedom Park, Lagos. I cannot hide the fact that I am still faced with the problem of funding but I am certain that my talent will make a way for me. My primary aim is being a foremost performing artiste out of Africa’’ Aduke whose major influences as an artiste are Lauryn Hill, Bob Marley, India Arie and Fela will love to work with artistes like Sound Sultan, Suspect, Nayosoul, and Ese Peters. She has no album yet.

When asked about the challenges she faces in the industry, she said her major challenge is the lack of structure.

“There’s too much short cuts and substandard results. The world is listening to Nigerian music now but what are we dishing out. Everybody is guilty” She’s the last of two children; Aduke is a graduate of History and Strategic Studies from the University of Lagos. Her other singles include ‘Made in Lagos’, ‘Lekeleke’, the love song, ’Faraway’ and ‘Iso Kekere’. ‘The single ‘Made in Lagos’ is a song that addresses rural-urban migration which is a common trend in major cities all over the world, inspired by real life situations.

Aduke has performed on stage with the likes of Fatai Rolling Dollar, Orlando Julius and Ade Bantu, and has performed as an opening act for artistes like Femi Kuti and Seun Kuti at the 2013 ‘Felabration’.

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Arts Lounge

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National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

FAR AND NEAR

Ebola: Osun-Osogbo festival at alert for grand finale Ngozi Emedolibe

A

s the annual Osun-Osogbo festival gradually comes to an end, efforts are being directed towards crowd-control mechanism to minimise the risks of the contagious Ebola Virus which is affecting some countries in West Africa especially at the grand finale.

This is in view of the mammoth crowd, local and foreign being anticipated at the festival whose grand finale comes up on Friday, August 22, 2014.

According to a statement issued by the organisers, “It is not a ruse but a fact that Ebola is here in Nigeria but our sincere prayers and hope is that it will not get to the State of Osun before it is nipped in the bud by the Federal Government of Nigeria with the assistance of the Government of the United States of America in which a relationship in ensuring that the cases we have in Nigeria are attended to. As enumerated by the State Government of Osun, we want to support their efforts and admonish our people to please inculcate the prescribed

Osun Osogbo event

hygiene measures put in place as neither anybody nor religious group are being intimidated in performing their religious obligations. To this end, we want to implore each and every one of us to ensure that we moderate our reception of our visitors, either from overseas or most especially from other states within Nigeria, where cases of this deadly disease are being managed. Also, we the organisers of the festival are in total support of the State Government’s crowd control measures being put in place to minimise the risks of the spread of this disease during the Osun-Osogbo

Grand Finale coming up on Friday, August 22, 2014. We want to thank the press for the steadfastness in the coverage and reportage of the newly packaged Osun-Osogbo Festival since 2002 which earned the Osun Grove the enlistment

by United Nations Educational Scientific Organisation(UNESCO) at Durban, South Africa, on 15th July, 2005. We reiterate that the Osun-Osogbo Festival is the way and life of the Osogbo community and its organisation and presentation has been accepted by all, not only in Nigeria, Africa, but in the whole wide world.”

Adichie headlines 2014 Creative Writing Workshop Saidat Alausa

T

he annual Nigerian Breweries sponsored and Farafina Trust led Creative Writing Workshop has commenced with 32 participants, in Lagos.

The workshop which is led by internationally renowned Nigerian writer, Chimamanda Adichie opened on Tuesday, August 12 and would run until Thursday, August 21, 2014.

According to a release by the Media Support Manager, Nigerian Breweries, Chukwuemeka Aniukwu, prolific Kenyan author and winner of the Caine Prize for African writing, Binyavanga Wainaina, Norwegian writer, Aslak Sire Myhre and the author of ‘Fine Boys’, Eghosa Imasuen have been invited to cofacilitate the workshop with Adichie.

The 2014 Creative Writing Workshop is taking the form of an interactive class session where participants are assigned a wide range of reading, as well as daily writing exercises.

The release also stated that participants are also being exposed to creative techniques to help them bring different perspectives to the art of storytelling.

At the end of the workshop, participants will be presented with certificates at a literary evening of readings that will be opened to the public.

The literary evening is slated to hold on Friday, August 22, 2014 at the Oriental hotels by 5pm.

Some of the international writers who have facilitated previous workshop

Adichie

include Jeffery Allen, a Professor of English at Queens College of the City University of New York and an instructor in the Writing Program at The New School; Robert Spillman, Editor of Tin House, a ten-year-old bi-coastal (Brooklyn, New York and Portland, Oregon) literary magazine that has been honoured in ‘Best American Stories, Best American Essays, Best American Poetry, O’Henry Prize Stories’, the ‘Pushcart Prize Anthology’ and numerous other anthologies; Amah Ata Aidoo, an award winning Ghanaian writer, Chika Unigwe and Binyavanga Wainaina have also been part of the literary workshop since its inception.

According to Mr. Aniukwu, the workshop has helped to discover and sharpen literary skills in Nigeria. It has trained about 100 creative writers and has featured several international writers as

facilitators.

Eghosa Imasuen, author of ‘Fine Boys’ and one of the facilitators at this year’s workshop was trained at the Workshop.

According to the organisers, Farafina Trust in collaboration with Kachifo Limited, publishers of the Farafina imprint of books, has also completed plans to publish of ‘A Handful of Dust’, a collection of stories from the 2013 class of the Creative Writing Workshop. The book will be released on Kindle and other major e book outlets, including Okada Books in the coming weeks and a print edition should come soon after.

Nigerian Breweries has sponsored the Creative Writing Workshop since 2009, in partnership with Farafina Trust. It says the sponsorship is a demonstration of its commitment to youth empowerment through talent development in Nigeria.

Bukiie Smart, Founder FAME

F.A.M.E excites creative Nigerian youths

F

ew weeks after organisers of the Fashion and Music Entertainment, FAME, a runway-themed showcase of the abundant talents in the music and fashion industry, started sales of forms for the ingenious event, indications have emerged that it is already generating immeasurable excitement among Nigerian youths desirous of a career in fashion and music. This much was revealed by Bukiie Smart, the brain behind the project.

According to the Accounting and Finance undergraduate of the University of Reading, United Kingdom, “We are genuinely enthused by the response F.A.M.E has generated among young Nigerians since we started selling the forms. I didn’t realise that an idea I conceived to change the way things were done in the fashion and music industries which I am passionate about, would be the catalyst for thousands of young Nigerians who want to be music and fashion stars.” Entry form for the event, which has been on sale from July, she said, is in two categories - fashion and music and submitted applications would be thoroughly scrutinized and successful applicants would be shortlisted for training and audition which would be the utmost pre-condition for qualification into the finals of the event.

Miss Smart disclosed that the training and audition sessions would entail all shortlisted applicants in the two categories converging daily at a designated location where they would be engaged by professional instructors. Only the best five in each of the two categories would converge at the grand finale where the winner of the star prize of N1million for each category would be chosen. She said that unlike other competitions, all finalists would each receive consolation prizes. Entry forms and registration details are available on the FAME website and is open to anyone in any part of Nigeria and even beyond.

Business Wednesday, August 20, 2014

We need to criminalise oil spillage in Nigeria –NOSDRA DG 28

How importation of fake, low quality lubricants affect economy 31

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Blending plants can stimulate growth, create jobs –Sote 36

PenCom grants PFA license to Nigeria Police Force Udo Onyeka

T

he National Pension Commission, PenCom, has granted an operating license to the Nigeria Police Force Pensions, NPF Pensions, as the 21st Pension Fund Administrator, PFA, after fulfilling very stringent licensing requirements.

According to statement sent to National Mirror the NPF Pensions which is specially licensed to administer the pension contributions of personnel of the Nigeria Police Force under the Pensions Reform Act 2014, is already taking steps to receive the transfer of the over N300bn pension contributions of all the personnel of the Nigeria Police from the other 20 Pension Fund Administrators which are currently managing the funds in line with the conditions for the licensing of the Police PFA. It said the NPF Pensions was set up and licensed to cater for the personnel of Nigeria Police as a compromise to prevent 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 Nigeria Police and other agencies brought heavy pressure to bear on the Presidency to also be ex-

cluded from the Contributory Pension Scheme.

“After careful considerations, following several meetings and consultations, the Federal Government decided that the Nigeria Police personnel should remain under the Contributory Pension Scheme, but with special administrative solutions to address the grievances of their personnel within the framework of the Scheme”, the statement said.

It also said with the granting of operating license to the NPF Pensions, the spirit of the compromise whereby the police remains under the Contributory Pension Scheme, 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 NPF Pension said all police pension contributions are currently being transferred to First Pension Custodian which has custody of the funds whereas NPF pensions manages the funds and its required to publish its account annually like any other PFA, “adding the safety net that covers contributors fund in other PFAs is also covering police pension funds, The statement said there is

no doubt that, the members of the Nigerian Police are desirous of owning their PFA in order to serve their unique needs and also use any profits there from to improve their welfare.

“The viability of the NPF Pensions is assured by the performance of other ventures owned by the Nigeria Police Force which are profitable companies that operate under relevant regulatory authorities. For instance, the NPF Micro Finance Bank is one of the best run of its peers.

The Police Insurance Company, Health Management Company and Police Cooperative welfare schemes are all doing very well”.

T

he Federal Governmnet has been urged to localise Information and Communication Technology policies being formulated at the centre to be passed vertically to all the three tiers of government for a well-coordinated policy implementation and growth in the industry.

This is one of the key resolutions in a communiqué issued

FLIGHT

SCHEDULE Arik Air

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

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

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

Med-View Airline

L-R: National President, Nigerian Institute of Architects, Arc. Waheed Niyi Brimmo, PNIA, FNIA; Executive Chairman, Alhaji Lawal Idirisu; General Manager, West African Ceramics Ltd, Bhaskar Rao, and Product Development Analyst, Pavan Kompella at the BGM/30th Anniversary Celebration of the NIA Abuja Chapter recently in Abuja.

Localise ICT policies across tiers of govt, FG urged Kunle A zeez

27

by the Computer Society of Nigeria after its 2014 national Conference held in Enugu recently, which was attended by more than 800 delegates from within and outside Nigeria. Also at the annual conference, about 450 new members were inducted.

The communiqué signed by the trio of NCS’s President, NCS, Prof. David Adewumi; Deputy President and Chairman, National Conference Communiqué Committee, Prof. ’Sola Aderounmu and Chairman, Con-

ferences Committee, Mr. Moses Braimah, captured a number of key decisions reached after the paper presentations, technical sessions, contributions of the participants and exhaustive deliberations by stakeholders.

According to the communiqué, it was resolved that ICT has become an enabler for growth and national development, capable of being the highest employer of labour in Nigeria; that competitive advantage in business has always been driven by

knowledge and that that multiple stakeholders needed to collaborate to build strong partnerships in the transformation of Nigeria from information society to knowledge-based economy.

It was also resolved at the forum that a knowledge-based economy is predicated on the production and dissemination of ideas; and that there is the urgent need to recognise knowledge as a resource that can be codified, registered and made tradeable.

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

Lagos-Abuja (Sat): 08.00, 08.50.

Abuja-Lagos (Sat): 10.00, 15.00.

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

28

Executive Discourse

Wednesday, August 20, 2014

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

We need to criminalise oil s Oil spillage is one of the environmental challenges confronting the country. Since oil production began in 1956, a number of oil producing communities have been under the siege of oil spills as it has not only destroyed their environment, it has also wrecked a serious damage on their means of livelihood.

In this interview with OLUFEMI ADEOSUN and REGINA OTOKPA, the Director General, National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency, Sir Peter Idabor gave insight into how the country can reduce the incidence of oil spillage.

Do you think the agency has been properly empowered to undertake this task given the enormous power oil companies that are involved in spills wield within the political circles?

Nigeria is about the sixth or seventh world largest producer of crude oil. If you check in line with what is happening in other countries, you will say yes, but to my mind, I think more needs to be done.

We have our law which takes charge of oil spills, but unfortunately, the law does not give us the sufficient power to punish people who are involved in oil spills.

It does not make any provision to criminalise the issue of oil spillage. We are currently working on this as efforts are being made at the National Assembly to make some amendments to the Act under which our agency operates.

There are some legislators who oversee the environment who have taken up the issue of amending the NOSDRA act so that we will be able to get more power to bite. In countries like Brazil and Norway, if you spill oil you pay, but our own people in Nigeria are not helping matters. A situation where our own youths engage in illegal refining, oil bunkering and escalating the issue of pollution of the environment, it is not helping us.

This is because; some industry operators hide under this cover to deny their liabilities for oil spillage.

When the regulatory authority approaches them when they pollute, they tell you point blank that “what we are

polluting is very small compared to what Nigerians are doing”. This is one of the fundamental problems we are facing as a regulator in this sector. Another serious issue, is the bitter problem of insecurity and our own advice is that our security agencies should be up and doing.

A lot of unemployed youths engaging in this illegal bunkering. As a regulator, beyond monitoring spills, how do you think they can be engaged?

Aside a few that are driven by greed, I think most of the youths who engage in these criminal activities are pushed into it by poverty and ignorance. Apart from ensuring that they are gainfully employed, a lot of public awareness campaigns should be done to make these people living in our communities to become aware of the dangers associated with the poison in crude oil. As long as the people continue to engage in any act of vandalism, the pollution in the oil industry would go unabated and our environment and people’s health will be the worse for it.

For us, what we are craving for is that the amendment must scale through so that we can get more space to function as a regulator.

What is the current status of the bill?

The amendment has passed the first and second reading and is now in the third reading. There has been a steady progress, but we need expeditious passage. What we are seeking for in the amendment is to enable us get the power to bite, to criminalise all these offences associated with oil spills. Some people spill oil and they don’t even report it and one of the problems we are also having is that our own sister agencies who are operators also spill and when we try to control them they will say,” You can’t control me as I am also a government agency”.

We believe that Nigeria should upgrade to the internationally acceptable standard. The multi nationals who are operating here cannot do this in their own countries. We have been to Brazil, Norway and other places where oil exploration activities take place and you cannot find a place where oil companies degrade the environment like in Nigeria.

In Brazil, for instance, you cannot put oil in the Amazon jungle because the wild-life bio -diversity there remains a serious source of revenue and our own forest resources are being decimated due to oil exploration. People who rely on non timber forest products for their food are no longer getting enough.

You said the amount stipulated in the NOSDRA Act as fine for companies that engage in oil spill is not commensurate with the actual crime.

What do you think will be an appropriate fine?

It is not as commonplace as you have put it; it is expected to be calculated on the rate per barrel spill. It depends on the quantity spilled multiplied by a fraction. Another unfortunate issue is that

What we are seeking for in the amendment is to enable us get the power to bite, to criminalise all these offences associated with oil spills

the federal government is also a partner in the joint venture, even when we ask them to pay hundred naira; the federal government will decide to pay fifty out of the hundred naira.

What do you think the Federal Government can do to change the tide of pipe line vandalism?

The government has not done enough to protect the nation’s source of wealth; it goes beyond deploying security personnel to guide pipelines. There are a lot of belief systems in the oil-rich region that needed to be addressed through massive awareness campaigns. The country is losing millions of naira to the activities of illegal refiners apart from the serious impacts on the environment and the people’s source of livelihood. For instance, the crude oil they pour into the water gets into the mud which is food to the leaves.

These leaves are eaten by water animals such as fish, snail, periwinkles. The consequence is that they are already poisoned with substances that could cause cancer.

But our people are ignorant of this fact. Capacity building is very crucial as much as we insist oil operators conduct their business in accordance with the internationally acceptable standards. As it is today, oil operators in the country are taking the advantage of the criminal activities of some people to get away from owing up to their spills. For instance, some of them do not report spill and even when they report, they have a way they of evading punishment.

Our message is that NOSDRA should be empowered to regulate the industry, to carry out stakeholders’ consultation and ensure people become more aware.

We should also try to create compensation regime to ensure that our people are not being cheated. In most cases, because the oil companies have enough money to play with, they often get out unpunished when they have issues with the communities.

There have been various allegations that three years after the submission of the report of the United Nation Environmental Programme, UNEP, on the Ogoni oil spill, the federal government has not

Idabor

done much in the area of implementation of the report.How correct are these allegations?

I don’t think it is correct to say that Federal Government has failed to implement the report. When the Federal Government set up a committee led Rev. Fr. Matthew Kukah to come up with recommendations on the Ogoni pollution, the committee commissioned a United Nations Environmental Programme to come up with a report on what should be

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Wednesday, August 20, 2014

Executive Discourse

29

spillage in Nigeria –Idabor Nigeria government has not done enough to protect the nation’s source of wealth; it goes beyond deploying security personnel

to guide pipelines. There are a lot of belief systems in the oil-rich region that needed

to be addressed through massive awareness campaigns

set up a body known as Hydrocarbon Pollution Restoration Project, HYPREP, which was also established as another Adhoc body that will also address the Ogoni land issue in line with the recommendations of the UNEP report.

The HYPREP body went on to deal with some of the other emergency issues recommended by UNEP like putting sign posts, coordination of the water project etc. The Adhoc committee had some difficulties and the money for the irrigation project appeared not to have been made available. But over the last few weeks, concerted efforts have been made by the Federal Government through the Minister of Petroleum Resources to immediately readdress those issues that are highlighted in the UNEP report. A multi stakeholder committee comprising the Ministry of Environment, Petroleum Ministry, and Department of Petroleum Resources will also anytime from now set up infrastructure and the oil companies are ready to make the money available.

In the face of all these practical steps so far taking by the federal government, it would be mischievous for anyone to say that not much has been done about the report.

done to address the issue of pollution in Ogoni land and when the report was released in 2011, the then minister of environment sprang into action and we were asked to move down to Port Harcourt and discuss with the Governor of Rivers State, Mr. Rotimi Ameachi.

The eight emergency issues requested

by UNEP includes: ensuring that the affected people have access to clean water, to seal up all the water wells that were already poisoned, establish sign posts

to warn people to stay away from taking their bath in some of the already polluted water, to check into the medical records of that area to see if a correlation can be established between oil mining activities and the incidence of disease among the people of Ogoni land.

The minister sent me and the Managing Director of Shell to meet Ameachi and we were able to resolve the issue of water. Later on, the Federal, Government

tion of all the 22-member countries that make the Abidjan Convention that anytime they have solutions or issues that extend to certain limits you call your brother to come and help.

Abidjan has been handling all other aspects of this project until last year when the paper came for the first time for us to bid for the hosting of the headquarters for this convention. We were, through the help of the Ministry of Finance, able to pay our dues and also fill the form for bidding. Luckily Nigeria won this bid and the contingent from Abidjan has come to present a letter to the minister. As it were now, it’s just like having Nigeria also as the headquarters of ECOWAS permanently. Nigeria has by this new status, become the permanent headquarters for the coordination of emergency response for the whole of these stretch of countries.

What will be the function of this stakeholder committee?

The multistakeholder committee will come up with the modalities for the total clean up of Ogoni land. It is not only Ogoni land only that is polluted in Niger Delta. There are people waiting in the wings, saying what of us, is it only ogoni land? These are difficult issues to address, but I think government is determined to address it using Ogoni land as classic example.

Is it possible for Nigeria to achieve zero oil spills?

No, there is nothing like zero spills.

What we are clamouring for is that it should be minimised to a manageable level. Operationally, there is no machine that is perfect, even the pipes can have issues and that is why we have a department here for asset integrity. We are interested in knowing how old the pipeline network is, to know if you have done pigging to check the fitness of the pipes as to when it will start rusting. We are also interested in the data of the pipeline infrastructure that will help to prevent the spill itself. But there is no way oil spill can be avoided totally because it is a mechanical thing.

However, we want to say that our vision is to have zero spills.

Nigeria was recently made the Regional Coordinating Centre for West, Central and Southern Africa in matters relating to marine oil pollution by the Abidjan Convention. What benefit does the new status confer on Nigeria in the area of oil pollution control?

Water has no enemy; it finds its level anywhere and everywhere. The Atlantic Ocean continues from Nigeria down to South Africa where it links the Indian Ocean. Nigeria is a member of the global initiative for the West, Central and Southern Africa which is called the “GI WACAF” and it is a platform for coopera-

If the Federal Government is aiming at a zero percent, what is the current percentage of oil spillage in the country currently?

Nigeria ranks first in terms of oil pollution in the world as far as I am concerned. Our people are not helping matters. The industries are capitalising on what they see on ground. If you don’t keep your house in order and a stranger comes in, he will follow suit and nothing will happen. Our own Nigerian brothers who work in the oil companies are not helping matters because they are following the dictates of their employers.

30

Business News

Wednesday, August 20, 2014

We partnered Air force to protect Nigeria’s maritime zone –NIMASA Francis Ezem

T

he Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency says it signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Nigerian Airforce in order to check the increasing criminalities on the nation’s waters and thereby protect her maritime zone.

NIMASA had August last year signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Air Force in addition to one earlier signed with the Nigerian Navy, under which the agency provides platforms and other needed tools for officers of the Air Force in conjunction with the Maritime Guard Command provides security on the nation’s waters.

Director General of the agency, Mr. Patrick Akpobolokemi, who spoke at a two-day stakeholders’ sensitisation conference on the partnership between the two agencies, disclosed that the decision of NIMASA to go into such partner-

ship was primarily to check the illegalities on the nation’s waters.

“It was as part of efforts in giving expression to its statutory mandates in relation to maritime security, safety and search and rescue that NIMASA opted for collaboration with relevant agencies of government in order to have a seamless execution of these mandates”, the Director General had told stakeholders.

According to him, the partnership entered into with the Airforce in August last year has yielded dividends. He said: “This partnership was entered into with a view to further enhancing the agency’s capacity in enforcing extant maritime laws as well as to monitor and secure the Nigeria’s territorial waters and Exclusive Economic Zone EEZ, and to check rising incidences of and increased sophistication of pirates, armed robbery at sea and other unlawful activities in Nigerian waters”.

It was gathered that the memorandum was further boosted by the statutory role of the Nigerian Airforce in defending the territo-

rial integrity of Nigeria by air and its establishment of a reputable and efficient maritime capability in the Gulf of Guinea through their ATR 42 Maritime Patrol Aircraft MPA and other platforms.

Others include search and rescue operations as well as the conduct of air surveillance and other operations for the enhancement of safety and security on Nigeria’s maritime environment.

The NIMASA-boss, who insisted that the partnership has achieved its set objectives, especially in the areas of air and coastal surveillance and the exercise of the right of hot pursuit, however said that the essence of the sensitisation conference was get a feedback on ways to improve the scope and dimension of the MOU. Meanwhile, Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Adesola Amosu, who spoke at the event, identified the the paucity of funds and lack of platforms as the greatest challenges towards properly surveillance of the nation’s maritime and prevention of unlawful acts within the nation’s territorial waters.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

NPA workers make u-turn, suspend nationwide strike Francis Ezem

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orkers of the Nigerian Ports Authority under the aegis of the Senior Staff Association of Communications Transportation and Corporation SSACTAC and Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria MWUN have shelved their proposed nationwide strike expected to paralyse the nation’s port system in what stakeholders described as quick u-turn.

The strike, which was to protest the worsening working condition of the workers and the non-completion of the renovation project for the NPA Marina headquarters office complex, awarded over three years ago, during which workers had been made to work under deplorable conditions.

It was also gathered that following the completion of port reform programme, which saw the sack of over 8,000 out of the 12,000 workers, some staffers, who survived the purge had remained on the same spot for over 10 years, even though, they have continued to put in their best on daily basis, which the leadership said was no longer acceptable.

The leaderships of the two in house unions had therefore at

the weekend notified the management in which they insisted that if their demands were not met, the workers would stay away from work with effect from Monday, August 18, 2014 to drive home their point.

President of the SSACTAC, NPA branch, Comrade Jimoh Umar who announced the temporary suspension, noted that the leaderships opted for a partial strike while they negotiate with the management of the authority.

He however said that the suspension of the action was a mark of respect to the presidency which waded into it, which also bought about the current negotiation with the management.. While insisting that the strike would go on if the negotiations fail to yield results, noted that the unions would no longer tolerate a situation where their members would be subjected to inhuman situations in the course of carrying out their statutory duties and functions.

Umar While listing the sins of the management, the union leaders noted that apart from remaining on the same position in the last 10 years and above, adding that all entreaties to the current management headed by Mr. Habib Abdullahi to consider a review fell on deaf ears.

ATCON tasks network engineers on capacity building Kunle A zeez

L-R: Divisional Head, Products and Marketing, Keystone Bank Ltd, Yetunde Emmanuel-Yusuf; National Secretary, Children’s Affairs, NASFAT, Alhaja Ibidapo Folashade Usman; Executive Director, Corporate Bank and Treasury, Keystone Bank, Mr. Hafiz Bakare and Divisional Head, North East, Asmau Tinuke Saadu, during a financial literacy lecture at NASFAT Youth Camp in Ikorodu, Lagos, at the weekend.

T

he Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria, ATCON, has tasked telecom engineers in the

Ebola is an emerging disease –Aviation medical experts Olusegun Koiki

M

edical experts in the Nigerian aviation industry have described the highly infectious Ebola Virus disease as an emerging disease, which requires prompt attention from all.

The medical experts also said that the panic associated with the disease is much more dangerous that the virus itself.

Speaking at a one day event organized by the Women in Aviation at the Murtala Mohammed Airport, MMIA, Lagos, the Acting General Manager, Aviation Clinic, Dr. Olawale Oduwole, posited that since the outbreak of the disease in the country some few weeks back, Nigerians have been very busy to ensure that they do not

contact the disease.

Oduwole pointed out that because of the outbreak of EVD, people know longer talk about malaria for example, which according to him kills over 1,000 people daily.

He said, “Malaria kills over 1,000 people daily, yet we are not talking about it .We talk about Ebola because we know that Ebola is very dangerous and as the chances of the victim of the virus in surviving is very slim.”

Also, an official from the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, Aeromedical, Dr. Dr Wilfred Haggai, said that the agency had issued directives to airlines on the measures that should be put in place to ensure that carriers of the virus are not brought into the country.

He added that there are penalties for disobeying this directive, recalling that already, some airlines had been penalised for violating some of the safety measures put in place by the regulatory authority.

He advised participants at the seminar to sensitise their friends, neighbours, church members, colleagues at work place and enemies on the disease to further create awareness about it, adding that it is by creating awareness that the scourge could be reduced.

President of Women in Aviation, Mrs. Rejoice Ndudinachi, emphasized that the group decided to embark on the sensitisation seminar due to the dangerous nature of the disease that has killed over 1200 people in West Africa alone.

She said that the seminar was

part of the group’s contribution towards creating awareness on EVD, which according to her has no cure yet, adding that it was also part of the body’s continued healthy living among the people.

An official of the Public Health Consultant, Nigeria Air Force, NAF, Dr. Esther Omokhuede, described Ebola as an emerging disease, which attacks its victims simultaneously with a slim chance of survival.

He advised Nigerians to be cautious of their environments and observe high level of personal hygiene regularly in order to curb the outbreak of the disease.

Like other health experts, Omokhuede called for the stoppage of the consumption of raw and bush meats to curb the spread

country on the need to constantly upgrade their skills to be in tune with the rapid changes being witnessed in technical standards for the Information and Communication Technology industry globally.

President, ATCON, Mr. Lanre Ajayi, made the call during an International Workshop on Internet Number Resource Management, INRM and Internet Protocol Version Six, IPv6P, held in Lagos recently.

The three days programme organised in collaboration with Africa Network Information Centre, AFRINIC, was attended by 40 network engineers from 24 organisations.

Ajayi, in his opening remarks at the workshop stated that the workshop said, apart from the advocacy role ATCON plays in the telecommunications space; the association is also very passionate about building capacity in the telecom sector.

He also said the main reasons ATCON collaborated with AFRINIC to organise the workshop was to give the Nigerian telecom network engineers the empowerment required to upgrade their network from IPV4 to IPV6.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

EnergyWeek Wednesday, August 20, 2014

FG should rescue sector from collapse –Ilozue 34

Blending plants can stimulate growth, create jobs –Sote 36

31

Government has not given us priority 38 –Obidike

SPECIAL REPORT ON LUBRICANTS

Importation of fake, low quality lubricants hurting nation’s economy

Despite the humerous drawbacks, many Nigerians still make use of cheap and low quality imported lubricants.

UDEME AKPAN and CHIDI UGWU report that the fake adulterated products have affected the nation’s economy in many negative ways.

Lubricant blending plant

A

s a major oil and gas producing nation, Nigeria is blessed with many lubricating plants, capable of meeting domestic need. But investigations showed that many motorists and other users still patronise imported brands at least for some reasons. First, the imported lubricants are said to be relatively cheaper than those produced in the nation. Second, the packaging said to be well-designed to attract the curiosity of unsuspected local users.

The Executive Secretary of the Lubricant Producers Association of Nigeria, LUPAN, Mr. Emeka Obidike, who confirmed the development in an interview stated that there are presently many fake

We want government to increase tariff on imported finished lubricant to encourage local production of the

product.

We also want government to

reduce import tariff on base oil and other additives use in the production of engine oil in the country and low quality products in the country.

Obidike said that a laboratory analysis has already shown that they are not produced based on specified or approved mix

of additives.

He said that the fake and low quality lubricants can easily damage automobiles, generators and other appliances.

Obidike maintained that the lubricants have flooded the domestic market to the extent that unsuspected buyers prefer them to high quality products produced

by LUPAN members, apparently as a result of their relatively cheap prices.

He stated that the proliferation of the fake and low quality products constitute a serious disincentive to investors who have already invested in the local production of lubricants in the nation. This has affected the operations of LUPAN members who set up plants, employ and train labour, thus assisting the Federal Government to tackle unemployment in the naCONTINUED ON PAGE 34

32

Energy Week

Wednesday, August 20, 2014

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

SPECIAL REPORT ON LUBRICANTS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 33 tion.

Obidike said that LUPAN has already appealed to the government to review downwards to five per cent, the import duty on Base oil, which he said remained a major raw material that is used in the production of lubricants. He called on the government to impose higher tariff regime for imported lubricants in order to protect local producers and enable them remain competitive in the market.

Obidike stated, “Our major challenge is the influx of sub-standard lubricants in the market. Over the years, we have tried to draw government’s attention to it. The second problem is the issue of high tariff. Government should be able to step up and tackle it. The imported lubricants are enjoying the same 10 per cent duty with our major raw materials, which constitute about 90 per cent of raw materials in lubricant production. By the time the imported product arrive at 10 per cent and we are also paying the same 10 per cent on raw materials, we will not be able to compete with the imported lubricants.

Obidike stated, “We want government to increase tariff on imported finished lubricant to encourage local production of the product. We also want government to reduce import tariff on base oil and other additives used in the production of engine oil in the country. There is no country that can progress with importation. Lubricant producers employ thousands of Nigerians and if care is not taken, people may be force d out of their jobs.

“Another serious issue is the adulteration of members’ products. We want stricter sanctions and punishment for adulterators of lubricants. It is very dangerous to use adulterated lubricants because it could result in serious accident. We want government to look into the issue of raw materials. We want government to rescue this industry with intervention fund as it has been done to the manufacturing and aviation sector.

This is necessary because the refineries that are supposed to be supplying raw materials to the lubricants sector are not working optimally. The Kaduna refinery, which is supposed to be a major supplier of the raw materials, is not functioning.”

Obidike is not alone. The Managing Director of A-Z Petroleum Products Limited, Engineer Linus Ilozue who confirmed the sad situation in a separate interview stated, “The Federal Government has put in place some policies, laws and regulations to encourage investors to invest in many sectors of the nation’s economy.

But it must be said that a lot still need to be done to encourage investment in the lubricant sector.

He pointed out that the sector is threatened by many problems.

“We invest so much to generate electricity because the supply is not adequate and steady in the nation. There is also the problem of bad roads, which affect our ability to move products from one part of the nation to another. More than that, government policy does not encourage local production of lubricants. This is be-

Aganga

Alison-Madueke

Dawah

Importation of fake, low quality lubricants hurting nation’s economy the fake and low quality brands thrive in the nation because consumers are deceived by the beautiful packaging of these substandard lubricants which unknown to them has nothing good in them cause producers and importers of lubricants pay 10 per cent import duty to the government.

He said many unpatriotic persons have gone to other nations to import fake and low quality lubricants into the country.

“They do not add value to the products they import. They are gradually taking over the domestic market. They are gradually killing the sector in Nigeria. In order words, these unpatriotic persons are indirectly working hard to develop the sector in other nations while killing Nigeria’s economy”, he said.

Ilozue, who made a strong case for government intervention stated, “We have called on the government and its agencies to control the massive importation of fake and low quality lubricants into the nation. We have also called on the government to reduce the import duty lubricant producers pay for importation of raw materials from 10 per cent to five per cent.

The government should also consider increasing the duty those involved in direct importation of fake and low quality lubricants pay in order to discourage massive importation of the products.

Incidentally, these and other suggestions have already been presented to the Federal Government through the platform of LUPAN. According to Ilozue, “LUPAN members are the accredited blenders of standard lubricants for use in Nigeria. We move the economy of the nation because all vehicles, cars, machines and other heavy duty equipment and moving parts

use our products. The liquid, solid and semi liquid are used by them. We are the manufacturers and the essence of this association like all others is for us to have a platform or a forum to discuss our common problems and find solutions to them for the progress of the sector.

He stated that the fake and low quality brands thrive in the nation because consumers are deceived by the beautiful packaging of these substandard lubricants which unknown to them has nothing good in them.

Ilozue said, “In fact, these products are causing a lot of problems, knocking engines and grounding machines. In short people are not getting value for their money.

“We have a lot of idle blending plants in the country, we have a lot of unutilised blending capacity which if fully utilized can supply the entire lubricant needs of the country and even the entire ECOWAS countries if the right policies are in place. When we do this we create jobs as the capacity we have can generate over 5,000 jobs if all the capacity available is utilised, because when you blend you’ll need, engineers both mechanical and electrical, drivers, marketers among others, so you see our boys who are jobless will have jobs and the economy will be better for it and we need government support to this”.

He stated, “At the level of LUPAN, we have encouraged and even challenged producers to ensure that only high quality lubricants are produced in the nation.

We do not compete among ourselves. Instead, we share knowledge and technologies which are targeted at assisting our members to produce according to global best practices. LUPAN has also started to work with agencies, especially the Son and DPR in order to ensure that offenders are sanctioned.

For him, “the way forward is for the government to encourage the maximum utilisation of installed local capacity through implementation and enforcement of existing laws and put a total stop to importation. He said this will assist to create many multiplier effects, especially employment opportunities.

The Managing Partner of Lubeservices Limited, Engr. Kayode Sote stated that the sector deserves to be rescued from collapse, particularly because of its strategic nature. As he puts it, “The lubricants sub-sector is the salient but core area of the downstream industry that is complementary to the fuel business.

They are technology-driven products with value-addition to one of the refined byproducts called base oil. Lubricants are necessary products to guarantee energysavings, cost-effective maintenance of plant and machinery in industry in order to sustain the nation’s industrial growth and economy in general.

“It is, therefore, our considered opinion that the necessary awareness should be created at a Stakeholders’ Forum in order to draw the attention of the government, its statutory agencies, public and industrial consumers alike to the challenges in the lubricants market. Moreover, it is also an opportunity to showcase the fact that LUPAN locally blended lubes meet and in some cases exceed both the national and international quality standards in the choice of raw materials, product formulations, packaging, quality sustainability, performance level and original equipment manufacturers’ (OEM’s) approvals.”

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Wednesday, August 20, 2014

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Special Report on Lubricants

FG should rescue sector from collapse – Ilozue

These and other suggestions have already been wellpackaged at the level of Lubricant Producers Association of Nigeria, LUPAN and presented to the Federal Government and its agencies for consideration.

Engineer Linus Ilozue, a seasoned technocrat in the lubricant sector is the Managing Director of A-Z Petroleum Products Limited, which has been in business for about 19 years. In this interview with UDEME AKPAN, Ilozue speaks on challenges confronting the industry and how to go about solving them.

Can you tell us about A-Z Petroleum Products Limited?

A-Z Petroleum Products Limited, a full service Lubricating oil Blending Plant, incorporated in 1995 is engaged in the research, development, production and marketing of petroleum and petrochemical products.

The company procures base oil from refineries overseas through the operating licence obtained from the Directorate of Petroleum Resources of Nigeria (DPR).

A-Z employs the latest in addictive and blending technology to deliver to its numerous customers the quality products that best meet their highest expectations.

What major products and services does the firm provide?

The company’s products offer an exceptional combination of superior quality and economy… achieved through well researched, innovative and efficient production methods. Currently, A-Z Petroleum has an annual production of about 25 million litres of assorted brands of lubricants. These products find application in industrial machinery and automotive industries.

The automotive oils constitute a very high percentage of the company’s entire production and are tailor-made to cater for the numerous lubrication needs of all kinds of automobiles.

At present, the company is engaged in research with its technical partners for the local production of viscosity improvers. Even as a private initiative, it aims at fostering an integrated course of action, which will contribute a lot to the growth and development of the lubricant industry. With manufacturing and blending plants in Nnewi, Anambra state, A-Z manufactures and markets a wide range of automotive lubricants and engine performance enhancing chemicals which are distributed via her network of branches and depots in over 30 cities in Nigeria and overseas.

The company’s products offer an exceptional combination of superior quality and economic value achieved through well researched, innovative and efficient production methods. Due to the high quality of its products, A-Z Petroleum Product Limited has in addition to the ISO 9001:2008 certification, received several NIS and MANCAP certificates from Standards Organisation of Nigeria, SON. What motivated your company to go into the business?

As you may know, Nigeria is a very big market with about 170 million people. This implies that the nation also has a large market for many goods, including lubricants. Consequently, we were encouraged to go into the business in order to produce high quality lubricants, through the application of modern technologies, standards and well- trained human capital. In order words, we were encouraged to assist motorists and other classes of consumers meet their domestic demand without depending on fake and low quality lubricants. We were also encouraged to create the opportunities for the employment and capacity building of indigenous personnel who would have otherwise been unemployed.

How is it like doing business in Nigeria?

The Federal Government has put in place some policies, laws and regulations to encourage investors in many sectors of the nation’s economy. But it must be said that a lot still needs to be done to encourage invest-

Ilozue

THE WAY FORWARD IS FOR GOVERNMENT TO ENCOURAGE THE MAXIMUM UTILISATION OF INSTALLED LOCAL CAPACITY THROUGH IMPLEMENTATION AND ENFORCEMENT OF EXISTING LAWS AND PUT A TOTAL STOP TO IMPORTATION ment in the lubricant sector. At present, the sector is threatened by many problems. For instance, we invest so much to generate electricity because the supply is not adequate and steady in the nation. There is also the problem of bad roads which affect our ability to move pour products from one part of the nation to another.

More than that, the government policy does not encourage local production of lubricants. This is because producers and importers of packaged lubricants pay 10 per cent import duty to the government. Consequently, many unpatriotic persons have gone to other nations to import fake and low quality lubricants into the country. They do not add value to the products they import.

They are gradually taking over the domestic market.

They are gradually killing the sector in Nigeria. In order words, these unpatriotic persons are indirectly working hard to develop the sector in other nations while killing Nigeria’s economy.

What do you think the Federal Government should do?

A lot can be done to change the sad situation. For instance, we have called on the government and its agencies to control the massive importation of fake and low quality lubricants into the nation. We have also called on the government to reduce the import duty lubricant producers pay for importation of raw materials from 10 per cent to five per cent. The government should also consider increasing the duty those involved in direct importation of fake, low quality and packaged lubricants pay in order to discourage massive importation of the products. In other words, the Federal Government and its agencies should explore creative and effective ways and means of encouraging domestic production, particularly because of the benefits that would be attracted to the nation. The government and its agencies should also emerge with the ways and means of discouraging imports so as to boost local production and export to other nations.

Can you provide more details?

LUPAN members are the accredited blenders of standard lubricants for use in Nigeria. We move the economy of the nation because all vehicles, cars, machines and other heavy duty equipment and moving parts use our products. We are the manufacturers and the essence of this association like all others is for us to have a platform or a forum to discuss our common problems and find solutions to them for the progress of the sector.

A few weeks ago, we met in Lagos to deliberate on the impact of poor quality imported oil which has flooded the market. These fake and low quality brands thrive in the nation because consumers are deceived by the beautiful packaging of the products. In fact, these products are causing a lot of problems, knocking engines and grounding machines. In short people are not getting value for their money. Another thing is that it has reduced the sale of genuine standardised lubricants which are produced in Nigeria under the standards set by the Standards Organisation of Nigeria, SON and the Department of Petroleum Resources, DPR. Specifically, are you calling on the Federal Government to ban the importation of lubricants?

Exactly, we have a lot of idle blending plants in the country, we have a lot of unutilised blending capacities which if fully utilized can supply the entire lubricant need of the country and even the entire ECOWAS countries if the right policies are in place. When we do this we create jobs as the capacity we have can generate over 5,000 jobs if all the capacities available are utilised, because when you blend you’ll need to blend, engineers both mechanical and electrical, drivers, marketers among others, so you see our boys who are jobless will have jobs and the economy will be better for it and we need government support to this. But right now we are exporting our employment in a sense by allowing the continued importation of finished lubricants as we are paying for their labour and creating jobs for their industry. We have told the minister about our available capacity that can ensure continued availability of quality lubricants and they have even gone round the country to asses our blending plants and have taken note of our available capacities Are you saying that indigenous producers do not produce fake and sub standard lubricants?

At the level of LUPAN, we have encouraged and even challenged producers to ensure that only high quality lubricants are produced in the nation. We do not compete among ourselves. Instead, we share knowledge and technologies which are targeted at assisting our members to produce according to global best practices.

LUPAN has also started to work with agencies, especially the Son and DPR in order to ensure that offenders are sanctioned.

What advice would you like to give to the Federal Government?

The way forward is for government to encourage the maximum utilisation of installed local capacity through implementation and enforcement of existing laws and put a total stop to importation. This will assist to create many multiplier effects, especially employment opportunities. If these things are not done right, we will be left with no option than to sack our workers start importing lubricants from other nations.

So, I think it is in the best interest of government to stop the importation of finished lubricants.

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Special Report on Lubricants

Blending plants can stimulate growth, create jobs –Sote

The lubricant sector of the nation’s petroleum industry is blessed with many brands which give the impression that giant strides may have been made in the past few years. But the Principal Partner of Lubeservices Associates, Engr. Kayode Sote says urgent measures need to be carried out to prevent the industry’s collapse.

T

he downstream sector of the petroleum industry is the most vibrant and sensitive area of the nation’s economy due to its over-thecounter, OTC and consumer-related products in the open market as the daily source of energy for life. Moreover, it is a sector susceptible to the vagaries of the techno-economic dynamics and socio-political imperatives of the local and international politics of petroleum. The sector is indeed a barometer to measure the operating efficiency in the nation’s moribund four refineries, availability of locally refined petroleum products and of course, peaceful business environment in Nigeria.

However, the lubricants sub-sector is the salient but core area of the downstream industry that is complementary to the fuel business. They are technology-driven products with value-addition to one of the refined byproducts called base oil. Lubricants are necessary products to guarantee energy-savings, cost-effective and maintenance of plant and machinery in industry in order to sustain the nation’s industrial growth and economy in general.

Investments in the sector is in the excess of N20 billion, employing over 5,000 Nigerian workers but with a potential to generate over 50,000 additional direct labour for Nigerian workers if the plants are working at full-installed capacities.

In summary, it is of relevance to state that the appropriate turnover of the downstream business in Nigeria is in the excess of N2.15 trillion with a profit margin in the excess of #250 billion in the business year 2012. It is also important to confirm that 60per cent of the profit margin is accountable to lubricants market share in the major marketers’ products-stream with a projected increase of 25per cent per annum in the next 3 year. While the fuel business accounted for 40 per cent balance in the overall market results.

Despite the obvious contribution and potential in increased positive contribution to the nation’s economy, Nigerian lubes market is awash with about 720,000 metric tonnes of base oils (240,000 metric tonnes in excess of local requirement for lubes blending), different grades and types of products both locally blended by the majors, independents, fake and illegal producers. It is worrisome to note that the market is also a dumping ground for sub-standard and off-specifications imported lubes of questionable quality.

Sote

LUBRICANTS ARE NECESSARY PRODUCTS TO GUARANTEE ENERGY-SAVINGS, COST-EFFECTIVE AND MAINTENANCE OF PLANT AND MACHINERY IN INDUSTRY IN ORDER TO SUSTAIN THE NATION’S INDUSTRIAL GROWTH AND ECONOMY IN GENERAL All these infractions are indeed a threat to the survival of the local manufacturers especially LUPAN. It is, therefore, our considered opinion that the necessary awareness should be created at a Stakeholders’ Forum in order to draw the attention of the government, its statutory agencies, public and industrial consumers alike to the challenges in the lubricants market.

Moreover, it is also an opportunity to showcase the fact that LUPAN locally blended lubes meet and in some cases exceed both the national and international quality standards in the choice of raw materials, product formulations, packaging, quality sustainability, performance level and original

equipment manufacturers’ (OEM’s) approvals.

Finally, the need to showcase the strength and commitment of LUPAN to the local content development through transfer of technology, employment opportunities and the overall economic growth of the nation is, therefore, imperative and sacrosanct.

Challenges The challenges facing the sector included the indiscriminate importation of base oils far in excess of the installed capacity of the operating and functional lube oil blending plants and open market attraction that encourages the importation of finished lubricants of questionable quality and standards from the Far East countries: Dubai, Turkey, United Arab Emirate (UAE) and Russia. They include low duty tariff on base oils and imported lubes both are housed under the same H. S CODE “2710. 1939” and thus attract duty tariff of 10 per cent and adulteration of lubes by illegal lube blending plants. The challenges also included open marketing of base oils erroneously displayed as finished lubes and easy asses to customized moulds by third party marketers of lubes.

The way forward A Stakeholder Forum Titled LUBETECH 2014- A National Workshop and on Exhibition Quality Assurance and Standards of Lubricants Market in Nigeria incorporating stakeholders such as MOMAN, LUPAN, DPR, SON, NPA, Navy, Nigeria Customs Services, Ministry of Trade (Weight & Measures), Legislatives House Committees and and government agencies with statutory and legislative responsibilities should address: this fundamental issues militating against the growth of the lubes marketing in Nigeria.

The Stakeholders’ forum shall be packaged by Lubeservices Associates, an Independents consultant, if given the opportunity and in collaboration with LUPAN and DPR. The programme aims at promoting a better understanding of the petroleum industry, an overview of the nation’s hydrocarbon reserves, basic introduction into crude oil exportation, production and refining process as the source of refined petroleum products — fuels, base oils, petrochemical specialties, additives It aims at presenting to the public, and in a professional manner, the essence of LUPAN as an organized Association founded to protect the investments of its members, commitment to sustainable job creation for Nigerians and also showcase its contributions

to the techno-economic growth of the nation. The programme is targeted at intimating participants on the basic knowledge of petroleum products but with emphasis on lubricants and lubrication, their performance level and correct applications in industries.

It aims at providing an overview of the nation’s oil and gas industry with emphasis on the relevant statutory requirements and the need to entrench the principle of Rule of Law in the sector in order to ensure a levelplaying ground for both the major and indigenous investors to operate. The programme is targeted at creating the awareness and thus recommends to the public especially the industrial consumers, the LUPAN range of products as carefully blended lubes that are comparable with the majors’.

It aims at showcasing the fact that, LUPAN lubes also have competitive advantage with equipment lubricationcompliant and environment-friendly characteristics. The programme is aimed at presenting LUPAN lubes as premium grades that also meet and often time exceed the performance level and the optimal drain intervals as recommended by the Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEM’s), the local and international standards in quality assurance and consistency. It aims at availing the participants, especially the management of lube plant operators, the modern tools in technical and commercial - marketing to highnetworth industrial consumers, techniques of after-sales technical support services and corporate social responsibilities (CSR).

The programme aims at providing a forum for interaction of all stakeholders in order to bridge the communication gap between them and thus act as a PR strategy for LUPAN to consolidate its business and thus improve its market share. It further aims at creating a window of opportunities for LUPAN members to formally intimate the government and its statutory agencies on the challenges facing the lubricant markets especially in the area of custom tariffs, levies, high interest rates on lending & cost of funds, multiple taxation, power outage, harsh operating environment, community-induced agitation, labour union, inconsistency in government policies, importation of substandard lubes, open market sales of base oils and other infractions in the industry.

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Wednesday, August 20, 2014

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ADVERTORIAL

Why consumers still prefer Forte Oil’s premium range of lubricants F

or the past 10 years Mr. Sunday John, a Lagos based taxi driver, has always used locally manufactured lubricant for his car maintenance. John started having challenges immediately he switched to the use of unknown cheap imported product.

He confessed that the fake and low quality imported lubricant has affected the performance of his automobile engine and deteriorated to the point where it gushes out dark smoke. As he puts it, “The service car is not old. It started gushing dark smoke just few days after I used one unknown imported lubricant’ John is not alone as Mrs. Kemi Oluwalana, restaurant operator shares a similar story. Kemi got her generator damaged due to the application of fake and low quality lubricant. She recounts, “My generator was working fine until I used one of those low quality lubricants. Since then, it has completely malfunctioned.”

The case studies of John and Kemi are not unusual. Rather, they represent the experiences of many consumers who had given in to the allure of cheap low quality products in different parts of the nation only to be disappointed by lack of engine performance.

However, this misnomer can and has been corrected. Forte Oil Plc, Nigeria’s foremost indigenous major marketer of refined petroleum products, offers and distributes a vast range of quality lubricant brands to satisfy various automotive and industrial lubrication requirements.

Over the years, through the transition from British Petroleum (BP) to African Petroleum (AP) and now Forte Oil PLC, its automotive engines oils, especially the Super V and Visco 2000 brands, continue to serve as Nigeria’s favorite engine oils and the newly introduced fully synthetic lubricant-SYNTH 10000 equally provides a resonating experience for new generation car users.

For over 40 years, Super V has been the best selling multigrade engine oil in the Nigerian lubricant market and is constantly upgraded to meet the advancements in automobile engine technology and meets the American Petroleum Institute (API) specifications.

Super V guarantees excellent start-up performance, prevents sludge build-up and controls oxidation with optimum power by providing maximum engine protection. It provides advanced wear protection and superb cleaning power. It equally ensures excellent viscosity control resulting in more efficient operation. It comes in 1 litre, 4 litres and 25 litres pack sizes.

Another range that has been a toast of the Nigerian motorists is VISCO 2000.Visco 2000 is a premium multigrade engine oils for use in gasoline and diesel engines.

It is a top of the range product that is formulated to meet the lubrication require-

Tiwa Savage and Forte Oil executive during the unveil of Forte Oil lubricants at Ladipo Mechanic Village (1)

INVESTIGATIONS SHOWED THAT THE LUBRICANT IS DOING WELL IN THE MARKET, PARTICULARLY BECAUSE OF ITS HIGH QUALITY. TESTIMONIES EMANATES FROM THE POPULAR SPARE PARTS/ MECHANIC MARKET IN LAGOS, LADIPO MECHANIC VILLAGE. A MECHANIC, MR. TOPE KAYODE SHARES HIS EXPERIENCE; “I PREFER TO USE FORTE OIL ENGINE OIL BECAUSE THE LUBRICANT IS THE BEST IN THE DOMESTIC MARKET ments of new generation engines and allows your engine run smoothly with perfect control against wear and tear with added benefit of extended drain interval. It equally propels performance under most severe driving conditions.

Visco 2000 is specially formulated to handle all stress levels in petrol and diesel engine automobiles and it equally meets the specifications recommended by the manufacturers of world’s best automobiles and meets the API SJ/CF-4 specification. It comes in just 1 litre and 4 litre pack sizes.

Investigations showed that the lubricant is doing well in the market, particularly because of its high quality. Testimonies emanates from the popular spare parts/mechanic market in Lagos, Ladipo Mechanic Village. A mechanic, Mr. Tope Kayode shares his experience; “I prefer to use Forte Oil engine oil because the lubricant is the best in the domestic market. I have introduced it to many of my customers because I believe in it.”

Also according to the Ade Ogundele, an auto mechanic in Lagos, Super V has been the dependable ingredient for engine performance over the years. “I have been a Mechanic for 15 year now and I will recommend Super V engine oil to car owners who are very serious

about the performance of the vehicles. I was trained with the engine oil and I have used it since then without any disappointment”, he said.

This position is collaborated by Mr. Sunday John. “Since Forte Oil re-launched the Super V early this year, I decided to return to the product which my parent were used to in the 1980s and early 1990s. To be sincere it has been a smooth ride for my car and my taxi business”, he said.

Forte Oil in its commitment to meeting the lubrication needs of the very mod-

Forte Oil lubricants

ern engines, also introduced the “SYNTH 10000”, an advanced, fully synthetic engine oil, designed for the newest generation of high-performance turbo-charged petrol and diesel engines, into its wide range of quality lubricants. The premium lubricant, manufactured to specifications of the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE)5W-40 and the American Petroleum Institute (API) SN/CF, is poised to keep new engines running effectively by providing advanced wear protection, superior cleaning power and overall performance for the most modern vehicle engines.

The SYNTH 10000 also meets the Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEM) requirements for globally acclaimed brands such as the Mercedes Benz, Volkswagen, BMW, General Motors Co. (GMC), Porsche, Peugeot, Renault brands etc.

SYNTH 10000 is manufactured from chemically modified petroleum components, using advanced synthetic technology. It provides superior mechanical and chemical properties; perform better in extreme conditions and afford durable oil change intervals than traditional mineral oils.

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SPECIAL REPORT ON LUBRICANTS

Government has not given us priority –Obidike vestment to flourish, thereby impacting on other sectors of the nation’s economy.

The Nigeria’s lubricant sector is crippled with the influx of fake and low quality lubricants. In this interview with UDEME AKPAN, the Executive Secretary of Lubricant Producers Association of Nigeria, LUPAN, Mr. Emeka Obidike exposes the sad state of the sector and calls for the Federal Government intervention.

Why was LUPAN established?

LUPAN was established to provide a forum where member can meet and exchange ideas with the aim of improving the economic fortunes of member-companies. It was established to formulate policies affecting the objectives of the association and analyze national policies and stakeholders opinions on such policies as they affect the common interest of the association. The association was established to interact with other recognized and influential trade association and other bodies whose objectives are consistence with the interest of the Associations and encourage members to operate their business within the laid down rules and regulations guiding the industry.

It was established to effectively liaised with the government regulatory agencies such as (DPR, SON, PPPRA, MAN and other interest groups and encourage compliance with local and international standards and specifications. The body was established to undertake or execute programmes which will promote the interest of the association and promote the lubricant industry as it affects the national economy.

What is the importance of lubricants in the economy?

There is no doubt that lubricants play significant roles in the economy. They are widely utilized to lubricate various automobiles and equipment in different sectors of the economy. In fact, without lubricants, it would be difficult for production of goods and services to be accomplished. In order words, it would be impossible for operators in different sectors to sustain operations as well as generate meaningful income.

What factors motivated many investors to invest in the sector?

Basically, investors invest in different sectors to produce goods and services, capable of meeting various needs and aspirations of consumers and the general public. These may include meeting domestic consumption, curbing the wastage of foreign exchange, creating employment opportunities and adaptation of new technologies. In other words, investors in the sector may have been motivated to stake their resources in the sector as a result of individual, corporate and patriotic factors. These and other factors culminated in the establishment of about 32 lubrication plants of which six are owned by major marketers while others are owned and managed by the independents.

What is the total capacity of the plants?

These plants are not small but very gigantic in nature.

They can collectively produce about 900,000 metric tonnes of the product. It should be noted that Nigeria’s total demand is about 500,000mt, meaning that the plants have the capacity to meet local demand as well as export to other nations. The producers are presently in the process of expanding their capacities based on expected future expansion in demand.

This means that the preset capacity may double or triple in the coming years as a result of new or planned investments.

What are the challenges that affect operations?

There are many problems that affect investors in the sector. One of them is the massive importation of fake and low quality lubricants into the country from other nations. The fake and low quality products have very little or no additives which expose automobiles and other equipment to frequent breakdowns and damage. It should be noted that there are about 60 imported lubricants have no contact details which makes it difficult to identify producers and marketers. It is very sad that Nigeria is gradually becoming a dumping ground for fake lubricants from different parts of the world.

What has been the negative impact of this on the sector and local economy?

The negative impacts are numerous. First, the foreign products have almost taken over the market share indigenous producers in the nation. Second, the products have destroyed many automobiles and other facilities. The influx of cheap and fake products have also affected the employment of human capital while creating massive employment opportunities for unemployed personnel in the exporting nations. In other words, the massive importation of these imported lubricants is increasingly killing local initiatives

Obidike

We have presented many ideas capable of enabling the government and its agencies put in place better policies for operators in the sector targeted at stimulating the sustainable development of the sector.

Has the attention of the Federal Government and its agencies been drawn to these issues?

Yes! The Federal Government and its agencies are aware of these and other issues. We have been very proactive in carrying them along. In the past few years, we have engaged with government agencies, including the Federal Ministry of Trade and Industries, Standards Organisation of Nigeria and Department of Petroleum Resources. We have received several promises that have not yet resulted in finding lasting or permanent solutions to the problems. It should be noted that we are not only opposed to the importation of fake and low quality products. We have also requested the Federal Government to reduce the duties that our members pay for imported materials we use to produce our lubricants. This is important because of it is not fair for us to continue to pay the same 10 per cent with companies that import finished products into the nation.

What other options do you to ensure the issues are addressed?

We will continue to engage with the various Federal Government agencies in the nation. We will also continue to enlighten the consumers at least for a reason. It is important that they know the damage that the fake and low quality products have done and will continue to do to their automobiles and other equipment. We believe that is in the best interest of stakeholders, especially the government to tackle the problems in the sector. LUPAN believe that if the sector will perform better if the various challenges are addressed to pave the way for sustainable development. In other words, it is our belief that the government owes us a duty to senitise the sector in order to create opportunity for private in-

How far have LUPAN gone in accomplishing the objectives and restore order in the lubricants sector?

We have done a lot, especially in the past few years. For instance, we have been meeting regularly to share professional and other ideas on the sector. We have presented many ideas capable of enabling the government and its agencies put in place better policies for operators in the sector. We have open communication with other groups in order to enable us foster good relationship and industrial harmony. We have also improve our relationship with regulatory institutions to enable them understand our operations but also carry out effective regulations of the sector. More than that, we have in various ways promoted training and capacity building of personnel in order to boost operations and output in the sector.

Words on marble

L

ubricants are necessary products to guarantee energy-savings, cost-effective and maintenance of plant and machinery in industry in order to sustain the nation’s industrial growth and economy in general.

The challenges facing the sector included the indiscriminate importation of base oils far in excess of the installed capacity of the operating and functional lube oil blending plants and open market attraction that encourages the importation of finished lubricants of questionable quality and standards from the Far East countries: Dubai, Turkey, United Arab Emirate (UAE) and Russia –Engineer Kayode Sote, Managing Partner, Lube Services Associates

W

e have a lot of idle blending plants in the country, we have a lot of unutilised blending capacities which if fully utilized can supply the entire lubricant need of the country and even the entire Ecowas countries if the right policies are in place.

The way forward is for the government to encourage the maximum utilisation of installed local capacity through implementation and enforcement of existing laws and put a total stop to importation.

– Engineer Linus Ilozue, Managing Director of AZ Petroleum Products Limited

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Business News

Wednesday, August 20, 2014

FAAN boss pays unscheduled visit to NCAT, inspects fire tenders Olusegun Koiki

T

he Managing Director of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, FAAN, Engr. Saleh Dunoma over the weekend paid an unscheduled inspection visit to the Rescue and Fire Department of the agency at Nigerian College of Aviation Technology, NCAT, Zaria.

During the unscheduled visit, the FAAN boss also used the opportunity to inspect the old and new fire tenders as well as communication equipment provided and serviced by the agency to the aviation training school.

The agency’s department provides fire cover for NCAT’s airstrip, which is used for the training of aircraft pilots and other related professionals in the sector.

Dunoma in a statement signed by the General Manager, Corporate Communications, FAAN, Mr. Yakubu Dati during the visit charged the staff of the agency to continue to give maximum support to the authorities of NCAT and FAAN, in their collective quests to implement the transformation agenda of the federal government.

Dunoma was said to be received on arrival by the Rector of the College, Capt. Caulcrick Samuel.

He also charged them to be diligent in their duties and also support the new minister of aviation, Mr. Osita Chidoka, who he said is spearheading the transformation agenda of President Goodluck Jonathan in the sector.

Earlier, the Airport Manager, Hajia Taibat Abubakar, took the opportunity to brief the FAAN’s boss on their activities.

She enumerated the challenges facing their operations and assured the authority of their continued support.

Dunoma reportedly assured that the management would look into their challenges and find a lasting solution to them.

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PH shareholders embrace Diamond Bank Rights Issue

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ort-Harcourt-based shareholders of Diamond Bank Plc, have applauded the bank for its visionary approach to management in view of the ongoing rights issue.

The bank is issuing 8,685,145,863 ordinary shares of 50 Kobo each which will be sold to existing shareholders whose names appear on the Registrar of Members and transfer books of the bank as at the close of trading on Friday, June 13, 2014, at N5.80 kobo. The stocks will be allocated on the basis of three ordinary shares for every five held.

The shares are payable in full on acceptance and tradable on the floor of the Exchange throughout the period of the Issue. The acceptance list opened since Wednesday, July 30, 2014

and closes at the close of business on Tuesday, August 26, 2014.

Speaking at the Shareholders Forum held in Port Harcourt, the shareholders lauded the bank for its efforts at raising additional funds in order to boost its operations and deliver better returns to the investors.

Mr. Amaopusenibo Obomanu, an official of the Port Harcourt Shareholders Association said: “I think the Diamond Bank Offer is a very good idea and like I mentioned to management we are likely to take up every share that is offered. The bank seems to be doing well in the last three years and I must congratulate them for having scaled the hammer of the last CBN governor. I wish them all the very best for the future.”

Keystone Bank takes financial inclusion to NASFAT

I L-R: Senior Brand Manager, Gulder, Onyeka Okoli; Marketing Manager, Gulder, Legend & Life, Emmanuel Agu; Marketing Director, Nigerian Breweries Plc, Walter Drenth and Creative Director, Insight Communications Ltd, Chima Okeniukpe, during the third day of Gulder Ultimate Search 11 regional selection exercise in Lagos on Saturday.

NES seeks establishment of water resource council, industrial waste mgt system Theophilus Onojeghen WARRI

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he Nigerian Environmental Society, NES, has tasked the Federal and State Governments of the federation on the need for the establishment of Water Resource Councils to enable relevant stakeholders at the local level manage water resources in the country.

Members of the association also demanded proper funding of agencies responsible for the security of the nation’s waterways to teem incessant cases of oil theft, oil spill, and piracy resulting from exploration and sabotage as well as the establishment of municipal and industrial waste management system to curb the menace of improper waste disposal in the country.

These were some of the resolutions reached in a communiqué at the end of the 24th Annual General Meeting/Conference of the Nigerian Environmental Society held in Warri, Delta State, at the weekend.

The communiqué which was signed by Engr. Olu Andah WaiOgosu, Paul Akporowho and Dr. (Mrs.) Tudararo-Aherobo, National President, National Secretary and Chairman, Delta State Chapter respectively, said setting up of the Water Resource Councils at different levels will ensure management of the country’s waterways using appropriate techniques to improve the aesthetic values.

It said when the various security agencies are well funded it will go along in curtailing the activities of bunkerers, oil spill and piracy resulting from exploration and sabotage so that the waterways can be safe for such uses as tourism, recreation, transportation, commerce and irrigation.

“Participants accepted stepping up from Environmental Impact Assessment, EIA, to Strategic Environmental Assessment, SEA, as prerequisite for project execution. This would ensure that project impacts and mitigation measures are properly captured so as to sustain our waterways”,

the communiqué reads in part.

It added that: Establishment of the proper municipal and industrial Waste Management System to curb the menace of improper waste disposal that find their ways to the various water bodies.

This would also help to check the incidences of flooding.

“Commence without delay the restoration of Lake Chad; various human activities and climate change impacts are taking their toll on the resource potential of Lake Chad to the point that the Lake volume and expanse has dropped below to one third of its capacity in the last decade.

“Consequently, the Federal Government should take the driving seat in synergizing efforts from countries that border the Lake Chad”, NES appealed.

While commending the Federal and the Delta State Governments for actively participating the in the conference, it recommended that government should take initiatives to provide job opportunities in the riverine communities so as to actively engage

n line with the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, financial inclusion policy, Keystone Bank Limited at the weekend took the message to children, teaching them the benefit of having a saving culture.

Speaking to NASRUL-LAHIL-FATIH Society, NASFAT, children at a holiday camp ground at Homat Group Of School in Ikorodu, the bank Executive Director, Corporate Banking and Treasury, Mr. Hafiz Bakare, said that the programme is specifically targeted at school children to raise awareness on finances.

He noted that the bank is going in line with the CBN in conjunction with other stakeholders in the financial literacy steering committee and the Ministry of Education is developing the financial literacy curriculum to be included in the Ni-

gerian school system from 2015.

According to Bakare, this programme was designed to raise awareness in finances amongst children and Youths in primary and post-primary schools saying that financial literacy constituted an integral part of developing tomorrow’sleaders.

“Children can begin to build a culture of saving from an early age”, he enthused, adding that the essence of this programme is financial literacy and to be able to educate children and imbibe knowledge in them on the use of money within the financial system and also in fulfilment of one of the pillars of the Bank’s Corporate Social Responsibility ,CSR, thrust, geared towards taking education to young Nigerians and encouraging financial literacy amongst the youths.”

China finds Mercedes-Benz guilty of price fixing –Xinhua

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ermany’s Mercedes-Benz has been found guilty of manipulating prices for after-sales services in China, the official Xinhua news agency reported, adding to pressure on foreign carmakers in the world’s largest auto market.

Brands including Volkswagen AG’s ,Audi, BMW and MercedesBenz are cutting prices for new cars and spare parts in an effort to appease Chinese regulators which have accused some of them of anti-competitive behaviour.

Daimler, the parent company which makes the luxury Mercedes-Benz cars, said on Monday it was cooperating with authori-

ties and declined to comment further.

An array of industries, from milk powder makers to electronics firms, has come under the Chinese regulatory spotlight in recent years as the government intensifies its efforts to make foreign companies comply with 2008 anti-monopoly legislation.

Anti-trust regulator, the National Development and Reform Commission ,NDRC, launched an investigation into the auto industry following domestic media complaints that foreign carmakers were overcharging Chinese customers for vehicles and spare parts.

40

Cocktail

Wednesday, August 20, 2014

Woman kicked in face after jumping in giraffe enclosure

A

24-year-old woman who “loves giraffes” was kicked in the face after she entered the giraffe enclosure at the Henry Vilas Zoo in Madison.

Amanda Hall climbed into the exhibit so she could get up close and personal with a 2-year-old giraffe named Wally. The 12-foottall animal first licked Hall and then he booted her in the face.

Hall sustained non-life threatening injuries and Wally was not harmed.

“Imagine if that animal came into your house, how would you feel about that? You would probably be nervous and excited, so an animal is going to have a similar experience, have a similar response. Be a little nervous and excited and that is probably what happened in this case,” zoo curator Jeff Stafford told 27 News.

Hall was cited for harassment of zoo animals, an offense that carries a fine of $686.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Oddities

Hunters haul in 1,000-pound alligator

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group of Alabama hunters is celebrating the catch of a lifetime: A 15-footlong alligator weighing more than 1,000 pounds.

Al.com reports the monster gator was pulled from the water in south Alabama early Saturday during the state’s alliga-

tor hunting season.

Alabama Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries biologists were able to measure the gator at 15 feet, but weighing it posed a challenge.

The first attempt

completely destroyed a winch assembly used to hoist most average gators. So they had to use a backhoe to lift the animal. It weighed in at 1,011.5 pounds.

The gator is the larg-

est ever legally killed by an Alabama hunter.

It was caught by Mandy and John Stokes, Kevin Jenkins and his children, 16-year-old Savannah and 14-year-old Parker.

Harvard creates thousand robots that can self-assemble into shapes

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o matter how you feel about the Michael Bay “Transformers” movies, most kids — and kids at heart — agree it would be awesome to see one of these giant Autobots in real life.

Thanks to robotics researchers at Harvard University in Cambridge, Mass., the idea of multiple automated machines congregating to achieve a common goal is one step closer to reality.

Meet the kilobots. Yes, like “kill-o-bot,” but don’t let the name scare you. These little guys are harmless and are made for about $14 each.

They use infrared lights to communicate and vibration to move, but what’s really cool is their ability to work together to form basic shapes without direct manipulation.

Researchers input a desired shape, and the kilobots organize themselves into

the pattern. But how? Seed bots first move into place to form the core of a shape, sending infrared light blasts to the other kilobots, which one by one move around the outside of the core until they are in place.

While this looks more like an anthill than Optimus Prime and the Autobots, you can imagine how powerful, or just scary, a team of robots working together on their own could be.

A monster alligator weighing 1011.5 pounds measuring 15-feet long is pictured in Thomaston, Alabama.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Civil Service

Wednesday, Augus 20, 2014

41

Post-2015 agenda will address MDGs’ unfinished goals, says FG

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he Federal Government has said that the post-2015 development agenda would tackle unfinished Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) framework.

The Senior Special Assistant to the President on MDGs, Dr Precious Gbeneol, said this in Abuja at a two-day Presidential Summit entitled: ``The MDGs and the Socio-Economic Transformation of Nigeria: 2015 and Beyond.’’

Gbeneol said the new set of goals would handle issues not addressed under the current framework, such as poverty reduction, access to sustainable energy, infrastructure, among others. ``This summit is to ensure that the new agenda is complete with strategies to sustain the momentum in the final push to achieve the MDGs in the areas where Nigeria lags behind. ``Nigeria will forward the outcome of the summit to UN and other partners; this summit will enable us deliberate on appropriate indicators to be embedded in the new framework.

Gbneol said poverty eradication remained a global challenge, adding that it was an indispensable requirement for sustainable development.

According to her, to achieve sustainable development, there is the need to promote inclusive and equitable economic, social and environmental equity and prudent natural resource management. ``The formulation of post-2015 development agenda should be based on these principles in an inclusive process that lends voice to the yearnings of all and particularly, disadvantaged groups,’’ she said.

She also said that the new goals would integrate the social, economic and environmental imperatives of sustaining development. ``As the scale of resources needed to finance the post-2015 development agenda was daunting, it is imperative to institute the right funding mechanism. ``This summit provides the opportunity to brainstorm on financing options

to appropriate recommendations”, she said.

She assured that the summit would help to accelerate progress on the attainment of the MDGs. Also speaking, Mr Daouda Toure, UN Resident Coordinator, said progress had been registered in sectors such as education and health.

Toure said school enrollment had increased by more than 300 per cent in Nigeria, adding that access to primary healthcare has increased with investments in health infrastructure and systems.

He said the post-2015 presented opportunities to fulfil responsibilities of addressing new development challenges.

He said the UN and its partners would continue to work with the federal Government towards meeting the new global development agenda.

President, Pan African Parliament, Mr Bethel Amadi, said the existing MDGs did not place significant emphasis on reaching the poorest and the most

excluded segments of the society.

Amadi also said the MDGs did not incorporate the cumulative impact of conflict and violence on Africa, adding that they have negatively affected its development. ``MDGs did not also articulate the advantages of good governance and the

existence of institutions that guarantee the basic tenants of rule of law and human rights. ``It is on this basis that issues concerning the post2015 development agenda will be predicated on the vision of eradicating extreme poverty and providing sustainable development,” he said.

L-R: President, African University of Science and Technology, Prof. Wole Soboyejo; Kogi State Commissioner for Land, Housing and Urban Development, Mr. Stephen Mayaki and Director General, National Space Research and Development Agency, Prof. Seidu Mohammed, during the marking of the third year in-orbit operation of Nigerian Earth Observation Satellites in Abuja, yesterday.

PHOTO: ROTIMI OSASONA

Appraising Nigeria’s efforts to meet target on water, sanitation

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ith a few months to the 2015 deadline set for the attainment of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), some observers are of the view that Nigeria is off-track in efforts to meet some targets of the MDGs. Nigeria, a signatory to the MDGs, claims that in its efforts to achieve the MDGs, it has been able to attain 65 per cent and 75 per cent coverage in water and sanitation respectively.

The MDGs are eight time-bound and measurable goals which were launched by the United Nations (UN) in 2000 to spur development by improving the socio-economic conditions of the world’s poorest countries.A recent joint report of the World Health Organisation (WHO) and United Nations Chil-

dren’s Fund (UNICEF) indicated that 63 million Nigerians did not have access to water supply.

Similarly, a new report released

by WaterAid, an international organisation, said that Nigeria and several other sub-Saharan African countries might not be able to meet the MDG on water and sanitation until 2175, 160 years after the 2015 terminal date set for the MDGs. The report warned that if Nigeria failed to meet the MDG, which aims at reducing the proportion of the population without sustainable access to water supply and good sanitation by 2015, the lives of more than 100,000 children under the age of five will be at risk every year. It stressed that the proportion of people with access to reliable water supply and good sanitation was actually

falling in the country.

The MDG on water and sanitation is specifically designed to address the challenges facing people without sustainable access to safe drinking water and basic sanitation.

Concerned observers moan that an appraisal of Nigeria’s 14-year efforts to provide its citizens with safe drinking water and basic sanitation reveals that the country may not be able achieve the target of the MDG. However, Dr Martin Mbonu, the EU Programme Manager, blamed Nigeria’s inability to expand the people’s access to potable water considerably on the dearth of laws regulating the water sector.

He said that due to the factor, the water sector had not been quite appealing to potential investors.He

argued that potential investors were not encouraged to invest in the sector because it was not well-managed since there were no legal frameworks in place.

Nevertheless, Mbonu disputed claims by the Federal Ministry of Water Resources that Nigeria had attained 65 per cent water coverage, in lieu of the 75 per cent target. ``That figure is doubtful because today, I know that less than half of Nigerians don’t have clean water,’’ he said. However, the Minister of Water Resources, Mrs Sarah Ochekpe, conceded that Nigeria might not be able to attain the MDG on water in spite of concerted efforts to ensure total water coverage in the country. ``We are working hard; we CONTINUED ON PAGE 42

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Civil Service

Wednesday, Augus 20, 2014

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Appraising Nigeria’s efforts to meet MDGs’ target on water, sanitation CONTINUED FROM PAGE 41

may not meet with the MDG but we are not doing badly.``As at 2012, we had 65 per cent coverage, we have not finished all the assessment on the intervention we have in 2013 till date. ``I believe that by the time that is done, we would have gone a bit higher; we might get close to the 75 per cent target.``And water is available to people at a subsidised rate,’’ she said.

Ochekpe said that in efforts to provide water for all, the ministry from time to time intervened in water supply projects, particularly in the rural areas.She said that the Federal Government had initiated rural, semi-urban and regional water supply schemes, as part of efforts to bridge the perceptible gaps in public water supply schemes.

The minister said that the Federal Government, through the National Policy on Water and Sanitation, came up with 30 per-cent counterpart funding for regional water schemes in state capitals, while state governments were expected to provide the remaining 70 per cent.

Observers note that in spite of these claims, several communities across the country have yet to have good, reliable sources of water for drinking and other uses.

They say that the situation appears dismal, as many residents of these communities often trek long distances, particularly during dry seasons, in search of water which, in most cases, is not good enough for human consumption.

A resident of Abuja, Mr Tony Idoko, who described water as a basic human need, attributed the failure in meeting the MDG on water and sanitation to government’s apathy towards the water sector.He also alleged that funds meant for water projects were often misappropriated. ``We still have a long a way to go in efforts to achieve adequate water and sanitation coverage in Nigeria,’’ he said.

Similarly, Mr Peter Onwuaso, another resident of Abuja, blamed the poor water coverage in the country on corruption and the lack of transparency in implementing water projects.

Besides, he said that inad-

equate maintenance of water facilities and vandalism particularly posed serious threats to the achievement of the MDG on water.

He, nonetheless, urged the citizens to actively participate in water projects in their various communities so as to enable them to have a sense of ownership.

Onwuaso said that only few areas in three out of six area councils of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) had pipe-borne water.

He listed that three area councils as Bwari Area Council, Gwagwalada Area Council and Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC).

All the same, Mrs Veronica Anifowose, a housewife, said that she had resorted to buying water from local water vendors because of the lack of pipe-borne water in Byazin, Kubwa.

She, however, bemoaned the hygienic condition of the water, saying: ``Only God knows the cleanliness of the water which we buy from Mairuwa (water vendor). ``Our lives are in danger because of the uncertainty regarding the cleanliness of the water which we drink.``We just buy the water without knowledge of how clean the tanks and jerry cans used in supplying the water is,’’ she added.

Anifowose expressed reservations about the suitability of the water for human consumption. ``This is because many people have contracted different water borne-diseases, while some people even died because of these diseases,’’ she added.

Some of the water-borne diseases that are prevalent in the country include typhoid fever, cholera, diarrhea, hookworm infection and Hepatitis In spite of the public sensitisation programmes executed by the government and non-governmental organisations (NGOs), the sanitation situation in the country is somewhat appalling, as many people still engage in open defecation, a practice which can provoke outbreak of diseases.

Analysts partly attribute the sustained habit of open defecation in the country to inadequate water supply, insisting that a good water supply mechanism will certainly promote good hygiene and proper sanitation.

New Head of Service of the Federation, Mr. Danldi Kifasi (left) and his predeccessor, Alhaji Bukar Goni Aji, during the handing over ceremony in Abuja on Monday.

Eastern railway line create 1,600 jobs –Wogu T

he Minister of Labour and Productivity, Mr Emeka Wogu, said on Monday that 1, 600 jobs would be created at the completion of the Eastern Line of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC).

Wogu gave the assurance at the flag-off of the Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme’s (SURE-P) Technical Vocational Education and Training Project (TVET) in Lagos.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the training is for the newly recruited staff of the NRC. The two-month capacity building training programme is meant for new staff members along Western Line corridor, covering Lagos to Kano.

Wogu also said more than 1, 800 jobs would be created in the corporation at the end of the training service holding at the NRC’s Training Institute in Ebute Metta, Lagos. ``The sustainability of the operation of the railway system depends largely on the quality of manpower recruited to

power it. ``We are happy to announce to you that 1,805 job spaces would be filled at the end of this exercise.``Another 1, 600 jobs are expected to be created when the eastern line is rolled out. ``This is for professional engineers and technicians along the Port Harcourt - Maiduguri railway section,`` the minister said. According to him, the ministry has made remarkable impact in creating wealth for young Nigerians. ``In my ministry, we have also made impact through the activities of the community service youth employment programme, and technical vocational education and training project (TVET). ``We have made impact in areas such as renovation of eight technical vocation training centres in different parts of the country for different trade, `` he said.

The minister said that the ministry had collaborated with Galaxy Backbone to train and empower 1, 000 Nigerian with laptop computers.He said

that the National Automotive Council (NAC) had equally trained and empowered 1, 000 technicians with relevant tools.

Wogu said the ministry’s partnership with the Nigerian Institute of Building (NIOB) had led to training and empowering of 1, 000 housing and construction artisans.According to him, not less than 5, 000 jobs have been created by the intervention in SURE-P. Earlier, the Managing Director of NRC, Mr Adeseyi Sijuade, said it was important to develop human resources to accelerate the transformation of railway. Sijuwade said the corporation had benefited from SURE-P funding in areas of railway rehabilitation, railway modernisation and the procurement of rolling stock and training.``Today’s flag-off is in recognition of the funding intervention of SURE-P in sustaining training of NRC human resources required to operate and maintain our assets. ``I strongly believe that at the end of the programme, the participants

would have been wellgroomed, knowledgeable and ready to enhance productivity,’’ Sijuwade said.

He, however, urged the trainees to be determined to put in efforts in the development of the nation’s railway system.The President of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), Mr Abdulwahid Omar, commended the Federal Government for its intervention in transforming the rail transports.Umar, represented by his vice, Mr Issa Aremu, said the training would create skills necessary for the rail transport’s transformation. ``There are a lot of jobs, but there is a skill gap, we are adding value to create the skill necessary for the railway sector.``Railway is not just moving thousands of passengers, and delivering transport services, railway sector is also a home for decent work.``And for us in labour what is happening today is of historic importance; the first generation of trade unions in Nigeria was Nigerian Union of Railways men,’’ Omar said.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Politics

Wednesday August 20, 2014

43

plans in Rivers

go to the 23 local government areas of the state to find out their peculiar needs and what they want from government. The Kalabari prince said he has had several interactions with the President bothering on issues in his home state, as well as the state of the nation.

Known for supporting entertainments and fishing young talents, Princewill, who is the leader of the Princewill Political Associates, PPA, a grassroots political group sensitising the people on political activities, is also involved in charity where many have benefited within and outside Rivers State.

Nimi Walson-Jack Walson-Jack, is a former commissioner in-charge of media and publicity in the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission, RSIEC. The lawyer of over fifteen years standing hails from Kalabari land and he was the first aspirant to officially declare his interest to contest the governorship position in the state, a race he is running under the platform of the PDP. At his maiden media briefing in Port Harcourt, Walson-Jack gave a hint of what he believes government should be, pointing out that government is not rocket science.

He said: “I want to run a government that will give a semblance of what government ought to be. Government is not rocket science and that is a phrase that I am getting to repeat every day. There are some basic processes that make government a system, for example, maintenance and social services, those are not campaign issues. You don’t have to campaign that you are going to maintain roads which is normal, or that you will maintain the hospitals when you are voted into power as a governor.”

Talking about those who have the financial muscle, he said one does not need money to win elections, preferring to follow the Barrack Obama school of thought

Gogo-Jaja

Dagogo-Jack

Lulu-Briggs

that believes that friends and associates can help one garner support and make a lasting impact.

former party, the PDP, but National Mirror has it on good authority that he is one of those eyeing the Brick House in 2015.

Chief Bekinbo Dagogo-Jack

Chief Dumo Lulu-Briggs

Dagogo-Jack hails from Abonnema in Akuku-Toru Local Government Area of Rivers State, one of the coastal areas of the state.

He was a former Commissioner for Works and later Transport in Rivers State, a former chairman of the Rivers State Transport Corporation, RSTC and currently the chairman, Presidential Taskforce on Power.

Although one or two groups are rallying support for him to declare for the coveted position, he has not officially stepped out.

Lulu-Briggs is from the Rivers West, precisely from Abonnema in Akuku-Toru Local Government Area of the state, like Dagogo-Jack. He is the son of Olu B. LuluBriggs, an accomplished businessman and owner of Lubricks Construction and Monipulo Petroleum Development.

Dumo was the governorship candidate of the National Democratic Party, NDP in Rivers State in 2003, but withdrew from the main election on personal grounds.

Like his father, he is a businessman and currently the chairman of the board of Federal Medical Centre, Owerri, Imo State.

Although Lulu-Briggs has not formally declared his intention to contest for the 2015 governorship, his name is being mentioned by some political interests in the state as a possible governorship aspirant, with some saying he is preferred for the big job in Rivers by some powerful forces in Abuja.

His posters which were spotted in strategic places in Port Harcourt last week, in-

dicated that he may be interested in occupying the state Government House in 2015.

Recently, three political pressure groups in the namely: Rivers Democratic Network, RDN; Kengema Peoples Club, KPC and Ogoni Liberation Platform, OLP, urged him to contest for the coveted position under the PDP. With the benefit of hindsight, it would not be out of place to say that a few of these intending aspirants are just behaving like typical politicians, looking for means of negotiating relevance for themselves in the scheme of things in Rivers State, but very many of them are strong contenders for the plum job.

How far each of them can go in surmounting the hurdle of their prospective party primaries and emerge candidates is yet to be seen. And as always, the deciding factor of who amongst them occupies the Brick house come May, 2015, remains the electorate.

In the days ahead, the intrigues and the game plans would begin to unfold, and with the expected interest from different quarters in who becomes governor, the battle for the soul of Rivers promises to be interesting.

Tamunisisi Gogo-Jaja Gogo-Jaja was leader of the Rivers State House of Assembly, when Amaechi was speaker. He is one of those who fell apart with Amaechi soon after the latter became governor in 2007.

The Opobo-born politician was the deputy governorship candidate to the APGA candidate in the 2011 election, Omehia. Like Omehia, it is not clear if he has rejoined his

PDP set to give Marwa, Gundiri, Ribadu waiver LIVINUS MENEDI YOLA

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eoples Democratic Party, PDP, is set to grant waiver to General Buba Marwa, Markus Gundiri and Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, who recently defected to the party, to enable then contest the forthcoming gubernatorial primaries scheduled for September 6.

Waiver for the defectors became a burning issue as the date for the primaries to select the party’s standard bearer ahead of the October 11 governorship bye-election for the

state draws nearer, as some gubernatorial aspirants who felt assailed by the entrance of the governorship candidate of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, Gundiri; former Lagos State military administrator, Gen. Marwa and most most recently, the presidential candidate of the defunct ACN in 2011, Ribadu, heightened the call for closure of ranks among old PDP members in Adamawa State, as a ploy to stop the defectors from taking a shot at the ticket of the party.

But PDP National Woking Committee, NWC, is said

to have finalised arrangements to grant the three defectors from the All Progressives Congress, APC, the much touted waiver, to counter Section 50 of the party constitution, which clearly seeks to bar members who have not attained two years membership of the PDP from contesting any elective office.

A source close to the PDP apparatchik in Abuja and also sympathetic to the aspirations of one of the waiver beneficiaries confided in National Mirror that PDP NWC has communicated same to the Adamawa State chapter of the party.

Confirming the development, PDP state secretary, Barr A. T. Shehu, confirmed that the names of the expected beneficiaries of the waiver have been forwarded to the national headquarters.

Obtaining his expression of interest and nomination forms in Abuja on Monday, Mallam Ribadu said he had already applied for waiver of section 50 of the constitution, even as press secretary to Gundiri, Edward Wabundani, said the issue of waiver was being addressed, expressing confidence that it would be granted his boss and his rivals.

But speaking in Yola yesterday, Gen. Marwa noted that the issue has been overtaken by events, adding that in the past, many defectors to PDP were allowed to contest executive positions after spending only two months in the party, saying that he expects the same gesture to be given to them in the spirit of fairness.

Marwa assured the people of the state that he is following the process of securing the waiver, adding that their complaints was well situated at the National Secretariat, expressing confidence that the matter

will be resolved amicably.

He said that he was ready to support the party even if he loses out in the competition provided a level playing field is produced, just as he said President Goodluck Jonathan has assured all the contestants a level playing field.

He said: “There is no anointed candidate from the Presidency or national leadership of PDP. Mr President made it very clear that he did not believe in imposition and he does not believe in the anointment of candidate. He believes in democracy, rule of law and the electoral process.”

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Politics

OBIORA IFOH ABUJA

P

eoples Democratic Party, PDP, Youth Vanguard and other pro-Jonathan groups have applauded the on-going screening and valuation of all groups rooting for President Goodluck Jonathan.

The verification exercise, which was coordinated by the office of the Special Adviser to the President on Political Matters, is taking place simultaneously in all the six geo-political zones.

Speaking to newsmen at Legacy House, Abuja, where the exercise for the North Central zone is tak-

Wednesday August 20, 2014

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Youth vanguard, others laud verification of pro-Jonathan groups ing place, some of the leaders of the support groups said the exercise will assist to streamline their activities.

National Secretary, PDP Youth Vanguard, Hon Bala Aboki, who was at the venue of the exercise said the initiative is long overdue, adding: “The exercise is good and perfect. It is necessary because there are so many groups that claim to support the Presi-

dent, but we are also aware that some of them are being sponsored by our opponents, who may use the group for negative things against our party.

“This is the first time in the history of PDP that we are having such verification exercise and we commend that initiative of the Political Adviser that gave birth to this exercise.”

National Coordinator, Goodluck Transformation

Ambassadors, Bello Osaretin Godspower said: “It is a good intention because you need to know those groups that are sincerely working for you because there are some groups that are not on ground, operating in the air.

“With this screening and evaluation exercise, we will be able to identify those groups that are on ground, that are pro-Jonathan, those that are propagating

the transformation policy of Mr. President.”

Bishop of All Saints Bible Church, Gwagwalada and National Treasurer of Non-Indigenes and Indigenes Support Group for Jonathan for Better Transformation, Rev Ogbaonnaya Uche Joseph, said: “The exercise is absolutely necessary so that we will know those who are actually supporting the transformation

Delta LG poll: Aspirants petition dep gov over imposition of candidate THEOPHILUS ONOJEGHEN WARRI

S

L-R: Osun State Deputy Governor, Mrs. Titi Laoye-Tomori; Governor Rauf Aregbesola; state chairman, 1999 Association of Local Governments of Nigeria, ALGON, Alhaji Kareem Afolabi and Public Relations Officer, Alhaji Rasheed Oyedele, during a visit to the governor in Osogbo, yesterday.

Why Jonathan must contest in 2015 –PDP OBIORA IFOH ABUJA

L

eadership of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has said that it is in Nigeria’s best interest for President Goodluck Jonathan to contest the 2015 presidential election.

This is even as House 2 House Campaign Organisation has earmarked N19.5 million to purchase presidential form for the President when he eventually declares to contest the presidential poll.

Disclosing this yesterday when House 2 House Campaign Organisation paid a courtesy call at PDP national secretariat, PDP National Secretary, Prof.

Wale Oladipo, said PDP will win the presidential election in the interest of Nigeria.

He said PDP is known to work towards the de-

velopment of the nation, adding that come 2015, the party will continue its transformation agenda.

Saying that PDP stands for internal democracy, Oladapo added that it believes that politics should be to service humanity and anything contrary to that is not found in PDP. Blasting the opposition All Progressives Congress, APC, Oladapo described it as a party that represent violence, adding that it is a party with a single leader that rule with decree, adding: “APC as far as I know is a drug that has been banned all over.

The name also means Armour Personnel Carrier, which is synonymous to violence. PDP is not a party where a single man will sit in Lagos and decree who will be next governor. We follow due pro-

cess and do the needful.”

Director General, House 2 House Campaign Organisation, Hon. Ogidi Ben Bara, said: “We are appealing to the President to declare, he should be al-

lowed to continue and we are ready to go from house to house, wife to husband and do everything possible to sensitise the people on why Jonathan should continue.”

agenda.”

FCT Coordinator, Dynamic Youths Organization of Nigeria, Usman Abubakar, said that “the exercise is a welcome idea so that everybody will be known and they can go back to their wards to enlighten their people about the forthcoming elections and the transformation agenda of President Jonathan.”

ix aggrieved aspirants under the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Ughelli South local government area of Delta State have given the state Deputy Governor, Prof Amos Utuama, SAN, 48 hours to cancel the purported party primary where one Mr. Paul Etega was imposed on party members in the area.

The aspirants stated categorically that no primary was held in the council and no agreement was reached on a consensus on the choice of the candidate that will fly the party’s flag in the October 25 council poll in the state.

The six aggrieved aspirants, rising from a crucial meeting, demanded explanation from Utuama, who also hails from the area and PDP caucus in the council on the choice of Etega as the chairmanship candi-

date for the council poll.

In a press statement, the aspirants; Dr. Amos Itihwe, Hon. Princess Josephine Oduran, Hon. Vincent Otidi, Olorogun Godspower Muemuefo, Hon. Andrew Adushoke and Barr Monday Emuvakpor, condemned the alleged imposition, describing it as undemocratic and invalid.

Giving a 48-hour ultimatum to the deputy governor to reverse the choice of Etega as chairmanship candidate, they said that they never bought forms for anyone to sit in the comfort of his house and handpick a candidate for them.

The statement said: “We want the leader of PDP in Ughelli South Local Government Area, Prof Utuama and the PDP caucus in the area to take urgent steps to address the undemocratic situation that we have found ourselves. We are not going to accept this broad day robbery.”

Lagos PDP cautions Fashola over FG rating EBERE NDUKWU

L

agos State Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has cautioned Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola on his negative rating of the Federal Government’s performance, describing it as unfortunate.

In a statement by the state’s PDP chairman, Olatunji Shelle, PDP said that Fashola not only lacked good sense of judgment, but his emerging unwarranted hatred for the President is typical of a sadist.

Fashola had at the 50th

birthday lecture of former governor of Bayelsa State, Timipre Sylva, in Abuja said that the Goodluck Jonathan government “had been inactive for three years and in the fourth year intends to give the electorate kerosene, rice and money to get their votes.”

Decrying the tone of Fashola’s comments, which he regarded as “arrogant, crude and reckless,” Shelle said that Fashola took politics too far, thus failing to connect with the realities of the Federal Government’s performance record in the transformations in aviation, agriculture, transpor-

tation, huge jump in trade and investments, reform in the power sector and industrialisation in the country.

He said: “Specifically to support Lagos State, President Jonathan has manifestly provided legacies and resources for the state to survive. Such being: reorganised seaports, airports, rail systems, cheap higher institutions, loans and grants, foreign investors etc.

There is thus no need for Governor Fashola to be antagonistic of the Presidency. Such deliberate peddling of misinformation and arrogant display of

politics of hatred demonstrated by Fashola is unfortunate. His language is indeed detestable and unbecoming.”

Shelle said the real judgment of the Jonathan Presidency will come in due time when current policies and programmes of the Federal Government would be impacting fully on the entire national economy and therefore tasked Governor Fashola to do a comparative analysis of past and present governments in terms of their performance record in the key sectors for Nigerians to have a realistic assessment.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Capital Market

Wednesday, August 20, 2014

45

Foreign debt rises 40% –DMO JOHNSON OKANLAWON

T

he Debt Management Office yesterday said Nigeria’s foreign debt currently stands at N660bn ($9.38bn), up 40 per cent in absolute terms from its last publicly available data of $6.7bn, as at endMarch 2013.

The DMO said local debt was currently at N8.9trn ($55bn), up 37.1 per cent from N6.49bn at end-March 2013.

According to the DMO, the Debt-to-GDP ratio for the country’s economy is 12.51 per cent of its rebased GDP, down from 21 per cent at end-March 2013.

Meanwhile, the Director General, DMO, Dr. Abraham Nwankwo, had last week said a total of

nine bonds worth $3.4bn were issued in the international capital market by some Nigerian companies.

He added that about 22 Nigerian companies had raised over N223bn from the domestic market between 2007 and 2013.

The DMO boss noted that it would be the first time in Nigeria’s economic history, the private sector has been enabled to access long-term funds from both the domestic and international capital markets.

He explained that indigenous companies may have taken advantage of the window opened through the successful issuance of Nigerian Sovereign Eurobonds in leveraging the international capital market.

to “sustain the momentum and make maximum use of the opportunity, as patriotic responsibility demands the commitment of all in continuation of the positive transformation that is taking place.”

He attributed the success so far achieved to “part of the transformation agenda of President Goodluck Jonathan, whereby positive change is taking place in various facets of the economy, the Domestic Bond Market has been meticulously developed with appropriate products and institutional frameworks to that long-term debt capital (bonds) as tenor of up to 20 years can now be easily sourced in Nigeria.”

He said, “The successful issuances of three Nigerian Sovereign Eurobonds in the International Capital Market – one in 2011 and two in 2013 – have opened the window for Nigeria’s private sector to raise required foreign currency funds,” the statement emphasised.

“They are now able to fund long-term real sector projects (agriculture, manufacturing, housing, mineral exploration and processing, infrastructure, among others, for diversified and sustainable economic growth, towards employment generation and poverty reduction.”

Nevertheless, Nwankwo called for the cooperation and collaboration of all stakeholders

Forte Oil awards N5.9bn deal to overhaul Geregu power plant JOHNSON OKANLAWON

F

orte Oil yesterday said it has awarded contract worth N5.9bn($90m) to achieve the installed capacity of 414MW at Geregu Power Plant.

On November 1, 2013, the company took-over Geregu Power Plant, following a successful acquisition of the 414MW power generation plant located in Kogi State, under the Federal Government-led privatisation programme to divest public power assets.

Speaking on the company’s strategic initiatives at the Nigerian Stock Exchange, the Group Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Akin Akinfemiwa, said it has also increase distribution efficiency and diversify

into high margin products.

According to him, the company has improved on logistics through the acquisition of an additional tructs, making 200 in total.

He explained that the company will further strengthen its corporate governance structure, expand its retail infrastructure, commercial business and diversify into upstream space through profitable acquisition of upstream assets.

The company declared a profit before income tax of N4.19bn for the six months ended June 30, 2014, an increase of 152 per cent, from N1.66bn recorded in the same period of 2013.

Its revenue up 33 per cent to N79.6bn, compared to N59.9bn recorded

sification strategy continues to yield positive income streams.”

He explained that achieving 152 per cent growth in profitability in the third year of transformation is a clear indication that the milestones set in our restructure programme are being met earlier than envisaged.

He added that revenue increased 33 per cent, from a growing number of retail outlets and improved commercial customer base, while keeping costs, distribution, administrative, and finance low.

“The result is an indication that we are operating efficiently and are focused on our vision of being the foremost energy solutions provider,” he said.

in the corresponding period of 2013.

The Group Chief Financial Officer, Mr. Julius Omodayo-Owotug a,had stressed that the company recorded strong performance from Geregu Power Plant despite operational challenges and achieved a 111.05 per cent year-to-date share price appreciation in the half year, from N92.9bn to N206.3bn.

It said, “The company’s traditional product lines continue to boost revenue with increase sales recorded in fuels, such as premium motor spirit, automotive gas oil and aviation fuel.

“Power generation and provision of upstream services also contributed significantly to the group’s revenue and profit as Forte Oil’s diver-

Equities gain 1.1% to end four-day losing streak

T

rading in equities recorded a gain of 107 basis points or 1.07 per cent on the Nigerian Stock Exchange yesterday, after four days of losing streak, which commenced last week Wednesday.

The All Share Index appreciated 1.07 points to close at 41,812.17 points, as against the drop of 0.02 per cent recorded the preceding day to close at 41,370.62 points.

Market capitalisation gained N145bn to close at N13.81trn, in contrast to the decline of N3bn recorded the preceding day to close at N13.66trn.

Premier Breweries Plc led the gainers’ table with 12 kobo or 10 per cent to close at N1.32 per share, followed by Conoil Plc with N3.25 or 4.98 per cent to close at N68.45 per share.

Conerstone Insurance Plc added two kobo or 3.92

per cent to close at 53 kobo per share, while Union Bank Plc rose 31 kobo or 3.79 per cent to close at N8.49 per share.

Nigerian Breweries Plc was up N6.40 or 3.70 per cent to close at N179.50 per share.

Conversely, Vono Products Plc was down 12 kobo or 8.76 per cent to close at N1.25 per share, while Costan Plc lost six kobo or five per cent to close at

N1.14 per share.

Fortis Microfiance Bank shed 28 kobo or 4.91 per cent to close at N5.42 per share, while Eterna Oil Plc fell 19 kobo or 4.87 per cent to close at N3.71 per share.

Evans Medicals Plc declined 11 kobo or 4.87 per cent to close at N2.15 per share.

A total of 303.5 million shares valued at N3.62bn were traded in 5,051 deals.

Source: NSE

Market indicators All-Share Index 41,812.14 points Market capitalisation 13.81trn

Stock Updates GAINERS COMPANY

OPENING

CLOSING

CHANGE

% CHANGE

PREMBREW

1.20

1.32

0.12

10.00

CONOIL

65.20

68.45

3.25

4.98

CORNERST

0.51

0.53

0.02

3.92

UBN

8.18

8.49

0.31

3.79

NB

173.10

179.50

6.40

3.70

FIDSON

3.10

3.20

0.10

3.23

BERGER

9.00

9.25

0.25

2.78

STERLNBANK

2.12

2.17

0.05

2.36

STANBIC

29.70

30.30

0.60

2.02

DANGCEM

226.00

230.00

4.00

1.77

LOSERS COMPANY VONO

OPENING 1.37

CLOSING 1.25

CHANGE

% CHANGE

-0.12

-8.76

COSTAIN

1.20

1.14

-0.06

-5.00

FORTISMFB

5.70

5.42

-0.28

-4.91

ETERNA

3.90

3.71

-0.19

-4.87

EVANSMED

2.26

2.15

-0.11

-4.87

RTBRISCOE

0.92

0.88

-0.04

-4.35

PRESTIGE

0.52

0.50

-0.02

-3.85

COURTVILLE

0.55

0.53

-0.02

-3.64

INTBREW

27.50

26.68

-0.82

-2.98

ETI

17.20

16.80

-0.40

-2.33

FGN Bonds Offer

Bid Description

Price

Yield

Price

Yield

13.05 16-AUG-2016

1.99

103.00

11.32

103.15

11.24

15.10 27-APR-2017

2.69

108.45

11.34

108.60

11.28

16.00 29-JUN-2019

4.86

116.45

11.48

116.75

11.40

16.39 27-JAN-2022

7.44

120.80

12.07

121.10

12.01

14.20 14-MAR-2024

9.57

111.00

12.22

111.30

12.17

10.00 23-JUL-2030

15.93 84.70

12.20

85.00

12.15

Closing Market Prices of August 19, 2014

Treasury Bills Maturity Date

Bid

Offer

20-Nov-14

10.20

9.95

19-Feb-15

10.40

10.15

6-Aug-15

10.25

10.00

NIBOR Tenor

Rate (%)

O/N

14.2083

1M

14.3136

3M

14.7251

6M

15.2407 The Fixings of August 19, 2014

46

Capital Market

Wednesday, AAugust 20, 2014

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Stock exchange daily equities summary Equities as at August 19, 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)

North

47

Wednesday July 16, 2014 Wednesday August 20, 2014

National Mirror National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net www.nationalmirroronline.net

47

Community Mirror 70 year-old man escapes death from collapsed building

48

Over the years, INEC was accused of many things, if somebody died or had fever when going to the polling booth, it was blamed on INEC EBONYI STATE GOVERNOR, CHIEF MARTIN ELECHI

Council chairman impeached in Lagos DARE AKOGUN

T

he Ikosi-Isheri Local council development area, LCDA, has impeached the embattled council chairman ,Abdulfatai Ayodele Oyesanya.

In a unanimous decision by the seven councilors who took part, they accused the chairman of misappropriation of council funds, embezzlement, maladministration and breach of public peace.

The council leader, Hon. Prince Owolabi Taiwo, said the former chairman has been privately running affairs of the council and even paying salaries to family members who are not council employees.

“He sponsors 10 mem-

bers of his family, including himself to holy pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia every year with the local government funds, and pays salary to his son’s friend, son-in-law, sisterin-law and bought vehicles worth N33 million for his office.

He awarded a contract of N239 million to an unqualified contractor with no fixed address, appointed his son as his special adviser on information”, he stated.

Hon. Oyesanya was also accused of not convening executive meeting for a year and money was being spent in sponsoring attacks on the APC youth leader of the council and Mrs. Adekoya, a councillor.

“Thugs on his employ

Fire razes plank market in Lagos DARE AKOGUN

A

fire outbreak has destroyed properties worth millions of naira and rendered many people homeless at Oko-Baba, Ebute-Metta area of Lagos State.

The fire, which started at 10.30pm last Monday, raged on till the early hours of Tuesday before it was put out by the fire service.

The fire service personnel who put out the fire were allegedly attacked by hoodlums who shattered the windscreen of a fire truck. According to the Director of Lagos State Fire Service, Rasak Fadipe, the hoodlums broke the windscreen of the third vehicle conveying water to the scene.

He said one of the vehicles had accessed the fire scene through Coates Street, while another went through Kadara Street, and the third which took another street

was attacked.

He said the fire service responded promptly when it got a distress call, adding that the inferno destroyed five houses, 100 multiple bolt-up buildings and a sawmill A resident Semiu Atere, said the fire caused by a little girl cooking noodles. He said “a girl was cooking noodles and placed the stove very close to the wooden wall of their house, the heat from the stove melted the posters and ignited a fire.

“Sympathisers tried to put off the fire before the arrival of the fire service, but they came with empty water trucks about three hours after the fire had started.

“They later came with two trucks of water and the fire was eventually put off around 3:00 am in the morning,” he added.

Spokesperson of South west National Emergency Management Authority, NEMA, Ibrahim Farinloye, said there was no casualty.

masquerading as neighbourhood watch are always disrupting the meetings in the council”.

The chairman was

also accused of remitting council funds into his personal account and converting such into private purposes.

Hon. Taiwo, added that “we made sure we did not take laws into our hands, rather we have performed our legislative functions

in line with the law, and the chairman’s office and appropriate quarters will be notified on the development”.

Fire from an oil spill site at Ikarama community in Yenagoa local government area of Bayelsa State, yesterday.

PHOTO: NAN

Fashola pledges aid to fire victims FRANCIS SUBERU

T

he Governor of Lagos State, Babatunde Fashola, has promised to provide succour to traders whose shops and wares were destroyed by a recent inferno at Ojodu Market.

The General Manager of Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, LASEMA, Mr. Femi Osanyintolu, said this when he visited the market.

He said the governor

was deeply touched by the incident, and had promised that government would put back smiles back to their faces.

Osanyintolu said the governor had ordered enumeration of traders who suffered losses; with a view to supporting them to restart their businesses.

He said “we are here to commiserate with you over this great loss and to ascertain the scale of damage caused by the unfortunate incident.

“The Governor, Babatunde Fashola is deeply touched by incident, especially as many shops and wares were destroyed.

“While thanking God that no life was lost, he has directed me to inform you that the government will do everything possible to support you.

“We are working on the enumeration of those affected for immediate assistance, “he said.

While stressing that the incident was not caused by the traders, he urged

them to conduct their businesses in a safe and sustainable manner, saying the risk of accidents, including fire would be reduced if they observed safety precautions.

Osanyintolu urged the traders to consider insuring their businesses, saying that would help compensate for losses in case of disasters.

Speaking, Iyaloja of the market, Alhaja Abibatu Adegbola thanked the government for its support to the traders since the incident.

Anambra indigenes praise Obiano for security GLORIA ANAEZE ONITSHA

T

he Aguleri community in Anambra East local government area of Anambra State, under the auspices of Aguleri Indigenous Traders’ Association, AITAN, branch has

praised the state security network since inception of Governor Obiano’s administration.

In a release signed by the state chairman, Secretary and PRO, Hon. Tony Onwuetiaka, Alex Nnazo and OKechukwu Ezeobodo respectively praised the ad-

ministration for restoring security, sanitation and agricultural revolution, which has employed 3,000 youths.

The group said that incessant cases of kidnapping, armed robbery and other violent crimes have drastically reduced and vowed that all Aguleri traders in

Anambra State will continue to support the governor .

The group also charged the governor to continue with his style of leadership, even as they urged him not to relent at alleviating the plight of the citizens and improving their social wellbeing.

48

Community Mirror

Council boss tasks residents over voters’ registration exercise

T

he Chairman of Obanliku local government area, Jerry Ashua Ugare, has urged the people of Obanliku to take the Permanent Voters Card and Continuous Voters Registration exercise serious.

The Chairman made this statement during the PVC distribution exercise at his home town in Bebi,ashe urged leaders to join hands and ensure that people come out en mass to take part in the exercise.

Hon. Ugare noted that, during his campaign tour he had promised to maintain unity and peace in the area, even as he added that, his administration is developing manpower in areas where there were no skilled persons. According to him, he is trying to encourage people to be independent, and called on well meaning indigenes

to support the administration in that regard.

On infrastructure, Hon. Ugare said the completion of Obanliku Local Government Secretariat was foremost in his agenda; as well as the completion of the legislative chambers building that has been abandoned for a long, emphasising that they will be completed in his tenure.

In a related development, the INEC Assistant Electoral Officer for Obanliku Mr. Emmanuel Ekpenyong said the complaints from voters about their cards was as a result of multiple registration, incomplete registration, limited finger prints and timing, because the registration machine was programmed and automated once the data was not processed on time, and it had become a problem. And that some computer systems also had problems.

Wednesday August 20, 2014

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

70-year-old man escapes death from collapsed building BOLADALE BAMIGBOLA OSOGBO

A

70-year-old man, Pa Samuel Osuntoyinbo, has escaped death, following the collapse of a building at No. 4A, Oke-Ayepe Street, Osogbo, Osun State. This is coming on the heels of warning by the Nigeria Security

and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, to residents of buildings served evacuation notice to comply or face forceful ejection.

Though no life was lost in the incident, which occurred after a heavy rainfall the neighbourhood into panic, however, Pa Samuel Osuntoyinbo, who was sleeping, was trapped in the building.

Speaking at scene of a collapsed building, the Head of Department of Disaster Rescue Management Unit of the NSCDC, Mr Olufemi Awofade, said that two years ago, his unit had served all old buildings in the state evacuation notice, as part of measures to prevent loss lives and property through incident of collapsed building.

He added that the building that collapsed was one of those served evacuation notice, but regretted the flagrant disobedience of the order by the residents.

In his remarks, a former occupant, Mr Jimoh Oderinde, said the incident was strange, saying the building was strong and had no defect before the sudden collapse.

Beneficiaries to forfeit undeveloped plots in Cross River

T

he beneficiaries of government plots at some layouts in Calabar Metropolis who have not commenced physical development after revalidation will soon forfeit their allocation if they remain undeveloped by end of August 2014.

The Commissioner for Lands and Housing, Ralph Uche said that, government has invested huge sums of money to put necessary infrastructural facilities in Ikot Effanga Mkpa – Parcels E1 and E2, Ikot Ekpo, Ikot Nkebre and Akai Etta layouts.

He warned that the government will commence the process of reallocation of the undeveloped plots with effect from August 31st unless the previous owners show reasonable cause for leaving the plots undeveloped.

Uche emphasised that government cannot allow the decay of the facilities due to the nonactivities in the layouts; observing that they are

overgrown with weeds and shrubs.

“The general public, especially the beneficiaries of allocated Government plots in Ikot Effanga Mkpa, Parcels E1 and E2, Ikot Ekpo, Ikot Nkebre and Akai Efa who had revalidated their documents with the Ministry of Lands and Housing in compliance with the public notice of March 28th, 2011 and have not commenced physical development on their plots till date, will forfeit their allocation should their plots remain undeveloped”, he warned.

Gov. Imoke

Oyo State Governor, Abiola Ajimobi, addressing traders during his visit to the burnt Aleshinoloye Market, Ibadan, recently.

PHOTO: NAN

Lawmaker calls for Diaspora Affairs Commission FRANCIS SUBERU

C

hairperson of the House of Representatives Committee on Diaspora Affairs, Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, has reiterated the need to establish Diaspora Affairs Commission to cater for the needs of people in the diaspora.

The lawmaker justified calls for establishment of the commission while receiving African BridgeBuilders Award, which the Diaspora African Forum conferred on her committee in Washington D.C. recently.

In a statement issued after the award was conferred on the committee, Dabiri-Erewa acknowledged that the award was not just for the committee,

but also for the House of Representatives.

She said: “It is a good thing that our committee was recongised in Washington D.C. It only tells you that we have to continue working hard. Diaspora issues are now in front burner of the issues worldwide.”

She said the diaspora committee facilitated the return of Nigerians from Libya during the civil conflict in 2013; intervened in the plight of Nigerians in South African prisons and waded in the gruesome killing of Nigerian students in Dubai, Ghana and Cyprus among others She explained the need to establish Diaspora Affairs Commission in the country, noting that about 24 countries globally “have been able to estab-

lish the Ministry of Diaspora Affairs.”

She lamented that Nigeria was not part of the countries that had established the commission, saying it “is important that we have diaspora commission, a one stop agency that will take care of the diaspora needs. But we will continue to engage Nigerians in diaspora.

“We will also continue to see how the country can benefit from it and ensure that they are part of the policies of government.

And in the United States, we have most of the literate immigrants.

“We believe we will be part of telling good stories about Nigeria in Diaspora and give them the rightful place in our society. The Foundation promotes communication

and understanding among all African descendants through education, exchange programs, activities and conferencing.

“It supports Diaspora Affairs Forum (DAF) programs, which include the Cross Cultural Training Program; Kumasi Children’s Home; Teachers Exchange Program; Xernona Clayton School; Ghana Junior Ambassador Project, and others,” the lawmaker explained.

The Diaspora African Forum, an arm of the African Union, honoured the committee along with other award recipients including Ms. Xernona Clayton from the United States, Dr. Bamanga Tukur from Nigeria; Princess Naa Asie Ocansy from Ghana and Nana Rita Marley from Jamaica.

Wednesday August 20, 2014

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

49

World News

Iraqi forces battle militants in Saddam’s home town 50

We therefore must reform the existing system of providing for the armed forces.

– Russian Defence Minister, Sergei Shoigu

Ebola: WHO expresses optimism with situation in Lagos

•Cameroon shuts borders with Nigeria, death toll now 1,299 PAUL ARHEWE

WITH AGENCY REPORTS

C

ameroonian government yesterday shut its land, sea and air borders with Nigeria for precaution, even as the World Health Organisation expressed optimism with the situation in Lagos.

WHO yesterday said the situation in Lagos looks “reassuring”.

The Health ministry said on Monday its confirmed Ebola cases had reached 12, up from 10 last week, but five had almost fully recovered. Four people have died from the virus in Lagos, where it was transferred by a U.S. citizen who arrived by plane from Liberia.

Liberia battled yesterday to halt the spread of the Ebola disease in its crowded, run-down oceanside capital Monrovia, recording the most new deaths as fatalities from the world’s worst outbreak of the deadly virus rose above 1,200.

The epidemic of the hemorrhagic disease, which can kill up to 90 percent of those it infects, is ravaging the three small West

African states of Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea, and has a toehold in Nigeria, Africa’s biggest economy.

As the Geneva-based World Health Organization rushed to ramp up the global response to the outbreak, including emergency food deliveries to quarantined zones, it announced that deaths from it had risen to 1,299 as of August 16, out of 2,240 cases.

Between Aug. 14-16, Liberia recorded the most new deaths, 53, followed by Sierra Leone with 17, and Guinea with 14.

On a more hopeful note, the WHO expressed “cautious optimism” that the spread of the Ebola outbreak in Nigeria, Africa’s most populous nation where four deaths out of 12 confirmed cases have been recorded since July, could be stopped.

It also described the situation

in Guinea, where the virus made its first appearance in West Africa in December, as currently “less alarming” than in Liberia and Sierra Leone.

The WHO said it was working with the U.N.’s World Food Programme (WFP) to ensure food delivery to 1 million people living in Ebola quarantine zones cordoned off by local security forces in a border zone of Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone.

O

German hospital quarantines suspected woman with Ebola A Berlin hospital treating a woman taken ill in a job centre yesterday and initially treated as a suspected Ebola case said she did not appear to have the deadly virus and had not been in the epidemic area in West Africa.

Emergency services in the German capital briefly cordoned off a job centre and took a woman with symptoms including high fever to the Charite hospital for treatment.

A spokeswoman for the hospital later said that the woman - whose name was not released - was more likely to be suffering from a stomach infection, though Ebola could not be ruled out formally until the results of a blood test were examined.

S’Sudan authorities close popular radio station

This man took a young girl out of the West Point health facility during the attack

Pistorius’ brother out of ICU after car crash

scar Pistorius’ brother is recovering and has been discharged from a hospital intensive care unit after suffering internal injuries in a car crash and going into respiratory failure, a spokeswoman for the Pistorius family said yesterday.

Carl Pistorius has made “a miraculous recovery” after the head-on collision on a highway in northern South Africa on August 1, spokeswoman Anneliese Burgess said in a statement.

The family released details of some of Carl’s injuries for the first time, saying he sustained lacerations to his heart and liver and went into respiratory failure. He also reportedly suffered multiple fractures. He

WORLD BULLETIN

was discharged from the ICU unit late last week, Burgess said, about two weeks after the accident.

Carl Pistorius, the older brother of double-amputee Olympian Oscar Pistorius, is expected to remain in the hospital in the South African capital, Pretoria, for around two more weeks for more surgery, Burgess said. He will then “proceed to a rehab facility to regain mobility,” she said.

South African media reported that Carl Pistorius, 29, also suffered fractures to an arm, a leg and an injury to his hip in the crash, although the family has not given details of those injuries. The head-on crash happened at night when another ve-

The Committee to Protect Journalists said South Sudanese authorities shut a popular radio station in the capital, Juba.

The group said in a statement Monday that security agents raided the Bakhita Radio station on Saturday and arrested four staffers, including the news editor who remains in detention.

The statement said presidential spokesman Ateny Wek said the radio station had undermined national security by falsely reporting a rebel allegation that government forces had instigated renewed fighting in Unity State.

3,000 victims of sexual violence in two DRC provinces

A medical group working in the restive east of the Democratic Republic of Congo reported that there were nearly 3,000 victims of sexual violence in the region during the first half of this year.

Heal Africa, which works with victims, mostly women, in the North Kivu and Maniema provinces, said it had identified 2,829 survivors of sexual violence and had treated 1,573 of them since January.

The group, which runs a hospital in the North Kivu capital of Goma specialising in treating sexual L-R: Oscar Pistorius speaking with his brother, Carl Pistorius, recently in court. assault victims, said many of the women had been raped and had volved in a road accident in hicle swerved onto Carl’s side of come to them for medical care and the highway. He was returning 2008, where a female motorcy- treatment to prevent HIV infection. to Pretoria from a business trip clist died after colliding with The violence had been carried to the northern city of Polok- his vehicle. He was acquitted out both by “armed men and last year for culpable homicide civilians,” Heal Africa said in a wane, his family said. statement.

Carl Pistorius was also in- for the woman’s death.

50

World News

WORLD BULLETIN USAID, Rockefeller launch $100 million climate resilience fund A $100 million fund launched yesterday aims to make people in disaster-prone regions of Asia and Africa better able to cope with natural disasters and crises, so that they can get their lives and economies back on track more quickly and effectively.

The Global Resilience Partnership (GRP) set up by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Rockefeller Foundation will focus on South and Southeast Asia, the Sahel and the Horn of Africa, where typhoons, floods, earthquakes and drought destroy lives and jobs and hamper development.

Scientists say climate change could bring more frequent and more intense weather-related disasters. If communities become more resilient, disaster recovery and relief efforts will cost less, and people will be able to reduce the disruption to lives and jobs and avoid falling into destitution.

Man arrested over death of Afghan in container Northern Ireland police said yesterday they have arrested a man on suspicion of smuggling 35 Afghan immigrants into England in a container shipment, during which one man died.

The 34-year-old man was arrested yesterday in the Northern Ireland town of Limavady. Police say he is being interrogated on suspicion of manslaughter and aiding the illegal entry of the Afghans into the United Kingdom.

Dock workers in the port of Tilbury, east of London, heard the Afghans screaming and pounding the walls of the container as it was unloaded from a cargo ferry Saturday.

One man, 40-year-old Meet Singh Kapoor, was pronounced dead at the scene. The others — identified as three Kabul families including 13 children — were treated for dehydration and hypothermia.

Ferguson unrest: Egypt urges US to show restraint Egypt’s government has called on US authorities to show restraint against protesters in Ferguson, Missouri.

It said it was “closely following the escalation of protests” after the fatal shooting of an unarmed black teenager by a white policeman on 9 August.

The statement echoes US President Barack Obama’s comments during Egypt’s crackdown on protesters in 2013.

Correspondents say the criticism is unusual since Egypt gets about $1.5bn ( £1m) in aid from the US every year.

President Obama is under increasing pressure to bring an end to the violent scenes in the St Louis suburb.

It is now 10 days since Michael Brown’s death, which sparked mass demonstrations.

Jay Nixon, the governor of Missouri, has ordered the National Guard to support police operations, but violence flared again on Monday night, with law enforcement officers arresting 31 people.

Wednesday August 20, 2014

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Iraqi forces battle militants in Saddam’s home town

I

raqi forces launched an offensive yesterday to drive Islamic State fighters out of Tikrit, home town of executed dictator Saddam Hussein, while the militants warned they would attack Americans “in any place.”

In Geneva, the United Nations refugee agency announced a major aid operation to get supplies to more than half a million people displaced by fighting in northern Iraq.

Buoyed by an operation to recapture a strategic dam from the jihadists after two months of setbacks, Iraqi army units backed by Shi’ite militias fought their way towards the centre of Tikrit, a city 130 km (80 miles) north of Baghdad which is a stronghold of the Sunni Muslim minority.

“Our forces are advancing from two directions with cover from army helicopters, mortar and artillery shelling the positions of the Islamic State fighters in and around the city,” an army major in the operations room told Reuters.

Sunni Muslim fighters led by the Islamic State swept

Kurdish Peshmerga forces standing guard near the town of Makhmur, south of Erbil, capital of Iraqi Kurdistan after Islamic State (IS) insurgents withdrew, on Monday. Photo: Reuters

through much of northern and western Iraq in June, capturing the Sunni cities of Tikrit and Mosul as well as the Mosul dam, a fragile structure which controls water and power supplies to millions of people down the Tigris river valley.

However, on Monday fighters from Iraq’s Kurdish au-

tonomous region said they had regained control of the hydro electric dam with the help of U.S. air strikes. U.S. President Barack Obama also announced that the dam had been retaken.

The Iraqi major said fierce fighting was underway near Tikrit’s main hospital 4 km (2.5 miles) from the city centre of the city. “Helicopters are

pounding the bases of the terrorists to prevent them from regrouping,” he said.

As well as a push from the south, Iraqi forces were advancing slowly from the west due to land mines and roadside bombs planted by the militants, he added. A police captain confirmed the details of the fighting.

New Gaza fighting erupts as negotiators seek long-term truce

I

srael said militants fired rockets from Gaza yesterday in violation of a truce and that it struck back with attacks in the Palestinian enclave, fighting that put talks in Cairo on a long-term ceasefire in jeopardy.

An Israeli official said Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered his negotiating team in Egypt to return home. But there was no word from Israel whether the move spelled the collapse of indirect talks with the Palestinians on ending the Gaza war and charting the territory’s future.

Three rockets struck southern Israel, near the city of Beersheba, the military said, nearly eight hours before a

ceasefire - extended by a day on Monday - was due to expire.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack, which the military said

caused no casualties or damage. Sami Abu Zuhri, a spokesman for Hamas, the dominant movement in the Gaza Strip, said it had no knowledge of

Israeli soldiers are seen in a staging area near the border with the northern Gaza Strip

Heavy fighting in rebel-held Ukraine areas

H

eavy fighting has been reported in rebel-held areas of eastern Ukraine, with street clashes in the centre of the key city of Luhansk.

Government forces have regained one district in the city, officials said.

Shelling has been reported near the rebel headquarters in Donetsk, the other major rebelheld eastern city.

As the number of civilian casualties rises, the Kremlin says Russian President Vladimir Putin is due to meet Ukraine’s Petro Poroshenko next week.

Pro-Russian separatists in the eastern regions of Luhansk and Donetsk declared independence from Kiev and proclaimed their own people’s republics after Russia annexed the Crimean peninsula from Ukraine in

March.

More than 2,000 civilians and combatants have been killed since mid-April, when Ukraine’s government sent troops to put down the rebel uprising.

Ukrainian military officials say at least 17 civilians were killed when a convoy of refugees came under mortar and rocket fire south-east of Luhansk on Monday.

any rockets being fired.

“This rocket attack was a grave and direct violation of the ceasefire,” said Mark Regev, a spokesman for Netanyahu. A military spokesman said that in response to the salvoes, “terror targets across the Gaza Strip” were attacked.

A Reuters correspondent saw an Israeli aircraft fire a missile east of Gaza City and smoke rising from the area.

Other witnesses said there were several air strikes in the area.

Two children were wounded, hospital officials said, and the Israeli attacks spurred a new exodus of dozens of Palestinian families who had fled previous fighting and returned home only days ago.

Egyptian mediators have been struggling to end the fiveweek-old Gaza conflict and seal a deal that would open the way for reconstruction aid to flow to the territory of 1.8 million, where thousands of homes have been destroyed.

The Palestinians want Egypt and Israel to lift their blockades of the economically-crippled Gaza Strip that predated the Israeli offensive launched on July 8 after a surge in crossborder rocket fire by Hamas.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Borno APC warns against ‘plot’ to arrest its chairman OBIORA IFOH ABUJA

T

he All Progressives Congress, APC, has alleged a plot by security agencies to arrest its Borno State chapter Chairman, Hon Ali Abubakar Dalori, on trumped-up charges.

It said the move could precipitate a crisis in an already-volatile environment, warning the Department of State Security, DSS to be on guard.

In a statement issued in Abuja yesterday by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party said the situation in Borno was already dire, “hence no one should add fuel to a raging fire simply because of scorched-earth politics.”

The APC also warned the DSS to resist what it called the growing temptation to dabble into politics, “even while it is becoming very glaring that the agency was being compromised under the present CHANGE OF NAME

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CONFIRMATION OF NAME This is to confirm that Onyirioha Amarachi Emmaunela is the same one person as Onyirioha -Ofoegbu Amarachi Emmaunela, that henceforth wish to be known and addressed as Onyirioha -Ofoegbu Amarachi Emmaunela. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

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North

Wednesday August 20, 2014

political dispensation.”

It stated: ‘’The careless and clearly partisan statements being made by DSS spokesperson, Marilyn Ogar, have shown all discerning Nigerians the direction in which the agency is leaning. However, it must still exercise great caution in order not to spark a needless crisis in Borno. ‘’We have it on good authority that with the recent movement of Ali Modu Sheriff to the PDP, attempts are being made to destabilise the APC in Borno, using agencies of state like the DSS. The take-off point is the arrest of our chairman in the state on trumped-up charges. ‘’Let those who are seeking to trigger a crisis in Borno know that the people of the state are resolute in their determination to ensure a level-playing field in the run-up to the 2015 election. It is curious that the DSS has suddenly unearthed supposed offences committed by Hon. Ali Abubakar Dalori, to warrant his arrest, now that Sheriff has defected to the PDP. CHANGE OF NAME

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51

FG to develop five dry ports -Minister JAMES DANJUMA KATSINA

T

he Federal Government is working to develop five major dry ports of international standard in the country, Minister of Transport, Idris Umar, has said.

Umar was speaking in Funtua, Katsina State, during the foundation stone-laying of the N3bn Funtua Inland Container Depot.

The minister said the dry ports include those to be located in

Aba (Abia State), Ibadan (Oyo State), Zawa-Cikini (Kano State), as well as those in Plateau and Borno states.

He also said plans were underway for the construction of seven additional rail lines that would allow for free movement of goods and passengers across the country.

He said one of the rail lines was that of the Kano-Bichi-Jibia axis, and that the effort was part of federal government’s on-going massive

construction and rehabilitation of railway lines.

Umar stated that the Funtua dry port station would, on completion, open up the vast hinterlands that would lead to the promotion of exports and imports, among other developments.

The dry port’s concessionaire, Umaru Mutallab, said the initial project cost stood at N3bn, but that current estimate stood at N5bn.

Mutallab said Niger Republic, states in the

North-West, Chambers of Commerce and other private investors, had shown interest in investing in the port, even as he called on them to seep up payment for their shares for the project to succeed.

He, however, appealed to the Federal Government to ensure speedy completion of ongoing railway rehabilitation, and called on state governments to construct roads leading to the permanent sites of the ports to facilitate movement.

Ebola scare: ‘Kogi not affected’ WALE IBRAHIM LOKOJA

F

ollowing the rumour of outbreak of the ebola virus and reported admission of a patient at the State Specialist Hospital, Lokoja, residents are frightened and running away from the vicinity of the hospital.

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muters, especially medical personnel heading towards the hospital.

It was gathered that some landlords had been issuing quit notices to nurses and medical staff working at the hospital.

Meanwhile, the Chief Epidemiologist at the hospital, Dr. Samuel Ihinmikaye, has debunked the rumours making the rounds that an ebolainfected victim had been admitted there.

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him and made available to newsmen, he stated that it had come to the knowledge of the Ministry of Health that a dangerous rumour was circulating in the state about an ebola virus disease outbreak in Lokoja, the state capital.

He said there was no ebola virus patient either brought to, or admitted at the specialist or any other hospital in the state.

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be disregarded forthwith.

He called on the general public to clarify any information on ebola virus disease with the epidemiology division of the ministry.

According to him, the state government was doing all within its powers to ensure that Kogi was free from the ebola vepidemic, and urged all to hands to be on deck with the government in the onerous task in preventing the scourge.

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52

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Wednesday, August 20, 2014

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PUBLIC NOTICE

UNITED STEEL TRANSPORTERS ASSOCIATION.

This is to inform the general public that the above named association has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for registration under the part C of the Company and Allied Matters Act 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE:

1 Anyikwa Prince Iyke -Chairman.

2. Nwankwo Chukwudi Samuel 3. Nzekwe Louis Emeka 4 Izunwanne Uchenna Calistus.

5. Chief Emukai Oliver 6. Chief Linus Ezenkwu Nduba 7. Mr Ikeanyionwu Oluchukwu Calistus.

THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: 1. To seek to protect the interest of all its members.

Any objection to the above registration should be forwarded to the Registrar General, Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420 Trigis Crescent, off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, Abuja, within 28 days of this publication.

SIGNED: ANYIKWA PRINCE IYKE-CHAIRMAN.

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LOSS OF DOCUMENT This is to notify the general public that the Original Letter of Allocation with Ref. No LU/2009/SUNNYFIELD /BLK. PLT. dated on 12TH March, 2009 at LUAC, Lands Bureau Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos State belonging to Chijioke . K . Nkwazema of 17B, Ondo Close Crystal Estate, Amuwo – Odofin, Lagos. is missing.

The general public and Lands Bureau, Alausa, please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

ALONGE: Formerly known and addressed as Alonge Oluwole Grace Temitope, the name Alonge is in my Primary School Certificate while Oluwole is in my other Certificates, but now wish to be known, called and addressed as Adeniyi Grace Temitope.

All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

OLUWOLE: Formerly known and addressed as Miss Oluwole Folakemi Bisola, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Adeogun Folakemi Bisola. All former documents remain valid. Abeokuta North LGEA, SUBEB and General public take note

CHANGE OF NAME

ARISUKWU: Formerly known and addressed as Miss Arisukwu Chioma Prisca, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Princewill Chioma Prisca. All former documents remain valid.

NYSC and general public take note CONFIRMATION OF NAME This is to confirm that Oladele Bose is the same one person as Oladele Abosede Victoria, that henceforth wish to be known and addressed as Oladele Abosede Victoria. All former documents remain valid. Osun State Polytechnic, Iree and general public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

NWUDE: Formerly known as Miss Nwude Uchenna Christiana now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Anakwuo Uchenna Christiana.

All former documents remain valid.

Anambra State Universal Basic Education Board (ASUBEB) and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

MORUF: Formerly known and addressed as Moruf Abiodun Ogunbayo, now wish to be known and addressed as Mathew Abiodun Ogunbayo All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

MAJEKODUNMI: Formerly known and addressed as Miss Olaide Olushola Majekodunmi, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Olaide Olushola Owoeye. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

LOSS OF DOCUMENT

This is to notify the general public that the Original LASG RECEIPTS with Receipt No:- L441775 – Survey fee of N20,000, L441776 – Develop.

Charges of N7, 200, L441777 – Land charges of N76, 500 AND L441778 – Stamping Admin. & Conveyances in respect of Block 30 Plot 10 Lekki Peninsula Scheme II, belonging to Mrs. Oluwatoyin Ayodele Akinsanya is missing. The general public and Lands Bureau, Alausa, please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

ADEDEJI: Formerly known and addressed as Miss Adedeji Adenola Kemi, now wish to be known, called and addressed as Mrs. Oni Adenola Kemi. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as Theodore Janet is also the person known and addressed as Theodore Janet Chukwuebuka.

All former documents remain valid.

General public take note

CHANGE OF NAME

UBIARU: Formerly known and addressed as Miss Augustina Ubiaru, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Augustina Chimezie N. All former documents remain valid. T.A. and general public take note

CHANGE OF NAME

OYELEKE: Formerly called and addressed as Miss Oyeleke Bukola Fehintolu, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Ogungbola Bukola Fehintolu.

All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

MADUAGWU: Formerly known and addressed as Miss Tomeke Glory Maduagwu, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Tomeke Glory Blessing Okere. All former documents remain valid. Adeyemi Federal College of Education Ondo State and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

ADELEKE: Formerly known and addressed as Miss Adeleke Sekinat Adewunmi, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Usim Sekinat Adewunmi.. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

PUBLIC NOTICE

IFITEANI WELFARE FOUNDATION

The general public is hereby notified that the above-named Foundation has applied to the Corporate affairs Commission(CAC),Abuja for registration under part C of the companies and Allied Matters Act 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1.Hon Justice G.U. Ononiba (Rtd) 2.Rev. Fr. B.K. Nwakonobi THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES:

1.To provide for the welfare and benefit of the less privileged in our society.

2.To care and assist the people of Ifiteani Any objection to this registration should be forwarded to the RegistrarGeneral Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420 Tigris Crescent, Off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama,P.M.B. 198,Garki,Abuja within 28 days of this publication.

SIGNED: TRUSTEES

PUBLIC NOTICE

ALHAJI KASALI OLA BUSARI FOUNDATION

The general public is hereby notified that the above named foundation has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for registration under Part C of the Companies and Allied Matters Act, Cap. C20 LFN 2004

THE TRUSTEES ARE:

1. Fola Amure, Esq 2. Alhaji Mustafa Jola Badmus 3. Niran Disu, Esq 4. Mrs. Bola Ajayi 5. Mr. Sheriff Gbenga Busari THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: 1. To promote and provide for the benefit of all the children and wife of Late Alhaji Kasali Busari amenities for social and academic pursuits 2. To provide and sustain scholarship and funding assistance to indigent students from primary through tertiary education 3. To promote and contribute to the growth of Islam Any objection to the registration should be forwarded to the Registrar-General Corporate Affairs Commission, Wuse, zone 5, Abuja within 28days of publication.

SIGNED: AKIN MANUWA ESQ FOLA AMURE & CO. (LEGAL PRACTITIONERS) 44 OYEMEKUN ROAD, AKURE

CHANGE OF NAME

DAUDA: Formerly known and addressed as Dauda Balqis Omolola, now wish to be known and addressed as Raji Balqis Omolola.

All documents bearing former name remain valid. General public please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

SARATU: Formerly known and addressed as Saratu Yahaya Tsalibi, now wish to be known, called and addressed as Sarah Maurice Tahumma. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

EMERUEM: Formerly known and addressed as Miss Emeruem Amarachi Anthonia, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Okafor Amarachi Anthonia. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as Chigozie Wisdom Chimeremeze, now wish to be known and addressed as Lambert Uche Nwanyiriuba.

All former documents remain valid.

General public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as Miss Bekivie Abraham, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Bekivie Chris Owei. All former documents remain valid.

The general public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

GIWA: Formerly known and addressed as Giwa Barakat Abiodun now wish to be known and addressed as Bello Barakat Abiodun. All former document remains valid. LECON Financial Services Ltd, Unilag and General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

EKWOMMA: Formerly known and addressed as Miss Ekwomma Amarachi, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Okoro Amarachi Sylvalyn. All former documents remain valid. NYSC and the general public should take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

EFOM: Formerly known and addressed as Mr Efom Festus Emeka, now wish to be known and addresed as Mr Nwankwo Festus Emeka. All former documents remains valid. First Bank of Nigeria plc. General public take note.

FAMILY CHANGE OF NAME

OKONKWO: We formerly known and address as Mathew Nnaemeka Okonkwo, Jude Chukwuemeka Okonkwo, Mark-Anthony Chidebe Okonkwo, Hygenus Maduabuchi Okonkwo, Sussana Uzoamaka Okonkwo and Retricia Chinyere Okonkwo now wish to be known and address as Mathew Nnaemeka Nwachukwu, Jude Chukwuemeka Nwachukwu, Mark-Anthony Chidebe Nwachukwu, Hygenus Maduabuchi Nwachukwu, Sussana Uzoamaka Nwachukwu and Retricia Chinyere Nwachukwu. All former documents remains valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

AKUBUEZE: Formerly known and addressed as Miss Akubueze Chika Blessing, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Oparaugo Chika Blessing. All former documents remain valid. First Bank Plc and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

YUSUF: Formerly known and addressed as Hauwa Yusuf now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Hauwa Suleiman. All former documents remain valid.

NYSC, FedPoly Nasarawa and general public please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

MBISIOGU: Formerly known and addressed as Miss Mbisiogu Favour Uju, now wish to be known and addressed as Chikwendu Favour Uju. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as Miss Alaba Funmilayo Olamide, now which to be known and addressed as Mrs. Adewole Funmilayo Olamide. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

PUBLIC NOTICE

OMEGA BROTHERS CLUB OF NIGERIA

This is to inform the general public that the above named Club has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for Registration under Part “C” of the Companies and Allied Matters Act, Cap. C20, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

THE TRUSTEES ARE:

1. Nlemoha Ekene Cosmas 2. Eze Chinedu Kingsley 3. Okoro Modestus Ifesinachiadinma 4. Ifeonu Chibuike Nwafather 5. Ibe Chinedu Johnpaul THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES:

- Chairman - Vice Chairman - Secretary - Treasurer - PRO

1. To come together as a group in order to foster unity, peace and love among its members, businessmen and the general public.

2. To create conducive environment where members meet, interact and discuss their problems, challenges and welfare.

3. To promote and encourage peaceful co-existence and mutual benefits between members.

Any objection to the registration should be forwarded to the Registrar-General, Corporate Affairs Commission, plot 420 Tigris Crescent, off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, Abuja within 28 days of this publication.

SIGNED: NOSAYABA UGBO ESQ., 08062381210

PUBLIC NOTICE

EGBE IWALOJU ILARA-MOKIN The General public is hereby notified that the above named club has applied to the

Corporate Affairs Commission for registration under part ‘C’ of the Companies and Allied Matters Act 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. Mr. Ajape Ajayi 2. Olasehinde Adebodun 3. Elder Tafa Muyi 4. Arowolo Kayode 5. Olayinda Abiodun 6. Alli Isaac 7. Aladegboye Muyiwa

THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: 1. To foster Unity, Understanding, Love and Progress among members.

Any objection to this registration should be forwarded to the Registrar- General, Corporate Affairs Commission, Abuja within 28 days of this publication.

SIGNED: BARRISTER B. O. ASANI

Wednesday August 20, 2014

Retirement? Not for me at the moment. I think I still have lots of on-court action to offer –Swiss tennis star, Roger Federer

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

53

Sport

Suarez makes biting pledge

55

Asisat Oshoala

AFCON qualifiers: NFF invites 23 Eagles without coach

...leaves out Ike Uche, Osaze, Moses EVEREST ONYEWUCHI

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Falconets

will beat North Korea –Oshoala EVEREST ONYEWUCHI

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wo years ago, in Japan, we also got to the semi-finals, but we lost 2-0 to USA. I’m not thinking about losing another semi-final.

We are going to give it all to get the victory.”

A ready Asisat Oshoala said about tonight’s semi-final match between Nigeria and North Korea in the ongoing FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup in Canada.

The happy-go-lucky girl is echoing the decision of her coach, Peter Dedevbo.

“I am looking forward to our beating the Koreans, although

my teams had lost to the Koreans twice, in the 2010 and 2012 editions of the U-17 tournaments.

It will be a different ball game now,” Dedevbo had said after the Falconets thrashed New Zealand 4-1 to book the semis ticket.

Oshoala has every reason to be optimistic. The Rivers Angels player She has scored three goals in four games, the last two key to breaking down the morale of New Zealand in the early minutes of the teams’ quarter-final match.

“Starting the games full of energy forms part of our character as a team,” Oshoala told FIFA.com. “That’s how we pressure our rivals – and if we score

early it makes them lose heart.”

A few days ago, her teammate, Courtney Dike, scored the fastest goal in the history of the tournament and against the Kiwis, Oshoala netted the second-fastest. So it looks like the strategy is working. “I’m not competing with Courtney, it just happened that way,” she laughed. #HappyGirlAlways is the hashtag she uses on her Facebook profile. “It’s my life philosophy. I consider myself a happy girl, because whatever situation I find myself in, I try to be happy. I like to see people smiling, to make my friends laugh and smile. That’s what I’m like!” she added.

he Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, yesterday invited 23 Super Eagles players for the Morocco 2015 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying matches against Congo Brazzaville and South Africa next month.

Curiously, the NFF released the list of call-ups without the name of a caretaker or substantive coach to handle the proposed team, since its negotiations with Coach Stephen Keshi to have his contract renewed, have not been finalised.

However, there is a seeming “hand of Esau and voice of Jacob” in the list as Villarreal of Spain striker, Ikechukwu Uche, is omitted once more, continuing from Keshi’s dislike of the player en route to the last Brazil 2014 World Cup. Also left out in what looks

like a Keshi cut are Stoke City duo of Osaze Odemwingie and Victor Moses.

France-based Elderson Echiejile, who missed the World Cup as a result of injury, Nosa Igiebor who missed the final cut for Brazil and Chinedu Obasi who was not considered for the tournament, are all back for September’s doubleheader.

Onazi, the midfield powerhouse who suffered a terrible injury in the Round of 16 defeat by France, is now fully recovered, but Michael Babatunde, who was stretchered out against Argentina after a hand injury, is left out.

Nigeria play Congo’s Red Devils - restored to the race after conquerors Rwanda, were found guilty of using an ineligible player – in Calabar on September 6, before flying to Cape Town to take on the Bafana Bafana on September 10.

THE FULL LIST Goalkeepers: Vincent Enyeama (Lille OSC, France); Austin Ejide (Hapoel Be’er Sheva, Israel); Chigozie Agbim (Gombe United, Nigeria) Defenders: Elderson Echiejile (Monaco FC, France); Juwon Oshaniwa (Ashdod FC, Israel); Efe Ambrose (Celtic FC, Scotland); Godfrey Oboabona (Rizespor FC, Turkey); Azubuike Egwuekwe (Warri Wolves, Nigeria); Kenneth Omeruo (Middlesbrough FC, England); Kunle Odunlami (Sunshine Stars, Nigeria) Midfielders: John Mikel Obi (Chelsea FC, England); Ogenyi Onazi (SS Lazio, Italy); Ramon Azeez (Almeria FC, Spain); Joel Obi (Inter Milan, Italy); Nosa Igiebor (Real Betis, Spain); Omatsone Aluko (Hull City, England) Strikers: Ahmed Musa (CSKA Moscow, Russia); Emmanuel Emenike (Fenerbahce FC, Turkey); Chinedu Obasi (Schalke 04, Germany); Uche Nwofor (Heerenveen FC, Netherlands); Nnamdi Oduamadi (AS Varese 1910, Italy); Gbolahan Salami (Warri Wolves); Christian Osaguona (Enugu Rangers)

54

Sports

Wednesday August 20, 2014

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Luis Suarez

Suarez makes biting pledge

B

arcelona striker, Luis Suarez, has promised the club fans he will never bite another player, as he was officially unveiled yesterday.

The Uruguay striker had been in limbo since FIFA imposed a four-month ban from all football-related activity after his infamous bite on Italy’s Giorgio Chiellini at the World Cup. Suarez, who cannot feature for Barcelona in a competitive match until October 26, admitted he is also seeking professional help to avoid any further lengthy sanctions.

“The dream of playing for Barca comes from many years ago, as a kid. Everyone knows my relationship with family

living here,” he said.

“When I came to watch games here, I thought ‘One day I will play here’. But it seemed something far away.

There were offers from other clubs but when the Barca option came up I didn’t think twice.

“My ban is what it is and we have to accept it. I have apologised and I’ve been talking to professionals in order to deal with it. I say to all the fans do not worry about that. I won’t be doing that anymore.

“I’m here to do important things at Barca. Everything that happens in the past, that needs to be forgotten. If I start thinking about everything I’ve gone through, I wouldn’t be able to sleep.”

Neville

Neville cautions Devils on ‘panic buy’

Schweinsteiger

F

Conte unveils Italy plans

N

ew Italy Coach, Antonio Conte, believes the national team will rise again, following a disappointing showing at the Brazil 2014 World Cup. Conte has signed a two-year contract with the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) and was officially unveiled at a press conference in Rome yesterday.

“I realise I join the national team at a delicate time after a negative experience at the World Cup,” Conte said.

“Italy have won four World Cups and need to return to the place where they belong. I live to win and I search for wins, I am here to bring that mentality.

I hope I will lose very little with the national team.”

The 45-year-old, who left Juventus last month after guiding the Turin giants to a third

straight scudetto, has replaced Cesare Prandelli.

A former Italy international, Conte will earn 8.4m in the next two years, making him the second-highest paid manager in world football behind Bayern Munich’s Pep Guardiola.

Conte’s contract also includes bonuses for qualifying for UEFA Euro 2016, reaching the final, and improving the Azzurri’s world ranking by five or more places.

Conte

Schweinsteiger blow for Bayern

B

ayern Munich Chairman, Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, has said that midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger will be out for several weeks with a knee problem, according to reports.

“It won’t only be a case of one or two weeks, but rather a bit longer,” Rummenigge, who called for patience among the fans, said.

Schweinsteiger is suffering from a ligament problem

in his left knee and will miss Friday’s game against Wolfsburg which will see Bayern begin its defence of the German Bundesliga title.

Rummenigge added that the 30-year-old could also miss Germany’s friendly with Argentina in a repeat of the World Cup final on September 3 and the opening UEFA Euro 2016 qualifier against Scotland four days later.

ormer Manchester United defender, Gary Neville, has warned Manager Louis van Gaal that he must learn from the expensive mistakes of the previous regime and not panic buy before the transfer window closes.

Neville urged caution over what he called wasting millions on the wrong type of player.

“They have to bring more players in. There’s no doubt about that. But it’s critical they bring the right players in,” he said.

“They’ve spent £140million in the last 12 months and they’ve got Zaha, Herrera, Shaw, Fellaini and Mata. Last season I’d argue that some of those buys were panic buys, who didn’t fit the philosophy–and they are paying for it now.

“For that money, or a bit more money, you could have got Gareth Bale, Toni Kroos, Cesc Fabregas and Filipe Luis. For the same level of money that they’ve spent you could have got those four players into that squad.

“It’s not just spending money for the sake of it. Last year they brought in two players who I don’t think suited what they wanted at the time–and that’s a bigger problem.”

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Sports

Wednesday August 20, 2014

55

NFF lifts ban on Ogunjobi, Jalla, others ...Danagogo violates FIFA statutes, says Umeh A DEOLU JOHNSON JOEL A JAYI

AND

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he Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, has lifted the ban placed on former secretary general of the federation, Taiwo Ogunjobi.

This was part of resolutions reached during an executive committee meeting of the NFF in Abuja yesterday.

Ogunjobi was not the only individual affected by the development as it was decided that “in the spirit of fair-play, leading to the elections, all

persons banned for various length of time, are hereby unbanned.

“These persons are: Chief Taiwo Ogunjobi, Mr. Adedapo Lam-Adesina, Mr. Chikelue Iloanusi and Mr. Harrison Jalla.”

In a release made available

to journalists, the NFF’s executive committee also decided that “the General Assembly of 26th August, 2014 will be composed of the delegates to the 2013 General Assembly in Warri, including those from Plateau and Yobe State Football Associations.”

Wolves debunk fixing claims

Warri Wolves players during their game against Kano Pillars

ADEOLU JOHNSON

T

he Management of Warri Wolves has dismissed suggestions the club benefited in match-fixing during the Wolves victory over Kano Pillars last weekend.

A late goal secured a 2-1 victory for the Warri side but the win did not go down with Pillars.

Wolves spokesperson, Moses Etu, laughed off such reports that appeared in the media.

“We have read the reaction of Kano Pillars in a sport daily and we are surprised as they are still

enmeshed in match fixing scandal as contained in the papers which leaked out from them,” he said.

“When we played them in Kano, they manufactured two penalties to beat us. They know that we can handle them any day, any time.

“We beat them by three goals to nothing in Ilorin last year in an FA Cup, and also thrashed them by two goals to nothing in Abuja late last year in the Super Four.

“We are not desperate to win the league and this is what we want them to understand.”

Also, members of both the Electoral Committee and Electoral Appeals Committee earlier removed will be re-admitted at the Tuesday, 26th August, 2014 Congress to continue with their electoral duties.

Meanwhile, Chief Mike Umeh who had held the fort before Aminu Maigari was returned to office on Monday stormed out of the NFF Board meeting chaired by Maigari.

He, thereafter, addressed newsmen and issued what he called ‘Our Position’ paper, saying that the intervention of the Sports Minister, Dr. Tammy Danagogo, to return Maigari to office violates NFF, CAF and FIFA statutes.

Umeh said, “The Executive Committee appreciates efforts of the Hon. Minister of Sports at reconciling the football family. However, the advice of the Hon Minister asking Aminu Maigari to return to office is a clear violation of the NFF/ CAF/FIFA statutes, as there are procedures to that effect.

“The Hon. Minister’s intervention in this impasse earlier was communicated to FIFA as government interference by Aminu Maigari, this led to the initial FIFA suspension slammed on Nigeria.

“Therefore, Aminu Maigari pretence of having returned to office on the Minister’s advice is a direct call on FIFA to now ban Nigeria for government interference.

“Aminu Maigari remains provisionally dismissed. The position of the NFF Executive Committee in respect to its recent decision remains unchanged.”

Sports council Administration, bane of Nigeria Ebola: sensitises public football –Bassey PAUL EREWUBA

C

onfederation of African Football, CAF, Media Committee member, Paul Bassey, has stated that the problem bedeviling Nigerian football stems from lack of good football administration, and not coaching.

Bassey, who spoke against the backdrop of the contract disagreement between the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and Super Eagles Coach Stephen Keshi, expressed disgust over the wrangling, saying Nigerians

should hold the NFF leadership responsible if the Eagles fail to qualify for the 2015 Nations Cup. “There is too much politics going on at the Glass House and these intrigues orchestrated by the football administrators have taken our football ten steps backward over the years,” Bassey said.

“The inability of the NFF to really give us a substantive coach by now when the Nations Cup qualifier against Congo is few days away, leaves much to be desired,” he added.

The Eagles are due to meet Congo Brazzaville on Septem-

ber 6 in Calabar when the final phase of the 2015 Nations Cup qualifiers begin.

Bassey

AFOLABI GAMBARI

T

he Lagos State Sports Council has organised a one-day sensitisation talk on the outbreak of Ebola virus.

Director of Sports, Lagos State Sports Council, Dr. Kweku Tandoh, who delivered an address at the event, said the talk, aimed at educating athletes, coaches and sports officers posted to local governments and local council development areas in the state, sports association secretaries and other members of staff at the sports

council, with a view to acquainting them with practical measures to prevent the spread of the viral infection.

“The effort made by the state government in curbing the scourge so far is commendable,” Tandoh said.

Dr. Bukky Bojuwoye of the Sports Medicine Unit, Lagos State Sports Council also conducted awareness campaign for the over 200 participants at the event.

“Participants should in turn educate members of their families and neighbours about the virus and how to prevent it,” Bojuwoye said.

WORLD RECORD

Largest ship sunk intentionally Vol. 04 No. 920

Wednesday, August 20, 2014

N150

The largest ship ever sunk intentionally by its owners was the aircraft carrier USS America (CV 66), which was 319.2 m (1,047 ft 6 in) long and had a displacement of 75,800 tonnes. Sunk in a live fire exercise off the Virginia, USA, coastline on 14 May 2005

Nigeria’s weird political landscape

T

here is something weird and unusual with Nigeria’s democratic process.

Even before this Fourth Republic, the abiding refrain has been that our politics is still at a nascent stage and will take time before politicians learn the rudiments of making it work seamlessly as obtains in other countries. And due to this, most political apologists are always in the habit of defending the follies and buccaneering attitude of the practitioners in their desperate attempts to gain relevance. It is not unusual to ascribe every of their unorthodox moves as a learning process. Even when reminded that Nigeria has been an independent country since 1960, and such is time enough for them to learn the ropes, their supporters will readily posit that the stunted political growth is a fallout from the long and unruly years of despotic military rule.

F

ormer world number one, Tiger Woods, says it would not have been fair to his team mates had he been picked for the American Ryder Cup team.

The 14-time major champion ended speculation about his selection for next month’s

Okay Osuji (okegbuchulam@yahoo.com) 08034729256 (sms only)

And so hiding under such unconventional excuses, most politicians have not only lost their bearings, many now engage in all forms of political prostitution and engineering to remain visible. The situation is exacerbated by the fact that the country’s politics is devoid of any enduring ideologies. So its practitioners are not enamoured of any higher ideals, nor do they have any vision of making the society great and prosperous for the present and future generations.

To them all that matters is greed, whether for its nuisance value or for good. Unfortunately, the country has been paying a high price for all these political chicaneries. With the 2015 general elections drawing closer, all sorts of ploys are being invented by them to find ways into positions of authority. Of all these antics, two of them stand out like sore thumbs. These are political defections of legislators and party chieftains, and the gerrymandering of electoral districts by governors who have served out two terms to make for way into the Senate.

The past two months have witnessed a flurry of activities by turn coat politicians to justify why they are abandoning their former parties for new ones. The usual excuse stretches from claims that their former parties have become factionalised and thereby incapable of being veritable platforms for actualising their political dreams, to having lost the original vision that informed their establishment. That is why we are seeing the likes of Nuhu Ribadu, Chris Anyanwu, Uche Ekwunife, Olagunsoye Oyinlola, Bunu Sheriff and some others constantly going through the country’s revolving political

THESE SAME POLITICIANS HAD LEFT THEIR FORMER PARTIES FOR NEW

ONES, ONLY TO RETURN UNCEREMONIOUSLY TO WHERE THEY STARTED IN THEIR NEVER ENDING POLITICAL ODYSSEYS doors. Not long ago, these same politicians had left their former parties for new ones, only to return unceremoniously to where they started in their never ending political odysseys.

Before them, were governors Rochas Okorocha, Rotimi Amaechi, Muritala Nyako, Rabiu Kwankwaso, Aliyu Wamakko and Abdulfatai Ahmed who are now members of the All Progressive Congress (APC) from the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) respectively.

Not long ago, they were swearing in their former parties’ names and promising to turn their respective states into political and economic El Dorado in line with the manifestoes that brought them into office. Today, they have become aliens and bitterest foes of those that helped them to power. More minds boggling is the creeping erosion of the peoples’ wills to chose their representatives to the Senate. That role is steadily being hijacked by the growing ranks of gerontocratic

governors who want to spend their twilight years in the upper chamber.

These include Gabriel Suswan, Theodore Orji,Emmanuel Uduaghan, Godswill Akpabio, Muazu Babangida Aliyu, Sullivan Chime, Martins Elechi, Isa Yuguda and Jonah Jang. The former governors presently warming their seats there are Mohammed Danjuma Goje, Chis Ngige, Ahmed Makarfi, Bukola Saraki, Abdulahi Adamu, Joshua Dariye, Bukar Abba Ibrahim, Mohammed Shaaba Lafiagi, George Akume and Kabiru Gaya. The weird thing about these former and present governors is that many can hardly point to any visible achievements in the area of human and economic development. Sadly, majority of them worked hard to pauperise their states and citizens. Yet, they are not only seeing their place in the Senate as a right but more so as political entitlement for presiding over the horrendous looting of their states. Come to think of it, why should a retiring governor want to go to the Senate?

The only explanation is that they are running away from prosecution for the financial improprieties they have wrought on their states and not due to any desire to serve the country in another capacity. Soon, the Senate will turn to an ‘Old Peoples’ Home’ and infirmary for retired governors, where the legislative activities will fluctuate between looking after their medical needs and lawmaking. It would then be interesting to watch many of them dozing off during proceedings with hordes of nurses in waiting in case anything goes wrong. Is it any surprise that the quality of debates and even lawmaking in the Senate has been declining over time?

And things are not going to change anytime soon. Reason being that the present crops of politicians are not ready to leave the stage for new recruits and set of ideas.

It does not matter whether the electorate wants them or not. Their idea of politics is not for service but to have their snouts perpetually in the country’s financial till. The only way to do this is for them to gallivant from one party to another and from Government House to the Senate.

Sport Extra

Golf: Woods explains Ryder Cup shut-out event at Gleneagles by withdrawing himself from consideration to fully recover from a troublesome back injury.

Woods has struggled to regain both form and fitness since returning to action fol-

lowing almost four months out after back surgery in March. He withdrew from the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational in March after suffering back spasms, and he continued to look in pain as he

missed the cut by a distance at the recent PGA Championship.

“Physically I just couldn’t do it. I just wouldn’t be ready and I just couldn’t help the team,” he explained yester-

day as he targeted a return for December.

“I wish I can get stronger and get more explosive again towards next year. I am working hard at achieving that.”

Woods

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