March 24, 2016

Buhari to address nation on recovered loot

Brussels terror attack: FAAN beefs up security around airports

...summons APC caucus on national issues Rotimi Fadeyi ABUJA

Buhari

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resident Muhammadu Buhari would soon ad-

dress the nation on how much of the stolen public fund has been recovered.

This was disclosed yesterday by the National

Chairman of All Progressives Congress, APC, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, after an expanded naCONTINUED ON PAGE 2>>

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Dunoma

At last, NASS passes N6.06trn budget N Vol. 6 N0. 1333

National Mirror Online @NationalMirror Thursday, March 24, 2016

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George Oji, George Opara and Ukpong Ubong ational Assembly yesterday passed the harmonised version of the 2016 budget appropriation bill and subsequently proceeded on a three-week Easter break, to resume on April 12.

The lawmakers also passed the harmonised version of the Medium Term Expenditure Framework, MTEF, and the Fiscal Strategy Paper, FSP. The harmonised budget CONTINUED ON PAGE 2>>

N1trn scam: Court stops Senate, IGP from arresting Lamorde P.7 Stop antireligious bill, Bishop Oke tells el-Rufai P.12

Cross-section of Women for Peace and Justice, during a peaceful rally demanding for gender equality in Lagos, yesterday.

Fuel scarcity to persist till May -Kachikwu Dasuki’s absence in court stalls trial

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Kirikiri Customs Command gives tanker drivers 2 weeks to quit P.8

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was passed separately by the two chambers.

The figure of N6.060bn, which was passed by the National Assembly is N17bn less than the N6.077bn proposed by President Muhammadu Buhari on December 22, last year.

Out of the N6,060bn approved by the lawmakers, N351.3bn is for statutory transfers, N1.475bn is for debt services, N2.646bn represents recurrent expenditure, N1.587bn is for capital expenditure while N2.204bn represents the amount dedicated to fiscal deficit.

The revenue assumptions adopted by the lawmakers are $38 for crude oil benchmark. 2.2 million barrels per day (mbpd) for a oil production quota and N197 exchange rate for the United States Dollars.

One unique component of this year’s budget is that even though it has been passed in March, there is a provision that its implementation must run a 12 month full circle.

“In line with the provisions of section 318 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 as amended, this bill will run for a course of 12 months, starting from the date it is assented into law,” section 11 of the budget read.

The joint appropriation committees of the two chambers said they observed during the course of working on the budget that the figures from Ministries, Departments and Agencies, MDAs of government were fraught with inconsistencies, which goes against proper budgetary procedures and processes, with attendant implications.

They also observed that available revenue for appropriation was grossly inadequate to meet the huge demands of the MDAs to prosecute needed programmes for national development across all spheres of the economy.

In addition, the lawmakers observed that the 2016 budget appropriation seeks to stimulate the economy, but regretted that the recurrent expenditure as compared to the capital component at a ratio of 30:70 is very high, which takes away from the infrastructural stimulus funding that the country

Thursday, March 24, 2016

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At last, NASS passes N6.06trn budget so desperately needs for development.

The lawmakers further regretted that the budget contained a number of omissions, particularly in the area of personnel cost, which compelled the appropriation committees to fill some of the gaps, even as there are many outstanding cases, which could raise serious concerns in the course of the year.

In view of the observed shortcomings, the lawmakers recommended that subsequent budgets should be submitted in strict compliance with the provision of the Fiscal Responsibility Act, to enable the National Assembly conduct proper engagement and to conclude the process in good time.

They also recommended proper engagements in the future between the Budget Office of the Federation and the MDAs on budget contents, in order to avoid what appears to be a disconnect between them and the processing of budget proposals to ensure harmony between the parties.

The lawmakers further recommended that government must endeavour to increase and diversify its revenue generation stream, given the yarning gap between collectible revenue and actual collections.

The lawmakers urged

L-R: President, Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) Francis Johnson; President, Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), Mr. Igwe Achese with President Mohammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, yesterday.

PHOTO: NAN that from the 2017 fiscal year, government should endeavor to shore up capital expenditure by substantially reducing recurrent expenditure, because this is the only way to free resources for critical infrastructure towards economic growth and development.

Meanwhile, the Presidency has commended the National Assembly for passing the Appropriation

Bill.

Special Adviser to the President on National Assembly Matters (Senate), Sen. Ita Enang, told newsmen at a press briefing in Abuja yesterday that the expeditious consideration and passage of the bill was laudable.

He further commended the Senate and House committees on appropriation as well as the sub-committees

for working hard in ensuring that the budget was passed.

“I followed the entire process and I have seen the industry that has been exhibited by the senators.

“I want to say that we appreciate particularly the fact that in the course of consideration, the committee chairmen, the committee members and the chairmen of appropriation

committees were in constant touch,” he said.

The special adviser further commended the legislature for approving the harmonised version of MTEF and FSP, adding that they were the parameter for passing the budget.

Enang also extolled the media for extensive coverage of the process leading to the passage of the budget.

Buhari to address nation on recovered loot CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

tional caucus of the party, called by the President to discuss issues concerning the party and the state of the economy.

The meeting, which took place on Tuesday night, was attended by Vice-President, Yemi Osinbajo, Senate President, Bukola Saraki, Speaker of House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara and his deputy, Yusuf Lasun Others were National Leader, Bola Tinubu; Deputy National Chairman (South), Chief Segun Oni, former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, many serving and past state governors as well as National Assembly members.

Odigie-Oyegun, while briefing State House correspondents said the recovered stolen funds would be expended judiciously through necessary legislative approval, as and when

necessary.

He said the meeting discussed the challenges facing the APC-led federal and state governments.

According to him, the meeting also deliberated on the more effective and efficient ways of implementing the 2016 budget, which was passed yesterday by the National Assembly.

“As a party and as a caucus, we discussed all the issues and all challenges that have occurred since elections and decided on a course of action.

“Basically, we are expecting the budget to be out and once the budget is out, implementation of our promises to Nigerian people will begin and these are all the issues or part of the issues which we discussed and that are critical to us, delivering on our promises to the people of this nation. So, we are waiting for the budget,” he said.

He disclosed that a committee had been set up to find solution to whatever crisis or grievances that members of the party may have “It was a very serious meeting that discussed serious issues that have to do with the progress of the party.

“Skirmishes among

party members are normal.

We have set up a committee that is looking into all those issues and will resolve those issues,” he added.

He stated that the APCled government would take shape and work towards the implementation of its programmes.

Odigie-Oyegun dismissed the insinuation that

his position as APC national chairman was under threat.

He said he was not aware that his office was under threat.

He said: “I led the party to the State House. It amazes me, occasionally it annoys me. That is one of the things you have to endure when you are in a position like mine.”

Equities shed 1.09%, as African markets meet on liquidity shortage Johnson Okanlawon

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rading in equities closed on a negative note on the Nigerian Stock Exchange yesterday following the decision of the Monetary Policy Committee, MPC, to increase rates.

The All Share Index depreciated by 1.09 per cent to close at 25,736.92 points, as

against the increase of 0.45 per cent recorded the preceding day to close at The decline recorded in the share prices of FBN Holdings, UBA, Guinness, Dangote Cement and Lafarge Africa were mainly responsible for the loss recorded in the Index.

Similarly, the market capitalization depreciated by 1.09 per cent to close at N8.85trillion, in contrast to the appreciation of 0.45 per cent recorded the preceding

day to close at N8.95trillion.

The total value of stocks traded on the floors of the NSE was N2.65billion, up 7.69 per cent from N2.46billion recorded the preceding day.

The total volume of stocks traded was 398.27million shares in 3,581 deals, while the three most actively traded stocks were United Capital, Access Bank and Multi-Trex.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 5>>

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Thursday, March 24, 2016

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Photo News

Thursday, March 24, 2015

L-R: Director, Sustainability Centre, Lagos Business School, Sir Chris Ogbechie; Managing Director, Guinness Nigeria Plc, Peter Ndegwa; Dean, Lagos Business School, Enase Okonedo and Corporate Relations Director, Guinness Nigeria Plc, Sesan Sobowale at the 2016 World Water Day Symposium at the Lagos Business School Auditorium, Ajah, Lagos yesterday.

L-R: Deputy Managing Director, First Bank Nigeria, Francis Shobo; Chief Executive Officer, MoneyGram, Alex Holmes; Vice President , Africa and China, MoneyGram, Herve Chomel; Head, Money Transfer, First Bank Nigeria, Patricia Chris-Omon and Group Head, Product and Marketing Support, First Bank Nigeria, Abiodun Famuyiwa, during the Cocktail party for MoneyGram Agents in Lagos recently

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L-R: Secretary, Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) Chief Sam Eke; IPAC, Chairman, Alhaji Bashir Ibrahim; Abuja, Bureau Chief, National Mirror Newspapers, Mr Obiora Ifoh and Abuja Advert Manager, Mr Gbenga Adeosun, during a courtesy visit of IPAC members to the office of National Mirror Newspapers Abuja yesterday.

PHOTO: ROTIMI OSASONA

L-R: Plant Manager, Nestle Waters, Agbara Factory, Olawale Alao; Country Business Manager, Nestle Waters Nigeria, Mr. Jason Lambe; Corporate Affairs Manager, Nestle Nigeria PLC, Dr. Samuel Adenekan and Factory Manager Agbara, Mr. Rakesh Verma, during the World Water Day press conference at company Factory Agbara, Ogun State, on Tuesday.

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Dasuki’s absence in court again stalled trial Doosuur Iwambe Abuja

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rial of embattled former National Security Adviser, NSA, Col. Sambo Dasiki (rtd) before Justice Husseini Baba Yusuf of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory was again stalled yesterday.

This followed the failure of the Department of the State Service, DSS, to produce the accused in court.

When the matter came up for hearing, prosecution counsel, Rotimi Jacob informed the judge that Dasuki refused to come to court because his lawyers, Joseph Daudu and Ahmed Raji would not be around.

The counsel said he persuaded the defendant to come to court to see how the proceedings would be conducted but claimed that he did not yield to his persuasion.

He therefore urged that the trial should begin, even in the absence of the defendant since the court adjourned the case to yesterday for trial to

commence.

Jacob also told the court that an operative of DSS told him that counsel to the defendant have never made any attempt to see their client who has been in their custody since December last year.

He alleged that the refusal of the defendant to come to court was a ploy to scuttle the trial.

However, in a vehement opposition to the claim of the prosecution, Mr. Wale Balogun, who stood for Dasuki, urged Justice Baba Yusuf to disregard the claim of the prosecution.

According to him, up to this moment, counsel to the defendant have not been allowed access to their client in the custody of the DSS. The lawyer said it was the DSS and the prosecution that scuttle the trial by their deliberate refusal to produce the defendant who has been in their custody since last year.

The counsel claimed that Jacob as the prosecutor cannot give evidence from the bar on why the defendant was not brought to court add-

ing that what he ought to have done was to have filed an affidavit evidence to explain to the court why the defendant was not in court.

Balogun stood his ground that the accused cannot be tried in his absence and without access to his lawyers to prepare effective defence.

He added that the pros-

ecution will continue to bungle the trial until they resolved to obey the rule of law and take necessary steps required by law.

Balogun’s position was adopted by lawyers standing for other defendants in the criminal charge.

Justice Baba Yusuf ruled that the trial cannot com-

mence in the absence of the defendant.

The judge said he would have agreed with the prosecution that lawyers to Dasuki have not made any effort to access their clients in custody, but stressed that it was clear that the information dished out to the court by Jacob was hearsay obtained

from unnamed DSS operatives.

The judge therefore agreed with the defence counsel on the need to adjourn the case.

Consequently, Justice Baba Yusuf adjourned the matter till April 6, 2016 for the prosecution to produce the defendant in court.

NCC promises to deploy facilities for e-voting Obiora Ifoh Abuja

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igerian Communications Commission, NCC, said it would deploy more broadband facilities whenever the country is ready for electronic voting.

NCC Executive Vice Chairman, Prof. Umar Danbatta, at the 12th public lecture of The Electoral Institute, TEI, the training arm of Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, yesterday in Abuja, promised that the facilities would cover virtually all major cities and rural areas of the country.

He said the action was inline with the country’s National Broadband Plan.

He expressed the belief that e-voting would not only improve on the efficacy and confidence in Nigeria’s electoral process, but translate into free, fair and credible elections.

Danbatta observed that existing paper ballot system of voting was susceptible to human errors and influences.

He added: “During these elections, card readers generally failed to verify fingerprints. This is attributed to the ICT platforms.

“To address this from our

part, we have rolled out eight points agenda. Significant is the provision of efficient/ effective access to ICT platforms.

“These include facilitating broadband penetration; improving quality of service and promoting ICT innovation and investment opportunities.

“The need to foster methods that will address problems in our voting system has led TEI to explore e-voting which depends on ICT platforms for its operations.”

The theme of the lecture was “ICT and Electronic Voting: Issues and Challenges.”

According to him, the failure of the ballot papers led INEC to the use of ICT platforms for biometric registration and authentication prior to voting during the 2015 election, which significantly improved the democratic process.

Chairman of INEC, Prof.

Mahmood Yakubu, who was represented by Hajia Amina Zakari, said it was commendable that African countries were adopting the use of technology to improve on their electoral processes, which, according to him had reduced tension and crisis in elections.

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Thursday, March 24, 2016

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Fuel scarcity to persist till May –Kachikwu Rotimi Fadeyi

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inister of State for Petroleum and Group Managing Director of Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, Ibe Kachikwu yesterday said the current fuel scarcity in the country will persist for the next two months Speaking with State House Correspondents after meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Kachikwu said it was even a magic that petrol stations still have the volume of products that they sell to the public.

The minister said he could not perform any magic that would resolve the issue of fuel scarcity and make queues disappear suddenly.

Kachikwu, who led top officials of the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas, NUPENG and Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, PENGASSAN, to the meeting, explained that NNPC has moved from a 50 per cent importation of products to 100 per cent.

He said: “One of the trainings I did not receive is that of a magician but I am working very hard to ensure some of these issues go away.

“And let’s be honest, for the past six months we have been here, NNPC has moved from a 50 per cent importer of products to basically a 100 per cent importer. And the 445 barrels that were allocated was to cover between 50 and 55 per cent importation.

“So it is quite frankly, sheer magic that we even have the amount of products at the stations. We are looking to see how to get foreign exchange input, the President and I discussed extensively on how to get more crude directed at importation.

“His Excellency will rather have less crude but have individuals in the society suffer less with inconveniences than have more crude and have them continue to suffer.

“So we are going to put a new model to enable us increase the pace and actually get majors as part of the crew of those to bring in more products so that

NNPC will sort of go back on the capacity of what it used to do and the majors will take over the balance of importation.”

Kachikwu said the corporation would pile up the nation’s reserves with all the petroleum products produced locally.

“I think if we do that although I don’t want to put a time frame but I will expect that over the next two months.

“Of course, you are aware the SAP programme begins in April so over the next two months we should see quite frankly a complete elimination of this.

“Our strategy is that whatever is produced in the refineries will not go for sale.

“We are going to keep them in strategic reserve, because the key problem here is that there is no reserve. Anytime there is gap in supply it goes off.

“So, we are going to dedicate the next couple of months to moving all the products that we produce to strategic reserve so that we can pile up reserves’ position in the nation and that will push up the reserves in the nation.

“Believe me, this is giving me and my team sleepless nights and we are working on it and we are committed to making this go away.

“Nigerians should please

Reverend fathers in a procession at Our Lady Queen of Nigeria Pro-Cathedral during the Chrism Mass in Abuja, yesterday. PHOTO: NAN bear with us,” he said.

Kachikwu stated that the oil unions want the government to work harder on the passage of the Petroleum Industry Bill by the National Assembly as soon as possible.

According to him, they are also worried about the fuel scarcity and want a long time solution to finally resolve the issue.

He said: “The union wants us to obviously work harder than we do and try to get the PIB passed as soon as possible.

“They are worried about the fuel scarcity issue and want a long time solutions to finally resolve this issue, they are worried about the refineries and are thankful we didn’t sell the refineries without looking to work collaboratively with them to see how to make the refineries work.

“They are worried about the utilisation of depots and how best to do that, they are worried about all kinds of logistics issues that plague the oil industry.

“They are worried about

job loss in the sector arising from the position of majors who feel that the economy is giving rough end of the sticks and then try to whittle down staff.”

Also speaking, National President of NUPENG, Igwe Achese said the unions tabled before the President, the issue of fuel scarcity, quick passage of the PIB and how the sector can bounce back economically and to make Nigerians smile again.

He stated that the issue of corruption in the oil and

gas sector as well as products allocations was also discussed.

Igwe said the President has assured that both NUPENG and PENGASSAN would continue to be part of the ongoing restructuring of the sector.

Also speaking, President of PENGASSAN, Olabode Johnson said the President sought for collaboration with the associations to tackle the issue of oil theft and pipeline vandalism.

Bond yields rise after rate hike to lure investors Johnson Okanlawon

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ond yields spiked across the curve yesterday after the central bank unexpectedly tightened monetary policy in an about-turn to curb inflation and attract foreign investors.

The Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, on Tuesday raised its benchmark rate to 12 per cent from 11 per cent, having cut rates only four months ago by two percentage points, and lifted the cash reserve ratio for commercial banks to 22.5 per cent from 20 per cent.

Yields on the benchmark 20-year bond rose 55 basis points to 12.7 per cent while the 10-year yield climbed 45 bps to 12.65 per cent. The yield on five-year paper, the most liquid maturity,

gained 41 basis points to 11.7 per cent.

“The MPC has signalled a tightening and rates have gone up. Lenders can place their funds with the central bank at seven per cent so why buy treasury bills at lower yields?” one trader said.

On Tuesday, the CBN Governor, Mr. Godwin Emefiele, said extra liquidity had not translated into more lending and cited inflation, at a 3-1/2-year high of 11.4 per cent last month, and well above the CBN target of six per cent to nine per cent.

The country is going through its worst economic crisis for years due to a slump in crude prices which has weakened its naira currency and slashed government revenue. Oil exports account for about 70

per cent of national income.

Banks were quoting 10 per cent on the interbank overnight lending market, a jump from Tuesday’s 4.8 per cent before the central bank rate decision. There were no deals on Wednesday.

The stock market, which has the second-biggest weighting after Kuwait on the MSCI frontier market index, bucked two day of

gains to shed 1.19 per cent, as domestic funds switch to bonds, traders said.

Traders estimated the new cash reserve requirement will soak up between N350 billion and N400 billion. The CBN is also selling N114.97 billion in treasury bills to further drain liquidity.

The CBN vowed to keep the exchange rate stable despite sharp falls on the

black market - some 40 per cent below the official rate due to a shortage of dollars.

“Part of the central bank’s intention in the rate hike is to attract foreign portfolio flow (FPI). However, I do not think this will be achieved because the forex policy is unchanged.

Until this happens, we will see very little FPIs,” Vetiva Capital’s head of research, Pabina Yinkere, said

Equities shed 1.09%, as African markets meet on liquidity shortage CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2

The most actively traded sectors were Financial Services, followed by Consumer Goods and Conglomerates.

Meanwhile, the Exchange in conjunction with the African Securities Exchanges Association, ASEA, is set to host the 5th Building African

Financial Markets,BAFM, seminar next week.

The BAFM seminar themed “Addressing Liquidity Concerns in African Capital Market”, will bring together representatives from stock exchanges, regulatory bodies, stockbroking firms and other financial market stakeholders from several

African countries.

A statement by the NSE said the seminar is opened to senior representatives from the capital and financial markets sector in the fields of product development, regulation and policy, information technology, investor relations, trading, clearing and settlement.

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Thursday, March 24, 2016

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Reps jack up MTN’s fine to N3.120trn

...set up additional probe C’ttee, query NCC, AGF Ubong Ukpong Abuja

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he House of Representatives yesterday, said that the embattled MTN Nigeria, was underfined by the Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, disclosing that the actual fine stood at N3, 120, 000, 200, 000.00trillion and not N1, 040, 000, 000. 00 as made to believe all along.

The House during its plenary also queried the power of the NCC and the Attorney General of the Federation, AGF and Minister of Justice, to negotiate and reduce the fine of the multinational tele-

communication company, saying that it was a flagrant breach of the law on this matter.

This followed a motion brought before it by Ehiozuwa Johnson Agbonayinma, on the need to investigate the payment made by MTN on the fine levied by the NCC. The lawmaker noted the Federal Republic of Nigeria official Gazzette No 101 Government Notice No 229Nigerian Communications Commission (Registration of Telephone Subscribers) Registration, 2011 B1125- 1134 He further noted that the NCC in October 2015, fined the MTN for violation of Sec-

tion 19 and 20 of the regulation.

He said that Section 19- (1) prescribed that any licensee who failed to capture, register, deregister or transmit the details of any individual or corporate subscribers to the Central Database as specified in the regulations or as may be stipulated from time to time by the commission is liable to a penalty of N200, 000. 00 for each subscriber medium.

Also, a licensee who activates any subscription medium without capturing, registering and transmitting the personal information to the central database commits

an offence and shall on conviction be liable to a fine of N200, 000. 00 for each unregistered activated subscription medium.

Agbonayinma told the House that Section 20- (1) stipulated that any licensee who activates or fails to deactivate a subscription medium in violation of any provision of these Regulation is liable to a penalty of N200, 000. 00 for each unregistered but activated subscription medium. “(2) Where the commission is satisfied that a body corporate is culpable, the Director, Chief Executive Officer, Manager or Secretary shall also be liable to

L-R: Permanent Secretary, Kebbi State Ministry of Agriculture, Dr. Nababa Adamu; Kebbi State Governor Atiku Bagudu; Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode and Commissioner for Agriculture, Mr. Oluwatoyin Suarau, during the signing of Memorandum of Understanding on the Development of Commodity Value Chains between the two States at the Lagos House, Ikeja, yesterday.

pay a fine of N200, 000. 00 unless, having regard to the nature of his functions in that capacity and to all the surrounding circumstances, he proves that- (I) the offence was committed without his knowledge, consent or connivance, and, (ii), he took all reasonable precautions and exercised due diligence to prevent the commission of the breach.”

The legislator said that he was aware that MTN specifically violated Sections 19 (1) and (2) and 20 (1) and (2) of the NCC Act cited above.

H said that he was aware that, “MTN ought to have been fined under both Section 19 and Section 20 respectively with cummulative penalty of N3, 120, 000, 200, 000. 00 trillion and not the N1, 040, 000, 000. 00 which is a gross violation of the combined reading of both Section 19 and Section 20 of the NCC Act.” He observed that MTN paid N50 billion into the recovery account in violation of extant laws, and was dismayed that the NCC was not part of the negotiation process with the MTN, an action which is not in best interest of the nation.

The House presided over

by Speaker Yakubu Dogara, adopted the motion and resolved to set up an ad-hoc committee, to investigate the issues, pursuant to Section

88 of the constitution, other than Telecommunication Committee, which has been investigating the matter.

The House was also adopting strong position to tackle the MTN and bring it to its knees in view of the abuses and disregard to Nigerian parliament that dominated discussion on the floor of the House yesterday.

The House expressed serious annoyance with the NCC for not fining the MTN adequately, and warned that both the NCC and AGF should come with a bill to amend the existing law on this issue, if they are desirous of helping MTN, as no deduction at this stage would be lawful except it passes through the parliament.

The Committee on Telecommunication, had on Tuesday March 15, threatened to issue a warrant of arrest on the Chief Executive Officer, CEO, of MTN Nigeria, Ferdinand Moolman, if he failed to honour the summon that is about to be issued on him.

The committee, which was very furious at the contemptuous manner with which Moolman treated its invitation to investigative hearings, and went ahead to walk out his representative Manager, Government Affairs, Austine Iyasere, from its sitting.

Easter holiday: FRSC deploys 11, 000 officers on highways Olufemi Adeosun and Olusegun Koiki

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he Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC, has deployed 11,000 officers’ marshals, and special marshals on the nation’s highways to tackle any act of recklessness by motorists which may result in road crashes.

Corps Marshal of the commission, Boboye Olayemi, explained that the deployment of officers on the road became necessary in view of the expected heavy traffic occasioned by Easter celebration.

The Head Media Relations and Strategy of the FRSC, Bisi Kazeem, in a statement released on behalf of the commission in Abuja yesterday, said the corps marshal

also approved the deployment of 795 vehicles, 283 bikes, and 76 ambulances across different parts of the country.

Kazeem said, “It is in a bid to arrive destinations early that most transporters and private vehicle owners drive recklessly, and overtake

wrongfully, thereby undermining their safe arrival.”

The spokesman of the Corps stressed that the corps would be out to check all the accident induced factors that are not limited to wrongful overtaking, overloading, reckless driving, dangerous driving, among

others for this 2016 Easter which commences from 24th – 30th of March.

According to him “the Corps Marshal’s vision is to increase traffic management of the corps to ensure smooth travels before, during, and after the festive season to minimise the

occurrence of road traffic crashes on nation’s highways through public enlightenment, removal of rickety and broken down vehicles, and a full-scale enforcement on fake and expired drivers licence, number plate violation, speed limit violation, overloading violation, lane

indiscipline, and wrongful overtaking”.

Kazeem assured Nigerians that with the measures on ground, and with the cooperation of motorists with all staff of the corps deployed for the operations, road crashes would be reduced, if not eradicated.”

Brussels terror attack: FAAN beefs up security around airports Olusegun Koiki

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he Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, FAAN, has increased security surveillance within and around the Murtala Muhammed Airport, MMA, Lagos and other major airports across the country.

Our correspondent who moved round the Murtala Muhammed Airport; local

and international observed that more security personnel were stationed at some strategic locations within the airport while passengers and other users of airports were searched randomly by the security operatives.

Also, the General Manager, Corporate Communications, FAAN, Mr. Yakubu Dati told our correspondent that the authority had deployed sniffer dogs to

airports in conjunction with the Nigerian police.

It would be recalled that terrorists had on Tuesday bombed the Brussels Airport in Belgium, disguising as passengers during check in.

Dati assured that FAAN would not leave any stone unturned to ensure maximum security at all the airports especially with the Easter celebrations around the corner.

He expressed shock over

the dastardly act carried out at the Brussels Airport by the terrorists and warned those without any tangible reason to be at the airport to steer clear of the environment.

He also disclosed that the agency had involved a special task force from the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission, ICPC, to further improve security at the airports and to also apprehend touts

within the vicinity.

He said all the body scanners and Close Circuit Television gadgets were operational beaming activities of all at the airport and advised passengers to arrive the airport on time to do their normal check in procedures in order not to miss their flights.

Dati urged all air passengers not to leave any luggage behind as such item would be taken away and destroyed.

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N1trn scam: Court stops Senate, IGP from arresting Lamorde Doosuur Iwambe ABUJA

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Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has issued an order restraining the senate from going ahead with the probe of former Chairman of Economic and Financial crimes Commission, EFCC, Ibrahim Lamorde over an alleged N1trn scam.

It would be recalled that the senate had summoned the former EFCC boss to account for the fund seized from some alleged corrupt public servants, but rather than honour the invitation, he rushed to the court to stop his probe.

In a motion ex-parte dated March 7th, 2016, Lamorde through his counsel, Festus Ukpue asked the court to stop the senate from issuing a warrant of arrest on his client, pending the hearing and determination of the suit before the court.

Justice Gabriel Kolawole, after listening to the ex-parted motion granted the relief sought.

“A limited order on injunction is hereby granted to restrain the defendants pending when they are heard on the reply to the plaintiff ’s motion on notice.

“The plaintiff ’s counsel is hereby directed to obtain a certified true copy of the order in this ruling, and shall cause same to be served on the Inspector General of Police, who shall, on the authority

of this. Court’s order refrains to give to give any effect to any such warrant which the defendants may have issues against the plaintiff on the simple judicial principle of lis pendens,” the judge pronounced.

The Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions had on the strength of a petition forwarded to it against Lamorde by one Mr. George Uboh, over an alleged N1trn scam in the agency, summoned both the petitioner and Lamorde to appear before it through separate letters.

The fraud allegedly perpetrated by Larmode was said to have dated back to his days as the Director of Operations of EFCC between 2003 and 2007, as well as when he was the acting chairman of the commission between June 2007 and May 2008, when the then chairman, Mr. Nuhu Ribadu, was away for a course at the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies, Kuru, Jos. Uboh, Chief Executive Officer of Panic Alert Security Systems, in his petition, dated July 31, 2015, accused Lamorde of some specific instances of under-remittance and nondisclosure of proceeds of corruption recovered from suspects.

He assured the Senate that he would produce “overwhelming evidence” to back his claims against Lamorde.

AGF probes Kasmal’s involvement in stamp duty collection

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inister of Justice, Mr. Abubakar Malami, has ordered the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, to investigate the involvement of Kasmal International Services Limited in the collection of stamp duties.

Malami, who is also the Attorney-General of the Federation, said the anti-graft agency had threeweek to complete the assignment.

This was contained in a statement issued by Salihu Isah, the Special Adviser to the Minister of Justice on Media and Publicity.

It stated that the investigation was to ascertain

News

Thursday, March 24, 2016

the purported consultancy agreement entered into by the Nigeria Postal Service and Kasmal.

It stated that the agreement led the Kasmal group to waive all arrears of remittances owed the Federal Government by commercial banks and other financial institutions in the country.

The statement stated that the investigation became necessary because Nigerian Postal Service was an agency of the Federal Government.

It stated that a thorough and urgent investigation was needed to ascertain the veracity of the matter.

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Police confirm arrest of two wanted Boko Haram suspects Justin Tyopuusu JALINGO

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araba State Police Commissioner, Mr. Shaba Alkali yesterday confirmed the arrest of two Boko Haram Commanders, Abdulmumuni Abdullahi and Ali Audu (alias Dungu), who are among the 100 terrorists declared wanted by the military.

Alkali, who stated this in his office in Jalingo while briefing journalists on the achievements of the command in the past month,

said Ali Audu was arrested in Tella in Gassol Local Government on February 22, while Abdulmumuni Abdullahi was arrested in Bali on March 5.

According to the commissioner, the two suspects have since been handed over to the Nigerian Army in Yobe State.

He explained that the police, acting on credible information arrested the Boko Haram commanders from their hideouts in the state.

“We are not relenting in our efforts to keep Taraba

safe, now that Boko Haram elements are considering the state a safe haven,” he said.

The police chief further confirmed the influx of strange people in trucks into the state, who he said, are posing security threat to the people and vowed to flush them out wherever they may be.

It was gathered that Ali Audu was pretending to be a suya seller, before he was picked up by the police.

It would be recalled that Senator Emmanuel Bwa-

cha, representing Taraba South had recently raised the alarm over the influx of Boko Haram elements into the state and even sponsored a motion on the floor of the senate on the issue.

Another Boko Haram kingpin, Kabiru Sokoto, the mastermind of St. Theresa’s Catholic Church bombing in Madala Niger State on Christmas eve of 2011, was re-arrested in SabonGida near Mutum Biyu in 2012 by operatives of the Department of State Service, DSS.

L-R: Guest Lecturer, Dr Surendra Thakur, member, Board of the Electoral Institute, Alh Baba Shethima Arfo, Executive Vice Chairman, Nigerian Communications Commission Prof Umar Danbata and Representative, INEC Chairman Hajia Amina Zakari during the 12th public lecture on ICT and Electronic Voting; Issues and Challenges in Abuja yesterday.

PHOTO: ROTIMI OSASONA

NIS lacks capacity to produce international passport booklets –Abba Moro George Opara ABUJA

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mmediate past minister of interior, Abba Moro has declared that the Nigerian Immigration Service, NIS, does not have what it takes to produce international passport booklets and the Combined Expatriate Resident Permit Green Card, CERPAC. This was even as the Comptroller General of NIS, Michael Kure Ibeshi said though the service is in charge of management of passports, visa and CERPAC, it does not have control over the data base.

The two spoke at the investigative hearing into the contracts awarded by the Ministry of Interior and NIS to various companies for outsourcing of expatriate residency management and borders facilitation by the House of Representatives Committee on Interior.

Testifying before the

committee, Moro said because the various agreements entered into with different companies were not judiciously implemented, NIS personnel were not properly trained to take over from the service providers in accordance with the letters of the agreements.

Moro denied allegations that Nigerians go through difficulties to obtain international passports, saying the administration of Goodluck Jonathan simplified the process by introducing a 64-page passport and 10-finger biometric registration.

Moro defended the operations of CONTEC, one of the companies being investigated in the contracts.

He said: “CONTEC does not issue passports or CERPAC; it sells CERPAC cards.

It only produces the passports” But another former minister of interior, Capt.

Emmanuel Iheanacho disagreed with Moro, insisting that the CERPAC contracts

were a conduit pipe for siphoning government monies.

He said the only solution is for NIS to be well equipped to take over the CERPAC project.

In his submission, interior minister under late Umaru Musa YarÁdua administration, Maj. Gen. Godwin Abbe (rtd) told the committee that when he was appointed, he noticed some anomalies in the contract with CONTEC. “My only position was that CONTEC should not continue with the contract because it bordered on the security of the nation,” he added.

Acting Permanent Secretary, in the ministry, Alhaji Mohammed Maccido, who represented the minister, Gen. Abdulrahman Dambazzau (rtd) at the hearing disclosed that a committee has been constituted to review some of the contentious contracts and make appropriate recommendations.

He explained that there were noticeable lapses in some of the agreements, which need to be reviewed.

Mr. Ibeshi, in his own submission, confirmed that NIS issues passports and CERPAC, but has no access to the data base because the service providers were in charge.

He said NIS needs a technology roadmap to properly manage the CERPAC and produce passports.

Earlier, while declaring open the investigation, the Speaker, Yakubu Dogara said the House has been inundated with numerous complaints by Nigerians about the quality of service delivery by NIS as it relates to its statutory responsibility of controlling persons entering and leaving Nigeria, issuance of international passports within and outside the country, issuance of residence permits to foreigners in Nigeria and surveillance and patrol, among others.

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National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Ekiti Assembly drags DSS to court over lawmaker’s detention Abiodun Nejo ADO EKITI

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L-R: Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Chief Audu Ogbeh; Senator George Akume and Oyo State Governor Abiola Ajimobi, at the All Progressives Congress national caucus meeting, in Abuja, yesterday.

Ban on rice: Ogun Customs threatens invasion of warehouses Femi Oyeweso ABEOKUTA

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gun State Command of Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, yesterday declared that it would henceforth, commence invasion of suspected warehouses across the state in search of bags of rice which are likely to have been smuggled into the country without following the right channel.

Comptroller of Customs Ogun State Command, Waindu Multafu, who made this known while speaking with jour-

nalists yesterday in Idiroko border town, explained that invasion of the warehouses for likely smuggled bags of rice is sequel to the Federal Government’s new policy which restored the restriction on importation of rice through land borders.

The NCS boss, who explained that the ban on importation of rice through land borders is total, further stated that the service has stepped up its surveillance on owners of known and suspected warehouses across Ogun State who may want to stock smuggled bags of

rice “side-by-side” along with those ones genuinely imported through the approved route.

While warning warehouse owners against stock pilling unapproved brand of imported bags of rice in their domain, Multafu also explained that NCS personnel would stop at nothing in their efforts towards implementing the new Federal Government’s directive which he said is aimed at zero tolerance for importation of rice through land borders.

He also explained that NCS had already resolved

to carry out severe punishment against any of its personnel at the nearest customs check-point where the patrol team of NCS’ Federal Operation Unit, FOU, may have intercepted smuggled bags of rice, stressing that the new Federal Government’s directive is “total”.

Multafu however, stated that NCS would still allow importers who have already initiated the process of importation a “grace period” till tomorrow Friday March 25th to clear their consignments.

N6.2m allocation: Former aide rises in defence of Aregbesola Boladale Bamigbola OSOGBO

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s reactions continued to trail the receipt of N6.2 million as January allocation for the state from the federation account, former Osun State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Sunday Akere, yesterday rose in defence of Governor Rauf Aregbesola, saying he has nothing to hide regarding the state finances.

Akere, who disclosed this while addressing journalists in Osogbo, said the governor has since last year set up a labour-government joint committee who oversee

the sharing of allocation accrued to the state and it’s Internally Generated Revenue for the payment of salaries and pensions.

He averred that the committee, chaired by a veteran labour leader, had since last year July been in charge of sharing allocation and had not at any point in time subjected to any pressure from the governor.

According to him, labour leaders and government representatives gets all the figures from Abuja and the one from the IGR, which he said, was to a large extent responsible for the understanding the labour leaders showed the government because

there is no secret in the whole process.

Akere dismissed the rumour orchestrated by the opposition alleging that Aregbesola’s administration would not meet its obligation to the workforce because of the N6million allocation accrued to its for the month of January, saying when the state had a deficit of N24million in November last year, it still met its obligation to the workforce.

“Many of the states which received huge sums of money on papers still owed workers salaries for six, seven, eight months because they have to pay their debt

first.

“Osun only owes its workforce three months salaries in line with its agreement with the labour union and payment for January is billed to commence this week, this is an attestation that the state government is seriously concerned with the situation,” he added.

Akere then commended the state workforce for the understanding it showed the state government since the beginning of the economic meltdown and stressed that as soon as the financial situation in the country improves, the workers will also enjoy their due benefits.

kiti State House of Assembly yesterday disclosed its intention to drag the Department of State Services, DSS, to court over what it called the unlawful detention of one of its members, Afolabi Akanni.

House Information Committee Chairman, Gboyega Aribisogan, said at a press conference in Ado Ekiti that; “we have directed our counsel to seek redress and damages in court because to us, this act of impunity by the DSS under President Muhammadu Buhari is undemocratic, unpatriotic, dictatorial and brutal”.

Aribisogan, at the press conference attended by the Speaker, Kola Oluwawole and 17 other

members, also demanded a thorough medical examination of the lawmaker.

“As we fear that his health and general well-being could have been compromised while in the DSS custody”.

Despite the release on Tuesday of the detained member, the lawmakers said: “As we speak, Akanni is in very critical condition and he has not been able to speak with anyone of us.

“As reported in the media, Akanni could only say that he was sick, he was not well when press men sought to speak with him yesterday.

“We therefore demand an official explanation from the DSS as to why Akanni was abducted and held incommunicado for 18 days, only to be told that he was admitted in a private hospital in Abuja,” Aribisogan said.

Kirikiri Customs Command gives tanker drivers 2 weeks to quit

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he Comptroller, Kirikiri Lighter Terminal Command, Benjamin Aber, the Area Controller, of the Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, on Wednesday gave two weeks ultimatum to petroleum tanker drivers to quit the environment.

Aber gave the ultimatum in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, on the sideline of a stakeholders’ meeting held by the command.

He said there was need to create a corridor along the tank farm and jetty operational area to free the exit and entrance of the environment to the terminal.

“It is part of customs mandate to ensure the security of its environment and not only to generate revenue.

“If the environment is not accessible, investors will not import into the country and there is no way we can generate revenue for government because it takes more than five hours for anybody to come in and do business.

“The activities of the petroleum truck drivers have encouraged miscreants around the area. The environment has harboured many indiscrimi-

nate businesses whereby you will see food vendors cooking with naked fire.

“All these acts can lead to a big explosion in the environment which could claim lives including my life, if we do not find quick solution to the constant gridlock along the Kirikiri area,” Aber said.

He said that he had engaged the support of the 9 Brigade Nigerian Army to train officers of the command, who would collaborate with the other regulatory agencies to ensure a safe environment.

The controller said that he would also seek the assistance of the Nigerian Ports Authority, NPA, to tow the lay-about tankers to their yards, while the appropriate authorities would sanction the offenders.

Aber said that the Comptroller-General of Customs, Retired Colonel Hameed Ali, had given him the support to enable the service achieve its mandate.

He said that there were so many dredging activities going on at Brawal Terminal which would encourage small vessels to berth and could also bring a lot of revenue for government.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

South West

Thursday, March 24, 2016

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Marketers, NSCDC trade blames over fuel scarcity in Ekiti Abiodun Nejo ADO EKITI

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Gridlock at Majidun Ogolonto road, Ikorodu in Lagos, yesterday. PHOTO: NAN

Court stops Ekiti from land takeover for airport project Abiodun Nejo ADO EKITI

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n Ado Ekiti High Court has declared as unconstitutional, unlawful and of no effect, the takeover of a portion of land by the Ekiti State government for an airport project.

The court also frowned at the destruction of economic trees, crops and buildings erected there.

Justice Dele Omotoso also ordered the payment of N5m as general damages to the claimants for the loss they suffered for the destruction of their crops and economic trees.

The claimants - Faluyi

Ayeni and eight others who sued for themselves and on behalf of land owners and farmers of Iwajo, Aso Ayegunle Farm Settlement along AdoIjan Road, had dragged the state governor, commissioner for works, his lands and housing counterpart, and Attorney General and commissioner for justice to court over forcible takeover of their farms and destruction of the economic trees there.

Justice Omotoso held that the purported revocation of the right of occupancy of the claimants to their respective parcels of land was unconstitutional, illegal, null and

void and of no effect.

The court held that the forcible entry into the farmsteads of the claimants on October 2, 2015 and subsequent occasions to clear and remove their crops and buildings without proper enumeration thereof while purportedly acting on Notice of Revocation dated September 18, 2015 was unlawful, illegal, unconstitutional and ineffective to divest the claimants of their interest and rights on their respective land.

It also granted an order of injunction restraining the defendants, their agents, servants, privies, workmen, appointees,

consultants from treating the Rights of Occupancy of the claimants as having been revoked It also restrained the defendants from forcibly entering, trespassing, coercing, intimidating, harassing or in any other manner whatsoever from gaining access to the farms and landed property of the claimants.

The court also granted an injunction restraining the defendants from further removing, harvesting, clearing or otherwise damaging the economic crops, buildings and chattels on the land.

Lagos, Kebbi plan 70 per cent production of Nigeria’s rice needs Francis Suberu

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agos and Kebbi state governments have entered into a partnership to embark on massive production of rice and other stable foods.

This is in line with President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration’s policy to diversify the nation’s economy.

Speaking at the official signing of a Memorandum of Understanding, MoU, between the two states held at the Banquet Hall, Lagos House, Ikeja, Governor Akinwunmi Ambode said the partnership is aimed at bringing about food

sufficiency and security, employment creation and wealth distribution for the benefit of both states and the nation in general.

According to Governor Ambode, the partnership signaled commencement of a new beginning of cooperation and commonsense revolution, which is in line with the change mantra of All Progressives Congress, APC..

Governor Ambode, who said the partnership would bring an end to the era of imported rice in the country, noted that there was no doubt about the economic prowess of the country to produce rice locally.

“This is the first time in the history of Nigeria

that two states are collaborating to develop their agricultural potentials. We have the economic prowess to produce rice locally.

The era of imported rice is gone. The reality is for all of us to embrace the consumption of local foodstuff and commodities,” he said.

The governor acknowledged the fact that the future of Lagos is partly tied to deliberate resolution on food security, and that food production and self-sufficiency required immediate attention at policy and strategic levels to sustain the country, hence the need for the partnership.

In addition to rice, Governor Ambode said Lagos is presently consuming

6,000 herds of cattle daily, which may increase to 8,000 in the next 5years, adding that the bulk of vegetables produced in the country eventually end up in the Lagos markets.

Also speaking, Kebbi State Governor Alhaji Atiku Bagudu said the partnership was informed by the shared vision between both governments.

According to the governor, the partnership was an additional motivation to provide certainties for the people in terms of food production and sufficiency, saying the goal is to produce 60 to 70 per cent of Nigeria’s rice needs, and replicate same in other food items.

ajor and independent petroleum marketers in Ekiti State and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, yesterday traded blames over the scarcity of Premium Motor Spirit, PMS, otherwise known as petrol in the state.

This was as the few petrol stations which had the product in Ado Ekiti, the state capital, sold it for between N160 and N170 per litre amidst long queues of vehicles, motorbikes and buyers in jerry cans.

Marketers said petrol tankers have been staying away from the state because NSCDC officials extort money and get them arrested and detain their trucks.

But NSCDC, while denying allegation of extortion, said oil marketers did not want the security agency to perform its job of stopping diversion of fuel products and halting adulteration.

The oil marketers, in a petition to the state government urging it to call the NSCDC operatives to order, alleged that their excesses were having adverse effects on their businesses.

A petition from the

chambers of E.K. Adetifa, Legal Practitioners, dated March 22, 2016 and addressed to the governor on behalf of the Independent and Major Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, accused NSCDC of unlawfully arresting and detaining tanker drivers bringing petroleum products to the state under the guise that the products were diverted from other states.

IPMAN State Chairman, Mr. Ayodele Owoeye, while addressing journalists on the issue yesterday said the implication of the directive from tanker drivers to stop taking vehicles to the state was that it would unleash adverse economic impact on the people.

Owoeye, who was represented by Alhaji Suleiman Akinbami, pleaded with government to wade into the matter to prevent total closure of petroleum business in the state.

But NDCDC State Commandant, Mr Ibrahim Raji, who described the allegations as frivolous, said the marketers should be bold enough to mention whoever took bribe from them, rather than resorting to blanket condemnation of his officers.

CDHR tasked Buhari over recovered loot Kemi Olaitan IBADAN

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resident Muhammadu Buhari has been charged to make public, the total amount recovered so far from those who looted the national treasury and what the money would be used for.

Committee for the Defence of Human Rights, CDHR, gave the charge yesterday in a protest letter to the President through the Oyo State governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi.

While delivering the protest letter through its National Vice President, Comrade Idris Saka, CDHR also enjoined the government to spread the anti-corruption fight across the various sec-

tors and ministries, departments and agencies.

The human rights group similarly called on government to channel the recovered funds to projects that can impact positively on the populace within the shortest time possible.

Saka, who maintained that the nation’s resources is enough to cater for the people if only it is put to good use, enjoined Mr. President not to forget the promise of change made during the campaign period.

Oyo State Deputy Governor, Otunba Moses Adeyemo, who received the letter on behalf of Ajimobi, lauded the fighting spirit of the group, stating that corruption is a national problem that deserves national attention.

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South East

Thursday, March 24, 2016

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Ebonyi FRSC promises crash-free Easter celebration

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bonyi Sector of the Federal Road Safety Commission, FRSC, has assured members of the public that it will work hard for a crashfree Easter celebration in the state.

The Sector Commander, Mr Charles Abuochi, told newsmen in Abakaliki on Wednesday that the commission had positioned its officers and men in accident-prone sections of major roads to forestall road crashes.

Abuochi, who spoke on

the outcome of investigations into the crash that claimed 18 lives on Tuesday, expressed shock at the number of deaths from the incident.

He lamented the avoidable accident and the attendant loss of human lives, saying that the report from the preliminary investigation revealed that the accident was due to overspeeding.

“The accident which occurred at the 135 Junction on the Abakaliki-Enugu Ex-

pressway, according to our investigation, was caused by overspeeding by the driver of the Abakaliki-bound bus from Lagos.

“The driver of the 18-seater bus lost control as he approached the scene where a tanker laden with petrol and another articulated vehicle had collided.

“Due to overspeeding,

the bus driver could not control the steering, causing him to ram into the tanker and resulting in the death of all the passengers on board,” Abuochi said.

He emphasised that the commission was committed and fully determined to curb incessant road crashes on Ebonyi roads through

surveillance and the enforcement of extant traffic codes.

He warned commercial motorists and other road users to shun acts that were capable of causing road accidents, stressing that violators of traffic code would be arrested and prosecuted.

“We advise that the motoring public observe the

necessary traffic rules, avoid drunken driving and ensure that their vehicles are in good condition before putting them on the highway.

“We want to assure the public that we will do the needful to ensure that road accidents are minimised in the state this Easter period,” he said.

MOUAU VC denies media report on Abia re-run election Ebere Ndukwu

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OUAU VC denies media report on Abia re-run election Vice Chancellor of Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, MOUAU, Professor Francis Ogbonnaya Otunta, has described as a fabricated, malicious falsehood, a report alleging that he gagged the Returning Officer of the Abia North Senatorial rerun election, Engineer Nwankwoejike Betrand Nduka, by banning him from speaking on the election.

Recall that it was recently alleged that Otunta said that comments by Nwankwoejike, the Returning Officer who is also the Head of Department of Engineering of MOUAU, was causing the institution serious embarrassment.

The Vice Chancellor, according to the allegation, dragged Nwankwoejike

before the university management and ordered him to offer explanations on the election warning him against making any further comments on the Abia North rerun poll unless he got clearance from the university’s lawyer.

In their reaction to the allegation, at the Conference Room of the school, both Otunta and Nwankwoejike vehemently denied that such meeting ever took place.

Otunta, who is barely two weeks old at MOUAU, said he was not a politician and would never dabble into politics, wondering what the motive of the allegation was.

He said that even as a two-time Rector of Akanu Ibiam Federal Polytechnic, he stayed away from politics.

Also denying the allegation, Nwankwoejike said he had never addressed anybody since he was done with the election duty and neither had he met with the Vice Chancellor.

Inspector General of Police Mr. Solomon Arase (left); Assistant Inspector General, Zone 5 Musa Daura, (right) decorating Syvaline Abuchi after being promoted to the rank of Sergeant by the IGP, during his visit to Delta State Police Command, yesterday.

Protest stalls election into Ojukwu Varsity governing council

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he election of members into the Governing Council of the Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, Igbariam in Anambra State was on Wednesday stalled following a protest by its academic staff union.

The News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, reports that

trouble started when the Chairman of the union, Mr Chike Nwabunnia, raised objections against the qualification of some candidates during a speech by the Vice Chancellor of the university, Professor Fidelis Okafor.

Nwabunnia argued that the participation of three contract staff and students

Why critics want Emefiele sacked –CCSG ...Says secret recruitment not peculiar to CBN

Marcus Fatunmole Abuja

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oalition of Civil Society Groups, CCSG, yesterday warned against calls by some people in the country for the sack of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Governor, Godwin Emefiele.

CCSG through its President, Etuk Williams, said that critics of the governor are uncomfortable with policies of the CBN, which it argued are revamping and reshaping the nation’s economy

from dwindling oil revenue and other economic woes battling the nation.

Though the association did not mention the critics, it said they use certain civil society groups not recognised by the CCSG to fight the governor.

CCSG said being the umbrella body of all civil society organisations in the country, it embarked on in-depth investigations into the activities of the CBN having been worried by the critics actions, and discovered that the governor was being persecuted for his “lofty”

policies namely the Bank Verification Number, BVN, reform of Bureau de Change, refusal of devaluation of the nation’s currency by the CBN, and 41 items not eligible for foreign exchange at the CBN. The political nature of their agenda show that their intentions are not by any means noble, and their objectives are far from making the lives of ordinary Nigerian a little bit better.”

According to CCSG, a lot of elites and moguls have been depleting the

country’s foreign exchange reserves by aggressively importing goods, which it said could be easily produced in the country.

Meanwhile, CCSG said there was nothing wrong in secret recruitment by the CBN as pointed out by the critics. “How many public agencies in Nigeria have advertised for vacant positions in the

last 10 years? Does this lack of advertisement mean that they have not been recruiting all these while? It argued that Emefiele was being made a scapegoat by his critics.

of various disciplines in the election was wrong and contrary to the law establishing the institution.

He listed the names of the three students as Mr Chike Osegbue, a Ph.D political Science student, Dr Ekwesianya, a Ph.D student in Bio-Sciences and Mr Chris Elosiubah, a master’s degree student in Basic Education.

The chairman, who described their involvement as “an illegality,” argued that it was unlawful for students to contest the election.

“Our union has made the observation and appropriately communicated the vice chancellor, education commissioner and the state governor, who is the visitor.

“ASUU is insisting that the students must be disqualified while those whose contract had not been confirmed should not be part of the governing council election,” Nwabunnia argued.

He further alleged that the vice chancellor had severally breached the university law, insisting that 30 members of the Senate were not qualified to be

members.

Reacting, Okafor, who had earlier called for decent and peaceful conduct of the election, advised the protesters to formally write their petition after the election.

“There is provision for election petition which should be forwarded to the appropriate authority.

“It is wisdom to apply the realities of our time; anybody who wants the survival of the system must act in reality,” Okafor added, arguing that the election should go on.

The News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, reports that the protesters, who carried various placards, disrupted the voting in an attempt to stall the process.

Also reacting, Osegbue, the immediate past chairman of the union, argued that the law stated first degree qualification for election into the council.

“What moral does the ASUU chairman have to deny us of our right to contest or vote in the election after deducting dues from us for years,” he asked.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

South South

Thursday, March 24, 2016

11

Rivers to immortalize slain NYSC member Dennis Naku,

Port Harcourt

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ivers State Government yesterday said it will immortalise Mr. Samuel Okonta, a member of the National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, who lost his life during the March 19, 2016 rerun legislative elections in the state.

Governor Nyesom Wike disclosed this while addressing corps members at the state NYSC headquarters, along Ikwerre Road, Port Harcourt.

Wike declared that the state government will provide all necessary assistance for the police to investigate the killing of the corps member, with a view to identifying those

responsible and prosecuting them.

The governor also announced an increment in the monthly allowance of corps members serving outside Port Harcourt from N10,000 to N15,000.

He also increased the monthly allowance of corps members serving in Port Harcourt from N5,000 to N10,000.

Wike expressed sadness that the corps member died serving the nation, saying the state government will take care of his family.

The governor noted that the death was more painful because the deceased was an orphan, who suffered through schooling and was on the verge of being of help to

his immediate family.

He said: “The death of this corps member is unfortunate and condemnable. I urge the plice to thoroughly investigate the crime.

“The outcome of the

investigation should be made public so that those involved are prosecuted.

The killing of this corps member must not be swept under the carpet.

“I call for post mortem on the corpse of the corps member so that we can

ascertain the type of bullet and type of gun that killed him. The post mortem will also determine who bears that type of gun that killed the corps member,” he said.

State NYSC Coordina-

Family sources told NAN that Inegitte expressed shock over the death of his nephew Samuel Oki, abducted along with him who lost his life in the kidnap saga.

He told Jonathan that the kidnappers came with two speed boats and abducted the two of them.

He said he appealed to the kidnappers to free Oki, but unknown to him

the kidnappers killed him.

The chief thanked all those who sympathised with him during his trying period.

Among the visitors are, King Lot Ogiasa, paramount ruler of Otuoke, King George Lawson, clan head of Ogbia kingdom, chiefs of Otuoke among others.

Inegite was kidnapped at his residence in Otuoke, Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa

tor, Mrs. Ngozi Nwatarali appealed for greater protection for corps members during elections.

Responding on behalf of the family, Alex Edeabeatu said the late corps member was a shining light in the family.

Jonathan’s abducted uncle narrates ordeal in kidnappers’ den

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hief Inegite Jonathan, 72, uncle and foster father to former President Goodluck Jonathan, who was abducted by gunmen on February 17, has narrated his ordeal to the former President.

The former president was one of the early callers who thronged the residence of the freed septuagenarian in Otuoke.

State, along with his 35 year-old relative Mr. Samuel Oki who was killed by the abductors.

The remains of Oki was found floating at Otuoke creeks two days after the abduction.

This is the second time that Inegite was kidnapped and released.

The victim was earlier kidnapped on February 28, 2014 in his house and was freed by security forces at Akipli Community in Ogbia on March 10, 2014.

Council workers shut secretariat over 13 months’ salary arrears

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L-R: Edo State Governor Adams Oshiomhole and Executive Secretary, National Universities Commission, Prof Julius Okojie, during the presentation of documents in respect of the establishment of Edo University Iyamho in Abuja yesterday. PHOTO: ROTIMI OSASONA

Only 400,000 out of 1.5m UTME candidates gain admission into universities –Okojie

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ational Universities Commission, NUC, said only 400,000 out of the 1. 5 million candidates that write the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination, UTME, every year gain admission into Nigerian universities.

NUC Executive Secretary, Prof. Julius Okojie, disclosed this when Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State visited the Commission in Abuja yesterday.

Oshiomhole was at NUC to collect the Certificate of Recognition for the newly established Edo State University, Iyanmo.

Okojie said new uni-

versities were needed in order to boost access to higher education while making sure that quality was not compromised.

“I am always happy when a new university comes on board; what that means is that we are expanding and we are opening up access.

“We know the number of students that sit for UTME organised by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, JAMB, every year.

“However, out of the 1.5 million students who write UTME every year, we are barely able to make provision for only about 400,000 students.

“The new university

will, therefore, be accessible not only to students from Edo State but those from Ondo State and other states,’’ he said.

According to the executive secretary, the Edo State University, Iyanmo, has become the 41st state university and the 142nd university in Nigeria.

He urged universities to take research seriously in order to solve the immediate challenges of the society.

Responding, Oshiomhole thanked Okojie for the useful tips he offered in the course of establishing the university, especially in the area of enabling legislation.

He said for sound uni-

versity education, there was need to produce sound secondary school graduates who would be able to face the rigours of university education.

The governor said the university was built to taste and international standard.

He added that in a highly digitalised world, there was need for centres of excellence.

“We have structures that are strong and well designed; we are building more faculties.

“We are building more standard students’ hostels; students will behave based on the influence of the environment.

orkers in Egor Local Government Council of Edo State yesterday staged a protest over failure of government to settle their 13 months’ salary arrears.

The workers blocked the entrance gate to the council’s secretariat in Uselu in the capital city, bearing placards with different inscriptions.

The workers appealed that Governor Adams Oshiomhole fulfil a promise he made, of providing financial relief to the Council, in order for them to get paid.

Speaking to our corre-

spondent, Chairman of the Council’s branch of National Union of Local Government Employees, NULGE, Nosakhare Edenamigho said the workers are tired of waiting endlessly to get their money.

He also appealed to the state government to assist the council management to fulfil its obligations of paying the outstanding salaries.

When our correspondent contacted the Chairman of the Council, Mr. Victor Enobakhare, he said the debts would be paid soon, adding that the modalities were being worked out.

Edo legal aid council receives 144 cases in 13 months

Oarhe Dickson, Benin

L

egal Aid Council in Edo State has revealed that 144 civil and criminal cases were received from January 2015 till date.

State Coordinator of the Council, Mr. Eddy Inenevwo, disclosed this in Benin City yesterday, while on a one day sensitisation campaign.

The campaign was taken to Benin and Oko prisons, major markets and motor parks in the Benin metropolis.

Inenevwo said the one

day campaign would enlighten the people of the state and also help reduced prisons congestion He said the basis of the awareness campaign was to further educate the public that legal aid is their right He said the Council completed a total of 99 criminal cases, out of which nine civil cases were won during the period and 72 cases discharged and acquitted.

He urged the masses who are in need of legal advice and those who need legal representatives in the court of law to walk up to any of their offices across the state.

12 North

Thursday, March 24, 2016

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

FG unveils first FoI Web portal Adeola Tukuru ABUJA

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Members of the Kaduna Labour Congress protesting some state government policy on Labour matters in Kaduna, yesterday.

Herdsmen, farmers’ clashes: Govt opts for dialogue between stakeholders Adeola Tukuru ABUJA

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he Federal Government is finalizing plans to call for a town hall dialogue involving critical stakeholders at a date to be announced, following the disturbing trends of avoidable clashes between herdsmen and farmers in some parts of

the country.

Interior Minister, Lieutenant- General Abdurahman Bello Dambazau (Rtd), who gave this indication yesterday in Abuja, said it has become imperative to examine factors that give rise to such conflicts as well as discussing ways to finding lasting solutions to these crises.

He noted further that

the realisation of immense contributions of herdsmen and farmers to the nation’s economy has made it more expedient to have an all inclusive dialogue.

The minister maintained that the town hall dialogue will involve stakeholders from various umbrella associations of herders and farmers, state govern-

ments, Non Governmental Organisations, civil societies, the media, MDAs, professional bodies, humanitarian institutions among others.

The proposed dialogue will provide opportunities for various stakeholders to share views and provide honest answers to the various questions which may arise.

Stop anti-religious bill, Bishop Oke advises el-Rufai Gbenga Ogunbufunmi

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residing Bishop of the Sword of the Spirit Ministries also known as Christ Life Church, Francis Wale Oke, has described the proposed bill stopping religious sermon in Churches and Mosques in Kaduna State as a dangerous one that could set the country on fire.

Hence, the clergy has asked the Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir el-Rufai to stop the bill, saying; “that bill should be stopped, I know he has proposed that bill to counter the el-Zak-Zakky and others like that, but, it would do more harm than good for Nigeria, it may set the whole country on fire”.

Oke spoke with journalists after paying a visit to the recently installed Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Saliu Akanmu Adetunji in his Popoyemoja palace in Ibadan where he, alongside his wife, Victoria and top members of the Church came to pray for the monarch.

According to Oke, ”I want to advise His Excellency, Nasir el-Rufai, when he was in Abuja in former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s cabinet, he earned my respect and as somebody who is working for the unity of Nigeria, I want to directly ask His Excellency to stop the bill and kill the fire. This is because the fire it would set on Nigeria, nobody can predict its extent.

“So in the name of God Almighty, let him stop that bill so that Nigeria can maintain its peace. You shouldn’t stoke the fire of religious crisis. Religious crisis is emotional. When it comes to religion, people don’t think, they don’t reason, they just go wild.

“We don’t need it at this time. Let’s join our hands and see how we can move Nigeria forward in its economic recovery, fighting corruption, bringing all of us together in unity without the division of religion, tribe or race.

“That is what everybody should do now. I make a very strong appeal to His

Excellency, el Rufai, he is a passionate Nigerian, but he should drop that bill for the sake of unity,” he added.

The clergy said he came to the palace for three reasons; as an indigene of Ibadan land among the servants of God in the country,

to pray for the monarch and to honour the promise made on the day of coronation.

He remarked that Oba Adetunji got to the throne by the grace of God and fervently prayed for his long and peaceful reign in Ibadan.

O biora I foh

maladministration by past administration.

Speaking during a press conference in Abuja the president of the group, Mr. Etuk Bassey Williams, noted that Nigeria is presently going through one of the most difficult periods in her national life owing to several events such as global oil glut that have characterised the socio-economic and political landscape of the nation in the past one year.

He said: ‘’Just as it is on record that no government preceding President Buhari has

ederal Government yesterday launched the newly re-designed BPSR with a Freedom of Information Portal designed to receive FOI requests (www.bpsr. gov.ng).

Director General of Bureau for Public Service Reforms, BPSR, Dr Joe Abah, during the launch yesterday in Abuja, said this innovative website is the first of its kind by any public institution in Nigeria under the FOI Act in order to promote openness and facilitate public access to information and documents held by the institution.

He said the initiating reforms and introducing innovations is one of the key functions of the Bureau of Public Service Reforms.

“We are proud to be the first government agency in Nigeria to have an electronic platform for receiv-

IGP extends deadline for automated licenses George Opara ABUJA

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nspector-General of Police, IGP, Solomon Arase, has ordered the extension of the deadline for the on-going revalidation of Tinted Permit, Police Character Clearance

Civil society group canvasses support for Buhari’s monetary policy ABUJA

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oalition of Civil Society Groups, CCSG, has called on Nigerians to support the current administration monetary policy effected by the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, saying that Nigerians voted for change and not magic.

The group said that a change that will usher in an everlasting period of prosperity must be gradual and not spontaneous with the same capacity to repair the faulty foundation and

ing freedom of information requests” He explained that the initiative which was supported by the Mac Arthur Foundation is part of an ongoing partnership between BPSR and R2K, Nigeria which is geared towards utilising information technology for information disclosure both proactively as well as demand.

While handling over the redesigned website to BPSR, Right to Know (R2K)’s Coordinator, Ene Nwankpa, said BPSR as the major government institution drives reforms among public institutions in Nigeria has demonstrated an exemplary and bold approach.

He further added that nothing negative occurs when a public institution opens up its operations to more public access and scrutiny, this ingenuity should be followed suit by all public institutions in Nigeria.

dared to probe security vote or fight corruption with the intense ruthlessness as we are presently witnessing, so also is his will power to ruthlessly tackle the various clogs in the wheel of our economic progress as this is evident in his bold approach of supporting the CBN Governor, Mr. Godwin Emefiele led foreign exchange (FOREX) policy in stopping the sale of foreign exchange to Bureau de Change (BDC), a policy which has helped in no small measure to checkmate round tripping.’’

and Firearm Licence from March 18 to May 31.

The IGP explained that the extension was imperative to enable members of public to key into the electronic platform initiative of the Nigeria Police Force Central Information System, NCIS. However, Arase has reiterated that revalidation is free of charge.

The IGP further directed all state commands, commissioners of police to ensure that nobody was exploited and extorted on account of revalidating tinted permit, firearms license, and Police Character Certificate.

The IGP also warned that those who are yet to complete their automated license process should not be subjected to unnecessary harassment and embarrassment by policemen in their respective commands.

And he reassured the public of the commitment of the force to the provision of round-the-clock security for the teeming citizens of the country as he enjoined the citizens to also continue to support and assist the police in its constitutional task of safeguarding the nation.

Thursday, March 24, 2016

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

13

Politics

Abia North senatorial rerun was permeated with violence —Okoro 14 Robert Awokuse

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or the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP South-West Chapter, alarm for a flight to safety has yet again been raised just as it has been sounded in some quarters in the wake of last week development. Palpable tension began to sprout following contrastive opinions from leaders of the party in the region.

It is often said that the persistent hitting of a spot by blacksmith is borne out of a drive to forge a tool for a particular use. Similarly much attention is being focused on the brewing friction in the southwest PDP, which is perhaps subconsciously being deployed with a view to calling the bickering caucuses to order.

As more reactions continue to trail the purported fallout of the southwest PDP, attention has been drawn to the two groups- the Senator Buruji Kashamu-led delegation and the Lagos Collectives, LC led by Professor Tejumade AkitoyeRhodes, who were argued to be pitching tents on separate stance following the recent visit to the party’s national chairman, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff and members of the PDP National Working Committee, NWC, in Abuja last week by Kashamu and some delegates over a push for a retention of the chairmanship in the northern part of the country.

With the development enmeshed in eminent crisis things may be said to fall apart and the centre could likely not hold as it was stated in some quarters that the “fragile peace in the South-West chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP might be heading for the rocks” if the two factions do not urgently come to a term, as the Lagos Collectives have flayed the delegation’s position, stressing that the delegation caucus was not speaking the minds of the PDP southwest region.

Although the Senator representing Ogun East had at the weekend, clarified that the proposal that the national chairmanship of the party should remain in the north was not his opinion but that of the delegation that visited the party’s national chairman and the NWC, but the Professor Tejumade Akitoye-Rhodes-led LC has denounced the position of the delegation led by Kashamu, which claimed that the zone was not interested in presenting anybody for the position of national chairmanship of the party, describing such stand as “totally unacceptable, unfair, unjust and even destabilising to the region.”

Kashamu in his defence while reacting to nailing reports and accounts on the visit, cleared the air, saying “On our proposal that the national chairmanship of the party should remain in the North, I wish to state that it was the opinion of the delegation.

“We were and are still of the view that given the strong presence of the PDP in the South, with 10 governors out of 17 governors in the South and just two governors in the 19 states in the North, it would make more sense to leave the national chairmanship of the party in the North so as not to be branded a regional party.

“On the report on the state of the party across the South West, I need to clarify that the report was presented at the level of the South West PDP Committee on Organisation and Mobilisation, which has offices in the six states of the zone, in conjunction with the Zonal leadership of the party. Our suggestion was that party members should be reconciled across the zone, including in Ogun State.”

Kashamu further stated that the view of the delegation did not foreclose any other opinion or suggestion, noting that if some other persons had any other idea, they were at liberty to push it.

“Our view does not foreclose any other opinion or suggestion. If some other persons have any other idea, they are at liberty to push it. At the end of the day, it is either superior argument wins or we go to the convention.

“For us, as true party men, whatever is best for our party and majority of the stakeholders is all we want,” he stressed.

South West PDP in crisis over national chairmanship position

Shelle

Sheriff

To claim that the south west is not interested in the National Chairman position is delusional and wicked. We will fight with all legitimate tools to ensure that justice is duly served in this crucial matter.

Speaking on the leadership in the region, Kashamu said “It is also true that people like to have a rallying point, and if some of our leaders and elders see me as a rallying point because of my generosity and empowerments activities over the years, I do not see why anyone should lose sleep over it.

Leaders emerge naturally.

“I also know that leadership comes with responsibility and I accept the responsibility. I appreciate all our party leaders and elders for the confidence reposed in me and will continue to appreciate them. However, it does not mean that I am the foremost or supreme leader of the PDP in the South West. I am just one of the leaders of the PDP in the South West.

“I do know that I have other superior leaders in the PDP Governors in the zone, Chief Olabode George, Chief Ebenezer Babatope, Alhaji Shuaib Oyedokun and other members of the National Caucus, Board of Trustees and the National Executive Committee (NEC), whom I respect and will always do.”

Meanwhile in a swift reaction contrary to Kashamu’s analysis for his and the delegation’s backing of the chairmanship position for the north, the LC submitted that the southwest were very much interested in the post.

In a statement issued and signed by the Chairman Lagos

Collectives, Professor Tejumade Akitoye-Rhodes, the LC group noted that the south west was the only region that has not occupied the prime office of the national chairman of the party since it came to power in 1999, stressing that it would be unfair and destabilizing if the region is denied its rightful honour, just as the party is at the period of restructuring and building.

The statement reads in part: “To claim that the south west is not interested in the National Chairman position is delusional and wicked. We will fight with all legitimate tools to ensure that justice is duly served in this crucial matter. The present National Chairman should be wary of the few peripheral renegades pushing Kashamu’s unholy pipe dream,” it says.

Akitoye-Rhodes lambasted Kashamu for fronting such delegation and view, describing the move as “inflicted monumental shame and ridicule” to the region.

He further said “This is most illogical and patently absurd.

It is absolute nonsense and irredeemably outrageous. This does not in any way represent the position or the will of the Yoruba people. As a matter of fact the whole blatant spectacle of the subversion of the right of the Yoruba people was financed, promoted, and brazenly organized by Mr Buruji Kashamu.”

He maintained that the Ogun east senator was in the least fit to speak for the South West PDP. “In terms of industry, education and all sense of propriety and civility that the Yoruba people treasure as the Omoluabi comportment- Kashamu is not the fit and proper person to speak for the Yorubaland.”

He noted that a region that still parades eminent personalities and powerful evocative names like Chief Ebenezer Babatope, Chief Olabode George, Alhaji Yekeen Adeojo, Chief Shuaib Oyedokun, Senator Kofo Bucknor, Chief Onikepo Oshodi , Governor Olusegun Mimiko, Governor Ayo Fayose among others, it was tragic that the field will now be left open for Buruji to riot without restraint.

14

Politics

Barrister Nnenna Lancaster Okoro is the senatorial candidate of the All Progressive Congress, APC for the Abia North Senatorial District in the 2015 general election and the recent rerun election.

She speaks with GEORGE OPARA on her sad experience as a candidate in the senatorial rerun polls.

Excerpts:

Thursday, March 24, 2016

Abia North senatorial rerun was permeated with violence —Okoro about. People in my constituency knew about it. So, I don’t have to report again to INEC. Do you mean you have no confidence in INEC? Maybe, so. Very much so. If you were to have free and fair elections, there could not have been people who were rigged in. People who shouldn’t have been declared winners at all. I know the PDP candidate, Mao Ohuabunwa who they have asked to go back. In a few units where I was privileged to see the results, in a big ward with many units, he had no vote, at all. In some units, he scored one vote. But now he is representing Abia North senatorial district in the senate. It beats m y imagination .

What was your experience in the Abia North senatorial rerun election?

The election was peaceful, well on the surface. Underneath, there were quite a few violent moments. The moment where the PDP chieftains tried to get into Bende Local Government Area to take election materials and the youths spotted them, fought them, beat them up, deflated their tyres and burnt their cars.

I was not there but it was reported to me. And my agents in Bende LGA told me.

On the election day, they said, there was a lot of carrying of ballot boxes, INEC documents, life threats, shootings, beating up of my agents and so on .

And from what I heard, the documents we had on the election day were fake documents. The real documents had actually been given to candidates who paid for them. These were part of my experiences.

Did you find out the veracity of the allegations?

What you did not witness something yourself, you rely on what you heard.

So, I heard and I tried to find out. It was confirmed to me. It was in the media. So, that is about that. But to me, what I saw was that there was a lot of voters’ apathy.

People did not come out to vote. Very few people came out to vote. So, when I saw the number of votes that were allotted to the other candidates whom I heard paid some authorities to get their votes up, I begin to wonder from what I saw going round in Arochukwu and Ohafia local government areas, there were very few people . Some of the polling units, you don’t even find anybody. In some units, only three voters were seen standing to vote. So, I keep wondering from where did this over 26,000 voters came out to vote this candidate and over 23,000 voters voting the other candidate. I don’t see them. So, I know the numbers were made up.

Even the electorate in my constituency were shocked because they never knew where the scores came from. All I knew was when I was campaigning, doing my door-to-door grassroots campaign, the other male contestants were busy looking for easy way. And easy way out because I did not see them. Yes, they did rallies, they made noise but the kind of campaign I did, they did not do it.

So I know that some people went underground to do some monkey business in order to win the elections. And now people are blaming it all on the PDP . No that is not the position , PDP rigged, PPA rigged and APGA rigged. It is just that PDP out-rigged other parties because the party members were bold enough to bring guns to threaten voters at polling units.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

What about the security agents?

Well, as far as I know, I saw a lot of movement by the mobile police force, by the army. But from what my agents told me at the units where problems arose, he said they did not do anything. I was told that they just sat down impassive. I think what happens in our country during elections needs total overhauling and the problems are more deep-rooted than the eyes can see. It is sad.

Okoro

it is a fallacy to say that

a sectional party.

APC is

It is a national party. However, before then, APC was not doing very well in Abia state but after the presidential elections and, president

Buhari came up as our president, things changed.

They were threatening voters and voters were running away including the INEC ad hoc staff. PDP brought the guns and were shooting. I told my agents once you see any person in violence or gun shooting, don’t involve yourself. Just disappear from the scene.

But did your agents sign the results?

Some of them did not sign. And a particular gentleman who was my main agent and coordinator was hit with gun butt on his chest. He has been going to hospital for medical treatment ever since and was not even available to sign. Other agents were not there to sign because when you

are faced with a gun, you can’t stand. You can’t fight a person holding a gun with bare hands.

Any formal protest to INEC? Well, the INEC itself knew there was violence. It was the reason why the results were declared inconclusive, initially.

So, I can’t tell them what they know.

The last election we had in 2015, the same thing obtained. What happened? Was anybody taken to court for violence? What about the people that were killed? Even what happen to the people who murdered them? What was the point reporting what was there bare-faced that everybody knew

But I know that in Abia state, APC came on board with insignificant number of good politicians. Do you think the party has the grassroots structure to win elections before now?

Before now, APC did not have. It was simply because our people were apprehensive regarding a new party. Secondly, APC was a total opposition party viewed by the Igbos as Yoruba and Hausa political party. And I spent a lot of time last year to educate my people that there was nothing like an Igbo political party.And nothing like a Yoruba or Hausa party.

A party that was formed and is active in Nigeria is a Nigerian party. It is like saying that APGA is an Igbo party. Yes, it started in Igboland but there is APGA in Nasarawa and Kogi states and other states across the country.

So, it is a fallacy to say that APC is a sectional party. It is a national party.

However, before then, APC was not doing very well in Abia state but after the presidential elections and, president Buhari came up as our president, things changed.

Now, my mantra as I went for a rerun during my campaign - was connecting my constituency to the centre.

What is your advice to your constituency.

I want to advise my constituents to always come out to vote. Very soon, your votes will begin to count. It is your right.

And that they should reject the cheap offer of money. Once you sell your vote, your right is gone. This is because I hear them say - they have paid for their votes and they have no need going back to them to work for anybody. My people should also look inward and realize where they have gone wrong and emend their ways.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Obadan cautions against plot to oust Odigie-Oyegun, blames PDP infiltrators Onazena Abbey Benin

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ormer Deputy Governor of Edo state, Rev. Peter Obadan has attributed the lingering plot and move to oust the duly elected National chairman of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Chief John Odigie- Oyegun as a calculated attempt by some few cabal to destroy the ruling party for their selfish inordinate ambition.

He however, blamed the development as the handiwork of some infiltrators from the opposition party, the PDP adding that if not curtail the plot may degenerate to a replication of the removal of Alhaji Bamaga Tukur- led PDP executive from office which he noted eventfully snowballed to a situation where former President Goodluck Jonathan ended up as a slave .

Obadan who spoke with newsmen in Benin urged those involved in the coup plot including state governors to sheath their swords in the interest of national stability and cohesion.

“I think it is being myopic to think that a national chairman elected by the entire membership of the party in a convention can be removed by a handful of people for their own selfish end. It is absolutely preposterous and I think it just a figment of the imagination of a class of people who desire to destroy the APC who are not from the APC”.

“It is the aspiration of those who really don’t appreciate the genesis of the struggle for what I will classify as the liberation of Nigeria and Nigerians from those who in the past had succeeded craftily in destroying this country without mincing words; some obviously infiltrated into APC and may not be far from those propagating this desire for a change”.

He equally submitted that apart from been the first executive governor of Edo State, Chief Odigie- Oyegun remains an integral part of the pro-

Politics

Thursday, March 24, 2016

cess that culminated into President Buhari becoming the presidential flagbearer of the party adding that he cannot now be intimidated to bow out by any forces “When it was obvious that Jonathan was not likely going to give express approval to many things because of the presence of Bamanga Tukur of national chairman, what they did was first to target the removal of Bamanga Tukur and the moment they achieved that, they weakened the tentacles of Jonathan and he became a slave in their hands”.

He therefore warned that the development should be seen as a plot by the PDP to destroy and destabilized APC “It is obvious that it is going to take us a while before we the leaders of APC understand ourselves because even twins from the same womb do have conflicts and the process of resolution of this conflict and the operational system and which is what the body at the national level is setting up. We have all read from the pages of newspapers that the board of trustees is being put in place. We have a party, the process of stabilization will take some time and that is the process we are going through.”

15

Ajimobi mourns death of Oyo APC legal officer Kemi Olaitan Ibadan

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overnor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State has mourned the death of the Director of Legal Services of the state chapter of the All Progressives Congress, APC Mr. Wale Diya, describing his death as the exit of a shining star within the fold of the progressives.

The governor in a statement by his Special Adviser,

Communication and Strategy, Mr. Yomi Layinka, yesterday commiserated with the party, the deceased immediate and extended families, friends and professional colleagues.

It will be recalled that Diya, aged 48 years, died last Thursday at the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, during a brief illness.

Ajimobi said, “I received the news of the death of the young man with shock and

disbelief. We have been praying for his recovery since he was hospitalized, but God knows the best and we have to succumb to His will.

“Diya was a shining star within the fold of the progressives. He will be sorely missed. He was a brilliant lawyer and dedicated party member who was always ready to sacrifice his comfort in defending the cause of the party.

“I’m saddened by this loss and I want to pray for the

repose of his soul. He was snatched by the cold hands of death in his prime. May the Almighty grant his family the strength to bear this unfortunate incident.”

The governor acknowledged the late legal practitioner’s immense contributions to the APC’s unprecedented victory in last year’s general elections and the attendant string of victories of the party’s elected representatives at the election petition tribunals.

L-R: Ogun State Governor, Ibikunle Amosun; Majority Leader of the House of Representatives, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila and former Vice President/Chieftain of All Progressives Congress (APC), Atiku Abubakar, at the National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting of APC at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

Group urges Yoruba leaders to chart new devt course for S/W Abiodun Nejo Ado Ekiti

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socio-political group, Ondo State Liberation Movement, OSLM has urged Yoruba traditional rulers, leaders of thought and prominent people to come together and fashion a way forward for the South West Region.

Coordinator of the Group, Mr Oladipo Ajidahun, said such was necessary in the face of the marginalisation, betrayal and decay of legacies of the heroes of the race including the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo confronting the region.

Ajidahun in a chat with journalists in Ado Ekiti

yesterday lauded the visit of the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, to the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi and other Yoruba monarchs, saying unity among them was a potent force for the development of Yorubaland.

OSLM lamented that selfishness of the sociopolitical organisations, representatives in the National Assembly and other political appointees had culminated in their betrayal of the region especially as infrastructures and other development projects were concerned.

The group, which condemned the manner Yoruba people were willingly being used against their fellows for political ap-

pointments, urged monarchs and prominent leaders in the region to rise swiftly to check the trend.

It advised Yoruba people against engaging their leaders on the pages on newspapers for selfish gains, saying “Yoruba people should have common front to enhance our progress and development”.

While expressing readiness to move against the ‘forces within’ that are dragging the region backwards, the group said: “We are going to invoke the spirit of our ancestors against them. Yoruba race is going down. Our ancestors will not forgive us if they see the region wiped away”.

Ajidahun, who ex-

pressed worries over the state of some states in the region, urged the governors of Yoruba states to ensure development of their states and the heritage of the race.

He said: “Some Yoruba leaders have betrayed us because when they were in positions to develop the region, they did not. They are even destroying the legacies of Chief Awolowo. Yoruba governors are not thinking of the heritage but rather working against one another and by extension, affecting the people’s interest”.

Ajidahun, however, praised APC National Leader, Senator Bola Tinubu, for his efforts to ensure Yoruba people were

not marginalised, saying: “Tinubu is trying and his fights for the course of Yoruba in the last six years are pronounced”.

The group, however, declined to comment on how the race has fared under President Muhammadu Buhari in the last eight months saying “it is too early. We are still watching the Buhari administration.

Yoruba voted massively for him because we believed the last administration marginalised us.

“Buhari never promised the Yoruba anything.

So, I expected the Yoruba leaders to have asked him his specific plans for the region. As I have said, we are still watching,” it said.

16

Politics

Thursday, March 23, 2016

Group seeks passage of Gender Equality Bill Robert Awokuse

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uman Rights Activists yesterday protested at the Lagos State House of Assembly Complex seeking quick passage of the Gender Equality Bill.

The Majority Leader of the House, Hon. Sanai Agunbiade who spoke on behalf of the Speaker commended the group for their peaceful conduct and maturity and assured that necessary step would be taken on the Bill towards its passage.

“I commend you for the peaceful protest. We are already working on the Bill with Hon. Tejuoso who is always at the forefront for the right of women, we will present your petition to the Speaker because he is sensitive about the

peace of the state and woman related issue,” he assured them.

The protesters under the umbrella of Bring Back Our Girls, BBOG groups, Working Mums, Art Forum Africa, Women Management, Business and Public Services, WIMBIZ chanted solidarity songs and displayed different placards with inscriptions “Gender equality must be a live reality”; “Gender equality is not a woman’s issue, it is a human issue. It affects us all”; “We are all entitled to live free and equal”.

Earlier, the spokesperson for the group and a member of the BBOG group, Mrs. Aishat Oyebode, submitted a petition to the lawmakers on behalf of the group and expressed their plight that the gender equality bill is

not for the women alone but to protect and seek justice for all.

“We are standing up for Gender Equality Bill even though it has gone through the second reading before the Federal House of Representative stepped it down while five other states has passed it into law.

“We want this House to also pass its own gender equality bill because women are 50 per cent of the population and they give birth to 100 per cent of the population. What we are asking for is protection and equal opportunity when it comes to Marriage, business, employments, politics, inheritance etc.” Oyebode stated.

Mrs. Oyebode further emphasized that gender equality is a pre-condition

to overcoming starvation, poverty and epidemics in the country.

“When we have equal right and opportunity, our families, communities and nation will prosper.”

Hon. Adefunmilayo Tejuoso alongside Hon. Gbolahan Yishawu and Hon. Tunde Braimoh assured them that the Bill will surely see the light of the day even if it has been stepped down at the federal level.

“I am a Co-sponsor of this particular bill and we have been working on it since the 7th Assembly. I’m also getting cooperation from both the Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa and other members of the parliament because am in support of the bill and opportunity must be for all,” Tejuoso assured.

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Taraba commissioner denies diverting N36.9m local govt funds Justin Tyopuusu Jalingo

T

araba State Commissioner for Information and Re-Orientation, Barr. Anthony Danburam has denied the allegation that he diverted N36.999m meant for the execution of a project during his tenure as chairman of Lau local government.

Damburum who addressed journalists in his office yesterday in Jalingo was reacting to a story in a national newspaper, ( not National Mirror) crediting to a former labour leader in the state, Mr. Ishaku Magaji who accused him of pocketing N36, 999, 999.99m meant for the execution of a project in Lau, during his tenure as chairman of the local government.

The Commissioner challenged the former labour leader to come clear with his allegation by naming the particular project he diverted the money meant for its execution.

He explained that throughout his tenure as chairman of Lau, he executed only two projects and monies were not given to him directly, rather,

Bureau for local government released the money through ALGON and the projects were executed.

“The projects I proposed to execute and monies were released were the rehabilitation of 30Km Lau-Lankaviri road and the 29Km Abbare-Kunini road.

“The Abbare Kunini road was awarded at the cost of N30m. We paid N15m and the contractor bulldozed the road from Abbare to Tunada and constructed 12 corvettes which are visible for everyone to see.

“The contract was abandoned after Governor Danbaba Suntai had an accident as no further project funds were released to local governments. All the records are with the local government auditor, so I don’t know when Magaji Ishaku became the auditor of Lau local government. He should tell the world the project I diverted money for its execution,” he said.

Danburam further explained that in his handover note, he left a liability of N30million with N20million being a revolving overdraft he collected to enable him paid salaries of workers.

Ortom debunks allegation of money diversion Henry Iyorkase Makurdi

G Former Minister of Labour and Productivity, Chief Emeka Wogu(left) and former Minister of Interior, General Godwin Abbe (rtd), during an Investigative public hearing on the contract by Ministry of Interior and the Nigerian Immigration Service at the National Assembly in Abuja yesterday.

Legislator to empower 10,000 youths on skill acquisition

A

member representing Ijebu- Ode /Odogbolu and Ijebu North East Federal Constituency , Hon. Kehinde Odeneye as part of his empowerment and skill acquisition programme will on Friday March 25, 2016 empowered over 10,000 youths from his constituency.

The event which will take place at the the Otunba Dipo Dina Stadium in IjebuOde, Ogun state will also have in attendance party leaders across the state and

the constituency .

Addressing journalists yesterday at Arepo, Ogun State ahead of the skill acquisition graduation programme, Odeneye said during his first term in the House of Assembly, he had the privilege of contributing to human development by empowering 1,500 constituents irrespective of their political affinity on a single day in various vocations.

The vocations according to him include hair dressing, barbing, fashion de-

signing, soap making and also provided them with their working tools.

‘Let me make it known to everyone that the people’s resolve to stand by me, encourage me and believe in me is the reason for my decision to enrol over 10,000 constituents even before the 2015 elections”, he stated.

Odeneye made it clear that the empowerment programme is designed to accommodate as many constituents as possible in an expanded and diverse vocations such as vulcanizing,

shoe making, motor mechanic among others.

“I will not stop until every confirmed loyal and serious minded party man and woman and other constituents in Ijebu Central Federal Constituency are empowered. My desire for increased human and infrastructural development will always take priority in my obligation and drive for the improvement of all Ijebus whenever such opportunities continue to come my way as your worthy representative”, he said.

overnor Samuel Ortom of Benue state has debunked the claims in some quarters that he allegedly diverted N6 billion naira while serving as Minister of state for investments and later supervising Minister for Aviation in the immediate past administration.

Governor Ortom in an interactive session with journalists in Makurdi stated that this accusation is coming on the heels of the Justice Kpojime white paper which indicted the former Governor Gabriel Suswam alongside his cronies in the last administration.

He therefore disclosed that contrary to speculation of spending N10 billion for litigation by his detractors unknowingly to them we had received N10 billion and consequently mobilized the contractors handling various contracts in the state to resume on site and continues their projects.

Governor Ortom observed that this unfounded allegations are coming from his opponents who do not wish to see anything good from his administration stressing that all their efforts are aimed at tarnishing his reputation as well as distracting his government from focusing on good governance for the people of the state.

He emphasized that his administration is anchored on transparency, integrity and selflessness saying “this is where we differ with the past administration because our is to present to the people their funds in black and white so as not to keep any citizen in suspense unlike the previous administration in the state”.

According to him “ we are making conscious efforts to rebuild a virile state whereby generations yet unborn would one day come and benefit from the legacies that we could leave behind” stressing that “none will be disappointed by the time I am able to accomplish my tenure”

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

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Thursday, March 24, 2016

17

Appreciating the true meaning of Easter CRITICAL STROKES

KAYODE

KETEFE

kketefe@nationalmirroronline.net 08032147720 (SMS only)

Tomorrow is Good Friday, the beginning of Easter. It will mark the 1983th year anniversary of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ.

The entire world would be thrown into celebrative mood during the three-day period that will end on Monday (Easter Monday), when Jesus resurrected, according to Christian chronology, 1983 years ago. That is in contemplation of Gregorian numerology which starts counting from the year of His birth and thus has the year of death as 33 A.D. Christ followers all over the world believe that this singular event is the pinnacle of divine intervention to salvage mankind - the denouement in the primordial plot featuring mankind saga and stretching all the eons from the blissful era of plenitude and grace in the Garden of Eden, through the tragic time when humanity fell in the same locale, to the period of unmerited redemption.

Easter is seen as the ultimate symbolism of love, the divine love of God for mankind conveying the message of everlasting hope.

No human, no matter what you believe, is absolutely indifferent to the historical figure called Jesus of Nazareth. The Christians believe that Christ is the son of God, who came to world for the singular purpose of saving the fallen man from eternal damnation through God’s gracious redemptive benignities.

The Muslims see Jesus as one of the principal prophets of God, who came to the world with Allah’s message to human beings, preached a sublime message of love for mankind and performed countless number of miracles, both to alleviate the suffering of the people and to underscore his mission as an emissary of the Almighty Allah.

Even the atheists regard Jesus as one of the greatest teachers of mankind, whose messages are laden with great felicities, charity and hope, requisites for harmonious co-existence among the earth dwellers.

In all these varied religio-philosophical world views, the phenomenon called love and its esteemed, inherent value in human affairs is ever constant. Thus, all the world religions, including even atheistic liberalism and scientific humanism, convey the underlying message that we should love ourselves, that we should shun selfishness in all its ramifications. It appears to this writer that if we can imbibe the essence of Easter and allow its message of genuine and selfless affections to percolate our spirits, most of our problems will disappear. Neither the Holy Bible nor the Al-Quran Kareem (The Glorious Quran) enjoins us to embrace the culture of hatred and violence; neither says

What amount of love inheres in a

heart that diverts a fund meant for the development of his country…?

we should maim and kill one another on accounts of our reconcilable or irreconcilable differences, rather, the two scriptures are replete with passages urging love and forbearance.

The politicians who exploit their public offices to pursue egotistic agenda; who loot the treasury with abandon, acquiring properties all over the world while the majority of their compatriots are languishing in heart-rending poverty, have no love in their perverse hearts. What amount of love inheres in a heart that diverts a fund meant for the development of his country into a private Swiss account, or a leader who denies the people their fundamental human rights, or fraudulently steals the mandate of his opponents in an electoral contest? A religious zealot, who burns down places of worship of other people, even if it is Ogun or Sango shrine, deserves no other epithet than an inconsiderate, loveless, terrorist. The same thing holds true for those who kill other innocent people on the ground of tribalism.

The true lesson of Easter transcends mere festivities and fanfare; it transcends mere attendance of places of worship in flamboyant dresses and listening perfunctorily to sermons. In countless number of churches around the world in the next few days, homiletic injunctions would be reeled out with exegetical precision and godly passion. But what is really important is the number of people who turns new leaves in obedience to the messages, not how many attend churches; how many hearts would allow the real gospel of love to take roots and blossom?

How many people are doing unto others as they would like to be treated?

Many people know the customs and tradition behind Easter, but very few bother themselves about the significance of Christ crucifixion and acclaimed resurrection. For a great number of people, Easter period like other festive periods, is just an opportunity to engage in reckless bingeing, drinking, debauchery and lasciviousness.

It would do us a lot of good if we strive to forget all our differences and unite as common sojourners in this earthly realm in which we are bound with a common destiny. To really move forward, we must cultivate the sublime virtue of love, evinced through positive attributes like magnanimity, forbearance and amity, all of which underline the true message of Easter.

Happy Easter!

Ketefe may be followed on twitter @ Ketesco

Modern governance: The Oshiomhole example (II) Ernest Omoarelojie

This administration has played its part

Continued from last week Tuesday

T

he Oshiomhole approach to governance equally made visible impact particularly in aviation. Before assuming office, Associated Airline was the only passenger airline that operated the Benin route. For obvious reasons, the one-flight daily routine to and from Lagos could not be optimally utilized as there was hardly any compelling business or leisure reason to be in the city. But all that changed when he took over and opened up the only air gateway to the city the same way it approached infrastructure upgrade across the entire state.

The outcome is the six-lane dual carriage Airport Road equipped with modern facilities including street light and walk ways.

The result is that in addition to increasing the number of air traffic operators doing business on the route, daily passenger and cargo flights, including private ones, to and from other cities in the country went up dramatically. In like manner, high brow hotels and other leisure outlets increased in their numbers. The selling point turned out to be the facelift the Oshiomhole administration gave to basic infrastructure across the city.

The Oshiomhole approach to governance also ensures that there is no investment shortfall in the northern part of the state, where there is an abundant supply of natural resources such as quarry, limestone and other solid minerals. In particular, following his extensive inland road construction policy, a number of high profile business groups

very well by putting in place structures that will promote

investment-friendly atmosphere found their ways into the zone. The Dangote Group, a local conglomerate with international tentacles in diverse businesses, numbers among them. With plans already completed to commence the construction of the widely reported three-ton cement factory near Agenebode, Dangote Group in competition with the BUA and Leventis conglomerate, has gone into a frenzied competition for honours in the quest to make the area an investment destination hub. While the former has commenced the production of cement from its Okpella factory, the latter operates a bubbling farm in Agenebode that feeds its agro-allied outlets across the country. There is hardly any doubt that their presence increased the employment profile of their host communities and environs.

Ozala, Anegbete and Okpekpe are other communities in the zone reaping bountiful fly from the administration’s general infrastructure development policy. Anegbete is the proud host of Pemo Industries, an Agro-allied group which specializes in rice production and furniture making, including chairs, foot mats, etc, made from bamboo. Also located in the community is the Automated Poultry. The presence of the

companies which employ hundreds of people between them is as a result of the construction of the Anegbete/Ekperi/ Udaba road, their only link to the outside world, by this administration. Similarly, Okpekpe was long cut off from its outside neighbours because of the state of its only access road. With this handicap fixed by Comrade Governor, the same community has since attracted international recognition to itself following the successful hosting of Nigeria’s most recognized annual Okpekpe 10-kilometre race.

Meanwhile, Ozala is receiving more than cursory attention from Chinese business groups. The largely agrarian community in Owan West Local Government Area is renowned for ginger production and hopes are high that very soon, arrangements would be concluded for the location of a ginger production outfit in the area to produce for both local consumption and export.

Unlike the two other zones, Edo Central senatorial district may not have reaped many bounties from any major investment coming into the state, however, the administration has ensured that it received a fair share of infrastructure upgrade. This is evident in the collection of high grade roads, hospitals and other basic facilities in the zone, a development that will make it a potential investments destination.

Essentially however, the essence of this piece is to appreciate Oshiomhole administration’s deliberate emphasis on creating enabling environment for investors to steer the state away from the tradi-

tion of government ownership of businesses.

The foresight of the governor and the success achieved so far should be commended. This administration has played its part very well by putting in place structures that will promote investment-friendly atmosphere, including provision of the requisite basic infrastructure, incentives and attractive environments.

One can only hope that as it is in other zones, investors will be all over the three zones of the state in no distant future.

Meanwhile, the tenure of this administration is only a matter of months away. Already, the heat over its successor is reaching the crescendo. While the aspirants are giving the impression that they have what it takes to receive the political baton from the governor, do as much or even surpass his achievements, none seems to have his strength of character, the same factor that made it possible for him to resist the pressure to take the state back into funding and running businesses that can never be viable.

However, the point must be well made that Edolites must prevent any opportunist from riding to glory on the crest of Oshiomhole’s very popular people-driven achievements. His laudable developmental strides must be sustained.

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

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

18

Editorial

Thursday March 24, 2016

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

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

SUNDAY OLAJIDE n MANAGING DIRECTOR/CEO BEN MEMULETIWON n ACTING DAILY EDITOR GBEMI OLUJOBI n SATURDAY EDITOR AYO OLESIN n SUNDAY EDITOR DOZIE OKEBALAMA n COORDINATOR, EDITORIAL BOARD CALLISTUS OKE n EDITORIAL PAGE EDITOR OBIORA IFOH n ABUJA BUREAU CHIEF

Governments and the ghost workers saga

T

he discovery of ghost workers in scandalous numbers in federal and state establishments has been a recurring spectacle since the nation’s return to democratic rule in 1999.

But the discoveries are, perhaps, worse in federal ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs), beginning especially from 2013.

In 2014, for example, the former Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister for the Economy, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, disclosed that a total of 60,000 ghost workers were fished out from FG’s MDAs nationwide following staff audit of the outfits in line with the implementation of the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPIS).

The figure, Okonjo-Iweala said, represented a 20 percent increase over the 50,000 the government earlier announced. She said in the last one year alone (counting back from 2014), the discovery of ghost workers saved government over N170 billion in salaries and allowances paid to the mysterious workers.

Sadly, the minister sounded helpless on how to bring the swindlers behind the payroll fraud to book. “The ministry wrote to ICPC (the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission) to trace those that needed to be held accountable; and we are

ready to assist ICPC on any issue that borders on transparency”, she merely stated. It is, however, common knowledge that there is a line of authority in all government MDAs, including permanent secretaries, chief executive officers, accounting officers and auditors of different cadres, as well as pay officers, without whose conspiracy and collusion no strange name would appear in government’s payroll undetected.

Some days ago, the Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun, said the FG had commenced a fresh probe into the existence of 11,000 ghost workers on its payroll. Adeosun told the media after a recent Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting in Abuja that the government was using computer techniques to identify those to investigate; and that at the end of the investigation, the government would be able to determine how much it saved and the number of people removed.

The minister had some weeks before now revealed that a screening exercise carried out earlier by the government uncovered a total of 23,000 ghost workers on FG’s payroll, which translated to a reduction in government’s monthly wage bill by N2.29 billion.

“The update is that we are now investigating another potential 11,000… we are now looking

With the embarrassing dimension payroll frauds have assumed in the country,

relying merely on continuous staff audit…will only embolden the fraudsters at the second batch; and as we resolve those cases, we would inform you of the amount saved and the number of people removed”, the minister stated. She said the FG would introduce a continuous audit process to be extended to everywhere federal money was being spent or received in order to have better oversight. Again, Adeosun was silent on fishing out the culprits behind the large scale payroll scandal dogging the FG. At the state level, the recent revelation by Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State that investigations carried out by his government in Asaba and Agbor education zones alone discovered that 28 strange names, 38 dead and 15 retired teachers were on the payroll of some schools, presented a good example.

Payroll fraud, like any other

workplace crime, is real. It may not be preventable, but experts say it is catchable. In other words, it is possible to catch the thieves, penalise them commensurately and minimize the risk. And one of the best approaches recommended as a way out is reconciling the payroll at least quarterly with an external audit outfit that has no links with the operators of an endangered payroll system.

By so doing, all manner of payroll frauds, like timecard falsification, ghost employees (the commonest type), worker misclassification and related workplace frauds can be significantly minimised.

But with the embarrassing dimension payroll frauds have assumed in the country, relying only on continuous staff audit without fishing out, prosecuting and punishing members of the syndicates behind payroll frauds at federal and state establishments will only embolden the fraudsters. The relevant ministries charged with the management of the nation’s finances should liaise with the anti-graft agencies and provide all the necessary assistance that will facilitate their apprehension of payroll thieves, not sounding helpless and merely announcing the number of ghost workers discovered and the amount saved or siphoned.

ON THIS DAY March 24, 1980

March 24, 2003

Archbishop Oscar Romero was killed while celebrating Mass in San Salvador. Oscar Arnulfo Romero Galdamez (August 15, 1917 –March 24 1980) was a bishop of the Catholic Church in El Salvador. He became the fourth Archbishop of San Salvador, succeeding Luis Chavez. He spoke out against poverty, social injustice, assassinations and torture; but was unfortunately assassinated on March 24, 1980.

The Arab League voted 21-1 in favour of a resolution demanding the immediate and unconditional removal of United States’ and British soldiers from Iraq. Arab League is a regional organization of Arab countries in and around North Africa, the Horn of Africa and Southwest Asia. It was formed in Cairo on March 22, 1945 with six members: Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia and Syria.

March 24, 2008 Bhutan officially became a democracy, with its first ever general election. The Kingdom of Bhutan is a landlocked country in South Asia at the eastern end of the Himalayas. It is bordered to the north by China and to the south, east and west by India. To the west, it is separated from Nepal by the Indian state of Sikkim, while farther south, it is separated from Bangladesh by the Indian states of Assam and West Bengal.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Thursday, March 24, 2016

19

Education Today

IN CONJUNCTION WITH

AFE BABALOLA UNIVERSITY, ADO-EKITI (ABUAD) In ABUAD, You Get It All —Dr Ayodele Fayose, Ekiti State Governor.

TUNBOSUN OGUNDARE

F

or management of Moshood Abiola Polytechnic (MAPOLY), Abeokuta, Ogun State, the period of admission of new students into the institution is the right time to make some reasonable amount of money for the school with little or no stress.

To achieve this, students seeking admission into the institution must have to pay between N10, 000 and N22, 500 as “change of institution” fee.

The difference in the amount, according to investigation, depends on whether or not a student chooses the school originally as his preferred polytechnic in the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) application form for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examinations (UTME). According to our investigation, MAPOLY had in the last two years, been asking students who did not make the institution their preferred polytechnic to pay as much as N22, 500 to make it their new choice.

However, those who made it their preferred polytechnic in the JAMB form are not exempted from paying “change of institution” fee. They only pay less, N10, 000, our investigation reveals.

James Ilelaboye (not real name) is one of the newly admitted students into the polytechnic studying Mass Communication.

Originally, he chose the 15-year-old school as his preferred polytechnic and the University of Ilorin, UNILORIN, as well as the Federal College of Education, Osiele as his preferred university and college, respectively.

Like every other typical Nigerian admission seeker who prefers the university to polytechnic and college of education, Ilelaboye desired an admission into the University of Ilorin (UNILORIN), known for its steady calendar. Unfortunately, he could not meet up with the cut off mark for Mass Communication, his preferred course so, he opted for the polytechnic.

“I scored 220 from the possible 400 marks in UTME but UNILORIN pegged its cut off point for the course at 248 and because of that, I decided to come to MAPOLY. But I was surprised to discover I needed to pay N10, 000 as “change of institution” even when the institution was my original choice in the JAMB form. When I made inquiry about this, I was simply told it was the school’s tradition to charge such fee. And since I didn’t want to stay much longer at home, having sat for UTME in two previous years with no suc-

The polytechnic entrance. (Inset) Governor Ibikunle Amosun

Change of institution fee

MAPOLY is defrauding us! —Students

•We are only trying to raise IGR – Mgt •JAMB says it’s illegal cess, I had to pay the money, though it was not convenient for me” Ilelaboye explained.

Corroborating Ilelaboye, another student, a female, who also came to MAPOLY as her preferred polytechnic after failing to secure admission into the Federal University of Agriculture Abeokuta, FUNAAB, told National Mirror she also paid the N10, 000 “change of institution” fee.

“I was not happy about the development because it went contrary to JAMB policy on candidates’ choice of institutions. But when I thought of the fact that implementation of policies is always a problem in Nigeria and more so that I didn’t want to stay for another year at home doing nothing, I decided to pay the money,” the 21-year-old student, who also pleaded anonymity, noted.

The story of another male student is slight

different. This student wanted to study Economics at UNILORIN but because he could not meet up with the cut off mark, he came to MADPOLY being his preferred polytechnic to find out if he was on the admission list of Mass Communication Department. Interestingly he made the list but was still asked to pay the N10, 000 “change of institution” fee.

However, because he didn’t obtain credit pass in Literature in English in his Senior Secondary School Certificate Examinations, he was offered marketing instead with a condition to pay another N12, 500 as “change of course fee,” bringing the total payment to N22, 500.

“Raising this money was very difficult for my parents especially when various kinds of fees and levies running to several thousands of Naira were still to be paid,” he said.

More students confirmed payment of “change of institution” and “change of course” fees, which they described as fraudulent, saying the school is cashing in on the nation’s admission crisis to make “illegal money” at the expense of new students, most of whom are from poor homes.

They therefore called on JAMB to stop the polytechnic from the practice and if possible to sanction it for going against JAMB policy.

But the school management explained that it adopted the practice to raise some money to augment the school’s internally generated revenue.

The Head of Media and Information unit, Mr. Sulaimon Adebiyi told National Mirror that apart from the fact that government’s subvention to the school had drastically reduced in the last two years, part of the money CONTINUED ON PAGE 21

‘‘

FG urged to probe varsities on research funds 20

CKA founder seeks police patrol in schools 22

Lagos govt warns teachers against fake pension fund managers 22

20

Education Today

At inaugural lecture, UNIJOS stands still for Professor Sha James Abraham, Jos

O

n Thursday penultimate week, the University of Jos in Plateau State witnessed an unusual gathering of crowd from different walks of life both far and within.

By 10:00am, the institution’s expansive multipurpose auditorium of the main campus was already filled to capacity.

It was the day, Dung Pam Sha, a Professor of Political Economy and Development Studies and a member of the University’s Governing Council delivered his inaugural lecture.

Being a single event in one’s life time, the Inaugural Lecture is usually an occasion of significance in an academic staff member’s career as it provides an opportunity for promoted or appointed professors to inform colleagues in the university and the general public, about their research career so far; and update colleagues on their current and future research directions.

Expectedly, the purpose was not lost on Professor Sha when he came out with the topic titled: “Streets and Boardrooms: Contending Hegemonic Spaces in Shaping Political Economy in Africa.”

Read by Mr. Major Ezekiel Adeyi of the Political Science Department, Sha’s citation which began in 1959 when he was born at Kuru, present day Jos South LGA of Plateau state to an accomplished intellectual and man of God set the stage for the day’s business.

As it turned out, the lecture focused on the role of actors that influence the direction of political economy in Africa.

Sha said:” it is my conviction that political economy of countries around the world is being shaped by, but not limited to two hegemonic spaces; the board-

Babale-Mafuyai UNJOS VC

room which is a space mostly used by the state for public policy making and the street which is also a space used the working class and other state actors to voice out their concerns and sometimes resist policies or programmes.”

The professor argued that institutions, policy and scholarship in economics and politics are changing in response to organised street actions citing experiences in Nigeria, Kenya and South Africa as well as regime changes in countries such as Egypt, Tunisia, Algeria and Libya to back up his claim, However ,he contended that despite these actions, state reforms and regime reconstitution have not fundamentally changed the political economy that supports exploitation and inequality, expressing regret that instead, states are busy trying to reduce the viciousness of these street actors by introducing some social protection strategies.

Against this background, Prof. Sha submitted that for the tension between the streets and the boardrooms as contending spaces that shape political economy in Africa to be reduced or eliminated, those in position of authority must plan, organise and acquire the capacity to deliver services to the citizens, eliminate poverty and inequality, provide social protection and ensure the entrenchment of an inclusive governance framework.

This, he said, calls for the democratization of the state boardroom to make it citizens-friendly, respect for individuals and groups rights and freedom, communication and feedback, constitutionalism and political succession among others.

By the time the lecture came to an end with the presentation of an award to the inaugural lecturer, which was done by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academics), Prof. Nelson Ochekpe, the people left the venue with the conviction that the lecture recommendation are what Nigerian leaders and their counterparts in other African countries need to practice to enable their fatherland move forward.

Thursday, March 24, 2016

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

FG urged to probe varsities on research funds Boladale Bamigbola Osogbo.

F

ederal Government has been urged to institute probe into how funds allocated for research activities and general management of universities are expended.

This was disclosed in Osogbo by the country representative of the Ledra College, Cyprus, Professor Nicholas Georgiou, at a day seminar and scholarship award.

The Nicosia-based Ledra College which organised the seminar in collaboration with the Cool Global Interlink, according to Georgiou has since discovered that rather than improper funding, diversion of funds and lack of monitoring of funds has been main drawback militating against successful research efforts in the country.

The varsity don said, year after year, huge amount is being appropriated for researchers in various uni-

Tinbosun Ogundare

T

he Chairman of the Lagos State Universal Basic Education Board, Dr Ganiyu Oluremi Sopeyin has warned the newly employed primary school teachers in the state to be wary of fraudsters who are parading themselves as state approved pension administrators.

He gave the warning last week in his office, saying

versities, and queried “why is federal government not asking questions on what the monies are used for and those that benefitted”?

Noting that the country may for long remain underdeveloped, if the trend is not checked, Georgiou advised individual researchers benefiting from grants from government to live above board and justify needs for more funds to be allocated

for research efforts.

Commenting on the activities of his organisation, Georgiou said Ledra College offers opportunity for education in Cyprus for the less privileged.

According to him, the college would offer those that will be selected out of 500 participants at the seminar a 50% discount scholarship to study in the College.

Speaking earlier the

L-R: Deputy Registrar (Academic), National Open University of Nigeria, Mrs. Omoreghieva Ileka; Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Abdalla Adamu and Director, Ikeja Study Centre, Dr. Olubiyi Adewale during the institution’s 15th matriculation ceremony in Lagos, Last Saturday. PHOTO: TUNBOSUN OGUNDARE

Lagos govt warns teachers against fake pension fund managers the warning has become necessary to safeguard their future.

It would be recalled that the state government through the board recently employed a total of 1, 300 teachers for its primary schools across the state.

However, Sopeyin in a

press release by the Public Affairs Officer of the board, Mr Seyi Akitoye pointed out that the new teachers were now like beautiful damsels in town who are being wooed by different suitors thus, the need for them to be cautious.

He noted that only 10 pension administrators are currently recognised by

FG tackles graduates’ unemployment with vocational education A biodun A do Ekiti

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Nejo

he Federal Government has reiterated commitment to enhance the vocational and entrepreneurial studies in all institutions of learning to help Nigeria overcome the challenges of joblessness among graduates.

The Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu, said the President Muhammadu Buhari administration was committed to promotion of technical and vocational education through huge investment and research enhancement.

The minister, represented by the Director of Tertiary

chairman, Cool Global Interlinks, Mr. Hamzat Kolade, disclosed that the country’s education is not at par with the best globally, saying the organisation which represents more than 50 world class universities /colleges from across the globe, is providing opportunity for study in Cyprus at subsidised rate as part of contribution towards education and development of youths.

Education, Federal Ministry of Education, Hajia Damiat Abdullahi, spoke last weekend during the 16th Convocation Ceremony of the Federal Polytechnic, Ado Ekiti where 11,557 HND and ND students graduated for 2010/11, 2011/12 and 2012/13 academic sessions.

Fellow of Federal Polytechnic, Ado Ekiti awards were also conferred on the Emir of Lafia, Nassarawa State, Alhaji Isah Mustapha Agwai; renowned industrialist and businessman, Mr. Remi Omotoso; and Mr. Toyin Alabi, as a mark of recognition for their contributions to the development of the country.

According to the minister, with the dwindling fortunes

of jobs in the formal sector, Nigerian graduates, particularly those from polytechnics and other technical schools needed to imbibe the culture of skills acquisition that could make them be employers of labour rather than waiting for uncertainty.

The minister, who said TETFUND intervention was not enough, charged wellmeaning Nigerians and corporate bodies to help in the funding of education to be able to overcome the challenges of “underfunding, staff training and retraining, capacity building, strengthening of institutional management as well as quality technical and vocational education.”

the state government listing them to include Stanbic IBTC, AIICO, Crusader Sterling and Lead way Pensure, among others.

The SUBEBE boss promised that the board organise an induction course for the new teachers soon to educate them more about the service.

Rector of the polytechnic, Dr. Theresa Akande, assured that the institution would continue to strive to offer quality and all-encompassing education for graduates to be able to operate under the present economic situation.

She charged the graduands, saying: “As you go out into the world to join other patriots in the building of a strong nation, we enjoin you to be positive reference point to those coming behind you so that it will challenge their inner beings to imbibe the ethos and ethics of good social and academic culture.

“You must also put into practice all the acquired skills in the entrepreneurship education of your choice, who knows, many of you will eventually be the drivers of the world politics and economy in the years to come,” she said.

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Education Today

Thursday, March 24, 2016

Institute director charges students on diligence, self-discipline Tunbosun Ogundare

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he Director of Administration of Opral Benson Beauty Training Institute, (OBBTI) Yaba, Lagos, Pastor Kehinde Ogundimu has urged students of the institute to be diligent and disciplined not only in schools but also in other areas of endeavours, saying that is the surest way to attain excellence in whatever they do.

He also advised them to be focused and shun all forms of unruly behaviour capable of truncating their future.

Pastor Kehinde gave the advice during the matriculation ceremony of the 2015 first batch of students of the institute, last Friday. They are 35 in all.

Noting that OBBTI was established in 1985 not only to empower youths for professionalism, self-employment, job opportunities and career prospects, but also to contribute to the societal needs of Lagos State and the nation at large, the director added that the institute had produced so many professional hairdressers, stylists and beauty therapists who are today contributing meaningfully to the economy.

He however called on government at all levels and wellmeaning Nigerians and corporate organisations to collaborate with the institute on capacity building for youths to tackle unemployment and associated problems in the country.

In her own contribution, the Proprietress of the institute, Chief Opral Mason Benson, advised the students to be dedicated and determined to succeed in life, saying that is the only way they could contribute meaningfully to the economy.

The Director of Education of the institute, Mr. Bola Onifade conducted the oath on the students at the event.

Change of institution fee CONTINUED FROM PAGE 19 raised through the system is being used to pay JAMB’s imposed “regularisation fee.”

“Or where would JAMB also expect schools to see money to pay the regularisation fee the board collects from us yearly,” he asked rhetorically.

Even at that, he noted, the impression of the polytechnic is that applicants come to the school only after they had failed to secure admission into the university, making the school to consider their applications as a second choice.

Sulaimon however refuted the claim that the school collects N22, 500 from those who do not apply to the school originally, saying it is only N12, 500 and that the money is meant to process their admissions.

But the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board, JAMB, condemned the action, saying no institution including MAPOLY has the right to charge any successful UTME candidate under whatever names before admitting them.

The Director of Media and Public Affairs of the organisation, Dr. Fabian Benjamin described the practice by MAPOLY as deceptive.

He explained that every UTME candidate, by right, becomes automatic applicant to all the over 300 tertiary schools in the country, whether choosing them originally as their preferred institutions or not.

“And that is why JAMB always instructs every applicant to fill one preferred university, one preferred polytechnic and one preferred college of education in their application form so as to broaden their chance of securing admission into any of them. So, there is neither anything like candidates’ first, second nor third choice as far as JAMB is concerned. That is also why after releasing of results, we do send the print out to applicant respective preferred schools separately at each level. So, for MAPOLY asking candidate to pay money for this is absurd to us in JAMB,” he maintained.

He explained further that every candidate has three equal options to make while looking for admission once he meets the required credentials and cut off marks for the proposed courses.

“Although, there is no doubt that every school would like to consider their original applicants first at any level before those who apply later, charging money as “change of institution” fee under whatever guise is illegal. And that is why I found it difficult to believe MAPLOY could be charging such fee,” he concluded.

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Minister canvasses promotion of poetry in schools Regina Otokpa Abuja

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he Federal Government on Tuesday said there was an urgent need for the country to get embellished in poetry if development in all quarters must be achieved.

The Minister of State for Education, Prof. Anthony Anwukah who made the call during the commemoration of World Poetry Day in Abuja, added that poetry should be uncoupled and built into the English studies programme in secondary schools across the country especially at the senior secondary category where poetry was not mandatory.

Represented by his Special Assistant on Technical Matters, Prof. Godswill Obioma, the minister explained that promoting the study of poetry across all institutions of learning from the primary to tertiary educational systems was the only way to having a contemporary society.

“Poetry is life, it gets the

Saidat Alausa

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rofessor of Industrial Relations and Human Resource Management, Covenant University, Ota, Ogun State, Olufemi Adeyeye has said there is need for moral and value orientation in the society to create good relationship between employers and employees as well as to sustain industrial relations practice in the country.

He said this while delivering the university’s 6th inaugural lecture, titled: “Bastardisation of the Templates of Industrial Relations Practice in Nigeria: All Actors in Employment Relationships are Accusative and Censurable,” at the weekend.

According to him, employers, agencies of state and the institutions of labour are expected to uphold the rules and policies of the state as they are instituted in the interest of the actors in employment relationships.

He said employers of labours must ensure that a conducive atmosphere is provided for all and salaries and wages are paid to workers for work done without excuses.

For employees, Prof. Ad-

best out of individuals, poetry is a composition of human though and so when a poem is done it brings out the best in individuals because it sends messages of challenge, development, messages of love and life “In the basic education programme made up of primary and junior secondary school there is the study of

English language which has some components of poetry in English studies although when you get to the senior secondary we have literature in English which of course is not compulsory but I think the curriculum is an open system and I believe in the course of time poetry can be uncoupled an built into the English studies programme

of secondary schools that is our hope.

“We need to get embellished in poetry, it is very critical. Don’t forget that the older civilizations in Europe were all embellished in Poetry and that was how they developed so for us to become a contemporary Nigeria we will promote the study of poetry,” he added.

Registrar, West African Examinations Council, Dr Uyi Uwadiae; immediate past Head of National Office, Nigeria WAEC, Mr. Charles Eguridu; new HNO, Mr. Olutise Adenipekun and ---Mr. Nzeh during the send off party for Eguridu in Lagos, recently.

Don harps on regular payment of salary to workers eyeye recommended that they must ensure that duties and responsibilities to their employers are carried out faithfully and with reasonable commitments.

He also stated that employees must be willing and committed to earn their incomes as the syndrome “little work, fat wages should be discarded.

“More importantly, all those acts of inhumanity to men and women at work should enjoy attention of the Nigerian labour and Trade unions and that of the secu-

rity agencies and human rights organisations in Nigeria.”

For government who is the major employer of labour, the don said it should be faithful to its statutory role of an impartial arbiter who should not meddle unnecessarily in the dispute resolution procedures and the government policy of “no-work-no–pay” should be engaged to discourage strike actions that fail to follow due process in line with Trade Union Act. Analyzing the conse-

quences of bastardisation, the professor said integrity has become a rare commodity in the country because leaders and office holders now loots the country at any slightest opportunity.

He therefore said the society need to assist the government in its current efforts to cleanse the country of its impunity and to “dishonor those pen robbers who had earlier been honoured, if it must be exonerated of bastardisation of the templates of industrial relations practice.

L-R: Dean, College of Leadership Development Studies, Covenant University, Ota, Prof. Charles Ogbulogu; Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Charles Ayo (3rd left); inaugural lecturer, Prof. Olufemi Adeyeye; Education Secretary, Living Faith Education Commission, Prof. Bridget Sokan; Deputy vicechancellor, Prof. Taiwo Abioye, Registrar, Pastor Olamide Olusegun; Dean, Postgraduate Studies, Prof. Shallom Chinedu and other deans during the university’s 6th inaugural lecture, recently.

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Education Today

Thursday, March 24, 2016

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

The second edition of the Early Advantage Montessori School, Lagos inter-house sport competition held recently at Police College, Ikeja. The event in images below.

L-R: Chairman, Parent-Teacher Association, Pastor Ayo Ajasa; Principal, Babcock University Schools, Ogba, Lagos, Mr. Gabriel Fasanu; Principal, Babcock Academy, Abeokuta, Mr. Samuel Obot; Leader of winning Blue House, Miss Rachel Ogunbona and House Master, Mr. Sola Afeniforo during the presentation of the trophy to the house at the Babcock Academy inter-house sport competition, recently.

CKA founder seeks police patrol in schools

• as Ooni, Awujale witness school inauguration Tunbosun Ogundare

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he founder of City of Knowledge Academy, CKA, Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State, Mrs. Mosun Belo-Olusoga on Tuesday asked government to direct the police to constitute patrol teams that would be going around schools and their environs nationwide.

She gave the advice in her address of welcome at the official launch of CKA in Ijebu-Ode, saying such approach as part of security measures to safeguard lives and property in schools would in no small measure prevent students’ kidnapping in the country.

According to her, frequent presence of armed police men and officers on patrol around schools will not only prevent criminal elements from gaining access into schools but will also re-

strain them from kidnapping school children, the practice that is now rampant in the country.

She said although, there should be adequate security for lives and property of every citizen irrespective of their location, school children as leaders of tomorrow deserve more and special protection from the government.

Speaking about her threeyear-old co-educational secondary school which grew from seven students at inception to 29 today, Belo-Olusoga said she established the school as a way of contributing her own quota to the nation’s education development.

According to her, sound and quality education is the best and unquantifiable legacy to bequeath any child.

In his own speech, keynote speaker and Chairman of Troyka Group, Mr. Biodun Shobanjo commended BeloOlusoga for investing in the

training of young minds, saying the rewards go beyond frontiers of a nation.

He however sought the support of well-meaning individuals, corporate bodies and institutions to the school by sponsoring brilliant but indigent students to enable them to also enjoy the best kind of training available only in a world-class secondary school.

Many dignitaries graced the occasion. They include the Deputy Governor of Ogun State, Mrs. Yetunde Onanuga; Ogun State Governor’s wife, Dr. Olufunsho Amosun; the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi and his wife, Olori Wuraola Ogunwusi; the Awujale of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Adetona; Secretary to Ogun State Government, Mr. Taiwo Ifeoluwa; former deputy governor of Lagos State, Mr. Femi Pedro; elder statesman, Chief Ayo Banjo and Managing Director of Access Bank, Plc, Mr. Herbert Wigwe, among others.

the country and to sensitize the students by encouraging them to excel in their world by developing their ability to think through issues and make a change in their world even at their tender age.

Like previous years, the overall winner school gets three internet ready desktop computers and a printer, while the student goes home with a trophy, Laptop, N100, 000 cash and a plaque. The first runner up school gets 2 internet ready desktop computers and a printer and the student goes home with a cash prize of N75, 000 with a plaque. The second runner up school gets an internet ready computer, while the student gets N50, 000 cash prize and a plaque.

For participation in the

competition, the students are expected to write an essay of 2000 words, a Passport Photograph of the Student, Full Name, Address, Contact Telephone Number, Class, School and Name and Telephone contact of the Principal.

Essay could be submitted through email to essay@trem. org or by post to The Redeemed Evangelical Mission (TREM) International Headquarters, Obanikoro/Anthony Lagos.

The Mike Okonkwo National Essay Competition spans over a decade of developing and rewarding the writing skills of Nigerian youths towards national development.

The prizes for this year’s competition will be presented to the winners at the 17th Mike Okonkwo Annual Lecture fixed for September 1st in Lagos.

Mr. Peter Keshi presenting an award to the representative of Biofirm Pharmaceutical Nigeria Ltd., Mrs Soremekun at the event.

Parents having their match pass led by Mrs. George Ibafe(Vice Chairperson, PTA.

2016 Mike Okonkwo Essay contest begins Saidat Alausa

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s part of the activities lined up to mark the 71st birthday of the Presiding Bishop, The Redeemed Evangelical Mission, TREM, Dr. Mike Okonkwo, entries for the 13th Mike Okonkwo National Essay Competition for Secondary School Students in Nigeria is now open from March 28th to May 27th, 2016, The topic for this year’s competition is “The State of the Nigerian Nation: Redefining Our Values.”

According to a release by the organiser, the competition is aimed at contributing to the educational sector in

Mr. Omofaye( Father of the Day) (left) presenting an award to Hon. Adedamola Richard Kasimu (Red House Ambassador.)

Pupils with brilliant performance at the event with their prizes.

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Education Today

Thursday, March 24, 2016

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am writing this piece with a lot of reluctance because I had thought the nation would have stood up to the acts of impunity perpetrated by JAMB these past years. Many have taken to the streets to protest the unacceptable impact of JAMB’s improprieties on their lives, howbeit in very peaceful ways. In a commentary on the 2015/2016 edition of the UTME, I highlighted three major problems that were encountered by candidates namely, insufficient and lopsided distribution of centres, poor infrastructure and equipment in available centres and lack of readiness on the part of the candidates for the computer based test. These very fundamental problems were glossed over by the examination administrators who went on to proclaim a resounding success at the end of the exercise!

In that year candidates were posted from Lagos to Ogun, Oyo, Osun and as far as Kwara state in some instances. Entire families were mobilized in support of their youngsters leaving home for the first time. Entire families’ savings were spent on unplanned and sometimes horrendous journeys and hotel bills. Hardware failures took their toll on candidates as failed computers caused the premature submission of examination scripts bringing the dreams of higher education to an abrupt end.

When JAMB arrogated to itself the right to chose an institution for candidates later that year, I thought that was “one crisis too many” and I said so! But the all-wise JAMB administrators thought it was a master stroke as it would give the candidates a better opportunity for admission without consideration for the cost to the candidates if offered admission.

They were shocked by the level of disapproval demonstrated by a broad spectrum of the Nigerian society in form of street protests, newspaper commentaries and numerous blogs on the internet.

But apart from the expressions of dissatisfaction by the public, with the conduct and attitude of JAMB, I had expected that concrete actions would be taken to prevent a reoccurrence. But all I heard was total silence! Is it possible that events that perplexed the entire nation were beyond redemption? The ministry of Education was silent also probably be-

Burden of CBT innovation JAMB succumbed to fraudulent accreditations by proprietors of dubious centres but not without the connivance of JAMB officials! cause there was no minister of education. The honourable members of the national assembly did nothing to solve the at hand; instead they wanted an extension of the period of validity of UTME result from one to three years.

All the problems of the previous exercises returned with greater brutality in 2016. The indomitable issue of examination malpractice which the computer based test was supposed to curtail regained prominence in a big way, with an operator reportedly offering as much as six million Naira as bribe. These were the cases reported; what about the many others that fell for the great bait. The stakes are higher now with a single centre catering for over 3000 candidates on the average in a single examination season. I am well informed that some candidates offer as much as N200,000 for similar computer based tests in some public institutions to obtain a

pass mark in the Post UTME. In all of these, JAMB in its usual nature has not shown sufficient transparency in resolving the problems that have engulfed the examination body. With JAMB’s admission that 145,704 were involved in the saga of multiple test results, and another 59,000 candidates to rewrite the examination at a later date out of a total of 1,546,633 that wrote the examination, we are talking about at least 13.24% cases of irregularities in the latest JAMB outing. This is unacceptable!

Adequately equipped centres for computer based tests were obviously in short supply right from the beginning.

But in order to prove that CBT is working JAMB succumbed to fraudulent accreditations by proprietors of dubious centres but not without the connivance of JAMB officials! If I may hazard a guess, not more than 200 centres can conduct CBT effectively in Nigeria. Majority of secondary schools have neither computers nor competent computer instructors; how do we expect the kids to acquire proficiency in computer operations? To my dear colleague Professor Ojerinde, you ought to have resigned long ago on your honour.

But if you prefer to continue to sit tight, then you must swallow the bitter pill and make the computer based test optional again until the situations in the country improve!

Examination malpractice remains an important obstacle to learning at every level of our educational ladder. To the best of my knowledge, no perpetrator of examination malpractice has ever been sent to jail in Nigeria. The lack of an effective deterrent against the practice would continue to encourage others to participate. Reports of malpractice in the just concluded CBT have shown that it a human problem independent of the mode of examination. The National Assembly should, as a matter of urgent national interest, introduce an appropriate legislation that could act as a deterrent against the act and curtail examination malpractice in our educational institutions.

My plans for NOUN —New VC Tunbosun Ogundare

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he new Vice-Chancellor of National Open University of Nigeria, NOUN, Prof. Abdalla Adamu has said he would consolidate the good works of his predecessor, Professor Ado Tenebe on core principles of affordability and flexibility of the school programmes and initiate the new policies that could add value to the development of the university.

He made the promise last Saturday in Lagos while addressing the newly admitted students into the open and distance learning university at the matriculation ceremony, which was held simultaneously at the university’s 68 study centres spread nationwide.

The vice-chancellor who attended the combined ceremony by Mushin and Ikeja study centres said his administration would purse quality assurance excellence using the National Universities Commission benchmark, offer quality academic, research and laboratory services that would be very competitive with those in the conventional universities.

“NOUN will also intro-

duce new innovations in the areas of distribution of course materials, students\ school interaction and processing of examination results to forestall incidences of missing results, among others,” he added.

Also disclosing that the university would relocate its headquarters from Lagos to its permanent site in Abuja next Tuesday, Prof. Adamu said the idea was to move the university beyond the next level.

On the new students, he congratulated them for having confidence in the institution, despite what he called its many speculated challenges.

He however warned them to shun behaviour capable of truncating their future and tarnishing the image of the institution but asked them to give their studies deserved attention.

Adamu

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The celebrant and founder, Prof. Olu Akeusola Foundation, Prof. Olu Akeusola (middle) with beneficiaries of his 2016 scholarship award during the award presentation in Epe, Lagos, on Monday.

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rofessor Olu Akeusola Foundation has again this year honoured 18 indigent students with scholarship awards worth thousands of naira.

Speaking at the 2016 award presentation held at Michael Otedola College for Primary Education, MOCPED, Noforija, Epe, on Monday, the Chairman of the foundation, Dr. Folashade Ojetunde said the scholarship award was organised yearly to mark the birth date of the Provost of the college, Prof. Olu Akeusola.

She disclosed that the awardees was selected having top their classes in their various institutions.

Akeusola foundation gives indigent students scholarship

Explaining that the award has over the years helped indigent students to achieve their academic pursuit, she urged the students to continue in their feat and very soon they will be among the top flyers.

Earlier in his remarks, the celebrant, Prof. Olu Akeusola said the foundation was born out of his desire to give to the society who made him who he is today.

“If I was not opportune to win scholarships from the then Lagos government led by Michael Otedola and from the federal government nobody will know me and I

might not have become what I am today that is why I decided to give to the society that made me,” he stated.

The professor of Comparative Language urged the awardees to always aim high and the sky will be their beginning.

The scholarship awards cuts across Primary, secondary, Tertiary institutions and students with special needs.

The primary category received N10, 000, secondary got N20, 000 each, tertiary which is divided into two had students in colleges of education receiving N30, 000 and others from the university received

N40, 000 each.

Students with special needs also got N40, 000.

Responding on behalf of the awardees, Miss Gbemisola Sodipe from University of Ibadan said the award had given them hope and would encourage them to do more.

Thanking the foundation for the gesture, she said the life of Prof. Akeusola who despite no help was able to toil and turn out great is indeed a motivation to them all.

“We are so glad for what you did for us today and in future you will be proud of us all,” she said.

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National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Thursday, March 24, 2016

Edited by: Saidat Alausa saidat.alausa@yahoo.com 08027633686

EKSU gets new registrar Saidat Alausa

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he Governing Council, Ekiti State University, EKSU, Ado Ekiti, has approved the appointment of Mr. Akinwumi Arogundade as the new registrar of the univer-

sity.

His appointment will take effect from 8th of May, 2016 when the current Registrar, Mr. Emmanuel Ogunyemi would have completed his tenure.

Born in Ado Ekiti in 1963, Arogundade attended Emmanuel Anglican Primary School, Ado Ekiti (1969-1975) and Christ School Ado Ekiti (1975-1980) for his Elementary and Secondary School Education.

The new EKSU Registrar bagged a Bachelors Degree in History at the University of Benin, Benin City in 1986. He qualified as a Lawyer after attending the University of Ibadan between 1987 and 1990 where he bagged LL.B (Hons) and the Nigerian Law School in Lagos between 1990 and 1991.

Mr. Arogundade obtained his Masters Degree in Law (LL.M) at Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife in 2010. Before joining the services of the university, Mr. Arogundade had been an auxillary teacher, Litigation Counsel, Senior State Counsel at Ondo State Ministry of Justice Akure and One of the pioneer Senior State Counsels at Ekiti State Ministry of Justice, Ado Ekiti among others.

The incoming Registrar had once been the Personal Assistant to the Hon. Attorney General in Ekiti State.

He began his career in the university as a Senior Assistant Registrar (Legal Matters) on 20th October, 1997 and became Principal Assistant Registrar (Legal Matters). He was appointed as Deputy Registrar (Legal Matters) on 1st December, 2011. The new Registrar was on that position until his new appointment as the fifth substantive Registrar of the University.

FUNAAB VC assures freshers of excellence Saidat Alausa

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ice-Chancellor, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, FUNAAB, Ogun State, Prof.

Olusola Oyewole, has assured newly admitted students that the university would continue to strive within the limits its resources to make the environment conducive for serious academic activities.

He stated this during the matriculation ceremony for the 2015/2016 academic session, held recently.

The vice-chancellor pointed out that the university had witnessed unprecedented growth and development in all ramifications as espoused by its founding fathers therefore will do everything possible to make the stay of the 3,829 students offered admission better for it.

He however cautioned them to avoid behaviours that can disrupt their stay in the university because the institution has zero tolerance for cultism and other social vices.

Prof. Oyewole therefore charged the students to be disciplined, shun examination malpractices, fully utilise campus facilities for optimal academic success, be well-dressed, engage in responsible students’ unionism and be health conscious.

For quality assurance of its various courses, he noted that the National Universities Commission (NUC) accreditation teams visited all the academic programmes of the university and 96 percent of the academic programmes were accredited.

The Vice-Chancellor, however, appealed to parents, guardians and sponsors to take keen interest in the activities of their children by frequently visiting them in their hostels and off-campus residences. “Never assume that they are grownups. While you pray for them, ensure that they shun bad companies and associations. Encourage them on the path of selfdiscipline and comportment.”

UNILAG students during a five-day seminar on multimedia and communications organised by an alumnus of the university, recently.

UNIBEN students want confab recommendation implemented Richard Enake

300L, Intern. Studies and Dip. UNIBEN

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t is over a year now since about 492 eminent men and women representing different interest groups in Nigeria gathered in Abuja for the national conference to chart a course for the progress of the country.

The University of Benin community converged at the Banquet Hall of the university recently to interact with some delegates at the national confab.

The summit which was organised by the Clerk, Students’ Union Government, University of Benin, Hon. Umoh Alexander was to remind the audience the challenges the nation is facing.

In his opening remark, Alexander

said the nation is in a very difficult time, a time when the hard-earned democracy is at the verge of being lost to national insecurity, economic down turn, fear of disintegration and the likes.

He expressed his worry that the much anticipated national confab has not been utilize to its optimum.

He said the solutions to the nation’s challenges are there in the recommendations of the confab which if utilised will solve a lot of challenges being faced by the country. “It’s sad that the document is lying fallow somewhere.”

The summit was tagged was themed, “Enforcing the National confab’s minutes; a recipe for National oneness.”

Speaking at the summit, a delegate at the National confab, Prof. Eddy Erhagbe, described the timing of the national

confab as auspicious.

He said with the way things were going, “it was clear to close observers of the Nigerian polity that we were heading for the rocks.” He said the confab was timely because it brought the different interest groups in Nigeria together for dialogue and dialogue is one efficacious factor of conflict resolution. This, the national confab provided.

“The confab was worth more than the money that went into it considering the quality of recommendations made at the end of it. History would be generous on President Jonathan for that confab.”

Mr Sylvester Okoh, another delegate at the national confab talked about the unique representation at the confab.

Bida Poly begins war against indecent dressing Oyelowo Stephen

HND2,MassCom FEDPOLY,Bida

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ederal Polytechnic Bida, Niger State have began a rally against indecent conduct and immoral behavior of students on the campus as

well as the inauguration of a committee to maintain the mandate of the institution.

According to the Registrar of the institution, Chief Bisi Adeyemi who expressed dissatisfaction towards students’ attitude toward proper conduct

Vice-Chancellor, Federal University of Technology, Akure, [FUTA], Prof. Adebiyi Daramola (middle) with principal officers, dignitaries and participants at a five-day international conference on human habitat organized by the university in conjunction with London South Bank University and De-Montfort University, Leicester , England, in Akure, recently. Theme: “21st Century Human Habitat: Issues, Sustainability and Development.”

disclosed that, “Students no more have regard for lecturers, even while in lecturer hall”.

Also, President, Student Union Government, Afolabi Jamiu disclosed that, Nigerian students are fond of dressing irresponsibly to lectures. “In most occurrence, the way many students dress to class displays the kind of characters they processes and this has caused a lot of confusions and distraction in our academic environment and in many higher institution leading to insolence behavior of students towards other sex.

He further disclosed that the institution have organised and empowered a committee on indecent conduct to take drastic action to curb indecent dressing in the polytechnic.

A senior lecturer in the institution, Mr. Ayodele Churchill, advised all students to embrace the principle behind the war against immoral dressing and be of good behavior and maintain all standards as this will curb social ills and by extension raise the academic standard of the institution.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

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Thursday, March 24, 2016

Edited by: Saidat Alausa saidat.alausa@yahoo.com 08027633686

New VC solicits support of members of staff

Sport is vital to good education —VC, Lead City

Williams Attah

Saidat Alausa

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he newly appointed Vice-Chancellor of Federal University Gashua in Yobe State, Professor Andrew Haruna has formally resumed office with a vow not to degenerate the university to a glorified secondary school.

The new VC made this vow while addressing Senate members of the university during his formal taking over of affairs of the university.

Professor Andrew who called on staff of the university to join hands with him in realising this dream of making the institution a first-class university said the task of building a strong institution is a collective responsibility that must be taken by all.

According to him, “University is a universal institution, and my prayer is that we should not make this university a glorified secondary school. I cannot do this alone without the cooperation of the entire staff. This also means that, for us to achieve the status of a universal institution, we have to diversify.”

He commended his predecessor, Professor Shehu Abdulrahman for laying a solid foundation for the school and promised to build on the legacies left behind by his predecessor.

Until his appointment, Professor Haruna, born in 1957 in Gar, Alkaleri LGA of Bauchi State was the head of department of Linguistics and Nigerian Languages, University of Jos, Plateau State.

LASU intensifies campaign against cultism, indecent dressing Tunbosun Ogundare

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he staff and students of Lagos State University, LASU, Ojo, were recently walked round the campus to campaign against all manner of unruly behavior including cultism and indecent dressing by students on campus.

The Vice-Chancellor of the institution, Prof. ‘Lanre Fagbohun led the team and he was accompanied by his wife, Yejide Fagbohun; the Deputy Vice-Chancellor [Administration], Prof. Fidelis Njokanma; Registrar, Mr. Lewis Oladapo; Bursar, Mr. Adetayo Hassan and Acting Librarian, Dr. Beauty Idrissu, among other senior members of Staff.

The walk was reportedly peaceful and fun-filled for participants

V Cross section of Fortune school’s students during the campaign against drug abuse organised by Pharmaceutical Association of Nigeria Students, UNIBEN chapter, recently.

UNILAG alumnus, undergraduates train students Miftaudeen Raji and Rasheeda Opere

200L, Mass Comm, UNILAG

I

n a bid to empower youths through the acquisition of skills, an alumnus and two other undergraduates of the University of Lagos, UNILAG, Akoka recently organised a five-day seminar on various areas including multimedia and communications.

According to one of the organisers, a 300L technology education, Faculty of Education, Useme David, the seminar cut across five faculties in the university held between March 9th and 12th.

The seminar which centered on creative writing, graphics designing, web designing, video editing and motion graphics was facili-

L-R: President, Students’ Union, Lagos State University, Ojo, Tayo Shekoni; ViceChancellor, Prof. Olarenwaju Fagbohun; immediate past President, Students’ Union, Wasiu Adeyemi; Head, Security Unit, Mr. Abdulateef Ifegbuyi and others during the university’s walk against cultism and indecent dressing on campus.

tated By Peter Olamide Ogunojemite, a graduate of Mass Communication from the university.

Ogunojemite, who is the CEO of Rock Photo taught participants photo editing, using Adobe Light Room and Adobe Photo Shop.

Other session was facilitated by Dawn Ntekim, a 300L student of Building Department, who taught video editing, using Adobe after effects.

Ukeme, a web designer and founder of a 3-year-old Herren Consult however

faulted the Nigeria educational system saying, “It is not productive enough as most graduates don’t find job after spending four to five years in the university.

He said he organised the programme to educate students on the need to be thinking along becoming self-reliant before graduation.

Rahamon VC,UNILAG

ice-Chancellor, Lead City University, Ibadan, Oyo State, Prof. Olufemi Olubanjo has described sports as a good component to a complete educational process.

He also disclosed that it was the reason the institution is striving to provide the best facilities for sporting activities within the campus.

He stated this at the weekend while addressing students during the closing ceremony of the annual VC Sports Tournament held at the institution.

The VC who frowned at the dwindling fortune of the school’s sports in the country opined that the role of sport in educational process cannot be undermined as it helps in shaping the lives and brain of the students.

“Active involvement of students in sporting activities takes their minds away from many social vices, unproductive ventures, and ungodly acts which are detrimental to their future,” he noted.

Undergraduate takes campaign against drug abuse to secondary schools Ezekiel Efeobhokhan 500L Pharmacy UNIBEN

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he Pharmaceutical Association of Nigeria Student, PANS and another student body, Kalligraphy recently organised campaign against drug abuse among secondary school students.

The campaign was tagged, “The effect of drug abuse and how to overcome addiction.”

Speaking at Fortune High schools, Edo State, the chairman of the AntiDrug Misuse and Abuse Program ADMAP, Isaac Ehimen said the visit was prompted by the 2016 target set by the PANS where 10, 000 students of different secondary schools

across Edo state will be armed against every urge to partake in the negative act of Drug abuse.

This bench mark according him was to reduce the prevailing rate of drug addicts in Edo state.

He however stated that although these secondary school students may not yet be influenced to start taking drugs but they ought to be immune against negative fellows who may one day try to influence them.

Isaac also spoke to the students about the brain and how addictions can be curbed said once addiction sets in, the victim is helpless. “He starts being manipulated by the direction of the Brain Reward Center.”

According to him, “the

Brain Reward center creates the urge to repeat experiences that may have elicited pleasure for the brain in time past.”

Speaking on the way forward after addiction, a representative of Kalligraphy which is an initiative that engage in the development and training of Secondary school students, Ezekiel Efeobhokhan gave the students major steps on overcoming addiction.

“First, open up to your teacher, parents or pastor, the other step was for you to avoid loneliness and idleness.”

He stressed that since an idle mind is the devils workshop, “when you are busy, the devil will not be able to use you.”

26

Thursday, March 24, 2016

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HE NATION

ON SUNDAY of March 20 displayed grammatical hypocrisy: “The president should call the group to order for double standards (standard) and flouting our laws” “Rangers’ boss picks holes on 3SC” I also pick my own holes in (not on) this headline.

“TIME Magazine commends Nigeria over (for/on) containment” “…was the outcome of the series of meeting (meetings)” “…Assure (Assure Nigerians) Boko Haram will be defeated” “The source said further that…are (were) now firmly in control of the military.”

“Lassa fever scare in Delta as FMC cordons-off (cordons off) emergency ward” “…the population of the estate has increased considerable (considerably)” Finally from THISDAY of March 20 under review: “Heat free (Heat-free) curls” SATURDAY INDEPENDENT of March 19 circulated a potpourri of misapprehensions: “Buhari’s administration is been (being) sabotaged, says cleric” “Irri community seeks for support” Yank off ‘for’ Wrong: electioneering campaign; Right: electioneering or campaign “Siasia clamours for Nigerians (Nigerians’) support” National Mirror of March 18 disseminated a few solecisms starting with this banner: “CNS indicts major oil companies in (for/on) oil theft” Yet another lexical crisis: “…that the police was (were) supporting the impeached speaker of the House….” “…at the expense of majority (the majority) of other members of the House” “He said the police cannot (could not) be dragged into the mess….”

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Pick holes in, not on, something “Underfunding, bane to (of) poly education” Still on National Mirror under focus: “…incessant strikes actions….” Education Today: incessant strikes “Truancy among professors and other senior academic staff often percolate (percolates) down the academic hierarchy….”

“Modibbo meets delegates, promises all inclusive (all-inclusive) government” “Obiazor relishes Super Eagles (Eagles’) call-up” “Group insists PDP, APC should pick Christian (Christians) as flag bearers in 2019” “We express these fears, knowing fully well the nature of ….” This amounts to ill-treatment of the English language.

Right: knowing full well “The NFF still have to decide on the outcome of some matches” ‘Federation’ takes a singular verb.

“What is good for the goose can’t be bad for the gander. “ I do not understand the use of ‘good’ and ‘bad’ instead of ‘sauce’ in this instance. “…but LifeStyle will not hesitate to remind you about (sic) one of the qualifying criterion for this jamboree…” Singular: criterion; plural: criteria. In addition, ‘remind you of…’

“An alleged hike in school fees has created a row between the management and the Parents Teachers Association (PTA) of….

“PTA means Parent-Teacher Association.

“The donation of vehicles and communication gadgets provide a good beginning. “ The donation … provides.

“Fear of robbers keep lawyers away from courts” Fear of robbers keeps…

“CBN intervention bouys naira” (BUSINESSDAY, March 21) Get it right: buoys.

“You must be matured and in love with jazz music.” (DAILY

TIMES, March 21) Just ‘mature’.

The next three errors are from NTA Network News of March 21: “…. Who presided at the occasion?” NTA correspondents should be civilized: the preposition that goes with ‘occasion’ is ‘on’ (not ‘at’) “He said that the ministry intends to restore back…“ ‘Restore back’ shows unintelligibility. With ‘restore’, you cannot have ‘back’. We should not use words we do not understand their meanings (or implications). The English language has evolved from the old period to the modern era. Therefore, journalists must avoid Anglo-Saxon expressions.

“Each of the stadia was provided with practicing pitch.”

It is not the pitches that practise as implied in the statement.

Therefore, the sensible phrase ought to be ‘practice pitch.’

Lexical and semantic appropriateness demands this line of thought.

“Captain…wedded former Miss… in Lagos over the weekend with pomp and pageantry. “ (THISDAY, March 20) ‘Pomp and pageantry’ is not an accepted phrase. The standard expression is ‘pomp and circumstance’ or ‘pomp and ceremony.’

It can simply be left as ‘pomp’. If you do not remember these forms, rephrase. At least, you can always recollect that the Nigerian creation (pomp and pageantry) is uneducated.

“Truely, Jos is a home of peace and tourism.” (DAIILY TIMES, March 21) Correct form: truly “This development is unlike in some states where education have (sic) died a natural death…” (DAILY CHAMPION, March 21) Indeed, education has died in Champion House!

“SINCE the corruption of political crisis in neighbouring Chad….” (DAILY CHAMPION, March 21) This way: eruption

PTA boosts King’s College with N16m water, power projects Students urged to be focused Tunbosun Ogundare

T

he Parent-Teacher Association of King’s College, Lagos last Sunday inaugurated its water and solar power projects built for the annex campus of the college on Victoria Island.

The two projects which expected to be replicated at the main campus of the college soon cost the association

according to its chairman, Chief Emmanuel Oriakhi over N16 million with water taking a lion’s share of over N10 million.

With the two projects, the students, teachers as well as the support staff of the college would now be enjoying steady supply of potable water and electricity which are scarce commodities in the country.

Thanking members of PTA for their cooperation

and support, particularly in making the projects a reality, the chairman said the water treatment plant had the capacity of producing over 48,000 litres of the commodity on daily basis, which is thrice of what the annex campus needs while the solar project would save cost on diesel for other important things.

He noted that the two projects would not only boost teaching and learning, but would also add to the quality

L-R: Distinguished award recipients and members, Parent-Teacher Association, King’s College, Lagos, Mr. Offodile Offor and Alhaji Jani Ibrahim; Principal, Mr. Oluseyi Thomas and Chairman, PTA, Chief Emmanuel Oriakhi, during the inauguration of water and solar power projects donated by PTA to the annex campus of the college on Victoria Island, last Sunday.

of life and save money from constant buying of sachet and table waster and generator repairs in the campus.

Expressing his heartfelt appreciation to PTA for the gesture, the Principal of the college, Mr. Oluseyi Thomas, who assumed the position last year, said the PTA had been a saving grace for the college in many areas supporting the school with different developmental projects.

He noted that government could not all alone meet the financial needs of any school because of its scarce resources hence the support of parents and other well meaning individuals and corporate bodies to support schools to make learning and teaching worthwhile.

He however promised that the projects would be well used and sustained.

Two deserving parents, who are also alumni of the college, Alhaji Jani Ibrahim and Mr. Offodile Offor, an engineer were honoured with distinguished awards

by PTA at the event for their strong contributions to the association and the college.

Saidat Alausa

C

hairman, Babcock University Schools Management Board, Prof. Luke Onuoha has urged students in the country to be focused as well as be determined to be great as they proceed in life.

According to him, any students that is not focused or determined to make something great in life might find it difficult to succeed.

Prof. Onuoha who was represented by the Principal of Babcock University High School, Ilishan-Remo, Ogun State, Dr. Bolanle Adebowojo stated this during the first Annual Inter-House sports competition of Babcock Academy, Abeokuta, Ogun State.

He explained that the inter-house sport competition organised by the school is a demonstration of Adventist System of education which according to him is holistic in nature and has to do with education which involves the use of the head, hand and the mind.

Also speaking during the occasion, the Principal of Babcock Academy, Mr. Samuel Obot urged sports administrators in the country to develop other sports such as athletics, swimming, table tennis among others instead of concentrating majorly on football. He noted that there are many talents in these other sports that can make Nigeria proud through the brilliant performances of the sports men and women if given the opportunity.

The principal also urged other school principals and teachers to encourage their students to participate in sports because according to him, this can improve their health which can eventually lead to better academic performance.

Also speaking, the chairman of Parent-Teacher Association, Pastor Ayo Ajasa congratulated all participants saying the training of the child should not be left in the hands of teachers stressing that the government and parents should be involved in their training.

Business Thursday, March 24, 2016

Federation revenue dips by N20.46bn in February 28

Appraising feasibility of Nigeria’s 2017 digital migration deadline

31

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Telecom stakeholders rev up clamour for free spectrum 32

Global monetary system needs strengthening –IMF boss UDO ONYEKA

I

MF Managing Director, Christine Lagarde, has said that there is the urgent need to strengthen the global financial system so that emerging countries can restore momentum and safely deepen economic and financial integration.

According to her, establishing a stronger and safer international monetary system would prevent risks which are of paramount importance for advanced and emerging economies alike.

Speaking at the China Development Forum, in Beijing at the weekend, Lagarde said the moment could not be more fitting than now, given the conjuncture of risks and transitions in the global economy.

She said that With China making a major contribution, over the past few years, we saw the center of global economic “gravity” shift toward emerging and developing economies, adding that this group of countries is home to 85 percent of the world’s population and accounting for almost 60 percent of global GDP. “Since the crisis, they have become the engine of global activity, contributing more than 80 percent of global growth.

“Yet today, economic momentum in this group of countries is slowing. Structural shifts on the

global landscape, including lower commodity prices and tighter and more volatile financial conditions, are denting their long run growth potential. China itself is in the midst of an historic transformation to deliver on the Chinese Dream of a “great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.

“The global economy today is increasingly multipolar, complex, and interconnected. One needs to ask how the international monetary system can be strengthened so that China and other emerging countries can restore momentum and safely deepen economic and financial integration”, she said.

According to her, as one of the largest and most systemic economies in the world, China has a clear and central role to play in this system, noting that the decision to include China’s currency as part of the SDR basket starting October this year, along with the 2010 governance reforms which places it among the top 3 shareholders in the IMF, are a testament to its growing leadership role in the global arena.

She said that IMF, in consultation with members, will be exploring possible options to strengthen the resilience of the international monetary system, adding that the 2008 financial crisis revealed con-

siderable fault lines in the system and that the impetus for reform is inevitable.

“The priorities for the Fund were clear. We overhauled our own surveillance toolkit to take better account of economic and financial interconnections and spillovers, and revamped our institutional view on the management of capital flows.

“This is crucial to draw more attention to the risks and global implications of domestic policies. We are also enhancing our understanding of the impact of non-economic spillovers such as epidemics.

T

he National Union of Air Transport Employees, NUATE, has called on the Federal Government to wade into the plan by foreign airlines to downsize about 2,000 workforces over their inability to transfer earnings to respective bases due to Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, policy.

In a letter addressed to the Minister of State for Aviation, Sen. Hadi Sirika with the title, ‘Save Our Souls,’ and made available to journalists in Lagos, the Ag. General Secretary of NUATE, Comrade Olayinka Abioye, said that the union received an information that

AIRLINES’ FLIGHT SCHEDULES Med-View Airline Lagos- Abuja (Mon-Fri): 07.00, 08.50, 12.00, 16.30. Abuja- Lagos (Mon-Fri): 09.00, 14.00, 15.00, 18.30. Lagos-Yola (Mon-Fri): 8.50am. Yola-Lagos (Mon-Fri): 13.00. Lagos- PHC (Mon-Fri): 17.00. PHC-Lagos: 19.00. Abuja-Yola: 11.00. Yola-Abuja: 13.00.

Lagos-Abuja (Sat): 08.00, 08.50.

Abuja-Lagos (Sat): 10.00, 15.00.

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

Dana Air

L-R: Regional Bank Head, Fidelity, Rivers,Bayelsa South Commercial,Mr Frank Anumele;Executive Director, South Bank,Mrs Aku Odinkemelu;Regional Bank Head Public Sector, Eve Kanu and Regional Bank Head,MidWest,Mr Ovie Mukoro, during the presentation of the winner of 4 Bedroom Duplex in Fidelity Save 4 Shelter Promo in Port Harcourt, yesterday.

Aviation union seeks FG’s intervention over planned workers’ sack Olusegun Koiki

27

the foreign carriers are planning massive downsize in the numbers of its employees in the country.

Abioye declared that such massive sack as a result of the Federal Government’s policy poses a great threat to the sector’s development especially at a time when qualified personnel could not secure jobs in the sector.

The NUATE leader that as a result of the policy, international airlines have devised several ways inimical to safety and security, stressing that this would also lower the services they render to their passengers.

He urged the Federal Government to wade into the sordid situ-

ation to save thousands of workers from being laid off.

The letter reads in part: “As partners with the Federal Government through your good office, we support wholeheartedly the change mantra of the government and pledge our unalloyed allegiance towards its success, but we hasten to place on the front burner, an emerging threat confronting over 2, 000 private sector aviation workers in Nigeria, which requires your intervention, to forestall imminent loss of jobs of these numbers of workers.

“Following concerns raised recently by leaders of these workers and other stakeholders and in appreciation of the good intent of the

government’s fiscal policy, we humbly make this clarion call for your intervention to grant foreign airlines concession to repatriate their proceeds to their home countries.”

The labour leader pointed out that should the foreign airlines go ahead with the sacking of the workers in the aviation industry, it would not be in the interest of the aviation sector and Nigeria as a whole.

“We hasten to place in the front burner an emerging threat confronting over 2,000 private sector aviation workers in Nigeria which requires your intervention to forestall imminent loss of jobs of these numbers of workers”, Abioye added.

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

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

28

Business News

Thursday, March 24, 2016

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Federation revenue dips by N20.46bn in February

…as FG, others share N345.095 billion CHIDI UGWU, ABUJA

T

he Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) totalled N270.499 billion in February, down from the N290.961 billion received in the previous month, representing about N20.462 billion decline.

Despite the decrease, the three tiers of government shared the sum of three hundred and forty five billion, ninety five million Naira (N345.095bn), inclusive of Value Added Tax (VAT), as the statutory allocation distributions during the month in review.

The surplus were provided by the exchange gains and refunds made by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, to

the Federation Account.

Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Finance, Mr Mahmoud Isa-Dutse, who represented the Finance Minister Mrs. Kemi Adeosun, gave the breakdown the sharing formula as follow: Federal government received N127.200 representing 52.68 per cent; State Governments received N64.518 representing 26.72 per cent while the Local Governments got N49.780 billion or 20.60 per cent of the distributed funds.

He said that oil production increased slightly between December 2015 and January 2016 despite explosions at Escravos terminal, force majeure declared at Brass terminal, shut-in and shut-down of pipelines at other terminals for

Aviation union seeks FG’s intervention over planned workers’ sack Olusegun Koiki

T

he National Union of Air Transport Employees, NUATE, has called on the Federal Government to wade into the plan by foreign airlines to downsize about 2,000 workforces over their inability to transfer earnings to respective bases due to Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, policy.

In a letter addressed to the Minister of State for Aviation, Sen. Hadi Sirika with the title, ‘Save Our Souls,’ and made available to journalists in Lagos, the Ag. General Secretary of NUATE, Comrade Olayinka Abioye, said that the union received an information that the foreign carriers are planning massive downsize in the numbers of its employees in the country.

Abioye declared that such massive sack as a result of the Federal Government’s policy poses a great threat to the sector’s development especially at a time when qualified personnel could not secure jobs in the sector.

The NUATE leader that as a result of the policy, international airlines have devised several ways inimical to safety and security, stressing that this would also lower the services they render to their passengers.

He urged the Federal Government to wade into the sordid situation to save thousands of workers from being laid off.

The letter reads in part: “As partners with the Federal Government through your good office, we support wholeheartedly the change mantra of the government and pledge our unalloyed allegiance towards its suc-

cess, but we hasten to place on the front burner, an emerging threat confronting over 2, 000 private sector aviation workers in Nigeria, which requires your intervention, to forestall imminent loss of jobs of these numbers of workers.

“Following concerns raised recently by leaders of these workers and other stakeholders and in appreciation of the good intent of the government’s fiscal policy, we humbly make this clarion call for your intervention to grant foreign airlines concession to repatriate their proceeds to their home countries.”

The labour leader pointed out that should the foreign airlines go ahead with the sacking of the workers in the aviation industry, it would not be in the interest of the aviation sector and Nigeria as a whole.

repairs and maintenance.

The Permanent Secretary also noted that there was revenue loss of $45.90 million as a result of drop in average price of crude oil from $39.04 in December 2015 to $29.02 in January 2016.

According to him, a substantial drop in income was recorded from oil and gas royalty, Companies Income Tax and Import Duty adding that NNPC refunded the sum of N6.330 billion to the federal government.

Isa-Dutse noted that there was exchange gain of N3.485 billion

L-R: Vitafoam Nigeria Plc’s Group Managing Director, Mr Taiwo Adeniyi, Chairman, Dr Dele Makanjuola , Ogun State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosu and Group Managing Director, Omatek Ventures Plc, Mrs. Florence Seriki at courtesy visit to Governor Amosu on Vitafoam’s proposed factory in Ogun State recently.

Fidelity Bank raises N30bn to support MSMEs’ export capacity …as FG lauds initiative, restates focus on agric, solid minerals devt

F

idelity Bank Plc has projected an imminent growth in non-oil export as more Nigerians, governments begin to wake up to the huge prospects inherent in the Agricultural and Small Medium Enterprises (SMEs) sectors.

The bank’s Managing Director, Nnamdi Okonkwo, who made this remark at a one-day workshop/ training on exports organised by Koinonia Ventures Limited in conjunction with the bank, expressed high optimism that these sectors, if properly positioned, could play significant roles in diversifying Nigeria’s monolithic economy.

Okonkwo however pointed out that no other time is the subject of import and export substitution more important than now when the country is grappling with a revenue crisis precipitated by the steep decline in crude oil prices and widespread corruption.

To assist export-oriented MSMEs raise their level of competitiveness in the global market, Okonkwo said the bank had raised N30 billion in corporate bonds on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE).

He said the capital raising exercise was expected to enable the

Minister urges automobile firms to invest in R & D Regina Otokpa, Abuja

T

he Minister of Science and Technology, Dr Ogbonnaya Onu, has charged automobile industries operating in the country to invest more in developmental research.

The Minister, who gave the advice when he met with the management team of Peugeot Automobile Nigeria (PAN) in Abuja, said that engaging in research would help the industries withstand issues that may arise from unstable market forces and competitions.

Onu noted that all the automobile companies that made positive impacts on the economy

which was proposed for distribution bringing the total revenue distributed among the three tiers of government to N345.095 billion including VAT. The Committee also reported that the Excess Crude Account (ECA) had risen from $2.5 billion to $2.59 billion as at the end of the month in review.

in the past had collapsed due to failure to invest on research and development projects.

He maintained that multinational companies world over always site research institute in their laboratories and factories to enable them plan and carry out their developmental projects The Minister further charged PAN to source for local components to substitute for foreign materials in their production, saying “this will bring many small scale industries that would supply the component and also build capacity.”

He reiterated that the federal government through the efforts of the ministry was committed

to support industries to create jobs, retain existing one, create wealth and diversify the economy.

Earlier, the Managing Director of PAN, Ibrahim Boyi, disclosed that the automobile company remained the only automobile company in Nigeria that has sustained still operations since inception.

While requesting for an active government policy for continued survival, he stressed that PAN had been set up in 1972 through a joint venture between the Feder-

al Government and Peugeot Automobile of France as part of government’s deliberate policy to boost industrialisation.

bank fulfil its promise to increase MSME lending to 50 percent by 2017, further adding that the bank has earmarked 80 percent of the net proceed of the bond to finance MSMEs which have been peddled as the next cash cow.

Speaking on ‘Turning Adversity to Prosperity: A Case for a Radical Repositioning of Nigeria’s Non-Oil Export Sector’, Olufemi Boyede, MD/CEO, Koinonia Ventures noted that the Nigerian economy can only make progress if local entrepreneurs become export-ready.

Commenting on the country’s competitive advantage, particularly as it relates to export trade, Boyede said Nigeria currently has over 5, 000 exportable products, explaining that about 21 of such products can be quickly harnessed for the benefit of the nation’s economy.

Alluding to the enormous successes of Obama’s National Export Initiative (NEI), the Koinonia boss urged the federal government to create the much needed environment for Nigerian exporters to thrive. “The Barack Obama Administration has made it a top priority to improve the conditions that directly affect the private sector’s ability to export”.

Boyede applauded the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), the nation’s apex financial institution for establishing a N550 billion intervention fund.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Global News

Thursday, March 24, 2016

Apple bets new 4-inch iPhone to draw converts in China, India

A

pple Inc (AAPL.O) is betting a new 4-inch iPhone will spur smartphone users in key markets such as China and India to ditch their larger-screens in favor of the diminutive, yet feature-rich and lower-priced iPhone SE. The plan, if successful, will pose a challenge to its Asian competitors such as Huawei Technologies [HWT. UL] and Xiaomi[XTC.UL] which have been churning out big-screen phones to win market share in the crowded mid-range and near-premium segments.

“With the iPhone SE, Apple is choosing to aim at an under-served segment of consumers that prefer small screen smartphones and have been reluctant to upgrade,” research firm IHS said in a note.

“Importantly, Apple’s competitors have chosen not to target the premium compact smartphone market.”

Users will be more willing to ditch their larger screens if Apple’s smaller phone can match-up in features, analysts said.

“This will appeal to more people who otherwise couldn’t afford their flagship phone. This will make the market more competitive at that price point as Apple is preparing to take more share,” said Anshul Gupta, research director at Gartner.

The pricing, along with the features, is for the first time likely to pit Apple directly against phones made by companies such as Oppo, One Plus and Xiaomi, analysts said.

“Apple iPhone SE will target

iPhone

feature phone upgraders, first-time smartphone buyers and prepaid consumers in Asia who cannot afford, or are not familiar with, bigger-screen smartphones,” said Neil Mawston, an analyst at Strategy Analytics.

At the product launch in Cupertino, California on Monday, Apple vice president of iPhone Product Marketing Greg Joswiak singled out China as a target market, saying fourinch displays like that on the iPhone SE were still popular with first-time smartphone buyers.

Chinese buyers tend to start off with a phone with a 4-inch screen, just like the iPhone SE, he argued.

China, Apple’s second-biggest market, and India, one of the fastest-growing major markets in the world, are both seen as key for Apple, which expects overall iPhone sales to contract.

In China, some analysts says the iPhone SE may have better pros-

pects than the iPhone 5C, which was launched as an affordable gadget three years ago but was less technologically advanced than the top phone at the time.

“The Chinese market is not bringing as much growth as previously and is becoming more competitive than ever,” said Ronan de Renesse, an analyst at research firm Ovum.

“Apple must decrease the entry price of new iPhones to sustain growth in China. The iPhone SE offers very high specifications for a low price, which is essential to appeal to Chinese consumers,” said the analyst.

The iPhone SE, which will come with its latest processor, fingerprint scanner, Apple Pay and a powerful camera, is also meant to undo Apple’s missteps with the iPhone 5c, which was launched as an affordable gadget three years ago but failed to sell in significant numbers.

Western banks wary of helping Russian privatizations – Bankers

W

estern investments banks with Russian operations are reluctant to advise Moscow on planned privatizations, three Western banking sources told Reuters, citing fears about violating sanctions imposed on Russia over the Ukraine conflict.

The caution illustrates the growing wariness of Western banks about getting involved in Russian finance deals even if they are not in areas directly affected by sanctions.

Last week a European Union official warned banks considering buying Russian government debt that they should ensure any investment is not a way of circumventing

Russia President, Putin

sanctions on Russian state-owned enterprises.

The Russian Economy Ministry last week sent requests for proposals (RFPs) to banks on advisory roles for the sales of stakes of 50.08 percent in oil firm Bashneft (BANE. MM), 10.9 percent in diamond miner Alrosa (ALRS.MM) and 10.9 percent in lender VTB (VTBR.MM).

Banks were told to respond by the close of business on Monday, March 21.

“We will not take part. We at first wanted to but talked to other European and U.S. banks and saw that none of them is going to,” said a banker with a U.S. bank which received an RFP, speaking on condition that the name of his company was not disclosed.

If Western banks steer clear of the deals it is likely to make it harder for Russia to sell the assets at an attractive price as it will dim the interest of foreign investors who usually follow international banks’ advice.

An alternative option would be to sell all or some of the stakes to a strategic investor. Based on current market capitalizations, the stakes could fetch around 430 billion rubles ($6.3 billion), Reuters calculations

show.

A number of Russian businessmen, including former TNK-BP co-owner Viktor Vekselberg and the head of oil firm Lukoil (LKOH.MM) Vagit Alekperov, have expressed interest in buying some of the assets.

However analysts warn that selling to private Russian investors would risk unflattering comparisons with the wave of privatizations in the 1990s, which led to the rise of the country’s oligarchs and were blamed for widening the gap between rich and poor.

“That could be a disincentive for privatization,” said Charles Robertson, global chief economist at Renaissance Capital. RenCap was among the banks which received RFPs. Goldman Sachs (GS.N), JP Morgan (JPM.N), Credit Suisse CSGN. VX, Deutsche Bank (DBKGn.DE), Morgan Stanley (MS.N) , Barclays (BARC.L), Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS.L), BNP Paribas (BNPP.PA), UBS UBSG.VX, Citi (C.N), UniCredit (CRDI.MI) , Societe Generale (SOGN. PA), Bank of America Merrill Lynch and Raiffeisen (RBIV.VI) were among the Western banks which received RFPs.

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EU referendum: Moody’s predicts ‘small’ UK economic hit from EU exit

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he UK economy would be hit by leaving the EU, but the impact would be “small” and unlikely to lead to big job losses, according to credit agency Moody’s.

The UK could also be allowed to keep many of its trade terms with the EU so as to avoid disruption, Moody’s said.

The report shows economic warnings from pro-EU groups have been “baseless scaremongering”, Vote Leave said.

But the Britain Stronger in Europe group said it was further evidence that leaving would damage the economy.

The Moody’s report comes after the CBI warned a British exit from the EU - known as a “Brexit” - could cost the UK economy £100bn and nearly one million jobs.

A vote to leave in the 23 June referendum would create significant uncertainty that would hamper economic growth, according to Moody’s.

But the ratings agency said this would be partly offset by a decline in the pound - making UK exports more competitive - and by companies having time to adjust during UK-EU negotiations that it expects to last for at least two years.

“Our central view is that the negative economic impact of Brexit would

Cameron

be relatively small,” the credit agency said.

As a result, Moody’s would “not expect to see significant increases in unemployment or [interest] rates, or substantial declines in property prices across the UK as a whole”.

Matthew Elliott, chief executive of Vote Leave, said of the report: “The UK will not face trade barriers after we Vote Leave, jobs will be safe and our credit rating will not be affected.”

However, Lucy Thomas, deputy director of Stronger In Europe, said: “By leaving, we would unavoidably end up with worse trade terms. That would hit British industries such as car makers and financial services, putting jobs, low prices and financial security at risk for British people.

Brazil oil giant Petrobras posts record quarterly loss

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razil’s Petrobras, which is at the centre of a massive corruption scandal, has posted its biggest ever quarterly loss due to the plunge in oil prices.

The state oil firm’s net loss widened to 36.9bn reais ($10.2bn; £7.1bn) in the three months to December.

The company had to write down billions of dollars from assets like oil fields and drilling rigs after crude prices fell by more than 40 per cent.

Petrobras shares fell by nearly six per cent in after hours US trading on the results.

Its chief executive said in a press conference that 2015 was “an extremely difficult year for the oil industry”.

Petrobras has also been trying to deal with the fallout

Oil depot

from an expanding corruption scandal that has gone to the top ranks of government and seen some of its former executives jailed.

On Monday police arrested a man in Portugal they say was laundering payments for two of the jailed Petrobras executives.

Police say the man, Raul Schmidt Felipe Junior, may also have acted as an intermediary between some foreign companies and Petrobras.

Brazil is also mired in its worst recession in a century, which has led to weak demand at home for its fuel products.

To maintain its finances, the firm has drastically reduced its spending and investment plans. Petrobras is also looking to sell some of its assets in order to raise more than $14bn.

Thursday, March 24, 2016

Info Tech

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

31

Appraising feasibility of Nigeria’s 2017 digital migration deadline

Although the former Director General of National Broadcasting Commission, Mr. Emeka Mba, has been credited for creating enabling environment for the country’s planned migration to digital terrain, some analysts believe that his recent sudden removal may hamper the drive towards actualizing the 2017 digital migration deadline unless government moves speedily on implementation of the right strategies to meet the target, writes Isaiah Erhiawarien.

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fter attempts by successive governments to fulfil Nigeria’s international obligation to transition from analogue to digital broadcasting, known as Digital Switch Over (DSO), were stalled in the last 20 years, there now appears some ray of hope for the actualization of the objective based on adequate preparations, including funding obligations, that had been made in the last two years.

Prior to now, one of the constraints to the implementation of the technological project remained failure of past governments to appropriate necessary funding for the very crucial national development programme.

This and other challenges made the country to miss the earlier set July 2015 deadline and compelled government to shift it to 2017.

National Mirror reliably gathered that the former Director General of NBC, Mr. Emeka Mba, after considering a proposal from Technology Advisors, an ICT Law consultancy in the country; a dedicated DSO funding platform was developed on the basis of the free and available broadcasting spectrum which by law is under the administration of the NBC. That eventually resulted to the former administration’s granting of the licence, which covered not only the utilisation of the proceeds realised for DSO, but also the format of the special auction to be conducted for the license, as well as provisioning of set-top-boxes (STBs), providing STB rebates, DSO publicity and other critical aspects of the DSO. MTN Communications Limited, who made the highest bid offer in the special auction process, though not without protest from some section of the industry, was later licensed by the NBC and the proceeds was immediately put to use as was directed by the former President in order to meet the new regional DSO deadline set by the West African States.

Reacting to efforts made by government to achieve the set deadline, stakeholders paid tribute to the role of the innovation and wisdom of the NBC under the leadership of Emeka Mba which

was subsequently recommended by the Commonwealth Telecommunications Organisation for other nations battling with the funding of their DSO to meet the new regional DSO deadline set by the West African States.

A Lagos based telecom expert, Dr. Lanre Omololu, commended the former NBC boss for being proactive in the strategies adopted, including the liberalization of the broadcast industry, in order to achieve the national goal.

Similarly, another industry player, Mr. Garba Rano, pointed out that Mba enabled the industry to grow and become key contributor in several international content markets such as MIPCOM, MIPTV, DISCOP, CABSAT and a host of others.

“These platforms created foreign partnerships and attracted foreign investments in the broadcasting industry. The NBC received several local and international awards while he was at the helm of affairs. It was his presence that provided confidence and attracted several foreign investors into the industry.”

It was gathered that before the exit of the former director-general, the NBC in consultation with all relevant stakeholders involved in the DSO, including

the licensed set top box manufacturers agreed on the STB rebate scheme financing, with the NBC providing the necessary “off taker guarantees” to all the STB manufacturers through Zenith bank for the off-shore manufacture and delivery of STBs for the pilot DSO launch in Plateau State.

The purpose was to guarantee the availability of the product and the security of the government funds. The off-taker guarantees and also covers the cost of the provision of the digital content access fee (DCAF) for all the STBs by the authorised middleware provider (Inview Limited).

In furtherance of the commitment to meet the 2017 deadline, the Minister of Information and Culture, Mr. Lai Mohammed, inaugurated an Inter-Ministerial Committee on the Digital Switch Over with a mandate of making the 2017 target feasible.

While inaugurating the committee, he said: “We don’t have an option; we must meet the 2017 deadline. Otherwise our TV sets will be useless to us.

We cannot afford to be left behind. The significant thing about this deadline is that as of today we have agreed with all other ECOWAS member states that June 2017 will be the cut-off line for all

We don’t have an option; we must meet the 2017 deadline. Otherwise our TV sets will be useless to us. We cannot afford to be left behind. The significant thing about this deadline is that as of today we have agreed with all other ECOWAS

member states that June 2017 will be the cut-off line for all of us to move to Digital

of us to move to Digital.

“To that effect, uniform equipment and transmission channels have been agreed for all the member states”, the minister added.

He explained that Nigeria along with all ECOWAS member countries, will be transiting from Analogue to Digital broadcasting by 2017 saying that Nigeria has recorded some progress towards meeting the deadline, having licensed signal distributors and 13 Set-Top-Box Manufacturers, in addition to reaching agreement with the Content Aggregators as well as software companies.

The minister also confirmed what the past leadership of the NBC has achieved, noting that Jos has been selected for the Pilot Project, and that the Plateau State capital was selected because of its historical role in the transition from black and white to colour television in Nigeria, its mix of local, regional and national television stations as well as its cosmopolitan nature.

Highlighting the consequences of missing the deadline, Media and Technology Executive with Accenture, Tolu Akinluyi said that puts the country at risk of sanctions from the ITU in part because border countries to Nigeria that have already migrated from analogue to digital.

He said that the Ministry of Communications and NCC must actively support the NBC to drive this plan to completion to avoid the ITU sanctions and to free up the frequencies for use by the telecom industry.

Industry observers believe that if the current efforts being put by the Federal Government to achieve the transition from analogue to digital broadcasting are sustained, then Nigeria will join the league of countries now using digital broadcasting to improve their national development policies and programmes.

,,,,

32

Info Tech

Thursday, March 24, 2016

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Telecom stakeholders rev up clamour for free spectrum Stories by Isaiah Erhiawarien

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he Association of Telecommunication Companies of Nigeria, ATCON, has asked the Federal Government to offer free spectrum to small operators as a strategy of taking broadband internet access to to un-served and under-served areas of the country, where profit margin is very low and cost of operation in high.

According to ATCON, big operators are mostly focused on commercial and very productive population centers noting that small operators can easily mobilise to service small communities if appropriate incentives are given.

Speaking during a visit to the Nigerian Communications Commission, President of ATCON, Engr. Lanre Ajayi said that some countries in the world, including the United States, give unlicensed or light licensed frequencies to operators to attract them to underserved or un-served communities.

Ajayi told the Executive Vice Chairman of the NCC, Prof. Umar Danbatta that it will not only ensure provision of services in those communities but also serve as great opportunity to create jobs in the communities saying that it is also concerned that licenses for the Infracos is being limited to one operator per defined geographic zone.

He frowned at the unduly delay of the licensing of Infraco operators stressing that “We believe having just one operator in a zone creates monopoly and it may inadvertently bring us back to the dreadful days of NITEL.” The ATCON leader stated that even spread of the licensing will not create options and competition but will increase diversity on

various routes where cables are to be laid thereby increasing reliability on networks.

While reminding the NCC of the delay its members suffer in obtaining Value Added Service numbering range, Ajayi said “there are cases whereby some members were licensed for services by NCC, but for more than one year were unable to obtain numbering range

to commence service.”

He noted ATCON consider this a very poor service delivery from NCC and it is unexpected of a regulatory agency that is celebrated as an icon in Africa adding that the NCC needs to strengthen the National Broadband Council and accelerate action on the implementation of the National Broadband plan.

Ericsson, China Mobile move to enhance 5G market penetration

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ricsson has joined China Mobile’s 5G Joint Innovation Center programme to accelerate development of nextgeneration wireless networks, which will be faster, more powerful and offer even greater opportunities.

The agreement to broaden their cooperation on 5G was first revealed at Mobile World Congress 2016 in Barcelona.

China Mobile’s 5G Innovation Center initiative aims to accelerate the development of 5G by establishing a cross-industry ecosystem and setting up an open lab to provide a platform for new products and applications, and to foster new business and market opportunities.

In January 2016, Ericsson and the China Mobile Research Institute signed a Memorandum of Understanding, MoU, to collaborate on the development of its Open NFV Lab and the NovoNet. In December 2015 the parties also signed another MoU, covering an extensive range of 5G research and development cooperation.

As part of this agreement, Eric-

sson jointly demonstrated connected sheep/livestock tracking utilizing NB-IoT technology at China Mobile’s booth during MWC 2016.

While visiting Ericsson, Shan Bing said: “China Mobile pays a lot of attention to the developing trends of this industry. We saw at MWC 2016 that the ICT industry will embrace transformation in the following 5 years. It is crucial for China Mobile and Ericsson, as the two ships of this industry, to stride forward in the right direction in the coming five years.

Ericsson has been an important partner to China Mobile for a long time. China Mobile values the partnership with Ericsson and hope to have more cooperation with this important partner during the coming 5 year transformative period.”

President and Chief Executive Officer of Ericsson, Hans Vestberg, said that 5G will enable people, industries and things to connect on an unprecedented scale, and this ability to connect will bring with it a whole new galaxy of devices and services. I am convinced Ericsson will lead the 5G evolution.

L-R: iStore Country Manager, Sachin Verma; iStore customer, Adebisi Ade-Onojobi, and iStore Manager, Kolapo Agunloye during a breakfast presentation of the new iPad Pro in Lagos.

Airtel harps on benefits of science education

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irtel Nigeria has called on government, policymakers and other stakeholders in the Education sector to deepen science education in schools and develop a curriculum that prepares students for the present-day situations.

Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Segun Ogunsanya who made the call at the 21st Annual Lecture, Award of Honours and Postgraduate Scholarship event organised by the Stephen Oluwole Awokoya Foundation for Science Education said that it will make the country to turn

out employable students.

Ogunsanya said that there is an important relationship between Science Education and getting Nigeria on track digitally, charging the government, private sector and nongovernmental organisations to form a ‘triangle of influence’ to accelerate and boost development in the education sector.

He noted that Science and Technology impacts every area of life and every sector, including business and commerce, health care services, education, government, banking, telecommunications, agriculture and entertainment.

MasterCard unveils opportunities for Nigerian start-ups

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asterCard has opened up new opportunities for start-ups in the country by offering them the chance to meet with big-brand partners of its 2016 start-up program.

The 2016 edition of the program, according to MasterCard is meant to engage the best start-ups from Africa and the Middle East.

A statement issued by the card technology company indicated that technology and data are transforming the way consumers and businesses interact with each other, driving a need to bring new ideas to market with greater speed adding that the right corporate start-up partnership gives start-ups an accelerated path to scale inno-

vative solutions.

It stated further the MasterCard Start Path Global 2016 program has been designed with that objective noting that since 2014, Start Path has provided more than 60 start-ups a variety of operational support, mentor-ship, and investment to develop the next generation of commerce solutions.

MasterCard hinted that the Start Path had seen success across the three continents and is intensifying its search as a continuing reminder of the innovation potential of local start-ups.

Global Lead of MasterCard Start Path, Stephane Wyper said that in MEA, the program is currently working closely with start-ups including Saida, a start-up that has developed an app that uses the data on

the customers’ smartphones to underwrite loans to them in minutes stressing that the app has just launched in Kenya and has been instrumental in providing over 16,000 loans.

“Start-ups are actively experimenting with new solutions aimed at transforming the status-quo across a wide variety of industries including financial services, retail, and healthcare” he said.

“We can provide critical support through operational expertise and access to a steady pipeline of customers, channels and partners. In just two years, Start Path Global has a strong record of helping start-ups transform innovations into sustainable business propositions.”

According to him, the telecommunications sector before the advent of Global System for Mobile Communication had less than half a million telephone lines and subscribers had to wait for up to six months before they get connected.

He said that with Science and Technology, it only takes just a few minutes to get a mobile number connected today adding that “this is what technology does, it liberates people.

Currently there are over 140 million connected mobile lines in Nigeria. And for every 10 per cent increase in connectivity, there is 1.3 per cent impact on Gross Domestic Product.”

For Nigeria to continue to enjoy the benefits of Science & Technology, Ogunsanya, recommended that Science Education should be made compulsory at Secondary School level, and stakeholders must set up programme for exceptionally gifted people in science.

He further advised that syllabus in secondary and tertiary schools should be designed to prepare students for the workplace in order to turn out employable graduates noting that the need for teachers to be retrained at intervals, and also encouraged outstanding students to pursue career in teaching.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Thursday, March 24, 2016

Brands & Marketing

33

Consumer Rights Day: Focusing on excess bank charges, antibiotics’ abuses The World Consumer Rights Day, WCRD, had been marked globally but the issues thrown up in the marketing space by the event still remain unresolved even when concerted effort are being made to address them at the various levels of the marketing communications industry. Around the world, the focus of the last event was for major global brands to act responsibly in the use of antibiotic, while in Nigeria, the call is for banks to be reasonable in service charges. DAVID AUDU reports..

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lobally, every 15th of March each year is set aside by the international consumer rights watch to observe as a mark of solidarity with persons or group of persons, collectively referred to as consumers, that are victims of obnoxious marketing practices, and often have no voice of their own to confront the abusers who are mostly multinationals and government agencies.

This year’s theme was on the rising use of antibiotics, hence, the hastag #Antibiotics off the menu; and at the national level in Nigeria, the focus however shifted to excessive bank charges, a fall out of the #NoBankingDay, observed on March I, 2016.

The World Health Organization, WHO, noted that millions of people die of antibiotics abuse and related illnesses yearly. It explained further that most of the deaths are not directly as a result of the use of the antibiotics but from complications arising from improper use of it and their serving as addictives in popular foods.

Antibiotics used to control disease of animals and additives, colours used in sweets and other eatables and chemicals used to ripen the fruits are causing health problems to the human beings consuming them However, the most frightening aspects are the deception and concealment in the administration of antibiotics.

According to reports, these are more prevalent and often hard to monitor, especially in developing countries where health facilities for such jobs are inadequate, and also complicated by complicity of food regulation officials..

Findings reveal that most fast food companies, poultry farmers, and a wide range of food chain add as part of their addictives antibiotics, thus, making it difficult to detect by health officials.

Recent medical report has traced the prevalence of renal failure, cancer, and other health related complications to rising use of antibiotics.

Antibiotic resistance is rising to dangerously high levels in all parts of the world. The WHO has warned that, without urgent action, we are heading for a post-antibiotic era, in which important medicines stop working and common infections and minor injuries can once again kill.

Growing antibiotic resistance is driven by over use of antibiotics. Around half of the antibiotics produced globally are used in agriculture, with much of this being used to promote faster growth and to prevent, rather than treat, disease.

Despite worldwide concern about the overuse of antibiotics, their use in agriculture is due to increase by two thirds by 2030: from 63,200 tons in 2010, to 105,600 tons in 2030.

Determined to stem this silent killer, Consumer International, in collaboration with national and international non-governmental organization sets aside this year’s world consumer day to focus on this scourge.

A statement from the web page of CI noted

CPC DG, Dupe Atoki

CAFON Founder, Sola Salako

ANTIBIOTICS USED TO CONTROL DISEASE OF ANIMALS AND ADDITIVES, COLOURS USED IN SWEETS AND OTHER EATABLES AND CHEMICALS USED TO RIPEN THE FRUITS ARE CAUSING HEALTH PROBLEMS TO THE HUMAN BEINGS CONSUMING THEM HOWEVER, THE MOST FRIGHTENING ASPECTS ARE THE DECEPTION AND CONCEALMENT IN THE ADMINISTRATION OF ANTIBIOTICS that “this World Consumer Rights day is about calling for major global brands to act responsibly. Antibiotic resistance is spreading in every region of the world. Left unchecked, antimicrobial resistance will kill 10 million a year by 2050.

“Given the scale of the global public health crisis the world is facing due to antibiotic resistance, making partial commitments is inadequate, As global brands these fast food chains are in a strong position to set the standard for their industry globally and drive a decrease in agricultural use of antibiotics, faster than legislative change.”

With “antibiotics off the menu” as C I’s campaign theme, it urges members around the world to prevail on fast food companies to make a commitment to stop the sale of meat raised with the routine use of antibiotics important to human medicine.

Speaking during the event in Abuja, the Director General of CPC, Mrs Dupe Atoki, emphasised the need for government agencies to joine the international community in raising awareness on the growing cases of antibiotics resistance globally, noting that concerted efforts must be deployed to reverse the trend in the country.

According to Atoki, antibiotics resistance “is currently very rampant” in the country, stressing that it “has led to mass failure of medical

interventions such as organ transplant, surgeries and other forms of treatment that require follow up actions with antibiotics to ensure full recovery of patients”.

“It has equally led to needless deaths and caused huge embarrassment to health professionals in the country.

“In Nigeria, the menace of fake, adulterated, counterfeit or sub-standard drugs, noncompliance with dosage as prescribed by medical practitioners, self- medication, and unnecessary prescription of antibiotics have been largely implicated in antibiotics resistance in the country”, she added.

The CPC boss therefore counseled consumers against self-medication and mis-use of antibiotics as these could lead to resistance, stressing that “if drugs are misused and become worthless, the consumer does not only lose money, but his health and safety will also be jeopardised, while the national interest suffers.

“The correlation between antibiotic resistance and consumer protection is not farfetched. Antibiotic resistance impedes the consumer’s right to health and safety, which the Consumer Protection Council Act aims to protect, among others” she stated.

Atoki stated that the Council would use the next 12 months to carry out advocacy cam-

paigns on proper use of antibiotics by consumers just as a week-long activities, including road shows and a Stakeholders’ Workshop, have been lined up to awaken the consciousness of Nigerians on the dangers of misuse of antibiotics, expressing the hope that the scheduled activities would awaken consumers to the reality of the problem and bring about modification of lifestyles, practices and habits responsible for the menace.

Meanwhile the Brand Journalist Association of Nigeria, as part of its contribution to protect the rights of the Nigeria consumers, however, deviated from the global theme to focus on the excessive of customers by Nigerian commercial banks through frivolous charges Stakeholders, who spoke at the BJAN Consumer Day Symposium raised concerns over cost automated teller machine, ATM, withdrawals, debit card issuance and renewals fee of N1000, ATM management charges of N100 yearly, new Stamp Duty charge of N50 on every credit of over N1000, online transfer charges, reintroduction of cost of transaction, CoT, under a new guise of Monthly Account Maintenance Charge of N1/mille.

They also frowned at other levies by default the yoke of which were considered too heavy on the frail necks of the customers without the chance to negotiate. Stakeholders are of the opinion that if these trend continues, it will erode the gains recorded by previous banking reforms, discourage the informal sector from keeping their money with banks and weaken the banking sector on the long-run.

The Chairman of TPT, a public relations agency, Mr. Tokunbo Modupe, who was the key speaker at the symposium said both corporate and individual banking customers are worried by the current trends of multiple and excessive charges.

Also, the President of CAFON, Mrs. Sola Salako, who rallied consumer advocacy groups penultimate week for a NoBankingDay protest, said banking customers should expect more shocks as CBN is a about to release banking charges for the next three years.

“I plead to Nigerians to take time out to study the draft and start a conversation about it.

This is the time for all of us to stand up against these,” she said.

However, the President, Bank Customers Association of Nigeria, Dr. Uju Ogubunka, said banks should not be blamed for excessive and multiple charges. While saying he is opposed to spurious, he said customers should be blamed because they don’t take their time to read the guides to banking. “The problem is with customers. Most people don’t know there is a guide to bank charges but they all know when they are overcharged. Most customers don’t know their brand manager,” he said.

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Brands & Marketing

Thursday, March 24, 2016

Omoyele to discuss role of research in marketing at PRCAN forum DAVID AUDU

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anaging Director of Nielson West Africa, a research company, Mr. Lampe Omoyele will today speak on , “Research as a Strategic Integrated Marketing Communications, IMC, Function” at the Public Relations Consultants Association of Nigeria, PRCAN, Breakfast Meeting Session billed to take place at Amber Residence Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos.

Omoyele has a rich experience in gathering data on consumer habits and choices across 100 countries and has been in brand management and sales for about 25 years.

Speaking about the event, the President of PRCAN, John Ehiguese explained that data had become the new currency and a means of choosing what service to offer to consumers and that research was the only way to gather such data.

He said: “In today’s business

world, research has become increasingly important and data is now the new currency. Companies that carry out research and collect data are able to gather consumer insights by analysing the data collected which help them make informed decisions on what services to offer and how to better manage their clients. The session with Lampe will allow participants tap into his vast knowledge of consumer insight.”

The previous five sessions had featured speakers from various segments of communications and marketing. They includedKufre Ekanam, Corporate Affairs Adviser of Nigerian Breweries; Emeka Oparah, Director of Corporate Communications and CSR at Airtel Networks; and David Okeme, who was then Brand Building Director at Unilever Plc and President of the Advertisers Association of Nigeria (ADVAN).

Others were: Tony Ojobo, Director of Public Affairs at Nige-

rian Communications Commission (NCC) and Mrs Nkiru Olumide-Ojo, Head, Marketing and Corporate Communications at Stanbic IBTC. This session will be sponsored by PRCAN member-firm, Publicis|Soulcomms and will be attended by PR agency heads, senior managers within and outside PRCAN member-firms and the media.

PRCAN is the consulting arm of NIPR established by a bye-law. Membership is exclusively restricted to consulting firms whose key executives must be members of NIPR and registered to practice public relations in Nigeria.

Its primary objective is to promote professional reputation management in Nigeria within the public and private sectors. It is also committed to maintaining professional standards and discipline among members and providing facilities/ professional capacity for the public and private sectors to meet their PR consultancy needs.

L-R: Customer Marketing Director, Mr. Obinna Anyalebechi; Marketing Manager, Innovation, Ms. Omosefe Odaro; Marketing and Innovation Director, Mr. Gavin Pike; Portfolio Manager, Innovation & Planning Ms. Tayo Salami and Corporate Relations Director, Mr. Sesan Sobowale, all of Guinness Nigeria Plc during the launch of ORIJIN ZERO in Lagos.

Wilson Solar Division opens office in Lagos DAVID AUDU

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ne of the top global solar EPC solution providers, Sterling and Wilson, has revealed plans to expand its market footprint in Africa with the setting up of four offices in Africa by end of 2016, beginning with Lagos, Nigeria.

The Nigeria office will be followed by a similar one in Dar es Salaam,Tanzania and then others in Kenya and Ghana. Sterling and Wilson’s Solar division currently enjoys substantial presence in Cape Town, South Africa and Cairo, Egypt.

Speaking about the expansion plan, President, Solar EPC business for Sterling and Wilson, Bikesh Ogra, noted that the development is part of the company’s strategic

vision to increase its presence in Africa.

“We believe Sterling and Wilson is well positioned for expansion as more investors are focusing aggressively on the African Solar Market.

The industry is growing rapidly and we will continue to expand strategically to meet demand,” he said.

Sterling and Wilson will employ local talent for running its new operations in Lagos. The company has already announced plans to execute EPC works for 500mw of solar photovoltaic, PV, plants across different parts of Africa in the next three years.

With solar power uptake on the African continent predicted to surge over the coming years – 100 gigawatts (GW) of solar installations are forecasted by 2030 – the expansion

is clearly intended to ride the growing wave of the grid connected solar energy market. Sterling and Wilson is confident to attain market leader position supported by their proven track record and global reputation.

The company provides 360 degree turnkey solutions adapted to each customer’s individual needs that exceed customer expectations, transforming solar energy into green assets by maximizing value and mitigating risks.

The company is already working on number of opportunities with various developers in Kenya, Zambia, Ghana, Mozambique, Algeria, Namibia and Morocco along with South Africa and Egypt. The Indian firm has more than 500mw of operational solar plants and another 1500mw of projects under pipeline.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

BRAND talk with Michael Umogun

Tel: 08023117969/08031100462 Email: michael.umogun@millwardbrown.com

Ads that travel-can a global ad be truly local?

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eveloping global ads that work in multiple markets is a huge challenge for marketers. The dream of reaching a world-wide audience with just one ad is very rarely realized, and very often, something important gets lost in translation.

But for every ad that travels well our data suggests that many do not.

Analysis from the Millward Brown Link™ database shows that ads that perform exceptionally well in their country of origin do not usually replicate their success in other countries.

Says Nigel Hollis, Chief Global Analyst for Millward Brown, “The world is not yet a global village, and in all likelihood is not going to become one”.

In other words, although there may be global brands, there is not one global culture, and brands who adapt a creative idea to different markets must have a thorough understanding of the cultural differences that come into play.

To create communications that can travel, marketers must follow a three step process: determine the global brand promise based on applying the unique product benefits to a universal human need; identify the marketing task that faces the brand in each geography; and implement the creative idea with sensitivity to differences across countries and cultures.

For example, the value placed on the concept of “face” in China makes certain kinds of humour unacceptable in advertising. (In China, to get a laugh at someone else’s expense causes him to lose face.) In the Middle East, it’s inappropriate to use dogs in advertising because they are seen as dirty. Clearly, sensitive topics such as sexuality and religion present issues, but so too do some seemingly more innocuous elements such as numbers

and colours.

Though cultural differences can create pitfalls for advertisers, they may also present opportunities to enhance a brand’s message. But one size does not fit all. Both your media plan and your ad executions must be developed with the local media environment in mind.

A great example of a global ad is Heineken’s “Walk in Fridge” which has been used in many countries and went viral on YouTube with over 5 million views. The underlying truth and humour of the ad resonates with many around the world, tapping into the underlying human truth that men and woman have different interests and preoccupations; and it’s executed in such a way that it is readily appreciated by people in different countries and cultures. A local example of an ad that would travel across borders is the Three Crown Milk ad and Etisalat’s Easy starter ad featuring Francis Odega, with both these ads tapping into fundamental human truths.

Finding one ad that suits all markets is rare indeed, but with due diligence, campaigns can be developed that will work effectively across borders and cultures, allowing advertisers to realise great efficiencies while establishing seamless brand positioning. Yet often the returns from a globally consistent approach may be outweighed by lack of local relevance.

Do global brands need to strive for global campaigns or might they be better served by a more regional or local approach? Please let me know your thoughts.

Michael Umogun| michael.umogun@millwardbrown.com + 234 809 023 5545| @michaelumogun www. millwardbrown.com

Interswitchemerges‘MostEfficientPayment ProcessorinNigeria’–EpisAwards

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nterswitch Limited, a digital payments and commerce provider has emerged as a multiple award winner at the maiden edition of the Electronic Payment Incentive Scheme, EPIS, Awards organized by the Central Bank Of Nigeria, CBN and Nigeria Inter-bank Settlement System (NIBSS).

The transaction-switching and payments processing leader was recognized as the most efficient payment processor, most efficient Payment Terminal Service Provider, PTSP, and most efficient Payment Terminal Application Developer, PTAD. According to the organizers,

the EPIS Awards are intended to identify, reward and celebrate financial institutions, merchants and other stakeholders in the electronic payment space for great work done in promoting and expanding the use of electronic payments in Nigeria.

At the event, Deputy Governor, Operations Directorate, CBN, Alhaji Suleiman Barau, said, “We are delighted and proud to recognize, encourage, appreciate and reward financial, nonbank and other stakeholders in the EPIS that have been driving the growth of electronic banking channels in Nigeria.”

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Thursday, March 24, 2016 Thursday, march 3, 2016

Media

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Saraki emphasises importance ofsoon social NUJ to begin membership verification media in governance

how to check the excesses of the social media.

He continued: “We don’t want to be agents that would restrict access to information or even information dissemination. No! it is not what we intend to do, but we also want to regularise activities.

“What we want to do with the social media is first, we want to engage with them, we will be meeting with the leadership of the online publishers, then, we will meet with bloggers.

“We will sit down and see how best to enhance their practice of journalism, quote and unquote because it is a problem all over the world; there is no straight-jacket way of dealing with it.

“And we are hoping that by the time our Bill gets to the National Assembly and probably it gets to the public hearing stage, we will get contributions even from the social media people. Maybe at that level the law can incorporate them, so to speak.

“But we don’t want to bother about them for now; we have a lot on our hands over regulation of the orthodox media, so to speak.’’

He said bloggers and individuals, who subscribed to online platforms, were the culprits in the dissemination of falsehood and inciting messages.

He added that online newspapers do not cause problems as much as blogs and other social media platforms, because newspaper publishers are journalists, who have chosen to publish online.

Leonad Okachie

I S

n a bid to ensure sanity in media inJournalists (NUJ) said it is set to go into partnership with ICT firm Dr. thatAbubakar would help to enatean President, Budo a comprehensive andemphasised elaborate verifikola Saraki has the cation of its members. importance of social media users NUJ, Mr. Waheed Odusile in President Nigeria’s of political environment, and who disclosed thatto the union encouraged the noted audience continue would soon embark on biometrics of its contributing to the development of Nigemembers put all the and necessary inria throughand their dialogue debate on formation in their ID cards, “such that social media. this in let’s his keynote if Saraki you arestated a journalist, say you adare dress at the and StateCraft from Gombe you findMasterclass yourself in seLaries at the just concluded SocialtoMedia gos and somebody has the cause doubt Week, Lagos (#SMWLagos), whether you are a journalist which or not, held once at the Landmark Eventthey Centre, you have the ID card, will Victoria take you Island, Lagos. to the NUJ council.

“Without thebeinvolvement social “There will a computer of there and media, is no way that we would if trulythere you are a journalist, it will be have fromsee a non-performing govthere,moved they will your details. There ernment because now is out are laws --for setting upeverything a newspaper or in the open unlike years ago,” he said. any media organisation. Once the law is He commended the online commufollowed most of these fake mushroom nity , calling them the real ‘Chairmen papers will not come into the market.’’of INEC,’ citing their crowdsourced Odusile, in that an interview with news election results from polling agency yesterday in Abuja, alsostations says it during general elections, plans tothe submit to the Nationalensured Assemthat the manipulation of vote counts was bly a Bill on the elimination of imposkept to the barest minimum. tors in the journalism profession.

He:Continued”Though we had the He added that the Bill would be subnumbers.It is really thanks to social mitted after due consultation with all media that votes counted because you stakeholders in the profession. shared the results as they happened.

According to Odusile, all members of “In the past, if we didn’t perform, we the Nigeria Press Organisation need to won’t be kicked out, but now, if we don’t make their inputs before a comprehenperform we will be kicked out by the votsive Bill is sent to the National Assembly ers in 2019... we are more accountable

by April. now whether we like it or not. Let us He said: “We are making progress on seize this opportunity to work together the Bill we want to take to the National in partnership.”

Assembly.We have been trying to get all The Senate President also announced stakeholders on board, because like they that the controversial aspects of the say, `a birdPetition does notBill,’ fly with one ‘Frivolous which is wing’. the sec“All stakeholders in the industry, estion 4 of the Anti-frivolous petition Bill pecially the newspaper proprietors, the now popularly known as ‘Anti-Social MeGuild Editors NUJ, together dia Bill’ofwould not and see the light of day we at constitute the Nigeria Press Organisathe Senate. tion.

Saraki went on to assure the audi“So have met and have a draft ence at we #SMWLagos that we in the next few of the bill that has been there for some weeks, the calls for an Open National time now;(#OpenNASS) everybody haswould gone be through Assembly actuit, everybody is satisfied. alised, and Nigerians would get to see we are just waiting a final the“So, line-item allocations of thefor National meeting of Assembly . the Nigeria Press Organisation take afor final decision cooperation on it so that Hetocalled continued we will have a very comprehensive bill, and conversation between the governwhichand we the will public take tovia thesocial National Asment media, sembly . and mentioned that following the recent “We have been in Interactive constant touch with National Assembly Session the Senate and they are waiting(CSOs) for us. with Civil Society Organisations called #NASSEngages, 2017,it I expect that before thestarting end of in April CSOs would be a part of the budget hearshould be there. ing“The process. last time we were at the Senate, the Senate President promised that the

Leonard kachie dustry, o Nigeria Union of

The Senate President who is the 1st public official in office to personally attend social media week which is in its 4th year assured participant that his presence at the event shows how serious National Assembly takes social media.

Themed, ‘Did you say change: Game changers of the 2015 Nigerian Elections’, the master class session focused on the effect of social media on the outcome of the 2015 elections and the success of StateCraft Inc. in deploying media to galvanize a generation of Nigerians to action.

The event - anchored by Ebuka ObiUchendu - kicked off with a fire side chat with Sen. Saraki, and wrapped up with a group of panelists including Gbenga Sesan, Executive Director of Paradigm Initiative Nigeria; Seun Okinbaloye of Politics Today on Channels TV; Chioma Chuka, RED Digital Vice President; Joachim MacEbong, Governance Lead at StateCraft Inc., and Kingsley Ezeani, Actingof DG,Redux NBC, Ms. Alheri Saidu, presenting CEO Digital, discussing thethe minister’s speech at CABSAT 2016 theme of the event. chamber have the to take the issue He said: “There is a committee in each Adebolawould Williams, Co-founder of Saraki giving his welcome address up this legislative year.So we want this council, mandated to monitor press conStateCraft Inc. spoke about the role of Bill to pass in this 8th senate and we are ferences or where journalists gather in the youth and social media in influencworking towards large numbers for events, to actually fish ing the change ofit.’’ political power in the also said the while unionsharing would out - I won’t even call them quacks, I will lastOdusile presidential election clamp down people, who paraded call them undesirable elements - in our insights on theon intersection between methemselves as journalists but were not profession. dia and governance.

StateCraft Inc. is Africa’s leading govworking for established media organisaOdusile said plans were underway to ernance andcountry communication firm with tions in the . invite online publishers to a dialogue on a mission to galvanize a generation to Saraki giving his welcome address at the Social Media week in Lagos make informed choices.

Beat FM to open operation in London

Borno : Correspondents’ Chapel inaugurates L O electoral transition committee eonard

N C

kachie

foremost entertainment inusa nigeria’s dahi, Maiduguri

Commenting on the impending launch, General Manager Megalectrics, Deji Awokoya, said that the expansion of theofBeat brand intoFebruary London came gress theFM chapel at its 29th, about as a result of the opportunities 2016 meeting which was well attended created byallthe changing demographics by almost members unanimously appointed Elder Dauda Pam of the Nigeria Standard Newspaper as Chairman of the Credentials/Electoral Committee, while Alhaji Abubakar Sadiq of Blueprint Newspaper will serve as Secretary.

Other members of the four-man electoral transition committee are; Mr. James Bwala of the Nigerian Tribune, who will serve as Financial Secretary, while Mr. Sunny Nwankwo of Daily Independent is also a member.

The outgoing Chairman while commending members of the chapel for their support and cooperation, enjoined them to continue to unite as one family for the welfare and collective interest of all members of the union.

He therefore called on the newly inau-

radio station, THE BEAT FM orrespondents’ Chapel of the Nihas unveiled plans to open operaUnion in of yet Journalists tions geria in London another (NUJ), pivotal Borno State Council inaugustep towards expanding thehas brand interrated a four-man credentials and elecnationally . toral committee who will are be charged The radio station takingwith over the of Bang conducting a free, theresponsibility management of Radio (103.6) in smooth and credible election its new North London, on the 28th of for March 2016 leaders before 4thwith April, 2016. under on an or agreement Megalectrics, Constituting the committee Monwho will continue to own theonstation, day at Chapel’s office, Ramat Square in which has been rebranded THE BEAT Maiduguri the Borno State capital, the London 103.6 FM. outgoing Chairman, AbdulkaThe launch of BeatAlhaji FM London will reem Haruna said, it becomes necessary take place on March 28, with a reveal toparty do so, theLiquor constitutional atgiving Love and Lounge provion Kilsion of the NUJ which stipulates that, burn High Street in North West London “a credential committee be put in place as The Beat 103.6FM London simultane30ously daysgoes to the end of an existing EXCOs live. tenure.

The Beat FM London will be projectAgainst this background, the coning African music, Nigerian Music, BritAwokoya ish music and Caribbean Music.

and entertainment consumption habits of the UK. In his words, “This was by no means a hostile takegurated to ensurecalculated that they over, butcommittee a long-considered, work tirelessly to conduct a free and fair move because our aim is to globalize loelection devoid of any tribal cal talent.

Already, Bang FM or is religious a fixture considerations. in the Afro-Caribbean entertainment Abdulkareem also tasked his memindustry, with close collaborations with bers tostations be professional and in respect ethics radio and media Nigeria.

It of balancing reports and be objective, even has Nigerians in its OAP-mix. investigative fair to all of We did ourand research, andmanner we know people, government or institutions as that currently, more people are tuning watchdog of the society. in to the “culture driven” stations. This In his acceptance speech, the Chairis corroborated by an entity no less than man of the Electoral Committee, Elder MOBO (Music Of Black Origin). So for Pam thanked the outgoing Chairman us, this is a strategic move and the beginand the entire members of the chapel for ning of a completely new frontier in the giving them the mandate to conduct the globalization of entertainment.” forthcoming election that will see to the Since launching in 2008, Beat FM has new leaders who will take over the helm grown organically and rapidly, with the of affairs of the great union. addition of two new stations over the He promised that the committee would years. The station will be the fifth in not disappoint the chapel, as it would Megalectrics’ radio division and its first strictly work based on the laid down rules on the brand’s international platform and regulations of the NUJ constitution. band.

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Media

Thursday, March 24, 2016

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Media managers charged to ensure gender parity Dare Akogun

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o redress the imbalance in the ratio of women to men in media organisations in the country, media owners and managers have been urged to ensure gender parity in their newsrooms.

The call was made recently during a tweet chat organised by the Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism to commemorate the International Women’s Day with the theme ‘Gender Parity in the Newsroom’.

In the conversation led by Former Director of Editorials, NEXT Newspaper, Amma Ogan and the General Manager, Radio One FM, Funke-Treasure Durodola, it was noted that there is an urgent need to ensure that more women occupy top editorial positions and cover major beats in the news media.

While the achievements of some women in the media were acknowledged, discussants said more women should be given equal opportunities like their male counterparts to maximise their potentials.

Media managers were also urged to create an inclusive, flexible culture in the newsroom as well as work towards gender balance for leadership positions. “#GenderParity in the #Newsroom is critical if the #Media is to lead the change it advocates,” the Wole Soyinka Centre tweeted with its handle @WSoyinkaCentre.

According to Durodola, the mind-set of assigning female journalists to soft beats instead of the harder news needs to change to achieve gender parity. “How many women are in political desks in newsrooms? Or defence...” she lamented. She however urged women who are given the opportunity to lead to consciously work on being different, mentor others and break new grounds.

In her contribution, Ogan noted that media organisations should incorporate gender parity from “The first step, newsroom to boardroom.” She said, “You need an assigning editor who is aware of and understands why gender parity matters. Gender parity awareness promotes itself. Assigning editors must make the right choices.”

Other contributors noted that women have demonstrated that they can be trusted with more responsibilities in the newsroom based on the performance of those who have been in leadership positions over time.

A call was also made for strong advocacy to protect women’s parity considering instances where some female journalists have been forced to resign or were sacked under difficult bosses.

Some discussants raised questions on how women struggle to be recognised in the newsroom while others stated that women have more domestic responsibilities than men, which limit their growth or participation in the newsroom.

The media was also urged to celebrate the voice of women and their achievement in the newsroom and male journalists were charged to encourage their female counterparts.

The hashtags for the chat #ReportWomen #Pledgeforparity and #IWD2016 trended as number one in Lagos as the discussions gained momentum. The chat started at about 11:00am with a brief introduction of the WSCIJ project, Report Women which focuses on girls and women issues in Nigeria.

The WSCIJ under the initiative has trained eighty journalists and commissioned thirty-one stories. It has also published a documentary entitled, ‘Report Women: The untold stories of girls and women’, which

Women staging a march in Lagos for gender parity in the newsroom

is available on YouTube.

The organisation used the opportunity of the chat to celebrate top female journalists, past and present, including Anike Agbaje- Williams, the first female broadcaster at Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria, (FRCN), late Remi Oyo former Managing Director of News Agency of Nigeria and President Nigeria Guild of Editors,

Bimbo Oloyede who has a four-decade experience in broadcasting, Late Hajiya Bilikisu Yusuf, Columnist with Daily Trust and Funke Egbemode, Managing Director and Editor-in-Chief of New Telegraph, among others.

Earlier in the week, the WSCIJ in collaboration with the Centre for Black and African Arts and Culture, CBAAC, held a

walkathon on Broad Street, Lagos, to encourage gender parity at all levels of society.

Both organisations also hosted a symposium recently at Archbishop Soremekun Hall, Broad Street, Lagos with Mrs. Onari Duke, Chairman Board of Directors, Child Survival and Development Organisation of Nigeria as the lead speaker.

Internet penetration drives online consumer property searches – Lamudi Leonard Okachie

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he internet is increasingly integrated in everyday life in emerging countries, yet the rate of web connectivity in these regions still lags significantly behind more developed markets.

On a global scale, the number of Internet users worldwide hit an estimated 3.2 billion in 2015 - that’s about 43 percent of the world’s population who now have access to the web. Of these, two billion web users are based in the emerging markets, according to the International Telecommunication Union (ITU).

This means that for every internet user in the developed world, there are two in developing countries. Yet significant disparities in access remain. Figures from the ITU show that 34 percent

of households in developing countries have Internet access. In developed countries, 80 percent of households have an internet connection.

However, while internet usage in the developed world significantly outstrips that in the emerging markets, the fastgrowing internet penetration rate outside of the west presents an opportunity for online businesses operating in Asia, Latin America, the Middle East and Africa. Moreover, while shopping for clothes or searching for property online have been common practice in developed markets for some time, these tasks are now catching on in emerging countries.

Recent research from global property portal Lamudi reveals that online platforms are becoming the primary tool to find real estate to buy or rent in countries in Asia and Latin America. In the

Philippines, for example, a survey of agents and brokers revealed that 91 percent of real estate professionals observed a significant increase in online inquiries during 2015.

Lamudi Global Co-Founder and Managing Director, Kian Moini, said: “Astute online business owners and entrepreneurs can expect to see their companies grow as more people switch online in Asia, Latin America and beyond. We are already seeing this trend occur within the online real estate sector, as more and more house-hunters in the emerging markets turn to property platforms like Lamudi to find their dream home.”

Lamudi is a leading online real estate marketplace exclusively focused on emerging markets. The website offers an easy to use and secure platform to buy, rent or sell real estate online.

Media Abroad Somali female journalist killers sentenced to death

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wo Al shabaab members who have been convicted of murdering a female Somali journalist have been sentenced to death by the military tribunal of Somalia.

Liban Ali Yarow, the chief of Somali military court said evidence brought in support of the case showed that they had execution role of Hinda Hajji Mohamed, female journalist killed in car bomb on 3rd December, 2015.

Hinda who worked for the state media has been killed in a bomb attached under the seat of her private car which exploded out Turkish embassy building in Mogadishu’s KM4 area.

Abdirisack Mohamed Barrow, 28, and Hassan Nur Ali Farah, 37, were sentenced to death penalty, after the court has found them guilty of all charges against them, according to Judge Yarow who an-

nounced the verdict.

Four other co-conspirators have been sentenced to jail terms, two of them life in imprisonment by the Somali military tribunal for their role of the journalist murdering.

1 - Mo’allin Mohmed Abukar Ali, 42, born in middle Shabelle region of southern Somalia was sentenced to life time jail.

2 - Mo’alin Mohamed Sheikh Yusuf, 56, born in Mudug region, central Somalia has been sentenced to life in prison.

3 - Ali Hassan Aden Tooni, 40, born in Ethiopia was sentenced to 15 years in prison.

4 - Muheyadin Osman Mohamed Awale, 22, was sentenced to 10 years of prison term.

Early this month, the court has sentenced Hassan Hanafi, Al shabaab jour-

nalist to death for planning the deaths of five media workers who were killed in Mogadishu between 2007 and 2011.

Source: Shabelle

Somali President Hassan Mohamud

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Young & Next Media

Thursday, March 24, 2016

37

Poor recreation for children dangerous, experts warn ...SplashWorld resort opens National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Thursday, march 3, 2016

Young & Next Generation

37

TFAA sensitises young Africans on leadership, citizenship

Leonard Okachie

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nless more suitable outdoor play opportunities are provided for chilLeonard okachie dren and young people, a physical and mental illness time bomb is likely to explode, experts s part warn. of the post-awards acStudies have for alsoits shown cutting tivities 10th that season, The spendingFuture on outdoor spaces and society enAwards Africa (TFAA) courages physical idleness, obesity which launched the Africa Citizenship School, isbeginning becomingwith an epidemic.

Young people a tour across secondary now face heart problems, diabetes schools and universities in Nigeria. and other diseases of their sedentary The Africanbecause Citizenship School which lifestyles. is focused on developing young individuProfessor Laminecareer Mahdjoubi, from citithe als in leadership, and active University of the West of England, who zenship, began on Wednesday, 24 Februwas one-time chairman of High an internaary, a2016 at the Baptist Boys School, tional conference in Bristol, in England, laAbeokuta in Ogun State, Nigeria, and ments: Sedentary lifestyle has put children will run until May 2016. at risk of premature the “More than ever,death, youngconfronting Africans need (NHS) with a rocketing bill.” to be aware of their rights as citizens of this, SplashWorld, a premiere inInaview democracy and the hugely imporwater parks and leisure resort has flagged tant role young people hold in shaping off to help Nigerian famtheservices future pledging of the continent.

It has been ilies to tackle sedentary lifestyle, provide amazing to see the effect of a galvanized fun, wellness boost of intellectual youth on theand politics a countryalertand ness of their children during thisexcited Easter. to we at The Future Project are Announcing a special Easter Splash spread the word,” said Executive Direcespecially for children, Olusola Oyelade, tor, The Future Project, ChudeJideonwo, Director, of “And InVcapCorporation, beyond the awards, initiators we are pasSplashWorld, observes, children need cersionate about ensuring that TFAA alumtain amounts of contact spacni share their storieswith of natural inspiration, es and natural features within their daily value-creation and belief in themselves lives plays key role in child developand as in this Africa.” ment and education.

To kick off the tour, TFAA alumni, According to Oyelade, the goal of SplashOlufunbiFalayi, winner TFAA Prize World is not only to facilitate outdoor in Enterprise Support 2015; Triciaplay Ikas a way of tackling a perceived increase ponmwonba, Finalist TFAA Prize in in sedentary lifestyles andand contemporary Community Action 2014, Emmanuel health problems but, as a way of con‘reIkubese, winner, Mralso Nigeria 2014 connecting’ children with nature. test; were present to share insightful caHisguidance words: “Research has detailed that reer to the students. access to greenspace brings general “We are glad to be chosen as onehealth of the benefits and that, in particular, there a privileged schools to host some of isthe link between use of the outdoors and inalumni of The Future Awards and other creased physical activity . Physical schoolslevels in theofenvirons,” said, Principal, activity has been linked to tackling conBaptist Boys High school, Mr. Adekunle temporary health problems, such as obesity, but exercise in the outdoors has been shown to be beneficial also because it facilitates contact with nature.

“It is generally reported that being outLeonard okachie doors contributes to higher levels of well-

Slide at SplashWorld for children

being - bringing physiological benefits such rides. Also, other parks are incomplete, but as stress reduction.” this is a complete park with kiddies and Corroborating research findings, Oy- adult section. We have enough activities for elade, who is also Chairman, Casa Consult everybody,” the InVcap CorporationDirecLtd, architecture, design, build, project tor claims. development and management firm notes He further says that government lathat outdoor environment can be more belled Ikogosi Warm Spring Resort axis as than a place to burn off steam. He says this tourism belt for Ekiti platform. is particularly so as more educators and “There are different kind of natural feaWinner Mr Nigeria 2014, Emmanuel Ikubueze taking a selfie students in Abeokuta architects and designers are embracing tures thatwith are the fantastic, next door is the Ikthe ideas that outdoor play space provides ogosi Warm Spring Resort, meeting point Olanrewaju . “And we are grateful to the chances for the highest level of developorganisers for giving our students the opment and learning. “When used best, it can portunity on improving themselves and be a place for investigation, exploration adding value to their communities.” and social interaction.”

The tour is scheduled to at visit AbeoOyelade who was speaking a maiden kuta, Abuja, Calabar, and finally , Lagos. media conference, weekend at SplashWorld The premises, Future Awards Resort Ikogosi,Africa Ekiti, has said been that called the ‘Nobel Prize for Young Afrithe centre is the first world class water park cans’, and ‘most important youth in Africa.

He the explains Splash World project awards’ by Forbes.

It is a set of prizes atecold innovation, creativity enterprise and warm springs, and so we have dewas borne out of passion to answer govern- for given annually to celebrate and acceleramongst young Africans aged 18 – same 31. It cide to locate this water park in this ment call to boost recreation in the Ikogosi locality because the place is already known Warm Spring Resort.

“This is the initiative of by In-vap Part- as a water-based resort,” Oyelade who is an ners who have decided to respond to the architect adds.

The location of SplashWorld is within need for Nigeria to recreate properly. There day beach festival is geared towards the Lagos on Tuesday announce the 3rd targeted tourismtobelt apart from the are many kind of resort, but, this is the first creating a tradition for youth empow- natural edition of what is best known as ‘Afenvironment is a nice features, as water park in Nigeria and with the kind of erment as well as celebrating African this rica’s Biggest Beach known Festival’, Okeke place that is already for its good music, culture and people in every waters. said: “Gidi Fest has two things to form. achieve: to create a Nigerians platform for the While encouraging to emSpeaking at a confer- ence in brace culture, our music, with“Ikogosi a globalisoutrecreation, he says, an look, and to create safeaccessible. environment ancient town that is avery You for access thje youth together.

The can it fromto thecome express, from Ileshamain is youth empowerment.

Ife axisthing 15 minutes away , From Akure, it is “Itminutes is a music that defines three away;festival it is 20 minutes away the progression and urban from Ado- Ekiti, so of it ismusic a centralized locayouthWe culture in hotels Africa.

The festival tion. have nice next door at Ikwas naturally born in Lagos because ogosi. the citycost is the melting pot the conti“The is affordable andofwe have innent, yet it maintains global outlook. centives and discount fora groups, you can Our line-up the breaking current easily book thisrepresents facility without croppocket. of African stars.” your With music N1000 or less an individremarked that they were reualOkeke family can offer their children rare fun ally tofurther be back this year, havin thisexcited place, he explains.” ing learned aearlier, lot fromOlutoyin the previous ediSpeaking Oyelade, tions.

Founding Partner and CEO at InVcap, an “We genuinely feelequity this one goAfrican-focused private firmios in Niing toand putCanada, us on the global map geria says her festival organization and show Splash the world that Lagos is the established World Park, multi-purcontinen’t melting pot for music and culture.It’s about curating an experience for our people so there are some exciting upgrades that will surprise our guests,” he spoke further

pose water park and recreational centre to promote physical activity among Nigerians.

Oyelade explains that critical among the visions InVcap, which recently completed the first water parks project in West Africa located at Ikogosi Ekiti in Southwest, is to boost physical activities and health, saying it is a visible missing link in the life of an has produced overShe 150expresses winners and over average Nigerian. concern 1550 the nominees since its first and edition in over low level of physical recre2006. activities among Nigerians. ational It is presented in conjunction with The In his presentation, Adebisi Ademola Future Project, whichEngineer has a mandate to Babatunde, the Project for Splash build empowered across Africa, world, said that all citizens is now set for a special through (inclusive) enterprise and who (acEaster Splash for children and those tive) to citizenship. focusand on anniverHuman wish mark their This birthdays Capital is informed by our saries in Development style. value Africa’s growth needs “Weproposition: are fully ready , all the rides are a generation people who are ready , you can of seeyoung the nails, water slides, gainfully employed and river, able tochildren’s demand spiral rides, pools, lazy and secure better leadership. water house, elephant slides, raining

Gdi Fest is about youth empowerment – Chin Okeke

F

ounder, Gidi Culture Festival otherwise known as Gid Fest, Chin Okeke has said that the one-

Children playing

mushrooms and art gallery. The safety of children is assured as they socialize among themselves as they learn,” Babatunde says.

Other events which the water and edition of the festival is backproat amusement park offers which its teeming Eko Atlantic on Saturday, March 26. spective visitors are movie splash, splash The and beach festival itscourt gateshas at lounge photo shoot.opens The food noon with day activities ranging from a restaurant which serves local and interbeach sports headed by celebrity team continental dishes. captains, to tasting thve and very best of The importance of play recreation African dishes at the food court, and in the life of every child is internationally of couse=rse live music from some of recognized and evidenced by the proclamaAfrica’s best artists. tion in the 1959 Declaration of the Rights of festival’s headliners includes theThe Child: “The child shall have full opporDavido, Tiwa Savage, Phyno, Yemi tunity for play and recreation […]; society Alade and Timaya.

South Africa’s, K.O and the public authorities shall endeavour and Riky Rick will be coming to Nigeto promote the enjoyment of this right” ria for (art.

7). the first time to grace the stage.

Opening acts include Gold This proclamation wasAdekunle further strengthand Small Doctor. ened in the United Nations (UN) ConvenHosts Gidiof Fest 2016 (the include tion on thefor Rights the Child ConMTV Base VJ’s, Nomuzi from South vention) of 1989 which explicitly states in Africa 31 and Nigeria’s own, Ehiz, article that “States very Parties recognize alongside FM to OAP, Uche. the right of City the child rest Sensei and leisure, to DJ Obi and DJ Kaywise will be on the engage in play and recreational activities decks withtosome comic from a appropriate the age of therelief child and and couple of your favourite comedians. to participate freely in cultural life and the This year, Gidi Fest 2016 promises to arts.” be an astounding show with amazing vibes.

Gidi Fest 2016 is brought to you by Eclipse Live, Eko Atlantic, Lagos State and Heineken with support from Red

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Young & Next Media

Thursday, March 24, 2016

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Diamond Lions Club empowers youths, women Leonard Okachie

I

korodu Diamond Lions Club International, District 404A1, Nigeria has organised a two-week free skill acquisition training for 60 youths, including women at Poromosan Community, Idi- Iroko in Ikorodu, Lagos State.

The programme, which began on Monday, will have the participants trained on making of Ankara and shoe, bangle, face cap, belt, hat, bridal hand fan and other wedding accessories among others.

Speaking about the project, the president of the club, Lion Michael Adeleke said the club identified lack of entrepreneurship and personal skills as some of the challenges in the society, hence it decided to train the people to make them self employed and self reliant.

Adeleke disclosed that the project was part of the centennial target of the Lions Club International to meet 25 million (in three years) by 2017.

He noted that the fund for the training was part of the money raised during his installation as the club’s 11th president, adding, “In Lions Club, our goal is to

Skill acquisition training at Poromosan Community, Ikorodu, by Ikorodu Diamond Lions Club

serve humanity. We give back to the society. We are training these youths because we know that the future belongs to them. When you empower them, you are automatically building the nation. Nigeria as country does not have a future without the youths. So it is necessary to catch them young and prepare them for leadership “Women also play a very criti-

cal role in any given society and must be empowered too. They say that when you train a woman, you train a nation.”

Speaking on the choice of the community, the club’s programme director, Lion Olufunmi Oshinowo-Bashorun explained that in any place where the club exists, it does community assessment, through which the needs of that

community are identified.

She said: “We did a community assessment, to know what the community actually needs.

We identified three projects in this community. Result of that assessment is this training. So we don’t just go to a community and embark on any project without assessment.

“This community is divided

into six zones. We asked the zonal coordinators to give us six participants per zone; then two participants per Community Development Area (CDA). We also gave opportunity for our members to send somebody they wish to benefit from the training.”

She said that at the end of the training, 10 best participants, based on performance, would be given start-up kits.

Project director of the club, Lion Adeyinka Adenuga, said the training is part of the numerous projects the club has embarked upon, adding that there are many other community projects to be executed.

One of the participants, Abosede Olyawola expressed happiness for being part of the training, saying, “I was excited when I heard about the training. I sell shoes and bags and I go to Cotonou and Idomota to buy them. Now I’m being trained for free; this is an opportunity I have been waiting for because after this training I’m sure I will be producing them by myself.

I have locked my shop in order to benefit from the two weeks training. I’m grateful to the organisers and I pray that God will continue to bless them in this service they are rendering to mankind.”

KCCN urges young Nigerians to lead in poetry Joel Ajayi ABUJA

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n furtherance of its great contribution towards promoting culture in Nigeria, the newly appointed Director of Korean Cultural Centre in Nigeria KCCN, Mr. Han Sungrae, has called on young people in the country to lead a major push for inclusive poetry around the globe.

He made this call on Monday in Abuja at Korea-Nigeria poetry fiesta 2016 in commemoration of World Poetry Day. Sungrae maintained that Poetry, in particular, is a beautiful window through which all human beings around the world share their aesthetic sensibility and understand each other better.

According to him, I have so far been greatly encouraged by the level of enthusiasm shown by Nigerians towards Arts in less than one month of my resumption in Nigeria.

He said: “This event is held not only to encourage Nigerian poets but also to foster more unity and understanding between our two peoples.

“In the quality and number of poems submitted by Nigerians from around the country for this poetry feast, it is certain that Literature has quite blossomed here and this land will continue to be the home of many renowned writers in the rank of Wole Soyinka. I want to use this occasion encourage Nigeria’s young ones to take

the lead in poetry in the world.

“As we all know, culture has played a key role in promoting understanding between peoples of the world. Through ages, Literature and in particular poetry always provides that avenue through which human beings share the beauty of our world through the beauty of words. In the past also, poets have awakened people’s consciousness of the need for reform in our society.”

Speaking further, the Director KCCN boasted: “Korean Nigeria Poetry Feast now six years old was first introduced to mark the 30th anniversary of diplomatic ties between two countries, the establishment of the Centre in 2010, has started bring out its fruit as signing of Cultural and Educa-

Korea-Nigeria poetry fiesta 2016 in Abuja

tional Agreement between Korea and Nigeria accomplished.”

However, the KCCN, in collaboration with Arojah Concept

has continued to organize a poetry competition for the past six years has been giving Nigerian poets an opportunity to bare their

minds on selected issues.

Speaking at the event, the coorganiser Mr. Jerry Adesowo, said this year’s edition of KoreaNigeria poetry fiesta received over 600 entries comprise of poetry, poems while 17 poets in recognition of their excellent works of poetry went home with cash prizes and gift items worthy of N500,000.

Adesowo urged Nigerian cultural agency as well as cultural organization in African to emulate Korean embassy that have dedicated itself toward promoting Nigeria’s cultural heritage.

Meanwhile, Nigerian students, at the event, thrilled the crowd with scintillating poem writing

by Nobel laurel Wole Soyinka and special ko Un the poems that captivate the minds of crowd.

Student gives useful tips on money

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ass Communication student at Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Ogun State, Miss Victoria Olawoye has given useful tips on money, noting that though money is useful there are certain things that cannot be gotten with it.

In her article entitled ‘Things we cannot get through money’ Olawoye gave advice especially to the youths thus: “First of all, what is money: money is a current medium of exchange in the form of coins and bank notes, coins and banknotes collectively?

“Money is anything of value that serves as a general accepted

medium of financial exchange, legal tender for repayment of debt, standard of value, unit of accounting measure and the means to serve or store purchasing power “Firstly, what we cannot get through money is eternal kingdom or heaven. People go to different prophets, pastors and Alfa to pray for them and later give them huge amount of money but after all that the money cannot buy you a heaven so spend your money wisely and in good way to please you and others.

“Secondly, Time: “GLORIA TESCH” said that time is the

most precious gift you can give to someone, because if you give someone your time, it’s a part of your life that you will never get back. That the most intriguing part about time that once it’s gone it can’t be brought back.

You can spend your life chasing after the insignificant things and even though you have earned a million bucks, these can’t bring back the bygone time. The moment which you skipped on spending with the important people in your life just because you were busy with your work will never return.

“You can’t use any amount of

money to turn the clocks around and also time machines are not available in market yet.

“Thirdly, inner peace: What will a person do with millions and billions of bucks in bank but no peace of mind? Inner peace cannot be bought with money but one can cultivate it only with his thoughts. It comes when one accept everything that life has to offer and is able to find some positivity out of the most negative of situation, so money cannot buy you inner peace except God. Meanwhile, spend your money wisely in other for you to have a peace of mind.”

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National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Community Mirror Let me again repeat what I to have saying Goodluck hasthe no It seems mebeen the time hasthat come for us toJonathan re-examine personal agenda in convening thisfornational legal and constitutional framework policingconference. in Nigeria.

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–SPEAKER HOUSEPRESIDENT OF REPS, HON. YAKUBUJONATHAN DOGARA GOODLUCK

Sodomy: Popular Lagos homosexual on the run Dare Akogun

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popular and well respected Finance Executive in the Satellite area of Lagos State, Innocent, popularly known as Innogreat who also runs a school was allegedly caught red-handed at a mechanic workshop in Oluti in Amuwo-Odofin area of Lagos, having anal sex with his male homosexual partner know as Goddy.

It was gathered that the male partner was a mechanic at the shop and the said man usually comes there to service his car not knowing that the two were into sodomy.

According to an eye-witness and a colleague of Goddy, at about 8:00pm two weeks ago, he heard some strange noise from one of the cars parked in the workshop and raised the alarm and a mob came and gave them the beating of their life which attracted the attention of a mobile police patrol who promptly rescued him from the mob.

Another eye-witness who pleaded anonymity claimed the

alleged homosexuality is very influential and is the ring leader of homosexuals in the Agboju, Festac and Satellite Town axis of Lagos State.

Efforts to reach the suspect proved abortive as his whereabouts are unknown and the office closed.

Besides, it was gathered that he may have travelled out of the country and Goddy has not also returned since the incident and it’s believed that he may have travelled with him because the youth, police and Odu’a People’s Congress OPC are searching for them.

Effort to speak with Policemen from the satellite police divisional headquarter has yielded no result, as nobody is to comment on the matter. But a reliable police source confirmed the incident and said the matter is under investigation.

“A patrol vehicle of the division saved a man from a mob action at a mechanic workshop, he was accused of homosexuality, but we are yet to get to the root of the matter as information is still sketchy,” he stated.

It was gathered that a bench warrant has been issued for their arrest on 14 December

NGO back call to end domestic violence, gender inequality Francis Suberu

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Non Governmental Organisation (NGO), Sarah Adebisi Sosan Foundation (SASF) has joined global campaigns by women for gender equality and an end to all forms of domestic violence against women and the need for government at all levels to respect women’s rights and give them equal opportunity that would enable them to contribute to discussions about community development.

The event was organised to commemorate the International Women’s Day 2016. Women gathered themselves in thousand at the event and re-echoed the call for gender balance, especially in the areas of education, employment and an immediate end to all forms of domestic violence.

Founder of the Sarah Adebisi Sosan Foundation (SASF) and former deputy governor of Lagos State, Princess Sarah Adebisi

Sosan noted that in all sectors, women continue to suffer from gender inequality, which she noted hinders their advancement and key contributions they would have made in the development of the society.

Sosan stated that there was the need for regular sensitization of the public on the need for gender balance and formulation of appropriate laws that would free women and remove all forms of barriers that have been hindering their developments. he former deputy governor while describing the Theme of the celebration: ‘The Role of Parents in Gender Equality’ as appropriate called on mothers to give equal attention and show love to their female children, noting that often, the boy-child is exempted and accorded respect in domestic affairs whilst growing up but the girl-child is made to bear so much responsibilities, which she noted is a contributory factor to gender imbalance in the society.

2015 for similar offence but they failed to show up in the court.

Nigeria has criminalised same-sex relationships despite pressure from Western governments.

The law contains penalties

of up to 14 years in prison and bans gay marriage, same-sex “amorous relationships” and membership of gay rights groups.

It would be recalled that President Muhammadu Bu-

hari, while in the United States of America on a 4-day official visit, categorically ruled out any chance of Nigerian being pressured by the America into legalising homosexuality in the country.

L-R: President Women Arise, Dr. Joe Okei-Odumakin; Peace and Conflict Revolutionist, Mr. Mustapha Thomas; Victim of Domestic violence by her husband, Mrs. Gloria Izuakor; Barrister Christian Love; Husband of Gloria, Mr. Jude Izuakor and children, Jude, Samuel and Daniela, during Reconciliation after incidence of Domestic Violence at Magistrate Court in Lagos, yesterday.

PHOTO: SAMUEL ADETIMEHIN

Elegushi family seeks justice for slain member Dare Akogun

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he family of a graduate of business administration student of University of Lagos (UNILAG), Yusuf Elegushi has been thrown into mourning following his gruesome murder by some hoodlum.

His father, Chief Muritala Adedoyin Elegushi has therefore appealed to the State governor Akinwunmi Ambode and Commissioner of Police, Fatai Owoseni to urgently fish out the killer and bring him to justice.

Speaking with our correspondent, Chief Elegushi alleged that ,the deceased 26 year old ,chairman of Building Materials Suppliers, Alaguntan village chapter, Ajah Lagos, was shot dead last Thursday, at about 7.30pm by a notorious gangster identified simply as Lawal.

He claimed that his son was hit at the chest by a bullet shot by Lawal, while trying to rescue a victim that had earlier been shot by the same Lawal, who is now at large, which resulted in his death.

While the assailants took to their heels, the distraught La-

gos high chief said his son was rushed to the Yaba General hospital where he was confirmed dead on arrival.

According to Elegushi, a disagreement had occurred between a gang led by Lawal and a man simply identified as Dodo two day earlier over the sum of N 3,000.00, in which Lawal sustained an injury on his jaw.

As a result, Elegushi added that the Lawal gang had mobilized in large number on the day of the sad incident at Alaguntan building site to revenge the assault meted on Lawal by Dodo, which eventually resulted in the death of his son.

He said the matter was reported at Ogombo Police Station, where three members of the gang were arrested and the matter transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Panti.

Elegushi, who described his son as a quiet and easy going person, said the late father of two kids, had made arrangement on how to mark his 26th birthday anniversary next month.

He said the family had petition both the state governor and the

commissioner of police for them to search for the killer and bring him to justice.

The father of the deceased maintained that this is not the first time that the Lawal group would engage in such gruesome murder of innocent souls in the area, adding that such matters had always been swept under the carpet by the police.

He accused the Lawal gang as being one of the numerous killer gangs in Alaguntan village, Ikota, Olukotun, Gedegede, Moba, Isakaba and Mabro estate, commonly used by land grabbers and politicians.

Claiming that the bandits were always released almost immediately when being arrested on similar incidents in the past at the instant of their political godfathers, Elegushi vowed that every legal means will be taken by the family to ensure that justice prevails to deter further occurrence.

Efforts to confirm the incident from the police public relations officer, Dolapo Badmos to comment on the matter proved abortive as her mobile phone failed to connect as at the time of filing the report.

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USAID spends $240m on IDPs in North East Inusa Ndahi MAIDUGURI

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Medical team of National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) attending to Internal Displace Persons at Dikwa camp in Maiduguri Borno State, yesterday. PHOTO:NAN

Tenure elongation: Court dismisses Nasarawa LG chairmen suit

Igbawase Ukumba LAFIA

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Nasarawa State High Court sitting in Lafia, the state capital yesterday dismissed a suit filed by chairmen of local government areas in the state seeking to elongate their tenure in office from two to three years.

Delivering the judgment at the State High Court 4, Justice James Abundaga ruled that all the questions raised for determination are resolved against the applicants and accordingly dismissed their claims.

The judge who based

his ruling on section 7 sub-section1 of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria as amended, held that running of local government councils by whether sole administrators, caretaker committee or in the past, director of personnel managements is unconstitutional.

He said: “It is unconstitutional to contemplate the constitution of a caretaker committee or any other type of transitional government in the local government councils; it is equally unconstitutional to condone an illegal elongation of the term of office of an elected

official beyond the term he stood election for and won.”

He therefore maintained that he would not compromise one illegality to the other. “We as a court of law must refrain from swimming in the muddy waters with the politicians. Let them sought themselves out of the mess they have deliberately put themselves in for selfish reasons,’’ Abundaga added.

Similarly, the Nasarawa State House of Assembly at its sitting had earlier sacked the local council chairmen in the state. The sacking of the council chair-

men the House said was due to the expiration of their tenure of office which lapsed on March 24, 2016.

Ruling on the motion raised by the House Committee Chairman on Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Saidu Galadima Shafa, APC Toto/Gadabuke constituency, under matter of public interest, the deputy speaker, Godiya Akwashiki, who presided over the plenary directed the Clerk of the house to write Governor Umaru Tanko AlMakura over the resolution of the house.

Adamawa NYSC orientation camp to be reopened Livinus Menedi YOLA

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he National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, Orientation Camp for Adamawa State which was shut sometimes ago, will be re-opened for camping of corps members The state coordinator of the scheme, Umaru Joro Daniel has said.

Joro who spoke with journalists yesterday in his office said the Director General of the NYSC gave the approval for the re-opening of the Adamawa NYSC Orientation Camp, at the preorientation workshop it held last month in Katsina State.

He said the scheme

usually holds a preorientation workshop, where modalities for its operations before the next orientation camp for corp members are fine tuned, adding that the forum usually affords each state coordinator the opportunity to come forward with his or her requests, while the management also spells out its expectation accordingly.

He noted that it was at the Katsina workshop preparatory to the 2016 Batch ‘A’ orientation camp slated for March 30th that he got the nod of the Director General on re-opening the Adamawa NYSC camp.

He however, maintained that even though

the Director General had given the approval for the 2016 Batch A orientation camp to hold in the state, the possibility of the camp reopening, was now a matter for the Adamawa State Government to determine.

In his words, “As far as the request concerning the reopening of the Adamawa NYSC Orientation Camp is concerned, the NYSC director General has given the approval. Whether the camp will be reopened for the Batch A 2016 orientation is now dependent on the Adamawa State Government. The whole bulk of the issues lie with them since it is the state governor who is responsible for provid-

ing the camp. He is also to supplement the feeding, transport and other things during the camp”.

But Joro however, noted that the approval for the reopening of the closed Adamawa NYSC camp had elicited favourable response from the State Governor, Mohammed Jibrilla Bindow.

According to him, the state governor who promised to make the camp available again to the corps members has already set necessary machinery in motion to ensure that the internally displaced persons settled on the facility are relocated in time for it to be utilised for the 2016 Batch A orientation exercise.

ountry Director of the United State Agency for International Development, USID, Michael Harvey, has said that the agency has spent over $240 million on health, education, sanitation on the Internally Displaced Persons, IDPs, across the North East.

The Country Director who disclosed this to newsmen in Maiduguri while inspecting facilities at the Bakasi camp, Maiduguri, said they were in Maiduguri to assess the conditions of the IDPs and see ways of further assistance.

He said USAID is partnering with Borno State Government and other international Non- Governmental Organisations, NGOs, to assist the IDPs, especially in the areas of education, health and sanitation and the provision of electronic cash vouchers for the IDPs to buy enough food and medicine.

“We are going to provide text books and other instructional materials and trained teachers, as

there are formal schools in most of the camps. We are also working very hard to see that children who were thrown out of school because of insurgency are not roaming the streets without going to school,” he stated.

Harvey prayed for the speedy restoration of peace in the North East region, so that the IDPs will go back to their various communities and pick up the pieces of their lives.

While interacting with the IDPs, an Arabic teacher and a community leader from Gwoza Yau Buba lamented over how their children where roaming the streets without going to school, resulting into gross indiscipline, while Hassan Dauda complained about the clinic inside the camps with lack of adequate drugs, as some times drugs are prescribed to patients, but they don’t have money to buy.

Reacting over the complaints, Harvey said; “These are the types of complains I want to hear, we will look into them to ensure that we tackle it accordingly.”

Bello orders payment of PHC workers’ salary arrears Priscilla Dennis MINNA

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iger State Governor, Alhaji Abubakar Sani Bello, has directed the immediate payment of two years’ salary of ten casual Primary Health Care, PHC, workers in Maje town, Suleja Local Government Area of the state.

The ten workers, who for two years have not been paid by the council, yesterday had their issue settled, during an unscheduled inspection of health facilities to the area by Bello.

Upon, hearing of their situation, he got angry and immediately ordered the Suleja Local Government Chairman, Alhaji Ahmed Diko, to settle the two years emolument owed the 10 casual workers within 24 hours.

The governor also assured the affected work-

ers of permanent employment should they discharge their duties diligently, while pledging the commitment of his administration to providing modern medical facilities to all the primary health care centres across. “This will help to ensure easy access to health care services, especially the teeming rural dwellers.”

He then directed the Permanent Secretary of the State Ministry of Health, Dr Ibrahim Tiffin, to ensure adequate provision of health facilities in the area.

In a reaction, Fatima Mohammed, one of the affected persons thanked Bello for coming to their aid and wiping away tears from their faces, saying their salary is just N6,000 each per month, and for over two years, they have not been paid by their employer.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

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Thursday, March 24, 2016

World News urged Cubans to leave the ideological battles of the past behind and define themselves not through their opposition to the US but just as Cubans.

–US PRESIDENT, BARACK OBAMA

Extremism: Summit advocates Iran travel ban Adeola Tukuru ABUJA

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articipants across Nigeria yesterday called for efforts to outlaw travel to Iran, following the threat of growing religious extremism in the country.

The summit on the Emerging Extremism in a Post-Boko Haram Nigeria with the theme “Building a Consensus against Extremism as a Catalyst for NationalIntegration”wasorganisedby the Coalition of Civil Society Organizations on Human Rights and Interfaith Religious Organizations for Peace in Abuja.

Resource persons and participants stressed the need for religious tolerance

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei

in Nigeria, noting, however, radicalisation that enabled people forming their own communities and laws within the Nigerian state should not be discouraged.

Executive Director, Center for Peace Building and Socio-Economic Resources Development (CePSERD), Mr. Ayokunle Fagbemi, the explained that the Boko Haram phenomenon and the incidents between the Shiite Sect and the Army were cases of security breaches for the country.

Fagbemi identified what he described as political correctness as the major obstacle to overcome in building a consensus against extremism.

“Decision makers in Nigeria mustconstantlybeawarethatconflict and violence entrepreneurs are taking advantage of the countries security breaches and that a management system must be in place to address these breaches,” he said, adding, “It is necessary to interrogate claims made by those that try to parade religion and the Shiite issue must be viewed from the right perspective to understand why they created another community.”

Guest of Honour, Dr. Udenta O. Udenta, a former director of the Institute of Peace and Conflict Resolution, Abuja, who delivered a keynote address, recommended that youth be repositioned in the post-industrial society where technology and new media could be deployed as tools for radicalisa-

Army-Shiite clashes: Nigerians in Diaspora to sue IHRC Adeola Tukuru ABUJA

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he Nigerians in Diaspora Monitoring Group (UK Chapter) has threatened to drag the Islamic Human Rights Commission (IHRC) to the International Criminal Court of Justice over what it described as attempt by IHRC to blackmail the Nigeria army in its report on the Army-Shiite clash.

The United Kingdom Representative of the group, Adeka Onyilo, told National Mirror that patriotic Nigerians would not watch while IHRC tried to black-

mail the Nigerian Army, discredit the Federal Government of Nigeria and stigmatise the citizens as people with no respect for the rule of law.

Adeka, who is a British-Nigerian, said the group had followed the development with keen interest and wondered why prominent Nigerians trained with the country’s resources could have become members of such groups used to blackmail the government.

“Claims by the ICHR that at least 1,000 unarmed civilians of mostly IMN members were killed by gunshots attributed to

soldiers shows how desperate they are to peddle lies against the Nigerian state,” Adeka said.

“It is surprising that the ICHR never raised a voice to condemn the actions of the Shiite sect in terrorizing Zaria residents and flagrantly disobeying constituted authority, in addition to the killings perpetrated Boko Haram.

“Nigerians in diaspora are still wondering why it took this so-called ICHR these long years to comment on the numerous atrocities of Boko Haram which is the militant wing of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria or to visit the numerous families at the IDPs’ camp to empathise with

Power: Diesel & Turbo lighten Senegal Saidat Alausa

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Germany-based company and world’s leading provider of large-bore diesel and gas engines and turbo machinery, MAN Diesel & Turbo SE, has completed construction of diesel combined cycle plant in Africa.

Designed to operate with five MAN 18V48/60 engines and a MAN MARC® steam turbine, the new power plant has a production capacity of up to 96 MW. According to a release by the company, it is the second plant in Africa to make use of MAN’s diesel combined cycle product package. The waste heat from the engines powers a steam turbine, which in turn generates 6.6 MW

of electricity.

“The power plant, which is located in Tobène in the region of Thiès, 90 km north of Dakar, will supply to the national grid that is operated by Senegal’s national electricity company, SENELEC. It will generate the equivalent of 15 percent of the country’s current electricity consumption,” the release stated, adding, “This electricity will be used to power businesses, shops, universities and houses, thus providing a whole host of new opportunities for growth within Senegal, which currently experiences recurring power outages.”

According to CEO of MAN Diesel & Turbo France and Head of Power Plant Sales in the French-speaking regions of Western Africa, Mesut Yentur,

“the new plant uses our diesel combined cycle product package, which offers outstanding performance and excellent environmental standards. Thanks to the second cycle using a MARC® steam turbine, fuel consumption is lowered by 6 percent and CO2 emissions are also reduced for any kWh produced.”

“We are very happy with this project,” CEO of MATELEC, Sami Soughayar, also said, stressing, “Our collaboration with MAN Diesel & Turbo proved to be highly professional and a great success. With project teams being perfectly coordinated, it only took just over 15 months for the power plant to be able to deliver its first MW to the Senegalese national grid.”

With the existing plant hav-

their hardship.

“The Nigerian government has dutifully instituted a Commission of Inquiry to look into the altercations between the terrorists group and the Army and it is a fact that this move has been saluted by various international organizations.”

tion.

According to Udenta, the latest terror attacks in Belgium resulted from failure to deal with what he called festering pool of radicalisation in Brussels.

“Nigeria must limit external influences in the orientation of the youth,” he warned.

A communique issued at the end of the summit urged, among others, that the states and the federal government should consider having their own versions of laws to regulate religious activities, noting that religious extremists could seek new states to move to when they are contained elsewhere, as well as having the communique forwarded to the Presidency, National Assembly and the National Judicial Council with a view to formulating policies, legislation and court pronouncement to limit foreign interference in Nigeria’s internal affairs.

WORLD BULLETIN

Two brothers behind Brussels bombings

Two of the suicide bomb ers who ca rried out a tta cks in Brussels on Tuesda y were yesteda y na med a s brothers K ha lid a nd Bra him el-Ba kra oui, Belgia n na tiona ls.

The federal prosecutor said Brahim was part of the attack at Zaventem airport that killed 11 people while Khalid struck at Maelbeek metro, where 20 people died.

Two other attackers at the airport have not yet been identified. One of them died and another is on the run.

Belgium is observing three days of national mourning.

President Muhammadu Buhari The nation held a minute’s silence at midday (11:00 GMT) yesterday. Belgium’s king and queen visited the airport and met some of the 260 ing now been taken over by MAN injured in hospital.

PrimeServ, MAN Diesel & Turbo’s service brand, to ensure best-in-class maintenance is provided, an expansion is already planned. By adding a Niger Republic’s President, Mahadiesel engine, the plant’s generation capacity will be increased from 96 madou Issoufou, has been re-elected for a second term by a landslide in a MW to 115 MW by the end of the sec- controversial run-off vote, official results ond working phase. show.

MAN Diesel & Turbo is witnessThe electoral commission said yesing a rise in its activities in Africa. terday that he received more than 90 Having had a presence in South Af- per cent of the vote in Sunday’s polls, which the opposition had boycotted. rica since 2008 and in Dakar since Opposition challenger Hama 2010, the company opened a new Amadou, who was flown to France last Sales & Service office in Lagos, Ni- week for emergency medical treatment, geria in 2015 and is currently build- took 8 per cent while the official turnout ing plants in Gambia, Eritrea, Niger figure was 60 per cent, figure, disputed by the opposition having already said and Burkina Faso. that it would not accept the result, allegThese successes are based on ing voter fraud and complaining that its more than 50 years of doing busi- candidate had been unfairly treated.

Issoufou, who addressed the ness in Africa. During that time, over 3.2 gigawatts of generation ca- media shortly after the results were announced, called for national unity, which pacity have been installed in 37 Afri- he said was vital in the country’s battle can countries. against terrorism.

Issoufou wins Niger landslide

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National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Guaranty Trust Bank projects 3.6% pretax profit growth in 2016 Johnson Okanlawon

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uaranty Trust Bank said yesterday it expects profit before tax of N125 billion in 2016 financial year, a 3.6 per cent increase from N120.7 billion recorded in the 2015 financial year.

The bank said 2014 pretax profit stood at N116.4 billion.

The bank last week announced a profit after tax of N99.4 billion for the financial year ended December 31, 2015, an increase of 5.3 per cent when compared to N94.4 billion recorded in the same period of 2014.

The bank’s return on average equity ratio rose 25.6 per cent, from N27,1 per cent in 2014, while loan to deposit ration increased to 85.1 per cent, from 78.8 per cent recorded in the corresponding period of 2014.

Analysis of the results shows positive performance across all financial indices, reaffirming the bank’s position as one of the most profitable and well managed financial institutions in the country.

It delivered a profit before tax of N120.7billion, an increase of N4.3billion or 3.7 per cent, from N116.4billion reported in December CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as OLUWASEUN JULIANA ONYENOBI, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS OLUWASEUN JULIANA EMEKAOJEAH. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as ADAOBI ANNABEL NNADI, now wish to be known and addressed as ADAOBI ANNABEL ONUCHE. All former documents remain valid. general public take note. .

CHANGE OF NAME

OYETUNDE: Formerly known and addressed as OYETUNDE RAFIU ALAO now wish to be known and addressed as SUARAU FATAI OLAWALE. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

AGOOLA: Formerly known and addressed as AGOOLA SHADE ABIODUN, now wish to be known and addressed as BOGUNBE SHADE ABIODUN. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

2014.

The bank’s gross earnings stood at N301.9billion, an increase of 8.4 per cent, from the N278.5billion recorded in the same period of 2014.

Also, the bank’s balance sheet remained strong with 7.2 per cent growth in total assets, from N2.36trillion in 2014 to N2.52trillion in the year under review.

Loans to customers grew by 7.5 per cent to close at N1.37trillion, from N1.28trillion in 2014. Despite the implementation of the Treasury Single Account, TSA, by the Federal Government, customer deposits remained relatively stable with a marginal year-on-year decline of 0.49 per cent from N1.62trillion in 2014 to N1.61trillion in 2015.

The bank continued to maintain a disciplined and prudent approach to loan growth in line with its risk management framework, as its nonperforming loans ratio remained low at 3.21 per cent, up slightly from 3.15 per cent in the comparative period of 2014.

Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development Kaduna State, Hajiya Rabi Abdulsalam; Executive Secretary, Kaduna State Investment Promotion Agency, Dr. Gambo Hamza, and Commissioner for Commerce Industry and Tourism Kaduna State, Alhaji Shehu Balarebe, during a news conference on Economic and Investment summit in Kaduna, yesterday. PHOTO: NAN

L-R: Chief Executive Officer, Nigerian Communications Commission, Prof. Umar Danbatta; representative of the Chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Mrs. Amina Zakari and member board of the Electoral Institute, Prince Adedeji Soyebi, during the 12th Electoral Institute Public Lecture on “ICT and Electronic Voting: Issues and Challenges” in Abuja, yesterday.

PHOTO: NAN

CHANGE OF NAME I FORMERLY KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS MOH’D BALARABE NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS MUSA MOHAMMED. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. FIRST BANK AND GENERAL PUBLIC SHOULD TAKE NOTE.

Formerly known and addressed as JOSEPHINE OKPALA ONOME, now wish to be known and addressed as ADEYINKA AWOKOYA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME/ CORRECT DATE OF BIRTH Formerly known and addressed as AHMED AFUSAT OMORINOLA, now wish to be known and addressed as AHMED AFUSAT AGBEKE Correct date of birth is 11th MARCH 1967.

All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

Formerly known and addressed as ADEOYE TOPE, now wish to be known and addressed as ADEWUYI TEMITOPE THERESA. All former documents remain valid. UBA and general public please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as MISS EMEKA IFEBUCHE PRECIOUS, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS. ISRAEL NNAMANI IFEBUCHE PRECIOUS. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

MUSA: Formerly known and addressed as MUSA SHUAIBU SALWA now wish to be known and addressed as MUSA UMAR. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

ADEFILA: Formerly known and addressed as ADEFILA ADEWUMI BABATUNDE now wish to be known and addressed as JULIUS ADEWUMI BABATUNDE. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as QUADRI IDAYAT, now wish to be known and addressed as ABIOLA IDAYAT ADUNNI. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

ASHAYE: Formerly known and addressed as ASHAYE ARAMIDE now wish to be known and addressed as ABOSEDE NKECHI PHILIP. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME ABASS: This is to confirm that MISS OLAWALE-ABASS LATEEFAT OLAITAN and MISS ABASS LATEEFAT OLAITAN refer to one and same person. Henceforth wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Balogun Lateefat Olaitan. All documents reflecting any of the Stated names remain valid and should be treated as one person.

Banks and the general public take note.

Formerly known and addressed as BAKERE TAIWO LATEEFAT, now wish to be known and addressed as ADEBAYO TAIWO OYINDAMOLA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as EKUT VALENTINE INNOCENT, now wish to be known and addressed as AKPAN SAVIOUR DAN. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I FORMERLY KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS YAHAYA SANI NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESS AS JIRGI GAGO. ALL DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. FIRST BANK AND GENERAL PUBLIC SHOULD TAKE NOTE.

CHANGE OF NAME

CORRECTION OF NAME This is to inform the general public that my name and date of birth was mistakenly written as DAUDA LUKA ILIA 9TH DECEMBER 1989 instead of DAUDA KAPI LUKA 9TH DECEMBER 1991. I henceforth wish to be known and addressed as DAUDA KAPI LUKA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as OSENI WASILAT ASHABI, now wish to be known and addressed as OSENI WASILAT AJIBOLA. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly known and addressed as a MISS ADENIRAN FEBISOLA ABIONA, but now wish to be known and address as MRS OLUWADARA ABIONA OLANIYAN. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

EZE: Formerly known and addressed as EZE AMAKA CHIMEIZE, now wish to be known and addressed as EZE CHIKA ADA. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

DECLARATION OF MARRIAGE

I, MRS PROMISE ADAMMA ANDREW (NEE IROEGBU) Formally declare to the general public that I was married to MR STEPHEN ANDREW on the 7th and 8th of April 2007 and the marriage is still intact.

This declaration is for the attention of Banks and the general public.

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as ADEBAYO ESTHER OLUWASEYI, now wish to be known and addressed as OYEKOLA ESTHER OLUWASEYI. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

MUSA: Formerly known and addressed as MUSA TERRY now wish to be known and addressed as SAIBU TERRY AMINU. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

ADDITION OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as AKEEM AYINLA, now wish to be known and addressed as after addition of new name JIMOH AKEEM AYINLA. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as ADEMILUYI SUKURATU OMOLARA, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS. FARONBIGIWA SUKURA OMOLARA. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note. xxxxxxx ADDITIONAL NAME I hereby inform the general public that I was formerly known and addressed as ABIDEEN ADISA YUSUF, now adding AREMU along with my name.I now wish to be called and addressed as ABIDEEN ADISA YUSUF AREMU. All former documents remain valid CHANGE OF NAME

JOY: Formerly known and addressed as UCHECHUKWU JOY now wish to be known and addressed as ORABASILI BLESSING. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

VICTORIA: Formerly known and addressed as VICTORIA EZESINACHI now wish to be known and addressed as VICTORIA OFOEGBU. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net CHANGE OF NAME

EKWE: I, formerly known and addressed as EKWE FAVOUR ODUMEJEH, now wish to be known and addressed as EKWE ANAYO SUNDAY. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

EZENWANKWO: I, formerly known and addressed as MISS EZENWANKWO OBIANUJU HAPPINESS now wish to be known and addressed as MRS OKAFOR UJUNWA HAPPINESS All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as MISS. OLABISI TOUN AKINSANYA, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS. OLABISI ABENI ADELAJA. All former documents remain valid.

General Public should take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as a ANOMORISA ALERO ANNABELLA, but now wish to be known and address as ODUNLAMI ALERO OMOTOYOSI ANNABELLA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME UGWUNAECHEOHA: I, formerly known and addressed as MISS UGWUNAECHEOHA CHIKA ENDALINE, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS NWAEZE CHIKA ENDALINE. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

NWOBODO: I, formerly known and addressed as NWOBODO HELEN NWAMAKA, now wish to be known and addressed as OKONWOBODO HELEN PATIENCE. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME SOMORIN: I, formerly known and addressed as SOMORIN KEHINDE BOLANLE, now wish to be known, called and addressed as OYINLOLA KEHINDE BOLANLE. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME FORMERLY MISS OGUNSUYI CAROLINE OLAYINKA, NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN CALLED AND ADDRESSED AS MRS ODO CAROLINE OLAYINKA HENCEFORTH. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. DIAMOND BANK PLC AND GENERAL PUBLIC NOTE. CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly known as MISS AYOOLA RASHEEDAT FOLASHADE now MISS AYOOLA BARAKAT FOLASHADE. All formder documents remain valid.

Lautech Ogbomoso and General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I formerly known as MISS MOMOH TITILAYO, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS TITILAYO CELESTINA AUDU. All former documents remain valid, the Bgeneral public please note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I formerly known and addressed as ANI JOSEPH STEPHEN, now wish to be known and addressed as ANI JOSEPH CHIMEREEZE. All former documents remain valid. The general public should take note.

I formerly known and addressed as ANNASTESIA NNENNA ONOH, now wish to be known and addressed as ANNASTESIA ONOH CHIMEREEZE. All former documents remain valid. The general public should take note.

CHANGE OF NAME 1.. Formerly called and known as MISS ONARINDE ODUNAYO IDOWU now wish to be known and addressed as MRS OGEDENGBE ODUNAYO IDOWU. All former documents remain valid, Guaranty Trust Bank Plc(GTB) and general public should please take note.

This is to Certified/Confirm that OSHIE CLEMENT BISONG and OBI CLEMENT BISOG is the same one person as OBI CLEMENT BISONG, that henceforth wish to be known, addressed and called as OBI CLEMENT BISONG. All former documents remain valid, First Bank of Nigeria Plc, Access Bank Plc, National Youths Service Corp (NYSC) Commission and general public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

Fomerly known and addressed as CHRISTIAN ONWUTUEBE, now wish to be known and addressed as USEBE CHRISTIAN ONWUTUEBE. All former documents remain Valid.

General public take note.

Formerly known and addressed as JOHNSON PAUL, now wish to be known and addressed as LAWAL ADEKUNLE JOHNSON. All former documents remain Valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CORRECTION OF NAME AND DECLARATION OF AGE

Formerly known and addressed as MR AMALLA STEPHEN ECHEZONA, now wish to be known and addressed as AMALLAGOGE STEPHEN ECHEZONA. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

43

Thursday March 24, 2016

This is to the general public and authorities concerned that my name was wrongly written as RAHEEM TAOFIKI instead of ABDULRAHEEM TAOFEEK ISHOLA. While my correct date of birth is 8th March 1990.

Diamond Bank and public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME ANI: I, formerly known and addressed as MISS ANI FAUSTINA CHIDIMMA, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS OKUGO FAUSTINA CHIDIMMA. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

CONFIRMATION OF NAME This is to confirm and certify that UGWU ERNEST, UGWU ERNEST MADUKA and UGWU HILLARY E. refer to one and the same person, now wish to be known and addressed as UGWU ERNEST HILLARY MADUKA. All former documents remain valid.

Banks and general public please take note.

CORRECTION OF NAME This is to inform the general public that my name IDEM CHINONSO IWUJI, was wrongly written in First City Monument Bank but now wish to be corrected and addressed as IWUJI CHINONSO DARLINGTON. All former documents remain valid.

Banks and general public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

MBA: I, formerly known and addressed as MBA BONIFACE EJIOFOR now wish to be known and addressed as MBA OSCAR EJIOFOR. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

UGOJI: I, formerly known and addressed as IJEOMA ROSEMARY UGOJI, now wish to be known and addressed as IJEOMA ROSEMARY OGBUOKIRI. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

I formerly known and addressed as RONKE AIMIUWU, now wish to be known and addressed as RONKE AKINJOGBE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

LOUIS: I, formerly known and addressed as LOUIS IKECHUKWU HYGINUS, now wish to be known and addressed as ODOH IKECHUKWU HYGINUS. All former documents remain valid. Banks and general public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME OGBUANYA: I, formerly known and addressed as MISS IJEOMA CHINANUEKPEREM OGBUANYA, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS IJEOMA CHINANUEKPEREM CHARLES UGWUAGBO. All former documents remain valid. BANKS and general public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CONFIRMATION OF NAME This is to confirm that BAMIDELE SALIU AHMED and OLAYINKA IDRIS OLUMIDE is the same person bearing the two names now want to be known and addressed as BAMIDELE SALIU AHMED. All former document remain valid. Diamond Bank Plc and general public take note.

I, formerly DADA OPENIYI ADETUNJI OBISESAN now wish to be known and addressed as ADETUNJI OLANIYI ALFRED. All former documents remain valid. NIS and general public to please note.

UGWU: I, formerly known and addressed as MISS UGWU NGOZI MARY, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS. UGWUMGBOR MARY NGOZI. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

That I am the same person bearing the two names are ABDUL SALAM ISMAILA and SALAMI ISMAILA that I am also the customer to stanbic bank plc ogbomoso branch. Account number 0009669917 and account Name SALAMI ISMAILA. Also to Eco bank ogbomoso branch saving.

Account number 4791125570 and account name ABDUL SALAM ISMAILA.

CHANGE OF NAME

AGU: I, formerly known and addressed as EBULE BRUNO AGU, now wish to be known, called and addressed as EBULUE BRUNO AGU. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I formerly known and addressed as AKUOMA LAWRITTA OBI now wish to be known and addressed as MRS. AKUOMA LAWRITTA DURUIFE. All former documents remain valid. The general public should take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME UDOH: This is to confirm that AUGUSTINE WILLIAMS UDOH, IBORO WILLIAMS UDOH and WILLIAMS UDOH is one same person, henceforth wish to be known and address as Iboro Williams Udoh. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as MARIAM AJIBOLA TOBILOBA, now wish to be known and addressed as MARIAM AJIBOLA OLANREWAJU. All former documents remain Valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as MR. OKWUCHUKWU CHIBUZOR JIAGBOGU, now wish to be known and addressed as MR. OKWY JIAGBOGU. All former documents remain valid.

Diamond Bank/general public please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

ANOZIE: I, formerly known and addressed as ANOZIE MICHEAL CHIDERA, now wish to be known, called and addressed as ODANWA MICHEAL CHUKWUEBUKA. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

ADEKOLA: I, formerly known and addressed as MISS ZAINAB ADEDOJA ADEKOLA, now wish to be known, called and addressed as MRS. ZAINAB ADEDOJA MOMOH. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as ODEYOYIN BALQIX OLAWALE, now wish to be known as MRS. BENSON BALQIX OLAWALE. All former documents remain valid. UBA, Access Bank, Nigeria Immigration Service and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known as OLOWOKITI BUKOLA ESTHER, now wants to be known as OLADOSU BUKOLA ESTHER. All former documents remain valid. NYSC and the general public should take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as OGBOGWU OCHE ALEXANDER, now wish to be known and addressed as OGBOGWU CLEMENT OCHE. All former documents remain Valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as MISS. OLOKO BOLANLE RUKIYAT, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS. TESLIM BOLANLE RUKIYAT. All former documents remain valid.

General public please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as JOSEPHINE OKPALA ONOME, now wish to be known and addressed as ADEYINKA AWOKOYA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

Formerly known and addressed as BAKERE TAIWO LATEEFAT, now wish to be known and addressed as ADEBAYO TAIWO OYINDAMOLA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

Formerly known and addressed as AISHA BASHIR USMAN now wish to be known and addressed as AISHA BABA BASHARU. All former documents remain valid.

Present employer and the general public should please take note.

I FORMERLY KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS YAHAYA SANI NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESS AS JIRGI GAGO. ALL DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. FIRST BANK AND GENERAL PUBLIC SHOULD TAKE NOTE.

CHANGE OF NAME ODUKOYA OLUKAYODE OYINOMUKUN SAME PERSON AS OLUKAYODE OYINOMUKUN. NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS ODUKOYA OLUKAYODE OYINOMUKUN.FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID,GENERAL PUBLIC NOTE.

CHANGE OF NAME FORMERLY KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS UDOKA PROGRESSIVE DAVID, NOW WHICH TO BE KNOWN AS EZE DAVID EZE. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID.FIRST BANK AND GENERAL PUBLIC NOTE.

CHANGE OF NAME FORMERLY KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS MADU LOVELINE CHINWENDU, NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS NDUKWE LOVELINE CHINWENDU. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID,FUNAAB,GT BANK,UBA AND GENERAL PUBLIC TAKE NOTE.

Formerly known and addressed as OLUWASEUN JULIANA ONYENOBI, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS OLUWASEUN JULIANA EMEKAOJEAH. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME I FORMERLY KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS MOH’D BALARABE NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS MUSA MOHAMMED. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. FIRST BANK AND GENERAL PUBLIC SHOULD TAKE NOTE. CHANGE OF NAME

ACHUJEONYE: Formerly known and addressed as ACHUJEONYE GREGORY now wish to be known and addressed as EMMANUEL ONYEKACHUKWU NWAFOR. All former documents remain valid.

General public take.

CHANGE OF NAME

JOHNSON: Formerly known and addressed as JOHNSON STEPHEN now wish to be known and addressed as JOHNSON STEPHEN KINGSLEY. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

GAFAR: Formerly known and addressed as GAFAR ADELODUN now wish to be known and addressed as GAFAR ADIGUN JAIYEOLA. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

OBAFEMI: Formerly known and addressed as OBAFEMI COMFORT ABOSEDE, now wish to be known and addressed as OBATERU COMFORT TAIWO. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note CONFIRMATION OF NAME

EKEH: Formerly known and addressed as EKEH MODESTER CHINEMEREM, now wish to be known and addressed as OGBONNA EMMANUELLA CHINEMEREM. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME MMADU: Formerly known and addressed as MMADU IZUNNA, now wish to be known and addressed as SIMEON IZUCHUKWU OFOJE and my correct date of birth is 18/4/1972.

All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I formerly known and addressed as ANOMORISA ALERO ANNABELLA, But now wish to be known and address as ODUNLAMI ALERO OMOTOYOSI ANNABELLA. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as JOHN EZE, now wish to be known and addressed as OKECHUKWU EZE OLEMEFORO. All former documents remain valid.

General Public should take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

ETIM: I, formerly known and addressed as JANET ASUKWO ETIM, now wish to be known, called and addressed as MRS. UKPONG JANET EMMANUEL. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

OZOWARA: I, formerly known and addressed as OZOWARA EVERISTUS OZOEMENA, now wish to be known, called and addressed as OZOWARA CHIGOZIE OZOEMENA. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME AJUMOBI: I, formerly known and addressed as MISS AJUMOBI OLAITAN ABOSEDE, now wish to be known, called and addressed as MRS. AJETUNMOBI OLAITAN ABOSEDE. All former documents remain valid.

General public and Sagamu Local Government should please take note.

YEKINI: I, formerly known and addressed as YEKINI OLUSEGUN AHMED, now wish to be known, called and addressed as BALOGUN BAOKU AHMED. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as AHMED ABIODUN AKANDE, now wish to be known and addressed as MUHAMMED AHMED ABIODUN. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as MISS. OLAITAN BILIKIS ADENIKE, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS. PALMER BILIKIS ADENIKE. All former documents remain valid.

Guaranty Trust Bank and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

Formerly known as OKOKO ESTHER BIDEMI, now wishes to be known as JAYEOLA ESTHER BIDEMI. All former documents remain valid. NYSC and the general public should take note.

This is to confirm that same person bears OGUNBAMIGBEGBIN ABIODUN OLUFEMI and BAMIGBEGBIN ABIODUN OLUFEMI. All documents bearing the two names remain valid.

General public should take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as AYINLA ADELEKAN JOSHUA, now wish to be known and addressed as AYINLA ADELEKAN AFIS. All former documents remain Valid.

General public take note.

Formerly known and addressed as MISS EZECHUKWU JOSEPHINE CHINONYE, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS. AMALLAGOGE JOSEPHINE CHINONYE. All former documents remain valid.

General public please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME FORMERLY KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS GBENGA OLUMIDE, NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS IDOWU OLAWUMI DUNKE. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. GENERAL PUBLIC SHOULD PLEASE TAKE NOTE.

Formerly known and addressed as MIRIAM OBIANUJU CHUKU, Formerly known and addressed as MRS. MIRIAM OBIANUJU IKECHUKWU. All former documents remain valid.

General public please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known as NAJA’ATU SHEHU ABUBAKAR now wish to be addressed as AMINA AMINU ABDULLAHI. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as MISS BAKARE COMFORT BOLANLE now MRS SALISU COMFORT BOLANLE. All former documents remain valid. Local government service commission Abeokuta and general public take note.

PUBLIC NOTICE

VAST FOUNDATION AND EMPOWERMENT THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE TRUSTEES OF THE ABOVE NAMED FOUNDATION WITH HEADQUARTERS IN LAGOS WISH TO APPLY TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, ABUJA FOR REGISTRATION UNDER ‘PART C’ OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT, 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE 1. Mr. Okobah Kingsley Chuks 2. Miss Ekwubi Gloria Ukwandi 3.

Mr. Okobah Ekene Francis AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

Chairman General Secretary Member

ANY OBJECTION TO THE REGISTRATION SHOULD BE ADDRESSED TO THE REGISTRAR GENERAL, CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION PLOT 420 TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET MAITAMA, ABUJA WITHIN 28 DAYS FROM THE DATE OF THIS PUBLICATION.

JULIUS ADEOSUN Olaosebikan Adeosun & Co. Barristers, Solicitors and Notary Public, 229 Ikotun Idimu Road, Idimu, Lagos State 07068971207

44

Thursday March 24, 2016 CHANGE OF NAME

OTUBOGUN: Formerly known and addressed as MISS OTUBOGUN OLUWAFADEKEMI TEMITOPE now wish to be known and addressed as MRS ADIO OLUWAFADEKEMI TEMITOPE. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note

CHANGE OF NAME

MOHAMMED: Formerly known and addressed MOHAMMED ISAH ADUKWU now wish to be known and addressed as ADUKWU F. AMEH. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note

CHANGE OF NAME

This is to inform the general public that my name was wrongly written as FOLORUNSO MUYIWA LAWRENCE hence the correct spelling is FOLORUNSHO MUYIWA LAWRENCE. All former documents remain Valid, first bank PLC and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly called and known as MISS ONARINDE ODUNAYO IDOWU now wish to be known and addressed as MRS OGEDENGBE ODUNAYO IDOWU. All former documents remain valid, Guaranty Trust Bank Plc(GTB) and general public should please take note

This is to Certified/Confirm that OSHIE CLEMENT BISONG and OBI CLEMENT BISOG is the same one person as OBI CLEMENT BISONG, that henceforth wish to be known, addressed and called as OBI CLEMENT BISONG. All former documents remain valid,First Bank of Nigeria Plc, Access Bank Plc, National Youths Service Corp (NYSC) Commission and general public should please take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

LOSS OF DOCUMENTS

Formerly known and addressed as MISS ERIJOH MARY, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS. MUHAMMED MARY. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC OF THE LOSS OF ACKNOWLEDGEMENT CARD F.C.D.A OF (AGIS) WITH LAND NO. BA61585 DATED 28/10/2012 BELONGING TO UMAR MUKAILA OF HOUSE NO.N2 STATE LAW COST BAUCHI, BAUCHI STATE.ALL EFFORT MADE TO RECOVER THE SAID ACKNOWLEDGEMENT CARD PROVE ABORTIVE IF FOUND KINDLY RETURN TO THE NEAREST POLICE STATION OR AGIS .THE GENERAL PUBLIC SHOULD PLEASE TAKE NOTE.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME KABIRU: This is to confirm that KABIRU AFOLABI and KABIRU RAZAQ refer to one and same person.

Henceforth wish to be known and addressed as KABIRU AFOLABI. All documents reflecting any of the Stated names remain valid and should be treated as one person. Banks and the general public take note.

JAMES: Formerly known and addressed as JAMES SEGUN JOHN now wish to be known and addressed as JAMES SEGUN SESAN. All former documents remain valid. General public take note

CHANGE OF NAME

OYEYEMI: Formerly known and addressed as OYEYEMI IDOWU BOSE now wish to be known and addressed as ADEBAYO IDOWU BOSE. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as MISS. KAZEEM OLUWATOYIN FATIMAH, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS. BAKARE OLUWATOYIN FATIMAH. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

Formerly known and addressed as MRS. ODORO ENIOLA RELIANCE, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS. OGUNDELE ENIOLA RELIANCE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly known and addressed as MISS OLUFEMI OMOLOLA FATIMO, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS PEREAO OMOLOLA FATIMO. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

OYEYEMI: Formerly known and addressed as OYEYEMI IDOWU BOSE now wish to be known and addressed as ADEBAYO IDOWU BOSE. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME This is to certify and confirm that MR. DAVID MARK FEMI is one and same person as MR. RAIMI SUAIBU FEMI. Henceforth wish to be addressed as MR. DAVID MARK FEMI born on 11th of March, 1987. All former documents remain valid. Heritage Bank, ACCESS Bank and general public take note.

CHANGE OF AGE

CHANGE OF NAME AYINDE: I, formerly known and addressed as MISS. FATIMAH BIMBO AYINDE now wish to be known and addressed as MRS. FATIMAH BIMBO ADEOSUN. All former documents remain valid.

General public should please take note.

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To confirm that I am one and same person bearing ADIAT DURORIKE AWOSANYA and ADIAT JOKOTADE SUBAIR, my date of birth is also confirmed as 29th October, 1945 as obtainable in some of my documents.

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I, formerly known an addressed as MISS PERPETUA AMARACHI now which to be known an addressed as OBIERIBE PERPETUAL AMARACHI general public should please take note.

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AGU: Formerly known and addressed as AGU CHUKWUMA now wish to be known and addressed as MR. AGU SUNDAY EMMANUEL. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

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I formally known as BOKI AYODELE BYRON now wish to be known and addressed as OYIBOKA AYODELE OFODILE by reason of marriage. All former documents remain valid Nigerian Immigration Service and general public take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

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I formerly known and addressed as ELETU SIMBI, now wish to be known and addressed as SAKA SIMBI AJOKE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as MR ONYUGWU UDODIRIM DUMBIRI, Now wish to be known and addressed as Mr Onyenmeri Udodirim Dumbiri.

All former documents remain valid. General public take note

I formerly known and addressed as Mr Onyugwu Udodirim Dumbiri, Now wish to be known and addressed as Mr Onyenmeri Udodirim Dumbiri. All former documents remain valid.

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Former known and addressed as YEWANDE MOSUNMOLA THOMAS, now wish to be known and address as YEWANDE MOSUNMOLA ADEDURO. All former document remains valid.

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CONFIRMATION OF NAME This is to confirm that the name IBRAHIM HARUNA and IBRAHIM HARUNA TUKUR and also IBRAHIM TANIMU HARUNA is one as they appeared in my documents but now wish to be known and addressed as IBRAHIM HARUNA. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

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WOMEN OF INTEGRITY EVANGELICAL MINISTRY INT’L

This is to notify the general public that the above named Organisation has applied for Registration, with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) under part ‘C’ of the Companies and Allied Matters Act, 1990 — President — Secretary — Treasurer — PRO — Member

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: 1. To prepared the Church for the soon coming of Christ 2. To help the vulnerable ones discover their potential and fulfill their destiny 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 twenty-eight (28) days of this publication

Signed SECRETARY

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BANKS and general public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

PUBLIC NOTICE

THE TRUSTEES ARE 1. Rev. Mrs. Anna Jerry Pam 2. Mrs. Sarah Dameng 3. Mrs. Linda Stephen 4. Mrs. Esther Keta 5. Mrs. Nvou Solomon

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as ANIFOWOSHE OMOWUNMI BENEDICTA, now wish to be known and addressed as ADETOYE SMART OMOWUNMI BENEDICTA. All former documents remain valid.

First City Monument Bank (FCMB) and general public take note.

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Former known and addressed as IJALE ABIBAT TOUN, now wish to be known and address as IPOOLA ABIBAT AJOKE. All former document remains valid. General public please take note.

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Formerly known and addressed as OSENI OLAIDE MARIAM, now wish to be known and addressed as AGBEBI FLORENCE OLAIDE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CORRECTION OF NAME

Former known and addressed as OMOJOLA BUKUNMI KEMI, now wish to be known and address as BABAJIDE-ADEBAYO BUKUNMI KEMI. All former document remains valid. General public please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

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National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

PUBLIC NOTICE

GOOD MEASURE GOSPEL MINISTRY

The general public is hereby informed that the above-named Ministry has applied for registration under part “C” of the Companies and Allied Matters Act CAP C20 LFN 2004.

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: Pastor Olusegun Ajayi Rev. Isaiah D. Lawon Rev. Emiko Amotsuka Barrister Adebisi Ilori Mrs. Olabisi Ajayi

—Chairman — Member — Member — Member — Secretary

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES OF THE MINISTRY 1. To preach, teach and propagate the total and unadulterated gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ both within and outside Nigeria.

2. To bring back man back to his first estate in God through the preaching and teaching of the Word of Truth.

3. To create an avenue for Christian fellowship in love and compassion of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Any objection to this registration should be forwarded to the Registrar-General Corporate Affairs Commission, Maitama, Abuja within 28 days of this publication.

SIGNED:

CHAIRMAN

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

PUBLIC NOTICE

DIADEM OF KINGS AND KINGDOM INTERNATIONAL MINISTRIES The general public is hereby notified that the above named Ministry has Applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission Abuja for Registration Under Part “C” of the Companies and Allied Matters Acts, 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE Chamberlain Ajogwu Ajogwu Charles Okey Ifeoma Chidiebere Madubuatta Ajogwu Johnson Torty Alicho Ogechi Nnorom Clement Nwaogaranya THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: To preach the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.

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: Ajogwu Charles Okey Esq.

Thursday, March 24, 2016

Suarez makes Uruguay return after biting ban

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

45

Sport

After beating 14-year-old Jennifer Capriati to win a car – It’s just as well that I won, because if Jennifer won, she couldn’t drive it anyway – Martina Navratilova

46

AFCON 2017 qualifiers Today’s Fixtures Madagascar vs CAR Comoros vs Botswana Ghana vs Mozambique Djibouti vs Liberia Result Chad 0-1 Tanzania

Kaduna battle

Super Eagles goalkeeper, Carl Ikeme

NFF asks fans to keep away weapons

…police assure security, kick-off 5pm

Everest Onyewuchi

T

he Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has appealed to spectators coming to the Ahmadu Bello Stadium, Kaduna tomorrow to watch the AFCON 2017 crucial qualifying match between the Super Eagles and Pharaohs of Egypt to ensure they do not have any weapon of any kind on them.

NFF General Secretary, Dr. Mohammed Sanusi, made the appeal in Abuja yesterday as the federation continued preparations to the final countdown to the big match.

“We are specially appealing to our football fans not to come with any item that might be seen as a weapon, because security will be very tight on the day.

We also appeal passionately to the fans to co-operate fully with the security agents to make for hitch-free entry into the venue.

“Similarly, we are appealing to the fans to come to the sta-

dium wearing green and white colours. We want the venue proudly adorned in our national colours.”

Players and officials of the Super Eagles arrived in Kaduna on Tuesday afternoon, led by Head Coach, Samson Siasia.

National Mirror recalls that the Inspector-General of Police (I-GP), Solomon Arase, said last Sunday that adequate security would be provided at the Ahma-

du Bello Stadium for the match between Nigeria and Egypt.

Arase told newsmen at the ongoing 11th Biennial Police Games at the mainbowl of the National Stadium, Abuja that the police were working toward ensuring a hitch-free match.

“We’ve been giving a very good account of ourselves as managers in terms of security and sports.

“We are not going to record

any issue in terms of security during the match because I had an interactive session with Super Eagles coach, Samson Siasia, and Nigeria Football Federation President, Amaju Pinnick.

“We have in place a very robust security structure in Kaduna; all we are looking forward to is to celebrate after the match, so, there will be no security challenges,” Arase said.

The I-GP said the police

Amoo has taken charge of this trip to Brazil as Head Coach, Samson Siasia, is working with the Super Eagles for two 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying matches against Egypt.

“I’m really and truly impressed by the attitude of the new players especially, who have blended easily and shown no sign that they are new in the camp.

“I must also commend the high level of discipline and dedication among both the old and

the new players. On the evidence of these, I have confidence that those players that will feature against Brazil will do Nigeria proud,” Amoo said on Tuesday, after the team’s second training session at the Clube Aert & Clube Aest football pitch in Vitoria.

The former international midfielder also commended the facilities provided by the NFF and the organizers for the team in Brazil.

“We are very comfortable,

would do its best to provide security during the encounter but urged the Eagles to complement their efforts by winning the encounter.

“They should make sure that their defence is very solid and that we do not concede any goal.”

The AFCON clash between Super Eagles and the Pharaohs will kick-off at the Ahmadu Bello Stadium tomorrow at 5pm.

Nigeria U-23 team size-up Brazil in Vitoria

C

oach Fatai Amoo has praised the new players invited to the Nigeria U-23 camp for their sense of professionalism and dedication as the Dream Team go up against their Brazilian counterparts in a much-awaited international friendly in Vitoria tonight.

The Nigerian team had a feel of the match venue – Kleber Andrade Stadium – yesterday evening, ahead of the game that will take place starting from 7pm Brazil time (11pm Nigeria).

and the training facility s world –class. The team has no excuse not to go all out against the Brazilians.”

Meanwhile, Brazilian kids stormed the Dream Team’s training session on Tuesday in large numbers, and demanded for autographs from the players.

Nigeria and Brazil played out a memorable Olympics semi final clash in Atlanta 20 years ago, which Nigeria edged on ‘golden goal’ in extra time after being 1-3 down at a point in the game.

46

Sports

Thursday, March 24, 2016

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

L

uis Suarez says he has been working on controlling his “anxiety and nerves” as he prepares for his first competitive Uruguay game since biting Giorgio Chiellini at the Brazil World Cup, reports BBC Sport.

Suarez was given a nine-game ban from competitive internationals, as well as a four-month ban from all football-related activity for the 2014 incident.

“No-one is going to change the way I play,” said the 29-year-old Barcelona striker.

Uruguay coach, Oscar Tabarez, said Suarez must be “more than mature”.

Suarez will have missed 640 days of competitive action for his country, including their 2014 World Cup defeat by Colombia, the entire 2015 Copa America and four games of 2018 World Cup qualifying. He was still allowed to play in friendlies.

Uruguay are second in South American qualifying behind Ecuador and face Brazil on Friday.

Suarez has been in sensational form since leaving Liverpool for Barcelona in the aftermath of the ban, winning the La Liga, Champions League and Copa del Rey treble.

This season he has scored 46 goals in 47 games for the Spanish side and says he will not change his aggressive style of play.

Terrorists attacks: Belgium moves friendly to Portugal

B

elgium’s friendly against Portugal next week has been switched from Brussels to Leiria in Portugal after Tuesday’s attacks which killed more than 30 people in the Belgian capital.

The match was called off for security reasons before Portugal’s football association offered a alternate venue.

“For security reasons and also as a measure of precaution, the Brussels City hall asked us to cancel the March 29 home game with Portugal, so the match is off,” a communique from the Belgian Football Union had said.

BBC Sport reported that the Belgium team trained at the King Baudouin Stadium - where the match was originally to be staged yesterday, while the game will be played next Tuesday as initially scheduled.

Captain Vincent Kompany was “horrified and revolted” by the incidents.

“I wish for Brussels to act with dignity. We are all hurting, yet we must reject hate and its preachers. As hard as it may be,” Kompany wrote on Twitter.

Next week’s match is the second Belgium friendly in succession that has not gone ahead as scheduled.

Last November, their match against Spain in Brussels was called off following the Paris atrocities, which killed 130 people.

Belgium Coach, Marc Wilmots, who was an all-action midfielder and played at four World Cups for the Red Devils himself, had wanted the game to go ahead as scheduled in Brussels.

Belgium Coach, Wilmots

Suarez

Suarez makes Uruguay return after biting ban Infantino opens South Sudan FA secretariat …celebrates birthday in Juba

N

ew FIFA President, Gianni Infantino, visited war-torn South Sudan, the world’s newest nation, yesterday on one of his first official trips since taking up the post.

Infantino, who formally inaugurated the office of the South Sudanese Football Association (SSFA) in the capital, Juba, also watched the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier between South Sudan and Benin, which ended 2-1 in favour of Benin.

Officials dressed Infantino in traditional robes and made him dance. They also

produced a large cake to celebrate Infantino’s 46th birthday yesterday.

“It is a great pleasure for me to be here today in Juba,” Infantino said after cutting a ribbon to mark the opening of the SSFA, calling it “the first of many projects to come, for the development of football here in South Sudan.”

After gaining independence from Sudan in 2011, South Sudan erupted into civil war in December 2013, setting off a cycle of retaliatory killings that have split the poverty-stricken, landlocked country along ethnic

lines. Tens of thousands have been killed.

Infantino, who met with South Sudan President, Salva Kiir, but whose visit was not announced in advance amid security concerns, said he would help develop football in a country left in ruins after decades of war.

“There is a lot of work to be done, it is not at the standard that it has to be...South Sudan is one of my key elements of my campaign and programme to help develop football,” Infantino said.

“We will come up with something concrete that people of South Sudan will

be proud of.”

Infantino’s first official international visit was earlier this month to the United Kingdom.

Later this month he is due to visit the scandal-hit South American football confederation, CONMEBOL, on March 28-29 in Asuncion, the capital of Paraguay.

Infantino

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Sports

Thursday, March 24, 2016

47

O

ne player Nigeria coach, Samson Siasia, will be looking to for goals against Egypt in tomorrow’s AFCON 2017 double-header is England-based forward, Odion Ighalo.

The 26-year-old striker is undoubtedly Nigeria’s man of the moment with his fine scoring form for Watford in the English Premier League and he relishes the prospect of leading the Super Eagles’ charge against the Pharaohs.

“I’m equally looking forward to the AFCON qualifier against Egypt like every Nigerian,” Ighalo, who recently aided Watford to a place at the last four of the FA Cup at the expense of holders Arsenal told cafonline.com.

“These matches (against Egypt) are important and crucial towards our aspirations of playing at the next tournament in Gabon,” he added.

The Nigerian has been the Hornets’ leading scorer in the English Premier League (EPL) with 14 goals on the last count and believes his rich vein of form will come handy against the seven-time African champions.

The Super Eagles will host the Pharaohs tomorrow in Kaduna before traveling to the Egyptian city of Alexandria four days later for the return leg.

“My attitude towards these two matches against Egypt would be similar to Watford’s. I will give my best and play with a lot of determination. We know the matches against Egypt are not going to be easy but with determination, we shall be victorious.”

Ighalo has shown overtime that he is a team player and he reckons that the Super Eagles’ collective efforts would be a huge factor against the Pharaohs, currently atop the standings on six points, two points richer than the West Africans.

“Against Egypt, it is not only about counting on Odion Ighalo.

It is going to be about team effort and I want to believe as a team, we have what it takes to confront Egypt.

“For instance at Watford, if I don’t score others still do because football is a team effort; and I want to believe with our collective effort, we would get good results against Egypt.”

Ighalo

Kaduna battle

Egypt won’t be easy, but Nigeria’ll win –Ighalo

Ighalo is unperturbed by the recent change in the coaching staff of the Super Eagles following the dramatic resignation of Oliseh, saying he was ready to work his socks for any gaffer in charge and ensure victory for Nigeria.

“I will as usual give more than 100 per cent irrespective of the fact that we have new coaches in charge of the team. There is noth-

ing new and I would go out there and do my best like I have always done under previous coaches.”

Back at Watford, Ighalo has won everybody over including Coach Quique Sánchez Flores who gave him a pat on the back following the goal against Arsenal in the FA Cup. “The coach has been motivating me and telling me to keep working hard and that the goal

will come at the right time. Eventually, it (goal) came against Arsenal and I’m happy about it. Personally, it would be a dream come for me playing at Wembley.”

Though, having a chance of playing on at Wembley is a welcome boost to his career, Ighalo said the quest for the ticket to the 2017 AFCON finals is equally important.

“It has always been a dream

Pinnick dedicates award to Glo, Guinness, NIKE, others

P

resident of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Mr. Amaju Pinnick, has hailed the spirit of the Federation’s corporate partners and sponsors, who have remained steadfast and supportive in spite of the prevailing economic downturn.

Pinnick made this commendation last Sunday, while receiving his award as Sports Personality of the Year at the Excellence Rec-

ognition Awards 2016, held at the Balmoral Hall, Oregun, Lagos.

“I dedicate this award to all our sponsors, who have remained committed to Nigeria football despite the odds and the challenges of the economic situation. We are very proud of them.

“We appreciate them much more than they think. In thick and in thin, they have been there for the National Teams and other

programs of the NFF. On our part, we will continue to ensure that each and everyone of our partners get good mileage for the relationship in all activities and events of the Federation.”

The NFF president added special commendation for Otunba Michael Adenuga Jnr, chairman of Globacom, for keeping faith with Nigeria football over the past 15 years.

Tinubu gets novelty match honour on Easter Sunday Ifeanyi Eduzor

A

Tinubu

to play at the Wembley Stadium because it is regarded as the traditional home of football in England. My focus now is on the coming matches against Egypt and as I said earlier, our collective efforts would see us through.”

The Super Eagles beat Chad 2-0 in Kaduna before playing out a barren draw with Tanzania in Dar es Salaam in their two previous games.

rrangements have been concluded by members of Lagos Sports Family to organise a novelty football match for the former Governor of the state, Bola Tinubu, as part of activities marking his 64th birthday celebration.

Chairman of the Local Organising Committee (LOC) of the match, Prince Falade Oyekan, told National Mirror that the match which comes up on Sunday, March 27th at the Campos Mini Stadium, Lagos will be between ex- internationals and members of the Lagos

State Executive Council.

According to him, the match become necessary in order to celebrate an icon and political guru who during his tenure laid good foundation for sports development in Lagos State.

“We are organising the novelty match to celebrate an icon and political guru who will be turning 64 on the 29th of this month in recognition of his numerous contributions in the development of not only Lagos State but the entire nation.”

He listed some of the ex- internationals to take part in the match as Joseph Yobo, Mutiu Adepoju, Gbenga Okunowo, Yisa Sofoluwe, Henry Nwosu,

Ifeanyi Udenze, Raymond King, Peter Rufai, Tajudeen Disu, Etim Esim and Peter Rufai amongst others while coaches Tunde Disu, Joe Erico and Amodu Shuaibu will serve as their handlers.

Senior Special Adviser to Lagos State Governor on Sports, Anthony Adebayo, while promising that adequate security has been put in place for a hitch-free match noted that it became necessary to honour Tinubu with a football match because he is a living legend who during his tenure as governor developed a blueprint for sports development in the state.

“Otunba Adenuga and Globacom have been very special, very supportive of Nigeria football since the turn of the Millennium.

That deserves special applause.

“We are committed to working assiduously to even improve on the mileage that our various partners and sponsors have been getting before now, through a few activations we are set to put in place.”

NFF’s current partners and sponsors include Globacom, Guinness Nigeria PLC, NIKE, Zenith Bank, Emzor Pharmaceuticals, Industrial and General Insurance, Supersport, Pamodzi and Sports Radio Brila.

Pinnick

WORLD RECORD

Largest Peruvian folk

N150

Vol. 06 No. 1333 Thursday, March 24, 2016

The largest Peruvian folk dance consisted of 1, 247 couples and was achieved by the Municipality of Arequipa (Peru) in celebration of the city’s 474th anniversary on August 24 2014.

Nigerian hospitals and nonchalant first responders

M

y friends all, let me first and foremost thank God for his mercies. Last Friday night, we had to rush someone so dear to us to a General Hospital (name preferably withheld). Considering the horrible reception given to us at the hospital by those who should have known better, I can say unequivocally that only the amazing grace of God and not the efficiency of the first responders and the midwives at that hospital that day really aided our patient to safe delivery.

Our experience that night in the hands of supposed life-savers again brought to mind what has unfortunately become a recurring decimal in the nation’s healthcare delivery system. In spite of the vociferous complaints of public-spirited Nigerians against the criminal negligence and arrant lackadaisical tendencies of many a medical

M

anchester United and Manchester City will face off in China in July as part of the International Champions Cup (ICC) friendly tournament, the English Premier League rivals announced yesterday.

The teams will meet at Beijing’s Bird’s Nest stadium on July 25,

Guest Columnist

Sola

Ojewusi

practitioner employed and paid with tax payers funds, our healthcare delivery system is still fraught with danger. The situation is so bad that rather than lifesavers, complacency has transformed too many otherwise qualified doctors to unresponsive quacks.

The need to carry my neighbour to hospital started around 12 midnight, when she went into labour. It came so suddenly no one was prepared and, my wife and I had to rise to the occasion of conveying the woman to the hospital.

On getting to the hospital we took her straight to the emergency section of the Mother and Child ward. We had hoped for an immediate response by the doctors on duty to a clearly dangerous situation but, alas, the first responders at the hospital were simply, judging by their appalling response, hostile aliens!

Horribly sluggish, lackadaisical and unconcerned, rather than rush to the car where the due woman was already immobilized by the racking pain and weight of breach labour, the doctors and nurses in that emergency ward simply engaged us in a war of attrition. “We have another emergency on our hands!” ranted the doctor in charge. Even at that, the question on the mind was why one emergency case would prevent these clearly slothful civil servants from at least responding to the new emergency.

Sitting right there before us was an imperial, care-free doctor who had to be kowtowed to and begged to do his duty of saving lives. Yet, there was a hapless woman waiting in throes of pain for the

On a daily basis, our sensibilities are assaulted by tales of doctors and nurses abdicating their responsibilities much needed expert response!

At a point, the doctor really got on my nerves with his next rant. “Why did you bring this woman when you know she was already in breach?” This time, my first instinct was to advance and give the guy the harshest slap of his entire life. I had to summon my last reserve of self control. Meanwhile a great exception had come in the mould of an off-duty pharmacist, who on seeing the pregnant woman’s situation, decided to approach the doctors on our behalf. What really got to me was the ghoulish outburst of the doctor after he had eventually decided to come to the woman’s aid. He said, rather smugly to the colleague, “Don’t bring any other patient here!”

After what seemed a century of dithering by the “doctor,” we were again confronted by another mind-dampener: The scandalous dearth of everything from common surgical glove to the much needed stretcher or even wheel chair to help a weak woman in labour from the car to the ward. Again we had to grovel, plead, cry and, even yell to remind those

first responders that a woman was still in the car confronted by the precariousness of a baby already in breach. Even when it appeared our incessant pleas were being hearkened to, another ordeal reared its head: the nagging lack of a sense of urgency in an emergency ward! Those on “duty” not only dragged their foot; it took the doctor almost a lifetime to get his lunatic’s buttock off his desk.

Am I so angry as to be this harsh? Yes. The likes of those public servants simply do not deserve to be found even miles away from the Emergency Section of a hospital, but it is so disheartening that many of these abound in our health institutions. In fact the agony of that night reminded me of the day some lunatics at LUTH aided my mother’s early transition to eternity by their blatant disregard of all tenets of an emergency health situation.

The very danger my neighbour’s wife was in that night soon came to the fore when it was discovered that she had to undergo a Caesarian section. Also, when the baby was eventually delivered, the baby had to be taken into intensive care because of the trauma already experienced by the innocent tot during the long delay in the womb.

The physical facilities were there and one must commend the Lagos State government for the effort to make healthcare delivery stress free. But one thing is to have a committed government; another is to have doctors and nurses with a conscientious sense of mission. The action of the emergency staff on duty that night was to say the least, appalling. The Hippocratic Oath simply went to sleep that night.

On a daily basis, our sensibilities are assaulted by tales of doctors and nurses abdicating their responsibilities and primary role of life-savers. It’s time something drastic was done about this hell-born evil in the skin of doctors.

Ojewusi wrote via solaojewusi@yahoo.com

Sport Extra

ICC tourney: United, City to clash in China in what will be one of City’s first matches under incoming manager, Pep Guardiola, who replaces Manuel Pellegrini at the season’s end.

United will also play Borussia Dortmund in Shanghai on July 22, with City taking on the German side in Shenzhen six days later.

“I think it’s great news we’re coming on tour to China,” former United captain, Nemanja Vidic, told MUTV. “We have so many followers in the country, over 100 million fans, and it’s good to visit them and spend some time with them. They’re real-

ly passionate about United.”

Other teams involved in the ICC games include Barcelona, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, Juventus, Paris Saint-Germain, Chelsea, Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur, as well as Premier League leaders, Leicester City.

Pellegrini

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