Monday, may 12, 2014

IGP’s son escapes death in IRS plane crash … AIB, Niger CAA commence investigation OLUSEGUN KOIKI

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he Accident Investigation Bureau, AIB, and the Ministry of Aviation, Niger Republic,

Abubakar

Vol. 4 N0. 849

Chibok girls:

may jointly begin investigation into the IRS Airline’s plane crash, which CONTINUED ON PAGE 5>>

THE

BUSINESS SECTION

FAAN denies suspension of remodelling projects P.9

Free ree iinside nsiide nside de

Monday, May 12, 2014

N150 PAUL ARHEWE, ROTIMI FADEYI, INUSA NDAHI AND PRISCILLA DENNIS

Israeli experts to join T rescue operations Don't flee to Cameroun, gov pleads

CAN wants Borno, Yobe, Adamawa govs sacked

BOKO HARAM C ARN AGE IN G AMBORU-NG ALA

Nurses threaten to join health workers' strike

TOP LEFT: Ruins of Gamboru Ngala market after attack by insurgents on May 5. TOP RIGHT: Some trucks burnt at the scene. BELOW LEFT: Bombed bridge near the Nigeria-Cameroun border. BELOW RIGHT: Some of affected traders displaying their wares on the road side.

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he Israeli government yesterday said that a team of Israeli counter-terrorism experts would soon arrive in Nigeria to join the rescue operations of the over 200 students of Government Girls Secondary School, Chibok, Borno State, abducted by Boko Haram.

Israeli Prime Minister CONTINUED ON PAGE 2>>

Cars burnt in Ibadan tanker explosion P.8

NLC, TUC kick against plan to decentralise unions Oyerinde: Ugolor sues police for N10m

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Libyan boat capsizes, 40 migrants killed

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NLC, TUC kick against plan to decentralise unions OLUFEMI ADEOSUN ABUJA

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he Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, and Trade Union Congress of Nigeria, TUC, have again kicked against attempt to transfer labour

matters from the Exclusive List to the Concurrent List.

The proposal was first mooted by the Senate during the last Constitution amendment exercise but met stiff opposition from the organised labour and civil society organisations.

The idea has again been resuscitated at the ongoing national conference as the Victor Attah Committee on Devolution of Powers has come up with a proposal for the abolition of a centralised labour union.

If the proposal scales

through, it will now be the prerogative of each state to discuss issues relating to wages with its workers as against the current system in which labour matters are discussed at the federal level.

But addressing journal-

L-R: Delta State Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan; President Goodluck Jonathan and Anambra State Governor Willie Obiano, at the inauguration of Marine University in Okerenkoko, Delta State, on Saturday.

ists on the development at a joint media briefing in Abuja yesterday, TUC President, Bobboi Kaigama, vowed that the organised labour would resist the attempt to put labour in disharmony.

Kaigama said that it was curious that the committee would reopen the matter after it had been dealt with during the last Constitution amendment exercise.

He said: “As you are no doubt aware, the Committee on Civil Society, Labour, and Sports has, in tandem with the aspirations of the trade union movement in the country, recommended that labour and other related issues should be retained in the exclusive legislative list.

“We commend the committee for carrying out the wishes of the Nigerian people in this regard.

“It is also on record that when the Senate, in the process of amending

the Constitution last year toyed with the idea of removing wages and other Labour related matters from the exclusive legislative list to the concurrent list, the trade unions and other progressive organizations, including the Nigerian populace kicked against the move.

“The House of Representatives, on its part, sided with the Nigerian people on the issue by agreeing to retain wages and other labour related issues in the exclusive legislative list.

“Thus, by trying to reopen the issue of labour and other related matters being removed from the exclusive list to the concurrent list, many Nigerians have started to wonder whether members of the Attah committee live outside the Nigerian society because the issue of labour being retained in the exclusive legislative CONTINUED ON PAGE 5>>

get in,” one of the girls recalled.

“The girls that had no shoes on and were not wearing veils were told to go and fetch them as they started to set the school on fire.

“I told my friend that it is better to be killed than to be taken to a place that we did not know."

The escaped girls spoke to visiting Borno State officials on May 5. In the video, which was handed out by the Borno State Governor's Office, the women that gathered at the school cried as the students spoke of their ordeal.

Another girl recounted how she and her friend decided to run for dear lives.

“I told my friend that it is better to be killed than to be taken to a place that we did not know,” she said.

Parents of the girls still in captivity, pleaded for their rescue.

“Now we don't know if our children are eating, if they are sleeping on the floor, we do not know,” said one distraught mother.

The government's inability to rescue the girls nearly one month after they were abducted by Boko Haram has sparked worldwide outrage, protests and a social

media campaign.

Rallies were held in several North American cities on Saturday to express outrage over the kidnappings.

Protesters held signs and chanted slogans in Atlanta, New York City and Toronto, all calling for the release of the girls and an end to human trafficking worldwide.

Borno State Governor Kashim Shettima yesterday appealed to the people of Gamboru Ngala Local Government Area not to flee the town.

He said the state government would soon construct new structures in the market, which was destroyed by Boko Haram terrorists last Monday.

Shettima also said adequate security measures would be provided for them and that those who lost their property compensated by the state government.

Residents of the town have vowed to flee to neighbouring Cameroun, alleging that government has failed to provide adequate security for their lives and property, hence the deadly calamity that befell them.

Last Monday, terrorists invaded the market about 2pm and opened fire on trad-

Israeli experts to join rescue operations CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

Benjamin Netanyahu affirmed the commitment of his country to helping Nigeria in the fight against terrorism during a telephone conversation with President Goodluck Jonathan.

Netanyahu, who expressed Israel’s total condemnation of the mass abduction, said that the team of experts would soon arrive in Nigeria, work in collaboration with other foreign security experts from the United States and Britain already in the country and their Nigerian counterparts to intensify the search for the girls.

He restated Israel’s willingness to give the government and people of Nigeria support and assistance to overcome terrorism and insecurity.

Jonathan had earlier briefed Netanyahu on actions already being taken by the armed forces and security agencies in the country to locate and rescue the girls.

He said that Nigeria would be pleased to have Israel’s globally acknowledged anti-terrorism expertise deployed to support its ongoing operations.

The President stressed that he was very optimistic

that with the entire international community deploying its considerable military and intelligence-gathering skills and assets in support of Nigeria’s efforts to find and rescue the abducted Chibok girls, success would be achieved in the operation.

United States President Barrack Obama, British Prime Minister David Cameron, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang, French President Francois Hollade and other world leaders had earlier planned to deploy troops, security experts and assets to rescue the girls from their abductors.

The United Nations, Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS and International Criminal Police Organisation, INTERPOL, have also expressed solidarity and support.

Cameron yesterday reiterated his country’s readiness to help rescue the girls, promising that Britain “will do what we can” to help find over 200 kidnapped schoolgirls.

He made the pledge as he held a sign bearing the “Bring back our girls” slogan on the BBC's Andrew Marr show.

During the programme, fellow guest, Christiane Amanpour, CNN's Chief International Correspondent, handed Cameron the sign and asked if he would like to join the campaign.

Taking it from her, he replied: "Happily."

“I rang the Nigerian president to offer anything that would be helpful and we agreed to send out a team that includes some counterterrorism and intelligence experts to work alongside the bigger American team that's going out there,” Cameron said.

“We stand ready to do anything more that the Nigerians would want.”

He said it was unlikely Nigeria would ask for British troops to help but added: “I said to President Jonathan where we can help, please ask, and we will see what we can do.”

Cameron also spoke of the importance of tackling extremism around the world.

“This is not just a problem in Nigeria,” he said.

“We're seeing this really violent extreme Islamism - we see problems in Pakistan, we see problems in other parts of Africa, problems in the Middle East.

“Also, let's be frank, here in the UK there is still too much support for extremism that we have to tackle, whether it's in schools or colleges or universities or wherever.”

He, however, noted that it was not an easy task to look for the girls, who were taken from their school in Chibok on April 14.

“We can't just pile in and do whatever we'd like," he said. “It's immensely complicated because they are probably in this deep area of jungle that is three times the size of Wales.

“But it's good that efforts are being stepped up and we'll do what we can.”

Some of the girls who escaped after they were kidnapped last month have given harrowing accounts of their ordeal.

Standing alongside their parents, the students described how the gunmen commanded the hundreds of students at the Chibok Government Girls Secondary School to gather outside, before going into a storeroom and taking all the food.

“They then marched all of us to the main gate and brought their cars where they loaded the food they had taken and asked us to

CONTINUED ON PAGE 5>>

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Monday, May 12, 2014

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Photo News

Monday, May 12, 2014

L-R: Chairman of the occasion, Alhaji Abass Alsalaam; Secretary to the Lagos State Government, Dr. Idiat Oluranti Adebule; former Lagos State Commissioner for Environment, Dr. Muiz Banire; National Amir, Muslim Students’ Society of Nigeria, Mallam Sirajdeen Abdul Azeez and Barr.

Musbaudeen Oyefeso, during the MSSN 60th Anniversary Reunion in Lagos, yesterday.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

L-R: Former Chairman, Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria, Ikeja district, Mr. Joshua Oderinde; Chairman, Mr. Francis Egba and the Vice-Chairman, Mr. Seyi Ogunjobi, at the ICAN Stakeholders Forum in Lagos at the weekend.

PHOTO: SAMUEL ADETIMEHIN

L-R: Director, Defence Information, Maj. Gen. Chris Olukolade; Director-General, National Orientation Agency, Mr. Mike Omeri and Police Force Public Relation Officer, Mr. Frank Mba, during a joint press briefing on the updates on the abducted Chibok schoolgirls in Abuja, at the weekend.

L-R: General Manager, UBA New York, Mr. Rafiq Bengali ; Treasurer, Exxon Mobil Development Company, Mr. Scott Darling; Group Managing Director/CEO, UBA, Mr. Phillips Oduoza and Divisional Head, Oil and Gas, Mr. Razaq Shittu, during the visit of the UBA management to Exxon Mobil's headquarters in Houston, Texas, recently.

National News

APC proffers solution to ending insurgency •Presidency blasts opposition party OBIORA IFOH AND ROTIMI FADEYI

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he All Progressives Congress, APC, yesterday advocated a non bi-partisan approach, improved intelligence gathering, de-radicalisation strategy, peace building process and economic development plan to end the Boko Haram insurgency.

This is even as the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, said Nigerians deserve commendation for their exceptional show of solidarity in support of efforts to ensure the rescue of the abducted Chibok schoolgirls.

The Interim National Chairman of APC, Chief Bisi Akande, at a press briefing in Lagos regretted that the current Boko Haram crisis was capable of plunging the country into a disaster of monu-

mental proportion unless the Federal Government wake up from its slumber.

He regretted that since 2009, when the insurgency started, government has failed to address the issue squarely, noting that instead the issue was being politicised, with the opposition party being accused as the major sponsor of the insurgency.

He however said the bulk passing has not solved the insurgency, with more than 1, 500 people killed this year alone, excluding the 95 that died in the two explosions at Nyanya, Abuja and the more than 300 at Gamboru Ngala, Borno State last week.

“Our nation stands on the rim of crisis. A stupendous national disaster beckons. But, this current leadership can help avert disaster, if they wake up to what true governance is. The time for excuses

and half-measures is long past. The wellbeing of the nation hangs in the balance.

"If we do not act decisively, the demands of the moment will find us wanting and history will issue a terrible verdict against us.

“We must acknowledge that the nation has been brought low. We now suffer more violence and destruction than many places that are formally at war.

“For too many, Nigeria has become not a place to live but a place to die.

We must change this evil equation.

“At moments like these, Nigeria needs a leadership that is bold, coherent, sincere and focused. Unfortunately, that is not the case right now for our dear nation,” Akande said.

The APC chairman faulted the current strategy employed in tackling the insurgency, even as he

said that the government seems to have lost the initiative to the terrorists.

“Stories emerging from the front in the battle with Boko Haram have been saddening: low morale among our troops, obsolete equipment, including guns that fail to fire and armoured personnel carriers that won't move, given to our troops, and cases of deserters,” he said.

He called for synergy by all those involved in tackling the insurgency.

He said: “Presently, there is poor coordination between and integration of military means and political and economic objectives.

“There is currently no publicly known counterterrorism strategy guiding the response to Boko Haram, and the impact of this can be seen in at least three ways: first is the chaos and confusion surrounding the government’s intention to explore a negotiated settlement by dialoguing with

Boko Haram.

"One minute the government favours and seeks to dialogue and grant amnesty to Boko Haram; the next minute government rules it out.

There are mixed signals from the government.

“Second is the lack of use and coordination of military, political and economic means, yet successful counter-insurgency requires close coordination of military, political and economic means and objectives.”

The opposition party, Chief Akande said has consistently offered suggestion to the government on how to solve the problem, regretting that such suggestions were never implemented.

“In 2012, Nigeria announced plans for a new intelligence fusion centre to coordinate, improve and integrate intelligence gathering and sharing across agencies.

“We need to obtain more timely and action-

able intelligence from local sources in the areas affected by Boko Haram. We would also establish an office of the Special AntiTerrorism Coordinator.

“The solution to preventing, limiting and responding better to Boko Haram attacks does not lie in deploying more troops but in improving intelligence and increasing force enablers. The fight against Boko Haram will be enhanced if government focuses on these two elements,” he added.

He also reiterated the need for government to consider political solution like what the late President Musa Yar’Adua did with the Niger Delta militants, noting that Boko Haram was unlikely to be defeated militarily “Most insurgencies are ended through some form of negotiation. Government must develop a strategy along the lines of the policy followed by President Yar’Adua (over the CONTINUED ON PAGE 6>>

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

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Monday, May 12, 2014

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IGP’s son escapes death in IRS plane crash CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

occurred in Ganla area of Niger on Saturday.

This is just as our correspondent gathered that one of the sons of the Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Mohammed Abubakar, Jamin, was one of the two pilots involved in the crash. Both pilots survived.

The Fokker 100 plane, with registration 5NSIK was returning from a comprehensive overhaul, known as C-Check, carried out in Turkey. The plane crashed at exactly 7:30pm according to sources.

A source close to the Ministry of Aviation, told our correspondent that the plane had lost contact

with the Kano Airport Air Traffic Service, ATS, before it came down.

The plane was said to have run into a sandstorm over the Sahara desert while in Niger airspace, which caused the crew to fly around waiting for the storm to abate before the aircraft ran out of fuel and had to crashland the

plane in a village known as Kwasi Posa in Niger Republic.

The source added that it was the locals that alerted the appropriate authorities of the accident before the Federal Government was contacted.

AIB spokesman, Mr. Tunji Oketunbi, told National Mirror yesterday

L-R: Kogi State Governor Idris Wada; Vice-President Namadi Sambo and the Attah of Igala, Idakwo Michael Ameh Oboni, during a condolence visit to Sambo on the death of his brother, Capt.Yusuf Sabo Sambo, in Abuja at the weekend.

Israeli experts to join rescue operations CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2

ers, killing over 350 people and setting ablaze about 300 vehicles, including trucks and shops.

Also, about 16 policemen and some Camerounian merchants were killed by the insurgents in the attack.

The governor was conducted round the destroyed market by the Caretaker Chairman of the council, Alhaji Babakura Mustapha.

Mustapha said: “The death toll from attack by suspected Boko Haram members on Gamboru is over 300 and amongst the dead are 16 policemen and some Cameroonian traders who were in the market as at the time of the attack.

“My people also lost over 300 vehicles with other property worth millions of naira destroyed.

“We have set up a 30-member committee which comprised of religious scholars and traditional rulers who are to investigate the rate of damages for possible assistance for the victims, particularly those who lost their beloved ones and the injured.

“Already, the committee has since swung into action, and as soon as they conclude their investigation, the council will present their finding to the state government for consideration.

“We are giving some relief materials to the people while those that sustained injuries are being treated in the hospital.”

Responding, Shettima said government would soon reconstruct the entire structures at the market.

According to him, the market is the only means of economic activities which attracts not only the people of the state, but foreign traders from Cameroun and Chad Republic.

The governor also addressed the families of those who killed in the attack at the Gamboru Central Mosque and sympathised with them over the incident.

Meanwhile, the 19 northern states chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, has advocated full declaration of state of emergency in Adamawa, Borno and Yobe states and replacement of their state

governors with military administrators.

CAN said if such measure was adopted, peace would be fully restored in the troubled states since insecurity had continued unabated in the affected areas.

The Executive Secretary of the association, Prof. Daniel Babayi, made the call in his remarks as the guest speaker at the inauguration of the newly-elected executives of the Niger State chapter of the association and the commissioning of a newly-constructed administrative block in Minna at the weekend.

He said: “If the half state of emergency thing is not working because the governors are still in place and they are still the chief security officers of the affected states, the Federal Government should remove all of them and put military officers there.

“When we succeed in the whole thing, the governors should be reinstated to their seats. We are not against them, but we want peace to be restored in those places and we don’t care whose ox is gored.”

The CAN executive secre-

tary insisted that the governors of the three states had not been sensitive to the peculiar needs of Christians in their states, saying issues that affected them were usually treated lightly.

According to him, “We are not happy that the Borno State government and the rest of the authorities in the state did not do anything much to stop what is going on in the state. And even when the WAEC officials told them that it was risky to allow the students to write their final year exams in such an unsafe environment, the state governor, said they should go on and conduct the exams and that is not fair.”

CORRIGENDUM The person whose picture appeared on the cover of Sunday Mirror of May 11, 2014 was that of HIS EMINENCE, BABA ALADURA REUBEN OLORUNFUNMI BASORUN, the Spiritual Head of C&S Gospel Church, Oke Ayo Igbala Irapada, Orile-Iganmu, Lagos. It was not that of BABA ALADURA AKINSANYA as the story was captioned. The error is regretted.

that the bureau and its Nigerien counterpart might jointly commence investigation into the crash.

He, however, confirmed that Niger, as the state of occurrence, had the jurisdiction to carry out investigation into the cause of the crash under the International Civil Aviation Organisation, ICAO, Annex 13.

Oketunbi said that Nigeria too as a state of registration also had the right to be represented during the investigation.

He said: “It is Niger that has jurisdiction over it.

We can participate in the investigation, but just as an observer. Under ICAO annex 13, it is the country of the crash that will investigate but we can participate as an observer.

“That is the state of occurrence and it has jurisdiction over the crash.

The crash would be investigated by the country of occurrence unless the country of occurrence says it cannot do it and calls for our help, but over there in Niger, they do not have an independent body for accident investigation.”

He, however, told our correspondent that the crashed plane was still in Niger, adding that the authority was already dis-

cussing with the airline involved in the crash.

Also, he noted that the agency had got in touch with the two pilots involved in the crash and would commence investigation immediately from the Nigeria’s angle on the cause of the crash, but they could only invite them for interview after their medicals.

“We don’t know right now the condition of the two pilots. That is the duty of the airline’s management. We don’t need to rush to get in touch with them, but we are still going to call them for investigation on the cause of the crash.

“They, however, have to get through medicals first. I don’t have the name of the pilots for now.”

Also, a source close to the Ministry of Aviation told our correspondent that since the aircraft was coming from Europe on C-Check, anything could happen.

The entire fleet of the airline had been grounded

by Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, a few days after the Associated Airlines crash which occurred within the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, MMIA, Lagos, on October 3, 2013.

NLC, TUC kick against plan to decentralise CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2

list was widely publicised during the constitutional amendment exercise by the National Assembly last year.”

The TUC boss noted that it was unfortunate that former government official who was expected to act as a statesman would descent so low as to resort to vendetta because a local union in his state once went on sympathy strike over national issue.

Kaigama accused those behind the move to balkanise labour movement unions of attempting to take the country back to the dark ages.

“All over the world, whether in the United States, Britain, France, Australia, Brazil, Russia, Venezuela, South

Africa, Ghana, Cameroun, etc, trade unions are organised nationally.

“What will these revisionists gain when Nigeria retreats to a chaotic regime whereby states will start legislating on labour issues, thereby returning the country into the dark ages?”

Also speaking, NLC Chief Economist, Dr. Peter Ozo-Eson, said that although the proposal would still be discussed at the plenary, the onus lied on labour to alert the nation to the consequences of such action.

According to him, if what the architects of decentralisation want to achieve is to prevent strike action, they have failed because the frequency of strikes will be higher under fragmented labour unions.

News

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Monday May 12, 2014

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

APC proffers solution to ending insurgency CONTINUED FROM PAGE4

MEND insurgency in the Niger Delta) at least to the extent that we use employment and other rehabilitative incentives to separate the rank and file from Boko Haram’s leadership,” he said.

He lampooned the Federal Government for its delayed response to the Chibok kidnap, saying that it took 19 days for President Goodluck Jonathan to speak on the issue.

Akande recalled that President Jonathan was forced to acknowledge the abduction, ahead of the World Economic Forum on Africa hosted by Nigeria, because the attention of the international community shifted to the country because of the terrorist attacks.

He regretted that 26 days after the kidnap, the whereabouts of the girls were still unknown.

He accused Jonathan and the PDP of being interested only in the 2015 election and not the security of life and property.

He said: “The challenge we face is much bigger than the pursuit of office or individual ambition. Even without the Boko Haram crisis, the nation ran itself as if on auto-pilot. The Jonathan administration did little and depended on the ingenuity of the Nigerian people to fend for themselves and cover up governmental shortcom-

ing.

Meanwhile, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati said the government was not on auto-pilot as claimed by Chief Akande.

Abati, in his response to the APC chairman’s submission regretted that the opposition party was playing politics with the Chibok abduction.

Abati said: “First, we consider it most unfortunate that the chairman of the APC will use the opportunity of the situation in the country namely the abduction of the girls of GSSC, Chibok to engage in partisan blackmail.

“The issue of national security should go beyond partisan politics.

This is a very serious moment requiring seriousness. But to reduce all of that to partisan politics is in bad taste, it is irresponsible one-upmanship.

“One, Nigeria is not on auto pilot. There is a government in place, there is a President who is also the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces. He is doing his very best to provide quality leadership and to reassure Nigerians that government stands ready always to defend their best interest.

“This administration has continually showed courage and commitment in the face of whatever challenges that may arise.

L-R: Freed Dutch nationals, Mr. Jandries Groenenedijk, Mrs Marianne Hendricks-Vos, Erhard Leffers and Comrade Sunny Ofehe, after their release by their abductors, yesterday.

Nurses are ageing, says union • Threatens to join health workers’ strike MARCUS FATUNMOLE ABUJA

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he National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives, NANNM, yesterday raised an alarm over the need by the federal and state governments to recruit young nurses to replace many which it said are ageing.

National President of the association, Abdrafiu Adeniji, disclosed this to journalists at a briefing to mark this year’s International Nurses Week in Abuja.

According to him, if

the trend remains, the best would not be gotten from the health professionals, which he noted, might create avenues for quacks to dominate the profession.

His words: “The rate of migration of Nigerian nurses within the year 2003 and 2005 doubles the rate at which supply of nurses within 2007 and 2009.

“There was a zero rate of growth and today, while the rate at which we turn out the nurses and midwives was at 2.6 per cent; the rate of Nigerian population growth

FG: Why we stopped importing tractors ISE-OLUWA IGE

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he Federal Government, at the weekend, disclosed that it stopped importing and distributing tractors to farmers because some unscrupulous people have hijacked the scheme to defraud.

The Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Adewumi Adesina, who made the disclosure, also said that the Federal Government has effectively stopped a 40-year regime of corruption in fertiliser distribution among farmers in the

country.

Speaking with newsmen in Abuja at a forum, the minister also allayed the fears that there could be food crisis in the country following incessant clashes between herdsmen and farmers in various locations.

He also used the forum to catalogue the major achievements of his ministry in the last three years, the challenges and how the government is working round the clock to improve agriculture.

Explaining why the government stopped importing tractors for farm-

ers, he said the problem that existed with fertiliser sale in the country also affected tractor importation.

“I met a system where the government was importing tractors and distributing tractors. People were bringing refurbished tractors and selling it as new tractors.

“At that time, farmers could only get tractors which cables were already eaten by rats, but they still have to pay for them. Such tractors can only be used for just a season or only three months and then they break down.

“So, it was part of the problems and we decided that the Federal Ministry of Agriculture will no longer import tractor for anybody,” Adesina stated.

He added: “Now we have what we called Agricultural Equipment Hiring Enterprises, AEHE. “We are setting up in the country now, about 200 of these equipment hiring enterprises. We are financing them with N3.5bn to start, and it is a co-financing with the private sectors equipment owners and Tractors Owner Association of Nigeria, TOAN.

is 3.2 per cent.

“This density of nurse-population ratio is a danger signal. Even the profile of nurse/midwives has shown that the majority of Nigerian nurses in the public service are more to people who have spent 28-30 years in service.

“The implication of this is that in about five years’ time, the rate of retirement of nurses will be so alarming. The effect of this drastic shortage is leading to workplace hazard, burnout, stress and even untimely death.”

Adeniji added: “We, therefore, want to call on the government to specifically look into recruitment of nurses as a matter of urgency.

“Government at all levels are also called upon to improve the attention, recognition and financing of institutions where nurses are being trained to address the spate at which the schools are losing accreditation.”

The NANNM leadership also stated that it was concerned about ‘the lip service’ the Federal Ministry of Health is paying to medical tourism.

They said that universal health coverage might not yield expected results if urgent steps are not taken to address challenges in the health sector.

The association called for occupational safety for health workers, given the current insecurity challenges in the country.

It maintained that in recent times, hoodlums had invaded health facilities, attacking health workers and forcefully abducting new-borns, while facilities are being torched.

Meanwhile, the NANNM has condemned the abduction of over 200 girls in Chibok, Borno State.

In another development, the nurses have threatened to join other health workers who had earlier given the Federal Government a 15-day ultimatum to proceed on strike on issues which they said are “lopsided and unlawful constitution of boards of managements of various tertiary health institutions.

The NANNM also frowned at what it termed non-invitation of some appointed members of umbrella health union, JOHESU to board meetings; retirement age of health workers at 60, (instead of 65 years); non-promotion of officers from CONHESS 14 to 15 as directors; and noncirculation of proper placement of intern medical laboratory on CONHESS 8.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

National News

Monday May 12, 2014

7

FG flayed over Integrated Payroll System KEMI OLAITAN IBADAN

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he Federal Government has been berated for the introduction of Integrated Payroll Payment Systems, IPPS, as it has destroyed cooperative societies in the country.

The National Coordinator of the National Association of Cooperative

Consultants,NACC, Mr. Akintola Ademola, who said this at the weekend while addressing journalists on the South-West Cooperative Assessment Summit/Exhibition slated for Ibadan between May 12-18, said most of the affected workers had not been able to repay the loans collected from their cooperative societies.

According to him, since the workers received their salaries directly from Abuja, they failed to adhere strictly to the undertakings they had with their respective societies.

He said the situation became worse when after receiving their salaries, the workers refused to refund loans obtained from the societies.

Ademola while calling on the Federal Government to create an enabling policy that would make cooperative strive, he said it was capable of reducing poverty and unemployment rate in the country.

He warned that the socio-economic challenges in the country could escalate if efforts were not made to revamp the co-

operative sector.

He said the focus of the summit which would be attended by delegates from Oyo, Lagos, Osun, Ogun, Ekiti, Ondo and Kwara States, is to address the socio-economic challenges that was causing a major setback to nation’s economic development.

He added that the socio-economic challenges which include high degree of poverty, alarming increasing rate of unemployment, poor standard of living had threatened the existence of the country.

He maintained that over the years, cooperative societies have played prominent and pivotal roles in reducing these socio-economic challenges in the advanced countries.

He said, “Developed nations of the world, through cooperatives empower their people, create jobs, improve standard of living in their task to tackle poverty. Empirical studies of the economy of the nations of the world shows that micro, small and medium scale enterprises creates over 70 per cent jobs. Invariably cooperatives are the power that fuels the enterprises.”

Ademola added that the summit would unveil the significance and relevance of cooperative sector to be able to recognise it as a vital sector of the economy so as to establish and strengthen the sector to function maximally to reduce the socio-economic challenges facing the country.

Anambra teachers declare ten-day fasting for abducted girls FRANCIS EKPONE Flooded Apapa-Oshodi expressway in Lagos, after a heavy downpour, yesterday.

PHOTO: YINKA ADEPARUSI

Group asks Nigerians to support Jonathan TOLA AKINMUTIMI ABUJA

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he Senior Special Assistant to the president on Youth and Students Matters, Comrade Jude Imagwe, has called on Nigerians to rally round President Goodluck Jonathan and support his efforts at rescuing the over 200 Chibok girls abducted by Boko Haram insurgents.

Imagwe made the call while delivering a keynote address at a public lecture

with the theme: “Understanding the Transformation Agenda of Mr President and why He should be re-elected come 2015,” organised by the movement at Kini Country Home, Akwanga, Nasarawa State.

The President’s aide who outlined the achievements of president Jonathan in the last three years said the president desired to do more and urged Nigerians to given him the enabling environment to do it.

He said: “I want to talk to

you about the future of this nation and about the challenges before us as youth.

Our sisters were recently kidnapped in Borno State and as citizens of this country, we have the duty to rise up to protect our country.

“The future of this country lies on the shoulder of young people. No individual can win the fight against terrorism, but terrorists cannot succeed when the people are united to fight it.

“Let Nigerians stand

up to protect the president and defend the country. Let’s say enough is enough to wanton killings of our people and to kidnapping of our sisters”, Imagwe added.

In his remarks at the forum, the Deputy Governor of the state, Hon. Dameshi Luka Barau, condemned the adoption of the girls and called on Nigerians to remain steadfast and prayerful for the peace of the country.

Fashola calls on Nigerians to provide information on Chibok FRANCIS SUBERU

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agos State Governor, Babatunde Fashola has charged Nigerians to volunteer information that could help security agencies rescue the missing 234 Chibok girls.

Governor Fashola said this while addressing a group of protesting ar-

tistes, models, Nollywood stars and other volunteers who staged a peaceful protest to the State House, Marina at the weekend.

He urged the protesters to help in information and intelligence gathering by talking to people who have resided in that part of the country including those who have friends or relations there, adding

that Nigerians need to be talking to those who could volunteer information on issues such as possible places where the abducted girls could be kept.

According to him, this would go a long way in changing the country’s current mood to a positive one. He also implored the citizens to send such information to his office or

that of the security agencies.

The governor, who believes that the security agencies and the Federal Government are already sharing all of the information at their disposal with the public on the issue of the missing girls, said his state is doing its best in maintaining security of life and property.

ONITSHA

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s the US and other western countries intensify efforts at rescuing the over 200 students of Government College, Chibok, Borno State abducted last month, school teachers who are members of the Anglican Church in Anambra State, were yesterday directed to observe a ten -day fasting and prayer for safe release of the abducted school girls.

President of the Anglican Teachers Association,ATA, Lady Peace Ofoche who is also the Principal of Anglican Girls’ Grammar School, Nkpor, gave the directive during the 13th Annual Convention of the association held at All Saints Cathedral, Onitsha, Anambra State.

She added that the call had become imperative following the continued detention of the young school girls who were abducted from their school by the Boko Haram militants.

Ofoche noted with

dismay the psychological trauma the affected girls and their families have been subjected to in the past three weeks.

She, however, called for serious prayers among her colleagues to end the prolonged waste of human lives and properties.

Earlier in a service before the convention, Anglican Bishop of the Diocese of the Niger, Most Rev. Owen Nwokolo urged the teachers to be upright and dedicated to their duties like the Biblical Peter who equipped his disciples for optimum result and charged Anglican teachers to be agents of change and evangelisation.

In his speech, Education Secretary and Subdean, Diocese of the Niger, Ven. Obiora Uzochukwu remarked that the aim of the convention was to rededicate teachers to their moral duty of imparting knowledge and discipline on the students and appealed to the teachers to continue to exhibit qualities of good ambassadors of the diocese.

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National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

We won’t sweep Soka saga under carpet -Police KEMI OLAITAN IBADAN

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L-R: Ogun State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun; former Lagos State governor, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu; widow of the late former Lagos State governor, Lady Doja Otedola and Senator Oluremi Tinubu, during a condolence visit to the Otedola fanmily, at the weekend

25,283 students benefit from Osun N521m bursary awards BOLADALE BAMIGBOLA OSOGBO

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bout twenty five thousand, two hundred and eighty three (25,283) students of Osun State origin spread in about 73 tertiary institutions across the country have benefited from state bursary awards With the sum of N521 million paid to the students, the state government said the effort is in furtherance of its determination to ensure that education is available to all indigenes irrespective of their financial conditions.

Giving the breakdown of the payment during a media chat over the weekend in Osogbo, the permanent secretary, the state’s Ministry of Education, Mr. Lawrence Oyeniran, said that the sum of N275.7 million was paid to final year students of the state across Nigerian tertiary institutions for the 2012/2013 academic session.

He added that a special grant to the tune of N17.3 million has also been paid to Law school students of Osun State in six campuses of the Nigerian Law School for the 2012/ 2013.

Giving further details

of the disbursement, he said that the sum of N208.6 million was paid to 20,215 final year students from 74 institutions and N18.5 million to 185 law school students in five campuses last year.

While restating the state government commitment to the restoration of functional education, a press statement from the Bureau of Communications and Strategy in the Office of Osun state governor said all the education initiatives of the administration are aimed at producing students, who are well-prepared and can compete with any student in any

part of the world.

The statement signed by the director of the Bureau, Mr Semiu Okanlawon, noted that: “In less than four years that this revolution started, the results are already showing. The surest way to change the society is to change the way people are educated. This, this government has challenged itself to achieve.”

He added that the many recognitions received by the state’s education policies are enough testimony that Osun State has the template for solving many of the disturbing national questions.

Ndigbo Lagos honour Obi, Ihejirika, Ezeoba, and others

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gbos residing in Lagos at the weekend gathered to honour former Governor of Anambra State, Chief Peter Obi, former Chief of Army Staff, General Azubuike Ihejirika, former Chief of Naval Staff, Admiral Dele Ezeoba, as Igbos from all the parts of the country gathered at Oriental Hotel to honour them for distinguishing themselves in the service to the country and humanity.

Chairman of the event and the formerSecretary-General of the Commonwealth, Chief Emeka Anyaoku, who took the opportunity to call for a return to re-

gionalism based on the present 6 geo-political zones of the country, admonished Igbos that found themselves in positions of authority to serve the people and the country well as those being honoured.

The guest lecturer at the event, Rev. Fr. Godfrey Nzamujo, who is the brain behind Songhai Farms in Benin Republic, thanked the organisers and reminded the Igbos that part of the problem of Nigeria today is the bastardisation of the values of service.

Congratulating those being honoured, he said their choice was good.

Using Governor Obi as

an example, he said he had interacted with him on many occasions when he was still the governor and that he was always consumed on how to bake the cake of the state unlike the present preoccupation on how to share it.

Explaining the reason for the honour, the chief host and President-General of Ndigbo Lagos, Prof. Anya O Anya, said the honour was a way of acknowledging those that proved their mettle in serving.

The former Governor of Anambra State, Peter Obi, who spoke on behalf of other recipients called on Igbos every-

ess than two months after the discovery of a kidnappers den at Soka area of Ibadan where scores of people were allegedly murdered for rituals, the Oyo State Police Command, has assured residents of the state that the incident would not be swept under the carpet.

The state Police Public Relations Officer, Olabisi Okuwobi- Ilobanafor, gave the assurance yesterday while participating on a radio programme monitored in Ibadan.

She said the incident and suspects were still under investigation and discreet interrogation, but warned members of the public against jungle justice.

According to her, the state police command has gone a long way on the matter and called for patience from members of the public, saying “investigation is ongoing.”

The police image maker warned members of the public against jungle justice on any matter, stating that anybody suspected of committing any criminal should be reported to the police, who, in turn would take legal action on such a suspect.

She added that mob action where some destitute were set ablaze during the

protest over the Soka incident was barbaric as some of those killed were innocent people.

She then warned that anybody apprehended for setting fellow human being on fire would be tried for murder, insisting that nobody except court can order the execution of an accused after due process of law.

Speaking on the menace of Fulani Bororo in the Oke Ogun and Ibarapa areas of the state, she said the state Commissioner of police had met with the leaders of Hausa people in the state, disclosing that the farmers in the area have agreed that the cattle rearers would pay for any crop that is destroyed.

She added that the Fulani herdsmen have agreed to stop sending kids to rear cattle, pointing out that the destruction of farm produce was due to inability of the kids to control the cows on the farms.

The police image maker also disclosed that the activities of strangers from the North are being monitored in collaboration with Hausa- Fulani people, assuring that incidents of Boko Haram would not be experienced in the state.

She however appealed to members of the public to collaborate with police in crime prevention, with an assurance that information given to assist the command would be treated confidentially.

Three cars burnt in Ibadan tanker explosion where to take interest in what will make for the progress of Igboland in particular and Nigeria in general.

The royal father of day was Igwe Nnaemeka Achebe (Agbogigi), the Obi of Onitsha.

Others at the occasion are former Minister of Aviation, Princess Stella Oduah, former Minister of Power, Prof. Barth Nnaji, former Executive Secretary of PPPRA, Reginald Chike Stanley, former Chief Executive of NLNG, Chima Ibeneche, former Chief Executive Officer of Fidelity Bank, Reginald Ihejiahi and former Chief Executive of Price

KEMI OLAITAN IBADAN

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ragedy struck in Ibadan yesterday as three vehicles were burnt while a man sustained first degree burns when a tanker lorry carrying diesel spilled its content on the Ibadan end of the Lagos/ Ibadan expressway and sparked a huge fire.

The incident caused a gridlock on the road as people abandoned their vehicles and ran for safety.

An eyewitness speaking on the incident said the tank of the lorry which contained diesel suddenly detached from the vehicle spilling the content.

The witness who identified himself as Augustine Idowu,

said “The tanker was coming from Lagos towards Ibadan.

Something went wrong suddenly and the vehicle split into two. The tank fell and the whole road was full of diesel.

Almost immediately, fire started from the effect of the contact between the tar and the iron used to construct the tank.

The fire travelled fast with the diesel and three other vehicles got burnt in the process”.

While confirming the incident, the Assistant Commandant, Federal Road Safety Corps in charge of Oluyole, Ibadan South-West and Ona Ara Council Areas, Mr. Sanya Adeoye, said three cars were burnt, stating that the injured person has been taken to the University College Hospital,UCH, Ibadan by the emergency team of the FRSC.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

South West

Monday, May 12, 2014

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FAAN denies suspension of remodeling projects OLUSEGUN KOIKI

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he Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, FAAN, over the weekend denied that airports remodeling projects has stopped in the nation’s 22 airports over the alleged highhandedness of the permanent secretary in the Federal Ministry of Aviation, Dr. Jamila Shu’ara.

The agency attributed what it called the seeming lull in the execution of the projects to the late passage of the 2014 budget.

It assured that, with the passage of the bill, the exercise would now throttle on.

It would be recalled that the immediate past Minister of Aviation, Stella Oduah, had in 2011 com-

menced the remodeling exercise in the airports.

While some of them were commissioned before she was removed earlier in the year, many are yet to be commissioned.

An online media statement by the spokesman of FAAN, Yakubu Dati, described the report in some quarters as misleading.

It added that at no time did the permanent secretary refused to release funds to the contractors handling the projects.

Dati insisted that airport remodeling project, designed by the Federal Government to modernise all airport terminals in the country, in line with international standards and best practices, would not be abandoned.

FAAN promised that the projects would be con-

Police slam jungle justice on kidnap suspect ABIODUN NEJO ADO EKITI

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he Ekiti State Police Command has condemned the jungle justice meted on a suspected kidnapper over the weekend in Ikere.

Police spokesman, Victor Babayemi, described the lynching as regrettable and inhuman.

The suspect was said to have been caught by residents while allegedly trying to kidnap a three-yearold girl at Ori Audu area of Ikere-Ekiti.

He was beaten black and blue by an angry mob, which subsequently set him ablaze.

Condemning the action, Babayemi said: “It is condemnable and regrettable.

There is no jungle justice in the Nigerian laws.

“It is a barbaric action for people to kill and set ablaze a suspect without resorting to the security agencies. This would not be tolerated.”

He said that the command had commenced investigation into the matter, in an attempt to unravel the identities of the suspect and the perpetrators of the dastardly act.

The police spokesman cautioned the citizens of

the state against meting out jungle justice on any suspected criminal.

He said the command would deal with whoever was found culpable of such tendency.

In another development, the police at the weekend arrested a middle-aged woman at Ekute area of the state capital, Ado-Ekiti, for allegedly inflicting injuries on her nine-year old house-help, Blessing Akinyemi.

She was said to have assaulted Blessing and starved her of food for almost a day.

A member of the Ekiti State Local Government Service Commission, Mrs. Omotunde Adelabu, recounted to journalists that she saw the tatteredlooking girl wandering the streets.

According to her, upon interrogation, the girl narrated how she was brutalised by the woman over an offence.

Adelabu said she was attracted to the girl by the sores on her body, which she said, might be injuries sustained during flogging.

She called on mothers to be alive to their responsibilities and stop entrusting their children to anybody as househelps.

cluded soon.

Dati stated: “We also consider as uncharitable and malicious, the allegation that the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Aviation, Dr Jamila Shu’ara, was ‘sitting on the funds’ meant for a project that she knows

President Goodluck Jonathan himself considers top priority in his transformation agenda in the aviation industry.

“The seeming lull in the execution of the project in some of our airports was caused by the late passage of the 2014 budget, as a re-

sult of which releases for the project were delayed.

“Happily, the 2014 budget has now been passed and we wish to assure the public that work on the project will be accelerated as soon as fund is released to the affected contractors.

“The Supervising Minister of Aviation, Dr Samuel Ortom, has also assured Nigerians that work on the remodeling project would be completed on schedule, during his recent tour of some of the projects across the country.”

L-R: Alara of Ilara-Epe, Oba Akeem Adesanya; honouree, Akinwunmi Ambode; Executive President of Epe Club, Chief Lanre Razak; Olu-Epe of Epe Kingdom, Oba Sefiu Olatunji Adewale and Chief Yinka Tobun, at the civic reception in honour of Ambode to mark his induction into the Epe Club, on Saturday.

INEC fixes August for voters’ registration in Ogun FEMI OYEWESO ABEOKUTA

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he Ogun State office of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has said that eligible voters who could not register during the year 2011 voters’ registration exercise will have the opportunity to do so by August.

The state’s Resident Electoral Commissioner, REC, Sam Olumekun, who disclosed over the weekend in Abeokuta, the state capital, also said the commission would begin the distribution

of permanent voters’ card to those who had previously been registered by August 22.

Olumekun explained that Ogun falls under the third phase of the commission’s plan which will commence distribution of permanent voters’ cards between August 22 and 24.

He emphasised that the exercise would take place between the hours of 8,00a.m and 4.00pm on the three days at the various polling units across the state where voters had registered.

“Subsequently, it will be followed by continuous

voters’ registration from August 28 to August 31, and this will take place at the registration area centre for each ward from 8.00am to 4.00pm,” he said.

Against the backdrop of variation in the ages of those who might have attained the voting age, the commissioner emphasised that the exercise was meant for those who would have attained the age of 18 years since the last registration exercise.

Olumekun also noted that the exercise would afford those who did not register in the last exercise, as well as those who missed

biometric checks, the opportunity to exercise their civic responsibilities, by being registered.

He stated that the commission was embarking on the exercise as part of strategies to achieve a successful conduct of the 2015 polls.

The commissioner warned that the exercise was not meant for those who had previously been registered.

The commission warned that anyone caught in the offence of double registration would have his or her name deleted from the registration list.

Why youths shun church services -Cleric OJO OYEWAMIDE AKURE

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he newly-installed provost of the St. David’s Anglican Church, Akure, Very Rev. Olusegun Olorunfemi Osotayo, has attributed the decline in youth attendance in church services to their rising interest in technology, sports and entertainment.

He made the observation at the weekend while delivering a sermon after his installation.

Osotayo emphasised the need for the spiritual development of youths in order to realise the dream of a great country.

The cleric, who was installed by the Bishop of the Akure Anglican Diocese, Most Rev. Simeon Borokini, said the rise in the interest of the youths in sports, entertainment and technology had become uncontrollable and affected their spirituality.

He promised to institute a new ministry in the cathedral whereby the youths

would have their chapel and a priest to work with them directly.

The provost urged parents and the church to be patient with the youths since the growth in technology had affected their spiritual development.

He warned against spending on ceremonies and frivolities more than the development of souls, especially those of the youths to prevent them from going astray and become problem to the society.

“Today, sexually-appeal-

ing songs get promoted amongst the youths than spiritual songs.

“They tap wrong information as they are always connected to the internet,” Osotayo noted.

According to him, “This has resulted to fraudsters called Yahoo boys. Let us pity them, and think of how we can help them. Sports is now money; it is a venture like politics.

“They have the power and energy now. Let us engage them in the church and let them contribute.

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South East

Monday, May 12, 2014

National Mirror www.nationalmir-

Jonathan to commission 324 housing units in Enugu DENNIS AGBO ENUGU

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Former governor of Anambra State, Mr. Peter Obi (right), receiving a plaque from the President-General of Ndigbo in Lagos, Prof. Anya O. Anya, for his outstanding service to humanity, in Lagos, at the weekend.

Ezeagu Assembly denies endorsing Chime, Ekweremadu for Senate DENNIS AGBO ENUGU

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he people of Ezeagu Local Government Area in Enugu State have denied endorsing Governor Sullivan Chime, the Deputy President of the Senate, Ike Ekweremadu, or any other person for the Senate in the 2015 election.

The Ezeagu General Assembly after their meeting in Enugu stated that endorsing candidates for various political positions was one of the items their meeting would address at the appropriate time.

President-General of the Assembly, Chief Obiora Ozobu, at the end of their meeting at the weekend said that there were attempts by some faceless

individuals to scuttle the meeting on the erroneous impression that it was being sponsored by opposition parties against the state government.

He said: “For people to go forward, to understand themselves, to solve problems within themselves, there is the need to stay together and hold meetings; that has always been what Ezeagu General Assembly is all for; to protect and defend the interest of Ezeagu people, not against anybody.

“This meeting is to ensure that we get what we deserve in Enugu State and Nigeria in general. And attendance today was over 100. Many people called me to show appreciation for the meeting we summoned,

but expressed regrets that they had other functions within the state and outside the state but next one they certainly will attend.

“That is why now we have agreed that we shall continue with the programme of the Ezeagu General Assembly in terms of the monthly meetings.

“We all agreed here that we shall maintain the momentum and continue as before, advancing the interest of Ezeagu in Enugu State, peace and harmony within ourselves and speaking to others to know how we feel and presenting our needs to the appropriate authorities or persons who may be responsible for addressing the issues that we raised, that is what we agreed here today.

“I believe along the line,

we have to come to that, because that is an issue among others.

“But not yet; that’s one item, there are many other items that we may consider at the appropriate time; because we better start thinking in terms of whether or not Ezeagu man will jump into any race.

“It is in our collective interest to decide who do we support if we are not going to participate. It is our legitimate right to consider both sides, you are better considered as a people or group rather than as an individual.

“We shall at the end of the day pick by which process we can get our right in the context of Enugu State politics and the zoning in place.”

Ebonyi farmers lament destruction of crops ALIUNA GODWIN EBONYI

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ontroversy at the weekend trailed the destruction of crops belonging to farmers and land owners at the Ebonyi State University, EBSU, with bulldozers by the state government.

The crops were said to worth millions of naira.

Speaking to National Mirror at the university site in Abakaliki, one of the farmers, Mr. Edward Agba, petitioned the Almighty God to intervene in the destruction.

He alleged that the state

government forcibly took over their plots of land inherited from their forefathers without settlement.

“The state government has taken over all our lands and we have no place to live and this is without settlement.

Again, they have destroyed our crops without given us any prior notice for us to remove our crops we suffered to cultivate.

“They used bulldozer and levelled our crops and they never told us not to plant here again. They are not going to build anything here but just want to destroy our crops so that

we can die or remain in poverty and in hunger.

“We lived here before the university was sited.

We told the state government that we are not opposing the university not to stay but we will live together with it. Then, why should the government be pursuing us away from the land on which our forefathers were buried?” Agba said.

The Commissioner for Lands and Survey, Friday Nwaogha, said: “People are encroaching and using government lands unnecessarily without obtaining any permission

from the authorities. “The permanent site of the Ebonyi State University is not a new acquisition. It was acquired since 1979 during the tenure of the former governor of old Anambra State, Chief Jim Nwobodo.

“It was as a result of the political will of Governor Martin Elechi that he decided to fence the university lands. Before the commencement of the fencing project, we invited the residents of the area and told them that now we want to commence fencing that there should be no illegal structure or farming.

resident Goodluck Jonathan will on May 23 commission the 324-unit Elim Housing Estate in Enugu built by a private developer.

Minister of Housing, Lands and Urban Development, Mrs. Akon Eyakenyi, disclosed this at the weekend during an inspection tour of the estate.

The Managing Director of NBP Projects Limited, developers of the estate, Rev. Ugochukwu Chime, said the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria funded the development.

Chime said the estate was designed to meet the needs of both middle and low-income earners.

He added that the units consist of one-bedroom and two-bedroom terrace flats as well as three-bedroom fully detached bungalows, stressing that each of the units cost between N3.5m and N10m.

The NBP boss noted that prices of the houses were set by the FMBN, saying the bank had made provisions for easy purchase of the housing units with minimal initial deposits of as low as 10 per cent.

“Besides, there is also a

stable mortgage loan repayment rate of six per cent per annum (on the balance) for an extended period of up to 30 years subject to the applicant’s age,” he said.

Meanwhile, the minister said the successful completion of the estate was another major project under the current administration’s drive to produce affordable housing for Nigerians.

She stated that the Federal Government was striving to alleviate the pains of Nigerians who did not have a cover over their heads.

“The estate is another major stride by the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria in funding a Nigerian developer.

“The quality of delivery is very encouraging and I observed perfect finishes in the housing units, especially in the three-bedroom bungalows. Indeed, this is another good democracy dividend.”

Eyakenyi advised other developers to emulate what NBP Projects, adding that if given another opportunity, “it (NBP) will deliver at such affordable cost.”

She also called on other developers to team up with the Federal Government to develop the sector under the Private-Public Partnership arrangement.

APGA suspends seven Ward chairmen CHARLES OKEKE AWKA

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he Anambra State chapter of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, has suspended seven ward chairmen in Awka South Local Government Area over their alleged involvement in anti-party activities.

The ward chairmen include those of Awka ward 4,3,7 and 2 respectively, while two ward chairmen were suspended in Mbaukwu.

The suspended ward chairmen were accused of holding unauthorised meetings and working against the interest of APGA. Announcing the suspension during the meeting of Forum of Awka South and Awka North local government areas chapters of APGA in Awka at the weekend, the Awka South Chairman of APGA, Anthony Eleh Omeligwe, said the era of impunity in APGA had gone.

Omeligwe stated that the suspended ward chairmen had been warned not to call any APGA meeting again, even as their deputies had been mandated to take over the vacant positions.

Similarly, the party leaders also passed a vote of confidence on Chief Victor Umeh, the embattled National Chairman of the party.

They had also resolved that those intended to contest for political positions in 2015 must be real APGA members for at least three years to qualify for party ticket.

This resolution came against the backdrop that in 2011 most Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, members defected to APGA where they were fielded as candidates in the general election.

The APGA leader in the Awka North and former commissioner for agriculture, Chief Godson Ezenagu, warned the members that to shun indiscipline and anti-party activities.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

South South

Monday, May 12, 2014

Group wants kinsman appointed Delta Commission boss

We’re marginalised, Isoko group tells Uduaghan

THEOPHILUS ONOJEGHEN

THEOPHILUS ONOJEGHEN

WARRI

WARRI

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he Itsekiri ethnic nationality has called on Delta State Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, to appoint their kinsman into the vacant chairmanship position of the state Local Government Service Commission, LGSC, ‘in the interest of justice and fairness’.

They claimed that it is the turn of the Itsekiri to assume the position, following an alleged ‘gentleman agreement’ between the various ethnic groups in the state.

According to them, now that the tenure of Mrs P.K.N. Okuofu from Delta North has expired, it is now their right as the only ethnic group not to have produced the chairman of the commission.

A group, Love of Itsekiri Patriots, LIP, made the call on behalf of Itsekiri nation during a press conference in Sapele over the weekend.

Addressing newsmen at the briefing, the Chairman and Publicity Secretary of LIP, Victor Oritsejolomisan Ometie and Taiye Amatesiro, said it amounts great injustice and high degree of marginalisation if they were not given the seat for the next four years.

They noted that the law establishing the commission, particularly Section 83 of the Local Government Law 2004 (as amended) and the Harmonised Local Government Bill 2013, did not give room for a four-year second term as being surreptitiously nursed by the outgoing chairman, Mrs. Okuofu.

The group, which comprises prominent Itsekiri sons and daughters appealed to Uduaghan to maintain his ‘knack for fairness, justice and equity’ in the distribution of projects and appointments among all the ethnic nationalities in the state.

It insisted that the law and convention guiding appointments into the commission since its inception remained sacrosanct and could not be changed now.

While seeking for the understanding of other ethnic groups in the state, LIP stated that since the inception of the commission, no Itsekiri has ever assumed the chairmanship.

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D L-R: President, Ijaw Women Leadership Forum, IWLF, South West, Mrs. Pat Ngene; Bayelsa State Governor, Seriake Dickson and Coordinator, Ijaw Monitoring Group, Joseph Evah, during the presentation of N30m draft for a revolving loan scheme for small and medium scale businesses, during the governor’s visit to Niger Deltans at Ajegunle, Apapa, Lagos, at the weekend.

ASUP, COEASU, others protest retirement of members in A’Ibom ANIEFIOK MACAULEY UYO

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cademic activities have stalled in all the Akwa Ibom State government-owned institutions of higher learning as lecturers protest the premature retirement of their colleagues.

The only exception is the state university at Ikot Akpaden.

The institutions affected under the Joint Action of Unions, JAC, include the state polytechnic, AKWAPOLY, Ikot Osurua; College of Education (CoE), Afaha Nsit and the College of Arts and Science, CAS, Nung Ukim.

Union leaders called out

SEBASTINE EBHUOMHAN BENIN

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uman rights activist and Executive Director of the Africa Network on Environment and Economic Justice, ANEEJ, Rev. David Ugolor, has filed a fresh suit against the Nigeria Police Force, NPF, the InspectorGeneral of Police, IGP and Attorney-General of the Federation, AGF. In the court papers that National Mirror exclusively obtained in Benin City over the weekend, the plaintiff is claiming N10m as exemplary and general damages against the respondents,

their colleagues in protest over what they described as government’s insensitivity to the development of education.

The state chairman of Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics, ASUP, Comrade Iboro Paul Ibara; the Chairman of Colleges of Education Staff Union, COEASU, Mrs. Gloria Inyang and Comrade Isaiah Ekwere of the teachers’ union at CAS, who spoke to newsmen weekend in Uyo, the state capital, flayed government’s directives to the managements of the affected institutions.

They lamented that such an action, if not checked, could result to brain drain in

the system.

Addressing journalists on the matter at the weekend, Ibara listed the problems triggering the issue as noncompliance with the 65-year retirement bar for lecturers, haphazard implementation of teachers’ remunerations and decaying education infrastructure in the affected schools.

According to him, the need to shut down the affected schools stemmed from these anomalies, which, he noted, have made the tertiary education sub-sector totally subservient to politics and government bureaucracy.

According to him, the problems had impinged neg-

atively on the development of higher education in the state.

He noted that senior lecturers have been leaving the system in droves, having realised that their future was no longer protected by the managers of the system.

Ibara, who recalled that the coalition of unions in the affected institutions had earlier sent their position on the matter to the government and other relevant agencies, including the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Head of Service, Education Commissioner and other concerned authorities, said the institutions would remain shut until the grievances were addressed.

for the denial of use of his properties submitted for police investigation when the Principal Private Secretary to Governor Adams Aliyu Oshiomhole, the late Comrade Olaitan Oyerinde, was murdered on May 4, 2012.

In the case filed by Mr. Olayiwola Afolabi on Ugolor’s behalf, the activist is also seeking a declaration that the seizure of his properties by officers of the respondents, was without probable or just cause, illegal, unlawful and a violation of his right to acquire and own property guaranteed by Section 43 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (1999).

Ugolor is also seeking a declaration that the seizure of the properties for about two years now was illegal, unlawful and a violation of his right to acquire and own property.

He is also seeking an order directing the respondents, their agents, successors and privies, to release the applicant’s properties in their custody.

Afolabi listed the seized properties as: One Blackberry and Samsung handset each, two Nokia phones, one Ipad; a United Bank of Africa, UBA Plc cheque book, with number 33788914; two GLO sim card packs

Afolabi, who explained that his client “willingly submitted” the properties in order to aid police investigation into the murder, concluded: “Our client has been denied the use of the various properties, despite the legal advice and judgment in respect of the matter in his favour.”

It would be recalled that an Edo State High Court, presided by Justice Esther Edigin, on Friday, September 14, 2012, awarded the sum of N5m damages to Ugolor for the violation of his fundamental human rights as a result of his arrest and detention by the police.

elta State Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, has been challenged to ensure that ongoing projects in Isokoland are completed.

The Isoko also urged him to enact his ‘Finishing Strong’ slogan in their nation, to justify the massive support of the people for both the state and federal governments as, well as the ruling party.

The challenge was thrown at the governor over the weekend by a socio-political pressure group, Isoko Political Parliament, IPP, during an enlarged monthly meeting held at Oleh, headquarters of Isoko South local government area of the state.

At the meeting, they undertook a holistic review of the impact of the present regime on the Isoko ethnic nationality as a whole.

A communiqué issued and signed by the president and vice president of the group, Chief Iduh Amadhe and Prince Desmond Ogboadu at the end of the meeting, noted that Isoko people have not gotten their fair share of democratic dividends in the present dispensation.

It said: “The Isoko has neither special mega nor tangible projects to show for its enormous oil wealth, loyalty and peaceful disposition.”

“Again, why should the Ijaw and Itshekiri monopolise juicy appointments due the district, such as ministerial, directorship in NDDC, Chairman of DESOPADEC, etc, to the detriment of our people?”

It stressed that the ‘last chance’ had come for the governor to remedy the anomaly and endear himself to the Isoko people as he is leaving office next year.

Uduaghan

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Monday, May 12, 2014

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Striking Kwara College workers rebuff govt’s directive to resume WOLE A DEDEJI ILORIN

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he Committee of Unions of Tertiary Institutions, CUTI, of the Colleges of Education in Kwara State has rebuffed the state government’s order that they should return to work.

CUTI had for over a month now called its members in the three Colleges out on strike over demands for improved welfare and infrastructural upgrades of the affected schools.

However, government had of late directed that the workers must resumed work before it could enter into negotiations with them.

CUTI Chairman, Malam Shehu Sanni had on Sunday told Journalists that members of the association would not return to work until state government accede to all their demands.

According to him, academic and non- aca-

demic staff of the three state owned Colleges of Education had resolved to continue with the strike action, government’s threats notwithstanding.

The CUTI call on its members to embark on the strike since Monday, April 7, 2014 had been hinged on a seven-point demands.

The workers had accused the government of non-payment of salaries and allowances; poor infrastructures; improprieties by managements of these schools and illegal sales of college properties by the administrators.

Sani said CUTI did not trust the state government, hence the resolve of the workers to ignore the directive to return to work as a condition to enter into dialogue.

“We called a meeting of the congress on Friday, it was resolved that we shall not return to work until all our agitations are met”, Sanni said.

The CUTI chairman

also said no member signed the register the state government brought for staff to sign to indicate their readiness to return to work.

He added that the Head of Service told them that their issues would be looked into, but said the strike has political undertone.

He however declared that the strike action embarked upon by CUTI had no political undertone, describing it as purely industrial dispute with the

authority of the colleges and state government.

Sanni said if the workers resume work, there was the likelihood of some of them losing their jobs while some may be posted to Primary schools.

He said the governor himself gave the hint during a media chat that he would restructure the college.

Sanni added that he could not call off the strike without the government giving them con-

crete evidence of sincerity.

Dr Isiaka Opobiyi, Provost of the College of Education, Ilorin in his reaction appealed to the striking lecturers to return to work in the interest of the students, parents and the college.

He also appealed to the union official to allow reason to prevail and return to work for negotiation to commence.

Opobiyi said the Committee of Provosts met with the leadership of

the union and appealed to them to call off the strike, but that they were adamant.

The provost said the strike was illegal in the first instance as there was no notice of industrial dispute before they embarked on the strike.

He added that war or industrial action would not fetch anything good to either party, but rather, only dialogue could do the magic and appealed to them to dialogue with the government.

AIB, Niger Republic probe plane crash OLUSEGUN KOIKI

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he Nigerian Accident Investigation Bureau, AIB and the Ministry of Aviation, Niger Republic may jointly commence an investigation into the IRS Airlines plane crash which occurred in Ganla area of Niger.

AIB’s spokesman, Tunji Oketunbi, in a telephone interview with National Mirror yesterday, said that AIB and its Niger counterpart might jointly begin a probe of the crash.

One of the sons of the Inspector General of Police, IGP, Mohammed Abubakar, Jamin, was one of the two pilots involved in the crash.

Oketunbi, however, noted that Niger Republic, as the venue of occurrence, has the jurisdiction to carry out investigation into the cause of the crash under the International Civil Aviation Organisation, ICAO rules, Annex 13.

Besides, he said that Nigeria too, as a state of registration, equally has the right to be represented

during the investigation.

“It is Niger that has jurisdiction over it. We can participate in the investigation, but just as an observer. Under ICAO Annex 13, it is the country of the crash that will investigate, but we can participate as an observer,” he stated.

According to the spokesman, “That is the state of occurrence (Niger) and it has jurisdiction over the crash. The crash would be investigated by the country of occurrence, unless the country of occurrence says it cannot do it and call for our help. But over there in Niger, they do not have an independent body for accident investigation.”

He, however, told our correspondent that the crashed Fokker 100 plane was still in Niger, adding that the authority was already discussing with the airline involved in the crash.

Also, he noted that the agency had got in touch with the two pilots involved in the crash and would commence investigation immediately from the Nigerian angle on the cause of the crash

The Deeper Life Bible Church orchestra performing in Suleja, Niger State, yesterday.

2015: North insists on one-day general elections OMEIZA AJAYI AND WOLE OLADIMEJI

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orthern delegates at the National Conference have again faulted the time table for next year’s general elections as released some months ago by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC. The delegates however expressed optimism that INEC’s experiences in past elections will help the commission to conduct free and fair elections in future “for the overall interest of the growth of our democracy and for the socio-economic and political development of the nation.”

The Independent Na-

tional Electoral Commission, INEC had in January this year released the time table for the 2015 presidential and National Assembly elections.

According to the commission, the presidential and National Assembly elections will hold on February 14, 2015, while the governorship and state Houses of Assembly elections will take place on February 28, 2015.

Spokesman of the Northern Delegates Forum, Mr Anthony Sani restated the position of the north in an electronic mail interview with our correspondents yesterday.

He said the north expects INEC to conduct all elections in one day

in order to reduce cost as well as cases of multiple voting.

Sani also added that such arrangement would reduce the “band wagon effect that is often associated with staggered elections.”

“If Kenya can conduct all its elections on the same day, it does not stand to reason for INEC to use logistics problems as basis for its refusal to conduct all elections the same day.

“Nigerians are not inferior mentally, physically and morally to those who conduct all their elections on the same day”, he added.

Sani added that INEC’s role in sustaining democracy in Nigeria is very

critical in the sense that it is through INEC that voters’ choice of leaders finds expression.

He said it is when voters exercise their franchise to bring about leaders that such leaders would have legitimacy and enjoy the support of the people who in turn hold themselves responsible for the choice of such leaders.

“But when votes do not count substantially due to managerial imperfections of INEC, the leaders who emerge suffer problems of legitimacy and so do not enjoy the support of the people leading to abuse of power that makes good governance difficult to attain”, he stated.

Monday, May 12, 2014

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

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Politics

G2G: Rallying support for Jonathan ahead 2015

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I’ll accept PDP’s choice of my running mate -Omisore BOLADALE BAMIGBOLA OSOGBO

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eoples Democratic Party, PDP, governorship candidate for Osun governorship election, Senator Iyiola Omisore has disclosed that the party reserves the rght to pick his running mate.

Speaking while receiving Islamic leaders from Iwo zone, who paid him a solidarity visit at his IleIfe residence, Omisore said PDP leaders will choose the best from among the poll of qualified politicians, de-

scribing himself as “a loyal party man who will abide by decision of the party leadership on the issue.”

He restated his commitment to an inclusive reconciliation with all segments of the party ahead of the August 9, adding that he has never foreclosed reunion with any aggrieved section of the party, promising that “no sacrifice will be too much to make to defeat the All Progressives Congress, APC government in the state.

Commending the party leadership for efforts at rec-

onciliation, Omisore said: “I understand people want some clarifications. People are worried about their interests after the primaries.

Others want outstanding issues cleared. I understand all these as a long term political player and I assure our party men and women that we are on top of the situation.”

Speaking earlier, the leader of the team, Sheikh Imran Adio, presented a letter signed by Islamic leaders in Iwo, requesting the PDP candidate to pick his deputy governorship

candidate from the town, adding: “Iwo deserves the position. We have many qualified sons and daughters who are eminently qualified for the position.”

SSPF lambasts Soyinka over ‘failed state’ comment OBIORA IFOH ABUJA

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outh South Peoples Forum, SSPF, has said that the allusion of the security challenges by Professor Wole Soyinka to conclude that the government has failed leaves much to be desired.

The SSPF, in a statement by its president, Dr. Joe Ambakederemo, said it is to say the least that Professor Soyinka has debased the intellectual respect he had garnered in the past on the altar of political patronage and influence.

He said: “Indeed, Soyinka has lost touch with patriotism.

For some time, we have watched his unprovoked

attack on President Goodluck Jonathan and his government.

We had looked the other way because like other Nigerians his right of expression cannot be taken away from him.

“However, in this case, we have a duty to remind Soyinka that his conclusions are not just biased, they are devious and laced with mischief to pull down the government.

They are equally erroneous and miscalculated to lay the foundation for civil unrest in the country.”

Ambakederemo said it is also important to remind Soyinka that the Malaysian example is what Nigerians need now in the face of the security challenges.

How we’re tackling insecurity in Plateau North –Pwajok JAMES ABRAHAM JOS

T L-R: All Progressives Congress Deputy National Chairman, Senator Annie Okonkwo; Women Leader, Barr. Sharon Ikeazor; Chairman, Chief Bisi Akande, and Secretary, Mr. Tijani Tumsah, during a World Press Conference on State of the Nation, in Lagos, yesterday.

PHOTO:ADEMOLA AKINLABI

Epe monarch confirms aspirant’s indigeneship OLAJIDE OMOJOLOMOJU

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he rumour surrounding the indigeneship of a governorship aspirant on the platform of the All progressives Party, APC in Lagos State, Akinwunmi Ambode was at the weekend laid to rest by the Olu of Epe and other traditional rulers of Epeland.

Speaking through the Oluilara of Ilara, Oba Okunola Adesanya, at the induction of Ambode and other prominent sons of Epe into the Epe Club, the

monarch described Ambode as a bonafide indigene of Epe land, adding that the Ambode family had always been part and parcel of Epe. Oba Adesanya said the Epes has always been looking for a Messiah and that Ambode fits in so perfectly to actualise the age long dream of the Epes and called on the people of Epe to rally round him in his quest to move Epe and indeed the entire Lagos State forward.

Saying that Ambode has served Lagos for 27 years, contributing his

quota to the development of the state without been tainted by the spoil of office, the monarch added that it is now time for him to go for higher responsibility, pledging that the Epes will unite behind him.

He said that the people of Epe have always been the pillar behind the arrow head of development in Lagos, adding that the time has come for Epes to take the prime place to move Lagos to the next level.

Earlier, Epe Club chairman, Mr. Lanre Rasaq,

former Commissioner for Transportation in Lagos, described Ambode as the jewel of the people of Epe land, saying that he is an illustrious son of the land who used his position as the Account-General of Lagos to better the lot of the people of Epe. He charged the people of Epe to rally round Ambode and other Epe sons who are vying for the position of governor of Lagos State, opining that the most important thing is for Epes to produce the successor to Governor Babatunde Fashola.

he senator representing Plateau North senatorial district, Senator GNS Pwajok said he has been doing a lot to tackle security and other challenges in the area since he was voted into the National Assembly since January last year.

It would be recalled that the senatorial district, consisting of Jos North, Bassa, Jos South, Barki Ladi, Riyom and Jos East local council, is the most violenceprone of the three senatorial zones in Plateau State.

Pwajok, speaking through his media aide, Chuwang Dung, disclosed this in a recent chat with National Mirror, adding that he was picked from the redemption team of Governor Jonah David Jang, while serving as the Chief of Staff to contest the seat following the death of Senator Gyang Dalyop Dantong, as a result of conflicts in the zone.

Disclosing that the seat has been challenging,

Pwajok said that much was expected of him considering the fact that his constituency hosts Jos, the capital city; for which reason concerns are being expressed by the entire people of Plateau on the calibre of who represents the zone at the Senate.

He said the previous senators have done their best, and that his impact since January 2012 has been wonderful, eventful and amazing.

Dung said: “The senator has been effective in handling the challenging security situation in the state. He makes consultation with leaders of various communities and security agencies in his constituency to discuss peace and security which has been quite eventful and challenging.

“Another great area of Pwajok’s achievements is his people-based system of governance.

He has channelled the result orientation of his leadership to the welfare of the people, which by his perception is the most paramount.”

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Politics

Monday, May 12, 2014

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

G2G: Rallying support for Jonathan ahead 2015 The Goodluck-to-Goodluck, G2G Project, aimed at rallying nationwide and global support for the second term re-election bid of President Goodluck Jonathan, who is yet to declare the intention to run, was launched on May 2, OLAJIDE OMOJOLOMOJU x-rays the modus operandi of the body and the ardous task ahead of it.

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resident Goodluck Jonathan is yet to declare his intention to run for a second term come 2015, yet various groups under different nomenclatures have sprung up drumming support for the President’s re-election bid.

The most recent of such groups is the Goodluckto-Goodluck, G2G Project, whose aim according to its chairman and national coordinator, Peoples Democratic Party, PDP gubernatorial candidate in the 2012 Edo State governorship election, Major-General Charles Ehigie Airhiavbere (rtd), was: “two-fold – to deliver victory to our great party – the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and return Goodluck Jonathan as President for a second-term in office at the 2015 general elections.”

Major-General Airhiavbere disclosed this in his welcome address at the inauguration of the G2G Project at the Presidential Hotel, Port Harcourt, Rivers State on May 2.

Perhaps, what makes the G2G Project different from other groups drumming support for President Jonathan’s re-election bid for a second term in 2015 was the caliber of people behind the G2G and the notable and eminent Nigerians lending their support to the project.

Specifically, the former Edo PDP gubernatorial candidate said that it was the mission of his group to convince Nigerians “without any doubt that no-one is better qualified to take over the reins of power in 2015 other than President Jonathan himself; hence the title of our platform – Goodluck To Goodluck (G2G) 2015.”

He added: “This organisation hopes to highlight and resensitise the people of our great and dear country on the achievements made so far under the manifesto of the PDP and the Transformation Agenda of President Jonathan.

“Our people – young and old, male and female, had a vision of the kind of leadership they wanted for Nigeria, and so many fasted and prayed fervently to God to make that vision a reality. There exists no doubt in my mind that President Jonathan was God’s answer to our vision and prayers.”

The question that readily comes to mind is: what qualifies President Jonathan for a second term in office, especially in the midst of the myriad security and other daunting challenges the nation has had to contend with in recent times?

Airhiavbere enumerated the successes Nigeria has achieved under the leadership of President Jonathan to include: the nations’s successful celebration of 100 years of nationhood and the Golden Jubilee, marking 50 years of independence as a nation; the convocation of the much requested National Conference and of course the Transformation Agenda of the Jonathan administration, which according to him was “the most successful government programme of its kind in Nigeria,” which he said was “already yielding tremendous results despite the hiccups and distractions posed by detractors and the destructive wave of terrorism.”

He added: “Until President Goodluck Jonathan came to power, ‘continuity’ was a strange word to Nigerian leaders coming into governance at all levels. Abandoned/ uncompleted projects littered our great country’s landscape - over 3,000 in all, clear evidence of the lack of prudence that has plagued governance at every level in our nation.

“Now, previously abandoned/uncompleted projects (regardless of which previous leaders started them) are

Ebute

Airhiavbere

being completed – bringing new life to their surrounding communities and positively affecting their means of social and economic livelihood for the better.

“Our railroads are now actively transporting people and goods to, and from, different locations in the country, thus providing jobs and improving the means and livelihood of many Nigerians. Power generation plants are coming on line one after another towards ensuring adequate and uninterrupted electricity for Nigerians. Road networks are being completed and water supply is improving in both local and larger communities. Priority is also being given to upgrading security of life and property of all Nigerians.”

To lend credence to the G2G Project, former Senate President and Pro-Chancellor of the National Open University, NOUN, Senator Ameh Ebute, in his key-note address titled: ‘Jonathan – The Game-Changer of Our Time,’ described Jonathan as “a rare phenomenon in Africa’s political history and Nigeria in particular,” describing his phenomenal rise to the highest political office in the land as something that would continue to wonder posterity.

Describing Jonathan’s election in 2011 as a game changer, Ebute said that Jonathan’s ascension to the highest political office in the land has not only changed the equation of power but has also balanced it, adding that his “landslide victory in the three geo-political zones of South-South, South-East and North Central and substantial wins in the North-East and South-West changed the pattern of voting from regional or ethnic voting for former presidents to national pattern thereby establishing electoral acceptability and unity throughout the country. It was game changing that President Jonathan was able to win in four and a half zones out of six geo-political zones. This success has never been recorded in any presidential election hitherto.”

He enumerated other game-changing achievement of the Jonathan administration to include the recognition

of one man one vote and one woman one vote syndrome which according to him laid down the rule that every man and every woman’s vote must count; unlimited tolerance of Mr. President who can be insulted, called names and accommodate highly provocative utterances without losing his temper and order reprehensive response against such politicians, making Nigeria a friendly country to virtually every nation on the globe and Nigeria’s non-permanent membership of the United Nations’ Security Council.

He also added that Jonathan would go down in history as the President who change the game to the extent that Nigeria has become the largest economy on the African continent with its GDP rising to the tune of $510 billion.”

He also said that the President was the first to introduce the 35 per cent affirmation action for Nigerian women, as a gender-sensitive president, adding: President Jonathan is not just a leader but also an agent of change. In terms of leadership qualities, President Jonathan can be classified as an exceptional leader.”

Ebute also argued that the integrity and sincerity of purpose of the Jonathan administration to transform Nigeria should be commended and supported by all, charging the G2G to pass the message of hope to all Nigerians, saying: “There is hope for Nigeria as Jonathan continues beyond 2015.”

Airhiavbere said: “The fact that our current President does not ‘blow his own trumpet’ should not blind us to the reality of his capability and performance as President. Maybe it is time for those of us who know what he is doing for our nation to blow the trumpet on his behalf. Judging by his achievements so far, another 4-year term will only ensure that the ongoing process of laying a foundation for a better Nigeria is not interrupted.”

He raised three important questions, before anyone would start shopping for another President in place of Jonathan in 2015, which are: what do we really want from a President for our nation that we do not already have in Goodluck Ebele Jonathan – taking into consideration the realities of our national and global environment? Which one of the front-runner candidates of the main opposition party can grant and guaranty better than President Jonathan a nation in which true democracy thrives and continues to grow? Which front-runner candidates in any of the opposition parties, particularly with their known less-than-noteworthy track records, can do better than President Jonathan has done so far?

He added that as preparation for 2015 gathers momentum, the G2G 2015 Project will demonstrate the vision that is clearly demonstrated in the President’s Transformation Agenda. His short- and long-term vision for the country will be made clear and understandable to Nigerians as being real and achievable.

THE INTEGRITY AND SINCERITY OF PURPOSE OF THE JONATHAN ADMINISTRATION TO TRANSFORM

NIGERIA SHOULD BE COMMENDED AND SUPPORTED BY ALL

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Monday, May 12, 2014

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Dangers of rising alcoholism in Nigeria Mirror of the moment ABDUL-WAREES A SOLANKE korewarith@yahoo.com, 08090585723 (SMS only)

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e are a nation of record smashers. From soccer to cocoa, crude oil, Nollywood, music and now liquor, we are global champions. As the most populous country in Africa, largest black populated nation in the world and number seven in world population ranking, we can beat our chest for our number. Our crude oil is rated the finest globally, so we should earn big.

We have produced a Nobel laureate in Wole Soyinka, a Booker Prize winner in Ben Okri, and a Pulitzer diadem holder in Dele Olojede. Which part of the world has our sons and daughters not glitter like diamond? Fela Anikulapo Kuti was a son of our black soil. Professor Chinua Achebe, who died recently in America, was another giant in the sun. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, the brilliant Harvard-trained economist running our finance and the economy, almost akin to a prime minister in our polity, was once a candidate for the World Bank presidency.

Our footballers are dazzlers anywhere.

Even though we have not lifted the World Cup once, the biggest soccer trophy for the youth is firmly in our kitty now. We are re-

ally the giant of Africa; forget about the few that slur our name.

Now, about our ranking in the liquor index, a report not too long ago in one of the national dailies shows we are gradually emerging as one of the important markets for champagne drinks, with $106.2 million dollars spent yearly to import assorted brands of the product. A significant part of the report is reproduced here verbatim: “A research by Euromonitor, an international publication based in France, showed that Nigeria’s middle class, who are seeking an alternative to beer, have been consuming 849, 000 litres of assorted brands of this product yearly. A standard bottle of champagne has 0.75 litres content.

“According to the report, Nigeria’s consumption increased nine per cent from 2009 with wine prices ranging from N6000 to N150, 000 and above in choice retail shops in Lagos and some state capitals due to soaring demand by the middle class.

“It was, however, learnt that the global market volume may reach almost 210 billion litres in 2014, representing 10 per cent increase in five years. France is, therefore, looking into the Nigerian market due to the ongoing economic depression in Europe, said Steven Chaters, director of the chair in champagne management at Reims management school.

He claimed that the region’s long- term prospects would depend on its ability to adapt accordingly.

“Champagne makers know they must diversify their exports, which explains the

SOME OF THE MOST THRIVING FACTORIES IN THE COUNTRY ARE THE DISTILLERIES, WHICH

HAVE GONE AN EXTRA LENGTH OF MAKING GINS AFFORDABLE AND ACCESSIBLE development of emerging economy markets,” he said.

Among the top ten consumers, France remains number one with 2,046,000 litres, while the United Kingdom with 833, 000 litres comes after Nigeria. In succeeding order, China records 788, 000 litres; Australia (585, 000) litres; Switzerland (478, 000) litres; Italy (414, 000) litres; Argentina (396, 000) litres; US (394, 000) litres and Brazil ( 212, 000 )litres.

We do not even need to wait for the French report to understand Nigeria’s champagne predilection. We are in this country when a frontline politician had a special champagne branded in his name imported into the country. That was an obscene display of opulence and waste. You also need to visit a place called Apongbon in the heart of Lagos Island to conclude that Nigeria is where all sorts of alcoholic beverages found acceptance and consumption.

Some of the most thriving factories in the country are the distilleries, which have gone an extra length of making gins

affordable and accessible, almost cheaper than packets of biscuits or wraps of toffees. My fear is that one day, nursery school children we give daily stipends for lunch break may soon be coming home tipsy after converting their pocket money to purchase sachets of hot drinks now common place on the streets. Already, some housewives and young mothers are hooked on alcohol. What do we expect of their children when gin bottles are the pride of their parents?

There is a campaign that under 18 should not have access to alcohol just as we preach that smokers are liable to die young. But it is the youngsters that are mostly trapped in this alcoholic obsession because it is allowed to thrive in the public freely. Motor parks are where alcohol should never have a foothold because of the deleterious effects of drink-driving. Unfortunately, the hottest beer or alcoholic joints find accommodation there, just as some drink hawkers have added beer into their cocktails.

Now, many people in search of cure for their ailments are turning to new herbal mixtures laced with alcohol. And those who hide under the cover of such herbal mixtures to satisfy their alcoholic appetite are becoming addicted. They cannot face the day or rest at night without downing sachets of gin or brandy. But they need to be told the larger implications of a widespread alcoholic culture in the country.

Abdul-Warees is Chief Strategy Officer/Head, Research, Development, Training & Consultancy at Voice of Nigeria, Lagos.

Hazards of war on children JOHN I. UWAGBOKWU

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ur beloved Jesus Christ was quite oblivious of the invaluable and prime position of children in the society when he decisively remarked “…Let the children come to me, do not hinder them, for to such belong the kingdom of God…” (Mark 10:13-16). This suggests that some of the lessons from the New Testament regard benevolence as a debt to the children by their elders. Much to my chagrin, this is completely different from the perspectives of our leaders these days.

Armed conflicts and terrorism have exacerbated the plight of many innocent Nigerian children in various ways. If they are not killed or injured, they are orphaned or abducted.

Moreover, if they are not raped, they can be indoctrinated to violence or even war. The Nigerian-Biafran war, which I ignorantly fought as an adolescent soldier, serves as illustration.

Unfortunately, most of us ‘boy soldiers’ abducted in the popular Biafra ‘Boys Company’ were between the ages of 10 and 17. Biafra led to economic impoverishment for us; our children were visited with hunger, starvation, malnutrition and high infant mortality rate. In order to escape this scourge they were fed on rabbits, mouse, snakes, insects and male lizards (which we nicknamed ‘military police’, probably due to their reddish head). We also fed on unripe paw paw, raw cassava and some strange leaves which often caused us dysentery. All the same, most of the civilian pupils were afflicted by the dreaded kwashiorkor, which led to some being

IRONICALLY, WHILE THE NIGERIAN CHILD PERSISTENTLY WRITHES IN THE THROES OF THE INSURGENCY AND

RETALIATORY COUNTERMEASURES OF OUR

MILITARY, OUR LEADERS TEND TO LUXURIATE

IN AIR-CONDITIONED COMFORT ZONES flown to Gabon for treatment.

For us young soldiers, we were initially trained to spy out the locations of Nigerian soldiers, but as the war advanced, we were trained to carry riffles and fight. The Nigerian soldiers were not only well trained, but better armed, which was a great concern for us. The frequent military bombardment of the vital sectors paralyzed academic activities for about three years. As a result, after the war, we returned to school as over aged pupils. Parents also struggled for economic sustenance, which made their children to engage in menial jobs.

Consequently, most of the young female house helps to the vindictive Nigeria soldiers unhappily returned home with oversized bellies.

Since Biafra, Nigeria has been confronted with armed conflicts in the Niger-Delta with its attendant kidnapping; the prolonged

Abaomege-Onitsha, Aguleri-Umuleri, IjawUrhobo and Ife-Modakeke clashes, which wantonly took the lives of many of our young ones. I remember all this as if it was yesterday.

Suffix it to say that in war time, killing and mutilation of children is incompatible with their inalienable rights enshrined in the Geneva Declaration. The current development in the northern part of the country where children are used as cannon fodders makes me sad. If actually our leaders are very conscious of the invaluable position of the children, they would have used the history of the past wars in to drive the Nigeria child out of his present socio-economic squalors. Ironically, while the Nigerian child persistently writhes in the throes of the insurgency and retaliatory counter-measures of our military, our leaders tend to luxuriate in air-conditioned comfort zones.

For instance, in Plateau, Kogi, Jigawa, Taraba, Nasarawa and Kaduna states, our tomorrow’s leaders have often been slaughtered mainly by the notorious nomadic herdsmen, who wish to dictate existential paradigm (just like their ancestors). What knowledge did we acquire from the Holy Quran that led to the burning of about 59 students of Federal Government College, Buni Ladi? A further objective examination will reveal that in recent times, most of our young sons and daughters have been slain like festival rams, amputated, raped, abducted, initiated and frightened by the barbaric Boko Haram sect. Some women, especially from the north-east and the southwest have protested against this horrendous development, but to no avail.

We are at our wits end over how to solve the riddle of missing 223 girls abducted from Government Girls Secondary School, Chibok, Borno State. Unfortunately, these girls might be indoctrinated into early marriage or even high Islamic fundamentalism, which might take much rehabilitation to correct. There is the tendency that these girls might be traumatized, which might affect their fragile minds. This was the case in Liberia during horrific years of Charles Taylor.

Who can take the Nigerian child out of this brutal assault and traumas of terrorism? It is apparent there is presently lack of panchromatic vision to capture and decisively deal with the Boko Haram onslaught and other security challenges.

It is no longer secret that some unpatriotic top government functionaries, commercial magnates, political gurus, military personnel etc, are regularly drumming the insurgency drumbeats and reaping bountifully from the vendetta.

Nigeria should thread the path of most of her African countries like Gabon, Equatorial Guinea, Ghana, Zambia, Tanzania and Senegal whose children have had the joy of peace, good education, adequate food supply, good health and social amenities for a very long time now.

Uwagbokwu wrote via JOHNUWAGBOKWU@GMAIL.COM 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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Global wrath against Boko Haram

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here is a way adversity induces the right mood for coordinated and decisive action against evil.

This seems the best explanation for the world’s present soured mood against Boko Haram, the militant Islamist sect that has been terrorizing Nigerians and making nonsense of Nigeria’s entire security machine. Since 2009, the sect has successfully launched series of well coordinated attacks on targets across the northern region, particularly the North East geopolitical zone and Abuja, the nation’s capital, killing and maiming innocent citizens. The deaths, trauma and destruction now credited to the sect’s campaign of violence are currently unquantifiable. While the nation’s military and paramilitary outfits have offered feeble responses to the challenge posed by the group, the rest of the world had just been watching. It would now seem that international ‘siddon look’ has changed.

Last Monday, May 5, 2014, the day the sect leader, Mallam Abubakar Shekau, announced his decision to sell the abducted schoolgirls from Government Girls Secondary School, Chibok, Borno State, into slavery, the mood of the world turned around.

Recall that since last April 15, when about 276 girls were forcefully spirited away from their school by members of the sect, not much has been achieved in the search for them. But a global coalition for their rescue emerged on Monday May 5, when Boko Haram’s leader, Mallam Abubakar Shekau, declared as follows in a video clip first aired by Agence FrancePresse (AFP): “I abducted your girls. I will sell them in the market…There is a market for selling humans. Allah says I should sell. He commands me to sell. I will sell women. I sell women”.

That Shekau went to that extent of defiance pricked the mind of the world. The Nigerian political leadership, we all know, failed woefully to deter the insurgents till date. The West has always been cautious in responding to the self-inflicted conflicts African leaders inflict on their peoples. But such cold feet international response to visible crimes against humanity has been promoting the activities of the likes of Boko Haram all over Africa. This was why the world lived with the Rwandan genocide of the 1990s that led to about 1, 074, 017 deaths; and the horrendous human rights abuses

TERRORISM, RESTIVENESS AND RELATED CRIMES THRIVE MOST

WHERE POVERTY, UNEMPLOYMENT,

POLITICAL INJUSTICE, ETC., ARE GLARING

including murder, abduction, mutilation, child-sex slavery, and forcing children to participate in hostilities perpetrated in Uganda, and lately in South Sudan, Central Africa Republic and Congo Democratic Republic by the Lord’s Resistance Army led by Joseph Kony, for example.

Nigerians quite appreciate the interest of the United States and the rest of the world in joining Nigeria to fight Boko Haram insurgents, as well as President Jonathan’s humility in welcoming their interventionist overtures, but the destiny of Nigeria, whatever the outcome of the expected intervention may be, remains in the hands of Nigerian leaders and the citizenry.

President Jonathan has been accused of not being a courageous leader. For, Mr. President’s indecisiveness in

ON THIS DAY May 12, 1998 In Indonesia, four students were shot at Trisakti University, leading to widespread riots and the fall of President Suharto. Suharto (June 8, 1921–January 27, 2008) was the second President of Indonesia, holding the office for 31 years from Sukarno’s ouster in 1967 until his resignation in 1998. Severe financial crisis led to widespread unrest and his resignation on May 12, 1998. Suharto died in 2008.

Letters tothe theEditor Editor Letters to

May 12, 2007 Riots in which over 50 people were killed and over 100 injured took place in Karachi, Pakistan upon the arrival in town of the country’s Chief Justice, Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry. Chaudhry was coming to address the city bar association on the 50th anniversary of the establishment of the Sindh High Court Bar Association. During the riots city, roads were blocked, cars burned and hundreds of people injured, killed or arrested.

tackling sensitive state matters is not the making of the opposition or detractors. It is the product of his leadership style.

The leadership of the nation’s security agencies has not been able to live up to their tall orders.

Many security operatives deployed in the North East complain of their bosses short-changing them financially. It is even alleged that Boko Haram top shots and some unscrupulous leaders of the nation’s security outfits are involved in clandestine agenda. How then can the insurgency be curtailed under the prevailing circumstance? For goodness sake, let the foreigners come and assist. The Nigerian gover nment has been humbled enough by the insurgents. But if the nation escapes from the ongoing nightmare, the political leadership should revel no more in treasury looting.

It should invest heavily in youth empower ment and employment programmes; as well as tackle the deafening poverty in parts of the North and elsewhere in the country. Terrorism, restiveness and related crimes thrive most where poverty, unemployment, political injustices, etc., are glaring.

x May 12, 2008 United States’ Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials conducted the largest-ever raid of a workplace in Postville. Nearly 400 immigrants were arrested for identity theft and document fraud. About 300 were convicted for document fraud. The majority served a five-month prison sentence before being deported. Several employees and lower and middle level managers were also indicted on charges of conspiracy.

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For President Goodluck Jonathan and the Coordinating Minister for the Economy and Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, the successful hosting of the World Economic Forum for Africa (WEFA) by Nigeria epitomises a great success in international economic diplomacy and symbolises tell-tale signs that despite her present socio-economic ordeals, Nigeria may sit amongst other great countries to determine the direction of the global economy order sooner than later

By Tola Akinmutimi, Abuja

W

ith her huge human and natural resources endowments which have been acknowledged globally as veritable assets to transform her economy and rich enough to lift millions of her citizenry out of the throes of poverty, Nigeria naturally possesses all the attributes of an economic ‘damsel’ which international investment ‘suitors’ could only churn at the detriment of economies.

Indeed, Nigeria is not only big by size but also economically strong such that if the enabling legislations and policies were put in place and sustained by past and present leaders, the country would have been the largest international trade and investment hub round of the global economic system.

For instance, in addition to the fact that the Nigerian economy remains amongst the fastest growing globally at 7.1 per cent by the year end 2013, the latest GDP figures released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) on April 6 as the rebased nominal GDP estimates for 2013 at N80.22 trillion (about $509.9 billion). This ranks the economy as the 26th position globally and the per capita at 121st position globally.

Reflecting on the latest nominal GDP estimates and its implications for socio-economic

growth of the country, Coordinating Minister for the Economy and Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, noted that the economy had witnessed remarkable restructuring and improvement in performances of some key sectors with positive potentials for Nigeria’s sustainable development in the years ahead.

She said: “We did not set out to become the biggest economy in Africa. We set out to measure how much the economy has changed. And that is the outcome. Becoming the largest economy on the continent is a positive development, but it is not destination.”

The minister acknowledged that while the results of the rebasing exercise will not make the challenges of poverty and unemployment in Nigeria disappear overnight, they will become useful tools for the better understanding of the structure and changes of the economy to grow the economy and tackle poverty and unemployment.

Curiously, even as relevant as the ‘Forging Inclusive Growth, Creating Jobs’ the theme of the just ended World Economic Forum for Africa (WEFA) 2014 is to Nigeria’s developmental needs, analysts were consensual in their positions that despite the strong fundamentals of the economy, its paradoxes over the past decades reflected a nation with overflowing resources whose citizens continue to groan under the burden of crushing pov-

erty.

How to reverse the ugly trend, in the views of experts, is therefore the primary agenda Nigerian leaders should pursue at the largest gathering of global experts as they x-ray Afrocentric issues of development from May 7-9, 2014 in Abuja, the Nigerian capital city.

As expected, after threedays of brainstorming sessions at the events, experts reports on the diagnostic analysis of the Nigerian economy clearly revealed that moving the country forward would require a combination of strategies that would improve productivity and services delivery in key sectors of power, education, health, oil gas and agricultural sectors, amongst others Speaking on how his administration intends to do to sustain growth, bridge the inequality gap and facilitate inclusive growth necessary to leverage the gains of Nigeria’s economic transformation agenda, President Goodluck Jonathan, told the global investing community at the forum that the challenges of insecurity would be frontally addressed to improve the en-

abling environment for investments.

The President told delegates at the opening Plenary session of the Forum that the Nigerian government would support the ongoing job creation programmes with adequate policy intensity such that the country’s bourgeoning youth unemployment challenge will be addressed in order to stem the tide of youth restiveness and explore their productive potentials for national development.

He explained that government’s policies were focused on a number of priority sectors, which have high job-creating potential, such as agriculture, manufacturing, housing and construction, and the services sectors.

“For us in Nigeria, job creation has been the main focus of our ongoing Transformation Agenda – which is our programme to modernise and diversify the Nigerian economy.

Job creation is one of the concerns that keep me up at night, and it has been the main theme of our Federal Government Budget in recent years.

We recognise that the private sector will be the engine of growth and job-creation” the President said.

Appreciating the critical role of the private sector in the job creation drive, he pointed out that to attract the needed investment support from the OPS, the Federal Government had been putting in place the necessary conditions to sup-

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port private sector-led economic growth and job creation.

He listed the components of these measures as including, the creation of a stable macroeconomic environment in form of low inflation, social protection, stable exchange rates and investment in critical infrastructure such as roads, railways, power and investing in the development of skills of the people, amongst others.

Corroborating the President’s policy stance on the imperativeness of social protection in the drive towards inclusive growth, Okonjo-Iweala, during one of the panel’s discussion session on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) on Friday, said efforts were also being intensified to ensure social safety protection for unemployed and vulnerable Nigerians such that their basic needs would be met to address the socio-economic imbalances in the system.

A Co-Chair of the WEFA, Dominic Brown, noted that there would be need to rev up ongoing drive towards food security in Nigeria and other Africans in order to mitigate the

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Jonathan

Aganga

Rice

Okonjo-Iweala

effect of poverty and social challenges the poor and vulnerable contend with.

This is even as he identified the enhancement of capacities in infrastructure, manpower vocational training and elimination of all hurdles to business creation by the Nigerian government as key in catalysing the desired growth in the real sector, create jobs and achieve inclusive growth.

For the African Development Bank (AfDB), Nigeria, Kenya and South Africa must collaborate in order to make the dream of inclusive growth real in the African continent.

Making the submission

as one of the panelists on the topic ‘Driving Competitiveness Through Cooperation, Integration and Economic Growth’ the AfDB’s Chief Economist, Prof.

Mthuli Ncube, lamented that growth was positive in the region but that inequalities remained too high.

Ncube pointed out that if the three countries could synergise their efforts, it would help in alleviating poverty rate in the African region.

“These three economies Nigeria Kenya, South Africa and Egypt when they come up must inter tie and must work together to drive African Economy,” he advocated.

President of the Dangote Group, Alh. Aliko Dangaote, who also spoke at the forum, believes that the solution to poverty in Africa is for Africans to invest their money at home rather than take the continent’s wealth away to others parts of the world. According to him, the problem of poverty and lack of development on the continent had a lot to do with activities of Africans who deny the continent of its resources by taking them to other parts of the globe.

“The challenge is that some Africans, rather than keeping their money in Africa take such money away to other parts of the world.

Many are not in-

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vesting our money in Africa.

When such money is taken out Africa loses.” He said.

Alh. Dangote who said he would invest $16 billion on the continent in the next four years, emphasized that massive investment in Africa should be the pre-occupation of both state and non-state actors in Africa.

He explained that there was no alternative to industralisation of the continent, as according to him, “when you import goods, you import poverty and you export jobs to other parts of the globe where such goods are produced”. The next phase of investments by his group, the Continued on pg A4

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Dangote

billionaire said, would be in the critical real sectors such as agriculture, petrochemicals and fertilizers to boost areas that could directly create jobs.

He believed that the provision of jobs to Nigeria’s teaming population was the only effective way to check the twin problems of poverty and terrorism in Nigeria and other parts of the African continenet.

For Seyi Bickersteth, Chairman, KMPG global Africa practice and Chairman of the private meeting, efforts must be committed to improve intra African trade which now stands at 12 per cent in order to achieve positive growth, integrate the regional economies and reduce cost and time of business and movement.

Bickesteth described the Nigerian power sector privatisation programme as a step in the right direction, pointing out however that private sector participation is crucial to drive the sector to the level that electricity supply would improve and become cheaper for businesses and individual consumers.

On what is required to translate the nation’s huge hydrocarbon resources to national development asset, the Special Representative of the United Nations for Sustainability Energy for All, Kande Yumkela, at the ‘Engaging In Energy’ discussion session, pointed out Nigeria’s future for sustainable development would revolve round how best the revenues generated from the sector are used in empowering the people.

He specifically noted that gas flaring with its attendant negative implications for greener environment were undesirable for the country in terms of its socio-economic costs and advised the Federal Government to fast-track efforts aimed at reducing gas flaring to the

Godwin Emefiele, In-coming CBN Governor

Wale Tinubu, MD Oando

barest minimum.

Earlier, the Minister of Petroleum Resources, Dezianni Alison-Madueke, hinted that the Federal Government was committed to the passage of the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB), which she described as key to unlocking the investment and productive opportunities in the sector to the fullest.

According to her, adequate focus was also being given to improving the processes in the upstream and downstream activities with a view to ensuring improved transparency of operations in the sector, curb abuses and create a level playing ground for all players.

Appraising the nation’s business landscape and what should be done to improve its investment competitiveness, the Country Director, International Institute for Investment Promotion, Ogbonna Ukuku, noted that policy frameworks should be put in place to attract venture capital necessary for real sector growth on a sustainable basis.

Noting that the present credit regime is awkward, the investment analyst, who cited investment policy regimes in the UK and the US to support his position, canvassed a legislative instrument that would correct the lapses and encourage banks to provide credit to business owners on longer terms and more affordable basis.

He said: “In countries that Nigeria looks up to such as the UK and the US, there were legislations as far back as 1850s to actually support venture capital as a means of creating access to finance. Now in our own case, you cannot talk about getting loan without talking about the initial capital, the initial equity that you need to get to where loans will come to you.

“Now, we have to solve the first problem which is the first issue and that is having a venture capital system that works.

We also need Angel funds. What we do now is like family members or friends coming together to pull up that initial venture capital” According to him, though the Bank of Industry and the Central Bank of Nigeria are providing some credit support for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), the low-interest credit should be sustained through legislative instruments that should guarantee the sustainability and encourage inclusive growth in the SMEs and the informal sector of the economy.

Ukuku said: “The CBN, through the Bankers Committee, had some funding support which requires the banks to put in 10 per cent of their net earnings into supporting equity to support the SMEs. Now, any right thinking person would actually turn that into legislation so that we can jump start a venture capital automatically because those funds’ terms are investor-friendly.

“Another thing we are doing in Nigeria which is not correct is they say that an idle mind is Devil’s workshop. I say that the idle fund is actually the Devil itself. Until you have money working, you cannot actually take this country from where it is now to where it needs to get to”, he said Corroborating Ukuku’s views on the need to strengthen the financial system for improved GDP growth, Unilever UK chief, Paul Pulman, during his contribution at the panel session on the topic ‘Africa Growth Outlook’ on Friday, explained that transforming Nigeria’s economic potentials to growth will depend to a large extent the quality of the pay-

ment system is enhanced.

Pulman, who spoke along other panellists including Nigeria’s finance minister, said improvement of Nigeria’s payment system had the potential of having positive spill-over effects on Africa’s sub-regional payment system and boosting international transactions as well as trade for socio-economic development of the people and the economies.

He said: “I think undoubtedly tremendous progress in being made to unlock Nigeria’s and other African countries’ growth potentials but then there is a lot that needed to be done in terms of strengthening the roads and railways transportation system as the Chinese Premier has said in the continent to improve growth.

“There is also the financial service that needed to be done.

The cross border payments need to speeded up and I think what happened in East Africa is leading the way as we heard earlier that in the payment system, the countries are working together. So, I think there are real opportunities in each individual country but the real power comes in when we can get Africa working really closely together”, the Unilever boss added.

Another analyst, Femi Abegunde, believes that moving the economy to become one of the 20 biggest economies globally by year 2020, would require improved and accelerated efforts to create the right type of leadership necessary to promote people-oriented programmes To achieve this, Abegunde, who is the Country Chairman of Deloitte Nigeria, pointed out that policy consistency and political leaders’ commitment to see beyond the immediate in policy planning and implementation would go a long way in

creating the competitive platform for Nigeria to achieve inclusive growth and tackle the worrisome challenge of youth unemployment.

The accounting and management consultant expert said: “People are the greatest resource to manage. We are not bereft of ideas in this country including on what to do with the funds but with the implementation of the ideas and policies. In implementation, when you put people there they now start to look at themselves rather than looking at the country, they start to do things that are ethical so to say and that ties into the corruption we all talk about as the bane of Nigeria’s development.

“So, we need to put our country in order. We put people who are supposed to be responsible and we don’t see anything positive from what they are doing but rather put the nation in disarray. So, what we have is the challenge of having responsible people to run on some of these ideas because those that we have entrusted with large sums of money have failed to make good use of the money for wealth creation and industrial development of the country” the financial expert added.

The big question agitating the minds of most analysts as they rose from the 3-day intellectually enervating forum, even as global experts have provided Nigeria the macroeconomic and other developmental searchlight to guide her future steps towards achieving the much desired inclusive growth, has been: will the leaders muster the political will to deal with corruption, the most destructive malaise that had plagued the economy for several decades?

As the saying goes; only time will tell! BC

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News

Oguntayo

Skye Bank proffers panacea to Africa’s development challenges

By Johnson Okanlawon

T

he Group Managing designate of Skye Bank Plc. Timothy Oguntayo, has said that Africa’s sustainable economic growth rests on the faithful and committed implementation of the on-going policy and regulatory reforms, improved governance, political stability on the continent and other business facilitation reforms.

Oguntayo stated this in a paper titled “Economic and Institutional Reforms for Sustainable Growth in Africa” which he presented at the just-concluded first ‘International Conference on African Development Issues’ organised by Covenant University, Ota, Ogun State which had in attendance two Nobel Laureates in Economics, Professors Eric Maskin and Thomas Sargent of Harvard and New York Universities, respectively.

Giving a broad overview of Africa’s economic prospects, growth and the factors responsible for them, he said the relative growth taking place on the continent could be attributed to improved governance, political stability and other liberal reforms which have unleashed private sector value creation and investments in a wide range of industries.

“Post-2008 financial crisis, there are indications that African countries have grown strongly and are making steady progress in addressing most of its challenging macro-economic and governance problems; although they have not fully turned the corner. Most African countries according to the incoming CEO, “have successfully implemented microeconomic reforms, with those that have encouraged trade liberalization experiencing faster growth”. He specifically referred to Mauritius and Botswana, where well-coordinated institutional reforms have benefited their economies.

On Africa’s growth prospects, the Skye Bank boss said

the continent has the capacity to significantly outperform its GDP growth in the previous years, considering the abundance of natural resources, population, and sustained democracy.

“After a long period of economic stagnation and decline, Africa experienced steady growth in the last decade, mainly due to economic reforms and attendant increased flow of funds. Average GDP growth was over 5% from 2000 to 2012 compared to 2 per cent in the 1990s.

“In 2013, the continent grew by 4 per cent and growth is projected at 4.7 per cent growth in 2014 and 5 per cent in 2015. Post 2008 financial crisis, growth has been stronger in Africa than the developed economies as well as Eastern Europe,” he explained.

However, for the growth to be holistic and all-inclusive, Oguntayo, who was represented by Tajudeen Ahmed, Head of Corporate Planning & Strategy of the Bank said it is imperative to address the bottlenecks and structural constraints that have made Africa’s investment climate unattractive. He identified the constraints as leadership deficiency, political instability, cost of doing business, endemic corruption, and poor infrastructure.

Lafarge asserts commitment to stemming global habitat issues Stories by Emmanuel Ogbonnaya

I

n support of worldwide efforts to ensure that everyone has a clean and decent home to live in; Lafarge Nigeria has pledged its commitment to helping Nigeria attain a megacity status in tandem with global standards.

Country Organization and Human resources Director, Lafarge Nigeria, Fidelia Osime made this assertion at the launch of the United NationHabitat State of the World

Cities Report (SMCR) in Caleb University, Imota Lagos.

Enumerating the importance of the report, Osime said the launch is underscored not only by the array of personalities and institutions at the gathering but also by the relevance of the subject matter to the living conditions as human being.

According to her, the report aims at providing the most authoritative and up-to-date assessment of conditions and trends in the world’s cities and other human settlements as well as raising global awareness on human settlements issues while also providing information on urban conditions and trends around the world.

“At Lafarge, we believe that the main 21st century challenge is the acceleration of growing urbanisation and it’s human economic and political impact, and our objective is to bring solutions to build better cities, more beautiful, more compact, more connected, more durable,” she said.

Further describing it as an in-depth comparative study carried out on more than 50 cities in the world, covering over 40 nations, she said: “Those of us who are conversant with Lafarge and our values would therefore not be surprised at our ongoing association with organizations and institutions that are concerned about living conditions and trends, and sponsorship of today’s programme.”

She said Lafarge has a very strong commitment to Nigeria which explains why the company has grown from 3.0 million metric tonnes in 2008 to 8.5 million metric tonnes in 2012 with an investment of one billion Euros.

She affirmed that Lafarge was underway to double its capacity in the next 3-4 years as indicated by the recent ground breaking ceremony of additional 3.0 million tonnes capacity line in AshakaCem. Osime congratulated the UN-Habitat for its good works and thoughtfulness in commissioning the study.

Nigeria needs Compliance Act to eradicate trade malpractices – ACSC

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Osime

he African centre for supply chain (ACSC) has made the call for the enactment of a compliance Act as a measure to affectively stem trade malpractice in the country.

Making the call in Lagos at a press briefing to announce the second edition of its global trade compliance summit billed for May 21-22 at the Lagos Sheraton Hotel and Towers,

Madu

ACSC Director General, Obiora Madu said that the menace of trade malpractice besides reducing expected government revenue was steadily eroding the global trade credibility of Nigeria.

“But the truth is that it will not continue indefinitely like that, with our level of awareness and the involvement of government agencies in this year’s programme. Ultimately we are going to push for legislation; elsewhere in the world you have the compliance Act which makes it compulsory for importers and exporters to have a certified compliance officer before they can be allowed to transact business at the ports,” he said.

Giving an insight on the theme for the event “ Enhancing trade facilitation through sustainable compliance” Madu noted that it was time for Nigeria to demonstrate to the world that it was a nation that cared about respecting contracts and compliance in order to mitigate its credibility challenges and also boost government revenue for development.

“It is difficult to say you have completely wiped out smuggling but then it can be brought to the barest minimum and one way of doing that is to ensure that those who default get penalised; but again that is why we need a legal framework like a clearly defined compliance Act because having it alone will send a clear signal to everybody that this is one area that government is taking seriously,” he said.

He pointed out that the implication of non-compliance was that at the end of the day those who pay duties find it difficult to compete favourably with others who do not in the market place and that it was discouraging genuine investors from investing in the Nigerian economy.

“We are calling for incentives but the biggest incentive for those who are complying is to punish thoroughly those who fail to comply. It is not incentive by monetary terms, no; it is by tightening up to ensure that everybody plays by the rules,” he stated.

He noted that key trends within the global economy are mandating that companies

fully integrate global trade management best practices within broader supply chain management strategies rather than leaving it as a discreet event at the end of the order or procurement cycle.

He explained that international trade because of the nature of having borders to cross, documentation, quality and many compliance issues along the lines have put compliance in the front burner, stressing that there was a huge responsibility on both the importers and exporters to ensure that they comply.

He stated that the earlier that people started learning to understand what to comply to and how to ensure that they do the better.

“The consequences of non-compliance most of the time are much bigger than the benefits of compliance, even though in our environment the tendency is that people have a way of getting round in addition to the fact that there is no incentive for compliance as it seems that one is better off not complying,” he said.

Giving a history of the event Madu said: “The first summit was organised by African Centre for Supply Chain and Multimix Consulting, but then some government agencies like Customs, NAFDAC, SON, NEXIM and Shippers council saw the importance and the quality of the summit and opted to be part of it so subsequently we co-opted them into the planning committee for this year’s event.”

He disclosed that CEOs of these government agencies who were key regulators in the trade sector will be delivering addresses at the up-coming event besides other support expected from them towards achieving a very successful programme.

“We are looking forward to the minister of state for industry, trade and investment, Olusegun Aganga to deliver the keynote address. There will also be industry experts to deliver papers touching all ends of trade compliance. The programme is designed to benefit anybody who is an importer, exporter, manufacturer, corporate lawyer and those involved in freight forwarding,” he said.

Block makers tasked on professionalism

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he need for block makers across the country to adopt professional standards in their production processes has been harped on by Lafarge Cement WAPCO Nigeria in order to prevent incidences of building collapses.

The National Relationship Manager of the company, Ibrahim Zitta at the Block Makers

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News Forum, Ikotun Zone organized

by Lafarge Cement at the Toluwalase Event Centre, Ikotun, Lagos, tasked block makers in Nigeria to adhere to modern and international best practice in block making.

The programme brought together 50 block makers, civil engineers, safety experts and investors. It featured safety talk, health chat, seminar and distribution of shovel, rain boot, head pan and other materials.

According to him, product knowledge inadequacy, poor supervision, and regulation, wrong selection of materials, poor workmanship and use of non-professionals have been responsible for building breakdown in Nigeria.

He noted that the block makers were very vital to the building and construction sector but that the near absence of quality standard practice will continue to lead to poor production.

He lamented that there were many investors in the block making industry who have little or no knowledge about block making and this has plunged many families and communities into mourning due to building collapses.

Zitta noted that the company was working hard at providing quality cement needed for block makers in Nigeria, stressing that the survival of the block makers to make profit will be dependent on the right standard practice put in place which would make their blocks strong enough in building projects.

He said: “We have discovered that 50 per cent of our customers are block makers, therefore getting them the right mix and materials to deliver the right block for Nigerians is imperative. Lafarge’s contribution is to continue to develop and inform the end users of our cement on mix composition to ensure quality products. This is because some of block makers lack the essential knowledge of modern methods of making quality blocks. Besides, our bricklayers also have things to learn as we also have things to learn from them.”

At the interactive session, issues of cement products such as materials used in block making, availability of the cement products and other cost in block making were extensively discussed.

In his speech, the National President of the National Association of Block Moulders of Nigeria, Alhaji Rasheed Adebowale lauded the effort of Lafarge Cement in organizing the forum for block makers and called for greater synergy among block makers across Nigeria so as to cut down the activities of middlemen in purchase and delivery of cement products.

He said: “Standard Organisation of Nigeria will be coming out with a new gazette that it will make it difficult for individuals without adequate knowledge in block making to survive and that calls for greater synergy among all stakeholders in the building industry.”

Ya’u Kumo

National development forum to chart course for sectoral growth in Nigeria

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frican Development Magazine the pioneer development focused media in Africa is set to hold the maiden National Development Forum, an independent gathering of Nigerian experts packaged to address Nigeria’s perennial developmental challenges.

This is a special purpose vehicle for the cross-fertilization of ideas and knowledge with a view to deepening the developmental activities in Nigeria.

African Development Magazine identified yawning gaps in terms of the dearth of understanding and the strategic approach to mitigating the challenges facing Nigeria.

After fifty six years of independence without succor coming the way of the masses, it is imperative to engage each other to proffer better ways of solving our problems. NDF™ is projected to evolve into a non partisan mechanism for peer review amongst the stakeholders within Nigeria and to bench mark against the best practice within the region, continent and globally.

This Forum is coming up at a time when Nigeria’s economy has been recognized as the largest in the continent, yet the country is dubiously listed amongst the poorest of the world as well. This has made it imperative to have a genuine dialogue that will provide a focused framework for the country’s development. The conference will no doubt shed light on better ways of handling the developmental challenges befuddling the nation.

The unique attributes of the forum can be gleaned from the fact that it is a Nigerian affair, where experts in different

fields will attempt to diagnose and proffer solutions to the common problems facing the nation like the energy conundrum; health care management ; infrastructural renewal; rural development void; transportation dynamics and the imperative for economic growth e.t.c, e.t.c.

This year’s forum, which comes up on 6 June at Ibeto Hotels and Resort, Abuja has two guest speakers namely Prof. Leonard Shilgba, a visiting professor of mathematics in a private university in Nigeria and Gimba Ya’u Kumo, the managing director of Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria.

The theme of the conference is “Laying Solid Infrastructure Foundation as Driving Force of Economic Development”. It is possible for soft and hard infrastructure to function optimally side by side in Nigeria.

Gimba Ya’u Kumo is expected to speak on ‘’The Role of Housing Development in Job Creation in Nigeria: How Mass Housing Can Make the Difference”. The topic will seek to illuminate the neglected gains that can be garnered from mass housing investments in Nigeria while reducing the high rate of unemployment.

In the same vein, Prof.

Shilgba will speak on “Probity, Professionalism and Service: The Tripod That Drives Real Development”. This is geared towards addressing the underlying factors that contributed to Nigeria’s inability to maximize its potential as a world power.

ADM Awards of Excellence In Development will hold immediately after the second lecture to serve as recognition for deserving professionals that have etched their names in gold in their chosen callings.

In the words of the MD/ CEO of Playhorse Communications limited, Ayo Ilesanmi, “Time has come for us to take our destiny in our own hands.

There is no country in the world that is developed by foreigners, while FDI is desirable, we must take ownership for our development’s destiny in our hands.”

The NDF is scheduled to be an annual event that will also be localized across the African continent.

Dangote moves to crash cement prices

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he President of Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote said that nine million tonnes of cement have been released into the market to stem the escalating cost of the product.

Dangote, who disclosed this to newsmen on Friday at the premises of Obajana Cement

seized goods valued at N16 million in the first quarter of 2013.

In a breakdown, Okpara said the seizures recorded in 2014 included 769 bags of rice and 715 cartons of poultry products.

According to her, most of the seized items were intercepted at different locations in Idiroko and Badagry.

She said that no suspect was arrested in connection with the seizures.

Dangote

Company in Kogi State, said that the move was to make the product available in all parts of the country and stabilise its prices in the open market.

The businessman, who spoke after conducting the visiting President of Tanzania, Dr Jakaya Kikwete on a facility tour of the the plant attributed the scarcity of cement in recent time to low production between January and March.

He said the low production followed the yearly turn around maintenance of the plants at Ibeshe, Obajana and other parts of the country.

He assured Nigerians that the prices of cement would drop to its normal price of between N1, 450 and N1, 550 very soon.

Dangote said that the president of Tanzania was at the cement plant to see things first hand and to enable him have a fore taste of what a cement plant the company was replicating in his country.

He said the plant, being established in Tanzania at a cost of 600 million dollars, would have the capacity to produce three million tonnes of cement per annum.

According to him, construction work at the plant has reached 30 per cent completion stage and work is being intensified to ensure its completion and inauguration in 2015.

In his remarks, President Kikwete said that he took time off the World Economic Forum holding in Abuja to visit the plant to have an idea of what his country would experience after the completion of the plant.

Customs impound goods valued at N13.3m in 4 months

Customs Lillypond Command rakes N5bn revenue Q1 - Comptroller The Lillypond Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Ijora, said on Friday that it collected N5.2 billion as revenue within the first quarter of 2014.

Ms Isa Tallatu, the Comptroller of the command, said this in a statement at the end of a monthly stakeholders’ meeting in Lagos.

Tallatu said that the command collected over N2.2 billion as revenue in April, the first month of the second quarter, while N1.4 billion was collected in March alone, which was part of the first quarter.

She attributed the revenue increase to the Pre-Arrival Assessment Report (PAAR), adding that the system had started working efficiently and was now being issued within 24 hours.

Tallatu also commended the freight forwarders and other operators at the command for their compliance which aided trade facilitation.

“I appreciate the efforts of everyone. In April, we made N2.2 billion as revenue. I appreciate you all for the efforts in trade facilitation.

“It is good that PAAR is now coming out very well. If you upload your document, you will get your PAAR same day.’’

She told the freight forwarders to hold their banks accountable if there were challenges encountered in the issuance of PAAR. Tallatu further said that the command had set up a dispute resolution committee to handle all issues relating to PAAR, adding that cases should be reported to them. BC

T

he Western Marine Command of Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) impounded goods valued at N13.3 million between January and April.

Ngozi Okpara, the Public Relations Officer of the Command, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos on Friday.

She said that the command

Abdullahi Dikko, Comptroller General of Customs

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Business Courage

Monday, May 12, 2014

A7 23

Brand Watch with Adejuwon Osunnuyi megacrown1@yahoo.com 08025237926

Consumers hail MTN xtra –time call now, pay later service

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or thousands of MTN consumers in the country, the introduction of the MTN Xtra time service has been one of the best things to happen to them as it has been a product meeting consumers at their point of need.

First launched two months ago, the product has rapidly become a hot consumer favourite for its capacity to help them respond to emergencies and get themselves off potentially embarrassing or even dangerous situations.

The MTN Xtra time allows eligible customers access to advance emergency credit to make calls even when their call credit is already reading zero.

The customer is enabled to pay back upon his next recharge.

Hailed for its convenience and versatility, several consumers across the Lagos commercial landscape say they are grateful to MTN for making life more enriching for them.

“It used to be difficult in those days when you suddenly run out of credit late at night and you urgently need to make a call and there was little you could do especially if there was nobody nearby whose phone you could borrow. Now with MTN Xtra time, all I need to do is borrow some airtime directly from the network and make that all important call,” Andrew Agodo, a trader on the Lagos Island said.

Continuing, he explained, “The good thing is that this is

borrowing with ease, no paperwork, no lengthy and complicated process, I get to make my calls the instant I make the request.”

Olabisi Sodeinde, a University undergraduate was full of smiles when she responded to questions about the innovation from MTN. According to her, there were many occasions when it would prove difficult to buy

a recharge card either to talk to her parents either because there was no vendor nearby or because she was “broke”, these days she simply dials *606# and pronto she could reach her parents and get them to meet her or respond to some other request. “The MTN Xtra time means that life on campus will change for the better as you are always sure of being able to reach your parents or friends

L-R: Adeola Olatunji, Managing Director, Coca-Cola Nigeria Limited; Carole Boissier; David Kruyt, Winners in the Hobie Class Event, and National Commercial Director, Nigerian Bottling Company (NBC) Limited; Matthieu Seguin, at the NBC 2014 Coca-Cola Cup held at the Lagos Yacht Club recently

DELL announces new series of laptops

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ell has introduced new Inspiron 14, 15 and 17 5000 Series laptops and its Inspiron 14 and 15 3000 Series laptops, just in time for the Back-toSchool season.

These new laptops are designed with power and comfort features aimed at helping people achieve through every phase of their lives. Powerful Intel 4th Generation processors, massive hard drives, and responsive 10-finger touch displays up to Full HD

when you need them most.”

Many others spoken to also emphasize the fact that the network, despite huge challenges, continues to lead and innovate in order to make the life of the consumer ever more convenient. Even though they felt there was need for the network to do more to ease consumer complaints over network quality, they nevertheless hailed the network for

resolution are some of the options designed to meet the needs of consumers’ diverse lifestyles.

New features that make life easier include 20GB of Dropbox cloud storage for sharing, saving and collaborating, and facial recognition software to make using password-enabled web sites safer. All of these products seamlessly fit into your life on your terms.

“Students and parents alike want technology that

helps them to be successful in their personal and educational pursuits,” said Ray Wah, vice president, Dell Consumer PC Group. “Our new Inspiron laptops are a smart investment for families, providing the latest technology for productivity and entertainment in thin, spacesaving designs.”

Dell Inspiron 5000 Series: Stylish and Sharp Computing The new Inspiron 14, 15 and 17 5000 Series laptops are packed with convenient

features and are ideal for a day spent roaming across campus or sharing screen time among family members.

Families will enjoy a mobile, versatile computing experience enhanced by high-end options like a Full HD touch display on the 15 and 17inch laptops. The brilliant display is showcased within an attractive, brushed aluminum lid.

The 10-finger capacitive touch display option makes it easy to scroll, zoom, and tap through documents or social media status updates.

The laptops are powered by

always having the consumer at heart and for always striving to do things in a better way by always raising the bar when it came to product innovation.

A top executive of MTN, GM Consumer Marketing, Kola Oyeyemi, thanked consumers for their encouragement and promised that the network would not relent in its efforts to continue to enrich the lives of consumers.

“The consumer is at the very heart of our operational existence and every single thing we do is primed to enrich and enhance the quality of his life not just in terms of phone services but also in terms of how he accesses those services, how he does his business, relates with friend and family and even, as in the case of Xtra time, how he responds to emergencies, we do not assume this is what the consumer needs, we actively ask them and with this feedback we move to research and development. The result is consistent stories of consumer delight,” He enthused.

With over 57 million subscribers and counting, MTN Nigeria Communications Limited is the biggest mobile operator in Nigeria and West Africa. It is also the largest subsidiary in the MTN Group – a multinational telecommunications group offering worldclass cellular network access and business solutions to over 220 million subscribers in 22 countries across Africa and the Middle East. BC

4th Generation Intel Core i processors that help extend battery life, and offer optional AMD Radeon or NVIDIA GeForce discrete graphics.

Since immersive entertainment is a welcome break after a diligent work or study session, the laptops come standard with Waves MaxxAudio for a rich audio experience.

The inclusion of 20GB cloud storage with Dropbox allows people to easily access important homework or presentation files across multiple devices, anytime, anywhere, ensuring that no document is ever left behind. BC

XLR8 to manage BAT Nigeria’s Public Relations brief

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ritish American Tobacco (BAT) Nigeria has announced that sequel to a competitive pitch and an extensive and painstaking evaluation process, the communications management consultancy, XLR8 has been appointed to manage the company’s public relations brief.

According to Oluwasoromi-

dayo George, Head of Corporate Affairs for BAT West Africa, “XLR8 presented a most strategic and compelling proposition.” In addition, “the feedback we received from its roster of current clients was excellent.

There is no doubt that the quality of its work is very well regarded and that XLR8 is held in high esteem by its clients.”

Calixthus Okoruwa, Chief Executive Officer of XLR8 enthused “we are delighted at the opportunity to work for a blue chip corporation of the caliber of BAT and are humbled to have been selected ahead of other, no doubt, competent consultancies.” He assured that “BAT is in good company as has been graciously attested to

by our esteemed clientele.”

XLR8 is a leading communications management consultancy and serves a clientele spanning industries that include banking and financial services, broadcasting and entertainment, information and communications technology and fast moving consumer goods. BC

Okoruwa

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Business Courage

Monday, May 12, 2014

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Global News NTT Docomo, NEC partner to conduct 5G trials

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Levy and Wren

Battle for control destroyed $35-billion Omnicom-Publicis merger

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he $35-billion merger of U.S.-based Omnicom and France’s Publicis collapsed on Friday after a battle for control destroyed plans to create the world’s largest advertising agency.

The deal, heralded in July as a merger of equals that would enable the two agencies to compete more effectively in the digital arena, foundered on issues ranging from its complex tax structure to the firms’ divergent cultures.

The two sides were also losing major work - more than $1.5 billion in the past month alone - and did not want to let the uncertainty continue.

“I have not been able to convince John that balance is balance,” Publicis Chief Executive Maurice Levy said of his Omnicom counterpart, John Wren.

“Omnicom wanted their people to fill the CEO, CFO and general counsel jobs,” he told Reuters. “I thought that went too far. I was not ready to cede on this point.”

For his part, Wren said the two sides had failed to find a way past the strong corporate cultures that existed in each company.

“There was no one factor,” Wren, 61, told Reuters.

“There are a lot of complex issues we haven’t resolved. There are strong corporate cultures in both companies that delayed us for reaching an agreement.

There was no clear finish line in sight, and uncertainty is never a good thing when you are in the personal service business.”

On a conference call with analysts and reporters on Friday, Wren summed up the broken deal with a nod to Twitter: “If I had to summarize in a tweet it would be, corpo-

rate culture, complexity and time. And I would still have 100 characters left.”

Two people familiar with the situation said relations between the two sides began to unravel in December, with tensions simmering between Levy and Wren, and the Frenchman believing the deal was turning into a takeover rather than a merger.

One person said the men met two weeks ago to agree what to do.

The key dispute over who should be chief financial officer would have influenced whether the new company inclined towards a centralized structure to manage costs, which Publicis argues has driven its higher margins, or Omnicom’s more devolved approach.

Neither company will pay a termination fee but they will split the costs of the failed deal, such as legal fees.

With the deal off the cards, analysts predicted a period of turmoil ahead for the industry as Publicis and Omnicom seek to re-engage with clients after recent business losses.

Wren disputed that Omnicom lost clients because of the merger, saying it was “absolutely not true.”

One global consultant who advises clients on media spend told Reuters that agencies within Martin Sorrell’s WPP, which will keep its crown as the world’s largest advertising agency, had won a lot of work of late by cutting fees.

He advised existing clients of Publicis and Omnicom to use the uncertainty to negotiate better terms. He noted that some client work coming up for review in the coming months would also pit agencies owned by the two firms against each other.

Publicis shares were down almost 1 per cent, while Britain’s WPP was flat. Omnicom was down 0.3 percent. Smaller French player Havas, seen as a takeover target, jumped 3.4 percent.

TT Docomo and NEC Corporation have signed an agreement to jointly conduct trials aimed at the practical use of technologies for a 5thgeneration (5G) mobile communication standard.

“NEC will contribute to the early establishment of 5G technology by leveraging our Small Cell and SDN technology and know-how,” Shunichiro Tejima, executive vice president, NEC, said in a statement.

As part of these trials, NEC and NTT Docomo aim to verify enhanced time-domain beamforming technologies with a very large number of antennas for Small Cells.

NTT Docomo is also working with Nokia on research in 5G technologies. NTT Docomo, in a statement, said the two companies will cooperate on the research of future radio access systems, with an initial focus on exploring the potential of the millimetre wave technology at the 70 GHz spectrum band.

5G is presently the subject of international research efforts seeking to achieve communications speeds of 10 Gbps or greater, enabling higher-definition video transmission and a range of additional benefits.

The telecom industry is aiming to launch 5G service in 2020. The 5G technology is expected to address issues such as increased terminal penetration and the sharp rise in traffic by offering more than one thousand times the capacity of 4G LTE.

Tata Power surveys global opportunities

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ata Power Company is assessing international opportunities and has disclosed that it will invest where it gets best returns.

Meanwhile Managing Di-

rector Anil Sardana said the company was also keeping a pipeline of projects ready for India hoping to scale up domestic capacity if it gets fuel and clearances.

The company’s ultra mega power project at Mundra suffered due to unexpected changes in Indonesian law, and the experience is helping shape Tata Power’s strategy .

“We have pipeline but we don’t have either coal or clearances,” he said.

With the help of a study done by McKinsey, the company has identified four geographies to reduce risk and fuel growth India and neighbours, South East Asia, Africa , and Turkey and Middle East.

“We will not have any bias or prejudice for or against investment in India or outside.

As long as you are able to get us an investment opportunity where risks are manageable and the returns are above the thresholds, we will invest.

Irrespective of where it is,” Sardana said.

The company’s 4,000 mw Project at Mundra in Gujarat, which would have been fired by coal from Indonesian mines where Tata Power held stakes, would have boosted profits but changes in Indonesian law raised coal prices to $105 per tonne from $ 30-35, and damaged its economics.

“The Indian government lobbied. I have no disgruntlement over the lobby part. But I think they should have gone beyond that,” Sardana said.

He said the company thought of other options for coal and found that at least 95 per cent of imports came from Indonesia, Australia and South Africa.

“This is when the company realised that the three suppliers appeared to doing similar things to raise prices. Indonesia came out with this change.

Immediately within few months of that Australia came out with this carbon tax which is 23 per cent add-on. And immediately within few days of that, South Africa came out with what they call as Eskom parity,” he said.

UK set to exceed growth expectations

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Sardana

ritain’s economy will grow faster than previously expected this year and should exceed its January 2008 peak size in the next few months, a leading economic research body said on Friday.

The National Institute of Economic and Social Research (NIESR), expects the economy to grow 2.9 percent this year, raising its forecast from 2.5 percent in February.

David Cameron, Britain PM

It also upped its prediction for 2015 growth to 2.4 percent from 2.1 percent in February. It sees growth staying at around 2.4 percent in 2016 and 2017.

Jack Meaning, research fellow at the institute, said it had revised up its forecasts because of strong growth in the first quarter of this year, a pick-up in consumption and an improvement in the investment outlook.

Britain’s economy saw faster than expected growth last year, buoyed by low interest rates, subdued inflation and a strong housing market.

The rate at which house prices in Britain are rising has begun to worry some Bank of England officials, who are coming under pressure to act to avoid a property bubble.

Recent data showed the housing market lost some steam in April, but house prices remained at high levels.

Low interest rates and government-sponsored schemes have fuelled a strong recovery in the housing market since a slump during the 2008-2009 financial crisis, with a shortage in the supply of new homes adding to the price pressures.

A separate report from the National House Building Council (NHBC) provided some reassurance, showing a 7.0 percent rise in the amount of new homes registered in Britain in the first quarter of 2014 compared with a year ago.

Registrations of new homes in London, where the property market has led the national recovery, were up 6.0 percent in the first quarter of this year versus a year ago, after a strong 2013.

“Our new figures show further sustained growth and consolidation in the UK house building industry following a strong year last year,” said Mike Quinton, NHBC chief executive.

But he added: “The UK still has a chronic shortage of new homes so we must not get complacent in our continued attempts to meet the growing housing needs of the population.” BC

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Business Courage

Monday, May 12, 2014

Like most people in his class, he defiled all odds to reach what could aptly be described as the pinnacle of his career. Being an astute businessman and manager of resources with a passion for excellence and value creation, he has had a distinguished career in the business world especially in international trade. Through a rare combination of vision, determination and courage, Ernest Azudialu-Obiejesi, founder, President/CEO of Nestoil Plc, was able to build the Oil and gas firm from the scratch into a company that provides leading engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) services to the biggest players in Nigeria’s upstream space

By Adejuwon Osunnuyi

F

rom whatever perspective one may decide to look at it, the fact remains that he is one Nigerian whose name overtly personifies courage, vision, hardwork as well as sturdiness. He is an astute businessman and manager of resources with a passion for excellence and value creation who has a formidable span of knowledge and experience in business development and management.

In the last two decades, Dr. Ernest Azudialu-Obiejesi, President/CEO of Nestoil Plc has simply not put anyone in doubt that he is a focused and effective leader with proven ability to turn around and grow companies. As a matter of fact, he has risen to the pinnacle of success in life, becoming a celebrated multibillionaire, successful businessman and a man who embodies the irrepressible spirit of the Nigerian entrepreneur.

While his strength include proactively identifying and resolving problems, controlling cost, maximizing productivity and deContinued on pg A10

Azudialu-Obiejesi

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Business Courage

livering positive results among others, Azudialu’s formidable span of knowledge and experience in business development and management has seen NESTOIL Group, grow into a reputable oil services engineering company with functional subsidiary companies within a few years of operation in the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry.

Born on April 17, 1960, Azudialu-Obiejesi, an indigene of Ihiala Local Government Area of Anambra State had from his formative years been showing traits of a successful leader.

As a resourceful and energetic young man he started his educational career at DMGS Onitsha, Anambra state from where he obtained his West African School Certificate in 1978.

He later attended Government College Owerri where he also obtained a Higher School Certificate. The quest for more knowledge had seen him enrolled at the University of Benin where he bagged Bachelors degree in Accountancy. He also attended many local and international courses in Business Development, Projects, Financial and Human Resources Management. He is a fellow of Nigerian Institute of Sales Management and Member, Nigerian – Canadian Chamber of Commerce among others.

Said to be one of the few indigenous operators that are well known for boosting local impetus in the oil and gas sector, Azudialu-Obiejesi started his working career with the Obijackson Group, a conglomerate involved in the importation and marketing of Health Care and Personal Products, Industrial Tools and Hardware, Household Items and fabrics etc. Working with the Obijackson Group, he rose to become the Managing Director as he nurtured the group from its inception in the early 80s to its great heights until 1991 when he resigned to establish Nestoil in a manner which surprised many of his friends. To many however, his decision to quit his well-paying job to start Nestoil from the scratch was not surprising. This is because Azudialu-Obiejesi is known to be bullish, a calculated risk-taker and consummate manager of men and materials who dares while others demure, combining intuition and foresight.

That foresight and intuition could be said to have worked aptly for him as Nestoil has today grown to become a major player in the pantheon of Nigeria’s growing army of indigenous oil and gas services companies. Founded in 1991, as a petroleum services company, Nestoil has since grown into a major force in the sector, guided by the administrative and entrepreneurial adroitness of a man many say has been under-celebrated especially given his rich cabinet of accomplish-

ments in a sector imperiously commandeered by expatriates.

Nestoil PLC started out as the Oil and Gas arm of the Obijackson Group in 1991. Obijackson Group is an extensive business conglomerate with diverse cross-sector interests. It operates on three continents.

The Obijackson Group, one of the fastest growing business conglomerates in Sub Saharan Africa, has made vast investments in its operating divisions such as: Oil and Gas Exploration and Production, Pressure Vessel Fabrication, Power Generation, Dredging and Marine Logistics, Aviation, Civil and infrastructural construction and Real Estate.

Obijackson Group employs over 2,000 people, with operations located across Nigeria, the United States of America and the United Kingdom. Regardless of its size, the Obijackson Group is guided by sound corporate governance with a culture of integrity, transparency, accountability, innovation and excellence.

The Group aims to enhance long term value and prosperity by means of dynamic growth, selective acquisitions and exemplary management of resources.

At the time, local participation in the Nigerian Oil and Gas sector was very limited. Nestoil’s original focus was blending and marketing petroleum products, but the new company was compelled by certain factors to re-analyse its focus. The spirit with which it overcame that challenge has continued to define the firm as a company till today.

Driven by a desire to create real value as a Nigerian Oil and Gas company, Nestoil boldly identified an opportunity within the sector and reinvented itself as an Engineering, Procurement, Construction and Com-

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Monday, May 12, 2014

‘

I must say that it has been very tough trying to develop an engineering company from scratch. One of the most difficult things we faced was trying to get Nigerians that were qualified to join the company and begin to understand that the oil and gas service industry is a very serious business area where you have to stick to plans and schedules

missioning (EPCC) services company. Amid questions of whether an all-Nigerian company had the capacity, structure and organisation to deliver on technically complex projects, or the ability to amass the best talent to aid its cause, it persisted through several disappointments and near-misses, guided by a conviction that it was on the right path.

The ‘big break’ was to come six full years later, when Shell awarded Nestoil a contract in 1997 to rebuild its Waste Treatment Plant in Edjeba, Delta State. Nestoil surpassed every expectation with the completion of the project – in terms of quality and delivery time. It received a Shell award for excellence in quality and safety. Two other contracts quickly followed.

They are Opokushi Flowstation Upgrade Works and the Otumara Flowstation Debottlenecking Train 3 works.

With their completion,

‘

A10 26

Nestoil began a tradition of success. Over two decades later, it has become the leading EPCC firm in the region and first choice for industry leaders such as Shell, Mobil and the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC). Nestoil has become a successful enterprise with over 2,000 employees in the Group (at least 95 per cent indigenous) capable of world-class project execution and ranks first among indigenous companies of its kind.

Located in Abuloma, Port Harcourt in Rivers State, Nestoil Industrial Area is built on 59 Hectares of Land, the facility contains a fabrication workshop capable of fabricating over 17,000 metric tonnes of steel structures per annum with a thickness of up to 130mm, and a pressure vessel manufacturing facility that is UKAS and ANAB ISO 9001:2008 certified, as well as ASME U, U2, PP, S Stamps authorized.

It houses a Pressure Vessel manufacturing facility that is UKAS and ANAB ISO 9001:2008 certified, as well as ASME U, U2, PP, S Stamps authorized. It also includes a steel structures fabrication workshop capable of fabricating over 17,000 metric tonnes of steel structures per annum with a thickness of up to 130mm.

While it has a prime waterfront jetty providing easy access to the ocean, it is powered by its own transformers and generators. With a capacity to harbor up to 70 vessels, it is a major hub for receiving our equipment.

Nestoil principal operations base was built by Julius Berger Plc as it later upgraded it to include a fabrication workshop, pressure vessel manufacturing facility and jetty. The 59 hectare facility has an extensive waterfront measuring 1.2 km in length, and the capacity to harbour over 100 vessels of fuel and bunker stations, floating bunker platforms with gangway, among others. We have also included a steel warehouse to house some heavy duty equipment such as welding machines, light source machines, industrial generators, excavators, dumpers and other components.

Nestoil has another operations base located in Warri in Delta State. The base is located in a prime location of Warri – very close to the airport. We also have a jetty in Edjeba, Warri, Delta State. The jetty spans 50,000 square metres.

Located in a prime area as well, it provides easy access through the waterways to the ocean and is another vital hub for receiving our equipment.

For Nestoil, its client base include, but not limited to Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC), Mobil Producing Nigeria Unlimited, Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, Nigeria Gas Company, NGC and Nigerian Petroleum Devlopment Company ,NPDC among others.

With very strong financial standing and sound corporate governance, Nestoil Plc, a diversified oil and gas company, has invested heavily in engineering and major offshore fabrication since its inception over 22 years ago. It has remained one of the fastest growing business conglomerates in sub Saharan Africa as the group is an extensive conglomerate, with diverse cross-sector interests with heavy investments in pipe line construction, oil and gas exploration and production, pressure vessel fabrication, power generation, transmission and distribution, dredging and marine logistics, aviation, civil construction, horizontal direct drilling, telecommunications, dry docking and real estate.

In an interview he granted The Independent several years

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back he chronicled the challenges his company has had to surmount and how it has fared brilliantly in an industry dominated by multinationals who have both the human capital and the funds to invest. He said: “At Nestoil we are fully onground: we have developed our own jetties, our own fabrication facilities to handle major projects, and logistics-wise we are also fully on-ground because we have marine equipment that we use for our own constructions. Moreover, we have a very good knowledge of the community, so Nestoil is in a good position for companies that are interested in collaborating with a Nigerian company because we know the business as we have been in it for many years.

“Hence, depending on the project, we can expand further and look for new areas of development, we are on-ground, well respected in the local industry and have done some of these things before with some foreign companies that acted as partners. We have the capability and the track record of doing big projects in Nigeria; we have worked for Shell for many years, we have the appetite to grow and we want to develop along the lines of these services.”

Nestoil-led consortium acquired a 45 per cent stake in the OML 42 from Shell, Total and ENI, containing developed oil fields and gas reserves. It is to his credit that Nestoil has made significant impact in the sector executing major industry-critical projects including the Nembe Creek-Cawthorne Channel 24″/30″ Trunkline Replacement project for SPDC in Nembe Creek, Bayelsa State, the 18″ Gas Supply Trunkline for Nigeria Gas Company at Alaoji, Abia State, the Crude and Condensate Storage Tanks Revamp Project for Mobil at Eket, Akwa Ibom State among others.

As a focus and visionary entrepreneur, Azudialu knew what to do right from the word go.

In essence, Nestoil, under his watchful eyes, started off as an oil service company with three clear areas in mind: looking at the environmental management aspect of oil companies, as well as the areas of civil and mechanical engineering. While the firm started operation on these lines, it started getting projects in almost every part of industry.

At the initial stage, Nestoil was getting environmental projects, got some civil projects and later went into mechanical projects.

“What we were trying to do is to reduce our interest in civil projects and develop more into mechanical engineering projects.” He noted.

Over the years, the firm has been involved in a lot of flow station refurbishments, expansion of flow station facilities for some of the leading companies

Business Courage

Monday, May 12, 2014

Azudialu-Obiejesi

in the industry. It has been involved in the laying of pipelines for multinational companies and maintenance of their storage facilities as well as well as being involved in some environmental monitoring facilities especially for Shell. Nestoil was also involved in building one of Shell Petroleum plants in Warri, called Jebba Treatment Facilities.

To Azudialu, while the group has over time developed its core services into three distinct areas of business, it is pertinent furthering the expansion and diversification of the business.

For instance, while it was initially into the engineering side of the business, Nestoil decided to diversify into deep waters where serious fabrications, vessels and skills are required.

“In the industry as it stands now, we have projects coming under these particular areas and these projects are fast developing into mega-projects that will need the participation of companies such as ours in order to make them happen.

The fabrication we’ve handled before does not need serious engineering experience, but these days the oil business is going off-shore and into deep waters where you require serious fabrications, vessels and skills.

“We are going into areas where we now need expatriate companies to work with us to achieve the demanded magnitude of the projects. That is where Nestoil is working towards now; away from just laying pipelines on ground and

into laying pipelines in the deep water, which requires serious engineering experience.

“You can only get that from the expatriate companies and that is why we are very much interested in letting people know what we do and hoping to partner with the companies that are interested in developing these capacities along with the Nestoil Group.” He explained.

Talking about the main achievements and keys to success of the company over the last 15 years, the Oil and Gas entrepreneur noted that it had not been a smooth journey though. According to him, “I must say that it has been very tough trying to develop an engineering company from scratch.

One of the most difficult things we faced was trying to get Nigerians that were qualified to join the company and begin to understand that the oil and gas service industry is a very serious business area where you have to stick to plans and schedules and be very serious about your business as you are competing with multinationals and international leaders that are used to doing things in an organised way.

“We started with a very small project and then began expanding the number and size of the projects that we took on, which helped clients develop confidence in us and our ability. Today, we have over 15 projects running in the system, some of them have been commissioned while some are coming to completion; others are new ones

that we are mobilizing now.”

For Nestoil, it was a lot easier in terms of developing capacity. This was so because it had many assets to fall back on from the parent company, (OB Jackson Group). It was easy to develop capacity in terms of equipment, acquiring sites and jetties, as it had to simply convert some of the assets of that company into Nestoil assets.

As revealed by Azudialu, “It is not that everything is coming from the profit, as with some other indigenous companies, but rather that we have an asset base already there and what we did was to convert those assets into what is required to develop an oil service company, then it is from there that the growth started.”

As an investor known for capacity building, Azudialu believes that it is big issue which the Group has obviously been implementing over the years.

According to him, the problem with most of the local companies is their reluctance in reinvesting their earnings in the business. As he explained in an interview, Azudialu noted, “When you want to develop capacity, you must have a culture of investing your profits in developing the business. The Oil business is so capital-intensive that some of the activities require that you must have certain equipment and personnel and the only way you’re going to develop capacity is by investing most of your earnings into the business so that you can train your people, have your own equipment and grow.

“The way Nestoil has contributed in making people develop capacity is by trying to support smaller companies that we give project contracts to as subcontractors. When we have jobs like these, we transfer some of it to smaller companies and support them with the equipment we have. In this way, you find out that some of these smaller companies are getting new jobs throughout the industry based on their experience in working with us. The main problem, as I mentioned before, is that most companies have failed to reinvest their earnings because they don’t understand the concept that the money you invest today, will be returned in the future through increased technical capacity and expertise.”

To Azudialu, he is already looking beyond the Nestoil group as he prepares to retire in near future. But by the time he quits, he noted that he would like to be remembered as the man who was the pioneer MD of the company, who drove it from scratch to where the company is now. “By the time I leave this company I would like to be remembered as the man who was the pioneer MD of the company, who drove it from scratch to where the company is by the time I exit. Bearing in mind that

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we have started planning for those that will take over from us and because the earlier stages of the development involved a lot of energy, I am looking at the next five years. I should step aside and do other things with my time. I would like to be remembered as somebody who built up the company from scratch.” He said.

Another major feat of Azudialu was the acquisition of IMPaC Oil and Gas Engineering (Nigeria) Limited last year.

Following the acquisition, Azudialu-Obiejesi became the new chairman of IMPaC Oil and Gas Engineering Limited.

Established over 16 years ago, IMPaC Oil and Gas Engineering Ltd is a foremost engineering services firm formed as the Nigerian arm of the larger 25 year old IMPaC Offshore Engineering GmbH with head office in Hamburg, Germany.

The company’s broad based engineering disciplines include process control and instrumentation, electrical, telecoms, automation, drilling, mechanical, pipeline, piping, civil, structural, naval and procurement.

Following the acquisition, IMPaC Nigeria Limited is now wholly owned by Nestoil but will continue leveraging on the expertise and experience of IMPaC Group worldwide since IMPaC Offshore GmbH will continue to provide technical services support to IMPaC Nigeria.

According to a statement

by Nestoil, the deal is consistent with Nestoil’s strategy to concentrate its footprint on the oil and gas sector. “This acquisition will add significant resources to our existing portfolio. With the pedigree of both Nestoil and IMPaC in their respective core areas, this acquisition is a positive development for the Nigerian oil and gas industry.”

Sitting on the the Board of an Insurance company, engineering construction companies, a trading company and an Investment and Property Company among others, Azudialu serves as Member of the Board of Directors of WaterTown Energy Ltd., B & O Dredging Ltd., Energy Works Technology Ltd., Royaloak Hydrocarbon Ltd and Century Power Generation Limited. He has been a Director of Julius Berger Nigeria PLC since March 22, 2012.

Awarded honorary doctor of Business Administration (Hon. D. B. A.) by the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) in 2009, Azudialu-Obiejesi also is a Fellow of Nigerian Institute of Sales Management, a Member of Ikoyi Junior Chamber and a corporate Member of NigerianCanadian Chamber of Commerce.

Recently, he was awarded All Africa Business Leaders Award (AABLA) by Forbes CNBC and ABN for West African Entrepreneur of the Year. BC

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Monday, May 12, 2014

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ThebuddingEntrepreneurs

At 19, Chizoba Imoka founded the Unveiling Africa Foundation (UVA) in faraway Canada as an undergraduate student at the University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada. UVA, as she puts it, was designed to provide the platform to rally African in The Diaspora to be change agents.

Now, seven years after, Chizoba, now 26, has brought the UVA dream to Nigeria, tutoring thousands of teenagers in entrepreneurship, leadership skills and mentoring them to become change agents

By Adejuwon Osunnuyi

U

nlike many of her largely dependent peers, Chizoba Imoka, in her early years chose not to place her survival on the shoulder of anyone.

Burdened with the desire to secure a better future and identity for herself and perhaps, several other teenage Nigerians deserving a functional country, Chizoba, while in her third year at the University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada, founded the Unveiling Africa Foundation (UVA), a non-profit making organization. UVA, as she explained, is focused on providing a platform for African and global youths to learn and engage about global issues affecting Africa as well as build relationships needed to facilitate youths’ future role as major players in her nation’s development.

Perhaps, what triggered the initiative really, was rude awakening about what it meant to be a Nigerian and an African while schooling in Canada. According to Chizoba, being associated with the Nigerian identity, especially while living outside the country wasn’t always a thing of pride for her. “I was disgusted about the fact that I learnt more about my Nigerian /African history when I moved to a foreign country. I did not understand how I did not realize or think Nigeria had such a big development problem when I was in the country. I found it insulting on behalf of Nigeria that all these realizations came when I moved out of the country. My Canadian friends and acquaintances just couldn’t understand how Nigeria had so many resources in human, financial and potential wise but had little to show for it. Everything we heard about Nigerians in the news then

were scams, violence or corruption related,” she said.

Not enough, Chizoba lamented that when she gets to class too; it’s another African nightmarish conversation about how the West needs to come and help Africa. “You get to student union, you are bombarded with student groups trying to build villages and raising money for Africans. Whereas, when you get to Nigeria, you hear and see politicians raising billions in one night and spending N400 million to buy rice for a whole village just so that he/she can win electoral votes. I was sick and tired of the whole situation, it was very clear to me how things could turn around and I knew that being able to identify all these issues came with a burden to do something about them.

Starting UVA was my platform to do something I strongly believed was obtainable and to create a movement of people willing to drive the society in a different direction.” She added.

Shortly after she graduated with a BA in Economics in 2007, she started work as Research Intern at the Office of Traffic Safety at the Ministry of Transportation, Alberta Government. As an intern with the Office of Traffic Safety, Chi-Chi, as she is fondly known, analyzed vehicle, operator, and enforcement statistics to provide data to support and evaluate existing programmes created to facilitate the achievement of the Alberta Traffic Safety Plan targets.

Chizoba also had the opportunity to lead or work as a team member on several complex policy projects such as the Distracted Driving Legislation Amendment Project (which recently became law), Alberta Community Mobilization Evalu-

Imoka

ation Project, Alberta Responsible Host Behavior Project, and the Alberta High Risk Driver Project amongst others.

But after three successful years of organizing speaker series, debates, conferences, fundraisers, cultural shows and artistic showcases, she knew it was time to move back home to where the real issues existed and where her education, experience, and passion could be used to aid the development of her country.

In August 2010, Chizoba returned to Nigeria to kick start her initiative and to launch the Nigerian Teenagers Nation Building Project, a project focused on educating and engaging Nigerian teenagers on their roles in Nigeria’s development by exposing them to critical thinking, community activism and problem solving during their developmen-

tal years while encouraging patriotism and passion for Nigeria.

To warm her way into the mind of the key elements of the Nigerian society which were the prime target of her project, Chizoba wrapped up two Lagos state-wide teenagers’ Essay contests on May 27, 2010. Shortly after this, Unveiling Africa Foundation rolled out the First Ever Teenagers Conference in Nigeria. That maiden conference attracted over 600 teenagers from 50 secondary schools across Lagos and Abuja.

Aside being the Chief Executive Officer of Unveiling Africa Foundation, Chizoba also runs a pharmaceutical company in Lagos where she is involved in the day-to-day management of the factory as well as assisting in business development, organizational and production

planning, stock and risk management. She plans to move into sales and marketing to assist in refining the company’s sales and marketing plan. “My experience at the U of A and my Economics degree definitely gave me a solid platform to be able to merge my passion for development and the acquired skills from my economic degree,” she said.

Indeed, Chizoba’s Unveiling Africa Foundation has intensified the crusade to turn the Nigerian teen into the model citizens. Within a short period, UAF has given away millions in educational scholarships, ran successful essay contests and have many of her mentees fully engaged in different trade.

In recognition of her efforts, Chizoba was last year nominated for ‘The Future Award’ in the advocacy category.

For Chizoba, the vision for UVA has been for it to become a powerhouse that produces and influences the calibre of Africans that the nation would be entrusting its future to and becoming employers of labour. “More importantly, beyond being ‘charitable’ as an organization, what we are really trying to do is to introduce an alternative model of development that is focused on treating the fundamental issue and not its manifestation alone.

So for example, in my opinion, Nigeria’s problem isn’t the fact that our roads are bad or basic needs are luxuries that even the rich cannot afford but that the society has produced people and values that perpetuate and reinforce a system where basic needs are not available, corruption are a way life and priorities and values are misplaced.”

She believes that to sustainably solve Nigeria’s problems,

Management Principles

By Adejuwon Osunnuyi

Factors affecting organisational design (2)

E

nvironment The environment is the world in which the organization operates, and includes conditions that influence the organisation such as economic, social-cultural, legal-political, technological, and natural environment conditions. Environments are often described as either stable or dynamic.

In a stable environment, the customers’ desires are well understood and probably will remain consistent for a relatively long time. Examples of organisations that face relatively stable environments include manufacturers of staple items such as detergent, cleaning supplies, and paper products.

In a dynamic environment, the customers’ desires are continuously changing—the opposite of a stable environment. This condition is often thought of as turbulent. In addition, the technology that a company uses while in this environment may need to be continuously improved and updated. An example of an industry functioning in a dynamic environment is electronics. Technology changes create competitive pressures for all electronics industries, because as technology changes, so do the desires of consumers.

In general, organisations that operate in stable external environments find mechanistic structures to be advantageous. This system provides a level of efficiency that enhances the long-term performances of organizations that enjoy relatively stable operating environments. In contrast, organisations that operate in volatile and frequently changing environments are more likely to find that an organic structure provides the greatest benefits. This structure allows the organisation to respond to environment change more proactively.

Advances in technology are the most frequent cause of change in organizations since they gen-

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Monday, May 12, 2014

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ThebuddingEntrepreneurs

the focus ought to be on changing the mindset and mentality of the people that drive and create the society.

Though she admits that this alternative model is not an idea that is mainstream, convenient or easy to understand or do, she however said that the model remains an important vision of UVA “to lead a movement of purpose driven impactful people who subscribe to this model while understanding the power they have to create, influence and sustain progressive ideologies.”

Choosing education as her main advocacy tool and teenagers as her target group, she said, has been deliberate. “Our logic is simple! If you go back to the basics; the question we all must begin to ask ourselves is what is it about our system and society that has produced the calibre of leaders that we all seem to complain about? What is it about our society that seems to produce leaders and followers that choose to compromise the future of the general good for a temporary gratification for a few people? Why is it that our government policy framework is not people centred? Why is hu-

man life not valued in the country?

Why are the provisions of quality amenities which appear to be a common sense matter for the westerners not a common sense matter in Nigeria? If you attempt to think about these questions and possible solutions critically, the ideal solution for our problem has to be embedded in a process that produces the people of the society. To solve the problem, the process that seems to be producing people with the wrong attributes and skills as it relates to our country’s development must be reviewed and re-engineered to produce better citizens.

This process, for us is Education.

When we say Education, we mean the formal education, popular education and mentorship education. I am personally thrilled by the power of education especially formal education; through a simple change in national curriculum, you can change the future of the nation,” she explained.

Running UVA in Nigeria, she admits, has been very challenging.

“Big dreams, non-existent resources!, it has been vibrantly challenging. Nigeria is a real special place

erally result in greater efficiency and lower costs for the firm.

Technology is the way tasks are accomplished using tools, equipment, techniques, and human know-how.

In the early 1960s, Joan Woodward found that the right combination of structure and technology were critical to organizational success. She conducted a study of technology and structure in more than 100 English manufacturing firms, which she classified into three categories of core-manufacturing technology: Small-batch production is used to manufacture a variety of custom, made-to-order goods. Each item is made somewhat differently to meet a customer’s specifications. A print shop is an example of a business that uses small-batch production.

Mass production is used to create a large number of uniform goods in an assembly-line system. Workers are highly dependent on one another, as the product passes from stage to stage until completion.

Equipment may be sophisticated, and workers often follow detailed instructions while performing simplified jobs. A company that bottles soda pop is an example of an organisation that utilizes mass production.

Organisations using continuous-process production create goods by continuously feeding raw materials, such as liquid, solids, and gases, through a highly automated system. Such systems are equipment intensive, but can often be operated by a relatively small labor force.

Classic examples are automated chemical plants and oil refineries.

Woodward discovered that small-batch and continuous processes had more flexible structures, and the best mass-production operations were more rigid structures.

Once again, organisational design depends on the type of business. The small-batch and continuous processes work well in organic structures and mass production operations work best in mechanistic structures. BC

to do anything in. With the incessant power challenges, high cost of low quality internet, small pool of qualified skilled workers, high cost of getting around, high cost of maintaining relationships with our stakeholders and the limited/ non-existent resources, it has really been very challenging. Many times, it feels like we are in a glass house that is in the middle of a playground where kids are playing with stones. We have learnt to operate with strategic caution while keeping our eyes focused on our mission and program intent,” she said.

Despite the teething challenges, Chizoba says UAF has created an indelible mark in the development story of Nigeria and has impacted over 3000 lives and delivered its programmes to over 2000 teenagers. It has given out over N1.3 million in educational scholarships across Nigeria, raised over N1 million for several community initiatives, mentored/trained over 80 teenagers and produced teenagers who have become community change leaders and have successfully gained entry into world class teenage institutions such as African Leadership Academy and United World College.

UAF has also successfully provided an exciting platform for teenagers to start acquiring fundamental skills such as problem solving skills, critical thinking and passion for social change through our Community Action Series Initiative.

According Chizoba, under the initiative, students of Yaba College of Technology were able to raise over N100,000 by forfeiting their lunch for a week to buy food items for the members of the Lagos Cheshire Home Mushin, made effort to raise N1 million to buy a bus for the home. Besides, Corona Secondary School Students also championed the engagement and feeding of students in a poor school in Ogun State where they will work under the UAF School Club umbrella to fundraise for the school’s borehole and toilet, act as a peer pressure group and engage the students according to identified needs.

Students of Redeemers Secondary School innovatively raised N200,000 to part-fund the UAF Community Soup Kitchen in Ajegunle and participated in the Bake For Change (BFC) Scholarship Drive, aimed at providing quality education to children at Oregun Remand Home. Chizoba is hoping that in the next five years, the foundation would be seen becoming a global brand for everything teenagers, innovation, and development.

“Within the next five years, we hope to have provided a platform for our teens to earn a recognized identity in relation to their contribution to nation building. I also see UVA’s entire core programs becoming self sustaining, teen driven and delivered outside Nigeria. More importantly, I see UVA becoming a fully established social enterprise,” she said. BC

Personal Finance

By Adejuwon Osunnuyi

How to finance your dream business

W

hen it’s time to finance a business, there can be substantial work involved to facilitate this critical step. Every business situation is different, and businesses in different industries and sectors have different ways of going about getting credit, as well as different kinds of costs. But for the core process of securing the financial assistance that a business leader needs for a start up, some basic guidelines and principles will help create effective programs to finance a business.

Steps 1.

Assess credit. The person who is trying to start up the business will have to look at his own credit situation, as well as what he can get for a new business in terms of credit.

Find out about credit scores and ratings. In many cases, the initial business loan will be based on the borrower’s own personal credit score. However, in some cases where a business is already operational, a business plan and other documents can provide for a different kind of credit specifically for the continued operations of that enterprise.

2.

Shop around for different lenders. There are a variety of lenders who may or may not be willing to issue new business loans, and all of these potential lenders have their own terms and conditions.

Talk to various lenders and ask them about what kinds of loans are available.

Evaluate loans by timeline. Lenders will offer various short-term, long-term or revolving-credit loans to business owners. Look at which ones suit the needs of a startup the best.

Look at secured and unsecured business loans.

Secured loans actually use existing assets as collateral. For example, the person trying to start a business can use his or her home, or other property, as collateral and get lower interest rates for the loan.

However, this leaves the assets vulnerable to seizure in cases of nonpayment. Unsecured loans rest solely on the borrower’s credit score. See which of these types of loans best matches desired risk.

3.

Select the best deals. When the startup leader has gone to different lenders and has a variety of possible loan agreements at hand, he can select the ones with the lowest interest rates and most favorable terms for repayment.

4.

Make payments through revenues. Be sure to make the correct periodic payments on finalized loan agreements, using the revenue from business operations to fund repayment of loans.

Look into decreasing overhead as necessary. If the loan payments are not easy to make, the business startup leader will need to look at cutting costs.

This complicated task often includes going through a business budget line by line in order to identify costs that can be cut without harming future profitability.

Cuts may need to be done in order to meet the needs for loan repayment, which is most often the core requirement of continuing in a business and avoiding bankruptcy. BC

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Monday, May 12, 2014

ThebuddingEntrepreneurs BUSINESS KLINIC

With Mamora Victor

See beyond today

Mamora O. Victor 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

ple’s effort and build a system will experience business success on a bigger scale. Such a person has moved from selfemployed to an entrepreneur.

An entrepreneur has an idea and builds a system around it. Chances are that the business will be around and beyond the person.

I will encourage you to be system conscious if you will succeed. You have an idea that you are passionate about, then start thinking system now. There are two categories of system. The first is inanimate system; department, process etc. The second is the animate system; the people’s perspective or the workers mental model and skills. System thinking and development is one factor that is responsible for success of any idea.

The second factor that is responsible for the success of idea is the people relationship skill. It is the characteristic of success people. People flows in the direction of celebration.

The people you don’t celebrate will not support you.

While I agree that it is somewhat expensive to introduce more over head cost starting out with your idea, let me share another of my personal experience. My wife is a professional accountant and I support her passion and career growth. While she prepares for exams, I make myself available for support in terms of research and technology adaptation. Today, she is my consultant. She does that for me with joy and for free often. Why? Don’t be tempted to think that well, she is your wife. The simple reason is that I have a surplus emotional deposit with her. I have given her support and celebrated her to prove my genuine love for her and what she does.

You also have people around you who can help you develop your idea without paying so much. Start with people around you by a way of little support. Show love to people, volunteer your time too and have a good emotional

deposit with peoples.

A research was carried out in the United States of America several years ago. The research shows that the success of artisans and factory workers depend on 75 per cent technical skill and 25 per cent people relational skill. For supervisors, it is 50 per cent technical skill and 50 per cent people relationship skill. The executive success on assignment depends on 25 per cent technical skill and 75 per cent

‘

The more you are people relationship improvement conscious; the better is your future and quality of result you get. Those who love people development are playing it forward

‘

I

n 2008, while we were in still in courtship, Abiodun, my wife used to live in Ijebu Ode south west Nigeria. Then, she had decided to pick up a lecturing job with an institution. While she was given the task of lecturing professional accounting students, the institution could only afford to pay her N10,000 as three months remuneration. That would be about $60 wage for three month services. Though she was not discouraged, I frowned at the decision. But She probably saw what I did not see.

Abiodun had decided to put in her best for the success of the students. She perfected her lecturing and public presentation skills. That decision, as Abiodun herself would later acknowledge, was a great and rewarding one. It opened an opportunity for her at a multinational business school two years later. There, she earned an average of $21 an hour (about N3, 500 an hour) to lecture the same category of professional accounting students.

Friends, I want you to know that that responsibility that seems so unrewarding today might worth a fortune tomorrow in another system. That area of business that doesn’t look attractive today may be your biggest cash cow in few years. And that idea you are planning to abandon could be the next breakthrough idea in the world.

As a matter of fact, I have also observed that most ideas are like seeds that when planted require good environment and take time to grow before producing fruits.

There are factors that influence the success of people’s idea. Some people whose idea profits them eventually, know that it takes divers level of effort and time. An example is a person who has an idea and trade with it. Her business success is a minimal level type. The sustainability of such effort and success is limited to her life time. At another level, a person with idea who leverages on other peo-

people relationship skill.

The more you are people relationship improvement conscious; the better is your future and quality of result you get. Those who love people development are playing it forward. They have seen beyond now. Please hold on to your passion, be system conscious, and leverage on the support of people around you. I believe you will experience a new level result in business. Be of good cheers. BC

Inspiring Business Nuggets Signs you are addicted to constant failure 1. You’re addicted to the approval of others When it’s time to make an important decision, instead of trusting your logic and intuition, you consult with the people around you first. You value the opinions of others more than you value your own. This emotional addiction to the approval of others stems from your lack of self-confidence, and your desire to please everyone.

Successful people are very particular about whose advice they ask for. They make sure to only consider the opinion of someone who has a track record of success with the issue at hand. They don’t concern themselves with the opinions of anyone and everyone, especially when it comes to issues that those people have little or no experience with. At the end of the day, they do what they feel is right – not what other people convince them to do.

2. You entertain yourself instead of educating yourself You work a full time job and you might even have a decent career, but you haven’t opened a book since college, and the only extra training you’ve taken was required by your employer.

The thought of going to networking events in your industry, reading books, listening to podcasts, or going to seminars to learn new skills and get new ideas is completely foreign to you.

Instead of spending your spare time investing in yourself and your ability to provide more value to the marketplace, you distract yourself with entertainment that adds no real value to your life or your productivity.

You watch television often, you always know who won the game, and you can be found in nightclubs regularly.

3. You blame others for your circumstances You’re not satisfied with where you are in life, but you have a perfect explanation for it. Essentially, none of it is your fault. You blame your boss, your coworkers, your parents, your educators, your childhood, even the economy for your lack of success.

You refuse to take 100% responsibility for your results. You refuse to acknowledge that YOU are in control of your life, and you get to steer yourself in whatever direction you choose. BC To be continued next week

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Worried by the increasing spate of insecurity is Nigeria and its potential threat to the nation’s economy, lives and property, professionals in the nation’s Information and Communication Technology have charged the government to deploy modern security and surveillance technologies to curb the insurgency while advocating maintenance of existing security installations across the country

By Kunle Azeez

I

t is no longer news that the level of insecurity in Nigeria has assumed an alarming rate. On daily basis, cases of bombings; kidnappings and such like have become the order of the day, threatening the nation’s socio-economic and political systems.

The development, which has become a serious menace in the society, also appears to have defied all security strategies being put in place by the Federal Government to nip the situation in the bud.

However, as the case is today, for every individual, entrepreneurs, organisations ministries, agencies, churches, mosques, homes, hospitals, relaxation centres, shops malls, local, state and federal governments, the role of Information Communication Technology (ICT) for the purpose of security activities, operations, business cannot be over-emphasised.

While studies have recently shown that Nigeria will continue to be an investment destination in the years to come, as the largest economy in the African continent, following the country’s recent Gross Domestic Product rebase, the problem of insecurity often orchestrated by terrorists, the problem of insecurity continue to serve as a clog in the wheel of the country’s progress.

However, with the spate of insecurity situation in the country, as experts observed, it remains arguable if foreign businesses

Ojobo

would be willing to come into the country to invest.

Realising this hesitation and anxiety being expressed by global economic community in the country ahead of the World Economic Forum which held in Abuja last week and in a bid to stave off probable attack on the Federal Capital Territory, the Federal Government had to order a near-shutdown of the nation’s capital city.

Though the president said the move was to reduce the flow of traffic into the city, it was gathered that the decision was taken as part of measures tabled during an earlier emergency Security Council meeting, which was summoned by the president. In the directive, the president ordered the closure of all government offices and schools in the capital while advising private companies with large staff or customer flow to close shop.

Analysts say ordinarily, one would not have expected the

near shutdown of the capital city because of the WEF, had the security situation in the country not been rife, creating lingering anxiety among the locals and foreigners.

The recent debate has been over the project to provide security surveillance in Lagos and Abuja. It has raged since after the April 14 terrorist bomb attack at a motor park at Nyanya, a suburb of the Federal Capital Territory, which killed more than 70 persons and injured hundreds of others. Indeed, debate has intensified, following the May Day bomb that ripped through the same neighbourhood of Abuja, killing at least 12 persons and injuring over 30 others.

The development, which has also been aggravated by the abduction of over 200 schoolgirls in Borno, whose whereabouts remain yet unknown, has also been described as the peak of insecurity in Nigeria. To this end,

stakeholders have continued to wonder why a country such as Nigeria has failed to deployed appropriate technological apparatuses to track down the perpetrators of the nefarious acts of terrorism rampant in the nation.

Meanwhile, many are worried that various efforts by government in the past in using ICT to stem insecurity have been with little or no success. For instance, the Public Security Communications System, project which gulped $470 million tax payers’ money was meant to provide 696 Global Open Truncking Architecture (GOTA) sites; 2, 000 digital solar powered cameras – 1,000 each for Lagos and Abuja. Others include 37 switch rooms; MW Backbone; 37 coalition emergence response subsystem; 38 video conference subsystem; 37 e-police systems; six emergency communications vehicles; and 1,500,000 lines.

The scope of the project was so robust that experts opined should be able to help, at least to a notable extent, in contributing to the effort at stemming insurgent through monitoring and surveillance of the society.

The first component of the project is the GOTA subsystem, which involves the deployment of 696 base transceiver stations (BTS) nationwide. The network supports the deployment of 1,500,000 subscriber lines.

The second component of the PSCS is the Video Surveillance Subsystem (VSS), which is, perhaps, the most visible aspect of the project, involving the installation of 1,000 cameras each in Abuja and Lagos. Video images captured by the cameras can be stored for more than one month, and also transferred to the system’s database for archiving.

The third component is the Coalition Emergency Response (CERS) subsystem, which supports the police call centre for

A15 31

emergency information. The subsystem allows emergency response in emergencies by emergency services and provides a national platform for emergency calls by citizens to the Nigeria Police nationwide. Under this subsystem, mobile emergency communication vehicles (EVCs) may be deployed in emergencies when commercial communications networks are incapacitated.

The fourth component is the vital e-policing subsystem, which facilitates the deployment of e-policing databases while the fifth aspect of the PSCS is the video conferencing subsystem that enables video conferencing by all commands of the Nigeria Police with the Force Headquarters and among themselves.

Unfortunately, this ZTE PSCS in Abuja and Lagos has attracted much criticism from the lawmakers and other concerned industry experts as to the functioning of the ICT installations in curbing crimes and promoting security of lives and property.

For instance, recent reports indicated that the Lagos State Government’s N600million Close Circuit Televisions (CCTVs) computer monitors at the operational/control room office, located at the Lagos State Police Command, in Ikeja GRA, are rusting away. This is even as the over 50 installed surveillance cameras scattered at strategic parts of the state are also dead.

Commenting on the need for ICT to be used in boosting a state’s security as well as jumpstarting a nation’s economy, a licensed professional engineer, Dr. Charles Iheagwara, wondered why Nigeria, regarded as the last economy in African, is lagging behind in the area of deploying appropriate state-ofthe-art technologies to improve Continued on pg A16

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Business Courage

security of live and property which, he said, is essential to having a sustainable economic development and a country that continues to be an investment destination for foreign and local investors.

To Iheagwara, “Nigeria needs to get serious and be part of the 21st century world.

Today, ICT has eliminated most of the barriers that prevented countries from developing in the 20th century and earlier. In the 21st century, the landscape has changed. Nigeria should learn from India, the Philippines, Northern Ireland, which have deployed technology to boost its economic development.

“Not doing so, we delay development and the potential to make money from IT and Its role in boosting a nation’s security cannot be under-estimated.” He concluded.

In the same development, the country’s apex telecommunications regulator, Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, could not but join in underscoring the important deploying appropriate technologies to improve security in the country.

Stressing this at the Securex Security Exhibitions held in Lagos recently, NCC’s Director of Public Affairs, Tony Ojobo, stressed the need to adopt latest technological devices in addressing security challenges bedeviling Nigeria. According to Ojobo, one of the most worrisome aspects of high tech criminology is its dynamism and sophistication, adding that new devices must be deployed to tackle insecurity.

He said: “While those in pursuit of high tech solutions are busy working hard to crack new dimensions, the perpetrators keep increasing their pace and sophistication to escape justice.”

However, Ojobo pointed out that there are ways in which new technologies have been able to help fight security threats around the world saying: “Phones, these days have software called true caller. It enables you know the name of your caller even when you don’t know the caller. Technology has helped nations to track criminals, it has helped them to reduce level of criminality and also enabled security agents apprehend criminals. In Nigeria also, I believe technology has also helped us in terms of surveillance activities, and being able to track criminals.”

He added: “Technology has also helped to track locations.

Most of the smartphones in the market today have location services and once that is activated on the phone, wherever you are calling from, it is possible to know the location.”

Speaking further, Ojobo, also noted that the Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) card registration exercise carried out in the country has helped in curbing security challenges across the country.

“If you notice, certain criminal activities like issues of kid-

Abegunde

napping have reduced and I believe that a lot of security agencies have been able to track criminals who are using ICT.” Ojobo said.

To Vice President, Computer Warehouse Group, Dayo Abegunde, the federal government should invest more in Intelligent Video Surveillance (IVS) solution, in order to address the rising insecurity situation in the country, occasioned by insurgencies emanating from different quarters.

Showing concern on the state of insecurity in the country, he said Huawei’s Intelligent Video Surveillance solution, to which CWG is a partner, could address the insecurity situation in the country, if adequately deployed.

Apart from addressing nationwide insecurity, Abegunde said the IVS solution could also address personal security in homes and offices, as well as organisational security, with low bandwidth consumption, which makes the solution cheap but effective.

He also noted that because of the need for effective management of the data captured and generated by those technologies, government should develop a single national database for the country, where the data of all Nigerians captured, could be stored and retrieved when needed.

Also, a top ICT professional and security equipment specialist, Dr. Emmanuel Ekuwem, opined that boosting security nationwide does not require rocket science knowledge but that of mere ICT application.

In an interview, Ekuwen, a former President of the Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria (ATCON) noted that all it takes to push insurgents out of the system was to show them that their identities could be an open secret.

For him, this only requires putting the right surveillance applications in place and into right use.

“The fact is that we can have ICT-based automation of procedures in the Nigeria Police Force, Army, Navy, Air Force, Customs, Immigration, NDLEA, Prisons, State Security Service, FRSC, including the National Security and Civil Defence

Monday, May 12, 2014

Corps which can enable them bend over their laptops to have access to a criminal database and know whether a suspect is a serial offender.

“If we are serious about security, we should have Gamma ray-based scanning of vehicles and cargoes, VACIS, on our roads, highways, airports and seaports to detect bombs, explosives, arms, ammunitions, light weapons and dangerous chemicals with local and remote display of scan outputs using broadband.” He submitted.

Ekuwem stated that all the acts of terrorism in the country recently were perpetrated by human beings who, with impunity, transport their terrorist equipment and tools undetected.

He said that the issue of tackling security in the country was a matter of asking the right questions, inherent in which are the answers. The questions, according to him, include “How can we use ICT to monitor, detect, analyse, transmit the acquired data and information, receive same, store same, retrieve same for further analysis and retransmission, coordinate and manage an entire operation?

How can we uniquely identify a criminal? How can we track, monitor and locate terrorists?

Do we have CCTV-based or IP camera-based surveillance of our major towns and cities? Can we rapidly analyse the acquired video data for rapid response intervention with arrest of criminals? My simple reaction to all these questions is: ICT to the rescue! Software engine to the solution.”

Just as Abegunde suggested, Ekuwem also advocated that the country should have a national security database with some form of password-restricted access, which all security institutions in the country, tertiary institutions, hospitals, banks, insurance companies, hotels and guest houses, church and mosque administrations, sports and recreational clubs, airports, seaports and motor parks, should be connected to.

His reasons were that since an average citizen must have one thing or the other to do with one or two or more of these institutions and organisations, it would be simple to detect one with criminal records, just by a mere logging in of his details.

To the likes of other critical stakeholders, President of Association Licensed Telecoms Operators (ALTON),Gbenga Adebayo and the Chief Executive Officer, AAA Infotek, Akin Akinbo, government should waste no time in making use of the telecoms expanded infrastructure and the satellite resources in the country such as the Nigerian Communication SatelliteR to ensure maximum surveillance of the nation’s landmass to boost the security of live and property. They also urged the government to maintain existing IT surveillance infrastructures deployed by ZTE, for instance, for maximum performance. BC

Technotalk

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

with Esther Ozue (ozueesther@nationalmirroronline.net) 08059234648 (sms only)

Preventing cyber crimes

C

yber crime refers to illegal activities that take place online, including fraud, spam, identity theft, computer viruses and worms, cyber stalking, sexual predators, and the like. The threat from cyber crime is multi-dimensional as it targets individuals, businesses, and governments at a rapidly growing rate.

As we become more reliant on modern technology, however, we also become more vulnerable to cyber attacks. In order not to be caught unaware, here are tips on how to prevent cyber crimes: Use strong passwords: Use different user ID / password combinations for different accounts and avoid writing them down. Make the passwords more complicated by combining letters, numbers, and special characters and change them on a regular basis.

Secure your computer: You can secure your computer by activating your firewalls, which is the first line of cyber defense; they block connections to unknown sites and keeps out viruses and hackers.

Anti-virus/malware software can also be used to prevent viruses from infecting your computer by installing and regularly updating the software.

Encrypt important data you don’t want compromised.

Utilize encryption software, which “garbles” your data to make it unintelligible to anyone who tries to hack into your computer system.

Be social-media savvy: Make sure your social networking profiles (e.g. Facebook, Twitter, Youtube, Linked In, etc.) are set to private. Always check your security settings and be careful what information you post online.

Secure your mobile devices: Your mobile device is vulnerable to viruses and hackers. Download applications from trusted sources. Recognize that your smartphone is really a pocket-size computer and is prone to the same types of attacks directed at your laptop and desktop. Take steps to protect it, such as keeping your operating system current and creating a strong password Secure your wireless network: Wi-Fi (wireless) networks are vulnerable to intrusion if they are not properly secured. Review and modify default settings. Avoid conducting financial or corporate transactions on public wireless internet connections unless you have beefed-up security protection.

Avoid being scammed: Always think before you click on a link or file of unknown origin. Don’t feel pressured by any emails. Check the source of the message when in doubt; never reply to emails that ask you to verify your information or confirm your user ID or password. Just think of how many emails you’ve gotten in the last year that appeared to be from friends whose email accounts were hijacked.

Know how to recognize phishing: Your bank won’t send you an email telling you that your account has been compromised and asking you to provide sensitive account and personal information it already has.

Protect your e-identity: Be cautious when giving out personal information such as your name, address, phone number or financial information on the internet. For instance, don’t put your entire birth date, including the year, on facebook. Think about the security questions normally posed by your bank and other secure locations: “first school you attended,” “name of favorite pet” and the like. Are your answers on display online?

Purchase only from reputable websites: When making purchases online. It’s really easy to create a fake online store or to create a store that sells stuff, but its real purpose is to collect credit card information. Make sure that you do online shopping on a secure website, like those with a url that starts with “https” or have a TRUSTe or VeriSign seal. If you don’t see these anywhere on the site, you run the risk of submitting credit card information and other personal information to a site that may be fraudulent.

Finally, Cyber security is a shared responsibility, and each of us has a role to play in making it safer, more secured and resilient. BC

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Business Courage

Monday, May 12, 2014

L-R; Dr. Omobola Johnson, Honourable Minister of Communication Technology, Sunil Bharti, Founder and Chairman of Bharti Enterprises and Austin Okere, Group CEO, CWG Plc during the panel discussion session themed: Empowering Africa’s Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) through ICT at the SME Summit

‘Building digital infrastructure is first step to technology growth’

By Adejuwon Osuunuyi

M

inister of Communication Technology, Omobola Johnson, has said that building digital infrastructure and improving internet accessibility are first step that should be taken in making Nigeria vast in technology.

She said that for Africa and Nigeria to be connected, there has to be a robust, cost effective and reliable ICT infrastructure.

She also noted the need for ICT infrastructure to be used as economic benefit, thereby creating digital awareness for people, to know how to use the internet in terms of education, business and entertainment.

Speaking in an interview the Minister explained that in the last six months, the Universal Service Provisions Fund (USP), mapped the whole country to see the rural areas that lack ICT infrastructures which is one of the main focus for the ICT ministry. She added that although some of the areas may not be commercially viable for telecom operators, they are economically active, as they could create more productivity.

“There are people there that are running businesses and generating income, we can increase their productivity by moving in there with the help of USP subsidy to encourage network operators to go to those areas.”

The Minister further explained that most SMEs could not afford the use of

ICT infrastructure because it was expensive for businesses trying to grow. “With the help of Cloud technologies which is a software application, SMEs will be able to use technology,” she said.

“Statistics show that SMEs that use technology grow 50 per cent faster than SMEs that don’t use technology.”

The Minister also explained that there was a great difference between quality of service and infrastructure, stating that the delivery of service in Nigeria can be better.

She mentioned that infrastructures especially at the just concluded World Economic Forum On Africa had improved with high standard through the co-operation of the Federal Capital Development Authority.

She also pointed out that some states, Anambra, Ondo, Bayelsa and Katsina were working with the ICT Ministry to improve the quality of internet service and develop the infrastructure in their states.

be able to switch to a new mobile network of their choice.”

“If the registration is stopped, how would foreigners that are coming to Nigeria or new citizens who are ripe to use mobile phones register?

There is no time we can stop the registration.

“What was stopped was the registration of old SIM cards after nine months that the official registration started, for old SIMs it has stopped, but for new it shall continue,” Ojobo said.

He said network providers had the right to reissue any number that was not in use by subscribers after nine months.

Stakeholders challenge NSIA to consider ICT development top priority

S

NCC bans registration of old SIM cards in Nigeria

T

he Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) said it has permanently placed embargo on the registration of old Subscriber Identification Module (SIM) cards by telecoms providers.

Tony Ojobo, NCC director of Public Affairs, said that the registration of old SIM cards ended in 2012, adding that network providers were only allowed to register new SIM cards.

According to him, the “Registration of new SIM cards was allowed to enable subscribers to have freedom of entry and exit from a mobile network to

takeholders in Information and Communications Technology (ICT) have challenged the Nigerian Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA) to consider funding of the ICT sector as part of its priority agenda.

President of the Associa-

tion of Telecoms Companies of Nigeria (ATCON), Engr. Lanre Ajayi, together with the Chairman, Presidential Committee on Broadband, Dr. Ernest Ndukwe, made the call in Lagos, at a technology event, Beacon of ICT Awards, organized by publishers of Communications Week Magazine.

The stakeholders are worried that the NSIA had not considered the funding of ICT as necessary, whereas NSIA has been involved in funding of other sectors of the economy.

Ndukwe, who gave instance of the importance of broadband in national development of the country, said the ICT sector deserved funding from NSIA, even more than the other sectors it is currently funding.

While the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of NSIA, Uche Orji explained that ICT was not part of the priority list of NSIA, and subsequently advised its stakeholders to apply for funding for possible consideration, Ajayi had asked, “If ICT is not considered on your priority list, why do you have to invite us to apply for funding.”

Responding, Orji quickly said even though ICT was not part of its first list, it could make the second list to attract NSIA funding. He further explained that NSIA understood the importance of ICT in national development, and persuaded ICT stakeholders to apply to be part of the second list, since it was omitted in the first list.

The NSIA is currently funding some major projects in some sectors of the economy, but has neglected the ICT sector, its stakeholders alleged.

NSIA is government establishment which manages the Nigeria sovereign wealth fund, into which the surplus income produced from Nigeria’s excess oil reserves is deposited. This sovereign wealth fund was founded for the purpose of managing and investing these funds on behalf of the government of Nigeria.

Airtel empowers Nigerian youths with skill acquisition scheme

A

Ajayi

irtel Nigeria, has taken another huge step towards youth development in Nigeria by creating an empowerment initiative aimed at providing the youths with practical knowledge in mobile phone repairs.

The Basic Mobile Phone Repair Module (BMPRM) offers a two-week certificate course, which equips participants with fundamental knowledge of

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Ogunsanya

mobile phone repairs.

The initiative, which is organised by Airtel Nigeria and facilitated by experts in phone repairs, is also designed to empower participants to become Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) owners.

The first session was held in Port Harcourt with 40 participants and according to the Telco, the inaugural phase of the programme has been scheduled to cover another 100 youths drawn from Bayelsa, Edo and Delta States.

Upon completion of the training, the participants will be set up as APRP operators, Data and SIM selling outlets and SIM Swap agents among a host of other opportunities.

Speaking on the initiative, Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director, Airtel Nigeria, Mr. Segun Ogunsanya, noted that Airtel came up with the idea in line with its vision to encourage Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in Nigeria and also to empower hundreds of youths through the programme.

“As more mobile devices are coming into the Nigerian market, there is growing demand for technicians who can repair phones and other mobile devices. We also appreciate the fact that millions of young people need to engage in productive ventures that can guarantee them stable income.

“This training is part of our plans to start building a crop of SME businesses that will spin off our core business and also bring Airtel closer to our customers. It is a platform, which will assist our youths to channel their energy in the right direction. At Airtel, it is our commitment to empower Nigerian youths and provide the necessary support to develop the talent in them,” Ogunsanya said.

He also mentioned that the programme has been designed in a way to allow young people both male and female who are interested in learning the skills enroll, adding that it attracts no financial implications for the participants. BC BC

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Business Courage

Monday, May 12, 2014

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Behind d Wheels This page is open to sponsorship

By Emmanuel Ogbonnaya

T

he 2015 Kia Sedona reemerged at the just concluded New York international auto show in a redesigned outfit that the makers must have chosen to make an impression on the sophisticated class of CUV lovers with the claim that It’s bold and sporty new look was meant for it to be seen.

Needless to say the redesigned Sedona strives to hold its own in a vehicle segment that has been dominated by Toyota’s Sienna and Honda’s Odyssey with its all new swagger of sophistication and array of modern technology.

As the final chapter in Kia’s design-led transformation story which began in 2009 and has seen a comprehensive makeover of Kia’s entire model line under the direction of chief design officer Peter Schreyer, the Sedona advances value to new levels of sophistication with a host of segment-leading new technology and upscale features, all of which will be offered in a new premium trim level SXL. The completely redesigned midsize multi-purpose vehicle raises the bar in the segment with innovative technology, available driving-aid technologies, style and added safety features. With its modern appearance and CUV-like cab-forward design, the all-new Sedona is

available in seven- and eightpassenger configurations.

In addition to innovative European-inspired design, the 2015 Sedona also delivers the exceptional interior volume buyers expect in the segment with ample passenger and cargo room and a quiet and comfortable cabin.

The car makers boasts that the Sedona also is the only vehicle in the segment outfitted with standard fabric technology to provide anti-microbial protection from spills, anti-static protection from irritating electrical shocks as well as stain-repelling and stain-releasing fabric characteristics appreciated by anyone who leads an active lifestyle.

Bold Exterior Transcending mundane functionality, the Sedona’s wide stance exudes a modern, CUVlike exterior appearance highlighted by a front fascia and cab-forward design that project confidence and strength. The Sedona’s muscular face and clean, smooth look is highlighted by a fully integrated version of Kia’s signature grille and headlamps with LED positioning lights.

The wheelbase is 1.6-inches longer than its predecessor, and the side profile, with its reduced front and rear overhangs, combines with the deeply swept windshield and available 19inch alloy wheels to create a

distinctive look. Meanwhile, the rear design layout, with LED taillights, integrated bumper guard and standard roof spoiler, gives it that broad and stable bearing.

Roomy and configurable Interior the redesigned Sedona Despite its overall width and height remaining virtually unchanged, provides more front shoulder room, greater leg room in the front, second and third rows, as well as a slightly higher hippoint, improving outward visibility for the driver.

The horizontal design cues across the instrument panel create a greater sense of width, and the generous use of softtouch materials adds to the allnew Sedona’s premium ambiance. The Sedona’s proportions provide flexible seating in both seven- and eight-passenger configurations and a multitude of storage options. The front centre console is unique to the segment and allows for generous and cleverly convenient storage space between the front seats.

Second row Slide-n-Stow tracked seating slides and folds upright to allow for “on-the-go” cargo hauling while eliminating the hassle that comes with removing heavy and cumbersome middle seats. The all-new Sedona also offers the choice of second row “First Class” lounge

seating that can be positioned rearward for astonishing legroom and provides retractable lower leg rests.

And while some configurations feature segment-unique second-row seat cushion heaters for added comfort, all 2015 Sedona models offer a third-row that provides the convenience of a split folding 60/40 in-floor retractable design.

The Sedona’s sophisticated interior design theme is brought to life with a modern colour palette featuring solid or two-tone colour options in beige, gray and burgundy for a warm and inviting atmosphere.

The top-line SXL trim features standard ultra-soft Nappa leather seating surfaces throughout the cabin, the same Chromium-free leather found in the K900 luxury sedan.

Technology & Entertainment Building on the next-generation UVO Infotainment & Telematics system, the all-new Sedona will be the first Kia vehicle to offer four new eServices features: Geo-fencing, Speed Alert, Curfew Alert and Driving Score.

Additionally, with the introduction of the Kia App store, select apps can be downloaded for free from iTunes or Google Play.

The Kia app connector is now available for partnership with the content community, including Pandora, iHeart Radio and Yelp. Many more new

technologies for comfort and convenience are featured in the new UVO system, including Siri “Eyes Free6” and Local Search powered by Google for finding locations, addresses and points of interest.

Sirius XM Travel Link7, offering access to traffic, weather, fuel prices, sports scores, stock information and movie times, makes the Sedona the perfect companion for those who live their lives on the road with family and friends.

Driving Dynamics and Safety The 2015 Sedona is built on an all-new chassis with static torsional stiffness that is 36-per cent greater than its closest segment competitor. The body is 76 per cent ultra high strength steel (press hardened) or high strength steel, which provides exceptional rigidity, durability and collision protection in a lightweight design.

For enhanced roof strength, the Sedona has been engineered with reinforced pillars that distribute impact loads with ultrahigh-strength steel tubes that run inside the A-pillars. Extensive use of adhesives and large diameter welds also add to Sedona’s overall structural integrity and strength.

The 2015 Sedona makes use of Amplitude Selected Dampers ASD to strike an optimal balance of ride comfort and handling.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Business Courage

Monday, May 12, 2014

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Behind d Wheels This page is open to sponsorship tion of the newest high-power (2.1 AMP) USB charging port and a 115-volt AC outlet to charge small electronics as well as a dual glove box that offers a cooled lower storage area.

For easier parking and vehicle maneuvering, the Surround View Monitor8 provides real-time images from cameras placed around the vehicle.

Smart Welcome, automatically illuminates the door handles and unfolds the power retractable side mirrors when a vehicle key fob is detected.

A hands-free “Smart Tailgate” opens the rear lift gate automatically when the key fob is sensed for three seconds, and its programmable function can be tailored to the user’s height preference.

The platform also has revised rear cross-member bushings, an isolated rear sub-frame with longer trailing arms and added rear strut reinforcement, all of which combine for improved dynamic ride characteristics.

Additionally, thanks to wheelhouse padding, double seal sliding doors and an expanded use of sound-deadening foam in the engine compartment, reducing noise and perceived harshness over rough pavement the 2015 Sedona is expected to be among the quietest in the segment.

Under the hood A new Lambda Gasoline Direct Injection GDI 3.3-litre V6 engine replaces the 3.5-litre V6 found in the previous generation Sedona. The 3.3-litre engine, which is also found in the Sorento CUV and Ca-

denza premium sedan, delivers more power than its predecessor, boasting 276 horsepower at 6,000 rpm, and it has been tuned for enhanced mid-range torque, offering 248 lb.-ft. at 5,200 rpm.

A three-step Variable Induction System VIS improves engine “breathing,” automatically adjusting the volume of the air pulled into the combustion chamber to create the optimal air-to-fuel mix under different engine load conditions.

Dual Continuously Variable Valve Timing CVVT combines with a piston-cooling oil jet to improve engine cooling efficiency, while engine components, including piston rings, piston skirts, valve tappets, timing chain guide and valve springs are all of a low-friction design.

Finally, the new 3.3-liter V6 engine is mated to a sixspeed automatic transmission tuned for balanced control, power and efficiency.

Smart & Convenience Features From front to back the Sedona offers numerous convenience features, including Kia’s first applica-

Safety Features and Driver Technology All Sedona models come standard with active safety features such as Electronic Stability Control (ESC)8, Traction Control System TCS, Brake Assist System BAS, Hill-start Assist Control HAC, Electronic Brake Force Distribution EBD and Antilock Braking System ABS. Additional technologies such as Roll over Mitigation ROM and Cornering Brake Control CBC also were added as standard equipment for improved dynamic control and safety.

New optional driver technology, including Vehicle Stability Management VSM; Forward Collision Warning System FCWS; Smart Cruise Control SCC; Blind Spot Detection BSD and Rear Cross Traffic Alert to help provide drivers with a more convenient and secure daily driving experience.

According to Kia Motors’ vice president, product planning, Orth Hedrick, “Throughout the development process, our engineers in the U.S. and Korea focused on adding the element of desire to the all-new Sedona with improved driving dynamics and power and the incorporation of modern styling cues, premium materials and technology.”

He believes that with the combined host of active and passive safety features and technology, the completely redesigned Sedona has successfully retained the functionality the nameplate has always been known for, while rising to meet the diverse needs and tastes of today’s consumers.

Indeed the all-new Sedona’s CUV-like styling and proportions offer all of the functional convenience of the segment while defying its design limitations. Sales are scheduled to begin in the late third quarter or early fourth quarter of this year. BC

Autocare What are your options with problematic engines?

W

hen a car’s engine begins to exhibit signs of disorder such as excessive smoke from tailpipe; excessive oil consumption; knocking or tapping sounds; low oil pressure; low compression; water mixing in oil; oil getting into the air cleaner and/or radiator, know that it is time to take a closer look at the engine and that is when you will have to decide on the option to adopt in getting your car engine back to optimum performance.

Some causes of engine problems are normal like mileage wear and tear, others could be avoidable such poor maintenance culture.

Ignorance of right lubricant could also result in engine malfunction/breakdown as well as some unavoidable accidents causing direct physical damage to the car’s engine.

So when an engine “dies,” or suffers a major problem does it have to be the end of your vehicle? In a case where the body and interior of a car is still in good shape, an engine packing up should not signify the end of it.

When a car or truck needs major engine repair, the first response and reaction of many consumers is to buy a new or used vehicle. Sometimes disposing of your current vehicle might make sense, but often it’s simply not necessary, or is it the best decision.

Smart shoppers, like smart motorists, make better decisions when they know all of the options.

If your vehicle is in relatively good shape it makes sense to update it by rebuilding or replacing the engine, rather than replacing the vehicle. Once you consider the loaded costs in a new or used vehicle, the economic benefits become very clear.

A Rebuilt Engine Option A rebuilt engine is one that has been remanufactured to prescribed standards and specifications by highly skilled machinists using state-of-the-art equipment and components. During this process many new components are installed that meet or exceed original equipment performance standards.

Experts believe that rebuilt engines are better than the engines originally installed at the factory claiming that they are dependable, reliable and backed by excellent warranty programs.

What are the risks?

Choosing to repower your current engine with a remanufactured or rebuilt engine is the most reliable and cost effective choice over the long term. Rebuilt or remanufactured engines get better gas mileage than a worn engine, and emit fewer pollutants.

Engine rebuilding also saves the tremendous amount of energy used in processing discarded car engines and vehicles as well as conserving energy and resources required to manufacture new engines.

What kind of warranty comes with a remanufactured – rebuilt engine?

A remanufactured or rebuilt engine is typically warranted for at least one year, or 12,000 miles. Some engine remanufacturers offer warranties as long as 36 months and unlimited miles. Check with your local service provider for information on their remanufactured rebuilt engines and warranty programs. BC

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Business Courage

Monday, May 12, 2014

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Foreign investments portfolio to surge in Q3, says AACN

By Emmanuel Ogbonnaya

T

he Association of Assets Custodians of Nigeria (AACN) has projected an expected increase in the participation of foreign portfolio investors in the Nigerian capital market from the third quarter of this year.

The projection was made at the association’s press briefing to announce the third in its annual investors conference billed for the 28th of May 2014 at the London Marriot West India Quay hotel, with the theme “Nigeria: the road to emergence.”

Expected to be present at the conference are the Director Generals of the Securities and Exchange Commission SEC and the Nigerian Bureau of Statistics NBS as well as the Acting Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria CBN. Specifically, automation of the certificate of capital importation process; introduction of securities lending and the adoption of the Swift platform by the CSCS were some of reasons advanced for the expected positive outlook by the President of AACN and chief executive officer Stanbic IBTC Nominees, Segun Sanni.

“Some of the key initiatives that we have worked on with the various regulators and the financial dealers association of Nigeria to improve our markets include the automation of the Certificate of capital importation process which is now being issued by the CBN electronically,” he said.

He disclosed that AACN also worked with the CBN, CSCS, NSE to

Sanni

introduce securities lending into Nigeria and that the paper work has already been formalised for the market to leverage on the product and begin to do business.

He attributed the successful adoption of the new initiatives to the advocacy efforts of the association comprising of Stanbic IBTC, Citi bank, Standard Chartered bank, UBA plc and First bank in bridging the gap between foreign investors and the Nigerian regulatory agencies.

“Our efforts will help to improve the perception of foreign investors and also improve our global rating which is significant in determining the amount that investors are prepared to stake in any economy. Our objective is to raise the status of the Nigerian market from being a frontier to an emerging market this year,” enthused.

He noted that having foreign portfo-

lio investors in the Nigerian economy was of prime importance because they (investors) actually bring some huge benefits to the table, one of which is the fact that by their very nature of high standards of performance and governance there was that demand to replicate a structure of high standards in processes and technology in any economy where they are investing.

“Foreign investors tend to bring progress to the market because they are always asking of improvement in the way things are done such as processes automation and removal of delays,” he said.

In her remarks Kemi Adewole, vicepresident of AACN noted that general automation in the market was generally being driven by foreign portfolio investors because in the market that they are used to there is full automation and they are really looking forward to a time when Nigeria will be on that level.

“A lot of our activities are being driven by the pin-point of our clients.

So the e-CCI was a major one about two years ago and this year we are happy to say that at least we have a date. We will continue to do all we can to make Nigeria an attractive investment destination and the way we can do this is to build a transparent system that is in line with global standards and hopefully this will continue to yield more investor confidence in our market,” she said.

A member of the event committee, Biodun Adebimpe, disclosed that this year’s conference would be a bit more robust because between the last con-

ference and this one there has been a lot of interesting development in the market such as new trading platforms like the Financial market dealers quotation FMDQ and the National association of securities dealers NASD which have been launched to create more investment avenues for foreign investors.

Of about $120 trillion investment asset under custody globally, Nigeria accounts for $25-30 billion dollars of foreign portfolio investors fund out of Africa’s share of about $1 trillion.

The Nigerian Stock exchange market capitalisation is under N13 trillion and the share of foreign investors accounts for about 20 per cent with about 50 per cent invested on stocks while the other 50 per cent is shared between treasury bills and bonds.

Sanni explained that the Nigerian market does not have enough products to be chased after by foreign investor funds as there is not enough listed stock on the exchange.

“We still have a long way to cover to be able to reach where we want to get to he lamented that for now the.

We are hoping that the likes of MTN, the power companies, Shell, Chevron, ExxonMobil and others will list on the exchange to attract more foreign investor funds,” he said.

He projected that the economy will go exponentially high if infrastructure gap especially electricity can be addressed, noting that with the privatisation of the power sector, the sector was potentially set for the kind of development that was witnessed in the telecoms sector a few years ago. BC

Brent oil rose above $108 on supply woes

B

rent crude rose steady above 108 dollars per barrel on Friday supported by renewed tension in Ukraine and continued limited supply from Libya.

Pro-Moscow separatists in eastern Ukraine ignored a public call by Russian President Vladimir Putin to postpone a referendum on self-rule.

The group declared they would go ahead on Sunday with a vote that could lead to war.

Investors are worried that any spread of the conflict could disrupt supply from world’s top oil producer Russia.

Brent crude for June delivery gained 39 cents to 108.43 dollars per barrel, after closing nine cents lower on Thursday.

U.S. oil was up 41 cents at 100.67 dollars.

The contract, which settled 51 cents lower on Thursday, was on course for its first weekly gain in three, boosted by a surprise drop in U.S. crude inventories last week.

“There are two factors supporting oil supply. ``They are side risks and expectations of steady gasoline demand from the U.S as summer driving season gets underway,” said Tetsu Emori, a commodity fund manager at Astmax Investment.

“It is quite difficult to go short on oil at this point.”

Emori expects U.S. crude to be supported at around 100 dollars a barrel and any dips below that providing a buying opportunity.

The upper end of the range is about 102-103 dollars in the short term with the benchmark touching 105 dollars towards the end of June, on the back of strong U.S. gasoline demand.

Brent will remain about seveneight dollars more expensive that the U.S. contract and the gap may widen to as much as 10 dollars by end-June, driven by supply.

European Union governments have laid the groundwork for possible sanctions against Russian companies, in-

cluding energy giants, over Ukraine.

“Heightened tensions remain, especially after a series of violent clashes,” analysts at Phillip Futures said.

“Uncertainties continue to peg crude oil prices at elevated levels on concerns over possible disruptions.”

A Libyan government deal to reopen major oil ports controlled by rebels looks likely to unravel.

Meanwhile, the appointment of a new Islamist-backed prime minister has fuelled distrust that is eroding support for the accord.

Libya’s government said it remains committed to implementing an agreement with the rebels occupying the eastern ports of Ras Lanuf and Es Sider and hopes the export terminals will reopen soon.

Oil investors are watching the outcome of talks between Iran and world powers in ending Tehran’s disputed nuclear programme, with the slow, steady progress helping cap gains in oil prices.

Iran and six world powers held

Putin

more “useful” talks on Tehran’s nuclear programme.

The two days of expert-level talks in New York were a prelude to next week’s political-level negotiations in the Austrian capital Vienna. BC

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Business Courage

Monday, May 12, 2014

A21 37

Stock floor

Capital market indices dip by 0.22 per cent on NSE

T

ransactions at the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) on Friday ended on a downward trend as the market capitalisation dropped N21 billion due to profit-taking.

The market capitalisation, which opened at N12.720 trillion closed lower at N12.699 trillion.

Also, the All-Share Index lost 86.25 basis points or 0.22 per cent to close at 38,554.19 against 38,640.44 achieved on Thursday.

Seplat topped the losers’ chart with N13.79 to close at N682.33 per share.

It was followed by 7up which lost N3.50 to close at N82, while Presco dipped by N1.85 to close at N35.20 per share.

Dangote Cement lost N1 to close at N224, while Stanbic IBTC decreased by 57k to close at N22 per share.

Market analysts attributed the depreciation to profit-taking embarked upon by some investors following the growth recorded by the market in the last three days.

Conversely, Mobil topped the gainers’ chart with N6.47 to close at N135.87 per share.

Total came second with N2.35 to close at N155.35, while Flour mills gained 50k close at N69 per share.

Berger Paint increased by 32k to close at N9.50, while Ashaka Cement improved by 29 k to close at N20.09 per share.

In all, investors bought and

sold 304.78 million shares worth N4.64 billion transacted in 4,393 deals.

NAN reports that this was against the 300.78 million shares valued at N2.89 billion traded in 3,990 deals on Thursday.

Zenith Bank was the toast of investors, trading 54.01 million shares worth N1.23 billion.

UAC Property sold 39.86 million shares valued N916.67 million, while FBN Holdings sold 21.31mllion worth of shares worth N277.21 million.

GT Bank accounted for 16.71 million shares valued at N448.68 million, while Transcorp exchanged a total of 15.58 million shares worth N57.17 million. BC

Naira records mixed trading at official, parallel markets

T

he Naira recorded marginal increase against the dollar at the official and Bureau de Change markets on Friday, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports.

At the official market, the Naira, which opened at N155.23k to a dollar on Monday, closed at N154.2k on Friday, gaining N1.03k.

The currency also appreciated against the dollar at the Bureau de Change during the week by N1.5k, closing at N164 from N165.5k it opened on Monday.

At the parallel market, the Naira closed at N165, the same price it sold on Monday, May 5.

The Naira, however, lost 77k to the Pound Sterling.

The Naira, which opened at N261.73k on Monday at official market, closed for the week at N262.5k to the Pound Sterling on Friday.

At the Bureau de Change to the Pound Sterling, the Naira gained 50k as it opened at N270.5k on Monday and closed N171 on Friday.

It remained stable against the Pound Sterling at the

black market during the week selling at N270.

At the official market, the Naira sold for N214.2k to the Euro on Friday from the N215.43 it opened on Monday thereby appreciating by N1.23k.

The Naira, at the Bureau de Change, however, lost N1against the Euro, selling at N228 on Friday from the N227 it opened at the beginning of the week.

The currency was also relatively stable at the black market selling at N229 to the Euro. BC

Market Indicators for Week Ended 12-05-14 All-Share Index 38,554.19points Market Capitalization N12,699,035,695,347.19 Stock Updates GAINERS COMPANY

OPENING PRICE

NPFMCRFBK

CLOSING PRICE

CHANGE

0.90

0.95

5.56

129.40

135.87

5.00

REDSTAREX

4.30

4.51

4.88

AIRSERVICE

2.14

2.24

4.67

EVANSMED

2.58

2.70

4.65

MOBIL

LOSERS COMPANY

OPENING PRICE

PRESCO

CLOSING PRICE

CHANGE

37.05

35.20

1.78

1.70

-4.49

85.50

82.00

-4.09

INTENEGINS

0.53

0.51

-3.77

IPWA

0.53

0.51

-3.70

MAYBAKER 7UP

-4.99

Inter-Bank Rates TENOR

RATE%(PREV) 14-April-2014

RATE%(CURR) 15-April-2014

CALL

10.5000 – 10.5000%

0.0000 - 0.0000%

OBB

10.2500 - 10.2500%

10.2500- 10.2500%

Primary Market Auction TENOR

AMOUNT (N’mn)

91-Day

RATE (%)

34888.9

11

DATE 23-Apr-14

182-Day

30000

11.77

23-Apr-14

364-Day

85730.42

12.25

23-Apr-14

Open Market Operation TENOR

AMOUNT (N’mn)

126-Day

70000

RATE (%) 12

DATE 24-Apr-14

134-Day

50000

13.1

2-Apr-14

114-Day

50000

13.05

1-Apr-14

Wholesale Dutch Auction System AMOUNT OFFERED

MARKET DEMAND

AMOUNT SOLD

DATE

$400m

$ 338,801,566.52m

$338,801,566.5m

30-May-14

$400m

$ 345,884,819.89m

$345,884,819.8m

05-May-14

A22 38

Business Courage

Monday, May 12, 2014

By Johnson Okanlawon

CBN guidelines for commercial banks in Nigeria, which repealed the erstwhile universal banking regime. Along with UBA Plc, the result of the restructuring is three standalone entities held directly by the Bank’s shareholders – UBA Capital Plc and Africa Prudential Registrars Plc, which are already listed on the Nigerian Stock Exchange, as well as Afriland Properties Plc, now controlled by independent shareholders.

Under the Monoline business structure, UBA Plc remains the parent company for all of the Group’s commercial banking activities in Nigeria, Africa and the rest of the world. UBA Plc is also the parent company for UBA Pension Custodian Limited, UBA Capital (UK) and UBA FX Mart Limited.

T

he bank investments in various African countries have started yielding results considering returns that majority of its subsidiaries posted in the financial year ended December 31, 2013. These investments started back in 2005, with Standard Bank, which was one of the merging entities.

After that, the bank focus on regional growth with a strong capital and its objective at that particular point in time was to get a platform for diversification of the revenue base, noting that one of the best ways to create value for shareholders is to diversify revenues and the entire businesses.

Profitability Driven by impressive growth in all income lines, the bank recorded gross earnings of N264bn for the 2013 financial year, an increase of 20 per cent when compared to N220bn recorded in 2012.

Net interest margin improved from 5.8 per cent to 5.9 per cent, while cost-to-income ratio recorded a decline from 64.8 per cent to 60.9 per cent in 2013. Profit before tax increased to N56.1bn in 2013, from N52.0bn in 2012, an increase of eight per cent, while return on equity stood at 21.8 per cent and the bank declared a dividend of 50 kobo per share.

In 2012, 14 of the 18 branches of the bank in Africa made profit. In 2013, 11 countries made profit. The decline in their profit was attributed to the roll out to various countries, as 18 countries where the bank operates outside Nigeria are mostly greenfield. UBA Africa contributed 20 per cent to the group profit in 2011; 18 per cent in 2012 and 22 per cent in 2013.

Liquidity The bank total assets for the year under review stood at N2.64trn, an increase of 19.6 per cent from N2.21trn recorded in the corresponding period of 2012, while total liabilities increase to N2.41trn from N2.03trn in 2012. Total liabilities and equity rose to N2.64bn from N2.27bn in 2012.

Business Strategy The bank set out 2013 with implementation of the strate-

Oduoza

gic imperatives arising from ‘Project Alpha, which drove the growth of the bank in short to medium term, which included aggressive deposit mobilization, account acquisition and dormant account reactivation. Others are effective leverage on balance sheet to participate in emerging growth sectors, including agric, power and infrastructure; driving value chain banking, consolidating African business for market share growth and increasing focus on African trade.

Corporate governance UBA is a bank that has about a million shareholders with institutional investors.

For instance, International Finance Corporation is an investor. During the bank’s Annual General Meeting in Lagos recently, the foreign investors put themselves under Stanbic IBTC nominees. They insisted that there should be a poll and not by raising up hands.

Their views were respected, showing the standard of corporate governance.

Also, each particular subsidiary has full board members operating as a full entity and being regulated by the central bank of the country, as in Nigeria.

Background UBA’s has more than 65 years of providing uninterrupted banking operations dating back to 1948 when the British and French Bank Limited commenced business in Nigeria.

The quest to build a strong

domestic and African brand intensified in 2008 when UBA made further acquisitions of two liquidated banks, Gulf Bank and Liberty Bank while at the same time intensifying its African footprint with the establishment of UBA Cameroon, UBA Cote d Ivoire, UBA Uganda, UBA Sierra Leone, and UBA Liberia as well as the acquisition of a 51 per cent interest in Banque Internationale du Burkina Faso, which was the largest bank in the country with 40 per cent market share. Currently, UBA has 18 African subsidiaries contributing about 20 per cent of the Group’s balance sheet with a target of contributing 50 per cent.

On 13 December 2012, the shareholders of UBA Plc voted for the bank to restructure into a Monoline Commercial Banking Model in order for it to fully comply with the new

Outlook The bank synergizes its operations using opportunity cost in each of the countries.

“When we get to the countries where we get license to operate, we key into their key economic drivers. When you do that some aspects will suffer, which really affects Nigeria.

Now we believe that it is time to reap our investments in others countries for Nigeria to benefit. We want a situation whereby UBA Africa will contribute 50 per cent to earning and UBA, Nigeria will do same. Therefore, there are lots of opportunities in Africa, Agriculture, and the arable farm land. We feel we should benefit from both sides.

“Nigeria is the largest and other economies are growing rapidly too. All Nigeria business is consolidated into one, and it will be competing with

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Nigerian banks, while UBA as an entity will be benefiting from both markets,” the Group Managing Director of the bank, Mr. Phillip Oduoza said.

The bank last week announced key appointments to drive its quest for industry leadership by 2015. The Project Alpha is a 3-year road map of key transformation initiatives, designed to reinforce the group’s strategic positioning and leverage its huge Africa presence to fully exploit the burgeoning opportunities in Africa’s economic renaissance.

According to Oduoza, the group has splited its operations into two broad divisions, UBA Africa and UBA Nigeria, saying that UBA Africa Division will be made up of the 18 African country subsidiaries of the UBA Group outside Nigeria.

While explaining that UBA Africa would have a Chief Executive Offi cer supported by two deputies along the bank’s two core product lines, wholesale banking (comprising, corporate bank, institutional bank and public sector) and retail banking (comprising, personal banking and SME banking), Oduoza announced the appointment of Kennedy Uzoka, the Deputy Managing Director as the Chief Executive Offi cer, UBA Africa while Emeke Iweriebor, an Executive Director, has been appointed UBA Africa Deputy Chief Executive Offi cer, retail bank and Oliver Alawuba is now UBA Africa Deputy Chief Executive Offi cer, wholesale bank.

The Group Managing Director stressed that the newly created UBA Africa Division will grow and deepen the bank’s presence in member countries, optimise the synergies within the network, deepen service delivery excellence, and promote cultural integration and a high level of motivation in UBA staff in the different countries to foster one UBA Family.

Also, he added that the new UBA Nigeria division of the group, which will be managed by Apollos Ikpobe, Deputy Managing Director, Domestic Bank, will consolidate all of UBA’s Nigerian businesses into a single division and will comprise all the regional banks in Nigeria, corporate bank, energy bank, and UBA pensions. BC

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Business Courage

Monday, May 12, 2014

A23 39

STOCKWATCH Stock Exchange weekly equities summary as at Friday, May 09, 2014 SECURITY

PRICE (=N=)

AGRICULTURE/AGRO-ALLIED Crop Production FTN COCOA PROCESSORS PLC NT OKOMU OIL PALM PLC. 35.33 PRESCO PLC 35.20 Fishing/Hunting/Trapping ELLAH LAKES PLC. NT Livestock/Animal Specialties LIVESTOCK FEEDS PLC. 3.47 CONGLOMERATES Diversified Industries A.G. LEVENTIS NIGERIA PLC. 1.60 CHELLARAMS PLC. 3.95 JOHN HOLT PLC. 1.21 SCOA NIG PLC NT TRANSNATIONAL CORP. OF NIG.PLC 3.67 U A C N PLC. 56.00 CONSTRUCTION/REAL ESTATE Building Construction ARBICO PLC. 5.30 CAPPA & D’ALBERTO PLC. NT Building Structure/Completion/Other COSTAIN (W A) PLC. 1.30 G CAPPA PLC NT Non--Building/Heavy Construction JULIUS BERGER NIG. PLC. 68.50 ROADS NIG PLC. NT Real Estate Development PINNACLE POINT GROUP PLC NT UACN PROPERTY DEV 23.00 Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) SKYE SHELTER FUND PLC NT UNION HOMES REAL ESTATE INV 47.59 UPDC REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUST NT CONSUMER GOODS Automobiles/Auto Parts DN TYRE & RUBBER PLC NT Beverages--Brewers/Distillers CHAMPION BREW. PLC. 13.79 GOLDEN GUINEA BREW. PLC. 0.68 GUINNESS NIG PLC 180.00 INTERNATIONAL BREWERIES PLC. 25.00 JOS INT. BREWERIES PLC. NT NIGERIAN BREW. PLC. 149.00 PREMIER BREWERIES PLC NT Beverages--Non-Alcoholic 7-UP BOTTLING COMP. PLC. 82.00 Food Products BIG TREAT PLC NT DANGOTE FLOUR MILLS PLC 8.00 DANGOTE SUGAR REFINERY PLC 9.20 FLOUR MILLS NIG. PLC. 69.00 HONEYWELL FLOUR MILL PLC 3.77 MULTI-TREX INTEGRATED FOODS PLC 0.50 N NIG. FLOUR MILLS PLC. NT NATIONAL SALT CO. NIG. PLC 12.45 P S MANDRIDES & CO PLC. 5.35 U T C NIG. PLC. 0.51 UNION DICON SALT PLC. 14.11 Food Products--Diversified CADBURY NIGERIA PLC. 71.32 NESTLE NIGERIA PLC. 1,070.00 Household Durables BETA GLASS CO PLC. NT NIGERIAN ENAMELWARE PLC. NT VITAFOAM NIG PLC. 4.18 VONO PRODUCTS PLC. NT Personal/Household Products P Z CUSSONS NIGERIA PLC. 35.50 UNILEVER NIGERIA PLC. 48.68 Textiles/Apparel UNITED NIG. TEXTILES PLC. NT FINANCIAL SERVICES Banking ACCESS BANK PLC. 9.08 DIAMOND BANK PLC 6.53 ECOBANK TRANSNATIONAL INC. 13.00 FIDELITY BANK PLC 1.90 FIRST CITY MONUMENT BANK PLC. NT GUARANTY TRUST BANK PLC. 26.85 SKYE BANK PLC 3.66 STERLING BANK PLC. 2.20 U B A PLC 6.77 UNION BANK NIG.PLC. 10.19 UNITY BANK PLC 0.50 WEMA BANK PLC. 0.97 ZENITH BANK PLC 22.63 Insurance Carriers, Brokers & Services AFRICAN ALLIANCE INS. COY. PLC 0.50 AIICO INSURANCE PLC. 0.80 CONFIDENCE INSURANCE PLC NT CONSOLIDATED HALLMARK INS. PLC NT CONTINENTAL REINSURANCE PLC 1.04 CORNERSTONE INS. COY. PLC. 0.50 CUSTODIAN AND ALLIED INS. PLC NT EQUITY ASSURANCE PLC. NT GOLDLINK INSURANCE PLC NT GREAT NIGERIAN INSURANCE PLC NT GUINEA INSURANCE PLC. 0.50 INTERCONTINENTAL WAPIC INS. PLC NT INTERNATIONAL ENERGY INS. PLC 0.51 INVESTMENT AND ALLIED ARN. NT LASACO ASSURANCE PLC. NT LAW UNION AND ROCK INS. PLC. 0.50 LINKAGE ASSURANCE PLC 0.50 MANSARD INSURANCE PLC 2.34 MUTUAL BENEFITS ASSURANCE PLC. 0.50 N.E.M INSURANCE CO (NIG) PLC. 0.82 NIGER INSURANCE CO. PLC. 0.50 OASIS INSURANCE PLC 0.53 PRESTIGE ASSURANCE CO. PLC. 0.58 REGENCY ALLIANCE INS. COY PLC NT SOVEREIGN TRUST INSURANCE PLC 0.50 STACO INSURANCE PLC NT STANDARD TRUSTASSURANCE PLC NT STANDARD ALLIANCE INS. PLC. 0.50 UNIC INSURANCE PLC. NT UNITY KAPITAL ASSURANCE PLC 0.50 UNIVERSAL INS. COMPANY PLC 0.50 WAPIC INSURANCE PLC 0.79 Micro Finance Banks FORTIS MICROFINANCE BANK PLC NT NPF MICROFINANCE BANK PLC 0.95 Mortgage Carriers, Brokers &Services ABBEY BUILDING SOCIETY PLC 1.35 ASO SAVINGS AND LOANS PLC 0.50 INFINITY TRUST MORTGAGE BANK PLC 1.61 RESORT SAVINGS & LOANS PLC NT UNION HOMES SAVINGS&LOANS PLC NT Other Financial Institutions AFRICA PRUDENTIAL REGISTRARS 3.1 CUSTODIAN AND ALLIED INS. PLC 2.93 CRUSADER ( NIG) PLC. NT DEAP CAPITAL MGT & TRUST PLC NT FBN HOLDINGS PLC 13.03 FCMB GROUP PLC 3.70 ROYAL EXCHANGE PLC. 0.62 STANBIC IBTC HOLDINGS PLC 22.00 UBA CAPITAL PLC 2.31 HEALTHCARE Healthcare Providers

NOTE NT=Not Traded on 09-05-14

QUANTITY

500 309,298 717,379

52 WK HIGH

0.64 107.81 41.14

52 WK LOW

0.50 20.92 8.24

SHARES OUTSTANDING

2,200,000,000 476,955,000 1,000,000,000

EPS

0.10 2.29 7.55

MOV. (%)

N/A 5.46 -9.74

Previous

NT 33.50 39.00

100

4.26

4.26

60,000,000

0.00

N/A

NT

469,311

7.18

0.68

1,199,549,736

0.07

10.51

3.14

27,739 1,100 2,216 5 15,578,203 325,347

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

0.00 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

1.60 NT NT NT 3.42 57.00

8 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

257,587 3

2.66 14.46

0.72 14.46

920,573,765 125,000,000

0.00 0.00

N/A N/A

1.50 NT

121,411 3,000

83.75 10.60

19.86 6.61

1,200,000,000 20,000,000

6.74 1.69

-1.33 N/A

69.42 NT

NT 39,855,900

7.28 20.90

7.28 8.82

1,375,000,000

0.00 2.20

N/A -6.20

NT 24.52

30 330 29,000

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

NT NT NT

320,000

0.50

0.50

4,772,528,415

0.00

N/A

0.50

20 300 390,716 539,784 31,000 1,000,667 80

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 5.57 N/A N/A -1.32 N/A

13.79 NT 170.50 26.00 NT 151.00 NT

157,108

75.90

38.12

640,590,362

4.46

N/A

90.00

NT 2,248,925 935,695 423,960 506,780 837,076 1,050 6,916,809 2.08124,000 60,800 200

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 2.83 -0.65 0.83 2.17 N/A N/A 9.60 N/A -3.77 N/A

NT 7.78 9.26 68.43 3.69 0.50 22.01 11.36 NT 0.53 NT

127,122 75,147

64.53 1250.00

8.33 400.00

3,129,188,160 792,656,250

1.57 28.34

0.00 -0.19

71.32 1,072.00

NT NT 64,200 2,100

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 -2.79 N/A

NT NT 4.30 NT

557,767 344,526

56.00 76.00

21.02 27.60

3,176,381,636 3,783,296,250

1.34 1.42

-1.39 1.40

36.00 48.01

NT

0.97

0.57

843,284,027

0.00

N/A

NT

6,286,392 3,004,660 566,450 5,704,949 NA 16,714,187 12,550,728 4,218,396 1,199,654 1,420,672 1,002,800 2,240,594 54,013,665

12.39 7.85 17.51 3.47 8.30 29.99 7.05 3.05 9.60 15.30 1.16 1.88 27.40

4.70 1.92 9.90 1.13 3.04 13.02 2.65 0.80 1.64 2.34 0.50 0.50 11.96

17,888,251,479 14,475,243,105 9,873,614,567 28,974,797,023 16,271,192,202 29,146,482,209 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

1.61 1.71 3.67 0.68 0.60 3.08 0.97 0.63 1.70 0.44 0.18 0.00 3.30

5.70 3.98 0.00 0.00 #VALUE! -1.10 6.40 0.92 -1.60 1.90 0.00 -1.02 -0.31

8.59 6.28 13.00 1.90 NT 27.15 3.44 2.18 6.88 10.00 0.50 0.98 22.70

3,000 1,724,274 NT 840 2,102,300 301,850 9,054,578 160,000 NT 2,000 500 NT 588,335 NT 70 188 2,100 65,572 3,100 2,405,903 200 2,880,000 15,882 700 1,000 100 50,000 30,100 200 100 10,002,000 9,843,958

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 0.50 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 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 6,141,087,609

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 0.00

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 1.30 N/A 9.33 N/A N/A -3.33 N/A 0.00 N/A

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

NT 0.77 NT NT NT 0.50 NT 0.50 NT NT 0.50 NT 0.53 NT NT NT NT 2.31 0.50 0.75 0.50 NT 0.60 NT 0.50 NT NT NT NT 0.50 0.50 0.72

4,100 4,406,582

6.60 1.22

0.00 0.72

880 500 3,800 20,000,000 262

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 1.70

0.50 2.02 8.57 2.90 0.50 10.64 0.00

1,811,253 10,457,042 NT 30,000 21,309,463 8,371,559 100 2,047,501 14,860,211

N/A=Not Avialable

1.18 0.19

NT 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 0.29

N/A N/A -5.58 N/A -4.35

NT 0.50 1.61 NT 0.5 3 2.42 NT NT 13.80 3.55 NT 23.00 2.14

SECURITY

PRICE (=N=)

EKOCORP PLC. NT UNION DIAGNOSTIC &CLINICAL PLC NT Medical Supplies MORISON INDUSTRIES PLC. NT Pharmaceuticals EVANS MEDICAL PLC. 2.70 FIDSON HEALTHCARE PLC 2.36 GLAXO SMITHKLINE CONSUMER PLC 70.00 MAY & BAKER NIGERIA PLC. 1.70 NEIMETH INT PHARM PLC 1.23 NIGERIA-GERMAN CHEMICALS PLC. NT PHARMA-DEKO PLC. 1.57 ICT Computer Based Systems COURTEVILLE BUSINESS SLN PLC 0.71 Computers and Peripherals OMATEK VENTURES PLC 0.50 Electronic Communications Services MTECH COMMUNICATIONS PLC NT IT Services COMPUTER WAREHOUSE GROUP PLC 5.48 NCR (NIGERIA) PLC. NT TRIPPLE GEE AND COMPANY PLC. NT Processing Systems CHAMS PLC 0.50 E-TRANZACT INTERNATIONAL PLC NT Telecommunications Services MTI PLC NT INDUSTRIAL GOODS Building Materials AFRICAN PAINTS (NIGERIA) PLC. NT ASHAKA CEM PLC 20.09 BERGER PAINTS PLC 9.50 CAP PLC 39.00 CEMENT CO. OF NORTH.NIG. PLC 9.30 DANGOTE CEMENT PLC 224.00 DN MEYER PLC. 1.06 FIRST ALUMINIUM NIGERIA PLC 0.50 IPWA PLC 0.52 LAFARGE WAPCO PLC. 110.00 PAINTS & COATINGS MANFACT.PLC 1.56 PORTLAND PAINTS & PRDT NIG. PLC NT Electronic and Electrical Products AUSTIN LAZ & COMPANY PLC 2.00 CUTIX PLC. 1.80 NIGERIAN WIRE AND CABLE PLC. NT Packaging/Containers ABPLAST PRODUCTS PLC. NT AVON CROWNCAPS & CONTAINERS NT BETA GLASS CO PLC. 18.90 GREIF NIGERIA PLC NT NIG. BAGS MANFACT. COY PLC NT POLY PRODUCTS (NIG) PLC. NT W A GLASS IND. PLC. NT Tools and Machinery NIGERIAN ROPES PLC 7.46 STOKVIS NIG PLC. NT NATURAL RESOURCES Chemicals B.O.C. GASES PLC. 6.47 Metals ALUMACO PLC NT ALUMINIUM EXTRUSION IND. PLC. NT MINING SERVICES MULTIVERSE PLC NT Paper/Forest Products HALLMARK PAPER PRODUCTS PLC. NT THOMAS WYATT NIG. PLC. NT OIL AND GAS Energy Equipment and Services JAPAUL OIL & MARITIME SER. PLC 0.50 Integrated Oil and Gas Services OANDO PLC 16.00 Petroleum &Petroleum Products Distributors CONOIL PLC 49.20 ETERNA PLC. 3.61 FORTE OIL PLC. 148.99 MOBIL OIL NIG PLC. 135.87 MRS OIL NIGERIA PLC. 51.72 TOTAL NIGERIA PLC. 155.35 Exploration and Production SEPLAT PETROLEUM DEVT. CO, LTD. 682.33 SERVICES Advertising AFROMEDIA PLC NT Apparel Retailers LENNARDS (NIG) PLC. 3.31 Automobile/Auto Part Retailers R T BRISCOE PLC. 1.19 Courier/Freight/Delivery RED STAR EXPRESS PLC 4.51 TRANS-NATIONWIDE EXPRESS PLC. 2.13 Employment Solutions C & I LEASING PLC. 0.50 Hospitality TANTALIZERS PLC NT Hotels/Lodging CAPITAL HOTEL 4.55 IKEJA HOTEL PLC 0.63 Media/Entertainment DAAR COMMUNICATIONS PLC NT Printing/Publishing ACADEMY PRESS 1.8 LEARN AFRICA PLC 1.64 STUDIO PRESS (NIG) PLC. NT UNIVERSITY PRESS PLC. 3.97 Road Transportation ABC TRANSPORT PLCPLC 0.84 Specialty INTERLINKED TECHNOLOGIES PLC NT SECURE ELECTRONIC TECH.PLC NT Transport-Related Services AIRLINE SERVICES AND LOGISTICS PLC 2.24 NIG. AVIATION HANDLING COY PLC 5.07 ASeM CONSTRUCTION/REAL ESTATE Property Management SMART PRODUCTS NIGERIA PLC NT CONSUMER GOODS Food Products MCNICHOLS PLC 1.34 OIL AND GAS CAPITAL OIL PLC 0.5 NAVITUS ENERGY PLC 0.66 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 2,018.00 VETIVA GRIFFIN 30 ETF 17.5

52 WK HIGH

52 WK LOW

SHARES OUTSTANDING

EPS

1,000 4,000

5.05 0.50

4.32 0.50

498,600,908 3,553,138,528

0.13 0.00

QUANTITY

MOV. (%) N/A N/A

Previous NT 0.50

360

10.54

7.39

152,178,750

0.00

N/A

NT

162,300 3,222,790 42,835 319,850 23,500 50 500

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

9.76 -14.18 0.72 -4.49 4.24 N/A N/A

2.46 2.75 69.50 1.78 1.18 NT NT

22,600

0.96

0.50

2,960,000,000

0.11

0.00

0.71

600

0.50

0.50

2,941,789,472

0.00

N/A

NT

NT

0.91

0.91

4,966,666,668

0.00

N/A

NT

4,000 100 9,361

18.70 2.94

13.12 2.07

108,000,000 492,825,600

0.00 0.03

N/A N/A

5.48 NT NT

5,000 1,700

0.50 4.97

0.50 3.13

4,620,600,000 4,200,000,000

0.04 0.04

N/A N/A

0.50 NT

167611100

0.50

0.50

4,893,594,400

0.00

N/A

0.5

421 1,075,227 318,918 61,810 265,630 1,261,875 59,343 10,000 200,000 647,268 5,150 1,000

2.86 29.98 12.20 67.50 12.99 210.01 3.54 0.75 1.34 110.00 2.41 7.22

2.86 8.01 6.82 13.78 4.00 102.00 0.50 0.50 0.50 39.80 0.50 2.27

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 3,001,600,004 792,914,256 400,000,000

0.07 0.80 0.91 1.66 1.12 5.77 0.06 0.00 0.00 6.83 0.36 0.43

N/A 10.51 8.57 -3.35 0.54 -0.88 N/A N/A N/A 1.85 N/A N/A

NT 18.18 8.75 40.35 9.25 226.00 1.06 0.50 0.58 108.00 NT NT

1,000 30,678 500

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 -2.70 N/A

NT 1.85 NT

NT 1,406 7,502 130 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 NT 18.97 NT NT NT NT

80 NT

8.69 0.14

8.26 0.14

265,409,280 2,918,000

0.00 0.00

N/A N/A

NT NT

100

9.35

5.68

393,120,000

0.76

#VALUE!

NT

530 70

7.75 12.39

7.75 10.55

75,600,000 100,000,000

0.00 0.24

N/A N/A

NT 10.50

3,730

0.50

0.50

4,058,989,226

0.01

N/A

0.50

NT 43,412

3.22 1.38

3.22 0.67

50,000,000 220,000,000

0.04 0.00

N/A N/A

NT NT

25,000,000 683,974,528

728,350

1.02

0.50

6,262,701,716

0.00

0.00

0.50

4,259,581

24.80

9.32

2,262,711,568

1.24

0.63

15.90

20,989 11,100 312,842 362,240 11,200 28,055

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 0.00 18.15 N/A 1.44

49.20 3.61 148.99 115.00 51.72 153.14

200,761

28,677,671

200

0.72

0.50

10000

3.48

3.48

4,035,497,307

630.00

0.00

N/A

NT

0

N/A

3.31

1,562

2.45

1.00

980,294,400

0.00

4.39

1.14

84,300 10,150

5.10 3.45

2.19 0.73

589,496,310 198,819,763

0.52 0.00

8.41 N/A

4.16 NT

429,803

1.64

0.85

865,808,912

0.00

N/A

0.50

1,692

0.75

0.50

3,211,627,907

0.00

N/A

NT

10 43,640

1.72

0.64

2,078,796,396

0.00

0.00

0.63

50,000

0.51

0.50

8,000,000,000

0.43

N/A

NT

100 776,090 650 268,887

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 4.47

1.66 NT 3.80

503,000

1.29

0.50

1,507,000,000

0.21

N/A

0.80

5 96,008,864

5.15 1.88

4.90 0.80

236,699,511 5,631,539,736

0.00 0.00

N/A N/A

NT NT

71,817 1,942,231

5.90 8.81

1.27 5.08

634,000,000 1,230,468,750

0.50 0.43

N/A 11.18

2.14 4.56

60

1.43

1.04

45,000,000

0.12

N/A

NT

1,501,200

2.26

1.02

201,885,335

0.00

N/A

NT

NT

0.60

0.60

30,000,000

0.00

N/A

NT

250 1000

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 10

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

12 1020

1.51 49467

NT NT NT

1,988.00 17.5

A24 40

Business Courage

Monday, May 12, 2014

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Monday, May 12, 2014

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

41

Law & Justice nationalmirrorlaw@yahoo.com

“We should open our doors of doing substantial justice so that the lower courts can enter and do similar justice” –Justice Niki Tobi, retired Justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria

We need special courts to handle corruption cases –Ananaba 42

Balarabe Musa’s impeachment saga 45

Pakistan court bails out FBI agent 46

AGF, Mohammed Bello Adoke

Minister of Education, Mr Nyesom Wike

Chibok girls: FG, state govt liable –Lawyers About a month ago, more than 230 students of the Government Girls Secondary School, Chibok, Borno State, were abducted by the dreaded Boko Haram sect to the consternation of the nation and the whole world.

Against the growing campaign mounted on the government to ensure the girls regain their freedom, KAYODE KETEFE, Assistant Head, Judiciary Desk, examines the human rights issues involved along with the lawyers’ views on the remedies available to the victims.

O

ne of the saddest experiences in contemporary times in the country occurred on April 14, 2014 when over 230 girls were abducted from the Government Secondary School, Chibok Borno State by the Boko Haram terrorist group. The victims were alleged to have been taken to the expansive Sambiza forest nearby and held in captivity.

The development heightened the already tense atmosphere of insecurity in the land. Only 24 hours after, the same terrorist group bombed Nyanya Motor Park in Abuja where not less than 72 innocent commuters were killed and hundreds others were injured. This bombing was a prelude to another motor park bombing which occurred on May Day, (that is May, 1, 2014) and claimed yet another scores of lives.

Initial reports indicated that the girls or majority of them had been rescued by the Joint Task Force of the Nigerian Army which later turned out to be false

only went to escalate the frustration of the people.

Really, it was discovered that some of the girls who regained freedom actually escaped from the convoy of the vehicles of the terrorist when it was bogged down in the morass in the course of transporting the girls deep into the forest. So, there had not been rescue operation by the army as it was initially claimed.

As it became obvious that the majority of the girls are still in enemies’ hands Nigerians became increasingly alarmed.

After intense pressure being daily mounted by concerned Nigerians, the Nigerians in the Diaspora and the international

community, President Goodluck Jonathan, during the latest Presidential Media Chat, vowed to get the abducted youngsters released “Wherever the girls are, we are going to bring them back” said the President.

The agitations for the release of the girls have already spawned a rallying theme cum slogan “Bring Back Our Girls” under which several protests across cities in the country have been held.

Most Nigerians believe they have the right to expect protection from their government under the social contract theory under which they putatively surrendered some of their liberties to the state.

THE RELATIVES OF THE VICTIMS CAN SUCCEED IF THEY BRING ACTION AGAINST THE

NIGERIAN GOVERNMENT

FOR FAILURE TO PROVIDE PROTECTION UNDER BOTH OUR MUNICIPAL LAWS AND INTERNATIONAL TREATIES

More specifically, Under the Section 14 (2) (b) of the 1999 Constitution, it is stated that “Welfare and Security of the people shall be the primary purpose of governance” Thus when the expected protection is not forthcoming, people often talk of failure of governance and the concomitant question of remedies.

In the case of the abducted Chibok girls, the pertinent questions now is whether or not the girls, upon attainment of liberties, or their relatives, in any eventuality, can bring action to claim some form of compensation for their ordeals against the government.

Already, Lagos lawyer, Mr. Femi Falana (SAN) , has already disclosed he had been briefed by some of the relatives of the victims to take legal action on the enforcement of rights of the victims. This being the reason why Falana declined offer of membership of the Presidential Committee on the Abducted Girls.

National Mirror spoke with some other lawyers on the remedies available to the victims of this unfortunate incident after they must have regained their freedom or the remedies that can be pursued by their relatives on their behalf.

In his own opinion, Mr. Paul Ananaba (SAN) said “I don’t CONTINUED ON PAGE 44

42

Law & Justice

Monday, May 12, 2014

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

We need special courts to handle Mr. Paul Ananaba (SAN) is the immediate past Chairman, Electoral Committee, Nigerian Bar Association, (NBA) Ikeja branch. The amiable lawyer who was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1991 and became a Senior Advocate in 2012, also teaches at the Faculty of Law, Babcock University, Ilishan-Remo, Ogun State. In this interview with WALE IGBINTADE, he speaks on the just-concluded Ikeja Bar election, the legal education and re-training of judges among others. Excerpts: Your committee just concluded a successful election at the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Ikeja branch, as chairman of the electoral committee, what is the secret?

The election is just few days old and members of the Bar are almost unanimous in rating the election free, fair and credible. It is about the first time they really had a real election across the board. The secret is that when we were given the assignment, we knew that over the decades, our elections have always been turbulent and always pluralized the Bar with wide allegations. Most of the time, the disputes ended in courts. The first thing we did was that we ran to God and asked him to take control. We were determined to put our integrity on the line, to plan and ensure that as much as it is within our control, we ensured that we issue guidelines that are not biased. We issued guidelines that would be in accordance with law and we set out to do it despite our busy schedules. I can tell you that God blessed the efforts and for the first time in the history of election process in the NBA Ikeja branch, winners and losers embraced each other rather than embracing the court.

What are the challenges that your committee faced?

First, we don’t have all the funds and have to make a lot of sacrifices.

Secondly, there was scepticism that built up over the years. Therefore people thought it was going to be business as usual. The Bar laws for the election did not help matters and unfortunately the last election that went to court led to a term of settlement and a consent judgement that says payment of practising fee should not to be a condition for participating in the election.

This created a lot of problems. This is because by the Legal Practitioners’ Act, a lawyer who has not paid practising fee has committed a professional offence. Then, how will this person come to vote? In the national election, if you did not pay your practising fee, you are not a lawyer for that year. You cannot even show-up in any public event of NBA. Those were the major challenges we faced, the consent judgement of an Ikeja High Court was facing us but God gave us the wisdom to come out of it successfully.

Election to the national executive body of NBA is forthcoming. There are insinuations that Senior Advocates of Nigeria have hijacked the post of the presidency. How will you react to this?

The issue is that, by the rules, nobody has been disqualified from running for the president of the Nigerian Bar Association because he or she was not a senior advocate. The truth of

are far ahead of their colleagues that are not practising. Most lecturers who are limited to classroom may not know the practice of what they are teaching because there is a big difference between theory and practical. There are several things that you learn during practice that even Harvard University will not teach you. As a practitioner you know how to translate theory into practical. Law is to be practiced as a profession and not like many other courses in the university. In fact, our legal system is adversarial, by that I mean you will be appearing every day against other lawyers. So, a lot of practice is required and that is why even at the Law School more emphasis is placed on practising of law. Today, Law School turns out thousands of lawyers every year, when they come into practice, they come in into economy that is already saturated.

Ananaba

I AM OF THE VIEW THAT THE REGIONS OR THE ZONES AS WE HAVE NOW SHOULD HAVE THEIR OWN SUPREME COURTS AND COURTS OF APPEAL the matter is that, legal profession is a profession that respects privileges.

I have never heard of Nigerian Medical Association privileges’ committee, or that of engineers or accountants, not to talk of it being an Act of parliament. So, we are a peculiar noble profession, we have our precedents. When you see your seniors going to ask for something, if you have what it takes to say the seniors are not better qualified than you, then you can run.

Many people have criticised the delegates’ system of election adopted at the NBA national level. Do you agree?

Yes, the delegates are also elected from the branches but I could see the challenges you are canvassing. There is no one way of practising democracy, so I believe the delegates’ system is a new development. The Nigerian Bar has existed for over a 100 years and we are trying to respond to the society. The logistics of having our elections during our conferences rob-off the beauty of the conference. The delegates’ practice is an attempt to find a way to make our conferences better and to make our elections friendlier.

There are growing concerns, but I believe the association will look at it.

As a lecturer, how do you see the future of legal education in the country?

We all know about the plights and all kinds of challenges the Universities are facing presently which I believe the Federal Government is addressing. I won’t say that the training was better when we were in school, but the fact remains that more courses are being done now unlike before. To me, it is zeroed down to individual law faculty. I say this because some faculties have good lecturers while many do not. Then, the question is how many good lecturers can these universities attract? Again, should law lecturers also practice law? Most of my lecturers when I was in the university were in active legal practice.

The fact is that, you cannot compare lecturers that are in active practice to a lecturer who is limited to that classroom. Some private universities are in the habit of stopping law lecturers from practising. But, I have always said that I do not subscribe to that, because law lecturers that are practicing

What are your expectations from the ongoing National Conference?

There are so many expectations but basically the country has to be restructured. The judiciary and the law enforcement agents particularly in terms of legal reform are very necessary. Corruption must be attacked frontally. There should be courts designated to handle only corruption cases. Special courts that will look into economic and financial crimes should be set up. Look at the National Industrial Court today, labour disputes are promptly addressed. Labour disputes that would have stayed for five to seven years at the regular courts are speedily dealt with within four months at the National Industrial Court. So, if corruption cases are resolved speedily, people will know that if they commit any financial crime, the matter will be concluded within very short time.

As we speak, there are EFCC cases still pending in courts several years after they were filed against former governors. So, it’s like a parade, it doesn’t have the bite. I am of the view that the regions or the zones as we have now should have their own Supreme Court and Courts of Appeal. Unnecessary distractions have been going to the Supreme Court. I believe chieftaincy matters and interlocutory applications and the like should end at the regional Court of Appeal and Supreme Court. Only outstanding cases should be going to the Supreme Court, they should be matters of federal issues.

Before a matter goes to the Supreme Court, the criteria must be spelt out so that the Supreme Court can take 15 or 20 cases in a year.

So, when you appear before the Supreme Court you will know that you are appearing before the Apex Court.

Their judgements will be detailed and

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Law & Justice

Monday, May 12, 2014

43

corruption cases –Ananaba they will be expanding the law. Today, a matter from the Magistrate court will finds its way to the Supreme Court.

As I speak, I have cases that are up to seven years at the Supreme Court and we are yet to get a hearing date. Where then lies justice. I am not talking about the years we have spent to get to the Supreme Court but that the case has been before the apex court for seven years. So, how will people take the law seriously in this country? There are standing matters that should go to the Supreme Court.

Recently, the CJN, Justice Mariam Aloma Mukhtar advised members of the National Assembly to amend the constitution so that governorship election will terminate at the Court of Appeal. Do you agree with her?

Governorship election should terminate at the Court of Appeal. I have law reports of Southern States in America, so why should a governorship election go the Supreme Court to becloud what they are doing. But, if the governorship election has effect on the entire country because of the issues that have arisen then it should go to the Supreme Court. For example, if we have concluded elections and a governor emerged and a day to swearing-in into office, the governor became incapacitated. Dispute may arise out of it and there may not be precedent on it. But the issue of who has highest votes should terminate at the Court of Appeal.

How do you see the call by the CJN that judges should undergo training on information technology?

It is good and I support it wholeheartedly. We are doing it in Lagos and it started many years ago. If you get to Lagos courts you will see electronic recording machines. It saves us from a lot of injustice because what transpired in court can be played over again and it is not dependent on anybody.

It is not only the judges that should go for the training but all the judicial staff must be ICT compliance.

Why should I go to Abuja for a case only to discover that the court will not be sitting? It’s a waste of time and resources. The proper thing to do is that two days to the hearing of the case, the court registrar should send mails to counsel that the court will not be sitting and that case has been adjourned to another date.

The judge having studied the file tells his registrar to inform counsel what is expected of them and what they are to address the court on. If there is no proof of service in a matter, it is not a matter that all lawyers must get to court only to be told that there was no proof of service in the court’s file. A colleague is not coming to court; he sends a letter to the court and copies the other lawyer. And if the other lawyer has an objection he raises it and the court delivers online ruling on it saying ‘counsel if you are not

IT IS NOT ONLY THE JUDGES THAT SHOULD GO FOR THE ICT TRAINING BUT ALL THE JUDICIAL STAFF MUST BE ICT COMPLIANT

going to be available get a lawyer to represent you because the case must go on that day’. This will affect foreign investment in the country because many people will not like to invest in a country where their legal system is not conducive.

How do you see the problem of infrastructural decay in our courts?

Thank God for Lagos State, we have good facilities but they should be continually maintained. In Lagos State the complaints are not so much, so we must commend the state government.

In many others states, you will not like the courtrooms. The point is that anybody that has anything to do with the administration of justice should consider the judiciary first. What about Law reports and other materials that the judges should work with, are they there? It is a serious matter you have raised, I just pray that they will pay attention to our legal system. If our legal system is up and running, people will respect law and order in this country. This impunity will stop.

The legal profession has just lost one of the best jurists in the country, Justice Chukwudifu Oputa. How would you describe the late jurist?

He was one of the finest minds that have passed through the Bar and the Bench in this country. He was at various times referred to as the ‘Socrates of the Supreme Court’, the Cicero even though he was in the Supreme Court for just few years. Many other Supreme Court justices have passed away and nobody heard about them. Take up any of the judgements delivered by Justice Oputa you will know that he was of great mind. His high court decisions are still being respected even at the Supreme Court. Some even felt that he should have been given special leave to continue in Bench after retirement.

He is the Lord Denning of our time. He was my role model as a young lawyer.

His death is a big loss to the country.

I believe that the judges we have today have a lot to learn from the life and times of Justice Oputa.

Can you appraise our young lawyers today and their impatience to learn before setting up their law practice?

Their patience has dwindled and it is a flow from societal expectation.

Many of the young lawyers have been affected by societal expectations. The fact that you have qualified as a lawyer is enough for people to be making demands, nobody want to know what manner of lawyer. Many of the young lawyers don’t have the patience to learn and they are not willing to go through the stress of pupilage. So, what you see everywhere is ‘I am on my own’. Once you missed legal practice at early stages you will hardly do well as you go on.

So, majority of the blunders you see in legal practice today came from them.

Until about 1969, law practice in England was not examination- based profession. In fact, the first sets of lawyers in Nigeria were local attorneys, who were clerks to lawyers and after sometimes they were seen to be good enough to practice. But that tradition is going,

young ones don’t want to learn.

Will you say the pupilage you had assisted you to get to peak of your profession?

Sure, you cannot talk about my rise in the legal profession without talking about the law firms I did pupilage with.

They gave me opportunity to learn and practice and that is why I am in practice, I have also trained lots of lawyers.

But what you see is that many of them are not willing to learn, the first thing they ask is where is the money? But, the money will come when the practice is there, I am an exhibit of that.

If you know the practice and you have integrity, you have courage, you have candour the money will come. If you pursue money and leave the practice, it will show.

44

Law & Justice

Monday, May 12, 2014

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

‘Victims deserve medical attention, compensation’ think we have justiciable remedies, you know the Chapter Two of the 1999 Constitution is not justiciable. Let us not look at the remedies against the Federal Government at this time rather what we should look up to Federal Government for what it is up to do because the school where those students were abducted is a government school so, to that extent the government is obligation to protect these students.

“I want to enjoin the Federal Government to rescue those students on time because life is involved. We are not talking about money now rather, lives of young girls.”

The Chairman-elect of the Ikeja branch of the NBA, Mr. Yinka Farounbi, said, “When you look at the fact that those girls were in school – government school, when they were abducted, you would realise they were under recognised and constituted authority when they were taken; that means their safety devolved on authority and there was a breach of this duty to provide security.

“Secondly, as citizens of Nigeria, the girls are entitled to be protected, the government correspondingly has the duty to protect lives and property; the constitution says that welfare and security of the people is the primary purpose of government. There is failure on the part of the government on this. Furthermore, when you look at the security situation especially in that part of the country, it could be fairly said that government ought to have anticipated this kind of tragedies and put in place measures to thwart them. Going by all these, one can say that the government is “vicariously liable” to the victims for remedies” A former Second National Vice-President of the NBA, Mr. Adekunle Ojo, said,

Bar

Jokes

I am a divorce lawyer A guy walks into a post office one day to see a middle-aged, balding man standing at the counter methodically placing “Love” stamps on bright pink envelopes with hearts all over them.

He then takes out a perfume bottle and starts spraying scent all over them.

His curiosity getting the better of him, he goes up to the balding man and asks him what he is doing. The man says “I’m sending out 1,000 Valentine cards signed, ‘Guess who?’”

“But why?” asks the man. “I’m a divorce lawyer,” the man replies.

Honest lawyer?

Ojo

Farounbi

THERE IS NO GAINSAYING THE FACT THAT OUR GOVERNMENT HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO GIVE ADEQUATE PROTECTION TO THE CITIZENRY

“I think the government is responding to the issues on ground, the government has been docile and unduly docile as there is no impact felt by Nigerians from the government. There are certain things that may be beyond Nigerian’s government, and there is need to call on neighbouring countries for assistance, I am sure if the Israelis are involved in all of these things the girls would have been out by now.

“Talking about remedies, there should be medical attention to the abducted girls “My name is Bobby. What’s yours?” asked the first boy.

“Danny,” replied the second. “My Daddy’s an accountant. What does your Daddy do for a living?” asked Bobby.

Danny replied, “My Daddy’s a lawyer.”

“Honest?” asked Bobby.

“No, just the regular kind”, replied Danny.

Generous lawyer One day a lawyer was riding in his limousine when he saw a guy eating grass. He told the driver to stop. He got out and asked him, “Why are you eating grass?”

The man replied, “I’m so poor, I can’t afford anything thing to eat.”

So the lawyer said, “Poor guy, come back to my house.”

The guy says, “But I have a wife and three kids.” The lawyer told him to bring them along.

When they were all in the car, the poor man said, “Thanks for taking us back to your house; it is so kind of you.”

The lawyer replied, “You’re going to love it there... the grass is a foot tall!”

Two small boys, not yet old enough Culled from lots of jokes.com and to be in school, were overheard talklawyers jokes.com ing at the zoo one day.

because they would have gone through lots of things, so they have to be taken to a good Medical Hospital and the bill must be paid by the government, perhaps if there is anyone of them that suffers unnecessary injury, such person can be compensated. Although this is not a crime caused by the government, it is rather a situation that is not well-handled by the government. Apparently, it will not be the joy of any government that its area is being abused by the insurgents, but as things

are now, once the girls are out of the insurgents’ hands, government must give them medical attention. I think that should be enough compensation.”

Another lawyer, Mr. Wale Oladapo, said, “Nigerian government has primary right to protect all her citizens both young, adult, rich or poor, male or female. There is no gainsaying the fact that our government has not been able to give adequate protection to the citizenry. In the case of the abducted girls for instance we would not be speaking of abduction if the girls had been adequately protected in the government school where they were kidnapped. So I believe the relatives of the victims can succeed if they bring action against Nigerian government for failure to provide protection under both our municipal laws international treaties to which Nigeria is signatory. There is no injury without remedy”

LEGAL TIPS Limitation Law in Nigeria Limitation Law as the name implies requires that a law suit must be commenced within a specific period of time from when the injury or omission, causing the damage or loss, arose or occurred.

In Nigeria, the general legislation, which is a State one, is the Limitation Law. * The primary essence of having a Limitation Law is to ensure that all claims are diligently and promptly presented while the evidence in support of the claim, or the defence to a claim, is/are still available and the witness(es) memory is/are still fresh. *A further essence for the Limitation Law is to guarantee finality in litigation. * The effect of not commencing a law suit or judicial proceeding within the

period limited for bringing the law suit is that such a law suit or claim will be extinguished after the time limited for commencing the law suit has elapsed. * Ignorance of the statutorily provided period for bringing a legal action, while having knowledge of the injury or loss, will not be a defence to a claim that is already statute-barred.

Claims and Limitation Periods * There are various limitation period for different subject- matter claims. Actions based on simple contracts, recovery of debts and arrears of interest, tortuous malfeasance which includes damages for negligence or breach of a duty of care, account stated, must be commenced within a period of six (6) years of the occurrence of the injury,

loss or damage. * The limitation period for other kinds of action are:a) Twenty (20) years for a State Authority to bring an action to recover land. b) Twelve (12) years to make any claim arising from a deceased person’s personal estate. c) Two (2) years to recover any damages against concurrent wrongdoers under any civil liability enactment. d) Three (3) years to file a claim for damages arising from a slander, nuisance, breach of duty of care. e) Three (3) Months for actions against Public Officers.

Culled from Legal Alert at Proshare ng.com

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Law & Justice

Monday May 12, 2014

45

Balarabe Musa’s impeachment saga The first civilian Governor of Kaduna State in the Second Republic, Alhaji Balarabe Musa, was impeached while in office by the Kaduna State House of Assembly in 1981. Before his removal, he went to court and lost his bid to stop the proceedings that led to his exit from the Government House. FRANCIS FAMOROTI, Head, Judiciary writes.

FAMOUS CASES

A

lhaji Balarabe Musa was elected the first civilian Governor of Kaduna State during Nigeria’s Second Republic. He emerged the governor on the platform of the defunct Peoples’ Redemption Party (PRP), which was a minority party in the state House of Assembly. Barely one and half years in office, Musa was confronted with impeachment threat by the National Party of Nigeria (NPN) - dominated lawmakers in the state.

Specifically, some members of the state legislature had levelled allegations of gross misconduct against him and they sought to investigate these accusations by constituting a seven-man committee.

The document prepared by the then state legislature was entitled:’’ Notice of Allegation of guilt of Alhaji Balarabe Musa regarding his gross misconduct in the performance of the functions of his office as the Governor of Kaduna State.’’

On May 7, 1981, the state legislature served Musa a copy of the notice and thereafter on May 31 of the same year, the lawmakers resolved that the allegations be investigated by a committee of seven persons.

Few days after the Investigation Committee of the state House of Assembly invited the embattled governor to appear before its public sitting on June 10, 1981, Musa sought to enforce his fundamental rights under section 170 (2) and (6) of 1979 Constitution .

Through an ex parte application, he approached the Kaduna State High Court and asked for an order prohibiting the state House of Assembly and its Investigating Committee from proceeding with the investigation of the allegation levelled against him.

The suit filed by Musa came up for hearing before Justice V. J Chigbue of the Kaduna High Court on June 5, 1981. The judge on June 10, 1981 in his ruling granted the governor leave to file an order of prohibition but refused the application to stay the proceedings of the committee before the state House of Assembly.

Aggrieved by the court’s decision to turn down his application, Musa lodged a notice of appeal before the Court of Appeal, Kaduna division.

In the notice of appeal filed same June 10, 1981, the embattled governor asked for stay of proceedings of the Investigating Committee appointed by the Speaker of Kaduna State House of Assembly, Abubakar Dan-Musa purportedly in pursuance to section 170(5) of the 1979 Constitution pending the determination of the appeal lodged at the Appeal Court.

Musa was represented in court his lead counsel, Chief G.O.K Ajayi (SAN).

Balarabe Musa

The state House of Assembly however through its counsel, Mr. A. T Ajala filed a counter-affidavit in which the latter stated that the respondents had completed public sittings connected with the investigation of the gross misconduct against Musa on June 16, 1981.

Ajala also stated that the final address by counsel who conducted the investigation had been made by June 18, 1981 and that the respondents would make their findings on subsequent report to the state house of assembly.

Besides, Ajala averred in the counter-affidavit that the respondents were not put on notice and were not heard during the hearing and determination of the ex parte application. He also raised the issue that the subject matter of the case giving rise to the appeal by virtue of the provision of section 170(10) of the 1979 Constitution, was a matter which could not be entertained or questioned in any court.

The appellate court on June 29, 1981 in its ruling refused the prayer of the appellant asking for an interim stay of the proceedings of the Investigation Committee.

At the conclusion of the reading of the ruling, Ajayi argued the grounds of appeal filed against the refusal of the Kaduna State High Court to halt proceedings in the matter.

Arguing the appeal that the lower court misdirected itself in law, Ajayi said the trial judge was wrong to have ruled that it would ‘’ be inequitable at this stage to grant the applicant a stay of proceedings and further proceedings against the respondents.’’

The panel of appellate court who heard the appeal included, Justices Adenekan Ademola, Adolphus Karibi-Whyte and Maidam.

In the lead judgement delivered by Jus-

Dan-Musa

MUSA ASKED FOR AN ORDER PROHIBITING THE STATE OF

HOUSE

ASSEMBLY AND

ITS INVESTIGATING COMMITTEE FROM PROCEEDING WITH THE INVESTIGATION OF THE ALLEGATION LEVELLED AGAINST HIM.

tice Ademola, the appellate court declared that there was no provision in the 1979 Constitution to state that the jurisdiction of the high court to issue prerogative orders had been taken away.

According to the court, ‘’Mr. Ajayi is quite correct in his submission that the learned judge has taken into consideration matters which are irrelevant in his refusal of stay of proceedings. ‘’ Justice Ademola stated ‘’The cross appeal raises the issue of whether the high court or any court for that matter has jurisdiction to entertain or determine any matter in relation to anything done under section 170 of the 1979 Constitution about the removal of the appellant from office as the Governor of Kaduna State.

The appellate court said in Nigeria under section 170 of the 1979 Constitution, popularly termed the impeachment section, ‘’the whole exercise is begun by

members of the House. Even the Speaker who appoints the committee of seven persons to investigate the allegations against the Governor or his deputy must have the approval of members of the House for his nominees.’’

Justice Ademola said ‘’it is a trial by the legislative organs of the State and the law it administers is lex Parliamenti, as section 170(11) lays down; such a law is hardly the ordinary law the normal courts administer.

The judgment the House give is a legislative judgment.’’

He said that the obvious end that section 170 of the 1979 Constitution was designed to serve was that the Governor or his deputy could only be removed by the act and doings of the legislature and subsection 10 forbids interference with any proceedings of the house or its committee in that regards.

Justice Ademola stated that it followed from this premise that no court could entertain any proceedings or question the determination of the House or its committee on the issue.

The appellate court said Musa’s appeal therefore failed and that of the committee of the Kaduna State House of Assembly succeeded.

Although Justice Karibi-Whyte delivered a separate verdict but he concurred with the lead opinion which was also endorsed by Justice Maidam.

Musa eventually failed in his bid to prohibit the proceedings of the committee and he was adjudged guilty of gross misconduct and accordingly removed from office by the House 33 years ago. He became the first civilian governor- ever to be so impeached in the country’s political history.

Today, Musa has continued to be active in politics.

46

Law & Justice

Monday May 12, 2014

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

People- oriented constitution: Task before the National Conference OLISA AGBAKOBA AND CHINEDU NNEKE

Pakistan court bails T out FBI agent

his year, Nigeria celebrated 100 years of existence as a political entity. Also this year, the President convened a National Conference to deliberate and find solution to Nigeria’s Constitutional problems. These are actually problems confronting Nigeria since it came into existence in 1914. The root of the problem is that Nigeria is a plural, diverse and divided state. We have three major fault lines, which are ethnicity, religion and language.

In its 100 years of existence, Nigeria has never confronted the challenges posed by these 3 major fault lines, by enacting a genuine Peoples’ Constitution. Peoples’ Constitution is about an agreed framework for co-existence among our diverse ethnic nationalities. Unity is our key challenge.

And Federalism is the only known political system that accommodates divisions and diversity.

PAKISTAN

A

Pakistani court released an American on bail that the U.S. had identified as an FBI agent, police said.

According to AP, the court directed the man to submit a surety bond of one million rupees ($9,800) for his bail, police officer Rao Anwaar said.

The police had detained the American on May 5 at an airport in Pakistan’s southern city of Karachi after seizing ammunition and three knives from him.

The American arrived in Karachi on May 1 and was detained lastweek when he was about to board a flight for Islamabad, Anwaar has said. He said officials found the man also carrying electronic devices that were being examined.

A law enforcement official in the U.S. identified the man as an FBI agent and said he was in Pakistan as part of a multi-agency, anti-corruption program.

The official said the agent appeared to have made a mistake and that there’s no indication he was trying to carry bullets aboard the plane. The official said authorities are hopeful the situation will be resolved soon with the agent’s release.

The official, who did not provide the agent’s name or age, spoke on condition of anonymity because of the diplomatic sensitivities of the case.

Nawaz Sharif

U.S. State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki confirmed the detention Wednesday and said the U.S. was coordinating with Pakistani authorities to resolve the matter.

Washington needs Pakistan’s help fighting al-Qaida and stabilizing neighbouring Afghanistan, as NATO uses Pakistani roads to supply its troops.

However, relations have strained over a series of incidents. CIA contractor Raymond Davis shot and killed two Pakistani men in Lahore in January 2011.

The U.S. unilaterally killed Osama bin Laden in the Pakistani city of Abbottabad in May 2011 and American forces accidentally killed 24 Pakistani troops along the Afghan border the same year.

U.S. drones strikes in the country also have angered Pakistanis.

‘My Lord, I can’t start this case’

T

he very first case that I handled was a case that has to do with stealing. It was before an Ikeja High Court. The Director of Public Prosecutions just gave me the file and I have not read it properly.

The DPP directed me to go to the court and ask for an adjournment because the witnesses were not ready.

“So, I went to court and just told the Judge that I am here on behalf of the DPP and that the DPP says I should tell you that the witnesses are not ready and he wants an adjournment. The Judge said to me ‘you are not serious. Have you got the file with you?’ I said yes. Then I assume that you have read that file, start the case now, the judge ordered” “I said my Lord I can’t start this case but the judge said ‘anytime they gave you a file as far as I am concerned you have read the file and must know what is in the file. I said My Lord, I know what is in the

file but I have no witness in court. Then the judge said if you can’t start the case then, I may have to release the accused person. I pleaded with Judge to give me just two days and that I will make sure I have the witnesses in court. The judge said okay Mr. Sasegbon but don’t come to my court again to say somebody sent you to say something. I said thank you my lord and I left.”

Deji Sasegbon

Remodelling Nigeria’s Centralized Federalism to a Balanced Federalism Nigeria is one of the 28 countries in the world that practise different models of federalism. The problem with Nigerian model is that power is too centralised. Nigeria consists of 802 Governments made up of 774 Local Governments, 36 State Governments, and 1 Federal Government. Exercise of Legislative Power between Federal and State Government is divided into Exclusive and Concurrent Legislative Lists.

The Federal Government exercises power over 68 items on the Exclusive List and 30 items on the Concurrent List. The State may exercise power on the Concurrent List only if the Federal Government has not already ‘covered the field’ in any of the 30 items. In effect all the other 801 Governments are in combination weaker than the

NIGERIA IS ONE OF THE 28 COUNTRIES IN THE WORLD THAT PRACTISE DIFFERENT

MODELS OF FEDERALISM Federal Government. Thus under the present Constitution, Nigeria is a federation of excessively strong Federal Government where the States actually exercise power at the pleasure of Federal Government.

Another feature of Nigeria’s Centralized Federation is the excessive Revenue Power of the Federal Government. Presently the Federal Government collects 97% of revenue accruing to Nigeria. This is one of the most extreme cases of Centralised Revenue Power, second only to Venezuela’s 98%.

A balanced federal system is not attainable under the present Constitution.

Therefore, there is urgent need to remodel our centralized federation to a balanced federation, by massively devolving powers to the States and also create a balance between the Revenue Powers of the Federal and State Governments. This is the task before the National Conference.

How to Devolve and Share Power between Federal Government and the States The powers that need to be devolved or shared between Federal and State Government are Technical and Political in nature. Technical Powers are those that seem more relevant to the States than the Federal Government in which the States will be more efficient than the Federal Government. For Example, States are better able to manage the following items than the Federal Government: agriculture, micro finance banks, solemnization of marriages, regulation of labour and industrial relations at state level including prescription of minimum wage for the state, incorporation of business enterprises with state objects, taxes on income and profits within the State other than Income and Profits of Companies, trade within states. On the other hand, Political Powers, such as police, election, judiciary, etc. may be more difficult to deal with; as it is perceived to mean exercise of political control. As a result, the concept of shared or joint power will help to resolve Political Powers.

A massive devolution and sharing of powers, as prescribed, will result into a new list of Legislative powers divided into, (1) Federal Legislative Lists, for powers exclusive to the Federal Government, (2) State Legislative Lists, for powers exclusive to States, (3) Concurrent or Shared powers between Federal and State Governments, and (4) Residual powers for States.

How to attain Fiscal Federalism and balanced Revenue Sharing Fiscal Federalism is crucial for the functioning of the Federal system. In fact it is one of the key features of Balanced Federalism. It is therefore very important to create a balance between the Federal and State Governments in Revenue generation, sharing and spending.

The General principle is to rebase the Revenue Power by (1) Transferring ownership of certain resources to States, (2) Reallocating some taxation to States; and (3) Re-allocating money to States as a result of major re-allocation of power from Federal to State Governments.

For example (1) review of Land Administration within the framework of the Land Use Act, but with ownership returning to original owners, and (2) review of Tax Administration so VAT, for example is State and not Federal Tax. Conclusion Constitution making is not easy. Sometimes it threatens the comfort zones of Political Elites. Also history shows that Constitution making/amendment in Nigeria has been regarded as an event. But it is a process. All past events of amendment of the 1999 Constitution failed. The 1st success was when the 6th National Assembly adopted the Process Approach and enacted 3 Amendments. The National Conference is advised to adopt the Process Approach in order to succeed. It is also important to accommodate all concerns in order to achieve a balanced Federal Constitution.

Dr. Agbakoba (SAN) and Nneke are of Olisa Agbakoba & Associates, Lagos.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Monday May 12, 2014

Critique of Land Use Act THE ADVOCATE OLUGBEMI FATULA

08037213732 (sms only) E-mail: afribic@yahoo.com

B

efore the Nigerian Land Use Act in 1978 was promulgated, insecurity of title to land characterised landholding system in Nigeria. There was no encompassing and comprehensive law dealing with security of title to land in Nigeria. Particularly the system of customary land tenure operating in the south encouraged fraudulent practices.

The expectation was that by the promulgation of the Act, the customary and individual land holding/tenurial arrangements, which had been identified as impediment to agricultural modernization and economic development in Nigeria would be eliminated. Again the Act was also expected to enable the citizenry, irrespective of social status to realise the aspiration of owning the land to live a secure and peaceful life and that government would no more encounter problems in acquiring land for public purposes.

The general view however is that the Act has not made any appreciable impacts on access to land by individuals, communities and government for national integration and developmental purposes. The expropriatory and confiscatory nature of the Land Use Act can also not be denied.

As a result of these, several calls for its amendments or total repeal have been made and official steps are being taken in that regard by the National Assembly.

The administration of the Land Use Act has been choked by bureaucratic bottlenecks and obstacles.

The Act has not had any appreciable impacts on access to land. Most applications for certificates of occupancy are in respect of land acquired through private sale. Nigerians still find it extremely difficult to acquire land through the official channels in states other than their own state of origin.

The Act has not made access to land easier. On the contrary, land transactions

have become more cumbersome. The effect of the Land Use Act has therefore been rather negative than positive.

The expropriatory and confiscatory nature of the Land Use Act cannot be denied. The Act has divested individuals, corporations and communities of their ownership of land and has left them with a bare right of occupancy.

The lofty hope in the second stanza of the preamble that the rights of all Nigerians to use and enjoy land in Nigeria and the natural fruits thereof in sufficient quantity to enable them provide for the sustenance of themselves and their families be assured, protected and preserved or in section 1 that all land be held in trust and administered for the use and common benefit of all Nigerians‌ has been nothing but a forlorn hope.

The limit of land allowed by section 34(5) and (6) of the Act has been totally ignored and that nowadays land is less available to the ordinary Nigerians than it was before the promulgation of the Land Use Act. The allocation policy of the various governments, has been scandalous. The Land Use and Allocation Committee, which is supposed to make recommendations on these matters, is no more than an appendage of the Governors and merely endorsed lists approved by them.

Allocation of land was hardly made to the low-income earners. No govern-

THE ADMINISTRATION OF

LAND USE ACT HAS THE

BEEN CHOKED

BY BUREAU-

CRATIC BOTTLENECKS

AND OBSTACLES

ment has yet earmarked a percentage of land available for allocation to this category of Nigerians as a deliberate policy, nor has there been allocation to community or family that previously owned the land now acquired by the government. The combination of factors arising from zeal attending the generation of internal revenue by state governments has put land beyond the reach of the ordinary Nigerians. A policy which expects all applicants for land allocation to pay a non-refundable fee of N50, 00 or more does not reckon with the minimum wage earned by Nigeria workers the ground rent charged for allocation of land is indeed beyond the reach of most Nigerians.

Again, the adoption of the Act has posed a lot of problems for mining companies including oil and gas companies who are in a dilemma over who they should pay rent or compensation for use of land on which a mining lease is to be enjoyed or an oil pipeline is to be constructed.

Section 44(3) of the 1999 Constitution, the Government of the Federation of Nigeria exercises exclusive control over all minerals including oil and gas found upon or under the land of Nigeria or within her territorial waters.

This is the root of discord in the Niger Delta.

In the Western world, ownership of minerals such as oil and gas resources resides in the individual who owns the land harbouring such minerals with rights in respect of petroleum being treated as rights in property law quic quid plantatur solo solo cedit (Latin for “what is upon or within the land is part of it). The state of Texas in the United States is an example of where the theory of absolute ownership by individuals is well recognised and applied. A law that allows the owner of a piece of land to be the beneficial owner of whatever is lying underneath the land would have prevented the type of problem in the Niger Delta region of the country.

Law & Justice

47

EVENTS

L-R: Former Attorney-General of Lagos State, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo (SAN), Mrs. Atinuke Aka-Bashorun and Mr. Dele Adesina (SAN) at the 2014 Nigerian Bar Association Law week in Lagos recently.

PHOTOS: SAMUEL ADETIMEHIN

L-R: Former Chairman, NBA, Ikeja Branch, Chief Oladosu Ogunniyi; Major Debo Bashorun (rtd.) and Mohammed Fawehinmi.

Mr. Debo Adeniran and Mr. Biodun Owonikoko, (SAN) at the event.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

48

Monday May 12, 2014

Community Mirror We are working hard to build not just coastal roads but also a coastal railway system, road alone wouldn’t solve our problems.

PRESIDENT GOODLUCK JONATHAN

Father jailed for attempt to sell son HAKEEM GBADAMOSI AKURE

A

Magistrate Court sitting in Akure, Ondo State capital has sentenced three Beninoise to three years in prison each without option of fine for attempt to sell a 13 yearold boy.

The three which in-

clude, father of the victim, Kareem Saibu, Abdullateef Mumuni, and Kadir Rasaq, were earlier arraigned on a two-count charge of conspiracy and attempt to sell human being which they pleaded guilty.

The accused committed the offence in Ondo town as this contravene the provisions of Sec-

tions 516 of the Criminal Code cap 37 vol.1 laws of Ondo State of Nigeria, 2006 and contrary to section 30 (1) and punishable under section 30 (3) of the Ondo State Child Right Laws,2007.

Earlier, the prosecutor, Zakari Ibrahim, had told the court that father of the victim, and

two others conspired to sell the boy for N8 million.

Ibrahim explained that the boy was bought from Cotonou in Benin Republic to Nigeria, where the father who lives in Ibadan conspired with others to sell his child.

According to him,

the three accused were arrested in Ondo after contacting someone who promised to buy the young boy but informed the police of the criminal act.

He said “Their contact in Ondo pretended to be interested and kept negotiating with them until the police arrived the scene.”

However counsel to the accused persons,

Femi Adetoye, pleaded with the court to be lenient with his clients.

In his judgement, Chief Magistrate, Mr Adebanji Ayeomoni said “Having found the three accused persons guilty on the two counts of conspiracy and attempt to sell a human being, they are hereby sentenced to three years imprisonment each without option of fine.”

Man, five others killed in Ibadan flood KEMI OLAITAN IBADAN

T Patients waiting for free medical treatment organised by Hon. Aishatu Dahiru at the Federal Medical Centre in Yola, Adamawa State

Pastor arraigned for accommodation scam

T

he Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC,has arraigned a pastor, Mr. Peter Nwogu, in court for defrauding accommodation seekers of N52.3 million.

Reports have it that the 52-year-old is being prosecuted before Justice Sedoten Ogunsanya at an Ikeja High Court in Lagos.

The commission, had on March 18, arraigned Nwogu for the alleged offence and he was remanded at the Kirikiri Maximum Prison.

During the proceedings, the EFCC counsel, Mrs Olubunmi Bosede, called three witnesses to testify against the accused.

Testifying, Mrs Vivian Obinabo, an estate surveyor and valuer, told the court how the accused defrauded

her clients of money between July and August 2013.

Obinabo, said Nwogu placed advertisements for lease of properties in some newspapers using his organisation, Christian Defence Fellowship and Business Defence Solutions Limited.

She said Nwogu posed as owner of the property situated at No.6 Gerard Road and No.6 Olawale Dawodu St. both in Ikoyi.

Obinabo said: ``the accused scheduled a meeting between us and came in a convoy of mobile policemen.My clients, which included Manuchar Trading Company Ltd, Sony Flying Dove Ltd, Akintola Williams Delliote and Associated Press inspected the properties.

They expressed interest and demanded for a copy of the tenancy agreement before making payments,” she said.

According to her, Nwogu obtained a total of N52.3 million from her clients as payments for rent and other sundry charges.

The witness said it was after that she discovered that the accused was not the owner of both properties.

She said this prompted her to petition the EFCC which eventually arrested Nwogu.

Also testifying, Mr Titus Olatunbosun, Property Manager of CSM Realtors, confirmed that his firm was owner of the property allegedly used by Nwogu to defraud his victims.

Olatunbosun ,said the

property was a block of apartments located at No.6 Olawale Dawodu St. in Ikoyi which was under renovation at the time of the incident.

In his testimony, Mr Kehinde Ogundehin, Assistant Marketing Manager, YM Construction Ltd, said his company owned the other property used by Nwogu for the scam.

Ogundehin said the property was a high-rise building at No.6 Gerard Road, Ikoyi and was under construction by his company.

The witnesses insisted that their firms did not authorise the accused or any other person to lease or sell the said properties on their behalf. The matter was adjourned till June 2 for trial.

he city of Ibadan has recorded another tragedy, as a middle-aged man was killed in flood that followed a torrential rain.

In a scenario akin to the August 26, 2011 flood in which hundreds of people were killed,the man, simply identified as Ayuba, and five others were swept away in a canal at Dandaru area of Queen Elizabeth Road.

Community Mirror gathered that the deceased, who was said to be sleeping at the bank of

the canal with five others, was discovered dangling under the bridge, even as fire fighters pulled out the lifeless body when the flood receded.

An eye witness, Koyejo Akande, said “I usually see Ayuba while washing, fishing and playing here. I knew him through a friend of mine.

His mother has died, but he was staying with his grandmother at Iwo Road.

“The grandmother is popularly called ‘Alhaja Olounje’ at Iwo Road.

Unfortunately the friend who knows the shop of Alhaja is not here now”.

Husband kills wife over bush meat

A

30-year-old man, Ambrose Anthony, has appeared before a Jalingo Chief Magistrates’ Court for allegedly killing his wife, Helen following a disagreement over bush meat.

Anthony, 30, of Yorro Area in Taraba, was charged with culpable homicide contrary to Section 221 of the penal code.

Police prosecutor, Mela Joseph said that the incident occurred on April 7, 2014.

He told the court that the accused hit his wife with

firewood for failure to account for the bush meat he bought from a village market.

He said the injuries led to her death while on admission at the General Hospital, Zing.

He pleaded with the court to adjourn the case to enable the police conclude investigations in the case.

No plea was taken, while the Magistrate, Victoria Barnabas, adjourned the case till May 20, and remanded the accused in prison custody.

Monday, May 12, 2014

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

49

World News

Rebels plan splitting Ukraine as East votes on self-rule

We are happy to see that China is concentrating on the real issues of development. They don’t give lectures on how to run local governments and other issues I don’t want to mention.

50

PAUL ARHEWE

WITH AGENCY REPORTS

A

t least 40 migrants drowned when their boat sank off the Libyan coast earlier this week, officials said, following the recovery of more bodies yesterday.

The navy said it rescued 52 people when the boat sank on Tuesday, but survivors say there were 130 people on board.

On Saturday Libya’s interior minister urged the European Union (EU) to do more to help stem the tide of migrants.

Libya is the preferred crossing point for many African migrants trying to enter the EU. Libyan navy spokesman Ayoub Kassem told the BBC that the boat capsized about 4km (2.5 miles) out to sea near the Libyan coastal town of Garabouli.

The bottom of the boat had collapsed, causing it to capsize, he said. At least 54 people remain missing, he added.

On Sunday 24 more bodies were recovered from the sea near Garabouli, bringing the death toll to 36.

Kassem added that the migrants were from various sub-Saharan African countries including Mali, Cameroon, Ghana, Gambia and Burkina Faso.

S

outh Sudan’s army and rebel forces blamed each other yesterday for violating a ceasefire hours after it came into effect, fighting that will frustrate international mediators who had pressured both sides to stop the ethnic-fuelled conflict.

A U.N. official confirmed there had been fighting in the area of the flashpoint town of Bentiu, saying shooting came from both sides. Both army and rebels also reported clashes elsewhere.

President Salva Kiir and rebel commander Riek Machar met face to face on Friday to sign the ceasefire deal - the second time the two sides have promised to stop fighting after an accord in January swiftly collapsed.

All fighting was supposed to stop 24 hours after the signing late on Friday.

Clashes erupted in South Sudan in December after months of tensions sparked by Kiir’s decision in July to sack

–UGANDAN PRESIDENT, YOWERI MUSEVENI

Libyan boat capsizes, 40 migrants killed

WORLD BULLETIN Egypt charges 200 Islamist militants with bombings, other violence Egypt’s public prosecutor has charged 200 suspected Islamist militants with “founding, leading and joining a terrorist organisation” and launching bomb and rocket attacks across the country.

The accused belong to Ansar Bayt al-Maqdis, or Supporters of Jerusalem, a group that has claimed some of the deadliest attacks of the last nine months and is listed as a terrorist organisation by the United States.

The prosecutor’s statement said 102 of those charged were in government custody with the rest on the run.

Militant violence has spiraled in the Sinai Peninsula, Cairo and other cities since the army toppled Islamist president Mohamed Mursi last July after mass protests against his rule.

L-R: CNN International correspondent, Christiane Amanpour and British Prime Minister David Cameron join the ‘Bring Back Our Girls’ campaign

The search continues for the remaining passengers.

Interior Minister Saleh Mazek said on Saturday that Libya could not cope with the amount of migrants arriving from sub-Saharan Africa.

He warned the EU that if it did not “shoulder its responsibility”, then Libya may help the migrants to reach Europe.

The Libyan government has since issued a statement saying

that it would continue to cooperate with all partners in order to stop illegal immigration.

Libya has been plagued by instability since armed groups toppled Muammar Gaddafi’s regime in 2011.

South Sudan’s army, rebels blame each other for breaking ceasefire his long time rival Machar from the post of deputy president.

The conflict threatens to tear apart a nation that only became independent from Sudan in 2011. Deep ethnic divisions are partly to blame for the violence, which pits Kiir’s Dinka people against the Nuer of Machar.

South Sudanese army spokesman Philip Aguer said his forces had been attacked in two positions in oil-producing Unity State, one of them near Bentiu, where an ethnic massacre in April raised worries of a potential genocide.

“They attacked only six hours after the ceasefire came into effect,” Aguer told Reuters, although he said the government’s SPLA army was able to repulse both assaults.

CAR’s Seleka rebels pick new commander, plan to regroup Central African Republic’s former Seleka rebel coalition has appointed a new army commander and plans to regroup its scattered fighters, a spokesman said, a move that could further deepen divisions in the war-torn country.

The former French colony descended into chaos after the mostly Muslim Seleka rebels seized power in March last year and their abuses against the majority Christian population set off a wave of revenge attacks, killing thousands.

China signs mega east Africa rail deal China yesterday signed a deal to build a $3.8 billion rail link between Kenya’s Indian Ocean port of Mombasa and Nairobi, the first stage of a line that will eventually link Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi and South Sudan.

Under the terms of the agreement, Exim Bank of China will provide 90 percent of the cost to replace the crumbling British colonialera line with a 609.3 kilometre (379 mile) standard-gauge link and Kenya the remaining 10 percent.

Construction is due to start in October and take three-and-a-half years to complete, with China Communications Construction Co. as the main contractor.

Once the Mombasa-Nairobi line is completed, construction would begin to link east Africa’s largest economy with Kampala, Kigali, Bujumbura and Juba.

Machar

50

World News

WORLD BULLETIN

Suicide bomber kills 11 people in latest Yemen violence A suicide car bomber killed 10 Yemeni soldiers and one civilian and wounded many others yesterday after targeting a military police building in the southern coastal city of Mukallah, state news agency Saba said.

The blast appeared to be a revenge attack by al Qaeda over the Yemeni army’s campaign to crush Islamist insurgents in two large southern provinces.

This has ousted many militants from towns they first seized during mass unrest in 2011 that jeopardized national security and posed a serious threat to major oil producer Saudi Arabia next door.

Rescuers picked through the rubble of the two-storey building to search for survivors from the blast, which hit the complex as the soldiers were having lunch, a local security official told Reuters.

“We cannot tell the wounded from the dead,” the official said.

Saba cited a security source as saying 15 soldiers were wounded in the attack.

Residents said ambulances had been evacuating the wounded from the scene of the blast which had sent shrapnel flying into nearby residential buildings.

“It was a strong explosion and it shook Mukallah,” resident Salah al-Hamawi told Reuters by telephone.

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Rebels plan of splitting Ukraine as East votes on self-rule

P

ro-Moscow rebels pressed ahead with a referendum on self-rule in east Ukraine yesterday and fighting flared anew in a conflict that could dismember the country and pitch Russia and the West into a new Cold War. With voting still going on, one separatist leader said the region would form its own state bodies and military after the referendum, formalizing a split that began with the armed takeover of state buildings in a dozen eastern towns last month.

Another said the vote would not change the region’s status, but simply show that the East wanted to decide its own fate, whether in Ukraine, on its own or as part of Russia.

A near festive atmosphere at makeshift polling stations in some areas belied the potentially grave implications of the event.

In others, clashes broke out between separatists and troops, over ballot papers and control of a television tower.

Zhenya Denyesh, a 20-year-old student, was second to vote at a concrete three-storey university

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PUBLIC NOTICE

OGO-MIDE CHERUBIM AND SERAPHIM CHURCH

The general public is hereby notified that the above mentioned CHURCH has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for registration in accordance with Part C of the Companies and Allied Matters Act LFN (cap 20)

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. Adenigbagbe Ademurewa Gabriel 2. Odeyemi Moses Adewuyi 3. Ogunjimi Johnson Oluwole 4 Olowe Jeremiah Oladunjoye 5 Raji Benjamin

THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES:

1. To preach the gospel.

2. To spread the goods news by the way of drama, movies, books and as well serve principally as an outreach arm 3. To promote unity amongst Christian 4. To set the captives free and direct their thought, act and general behavior unto thing that are pure and Godly.

Any objection should be forwarded to the Registrar-General, Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420 Tigris Crescent, Off Aguiyi Irosi Street, Maitama, Abuja within 21 days of this publication.

SIGNED: BARRISTER DOSU BABATUNDE 08037260127

A Ukrainian woman casts her vote at a polling station in the Budennovskiy district, outskirts of Donetsk, Ukraine, yesterday.

Mariupol, scene of fierce fighting last week, there were only eight polling centres for a population of half a million. Queues grew to hundreds of meters in bright sunshine, with spirits high as one centre overflowed and ballot boxes were brought onto the street.

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building in the rebel stronghold of Slaviansk. “I wanted to come as early as I could,” he said. “We all want to live in our own country.”

Asked what he thought would follow the vote, organized by rebels in a matter of weeks, he said: “It will still be war.”

In the southeastern port of

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POWER OF PRAISE CHURCH

This is to inform the general public that the above named Church has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for registration under the Companies and Allied Matters Act No. 1 of 1990 Part “C”

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. Mrs. Deborah Ifeyinwa Nwozor 2. Pst. Dr. Cyril Nwozor 3. Dr. Obike Jones Ogwo 4.Engr. Obinna Nwozor 5. Mrs. Fidelia Onunkwo 6. Mrs. Kate Nweke-

- Chairman

Secretary

THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: 1. To preach the gospel to all Nations.

2. To teach the undiluted gospel of our Lord Jesus without hypocrisy.

Any objection to the registration should be forwarded to the Registrar- General Corporate Affairs Commission Plot 420, Tigris Crescent, off Aguiyi Ironsi Street Maitama, Abuja within 28 days of this publication.

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Yes votes, and detained two men.

They refused to hand the men over to policemen who came to take them away, saying they did not trust them. Instead they waited for state security officers to interview and arrest them.

On the edge of Slaviansk, fighting broke out around a television tower shortly before people began making their way through barricades of felled trees, tires and machinery for a vote Western leaders say is being orchestrated

by Moscow.

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This is to inform the general public that O’NEAL WELLNESS SERVICE located at No.1 Babatunde Street, Off Ogunlana Drive, Surulere, Lagos is a Health Management/ Maintenance organization whose members of staff are official partners of Golden Neo-Life Diamite (GNLD).

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Politics

Monday, May 12, 2014

51

Ogunlade’s choice as deputy for religious, gender balancing –Bamidele STORIES: ABIODUN NEJO ADO EKITI

L

abour Party, LP, governorship candidate in Ekiti State, Hon Opeyemi Bamidele, has said that the selection of Alhaja Maryam Ogunlade, a former deputy director in the state Local Government Service Commission as his running mate underscores his deep love for civil servants.

Describing the step as confirmation that he would not run a government that would not see the civil servants as enemies as obtained presently in the state.

Bamidele said in a statement by his media aide, Ahmed Salami, in Ado Ekiti, yesterday that the choice of Ogunlade, a devout Moslem woman, had settled the issue of religious and gender imbalance in

governance, which he said had pervaded the state for long, calling on other parties to emulate the gesture.

He said: “Gender inequality and religious imbalance have been great and knotty issues in the country’s political history.

But we want to say that the problems have persisted because our leaders were not sincere.

“We have sent a signal to

the society that religion and gender cannot be barriers for anybody to get to higher positions in Nigeria. And we are assuring our people that this gesture will manifest in all the strata of governance when we assume office.”

Bamidele said he put civil servants in high esteem “as technocrats who perform the bulk of the transformation agenda of any government,”

adding that his government would build a synergy with workers in all facets for rapid development of the state.

Describing Ogunlade as an accomplished and exemplary civil servant, who had written her name in gold, Bamidele said he had started displaying that anybody could rise to become the governor in the state regardless of background, religion or professional career.

He said: “What I have done is to show that

40 DAYS TO GO nobody is inferior in Ekiti whether you are home or abroad based. We are all Ekitis and we are equal in the face of the law and in our commitments to the development of the state.”

My decampment to PDP signals APC end –Senator Ola

F

Ekiti State Labour Party during it gubernatorial campaign, yesterday.

Fayemi, Aregbesola advocate use of card reader machine

E

kiti and Osun states governors, Dr Kayode Fayemi and Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola respectively, have called on the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to rescind its decision not to use Voter’s Card Reader machines in the forth coming Ekiti and Osun governorship elections.

The duo who faulted INEC’s decision to defer the use of card reader machines till the 2015 general elections spoke in Lagos at the weekend at a fund raising dinner hosted by “Friends of JKF,” just as former governor of Lagos State and national leader of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu dared the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to attempt rigging elections in the two states and see the wrath of the people.

Fayemi while throwing his weight behind the use of VCR machine in Ekiti and Osun elections of June 21 and August 9 respectively, said that Ekiti people will leave no stone unturned to ensure that their

...as Tinubu dares PDP on rigging plan votes count and are counted and announced in Ekiti State and not elsewhere.

He said: “We will go to any length not only to ensure that the votes of the people count but that the votes must be counted at the spot where they have chosen to elect the leader for themselves and we will do everything to ensure that INEC is forced, not just encouraged to use the card reader for these elections in Ekiti and Osun.”

He stressed that the difference made by his government in the lives of Ekiti people since 2010 is crystal clear and is an evidence of his commitment to lifting up the weak and vulnerable section of the society.

Aregbesola aleged that the PDP is already collecting the voters identification numbers on voters cards with the aim of cloning the original cards, adding that the only way the cloned cards can be detected as fake is not physical examination but through the use of electronic voting system.

HE explained further that a plan is being hatched to manipulate both Ekiti and Osun guber polls to favour the opposition in the affected states, saying that INEC should endeavour to test run the use of VCR machines in the two states ahead of the 2015 general elections.

He added that INEC only needs to provide 3,500 VCR machines for the use in the two states as a sign of its commitment to conducting credible polls.

Tinubu told the PDP to perish its alleged plan to rig the forthcoming election in Ekiti and Osun states, saying that any attempt to subvert the people’s will would be resisted.

He said the PDP knew that it could only win by manipulating the election because it has not presented an alternative manifesto to challenge the ruling APC government in the states.

Daring the PDP-led Federal Government to arrest him for his vow to resist rigging, Tinubu charged the people of Ekiti to defend their votes

and prevent any attempt not to make their votes count.

He said: “Those in Abuja have sent their agent down again for a repeat performance. They are not ashamed. Defend your votes, it is your right. No matter how much they complain, you will not see them campaign because they want to alter the mathematics. If they cannot do subtraction and addition successfully, during the Nigerian Governors’ Forum, election, they will not be able to do it during this election. If you rig this election, we roast you.”

Describing Fayemi as a sellable and dependable candidate, Tinubu said Fayemi is an actualiser of the dream for a Nigeria where the dividends of democracy is evenly distributed to the people without prejudice.

The event was attended by governors of Ogun and Osun while Sokoto, Imo, Nasarawa, Oyo, Edo and Bauchi governors were represented.

ormer National Assembly member, Senator Bode Ola, who represented Ekiti Central senatorial district, in the last session, has said his decision to dump the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, for the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the state was fascinated by the emergence of Mr Ayodele Fayose as the PDP flag bearer.

Ola said the decision was incensed by the leadership acumen and resilience of President Goodluck Jonathan to continue to move Nigeria forward despite the numerous challenges facing the country.

The former lawmaker, who spoke at a political forum in Ado Ekiti at the weekend, said his departure from APC had signalled end of the party in power and the beginning of good things in the PDP. According to him, he

chose to leave the APC when he realised that he was not being appreciated and recognised by the cabal in the party, despite his huge contributions to its growth in terms of money and materials.

The former APC chieftain clarified that his decision to leave his former party was basically a product of personal volition, contrary to insinuations in some quarters that he was compromised to withdraw his membership of the ruling APC in the state last week.

He said that he was neither bribed nor promised any juicy appointment before crossing over to the PDP. Ola said: “I joined PDP out of my own volition and not as a result of compromising factors as may be misconstrued in some quarters, I sought the face of God in the process and the spirit of the Lord told me to go to PDP.

Accord promises downtown governance

A

ccord in Ekiti State has promised a ‘down town governance policy’ if voted into power.

The party’s gubernatorial candidate, Barrister Kole Ajayi, said this while addressing state executive members of the state chapter of the Nigerian Union of Local Government Employers, NULGE. Ajayi said that under this policy, the seat of government will be moving to each local government weekly every month for the governor to ensure that the

people at the grass roots feel the impact of government the more.

Lamenting the total neglect of the grassroots by previous administrations, he affirmed that the down town governance policy would allow the governor to have on the spot assessment and take immediate action, adding that such would promote a better synergy with the people.

Ajayi said that within the one week stay, the governor’s presence would boost the economic activities of the area.

52

Monday, May 12, 2014

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AWKA DEVELOPMENT UNION PORT HARCOURT BRANCH. The general public is hereby notified that the above named union has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for registration under part “C” of the Companies and allied matters Act No 1 of 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. Barr. Kingsley Olise Molokwu.

3. Captain Emmanuel Nwangwu.

5. Engr. Okey Nwosu.

7. Mr. Obie Onyekuba.

9. Mr. Okey Nwanna.

2. Chief Gabriel Igwe.

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6. Surv. Geoffrey Akwe Nweke.

8. Mr. Charles Nnoyelu.

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3. To be a forum for the exchange of idea and to champion any cause whatsoever not herein mentiioned which will enhance the prestige, reputation,advancement,progress and development of Awka in general.

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PUBLIC NOTICE CHRIST GARDEN OF PRAYER EVANGELICAL MINISTRY

Notice is hereby given to the general public that the above named Ministry has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission, Abuja for registration under Part ‘ C ‘ of the Companies and Allied Matters Act, 1990

THE TRUSTEES ARE:

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- (G.O)

THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES:

1. To preach the word of God. 2. To evangelist the world for the Lord.

Any objection to the registration should be forwarded to the RegistrarGeneral, Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420 Tigris Crescent, Off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, Abuja within 28 days of this publication.

CHANGE OF NAME

ABINA: Formerly Miss Abina Rasheedat Aderonke,now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Akorede Rasheedat Aderonke. All former documents remain valid. Oyo State Local Government Service Commission,Ogbomoso North Local Government and general public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

NWAGWU: Formerly known and addressed as Mr Nwagwu Reginald Ndubuisi, now want to be known and addressed as Mr Albert Reginald Ndubuisi. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

UROEGBULAM: Formerly known and addressed as Miss Uroegbulam Ogechi Esther, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Okeke Ogechi Esther. All former documents remain valid. Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME AZEEZ: Formerly known and addressed as Azeez Adenike Adebimpe now wish to be known and addressed as Yusuf Adenike Adebimpe. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

MOJISOLA: Formerly known and addressed as Olaleye Munirat Mojisola, now wish to be known and addressed as Munirat Olaleye Dada.

All former documents remain valid.

General public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

ATUMA: Formerly known and addressed as Miss Atuma Helen Chinyere, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Modebe Helen Chinyere. All former documents remain valid. NYSC and general public take note.

NOTICE OF RESIGNATION OF TRUSTEE ENGR. RICHARD ABIRI

This is to inform the general public and the Corporate Affairs Commission in particular, that the abovenamed person has resigned from being Trustee of the Redemption Covenant Ministries Inc with effect from 6/2/2013. He therefore ceases to be a Trustee of the organisation from that date.

Signed: Dr. F. C. Mafiana Founder/General Overseer

PUBLIC NOTICE

SEEING HANDS WOLRD FOR THE BLIND INITIATIVE This is to inform the general public that the above named organization has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for registration in accordance with the provisions of Part “C” of the Companies and Allied Matters Act 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE:

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

Mrs. Ebun Olufunmilayo Adenubi Onabanjo Mrs. Abiola Oluyemisi Agbaje Mrs. Olubunmi Olayinka Adedoyin Mrs. Aiyetunde Folashade Coker Mr. Olafusika Bandele Akinkugbe

THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: 1. To promote, project and encourage the blind and visually impaired to be self-reliant and productive despite the absence or impairment of their sight.

2. To raise funds through the collection of subscriptions, donations and other means and to use such funds for purposes which will enhance the achievement of the Initiative’s aims and objectives.

3. To collaborate and cooperate at all times with all governmental and non-governmental organizations towards the achievement of the Initiative’s aims and objectives.

Any objection to the registration should be forwarded to the Registrar-General, Corporate Affairs Commission, PMB 198, Plot 420 Tigris Crescent, off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, Abuja within 28 days of this publication.

SIGNED: TRUSTEES

PUBLIC NOTICE

DIJI ISIOMA FOUNDATION

Notice is hereby given to the general public that the above named Foundation has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), Abuja for registration under Part ‘ C ‘ ofthe Companies and Allied Matters Act, CAP C20 LFN 2004.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. Isioma Judith Diji 2. Dymphna Chukwufumnaya Diji 3. Isichei Isioma Martin 4. Amos Patrick Elonna 5. Rev. Fr. Oluyemi Emmanuel Taiwo OP

THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: Donating generously and selflessly to assist in the welfare of persons with special needs in the society through material contributions and other humanitarian services that provide them with a better quality of life.

Any objection to the registration should be forwarded to the Registrar-General, Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420 Tigris Crescent, Off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, Abuja within 28 days of this publication.

SIGNED: TRUSTEES

SIGNED: TRUSTEES

PUBLIC NOTICE

PUBLIC NOTICE IMOLE NOBLE EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION

HIS ROYAL HERITAGE OUTREACH

The general public is hereby notified that the above named Outreach applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for registration under the Companies and Allied matters Act No 1 of 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE:

1. Pastor Adigun Olalekan Moses 2. Deaconess Adigun O. Helynn 3. Pastor Olaiya Tunde 4. Bro. Ogundare Ebenezer 5. Bro. Oladele Ademola THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: 1. To bring man back to God 2. To Orientate the youth about the celebration of valentine and love as an attribute of God 3. To show love to widows and widowers that Christ loves them.

4. To show the love of God to the less privileged as people Any objection to the registration should be forwarded to the Registrar-general, Corporate Affairs Commission plot 420, Tigris Crescent, off Aguyi Street, Maitama, P. M. B. 198 Abuja, within 28days of this publication.

SIGNED: TRUSTEES

The General Public is hereby notified that the above named Organization has applied for registration with the Corporate Affairs Commission under part “C” of Companies and Allied Matters Act 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. Adejonwo Ramota Olatunde 3. Adeniran Agnes Adenike 5. Simplice Gladys Olajumoke

2. Okafor Chukwunenye Nnameka 4. Disu Tajudeen Ajibola 6. Onilenla Omosalewa Afolawiyo

THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: 1. To own, run educational institutions, anchored on the best educational standards and practice.

2. To offer scholarships to brilliant but indigent student.

3. To acquire properties needed to achieve the objectives of the foundation.

4. To work towards enhancing empowerment for women.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

CHANGE OF NAME

OYEKUNLE: Formerly known and addressed as Miss Oyekunle Oluwaranti Oluwakemi, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Raheem Oluwaranti Oluwakemi.

All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

FALADE: Formerly known and addressed as Mr Shadrack Funso Olaoluwa Falade, now wish to be known, called and addressed as Pastor Shadrack Funso Olaoluwa Oluwalade. All former documents remain valid . All my children, Osin Ekiti and general public should please take note

CHANGE OF NAME

NWAJAGU: Formerly known and addressed as Miss Nwajagu Amaka, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Agbo Amaka. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

AKINWUNMI: Formerly known as Miss Akinwunmi Juliana Omolola, now wishes to be known as Mrs Adewoye Juliana Omolola. All former documents remain valid.

Pension Board, Akure and general public please note.

CHANGE OF NAME

EGUAVOEN: Formerly known and addressed as Edna Edigue Eguavoen, now wish to be known, called and addressed as Edna Edigue Odiakose. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

UDEH: Formerly known and addressed as Miss Udeh Amarachi Anastesia, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Ugwu Amarachi Anastesia. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CAVEAT EMPTOR This is to inform the general public that the property No 8 Nwosuterrace Ogui Enugu belong to Bishop Moses C.N. Nkwocha is not for sale beware of 419 for further enquires please contact Mr. Arinze Nkwocha on phone No 08033438323 or Mr Tochukwu Nkwocha on phone No 08037211589. General public take note.

PUBLIC NOTICE

OTA ULTIMATE BRIDGE CLUB OF NIGERIA

This is to inform the General Public that the above named club has applied for registration to Corporate Affairs Commission under Part C of the Companies and Allied Matters Act No 1 of 1990 .

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. Mr Abayomi Rowland 2. Mr Muyiwa Adekunle 3. Mr Akin Olayiwola 4. Mr Olayemi Olalekan Johnson

- President - Secretary - Treasurer - Publicity Secretary

THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: To promote unity among his members Any objection to the registration should be forwarded to Registrar- General Corporate Affairs Commission plot 420 Tigris Crescent off Aguiyi Ironsi Street PMB 198, Maitama, Abuja within 28th days from the date of publication.

SIGNED BY: SECRETARY

PUBLIC NOTICE

OBETIM-UNO COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE. The general public is hereby notified that the above named church has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for registration under part “C” of the Companies and allied matters Act No 1 of 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE:

1. Chief Opute Ochonogor 2. Chief Paul Chukwuemeke Omenogor 3. Chief Oputa Festus 4. Mr Paul Nwanibeze 5. Mr Emmanuel Ojieh 6. Mr Uche Ogwuadi

THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: Socio-economic &infrastructural transformation.

Any objection to the registration should be forwarded to the Registrar-General Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420, Tigris Crescent, Off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, Abuja within 28 days of this publication.

SIGNED: TRUSTEES

PUBLIC NOTICE

GLORIOUS DESTINY BIBLE CHURCH. The general public is hereby notified that the above named church has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for registration under part “C” of the Companies and allied matters Act No 1 of 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1 Pastor Victor Ifeanyi Walter 2. Pastor Mrs Chidiadi Walter 3. Bro.Micheal Lawson Udoisio 4. Deaconess Mary Izekiel Okolo 5. Deacon Oyibo Atans .

- General Overseer.

THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: To propagate the gospel of Jesus Christ

Any objection to this registration should be forwarded to the Registrar General, Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420, Tigris Crescent, off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, Abuja, within 28 days from the date of this publication.

Any objection to the registration should be forwarded to the Registrar-General Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420, Tigris Crescent, Off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, Abuja within 28 days of this publication.

SIGNED: CHRIS OKEKE & CO, SOLICITORS 27 KAKAWA STREET, LAGOS; TEL: 08032012944

SIGNED: TRUSTEES

Monday May 12, 2014

54

Sport

-BAYERN MUNICH MIDFIELDER, BASTIAN SCHWENSTEIGER ER

Manchester City players jubilating with the Barclays Premier League trophy yesterday

EPL Final Table

EPL: Man City are champions again!

M

53

I really just want to forget about the unfortunate te Champions League run and look ahead ad

Tennis: Umpire e ns scarcity threatens CBN Open

anchester City secured their second Premier League title in three seasons after goals from Samir Nasri and captain Vincent Kompany saw them stroll to victory over West Ham yesterday.

According to BBC Sport report, Manuel Pellegrini’s side knew a point would confirm they had regained the crown - but goals either side of the interval from Nasri and Kompany ensured the formalities were completed with barely an anxious moment in front an ecstatic packed house at Etihad Stadium.

Liverpool’s home defeat to Chelsea and the late collapse at Crystal Palace opened the door for City and they took advantage ruthlessly by winning their last five games.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

And for 60-year-old Chilean Pellegrini, it marked a triumphant conclusion to his first season in charge after he was brought in to replace sacked Roberto Mancini and entrusted with returning the title to the club.

With 102 league goals and that two-point final margin, noone can begrudge City a success that is richly merited, for all Liverpool’s efforts this season.

As referee Martin Atkinson sounded the final whistle and confirmation of the title, City’s fans rushed on to the pitch in their thousands and celebrated before retreating to allow captain Kompany to lift the trophy once more.

City’s fans also paid tribute to their quiet manager who has guided them to the title,

while also claiming ing the League Cup - a more than healthy hy return and justiification of his apppointment by the he club’s Abu Dhabibibased owners.

Pellegrini insisted City would not simply mply go in search of the draw w that would ensure they finished shed ahead of Liverpool barring ring a miraculous turnaround und on goal difference, and so o it proved as they pressed d forward from the kick-off.

West Ham, with growing speculation that manager Sam Allardyce was taking charge of his final game, showed a desperate lack of ambition and frustration threatened to be City’s biggest enemy.

Team

P

GD Pts

1

Man City

38

65

86

2

Liverpool

38

51

84

3

Chelsea

38

44

82

4

Arsenal

38

27

79

5

Everton

38

22

72

6

Tottenham

38

4

69

7

Man Utd

38

21

64

8

Southampton

38

8

56

9

Stoke

38

-7

50

10

Newcastle

38

-16

49

11

Crystal Palace

38

-15

45

12

Swansea

38

0

42

13

West Ham

38

-11

40

14

Sunderland

38

-19

38

15

Aston Villa

38

-22

38

16

Hull

38

-15

37

17

West Brom

38

-16

36

18

Norwich

38

-34

33

19

Fulham

38

-45

32

20

Cardiff

38

-42

30

EPL Results Cardiff

1

2

Chelsea

Fulham

2

2

Crystal Palace

Hull

0

2

Everton

Liverpool

2

1

Newcastle

Man City

2

0

West Ham

Norwich

0

2

Arsenal

Southampton

1

1

Man Utd

Sunderland

1

3

Swansea

Tottenham

3

0

Aston Villa

West Brom

1

2

Stoke

…Yobo goes down with Norwich tory.

S

uper Eagles captain, Joseph Yobo, and his club, Norwich City’s relegation from the Premier League was confirmed as a stunning Aaron Ramsey strike spurred fourth-placed Arsenal to vic-

The Canaries were all kick-off, and but down before b volley on the angle Ramsey’s v opportuand Carl Jenkinson’s Je nistic strike strik sealed their fate.

Earlier, Norwich goalEarl keeper, John Joh Ruddy, had to be alert to keep kee out Lukas Podolski and Olivier Giroud.

Ol Gunners keeper, Lukasz Gunn Fabianski, denied Jamar Fabians and Robert SnodLoza a grass.

It was a sombre finish to a disastrous season for Norwich, who could only have survived if they had won and West Brom had lost to Stoke, coupled with a highly improbable 17-goal swing.

54

Sports

Monday May 12, 2014

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

AYC 2015:

Nigeria beats Tanzania in Dar es Salaam ADEOLU JOHNSON

WITH AGENCY REPORT

F

lying Eagles yesterday got off to a bright start in the 2015 African Youth Championship (AYC) qualifiers after they beat hosts Tanzania 2-0 in Dar es Salaam in a second round, first leg clash.

The Nigerians scored in the 49th minute through midfielder Musa Yahaya and killed off the contest in the 82nd minute through striker Taiwo Awoniyi.

“This win away from home is very, very good for us going into the return leg match in Nigeria,” Flying Eagles Coach, Manu Garba said after the m at ch watched by a fair crowd at t h e 60,000-ca-

Coach Garba pointing the way for his works

pacity National Stadium in Dar es Salaam.

“Tanzania also showed they are a very good side, but they will have to work on their finishing.

“Overall, it was the better team that won even though I was not completely satisfied with the final 15 minutes of the game as we sat back in our defence.”

H o w e v e r ,

ADEOLU JOHNSON

KATSINA NA A

A

bout 63 athletes and coaches of the Under 17 and 18 football teams along five other teams have received d money and plots of land from the Katsina State Government for their efforts at winning trophies es that include President Goodluck uck National U-18 Peace Cup, Shehu hehu Shema National U-17 competition, etition, and the Sardauna National nal Fives Tournament.

Commissioner mmissioner for Youth and Sports, s, Aminu Safana, said the state government would also sponsor or all the players and coaches es to the World Cup 2014 finals in n Brazil.

“They hey will stay in Brazil for two weeks at government’s expense,” ” Safana said.

“The he government will soon commence a Sport Academy for

training train tra tr rai ra ainin ning n ing g young yo youn ou u g ath at a athletes hlletes etes ete tess and a d iit will wil wi w ill lll be be a revereve v nue n nue-generatu e -generatg ene e nera ra ra at iin ing ng v venture en ure e fo ffor orr the the he state,” state s ” he he added, add a dd de ed stressing th that ha the the e 35, 35 3 000-capac000-c 0000 00-capac00 -ca c apa apacp ac pacity ity stassta ta dium dium m in in the th the e sstate tate tat ate a te e would soon ssoo oon b be e opene op open opened pene e e ed d ffor orr use. us use se e..

NNL: Scorecard thrills Kogi officials AFOLABI GAMBARI

C

hairman of Kogi Football United Foo Mallam Club, Ma has deAbdul Adama, ha scribed the first rround performance of the side National in the Nigeria Nat commendable, League as commend even as the team has yet to pick its first away victory.

Tennis: Umpires’ scarcity threatens CBN Open

Ngorongoro of Tanzania coach

P

Katsina sina govt rewards w winners inners JAMESS DANJUMA

John Simkoko insisted they have not given up hope and said they will battle in the return match in Nigeria in a fortnight.

“The battle is not over yet as we will get more prepared coming to Nigeria,” Simkoko said.

Flying Eagles goalkeeper Joshua Enaholo naholo ensured h he kept a clean sheet when he made a big save in 67th minute and he will again pull off another save late on as Tanzania attacked.

Fatima Fat im ima ma Abinu Abinu nu

rotests and complaints are rocking the ongoing Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) tennis championship over non availability of umpires and lines men to officiate matches.

Bikom Michael on Saturday left the court in protest during his encounter with former international Toyin Dairo after the a ter af former former confo tested te ested a line ball ba all l as there was wa as no official cial to disci prove or agree with ag his hiiss decision. sion si on. on NationNationNa al Mirror

learnt that the confusion arose from the organisers’ decision to decis cut cost.

“This is very unfair because be it discourages you particularly particu when you feel you win the point,” p an affected player fumed, adding, ad “We were not allowed to play pla the normal three sets. Instead Instea we were asked to play for the first 10 points winner and this not n the way it is done” Meanwhile, some former inform ternationals who played in i the preliminary rounds have qualified for the main draw which whi begins today.

The quartet of Destiny Destin Da Silva, Toyin Dairo, Sunday Maku and Monday Igbinovia scaled scale the hurdle.

Competitions in both the male and female categories will end e on Saturday.

United had come close to snatching victories on the road but poor luck and questionable officiating had proved a tumbling block. The Lokoja club lost 1-0 to TEAP FC in their NNL Week 15 game on Saturday, ending its five-match unbeaten run in all competitions.

But Adama is confident that the Wada Boys will rise to occasion in the league’s second round due in two weeks after the break.

“We have tried our best and I am happy that the players have demonstrated resolve to excel and achieve the target we set in the beginning, which is to ptomote to the Nigeria Premier League,” the club chairman said, adding, “The target is still achievable and we remain committed than ever.”

Interim Coach of United, Yinka Kelvin, also echoed the club boss by commending his players’ bravery in the face of what he called great challenges.

“We will make useful amends as we enter the second round and I believe we will get the desired results,” Kelvin said.

The coach commended the NNL management for its programme but tasked the league body to ensure that clubs provide smooth pitches that would enhance the game.

Kogi United has garnered 22 points from 15 matches and will host TEAP FC in Lokoja when the NNL resumes on May 24.

NWPL: Babes’ boss hopeful in loss PAUL EREWUBA

D

espite losing 3-0 to Confluence Queens in their week 11 game played playe yesterday in Lokoja, Osun B Babes Football Club Chairman, Akin Adio, believes his wards can

still spring surprise in the Nigeria Women Premier League.

The Osun-based outfit had before yesterday’s loss defeated Taraba Queens 1-0 in a Week 10 match.

“I am delighted with the team’s performance so far, despite their 3-0 loss,” Adio said.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Sports

Monday May 12, 2014

w

55

orld cup countdown

Oranje Boys

pray for mother luck IFEANYI EDUZOR

T

he Netherlands will be going into the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, hoping that a little bit of luck will help them overcome the tag of playing the most World Cup finals without ever winning the trophy.

The “Oranje Boys” as the team is known has had a fantastic result at the FIFA World Cup in the past. In fact, Holland as the country is often referred to, is one of the top 10 countries as far as performances in the World Cup are concerned.

It was among the four best teams of the tournament having finished second in 1974, 1978 and 2010 World Cups, losing to Germany, Argentina and Spain respectively while in 1998, it ended up in fourth place after losing to Brazil on penalties in the semi- finals.

At the peak of their success in the 1970’s, the team was famous for its mastery of “Total Football”. The team is currently managed by Louis Van Gaal but he has announced he will leave after the 2014 FIFA World Cup, to be replaced by Guus Hiddink.

Netherlands National team has, over the past 40 years, been one of the most stylish and technically gifted sides in world football. The Total Football teams of the 1970’s are rightly regarded as some of the best teams ever to have been assembled. However, despite such huge talent available, the Oranje only have one international title to show for all their efforts; the 1988 European Championship.

After the resounding 1974 failure at the World Cup final, 1978 proved to be far better. De-

spite the withdrawal of some of their top players, including Johan Cruyff, due to a military coup in Argentina, the Oranje once again made it through to the final where they would also face the host nation. They began the tournament in indifferent style winning, drawing and losing their opening three matches.

In 1994, the Netherland’s again qualified for the World Cup and reached the quarter- finals largely thanks to the presence of Dennis Bergkamp who scored three times in five matches until the Dutch were once again eliminated by the eventual winners of the tournament, Brazil.

After their good showing in France ‘98, the team failed to qualify for the Japan/ Korea 2002 but bounced back in 2006 and 2010 respectively where they once again lost the finals to Spain.

Star player…

Van Persie

The Netherlands positively cruised into the finals of Brazil 2014, coming through as Europe’s joint-top point scorers; alongside Germany on 28 goals with their 2-2 draw against Estonia the only minor blemish on a near-faultless campaign.

The Oranje’s Group B opening game against defending champions, Spain in Salvador on the opening day of the tournament will definitely bring back old memories of the final four years ago.

The match in north-east Brazil on June 13 will be a heavy text for the Dutch who have many key players left in their team from the extra-time defeat in Johannesburg four years ago, but also a clutch of younger and less experienced players. The key encounter in Group B for the Dutch could come after they have played Spain and Australia, in Sao Paulo on June 23, when they meet Chile at the conclusion of a tough opening

Robin van Persie R

obin Van Persie, blossoming who is blos into one of the finest strikers in th the world and currently captain of the Dutch n national team, has repr represented the Netherlands at the U-17, U-21 levU 17, U-19 and U Uels before making his mak senior international intern debut in 2005 in a 20 friendly match

against Romania.

One month later, he netted his first senior international goal in a 4–0 win over Finland. He has won 78 caps so far, scoring 41 goals and making him the country’s top scorer.

He represented Holland in the 2006 FIFA World Cup, UEFA Euro 2008, the 2010 FIFA World Cup, and UEFA Euro 2012.

Nonetheless, the Dutch team is loaded with talented players such as Rafael van der Vaart, Arjen Robben, Kevin Strootman, Daryl Janmaat, Daley Blind, Memphis Depay, Daryl Janmaat and Jurgen Locadia, amongst others.

“I am aware of what lots of compatriots think of me as we go to Brazil,” the Manchester United forward said.

“At the same time, I know

round.

Victory in Brazil this time would not only give Van Gaal his greatest prize, but also expunge their unwanted tag of the best country never to be world champions.

FACT-FILE Capital: Amsterdam Population: 16.8 million Appearances: 10 (First in 1934) Best Outing: Final at West Germany 1974, Argentina 1978 and South Africa 2010 FIFA Ranking: 15th Nickname: Oranje Boys Top Scorer: Robin Van Persie (41) Most Capped Player: Edwin Van der Sar (130) Captain: Robin Van Persie Coach: Louis Van Gaal what is required of me as team leader and I am determined now than ever to help the team excel in Brazil.

“The fact that we came close to winning the World Cup in South Africa doesn’t really count. This is a fresh beginning and we have collectively resolved to give it the best shot so that we can get our effort crowned with the ultimate trophy.”

WORLD RECORD

Fastest time to score a try in a rugby union match Vol. 04 No. 849 Monday, May 12, 2014

The die is now cast

N150

The fastest try in a rugby union match was scored after 7.24 seconds by Tyson Lewis (UK) for Doncaster Knights Rugby Union Football Club verus Old Albanians at Wollam Playing Fields, St Albans, UK, on 23 November 2013.

T

he die is cast. Mallam Abubakar Shekau, the leader of Boko Haram sect, has dared Nigerians, especially President Goodluck Jonathan. He has defiantly punctured the pride of the nation when first, he ordered the abduction of over 200 girls from Government Girls Secondary School, Chibok, Borno State, last April 14, and later boisterously declared he was going to sell the girls into sex slavery.

“I abducted your girls. I will sell them in the market…There is a market for selling humans. Allah says I should sell. He commands me to sell. I will sell women. I sell women”, was how he put it.

The world was aghast by the development? The bestial act drew a big wedge among Nigerians. And it also served as an uncommon rally point for them as the drive for the rescue of the girls has forged a formidable coalition that ceaselessly both

HeartBeat callistus Oke

Callistusoke@nationalmirroronline.net 08054103275 (SMS ONLY) anthonykila@mail.com piled up pressures on the Jonathan presidency and also caused the world to pay attention to Nigeria.

In the ensued bedlam, the first stanza of William Butler Yeats’s The Second Coming came alive. The mantra, “Rescue our girls or Bring Back Our Girls”, created a situation where the falcon can no more hear the falconer. Things have indeed fallen apart in the country, the centre could no longer hold, and mere anarchy was loosed upon the world.

The development actually pushed the nation to the tipping point. It was a wakeup call for our leaders to drop the toga of lethargy that has characterized governance in the country. The abduction act will turn round to be Abubakar Shekau’s Nemesis.

And could also be Jonathan’s if he does not rise up to the challenge. Mr. President, like Julius Caesar in 49 BC, has been providently led to the banks of his own Rubicon River.

Will he like Caesar cry: ‘Let us go where the omens of the Gods and the crimes of our enemies summon us. The die is now cast!’

It is a Hobson’s choice for Jonathan. This should be his finest moment. One huge opportunity has been offered him to reinvent himself. Shekau’s defiance has handed him a global coalition resolved to confront the evil of international terrorism. The United States of America, China, the United Kingdom, France, all permanent members of the United Nations Security Council, and Canada among others, have accepted the Shekau’s challenge as their own challenge, and to Nigeria they have pledged their sup-

T

UNITED AGAINST TERROR APPEARS THE MOST FORMIDABLE DETERRENCE TO THE RECOURSE TO VIOLENCE IN THE AFFAIRS OF NATIONS port. Will this last ditch attempt to crush the insurgency be bungled? Jonathan, seize the moment; arise and shine. Yahweh has sent His helpers to aid you. It is now or never!

It is strange and yet unsurprising that there is no concerted national approach to Abubakar Shekau’s challenge. The opposition has characteristically used the opportunity to pillory the President, dismissing his leadership as inept. The unprofitable mindset of seeing the security challenge as Jonathan’s persisted. It is bad enough that our bad times, as usual, could not bond us to have a concerted approach to our common problems.

Until the world started showing its solidarity, we witnessed a momentarily loss of concentration by the Presidency, which was why irrationality seeped into the governance template of the country. During this moment we saw a divided Presidency where Mr. President and the First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan, were issuing conflicting executive orders. For the avoidance of doubt, the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria does not carve execu-

Sport Extra

w eam Lagos Island Local Government has emerged the winner of Lagos State Sports Festival tagged IBILE Games 2014 concluded at the weekend at Teslim Balogun Stadium, Lagos.

The Island team led the table of the Senior Category of the Games with 366 medals that

IT IS NOW CLEAR A WORLD

tive role for the wife of the President. Like some of my friends observed, the emotional weight of the ‘Chibok girls’ abduction saga is enough to cause ‘brain wave’.

Brain wave indeed; which was why Jonathan was allowed to carry the cross alone.

For the ruling elite, the ugly affair will be permanently etched in their memories.

Their handling of the saga was never appreciated; it was never appreciated because every conceivable effort produced no tangible result. Mr. President did not help matter because he gave no comforting words to Nigerians. I do not know the purpose the statement “we do not know where the abducted girls are kept” is meant to serve.

Such statement only serves the purpose of keeping the nation on the edge.

We thank God for his little mercies because some of our elder statesmen men conducted themselves exemplarily well, rallying round the Federal Government.

General Yakubu Gowon was one such leader. Many other Nigerians chose to organize aluta as if mere protests could remove the mountains of problems we have.

It is now clear a world united against terror appears the most formidable deterrence to the recourse to violence in the affairs of nations. And so the present global coalition against Boko Haram is one realistic approach to solving the enlarging insurgency in Nigeria. However, this is to the extent that a holistic push to end it all is possible, and could be done in quick time. That Boko Haram is still much alive in the country is due to the support it receives from al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb and Arabian Peninsula, and Al-Shabaab in Somalia.

The fighting capability of the sect is honed through the training in weapons and communications its operatives have received from them. A long drawn out ‘war’ would sap the resolve of these ‘friendly countries’ and it should be avoided at all cost.

Let it be clearly stated, Abubakar Shekau, as one of the 10 most dangerous terrorists in the world, will not go down without a fight.

Lagos Island wins Lagos Sports Festival comprised 151 gold, 108 silver and 107 bronze.

Team Surulere came second with 36 gold, 32 silver and 41 bronze while Team Ibeju Lekki trailed with 29 gold, 27 silver and 27 bronze and Team Ojo came fourth with 25 gold, 29 sil-

ver and 24 bronze.

The football final saw Ojo and Surulere Sports City Football Club play 1-1 in the regulation time before Ojo won 3-1 on penalty shoot-out.

Director of Sports, Lagos Sports Council, Dr. Kweku Tan-

doh, commended the stakeholders for the successful outcome of the competition.

“As we close the IBILE Games, we move on to the South-West States Secondary Schools Games which holds in Lagos from May 16 to 24,” the DOS said.

Musa Governor Fashola

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