Thursday, february 19, 2015new

CBN closes forex window to save naira, preserve foreign reserves TOLA AKINMUTIMI

Emefiele

Vol. 5 3 N0. 1052 657

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he Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, yesterday closed its rDAS/ wDAS foreign exchange

window as part of its monetary measures to ensure that all abuses in the foreign exchange market and the attendant negative implications for the nation’s economy are curtailed.

In real terms, the closure of the foreign exchange window implied that demand for foreign exchange would now be channeled to the interbank foreign exchange CONTINUED ON PAGE 5>>

37 DAYS TO GO

INEC distributes 77% PVCs in Enugu

Thursday, February July 4, 2013 19, 2015

P.43

N150 N150

Polls shift: Not again, says Jega

GEORGE OJI ABUJA

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hairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Prof Atahiru Jega, yesterday disclosed that he cannot defend the sanctity of the coming general elections.

This, he said, is because there are some other factors that are beyond the control of his commission, which may impede the success of the polls.

Fielding questions from senators while at the Nation-

...it’s useless buying PVCs

No litigations can stop elections

CONTINUED ON PAGE 2>>

IGP orders investigation into Okirika shootings PDP, Wike, Bipi deny involvement

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LEFT: Boko Haram heavy armoured fighting vehicles destroyed by Nigerian soldiers. RIGHT: One of the Hilux vehicles captured, bomb boxes, ammunition and a captured member of the terrorists.

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Troops reclaim 11 Borno towns, kill 300 insurgents ... lose 2 soldiers, capture weapons, terrorists FG shortlists Lufthansa, two others as national carrier

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New constitution splits AGF, Justice Minister’s office P.4 INSIGHT

AJ City: Feeling abandoned

by Showkey, Fryo, others

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News

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Thursday, February 19, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Troops reclaim 11 Borno towns, kill 300 insurgents UBONG UKPONG ABUJA

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he Defence Headquarters, DHQ, yesterday, said 11 communities have been recovered in Borno State in the renewed onslaught against the Boko Haram insurgency.

DHQ also confirmed the killing of over 300 insurgents in the massive attacks.

The liberated communities are Monguno, Gabchari, Abba Jabari, Zuntur, Gajigana, Gajiram, Damakar, Kumaliwa, Bosso Wanti, Jeram and Kabrisungul.

In a statement through the Director of Defence Information, DDI, Maj-Gen. Chris Olukolade, in Abuja, the DHQ said that it also lost two soldiers, while 10 others were wounded in the course of the operations.

It further disclosed that a large number of terrorists, arms, ammunitions, explosives, and vehicles were captured while others were destroyed by troops.

The DHQ said that this was the result of the mopping up operation of some of the communities where terrorists have been cleared in the course of ongoing air and land operations against terrorists.

Within the last three days, the troops were engaged in a

heavy fighting against the insurgents, who had earlier taken full control of those communities.

Troops however were said to have emerged victorious given the massive casualty inflicted on the terrorists.

“Over 300 terrorists were killed, while a few were also captured. Several weapons and equipment were also captured and some destroyed,” the DHQ stated.

It confirmed that five different types of armoured fighting vehicles, an antiaircraft gun, about 50 cases of packed bombs and 8 different types of Machine Guns, five Rocket Propelled Grenade, 49 boxes of various types and calibres of ammunition as well as 300 motorcycles were destroyed in the fighting.

Also a total of 6 Hilux vehicles including those mounted with anti-aircraft guns were destroyed.

“However, two soldiers lost their lives, while 10 others were wounded in the course of the operation,” it said.

The DHQ said that cordon and search operations was continuing along with aggressive patrols by troops who are now dominating the cleared communities It stressed that the vari-

ous phases of the highly coordinated air and land operations was also ongoing in the designated theaters being handled by contingents involved in the renewed counter terrorism campaign in and outside Nigeria.

Meanwhile, the Coordinator of the National Information Centre, NIC, Mr. Mike Omeri yesterday disclosed that some terrorists had been arrested at the IDP camps in the north east.

Omeri, who declined to speak more on the matter, citing security as excuse,

saying that the military bombardment on Boko Haram hideouts had forced some insurgents to take shelter at the IDP camps.

Omeri spoke in Abuja on the security situation in the country.

He said the Federal Government had made some laudable improvement on the fight against terrorism, even as he called on the general public to be vigilant, as some insurgents were leaving their hideouts to mix with people.

“There has been increased regional coopera-

tion between the countries of the Lake Chad Basin Commission resulting in the recapture of territories by the Nigerian military and the multi-national forces which are, simultaneously, shielding off new attacks.

“The fight against Boko Haram is, therefore, gaining the regional solidarity it deserves.

“Particularly, Nigerian troops have recaptured the towns of Monguno and Marte, among others, while military operations are continuing at other locations in the area.

“However, because of the heavy bombardment of various Boko Haram hideouts, there has been massive dispersal of these elements to various locations including the numerous IDP camps from where many of them have been smoked out and arrested. “Therefore, people living in relatively peaceful places within and near the north east region and, in fact, all Nigerians are urged to be vigilant and report strange faces and movements promptly to the security authorities,” he said.

L-R: Former Minister, Elder Godsday Orubebe; FCT Minister, Senator Bala Mohammed; President Goodluck Jonathan and PDP National Chairman, Adamu Mu’azu, at the Presidential Wing, Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, yesterday.

Polls shift: Not again, says Jega CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

al Assembly to respond to Tuesday’s summons by the lawmakers, the INEC Chairman explained that factors such as security, which are far beyond the control of his commission makes it impossible for INEC to pledge on the sanctity of the polls.

He stated that Service Chiefs, who are key stakeholders in the electoral process also play critical roles in determining the sanctity or otherwise of the elections.

The INEC chief however pledged the assurances and commitment of his commission to free, fair and credible polls.

Jega said: “Senator Akume (George) asked if I can confirm the sanctity of the dates of the elections -March 28 and April 11. I think it is a very difficult question to answer. I have said consistently that there are things under the control

of an electoral commission and there are things that are not under the control of an electoral commission.

“For the things that are under our control, we can give definite and categorical assurances. What is not under our control, it is futile, it is fruitless. It is useless to give a definite guarantee on them. So, frankly, I think that question should be directed appropriately.”

Jega’s response was based on the question by the Senate Minority Leader.

Akume had asked: “Based on your experiences, come March 28, and 11th of April, will you commit yourself to us and all Nigerians about the sanctity of these dates, very important dates in the history of our country, sanctity of not just May 29, because if these dates are not sacrosanct, we cannot have sanctity of May 29 this year?”

Jega also contended that

further postponement of the general elections would be unconstitutional.

“I don’t see how anybody can contemplate any extension beyond these six weeks because there is no constitutional grounds on which you can do that,” he said.

According to him, INEC was ready to hold the February 14, but was persuaded to support a delay by the National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki and the Service Chiefs.

Asked how he would respond if the security agencies requested a further delay, Jega referred to a constitutional provision that requires elections to be concluded at least 30 days before May 29, when a new government must be sworn in.

“Every Nigerian knows we want elections to hold… within a constitutional timeframe.

“The security agencies are (made up of) patriotic

Nigerians. Let’s give them the benefit of the doubt.”

But he added that a further delay “will only have to be unconstitutional and I don’t see how anybody can contemplate unconstitutional things”.

The INEC chairman, who was interrogated by the senators for over three hours also demonstrated the workings of the Card Readers to be deployed by the commission for the polls.

Senators who came to the session with their Permanent Voter Cards, PVCs, had the opportunity to test-run the workings of the system as INEC staff were at the chambers to carry out demonstration tests.

Jega also used yesterday’s opportunity to deplore the alleged purchase and hoarding of PVCs by some politicians.

Although, he stressed that it is a criminal offence, the INEC boss however stat-

ed that any stolen or cloned PVC is as good as useless because such a card cannot pass the electronic test of the Card Readers.

Regretting that purchased or stolen PVCs were meant to be used on election days to perpetrate fraud, the INEC boss said measures have already been put in place to ensure that such efforts end in futility.

He took time to educate the lawmakers on the workings of the Card Readers, particularly on its numerous advantages.

He said: “Using the Card Reader has enormous advantages. First, once the card reader is configured, it can only read PVC issued by INEC at the polling unit that it has been configured.

“Second, it reads the embedded chip card not the back code. Third, it enables authentication of the identity of the voter by matching his or her finger print with

that code on the chip of the card.

“Four, it keeps a tally of all cards read and all cards verified or authenticated with all their details including the time when this was done.

“Five , this information can be sent to a central server using an SMS. Six, the stored information on the server will enable INEC to audit results from polling units as well as do arrangement of statistical analysis of the demographics of voting, something INEC has never been able to do effectively.

“Seven, the ward collation officer can use this information to audit polling unit result sheets and to determine whether accreditation figures have been altered, a common feature of electoral fraud in our jurisdiction.”

Jega debunked insinua-

CONTINUED ON PAGE 5>>

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Thursday, February 19, 2015

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PhotoNews

Thursday, February 19, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

L-R: Deputy Comptroller of Immigration Service, Mr. Ibrahim Limam; Comptroller, Bayelsa Command, Mr. Sule Wunti and Deputy Comptroller, Operation, Mr. Musa Yahun, addressing a news conference in Yenagoa, yesterday.

PHOTO: NAN L-R: Captain Segun Omole of Dana Air; Chief Commercial Officer, Dana Air, Mr. Obi Mbanuzuo; Editor, National Mirror, Mr. Seyi Fasugba and Editor, Sunday Mirror, Mr. Ayo Olesin, during the presentation of award to Dana Air by National Mirror newspapers in Lagos, yesterday.

PHOTO: YINKA ADEPARUSI

L-R: Corps Marshal, Federal Road Safety Corps, Mr Boboye Oyeyemi; Representative of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Arc Ferdinand Agwu; Minister of Aviation, Mr Osita Chidoka, and Minister of State for Works, Prince Dayo Adeyeye during the 27th Anniversary and Awards Programme of the FRSC in Abuja yesterday.

PHOTO: ROTIMI OSASONA

L-R: Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola; Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, Mr. Ben Akabueze and Special Adviser to the Governor on Media, Hakeem Bello, addressing a news conference on the Lagos 2014 last quarter budget performance , yesterday.

PHOTO: NAN

National News GEORGE OJI ABUJA

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ocal government autonomy could not scale the recent constitutional amendment exercise because only 20 Houses of Assembly voted in its favour, while 16 voted against the proposal, National Mirror gathered yesterday.

The 20 states that voted in favour of the proposal were Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Borno, Cross River, Delta, Ebonyi, Ekiti, Enugu, Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kwara, Lagos, Ondo, Osun, Rivers, Taraba, Yobe and Zamfara.

Adamawa, Anambra, Abia, Bauchi, Benue, Edo, Gombe, Imo, Kebbi, Kogi, Nasarawa, Niger, Ogun, Oyo, Plateau and Sokoto states voted against.

This was in the final document containing the analysis of how the Houses of Assembly in the 36 states voted for the act to alter provisions of the constitution of Nigeria 1999, which was adopted by the Senate yesterday.

The document also

New constitution splits AGF, Justice Minister’s office …Accountant General of the Federation too showed that 25 states voted in favour of the new requirement for citizenship.

The new requirement states: “A citizen of Nigeria is an indigene of a particular community of a state in Nigeria if (1) he is born in that state, (2) his parents or grandparents belong to a community indigenous to that state, (3) he has resided in that state continuously for a period of not less than 10 years and (4) being a woman, who is married to an indigene of the community of that state, unless she chooses to retain the indigenship of her paternal community.”

It also emerged that 29 states supported independent candidature, which now makes it part of the new constitutional provisions.

The extant electoral law stipulates that candidates for elections must be sponsored by political parties.

Section 177 has been altered, by inserting a new paragraph that a candidate must be sponsored by political party or he is an independent candidate.

All the states also approved the amendment, which gives the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, power to de-register political parties.

The new provision inserted section 225A, which states that INEC can deregister political parties if there is a breach of any of the requirements for registration.

The grounds for the deregistration according to the new provision is if such political parties

fail to win presidential, governorship of at least one state, chairmanship of at least one local government/area council or a seat in the national or state assembly election.

The new Constitution also stipulated the timeline within which every pre-election matter shall be filed, which is not later than seven days from the date of the occurrence of the event, decision or action complained of in the suit.

Besides, the lawmakers approved that court in every pre-election matter shall deliver its judgment in writing within 180 days from the date of filing of the suit.

They also requested that an appeal against a decision in a pre-election matter shall be filed

within 14days from the date of delivery of the judgment that was being appealed against; and an appeal from a decision of a court in a pre-election matter shall be heard and disposed of within 60 days from the date of filing of the appeal..

Furthermore, Section 67 has been altered by substituting for section 67(1) a new subsection “67(1)” which states that a sitting president shall attend a joint meeting of the National Assembly once a year to deliver an address in respect of the state of the nation.

The new constitution also stipulates that the president may attend any joint meeting of the National Assembly, either to deliver an address on national affairs, including fiscal measures, or to make such statement on

the policy of government as he considers to be of national importance.

The report further reads: “The National Assembly has also separates the office of the Attorney General of the Federation from the Justice Minister.

In a similar vein, the office of the Accountant General of the Federation has been separated from the office of the Accountant General of the Federal Government.

“The Accountant General of the Federation shall be appointed by the President on the recommendation of National Economic Council, NEC, subject to confirmation by the Senate; and shall be responsible for the administration and disbursement of allocations from the Federation Account to the tiers of government.

“Both offices have a four-year non-renewable tenure. The Office of the Accountant General of the Federation shall, however, be funded from the Federation Account pursuant to an Act of the National Assembly.”

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

News

Thursday, February 19, 2015

5

CBN closes forex window to save naira, preserve foreign reserves CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

market, thereby leaving consumers with two access ways to foreign currencies namely, the interbank and parallel market.

A statement issued by the Director, Corporate Communications, Mallam Ibrahim Mu’azu, pointed out that measure was taken specifically to effectively manage the widening margin between the rates in the interbank and the rDAS window, thereby forestalling the undesirable practices in the forex market.

Noting that the managed float exchange rate regime, which the Bank adopted following the liberalisation of the foreign exchange market, had been successful in ensuring exchange rate stability in line with its mandate, CBN stated that the need to shut the r/DAS window had become more imperative in order to ensure exchange rate stability for the local currency and protect the nation’s foreign reserves from further depletion.

The apex bank stated that while the recent sharp decline in global oil prices and the resultant fall in the country’s foreign exchange earnings remained a major challenge to the country, the sharp practices in the forex market by dealers had continued to affect the Naira exchange rate adversely, hence the need to reverse the ugly trend.

It listed some of the abuses that characterised trading in the forex market to include, round-tripping, speculative demand, rentseeking, spurious demand, and inefficient use of scarce foreign exchange resources by economic agents. All these have continued to put pressure on the nation’s foreign reserves with no visible economic benefits to the productive sector and the general public, it noted.

The CBN stated: “In view of the foregoing, it has become imperative that appropriate actions be taken to avert the emergence of a multiple exchange rate regime and preserve the country’s foreign exchange reserves.

“Consequently, we wish to inform all authorised dealers and the general public that, with effect from the date of this press release, the rDAS/wDAS foreign exchange window at the CBN is hereby closed.

“Henceforth, all demand

for foreign exchange should be channeled to the Interbank Foreign Exchange Market.

“For the avoidance of doubt, all authorsed dealers and the general public should note that the CBN will continue to intervene in the interbank foreign exchange market to meet genuine/legitimate demands.”

Reacting to the CBN’s action, a seasoned management consultant, Dr Boniface Chizea, believed that if the approach is sustained, it would mean that Nigeria would be inching close to the liberalisation of the Naira and therefore the end of official rate, interbank rate and parallel market rates.

He, however, expected that the Bureau De Change window would be retained as a Special Purpose Vehicle, SPV, through which the CBN wanted to cater to the needs of those who need small amounts of foreign exchange for personal obligations as well as coincide with the recent call for a uniform rate of exchange to prevail in the market.

“It also sign posts the fact that the CBN wants to become just another player in the market removing the current reality whereby the apex bank is the only dominant provider of foreign exchange to the market.

“Some of us have argued in the past that you do not have anything near a real market under such circumstances giving the lie to those who recommend that the Naira should be allowed to float in the market.

“If there is no market you cannot then turn round to begin to ask for the market to determine the ruling rate.

“The CBN served notice that this was on the way when it commenced intervention at the interbank market outside its official range. It was reported that the CBN actually intervened selling dollars at the rate of about N198 at the interbank market.

“It will be interesting to see how all this will unfold because if I remember well this had been attempted before and could not be sustained,” Chizea said.

Speaking in a similar tone, the Director General of the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Mr. Muda Yusuf, noted that the closure of the foreign exchange window would result in the escalation of

production cost for firms that had access to this forex window.

According to him, such firms will experience cost increases of up to 20 per cent with the attendant negative impact on sales performance, profit margins and ultimately capacity utilisation.

In addition, the LCCI boss predicted that import duty and other port charges, which are computed as a percentage of import costs would also increase, thereby putting additional pressure on operating costs for erstwhile beneficiaries of the

CBN RDAS forex window.

Also, he pointed out that companies’ funding requirements in Naira would increase and therefore they will be compelled to source more funds in the banks to fund their forex needs just as Naira requirements will increase as well as cost of funds.

According to Proshare Nigeria, a leading economic and financial data resource consultancy, the immediate implication of the apex bank’s action for the economy will be massive given the strong demand for dollar in the economy.

Specifically, ProShare an-

alysts argued that scarcity of foreign currencies increased in the parallel market almost immediately as demand soars as the difference between the CBN controlled interbank rate of N198 and the official rate of N168 created a big arbitrage in itself.

The company stated: “Today, the naira exchanged for N215 to a dollar in the parallel market as forex scarcity continues while the pounds sterling still trades high at around N315 to N320 for one pound.

“Our daily exchange rate monitor of the performance of the naira against the dollar following the de-

valuation of the Nigerian currency in November 2014 continues to highlight how the naira has fared against the dollar over the months.

“Today, the naira traded at N215 to a dollar. The value of the naira has depreciated significantly mainly because of the dwindling oil revenue from falling global oil prices and speculative pressures on the naira.

“Following the initial devaluation of the naira by 8 per cent and the falling value of the naira, some analysts have predicted more devaluation in weeks to come.”

INEC Chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega addressing newsmen after the interactive session with Senators yesterday at the Chamber in Abuja.

Polls shift: Not again, says Jega CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2

tions that deploying Card Reader amounts to electronic voting, which is outlawed by the Electoral Act. He stated that, whereas section 52 of the Electoral Act prohibits the use of electronic voting, the Card Reader is not a voting machine and it is not used for voting. It is merely an electronic devise introduced to improve the integrity of the voting process.

He reminded the lawmakers that section 78 and section 118 of the constitution grants INEC powers to register voters and to conduct election in Nigeria and it was part of the fulfillment of that statute that the commission deploys Card Readers.

Jega also gave the assurances that so far, there are no legal matters to the knowledge of the commission that can lead to the scuttling of the March and April

polls.

Earlier, while briefing the lawmakers on readiness for the March 28 and April 11 rescheduled elections, the INEC boss explained that a meeting was held on February 15, to review the new development and took a decision on how best to utilise the six weeks extension to add value to its operational and logistical preparation for the election.

He said it was the firm belief of INEC that the effective utilisation of the period of extension will enable the commission to have a flawless, near perfect polls.

Jega said INEC was to embark on field evaluation, where national commissioners were to visit all the state offices between Feb 11 and 19 to conduct evaluation and comprehensively determine the level of preparation in the field.

After the field visit, the

commission together with heads of departments and directorates units will conduct a comprehensive assessment to determine what specific additional things needed to be done before March.

He added that a meeting of the inter-agency committee on election security will hold on February 24 to discuss security arrangement for the election.

According to him, on March 4, INEC plans to hold a meeting of the commission with all the resident electoral commissioners to review progress of additional things done to finalise arrangement for the elections.

He disclosed that the priotised areas of focus for the next six weeks have been identified and the key area is collection of PVCs. “This is an area which has attracted wide public commentaries and where

collection rate has not been to the satisfaction of many Nigerians.

“The period of collection has been extended for four weeks to March 8 and all efforts are to be made to improve collection by voters with regular update with the rate of collection made public and I am pleased to say that as at yesterday, the collection rate nationwide has averaged 75.94 per cent,” he said.

The Commission is also to organise mock tests of the Card Readers in each geopolitical zone and the ICT department in conjunction with the voter registry and electoral operations department mandated to immediately draw up plans for this and our decision is to now use this opportunity and identify polling units and do a mock test of the card readers particularly in each of the six geopolitical zones.

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NEWS

Thursday, February 19, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Reps set up 17-man c’ttee on 2015 budget TORDUE SALEM ABUJA

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Representative of the Coordinator, Presidential Initiative for North East, Alhaji Muhammadu Danjuma (right), presenting relief materials to an internally displaced person in Mubi, Malam Isa Adamu, during distribution of relief materials in Fufore Local Government Area of Adamawa, in Yola, yesterday. PHOTO: NAN

FG shortlists 3 foreign airlines as national carrier OLUSEGUN KOIKI

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ederal Government has allegedly shortlisted three foreign carriers as potential partners in its plan to re-establish a national carrier for Nigeria.

The shortlisted carriers, according to a source close to the government, are Ethiopian Airlines (Ethiopia), South Africa Airways (South Africa) and Lufthansa (Germany).

The source, however, did not specify in what capacity the carriers would act in relation to the proposed new airline, but confirmed that one of the renowned international consultancy firms, KPMG, is in charge of the selection process.

If the deal scales through, one of the carriers would eventually partner the country in the national carrier project.

It would be recalled that the government since the liquidation of the former national carrier, Nigeria Air-

ways in 2003, had tried vigorously to re-establish a national carrier for the country, but all attempts have failed so far.

Former Minister of Aviation, Princess Stella Oduah had between 2012 and 2013 attempted to re-established a national carrier for Nigeria through partnerships with foreign carriers.

She set up a committee, which made contacts with foreign carriers like Virgin Atlantic, Qatar Airways, Lufthansa Airways, Air FranceKLM and a couple of others, but without success while stakeholders and professionals in the sector stated that all necessary framework and legal requirements for the smooth roll out of the carrier were enmeshed in secrecy.

Later in 2013, the government sought to merge the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria’s Aero Contractors (NG, Lagos) with the remains of Air Nigeria (VK, Lagos) to form Nigerian Eagle (NG, Lagos), which also did not see the light of day.

Lufthansa has had a close relationship with Nigeria in 2012 when the government unexpectedly annulled a 2002 Memorandum of Understanding, MoU, between it and Lufthansa, claiming the airline had failed to fulfill its part of the deal.

Under the terms of the MoU, the airline was to provide training of pilots, engineers, and ground handling personnel, while in turn enjoying increased frequencies on the lucrative LagosFrankfurt International route.

Just some few weeks ago, the Minister of Aviation, Chief Osita Chidoka disclosed that the government was in talks with private investors on the possibility of recreating a national carrier for the country.

Chidoka had said that reestablishing a national carrier for the country became necessary in order to ensure growth of technical personnel in the Nigerian aviation industry, adding that the new

national carrier would be commercially operated and handled by proven professionals.

He said, “Conversations are on across many possible private sector organisations, both local airlines in Nigeria and then some international airlines. We are totally changing the face of four key airports. Nigeria is studying the possibility of attracting private capital to do that.”

He noted that while countries like Ethiopia and Kenya have emerged as global players in aviation industry, Nigeria was yet to have a national carrier after the death of Nigeria Airways about a decade ago.

He stated that the absence of a national carrier for the country had allowed fastexpanding Gulf operators such as Dubai-based Emirates to join older European players in grabbing the most lucrative long-haul traffic in Nigeria.

Ekiti poll tapes: Reps probe Army, Obanikoro, others …reject motion to summon Jega

TORDUE SALEM ABUJA

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ouse of Representatives would today consider a motion calling for investigation of some audio tapes of alleged pre-election plot to rig governorship elections in Ekiti State. The recording alleges a plan to manipulate the

vote in favour of Governor Ayo Fayose of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the poll held last year.

Opposition leader in the House, Femi Gbajabiamila, who moved for the matter to be put on notice, would raise it as a matter of urgent national importance in plenary today. In seeking the matter to be put

on notice yesterday, Gbajabiamila said the motion was to “address something that has become serious and has exposed the role of the military in election rigging in Ekiti and other parts of the country.”

He prayed the House to take the matter as an urgent one.

“It is a matter that this house has to address to determine whether the military has a role to play

in our elections,” he said.

Meanwhile, the House yesterday rejected a motion by its Deputy Majority Leader, Leo Okuweh Ogor (PDPDelta), seeking to summon the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, over postponement of the February 14 and 28 general elections and distribution of Permanent Voter Cards, PVCs.

ouse of Representatives yesterday constituted a 17-man committee to interact with the Ministry of Finance and Budget Office on the 2015 budget and the Medium Term Expenditure Framework, MTEF When the House rose from an executive session that lasted close to two hours, the Speaker, Honourable Aminu Tambuwal, said the House had agreed to constitute a special committee to engage the Ministry of Finance and Budget Office on some of the perimeters in the budget.

According him, “during the closed session, we discussed the 2015 budget, the MTEF and all the perimeters.

We eventually agreed to constitute a special committee to engage the Ministry of Finance and Budget Office.”

House Committee Chairman on Appropriations, John

Enoh, would double as chairman of the committee.

The committee members are Abdulmumuni Jibrin, Yinka Ajayi, Bimbo Daramola, Jerry Manwe, Linus Okorie, Ibrahim Babangida, Yakub Dogara, Tajudeen Yusuf, Nnenna Ukeje and Pat Asadu.

Others include Nicholas Ossai, Babatunde Adejare, Seconte Davis, Isa Gusau, Abubakar Momoh and Dan Akpan.

Meanwhile, Honourable Dan Akpan, representing Etinan Federal Constituency of Akwa Ibom State formally defected from the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to the All Progressives Congress, APC, on the floor of the House yesterday.

Seven PDP lawmakers in the House had so far defected to other political parties since its resumption on Tuesday.

On Tuesday, the ruling party lost six of its lawmakers to APC, APGA and Accord Party.

Dahiru asks court to annul Tambuwal’s guber candidacy ISE-OLUWA IGE ABUJA

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ubernatorial aspirant of the opposition All Progressives Congress, APC, Senator Umaru Dahiru, has requested a Federal high court in Abuja to annul the governorship ticket given to Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal, on grounds that his emergence as APC’s gubernatorial standard bearer was irregular.

He is contending that the primary poll, which produced Tambuwal, breached not only provisions of 2010 Electoral Act, but also APC’s electoral guidelines.

The primary poll was held December 14, 2014.

The suit, which was filed by former AttorneyGeneral of Abia State, Professor Awa Kalu (SAN), on behalf of Umaru, is also requesting for a separate order restraining INEC from placing Tambuwal’s name on the ballot for the 2015 governorship election pending the holding of fresh gubernatorial primaries by APC. Justice Steven Chukwu

Evoh of the Abuja Federal High Court had already assumed jurisdiction in the case.

During mention of the case yesterday, the trial judge fixed February 23, 2015, for hearing.

Also listed as co-plaintiff in the case is Barrister Aliyu Abubakar Sanyinna, while the APC, Aminu Tambuwal and INEC, were named as defendants.

In their claim, the plaintiffs alleged that APC officials denied all other aspirants for the primary poll except Tambuwal access to the delegates.

It was also alleged that the screening of delegates on the day of the primaries was not done between the stipulated hours of 8am and 12noon, and that the list of delegates as issued by the National Secretariat of APC was not used in the conduct of the said election of December 14, 2014.

Other ground on which Dahiru is seeking redress is that on the very day of election, members of the Sokoto State and local government as well as members of the state’s Assembly openly canvassed for votes for Tambuwal.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

News

Thursday, February 19, 2015

7

NLC settles rift, reconvenes March 12 for election OLUFEMI ADEOSUN ABUJA

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he intervention of former leaders of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, yesterday culminated in the fixing of March 12 to hold the botched election to usher in new leadership for the union.

Rising from over 8 hours meeting, the National Executive Council of the Congress expressed regret at the occurrence of the last few days, even as they vowed to remain united and vibrant in the pursue of the well being of the Nigerian workers.

It will be recalled that the 11 National Delegates Conference of the union ended in a stalemate as efforts to elect new leaders to pilot its affairs last week resulted in a free-for-all.

Supporters of the leading contestants for the post of President, Comrade Ayuba Wabba of the Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria and Comrade Ajaero Joseph of the Nigeria Union of Electricity Employees, were caught on camera exchanging blows.

However, while announcing a new date for the election, outgoing President,

Comrade Abdulwahed Omar, apologised to the Nigerian workers and the entire country over the embarrassment which the election stalemate could have caused.

He said: “After various interventions by the leaders of Congress, we have unanimously resolved and NEC has approved that the conference reconvene on March 12 to conclude the issue of election that has been outstanding.

“We have also taken far reaching decision that the election will be peaceful and all contestants have agreed

to abide by the rules and put congress first before anything, even themselves.

“I want to apologise to Nigerians over the events of the last few days. We cannot afford to let Nigerians down.”

Also speaking, Edo State Governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, who has been part of the efforts to resolve the impasse, stated that despite what had happened, the integrity of the labour movement remained unshaken.

He said: “The commitment of our labour leaders to build a movement that is

Catholic Catechist, Ifeanyi Christian of Ss. Peter and Paul Parish Nyanya, administering ash on members to mark the 2015 Ash Wednesday in Abuja, yesterday.

PHOTO: NAN

National Mirror, others bag Road Safety award CHIDI UGWU ABUJA

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ational Mirror Newspapers was among organisations presented with an award for outstanding contributions towards road safety as the Federal Road Safety Commission, FRSC, yesterday marked its 27th anniversary in Abuja.

The corps, during the occasion, also recognised some officers and marshals for upholding the commission’s integrity during rescue operations in 2014.

Among officers rewarded with awards were those who distinguished themselves in their various tasks, and others who returned cash recovered during accident rescue operations in different parts of the country.

Secretary to Government of the Federation, SGF, Pius Anyim, who was special guest of honour, noted on

the occasion that the corps had embraced and deployed Information and Communication Technology towards efficient management system.

The SGF, who was represented on the occasion by the Senior Special Assistant to the President, Mr. Ferdinand Agu, enjoined other MDAs to emulate the agency, stressing that the world is divided between digital and non-digital world and any organisation that wants to make progress must embrace ICT. Also, Corps Marshal and Chief Executive Officer of FRSC, Boboye Oyeyemi, noted that when the founding fathers of FRSC came up with the idea of the commission 27 years ago, little did many Nigerians realise that the idea of the road safety lead agency which Nigeria pioneered in Africa was going to be adopted by the global community as a strategy

for tackling the menace of road traffic crashes globally.

According to Oyeyemi, the corps which was brought into being through Decree 45 of 1988 as amended by Decree 35 of 1992 has now become a huge contribution to global efforts at tackling the challenges of road traffic crashes in the World.

“It is therefore, a great pride for all Nigerians, that the idea of road safety lead agency has now become a huge contribution to global efforts at tackling the challenges of road traffic crashes in the World,” he stated.

Oyeyemi, however, stated that of the total of 10,380 road traffic crashes recorded in Nigeria in 2014, a total of 5,996 lives were lost, while 32,063 people were injured.

According to the corps marshal, the scourge has left in its wake the loss of wage earners, active workforce, loved ones and future leaders, all of which subject

families to extreme poverty and the nation, erosion of its bright future.

He noted that the organisation, which has become source of national pride, having been copied by several countries since its establishment 27 years ago, is now a reference organization. He said it is now referred to as the best example of a road safety lead agency, recommended to other developing countries for emulation in standardising their country’s road safety management by the World Bank.

He stated that the organisation’s dreams are anchored on our goals of becoming a world class organisation with sufficient capacity to contribute to the realisation of the targets of the United Nations Decade of Action for Road Safety: 2011-2020 as well as Accra Declaration of 2007 with targets of fatality reduction to 50% by 2015.

founded on the principle of participatory democracy remains strong and firm.

What has been demonstrated today is that the labour moment still has a lot to teach the political class, that we can disagree, errors can be made.

“There were many who thought this is the beginning of a prolong fighting

within the labour family, but I believe our comrades have demonstrated that Nigerian workers need a united voice; a voice that cannot be ignored, a voice that can back and bite, and the one that has the capacity to interrogate all the people that manipulate the apparatus of government at whatever level.”

Oshiomhole moves to recover govt land from monarch’s son

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son of the Oba of Benin, Prince Ekpen Erediauwa, yesterday resigned his appointment from the Adams Oshiomhole administration of Edo State as Executive Director (Government House).

The resignation came on the heels of moves by the state government to recover a parcel of land that Prince Erediauwa allegedly acquired illegally.

However, the resignation did not come without any drama, as Ekpen also alleged that he was being harassed while his life was being threatened.

He has also threatened to go to court to show proof of his legal acquisition of the land but and enforce his fundamental rights.

It will be recalled that the state government had recently reclaimed some 18 choice properties illegally acquired by authorities of the University of Benin in the same vicinity.

Speaking on the acquisition, Prince Erediauwa said: “There is a parcel of land at Okoro-Otun Avenue in G.R.A., Benin. It is a Federal Government property based on investigations I conducted few years ago. I made some contacts and acquired the land.

“Last week, the Comrade Governor invited me and asked about the property. I said yes, I owned it and that some people were working on it and I stopped them. I told him that the land belongs to me.

“He told me to stay away from the land. He said if I don’t stay away from the land, he will arrest me. He said if I send anybody there, they will be physically manhandled. My lawyers are look-

ing into the matter.”

The state government in its reaction described the allegation of threat to life made by Erediauwa as blackmail and amateurish.

The statement said: “Our attention has been drawn to a wild allegation made by Ekpen Erediauwa that Edo State Governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, was after his life over a parcel of land.

“This is nothing but an amateurish attempt at blackmail.

“The truth is that the young man had taken to a career of land speculation, engaging armed thugs to harass hapless developers all over town.

“He was enjoined to desist from these nefarious activities.

“It would have made sense if the young man had provided proof of ownership of the land he is laying claims to.

“Truly, these are political times when idle hands would push anything for bread and butter.

“I think it is quite instructive that the young man permitted himself the liberty to tell these funny lies yesterday in company of Edo PDP Chairman, Mr. Daniel Orbih.

“Well, we can only wish PDP and their new hireling best of luck.”

Oshiomhole

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South West

Thursday, February 19, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

INEC plotting to disenfranchise Ogun voters —Amosun FEMI OYEWESO ABEOKUTA

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gun State Governor, Ibikunle Amosun, yesterday raised an alarm over what he described as plot by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to deliberately disenfranchise over 800,000 registered voters during the forthcoming general elections in the state.

The governor disclosed this to journalists yesterday after his visit to the commission’s headquarters at Magbon, off Presidential Boulevard, Abeokuta, the state capital, where he had gone to monitor progress on the Permanent Voter Cards, PVCs collection.

He accused INEC of deliberately importing about 625,000 names of registered voters who are not from the

state.

Amosun queried the presence of “alien and fictitious cards” in Ogun since November last year and urged the electoral body to return them to wherever they were brought into the state.

He lamented that only 40 per cent of registered voters in the state had collected PVCs, wondering why INEC chose to distribute the cards

piecemeal to Ogun electorate, whereas same were being distributed in bulk in other states of the federation. According to him, “Of the newly registered voter cards about 150,000 were distributed out of about 450,000.

As at today, the total number of PVCs collected stands at 639,000 out of 2.9 million.”

The governor expressed sadness that despite formally writing to INEC last

December 15 to correct the anomaly observed, such as missing names, the agency did not deem it fit to dignify him with a reply.

Amosun cited some local governments - Ijebu - Ode, Odogbolu, Ado - Odo - Ota, Yewa North, Yewa South, Ipokia, Abeokuta North, Abeokuta South, among others, as places where voters had been unable to access their cards.

“We are appealing to INEC to please release our cards; we have demonstrated that if they bring our cards we will collect, so they have over 280,000 of the new cards. Even when they were distributing the cards in November, they would say: ‘You will see your name and get the card. In one week, it will be ready’, but between November and now we have not seen it.

Subsidy murder: Judge threatens to send Fabunmi back to prison WALE IGBINTADE

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agos High Court judge, Olabisi Akinlade, has warned that she would not hesitate to send a dismissed Divisional Police Officer, DPO, CSP Segun Fabunmi, back to prison, if his lawyer fails to file final written addresses before the next adjourned date.

The former DPO is standing trial over an alleged murder of one Ademola Daramola who was murdered at the Yahaya Abatan Junction, Ogba, Lagos, during the fuel subsidy protest on January 9, 2012.

At the resumed trial, Justice Akinlade accused Fabunmi’s lawyer, Mr Odeshola, of deliberately wasting the court’s time and taking it for granted because Fabunmi was on bail.

Akinlade said: “It is because Fabunmi is on bail that you are taking the court for granted.

If you needed the court proceedings, you would have come for it on time because this matter was adjourned November 19, 2014. You are treating this matter with levity, I will send him back to prison; you are not serious (and) I won’t take it.”

The judge also warned that she would not accept any further excuse once she gives any new date.

However, the matter could not go on as the defendant’s counsel, Mr Odeshola, informed the court that he was yet to file written address before the court as it has not been written.

The judge adjourned the matter to April 23, for final written addresses and urged the prosecu-

tion to file their response on time.

Fabunmi, a former DPO of Pen Cinema police station, Agege, Lagos at the last adjourned date denied killing the deceased while being cross-examined by the State Counsel, Olabisi Ogungbesan.

Fabunmi, who had served in the police for 28 years before his dismissal, had admitted to booking an AK47 riffle on December 23, 2011 with two magazines each containing 30 rounds of ammunition from the police armourer.

“I held an AK47 gun with serial number 526309 and I responded to a distress call at the Yahaya Abatan junction at Ogba.”

He said six or seven junior police officers accompanied him and “when we got there, there was total breakdown of law and order.

The protesters held people hostage, smashed car windscreens, harassed passersby and when they sighted our patrol vehicle they started throwing sticks, knives and molotov cocktails at us.”

The defendant in his testimony said his weapon was not secured on his way to the scene and that on getting there, the hoodlums tried to dispossess him of his weapon leading to the ammunition being discharged.

Fabunmi admitted to not remembering the name of the medical doctor that treated him but said he could recollect what his appearance looked like.

The defendant also denied chasing and shooting at several people which led to them sustaining gunshot wounds.

Ogun State Governor Ibikunle Amosun addressing members of the press over shortage of permanent voters card, in Abeokuta, yesterday.

Lagos fails to abolish death penalty FRANCIS SUBERU

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agos State government yesterday said it will not expunge capital punishment from its criminal code, which prescribes death sentence for convicted murderers and armed robbers.

According to a statement signed by AttorneyGeneral and Commissioner for Justice, Ade Ipaye, the government came to the conclusion on the matter yesterday after weeks of intense investigation and decided the death penalty be retained in its criminal code to serve as deterrent against violent crimes such as murder and armed robbery.

The statement read in part: “Following several abolition campaigns and international advocacy, which were addressed to Lagos State Government in particular as the pace setter in justice sector reforms, the State Executive Council considered the

proposition to abolish or retain the death penalty in Lagos State Common Law. “In taking its decision, the state commissioned an empirical research that surveyed the perception of Lagos residents and elicited their opinion on the abolition debate, including the question on whether they believe the death penalty currently deters violent crime.

“The objective and outcome of the survey is therefore, to inform the development of a state policy on capital punishment that relies on empirical evidence and is based on consultation with citizens and justice sector stakeholders.

“The survey was undertaken in two categories: public survey (random selection of 2,000 members of the public) and experts’ survey (selected 100 persons who have close contact with the criminal justice process and system).”

Ipaye added, “Over half of the respondents (51.1 percent) advised La-

gos State Government to execute convicts on the death row while only 38.

5 percent maintained otherwise; 9.7 percent were undecided while 0.8 percent did not proffer any opinion.

“Whilst 61.9 percent of the respondents believed that the death penalty is a necessary retributive tool, as much as 59 percent opined that the death penalty does not bring a sense of happiness to the family of the victim(s). A majority of the respondents (67.2 percent) however recommended that Lagos State should retain the death penalty.”

According to him, the study found that gender, age and religion play important roles in understanding the orientation of Lagos residents on the issue of capital punishment.

“Hence while majority of the people support death penalty across the socio-demographics, more males, older people and

less religious people support the death penalty.

“Majority of the respondents surveyed supported the use of the death penalty in Lagos State. The survey also revealed that over 54 percent of the respondents advised the Lagos State Government to execute convicts on death row.

“A large number of respondents also believed that the death penalty is a necessary retributive tool and a majority of the respondents recommended that the state should retain death penalty because it serves positive retributive and deterrence purposes.”

Against the backdrop of perceptions and expert survey, the Attorney-General affirmed that, “The State Executive Council adopted the position that the death penalty should be retained in the Criminal Law of Lagos State to serve as a deterrent against violent crimes, such as murder and armed robbery.”

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

South West

Thursday, February 19, 2015

9

FG decries destruction of pedestrian bridges’ head room

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L-R: Jowe of Irukorogha, Oba Mathew Olasehinde; Secretary of Council, Oba Saliu Oyemola; Chairman, Yoruba Obas Conflicts Resolution Committee, Oba Frederick Akinruntan; Olujaani of Iyani, Oba Dawodu Sunday and Gbaluwe of Igbotu Kingdom, Oba Ajayi Adeniyi, during the committee’s meeting in Ibadan, yesterday.

PHOTO: NAN

Clampdown on opposition: Yoruba groups warn FG GBOYEGA ADEOYE

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oalition of Oodua Self Determination Groups, COSEG, has described the unfolding political crisis in the country as “invitation to war� even as it warned the Federal Government to immediately arrest the situation.

Soldiers were recently drafted to homes of some chieftains of the All Progressives Congress, APC, while a rally by the party was also aborted by some hoodlums in Rivers State, Tuesday.

The group, after an emergency meeting yesterday vowed to secure the Yoruba land from the lin-

gering crisis pervading the country.

In its resolution, COSEG vowed “to turn the South West to a war zone through the ongoing witch-hunting of opposition across the country by the Federal Government.�

This is coming as the Oodua Liberation Movement, OLM, also warned that it is prepared to go into the trenches to save the Yorubas from external forces should the ongoing shenanigans in Nigeria’s political scene persists.

OLM disclosed this resolution at a press briefing succeeding a one day stakeholders summit, which held in Lagos yesterday with the theme: “2015 and

the Yoruba Nation.�

In a release jointly signed by Chairman, Coordinating Council of COSEG, Dayo Ogunlana, and its Secretary, Razaq Olokooba, the group reasoned that the scuttling of the earlier election timetable by the Federal Government, the lingering use of state apparatus to witchhunt members of the opposition party and the threat by militants from the Niger-Delta region to bring war to the doorsteps of the Yoruba nation, are issues of grave concern that would not be taken lightly.

COSEG, which enjoined the two leading political parties in the country, the APC and the Peoples

Democratic Party, PDP, to embrace peace that would ensure the success of the coming elections slated for March 28, and April 11, 2015, stressed that the group would be left with no option than to demand for a Yoruba nation should the current effort to maintain a country fail.

Aligning with COSEG’s position, OLM National Coordinator, Barrister Gbenga Awosode, noted that there was no way the outcome of the coming elections would not result in crisis, no matter who wins the election and therefore enjoined members of the coalition to gird their loins to ensure that no crisis is brought to the South West.

Don’t expect credible polls, NAP warns BOLADALE BAMIGBOLA OSOGBO

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head of March 28 Presidential and National Assembly elections, the leadership of National Advance Party, NAP, yesterday said Nigerians should not expect credible polls.

It accused Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Professor Attahiru Jega, of creating an atmosphere that favours only the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and the All Progressives Congress, APC, to the detriment of other parties.

Addressing a press conference in Osogbo, deputy national chairman of the party, Tosin Odeyemi, said failure of Jega to peg the amount parties can charge for nomination forms and campaigns has given undue advantage to the two leading parties. “There is no party that can match the spending abilities of APC and PDP. The two parties have been flaunting resources of the country that have been illegally acquired over the years. What Jega should have done was to peg the amount of money each party can spend on elections.

That would have given other parties with little resources

a chance to compete,� Odeyemi said.

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ederal Roads Committee on Surveillance and Action against Road Abuse, FERCSARA, has decried destruction of the base of pedestrian and overhead bridges in Lagos by trucks laden with goods.

Acting chairman of the committee, Mr Kehinde Afolabi, disclosed this to the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, in Lagos on Wednesday.

Afolabi therefore, called for the installation of Closed Circuit Television, CCT, for effective monitoring and surveillance toward arresting erring truck drivers. “The head room of what they are carrying is higher than the head room of the pedestrian or overhead bridge.

“It happens on the federal highways too, when a particular container is higher than the head room of the pedestrian bridge or a normal bridge. “In such case, you just see an accident occurring; the vehicles would now have to be impounded and the owners made to pay for the repair of the damaged bridge. “FERCSARA has sanctions already in place, but what still disturbs the agency is the accounts we have not been able to open. “We have tried to open accounts, but we want to follow due process, opening an account with the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN; but we will make offenders to fix it back before we can release their vehicles.

129 drug traffickers arrested at MMIA in 2014 —NDLEA

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ational Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, said it had arrested 129 suspected drug traffickers at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, MMIA, Ikeja, Lagos, in 2014 as part of its anti-narcotics war.

Head of Public Relations of NDLEA, Mr Mitchel Ofoyeju, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, on Wednesday in Abuja.

Ofoyeju said the suspects comprised 118 males and 11 females, while 436.065kg of drugs estimated at about N2.9 billion was seized from them. “The breakdown indicates that cocaine has the largest quantity with 120.44kg. “Methamphetamine is next with 108.645kg; cannabis sativa 107.855kg; heroin 51.01kg; psychotropic substances 37.285kg and ephed-

rine 10.83kg. “The estimated street value of the seized drugs in 2014 was N2.9 billion,� he said.

He quoted NDLEA Commander at the Lagos airport, Mr Hamza Umar, as saying that 117 traffickers were apprehended on 18 airlines, while 44 of them were arrested trying to import narcotics into the country.

He said drug traffickers had adopted different modes of drug concealment, while the command arrested 29 persons who ingested narcotics, 88 hid the drugs in their luggage and four were connected with anal ingestion.

The NDLEA spokesperson said the MMIA command also made financial seizures, including 24,362 dollars, 23,450 Euros, 10,000 Pound Sterling, N240, 000, 1,140 South African Rand and 250,500 fake dollars at the airport in 2014.

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South East

Thursday, February 19, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Obi fomenting trouble in Agulu, says aide FRANCIS EKPONE ONITSHA

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L-R: Ezeudo Ndigbo, Iba Local Council Development Area, Eze John Ezebuadi; Eze Ndigbo of Alimosho, Eze Samuel Udoh and Ezeigbo Amuwo Odofin Local Council Area, Dr. Anthony Elu, during the meeting of Igbo leaders with Lagos PDP gubernatorial candidate, Mr. Jimi Agbaje, in Lagos, yesterday.

Scam: Ebonyi Assembly adopts petitions against Elechi … as lawmaker threatens impeachment notice Aliuna Godwin Abakaliki Ebonyi State House of Assembly yesterday adopted five petitions written by one Barr. Clement Odah against Governor Martin Elechi and his son, the governorship candidate of Labour Party, Edward Nkwegu, Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters, Celestine Nwali, and others, for alleged financial misappropriation.

Minority Leader Enyi C. Enyi threatened to come up with impeachment motion against the governor if the allegations in the petitions received by the state House of Assembly on financial impropriety were found to be true.

The petitioner, Odah, accused the governor of gross economic and financial irregularity, where Elechi allegedly acted with “unscrupulous private individuals and corrupt elements within the government.” He alleged that in the case of Ebonyi Cement Company Limited, the directors of the company were the state Ministry of Finance, one Chief Linus Nwamba and one Edward Nkwegu, representing EDON Nigeria Ltd. He also claimed that the directors doubled as sole shareholders with each having 50 million, 25 million and 175 million units of shares respectively.

Other petitions involved the abandonment of the contract for the construction of Ebonyi Trade Cen-

tre located at Presco junction, Abakaliki, the state capital, and diversion of the contract sum to private ventures by the contractor, Edward Nkwegu, the LP gubernatorial candidate.

The petitioner noted that the project was awarded to the contractor in June 2005 at the original sum of N1.4 billion and when Elechi came into power in 2007, the revised contract sum became a total of N2.4billion, amounting to 50 percent increase of the original sum.

Other allegation that annoyed the lawmakers was the alleged use of Ebonyi Oil and Gas Development Company Limited as instrument of fraud by the governor, which had as nominal share capital at the time of incorporation,

N200 million divided into 200 million ordinary shares, all fully allotted and paid for.

The petitioner also alleged that the directors of the company were the state Ministry of Finance vide Mr. Peter Nwokpor, Nkwegu and Best Southern Global Services Ltd with 50 million, 100 million and 25 million units of shares respectively.

Emphasising on the allegations, the Minority Leader noted that the opposition All Progressives Congress, APC, has been vindicated that there were pockets of fraud in Elechi’s administration.

“Most of these funds are not appropriated for. It is a crime and an impeachable offence for the governor to use a chunk of public mon-

r Nduka Alor, aide to former Anambra State governor, Peter Obi, has lampooned his former boss for allegedly sponsoring thugs to foment trouble in Agulu community due to selfish interest.

Alor, a native of Agulu who served as Special Adviser to Obi on youth mobilisation, said it is ridiculous for the former governor to throw all caution to the wind in a shameless effort to pull the wool over the eyes of Agulu people in their committed desire to cue behind the sitting governor, Willie Obiano; the National Chairman of All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA and senatorial flag bearer of the party in Anambra Central, Victor Umeh.

Alor, who addressed journalists in Awka yesterday over the recent attack on Umeh’s campaign vehicles

at Agulu, Obi’s hometown, said that Obi should bury his face in shame in Agulu community.

It would be recalled that Obiano, who is also the Board of Trustees, BoT chairman of APGA; alongside Umeh and other APGA leaders escaped unhurt on Sunday when some sponsored youths attacked them at Agulu during a campaign rally.

It was reported that some party chieftains were not so lucky to escape such as the chairman of Anaocha local government area, Ike Obi Ejiofor, who was seriously stoned and beaten, even as many vehicles were damaged including Umeh’s billboard at ‘Nwagu Agulu’ and environs.

Alor blamed the attack on Obi, saying: “He is the brain behind all the problems in Agulu. He had worked for Anambra State for eight years and nobody disturbed him.

Aba market threat to food products —NAFDAC

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hief Regulatory Officer of NAFDAC, Aba office, Mr Udoekpo Ekpo, says Eziukwu Road Market in Aba, Abia State is a threat to efforts to rid the state of fake food products.

Udoekpo said this on Tuesday while speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN in Aba. The CRO said one of the agency’s major troubles in its regulatory services to people of the state is the massive faking of packaged food products and drinks in the market.

He said operators in the market do not support the agency to rid it of fake pack-

aged food products originating from there but threatened its operatives at the market.

“Two months ago, my men went in there to cull fake products and the traders locked us inside the market, and we could not go out.

“We are trying our best to see that Aba ceases to be the hub of fake food products around the East. We are not there yet but we are hoping to get there soon,” he said.

Udoekpo stressed the need for people to feed the agency with vital information in order to save many people from becoming victims of fake products.

Unpaid N18bn: Contractors vow to stop Okorocha’s re-election CHRIS NJOKU OWERRI

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npaid contractors in Imo State yesterday vowed to mount campaign against the reelection bid of Governor Rochas Okorocha if he fails to pay the N18 billion owed for work done, before the gubernatorial election.

The angry contractors, who spoke under the aegis of Unpaid Imo Contractors, UPIC, made the resolution yesterday after an eighth-

hour meeting.

Chairman of the group, Rev. Udogadi Ononiwu, shortly after the meeting, said a total of N18 billion was owed the contractors.

He said members of UPIC were legitimate contractors whose contracts passed through normal process with Imo State government, adding that most of them executed the contracts up to 60 per cent, but were yet to receive any mobilisation from government.

He said at least eight of their members had died due to heart failure and vowed that the coalition “would do everything possible to stop Governor Okorocha from being re-elected into office if he does not pay us before the governorship election slated for April 11.”

Ononiwu further debunked the information earlier passed by Imo State government that contractors had fully been paid, adding that such information was unfounded.

He challenged the government to take further steps in determining who the real contractors in the state were and also assess the job they have done so far.

“We are aware that there are contractors whose contracts did not pass through due process and if government has paid such people, it should not be generalised that all contractors have been paid.

“Members of UPIC are certified contractors whose

contracts are backed by relevant documents from state government,” he added.

When contacted, the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Chidi Ibe, denied that the state government was owing the contractors N18 billion, stressing that the opposition was behind the dust raised. “As far as I am concerned, the government does not owe any contractor one naira. I challenge anybody with a proof of evidence to provide it.

He said, except “they are contractors whose contracts were terminated due to shoddy jobs or incomplete job. Most of these people are sponsored by opposition to make such unnecessary claims.

“What is the total allocation of Imo State for one month? Imo State allocation is in the neighbourhood of N2 billion to N3 billion a month and somebody is saying that the state government is owing them N18 billion.”

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

South South

Thursday, February 19, 2015

11

IGP orders investigation into Okrika shootings • We are also investigating – DSS OMEIZA AJAYI, DENNIS NAKU AND JOEL AJAYI

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nspector-General of Police, IGP Suleiman Abba, has ordered full investigation into Tuesday’s shooting at the campaign rally of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Okrika, Rivers State.

In the incident, three policemen were injured while one was killed.

A police statement issued yesterday in Abuja and signed by Force Public Relations Officer, Emmanuel Ojukwu, said the IGP has directed Assistant Inspector-

General of Police in charge of Zone 6 Calabar, AIG Johnson Tunde Ogunsakin, to take over the investigation and promptly bring all the perpetrators, conspirators and sponsors to book.

He further directed a judicious prosecution of suspects arrested in connection with violence across the country.

The IGP also noted with grave concern that despite serious warnings and interfaces with political actors to avoid acts of violence in the ongoing electoral process, such acts have continued unabated.

PDP, Wike, Bipi, deny involvement

He, however, restated the force’s resolve in line with its constitutional and statutory mandate, to continue to provide impartial level playing ground for all political parties to sell their manifestos to the electorate.

The IGP deeply regretted the loss of lives of policemen in the course of providing safety in the electoral process.

Department of State Service, DSS, yesterday also said it had taken over the matter for a thorough investigation.

The DSS assured it would not wait for people with

questionable characters to disrupt the forthcoming general elections; hence, it would take them in before the polls.

Spokesperson of the DSS, Marilyn Ogar, stated this in Abuja yesterday.

Fielding questions from journalists on the Okrika attack, Ogar said: “We are investigating it, that is why we are saying if you have observed there is a new face, unexplained movement of persons or people you don’t know, sudden business concerns cropping up around you, you need to alert security agencies, so we are defi-

Rivers State PDP Governorship Candidate, Barr. Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, greeting women and youths during his tour of markets in Obio/Akpor and Port Harcourt, yesterday.

nitely investigating it.

“And, of course, far beyond that, there is profiling of those who their presence in certain areas cannot be easily and immediately explained. So, may be on the election dates, one group will get up and say some of its supporters have been whisked away, we have pro-

Lawmaker tasks FG on Calabar-Itu road dualisation RICHARD NDOMA CALABAR

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hairman, Cross River State House of Assembly Committee on Finance and Appropriation, Dr. Jake Otu Enyia, yesterday called on the Federal Government to dualise the Calabar-Itu road so as to facilitate free entry and exit of goods from the Calabar seaport to their destinations.

Otu-Enyia gave the charge while interacting with journalists in Calabar on Wednesday.

The lawmaker, who also doubles as Deputy Director for Audit in the Jonathan/ Sambo Campaign Organisation, attributed the reason why businesses hardly thrive in Calabar to the poor and bad road network linking several other towns and cities and called on government to expedite action in the rehabilitation and

Dwindling revenue: Delta govt sells shares in private coys AMOUR UDEMUDE ASABA

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elta State government has debunked what it called rumours making the rounds in some sections of the media on purported sale of the state government’s shares in some companies.

Reacting to the alleged sale of the state’s shares in some companies, Commissioner for Information, Barrister Chime Ogeah, in a press statement made available to our correspondent, said the government had resources to spare in the short and medium term and had therefore taken decision to invest in some viable ventures as a way of saving for the rainy day.

According to Ogeah, “that decision has undoubtedly paid off with the steep decline in the price of crude oil, which led to a huge drop in the statutory allocation the state receives from the Federal Government.

“Given the very significant decline in the resources available to the state government as a result of the low price of crude oil, government decided to sell its shares in Transcorp Ughelli Power Limited and Midwestern Oil and Gas Company Limited.

“In line with the provisions of the Fiscal Responsibility Act, the issue was tabled before the state’s Executive Council, which approved commencement of the process of divestment in both companies. Contrary

to what is trending in a section of the press, no shares belonging to the Delta State Government have been sold yet. Rather, the process has just begun with the Executive Council’s approval of,” Ogeah said.

The commissioner disclosed that contrary to the impression that the sale was being conducted unilaterally, due process was strictly observed with the appointment of financial advisers to the exercise, adding that the amount mentioned as realisable was only a benchmark based on the evaluation of current market trends by the financial advisers.

“In effect, actual sale could see more money being realised. It could also be less.

As part of adherence to due

process, existing shareholders in the two companies will exercise the right of first refusal as enshrined in the articles of association of both companies.

“We will stress here that the Delta State government bought the shares at a time it had excess funds.

The idea is not just to save for the rainy day, but also to buy when prices are low and sell when high dividends can be assured. By all market indices, what will be realised from the sale would be a significant profit from the earlier investment.

“The enduring hallmark of the Emmanuel Uduaghan administration is its adherence to the rule of law and protection of the common interest of the people

file of people with questionable character and just before election they would be taken in.

“Coordinator of the National Information Centre, NIC, Mr Mike Omeri, also disclosed that some terrorists had been arrested at the IDP camps in the North East.

of Delta State. The government will never engage in any untoward transaction and there is absolutely nothing ‘controversial or scandalous’ about the sale.”

Ogeah, while emphasising that government was aware of the fact that in these political times even the most altruistic policy decisions will be subjected to mischievous interpretations by political jobbers, saying that however, government will not be distracted.

He assured that in line with the governor’s vow to continue to work for the people, Dr. Uduaghan will see to the continuous attainment of his contract with the people of the state until the final day of his administration.

dualisation of the CalabarIkom-Katsina Ala road and Ikom-Obudu road in order to facilitate smooth flow of business concerns in the state.

The legislator lamented that businesses in Cross River had always operated on a very poor and slow levels, given the nature of bad and inaccessible road network in the state.

Otu-Enyia, who represents Boki 11 State Constituency in the state’s House of Assembly, assured Cross River people that all ongoing projects in the state would be completed and commissioned before the Imoke tenure comes to an end, adding that with the 2015 appropriation budget of N149.44 billion, all projects in the state would be completed and commissioned before the present dispensation comes to an end.

He said that the House of Assembly was poised to complete the Calabar International Convention Centre, the Institute of Technology and Management, the School of Nursing and Midwifery among several other projects.

“We have a budget size of N149.44billion, this budget would accommodate all the ongoing projects in the state and the present administration would complete and commission them before leaving office. ‘’For us, these projects are in our hearts, and we must try and complete them before the end of this administration in May 29.

“The 2015 budget christened `budget of transition’ would ensure timely completion of projects in the state,’’ he said.

He said the budget which was still under consideration in the assembly would focus in economic development if passed into law.

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North

Thursday, February 19, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

TMG condemns siege on opposition politicians ...warns against compromising new election dates UBONG UKPONG ABUJA

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ransition Monitoring Group, TMG, yesterday condemned the siege on opposition politicians by security forces in the country, stressing that it was unsavoury for democracy.

In a statement signed by its chairman, Comrade

Ibrahim Zikirullahi, and made available to the media in Abuja, the group warned that the new election dates of March 28 and April 11, must not be compromised again.

It described as unacceptable the postponement of the 2015 general elections earlier slated for February 14, which it said

was an unsavoury development in the polity.

“We note with concern that the Federal Government and other elements in the ruling party have been pushing the military further into partisan political terrain in a manner that portends grave danger to our hard won democracy.

“In what is apparently a throwback to the dark days of military dictatorship, opposition politicians are being hounded, while buildings of compatriots, who have taken a principled stand against the illegalities being perpetrated against the Nigerian people, have been. placed under surveillance. Our expectation was that after getting

Staff of Bauchi State Teachers Service Commission checking applicants’ results during the commission’s interview for employment of 3,021 teachers in Bauchi, yesterday.

PHOTO: NAN

Unijos surcharges students N6,000 for damages …resumes Feb 23 JAMES ABRAHAM JOS

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he lingering crisis between management of the University of Jos and the students appears to have been laid to rest.

Trouble started when the students staged a demonstration in November last year over issues bordering on their welfare, but the demonstration, which turned violent, forced the school’s management to close the institution.

Barely three months after the school was shut down, the university authority in a release last week announced the resumption of academic activities starting from Monday February 23, 2015, and pointing out that only students who have complied with the conditions approved by Senate, including payment of N12,000 for properties damaged during the demonstration would be allowed to sit for the second semester examinations, a development the students rejected.

National Mirror gath-

ered yesterday that all areas of disagreement between the students and the university authority were resolved during a meeting in Jos on Tuesday with officials of the National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS, led by its National President, Tijani Usman Shehu.

It was further learnt that during the meeting, the university authority agreed to reduce the surcharge meant to cover the cost of damages and other expenses incurred by the university as a result of the students’ demon-

stration, from N12,000 to N6,000 and also lifting the suspension order on 16 former officials of the dissolved Students Union, among others A statement issued by the institution’s Registrar, Mr. Jilli-Dandam, which was made available to National Mirror in Jos yesterday, confirmed the resolution of the crisis.

The statement also insisted that all returning students must sign an undertaking on oath to be of good behavior during their remaining period of stay as students of the university.

ABUCCI to build N50bn mall

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buja Chamber of Commerce and Industry Limited, ABUCCI, on Wednesday said it had started building a shopping mall, a five-star hotel and investment centre in the FCT. Mr Tony Ejinkeonye, new president of ABUCCI, made this known in an interview with the News

Agency of Nigeria, NAN, in Abuja.

He said the projects would cost the organisation over N50 billion.

According to him, the association has started work on the mall and plans are ongoing on the hotel and investment centre.

Ejinkonye explained that the chambers had

started reaching out to all the regional embassies within Africa to ensure the chamber increased its scope of market.

He said the association had some contacts and signed agreements with other countries to fasttrack market development with other nations.

Ejinkonye explained

that the organisation had also gone into partnership with many countries within the African region, such as South Africa, to increase its business growth.

He said ABUCCI was currently making efforts to ensure that enough awareness was created among its members and the foreign nations to facilitate business among them.

away with the subversive postponement of the general elections, and seeing the opprobrium it had generated from Nigerians, the government would tow an acceptable and less divisive path.

To our consternation, however, what we have seen is a continuation of impunity, using the coercive instruments of state power,” it stated.

The group said that the use of security forces to intimidate fellow citizens was barbaric and unacceptable.

“We therefore call on government to immediately bring to a halt the ongoing surveillance of the homes of opposition politicians. We make bold to say that the government is further eroding its legitimacy as long as it continues to use the military to intimidate and harass fellow Nigerians.”

Describing the act as a brazen infringement on the fundamental rights and civil liberties of Nigerians, TMG warned that

this is a recipe for chaos and anarchy.

The TMG therefore demanded an immediate end to all sieges that have been laid to the homes of opposition politicians.

It added that studying the pre-election environment within the context of early warning, has given the group deep insights into the major issues in the 2015 electoral process.

“One of the most worrisome of these is the level of violent attacks that have characterised the process. We condemn all forms of violence; including destruction of candidates’ properties that have plagued the campaign environment.

“We call on all candidates, as well as other stakeholders to stop paying lip service to the quest for peace by ensuring they denounce supporters that engage in violence.

This is in line with the Peace Accords that have been endorsed by the candidates.

Defection: Niger Assembly declares two seats vacant PRISCILLA DENNIS MINNA

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iger State House of Assembly yesterday during a rowdy session declared vacant the seats of two of its members for dumping the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, for the All Progressives Congress, APC. Bashir Abdullahi Isa Lokogoma, representing Wushishi Constituency and Nazeer Abdullahi, representing Rijau Constituency, defected from PDP to APC. They were walked out of the chamber despite alleged claim to have secured a court order restraining the Assembly from taking any action against them.

Declaring their seats vacant, the Speaker, Mr. Adamu Usman said the action of the Assembly was based on the letter written to it by the state’s chapter of the PDP confirming that the two members defected to APC. And based on section 109 sub-section 2 of the 1999 Constitution, as

amended, the Speaker directed the Clerk of the House to write officially to INEC on the resolution of the house and to conduct election within 90 days.

The letter reads in part: “Information reaching the state secretariat of the party indicates that two members of the state Assembly, Bashir Abdullahi Isa Lokogoma and Nazeer Abdullahi, have defected and abandoned the PDP, which provided the platform for their election and joined the opposition APC party. The State Working Committee, SWC, of the party has investigated and found the information to be true.

“The SWC is of the firm view that the action of the said State Assembly members were taken without recourse to the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 and therefore uses this medium to call on the Speaker to invoke the relevant providing of the 199 constitution which empowers him to remedy this kind of invasion and brazen affront to our constitution.”

Thursday, February 19, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

13

Politics

Poll shift, threats and interim government 37 DAYS TO GO

Amidst allegations and rebuttals, the whisper of Interim Government has remained thick and refused to peter out from the horizon. OBIORA IFOH, WOLE OLADIMEJI, ROTIMI FADEYI and UBONG UKPONG take a look at the true position and who stands to win or lose?

S

ince 1960, when the country got its independence from the colonial masters and the enthronement of self rule, the nation never experienced interim government, IG, in any form until the military regime of General Ibrahim Babangida contrived the Interim National Government, ING, after his administration annulled the June 12, 1993 general election believed to have been won by late Chief Moshood Abiola.

The crisis which followed the annulment made General Babangida to quit government or “step aside” under pressure and therefore set up an ING on August 26, 1993, headed

by Chief Ernest Shonekan, a British-trained lawyer and industrialist.

Since the constitution of the country and democratic structures had been suspended by the military regime, the nation was ruled by decrees. Therefore, the Shonekan-led ING was not backed by any law of the constitution.

The Shonekan-led government or transitional administration only lasted for three months, as a palace coup led by the then Defence Chief, late General Sani Abacha, dismantled all democratic institutions and brought the government back under military control on November 17, 1993.

But recently, about 22 years after the Shonekan-led ING, the emergence of another interim government is on the front burner, as the nation prepares for the conduct of the 2015 general elections, which were shifted from February 14 and 28 to March 28 and April 11.

The two major contenders in the presidential election, incumbent President Goodluck Jonathan of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP and General Muhammadu Buhari of the opposition All Progressives Congress, APC, are accusing each other of plotting to contrive an IG, which would be unconstitutional and illegal under a democratic dispensation.

At a book launch last December, Minister of Police Affairs, Jelili Adesiyan had disclosed that there was a grand plan by former President Olusegun Obsanjo and Buhari, both retired Generals of the Nigerian Army to foist an interim government on the people as fallout of the elections.

Adesiyan spoke at the launch of a book titled, “Watch the Watcher” written by Yinka Odumakin, which was in reaction to Obasanjo’s book, ‘My Watch’ Similarly, the Buhari camp is also pointing accusing fingers at Jonathan, saying he was not ready to conduct the general elections but nursing the idea of handing over power to an interim government.

Former Director of Communications, Buhari Campaign Organisations, Dele Alake, said it was silly for anyone to say that Buhari was plotting the emergence of an interim government when Buhari was also participating in the presidential election.

He said: “It must have dawned on Nigerians that the PDP doesn’t have any answer to the multifarious problems plaguing Nigeria and that is why it has resorted to mudslinging and character assassination. If Buhari was planning an interim government, why would he be running for

Obasanjo

Jonathan

22 YEARS AFTER THE SHONEKAN-LED ING, THE EMERGENCE OF ANOTHER INTERIM GOVERNMENT IS

ON THE FRONT BURNER, AS THE NATION PREPARES FOR THE CONDUCT OF THE

2015

GENERAL ELECTIONS

President in the first place? I think sanity has taken leave from them.”

The issue has generated a lot of controversy as the constitution does not make provision for interim government but for a government voted into power by the people in an election. For those who are politically active, an interim government would certainly not have a place in a democratic setting.

Constitutionality of Interim Government Unlike the military government that is governed by de-

crees, the present democratic government derives its powers from the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria Section1 (1) of the 1999 Constitution states that “this constitution is supreme and shall be the binding force on all authorities and persons throughout the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”

Additionally, Section1 (2) states that: “the Federal Republic of Nigeria shall not be governed, nor shall any person or group of persons take control of Government of Nigeria or any part thereof, except in accordance with the provisions of this constitution.”

The constitution makes provisions for the office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as well as the office of the governor of a state through an election to be conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC. The constitution under which the present democratic system operates never made provision for an Interim Government and therefore would be unconstitutional, illegal, null and void.

Position of the Attorney General of the Federation The Office Attorney-General of the Federation, AGF, is backed by law under section 150 (1) of the constitution which states that “there shall be an Attorney General of the Federation, who shall be the Chief Law Officer, CLO, of the Federation and minister of the government of the federation.”

As the CLO of the federation, the present AGF and MinCONTINUED ON PAGE 14

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Politics

Thursday, February 19, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Poll shift, threats and 37 DAYS TO GO

CONTINUED ON PAGE 13 ister of Justice, Mohammed Bello Adoke, SAN, has come out to explain that that there exists no provision for an ING in the 1999 Constitution The AGF, in a statement he issued said the idea of ING is not known to the constitution.

The statement said: “My attention has been drawn to recent calls in the media by some Nigerians for the constitution of an ING to ostensibly midwife the 2015 general election to usher in a new democratic government.

“It has therefore become necessary to correct this misconception and refocus the citizenry on the path of constitutionalism and democratic tenets consistent with our quest for democratic consolidation in Nigeria.

“For the avoidance of doubt, it is pertinent to state that the framers of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria did not envisage the constitution of ING to superintend over the affairs of government.

“It is therefore not surprising to observe that no provision for ING was made in the constitution. The contraption called ‘Interim National Government’ is therefore alien to Nigeria’s constitutional framework and the arrangement should not be promoted by well–meaning Nigerians under any guise or circumstance.

“Nigerians are therefore enjoined to continue to rely on the constitution, which contains adequate provisions on how the democratic process can be activated to elect their leaders from time to time.”

Mark

Tambuwal

Adebanjo

called for the postponement of the February 2015 general elections, citing the unending terrorist attacks by Boko Haram in the North Eastern part of the country as the reason for his position.

Chief Adebanjo, an Afenifere chieftain, made the call in Abuja at the Fifth National Mirror anniversary lecture titled: “Insecurity as a Threat to 2015 Elections.”

Chairing the occasion, Adebanjo pointed out that what was currently going on at the North East states of Borno, Yobe and Adamawa was equal to a civil war.

He said the survival of the country should rather occupy the attention of the political elite and the entire citizenry now rather than an election.

He said: “Nigeria is the only country that I see that is trying to conduct an election while a civil war is ongoing. We should stop deceiving ourselves. How can you have an acceptable election in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa under the current climate?”

President, David Mark was part of the plan that led to the shift of the general elections, adding that the plan was to introduce an interim government which will eventually suspend the conduct of the election.

The APC senator representing Ekiti Central senatorial district in the upper chamber of the National Assembly had in a media report, allegedly accused Mark of masterminding the shift of the polls. Ojudu alleged that Mark had been asking his colleagues in the Senate to support the deferment of the 2015 elections, citing the worsening insurgency in the North-East.

Ojudu said: “From that moment on, I began to feel that the elections, as fixed for February, may not hold since the nation may not have overcome Boko Haram by then.”

However, Ojudu denied ever making such statement against the Senate President. He clarified that Senator Mark only said election should not be Nigeria’s priority, explaining that the Senate President did not specifically ask senators to support the shift of the general elections.

Deji Adeyanju, an aide of Doyin Okupe, Senior Special Assistant to President Jonathan on Public Affairs, was recently quoted as having said the government will prefer a military coup than handing over to the APC presidential candidate, General Buhari.

He was quoted to have said: “Buhari can never be president of Nigeria. Quote me any day any time. Instead of Buhari to be president of this nation, Nigeria will rather break. Military coup will even be allowed than for Buhari to be president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”

Hon. Aminu Waziri Tambuwal Is an ING on the cards?

The extension by six weeks of the general election and a possibility of further shift in the date chiefly contributed to the apprehension in some quarters that there is indeed a grand design by the political class to foist an IG on the people.

The whistle was blown by the political class and fueled largely by commentaries from respectable voices in the society, a development that has continued to flesh up as the days go by.

Pastor Tunde Bakare In a sermon he delivered at the first Sunday service of the year 2015 and titled: “The Gathering Storm and Avoidable Shipwreck: How to Avoid Catastrophic Euroclydon,” Bakare advised the President to invoke section 135(3) of the 1999 Constitution and suspend the February general elections. He was said to have anchored his argument on the spate of insurgency in the North Eastern flank of the country and probably some isolated cases in other parts of the North.

Quoting from the book of Acts 27:1-25, he warned against what he called an “imminent storm, threatening to hit our nation” if his advice is not heeded.

Chief Ayo Adebanjo Elder statesman, Chief Adebanjo, also

Speaker of House of Representatives Hon. Tambuwal recently warned against contemplation of the IG, saying that there is no such provision in Nigerian Constitution.

His words: “You cannot postpone elections. There is no such provision in the constitution. You cannot form an interim government. The only option is to conduct election; an election that must be free, fair and credible.”

Senator Babafemi Ojudu The senator was allegedly quoted to have said in media reports that the Senate

THE WHISTLE WAS BLOWN BY THE POLITICAL CLASS AND FUELED LARGELY BY COMMENTARIES FROM RESPECTABLE VOICES

Senator David Mark Reacting to Senator Ojudu’s statement, Senator Mark came out to say that he never attended any meeting under any guise whatsoever to ask for the postponement of the elections, accusing Ojodu of attempting to ridicule his colleagues and drag the Senate into public disrepute.

Only on Tuesday, Mark in a brief welcome address to the senators after resumption from a one month election break, expressed concerns that the issue of interim government has been given undeserved prominence in the nation’s national discourse, reiterating that interim government was completely alien to the 1999 Constitution, noting that those who are pushing for ING are on a voyage of futility.

He said: “I am alarmed that the issue of ING has been given undeserved prominence in our national discourse. This is imprecise, sordid and strange. ING is alien to the 1999 Constitution (as amended). Therefore those calling for ING are pushing for an exercise in futility. This Senate is committed to the provisions of our Constitution which we swore to protect and we will not do anything to sabotage the democratic process.”

Doyin Okupe

Dr Audu Ogbeh Former minister and PDP chairman, now an APC chieftain, Dr Ogbeh, also warned that the postponement of the polls was indicative that the moves to have an interim government installed were still on.

He said: “Does this not suggest that we should expect high level theatrical manipulations as the six weeks get closer to convince us that another six weeks will be necessary? Isn’t this a ploy to ensure we enter May 29 without an election on grounds of nation-wide instability?

“Doesn’t this then give credence to rumours, and indeed, the declaration in a rowdy press conference four days ago by Dr. Okupe that they have no intention of handing over to General Buhari? Isn’t this leading to the strongly rumoured ING is time for all Nigerians to take heed that there are very many stormy and dark clouds ahead.”

President Olusegun Obasanjo’s whistle blowing Former President Obasanjo had in his usual whistle blowing antics stated that indeed, a plot is in the offing by the present government to perpetuate itself in government through the constitution of an i nterim government.

President Obasanjo said: “It looks to me that the President is trying to play (Laurent) Gbagbo. Gbagbo was the former President of Cote d’Ivoire and Gbagbo made sure he postponed the election in his country until he was sure he would win and then allowed the election to take place. He got an inconclusive election in the first ballot and I believe this is the sort of thing Nigeria may fall into if I am right in what I observed as the grand plan and then in the run-off, Gbagbo lost with 8 per cent behind Ouattara and then refused to hand over.”

However, the presidency in its reaction

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Politics

Thursday, February 19, 2015

15

interim government IT IS CLEAR

37 DAYS TO GO

THAT THERE IS NO PROVISION FOR INTERIM GOVERNMENT AND GOVERNMENT WOULD LIKELY AVOID THIS TO AVERT CONSTITUTIONAL CRISIS Bakare

through the presidential spokesman, Reuben Abati, pointedly accused Obasanjo of also plotting to “foist an unconstitutional ING, which he hopes to head.”

Abati said: “Chief Obasanjo’s plot with others within and outside the country to thwart the general elections and foist an unconstitutional ING, which he hopes to head, on the nation is well known to us, but by the grace of God Almighty, his odious plan to return to power through the back door will fail woefully.”

PDP, APC at each other’s jugular President Jonathan had only last week at a presidential media chat rubbished the interim government discourse, while also insisting that a new government must be sworn in by the May 29 dateline.

However, the two major political parties, the PDP and APC are both on each other’s throat over the possibility of an interim government. While APC is insisting that there was indeed a plot to extend the tenure of President Jonathan through other means, PDP has continued to disassociate itself from the purported Interim Government.

Director of Media and Publicity of the APC Presidential Campaign, Malam Garba Shehu, frowned at what he called the unholy alliance between the Jonathan government, PDP and the military for the purposes of subverting Nigerians’ franchise in the rescheduled elections.

Shehu said: “If the witch cried in the night and the baby died in the morning, it would not be a mere coincidence. Hence, the body of civilised and democratic people around the world believes that the security excuse used by this unpopular government to prolong the polls is untrue and pretentious.”

APC also alleged that the Federal Government and PDP had started a clandestine campaign, lobbying emirs and other opinion leaders to accept an IG from May. In a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, APC said: “It is an open secret that their emissary is touring the North, meeting with emirs and others to push for an interim government.

It has also been revealed how they plan to use the National Assembly to seek tenure elongation.”

General Abdulsalam Abubakar on the radar?

Ogbeh

Media report had it that former military Head of State, Abdulsalam Abubakar, has been approached by the Presidency to consider heading an ING that would be put in place on May 29.

According to a source, “General Abubakar promptly declined the offer and immediately informed some former Heads of State about the offer.”

However, neither the Presidency nor the former military leader has publicly made any statement on the matter.

Threats to the elections The Boko Haram insurgency and the crisis rocking the distribution of Permanent Voter Cards, PVCs by INEC, are two problems that pose big threat to the planned general election and are capable of stalling the elections and smooth transition if not properly handled.

There is the possibility that the wave of insurgency in the North East could be summarised as a situation of war and used as a reason by government to cancel elections until the war is addressed.

As it stands presently, it is not arguable that Nigeria is at war because only a section of the country is involved. The entire country and system are affected.

Internationally, it is known that Nigeria is facing a war situation, which is a general position of several international bodies and

war experts.

War, in international standard, is an organised and often prolonged conflict that is carried out by states or non-state actors.

It is generally characterised by extreme violence, social disruption and an attempt at economic destruction. War should be understood as an actual, intentional and widespread armed conflict between political communities, and therefore is defined as a form of collective political violence or intervention. The set of techniques used by a group to carry out war is known as warfare.

An absence of war is usually called peace.

Given this widely acclaimed definition of war, it is very correct to say that there is a prolonged armed conflict and absence of peace in the North which has been ravaged

by Boko Haram insurgency to the detriment of political, economic and social life in the region.

Consequently, it will be very genuine if government decides to proclaim same and stall the elections if the security of the people and country cannot be guaranteed.

Several potential Southern voters in the North, who registered in the North where they lived, have fled for safety and the government and INEC are watching them being disenfranchised against their wish.

How justified is it that they cannot vote in their country because they fled from the war torn Northern region? There is no bet-

ter name to call this than injustice, if the place cannot be made safe for them to return to exercise their franchise.

INEC has declared that it was ready for election as earlier scheduled, but knowing that the country was not very safe, the European Union, EU and other international observer groups refused to deploy observers to some states in the North knowing that their lives are at risk.

There are noted discrepancies in the distribution of PVCs. While the insurgence prone areas are reputed to have recorded high distribution rate, there are complaints of some eligible voters in other parts of the country who have been denied their PVCs with a calculated attempt to short change some candidates. There are worries that PVCs distribution in the North was quite higher than what obtained in the South.

This has become a serious problem that has led to agitation either for the use of Temporary Voter Card, TVCs, or have the elections wait until all the issues are resolved.

As Commander-In-Chief, C-i-C and Chief Security Officer, CSO, of the country, President Jonathan has demonstrated that he would ensure that the problems are resolved, elections held and new government inaugurated on May 29.

However, if the players in the political system continue with the current tempo that is breeding serious electoral violence to add to the existing conflict that government was trying to resolve, it may not go well as government would be justified by declaring a state of emergency as provided for in the constitution.

It is clear that there is no provision for interim government and government would likely avoid this to avert constitutional crisis, but will make proper use of the state of emergency across board for all elected offices, which will end up being acceptable internationally, because the country is having election crisis and a situation of war in the Northern region.

OLAJIDE OMOJOLOMOJU

APC, a bad loser –Adesiyan

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narily, I wouldn’t have dignified APC with any comment on this issue any more but because APC whose stock in trade are lies and propaganda can easily explore their propaganda machineries to turn black into white for people to take black as white. I would have also ignored their ranting and hallucinating tendencies but for Nigerians and the international community to know the truth since APC is a serial liar.

“It is very pathetic that whenever APC wins, the election is free and fair even with the mobilisation of military personnel. But whenever it loses, the election is rigged even with the same process that earlier favoured it.

“Isn’t it laughable that APC is alleging rigging in Ekiti when former Governor Kayode Fayemi was defeated in all the 16 local governments including his own local government? If they thought the election was

inister of Police Affairs, Alhaji Abdul Jelili Adesiyan, yesterday described the opposition All Progressives Congress, APC, as an association of bad losers who thrives on lies and propaganda.

Reacting to the call for his removal by the APC over the alleged Ekiti rigging audio clip, Adesiyan, speaking through his Chief Press Secretary, Wale Akinola, said that rather than call for his removal, APC should have told the whole world how they intended to subvert the people’s will in Ekiti before they were resisted by the good people of the state.

Reiterating that he wouldn’t have dignified APC with any more comments on the issue but for the purpose of history and to put the record straight, he said: “Ordi-

truly rigged, why didn’t they present the recently concocted audio clip at the tribunal to prove their case? Why did they have to wait till now when it is glaring that APC has totally been rejected by the people of Ekiti, before they went ahead to fabricate the audio clip to discredit the process of the election and some key participants in the elections.

This is just an exercise in futility.”

Saying that it was not out of place for a Minister of Police Affairs to ensure the police do their work professionally to have an hitch-free poll, he asked: “Have I committed a crime for allowing police to send away hoodlums and political thugs who were brought from Lagos, Oyo and Osun by APC to perfect their rigging plans and unleash terror on people? Is it Adesiyan that caused Fayemi to lose even in his own local government?

16

Politics

Thursday, February 19, 2015

Salvage Group asks Igbokwe to resign OLAJIDE OMOJOLOMOJU

T

he Salvage Group, SG, professional arm of All Progressives Congress, APC, has called for immediate resignation of Joe Igbokwe as Lagos State APC Publicity Secretary.

SG, whose main objective is promoting the APC interest noted that Mr Igbokwe, who doubles as General Manager of Lagos State Infrastructure Maintenance Regulatory Agency, LASMIRA, has not lived up to the expectation of teeming members of the party.

Speaking through its National Coordinator, Peter Ajayi, SG said LASMIRA is a government agency set up to regulate and control the erection and installation of telecom masts and towers, the granting of official permit to lay underground facilities and man-

agement and maintenance of these facilities for safety and standards in the interest of public health.

It added that as GM, Igbokwe is expected to be very busy, as the agency is a busy one, but said that “holding this very busy office and as well as APC publicity secretary that requires full attention and concentration is counterproductive.”

Ajayi said: “Igbokwe should either resign as APC Publicity Secretary to concentrate on his duties as LASMIRA GM or vice versa. His publicity office at the secretariat of the party is as good as not functional.”

SG averred despite the fact that Lagos State Ggovernment has been very fair to Igbo people in terms of political appointments, the impact of Igbokwe, Commissioner for Budget and Planning, Ben Nwabueze, and other appointees, even

at local government level, have not added electoral value to the APC, as almost all Igbo residents in Lagos have vowed to vote for Peoples Democratic Party, PDP and not for APC that has given them opportunity to excel in life.

It said: “These people have refused to carry their people along. They do not attend their functions. Their people don’t like them. Their hatred for these people has been transferred to the party.

“At this critical moment, our party does not need someone who is not accessible, who does not have time to discuss party issues with members. Information is key, if someone saddled with responsibility of giving information about the party is not competent or too busy to shoulder the task, people are left to either be misinformed or disinformed.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Nigerians in Austria declare support for Buhari, Al-Makura 37 DAYS TO GO

Ajayi said that APC National Publicity secretary, Lai Mohammed, is a professional, adding that the way and manner he carries out his job of speaking for the party at any particular point in time is very “impressive, remarkable and commendable,” adding: “We need publicity secretaries at state level to complement his effort.”

He said it was therefore not surprising that Igbokwe could not professionally defend issues raised on Channels Television on a program tagged: ‘Politics Today,’ that featured him and a PDP member, Barr Agoro on February 10.

He said: “Almost all members of the party were disappointed by his lackadaisical responses to vital issues of killing at rallies, conduct of primary elections, defacing of campaigning posters, banners, political thuggery among others.”

IGBAWASE UKUMBA LAFIA

A

group of Nigerians resident in Austria yesterday declared support for the presidential candidate of All Progressives Congress, APC, General Muhammadu Buhari and Nasarawa State governor, Umaru Tanko Al-Makura in the forth coming general elections.

The group made the declaration of support for the duo at a press conference in Lafia, the state capital, adding that having watched with concern the way and manner the country has been mismanaged by the present administration, Buhari should be given a chance to make amends.

Speaking on behalf of the group, Alhaji Hassan Ibrahim Oshafo, said as a result of their general concern for Nigeria, they have seen General Buhari and

Group charts new course for Ekiti APC ABIODUN NEJO ADO EKITI

A

Oyo State Labour Party gubernatorial candidate, Otunba Adebayo Alao-Akala addressing party supporters during a campaign at Odo-Oba, South East Local Government Area of the state, yesterday.

ABIODUN NEJO ADO EKITI

F

ormer National Assembly member, Senator Bode Ola, has advised the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to seize the opportunity of the six-week extension of the general elections to make amends and ensure free, fair and credible polls.

Ola said the INEC chairman, Prof Attahiru Jega, “should demonstrate, both in actions and industry, and prove that he appreciates

pressure group within Ekiti State All Progressive Congress, APC, the Action Group, AG, has harped on the need to correct some anomalies within the party in recent times.

AG convener and a chieftain of the party in the state, Mr Segun Osikolu, lamented that some activities of the immediate past administration towards some loyal party members had affected the fortunes of the party in recent times.

Speaking at a meeting of Ekiti North senatorial district AG, Osikolu stressed the need to give

INEC charged to use polls shift for amends the enormity of the responsibilities saddled on him and assure Nigerians of his capability to deliver.”

Expressing fears at a world press conference in Ado Ekiti yesterday, over INEC’s failure to have tested the card reader machines, despite having four years to prepare for the polls, Ola said: “We don’t need a trial and error election mechanism at this age of our civilization.”

Ola said display of card readers’ working mechanism

on television does not guarantee that it won’t fail under pressure of servicing hundreds of voters at each polling booth on Election Day. He said: “INEC says it has introduced card readers as mechanism for detecting impersonating voters. However, it has not been physically tested to know if it will fail midway or not, in the heat of the usage, and for long duration at the polling booths, because it is battery powered.

“Why not first experiment the card readers with

a less demanding local government polls, to know how fool-proof the card readers work?”

The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, chieftain explained that Jega allegedly misled the public that INEC was well prepared for elections, even “under a scenario at that time where over 20 million permanent voter cards, PVCs, were yet to be distributed, mostly in Kano and Lagos states, where millions would have been deprived of their suffrage rights.

his running mate, Professor Yemi Osinbajo as agents of change.

He said: “This is because they are competent enough to take Nigeria out of the present political turmoil, infested with inept and bad leadership of President Goodluck Jonathan.

“As loyal and concerned citizens of this country, we are determined to usher in a new order, based on their track records of service and discipline, incorruptible and patriotic leadership which have been put to test in many levels of governance including public and private sector.”

To this end, he said said Nigerians in Austria are determined to rally support for APC right from Nasarawa State because of the ongoing development in the state and what possibly awaits Nigerians when they all entrust power to General Buhari and Professor Osinbajo come March 28.

“Those who linked President Goodluck Jonathan with the polls’ shift should realizs that his own party too had been logistically affected by the shift.”

The former lawmaker also urged former President Olusegun Obasanjo to stop heating up the polity, saying: “I saw the former president’s highly inflammable vituperations against the stability of the polity as evil postulations that bode ill for the democratic survival of this country.”

hope to party members by setting up viable machinery within the party to move forward.

He said: “The problem facing Ekiti State APC now is leadership problem, hence the need for all stakeholders in the party to come together and chart a new course for the party to become stronger.

“The victimisations and intimidation suffered

by APC members from the state government across the state were as a result of lack of leadership will to challenge the governor on some of his heinous activities.”

Osikolu said AG would mobilise and work hard to ensure the success of APC presidential candidate, General Muhammadu Buhari, and other candidates of the party during the general elections.

He also praised the efforts and contributions of APC National leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, towards the development of the party in Ekiti State.

AG co-ordinator and former Special Adviser on Special Duties in the state, Mr Babatunde Odetola, said Tinubu had remained the only hope for the party in the state ever since.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Views

Thursday, February 19, 2015

17

Election 2015: The choices Nigerians have to make EXISTENTIAL HUMANISM

FRY

NDUBUISI Professor Ndubuisi is of the Dept of Philosophy, UNILAG fryndubuisi@nationalmirroronline.net (08023016709 SMS only)

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ome March 28, Nigerians will be faced with the option of either reelecting Dr. Goodluck Jonathan or endorsing General Muhammadu Buhari as Nigeria’s president. The impending contest is arguably the hottest since we returned to democracy in May 1999. The two main political parties – APC and PDP - have worked assiduously to sell their programmes to the electorate. For the first time, Nigerians have had ample opportunity, and have really shown immense enthusiasm in probing the antecedents of those that want to be in control of their collective destiny.

President Jonathan anchors his expected victory on his perceived track record that is outstanding in the political history of Nigeria. He boasts of revolutionising the agricultural sector; unprecedented transformation in the nation’s road network, which they claim is extended by over 30,000 km. The rehabilitation of the railway sector that has been in limbo for the past 30 years is seen as a near miracle. On the same economic front,

the country’s economy is seen as one of the fastest growing in the world after China and Qatar. Aside, the country is rated as the largest economy in Africa.

General Muhammadu Buhari, the apostle of change, hinges his campaign on integrity and anti- corruption crusader. His stoic life style appeals to many. It is believed that he is one leader that will be circumspect in the management of the nation’s resources.

His tenures as the minister of petroleum resources and briefly as head of state bare him out on this.

However, his detractors have pointed out issues and misdeeds associated with him that make the above claims not only spurious but hypocritical. The published panel report on his tenure as the executive chairman of Petroleum Trust Fund does not present the record of a prudent manager. Then there is the certificate scandal. This issue is as ludicrous as it is funny. Ridiculous because it looks demeaning to ask a retired general of the Nigerian military to present his ordinary level certificate. This is someone that has attended some of the world’s best rated military institutions. And besides, what is the big deal and the import of asking a former military governor, a former head of state and a former minister about his O/ Level certificate? A respected lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria was quoted as saying that General Buhari’s qualification is equivalent to a Master’s degree.

While it looks a comic relief to ask a

THERE IS ANXIETY ABOUT INEC AND PROFESSOR ATTAHIRU JEGA. THE ALLEGATION OF HIS PARLEY WITH THE OPPOSITION IS A DAMAGING ONE retired general to present his WASC result, others see it as democracy and rule of law in action. Aside from this, it is a matter that borders on integrity and respect for the constitution that says aspirants will be required to swear to an oath to preserve the sanctity of the constitution if victory is his by the wishes of the electorate. The critical issue is that somebody has sworn to on oath to declare that he has a school certificate, but that he is not in possession of it. The Army that was purportedly in custody of it has denied this out rightly.

I have not seen meticulous press investigation to unravel this mystery. Many have been waiting for all the human rights activists to act on this matter to unravel the truth: They seem not to be interested for whatever reasons.

The 2015 electioneering has brought out the best and worst in all of us. We have heard all kinds of things and new

theories, all to win elections. There is even a new thesis now that there is no morality in politics; and that to survive as a politician and win elections you must be ready to tell lies. This is the era of political harlotry. Even former ministers have had to decamp because they want to be in charge of bigger territory to continue their looting spree. This is the era when arrogant intellectuals previously respected for their principled stance have swallowed their words and even threatened to go to court if anybody dares quote from their previous sincere and erudite essays about our political gladiators. Changing like chameleons and even attempting to deny what you have pontificated on shows you are still raw materials among the league of egg heads. Wise sayings and proverbs don’t age.

We as a nation must strive hard to achieve free and fair elections. That is the integrity test of modern democracy.

There is anxiety about INEC and Professor Attahiru Jega. The allegation of his parley with the opposition is a damaging one. He needs to clear himself of this allegation. Aside, the pattern and modality for the distribution of the permanent voter’s cards raises a lot of issues. It is curious that people in a war torn zone recorded more success in this exercise than areas that enjoy reasonable level of peace.

Strange occurrences in our democratic march

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ormer President George Bush of the USA, while trying to underscore the purpose of political power, used this inspiring line: “Use power to help people.

For we are given power not to advance our own purposes, nor to make great show in the world, nor a name. There is but one just use of power - to serve the people”.

Bush might be speaking to the present generation of Nigerian leaders. It is undeniable, if unfortunate, that most Nigerians now entrusted with powers abuse it. Their problem could be located in the deep-rooted psychological misconception of power as an instrument for personal aggrandisement. The fact that all is not well with political power usage in Nigeria has always been highlighted by strange occurrences in our democracy.

Since May 1999, when the present republic was birthed after about 20 years of political hiatus, one can count series of happenings ranging from the strange through the outlandish to the bizarre. We can all recount the Chris Ngige saga in Anambra State, when some law enforcement agents, apparently emboldened by some surreptitious powerbrokers, kidnapped a sitting governor, transported him to another state and then asked him to resign!

We have witnessed the Oyo State farce where 18 legislators instead of the 22 required by law in a 32-member House of Assembly held a nocturnal meeting in a hotel and purportedly removed a sitting governor. It took the instrumentality of the court to quashed “impeachment” As a matter of fact, between 2005 and 2007, five governors were impeached in a

ONLY GOD KNOWS HOW MANY GHANAMUST-GO BAGS HAVE GONE TO ‘SUSTAIN’ THIS DEMOCRACY! period aptly described as “impeachment gale” in the nation political history. Majority, if not all of this impeachments were characterised by procedural aberrations or outright illegality. It is remarkable that three of the affected governors - Joshua Dariye (Plateau State), Rashidi Ladoja (Oyo State) and Peter Obi (Anambra State), were reinstated by the court, suggesting the abuse of the sacred impeachment procedure entrenched in the 1999 Constitution (as amended).

Not to be forgotten is the saga of circumscribed interregnum, when the actual condition of a terminally sick and incapacitated president was concealed to the whole nation for months-on-end by a political cabal, which practically continued to run affairs of the nation in the name of the president as if nothing was amiss.

It was when the President eventually died that the cabal finally disclosed the inevitable. Till today, nobody can say how long the nation was in artificial interregnum!

Let us also remember the saddening crisis in Rivers State, which has kept ratcheting up with calamitous consequences till today, when courts are bombed at will by ‘faceless terrorists’. We had seen how in that state some five lawmakers had attempted to impeach the Speaker in the

house composing 32 legislators; we had seen the fighting that led to the hospitalisation of many lawmakers. Such was the degree of anarchy that common thugs were on Tuesday July 16, 2013, reported to have taken over the roads leading to the Port Harcourt Airport and thus prevented four reigning state governors from visiting Governor Rotimi Amaechi in Governor Lodge in his capacity as the Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum.

What about the entrenched culture of Ghana-must-go! It may be rightly said that our democracy is a “Ghana-must-go-fuelled-democracy”.

Ghana-must-go is the name of that voluminous, giant- sized bag used by the Ghanaians to pack their belongings when they were ejected from Nigeria by the Alhaji Shehu Shagari government in 1982. The same brand of bag later entered into Nigeria socio-economic and political lexicon as a neologism, when it was put into new use. When people who would not want large volume of money (meant for illicit transactions) to be officially traced, they would pack them in the said giant bags and hand them out as bribes in all sorts of situations requiring compromising fellow Nigerians.

This is being facilitated by the fact that the Nigerian society is still heavily cash-laden; we have not gone ‘cashlite’ not to talk of cashless. Thus, if you want to sway delegates at primary elections, Ghana-must-go; if you want to obtain very important approval from the officialdom, Ghana-must-go; and if

CRITICAL STROKES

KAYODE

KETEFE

kketefe@nationalmirroronline.net 08032147720 (SMS only)

you want some important members of opposition party to cross over to your party, Ghana-must-go! Indeed in all situations you want to procure undue advantage, Ghana-must-go! Only God knows how many Ghana-must-go bags have gone to ‘sustain’ this democracy!

Indeed, most of the eccentricities bedeviling our democracy could be attributed to sheer incapacity of our politicians to grasp the real rationale behind political power. Many see it just as an instrument of personal aggrandisement. The nation may continue to grapple with these strange occurrences until our politicians learn to practice democracy in consonance with the fundamental ideals underlying it.

Ketefe may be followed @Ketesco Send your views by mail or sms to PMB 10001, Ikoyi, or our Email: mail@ nationalmirroronline.net mirrorlagos@ yahoo.com or 08164966858 (SMS only). The Editor reserves the right to edit and reject views or photographs.

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

18

Editorial

Thursday February 19, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

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

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

Beyond the disbursement of Textile Development Fund

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or Nigerian officialdom, the efficacy of a public policy or programme is usually benchmarked by the amount of fund budgeted for it. The perception is that the bigger the budget, the brighter the prospect of its success. That this might not be so is exemplified by the sluggish recovery of the nation’s textile industry even after a whopping N60 billion is said to have been disbursed from the N100 billion Cotton Textile and Garment Revival Scheme set up in 2009 by the Federal Government to revive the ailing textile sector of the Nigerian economy. About 52 textile firms are said to have benefitted so far, leading to over 8,070 jobs saved, while the capacity utilization for most of the beneficiaries has increased from below 40 per cent to about 61 per cent. We think this is a modest accomplishment given the enormous resources thrown into the problem. There is therefore, the need for the federal authorities to dig deeper to unravel why the expectations of the critical stakeholders, especially the end users of the facility, have not been met.

The administration of Dr. Goodluck Jonathan has, in the Nigerian Industrial Revolution Plan (NIPR), made a bold statement of its resolve to fast track Nigeria’s own Industrial Revolution. The N100 billion Cotton

Textile and Garment Revival Scheme, which it inherited has been modified by converting the amount originally raised by the Debt Management Office from the domestic capital market to the Ministry of Finance Incorporated’s equity share in the Bank of Industry (BoI) to make access to the facility easier. But even at this, the results posted by the sector are not very assuring, which means that the strategic enforcement framework of the new National Cotton, Textile and Garment policy has not really factored in the variables in both the domestic and external environments necessary for stimulating and enhancing the expected growth and development of the industry.

This newspaper has the gut feeling that the problems of the sector transcend funding.

There are other fundamentals that have not been taken care of.

The General Secretary, National Union of Textile, Garment and Tailoring Workers of Nigeria and Vice-President, Nigeria Labour Congress, Comrade Issa Aremu, seems to have a hand on them. According to him, the CTG sector is buffeted by smuggling, counterfeiting and poor power supply. The Director General of the Nigerian Textile Manufacturers Association (NTMA), Mr Jaiyeola Olanrewaju, expanded

THIS NEWSPAPER HAS THE GUT FEELING THAT THE PROBLEMS OF THE SECTOR TRANSCEND

FUNDING.

THERE ARE

OTHER FUNDAMENTALS THAT HAVE NOT BEEN TAKEN CARE OF the scope of the challenges when he added high cost of production and unavailability of local market to the list.

Official records show that the textile Nigerian industry used to net an average of $2 billion annually across the value chain, in its boom years. For instance, in the 1980s, there were no fewer than 180 textile factories employing 600,000 workers in the country. At a time, the textile sector was the second biggest employer of labour in the country, contributing significantly to national revenue.

The declining fortunes of the industry began in the 1990s, as many of the manufacturers began to feel the pinch of the unfriendly economic and political environments, forcing them to close shop in the wake of massive smuggling and importation of textiles into the country. The situation became worse in 1997 when the Federal Government lifted

ON THIS DAY

February 19, 2014

February 19, 2011

Facebook, the world’s leading social network, makes a $19 billion offer for mobile messaging startup WhatsApp in a deal pitting it against telecoms operators. The landmark acquisition, the largest in Facebook’s 10-year history, will give the company a firm foothold in the fastgrowing mobile messaging market. WhatsApp plans to add free voice-call services for its 450 million customers later this year.

Call by netizens for demonstrations in the mode of Tunisia’s Jasmine Revolution is spreading in major cities in China. Some websites spreading such news have already been blocked. One of them, Boxun said it has suffered the most serious attacks it has ever received. The internet call urging people to take “Jasmine Smile”1 strolls on February 20, February 27, and March 6, took place on a small scale in Beijing, Shanghai, and other cities.

the ban on textile importation.

As recent as 2008,the downward spiral of the sector left only about 24 textile factories still operating with less than 25,000 workers.

Worse still, those still functioning were not producing at full capacity as high cost of production, erratic power supply; high taxes, and lack of government support hampered their operations.

The intervention fund holds the prospect of a better tomorrow for the industry only if it is judiciously used. Some critical stakeholders doubt if the Bank of Industry is properly managing the fund’s disbursement. One such doubter is the the National President of the Nigerian Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA), Alhaji Mohammed Abubakar. He once publicly alleged that the fund was being misapplied.

Such hints are not good for credibility and should be investigated to clear the air.

Nigerians have had some not too palatable experiences with intervention funds established by the Federal Government. A typical example is the N300 billion Power and Airline Intervention Fund, whose management was dogged by controversy. The time has come to break with the past if the nation is desirous of being taken seriously by the international community.

February 19, 1993 Kenya Summer Moore, then 22, from the State of Michigan, emerges the 42nd Miss USA, the second from the state and the second African American that won the title. The Miss USA Pageant, hosted by Dick Clark, took place in Wichita, Kansas. The viewers saw that Miss Michigan, Kenya Moore, won the preliminaries followed closely by former Miss Teen USA, Kelly Hu from Hawaii (Miss Teen USA 1985).

Thursday, February 19, 2015

IN CONJUNCTION WITH

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

19

Education Today

AFE BABALOLA UNIVERSITY, ADO-EKITI (ABUAD) “The setting of this University is ‘Superlative’ and ‘Impressive’, with nothing of its kind that I have seen so far in the country or anywhere else” (Gen. Dr. Yakubu Gowon, GCFR,)

BOLADALE BAMIGBOLA OSOGBO

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he hitherto calm water of Osun State University, UNIOSUN, Osogbo has been troubled following a breakdown in the relationship between the institution’s governing council and the management.

Before the latest brickbat that climaxed with the suspension of the Vice-Chancellor, the Registrar and Bursar by the Professor Gabriel Olawoyin-led council, reliable sources in the university informed National Mirror that both the pro-chancellor and the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Bashir Okesina never operated on the same wavelength and barely tolerated each other until now.

Observers trace the origin of their frosty relationship to 2012 when the immediate past governing council and VC were to be replaced. It was gathered that the institution’s visitor, who is the governor of Osun State, Mr. Rauf Aregbesola, as required of him by the law, first constituted a new governing council and appointed Prof. Gabriel Olawoyin, a Professor of Law as its chairman before the race for the new vice-chancellor began.

However, It was alleged that the body language of the governing board on who to appoint as the new VC at the period suggested that it preferred either Prof. Olu Odeyemi or Prof. Funmi Togonu-Biskersteth to Prof.

Okesina, who was eventually given the job.

National Mirror gathered that the development did not go down well with the board members.

This, according to the sources, was responsible for the cat and mouse relationship between the management team and the board until the issue of proceeds from the university’s pre-degree programme finally severed the fragile relationship.

It started with the board’s chairman petition to Governor Rauf Aregbesola on what could be described as various sins of the vice-chancellor.

He listed in the petition, titled: “Report on Osun State University,” that the VC was not only known for maladministration, nepotism but also corrupt since he assumed office in April, 2013 and that the situation had greatly affected the growth of the university.

National Mirror obtained a copy of the petition.

According to Olawoyin, the vice chancellor allegedly paid himself and a few others unauthorised allowances, stressing that the disbursement of N18.8 million was in violation of the authorising limit of N1 million

Crisis hits UNIOSUN My suspension illegal —VC

• Your hands not clean —Pro Chancellor … Aregbesola inaugurates investigation panel

Olawoyin

Aregbesola

Okesina

by the VC. Alleged arbitrary appointments and promotion of staff, issues relating to contracts, Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) of the university, among others also featured prominently in the petition.

The petition, it was learnt, heightened tension between the two bodies, with the heads of the six campuses of the university, rallying support for the vice chancellor, while some other senior academic staff, who had been secretly nursing animosity against the VC, pounced on the opportunity and pitched tent with the pro-chancellor.

After waiting for several weeks and nothing was heard on the petition from the visitor, the “foot soldiers” in the two camps, it was gathered. got tired and at that point, non aligned staff were of the opinion the ill feelings between Okesina and Olawoyin was dead and buried.

But they were dead wrong as the crisis resurfaced early this month with a memo suspending the Vice Chancellor alongside the bursar and registrar over allegation of

financial impropriety.

The governing council, in the same memo also announced the setting up of a panel to probe all the allegations.

But the Vice-Chancellor in his defence debunked the allegations, saying it was because he was never the choice of the governing council to become the VC of the university.

He accused council members of placing in his path booby traps during screening of candidates, including allegation that he did not possess PhD certificate.

He explained what transpired then, saying “Being a medically qualified academician, PhD is not the focus for people that read medicine. We normally use the fellowship of either of the National College or West Africa College of Physicians. I am one of the few that have both, which amounts to double PhDs. “But the governing council removed my name from the race. I had to write a protest letter to them and copied the governor.

That was how my name was restored and I

emerged as the best candidate for the job.”

Regarding the allegation that he protested reduction in his salary, Okesina said his salary was cut and the governing council chairman yet expected him not to complain, stressing that Olawoyin indicated in his petition that he did not believe in some allowances being given to the VC, even though the registrar argued that my predecessors collected them.

The VC also described as “unfounded” allegations of financial impropriety levelled against him, explaining that the allegation was sequel to the sharing of honorarium on the proceeds on pre-degree programmes that he approved.

He said whatever profit made through the programme after paying overhead and lecturers as well as maintaining the facilities, would be shared into two parts, using ratio 70 per cent and 30 per cent with 70 per cent going into the coffers of the university while 30 per cent goes to individuals that are involved in generating the fund.

‘Lack of science equipment in schools hinders devt’ 20

Covenant university ranks best in Nigeria 26

CONTINUED ON PAGE 23

Crisis at Ado Poly, FUOYE deepens 21

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Education Today

Thursday, February 19, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Say no to unruly behaviours, FUTA VC tells freshers TUNBOSUN OGUNDARE

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he Vice-Chancellor, Federal University of Technology Akure (FUTA), Professor Adebiyi Daramola has warned the newly admitted students into the university to steer clear of anti-social behaviours capable of truncating their future. They were 3,675 duly registered new students from over 10,000 who sought admission into the university for the 2014/2015 academic session.

He gave the warning during the institution’s 32nd matriculation ceremony held recently.

The vice-chancellor who listed the unruly behaviours to include, among others cultism, exam malpractice, fighting, sexual assault, insisted that the university had zero tolerance for them all.

He told them that there were laws and regulations that guiding their conduct in and outside the campus and they should therefore

make themselves familiar with them.

He however promised them that the university would provide basic amenities and supporting services that would make them graduate as complete students.

While commending the Admissions Committee under the Chairmanship of his deputy in charge of Academic, Professor Emmanuel Adedayo Fasakin, the vice-chancellor said the institution was known for standard and would continue to keep the tempo.

He noted that the university was in collaboration with many world class institutions abroad including Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University in Tallahassee, USA where students doing exchange programmes.

While administering oath on the students, the Registrar, Dr. Modupe Ajayi urged them to also face their studies and make their stay on campus worthy experience.

L-R: Secretary, International Moderation Foundation, Dr. Zaid Al-Muhaisue; Vice-Chancellor, Lagos State University, Ojo, Prof.

John Obafunwa and Chairman of the foundation, Dr. Marean Awwad Al-Faouri during their visit to the university recently.

SAIDAT ALAUSA

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he Vice-Chancellor, Covenant University, Ota, Ogun State, Prof.

Charles Ayo has said that to rewrite the history of higher education in the country, it must be well funded.

According to him, the managers of such institutions must also show commitment to the management of the resources within the universities.

He made the observation during a media chat last weekend, saying it is disheartening that many public universities could not access funds from the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) while at the same time crying of

L-R: ViceChancellor, National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), Prof. Vincent Tenebe; Deputy Registrar (Staff and Training Development), Mrs. Tayo Olowola and Open Education Resources Programme specialist, UNESCO, Mr. Abel Caine during the UNESCO-NOUN sensitisation workshop on Open Education Resource\Massive Open Online Course projects in Lagos.

Lack of science equipment in schools hinders devt —Don TUNBOSUN OGUNDARE

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senior lecturer at the Department of Botany, University of Lagos (UNILAG), Akoka, Dr. Temitope Onuminya has said lack of science equipment and facilities in schools had greatly hindered the effective teaching of sciences and consequently slowed down the nation’s economic development.

She made the observation at the 8th edition of ‘Science Week’, held at the Federal Science and Technical College (FSTC), Yaba, Lagos, last week. The theme of the programme was “Science in the 21st Century.”

The inadequate of facilities in public schools nationwide according to her is greatly hampering effective teaching of sciences in schools.

Onuminya noted that the country would find it difficult to experience appreciative development in science and technical areas if it fails to provide adequate science materials and laboratory equipment that would make the teaching of the subjects more interesting.

She therefore called on governments at all levels to invest more in

those areas and also in making teaching of science subjects more attractive to new and young talented graduates.

“That is the only way we can move along with the emerging economies of the world,” she said.

She identified the use of modern technology in science, especially ICT, and the biotechnology to improve agricultural products-plants and animalsas part of the benefits of science.

Earlier in his address of welcome,

the Principal of the college, Rev. Chris Ugorgi said the theme for this year’s programme would help in the acquisition of skills for entrepreneurship and technical know-how particularly in the areas of transportation and ICT. The Head, Department of Science of the institution, Mrs Margaret Nyah, in her part, said the science week was designed to discover various findings in science that would lead to improved quality of life.

Elections: Students make case for candidates in debate

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econdary school students from some private schools in Lagos were recently given opportunity to express themselves on the forthcoming general elections at a debate organised by Jelly-Las College, Agege, Lagos.

The students examined the presidential candidates of both the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan and the All Progressives Congress (APC), Maj. Gen. Muhammadu

Buhari (Rtd).

A student of Jelly-Las College, Munirat Tijani told audience that she wanted Buhari to win the election.

“I prefer Buhari because he has enough experience to lead our country.”

However, Kehinde Idim of Christ-field Comprehensive College argued that President Jonathan deserves to continue in office so that he can continue the good works he has started.

For Tosin Ojutalayo of Doregos Private Academy Ipaja, she prefers Gen. Bu-

hari because she believes he has the ability to stop corruption in the country.

On his part, Tanko Umar of Lagooz College, Agege believes President Jonathan will perform far better if given another chance.

The chairman of the panel, Mr. Saviour Ekere said Jelly-Las College organised the debate to give the students opportunity to express themselves and in order to sustain their interest in national issues.

VC laments exclusion of private universities from TETFund lack of money.

He attributed the situation to financial indiscipline, saying inability of some public institutions to account for previous allocations deny them to approach the agency for another fund.

“It is a pity that private universities are not beneficiaries of TETFUND money, otherwise, we would have shown them how public funds should been used to improve the nation,” he said.

Saying that the university is set to rewrite the history of university education in the country, Prof. Ayo said their mandate was a deviation from the ways others do things.

He recalled that the inclusion of entrepreneur education in the university curriculum, the abolition of pass degree and the introduction

of dress code which are now adopted by the National Universities Commission was aim at producing graduates who can compete anywhere

in the world.

“Covenant University was born out of a vision and we are not ready to produce graduates who will

L-R: Deputy Vice -Chancellor, Covenant University, Ota, Ogun State, Prof. Taiwo Abioye; ViceChancellor, Prof. Charles Ayo and Registrar, Dr. Olumuyiwa Oludayo during a media chat to announce the university new Webometric ranking, last weekend.

roam the streets and would never be invited for any interview hence the need to stop the pass degree and we are also helping parents to create a future for their children,” he said.

On the carrying capacity of the institution, the vicechancellor said the university population is currently 8,000 and there is no aim at increasing it because they are not ready to abuse their facilities.

Reiterating the university aim at been listed among the first 10 in the world, Prof. Ayo said the university had embarked on an eight-point agenda that is targeted towards the fulfillment of the vision.

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FEDPOFFA tasks new workers on effectiveness TUNBOSUN OGUNDARE

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he Federal Polytechnic Offa (FEDPOFFA) has advised its newly employed lecturers to create good working relationships with their colleagues, students and other members of the polytechnic.

The institution also advised them to develop themselves for high productivity and career advancement.

They were given the advice at a one-day orientation seminar organised for them recently.

Chairman of the Organising Committee of the programme and Dean, School of General Studies, Mr. S.A. Adeyemo, said the orientation was to keep the new workers abreast of their duties and ways of making positive impact in the institution.

Speaking on “Ethical behaviour at workplace,” the Deputy Rector Administration, Dr. Ayodele Olaosebikan said there was a level of conduct expected of every worker in an establishment.

She however listed superior-subordinate, contemporary, subordinate-superior and lecturer-student relationships as distinct relationship operating in an educational institution such as FEDPOFFA. In his own contribution, the Deputy Rector, Academics, Dr. A. D. Okonta, who spoke on “Line of communication and staff discipline in the polytechnic,” encouraged the new staffers to work in unity with their heads of departments, saying they can only direct their issues to the top through them.

Latiwn

Senator’s contribution to education commended WALE IBRAHIM LOKOJA

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Education Today

Thursday, February 19, 2015

he Director-General of Centre for Good Governance in Africa, University of Ibadan, Prof. Lasisi Olatunde has commended Senator Wilson Ake for what he called developmental strides in tertiary institutions and donation of N1 million to the centre for repairs of defaulted vehicles.

He also lauded the senator who is representing River West for lifting Federal College Education (Technical), Omuko, River State, describing him as man of history.

Professor Olatunde gave the commendation while speaking during a retreat at Salem University, Lokoja, noting that the gesture is people-oriented driven.

In his paper, titled: “In search of a new Nigeria,” Professor Olatunde submitted that mere looking at the pedigree of political leaders in view of challenges facing the nation, it shows that Nigeria leaders emerged by default.

He maintained that attributes required of a competent leader includes sound education, high level of intelligence, love for people, ability to accept mistakes, mobilise resources all in a fear of God.

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Crisis at Ado Poly, FUOYE deepens Workers vow to fight on

You risk being sacked —Mgts

ABIODUN NEJO ADO EKITI

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he crisis of confidence rocking the Federal Polytechnic, Ado Ekiti and the Federal University, Oye Ekiti, took another dimension last week with different turn of decisions by the managements of the two institutions.

The management decisions were part of efforts to restore peace to both institutions which have been riddled with crises and protests in recent time.

While the crisis at FUOYE began on December 18 last year with protests by both academic and non academic workers, that of Federal Polytechnic came to the fore on January 5 this year with the decision of the three labour unions in the institution to proceed on strike over some issues against the management.

Like the saying that the grass suffers where two elephants fight, the students whose studies are put on hold following the standoff between the management and workers are the victims as academic activities are disrupted.

The decision of the management of FUOYE last week was sack of 10 of its workers who had been up in arms against the authorities.

Also at the polytechnic, where sack threat was thick in the air last week, the management disclaimed anybody or group parading as representatives of the labour unions following the dissolution by the polytechnic Governing Council of the three unions and directive to striking workers to resume.

There has been tension at FUOYE since the crisis started last year. The workers, during their protest accused the institution’s management of foot-dragging in confirming their appointment, deductions of outrageous tax from staff, as well as illegal housing and pension funds deductions, among others.

The tension created since the protest propelled the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Isaac Azuzu–led management, which debunked the allegations levied by the protesting workers, to set up a committee to investigate the remote and immediate causes of the crises with a view to ensuring there was no recurrence.

However, according to Azuzu, the com-

Shekarau

mittee met and forwarded its recommendation to the management that 10 members of staff who did not want the university at peace should leave.

The vice-chancellor, who said the workers could not have demonstrated in the first place since they were on probation, lamented the lawlessness among the affected workers.

But the affected workers, who are calling on President Goodluck Jonathan to intervene in what they called “victimisation of staff” at the institution, are insisting that the university would know no peace until their sack was rescinded.

The situation at the Federal Polytechnic, Ado Ekiti was not that far from this as sack letters are dangling over workers of the institution that fail to heed the order of the Governing Council to resume from strike on Monday last week.

The workers, who had been at daggers drawn with the management since January 5, are among others, accusing

the management led by the Rector, Dr. Taiwo Akande, of denigrating workers from the recommended CONTISS 15, illegal deduction from staff cooperatives, lackadaisical attitude to welfare and sundry issues.

But as efforts to placate the unions hit the rocks, Mr. Victor Ebomoyi-led Governing Council of the institution met on February 6, suspended the three labour unions and consequently ordered the striking workers to resume work Monday last week or risk being sacked.

While some workers heeded the directive and returned to their duty posts, the remaining ones led by the three unions, converged on the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) House in Ado Ekiti where they disclosed their intention to continue with the strike until their demands were met.

Leaders of the three unions, who took turns to address the workers that the suspension order by the Council was illegal, assured them that the school could not sack any of them as a result of the strike as they renewed call for the sack of the council chairman and Rector.

The unions disclosed that they had dragged the Council and Management before the Federal High Court sitting in Ado Ekiti for encroachment of the workers’ fundamental rights.

This was as the school management last weekend said those parading themselves as leaders or officials of the three industrial unions are impostors as the rector, in a disclaimer stated: “These individuals no longer represent the interest of staff nor that of any group in the institution. Management completely dissociates itself from them and their activities and anyone or organisation that transacts any business with them does so at his/her own risk.”

But reacting, the groups vowed to fight on till the management succumbs to their wish.

zNew universities: TETFUND orders contractors to expedite work EZEKIEL TITUS BAUCHI

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he Executive Secretary, Tertiary Education Trust fund (TETFUND), Professor Sule Elias Bogoro has urged the contractors handling the two newly established federal universi-

ties in Tafawa-Balewa and Bogoro to hasten works on the projects and deliver them on record time.

He made the statement during his inspection visit to the sites of the projects recently.

He said the establishment of the two institutions was part of the

federal government’s commitment to make more qualified youths accessing university education.

The TETFUND boss used the occasion to appeal to the host communities to protect and guard the projects and the facilities provided in them.

School owners should take teachers’ welfare seriously —Principal SAIDAT ALAUSA

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he Principal, Babcock University High School, Ilishan- Remo, Ogun State, Dr. Bolanle Adebawojo has urged education providers especially government to take adequate care of teachers in order to get the best from them.

She said this at the school 20th Founders’ Day ceremony held recently.

According to her, “if teachers especially at the primary level which is the foundation are well taken care of, standard of educa-

tion will improved drastically.”

The principal said, with this in mind, the school management ensure that quality teachers are employed and also well paid to enable them give their best to students so that excellence which is one of the core values of the school is maintained.

She revealed that students’ enrolment which was seven at the take off of the school in 1995 has risen to 1,251 students as at today.

Academically, she said that the school had been performing excellently in external ex-

aminations conducted by both the West African Examination Council (WAEC) and National Examination Council (NECO).

She appreciated the leadership of the school past and present as well as the parents and members of staff for their contributions towards the growth of the school.

In his remark, the Vice-Chancellor of Babcock University, Prof. Kayode Makinde said the aim of establishing the school was to raise standard of secondary education in the country.

He said Babcock University High School had given birth

to two other schools: Babcock University Schools, Ogba, Lagos and Babcock Academy, Abeokuta, Ogun State, noting that more of such schools with the same philosophy will be established in the capital of each state of the federation in the next 10 years.

Also, the Chairperson of Babcock University School Management Board, Mrs. Janet Ola who was represented by Director, Babcock University Legal Unit, Mr. Niyi Arije solicited continued support of the leadership towards the sustenance of the excellent standard of the school.

use

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Education Today

Thursday, February 19, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Impact of social media on youths CHIDINMA EZEJI YEAR 8 SAPPHIRE

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A saddened heart The way the sun glows The same way my heart flows I can’t help but think why?

Oh my! Oh my!

My tears are so pure If only my heart can be cured.

I feel so lost…

While wondering with this thought, My heart aches more and more My soul pleading for less war If only I could forget…

This pain and regret My heart has been

deeply saddened If only I can be carried By thou which I belong to Or am I a fool?

May be I’m just exaggerating But still awaiting I am so confused By that which I seek If only I could be strong to get on my feet My heart, My feelings For which I need healings My heart! My heart! When would this pain go?

Jessica Nwabuike Chrisland High School, Ikeja

Oaks House wins Chrisland Schools’ inter-house sports competition TOFUNMI KUTI

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onday February 9 was a beautiful day; the weather was just perfect as Chrisland High School, Ikeja, Lagos holds her 5th annual inter-house sports competition.

Guests began arriving as early as Managing Director, Chrisland 9:45am obviously Schools, Mrs Ronke Adeyemi presenting trophy to Taiwo Babatunde determined not captain of Oaks House, winner of the to miss any part Interhouse Sports Competition. of the fun. And cials and competitors. All they were not di of that was just a warmsappointed.

The march past this year up for the track events of was a fantastic display of the day. The races were the students’ creativity. getting more intense by Representatives of the four the minute as you carehouses matched in a syn- fully watch the individuchronised and coordinated al you are cheering for all manner to create shapes the way from the starting and symbols in a rare dis- point to the finish line.

The athletes gave it play of teamwork. Each their all; determination house had a clear theme for was plastered on all their their royal train and it was faces as they strived to beautifully shown through push their bodies furtheir costumes and props ther until they crossed to the admiration of the guests. No doubt all the the finish line first. Of houses did extremely well course, the management but only one could win; team, staff and parents Oaks house took the gold were not excluded from for the march past followed the track activities; they

by Firs house, then Pines too got a chance to dash house and finally Cedars down the track and cross that finish line. house.

Like all good things, The match past was folthe competition had to lowed by a colorful Caliscome to an end and a thenics display by the year winner had to emerge. seven students. the sports’ Representatives from all personality’s remarks and four houses were present then the swearing in of offi-

o much has changed in the past few years,. We see technology slowly dominating society, capturing the potentials of many of our youths and either utilizing or squandering it.

No doubt, youths all over the world are being influenced by technology, whether positively or otherwise, through different media, the most popular of these, obviously, being the social media.

The word ‘’social” means interaction, and the term “social media” can be described as a virtual network of interaction. The idea of being able to communicate with millions of people 24/7, with no limits due to geographical boundaries has been quickly embraced by youths everywhere resulting in the popularity of social media networks such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc.

However, all of these networks are internet- based thus forcing the youths to spend hours of their time on laptops, smart phones and tablets, interacting with a world that exists on their screens and in their minds, but does it really? It is a world where they can create a character for themselves, disregarding shyness and be as creative and adventurous as they can be. Are youth so drawn into this process that they fail to remember

the outside world? Are they creating their own world, disregarding the the real one which less attractive and rather too seems much more dull for them? Or are there some hidden benefits to this growing obsession with social media?

If we compare our world to that of a few decades ago we can note some definite improvements. Technology is helping us in more ways than we can imagine. Its impact is felt in every field – politics, industry, education, agriculture, among several others.

Let’s look at education, for instance. With access to the internet, it is now so easy to find any information one requires. Not only is information available, the internet has also provided a ready avenue for the youths to access it easily by also offering a wide range of teaching methods. These methods are discovered, shared, improved and criticized by those on social media. Technology has also made learning more interactive and of better quality because facilities such as smartboards, projectors and laboratory equipment are becoming more useful. Even the everyday laptop can be turned into an advanced teaching machine with the right use.

The way things are going, in a few years time, pen and paper will be a distant memory as better substitutes would have been discovered.

More youths now discover themselves through social media

Once again, all these benefits are shared and improved through social media. Social media most importantly helps to create awareness of the happenings in the world among the youth. For example, news of the kidnapping of the Chibok girls was spread through the social networks everywhere and this has helped in getting global support towards the search for the girls.

Not only that, recent studies have proved that technology is making children’s brain, sharper and more responsive. This allows them to take in and process more information and use their brain to full capacity. Without a doubt, technology has transformed education for the better.

Therefore the impact of social media in this context is a positive one. It has made learning more socially interactive and dynamic which are the key essence of youthfulness.

However technology has made some negative impact

on the youths too. While sharpening their brains, it has also dulled them in some ways. Youths have become too dependent on technology and this has made them lazy and physically dysfunctional.

Though most say technology is the new tomorrow, that is no excuse to disregard the physical reality which is what supports our very lives and development. If all the youths sit at home on their devices, absorbed in a world of their own, who will do the hard jobs? Where will the farmers, builders and nurses come from? Robots you say? In which case, humans would become second class citizens of this futuristic world. The robots we create would dominate us, because of our dependence and we’ll be defenseless to stop them.

Ironically, it has also been shown that the continuous use of social media retards social skills. None of us can deny the fact that social media has become quite addictive.

Meet Ngozi Manjo, Chrisland VGC’s Most Talented Sport Person Kindly tell us about yourself – school, age, class, family background and so on.

My name is Ngozi Manjo. I come from Imo State. I am 14 years old.

My father is a petroleum engineer and my mother is a homemaker. I am in Year Ten and I love dancing.

you in any way?

Yes, they do.

Now that you have been declared the most talented sports person in your school, how has the experience How? been? Are you more popular? Do you I have a personal swimming in- have more friends? structor. I have a gymnasium memIt comes naturally with the terrain but bership. They also give me maxi- I don’t let it get to my head. mum encouragement.

Interview by Idowu Folashade and Mbaraoye Chinagoron How did you feel when your When did you start particimum presented you a medal? pating in sport?

Great!

I took my first shot at sports when I was in Year 5 at the sugDo you have plans to continue gestion of my educator Mr. Kevin with sports after your secondOKonji. ary school education?

Certainly.

Have you represented your House or School in any sport What are your plans for the competition before?

I have been representing the future, what do you hope to house and the school for six years study after secondary school?

Petroleum Engineering in swimming, running, and high jump.

How did you perform the feat, Do you think you got this tal- how did you prepare for the ent from any of your parents? event?

Prayer is the key. I train for 3 Did any of them take part in hours daily. sport when they were young?

My father is quite the athlete.

Is there any sports personalHe engages in swimming and high ity who inspires you? jump.

Usain Bolt Do your parents encourage Ngozi

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Education Today

Thursday, February 19, 2015

23

Counsellors and course advisers counsels

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he Nigerian undergraduate is under intense pressure to survive in the Nigerian university system. First he is under pressure from parents or guardians to study courses for which he or she is not talented. He is also under pressure to measure up to the social status expected by his peers.

Yet his experiences and exposures in the secondary school system from where he is expected to transit seamlessly into the university system hardly prepares him for the lifestyle ahead.

The academic counsellors or the course advisers as they are often called are the academic guides of the students.

By their designation, the academic guide is expected to be familiar with the terrains the student is bound to interact with first by virtue of once being a student. But beside the personal experience, he has in the course of interaction with students become familiar with a wide variety of scenarios that often confound the students in the academic environment.

He is a diligent extrovert, able to gain the trust of the students through his total commitment and dedication to his academic duty, and by being available for consultation within and outside the classroom and maintaining an open door policy in his dealings with his students. The academic adviser is not the all knowing holier-than-thou guide, but one who is part of the same dough, simply set apart by virtue of exposure, experience and wisdom.

But the above is the hypothetical academic adviser! In reality, many academic advisers are greenhorns who never knew what it was like to be a real student in the first place.

They are in the academic environment for one purpose only, to make as much money as possible from the system. The students they are supposed to guide through the treacherous academic terrain often becoming their victims. They are

not available for lectures most of the time and the students are left to their own devices. Many become despondent, vulnerable targets of the numerous cult groups that roam the university campuses.

Many students go to bed on empty stomachs wondering what the next day would bring. Many lose their loved ones, who often turn out to be their sponsors, threatening their academic career with an abrupt termination, that is, apart from leaving them an emotional wreck! They need someone to talk to, a financial expert, a counsellor, a friend, to jointly chart the way forward; someone to give them the additional strength to face the future. Though, these are common challenges the students have to face, they are more often confronted with more routine but no less devastating academic problems.

The threat of dropping out of school because of academic problems is the most commonly encountered by students.

Yet, these problems often give warning signs which if heeded may result in full resolution.

However, most often, the students take a foolhardy stand alone rather than seeking professional counsel. Occasionally, when they venture out for assistance, they fall into the hands of unprofessional counsellors who are often guided by emotions rather than knowledge.

For example, a student with a cumulative grade point av-

erage of less than one is expected to be placed on probation and the number of course credit units registered is reduced to 15 out of a maximum of 24. This requirement ought to be strictly enforced by the course academic adviser.

However, the course adviser may capitulate under persistent pleas by the student that he or she would be able to cope with the full load of courses inadvertently setting the stage for withdrawal from the programme!

But even such withdrawals are often not implemented by the same unprofessional advisers. On the hope that the students will somehow pull through their predicament, they are permitted to continue to the sixth year in what ordinarily would have been a four year programme and ultimately leave empty handed!

Occasionally, these unprofessional academic advisers attempt to blackmail their colleagues to award undeserved grades to permit such ill-advised students to graduate with undeserved certificates. There are cases of students who have been enrolled since 2,000 who have still not graduated to date!

It may be pertinent here to conclude by mentioning the case of a student who was encouraged to enrol in a science programme when all attempts to secure admission to the medical school as desired by her parents failed. She was on the verge of dropping out of school but for the timely intervention of a truly professional adviser who discovered her true interest. He was able to convince the parents to let her move to the social sciences where she now tops the class! It must be pointed out to the academic apologies that probations and withdrawals are not the problems but the signs of negative pressures within the system.

Early resolutions would save these students many years of unnecessary trauma and put them on the path of self actualisation more quickly.

Banks donate bus, generator to FUNAAB SAIDAT ALAUSA

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s part of their Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives, Zenith Bank Plc, United Bank of Africa Plc and Brightsword Technologies Limited, have donated items to the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB), Ogun State.

Speaking at the handover ceremony of the brand new 30-seater Toyota Coaster bus, the Abeokuta branch Manager of Zenith Bank Plc, Mrs. Joke Akinosi, thanked the Vice-Chancellor and the university management for the cordial and sustained business relation-

ship with the bank over the years.

Akinosi stated that the donation was part of the bank’s efforts at giving back to the society, in which FUNAAB was a major beneficiary.

An official of the bank, Mr. Jide Ogunyebi, added that “Zenith Bank takes issues of CSR seriously with the aim of improving education in the country.

The Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Olusola Oyewole, lauded the bank’s generosity, as he recalled the bank’s past donation of a marbled female hostel to the university in 2012.

He assured the bank of FUNAAB’s continued busi-

ness relationship and full utilisation of the bus, just the way it did with the Hilux Jeep donated by Union Bank Plc, a few months ago.

Similarly, UBA Plc has donated a 50-KVA soundproof generating set and customised window blinds to the university’s International Centre for Professional Development (ICPD), while Brightsword Technologies Limited, Singapore, also donated Computer Central Processing Units and monitors to the centre.

The UBA’s Regional Branch Head for Ogun State, Mr. Segun Olarenwaju, said the donation was to advance the activities of the centre as well as the university.

The Vice Chancellor, Prof. Olusola Oyewole (right) receiving key of the bus from Mrs. Yejide Runsewe of Union Bank Plc.

Mother of the day, Alhaja Fatimah Hamzat Olowo presenting a trophy to the captain of Green House, Master Abubakar Dayabu, winner of the 6th biennial interhouse sport competition at Taqwa Private Schools, Agege, Lagos, recently.

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 21

“That was the practice.

When I came on board, Olatunde, who was acting VC became the DVC. He now chaired the board, which I used to chair. He forwarded a memo to me on the profit sharing for the pre-degree programme. I called him and the bursar to tell them that my approval limit is N1 million and that of the management is N5 million.

But, the money in question is over N18 million. Based on the recommendation I got from the DVC and bursar, I approved the money on behalf of the management board of pre-degree. That was in June, 2014.

“But in November, the chairman of the council called me over the voucher.

If somebody wants to steal money, would he be stupid to make it pass through normal process. No, such a per-

Crisis hits UNIOSUN son would find a way around it, but because, we did not plan to steal any money, we passed through the normal process. This list of people, who will share the money and how much they are getting are all in the document.

“The chairman pointed it out to me that my approval limit is N1 million. But I told him I acted on the recommendation that the approval was in order. My predecessors have made such approval ranging from N10 million to N12 million. He now said that was in the previous council and that we must refund the money so that everything would be settled.

“I didn’t know it was a trap, he is now claiming the returned sum indicated that the money was illegally received. The bursar and registrar said we should not re-

fund the money and I said no we have to. Many people refunded the money, but some others close to the governing council chairman did not comply with his order on the matter and nothing was done to those ones”, Okesina explained.

Now, the visitor has instituted a five-man visitation panel to investigate the matter so as to bring permanent peace to the university.

The panel, which is headed by Prof. Adebiyi Daramola and Mrs. Oluwakemi Kolawole as secretary has Professors Jacob Ladipo and Omotoye Olorode as well as Mr. Babatunde Adebayo as members.

While inaugurating the panel, Aregbesola tasked members to do their work without fear or favour to parties involved.

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National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Thursday, February 19, 2015

Edited by: Saidat Alausa saidat_alausa@yahoo.com 08027633686

Excitement as Health College organises freshers’ night.

Sisters’ Cord, Foursquare Student Fellowship, PSF, McPherson University, Ajebo, Ogun State, Miss Blessing Umeh (left) and President, FSF, Mr. Michael Magnus presenting gifts to the General Overseer of the Foursquare Gospel Church, Rev. Felix Meduoye (middle) during his visit to the university recently.

YAKUBU TEMITOPE FEDPOLY, ADO EKITI

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he College of Health and Science Technology (COHEST), Ijero Ekiti, last week erupted in excitement as the Students’ Union Government of the institution organised fresher’s night for the newly admitted Students.

The event which attracted thousands of students of the institution was always looked forward to by fresh students and returning students because it’s always the biggest social event in the institution yearly.

This year edition was fun galore as some upcoming hip-hop artistes within the state were at the school for stage performance.

Highlight of the occasion was the crowning of different pageants for the year. Joy Olowu from Environmental Health Technician Department was crowned the new Miss COHEST, Helen Osorun from Radiology Department was crowned the new Miss fresher while Sidikat Badmus also from Environmental Health Technician Department and Bakiyat Sanusi from Nursing was crowned the Miss Ebony and Miss Portable of the institution respectively.

The show featured series of musical performances by upcoming campus artistes which include Bukky Cartoon, Black Fret, Cohest all Star, Sango Drama band of Ijero Ekiti, Mind blow, Xclusive Dancer, Staywat and FTG. Speaking with National Mirror, the President of the Students’ Union Government, Ifeoluwa Adewuyi commended other executive members for their commitment to service.

RUN appoints DVC

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he Senate of the Redeemer’s University (RUN), Ede, Osun State has during its meeting held recently approved the appointment of Prof. Kayode Adekeye, as the university’s first Deputy ViceChancellor.

Prof. Adekeye, a Professor of Statistics, until his appointment was the Director of Academic Planning and Quality Assurance at the university.

Announcing the appointment, the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Debo Adeyewa, said that the appointment was necessitated by the need to expand in order to achieve lofty visions that would make the university realise its goals.

He added that the appointment would serve as an impetus to accomplishing more ambitious projects within the university.

Rector restates ban on sales of handouts on campus ‘YOMI AYELESO

AAU, AKUNGBA, AKOKO

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he acting Rector, Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo, Ondo State, Mr. Boniface Ologunagba has reassured the students of the institution that selling of handouts in the school remains ban.

He also promised them of sustaining the sta-

400L, CHEMISTRY, UNILORIN

complete transition in mood, the ones of positivity, freedom and happiness were the clear expressions observed in students of University of Ilorin (UNILORIN), Kwara State after weeks of stress which was attributed to the first semester examinations for the 2014/2015 academic session.

YAKUBU TEMITOPE FEDPOLY, ADO EKITI

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he Senate arm of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has supported the shift of the general elections by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

In a press statement signed by the NANS Senate President, Royce Ochai, the change of the dates would allow INEC distribute the Permanent Voters’ Card to those who are yet to collect.

“With our statistics, having occupied more than 60 per cent of the population of our beloved

The rector, who equally advised them to imbibe the culture of dialogue to press home their demands rather than taking laws into their hands, assured them that the management would make their stay on campus worthwhile experience by providing more infrastructural facilities.

Oath was later administered on the students at the ceremony.

Fun returns to UNILORIN as semester exam ends

AMINAT AFOLABI

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ble academic calendar as well as existing discipline among members of staff and students.

He stated this at the school’s 22nd matriculation ceremony held in honour of the newly admitted students with many parents and well-wishers in attendance.

He equally asked them to conduct themselves with a deep sense of responsibility in and outside the polytechnic.

Concentration was at the peak with absence of fun and social activities on campus during the examination period, which lasted for a month.

All forms of activities which may cause distraction were kept at bay.

This is because irrespective of scholastic ability, each and every student thrives to pass the exam.

Now that exam was over, the social activities have bounced back on

campus while students are planning to go homes and meet their loved ones for a short holiday.

The institution, according to its academic calendar will go on a week semester break. This can be beneficial for students to rest for a while before they return for the remaining half of the session.

Oludoyin, a 300-level Health Education student said she was

NANS okays shift of elections country Nigeria, we can say categorically that 27 per cent of our populace is yet to get their PVCs which is key to exercise their franchise.

“We cannot but appreciate the INEC Chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega for deeming it fit to give room for a level playing ground for all aspirants and more so for given us the opportunity to reach out to our members who are yet to collect their PVC.” He said the association would continue to sensitize the youth and students structure on the need to allow a violence free election, knowing full well that

the youth and students are the harbingers of peace and destruction in any given society.

already preparing to go home where she believes she would have some rest.

Also, Adeola, a 400-level chemistry student said that the semester break was a period for her to rest.

However, some students who are in their final class are expected to stay back on campus to enable them do some research work for their final projects.

The association also frowned at the way in which desperate politicians are enticing stu-

dents with money so as to use them as tools for political vandalism, the association then implore such politicians , candidates and all political parties to

The beauty queens with some student leaders of College of Health and Science Technology (COHEST), Ijero Ekiti, during the college freshers’ night, recently.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

25

Thursday, February 19, 2015

Edited by: Saidat Alausa saidat_alausa@yahoo.com 08027633686

AAU inducts new doctors LOUIS UWOGHIREN, KELVIN OSAKPOLOR AND KESTER SWIFT 200L, BUS ADMIN, AAU

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mbrose Alli University (AAU) Ekpoma, Edo State has inducted new doctors. The induction ceremony which was ninth in the institution saw 42 new doctors swear to the physician’s oath.

Welcoming guests to the programme, the Provost of the College of Medicine, Dr. Enahoro stated that the college was proud to have trained the students up to the present level while calling on them to consolidate on the training they have got through specialisation.

She reiterated that the medical profession was evolving at a fast rate and there are few chances for non specialist doctors.

“This oath taking ceremony is significant in

many ways as it symbolically shows your acceptance into the medical profession therefore be guided by this oath you are swearing to in your practice,” she advised.

On his part, acting Dean of the Faculty of Clinical Sciences, Prof. Felix Okogbo, said as “baby” doctors, they should be ready to create a niche for themselves as they move up the ladder.

“Our alumni are doing well. Please do not disgrace us and key into the technology to advance patient care,” he counselled.

Noting that there were challenges facing the medical profession, he stated that he was confident of the doctors the school was inducting.

He advised them to see to the end of the crises ravaging the health sector and not compound it.

More women should take leadership roles, says don SAIDAT ALAUSA

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lecturer at Department of Agricultural Economics and Farm Management, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB),Ogun State, Dr. Olugbenga Adeoye has called for more participation of females in leadership roles and responsibilities in the country.

He made the call during the First Lady’s Conference, organised by the university’s Students’ Union (FUNAABSU) titled: “Transformational Leadership: Does Gender Matter?”

Adeoye, who is the keynote speaker at the forum, noted that the female gender had continually shied away from assuming leadership positions, thereby short-changing themselves and making leadership positions the exclusive rights of the male gender.

According to him, both genders were at par and had equal rights and as such, nothing stopped them from competing favourably for any position they deemed fit.

In her presentation titled,

“A Career Woman, A Good Home”, the wife of the ViceChancellor, Mrs. Bolanle Oyewole, said for a woman to be successful in leadership positions, she should be able to manage her career and home effectively without one suffering at the expense of the other.

She stated that God had always given women the ability to multitask and if well managed, the female gender can achieve her career dreams and aspirations without losing her home.

She stressed that being a career woman was not an excuse to be a failure as a wife and mother.

Oyewole advised that women should learn the skills of time management.

Corroborating her, another lecturer at the occasion, Professor Olajumoke Familoni, admonished the students to ensure that they possessed vocational skills alongside their degree certificates by the time they graduate. According to her, with the prevailing situation of youth unemployment in the country, it was high time the youth, particularly young ladies looked at becoming job creators.

Cancer: Undergraduates sensitise traders, secondary school students EZEKIEL EFEOBHOKHAN 400L, PHARMACY, UNIBEN

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harmacy students, University of Benin, Edo State under the umbrella of the AntiDrug Misuse and Abuse Programme (ADMAP) organised an awareness campaign for students and residents in communities around the university as a way of marking the World Cancer Day. The rally which began at the Faculty of Pharmacy had in attendance students from the faculty carrying cardboards with different inscriptions about the disease.

The campaign which lasted for more than four hours saw the students visiting public places such as the Uselu Market and secondary schools close to the Ugbowo campus of the university.

Addressing the market women at Uselu Market, Kingsley Isibor, a 500-level student spoke expressly

on the possible causes of cancer and how it could be prevented.

He also told his audience that early detection is the best way of surviving the disease.

He also advised the elderly women to always engage in frequent light exercises like a brisk walk and they should also avoid cigarettes and other harmful items.

Demonstrating to the

women how to frequently carry out breast self-examination, ADMAP chairperson, Chinenye Ihejirika, encouraged the nursing mothers among them to feed their children with only breast milk for a minimum of six months, as this will reduce the risk of having breast cancer and other deadly diseases. She also encouraged the women to maintain a very good hygiene in the market place

and other places as dirtiness could be a precursor to diseases including cancer.

Also speaking, Emmanuel Egbroko said the rally was not only informing but also educative.

The students also visited some secondary school in the neighbourhood where they senstised the students of the danger of the disease and the way to prevent it.

The undergraduates with the students of Russell International School, Benin, Edo State during the awareness programme.

‘Perseverance, key to entrepreneurial development’ EMEKA CHUKWUEMEKA NAU, AWKA

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fresh graduate of Law from Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State and publisher of Aluta Newspaper, David Agu, have identified perseverance and enthusiasm as two veritable virtues that every entrepreneur must possess to remain

in business.

He made this observation at an event organised to mark the grand finale of a programme to encourage young entrepreneurs, recently.

It was themed, “Entrepreneurship: A Tool for Repositioning the Nigerian Economy.”

Earlier in his welcome address, Agu expressed his

Some of the items displayed by the young entrepreneurs at the event.

compassion for the pathetic Nigerian situation whereby large throngs of graduates are released into the society every year with no job vacancy for most of them.

He decried the impoverished mentality of the youths that there are already made jobs for them and called for a revolution in their mindset.

In his words, ‘our youths should learn to be job creators instead of job seekers; this is the only way to salvage the country from its deplorable unemployment situation.’ He said the programme was his own way of encouraging entrepreneurial spirit in the youths especially those in the tertiary institutions who are on the verge of joining the labour market.

The law graduate also cited his own personal experience saying that while he was in school; he initiated a couple of lucrative venture amongst which was the

creation of a magazine that he carried on even after his graduation.

About one million naira was given out to the winners of the contestants which featured so many innovations.

A panel of judges drilled the contestants based on criteria such as their originality, convincing ability and creativity.

The Aluta Entrepreneurs Market was launched at the event, a complex of free shops and offices for young entrepreneurs who cannot afford such.

A politician, Hon. Eloka Egbunike, also pledged to sponsor five of the contestants to a South African exhibition.

Couples of people who have excelled in entrepreneurship in different fields were presented with awards during the event, among who were, former Vice-Chancellor of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Prof. Pita Ejiofor.

26

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Thursday, February 19, 2015

HE NATION ON SUNDAY of January 4 welcomes us this week with an avalanche of errors: “Some crammed popular city squares, parties and spectacular fireworks displays.” Captured: firework displays “Ikpeazu said that (sic) he has (had) been a public servant in the state for the past twelve (12, in professional journalism) years….”

“The Abia governorship candidate said that (sic) all his documents including his tax papers have (had) been documented….” News: all documents documented! Carry go…nothing do you!

“APC dares PDP in Cross Rivers (River) State” “Ndigbo’s grouse against (about) Jonathan” “Bello Fadile’s grouse with (about) Obasanjo’s My Watch” (THE GUARDIAN, January 2) “Seven-month-old infant roasted in Lagos New Year tragedy.” (The PUNCH Metro, January 2)…an explosion that sparked the fire which engulfed (burnt) the baby cannot be likened to ‘roasting’!

“2015: PDP mends fence in Rivers” (Source: as above) Politics Today: mend fences “BoI lauds Nigeria’s first card manufacturing firm” The PUNCH Industry: card-manufacturing firm “Also there will be back to school anointing service for pupils and students” KICC (Walking in Full Blessing): back-to-school anointing service “Military blames sabotage in the run up (run-up) to elections” (THISDAY Front Page Sub-headline, December 29) “143-years-old (143-year-old or 143 years’ old) Lagos school….”

“University don attacks private varsities, says their impact are (is) not being felt” In the spirit of the New Year, delete ‘University’!

“Buhari will lose woefully (abysmally) in Ekiti, says PDP” (THISDAY, January 5) “To understand the workings of the legis-

SAIDAT ALAUSA

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ovenant University, Ota, Ogun State has been ranked the best university in Nigeria.

According to the 2015 Webometric ranking released on February 10, the university came top, with Obafemi

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Adjectival misapplication APART FROM PROVIDING EMPLOYMENT, THE PROLIFERATION OF PRIVATE MEDIA ORGANISATIONS HAS IN A WAY DEVALUED COMPETENCE AND CONTENT IN THE BROADCAST INDUSTRY WHERE REVENUE DRIVE TAKES PROMINENCE.

lature, the citizenry needs (need) to understand its modus operandi….” (THISDAY Perspective, December 16) “Dabri-Erewa: An examplary (exemplary) legislator” (THE GUARDIAN, January1) “Ministers list potentials (potential/potentialities) of Kachimbila Dam” (Source: as above) “Restricted area: Out of bound to customers” (Ecobank Nigeria Limited Banking Hall, Aguda Branch, Surulere, Lagos, January 5) The pan-Africa (not African) bank: Out of bounds!

THISDAY PERSPECTIVE of December 22 disseminated copious infractions: “Candidates have emerged under (on) the platform of the PDP to fly the party’s flag in the main election.”

“Reason for this is due to (Reason for this is…) the undisputed fact that….”

“We join well meaning (well-meaning) members of our great party, PDP, our teaming (teeming) supporters….” “Dr. Jonathan’s accomplishments has (have) so far….” (One-and-a-half page advertorial by ALGON, Akwa Ibom State Chapter, THE NATION ON SUNDAY, January 4) “Nigeria needs DNA testing (DNA-testing) centres”

“Obituary announcement by Association of Registrars of Nigerian Universities (ARNU) (Full-page advertorial, DAILY SUN, December 19) An ‘obituary’ is inherently an announcement—so no needless ‘announcement’!

“Hon. Emeka Ihedioha had remained calm and focused, knowing very well that in spite of betrayals which could tantamount to the (sic) stabbing on (in) the back….”

(THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER COMMENTARY, December 20) “That is why majority of the delegates voted for Agbaje.” (Sunday PUNCH, December 21) Interview: a majority of the delegates “The three most admirable traits about him are his unbelievable work ethics….”

(Source: as above) Famous parents: work ethic “…where all manners (manner) of dirt is (are) poured on you….” (THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER, December 21)

FEEDBACK

YOU couldn’t conceal your annoyance some weeks back about the avoidable errors in our local media. Don’t be discouraged. Painfully, the usual production chaincum-knowledge management is faulty and

dangerously weak. Recruitment methods are now sleazy, on-the-job training and newsroom management are compromised.

The nature of mass media operations requires flawless recruitment, good training and Total Quality Management, from planning through production to the consumers.

The following brief is to substantiate January 6 contribution. The newly modified words which can now be freely used in our local media are ‘fora’ or ‘forums’, ‘uplift’ or ‘upliftment’, ‘infrastructure’ or ‘infrastructures’, ‘vandalism’ or ‘vandalization’. Example: vandalization of government property. Sources: Cambridge Advanced Learner’s Dictionary, Oxford University Press Dictionary (2015) and Meririam Webster Dictionary, which attributes origin of ‘upliftment’ to Jamaica.

The quality of graduates today makes the job difficult for the editors.

Paradoxically their input reveals the falling standard of education in the country.

Apart from providing employment, the proliferation of private media organisations has in a way devalued competence and content in the broadcast industry where revenue drive takes prominence. The so-called talents, many of them inexperienced, run to new stations to occupy plum but critical positions; fumbling NTA and FRCN are not doing enough to minimise their errors for others to imitate. Security of tenure keeps incompetent staff on the job. To them, the usage of the words ‘commission’ and ‘correspondent’ is correct. We must learn that learning continues throughout life.

Meanwhile, some English words we had criticised have been modified by the native speakers! 2015 shocker! Cheers. (SUNNY AGBONTAEN, 08062998165)

Covenant University ranks best in Nigeria

University, Ile-Ife, Osun State and University of Ibadan, Oyo State coming second and third, respectively.

With this feat, the 13-year old university is also the best in West Africa, 15 in Africa and 1,401 in the world.

The university which

was ranked sixth last year also beat the likes of University of Lagos, Akoka which was fourth, University of Ilorin, Kwara State which came fifth and University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Ogun State which came sixth.

Others are Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, seventh; Federal University of Technology, Akure, Ondo State, eighth; Landmark University, Kwara State, ninth and University of Nigeria, Enugu State which came 10th.

Webometrics is the largest academic ranking of higher institutions of about 25,000 institutions all over the world based on their web presence and impact on the society. The international organisation believes that if a university or institution has strong web

presence, it should directly affect general performance of such institution.

Interestingly, National Mirror gathered that while Covenant University was named the best this year, Obong University, Akwa Ibom State, also a private university was listed as the worst in the country.

Jonathan reappoints Jato as National Library boss MARCUS FATUNMOLE ABUJA

P L-R: Representatives of Jelly-Las College, Olamiju Oko-Osi; Eniola Oshati and Lagooz College, Elizabeth Oteje and Sanwo Taofeeqat during the inter-schools’ debate on who is to be the next President of Nigeria at Jelly-Las College, Iyana-Ipaja, Lagos.

resident Goodluck Jonathan has approved the reappointment of Mallam Habib Abba Jato as Director/ Chief Executive Officer of the National Library of Nigeria.

Jato got notice of his reappointment via a letter conveyed to him by Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Anyim Pius

Anyim, dated 12th January, 2015, according to an online mail made available to National Mirror by Head, Public Relations unit of the institution, Ofokansi Peter, yesterday.

Renewal of the four-year tenure is effective from 15th this month, the statement noted.

“The Director/Chief Executive Officer in accepting the renewal of his appointment as contained in a letter to Mr. President dated

26th January, 2015 expressed his appreciation for the great honour and confidence accorded him by the development. He also thanked the Minister of Education, Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau for recommending him for the re-appointment.

While promising to work hard to lift the National Library of Nigeria to greater height, he reiterated his commitment to staff welfare and harmonious relationship with the trade unions.

Business

Thursday, February 19, 2015

FG, US to build N2bn drugs store in Abuja

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Digital inclusion: NCC, others rev up drive to bridge gap through ICT education

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Fiscal, structural reforms key to Nigeria’s growth –Teriba TOLA AKINMUTIMI

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n economist and financial expert, Dr Ayo Teriba, has hinged the path to Nigeria’s economic growth and positive outlook in the 2015 on three key imperatives of revenue, structural and financial reforms, particularly during the post-election period.

Specifically, the financial analyst, believes that notwithstanding the low oil price and weak capital inflows being experienced now, the country’s economic outlook remained bright if deliberate efforts are made by the government to sustain revenue reforms that provide the fiscal space required for growth and stability.

In addition, Teriba, in his just released write up on ‘Nigeria’s Economic Outlook in 2015’, pointed out that breaking government monopoly in key potentially large economic sectors and allowing entry of reputable private firms as well as attracting foreign longer-term financial inflows would be critical to mitigating the risks posed by the fiscal, structural, and financial challenges to the economy.

While arguing that breaking of government monopoly in key eco-

nomic sectors and allowing entry of reputable companies into such sectors and will release fresh growth and investment impetus, the seasoned economist projected that foreign longer-term financial inflows that will be attracted to the liberalized sectors will reduce Nigeria’s dependence on volatile short term capital inflows.

Describing the 2015 elections as important to how the economy will respond to the current oil price-triggered external shocks on the economy, Teriba, who is the Chief Executive Officer, Eco-

nomic Associates, a consulting outfit, predicted that peaceful and conclusive election should see a resumption of foreign capital flows to Nigeria as uncertainties about the election must have combined with the fall in oil price to explain the wave of capital outflows from Nigeria towards the end of 2014.

He stated: “2015 is likely to be a year of contrasts in which a difficult and uncertain start will most probably give way to a promising end, as renewed post-election economic reform efforts to address

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Booming mannequins: The thrills, innovative approach in retail 35 marketing

fiscal, structural, and financial challenges highlighted by low oil price and weak capital inflows on the eve of election will open up new growth and investment opportunities, thereby brightening the outlook.

“Thus, while the twin external shocks on the eve of general elections had imposed short term challenges and created significant uncertainties about the economic outlook in 2015, they have also beneficially elevated the place of economic and fiscal reforms in the pre-election conversation.

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in Can Island Command of the Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, collected a total of 1.4 trillion from import duty and other related revenues into the Federation Account over a period of seven years, spanning between 2008 and 2014.

The revenue profile is made up of import duty, Value Added Tax, Sugar Levy, Comprehensive Import Supervision Scheme CISS, Port Development Levy and other sundry collections paid into the Federation Account through the Central Bank of Nigeria CBN.

AIRLINES’ FLIGHT SCHEDULES Arik Air Lag-Abj:07.15, 09.15, 10.20, 13.05, 15.20, 16.20, 16.50,18.45 (Mon-Fri/Sat/Sun).

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

Aero Contractors

L-R: CBN Governor Godwin Emefiele; Executive Director, Persons with Disabilities, Mr. Adeboye Abioye; Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Bank of Industry, Mr. Rasheed Olaoluwa, and Director-General, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria, Alhaji Bature Umar Masari during their meeting in Abuja, yesterday.

Tin Can Customs rakes in N1.4trn in seven years FRANCIS EZEM

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Details of the revenue figures released by the command’s Public Relations Officer, Mr. Chris Osunkwo, showed that while a total of N165.1 billion was collected between January and December 2008, a total of N117.6 billion was collected in the comparative period of 2009, which indicates a decline of N37.4 billion.

Similarly, the command collected a total of N155.4 billion in 2010, which increased by over N88.3 billion to peak at N193.7 billion in the comparative period of 2011.

The revenue collection further grew by over N14.7 billion in 2012 to peak at N208.4 billion in 2012

and further grew to N240.2 billion and N284.3 billion in 2013 and 2014 respectively, which represents a growth rate of N44.2 billion.

The statement however attributed the N44.2 billion difference between the 2013 and 2014 revenue collections, which represents 18.4 per cent growth rate to the return of the new Destination Inspection scheme, which also led to the introduction of the Pre-Arrival Assessment PAAR, regime.

According to him, after the initial challenges face by the new PAAR regime, which insists that importers must complete the documentation processes for their consignment before their arrival

were surmounted, there was an upsurge in cargo volumes, which consequently led to increase in revenue generation.

He also said that because of the perfection in filing import documents that was brought by the new system, several sources of revenue leakages were blocked, which also boosted the commands revenue generation for the financial year.

Details of the revenue figures for 2013 and 2014 show that a total of N21.6 billion was collected in January 2014 as against the N16.3 billion collected in the comparative period of 2013.

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

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

Lagos-Abuja (Sat): 08.00, 08.50.

Abuja-Lagos (Sat): 10.00, 15.00.

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

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Business News

Thursday, February 19, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

FG, US to build N2bn drugs store in Abuja MARCUS FATUNMOLE ABUJA

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he Federal Government and the United States of America yesterday flagged off the construction of a $10million (about N2billion) drugs store in Abuja.

Minister of State and Supervising Minister for Health, Dr Khaliru Alhassan, said the structure, to be known as “Ware House in a Box” would enhance drugs storage and supply in the country.

He said the Federal Government provided land for the project “worth about N1.2 billion and also paid for the ground rent and the building plan approval fees to the tune of N19,129,932,42.”

Director, Food and Drug Services, Federal Ministry of Health, Vera Ogbechie, said government had planned to build the facility twenty years back but that there were challenges that halted the plan.

She informed that the structure would enhance accessibility to medicine and other health commodities across the nation.

“In line with the principle of the Essential Drug Project, the Federal Ministry of Health conceived the idea of building the Abuja

Premier Medical Stores about 20 years ago. However, due to several challenges such as land acquisition, policy review and budgetary issues the project has been on the drawing board till now.

“On completion, this project which also consists of three warehouses provides a total storage space of 3000 square meters, that is, 1,500 pallet spaces; and easily be accessible to the northern axis of

the nation.

“Presently, the Federal Medical Stores, FMS, Lagos serves as the only central storage hub for health products procured by FMOH, local and international agencies and non-governmental organizations, NGOs, that works in partnership with FMOH,” she added.

In his remarks, Mission Director for the US, Michael Harvey,

said the project was being funded by the US Agency for International Development, USAID and the Nigerian government.

“I am very proud of the partnership we’ve had many years.

We believe this is going to be a very important piece, building on the partnership with the people of Nigeria,” he said.

He added: “We hope that between three and five months from

now, some of us could come back here to cut the ribbon when this building stands…

“Let me reassure you that the United States is deeply involved in helping Nigeria tackle the challenges before us. Nigeria will continue to enjoy the largest PEPFAR programme in the world, on HIV/ AIDS; and Nigeria will continue to be largest health programme that USAID has in the world.”

ARPON lauds PTAD on Pensioners Biometric Verification TOLA AKINMUTIMI

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he Association of Retired Police Officers of Nigeria, ARPON, has commended the Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD) on the ongoing verification of Police pensioners in the country.

The commendation was given last weekend when the association’s Executive, led by its first Vice-President and former Governor of Rivers State, DIG Fidelis Oyakhilome (Rtd), paid a courtesy visit to the Director-General of PTAD, Mrs. Nellie Mayshak, in Abuja.

The commendation, which was conveyed in a letter by the retired police officers, praised PTAD for the orderliness and humane conduct of the verification exercise.

The letter signed by DIG Oyakhilome, specifically stated that the current verification exercise carried by PTAD was a marked departure from previous exercises where their members were subjected to untold hardship.

“During previous exercises, no seats were provided for pensioners. The halls at venues were not big enough to contain our swarming members, and in venues were there were no trees for shelter, our

members went through ordeals that can be better imagined than described,” the letter stated.

It further stated that in the current verification, pensioners arrived at venues into the open arms of courteous, caring and polite officers who carried out their duties professionally, which ensured that the exercise was concluded in minutes unlike previous exercises where officers go with mats to stay overnight.

“This is a fine arrangement, it is excellent, and coming from a government agency, it is good and unbelievable,” the letter stressed.

PTAD was established by the current administration to stream-

line and harmonise all pension departments in the defined benefit scheme to reduce administrative bottlenecks and eliminate the various cases of fraud, which had created an age long distrust in the pension industry. Its establishment was imperative in the wake of the introduction of the contributory pension scheme as provided by the Pension Reform Act of 2004.

Though the agency’s mandate was explicitly supported by the Act, it did not come into being until 2013 when the present administration committed to tackling the challenges facing pensioners under the defined benefit scheme.

Africa Trade Fund approves $1.4m project funding SYLVA EMEKA-OKEREKE

T L-R: Communication Officer, Nigeria Bottling Company, Akintunde Oloyede; Globacom’s Head Corporate Sales, Kamaldeen Shonibare; Regional Chief Marketing Officer, Ashok Israni, and Head, Gloworld, Titi Ebinisi during the launch of Glo Postpaid Smart Plans in Lagos, recently.

he Technical Review Committee of the Africa Trade Fund, AfTra has approved funding worth more than $1.4 million for four projects that will support trade development in Africa Rising from its annual meeting in Abidjan, AfTra, a trade-related technical assistance facility hosted by the African Development Bank, was established to provide funding for trade facilitation, building capacity for trade

Kasapreko lauds NAFDAC over nabbed fake ‘Alomo Bitters’ producer ADEJUWON OSUNNUYI

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asapreko Company Limited, producer of a medicinal alcoholic beverage, Alomo Bitters, has expressed delight at the arrest of a man who allegedly specialises in the production of unwholesome imitation of the original Alomo Bitters by officials of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC).

The suspect, Mr. Akintunde Smith, was arrested few weeks ago at his residence on Akanni

Street, Teddy Village, Lagos where he was producing the counterfeit version of Alomo Bitters, following a tip-off.

Dr. Paul Orhii, director-general of NAFDAC, had paraded the suspect along with two others during a media briefing at the agency’s office in Oshodi, Lagos recently.

He said about 314 (14 X 750 millimeters) cartons of fake Alomo Bitters, several empty bottles and packaging materials were recovered from Smith during a raid carried out by the operatives of the agency.

Reacting to the development,

Kojo Nunoo, managing director, Kasapreko Company Nigeria Limited, said the seizure of the fake Alomo Bitters and the arrest of the suspect by NAFDAC were in line with the company’s unrelenting campaign to protect consumers of Kasapreko’s Alomo Bitters from counterfeiting.

He commended the agency and restated his company’s commitment to continue to protect the health of consumers.

“Counterfeiting is quite a big issue because the lives of our consumers are being endangered and it is very disturbing for us as a

company. For us, we have invested a lot in an authentic product that is good for general body health but now we have other people faking this product, this is worrisome to us. The company is investing in ways to fight it; one of these is what you are seeing,” he said.

Nunoo added that his firm supported NAFDAC and other regulatory agencies in their bid to curtail the evil activities of counterfeiters in Nigeria.

“We collaborate with regulatory agencies just to help us fight the circulation of fake products in the market.

institutions as well as developing products and markets in Africa.

Two of the projects, approved will support value chains development in apiculture and cashew industries.

It will improve the capacity of traders, processors and producers of honey and bee products to comply with SPS measures.

This will also upgrade the global value chain by exporting table honey, instead of bulk honey, thereby capturing more of the value.

The other value chains development project, presented by the African Cashew Alliance (ACA), was aimed at supporting cashew industries in both East and West Africa.

It will equally improve product quality and market development, as well as the environmental standards and sustainability in cashew processing, offering the chances of Africans to upgrade within the cashew global value chain.

The third grant was made to the African Organization for Standardization (ARSO). The project, titled “Harmonization of African Standards for Agriculture and Food Products”, aims to provide coherent and systematic codes of practice for African food products.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Business News

Thursday, February 19, 2015

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Chamber empowers market women with ICT skills ABOLAJI ADEBAYO

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L-R: President/Chairman of Council, Nigerian Association of Small and Medium Enterprises, Alhaji Garba Ibrahim; Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Akinwunmi Adeshina; Minister of Trade and Investment, Mr.Olusegun Aganga; Minister of Speacial duTies and Surpervising Minister of Labour, Barr. Taminu Turaki; President Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, Dr. Frank Udemba Jacobs and Director-General, Chief Executive, Industrial Training Fund, Dr. Juliet Chukkas, during a press briefing on Presidential Jobs Board meeting in Abuja, recently.

BP predicts higher demand as oil prices rise UDEME AKPAN

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ritish Petroleum, a major player in global oil and gas industry, has painted a brighter oil market to be driven by increased demand and high prices before the end of 2035.

The company disclosed in its latest report released yesterday that the improvement would be fuelled mainly by economic expansion in Asia, especially China and India.

“Despite the dramatic recent weakening in global energy markets, ongoing economic expansion in Asia – particularly in China and India – will drive continued growth in the world’s demand for energy over the next 20 years,” it noted.

It maintained that global demand for energy is expected to rise by 37per cent from 2013 to 2035, or by an average of 1.4per cent a year.

The Outlook looks at long-term energy trends and develops pro-

jections for world energy markets over the next two decades.

The new edition was launched today in London by Spencer Dale, BP’s group chief economist, and Bob Dudley, group chief executive.

“After three years of high and deceptively steady oil prices, the fall of recent months is a stark reminder that the norm in energy markets is one of continuous change,” said Spencer Dale.

“It is important that we look through short term volatility to identify those longer term trends in supply and demand that are likely to shape the energy sector over the next 20 years and so help inform the strategic choices facing the industry and policy makers alike.”

The Outlook projected that demand for oil will increase by around 0.8per cent each year to 2035.

“The rising demand comes entirely from the non-OECD countries; oil consumption within the OECD peaked in 2005 and by 2035

is expected to have fallen to levels not seen since 1986. By 2035 China is likely to have overtaken the US as the largest single consumer of oil globally,” it stated.

It maintained that the current weakness in the oil market, which stems in large part from strong growth in tight oil production in the US, is likely to take several years to work through.

“In 2014, tight oil production drove US oil output higher by 1.5 million barrels a day – the largest single-year rise in US history.

But further out, the growth in tight oil is likely to slow and Middle East production will gain ground once more,” it noted.

The report maintained that by the 2030s the US is likely to have become self-sufficient in oil, after having imported 60per cent of its total demand as recently as 2005.

It stated that demand for natural gas will grow fastest of the fossil fuels over the period to 2035, increasing by 1.9per cent a year, led by demand from Asia.

badan Chamber of Commerce and Industry has opened an ICT skills acquisition and training for market women in Oyo State.

The gesture is part of Chamber’s determination to increase the acquisition of Information Communication Technology, ICT, knowledge among market women in the country.

Speaking at the opening ceremony of the programme in Ibadan, the Chairperson of ICT Trade Group of the Chamber, Dr. (Mrs.) Kemi Wale-Olaitan, said women most especially in West Africa were facing a lot of challenges ranging from poverty, illiteracy and neglects.

She said one of the rationale behind the program which would be taking place at least twice a week, is to ensure that women whom she described as mothers of nations are properly trained in ICT because of its usefulness in the present day activities, noting that this would help

to reduce the menace of poverty, illiteracy and neglects among women folk.

According to her, the Chamber is targeting the women folk due to their closeness to the children and other members of their immediate families, stating that the nature of women to share and give from their resources and knowledge is responsible for the chosen of women as the target beneficiaries.

Wale-Olaitan described the programme as one that would help the women to transact their businesses without fear across the globe, maintaining that the program would also help them to get more customers thereby promoting their businesses.

She added that part of the purpose of the program is to ensure that women most especially those in the markets are elevated through the acquisition of ICT, explaining that her passion for women folk and to improve their status across the globe made her put her resources together and purchase some quantity of laptop computers for the training.

Artisans now subscribing to group insurance -Odukale MESHACK IDEHEN

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he Managing Directorof Capital Express Assurance Limited, Mrs. Bola Odukale, has said that artisans and trade associations had seen the need to collectively take insurance for their members, and are now buying group insurance.

Odukale told journalists on Tuesday as the insurance continues to grow that the industry will find a situation where even individuals on their own will come together as trade associations.

According to her, artisans are now approaching underwriting firms because of their conviction in the policy as a perfect means to

have financial protection.

“We have a lot of trade associations and artisans that have grouplife scheme in place. It is a huge scheme for the welfare of the people.”

Odukale said there was the need for more private sector employers to put the group life insurance scheme in place for their employees, noting the awareness is already high on but there is a need for the government to ensure that the employers comply.

“The private sector is aware of the Act because there has been sufficient sensitisation and virtually every company within the organised private sector knows that there is something called the group life scheme,” Odukale said.

NASC laments dearth of plant breeders, seed technologists ADEOLA TUKURU ABUJA

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ational Agricultural Seeds Council (NASC) has raised alarm over dearth of plant breeders and seed technologists in the National Agricultural Research and National Seed Systems.

This was made known during the just concluded National Seed Retreat organised by the National Agricultural Seeds Council (NASC) in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture

& Rural Development in Abuja.

According to the Acting Director-General of NASC, Dr. P.O. Ojo, some challenges of the seed industry, such as dearth of plant breeder, seed technologists, inadequate seed testing facilities and infrastructure for seed processing and lack of Intellectual Property Right (IPR) have continued to hamper private plant breeders’ development..

He said the overall objective of the retreat with the theme “Transforming the Nigeria Seed Industry to Meeting the Goals

of Agricultural Transformation Agenda” was to review the status of the national seed industry, identify challenges relating to varietal development and financing of the seed sub-sector with a view to charting the way forward.

Ojo disclosed that a total quantity of seed produced from about 4,260 mt in 2011 to 149,800 mt in 2013, accreditation of seed companies which rose from 36 in 2011 to 80 in 2014.

Also, the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development,

Dr. Akinwumi Adesina who was represented by his Senior Technical Adviser, Dr. Martins Fregene, acknowledged the contribution of the industry and its various stakeholders to the achievements recorded under the programme.

Matters arising from participants at the retreat issued in a communique are quality issues on the various classes of seed being produced and marketed in the seed industry, several crop varieties had been released of which many are not in use.

Others are, inadequate funding in the seed sub-sector in respect of training, research and seed development, lack of appropriate legislation on Intellectual Property Rights/Plant Variety Protection in the agricultural sector.

He said: “Inadequate seed processing facilities in both the public and private sector. Inadequate agro-dealer network for distribution/marketing of seeds by seed companies, low uptake of newly released crop varieties due to limited awareness”.

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Business News

Thursday, February 19, 2015

Don urges FG on solid minerals investments SYLVA EMEKA-OKEREKE

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s part of the growing concerns to diversify the nation’s economy, amid oil glut in the global market, the Federal Government has been urged to create attractive incentives, capable of encouraging huge investments in solid minerals.

A University Don, Professor Chinyere Okunna, who gave the advice during an interview with National Mirror in Ibadan, Oyo state said, Nigeria was richly endowed with variety of solid minerals of various categories, ranging from precious metals to various stones as well as industrial minerals, such as barytes, gypsum, kaolin and marble, among others.

Okunna, who is also a consultant to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation, UNESCO, said much

of these natural resources are yet to be exploited.

According to her, the level of exploitation of these minerals is very low in relation to the extent of deposits found in the country, wondering why a country like Nigeria should practise a monolithic economy, adding that it is very dangerous to rely on oil without possible alternative. ‘‘There are tremendous opportunities for investments in solid mineral sector in the country.

Federal Ministry of Solid Minerals should grant more licenses to both local and foreign investors to participate in the exploitation of the vast mineral resources in the country’’’, she stated.

Decrying the global oil glut, she said, the situation could be very disastrous for a country like Nigeria, noting that a time shall come, when federal and state governments will no longer meet their statutory obligations.

‘’I tell you, if we don’t quickly find an immediate alternative, a time shall come when they cannot even pay salary. And if go to internally-generated revenue, where are we going to generate it from, when the people are so poor, that they cannot even pay their taxes.

It is a kind of vicious circle and until Nigeria diversifies its economy, we cannot go far’’, she added.

Continuing, she said, until we reduce emphasis on oil, we may not go far. We must as a matter of urgency, find different ways of making money as a nation. We should be talking of solid minerals, industrialisation and so many other resources to make sure that oil is no longer our economic base.

Before we came to where we are now, we had agriculture; we had palm oil, cocoa and groundnuts that fuelled our economy, before we found oil. So, why is it that we are depending so much on oil that we can no longer diversify’’?

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

MoneyGram reaches 25,000 locations across Africa ISAIAH ERHIAWARIEN

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lobal money transfer company, MoneyGram said its agent network in Africa has now reached 25,000 locations, following a strategic expansion initiative across the continent.

A press statement from the company said that recent technology advances and new agent and sub-agent signings, including an agreement with the Mauritius Post Office to offer money transfer services at more than 100 locations, have contributed to achieving this company milestone.

Vice President of Africa, Herve Chomel said MoneyGram has continued to grow throughout Africa as a result of forming strategic relationships with reputable companies, including banks, post offices and retailers, to bring added convenience and

Publicis Groupe splashes €15m on Relaxnews

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L-R. Group Corporate Affairs Director, PZ Cussons, Mrs Yomi Ifaturoti; General Manager, Dofunol Enterprises ltd, Mrs. Feyijimi Temitope; Pastor Mrs. Osinowo and Managing Director, PZ Wilmar Mr. Santosh Pillai, during the Devon King’s Cruise Promo Prize presentation ceremony in Lagos, recently.

Nigerian women win global agric scientist fellowship ISAIAH ERHIAWARIEN

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hree Nigerian women agricultural scientists have been awarded fellowship in agricultural science by the African Women in Agricultural Research and Development, AWARD, a global non-profit organisation that promotes the involvement of women in agricultural research and development in Africa.

The women are Crop scientist Catherine Nwokwu, Juliana Amaka Ugwu, an entomologist and Ngozi Edoh, a Research Scientist at the National Root Crops Research Institute Umudike, Abia State.

Nwokwu is currently a post-

graduate student at Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki and her vision for agricultural research and development is to develop at least five high yielding and drought tolerant rice varieties.

Ugwu who, is also a former AWARD junior mentee and a lecturer at the Forestry Research Institute of Nigeria is on a mission to developing ecological and environmentally friendly approaches to sustainable production of fruits and vegetables in Nigeria.

Edoh, a Research Scientist at the National Root Crops Research Institute Umudike is currently focused on bio-safety research and genetic improvement of root and tuber crops.

The women were part of

70 top African women from 11 countries chosen who won the 2015 AWARD fellowships.

This years’ laureates were selected from amongst an impressive cadre of 1,109 applicants from 11 African countries and these scientists and researchers, will benefit from AWARD’s two-year career-development program that is focused on accelerating agricultural gains by strengthening their research and leadership skills. The AWARD Fellowships are granted on the basis of each scientist’s intellectual merit, leadership capacity, and the potential of her work to improve the livelihoods of African smallholder farmers, most of whom are women.

more choices for our customers.

According to the company, remittances are an important part of economic development and financial inclusion throughout the region and are integral to providing household essentials, education and healthcare in many countries saying that MoneyGram is excited to be a part of the region’s growth.

The statement said that consumers have access to MoneyGram’s services in more than 50 African countries saying that the company recently signed an agreement with First Bank of Nigeria’s subsidiaries in Ghana, Sierra Leone, and the Gambia, and also renewed a master agreement with Standard Bank Group, one of Africa’s top banks.

MoneyGram’s services are available at over 500 Standard Bank locations in South Africa and across 11 Southern and Eastern African countries.

lobal ad agency, the Publicis Groupe, is set to acquire Relaxnews, the press and content agency based in Paris, for approximately £15 million (£11 million).

The acquisition will help Publicis Groupe develop its strategy of “becoming the undisputed leader in digital, marketing, communications and business transformation”.

Publicis Groupe said that Relaxnews would sit with the ZenithOptimedia network and work with other divisions in the group.

The press agency will continue to be led by Jérôme and Pierre Doncieux, the co-chairmen at Relaxnews, and they will report to the global managing partner at ZenithOptimedia, Sébastien Danet .

Danet said: “Bringing Relaxnews into the group would al-

low us to combine our leadership in digital with their unmatched expertise in today’s content revolution. The synergies between these two pillars will transform media platforms for the benefit of our clients.”

Relaxnews was founded in 2000. It provides leisure news and creates content for media, brands, e-commerce sites and blogs. It formed a global partnership with the press agency Agence FrancePresse in 2009.

Jérôme and Pierre Doncieux said: “This project would be wonderful recognition of the Relaxnews adventure. By combining our expertise in the key areas of content and technology with the global clout of Publicis Groupe, we hope to provide media and brands with the leverage to accelerate their digital transformation.

Indonesian 2015 Budget targets higher revenue

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he House of Representatives approved the final version of Indonesia’s 2015 Budget, which targets a significant increase in tax revenue to produce a reduced 1.9 percent budget deficit for the year.

This would be lower than the 2.2 percent shortfall estimated in the preliminary budget approved in September last year, before President Joko Widodo’s Government came to office.

Revenues are due to rise to IDR1,440 trillion, up from IDR1,140 trillion last year, to enable increased spending on

infrastructure and welfare, through tax administration improvements and a broadening of the tax base. Value-added taxregistered businesses will be required to provide tax invoices to support input tax credit claims, and the Government is seeking to increase oversight in the area of transfer pricing.

To broaden the narrow tax base, the tax authority is to collate extra data on current and prospective personal and corporate taxpayers, and the Government is planning a tax amnesty for undeclared income.

Thursday, February 19, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

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Info Tech

Digital inclusion: NCC, others rev up drive to bridge gap through ICT education Globally in the last two decades, ICT tools have continued to enjoy prioritized attention in corporate investments given their valueaddition benefits to investors and their economies. Curiously, for Nigeria digital inclusion as a key component of national economic planning and management strategies has been missing due to inadequate budgetary allocations to ICT education by the authorities in the public sector. ISAIAH ERHIWAWRIEN examines the efforts the Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, is making to tackle the challenge:

S

ince the revolution in the telecommunications industry began, a major concern of government has been the need for every sector of the economy to feel the impact of information and communications technology, ICT, for national development.

This necessitated stakeholders’ campaigns for digital inclusion that will not just be limited to the ability of Nigerians to use ICT tools but would create basic digital knowledge in most Nigerians, particularly the entrepreneurs for market competitiveness locally and internationally.

Hence, the past two years have been characterized by increasing focus by the relevant authorities and agencies on the educational sector for injection of the much needed funds. But then, bridging the funding gap created by several years of neglect has been quite challenging.

National Mirror investigations revealed that most of the funding for digital inclusion in public educational institutions came mostly from the private sector with very little support from government and the multitude of institutions and agencies saddled with the responsibility of developing the ICT sector.

Conscious of the growing need to close the digital gap that exists between the public educational institutions and private educational institutions with regard to the application of technology in knowledge acquisition,, the Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, launched the Advanced Digital Awareness Programme for Tertiary Institutions, ADAPTI. ADAPTI, it was gathered was a deliberate digital inclusion policy of the NCC designed to address the digital divides crisis in the public educational institutions the country. ADAPTI was actually an off-shoot of the Digital Access Programme introduced in 2008 to tackle the challenges of ICT education in public secondary schools across country.

And since its introduction the DAP Project has supported 229 secondary Schools across the six geopolitical zones of Nigeria, including the Federal Capital Territory with the provision of 21 desktop computers, Local Area Network, printers, scanners, VSAT dish and deployment of one year bandwidth subscription for Internet access.

According to the Executive Vice Chairman of the NCC, Dr. Eugene Juwah both initiatives are part of the several ways that the Commission is helping to propel Nigeria into the digital age by providing the sup-

Officilas of NCC at the ADAPTI Commissioning project of Imo State Polytechnic, Umuagwo.

port base for the requisite ICT skills acquisitions.

According to the EVC, “It is against this backdrop that the Commission provides computers and other ICT systems to the beneficiaries, including installation of state-of-the-art e–learning suites for the Academics in tertiary institutions across the country.”

He explained that this is one of the ways we can reach the unreached and serve the unserved and underserved members of the society assuring that “many more institutions and schools will be covered especially now that the broadband revolution has begun. Broadband will make a world of difference.”

While acknowledging the gap in ICT services in the public educational institutions, Juwah at a recent commissioning of some DAP and ADAPTI projects in the country, he said that that was why the NCC opted early enough to cushion these needs by taking services, equipment and infrastructure to these centres of learning.

He said the commission through the ADAPTI has been able to empower several of these higher institutions by donating digital centres, computer laboratories fitted with laptops and internet connectivity, generating sets as part of the digital dividends.

He said while secondary schools benefit through the DAP, the DAP ensures that teachers are empowered first to pass knowledge to the students saying that DAP promotes hands-on digital empowerment by creating an environment where students have direct knowledge of usage of computers and ICTs in support of their studies.

Director, Public Affairs, Mr. Tony Ojobo described both initiatives as a continu-

BOTH INITIATIVES ARE PART OF THE SEVERAL WAYS THAT THE

COMMISSION IS HELPING TO PROPEL NIGERIA INTO THE DIGITAL AGE

BY PROVIDING THE SUPPORT BASE FOR THE REQUISITE ICT SKILLS ACQUISITIONS ous process for the distribution of digital knowledge, and awareness in schools and support students in acquiring knowledge of computer in their studies, adding that a recent project is the donation of ICT/Telecommunications books to Ekiti State University.

During the commissioning of projects at Ekiti State University, Ado Ekiti, Juwah who was represented by the Director, Policy Competition and Economic Analysis at the NCC, Ms. Josephine Amuwa said one of the core functions of the NCC is the implementation of programmes and plans that promote the development of the communications industry adding that in order to achieve this, the NCC has implemented several capacity building initiatives to enhance the knowledge base of the participants in the telecoms industry in Nigeria Some of these initiatives include the establishment of the Digital Bridge Institute in 2004 to contribute to the creation of knowledge-based information society in

Africa, through human resource capacity building in the ICT sector.

While appraising the projects, Chairman of the House Committee on Communications, Oyetunde Ojo observed that if the trend of investment in ICT education is maintained, government digital inclusion plan for the economy will be achieved soonest.

Also involved in similar initiatives is Zinox Technologies founded and chairman, by erudite IT expert, Chief Leo Stan whose efforts in the digital inclusion campaign has resulted to the Support IT Initiative in Katsina.

The Corporate Social Responsibility policy of Zinox Technologies Limited is intensely focused on the building of capacities for the growth of a knowledge society and equipping Nigeria to host complex events. Zinox has made strategic interventions aimed at building capacities primarily in the public educational sector.

Like NCC, Zinox digital inclusion stride has given succour to public educational institutions like Federal Polytechnic, Nekede, Owerri, Imo State, Federal Polytechnic, Idah, Lagos State Polytechnic, Ikorodu and Imo State University, Owerri.

Also New Horizons IT Learning Centre owned by Tim Akano, has been in the same vanguard of NCC providng public schools with computer labs and introducing 7,000 students every year to Internet opportunities skills as part of its philanthropy and empowerment programme.

Its mission is to remove obstacles and give people all over the world every opportunity to reach their potential.

Commenting on such investment from government agencies, the vice chancellor of the University of Lagos, Prof. Rahamon Bello said that such investment is a boost to public educational institutions, with low funding from government.

32

Info Tech

Thursday, February 19, 2015

Tech Box Review: Asus MeMO Pad 7 cost-effective business partner

High tariff keeps call ratio steady, as SMS hits 309.5m ISAIAH ERHIAWARIEN

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he high tariff for international calls from mobile telephones operators have resulted to a steady trend in the last three years such that the ratio of outgoing to incoming calls is approximately 1:1.6 in this category and remained steady in the 2010 to 2013 period.

On the other hand international text messages send by mobile telephone services subscribers within the period of four years witnessed a steady increase hitting as high as 309,545,478.77 within four years.

Summary report on Telecommunication for National and International Regions obtained by the national Mirror from the National Bureau of Statistics, NBS, covering the period of 2010 to 2014 showed that the year 2010 recorded 1,757.65 million minutes of international outgoing calls and 2,888.64 million minutes of incom-

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he new MeMO Pad 7 from Asus looks quite similar to other 7-inch tablet however, it got some interesting stuff to behold.

Unlike many other tablets, which have screens that are recessed into their casing, that’s not the case with the Asus MeMO Pad 7. Instead, the display is slightly protruding.

On the right side, just below the volume buttons, there’s the inevitable on/off switch while on the left side the MeMO Pad 7 offers a micro-SD card slot. That’s a good thing since it makes increasing the 16GB of on-board storage a breeze for every storage hungry business user.

The MeMO Pad 7 features two speakers. When holding the device horizontally, there’s on each side.

Asus and Intel have a long history of working together, ultimately resulting in all mobile Asus devices using Intel processors as their beating heart.

For this specific MeMO Pad

7 model, Asus decided to fit the device with an Intel Atom Z3560 22nm chip that uses four separate cores, each running at a maximum of 1.83GHz. To handle all graphics, Asus MeMO Pad 7 review sample was equipped with a PowerVR G6430 chip.

The device is equipped with a 3 950mAh capacity battery, which is fairly standard for a 7-inch tablet.

The Asus MeMO Pad 7’s last for eight straight hours when continuously used for typical office tasks. Both the 5MP rear camera and the 2MP front camera help in light-deprived situations or optical image stabilisation for that matter.

In summary, the Asus MeMO Pad 7 proved good tablets don’t have to cost a fortune.

The device offers solid performance, great battery life and an excellent screen. It’s also compact, lightweight and feels pretty durable, which ultimately makes it a perfect companion for the frequently flying business user.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

ing calls, totaling 4,646.28 million minutes.

Also in the following year 2011, a similar pattern was observed in international calls where outgoing calls of 1,250.45 million minutes versus incoming calls of 2,253.78 million minutes were recorded resulting to a total of 3,504.23 million minutes of calls.

According to NBS this indicated a decrease of 1,142.05 or by 24 per cent compared to the previous year adding that in 2012, outgoing calls rose to 1,485.67 million minutes, while incoming calls rose to 2,456.20 million minutes, recording a total of 3,941.88 million minutes across the networks.

NBS said this aggregate represented an increase of 437.64 million minutes or 12.4 per cent compared to year 2011 noting that a repetition in growth by 12.4 per cent was noticed in the year 2013 showing outgoing calls of 1,799.31 and 2,461.77 of incoming calls resulting in a total of 4,261.08.

The NBS report on the telecoms industry revealed that the high tariff for international calls made text message to increase with the period of 2010 to 2013 recording 8,142,101, 126,083,737.50, 127,924,705.27 for the years 2010, 2011, 2012 respectively with a sharp drop to 47,394,935.00 in 2013.

The report which also captures the text message volume on local networks showed that the number of SMS messages sent and received in the year 2010 on mobile lines totaled 1,747.09 million with outgoing text messages at 871.97 million and incoming text messages at 875.12 million.

NBS stated that daily activity of subscribers in Nigeria while using their mobile phones for communication indicated that 1,722.70 million messages representing 98.6 per cent were sent and received in domestically while 24.39 million messages representing 1.4 per cent were sent and received in internationally.

L-R: Mr. Philip Obioha, COO, CWG Plc; Mr. Emeka Mba, DG, NBC; Mr. Austin Okere, Founder and CEO, CWG Plc and Mr. Gbenga Odegbami, Head, Presales, CWG Plc when MR. Mba visited CWG’s corporate headquarters in Lagos.

Glo, Immigration Service partner on border security

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igerian Immigration Service, NIS, has gone into partnership with second national carrier, Globacom, to enhance border security.

A statement from Globacom quoting the Comptroller General of Immigration, David Parradang at the launch of a new package for the Service at the Office of the Comptroller General of Immigration in Abuja, said Globacom will be aiding national security.

The statement said that Glo will be doing that by facilitating free flow of communication from anywhere in the country with the newly inaugurated Glo Immigration Closed User Group, CUG. He added that the network, through the facility, has also provided a welfare package for the

rank and file of the Immigration Service and their families.

Deputy Comptroller General of Immigration, Ops and Passport, Muhammad Babandede, who represented Parradang, stated that it was always difficult to communicate when resources were scarce and that situations that could have been salvaged got worse.

The package comes with very cost-effective and convenient facilities that will see men and officers of the Service making calls free of charge with fellow officers and with their families.

The package, which is ultimately for the entire staff of Immigration Service, commences with an initial 5,000 units to be spread across all formations and

departments of the Immigration Service around the country including remote areas of the North East where officers are deployed to secure the borders.

The essence of the Immigration special telecommunication package is to enable Immigration Officers to send or receive alerts and reach out to critical stakeholders, particularly those in distress, without being encumbered by the non-availability of recharge cards, even in the farthest parts of the country.

Globacom’s Head of Public Sector, Tunde Amunikoro, explained that, with the package, on-the-job effectiveness would be enhanced through prompt information dissemination.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Info Tech

Thursday, February 19, 2015

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Government Technology

FG to support CWG satellite TV project STORIES: ISAIAH ERHIAWARIEN

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he National Broadcasting Commission, NBC, has said that it would give all necessary support to the ongoing free to air satellite TV platform project of the Computer Warehouse Group Plc., CWG. The project is currently being implemented by the CWG ahead of the June 27 digital migration in the broadcast industry.

The Director General of NBC, Emeka Mba said during a visit and inspection of the facility in Lagos lauded the efforts of the CWG team saying, “I assure you that NBC will provide the necessary support CWG requires to make this project a success.”

While praising the CWG for its vision in introducing a free to air DTH TV to the Nigerian broadcasting climate, he described the idea as novel in the history of broadcasting in Nigeria.

He said“the idea of a free to air satellite TV platform is novel to the TV experience of average Nigerians. Its coverage capacity will be instrumental in our quest to take quality broadcasting to every corner of the nation.

According to Mba, when the

TV satellite station comes on air, it will allow indigenous stations compete competently and affordably with regional and global ones, in terms of picture and content quality.

Founder and Chief Executive Officer,CWG, Austin Okere commended the NBC for its efforts in ensuring that the nation beats the ITU June 17 deadline for migration to digital TV broadcasting .

He stated that the project is CWG’s social impact investment contribution to ensure that none of the 27 million households in Nigeria are left out in the digital TV switchover.

According to him, the CWG/ SES platform was not just a business idea stressing that CWG wants to provide visual content that will be made available to millions of households at no cost, through a Free to Air, FTA, medium.

“We are offering a platform that will enable broadcasters deliver their content to a broader audience cost-effectively. Most importantly, our platform offers the nation the opportunity of meeting the core requirements needed to beat the ITU transition to digital broadcasting deadline”,

he assured.

The visit afforded the NBC the opportunity of inspecting CWG’s satellite facility that will serve as the support base for the soon to be launched SES digital TV platform.

Head, Presales, CWG, Gbenga Odegbami, while giving an over view of the of CWG’s history of innovation and service excellence said CWG offers integrated ICT solutions that add value to the operations of diverse clien-

tele, using highly skilled and well-motivated workforce.

He said that at inception, the company was basically an IT infrastructure sales firm saying that the group has since evolved into a Pan-African ICT Powerhouse, with focus on enabling businesses through strategic partnerships with world-class organisations and OEMs. He recalled explained that the recently launched CWG 2.0 is a cloud based subscription busi-

ness model birthed and driven by the quest to help Small and Medium Enterprises grow and make notable social impact.

He said it includes Openshopen, an e-commerce platform that allows shop owners open their own virtual stores online; and SMERP, an Enterprise Resource Planning solution built to assist business owners manage their Accounting and Financial Record Keeping.

NIGCOMSAT launches Ka-band services

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igeria Communications Satellite, NIGCOMSAT, has launched Ka-band services as part of its efforts of providing broadband access to bridge the digital divide in the country.

Speaking at the launch, Chairman Board of Directors, NIGCOMSAT, Prof. Turner T. Isoun, said that the launch was symbolic on so many levels saying that it indicates that the Federal Government is investing in ICT development in Nigeria.

“It is confirmation that the investment of the government in ICT infrastructure such as com-

munication satellites was not in vain” adding that “this is a fulfillment for me, having played a key role in the creation of NIGCOMSAT, during my tenure as the Minister of Science and Technology.”

He disclosed that the launch illustrates that indeed there are commercial by-products of space technology that can be utilised and enjoyed by the average Nigerian.

While thanking the management and Staff of NIGCOMSAT he said that the success of the project provides irrefutable evidence that Nigerians possess the skills and technical know-how

to compete with the best in the world.

He added that the project was the result of years of investment in the development of young Nigerian engineers and other professionals in the niche area of satellite communications.

“For Nigerians as a whole, a great leap has been taken towards bridging the digital divide between nations, and within a nation – the divide between urban and rural, and building a nation where digital rights are available and affordable as satellite broadband can now be accessed anytime and anywhere”, he noted.

Financial Technology

Interswitch launches $10m African e-payment fund

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nterswitch, a pan-African integrated payment, processing and transaction switching company, has launched a $10 million e-Payment Growth Fund.

The fund is intended to serve as a catalyst for funding innovation and disruptive business concepts within the payment industry across Africa.

The company is also seeking

to collaborate with African entrepreneurs and start-up businesses to develop innovative products and services that empower Africans to participate in the emerging payment ecosystems currently transforming business on the continent.

The fund has made its first investment in Africa Courier Express, ACE, formerly A-Post, a

Nigeria-based and Africa focused technology driven e-commerce logistics and warehousing firm.

ACE has developed and rolled out a new cutting-edge technology to track, deliver and collect payments seamlessly for and onbehalf of its clients.

The company will receive an initial investment of US$850,000 from the Interswitch ePayment

L-R: Vice President, Value Added Services Airtel, Francis Ebuchi, Co-Founder, Sonbim Games, Geoffrey Nwachukwu, and Vice President, Data Products and Services,Nitin Anand, during the Airtel Catapult-a-Startup prize presentation in Lagos recently.

Growth Fund to enable management execute its West Africa expansion plans with the potential to access additional funding.

The investment by Interswitch represents the start of a new partnership model to deepen the ecommerce space across Africa.

ACE was launched in November 2013 by Tunde Kehinde and Ercin Eksin, two experienced professionals with strong market experience in running successful retail and logistics businesses in emerging markets.

The company currently provides reliable third-party logistics, tracking and pay-ondelivery,cash and electronic, services for retail businesses in Nigeria.

Since launch, ACE has established physical presence in five cities across Nigeria, has shipped to almost 100,000 customers, and is currently one of Nigeria’s largest ecommerce logistics management companies.

The investment by the Interswitch fund will enable ACE to grow the West Africa’s retail market by allowing retailers to focus on their core business of pur-

chasing and managing inventory.

ACE has distribution hubs in major cities across Nigeria including Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt, Ibadan and Abeokuta, developed a world class IT backbone infrastructure to support transparent tracking of packages, acquired anchor clients, and hired experienced logistics staff to launch and run the business.

The company is currently supporting a number of blue chip clients and is experiencing growing demand for its services across several sectors.

Commenting on the development, Group Managing Director, Interswitch, Mitchell Elegbe, said:“Interswitch is committed to encouraging innovative ideas and developing start-ups across Africa.

“We created the US$10 million e-payment growth fund to do just that, and it is with great excitement that today we can announce our first investment. ACE is exactly the sort of business we want to support: dynamic, energetic and dedicated to breaking barriers for e-commerce in the African market.”

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Global News

Thursday, February 19, 2015

Huge U.S. jury awards in 2014 may foretell trouble for carmakers

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uge jury verdicts against companies over fatal flaws in their products made a comeback last year, which may foretell more bad news for carmakers with defective parts.

Absent for a decade, billion-dollar verdicts returned in product-defect suits in 2014. The largest was for $23.6 billion in favor of the family of a smoker who died at 36. Coming in second was one for $9 billion to a New Yorker who linked his bladder cancer to a diabetes medication.

The re-emergance of huge verdicts comes at a bad time for the auto industry. It experienced a year of Cadillac almost constant recalls, congressio- ing for the companies: based on past nal hearings and scores of lawsuits court rulings, it’s unlikely anything against companies such as General close to the initial verdict amounts Motors Co. and the air-bag maker will ever be paid.

Takata Corp.

Of the 10 largest punitive verdicts “People now come into the jury against corporations in U.S. history, room really suspicious, instead of none survived post-trial trimming wondering is this ambulance-chas- by judges, according to Bloomberg ing lawyer trying to squeeze money data. The largest, $145 billion in a out of a company,” said Erik Gordon, Florida tobacco class-action in 2000, a law and business professor at the was tossed out entirely on appeal.

University of Michigan in Ann ArEven so, that case continues to bor. “Jurors now come in expecting haunt the tobacco industry, as multo hear a story of corporate wrong- tiple findings on the companies’ doing and are being very receptive to blameworthiness are being used in these stories.” individual cases, including the one The biggest awards were for pu- that produced last year’s $23.6 billion nitive damages, meant to punish award. companies for bad conduct and not After being slashed, large punito cover actual losses. One silver lin- tive verdicts often have lingering ef-

fects, said attorney Victor Schwartz, who represents defendants in complex lawsuits.

“It can affect their business,” Schwartz said in a phone interview.

“It can affect the reputation of the company. The stock can go down.”

Some effects become permanent, he said. “No one would name any product a Pinto again,” a reference to a Ford Motor Co.’s model linked to deaths from exploding fuel tanks.

Big verdicts attract more plaintiffs and raise the ceiling for settlement talks, said Gordon, the Michigan academic.

“When it’s knocked down, the story is on page 6” he said. “It’s the initial headline that attracts the attention.”

Stocks reverse losses as investors keep faith in Greek deal

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uropean stocks reversed early losses on Tuesday and yields on lower-rated euro zone bonds fell as investors reassessed the collapse of Greek debt talks and focused on the prospects of a deal.

The euro also recovered from early losses to rise against the dollar after Monday’s breakdown of talks between Greece and euro zone finance ministers. Initial declines on equity markets were modest.

“For now, we assume that logic will prevail and this movie won’t end in disaster,” said Paul O’Connor, cohead of the multi-asset desk at Henderson Global Investors.

Both sides raised the possibility of another attempt to find common

Dijsselbloem

ground before the end of this week.

The European Central Bank is set to decide on Wednesday whether to maintain emergency lending to Greek banks, and the Greek state faces some heavy loan repayments in March.

Dutch Finance Minister Jeroen Dijsselbloem, who chairs the group of euro zone ministers, gave Athens until Friday to request an extension of its current bailout, which would otherwise expire at the end of the month.

The pan-European FTSEurofirst 300 .FTEU3 equity index opened lower but was last up just under 0.1 percent.

Greek stocks underperformed.

The volatile ATG main Athens share index .ATG was down 2.8 per cent, after earlier dropping more than 4 percent and then briefly turning positive.

Yields on three-year Greek government bonds GR0029312=TWEB rose 130 basis points to 19.04 percent and 10-year yields GR10YT=TWEB rose 66 bps to 10.58 per cent.

“The risk of a collapse is more elevated now because time is running out,” said Patrick Jacq, rate strategist at BNP Paribas. “This is putting Greek government bonds under pressure, but contagion effects will remain relatively limited ... Eventually a deal is likely to be reached.”

Yields on lower-rated euro zone debt edged lower, suggesting no fear of an imminent break-up of the bloc.

Italian 10-year bonds IT10YT=TWEB yielded 1.62 per cent, down 1.8 basis points.

Without support from creditors, the Greek government and banks face a funding crunch. That might lead to Greece’s becoming the first country to ditch the euro and re-introduce its own currency.

The MSCI all-country world stocks index. MIWD00000PUS was down 0.1 per cent, after touching its highest since September on Monday.

Japan’s Nikkei share average .N225 and MSCI’s broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan .MIAPJ0000PUS both dipped 0.1 percent.

The euro EUR= traded weaker against the dollar in early European trade but later picked up to $1.1388, up 0.3 per cent on the day but well shy of Monday’s high of $1.1429.

“The market has witnessed this before -- it remembers the brinkmanship during the Greek debt negotiations of 2011,” said Kyosuke Suzuki, director of forex at Societe Generale in Tokyo. “There are only nine trading days left until the Feb. 28 deadline, but some see that as enough time.

Thus we are not seeing the euro sold in panic.”

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Chinese home prices fall for ninth month

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he average price of new homes in China’s 70 major cities fell 0.4 per cent in January from the month before, marking the ninth consecutive decline.

Government data showed that prices in the cities of Beijing and Shanghai also fell more last month than they did in December on an annual basis.

China’s once red-hot real estate market has been facing headwinds from a slowing economy and oversupply issues.

Investors have been turning away from the market and investing in stocks.

Home prices fell in 64 of the 70 cities tracked by the National Bureau of Statistics.

On an annual basis, prices fell 5.1 per cent in January - marking the fifth consecutive month that prices have fallen from a year earlier.

The continuing slump comes

China President, Xi Jinping

despite a surprise interest rate cut

by China’s central bank in November in an attempt to boost growth in the flagging economy.

The world’s second-largest economy grew at its slowest pace in 24 years last year, missing its official target and putting pressure on the government to take measures to avoid a sharper downturn.

Earlier this month, China’s central bank surprised markets once again by lowering banks’ reserve requirements to boost lending, which is expected to help the property sector.

Banking heir who lost millions in gold wants to raise more

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eter Hambro, descended from a wealthy line of Anglo-Danish bankers, recalls receiving a bottle of whisky as a gift from his mother’s gardener.

It was a token of thanks after seeing a good return on his investment in Hambro’s Russian gold mining business. “I’ve made so much money, the least I can do is give you a drink,” Hambro, 70, remembers the gardener saying at the time.

Those days are long gone.

Petropavlovsk Plc, once worth more than $3 billion as the price of gold it dug in the Russian Far East soared, has lost 99 per cent of its value in the past five years.

For anyone who has hung on from the start, it has been an astonishing ride as the stock rocketed more than 10-fold from its listing price in 2002, before losing all of those gains and more. The company is forecast to post a third straight annual net loss for 2014.

Banks and fund managers squeamish of the risks have fled.

Retail investors now own about

Gold

80 per cent of the business by Eton-educated Hambro’s reckoning. He needs them to back a rescue plan, while acknowledging the anger some may harbor for past losses.

Management proposes to sell bonds and about $235 million of shares at a deep discount to the market price to reduce debt and fend off default at Russia’s thirdbiggest gold producer. Even the announcement of the plan on Dec. 8 sent the stock into a tailspin, with shares ending the day down a record 30 per cent.

The refinancing will cut Petropavlovsk’s debt by more than $200 million, and by producing as much as 12 per cent more gold this year at $200 an ounce cheaper than in 2014, the miner will make further inroads, it says.

Shareholders will have the option to take up more than 15 new shares at 5 pence (7.7 cents) a piece for each one they already own. Those that decline the offer of new stock will face a near homeopathic dilution of their interests.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Thursday, February 19, 2015

Brands & Marketing

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Booming mannequins: The thrills, innovative approach in retail marketing The growing use of mannequins in retail outlets has continued to attract lots of attention from market analysts and customers of various retail outlets in the country. Besides, mannequins have become a source of new data generation for marketers.DAVID AUDU, reports on this innovative, ICT-powered marketing strategy.

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hey appear ubiquitous along major streets; they appear stylishly dressed in fitting attires portraying different age brackets and forms as the retail shop owners want to them to appeal. These dummies, as they are popularly called, dominate front retail outlets in most shops in Nigeria. Welcome to the new age of mannequins in marketing!

In the quest to unravel the use of mannequins in retail outlets in Nigeria, this correspondent transverse the length of Allen Avenue, Opebi, Ojuelegba, Broad street, inner Lagos Island, some parts of Victoria Island and the big city malls all in metropolitan Lagos and surprisingly discovered that not only are big retail apparel shops using mannequin to display cloths, but the small corner shops in the seemingly unrecognised streets also do.

The situation is not quite different in other major cities like Abuja, Port Harcourt and Kaduna, amongst others, where these mannequins are always visible in most shops, particularly during festive seasons.

What is the lure of mannequin? While the traditional purpose has been to attract and lure customers, the use of mannequin has assumed a new dimension as those lifeless dummies have now become both a data gathering machines and security monitoring devices.

Mannequins have been used to show people how clothing will look when worn since the 15th century. Historically, mannequins are the oldest form of retail display. They are arguably the most effective pieces you can have in a retail setting. Some things that look drab and uninteresting on the hanger come to life on a mannequin and show your customers how to accessorize with your other products, says an expert. “There is a lot behind the psychology

Mannequins on display in retail outlet

Bionic mannequins

THERE IS A LOT BEHIND THE PSYCHOLOGY OF SELLING THAT IS ACCOMPLISHED WHEN YOU USE MANNEQUINS of selling that is accomplished when you use mannequins”.

Writing in his widely circulated book, ‘Political Communication: Rhetoric, Government and Citizens’, Dan. Hahn, underscored the place of taping into human psychology in retail marketing, how retailers use mannequin to lure shoppers by playing on their emotions and innate human needs.”It is not surprising that women are the primary target of advertisers when we realize that women account for about 80 per cent of all consumers spending.

He notes that while “the mannequin in store windows may be lifeless, the messages conveyed are unmistakable, for it is through the eye of the forms in the window that we see ourselves reflected and our self-concepts reinforced. The mannequin in the window and now storefront is nubile and svelte’, meaning they mirror and relate with the essence and feelings of the target audience The dual but contrasting role of the mannequin may be summed up in the following sentence: The urban designer attempts to keep the pedestrian traffic moving; the shop keeper wants to bring that traffic to a standstill.

Investigation reveal that the average cost

of a mannequins ranges between N25 to N35 thousand per figure, multiplying this to the booming apparel retail outlets in Nigeria, make this business to run into multimillion naira business.

At Michelle store in Ojuelegba, the shop owner reveals that the use of mannequins depends on the objective of the outlet, which also depends on the profile of the mannequins to buy and display. He said mannequins are indispensable accessories in any fashion shop that is serious in attracting customers.

Ikeja City Mall boasts of sophisticated mannequins; almost all apparel stores have on stand not less than six to seven mannequins on display. Asked if customers are attracted to the store on the basis of the display, a shop attendant who would did not want his name mentioned affirmed in the positive, saying “shoppers sometimes see a good dress on the mannequins and would want to test it out, and in most cases resulted in sales.

But the story of the ubiquitous image mirroring mannequin has change with technology, along with the business desire to revive the brick and mortar store in the face of stiff completion from online stores.

Fabade Toppy is the Managing Director of FT, one of the major manufacturer and mar-

keter of Mannequin in Lagos, but declined to speak on the business requesting to be given more time to respond to enquiries.

However, those who spoke with National Mirror say the mannequins are imported from mainly China and Western Europe.

They explained that the Chinese products are more affordable that those from Europe. In all they agree that as an accessory of fashion, it remains a booming business as long as human need for clothing and fashion exists.

Online investigations have shown that today mannequins have assumed greater functions other than being used as display items.

They are also used as spying devices on shoppers for market analysis Mannequins fitted with facial recognition software are used to track the age, sex and race of retail customers so that companies can rebrand and market their stores accordingly. Eye See is a 4000 euros each ($5,072) mannequin made by Italian company Almax, which use software typically reserved for high security locations, such as airports, where law enforcement track the public.

The Eye See looks like a regular mannequin form on the outside, with its glossy plastic frame, poker face and static pose. Inside, a camera is embedded in one eye feeds data into a facial recognition software, similar to those used in airports to determine the gender, age or ethnicity of clients who would stop in front of a shop window. The objective is to adapt the windows and offers to boost sales.

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Brands & Marketing

Thursday, February 19, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Industry chieftain renews call for Lucozade,Ribenakickoff Promo Nigeria’s re-branding project L

DAVID AUDU

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ormer president of the Advertising Agencies Association of Nigeria, AAAN, and Chief Operating Officer, COO, of 141 Worldwide advertising, Mrs. Bunmi Oke, has called on the new Chairman of the Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria, APCON, Mr. Udeme Ufot to set up of a rebranding committee to reposition the failing brand image of Nigeria Oke, who spoke with National Mirror recently, was reacting to the appointment of Ufot as new chairman after the dissolution of the council early last year by the federal government and the controversy it generated within the industry. Only recently, the federal government announced the appointment of Ufot the Managing Director of SO&U as new council chairman.

As part of her agenda setting for

the new chairman, she said APCON should set up a re branding committee for Nigeria and that members should comprise professionals and stakeholders in the marketing communications.

Oke in her capacity as President of the AAAN for the first time led the entire marketing communications to the national conference in Abuja last year, and the issue of s strong rebranding committee was part of the policy contribution of the sector to the confab.

She also called on the new chairman to steer APCON such that it will foster a strong relationship that will ensure governments at all levels in Nigeria patronize professional and registered advertising agencies in public communications campaigns.

She said: “we need our new Chairman to stabilise and promote the implementation of the new AP-

CON reforms. We also need our new chairman to maintain and improve political, corporate and services, adding that government should ensure it uses professional in its campaign strategies” Stakeholders in the marketing communication industry had been vocal in calling for the sustaining of the rebranding Nigeria project.

Recall that the rebranding Nigeria Project was launched with a slogan Nigeria: Good People, Great Nation under the late Information Minister, Professor Dora Akunyili.

Akunyili had then noted that “Nigeria cannot wait until it solves all her problems before it can stand to give serious thought to re-branding its battered image. This is because our development is tied to our image. This negative perception has had destructive effects on our people and stymied our growth and national progress”

ucozade Boost energy and Ribena have announced the launch of a consumer promotion tagged ‘Big Cash Giveaway’ specifically designed to reward new and existing consumers in Nigeria who purchase the drinks within the duration of the promotion.

Explaining the rationale for the promo, the Marketing Director, Kerry Alexander said “the Big Cash Giveaway” promo is our way of rewarding our consumers for their patronage over the past years and also to restate our commitment of helping people do more, feel better and live longer.

Speaking on how the promo will run, the Group Product Manager, Aigbeme Momoh said during the period of the promotion starting off in February 9th, consumers who purchase either one case of Lucozade/Ribena 150 ml, or seven packs of 288ml or 3 packs of 500ml PET in selected stores in Lagos, Port-Harcourt, Uyo, Calabar and

Enugu, will get a raffle ticket and stand the chance to win 1 million Naira every week. While 75 people will also win 10, 000 naira weekly.

She stated further that the promo which will run till 8th of April 2015 is an avenue for everyone to enjoy the goodness of Ribena and get everyday energy fast with Lucozade Boost, the credible drink that contains glucose and provides energy for the body.

The promo aims to excite and reward our consumers as well as continue to deliver value to our consumers.

To enjoy this offer, new and existing consumers who buy either one case of Lucozade/Ribena 150 ml, or seven packs of 288ml or three packs of 500ml PET in selected stores in Lagos, Port-Harcourt, Uyo, Calabar and Enugu, will get a raffle ticket that qualifies them to win 1 million Naira every week in the weekly draws, while 75 people stand a chance to win 10, 000 naira weekly, both over 8 weeks.

Blue Arrow TSW rewards customers

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L-R: Chioma Afe, Marketing Manager, DStv; Gabriel Eretchabor and wife Eseinone and Caroline Oghuma, Public Relations Manager, DStv during the presentation of a brand new KIA RIO to the couple in Lagos, recently.

Chi launches ‘Exotic Nectar’ media campaign DAVID AUDU

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n addition to the quality of any product, it is never an easy task to produce a clear and effective brand message that will instantly resonate with consumers, especially when the brand promise is emotional and subject to imagination.

But it appears that Chi Limited has mastered the art in its latest Chi Exotic Nectar media campaign, tagged “Taste of Paradise.”

The television commercial which is currently running on all leading television channels has already received wide acclaim for its succinct depiction of the Chi Exotic brand with premium and persuasive imagery. The messaging is apt as an experience of the Chi Exotic Nectar resonates with the feeling of uniquely savorytaste typical of natural fruits.

There is no gainsaying that the TVC which opened with a lady who paused to take a drink of Chi Exotic Nectar while working on her laptop

successfully communicated the exotic nature of the refreshing drink.

As she savoured the fresh, natural and rich taste of the drink, she closed her eyes in sheer pleasure and was briefly transported to an exotic beach on a fantasy island.

Dressed in a light chiffon gown, she floated along the beach before sauntering into the orchard nearby to revel in heady pleasure of exotic fruits – coconut, pineapple, mango, orange and berries - that abound.

In an effort to enhance preference for the brand, the TV story effectively matched the brand message with each and every component of the Chi Exotic Nectar brand. As the lady opened her eyes and realized she was in fantasy land, she took another sip and returned back to ‘paradise.’

Mrs. Jumoke Ayomide, a Physical and Health education teacher at a Secondary School in Maryland, who takes Chi Exotic nectar juice regularly, stated that she is attracted to the drink because of its natural,

rich and unique taste. “It is a drink that is worthy of indulgence,” she said. She noted that Chi Exotic Nectar Juice always satisfies her longing for its distinctive refreshment.

Speaking on the “Taste of Paradise” campaign, the managing director, Chi Limited, Mr. Roy Deepanjansaid“the objective of the TVC was to assure consumers that whether they are in the comfort of their homes or going about their daily activities, Chi Exotic Nectar will always be at hand with a promise of great taste to appeal to their senses with sheer pleasure”.

Produced from the finest collection of tropical fruits and squeezed into affordable handy packs, CHI EXOTIC comes in a range of ‘Taste of Paradise’ which includes: Pineapple-coconut, Multifruita, Mango, Banana, Guava, Orange-pulp, Orange Peach, Pineapple papaya, Tropical fruits & Coconut, & Orange & Coconut. They are available in smart and handy packs of 1 Litre, 500ml and 250 ml.

he distribution partner of Global Spirits, William Grants & Sons in Nigeria, Blue Arrow TSW, recently rewarded key distributors for continued patronage of the brand during an end of year promotion. Both new and existing customers had the opportunity to win different exciting gift packages as a result of their performance.

Prizes included 8 KVA Generator, 55” Inch LED TV, trips to Dubai with shopping allowance, trips to London/Scotland for two with shopping allowance and a grand prize of KIA RIO automatic.

The Winner of the Grand Prize James Onoja from the Aba division had this to say as the car was presented to him at his office in cemetery market Aba. “I was just doing my business as usual to put food on the table for my family and Grants came around and present me with a Car for being an outstanding customer; this will

push me to do more for a company that rewards its customers” he said.

The promotion is an annual initiative put together by William Grants and her partner Blue Arrow to reward their customers.

According to Stanley Ailuelohia, the category manager for Spirits portfolio in Blue Arrow , “Grants is a premium whiskey for the customer and consumer of discerning taste; we identify with all our stakeholders and reward them as they partner with us to build a truly Global Brand in Nigeria. We encourage our adult consumers over 18 years to drink responsibly as we continually bring them a brand that truly identifies with their dreams and successes.

Prizes for this promotion were won based on target performance.

It therefore means that James was not the only customer full of appreciation to the brand but other Customers that surpassed targets went home with prizes across the country.

WPP acquires stake in comScore

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PP research and data unit Kantar has formed a strategic alliance with measurement firm comScore, which is designed to boost the companies’ cross-platform audience and ad measurement capabilities outside of the U.S. The alliance includes an agreement under which WPP will acquire a stake in comScore, worth about $300 million, according to The Financial Times.

WPP will buy up to 15.45 percent of comScore shares at $46.13 a share, giving it a 15 percent to 20 percent stake of the company.

Further, as part of the deal, comScore will get Kantar’s audience

measurement business covering some markets in Europe.

“This long-term, strategic alliance will simplify the deployment of global measurement capabilities and accelerate the creation of new services for the industry. The emerging mediascape points to a massive global opportunity waiting to be unlocked by cracking the code on cross-media audience and campaign measurement,” said comScore CEO Serge Matta in a statement. “We look forward to working together with Kantar to deliver new measurement products based on our complementary offerings in these markets.”

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Brands & Marketing

Thursday, February 19, 2015

TAG initiates programme to combat brand piracy DAVID AUDU

WITH AGENCY REPORTS

D

etermined to combat the mance of website piracy in internet businesss, the Trustworthy Accountability Group (TAG) has launched a brand integrity program against piracy. The program is designed to help advertisers and their ad agencies avoid ad placements on websites that promote counterfeit goods or pirated content without their knowledge.

“It is critical that online advertisers be able to protect themselves from potential brand damage from piracy, fraud, and malware and safeguard their marketing investments,” said president and CEO of TAG, Linda Woolley, in a statement.

“This initiative will help marketers identify sites that present an unacceptable risk of misappropriating copyrighted content and selling counterfeit goods, and it will help them remove those sites from their

advertising distribution chain.”

TAG is an initiative created by the Association of National Advertisers (ANA), the American Association of Advertising Agencies (4A’s), and the Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB) to attack ad-supported piracy, digital advertising fraud, malware and other deficiencies.

Companies in the online and mobile advertising ecosystem can participate in the voluntary program by using validated tools and services to identify and prevent advertising from running on websites and other properties that include unscrupulous activities like copyright piracy.

Under the program, TAG, with independent third-party help, will certify advertising technology companies as Digital Advertising Assurance Providers (DAAPs). To be validated as a DAAP, companies must show they can provide other advertising companies with “tools to limit their exposure to undesirable websites or other properties.”

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BRAND talk

The group said that validated DAAPs will help protect the online advertising ecosystem by providing their tools and services to other digital advertising companies–such as ad networks, exchanges, and demand side platforms–or directly to advertisers and their agencies.

“This cross-industry system is designed to help advertisers and their agencies identify and avoid the properties that are leveraging their brands to support illegal activity,” said Stu Ingis, partner at Venable, who led the drafting of the core criteria.

“The key element of the TAG Brand Integrity Program Against Piracy is that it is ultimately driven by the advertisers themselves, based on what they decide is in the best interest of their brands. They will now have a cross-industry system that provides them the ability to choose to reduce their risk of association with illegally displayed content and counterfeit products, using tools that have been independently validated.”

L-R: Assistant Manager, Legal, Lagos State Lotteries Board, Gbemisola Ajibose; Group Managing Director/CEO, Flour Mills Nigeria Plc, Paul Gbededo; presenting key of a KIA Sportage 2015 series to the winner of Golden Penny Semovita Open and Win Promo, Ozioma Eronini; while Head, Lagos Office, Consumer Protections Council (CPC), Tam Tamunokonbia, looks on during the presentation of star prizes to winners of the Golden Penny Semovita open and win promo in Apapa Lagos.....recently.

with Michael Umogun

Tel: 08023117969/08031100462 Email: michael.umogun@millwardbrown.com

Effective print advertising: What does a good print ad do?

A

ll advertising has to engage viewers, readers, or listeners, but print advertising is especially challenged in this respect because there is a product category effect that we don’t see in TV. With print advertising, there is a strong correlation between category interest and impact.

This is not so for TV. Because print is consumed actively, an ad has to immediately give a reader a reason to look at it before they turn the page. Some categories are inherently interesting and some are not. If you have a relevant message in a high-interest category, excessive creativity can be counter-productive; a very direct image or statement may be sufficient to draw in the interested reader. But it is still possible to have a successful print ad in a low-interestcategory; ads just have to find a way around the “interest filter.”

As a start point, an ad needs to pull readers into the ad. So it must be eye-catching (to stop them from moving on) and/or intriguing (to make them want to find out more). There are several successful ways that this can be done. For example, by: use of a persuasive message; a strong creative hook, such as an

arresting or intriguing visual or headline; synergy with other advertising—for example, using a key frame or line from a TV ad as a hook or borrowing interest from something else, such as using a recipe which features the product.

But use the creative hook effectively. Eye tracking studies conducted by Millward Brown show that evenwhen an ad captures attention, consumers may not scan the ad as expected. Within the ad, their attention will be drawn to what is most interesting; thus key messages can be missed if they are not creatively highlighted.

Consumers spend an average of two tothree seconds looking at a print ad; the creativity needs to quickly lead the reader into both the message and the brand. Our database shows that only 25 per cent of ads succeed in clearing those hurdles.

How engaging is your print advertising? Is your creative catchy enough to hold the readers for more than the traditional two to three seconds and ultimately trigger a higher interest and recall at the place of purchase ?

Share your thoughts with me at: Michael.Umogun@millwardbrown.com.

Custodian and Allied: Raising the bar in service delivery

I

nsurance brands are beginning to build strong identity and also building share of voice in the industry. Every brand now wants to showcase its distinctiveness above its competitors.

One of such insurance brands is Custodians Allied Insurance (CIA) which has positioned itself as a dynamic, reputable and forward looking Organization, the company provides itself on the pedestal of exceptional service delivery. The uniqueness of the CAI brand is lives in its ability and strong competence to provide fast, efficient and highly professional service to the market in which it operates. It has over the years fast tracked its response time to meet the changing needs of the customers. To further give it competitive edge, the CAI brand has automated various lives of its operators in order to reduce processing time and ultimately acquiring the much desired competitive edge.

A renowned brand name in the industry, Custodian and Allied insurance adopts a dynamic and robust approach in sustaining its pedigree. It embarks on innovative product development that is market driven in order to align with the desired needs and expectations of the customer. The CAI brand has a laser for us to provide services that not only meet the needs of customers but also exceed their expectations.

The sole purpose of the CAI brand is to develop, package and deliver innovative insurance products that best satisfy customer needs.

It is the vision of CAI to be Africa’s insurer of choice. This is based on the fact that the brand has transformed over the years to become a major player in industry. The company has repositioned its brand image through a strategic map to remain an active player. It is persistent to state that CAI has leveraged

Brand X-Ray with Ayodeji Ayopo Tel: 08023448199 E-mail: mayomipo@yahoo.com

its clout in the industry through a pro-active and dynamic customer centric approach. It has also gained a significant edge through its unique approach in raising the bar of service delivery.

The CAI brand has the mission to develop, and deliver innovative insurance products that best satisfy customer needs, one of the laudable goals of the brand is to position itself strategically in the market and be perceived as a modern, dynamic and resourceful underwriter. It also has a strong focus in the ECOWAS sub-region market as it strives to be a strong pedigree.

The CAI brand has Mr. Wole Oshin, a thorough bred and highly reputable practitioner as its founder. Mr. Oshin has been a key factor in charting a strategic road map for the CAI brand. The CAI brand is driving its brand essence across board by identifying business opportunities and potentials. The pedigree of the brand has put it on the pedestals of excellence. The brand has distinguished its service offerings in the industry through its superior value delivery.

The CAI brand has differentiated its edge in the industry with its strong focus on customer cen-

tric services. The CAI brand has indeed transformed and metamorphosed into other key areas of the economy to remain a dynamic and pro-active conglomerate. It leveraged on the huge potentials to embrace opportunities that abound in the financial services sector. CAI brand can compete adequately with other brands due to its strong positioning and utmost focus on superior service delivery.

CAI brand offerings have strategic value in the industry as it has enforced governance standards and practices to differentiate its identity in the industry.

There have been profound positive changes and transformation in the CAI brand.

This attests to its strong positioning as a world class financial services brand. The dream of the CAI brand to remain synonymous with quality and creating exception brand has indeed become reality.

38

Insight

Thursday, February 19, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

About 20 years ago, budding singers put Ajegunle, a Lagos suburb, on the musical map of Nigeria with strings of hit songs.

But NGOZI EMEDOLIBE reports that things are no longer the same in the area, as the stars have relocated to upscale neighbourhoods, leaving the youths with no role models.

F

or a first time visitor, the ugly landscape of Ajegunle is outstanding. It is highlighted in the mosquito infested gutters that lack proper drains, the sagging electric poles and wires which may not have had electricity in weeks, the ageing buildings tucked in haphazardly at every available space that are interspersed with a few decent ones and of course, the preponderance of desolate faces, who seek ways of escaping their woes by engaging in certain creative ventures, ranging from sport, music to acting.

Armed with these features of woes, some creative minds in Ajegunle have gone ahead to make profound impact in the world of music, blending their experiences with home grown beats (a flavour of reggae) in a language that reflects the reality of this suburb, often accentuated with dance steps that are equally unique. Thus creating a vibrant industry that gave rise to celebrities like Daddy Showkey, Baba Fryo, KC, Presh, Nico Gravity, African China, Marvelous Benjy, Stereo Man, Mad Melon, Daddy Fresh and Pretty among many others.

The story of this musical revolution is as unique as the genre of music. The change in fortune of Ajegunle started in the late 1980s, when youths from that part of Lagos State began to make their impact felt in the nation’s socio-cultural life, particularly, in the world’s numero uno sport, football. One prevalent norm in slums is the unbridled passion of the kids in these areas to taste their opium - music and sports - freely.

In soccer, Nigeria gained tremendously from the exploits of ghetto kids like Tarila Okorowanta, Junbo Awala, Mathias Enebeli, Godwin Iwelumo, Gabriel Okolosi, Emmanuel Amuneke and Samson Siasia to name a few. These kids who later became superstars in their own rights groomed themselves, unnoticed on the uneven Navy playground decades ago.

The famous playground was also to serve as the launch pad for sets of talented youngsters from Ajegunle, who have adorned the national team colours and mesmerised the football world to the glory of the nation. While the kid footballers were finding a place in the national teams and exporting their talent abroad for megabucks, their counterparts in the music sector were also striving to herald their arrival in the crowded Nigerian entertainment scene. Aside singers and talented instrumentalists that rose from the ashes of Ajegunle ghetto, the neighbourhood is also famous for producing some of the country’s finest broadcasters and disc-jockeys. They include disc-jockeys like ace broadcaster, Patrick Oke, Master Lee, Stagger Lee, Sil-

ver Oforgo, Steve Kadiri and many others who became household names, organising dance and musical competitions in popular night clubs like the Combo Hotel, Blue Horse and even in school premises. At that time reggae and pop music were the most popular among the youths, who know that for one to become a successful disc-jockey, he must be able to rap, toast and dance.

The passage of time came saw the emergence of back street groups like Junior and Pretty, Busy Pretty Boys, whose shinning lights were Daddy Showkey, Daddy Fresh and Pretty. These groups of two or three youngsters thrilled the city and its environs with entertainment at several events and fun places.

The most significant leap came in the early 1990s. And the catalyst was the renowned disc jockey and music promoter, John Nabena, fondly called Jonny Nabs, who established a music centre, which was named the Ragga Dub Chapel (RDC), for talented youths of Ajegunle to evolve and showcase their own brand of music. RDC became the most popular spot for the discovery of reggae and hip-hop artistes from far and within Ajegunle City.

Jonny Nabs, the late music promoter once described RDC as “a mill where we discover and expose talented youths in Ajegunle. And we are going to stop at nothing towards ensuring that AJ City rules the world musically.”

The dream soon became a reality when in 1993, Showkey, a member of the now defunct group, Busy Pretty Boys, alongside Tallman, in a solo effort released an album entitled Welcome. That singular effort rocked the Nigerian music scene and kickstarted a dawn of new era in the music industry. Much more, that singular effort of Showkey snowballed into somewhat of a musical revolution among Ajegunle youths who now clearly saw light at the end of the tunnel.

Showkey’s effort brought him fame and wealth and became a reference in the Ajegunle musical efforts, fuelling ambitions of the youths to do better than the dreadlocked singer, who had nicknamed his brand of music and dance steps as Galala, even though it was more of raga music.

The emergence of Friday Igwe (a.k.a Baba Fryo) on the scene with his hit music Denge Potz further heightened the hope and aspirations of more youths in the area to become successful artistes. More than adding impetus to the fast growing music scene, Fryo’s brand of reggae music was refreshingly flavoured with ethnic rhythms that endeared to scores of music fans across the country and even beyond.

Notwithstanding its lyrical weakness, the album enjoyed relative success and accep-

Ajegunle city

Residents enjoying dancing Ajegunle R id j i teenagers d i on the h streets off Aj l

tance in the Nigerian music scene.

Following the success of his hit debut solo effort, Showkey returned with another huge hit Dyna, just like Fryo, who continued his success story with Notice Me, which sold massively across the nation. Unfortunately, however, since the release of the albums, both Fryo and Showkey have not been able to re-enact the great musical forms of sweet dancing and strong melody they pioneered in Ajegunle.

It is pertinent to note that the success

THE CHANGE IN FORTUNE OF AJEGUNLE STARTED IN THE LATE

1980S, WHEN YOUTHS FROM THAT PART OF

LAGOS STATE BEGAN TO MAKE THEIR IMPACT FELT IN THE NATION’S

SOCIO-CULTURAL LIFE, PARTICULARLY, IN THE

WORLD’S NUMERO UNO SPORT, FOOTBALL.

of that brand of music obviously stemmed from the reality infused in the lyrics which by all standards conveyed the experiences of people living not only in Ajegunle, but other ghetto communities in Nigeria and indeed Africa. Aside this, the lyrics also championed worthy causes like corruption, childlessness and vanity of purposes which are lacking in today’s music scene, where lines in songs revolve around only the good life and women.

With time however, these progenitors as exemplified by Showkey and Fryo lost steam. Failure to sustain their musical heights as evident in their latest efforts has attracted remarks from music critics.

Some argued that professional indiscipline could be responsible and for some others, they could have run out of ideas.

Primary on the list of reasons why there seems to be a sort of music lull in Ajegunle city is the fact that such platforms that paved the way for the stars that emerged earlier are lacking today. Many of the makeshift studios which sprang up in those early years to mix those sounds have all packed up.

According to a film producer, Steve Akpos, who lives in Ajegunle, youths in the area now lack role models to look up to because most of the stars who usually would

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Insight

Thursday, February 19, 2015

Daddy Showkey

Pretty

have been around to inspire them usually relocate from the community once they become financially successful in their careers.

“Although I do not see it in the light that people here are less creative at the moment, there are still some Ajegunle boys doing us proud on the scene, like Ortise Femi. But I think the trend where a ladder is usually provided by the known stars has kind of reduced. The youths need people to look up to for inspiration and in the instance where there is none, there may be nothing to push them to succeed in the game.”

These successful artistes from Ajegunle relocated with their recording studios, thus, leaving the upcoming artistes with no place to practice, sharpen their skills and unleash their innate talents. This, Akpos, also says is attributed to lack of infrastructure in the area.

“Most of them who left the area usually blame it on lack of infrastructure like electricity, which is of paramount importance in the business of running a studio. You will not have the money and remain in Ajegunle where you will run your business on diesel every day of the week,” he said.

Baba Fryo

African China

With this, many of the artistes having made fortunes in their trade have opted for posh neighbourhoods considered safe and conducive to pursue their new lives. The likes of Shwkey now lives in two homes at Ojodu Berger and Lekki, even though he says he is in touch with his roots in Ajegunle. KCee who hit limelight after emerging victorious at the first Star Quest music competition with his partner, Presh, has also moved out of the community much like African China, Marvelous Benjy, Stereo Man and a host of others.

Acknowledging that seeming lack of creative spark in Ajegunle currently is hinged on the resentful and disrespectful relationship between the established acts and the upcoming ones, Fryo said, “The level of music is dropping; a lot of things have affected the music in Ajegunle. A lot of bad-minded people are there. They don’t enjoy when other people are making it. The youths in Ajegunle disrespect the veterans and when youths disrespect the veterans what do you expect? We played different kinds of music during our days.

When Daddy Showkey plays you know he is the person; but these days their music

are alike, they play the same style, go the same way. Today’s artistes feel that when they just bring out the beat, they just start jumping on it. It is not like before when you just sit down and write music, they sing the beat. Beat runs thing, it is not the music anymore.”

But Showkey is laying the blames on the established acts who have consistently failed to lend a helping hand to the aspiring acts. According to him, “I exposed Ajegunle to the rest of the world. I wasn’t living in Ajegunle at the time, but it lived inside me. I made other people to understand that Ajegunle was not just home to some of Nigeria’s most talented musicians, but there were also doctors, generals and professors who were born and brought up there. So, it may either be that the person on top at the moment does not want to identify with the neighbourhood.”

However, for some of the artistes, the allure of success also has profound impact on their productivity, thereby reducing their creative spark and flair. One of such artistes with this kind of problem is Pretty Okafor of the Junior and Pretty fame,

JONNY NABS, THE LATE MUSIC PROMOTER ONCE DESCRIBED AS

RDC

“A MILL WHERE WE

DISCOVER AND EXPOSE TALENTED YOUTHS IN

AJEGUNLE. AND WE ARE GOING TO STOP

AT NOTHING TOWARDS ENSURING THAT

AJ

CITY RULES THE WORLD MUSICALLY.”

39

popular for their hit, Bolanle. Okafor, who now superintends over the Performing Musicians Association of Nigeria (PMAN) despite his booming company which organises events, summarised how money changed the course of his creative potential. He said money that came from the success of their albums affected their output. In his words, “We got carried away by the successes we had recorded. That was in 1997. We were making huge amount of money from Benson and Hedges Golden Tones. We were also emceeing events up until 2005. We were the Roadshow managers in Lagos. We got so excited and distracted at the same time.

We were being paid in pounds. Recording songs became quite difficult because of other engagements we had. We didn’t produce the video for the third album. Music wasn’t fetching as much money as other engagements. At that time, artistes were not making money. It was about the passion. But we had seen more avenues to make more money. That moved our attention away from music. We were also sent to do courses on lighting, sound engineering, stage and set design and so on. We decided to leave music. Junior’s death left me desolate. It is the courses I attended that are putting food on my table right now.”

Of course, the new development really worries progenitors of the Ajegunle musical revolution. And the man who is driving the several projects to lend a helping hand to Ajegunle upcoming acts is Showkey. African China confirmed that he was ready to offer a helping hand while stressing that something is being done in this regard.

“The Olori Oko himself (Daddy Showkey) is working towards that but, before you do such, you have to prepare yourself and those you want to work it.

Preparations are however in top gear to build young promising artistes in AJ City.

It is not an easy task but Daddy Showkey is really passionate about this project and we are ready to support him.”

Marvelous Benjy also shares the same view. “I started out in the ghetto and I’m still part and parcel of the ghetto. Although, it has not been easy but right now, I am thinking of giving back to the society because I believe that we have a lot of budding and talented artistes yet to be discovered in Ajegunle. I have started producing some of the young talent, but I still want to discover more. Ajegunle still has a lot to give to the society as far as music is concerned. I want to concentrate fully on the other artistes, especially those from Ajegunle.”

Recognising the potential of Ajegunle and the need to maximise the talent of the youths there, the All Progressives Congress (APC) gubernatorial candidate, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, during his campaign tour of the area promised to site facilities in the community to help them realise their potential. This he said was borne out of the fact that he had worked in the area.

This is important in view of the fact that government intends to fight unemployment through creative endeavours.

40

Cocktail

Thursday, February 19, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Oddities

Woman gets $10 million balance in credit card instead of $50,000

A

n Australian woman was recently shocked to find her credit card that previously had a limit of $50,000 suddenly had an available balance of nearly $10 million.

Sue Lamb, 49, was taking money out of her business credit card account at an ATM and noticed her available balance had changed to $9,990,420.

“Just checked my credit card, which has a limit of $50K, and guess what! I’m a

millionaire!!” she posted on Facebook on Sunday. “Check out the balance. Plus I’ve got no debt on it sooo strange.

Lol woo hooo let’s goooooo girls Tahiti sounds nice. Best I fess up.”

“The available balance on the BOQ ATM receipt refers to the amount of the monthly spend cap (monthly spend cap less any spend from that month) rather than the available credit,” a spokeswoman from the credit card company, ANZ, said.

Ex-husband proposes again 43 years after divorce

A

n Arkansas Walmart employee accepted an on-camera proposal from an unexpected suitor -- the ex-husband she divorced 43 years ago.

Louis Demetriades and Renate Stumpf, both 75, said they divorced 43 years ago, but they rekindled their friendship in December

College apologises for ‘Happy Pills’ given to children

A

South Carolina college apologized after a faculty member distributed prescription bottles of “Happy Pills” -- actually M&M’s -- to young kids.

Horry Georgetown Technical College in Myrtle Beach confirmed a faculty member seeking to promote her medical technology program filled the bottles with M&M’s candy and made mock labels for the bottles saying they were

prescribed to “A Great Kid” and contained “Happy Pills.”

The college released a statement apologizing for the bottles being handed out to kids at Friday’s Family Fun Run: “While we know this professor meant the candy to serve as a treat, the method of distribution may have confused pre-school children whose parents have taught them not to take pills from pharmaceutical bottles.

The college administration deeply apologizes for the distress and confusion this action may have caused and seeks your forgiveness for our thoughtlessness. We regret further that professors and administrators are human and, although eager to share information about growing careers, sometimes make mistakes. This particular mistake will not occur again.”

when Demetriades called Stumpf for help contacting one of their three children.

Stumpf was shocked when Demetriades, who lives in Tennessee, visited the Walmart store where she works in Fort Smith, Ark., Saturday with a sign reading, “Happy Valentine’s Day! Will you marry me?”

Stumpf said her initial

“no” was meant just to tease her suitor, and she quickly amended the answer to “Yes, but not today.”

“Forty-three years is a long time, so I wasn’t sure at first,” she told ABC News, “but I will marry him though because he’s changed for the better, I’ve come to realize.”

Demetriades said he

A 75-year-old man proposed to his ex-wife at the Walmart

chose Walmart for his Valentine’s Day surprise so he would have an audience of his ex-wife’s friends.

“And why did I come to Walmart to propose to my wife again? It’s because she has so many friends here and I knew she would like to share that with them,” Demetriades told WAGA-TV.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Capital Market

Thursday, February 19, 2015

CBN defends Naira with $380m in two days JOHNSON OKANLAWON WITH AGENCY REPORT

C

entral Bank of Nigeria, CBN, spent $380 million in two days to prop up the ailing naira, after it conducted special forex interventions to shore up the local currency, Reuters reports.

Latest data on the CBN website shows that reserves fell to $32.6 billion as at February 16, down by 1.2 percent from $33.04 billion by February 13.

Foreign reserves have fallen by 5.3 percent from a month ago. The CBN intervened for the third straight session on Tuesday to defend the naira by selling dollars below its official band, but the currency traded weaker in the interbank market.

Dollar sales by an oil firm were traded at a weaker level than in the earlier sale by the CBN, dealers said.

Also, the CBN yesterday sold dollars below its official band, at N198 to the US currency, and again banned banks from reselling dollars bought at its currency auction to other banks to curb speculation.

All the trades by the bank have been outside its own target band of N160-N176 to the dollar set in November 2014, when it devalued the currency by eight percent to save its foreign reserves.

“The market is weaker than the Central Bank ratecounter parties are selling dollars based on how they were able to buy it,” a dealer at a major lender said.

Addax Petroleum sold $7

million to some lenders to buy naira for its local obligations, testing the naira’s true level as the currency immediately weakened to N203.50 to the dollar.

Tight interbank liquidity undermines Nigeria’s credibility as a smoothly functioning capital market, which could trigger its ejection from a JP Morgan emerging market bond index.

CBN Governor, Mr. Godwin Emefiele recently said, there was no need for panic over the recent depreciation of the naira against the dollar, even as he reassured investors that the Central Bank will continue to meet legitimate foreign exchange demand.

He had maintained that the naira was appropriately

priced. He had also said the CBN was doing everything within its power to ensure price stability.

He added that the economy would survive the elections, as it had done in the past elections, assuring investors that the coming elections would be conducted peacefully.

He had also urged foreign investors to retain confidence in the Nigerian economy and capital market as the country would not disintegrate.

“We are not in the best of times, but there’s no need to panic. The Nigerian monetary authorities as well as fiscal authorities are doing everything they can to respond to these vulnerabilities”, he explained.

Index sustains bullish trend, rises 2.6%

JOHNSON OKANLAWON

T

he equities trading sustained its upward trend for the third day in the week, rising by 2.55 per cent to drive year-to-date return to a negative of 15.8 per cent.

However, volume and value traded both declined 15.2 per cent and 0.33 per cent respectively.

The All Share Index appreciated 2.55 per cent to close at 29,177.58 points, compared to the increase of 2.61 per cent recorded the preceding day to close at 28,452.60 points.

Market capitalization

gained N242bn to close at N9.74trn, compared to the loss of N241bn recorded the preceding day to close at N9.49trn.

All sectorial indices added value except the Alternative Securities Market which remained flat at 1,213.36 points.

The NSE 30-Index rose 2.56 per cent to close at 1,314.49 points, while the Banking Index appreciated 4.82 per cent to close at 304.67 points.

The Insurance Index was up 0.32 per cent to close at 139.13 points, while the Consumer Goods Index added 0.72 per cent to close at 742.42 points.

The Oil and Gas Index gained 0.18 per cent to close at 371.73 points, while Lotus Islamic Index rose 1.86 per cent to close at 2,005.90 points.

The Industrial Index increased to 1,881.83 points, up 2.96 per cent.

Guaranty Trust Bank Plc led the gainers’ table with N1.93 or 10.23 per cent to close at N20.80 per share, followed by Transcorp Plc with 23 kobo or 9.02 per cent to close at N2.78 per share.

Access Bank Plc appreciated 32 kobo or 6.13 per cent to close at N5.54 per share, while UBA Plc gained 16 kobo or 5.32 per cent to close at N3.17 per share.

European shares rise to seven-year high

E

xpectations that Greece would reach an agreement with its international lenders drove a pan-European stock index to a seven-year high yesterday, despite German resistance to the deal Greece wants.

Greece will submit a request to the euro zone today to extend a loan agreement for up to six months. EU paymaster Germany says Athens must stick to the terms of its existing bailout.

Nevertheless, traders said Greece was buying itself time, and Greece’s benchmark ATG equity index climbed 1.1 per cent while the country’s banking index rose 5.7 per cent.

The pan-European FTS-

Eurofirst 300 index advanced 0.7 per cent to 1,515.90 points, at around its highest level since early 2008.

The euro zone’s blue-chip Euro STOXX 50 index rose 0.8 per cent and Germany’s DAX gained 0.6 per cent to put it near the DAX’s earlier record highs.

Greek banks such as Piraeus and National Bank of Greece were among the best performers on the FTSEurofirst 300, rising 4.9 and 6.8 per cent respectively.

“While the political situation in Greece remains volatile, the economic and financial situation is more under control,” said Andreas Clenow, hedge fund trader at ACIES Asset Management.

“I still see a bull market on stocks, and I have been buying into weakness on the Euro STOXX.” Shares in Italy and Spain, whose economies face debt pressures similar to Greece, outperformed. Italy’s FTSE MIB equity index rose 1.9 per cent and Spain’s Ibex advanced one per cent.

Italian oil and gas group Eni provided further support to the Milan market. Its shares rose 3.4 per cent after ENI reassured investors with a small dividend increase and pledged to cut capital spending after lower oil prices depressed fourth-quarter profit.

European bank stocks were also boosted by French lender Credit Agricole, whose

Conversely, International Breweries Plc depreciated 97 kobo or five per cent to close at N18.44 per share, while RT Briscoe Plc dropped four kobo or five per cent to close at 76 kobo per share.

Julius Berger Plc dipped N2.07 or 4.91 per cent to close at N40.11 per share, while NPF Microfinance Bank Plc declined four kobo or 4.71 per cent to close at 81 kobo per share.

Flour Mills Plc fell N1.09 or 3.59 per cent to close at N29.30 per share.

On the whole, a total of 424.3 million shares valued at N3.49bn were exchanged in 4,731 deals.

shares rose 7.6 per cent after it posted profits that beat market forecasts.

Rate (%) Inflation

8.2

MPR

13

Crude oil price

$58.96

41

Source: NSE

Inter-Bank Rate Naira

US Dollar

$1

N198.00 Market indicators All-Share Index 29,177.58 points Market capitalisation 9.74trn

Stock Updates GAINERS COMPANY

OPENING

CLOSING

CHANGE

% CHANGE

GUARANTY

18.87

20.80

1.93

10.23

TRANSCORP

2.55

2.78

0.23

9.02

ACCESS

5.22

5.54

0.32

6.13

UBA

3.01

3.17

0.16

5.32

GLAXOSMITH

40.00

42.00

2.00

5.00

OKOMUOIL

29.29

30.75

1.46

4.98

GUINNESS

119.07

124.70

5.63

4.73

IKEJAHOTEL

3.17

3.32

0.15

4.73

FBNH

6.80

7.10

0.30

4.41

WEMABANK

0.94

0.98

0.04

4.26

LOSERS COMPANY

OPENING

CHANGE

% CHANGE

INTBREW

19.41

CLOSING 18.44

-0.97

-5.00

RTBRISCOE

0.80

0.76

-0.04

-5.00

JBERGER

42.18

40.11

-2.07

-4.91

NPFMCRFBK

0.85

0.81

-0.04

-4.71

FLOURMILL

30.39

29.30

-1.09

-3.59

UNILEVER

34.01

33.00

-1.01

-2.97

DANGFLOUR

3.25

3.16

-0.09

-2.77

FO

220.00

215.06

-4.94

-2.25

AFRIPRUD

2.80

2.78

-0.02

-0.71

CHAMPION

5.35

5.32

-0.03

-0.56

FGN Bonds

Offer

Bid

Description

Price

Yield

Price

Yield

13.05 16-AUG-2016

1.49

95.75

16.37

95.90

16.25

15.10 27-APR-2017

2.19

97.00

16.75

97.15

16.67

16.00 29-JUN-2019

4.36

98.50

16.47

98.80

16.37

16.39 27-JAN-2022

6.94

100.00

16.38

100.30

16.31

14.20 14-MAR-2024

9.07

88.00

16.82

88.30

16.75

10.00 23-JUL-2030

15.43 61.00

17.31

61.30

17.23

Closing Market Prices of February 18, 2015

Treasury Bills Maturity Date

Bid

Offer

Exchange

Rates (N)

21-May-15

14.20

14.73

WAUA

236.1

USD

167.5

13-Aug-15

14.00

15.01

EURO

188.9

04-Feb-16

19.00

23.25

CFA

0.28

YEN

1.408

Tenor

Rate (%)

SWISS FRANC

180.9

O/N

21.8750

POUNDS STERLING

254.8

1M

15.3283

3M

16.3092

SDR

235.7

6M

17.1230

NIBOR

The Fixings of February 18, 2015

42

Capital Market

Thursday, February 19, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Stock exchange daily equities summary Equities as at February 18, 2015 1st Tier Securities

1st Tier Securities Sector

Company name

No Of Deals

Quotation(N)

Quantity Traded

Value of Shares(N)

Sector

Company name

No Of Deals

Quotation(N)

Quantity Traded

Value of Shares(N)

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

NUSADEM storms NASS to stop Obanikoro’s screening EBERE NDUKWU

A

group numbering over 100, under the aegis of Nigerians United to Save Democracy, NUSADEM, besieged the National Assembly yesterday with a petition to stop the screening of Senator Musiliu Obanikoro, whose name has been forwarded to the Senate by President Goodluck Jonathan as a ministerial nominee.

NUSADEM insisted that Obanikoro was not a good material for ministerial position, having allegedly compromised same office when he was Minister of State for Defence.

Led by comrades Toyin Raheem, Adeshina Ishola, and Adebayo Adebayo, the protesters carried placards with several inscriptions like “Don’t Make A Rigger Minister” and “If Koro was not good enough as governor, he can’t be good as a minister,” the protesters vowed to proceed to court if the Senate turned down their request, adding that the nation today needs men who think in terms of service to their country and not in terms of their coun-

Politics

Thursday, February 19, 2015

try’s debt to them.

Among the reasons the group said informed their position were: “That Obanikoro has proven that he cannot discharge his duties as minister with loyalty to the Constitution and the people of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. This he has brazenly exhibited while in office as Minister of State for Defence in the recent past, before resigning to contest the gubernatorial primary of his party in Lagos State, which he lost.

“As Defence Minister of State, Obanikoro engaged in unconscionable misuse of the armed forces for selfish political interests to the chagrin of Nigerians.

“As recently been exposed by Captain Sagir Koli of the Nigerian Army, Senator Obanikoro, as Minister of State for Defence, commandeered soldiers sent to Ekiti State to provide security for the electorate, Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, officials and materials in the 2014 gubernatorial election in the state to assist in rigging that election in favour of his party’s candidate, Ayo Fayose.”

43

Igbo leaders in Lagos endorse APC, deny PDP EBERE NDUKWU

I

gbo traditional rulers in Lagos, led by Eze Ndigbo in Ikeja and Vice Chairman Ohaneze Ndigbo in the Diaspora, Eze Uche Dimgba, has refuted the purported endorsement of all the candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, by some group of Igbo leaders saying that the endorsement was a hoarse.

He said: “We have decided to support the All Progressives Congress, APC, and to vote for the party at all levels in the general elections. The group of people claiming to be members of this council that endorsed all PDP candidates are fraud,

the group does not belong to Eze Ndigbo in the state.”

He said the Igbo leaders have only one party, the APC and that come March 14, that the Igbos will show that in a solidarity rally in Lagos and that Igbos will vote for the APC en-masse Dimgba disclosed this yesterday while addressing newsmen in Lagos, adding: “We stand to support the party in Lagos which is APC and this is the party we are going to vote for. We are calling on all Igbo people to support APC and vote for the party at all levels in the general elections.

“Every election year, Igbos in Lagos run after the PDP and after election APC will win, this time, we Ndigbo must support

them so that we can enjoy dividends of democracy with them. Even the Yorubas who say they are in PDP are only in PDP in the day time, at night they belong to the APC. So, if you vote for the PDP, it is going to be a waste of time, they can never win here.”

Addressing the gathering, Lagos APC Publicity Secretary, Joe Igbokwe, said that the present political calculation does not favour President Goodluck Jonathan, considering that the North and South-West, which has the largest number of voters have thrown their weight behind APC presidential candidate, Major General Muhammadu Buhari.

He therefore urged the Igbos to support APC for

37 DAYS TO GO

the zone to be able to actualise Igbo presidency in future saying that Igbo presidency can never be achieved without the Igbo people working with Hausa and Yoruba people, because they are the three major tribes in Nigeria.

In his speech, a member of House of Representative and Lagos State coordinator, Buhari Oshinbajo Campaign Organisation, Hon James Abiodun Faleke, gave sundry reasons why the Igbos should support the APC at all levels.

FCE, Oyo workers, students, vote Jonathan KEMI OLAITAN IBADAN

W

ith the presidential election few weeks away, a former Minister of Sports, Prof. Taoheed Adedoja, has secured the backing of the students and staff of Federal College of Education, Oyo for the re-election of President Goodluck Jonathan.

Adedoja. who is the Director of Finance and Administration, Oyo State Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Presidential Campaign Organisation, PCO, got the endorsement at a parley he held with students and workers of the institution.

A former Provost of the College, Adedoja was received by a huge crowd of enthusiastic students, workers and pensioners of the institution who listened to the erudite Professor with rapt attention at the parley in Oyo town.

He told his audience that he was in Oyo to seek

the support of the people of the town including students, youths, workers and pensioners of the college for the re election of President Jonathan who he described as the best among the candidates.

He informed the education community and Oyo people in general that President Jonathan has transformed all sectors of our nation more than any of his predecessors in office, particularly in the area of education where he, in four years, has added 12 universities to the 24 the country had in 100 years.

Adedoja maintained that the country needed President Jonathan for another term for greater growth in all the sectors, political and economic stability of the nation as well as generation of employment and jobs for the youths, expressing optimism that the President would get overwhelming majority of the votes of the people of Oyo State.

L-R: Bauchi State deputy governor, Alhaji Sagir Saleh; Governor Isa Yuguda and state Resident Electoral Commissioner, Prof.

Hamman Tukur, during a visit by the commissioner to Government House in Bauchi, yesterday.

PHOTO: NAN

INEC distributes 77 per cent PVCs in Enugu DENNIS AGBO ENUGU

I

ndependent National Electoral Commission, INEC, yesterday disclosed that it has so far distributed 77 percent of the Permanent Voter Cards, PVCs, in Enugu State.

It said that its mode of distribution is through its staff who it asked to go ward by ward to distribute the cards daily in all the wards in the state.

INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner, REC, in Enugu State, Prof Chukwuemeka Onukaogu, who disclosed this during an interactive session with

journalists, said his target was to distribute at-least 80 percent PVCs before the election.

He, however, stated that the commission might not achieve 100 per cent distribution of PVCs in Enugu because Enugu was peculiar because of the number of students in the different higher institutions who registered and left the state.

Using the occasion to plead with political parties to mend fences with their members who were aggrieved after their primary elections in order to avert politically motivated violence during the elections, Onukaogu warned

that many politicians were bitter and disillusioned because of how their respective parties sidelined them in their primaries and gave running tickets to their favorites.

The disarray and disillusionment, he stated, was as a result of lack of internal democracy within the political parties, stating that the prevalent indiscipline were some of the factors that could breed violence in elections.

He said: “Many politicians today are bitter and disillusioned because of how their respective parties sidelined them in their primaries and gave running tickets to their

favorites.

“I want to appeal to leaders of political parties in the country to reach out to their aggrieved members, offer the olive branch to them and strive to heal the wounds which their undemocratic attitudes have caused.”

He further averred that if Nigeria is to achieve violent free elections in 2015, politicians should make uturn and concentrate on issues-based campaigns, adding that they should educate their followers on the need to eschew any form of violence during, before and after the elections.

44

Young & Next Generation

Thursday, February 19, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Valentine: Catholic archbishop urges youths to imbibe true love ....warns against electoral violence

L eonard O k achie

C

atholic Archbishop of Lagos, Most Rev. Alfred Adewale Martins has urged youths to imbibe true love, saying that it gives meaning to human existence as taught by Jesus Christ.

The cleric who said this in a keynote address at the 2015 Valentine Carnival with the Archbishop, also admonished them to shun electoral violence as the country prepares for next month’s general elections.

This year’s celebration with theme: “True Love: A Driving Force for Good Governance” was organised by the Catholic Lay Apostolate Centre, Catholic Archdiocese of Lagos in conjunction with Young Christian Workers Movement of Nigeria (YCW) and Catholic Youth Organisation of Nigeria (CYON).

Expectedly, the Catholic faithful in the Archdiocese, mostly the youths gathered at St. Finbarr’s College, for the annual celebration of the February 14 (Valentine’s Day).

The atmosphere was electrified as the event witnessed a lot of interesting activities.

The youths filled with vigour and vitality entertained their guests with their breathtaking performances in dance, drama, comedy among others.

The ceremony, which started with a Mass, also had other activities that included lecture, interactive session, cutting of cake, raffle draw and others.

Archbishop Martins, who was at the event alongside the religious and the leaders in various groups in the Church, told the gathering that it was time to allow ‘true love’ to reign as they had gathered as one family of God’s people to share in the nature of Godhead which is love.

He said: “My dear children, as we celebrate our Valentine’s Day at a time when our country is soaked in electioneering. I wish to emphasise here, as our theme suggests that “true love- is the driving force of good governance.”

“We have had politicians who make promises but never delivered on such promises.

We have had politicians who claim to love this nation but act contrary to this position the moment they get into office. This is deceit at its highest form and as earlier, this is the expression on negative

love which is destructive.

“True love entails total self giving as Christ did at Calvary and good governance is the manifestation of true love which is the driving force of service. If we all desire good governance for our country let us eschew selfishness which has allowed us to mortgage our future in the past and the results are not farfetched: the incessant killings, the promotion of hate amongst brothers and sisters; the moral decadence; the loose of the sense of sacred; the alarming rate of poverty in the midst of plenty, to mention these few.”

Interestingly, the Archbishop’s message was a tip on the iceberg, as the Guest Speaker, Mr. Charles Ajiboye gave a thought-provoking lecture on the topic: “The love of politics or politics of love”.

Ajiboye, who is a Life and Sart-Up coach, told young people that Nigeria needs them this time to sit-up and become more responsible, even as he urged them to be productive and relevant and let love be the reason that propels them to serve the nation.

He lamented that when we talk of the poor involvement of youths in politics today we tend to push a case of technical or strategic marginalization of that group of people which may not be so.

“It is critical that the youths of today must live by a set of principles; principles among which must be LOVE. Love of self, of neighbour and of nation. Without these it will indeed be difficult to ignite creativity and relevance which are key selling points of the people that have the good of the country at heart...” he said.

On why the Church is celebrating Valentine’s Day, Director, Catholic Lay Apostolate Centre and Chaplain, Archdiocesan Laity Council, Rev. Father Innocent Opogah, explained that the Church is actually known to be very traditional and conservative and for it to penetrate into its different groups, it understands that it must move with time “and because we must move with the time we cannot pretend not to be part of the realities around us.”

He stressed that youths have actually been at the receiving ends of most violence, of most injustice and some of them are beginning to clamour for voice of the

Dancers at the Valentine carnival with the archbishop in Lagos, recently.

Church that and is actually the voice of the voiceless.

The cleric maintained that the celebration is identification with the youths and the signs of the time.

He advised the youths to see the forthcoming elections as an opportunity to exercise their God-given right to choose the person that will lead them but not in a violent manner.

“We should participate in the election in such a manner that allows the rule to take its cause not we becoming the rule on our own. Go out there, exercise your right and leave the rest to God. If your candidate wins all glory to God. If your candidate does not win, well who knows, may e sometime later something can happen. So peace, patience and lovethese are the cautious words that should colour our actions,” he cautioned.

Explaining why the YCW is involved in the organisation of the event, the Regional President of the group, Mr. Esan Akins said it was given to them by the Archbishop and as a body under the Church they cannot say no.

“Everybody loves Valentine because it is a season of love, giving and sharing. We just have to key into it and being a group of young people, specifically young workers, these are part of the core values of our organisation,” Akins told Young & Next Generation.

Akins insisted that Valentine is not only for the youths adding, “We hosted last year’s edition in collaboration with the Lay Apostolate and we recorded over 70 per cent of the adults that are into marriage for the past 10 t0 20 years.

This year we actually let people understand that Valentine is not for youths alone; it is for everybody including a baby, because a baby also needs love.

“My advice for the youths is to love- keep loving and keep making the difference because when you love the society will be good. Even the Bible says love your enemies as well because the greatest enemy of man is yourself. So if you love your enemy then you love yourself. So let’s keep loving.

Corroborating him, President of CYON, Archdiocese of Lagos, Mr. Alfred Enenmoh, emphasised that everybody needs love as it has nothing to do with gender, class or age.

He said that it is laudable project for his group to be part of the event, saying that this year’s edition is special because it is close to the general elections.

Enenmoh continued: “It is important that the society, the government knows what the Catholic Church is saying about elections and good governance. And CYON of course, as a body within the Catholic Church, we would like to be part of that laudable project.

“We urge young people to collect their PVCs first and

by God’s grace we will cast our votes. The next important thing is that they should

also follow their consciences.

They should vote for people that have principles, character and are noble.

“Apart from that we also encourage young people not to be part of election violence.

It is only a jobless person that will be found in such activities.

“Rather, we should be busy praying because whoever we elect as president is going to lead us for the next four years.

And he who does not vote does not have the right to complain. So as young people we need to encourage ourselves to be a part of this process.”

Chairman of the Organising Committee, Valentine Carnival with the Archbishop, and Coordinator of YCW, Ikeja Deanary, Mr. Ifeanyi Maduka, stated that for ages, the youths have always heard that they are the leaders of tomorrow, and have been deceived by such cliché.

He said: “Since I have known governance in this country I count the number of youths who have be involved in one governance or the other, so the need for the youths to participate in governance.

The topic talks about true love. We advise the youths to be careful not to allow themselves to be used in this election, ensure you get your PVC, vote peacefully, go back and wait for the announcement of the result.”

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Young & Next Generation

Thursday, February 19, 2015

45

Elections: NYSC dismisses extension of service year Stories ; Leonard Okachie

N

ational Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has said it had not extended the service year of outgoing corps members listed to participate in the rescheduled general elections.

The NYSC Director of Press, Mrs. Bose Aderibigbe, made this known in Abuja.

She said that contrary to insinuations, the outgoing corps members would participate in the elections as ad hoc staff of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Aderibigbe said their completion of the national service would not affect their participation in the elections, stressing that INEC had already trained them for the exercise.

She said the NYSC did not make provisions for their welfare beyond 12 months, stressing that keeping them till the election date in March would exceed its budget.

Aderibigbe continued: ``They have finished as corps members; that is why we are passing them out. If they stay till March it means government will be paying their money. ``They are only entitled to 12 months pay from NYSC, so as soon as they pass out they get their certificates and they go.

``They may stay back and participate in the elections because they have been trained to do it not as corps members but as ad hoc staff of INEC.’’ Aderibigbe said that the welfare of the outgoing corps members, who have been scheduled to participate in the elections, would be taken care of by the electoral commission.

According to the director, INEC has promised to pay them their entitlements, including transport and feeding allowances.

She explained that INEC would pay them a percentage before the elections and the balance would be paid afterwards.

The director called on the affected persons not to entertain fear as their entitlements would be given to them at the appropriate time.

On the safety of corps members participating in the elections, Aderibigbe said the NYSC management had constituted a security committee to guarantee the safety and security of participating corps members.

According to her, the Director-General and other staff of NYSC have gone across the country to sensitise corps members participating in the elections.

The 2014 Batch `A’ corps members will pass out today.

Science for Kids

Why do dwarfs look alike?

H

ave you ever been in a shopping mall or on a college campus and seen a person who appears to be the size of somebody in grade school but, when you take a closer look, seems a lot older?

A dwarf is a short-statured person whose adult height is 4 feet 10 inches or under. Dwarfism can be caused by any one of more than 300 conditions, most of which are genetic and present at birth.

Most people with dwarfism have a change in any of several specific genes that interfere with the normal development of cartilage and bones. Since the longest bones in the human body are located in the arms and legs, this interference in normal bone development most commonly results in shorter limbs, which give dwarfs their short stature.

What are the types of dwarfism?

Do all dwarfs look alike? Not necessarily. All dwarfs are short, but different types of dwarfism have different causes and different physical traits.

Achondroplasia is the most common kind of dwarfism. Almost three quarters of all cases of short stature are caused by achondroplasia, which occurs in 1 of every 15,000 to 40,000 births.

People with achondroplasia have a problem converting cartilage to bone while growing, especially in the long bones of the arms and legs.

People with achondroplasia have an average-size torso (the upper body) but noticeably shorter arms and legs.

Their heads are usually larger than average, with a prominent forehead.

Their fingers are typically short.

Adults with achondroplasia can develop a sway of the lower back, A dwarf and some have bowed legs. The average height for an adult with achondroplasia is a little over 4 feet.

Diastrophic dysplasia occurs in about 1 of every 100,000 births. People with diastrophic dwarfism have short calves and forearms and progressive curvature of the spine. They can have an inward- or downward-pointing foot (club foot) and differently positioned thumbs (sometimes called “hitchhiker thumbs”).

Most diastrophic dwarfs have joint differences, which limit movement.

That, coupled with a severe curvature of the spine, can make it difficult for people with diastrophic dwarfism to walk, especially when they get older. Some people may need to use crutches, a scooter, or a wheelchair to get around.

–KidsHealth

Youths at a workshop.

‘Youths should stop worshipping money’

Y

ouths have been advised to desist from being influenced by money regarding their political decisions.

A seasoned politician, Reverend Solomon Adegbolagun, said this at a good governance workshop, on ‘2015: Positioning Youth Stakeholders For Impact’, which held recently in Lagos.

It was organised jointly by two non-governmental organisations: Changemakers African Youth Empowerment Initiative, and Christian and Rural Urban Development Association of Nigeria (CRUDAN).

Speaking at the workshop, Adegbolagun said, “Nigerian youths should look beyond money when it comes to politics. Most of them look up to money. They only participate in political activities when they are paid, and it shouldn’t be so. Even Christian youths, who should know better, are guilty of this. When you invite them to political events, they refuse to come if they know they will not be paid.”

Lamenting further, he said, “An exCBN governor said recently that he’s

ashamed of today’s youths because they are not making themselves felt in the affairs of the country. And I quite understand what he means because the youths are so large in number that they can dictate who Nigeria’s next president will be, even if it’s a youth like them.”

Also speaking, Apostle Alex Bamgbola, Chairman, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Lagos chapter, advised Christians to participate more in politics, saying, “If you don’t rule, you will be ruled. If you don’t dominate, you will be dominated.”

Speaking on why they organised the workshop, Country Director, Changemakers Africa, Reverend Eric Ighalo said, “The workshop is a child of necessity, considering that it’s time the youths should start participating more in politics. “ The workshop is one way we can speak to them to advise them on how best to become successfully active in politics, and we thank God that it was successful, as all our speakers, from Reverend Adegbolagun, to Apostle Bamgbola and pastors Femi Martins and Ronke Akinnola were able to achieve that aim.”

Group launches empowerment initiative Joel Ajayi ABUJA

A

group championed by Made in Nigeria Goods Campaign, has launched a project known ‘HOPE’: ‘Home of Productivity and Empowerment‘to promote made in Nigeria goods for wealth creation and women and youth empowerment.

This even as the group advocated gender equality in the country, just as she expressed possibility of female president in Nigeria.

Leader of the group, Mrs. Kate Okpareke Kate, who stated this recently, in Abuja, while celebrating her 60th birthday anniversary, admonished women to be proud of themselves, while believing in their abilities.

She said: “My desire for Nigerian women is equal opportunity for women, women are created by God with an omnibus nature; she is a mother, entrepreneur amongst others.

“And a woman has instinct for details that is why they do well in leadership. I will advocate that women be given opportunity as men. I believe woman president is possible in this country.”

The celebrant also used the diamond anniversary to launch a project called ‘HOPE’: ‘Home of Productivity and Empowerment’, championed by Made in Nigeria Goods Campaign group, to promote made in Nigeria goods for wealth creation and women and youth empowerment.

“HOPE is a massive job creation platform. This template gives Nigerians dignity in labour. This is an opportunity to unleash that creativity by empowering them and managing the process in terms of value chain to ensure that they don’t fail.

“I will tell them (women) to believe in themselves, believe that they can make it. God has endowed every one of us with talents, and when we believe and hard work, we will make it,” she advised.

46

Thursday, February 19, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

World Radio Day: Youths not sufficiently represented in media –UN Leonard Okachie

A

s Nigeria joined the international community last Friday to mark the 2015 edition of World Radio Day, the United Nations officials said that young women and men are not sufficiently represented in the media.

The UN officials called for the greater participation of young people in utilizing the medium as a critical tool for shaping a sustainable future.

The UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, UNESCO, General Conference in 2011 declared February 13 as World Radio Day, the day United Nations Radio was established in 1946.

The theme for this fourth edition is “Youth and Radio”. It focused on the promotion of youth in radio, both as a conduit for the greater participation of young people in radio journalism and communications as well as encouraging the world’s under-30 population in being facilitators for sustainable development.

In her message for the Day, DirectorGeneral of UNESCO, Irina Bokova said: “Young women and men are not sufficiently represented in the media -- an exclusion that often reflects a wider social, economic and democratic exclusion.

“Young producers and broadcasters are still rare. Too few programmes are devoted to or designed by young people.

This deficit explains the many stereotypes concerning young people circulating in the media and over the airwaves.”

Similarly, the UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, in his message said: “On World Radio Day, we celebrate a medium that captures the imagination and brings people together.

“This year’s observance of World Radio Day highlights the importance of radio to the world’s 1.8 billion young women and men. Radio matters for youth across the world.

“As the international community shapes new sustainable development goals and the new global agreement on climate change, we need to hear the voices of young women and men loudly, strongly and urgently.”

Radio is the most prevalent mass medium, with the ability to reach up to 95 per cent of the world’s population.

As a result, World Radio Day aims to celebrate radio as a medium; to improve international cooperation between broadcasters; and to encourage major networks and community radio alike to promote access to information, freedom of expression and gender equality over the airwaves.

Bokova noted that people under the

Radio studio

age of 30 are more than half of the world’s current population yet, she added, they remain underrepresented in radio, leading to exclusion, the perpetuation of stereotypes, and entrenching inequality.

As a result, UNESCO has taken the initiative to boost youth voices across

the radio waves through the promotion of workshops and initiatives aimed at empowering young people around the world.

“Young people are taking action as both citizens and freelance journalists and many of the major media companies depend on their work but we need

to do more,” Bokova continued. “By giving young people a voice, we can catalyse new energy to rejuvenate and develop societies. By supporting young people, through education and training in the media professions, through media content, we can help create more inclusive and prosperous societies.”

Correspondents Chapel rallies politicians for development James Abraham JOS

P

oliticians and their parties jostling to take over the reigns of governance are everywhere in Plateau State but those seeking the governorship position seem to have dominated the political space.

They include Senator Gyang Pwajok of the Peoples Democratic Party; Barrister Simong Lalong of the All Progressives Congress(APC); Amb.Bagudu Hirse of the Labour Party and Alhaji Sabiu Musa Ibrahim.

They make up the only four contestants seeking the office of the Governor currently occupied by Governor Jonah Jang whose second term tenure will come to an end on May 29th.

It is only a matter of time that one of them will win the election while others are expected to join hands to develop the state.

There is no gainsaying that the media is an agent of development in human history.

In the past, the development aspirations of the people of Plateau had been dashed due to poor leadership.

To ensure that the people do not make a wrong choice, the Correspondents Chapel of the Nigerian Union of Journalists in the state recently provided its platform for the candidates to market themselves to the people.

The significance of the forum organised for the governorship candidates in the state at the NUJ Press Centre in Jos, was not lost on the Chapel Chairman, Mr. Aminu Idegu during the opening ceremony when he said that the media cannot afford to abdicate its responsibility to inform and educate

Journalists at investigative reporting workshop

the people appropriately when it comes to choosing their leaders.

“We have a reason for organising this forum. It is imperative that during a transition period such as this, there is the need for the media to present a platform for the people to know what the candidates have for the people. The media is for Plateau and we owe them this responsibility,” he said.

Also speaking, Plateau State Commissioner for Information, Mr. Muhammad Badu, who declared the forum open, commended the chapel for the initiative.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Media

Thursday, February 19, 2015

47

Polls: NBC warns broadcasters to adhere to code Leonard Okachie

A

head of the forthcoming general elections, National Broadcasting Commission, NBC has warned all broadcasters to adhere to the provisions of the Code, especially Section 5.2 on Political Broadcasts, and section 7.6 on Political Advertising.

According to the statement by the Director General of NBC, Mr. Emeka Mba, the commission will not hesitate to severely sanction any station that operates in breach.

The regulatory body in a statement entitled “Political Broadcasts – Need for Good Judgement” state that it wished to draw the attention of broadcasters particularly to sections 5.2.7 and 5.2.8, which stipulate, “A broadcaster shall, in using political material for news, avoid taking

inflammatory and divisive matter in its provocative form.” And, “in adherence to the principles of pluralism, equal airtime shall be provided to all political parties or views, with particular regard to the amount of time and belt, during political campaign periods”.

NBC noted that some stations have been broadcasting programmes and adverts that violate the provisions of the Nigeria Broadcasting Code with respect to Decency, Truthfulness and Fairness, stressing that it had already written to those stations to desist and are still considering further sanctions in line with the provisions of the law.

The Commission further said: “We appreciate that the role of radio and television has gone beyond just reporting its findings on the surveillance of the environment; broadcasting has evolved into a critical factor in promoting social,

cultural, and political objectives. That is why the Nigeria Broadcasting Code is at pains to spell out the political objectives of broadcasting, which provide the perspectives and guidelines issued to broadcasters for the coverage of elections “The Commission however notes that in carrying out their responsibility, some stations have been operating outside the provisions of the Code in a manner that could become counter-productive to the national objective of peaceful, free and fair elections.

“The National Broadcasting Commission joins the rest of the nation in working towards violence-free pre-election and post-election seasons, as well as free and fair elections; and we believe that broadcasting stations can only contribute to this when all “programmes adhere to the general principles of legality, decency, and truthfulness”.

Mba

When fake news goes viral, Media Abroad blame media –Study Kenyan viewers left behind

I

t’s true. Don’t believe everything you read on the Internet...

In fact, according to a study by media researchers, many news organisations fail to do enough to separate fact from fiction, and often help unverified rumours and reports to go viral online.

“Rather than acting as a source of accurate information, online media frequently promote misinformation in an attempt to drive traffic and social engagement,” said the study led by Craig Silverman, a research fellow at the Tow Centre for Digital Journalism at Columbia University.

While news organisations have always dealt with unverified information, practices at some websites may accelerate the dissemination of fake news, said the report, “Lies, Damn Lies and Viral Content.”

“Many news sites apply little or no basic verification to the claims they pass on. Instead, they rely on linking-out to other media reports, which themselves often only cite other media reports as well,” the study concluded.

Fake stories are often sexier or more interesting than the real ones, and as such get wider dissemination, Silverman said.

“The extent to which a fake news article can get traction was surprising to me,” Silverman told AFP. Examples cited in the study were rumours spread on Facebook and Twitter that an Ebola patient had been identified in Britain, and another that the disease had been found in Richmond, Virginia.

Both reports were untrue.

In another case, a story about a Kurdish woman dubbed “Rehana the ISIS slayer,” or the “Angel of Kohane” purported to have killed 100 Islamic fighters, turned out to have no basis in fact even though reports about her spread for weeks last October.

The researchers traced the story to a tweet from Indian journalist and activist

Parwan Durani, who published the woman’s picture on Twitter and asked people to retweet it.

Stories of her exploits - and reports of her death - were picked up widely by news outlets “but seemed entirely based on falsities,” Silverman’s report said.

“The simple story of the attractive Kurd who killed dozens of ISIS fighters is a powerful wish rumour. Add in a compelling image and it’s perfect for propagation on social networks. The result is that most of us will never know the woman’s true story - and the press bears a level of responsibility for that.”

Silverman said that even if much of the fake news is spread by “new media” or tabloid journals, the traditional or “quality” journalism outlets often sit by, allowing rumours to gain traction.

“When (fake) information is out there and websites are covering it, there is an imperative on the part of news organisations to look at it, flag it for readers and tell them what we know and what we don’t know,” Silverman said.

“If we remain silent, the ones who win are the mindless propagators.”

And many news organisations fail to follow up when a false report is debunked, the report said: “The explosive claim that ISIS fighters had been apprehended at the US-Mexico border was refuted within 24 hours and yet only 20% of news organisations that wrote an initial story came back to it.”

The findings show “a very disturbing trend,” said Bill Adair, a Duke University journalism professor who in 2007 founded the fact-checking website PolitiFact.

“It’s particularly disturbing when journalists pass along things without knowing whether they are true or not.”

Because of the fast-moving nature of Twitter an other social media, Adair said that “many people including journalists feel that if it’s tweeted, it’s out there and it’s fair game. But news organisations have always had an obligation to check out what they pass on.”

after ‘digital migration’

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lmost 90 percent of Kenyan television viewers have been left with blank screens after the government switched from analogue transmission to digital.

Owners of the country’s three main media houses: Nation Media Group (NTV), Standard Group (KTN) and Royal Media Services (Citizen TV) have accused President Uhuru Kenyatta’s government of forcibly shutting their services. They are asking the Communication Authority of Kenya (CA), to give them ample time so as to prepare for the digital switch.

“We support digital migration, give us the license, give us frequencies, give us time,” Paul Muite, a lawyer of the three media houses said. According to the media houses, the move by the government to forcibly switch off their signals goes against freedom of the press.

In a statement carried on Monday (16.02.2015), by the ‘Daily Nation’ - an online newspaper owned by Nation Media Group, the three leading news providers accused the government of coercing them into giving their signals to other providers.

They said it [analogue switch off] was

President of Kenya, Uhuru Kenyatta.

a ploy for them to surrender their signals to government-owned Signet and Chinese-owned Pan African Network Group (Pang).

“The three media houses have been broadcasting on analogue platform and the dismantling of the equipment by the Communication Authority of Kenya in Limuru effectively switched off our transmission,” the statement said.

Officials from the Communications Authority of Kenya, accompanied by armed policemen on Saturday (14.02.2015) forced their way into the transmission stations which broadcasts programs for the three media houses in Limuru, dismantled and took away their equipment.

The government maintains that it is determined to migrate from analogue to digital transmission. “We will not go back on digital migration,” Fred Matiangi, Kenya’s Information Cabinet Secretary told reporters on Sunday.

“The three media houses like all of us in Kenya are not above the law,” Matiangi said. He also warned that the communication authority would not be manipulated and called on the media houses to carry out their responsibility.

“The government reiterates its commitment to support digital migration and ensure that Kenya joins the community of modern nations by the world deadline of [digital] migration on June 17, 2015.”

Matiangi said Kenya’s main three media houses may end up losing their television broadcast licenses due to what he termed “public incitement against the government over digital migration.”

The Kenya Union of Journalists (KUJ) has strongly criticized the switching off of stations broadcasting in analogue platform. KUJ said the switch to digital transmission could leave many journalists out of work.

- Deutsche Welle

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National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Thursday, February 19, 2015

Community Mirror The abrupt postponement of the general elections by INEC was ill timed.

This singular act has inflicted an indelible dent on the integrity of the 2015 elections and indeed the country’s entire electoral process.

Speaker House of Representatives – Hon. Aminu Tambuwal

Farmers get N500m food production in Osun Boladale Bamigbola OSOGBO

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oordinator of Osun State Rural Enterprise Agricultural Programme, O-REAP, Dr. Charles Akinola has restated the readiness of Osun State government to enhance production capacity of farmers in the state through provision of loans.

Disclosing this after meeting stakeholders in the State Agricultural Development Corporation, OSSADEP, and Rural Access and Mobility Programme, RAMP, Akinola said the government has through OSSADEP assisted the famers in clearing over 1000 acres of farmland in preparation of the mass production of food in the state.

He added that the lands cleared are located in Mokore Farm Settlement; Iwo-Patara Farm Settlement; Ago-Owu Farm Settlement; Ifon-Osun Farm Settlement; Ila Farm Settlement; Esa-Oke Farm Settlement as well as other private farms located in the state.

According to him, the state government has also opened over 122km of access rural roads and repaired bridges to ease mobility of farm inputs and products to and from all farmlands across the state.

He listed the rural roads rehabilitated as Ago-Owu to Orile-Owu (30km), Iwo-PataraAkinleye-Idi-Iroko Road (23km); Mokore Road (18.7km); Shasha Rover to Orile-Owu-Womonle (61km); Okinni-Igbokiti (23km);

Alaguntan (18.3km) and Esa-Oke. He further explained that electricity has been restored to all the existing farm settlements in the state as well as potable water to make younger farmers to stay on farms for massive production of food items in the state.

Dr. Akinola who is also the Director General, Office of Economic Development and Partnerships, OEDP, disclosed that the state through its partnership with International Institute of Tropical Agriculture ,IITA, is also planning to promote massive production of cocoa and cassava across the state as well as effective fertilizer distribution and other farm inputs including quality seeds though private sector participation.

Foundation moves to rehabilitate Gombe IDPs Danjuma Williams GOMBE

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ictims of terrorist activities in Gombe have started receiving vocational materials aimed at rehabilitating them and making them self reliant.

Presenting these vocational items to the Internally Displaced Persons, IDPs, who have been camped in Gombe for closed to a year, the Chief Executive Officer of Body Enhancement Foundation, Princess Modupe Ozuola said the items comprised of sewing machines, cap making items, groundnut bags for oil extraction among many others.

According to Princess Modupe, the items which were

distributed at the office of the Gombe State Emergency Management Agency, SEMA, were donated were based on the skills discovered from the IDPs sometimes back when she visited the Gombe IDP’s camp for a baseline survey.

She said the gesture was also aimed at helping the IDP’s to be self reliant and to be on their foot since the Gombe IDP’s Camp had recently been closed.

Modupe Ozolua who stated that the donations was specifically meant for the affected victims with a view to alleviate their suffering added that her foundation would do everything possible to ensure that IDPs have sense of belonging in the society.

Thursday, February 19, 2015

Judge threatens to jail dismissed killer cop

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ustice Olabisi Akinlade of the Igbosere High Court sitting in Lagos has threatened to jail a dismissed Police Officer CSP Segun Fabunmi, at the resume hearing of the case yesterday.

Akinlade made this threat when Fabunmi’s defence counsel, Mr. T.J Odeshola told the court that he was not prepared to file his final written address.

Fabunmi, a former DPO of Pen Cinema Police Station, Agege, a suburb of Lagos, was alleged of killing one Mr. Ademola Daramola on January 9, 2012, during the fuel subsidy protests.

“My Lord we have not filed our final written addresses because we are yet to obtain a copy of the proceedings of the

court,’’ Odeshola told the court.

Akinlade was said to have registered her displeasure upon hearing the counsel’s excuse.

“Is it because the defendant is on bail that is why you are taking the court for granted? If you needed the proceedings of the court, you would have come for it on time.

“This matter had been adjourned since November 19, 2014, you had more than sufficient time to prepare your final written address.

“You are treating this matter with levity, I will send the defendant back to prison, you are not serious and I won’t take this attitude,” the judge said.

Akinlade, however, gave another adjournment date for adoption of the final written

addresses.

“The case is hereby adjourned to April 23 for adoption of final written addresses, the prosecution is also urged to file their response on time,” she said.

Fabunmi, during his testimony on November 19, 2014, denied shooting at Daramola.

Fabunmi had claimed before the court that he, along with five junior officers, had responded to a distress call at the Yahaya Abatan junction, Ogba, a suburb of Lagos on November 19, 2014.

He said that on getting there, some hoodlums tried to dispossess him of his weapon which led to ammunition being discharged which instantly killed Daramola.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

49

FG donates to items to orphans in Imo Chris Njoku OWERRI

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inister of State for Education, Prof (Mrs.) Viola Onwuliri has reiterated the determination of the Federal Government to alleviate the plight of children, widows and motherless babies in the country.

The minister stated this when she visited the Red Cross Motherless Babies Homes in Owerri on Saturday, the day people all over the world celebrated their Valentine.

Professor Onwuliri who described children as special gifts from God said that the visit was meant to celebrate this year’s “Valentine Day” with the inmates of the Establishment as part of Federal Government

measures to accord them a sense of belonging.

She called on well meaning Nigerians to show appreciation to God by giving to poor and less privileged in the society particularly at times like this While donating some items including money for the upkeep of the inmates, the minister also cut a cake to celebrate the day with the inmates while other Nigerians including married couples came from far and near to donate and celebrate with motherless babies.

Responding, matron of the place, Mrs. Celion Okere commended the Federal Government for her result-oriented transformation agenda which she noted had given the nation a face lift and also brought a new lease of life for the masses.

NGO feeds 1000 destitute in Enugu Dennis Agbo ENUGU

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Busy business transactions at the Bayara Main Market, Kastina yesterday.

Delta proposes N250m for 5 new dumpsites

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he Delta Government says it is proposing N250 million for the acquisition and development of five new dumpsites in the state.

The Chairman of the Waste Management Board, Chief Olori Magege, made the disclosure at the budget defence with the State House of Assembly Committee on Finance and Appropriation on Wednesday in Asaba.

According to him, the money will be required this fiscal year for the acquisition and construction of five new dumpsites, while an additional N180 million will be required for the daily maintenance of the sites.

Magege said the five dumpsites would be located in Asaba, Warri, Effurun, Ughelli and Udu. He added that the old sites in Warri and Asaba had outlived their usefulness and had been closed.

He also said that the board was proposing the sum of N580 million for the procurement of two bulldozers, one low bed and three pail loaders.

Magege said there was the need for the review of the N7, 000 wage paid to each sweeper in major towns of the state.

According to him, the board is proposing an increase in the re-

muneration of street sweepers from the current N7, 000 to N20, 000 monthly.

Magege also said that the board was proposing the sum of N12 million for public enlightenment programme to educate the public on the need to imbibe good sanitation culture.

According to him, It has become glaring that public attitude to issues of waste management and general cleanliness has been mostly negative and requires aggressive public education.

‘This will ensure the cooperation and acceptance by members of the public,” he said.

s part of its humanitarian services, a Non Governmental Organization, NGO, South Sahara Social Development, SSSD, yesterday put smile on the faces of over 1000 destitute in the streets of Enugu, as it provided them assorted food for their meals.

The exercise, according to the organization, is aimed at touching human lives, especially the less privileged or poor of the poorest in the state that cannot afford a square meal.

Speaking during the exercise which took place in different parts of Enugu metropolis, Executive Director of SSSD, Dr. Chi Chi Aniagolu Okoye, said the organizations designed the monthly programme to assist the vulnerable groups in the society.

She said the organization, has bias for issues relating to human empowerment, especially as it concerns the less privileged.

The Executive Director, who spoke through the organization’s programme officer, Mrs. Chinasa Edeh, stressed the need for Nigerians to always remember the vulnerable in the society.

She stated that the “meals on wheels” programme, is also designed to ensure that destitute do not go to bed with

empty stomach, “because a hungry man is an angry man”.

Dr. Okoye hinted that the free meal programme was born out of a feasibility study carried out on vulnerable people by the organization in the state.

“During the study, we discover that scores of the vulnerable people do go to sleep without food,” she said.

While thanking the NGO for the gesture, one of the female destitute, who gave her name as Chinasa Igwemba, appealed to government to come to their aid in terms of job provision.

She added that they are in the streets because of lack of job, or source of lively hood.

Igwemba, who is in her early 20s, however, call on other NGOs and corporate organisations to come to their assistance.

Gov. Sullivan Chime

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Thursday, February 19, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

World News

Failure to reach an agreement would lead to immediate hardship in Greece, the uncertainty is not good for Europe, and time is of the essence –United States Treasury Secretary, Jacob Lew

Ukrainian troops retreat from key town 51

Tanzanian albino boy found mutilated

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n albino toddler missing since Sunday has been found dead in northern Tanzania with all his limbs hacked off.

Yohana Bahati, aged one, was snatched from the house of his mother, who was cut with a machete.

His body was found a few miles away. Two people have been arrested in connection with the killing.

At least 74 albino children have been killed this century in Tanzania, where some witchdoctors use albino body parts to make their charms.

Last month the Tanzanian government placed a ban on all witchdoctors in the country. The ban is part of a nationwide operation to clamp down on attacks on people living with albinism.

The UN has condemned the attack and warned that 2015 could be a “dangerous year” for albinos. It fears that the forthcoming general and presidential elections will cause some candidates to turn to influential witchdoctors for help.

Witchdoctors are prepared to pay $75,000 (£50,000) for a complete set of albino body parts according to the Red Cross.

“We’re being killed like animals” albino woman says Another albino toddle remains missing after being kidnapped in December.

Tanzanian police have offered a reward for information leading to the recovery of Pendo Emmanuelle Nundi, aged four. Police have arrested 15 over her disappearance, including her father.

Albinism is particularly prevalent in Tanzania with one in 1,400 affected according to a 2006 BMC Public Health report. This compares with one in 20,000 in Western countries.

The higher rate is thought to be due to inbreeding.

Opposition leader Julius Malema

S’African ANC chief apologises to Malema for ‘cockroach’ remark PAUL ARHEWE

WITH AGENCY REPORTS

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he chairwoman of South Africa’s ruling African National Congress apologised yesterday for calling opposition leader Julius Malema a

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COWAS Member States have been encouraged to integrate regional progammes and aspirations in their national development plans to facilitate the realization of the overarching objective of regional economic development and integration.

“Where the political will is strong, it should be easier for a country to draw up its national development plans, strategies and programmes with regional considerations,” Mr. Essien Abel Essien, Director of ECOWAS Strategic Planning Directorate said at the opening of the inaugural National Planning Experts meeting in Lagos on Wednesday 18th February 2015.

Acknowledging that due to internal problems and competing demands on their limited resources, “many countries tend to put much more emphasis on national than on regional projects,” the director however, said the ideal situation is for countries

“cockroach” -- the insult used to ignite the Rwandan genocide.

The unusual move -- in a party known for its reluctance to back down -- came from Baleka Mbete, who is also Speaker of Parliament and was a key figure in chaotic scenes in the national

assembly last week.

Mbete controversially called in security forces to forcibly evict Malema and members of his Economic Freedom Fighters after they disrupted President Jacob Zuma’s State of the Nation address last Thursday.

Addressing an ANC provincial congress on Saturday she referred to “cockroaches like Malema roaming all over the place”.

Malema responded by claiming that Mbete was calling for his assassination.

“If I am killed tomorrow people must know I was killed

by Baleka and the ANC... We know what happened to people who were called cockroaches in Rwanda,” he said.

The term was used in Rwandan radio broadcasts to set Hutus against Tutsis in the 1994 genocide, in which some 800,000 people were killed.

“I have concluded that my remarks - all offending statements I made - were inappropriate,” Mbete said.

“I withdraw my remarks unreservedly. I apologise unconditionally, to South Africans, to Parliament and Honourable Julius Malema for any hurt or harm I may have caused.”

It was a rare moment of peacemaking in a week that has seen some of the most bitter political confrontations since the end of apartheid 20 years ago.

ECOWAS members urged to improve development plans

ECOWAS Commission President, Kadre Desire Ouedraogo

to “ensure efficient coordination between the objectives and instruments of regional integration and national policy making.”

“ECOWAS requires a planning process that is participatory and inclusive,” he said, explaining that this reason informed the gathering of national plan-

ning experts to deliberate on the methodology for facilitating the coordination and integration of regional aspirations into national plans.

Essien said that while experience in the past had shown that governments and inter-governmental organizations had “generally dominated and monopolized the dialogue on integration, there is emerging recognition of the need to involve civil society in the process because an integration process that involves civil society stands a much better chance of success.” This explains the invitation of civil society organizations such as the West African Network for Peace building (WANEP), West African Civil Society Forum (WACSOF) and the West African Civil Society Institute (WACSI) to the meeting.

WORLD BULLETIN

Sisi tours Egypt’s border with Libya after bombing ISIS targets President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi warned Egypt would strike back at any militant threats to its security as he toured the border area with Libya yesterday, two days after Cairo bombed Islamic State targets there.

Sisi, accompanied by Defense Minister Sedki Sobhi, toured an air base near the borders with Libya to oversee measures aimed at securing his country’s western frontier.

Egypt directly intervened for the first time in the conflict in neighboring Libya on Monday after Islamic State released a video showing the beheading of 21 Egyptian Christians.

“He (Sisi) stressed that Egypt will continue to confront firmly any attempts aimed at compromising its national security,” army spokesman Brigadier General Mohammad Samir said in a statement posted on his official Facebook page.

Egypt said Monday’s pre-dawn strike hit militant camps, training sites and weapons storage areas in the neighboring oil-producing country, where factional fighting has created chaos and havens for Islamist militants.

The 21 decapitations pushed Sisi into open action, expanding his battle against Islamist militancy in Libya not long after he appeared to be gaining the upper hand against militants in the Sinai Peninsula who support Islamic State.

Abuse reports overshadow Gambian independence celebration The Gambia marked its 50th year of independence yesterday, with festivities overshadowed by growing complaints over its rights record and the regime increasingly seen abroad as a pariah.

President Yahya Jammeh, who has ruled the former British colony with an iron fist since seizing power in 1994, launched three months of celebrations with a parade at the national Independence Stadium.

But preparations have been clouded by growing accusations from political opponents and international rights groups of enforced disappearances, torture and the muzzling of journalists.

The anniversary comes six weeks after the presidential guard put down a bid to seize power blamed mainly on ex-servicemen from Gambian and US armed forces while Jammeh was in Dubai.

There has since been a wave of arrests, detentions and harassment targeting family members of those suspected of involvement, relatives and right groups have said.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

WORLD BULLETIN

Divers find trove of gold coins off Israeli coast A group of amateur scuba divers shocked archaeologists when it discovered a hoard of 2,000 ancient gold coins off the coast of Israel.

A recent winter storm shifted sands off the coast of Caesarea in recent weeks, unearthing the trove of coins dating back about 1,000 years. The harbour city dates back to the days of King Herod the Great about 2,000 years ago.

The Israel Antiquities Authority searched the site and helped uncover the find. The divers initially thought the coins were toys.

“Despite the fact they were at the bottom of the sea for about a thousand years, they did not require any cleaning or conservation intervention from the metallurgical laboratory,” Robert Cole, a numismatist with the Israel Antiquities Authority, said in a statement.

The oldest coin was minted in 9th-century Italy. Most were minted in North Africa and Egypt between 996 and 1036.

“There is probably a shipwreck there of an official treasury boat, which was on its way to the central government in Egypt with taxes that had been collected,” Kobi Sharvit, director of the Marine Archaeology Unit of the Israel Antiquities Authority, said of how the coins got to be on the ocean floor. “Perhaps the treasure of coins was meant to pay the salaries of the Fatimid military garrison, which was stationed in Caesarea and protected the city.”

‘Battle lines drawn for civil war in Yemen’ Hundreds of Sunni tribesmen in the central Yemeni desert parade in pickup trucks toting heavy machine guns and singing martial songs to raise morale.

They have pitched camps on the edge of the country’s oilrich Marib province, determined not to let their home turf fall as a prize to the Shi’ite militia that now rules much of Yemen.

Having almost miraculously avoided civil war for four years after being rocked by Arab Spring protests, the impoverished Arabian Peninsula country awash with weapons now appears to be leaning toward the kind of conflict that has ravaged other countries in the region.

A fight for land and power has spread since the Houthi rebels overran the capital Sanaa in September, taking on a sectarian stripe that may embroil regional powers Iran and Saudi Arabia and strengthen Yemen’s powerful al Qaeda branch.

World News

Thursday, February 19, 2015

51

Ukrainian troops retreat from key town T he Ukrainian president said his forces are making an “organised” withdrawal from the embattled town of Debaltseve.

Petro Poroshenko said 80% of Ukraine’s troops left on Wednesday morning after several days of fierce fighting.

Russia said Ukrainian forces had tried to fight their way out of the city after being encircled but Mr Poroshenko insisted they were never surrounded.

The rebel advance on Debaltseve, which came in spite of the recent ceasefire agreement, has been widely condemned.

Nato chief Jens Stoltenberg said the rebels’ offensive had put the wider peace agreement at risk and urged Russia to “use all its influence on the separatists to make them respect the ceasefire”.

He also called on Moscow to withdraw its forces from Ukraine, saying Russian troops, artillery and air defence units were still active in the country.

Earlier, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov insisted the rebels’ actions in Debaltseve had not violated the ceasefire because it was a rebel-held city when the

President Poroshenko met with the soldiers who withdrew from Debaltseve in nearby Artemivs, yesterday.

peace agreement was signed last week.

He urged rebels to provide troops who surrendered with food and clothes and said he hoped the situation in the city would “not be used to find a pretext to actually undermine [the agreement]”.

Eyewitnesses saw dozens of tanks and columns of weary Ukrainian troops retreating from Debaltseve yesterday.

Russia’s state-controlled Channel One TV showed footage of what it said were rebels raising their flag on top of a high-rise building in the city.

One rebel commander in Debaltseve told the BBC that conditions were dire, with no electricity and a shortage of food and water. He said rebels were sharing their rations with the remaining civilians.

President Poroshenko said in a statement: “Debaltseve was under our control, there was no encirclement, and our troops left the area in a planned and organised manner.”

He called for “a firm reaction from the world to Russia’s brutal violation of the Minsk agreements, the ceasefire regime and the withdrawal of heavy weaponry”.

US to begin export of armed drone

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he US has announced it will begin allowing sales of armed drones to some friendly and allied countries.

Only the UK has been allowed to purchase armed unmanned aircraft. Other countries have unarmed craft.

Countries purchasing drones must sign agreements they will only be used for military campaigns and the US will review how the country is complying.

The change comes amid China exporting drones from its own unmanned programme to at least nine countries.

In the newly published policy, the state department did not specify which countries would be considered for armed drone

sales, but unnamed officials told US media previous requests by Italy and Turkey would be reconsidered.

US lawmakers are also currently considering selling unarmed Predator drones to the United Arab Emirates.

But certain drones - with a range of 300km (186 miles) and carrying a payload of 500kg (1,100lb) - will still be barred from export except in highly unusual circumstances.

Armed drones have been crucial to the US counter-terrorism strategy in the US, including killing targets from al-Qaeda and other militant groups but have been criticised for killing civilians.

Pakistani Army officers look at a Chinese-made drone - China has sold drones to several countries

The policy change comes at the end of a two-year review.

The state department says it is allowing sales of armed drones to make sure the aircraft are being used legally and responsibly.

“The technology is here to stay,” an anonymous State Department official told The Washington Post. “It’s to our benefit to have certain allies and partners equipped appro-

priately.”

But there has been criticism from some in Congress of sales to even close allies over concerns about intelligence expertise and human rights records.

And defence officials have struggled to keep up with military commanders’ requests for using drones, and have struggled to move drones where needed for joint missions with allies.

Argentine government softens tone ahead of protest

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rgentina’s government toned down its stinging criticism of opponents yesterday ahead of what is expected to be one of the largest street protests of embattled President Cristina Fernandez’s seven years in power.

Fernandez’s final year in office is in turmoil after the murky death a month ago of Alberto Nisman, a state inves-

tigator who was poised to detail evidence behind his accusations that she plotted to cover-up his investigation into a 1994 bombing.

Top officials have accused the prosecutors behind the demonstration dubbed the ‘silent march’ of trying to conduct a “judicial putsch” and conspiring with right-wing political opponents to unseat Fernandez.

On Wednesday they calmed it down.

“I don’t want to give it any value, nor downplay its importance,” the president’s Chief of Staff Anibal Fernandez told reporters. “I’m not interested. It’s the expression of people who have the right to do so.”

Tens of thousands of Argentines are expected to march in silence through the capital,

Buenos Aires, on Wednesday evening to honour Nisman, who was found dead with a single bullet to the head on Jan. 18.

Prosecutors organizing the rally say it is not politically motivated. But the independence of Argentina’s judiciary has long been in question. Marchers will likely call for an end to political interference and the intimidation of prosecutors and judges.

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Thursday, February 19, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Man killed in scuffle over party flag …Suspects remanded ABDULGAFAR OLADIMEJI KANO

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hief Magistrate Court 13 in Kano has remanded two persons for allegedly killing a resident of Rano Lo-

cal Government during a scuffle over uprooting of a flag belonging to a political party.

They were arraigned before the court on a threecount charge of joint act,

inciting public disturbance and culpable homicide. The prosecution told the court that the offences were contrary to the provision of the penal code law.

Police prosecutor, Inspector Shaibu Musa, told the court that Salihu Yunusa, 31, and Yunusa

Ismaila, 30, both residents of Taure village in Rano council area, were apprehended for causing the death of one Nazifi Barau.

According to the prosecution, the accused persons and the deceased were engaged in an argument over the dismantling

of a flag belonging to a political party, when they struck Barau with an object, leading to his instant death.

Inspector Musa added that as Barau died at the scene of the scuffle, a resident of the village, Saleh Abdullahi, lodged a complaint with the police.

The accused persons told the court that the allegation against them was not true, insisting that the content of the charge read

out to them before the court failed to state what truly transpired, when they engaged the deceased in bitter argument over the dislodging of a political party flag mounted in Taure village.

The presiding chief magistrate, Hajiya Mariam Sabo, however ordered that the accused persons be remanded in prison custody, and adjourned the case to March 31 for mention.

No more delayed salaries, Kogi SUBEB pledges WALE IBRAHIM LOKOJA

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L-R: NEMA Assistant Director and leader of assessment team, Mr. Musa Zakari; Officer in-Charge of Gombi, Hong and nearby zones in Adamawa, Brig-Gen. V.O. Ezugwu and Minister of Youth, Mr. Boni Haruna, during a visit to the officer before going for assessment of communities that have been reclaimed from insurgents in Adamawa, on Tuesday.

PHOTO: NAN

Civilian JTF are APC thugs –Borno PDP INUSA NDAHI MAIDUGURI

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eoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Borno State has alleged that members of the civilian JTF set up by Governor Kashim Shettima early last year to complement efforts of security operatives fighting Boko Haram have now turned political thugs for the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, ahead of the forthcoming general elec-

tions in the state.

Shettima Barma, secretary of Muhammad Imam Campaign Organisation, a pro-PDP group, disclosed this yesterday at a press briefing at the PDP state secretariat.

Barma also lamented that the campaign visit of APC presidential candidate, Muhammadu Buhari, to Maiduguri last Monday, an avenue for him to peacefully sell his candidature to Borno people, who have suffered much in the wake

of insurgency, turned into killings, destruction of PDP offices, posters, billboards and injury to many PDP supporters in the state.

He noted with dismay that what happened at the APC rally at Ramat Square was not just worrisome but an eye-opener to citizens of the state.

He described APC as a product of violence, stressing that acclaimed members of Civilian JTF, who wielded guns and were

searching motorists, were vandalising any vehicle found to be carrying PDP or Goodluck Jonathan/ Sambo stickers.

He said: “The Civilian JTF, which people of the state thought were brought in to help the security situation, have turned into political mercenaries for APC and Borno State governor, Kashim Shettima, who uses them to maim, threaten and intimidate the peace-loving people of the state.”

Aliyu sidelines deputy, picks Speaker as acting gov PRISCILLA DENNIS MINNA

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he crisis between Niger State Governor, Mu’azu Aliyu, and his deputy, Ahmed Ibeto, yesterday deepened as the governor in a letter notifying the state’s Assembly of plan to travel to Saudi Arabia for lesser hajj, requested the Speaker, Adamu Usman, to act

on his behalf instead of his deputy.

The speaker will oversee Aliyu’s schedules as acting governor until his return from Saudi Arabia.

The letter, with reference No. GHNS/13/72, dated February 18, and signed by Aliyu, said, “I wish to inform Mr. Speaker that I intend to travel to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to perform the

lesser hajj between February 19 and 26.

“In my absence, the Speaker, Niger State House of Assembly, Adamu Usman, will oversee my schedules as acting governor.”

It would be recalled that the deputy governor on January 19 dumped the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, officially for All Progressives Congress, APC,

over alleged injustice and humiliation from PDP, especially during the party’s governorship primary.

Gov. Babagida Aliyu

ogi State Universal Basic Education Board, SUBEB, has assured teachers in the state that there would be no more delays in salary payment with the new mode of payment put in place.

Executive Chairman of Kogi SUBEB, Nuhu Ahmed, stated this when some basic education teachers visited his office to lodge complaint about their unpaid January salary.

He said the challenge of non-payment stemmed from teachers who could not write their account number and name correctly, adding that many of them wrote old account numbers and even abbre-

viated their names, which the Central Bank rejected.

According to him, this stalled the online payment to affected teachers from the state’s account.

To ensure genuine teachers are paid, he said headmasters of each basic school have been mandated to write the names of their teachers and sign, while the teachers visit his office to write their names, bank account details, and phone number.

Ahmed explained that due to the omission, the board still owed December salary to all the teachers as well as November salary of five local government areas that were omitted.

He, however, quickly added that the state government was making effort to settle the outstanding salaries.

Kwara Assembly loses member WOLE A DEDEJI ILORIN

K

wara State House of Assembly member, Suleiman Idris Sunaboro, representing llesha-Gwannara constituency in Baruten Local Government Area, is dead.

He reportedly died in early Wednesday at his official quarters after a brief illness.

Sunaboro, who was chairman, House Committee on Finance and Appropriation, was serving a second term in the Assembly.

Announcing the lawmaker’s demise during plenary yesterday, Speaker Rasak Atunwa described Sunaboro as a committed, diligent and amiable member.

He said the contributions of the late committee chairman to the progress of the House was immense, especially in passage of appropriation bills every year.

He prayed God to grant the deceased eternal rest and give his family the fortitude to bear the loss.

The Speaker, who called on members to observe a minute silence in honour of the departed member, thereafter ordered the suspension of the 2015 budget report presentation which commenced on Tuesday.

The House adjourned plenary till Tuesday, February 24 in honour of the late member. He is survived by a wife and children.

Thursday September 4, 2014

Thursday, February 19, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

53

Sport

If I was not sure of my chance at the FIFA presidency, I wouldn’t have to put myself into the contest –Former Portugal international, Luis Figo

Golf: Odoh, Willy aim S/Africa points

Reps assure on passage of CAS bill

Eaglets hold Guinea, delay W/Cup ticket

G

…expect presidential assent to NFF Act JOEL AJAYI ABUJA

I

f the words of the Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Sports, Hon. Godfrey Gaiya, is anything to go by, the crises bedevilling Nigerian sports, especially football in recent times, would get permanent solution.

Gaiya told National Mirror exclusively in Abuja that an arbitration court solely for sports matters was in the offing.

The House, Sports Committee Chair disclosed that the National Assembly had declared its readiness to pass a bill on Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS) currently before it before the end of its tenure.

Already, the bill has scaled second reading in both the House of Representatives and Senate, awaiting final discussions before its passage.

Gaiya said a legislation to set up a tribunal to handle sports cases was long overdue considering the fact that stakeholders had in the past lobbied for its enactment.

In the past, many litigations emanating from aggrieved stakeholders especially within the football circle had flooded Nigerian conventional courts and that of CAS Headquarters in Zurich, Switzerland.

Lack of arbitration in Nigeria has been described as inimical to the growth of sports in the country, a situation that has made administrators to take unfair decisions against their supposed opponents.

And Gaiya who has chaired the House sports committee since the seventh National Assembly was inaugurated in 2011 is of the view that the establishment of CAS in Nigeria will help to address both pending and future issues in the sports sec-

tor.

“We at the House and our colleagues in the e Senate are not ree-lenting as long ass ensuring that things are done within Nigerian well. Ours sports is to make necessary laws and i t is the duty of the executive to work with them.

“When we took over, we found out that the only permanent solution to various issues in sports was to make sure that all the cases were settled outside the court and successfully we did that by calling the people involved,” Gaiya said.

“We know that it is not in the FIFA statutes for football matters to go to court; it took the House committee advocacy and intervention in those cases to convince people not to go to court and like I said we are about to arresting it finally.

“We discovered that there was no governing law concerning Nigeria Football Federation and are working hard to make sure that is finalised. I believe when President Goodluck Jonathan is sworn in by May 29, he will sign it (NFF bill) into law. And once that is done, the law will put everything back to normal perspective; t h e entire loopholes will be removed.” moved moved. ”

55

Kelechi Nwakali scored from the penalty spot to rescue Nigeria yesterday

olden Eaglets, yesterday, needed a late strike from the penalty spot from skipper Kelechi Nwakali to rescue a point against 10man Guinea, as both sides kept alive their hopes of progression at the ongoing CAF U-17 Championship in Niamey.

Both sides, on four points each from two games, now have to wait for their final group games to determine the semi-finalists; spots which come with the incentive of a place at the 2015 FIFA Under-17 U Un der-17 World Cup finals t be hosted by Chile in to October this year.

Sam Diallo put Guinea ahead in the 13th minute. Enterprising play by Diallo, Abdoul Karim Conte and Yamodou Toure was a handful for the Nigerian backline anchored around Abbas Usman and Zakaria Halilu who brought down Toure in the box and referee Jean Jacques Ngsmbo from Congo DemoRepublic had no cratic option but to point to the spot.

Guinea could have added to their advantage but wasted chances through Diallo and exciting playmaker Karim Conte in a first half the Nigerians hardly threatened.

The Nigerian Eaglets went into the second half with renewed energy and could have levelled through Kingsley Michael but his effort in the box was fruitless.

Efforts from Nwakali, Victtorr Osimhen and Christian to Charles C harles were well saved by b y Guinea goalie, Moussa Camara, a darling of the crowd with his acrobatic movements.

But there was nothing Camara could do when Nwakali stepped up to convert from the spot and level matters with only three minutes remaining on the clock and Guinea skipper, Moussa Soumah, having been sent off after a second yellow card.

54

Sports

Thursday, February 19, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Racist slur: Chelsea fans face police backlash

B

Chelsea fans in Paris

Salah boost for

ritish and French police are trying to identify the Chelsea fans filmed preventing a black man boarding a train in Paris before chanting “we’re racist and that’s the way we like it.”

Amateur footage posted online shows the commuter trying to board a metro train in the French capital but a group of fans are shown shouting at and gesturing to him before pushing him out of the carriage when he steps in.

On a second attempt he points

to a space where he could stand but is pushed away again as he steps forward, before the group of males erupted into a chant while other commuters looked on.

The supporters are thought to have been travelling to the Parc des Princes ground for the Champions League match against Paris Saint Germain on Tuesday night which ended in a draw.

French police have confirmed they have launched an investigation into the incident, and have asked their British counterparts

Fiorentina

Today’s fixtures

F

iorentina winger, Mohamed Salah, has been included in the club’s squad travelling to London to face Tottenham Hotspur in the Europa League’s round of 32, 1st leg tie today.

The 22-year-old Egypt international was impressive in his full debut for the Viola in its 3-1 away win versus Sassuolo last weekend and is set to feature for Vicenzo Montella’s team for the first time in their Europa League campaign.

Salah was impressive during the same tournament in both legs against Tottenham in the 2012/13 season with FC Basel, where he scored to help the club reach the semi-finals for the first time in their history.

According to the Coach Vincenzo Montella, Salah can do well as a support striker.

“Mohamed can play well as a support striker, maybe even better than in his usual wide role, as long as he has the chance to move along the line,” Montella said yesterday.

The former Chelsea player however downplays his expected performance tonight.

“All that I can say is that I am ready and then we see ee what happens in the end,” Salah said, stressing, essing, “To the contrary, I am not here to impress mpress anyone but to ensure that we get a good ood result.”

The return n leg will be played on February ruary 26 at Stadio Artemio io Franchi in Italy.

for help in identifying those responsible.

A statement from the Metropolitan police said: “We are aware of footage currently on the internet allegedly involving Chelsea fans in Paris.

“The Metroplitan Police takes these offences very seriously, no matter where they occur. We will examine the footage with a view to seeing if we can apply for football banning orders, preventing people from travelling to future matches.”

Aalborg

vs

Brugge

Young Boys

vs

Everton

Dnipro

vs

Olympiakos

PSV

vs

Zenit

Roma

vs

Feyenoord

Torino

vs

Bilbao

Trabzonspor

vs

Napoli

Wolfsburg

vs

Sporting

Ajax

vs

Warsaw

Anderlecht

vs

Dynamo

Celtic

vs

Inter

Guingamp

vs

Kiev

Liverpool

vs

Besiktas

Sevilla

vs

M’gladbach

Tottenham

vs

Fiorentina

Villarreal

vs

Red Bull

‘I needed not leave Chelsea’

W

olfsburg forward, Andre Schurrle, says he was still in the plans of Jose Mourinho at former club Chelsea, yet has no regrets over his move to Germany.

The 24-year-old, who joined the Blues from Bundesliga club Bayer Leverkusen in June 2013, made 65 appearances under Mourinho, scoring 14 goals, but failed to command a regular starting position at Stamford Bridge, resulting in his January move back to the Bundesliga.

“I have been a Chelsea fan ever since I was

a kid and I felt well there right until the last day,” Schurrle said yesterday, adding, “But the most important thing for me is playing football and enjoying myself. This was no longer the case.

“Wolfsburg might be a smaller club when you look at reputations and I thought about it long and hard. I could have stayed at Chelsea.”

The World Cup winner says Mourinho had insisted he would have still have been in his plans, yet on the recommendation of national coach Joachim Low, a move back to his home country was the correct decision in the end.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

F

IFA President, Mr. Sepp Blatter yesterday held an official meeting with top officials of the Nigeria Football Federation at the Home of FIFA in Zurich, Switzerland.

Blatter, who was in company with FIFA General Secretary Jerome Valcke, welcomed the team on arrival at the headquarters of world football, and assured the Nigerian officals that FIFA would be ready to collaborate more with the new NFF Board.

NFF President, Amaju Pinnick, led the team which also included 1st Vice President, Barrister Seyi Akinwunmi, and the General Secretary, Barrister Musa Amadu.

The Nigeria delegation will return to Abuja today.

Sports

Thursday, February 19, 2015

55

Blatter, Pinnick hold Zurich talks Odoh

FIFA President Sepp Blatter and NFF President Pinnick Amaju during a meeting at the FIFA Headquarters in Zurich, yesterday

Elijah revels in friendly defeat AFOLABI GAMBARI

K

ogi United Coach, Yomi Elijah, says he has learned from the 3-0 loss to the national U-23 team in a friendly in Abuja on Tuesday.

Elijah, whose team held the Dream Team to a goalless first half, saw his side collapse in the second half.

“I am not too worried about the scoreline as we are trying to build our team ahead of the new season,” Elijah said yesterday.

“We conceded the goals from little mistakes and I am sure we would have made the right corrections by the time the season starts,” the gaffer added.

“Overall, my players impressed me, although I must

admit that they could still have done better. Even the U-23 Coach, Samson Siasia admitted that my boys exposed the frailties of his defence and, for me, it was positive.”

The Dream Team left Abuja on Wednesday for Libreville where they will meet Gabon on Saturday for the first leg first round of the All Africa Games 2015 qualifier on Saturday.

Siasia, ex-Eagles

Golf: Odoh, Willy aim S/Africa points AFOLABI GAMBARI

battle kidney disease

N

F

ormer Nigeria international and Coach of the national U-23 team, Samson Siasia, will lead a team of former Super Eagles players to blow the whistle on kidney disease currently crippling an estimated 30 million Nigerians.

Siasia will be joined by Austine Eguavoen, Taribo West and Austin Okocha against a Nollywood team led by Fred Amata and comedian AY, among others.

The match, organised by the Bow Tie Club’s Kidney Trust Fund, a fund set up by the club to raise N200m to support kidney victims in Nigeria, will

hold at the Campos Mini Stadium, Lagos Island on March 21.

Managed by CSL Trustees Limited, a member of the FCMB Group, the initiative is in memory of Mrs. Ganiyat Ogunfoworin, a 56-year-old grandmother who died recently in India after losing the battle against kidney disease.

Part of the proceeds would be sent to her family to help offset outstanding hospital

bills in India as well as secure the release of her remains from the Indian authorities.

Both sides will be joined by two corporate football teams to challenge for the first Titilayo Ogunfoworin Cup which has been scheduled as an annual event.

Organisers said music would be supplied by an internationally acclaimed Disc Jockey.

igeria’s leading professional golfers, Oche Odoh and Gift Willy, have been drawn to feature on South Africa’s elite Sunshine Tour in March.

Odoh, who had left the country early a fortnight ago, said he would also feature in the Johannesburg Open billed for February 26 to March 1 at the Royal JHB and Kessington Golf Club.

“I want to take all the chances and will be arriving South Africa well before the Jo’Burg Open gets underway,” the IBB Golf Club of Abuja player said, adding, “I will be alone here for a while but I am ok with it.”

Willy, who is held back by the renewal process of his travelling documents, says he is targeting the qualifiers for the Africa Open billed for the Fish River Sun Country Club.

“The African Open is my target and once that is done I will be

entering several other events on the Sunshine Tour,” Willy said.

“I am very positive and look forward to good outcomes,” he added.

Both players will also feature in the Tshwane Open billed for March 12 to 15 at the Pretoria Country Club before heading for Milvane and Lost City for the Investec Cup the week after.

Willy will thereafter head for Gabon where he is scheduled to play in the 20th Moanda Open where he hopes to chase a title that has eluded him since 2012.

“I believe the story will be different this time as I am well prepared,” Willy said in reference to his runner-up status in the past three editions.

Meanwhile, Director of the Professional Golfers Association of Nigeria, Festus Makelemi, says the scheduled will keep the players focused in addition to helping them to develop.

“We hope to create more opportunities for them to excel,” Malekemi submitted.

WORLD RECORD

Fastest inverted rope climb - 5m

Vol. 05 No. 1051 Thursday, February 19, 2015

Tuomo Kostian (Finland) climbed a 5 m (16.4 ft) rope feet first until his whole body cleared the measured distance in a time of 13.7 sec.

N150

GEJ’s giant strides in commerce and industry (11) Continued from last Thursday

T

he National Automotive Policy has facilitated the resuscitation of long abandoned motor assembly companies, including Peugeot Automobile of Nigeria [PAN] and Anambra Motor Manufacturing Company [ANAMCO], as well as the smooth take-off and operations of such others as INNOSON and NISSAN. As a matter fact, in the first year, four international auto manufacturers partnered with local companies and commenced local production. Meanwhile, 18 other foreign companies have indicated interest to start operations in Nigeria; one of which proviso is to steadily boost local content.

With its well-thought-out programme of action, the Jonathan ad-

P

ound-for-pound pugilist, Floyd Mayweather Jr, yesterday said the proposed mega-fight with Manny Pacquiao has not been agreed.

Reports on Monday suggested that Pacquiao had agreed terms on a contract to fight Mayweather in May but the latter insisted the re-

Guest Columnist

Peter Obi

ministration has a definite and realistic target date [2018] to cease the importation of refined petroleum products. And as at the end of last year, private sector investors have packaged some US$14 billion for integrated petro-chemical and refining plants in Nigeria. Similarly, there is a further US$8 billion for fertilizer projects to support the nation’s gas-based industrialization and boost food security.

Related initiatives of the Jonathan administration in investments, commerce and industry are numerous and they include: In spite of the security and associated challenges, Nigeria hosted the World Economic Forum in 2014 – an eloquent testimony to the confidence of investors in the management of the nation by President Goodluck Jonathan.

The country is now the most-preferred destination for foreign investment in Africa. The re-basing of the economy has moved Nigeria from its 3rd ranking to 1st in Africa; and from 46th to 26th in the world. The nation’s GDP is in the region of US$510 billion.

The ongoing construction of the Centenary City in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) is the largest green-field urban development for global commerce, with potentials for billions of dollars/ Naira in investments and millions of jobs to the bargain. Similarly, the establishment of an African International Finance Centre in the commercial nervecentre of Lagos will elevate the country to the status of the continent’s financial

BUSINESS REGISTRATION COSTS HAVE BEEN REDUCED BY

60 PERCENT

FOR SMALL BUSINESSES

25 PERCENT FOR LARGE BUSINESSES, EVEN AND

AS ONLINE REGISTRATION ENABLES FULL COMPANY INCORPORATION WITHIN

24 HOURS

hub, with the attendant benefits in global businesses, employment opportunities and economic growth.

Nigeria now has a cohesive agenda for international trade, which offers protection to Nigerian jobs and local businesses. Its first ever National Competition Policy is helping to check monopolies, while promoting competition and protecting consumers. In the same vein, the administration’s National Corporate Governance Framework caters for investors and ensures responsible corporate practices. Business registration costs have been reduced by 60 percent for small businesses and 25 percent for large businesses, even as online registration enables full company incorporation within 24 hours.

Following the conduct of a National Skills Gap Survey, Nigerians are being trained to meet the real needs of the economy. The Industrial Training Fund

[ITF] has since been re-organized in line with best practices.

More than any other government, the Jonathan administration has invested heavily in the development of micro-, small and medium enterprises [MSMEs] across the country. The Nigeria Enterprise Development Programme is a robust national agenda aimed at promoting the establishment and growth of small businesses. Among the varied platforms, the CBN has commenced disbursement of its N220 billion MSME Fund, while the Bank of Industry BoI] has supported several small businesses with over N115 billion between 2011 and 2014. This is the fastest credit growth in its history. So far also, the BoI has partnered with 17 states of the federation with a matching concessionary fund of N14 billion. The You-Win and SURE-P Graduate Internship Schemes are part of the range of initiatives that are also providing concrete support to young entrepreneurs and businesses across the country. Meanwhile, the erstwhile [but sadly idle] Industrial Development Centres have been converted to MSME Industrial Clusters.

Even as quite a number of these initiatives are generating several employment opportunities at various skill levels, more openings are expected when the new projects come on stream. There are also the value-added benefits of economic buoyancy, stability of the political economy, integrated rural development, and general well-being, among others.

Against the backdrop of the fore-going, it goes without saying that given a second term, the Jonathan administration will not only consolidate on the gains of commerce and industry, but grow the economy to a pride of place in the comity of nations.

Concluded Mr. Obi is the immediate past Gov. of Anambra State and the Deputy National Director General of the PDP National Campaign Council.

Sport Extra

Boxing: Fight with Pacquaio still uncertain –Mayweather ports were false.

“It is totally untrue,” the 37-yearold Mayweather said.

“I haven’t signed yet, and he hasn’t signed either.

“It’s just been speculations and rumours. But hopefully we can make the fight happen.”

Mayweather has 47 wins from as many professional contests and still has two bouts remaining on a lucrative deal with US network Showtime.

Meanwhile, British boxer, Amir Khan, has expressed doubts over the May fight, saying it is more on paper than on the ground.

“There has been so much noise about the bout but I think both of them must agree terms before anything follows,” Khan said at the weekend.

“Of course, it can happen. But a bit of wait-and-see is needed by all stakeholders,” he added.

Mayweather

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