Thursday, january 30, 2014

Senator queries CBN’s N98bn convention centre

BRT moved 45 million passengers last year –LAMATA

…helipads, hospitals, others too

GEORGE OJI ABUJA Sanusi

Vol. 4 3 N0. 777 657

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he Senator representing Akwa Ibom North-East, Senator Ita Enang, has queried

the authority of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Governor, Mallam Lamido CONTINUED ON PAGE 5>>

P.10

Fashola

Thursday, January July 4, 2013 30, 2014

N150 N150

11 PDP senators set to defect today

GEORGE OJI, TORDUE SALEM AND OTHMAN SALIHU

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arring any lastminute developments, 11 senators elected under the platform of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, will today formally defect to the opposition All Progressives Congress, APC. Already, former Chair-

Shekarau cross-carpets to ruling party

CONTINUED ON PAGE 2>>

‘We made heavy investment to reposition Newswatch’ P.4

SURE-P coordinators to get N240.2m locally-made jeeps P.6

L-R: World Bank officials: Mr. Gboyega Aiyemomi and Mr. Giovani Caprio with Ogun State Governor Ibikunle Amosun, at the 2014 retreat for top government functionaries in Ota, Ogun State, yesterday.

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2014 budget: Opposition lawmakers to dump proposals ...says it’s loaded with foreign debt proposals, deficit

Modalities for national conference out today

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Bankole

2015: PDP mobilises Bankole against Amosun P.9

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Thursday, January 30, 2014

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

2014 budget: Opposition lawmakers to dump proposals TORDUE SALEM ABUJA

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he All Progressives Congress, APC, caucus of the House of Representatives yesterday set the tone for a tumultuous session ahead as they threatened to throw out the 2014 Appropriation Bill presented to them last year by the Presidency.

The caucus, through its leader, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila (Lagos), said they would not be acting against the budget based on an earlier directive by the APC leadership to block all bills from the executive.

He said their position was based on the principle that it was skewed against the poor and was loaded with foreign debt proposals and deficits.

“It is a budget where the economics do not trickle down to the common man,” Gbajabiamila said.

He said that the APC, even before the party’s directive, had fought and killed some toxic proposals from the Presidency as

introduced by the Majority Leader; Hon. Mulikat Akande-Adeola.

“We will not support a budget that does nothing for the people we represent.

We will not rubber stamp a budget that seeks to borrow more money at ridiculous rates and further impoverish the country. Indeed we refuse to support a budget that comes in with a huge deficit.

“We certainly do not agree with a budget that allocates a pitiable 25 per cent for capital expenditure, which capital component will only be implemented 30 per cent while recurrent will be implemented 100 per cent.

“How in the world do you stimulate an economy the size and population of Nigeria with a 25 per cent allocation to capital?

“We cannot in good conscience support a budget that comes with a (oil price) benchmark and siphons away 30 per cent of the country’s revenue into an illegal excess crude account in violation of the

provisions of section 162 of the constitution we individually swore to defend, with the resultant effect of shortchanging the states we all individually represent. A budget where the economics do not trickle down to the common man,” Gbajabiamila said.

He added that the party

would not go for a budget presented by a minister who was yet to give answers to weighty questions on revenue and other matters.

“We do not want to be accessories after the fact by passing a budget when the President or minister of finance who has publicly admitted to the disappear-

ance of $10bn has not given explanations but seeks to borrow more money and who continues to blame shortfall in revenue on crude theft by some phantom thieves.

“We refuse to participate in what has become an annual ritual and approving a document in the name of

passing a budget that tells a lie about the true state of our finances and liquidity and where our revenue is being deflated by about N500bn annually through the fraudulent and indiscriminate grant of (import) waivers.

“More importantly we will CONTINUED ON PAGE 5>>

L-R: President Goodluck Jonathan; Nigerian Ambassador to Ethiopia, Ambassador Paul Bulus Lolo (third right); Supervising Minister for Foreign Affairs, Prof. Viola Onwuliri and Juistice Minister, Mr. Bello Adoke during arrival of President at the Bole International Airport, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia yesterday, for the 22nd Ordinary Assembly of the African Union.

11 PDP senators set to formally defect today CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

man of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, NGF, and the arrowhead of the defecting governors, Senator Bukola Saraki, yesterday submitted a formal letter to the Senate President, David Mark, which contained the names of the defecting senators and the request to be so recognised.

The senators are Saraki himself (Kwara Central), Magnus Abe (Rivers SouthEast), Wilson Ake (Rivers West), Danjuma Goje (Gombe Central) and Mohammed Jubrila (Adamawa North).

Others are: Umaru Dahiru (Sokoto South), Aisha Jumai Alhassan (Taraba North), Mohammed Lafiaji (Kwara North), Abdullahi Adamu (Nasarawa West), Ibrahim Gobir (Sokoto East) and Ali Ndume (Borno South).

Saraki stormed the Senate yesterday at 12.15p.m. during the plenary session and the debate on the 2014 budget was still ongoing to tender the letter to Mark.

It was not particularly clear what Saraki told Mark but shortly after Saraki had

delivered the letter containing the names of the defecting senators and took his seat, Mark immediately invited the Senate Leader, Victor Ndoma-Egba and the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, for a brief conference.

Immediately after the plenary, Mark invited the principal officers of the PDP in the Senate and some other senators of the party to a meeting in his office, apparently to discuss the issue and strategies on the best way to approach the matter.

It was also learnt that Dahiru met Mark afterwards to dissociate himself from the defecting senators.

Saraki’s letter reads: “We the undersigned senators of the Federal Republic of Nigeria elected under the platform of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, wish to notify you that we have severally and jointly joined the All Progressives Congress, APC. “This action and decision is (sic) as a result of the division and factionalisation of PDP that sponsored our elections into the

Senate.

“In view of the above, we write to inform you that following the division and factionalisation in the party, we have formally joined the APC. “This communication is made pursuant to Section 68 (1) (g) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) for your information, guidance and purposes.”

Senate spokesman, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, who fielded questions from correspondents, however, denied knowledge of the letter.

Abaribe said: “There is no such thing on the floor. In that case, I cannot confirm what has not been read on the floor. As at today, there is no such thing until their letters are read on the floor, then I can confirm.”

Thirteen senators had last week written a letter to the Senate president, intimating him of their plan to defect to the opposition APC. The senators had in the letter appealed to Mark not to declare their seats vacant in the event that they

formally announced their defection.

Among the reasons they advanced for the appeal was the ruling of an Abuja Federal High Court, which directed that the status quo ante be maintained by all the parties, particularly the Senate president and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Aminu Tambuwal.

Mark was reported to be opposed to the defection and had consistently counselled against such moves, while efforts were being made to resolve the issues in the PDP that might have given rise to such decesions.

Mark had told the leadership of the PDP, which came to the National Assembly late last year on a fence-mending mission, that he would not declare the seat of any defecting senator vacant as required by the constitution.

Since the recently reported fresh moves by some senators of the PDP to defect to APC, Mark had maintained that if any senator was bent on defecting, he or she should write a let-

ter to that effect.

He said that since the senators were elected differently by their separate constituents, it followed that their defection must not be done as a group.

In a related development, former Kano State governor and ex-presidential candidate of the All Nigeria Peoples Party, ANPP, Alhaji Ibrahim Shekarau, has officially defected to the PDP along with his supporters in the defunct ANPP in the state.

Shekarau, who is a foundation member of the APC, led hundreds of his supporters drawn from the 44 local government areas of the state, who thronged his Mundubawa Road residence off Hadejia Road in Nasarawa GRA, Kano yesterday.

He accused the APC of lacking in leadership structure, internal democracy and a detailed political programme six months after its registration that could enable it to win the 2015 general elections.

Shekarau, who had been nursing the idea of defecting to the PDP in the last

three months finally, did so yesterday, following the ex-Sokoto State governor, Alhaji Attahiru Bafarawa, who dumped the APC a few days ago.

Some of the supporters chanted, “Nigeria, sai PDP”, “Kano sai PDP”, “PDP is now a Muslim party” among others while denouncing their membership of the APC. They even renamed President Goodluck Jonathan as President Junaidu Garba.

Shekarau narrated his predicament in the APC leadership, citing lack of internal democracy.

The former governor said he was dumping the party because “a cabal has hijacked the leadership of the party for their own selfish interest.”

He explained that the defection of PDP governors in Kano, Rivers, Kwara, Adamawa and Sokoto states further created complex leadership problems within the APC. “Six months after, there has not been membership registration in the APC CONTINUED ON PAGE 5>>

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Thursday, January 30, 2014

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Photo News

Thursday, January 30, 2014

L-R: Director-General, Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC), Mr. Aminu Diko; Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mallam Lamido Sanusi; Chairman, ICRC Governing Board, Sen. Ken Nnamani and Deputy Governor, CBN, Alhaji Suleiman Barau, during a courtesy visit to CBN recently.

Plateau State Acting Chief Judge, Justice Pius Damulak (left) and his wife, Jessica, asDamulaks issworn-in Jos On Wednesday.

PHOTO: NAN

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

L-R: Special Adviser to Lagos State Governor on Central Business District, Mrs. Derin Disu; Governor Babatunde Fashola; Chairman, Honeywell Group, Dr. Oba Otudeko and former Lagos Attorney-General, Mr. Supo Sasore, at the 2014 Lagos Central Business Districts Stakeholders’ Forum in Lagos, yesterday.

L-R: Executive Director, Convention on Business Integrity, Mr. Soji Apampa; Executive Director, Nigerian Stock Exchange, Mr. Haruna Waziri and Secretary, Mrs. Josephine Igbinosun, at the press briefing on corporate governance rating system, in Lagos, yesterday.

National News

We made heavy investments to reposition Newswatch -Makinde K AYODE KETEFE

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he Deputy Managing Director of Global Media Mirror Ltd (Publisher of National Mirror newspaper), Mr. Bankole Makinde, yesterday told a Federal High Court presided over by Justice Ibrahim Buba how the new management committed both monetary and intellectual resources to revitalise the Newswatch magazine.

Makinde disclosed this while giving testimony as the company (and three allied respondents) continued their defence in the case instituted against it by two minority shareholders, Mr. NuhuWada Aruwa and Prof. Jibril Aminu.

He spoke while being cross examined by the petitioners’ lawyer, Mr. Adekunle Oyesanya, SAN. This was shortly after-he had been led in examination by the respondents’ lawyer, Chief Bolaji Ayorinde, SAN. The two petitioners had filed the petition, accusing the new management team of Newswatch, led by Dr. Jimoh Ibrahim, OFR, of assuming control of the

company “illegally”, even though they admitted that majority of the company’s shares had been legally transferred to Ibrahim via a Share Purchase Agreement, SPA, signed by all the parties.

The petitioners are therefore, praying the court to quash the powers of the current management elected by the majority of the shareholders.

In their petition, with no. FHC/L/CP/1367/2012, brought pursuant to sections 310 (a), (b) and (c) and 311 (1), (2) (a) and (b) of the Companies and Allied Matters Act, the applicants are also praying the court to, among others, set aside the SPA on the basis of which Dr. Ibrahim assumed majority shareholding in the company.

Apart from Newswatch Newspaper Ltd, the three other co- respondents in the matter are Newswatch Communications Ltd and Global Media Mirror Ltd and Dr. Ibrahim.

Makinde said that although he was not a member of the board of directors of the Newswatch magazine, but as a senior

hand who in August 1993 joined the conglomerate that eventually acquired the Newswatch, he was privy to some important decisions concerning the acquisition of the Newswatch Company.

He said: “I was involved in the negotiation that led into the agreement, which has to do with the sale of 51 percent shares of Newswatch Communications Limited to Dr Ibrahim and Global Media Mirror Limited.

“I am also aware that the sum of N510m was transferred for the acquisition of the Newswatch, but I cannot give details of how this was done since this is accounting matters and I have never worked in account departments and don’t know the details of their works.”

Makinde added that it took 15 months from the time of the acquisition for the headquarters of the company to be relocated to its new place at Broad Street, Lagos.

He said soon after the acquisition, he was aware that the new management made a lot of investment both in terms of procure-

ment of new facilities and to improve and upgrade the existing ones.

Oyesanya then stated that since the new management was under the obligation in the existing agreement between the parties to make additional investment of about N500 million to the company he would like Makinde to say whether or not such further money was committed.

Makinde said” “Well, I know the new management made a lot of investment in terms of the infrastructure and facilities. We also did a lot of refurbishment. For example, some of the facilities in the company were no longer compatible with modern trends.

“There were modifications after the takeover. new vehicles, computers, tables and other modern equipment were purchased so as to be able to meet up with modern journalism practice in Nigeria.

“Specifically we bought 250 new computers, among other things, to facilitate our operations.”

When asked by Oyesanya whether he knew that the Newswatch magazine

was suspended by the new management, Makinde insisted that the magazine was not suspended but rather the operations of the magazine was stopped for a short time to enable the new management take strategic measures to reposition the company.

Makinde gave further details that the time the Newswatch was closed could not be said to exceed one month in practical terms.

This, according to him, it is because while the Newswatch Company was closed down in August 2012, the managerial and other skillful workers resumed work for repackaging of the magazine in September 2012.

He added that the preview of the magazine was done in December 2012; the first edition came out in February 2013 while it was widely circulated in March 2013.

Makinde concluded that since that time the magazine has been coming out every month.

Earlier, the court had accepted Makinde’s statement on oath as exhibit D5, after Oyesanya expressed no objection to its admis-

sion.

The court consequently adjourned further hearing in the case till February 27 and 28, 2014.

It would be recalled that the Managing Director of the Newswatch Communications Ltd, Mr. Moses Jolayemi, had earlier given evidence similar to Makinde’s testimony.

In his evidence, Jolayemi had told Justice Buba that the insinuation that that the Newswatch magazine was no longer in existence was false.

When Oyesanya had asked him whether he was aware that the Newswatch Magazine had suspended operation and no longer in existence, Jolayemi had said: “That is absolutely untrue. The magazine was only suspended for a repackage. It has since been repackaged, rebranded and it is on the streets. You can get the magazine everywhere.”

Jolayemi had also added that a rebranded and repackaged Newswatch magazine primed for commercial success is not only alive but also vibrant in the Nigerian market.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

News

Thursday, January 30, 2014

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Senator queries CBN’s N98bn convention centre CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

Sanusi, to embark on the construction of a N98bn international convention centre in Abuja without the approval of the National Assembly.

The lawmaker raised the issue yesterday during his contributions to the ongoing debate on the general principles of the 2014 budget proposal.

He noted that the contract for the centre was approved by the contracts tender board of the CBN without the approval of the Bureau of Public Procurement.

The centre, according to Inang, will comprise an au-

ditorium, exhibition/multi functional halls, restaurants, shops, a five-star and a three-star hotel.

The lawmaker also raised the alarm over the reported purchase of the NITEL building at the Central Business Area of Abuja, where the international convention centre would be cited.

“How much did the CBN use in buying the NITEL building at the central area? How much and who was paid to control- bomb the building, which land is now for the CBN’s five-star hotel and convention centre? Could this money not be used to fund the national

budget?”, Inang said.

The lawmaker also raised the issue of some other unauthorised spending by the CBN, including the funding of other hotels in Jos and Ilorin to the tune of N10bn each and the N50bn proposed for one hospital in Lagos.

Inang also sought to know the funding of the construction of helipads at some of the business locations of the apex bank.

According to the lawmaker, “These are done with excess money, which would have been used to fund the federal budget if the Ministry of Finance and the Na-

tional Assembly have done what the law the National Assembly passed mandated her to do.

“Who owns who? Is it the CBN that owns Nigeria or Nigeria that owns the CBN? Is the CBN a government within a government or a government unto itself ?”

In their contributions to the debate on the general principles of the 2014 budget, senators queried the low amount voted for capital budget as against the recurrent budget, insisting that government must reverse the trend if the nation must experience growth, infrastructural development and

L-R: Chairman, Peoples Democratic Party Governors’ Forum, Chief Godswill Akpabio; National Chairman, Dr. Adamu Mu’azu and Speaker, House of Representatives, Hon. Aminu Tambuwal, during a meeting with the PDP caucus in the House of Representatives yesterday.

11 PDP senators set to formally defect today CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2

from national to the ward level, no single member has been officially registered.”

Shekarau expressed regret that six months after installing an interim national leadership, the APC had not deemed it right to conduct elections that would usher in duly elected leadership.

The ex-governor has been at loggerheads with Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso over the leadership of the party in Kano State.

“On behalf of the leaders of the defunct ANPP, it is my great pleasure to welcome you all to this gigantic stakeholders meeting of the Kano State Elders Forum.

“In the past couple of weeks, we have held series of consultations, we have held series of interactive sessions in respect of development and growth of the new found party, APC. “The APC is today six complete months, six months after its formal registration on July 31, 2013.

Within these six months, there is nothing to show on ground, not a single member of APC has been registered, not a single leadership structure exists anywhere within the states.

“No structure of interim leadership at ward levels, at local government levels, at state levels. Up till this time, we are yet to receive any detailed programme of democratic elections to produce leaders of the party at various levels.

“To our dismay and to our surprise, within the six months, which was the formal and official constitutional period given the interim leadership of the party, we now hear that their is no limited period.

“Within these six months, various unconstitutional decisions have been passed by a clique of the leadership of the party. In our position as bona fide members of that party then, we challenged such decisions. We presented written petitions signed by over 250 stakeholders on

December 18, 2013. Today is exactly six weeks since we presented that petition, no acknowledgement, no contact, no one has referred to us to address the petition we have submitted,” he said.

But members of the APC from Kano State in the House of Representatives have dissociated themselves from the defection of Shekarau.

Deputy Minority Leader of the House, Hon. Suleiman Abdulrahman Kawu, who disclosed this at a press briefing with other lawmakers, insisted that the APC “is still the party to beat in 2015”.

He said: “Eleven members of the All Progressives Congress, who were members of the defunct 9 ANPP and 2 CPC in the House of Representatives from Kano State have reaffirmed their stance on the current wave of defections and political realignment in the polity, especially in Kano State.

“We also wish to make it categorically clear today

that we are not leaving the APC for any political party.

We have sacrificed a lot and have come a long way in the struggle to emancipate our people from the bondage of PDP misrule.

“Today, under PDP, we are witnessing unprecedented level of corruption, insecurity, poverty and political instability in Nigeria more than ever before.

“We, therefore, see the coming of APC as an opportunity to right the many wrongs of the PDP and once again put Nigeria back on the pedestal of growth, development, economic prosperity and make it an egalitarian society where rule of law and social justice prevail for the common good.

“However, inasmuch as we express hope and aspiration for a better Nigeria under the APC, we are not unaware of the daunting challenges confronting our new party since we are all coming from different political parties and backgrounds.

job creation.

Senator Smart Adeyemi argued that efforts must be made to seek avenues to generate more revenue for the country and not concentrate unduly on the sharing of only revenue from oil.

He also advised that the international oil companies must be encouraged to invest in the gas sector of the economy to boost power generation and increase employment.

The lawmaker called for the speedy completion of the Abuja-Lokoja Express- way, Lagos-Ibadan Expressway and the Second Niger Bridge in Anambra State. He also appealed for improved allocations to the North-East to ensure the region’s rehabilitation following the debilitating effect of terrorism.

Senator Olushola Adeyeye (Osun Central) called for the cancellation of waivers by the Federal Government, particularly to the companies that “we do not know what they are contributing to this country.”

Senator Hope Uzodinma however described the budget as refreshing and reassuring, noting that the executive had through the

budget taken “the bull by the horns”.

The lawmaker described the 2014 budget as being more prudent than that of last year.

Senator Bukola Saraki said that if the nation must make progress with the budget, the National Assembly must first re-examine the performance of last year’s budget.

“Until we do that, we will continue to say that the executive is not performing whereas the fault is here in the National Assembly.

Otherwise, this year’s budget will not also perform.”

Senator Ayogu Eze described the budget as “a focused budget, a consolidated budget based on the transformation programme of government,” stressing that, “power (supply) has improved and many roads constructed.”

According to him, the budget is directed at providing jobs and employment to the people.

He noted that the failure of past budgets was the result of unnecessary emphasis on the sharing of revenue without corresponding efforts at generating more revenue into the nation’s coffers.

2014 budget: Opposition lawmakers to dump proposals CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2

not be party to the appropriation of funds and taxpayers money to a police force that will turn around and use same to maim and kill the same taxpayers. No we will not,” the lawmaker insisted.

On how the APC has always blocked bills sponsored by the PDP-led executive, the APC leader said: “As far as the House is concerned, keen observers would have noticed that since last year, most bills presented on the floor of the House through Adeola have suffered an almost instant and premature death.

“The kick against such bills came from mostly APC members and progressive members within the rank and file of the PDP. “So the directive was really nothing new. What it did was to put a government determined to bring our democracy down on notice that it was no longer going to be business as usual.

“So really what the party did was only to lend support to what was already going on across party lines in the House. We must be clear and put the party position in perspective.

“Whilst the focus for now remains the happenings in Rivers, our broad and overall concern remains good governance and covers the whole gamut of our national life.”

According to him, the lawmakers will continue to frustrate executive bills until the crisis in Rivers State is resolved.

“Let us be categorical, we intend to continue to protest the culture of impunity, immorality and illegality this government insists in entrenching in our system.

“We intend to insist on good governance, we intend to stand firm on our oath of office to defend the constitution and discharge our legislative duties in the interest of the people of Nigeria.

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Thursday, January 30, 2014

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

FG blasts APC over directive to block passage of 2014 budget ISE-OLUWA IGE

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he Federal Government yesterday accused leaders of the All Progressives Congress, APC, of plotting to ruin the nation’s fledgling democracy with their recent directive to their members in the Nation-

al Assembly to block the passage of the 2014 budget and the screening of presidential nominees for both civilian and military positions.

The opposition party had, last week, issued the directive.

The APC had predicated its decision to issue the directive on the Presidency’s

alleged interference in the Rivers State crisis.

Notwithstanding criticism against the directive

by Nigerians from all walks of life, the party had insisted that those criticising it were ignorant of the workings of democracy.

It had said that the directive was a political ploy to

exterminate the shadow of the Federal Government in the Rivers crisis.

But joining issue with APC yesterday on the directive while answering questions from State House correspondents shortly after the weekly Federal Executive Council meeting, Minister of Information, Mr.

L-R: Deputy Minority Leader, Suleiman Kawu; Minority Leader, Femi Gbajabiamila and Deputy Minority Whip, Samson Osagie, during a press briefing on plans by PDP lawmakers to shelve the debate on the 2014 Budget at the National Assembly, Abuja, yesterday.

Reps pass bill criminalising illegal use of security gear TORDUE SALEM ABUJA

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bill seeking to declare illegal the sale and use of uniforms of the members of armed forces, the police and other security personnel in the country, yesterday scaled second reading in the House of Representatives.

Majority of the House backed the bill after a long

and exhaustive debate.

“A Bill for an Act to provide for the prohibition of Illegal Use and Sale of Uniform of the Armed Forces, Police, Paramilitary and Other Government Security and Other Related Matters,” the bill was sponsored by Hon. James Faleke (Lagos, APC).

Leading the debate, Hon. Falake said the eventual passage of the bill into law would help curb the issue

of impersonation of security personnel by criminals.

He was also worried that the uniforms were easily purchased in the open market.

Lending support to the bill, Honourables Nkiru Onyejiocha (Abia, PDP); Uzo Azubuike (Abia, PDP); Samson Osagie (Edo APC); Aisha (Adamawa), among others, said that the bill would ensure the enforcement and procurement of

the uniforms.

They described as an abuse of the uniforms the current trend among security agencies whereby some security personnel, especially the police are made to buy their uniforms in the open market.

According to them, there is budgetary allocation for the uniform and maintenance of police personnel, wondering why they should be made to buy it.

SURE-P coordinators to get N240.2m locally-made jeeps

BY ISE-OLUWA IGE

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he Federal Government yesterday approved the purchase of 44 locally-made IVM G5 Jeeps for the 37 chairmen of states and Federal Capital Territory coordinators and other officers of the Subsidy Reinvestment Programme, SURE-P. The 44 jeeps will cost N240.2 million in all, including Value Added Tax, VAT. The government which made the disclosure yesterday after the weekly meeting of the Federal Executive Council, FEC, also said

that it has approved the draft of the Nigerian Metallurgical Industry Bill, 2014.

The bill is meant to regulate the country’s metal industry.

Minister of Information, Mr. Labaran Maku; Minister of Labour and Productivity, Chief Emeka Wogu and the Minister of Solid Minerals, Mine and Steel Development, Muhammed Sada, briefed State House correspondents of the meeting’s outcome yesterday.

Wogu, who shed light on the purchase of the vehicles, said the council decided to buy the jeeps from Messrs Innoson Vehicle Manufacturer Company

Limited based in Nnewi, Anambra State, in line with the Federal Government’s policy to encourage local manufacturers through direct procurement method.

He said the purchase would be carried out within one week.

His words: “The council approved a memorandum I brought to seek council’s approval for the award of contract for the direct procurement of 44 IVM G5 Jeeps for the 44 chairmen of the state and FCT Coordination and Implementation Commission, SCIC, of the Community Services, Women and Youths Employment, CSWYE, project

of SURE-P and the Implementation Unit, FPIU, at the headquarters.

“To effectively implement this project, it becomes important that utility vehicles are procured which will enhance monitoring and supervision of the community services, women and youths employment activities at the state and local government levels nationwide.

“There is a budgetary provision in the 2013 appropriation for the project.”

The minister debunked insinuation that the SUREP is being used to empower only members of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.

Labaran Maku, said contrary to the party’s claim, the directive was not in the interest of Nigerians and democracy.

He said as far as the government was concerned, national interest should be paramount in the mind of anybody that is a democrat.

He said such a directive to elected representatives to block bills or policies that would lead to the development of the nation was not expected of political leaders across party spectrum.

Maku said the government expected that members of the National Assembly would be allowed to use their conscience and judgement based on their understanding of any bill before them and based on the fact that they swore to an oath to defend the constitution in order to advance national development.

His words: “If you say that the budget should not be passed, it means you want to stop the nation’s economy, you want to ensure that traders, farmers, citizens, teachers who depend on the budget, to either go to hell or that you are en-

dangering their survival because of partisanship.

“I believe that this kind of directive or position is anti-national interest, it is anti-development of Nigeria and it is not something anybody who loves this country and who is a democrat should encourage.”

The minister said government’s belief was that all politicians should be working for the progress of the country irrespective of their different platforms.

He warned that politicians should not at any point heat up the polity or truncates the development of ordinary Nigerians.

“When you say they should block bills which are for the development of the country and the wellbeing of the people, you are killing democracy itself and you are truncating national development.

“I believe that was a mistake, it must have been one of those slips of tongues.

This democracy should be supported. If this nation progresses, it does not belong to Goodluck Jonathan alone or any party,” Maku concluded.

Jonathan to announce modalities for national confab today OMEIZA AJAYI

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arring any last minute change, the Federal Government will today unveil modalities for convening the much expected national conference.

Our correspondent gathered that the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim, is expected to release the modalities for convening the conference at a ceremony in Abuja today.

The conference was proposed by President Goodluck Jonathan during his Independence Anniversary speech of October 1, 2013, consequently setting up a 13-member advisory committee to come up with modalities for the national dialogue.

The committee, which was given one month to complete its assignment was headed by a former senator, Femi Okuronmu, while Dr Akilu Indabawa,

was the secretary.

The committee had at the end of its assignment submitted an over 4,000 pages report to the President.

According to President Jonathan, the proposed dialogue offers a unique opportunity for the country to deepen its democracy and strengthen its institutions rather than to destroy or weaken the union.

“In spite of the circumstances of the birth of our country in 1914 and the several challenges of nation building, Nigerians have in the last 53 years demonstrated the belief that our diversity notwithstanding, we are a nation with great potentials.

“The task before us is to build a strong and united union. In the last few decades, there have been issues that have challenged our determination as a people brought together

by God in this great land of promise,” the President had said while receiving the report.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Thursday, January 30, 2014

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Why Boko Haram insurgency persists –Northern elders OBIORA IFOH ABUJA

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he Northern Elders’ Council yesterday attributed the continued Boko Haram insurgency to what it described as mutual distrust and provocative statements.

The group said it is yet to take a position on who to support as the North agitates for power shift in

•Say North yet to take position on 2015 presidency next year’s presidential election.

The body, however, promised to support all efforts aimed at ending violence in the country.

Addressing journalists after a crucial meeting in Abuja, one of the group’s leaders, Alhaji Tanko Yakassi, listed poverty, unemployment and mu-

tual suspicion as some of the critical factors that are promoting violence in some parts of the country.

Yakasai said: “The security challenge of Boko Haram and other ethnoreligious crises in the North as well as violent crimes of kidnapping and armed robberies in other parts of the country pose

a serious challenge to the nation, including wide spread poverty and unemployment.

“In an effort to find lasting solution to this national malaise, there have arisen mutual distrust and suspicions leading to utterances by some people capable of affecting the standing, respectability

L-R: Administrator, Lagos State Central Senatorial Constituency, Mrs. Franca Ndubueze; Chairperson, Nigeria Labour Congress, Lagos State chapter, Princess Olubunmi Abikoye; Guest Speaker/President, Campaign for Democracy and Women Arise, Dr Joe Okei-Odumakin and National Chairman, Campaign for Democracy & Workers Rights, Mr. Rufus Olusesan, during a programme on Women in Workplaces, Issues and Challenges in Lagos, yesterday.

Rivers crisis: APC drags Mbu to UN court SAM OLUWALANA PORT HARCOURT

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he Rivers State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has decided to take its case against the state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Mbu Joseph Mbu, to the United Nations court, even as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has insisted that the state is financially insolvent.

The APC has, therefore, set up a three-man committee to compile list of the atrocities allegedly committed by Mbu since he assumed office as the police boss in Rivers State.

The three-man committee is headed by Chief Andy Nweye. Chief Eze Chukwuemeka Eze is to serve as secretary, while Chief Emeka Bekee is

member.

While inaugurating the committee at the party’s secretariat in Port Harcourt yesterday, the Interim Chairman of APC in the state, Dr. Davies Ibiamu Ikanya, said the members were chosen based on merit and expressed confidence that they would do a thorough job.

Ikanya said: “This committee is made up of well-informed political experts and meticulous researchers. So, I expect you to come up with a comprehensive list of all the sins committed by CP Mbu against Rivers State and its people for formal submission to the United Nations, as it seems that the people in charge of the Police Force in Nigeria are toying with the security and lives of the people of Rivers State.

“True, the assignment is difficult, but CP Mbu has made your work easy by his brazen partisanship in favour of the opposition Peoples Democratic party (PDP) in Rivers State. As a result of his overzealousness to impress his masters and as an undeclared member of the PDP, the Police Commissioner commits series of sins against the good people of Rivers State almost every day.”

Dr. Ikanya cursed the day Mbu was redeployed to Rivers State, saying: “Since he assumed duty here in February 2013, Rivers State has not known peace.”

He reiterated APC’s position that Mbu should be immediately redeployed from Rivers, adding that the police boss is a curse to the state and

its people.

Ikanya said arguments by well-meaning Nigerians, including the National Assembly that Mbu should be redeployed were ignored by the police authorities in Abuja and the Federal Government.

He, however, said: “There will surely be a day of reckoning and when that day comes, CP Mbu will be called to account for his stewardship in Rivers State. When that day of reckoning comes, the work of the committee will play a big role in getting Mbu to pay for his sins against Rivers State and its people.”

Meanwhile, PDP reiterated its earlier claim that the state is at the moment unable to fulfill all its financial obligations to its creditors and workers.

In a statement issued yesterday, PDP said that available evidence in its possession showed that the state government could no longer meet its responsibilities because it is broke despite the contrary view expressed by state officials.

and unity of the North in particular and the country in general.

“Boko Haram started in 2002. We do not support any form of violence whatsoever. We are a peace-loving people.”

He recalled that the nation’s founding fathers demonstrated tact, wisdom, courage and moderation in their conduct of public affairs.

Yakasai said: “Rather than follow the footsteps of these elders, today politicians and leaders have been inciting people and promote hatred, intolerance and violence.

“It is unacceptable to allow some people to exploit the situation to create disharmony, hate and general instability in the polity”.

He, however, alleged of moves by some politicians to drag traditional rulers to political controversy, describing such move as dangerous.

Yakasai said the group would not comment on the agitation by the North to produce the next President until all political parties made their presidential candidates known to Nigerians.

He said: “When we know the presidential candidates, we will make up our mind.”

Yakasai added: “We are not out to compete with the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF). We recognise ACF as the umbrella organisation for all northerners and we are therefore part and parcel of the ACF, but we are not in parallel of ACF, we are in harmony.”

Anambra guber: Court to determine Obiano’s eligibility Feb 27 ISE-OLUWA IGE ABUJA

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arring any last minute change, a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja is expected to begin hearing on February 27 in a suit challenging the eligibility of Anambra State Governor-elect, Willie Obiano, in the last governorship election.

The court fixed the date yesterday after getting the status of the proceses filed by both parties in the case.

The trial judge, Justice Ahmed Mohammed, said he would roll both the substantive suit and the preliminary objection in the case together to save time and deliver a composite ruling.

Obiano had contested the November 16, 2013 governorship election as thr candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) and was declared winner by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

He is expected to assume office soon.

But the plaintiffs claimed that Obiano was not qualified to contest the election.

Specifically, the plaintiffs - Ugochukwu Ikegwuonu and Kenneth Moneke - are seeking Obiano’s disqualification on the grounds that he possesses two voter cards, having allegedly en-

gaged in double registration.

Sued with Obiano is the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) The plaintiffs claim that the voter card Obiano tendered before he was cleared to participate in the party’s screening exercise was not the same he submitted to INEC. They raised three questions for the court’s determination and sought five reliefs, including an order disqualifying Obiano from contesting the election.

They also seek an order of mandatory injunction compelling INEC to strike out Obiano’s name from its record as a candidate in the election.

The plaintiffs want the court to determine whether, by his alleged conduct, Obiano was qualified to contest the election by virtue of the provisions of sections 12(2), 16(2)(3) and 31(5) of the Electoral Act. In a supporting affidavit, Ikegwuonu averred that Obiano allegedly possesses two voter cards – the one he purportedly obtained in Lagos, which he tendered during his party’s screening exercise in August, and another one he claimed to have obtained in Otuocha, Anambra State, on September 3, 2013, which he allegedly presented to INEC.

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2015: PDP mobilises Dimeji Bankole against Amosun FEMI OYEWESO ABEOKUTA

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ndication emerged yesterday that stakeholders in the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Ogun State have commenced moves to field former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Dimeji Bankole, as its flag-bearer in the state’s governorship race in 2015.

National Mirror reliably gathered that PDP stakeholders drawn from the four major factions of the party held a meeting at Iperu in the Remo North Local Government Area of the state, where the decision to field Bankole was sealed.

It was further gathered that the former speaker

himself was at the meeting that was held at the country home of a former member of the House of Representatives, Dave Salako, last Monday.

A source further told our correspondent that the Iperu meeting was a follow up to the series of meetings held across the three senatorial districts of the state that were aimed at wrestling power from the incumbent Governor Amosun, who is currently having a hard time with stalwarts of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in the state.

The PDP chieftains were said to have expressed the confidence that a formidable candidate like Bankole, who is also an Egba man, remains the only credible

candidate that could wrest power from Amosun.

It was further gathered that the stakeholders also threw their weight behind the new PDP National Chairman, Alhaji Adamu Muazu and backed his ongoing efforts at reconciling aggrieved members of the party Members of the PDP stakeholders who attended the Iperu meeting included those from the former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo’s faction as well as loyalists of the former Minister of Commerce,

Senator Jubril Martins and those led by party financier and the Chairman of the party’s Organisation and Mobilisation Committee in the South-West, Prince Buruji Kashamu and others belonging to the former governor, Gbenga Daniel’s group.

The party chieftains said to be present at the meeting in which ‘strenuous efforts’ were made to convince the former speaker to fly the party flag against incumbent Governor Ibikunle Amosun included Dave

Salako, Senator Lekan Mustapha and Chief Wale Ogunbanjo.

Others were Sina Adejobi, two serving members of the Ogun State House of Assembly - Abiodun Akovoyon and Minority Leader, Job Akitan, Pelumi Olusola, Tunji Akinosi, Nasiru Isiaka, Chief Dele Ajayi, Chief Wale Egunleti, Michael Fasinu, Alhaji Wale Abeeb Ajayi and Chief Yinka Sosinde.

Confirming the development, host of the meeting and leader of the JMK

group, Dave Salako said the party in the state was currently searching for ‘a credible and strong candidate that will take the reins of governance from Amosun.’

Salako said unlike what obtains in other states, PDP members in Ogun were not willing to defect to the APC. Reacting to the development, however, the deposed PDP state Chairman, Senator Dipo Odujinrin, who said he was yet to be briefed on the latest development, said the plan had been on before now.

Ajimobi identifies impediment to tax collection

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yo State Governor, Abiola Ajimobi, has identified lack of data base as a major impediment to tax collection at all levels of government in the country.

He stated this while receiving Team Seven of Senior Course 36 of the Armed Forces Command and Staff College, Jaji, who paid him a courtesy visit in his office in Ibadan on Tuesday.

Governor Ajimobi, who said that no government could deliver on its promises without good revenue generation, however, expressed regret that lack of good data base had made it extremely difficult for governments to generate appropriate rev-

enue.

“One major problem which has militated against tax collection is lack of robust demographic data, which would have provided necessary information about people’s real income to allow for payment of appropriate taxes,” he said.

The governor also called for a change in the culture of impunity, the unwillingness to pay tax and the attitude of people trying to get virtually everything for free.

“Most of our people want government to provide good services but they don’t like paying for them, whereas no government can function without taxes,” he said.

L-R: Special Adviser to Oyo State Governor on Security, Mr. Segun Abolarinwa; Coordinator, Team Seven of Senior Course 36 of Armed Forces Command and Staff College, Jaji, Capt. Anthony Nweke; Governor Abiola Ajimobi and Team Leader, Brig.-Gen. Olubunmi Oyebade, during a courtesy call on the governor in Ibadan, yesterday.

Lagos sentenced 2, 324 offenders to community service in 2013 KENNY ODUNUKAN

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etermined to rapidly decongest its prisons, the Lagos State government yester-

day said at least 2, 324 offenders were sentenced to various terms of community service between January to December 2013.

Lagos State AttorneyGeneral and Commis-

Jungle justice: Lagos vows to punish offenders KENNY ODUNUKAN

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agos State government yesterday warned that it would henceforth bring the full weight of the law down on anybody caught engaging in jungle justice.

State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Ade Ipaye, said anybody caught engaging in such act would be made to face the full wrath of the law.

Ipaye gave the warning while responding to questions from journalists on the Ejigbo incidence dur-

ing the monthly press briefing of his ministry held at the Alausa Secretariat, Ikeja.

The attorney-general said the culprits who were involved in the alleged torture of a woman and her two daughters said to have stolen pepper in Ejigbo market would soon appear before a court of competent jurisdiction.

He said the police are currently investigating the matter and that once that is concluded and the advice of the Director of Public Prosecution, DPP, is received, government would

commence prosecution of the matter.

He added that the Office of the Public Defender, OPD, was part of the public hearing on the Ejigbo matter and that it was on its advice that the Ejigbo market was shut.

He said the closure of the market forced the people to produce those who meted out such heinous punishment on the women.

Ipaye added that it was unfortunate that the video footage of the incident was circulated rather too late.

“But I can assure you that if there is any case we

are very much interested in, it is this case. That is because we want to discourage such ugly acts from happening again in this state,” he said.

The Lagos attorneygeneral said that the civil suit instituted in respect of the victims of January 2012 fuel subsidy victims has been concluded and that the court awarded N4 million in their favour as damages while the criminal suit against the former Divisional Police Officer, DPO, Pen Cinema Police Station, Agege, Mr. Segun Fabunmi was on-going.

sioner for Justice, Mr. Ade Ipaye disclosed this yesterday at a monthly press briefing in Lagos.

Ipaye said; “Between January and December 2013, a total of 2, 324 offenders were sentenced to various terms of community service.”

Ipaye added that the various community service sentence given to the offenders has so far proved to be a successful strategy in reducing congestion in all the prisons accross the state.

His word: “The implication of the community service outcome is that the number represents those who would have been otherwise incarcerated in prisons with the consequential disruption in their economic, social and family lives.”

The state attorney-general also disclosed that the Directorate of Public

Prosecution, DPP, in the state is currently prosecuting 1, 103 criminal cases in the high court of the state.

He also said: “DPP is currently handling 1, 142 cases in various courts from magistrates’ courts through high courts, appellate courts and the Supreme Court.

He, however, added that the figure represent an increase from the 1, 001 case which was reported in the preceeding year.

Speaking further, the attorney-general said a total of 35 judgements and rulings were also recorded in 2013.

He added that; “The total value of settlement of debt related matters achieved by the Citizens Mediation Centre, CMS, last year increased and over N405 million was collected on behalf of parties.”

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School girl found unconscious day after being declared missing ABIODUN NEJO ADO-EKITI

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14-year-old pupil of Government Science College at Iyin-Ekiti in Irepodun/Ifelodun Local Government Area of Ekiti State has been found a day after she was alleged to have been missing.

Sources said the girl, who is still recovering, was discovered unconscious and was taken to the Federal Medical Centre in Ido-Ekiti for treatment.

The incident occurred when the girl told her school mates during a prep session at about

8.30pm on Tuesday that she was not feeling well and therefore went back to the dormitory to rest.

Before she got to the dormitory, she allegedly got missing and all efforts to locate her by her school mates, housemaster and other teachers proved abortive.

The sources, however, said that the girl, who they claimed might have been kidnapped for ritual purpose, was discovered unconscious and naked the following morning (yesterday) at the premises of a private school in the community.

The Ekiti State Commissioner for Education,

Mr. Kehinde Ojo, confirmed to journalists on telephone yesterday that the girl was discovered at a remote section of Femi Balogun Nursery and Primary School at Iyin-Ekiti at the early hours of yesterday by a retired principal and the school proprietor.

Ojo said that the proprietor had reported the case at Iyin Police Station before the girl, who was already in an unconscious state and stripped naked, was taken to the Federal Medical Centre in Ido-Ekiti for treatment.

The commissioner said: “Preliminary medical examination had shown

that the girl was neither raped nor hit by hard object. Though she has regained consciousness and responding well to treatment”.

The police spokesman, Mr. Victor Babayemi, said nobody had been arrested in connection with the circumstances surrounding the situation.

Babayemi said: “We want to make sure that the girl is on her feet to give us enough information to help our investigations before we start saying what actually happened. It can be ritual or kidnap attack.

We are not leaving anything to chance because it can be anything”.

L-R: Chairman, Governing Board, National Root Crops Research Institute, NRCRI, Chief Oluwole Aina; Osun State Deputy Governor, Mrs Titi Laoye-Tomori and Governor Rauf Aregbesola, during a courtesy visit of the board and management of NRCRI in Osogbo, yesterday.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Group urges disbursement of CBN’s N200bn intervention fund ABIODUN NEJO ADO EKITI

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he Nigerian Association of Small Scale Industries (NASSI) has appealed to the Federal Government to begin the disbursement of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) N200 billion micro scale and medium enterprise intervention fund.

NASSI urged the Federal Government to ensure that the fund, which is meant for businesses to thrive, got to the right people who had forwarded their business plans to the body for onward transmission to the Bank of Industry (BoI).

In a communiqué issued after a meeting of NASSI South-West zone hosted by the Ekiti State Chambers of Commerce in AdoEkiti, NASSI National Vice-President, Duro Keteyi and the Secretary, Prince Akinwumi Idowu, praised President Goodluck Jonathan for the intervention fund initiative.

NASSI urged the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) to extend its training programme to its members and as well appealed to the National Economic Reconstruction

Fund (NERFUND) to extend its facilities to the South-West.

According to the communiqué, NASSI is looking forward to how its South-West body can benefit from the Raw Material Research and Development Council (RMRDC) in its one product per one local government to develop ward-based clusters.

NASSI appealed to the First Bank to start disbursing the fund expected to grow their business, having signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the bank and subsequent payment of the participatory fee of N70 million.

Earlier, the NASSI vice-president urged all chapters of the association to mobilise their members to access fund and capacity-building for their various state ministries of agriculture and natural resources to boost their businesses.

Keteyi urged member states to collaborate with the Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation Ministry in their respective states for empowerment and skill acquisition. .

Representatives at the meeting came from Oyo, Ogun, Ondo, Lagos, Osun and Ekiti states.

Cleric urges prayer to prevent spread of Boko Haram crisis ‘BRT moved 45 million KEMI OLAITAN IBADAN

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cleric, Pastor Olabisi Gabriel A d e g b o y e , yesterday called on Nigerians to seek God’s intervention against the spread of the Boko Haram sect insurgency.

The Presiding Pastor of the Worksword of God Church, Ibadan, made the call while addressing journalists in Ibadan over state of insecurity in the country.

According to him, the call became inevitable to avert what he called plan by the fundamentalist sect to attack Christian prayer camps in the South-West area of the country.

He said it was a

revelation shown to him by God, stating that security must be beefedup at various entrances of churches and prayer camps in the region.

Adegboye, while urging prominent clerics to avoid conflicts and hostility among themselves, said the planned attack “is going to be used to cause damages in the friendly relationship existing among the great fathers of faith in the South-West.”

He then called on Christian leaders in the Southern part of the country to stand against the aggression of the Boko Haram sect, saying: “People in Eastern, Western and Southern parts of the country must not feel unconcerned

because the activities of Boko Haram are presently limited to just the NorthEastern part of the country”.

Speaking on how the menace of Boko Haram can be fully tackled, Adegboye urged the government not to relent in handling the issue.

He urged the government seek the face of God for solution to the crisis, saying: “It is purely a spiritual affair; military intervention alone cannot bring an end to it.”

The cleric added: “You don’t use gun to fight satan, if you kill one thousand members of Boko Haram, you have not killed the devil, we must go spiritual, if the government is not

‘God-cratic’ about the insurgency, it will shake the country and the government any moment from now .

“The crisis by the Niger/Delta militants was over because we sought divine intervention, God did the job before the military was able to disarm the boys, let the government give God an opportunity to proof Himself, He is not only the God of Churches, but the God of nations.

“For these Boko Haram boys to surrender their arms, let us invite the Man of war, the Mighty Man of Battle to stand through His chosen vessel, then, the boys will run for their lives.”

passengers last year’

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he Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA) yesterday said that the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) moved no fewer than 45 million passengers in 2013.

The External Relations Specialist of LAMATA, Mr Kolawole Ojelabi, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that the buses had moved more than 250 million commuters since inception in 2008.

He said: “BRT has been moving between 40 million and 45 million people yearly on its corridor.

“Since the BRT started, it has moved more than 250 million passengers and very soon we will also have it carrying more passengers.”

On overloading, Ojelabi said: “I will not comment about the operations because that is not my area.”

He, however, noted that the age of the BRT lane coupled with the weight of the buses and the load they carry were responsible for the potholes visible on its lanes.

According to him, the government has promised to find a permanent solution to the corridor by changing the flexible pavements with concrete.

Ojelabi said: “We are very much aware of the potholes on the BRT lane and the government is set to change the flexible pavement with concrete and very soon, that work will start.”

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Ex-NAICOM commissioner jailed 15 years for N10.4m fraud

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n Abuja High Court yesterday sentenced a former Commissioner of the National Insurance Commission (NAICOM), Mr. Okechukwu Chukwulozie, to 15-year in prison for N10.4 million fraud.

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) had, in 2007, charged Chukwulozie, his wife, Angela; and a former Deputy Commissioner in charge of Finance and Administration, Adedolapo Ogungbe, with 15-count of N10.4 million fraud. Delivering judgement, Justice Mudashiru Oniyangi sentenced Chukwulozie to three years on each of the five counts.

Justice Oniyangi, who did not give the convict an option of fine, held that the anti-graft agency had proved all the ingredients of Section 19 of the ICPC Act against him.

The judge said: “The ICPC has proved beyond reasonable doubt that a commissioner of NICON, Mr. Okechukwu Chukwul-

ozie, demanded 50 per cent of fees paid to liquidators of Gateway Insurance Plc. “Beyond reasonable doubt is the standard of evidence required to validate a criminal conviction. Generally, the prosecution bears the burden of proof and is required to prove its case.

“The prosecution has presented to court evidence to support its charges against the convict.

“In this case, it has done so. The court hereby sentences you to three years each on each of the five counts level against you, which will run concurrently.”

However, Justice Oniyangi held that the ICPC had failed to prove its case against the second and the third accused persons.

The court, therefore, discharged the second and third accused persons, who were charged with aiding and abetting the crime.

To the second and third accused persons, Justice Oniyangi said: “You are hereby discharged and acquitted.’’

APGA members pledge support for Okwu, Obi CHARLES OKEKE AWKA

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embers of the newly formed factional Anambra State Executive Committee of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) have pledged their support for the party’s National Chairman, Chief Maxi Okwu and Governor Peter Obi. The members said they decided to support the leadership of Okwu and Obi because of the governor’s robust performances.

Addressing journalists yesterday after the meeting of the faction in Awka, the group’s Acting Chairman, Chief Shedrack Anakwe, said Obi’s administration had done well in all spheres of the state’s economy.

Anakwe said: “Governor Obi’s leadership has shown the light on what APGA stands for.

“Anyone who claims not to have seen the robust performance of Obi in Anambra State is either not telling the truth or is outright

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Thursday, January 30, 2014

trying to make mischief.”

In a communiqué issued after the meeting, the faction resolved that it would continue to remain loyal to the leadership of Chief Okwu.

It also promised to continue to support the governor and the acting state chairman.

The faction, however, condemned the leadership style of former APGA National Chairman, Chief Victor Umeh, whose tenure they claimed expired in 2010.

The group claimed that Chief Umeh ran the party like his personal estate without consultation with relevant stakeholders while he was the national chairman.

Earlier, Anakwe told the party members that his emergence as the acting chairman was necessitated by the suspension of the former chairman, Hon Egwu Okoye.

He said: “I am sure that I will be here for another six months before the chairman, who is on suspension returns.

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49 Poly students sanctioned for exam misconduct CHRIS NJOKU OWERRI

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he management of the Federal Polytechnic, Nekede, Imo State, has sanctioned no fewer than 49 students for various offences and examination misconduct.

A statement issued yesterday in Owerri and made available to journal-

ists by the polytechnic’s registrar, Mr. Matthew Aligbe, stated that 26 of the students were expelled, while the 22 other were rusticated for one academic session.

Aligbe explained that 54 students had appeared before a disciplinary panel instituted by the management to investigate their alleged involvement

in examination misconducts.

This is even as one of the students was asked to retake some courses while five others were exonerated from any misconduct after thorough investigation.

He stressed that the polytechnic would not compromise its high academic standard, warning

that any student who displayed acts of misconduct would not be spared.

The registrar, therefore, urged the management of other tertiary institutions as well as members of the public to take note of the details of the sanctioned students which has been posted on the polytechnic website: www.federalpolynekede.net.

Abia State Governor Theodore Orji (right) and Mr. Barth Azukowa who led Umuhute Azueke Ndume Ibeku community on a courtesy visit to the governor in Umuahia, yesterday.

‘Stop issuing licences to unqualified motorists’ CHRIS NJOKU OWERRI

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he Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has resolved to ensure 30 percent and 25 percent reduction in road accidents and death on the nation’s highways this year.

This is just as the FRSC warned managers of driving schools to desist from issuing licences to unqualified drivers.

As part of efforts to achieve the objective, the Zonal Commanding Officer,

RS9 Headquarters ,Enugu, Mr. Kehinde Adeleye, said that adequate measure had been put in place to ensure that all motorists pass through government approved driving schools before driving licences would be issued to them.

Adeleye stated this at a one-day meeting with major stakeholders in transport industry in Owerri, the Imo State capital.

He said that professional motorists need rigorous training, warning that the FRSC would henceforth

sanction driving schools that issue licence to unqualified motorists.

The FRSC boss, who was in Imo in continuation of his familiarisation tour to units within his area of jurisdiction, asked drivers who still operate with old driving licences to obtain new ones, saying: “We are opening up more processing centres for licence renewal and period for the renewal has been extended from October 2013 to June 2014.”

Adeleye added that the

FRSC would soon commence a massive enlightenment programme for members of transport unions and managers of driving schools and also re-inspect drivers who had gone through formal training.

He appealed to motorists, commuters, pedestrians and all other road users to always be safety conscious while on the roads, stressing that promotion of road safety should not be seen as the exclusive responsibility of the FRSC, but that of all members of the public.

10 bathed with acid over N15,000 debt in Anambra

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o fewer than 10 persons have been allegedly bathed with a substance suspected to acid following a misunderstanding over a debt at Mgbakwu community in Awka Local Government Area of Anambra State.

The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO),

Mr. Emeka Chukwuemeka, who confirmed the incident yesterday in Awka, the state capital, said investigation had begun into the matter.

The spokesman for youths in the community, Mr. Onochie Nzekwe, told journalists that the incident happened on January 28 when a

group of persons went to invite a man over a N15, 000 debt owed a woman.

He said that the man, Mr. Uche Nnabuchi, was invited to appear before the group to explain why he refused to pay the debt.

Two of the victims, Mr. Obiadimma Nnebife and Onyeka Nwaenu,

separately narrated their ordeals to journalists.

Nnabuchi, however, said that he owed the woman only N6, 000, adding that the incident was not intentional.

He said that the acid was bought for his vehicle and not to bath the victims.

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Edo teachers declare strike over unpaid salaries SEBASTINE EBHUOMHAN , BENIN

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he Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), Edo State Wing, has served Edo State government a notice of a fresh strike, which may commence after the 14th of February.

The teachers communicated their grievance in a communiqué that emerged from an en-

larged State Wing Executive Council held behind closed doors at the Conference Hall of Teachers’ House on Upper Siluko Road, Benin City.

Signed by the duo of Comrade Mike Osagioduwa Uhunmwangho, the state chairman and Comrade Akin Adeojo, the state secretary, the communiqué that was made available to the media yesterday reminded the state

government that teachers merely suspended their last strike in the state so as to allow for an amicable resolution of their unpaid salary arrears that accumulated between July and November last year.

The NUT warned, “That Edo State Government should urgently pay the arrears of July to November, 2013 10.5 per cent TSA balance to all primary school teachers not

later than 14th February, 2014; failure of which, the union would resume her earlier suspended indefinite strike action of July 10th, 2013; come Monday 17th February, 2014.”

The NUT particularly called on the state government to act quickly and fulfill its promise to set up a committee of stakeholders to review the cases of the over 836 primary school teachers who were

disengaged from service in December “in order to have them return to work as done in Oyo and Ondo states.”

The state union reiterated that its members have unanimously rejected the call by the state government to make public school teachers to write a fresh competency test to determine their suitability for teaching jobs.

The communiqué further declared, “That on

no account must public school teachers in Edo State attend or submit themselves for any form of competency test in Edo State” before advising “That teachers should not be moved by any intimidation, propaganda or announcement on radio/ television or text messages by Edo State government or any of her agents that will call on them to come and write any competency test.”

Insecurity reduces our revenue -Amaechi

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L-R: Edo State Governor Adams Oshiomhole; former Minister, Chief Tom Ikimi and former Vice President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, during his visit to the governor in Benin, yesterday.

Bayelsa Assembly suspends session over power failure EMMA GBEMUDU, YENAGOA

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he Bayelsa State House of Assembly yesterday suspended its plenary indefinitely owing to a break-down of the power generating set in the premises which led to power failure.

It was gathered that the generating set reportedly caught fire during an attempt to switch it on for legislative business.

Extent of damage to the power generating set could not be ascertained when our correspondent visited the Assembly complex, but

a senior staff who craved anonymity said the sitting by the lawmakers had been suspended till further notice.

Before the power failure, the legislators were conducting the defense of the 2014 budget by government agencies and ministries in the state.

Lately, public power supply in the state is very epileptic as electricity consumers groan over frequent power outages which are adversely affecting economic activities. Most consumers now resort to their private generating sets as a last resort in order to enjoy power supply.

Occasioned by the blackout in the Assembly complex most of the offices kept their doors open to allow in flow of air, while most of the lawmakers and staff abandoned their offices.

In a reaction, the Special Assistant on Media to the Speaker, Piriye Kiyaramo confirmed the breakdown of the generating set and power outage in the Assembly complex.

Kiyaramo said the generator had a technical problem, adding that the law makers would resume plenary as soon as the fault was rectified.

On the delay on the completion of the ongoing

reconstruction work at the Assembly chambers, Kiyaramo said the completion time given to the contractor had since elapsed.

According to the media aide, funding was not the problem on the project as he insisted that the pace of work by the contractor was slow.

The legislators had last year embarked on a long recess following the commencement of reconstruction of their chambers.

On resumption, the work was still far from completion, forcing the lawmakers to relocate to a hall in the building meant for staff offices.

ivers State Governor and Chairman of the Nigeria Governors Forum, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi has attributed the dwindling fortunes of the internally Generated Revenue (IGR) of the state to the rising insecurity in the State.

He said the insecurity came at a time when desperate politicians resorted to power play at the National level ahead of the 2015 elections and the recent influx of political thugs and miscreants that were chased out of the state when he assumed office in 2007.

Amaechi disclosed this Tuesday when officers and students of the Armed Forces Command and Staff College, Jaji, Plateau State paid him a courtesy visit in Port Harcourt, the state capital.

He explained that the prevalent insecurity in the state, hampered companies to operate outside Port Harcourt, which negatively affected the state’s internally, generated revenue that could have hit ten billion naira monthly.

“If not for the insecurity in the state, and if all companies that were here before had remained to operate their business, we would have generated up to

N10billion. Like you know, most of the companies ran to Lagos and some of them came to Port Harcourt, and later also ran back.

“Things were improving before now with the Army, Police and the State Security Service (SSS), which enabled us to arrest the insecurity in the state. But, recently, because of the power play at the National level ahead of the 2015 election, the security of the state had degenerated badly, that one is wondering whether we should not differentiate between politics of election and politics of leadership. Because, it is also important for you to know the economic interest of the people, and our private interest too”, Amaechi said.

Governor Amaechi also described the reckless disregard for the protection of lives and property in the state by men of the police force as a serious lacuna as enshrined in the nation’s constitution.

He spoke on how his administration worked out feasible modalities that increased the state Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) from N2.5 billion to N6 billion monthly shortly after he assumed office in 2007 without introducing new taxes.

to warn parents to discourage their children from attending the rally out of fear for their lives.

“The Ogonis turned down their counsel because those leaders do not have any plan for the Ogoni people and are unreliable, but with Governor Amaechi, the Ogonis know that supporting him

will be reciprocated now and anywhere he is, in the future. ‘”Those who are against the governor will be wondering what manner of man he is, despite being stripped of security power, he still enjoys massive support from the people, despite threats to the people’s lives, they still support him” he said.

Why we are loyal to Rivers governor - Ogoni people SAM OLUWALANA

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he Ogoni people of Rivers State have given reasons why the state Governor, Hon. Chibuike Amaechi has been enjoying the support of the entire Ogoni Kingdom. According to a prominent politician form the area, Amaechi’s

reliability, uncommon courage and trustworthiness are qualities that have endeared him to the people of the oilrich area in the past years.

Speaking on behalf of the Ogoni people in Port Harcourt on Wednesday, Deputy Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Hon.Leyii Kwanee disclosed

that the Ogonis have been supporting Amaechi and the Pro-Amaechi, Save Rivers Movement, (SRM) and the group’s rally at Bori, headquarters of Khana Local Government Area, last weekend despite intimidation by the opposition, because Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi is a reliable,

courageous and trusted leader that can be counted on, at all times.

The Deputy Speaker told journalists, “the Abuja camp did everything within their ambit to discourage the Ogoni support including intimidation through violence”.

He further disclosed that the Abuja camp went round

Thursday, January 30, 2014

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Politics

INEC timetable: Setting stage for political gladiators With the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, formally rolling out its time table for the 2015 general election, it is expected that the tempo of politicking will be on the upswing. OBIORA IFOH, OMEIZA AJAYI and UBONG UKPONG take a look at what the political climate will be like in the next one year.

THE NEXT ONE YEAR WILL CERTAINLY WITNESS A BEEHIVE OF ACTIVITIES AS THE STAGE WILL BE SET FOR

THE POLITICAL GLADIATORS, STARTING WITH CONTENTIOUS DEBATE OVER THE SUITABILITY OR OTHERWISE OF A

GOODLUCK JONATHAN PRESIDENCY

Jonathan

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he Independent National Electoral Commission!, INEC, in a statement by its Secretary, Augusta Ogakwu, at the end of its retreat in Kaduna last Friday, rolled out the much expected time table for the 2015 general election. The time table showed that the presidential and the National Assembly elections were scheduled to hold on February 14, 2015 while the governorship and states Houses of Assembly elections were slated for February 21, 2015.

The terse statement read: “Pursuant to the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) and the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended), the Independent National Electoral Commission has released the timetable and schedule of activities leading to the 2015 General Elections and the Ekiti and Osun governorship elections.”

As expected, the reaction to that release was instantaneous as politicians and political watchers have gone to town with critical appraisal of the election timetable; while some say that INEC ought to fix singular date for all elections, many others argue that staggered election is all the system needs because of the past experience where INEC couldn’t handle simple task of credibly holding elections in states like Anambra, Delta and Edo.

In these election, particularly, in Anambra, INEC scored itself below average and watchers are of the view that nothing has changed and that if INEC should hold all elections same day, Nigeria will certainly witness another calamitous exercise.

But with the release of the time table, the next one year will certainly witness a beehive of activities as the stage will be set for the political gladiators, starting with contentious debate over the suitability or otherwise of a Goodluck Jonathan presidency, the return ticket demand by the federal lawmakers as well the succession politics in the states.

There will also be cases of alignment and realignment by the political parties, particularly, in this era of cross carpeting and decamping from one party to another both in the floor of the legislature and by the state governors amongst others.

Will Jonathan’s declare soon?

Coincidentally, a day prior to INEC’s release of the time table, President Jonathan, who was in Davos, Switzerland for the World Economic Forum, told CNBC Africa that it would be wrong and unlawful for him to declare his political ambition when the commission had not given its nod for politicians to do so. Before then, the President had often cited the need to concentrate on governance as reason for not openly making his intention known but his body language and the utterances of some of his lieutenants had often indicated that he is interested in taking another shot at the presidency next year.

Jega

He had told the CNBC reporter that he would declare his intention after INEC gives the go-ahead. He said: “INEC has a time frame within which candidates are expected to declare. If you declare before that time, you are actually contravening the Nigerian laws. So I won’t tell anybody that I am contesting or that I’m not contesting.

It is not proper for me to do that. It is not proper for any Nigerian to declare any interest now. If you do that you are contravening our electoral laws.”

Recall that late last year, the then Bamanga Tukur led Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, had shut the door on the aspiration of any other party member, insisting that all over the world, a sitting President is giving the privilege of the first right of refusal to contest the presidency. That decision had significantly contributed largely to the crack in the PDP with about seven governors (G7) opting to challenge that party position.

The heat even became unbearable latter last year when the chairman of the PDP Board of Trustees, BoT, Chief Tony Anenih openly accused President Jonathan of stoking the crisis in the party because of his reticence on the 2015 presidency particularly as it concerns his declaration.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 14

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Thursday, January 30, 2014

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INEC timetable: Political gladiators CONTINUED FROM PAGE 13 However, since INEC has now done its part, Nigerians are waiting with bated breath to hear from the horse’s mouth. Jonathan has no other reasons why he should not clear the air about his future political ambition.

Chains of other declarations expected.

Undoubtedly, many partisan individuals and parties have been waiting for the president’s declaration before knowing their next line of action and since politics is not exactly of ideas in this part of the world, some individuals will only jump into the fray only to find a way of “reaching out” to the incumbent president, pledging electoral support and then stepping down.

In the coming weeks, some opposition politicians are also expected to declare their ambition even as these declarations will also generate a lot of debates and court cases, ostensibly because certain politicians, relying on sectional and sectarian interests, may want to stop another politician from contesting.

At the national level, the contest is expected to be between the PDP and the All Progressives Congress, APC. The other two major parties, the Labour Party and the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, appear not to be interested in the top spot and may likely not be presenting candidates for the presidency.

However, notable political top shots, including former Vice President Atiku Abubarkar, former and serving governors from both the PDP and APC are expected to context the presidency alongside President Jonathan. In a few weeks, the tempo of intention to contest declaration will intensify.

Parties putting their houses in order Presently, both the PDP and APC are in crisis, in that while the former’s big umbrella is clearly leaking, the big broom of the latter is no longer a united bunch, but rather, mere broom sticks; but it is expected that they will also begin to put their houses in order, if they have any chances to compete favourably.

The PDP only two weeks ago had a change of leadership, with former governor of Bauchi State, Adamu Mua’zu, now in the driving seat whereas, the APC, with interim leadership still holding fort is expected to elect a substantive executive.

Mua’zu only Tuesday accused the APC of being a poaching expert but has boasted that in run to the general election, PDP would out-poach the opposition party. He has also kick-started the troubleshooting efforts by paying a visit to former President Olusegun and he is also in advanced stage of wading into the crisis in the South-West zonal chapter of the party.

As for the APC, the wind of prosperity and enlargement has not ceased as many defectors are daily besieging the party with a few also leaving. It is believed that if and when the party conducts, expectedly, a successful convention later this quarter, the party will be in a good position to put up a claim to the presidency. But observers are of the view that the convention and the possible allocation of party and elective positions to zones will make or mar the chances of the party come 2015.

In the coming weeks, more political realignments and defections would be witnessed in the National Assembly.

Media reports of ‘thousands’ of people defecting to either of the two leading parties are also expected while some mushroom political parties will queue behind either of the two major parties. This time around, with the APC also having a lot of money, it is almost certain that not all the mushroom parties will queue behind the PDP.

Governance at the receiving end President Jonathan has often maintained that one reason why he was finding it difficult to declare his intent was for

MORE POLITICAL REALIGNMENTS AND DEFECTIONS WOULD BE WITNESSED IN THE

NATIONAL

ASSEMBLY. MEDIA REPORTS OF ‘THOUSANDS’ OF PEOPLE

DEFECTING TO EITHER OF THE TWO LEADING PARTIES ARE ALSO EXPECTED WHILE SOME MUSHROOM POLITICAL PARTIES WILL QUEUE BEHIND EITHER OF THE TWO MAJOR PARTIES Mua’zu

the fear that governance will suffer. Already, the directives by the APC to its legislators to block all executive legislation as a result of an entirely party matter has been eliciting some condemnation from all quarters except the APC. Now that INEC’s time table is out, it is expected that as many as are in the government that has electoral ambition would quit office as directed by the President. It is also expected that attention will shift from delivery of democratic dividends to election campaign funding.

The 2011 elections was said to have been the most expenses venture in the history of any elections in Africa and it is believed that 2015 will even be more. Opposition are already insinuating that reason why there is cash crunch in the economy is because of the 2015 and the piling of cash by the politicians for the elections.

Season for political jobbers In 2011, one witnessed several groups lined up to drum up supports and campaign for whoever they felt paid them better or could be useful to them if eventually emerged victorious from the polls.

For instance, the Stella Oduah’s ‘Neighbour 2 Nighbour’ group suddenly emerged as a political campaign tool, aligning with President Jonathan, who deployed massive men, materials and money into the course. It paid off, as the sponsor used it to penetrate the citizens and the coordinator eventually now has a place in Aso Rock Villa, within the federal cabinet.

Special Adviser to President Jonathan on Political Matters, Ahmed Gulak, leading the Goodluck/Sambo Cam-

2015: Opposition preparing ground to Godwin Sogolo, a professor of Philosophy and currently a member of the Governing Council of the National Open University of Nigeria, NOUN, in this interview with HEAD, POLITICS DESK, OBIORA IFOH speaks on the build-up to the 2015 general elections as well as the tension being created by members of the political class. Excerpts: How do you assess the build-up to the crucial 2015 general elections and the electioneering that precedes the exercise?

Expectedly, political activities have since begun.

There have been alignments and realignments of political forces. Indeed, the political terrain has been upbeat.

Although, the Independent Electoral Commission, INEC, has just released the time table for the 2015 election, but the main opposition party in the country has been using the platforms of some nebulous rallies in Rivers State to campaign for the 2015 general elections. But beyond the shenanigans of the opposition, especially in Rivers State, is the noxious calculation to destabilise the Nigerian State

before, during and after the election. The opposition is preparing the ground to plunge the nation into a crisis of unimaginable proportion, knowing full well that it cannot upset the applecart of the President Goodluck Jonathan presidency. The prognosis is very clear; which is why in a recent statement, the Department of State Services, DSS, issued what may be regarded as a warning to the Nigerian political elite. Specifically, the DSS expressed concern about the increasing tendency for politicians to make statements that were provocative, inciting and capable of creating political instability. While some politicians have criticised the statement as an attempt to silence the opposition, many well-meaning Nigerians see it as a timely reminder to politicians that politics must be played with decorum and due consideration for the national interest.

I concur with the position of the DSS. Are you satisfied with the level of interaction going on between and among different political parties on one hand and the Nigerian people on the other hand in the process of selling their manifestoes to the people?

There is, no doubt, that there has been a sharp increase in the intensity of political activities and debate. This, of course, is to be expected, given the re-alignment of political forces, the emergence of a major opposition party, the All

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Politics

Thursday, January 30, 2014

on the march again THESE WILL REALLY

BE INTERESTING TIMES, PARTICULARLY WITH AN EARLIER PREDICTION BY SOME FOREIGN

NIGERIA WILL NOT SURVIVE 2015. IT IS UP TO NIGERIANS TO PROVE THEM WRONG AND BY SO DOING, NATIONS THAT

GETTING THEIR ACTS RIGHT AND MAKING THE BEST OF THE

ELECTION PERIOD, BY MAKING IT CRISIS-FREE

Bisi Akande, APC Interim National Chairman

paign Organisation, said that over 2000 quasi group came under the umbrella and worked for the Jonathan’s presidency in 2011 and that all of them are still there to work for the President against the 2015. There were other groups like Fresh Air, Door 2 Door amongst several others, who pursued diverse course during that season.

Political watchers and analysts have said that this kind of groups were likely to immediately begin to spring up, following the timetable released by INEC, which signals the commencement of preparations for political activities. Already, the Northern Elders Council, NEC, led by veteran Tanko Yakassai debuted only yesterday, Wednesday to lead the campaign for Jonathan in the North.

Meanwhile, sources have it that huge amounts of money had allegedly been earmarked by President Jona-

than to service such groups to foster his 2015 presidential re-election. Other notable politicians were also said to be keying into this strategy.

Thus, the political jobbers may have commenced packaging programmes for politicians who are ready to finance their ideas towards the actualisation of their ambitions.

Gold mine for printing presses Analysts have observed that another direct implication of this declaration is that politicians, their associates and political jobbers would give more business to printers and printing houses. This is because souvenirs like T-Shirts, caps, stationery, even posters, hand bills, billboards, advertisement on vehicles would become a booming business, as such businesses in the political sector were seasonal.

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National Mirror spoke to an Abuja-based printer, Cyprian, who said that printrs were virtually praying for that declaration by INEC. He said: “My brother, it means good business coming to us in the printing industry. As for me, I have installed new machines. I am ready to make as much money as I could before the end of the season, because this is one good opportunity for us to benefit from democracy too.”

The rise of pressure, religious, traditional and ethnic groups For these categories, analysts said they would commence pressing home certain demands both from government and individual politicians with a view that there would be settlements in their favour.

Such ethnic and regional bodies like the South-South Peoples Assembly, Ohaneze Ndigbo, Arewa Consultative Forum ACF, Afenifere, Odu’a Peoples Congress, OPC, Northern Elders Forum, NEF, and lots more, would actually wake up and begin to pursue some regional and ethnic interests that would foster their collective welfare and existence in the country.

It is also believed that politicians with ambition would also commence consultations with these groups with a view to winning their support and this would come with a lot of early negotiations for better chances to both parties.

Presently, politicians have devised it as a strategy to take their campaigns to the churches in the guise of going for worship. Already, President Jonathan is criticised for indulging in this action alongside other politicians.

An Abuja based cleric, who simply gave his name as Pastor Livingstone, said it was true that most religious bodies like churches and mosques and clerics are already catching in on the declaration and have began to handover their pulpits to politicians in exchange for money. “...But God is watching from heaven. It is what God says will happen that will happen. They are free to continue, but members cannot be fooled. They will vote their consciences,” he told National Mirror in Abuja.

It was also observed that serious political consultations and endorsements would also kick start in the palaces of traditional rulers.

Militia groups to seize the opportunity The militants and militia groups too were also said to be ready to take advantage of the declaration to strategise and seek possible ways to benefit as seen during the 2011 era. At that period, groups like Movement for the EmanCONTINUED ON PAGE 16

plunge nation into crisis –Prof. Sogolo Progressives Congress, APC, and the fact that major elections are due within the next 12 months. As elections draw near, political activities, naturally, dominate the air; politicians become more vocal and, in many cases, they even become more reckless. This pattern has begun to re-emerge. I have noticed the apparent lack of robust debate on issues. The APC, which has become the dominant opposition, seems to want to assert its identity by constantly imposing its views on the consciousness of the public. In the process, it has wittingly elevated propaganda to the level of art, deploying it to harangue the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and deceive the Nigerian people. But I had expected that the opposition would be constructive in its criticisms of government and not engage in extreme actions that are capable of undermining our nascent democracy and national security.

Can you validate your allegation of making inciting statements with which you have levelled against the opposition?

Oh yes! The facts speak for themselves. It is a fact that the interim National Publicity Secretary of the APC, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, has made it a habit of threatening fire and brimstone whenever he expresses disagreement with aspects of Federal Government policies; Mallam Nasir el-Rufai, Deputy National Secretary of the party has, in the same vein, called on the people to rise against the

Federal Government. One of the APC governors, Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State, recently called on his people to defend themselves against the police since, according to him, the Federal Government had failed to defend them.

Speaking along the same line, one of the national leaders of the APC, General Muhammadu Buhari, also called on the people of Rivers State to defend themselves against the oppression of the police and Federal Government.

But the PDP sees these calls as tantamount to treason.

Are they really treasonable?

It they are not treasonable, what are they? The APC seems to be calling for insurrection and chaos in the country, and this is buttressed by the alarming prospects of the party’s directive to its members in the National Assembly to consider blocking the passage of the 2014 Budget, confirmation of Service Chiefs and ministerial nominees as well as other important elements of governance, for which legislative assent is required. If this threat is carried out, the country may witness the shutdown of governance, the consequences of which no one can predict.

What then do you advise the political class in the battle for political power which has pitched its members one against the other?

My advice is simple. Members of the political class

Sogolo

should realise that our democracy was won at a great cost. Out of the 54 years of our sovereign existence, we spent about 30 years under military rule. It is a prize which we must not allow to slip out of our hands because of the thoughtless actions and greed of a few. We have a responsibility, therefore, to remind our politicians that democracy is a golden opportunity for good governance, freedom and life more abundant for all.

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Thursday, January 30, 2014

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Mu’azu to PDP govs: Appeal to your defectedcolleagues to return OBIORA IFOH ABUJA

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fter about a year of protest and exhibiting rejuvenated solidarity and loyalty to the party, state governors of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, extraction yesterday paid a congratulatory visit to the National Chairman of the party, Dr. Adamu Mu’azu.

Mua’zu appealed to the visiting governors to plead with their colleagues who

defected to the opposition to return to its fold The governors had for nearly 18 months boycotted their usual individual and group solidarity with the national leadership of the party, leading to the resignation of the immediate past National Chairman of the PDP, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur.

The 13 governors were led by the PDP Governors’ Forum chairman and governor of Akwa Ibom State governor, Godswill Akpabio, alongside two deputy

2014 Budget: Let’s avoid being rubber stamp, Ashafa urges Senate OLAJIDE OMOJOLOMOJU

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he Vice Chairman, Senate Committee on Housing, Lands and Urban Development, Senator ‘Gbenga Ashafa yesterday urged the Senate to shun the culture rubber stamping budget without thorough scrutiny, saying the 2014 budget must be carefully scrutinised by the National Assembly before approval.

Ashafa, who made this known on the floor of the Senate during the ongoing debate on the 2014 Budget presented by the Federal Government, urged his colleagues not to allow themselves to be made “rubber stamp legislators”.

While calling the atten-

tion of the Senate to how the Excess Crude Account for 2012 and 2013 has been illegally withdrawn and spent by the Minister of Finance and Co-Ordinating Minister for the Economy, Dr. (Mrs.) Ngozi OkonjoIweala without reference to the National Assembly, which he said contravenes Section 80(4) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Ashafa also raised concerns over the declining percentage of capital expenditure and the increasing recurrent expenditure in the past 3 years, saying the development portends continuous reduction in the rate of growth, job creation, development and quality of life for Nigerian.

Ondo PDP youth leaders demand sack of minister OJO OYEWAMIDE AKURE

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eoples Democratic Party, PDP, youth leaders across all the 18 local government areas of Ondo State have called on President Goodluck Jonathan to replace the minister representing the state in the Federal Executive Council, FEC, Mobolaji Johnson, with a politician who can rejuvenate and rekindle party activities in the state.

The youth leaders said Johnson, the Minister of Information Communication Technology, had not made any positive impact on the development of the PDP in the state since her appointment.

They also recommended that a staunch PDP member should be in charge of

the campaign of President Jonathan in the SouthWest if he is interested in winning a second term in office.

These were contained in a communiqué issued yesterday at the end of their meeting held at the party secretariat, Akure, and signed by the state PDP Youth Leader, Rasheed Elegbeleye.

The communiqué said: “The Presidency should not depend on the claim of those who are not PDP members that they will deliver the votes of the people of Ondo State and the entire SouthWest. It is impossible to serve two masters at a time.

How can a man campaign for two parties since, according to INEC timetable, presidential and National Assembly elections will be held the same day.”

governors.

The congratulatory visit was coming barely a week after the change of baton in the party’s leadership.

Mua’zu told the governors: “I want to passionately appeal to you not to relent in appealing to your colleagues that left the party, which is their home to an unknown destination, to please come back.

“The doors are still wide open and our house is big enough for all of them to come in.

“In a family like ours, there is bound to be conflict, but the ability to resolve it is what will stand us out.

“I therefore want to appeal to you, to please speak and appeal to them to come

back and join hands with us to lift the party.

“As garrison commanders in your various states, appeal to our supporters and implore them to be patient with the party at this moment of its history.

“I have a very high hope and optimism that God will guide and see the party through this present challenges.

Among the governors that paid the visit were those of Abia, Bayelsa, Kebbi, Akwa Ibom, Niger, Jigawa, Cross River, Gombe, Katsina, Delta, Kaduna, Kogi, Plateau, as well as acting governors of Taraba and Sokoto states.

However, governors of Benue, Enugu, Ebonyi and

Bauchi states reportedly excused themselves due to earlier scheduled appointment.

Earlier, Akpabio, while telling the chairman that they were at the party headquarters to pledge their loyalty and commitment to the Mua’zu leadership and President Goodluck Jonathan, expressed the confidence that while they are working on their colleagues to return to PDP, they were also working on bringing back all former governors who had dumped the party or were exhibiting lukewarm attitude.

Eulogising Mu’azu for his efforts so far in the party, Akpabio stressed that “through your intervention, our brothers who

crossed over to the other side will come back.”

He said: “We came here to congratulate you and the National Working Committee (NWC), we have seen that since you came on board, things have changed.

“Your emergence as national chairman is even welcomed by the opposition, because of your track records of performance as a former governor of Bauchi state.”

Akpabio also assured that no PDP state would be taken over by the opposition.

Mua’zu told the governors that while rumour mongers were always at work, God “will always guide us and surely shame our enemies.”

Supporters of former Kano State governor and foundation member of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Alhaji Ibrahim Shekarau, during his defection to the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Kano, yesterday.

Ekiti 2014: Lawmaker writes Jonathan, backs zoning ABIODUN NEJO ADO EKITI

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Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, chieftain and Ekiti State House of Assembly member, Hon Samuel Ajibola, yesterday threw his weight behind the agitation for zoning of the

governorship slot to the South Senatorial District.

Ajibola said in a letter addressed to President Goodluck Jonathan entitled: “Adoption of Prince Dayo Adeyeye as Ekiti PDP governorship candidate,” that: “This position is based on what was agreed upon in 2005 under what

2015: Political gladiators on the march again CONTINUED FROM PAGE 15 cipation of the Niger Delta, MEND, Boko Haram in the North, Movement for the Sovereign State of Biafra, MASSOB, in South East, OPC in the South West amongst others sought to be reckoned with, and analysts said this may immediately begin to play out again.

Politicians have been accused of arming and deploying these militia, to achieve political advantage during elections. But in their trails are bloodletting and wanton destruction of property.

These will really be interesting times, particularly with an earlier prediction by some foreign nations that Nigeria will not survive 2015. It is up to Nigerians to prove them wrong and by so doing, getting their acts right and making the best of the election period, by making it crisis-free.

was known then as the Ekiti North/South Agenda.”

The lawmaker said: “In the spirit of equity and fairness therefore, it is my conviction that the PDP governorship candidate should come from the South. This is more so that the All Progressives Congress, APC, will be fielding the incumbent governor, who is from the North.”

Ajibola, however, said he supported the Afenifere chieftain, Prince Dayo Adedayo, who hails from the South senatorial District, to clinch the governorship ticket, saying: “In terms of political structure, academic qualifications, exposure, experience and political networks, Prince Adeyeye is the most sellable and formidable among the aspirants.”

The letter reads in part: “In the last one year, Adeyeye has taken up the task

of promoting and defending the Ekiti State PDP in the media. His campaign organisation has virtually become the mouthpiece of the party, and the voice of the voiceless in the state.

“In my capacity as one of the members of the PDP in the state House of Assembly, I hereby recommend to Your Excellency that Prince Dayo Adeyeye be picked as our party’s governorship candidate.”

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Thursday, January 30, 2014

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Invitation to anarchy EXISTENTIAL HUMANISM

FRY

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

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he situation in Rivers State is gradually degenerating into monstrous crisis. The role of the security agencies in the saga is not yet clear.

The abortion of the rally organized by a pressure group to save the state from sliding into abyss left a bad taste in the mouth. At the end of it all a senator was bad injured. He is undergoing treatment in a United Kingdom hospital.

The police, defending its role in the crisis, had insisted that the organizers of the rally that did not have its permission. A political rally of that magnitude needs police permission and control if we must avoid ugly consequences. The position of the police was that its intervention was a minimal use of force to avoid mayhem. Many are not ready to believe this story. The 1999 Nigerian Constitution makes provision for freedom of assembly and association. The police, however, are empowered to ensure law and order and to intervene when there

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are visible signs of threat to law and order.

Nigerians have been reacting variously to the ugly scenario in Rivers State.

The opposition All Progressives Congress (APC), irked by what it perceives as impunity of the Federal Government, has urged its members at the National Assembly to block all executive bills, including the 2014 budget, in addition to the confirmation of the newly appointed service chiefs and ministerial nominees.

Aside from these it urged its members nationwide to resort to self-help if the perceived culture of impunity by the executive persists. The party insisted that this should be the position “until the rule of law and constitutionalism is restored in Rivers State in particular and Nigeria in general’’.

Reacting to this directive the Presidency took a swipe at the opposition party stressing that it was a direct call for anarchy and a vindication of its earlier stance that the APC was out to scuttle democracy and the revered unity of the country. The PDP towed the same line, stating the ploy of APC was to “create a state of anarchy and pave the way to unleash mayhem” in the country.

Nigerians have been reacting to this directive. While some see it as a feature of democracy others take a negative look at the opposition for taking a stance that is anti-people that have the capacity to hurt ordinary Nigerians. It is reasoned

THE RIVERS STATE CRISIS IS A SORE

THUMB, THERE IS THE NEED FOR QUICK INTERVENTION TO SAVE THE SITUATION that the move is least expected from a party that see itself as people-oriented.

However, the APC has stuck to its position, seeing nothing wrong in it. Lai Mohammed, its interim National Publicity Secretary, while agreeing that the budget is about the people, insists that his members in the National Assembly will “block its passage because the people of Rivers State are under siege, because of the reign of impunity being supported by the President”. He argued that the actions would be unnecessary if President Jonathan made it possible for peace to reign in Rivers.

Responding to the development, the leader of the opposition in the House of Representatives, Honorable Femi Gbajabiamila, stated that ‘’Government shutdown or filibustering is nothing new in party politics world over’’, adding nonetheless that the progressives lawmakers would not truncate the country’s democracy. He promised that they would do what was necessary to ensure

good governance in the country.

The Senate, in reaction to this volatile directive, has dismissed the opposition’s threat as a non-issue. The Deputy Senate President described the decision as dangerous and capable of undermining the cohesiveness of the Upper House, but he was quick to add that his members would always reject at all time any party’s parochial instruction in the interest of the nation. The Senate Leader, Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba, in his contribution, maintained that such a directive was ineffective in a chamber that is driven by national interest.

The directive by APC is a re-echo of the trouble and the tension in the land.

The polity has been heated by politicians even when it is not necessary. They have not allowed national interest and the public good to guide their very actions and utterances. The Rivers State crisis is a sore thumb, there is the need for quick intervention to save the situation.

To wait until it snowballs into a national crisis is dangerous.

And more fundamentally, politicians should at all time not have the illusion that they own the nation; they are mere trustees and should as such think on how best to add value to the situation they meet on ground. It is salutary that the APC senators ignored the directives from its party and participated in the screening of the service chiefs. This is patriotism at work.

Arresting Africa’s underdevelopment

ow Europe underdeveloped Africa’ is a popular book by a Guyana-born renowned African intellectual and political activist, Walter Rodney. In that 1972 classic, Rodney analysed the complex historical forces and their impact on Africa’s socio-economic realities. He came to the conclusion that the systemic exploitation of Africa by the imperialist Europeans via slave trade, colonialism and neo-colonialism was responsible for the poor state of African political and economic development in the late 20th Century, and that development would only be feasible if Africa executed a radical break with the international capitalist system.

While there could be no denying the fact that the exogenous factors like slave trade, colonialism et al have had pernicious effects on the continent’s quest for development, the factors could not totally explain why quality, sustainable development had always eluded Africa. To start with, the factors themselves do not explain why there was huge chasm in the rate of development in the first instance, which made it possible for all the said exploitations to be possible. Secondly, these traditional factors do not satisfactorily explain why, since the demise of colonialism (and neo-colonialism?) Africa has found it impossible to lay the foundation of her own progress.

Thus, a new theory which goes beyond apportionment of blame is needed to unravel the basis of the unenviable status of the black man among the races - a theory that could offer alternative view to the conventional rationalisation. For this engagement, my thesis is that Africa’s woes are emanations of self-inflicted mental lax-

FROM TIME IMMEMORIAL, AFRICANS, IN COMPARISON TO OTHER

RACES, HAVE EXHIBITED APATHY TO EXPLOITING THE BRAIN TO THE FULLEST ity borne of attitudinal lack of hunger for knowledge.

These deficiencies are responsible for the comparative backwardness of this continent.

It is not true that there is genetic deficiency in the constitution of an African which predisposes him to mental inferiority as some bigoted racists would have us believe. Rather, the whole problem is purely attitudinal. From time immemorial, Africans, in comparison to other races, have exhibited apathy to exploiting the brain to the fullest. Yet, the human brain which God or nature (whichever you prefer) has endowed us with is the only proven tool through which the secrets of the universe could be unlocked. Knowledge is the only pathway to success.

All the people of the world had one time or the other been enveloped in the same dark age of ignorance; it was an era when recourse was to the supernatural forces for solutions to mankind’s problems. It was an era when diseases were seen as the handiwork of witches and wizards and all forms of calamity were deemed orchestrated by incensed deities who must be placated by

sacrifices and propitiatory offerings.

But the truth dawned on Europe long ago and it led to her renaissance and later the industrial revolution. Ever since that time, Europe has not looked back as she embarked on accelerated pursuit of knowledge, while systematically demolishing the myths which had held mankind in bondage over the ages. Other parts of the world, like the Americans and the now successful countries of Asia, followed suit, channeling their energies to scientific researches and developmental pursuits.

But here in Africa, we are still enmeshed in primitive superstitions, like we have always done, holding all sorts of beliefs that are not empirically verifiable and which are inimical to progress. This attitudinal problem with its concomitant backwardness is evident everywhere the black man is, be it in the Caribbeans, the West Indies or even right in the developed countries like Europe and America. You can easily distinguish the black communities from the whites even within the same country. How can we reverse this unfortunate trend?

European conquered our forefathers and imposed colonialism not because they were inherently superior, but because they had superior understanding of the laws of nature, which aided them in the manufacture of superior weapons. We failed to learn anything from that. Even today, our society brims with behaviours informed by superstitions. Children are branded witches and wizards in some parts of the country and are being subjected to harrowing experiences through trial by ordeal. We still see sacrifices, offered to some mediae-

CRITICAL STROKES

KAYODE

KETEFE

kketefe@nationalmirroronline.net 08032147720 (SMS only)

val spirits, on our highways. People are still being kidnapped for ritual killing- the incidence of which has soared in this period of politics.

Our Nollywood films are replete with scenes of fantasies which mock realismand prop anti-scientific views. Little wonder then we rarely announce scientific breakthroughs in any fields of human endeavours. If our ancestors had held and practised certain beliefs which, instead of helping them, had made our continent the least developed part of the entire world, doesn’t commonsense dictate we should reject such beliefs in favour of logical and time-tested ones which have helped other people achieve greatness? It is high time we invested heavily on science and technology- the only guaranteed way to sustainable development.

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, January 30 2014

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

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

KAFILAT OGBARA

MANAGING DIRECTOR/CEO

BANKOLE MAKINDE

DEPUTY MD/CEO

SEYI FASUGBA

DAILY EDITOR

GBEMI OLUJOBI

SATURDAY EDITOR

KAYODE FASUA

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DOZIE OKEBALAMA

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ISE-OLUWA IGE

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REGIONAL DIRECTOR, S/SOUTH

KAYODE BALOGUN JNR

SM, STRATEGIC DEVELOPMENT

KING ODODORU

HEAD, GRAPHICS

Resurgence of extra-judicial killings

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recent report that the Executive Secretary of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Professor Bem Angwe, has ordered immediate investigation into the complaint of extra-judicial killings in Gboko tabled before the commission by the former Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Abubakar Tsav, draws attention to the festering spate of reckless killings by law enforcement agents, particularly the police, in the land. Tsav in his petition alleged gross human rights abuses, including extra-judicial killings involving Benue State Police Command and complicit highly placed politicians in Gboko, Benue State, as well as plans to give the victims mass burial without notifying the public of the cause of their death. The ex-police boss shuddered at police’s disregard for the rule of law, respect for human rights and the sanctity of human life in Benue State.

Similarly, the remains of the late Mr. Samuel Imaikop and three others allegedly shot dead by patrol men from the Edo State Police Command in the early morning of Sunday, November 23, 2012 in Ute community, along the BeninOluku By-Pass, while on their way to the farm, have reportedly been exhumed from the mass grave they were buried on November 25th 2012, for forensic analysis to determine what, why and how they

died. The police had branded them dare-devil armed robbers who met their waterloo in a shoot-out. But the families of the victims, assisted by human rights organizations, are insistent that the victims were innocent farmers.

Also recall that scores of corpses were found floating on the Ezu River in Anambra State on January 19, 2013. Civil society groups are of the conviction that the people must have been wasted by the police through clubbing, lethal strings, strangulation, macheting, poisoning, rubber/tube tying, and suffocation, etc. They accused the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) of the Anambra State Police Command of notoriety in extra-judicial killings.

Yet still a contentious issue is the September 20, 2013 Apo Legislative Quarters, Abuja raid by a combined team of soldiers and operatives of the Department of State Service that led to the death of eight people suspected to be members of the Boko Haram sect.

Reports said the Senate, based on the report of a 20-member Joint Committee on National Security and Intelligence, Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters, which investigated the alleged killings, absolved the security operatives of culpability.

Reports by civil society groups suggest that extra-judicial killings involving the police have reached

POLICE’S IMPATIENCE AND NON-DILIGENT INVESTIGATION AND PROSECUTION OF CRIMINAL CASES COMPOUND THE PROBLEM a worrisome level nationwide. National Coordinator of the Legal Defence and Assistant Project, Chino Obiagwu, for instance, says such killings, including those not formally reported in the media, rose between 2010 and 2012. The Executive Director of another group, the Centre for Law Enforcement Education in Nigeria (CLEEN) Foundation, Innocent Chukwuma, once revealed that about 500 police officers involved in extra-judicial killings were being dismissed annually by the force. Chukwuma attributed the problem to what he called the conditional option usually given to the police to solve crime issues within 48 hours of arrest.

Policing is obviously a dangerous job, hence the provision in the nation’s law that policemen can shoot a suspected criminal only on condition of self defence. But on countless occasions, trigger-happy policemen kill under the influence of alcohol or in the process

ON THIS DAY

January 30, 1972

January 30, 1995

Pakistan withdrew from the Commonwealth of Nations. The Commonwealth of Nations, normally referred to as the Commonwealth and formerly known as the British Commonwealth, is an intergovernmental organisation of 54 independent member states. All members except Mozambique and Rwanda were part of the British Empire, out of which the Commonwealth developed.

Workers from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) announce the success of clinical trials testing the first preventive treatment for sickle-cell disease. The NIH is a biomedical research facility primarily located in Bethesda, Maryland, United States. An agency of the US Department of Health and Human Services, it is the primary agency of the US government responsible for biomedical and healthrelated research.

of extorting money from hapless citizens, particularly the commuting public. Besides, the country’s constitution expressly guarantees fair hearing, emphasizing suspects to be deemed innocent until proven guilty beyond reasonable doubt by a competent court. In addition, the incumbent Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar, is said to be intolerant of the misuse of firearms and extra-judicial killings by policemen. Why then the upsurge in the illegal act?

It can be frustrating to the police when influential and highly placed Nigerians plead for the release of notorious criminals, as it often happens, but police’s impatience and non-diligent investigation and prosecution of criminal cases compound the problem. This is a lazy attitude to policing. Extra-judicial killings are in no way helping the public images of both the police and the nation. It should be decisively checked by the police high command. Culprits should not just be dismissed from the police, they should be diligently prosecuted and punished commensurately. There is equally the need to identify and correct lapses in training, supervision, equipment and internal policies, which contribute to firearm abuses that culminate in reckless shootings and killings by policemen.

January 30, 2000 Off the coast of Cote d’Ivoire, Kenya Airways Flight 431 crashed into the Atlantic Ocean, killing 169 people on board.

The flight was an international scheduled Abidjan–Lagos– Nairobi passenger service operated with an Airbus A310-300.

The crash occurred at 21:09:24 GMT, shortly after take-off from the Felix Houphouet-Boigny International Airport in Abidjan. There were 179 people on board, of whom 169 were passengers.

Thursday, January 30, 2014

IN CONJUNCTION WITH

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

19

Education Today

AFE BABALOLA UNIVERSITY, ADO-EKITI (ABUAD)

A prestigious university in Africa with a visionary founder and leader - Dr. Lalla Ben Barka, Assist. D.G UNESCO, Paris

TUNBOSUN OGUNDARE

O

wolabi Oseni is passionate about education right from his childhood. He was not born with deformity. and was already one and half years old before he was struck down by Poliomyelitis. Poliomyelitis, often called polio or infantile paralysis is an acute, viral and incurable disease that cripples thousands of children every year around the world. Currently, Nigeria has the highest burden globally.

However, like what other parents would have done, Oseni’s parents tried all they could to get him treated with no luck. They resigned to fate thereafter but with the belief that Oseni could still fulfil his destiny.

So, when he reached the school age, he was enrolled into a primary school in Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State where he hails from.

After his elementary education, he gained admission into the secondary school and came out with good grades in the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE).

Armed with that result which qualifies him for admission into a tertiary institution, he believes he could still further his education notwithstanding the attendant challenges.

“I love education so much and I don’t see myself not going to school just because of my physical condition,” Oseni told National Mirror in Lagos at the recent convocation ceremony of the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN). He is one of the 4,308 students who graduated from the institution.

Decked in graduation gown and seated on a wheel chair together with his mates inside the large auditorium at the National Theatre Iganmu that served as venue of the event, Oseni said it took a lot of courage, determination and perseverance for somebody like him to go to school in a country like Nigeria where there is no consideration for easy mobility.

Oseni explained that he had already been admitted into Ogun State University, (OOU), Ago-iwoye as an accounting student before he decided to withdraw from the institution.

According to him, he was at 300-level when he took the decision as a result of his inability to cope. That was in 1993.

“But you need to know that my withdrawal was not on academic ground. I had wished to complete my course there but I just couldn’t cope again at a time. I found things very strenuous. And honestly speaking, going to school on wheel chair in this country is not easy at all. I believe you understand what I am saying,” he said.

But he believes that this development was still not enough to truncate his education career.

So when he got to know that NOUN could come to his rescue through its open and distance learning system, he quickly

My goal is PhD, says physically-challenged graduate

Oseni

NO MATTER WHAT, I WON’T BE A LIABILITY. I WILL EARN A DECENT LIVING AND ALSO MAKE POSITIVE IMPACT ON OTHERS AND THE SOCIETY AT LARGE embraced the institution.

“I gained admission into Abeokuta Study Centre of the institution in 2006 to study Entrepreneurial and Business Management and now I am a graduate,” he boasted.

On how he was able to cope, he said students of NOUN studies with ease because of the peculiarity in which the institution operates.

According to him, NOUN runs online studies system which does not require students to go from one classroom to another to attend lectures like what is obtainable in conventional universities.

Explaining further, Oseni said while NOUN students study on their own most times, the university only makes rich and simple course materials available to them online.

The exams are also being conducted online and this condition makes students rarely meet with their course instructors.

But now Oseni, 37, is a first degree holder, yet he is not satisfied with that.

According to him, he has a tall ambition

for education. He wants to get to doctoral degree level.

“If God answers my prayer, I will enrol immediately after now for my masters’ degree and later for my doctoral degree. My ambition is to become a teacher and start earning an income that can sustain me very well. I want to be financially independent as I don’t like somebody to be leaving at the mercy of others. That is not my prayer. No matter what, I won’t be a liability. I will earn a decent living and also make positive impact on others and the society at large. I believe God will grant my heart desire,” he explained.

Oseni still a bachelor said he would marry at the appropriate time which according to him, is when he would be able to fend for his home.

20

Education Today

Thursday, January 30, 2014

OAU set to host 2014 NUGA games

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

UNILAG compels students to rate lecturers’ performance TUNBOSUN OGUNDARE

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Osun State governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola shaking the NUGA mascot (left) with the OAU Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Tale Omole during the unveiling of the logo for the games in Lagos.

DHIKRU AKINOLA

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fter series of postponements, all is now set for the hosting of the 24th edition of the National Universities Games (NUGA) by the Obafemi Awolowo University Ile-Ife. The game which could not hold last year due to the 5-months old Academic Staff Union (ASUU) strike, is now scheduled for February 12 and 22, 2014.

As a first time host since the inception of the game in 24 years, reports from OAU say the institution has provided all the necessary facilities to have a successful outing. In-

vestigation by National Mirror reveals that all events will be held within the campus, the first time a host will not be relying on external facilities for the NUGA games.

“It’s not possible to host a competition featuring over 15 events in the same environment but OAU has all the facilities within the campus,” a source who pleaded anonymity told National Mirror.

It was gathered that OAU was chosen to host this edition to commemorate the university’s 50th anniversary and National Mirror can confirm that the institution has spared no effort to ensure that the games turns out as the

READY: The eight-lane modern tartan track

best ever in its 24-year history.

The Local Organising Committee LOC was in Lagos last August to unveil the mascot of the game, with ace footballers, Mutiu Adepoju, Ann Chiejinne, Nollywood stars, Afees Oyetoro (Saka), Bayo Bankole (Boy Alinco), and Dr. Joe Okei-Odumakin emerging as ambassadors for the game.

Sources at the university also disclosed that the sporting facilities have all been renovated to international standard. These include an Olympic-sized swimming pool, an eight-lane modern tartan track, modified sports halls and a good drainage systems to prevent erosion on the

pitch. Athletics track and sanitation of the swimming pool are also reportedly in place.

Speaking to National Mirror on the successful completion of the facilities, the Public Relations Officer of the University, Mr. Abiodun Olarewaju, said the university had invested heavily in the games.

“When we decided to build a new track for the school, we looked beyond NUGA because we wanted something that would serve the school and even the country long after the games. We are happy that we have this swimming pool and the modern tracks, which experts have confirmed as the best you can get anywhere in the world”.

On the security aspect, the Assistant Inspector General of Police, zone 11 Oshogbo, Mr. David Omojola who visited the institution with his men to inspect the level of preparedness, has assured the authorities of OAU of safety of lives and properties of all participants, students and all members of staff within the university community and its environ during the games. He assured that they would ensure adequate security within and outside the campus, adding that efforts had been put in place to improve the welfare of staff of the force in order to enhance their performance.

he University of Lagos, Akoka has directed all its students to assess the performance of their lecturers compulsorily.

The development in a release by the Assistant Registrar of the institution in charge of information, Mr. Wale Olasunmade was to know whether the students are getting value for their money.

According to him, under the exercise, students are expected to assess their lecturers based on what they gained from the courses they were taught throughout the semester.

“This process will provide a platform for students to offer their suggestions and opinions about their lecturers and the courses they teach,” he added.

He noted that the assessment would be done online.

Also, the university’s library has started a 24 hours service to enable the students prepared very well for the ongoing second semester examination.

He urged the students to take advantage of the opportunity.

NANS urges Nigerians to assist govt on education development DHIKRU AKINOLA

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he National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has advised patriotic Nigerians to complement governments’ efforts in raising the standard of education in the country.

The association gave the advice through its Secretary General, Mr. Daniel Momodu in a chat with National Mirror recently.

According to NANS, the desire to attain acceptable educational standard in Nigeria cannot be achieved by government alone but by concerted efforts of all and sundry.

“So, it will be very appropriate if well-meaning Nigerians could join hands with the government to make things happen in the sector,” Momodu who is 300 level student at the department of Political Science, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, stressed.

While urging the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and other trade unions to always engage in dialogue with government whenever issues arise rather than resort to strike, Momodu promised that Nigerian students would continue to fight against all forms of oppression from any quarter.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Education Today

Thursday, January 30, 2014

21

Achievers varsity matriculates 543 HAKEEM GBADAMOSI AKURE.

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total of 543 students of the Achievers University, Owo, Ondo State last Friday took the matriculation oath during the institution’s seventh matriculation ceremony just as the authorities of the institution announced scholarship awards for best students of the university.

The school noted that 305 out of the 543 students were admitted through the Unified Matriculation Tertiary Examination (UMTE) and Direct Entry while the rest entered through the bridge programme established for the professionals.

Speaking at the ceremony, the Pro- Chancellor of the university, Dr. Bode Ayorinde, urged the students to adhere strictly to the oath they had sworn to, saying the school would not tolerate indiscipline.

He said the institution would continue to maintain discipline that had been entrenched on campus since establishment, adding that the management would not hesitate to sanction any of them found wanting.

The pro-chancellor however, expressed the readiness of the institution to continue to formulate and implement policies and programmes that would aid the development of education and the vision behind the establishment of the university.

Also speaking, the Vice-Chancellor of the institution, Prof. Adebayo Adebiyi said the vision of the university was to produce graduates who would be useful to themselves and the society.

He noted that the university had been enjoying steady growth and development by all standards since inception.

He promised that the university would provide all necessary facilities that would make the institution both learning and teaching friendly.

The VC further disclosed that the university had proposed to reward students with excellence performances in academic and sporting activities beginning from next academic session.

Corps members appoint rector as grand Patron

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he Sports, Dance and Drama Community Development Service Group of the National Youth Service Corps, Offa Local Government Council area of Kwara State has appointed the Rector of the Federal Polytechnic Offa, Dr. Mufutau Olatinwo as the group’s Grand Patron.

The letter to that effect was formally presented to him by the representatives of the group at a brief ceremony at the polytechnic recently.

In his speech, the Coordinator of the group, Mr. Ngolibe Daniel said Olatinwo was appointed for the position based on his hospitality and strong contributions to corps members posted to his polytechnic.

He noted that the Lawn Tennis Court that the group is currently working in at the Local Government Secretariat is to be named after him, all for his contribution towards welfare of corps members.

L-R: President, National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Mr. Yinka Gbadebo, Vice-Chancellor, University of Nigeria Nsukka (UNN), Prof.

Bartho Okolo and NANS Zone B coordinator, Mr. Chinonso Obasi during NANS’ team visit to UNN for projects’ inspection, recently

OAU NACETEM leadership crisis deepens TUNBOSUN OGUNDARE

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he lingering leadership tussle rocking the National Centre for Technology Management (NACETEM), an agency of the Federal Ministry of Science and Technology at the Obafemi Awolowo University, OAU, Ile-Ife over the recent appointment of an Acting Director-General is fast degenerating.

The crisis became worse when the governing board of the agency served the branch chairman of the Academic

Staff Union of Research Institutions (ASURI), Dr. Olalekan Jesuleye a query letter for organising a press conference and for accusing the board of manipulating the conditions for the appointment of a director general for the agency.

The union leader had addressed a media briefing recently as a follow-up to the series of protests and petitions earlier written by the union to warn the board against the appointment of Yussuf Abdullah Muhammed, who the union described as unqualified, as the acting director general.

The union accused Mu-

hammed of holding Higher National Diploma, HND, certificate as against the required postgraduate qualifications, which it claimed more than 10 other members of the agency’s staff hold.

The association pointed out that since Muhammed belongs to the administrative unit, he lacks the knowledge of the real mandate of the organisation which is research.

The query, addressed to Jesuleye last Monday and signed by one E.A Ayoola on behalf of the governing board chairman, asked the union chairman to “give reasons for organising a

press conference as a public servant under authority without due approval from the constituted authority.”

However, Jesuleye, who doubles as the Head of the Department in the agency, in his reply, said he addressed the press as a union leader duly voted for and recognised both locally and nationally and not in his capacity as the head of department.

He added that the content of the conference was an expression of the yearnings and fears of the academic members of staff of the agency over the choice of who becomes the substantive director-general of the agency.

Airtel restates commitment to education development ...provides safe water to adopted school

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telecommunications service provider, Airtel Nigeria has again demonstrated its commitment to the development of primary education as the company donated a borehole and learning materials to Presbyterian Primary School 2, Ediba, in Abi Local Government Area of Cross River State, recently.

The school is one of the company’s adopted schools in the country.

The donation came barely six months after the company donated a block of classrooms to the school as part of its corporate social responsibility initiatives.

The borehole is to provide safe water for teachers and pupils of the school.

Aside the facility, the company also donated some items that included uniforms, note and exercise books and bags to pupils of the school.

Speaking at the presentation, the Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of Airtel Nigeria, Mr. Segun Ogunsanya, said the gesture was to complement the government’s efforts in making schools’ environment at that level of education more conducive for learning and teaching.

Ogunsanya spoke through the company’s Zonal Business Manager, South-East

region, Onyekwucha Ikezu at the event.

In her remark, the Permanent Secretary in the state’s Ministry of Education, Mrs. Anna Odey expressed great appreciation on behalf of the government and the people of Cross Rivers State for the support the state had received so far from the telecom giant.

She urged other corporate organisations to emulate the gesture.

Dignitaries that graced the occasion included the Permanent Secretary in the state Ministry of Education, Mrs. Anna Odey, and the traditional ruler of the community, HRH Ovai George Egbe, Ovai Osai 1 of Ediba, among others.

Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, Cross River State, Mrs. Anna Odey (left) with pupils of Presbyterian Primary School, Ediba and some officials from Airtel Nigeria during presentation of education materials donated by Airtel to the pupils , recently.

22

Education Today

Thursday, January 30, 2014

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

$186m World Bank credit boosts Nigerian education – Minister MARCUS FATUNMOLE ABUJA

S Vice-Chancellor, Rivers State University of Science and Technology, Prof. Barineme Fakae (4th left) and other top principal officers of the institution during the university matriculation ceremony.

Rivers varsity expels 588 students …warns new in-takes on indiscipline SAM OLUWALANA

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he Rivers State University of Science and Technology (RSUST), PortHarcourt has admitted a total of 2, 955 students for the 2014/2015 session out of the over 10 thousand applicants. The institution has also expelled another 588 students on academic grounds.

The Vice-Chancellor of the institution, Prof. Barineme Beke Fakae disclosed this at the university’s 32nd matriculation ceremony held last weekend.

He said the new students should count themselves lucky to be admitted into the institution, which he described as the first CIT-based institution in the country.

Announcing the ban on the sales of handouts and unapproved textbooks in the institution, the vice-chancellor warned

the matriculating students that the university has zero tolerance for examination malpractices and other vices like cultism, stealing and prostitution.

But he urged them to make judicious use of the facilities on campus to achieve their dreams as students of the university.

He added that the university had over the years developed academic programmes and facilities comparable to those in the developed countries of the world.

“So, you are expected to make proper use of both materials and human resources at your disposal to your own advantage,” he advised.

Speaking further, he said: “You are advised to obey the rules and regulations of this university which include shunning of vices so as not to tarnish your family names and good image of this university.

The university does not compromise on standard.

“Ensure you inculcate the habit of using the library and for your information, no fewer than 588 students were asked to withdraw for academic failure last session.”

Speaking on the role of technology in education, the vice-chancellor, who was recently awarded the Best Manager of University by the Europe Business Assembly in Oxford, England, encouraged all the students to be ICT complaints as virtually all the business on campus are done on line.

He however, promised that the university would not relent in making the university friendlier to the students and members of staff and other stakeholders.

In another development, the university has emerged the number one state-owned university in the country and 12th over all.

This development was contained in new ranking of world universities by an international organisation, 4icu University Wed Ranking Organisation, released recently.

AAUA alumnus donates to police, orphanage DAYO OJERINDE

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graduate of Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko, Ondo State, Mr. Olusegun Akinsehinde has donated writing materials and torch lights to the Oda Division Police Station in Akure, Ondo State capital.

He also donated food items and some other consumables to Grace Orphanage, a charitable home also based in Akure. The gesture did not end there as the young philanthropist equally donated books and writing materials to St. James Anglican Primary School, Oda where he had his foundational education several years back.

Akinsehinde, a graduate of Biology Education made all the donations as part of activities to mark his birthday festivities last week.

Receiving the gifts on behalf

of the Divisional Police Officer, birthday with a lot of drinks thanks to God by giving to charMrs. Suliamen Joke thanked the and foods among those that ity, no matter how small it is, donor, saying the items would go have more than enough is not rather than throwing a big para long way in helping the men what I encourage. In as much ty among those that have more as we are alive we should give than enough”, he submitted. and officers of the division.

While urging members of the public to always see the police officers as their friends, she said combating crimes was not the duty of police alone but it requires that all hands are on deck.

At his alma mater, the Headmistress of the school, Mrs. C.I Olowe appreciated the gesture and urged other alumni of the school to emulate the gesture.

“Segun is not ashamed to be associated with this school, he didn’t forget his root”, she submited.

While speaking with our correspondent, Olusegun Akinsehinde, the celebrant said; “it is not because I have much, but the aim is to give to the less privileged and make life more mean- Akinsehinde with pupils of St. James Anglican Primary School, Oda, ingful to them too. Celebrating Akure, Ondo State.

upervising Minister of Education, Mr. Nyesom Wike has said the World Bank’s $186 million Science and Technology Education PostBasic, STEP-B, Project credit provided for Nigeria had impacted positively on the nation’s education by helping in the development of fundamental learning infrastructures, among others.

This was contained in a release signed by Special Assistant, Media, to the Minister, Simeon Nwakaudu, and made available to National Mirror.

The minister, according to the release, made the remark on Monday in Abuja while receiving the Final Progress Report of the project.

According to him, government has been able to refurbish 622 science laboratories across federal government-owned universities, polytechnics, colleges of education and unity schools through the credit.

He was quoted saying the credit was also used to procure and install stateof- the- art equipment in various fields of science and technology, including engineering, medicine, agriculture and renewable energy.

The statement added that “another area of success during the implementation of the STEP B project was acquisition of Internet and ICT facilities which are facilitating e-learning, e-examination and video conferencing in schools that benefitted from the programme.”

The state- of- the- art equipment procured across most of the institutions, the minister noted, made it possible for staff and students to conduct quality research in many critical areas as well as regular practical activities during teaching and learning.

Wike added that the achievements recorded under the project had also contributed to the attainment of goals outlined in the Federal Ministry of Education’s Four-year Strategic Plan.

“He assured that ministry working with the Federal Government will ensure that activities implemented under STEP B are sustained and scaled up.

“Presenting the Final Progress Report, National Coordinator of the project, Mrs. Grace Takerhi said the programme achieved the fundamental objectives for which it was initiated,” the release added.

Wike

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Education Today

Thursday, January 30, 2014

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Reducing glitches in the admission process

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ach year a large number of Nigerian youths apply for admission into different disciplines in Nigerian universities each of which clearly require the knowledge of different subject combinations. While the senior secondary school certificate (SSCE) requirements are prescribed by the national universities commission, the unified tertiary matriculation examination (UTME) subject combinations are defined by the individual universities.

At the time of writing the UTME to select candidates for admission into the universities and other tertiary institutions, the majority of candidates have not written the Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination.

As a consequence their suitability for admission into the respective disciplines in the universities and other tertiary institutions has not been ascertained. Unfortunately, the mock examinations conducted by individual schools in preparation for the external examination cannot help us predict the suitability of these candidates for admission because of the high prevalence of examination malpractice.

It is obvious then that the majority of candidates choose the department of interest before their suitability for that discipline can be ascertained. The situation is akin to the proverbial “cart before the horse” which is likely to cause significant obstructions in

Education as I see it

by Tosanwumi Otokunefor

info@alphaedufoundation.org 08030904461 (email/SMS only)

IN AN IDEAL SITUATION, ALL CANDIDATES SEEKING ADMISSION INTO A HIGHLY COMPETITIVE TERTIARY INSTITUTION SUCH AS THE UNIVERSITY ARE EXPECTED TO HAVE OBTAINED AT LEAST THE MINIMUM ENTRY REQUIREMENTS AB-INITIO

the system and impede its smooth running. The problems begin to manifest as soon as admission is secured on the basis of the combination of JAMB’s UTME and the institutions Post-UTME examinations.

Many candidates cannot register because they do not possess the mandatory five credits required for admission into Nigerian universities. Administrative response to this shortcoming is to conduct one supplementary admission exercise after another until all vacancies are filled.

These often extend the admission exercise far into the first semester and deny many candidates sufficient time to prepare for examinations. Furthermore, the extended

process places unnecessary strain on the administrative machinery which becomes bugged down by the unending admission process.

Nevertheless, many candidates who were not qualified for registration do not concede defeat.

They patiently wait for the November/December SSCE result which may be released in January and then, aided and abetted by corrupt officials, proceed to the “late registration exercise” long after the selection process had closed. Others take the more tempting but treacherous shortcut and procure fake SSCE result/ certificate with which they ultimately register, but end up wasting two, three or four extra years when ultimately discovered!

Very often, the candidates possess the minimum entry requirement of five SSCE credits but cannot register because of wrong subject combinations.

These candidates are normally advised to pick up “rejection forms” for a fee and asked to “shop around” for a department for which the SSCE subject combination would permit registration. The amount of paper work involved in this process puts an additional strain on the already dysfunctional administrative machinery which has to contend with signing off the rejected students and signing them on to the new departments to which they are now admitted.

In the mist of these migrations, the UTME subject combination is often forgotten and a candidate originally admitted to read economics may end up reading geography, a subject he or she did not write in the UTME. This is a burden the Nigerian university system need not bear.

Fortunately, at least one Nigerian university namely, the University of Ibadan has successfully circumvented this problem.

In the just concluded 2013/2014 selection exercise, the premier university directed all candidates who made the university their first choice most preferred institution and scored 200 and above in the UTME to submit their bio-data and the results of their SSCE or equivalent qualifi-

cations online. It further requested that candidates who are awaiting the 2013 SSCE result should so indicate, and should upload the results as soon as they are released but not later that the 31st of August 2013. Incidentally, the West African Examination Council released the results of the May/June SSCE on the 7th of August that year. The University of Ibadan admission exercise is concluded only after taking all the relevant requirements, including the SSCE requirement into consideration.

In an ideal situation, all candidates seeking admission into a highly competitive tertiary institution such as the university are expected to have obtained at least the minimum entry requirements abinitio. Under such circumstance, the results of the qualifying examinations would have been released before the selection process begins.

The situation in Nigeria where the UTME is conducted even before the SSCE is concluded is a drastic departure from the ideal. The outcome is that candidates who do not have the minimum entry qualification, and hence cannot register, are offered admission into the university. Until the nation sees the need for a change and puts her acts together to make the necessary alterations to the academic calendar of the secondary school system, an adoption of the University of Ibadan model could serve as a stopgap measure to reduce the anomalies associated with admissions into Nigerian universities.

How Nigeria can improve on education – Adebule TUNBOSUN OGUNDARE

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he Secretary to the Lagos State Government, Dr. Oluranti Adebule has said Nigeria’s education system could be improved upon only when the right reform was carried out in the sector and supported with adequate funds.

Adebule made this observation while delivering a lecture at a Founder Day ceremony of the Caleb University, Imota, Lagos State, which was held recently. She spoke on: “Reforms and innovation: A sure step towards qualitative education.”

Adebule, who also cautioned political leaders against politicking with the sector so as to get a right result, noted that education reform must ad-

dress the socio-economic and national security challenges currently facing the country.

She said even though it was not everybody in the country that could go to the university, there must be a well- planned training structure for those who would embrace technical and vocational works in the country.

According to her, education is bedrock for development and therefore ought to be taken very seriously by government as well as other stakeholders.

Adebule recalled past education reforms, saying they were unable to make much impact on the sector because of many factors including frequent changes of leaders and unstable policies in the sector.

Speaking about funding, the guest lecturer while advising various

governments to fund the sector very well, she urged the private school owners to equally see education as a social service rather than profit making ventures.

“So, education as a right and an essential part of life should therefore not be left to the forces of demand and supply and the returns on investment,” she stressed.

Adebule further argued that it was high time governments as well as other stakeholders address the issues of overloaded curriculum, congested classrooms, inadequate

infrastructure facilities, epileptic electricity, dearth of competent workers and poor science and technology equipment, among others that plague the sector.

Guest lecturer and Secretary to Lagos State Government, Dr. Oluranti Adebule (left) being presented with an award by the Chairman, Governing Council, Caleb University, Imota, Lagos State, Mr. Godwin Jibodu at the institution’s Founder Day ceremony.

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Thursday, January 30, 2014

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Oyo students set to elect leaders DHIKRU AKINOLA

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arring any last minute change, the Federation of Oyo State Students Union, FOSSU, will go to the poll to elect those that will steer the affairs of the union for the next one year.

The Acting Chairman of the union who also doubles as the Electoral Chairman, Mr. Cornelius Bolanle disclosed this, saying the union was already finetuning arrangement to hold the election in a free and fair atmosphere.

While warning students that they should not have anything to do with the dissolved executive members of the union as regards the union activities, he said anybody who did otherwise does so at his or her own risk.

Bolanle promised that the election would be the most credible in the history of the union as all necessary apparatuses would be put in place.

Investigations by our reporter however, revealed that aspirants, especially students from Ibarapa Zone who are to produce the next presidential

Strike: Students

share experiences on films

Students at the carnival

UNILORIN students fete jambites HAMEED MURITALA, UNILORIN.

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t was all fun and excitement at the Students’ Union Building (SUB) of the University of Ilorin (UNILORIN) when the Students’ Union (SU) staged an entertainment show to welcome the newly admitted students into the university.

Tagged: “Freshers’ Carnival,” the programme started around 5.00pm and lasted five hours. It

would have been all night party if the school authority has not banned night party on campus on security ground.

The event was organised according to the Student’s Union Vice-President, Hassan Oluwakemi for two reasons. One is to socially welcome the new students into the fold while on the other hand to douse the academic tension of returning students experienced in the last semester.

Students, who stay on and

off campus, came out en masse to catch fun and hang out with friends. The event was anchored

by MC Benda Poet and Oyas Baba, the Social Director of the students’ union.

Different upcoming artistes in and around the school took their turn to entertain the students with their performance. Some of these artistes include Big Donny, Malaria, Busta Knox, T Smile, Samo Baba, Adamze, Mc Perenpe and Tripple A.

Also speaking about the essence of organising the programme, the Secretary of the Social Committee of the Student Representatives Council (SRC), Titilope Anifowoshe said the event also served as an avenue to recognise, showcase and encourage the talents in the university in the areas of music, dance and comedy.

Students also confessed that they really enjoyed themselves by participating in the event.

KEMIBUSARI

FEEDBACK

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Why companies should give attention to scholarship, not entertainment

400L, POL. SC. OAU, ILE-IFE

ne way that students got themselves busy during the last strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) was by watching movies, especially those acted by Koreans.

Investigations reveal that films such as Kang Chi, Personal Taste, Bridal Mask, Boys before Flowers, among others, have become household names among students in Nigeria during the strike, which lasted six months.

National Mirror further gathered that the result of this had now come to fore following the resumption of schools. National Mirror observed that many students are now using different slangs learnt through those films now that they are back on campus.

Now, you hear them saying Koma, which means thank you; Agesimita (I understand), Biane (I’m sorry), Ahjumma (mother), Ahjussi (father).

ADEOYE ABDUR-RASHEED

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t is an obvious fact that the most successful sector in Nigeria is the entertainment industry. As individuals give intrinsic motivation for themselves, parents encourage their wards to sing, religious society inclusive. While the winner of MTN Project Fames takes home N2.5m including a RAV4 automobile, Nigerian Idol winner takes N7.5m, a new Hyundai SUV plus a recording contract worth N7.5m. The Glo Naija Sings used to be N16m and a Toyota RAV4, Nigeria’s Got Talent, N10m; Star Quest, N7.5m, a recording contract, a new Toyota SUV, a year accommodation in Lagos and

N3.6mto be shared by the winning band, Peak talent hunt showers N10mstar prize, X-factors N24m, the winner gets to sign a record deal with Sony Music and more. Maltina Dance Hall gives N6m and a new star prize of a car. Amstel Box Office awards N2.5m, a new car and a starring role in a Nollywood blockbuster movie. Winner of the Guilder Ultimate Search gets 7m + SUV and N500, 000 wardrobe allowance.

All these propel our youths to sharpen their musical skills day in day out. Meanwhile, most students neglect their books while preparing passionately for musical talent hunts, which amount to massive failures in ex-

ams, WAEC, NECO, UTME and even semester exams in the higher institutions.

Music engages the best part of one’s brain making one to still remember songs one have heard decades ago while degrading one’s academic prowess. You see students who can sing the track of a full album while unable to memorize the first twenty elements in basic science.

Although, some claim that music gives them inner muscle to learn better and improves their IQ, yet if these set of people read and learn without music, they will surely do better academically.

Ironically, the mother of all sectors is begging for funds. Education contests suffer from lack of spon-

sorship; worthy of note is “The Debaters” while the remaining ones suffers from premature funds which does not even arose the participants zeal let alone encourage others.

Conclusively, essay competitions, debates, science, managerial, technology contests, brainteasers, spelling bees, and many more packages should be staged across all levels. Corporate bodies should also endeavour to give reasonable scholarship awards and funds for winners of any educational contest.

They should flow down the kind of supports given to musical talent hunts to educational ones like Zain African challenge, Nigerian Stock Exchange Essay Competition, Lagos spell-

ing bee, UNILAG annual debate and the Cowbell National Mathematics Competition, among others.

The government should also change it attitude towards anything relating to learning by investing massively in it. Marginal incentives should be added to outstanding students while enough publicity should be made to celebrate brilliant and academic celebrities who can serve as role models for others.

Tutors and lecturers should not be left out in this for “a nation cannot improve beyond the standard of her teachers.”

Abdur-Rasheed is a 200-level student of Science and Technology Department, Faculty of Education, University of Lagos.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

OAU students discipline alleged petty thief

Campus News

Thursday, January 30, 2014

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FEDPOFFA commendes on workers’ cooperation

DHIKRU AKINOLA

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n undergraduate (named withheld), who was arrested and paraded by the students of the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife has said he was caught on the very first time he engaged in the act.

He was caught pant down with two types of mobile phones- blackberry and techno- and some wallets belonging to female students.

He was given what the students know as scientific maximum punishment popularly known on campus as Shishi.

Shishi is a kind of punishment meted out by students on perpetrators of nefarious activities like stealing and cultism, among others on campus.

Under the punishment, the culprit, after been found guilty will be paraded round all the eight hostels on campus and will also be given 24 strokes of cane as way of deterring others from the act.

Nemesis however, caught up with the culprit, who is in 100-level around 5:00am last Monday at Angola Hall when one of his room-mates raised the alarm that his Z10 Blackberry phone was missing.

The said room-mate who suspected the culprit, it was gathered alerted the students’ security committee who immediately swung into action by raining a search team to conduct search on all members of the room.

A member of the search team, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, told National Mirror that some other stolen items were recovered from his bags when it was ransacked.

“After many hours of interrogation, we recovered the stolen items from where he kept them in his cupboard,” the source added.

National Mirror spoke to the alleged thief, blaming the devil for engaging in the act.

“I’ve never stolen before and I don’t know how this had happened. Even my parents must not get to know this. I was well brought up at home. Even though my father is a commercial motorcyclist, he still sends money to me. So, I believe I was pushed by the devil to do this and that is why I am pleading for pardon. I promise I won’t steal again,” he said.

Narrating how he perpetrates the act, he said he normally disposed his victims of their valuables at nights when they are either sleeping or going to read at the academic area of the university.

Prof. Omole

Leader, Accreditation Team, National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), Mr. A.I. Ifejika (left) and Rector, Federal Polytechnic Offa, Dr. Mufutau Olatinwo during NBTE accreditation team visit to the polytechnic, recently.

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he Federal Polytechnic Offa has been commended on the existing cooperation between the management of the institution and other workers.

The leader of the accreditation team from the National Board of Technical Education (NBTE), Mr. I. A. Ifejika gave the commendation recently when he led a team from the board to the polytechnic

for programme assessment.

He said the enthusiasm by which the lecturers and other workers in the institution received his team coupled with the relative peace and academic excellence recorded in the recent years encouraged him to make such a comment.

He noted that the improvement would not only reflect on the quality assurance of the programmes run by the polytech-

nic but also on the quality of its products.

Ifejika disclosed that the essence of his team’s visit was not to award marks but to know whether the institution has improved over its previous standard.

Earlier in his remark, the institution’s rector, Olatinwo thanked the visiting team, promising that the school would not compromise standard.

87 Solomon Lar varsity lecturers for PhD abroad JAMES ABRAHAM JOS

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ll arrangements have been concluded for Solomon Lar University, Bokkos in Plateau State to train no fewer than 85 lecturers on different doctoral degree programmes abroad.

National Mirror learnt that already, the institution had signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the University of Johannesburg in South Africa to facilitate the objective which

is targeted at raising standards in the institution.

The Public Relations officer of the university, Mr. John Agam confirmed the development in a release, stating that the MoU to that effect was signed in South Africa on behalf of the two universities by Prof. Docknan Decent Sheni for Plateau State University and his University of Johannesburg counterpart, Prof. Ihron Rensberg.

The statement further stated that the agreement, among others is on aca-

demic cooperation and collaboration through the scholarship of teaching and learning programmes, research and development and student and lecture postgraduate programmes.

“Part of the agreement is that University of Johannesburg will enrol Plateau State University staff for studies that Plateau State University have deemed crucial for development.

“Beginning this academic session, Plateau State University will be sending at least 17 Ph. D students to South Africa for studies. This is part of the Universities effort to unify the

state in line with the state governor, Dr. Jonah David Jang’s desire. By this arrangement, one student from each local government council in the state will take part in the programme each year.”

The vice-chancellor also hopes that by the end of his tenure, the state can boast of at least 85 lecturers who would have either completed or are undergoing PhD programmes in the university with which the memorandum of understanding was signed as this would also boost the academic manpower of the state.

Cambridge raises entry offer for science degrees

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tudents who hope to take up a place on a science degree course at Cambridge University will need to score higher grades in their A-levels from 2015.

The university has upped its standard entry offer so that anyone aiming for a science-based degree will need two A*s and an A at A-level or equivalent.

The current offer is one A* and two A grades.

For other subjects, the standard entrance offer will remain A*AA, the university said.

Cambridge insisted that the change was not “raising the bar” for would-be students, as more than nine in 10 (92%) successful science applicants had already scored A*A*A or better at A-level.

In a statement, the institution said: “The university believes that the revised offer gives applicants a clearer indication of the level of attainment realistically required to compete for a place, and to thrive on science courses.

“The university will continue to make non-standard offers where appropriate, based on consideration of relevant contextual data including any extenuating circumstances which may have adversely affected an applicant’s academic attainment.”

The A* grade was first awarded in the summer of 2010 as part of a bid to distinguish between the best students.

To receive the grade, students must score at least 90% on their papers in the

second year of their A-levels and obtain an A overall.

Figures published last summer show that 7.6% of exams were awarded an A* in 2013 compared with 7.9% in 2012.

Cambridge was among the first universities to adopt the A* grade - its standard conditional offer to students in 2010 was A*AA. Oxford University did not use the A* grade for the first two years, but has used it as an admissions requirement since 2012.

The standard minimum entry requirement for Oxford varies by course - from AAA for history, to A*AA for medicine and A*A*A for mathematics. Most science courses require A*AA.

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Thursday, January 30, 2014

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Marching orders…not order

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HIS medium of January 16 circulated a few mistakes: “Delta State sets (set) to pioneer medical tourism” “He, in addition, assured that the NHIS would be improved to make it more productive.” (National Mirror Editorial, January 16) Who did he assure? “…as we use (used) to do every year.”

“FG projects N1.4trn yearly from crop processing (crop-processing) zones” Let us welcome THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER, of January 12 for the first time this year starting with this school-boy faux pas: “The PPRO died in a ghastly (fatal) motor accident….” There is even no point for ‘fatality’ inclusion in the circumstance because of the fact that he died! That is one of the hallmarks of tight news reportage—for other illustrative, prose writings we can be explicitly demonstrative.

“Nigerian banks’ cost to income (cost-toincome) ratio still the highest in emerging, frontier markets” “We got a marching order (We got marching orders) on N11.5bn Dutse Airport” “When jokes goes (what!) sour” “A new purpose-built gallery in (on) Victoria Island….”

The last contribution from THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER under review: “The expectation of the people was that the deputy governor would have be (been) the first person to follow his boss to APC….”

THE NATION ON SUNDAY of January 12 goofed right from its front page: “We have restored hope in (to) Lagos” From The Nation online come the next four infractions: “How 75 per cent of Nigeria

(Nigerian) workers are stressed—study” “…for continents like Africa (for a continent like Africa) to attain a higher economic growth, the continent need (needs) to mixup” For the umpteenth time, phrasal verbs abhor hyphenation! “…revealed that economic volatility has increased pressure on Nigerian workers with 75 per cent reportedly seeing more stressed-related illness (illnesses) since the downturn.”

“2003 was a beehive of activities (a hive of activity) for the small and medium scale enterprises….”

Lastly from THE NATION ON SUNDAY under review: “Former CAR president en route Benin Republic (en route to Benin Republic)” DAILY SUN of January 13 comes next with two improprieties: “ALGON passes confidence of vote in president” Fixed expression: vote of confidence/confidence vote The next three contributions are by Mr. Kola Danisa (08028233277): “Terrorists bury arms in Abuja cemetary (cemetery)” (Sunday Vanguard, December 29) “…he said the vehicles destroyed were the ones used during the attack and was (were) sited (sighted) through air surveillance….”

(Source: as above) “A few weeks ago, there was some news report (a news report) about the involvement of….” “...all the major roads in the Eastern part of the country have become pure death traps and for challenging his (President’s) nonchallant attitude and doing anything positive in Igboland (Igbo land).” Get it right:

I DOFF/TAKE OFF MY HAT TO (NOT FOR) nonchalant. “...there have been series of polemical attacks of the commission and its activities by an obscure and often fictitious section of the public.” This way: a (take note) series of polemical attacks.

“The president and commander-in-chief of the armed forces also addressed the nation same evening.” Get it right: the same evening.

“The almost impassible (impassable) roads accentuate the usual hectic traffic of motorists, making business transactions in Lagos a herculean task.” “…robbers who held residents and commuters to ransome for hours….” Spellcheck: ransom.

“I doff my hat for.…” The right mix: I doff/take off my hat to (not for).

“Out of lawyers’ population estimated at about 40,000, only 10 females have been opportuned (opportune) to adorn the silk.”

“This is another scintillating edition for the matured (mature) mind.”

“Preponderant of the views aired by the people centre (sic) around (upon, on) issues like corruption, unemployment.…” Running a true federation: preponderance... centres.

“Benue assures on abandoned project” Just tell readers who the state assured.

Enough of nightmarish banners….

“A recent report on food related (a hy-

phen) ailments show (shows) that in many parts of the world….”

“Besides, these storage facilities should be provided together with necessary agric inputs.” Taming hunger: ‘input’ is uncountable in British Standard English, but takes an inflexion in corruptive American English! Unnecessary input?

“Unfortunately, however, I, and many other Nigerians, have been infuriated by our servants….” In pursuit of linguistic orderliness: many other Nigerians and I. The concept of the cart and the horse applies to language usage, too.

“One can only hope that these peoples’ representatives would realise that the electorate is (are) patiently waiting for another chance.”

“But all our future blessings would be achieved through waiting in the Lord.” If you are after God’s heart you wait on, not in, Him. “Before embarking on the strike action….” You can as well embark on ‘strike inaction’!

“It was as though both informants were mischievous people who had an affinity in (for) discrediting the preachers.”

“The vigilante group visited instant judgment on the thief and sent him to the great beyond.” In the name of excellence: The vigilance group.

“Sixteen people were killed and two others seriously injured in a ghastly (fatal) accident which occurred along (on) the BauchiAuchi road on Saturday. The mishap did not drag along the road, but occurred at a spot on the road.

Lagos community decries absence of public schools TUNBOSUN OGUNDARE

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esidents of Orisunmibare community in Alimosho Local Government area of Lagos State have decried the situation in which they found themselves in a bid to go to school.

They said it was either they send their children to private schools, which they claim are too expensive for people like them or to send them to another community several kilometres away where there are public schools.

They said none of the two options were friendly to them as both according to them had continued to take huge toll on both the parents and their wards.

They said they were particularly worried at the situation whereby they were forced to take their children to private schools whose hike their tuitions arbitrarily.

The traditional ruler of the com- but they are too expensive for most nity is ready at anytime to donate batunde Fashola in particular munity, High Chief Akeeb Ade- parents in the community,” he said. enough land for the purpose, the to use his good offices to adWhile assuring that the commu- monarch appealed to Governor Ba- dress the issue. bowale Rauf said he was particularly not happy that there was no single public school in the whole community.

The monarch recalled that the community had made lots of efforts including appealing to concerned authorities in the past to establish at least one public primary and secondary school in the community without positive result.

He noted that the closest public schools to the community are Shasha Community Primary and Secondary Schools that are about five kilometres away.

“So, I am appealing on behalf of the good people of Orisunmibare to the local and state governments to please come to our aid. We cannot afford to continue to keep our children who have reached the school age at home because of absence of L-R: Director, Co-Curricular Activities, Basic Education Services, Lagos State Ministry of Education, Mrs. Babs public schools in our community. Akinyeye; Desk Officer, Education District 1, Mrs. Olabisi Orundamisi and her counterpart from district 3, Mrs. Ronke Although there are private schools Olubukonia at the preliminary stage of the Lagos State quiz competition, recently.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

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Thursday, January 30, 2014

Sport Hope rises for injured Nadal 30

There is no alternative to recruitment of young players. Thank God Paris is full of them –PSG COACH, LAURENT BLANC

BMW jeep: Emenike angry with Coscharis

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uper Eagles’ striker, Emmanuel Emenike, is in a face-off with a top car company, Coscharis, over a jeep he claimed to have bought for more than $100,000, but which has since developed a fault.

The Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) winner striker told MTNFootball.com he is now at a loss as to what to do after the BMW X6 he bought for about N18million developed a problem a year after.

And the car company has yet to return the car to him three months after he sent it

back for repairs.

The Fenerbahce striker is so frustrated about the situation, according to the report, that he has been forced to splash another N10million on a Siena Jeep in the interim.

“I am not happy with the way Coscharis (Motor Company) is treating me, I have been so calm with the whole situation for over four months now. They are really holding me to ransom, which is very bad for a reputable organisation like that,” Emenike lamented to MTNFootball.com “I bought a car worth N18m and after

a year, it developed a fault. I took the SUV back to Coscharis for repairs. Since I took the car to them for repairs, nothing has been done. They have been giving me unacceptable excuses.

“I have told them to return my car so I could take it to Europe and repair or I should add money and take another car, but they have not cooperated in this whole situation,” he added.

“They are not just taking me seriously and it’s very annoying. I just need my car back.”

Emenike

God, Eagles have made me – Uzoenyi N

igeria striker, Christantus Ejike Uzoenyi, has declared that God and his colleagues in the Super Eagles are behind his new-found form, especially at the ongoing African Nations Championship (CHAN) in South Africa.

Uzoenyi has scored three goals and

has been picked as the Most Valuable Player (MVP) in three matches before the Eagles clashed with the Black Stars of Ghana last night in Bloemfontein.

Last year, the left winger, who will clock 22 years on March 23, was not able to tie down a permanent deal at French club, Rennes, at the end of a six-month

loan from Enugu Rangers.

“I have put the events at Rennes behind me. I have regained my form, all thanks to God, my coaches in the Eagles and my team mates,” Uzoenyi told MTNFootball.com.

“They all play roles in getting me back to my good form. I am working

hard to be at my best.”

He also disclosed that unity and mutual respect in camp had been the magic behind the Eagles display at the CHAN. “There is unity in the team and that is the major factor in our resurgence.

There is a lot of high level respect in the group,” Uzoenyi remarked.

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Sport

Thursday, January 30, 2014

Yakubu debuts for Al Rayyan

Costa

Mourinho mum on Costa

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ut-of-favour Super Eagles striker, Yakubu Aiyegbeni, has debuted for Qatar Star League club Al Rayyan but suffered a 1-0 home loss to Al Sailiya.

Aiyegbeni, who is a proven goal getter in several countries, sported jersey number 27 and was on from start to finish.

He has played in Israel, England and China before his latest move to oilrich Qatar, where he has signed a contract for a year and a half.

Al Rayyan is 13th on 14 teams league table with 14 points from 17 games.

The former Blackburn Rovers and Middlesbrough forward scored 23 goals in 43 games for Chinese club Guangzhou R&F in 2012 and 2013 seasons.

Draxler gets Lehmann backing

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ormer Arsenal goalkeeper, Jens Lehmann, is backing the Gunners’ move for Schalke 04 midfielder Julian Draxler.

Lehmann, who made over 200 appearances in two spells at Arsenal, insists Draxler should move to North London, but not until the end of the season.

“I think Julian is perceived to be one of the greatest, talented young players in Germany,” Lehmann said.

“So it would be a good move for him to go to Arsenal.

“With Arsenal, he has a bigger likeness of playing in the Champions League next year, which is quite certain. Of course, it may give him a bigger chance to play at the World Cup with Brazil.”

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helsea Manager, Jose Mourinho, is tightlipped over his bid for Atletico Madrid striker Diego Costa.

Mourinho is focusing on Diego Costa with Wayne Rooney who has reportedly signed new terms with Manchester United.

A possible player-plus-cash swap deal has been mooted with goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois-who is on loan at Atleticomoving in the opposite direction.

“I cannot speak about Diego Costa,” the Portuguese gaffer said yesterday, adding, “But I can talk about Courtois because he’s our player.”

Yakubu

Old Lady eyes Vidic

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uventus will be front and centre for pre-contract talks with Manchester United captain Nemanja Vidic next week.

Reports said that the Italian side intends to move for the Serb once the winter market closes on tomorrow night.

Vidic is off contract in June and expectations are that he will leave United in the summer, with Italy the most likely destination.

The centre-half ’s agent, Silvano Martina, has been contacted by Napoli, AC Milan, AS Roma and Fiorentina, but Juventus is determined to bring him to Turin.

Vidic Draxler

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Gallas dreams with Glory

F

ormer Tottenham Hotspur defender, William Gallas, believes his new club Perth Glory can push for this season’s A-League title.

The Western Australian club currently sits seventh on the table, just a point out of the top six, which gives the former Arsenal and Chelsea centre-back reason to believe that the side can force its way into the finals.

“That is my mentality. I am a w i n n e r, ” Gallas said after getting through 78 minutes of the weekend’s 3-1 loss to the We s t e r n S yd n e y Wanderers.

Gallas

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Sport

Thursday, January 30, 2014

My life as world champion–Cannavaro

Former Italy international and FIFA World Player of the Year award, Fabio Cannavaro, spoke to FIFA.com on his career that spanned two decades playing for the likes of Juventus and Real Madrid, among other salient issues What comes to mind when you think about football in Brazil?

When you talk about Brazil, you talk about football. We’re talking about one of those countries where football is different: it’s seen as a spectacle, a reason for living. I’m proud to be Italian, but there are different ways of seeing the game. I’m also proud because I know that, of the five world titles Brazil have won, two of them came against us in 1970 and 1994. That makes me proud. Brazil is football.

What do you think ranks as Italy’s greatest strength when the national team crosses the white line onto the pitch?

We’ve got a lot of technical ability but, more than anything else, we show a lot of heart, sacrifice and a willingness to win at all costs.

We’re willing to play ugly if necessary. For us, winning is everything: that’s our secret. We’ve got the willpower to overcome difficulties and obstacles – that’s something Italy’s always had and it’s something to be proud of.

Do you agree that the Italian national team has changed and become more adventurous since Cesar Prandelli took over?

Yes,, but not just through Prandelli.

If you look at the past 20 years of European competition, some of the best football’s been played by AC Milan. The national team too, the one I played in that won the 2006 World Cup, for example.

We finished some games with four forwards, two midfielders–one of whom was Andrea Pirlo, who was attack-minded–and two attacking full-backs in Gianluca Zambrotta and Fabio Grosso. But people always remember the Italy side of the 1930s, when defensive pattern was the prevailing trend. Nowadays we still know how to defend, but we can attack too. We have more of the ball.

Are you surprised to see the likes of Pirlo and Gianluigi Buffon still playing an impor-

because we weren’t Italian enough. We threw away that final in the last 30 seconds.

Is Spain your favourites to win Brazil 2014?

They’re definitely one of the favourites: they’re the team to beat. They’re a battlehardened side, while they’ve got youngsters in the mix too.

How do you look back on the last edition of the World Cup in South Africa?

In footballing terms, 2010 was a strange year in Italy’s history. We went into the tournament with a group of young players and a sprinkling of veterans from Germany 2006. But then Gennaro Gattuso hurt his knee, Buffon had a back problem, Pirlo was injured. We played our biggest games without that nucleus and suffered for it.

Which coaches had the biggest influence on you as a player?

Marcello Lippi and Fabio Capello: it was no accident that I was very successful under them. They’re both guys who taught me a lot, while I also worked with the likes of Arrigo Sacchi, Giovanni Trapattoni. I hope to able to draw on the best of them all so I can share it with my future players.

Has your being a successful player helped or hindered you?

At first it’s going to help me, because people remember what you’ve achieved. But if, when the time comes to talk to your players, you can’t get your message across, you’ll lose them in two minutes–that’s what players are like.

rsenal Manager, Arsene Wenger, has admitted that injuries and suspension may force him into the market, after all.

Abou Diaby and Theo Walcott are long

term absentees and Wenger admitted that Aaron Ramsey suffered a setback during training and may be out for longer than expected.

“I have nothing to say at the moment but I hope we will still have something to tell you because we lost a few players now,” Wenger told Sky Sports.

“We have lost Mathieu Flamini for three games and Ramsey, but overall I think Jack Wilshere will be back soon, so I think we’ll be fine.”

Week 1 fixtures Giwa vs Pillars Ranger vs Nembe Warriors vs Kaduna Wolves vs Kanemi Bayelsa vs Sharks Sunshine v Enyimba Lobi vs Crown Heartland vs Dolphins Akwa vs Gombe Taraba vs Nasarawa Wenger

Glo League: Pillars face Giwa in opener

D

efending champion Kano Pillars FC will open its title defence on February 23 against newly promoted Giwa FC at the Jos Township Stadium.

Pillars finished third in the just-concluded Super 4 where the side won just a game.

A Giwa FC official, Sammy Adesoji, said the league new team was ready for the Pillars challenge.

“All the teams that will play in Premier League have same ambition of lifting the trophy, so every game will have high tempo,” Adesoji said.

“No cause for alarm, as we will be ready for Pillars as we will go for three points,” the Giwa official maintained.

How much does it mean to become a world champion?

I always say that once someone wins a Champions League, a UEFA Cup or an international competition then he can consider himself a good player, even a top one.

But once you win a World Cup, you become a legend. That sums up just how much a player’s life changes once he’s a world champion.

Cannavaro

Gunners aim market

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tant role at international level?

I’m not surprised, no, as for us Italian players working hard and making sacrifices is part of who we are. We train really hard. We’re professional off the pitch too, 24 hours a day. And that’s the result: seeing players like Pirlo and Buffon still involved at 35 or 36. That’s normal in Italy.

What are your overriding memories of the biggest points of your international career games against France?

My generation had a major footballing rivalry with France, because we always seemed to meet them at the most decisive moments.

Sometimes I came off secondbest, but the last, the final of Germany 2006– couldn’t have gone any better. That said, I still can’t stomach what happened to us in the final of UEFA EURO 2000 in Rotterdam,

29

Pillars midfielder Rabiu Ali (l) will spearhead the onslaught against Giwa FC

C’Wealth Games: Table tennis due in camp

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echnical Director, Nigeria Table Tennis Federation (NTTF), Anderson Bankole, yesterday said that the federation would commence camping for the 2014 Commonwealth Games in February.

Bankole said early preparation would enable the players to produce an outstanding performance.

“We are determined to ensure that the players clinched medals in all the events they would participate in,” he said.

“This is a major competition for both the players and federation to proof that they are a force to reckon with.

“We will ensure that we prepare very well for the competition so as to excel and make the country proud.”

According to Bankole, the federation will not only prepare the players and officials technically but would ensure that they are emotionally and psychologically fit to compete.

“Playing involves you using one’s psychology and being ready to counter your opponent’s move,” he added, stressing, “The game involves a reflex action and there is no time to think of what to do.”

30

Sport

Aussie Open 2014 takes…

Women’s ‘Big Three’ not all-dominant For all the talk about the ‘Big Four’ which swept up 37 of the 40 men’s Grand Slam titles on offer between 2004 and 2013, an even more select group had threatened to dominate the women’s game for the foreseeable future. Excluding the bizarre sequence of events at Wimbledon in 2013, 013, Serena Williams, Victoria Azarenka ka and Maria Sharapova had shared all ll of the major titles over the last two years between them.

Thursday, January 30, 2014

Hope rises for injured Nadal W

orld number one, Rafa Nadal, is hopeful he will not miss any tournaments because of the back injury which wrecked his Australian Open final.

Nadal was beaten in four sets by Stanislaw Wawrinka in Sunday’s Melbourne final, as he struggled with a lower back problem.

He has since taken anti-inflammatories and undergone intensive physiotherapy as he remains on

Wawrinka’s a’s win no game-changer anger New star Stanislas nislas Wawrinka has joined Juan Martin rtin del Potro, Marat Safin and Gaston n Gaudio as the only players other than n the previously mentioned ‘Big Four’ to win a Grand Slam in the past 10 years, and many are speculating he can an go on to challenge the game’s elite on a frequent basis from om now on. Wawrinnka beat both Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic on his way to the crown.

But that does not mean the 28-year-old has cracked it at the very top.

Federer better, not at best There was a slightly unnerving g moment after Federer’s quarter-final victory over Murray urray when the Swiss player was asked d how he dealt with loslos ing the third set after winning the first two. “I had no choice but to stay out here and tell myself, ‘I’m actually still in the lead, so it’s not that bad’,” he told on-court interviewer Jim Courier. He added: “Comparing (my confidence) to my good year? I don’t know, it’s much higher than last year.”

Federer

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

course to compete in his next schedsche uled tournament in Buenos Air Aires, which starts on February 10.

“Next Monday he will have fu further tests to evaluate the progre progress of his recovery and to see if he c can gradually start training again again,” Nadal’s spokesman said yesterda yesterday.

After Buenos Aires, Nadal will w play in Rio de Janeiro-both on clay, cl before the US hardcourt Masters Maste events at Indian Wells and Miam Miami.

Nadal Nad N da all

Wawrinka savours ‘biggest moment’

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wiss number one, Stanislas Wawrinka, has revealed that hard work and confidence helped him become a Grand Slam winner in Australia.

Disbelief appeared to be the 28-year-old’s primary emotion following his 6-3 6-2 3-6 6-3 triumph over a hobbling Rafael Nadal in a dramatic Australian Open final at the weekend when he became the first player to defeat the top two in the world since Sergi Bruguera at the French Open in 1993, after he earlier defeated Novak Djokovic in the semis.

“It still feels like a dream because it’s a Grand Slam title so it’s something that’s just amazing for me,”

Wa w r i n ka, who is world number three, said.

“It’s just good to wake up with that trophy. I didn’t get much sleep. I was with my team, some friends, family, we celebrated a little bit and enjoyed the moment.

As well as getting his hands on silverware, Wawrinka’s efforts also guided him up the rankings list, up from from eight to three, behind only Nadal and Djokovic and ahead of compatriot Roger Federer and Andy Murray.

Wawrinka

Thursday, January 30, 2014

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

31

Business & Finance Our investment in the NMRC is one of the pillars of our investment strategy in the housing and real estate sector, which also include investment in affordable and mass housing and other commercial real estate.

UBA has a deliberate policy to continue to fund agriculture.

Our lending to the sector is already above the industry average. We are doing about seven per cent of our total portfolio in agriculture.

– MD/CEO, Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority, NSIA, Mr. Uche Orji

– GMD, UNITED BANK FOR AFRICA, UBA, MR. PHILLIPS ODUOZA

FG approves N240m for purchase of 44 locally assembled vehicles for SURE-P programme

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he Federal Executive Council, FEC, yesterday approved N240 million for the purchase of 44 locally assembled Innoson Utility vehicles for the implementation of the SURE-P Community programme nationwide.

The Minister of Labour and Productivity, Mr Emeka Wogu, made this known when he briefed State House correspondents after the weekly FEC meeting, chaired

by President Goodluck Jonathan.

He said the vehicles were being procured from an indigenous vehicle manufacturing company in line with the Federal Government’s policy on patronage of made-in-Nigeria products.

He said the vehicles would be allocated to all the Coordinating Chairmen of the Community Service Women and Youths Employment, CSWYE, in all 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory, FCT. According to him, the vehicles will be used to facilitate the monitoring and supervision of CSWYE programme in all the states and local government areas of the federation.

Wogu said: “Today, I presented a memorandum to council for approval for direct procurement of 44 number of utility vehicles known as IVM G5 Utility vehicles and the council approved it.

“The most important thing is that these vehicles are produced in Nigeria, precisely in Nnewi, Anambra State, by a very indigenous company known and called, ‘Innoson Vehicle Manufacturer Company Ltd. “These vehicles are procured for the use of the SURE-P component known as Community Service for Women and Youths Employment. It is for the Coordinating Chairmen in the 36 states and FCT,” he said.

Wogu said that the Community

Service Women and Youths Employment programme had so far successfully created more than 118,000 jobs, while 80,000 new jobs would be created in 2014.

Also speaking on the same programme, the Minister of Informatiion, Mr Labaran Maku, dismissed the assertion that the vehicles were being allocated to members of the Jonathan/Sambo campaign organisation in the states ahead of the 2015 presidential election.

He said that the Community

Service Women and Youths Employment programme was not a political tool, but a scheme meant to uplift the quality of life of youths and women irrespective of their geo-political backgrounds.

Maku said: “So, the SURE-P is not for partisanship. It has made a fundamental difference in the way we are facing infrastructural projects today. So, it is not partisan at all. We are going in an election now, so, everybody will ask all such of ridiculous questions.

I

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L-R: Executive Director, Operations, Bank of Industry, Alhaji Mohammed Alkali; Member, Bonny Chieftancy Council, Chief Reginald Hart; CEO/MD, Bank of Industry, Ms. Evelyn Oputu and Chairman, Bonny Chieftancy Council, Chief Amin Pepple, during a “breaking new grounds in sustainable partnership” in Lagos yesterday. PHOTO:ADEMOLA AKINLABI

Standard Bank to sell London operations for $765m ndustrial and Commercial Bank of China is set to become the first large state-owned Chinese lender to set up significant trading operations in London with a $765m deal to buy a majority stake in Standard Bank’s global

FLIGHT SCHEDULE

markets business.

The move by China’s largest lender by assets comes as Chinese banks have regained their appetite to invest in London after the UK government launched a significant diplomatic initiative last year to attract them with special terms such as allowing them to set up lightly regulated branches.

The UK regulator had previously refused to allow Chinese banks to set up branches in Lon-

don and it had been a bone of contention for Chinese lenders, some of which, including ICBC, rerouted parts of their business to Luxembourg.

In the deal announced yesterday, ICBC will pay cash for a 60 per cent holding of Standard Bank, as the South African lender substantially reduces its international presence – part of an ongoing strategy of streamlining its global operations and refocusing on Africa.

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The transaction is also an example of ICBC’s ambitions and international expansion plans as it follows its clients across the globe and grows its capital markets business alongside the internationalisation of the Chinese currency.

Standard Bank’s global markets business includes commodities, fixed income, currencies, credit and equity products. It also has operations in New York, Dubai and Hong Kong.

Shell sells stake in Brazilian field for $1bn

Telecoms: Still waitng for law to protect infrastructure

Deepening market share with promos

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Thursday, January 30, 2014

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Shell sells stake in Brazilian field for $1bn

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oyal Dutch Shell has agreed to sell a stake in one of its Brazilian offshore assets to Qatar’s state-owned oil and gas Company for $1bn.

The disposal of a 23 per cent share in Parque das Conchas project, also dubbed BC-10, to Qatari Petroleum International comes as the Anglo-Dutch major is likely to step up efforts to raise cash in 2014 and 2015, the Financial Times said..

Shell, Europe’s largest oil company by market value, has been accused by investors of spending too much in recent years and Ben van Beurden, the new chief executive who took the reins at the start of this year, is under pressure to improve capital discipline.

As part of that, Shell is expected to sell some $15bn worth

of assets over the next two years in one of the largest disposal programmes in its history. Already this year it has announced the sale of a stake in the Wheatstone LNG project in Australia to its Kuwaiti partners and is also eyeing the sale of an interest in a pipeline in the US. Investors will be looking for more details on disposals and capital investment plans when Shell reports results on Thursday.

The company last week warned profits for 2013 would be “significantly lower” than expected.

It blamed the profit warning, its first in 10 years, on continuing woes in refining, security problems in Nigeria and higher exploration costs.

Nick Butler, the FT’s commentator on energy and power, says Shell’s profit warning leaves the

impression that there is a governance problem that has left management out of touch with the operations of the business The deal with the Qatari national oil company will see Shell remain as the operator of the ultra-deep water project, which is located 110km offshore in the huge Campos Basin. Pending regulatory approval the sale to QPI will cut Shell’s stake to 50 per cent, with India’s ONGC holding 27 per cent.

Analysts said the disposal was in line with Shell’s recent emphasis on disposals but was little more than a “pass through” as it had only recently acquired the 23 per cent stake from Petrobras in December for $1bn. That deal saw Shell and ONGC exercise their pre-emption rights to jointly acquire the Brazilian national oil

company’s 35 per cent stake in the project.

“The divestments and in certain cases associated capex obviation emphasise in our view Shell’s moves to bring its cash cycle back into balance and as such are expected to be received favourably by investors,” Lucas Hermann, an analyst at Deutsche Bank, wrote in a research note.

BC-10 is a collection of five fields, according to Offshore Technology, with estimated reserves of 400m barrels of heavy crude oil. The project is currently producing 50,000 barrels of oil per day but output is set to rise further after coming on-stream four years ago. Work is continuing on the third and final phase of the project, which is expected to add 28,000 barrels to daily output at its peak.

Director General, IITA, Mr. Nteranya Sanginga (left) speaking at the Sustainable Weed Management Technologies for Cassava System in Nigeria ProjectKick-Off Workshop in Ibadan, yesterday.

PHOTO: NAN

South African investors plan ethanol refinery in Edo SEBASTINE EBHUOMHAN BENIN CITY

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outh African investors have indicated interest to establish an ethanol refinery in Edo State.

Executive Chairman of Industrial Development Holding of South Africa, Mxolesi Mbetse disclosed the plan when he paid Governor Adams Aliyu Oshiomhole of Edo State a courtesy visit at the Government House Benin.

Mr. Mbetse said, “What we want to do in Edo State is that in the next five to ten years, we want to completely eliminate the importation of palm oil. We want to ensure that Nigeria becomes the next exporter of not only palm oil, sugar but also ethanol. I was in Brazil and was amazed at the way they used technology to produce ethanol. Today, Brazil produces billions of ethanol.”

The investor told the governor that from his reliable findings, Edo State was endowed with abundant agricultural and natural resources that could sustain industrialisation and industrial

growth not only in the state and the geo-political zone but in the entire country.

According to him, Edo State’s raw material potentialities and the infrastructure already put in place by the government attracted his business conglomerate to come and cite a refinery that would produce and process ethanol using palm-oil and sugar-cane. He added that the large availability of raw materials and ready manpower should further enhance the industrial base of Edo State and its output.

Mbetse stated further, “When you look at the issue of agriculture and how important it is to Nigeria and the strategic nature of Edo State, it becomes very necessary that all hands must be put on deck to improve the lives of the people.

What we need to do is to, within a foreseeable future, use renewable energy. Ethanol is the most important component of this renewable energy. There is no other place to do that than Edo State when you look at the infrastructure that the government has done.”

While emphasizing that he has

not come to seek financial assistance for the investment, Mbetse said his company came to solicit the state government’s support to make the investment a reality.

“The strategic importance of Edo State gives me hope that it is the right place to put up this investment in terms of where you can produce what to be consumed. In terms of where to produce enough sugar and palm oil to be consumed locally, Nigeria is a place to be. You

don’t have to go to India or China.

Nigeria is our China. It is not just to produce sugar and export it to China. We have to produce and refine,” he concluded.

In his response, Oshiomhole said the state government was clear on its plan to improve the GDP of people in the state and insisted that putting infrastructure in place without attracting the right investors would yield very little.

ANAN President worried over economy MESHACK IDEHEN

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he President of the Association of National Accountants of Nigeria, ANAN, Mr. Sakirudeen Labode, has said the association is deeply worried over the state of the nation’s economy.

Labode said political players in the country must refrain from activities, which could endanger the nation’s economy, saying it was obvious the nation’s economy was suffering from heat generated by politicians.

In a statement on yesterday, the ANAN president said the association has keenly watched with great concern ongoing developments in the political arena in Nigeria, and that the association is deeply concerned and worried that the heat in the polity is moving fast towards an intolerable level.

The ANAN president said this development is posing a serious threat to all sectors of the Nigerian economy; particularly its financial sector, adding internal and external investors as well as stakeholders were becoming apprehensive over the state of the nation’s polity.

According to him,” The association is appealing to the key political players and their followers in the country to bear in mind their responsibilities to the citizens of the country who look up to them for good governance and direction.”

“We the Association of National Accountants of Nigeria, ANAN, hereby appeal that the game of politics should be played according to the rules in which the interest of the good people of Nigeria and their posterity shall be enhanced and sustained.

“ANAN is also appealing to the political players to watch their activities and ensure that the Nigerian.

LASG pledges support to NRC to check trading on rail tracks

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he Lagos State Government yesterday said it would support the Nigerian Railway Corporation, NRC, to curb incessant trading on the rail tracks, and ensure the safety of its passengers.

The Commissioner for Transportation, Mr. Kayode Opeifa told newsmen in Ikeja, that the State Government would ensure safety and easy movement of people travelling by rail.

Opeifa advised traders who were fond of displaying their

wares along the rail tracks to, in their own interest, desist from such acts.

“Rather than sell on the rail tracks, transact your business in the markets provided within your localities and stop selling on the rail tracks,” he said.

The Commissioner reminded the traders that by displaying their wares on the rail tracks, they were not only exposing their lives to dangers but also that of their customers.

He also appealed to residents to desist from making their

purchase on the rail tracks, but should patronise the traders selling in the various markets located within the state.

Opeifa, however, called on passengers who usually hung on moving trains or sit on their rooftops to desist from such a criminal act, as it was illegal.

He urged the railway police to intensify efforts in ensuring that passengers and traders complied strictly with the directives and anyone caught violating them would be sanctioned.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Business & Finance

Thursday, January 30, 2014

33

3% freight levy: NIMASA floors NLNG at Appeal Court FRANCIS EZEM

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he Court of Appeal sitting in Lagos has thrown out an objection filed by the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas Limited NLNG, which challenged the decision of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency NIMASA, to appeal an earlier ruling of the Federal High Court sitting in Lagos, which refused to discharge an order of interim injunction against the agency.

NIMASA and NLNG had in the last one year been at dagger drawn over the refusal of the NLNG to pay an accumulated

three percent levy on freight, which is a major source of the agency revenue as approved by the NIMASA Act, 2007, which made the NLNG to institute a legal action.

A Federal High Court in Lagos presided over by Justice M.B. Idris had on July 12, 2013 in a ruling in the case between NIMASA v.

NLNG, Attorney General of the Federation and Global West Vessel Specialists Limited refused the NIMASA’s application to discharge the order of interim injunction it made against it when it was not yet a party in the suit brought by the NLNG. However Justice Sidi Bage of the appellate court, who de-

livered the ruling in conjunction with Justices Rita Pemu and Chinwe Iyizoba held that all necessary materials like that all necessary materials such as the ruling appealed against and the notice of appeal of NIMASA were not placed before it by the NLNG. The court, which also held that NLNG’s objection was premature and it could not stand, accordingly threw out the objection.

Counsel to NIMASA, Mr. Mike Igbokwe SAN, had argued the objection raised by the NLNG on the grounds that it failed to attach to its objection and other necessary materials such as the ruling being appealed, notice of appeal

and NIMASA’s motion on notice.

He also argued that it was premature for NLNG to object to NIMASA’s appeal when the appeal has not yet been entered in the Court of Appeal, adding that NIMASA did not require the leave of court to file the appeal because it was constitutionally appealing as of right against the refusal of a Federal High Court to discharge the order of interim injunction made against it.

Meanwhile, Mr. Wale Akoni, SAN, who led other counsels for NLNG had raised a Notice of Preliminary Objection urging the court to strike out the Notice of Appeal filed by NIMASA for being incompetent and/a nullity

in law on the basis that NIMASA’s appeal was predicated on a Federal High Court’s exercise of discretion and that the grounds of appeal raised by NIMASA involved mixed laws and facts.

The counsel therefore submitted that the appeal of NIMASA was incurably defective and a nullity for filing the appeal without obtaining the Leave of the Federal High Court and the Court of Appeal.

The court has however adjourned the matter to February 6, 2014 for hearing of the pending motions.

This follows request by Mr. Igbokwe SAN for time to study and react to the application.

Infrastructure development key to free trade in ECOWAS –Official

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he Director of Private Sector in ECOWAS, Mr. Alfred Braimah, said yesterday that improved infrastructure was necessary in promoting greater trade among states in the subregion.

Braimah told the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, in Abuja that rapid infrastructure development was a crucial factor towards the realisation of the region’s full potential.

He said that the need led to the designation of some Heads of State who would promote a cohesive approach towards infrastructure development in the subregion.

“The heads of state basically recognised infrastructure as critical but if we are to unlock the full potential of the region we’ve got to get the infrastructure right.

“It’s about finishing all, upgrading the road network, looking

at the rails, looking at air transport as areas that would need to be looked at.

“So at some point we actually had some Heads of State designated.

“The Head of State of Cote d’ Ivoire was actually the leader to promote a kind of co-easy approach to infrastructure development in the sub-region,’’ Braimah said He said that the first step towards implementing the region’s custom union was confronted by some key business environment challenges, mainly infrastructure.

Braimah said that ECOWAS was committed to ensuring that multiplicity of barriers, controls and checks that affected cost of doing business were addressed.

He pointed out that absence of regulatory framework had militated against expected free duty within a free trade area.

Investors bid for Ekiti $3.5m diagnostic centre construction contract ABIODUN NEJO ADO EKITI

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o fewer than 12 national and international investors have arrived Ekiti State to participate in the bidding process for the construction of a $3.5 million standard diagnostic centre being proposed by the state government to further improve healthcare service delivery in the State.

The diagnostic centre, which will also help the Funmi Olayinka diagnostic centre perform optimally, is to be put in place on Public-Private Partnership arrangement.

Receiving the investors many of whom are from the United Kingdom and South Africa among others in Ado Ekiti on Tuesday, Governor Kayode Fay-

emi said the gesture is aimed at improving on the quality of healthcare services in the state as well as enable people who need diagnostic services have access to it.

He stated that it is the vision of his administration to establish a referral place that will be a reference in the country hence the opening of the bidding process, which has brought in the investors who are leading players in providing medical equipment.

While reiterating the commitment of his administration to ensuring a very transparent bidding process, Fayemi stated that Ekiti is the first state to domesticate the freedom of information law because of the administration’s resolve for accountability and transparency.

Mr. Solomon Boro, MD/CEO Express Portfolio Services Limited taking the Student of Completeman International School on online Trading during the CMIS Student execution to Nigerian Stock Exchange, NSE, in Abuja yesterday PHOTO: ROTIMI OSASONA

Japan ready to help Nigeria develop auto industry HAKEEM GBADAMOSI AKURE.

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he Japanese Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Ryuichi Shoji, yesterday said Japan will be ready to support the new Automobile Development Plan of Nigeria in order help the country to achieve its goal and objectives with a pledge to provide all necessary facilities and equipment.

The Japanese ambassador who said this yesterday during his visit to the campus of the Elizade University said this will help to aid the educational development of Nigeria.

According to Shoji, Japan was ready to support Nigeria’s quest to develop her automobile industry and join the League of Nations that produce vehicles.

But he said the project couldn’t be achieved within a short period of time saying the country would be spending years before the plan could be realised.

He also said apart from helping

in the area of technology, Japan was ready to help in the area of human capacity development to be able to drive policy of government The ambassador note that Nigeria with large population already had the human resources required for its development, adding that the country should endeavour to use the advantage to improve its economy.

He said, “Basically investment will be made by each of the companies, what Japanese embassy can do is to provide support and assistance that will facilitate the development in the automobile industry in Nigeria, we don’t think this can be done in one year, two years, it is a long term objective developing the automobile industry takes time.

“There is need to start with the provision of infrastructure like power generation, water and so on, automobile industry in complicated industry but we will support it, also supporting industries

like spare parts making should be developed, so we can see that this cannot be done in one or two years, it is a long process and we will support this process if well managed”.

Also speaking the founder of Elizade University, Chief Ade Ojo, said he had established relationship with Japan for over four decade saying he had associated with Toyota, which is one of the leading vehicle manufacturers in the country.

Ade Ojo, explained that the establishment of the institution was borne out of his connection with Japan, saying whatever he was today was made possible hype his association with the country.

He, however, solicited for assistance of the Japanese government in developing and raising young and talented students who will be a world class engineers in future saying the visit of the ambassador will be the beginning of a very strong relationship between Japan and the university.

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Business & Finance

Thursday, January 30, 2014

NSE, CBi to launch corporate governance rating system in May

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he Corporate Governance Rating System, CGRS, of the Nigerian Stock Exchange, NSE, and Convention on Business Integrity, CBi, will be launched in May. Mr. Soji Apampa, the Executive Director of CBi, disclosed this at a breakfast meeting organised by NSE and CBi on corporate governance for quoted companies on Tuesday in Lagos.

Apampa said that the CGRS index was aimed at ensuring corporate governance among listed companies on the stock market.

He said that the initiative would boost the nation’s foreign investment inflow due to listed companies’ adherence to corporate governance principles.

Apampa said the initiative, to be funded by Siemens Integrity

Fund, would improve companies’ rating standards.

He said that the failure of corporate governance in banks and the challenges in business development contributed to the capital market crash in 2008.

Apampa said that the nation’s sovereign credit rating was below investment grade due to weak institutions, slow reforms and corruption.

Mr. Oscar Onyema, NSE Chief Executive Director, said that sound corporate governance practices would boost stakeholders’ trust in quoted companies.

Onyema, who was represented

by Mr. Haruna Jalo-Waziri, the Executive Director, Business Development, said that the programme would encourage companies to do business in a sustainable manner.

Onyema said the partnership with the CBi was to create corporate governance rating system and index for companies that would meet certain thresholds within that ranking.

“The objectives are to raise overall corporate governance standards in the country by providing companies with an incentive to develop global best practices.

“It will provide opportunities for companies to differentiate themselves in the market place,” he said.

Onyema said that the initiative would boost prospects of quoted companies for cross-border listing in target markets.

According to him, listed companies will become more competitive as corporate governance is a strong competitive tool.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

HASAL MFB promo winners emerge TOLA AKINMUTIMI ABUJA

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ASAL Microfinance Bank Limited customers smiled home at the weekend with fantastic prizes won in the bank’s 5th Year Anniversary Award Promo raffle draw, with one of them, Isiaka Lekan Lukmon, a previously unbanked customer and a man that has never owned a car before in his life, wins the Kia Picanto star prize of three month old Promo which ended at the weekend in Abuja.

The Awards Promo draw, which attracted hundreds of customers to the Garki, Abuja corporate headquarters of the MFB, was supervised by the Bank’s Managing Director, Mr. Rogers Nwoke, including independent professional observers, thereby making the exercise

Etisalat to reward 50 SMEs in promo KUNLE A ZEEZ

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L-R: President, Real Estate Developers Association of Nigeria, South-West Zone, Chief Bode Afolayan; Lecturer, Department of Estate Management, University of Lagos, Prof. Timothy Nubi and Chief Executive Officer, Pison Housing Company, Mr Rowland Igbinoba, at the Real Estate TRENds 2014 Interactive Conference in Lagos yesterday.

IITA launches five-year research on sustainable weed managment

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he International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, IITA, Ibadan, and its partners have launched a five-year research project on sustainable weed management practices for cassava farms.

This is contained in a statement issued Mr. Godwin Atser, the information officer of the institute and made available to the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, yesterday.

The statement said that the project aims to find solutions to labour-intensive weeding usually carried out by women.

It said that the project would also seek to increase cassava productivity in the country.

“The project is seeking to find solutions to the labour-intensive weeding usually performed by women and children and to increase cassava productivity for 125,000 Nigerian farm families.

“The project has the potential to serve as a livelihood transformation model for all cassava-producing states in Nigeria.’’

According to the statement, smallholder farmers who appreciate its tolerance of drought, poor soils and its prospects in Nigeria generally grow cassava.

It stated that research was imperative because Nigeria, as the world’s largest cassava producer, was being threatened by insufficiently developed weed management practices.

It also said that hand and hoe weeding was the predominant weed control practices on smallholder cassava farms and takes 50 to 80 per cent of the total labour budget of cassava growers.

The statement said the aim of the research was to develop state-of-the-art weed management practices.

According to the statement, the research would seek to combine improved cassava varieties with proper planting dates, plant populations, and plant nutrition options.

It quoted the Project Manager, Mr. Alfred Dixon, as saying that weeding required up to 500 hours of labour per hectare to prevent economic loss in cassava roots.

It further quoted him as saying that the hand and hoe weeding also compromised women’s responsibilities and the children’s education.

“Addressing the complex issue of hunger and poverty is no easy task, and so we see the value in engaging in new research.

“We are deploying our best resources to ensure that smallholder farmers have access to the best innovations to increase their agricultural productivity and improve the nutrition of their families.”

transparent and fair to all customers that participated in the ‘save and win’ promo competition.

The Managing Director said the Awards Promo was in furtherance of the bank’s business philosophy of touching lives for good for its loyal customers with a view to rewarding customers who have supported its business in the last 5 years.

He therefore urged the old customers to keep doing business with the bank in view of its demonstrated sense of corporate responsibility to impact their lives even as he asked potential ones to key into the bank’s ‘win-win’ business strategy which it has adopted over the years in order to add value to customers through products and services and contribute to the economic growth of the country.

igeria’s fourth largest telecom company, Etisalat said it was set to reward 50 entrepreneurs, who have emerged winners in the current edition of its Easybusiness Millionaire Hunt Promo.

The promo was designed to empower Small and Medium Enterprises in Nigeria with grants, training, office equipment and expertise support to actualise their business ideas.

According to the company, entries for the scheme was originally scheduled to end on December 31, 2013, was extended to January 31 to afford more SME owners the opportunity to benefit from the offer.

Speaking on the promo, Director, Business Segment, Etisalat

Nigeria, Mr. Lucas Dada, disclosed that at least 50 winners would be selected and announced in February.

“The winners will receive free training courses on entrepreneurial management and advisory services from the esteemed Enterprise Development Centre of the Pan Atlantic University.

They will also be given office equipment while the top 10 winners will win a cash sum of N2 million each,” he said.

According to Dada, “These prospects have heightened expectations in the SME sector as the Etisalat Easybusiness Millionaire Hunt Promo would go a long way in ensuring that young entrepreneurs, who have fantastic business ideas but lack the required capital to pursue and realise their dreams, go beyond such obstacles.”

Farmers laud IFAD programme in Jigawa

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ice farmers in Auyo, Jigawa, on yesterday commended the International Fund for Agricultural Development, IFAD, for its support to farmers in the state.

A cross section of the farmers, who spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, in Auyo, Jigawa, said the initiative had encouraged agricultural activities at the grassroots.

NAN reports that the support was given to the farmers under the IFAD-assisted CommunityBased Agriculture and Rural Development Programme, CBARDP. Malam Haladu Magaji, a farmer, said he received fertilizers, seeds and other supports from the programme.

Magaji said he had cultivated 20 hectares with the support from the programme.

“We are 20 in our group and with the support from IFAD; we cultivated 20 hectares of rice last cropping season.

“We are happy and hope to increase our production next farming season.’’

Another farmer, Habibu Muntari, said the programme had established a 500-kg capacity rice mill in the area, to add value to the produce.

Muntari also said that they were exposed to soil fertility management and modern packaging techniques under the programme.

“The programme has encouraged production and improved the economic and social life of smallholder farmers.’’

The farmer called for the expansion of the programme to enhance participation.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Info Tech

Thursday, January 30, 2014

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Telecoms: Still waitng for law to protect infrastructure Two years after sending the telecoms Critical National Infrastructure Bill to the National Assembly, the lawmakers have yet to accelerate measures in passing it into law in spite of the increasing wave of vandalism threatening the over $25bn investment in the industry.

KUNLE AZEEZ reports.

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riminal activities unleashed on telecommunications infrastructures in Nigeria may continue unabated as long as the seeming nonchalant attitude of the Federal lawmakers to pass into law telecoms protection bill currently pending in the National Assembly.

With over 27, 000 transceiver base stations, BTSs, already built by telecoms operators, fibre optic cables running into several thousands of kilometers and other key infrastructures strategically located in public places all over the country, stakeholders have said the need to expedite action on the passage into law of the Critical National Security Infrastructure Bill into law.

Though, there is in existence the Nigerian Communications Act 2003, which provides sound regulatory environment for the operators, stakeholders are in accord that the Act is inadequate to guarantee adequate protection to physical telecoms infrastructures..

As at mid 2012, the Nigerian Communications Commission declared that the volume of investment in form of local and Foreign Direct investment in the country had hit a record $25 billion.

Industry analysts estimate that the figure released by the NCC may have surpassed $30 billion, more than 18 months after announcing the investment volume of $25 billion n 2012, even as they contend additional local and FDIs into the country between mid 2012 and end of 2013 had been significant.

As capital-intensive as telecoms infrastructures deployment is, it is worrisome that cases of vandalism and all forms of willful damage to telecoms infrastructures have continued to threaten the performance index of the industry, especially in the area of provision of sustainable Quality of Service by the operators.

More often than not, telecoms firms had cited cases of vandalism and other forms of damage to their multi-billion Naira infrastructures as one of the factors partly responsible for their inability to provide consistently seamless telecoms services to their over 121 million subscribers.

Indeed, because of their being sited in public places, telecoms infrastructures can easily fall victim of various assaults from any disgruntled person or a group of people who inflict all forms f nefarious activities on these facilities that have become ‘our next-door neighbours’ and very essential to Nigeria and its citizens as facilitator of economic development.

However, while many countries have en-

Telecom infrastructure

WHILE MANY COUNTRIES HAVE ENACTED LAWS TO CLASSIFY TELECOMS INFRASTRUCTURES AS NATIONAL SECURITY INFRASTRUCTURES WITH HEAVY PUNISHMENT PUT IN PLACE FOR WHOEVER DAMAGES SUCH FACILITIES, NIGERIA HAS CONTINUED TO

DILLY-DALLY IN TAKING THE BULL BY THE HORN acted laws to classify telecoms infrastructures as national security infrastructures with heavy punishment put in place for whoever damages such facilities, Nigeria has continued to dilly-dally in taking the bull by the horn.

The campaign to declare telecom equipment as critical national infrastructure started since 2010, but the bill to this effect was sent to the National Assembly in 2012.

The bill, when passed into law, will criminalise any act of vandalism or sabotage against ICT infrastructures, since they will now be classified as critical national security infrastructures.

Though, the Minister of Ministry of Communications Technology, Mrs. Omobola Johnson, has consistently informed stakeholders of the ministry’s efforts at ensuring that the bill is passed into law, with lawmakers also claiming seriousness on the bill, the current outcry among the operators on the delay being witnessed by the bill posses great danger to the industry, as vandals and other Nigerians, consciously or unconsciously damage telecoms infrastructures with sheer impunity.

Speaking at the 2013 Edo State Technology Day in Benin, Johnson had lamented the frequent attacks and willful vandalism of Information and Communications Technology, ICT, facilities in Nigeria, saying the ministry was ‘doing everything possible’ to protect the over $25 billion investment in the sector.

“The Federal Government is pushing for a legislation that would make them critical national security infrastructure,” she said, saying in addition to the Critical Infrastructure bill, the Federal Executive Council had approved a comprehensive cy-

ber security bill, which was to be submitted to the National Assembly for passage into law after due stakeholders’ consultations.

MTN Nigeria has claimed that it recorded an average of 70 fiber cuts monthly on its cable infrastructures spared across the country while similar experiences are borne by other operators. This, no doubt, is capable of affecting the service delivery as operators battle with fresh investment to bring the damaged infrastructures back to life again.

Secondly, the turnaround time is also another factors, as it will be wishful thinking that the damaged facilities can by restored by the operators within a twinkling of an eye. Indeed, the restoration period will take some time during which subscribers may experience epileptic service.

In 2012, there was an onslaught against telecoms infrastructures by insurgents as available records from the operators showed that about 30 base stations providing a large percentage of traffic support for voice and data to subscribers in some part of the north were bombed by suspected Boko Haram sect.

But the lawmakers have also assured operators and Nigerian telecoms consumers that the much-awaited bill would be given priority, having being considered for Second Reading in the lower legislative chamber, the House of Representatives, through upper house, The Senate would also need to work on the bill to harmonise position with the lower house.

In telephone interview with National Mirror, a member of House Committee on Communications, Hon. Abiodun Awoleye, said the bill will soon become a law in Nigeria, saying the lawmakers were keen on

fast-tracking the passing into law of the bill.

Awoleye said, though the country had created a critical national infrastructure law to protect the oil and gas and power infrastructures, similar law with specific reference to telecoms sector is not in existence.

“In view of this, as lawmakers with understanding of the critical role Information and Communication Technology can play in an economy, we have fast-tracked legislative measures to ensure that we have the Telecoms National Infrastructure Bill passed into law.

“As I speak with you, the Bill has passed first and second reading in the lower legislative chamber and once this is harmonised with the Position of the Senate, the upper legislative chamber, it means the next thing for the bill will be the President’s assent and then it become law,” he said.

He added that the lawmakers would continue to engender legislations that would protect the over $25 billion telecoms investment with a view to ensuring that subscribers get content quality of services.

When contacted, Chairman, Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria, ALTON, the operators were still optimistic that the Critical Infrastructure Protection Bill would be ready before the end of the year.

“Though the passage of the bill into law is being delayed, we are, however, aware as operators that the bill is already with the National Assembly and a lot of work is already in process to ensure its readiness.

At least, it has more visibility than it had in the past years we have been on the campaign,’’ he said.

He said the enactment of the bill would make vandalism or an injury to telecoms infrastructure by any person, body or institution a criminal act while reiterating that the need to declare ICT infrastructure as national resources which should be protected just like the railway and electricity installations has become necessary in view of the role ICT is playing in global economy.

While noting that ICT facilities are becoming ubiquitous, NCC’s Public Affairs Director, Mr. Tony Ojobo, however listed few areas to be protected in the telecoms sector.

According to him, “We have recognised the need to ensure protection for all the facilities that drive over 121 million active telephone lines in the country. Numerous base stations constructed by operators and other telecoms facility service providers.”

He noted that as a result of the inactivity of the Nigerian Telecommunications Limited, NITEL, and its lack of capacity to support their operations at roll-out, telecoms operators have had to deploy fibre optic cables, spanning the length and breadth of the country, saying such infrastructures which the members of public, businesses and governments have had to depend on needed special security and protection.

Ojobo also explained that offices and customer support centres across the country serving as engine rooms of the operators’ are other critical facilities that government is ready to protect, to ensure sustainable quality of service delivery to the ever increasing telecom consumers in Nigeria.

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Info Tech

Thursday, January 30, 2014

Nigeria records 87.06% telephone penetration P

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Tech Box

Blackberry makes case for Enterprise Mobility

KUNLE A ZEEZ

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elephone penetration in Nigeria has hit an all-time high 87.06 per cent, according to latest industry data by the Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC. According to the data obtained

by National Mirror, which is the latest in the industry, telephone penetration technically called teledensity increased from 86.62 per cent in September to reach 87.02 per cent at the end of October, 2013.

Teledensity is, which has direct relationship in growth with the number telephone lines in the country, is the percentage of the number of phone users per population at a given period of time and its growth is proportional to the growth in the subscriber base.

According to the latest statis-

tics from the NCC, teledensity in the sector has grown from 81.78 per cent in January, 2013 to reach 87.06 per cent.

Since 2001, telephone penetration has maintained a much impressive tempo, as NCC data show that teledensity increased from 0.73 per cent in 2001 to 1.89 per cent in 2002 and in 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2006; it increased to 3.35 per cent; 8.5 per cent; 16.27 per cent and 24.18 per cent respectively.

In 2007, teledensity increased to 29.93 per cent and in 2008, it hit a record 45.93 per cent. Also, with the growth in active subscriber base hitting 74.52 million by the end of 2009, teledensity also reached 53.23 per cent, while the figure rose to 63.11 per cent in December, 2010.

As at November 2011, teledensity has increased to 68.13 per cent with further increase to 80.85 per cent as at December, 2012.

Also, in January 2013, telephone penetration stood at 81.78 but reached 86.62 per cent at the end of the third quarter of the year, which is the latest figure in the industry.

In a the same vein, the number of telephone lines connected on all service providers’ networks has hit a record 171.9 million, according to the latest report.

The NCC official report, which reflects industry situation as at the end of third quarter of 2013, showed a significant improvement in the number of connected telephone lines up from 154.6 million in January, 2013 to reach the current figure of 171.9 million in September, 2013.

The figure was contributed by telecom players in the Global System for Mobile Communications, Code Division Multiple Access as well as fixed wired/wireless operators in the country.

resident of Global Enterprise Solutions for BlackBerry, Mr. John Sims, has underscored the increasing relevance of Enterprise Mobility, EM, for efficient operation by orgainsations.

According to Sims, enterprise and governments’ use of mobile technology has changed drastically over the past few years, but that, at the same time, cyber attackers and cyber criminals have become increasingly savvy.

He said a solid security foundation is essential in such an environment and while BlackBerry’s history is rooted in security our competitors can’t say the same.

According to him, “Most recently, researchers at Israel’s BenGurion University of the Negev announced that they discovered a major vulnerability that allows a hacker to easily intercept data of

MTN CTO receives recognition KUNLE A ZEEZ

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L-R: Former Executive Vice Chairman, Nigerian Communications Commission and Chairman, Open Media Group, Dr. Ernest Ndukwe; Founder and Group Chief Executive Officer, CWG Plc., Mr. Austin Okere and President, Association of Telecoms Companies of Nigeria, Mr. Lanre Ajayi, during the commissioning of an ultra-modern data centre by CWG in Lagos recently.

Samsung expands customer service operations CHIDI UGWU ABUJA

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amsung Electronics, a leading player in the global smartphone and other electronics products market, yesterday opened its Abuja Customer Service Plaza as part of its ongoing marketing expansion drive to ensure timely delivery of valueadded services to its customers in the FCT and its environs.

This is even as the company also unveiled plans to establish a ultra-modern training Institute in Ekiti State within the next few months to build a team of skilful technicians who would consistently provide after sales and other marketing services to its customers and those who make require their services after graduation.

Speaking at the commissioning of the Customer Service Plaza, the Managing Director, Samsung Electronics West Africa, Mr. Brovo Kim, explained that the Plaza was being commissioned in fulfilment of the company’s strategic “commitment to provide state-of-the-art infrastructure an ambience for bespoke customer service delivery under one roof” Kim pointed out further that the facility offers customers’ instant access to experience, service, repairs and enquiries the full range of Samsung’s mobile devices, audio-visual products and IT solutions, adding that the initiative once again reinforces the company’s technology leadership and recognition of its avowed belief that the customer is king.

According to him, one of the

innovative, customer-friendly value added services the company is offering to the Nigerian market is the Accidental Damage Handling, ADH, System, which enables customers that get their highly sophisticated smart phones or other mobile devices damaged accidentally an opportunity to replace the damaged part(s) at no cost.

While acknowledging that Samsung has consistently enjoyed overwhelming support from its Nigerian customers over the years, West African subregional boss of the global manufacturing entity said the management was looking forward to any opportunity to improve on the customers’ experience of Samsung products and brand touchpoints by opening more Service Plazas nationwide.

a Knox-enabled Samsung Galaxy S4 smartphone.

“Ultimately, Samsung provided a statement that the vulnerability was with Android, but this shows the challenge that Samsung has with continually developing Knox to survive in a hostile environment.

Sims said coupled with previous issues that have come to light regarding security, “this critical vulnerability calls into question – is Knox ready for enterprise and government customers who cannot risk the security of their mobile data?”

He note that with while Samsung still battles testing its enterprise platform and fixing security bugs, industries that require the most stringent security needs can trust that there’s nothing more secure than a BlackBerry device managed by a BlackBerry Enterprise Server .

hief Technical Officer of MTN, Nigeria, Mrs. Lynda Nwafor Saint-Obi, has been recognised by Working Moms Africa magazine in Outstanding Working Moms award for the year 2013.

Lynda, who is expected to be featured in the Mother’s Day edition of the magazine, was recognised at a Moms Ball/Awards dinner sponsored by Moms Africa recently at the exclusive Clear Essence Spa and Resort I Ikoyi, Lagos.

She was honoured for her abilty to combine her role as a mother with that of her duty as MTN’s chief technical officer.

A citation on Lynda stated that she heads the technical team of

MTN Nigeria and after hour of work daily, she is a dedicated wife and mother to an active family that includes her husband and two sons.

According to the citation, Lynda was recognised as a “an Outstanding Working Mom for her efforts to better community”, adding that she also participated in several community outreach projects including her laudable contributions to the advancement of the Nigeria working moms, various church events and MTN’s initiative.

In her response, the MTN CTO said: “My overall goal is to impact children’s lives early on to help give them the tools to make successful choices in life,” noting, “I believe this will encourage them to give back to their communities in the future.”

Taskdirect excites customers

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he much-awaited launch of the Digital Products Auction of Nigeria’s newest online and retail digital giant Taskdirect got off to a great start as hundreds of Nigerians thronged the smart shops nationwide to partake in the world’s first device auction tagged “Digital Democracy”.

The event, which held in Lagos on Tuesday this week, hold also hold on Tuesday February 4, 2014 and each Tuesday thereafter.

According to the company, every auction will have a surprising new mix of 25, 000 units of the latest smart devices including laptops, desktop computers, printers, scanners, tablets and consumables which would be up for auction.

Corporate Communications Adviser, Taskdirect, Mr. Uche Nnadozie, said, “The intention is

to equip the next 80 million Nigerians through original digital devices with global warranty.”

According to him, “Many excited Nigerians used the online platform to participate in the program.

Few minutes into the auction which began at 7.00 am, a banker and Lagos resident, Mr. Abiodun Adigun had ordered and paid for a Lenovo tablet through Taskdirect’s website. Other customers who visited the various smart shops around Nigeria showed enthusiasm towards the idea of the auction and picked up devices of their choice at great prices.”

He said at the various locations in Asaba, Port Harcourt, Victoria Island, Abuja, Kano, Uyo and Enugu, there was impressive turn-out, saying on all other days, the smart shops around the country and the online store will continue to sell devices.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Thursday, January 30, 2014

Brands & Marketing

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Deepening market share with promos As the year begins, in order to make their brands get registered in the minds of consumers while also making them patronise their products more companies are leaving no stone unturned in their bids to lure consumers as they have started rolling out mouth-watering promos. Experts warn that such promos might be counter-productive. ADEJUWON OSUNNUYI reports.

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n the marketing world, while it is observed that one thing is for the brand to retain visibility on the shelves, and another thing is for the manufacturers to register the brand on consumers’ minds, one sure way most companies have continued to explore has been sales promotion.

Sale promotion is a part of the marketing activities through which the product is made highly visible in the market. While it is for short duration, it is carried out to create a mind share while the customer is expected to think of that company’s product when he wants to buy the particular product.

Whereas advertising is a long-run tool for shaping the market’s attitude toward a brand, sales promotion is a short-term tool to trigger buyer action as it is an incentives and rewards method in getting customers to buy now rather than later.

The array of competitions among companies jostling a share of the customers’ pockets is evidence that brand managers have continued to rely on sales promotion, especially when falling behind in achieving sales quotas. To them, sales promotions work! Sales promotions yield faster and more measurable responses in sales than advertising does.

In Nigeria, the scenario has not really been different as the tempo has continued to be heightened in such a way that even early in the year, companies are not resting on their oars in a market which invariably has continued to bring out their creative ingenuity .

For instance, just coming out of the festive period spending, Nigerians woke up to a surprising mega promo collaboration between leading telecommunications operator, Airtel Nigeria and Seven-up Bottling Company Plc whereby over N4 billion worth of airtime are being dangled to be won.

The promo, which is open for 60 days between January 20 and March 22, 2014, offers consumers who purchase any of Pepsi, Mirinda, 7-Up, Teem or Mountain Dew carbonated drinks from the stable of the soft drinks producer, instant Airtel free airtime.

Speaking in Lagos to announce the promo, Mr. Victor Bannerman-Chedid, General Manager, Value Added Services, Airtel Nigeria, said the promo is an in-depth demonstration of the company’s customercentric culture which translates to multifaceted exciting packages and offerings.

He stressed that Airtel is a true pro-people telecoms company based on the various channels through which it strives to enrich the lives of Nigerians, adding that the company only recently concluded another exciting promo in which every customer was a winner.

L-R: Mr. Abdul Bungum of the Kaduna State Police Command; Zonal Head, First City Monument Bank (FCMB) Limited Kaduna, Mr. Bala Suwaid and one of the winners at the second edition of the FCMB 30th Anniversary Promo, Miss. Peace Ladan, at theprize presentation in Kaduna yesterday.

“The partnership between Pepsi and Airtel, two of Nigeria’s leading companies is one of the most exciting things to happen to the Nigerian consumer in recent time. We are happy to begin the New Year on a very promising and positive note for the good of the Nigerian consumer. We recognise their importance and the immense roles they play in the success of our businesses.” Bannerman stated.

The partnership will see Nigerian consumers winning airtime for every glass bottle of Pepsi, Mirinda, 7Up, Teem and Mountain Dew purchased in the next 60 days.

Explaining the mechanics of the promo tagged ‘Everybody is a Winner’, Bannerman explained that each crown cock would bear a pin number which is revealed when a consumer peels off the inner bottle covering of any of the carbonated soft drinks.

The consumers are to dial the revealed PIN number for instant recharge of one minute Airtel airtime for both on-net and off-net calls while for consumers who are not on the Airtel network, the PIN number entitles them to a free SIM card that on activation will enable the consumer to enjoy the free airtime.

Consumers can redeem up to three free airtime crowns per day and each recharge

is valid for three days. In addition, the airtime has pass over value as a customer may decide to give it to friends or family members as a show of love. It is also redeemable within 30 days after promo window closes.

Mr. Nordan Thurston, Head Of Marketing, Seven-Up Bottling Company Plc, said the partnership is rooted in the customerfocus philosophy of the two companies as well as the desire to give to the Nigerian consumer the best of two worlds: drinking refreshing Pepsi and coming alive by talking via Airtel.

His words, “It is always good to have a partner, but it is more important to have the right partner. Airtel is the right partner we have identified, and are proud to work with the company because of our shared values.”

A day after the Pepsi/Airtel free Airtime was unveiled, Nutricima Limited, makers of Nunu, Coast and Olympic milk also unveiled its Mega Cash Promotion, in which it stated that it was ready to reward its loyal customers across the country.

Speaking at the launch of Nutricima Mega Cash Promo in Lagos, Managing Director of Nutricima Limited, Mr. Suneel Vasudevan said that line with the company’s vision to reward its new and existing consumers, came up with the mega cash

WHEREAS ADVERTISING IS A LONG-RUN TOOL FOR SHAPING THE MARKET’S ATTITUDE TOWARD A BRAND, SALES PROMOTION IS A SHORT-TERM TOOL TO TRIGGER BUYER ACTION AS IT IS AN INCENTIVES AND REWARDS METHOD IN GETTING CUSTOMERS TO BUY NOW RATHER THAN LATER

promo as a way of expressing appreciation to millions of its loyal customers, including kids, youths and adults who deserve nutritious milk and food drinks which nutricima provides.

According to Vasudevan, “We all know that the festive period has just ended and many Nigerians have expended so much during the season. But they need to have some money to refill their accounts. So Nutricima through this mega cash promo endeavour to enrich millions of our consumers by giving them opportunities to win millions of naira through this initiative.”

To participate, Milk Category Manager, Mr. Ralph Agbaje, said that consumers stand the chance of winning gifts and millions of naira after purchasing any of Coast evaporated milk, Olympic evaporated milk and family pack of Nunu powdered milk which has the promo label.

Under the label, consumers would find a unique six digit code and serial code number which is to be sent to a dedicated phone number 08093377802. The sender then gets an auto response which informs the consumer about what he or she has won.

Instant prizes to be won in the Mega Cash Promo include N50 airtime e-top-up for thousands of consumers, cash prizes of N500, N1, 000, N5, 000, N10, 000 each. Aside from the instant prizes, consumers can also qualify for a monthly raffle draw where they have the opportunity to win between N50, 000 and one million naira.

For Hollandia Yoghurt’s consumers, the year also seem to have started on a brighter note as they equally stand a chance to win mouth-watering prizes in its Refresh ‘n’ Win promo expected to end by February 28, 2014.

According to the company, the promo is aimed at promoting and deepening the market presence of the brand across the country, while also creating awareness for the brand’s value propositions.

The Managing Director of Chi Limited, Mr. Deepanjan Roy said: “Hollandia Yoghurt Refresh ‘n’ Win promo was conceived to reward the growing population of consumers across Nigeria that has made the Yoghurt their loyal brand.”

On mechanics of the promo, he said that consumers are to buy two 1-litre or 500 ml packs of Hollandia in any variant of Strawberry, Plain Sweetened or Pineapple Coconut to get one scratch card at the point of purchase, even though consumers are allowed to participate as many times as possible.

He assured participants that it will take less than five minutes for them to get a response after sending the text while presentation of a form of identification and the original scratch card by prize winners will enable them to claim their respective CONTINUED ON PAGE 38

Brands & Marketing

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Thursday, January 30, 2014

FBN Holdings Plc unveils refreshed corporate identity ADEJUWON OSUNNUYI

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BN Holdings Plc, Nigeria’s largest financial services group, has unveiled a refreshed corporate identity for the entire group, including all its subsidiaries.

Designed to reflect the company’s strategic direction and position it to meet the future needs of the market, the refreshed identity will be rolled out across the Group’s operations, including First Bank of Nigeria Limited.

The announcement also marked the countdown to the celebration of another milestone in the history of FBN Holdings, the 120th anniversary celebrations.

Founded in 1894 as The Bank for British West Africa, FBN Group’s FirstBank was the very first banking institution to be established in Nigeria.

Speaking at the event, the CEO, FBN Holdings, Bello Maccido, said; “Today’s announcement of the refreshed FBN

Group’s identity is an important milestone and the culmination of much hard work. We are committed to building a financial institution that consistently supports growth and that celebrates and showcases the unique characteristics of the diverse nations on our continent.

“We believe that our continued success will be built on the principle that we will add value nationally, regionally and at continental level. Our customers have always come first and each and every change that we implement as a group is designed to ensure that continues.”

Also speaking, the Head, Marketing and Corporate Communications, Folake Ani-Mumuney revealed; “the refreshed identity embodies our internal values and the direction we are headed in as a group, like the iconic elephant, which signifies strength and resilience, two of the greatest traits to have as an individual, as an institution and as a nation. Since launching in 1894, the FBN brand has established itself as a brand

of strength and dynamism, with the vision to be the leading international financial services group in Sub Saharan Africa.

“Our brand is at the heart of the holistic experience we seek to deliver to our stakeholders, an essential part of retaining patronage and the competitive edge that keeps us at the coveted position of market leader. Refreshing the FBN Group brand is a major milestone in a wider strategic plan to ensure that the group is more efficient and effective in delivering on the needs of its customers. Our approach places the highest priority on the needs of our customers.”

Far more than a Logo, the new corporate identity has been designed to ensure that the FBN Group continues to be at the forefront of the African financial services industry. The Group is on a definitive mission to build a strong global presence in order to reinforce that leadership position whilst constantly striving to find better ways to service customers and drive growth.

L-R: Assistant Manager, Legal, Lagos State Lottery Board, Miss Gbemi Ajibosi; Managing Director, Nutricima Limited, Mr. Suneel Vasudevan; Chairman, Scientific Committee, Nutrition Society of Nigeria, Dr. B.I.C Brai; Director of Commerce, Lagos State Ministry of Commerce & Industry, Mr. Hakeem Adeniji; Marketing Director, Nutricima, Mr. Kalyan Bandyopadyay; Head of Marketing, Mrs. Wande Oluwasegunfunmi; Category Marketing Manager (Standard Milk), Mr. Raphael Agbaje and others at the launch of Nutricima Mega Cash Promo in Lagos recently.

Deepening market share with promos CONTINUED FROM PAGE 37 prizes.

MTN, Diamond Bank, Ecobank are also not left out as they have also rolled out reward promos in which consumers are also expected to win fabulous prizes.

But experts believe that growth of sales promotion reflects the higher priority companies are attaching to current sales than to long-term brand building. According to them, it is a return to transaction marketing (TM) rather than relationship marketing (RM).

Although most sales promotions increase sales, it has been observed that within this period, most companies lose money.

An analyst estimated that only 17 per cent of a given set of sales

promotion campaigns were profitable. These are the cases where the sales promotion brings in new customers to sample the product and where they like the new product better than their previous brand. But many sales promotions only attract brand switchers looking for a lower price, who naturally abandon the brand when another brand goes on sale.

Sales promotions are less likely to entice away loyal users of other brands.

“Thus sales promotions work poorest in product markets of high brand similarity. They tend to attract brand switchers who are looking for low price or premiums and who won’t be loyal to a brand. It is better to use sales

promotions in product markets of high dissimilarity where new customers may find that they like your product and its features better than their previous choice.”

“One important aspect of sales promotions is that it makes companies to spend more in such that they have to make use of more advertisement in order to create awareness. But in most cases, consumers might be really yield going for such product.” An advertising expert told National Mirror.

Although sales promotion is an important strategy for producing quick, short-term, positive results, it is not a cure for a bad product, poor advertising, or an inferior sales team.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Nutrition society lauds Nutricima for enriching, rewarding consumers ADEJUWON OSUNNUYI

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he Nutrition Society of Nigeria (NSN) has commended Nutricima Limited, makers of Coast, Nunu, Olympic milk and other nutritious food drinks, for enriching lives of consumers through its products as well as the recently launched Mega Cash promo.

Chairman, Scientific Committee of NSN, Dr. Bartholomew Brai, gave this commendation recently in Lagos at the unveiling of Nutricima consumer-reward initiative tagged “Mega Cash Promo.”

According to him, Nutricima stands out among others in terms of quality of products, noting that it has a rich history of providing nutritious milk products and food drinks.

Speaking on the importance of milk to the body, Mr. Brai, who represented the NSN President, Mrs Ngozi Nnam, said, “Milk supplies nutrients and vitamins to the body. We all know that there is need for nursing mothers, parents, children young and old, adults and aged people to pay attention to their nutrients intake. Nutricima’s range of milk products gives essential nutrients and vitamins to the body for growth and development.

Nutricima has milk products like Coast and Nunu evaporated and powdered milk and Olympic milk which are carefully made to meet the health demand of these set of people.”

He also commended the initiative of the Mega Cash Promo, saying it is like giving back to the society for the benefit of both new and existing consumers.

Travelstart launches mobile phone flight booking service

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ravelstart, Africa’s fast growing global travel search site will be the first website in Nigeria to offer mobisite bookings via mobile and tablet devices.

The new version of the mobisite, available at travelstart.com. ng/mobile, compares thousands of flights in seconds, bringing the most powerful features and flexibility of the Travelstart website to mobile screens, a company statement said.

Having reported a 416 per cent increase in mobile traffic between 2012 and 2013, the online travel agency’s own data indicated the need for a mobile-friendly website. In addition to the increase in traffic from mobile

devices, of all African countries that Travelstart operates in Nigeria has the most mobile subscribers, while in 2011 the amount of mobile devices in use in the country overtook the amount of desktop devices for the first time.

According to Travelstart Country Manager, Lilian Obinna-Igwe, “Going mobile will not only make doing business easier, but also provide customers access to bookings where traditional e-commerce has no reach.

“Mobile connectivity in Nigeria accounts for a significant portion of Internet users who solely connect using their cellphones.

This represents a vast, untapped online market well within our potential customer base”.

Indomie bags most trusted brand award ADEJUWON OSUNNUYI

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eeks after it won the Best Effort in Brand Consistency Award (FMCG category) from the Brand Journalists Association of Nigeria (BJAN), Indomie Noodles, from the stables of Dufil Prima Foods Plc, has emerged winner of the Most Trusted Brand award by Brand Health.

Speaking on the sidelines during the award presentation, Chief Executive Officer of Brandhealth, (organizers of the award) Emman Udowoima, said from time immemorial, one vital thing consumers value about what they consume or use is trust.

“Trust or lack of it is a habit. It is what we constantly do. I do not

know of anyone or consumer who wants to be associated with untrustworthiness, because before an individual or a family takes or consumes a product – particularly an edible one – he needs to be assured that it is not one that could affect his or her health.

“Everyone wants to associate with a brand that is complete with 100 percent quality, enriched with great value as it concerns health vitamins. All this criteria was put out for the general public to assess and ultimately select their most trusted noodles brand.

The feedback we got afterwards identified Indomie Instant noodles as most trusted brand among its contemporaries in the noodles market segment. The brand beat others convincingly, I must add,” Udowoina said.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Brands & Marketing

Thursday, January 30, 2014

39

EMC expands operations in Nigeria KUNLE A ZEEZ

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L-R: Etisalat Distribution Partner (South-East), Mr. Anthony Nebeolisa; Acting Chief Executive Officer, Etisalat Nigeria, Mr. Matthew Willsher; Director, Channel Sales, Etisalat Nigeria, Mr. Ken Ogujiofor; and another Distribution Partner (South-South), Mr. Gabriel Iduseri at the Etisalat Distribution Partners Conference in Lagos yesterday.

CRS: ONE, Tony Elumelu Foundation fight poverty through PPPs ADEJUWON OSSUNIYI

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s part of the campaign for inclusive economic growth in Africa, ONE and The Tony Elumelu Foundation have announced a strategic partnership to push political leaders in Nigeria to support public investments in agriculture, healthcare, and energy that will unlock substantial investments in these key sectors.

The partnership aims to leverage public-private partnerships to improve Africa’s progress against the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and help create a more entrepreneur-friendly environment through advocacy, a joint statement by both organisations yesterday said.

Initially, it will begin with a scoping grant to explore advocacy opportunities and allow ONE to bolster its work in Nigeria and will particularly focus on agricul-

ture in Nigeria as part of ONE’s “Do Agric” campaign for the 2014 AU Year of Agriculture.

ONE’s Africa Director, Dr. Sipho Moyo, said, “We are delighted to join forces with the Tony Elumelu Foundation in Nigeria. Together, we will be stronger than the sum of our parts as we work to tackle some of the continent’s most pressing challenges. The Tony Elumelu Foundation has championed African led philanthropy, bringing unique insight in to how the African private sector can catalyse change across the continent. It’s fitting that we’re announcing the partnership this week, when ONE is launching a campaign to press African leaders to invest more and adopt better policies in agriculture during the African Union (AU) summit in Ethiopia.”

Chief Executive Officer, Wiebe Boer, The Tony Elumelu Foundation, said he believes the strategic partnership with ONE can lead to

real change.

“ONE has demonstrated over the years an ability to get things done,” he said. “I look forward to working with them to unlock billions of dollars for agriculture and other key sectors that will in turn drive entrepreneurship and job creation in a manner that pulls people permanently out of poverty.”

At the centrepiece of the new campaign ONE is launching in Addis Ababa this week is a call to boost investments in agriculture, a sector that is capable of unleashing the continent’s vast economic potential. According to the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization, agricultural growth in sub-Saharan Africa is eleven times more effective in reducing poverty than growth in other sectors like mining and utilities.

“Of the 400 million Africans living in extreme poverty, 7 out of 10 live in rural areas that depend on agriculture,” said Boer.

global Information Technology company with focus on supporting businesses with cloud computing technology, EMC Corporation has is expanding its operations in Nigeria in order to support the growing market demand and customers needs in the country.

This has been demonstrated with the opening of a new office in South Atlantic Petroleum Towers, in Victoria Island, Lagos this week.

The expansion of EMC’s operations in Nigeria has become imperative in light of the consistent growth of the local economy.

In addition, with 2014 set to see unprecedented change in the technology industry as one era of computing gives way to the next – built on mobile, social networking, cloud services and Big Data analytics technologies – Nigerian businesses are looking for the tools and support to help them manage this challenge and redefine the delivery of IT so that it becomes a truly competitive advantage to their business.

According to EMC, another key element of its expansion in Nigeria was the launch of its new training center in Lagos which will deliver a comprehensive range of leading-edge IT courses to businesses, channel partners and service providers, as well as EMC employees.

The courses will cover a range of systems and solutions such as EMC VNX Series highperforming unified storage; Data Domain protection storage for back-up and archive; NetWorker back up and recov-

ery software; VMAX enterprise storage systems; VMware; Big Data analytics; and cloud computing.

The training center will host up to eight courses each quarter, catering for approximately 200 attendees from Nigeria and West Africa throughout its first year of operation.

Globally there is a fast-growing knowledge gap in the area of information storage and analytics, due in part to the rapid adoption of virtualization technologies and the emergence of cloud computing infrastructure at a rate much higher than that of the available skills in the market.

Across the world organizations and IT professionals are being challenged to meet evolving business and strategic requirements, while controlling explosive data growth.

Speaking at the office opening ceremony, President of EMC Europe, Middle East and Africa, Mr. Adrian McDonald, said “EMC values its customers and partners in Nigeria who are contributing to our growth in the country and across the region.”

According to him, “Our new office in Lagos reiterates our commitment to helping enterprises across Nigeria achieve their business objectives as they transform their IT infrastructure. Customers in Nigeria and the region continue to call on EMC as their top choice for their IT transformation journeys and we remain committed to and focused on delivering innovative products and solutions which enable our customers to reduce their costs, increase their revenues and deliver new value to their customers. ”

Leadway pensure and its customer centric offerings

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oday’s customers want superior solutions to their needs and they connect quickly with brands that meet their expectations. Leadway Pensure PFA is building a solid pedigree of passionately delivering unrivalled pension services and financial comfort to its customers. This is one veritable avenue Leadway Pensure adopts to enhance customer satisfaction and guarantee the future security of its clients. The company is totally committed to ensuring it provides value and its commitment to value means that it strives to provide excellent service to customers at all times.

Leadway Pensure PFA has a very strong background and pedigree anchored on the pillars of integrity and trust. The company

also adopts several innovative and creative ways of doing business in order to achieve excellence. It has raised the bar of its service delivery portfolio to have a distinctive brand image in the industry.

A major focus of the company is its customer centric services as the company maintains intimate relationship with customers endeavour to meet their needs at all times.

Leadway Pensure PFA is one organisation that factors the need of the consumers into its overall corporate strategy. It deploys its customer centric service port folio with dynamism. The key factor is focusing on the total customer experience. Leadway Pensure underscores its commitment to offer customer superior solutions

Brand X-Ray with Ayodeji Ayopo Tel: 08023448199 E-mail: mayomipo@yahoo.com by not only meeting customer expectations but also surpassing them. It attempts to provide holistic customer service offerings is anchored on thoroughly understanding the needs of customers and fashioning innovative ways to meet their needs better than competition.

Leadway Pensure PFA realizes the role of the customers as critical building blocks for the organisation. It creates a differentiating

edge by delivering brand values to its several touch points to make customers have unique and compelling experiences. It has remained highly focused to identify the needs of customers through a consistent customer engagement process.

The competitive advantage of the Leadway Pensure PFA brand lies in the integrity of the Leadway brand name. The name is one that is synonymous with integ-

rity and trust. These are strong pillars for any brand. Leadway brand name has become strategic in reaching out to the audience and identified target customer segment. Leadway Pensure believes strongly in the dictum that “customer is King” and it leverages on this as a unique selling proposition to provide customer centric services. This has greatly deepened brand equity for Leadway Pensure among its competitors. The brand breathes out qualitative customer service delivery offerings to the customers.

Leadway Pensure PFA has maintained a significant edge through its service delivery. This is one veritable platform the brand leverages outwit its competitors.

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Global Business

Thursday, January 30, 2014

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

UK economy grew at fastest rate in six years in 2013 B ritain’s economy grew last year at its fastest rate since the financial crisis, official data showed on Tuesday, raising questions about how long the Bank of England can keep interest rates at a record low.

Barring construction and oil and gas extraction, all major sectors of Britain’s economy expanded in the final three months of 2013, concluding its best showing since 2007, the Office for National Statistics said.

The economy grew 0.7 percent quarter-on-quarter from October through December, in line with forecasts for that pace to ease from 0.8 percent in the third quarter. Growth for the full year rose to 1.9 percent.

That was a vast improvement over 2012’s 0.3 percent. It bodes well for the coming 12 months and should improve the government’s standing just over a year before a

national election.

The data also led to more speculation about when the BoE will raise rates. Such speculation was

already being fuelled by a steep drop in unemployment towards the 7 percent threshold at which the bank has said will consider

UK Prime Minister, David Cameron

the future direction for monetary policy.

“We forecast the Bank of England will start hiking in Q2 2015, given the strong turnaround in the economy and labour market,” said Blerina Uruci, economist at Barclays. “A hike as soon as 2014 would be premature in the current environment of subdued inflation pressures and would risk choking off the recovery.”

A Reuters poll of economists last week showed a 30 percent chance the BoE will hike rates from their record low 0.5 percent this year.

The fourth-quarter data’s failure to beat forecasts - as some private-sector surveys had indicated it might - caused sterling to slip briefly, by reducing short-term pressure on the BoE to consider tighter policy.

BoE Governor Mark Carney has said there is no need for rates

to rise any time soon, and the BoE itself had forecast fourth-quarter growth at just under 1 percent.

Britain’s total output is still 1.3 percent below the pre-financial crisis peak - a weaker performance than other big, advanced economies. Inflation has fallen to the BoE’s 2 percent target for the first time in four years.

But unemployment has fallen far faster than the bank forecast in August, raising the prospect that long-term inflation pressures might be building in the economy.

A string of economic indicators over the past few months suggested Britain’s economy was recovering faster than either policymakers or independent forecasters had predicted. And data the Confederation of British Industry released earlier on Tuesday suggest 2013’s strong growth continued into January.

New York finance regulator backs virtual currency Boeing plans to raise passenger

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enjamin Lawsky, the superintendent of financial services in New York whose tough stance on money laundering wrung a $340m settlement from Standard Chartered, has said Bitcoin has reached a “tipping point” where its potential benefits outweigh the risks of illegal activity.

The backing from one of the finance industry’s more aggressive regulators, in a video interview with the Financial Times, comes as Lawsky held a second day of hearings into how to regulate, rather than shut down, the growing virtual currency.

This week the US Department

of Justice charged one of Bitcoin’s earliest and most flamboyant promoters, Charlie Shrem, with helping funnel money to drug dealers and buyers on the underground website Silk Road, which was closed by the FBI last year.

But Lawsky said the arrest suggested that Bitcoin was moving into an era where law-abiding entrepreneurs were eager to abide by clear regulations on money laundering.

“My hope is that Bitcoin is very much at a tipping point and is moving from an earlier phase when it was dominated by some individuals who were more interested in the illicit nature of it, and

US President Barack Obama

what they could hide from people, and moving into a phase where it is more mainstream and will start to realise a lot of the benefits of digital currency,” he said.

Mr. Lawsky’s department of financial services wants to make New York the first state in the US to issue clear guidelines to virtual currency businesses, which must register as money transmitters in most states if they offer financial services in Bitcoin. Registration requires compliance with anti-money laundering rules, including checking customers’ identities and monitoring for suspicious transactions.

The hearings heard on Monday from several Bitcoin investors and entrepreneurs, including the Winklevoss twins and venture capitalist Fred Wilson, who argued that tailored regulation was needed to tame what Cameron Winklevoss called “the wild west” of virtual currencies.

Lawsky received expanded powers to protect consumers and tackle money laundering when the Department of Financial Services was created through a merger of other regulators three years ago.

jet deliveries by 10%

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oeing, yesterday, outlined plans to increase passenger jet deliveries to customers by at least 10 per cent in 2014, but the US manufacturer’s profit forecast for this year fell short of expectations.

According to the Financial Times, Boeing is ramping up production of its commercial aircraft and aims to deliver between 715 and 725 jets to airlines and leasing companies in 2014, compared with 648 last year.

The target highlights how Boeing, and arch-rival Airbus, are benefiting from booming demand for more fuel-efficient jets, as they also grapple with challenges in their defence businesses because of spending cuts by western governments.

However, some analysts are questioning whether slowing economic growth and currency volatility in emerging markets could prompt some airlines to cancel orders with the two jet makers, or defer aircraft deliveries.

And Boeing’s forecast of adjusted earnings per share in 2014

of between $7 and $7.20, which excludes certain expenses including pension charges, fell short of analysts’ expectations, although two highlighted how the company tends to start the year with conservative targets.

In morning trading in New York, Boeing’s shares were down more than 5 per cent at $129.75.

Boeing reported revenue of $23.8bn for the final three months of 2013, up 7 per cent compared with the same period in 2012 and net income increased 26 per cent to $1.2bn.

For the full-year, Boeing recorded revenue of $86.6bn, up 6 per cent compared with 2012 and net income increased 18 per cent to $4.6bn. Earnings per share based on GAAP accounting rules were $5.96, up 17 per cent.

The 2013 results exceeded expectations, and Jim McNerney, Boeing’s chief executive, said the company’s fourth-quarter figures “underscored an outstanding full year of core operating performance that drove record revenue and earnings”.

Indonesians still world’s most bullish consumers, Americans less upbeat –Survey

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ndonesians remained the world’s most bullish consumers in the final quarter of 2013 while Americans were slightly less willing to spend than in the previous quarter, a global survey showed.

In the euro zone, confidence rose sharply in Ireland, which successfully completed its EU/ IMF bailout program late last year, and improved in Germany and Spain.

But sentiment plunged in France and Portugal and slipped in Greece and Italy, according to the quarterly survey by global information and insights company Nielsen.

Countries in Asia, including India and China, and the Gulf continued to dominate the list of most upbeat consumer markets although Brazil, Denmark and Canada also featured in the top 10 markets, the sur-

vey, released on Wednesday, showed.

The Nielsen Global Consumer Confidence Index stayed at 94 in the fourth quarter for a third straight quarter, but was up 3 points from the same period a year earlier. A reading below 100, however, signals still relatively low consumer morale.

Consumer sentiment in the United States slipped four points from a six-year high in the third

quarter although it was five points higher than in the fourth quarter of 2012.

“The lack of additional recent improvement in U.S. consumer sentiment is, in some measure, surprising given the improvements in employment, stock market values and housing that occurred over 2013,” said Venkatesh Bala, chief economist at The Cambridge Group, a part of Nielsen.

Indonesia President Susilo Bambang

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Woman suffers from fear of newspapers

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British woman said her phobia of newspapers is so powerful she finds it difficult even to look at them.

Diane Freelove, 49, of Rochester, England, said she has suffered from chloephobia, the fear of newspapers, for about 25 years and she can’t stand the look, smell or touch of a newspaper, the Mirror reported Tuesday.

“When I visit a shop I walk as far away as I can from the newsstand,” Freelove said. “I can’t go anywhere near someone who has got one, and if they approach me, I freak out.

At one time I could touch a

newspaper as long as I knew I could wash my hands thoroughly afterwards. But now I can’t even look at them.

“I don’t like the feel of them -- if I touch a newspaper it feels like my skin is crawling. And I can’t stand the smell, which I think is quite strong and distinctive,” she said.

Freelove said the fear probably started in her childhood.

“When I was a child, my mother hit my father over the head with a newspaper. She did it in a playful, friendly way, but it worried me,” she said. “I became afraid of newspapers over the past 25 years.”

Man uses first-class ticket to eat free meals for one year

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n a report from a Chinese newspaper, Kwong Wah Yit Poh, an unidentified man used his first-class ticket to score free meals from a VIP airport lounge over 300 times.

Reportedly, the man bought one first-class ticket to an undisclosed location. Using that ticket

Cocktail

Thursday, January 30, 2014

he would get into a VIP lounge that Xi’an Airport in Shaanxi, China offers.

In that lounge he was given free meals and drinks.

He would then change his flight after finishing his food, meaning the next day he could, again, get free food and drinks. The man did this more than 300 times.

41

Oddities

Lady earns more than $9,000 per month eating food

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orget that career goal of becoming a software developer. Ignore that article suggested market research analysis as a good employment option. Odd News is going to tell you about the job that Americans were destined to do: get paid to eat a bunch of food while other people watch on the inter net. Reuters is reporting on “gastronomic voyeurism,” a trend g rowing in popularity in South Korea.

34-year-old Park Seo-yeon used to work for a consulting fir m but has left that job.

Why? She’s ear ning more than $9,000 a month to eat on camera. Going by the name, “The Diva,” she sits down to a table of food and eats for up to three hours. Her viewers chat with her and send her “virtual bal-

loons,” which Reuters says, “translate into cash.”

So, what’s the deal?

The Diva thinks it’s about enjoying something through someone else, “People enjoy the vicarious pleasure with my online show when they can’t eat that much, or don’t want to eat food

at night, or are on a diet.” One of The Diva’s fans, 26-year-old Park Sun-Young says it’s about approximating the feeling of having company, “It feels as if I am eating that much food with her. I think that’s what the show is about. And probably, it’s comfor ting for people

who eatalone.” Apparently, eating alone is something that is happening more and more in South Korea.

Reuters points out that within 15 years, a third of the nation’s population could be comprised of one-person households, the fastest rate amongst developed countries.

This lady earns more than $9,000 a month by eating food in front of a webcam.

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Capital Market

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Thursday, January 30, 2014

Experts advocate governance improvement as NSE joins surveillance group JOHNSON OKANLAWON

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here is need for a robust corporate governance system for the country that will incorporate a number of other elements to ensure support for standard setting, information gathering and behaviour modification.

Presenting a report on ‘Corporate Governance Rating System’ of listed companies on the Nigerian Stock Exchange yesterday, the Executive Director of the Convention on Business Integrity, Mr. Soji Apampa noted that the country needs to find an appropriate corporate governance response to a systemic failure.

According to him, business, government and civil society will be hard pressed to improve quality of corporate governance

in the country due to the systemic nature of the challenges such as mutual capture, weak institutions and perverse incentives.

He explained that there should be a robust governance system that would ensure compliance with the Nigerian Stock Exchange rules and general governance rules, certification/accreditation of directors and specialist committees such as audit, ethics, risk among others.

Apampa added that there should be a control mechanism which corrects for the failure of self-regulation by corporate bodies, failure of government regulation and failure of stakeholder activism.

The Chief Executive Officer of the NSE, Mr Oscar Onyema said that the collaboration efforts to improve governance will ensure better management of listed companies.

Onyema, who was represented by the Exchange’s Executive Director, Business Development, Mr. Haruna Jalo-Waziri stressed that their boards will be fully aware of their fiduciary responsibilities and operate by the highest standards of corporate governance ethics and processes.

He said, “Listed companies will become more attractive to investors. This is because investors want to be sure that their investments are safe, there is awareness within the board about appropriate oversight, and that their interests are fully protected.

“Foreign and local investors will be attracted to these companies for long term investments as better managed companies are more sustainable. This will lead to the growth of the Nigerian economy as a

whole.”

Meanwhile, the NSE has been admitted by the Intermarket Surveillance Group (ISG), after a rigorous review process.

A statement from the Exchange said the admission is an indication that the NSE’s surveillance capacity is of international standard and will contribute to raising investor confidence in the Nigerian capital markets.

The statement quoted Head of the Legal and Regulation Division of the Exchange, Ms.Tinuade Awe, as saying that it is a thing of pride that the NSE is the first African Stock Exchange to become a member of the ISG. She said, “Membership of the ISG will enable the NSE to exchange market surveillance information with other ISG members and strengthen its capacity in this area.”

Oando seeks to increase share capital to N7.5bn JOHNSON OKANLAWON

O

ando yesterday said it plans to hold an Extra-Ordinary General Meeting on February, to seek board approval for the authorized share capital of the company to be increased from N5bn to N7.5bn.

A statement from the company explained that the move is a key component of Oando’s overall strategy to reduce its reliance on debt and loans.

The statement quoted the Group Chief Executive, Mr. Wale Tinubu, as saying that in a bid

to maximize long term shareholder value, it is necessary to optimize the balance sheet by funding operations where necessary through equity as opposed to expensive sources of debt.

He said, “As we contemplate our world post the acquisition of Conoco Phillips (COP) Nigerian business unit, which will undoubtedly provide significant growth in size and scale in our upstream business, our mature midstream and downstream units continue to retain dominant positions in their market space whilst not requiring material equity infusion.

Tinubu stressed that the first facet of the long term plan will seek to raise further capital by way of rights of N50bn expected to be concluded by end of second quarter of this year.

He said that proceeds of the Rights exercise will be utilised towards debt reduction and the company’s immediate working capital needs, with none of the proceeds raised allocated to the closure of the COP acquisition.

According to him, the company does not envision any additional equity issuance in 2014.

He reiterated the company’s three pronged

approach of transformation, debt reduction and substantially increasing shareholder value.

“We are working arduously to provide the ideal platform to ensure our readiness for further transformation, as we undoubtedly will generate stronger cashflow, but we also realize the need to minimize our cost of capital to increase our returns to our shareholders.

“We implore all shareholders to continue to offer their full support as we continue to build subSaharan Africa’s leading Energy Company together,” he added.

Equities shed 1.46% Ytd as bears linger

F

alls in the banking and energy sectors dragged the benchmark index of equities lower on the Nigerian Stock Exchange yesterday, bringing year-to-date loss to 1.46 per cent.

The All Share Index dropped 0.97 per cent to close at 40,792.07 points, compared to the decline of 1.1 per cent recorded the preceding day to close at 41,189.66 points.

Market capitalisation

shed N127bn to close at N13.1trn, lower than the decrease of N148bn recorded the preceding day to close at N13.2trn.

Transnational Plc led the gainers’ table with 20 kobo or 9.62 per cent to close at N2.28 per share, followed by Costain Plc with 19 kobo or 9.55 per cent to close at N2.18 per share.

Livestock Plc added 20 kobo or 4.96 per cent to close at N4.23 per share,

while Wema Bank Plc was up five kobo or 4.85 per cent to close at N1.08 per share.

Learn Africa Plc appreciated seven kobo or 3.91 per cent to close at N1.86 per share.

Conversely, Oando Plc lost N2.26 or 9.71 per cent to close at N21.02 per share, while UBA Capital Plc dropeed 19 kobo or 9.27 per cent to close at N1.86 per share.

Japaul Oil Plc fell four

kobo or 6.56 per cent to close at 57 kobo per share, while Transnational Incorporation Plc dipped 23 kobo or 6.05 per cent to close at N3.57 per share.

Ikeja Hotel Plc depreciated four kobo or five per cent to close at 76 kobo per share.

A total of 6.47 miilion shares valued at N16.1bn were exchanged in 5,105 deals.

Source: NSE

Source: FMDA

Market indicators All-Share Index 40,792.07 points Market capitalisation 13.10 trillion

Stock Updates GAINERS COMPANY

OPENING

CLOSING

CHANGE

% CHANGE

TRANSEXPR

2.08

2.28

0.20

9.62

COSTAIN

1.99

2.18

0.19

0.55

LIVESTOCK

4.03

4.23

0.20

4.96

WEMABANK

1.03

1.08

0.05

4.85

LEARNAFRCA

1.79

1.86

0.07

3.91

UTC

0.62

0.64

0.02

3.23

FO

90.11

91.80

1.69

1.88

IPWA

0.67

0.68

0.01

1.49

ASHAKACEM

18.05

18.29

0.24

1.33

GUARANTY

27.60

27.90

0.30

1.09

CHANGE

% CHANGE

LOSERS COMPANY

OPENING

CLOSING

OANDO

23.28

21.02

-2.26

-9.71

UBCAP

2.05

1.86

-0.19

-9.27

JAPAULOIL

0.61

0.57

-0.04

-6.56

TRANSCORP

3.80

3.57

-0.23

-6.05

IKEJAHOTEL

0.80

0.76

-0.04

-5.00

WAPCO

119.99

114.00

-5.99

-4.99

ETI

15.96

15.17

-0.79

-4.95

UBN

9.70

9.22

-0.48

-4.95

NEIMETH

1.82

1.73

-0.09

-4.95

CILEASING

0.61

0.58

-0.03

-4.92

Primary Market Auction TENOR

AMOUNT (N’mn)

RATE (%)

DATE

91-Day

32,888.90

11.60

24-Oct-13

182-Day

30,000.00

12.09

24-Oct-13

364-Day

31,385.00

13.27

24-Oct-13

Open Market Operations TENOR

AMOUNT (N’mn)

RATE (%)

DATE

164-Day

101,253.74

12.50

31-Oct-13

164-Day

101,253.74

12.50

31-Oct-13

136-Day

13,500.00

12.10

24-Oct-13

Wholesale Dutch Auction System AMOUNT OFFERED

MARKET DEMAND

AMOUNT SOLD

DATE

$400m

N/A

$399m

30-Oct-13

$400m

N/A

$399m

28-Oct-13

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Capital Market

Thursday, January 30, 2014

43

Stock exchange daily equities summary Equities as at January 29, 2014 1st Tier Securities

1st Tier Securities Sector

Company name

No Of Deals

Quotation(N)

Quantity Traded

Value of Shares(N)

Sector

Company name

No Of Deals

Quotation(N)

Quantity Traded

Value of Shares(N)

44 SCIENCE FOR KIDS

The dangers of drinking cold water

A

ccording to Natural Law, our normal body temperature is about 98.6 degrees. If we raise that temperature a few degrees, the body starts to show signs of distress, and we say we have a fever. We try hard to return to homeostasis or normal functioning.

When we drink ice-cold water, juice, or any ice-cold fluids, we create the basis for chronic diseases.

If you purchase a bowl of cow’s blood at the market to make some famous black pudding, and you put a cube of ice in this blood, observe what happens. This fluid, warm blood becomes thick, sticky, cool, or cold blood and appears to be like jello as it clots. This is what happens in our bodies when we drink cold water or juice or any ice-cold fluids like beer etc.

The body is about 70% fluid, and any fluids taken into the body becomes part of that 70%. Knowing this, we have a responsibility to put into our bodies, only drinks and foods that will enhance its proper functioning. A body that cannot circulate its blood is like an uninviting swimming pool in which moss and bacteria grow.

The blood may be thick, unable to flow properly to the extremities of the body, the hands and feet begin to feel numb and hurt, the toes begin to hurt, the toenails lose their shine and may begin to decay. The heart labours to pump the blood throughout the body, and the lungs fight to keep up. The legs may swell and become dark, when blood cannot be efficiently pumped back up to the heart.

When the blood is free from toxins and flowing freely and properly, we can then liken the blood to an inviting swimming pool, clear and clean. It generates happiness and perfect health, energy and creativity. This individual contributes maximum to the health and wellbeing of others in an innocent, natural way.

Illness may have many symptoms, but it is a process as we go from perfect health to ill health. If we understand the process of Perfect Health, we will recognize when something undesirable is happening in our bodies or minds and we will not allow it to become chronic before seeing our doctor. We need to change our fascination with disease to fascination with perfect health; then our lives will mirror our fascination and create it.

There are other things that make the blood thick and toxic: little or no exercise, little or no sunlight especially early in the mornings, junk foods and eating at the wrong times, especially late at nights and going to sleep with a full stomach. It settles and ferments instead of being digested and absorbed.

Cold water bottle with ice cubes

Thursday, January 30, 2014

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Group empowers young women to check prostitution STORIES: LEONARD OKACHIE

C

oordinator of the Society Against Prostitution and Child Labour in Nigeria (SAPCLN), Dr Grace Adogo, said the society had trained more than 2000 young women in various skills to check prostitution and street hawking.

Adogo said in Abuja that most of the women trained were handpicked from the streets.

She said the women were taught to make soap, petroleum jelly, and other money-making ventures including the production of jewellery using beads.

Adogo said: ``We have empowered more than 2,000 young women who mostly were picked from the streets; some were vulnerable to going to the streets. ``We did not let them get to that point when they will go to the streets; so we opened our doors to those who are actually doing nothing and could be lured to prostitution. ``And then we have those who we actually went out to the field and sensitised and they voluntarily gave themselves up for the skill acquisition programme; right now we are working in collabora-

tion with the FCT Administration. ``They gave us the centre where we train these young ladies; after we train them the FCT administration gives them grants of a 100,000 each to help them start something (productive).”

Adogo said the society in collaboration with the Universal Basic Education Board, had established a training centre in Bwari Area Council of FCT for people with disability.

According to her, the organisation plans to expand its programme to other states in 2014 and thereby increase the number of trained women to 4000 by the end of the year.

She said, “This is like a poverty reduction strategy because the more women you empower the more people you empower.

“If you empower a woman, she is likely to get married, she is likely to have children and she will empower her children and that is a strategy of taking the

children off the streets too.`` She explained that the training centre had a team of psychologists in its employ and working on the psyche of some of the women who were commercial sex workers.

Adogo explained: ``We try to work on their psyche; we have a team of psychologists.

“You are bringing somebody out of something, you need to clear his head because most of the time in our dealings with these girls, we discovered that they have already condemned themselves.

“They feel they are worthless and nobody cares about them; so we show them as much love as we can and let them understand that it is a situation that put them in that position.

“That is why the bulk of our job is sensitisation, creating awareness. Some of our challenges are misconception and misunderstanding; some people think we are fighting those engaged in the act of prostitution.

“We are fighting that deadly disease called prostitution; morally, religiously and even our cultures - nobody embraces prostitution, so let’s not pretend about it.”

A cross section of girls at a seminar.

TOLA AKINMUTIMI ABUJA

T

he National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN) has shelved its earlier planned rally to demand the removal of Comrade Abba Patrick Moro as the Minister of Interior on the basis of One thousand Naira collected for employment form during the recruitment in Nigeria Immigration Service and subsequent order by the House of Representatives to return the money to the applicants which not been return till now.

The President of the Council, the umbrella body of all Nigerian youths saddled with the responsibility of protecting their interests, Comrade Wale

Youth Council shelves Abba Moro Ajani, in a statement said the decision to call off the proposed protest was sequel to a meeting between the youths and the Minister of Youth Development, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, who made series of clarifications on the vexed matter and urged the youth body to ‘sheath its sword’.

He stated: “After the declaration several stake holders and veteran youth leaders broker a meeting between the Minister and the leadership of the National Youth Council of Nigeria in the presence of the petitioners which gives the Minister the ample opportunity to

do a lot of clarifications among which include that the payment is not to extort the applicants but for the consultant that provide the online application against the risks in travelling to and fro for obtaining and submitting hard copy of application.

“He also affirm that no budgetary provision for recruitment and promised to do a transparent process of selection of application which is almost at the final stage. The Minister declared his commitment to only employ young people with relevant credentials and that he has been fighting job scam in all his

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Thursday, January 30, 2014

Young & Next Generation

45

International magazine profiles Jideonwo, others LEONARD OKACHIE

I A group of girls at the WITIN training in Lagos.

WITIN promotes ICT skills for girls KUNLE A ZEEZ

I

n line with its vision to bridge the gap between girls and boys access to Information and Communications Technology (ICT), the Women in Technology in Nigeria (WITIN) has hosted the 2014 edition of Technovation Challenge in Lagos In attendance were over 50 girls from about 13 secondary schools in Lagos and Ogun states. The Technovation challenge, according to WITIN, is a global technology entrepreneurship programme for girls, created to discover their ingenuity in apps development and programming.

Coordinator and President of WITIN, Mrs. Martha Omoekpe-Alade, who said the Delta state and Abuja version of the programme comes up on February 1 and 8 respectively, disclosed that the WITIN is a regional coordinator of the event.

She explained that the challenge is the largest and longest-running global technology competition exclusively for girls to inspire the pursuit of science, technology, engineering and maths tagged ‘STEM’.

According to her, the initiative was also in line with the Ministry of Communications Technology’s drive to bridge the growing gap in ICT between young females and their male counterparts.

Must Go rally parastatal.

“However, after the prolong meeting with evidence of due diligence before the conclusion on the payment of One thousand Naira for the application form and the assurance that the employment process will be concluded free and fair cum the fact that the Senate also order not to touch the money accrued from the sales of the application form, therefore, the leadership of the NYCN hereby cancel the proposed protest for superior argument while we monitor the process till end”, the NYCN President added.

Participating schools this year include Queensland Academy; Vivian Fowler; Fountain Heights; Unilag international school; Flor-Peak Comprehensive college; Homeland College; Honeyland Schools; King David Model School among others.

She informed that each team that participated worked with both a classroom teacher at their school and a female mentor/role model.

While encouraging parents to pay keen interest to what their wards are into, Omoekpe-Alade disclosed that the national pitch will hold in April in

Nigeria while the world pitch holds in California, USA around May this year.

She recalled that last year, the winners from Nigeria emerged top 10 globally, stressing that the winning team developed a mobile application to solve traffic problem in Nigeria.

Speaking at the event, Vice Principal, Academics, Queensland Academy, Mr. Olokuntoye Adetayo, said the apps development and entrepreneurship mentoring will not only help bring the best in the girls; but also inspire them into creativity and fundamentals of technological innovation.

World's dangerous neighbourhoods produce aggressive children –Study

C

hildren around the world who grow up in dangerous neighbourhoods exhibit more aggressive behaviour, says a new Duke University-led study that is the first to examine the topic across a wide range of countries.

Many U.S. studies have described a link between dangerous neighbourhoods and children's aggressive behaviour. Authors of the new study wanted to determine whether the pattern held true in other cultures. To find out, researchers interviewed parents and children from 1,293 families in nine countries: China, Colombia, Italy, Jordan, Kenya, the Philippines, Sweden, Thailand and the United States.

In the study which appeared online recently in the journal Societies, the researchers asked families a series of questions about dangers in their neighbourhoods. Based on the answers, the researchers scored the neighbourhoods according to their degree of danger.

To measure children's aggressive behaviour, researchers asked parents and children to complete a widely used child-behaviour checklist that captures behaviours such as screaming and threatening people. The research-

ers sought answers from mothers, fathers and children for the surveys, in order to obtain a fuller portrait.

In neighbourhoods that parents described as highly dangerous, children exhibited higher levels of aggressive behaviour. This link held true across all nine countries studied, based on parents' responses, said lead author Ann T. Skinner, a researcher with Duke's Center for Child and Family Policy.

"This is an incredibly diverse set of countries from around the world, representing countries from the developing and the developed world and including individualistic and collectivist societies," Skinner said. "In all the countries we studied, we see that living in a dangerous neighborhood may affect kids negatively."

The study further suggests that perilous neighbourhoods may affect children indirectly, through their parents. In all nine countries, when children reported living in more dangerous neighbourhoods, harsh parenting practices were more common, as was child aggression. However, adults' and children's perceptions differed on that point. More research is needed to determine whether or not dangerous neighbourhoods promote harsh parenting practices, Skinner said.

taly's Studio magazine profiles Nigerian entrepreneur, Chude Jideonwo as "The Poster Boy of Nigeria" Italy's Studio magazine, in its latest print issue, has profiled the managing partner of RED, Chude Jideonwo; christening him 'The Poster Boy of Nigeria'. The story appears in the magazine's 'Cool Nigeria' issue released this week.

In his interview with international journalist, Anna Momigliano; Chude, who is 28, speaks about the inspiration behind Africa's leading youth event, The Future Awards Africa and building an innovative business with brands across print, television and online - including Y! Magazine, Y! TV, YNaija.com, TeenYNaija.com, and YNaija2015.com.

He also shares his views on youth, the idea of 'Africa Rising' and his stand on the anti-modern elements that are still heavily present in Nigeria.

“Something is beginning to work these days," says Chude Jideonwo about the new possibilities with Nigeria - across business, technology and the prospects of social change.

Named by Forbes International as one of Africa’s 30 “best entrepreneurs” under 30, Chude Jideonwo’s career is centred around the media – media content, media and communication, and media for development.

The editor-in-chief of Y!/YNaija.com and director of The Future Awards Africa; in 2010, he founded EnoughisEnough Nigeria, which has become the country’s foremost good governance group for young Nigerians.

A lawyer and award-winning journalist, he has a Master’s Degree in Media and Communication from the Pan-African University. He is Managing Partner of RED, and sits on the boards of the Oando Foundation and Micosoft4Afrika.

Also featured are co-founder of Jumia, Tunde Kehinde and international publisher, Uzoamaka Maduka.

Jideonwo

46

Media

Thursday, January 30, 2014

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

UB40, Brandy for Classic fm’s annual concert

I

n what can arguably be regarded as the biggest concert this quarter of 2014, Classic fm 97.3 has announced plans for its annual Valentine Concert!

Basking in the euphoria of last year’s successful concert, which recorded a massive turnout - with the men dressed in dapper outfits and elegantly dressed ladies swooning to the seductive voice and dance moves of American Grammy winning singer Maxwell, (not failing to mention additional performances from Bez, Black Magic , Yinka Davies and Omawunmi), Classic fm, 97.3fm, is raising the bar this year and has promised Lagos another spectacular evening come February 16th as the radio stations’ 2014 Valentine concert will now feature Live music performances by British reggae/pop icons UB40 and American recording artiste Brandy Norwood!

Speaking excitedly about the oncoming event, Classic fm Programmes Director, Chico Aligwekwe noted that show could not have come at a better time. “This year we’ve made sure there’s something for everyone.

We are excited about the 16th of February.

There’s no better way to celebrate your valentine’s than this!”

The names of A-list local music acts who will be on the same stage delivering breath taking performances, will be revealed soon by the station that plays every song you know!

Tickets for “Classicfm Valentines’ with Brandy and UB40” which come in Regular, VIP and Tables, are available at Afri-tickets. com and Adibba.com.

Ali Campbell of UB40

A cross section journalsits at a training workshop

US trains media practitioners on digital journalism STORIES: LEONARD OKACHIE

T

he Government of United State of America through its Public Affairs Section in collaboration with the Ogun State Government and by extension, the Nigeria Union of Journalist (NUJ), Information chapel recently organised a three-day workshop for journalists in Ogun, Lagos, Oyo, Osun, Ondo, Ekiti, Edo, Rivers, Delta and Kwara states.

The training with the theme “Enhancing Good Governance Through Media and Grassroots Outreach: Strategically Navigating the Digital Landscape” was organised for government Information Officers to acquaint them with the nitty-gritty of information in the Digital Age. The workshop was aimed at exploring information dissemination in the digital age for effective use of modern tools of communication to further mobilize support for government programmes and projects as well as other issues relating to information dissemination and best journalism practices in the world of ICT. In his goodwill message at the opening ceremony, the Ogun State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, through his Information Com-

missioner; Barr. Yusuph Olaniyonu thanked the United States Government for co-sponsoring the workshop.

Alhaji Olaniyonu noted that the Governor is interested in capacity building of his people, even as he stated that the training is as an effective way of exposing media practitioners to the use of modern communication tools in mobilizing support for government’s programmes and projects.

Olaniyonu opined that this regional training could not have come at a better time than this when regional integration is being discussed by our leaders so that people from the western part of the country can speak with one voice on issues affecting them.

Declaring the three- day training open, the State Head of Service, Mrs. Modupe Adekunle emphasized that the theme of the training will help to sharpen the skills and improve the capability, capacity, productivity and performance of the officers. “...

Not that alone, the training would effectively assist in information dissemination directed at mobilizing support for government programmes, policies, projects and best journalism practices in the digital age to complement the untiring efforts of the present administration”, she added.

The workshop is the fourth in the

series of programs planned for 2013 to educate, engage, and empower journalists in southern Nigeria.

According to the Public Affairs Officer, of the U.S Mission in Nigeria, Mrs. Dehab Ghebreab, the workshop would vigorously promote press freedom as a core component of US diplomatic activities and assistance programmes in this part of West Africa.

She implored all government and other stakeholders to support the right of independent reporters and broadcasters through training for journalists, editors, media managers and press officers. “We strongly believe a free press is essential to democracy”, Ghebreab submitted.

Ghebreab however challenged the journalists to keep up with the ever changing technology, which is changing the face of journalism, urging them to utilize the new tools to enhance their performances. She equally advised them to uphold the best practices in their journalistic pursuit.

She said that journalism profession is by far better positioned to make significant contributions on behalf of the voiceless compared to the past, stressing “Journalists should serve as watchdog over government and the private sector to ensure integrity and accountability.”

About 40 participants attended the workshop.

Group condemns NSCD’s brutalisation of journalist SEKINAH L AWAL

T

he Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has condemned the outrageous display of impunity and overzealousness by men of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCD) last Friday, who brutally assaulted Mr. Waheed Adebayo, Oyo State

Correspondent of Leadership Newspapers, at the installation of a new Catholic Archbishop of Ibadan Diocese.

In a press release signed by MURIC’s Director, Prof. Ishaq Akintola, the group charged the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) to rise to the occasion, adding: “NUJ must regard this as ‘attack on one, attack on all’. Why should a jour-

nalist be treated like a thief caught in the act? Many journalists have suffered this kind of humiliation in the past and the uniformed culprits have often gone scot free due to the inability to identify them.

But this is a different case. We have names and pictures of suspects.

NUJ must insist on their arrest and prosecution. Those behind the public humiliation of Mr. Ade-

bayo must be taught a lesson as a deterrent for other overzealous uniformed men.”

“An officer of the NSCD who was identified as Mr. Anjorin particularly singled out Mr. Adebayo.

He beat him up and tore his cloth.

His colleagues also joined him in dragging the reporter. The officials continued to rough-handle Mr. Adebayo despite efforts by

other journalists to identify him.

“As the Fourth Estate of the Realm, journalists are held in high esteem in civilized countries and both governments and organizers of events should see them as partners in progress because activities of governments and public events will remain unknown without the support of journalists..."

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Media

Thursday, January 30, 2014

NUJ calls for implementation of media salary structure ...to discipline erring members STORIES : LEONARD OKACHIE

T

he Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ Zone B , has called for the implementation of Media Salary Structure to correct the imbalance in the disparity in the wage regime between media practitioners and other civil servants.

The zone which comprises Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Osun, Ondo and Ekiti states also admonished media practitioners in collaboration with all industrial unions in the industry to step up their advocacy for a better life.

In a statement by the zonal Vice President, Mr. Dele Atunbi in Akure, the advised government and other media owners to forthwith engage the leadership of all industrial unions in the media industry on the evolution and implementation of Media Salary Structure.

"We will not relent until all slave camps in the name of media organisations go into voluntary liquidation.

"We, therefore, solicit the support of every right thinking Nigerian to join the crusade of salvaging media practitioners from the contemporary economic doldrums,’’ the union said.

It also advocated better wage for all media practitioners across the country describing their monthly take home as a "slave wage’’.

The union said: “Going by the current economic realities, the wage regime in the media industry is slavish compared to what obtains in other parts of the world.

“In advanced countries of the world, information purveyors are given a pride of place in the scheme of things.

“The wage index in the media over the years is a deliberate attempt by media owners to continue to put media practitioners under the jackboot of economic slavery.’’

According to the union, the disparity in the take home of media practitioners and other civil servants is economic dehumanisation, deprivation and marginalisation.

It pointed out that the media in collaboration with other well-meaning Nigerians fought for the independence of the country.

The union stated: “In fact, the media is the unequalled vanguard for the enthronement of the current civil rule in the country.

"With the pivotal role the media played in the enthronement of democratic governance in the country, media practitioners deserve a better welfare package.

"This is therefore important to accord them their dues because of their patriotism and belief in the Nigerian project, apart from being academically qualified for a living wage.’’

Meanwhile, in its determination to clear itself of the allegation of the endorsement of Senator Victor NdomaEgba for the 4th term at the Senate of the Federal Republic, the Cross River State Council of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), has referred some of its members whose conducts they claim are suspicious, to the ethics and disciplinary committee of the Union for their roles in the recent publications against the NUJ. According to a release made available to newsmen in Calabar, the Union, rising from its monthly congress of January 2014, noted with chagrin, the recent

publications targeted against her on an online news medium “Cross River Watch”, and the “Nigerian Chronicle” published in Cross River State.

The release which was jointly signed by the Union Chairman, Pastor Ndoma Akpet and Secretary, Comrade Nsa Gill, declared that in an unanimous decision at the congress, members frowned at the unprofessional reportage of proceedings during the briefing with Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba, noting that, contrary to canons of Journalism practice, there was no attempt by the reporter of Cross River Watch to balance its report on the purported endorsement of Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba, which story, the Chronicle reporter deliberately skewed to discredit the Union.

The release stated that, the ethics and disciplinary committee has been given one week to investigate the matter and report back to congress through the State working committee of the Union for further action.

It further stated that, members of the Union believe that, an ordinary banter during a press briefing has been blown out of proportion by the two media due to political consideration, adding that, the whole reportage by the two reporters concerned, were deliberately skewed to denigrate the leadership of the State Council of NUJ, to achieve political gains.

It recalled that Council in an earlier reaction, had urged members of the public to be properly guided, saying that, NUJ remains non partisan, and in as much as they had commended the achievements of Senator Ndoma- Egba, SAN, as a Senator of the Federal Republic, it was not their business to engage in any form of endorsement of politicians or aspirants.

Mo Abudu makes top 5 people to watch in 2014

F

Abudu

ounder and Chief Executive of EbonyLife TV, Mo Abudu, just got a new feather added to her cap.

The business woman who was last year listed as one of the 25 powerful women in Global TV has been rated by The Africa Report as one of the ''Top Five People to Watch in West Africa in 2014".

EbonyLife TV is one of the biggest indigenous TV platforms in Africa, it operates out of Studio Tinapa in Cross Rivers state. In media circles Mo Abudu is fondly referred to as the "Nigerian Oprah".

Others on the list of "Top Five People to Watch in West Africa in 2014" include: Non Karna Coulibaly: He is the President of Public Procurement Regulatory Authority, Côte d'ivoire. He is renowned for his no

nonsense attitude and very outspoken personality.

Alex Mould is energy specialist and banker, who is now the current chief executive of the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation, GNPC. Ahmada Ag Bibi is rebel turned member of the ruling Rassemblement pour le Mali. He is a stoic advocate for entrenchment of Sharia law in Northern Mali and is rumoured to have the satellite phone numbers of every smuggling kingpin in the Sahel.

J. Mills Jones is the executive governor of the Central Bank of Liberia. He got into the limelight because of his controversial loan programme which many believe is used to foster his undeclared presidential ambitions ahead of 2017 elections in Liberia.

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Media Abroad

Social media drives Adobe revenue

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dobe has revealed that Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Tumblr drove an unprecedented amount of qualified traffic to retail sites in Q4 with revenue per visit (RPV) increasing across social channels.

According to the software giant’s Q4 2013 Social Media Intelligence Report analysing paid, earned and owned social media trends, Tumblr RPV rose 340 percent year-over-year (YoY), followed by Pinterest (244 percent), Twitter (131 percent) and Facebook (72 percent).

The data also confirms that Facebook is facing increased competition with share of referred visits to retail sites growing the fastest YoY for Twitter and Pinterest, 125 and 89 percent respectively.

“We expect Facebook’s competitors to aggressively drive market share growth in 2014 by adding innovative paid media capabilities,” says Tamara Gaffney, principal analyst, Adobe Digital Index, Adobe.

“Optimising campaign spending across social channels and seeking a balance between CPCs and CPMs to drive ROI will become even more important.”

The analysis is based on aggregated and anonymous data from retail, media, entertainment, and travel sites between Q4 2012 and Q4 2013.

Kenyan BBC journalist dies of cancer

K

enya-based BBC broadcast journalist Anne Waithera has died, aged 39, in a Nairobi hospital.

She had been battling cancer for the past two years. Described as among the most talented Kenyan journalists of her time, she joined the BBC in 2009 after many years with local TV and radio stations.

She was the first BBC bilingual - English and Swahili - reporter to be appointed to the Ethiopia capital, Addis Ababa.

Her death comes less than a fortnight after that of another celebrated BBC journalist, Komla Dumor from Ghana, in London.

A minute's silence was observed by BBC Africa staff in Nairobi, London, Dakar and Abuja.

BBC Africa editor Solomon Mugera described her as "a brave, well-organised and talented journalist".

BBC international bureaux manager Razvan Scortea added: "I am very saddened by this.

Anne was a lovely person, bright, gentle and positive, and she fought so hard. God bless her."

Waithera

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Thursday, January 30, 2014

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

World News

I do not expect to achieve anything substantive in the first round of Syria talks before they end on Friday.

–UN MEDIATOR, LAKHDAR BRAHIMI

WORLD BULLETIN

Merkel tries to quell row over German role in Africa Germany is ready to send logistical support to Central African Republic but will not dispatch combat troops with a planned EU mission, Chancellor Angela Merkel said yesterday, trying to end a domestic row about Berlin’s role.

A split in Merkel’s grand coalition between conservative Defence Minister Ursula von der Leyen and Social Democrat (SPD) Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier about Germany’s role in Africa has caused strains in the new government.

Merkel told the lower house of parliament the government was looking at whether to do more in Central African Republic.

“I say if necessary. It’s not about a German combat force, but about our capabilities in rescue and treating the wounded,” she said, adding Germany also wanted to strengthen its mandate in Mali to train security forces.

Germany currently has a mandate to send 180 troops to help train African soldiers in Mali.

The EU last week agreed to send troops to help stabilize Central African Republic after lobbying from France, which has sent around 1,600 soldiers to its former colony to stop massacres between Muslim and Christian militias.

Von der Leyen has said she wants to expand Germany’s military role in Africa while Steinmeier has voiced reluctance.

Ivory Coast prominent artist, Bouabre, dies One of Africa’s most celebrated visual artists, Ivorian Frederic Bruly Bouabre, has died aged 91.

Bouabre created many of his hundreds of small drawings while working as a clerk in various government offices.

He also created an alphabet of pictograms to transcribe the oral traditions of his people, the Betes.

In the last 25 years his work has been exhibited at several of the world’s most important art galleries and museums.

His work was displayed at last year’s Venice Biennale, both at the international exhibition, called The Encyclopaedic Palace, and at the Ivory Coast pavilion.

“Bouabre is himself a kind of builder of encyclopaedias because his personal work consists in inventing a specific African alphabet,” the Ivorian curator and art critic Yacouba Konate told the BBC at the time.

“He thinks it’s easier for an African to learn, to get new knowledge, when he works inside an African writing system, an African language.”

Konate said Bouabre also documented the scarification on people’s faces in various West African countries.

Libyan deputy prime minister survives assassination PAUL ARHEWE,

WITH AGENCY REPORTS

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ibya’s deputy prime minister survived unhurt after gunmen fired on his car in Tripoli yesterday in an attack reflecting the violent chaos plaguing the North African nation two years after Muammar Gaddafi’s fall.

The Libyan government is struggling to contain dozens of unruly militias, former rebel brigades and militants who kept their guns after the NATO-backed revolt against Gaddafi in 2011.

Deputy Prime Minister Sadiq Abdulkarim said he had been attacked on his way from the Interior Ministry to the General National Congress assembly. He is also interim Interior Minister since the previous minister quit several months ago.

“I tell those who did it that Libya is bigger than you and Libya’s men will not be threatened by bullets, guns or rockets,” Abdulkarim said a two-minute state-

ment on television.

The state news agency said he had not been wounded in the attack. Abdulkarim, who appeared healthy in his television appearance, said he had returned to work afterwards.

The identity of the attackers was unclear, an Interior Ministry official said.

Libya’s difficulties in asserting state authority worry Western powers which fear that violence in the OPEC country could spill over to its North African neighbors.

Parts of Libya are already effectively under the control of militias, armed tribesmen and Islamist militant groups.

Libya’s fledgling army and police, still in training, are no match for the militias that fought in the anti-Gaddafi uprising. The government has tried to co-opt them with state jobs but they often remain loyal to their commanders or local regions.

Security has deteriorated in recent months. More than 40

South Sudan releases seven alleged coup plotters

S

outh Sudan freed seven political figures yesterday who had been arrested on suspicion of plotting a coup, partially meeting a rebel demand at peace talks focused on ending weeks of fighting.

The seven, who were handed over to neighbouring Kenya, were among a group of 11 detained after fighting broke out in South Sudan’s capital in mid-December and spread across the world’s newest country.

“We don’t feel bitter, we don’t feel the president is our enemy,” one of the freed men, South Sudan’s former justice minister

Kiir

John Luk Jok, told reporters in Kenya’s capital Nairobi.

South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir accused his former vice president Riek Machar of starting the fighting in a bid to seize power.

Machar, who is in hiding, denies the charge and accuses Kiir if using an outburst of violence to round up his political rivals.

Kiir has since been under intense pressure from regional powers, Washington and the United Nations to respond to Machar’s demand to free all 11 detainees to push forward shaky peace talks taking place in Ethiopia.

Kenya’s President Uhuru Kenyatta, who appeared with the freed detainees, said east African leaders would continue pressing Kiir for the release of the four others who remain in detention and may face treason charges.

South Sudan’s justice minister on Tuesday said the seven would be released because of insufficient evidence against them.

Abdulkarim

people were killed in fighting between rival groups and residents in Tripoli in October. Car bombs and assassinations have become part of daily life in the eastern city of Benghazi.

An armed blockade of three major eastern ports by a group demanding a greater share of oil

wealth and more regional autonomy has choked off 600,000 barrels per day of oil exports.

Prime Minister Ali Zeidan’s government faces a budget crunch due to the blockade, now in its sixth month. Oil exports, Libya’s lifeline, have more than halved during the dispute.

20 journalists face charges in Egypt

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wenty journalists are facing charges in Egypt, prosecutors have said.

Sixteen are Egyptians accused of belonging to a “terrorist organisation” and four are foreigners accused of assisting it, or spreading false news.

The defendants include two Britons, a Dutch national and an Australian - believed to be the al-Jazeera correspondent Peter Greste.

Earlier, international news networks, including the BBC, called for the release of five alJazeera journalists.

The 16 Egyptian defendants face several allegations including belonging to a terrorist group, harming national unity and social peace, and using terrorism as a means to their goals.

The four foreigners are accused of collaborating with the Egyptians and providing them with information, equipment, and money as well as broadcasting false information and

rumours to convince the international community that Egypt was undergoing a civil war.

Eight of the defendants are in detention, while 12 are on the run with arrest warrants issued against them, according to the prosecutor’s statement.

No names are mentioned.

But it said the four foreigners were correspondents for the Qatari al-Jazeera news network.

“We only know of five people in jail,” said al-Jazeera’s head of newsgathering Heather Allen.

“We don’t know about the full charge. Things are not clear at the moment. We are still waiting for clarity.”

Greste’s appeal against his detention without charge was denied on Wednesday by a Cairo court.

The staff members and journalists of al-Jazeera were arrested in late December following interior ministry accusations of illegally broadcasting from a hotel suite.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Czech president appoints centreleft cabinet

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zech President Milos Zeman appointed a new centre-left cabinet yesterday, ending seven months of a power vacuum that has hampered policymaking the country needs to boost a recovery from a record-long recession.

Zeman appointed ministers from three coalition parties who formed a parliamentary majority after an early election in October.

The cabinet, led by Prime Minister Bohuslav Sobotka, will take power immediately from a caretaker administration that has ruled since a centre-right cabinet collapsed in a sleaze scandal last June.

Social Democrat leader Sobotka, 42, wants to return the central European country into the mainstream of EU politics after a euro sceptic course taken by previous cabinets. He aims to bring the country closer to euro zone entry, although the coalition has been vague on any timing.

“There is a rising hope after a long time that the Czech Republic will stop playing the role of troublemaker in the European Union,” Jakub Janda from the European Values think tank wrote in a commentary.

The Social Democrats aim to raise taxes, below the EU average but higher than in most new EU member states at around 35 percent of gross domestic product, to fund social policies.

They plan to run budget deficits under the EU’s 3 percent limit, abandoning previous aims to eliminate deficit funding and halt growth of debt, low by European standards at around 46 percent of GDP. The budget will benefit thanks to a gradual recovery in the economy from a recession that started in 2011 and ended last year, in part caused by austerity policies of the previous centre-right cabinet.

Any tax hikes, however, will be opposed by the ANO party led by Finance Minister Andrej Babis, a billionaire businessman who owns hundreds of firms in the food, chemical and media industries. Debate over taxes is the most likely flashpoint for the centre-left coalition in the months ahead.

The centre-right opposition criticizes Babis - likened by the media to Italy’s Silvio Berlusconi - for conflicts of interest he may face as the head of tax and regulatory authorities.

World News

Thursday, January 30, 2014

Ukraine on brink of civil war, ex-president warns

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kraine’s first post-independence president has warned the country is on the “brink of civil war”.

Leonid Kravchuk, president from 1991 to 1994, urged parliament to “act with the greatest responsibility” as it debates on an amnesty for detained protesters.

President Viktor Yanukovych wants any amnesty to be conditional on protesters leaving official buildings and dismantling barricades.

The EU’s foreign policy chief said all parties must hold “real dialogue”.

Catherine Ashton, who is holding talks in Kiev with the president and opposition leaders, said she was shocked by the unrest, and that there was “no question that the importance of finding a quick and peaceful way forward is on everyone’s minds”.

“In the end the solution has to be found that’s going to help move the country forward, and it needs to be a political process that is engaged in quickly and properly by everyone.

“The responsibility is inevitably going to fall on government to do that as quickly as possible,” she said.

The protests began in November after Yanukovych reversed a decision to sign a long-awaited trade deal with the EU, instead favouring stronger ties with Russia.

At least five people have been killed and a number of government buildings across the country have been occupied. Hundreds of people remain on the streets of the capital, Kiev.

A policeman was shot dead in Kiev on Wednesday, said officials.

Leonid Kravchuk received a standing ovation for his speech.

It was not immediately clear whether the shooting was related to the protests.

Ukraine’s parliament is debating an amnesty for the scores of protesters detained since demonstrations began, in the hope of calming the unrest.

Kravchuk told them: “All the world acknowledges and Ukraine acknowledges that the state is on the brink of civil war.

“It is a revolution. It is a dramatic situation in which we must act with the greatest responsibility,” he said in an emotional address that earned him a standing ovation.

“We need to ease the confrontation between the sides and agree a plan to solve the conflict. We need to work on this plan step by step to ease the confrontation.”

MPs are expected to vote on the bill later on Wednesday.

PHOTO: REUTERS

Earlier, speaker Volodymyr Rybak said there were “several unresolved issues” but that discussions would continue.

The amnesty bill requires protesters to leave their main protest camp in central Independence Square [Maidan], but opposition leader Arseniy Yatsenyuk said this was “unacceptable for us”.

A number of activists who had been occupying an agriculture ministry building abandoned the property on Wednesday, after apparent pressure from moderate protesters.

The protesters won significant concessions on Tuesday as MPs voted overwhelmingly to repeal a controversial two-week old antiprotest law, which had banned the wearing of helmets by protesters and the blockading of public buildings.

Bush’s speechwriter accuses Obama of plagiarism

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former speechwriter for President George W. Bush accused President Barack Obama of plagiarizing one of Bush’s speeches for the Tuesday evening State of the Union address.

Marc Thiessen, who served as Bush’s lead speechwriter for his 2007 State of the Union speech,

Obama

told Megyn Kelly of Fox News, “Barack Obama has gone from blaming George W. Bush to plagiarizing George W. Bush.”

Politco reports that Thiessen then read phrases from the 2007 speech which focused on the theme “hope and opportunity.” “It was eerily familiar.

There were lines like ‘Our job is to help Americans build a future of hope and opportunity, a future of hope and opportunity begins with a growing economy, a future of hope and opportunity requires that all citizens have affordable and available health care, extending opportunity and hope depends on a stable supply of energy,’ all of that came from the 2007 State of the Union from George W. Bush,” Thiessen said.

Poliico writes that none of Obama’s lines “were directly

lifted” from Bush’s 2007 address, though in both speeches the presidents repeatedly used versions of the word “opportunity” and both concluded with stories about veterans who had been wounded in combat.

This isn’t the first time Obama has been accused of plagiarism in a State of the Union address. In 2011, Alvin Felzenberg, presidential scholar and former spokesman for the 9/11 Commission, wrote an op-ed for U.S. News and World Report stating the Obama’s speech “contained enough recycled ideas and lines lifted from speeches of others to make historians wince.”

However, President Bush was not immune to similar accusations. In 2010, a Huffington Post reporter accused Bush of lifting passages of his memoir from the books of his advisers.

49

WORLD BULLETIN

US lawmaker apologises for threatening reporter United States’ Rep. Michael Grimm, R-N.Y., yesterday apologised for threatening to toss a reporter over the House balcony for asking about a campaign finance investigation.

Grimm’s threat came Tuesday night at the end of an interview on President Obama’s State of the Union speech, which he called “divisive,” NY1 reported.

NY1 reporter Michael Scotto then tried to ask Grimm about a federal investigation into his 2010 campaign fundraising but was cut off. Grimm has not been charged.

“I’m not speaking to you offtopic, this is only about the president,” Grimm said then left.

The reporter, Michael Scotto, wrapped up his interview with, “So Congressman Michael Grimm does not want to talk about the allegations concerning his campaign finances,” then signed off.

However, the camera was rolling and Grimm returned to Scotto, NY1 said.

“Let me be clear to you: If you ever do that to me again, I’ll throw you off this [expletive] balcony,” said Grimm, a former Marine and former FBI agent.

Scotto said he was trying to ask “a valid question.”

Turkey’s leader in Iran to mend ties Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan has arrived in Iran to bolster trade and energy relations, state TV said, in what also looked like a bid to defuse tensions over Syria by capitalizing on Tehran’s diplomatic opening to regional rivals and the West.

Iran has been a strong strategic ally of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad since the start of the uprising against him, while Turkey has been one of his fiercest critics, supporting his opponents and giving refuge to rebel fighters.

But Iran’s election last June of President Hassan Rouhani, a relative moderate who says he wants to thaw its ties with the West, and shared concern over the rise of al Qaeda in Syria, have spurred hopes of a Turkish-Iranian rapprochement.

Russia to give Ukraine $2 billion aid –PM Ukraine’s interim prime minister pledged yesterday to work to limit damage to the economy from more than two months of turmoil and said he expected Russia to disburse a further $2 billion of aid “very soon”.

The former Soviet republic has been gripped by mass street unrest since President Viktor Yanukovich walked away from a trade pact with the European Union last November, opting for closer economic ties with Russia which has brought it a $15 billion bailout package.

With Yanukovich and loyalist deputies in parliament now making concessions to defuse the crisis and with the resignation of Prime Minister Mykola Azarov, there had been speculation that Russia might slow or even halt the stream of aid.

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Thursday, January 30, 2014

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Community Mirror Fire razes houses in Port Harcourt

It is my firm belief that Nigeria can be great if the over 160 million of us resolved to be one another’s keeper and ready at all times to tell each other the truth.

51

CAN PRESIDENT, PASTOR AYO ORITSEJAFOR

Ex-sports director evicted from university residence FRANCIS SUBERU

A

former deputy director of sports at the University of Lagos, UNILAG, Kehinde Sogbesan has decried the forceful eviction from his official residence on January 24.

In a statement made available to Community Mirror, Sogbesan said the university management had written to him on January 13, giving a two week quit notice to move out of the residence at 5A Ransome Kuti, Close,even as he claimed that only some hours after the notice, the institution’s security operatives sealed the house.

He said he was further shocked when on January 24, 2014, the authorities ordered that his family be evicted from the house, even as he claimed that

his properties, including electronic gadgets and other household items were taken to the Works Department.

Quoting the Lagos Landlord and Tenant Law, Sogbesan said; “where an employee is required by his employer expressly or impliedly to reside in a house, flat or quarters provided by the employer as representative occupier for better performance of his service/duties; if the employee’s services with the employer terminates, there is no automatic determination of tenancy. The employer is required to comply with the statutory provisions of the rent/edicts for the rejection or eviction of the service tenant because the relationship between the employer and employee is that of a landlord and tenant.”

Sogbesan who was a

member of the sports committee of UNILAG when it hosted the Nigeria University Games, NUGA, in 1998 and West African University Games in 2006, was dismissed from the institution in 2008 but remained in his official residence after suing the university for wrongfully dismissal.

The university had sacked him for purchasing four pairs of poles and nets for the institution’s lawn tennis courts at a cost of N540, 000 without informing the authorities.

However, Sogbesan claimed he bought the materials because he had approval to do so.

“The poles were bought and erected, and I was given instructions to go ahead to do so, but because they did not want to pay me, they demanded that I defend the purchase”, Sogbesan said.

Sogbesan remained in the apartment to press home his demands for refund of the N540, 000 and his entitlements for five years, despite the ruling of Justice Obaseki-

Osaghae of the National Industrial Court, NIC, sitting in Lagos Judicial Division which said the institution was right to dismiss him.

When contacted, the Deputy Registrar and Acting Public Relations Officer of UNILAG, Toyin Adebule, told Community Mirror he knew nothing of Sogbesan’s eviction, claiming he was not briefed on it.

“Presently, I am at Ibadan to receive an award, I do not know anything about Mr.

Sogbesan’s eviction,” he said.

Efforts to reach the Information Unit at the university Senate building for more information proved abortive, as officials claimed they had no authority to speak on the issue.

They however referred our correspondent to the Chairman, Housing Committee, Prof Oluwole Familoni who said the eviction became necessary after the court dismissed Sogbesan’s suit.

Gwagwalada residents lament incessant power cuts ADEOLA TUKURU ABUJA

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esidents of Angwan Dodo Community in Gwagwalada Area Council of Abuja have decried the persistent electricity blackout in the area, calling on the council to install transformers to ameliorate the situation.

Some of the residents claimed that some areas have been suffering from perennial power supply, while others are without light for months, adding that the situation is affecting economic development in the area.

One of the residents, Godwin Okafor attributed the development to the inadequate number of transformers, adding that the power voltage is usually low whenever light comes at midnight and does not last for long.

“We in Angwan Dodo

area of Gwagwalada have been suffering from power blackout for a long time.

Some parts of the council have not had light for some months, while in some areas, light only comes at midnight and does not last long”, he said.

Okafor added that the situation has forced many residents to buy generators and lamented that even with the epileptic power supply, they still pay huge electricity bills.

“The average electricity supply at Angwan Dodo is for only three hours per day, even when the light is never be stable, he said.

Another resident, Nando Davids said he has lived in the area for three years, adding that rather than improve, the power supply continues to get worse by the day. We are pleading with the council to bring more generators to the area.

A bread hawker taking a nap in the back of a bus at Oshodi Motor park, yesterday.

PHOTO:ADEMOLA AKINLABI

Families decry activities of land speculators in Ogun OLA AKINWUNMI ABEOKUTA

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bout 15 families in 10 villages have alerted the Ogun State Government on the increasing number of land speculators in Ado-Odo, an ancient town in Ado-Odo/Ota Local Government Area.

Speaking with Community Mirror, the elders lamented the negative activities of hoodlums in their communities.

According to them, the notorious group is from the Oborun family that is spearheading the

sacking of the original settlers of Ado-Odo from their traditional land with court litigations, aimed at dispossessing them of their inheritance.

According to them, they often grab lands from their original owners with fictitious claim of ownership. While land grabbing is not new in Ado-Odo, the latest development is becoming worrisome.

According to the residents, the Oborun family is claiming ownership of nearly half the land in Ado/Odo. A resident, Babatunde

Isreal, said he fears the situation could lead to violence if an urgent solution is not found. ‘‘What is happening is a recipe for violence. We have to cry out to the state government to look into the matter. In a nation with laws and government, what we have is a group of people coming to AdoOdo and claiming to own everything and taking everyone to court in order to drive them away from their traditional inheritance”, he said.

Also, a prominent Baale who pleaded anonymity said, ‘‘ these

hoodlums are claiming lands from the families of Amosun, Olakitan, Olatunji, Idowu, Omojare, Odeyemi, Obalola ,Abiola, Ogunbiyi and several others.

According to him, these families are indigenes of AdoOdo. One family cannot possibly own all our lands,’’ he said.

He said the development could lead to violence as secret meetings are being held to fight back. “In order to prevent such happening, we are calling on the state government to call the Oborun family to order”, he said.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Community Mirror

Thursday, January 30, 2014

51

Rep empowers youths in Cross River RICHARD NDOMA CALABAR

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Overloaded truck on Oyo-Ibadan Expressway, yesterday.

PHOTO: NAN

Fire razes houses in Port Harcourt IYEUMAME OZURUMBA PORT HARCOURT

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n early morning blaze has swept through Elekahia, a slum area of Port Harcourt city destroying a church and several buildings.

Although no casualty was reported in the incident that affected Atugbo Street in Elekahia, the inferno burnt down a branch of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, and an extensive area of the make shift living

quarters.

According to a victim, who gave his name as Gift, the fire started at 8:30am after many residents have gone out to work and with the entire area nearly empty of people.

Gift said he received a call from a neighbour, that his compound was on fire and on getting there, the entire compound was burnt including household properties.

He said:”I live in the area and as I got home, I saw neighbours

struggling to retrieve their properties”.

He added that some community youths came to their rescue, but were only able to salvage little furniture.

However, the youths were able to salvage some of the church’s chairs, microphones and other items, but incidentally the fire gutted the office of the senior pastor and parts of the church.

The victims said they are yet to know the cause of the fire”.

”We called on the fire service at Trans Amadi but they said they were coming, but we did not see them until the state fire service arrived”.

Although no casualty was recorded in the incident, it however rendered about 150 persons homeless. Some of the victims pleaded with the state government to come to their rescue, “We call on the government to help us because some of us who could not recover anything from the fire are now left homeless”.

Lawmaker empowers Kogi indigenes WALE IBRAHIM LOKOJA

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n Assembly member representing Yagba East Constituency in Kogi State, Hon. Henry Ekundayo Ojuola has distributed items worth several millions of naira to people in 10 wards of his constituency as part of empowerment initiative.

Items distributed were 10 cars, 12 sewing machines, 5 hair driers, 8 deep freezers,

42 pesticide sprayers, 10 stand fans, medical equipment and 30 bundles of roofing sheets.

He also presented cheques for N2 million to women to enable them start small scale businesses.

Ojuola made the donation at presentation of his stewardship in the last two and half years, even as he maintained that the distribution cuts across party affiliations.

The Assembly member pointed out that he has been

relating well with members from other political parties, as he commended Governor Idris Wada and his deputy, Yomi Awoniyi for their development programmes.

“I have been able to draw government attention to Yagba East constituency in some aspect of social infrastructural development”.

The lawmaker said that he has constructed 10 boreholes in various communities, overhead water tank at Igbagun and supplied

transformers at strategic places through the Ministry Rural Development.

In his speech, Captain Idris Wada commended the lawmaker for his kind gestures to his constituents.

The governor who was represented by his deputy, Yomi Awoniyi called on other lawmakers to emulate the kind gesture of Ojuola, stressing that the government will not relent in its effort to ameilorate the sufferings of the people.

law maker representing Akamkpa/ Biase Federal Constituency at the National Assembly, Hon.Daniel Asuquo has empower youths of his constituency with 24 cars, power generators ,sewing and weaving machines, hair dryers , wielding machines ,motor cycles, cooking gas, baking machines,800,000 exercise books,school bags and uniforms and computers.

He said the initiative was part of fulfillment of his promise during election campaigns,even as he promised that more democratic dividends will be brought to the people.

Asuquo also awarded scholarship to some indigent students, while others got money to boost their small and medium scale businesses, including acquiring skills at the on-going skills acquisition programmes of the state government.

“Today I have come to give back to you just as I have always done, remember you gave me your mandate and I will always remain grateful”, he said.

The legislator said that whatever he gave out was a tip of the ice berg, adding that in due cause more items will be distributed to the people.

“For me giving is alifestyle, we believe in

education; formal and informal, the journey towards having a better Akamkpa/Biase constituency, Cross River State and Nigeria starts with a step” In separate remarks, the speaker House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Aminu Tambuwal, the state chairman of the People’s Democratic Party,Ntufam John Okon, including Ntufam Ayamba Ignatius, Chief Williams Umoh, Prince Bassey Otu and Senate Leader, Sen. Victor Ndoma-Egba stated that Asuquo has always been a team player.

Also speaking, the Cross River State Governor, Sen. Liyel Imoke lauded the efforts of Hon.Daniel Asuquo, for empowering his constituents, describing him as aloyal, truthful, trustworthy and committed person who stops at nothing in wiping away the tears of whoever is in need.

The governor noted that the benevolence of the law maker was worthy of emulation urging the beneficiaries to judiciously utilise the empowerment item.

Chairman of the event, Prof. Evara Esu said that “Never in my life have I witnessed such type of empowerment”. He posited that the level of generosity is a challenge to others.

WOTCLEF laments persistent human trafficking ADEOLA TUKURU ABUJA

W

o m e n Trafficking and Child Labour Eradication Foundation, WOTCLEF,has expressed dismay over continued cases of human trafficking in the country, even as awareness campaigns are being mounted against the practice.

Its national coordinator, Mrs. Veronica Umaru stated this in Abuja at the opening ceremony of a one day training workshop on child trafficking and children’s rights.

Umaru who described the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, as ‘a recipient city for trafficked children’ stated that until everyone is involved in the fight, the menace will continue.

According to her, plans are on to train 400 children from different homes on child trafficking so they will in turn inform others on its negative effects.

“WOTCLEF is targeting 400 children for training this year. We appeal to parents and teachers to allow selected children participate in the training as they will also inform others.”

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North

Thursday, January 30, 2014

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Youths jubilate as Rep defects to PDP IGBAWASE UKUMBA LAFIA

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Plateau State Governor Jonah Jang (left) and retiring Chief Judge of the state, Justice Lazarus Dakyem, at his valedictory court session in Jos, yesterday.

PHOTO: NAN

FG re-arraigns Leadership journalists for alleged forgery ISE-OLUWA IGE

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he Federal Government yesterday arraigned afresh two journalists from Leadership newspaper before an Abuja high court over alleged forgery of a controversial presidential directive.

The journalists are the News Editor of the newspaper, Mr. Tony Amokeodo and the Political Correspondent, Chibuzo Ukaibe.

They had earlier entered their pleas to the charge before two high court judges including Justice Usman Musale of the Abuja high court sitting in Kubwa.

But overnight, the Abuja high court Chief Judge ordered the withdrawal of the case file and assigned it to a judge who shares the same nativity with President

Goodluck Jonathan who is a complainant in the case.

The case was yet to be mentioned when the media insinuated that the transfer of the case was to help Jonathan get favourable judgment.

Justice Affen did not move near the case as he withdrew from the case the day it was mentioned in his court.

He had held that the decision was necessary to protect the integrity of the judiciary and himself.

The case-file was subsequently taken back to Justice Musale who had earlier begun trial in the matter.

Musale told the world yesterday that he did not know why the case was withdrawn from his court.

Although counsel to Leadership journalists, Mr. Femi Falana (SAN) invited the court to go ahead with

the case where he stopped since Justice Affen did nothing in the case, the Federal Government objected.

The government pushed for a de novo trial of the case yesterday saying it was a neater option.

The News Editor of the newspaper, Mr. Tony Amokeodo and Political Correspondent, Chibuzo Ukaibe were charged with forgery of a presidential directive.

When the case came up yesterday, the journalists were re-arraigned and they pleaded not guilty to the 11-count charge filed against them by the federal government.

Counsel to the federal government, Chief Adegboyega Awomolo(SAN), told the court before the journalists took their pleas, yesterday, that since the case had gone out of the

court, there was need for the accused persons to take a fresh plea.

But counsel to the journalist, Mr. Femi Falana (SAN), told the court that there was no need to take a fresh plea since nothing happened in the other court the case was transferred to.

Justice Musdale in his response to the submissions made by counsel said that he was surprised when the Registrar of the court told him that the leadership of the court called for the case file. “I did not know how the case went out of this court.

I just saw an order that it should be transferred and I complied”, Justice Musale said.

After the journalists pleaded not guilty to the charge against them, the case was set down for hearing and was adjourned till March 27, 2014 for hearing.

Niger shuts 26 hospitals over alleged illegality

N

iger Ministry of Health on Wednesday said that it sealed 26 private hospitals for allegedly operating illegally and other unprofessional conducts.

The Commissioner for Health, Dr Ibrahim Sule, said this when he briefed newsmen on the performance of the ministry in 2013 and its projects for 2014.

He said 10 of the clinics were close down per-

manently for employing quack medical personnel, while 16 others being investigated were temporarily close down.

Sule said the ministry pharmaceutical department in collaboration with National Food and Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC) also close 25 patient medicine shops for alleged sell of fake and counterfeit drugs.

He also said that the

prevalence rate of HIV and AIDS had dropped drastically in Niger from 4.0 per cent in 2012 to 1.2 per cent in 2013.

The commissioner attributed this development to the proactive measures put in place by the ministry to provide medical services to people living with HIV and AIDS. He said 304,822 people underwent voluntary HIV and AIDS screening with 17,919 of them testing pos-

itive.

He said 11,909 out of the 17,919 of those that tested positive were presently receiving free treatment.

Sule said the government would construct two General Hospitals in Lemu and Agwara, headquarters of Gbako and Agwara Local Government Areas.

He said that there were also plans to convert Kutigi Rural Hospital to a General Hospital.

undreds of Nasarawa youths yesterday took to the streets in jubilation over the defection of a member of the House of Representatives, Dr. Joseph Haruna Kigbu, to the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, from the All Progressives Congress, APC. Dr. Kigbu had won election in 2011 under the platform of the defunct Congress for Progressives Change, CPC, now merged with other political parties to form the APC, to represent Lafia/Obi federal constituency but was reported on Tuesday to have defected to the PDP. The youths, carrying placards first converged at the Dunama Primary School along Shendam road, Lafia, the state capital, before moving to the palace of the Emir of Lafia, Isa Mustapha Agwai I, where they paid homage to the royal father and later rallied round the city singing and dancing.

The youths were said to have come from the lawmaker’s constituency as they carried placards with various inscriptions which

reads; “God has answered our prayers, Kigbu has left the APC”, “Haruna Kigbu RIP” and “RIP PDP in Nasarawa”.

The leader of the group, Mohammed Sokoto, while addressing journalists said that they are supporters of APC, from Lafia/Obi federal constituency, who came out to celebrate the defection of their representative at the national assembly from the APC to the PDP. The youth leader described Dr. Kigbu as unfit to represent the people of the constituency claiming that “since his election, Kigbu has remained silent while his colleagues continuously engage in fruitful deliberations in order to bring development to their various constituencies.”

On whether the defection of the lawmaker could affect the fortune of the party in the state, Sokoto dismissed the assumption, arguing that with the present development across the country; the PDP has collapsed and could hardly constitute a threat.

“It is good riddance to bad rubbish. Besides, since his election, it is on record that Kigbu has not been able to actively participate in the decisions of the House.

Policeman injured as youths clash in Ilorin WOLE ADEDEJI ILORIN

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policeman was yesterday injured in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital during a street fight, involving youths from Abayawo and Dada area of the metropolis.

The confusion that followed the clash paralysed activities in the ever busy Abayawo-Okelele road, which remained deserted till late in the evening when National Mirror visited the area.

Similarly, school pupils were said to have earlier rushed home as a result of the fracas where broken bottles and several dangerous weapons were alleged to have been freely used by the youths.

Sources said the mayhem was caused by the alleged killing of a dog belonging to one of the combatants.

It was also learnt that the youths belonged to different groups with some previous disagreements and only used the excuse of the dead dog to unleash mayhem on each other.

About 50 motorcycles were said to have been burnt during the fracas.

Residents of the area however blamed the police for the poor handling of the matter.

They alleged that the poor response by policemen led to the burning of the 50 motorcycles.

Residents also accused the police of illegally raiding their houses, collecting mobile phones and eating their soup.

Kwara State police Spokesperson, Mr. Ajayi Okasanmi, confirmed the incident and said the injured policeman was receiving treatment at the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital, UITH.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

North

Thursday, January 30, 2014

Jang urges suspension of constitution amendment till after confab JAMES ABRAHAM JOS

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lateau State Governor, Jonah Jang, has urged members of the National Assembly to suspend further efforts at amending the constitution and await the outcome of the national conference being planned by the Jonathan administration.

The governor spoke yesterday in Jos during a valedictory session held in honour of Hon. Lazarus Dakyen, who retired

as the state high court judge.

He said the constitution amendment if suspended, will allow the National Assembly the opportunity to produce a constitution that will meet the yearnings and aspirations of Nigerians, since their views on how they want to be governed would have been articulated properly during the national conference.

He said: “Why is the National Assembly not in favour of a referendum to make the constitution tru-

ly the property of Nigerians and not the product of a military gazette which it is?

“I personally support President Jonathan’s dialogue, but would wish that there be no-go-areas and that the outcome should be subjected to a referendum by the citizens of Nigeria.

“I call on the National Assembly to suspend further efforts at amending the constitution and await the outcome of the national dialogue.”

Governor Jang also stressed that the current

federalism being practised in the country was distorted and as such the need to correct such imbalances for the benefit of the citizenry.

Also yesterday, the governor swore in Hon. Justice Pius Damulak as the acting chief judge of the state. Governor Jang, who paid glowing tributes to the former chief judge for serving the state meritoriously, charged the incoming judge not to disappoint the people who look up to him for effective dispensation of justice in the state.

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NLC to build 1, 000 houses for Taraba workers

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he Chairman of the Nigerian Labour Congress, NLC, Taraba State chapter, Mr. Mark Ishaku, yesterday said that the union has commenced the building of 1, 000 housing units for civil servants in the state.

Ishaku said that about 80 hectares of land was acquired for the project which would be completed in two years.

He added that the project, cited in Kona area of Jalingo, would be effectively monitored by the unions housing committee.

During an inspecting tour of the project yesterday, the NLC chairman said; “These 1, 000 housing

units are the first set of the 5, 000 housing units we plan to build in the state.

“Only members who contribute to the unions National Housing Scheme will be eligible for allocation of the houses.’’

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that Ishaku had announced that the union would embark on the building of 5, 000 houses for workers in the state.

The Project Manager of Ecinot Nigeria Limited, the company handling the project, Mr. Fred Esioma, promised to complete the project on schedule and in line with the contract specification.

Wada promises judicious spending of N20bn bond WALE IBRAHIM LOKOJA

K Emir of Bauchi, Alhaji Rilwanu Adamu (middle), with members of the National Institute of Public Relations in the state, during a visit to the emir in Bauchi, yesterday.

PHOTO: NAN

20-year-old murder suspect arraigned in court

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20-year-old man, Umar Lawal, yesterday appeared before a Kano Magistrates’ Court for murder.

Lawal is charged with killing a nine-year-old boy, Ibrahim Hamisu.

Police prosecutor, Sergeant Ibrahim

Mohammed, told the court that the suspect killed the boy and removed his left eye for ritual purposes.

Mohammed said the accused trailed the deceased to a bush where he killed him.

The prosecutor said Lawal’s action

contravened the provisions of the Penal Code Law. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that although the accused had pleaded guilty to the charge, the magistrate had to adjourn the case over the issue of jurisdiction.

The prosecution had requested for the adjournment.

Consequently, the Magistrate, Mrs. Umma Kurawa, ordered that the suspect be remanded in prison and adjourned the case to February 25.

‘Involve religious, traditional leaders in peace process’

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he founder of a Kaduna-based nongovernmental organisation, Peace Revival and Reconciliation Foundation, Yohanna Buru, has called on the Federal Government to involve traditional and religious leaders in the search for lasting peace in the country.

Buru made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) yesterday in Kaduna.

He said traditional rulers have the capacity and respect to bring about a turn-around in the effort to bring about peace in the country as they did in the past.

“If they allow traditional rulers to come in, miracles will happen, peace will be restored.

“It is the traditional rulers, not government or security people that can bring about peace.

“Similarly, if you bring in genuine religious leaders, ordained of God, whether Muslim or Christian, they will harmonise the society.

“These are the two major groups that the government needs in order to restore peace in the country without spending billions on security.”

Buru also called for stronger engagement between the government

and the citizens to promote peace and economic development.

“The government must engage the citizens; there should be proper communication and proper relationship between the government and its citizens.

“And if government is just and fair to the citizens; providing jobs, food, power, waters supply and infrastructure, there would be peace.”

ogi State Governor, Idris Wada, has assured the people of the state that the N20 billion bond the state is taking will be judiciously used by his administration.

He said the money will be used specifically to develop infrastructure in the state.

Wada, who made the assurance yesterday while speaking with journalists at the Government House in Lokoja, said arrangement has been concluded to access the first N5 billion to kick-start developmental projects in the state.

The governor said the state cannot access N20 billion at the same time, that the money can only

be obtained in tranches, stressing that the various projects would be supervised and monitored at regular intervals and certified by the officers of the issuing house.

Wada maintained that after the satisfactory performance of the first tranche, then the state will then access another N5 billion which will pass through the same process again until it accesses all.

The governor, however, highlighted some of the projects he intends to use the bond for which include the construction of a 500 housing units, constructions and rehabilitation of state and township roads, hospitals, provision of potable water, upgrading of Kogi State University and the expansion of the School of Medicine of the university.

INEC to blacklist parties with ‘perpetual leadership’

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he Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, yesterday said it will stop all official communication with political parties operating through caretaker committees over a long period of time in Zamfara State.

Speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in his office in Gusau yesterday, the Resident Electoral Commissioner, REC, in the state, Alhaji Jibrin Zarewa,

noted with dismay that such parties had refused to organise elections as stipulated by law.

He said 11 out of the 19 existing political parties in the state were guilty of the offence, adding that they had been operating under certain individuals.

These individuals, the INEC boss said, had been serving as caretaker committee members in the last seven years.

54

Insight

Two years ago, the Federal Ministry of Health jettisoned the nation’s malaria management policy which encouraged individual self medication and announced that henceforth, anyone with symptoms of malaria must see a doctor who should carry out appropriate laboratory investigation before administering any treatment. AISHA TITILAYO, however, reports that doctors are disregarding the new policy.

Thursday, January 30, 2014

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Revealed! New malaria

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unice is not a first time malaria patient. Each time she feels the symptoms, the “normal” thing is to dash to a nearby drug store to buy an anti-malarial medicine. To her, self medication helps reduce the number of times she has had to visit the hospital as a result of malaria.

For Adebayo, symptoms such as body pains, especially in the joints, fever, headache and vomiting are all too familiar signs that send him racing to the pharmacy to buy an effective anti-malarial drug.

Adebayo has never seen the need to see a doctor. “Malaria is malaria. Why do I need to see a doctor for such a simple ailment?

I know virtually all the drugs for malaria treatment so I can always treat myself,” he confidently told National Mirror.

Eunice and Adebayo are not alone. In Nigeria, there’s hardly anyone who has never suffered from malaria. It is the nation’s number one disease which accounts for more cases and deaths than in any other country in the world.

According to experts, about 97% of the population is at risk of malaria. The National Malaria Control Programme (NMCP) says there are an estimated 100 million malaria cases with over 300,000 deaths per year in Nigeria, far higher than HIV/AIDS reported to account for 215,000 deaths per year in the country.

Also, according to NMCP, malaria accounts for 60% of outpatient visits and 30% of admissions among children under five years of age.

Malaria is so common in the country that there’s hardly anyone who does not know a drug or two for its management. Indeed, before 2011, the health ministry encouraged self treatment which explains why anti-malarials were classified as over-the-counter (OTC) medicines which could be purchased without a doctor’s prescription. People were encouraged to consider a visit to the doctor only if symptoms persisted after 48 hours of self treatment. This was however reversed by the ministry in 2011.

National Mirror can however reveal that two years after, many Nigerians are yet to embrace the new policy as most people still treat themselves, while doctors, especially in private hospitals, would rather treat first, relying mostly on the patient’s symptoms and their personal experience, before thinking of laboratory investigation.

This much was discovered when this reporter visited some hospitals and clinics faking malaria symptoms. For instance, at Toyek Hospital in Ketu, Lagos, the reporter told the doctor on duty she had headache,

A malaria patient in a hospital

THE NATIONAL MALARIA CONTROL PROGRAMME (NMCP) SAYS THERE ARE AN ESTIMATED 100 MILLION MALARIA CASES WITH OVER 300,000 DEATHS PER YEAR IN NIGERIA, FAR HIGHER THAN HIV/AIDS WHICH TO ACCOUNT FOR 215,000 DEATHS PER YEAR IN THE COUNTRY

pains, no appetite, body temperature and consistent bitterness of the mouth.

The doctor asked if she had been coughing, had catarrh, vomiting and if she was an ulcer patient. The reporter responded in the negative and he promptly wrote his diagnoses on the patient’s card, filled two forms (which turned out to be laboratory forms) pressed the buzzer to summon the nurse and handed the documents to her. : “You can take the drugs and injections now and later come for the malaria test whenever you have the money. To tell you the truth, you can forgo it because malaria test is just a formality,” the nurse informed the reporter. This however turned out to be the closest the reporter would get to being referred for a lab test.

At Dunamis Medical Centre, Akesan, Lagos; the doctor took time to study the reporter’s vital statistics taken by the nurse, before probing further: “What is the problem now?” he asked politely. “I only feel pains in my body and feel weak some times,” the reporter responded.

“When last did you see your period,” he

asked again as he scribbled on the file.

“About two weeks ago.’”

“Do you have cough? “No.” “Do you feel any pain in your stomach?”

“No” In less than five minutes, the doctor was through. He then asked, “Do you prefer drugs or injection?”

“What is wrong with me, doctor?” the reporter asked. “Malaria,” he replied. The reporter opted for drugs.

“You can go and see the nurse; she will tell you what to do,” he said.

The nurse did not waste time. She told the reporter her bill was N1,500 for the drugs.

“Well, can I come back for them? I don’t have up to that amount with me now,” said the reporter.

“You can drop whatever you have now and come with the balance later.” She said.

The reporter, however, insisted on coming back later to collect the drugs at once and promptly took her leave.

A new twist was however added to the reporter’s “malaria” management at the Grand Medical Centre at Onipanu, Lagos,

where she recounted the same symptoms as she had earlier done. But unlike the Toyek Hospital, this doctor chose to examine the reporter albeit with some suspicious moves. After the initial question about the reporter’s menses, he directed her to lie on the observation bed.

He began pressing her tummy, abdominal areas and lower chest wall asking if she was feeling pains. All responses were in the negative. On returning to his seat, the doctor asked this reporter repeatedly, “Are you sure you are not pregnant?”

“I am certain, I’m not,” the reporter insisted. Again, he asked, “Are you sure you are not suspecting you are pregnant?

Haven’t you met with a man recently?”

“No doctor,” the reporter answered with some tone of irritation. The doctor scribbled on the case note and suddenly lifted his head as he announced, “Your bill is N4, 500.” He told the reporter she had malaria.

Without conducting any laboratory investigation, the doctor disclosed she was going to be treated for malaria and flu, so, prescribed some injections and drugs. The reporter had to rely on her wits again to dodge being given anti-malarial drugs or injections.

Also at Bodet Medical Centre, Kudirat Abiola way Alausa, Ikeja, the doctor listened to this reporter recount the same symptoms as she did at the other hospitals. Thereafter, he simply requested her to bring out her tongue, checked her eyelids then asked if she liked injections or just tablets. She preferred the latter. This wasn’t because she was actually ill but to have them as proof of her visit to the hospitals. Like his other counterparts, without any scientific diagnosis, the doctor prescribed some drugs and told her that she was being treated for malaria.

This same situation was repeated in

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Insight

Thursday, January 30, 2014

treatment policy

NMCP boss Dr. Ezeigwe

several other hospitals visited by the reporter. At Ajowa Nursing Home at Iyana Ipaja the doctor’s questions were similar.

“Stomach ache? Cough? Catarrh? Headache?” the doctor asked.

“I only have headache,” the reporter answered as usual while the menstruation question and answer followed.

The doctor checked the reporter’s eyes and tongue jotted on the case file and inquired if there were other complaints. The reporter volunteered she had taken a drug earlier before visiting the hospital. He simply handed the case file to her to give to the nurse at the reception.

Here too, the nurse announced that the reporter had been placed on a three-day injection and some tablets which would cost a total of N2,400. Three shots of the injections would be administered immediately and the remaining two over the next two days.

Looking for a way to dodge the medications, the reporter expressed her dislike for injections. Simple, the nurse assured. She should just take the card back to the doctor and have him change the medication.

“By the way, what am I being treated for?” the reporter asked. “Malaria,” she was told.

This time, the reporter paid for the prescribed drugs and settled the bill.

Apart from Toyek Hospital where the doctor made a feeble attempt to include laboratory investigation in his management approach, National Mirror discovered that most doctors in the private hospitals still do not reckon with proper investigation before treating malaria. Some attributed this to the nation’s economic situation which makes the addition of laboratory investigation to the malaria management, rather unaffordable to most patients.

Some doctors also complained of poor laboratory services which include lack of necessary facilities and manpower, delay in production of tests results, among others.

“Sometimes you don’t want to keep the patient waiting. Many of the malaria cases that eventually get to the hospital have tried self treatment. Yes at that point, it is neces-

Taking blood for lab test

sary to go for lab investigation but what you find is that it is either the patient can’t afford it or he can’t wait for the result to come out so, you have to treat and only go for further investigation if he’s not responding as expected,” a doctor confided in our reporter This was however not the situation at Abolayo Hospital and Maternity Home in Egbeda area of Lagos. Here the doctor on duty not only insisted on laboratory investigation but also took time to educate the reporter about salient health issues.

Like other hospitals visited by the reporter, this doctor also asked questions about the reporter’s menstrual period, and if she had cough, catarrh, and headache.

“Do you sleep well at night,” he further probed and the reporter answered in the affirmative. He checked her blood pressure again and asked if the reporter was on any drug.

“I always take Periton whenever I have these symptoms,” the reporter informed.

THE NATION’S NEW MALARIA POLICY IS HOWEVER IN LINE WITH THE

WHO TREATMENT GUIDELINE, WHICH INDICATES PROMPT AND ACCURATE DIAGNOSIS OF MALARIA AS PART OF EFFECTIVE WAYS OF MANAGING THE DISEASE

The doctor shook his head and advised the reporter to stop the habit.

“Periton can cause diabetes, high blood pressure; it can also damage the lungs,” he further warned. He was not through with the reporter. He told her he needed to do a blood test to ascertain if what she had was indeed malaria, as he had suspected. However seeing the reluctance and the change of countenance displayed by the reporter, he quickly informed her she was at liberty to choose whether or not to go for the test. He however filled a form for the lab test which the reporter was told would cost N1,000 and some drugs at the cost of N2,000.

The nation’s new malaria policy is however in line with the WHO treatment guideline, which indicates prompt and accurate diagnosis of malaria as part of effective ways of managing the disease. It calls for the use of either microscopic or molecular diagnostic approaches respectively before treatment, while reaffirming the use of ACTs. Though the microscopic and molecular diagnostic approaches have been discovered to be effective, in Nigeria, they are still timeconsuming and labour-intensive, while the lack of trained microscopists and reliable equipment has made it almost impossible to be adopted by most doctors in the country.

A physician at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC) Katsina, Dr. Gideon Adebo, disclosed that he was not aware of any policy by the Federal Ministry of Health stipulating that all malaria patients must be subjected to laboratory investigation before treatment.

According to him, this is why he simply uses ACT (Atesonate Combination Therapy) which centres on treatment with more than one drug prescription, and Quinine.

Dr. Adebo further disclosed that malaria remains the number one disease in the state.

“I see 60 patients on a daily basis and about 35 of them complain of malaria-related conditions. This makes it about 245 patients with malaria-related problems per week,” he stated.

Since most doctors could easily recog-

55

nise the malaria signs and symptoms, like some other doctors, Adebo most times rules out laboratory tests and uses tablets “and if the tablets are not working, then we do tests.

Late coming of test results is what makes for drug treatment before the test results finally come out,” he added.

Unlike Adebo, Dr. Olalekan Ogundare of Alheri Clinic, a private hospital in the Katsina state metropolis said he was aware of the new malaria policy as stipulated under the Roll Back Malaria project. Notwithstanding this, he disclosed that he encountered challenges whenever he attempted carrying out malaria tests.

“The problem is most test results don’t come out on time. Waiting for tests in severe cases can endanger the life of the patient, so it is advisable to administer empirical treatment before the test result comes out,” he said.

Ogundare, who attends to no fewer than 20 malaria cases per day and 140 cases per week, manages his patients according to the WHO initial guidelines. The WHO stipulates the use of ACT or use of more than one drug in managing uncomplicated malaria cases while in severe malaria, the choice of drugs is Quinine.

Second, IV or intravenous artesunate or IM or intramuscular arthemeter is used.

Some other doctors however explained that they would have preferred conducting the tests, but for the fact that most patients rarely return to the hospital for test results and even to complete their treatment.

According to Dr. Abimbola Abiodun, a Lagos-based gynecologist, “Laboratory diagnosis is still strange to Nigerians. They do not complete their treatments not to talk of returning for test results. Most of the time, they only come to the hospital when they have broken down completely, yet prefer treating themselves at home since malaria drugs are available everywhere you go.” She added that this is one of the major reasons doctors prefer using pre-packaged oral antimalaria drugs and shy away from laboratory investigations.

In the same vein, Dr. Olumide Sanni, a medical officer with Hannoba Medical Centre, Lagos said, “It might be due to the fact that malaria is considered common in Nigeria; so not much efforts is made by many of us (doctors) to go through all the process of testing, and waiting for results before administering treatment. It is a disease we deal with everyday so the temptation to just go ahead with symptomatic treatment is high.”

The Coordinator, NMCP Dr. Nnenna Ezeigwe, however, believes every doctor in Nigeria should by now be aware of the nation’s new policy on malaria treatment, saying that the Federal Ministry of Health had made strenuous efforts to ensure that the policy is well implemented at all levels of the health care delivery system.

She admitted that Nigerians are used to self medication, but stressed that the new policy would ensure proper management of malaria in the country. She urged Nigerians to be more involved in issues affecting their health.

“The implementation of the policy should be everybody’s business,” she said, while urging anyone with malaria symptoms to go to the hospital and not attempt to treat self.

“There are private laboratories everywhere for people to go and test themselves, if they don’t want to go to the hospital immediately,” Ezeigwe advised.

WORLD RECORD

Largest artery

N150

Vol. 04 No. 777 Thursday, January 30, 2014

The aorta is 3 cm (1.18 in) in diameter where it leaves the heart and by the time it ends at the level of the fourth lumbar vertebra, it is about 1.75cm (0.68 in) in diameter.

Ejigbo pepper sodomy: An unparalleled bestiality

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t is most disheartening that on a daily basis and across the country, the wanton bestiality that had characterised Nigeria’s inglorious military past continues unabated. At every corner of the country and even in open spaces, all kinds of savage acts are perpetrated either by the wealthy against the poor, or sadly, the poor against the poor, leaving in their trails sorrow, tears and blood. The Nigerian state and its people are more violent today than they appeared a decade and half ago. This is so because the very legal cum constitutional fulcrum of society that should ordinarily serve as a process towards democratic consolidation and ultimately human rights enthronement in 1999, appeared missing. That process wholesomely wrapped in the toga of the rule of law found little or no appeal among the ruling political class,

L

ibya beat Zimbabwe 5-4 in a penalty shootout to clinch a place in the African Nations Championship final.

Ghana also beat Nigeria 4-1 penalties to zoom into final, where they will play Lybia on Saturday.

The sides cancelled each

ing of our commonwealth, the use of state power to suppress popular protest and lack of the spread of democratic dividends among others, but evidently today, even the poor have joined in the obnoxious culture of debasing the very core of human existence by committing such heinous and violent crime on themselves, something unimaginable in sane societies. It is quite appalling to know that women today have become tools for which men could vent their anger and do so unabashedly, thus reducing them to emotional and psychological wreak for life.

I am saddened by the fact that this open act of callousness against a fellow human happened since February 2013 and the Nigerian Police were unable to arrest the culprits and bring them to book.

It is a shame that it could only take the intervention of human rights activists 10 months after the incident before all ‘stakeholders’ decided they had a responsibility to do what is right.

With the Ejigbo 3 incident, it is pertinent that every Nigerian must more than ever before begin to show concern about the growing violent related acts happening around them and act decisively in curbing the menace. For the fact that such happen every day should be a reason we all need to be pro-active and work to stop this dehumanising form of jungle justice, which occurs at the slightest provocation. We must be totally committed in the fight against violence in every shade and light it appears for the single reason that it could be our wives, daughters, sisters, and mothers and even loved ones tomorrow.

For the sake of justice and to serve as deterrence to others, all those who had engaged in the sodomy and murder case in Ejigbo must be brought to book and given their punishment as required by law. Never must we allow such cruel treatment happen in our society anymore.

Raheem Oluwafunminiyi wrote via creativitysells@gmail.com

prosecution. ti In February of last year, there was a

Guest Columnist

Raheem

Oluwafunminiyi

such that the very structure of violence and cheap death implanted during Nigeria’s three and half decades of military rule found their way dangerously into the fourth republics.

The missing link between respect for human life and the rule of law has led to a situation in Nigeria where all kinds of violent structures are erected such that it is either the ordinary man on the street is brutalised by a military officer, or a politician descends so low as to use a mace to knockout a fellow politician. It even gets worse when we see in broad day light a systematic collaboration among a people whose intention it is to sniff life out of bright and young boys wrongly accused of petty thievery like we all saw at Aluu community or even those that led to the extrajudicial killing of Muhammed Yusuf, the Boko Haram founder few years back.

As if that is not enough, the recent killings in Apo Quarters, Abuja by the military remain fresh in the minds of many, while the massive retaliation by this sect both on the military and civilian population in the North is a reminder of how life has become so cheap and can easily be wasted in today’s Nigeria. It is an irony that despite being a signatory to and member of most international bodies, which seek to protect the rights of citizens, one cannot but be shocked to discover that certain groups of people in Nigeria on a daily basis commit unnecessary acts of violence against women and children, and in the end go free without

IT IS QUITE APPALLING TO KNOW THAT WOMEN TODAY HAVE BECOME TOOLS FOR WHICH MEN COULD VENT THEIR ANGER AND DO SO UNABASHEDLY case of three women tortured, beaten and left to bleed in Ejigbo, a suburb in Lagos for a crime as petty as stealing pepper.

The world was left miffed when gangs were shown torturing and sodomizing a lady by thrusting a bottle of ground pepper and sticks into her genitals, which eventually took her life two months after.

As if that was not enough, the father of the lady revealed how his wife lost her baby because the gang didn’t give her the chance to attend to the baby. Very sad again was that the late Juliana’s father, a palm wine tapper, had his house destroyed by the gang, banished from the community and being forced to part with N50, 000 fine to secure the release of his wife and two daughters.

One would have thought it was only the political class that had the monopoly to perpetrate crimes and violence against poor Nigerians through massive loot-

Sport Extra

CHAN 2014: Libya, Ghana zoom into final

other out in a goalless 180 minutes, with Zimbabwe having the better of the chances but failing to take them.

It took Libya three attempts to win on penalties after missing their fifth and

seventh spot-kicks after Zimbabwe had fallen behind with misses of their own.

But goalkeeper Mohamed Abdaula scored his side’s eighth kick to earn victory.

Former Real Madrid coach, Javier Clemente took

over as Libya boss only in October last year but has already steered the side through to a final.

Extra-time was a cagey affair but Libya might have snatched victory when Elmutasem Abushnaf struck

a shot between the legs of keeper George Chigova only for the ball to drift wide.

CHAN Semi/Final Results Nigeria

1-4

Ghana (pen)

Zimbabwe

4-5

Lybia (pen)

Clemente

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