Monday, february 23, 2015

LCCI wants N200bn refinancing facility for investors ….expresses concern over CBN’s closure of forex window

UDEME AKPAN AND ABOLAJI ADEBAYO

Okonjo-Iweala

Vol. 5 N0. 1054

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agos Chamber of Commerce and Industry, LCCI, has tasked the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN to introduce a minimum of

N200bn refinancing facility with single digit interest rate over 15 years to assist investors in the nation’s economy. This is CONTINUED ON PAGE 5>>

33 DAYS TO GO

Civil society groups vow to resist poll shift

Monday, February 23, 2015

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B'Haram: France seeks UN support for troops ...military on red alert to capture Shekau alive Heaps of arms abandoned by terrorists in Baga

INUSA NDAHI, PAUL ARHEWE AND UBONG UKPONG

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rance will support a bid by the African Union to win the backing of the United Nations Security Council for the five-nation force fighting Boko Haram terrorists group, French Foreign MinCONTINUED ON PAGE 2>>

Economy: Buhari on rescue mission –APC P.6 THE

The recapture of Baga by Nigerian troops from Boko Haram terrorists, yesterday.

BUSINESS SECTION

Nigeria’s GDP drops to 5.94% in Q4, 2014 P.4

Interim Government treasonable –Jonathan Onaiyekan urges PDP, APC to caution supporters

Free inside

Senator asks court to disqualify Tambuwal

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Monday, February 23, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

B'Haram: France seeks UN support for troops CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

ister Laurent Fabius said yesterday.

Fabius spoke on a tour of Chad, Cameroun and Niger, countries that have launched operations against the militants who have killed thousands in a sixyear war for an Islamic state in northern Nigeria.

“France’s support for the integrated African reaction force is total. France will support a request of the African Union and other concerned countries for a resolution to be voted by the Security Council,” Fabius said in Niamey, capital of Niger.

The African Union authorised the force combining Nigeria, Chad, Cameroun, Niger and Benin Republic last month at a summit in Ethiopia. A Security Council resolution could give it a U.N. mandate, according to senior African officials.

The force was set up in part because of a perception that Nigeria was failing to defeat the militants, who have launched a string of cross border attacks in the Lake Chad area in recent weeks, as well as killing hundreds of innocent souls.

“It is indispensable that Nigeria engages fully in the struggle against Boko Haram. Clearly, the last few actions of the Nigerian government are encouraging,” Fabius told a news conference.

Nigerian forces backed by air strikes seized the north-eastern border town of Baga from Boko Haram on Saturday, the military said.

Baga is at Nigeria’s border with Chad, Niger and Cameroun and was the headquarters of a multinational force comprising troops from all four countries. Its recapture was an important victory, one of several in the past two weeks.

Niger will analyze parts of a missile that fell on the border town of Abadam on Tuesday killing 37 people to determine which country is responsible, said Foreign Minister Bazoum Mohamed, adding that France would help in the task.

Abadam lies on the border with Nigeria.

Yesterday, the Defence Headquarters, DHQ, said more arms of various background and shapes abandoned in some houses and surrounding by fleeing ter-

rorists were discovered by troops engaged in cordon and search in Baga.

Defence of Information, DDI, Maj-Gen. Chris Olukolade, who stated this in a statement also confirmed that some group of women in Baga were under surveillance to establish their relationship with the Boko Haram.

“Heaps of weapons most of which were strange looking or destroyed are still being gathered. Many abandoned or destroyed motorcycles have also been discovered.

“A soldier was stabbed while another was shot during a close quarter battle which ensued as troops involved in cordon and search caught up with some of the fleeing terrorists yesterday evening.

“A number of individuals who claimed to be residents are also being interrogated in order to ascertain their identity and motive.

“The group consisting mostly women continued to hail and cheer the troops as they conduct thorough search in the area. Wanting to be sure the group was not working for the terrorists despite the excitement, they had to be placed under watch.

“The cordon and search as well as patrol of the localities continue while the offensive on terrorists is progressing in other areas of the theatre of the counter terrorist campaign,” Olukolade said.

In a related development, troops have been placed on a red alert to capture anyone bearing Imam Abubakar Shekau alive.

However, the DHQ, when contacted said it knew nothing about the directive to bring Shekau alive.

Imam Abubakar Shekau is said known to be the Boko Haram leader, who has been talking in the sect’s videos and he is believed to be desperately scampering for escape routes.

This followed the spate of recent successes recorded against the sect by troops in the ongoing military operations.

A very reputable military source disclosed that troops have been tasked to try at all costs not to kill the terrorists’ leader but bring him alive so that he would face justice.

On at least two occasions

now, troops have killed characters calling themselves Abubakar Shekau in videos but the insurgents manage to find other individuals looking like him and pretend that he was still alive.

The order to catch Shekau alive is therefore to ensure that it will no longer be possible to resort to the same trick.

According to sources, the rumour about Shekau’s invincibility is one of the fac-

tors that troops are afraid to confront the terrorists.

Speaking on the said directive, Maj-Gen. Olukolade, told our correspondent in Abuja that, “we don’t know anything about such directive.”

In a related development, troops’ morale was said to have been greatly boosted in recent times by the arrival of sophisticated armaments and the decision of senior military officers to lead the

war against terror directly, which also influenced the change of some commanders.

An intelligence source disclosed that some of the successes recorded in the recovery of big towns in the North-East were due to deployment of new strategies, improved disciplinary measures, and sincerity of participating countries in the regional alliance and the acquisitions of latest equip-

ment.

In the past, Colonels have led direct attacks in accordance with military tradition but because of the large scale desertions recorded, Generals decided to directly lead the war and this has greatly boosted morale.

It was even learnt that many of the troops that earlier deserted have returned while others have expressed desire to return to the front.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 5>>

President Goodluck Jonathan (5th left), President, Catholic Bishop Conference of Nigeria, Archbishop Ignatius Kaigama (5th right), Papal Nuncio, Archbishop Augustine Kasujja (4th right), Senate President David Mark (3rd right), former Anambra State Governor, Mr. Peter Obi (2nd right) and others, after a mass preceding the Catholic Bishop Conference in Abuja, yesterday.

PHOTO: NAN

Interim Government treasonable –Jonathan ROTIMI FADEYI ABUJA

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resident Goodluck Jonathan yesterday said that it would be treasonable for anyone to suggest the idea of setting up an Interim Government in the country.

According to him, Interim Government is unconstitutional and would not be acceptable to regional and international organisations.

The President spoke at the opening mass for the plenary Assembly of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria at Our Lady Queen of Nigeria Pro-Cathedral in Abuja He explained that interim government can only be set up by the military, which he said would not be acceptable to the Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS, African Union, AU, and the United Nations, UN. The President stated that elections would hold in the country on March 28 and April 11 as announced by

the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC. He explained that he would never advocate for the setting up of an Interim Government.

“Interim government is not known to the Nigerian constitution. As a nation, we don’t have a constitutional court, we only have a Supreme Court; I don’t have powers to redefine our constitution.

“There is no way Goodluck Jonathan who was elected by the people with a clear mandate will now go and head an interim government without a mandate.

“The only interim government that anybody can contemplate is a military government which of course will not be accepted.

“ECOWAS will not accept it that is why we forced Burkina Faso to take the decision they took; AU will not accept it, the UN will not accept it and Nigerians will not in this present generation accept it.

“So any insinuation

about interim government is treasonable and people should not talk about it.

“Elections will be conducted as scheduled by INEC,” he said.

Jonathan noted that Nigeria has had its unfair share of insecurity, which also led to the postponement of the election but there was no going back on the new dates.

Expressing worry over the kind of media reports, especially by the social media, Jonathan stressed that the nation must remain stable.

“The kind of statements we read in the media especially in the social media, sometimes you begin to get worried; is Nigeria going up in flames?

“But I am convinced that this country will continue to be stable,” he said.

He recalled that the elections were postponed due to issues of insecurity and reaffirmed his commitment to the new dates.

On the attack on Gombe State on February 14, the

former date of the election, Jonathan expressed concern that the election could have been disrupted had it held on the day.

He, however, assured that before the new dates fixed for the elections, insecurity would have been stemmed to allow for a peaceful, free, fair and undisrupted exercise.

“Probably if INEC had gone ahead to conduct the elections, there would have been a major crisis in the North-East.

“It is better for us to conduct elections that are free and fair; elections that are credible, elections that will not be interrupted and there will be no crisis.

“I am pleased with what is happening in the NorthEast now; I am convinced that before March 28, this country will be in a position that no criminal element will disrupt our elections.

“I will not in any way because of my own personal interest, do anything that will jeopardise the interest CONTINUED ON PAGE 5>>

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

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Monday, February 23, 2015

Good Health

Good news

Majority of Nigerians not overweight

... World Obesity Map reveals SAM EFERARO

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ompared to most countries, especially in the western world, a majority of Nigerians are of normal weight and well below the obesity mark! This is the good news from the World Obesity Federation in its World Obesity Map released recently.

The map ranks countries according to the percentage of their overweight people.

Like most African countries, Nigeria ranks among countries with few number of overweight people.

With an alarming 94:5% of its adult population, ages 15 and above, being obese, the tiny country of Nauru leads the pack of fatty countries. But then, this country, the second smallest state by population in the world has only 9,378 population. It is closely followed in the ranking by The Federated States of Micronesia, Cook Island, Nine and Tonga where 90% of their population are reportedly obese. The United States of America is in the 7th position with 74.1% of its population being overweight. However, given its population size which is 20,000 times that of Nauru, America clearly has the highest number of overweight people in the world.

Nigeria on the other hand, is ranked 152 out of the total 194 countries, with 27.1% of

its population either overweight or obese.

But this is not a cause for celebration yet. Experts say like every country now embracing western diets and lifestyles, obesity is a growing problem even in Nigeria, with its attending health consequences.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), obesity has more than doubled worldwide since 1980. In 2014, for instance, more than 1.9 billion adults, 18 years and older, were reportedly overweight. Of these over 600 million were obese.

Overweight and obesity are defined as abnormal or excessive fat accumulation that may impair health. WHO says no fewer than 2.6 million people die each year as a result of being overweight or obese. “Overweight and obesity lead to adverse metabolic effects on blood pressure, cholesterol, triglycerides and insulin resistance. Risks of coronary heart disease, ischemic stroke and type 2 diabetes mellitus increase steadily with increasing body mass index (BMI), a measure of weight relative to height.

“Raised body mass index also increases the risk of cancer of the breast, colon, prostate, endometrium, kidney and gall bladder.

Mortality rates increase with increasing degrees of overweight, as measured by body mass index,” the WHO further says in its recent Fact Sheet on Obesity.

Body mass index (BMI) is a simple index of weight-for-height that is commonly used

DID YOU KNOW?

Phone addiction gives you mood swings, study finds

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new study finds that people who cannot put down their mobile phones are prone to mood swing and the use of the phone maybe an attempt at mood repair.

The study published in the journal Personality and Individual Differences, found those with craving for endlessly checking their mobile were prone to mood changes.

The researchers from Baylor University in Texas found extroverts were more likely to be addicted and spend up to 10 hours a day on their phone. They conclude that: “A person who is moody and temperamental may be more likely to be addicted to their phone. Much like substance addictions, phone addiction may be an attempt at mood repair.”

to classify overweight and obesity in adults.

It is defined as a person’s weight in kilograms divided by the square of his height in meters (kg/m2).

The WHO defines overweight as a BMI greater than or equal to 25 while Obesity is defined as a BMI greater than or equal to 30.

According to the organisation, the fundamental cause of obesity and overweight is an energy imbalance between calories consumed and calories expended. WHO also attributes the causes of overweight and obesity globally to increased consumption of energy-dense foods that are high in fat increase in physical inactivity due to the increasingly sedentary nature of many forms of work, changing modes of transportation, and increasing urbanization, changes in dietary and physical activity patterns and lack of supportive policies in sectors such as health, agriculture, transport, urban planning, environment, food processing, distribution, marketing and education.

However, WHO says overweight and obesity, as well as their related noncommunicable diseases, are largely preventable.

“Supportive environments and communities are fundamental in shaping people’s choices, making the healthier choice of foods and regular physical activity the easiest choice (accessible, available and afford-

able), and therefore preventing obesity.

“At the individual level, people can limit energy intake from total fats and sugars;m increase consumption of fruit and vegetables, as well as legumes, whole grains and nuts; engage in regular physical activity (60 minutes a day for children and 150 minutes per week for adults).

“Individual responsibility can only have its full effect where people have access to a healthy lifestyle. Therefore, at the societal level it is important to: support individuals in following the recommendations above, through sustained political commitment and the collaboration of many public and private stakeholders; make regular physical activity and healthier dietary choices available, affordable and easily accessible to all - especially the poorest individuals.

“The food industry can play a significant role in promoting healthy diets by reducing the fat, sugar and salt content of processed foods; ensuring that healthy and nutritious choices are available and affordable to all consumers; practicing responsible marketing especially those aimed at children and teenagers; ensuring the availability of healthy food choices and supporting regular physical activity practice in the workplace.”

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Mothers can pass traits to offspring through bacteria’s DNA

t’s a firmly established fact straight from Biology 101: Traits such as eye color and height are passed from one generation to the next through the parents’ DNA. But now, a new study in mice by researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis has shown that the DNA of bacteria that live in the body can pass a trait to offspring in a way similar to the parents’ own DNA. According to the authors, the discovery means scientists need to consider a significant new factor -- the DNA of microbes passed from mother to child -- in their efforts to understand how genes influence illness and health.

The study appears online Feb. 16 in Nature.

“We have kept bacteria on one side of a line separating the factors that shape our de-

velopment -- the environmental side of that line, not the genetic side,” said co-senior author Herbert W. Virgin IV, MD, PhD. “But our results show bacteria stepping over the line. This suggests we may need to substantially expand our thinking about their contributions, and perhaps the contributions of other microorganisms, to genetics and heredity.”

Bacteria are most familiar through their roles in harmful infections. But scientists have realized that such bacteria are only a tiny fraction of the bacterial communities that live in and on our bodies. Most bacteria are commensal, which means they do not cause harm and often confer benefits.

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Photo News

Monday, February 23, 2015

L-R: Member, board of governors, CMS Grammar School, Bariga, Mr. Okeowo Oderinde; outgoing Chairman of the board, Maj.-Gen. Victor Odeka; incoming Chairman, Justice Olayinka Faaji and member, Mr. Muyiwa Kupoluyi, during the send-forth of members of the board in Lagos on Saturday.

PHOTO: SAMUEL ADETIMEHIN

L-R: Chief Operating Officer, Marine Platforms Limited, Mr. Biodun Odusi; Directorate Head, Corporate Banking, Skye Bank Plc, Mr. Segun Opeke; Chief Executive Officer, Marine Platforms Limited, Mr. Taofik Adegbite; Captain of ‘African Inspiration’ vessel, Mr. Noel Samson; Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Skye Bank Plc, Mr. Timothy Oguntayo; Executive Director, South South/South East, Mrs. Ibiye Ekong; and Group Executive Director, Mainstreet Bank Limited, Mr. Dotun Adeniyi, at the unveiling of a brand new vessel financed by Skye Bank in Lagos, at the weekend.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

L-R: Director, Strategy, Heirs Holdings, Dr. Wiebe Boer; Chairman, Heirs Holdings and Founder Tony Elumelu Foundation (TEF), Tony O. Elumelu; CEO, TEF, Professor Reid Whitlock, and Group Director, Financial Services, Heirs Holdings, Victor Osadolor, during a reception at the Foundation’s office in Ikoyi, Lagos, recently.

L-R: Executive Director, Maritime Labour and Cabotage Services, Barrister Callistus Obi; Director General/CEO, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Ziakede Patrick Akpobolokemi, and Executive Director, Maritime Safety and Shipping Development, Captain Ezekiel Bala Agaba, at a press briefing in Lagos, yesterday.

National News

Nigeria’s GDP drops to 5.94% in Q4, 2014 TOLA AKINMUTIMI ABUJA

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he nation’s economy when measured by the real Gross Domestic Product, GDP, on an aggregate basis grew by 5.94 per cent (year-on-year) in the fourth quarter of 2014.

This represents a decline by 0.28 percentage points from the rate recorded in the preceding quarter of the year and 0.83 percentage points from the rate of the corresponding period of 2013.

But then, from the third quarter of 2014, the growth recorded in Q4, 2014, was 3.84 per cent.

According to the GDP report published yesterday by the National Bureau of Statistics, NBS, the nominal GDP at basic prices for the quarter under review was estimated at about N24.21trn, up 13.10 per cent from the N21.4trn estimated for the corresponding quarter of

2013 and 5.55 per cent from N22.93trn recorded in the preceding quarter of 2014.

The NBS reported that on sector-by-sector basis, the oil industry experienced production and pricing challenges in Q4, 2014, adding that despite this, average daily production of crude oil was 2.18 million barrels per day (mbpd), representing an increase from 2.16 mbpd recorded in Q4, 2013 and from the 2.15 mbpd recorded in Q3, 2014 The report indicated that the sector, which grew by 1.18 per cent in Q4, 2014, representing 10.54 percentage points higher than the decline of 9.36 per cent recorded in the corresponding quarter of 2013, contributed approximately 8.97 per cent to real GDP in the quarter under review, lower by 1.48 percentage points from the 10.45 per cent contribution in the preceding quarter, and by 0.42 percentage points

from the 9.39 per cent recorded in Q4, 2013.

The Bureau stated that the non-oil sector, driven by growth in activities recorded in the crop production, trade, textile, apparel and footwear and real estate, also recorded 6.44 per cent growth in real terms, lower when compared to the 8.78 per cent recorded in the corresponding period in 2013, and the 7.51 per cent recorded in Q3, 2014.

A further analysis of the non-oil sector’s contribution to the GDP growth trend on sector-by-sector basis indicated in nominal terms that the agricultural sector’s GDP grew by 6.28 per cent (year-onyear) in Q4, 2014, down by 0.19 percentage points from fourth quarter of 2013 and 2.91 percentage points from the previous quarter of 2014. The sector contributed 22.07 per cent to nominal GDP in the quarter under review.

The report showed that the mining and quarry-

ing sector’s nominal GDP recorded negative growth of 17.16 per cent (yearon-year) in Q4, 2014, 16.53 percentage points higher than the -0.31 per cent growth rate recorded in the corresponding quarter of 2013 and 2.48 percentage points lower than growth rate recorded in Q3,2014.

The sector’s contribution to nominal GDP in the review quarter was recorded at 8.56 per cent.

According to NBS, during the fourth quarter of 2014, Real GDP growth in the manufacturing sector was recorded at 13.47 per cent (year-on-year), down from 24.59 per cent growth recorded in fourth quarter of 2013.

This is 2.52 percentage points lower than the figure recorded in quarter three, 2014.

Textile, apparel & footwear; food, beverage and tobacco and cement drove growth of the sector, increasing by 30.74, 5.16,

32.01 per cent respectively.

On a quarter-on-quarter basis, the sector grew by –2.16 per cent, with oil refining having the highest negative growth rate, followed by chemical and pharmaceutical products The Bureau reported that the finance and insurance sector grew by 16.70 per cent (year-onyear), 1.02 percentage points lower than the corresponding period in 2013 and 0.87 percentage points lower than Q3, 2014, adding that the financial institutions sub-sector grew fastest during the period, increasing by 16.76 per cent.

Overall, the finance and insurance sector contributed 2.65 per cent to the total real GDP in the fourth quarter of 2014, marginally higher than the contribution in the corresponding period of 2013.

Reporting on the real estate services sector, the agency stated that in

nominal terms, real estate services in Q4, 2014 grew by 15.43 per cent, 5.44 percentage points lower than the growth rate reported for the same period in 2013. Quarter-on-quarter, the sector grew by 15.65 per cent.

The nominal contribution for the fourth quarter stood at 9.30 per cent, marginally higher relative to the 9.11 per cent reported for corresponding quarter of 2013.

In real terms, the GDP growth recorded in the sector in the quarter under review stood at 5.96 per cent, down by 4.17 percentage points from growth recorded in the corresponding period of year 2013, yet marginally higher than growth reported for Q2, 2014.

The NBS indicated further that the sector contributed 8.37 percent in real terms to the total GDP in the fourth quarter of 2014, unchanged from the fourth quarter of 2013.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

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Monday, February 23, 2015

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Interim Government treasonable –Jonathan CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2

of our nation as a whole; Nigeria is bigger than anybody.

“There is no office that is more important than the unity of this country,” he said.

He expressed gratitude to Catholics, all Christians and other religious groups for their fervent prayers for Nigeria.

He assured that the nation would overcome its present challenges The Archibishop of Abuja, John Cardinal Onaiyekan in his message said the country must encourage the need for a loving nucleus family which would ensure a morally upright society and peaceful nation Onayeikan said rivalry among political parties as well as personal insults need to be discouraged, stressing that attention must be focused on national interest and the development of the country.

He said: “Good families make a good nation. We can

go even further to state that a good nation should be a family of families. The diversity of our nation is well known. But that is no reason why we cannot see ourselves as belonging to the same national family.

“Apart from the fact that the things we have in common far outweigh our differences, even those differences need not be causes for conflict and friction. If we acquire the habit of respecting one another, then our differences can become beauty to celebrate in harmony.

“Politics is very much in the air. It is a notable and sacred task meant to serve the common good of the family that is the nation. The hot competition between political parties should not make them forget the common objectives that everyone should be pursuing: justice, peace, prosperity, harmony, good order, building a nation we can all be proud of, etc.

“The differences are in strategies and priorities.

These are what should be presented to us, positively and transparently, to guide our free choice at elections.

“There should therefore not be room for negative campaigns. Personal insults and caricatures should give way to rational discussion of issues that concern us all.

Truth must be sacrosanct even in politics. Lies, deceit,

calumnies cannot move us forward.

“They are the hall marks of the bad politics which have not allowed us achieve the high level that we deserve as a nation. These are what builds tensions, heats up the polity, spreads dangerous rumours and cause deep distrust among rival political groups. All this is

not in the interest of our people,” he said.

He urged politicians to use the time before the elections to mend fences, stressing that the new dates for the elections should not be violated.

“However one judges the wisdom or even justice of the postponement of the elections, we should commend the political parties

for patiently accepting a ‘fait accompli’ that seriously disrupted the plans - and maybe even budget - of many of them. ”The nation will nevertheless be better served if we use the unexpected extra time to work for better outcome in our elections. Can we spend the time left to change attitudes, repair broken relationships and build trust?

Former Head of State and Chairman, Nigeria Prays, Gen. Yakubu Gowon (left) and Gombe State Deputy Governor, Mr. Tha'anda Rubainu, during the North East National Prayer Rally for Peace in Nigeria, at ECWA Church in Bauchi, yesterday.

PHOTO: NAN

B'Haram: France seeks LCCI wants N200bn refinancing facility for investors UN support for troops CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2

Within a week of the massive operation, the troops have recovered Monguno, Marte, Gamboru Ngala, Dikwa, Baga, among other big towns and several surrounding communities in Borno State.

“With acquisition of new equipment from various sources and the specialised training of the troops on guerrilla warfare, the military indirectly called the bluff of some deceptive western countries who are now trying to save face by claiming to work with our neighbours.

“The effective collaboration and mutual relationship with our neighbours is paying off as they now realise that inactions can pose disasters to their countries too,” the source said.

Meanwhile, a female suicide bomber yesterday killed five people in a renewed bomb attack at the Global System Communication, GSM, market in Potiskum, Yobe state.

Just last month, a female suicide bomber visited the same market, killing many people while others sustained serious injuries.

Residents said a female suicide bomber hit the en-

trance of the market located in the heart of Potiskum town around 1:15pm, killing five on the spot including the suicide bomber.

“We saw the girl and we became suspicious of her movement and when one of us tried to whisk her away, the bomb went off killing both of them and three others while several others sustained injuries and are being taken to the general hospital in Potiskum,” a witness said.

The state Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Toyin Gbadegesin, who confirmed the incident said details of the blast is still being collated.

“Yes, I can confirm to you that there was a blast at the kasuwan Jagwal market in Potiskum where it happened last month but how it happened and the casualty figure has not been known,” he said.

Suicide bombing has become rampant in Potiskum, the commercial city of Yobe State.

Suicide bombers have been targeting motor parks, GSM market, restaurant and several public places in recent times in the troubled town in recent times which have led to the loss of many

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

just as the umbrella body for all commercial and industrial entrepreneurs reacted to the closure of the rDAS forex window last week with mixed feelings, saying the measure has a lot of implications for the economy even when the position of the monetary authorities cannot be faulted given the increasingly worrisome volatility of the market in recent months.

The President of the Chamber, Alhaji Remi Bello, in a statement yesterday urged the apex bank as a matter of urgency to provide the refinancing life-line to investors to enable them cope with the various challenges confronting them consequent upon the various fiscal and monetary policies being churned out by the authorities which have continued to make the operating clime less conducive for businesses.

Specifically, the LCCI canvassed a minimum refinancing facility of N200bn to be provided at single digit interest rate and 15 year tenure.

He added that all critical raw materials and

other imported inputs of manufacturing companies, machineries and equipment should henceforth attract zero import duty, while port charges should be waived for raw materials importation and machineries.

He said already many real sector investors are faced with numerous investment climate challenges which include high cost of fund, competition from unbridled smuggling and dumping of finished goods, counterfeiting and faking, high energy cost, including electricity tariffs, high cost of regulatory compliance and high transactions costs at the ports.

Bello explained: “All these are necessary to minimise dislocations in the economy and ensure the continued survival of the real sector.

“The ECOWAS Common External Tariff, CET, will soon come into force and would create new competition challenges for domestic firms.

“A combination of monetary and fiscal measures will need to be deployed to mitigate the pressure on the affected firms and

save them from going under,” he advised.

The LCCI chief, while reacting to last week’s closure of the rDAS and wDAS foreign exchange window, stated that the “policy measure has its merits and its downsides.

“Following the revision of the guidelines and the exclusion of some transactions, this forex window was targeted at providing support for the real sector of the economy because of their strategic importance to the development process, job creation and inclusive growth,” he added.

Noting that the measure would result in the escalation of production cost for firms that had access to the forex window, Bello said investors therefore would naturally be first victims of the closure, particularly the few that had access to the window.

According to him, such firms will experience cost increases of up to 20 per cent with the attendant negative implications for their sales performance, profit margins and ultimately capacity utilisation of their firms just as import duty and other port charges which are

computed as a percentage of import costs will also correspondingly increase.

“This implies additional pressure on operating costs for erstwhile beneficiaries of the CBN rDAS forex window.

“Firms funding requirements (in naira) will increase to reflect the new exchange rate and this has implications for cost of funds,” he said.

He said many firms; especially manufacturers with high foreign exchange exposure had been thrown into losses as a consequence of the depreciation of the naira over the last couple of months and the eventual closure of the rDAS window.

He noted that exchange rate induced losses could trigger a new wave of Non-Performing Loans, NPLs, in the banking system and with serious implications for financial system stability.

“Given the record disparity between the CBN rDAS forex window; the interbank and the parallel market rates, it was clear that the rDAS Forex window was not sustainable."

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News

Monday, February 23, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Economy: Buhari on rescue mission –APC OBIORA IFOH ABUJA

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residential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, General Muhammadu Buhari, has assured Nigerians of succour from the effects of ill-management of the nation’s economy by the President Goodluck Jona-

than-led Federal Government.

In a statement signed

by Director of Media and Publicity of the APC Presidential Campaign Organisation, APCPCO, Malam Garba Shehu, the APC observed the panicky and uncoordinated management of the national economy by President Jonathan and his

economic team.

“It is apparent that the Federal Government has suddenly found itself in a bind with plummeting crude oil prices in the international market, but typical of a team that lacks capacity for anticipatory actions, the Federal Government has been running from pillar to post in a vain bid to

stabilise the economy. Unfortunately, all conceived palliatives applied to save the nation’s declining economic indicators have merely scrapped the surface of the problems, leaving the mass of Nigerians desperate, confused and hungrier.”

Shehu said the nation’s debt profile under the current Federal Govern-

Officials of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) led by the Corps Marshal, Mr Boboye Oyeyemi during the monthly jogging exercise of the commission at the National Stadium, Abuja, at the weekend.

PHOTO: ROTIMI OSASONA

…wants Ekiti rigging tape probed OBIORA IFOH ABUJA

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ll Progressives Congress, APC, has called for a thorough probe of the Ekiti rigging tape that was recently released by an army captain, who recorded the audio tape, saying it was wrong for anyone to label the tape fake without a forensic investigation.

In a statement issued in Lagos on Sunday by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party said the issues exposed by the tape were too grievous to be swept under the carpet or dismissed on the basis of nothing, but gross partisanship.

It said investigation was particularly necessary because of the alleged role the military played in the whole rigging scenario, and against the background of the

court rulings against deployment of troops for elections.

“If the government officials and politicians whose voices were heard on the tape are not interested in clearing their names, what of the military institution that was dragged into the show of shame? Has the integrity of the military not been compromised by the alleged role of a General and hundreds of his troops in the rigging saga?’’ APC queried.

The party said the inconsistency of the Federal Government’s response to the whole saga has exposed its underbelly and made it more urgent for a forensic investigation of the tape to be carried out.

“First, those whose voices were heard on the tape rushed to deny there was any such meeting. Later, after they were confronted with a prepon-

derance of evidence, they started owning up one by one, starting with Police Affairs Minister Jelili Adesiyan, then Minister of State for Defence Musiliu Obanikoro and then Ekiti Governor Ayodele Fayose, even though they all denied the meeting was about rigging. Of course Nigerians know better.

“But these men, on the basis of their initial denial, are no longer credible as far as the rigging tape is concerned, hence it is necessary to have an independent investigation of the whole issue,’’ it said.

APC also said that while President Goodluck Jonathan had rushed to dismiss the authenticity of the tape, telling the Wall Street Journal ‘It’s all fabrications’, his campaign spokesman Femi Fani-Kayode said the exact opposite: ‘We have listened to the audio clip and we make bold to

say that the discussion that took place in it did not make any mention of any form of rigging in the Ekiti state governorship election and neither did it contain any evidence of any conspiracy to rig.’

“Can anyone listen to a non-existent audio tape? This confusion in the government circles is the clearest indication yet that they were so panicked by the revelation that they could not fashion out a coherent response to it, hence the discordant notes by the major culprits and their oga at the top!

“We sympathise with them, but we are more worried about the effect this revelation will have on a respectable national institutional like the military, which was dragged into the rigging mess.

This is why even the military itself must carry out its own investigation.

ment grew exponentially even while the country recorded the highest revenue accrued from impressive crude oil prices over a five-year period before the downward spiral of international oil prices.

“With external debt standing at more than $10 billion and our internal debts at more than $50 billion, it is without doubt that President Jonathan is driving Nigeria into economic wilderness. This should be a cause for concern for all well meaning Nigerians, more so when the Federal Government responses to these rising economic challenges have, at best, been casual.

“Emblematic of this casual, non profound approach to the management of the national economy is the Central Bank of Nigeria’s devaluation of the national currency in November 2014 while retaining the Retail Dutch Auction System, RDAS. Dramatically, just under three months after that devaluation, the CBN, obviously buffeted by unanticipated dynamics in the foreign exchange market, announced the closure of the RDAS and the Wholesale Dutch Auction System, WDAS. This shows clearly an uncoordinated template in the management of the national economy,” Shehu said.

He adds that the mismanagement of the economy by the Federal Government is turning Nigerians into economic derelicts, a people incapable of living up to required standards of existence, but help is on the

way.

“Though we are conscious of the dire economic strait the Federal Government has pushed Nigerians into, we can assure the mass of Nigerian people that help is on the way. We know that an APC controlled Federal Government will obviously inherit a huge debt profile and an empty treasury from this PDP Federal Government. We are confident of turning the situation around.

“For our presidential candidate, General Muhammadu Buhari, it is a walk back through history. Recall that the Nigerian economy at this time shares characteristics with the Nigerian economy of 1983 when he took charge of the reign of government on a rescue mission. The Naira was weak, crude oil prices were plummeting just as the national treasury, coupled with a heavy debt profile. Hopefully, APC will turn the nation’s economy around.

“Our party’s economic policies are consciously conceived to be people-centred. For the first time in over three decades, Nigeria will experience a truly propeople Federal Government. This is our commitment to the mass of our people, help is on the way, they should not despair,” Shehu said.

Shehu restated Buhari’s commitment to end profligacy, mismanagement of the nation’s revenue which is dwindling by the day and block leakages with a view to saving needed funds to drive an APC-led government’s economic and infrastructure development.

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Monday, February 23, 2015

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National News

Monday, February 23, 2015

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Foreign airlines want MMIA’s cargo apron expanded

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Cross section of Sisters at the Catholic Cathedral of Our Lady during first Sunday service of Lent in Abuja, yesterday.

FAAN moves to mop-up N22bn debts OLUSEGUN KOIKI

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ederal Airports Authority of Nigeria, FAAN, has threatened to publish all the names of its recalcitrant debtors if the affected organisations do not pay up their debts in the next few weeks.

According to the agency, the warning goes to all affected airlines, concessionaires and other service providers at all Nigerian airports.

General Manager, Corporate Communications, FAAN, Yakubu Dati, in a statement to the media, said the measure became

…threatens to publish defaulters’ names necessary in order for the agency to recover all its outstanding debts.

Dati did not however mention the amount of money owed the agency by different clients, but a source close to FAAN told our correspondent that total debts owed FAAN may be around N22 billion.

The source said the management had exhausted avenues to recover its debts, adding that if publishing names of the debtor organisations did not yield the expected result, the management may be forced to involve the anti-graft agencies to recover the debts.

Dati in the statement advised all affected customers of the agency to approach the authority’s Debt Recovery Department at its headquarters or Airport Managers across the country with relevant documents for reconciliation of accounts with the agency.

The statement added, “The authority is constrained to take this measure because the level of indebtedness to the authority may soon begin to take a toll on its services, which should not be allowed to happen, in the overall interest of safety and secu-

rity at airports.

“The authority has also observed, rather sadly, that most of its customers deliberately refuse to pay their charges/fees long after FAAN has rendered them statutory services.”

Earlier this month, the Director-General of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, Capt.

Mukhtar Usman, equally warned all debtor airlines in the country to commence remittance of their debts immediately or face the full wrath of the regulatory agency.

Usman in a statement stated that the agency

would do all within the law to recover all debts owed it by both local and foreign carriers, stressing that through this means, safety could be further guaranteed.

Minister of Aviation, Osita Chidoka, had recently warned the agencies in the sector against providing services to any indebted airline operator and threatened to sanction such agency.

He also called for the grounding of operations of any airline operator owing the government, stressing that the period of owing government was over.

waiting car.

Though details of the kidnap were sketchy at the time of filing this report, a source said the incident occurred when organisers of the rally were setting up the podium and public address system, PAS. State Police Public Re-

lations Officer, PPRO, Ahmad Muhammad, a Deputy Superintendent of Police, confirmed the incident to our reporter.

Muhammad said the police had begun investigation with a view to rescuing him safely and apprehend the suspects.

Gunmen kidnap Rivers State staff DENNIS NAKU

PORT HARCOURT

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unmen yesterday kidnapped a staff of Rivers State Government House, Port Harcourt, Fred Ndiagbara.

Ndiagbara, popularly known as Freddie, worked

with Nigerian Tribune, then Rivers State Television, before he joined the Government House Press Unit.

He was kidnapped during a ward rally of All Progressives Congress, APC, in Kaani 1 (his community), in Khana Local Gov-

ernment Area of the state.

It was gathered that the abductors of Ndiagbara, who is an anchorman for Governor Rotimi Amaechi events inside and outside Government House, stormed the venue of the rally in a Toyota vehicle and whisked him off in a

Sheriff’s thugs accused of attacking Shettima’s convoy

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ome political thugs yesterday attacked the convoy of Governor Kashim Shettima and destroyed about 10 vehicles, chairman of All Progressives Congress, APC, Ali Dalori, has said.

Dalori said the attack, which seemed carefully planned occurred about 4:30pm in Maiduguri. He said Shettima’s convoy, which comprised he and

some aides, was attacked around Sir Kashim Ibrahim way while returning to the Government House at GRA, after about six hours spent visiting different hospitals in the state capital, offering support to patients.

The APC chairman said the thugs came out from a campaign office belonging UTC and soon after the governor’s official vehicle

had passed, attacked vehicles in the convoy, smashing windscreens.

When contacted about the then ongoing attack, Shettima was said to have ordered his security detail to restrain the men from using firearms or any form of assault in order not to heighten tension in the state and compromise ongoing counter insurgency operations.

“From all indication, these youths were sent by SAS, we know some of them, they are his boys. He created thuggery in Borno State when he was a governor, this administration is creating jobs and building human capacity to discourage thuggery but SAS wants to take us to the era of thuggery.

“All the violence he is orchestrating is aimed at

stopping elections in Borno but God will never allow evil succeed over good.

“We are calling on him to immediately call his thugs to order because the APC-led Borno government will not allow anyone to perpetuate violence in the state after all collective our efforts to fight Boko Haram and bring about peace in Maiduguri,” he said.

ssociation of Foreign Airline Representatives in Nigeria, AFRAN, has appealed to Federal Government to commence the expansion of the cargo apron of Murtala Mohammed International Airport, MMIA in Lagos.

Its president, Kingsley Nwokoma, who made the appeal yesterday in Lagos when he spoke with aviation correspondents, said the limited size of the apron was affecting their operations.

The apron is that area of the airport where aircraft park, to load or offload luggage, refuel, and where intending passengers board aircraft.

Nwokoma said the expansion of the cargo apron was long overdue, after decades of its construction as its current size could not match the scale of their operations.

He said the expansion would generate more revenue for the government, especially at this period, when the price of crude oil was crashing.

Nwokoma said that it was becoming more difficult for wide-bodied planes to land at the airport, as a result of the inability of the government to construct a bigger apron for the airport.

He urged the government to address the situation, to avoid embarrassment from the international community.

“We have an airline that brings in goods and is directed to park at the international terminal’s tarmac, instead of using the cargo terminal.

“This is because the cargo apron is so small and we have had issues and incidents involving cargo planes in the past.

“That the cargo apron has not been expanded since the airport was built and inaugurated in March 1979, is an eye sore; we have been crying, calling for this expansion because safety is key here,” he told News Agency of Nigeria.

Nwokoma frowned at how the cargo apron was abandoned by a contractor that was awarded the contract for its expansion, noting that the facility would be of benefit to the entire nation.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

South West

Monday, February 23, 2015

9

Don’t embark on illegal strike, Osun NLC, TUC warn workers Boladale Bamigbola OSOGBO

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ncertainty hung over the proposed industrial action by workers in Osun State at the weekend, as both the Trade Union Congress, TUC, and Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, dissociated themselves from the strike.

Going by the declaration of Comrade Akinyemi Olatunji, leader of Osun State chapter of Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria, ASCSN, civil servants in Osun State were to down tools by Thursday this week.

Akinyemi had informed workers at the state’s secretariat, Abeere, during a protest to sensitise workers about the proposed strike last Thursday that labour leaders in the state had resolved to call workers out for industrial action over unpaid salaries running into five months, and hand-

ed down one week ultimatum for government to pay up or face workers’ wrath.

But, speaking with newsmen over the weekend, chairman of TUC in the state, Comrade Oladele Adetunji, threatened that other unions would sanction the leadership of Senior Civil Servants, who declared the industrial action.

He explained that Akinyemi lacked the power to single-handedly declare strike without the knowledge of leaders of other unions.

According to him, labour movement in the state comprises of NLC, TUC, and Joint Negotiation Council, JNC. The three groups, he added, have been meeting with Governor Rauf Aregbesola, regarding the welfare of workers in the state.

He added that the protest amounted to “gross misconduct.” How could you say you are representing the

interest of the union and start ringing bell around the state’s secretariat?

“About 43 leaders of the union were in attendance at the meeting held with the governor on October 2014.

Only the Association of Senior Civil Servants has been boycotting the union’s meeting, and it is personal.”

Dismissing claims that workers are being owed five months salaries, Adetunji averred that only workers on grade level 12 and above are yet to receive December salaries, adding that local government workers and primary school teachers have all been paid December salaries, inclusive of deductions and leave bonuses.

He warned workers against following “illegal strike directive” by Akinyemi, saying “we have never directed anybody to go on strike. Any worker that chooses to go on illegal strike does soat his or her own interest.”

Leadership by example key to eradicating corruption –Fashola Francis Suberu

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s corruption continues to permeate every facet of Nigeria’s social life, Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Fashola, has said jailing or killing convicted corrupt people is not the solution, rather leading by example is the key to stopping the menace.

Fashola said unless Nigerian leaders live above board by imbibing and

showing high level of moral integrity, it will be difficult to get rid of the corruption threatening to ruin the country.

The governor, who said this at an interactive session with the Lagos State Governor’s Office Correspondents, LAGOCO, at the weekend, noted that though concept of corruption were multifaceted, theft constitutes worst part of the menace.

According to him, though corruption is a

heinous crime, capital punishment cannot totally eradicate it in the country, adding that “as for corruption, I have my own views that I have expressed consistently about corruption and I have always said corruption is the symptom of a more serious problem.

Fashola said corruption can only and truly be eradicated when people willingly comply and voluntarily refrain from anything and everything that is bad.

Arewa group flays militarisation of election Kemi Olaitan IBADAN

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ational Leader of the Buhari Campaign Organisation, Arewa community in the South West, Alhaji Hassan Isiaka, yesterday condemned the militarisation of the country’s electoral process, which he said, is at variance with the dictates of democratic

norms.

Isiaka, who is also Sarkin Kudun Yamma, said this in Ibadan while speaking with journalists.

He emphasised the need for the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, and the Federal Government to abide strictly by the Constitution and the Electoral Act as well as the decision of the Judiciary as re-

gards non-militarisation of electoral processes in the country.

The Arewa leader also faulted the renewed visits of President Goodluck Jonathan to some traditional rulers and elders in the South West in furtherance of his electioneering campaign, saying “no monarch can influence any voter against his or her personal wish.

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South West

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Mimiko frustrating Ondo PDP leaders, says Oke Ojo Oyewamide AKURE

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L-R: Former Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), Alhaji Abdullahi Binuyo; General Manager, TERA AND PICO Construction Limited, Engineer Shehu Abdul-Kadir and Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola, and during an inspection tour to the A.U.D Elementary School, Inisha, at the weekend.

Police kill three robbery suspects in Ogun Femi Oyeweso ABEOKUTA

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peratives of Ogun State Police Command at the weekend killed three suspected armed robbers during a gun duel at Atan/Onibukun communities in AdoOdo/Ota Local Government Area of the state.

Two other suspects, who sustained bullet wounds were also arrested after the duel that lasted about an hour between operatives of the SpecialAnti Robbery Squad,

SARS, and the criminals.

Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Muyiwa Adejobi, who confirmed the incident to journalists yesterday in Abeokuta, the state capital, said the incident followed a raid

by SARS operatives on the den of the armed robbery suspects, who have been terrorising members of Atan/Onibukun communities in recent time.

Adejobi stated further that SARS operatives, with the assistance of some members of the public, had placed the area

that allegedly haboured the criminals under surveillance for almost a month before the encounter.

“The deadly and notorious armed robbery suspects, on sighting SARS operatives, opened fire on the operatives who repelled them fire-forfire. Three of them were killed, two arrested while others escaped with fatal bullet wounds,” he said.

Items recovered from the suspects’ hideout included two Berretta pistol, loaded with three

rounds of live ammunition, one locally made revolver pistol with four rounds of live ammunition.

Others were one locally made long barreled gun loaded with live cartridges, assorted charms as well as one unmarked Bajaj brand motorcycle supposedly used for operations by the robbers.

Adejobi, however, stated that the injured suspects have been taken to an undisclosed hospital, and would assist police in their investigation.

Fayose may send snipers after Buhari —APC group Abiodun Nejo ADO EKITI

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n offshoot of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Ekiti State, APC Action Group, yesterday expressed fears that the Governor Ayodele Fayose might send snipers after the party’s presidential candidate, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari.

Spokesperson for the group, Segun Dipe, alleged that “Fayose in his desperation to see Buhari dead, had traveled to the UK about the same time Buhari traveled, and has been trailing the general ever since.”

In a statement in AdoEkiti yesterday, Dipe stated: “That Fayose could be hounding General Buhari with death threat is quite unwarranted and unfortunate.

He has sent spies after our presidential candidate and may soon start toying with

the idea of snipers, that is, if he has not already.”

The group was reacting to a statement by Fayose at the weekend that Buhari was sighted at a London Hospital when the APC said the former military leader had gone to the UK on a working visit.

The group, while asking Fayose to tender unreserved apology for having the general on his death wish list, also called on all well-meaning persons in Nigeria and across the globe “to call the governor to order as his actions and words amount to not only wishing Buhari dead, but driving the general to his death.”

But Fayose has maintained that he never wished Buhari dead, saying he was only exposing the antics of the APC leaders, who were deceiving Nigerians with their presidential candidate’s health status.

The governor, in a state-

ment by his Special Assistant on Public Communications, Lere Olayinka, challenged Buhari to swear by the Qu’ran that he did not visit a UK hospital last week.

Fayose said: “I owe it a duty to Nigeria and its people to expose the antics of the APC cabal whose only interest is to seize power to further their selfish interests. However, I want to disappoint this selfish cabal.

Buhari is only raising their hope and that hope will be dashed.

“Without doubt, it is obvious that this cabal in the APC is trying so hard to deceive Nigerians on Buhari’s health status. That’s the reason they have been using photo-shopped pictures to defend their lies on Buhari’s UK trip.”

While expressing confidence that the former military ruler would not emerge president in the election, the governor revealed: ”After

President Goodluck Jonathan, there will be a young element in his late 50s from the North that will be Nigeria’s president.”

chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Ondo State, Chief Olusola Oke, has accused Governor Olusegun Mimiko of doing everything to frustrate the state’s party leaders.

Oke, who was PDP candidate in the last gubernatorial election in the state, also said the governor was giving the impression in Abuja that only new members were working for the victory of President Goodluck Jonathan in next month’s election.

He made the allegations during a press conference in Akure, the state capital, while reacting to issues in a write-up in one of the national dailies allegedly sponsored against him by Governor Mimiko.

In the publication, Oke was accused of working for the All Progressives Congress, APC, and not playing any significant role in the campaign for President Jonathan’s re-election.

But Oke said the prime motive of the publication was to give the impression to PDP national leaders that only Mimiko was behind any success that might be recorded in the state in the general elections.

He debunked the allegation that he did not want Mimiko to come to the PDP, saying it was the governor that had been behaving like a sole administrator and not giving other leaders opportunity to contribute since he joined the party.

The PDP leader claimed that he and some other leaders spent their personal resources to ensure the success of the state’s presidential rally despite the huge amount of money Governor Mimiko received from the national secretariat of the party.

He said: “The truth of that rally is that the national secretariat released a substantial amount of money, which Mr. Governor alone collected. He never told anybody how he spent the money. Till today, no account; I am a leader of this party, yet nobody can tell us this is the amount of money and how it is being spent.

“So, it is unfair for anybody to accuse me of not working for PDP and to even say I am romancing with APC. I am a politician of national repute. If I have any reason to leave PDP, I would. But I have no reason to; it is my party. I smell PDP, I dream PDP, I breathe PDP. “I’ve been in it. I am not like others who jump in and jump out. They jump in when the weather is good, they go out when it is not good. I am here for better or for worse. Six years we have not been in government in this state, and the party was moving on.

“The problem of PDP in Ondo State today is about an individual who does not want to open the state for others to function. It is about an individual who does not believe in internal democracy. If you traverse the entire landscape of Ondo today, you will see poverty written on the face of everybody.”

I will reward diligent staff —Provost

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ewly appointed provost of Adeyemi College of Education, Ondo, Prof.

Koya Ogen, has pledged to build upon the legacies his predecessor left behind, in his bid to transform the institution The provost, who disclosed this while answering questions from newsmen in Ondo, said his administration would make staff and students’ welfare a priority.

Ogen explained that for the institution to succeed, students and staff welfare must not be undermined or handled with levity.

He said the institution was currently running 18 degree programmes affiliated to Obafemi Awolowo University, IleIfe, Osun State.

The provost said the management under his leadership had put in place necessary measures that will help to reposition the institution and bring about better academic excellence.

He commended the students of the institution for their obedience and collective efforts at ridding the school of cultism.

The provost was particularly excited that the

institution had not recorded any case of violence or cultism in recent time.

“I am a product of this school. Most of the lecturers here taught me when I was a student of this institution, so I am happy that I will be working with experienced and good people who are versed, courageous and diligent in nature,” the provost said.

He, however, appealed to the staff of the institution to be steadfast in the discharge of their duties, saying that his administration will reward hard labour.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

South East

Monday, February 23, 2015

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PDP set to sanction Elechi —Party chair

Ebonyi guber: Ex-minister sues PDP

Aliuna Godwin

Ise-Oluwa Ige

ABAKALIKI

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eadership of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Ebonyi State has revealed the preparedness of its national working committee to sanction Governor Martin Elechi for alleged anti-party activities in the state.

Chairman of the party, Joseph Onwe, through the publicity secretary, Apostle Benjamin Obaji, disclosed this, weekend, in a press statement signed and made available to journalists at the party’s secretariat in Abakaliki.

He said the decision to either suspend or expel the governor from PDP rests solely on the national secretariat, having re-

Chris Njoku OWERRI

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bout 45 years after the Nigeria-Biafra civil war, the Ijaw youths in Rivers State yesterday publicly denounced the role their parents played against the Igbo in the war.

They therefore, pleaded for forgiveness, saying that if the level of awareness and information technology available today were in the country then, the Ijaw would have supported the Biafra cause.

Speaking at Ohanaeze Youth Council, OYC summit in Owerri, Imo State capital, President of Ijaw Youth Council, IYC, Udengs Eradiri, argued that the Niger Delta erred in not supporting the Biafra cause, and hinged the blame on lack of awareness and misinformation.

He, however, expressed joy that despite their role in the civil war, “Ndigbo voted overwhelmingly for their son, President Goodluck Jonathan in 2011 and since then the zone has been supporting his administration.”

Expressing elation over the understanding shown, the IYC pledged that Niger Delta youths would support Ndigbo “when it is their turn to produce the next president of the country.”

The group, however, regretted that the issue of injustice that led to the civil war “is still the same issue

ceived report on Elechi’s alleged romance with the Labour Party, LP. He accused Elechi of sponsoring LP’s programmes and candidates in next month’s general elections, adding that it was improper for a sitting PDP governor to use state resources to fund an opposition party against the platform that brought him to power in 2007 till date.

He avowed that no amount of conspiracy and evil machinations against PDP would deter the party from emerging victorious at the polls even as he stressed that the PDP governorship candidate, Dave Umahi, would be sworn-in come May 29 as next governor of the state.

“The national secretariat of PDP will soon take

bedeviling the country today.”

Appealing to youths to work in solidarity to return Jonathan on March 28, the IYC said the president has done so well to uplift the lives of Nigerians, including the Almajiris, who were neglected by their leaders in the past.

Pointing at some of the things the president has done in areas of local content, cottage law, establishing 12 new universities, rail system, fighting of Ebola virus, setting up Sure-P, among others, he

ABUJA

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ormer Minister of Health and Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, gubernatorial aspirant in Ebonyi State, Prof Onyebuchi Chukwu, has requested a Federal High Court sitting in Abakaliki to issue an order directing the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to expunge Chief Dave Umahi’s name from the list of gubernatorial candidates cleared for the 2015 general elections.

He is contending that Umahi emerged as the party’s candidate in breach of section 87 of the Electoral Act 2010 and relevant provisions of Nigeria’s 1999 Constitution.

Chukwu, in an originat-

said the nation never had it so good in its checkered history than what is currently being experienced in President Jonathan’s administration.

Speaking also at the summit of the youth leaders from South East and South South, host President of Ohanaeze Youth Council, Mazi Okechukwu Isieguzo, said the youths had resolved to vote massively for the president.

“We have decided to pitch our tenet with the re-election of President Jonathan.

Bishop warns INEC against electoral fraud Aliuna Godwin ABAKALIKI

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ormer chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, Ebonyi State chapter, Bishop Godfrey Agupusi, has warned the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to desist from any fraudulent act, and urged the agency to ensure all Nigerians get their permanent voter cards, PVCs, ahead of next month’s general elections in the country.

Agupusi gave the warning while briefing journalists in Abakaliki at the weekend. He stated that INEC should strive to ensure the elections were free, fair, credible and most ac-

ceptable to all Nigerians, even as he challenged the military to ensure protection of registered voters during the polls.

“On the issue of security, I feel very bad when I hear that the military wouldn’t have enough personnel to supervise election and provide security. I see it as a national disgrace, which means we have so decayed that if we don’t have policemen and military men everywhere, we cannot comport ourselves.

ing summons lodged at the court registry, also requested a separate order directing Ebonyi PDP to conduct a fresh primary election in the state.

The suit was filed in court by the chambers of Prof Awa Kalu.

In the summons, Chukwu formulated six questions for determination, including whether he is not entitled to participate in the December 8, 2014, primary poll held in the state by Ebonyi PDP after having been cleared and screened for the poll.

In an accompanying affidavit, Chukwu said he was a bona fide PDP member, who resigned his federal appointment as Minister of Health in response to public interest to contest gubernatorial election in the state.

We are reaffirming that with our structures in the North, we will give the 25 per cent requirement to return the president to his seat.”

He said he obtained the expression of interest form together with nomination form before submitting himself to a panel by PDP for the South East geo political zone in Enugu which screened him and issued him a clearance certificate with registration number 0001273.

He said he was warming up to participate in the poll when it emerged that the state PDP had substituted the authentic delegates’ list, contrary to the party’s guidelines.

He alleged, in the suit, that the new delegates’ list was designed to produce a pre-arranged gubernatorial candidate.

Chukwu, who kicked against the substitution of the authentic delegates’ list, said he petitioned PDP’s highest authorities which compelled series of meetings during which the state governor publicly announced that all primary elections in the state had been suspended pending resolution of the dispute on the delegates’ list.

He further said PDP sub-

sequently set up a reconciliation committee headed

by Akwa Ibom governor in Abuja between December 3 and 4, 2014 but that no report had emanated on the issue till date.

He said notwithstanding that the directive of the state governor suspending the primary election indefinitely was still extant, the Ebonyi PDP still went ahead to conduct the primary poll which produced Umahi as candidate.

Chukwu said he never participated in the primary because it could not hold until the issue on delegates’ list had yet to be resolved.

He said INEC had already cleared Umahi notwithstanding the circumstances surrounding his emergence.

He said the frustration occasioned on him compelled him to write a petition to the party’s national chairman, which he purportedly did not dignify with a response.

He said the development prompted his approaching the court.

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Monday, February 23, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Don’t pin Okrika shooting on me —Commissioner Dennis Naku

PORT HARCOURT

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ivers State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Sampson Parker, has warned the state’s chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, not to link him with last Tuesday’s shooting at the All Progressives Congress, APC, rally in Okrika Local Government Area.

Parker, in a statement issued in Port Harcourt, weekend, said he was neither at the venue of the rally nor at Okrika on the day of the rally, adding that the PDP should not be apportioning blames to innocent APC members It would be recalled that yet-to-identified gunmen disrupted the Rivers State governorship rally of the APC in Okrika, where a policeman, Corporal Ifeanyi Okorie died, while scores of civilians were injured.

State Secretary of PDP,

Chief Ibibia Walters, had in a television programme monitored in Port Harcourt attributed the violence that marred the Okrika rally organised by the Greater Together Campaign Organisation of the APC governorship candidate, Dr. Dakuku Peterside, to disagreement among leading members of APC in Okrika, on control of the party’s structures in the area.

But the Health commissioner, who hails from the area, insisted there was no leadership tussle within the APC in Okrika.

He said even though there are two commissioners from Okrika in the administration of Governor Chibuike Amaechi, himself and the Commissioner for Information and Communication, Mrs. Ibim Semenitari (by marriage), David Alagbere remains leader of APC in Okrika, while Barrister Tamuno Williams,

former Okrika council chairman, is campaign manager for Dakuku Peterside’s Greater Together Campaign Organisation.

According to Parker, “unlike in PDP, there is some sense of orderliness in the APC. I abhor violence. And I cannot bring myself so low as to perpetrate violence against my own people.

“Okrika people are peaceful and hospitable.

The Inspector-General of Police, Suleiman Abba, has

asked the Assistant-Inspector General of Police, AIG, Tunde Ogunsakin, to carry out an investigation into the incident, so he (Chief Walter) should not be in a hurry to cast aspersions. I hope the police will do a thorough job,” he said.

Also reacting to Walters’ allegation, Chairman, National Youth Council of Nigeria, NYCN, Rivers State branch, Comrade Kingsley Ibanichuka, condemned the APC rally attack.

Ibanichuka said the

Health commissioner contributed financially and morally to the organisation of the rally, pointing out that it was out of place for Parker to have turned around to disrupt the event.

Similarly, a former governorship candidate of the PDP, David Okumgba, stated that all well-meaning Nigerians should condemn the attack on the APC governorship rally.

He reasoned that it was not a coincidence that the attack followed the same

pattern of Saturday, January 24, when the same venue for the APC rally was attacked with dynamite.

“We know where it is coming from. The script was written before the rally was held at Okrika.

It didn’t take the attackers much time to frighten APC supporters and policemen from the venue of the rally.

A thief does not want to be caught in his act. The PDP is merely diverting attention from its members,” he said.

PDP demands apology from Okorocha for ‘whipping’ widows Obiora Ifoh ABUJA

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eoples Democratic Party, PDP, has demanded an unreserved apology from Imo State Governor, Chief Rochas Okorocha, to some widows from Imo State whom it claimed were physically abused by suspected agents of the state government.

PDP also called on the Inspector General of Police, IGP, to act expeditiously on the petition sent to him by leaders of the widowed women associations by investigating the attacks on them, arresting the masterminds of the barbaric act and prosecuting them in accordance with the law of the land.

Addressing newsmen in Abuja on Sunday, Director, PDP Presidential Organisation, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, also wants the IGP to investigate the allegation of complicity of policemen in Imo State in the attack.

According to Fani-kayode, “if the Imo State government refuses to tender an unreserved apology to the widows of Imo State within a matter of days, then we reserve the right to refer to them as a party of women beaters and haters,

who have no respect for the female gender and whose desire and intention is to enslave, brutalise and torment our women. The truth is that only cowards, bullies and scallywags would unleash a group of violent and dangerous armed thugs against a group of defenseless, harmless and innocent widows. ”The PDP Presidential Campaign Organisation hereby calls on the Imo State Governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha, to show remorse and condemn the barbaric act by officials and agents of the Imo State Government who superintended the brutalisation of our harmless widows. We know that the opposition party has a violent nature, but they should be able to draw the line by sparing women of their irresponsible and desperate fury.”

The PDP chieftain had elaborated how a peaceful solidarity protest embarked upon by the Imo Widows Association, Jesus Triumphant Widows Association, and Amuzi Widows Association, etc. in support of one of their own and current Minister of State for Education, Professor (Mrs) Viola Onwuliri, turned violent with the widows thoroughly beaten.

Bayelsa State Governor Seriake Dickson (right), receiving the prestigious award as Best Security/Safety Conscious Governor in Africa from Mr. Patrick Agbambu of the Security Watch Africa, during a state security council meeting in Government House, Yenagoa, at the weekend.

N5bn fraud:

…orders Akingbola’s retrial

Wale Igbintade

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ourt of Appeal, Lagos Division, has allowed the appeal filed by the Economic and Financial Crime Commission, EFCC, against the decision of Justice Charles Archibong of a Federal High Court in Lagos, which dismissed N5 billion corruption charges against former Managing Director of Intercontinental Bank Plc, Dr Erastus Akingbola.

The appellate court in a unanimously decision declared the judgment of the lower court a nullity, and ordered that the charge be remitted to the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice Ibrahim Auta, for re-assignment to another judge for retrial on merit and for accelerated hearing.

The appellate court in its lead judgment delivered on Friday by Justice Yargata Nimpar, on behalf of Justice Amina Aguie (presiding), held that a judge must have a sound basis for any judgment, as a judgment cannot be made in vague.

The judgment was adopted by other members of the panel; Justice Samuel Oseji and Justice Abimbola Obaseki-Adejumo, respectively.

Justice Archibong had on April 2, 2012, dismissed charge No: FHC/ L/443C/2013 filed by the EFCC against Dr Akingbola for want of diligent prosecution by the anti-graft agency.

Dissatisfied, EFCC through its counsel, Dr. Khrushchev Ekwueme, approached the appellate court, asking it to set aside the judgment and hold that there was enough prima-

facie evidence to warrant prosecution of the accused person.

Justice Aguie in her lead judgment held that any bystander, who watched the proceedings that necessitated the appeal, cannot possibly come to a conclusion that there was fair hearing.

She further held that the trial judge overreacted in his state of anger and fell short of the composure, decorum and standard expected of judges in the discharge of their judicial duties.

While noting that the court must decide on the merit of every application before it, Justice Aguie noted that it could not be said that the prosecution was not ready to move its application for stay of proceedings on the day.

EFCC had in its appeal urged the court to set aside

the entire decision of Justice Archibong, as well as issue an order remitting the case to the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court for re-assignment to another judge for retrial.

In its four grounds of appeal, EFCC contended that the trial judge erred in law when he proceeded to dismiss the criminal charge without affording the EFCC the opportunity to be heard.

It further claimed that the decision of the lower court on the dismissal of the case did not emanate from any of the applications pending before the trial judge.

Besides, the appellant maintained that the judge failed to invite parties in the case to address him and that the decision to strike out the criminal case constituted a violation of the prosecution’s rights to fair hearing.

Monday, February 23, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

13

Politics

INEC should use TVCs in resolving PVC issues

14

NIMASA gives APC 72 hrs ultimatum on alleged documentaries’ sponsorship AYO ESAN

N

igerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, has refuted the allegation made against it by the All Progressives Congress, APC, that it is the one that sponsored some documentaries and advertisement against it and has therefore given the party 72 hours ultimatum

to retract the allegations or face legal action.

Speaking at a press conference in Lagos, yesterday, the Director-General and Chief Executive Officer of NIMASA, Dr Ziakede Patrick Akpobolokemi, said the allegation by APC that the agency is the Automated Teller Machine, ATM of President Goodluck Jonathan, is nothing but false.

He said: “The allegation that we are the ATM

of President Jonathan and that we are the sponsors of the documentaries aired on some television stations against the APC and its presidential candidate, General Muhammadu Buhari, is not only false, but baseless, wicked and cannot be supported by any reliable documents.”

He said the agency has therefore given the APC 72 hours ultimatum to retract its statement and offer apol-

ogy to NIMASA, otherwise the agency will seek all lawful and legitimate redress against the party.

Akpobolemi said: “We will follow due process and if what we requested is not done, we will use legal and lawful means of seeking redress.”

He said the allegation by the APC against NIMASA is part of a deliberate and orchestrated attack it has mounted relentlessly against

agencies of the Federal Government including the Nigerian Army and the police.

The NIMASA DG said politicians should concentrate on politics and should leave the agency to focus on its statutory roles, saying the agency should not be dragged into issues that does not concerned it, adding: “The APC allegation is very embarrassing. For God sake, if a political party is smelling its defeat in

33 DAYS TO GO

the nearest future, it should go and face its problem and should leave us out of it.”

On the situation of oil theft in the country, Akpobolokemi said awareness on oil theft is rising and that oil theft has significantly reduced, saying the agency is collaborating with the Navy and the Joint Task Force, JTF to ensure that oil theft is reduced.

Niger PDP backs state Assembly action on defectors.

Niger PDP backs state Assembly action on defectors PRISCILLA DENNIS MINNA

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L-R: Oyo State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Amb. Rufus Akeju; Aseyin of Iseyin, Oba Abdul Ganiy Ologunebi and Head of Oyo INEC ICT, Mrs. Wunmi Balogun, during Akeju’s visit to Iseyin, Oyo State, recently.

PHOTO: NAN

Election: Immigration boss tasks youth on conduct EBERE NDUKWU

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omptroller General of the Nigeria Immigration Service, Mr. David Paradang, has urged Nigerian youths to show good conduct during the forthcoming general elections in the country.

Paradang, who made this call when the executive of the Africa Youth Patriotic and Development Mission, AYPDM, paid him a courtesy visit in his office weekend, noted that Nigeria’s future rested with the youths and a lot would depend on their conduct during the period which he described as critical in the nation’s history.

He said: “It is fact that the youths are more than 70 per

cent of Nigeria’s population and as a result, what you do or fail to do in the long run, will have lengthy impact on national development. Essentially, I want you to have it at the back of your mind that peaceful conduct is nonnegotiable and as future leaders, you owe Nigeria this duty at this time.”

The youth body had bestowed the Grand Patron of the AYPDM on the Comptroller General during the courtesy visit for what the executive called his able leadership which has brought vibrancy to the immigration service.

AYPDM’s Executive Director, Barr Kamaldeen Adefila, said the youth body had resolved on the award at its congress of the Trustees

iger State Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has backed the action taken by the members of the state Assembly on the two members that defected from the ruling PDP to the All Progressives Congress, APC, by declaring their seats vacant.

It said the action would instill discipline amongst its members through constitutional means, a clear manifestation of the party’s determination to play political games by its rules.

In a press statement signed by its state Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Mohammed Hassan Saba, PDP stated that it cannot afford to have a political culture of members jumping from one political party to another any moment their personal interest are not met.

Saba stated that the courage and precision with

which they sent their hitherto members, who now called themselves decampees, parting from PDP hard earned seats from the state House of Assembly, should be commended by all friends and lovers of constitutional governance.

He said, “Niger State House of Assembly has made the state PDP proud because as a party and at the most difficult times therefore, we have zero tolerance for indiscipline. Remember that ‘you can’t eat your cake and have it’. We should always allow our national interests to override our personal interests at any given time of our lives as this is the only way our lasting democracy can thrive.”

The party spokesman advised its supporters to identify politicians who hide under the guise of collective interest to enhance their personal goals, noting that such politicians would never bring positive development to the nation.

and Board of the youth body in Accra, Ghana in January.

He added: “The Nigeria Immigration Service ranks among the best in the world and we are pleased to know that your administration has lifted the NIS in line with international best practice to project Nigeria’s image internationally. This has enhanced the foreign-

ers’ confidence in the Nigerian business environment while giving the locals opportunity to venture into relatively unknown areas.”

On what informed AYDPM’s decision to honour Paradang, the executive director said: “It is in recognition of his excellent work at the NIS, although it is also to inspire him to do more.”

FRANCIS SUBERU

Civil society groups vow to resist poll shift

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oalition of over 60 civil society groups under the aegis of Project Rescue Democracy, PRD, has vowed to vehemently resist any attempt at shifting the recently rescheduled general elections in the country, saying it will not accept tenure elonga-

... Say card reader will prevent rigging

tion in whatever guise.

The group, at a world press conference addressed on Saturday at Afolabi Lesi Street, Ilupeju, Lagos, noted that any further shift in the dates of the polls would create constitutional crisis that could endanger the nation’s fledgling democracy.

It also noted there are underground moves by some elements in the corridor of power to push for tenure elongation by shifting the polls on security grounds, saying this is not acceptable to Nigerians and would be resisted like the third term attempt was resisted.

Barr Titiloye Akosa, who

addressed the conference on behalf of the group berated the National Assembly for doubting the usefulness of the proposed card reader introduced by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, adding that use of card reader will prevent rigging and further solidify the sanctity of our elections.

14

Politics

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Monday, February 23, 2015

National Secretary of Labour Party, LP, Dr. Kayode Ajulo, in this interview with EBERE NDUKWU, speaks on election postponement, war against insurgency, LP crisis and other sundry national issues. Excerpts: What is your reaction on the election postponement?

Let me quickly address the issue of nomenclature and concept. Correctly put, what has happened is a mere shift or rescheduling in the date of election and not postponement as such. And as at the time Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, finally did that, it was already long overdue. It was more or less almost belated.

Even the blind could sense that a shift was inevitable, given the lack of readiness on the part of INEC. Prof Attahiru Jega was not prepared for the election; stubbornly pressing ahead to conduct the polls would have amounted to an exercise in chaos. Yes, there was security challenge, which was germane, particularly in the North East, palpably under siege from Boko Haram. But it would interest you that in most parts of the country, more than 40 per cent of the people were yet to collect their Permanent Voter Cards, PVCs and thus would have been disenfranchised.

In such circumstance, any party that loses would definitely have had legal grounds to reject the results. Also, it stands against all reason to think that INEC that was yet to train and kit ad-hoc staff, print ballot papers and put in place the necessary logistics, would want to press ahead with the election. Those claiming that it was a ploy by the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP are either not well informed about the true state of things or are just plainly trying to be mischievous.

Do you believe that the Nigerian Military will solve the problem of Boko Haram insurgency in the North East in six weeks, to a

INEC should use TVCs in resolving PVC issues level we can have an atmosphere that can warrant free election?

I am not a military man, neither am I an intelligence officer, so I wouldn’t know what information they had at their disposal and what level of readiness or strategic and tactical considerations made them to make such projections. But we should be cautious of those critics who can’t differentiate pump action from dane gun.

We should give our security institutions the benefit of the doubt. Nigerians need to have faith in our institutions; it is an organ of the state meant to protect the interest of all, so if it has come out with certain claims on issue that borders on our security and integrity of Nigeria, then we must give it that benefit of the doubt.

I think the government and the military deserve our moral support and faith in the fight against Boko Haram. If you lose election today, you can always come back to win some other time, but if you lose the country, you have lost it for good.

Are you impressed with INEC’s level of preparedness so far, especially in the areas of PVCs? I have addressed this earlier; please recall I had raised the issue of INEC’s abysmal level of preparedness on three different occasions. First, at parties’ interactive meeting with INEC in Abuja, second was at Pastor Tunde Bakare’s 60th birthday in Lagos and the third was on live interview with Channel TV in Lagos and events less than a week to the shift of election dates had more than validated my stand.

Prof. Jega had four years to prepare for the general election but chose to be chasing shadows and pursuing frivolities instead of getting done the important details.

He had demonstrated himself in the past as a shoddy umpire, when in 2011 he had to

33 DAYS TO GO

postpone election when voters were already on queue ready to cast their vote.

Some Nigerians are calling for the use of Temporary Voter Cards, TVCs. Are you in support of this?

I am not in LP for want of which party to belong to, I am for the people, hence the party of the people I must be. The most important thing I think, is that people should not be disenfranchised on account of failure on the part of INEC. There have been instances of people who cannot find their names on the register, but have evidence of registration in the form of TVCs. INEC should be ready for other options in resolving this, even if it means use of TVCs. But then, that would depend on how significant such cases are vis-a-vis the pros and cons of such decision. I am apprehensive on the usage of the voter’s card thing, we seem to be deceiving ourselves, yes the world is moving digital but I believe the card must be tested and Nigerians on the real and most important election should not be used as guinea-pig to test run the effectiveness of such technology.

There is leadership crisis in Labour Party.

How far has it been resolved?

There is no leadership crisis in LP. Those claiming to have caretaker committees are merely wasting their time. They do not have the party paraphernalia.. They are

Ajulo

IF YOU LOSE ELECTION TODAY, YOU CAN ALWAYS COME BACK TO WIN SOME OTHER

TIME, BUT IF YOU LOSE THE COUNTRY, YOU HAVE LOST IT FOR GOOD not even recognised by INEC. It is funny how desperate our friends could turn out to be, they tried to field candidates and when their nominations were rejected, they turnaround to make efforts to condemn all candidates but they again failed. LP is presently preoccupied with how to bring power back to the people and we are on course.

Lagos PDP carpets Fashola over LG polls

Crises: Agabi to establish reconciliatory centres in Nasarawa communities

OLAJIDE OMOJOLOMOJU

IGBAWASE UKUMBA

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agos State Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has accused Governor Babatunde Fashola of frustrating and directing Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission, LASIEC, not to conduct local government polls at this time because of the now unpopularity of his government and party, the All Progressives Congress, APC, in the state.

This is just as the party has also alerted the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, to beam its searchlight on the treasury of the illegal Lagos councils which it accused have abandoned any development in their councils but

Tasks EFCC to investigate councils are now diverting council funds into prosecuting the ambition of Ambode to be next governor of the state.

PDP opined that Governor Fashola deceived Lagosians by postponing council polls till March, describing as double standard Governor Fashola jettisoning conducting council polls since the expiration of the tenure of the last elective council officials in October 2014, but now accusing the Federal Government of being behind the postponement of the general elections, when indeed one of the reasons Governor Fashola stated to hold on to council polls is the non availability of an updated voters register.

It said: “We have con-

ducted our investigations into the flagrant non-conduct of elections into Lagos councils. Our findings showed that Fashola actually frustrated the state electoral body, LASIEC, from conducting the polls.

According to our source, Governor Fashola is not confident to conduct council polls for fear of the opposition parties winning the polls. His March date is a deceit and cannot be valid because up till now LASIEC has not issued any Notice of Election, contrary to Section 21 of the LASIEC law which stipulates a minimum of 60 days’ Notice of Election must be given before the date of election.

“Indeed, it is even another show of Fashola’s

disregard for the law and his display of pseudo democratic tendency for him to assume the role of LASIEC chairman by unilaterally announcing poll date and constituting unconstitutional, illegal and undemocratic local councils. By Section 7 of the 1999 Nigeria’s constitution (as amended), only democratically elected local councils are guaranteed.

But alas! Governor Fashola, a lawyer, in conjunction with his propagandist party, APC; have deprived Lagosians the representatives of their choice at the local government level, yet they are quick to blackmail the Federal Government of postponing general elections.

LAFIA

I

n a bid to nip the crises that has become a nightmare to Nasarawa State communities in the bud, Nasarawa State Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, gubernatorial candidate, Alhaji Yusuf Agabi, has promised to establish reconciliatory centres across the troubled communities ifelected as governor of the state.

Addressing party supporters at the ongoing campaign rally of the party in Obi Local Government Area of the state last weekend, Agabi said the centres would serve as an avenue for resolving communal differences before it could lead to break down of law and order and as well to avoid external in-

fluence.

Obi Local Government Area of the state is among parts of the state worst hit by the crises that bedevilled the state with about fifteen communities yet to return to their various ancestral homes due to the enormity of the crises.

He explained that the centres would be established across all the affected communities comprising of Alago, Eggon, Koro, Mada, as well as Fulani, Gwandara and Tiv ethnic nationalities, among other nationalities of the state.

Agabi also said that his administration would also return all the displaced persons back to their various places of abode immediately after his swearing-in as the governor Nasarawa State.

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Monday, February 23, 2015

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As Jijiwa bids farewell to VON Mirror of the moment ABDUL-WAREES A SOLANKE korewarith@yahoo.com, 08090585723 (SMS only)

I

n two weeks time, the DirectorGeneral of Voice of Nigeria (VON), Mallam Abubakar Bobboyi Jijiwa (MFR), will be exactly 22 years in the service of the Corporation, 10 years as its director general. Statutorily therefore, he will bow out from the organisation, thus ending an epoch deserving sober reflection. In December last year, he similarly relinquished the chairmanship of the Broadcasting Organizations of Nigeria (BON), which he also led since 2004.

His services as DG VON and Chairman BON have yielded huge dividends in the Nigerian broadcasting industry, where players are more united, new grounds broken and talents nurtured due to his visionary and managerial disposition. Whenever there is an opportunity for assessment of his predecessors, Jijiwa always gives them credit for providing the platform for his own achievements. All of them excelled within the circumstances they found themselves, he would always say.

Jijiwa came to VON in March 1993 from the News Agency of Nigeria,

where he was Assistant General Manager (Enterprises). His sojourn in the federal government established media actually began at the Kaduna-based New Nigerian, where although he was employed as a senior accountant. He was later drafted to the editorial board as a special correspondent because of his gift of the pen which he had been wielding as a regular contributor in the newspaper since his days as accounting students of the University of Maiduguri.

Impressed by the brilliance and lucidity of his writings, the management of the newspaper felt it would be an under-utilization of talent if he was consigned to merely poring over cold figures. Since New Nigerian in 1984, Jijiwa has not looked back in providing leadership in the mass media. The only interregnum was a return to old Gongola State as Secretary to the Fufor Local Government Council, on invitation.

After completing the Fufore assignment he returned to NN and shortly after in 1988, he picked appointment with the News Agency of Nigeria as Ag. Chief Accountant, a position he held until 1989 when he was invited again by his home government to lead the Gongola Broadcasting Corporation.

In less than four years of heading GBC, later Adamawa Broadcasting Corporation, Jijiwa turned around the fortunes of the local radio station. ABC, which had no permanent site and transmitting station, built one under Jijiwa.

HE IS MENTORING A LOT OF LEADERS AND MANAGERS IN THE

NIGERIAN PUBLIC

SERVICE BROADCASTING FIRMAMENT With this feat, he was soon back at NAN as AGM (Enterprises) in 1992; and in March 1993, he joined VON as Director Finance and Supplies. But in-between his service in VON, he had the privilege of being invited home to serve as the Adamawa State Commissioner for Budget, Economic Planning and Finance.

This rich experience jijiwa placed at the service of VON when he returned from his leave of absence and assumed office as Director Administration and Finance of the corporation under Aremo Taiwo Allimi in 1999. Being the most senior director in VON when Aremo Allimi completed his single term in 2004, this rich experience also recommended him to the post of Ag. Director General.

Again, this rich experience facilitated his confirmation as the substantive DG in March 2005 and secured him a reappointment in 2010.

As DG VON since the past 10 years, Jijiwa has used this experience to pilot the affairs of BON, the umbrella of all public and private broadcasting services in the country. Four of these 10 years, he also used to etch Nigeria’s name on

the Commonwealth Broadcasting Association’s Hall of Fame as he was elected its president in 2006 in New Delhi, India, for a two-year term, securing another CBA mandate in the Caribbean nation of the Bahamas in 2008.

Since relinquishing the CBA presidency in 2010, Jijiwa has dedicated himself to providing leadership in public service broadcasting globally as he is regularly invited to public service broadcasting fora worldwide as a lead speaker, authority and resource person. He has used broadcasting to confirm Nigeria’s eminence in all regions of the world - Asia and the Pacific, the Americas, Australia, Europe and here in Africa He is enriching broadcasting for Nigeria. He is mentoring a lot of leaders and managers in the Nigerian public service broadcasting firmament. He is contributing to the growth and development of the Nigerian public information sector.

Jijiwa’s uncommon leadership qualities and humility are to be traced to his humble background in rustic Fufore, via Yola Adamawa State, the grace he has enjoyed in his growing up years, the men of eminence he had served and the challenges imposed on him by his community which find him worthy of the title of Sardaunan Ribadu, a traditional title of prime ministerial status in Ribadu District of the Adamawa Emirate. But the most eminent came in 2010, when President Goodluck Jonathan conferred on him Member, Federal Republic (MFR).

Slaying the dragon called greed SANDRA AKUOMA

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vercoming greed isn’t easy, but it can be done. It’s all a matter of taming your ego. An important reminder for all of us watching greed play out in the media: Where there’s greed, there’s danger, but the question is how can we slay or tame this dragon?

Being in the moment, and when your mind is focused in the moment you work towards what you need at that particular time. Never focus on the past or future; they are just used as reference points.

You do not live in the mind; you are in the here and now. You don’t accumulate so much because of fear of the future or a mistake you made in the past, you learn to trust that you have all you need right now.

When you have a spirit of gratitude it curbs greed, because you are contented wherever you are and grateful for the little you have while striving to get to the next level. Realise that everything comes to us at the right time; understand that life is a process and that we need to be at peace at what level we are, while waiting to get to the next one. We should also note that most of the stuff we have right now some people are praying every day and night begging the creator for it. Leaving your comfort zone and seeing poverty around you, going to the hospitals, or

IF WE HAVE CHECKS AND BALANCES IN OUR SYSTEMS IT CURBS

GREEDY TENDENCIES, ESPECIALLY WHEN WE ARE AWARE OF THE CONSEQUENCES going for burials make you appreciate life and understand that chasing material things does not bring you peace but only pain. Attachment to external stuff only succeeds in making you its slaves and forces you to do its bidding.

Instilling better values in our children only helps make them better adults. Stop giving in to their toddler tantrums, throwing them toys whenever they are bored or you feel guilty that you are not spending enough time with them. Teach them that material things are not everything and that that there is more to life. Teach them to be caring, considerate etc.

Question your actions. Sometimes we mean well, but we always get side tracked on the way. The issue is to spend time reflecting and questioning your actions, regularly ask yourself questions like: Why am I doing this? Why did I act this way etc? Always remember the road to hell is paved with good intentions.

Our spiritual and religious houses

should focus more on fruits of the spirit; drum into us laws of karma and life after death, so that we become more aware of the journey of the soul and not of the flesh. We should be conscious that our journey on earth is temporal, material things we come and go. It is what we are left with after death that truly matters in the long run.

When you are kind, you are a considerate person. It curbs greed in every way. You will carry this motto around like a badge: “I am my brother’s keeper.” You will always find a way to help with the excess you have or consider people when you are in an advantageous position. It was John F. Kennedy who said: “Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country”. That’s puts you in a mood of kindness, paying tax, having a communal spirit, contributing in all ways to society, be it your gift or talent and thinking less of hoarding if you are not really needing this stuff, be fair in business dealings even if you are out to make a profit.

Opening a business is a good thing in our society because you create a forum for able bodied men/women to use their skills and talent for the betterment of society and in return they are given a fee known as salary. This fee feeds families all over and helps circulate money round the country. This way, money is not laundered or hoarded. It also nice for our religious houses to use the

contributions in their establishments to help the poor and needy; this reduces excess and curbs ostentatious lifestyles among the leaders.

Checks and balances: If we have checks and balances in our systems it curbs greedy tendencies, especially when we are aware of the consequences.

This makes us think twice before doing a selfish act, especially in the area of corruption in our establishments.

Living within your means and being content curbs greed. When you try to be like the Joneses it only encourages you to accumulate more than you need, making your wants becoming insatiable. You will forever be thinking how you will fund your new lifestyle. Material things will come and go, good reputation will allow you to sleep well at night.

Meditate on these words and live a happy, good life without the negative effects of greed.

Akuoma wrote from Lagos via sanlifepointers@hotmail.com and can be reached through 08165583876 (sms only) 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.

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Editorial

Monday, February 23, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

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

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

Addressing the increasing incidence of cancer

T

he National President of the Nigerian Medical Association, Dr Kayode Obembe, recently during the World Cancer Day, disclosed that about 80,000 Nigerians die yearly of cancer, adding that 100,000 new cases of the disease are equally recorded annually. Indeed, the Nigerian cancer death ratio of four in five is one of the worst in the whole world. More scary is the fact that it is projected that by 2030, one out of every two persons in the world will be diagnosed of cancer. In contrast, deaths from infectious diseases like HIV/AIDS will decline by seven million every year. From whatever medical parameters viewed, this revelation is alarming.

There is, therefore, a national imperative for a concerted action against the ailment. This is particularly because of the high socio-economic cost of the disease.

Dr Kayode Obembe equally underscored the fact that the most common types of cancer illness in Nigeria are breast, cervical, prostate, colon, rectum, and skin cancer, noting that that 30 per cent of cancer deaths were caused by five specific behavioral and dietary risks, and they include high body mass (overweight); low fruit and dietary intake; physical inactivity, especially

lack of exercise; alcohol consumption and smoking. We could say a scary prognosis, but to be forewarned is to be forearmed. It has become imperative for the nation’s health authorities to work and act on this available information.

Cancer, no doubt is a medical condition common to every nation, and respects no creed, race or social status. However, what is most unfortunate in this revelation is that the cancer-types that still plague us here in Nigeria and many of African countries are inverse to what obtain in other parts of the world due to advances in and conquests of medical sciences. According to the WHO, cervical cancer which is virtually 100 percent preventable kills one Nigerian woman every hour even though a vaccine has been developed for women to prevent it. Breast cancer now kills 40 Nigerians daily (up from 30 daily in 2008). Prostate cancer kills 26 Nigerian men daily (up from 14 daily in 2008). These three common cancers alone kill 90 Nigerians daily, a death rate mainly due to poor infrastructure to deal with the problems.

The result is that Nigerians spend $200 million yearly on treatment overseas. Incidentally, $200 million is said to be the approximate amount

INDEED, THE

NIGERIAN CANCER DEATH RATIO OF FOUR IN FIVE IS ONE OF THE WORST IN THE WHOLE WORLD needed to establish three comprehensive cancer centres or to acquire 300 mobile cancer centres. Unfortunately, the outcome for Nigerians who embark on cancer-related medical tourism is often poor, because of late detection. In our peculiar situation, we have largely reduced scientific confrontation of this illness to a case of deliberate amnesia, superstition, conjecture and mystification.

Nigerian authorities must wake up from their slumber and catch up with the rest of serious African countries like South Africa, Egypt, Tanzania, Kenya and Mauritania, and Asian countries like India and Pakistan that have led the way in providing comprehensive cancer care within their borders. For example, Bangalore, an Indian city with a population of eight million people, has four world-class comprehensive cancer centres, while Nigeria as a whole has none.

ON THIS DAY February 23, 2012 The Senate of the State of Maryland approves by 25 to 22 votes same-sex marriage in the state, thus ending a year-long drama in Annapolis over the legislation and expanding nationwide momentum for gay rights. Governor Martin O’Malley, a Democrat, has vowed to sign it into law. By this measure, Maryland will join seven states and Washington DC the District in the United States of America, where same-sex marriage is legalized.

Letters tothe theEditor Editor Letters to

February 23, 1991 A military group by the name of National Peace Keeping Council (NPKC), composed of military academy graduates, sought to overthrow the current government of Prime Minister Chatichai Choonhaven in Thailand, making it the 18th since 1932. This coup was a short-lived affair headed by army chief, General Suchinda Kraprayoon and ended with a return to democratic civilian government in March 1992.

Records show that cervical cancer is preventable, and indeed the easiest of all cancers to prevent. Cervical screening is also said to be the best cancer screening test in the history of medicine and the most cost-effective of all medical screening tests, which explains why cervical cancer is now a disappearing disease in the western world, while it remains the number one cancer killer of African women.

Since most of our women are not aware of the need for cervical cancer screening, sensitization for awareness creation is the best way forward.

It is doable.

That is only if the authorities shake off the inertia and mobilize Nigerians in a way never done before. Our various health authorities, health practitioners and the general public must scale up their efforts to combat cancer of all kinds. Good hygiene education and appropriate dietary control such as discouraging or limiting smoking, maintaining a healthy weight, not drinking too much alcohol, eating plenty of vegetables, fruits and whole grains, being vaccinated against infectious diseases like hepatitis, not eating too much red meat, and avoiding too much exposure to sunlight, should be preached and sustained.

x February 23, 1987 The Soviet Writers Union has posthumously reinstated Boris Pasternak, who was expelled from the organization after his novel, “Doctor Zhivago”, won the 1958 Nobel Prize for literature, the Tass press agency reported. The development is the latest in a series of government actions aimed at rehabilitating Pasternak, who died in disgrace in 1960 at age 70.

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Business Courage

Monday, February 23, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Cover

BVN registration:

E-payment fraudsters scare customers

...bankers worried As the June 2015 deadline for the completion of Banks Verification Number, BVN, registration draws closer; the project seems to have been marred by lack of awareness and unwillingness of many to be part of the exercise, though a reasonable number of customers have been captured in the IT-driven project. Udo Onyeka reports

B

anks operating in the country have revved up their campaigns on the Banks Verification Number, BVN, project with renewed zeal as the deadline set by the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, for the completion of the registration exercise draws closer. The increased push by the financial institutions to capture their customers in the electronic database has continued to pay off, despite initial hurdles encountered by them.

In spite of the modest success achieved by the banks, investigations by Business Courage show that more work lies ahead for the banks in the months ahead as a large percentage of bank customers are yet to be captured in the biometric registration due to what analysts termed lack of awareness of customers about the exercise and its benefits.

There is also a large group of customer who have deliberately ignored banks’ persistent enlightenment campaigns os-

tensibly because of their past experiences with SMS and other forms of messages sent by fraudsters with the intention of duping them. To this set of customers, the rule has become like ‘once beaten, twice shy’ and they are therefore suspicious of electronic messages sent to them, no matter how beneficial the contents may be to them.

One of the customers during a chat with Business Courage quipped: “I am afraid fraudsters may exploit this initiative as well as the awareness campaign to mine sensitive information from bank customers and steal their money” But despite the fears of many, the CBN and the banks have consistently maintained that BVN was designed to enhance the integrity of the banking system by protecting financial institutions and their customers from nefarious antics of fraudsters.

Convinced of the desirability of the exercise and its potential benefits for all stakeholders, the

Deposit Money Banks, DMBs, under the aegis of the Bankers’ Committee of the CBN, have intensified enrolment of their customers, using all communication strategies to break the barrier of illiteracy that seems to be threatening the project.

Director, Corporate Communications, CBN, Alhaji Ibrahim, had explained that the BVN was aimed at protecting bank customers and further strengthening the Nigerian banking system.

He said: “It also seeks to address the safety of customers’ funds, avoid losses through compromise of personal identification numbers and other criminal activities in the industry.

“The project has been described as a ‘silver-bullet solution’ to many of the challenges in the banking industry. The BVN is a unique identifier for each bank customer across the financial industry, making it possible to build and track customer financial history and activity.

“This will allow banks access

A customer registering for the BVN

Godwin Emefiele, CBN Governor

to more reliable information that could inform decisions on customer loan and credit applications and other complex transactions”, Mu’azu clarified.

According to him, banks are also now able to reduce identity fraud within the financial industry and increase accountability levels.

As part of efforts to encourage enrolment on the BVN, the CBN recently directed banks to only honour transactions over N100m

from customers with BVN from March 2015.

Such transactions according to the apex bank include but not limited to, money transfers, loans, and contingencies, among others.

The CBN, while urging all bank customers to register for their BVN by June 2015, warned that any bank customer without a BVN would be deemed to have inadequate know-your-customers, KYC, by that date.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Agbaje

BVN involves the registration of customers in the financial system using biometric technology making accounts more secure using unique identifiers such as fingerprint.

The Bank Verification Number Project is an initiative aimed at protecting bank customers and further strengthening the Nigerian banking system. It is an initiative of the CBN and the Bankers Committee.

It is the registration of cus-

Business Courage

Monday, February 23, 2015

tomers in the financial system using biometric technology with biometric technology involving the process of recording a person’s unique physical traits such as fingerprints and facial features.

Business Courage was told that this record can then be used to correctly identify the person afterwards.

According to Managing Director, Guaranty Trust Bank, GTBank, Mr. Segun Agbaje, once

a person’s biometrics have been properly captured, the person is given a Bank Verification Number.

He said the objective the BVN initiative is to protect bank customers, reduce fraud and further strengthen the banking system.

“Fraud is reduced because no two people have the same biometric information. Banks will therefore be able to check the features of a person doing a transaction against the record which the bank has captured thereby correctly identifying the owner of an account.

The BVN require all bank customers in the country to register or enroll for a BVN, and the CBN directed that all bank customers must have their BVN by June 2015.

Apart from the issues and concerns over misconceptions about real intention behind BVN initiative, safety of personal information and lack of privacy, many customers are not willing to go to any of their bank branches to enrol just because they cannot afford to waste their time on long queues waiting to take their tune.

But the Director, Banking and Payments System Department, CBN, Mr. Dipo Fatokun, said the fear of time wasting before registering should not be there since the process is very simple.

He said to enrol; bank cus-

tomers must visit a branch of their bank, adding that the Bank Verification Number given to a person by one bank will apply to that same person for any bank in Nigeria.

To enrol, he said “a customer should fill out and submit the BVN enrolment form in any branch of his bank. Biometric information such as fingerprints and facial imagery are recorded.

Acknowledgment slip with transaction ID is issued and Bank Verification Number is created and customer is alerted to arrange for pick-up”, Fatokun informed.

According to him, BVN is a unique identity that can be verified across the Nigerian banking industry, which protects customer bank accounts from unauthorised access, as biometric information is not easily manipulated, adding that it increases the efficiency of the industry as it reduces incidence of fraudulent/ duplicate bank accounts, and easily highlights blacklisted customers.

He noted that full integration of BVN provides standardised efficiency of banking operation, meaning that all banking operations will be verified using the same method, reducing cases of human error or inconsistency.

He said the implementation of BVN means transaction authentication without the use of cards, but instead using only biometrics and a PIN. “Bank customers should ensure that they do not respond to suspicious emails pretending to be from their bank and requiring them to provide sensitive information online.

“Customers should contact their bank directly if in doubt about how to enrol for their BVN”, he said.

Fatokun said because the BVN captures physical features, it is also very helpful for people who cannot read and write, thereby making sure that everyone is included in the financial system, adding that it would help the banking system identify customers who have been blacklisted by one bank and who move to other banks to do business with them.

The CBN has directed banks to ensure that only customers with the BVN are allowed transactions valued at N100m and above from March 2015.

The apex bank also stated that any bank customer without the BVN by June 2015 would be deemed to have inadequate Know Your Customer, KYC. In the same vein Managing Director, NIBSS, Mr. Ade, Shonubi one enrolment, said “it process is simple and easy.”

Corroborating Fatokun he explained that bank customers are expected to walk into any branch of their bank, fill and submit the BVN enrolment form and also do data capturing, such as fingerprint, facial image.

He said an acknowledgment

A3 19

slip with the transaction identity is issued to the customer and that within 24 hours, the system confirms the application, the BVN is generated, and SMS is sent to the customer for pickup.

Shonubi said a customer can only enrol once, while his BVN will be linked to all his bank accounts across Nigerian banks.

“The BVN solution is to ensure accountability, protect bank customers’ account from unauthorised access, reduce exposure to fraud, check identity theft, enhance credit advancement to bank customers, and also encourage financial inclusion.

“It will make life and banking operations easy for bank customers as BVN is accepted as a means of identification across all banks in Nigeria. This will improve speed of service and reduce queues in banking halls. At the point of enrolment individuals shall be required to submit an acceptable means of identification, and update their information at the bank branch physically. Customers of banks will be required to enrol within a fixed period after which they shall no longer be able to operate their bank accounts, “he said.

Also A financial analyst and former banker with defunct Intercontinental Bank Plc, Mr Emeka Anaeto said BVN registration could be done at any of the selected bank’s branches but not necessarily restricted to where the customer’s account is domiciled.

Anaeto said the exercise is expected to achieve verification and secure authentication of the identity of bank customers and ultimately serve as a means of authenticating customer’s identity at point of banking transactions.

“It gives bank customers a uniform and single identity called the BVN that would be acceptable across the Nigerian financial system as all other bank accounts operated by the individual would be tied to it”, he said.

Business Courage was told that to tackle the problem of lack of awareness which many said was one of the reasons why the project was not speedily embraced by customers the CBN has stepped up its sensitisation campaign.

Director of Consumer Protection Department, CBN, Mrs. Umma Aminu Dutse, said the bank has embarked on serious financial literacy so that the people and public would understand not only what the was doing but is happening in the financial sector.

Investigations reveal that banks have also intensified efforts in communicating with their customers through text messages, e-mail verbal persuasion on the need to enrol for the BVN. Customer care department of many often remind their customers on the need and benefits derivable from been enrolled. BC

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Business Courage

Monday, February 23, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

News Terminal operators rebuff contempt suit threat, insist on old charges

By Francis Ezem

T

he Seaport Terminal Operators Association of Nigeria STOAN, umbrella association for all Port concessionaires in Nigeria has said there was nothing wrong in the continued collection of the old port charges, contrary to a judgment of a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos to the contrary.

Justice Ibrahim Buba, the presiding judge had upheld the powers of the Nigerian Shippers Council, the commercial port regulator, directing the terminal operators and members of Association of Shipping Lines Agency ALSA, to revert to the pre-2009 port charges.

The judge, while delivering a judgment in a suit brought before him by the ALSA, also dismissed an application challenging the directive by the council to the agencies to reduce shipping line agency charges and also refund container deposits within 10 days, among several others.

Counsel to the association, Femi Atoyebi SAN, who spoke in reaction to threats by the council to institute contempt proceedings against the association, said his clients have not erred in any way in the eyes of the law.

According to him, the said judgment is subject of a pending appeal and that his clients also filed an application for a stay of execution of the judgment or injunction pending the determination of the appeal.

He however disclosed that he had earlier written the NSC when it threatened the terminal operators to comply with its directives as from December 22, 2014, which he insisted was not only illegal but also unacceptable and a cloaked attempt to foist upon the Court of Appeal a situation of complete helplessness.

He had argued that if his clients’ appeal succeeds the, the judgment of the appeal court would have been rendered nugatory.

“The law in Nigeria is that where, as in the present case, there is an appeal against a court decision and a motion for stay of execution or injunction is filed, none of the parties must do anything to frustrate the hearing of the appeal until the application has been heard and determined, one way or the other”, he argued.

He supported his claim with a Supreme Court judgment in a matter between Vaswani v Savalakh & Co. in 1972, where the apex court held that where a party who has suffered a

L-R: Chief Dipo Anisulowo, Chief of Staff to the Ekiti State Governor (left); receiving the key of a brand new Toyota Hilux on behalf of the State Governor, from Directorate Head, Services, Enterprise Bank Limited, Tobe Nnadozie at the Government House, Ekiti. With them are the bank’s Directorate Head, South-West & Retail, Ori Ogba; Branch Manager, Fajuyi Branch in Ado Ekiti, Idowu Ogunlade and Regional Head in the South-West, Stella Bolarinwa. The donation is part of the bank’s support in the area of adequate security provision in Ekiti State.

defeat following a trial in any cause or matter is appealing, and he asks the court for a stay of execution, he will not be held in contempt merely because he has not obeyed the order which he is appealing against or which he wants stayed or suspended pending the appeal.

But counsel to the NSC, Dr. Olisa Agabkoba SAN, who has also instituted a N150billion suit against the terminal operators faulted this position.

According to him, this would mean that the appeal and application for stay of execution invalidate the judgment of the Federal High Court.

“What Atoyebi SAN claimed is that the terminal operators have the licence to continue the collection of the illegal charges because there is a pending application for stay of execution of the judgment and an appeal, he argued.

He also said: “In essence, they are saying that the pending application for stay of execution and the appeal have arrested the effect of the judgment. We disagree with this position. The mere fact that there is a pending application for stay and an appeal does not remove the effect of the judgment”.

Agbakoba cited a Supreme Court decision in Okafor v.

Nnaife in 1987 where the apex court held that it will be unfair to allow a losing defendant to continue ‘cutting down and selling economic trees on the land’ adjudged by the trial court not to belong to them simply because of a pending application for stay of execution and an appeal.

While commenting on the contempt suit in which he asked the terminal operators to refund a total of N150 billion, he argued that the essence of the judgment obtained by the NSC is for the overall general

good of the Nigerian economy.

“The judgment is to stabilise prices and ensure more cargo throughput to Nigerian ports and stem the yearly loss of over N2trn potential revenue to the Nigerian government caused by excessive and illegal port charges by terminal operators”, he insisted.

He also said that Nigeria’s seaports are now characterised by poor service delivery, cumbersome cargo clearance procedures, non-compliance with regulations, arbitrariness and indiscriminate billing systems, proliferation and duplication of charges and numerous tariff heads by these terminal operators.

AfDB partners Bloomberg on African bond

By Udo Onyeka

T

he African Development Bank AfDB through the African Financial Markets Initiative, AFMI has launched its AFMISM Bloomberg® African Bond Index in South Africa, Egypt, Nigeria and Kenya local sovereign indices.

“The launch of the indices comes as a welcome development at a time when African countries are increasingly looking to domestic capital markets to source much needed financing for economic development,” says Director of the Financial Sector Development Department of the AfDB, Stefan Nalletamby.

The current index includes an African sovereign bond index comprised of the four most liquid bonds in Africa and three sub-indexes for different maturity ranges. To be included in the index, a security must have at least one

year remaining to maturity and withstand price stability tests.

Further liquid markets are expected to be added to the index this year.

“There is a clear need for a transparent and objective benchmark for sovereign debt in Africa. Well-crafted indices are essential in the assessment of value in markets while contributing to liquidity by giving investors a benchmark to evaluate their performance, says “Head of Emerging Markets Product, Bloomberg L.P. David Tamburelli.

The AFMI works to deepen the continent’s local currency bond markets and also strives to create an environment where African countries can access financing at variable terms. By providing transparent and credible benchmark indices, the AFMISM Bloomberg® African Bond Index provides investors with a tool with which to measure and track the performance of Africa’s bond markets. The composite index is available to Bloomberg Professional service subscribers via {BADB Index<GO>}, which includes the Bloomberg South Africa {BSAFR Index <GO>}, Bloomberg Egypt {BEGYP Index <GO>}, Bloomberg Nigeria {BNGRI Index <GO>} and Bloomberg Kenya {BKEN Index <GO>} indices.

and rewarding excellence and exceptional performance. In line with the Bank’s policy of rewarding performance, less than 5 per cent of staff who performed below expectation were also exited.

In his statement announcing the promotion, Managing Director of the bank, Jibril Aku said ‘We are fully committed to rewarding excellence and we continue to take appropriate positive action in line with international best practice to sustain excellence in our work force. In his words “Our people are our precious assets who enable us maintain service quality standards, uphold customer satisfaction and enhance our brand experience”.

According to Aku, Ecobank maintains high professional culture, where exceptional performance, innovativeness and hard work are recognised and rewarded. He reiterated that the employees who were promoted and rewarded were selected through an enhanced performance management system.

Ecobank Nigeria is a member of the Ecobank Group present in 36 African countries. The Group employs people from 40 different countries in 1,250 branches and offices.

Ecobank is a full-service bank providing wholesale, retail, investment and transaction banking services and products to governments, financial institutions, multinationals, international organizations, medium, small and micro businesses and individuals.

Aku

Ecobank Nigeria announces staff promotion

Nigerian Content: Egina attracts $1bn investment, says Nwapa

E

O

cobank Nigeria Limited has announced the promotion of about 500 staff and a merit pay increase for over 3,000 of its workforce. The latest promotion exercise, which affected 10 per cent of the employees, is in line with the bank’s commitment to recognizing

ver $1bn has been invested in the Nigerian oil and gas industry to create capacity and execute Nigerian Content scopes provided on the Egina deep water project, the Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board, NCDMB,

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Nwapa

Engr. Ernest Nwapa said recently.Egina-Total Exploration and Production’s $15bn deep water project is the first major oil and gas project to be started under the Nigerian Content Act and it includes an FPSO unit, an oil offloading terminal and subsea production systems such as risers, 52km of oil and water injection flowlines, 12 flexible jumpers, 20km of gas export pipelines, 80km of umbilicals and subsea manifolds.

Speaking in Port Harcourt, Rivers State when he unveiled Saipem’s new double/ quadruple joint plant, the Executive Secretary stated that the investment worth $60m was made towards delivering Saipem’s Nigerian Content scope on the Egina project.

He added that the plant was worthy of celebration as it confirmed that the Board’s strategy to include Capacity Development Initiatives, CDIs, in major projects was working.

He informed that CDIs would promote opportunities for training, knowledge and technology acquisition, adding that shop floors were expanding and capacity to execute work in Nigeria had increased substantially.

Speaking further, Nwapa reiterated that over $5bn worth of investments have been made in Nigerian yards since the signing of the Nigerian Content Bill into law by President Goodluck Jonathan in 2010, especially by PETAN member companies and other firms like Aveon, Cameron, Ladol, Nigerdock, FMC, Tenaris, EWT etc while about 40,000 technical jobs were being created per annum.

He credited the President and the Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani AlisonMadueke for providing the political support and conducive environment to implement the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content and Development Act. “Their support strengthened the Board to overcome local and international resistance from very powerful forces,” he added.

The Executive Secretary also commended Total for its continued investment in Nigeria despite the challenging eco-

Business Courage

Monday, February 23, 2015

nomic environment, particularly the fall in crude oil prices, adding that NCDMB was focusing more on its developmental roles owing to the need to build collaboration to achieve targets set by the Act. In his welcome address, the Managing Director of Saipem Contracting Nigeria Limited ,SCNL, Giuseppe Surace, confirmed that the company was in Nigeria for the long term and invests as a demonstration of its commitment to the nation.

He added that the company viewed Nigerian Content as an opportunity for development rather than a requirement for compliance.

The event was attended by representatives of international oil and gas companies, and service providers, especially local partners of Saipem on the Egina project. In their comments, representatives of Saipem’s local partners expressed their appreciation for the opportunity to build their businesses and acquire new capabilities.

Firm targets 4,500 tons of local fish production annually

By Abolaji Adebayo

P

remium Aquaculture Limited has started fish farming in Nigeria with about 4,500 tons of fish target yearly.

This is in line with the fish policy of the Federal Government, which seeks the increment in the local production of fish in order to reduce the rate of fish importation.

This policy has continued to yield positive results as more fish import firms are now gradually investing in local production.

To this end, Premium Aquaculture has established two large fish farming in the country, one at Epe in Lagos State with 90 80 by w0 meters fish ponds capacity, and the other one in Abeokuta, Ogun State, which will also take off in April this year.

Addressing journalists during a facility tour of the Epe farming, the Project Manager, Sarvesh Pandey said the company’s investment in aquaculture was stimulated by the Agricultural Transformation Agenda, ATA, of the Federal Government and the recent fish quota policy of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, FMARD, which seeks to develop the local production and reduce the country’s dependence on importation of fish. He said the company would be producing only two species of fish in Nigeria- Catfish and Tilapia.

According to Pandey, the

farm, when it takes off properly in April, would provide employment opportunity for about 500 Nigerian youths. He promised that the farms would be dominated by local workers rather than hiring foreign experts to do the job, which could be equally done by the local experts. He said the company is investing about $1 million on the production of Tilapia fish to be produced in Abeokuta Farm being a specie that is not common in the country.

Also, the Farm Manager, Jagadeesha Gowda, noted that the shortage of fingerlings in the country has been hindering their production, saying the Farm has been able to stock only seven ponds out of 90 since it started in January.

Gowda said they have been sourcing fingerlings locally but there is scarcity of fingerlings, limiting their capacity.

He however said that the Farm has also invested in hatchery for the production of fingerlings for both the farm and other farmers in the country. According to him, the company would make its first harvest of catfish in June this year.

Explaining the rationale behind the Farm’s preference for earthy ponds rather than concrete ones, which is common among local farmers, Gowda said the earthy pond is the best for fish rearing because it keeps the fish in their natural habitat. He said that is the practice in India, noting that no farmer uses the concrete ponds in the country.

sava in their flour for bread production.

“Cassava bread will be very much available especially with the policies that have been put in place; we are going to have the incorporation of cassava at the milling end.

“That will definitely make a difference because everybody will now have access to cassava bread.

“All flour millers have adopted the policy of incorporating 10 per cent of the high quality cassava flour at the production level.

“With this policy, any bread coming out of bakeries in Nigeria will definitely have cassava inclusion,’’ she said.

Elemo said cluster system was being organised and many people had already been grouped into small, medium scale enterprises of high quality cassava processors or factories.

She explained that enterprises were registered under the Nigerian Association of Cassava Processors, with the headquarters at the Federal Institute of Industrial Research.

The director-general said it was a well organised association that had influence across the country, saying that members of the association would have access to various governments’ intervention programmes to boost cassava bread. ‘’The Federal Government will also assist master bakers to get High Quality Cassava Flour, HQCF, at lower cost.

“Government was also committed to social marketing, amongst others to boost the production of cassava bread and cassava value chain,’’ she said.

Elemo said agriculture production and processing was being promoted by President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration, saying that nothing was greater than a country with food security.

NAN recalls that in 2014, the Federal Government had signed a Memorandum of Understanding, MoU, with the Bank of Agriculture for N2.4bn to boost cassava productivity and meet the country’s need for cassava bread.

Elemo

Cassava bread to be NB, IFDC,Psaltry sign available across the partners to optimise country soon – DG FIIR cassava productivity

T

he Director General, Federal Institute of Industrial Research, FIIR, Dr Gloria Elemo, has promised that cassava bread would be available across the country soon.

Elemo told the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, in Abuja that all flour mills in the country had adopted the 10 per cent inclusion of high quality cas-

By David Audu

N

igerian Breweries Plc. Nigeria’s leading brewing company, Psaltry International Company Ltd, a Nigerian cassava processing company and the International Fertilizer Development Centre, IFDC, through its Towards Sustainable Clusters in Agribusiness Entrepreneur-

A5 21

ship project (2SCALE), have signed a Partnership Agreement to optimize the cassava value chain in Nigeria and improve agribusiness for Nigerian smallholder farmers.

The Partnership Agreement is collaboration between the Parties to improve outputs of smallholder farmers and consequently support economic development as well as promote inclusive growth in Africa. The partnership will enhance farmers’ productivity and increase supply of high-quality cassava roots to Psaltry who will, in turn, provide industrial quality cassava starch for Nigerian Breweries to extract maltose syrup for use in the brewing process.

This Partnership Agreement succeeds the Memorandum of Understanding signed by the partners in June 2014 which formed part of the 2SCALE programme, a Dutch-funded initiative aimed at improving rural livelihoods and food security in Africa. The partners agreed to support small-scale farmers in the production of more and better cassava through technical assistance, training and easier access to finance. This will enable more smallholder farmers to participate in the market for processed cassava byproducts required for large industrial purposes.

The partnership also enhances Nigerian Breweries socio-economic contribution via the agricultural sector and supports the progress the company is making, towards the achievement of HEINEKEN’s ambition to source 60 per cent of its agricultural raw materials in Africa locally by 2020.

Managing Director of Nigerian Breweries’ Nicolaas Vervelde, said “as an operating company of HEINEKEN we have a long standing commitment to support local economic development and promote inclusive growth by sourcing agricultural raw materials from entrepreneurial local SME’s and utilizing it in our operations.

Through our partnership with Psaltry and IFDC, we are taking a big step towards further realizing this ambition with cassava.”

From June to December 2014, 2SCALE and Psaltry created awareness, mobilized and trained over 500 direct farmers who supplied more than 20,000 tons of cassava roots to Psaltry’s processing factory. Over 2,000 direct farmers are expected to benefit from the project within the next three years.

The project has also worked to ensure that women and youths are targeted to ensure equity amongst project beneficiaries.

Managing Director/CEO Psaltry , Oluyemisi Iranloye, said she is excited about the partnership because it would fast track the growth of her young company. BC

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Business Courage

Monday, February 23, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Global News

McCulley

Pimco chief economist McCulley, Bill Gross loyalist, steps down

P

imco said on Friday Paul McCulley had stepped down as chief economist and as a managing director, a role he had assumed in May at the request of Bill Gross, who was the firm’s chief investment officer at the time.

The move comes just 10 days after Pacific Investment Management Co hired former Morgan Stanley chief economist Joachim Fels as its global economic adviser and a managing director, an appointment that raised questions about McCulley’s role at the Newport Beach, California-based firm, a unit of German insurer Allianz SE. McCulley’s last day at the firm will be Feb. 28.

“We understand and respect Paul’s decision to step down. He is a great friend of our firm and our people, and we wish him great happiness going forward,” Daniel Ivascyn, Pimco’s group chief investment officer, said in a statement.

McCulley’s departure, while not entirely surprising, is the latest high-profile exit of Gross loyalists following his abrupt departure on Sept. 26 to distant rival Janus Capital Group Inc. (JNS.N). In January, Saumil Parikh, managing director and generalist portfolio manager, left the firm to pursue other opportunities.

In an email to Reuters, McCulley said: “I made the decision to step down from this position over the weekend after Bill resigned on September 26: The existential reason I took the job had left the building.

“Today represents the implementation of that decision, reflecting sufficient passage of time not to be distractive of a firm that will always be special in my heart,” he said.

Ivascyn, who succeeded Gross as Pimco’s group chief investment officer, and his new management team have been aggressively reassuring clients through meetings, conference calls and advertisements that the firm remains committed to the same investment strategies.

Pimco has seen $68 billion of cash withdrawals from

the Pimco Total Return Fund, its flagship fund previously overseen by Gross, in the four months since the end of September. For all of 2014, investors pulled $150 billion from Pimco’s U.S. open-end mutual funds, according to Morningstar data.

Pimco, which had $1.68 trillion in assets under management as of Dec. 31, has been bolstering its leadership ranks over the last year since the departure of former Chief Executive Mohamed El-Erian, the result of a falling out over Gross’s leadership style and investment strategy. El-Erian, who has repeatedly called McCulley “my good friend,” did not return calls or emails requesting comment on his resignation.

Some of Pimco’s recent big hires include Marc Seidner, who re-joined the firm as chief investment officer of non-traditional strategies; Nobel laureate economist professor Michael Spence, a consultant to the firm on macroeconomic and global policy; and Gene Sperling, a former principal economic advisor to Presidents Clinton and Obama, who is a consultant on U.S. economic policy issues.

McCulley said: “In recent months, the firm has strengthened its macro talent pool, an endeavor about which I was aware, but quite appropriately, not a participant at all. I read the news in this regard, just as the general public does.

“Pimco’s unfolding transition from a founder-driven, partnership culture to a franchisedriven, corporate ethos is a natural evolution for the firm, in many ways ironic evidence of the genius of the founders. I will cherish my memories and look forward to watching the firm’s continued success.”

McCulley added: “My mission here is complete.”

McCulley said he will continue to pursue the things he loves in other spaces, possibly in the academic arena.

U.S. authorities probe alleged forged letter from Mirach in Sahara deal

bond transaction that was ruled to be illegal.

His bail was set at $1.6 billion, the highest ever in India, and his company sought to raise money to pay for it. The Indian conglomerate was willing to use hotels it owns, including New York’s Plaza, as collateral.

The Indian company negotiated for funds with Mirach, a group set up by former broker Saransh Sharma, who lives in Northern California. Mirach gave a letter to Sahara that purported to prove the U.S. group had the funds in an account at Bank of America to lend to the Indian company, but after a Reuters report earlier this month raised questions about the authenticity of the document, Sahara said it was a forgery.

Sahara said it would initiate civil and criminal legal action against Mirach in India and the United States.

One source said the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s office in San Francisco is currently investigating Sharma, and another said the probe involved the Sahara allegations of a bank letter forgery. FBI spokesman Gregory Wuthrich in San Francisco said he could not confirm or deny an investigation.

A lawyer for Sharma said that Sharma has not been contacted by the FBI, and demanded that Reuters refrain from publishing a story. “We have no reason to believe that your source is anything more than a mere propagandist for some group that is adverse to Mr. Sharma and/or Mirach,” Sharma’s lawyer wrote.

A Bank of America representative declined to comment on the investigation.

London’s fashion pack turns focus to business for online sales

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ritain’s emerging talent kicked off the first day of London Fashion Week with

designs featuring oversized coats, geometric shapes and voluminous skirts, amid hopes online demand for luxury goods is growing stronger.

Delicate embroidered dresses paired with cropped jackets highlighted Turkish designer Bora Aksu’s show on Friday, in colours of gold, dusty pinks and pale blue inspired by Irish writer Oscar Wilde’s The Nightingale and the Rose.

Earlier, Korean-born designer Eudon Choi sent models down the runway in boxy leather jackets decorated with colourful geometric shapes, oversized scarves and floral printed flares.

More than 5,000 buyers, journalists and bloggers have flocked to London to see emerging talent like Aksu and Choi showcase their designs alongside leading designers Paul Smith, Vivienne Westwood and Burberry’s Christopher Bailey.

This season sees the British Fashion Council (BFC) focus on how designers can grow their businesses into successful brands and boost growth in Britain’s 26 billion pound ($39.98 billion) fashion industry.

“It is fantastic that we are seeing these young businesses going from strength to strength,” Chief Executive Caroline Rush told Reuters.

“The next stage of course is thinking about e-commerce and online businesses and again as part of our business pillar, I’m working closely with the tech sector looking at some quick wins and some really strong guys to help in e-commerce,” Rush added.

With online fashion sales expected to reach 19 billion pounds in the next four years, according to research firm Mintel, designers are turning to social media like Instagram, Facebook and Twitter to help drive more online purchases.

“We have been very focused on the past year or so, helping designers to understand how they can best use social media,” Rush said.

Aksu said the networks

F

ederal authorities in San Francisco are probing U.S.based Mirach Capital Group, two sources familiar with the situation told Reuters, amid allegations that the group gave a forged bank letter to Indian conglomerate Sahara as part of financing negotiations.

Sahara had sought to borrow more than $1 billion from Mirach to help bail its chairman, Subrata Roy, out of jail in New Delhi. Roy was jailed last year for contempt charges for failing to comply with a court order to repay investors in a

Models at london fashion week

were the perfect tool to help his label grow internationally and gain recognition.

Camille Juras, who three weeks ago launched what she called a vegan shoe company making footwear with micro fibres rather than animal leather, said she had already generated sales from using social media websites.

“Social media is key. It all starts with online presence and then you grow,” said Juras.

“On Instagram, it was instant.

You would launch your page, people would start to like you, like your products and that started the sales process.”

London Fashion Week, which generates more than 100 million pounds in orders each season from buyers around the world, will run until Feb. 24.

RadioShack cleared to sell leases to 1,100 abandoned stores

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ankrupt electronics retailer RadioShack Corp received court approval on Friday for its plan to try to sell the leases to more than 1,100 stores that it will close by the end of February.

RadioShack first proposed closing many of the locations early last year as it struggled to turn around its moneylosing operations, but lenders demanded the stores remain open.

After filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy earlier this month, RadioShack moved quickly to abandon the stores to avoid paying March rent.

U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Brendan Shannon in Wilmington, Delaware gave his approval to the bidding and auction process for the leases, which has been under way for weeks.

“I don’t think I’ve ever signed an order with bids due in two hours,” Shannon said, referring to the noon deadline for bids. An auction will be held next week for leases that draw multiple bids.

RadioShack said it will disclose in a court filing on Saturday which leases drew bids.

Once the go-to destination for gadget enthusiasts, RadioShack plans to close nearly half of its 4,000 locations.

The company will seek court approval on Monday for the auction process for up to 2,400 stores. An affiliate of the hedge fund Standard General has agreed to act as an initial bidder, known as a stalking horse, for those locations, which will remain open.

The hedge fund plans to bring in Sprint Corp as a partner to operate in those stores.

RadioShack plans to abandon more stores in March and will put those leases up for sale next month. BC

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Business Courage

Monday, February 23, 2015

A7 23

Brand Watch Lego overtakes Ferrari as the world’s most powerful brand Stories by Adejuwon Osunnuyi

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rand Finance, world’s leading brand valuation consultancy firm has named Lego as the world’s most powerful brand.

While Lego’s nostalgic humility earned it the top spot, it however forced Italian sports brand Ferrari into ninth place. Ferrari was last year’s most powerful brand.

According to the latest ranking in which every year, Brand Finance puts thousands of the world’s top brands to the test to determine which are the most powerful, and the most valuable, PWC and Red Bull landed in second and third place respectively.

Lego, as the World’s most powerful brand, scores highly on a wide variety of measures on Brand Finance’s Brand Strength Index such as familiarity, loyalty, promotion, staff satisfaction and corporate reputation.

According to Brand Finance CEO David Haigh, “Lego is a uniquely creative and immersive toy; children love the ability to construct their own worlds that it provides. In a tech-saturated world, parents approve of the back-to-basics creativity it encourages and have a lingering nostalgia for the brand long after their own childhoods.

“The Lego Movie perfectly captured this cross-generational appeal. It was a critical and commercial success, taking nearly US$500m since its release a year ago. It has helped propel Lego from a well-loved, strong brand to the World’s most powerful.” Haigh stated.

In order to tower above the

rest and win the coveted “most powerful” crown, brands must score highly with familiarity, loyalty, promotion, staff satisfaction and corporate reputation criteria.

Brand Finance CEO David Haigh added: “Ferrari is still in a strong position and its brand value has actually increased 18 per cent this year to $4.7 billion.

“The new strategy to capitalise on the brand will certainly drive short term value but over-exploitation risks lasting damage Admitting that Ferrari remains a very strong brand but its power is slowly diminishing, he stated that it has now gone several years without an F1 title and last season struggled even to mount a challenge. The sheen of glory from its 1990s

golden era is beginning to wear thin.

Meanwhile, the departure of Luca di Montezemolo heralds a slight change in strategy at Ferrari’s road car division.

Montezemolo kept a strict cap on production to maintain the exclusivity of the brand.

“Many Ferrari owners and aspiring owners are extremely brand-conscious, making the loss of the ‘world’s most powerful brand’ accolade, which Ferrari has held for several years, a particularly heavy blow,” Brand Finance CEO Haigh said.

While it is noted that the power of a brand is just one component of Brand Finance’s analysis, the company combines the information on a brand’s strength with financial data, to calculate its commer-

cial value.

In the category of calculating brand values, Apple is reported to have emerged top.

Though not quite on a par with Ferrari or Lego in terms of brand strength, Apple still has a very powerful brand.

What sets it apart is ability to monetize that brand. Apple has a remarkable knack for using its brand to popularise and hence monetize existing technology, as it did so successfully first with the mp3 player, smart phone and later the tablet.

Critics have been silenced by the success of the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus as consumers have snapped latest models in their droves, helping Apple set records for quarterly profits ($18bn) and company value ($710bn).

L-R: Director, Corporate Communications & CSR, Airtel Nigeria, Emeka Oparah; President, Outdoor Advertising Association of Nigeria (OAAN), Charles Chijide; Director, Customer Services Delivery, Airtel Nigeria, Ajay Bakshi and President, Public Relations Consultants Association of Nigeria (PRCAN), John Ehiguese during the 4th CEO Breakfast Forum of the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC),held at Four Point by Sheraton, Victoria Island, Lagos recently

According to Haigh, “The Apple brand is worth US$128 billion. That value is huge not just in its own terms but also as a proportion of Apple’s record-breaking corporate valuation. It goes to show how valuable brands are as business assets and how important it is to manage them well.”

In the same vein, Twitter emerged as the fastest growing brand as it has almost tripled its brand value in a year, increasing from $1.5 billion in early 2014 to $4.4 billion now.

The study shows that fellow tech giants, Baidu and Facebook have also grown strongly, by 161 per cent and 146 per cent respectively.

The three appear to be more effectively managing the transition to mobile advertising than other tech players such as Google, boosting expectations of the financial potential of their brands.

Chipotle stands out among the many successes from the tech and telecoms sectors this year. Its brand value is up 124 per cent. It is eating into McDonalds’ market share by positioning itself as a healthier, tastier and more ethical alternative. McDonalds’ iconic brand has lost $4bn in value this year.

Brand Finance Plc is the world’s leading brand valuation consultancy. It advises strongly branded organisations on how to maximise their value through the effective management of their brands and intangible assets.

Founded in 1996, Brand Finance has performed thousands of branded business, brand and intangible asset valuations worth trillions of dollars. BC

Mr Biggs berths at airport

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igerian’s foremost indigenous quick service restaurant business and a brand under UAC Restaurants, Mrs Biggs birthed a new restaurant at the e-wing of the international airport.

In a statement released by the management of the company,the all- new- look restaurant is positioned to serve the increasing needs of international travellers at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport Lagos.

The statement further disclosed that”the new restaurant will avail travellers the opportunity to grab a fast meal before boarding their flights without hassles”.

It further stated” The challenge of getting affordable hygienic meal to cater for the needs of travellers has been resolved by the entrant of Mr Biggs brand at the airport.

It’s our always good initiative in response to consumer needs.”

“The air was filled with awe and joy which was easily noticeable on the faces of the customers when informed that there is now a Mr Biggs restaurant close-by where they could easily grab a meal

before boarding their flights.

It was a welcome gesture speaking with some customers on the day of the opening”.

Meanwhile, as part of the marketing initiatives to create awareness and build customer loyalty, customers who make purchases from the

opening day till the next one month will be rewarded with beautifully branded gift items.

It added ”We are very much aware that the yuletide period is setting in with its beehive of activities and the restaurant is set to relieve travelers the stress of having to plan their meals before ar-

riving at the airport”.

Also, Mr Biggs, the children friendly brand is connecting with schools through the Mr Biggs @ school fest package this yuletide season.

For just N1, 000, schools can enjoy the presence of Mr Biggs brand at their end of year parties. BC

YouTube to air creators documentary to educate brands

A

nomaly London has teamed up with an Oscar-nominated director to create a documentary exploring the rise of YouTube creators.

YouTube commissioned Anomaly and the documentarian Nanette Burnstein, who was nominated for an Oscar for her 1997 film On The Ropes, to explore the worlds of

video-bloggers like Zoella and Tomska, who have amassed millions of fans through YouTube.

The documentary aims to help marketers understand how these vloggers appeal to their young fans and what role brands can play on the channel.

In addition to the full-length documentary, which will be released on YouTube on 13

March, Anomaly has created four short videos offering tips on successful online engagement.

Anomaly’s joint executive creative directors, Oli Beale and Alex Holder, came up with the idea for the documentary, wrote the treatment and produced it.

Holder said: “We wanted to make a film that explained to brands largely untapped

opportunity of the creator community. YouTube creators understand their millennial audience and use real time feedback in order to create engaging content that can captivate millions of fans.

“The film gives brands a chance to learn from these digital innovators and understand how to work with them in order to reach loyal audiences.” BC

A8 24

Business Courage

Monday, February 23, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Ayeni: A quiet lawyer-turned corporate titan For those familiar with him, he is a thorough-bred professional, but a quiet consummate business tycoon. Though he loves to go unnoticed, he’s nonetheless a gold fish that has no hiding place.

By dint of hard work and ingenuity, four years after his youth service, he started as a legal practitioner establishing a firm called Legal Resources Alliance, which presently is a leading player in property and corporate law in Nigeria. The firm boasts of high net worth individuals and blue chip corporate clients, locally and globally. Today, beyond his law firm, he has his hands on many juicy pies in the oil and gas, banking, aviation, maritime, power, real estate as well as telecommunications sectors.

This is the story of John Olatunde Ayeni, CON, Chairman of Skye Bank, a highly successful lawyer-turned corporate tycoon Ayeni

By Adejuwon Osunnuyi

A

t times, many people believe that some degree of luck is essential to be successful in life. But there are others, who hold the views that, rather than luck, success can only be achieved, when ideas are backed up with hard work, rare courage, unrelenting spirit as well as adequate preparations.

For John Olatunde Ayeni, CON, the Chairman of Skye Bank, his rise and rise story is clearly one of such.

Though he might not be your regular face on the pages of major newspapers, but the man simply known as Tunde is a highly successful lawyerturned businessman, who has his hands on many juicy pies in the oil and gas, banking, aviation, maritime as well as real estate sectors.

For those who are not too familiar with the Corporate Nigeria and many of its silent accomplished players, it would not be a surprise if the following questions were being asked.

Who is Tunde Ayeni? Where is he coming from? What is his

pedigree? What are his accomplishments?

Interestingly, as salient and apt as the questions are, Tunde’s personal philosophy and modus operandi have given him no space for trumpeting his accomplishments and throwing his weight all over the place.

To his family, friends and colleagues, Ayeni, who hails from Iyah-Gbede, Ijumu in Kogi State, Nigeria, is that quiet, modest, easy going professional and corporate titan, who loves to do his beat without any ‘noise’ around and about him.

Born on April 4, 1967, Ayeni had his secondary education at Baptist Secondary School, Iyah-Gbede, his native town, between 1981 and 1985. He obtained the General Certificate of Education (G.C.E.), Advanced Level papers in 1987.

In the same 1987, he was admitted to read Law at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Kaduna State, where he graduated with honours in 1990. Ayeni was called to Bar in 1991.

Thereafter, he underwent and completed the compulsory National Youth Service Corps service with Professor S. A. Adesanya & Co., a firm of Legal

Practitioners.

After the National Service in 1991, he worked with Rodco (Nig) Limited as the Legal Adviser from 1991 to 1994.

Having assured himself that he had garnered enough experience, determined to become an employer of labour rather than continue his lifetime as an employee, Ayeni voluntarily left Rodco (Nig) Limited to start his own firm of Legal practice in 1994 known as Olatunde Ayeni & Co now called Legal Resources Alliance.

By dint of hard work and ingenuity, Ayeni’s legal firm, Legal Resources Alliance currently has over 50 legal practitioners in its employ. A leading player in property and corporate law in Nigeria, the firm boasts of high net worth individuals and blue chip corporate clients, locally and globally.

Apparently taking a cue from its founder, this multi billion naira firm operates quietly but efficiently to the delight of its clients. To those close to Ayeni, one word he tells them he does not see in his dictionary is Failure. He tells his listeners there are only two options; success or success.

It is indeed with this mindset that he approaches his corporate life. Although a quiet operator with uncommon humility, Ayeni has a personal approach to corporate life that does not entertain impossibility.

Early in his career, he had emerged as either founder or one of the pioneering directors of Olutoye Estate Development & Services Limited, Prime Union Investment Limited, Prime Union Travels and Tours Limited, BetonBau (Nig) Ltd, Joint Aviation Services Limited, Duport Marine Ltd. In 2007, Ayeni became majority stakeholder and vice chairman of ASO Savings & Loans. He is also chairman of JKK (Nigeria) Plc and Temple Resources Ltd, and sits on the boards of PPP Fluid Mechanics Limited and Hightech Procurement Limited.

He is also the Chairman of other blue chip corporate entities. They include Temple Resources Limited, the first indigenous company to pioneer vehicle inspection for safety in Nigeria and Funds and Electronic Transfer Solutions Limited (fets).

A man with the Midas touch,

it soon became obvious to his business partners and colleagues that whatever the budding business icon touched(s) turned to gold. And through unrelenting hard work and focus, he soon got involved in bigger pies: in 2005, Ayeni’s Bond Bank, which he founded in 2000 was among the five commercial banks which merged to create a new entity called Skye Bank with a balance sheet in excess of N1 trillion.

Years later, in December 2011, he emerged as the Chairman of Skye Bank Plc as the bank describes him as “A man of great vision, courage and intellect. A true leader and commander of the troops. An astute entrepreneur with a huge ‘can do’ Spirit.”

Prior to his appointment, since he joined the board of the bank in January 2008, he had served in the Credit, Risk, Audit, and Nomination Committees of the Board.

As a man with exceptional ambition, he has not disappointed his associates in living up to his passion of making Skye Bank one of the biggest financial institutions. Perhaps, Ayeni’s tall ambition seems to

have been working for Skye Bank.

Last year, AMCON announced Skye Bank Plc as the preferred bidder for Mainstreet Bank Limited. Before the bank, a leading tier two bank in Nigeria, was among the eight banks recently designated as ‘Systemically Important Banks’, which reflects its industry leadership, strong market share, diverse location spread, and strong brand equity.

To show competitors that he meant business, within four days of the announcement of the bank as the preferred bidder of Mainstream Bank, Ayeni led his colleagues in the bank to pay the mandatory 20 per cent before the expiration of the one week given. This was on October 9, the same day it signed the Share Sale and Purchase Agreement. And in a bid to further prove that it meant business, the bank again paid the 80 per cent balance to complete the takeover with one week to the deadline given by AMCON. During the takeover, Skye Bank stated that the acquisition of Mainstreet Bank was part of its strategic plan for growth.

The bank itself had emerged

Business Courage

Monday, February 23, 2015

from the very successful merger and integration of five banks in 2006, following the first phase of the banking industry consolidation. Skye Bank Plc has given details of how its acquisition of Mainstreet Bank Limited will positively impact its business operations and enhance the achievement of its strategic objectives and goals. The bank said the acquisition would help deepen its penetration of the South-east and South-south regions where it is currently less represented, explaining that out of Mainstreet Bank’s 201 branches and nine subsidiaries, 26 per cent or 54 branches are located in the two regions.

“These two regions also accounted for 28 per cent of Mainstreet Bank’s over 1.9 million customers, second only to Lagos with 37 per cent. This clearly shows that the integration of Mainstreet Bank will enable us make valuable in-roads into these two regions without the need to incur huge expenditure had we remained a single entity as Skye Bank”, the bank explained then.

Again, as a businessman with a keen understanding of the prevailing economic variables and opportunities, against the backdrop of rising insecurity in Nigeria’s maritime territory, with the Nigerian Content Bill signed into law and the opening of floodgate for Nigerians’ participation in the oil sector, Ayeni and his friends set up the Ocean Marine Security Limited, OMS, blazing the trail in private sector participation in maritime security in Africa.

He is currently the Vice Chairman of this company, which has, through the provision of unique logistic support to the Nigerian Navy, made immense contributions towards mitigating the insecurity of Nigeria’s waters. This has helped to restore oil majors’ confidence in the country, as a place they can return to and run their operations.

Another major investment he is involved in as one of the key promoters and chairman is the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company IBEDC, the Disco Company that emerged the winner for electricity distribution for south west following the unbundling of Power Holding Corporation of Nigeria PHCN and the public sale of its subsidiaries. Ayeni, as the Vice Chairman of Integrated Energy Distribution and Marketing Ltd (IEDM) led this group to win the Ibadan and Yola distribution companies, the biggest distribution companies and consortium in the Nigerian power distribution/privatisation exercise, raising over $350m for this venture.

With these investments and many more, this unassuming

and quiet corporate icon has emerged as a leading employer of labour in the country today; a major contributor to the nation’s economic growth.

Known for always going for the bigger pies as far as business acquisitions are concerned, recently, Ayeni and the founder of Pan African International (PAI) Group, Ike Ejizu among others, acquired Ascot Offshore Nigeria Limited for N16bn ,$95.24m from the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria, AMCON. The deal was said to have been closed when the PAI Group paid N16bn for 95 per cent of the equity interest in Ascot. Under the deal, the group would also take over the non-statutory liabilities of Ascot while AMCON would shoulder the company’s statutory liabilities amounting to some N6bn.

“Ascot has a tax liability of N6 billion, of which AMCON will pay N3 billion to the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) while the balance will be paid

‘

Years later, in December 2011, he emerged as the Chairman of Skye Bank Plc as the bank describes him as “A man of great vision, courage and intellect.

A true leader and commander of the troops. An astute entrepreneur with a huge ‘can do’ Spirit”

‘

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Ayeni

to other agencies of government that Ascot owes,” a source close to the deal had said. According to him, with the sale of the firm, its new owners would be able to revitalise its massive fabrication yard in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, and provide jobs for thousands of Nigerians.

Ascot Offshore, formerly under the leadership of Henry Imasekha, came into prominence in 2007 after its $155.25m acquisition of Willbros Group Nigeria Holdings from its US parent, Willbros Group. Willbros was forced to withdraw from Nigeria, following its indictment alongside Halliburton and others by the US Justice Department and US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) for bribing Nigerian officials to obtain and retain $387 million in Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) contracts.

Also, making an in-road into the telecommunications sector of the economy, last year, a group, NATCOM Consortium, which also has Ayeni as the chairman, forked out a staggering $252.25m to acquire NITEL and MTEL. To a large extent, Ayeni, is a man with a large heart, who has touched many lives in one way or the other through his philanthropy. For instance, in 1999, he founded The Oluwatoyin Ayeni Educational Foundation. Every year, the foundation awards tertiary institution scholarships to 25 bright students from his hometown of Iyah-Gbede in Ijumu, Kogi State.

He is also a trustee of Support our Troops Foundation, a not for profit military charity that supports and promotes the interests of the men and women of the Nigerian Armed Forces who serve home and abroad.

Perhaps, Ayeni also seems to know how to play his political cards too. He did this when he recently stunned everyone

A9 25

at the recent fund raiser for the second term ambition of President Goodluck Jonathan with the donation of a whopping N1bn and another N1bn “on behalf of his friends.”

The essence of this donation apparently goes beyond the huge amount Ayeni donated on behalf of himself and his friends. It will be arguably the first time a top banker will be sticking out his corporate neck in the political arena in terms of donating to a political cause.

While many have been doing this, it is always done behind the scene.

Though many believe that with the public donation, some investors in his bank might be worried, a source close to the corporate top player said, “contrary to the belief that he might be putting the investments of other investors in the Bank at great risk, Tunde knows what he is doing. He is not even doling out their money. He has enough on his own to do that.

But beyond that, he has played his card very well. If the president comes back, as he is likely to do despite all the noise, you can imagine the political leverage Skye Bank and Tunde himself can get from that moment of ‘risk taking’? That is what big corporate players do all over the world.”

Unconfirmed reports have it that since Ayeni made the donation, many watchers of the financial sector have been wondering what the exact worth of the man is. While he is seen at social circles and corporate events, his lack of ‘presence’ in the media has not allowed many to know how ‘loaded’ he is. But the donation at the President’s fund raiser has shown many that Ayeni might be worth than many have hitherto believed.

Ayeni is a member of various professional associations, including the Nigerian Bar Association, International Bar Association and African Bar Association. He once served as Vice Chairman, Nigerian Bar Association, Ikeja branch as he was also a former Member of Council of Legal Aid Council.

In recognition of his contributions to the growth and development of the Nigerian economy, Nigeria’s Achievers University awarded Ayeni the honorary title of Doctor of Science (D.Sc.) in business administration.

Ayeni was in May 2012 honoured by the Member representing California’s 37th District in the United States of America House of Representatives with a certificate of Special Congressional Recognition.

In September 2014, he was made Fellow by the Institute of Directors, Nigeria and the Commander of the Order of the Niger, CON by the Federal Government. BC

A10 26

Business Courage

Monday, February 23, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

ThebuddingEntrepreneurs

When you are not focused, you can easily be distracted – TT Dalk Shoe boss, Osinfade Some years back, the average Nigerian believes being a cobbler is a profession for dropouts. Presently, such thought holds no water as Temilade Osinfade and few others before him have shown. Osinfade has continued to make an impression of a young man who knows where he actually headed for. His TT Dalk Shoes is a widely known brand as they have been featured on runways in some developed countries of the world. He has been able to raise the bar in local show making business.

He says TT Dalk is the acronym for members of his family. “TT stands for Temilade Tolulope which are my names, the D means Dolapo,my mother’s name , though she is late now. My younger brother Adewale is the A and from my elder brother’s name Oladapo I derived the L. The K is from my dad’s name which is Kehinde . So, in all you have TT Dalk.”

Osinfade

By Udo Onyeka

F

or Temilade Osinfade, Creative Director/CEO, TT Dalk Shoes, entrepreneurship comes with sleepless nights and determination to get to your targeted goal. Osinfade is a Babcock University graduate of Public Health and today, his entrepreneurial acumen has been so rewarding and his business thriving. TT Dalk, a multifaceted brand late last year at the African Fashion Week ,held in the Olympia Hall, Kensington, London showcased everything fashion.

TT Dalk, the Nigerian brand displayed exclusive varieties of collections on the runway such as leather shoes, sandals, accessories and its new exquisite signature bag collection. At the end of the event, the organisers said the brand made the right fashion impression. Osinfade says the burning desire to become an entrepreneur started long time ago when he was in school, where he used to sell all sorts of things.

While in his third year in the University, he began customizing his shoes. He said he had a man who made shoes for him, after he had made the design he would give to the cobbler to make. “I was a fashion buff at the time. As time went on, a few friends said they liked my shoes and placed orders and before I knew it, it became a business.”

“Since I was almost finishing

school, I wanted something on my own and I wanted it to be in fashion. Initially, I didn’t want to deal in clothes, because the market was saturated. I wanted to do something different and I came up with the idea of making branded shoes.”

How has it been since you set out in 2008 It was in 2008, but it has been quite tough, because then, I was looking for workers. Getting the right kind of people to work with was a bit challenging.

Aside that, when you are going into the market there are two things to consider. Its either people accept your product or people don’t accept your product. That was tough. My competitors were great challenges.

It was a little bit tough to penetrate the market. The main challenge was foreign competition. Getting perfect designs into the market that would make the standard was tough.

The experience has been hectic. As a designer, you need to work with an engineer to bring out what you design.

Sometimes, you don’t get it right. Till now, we’re still trying to perfect our finishing. I still train these guys because anytime we come out with different designs; it’s like a daily training process. When it comes to the selling experience, I had always been selling my stuffs right from secondary school. Walking up to people boldly and talking about my products were not

difficult. Sometimes, I just go to Silverbird Galleria, Shoprite and other big Shopping centres in Lagos with my car, open my trunk and start calling people.

That was how I was selling initially. I did that for a very

long while. As time went on, it became a lifestyle for me. I wake up, go to market and talk about my products. Most people told me, “I’m sorry, I don’t wear Nigerian-made products,” but today, they all come to me and

buy my products. Sincerely, all my capital have been from my initial sales revenue. Right from when I was in school, I had always learnt to define my needs and my wants. When I figured that out, I became more

Management Principles

How to sharpen your decision-making skills

T

he ubiquitous phrase “go with your gut” validates the importance of intuition and instinct in leadership and decision-making. But it’s also true that discarding reason and experience in favour of hunches often results in bad business decisions.

U.K marketing and media consultant Jonathan Gifford has explored the balance of these often opposing factors in his book Blindsided: How Business and Society are Shaped

by Our Unpredictable and Irrational Behaviour (Benchmark Books, 2012). Here, he shares four strategies to merge mind and gut for better decision-making.

Analyse your risk Hunches that don’t expose you to a lot of risk, like testing an offbeat new marketing tactic, may be worth exploring without too much up-front thought. This can be a way to test your instincts and see how often your gut steers you in the right direction. When the stakes get higher, however, like ditching an entire product line or moving your office location, it’s time to put the brakes on and examine the idea from a more analytical standpoint.

Examine the motivation “People are perfectly capable of making rational decisions, listing pros and cons and weighing potential benefits, but in everyday life, we rarely do this. Emotion and instinct

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Business Courage

Monday, February 23, 2015

A11 27

ThebuddingEntrepreneurs

prudent. So, most times, when I make sales, I put a large percentage back into the business and the remaining into logistics and some other things. There wasn’t any serious financial backing from anybody. It’s been really good.

Challenges Well, first, our customers are key to us. We listen more to our customers and we put them first and that has been a good step-up for us. With most of our products, we always try to stay trendy as we work with the designs people like.

We put our ears to the ground, look at what is selling in the international market in terms of the concept, style, and colours. The whole package. Our marketing strategies also have been successful.

Irregular power supply has been a major challenge for me. I always say to myself, if I have 24 hours electricity supply in Nigeria,

it will make a lot of difference, trust me. There is no story about that. If there is constant electricity supply, a lot of businesses would perform better. This is because diesel costs so much. It’s affecting the whole economy. An average guy that wants to start a business would still think of buying a big generator to power his plant and equipment which is not supposed to be so.

These factors are limitations for start-ups. Finding the right materials is also another challenge. Today, Nigeria is either the second or third largest leather producing country but we are not making use of that. Leather shouldn’t be our problem but I can tell you that it’s a problem.

Today, we have this quantity, tomorrow, we don’t have it. Working with the right manpower too has been a great challenge. This business is not a business that

rule,” Gifford says. If a hunch is telling you to take action that’s risky or counter-intuitive, examine why you’re feeling that’s the way to go.

If your decision to invest heavily in a bold new business model or fire a key employee is based on fear, anger, or other negative emotions, it’s best to wait and see if you still feel the same way after the emotion has passed.

Avoid “me too” syndrome Gifford says people often feel pressure to do things just because others are doing them, likely because of an instinctive drive to follow the crowd. However, allowing fear of “missing out” to drive your decision-making is dangerous. So-called “booms” in technology and real estate were fueled by a me-too dynamic, Gifford says.

If you feel pressure to adopt a new way of doing business, make investments that aren’t based in good business practices, or take other action just because others are doing it, wait until there is evidence that it’s the right action before you join in. If there isn’t a strategy behind following the crowd, you could soon find yourself in unsustainable territory.

Pay attention to persistent hunches Can’t let the idea go, even though it’s tough to make a case for it? Find ways to test the idea or somehow mitigate your risk, perhaps with a pilot programme, strategic partnership, or additional market research. After all, some of the greatest success stories came from people who took action even when it seemed like the wrong thing to do at the time.

If you’re truly committed to seeing through the idea or action and making it work, that’s an intangible factor that can create revolutionary successes. BC

you go to school to learn. However my driving force in life is about making a positive impact, making a difference.

Future plans Five years ago, when I was asked this question, I said, we would be known nationwide and internationally and we will also have stores in Lagos. By God’s grace, I think we are achieving these already. In another five years, we still see our brand growing bigger and even becoming more famous locally and internationally. We want to be known as the top fashion brand in and from Africa.

Nigeria’s shoe industry still has a long way to go, because we have not stepped close to the ice berg let alone getting to the peak. There is a lot of work to be done, trust me.

I know that with the minds and the ideas of the people that I have discussed with, we are going to get there in no time. I always try to encourage people that they should not allow Nigeria’s business environment to discourage them. I have been doing this business for a while and I’m not discouraged.

Entrepreneurial experience First you need to have passion for the business; it takes a lot of consis¬tency and perseverance.

Define your brand, and define your target market. You will not find many people who are knowledgeable about the business, so you need to educate yourself and do most of the work at the early stages. You must be very creative, and most especially you need to take risks. Get out of your comfort zone and explore the outside world.

I have learnt to be original and to do my best at all times as not every¬one will understand my vision so they will slow me down. I’ve also learnt to be expectant and to have a solution before the problem arises. You need to be prudent and differ¬entiate your needs from your wants. Save for the rainy day.

Always explore the best options in terms of products and pricing.

Managing human resources is a lot of work, so I would advise if you can afford it, to hire a human resource consultant.

Advice to young entrepreneurs First, I will tell them to have vision. The vision is like your guideline and goal. There will be ob-stacles but your vision will make you stand. You need to be prudent and have savings. Also try to be able to differentiate your needs from your wants. You need to be able to control yourself and your spending. You need to have a busi¬ness plan and a strategy too.

It all comes with sleepless nights.

You need to stay focused on your vision no matter what. Finally, put God first in all that you do. For me, I believe so much in God and He is my guidance and I let Him run my business and that’s why I am not the CEO of TT Dalk Shoes, but God is the CEO. When you put God first, before you know it, consistency would fall in place and you would attain your goals. BC

Personal Finance Common characteristics of successful entrepreneurs Become known as an expert hen you have a problem that needs to be solved, do you seek just anyone’s advice or do you seek an expert in the field to help solve your particular problem? Obviously, you want the most accurate information and assistance that you can get. You naturally seek an expert to help solve your problem. You call a plumber when the hot water tank leaks, a real estate agent when it’s time to sell your home or a dentist when you have a toothache. Therefore, it only stands to reason that the more you become known for your expertise in your business, the more people will seek you out to tap into your expertise, creating more selling and referral opportunities.

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Create a competitive advantage A home business must have a clearly defined unique selling proposition. This is nothing more than a fancy way of asking the vital question, “Why will people choose to do business with you or purchase your product or service instead of doing business with a competitor and buying his product or service?” In other words, what one aspect or combination of aspects is going to separate your business from your competition? Will it be better service, a longer warranty, better selection, longer business hours, more flexible payment options, lowest price, personalized service, better customer service, better return and exchange policies or a combination of several of these?

Invest in yourself Top entrepreneurs buy and read business and marketing books, magazines, reports, journals, newsletters, websites and industry publications, knowing that these resources will improve their understanding of business, marketing functions and skills. They join business associations and clubs, and they network with other skilled business people to learn their secrets of success and help define their own goals and objectives. Top entrepreneurs attend business and marketing seminars, workshops and training courses, even if they have already mastered the subject matter of the event. They do this because they know that education is an ongoing process.

There are usually ways to do things better, in less time, with less effort. In short, top entrepreneurs never stop investing in the most powerful, effective and best business and marketing tool at their immediate disposal--themselves.

Be accessible We’re living in a time when we all expect our fast food lunch at the drive-thru window to be ready in mere minutes, our dry cleaning to be ready for pick-up on the same day, our money to be available at the cash machine and our pizza delivered in 30 minutes or it’s free. You see the pattern developing-you must make it as easy as you can for people to do business with you, regardless of the home business you operate.

You must remain cognizant of the fact that few people will work hard, go out of their way, or be inconvenienced just for the privilege of giving you their hard-earned money. The shoe is always on the other foot. Making it easy for people to do business with you means that you must be accessible and knowledgeable about your products and services. You must be able to provide customers with what they want, when they want it. BC

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Business Courage

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Monday, February 23, 2015

ThebuddingEntrepreneurs

Leaders improve on strategy BUSINESS KLINIC

With Mamora Victor Mamora is a system thinker and advisor whose belief and activator leadership strengths are directed towards improving workers perspective for city and enterprise development.

e-mail: olusegunmamora@gmail.com

one excuse or the other.

The first invitee said to the servant, “I have bought a piece of land, and I must go and see it. I ask to have me excused.”

In addition, another said, “I have bought fine yoke of oxen, and I am going to test them. I ask you to have me excused.”

Still another said, “I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.”

Thereafter, the servant returned and reported to his master. There and then, the master of the house, being angry, said to his servant, “Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city and bring in here the poor and the maimed and the lame and the blind.”

After executing the new strategy, the servant said, “master it is done and you commanded and still there is room.” Then the master told the servant, Go out into the high ways and hedges, and compel them to come in that my house may be filled” Dear entrepreneur, until you find a business strategy that works for you, you must

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not give up finding new ways of improving on your strategy.

You must keep stepping up the game to finding the right business strategy. There is no reason for one to stick to a business strategy that is not producing a reasonable result for three years. You need to change strategy and improve fast with strategy that is producing the desirable result.

There are four areas of business where I will recommend that you revisit your strategies to make improvement for better results.

Improve on people strategy In the story I shared earlier, the success of the master’s strategic improvement that eventually yielded maximum result was because of the commitment and loyalty of his servant. Often, the servant was quick to carry out the plan and report on time.

That will mean one thing; Quality master-servant relationship.

Today’s business leaders need to improve people skill because effective leadership is impossible without it. It really does not matter how

‘

Strategy, like many other things in life, can be improved upon from time to time. Therefore, as a leader, one must be ready to improve on business strategy that can give the best result from time to time and in different economic situations. Save for truths or call it law of life, which they say are constant, every other thing can be improved upon from time to time

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n recent time, the business sphere in Nigeria, where I live, demands strategy that is workable for businesses and especially at a time when oil price is crashing and pressure continue mounting on naira.

Sure, many entrepreneurs do have strategy or call it plans to remain relevant in the economy and serve the interest of customers at profits. It is a common knowledge that not many enterprise strategies achieve that objective. While some go bankrupts, others record business growth and expansion in the same market. The fact is that business strategy, which is a core responsibility of the leadership, will always make the difference.

Strategy, like many other things in life, can be improved upon from time to time. Therefore, as a leader, one must be ready to improve on business strategy that can give the best result from time to time and in different economic situations. Save for truths or call it law of life, which they say are constant, every other thing can be improved upon from time to time.

My focus in this edition is on strategy that business leader can change and improve in order to achieve a good result notwithstanding the seemingly unfavourable economic circumstances.

One of the truths is that business does not achieve result beyond the knowledge capability of the leadership of the corporation. That is why leaders are fired when businesses do not achieve impressive result.

In business, leaders should be learning, developing strategy, influencing workers to execute and leading them to improve.

I read the story of a leader and his strategic improvement on project. Although the story is quite old, but it contains strategies that are very relevant for business leaders in the present time.

It is the story of a certain man who organised a great supper and invited many to join him at the banquet.

While he sent his servant at suppertime to say to those who were invited, “Come, for all things are now ready,” however, unfortunately, they turned down the invite giving

sound is your business strategy, without influence and people strategy it will remain on paper. The workers will be laid-back about the business strategy of a leader they do not like. Improve on your love and care for people who serve in your organisation and they will serve you greatly.

Improve on target market strategy.

Based on the story shared earlier, the master’s target market was a set of people who really seemed to appreciate the marketing content called “Supper with the master.” However, it turned out to be wrong because they did not buy into the marketing strategy of the master. They all gave good excuses.

The master decided to im-

Motivational Business Quotes

o think creatively, we must be able to look afresh at what we normally take for granted. – George Kneller

To the degree we’re not living our dreams; our comfort zone has more control of us than we have over ourselves. – Peter McWilliams The enemy of the truth is very often not the lie – deliberate, contrived, and dishonest – but the myth-persistent, persuasive, and unrealistic. – John F. Kennedy Long-range planning works best in the short term. – Doug Evelyn The NBA is never just a business. It’s always business. It’s always personal. All good businesses are personal. The best businesses

are very personal. – Mark Cuban You can fool all the people all the time if the advertising is right and the budget is big enough. – Joseph E. Levine A business has to be involving, it has to be fun, and it has to exercise your creative instincts. – Richard Branson The entrepreneur always searches for change, responds to it, and exploits it as an opportunity. – Peter F. Drucker No enterprise can exist for itself alone.

It ministers to some great need, it performs some great service, not for itself, but for others.. or failing therein, it ceases to be profitable and ceases to exist. – Calvin Coolidge BC

prove on his marketing strategy by redirecting it to where it would yield great sales. The invitations were extended to the hungry and poor who needed supper desperately and it worked. My advice is to note excuses in your marketing strategy because this might be pointing to redirecting your effort.

Improve on location strategy In the same story, the master said to his servant, “Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city.” The master realised the need for revisiting location strategy and it yielded good responses to the marketing strategy. One of the most frustrating efforts is to have the right marketing strategy in wrong location.

I will advise you to revisit business location strategy and reexamine the need for change or improvement. On different occasions, I have seen entrepreneurs who open shops for luxury goods in a location where people’s income is very poor. In such a situation, what do you expect?

Improve on all strategies that yielded result When the master of the servant realised that the location strategy yielded good result, he improved on it. He instructed the servant, “Go into the highways and hedges.”

The moment your strategy yield a commendable result, then improve on it and exhaust the opportunity for the interest of the business.

My friend in business, we must accept that strategy is the foremost responsibility of any business leader who will influence resources. Strategy to effectively relate with the people and consistently improve on such winning strategy makes the job of leader easier.

One must not be so romantic about a business strategy that is not winning that could not say goodbye to it. It is time to improve on strategic decision for the enterprise and stay relevant as the business leader. I believe you can!

Cheer up and be courageous.

Join me next Monday on this column as we move into another area of improvement.

I believe it is possible to improve on anything if you learn and try. BC

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Business Courage

Monday, February 23, 2015

A13 29

NCC mandates operators to include parental control in network

By Isaiah Erhiawarien

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ll mobile network operators in the country have been mandated to include parental control measures on their network.

The new directive was the result of a study conducted by the Policy, Competition & Economic Analysis Department of the Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, to develop a policy framework on mobile parental control in line with best practices.

The regulator, in the 21 -page study, recommended that since some mobile network operators in the country have commenced the introduction of certain tariff structures that make easy for the underage to use the mobile phone and have access to the internet.

According to the NCC, the new directive is meant to provide protection to children from exposure to inappropriate online or internet contents adding that operators must create adequate awareness on the available mobile parental control measures/apps on their networks.

The study further disclosed that the NCC’s Consumers Parliament and Outreaches should feature parental control measures in telecoms for the next three quarters saying that the MNOs should educate parents and guidance on the procedure to activate the apps.

Furthermore, the NCC said operators would be encouraged to offer the mobile parental control app service for free or at very minimal cost in order to foster the uptake.

The regulator explained that parental controls within the mobile telecommunications network is the application of software and service tools that are designed to help parents and guardians monitor their children’s access to inappropriate websites and contents while using mobile phones and other smart devices.

The four chapter study titled: Parental Control Measures for Mobile Telecommunications Networks revealed four categories of parental control measures: content filters, which limit access to age inappropriate content; usage

Children using laptop for internet

controls, which constrain the usage of these devices such as placing time-limits on usage or forbidding certain types of usage; monitoring, which can track location and activity when using the devices.

According to the NCC, the study revealed that majority of parents have limited awareness of mobile network parental controls with the exception of technically savvy parents understand and apply mobile parental controls stating that there is no harmonised legislation or regulation for mobile parental controls.

The regulator in its study observed that only few mobile network operators have keyed into the child on-line protection initiative guideline as provided by the International Telecommunications Union, ITU, to protect children from harmful content.

The NCC however noted that major forms of parental controls deployed by mobile operators include usage controls, content filtering and location/monitoring control while others have content filters on their network by default.

The study revealed that protecting children online is a global challenge, which requires a global approach saying that while many efforts to improve child online protection are already under way, their reach has been more

national than global. For instance, the ITU launched the Child Online Protection, COP,Initiative in November 2008 as a multi-stakeholder effort within the Global Cyber security Agenda framework adding that the COP has been able promote a model national framework to assist in the development of a positive online environment for children and young people.

The COP is also said to have encouraged the creation of COP Units at national level and is developing a series of indicators to assist with the measurement of progress in implementing online child protection initiatives at global, regional, and national levels.

The NCC however, in its study observed that in Nigeria, “we presently do not have any laid down guidelines or framework for adoption and

implementation of parental control measures in the Telecoms industry. This therefore gives operators in the industry the leeway to adopt whatever measures they deem fit and at whatever cost they prescribe.”

It disclosed that amongst the four Mobile Network Operators in Nigeria, only Emerging Markets Telecommunication Services Limited, EMTS, also known as Etisalat has forwarded a tariff structure of parental control for the Commission’s approval.

Quoting the former Secretary-General of the ITU, Hamadoun I. Touré, the study said that “The revolution of mobile phones and smart devices with its applications for online communications have created tremendous opportunities for young people, but at the same time

exposing the young children to new risks in cyberspace.”

Also the study said that a United Nations specialised agency for ICT Guidelines for the Industry on Child Online Protection provide advice on how the ICT industry can help promote safety for children using the Internet or any technologies or devices that can connect to it, as well as guidance on how to enable responsible digital citizenship, learning and civic participation.

The NCC stated that there are parental control measures in other developed economies of the world stating that in the United States of America all the four major operators offer parental control plans that help parents manage their children’s texting, talking and mobile web browsing usage.

According the NCC, these parental controls have the ability to block picture messaging, block unknown phone numbers, limit what time the children test or call, filter web browsing and track the locations of their children adding that whereas AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile offer parental controls at a fee of $4.99/9.99 per month, Sprint offers parental controls free.

While in the United Kingdom, all the mobile operators provide parental controls/ Adult Content filters by default just these operators partner with mobile phone manufacturer to offer services with mobile phones that have in-built parental controls tools.

Reacting to the development, President of the National Association Telecoms Subscribers, NATCOM, Deolu Ogunbanjo said that the decision for the NCC to mandate the operators to infuse parental control on their network was the right thing to do.

He said that there must be some element of value system in whatever is done in the country, particularly as it concerns us as Africans saying that a situation where everyone dumps things on the internet without a control measure for the under age is not the best for the nation.

He noted that it is essential that government institutions do everything it can to protect BCthe country’s value

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Business Courage

Monday, February 23, 2015

Startimes introduces bouquet for digital switch over

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n a bold move to enable more Nigerians conveniently switch over to and enjoy full digital television experience, foremost cable TV service provider, StarTimes, announced the launch of its newest and most affordable bouquet called Nova ahead of the digital switch over deadline in 2015.

The Nova bouquet went live nationwide on Monday February 9; it is permanent and becomes the fourth bouquet available on StarTimes, specially designed for the entry level customers.

Its introduction was aimed at further facilitating a smooth and convenient transition from analogue to digital broadcasting by creating the most affordable bouquet that anyone can afford.

The Nova bouquet will give new subscribers access to a digital television experience with over 15 channels.

Speaking at the launch of the new bouquet in Lagos, Public Relations Manager, StarTimes, Israel Bolaji, said the new digital TV bouquet was designed to offer new subscribers an affordable bundle that makes switching over to digital TV more convenient, promote refreshing television experience and create values that will further deepen digital television pen-

Bolaji

etration in Nigeria.

In the coming days, more Nigerians will have to acquire type approved digital set top boxes, most of those who will be affected by the switch over in 2015 are first time buyers; We observed that the cost of acquiring the decoders is a major factor to growing access; we have therefore considered making it very affordable for them to acquire and access our digital television service. We have also strengthened our customer feedback and interactive points like the call centre and after sales support services to further bolster our offering,”

noted Bolaji.

He observed that the move is advised by the company’s mission to ensure every household access and enjoys digital television noting that the company has rolled out extensive after sales services to ensure the best customer experience with the StarTimes set top box. This is our strategy to ensure all Nigerians have access to digital television.

“We are committed to a smooth transition from analogue to digital broadcasting while enabling Nigerians to overcome entry barriers through affordability as we equally showcase our premium channel offering and customer centered after sales services that will swiftly manage any challenges faced by our customers.” added Bolaji.

“As a platform for digital migration, we are ever committed to supporting Nigerians actualize the 2015 deadline by ensuring that Nigerians get the best of digital television at an affordable price. We are poised to aid Nigeria migrate successfully from analogue to digital television transmission and revolutionize the digital broadcasting industry by providing quality digital TV experience that is enjoyable and accessible,” Bolaji said. BC

Samsung launches Smart School in Africa

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amsung has kicked off the launch of smart school in Africa beginning with the Senegal.

The Senegal Ministry of Education and Samsung Electronics Africa launched the mobile education solution aimed at creating positive change and providing an advanced and interactive classroom experience for learners.

Installed at the Plan Jaxaay Secondary School, the Samsung Smart School initiative is an integrated platform that includes a monitoring and controlling feature – which allows teachers to keep track of educational content on their learners’ screens – a screen-sharing feature and a real-time question-andanswer feature.

The future of education is about accessing information and collaborating locally and globally. Teaching and learning has become social; this has become possible with the emergence of initiatives

The Samsung-Smart-School-Solution

such as the Samsung Smart School,” said Samba Guisse, IT Advisor, Human Resources Department at the Ministry of National Education in Senegal.

Samsung’s Corporate Citizenship arm has always supported the development of education with the view of impacting society and the economy. Samsung believes that access to technology can create new learning possibilities for students, paving their way towards lifelong learning and personal development in

order to acquire the knowledge and skills needed in today’s society.

Launched in the country in partnership with Millennium Connect Africa, Samsung’s Smart Schools are part of the company’s far-reaching African citizenship programme, designed to positively impact the lives of Africans.

Smart Schools have also been installed in countries like Mali, South Africa, Kenya, Rwanda, DR Congo and Sudan. BC

Technotalk

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

with Esther Ozue (ozueesther@nationalmirroronline.net) 08059234648 (sms only)

Targeting the right social media to market your business

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uilding a customer base is important in all businesses. Using an online community base should ideally be a large number of current and prospective clients or buyers talking to each other. As social media marketing is becoming so popular, business owners need to go into social media marketing, targeting the right and cost-effective channels to market their products, services or brands become a big question as they may not have the time or resources to spend on every one of them.

A strategy for social media engagements is useless without an objective. The objective can be building an online community, lead generation, website traffic, data collection, revenue generation online, and brand exposure. This means you should have a way to measure the efficacy of your campaign.

It’s not an easy decision to decide on which social media your business should target; however here is a quick survey of few social media platforms to aid your business;

Facebook: Facebook is the biggest social network today with more than 1.2 billion users worldwide and the chances are that most of your customers are members of facebook network. Facebook offers a wide variety of services to various an socially expansive users. Facebook is accessible from its well-known website and from its increasingly popular mobile app.

Twitter: Twitter is more of a personal micro blogging service than a community of users. Twitter lets users post short text messages called tweets, which then show up in the feeds of your followers. With more than 230 million monthly users it’s popular among younger and more mobile users because 76% of the user base access the service via mobile devices.

LinkedIn: This is a social network for business professionals. Great for job seekers and those wanting to network with others in a given profession or industry, LinkedIn has more than 250 million users.

Instagram: Instagram is a photo app for smartphones and mobile social network. Users shoot digital photographs and videos and share those items with their friends on the Instagram network. Instagram has more than 150 million users.

Pinterest: Pinterest is billed as a content-sharing service that allows members to pin or post photos, videos, and other images to their pinboards. It’s ideal for businesses for which visual imagery is a main feature or selling point. If you focus on wedding planning, travel destinations, interior decorating, fashion or foods, you can say a great deal about your products and services through your stunning photos or videos.

Analysing the survey, you will find out that you will need to market where your customers visit on the web. If you send out a lot of news updates and bulletins often, facebook and twitter are very good. If your product is visually appealing (lots of pictures), you can’t beat Pinterest and Instagram, likewise facebook.

If you have videos of your product or service, you have to consider facebook, Instagram as they are all good for sharing videos and if you offer B2B (business to business) goods or services, LinkedIn is the site for you.

In summary, judging viability based solely on number of registered users leave out some important criteria. For example, how often do these users visit the site, and for how long?

You need to know your customer, and where your customer socialises and target those social networks that your customers (or would-be customers) are most likely to use. Let that drive your social media strategy.

From all indications, Facebook still comes first simply because of its 1.2 billion users, it’s really a strategic site for your business marketing as it doesn’t discriminate, both male and female, high and low income earners visit the site.

Try not to focus only on the size of the community, but also on the potential to convert those community members into customers or brand advocates. Connect with your customers and keep them up to date on events. Your main strategy should be to engage targeted customers to get the best result. BC

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Business Courage

Monday, February 23, 2015

A15 31

Companies & Markets

Sterling Bank intends to contribute to education sector dev – Atilola The education sector is one of the sectors that need urgent intervention,especiaaly through injection of funds.

In this interview with Udo Onyeka, Group Head, Strategy & Communications, Sterling Bank Plc, Mr. Shina Atilola explains what the Bank is doing to support the education sector. Excerpts:

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Atilola

between ages 5-12. Basically, the kids are allowed to design and create the Bank of their imagination which could be expressed as a painting, drawing, writing or even through a presentation. The most creative ideas will be shortlisted for various prizes. The first, second and third prize winners will go home with a scholarship awards of N500,000, N300,000 and N200,000 respectively. There will also be other cash awards, gadgets and other prizes to be won. This initiative is aimed at identifying talents and harnessing same for global competitiveness.

It is also important l mention this.

Sterling Bank supported the 2014 edition of the “We are The Future of our Nation”, WATFON, program, an initiative of Edumark Consult. Over 3,500 final year students in various secondary schools attended the event aimed at providing leadership skills and career development knowledge yearly.

We did this as a way of investing in our collective future and create the society we want by investing in our youth.

This platform provided the children to meet with accomplished Nigerians, who have excelled in various fields and have thus become role models to inspire the children to greatness There is need for institutions to promote financial literacy among students which would prepare them with the ability to make informed financial judgments and effective decisions about the use and management of money from the young age which determines the child’s long-term financial security.

State governments are beginning to come up with initiatives to develop the

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It is alleged that there are 75,000 Nigerians studying in various in educational institutions in Ghana.

Just estimate the amount of money these 75,000 students would have saved the country in dollars if they were in Nigerian universities

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hat is Sterling Bank doing to support education sector?

The Bank’s focus on education is strategic. We are looking at all actors in the value chain. For instance, the Bank has set up an education desk to look at the total value chain of education, from suppliers of inputs to the end users. The Bank intends to use its expertise to contribute to the development of the sector through a variety of initiatives.

Statistics from EFInA shows that 1.9million people are borrowing for education needs, meaning that there is a need in this sector. The Bank intends to reduce the burden on parents occasioned by bulk payment of school fees through our school fees finance product. It provides convenience to parents and peace of mind that their children can stay in school while we finance their education.

We have also instituted scholarship opportunities for brilliant children that excel in competitions organised by the Bank. Just recently, we concluded a mathematics competition in collaboration with a school in Lagos. More than 1,000 children entered for this competition and top performers were beneficiaries of various cash awards.

The winner got N500, 000 scholarship support, the second N300, 000 scholarship support, and the third got N200, 000 scholarship support.

The scholarships were extended to the top 51 students: The student that came fourth got N150,000 while the fifth, sixth and seven positions got N125,000, N100,000, and N75,000 respectively.

The remaining 44 students got N50, 000 alongside books and other materials. We are doing all these to encourage healthy competition among students and at the end of the day develop the sector. I can assure you that by next year, the mathematics competition will go national.

To encourage students improve on innovation and critical thinking another competition is ongoing for students

education sector. For instance, we are aware that Lagos State government has introduced the Lagos EKO project. We have similar projects in other states. In what ways can the private sector support such initiatives?

The facts are there. We are the first bank in Nigeria to partner the Lagos EKO Project using our staff as volunteer teachers to teach different subjects, all of these are part of our corporate social responsibility to support education, to aid employment and bridge the estimated $1bn gap that exists in terms of funding education in Nigeria.

Apart from that, Sterling Bank has also helped to improve the look and feel of some schools and we are also supporting with books, writing materials, as well as textbooks. Our books ‘My Little Money Book’ and ‘Funds’, is our way of providing a learning/teaching guide on saving, loans and other financial concepts.

How would you describe the level of education in the country?

It is still not where it should be. Yes government is doing so much to develop the sector but we are not there yet.

That is why the private sector must come in and invest in the education sector if we really want our children to get quality education without having to pay so much for it. It is so bad that most well to do and not so well to do strive to send their children abroad to obtain what they see as quality education. Unfortunately, this has constituted a major drain on our foreign exchange earnings as a country. It is alleged that there are 75,000 Nigerians studying in various in educational institutions in Ghana. Just estimate the amount of money these 75,000 students would have saved the country in dollars if they were in Nigerian universities. Rolling back the years when I was an undergraduate studying International Relations, about 45 per cent of my classmates were foreigners from Equatorial Guinea, Niger Republic and even from France.

Such people came for exchange programmes to understand the concept of international relations in Nigeria.

Thus, beyond the capacity issues, the quality of education is very critical to make our people stay.

So what is the way out?

First and foremost, government must increase funding to the education sector and ensure that public schools are better equipped to compete fairly with the private institutions.

Most importantly, there is a need for urgent intervention in the education sector by private sector companies because government cannot do it alone.

This is why we have decided as a Bank to focus on the sector. Sterling Bank’s intervention in the sector will help to ameliorate some of the challenges the sector faces. Over the years, youth unemployment has remained one of the daunting challenges in Nigeria, as recent statistics show that over 25 million youths in the country are unemployed.

This abysmal statistic is linked to, among others, the issue of employability as even where jobs abound, the lack of competence to handle them arises. This problem can be attributed to the declining quality of education in the country.

All this has necessitated our foray into education. We realise that Nigeria will require an investment of about $1 billion yearly for about 55 to 56 years to transform the education sector. Our intervention in this sector will hopefully contribute to resolving the problem of unemployment. It will help Nigerians create their own businesses. BC

A16 32

Business Courage

Monday, February 23, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Companies & Markets

Skye Bank, Marine Platforms unite to boost energy sector

By Johnson Okanlawon

A

s part of its effort to boost local content in the nation’s oil and gas industry, Skye Bank Plc has increased the capability of one of its corporate customers, Marine Platforms Limited.

The bank funded the acquisition of a multi-purpose support marine vessel that provides offshore support services to the Oil and Gas companies.

Marine Platforms Limited is a frontline and the biggest indigenous service provider in the upstream sector of the oil and gas industry, providing

Oguntayo

wellbore clean out, subsea solutions and vessel chartering

services in Nigeria and across the continent.

Speaking at the unveiling and Vessel tour at the weekend, the Group Managing Director of the bank Timothy Oguntayo, said the bank was happy to support indigenous participation and local content in the nation’s oil and gas sector, particularly the upstream end.

He promised the bank’s continued partnership with and assistance to the company to enable it fulfill its vision and corporate objective of being an industry leader in the provision of support services to the oil & gas companies.

He explained that the bank would also avail the company of effective financial and other advisory services that will give it a competitive edge in the industry due to the technical and complex nature of the industry.

The Chief Executive Officer of Marine Platforms, Taofiq Adegbite, commended the bank for believing in the management by supporting their dream from inception, a factor he said has helped them to realize the company’s goals and dreams.

“Skye Bank has been helpful from day one; they have provided us with the financial

muscle needed to succeed in our line of business”, stressing that the company would continue to be proactive to stay relevant.

Adegbite listed some of the services rendered by the company to include subsea installations, subsea survey of flow lines and termination, well completions, vessel chartering services and other offshore support services in the upstream sector of the oil and gas industry.

The new ship named ‘African Inspiration’ is a brand new multi-purpose vessel that can perform a variety of functions and put to many uses. BC

Okonmah, others make Promasidor Quill Award panel list

By David Audu

P

romasidor Nigeria Limited, makers of Cowbell, Onga, Toptea and Loya and organisers of the prestigious Promasidor Quill awards Friday picked the Chairman of Lagos State Chapter of Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), Joseph Okonmah, as one of the five judges that will screen entries for this year’s edition of the coveted journalism awards.

Apart from Okonmah, Promasidor also said Ambassador Patrick Dele Cole (OFR) has been returned as Chairman of the Panel of Judges

for the 2015 edition of the awards.

Andrew Enahoro, the company’s Head of Legal and Public Relations, who made the disclosure in a statement, listed Reze Bonna, a trained Architect and celebrated photographer; Kadaria Ahmed, a veteran journalist/television personality; and Ray Echebiri, a British Chevening Scholar/ seasoned financial journalist as other judges serving on the Panel for this year’s Quill Awards..

Enahoro said their selection was based on high profile bothering on their wealth of experience and integrity.

He therefore expressed op-

Okonmah

timism that with the calibre of judges put in place, Promasidor is confident that the

ultimate goal of the awards of rewarding excellence in journalism profession in Nigeria will be achieved again this year.

“Promasidor Quill Awards is committed to setting the pace on rewarding journalists based on merit for their work and not a self-seeking approach to get accolades, but a professional platform of assessment, recognition and reward for outstanding journalistic work”.

There are seven Award categories available for potential contestants to apply for. The categories are: Brand advocate of the Year, CSR Report of the Year, Best Photo

Story of the Year, Best Report on Nutrition, Best Report on Children, Education Reporter of the Year, and Future Writer of the Year.

For this year, Enahoro said though entries opened January 29, 2015, competitors could submit any of their works published between May 1, 2014 and April 30, 2015 via: http://quillawards. promasidor-ng.com He said the organisers of the award have put together a panel of judges with vast experience and commitment to media excellence to ensure the standard of assessment is fair and thereby pick the best material to win. BC

Bi-Courtney trains staff to meet global standards

T

he Bi-Courtney Aviation Services Ltd., BASL, said on Friday that it had trained its staff to bring the Murtala Muhammed Airport Terminal Two, MMA2,up to international airport terminal standards.

Christophe Penninck, the Chief Executive Officer, CEO of BASL, said this during an event to appreciate its customers and stakeholders in Lagos.

The BASL is the operator of Terminal II of the airport.

Penninck said that the twoweek training was for all security personnel of the company.

He said that the training was conducted by the International Civil Aviation Organisation, ICAO-certified Aviation Security, AVSEC, with the support of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA. “Our commercial staff has also undergone International Air Transport Association’s, IATA’s, Airport Customer Ser-

vice training. This was also one of the things we promised to do last year.

“The IATA training is important for us to understand the demands of the airlines and to be in synch with the industry we’re operating in.’’

He said that the Ebola Virus Disease, EVD, outbreak was among some external factors that impacted on the company’s activities in 2014.

According to him, the WHO commended MMA2 for its cooperation in ensuring the screening of passengers and visitors from the entrance of the terminal to the final exit during the EVD outbreak.

Penninck said that MMA2 would soon inaugurate facilities that would enable self check-in by passengers and urged other airports to install a similar system in their terminals.

He explained that MMA2, Nigeria’s first and only pri-

vately-run terminal, was in the process of completing the implementation of the latest version of the Common User Passenger Processing System, CUPPS. He said that the IATA-compliant system would make it easier and more efficient to process passengers and increase the dwelling time in the terminal.

“We have also installed new

automatic gates, which, when operational, will ensure that only passengers with valid boarding pass can enter the secure zones.

“We also ordered five additional elevators and an escalator, all of which have already been delivered.

“The installation is ongoing and when this is completed, the car park will finally have two functioning lifts.’’

He said that the company had made massive investment in the development of infrastructure in the terminal which include software and hardware upgrades of its passenger processing equipment and the installation of 14 additional check-in counters.

He, however, said that the company would always explore opportunities to invest in new equipment. BC

Operators call for tourism friendly polices

S

ome tourism practitioners have urged the Federal Government to make policies that would help boost and promote the development of the Nigerian tourism sector.

They told News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, in Abuja that such friendly policies should not be overlooked.

Tourism practitioner, Mr Kehinde Alabi, told NAN that the country was blessed with

enormous tourism potentials that needed good policies to be harnessed and developed.

Alabi said the historical and cultural heritage of tourism in Nigeria could be traced to local communities, which needed good and deliberate policies to be developed. ``For adequate development of tourism in Nigeria, there is need for government to make deliberate policies favourable to

the local communities and the private sector.

Alabi said the provision of stable electricity, access to soft loans and good roads were also essential to the development of the sector.

On her part, Mrs Grace Sunday, Operator of a tourist site, “the Golden Gardens’’ in Garki, said inconsistency in government policies was a major setback to the sector.BC

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Business Courage

Monday, February 23, 2015

Global Commodities

Coffee prices slide as Brazilian rainfall worries recede

C

offee prices fell more than 8 per cent on the week as worries about a large shortfall in high-quality arabica beans receded thanks to continuing rains in Brazil.

The arabica market fell sharply amid thin volumes as many traders and investors were absent due to the US public holiday at the start of the week as well as the Carnival in Brazil.

The rains in the southeast of Brazil damped enthusiasm among the coffee bulls and prompted technical selling among hedge funds.

“This is the week where concerns about the Brazilian crop have taken a step back,” said Keith Flury, head of research at Volcafe, the coffee trading arm of ED & F Man. “People aren’t necessarily so worried that we’re going to run out of coffee.”

The financial investors “are no longer thinking that this market needs to explode like it did last year”, he added.

Arabica bean prices soared at the start of 2014 on extreme drought conditions in Brazil, leading to a sharp fall in output for that year.

Coffee growers and traders have been trying to ascertain the damage to the trees from the heat and dryness on this year’s production.

The ICE May arabica was trading at $1.5255 a pound, down 8.4 per cent on the week.

The market has lost a third of its value since last October when it hit $2.2910 a pound, a two-year-and-nine-month high.

Volcafe also released its quarterly coffee report on supply and demand and maintained its 49.5m 60kg bag estimate for Brazil in 2015. The number is at the higher end of estimates, ranging from 42m to 50m.

OIL Exch

Currency

Expire

Last

Trade Date/Time

Net Chg

Open

High

Low

NYM

USD

02/20

49.91

02/20 14:29

-0.82

51.24

51.85

49.91

NYM

USD

02/27

2.12

02/20 15:03

+0.13

1.99

2.14

1.99

IEU

USD

03/16

60.31

02/20 15:04

+0.10

60.20

61.15

59.82

IEU

USD

03/12

580.00

02/20 15:05

+11.75

576.25

586.25 573.50

TCE

JPY

02/25

56,990

02/21 10:02

-620

57,610

57,610 56,990

TCE

JPY

02/25

56,800

02/21 09:50

-660

56,860

56,860 56,800

NATURAL GAS NATURAL GAS CON1 Feb15

NYM

USD

02/25

2.95

02/20 15:04

+0.12

2.82

2.98

2.80

ELECTRICITY PJM ELECTRICITY NYMEX Oct12

USYF

USD

10/30

39.40

10/08 20:00

+0.00

0.00

0.00

0.00

CMX

USD

02/25

2.61

02/20 13:08

-0.03

2.63

2.63

2.60

SHF

CNY

03/16

42,240.00

02/17 01:59

+270.00

42,160.00 42,330.00 42,020.00

SHF

CNY

03/16

13,005.00

02/17 01:58

+5.00

12,990.00 13,030.00 12,945.00

CMX

USD

02/25

1,199.10

02/20 14:56

-8.00

1,206.50

1,213.10 1,199.10

TCE

JPY

02/24

4,604

02/21 09:53

-12

4,612

4,614

4,585

TCE

JPY

02/24

63

02/19 09:17

-2

63

63

63

TCE

JPY

02/24

4,426

02/21 07:52

-35

4,403

4,427

4,399

TCE

JPY

02/24

3,056

02/18 19:11

-44

3,056

3,056

3,056

CBT

USC

03/13

385.25

02/20 14:30

-4.5

389.0

389.5

383.5

MAT

EUR

01/05

155.75

12/05 12:27

1.25

154.5

155.75 154.0

CBT

USC

03/13

510.0

02/20 14:22

-17.5

526.5

531.5

CBT

USC

03/13

532.5

02/20 14:14

-11.25

543.25

547.25 532.0

MAT

EUR

01/12

188.25

12/05 12:29

2.0

186.25

188.75 185.25

CBT

USD

03/13

10.79

02/20 14:14

-0.01

10.80

10.86

CBT

USC

03/13

1000.0

02/20 14:29

-8.0

1006.75 1009.75 998.75

CBT

USC

03/13

31.48

02/20 14:29

-0.35

31.8

31.84

CBT

USD

03/13

347.10

02/20 14:14

-0.40

347.50

350.00 346.10

MAT

EUR

01/30

340.25

12/05 12:29

3.5

336.25

340.5

335.0

ICA

CAD

03/13

470.1

02/20 14:14

-3.4

474.1

474.1

469.0

MDX

MYR

02/13

2264.0

01/23 04:59

-8.0

2255.0

2270.0 2251.0

IUS

USC

02/27

14.41

02/20 12:59

-0.27

14.7

14.72

14.32

IUS

USC

04/08

24.75

02/20 12:59

0.25

24.75

24.75

24.75

IEU

USD

02/13

382.80

02/13 12:34

-0.60

382.20

383.80 378.40

TCE

JPY

01/30

29,800

12/25 20:35

+0

29,800

29,800 29,800

IUS

USC

03/19

148.5

02/20 13:24

-0.7

150.2

151.35 147.0

TGE

JPY

02/08

17,000

02/03 19:00

-170

16,170

17,000 16,170

BMF

USD

03/23

185.55

02/20 14:59

+0.05

185.50

185.65 184.05

COCOA COCOA CON1 Mar15

IUS

USD

03/16

3,016.00

02/20 06:02

-9.00

2,989.00

3,016.00 2,987.00

RUBBER RUBBER CON1 Feb15

TCE

JPY

02/23

221

02/20 02:40

+0

221

221

221

CITRUS FROZEN OJ CON1 Mar15

IUS

USC

03/11

132.05

02/20 13:53

-0.7

133.8

133.8

130.85

COTTON COTTON NO 2 CON1 Mar15

IUS

USC

03/09

64.67

02/20 14:18

0.23

64.4

64.74

63.97

LEAN HOGS LIVE HOGS CON1 Apr15

CME

USC

04/17

67.55

02/20 14:54

0.5

67.5

68.85

66.3

Commodity OIL LIGHT CRUDE CON1 Feb15 NO 2 HT OIL CON1 Feb15 BRENT CRUDE Mar15 GAS OIL APR1 Mar15 GASOLINE JAN1 Feb15 KEROSENE JAN1 Feb15

BASE METALS HG COPPER CON1 Feb15 SHME COPPER CON1 Mar15 SHME ALUMIN CON1 Mar15

For Colombia, a leading arabica exporter, it forecast 12.5m bags for the 2014-15 crop year, the highest since 2007-08.

The Swiss-based coffee traders also forecast a smaller global coffee deficit of 1.4m bags in 2015-16 compared with a deficit of 8.9m in 2014-15.

The recovery in Colombian production from its coffee leaf rust crisis has come at a time when other Latin American producers have also seen their output rebounding from recent lows due to the disease.

Mexico and Central America, as well as Peru are forecast to increase production, said analysts.

As supply shortage worries have receded, there have been some signs that higher prices are weighing on demand.

Smucker, the US food group, said last week that its US coffee sales volume fell 8 per cent in the third quarter and by 1 per cent in value after it raised its prices.

The company, which is one of the largest coffee retailers in the US with its Folgers and Dunkin’ Donuts brands, increased its retail prices in the middle of last year, prompting customers to shift to cheaper private-label brands. BC

A17 33

PRECIOUS METALS 100 OZ GOLD MAR4 Feb15 GOLD CON1 Feb15 SILVER CON1 Feb15 PLATINUM CON1 Feb15 PALLADIUM CON1 Feb15 CORN/MAIZE CORN CON1 Mar15 MAIZE EUR NOV Jan15 WHEAT WHEAT CON1 Mar15 WHEAT CON1 Mar15 MATIF MILLING WH Jan15 RICE ROUGH RICE CON1 Mar15 SOYBEANS SOYBEANS CON1 Mar15 SOYBEAN OIL CON1 Mar15 SOY MEAL CON1 Mar15 RAPSEED RAPESEED DEM CON Jan15 CANOLA CON1 Mar15

509.5

10.70

31.26

PALM OIL Feb15 SUGAR SUGAR 11 CON1 Feb15 SUGAR 16 CON1 Apr15 SUGAR NO5 OCT9 Feb15 RAW SUGAR CON1 Jan15

Robusta coffee

Cameroon robusta coffee exports rise to 1,208 tonnes by end-January

C

ameroon’s robusta coffee exports more than doubled to 1,208 tonnes by end-January since the season opened on Dec. 1 from 596 tonnes in the same period a year earlier, the National Cocoa and Coffee Board ,NCCB said.

Cameroon is one of the few African countries that grows both robusta and arabica coffee but some of its production is smuggled to neighbouring Nigeria where farmers receive a higher price.

Data showed that Olam Cam, the local

unit of Singapore’s Olam International was the sole exporter of robusta in January, shipping a total of 510 tonnes of beans.

The Central African nation exported 698 tonnes of robusta the previous month and 360 tonnes in January 2014.

No arabica coffee was shipped in January, according to the data, meaning total exports remained at 249 tonnes since the 2014/15 arabica season opened on October, 1. BC

COFFEE COFFEE C CON1 Mar15 ARABICA COFFEE C Feb13 I COFFEE MAR0 Mar15

A18 34

Business Courage

Monday, February 23, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Behind d Wheels This page is open to sponsorship

2016 Honda Pilot SUV:

Modern, refined and family-friendly utility new Pilot

By Adejuwon Osunnuyi

T

he all-new 2016 Honda Pilot SUV made its global premiere recently at the 2015 Chicago Auto Show. Reengineered and redesigned in America, the 2016 Honda Pilot delivers more family-friendly utility, more advance technology and more premium attributes and amenities than ever before, boasting class-leading safety features, fuel efficiency and confident driving dynamics in a thoroughly modern, stylish and sophisticated new package.

The all-new 2016 Pilot, launching at Honda dealerships nationwide this summer, is the third generation of Honda’s three-row midsize SUV to be designed, developed and manufactured in America.

Reinforcing 2015 as the “Year of Honda,” Pilot further strengthens Honda’s SUV/CUV triple threat by joining the exceptionally well received 2015 CR-V (2015 Motor Trend SUV of the Year) and greatly anticipated new 2016 HR-V. “With looks that command attention and the powerful presence of true functionality, the 2016 Pilot sets a new benchmark in the midsize SUV class with an unmatched combination of sophistication and utility,” said Jeff Conrad, Honda Division senior vice president and general manager. “This means the all-new Pilot will comfort, entertain and assist active families in all aspects of their lives, whether it’s an evening out for two, a road trip adventure for all or just the chores of everyday life.”

Premium Style and Features The all-new design of the

2016 Pilot sports a modern, sleek, yet commanding and muscular form incorporating new premium features, including optional brighter and more efficient LED projector headlights with auto high beam technology, available signature LED daytime running lights and taillights, plus available 20-inch wheels and a first-ever panoramic roof option. The premium quality of the new Pilot carries over to the interior, where designers have applied high-quality, soft- touch materials throughout the cabin and added thoughtful details such as LED map lighting.

Additional high-end amenities include available heated and ventilated front seats, a heated steering wheel and heated second-row seats. For the first time, upper-trim Pilot models will have available two second-row captain’s chairs, providing for easy walk through between the second and third rows, in addition to the standard second-row three-person 60/40 split seat for 8-passenger seating capacity.

Advanced Technology The new Pilot delivers the connectivity and power access that the modern family demands, including up to five USB ports, four that provide better recharging with 2.5amp output, to charge iPads or smartphones while in use. Additional ports and plugs include an auxiliary jack for nearly any audio player, an HDMI port for a gaming console, two headphone jacks, two 12-volt power outlets and a 115-volt outlet to power just about anything.

The new Pilot also incorporates Honda’s latest thinking for advanced, family-friendly tech-

nology, including an upsized 8-inch capacitive touchscreen Display Audio telematics interface powered by a new Androidbased operating system and more powerful processor, along with an available all-new embedded Honda Satellite-Linked Navigation System™. The new navigation system features improved graphics and new capabilities, including 3D renderings of terrain, buildings and road signs, improved lane guidance, live search function, 911 emergency services and more.

The Pilot’s Display Audio system enables simplified smartphone connectivity making for easier access to all the features and connectivity options of the HondaLink™ connected-car system. A 9-inch rear entertainment system with DVD and

new Blu-Ray disc™ capability is available.

Family-Friendly Utility The new Pilot builds on its reputation for best-in-class interior space, versatility and utility with 3.5 inches of added overall vehicle length, enabling a larger cargo area that can hold an 82-quart cooler without compromising third-row seating capability, a segmentexclusive feature. Third-row entry and exit is made even easier and more intuitive courtesy of an available one-touch walk-in second-row seat that slides and tilts to its forward-most position at the touch of a button.

As compared with the current Pilot, the width of the lower portion of the third-row entryway has been increased by 2.5 inch-

es with 1-inch lower step-over height.

The Pilot’s new center console features a cavernous storage compartment capable of accommodating items as large as a full-size iPad or large purse.

And with its seamless cover in the closed position, the console provides a convenient, non-slip surface for items that the driver or front passenger may need close at hand.

Earth Dreams Technology™ Powertrain The 2016 Pilot delivers more refined, powerful and fuel-efficient performance than ever before courtesy of its new 3.5-liter, direct-injected i-VTEC® V-6 engine with Variable Cylinder Management™ (VCM™) cylinder deactivation technology. For

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Business Courage

Monday, February 23, 2015

A19 35

Behind d Wheels This page is open to sponsorship

Autocare How to give your old car new life

T

he old adage “a clean car runs better” may hide a profound truth. It may be that people who take the trouble to keep their car clean also take the trouble to maintain it. Or it could be that it’s easier to spot car problems if you’re looking at a clean and orderly area. In either case, making an older car look like new can pay dividends by maintaining the car’s value and increasing personal satisfaction.

It needn’t cost a lot to transform shabby into chic. As with most other do-it-yourself projects, the more elbow grease you are willing to invest, the less you’ll need to pay someone else.

Here are some tips to help you go about it.

improved fuel efficiency, the Pilot will include available Idle Stop technology that shuts off the engine when the vehicle is stopped, instantly and smoothly restarting the engine when the driver lifts their foot off the brake pedal.

The new engine is mated to one of two advanced new transmissions – a Pilot-first 6-speed automatic transmission, or on upper trims, a Honda-first 9-speed automatic transmission – both delivering notably refined, responsive and fuel-efficient performance. The new Pilot will be available in front-wheel and allwheel-drive configurations and will feature a completely new Honda all-wheel-drive system that delivers even more confident, efficient and dynamic allweather performance.

The new Pilot is almost 300 pounds lighter than the outgoing model; its more rigid, tightly sealed yet lighter body in combination with new, efficient powertrains, a new all-wheel-drive system and class-leading aerodynamics result in class-leading dynamic performance and fuel efficiency along with a new level of cabin quietness befitting its status as a premium family SUV. Advanced Safety Performance In keeping with Honda’s commitment to safety, the new Pilot will feature the most comprehensive set of advanced safety and driver-assistive technologies ever offered on a Honda vehicle. Together these technologies make up Honda Sensing™, a suite of technologies designed to expand the driver’s situational awareness while sensing and responding to potential road hazards,

including other vehicles, road obstacles and even pedestrians, mitigating the possibility or severity of a collision. It includes Honda’s popular LaneWatch™ display, Blind Spot Indicators, a standard Multi-Angle Rear View Camera, and available Collision Mitigation Braking System™ (CMBS), Lane Departure Warning (LDW), Forward Collision Warning (FCW), Lane Keeping Assist System (LKAS), Rear Cross Traffic Monitor, Adaptive Cruise Control and a Hondafirst Road Departure Mitigation (RDM) system.

The new Pilot is expected to deliver the highest safety ratings in its class and targets a 5-Star Overall Vehicle Score from the National Highway and Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and a TOP SAFETY PICK+ rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), including a GOOD rating in all crash modes. The new Pilot incorporates Honda’s next-generation Advanced Compatibility Engineering™ (ACE™) body structure, designed to more efficiently absorb and disperse the energy from a frontal collision, along with a new ultra-high-strength door ring designed to help better protect occupants. The 2016 Pilot also incorporates an allnew 3-bone platform while also utilizing high and ultra-high strength body materials, which together reduce noise, vibration and harness (NVH), improve handling, increase rigidity and reduce weight.

Standard safety and driv-

er-assistive features include four-channel anti-lock brakes (ABS) with Brake Assist and Hill Start Assist; Vehicle Stability Assist™ (VSA®) with Traction Control; an Expanded View Driver’s Mirror; dual-stage, multiple-threshold front airbags, driver and front passenger SmartVent™ side airbags and side-curtain airbags for all outboard seating positions; and a new Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) with real-time display of individual tire pressures.

All-American Honda Pilot All three generations of the Honda Pilot have been designed and developed in America by Honda R&D Americas, Inc. at its Los Angeles design studio and Raymond, Ohio, vehicle development center. The Pilot and its engine are manufactured at Honda’s Lincoln, Alabama auto plant. In 2014, nearly 98 percent of all Honda-brand vehicles were produced in North America.

The Pilot joins the Honda CR-V – 2015 Motor Trend SUV of the Year and America’s bestselling SUV for eight of the past 11 years – the popular Odyssey minivan and the dynamic new HR-V crossover, launching this spring, in Honda’s growing lineup of innovative light truck offerings. An all-new Honda Ridgeline pickup will join the Honda lineup within the next two years. All Honda light truck models are produced in North America using domestic and globally sourced parts. BC

Outside appearances The first step to getting the body looking good is to give it a thorough cleaning with car-wash soap and water. Once it’s completely dry, look over the paint surface and assess any damage you see. Note any scratches, stone chips, dings, and dents in the sheet metal.

You can touch up small scratches and chips with touchup paint, available for a few dollars at your car dealership and at some auto-parts stores. Make sure you get an exact color match. Touch-up paint usually comes in a small bottle with an applicator brush in the lid. Otherwise, use a small, pointed artist’s brush and cover the scratch by going over it in tiny dabs. Let this paint dry for at least a day or two before polishing the car.

To remove or minimize the many fine surface scratches most cars accumulate, you can have the car professionally buffed at a body shop or car wash. This buffing will take out minor scratches and greatly improve the car’s overall appearance. But for a buff and touch-up, you can expect to spend about $200.

If you want to do the job yourself, consider polishing the car by hand if you don’t have experience using an electric buffer. Old T-shirts make good polishing cloths. If you still want to use an electric buffer, you can borrow, rent, or even buy one. Good ones start at about $40. If you don’t know what you’re doing, though, it’s easy to mark or even burn through the paint with a buffer.

Most cars made in the past 8 to 10 years have a “clearcoat” paint finish. That means a thin color layer is coated with a thicker layer of a clear, lacquerlike coating. Whether you are polishing with a buffer or by hand, make sure the polish you use is safe for clearcoat finishes if that’s what’s on the car. You shouldn’t use the old-fashioned, abrasive polishing compounds on them.

Dent removal Minor dents and dings in body panels can be very unsightly, but getting them fixed at a body shop can be costly. One viable alternative is so-called paintless dent removal. This type of service, which is sometimes franchised under names such as Dent Doctor and DentPro, uses special tools to massage out small dents from the inside. You can usually find a dent fixer by talking to a local mechanic or body shop, or using the Yellow Pages. Figure on paying about $50 to make a golf-ball-sized dent disappear.

The quality of these repairs is very much dependent on the skill of the operator. Before engaging the dent-removal artist, get a recommendation from a satisfied customer or other experienced person.

Fixing window glass It’s very common for a windshield to pick up “star” or “bull’s-eye” damage from a flying stone. Sometimes those chips are merely cosmetic annoyances, but in other cases, if left unaddressed, such damage may grow worse. As with paintless dent repair, there is a cottage industry in auto-glass repair.

A glass repairer uses a suction-cup device, tiny drills, and special sealers to fill and fix a damaged area. This can shrink the blemish from pea size to pinhead size and stop the damage from spreading. Again, figure $50 to treat a small glass ding. Of course, if the damage is more than minor, this sort of repair won’t work and you’ll need a new windshield or side window.

To be continued next week

A20 36

Business Courage

Monday, February 23, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

REGULATORS

CBN orders exporters to repatriate dollar earnings within 90 days

T

he Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, has said exporters who fail to repatriate their earnings into their domiciliary accounts within the stipulated period will be barred from the foreign exchange market.

In a circular issued on Thursday and signed by the Director, Trade and Exchange Department, Olakanmi Gbadamosi, the CBN asked all authorised dealers to ensure strict compliance, citing the provisions of Paragraph (4) Memorandum (11) of the Foreign Exchange Manual in re-

spect of the repatriation of export proceeds.

It stated, “Proceeds of oil and non-oil exports are to be repatriated into the export proceeds domiciliary accounts of their respective exporters’ accounts within 90 days for oil exports and 180 days for non-oil exports, failing which the collecting banks will be liable to a fine of 10 per cent of the FOB value of the transaction, including other appropriate penalties as provided in the BOFIA Act of 1991, as amended.

“Where an exporter fails to

repatriate the proceeds into the domiciliary account within the stipulated period, the exporter will be barred from participating in all the segments of the foreign exchange market in Nigeria.

This directive analysts say is a move to eliminate loopholes and boost foreign exchange supply, currency. On Thursday, the naira suffered sharp depreciation against the dollar in the parallel market and the interbank market in reaction to the closure of the official foreign exchange market by the CBN.

At the parallel market, the naira depreciated by N5 as the parallel market exchange rate rose to N218 per dollar from N213 on Wednesday.

At the interbank foreign exchange market, the naira depreciated by N2.51 as the interbank exchange rate rose to N199.1 per dollar from N196.59 on Wednesday.

The sharp depreciation of the naira in both markets was attributed to expectation of further depreciation of the naira following the closure of official foreign exchange market. BC

Emefiele

SMEDAN, Microfinance banks to discuss method for MSME fund disbursement

T

he South-West Coordinator, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria, SMEDAN, Segun Ogundeji, has said the method of disbursement for the Federal Government’s N220bn intervention fund may be released in March.

NAN recalls that the SME Development Fund was launched by President Goodluck Jonathan in 2014 as part of efforts to enhance the activities of SMEs and their contribution to the economy.

Ogundeji told the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, on Friday in Lagos that his op-

Aganga

NCRIB urges compulsory insurance for markets, public buildings

T

he Nigerian Council of Registered Insurance Brokers, NCRIB, has advised business men especially market men and women to take seriously the issue of insurance by embracing compulsory insurance to mitigate un-necessary loss in the event of fire outbreak.

President of the NCRIB Oladapo Shoderu who made the appeal at the council’s members evening hosted by Industrial and General Insurance ,IGI Plc, noted that the incessant outbreak of fires at such places coupled with lack of mitigation through insurance cover had continued to deplete the nation’s wealth.

“Permit me to reiterate the call for compulsory insurance of all Nigerian markets and public edifices as enshrined in the legal provision under Insurance Act 2003 ,section 64 and 65, of insurance of public buildings.

“We use this medium to again call on government to

embark on aggressive asset protection through public enlightenment about risk prevention and control in major markets in the country.

He urged governments to embark on massive aggressive asset protection through public enlightenment on risk prevention and control in markets across the country.

Shoderu urged members to ensure discipline in the conduct of their business adding that any member who violated the law would receive appropriate punishment.

“I must stress that it will be most difficult for me or the Governing Board to henceforth defend any member who violates the law or directive on insurance broking operation.”

He said it was regrettable that the Council had continued to receive an avalanche of complaints about some ethical brokers losing businesses to those who continually cut rates or quote uneconomic rates. BC

“This is why we advise small business operators to endeavour to formalise their businesses by joining associations so that they can be taken more seriously,’’ he said.

Some of the SME operators in Lagos said that in spite of the laudable aims of Federal Government, bureaucratic bottlenecks had made it difficult for them to access the funds.

Meanwhile, the National Council on SMEs, headed by Vice-President Namadi Sambo, recently allayed the fears of the operators by approving the interest rate on the funds to be at 9 per cent. BC

timism followed the Minister of Trade and Investment, Olusegun Aganga’s meeting with operators of Microfinance Banks.

The meeting scheduled for March will dwell on the disbursement modalities for N220bn to Small and Medium Enterprises, SME. According to him, the policy meeting in collaboration with SMEDAN would be in line with the decision of the last forum the ministry had with the agency.

“The minister of trade and investment will be meeting with microfinance banks in Lagos by March over the dis-

bursement of the SME loans.

“We are not unaware that the Federal Government has just softened the conditions for the disbursement of the loans but most of the operators have not started receiving them.

“When the minister comes, he will discuss with the banks and listen to their complaints and other issues hindering them from getting easy access to the loans.

“Also, I am glad to tell you that he might be coming with some part of the loan, depending on the agreement with the Central Bank of Nigeria, to disburse to some recognised cooperative associations.

W

World Bank, others to host maiden Africa Best Practices Forum

orld Bank,West African Development Bank ,BOAD and Ecobank International have announced plans to organise the maiden Africa Best Practices Forum to improve business framework and environment in the continent.

The banks in a joint statement said Lomé, the capital of Togo would host the forum from Feb. 26 and 27.

It said the meeting was intended to be for exchange of business ideas and platform for African and international experts, politicians, private sector executives and stakeholders to share experiences on reforms, growth and employment.

“This forum will be an arena for discussions among public and private sector decision-makers in Africa.

“It will deepen a dialogue on the dissemination of best practices, one that is more important now than ever before,” it quoted Didier Acouetey, founder of the Ecobank recruitment agency, AfricSearch as saying.

According to the statement, about 200 people, including Cheikh Hadjibou Soumaré, President of the WAEMU Commission and Christian Adovelande, President of BOAD are expected to attend the forum.

Also Hervé Assah, World Bank representative in Togo, Alioune Sall, Executive Director of the think tank African Futures Institute and Cody Lee, Director of the Singapore Business Federation are to attend.

The rest are Felix Bikpo, Chief Executive Officer of African Guarantee Fund, JeanLouis Ekra, President of Afreximbank, Amadou Kane, former Finance Minister of Senegal and Momar Nguer, Africa Director of Total Supply & Marketing.

The statement said the forum was also expecting delegations from Morocco, Rwanda and Singapore.

It said the issues to be ad-

dressed during included legal and administrative reform, government modernisation and creation of an environment favourable to private sector development and integration of multilateral instruments.

It added that discussions on innovative reforms, tried and tested models from around the world would be analysed at the forum.

The forum, it said would also discuss new financing methods such as Public, Private, Partnership, PPP, financial markets and private equity.

“Because the level of investment depends on reforms undertaken by African states, there is an urgent need to accelerate these reforms to promote social and economic change, with the private sector acting as a lever,’’ said Arsène Johnson, the forum sponsor. BC

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Business Courage

Monday, February 23, 2015

A21 37

The Stock Market last week EQUITIES turnover of 2.083 billion shares worth N22.467 billion in 20,805 deals were traded last week by investors on the floor of The Exchange in contrast to a total of 1.950 billion shares valued at N27.836 billion that exchanged hands the previous week in 19,337 deals.

The Financial Services Industry (measured by volume) led the activity chart with 1.645 billion shares valued at N10.726 billion traded in 12,348 deals; thus contributing 78.98 per cent and 47.74 per cent to the total equity turnover volume and value respectively. The ICT Industry followed with a turnover of 148.155 million shares worth N609.070 million in 66 deals. The third place was occupied by the Conglomerates Industry with 122.735 million shares worth N1.013 billion in 1,305 deals.

A

Trading in the Top Three Equities namelyAccess Bank Plc, United Bank for Africa Plc and Guaranty Trust Bank Plc (measured by volume) accounted for 749.043 million shares worth N6.637 billion in 4,558 deals, contributing 35.96 per cent and 29.54 per cent to the total equity turnover volume and value respectively.

ETPs Also traded during the week were a total of 97,786 units of Exchange Traded Products (ETPs) valued at N2.074 million executed in 35 deals compared with a total of 112,499 units valued at N1.698 million transacted last week in 36 deals.

RETAIL BONDS Similarly, a total of 982 units of FGN bonds valued at N982,494.07 were executed in 5 deals. There was no ac-

tivity recorded in debt board in the previous week.

INDEX MOVEMENT The NSE All-Share Index and Market Capitalization appreciated by 6.52 per cent to close on Friday at 29,383.93 and N 9.804 trillion. Similarly, all indices finished higher during the week with exception of the NSE Insurance Index that declined by 0.58 per cent, while NSE ASeM Index closed flat.

SUMMARY OF PRICE CHANGES Forty equities appreciated in price during the week, higher than 11 equities of the preceding week. Twenty-six equities depreciated in price, lower than 53 equities of the preceding week, while one hundred and thirty (130) equities remained unchanged lower than 132 equities recorded in the preceding week. BC

Rice farmers laud FG’s support for dry season farming

T

he Chairman, Rice sellers/farmers Association in Gombe, Alhaji Babankaya Sarkin-Shinkafa, on Friday commended the Federal Government for encouraging dry season farming through the provision of farm inputs to rice farmers.

Sarkin-shinkafa gave the commendation in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Gombe.

He said that the Federal Government support to rice farmers has boosted their market activities compared to

the previous years.

The chairman noted that there was shortage of local rice in the previous years, saying, “since 2014, we now have sufficient rice in the market.”

He said the government has supported the farmers with improved variety of seeds, which could be cultivated in dry and rainy season, as well as fertiliser.

“Prior to the time we received the support, we only cultivate rice once in a year, but now we cultivate twice.

“People come from the

neighbouring states of Borno and Kogi to buy our rice every week,” he said.

He further identified insecurity as one of the major challenges that hinder rice market in the state.

According to him, people no longer come out from villages to buy rice because of the fear of unknown.

He appealed to the Federal Government not to relent in its support for rice farmers by providing necessary machines for rice millers to enable them produce quality rice. BC

Market Indicators for Week Ended 20-02-15 All-Share Index 9,804,355, Basis Points Market Capitalization N 15,190,790,800,373.72 Stock Updates GAINERS COMPANY

OPENING PRICE

CLOSING PRICE

CHANGE

ASHAKACEM

17.22

18.98

10.22

PRESCO

29.40

32.38

10.14

MAYBAKER

1.41

1.55

9.93

DANGFLOUR

3.16

3.47

9.81

UBA

3.15

3.41

8.25

UPL

4.00

4.20

5.00

OKOMUOIL

33.89

35.58

4.99

VITAFOAM

3.42

3.59

4.97

FBNH

7.10

7.45

4.93

30.00

31.48

4.93

FLOURMILL

LOSERS COMPANY

OPENING PRICE

CADBURY

42.98

CLOSING PRICE 38.80

CHANGE -9.73

TRANSCORP

2.66

2.45

-7.89

CHAMPION

5.35

5.00

-6.54

MANSARD

2.96

2.82

-4.73

UNILEVER

-4.24

34.00

32.56

HONYFLOUR

2.96

2.90

-2.03

STERLNBANK

2.25

2.21

-1.78

NAHCO

4.75

4.70

-1.05

FIDELITYBK

1.20

1.19

-0.83

UBCAP

1.33

1.32

-0.75

Inter-Bank Rates TENOR

RATE%(PREV) 19-Feb-2015

RATE%(CURR) 20-Feb-2015

CALL

10.5000 - 10.5000%

10.5000 - 10.5000%

OBB

10.5000 - 12.0000%

10.2500 - 10.5000%

Primary Market Auction TENOR

AMOUNT (N’mn)

RATE (%) 9.95

DATE

91-Day

21538.34

2-Feb-15

182-Day

33783.25

10.1

16-Feb-15

364-Day

59081.14

10.35

16-Feb-15

A22 38

Business Courage

Monday, February 23, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Fidelity Bank: regulatory tools drag stock performance

By Johnson Okanlawon

F

idelity Bank’s performance in 2014 was less than impressive, as the bank looked to find its stride by following a new strategic direction. Top and bottom line performances dragged as income generation was severely hampered by the restrictive regulatory environment.

By nine months ended September 30, the bank recorded a year-on- earnings after tax growth, which represented its first year-on-year growth in four preceding periods. But merged with its exposure to oil and gas, general commerce and manufacturing, it is not shocking that the bank currently stands as one of the most sold-off during the massive sell-down seen on banking stocks.

With regards to oil and gas sector, the bank’s loan book has a 17.5 per cent exposure.

All risk asset creation in this segment is made to established players and hedging against falling oil prices is a mandatory covenant in loan agreements. Also, the bank’s risk management framework for lending to this segment of the economy includes a very low base for oil prices, which might be slightly pressured at persistently falling prices.

According to Meristem Securities Limited, an investment firm, the bank exposure to high risk sectors stood at 65.9 per cent. Exposure to general commerce was 7.9 per cent, manufacturing, 30.7 per cent, oil and gas 17.9 per cent and power 3.53 per cent. The cost of risk, an asset quality metric which measures the proportion of the bank loan that has been lost due to bad/ non-performing loans, stood at 0.5 per cent.

The bank is one of the best capitalized in the industry with a Capital Adequacy Ratio, CAR, of 22.5 per cent under Basel II, and as such may not be pressed to raise funds to plug any gaps.

“In our opinion, the bank has an extremely cogent plan for slow and measured growth in areas of competence which may lead to the generation of significant shareholder value in the medium-to-long term.

Incorporating all our expectations for the bank, both positive and negative, we arrived

at a 2015 target price of N1.93 per share.

Nine months performance Its nine month pretax profit fell two per cent to N13.4bn, from 13.7bn recorded in the same period of 2013, while revenue at the mid-tier bank however rose 5.7 per cent to N96.02bn during the nine months. The bank recorded N90.3bn in the corresponding period of 2013.

Six months performance The bank announced profit before tax of N9.43bn for the first half of the year ended June 30, 2014, a growth of 12 per cent over N4.45bn recorded in the same period of 2013.

Gross earnings rose one per cent, from N62.9bn recorded in six months of 2013 to N63.3bn, while net interest income was up 32 per cent to N24.8bn in the review period, compared to N18.7bn recorded in half year of 2013 driven by a steady growth in the loan book and re-pricing of deposits and risk assets.

The bank’s cost to income ratio increased from 68 per cent in the half year of 2013 to 73 per cent in 2014; average cost of customer deposits improved from 7.7 per cent in 2013 to 6.4 per cent in 2014, while average yield on earning assets improved from 12.3 per cent in 2013 to 14.0 per cent in 2014.

First quarter performance The tier II bank has not

Nnamdi Okonkwo, Fidelity Bank CEO

been able to weather the regulatory headwind besetting most financial institution in Nigeria as both top and bottom line performance were unimpressive.

For the first quarter ended March 31, 2014, the bank’s gross earnings dropped 1.52 per cent year-on-year to N30.9bn, from N31.4bn recorded in the same period of 2013. Its profit before tax for the three months period through March 2014 also dropped 25.08 per cent to

N4.45bn, from N5.94bn in the first quarter of 2013.

Earnings per share also declined as the unimpressive top and bottom line performance affected returns to shareholder as return on average equity dipped to 2.26 per cent in the first quarter, from 2.85 per cent in the corresponding period of 2013. In addition, the return on average assets slid to 0.363 per cent from 0.502 per cent in 1Q14. Net margin, a measure of profitability and efficiency tumbled to 12.21

per cent in the review period, as against 15.1 per cent recorded in 2013.

Interest incomes were up 26.63 percent year-on-year to N26.3bn in the review period, from N20.7bn recorded in the same period of 2013, while interest expense rose 5.92 per cent to N13.4bn in the review period. The 44.0 per cent drop in income tax in the first quarter couldn’t help profit after tax as it plummeted 20.42 per cent year-on-year to N3.78bn, from N4.75bn in 2013.

The ability of the bank to able to minimize interest expense help spike net interest income by 95.94 per cent year-on-year to N12.9bn in the first quarter, compared to N6.58bn it stood in the first quarter of 2013.

Outlook Looking ahead, the bank’s performance in the third quarter of 2014 will set the ground for a better 2015, as the bank is on course to record a relatively good 2014 financial year result, which will be magnified primarily due to the comparatively low base.

We expect that this might act to drive up prices, provided market conditions normalize, and the bank’s numbers stay strong in the face of persistent regulatory reforms, according to the investment firm. BC

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Business Courage

Monday, February 23, 2015

A23 39

STOCKWATCH Stock Exchange weekly equities summary as at Friday, Feb 20, 2015 SECURITY

PRICE (=N=)

AGRICULTURE/AGRO-ALLIED Crop Production FTN COCOA PROCESSORS PLC 0.50 OKOMU OIL PALM PLC. 35.58 PRESCO PLC 32.38 Fishing/Hunting/Trapping ELLAH LAKES PLC. 4.26 Livestock/Animal Specialties LIVESTOCK FEEDS PLC. 2.13 CONGLOMERATES Diversified Industries A.G. LEVENTIS NIGERIA PLC. 1.14 CHELLARAMS PLC. 3.95 JOHN HOLT PLC. 0.96 SCOA NIG PLC 4.44 TRANSNATIONAL CORP. OF NIG.PLC 2.45 U A C N PLC. 34.00 CONSTRUCTION/REAL ESTATE Building Construction ARBICO PLC. 5.30 CAPPA & D’ALBERTO PLC. NT Building Structure/Completion/Other COSTAIN (W A) PLC. 0.76 G CAPPA PLC 14.46 Non--Building/Heavy Construction JULIUS BERGER NIG. PLC. 38.08 ROADS NIG PLC. 6.29 Real Estate Development PINNACLE POINT GROUP PLC NT UACN PROPERTY DEV 9.85 Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) SKYE SHELTER FUND PLC 100.00 UNION HOMES REAL ESTATE INV 45.22 UPDC REAL ESTATE INVEST TRUST 10.00 CONSUMER GOODS Automobiles/Auto Parts DN TYRE & RUBBER PLC 0.50 Beverages--Brewers/Distillers CHAMPION BREW. PLC. 5.00 GOLDEN GUINEA BREW. PLC. 0.93 GUINNESS NIG PLC 123.28 INTERNATIONAL BREWERIES PLC. 18.00 JOS INT. BREWERIES PLC. 2.02 NIGERIAN BREW. PLC. 134.70 PREMIER BREWERIES PLC 3.61 Beverages--Non-Alcoholic 7-UP BOTTLING COMP. PLC. 156.98 Food Products BIG TREAT PLC NT DANGOTE FLOUR MILLS PLC 3.47 DANGOTE SUGAR REFINERY PLC 6.19 FLOUR MILLS NIG. PLC. 31.48 HONEYWELL FLOUR MILL PLC 2.90 MULTI-TREX INTEGRATED FOODS PLC 0.50 N NIG. FLOUR MILLS PLC. 18.05 NATIONAL SALT CO. NIG. PLC 6.85 P S MANDRIDES & CO PLC. 5.35 U T C NIG. PLC. 0.50 UNION DICON SALT PLC. 13.11 Food Products--Diversified CADBURY NIGERIA PLC. 38.80 NESTLE NIGERIA PLC. 820.00 Household Durables BETA GLASS CO PLC. NT NIGERIAN ENAMELWARE PLC. 31.82 VITAFOAM NIG PLC. 3.59 VONO PRODUCTS PLC. 0.97 Personal/Household Products P Z CUSSONS NIGERIA PLC. 27.30 UNILEVER NIGERIA PLC. 32.55 Textiles/Apparel UNITED NIG. TEXTILES PLC. NT FINANCIAL SERVICES Banking ACCESS BANK PLC. 5.60 DIAMOND BANK PLC 3.82 ECOBANK TRANSNATIONAL INC. 16.00 FIDELITY BANK PLC 1.19 FIRST CITY MONUMENT BANK PLC. NT GUARANTY TRUST BANK PLC. 21.78 INTERCONTINENTAL BANK 13.50 SKYE BANK PLC 2.01 STERLING BANK PLC. 2.21 U B A PLC 3.41 UNION BANK NIG.PLC. 8.50 UNITY BANK PLC 0.50 WEMA BANK PLC. 0.98 ZENITH BANK PLC 17.37 Insurance Carriers, Brokers & Services AFRICAN ALLIANCE INS. COY. PLC 0.50 AIICO INSURANCE PLC. 0.74 CONFIDENCE INSURANCE PLC NT CONSOLIDATED HALLMARK INS. PLC 0.50 CONTINENTAL REINSURANCE PLC 0.86 CORNERSTONE INS. COY. PLC. 0.50 CUSTODIAN AND ALLIED INS. PLC NT EQUITY ASSURANCE PLC. 0.50 GOLDLINK INSURANCE PLC 0.53 GREAT NIGERIAN INSURANCE PLC 0.50 GUINEA INSURANCE PLC. 0.50 INTERCONTINENTAL WAPIC INS. PLC NT INTERNATIONAL ENERGY INS. PLC 0.50 INVESTMENT AND ALLIED ARN. NT LASACO ASSURANCE PLC. 0.50 LAW UNION AND ROCK INS. PLC. 0.50 LINKAGE ASSURANCE PLC 0.50 MANSARD INSURANCE PLC 2.82 MUTUAL BENEFITS ASSURANCE PLC. 0.50 N.E.M INSURANCE CO (NIG) PLC. 0.60 NIGER INSURANCE CO. PLC. 0.50 OASIS INSURANCE PLC NT PRESTIGE ASSURANCE CO. PLC. 0.50 REGENCY ALLIANCE INS. COY PLC 0.50 SOVEREIGN TRUST INSURANCE PLC 0.50 STANDARD TRUSTASSURANCE PLC 0.50 STANDARD ALLIANCE INS. PLC. 0.50 UNIC INSURANCE PLC. 0.50 UNITY KAPITAL ASSURANCE PLC 0.50 UNIVERSAL INS. COMPANY PLC 0.50 WAPIC INSURANCE PLC 0.50 Micro Finance Banks FORTIS MICROFINANCE BANK PLC 5.42 NPF MICROFINANCE BANK PLC 0.85 Mortgage Carriers, Brokers &Services ABBEY MORTGAGE BANK PLC 1.30 ASO SAVINGS AND LOANS PLC 0.50 INFINITY TRUST MORTGAGE BANK OLC 1.45 RESORT SAVINGS & LOANS PLC 0.50 UNION HOMES SAVINGS&LOANS PLC 0.5 Other Financial Institutions AFRICA PRUDENTIAL REGISTRARS 2.66 CUSTODIAN AND ALLIED INS. PLC 3.90 CRUSADER ( NIG) PLC. NT DEAP CAPITAL MGT & TRUST PLC 0.70 FBN HOLDINGS PLC 7.45 FCMB GROUP PLC 2.07 ROYAL EXCHANGE PLC. 0.50 STANBIC IBTC HOLDINGS PLC 24.42 SIM CAPITAL ALLIANCE VALUE FUND 103.24 NIGERIA ENERGY SECTOR FUND 552.20 UBA CAPITAL PLC 1.32 HEALTHCARE Healthcare Providers EKOCORP PLC. 3.72 UNION DIAGNOSTIC &CLINICAL PLC 0.50 Medical Supplies MORISON INDUSTRIES PLC. 1.82

NOTE NT=Not Traded on 20-02-15

QUANTITY

52 WK HIGH

52 WK LOW

9,140 261,540 107,996

0.64 107.81 41.14

0.50 20.92 8.24

SHARES OUTSTANDING

EPS

2,200,000,000 476,955,000 1,000,000,000

0.10 2.29 7.55

MOV. (%)

N/A 21.47 15.64

Previous

0.50 29.29 28.00

70

4.26

4.26

60,000,000

0.00

N/A

0.50

1,249,104

7.18

0.68

1,199,549,736

0.07

1.91

2.09

100,150 300 17,558 512 6,693,406 2,658,148

2.08 6.43 5.89

0.71 4.15 1.07

2,191,895,983 963,900,300 389,151,408

0.11 0.16 1.09

-5.00 N/A N/A

5.89 71.10

0.50 28.00

821,666,666 1,600,720,323

0.09 4.38

N/A N/A

1.20 3.95 0.96 4.44 5.59 34.58

375 3

26.00 95.49

5.05 95.49

148,500,000 196,876,000

0.33 4.50

N/A N/A

5.30 NT

807,550 217

2.66 14.46

0.72 14.46

920,573,765 125,000,000

0.00 0.00

N/A N/A

0.73 14.46

27,437 1,832

83.75 10.60

19.86 6.61

1,200,000,000 20,000,000

6.74 1.69

-14.23 N/A

44.40 6.29

NT 324,368

7.28 20.90

7.28 8.82

1,375,000,000

0.00 2.20

N/A -17.50

NT 11.94

93 100 6,350

100.00 50.00 10.50

100.00 50.00 0.00

20,000,000 250,019,781

5.82 0.19

N/A N/A

100.00 45.22 10.00

5,016

0.50

0.50

4,772,528,415

0.00

N/A

0.50

54,992 8,132 28,374 172,515 50,000 1,808,302 513,550

19.48 0.68 297.41 30.00 9.09 179.40 0.97

3.13 0.68 209.10 5.34 0.81 91.10 0.93

900,000,000 272,160,000 1,474,925,519 2,112,914,681 562,000,000 7,562,562,340 126,000,000

0.00 0.00 8.66 0.63 0.00 5.03 0.00

N/A N/A 8.14 N/A N/A 4.42 N/A

5.94 0.93 114.00 19.41 2.02 129.00 3.79

24,150

75.90

38.12

640,590,362

4.46

N/A

149.15

NT 224,970 1,588,435 187,271 952,850 53,816 159,011 2,835,920 12.08 124,000 50 100

0.50 10.68 12.85 109.24 4.11 1.21 29.70 14.00 5.94 0.93 13.31

0.50 3.85 3.26 50.00 1.83 0.50 17.51 3.65 5.35 0.50 4.22

2,000,000,000 5,000,000,000 12,000,000,000 1,879,210,666 7,930,197,658 3,722,493,620 178,200,000 40,000,000 1,233,375,004 360,000,000

0.00 0.00 0.81 3.38 0.34 0.00 0.00 1.05 0.08 1.13 0.00

N/A -3.61 0.81 8.55 -7.94 N/A N/A 14.17 N/A 0.00 N/A

NT 3.60 6.14 29.00 3.15 0.50 18.05 6.00 NT 0.50 13.11

5,725 390,319

64.53 1250.00

8.33 400.00

3,129,188,160 792,656,250

1.57 28.34

-9.73 9.88

42.98 746.25

25,333 100 187,845 15,000

15.58 36.19 5.54 2.88

10.03 32.27 2.91 0.57

63,360,000 819,000,000 300,000,001

3.90 13.92 0.71 0.00

N/A N/A 4.97 N/A

NT 31.82 3.42 0.97

156,973 119,119

56.00 76.00

21.02 27.60

3,176,381,636 3,783,296,250

1.34 1.42

1.15 -4.29

26.99 34.01

NT

0.97

0.57

843,284,027

0.00

N/A

NT

20,610,779 1,358,484 5,746,153 4,669,271 NT 11,491,149

12.39 7.85 17.51 3.47 8.30 29.99

4.70 1.92 9.90 1.13 3.04 13.02

17,888,251,479 14,475,243,105 9,873,614,567 28,974,797,023 16,271,192,202 29,146,482,209

1.61 1.71 3.67 0.68 0.60 3.08

5.26 9.14 -1.05 -4.80 #VALUE! 28.12

5,074,965 2,601,379 11,173,106 1,469,943 359,359 1,128,531 9,778,427

7.05 3.05 9.60 15.30 1.16 1.88 27.40

2.65 0.80 1.64 2.34 0.50 0.50 11.96

13,219,334,676 12,563,091,545 32,334,693,693 13,509,726,273 33,675,576,085 12,821,249,880 31,396,493,790

0.97 0.63 1.70 0.44 0.18 0.00 3.30

10.44 -4.74 13.67 -3.41 0.00 4.26 11.20

5.32 3.50 16.17 1.25 NT 17.00 13.50 1.82 2.32 3.00 8.80 0.50 0.94 15.62

200 1,627,718 NT 9,140 1,882,960 62,000 9,054,578 4,754 NT 42,003 165,731 NT 698,304 NT 14,710 100 220 23,600 1,319,465 10,579,013 52,100 1,654,611 27,973 5,028 100 1,650 161,547,689 25,000 200 518,140 1,368,084

0.50 1.42 0.64 0.52 1.45 0.72 2.44 0.50 0.69 0.60 0.50 2.50 2.50 0.50 0.50 0.61 0.50 2.87 0.63 1.01 1.11 0.50 1.24 0.53 0.59

0.50 0.50 0.61 0.50 0.58 0.50 1.08 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50 1.06 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50

20,585,000,000 7,809,391,256 211,626,000 6,000,000,000 10,372,624,157 8,820,010,363 5,100,846,808 8,847,298,420 4,549,947,000 3,827,485,380 720,000,000 5,061,804,000 6,420,427,449 28,000,000,000 7,323,313,227 3,437,330,500 4,083,713,569 10,000,000,000 7,998,705,336 5,332,830,881 5,649,693,923 5,003,506,791 2,508,315,436 6,668,750,000 5,203,757,266

0.00 0.19 0.00 0.05 0.15 0.02 0.24 0.01 0.00 0.03 0.01 0.00 0.00 0.02 0.00 0.00 0.02 0.25 0.00 0.37 0.02 0.04 0.06 0.04 0.09

N/A 0.00 N/A N/A 0.00 0.00 0.00 N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A 0.00 N/A N/A N/A 0.00 -4.73 N/A 13.21 N/A N/A 0.00 N/A 0.00

0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50 1.55

0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50

8,493,173,450 2,581,733,505 13,000,000,000 16,000,000,000

0.00 0.00 0.02 0.00 0.07

N/A N/A N/A N/A

10,000,000 584,766

6.60 1.22

0.00 0.72

500 500 500 220,000 4,570

1.65 0.50

1.37 0.50

4,200,000,000 8,679,148,676

0.03 0.02

N/A N/A

0.50 0.99

0.50 0.50

13,175,732,404 7,812,500,000

0.30 0.00

N/A N/A

2.1

0.5

0.61 2.02 21.50 5.70 1.33 20.72 103.24

0.50 2.02 8.57 2.90 0.50 10.64 98.33

1.70

0.00

313,164 369,250 500 5,000 8,812,914 27045923 1,050,953 3,807,836 465 100 1,926,013

1.18 0.19

5.42 0.85

0.63 3,778,005,975 1,333,333,333 32,632,084,358 3,608,657,661 18,750,000,000

0.00 0.15 2.45 1.23 0.13 1.53

0.50 0.75 NT 0.50 0.80 0.50 NT 0.50 0.53 0.50 0.50 NT 0.50 NT 0.50 0.50 0.50 2.96 0.50 0.53 0.50 NT 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50

N/A N/A 16.95 N/A -1.93

0.29

1.30 0.50 1.45 0.50 0.5 2.75 3.90 NT 0.70 6.37 2 0.50 24.90 103.24 552.20 1.33

170 40,000

5.05 0.50

4.32 0.50

498,600,908 3,553,138,528

0.13 0.00

N/A N/A

3.72 0.50

100

10.54

7.39

152,178,750

0.00

N/A

1.82

N/A=Not Avialable

SECURITY

PRICE (=N=)

Pharmaceuticals EVANS MEDICAL PLC. 2.15 FIDSON HEALTHCARE PLC 3.00 GLAXO SMITHKLINE CONSUMER PLC 42.00 MAY & BAKER NIGERIA PLC. 1.55 NEIMETH INT PHARM PLC 0.74 NIGERIA-GERMAN CHEMICALS PLC. 6.32 PHARMA-DEKO PLC. 2.24 ICT Computer Based Systems COURTEVILLE BUSINESS SLN PLC 0.50 Computers and Peripherals OMATEK VENTURES PLC 0.50 Electronic Communications Services MTECH COMMUNICATIONS PLC 0.91 IT Services COMPUTER WAREHOUSE GROUP PLC 4.13 NCR (NIGERIA) PLC. 12.83 TRIPPLE GEE AND COMPANY PLC. 1.77 Processing Systems CHAMS PLC 0.50 E-TRANZACT INTERNATIONAL PLC 3.39 Telecommunications Services IHS 3.8 HIS NIGERIA PLC 2 2.25 HIS NIGERIA PLC 1 3.08 MTI PLC 0.5 INDUSTRIAL GOODS Building Materials AFRICAN PAINTS (NIGERIA) PLC. 2.72 ASHAKA CEM PLC 18.98 BERGER PAINTS PLC 9.00 CAP PLC 36.10 CEMENT CO. OF NORTH.NIG. PLC 10.71 DANGOTE CEMENT PLC 152.20 DN MEYER PLC. 0.87 FIRST ALUMINIUM NIGERIA PLC 0.50 IPWA PLC 0.50 PREMIER PAINTS 10.93 LAFARGE WAPCO PLC. 85.00 PAINTS & COATINGS MANFACT.PLC 1.50 PORTLAND PAINTS & PRDT NIG. PLC 4.03 Electronic and Electrical Products AUSTIN LAZ & COMPANY PLC 2.09 CUTIX PLC. 1.57 NIGERIAN WIRE AND CABLE PLC. 0.50 Packaging/Containers ABPLAST PRODUCTS PLC. NT AVON CROWNCAPS & CONTAINERS 1.59 BETA GLASS CO PLC. 28.50 GREIF NIGERIA PLC 12.08 NIG. BAGS MANFACT. COY PLC NT POLY PRODUCTS (NIG) PLC. NT W A GLASS IND. PLC. 0.63 Tools and Machinery NIGERIAN ROPES PLC 7.46 NIG SEW MACH. MAN. CO PLC. 0.15 STOKVIS NIG PLC. 0.14 NATURAL RESOURCES Chemicals B.O.C. GASES PLC. 5.21 Metals ALUMACO PLC 7.75 ALUMINIUM EXTRUSION IND. PLC. 10.43 MINING SERVICES MULTIVERSE PLC 0.50 Paper/Forest Products HALLMARK PAPER PRODUCTS PLC. NT THOMAS WYATT NIG. PLC. 0.73 OIL AND GAS Energy Equipment and Services JAPAUL OIL & MARITIME SER. PLC 0.50 Integrated Oil and Gas Services OANDO PLC 13.95 Petroleum &Petroleum Products Distributors BECO PETROLEUM PRODUCT PLC 0.5 CONOIL PLC 32.60 ETERNA PLC. 2.64 FORTE OIL PLC. 220.40 MOBIL OIL NIG PLC. 150.00 MRS OIL NIGERIA PLC. 50.54 TOTAL NIGERIA PLC. 144.46 Exploration and Production SEPLAT PETROLEUM DEVT. CO, LTD. 445.53 SERVICES Advertising AFROMEDIA PLC 0.50 Apparel Retailers LENNARDS (NIG) PLC. 3.15 Automobile/Auto Part Retailers R T BRISCOE PLC. 0.79 Courier/Freight/Delivery RED STAR EXPRESS PLC 3.90 TRANS-NATIONWIDE EXPRESS PLC. 0.89 Employment Solutions C & I LEASING PLC. 0.50 Hospitality TANTALIZERS PLC 0.50 Hotels/Lodging CAPITAL HOTEL 4.28 IKEJA HOTEL PLC 3.32 TOURIST COY NIG PLC 3.51 TRANSCORP HOTELS PLC 10.00 Media/Entertainment DAAR COMMUNICATIONS PLC 0.50 Printing/Publishing ACADEMY PRESS 1.16 LEARN AFRICA PLC 1.21 STUDIO PRESS (NIG) PLC. 2.30 UNIVERSITY PRESS PLC. 4.20 Road Transportation ABC TRANSPORT PLCPLC 0.53 Specialty INTERLINKED TECHNOLOGIES PLC 4.66 SECURE ELECTRONIC TECH.PLC 0.5 Transport-Related Services AIRLINE SERVICES AND LOGISTICS PLC 2.00 NIG. AVIATION HANDLING COY PLC 4.70 SUPPORT AND LOGISTICS CAVERTON OFFSHORE GROUP PLC 2.95 ASeM CONSTRUCTION/REAL ESTATE Property Management SMART PRODUCTS NIGERIA PLC NT CONSUMER GOODS Food Products MCNICHOLS PLC NT OIL AND GAS CAPITAL OIL PLC NT NAVITUS ENERGY PLC NT Personal/Household Products ROKANA INDUSTRIES PLC. NT HEALTHCARE Pharmaceuticals AFRIK PHARMACEUTICALS PLC. NT INDUSTRIAL GOODS Electronic and Electrical Products NT ADSWITCH PLC. NT NATURAL RESOURCES Metals W.A. ALUM. PRODUCTS PLC. NT Food/Drug Retailers and Wholesalers NT JULI PLC. NT ETF’s Sector ETF NEWGOLD EXCHANGE TRADED FUND NT VETIVA GRIFFIN 30 ETF NT

QUANTITY

52 WK HIGH

52 WK LOW

SHARES OUTSTANDING

EPS

MOV. (%)

74,488 1,444,640 66,411 163,454 251,300 100 572,185

4.80 2.50 69.00 3.38 1.76 8.59 3.50

0.50 0.61 18.97 1.23 0.58 7.36 1.83

486,473,856 1,500,000,000 956,701,192 980,000,000 1,925,717,268 153,786,012 100,000,000

0.58 0.24 3.07 0.09 0.00 0.00 0.00

0.00 2.39 5.00 14.81 0.00 N/A N/A

2.15 2.93 40.00 1.35 0.74 7.36 2.24

37,000

0.96

0.50

2,960,000,000

0.11

0.00

0.50

100

0.50

0.50

2,941,789,472

0.00

N/A

0.50

Previous

NT

0.91

0.91

4,966,666,668

0.00

N/A

0.91

400 100 5,460

18.70 2.94

13.12 2.07

108,000,000 492,825,600

0.00 0.03

N/A N/A

4.13 12.83 1.77

27,420 1,080

0.50 4.97

0.50 3.13

4,620,600,000 4,200,000,000

0.04 0.04

N/A N/A

3.80 3.39 3.8 2.25 3.08 0.5

100

0.50

0.50

4,893,594,400

0.00

N/A

2,000 1,557,197 40,673 20,474 1,514,719 1,167,463 40,890 600 6,000 60 109,667 50,000 72,650

2.86 29.98 12.20 67.50 12.99 210.01 3.54 0.75 1.34

2.86 8.01 6.82 13.78 4.00 102.00 0.50 0.50 0.50

260,000,000 2,239,453,125 217,367,585 560,000,000 1,241,548,285 15,494,019,668 242,908,200 2,109,928,275 513,696,000

0.07 0.80 0.91 1.66 1.12 5.77 0.06 0.00 0.00

N/A 9.27 0.00 -6.84 5.00 7.26 N/A N/A N/A

110.00 2.41 7.22

39.80 0.50 2.27

3,001,600,004 792,914,256 400,000,000

6.83 0.36 0.43

8.27 N/A N/A

2.72 17.37 9.00 38.75 10.20 141.90 0.87 0.50 0.50 10.93 78.51 1.50 4.03

100 220,132 100

2.00 2.39 0.73

2.00 1.20 0.50

510,396,608 2,220,000,000

0.05 0.19 0.00

N/A 1.95 N/A

2.09 1.54 0.50

NT 561 1,361 100 NT NT NT

3.98 5.94 13.18 13.28 3.60 1.86 0.63

3.98 1.71 9.04 12.68 1.60 1.05 0.63

N/A N/A

42,640,000 6,215,000,000 240,000,000 199,066,550

0.00 0.00 3.23 0.90 0.24 0.22 0.00

N/A #VALUE! N/A N/A

NT 1.59 30.00 12.08 NT NT 0.63

100 200 NT

8.69

8.26

265,409,280

0.00

N/A

0.14

0.14

2,918,000

0.00

N/A

25,000,000 683,974,528

7.46 0.15 0.14

10,000

9.35

5.68

393,120,000

0.76

-4.93

5.48

320 100

7.75 12.39

7.75 10.55

75,600,000 100,000,000

0.00 0.24

N/A N/A

10.43 7.75

100

0.50

0.50

4,058,989,226

0.01

N/A

0.50

NT 4,050

3.22 1.38

3.22 0.67

50,000,000 220,000,000

0.04 0.00

N/A N/A

NT 0.73

1,408,720

1.02

0.50

6,262,701,716

0.00

0.00

0.50

4,924,248

24.80

9.32

2,262,711,568

1.24

3.33

13.50

10000 2,577,516 2,541,040 412,758 22,164 167,074 43,476

76.00 4.87 115.64 146.00 59.00 190.01

16.96 1.32 7.73 106.00 16.20 118.75

693,952,117 1,249,162,828 1,080,280,628 300,496,051 253,988,672 339,521,837

2.69 0.61 1.43 9.93 1.04 12.91

0.00 0.00 3.92 0.00 N/A 7.77

0.5 32.60 2.64 212.09 150.00 50.54 134.05

306,355

28,677,671

200

0.72

0.50

100

3.48

3.48

209,933

2.45

1.00

2,572,000 3,000

5.10 3.45

2.19 0.73

4,035,497,307

385.00

0.00

N/A

0

N/A

0.50 3.15

980,294,400

0.00

-5.95

0.84

589,496,310 198,819,763

0.52 0.00

0.00 N/A

3.90 0.93

4,059,547

1.64

0.85

865,808,912

0.00

N/A

0.50

1,500

0.75

0.50

3,211,627,907

0.00

N/A

0.50

100 599,750 1,000 2,800

1.72 3.88 10.00

0.64 3.51 10.00

2,078,796,396

0.00

9.93

4.28 3.02 3.51 10.00

1,000

0.51

0.50

8,000,000,000

0.43

N/A

0.50

16500 224,498 20 20,800

3.09 2.78 5.77

1.39 2.52 3.00

771,450,000 425,641,111

0.00 0.00 0.61

N/A N/A 7.97

1.16 1.21 2.30 3.89

955,140

1.29

0.50

1,507,000,000

0.21

N/A

0.53

6 40,000,700

5.15 1.88

4.90 0.80

236,699,511 5,631,539,736

0.00 0.00

N/A N/A

4.66 0.5

111,000 246,274

5.90 8.81

1.27 5.08

634,000,000 1,230,468,750

0.50 0.43

N/A 4.44

2.04 4.50

189044

2.95

60

1.43

1.04

45,000,000

0.12

N/A

NT

100

2.26

1.02

201,885,335

0.00

N/A

1.41

100000 1000

NT NT

NT

0.60

0.60

30,000,000

0.00

N/A

NT

NT

0.50

0.50

24,898,850

0.00

N/A

NT

NT NT

1.88

1.63

125,005,250

0.00

N/A

NT NT

NT NT 1,000

0.50

0.50

6,650,000

0.00

N/A

3.05

2.76

194,700,000

0.00

N/A

2,706

2,003

41 10

#VALUE! 49467

NT NT NT

NT 19.48

A24 40

Business Courage

Monday, February 23, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Monday, February 23, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

41

Law & Justice nationalmirrorlaw@yahoo.com

TThe courts should always be very cautious in not allowing technicalities to be used in perpetrating injustice —JUSTICE DAHIRU MUSDAPHER, CHIEF JUSTICE OF NIGERIA. xx

Let’s overhaul mode of judges’ appointments, elevation —Akpedeye

42 CJN, Justice Mohammed

President, Court of Appeal, Justice Zainab Bulkachuwa

Election petition: Olanipekun, Yusuf Ali, others bicker over 180-day time-frame How boardroom crisis tore Saraki, Kotoye apart 45

Court vacates conviction of ex-Gitmo detainee 46

As the country prepares for the 2015 general elections, the time-frame for the determination of election petitions at the election tribunal has become a subject of controversy among some leading lawyers. WALE IGBINTADE highlights the constitutional issues involved in line with the views of five notable Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SANs).

A

head of the 2015 general elections, the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Mahmud Mohammed recently sworn-in about 242 chairmen and members of Election Tribunal, for the 36 states of the Federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to adjudicate on post-election disputes.

In his remarks at the ceremony, the CJN, among others, reminded chairmen and members of the tribunal that Section 285 of the 1999 Constitution, which stipulated that all election petitions must be heard and judgments rendered in writing and delivered in the open court within 180 days of the filing of that petition was unambiguous.

In its interpretation of Section 285(6), the Supreme Court in the appeal of ANPP v. Alhaji Mohammed Goni & 4 Ors and Alhaji Kashim Shettima & 1 Other v Alhaji Mohammed Goni & 3 Ors delivered on February 17, 2012, made it explicitly clear that

the import of the provisions of the Section was that an election petition tribunal must mandatorily deliver its judgment within 180 days from the date of filing of the petition, failing which the tribunal becomes automatically stripped of its jurisdiction to continue further hearing of the petition’’.

Just recently, the CJN acknowledged that the apex court had received many complaints against its judgments upholding the Section 285 of the constitution. He however, said that the apex court was helpless and the

only option to ensure that petitioners’ rights were not violated was for the constitution to be amended.

According to Justice Mohammed, ‘’There are a lot of complaints. There is nothing we can do unless the section is amended. We have delivered many judgments on these issues.

Please bear with us. It is not our own making. It is extremely difficult to hear interlocutory appeals because of these provisions. We don’t have legislative power to amend the provisions of the law.”

THE PERIOD OF 180 DAYS LIMITATION WAS MANIFESTLY INADEQUATE FOR A PETITIONER CHALLENGING A GOVERNORSHIP OR PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION RETURN

Indeed, the mischief the lawmakers sought to cure by this section is to prevent a situation whereby election petitions took up to four years before being finally resolved, leading to staggered elections and disruption of the political stability.

Senior lawyers are divided on the issue, while some argued that the 180- day time limit would not occasion miscarriage of justice given its interpretation by the apex court, others argued that time-frame was grossly inadequate to conclude election matters.

In his view, Chief Wole Olanipekun, SAN said the period of 180 days limitation was manifestly inadequate for a petitioner challenging a governorship or presidential election return. ‘’I do not see the magical wand any candidate challenging a Presidential election return can wave to successfully do so within 180 days. I have presented several papers and lectures whereat I have suggested that the provision of Section 285(6) of the Constitution which provides that “an Election Tribunal shall deliver its judgment in writing within CONTINUED ON PAGE 44

42

Law & Justice

Monday, February 23, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Let’s overhaul mode of judges’ appointments, Dafe Akpedeye, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) is a former Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice in Delta State.

The Harvard scholar in this interview with WALE IGBINTADE, speaks on the mode of appointment of judicial officers and the shift in date of the 2015 general elections, among others.

Excerpts.

As a former Attorney-General of Delta State, what would you say are your achievements while in office?

I usually do not feel comfortable being asked to score myself. It sounds to me like blowing my trumpet. I think to do justice to this question would necessitate your posing same question to an independent assessor. However upon my appointment, I had my goal encapsulated under one head; which is to run the Ministry of Justice as a private concern by trying to eliminate all bureaucratic bottlenecks impeding quick service delivery. This was largely easy for me given the fact that I had prior to the appointment been engaged in a successful private practice. Did I achieve this goal? I would say yes, to a large extent.

To encourage the staff that will help in actualizing this goal, I devised a reward system that primed them to put in their best at little or minimal cost. A commendation letter signed by me was given to any counsel who successfully completes a case. At the end of each year, staff of every department filed and submitted forms nominating the best staff of the department in his or her judgment. The result is collated and the person that emerges as best staff is rewarded with token sum or souvenir. This served as a tonic that galvanized the whole ministry to better efficiency. People were willing to put extra hours outside the official time to deliver on assignment, in a civil service that hitherto saw that as taboo.

I also noticed the work environment was depressing as it was overcrowded .The accommodation housing the ministry was rented. I was able to convince the Governor, despite paucity of funds to ensure that a befitting head office complex was procured for the ministry. We also ensured that the zonal offices were revamped and made habitable. I also realised that for the ministry to tackle the problems facing it we needed to look for ways to generate our funds internally. This we did by charging fees albeit minimally from our primary clients, the government and some private entities we rendered services to. Within a short period of time we were able to generate funds internally to help us in solving some of the ministry’s pressing need.

The icing on the cake was publishing the Laws of Delta and the annotated version of the Laws of Delta State. Though our predecessors had broken some

Akpedeye, SAN grounds on it, we were able to complete it so for the first time in our court we relied on the Laws of Delta State and not that of the Defunct Bendel State. In a nutshell and without fear of contradiction I can say we left a more service- oriented Justice ministry that was 2yk compliant and does business predicated on best practices.

What challenges do you face?

I had a couple of challenges. First, my orientation coming from the private sector background to bureaucracy could not match as plug and play. Most civil servants believe in the mantra of as it was in the beginning so it is now and world without end. This was quite frustrating. The new innovations I was trying to introduce were viewed with suspicion. So naturally the civil servants know where the mines are buried and at every turn there were booby traps so much that I had to refer to them as evil servants until they caught up with my vision and mission. Secondly, there are too many things to do and too little funds available to tackle them. It was also challenging when your vision and that of your boss are not in sync. If you are a naturally blunt person you are forced to learn the art of double speak. It was a serious learn-

ing curve.

What is your take on the postponement of 2015 elections?

I do not subscribe to call for the postponement of the elections without good reasons. Let me state on the front burner that the law as presently constituted allows for the elections to be postponed from the presently designated days but INEC which has the responsibility of making that call should be very circumspect in so doing as the gladiators present disposition is one that seem to have thrown caution to the winds and are not likely to agree on any issue even when it’s the best thing to do.

What is sacrosanct is the day of handover and cannot be tempered with. INEC can on its own without being rail-roaded into it decide in her own interest and that of the nation to move the election date.

S.160 (1) and (2) of our 1999 Constitution unequivocally gives INEC free hand in the execution of her duties. For any other body or organ of government to force INEC to go outside her own time-table will amount to an infraction of the constitution. I have listened to the various reasons being canvassed as grounds for the propri-

IT HAS NOW DAWNED ON US THAT FOR ANY PETITIONER CHALLENGING A GOVERNORSHIP OR PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION RETURN, THE

PERIOD OF

180 DAYS’ LIMITATION IS MANIFESTLY INADEQUATE

ety of postponement and wish to state that it behooves on the umpire who has all the facts in her bosom as it relates to the PVC distribution and the twin situation of insurgency resultant in security challenges in the North East vis a vis the 25% mandate of 2/3 of the states of the federation to make an informed decision. INEC will have to do what is best in the circumstance no matter whose ox is gored.

There are calls for the Separation of the Office of the Attorney- General from that of Justice Minister at the federal level and that of Commissioner for Justice in the states. Do you share this view?

For as long as most Nigerians can remember, the thought of splitting the office has been an on-going debate. The main reason for the recommendation to split the office of the AGF is to enhance the administration of justice and to ensure the independence of the office of the AttorneyGeneral from political influence.

Over the years the corruption level of public officers has risen tremendously resulting in flagrant abuses of office, which I believe has led to the agitation of lawyers, activists and human rights groups for the separation of the office of the AttorneyGeneral as the AGF is considered a part of the Executive and therefore cannot be said to exercise his powers independently and freely, most especially in the prosecution of corrupt public officers.

Bearing this fact in mind, one begs to ask the question, will the clamour for its separation curb the perceived meddling being sought to be curtailed? I do not think so. Advocates for the separation of the of-

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Law & Justice

Monday, February 23, 2015

43

elevation —Akpedeye fice often point to the potential for abuse of power by the AGF, citing cases where certain corrupt public officers should have been prosecuted for their offences but have gone scot free. There are also those who are of the opinion that separation is not the answer, believing as they do that the ‘status quo’ will remain because of the manner in which governments operate so that even though the AGF is tenured he/ she would still face political pressures in the performance of his/her duties.

I am therefore of the view that a career Attorney -General appointed statutorily might not offer the Eldorado being sought.

Speakers of the Houses of Assembly of the 36 states of the federation in December 2014 returned their adopted version of the constitutional amendments to the National Assembly. A major highlight of the document was the granting of approval by the state legislatures for the separation of the office of the Attorney-General from that of the Minister/Commissioner for Justice. I hope that this does not create its own set of problems for the country.

The Constitution imposes 180 days’ limit for hearing election petitions. Do you think this is sufficient?

Again, I can see the draftsman’s intent in limiting the time for prosecuting election petitions. Because our politicians perceive the Nigerian type of democracy as a means to an end, they would do anything to get to power, including rigging elections, snatching ballot boxes, employment of killer squads, assassination, maiming, kidnapping etc. It is as a result of all these that election petitions litter our courts and tribunals and have now become the albatross of the Nigerian Judiciary.

As a result of the experience whereby election petitions took up to four years before being finally resolved, leading to the disruption of the political equilibrium in the country, the 1999 Constitution was amended to limit and delineate the periods within which election cases should be filed, tried and concluded, including the appeal proceedings. The niggling problem about Nigerian politics in particular and Nigeria in general is that, in an attempt to solve one problem, we often create, either advertently or inadvertently, other multifaceted problems. It has now dawned on us that for any petitioner challenging a governorship or presidential election return, the period of 180 days limitation is manifestly inadequate.

How will you assess the activities of EFCC in the last four years?

The EFCC has over time garnered a reputation for itself as a financial enforcer that has engaged in the investigation of financial improprieties in the country. I think the present leadership of EFCC appears to believe in not advertising themselves. They have not fare too badly. Their

apparent low rating to my mind stems largely from the fact that they have not sensitized the public enough on their gains especially so when it is not on big political cases. You will agree with me that the negative image that was the lot of Nigeria a couple of years back as tremendously reduced. The impunity with which public office holders helped themselves to public funds has equally reduced and that could not have happened without EFCC’s contribution. Having said that I still believe that war on crime is a continuing process and they have a lot of room for improvement.

The Nigerian Police often parade suspects as criminals. Is this constitutional?

Sadly to say, Nigeria is a country of absurdities. A country where anything can happen and things do in fact happen on a daily basis. Parading of suspects by the Police before the public prior to their being charged to court, tried, found guilty and convicted is an aberration. It is unconstitutional and makes nonsense of the doctrine of the presumption of innocence until found guilty enshrined in our constitution. It amounts to gross violation of the suspect’s fundamental human right to fair hearing. By virtue of Section 36(5) & (6) CFRN 1999, an accused person is presumed innocent until the contrary is proved. Nowhere in our statutes can a provision be found empowering the police or any other law enforcement agency to first humiliate a suspect, thoroughly shame and disgrace him before passing him over to a law court for his trial.

The only instance where the police are allowed by law to parade a suspect is where there is need for the identification of the suspect by a witness who claims to have seen the suspect commit the alleged offence. In this case, the suspect is lined up amidst other people while the witness attempts to point him out from the crowd.

This is called identification parade and it does not take place before the press. Parading suspected criminals in the media is already convicting the person in the court of public opinion. There is no way you can ensure that a person has a free and fair trial if you have already given the public a bad impression about the person. There is no doubt that the single most important reason while the police engage in this practice is for publicity to call attention to itself and make the public believe that it is actually fighting crime. But it is a poor approach in winning back the confidence of the public that has long lost faith in the ability of the Nigerian police to protect it in the face of the current, unprecedented upsurge in scale of violent crimes across the land.

And for this publicity, the police are willing to do anything to get it including parading animals and toddlers as robbery or criminal suspects. In 2009, the entire nation was bewildered and for some of us who can still be shocked by the events in

PARADING SUSPECTED CRIMINALS IN THE MEDIA IS ALREADY CONVICTING THE PERSON IN THE COURT OF PUBLIC OPINION

this country were embarrassed when the Nigeria Police, Kwara State Command, paraded a goat as an arm robbery suspect.

The goat suspect was detained over an alleged attempt to steal a Mazda car.

What is your assessment of our criminal justice system?

The importance of the criminal justice system to the smooth running of any society cannot be over emphasised. A sound criminal justice system in any nation is a precursor to economic growth, political stability and social equilibrium. Indeed, an effective criminal justice system is fundamental to the maintenance of law and order. However in Nigeria, widespread corruption and disregard for due process and the rule of law continued to blot Nigeria’s criminal justice system.

Many people are arbitrarily arrested and detained for months without charge. Police continued to ask people to pay money for their release from detention. Many detainees were kept on remand in prison for lengthy periods and in harsh conditions. Court processes remained slow and largely distrusted.

A criminal justice system that is inefficient, inadequate, corrupt, infrastructural deficient, under-financed, undermanned and prone to abuse such as the present Nigerian criminal justice system is a threat to the rule of law and all other indices of democracy and good governance. A lot of work needs to be done particularly in the areas of delay in the trial of cases, coordination amongst agencies of the criminal justice reform; sentencing guidelines; prison decongestion; alternatives to imprisonment. What is certain however is that the general consequence of these problems has been a

non-performing criminal justice system leading to a denial of justice either to the defendant or the victim?

Are you comfortable with the mode of appointing Judges in the country?

I would not want to comment much on this as the Bar has made its position known on this matter. The current state of affairs whereby the procedures and criteria for the appointment of judges is shrouded in secrecy must give way to a more transparent and open system.

Merit rather than favouritism should be the basis for the appointment and promotion of judicial officers. The quest for an independent and incorruptible judiciary will continue to elude us unless and until there is a complete overhaul of the judicial appointment and promotion mechanism.

Do you agree that Section 308 of the 1999 Constitution encourages corruption?

It’s not a question of agreement or denial in this case, our laws envisage a situation whereby the Chief Executive of either a state or the nation, would be inundated with unnecessary litigation. I can resonate with why the draftsman inserted the immunity clause in our grundnorm but as with the case with human systems, that reason will naturally be subject to abuse sometimes. It is for the same reason you cannot sue a judge for acts emanating from his judicial functions. You will agree with me that if the immunity clause is totally expunged it may lead to the derailment of the ship of state. This would in effect distract the performance of their statutory role of governance. Thus this, provision was meant to be a shield and not necessarily a sword.

44

Law & Justice

Monday, February 23, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

‘S’ Court may revisit interpretation of Section 285 CFRN’ CONTINUED FROM PAGE 41 180 days from the date of the filing of the petition” be amended to give sufficient latitude to the Petitioner, from 180 to 220 days’’. ‘’An unfortunate aspect of the judicial interpretation given to Section 285(6) is that a petitioner, whose interlocutory appeal has been allowed by the Supreme Court with an order of hearing the petition de novo given, is now precluded from prosecuting his petition on merits because of the time limit. I think this is unfair and unjust, he added.

But Mallam Yusuf Ali, SAN said there was nothing wrong with either the law or the interpretation given to it by the Supreme Court.

He said ‘’we started this thing since 2011, if it were in the past before the constitution was amended to be 180 days, some of the governorship cases would still be in court now. Is that not a national embarrassment? That over a fouryear period we are unable to conclude a governorship or senatorial election matter. So, I am for the 180 days. If you genuinely believe that you have a case, you should do everything you can within the 180 days that is six months. The Yoruba people have a saying that if it takes you many years to prepare how to get mad, when are you going to get to the market as a mad man? I have always been insisting that 180 days is enough’’.

For Mr. Femi Falana, SAN, the section has been interpreted to the advantage of riggers of election.

He said ‘’the 180 days that is six months prescribed by Section 285 of the constitution for dealing with election petitions are okay. What is objectionable is skewed interpretation given to that section by the Supreme Court. The mischief the law sets out to cure was the protracted witness in election petition tribunal whereby a man who was never elected spent 36 months in office out of a total period of 48 months; stakeholders then sat down that this situ-

Olanipekun

IF YOU GENUINELY BELIEVE THAT YOU HAVE A CASE, YOU SHOULD DO EVERYTHING YOU CAN WITHIN THE 180 DAYS, THAT IS, SIX MONTHS ation cannot continue.

Falana explained that ‘’A situation whereby an election petition is filed, you have six months to conduct the trial but the respondent, usually the rigger of election raises an objection and a ruling is given, the ruling is taken to the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court, by the time you finish at the Supreme Court, six months are over the Supreme Court says: “Justice is gone” No, it is not possible, that is not the purport of the law, that law never envisaged an interlocutory appeal in an election petition; that period is for the trial of the petition.

That was not the position envisaged by the law, it is not the section that is bad, it is the interpretation of the section’’.

In his opinion, Mr. Ifedayo Adedipe, SAN said he was of the view that 180 days should be sufficient to conclude a particular petition if there was a robust determination to so do. ‘’In other words, you do not give room for stay of proceedings. Whatever objection you have, you condensed them into the record. If for instance someone is raising either locus standi or jurisdiction issue or any objection at all, it is my view that they should all be taken together in the entire proceedings. The idea that the tribunal will wrongly rule that it has no jurisdiction and the appellate court says it has jurisdiction, such cases pose some challenges. If a court wrongly but genuinely believe it has no

Jokes Never got caught A lawyer was filling out a job application when he came to the question, “Have you ever been arrested?” He answered, “No.” The next question, intended for applicants who had answered, “Yes,” was “Why?” The lawyer answered it, “Never got caught.”

A young lady goes to see a lawyer regarding a minor matter. After consultation, he notes the bill will be $100. She gives him a crisp $100 dollar bill and leaves.

Sitting back, the lawyer gives the bill a flick and notices that the bill was so new and crisp it had another $100 dollar bill stuck to it.

Now he was facing the age-old ethical dilemma, should he keep it himself or split it with his partner?.

Free advice at social affairs?

A doctor and a lawyer were attending a cocktail party when the doctor was approached by a man who asked advice on how to handle his ulcer.

The doctor mumbled some medical advice, then turned to the lawyer and remarked, “I never know how to handle the situation A gang of robbers broke into a lawyer’s club by when I’m asked for medical advice during a mistake. The old legal lions gave them a fight social function. for their life and their money. The gang was Is it acceptable to send a bill for such very happy to escape. advice?” The lawyer replied that it was “It ain’t so bad,” one crook noted. “We got $25 certainly acceptable to do so. between us.”

The next day, the doctor sent the ulcerThe boss screamed: “I warned you to stay stricken man a bill. The lawyer also sent clear of lawyers! one to the doctor.

We had $100 when we broke in!”

Culled from Aha! Jokes; Lawyers Jokes.com

A gang of robbers

jurisdiction and if on a proper interpretation of the law, the appellate court is of the view that the court has jurisdiction, the period the court will not be sitting should not be counted as part of the 180 days, so as not to short-change the petitioner. I think that is where the interpretation has to be dynamic and creative. It should be 180 days of none-stop adjudicatory work’’.

Adedipe pointed out that ‘’The Supreme Court is the organic law that sets the parameter for governance. So, its interpretation should be flexible enough to meet the demands of the time in which we find ourselves.’’ ‘’ The Supreme Court is far above, so its interpretations should be guided by more than ordinary rule of interoperation. For instance, the idea of 180 days that we are talking about, in ordinary statute, 180 days means 180 days. But, see what it has caused. The Supreme Court can revisit that interpretation’’.

LEGAL TIPS

Young lady and the lawyer

Bar

Falana

Ali

Customary law marriage and bride price system *Customary law marriage comprises marriages under various customary practices in existence in Nigeria, and Islamic law. *The common characteristic of customary law marriages is the ability of the men to marry as many wives as possible. *Under the Islamic law, a man is allowed to marry as many wives provided he has the capacity to take care of them. *Yet another characteristic of customary law marriage for instance, among the Ibo people and the Muslims of Northern

Nigeria, is the fact neither infancy nor old age is a bar to marriage. *Consent of the bride’s parents and not that of the man, is an important prerequisite in customary law marriage. *This is because the bride-price is paid to the woman’s parents. However, the bride-pride today is basically a commercial transaction in some communities. *In some communities fixed amounts exist to be paid on the bride, in others amounts vary with professional qualification or

income capacities of the woman. *It is also the practice nowadays among some families in the South- West to return the bride-price paid on their daughters. *The rationale for this that their daughters are not objects of trade but precious gifts that should be well cared for by the groom’s families.

Written by Francis Famoroti, Head, Judiciary. We welcome feedback and reactions from readers via our e-mail: nationalmirrorlaw@yahoo.com.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Law & Justice

Monday, February 23, 2015

45

How boardroom crisis tore Saraki, Kotoye apart FAMOUS CASES

Second Republic Senate Leader, the late Dr. Olusola Saraki, and his erstwhile friend, the late Nathaniel Kotoye, had pitted against each other at a Lagos High Court over disagreement on the shareholding structure in the defunct Societe Generale Bank. FRANCIS FAMOROTI, Head, Judiciary, recalls the controversial issues between the parties.

S

econd Republic politician, Dr 0lusola Saraki and Chief Nathaniel kotoye, were close friends. Their friendship began several years ago and it blossomed to an extent that they became business partners and associates. They were also co-coordinators of the defunct Societe General Bank (Nigeria) Limited and they purportedly held substantial shares in trust for each other.

However, some years later, their relationship went sour and it affected their business interests. The boardroom crisis between them became an issue litigated upon in the court for judicial determination.

In one the suits filed at Lagos High Court in 1987, Saraki and his wife, Florence Morenike cited as first and second plaintiffs had asked among others for; *A declaration that the 2, 400.000 shares and the bonus, scripts and other shares attached there to standing in the in the name of the defendant (Kotoye) in the register of shareholders of Societe General Bank (Nigeria) Limited is held by Kotoye in the trust for the plaintiffs (or alternatively) for the plaintiff; *An order directing an inquiry into the amount of any dividends which may have been received by the defendant as holder of the afore-mentioned shares up to the date of the judgement herein; An order of injunction restraining the defendant from holding or dealing with aforesaid shares otherwise than an trustee for the plaintiff and accordance with the lawful direction of the plaintiff or the appropriate authorities An order for rectification of the registrar of shares to give effect any judgement delivered herein.’’

In ‘’LD/938/87,the plaintiffs further prayed the court for among others for following reliefs: An declaration that the 4,579,460 shares standing in the name of the defendant in the register of the shareholders of SGN limited is held by defendant in the trust for the plaintiff.

Two separate suits were initially filed and Kotoye counter-claimed against Saraki and his spouse in the consolidated suits thus ‘’LD/845/87.’ *The defendant by way of counter-claim claims against Mrs. Saraki the sum of N730, 000.00 being money advanced to her on request. *The defendant also claims interest thereon at the rate of 15th day of May, 1986 until payment.’’

In the second suits ‘’LD/938/87, he also sought as follows: *A declaration the of the 6,876,840 shares standing in the first plaintiff (Dr. Saraki) name in the register of members of SGN limited 2,783,483 thereof are not held by the plaintiff beneficially but upon trust for the

Kutigi

Saraki

SARAKI CONTENDED THAT KOTOYE WAS JOBLESS AND HIS LEGAL PRACTICE WAS NOT

YIELDING SUFFICIENT INCOME FOR HIS NEEDS. plaintiff and the defendant for the disposal as they shall both agree to deserving Nigerians of their choice. *An injunction restraining Dr. Saraki from dealing with the said shares as if were sole beneficial owner.The suits were consolidated.

The hearing of the consolidated suits was still in progress when Kotoye filed a motion on notice to strike out the suits on the ground that the court had no jurisdiction to continue to entertain same and or allow the proceedings to be maintained.

At the hearing, Saraki engaged the services of Chief. F.RA Williams, SAN while Chief G.O.K Ajayi, SAN and Mr. Tunji Ayanlaja, appeared for Kotoye. Along the line, Kotoye challenged the jurisdiction of the lower court and he lost. He appealed to the Court of Appeal, which arrived at the conclusion that the High Court had jurisdiction to continue the consolidated suits and dismissed defendant’s appeal with costs.

Aggrieved by the decision of the Court of Appeal, Kotoye further appealed to the Supreme Court.

The apex court in its verdict delivered on Friday, July 29th 1994, concluded that the appeal fails and accordingly it was dismissed.

Justice Idris Lagos Kutigi, who read the lead judgement said ‘’I hold that the two lower courts; the trial high court and the Court of Appeal, were right when they re-

spectively came to the conclusion that the high court has jurisdiction to continue with consolidated suits herein. .The plaintiffs are awarded costs assessed at one thousand (N1, 000) Naira against the defendant.’’

In another interlocutory application between the parties which reached the Supreme Court, the main issue was on the declarations relating to the shares standing in Kotoye’s name in SGN (Nig) Ltd,alleged to be held in trust for the plaintiffs or (alternatively) for second plaintiff.

Indeed, in the statement claim filed at the lower court, Saraki claimed that his wife and himself rendered financial assistant to Kotoye.

The late strongman of Kwara politics claimed that he knew Kotoye following his release from detention after the 1966 military coup. Saraki contented that Kotoye was jobless and his legal practice was not yielding sufficient income for his needs.

The ex-Senate leader said this against backdrop; he gave his financial and other assistance from time of time up to and including the period when the Bank was established to do banking business in Nigeria in 1976.

The politician said at all the times material to investment of funds in the bank, Kotoye had no surplus earning or loan facilities to enable him make any investment and the understanding between the parties was that he alone would fund the investment.

According to Saraki, ‘’it was in the contemplation of both parties that the investment was to assist the plaintiff in his efforts to continue giving financial assistance to the defendant. The plaintiff also intended that, depending on the level of dividends he would donate a reasonable percentage of the shares to his close friends including the defendant and the remainder to other shareholders.’’

But Kotoye in the answer to the above averment pleaded in his further amended statement of defence and counterclaim as follows; (i) The defendant who had, in the First Republic, been successively, a private legal practitioner, and the minister of Trade and Industry, came to meet the plaintiff after release from detention in 1968 whilst the plaintiff was then struggling to build a private medical practice.

Kotoye said he neither needed nor did he receive financial assistance from Saraki as had returned to his legal practice (on his release from detention in 1968) in the firm of Kotoye and Oluwa of which he was a senior partner. He said at the time, he owed a Duplex building which was yielding rent, two cars (a Mercedes Benz 220 S and a Peugeot 403) and resided in a four bedroom house.

He averred that he had even during the period of detention and thereafter been able to meet his financial commitment from his own resources.

Kotoye therefore said Saraki was not in a position to provide financial assistance to him because the plaintiff (Saraki) was still struggling to put together a private medical practice. Besides ,he stated that saraki was not even in position to provide himself with an appropriate or comparative standard of living as he was even then only able to manage to live in a one–bedroom apartment with a wife, two children and an auntin –law and went about in a battered 403 car which he had purchased second -hand.’’

This was the state of pleadings when the case came up for trial. Plaintiff gave evidence and closed his case. On May 30 and 31, 1991, the defendant in his evidencein-chief testified denying the evidence that any time plaintiff gave him financial assistance.

This line of affidavit evidence and testimonies before the court opened the floodgate to series of interlocutory applications that reached the Supreme Court.

Justice Adolphus Godwin Karibi -Whyte delivered the lead judgement in December 1992.The justice declared that all issues raised had been resolved against Saraki and his wife and so,’’ the appeal fails and is hereby dismissed. The case made the two friends to part ways and became enemies.

The boardroom crisis over shareholding dispute between them signaled the beginning of what made SGN a failed bank and probably led to its collapse.

Law & Justice

46

Monday, February 23, 2015

Australian court rules against chainsaw drink-driver AUSTRALIA

A

n Australian learner driver, who stitched his own chainsaw wound and drank gin for the pain before driving to hospital, has lost a Supreme Court appeal against a drinkdriving charge.

BBC report says that Timothy Withrow, had a blood alcohol reading three times the legal limit.

He was challenging an earlier ruling by a lower court that refused to consider the matter “trifling”.

By law traffic offences deemed trifling can result in a lighter punishment.

Withrow sustained a gaping wound to his hand while

Australian Prime Minister, Tony Abbott

using a chainsaw at his residence in February last year.

He phoned two emergency departments, but was told that they were very busy and would not be able to treat him for more than 10 hours.

Withrow then used a large sewing needle and some fishing line to sew up the wound and washed it with gin to prevent infection. He also drank gin to help with the pain.

He later decided to drive to the hospital for treatment after not being able to contact his wife. He said he could not afford an ambulance.

He was pulled over by police after failing to stop at a sign, and charged with several driving offences as well as being issued an immediate licence disqualification.

Though he had previously held a driving licence in the US he did not have a full Australian licence.

In court he had pleaded guilty but before sentencing asked for the matter to be dealt with as trifling.

But Justice Kevin Nicholson agreed with the earlier ruling that Withrow had had options other than driving himself, including calling an ambulance or taxi, or approaching a neighbour for help.

Court vacates conviction of ex-Gitmo detainee UNITED STATES

A

United States military appeal court has vacated the conviction of David Hicks, an Australian who pleaded guilty to providing material support for terrorism.

According to a BBC report, the court found that the activity for which Hicks was convicted was not an offense triable by military commission at the time he was caught.

“We are very happy for David. Today’s decision is a powerful reminder that he committed no crime, he is innocent of any offense,” said Wells Dixon, senior staff attorney at the Center for Constitutional Rights.

“David Hicks can now be truly free of Guantanamo.”

Hicks was captured by U.S. troops in 2001 in Afghanistan after the U.S.-led attacks against the Taliban were launched. He was transferred to Guantanamo in 2002 as one of its original detainees.

Under a pretrial agreement, Hicks was sentenced to seven years in prison.

However, all but nine months of that was suspended. Because of a transfer agreement between the United States and Australia, Hicks was returned to Australia to serve that time. He was released from prison in late 2007.

“I’m looking forward to getting on with my life now that my name has been

DUBAI

A

policeman has denied luring a woman into a car before taking her to an abandoned house and raping her.

According to ABC news, the woman accuser, R P, had told a Dubai Criminal

cleared,” Hicks told reporters in Sydney.

He spoke about the physical ailments he suffers as a result of his time at Guantanamo, and suggested the Australian government should be responsible for his medical expenses.

“They were aware of the conditions I was being held in at the time. I think they should at least pay my medical expenses. That’s not much to ask for, I think.”

He said he was kept in metal rooms in freezing conditions for years, and wasn’t able to move or exercise.

“The body deteriorates over five and a half years, even without the added torture, such as stress positions, being beaten, etc.,” he

said.

“I’m in need of operation on my left knee, my right elbow, my back. My teeth keep getting pulled because I couldn’t brush them for five and a half years,” he said.

“It’s becoming a very expensive exercise to fix myself from the years of torture.”

DUBAI

A

grand jury in the US state of North Carolina has indicted a man on three counts of murder in the shootings of three young Muslim students.

Police say that Craig Hicks, 46, carried out the shootings as a result of a parking dispute.

But they have not ruled out the possibility that the

PM, Sheik Mohammed Al Maktoum

killings may have been motivated by religious hatred.

BBC report says that at least 12 firearms were taken

court that on September 14 last year the defendant offered the woman, whose age and nationality were not available, a lift.

“I got into the car with him when I knew he was a police officer,” said the woman in records.

The officer then allegedly took her to the abandoned house, where he

threatened her, assaulted her and then raped her despite her resistance and scream.

Prosecutors told the court that the woman begged him not to rape her but her pleading fell on deaf ears. The officer was charged with rape and with also carrying out a task that he was not assigned to by

from Hicks’s home after he handed himself in to be arrested, police say.

He is reported to have described himself online as a “gun-toting” atheist.

Family members reported that Mr. Hicks had previously “picked on” the married couple.

However, his wife Karen said the incident, which has drawn international condemnation, had nothing to do with religion and her husband treated everyone

equally.

Deah Shaddy Barakat, his wife Yusor Mohammad Abu-Salha and her sister Razan Mohammad AbuSalha were found dead a week ago in their Chapel Hill flat near the University of North Carolina, where Mr Barakat was a dental student.

Hicks, a neighbour, is scheduled to appear in court accused of murder on 4 March. He remains in jail without bail.

his employer, namely stopping the woman and asking her for identification as a means to then rape her.

He denied all charges and asked to be granted bail but the court rejected his request.

It was not clear in records how the matter was reported to police but records show that the woman,

as well as the clothes she was wearing at the time of the alleged incident, was referred to the criminal lab for testing.

The lab report confirmed that she had had sexual intercourse and it confirmed that DNA matching that of the defendant was found on her clothes and her body.

It was indeed a memorable experience —Fochi Nwodo

M

US President, Barack Obama

Man indicted for US Muslim murders

Dubai policeman denies rape charge Court how the Emirati officer, S A, 28, beat her up.

“This is not true, your honour,” said the policeman at Dubai Criminal Court. “I graduated from police academy four months ago with honours and just joined the police recently, I have an old mother that I care for, I didn’t do this.”

Prosecutors told the

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

y first solo appearance was before Justice Lateef LawalAkapo of the commercial division of the High Court of Lagos State. I was instructed by my principal counsel in chambers to move a motion for withdrawal. Prior to this day, our client had stopped contacting us and apparently we have

to withdraw from the matter.

When the matter was mentioned in the court, I entered my appearance while the other party also entered his appearance. I told the court I have a motion to move while subsequently the other counsel also informed the court he has another motion to argue.

Hitherto, I was given the

opportunity to move my motion first and throughout my presentation I was quite calm because I had done series of rehearsals before the proceedings.

However, the Judge noticed I was a new wig and was also friendly. The court granted my application. It was indeed a memorable experience.

Nwodo

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Law & Justice

Monday, February 23, 2015

47

Evolving new anti-corruption framework in Nigeria (2) AKINTAYO IWILADE Continued from last week

F

or instance, an additional phrase to provide that in the exercise of the powers of the RMAFC under its enabling Act, the Commission shall not fix the total salaries, allowances, pensions or other remuneration package by whatever name called, and of any public official of whatever designation, whether serving or retired, including the President and Vice-President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, beyond the sum of Thirty Million Naira per annum which value shall at all times be determined by the purchasing power and value of Thirty Million Naira as at January of the year 2015,(or something of sort)will be a vital addition to the RMAFC Act. Also, a provision that it shall be an offence, under the Act, for any public official to earn or draw from the public treasury any further salaries, allowances, pension or other remuneration package by whatever name called, and under whatever guise, beyond the limit provided by the Act, and beyond the limit provided for in the category of the said public official under the relevant guidelines issued from time to time by the Commission, will also be essential. If the maximum limit is fixed at the current value of Thirty Million Naira for instance, it will mean the highest paid public official, which is Mr. President, cannot draw beyond Thirty Million Naira from the public purse for salaries, allowances and other remuneration by whatever name called. That stands to reason that all other public officials down the line from the VicePresident to Ministers to Legislators till the Councilors at the lowest Local Government Ward levels will earn lower wages relevant to their service and status.

This is fair enough for the long oppressed Nigerian people to drastically cut their ‘leaders’’ untenable appetite for earning in ways that mock the extreme poverty already inflicted on the majority of citizens. If the United States President, despite sitting on the largest government budget on earth, and being in charge of the world’s biggest economy; still earns a maximum annual income of $400, 000.00 (approximately Eighty Million Naira) by Law, no President of Nigeria deserves to earn beyond a maximum annual income of $150,000 (approximately Thirty Million Naira) in view of the wretched state of the average Nigerian citizen. How much will be saved from such drastic cuts in public officials’ pay will be almost unimaginable.

More so, the revolutionary impact of such drastic reforms on dismantling the psychology and perception of public office as the place to earn undeserved wages will be phenomenal. To immediately render sterile the irrational aspects of various Pension Laws for former Governors and other public officials that have been surreptitiously passed across the States, the RMAFC Act and other reformatory Acts that may be pushed for enactment, need to fundamentally provide that where there is any conflict between the State Laws and the reformatory Acts and guidelines, the State Laws to the extent of their inconsistency must stay void. We should also have a provi-

Speaker, House of Reps, Aminu Tambuwal Senate President, David Mark

sion that shall make it mandatory, for any relevant body, to make available to the public, on request, any details about what any public official receives as salaries, emoluments, pensions and benefits by whatever name called.

There are some finer legal and economic details to be worked out beyond this article of course but the bottom line is that public service must be urgently rid of its current obscene ostentatiousness that continues to push recurrent expenditure to unsustainable limits and making it almost impossible to develop critical human capital and material infrastructure without which we are headed nowhere.

The current racket going on in the name of ‘jumbo’ pay is festering because there is no consequence for such and the Law probably never envisaged such a rapacious bunch. But now that we are faced with such embarrassing legitimation of corruption, the Law can wade in since persuasions and criticisms have apparently achieved nothing so far.

Anybody guilty of contravening the limits set by law should be liable on conviction to fines double whatever extra amounts drawn in addition to mandatory jail terms of not less than 15 to 20 years. Such Laws will no doubt be a sword in the hands of a truly anti-corruption government to activate its anti-graft agencies to impartially prosecute the hundreds of members of the political class who had no business aspiring to political office in the first place anyway.

Other corruption prone laxities being

promoted by law include the patronage system of the 1999 Constitution, and supporting Laws that continue to create an over-bloated and pointless bureaucracy. An example is Section 147 (3) of the 1999 Constitution which provides for appointment of Ministers from every State of the Federation. The provisions in many enabling Acts and Regulations to the effect that appointments into Boards, Parastatals, even judicial appointments, etc must have representative from every State or region of the Federation also promote the corruption of public life in disguised ways. A society founded on patronage above rational merit cannot be corruption free.

We just must find a way, by law, to end this patronage system currently being run in Nigeria in order to bring forth the creative energies of all people without regard to wherever anybody comes from, which God they worship or don’t worship, the genitals they possess, the biological, ethnic, sociological or ancient cultural circumstances of their birth etc. Definitely it will require a lot of political will and tact, but we just have to someday end our queer style of statutory federal character application in Nigeria and gradually embrace rational merit to stop the corruptive influences of entitlements based more on so-called places of origin as against actual conscientious effort and capacity in our public life.

Singapore was a Nation riddled with corruption at about the period of Nigeria’s independence but not again. Different fundamentals have been attributed to how that country moved from having corrup-

NIGERIA TOO, MUST ADOPT STIFFER ANTICORRUPTION LAWS WITH PROVISIONS LIKE

CORRUPTION PREVENTION ACT CURRENTLY IN FORCE IN SINGAPORE

THOSE IN THE

tion as a way of life (as Nigeria currently is) into dislodging it almost totally from its public life. The foundation was political will which is obviously currently lacking in Nigeria. Other fundamentals include proactive and firm anti-corruption Laws, an effective and impartial anti-corruption Agency, a Judiciary that supports the anticorruption movement with well reflective jurisprudence and of course, an effective government that delivers on its service responsibilities to the citizens.

Nigeria too must adopt stiffer anti-corruption laws with provisions like those in the Corruption Prevention Act currently in force in Singapore. Some useful provisions of Singapore’s Corruption Prevention Act include a presumption clause whereby public officials found in custody of sums suspected to be proceeds of bribes or misappropriation are to be presumed to have corruptly obtained it except they could prove to the court’s satisfaction that such sums derived from honest earning. This is similar to the proposal in Nigeria for Court ordered Assets Confiscation pending satisfactory explanation of honest source of acquisition in situations where there are reasonable suspicions of corruption, especially when someone is not known to have engaged in any meaningful trade or calling and yet possesses assets in excess of what can reasonably accrue from what s/he purports to do for a living.

On corruption, our Evidence Act and jurisprudence have to shift the absolute burden of full presumption of innocence in such instances where public or private citizens come into sudden wealth without rational explanation. The State should be empowered to wade in to satisfy itself, through an impartial judicial system, that the wealth is product of honest earnings, failing which same should be liable to forfeiture. The Singapore model, of course with necessary modifications if need be, is highly recommended for Nigeria. Indeed, asides the statutory provisions, there are strictly enforced codes of transparency and accountability for every public officer in Singapore and the private sector is also not spared of the stringent anti-corruption battle. And with political will as the sub-structure, it has so far worked to the extent that Singapore, a once rabidly corrupt Country like Nigeria, is now one of the least corrupt countries in the world.

All said, if our development is not to remain a mere lousy wish, the need to frontally attack, and dismantle corruption; long entrenched in our public and private governance, is one of the fundamental questions that should determine the outcome of Nigeria’s 2015 Presidential election. Whatever the provisions of the Law or the adoption or modification of our prescriptions here, if enforcement is lax and a deficit in political will remains prevalent, the Law framers and thinkers would only have labored in vain- and Nigeria will remain corrupt and primitive. But hopefully, if the envisaged strong political will to courageously confront corruption is truly the choice of the majority this crucial ‘fourth’time,Nigeria may well be getting ready to become corruption free while we deal with other immanent contradictions as we move along.

Concluded

Iwilade, a Legal Practitioner writes from Lagos.

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National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Monday, February 23, 2015

Community Mirror Power generation in the country today had improved tremendously with actual generation/transmission capacity consistently hovering around 5,000MW, up from 2,800MW in 2011.

Mister of Power – Prof Chinedu Nebo

Businessman urges inquiry into slain shop attendant Richard Ndoma CALABAR

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Calabar based business man Mr. Stephen Peters has called on the Assistant Inspector General of Police, AIG, Zone 6, Tunde Ogunsakin to set up an independent panel of investigation into the circumstance surrounding the murder of his shop attendant.

Mr. Stanly Etim who was allegedly murdered by policemen attached to D’5, State Criminal Investigation Department, SCID, Diamond Hill Force headquarters Calabar, after he was arrested for involvement in an armed robbery operation.

Briefing newsmen in Calabar, Peter wondered how the police would brutalise an innocent cit-

izen accused of robbery to death before even conducting any investigation.

In a petition by the deceased twin brother simply known as Kingsley on February 9, 2015 through his lawyer and signed by claret Opara-Bassey claimed that the deceased, Mr. Stanley Etim was allegedly picked up in his work place at Sparks shopz at plot 49 Etta Agbor Road opposite Unical Small gate on February 5, 2015, by some policemen said to be attached to D’5 of the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) and taken to Diamond Hill headquarters of the Force.

“The Officers met with the Director and Manager of the Sparks Shopz and demanded to see one Stanley, a staff of

the following day which was on their enterprise for his alleged a Friday. involvement in armed robbery “When we got there the foland they were obliged their relowing day, being Friday, the quest to arrest Stanley for interO/C D’5 said that Stanley fell rogation,” Kingsley said. sick and was taken to the hospiHowever, after handcuffing tal and was responding to treattheir victim, the officers allegment,” Kingsley said. edly began to manhandle him But in a petition to the DIG, which prompted the Director of the family Lawyer said; “Sir, our the business, simply called Mr. Itoro to follow them to their office.

“Mr. Itoro, upon getting to Diamond Hill was ordered to be detained by the officer in charge of D’5, SCID for trying to intervene and he was promptly detained while the Dare Akogun abuse on Stanley continued,” he Lagos State Command Kingsley alleged. of the Nigerian Security According to him, after a long and Civil Defence Corps while, Itoro was released and (NSCDC) have paraded 23 susthey were asked to come back pects, including 5 Togolese, allegedly involved in illegal bunkering of petroleum products, between January and February 2015.

Speaking to newsmen at the agency headquarters in Lagos State Commandant Gabriel Abafi disclosed that the suspects were arrested by the Nigerian Navy at various points on the high sea and within Lagos waters, before they were handed over to the NSCDC.

client visited the Police Clinic and was informed that Stanley’s body was brought and they (the hospital staff) had confirmed him dead long ago. After this unfortunate development, our client has made several efforts to confirm the news from the C/O D’5 and members of his team to no avail.”

NSCDC parades suspects of illegal bunkering

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“A total of 378 drums, each of 250 litres, containing petroleum products were recovered during the operations”, he said.

Also paraded were 14 suspects involved in vandalism of electrical installations, illegal connections and by-passing of prepaid metres in Isolo, Abule Egba and Oworonsoki areas, belonging to the Ikeja Electric Distribution Company.

Abafi appealed to the public to avail the corps of information that would lead the agency to foil pipeline vandalism and other crimes.

He urged the youth to engage in legitimate businesses instead of vandalising petroleum pipelines, adding that the agency would do everything to end oil theft.

Ekiti community excited by radio station upgrade Residents of Badagry learning to make beads and jewelry accessories at the on-going third phase of the Economic Empowerment Programme of the Lagos State Government at the Badagry Centre, , Badagry, Lagos, yesterday.

Gunmen abducts monarch in Bayelsa Osahon Julius YENAGOA

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rmed gunmen yesterday abducted Chief Collins Adikoko, a Deputy Paramount Ruler in Ikeinghenbiri, a coastal settlement in the creeks at Southern Ijaw Local Government Area in Bayelsa state.

It was gathered from family sources that three gunmen stormed the premises of the victim at about 2 am on Saturday and whisked him away in a waiting speedboat to an unknown destination.

According to a source who proffered anonymity, the gunmen arrived the residence of the traditional ruler in the early hours of Saturday.

“They were three in number that we saw clearly, two were wearing the uniforms of Civil Defense and one was wearing the reflective jackets used by youth vigilante.

“The fired several warning shots and abducted the monarch and escaped in a waiting speedboat anchored in the nearby waterside,” the source said.

Police Public Relations Officers, Mr. Asinim Butwat, who

confirmed the incident, said that the Police had launched a manhunt for the unknown gunmen in a bid to rescue the victim and arrest the culprits.

Maj.-Gen. Emmanuel Aatewe, Commander of The Joint Task Force in the Niger Delta, codenamed Operation Pulo shield assured that the hoodlum will be apprehended shortly.

Atewe said that the task force had received reports of the incident and activated its security network in the creeks to fish out the kidnappers.

Abiodun Nejo ADO EKITI

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he Ifaki Ekiti community in Ekiti State is excited by the plan by the state government to resuscitate the moribund Voice of Ekiti Amplified Modulation (AM) Radio station in the community and transform it to Frequency Modulation (FM) Station.

The community’s monarch, the Olufaki of Ifaki, Oba Gabriel Agbaje, said the town had long expected resuscitation of the radio station and put the demand before Governor Ayodele Fayose during the electioneering campaign last year.

Oba Agbaje, spoke in his palace when a delegation of the state governor on the resuscitation of the radio station visited him.

The Olufaki, thanked Fayose for keeping to his electoral promises, assuring that “Ifaki people will always support the governor because he is a man of his words.”

The Secretary to the State Government, Dr Modupe Alade, who led the delegation, said that the project would begin soon.

Alade said the governor’s directive for the inspection of the equipment was a demonstration of his commitment to the people of Ekiti.

She said the Voice of Ekiti AM Station, Ifaki established in 1979 stopped functioning during the Dr Kayode Fayemi administration hence the need to revive the station as promised

by Governor Ayodele Fayose during his electioneering campaign as requested by the people of Ifaki.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

49

Monday, February 23, 2015

ALL PROGRESSIVE CONGRESS (APC) KEBBI CHAPTER, BIRNIN KEBBI, KEBBI STATE.

THE EMPEROR IS DANCING NAKED.

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he coming of civilian democracy in 1999 did not any way alter the status of Kebbi State as a land of peace and indeed equity. The state has no visible record of electoral violence neither was/is there any form of troubled eruptions, before, during and after electioneering. Even in 2003, with its most tumultuous elections, Kebbi has maintained a clean state in as far as electoral violence are concerned.

Our people have not only exercised an exemplary show of political maturity and decorum but have personified the best tangential elements of political sagacity. All these are becoming history.

For the Kebbi State People Democratic Party (PDP), the shift or indeed curious adjustment in the electoral timetable should have provided for them moments for sober reflection. First, to examine their dwindling electoral fortunes, the unacceptable nature of their candidates and the total rejection of the parity by the electorate. Rather, the party is viewing this seemingly minor infraction as a moment for political desperation, blatant show of economic muscle and an uninhabited use of power of force our people to submission. These are “people” who have benefitted immensely from the existing lopsided social and economic arrangement. Rather than use their “gain” to cause or accelerate popular demands, they are using their ill gotten wealth to intimidate us. If they can not buy our votes peacefully let us be coerced physically and if they cannot harass us intermittently. Now is the time to expose them.

Rather than use the often exaggerated “Federal might” to improve the lot of the people and liberate them from the shackles of poverty, rather them improve upon the capacity of critical state infrastructure to create employment and generate wealth, rather than plough back prosperity occasioned by improved government revenue, the PDP bigwigs in Kebbi State are busy exerting pressure on the people and doing everything “within their power” to emasculate them. It is only in Kebbi State a cable hungry for power is using and or is willing to empty all the tricks in the bag to subjugate its people.

In its moment of desperation the Kebbi State PDP is not sparing any underhand dealings in order to shortage the opposition APC and by implication the electorate. Since the questionable adjustment in the voting calendar, the P.D.P has intensified efforts in purchasing Permanent Voters Cards from the people. The aim is not only to disenfranchise the voters, but also to dig a hallow ground in the support base on Gen. Muhammadu Buhari. So far, a number of P.D.P foot soldiers have been let loose on the mass of our people with millions of ill gotten cash to purchase their cards.

where cannot purchase these cards, they expose cards they handle to a special kind of rays that will make them useless in election days. In certain places where people demanded the retraction of those cards, they found out, albeit lately that continuous exposure to sun light has virtually invalidated those cards and therefore undesirable for the exercise and the function they are suppose to perform. It is also on authority that some members of the electorate who happen to be wiser, have a portion of their voters cards numbers erased thus rendering them all the more invalid.

vicariously for pestering illegality. He must as a lawyer know the consequence of such action and must be ready to be hold both legally and socially accountable.

It is imperative to bring to the knowledge of the general public the planned use of the military, police and sundary security outfits to coerce our people. On the Friday, 6thFebruary 2015, everybody woke-up to see detachments of heavily armed soldiers in all 21 L.G.As of Kebbi State. When asked about their mission, the only explanation was that they are awaiting for orders. Orders indeed to mollify the people or It is also on record that the Kebbi short and apologize later or decimate on entire State Government has collected the sum of population if they refused to “toe the line”.

N20,440,338,000 as contributions from the Already, plans are afoot to arrest all SURE-P Trust Funds in the last 36 months. Apart from a recorded expenditure of N3,633,000,000 notable APC stalwarts and foot soldiers in which covers purchase of rice, operational Kebbi State. A dossier of 10 person Per-Local vehicles (16 ordered 10 delivered) payment of Government have already been completed and N100,000 allowances for 26 Board members for forwarded to Abuja. All the security outfits in the 26 months, the remaining monies are nowhere state are waiting for is an order “from above” to to be found. The general public especially those clamp down on our supporters. who sacrifice their lives to demonstrate against subsidy removal are clamoring for accountability. In order to hoist itself on the people, the PDP in This makes it all the more imperative for the Kebbi State is already using traditional Institution, government to come clean on this and several religious bodies and all subterranean measurer to facilitate rigging. Already, a handsome bribe other allegations. money has already been marshaled for this job.

The government as usual is hiding behind We use this medium to commend the bravery, a finger. In order for them to gain an unlawful temerity and courage of out traditional rulers in advantage, the Kebbi State Government and the rejecting this blood money.

Federal Government are coming with glaringly Finally, we would like to assure the illegal ways of using SURE-P forms, requesting for prospective voters to fill in their PVC number good people of Kebbi State that we are phone number and other particulars for them to compiling every bit of information on all their benefit from one from of SURE-P intervention or evil machinations and we promise to use this and every other medium to expose them. We another. (A copy is attached). implore you are people to be vigilant. Where We may wish to use this opportunity to draw ever and whenever you see any wrong being the attention of both the Kebbi and Federal committed by whosoever, make noise. Where Governmentonthisrecoursetolatterdayelectoral necessary rude noise. Noise to attract attention manipulation. The economic emasculation and not attract yourself, but to what is happening. social strangulation of our people should not go beyond the mechanisms earlier employed before now; rather new avenues should not be created to further quarantine our people to perpetual economic servitude. The Sewing machine, refrigerators, grinding machine, bags of rice and textile material are bought with the blood and sweat of out people. Using them to gain any form of electoral advantages by the P.D.P is both morally, socially and politically indefensible.

For the last one week, Kebbi State has witnessed the influx of an army of money bags who came with an armade of cash to purpose our conscience. Dr. Bello Haliru Muhammed (of no fixed address) Buhari Bala (with no visible record of achievement) Kabiru Tanimu Turaki have all at one time or the other offloaded their cash to purchase PVCs induce would be electorate and where necessary hoard Closely associated with this is the fact that or invalidate the cards. As a lawyer,Turaki is

Signed Alh. Muhammed Sani Dododo State Publicity Secretary All Progressive Congress Kebbi State.

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Monday, February 23, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

World News

An awful lot of extremism... is people looking for a sense of belonging.

–ROSS FRENETT OF THE INSTITUTE OF STRATEGIC DIALOGUE, UK

48 die in Bangladeshi ferry mishap PAUL ARHEWE

WITH AGENCY REPORTS

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river ferry carrying up to 140 passengers capsized in central Bangladesh yesterday after being hit by a cargo vessel, killing at least 48 people, officials said. A rescue operation was underway, but it was not clear how many people were missing.

The ferry was struck by the cargo vessel at the DaulatdiaPaturia crossing on the Padma River on Sunday afternoon, said fire department official Shahzadi Begum. Rescue teams were deployed and passing boats were helping in the operation, she said.

The site is 40 kilometers (25 miles) northwest of Dhaka, the capital. Ferry accidents are common in Bangladesh, an impoverished South Asian nation that is crisscrossed by more than 130 rivers.

The ferry, the M.L. Mosta, was submerged at a depth of up to 6 meters (20 feet), said Inspector Zihad Mia, who is overseeing the rescue operation.

By Sunday evening, at least 48 bodies had been recovered, Mia said.

Bangladeshi relatives wail near bodies of victims after a river ferry carrying about 100 passengers capsized, yesterday

He said officials had yet to determine how many passengers were missing. Ferries in Bangladesh usually do not maintain formal passenger lists.

“We don’t have a clear picture about how many were exactly in the ferry when it sank,” Mia said. “But I think many have survived.”

Jewel Mia, an official from the Bangladesh Inland Water

Transport Authority, told reporters at the scene that up to 140 people were on board when the ferry sank.

A passenger who survived said many people got trapped inside when the ferry sank. “The passengers who were on the deck have survived, but many who were inside got trapped,” Hafizur Rahman Sheikh was quoted as saying by the Prothom

‘Liberian president urges help in post-Ebola phase’

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iberia’s leader on Sunday urged the United States and other countries to keep up their support to the West African nation as it recovers from the Ebola epidemic and refocuses attention on infrastructure projects that will better position it to tackle future

Sirleaf

outbreaks of disease.

In an interview with The Associated Press, President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf said Liberia needs outside help to see through its “post-Ebola agenda” of building up basic public services — development that she said was needed to prevent another deadly epidemic from becoming “a global menace.”

Among the needs she highlighted were power projects to keep hospital equipment running, roads so the sick can access medical facilities, and clean water to prevent diseases from spreading.

“Our own limited resources have not enabled us to take them to the level where they could ... be in a preventive mode. And that’s the support we want,” she said.

“The great lesson in all these things, you know, whether you’re dealing with conflict or whether you’re dealing with disease, is to emphasize preven-

tion rather than cure. It costs so much when you have to fix it,” added Sirleaf, who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2011.

Deeply impoverished Liberia was one of the countries hardest hit in the West Africa Ebola outbreak that began last year and ranks as the largest in history. It has seen more than 9,000 confirmed, suspected and probable cases, and 3,900 deaths.

Liberia, founded in 1847 by freed American slaves, has long had close ties to the U.S. Sirleaf was elected president in 2005 after years of civil war, and was re-elected to a final term six years later. She is in the United Arab Emirates city of Sharjah, near Dubai, to address the International Government Communication Forum.

She will travel to Washington later this week to meet with President Barack Obama to discuss the Ebola response and the region’s economic recovery.

Alo newspaper.

Sheikh said the cargo vessel hit the middle of the ferry.

Authorities ordered an investigation into the accident and a five-member committee has been asked to submit a report within 15 days, the Ministry of Shipping said in a statement.

The Padma is one of the largest rivers in Bangladesh, where overcrowding and poor safety standards are often blamed for ferry disasters.

Last August, a ferry with a capacity of 85 passengers was found to be carrying more than 200 when it capsized on the Padma near Dhaka, leaving more than 100 people dead or missing.

The ferry’s owner was arrested after weeks in hiding on charges of culpable homicide, unauthorized operation and overloading.

At least five people were killed earlier this month when a ferry sank in southern Bangladesh.

South Africa rescues 280 miners after underground fire South Africa’s Harmony Gold said on Sunday about 280 employees were rescued with no injuries or deaths recorded after an underground fire at its Kusasalethu mine.

“Kusasalethu update: 280 people brought safely to surface, no casualties or injuries reported,” the company said on its Twitter page. Harmony earlier said 287 out of 487 employees had reached an underground refuge chamber, with 199 unaccounted for.

WORLD BULLETIN Blast damages Iranian ambassador’s home in Libya A bomb blast outside the Iranian ambassador’s house in Libya’s capital yesterday which caused minor damage to the empty building was claimed by militants affiliated with the Islamic State group.

Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Marzieh Afkham condemned the “terrorist” attack, which she said claimed no lives. She called on political rivals in Libya to form a national unity government to end the country’s escalating chaos.

Twitter accounts used by Islamic State supporters said the attack was carried out by the group’s branch in Tripoli and posted pictures from the site of the explosion. There are growing concerns that the Islamic State has spread beyond the battlefields of Iraq and Syria and established a foothold in Libya, just across the sea from Europe. There was no official statement from the group claiming responsibility for the attack.

The group claimed responsibility for suicide bombings Friday in eastern Libya that killed at least 40 people in what the group said was retaliation for Egyptian airstrikes against the extremists’ aggressive new branch in North Africa.

Rebels order weapons pull-back as Ukraine say armour arriving Pro-Moscow rebels said they would start to withdraw heavy weapons from the front line in eastern Ukraine on Sunday but the government in Kiev said armoured columns had crossed the border from Russia to reinforce the separatists.

The Ukrainian military said the rebels were pressing on with attacks on government forces near Mariupol, a port in government hands that is seen as the rebels’ next major target.

Spokesman Andriy Lysenko said a military train carrying 60 armoured vehicles including tanks had arrived in the town of Amvrosiivka from Russia on Saturday.

A convoy of military equipment had later crossed the border near Novoazovsk, east of Mariupol on the Sea of Azov.

He said fighting was in progress at the village of Shyrokyne, east of Mariupol.

“The fight continues. Our soldiers are holding their positions,” Lysenko said, adding that there had been a total of 44 attacks by separatists across the conflict zone in the past 24 hours.

In the city of Kharkiv, three people were killed and 10 wounded on Sunday when an explosive device was thrown from a car into a crowd attending a peace rally, a Ukrainian regional prosecutor said.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Kidnappers of Dariye’s father demand $10m

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idnappers of Senator Joshua Dariye’s father, Mr Dariye Dafweng, on Saturday demanded $10 million as ransom before they release him to his family members.

“We have just confirmed that the kidnappers dropped a letter in which they asked for $10 million,’’ Maj.-Gen. Dave Enetie, Commander of the Special Task Force, STF, maintaining secu-

North

Monday, February 9, 2015

rity in Plateau State, told News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, in Jos yesterday.

He said the kidnappers also left telephone numbers to facilitate contacts with family of their victim.

“We are trying to get a copy of the letter and the phone numbers to help our efforts in securing the release of Dariye’s father,’’ he said.

Enetie said STF personnel had been dispatched

to nooks and crannies of the state to locate the kidnappers, in addition to the efforts of search teams combing neighbouring states.

Meanwhile, Mr Abu Emmanuel, Plateau Police Public Relations Officer, has said that the police had visited the site of the incident and even picked up shells of bullets shot by the gunmen.

“There is already a search and rescue team

and we hope we should be able to arrive at something as soon as possible,’’ he said.

NAN reports that Dafweng was kidnapped by gunmen, who had invaded the Dariye family compound, shooting sporadically and scaring away people The gunmen then took the old man, dressed him in women’s clothes, and sped off with him on a motorcycle.

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Seven wounded in Katsina clash James Danjuma KATSINA

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campaign rally by All Progressives Congress, APC, at the weekend in Majigiri village, Mashi council area of Katsina State, turned ugly with seven people getting injured following a clash.

The incident occurred when Engr. Mustapha Bukar, the APC senatorial candidate for Daura zone, alongside other party members, stormed the region to campaign.

Majigiri village is where former Government House Chief of Staff and Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, candidate for House of Representatives, Salisu Yusuf, hails from.

Some of the villagers, who spoke with our correspondent, alleged they were attacked unprovoked

by APC supporters for failing to show support for the party’s candidates.

The incident also saw a vehicle, a local food silo and animal food reserve set on fire, while police that

accompanied the APC candidates fired several shots and canisters of teargas to dispel the clashing sides.

Yusuf described the incident in his village as unfortunate, adding that politics should not be seen as a door-die affair.

He wondered why candidates seeking votes from his community would allow the area to be attacked and their food storage facility burnt to the ground.

He however called on the police not to take sides but to ensure justice in the matter.

But Bukar, the APC senatorial candidate, said contrary to insinuation, it was his campaign train that was attacked when they were in the village.

“We were attacked. I wonder how we can attack a place where we went to seek their vote. We visited so many places like that.

“We greeted the village head and left for the location where we were to speak to the people. The police are in a better position to tell you what happened.”

Dangote to complete refinery, fertiliser plant

M L-R: Chairman, Adamawa State Positive Change Initiative, Alhaji Abubakar Kari; PDP gubernatorial candidate, Malam Nuhu Ribadu and State PDP Vice Chairman, Alhaji Jingi Rufai, during Ribadu’s endorsement in Yola, yesterday.

PHOTO: NAN

APC accuses Aliyu of siphoning LG funds Priscilla Dennis MINNA

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iger State chapter of the All Progressives Congress, APC, has accused the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP administration of Governor Mu’azu Aliyu of siphoning local government funds meant for his Ward Development Programme policy, thereby further impoverishing the grassroots of the state.

The party therefore, called on Aliyu to account for the billions deducted at source from local government account, but not disbursed to the ward development committees over the years.

Expressing dismay, it said, “Our party’s governorship campaign team

has been inundated with complaints from the rural dwellers in the interior villages about the poor implementation of the programme, while government was making huge noise about its success on the pages of newspapers.”

In a statement issued in Minna by its state Publicity Secretary, Mr. Jonathan Vatsa said although the concept of the ward development policy would have brought real development to the people if properly implemented, the administration allowed corruption to swallow its implementation across the state.

“Deductions were made every month from the accounts of the local governments but the money was not made

available to the projects.

We make bold to ask: Where did the deductions go? The truth is that the ward development project is an avenue for siphoning public money.

We call on the governor to give account of all deductions since the inception of the ward development project.”

In its reaction, the state government said the opposition is envious and intimidated of the policy.

The government stated the APC was only trying to present the project in bad light to score cheap political point and to also rubbish the globally acclaimed initiative of Aliyu.

“The WDP is gaining acceptance within and outside the country,” it said, adding that already

the state under Aliyu’s administration has set veritable example for today’s leaders to take development to the grassroots.

It added that funds for the project were well accounted for and monies spent so far well documented, adding that the state APC was again on an errand of blackmail to score cheap political mileage.

Aliyu

anagement of Dangote Group has said its focus now is to develop its multi-billion dollars new businesses to appreciable level this year to meet completion dates.

The group is putting in place infrastructures for business projects such as refinery, gas, fertiliser and rice production.

Speaking at the weekend on the International Business Cable Television Channel, CNBC, in Lagos, the Group’s Executive Director for Strategy, Portfolio Development and Special Project, Mr. Devakumar Edwin, said the company would launch all out to ensure the businesses come on stream as planned.

He said though a few of the new businesses have been redesigned for increased capacity, management expects all to come on stream as planned, inflation, exchange rate and increased bank interest rate notwithstanding.

Edwin said the Dangote Group business models were developed to be among the biggest in the world, adding that the company’s new technologies gives it

advantage over others.

He cited Obajana plant as the single largest cement plant in the world, and “our sugar refinery plant is the single second largest in the world,” adding “We are building 650,000 barrels per day oil refinery which will be the largest in the world, and our planned rice production would also be the largest in the world.”

Edwin stated that the company is focusing on its refinery timely delivery, fertiliser plant equipment already on ground and the gas production.

It would be recalled that Dangote Industries Limited, DIL, had signed memorandum of understanding, MoU, with Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, FMARD to invest $1 billion (N165 billion) for the establishment of fully integrated rice production and processing operations across Nigeria.

The signing of the pact, which was presided over by President Goodluck Jonathan, and the planned investment are a response to the ongoing reforms of the president’s Agricultural Transformation Agenda, ATA launched in 2011.

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Monday, February 23, 2015

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as Ayoko Ayorinde Oluwatosin now wish to be known and addressed as Abraham Ayorinde Oluwatosin.

All former documents remain valid.Olabisi Onabanjo University, National Identity Management Commission, Independent National Electoral Commission, NYSC and General public to take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

This is to confirm that Okorie Ibrahim Chukwuemeka, with Nigeria International Passport No. A06168720 is the same person as Okorie Chukwuemeka Samuel that henceforth wish to be known and addressed as Okorie Chukwuemeka Samuel. All former documents remain valid. Nigeria Immigration Service and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

OKAFOR: Formerly known and addressed as Miss.

Linda Adaugo Okafor, now wish to be addressed as Mrs Linda Adaugo Onumonu.All documents remain valid.General public note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as Miss. Ibrahim Tawakalit, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Ibrahim Tawakalit Olalere. All former documents remain valid. N.Y.S.C and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CHUKWUMA: Formerly known and addressed as Amadi Chukwuma Christopher, now wish to be known and addressed as Amadi Chidiebere Christopher.

All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

BELLO: Formerly known and addressed as Bello Ololade Adisa now wish to be known and addressed as Omoowo Ololade Adisa. All documents remain valid.General public note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as Miss Adetunji Bridget Adejoke now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Oladepo Adejoke Bridget. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

NNAMANI: Formerly known and addressed as Miss Nnamani Caroline Ngozika, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Offor Caroline Ngozika. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as Popoola Modina Bola now wish to be known and addressed as Akintayo Modina Bola.

All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as Miss Helen Nkiruka Amaechi, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Helen Nkiruka Ezike. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as Miss Onuoha Chinenye, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Chinenye James-Michael. All former documents remain valid. The general public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as Naiyeju Oluwakemi Oluranti, now wish to be known and addressed as Oloyede Oluwakemi Oloyede.

All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

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CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as Ogunmoroti John Oluwatoba, w wish to be known and addressed as Jesulogbon John Oluwatoba Jesugbamila.

All former documents remain valid. General public take note CONFIRMATION OF NAME

This is to confirm that Olawale Rufus is the same person as Olajubaje Olawale Olakanmi.

All formal documents remain valid. F.C.M.B and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as Miss Ibeh Chinonso Favour. now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Nlemuzor Chinonso Favour.

All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as Miss Chinyere Amamgbo, now wish to be known, called and addressed as Mrs Chinyere Ononye. All documents and certificates bearing my former names remain valid. General public should please take note

This is to confirm that Hammed Searafa is the same one person as Hammed Sarafa Olayemi,that henceforth wish to be known and addressed as Hammed Sarafa Olayemi. All former documents remain valid, Osun State Polytechnic,Iree and general public should please take note.

Formerly known and addressed as Adeleke Odunayo Feranmi Atinuke now wish to be addressed and called as Adeleke Feranmi Odunayo.All former documents remain valid. Osun State Polytechnic,Iree and general public should please take note.

This is to confirm that Abraham Peter is the same one person as Abraham Ode Peter.,that henceforth wish to be known and addressed as Abraham Ode Peter. All former documents remain valid,Osun State Polytechnic, Iree and general public should please take note .

This is to confirm that Omojogunmola Emmanuel Sesan is the same one person as Omojogunola Emmanuel Sesan, that henceforth wish to be called and addressed as Omojogunola Emmanuel Sesan.All former documents remain valid,Osun State Polytechnic, Iree and general public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CONFIRMATION OF NAME This is to confirm that Ayeko Bukunmi is the same one person as Ayeko Bukunmi Abiodun, that henceforth wish to be called and addressed as Ayeko Bukunmi Abiodun. All former documents remain valid,Osun State Polytechnic, Iree and general public should please take note.

Formerly known and addressed as Miss Ayantoyinbo Sadiat Ajoke, now wish to be addressed and called as Mrs Abdulazeez Alimat Ajoke.

All former documents remain valid.

The general public should please take note

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CONFIRMATION OF NAME This is to confirm my name as Muogbo Oluchi Doris and declare that I am the same person bearing, Muogbo Oluchi Doris and Muogbo Oluchukwu Doris. That all former documents bearing these names remain valid. General public should please take note.

EZECHUKWU: Formerly known and addressed as Miss Ezechukwu Patience Chiebonam, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Okonkwo Patience Chiebonam.

All former documents remain valid.

General public take note

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CONFIRMATION OF NAME I, Sekoni Monsurat Kikelomo confirm that I am also the owner of NECO result, 2010 and NABTEB result 2012 that bear Sekoni Monsurat. All documents bearing the names remain valid.Ospoly, Iree and the general public should take note.

EJEZIE: Formerly known and addressed as Miss Ejezie Nneka Maureen, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Ani Nneka Maureen. All former documents remain valid. General public take note

Formerly known and addressed as Seidu Queen Simbiat, now wish to be known, called and addressed as Dada Oluwafunke Queen. All documents and certificates bearing my former names remain valid. General public should please take note

OBINNA: Formerly known and addressed as Uzowuru Obinna Jude, now wish to be known and addressed as Uzowuru Obichukwu Jude. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

EZE: Formerly known and addressed as Miss Eze Sylvia Nneka, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Enwelu Sylvia Nneka. All former documents remain valid.

Benue State University (BSU), NYSC and general public should take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

IDOWU: Formerly known and addressed as Miss Idowu Omowumi Deborah now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Abiodun Omowumi Deborah. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as Miss Stella Edet Etim, now wish to be called and addressed as Mrs. Stella Xavier Inyang. All former documents remain valid.

NYSC and general public should please note.

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as Kareem Gbenga Joseph, now wish to be known and addressed as Philip Oluwagbenga Joseph.All former Documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as Alli Adeola Abiodun, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Adeola Adeoyemi Ogunshola.

All former documents remain valid.

General public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as Miss Arisukwu Chioma Prisca now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Princewill Chioma Prisca.

All former documents remain valid, NYSC and the general public take note

CHANGE OF NAME

TUMBA: Formerly known and addressed as Miss Mercy Yohanna Tumba, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Mercy Stephen Amoh. All former documents remain valid. Public Complaints Commission (PCC) adand general public should take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

OKUNFOLAMI: Formerly known and addressed as Miss Okunfolami Olabisi, now wish to called and addressed as Mrs. Oyaniran Olabisi. All former documents remain valid. Nigerian Police Force (NPF) and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

MAMEH: Formerly known and addressed as Miss Augustina Mameh now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Augustina John.

All former documents remain valid.

Nigeria Police Force and general public should take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

ACHUAMA : Formerly known and addressed as Miss Achuama Stella Nneka, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Ugwuaja David Stella Nneka. All former documents remains valid. The general public should please take note

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as Miss Ojomu Funke Saida Labake, Now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Raji Funke Saida Labake. All former documents remain valid. General public take note

PUBLIC NOTICE TEEN CHALLENGE HOPE INITIATIVE

This is to inform the general public that the above named Organisation has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for registration under part ‘C’ of the Companies and Allied Matters Act, 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE:

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

1. To rehabilitate drug addicts and educate teens of the dangers of drug abuse and addiction 2. To engage in public awareness campaign against the use of illicit drugs, HIV/AIDS and other diseases 3.

To provide competent residential care at the teen challenge centres in a 24-hour supervised and safe environment.

4.

To assist family members of substance abusers through education and counselling with the goal of development strong families 5.

To provide communities with preventive education about drug and alcohol abuse and AIDS through literature, seminars and public meeting.

6. To provide random drug testing to ensure that recovering addicts remain drug free.

Formerly known and addressed as Mr. Ogunkanmi Gbenga, now wish to be known and addressed as Mr. Joseph Opeyemi Oluwagbenga.

All former Documents remain valid. General public should please take note Formerly known and addressed as Busari Sofiat Abimbola, now wish to be known and addressed as Busari-Akinbode Sofiat Abimbola. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

DE INDIGENOUS ENTREPRENEURS ASSOCIATION OF BAYELSA STATE This is to inform the general public that the above named Association has applied to the corporate Affairs Commission for Registration under part ‘C’ of the companies and Allied matters Act of 1990

1. Mr Richard Bokiri 2. Mrs Timi Opuala Charles 3. Dr Patience Epelle 4. Engr Frank Alazi 5. Mr Alex Progress 6. Mr Akpos Dickson Kentebe 7. Faith Wilkinson

CHANGE OF NAME

OKORIE : Formerly known and addressed as Miss Okorie Maureen Ngozi, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Nwegbe Maureen Ngozi. All former documents remains valid. The general public should please take note

CHANGE OF NAME

ABANIME: Formerly known and addressed as Miss Abanime Ekene Anthonia, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Udemezue Ekene Anthonia.

All former documents remain valid. General public take note

1. Omih Otunuya David 2. Dr. George Anyuku Azubuike 3. Rev. Goodwell Israel Ph.D 4. Ruth Chadi Samuel

PUBLIC NOTICE

THE TRUSTEES ARE:

CHANGE OF NAME

- President, - Member, - Treasurer, - Member, - Member, - Member, - Secretary

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE: 1.To Build, groom And Empower Indigenous Entrepreneurs In Bayelsa.

2. To Act As An Organ Of Advocacy For Indigenous Entrepreneurs Any objection to the registration should be forwarded to the Registrar-General, Corporate Affairs Commission, Abuja, within 28days of this publication.

SIGNED: MR RICHARD BOKIRI (PRESIDENT)

- Chairman - Secretary

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE:

> 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: GABRIEL OMACHI ESQ. G. OMACHI & CO. 25 TAFAWA BALEWA STREET, JOS. PLATEAU STATE. 08063710358

PUBLIC NOTICE

FARMER’S ASSOCIATION ONITSHA SOUTH ANAMBRA CHANGE OF TRUSTEE This is to inform the general public that the above named body has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for registration under the part C of the Company and Allied Matters Act 1990.

OLD TRUSTEES

1. Celestine Okata Iheji 2. Daniel Uzochukwu Itumoh 3. Michael Chukwuemeka Elekwe 4. Aloysuis Ebuzoeme

NEW TRUSTEES

1. Daniel Uzochukwu Itumoh Chairman 2. Celestine Okata Iheji Secretary 3. Aloysuis Ebuzoeme

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE:

To promote unity and peace among the Association Any objection to the above registration should be forwarded to the Registrar General, Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420 Trigis Crescent, off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, Abuja, within 28 days of this publication.

SIGNED:DANIEL UZOCHUKWU ITUMOH -CHAIRMAN

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

OKOYE: Formerly known and addressed as Miss Okoye Nneka Evelyn, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Anyadike Nneka Evelyn Delight. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

NWANGWU : Formerly known and addressed as Miss Nwangwu Josephine Oluchukwu, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Ezeani Rita Oluchukwu. The general public should please take note

CHANGE OF NAME

DAWO: Formerly known and addressed as Miss Dawo Lona Achieng , now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Dejonwo Lona Achieng. All former documents remain valid. General public take note

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as Miss Dorcas Anita Ayobo, now w wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Emenike Dorcas Anita. All former documents remain valid. The general public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

NGAMKANMA: formerly known and addressed as Miss Ngamkanma Peace now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Ozegbe Peace Nwakaego. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

ONUOHA : formerly known and addressed as Miss Onuoha Nancy Amarachi, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Nwoke Nancy Amarachi. all former documents remain valid. Nysc and General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

UKAH: formerly known and addressed as Miss Ukah Precious Agbomma, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Amadi Precious Agbomma. All former documents remain valid. General public take note

CHANGE OF NAME

MBAEZUE: Formerly known and addressed as Miss Mbaezue Chinyere Confidence, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Ekwugha Chnyere Confidence.

All former documents remain valid.

General public take note

CHANGE OF NAME

NKEMAKA: Formerly known and addressed as Miss Nkemaka Faith Nkiru, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Faith Nkiru Unekwe. All former documents remain valid. General public take note

CHANGE OF NAME

ANOPUECHI: Formerly known and addressed as Miss Anopuechi Ifeoma Elizabeth, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Nduka Ifeoma Elizabeth. All former documents remains valid. NYSC and general public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

UZOECHINA : Formerly known and addressed as Miss Uzoechina Ebelechukwu Ijeoma, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Nnaebue Ebelechukwu Ijeoma.

All former documents remains valid.

General public should please take note.

PUBLIC NOTICE IFELOJU SAND DEALERS ASSOCIATION

The general public is hereby notified that the above named Association has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission (C.A.C.), Abuja for registration under Part “C” of the Company and Allied Matter Act 1 of 2004.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1) Alhaji Sulaimon Jimoh 2) Alhaji Ahmed Karounwi 3) Alhaji Azeez Abatan 4) Chief Tajudeen Adebiyi 5) Chief Surajudeen Irelabi 6) Chief Musedik Olabiyi 7) Madam Funmi Olurebi 8) Madam Janet Ayenuro 9) Madam Tawakalitu Gafari

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE: 1) To protect the interest of Members 2) To work with Government agencies to make Manning business worthwhile Any objection to the registration should be forwarded totheRegistrarGeneral,CorporateAffair sCommission,Plot 420 TigrisCrescent, OffAguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama Abuja within 28 days of this publication.

SIGNED: KOLAWOLE SOGEKE SECRETARY

PUBLIC NOTICE ASSOCIATION OF COMPUTER ENGINEERS ABEOKUTA This is to notify the general public that the above named association has applied for registration with the Corporate Affairs Commission, Abuja under part “C” of the Companies and Allied Matters Act, 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. Engineer Oyesola Olujare 2. Engineer Odugbemi Olaolu (Agape) 3. Engineer Wale Animaun 4. Babatunde Adene 5. Sinmire Abiodun

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE:

1. To protect the common interest of members involved in sales, services and repairs of computers and its accessories.

2. To be the recognised point of reference by government agencies, NGOs and private sectors on matters pertaining to computer engineering.

3. To promote and encourage effective computer service delivery.

4. To build a foundation for effective computer engineering in Ogun state.

5. To ensure proper and adequate discipline among members.

Any objection to the registration should be forwarded to the Registrar General, Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420, Tigris Crescent, Off Aguyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, Abuja within twenty eight (28) days of this publication.

SIGNED: MR. RAJI IDRIS, PROTEM CHAIRMAN.

Monday, February 23, 2015

I think we will be good to go by the time the qualifiers begin in June for the AFCON 2017 finals

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

53

Sport

Iwobi listed for Nigeria vs Bolivia 55

–BURKINA FASO STRIKER, ALAIN TRAORE

NSC Super Saturday lauds D Eaglets, Dream Team VI

Golden Eaglets’ lineline-up up

JOEL AJAYI ABUJA

irector General of the Nationa l Sports Comm praised the re ission (NSC), silience and de Hon. Gbenga termination of against Zambi Elegbeleye, ha the Golden Ea a and qualifica s gl et s which got th tio n for this year’s The Emmanue e team victory FIFA U-17 Wor l Amunike tuto ld Cup in Chile red Eaglets span ing African U-17 . ked Zambia 3-1 Championship to qualify for th in Niger Republ the junior world e se m i-f ic in an als of the ongod th cup us, picked one of the tickets rese Also, Nigeria’s rv ed for Africa in U- 23 national te am led by Coac feated the home h Sa team 4-1 to brig mson Siasia on hten Nigeria’s qu Saturday in Libr Elegbeleye expr alification for th eville, Gabon de essed happines is year’s All Afr s for the heart-w end and hailed ica Games. arming perform the Nigerian w an ces of the natio inning mentalit “We are happy nal teams at the y in them. to hear the new weeks of the victorie in Niger and G s recorded by th abon respectivel e G olden Eaglets an y. I am happier the ongoing Afr d the Dream Te that the Eaglets ica U-17 Champi am VI by their qualifi on sh ip cation for the se ha ve “I am also char al so bo ok ed mi-finals of their place in th ging the Dream e finals of the w Team VI to cont ticket for the All orld cup. inue the way th Africa Games fo ey have started r the country. Yo it will be great ne and win the qual u kn ow ws for us to win that Nigeria did ification the qualificatio not qualify for th and the Dream n ticket this tim e last edition. So Team VI for mak e ar ou nd. I say kudos ing Nigeria prou to the Golden Ea d on Saturday,” glets the NSC DG said .

Senegal 2015: Flying Eagles’ list out Thursday

T

he Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) will have to submit a final 21-man squad for the 2015 U-20 African Youth Championship (AYC) to CAF by midnight of Thursday, National Mirror learnt yesterday.

The Flying Eagles squad currently comprises a 28-man provisional team that includes Belgium-based defender Wilfred Ndidi and Dolphins new signing Christian Pyagbara.

Pyagbara joined the team’s

training camp in Abuja on their return from two warm-up matches in Ghana, while the NFF awaits Belgian club Genk over the release of Ndidi for the AYC. Meanwhile, results of the scans on midfielders Musa Ya-

haya and Zaharadeen Bello are expected to be made known in the new week.

Yahaya suffered a knee injury during the Flying Eagles second test match against Ghana in Tema, while Bello is nursing a

swollen calf.

National Mirror learnt yesterday that the Flying Eagles are scheduled to depart Nigeria in a few days for a training tour ahead of the AYC billed to kick off on March 8 in Dakar, Senegal.

Toure

Sports

54

Monday, February 23, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Transfer latest:

EPL results Tottenham

2

2

West Ham

Everton

2

2

Leicester

Southampton 0

2

Liverpool

wants City stay

A

gent Dimitr Seluk has claimed that Manchester City midfielder, Yaya Toure, wants to stay and possibly retire at the Premier League club.

Toure has been the subject of much speculation in recent months, with the Cote d’ Ivoire captain’s current contract set to expire at the end of the season.

But Seluk says the former Barcelona midfielder is happy and wants nothing more than to remain at City.

“Yaya loves Manchester City and, despite what is sometimes said, he is very happy at the club,” the agent insisted.

“In fact, he would like to stay for life. He would love nothing better than to finish his playing career with City and then work for the club after that,” he added.

Seluk says his client’s primary focus is not on money, but rather on securing his future with a possible off-thefield role once he hangs up his playing boots.

“That’s why I want City to give Yaya a new contract, to show him that they want him to be part of the future.

“When he stops playing, then Yaya could have an executive role, perhaps as sporting director.

“He has played in Belgium, Ukraine, Greece, France, Spain and England and has won championships with Olympiacos, Barcelona and Manchester City, in addition to winning the the Champions League and the African Cup of Nations.”

LLTC 1895 honours Okoya-Thomas Glo launches EPL info platform

G

lobacom has launched a service that will enable fans and followers of the English Premier League (EPL) in Nigeria to access information about the league through their Glo lines.

Known as the EPL Content Service, followers on the Glo Mobile network will be able to download current and past information on anything or anyone associated with the League.

The information include historical facts, club facts and records, in addition to frequently asked questions, players’ profiles, players and ex-players’ information as nick names, hair styles

and serious or trivial details.

To connect with the service, all the EPL fans will send names of their clubs to 54889, using their Glo lines as “ManU to 54889” or “Chelsea to 54889”.

Clubs available on the platform are Manchester United, Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester City.

A statement by Globacom’s Head of Value Added Services, Mr. Nagasai Vishwanath, said subscription for the service would cost N25 weekly, even as he promised that more clubs would be added to the platform.

“We like to meet our subscribers at the point of their passions

Late Okoya-Thomas

T Adenuga

and since there are millions of EPL fans in Nigeria, we have created this service to further satisfy their interests,” the statement said, adding, “The overall aim is to equip the fans to discuss their favourite game and clubs with accurate and up-to-date information.”

he Lagos Lawn Tennis Club (LLTC 1895) will on March 2 hold a Special Service of Songs in honour of philanthropist Chief Molade Okoya-Thomas who died in Lagos recently.

A statement signed by Executive Committee member of the club, Bala Yesufu, yesterday said the event which would take place at the club premises at Onikan, Lagos would commence at 6pm.

“The Special Service of Songs is in recognition of Chief Okoya-

Thomas’ immense contributions to the club and sports development in the country.

“His role in the development of sports in Nigeria is no less remarkable and will remain indelible.”

Chief Okoya-Thomas was a past president of the Lagos Lawn Tennis Club (LLTC 1895) and until his death, Chairman Board of Trustees of the club. He established the popular Asoju-Oba Table Tennis Championship and was the sole sponsor of the annual tournament for over four decades. He also served in several capacities that include vice chairman, Lagos Sports Council; chairman, 3rd All Africa Games Appeal Fund Committee; chairman, National Appeal Fund for Sports Development and chairman, Sports Trust Fund, amongst others.

According to his family, he will be interred in Lagos on March 6.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Sports

Monday, February 23, 2015

Court threatens to jail Nduka Irabor

A

Lagos High Court has threatened to jail the Chairman of the League Management Company (LMC), Hon. Nduka Irabor, and members of his board for contempt of the court.

Justice O. A Ogala (Mrs) had on June 27, 2014 ruled in a case brought before her by Total Promotions against the Nigeria Football League Limited and League Management Company Limited as defendants over the broadcast right of the Nigerian League, warning that the LMC should stop to interfere in any way with the performance of the contract between Total Promotions and the Nigeria Premier League/Nigeria Football League Limited.

The court, in a notice of consequence of disobedience to Order of Court served Hon. Irabor in his Lekki Phase 1, Lagos residence on February 17, the court warned that the LMC either complies with the June 27, 2014 ruling or the members of the LMC would be thrown to jail.

The Form 48, Order IX, rule 13 stated, inter alia: “Take note that

unless you obey the directions contained in this order (ruling) you will be guilty of contempt of the court and will be liable to be committed to prison.”

Aside the lingering legal tussle between Total Promotions and the league management over the Broadcast Right of the Nigerian league, National Mirror scooped that more of football actions in the league will be played inside the courtrooms this season as Total Promotions has re-awakened the legal battle over the Title Right of the league. Total Promotions is back in court two years after the brouhaha over the title right was seemingly settled between it and Globacom Limited.

But in a suit (No: LD/4341/2014) brought before Justice Bola Okikiolu-Ighile of the Lagos High Court, Total Promotions claims that it never ceded the title right to the telecommunication giant.

Interestingly, the delayed 2014/2015 league season billed to kick-off on March 7 may suffer further postponement or take off without title sponsors.

Iwobi

Friendly:

Iwobi listed for Nigeria vs Bolivia

I

ndication di ti emerged d yestert day that Nigeria will hand Super Eagles debut to Arsenal youngster, Alex Iwobi, when Nigeria meets Bolivia in a friendly game next month.

Iwobi travelled to Gabon last week with the national U-23 team for an All Africa Games qualifier against the Junior Azingos, although he did not feature as he was yet to be cleared

by FIFA according to the statutes.

Iwobi has played for England age-group teams, meaning he would need to complete a process of changing his allegiance

to Nigeria.

NFF’s Deputy Secretary General, Emmanuel Ikpeme, said yesterday that the body had excluded Iwobi from the Libreville game which Nigeria won 4-1 because of what he called exploratory role ahead of future engagements.

“As a responsible body, there was no way we would have used Alex to play for us in Gabon knowing the implication of such an act,” Ikpeme explained.

“We are trying to see how we can firm up the paper work with FIFA and then invite him for the Nigeria versus Bolivia game.”

55

Pro player, Gift Willy Inset: Iwere

Why Nigerian pro golfers don’t flourish –Iwere Outgoing Captain of the Ikoyi Club 1938 (Golf Section), Mr. Ted Iwere, relives his one-year tenure in this interview with AFOLABI GAMBARI, highlighting the challenges and privileges of overseeing the busiest golf course in sub-Saharan Africa How would you describe your executive committee in view of the successful tenure you have had as the Captain of Ikoyi Club (Golf Section)?

I think we are lucky to have committed individuals whose support at all times did wonders. The fact that everyone still has to attend to his/her job as this is non-salaried job makes it awesome. To be able to combine the enormous work here with that of their salaried jobs also makes their efforts wonderful. Of course, it is down to the commitment of every one of us and we are happy for the modest achievements we have recorded.

So, how would you describe your stewardship?

I would say quite exciting. It’s not every day that you get to this position. It has been both an honour and privilege to be captain. c ca ptain.

What have been the challenges of being Captain of this massive golf club?

Certainly, the biggest challenge is keeping the course in playing condition all-year round, considering the ceaseless and huge traffic on it. Maintaining the open space, bunkers another challenge, and greens is a draining the course as well as dra rainy season and during the ra green during the dry keeping it gree season. new golf courses In view of the n across Nigeria, springing up a what challenge does this pose to Ikoyi as the foremost golf country? club in the cou we think the new Much as w welcome developcourses as a w don’t see it more than ment, we don’ matter of fact, at the that. As a mat moment we have a memberthan 3, 000 in Ikoyi ship of more th Golf Club and I think this alone poses a lot of challenge to us with regard to the traffic on the However, we reckon the course. Howev upgrade our facilities to need to upgrad challenge and we are march the cha relenting in our effort to not relentin achieve this task. achie What in your view Wh has hampered the development of profes-

sional golf players in Nigeria?

Without any doubt, it has so much to do with the players’ upbringing. To play golf to the highest level requires 90 per cent mental concentration and even less than 10 per cent physical concentration. Some of the pros are distracted by the need to live in decent accommodation, pay fees and have good means of mobility. When you bother so much on all of these, the results on the course will be adversely affected. This is the plain truth.

What legacy do you hope to bequeath to the incoming captain?

Well, the fact is that the incoming captain has been in the system as my vice captain in the past one year. So, he knows the system quite well and is prepared to take over. I would say I have succeeded in keeping the system running. But whatever fresh ideas he would bring in would depend on how he wants things done during his captaincy.

Lastly, what is the update on the proposed Ikoyi Club’s Golf Academy?

It’s in the pipeline, actually.

But it will be basically for the members and a lot will still depend on the funding available.

Thank you for your time, sir.

You are most welcome.

Lagos Tour: Onaolapo, Omotayo talk tough

I

taly-based duo of Ojo Onaolapo and Olajide Omotayo believe the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) World Tour tagged Lagos Open would provide Nigeria ample chance to confirm its superiority in the sport.

Onaolapo, who was part of Nigeria team to the last ITTF Africa Senior Championships, would not remember the defeats he suffered to Egypt’s El-Sayed Lashin twice

in Cairo, while Omotayo says he would not be haunted by his poor performance in 2014.

Onaolapo, a silver medalist in the men’s doubles event at the Africa Senior Championships, said he hopes to use the tournament to settle scores with the Egyptians.

“After returning to Europe I have corrected some of the mistakes that I made in Cairo at the Africa Senior Championship,” he said.

“I target winning both the U-21 and the men’s singles and I know I need to focus throughout the tournament.

“I am in good mood to take on any of the Egyptians as I believe they can be beaten.

“Of course, Aruna Quadri can dominate the tournament. But I know the Egyptians are not pushovers either.”

For Omotayo, it is the feeling of revenge all the way.

WORLD RECORD Greatest height climbed a 5 m rope in one minute Fastest mile on fireman’s carry

Vol. 05 No. 1053 Monday, February 23, 2015

The g reatest height climbed on a 5 m rope in one minute using just the hands from a seated position is 27.8 m (91 ft 2 in) and was achieved by Marcus Bondi (Australia).

N150

Of ambition, violence and power

H

uman tragedies task the acuities of thinkers to come up with statements and expressions that will eternally remain evergreen. When I ponder about the Nigerian situation across time, I find solace in one of Napoleon Bonaparte’s greatest quotes. “Great ambition”, he says, “is the passion of a great character. Those endowed with it may perform very good or very bad acts.

All depends on the principles which direct them”.

Have you ever sat down to reflect deeply on your dear Nigeria? Do these descriptive labels of her character, essence and worth, “A sleeping giant”, “Big for nothing”, “A metaphor for unrealized greatness”, “Africa’s greatest embarrassment”, and the likes, ever trouble you? They trouble me exceedingly.

Napoleon, one of France’s greatest

HeartBeat Callistus Oke

Callistusoke@nationalmirroronline.net 08054103275 (SMS ONLY) anthonykila@mail.com military and political leaders, might have had Nigerian leaders in mind when he profusely and incisively offered his take on “great ambition”. Please, get this clarification. Napoleon knew “ambition” is of varying degrees, the more of it deposited in you, the more you are driven for exploits in life. The sublime categorization Napoleon offers above points to the fact that “great ambition” is one of the intrinsic possessions of a “great character”. The end use “great ambition” is put, he has told us, is a function of principles (motives).

And so the inference from Napoleon’s quote above is that there is a correlation among human ambition, motive and output (performance). We need to appreciate this correlation to properly contextualize the tragedies that have befallen and are still afflicting Africa’s most underperforming nation. In natural resource endowments, Nigeria is a giant; but in the conversion of these endowments into life and situational changing goods and services for the people, Nigeria is a political Lilliputian. For graphic illustration of this, compare your country with Indonesia, Malaysia, Brazil, South Africa, India, China, the world’s emerging economies.

Here was one of the world’s once most promising countries. The late 1970s up to the early 1980s held a prospect of greatness for us as a nation. Then the expectation was that Nigeria rightly belonged to the “concert of medium powers” as espoused

by Professor Bolaji Akinyemi, a onetime

WHY MUST ANYBODY HAVE TO KILL TO GRAB POWER AND OF WHAT USE IS SUCH BLOOD MANDATE TO THE PEOPLE?

foreign affairs minister under the General Ibrahim Babangida regime. The resources for such global eminence existed then until the politicians of the Second Republic swooped on the country like locusts. The rest is history.

Like I attempted to illuminate in this column last week, our inability to exorcise the national demons that have continuously constituted the drawbacks on our escape from our own Red Sea, is why we are where we are today. The greatest tragedy now is that our politicians do not want to have a clean break with the past. They are still steeped in the old atavisms because their motives for elective political offices are less than altruistic. Those who have “great ambition”, Napoleon says, might perform very good or very bad acts, depending on the “principles which direct them”.

Let us put to the test the real motive of our politicians’ quest for power, using Henry Kissinger model. According to the onetime American Secretary of State, “The task of the leader is to get his people from where they are to where they have not

been.” This presupposes that leadership is about service. People who are voted into political offices have the primary responsibility of giving quality life to their people. The question, therefore, is why is our politics so driven by violence? Why must anybody have to kill to grab power and of what use is such blood mandate to the people?

You will agree with me that the most defining feature of the ongoing electioneering is recurring violence. What better proof that our politics has become a do or die affair. It will not, therefore, be wrong to infer that violence has some seductive mystique for our politicians. Electoral success is increasingly being benchmarked on it. It is a frightening scenario and a very sad development.

There is a mistaken optimism that political violence could be mediated by peace accords freely entered into by the politicians. One has been brokered for our big presidential daddies; some states have replicated the initiative. But what have we seen thereafter? Intolerance; bombs throwing, cutlass wielding; gun shootings at campaign rallies; destruction of opposition posters and assassination attempts. What this shows is that political strongmen are on the prowl; instigated and funded by our big politicians.

Nigerians who are old enough will know that the phenomenon has been with us since the First Republic. All the nation’s political zones have their own genre of this malaise.

Politicians use them, and they use the politicians. It is a known fact that our politicians build party organization round these strongmen. Figure out the political relevance of Chief Lamidi Ariyibi Adedibu, Chief Busari Adelakun, Bayo Success (all of the blessed memory) in South West politics.

Political strongmen might have been a veritable factor in the electoral victorystrategy mix of the political parties, but for the larger Nigerian society, they have remained a nuisance. Boko Haram empirically validates this assertion; and before Boko Haram, Niger Delta militants did.

Sport Extra

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Boxing: Pacquaio wary of Mayweather threat

F

ilipino pugilist, Manny Pacquiao, yesterday said he is taking the biggest fight of his career against undefeated Floyd Mayweather in his stride, and claims he will

treat it like any other fight.

Boxing fans have been waiting for years for the match between the two men, considered the best “pound-for-pound” fighters of their generation.

After years of squabbling and negotiations, the two boxers finally announced on Friday that they would be facing off in a fight that will unify the world welterweight crowns

on May 2 in Las Vegas.

“This is just like any other fight I had before,” Pacquiao, who had already started light training for the fight weeks ago, said.

“I’ve been in this kind

of situation many times in my previous fights and it doesn’t scare me.”

“I love being the underdog. It even motivates me to train hard and go for the crown,” he added.

Pacquaio

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