Thursday, january 7, 2016 new

Emerging economies’ weak growth worries World Bank tolA Akinmutimi

Buhari

Vol. 5 N0. 1281

W

orld Bank Group yesterday raised serious concerns about the weak eco-

nomic growth among major emerging markets this year.

It noted that such a worrisome trend portends great threats to current drives to ameliorate pov-

Thursday, January 7, 2016

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Thursday, January

7, 2016

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erty and improve shared prosperity among the global poor, particularly in developing nations.

The Washington-based development institution, in its January 2016 Global Continued on Page 2>>

CBD, the challenges of traders, motorists’ lawlessness

P.10

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Jimoh Ibrahim to Buhari

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N150

RobeRt Awokuse

Beware of IMF’s hidden agenda

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roup Managing Director, Energy Group, Jimoh Ibrahim has warned President Muhammadu Buhari to be wary of the IMF’s current visit to Nigeria describing it as an economic bait that will do Nigeria no good.

He says it is a means of campaigning for economic conditionalities even at a time when Nigeria, like some oil producing countries, needs assistance and support to continue to put into implementation government policies.

…says Lagarde’s statement dangerous, deceptive

Continued on Page 2>>

Ooni unveils Ife/ Modakeke post war building plans P.6 Arms deal, APC’s coinage to witch-hunt PDP –Dokpesi P.6 A cross-section of ministers at the Federal Executive Council meeting at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, yesterday.

FG orders audit of FIRS, Customs, NPA, others

NDLEA seizes drugs worth N3.7bn at Lagos Airport

P.5 Adeosun

No apology over Zaria operation against Shiite –Army

P.42

P.11

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News CONTINUED FROM PagE 1

Ibrahim said that IMF boss’ statement on the economy is traditional and full of strategic misrepresentation adding that the IMF boss had a full day creating an atmosphere for re-colonizing Nigeria’s economy and advises the government to run away from such unsolicited advice.

“I enjoin President Buhari to learn from Ibrahim Badamosi Babagida’s pitfall when he handed over the economy to IMF by taking specific loan only for the economy to be destroyed with IMF’s painful colonial conditionalities,” Ibrahim said. “The government of IBB was simply put to an end in economic terms by the Structural Adjustment Programme, an IMF baby

Thursday, January 7, 2016

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Beware of IMF’s hidden agenda, Jimoh Ibrahim warns Buhari

which remains the foundation of Nigeria’s problem.”

He also describes the statement made by IMF boss as uncalled for and a waste of time.

Ibrahim said: “For IMF to advise Nigeria not to be rigid in Economy Policy is an indirect way of asking for devaluation of naira and campaigning for ‘about to come’ IMF conditionalities, knowing very well that Nigeria may ask for assistance.”

Ibrahim faulted the statement credited to the IMF boss, as a complete disrespect to the integrity of Nigeria as a nation by simply

positing whether IMF can give the same advice to President Obama by advising that the “President should look inward for economy solution” at this time when the oil prices are very low, shows clearly that IMF is an enemy of the country.

According to Ibrahim, ten things are likely to be the areas of advice of IMF which is already a stereotype. So the IMF boss has not said anything new. The ten areas were developed by Professor John Williamson.

They are usually “Fiscal Policy, Reduction of Public Spending, Tax Reform, Interest Rate, Competitive Ex-

change Rate, Trade Liberalization, Encouragement of Foreign Direct Investment, Privatization of state enterprise, deregulation and legal security of property right”.

Ibrahim accused the IMF boss of broader line plagiarism for not acknowledging Williamson’s ideas and using the ten-point agenda for developing countries and more importantly, Williamson theory of Asset Specificity which was frequently used by the Director General without reference.

He challenged the IMF boss on the solo policy of developing the poor and asks her to explain whether the

poor can be developed when the rich are dead or whether China or America kills the rich in their countries so as to let the poor develop.

“This shows clearly to me that IMF has a hidden agenda and only time will tell.” He said while accusing the IMF boss of Strategic misrepresentation when she said oil does not contribute enormously to the GDP, knowing very well that the Nigeria budget is funded majorly through revenue from oil.

These ten-point agenda is not new to Nigeria. But the question we normally ask is whose interest? The opti-

President Muhammadu Buhari (right) congratulating Mrs. Winifred Oyo-Ita, after her swearing-in as Head of Civil Service of the Federation, at the Presidential Villa, abuja, yesterday.

mum bias is playing clearly in her statement.

Ibrahim challenged IMF to come with practical terms on how to help Nigeria from coming out from its financial dangerous lane by granting the country loans in liberal terms when the need arises or even if it is to develop infrastructure since Nigeria oil money has been used by IMF in the past to help other nations.

Ibrahim hopes that IMF pays for accommodation and feeding in Nigeria since they already signed for those allowances from their Head Office. He advised the government to stay focused on already defined policy of agenda and that in future visit, it will be enough for the Minister of Finance and one or two members of cabinet to handle the visit without involving the President, if our sovereignty is to be respected.

“In United States of America, it is the under Secretary to President Obama that will handle such correspondence or visit or a Clerk as the case maybe in Britain. I was surprised that the IMF Chief did not make such observation at the magnitude of top government officials that received her which amounts to waste of precious time of Government and the little resources that we have.”

Emerging economies’ weak growth worries World Bank CONTINUED FROM PagE 1

Economic Prospects report published yesterday, however noted that while simultaneous weakness in the emerging economies remained a major concern, advanced economies would gain speed and ensure that this year’s growth rate surpasses the 2.4 per cent growth recorded in 2015.

This is just as it projected that spillovers from major emerging markets would constrain growth in developing countries and pose a threat to hard-won gains in raising people out of poverty.

Commenting on the projected economic trend this year, World Bank Group President, Jim Yong Kim,

…urges fiscal, monetary policy reforms continuity to mitigate risks

noted that more than 40 per cent of the world’s poor live in the developing countries where growth slowed in 2015.

“Developing countries should focus on building resilience to a weaker economic environment and shielding the most vulnerable. The benefits from reforms to governance and business conditions are potentially large and could help offset the effects of slow growth in larger economies.

“Global economic growth was less than expected in 2015, when falling commodity prices, flagging trade and capital flows, and episodes of financial volatility sapped

economic activity.

“Firmer growth ahead will depend on continued momentum in high income countries, the stabilisation of commodity prices, and China’s gradual transition towards a more consumption and services-based growth model.

“Developing economies are forecast to expand by 4.8 per cent in 2016, less than expected earlier but up from a post-crisis low of 4.3 per cent in the year just ended. “Growth is projected to slow further in China, while Russia and Brazil are expected to remain in recession in 2016.

“The South Asia re-

gion, led by India, is projected to be a bright spot.

The recently negotiated Trans-Pacific Partnership could provide a welcome boost to trade,” the report said.

World Bank Group Vice President and Chief Economist, Kaushik Basu, said there was greater divergence in performance among emerging economies.

“Compared to six months ago, risks have increased, particularly those associated with the possibility of a disorderly slowdown in a major emerging economy, a combination of fiscal and central bank policies can be helpful in mitigating

these risks and supporting growth.

“Although unlikely, a faster-than-expected slowdown in large emerging economies could have global repercussions.

“Risks to the outlook also include financial stress around the U.S. Federal Reserve tightening cycle and heightened geopolitical tensions,” Basu added.

It would be recalled that the World Bank Group’s Global Economic Prospects, GEP, report, published in January last year had projected that after growing by an estimated 2.6 per cent in 2014, the global economy is pro-

jected to expand by 3 per cent last year, 3.3 per cent in 2016 and 3.2 per cent in 2017.

It projected that developing countries would grow by 4.4 per cent in 2014 and were expected to edge up to 4.8 per cent in 2015, strengthening to 5.3 and 5.4 per cent in 2016 and 2017, respectively.

At the end of last year, most of the growth forecast at both developed and developing economies missed target due largely to the lingering international oil price turmoil, Euro zone and Japan’s financial crisis and slowdown in China, amongst other factors.

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Photo

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Thursday, January 7, 2016

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L-R; Minister of State, Labour/Employment, Barr James Ocholi; Minister of Youth and Sports, Barrister Solomon Dalung and Minister of State, Solid Minerals, Hon Abubakar Bawa Bwari, during the Federal Executive Council meeting held at the Council Chamber in Abuja, yesterday.

L-R: Principal officers of Babcock University, Vice President, Student Development, Dr. Joseph Olarenwaju; Vice President, Financial Administration, Mr. Mofolorunso Akande; President/Vice Chancellor, Prof Ademola Tayo; Senior Vice President/DVC, Academic, Prof Iheanyichukwu Okoro and Senior Vice President/ DVC, Management Services, Prof Sunday Owolabi, during the 2016 annual Faculty and Staff Orientation to Foster Excellent Academic and Leadership Training for students, yesterday, in Ogun State.

Outgoing Chief of Staff, 2 Brigade, Nigerian Army, Port Harcourt, Col. Shuaibu Shamtang (left) and Commander of the Brigade, Brig.-Gen. Stevenson Olabanji, during a send-forth in honour of outgoing officers of the Brigade in Port Harcourt, yesterday. PHOTO:NAN

L-R: President, Publishers Guild in Akwa Ibom State, Mr Ernest Akpan; Commissioner for Information and Communications, Deacon Aniekan Umanah; Chief Press Secretary and SSA to the governor, Mr Ekerete Udoh; State Chairman of the PDP, Obong Paul Ekpo and Commissioner for Investment, Commerce and Industry, Barrister Emmanuel Enoidem, during the investiture of Obong Ekpo as its Grand Patron of Publishers Guild in Uyo, yesterday.

National News

How Nigeria can overcome economic challenges, by Lagarde GeorGe oji AbujA

V

isiting Managing Director of International Monetary Fund, IMF, Christine Lagarde, has posited that the surest way of overcoming the nation’s current economic downturn is for the Federal Government to take hard decisions on the way governance is administered, particularly on issues of revenue, expenditure, debt, and investment.

She noted that this would involve the government stepping up its revenue mobilisation by broadening its tax bases, reducing leakages, improving compliance, enhancing collection efficiency as well as increasing the Value Added Tax, VAT, rate in the country, which according to her, is one of the lowest in the world.

The IMF boss stated this when she paid a visit to Senate President, Buko-

la Saraki, at the National Assembly yesterday.

She said: “The new reality of low oil prices and low oil revenues mean that the fiscal challenge facing government is no longer about how to divide the proceeds of Nigeria’s oil wealth, but what needs to be done so that Nigeria can deliver to its people the public services they deserve -be it in education, health or infrastructure.

“This means that hard decisions will need to be taken on revenue, expenditure, debt, and investment going forward.”

Lagarde admonished the Federal Government to make careful decisions on borrowing and advised against taking foreign loans to run the economy, particularly now that the country’s economy was in bad shape.

“Nigeria’s debt is relatively low at about 12 per cent of GDP. But it

weighs heavily on the public purse. Already, about 35 kobo of every naira collected by the Federal Government is used to service outstanding public debt,” she said.

She urged that in exercising restraint in its bid to turn the economy around, government needs to focus on the quality and efficiency of every naira spent.

“This is critically important. As more people pay taxes, there will, rightly, be increasing pressure to demonstrate that those tax payments are producing improvements in public service delivery,” she added.

On fuel subsidy, the IMF boss said though the scheme has its advantages and disadvantages across countries, but for Nigeria, realities on ground have shown that its disadvantages far outweighed any advantage it has, and thus, called for its total removal.

Her words: “Indeed,

fuel subsidies are hard to defend. Not only do they harm the planet, but they rarely help the poor. IMF research shows that more than 40 per cent of fuel price subsidies in developing countries accrue to the richest 20 per cent of households, while only 7 per cent of the benefits go to the poorest 20 per cent.

“Moreover, the experience here in Nigeria of administering fuel subsidies suggests that it is time for a change—think of the regular accusations of corruption, and think of the many Nigerians who spend hours in queues trying to get gas so that they can go about their everyday business.

“At the same time, we should not forget the huge challenges facing Nigeria’s state and local governments. These subnational governments, which account for the bulk of social spending, have only limited tools to manage the impact of de-

clining oil revenues.

“My message here is to manage better the smaller purse, while building capacity to increase internally generated revenue.”

She however stated that in spite of the current hard time, Nigeria can still revive her economy with attendant inclusive and sustainable growth in diversified ways like the telecommunication sector, the Nollywood Industry etc.

She said: “The good news is that Nigeria is already, in many ways, a 21st century economy.

Think of the boom in mobile communications in a country where more than 140 million cell phones are in use, nearly one for each Nigerian.

“Think of the vibrant, home-grown film industry that has become the world’s second-largest by output. Nollywood employs about one million people who create films that are winning audi-

ences across the continent and beyond.

“Think of the growing number of innovative startups - from fashion to software development - that are promoting Brand Nigeria. Indeed, the growth in services to about half of Nigeria’s output is a testament to the transformation that has begun, and which needs to continue.”

Earlier, Senate President, Bukola Saraki, thanked the IMF boss for visiting the country at a time Nigeria was facing drastic economic challenges and looking for way out.

He promised the international financial expert that the country will on the basis of the change mantra of the present administration, move away from the past in practical terms through zero tolerance for corruption, impunity and other acts of indiscipline.

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News

Thursday, January 7, 2016

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FG orders audit of FIRS, Customs, NPA, others

Rotimi Fadeyi

F

ederal Government has ordered comprehensive audit of all revenue generating agencies to ensure accountability and block leakages.

Briefing State House correspondents yesterday after the first Federal Executive Council, FEC, meeting for the year, presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Minister of Finance, Kemi Adeosun, said government would not allow revenue leakage as was done in the past.

Some of the agencies affected are the Federal Inland Revenue Service, FIRS, Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, Nigeria Port Authority, NPA, among others.

Adeosun, who briefed in company of Minister of Information, Lai Mohammed, said: “We are going to make every naira count and in order to make every naira count, we have to know how much is coming in and you control how it goes out.

“The principal discussion in our meeting today was the initiative by this administration to plug revenue leakages in our MDAs (Ministries, Departments and Agencies) that

The minister said government had stopped the practice where some agencies generate revenue in foreign currency and remit in Naira.

According to her, investigations revealed that Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, was guilty of such practices.

“We have done a comprehensive audit of all the agencies that actually collect money in foreign currency and remit in

Naira, the requirement is that such monies should go to CBN, which should exchange the money into Naira.

“What we discovered in some agencies as you said have been doing that, we have stopped it, but we are now doing an audit to identify other agencies, but what we have identified is that the agency concerned was NIMASA. “But we discovered that there are other agencies we have identified which

also collect funds in foreign currencies, including our foreign missions, so we are doing a full audit of all those accounts and to ensure that all those revenues now are converted in accordance with the extant procedures and guidelines,” she added.

She denied the allegation that the 2016 budget was padded by government.

She said: “Anybody that is talking about padding any budget when there is no rev-

enue was just not serious.

I don’t know how to put it but I will like to go further to state that it is unpatriotic and unrealistic.”

Also speaking at the briefing, Mohammed denied reports that the budget had been withdrawn from the National Assembly.

Shortly before the commencement of the FEC meeting, Buhari swore in the Head of Service of the Federation (HoS), Winifred Ita-Oyo.

generate revenue.

“The presentation to FEC was to remind ministers, who supervise these revenue-generating boards of their responsibilities under the Fiscal Responsibility Act, FRA.” According to her, the agencies are expected to generate revenue in surplus, 80 per cent of which is to be credited to the Consolidated Revenue Fund.

Adeosun explained that the government had discovered that many agencies had never credited anything and never generated any operating surplus, including those whose salaries, overheads and capital expenditure were funded by the Federal Government.

She said in a situation where the agencies generate revenue, they spent without any form of control.

According to her, the present administration had decided to bring all the generating agencies in line by insisting that they must submit a budget which must be subjected to approval.

“They must operate within that budget so that the surplus that is meant to come to the Federal Government can be seen to be used as appropriate,” she said

L-R: Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi; Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola; his wife, Sherifat, and Speaker, House of Assembly, Hon. Najeem Salam, as the monarch presented a gift to the governor during a courtesy visit to his office in Osogbo, yesterday.

investigations.

“Apart from bringing corrupt public officers to justice, we are determined, in line with the stance of the current administration, to send an unmistakable message to everyone, that no Nigerian shall be regarded as being above the law or treated as a sacred cow as far as the fight against corruption is concerned.

“The EFCC needs you; Nigeria needs your critical support if we are to make any headway in this important campaign against corruption.

“My plea for your support is underscored by my understanding that the forces which we are battling are powerful and some of them may want to use all platforms of the media to distract and derail us.

“If and when they come to you, please allow the

ethics of your profession, your conscience and overriding national interest to be your guide.”

Magu explained that he has re-ordered the priorities of EFCC, adding that he was encouraged by the unbending will of President Muhammadu Buhari to fight corruption.

He added that the judiciary has responded with some practical steps in the form of the designation of selected courts to try EFCC cases.

When asked about the perceived unbalance nature of the arrests made so far, Magu responded said: “Such accusations have come up a lot, but we work with petitions before us. In fact, I am eager and waiting for something from the other side, but nothing has come so far.”

Magu also vowed that EFCC would prosecute

Corruption: More top Nigerians on EFCC list

oluFemi adeosun AbujA

A

cting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Ibrahim Magu has said that more influential people will be arrested soon.

Magu disclosed this yesterday during a meeting with online media practitioners and broadcast media managers.

The EFCC helmsman said the Commission needs the support and understanding of the media to deepen the fight against fraud, corruption and economic crimes.

He said: “More influential Nigerians are on the radar of the EFCC and, in the coming weeks, they would have their days in court and Nigerians will be kept fully abreast of the results of the Commission’s

all Bureau De Change operators involved in the ongoing $2.1bn arms procurement scandal.

The EFCC boss, who dropped the hint at a meeting with Bureau De Change operators in Abuja, also re-iterated the existing mutual relationship between the Commission and the group in the areas of sensitisation and training.

He said: “My operatives often tell me what they see during investigations.

We need to talk to you, as some of your operators are fond of carrying huge amounts of money out of the country, since they can no longer withdraw more than $300 using the ATM. “There are fraudulent involvements of Bureau De Change operators in the arms deal scandal. There are reports of some of your members withdrawing as

much as N500m in two, three, four tranches in this arms deal scam.

“So, I am greatly disturbed. I think there should be a documentation regarding your activities, as this will enable your group to checkmate anyone who is involved in any fraudulent activity.”

Earlier, Chairman of Bureau De Change operators, Alhaji Aminu Gwadabe, had expressed the resolve of the group to join hands with the Commission in the ongoing war against corruption and economic crimes.

Gwadabe said the delegation was in the Commission to congratulate Magu and seek collaboration with EFCC. “I want to congratulate you on your appointment as acting Chairman of EFCC and pray for God’s

guidance, most especially as it is a period of tough choices and decisions,” he said.

He also highlighted some major challenges Bureau De Change operators were facing from policy regulators and security agencies.

Gwadabe decried the activities of black marketers who, according to him, had been giving the licensed operators a bad name.

“Most of the time, fraud is perpetrated within the banking premises.

However, whenever there is an issue, it is the Bureau De Change operators who are usually attacked.

“Another problem is the issue of BVN registration, which I believe should have been extended to three years in order to allow more people to be registered,” he said.

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Thursday, January 7, 2016

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$2.1bn arms: Court didn’t grant Dasuki bail –Registrar •It’s APC’s coinage to witch-hunt PDP –Dokpesi ObiOra ifOh and dOOsUUr iwambe

A

cting Chief Registrar of the Federal High Court, Emmanuel Gakko, yesterday denied that the court granted bail to former National Security Adviser, NSA, Col Sambo Mohammed Dasuki (rtd), and others in the sum of N250 million.

In a statement in Abuja yesterday, the registrar said contrary to reports in some newspapers, none of the Federal High Courts sitting in Abuja granted Dasuki and his co-defendants bail.

According to him, it was the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, presided over by Justice Peter Affen that admitted Dasuki to bail in the sum of N250m.

Dasuki, erstwhile Director of Finance in the Office of the NSA, Shuaibu Salisu, and former Executive Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, Aminu Babakusa, are facing a 19-count charge before Justice Hussein Baba Yusuf.

Dasuki was also docked in another 22-count charge before Justice Affen of the High Court of FCT along with Salisu, former Minister of State for Finance, Bashir Yuguda; former governor of Sokoto State, Attahiru Bafarawa; his son, Sagir, and two firms, Dalhatu Investment Limited and Jabbam Ada Global Services.

The defendants pleaded not guilty to all the charges slammed against them by the Federal Government, through the Economic and

Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, before the two courts.

After heated arguments on applications for bail of the defendants standing trial in the two courts, the two judges handling the two sets of charges had last month granted them bail on various terms.

Justice Yusuf granted bail to Dasuki and his codefendants in the 19-count charge in the sum of N200 million each, ordered them to produce a surety each, who must be a serving or retired civil servant not below the rank of a director and that the sureties must show evidence of ownership of a landed property in Abuja of the value not lower than N200 million.

He also ordered the defendants to surrender their international passports to the Registrar of the High Court, even as he forbade them to travel outside the jurisdiction without permission.

Affen, on his side, granted the defendants arraigned before him on a 22-count charge, bail in the sum of N250 million each with a surety in like sum.

The judge said the surety must be a serving or retired civil servant of not lower that the rank of a director and that the defendants must also submit their travel documents with the court registrar and that any travel plan outside Abuja must be communicated to the court.

Dasuki, along with his co-defendants, is accused of mis-spending about $2.1 billion meant for the purchase of weapons for the fight against Boko Haram insurgents in Northeast-

ern Nigeria.

The Acting Chief Registrar of the Federal High Court, in his statement said, “It will be in the interest of the reporters and editors to note that these cases involving the accused persons are not before the Federal High Court of Nigeria as reported by some national dailies, but before Justices Hussein Baba Yusuf and Peter Affen of the High Court of the FCT.” The statement said the Federal High Court of Nigeria is different from the High Court of FCT, which has their respective jurisdiction and enjoined judicial correspondents and their editors to cross-check facts before publication.

Meanwhile, Peoples Democratic Party chieftain, Dr. Raymond Dokpe-

that the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, policy on importation of 41 items denied the agency its targeted revenue collection.

The CG yesterday decorated six newly promoted Deputy Comptrollers-General and eight Assistant Comptrollers-General.

He said, “If we had added that to what we have generated, it would have surpassed what we have.

That is the downside of

why we were not able to meet the target in 2015.”

Ali, who expressed hope that the service would surpass its 2016 target in view of the tools already put in place by the management, added: “I hope also that government will once again look at those policies and see how they can be fine-tuned.”

As part of efforts to meeting the 2016 target, the CG said he had gone

si, has said the $2.1 billion arms deal is a creation of the All Progressives Congress, APC-led Federal Government to witch-hunt and decimate the leadership and membership of PDP. Dokpesi, who was recently granted bail in connection with N2.1 billion allegedly paid to his company by the office of the former National Security Adviser, NSA, however expressed confidence that the courts would sooner or later prove that “this coinage” is nothing but a hoax.

“It is meant to destroy the existence of PDP. The persecution of the former National Security Adviser, the persecution of the National Publicity Secretary, the persecution of our Chairman of Board of

Trustees, will fail when we begin defense,” he assured.

Dokpesi was speaking at an investiture on him by PDP Youth Vanguard as ‘Freedom Fighter of PDP.’ He however, said he would not make any comment regarding the several matters filed before the courts against him and other members of PDP, “as doing so would be sub judice.”

Dokpesi said Nigerians “are reminded of the events of 1984/85 which by any stretch of comparison are similar to the events of today.”

Dokpesi said PDP was at a key stage of development as it embarks on critical reforms to reorganise, rebrand and restructure itself for the challenges of governance, but regretted that the governing APC “is making efforts to impede our journey to political ma-

turity through the manipulation of the federal system to serve purely partisan interest.”

National Coordinator of PDP Youth Vanguard, Ibrahim Bala Aboki, condemned what he called the witch-hunt of PDP members by the governing party.

Aboki decried the Federal Government’s selective anti-corruption war and continuous arrest of PDP members by the anticorruption agency.

“We say no to corruption, no to rampant killings in Nigeria, no to intimidation of the judiciary by APC government, no to political brigandage by APC government, no to selective justice, no to continuous arrest of PDP members, no to political vengeance, no to hunger in Nigeria,” he declared.

Owo ni Faari Market, Oshodi, after being demolished in Lagos, yesterday. PHOTO: SAMUEL ADETIMEHIN

Customs generates N903bn revenue

Chidi UgwU AbujA

C

omptroller-General of Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, Hameed Ali, has said the service collected N903 billion in 2015 out of a target of N954 billion.

Ali, who stated this in a chat with journalists after the decoration of newly promoted senior Customs officers in Abuja, noted

round the various commands where he urged officers to work harder as well as help correct the bad impression about the agency.

The newly decorated officers include DCGs Suleiman Ibrahim Idris, Grace Adeyemo, Dan Ugo, Paul Ukaigwe, Abubakar Umar and Austen Warikoru. The ACGs include Sanusi Umar, Aremu Olatunji, Chidi Augustine, Az-

arema Abdulkadir, among others.

While congratulating the officers, he stressed that their promotion did not come by way of lobby or compromise but was based purely on merit from available records.

Ali charged the officers, “I expect nothing less than the best. Henceforth, I expect hard work, commitment and drive from you. My mission is

to make NCS the best, not only within Nigeria but across the world.

“My mission is to make sure we drop off all the bad impression we carry, that we meet all mandates set for us by the government, which I believe all of you will fall in line with, and make sure that 2016 is put on record as one of the best years of our Customs Service.”

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NEWS

Thursday, January 7, 2016

NUC, TETfund, JAMB brief education ministers

M

inister of Education, Malam Adamu Adamu, and his Minister of State, Prof. Anthony Anwuka, yesterday met with heads of some agencies in the ministry.

A statement issued by Agidike Onu on behalf of Director Press, Ihuoma Priscilla, in Abuja, said the meeting was to acquaint the ministers of activities of the agencies.

The statement listed some of the agencies the ministers met with as the National Universities Commission, NUC, Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, JAMB, and Tertiary Education Trust Fund, TETFUND. “The meeting was aimed at acquainting the ministers about the operations of the parastatals.

“Executive Secretary of NUC, Prof. Julius Okojie, Registrar of JAMB, Prof. Dibu Ojerinde, and Executive Secretary of TETFUND, Prof.

Suleiman Bogoro, took their turns to brief the ministers,” the statement said.

It said Okojie’s briefing covered from the NUC inception to date, adding that the commission had grown from strength to strength over the years.

Okojie said the commission’s mandate was to improve access and quality of university education in Nigeria and to maintain high standard on accreditation of universities and their courses.

“Till date, the number of accredited universities stands at 141, comprising 40 Federal,

40 state and 61 private universities.

“Nigerian universities now rank very high in the international community,” the statement quoted Okojie as saying.

Ojerinde was quoted as saying that JAMB had continued to improve on its services, thereby easing the conduct of the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination, UTME. He said the board had brought speed to the release of results of the examination which was now completely computerised.

“The JAMB boss told the ministers that no fewer than 600 centres had been identified for the 2016 exercise, including special centres for the physically challenged and candidates in the Diaspora,” the statement said.

Ojerinde, however expressed worry over the discriminatory cut-off marks of 180 and 150 respectively adopted each year by the Policy Committee for universities and Polytechnics/Colleges of Education respectively.

According to him, the practice defeats the aim of the UTME. On TETFUND, the statement said Bogoro informed the ministers that the fund had become a brand for many African countries as five countries had established similar funds modelled after the Nigerian experience.

Bogoro said special attention was being accorded capacity building for staff in the various institutions alongside infrastructure development.

DPR seals 65 filling stations in Akwa Ibom

D

epartment of Petroleum Resources, DPR, says it sealed 65 filling stations for allegedly hoarding and selling petrol above government approved pump price of N86.50 per litre in Akwa Ibom State.

DPR’s Controller Operation in Charge of Akwa Ibom and Cross River states, Mr. Asuqwu Antai, disclosed this in Eket, Akwa Ibom State yesterday.

He explained that the defaulting stations were sealed in Uyo, Abak and Ikot Ekpene.

“Here in Akwa Ibom, from December till date, we sealed a total of 65 filling stations,” Antai said, adding that in spite of closing the filling stations, the marketers continued to innovate ways of circumventing DPR’s operation.

Antai said the department had embarked on 24-hour surveillance in collaboration with

security agencies to ensure the marketers complied with directive of the Federal Government.

“They sell with our seal; they sell at night when they know that officials of the department will not be visiting.

“Our members will henceforth be going for inspections at night with the support of security agencies for surveillance,’’ he said.

According to him, the department will resist marketers from selling above the government regulated pump price.

“We cannot continue like this, we all accuse government of insensitivity when government goes out of its ways to address the plight of people.

“We the people still go out to frustrate the effort of the government to ameliorate the challenges we have,” Antai said.

L-R: Board Chairman, Mother Theresa Children Home, Mr Kemdi Njoku; Mrs Bolanle Dare; Managing Director, IMF, Dr. Christine Lagarde; Deputy Governor, CBN, Monetery Policy, Dr Sarah Alade and Orphanage Children, during the visit of IMF Management Team to Mother Theresa Children Home in Abuja, yesterday. PHOTO: ROTIMI OSASONA

APC seeks partnership with China ObiOra ifOh

AbujA

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ll Progressives Congress, APC, yesterday called for partnership and cooperation with the Communist Party of China, CPC. CPC is the founding and ruling political party of the People’s Republic of China, PRC. This was contained in a statement yesterday in Abuja

by APC’s Assistant Director Media, Edegbe Odemwingie, as fallout of meeting held between the party’s National Secretary, Mai Mala Buni, and a Chinese government delegation led by the chargé d’affaires of Chinese Embassy in Nigeria, Qin Jian.

The statement said the Chinese chargé d’affaires Qin Jian, disclosed to the

APC leadership that the Chinese President Xi Jinping has invited President Muhammadu Buhari to China on a state visit on a yet-to-be announced date.

Mai Mala Buni, who was represented at the meeting by APC’s Director of Organisation, Alhaji Kyari Abubakar, said: “China is a very important technical and trading partner to Nigeria.

Both countries have enjoyed excellent social, economic and cultural relations.

“As China is aware, Nigeria recently witnessed a change of government, which ushered in the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari.

“The time for better cooperation between both countries is now as the APC and the President Buhari administration work to deliver on

its Change mandate.”

He said healthy relations between Nigeria and China will ultimately be of benefit to Africa.

At party level, Buni identified capacity building and collaboration as areas APC and the Chinese CPC can partner.

Meanwhile, Qin Jian said following the successful December 2015 Forum on ChinaAfrica Co-operation (FOCAC) summit, which brought together Chinese senior government officials and most African heads of government to Johannesburg, South Africa, the Chinese President Xi Jinping has announced a $60bn aid package for the continent.

The aid package would finance a broad range of assistance programmes to help Africa industrialise, modernise its agricultural production,

boost the skills of its workers, build infrastructure and improve its health care.

Qin Jian said 2016 marks the 45th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Nigeria and China.

“We (China) have enjoyed positive and beneficial partnership with Nigeria in healthcare, economy, infrastructure development, social/cultural exchange and other areas... Nigeria has the biggest economy in Africa and is a very important partner with China. ”The Chinese CPC and Nigeria’s ruling APC will pursue better cooperation which will be of benefit to both nations. “Both parties can share experiences on how to develop the economy and protect the environment as well as technical support and capacity building where necessary,” Qin Jian said.

IMF boss tasks financial institutions on increased real sector funding Chidi UgwU AbujA

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anaging Director, International Monetary Fund, IMF, Ms Christine Lagarde, has restated the need for the financial sector to increase funding to the real sector of the Nigerian economy.

Lagarde made the assertion while addressing journalists shortly after a meeting with Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Mr. Godwin Emefiele, and other stakeholders in the financial sector yesterday.

“We had a chance to debate together on how the financial sector can better contribute to the economy and support the business and development growth in Nigeria.

“From my perspective, it was a very productive meeting, we had the chance to exchange and consider how the system can improve further.

“The financial sector of Nigeria is strong solid and it needs to continue to be so. But it also needs to lend to the real economy and to provide good terms of business,” she said.

Also speaking, Emefiele explained that the IMF boss

encouraged Deposit Money Banks to continue to support the real sector through lending.

“She also tried to encourage Nigerian banks to continue to support the real sector and the small scale enterprises and indeed also try as much as possible to do those lending activities at a very concessionary pricing just like we are doing.

“And indeed the banks themselves gave their word to support, notwithstanding the critical risks as well as some of the challenges that we have in the environment,” he said.

The IMF boss also visited the Mother Theresa Children Home where she made a donation of $7,500 (N1.5m) to the orphanage on behalf of the IMF. She was accompanied on the visit by CBN Deputy Governor, Economic Policy, Dr Sarah Alade, and Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Finance, Alhaji Mahmoud Dutse, among other top government officials.

At the orphanage Lagarde said she was deeply touched by the performance of the children despite the fact that they do not have the care of their biological parents.

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Thursday, January 7, 2016

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Ooni unveils Ife/Modakeke post-war rebuilding plans boladale bamigbola OSOGBO

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ears after the war had ended, Ooni of Ife, His Imperial Majesty, Oba Enitan Adeyeye Ogunwusi, yesterday disclosed plans toward rebuilding the damaged parts of Ile Ife and Modakeke.

The last Ife/Modakeke communal war triggered by land tussle and disagreement over the site of headquarters of Ife East Local Government Area, lasted four years - between 1997 and 2001 - and claimed several lives, while property worth millions of naira were destroyed. The monarch, however, disclosed his rebuilding plans while speaking during a courtesy call on Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola, at Government House, Osogbo, yesterday.

Oba Ogunwusi explained that after the war, despite the huge damages the two warring towns experienced, there have been no serious efforts to rebuild the damaged parts of the towns.

To this end, the Ooni said he has set up Oduduwa Development Trust Fund from which funds would be raised to finance the rebuilding plans, urging Governor Aregbesola to assist the towns in giving the fund a legal backing by enacting a law to back it.

According to him, the efforts of Governor Aregbesola to leave good legacies after exiting office is enough to support all efforts to develop the state and decried non-payment of taxes by Nigerians.

He called for a more united Yorubaland and Nigeria in the interest of peace and development, assuring that he would always lead efforts to promote peaceful co-existence among Nigerians.

The monarch said: “We are all here to show our appreciation to the governor. I use this opportunity to say that our relationship will continue to grow; what we have in Ife is great to the extent that foreigners acknowledge it.

“Europeans have been to Ife and they likened us to the Roman empire and other empires of the world.

The time has come for all and sundry to see the greatness of Ife and Osun State.

“Leaders in Ife are closer to the people than government. I want to assure that the change and development that have come to Ife will spread across Osun State. I don’t want to believe that it will be difficult for our people in Osun State to pay tax.

The only way we can help government is to pay our taxes.”

In his remarks, Governor Aregbesola urged traditional rulers in the state to help government in educating people on the need to pay their taxes, stressing that the Ooni in his capacity as a father to all monarchs, should assist government in that regard.

He urged cocoa farmers in the state not to sell their produce outside Osun State.

He noted that for the state to experience abundance, citizens and residents alike must be ready to fulfill their civic duties to government by promptly paying their taxes.

He emphasised that the time has come for everybody to realise that Osun State has nothing serious to expect from the Federal allocation accruing to states monthly.

The governor stated that government and citizens need to look inward for the prosperity and development of the state.

His words: “I am happy that we have all seen the need for payment of taxes; thank God that our monarchs are even joining us in the call for regular payment of tax.

“I want to also ask that traditional rulers use their position to ensure that farmers are enjoined not to take their cocoa out of the state because what we have in Osun State, if properly harnessed will help the economy of the state.”

L-R: Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode; Chairman, Tribunal of Inquiry into the October 12, 2015 Civil Disturbance at the Lekki Free Trade Zone (LFTZ), Hon. Justice Adesuyi Olateru-Olagbegi and member of the Tribunal, Mrs. Rafeequat Onabamiro, during submission of the report by the Tribunal at the Conference Room, Lagos House, Ikeja, yesterday.

Ambode appoints ex-FIRS boss, Omoigui-Okauru to head N25bn ETF board ...names Professor Fagbohun LASU VC

Francis suberu

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agos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode yesterday appointed a former chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service, Mrs. Ifueko Omoigui-Okauru, to head the Board of Trustees for the N25 billion state Employment Trust Fund, ETF. The governor in a statement signed by his chief press secretary, Mr. Habib Aruna, also approved the appointment of nine others to serve as members of the board of the ETF, which is geared towards addressing

the challenge of youth unemployment as well as promote wealth creation through entrepreneurial development in the state.

Other members of the board include Mr. Dele Martins, Mrs. Bilikis AdebiyiAbiola, Mr. Otto Orondaam, Mrs. Olufunmi Olatunde Daudu, Mr. Tunde BankAnthony and Mr. Michael Popoola Ajayi.

Governor Ambode also approved Commissioner for Wealth Creation, Mr. Tunde Durosinmi-Etti, and his counterpart in the Ministry of Finance, Dr. Mustapha Akinkunmi, to be part of the board, while Mr. Akintunde Oyebode is to serve as execu-

tive secretary.

The governor also approved the appointment of Professor Olanrewaju Adigun Fagbohun as 8th substantive Vice-Chancellor of the Lagos State University, LASU. Professor Fagbohun, a professor of Environmental Law, was until his appointment director of research at the Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies, University of Lagos.

The appointment was contained in a statement signed yesterday by Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Steve Ayorinde.

According to the state-

ment, following the expiration of the tenure of Professor John Oladapo Obafunwa as 7th substantive vice-chancellor of LASU on October 31, 2015, the deputy vice-chancellor (Administration), Professor Fidelis Olisamedua Njokanma, assumed the position of acting vice-chancellor.

Professor Fagbohun was born on October 19, 1966 and hails from Akesan in Alimosho Local Government Area of Lagos State. Professor Fagbohun joined the Faculty of Law in LASU as an assistant lecturer in January 1991. He rose through the ranks and by 2004, he was appointed associate professor.

LFTZ killing: Ambode promises to uphold rule of law Francis suberu

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agos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode yesterday said he would uphold the rule of law in addressing issues surrounding the recent civil unrest in Ibeju-Lekki area of the state that led to the death of managing director of Lekki Worldwide Investment Limited, Alhaji Tajudeen Disu.

Ambode said this when he received a report of the

five-man tribunal of inquiry, which investigated the unrest.

The governor described the Lekki Free Trade Zone, LFTZ, as an important project to the economy of the state because of its strategic importance to the job creation drive of his administration, saying he was prepared to do everything to ensure its success.

He said: “The report of the tribunal has been submitted today and the state government will give

serious consideration to the recommendations and take decisions to ensure that such an incident does not recur.

“Let me assure members of the public and investors alike that this government will always uphold the rule of law and continue to provide conducive atmosphere for businesses to thrive.”

Ambode also thanked members of the tribunal for diligently carrying out the assignment within the

time given, and expressed hope that they would be willing and ready to serve the state in future when called upon.

Earlier, the state’s Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Adeniji Kazeem, had said it is noteworthy that the tribunal had its inaugural sitting on November 16, 2015 and completed the assignment with the 45 days given to it.

Kazeem said the civil disturbances which led

to Disu’s killing in the Okunraye community had slowed down the development of the LFTZ, and that the tribunal was set up as part of efforts to ensure safety of lives and property, prevent recurrence and enhance the economic wellbeing of the state.

In his remarks, Justice Olateru-Olagbegi, who chaired the tribunal said it received 22 memoranda and 33 witness statements, including those from eminent Nigerians.

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Thursday, January 7, 2016

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Broad Street Diary

Thursday, January 7, 2016

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CBD, the challenges of traders, motorists’ lawlessness

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hen the Lagos State Government created the State Central Business Districts Agency in 2007, the idea was to transform Lagos into a 21st century business district.

The creation of the CBD among other things is to contribute meaningfully towards the realisation of the mega city structure desired for the state. It is also to serve as the financial hub of the country as obtained in other vibrant economies. It is also aimed at showcasing to other economies, what Nigeria can offer in terms of goods and financial services.

The agency mission statement was deeply rooted in providing a stress-free and a favourable business environment for the benefit of traders, customers and business owners through efficient and effective traffic and environmental management to make the business districts accessible.

As a pilot project of the four proposed Business Districts which include, Alimosho, Ikeja and Surulere, Lagos Island has remains the vocal point and the state government has committed enormous resources into making a success of the policy starting with that of the Lagos Island.

Since inception in 2007, the state government has put machineries in motion to realise the stated objectives, while the pioneering CBD personnel worked tirelessly and relentlessly to transform the policy into reality. Without doubt, the Central Business District on the Lagos Island had spreads Its tentacles to areas like; outer and inner marina, Balogun, Nnamdi Azikwe street, Carter Bridge, Idumagbo, Breadfruit, Abibu-Oki, Davies, Church, Odunlami, Ereko, Campus, Alli Balogun and King George. Other areas include Martins, Eko Bridge, Apongbon, Campbel, Tinubu, Adeniji Adele, Dosumu, Kakawa, Bamgbose, Eyingbeti, Ebute-Ero, Force Road, Broad Street and Apongbon.

It is important to note however, that just as much as the agency is deeply concerned in ensuring free-flow of traffic and keeping the walkways free of traders who usually display their wares in the open, officers of the agency are visibly seen in around this area and the popular Balogun market in conjunction with the police in ensuring free-flow of traffic.

However, in spite of efforts by the agency in checking traders excesses and ensuring free-flow of traffic, many traders are still in the habit of obstructing the walkways by displaying their wares, while commercial buses park indiscriminately on the road picking passengers, thereby hindering free-flow of human and vehicular movement which is one of the primary objective for the creation of the agency.

Although, goods of erring traders are always seized when caught, while vehicles obstructing movement are towed away to

Traffic gridlock on Lagos Island the Onikan office of the agency or to the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, LASTMA, office where appropriate fines and penalties are imposed mainly to serve as deterrent to others.

However, there are insinuations that officers of the agency and LASTAMA are in the habit of abusing their official roles.

For instance, in the process of maintaining law and order in the market, CBD officers were said to be in the habit of taking advantage of the hapless traders by demanding for exorbitant amount of money before their seized goods could be released to them.

According to Rafiu Alabi, a trader who sells phone accessories displayed on wheel barrow, he alleged that his goods had been confiscated on several occasions by the CDB officers on Broad Street, saying: “They mix up the goods when taking them in their vehicles to their Onikan office.

When you get there, they will ask you identify your wares among several identical goods seized from other traders.

“Most of the goods are usually misplaced or stolen in the process. At times, you come only to discover that some of your goods are missing and the officials will not do anything about it.”

“Some touts around the market take advantage of this by going to the CBD office, immediately the patrol team seized goods in the market to lay claims to some of the seized goods. And since the goods were seized randomly and without proper tags to identify the real owners, some of the items are always released to wrong hands in the process,” he added.

There are also allegations of

bad eggs or highly corrupt officials whose actions are defeating the essence of the agency, as traders alleged that some officers of the agency are in the habit of singling out for victimisation traders who refused to grease their palm by sizing their wares when on patrol while those who ‘cooperate’ are allowed to display their wares in unauthorised places because they have ‘’settled’’.

For instance, Chucks Nse, who sells women artificial hair, otherwise called weave-on and cosmetics, claimed that he make sure, he sets aside special amount of money for the officials whenever his goods are seized for being displayed on the walkway because he couldn’t afford to get a shop.

He said: “I gather money like ‘esusu’ to bail my wares whenever the CBD came to raid the market, for me, it’s always better to settle them on the sport than for them to take your wares to their office, because I have lost my entire wares to their previous raiding and the officers couldn’t do anything about it.”

However, a senior CBD official who doesn’t want his name on prints revealed to Broad Street Diary that many officers found wanting in the line of duty have been penalised accordingly, this lend credence to the fact that constant monitoring has placed the officers in the eye of the storm.

“This condemnable action needs to be frequent and sometimes carried out on Saturdays, which is the peak of business transaction in the market to ensure that complaints of extortion, molestation and assault by members of the public against some CBD officials were promptly at-

tended to,” he opined.

Sometimes ago, the state government went a step further towards fast-track the realisation of CBD policy by setting up a Special Task Force for the agency. Their main objective is patrolling the CBD areas everyday to compliments the activities of the regular enforcement officers.

Speaking recently on government efforts at ensuring the realisation of the objectives of the Lagos Central Business District, Special Adviser to the Governor on Central Business Districts, Agboola Dabiri, who led the enforcement exercise in company of his counterpart in the Ministry of Transportation, Anofiu Elegushi to the Lagos Business District, said the target of government is to have a smooth, free-flow and unhindered traffic in the CBD areas especially in Lagos Island which serves as the hub of businesses in the state.

According to him: “Government has set machineries in motion to curtail the nuisances and unwholesome practices of commercial bus drivers and some car owners who are in the habit of impeding traffic through illegal parking on the road to pick passengers, driving against traffic as well as using unauthorised places as bus stops.

For the sake of saving unnecessary man-hour lost to traffic

by Lagosians operating within the CBD and the desire for a conducive environment for businesses to thrive in Lagos Island, the Lagos State Government has launched a full scale traffic enforcement programme to decongest the area.

The enforcement exercise

which was carried out in and around Agbongbon axis of Lagos island by CBD monitoring officers in their reflective vests, volunteers, State Task force, KAI&LASTMA officials as well as security personnel took motorists and commuters by surprise as many vehicles parked indiscriminately were clamped and towed away with a view to impose heavy fines to serve as deterrent to others.

Dabiri said the state government will not relent in its promise of providing enabling and conducive environment in the CBD axis for businesses to thrive. ‘’The provision of a conducive business environment would attract investors and this will ultimately boost the economy of the state.’’

He appealed to Lagosians to cooperate with government in its quest of taking the CBD to the next level in line with international standard as obtained in other developed cities of the world.”

Speaking further Dabiri a onetime Chairman of Surulere Local Government Area of Lagos State, said the exercise will continue until motorists as well as traders and other stakeholders within the CBD observe the right attitude and abiding by all rules and regulations guiding the CBD. “Series of sensitisation and awareness programmes, extensive publicity as well as meetings with stakeholders have been carried out in the past to alert the general public on the need to observe and obey the rules wherever they are within the CBD axis for one business or the other,” he said.

–Dare Akogun

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

South West

Thursday, January 7, 2016

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$40,000 theft: Court adjourns lawyer’s trial till Jan 29 WALE IGBINTADE

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L-R: Newly promoted Otun Olubadan of Ibadan land, Dr. Lekan Balogun; President, Ibadan Elders’ Forum, Ambassador Olusola Sanu and Oyo State Governor Abiola Ajimobi, during a truce meeting brokered by the IEF over the Olubadan chieftaincy promotion dispute, at Sanu’s residence, in Ibadan, on Tuesday.

NDLEA seizes drugs worth N3.7bn at Lagos Airport …receives 183 deportees OLUSEGUN KOIKI

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ational Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, said it seized narcotic drugs valued at N3.7 billion at the international wing of the Murtala Mohammed Airport, MMA, Ikeja, Lagos, in 2015.

The anti-narcotic agency also said that 183 Nigerians, comprising 176 males and seven females, were deported on drug-related offences through the airport within the same year.

Acting Chief Executive of NDLEA, Mrs. Roli Bode-George, disclosed this yesterday in a statement.

Bode-George said the

ABIODUN NEJO ADO EKITI

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unmen yesterday shot dead the driver of an 18-seater commercial bus, Mr Toyin Philips, at Aramoko Ekiti end of AramokoIgede Ekiti Road in Ekiti State.

Eyewitness reports said that Philips, a staff of Lafe Ade Transport Company, was killed by highway robbers. Others, however, alleged that he was killed by assassins like the owner of a transport firm and former state chairman of National Union of Road Transport Workers, NURTW, Mr Omolafe Aderiye, who

monetary value of seized drugs underscores the threat posed by illicit drug production, trafficking and abuse.

She said drug trafficking was a serious crime capable of undermining the country’s economy, including security, adding that the agency was working hard to seize drugs and financially incapacitate drug trafficking organisations.

According to her, efforts would be intensified to drastically reduce drug trafficking through awareness workshops, continuous arrests and prosecution, urging everyone to keep channeling their resources towards a safe and healthy society.

Also, NDLEA Commander at Lagos Airport, Ahmadu Garba, gave a breakdown of the seized drugs.

According to him, the drugs consist of 172kg of cannabis, 160kg ephedrine, 114kg methamphetamine, 96kg cocaine, 45kg tramadol and 5kg of heroin.

“Interestingly, the last arrest for the year was that of a lady who was recruited by a facebook lover based in Malaysia.

The suspect, Ezeabata Uju Gloria, was caught with 1.325kg of methamphetamine on her way to Malaysia.

“One Mr. Philip Maduabuchi Akpaka, 39, who is suspected leader of the drug cartel in Nigeria, who prepared Gloria’s travel documents, was

equally arrested. Out of the number of those arrested, 55 were bringing in drugs from other countries, while 62 were exporting drugs, and 25 others were arrested within the state,” he added.

He explained that Italy had the highest number of deportees with 55 persons, Thailand 41, United States 24 and 17 from Norway.

Other countries with deportees were South Africa; 15, Spain, 10; France and Saudi Arabia with three each while Brazil, China and Greece deported two persons each.

“One person each was deported from Zambia, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, Peru, Indonesia, India Belgium, Austria and Argentina,” he said.

Protest as driver is killed in Ekiti

…DPO stripped naked

was killed in September 2014.

Angered by the incident, NURTW members took to the streets to protest the incident, which happened few metres to a police checkpoint, alleging police complicity.

Sources said the angry NURTW members descended on policemen in the area led by a Divisional Police Officer, DPO, who they said was stripped naked in the process, while two police vans were allegedly vandalised.

Being persuaded that the incident was more of a murder than robbery, the state government summoned a security meeting chaired by Deputy Governor Kolapo Olusola.

Commissioner of Police, James Etop; Director of Department of State Services, Duke Fubara; other security heads and the drivers’ union, attended the meeting.

The state NURTW Chairman, Clement Adekola, said the driver had driven few metres away from a police checkpoint

when gunmen emerged from both sides of the road and rained bullets on the vehicle.

“The driver was said to have lost control when the bullets hit him in the chest and the bus rolled into the bush. We appeal that the police should be more concerned about how to protect our members than extorting money from them.

“The fact that robbery had earlier happened at that spot around 3am today should have made the police to be on the alert,” the NURTW boss said.

Lagos Chief Magistrate’s Court, sitting at Tinubu Square, yesterday adjourned till January 29 the criminal charge filed against a 25-year-old lawyer, Joshua Olomo.

The lawyer is facing charges bordering on alleged theft of documents and $40,000 before the court.

The court presided over by Chief Magistrate Mrs M. B. Folami adjourned the matter for mention at the instance of the prosecution, Inspector Richard Odigie, who informed the court that the police wants to amend the charges against the lawyer.

During the proceedings, Odigie informed the court that the prosecution has four witnesses to call in the matter.

He therefore, applied to the court for a short adjournment to enable the police amend the charges against the accused.

But lawyers to the accused, Idowu Olofinniyi, who did not oppose the prosecutor’s application for adjournment, urged the court to instruct the prosecutor to provide them with proof of evidence.

Olofinniyi informed the court that his efforts in getting proof of evidence had not yielded re-

sult.

However, Magistrate Folami pleaded with the prosecution witnesses who are mainly complainants in the matter, to explore amicable resolution.

She then adjourned the matter till January 29 for mention and amendment of the charge.

The defendant was alleged to have stolen vital documents and the sum of $40,000 belonging to an oil firm, Pan Ocean Oil Corporation Limited, between January and December 9, 2015 at the firm’s office in Victoria Island, Lagos.

The police in charge number C/105/2015, alleged that the lawyer entered into the office of the firm’s Chief Financial Officer, Oluseyi Oladapo, and committed the alleged offences.

The prosecutor, Odigie, had informed the court that the offences are contrary to Section 284 and punishable under section 310(c), 285(8) of the Criminal Laws of Lagos state, 2011.

Count one of the charges read: “That you Joshua Olomo between January and December 9, 2015 did steal the sum of $40,000, property of Pan Ocean Oil Corporation Limited from the Chief Financial Officer and thereby committed an offence contrary to section 284 and punishable under section 285(8) of the Criminal Laws of Lagos state of Nigeria”.

NSCDC destroys 10 illegal refineries in Ondo OJO OYEWAMIDE AKURE

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ndo command of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, yesterday said it destroyed 10 illegal refineries in the state.

The agency also said its anti-vandal unit arrested 20 suspected vandals and impounded 22 trucks laden with adulterated petroleum products.

The products, Automobile Gasoline Oil, AGO, and Premium Motor Spirit, PMS, were suspected to have been siphoned from vandalised oil pipelines.

It was gathered that most of the suspected oil thieves

were arrested in the coastal areas of the state.

Ten pumping machines, three speedboat engines, 330 metres of BEDC cables and 16 prepaid metres were also seized from the vandals.

State commandant of the corps, Adeyinka Fasiu Ayinla, disclosed this at a press briefing in Akure, the state capital.

Ayinla said the command was committed to freeing the state from illegal bunkering activities and other forms of criminality, adding that it would continue to wage war against saboteurs of the country’s economy, adding that the suspects had been charged to court.

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FG appoints Akah as NERC boss

...February is new tariff take-off date, commission insists Chidi uGwu

ABUJA

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ederal Government has appointed Dr. Anthony Akah as Acting Head of Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission, NERC. His appointment followed the expiration of the tenure of chairman of the commission, Dr. Sam Amadi, and other commissioners. Amadi and other commissioners were appointed in 2010 for a five-year tenure.

Public Relations Officer of the commission, Mr. Mike Faloseyi, confirmed Akah’s appointment on telephone.

Akah, who hails from Anambra State, was General Manager, Consumer Affairs and most senior staff of the commission before his appointment as Acting Head.

Meanwhile, the commission has restated its commitment to commence the new electricity tariff (MYTO 2015) on February 1, refuting report on change of take-off date.

Also, it has reminded the distribution companies, DISCOs, to abide by its directive not to connect new customers without first providing meters for them.

In a statement from Head of Public Affairs, Dr. Usman Abba-Arabi, the acting Head of the commission, Akah, stated that the removal of fixed charge under the

new tariff regime “was in response to electricity consumers’ complaints and a measure to ensure electricity distribution companies improve on service delivery as their income is dependent on the quantity of electricity used by their customers.”

According to Abba-Arabi, the commission will continue to engage stakeholders including members of the National Assembly to address concerns on the new tariff regime.

“NERC holds the National Assembly in high esteem and we are sure that both institutions are working to ensure the national and consumer interests are protected,” he said.

Abba-Arabi also stated that Akah further explained that there are inbuilt consumer protection mechanisms and incentives for improved service delivery by the DISCOs and fair return on investment in the new Tariff Order.

He said: “The commission in implementing this cost reflective tariff will effectively monitor and enforce all service delivery agreements in the new tariff order.

“The new Tariff Order, aside from eliminating fixed charge, has a robust mechanism to ensure that electricity distribution companies fully meter their consumers and eliminate ‘crazy’ billing within one year.

NSCDC secures court order to sell seized vessels

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igerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, has secured an interim order from the law court to sell a vessel named MV Flora and the 10,000 litres of illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil, AGO, stored inside it to the Federal Government of Nigeria in line with section 263(11) of the Criminal Procedure Act. The court order therefore, directed the security agency to auction the seized items upon advertisement in national dailies.

Similarly, the court granted an order directing the agency to sell vessel “MT TORA EAGLE” and 3,600 drums of illegally refined

Automotive Gas Oil stored therein, as well as a truck and 10 drums of stolen crude.

The NSCDC had earlier embarked on a tour of the various sites of seized items across the federation with the Committee on Forfeited Items set up by the former Attorney-General of the Federation, Muhammed Adoke, to ascertain the condition of the items.

Commandant-General of the NSCDC, Abdullahi Gana Muhammadu, who made the declarations, stated that in the year under review, over 40 suspects were prosecuted and convicted in Delta and Bayelsa states respectively for vandalism, oil theft and operation of illegal refineries.

Commandant, Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Enugu State, Mr Stephen Lar (middle), addressing a news conference on activities of the Command’s year ending 2015, in Enugu, yesterday.

PHOTO:NAN

Don’t let Igbo culture die –Enugu monarch EmmAnuEl EzEh ENUGU

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raditional ruler of Ibagwa Nike in Enugu-East Council Area of Enugu State, Igwe Emmanuel Ugwu, has urged other traditional rulers to play active role in overcoming the various security challenges facing the nation.

The monarch, who spoke at the grand finale of the 7th edition of his Ofala Festival, said as custodians of the traditions and culture of the people, royal fathers have a significant role to play towards the sustenance of peace, adding that they should not let Igbo culture die.

He therefore, urged his colleagues “to always be

effective partners with government towards enthroning peace and security in our various communities.”

His words: “Like I am doing today, we should always initiate programmes through which we can lay solid foundation for enduring peace and security in our various communities.

“I am an advocate of peace, detribalised Nigerian and an epitome of truth and history. I have served my community on different capacities.

I have served humanity in various capacities and have remained an enigma to my peer group towards the transformation of my community and the advancement of the goals of

the common man.”

In a goodwill massage, Secretary to Enugu State government, Elder G.O.C. Ajah noted, “Ofala festival is our people’s cultural way of thanking God for the productive activities carried out during the year, thus showcasing our cultural heritage.”

Similarly, the leadership of Ohanaeze Ndigbo led by its Enugu chairman, Chief Eric Ebeh, said that “Ofala festival represents a symbolic tradition in Igbo world view.”

He urged other traditional rulers to key into such traditions and save Igbo culture from extinction.

Bishop of Wesley Synod and International Vice President of the United

Nations-Polac Peace Programme, a non-governmental organisation, Rt. Reverend Chidi Ehiriodo, noted that Igwe Ugwu had used his position “to impact positively on the larger society and has lived up to expectations through the various peace projects you have embarked on, including this festival.

“As a Mayor for peace, and peace advocate of the United Nations, we encourage you to continue the propagation of the peace ideals and sustainable development goals of the United Nations to actualise peace, not only in your constituency and community but also the larger society, which is what we stand for.”

Police arrest 7 cultists in Ebonyi A liunA Godwin ABAKALIKI

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o fewer than seven cult members were yesterday arrested by Ebonyi police command at Akaeze in Ivo Local Government Area of the state.

The suspects, including the kingpin of a 28-member cult gang, were arrested on Tuesday night by the police, who invaded the venue of their meeting.

Public Relations Officer of the command, ASP George Okafor, disclosed this while briefing jour-

nalists in his office in Abakaliki.

He said on Tuesday midnight another 20 cult members were also holding a meeting in Ntezi, Ishielu Local Government Area when police received a distress call and invaded the area.

“On sighting the police, the group ran away but one of them was later arrested and he confessed to be a member of Aye Confraternity,” he said.

According to Okafor, the command also arrested three cult members in Ezza North Local

Government Area, and others in Afikpo North and South local government areas of the state.

The PPRO noted that efforts were in top gear to arrest the fleeing suspects and called on parents to monitor the movement of their children, and should advise them to shun cultism.

He expressed dismay over increasing cases of cult activities in Ebonyi and warned that the command would not fold its hands and watch hoodlums disrupt existing peace in the state.

Okafor said those ar-

rested would be prosecuted after investigation, stressing readiness of the command to check criminal activities in the state.

ARASE, Police boss

Thursday, January 7, 2016

Abiodun nejo ADO EKITI

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minent Nigerians including Vice President Yemi Osinbajo; Lagos State Governor, Mr Akinwumi Ambode; Vice President of Dangote Group, Alhaji Sani Dangote and Founder of Afe Babalola University, Ado Ekiti, Chief Afe Babalola are to gather in Lagos for a lecture to discuss ways out of the woods for the nation’s economy.

Publisher and Editor-In-Chief of Hall of Grace (HOG) Magazine, Mr Rupert Ojenuwa, said that the gathering was based on the fact that “our nation’s economy is in a state of emergency and we need the collective efforts of Nigerians to rescue it. Everyone must play his part if we must achieve the Nigeria of our dreams”.

Ojenuwa said in a statement in Ado Ekiti yesterday that the lecture entitled “Nigeria Beyond Oil: The Urgent Need for Agricultural and Industrial Revolution”, to be delivered by the Vice-President at Lagos City Mall Hall, Victoria Island, Lagos next Sunday, was part of effort to revive and put the nation’s economy back on course.

The public lecture is being organised by the HOG Magazine, a socio-political magazine that offers insight into Nigeria’s socio-political situation, profiles the major actors in the country’s polity as well as rewards exemplary leadership through recognition awards to notable professionals and politicians.

According to the HOG Publisher, dignitaries and others speakers who would add colour and contribute to the discourse included the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele former Presidential aspirant and publisher of Leadership newspapers, Sam Nda-Isaiah; Mazi Sam Ohuabunwa; Agriculture economist and Managing Director of WILBAHI Investment, Dr Wilma Aguele; Primate Elijah

LG Poll : Niger SIEC ready for election PriscillA dennis

MINNA.

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iger state Independent Electoral Commission, NSIEC said it is prepared to conduct the January 16 elections in the 25 local government areas and 274 Councillorship seats of the state.

Public Relations Officer of the Commission, Mohammed Ali who made the disclosure in Minna explained that all logistics required for the local government poll has been put in place.

To ensure successful conduct, he said about 3185 ad-hoc staff had been trained, even as the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC is helping the NSIEC with the voters register, ballot boxes as well as some technical staff. “ The commission will employ the use of the Card Readers used by the Independent National Electoral Commission in the last general election. We have

already started the training of the 14,000staff that will operate the card readers.”

Aside from depending on the server of the INEC, the PRO noted that the NSIEC has already installed its own server for adequate storage of information.

Ali assured that the commission will be fair and transparent to all political parties and their candidates in the conduct of the election.

He then called on various political parties and their candidates to ensure all forms of lawlessness including thuggery do not take place before, during and after the election.

He said so far, the non sensitive materials for the election have already been sent to the headquarters of the Commission in the 25 local government areas while the sensitive materials will be distributed on January 14 of this month, two days to the election.

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Politics

VP, Ambode, Dangote, Babalola, others parley on economy Babatunde Ayodele; Nnamdi Ezeigbo, and two-time former Minister of Sports, Chief Alex Akinyele.

Ojenuwa said that the programme would also feature the launch of the magazine’s monthly diet.

He said: “In HOG, we appreciate exemplary leadership and we are passionate about the growth and development of our dear country. Hence, we organise programmes that are of im-

mense national benefits. This one is particularly key because we need the collective efforts of Nigerians to rescue the nation’s economy.

“In order to also appreciate sound, purposeful and impactful leadership, we have been recognising eminent Nigerians who have delivered exemplary leadership to our people in different capacities,” he stated.

Bauchi State Governor Muhammed Abubakar (right), presenting the 2016 Budget to the Speaker of the State House of Assem Assembly, Hon. Kawuwa Dhamina, in Bauchi yesterday.

EAI promises support for credible guber candidate in Edo robert AWokuse

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head of the Edo state governorship election coming up this year, a pressure group, Edo Accord Initiative, EAI has resolved to support any credible candidate who has the interest of the people at heart.

President of the group, Comrade Dennis Idahosa who disclosed this, said EAI anyis poised to stand for any thing that is right in order to bring positive change to the state in all its ramifications.

“If there is a projected gubernacandidate for the guberna torial election, we would sit down and discuss it within our organization and see if the person is competent, if the person has the interest of the people of Edo State at delibheart and after all the delib erations, we will be able to

know if the person is a suitable candidate for the people of Edo State and we will support him aggressively.

“We believe that the people of Edo State should benefit from the political process by ensuring that the right and competent person is voted into power. So we will look at the competence of that person and if the person is well established we will make sure his work WAle ibrAhim, lokojA

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head of All Progressives Congress, APC senatorial primaries Apfor Kogi East which the Ap aspipeal Court nullified, an aspi senatorant for the Kogi East senato rial zone, Comrade Danladi Usman Okutepa has again called on party’s stalwarts in the area to support him to senatoemerge as the APC senato

is being felt among the people.”

According to the president, the group is serving as a bridge between the people and the government hence it would do everything to ensure that candidate that would deliver dividends of democracy is supported.

He said: “Edo Accord will bring the people of Edo State a good candidate that

will respect the people, and do their mandate. We will strive to support any candidate that will honour the citizen of the state as well as create the enabling environment for investors.

“We need investors both foreign & local, to create employment for our people to make Edo State beautiful and lovely, a state that we will all adore at the end of the day”, he said.

APC senatorial aspirant seeks party’s nod

rial candidate for the area.

Okutepa, who spoke with journalists at Ayingba, in Dekina Local Government Area of Kogi State, appealed to APC stakeholders in Kogi east to take into account his antecedents and past contribution to the development of the party and the senatorial

zone in general.

He admonished the party to consider party loyalty in deciding who gets its ticket for the senatorial seat, stating that the APC should not make the mistake of fielding any of those who have just joined the party, as they are likely to leave the party again.

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Politics

Thursday, January 7, 2016

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Nigeria politicians lack philosophy, Dr.Gospel Emmah Isong is the General Overseer of Christian Central Chapel, CCC Calabar and National Patron of NUJ South- South Zone.

Isong who is also a financial expert in this interview with RICHARD NDOMA speaks on the state of Nigeria economy and urged Nigerians to be patient with President Muhammadu Buhari so that he can resolve the security challenges plaguing the nation among other issues of national importance . Excerpts: What is your take on the issue of removal of oil subsidy ?

Nigeria is now divided into two with one group for anti- subsidy removal and the other pro-subsidy removal . We need to look at one thing, a subsidy of billions of naira paid into few hands or the amount be used in spreading development which one is better for Nigeria? You should always know that the latter is better because if we can have our roads working again, our hospitals and educational sector working again, that is the real subsidy. In my opinion tactically diverting the subsidy money if they so exist into developmental venture can help Nigerians .

President Buhari made a promise that by the end of December 2015 the issue of Boko Haram insurgency would have become a thing of the past.

Here we are in January 2016, the insurgents are still throwing bomb here and there. How will you react to this?

I think we should be able to identify the determination of a new president making a statement of determination from reality which is on ground. I am sure that President Buhari right now has seen the implication of deadline on security issue. But I will still support him because it is a statement made out of personal determination and not a manifestoe per se. There are things also that are in the hands of God and not in the hands of man. This is why no matter how a leader is, whether you are President Obama or a president of any of the powerful nations of the world, there is a statement that you cannot make, God alone can make such statements. That is why the Christians would say by the grace of God. I believe the supposed deadline Nigerians would take it as a supposed deadline from Mr. President to deal with a crucial issue. If there is a will then there would be a way out. He has the will to stop the Boko Haram whether November or March or October, he wants to stop Boko Haram. We should key into that and not talk of deadline because it is in the hands of God. When this administration came on board a lot of people thought that the much preached change mantra would transform the lives of people to the extent that there won’t be any suffering again but here we are Nigerians are still suffering, crying of hunger and starvation . How do you see this situation?

Nigerians are very impatient people and our politicians are very intelligent people. The change slogan was a very smart move by the opposition.. So if Buhari or the APC fails to do something for four years or don’t do the right thing, I am sure somebody else would invent a slogan that will also appealed to Nigerians. Nigerians are naturally very impatient and restive people and it is very easy to key into that impatience and get what you want very quickly. That was exactly what the APC did and they got what they wanted, that was very smart of them. I doff my cap for them. But that doesn’t mean that they have all the solution to our problems. To me the APC had no plan on ground.

Are you sure of what you just said now and how do you have to back up this claim?

I have my evidences. What they were thinking was that if they lose the elections they would go to court. I

do not think that the APC have what Nigerians have been looking for. It took them a very long time for them to appoint ministers. Forget about all the excuses.

It took them time to get the leadership of the National Assembly to be seated up till now it is also taking time for decisions to be taken on key economic issues that would stabilize the economy. To me the APC were just politically smart, maybe smarter than the PDP, may be when they saw that we were suffering, we were going through economic storm, you and I including those who were in PDP were also complaining of the economic hardship. I think the slogan of change was the best slogan and they used it at the right time to win the election . Maybe we should tell them now that they should consolidate on the gains of their victory so that it will bring food on the table and not suffering. The issue of banning Nigeria from using their credit card in banks abroad is very primitive. I am a banker by profession, that is a very primitive law to be made in 21st century economy. It is an archaic move to be made by any governor of central bank anywhere in the world. To curtail corruption there are better fiscal policies and financial policies that a government or an institution can evolved that can check money laundering than to make my innocent children who are schooling in London and other part of the world go through pain in getting their feeding because of the difficulty of their parent sourcing for dollar or pounds. This is like politicians making Nigerians to pay the price, bearing the brunt of their years of mismanagement by the PDP and the APC. Given the kind of scenario you had just painted, let’s assume you were to be President Buhari what could you have done in order to bring succour to Nigerians.

I could have asked myself why did the people complaining, afterall the change that we are talking about is not a negative but positive change because the kind of change we are talking about is a change that will bring about progress. We have accepted the promises of progress and hope but we should start to enjoy the benefit of being Nigerians. We should not mistake anti corruption to anti-prosperity. For me to be poor does not mean I am honest and for me to be rich does not mean I am corrupt, that is one thing that I don’t know when we shall correct this just because a person is rich does not mean he is bad.

After all Nigeria is a capitalist economy, it is the market forces that determine outcome and income.

We should not label every person that has made it in life as being corrupt, we should not mistake anti- corruption for anti- prosperity. We voted for prosperity and infrastructure but didn’t vote for delay of progress and appointments. We want to enjoy life and that is different from flamboyant and rascality. There should be prosperity in the land and that is exactly what we are impatiently waiting for.

Based on what you had said, are you saying that Buhari’s administration should review its economic policies?

Yes Buhari should drastically and holistically review his economic policies. And specifically review some obnoxious anti- masses monetary policies. There are many ways to kill a rat. You do no need to make the masses bear the brunt of the years of corrup-

Isong tion which the country has suffered from the hands of treasury looters or from the hands of our corrupt politicians. The common man in the street is going to suffer if the government does not intervene. You saw the way the Christmas and the Muslim holidays were celebrated. There were not celebrated with pomp and pageantry. The churches could not see the offerings and tithes. The shops could not see the sales. Some families couldn’t even see the rice and chickens they were supposed to eat. There are many ways to catch a rat.

President Muhammadu Buhari I believe has a good intention but if you have good intention but no proper invention, it would bring a convention that would amount to a subvention, it will caused a chaos. You can have good intentions but you need to have good invention to go about your proper intention. For instance If I want to give you water to drink now and I pour it in to your mouth and allow it to enter your nose and I continue to pour it in, you will fall drown and die. But my

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Politics

Thursday, January 7, 2016

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dwell on personal interest —Isong Right fRom the time that i was boRn,

politicians

had always pRomised to pRovide all the basic infRastRuctuRal facilities yet at the end of the day, nothing is done

. they quit without fulfilling theiR bogus pRomises.

different government I am alive to see. Even the local politicians, they promised us all things beginning from light, roads, water and all sort of infrastructural facilities yet, they come and go without fulfilling such promises. If this is different, that the political will - power or the real power is there to do the real thing, we will wait and see. Right from the time that I was born, politicians had always promised to provide all the basic infrastructural facilities yet at the end of the day, nothing is done . They quit without fulfilling their bogus promises. And today, I am a grandfather now and my grand child will still come and listen to same old story again. I do not know when we are going to have the will – power. Do you know how many cartels that control the oil sector?

I just pray that one day God will come and help us. Nigerians are very innocent people, I just pray that one day they don’t hear the truth. My prayers is for God to continue to keep Nigerians ignorant of the antecedents and the tricks of politicians because the day Nigerians eye will become opened, there will be problem.

intention is to give you water to drink but I had mismanaged it. What is drug abuse? Drug can heal this man of an ailment but he had taken overdose of the drug! And so, there can be policy abuse. You can give overdose of anti corruption policy.

How will you describe the situation in the power sector under Buhari ?

The power sector’s foundation had been a corrupt sector. You will agree with me right from the Obasanjo time, when Obasanjo came into power what did he tell you and I? He said he was going to transform the power sector, when Jonathan also came into power, what did he tell you and I? When Buhari came what did he tell Nigerians? He said he was going to transform the power sector. When Awolowo wanted to contest election what did he promised the people? He said he was going to transform the power. From time immemorial, politicians used water and light to deceive us. If this is a

Now let’s talk about the gale of defections which is hitting the Nigeria`s political industry in recent times. Recently politicians from the PDP are decamping on daily basis to the APC, what can you say is responsible for this defection?

The Nigerian politicians don’t have any political philosophy or ideology. What they are doing is just showing you that all that they have is their personal interest .If his interest at a particular time is to get a camera, he will go to the person he knows can give the camera to him and play sycophancy and get the camera and while getting the camera if the camera is taken to another room he still goes to the next room where the camera is taken to and play the same game to get that camera. What our politicians have is personal interest. I am sorry they don’t have personal philosophy and inclination I am sorry to say so. It is all about elections. We have election- motivated politicians and not philosophy oriented politicians who strongly believe in what they believe in and stand for, even die for what they believe in. We don’t have those kind of politicians here . We just have bandwagon.

If a particular politician comes to town to contest elections and all the boys in that state noticed that he will win, they decamp to his party and when that one leaves and another come, they decamp to the next party. I believe there are people who had decamped more than twenty times. I just pray that one day, they don’t decamp into the bush to become animals because it is very sad, they have no philosophy. Nigeria politicians are like a bus conductor, if you see a bus conductor immediately you enter the bus you pay him the money why because you can drop at any place, they are just bandwagon.

Nobody believes in anything, nobody have been able to say I am a democrat, capitalist or socialist or claim a philosophy that he can die for, they are mere bandwagons so to speak. People just do anything that they want. I think it is our constitution that has to be blame. The party is everything. The courts will tell you that they have no jurisdiction in things like that. You dance according to the music that the party plays because often times when you want to enforce your right, the party says you cannot win. Take for instance, when it comes to issue of nominations, the

governor calls you people overnight into his bedroom and say to you, you and you step down, and off you go, he tells you people that is the man that is going, is that democracy? I can tell you some states in the country whose governors did that and the yardstick and criteria which the governor did that is only known to himself and his wife and perhaps the ghost of his father. No yardstick for that maybe because he hates you, or does not like your face or someone lies against you before the governor which you might not even be aware of or someone lied against you that you stole a goat three days ago and the governor can take his decision base on the fact that you had not sign agreement to join occult which he is a member or take an oath that you will not probe him if you win and come on board. Don’t blame them. These are people who don’t even have hope to win, the consitution don’t even recognise them particularly prior to their primaries and the court will tell you, well it is a party affair and who is the party? It is a young man who had been a local government chairman before or a retired young man who is under the influence of the governor or one big man who had never liked your face or the name of your family in the village that is the man call party.

What do you think President Muhamadu Buhari should do to stem the tide of corruption in Nigeria?

Sycophancy. Let say I am a member of House of representative and I am representing Enugu but the responsibility on my head is too much. I go to my village in December, I must give goats to almost all the chiefs or paramout rulers in my constituency . The demands from the electorates on the elected official is so high that if care is not taken, he will steal to satisfy the people. To meet this demand, he needs to carry the money that is meant for constituency projects to buy rice for the people. You must also maintain party structures. I am not saying to give is very bad but what I am saying is that the responsibilities on the head of politicians are much.

Nigerians are the ones who make outrageous demands from politicians and they are the same people who will laugh at any politician who refuses to tread with caution. They are the same people who will laugh at you on the pages of newspapers that you have been arrested for stealing or converting monies meant for projects to bags of rice. Our political system encourages that. Do you know how much money that is being paid to purchase a form for governorship? It is about N10M to N15M to purchase the form in some states. Where would an ordinary uncorrupt politician have such money to purchase that form? Bank cannot give you such loan. So the system and the social structure encourage corruption, your family encourage corruption. Go and stay in the State House of Assembly for one year without building a house and see if people will not begin to ask you if you won’t build a house. It is your kinsmen who will laugh at you that look at the kind of car and house you are still living and that you haven’t even change your palour. So it is the social system and structure that encourage corruption in our systerm. It is not an economic problem that is disturbing our society but a social problem.

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EzEkiEl TiTus BAUCHI

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enator Ali Wakili representing Bauchi South and the party executives from Tafawa Balewa Local Government Area of Bauchi State have rejected the person nominated as Commissioner from the area, Barrister Mohd Nasiru.

Their rejection of Barrister Mohd Nasiru was contained in a protest letter dated 5th January, 2016 jointly signed by Senator Wakili, state APC Legal Adviser, Barrister Lawal Ibrahim and 39 others.

In the letter addressed to Governor Mohammed Abdullahi Abubakar and

Thursday, January 7, 2016

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Wakili, others reject nominee from Tafawa Balewa copied to the Speaker, State House of Assembly, the state APC chairman, Commissioner of Police and the State Director of Service, State House Annex, the party leaders from Tafawa Balewa Local Government said:”We write on behalf of the APC Executives and Stakeholders to wish His Excellency a prosperous New Year and to lodge our complaint against your

nominee to the Bauchi State House of Assembly for commissioner representing our local government in person of Barr.

Mohd Nasiru .

It stressed that the nomination of Bar. Mohd Nasiru did not comply with Section 197 (3) of the 1999 Constitution.

“We are aware that it is the prerogative of His Excellency to appoint a Commissioner. However,

the power is subject to compliance with Section 14 (4) of the Constitution which requires the observance of giving the people a sense of belonging.

“By the above, your Excellency may wish to recall a moment at your chambers in Abuja where you promised to us that you would never go on your own without taking us into confidence on all appoint-

ments emanating from our Local Government”, the letter read.

The signatories stressed that they were not consulted before the nomination of Nasiru as such they were not given a sense of belonging by the governor.

They noted that the nominee is not a party man and is not in close contact with the grassroot as such, he cannot sustain

the implementation of the APC manifesto which will ensure cohesion for the people to enjoy the dividends of democracy.

“In view of the above, we urge your Excellency to consider the need to yield to the demand of our people and consider replacing the nominee with any more qualified individual in touch with the grassroot and party membership”

Bayelsa Poll: Police assure of adequate security

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s part of efforts to ensure adequate security for the forthcoming re-run gubernatorial elections that will take place in seven out of the eight Local Government Areas of Bayelsa State on Saturday, the Inspector-General of Police, Solomon E. Arase, has re-assured that adequate security logistics and manpower have been strategically deployed to achieve a most conducive electioneering atmosphere.

Meanwhile, the Police have commenced extensive security operations in the State, including the deployment of plain cloth detectives and surveillance helicopters for aerial patrols, while gunboats and speed boats will complement the Police Marine Unit to convey security personnel and election materials to riverine communities. Armed personnel from Police Mobile Force, Special Protection Unit as well as Counter Terrorism Unit of the Force are on ground to support the ongoing security operations in the State.

In addition, the IGP has deployed a Deputy Inspector-General of Police to supervise security arrangements.

He will be assisted by one Assistant InspectorGeneral of Police and three Commissioners of Police. Over 5000 conventional Policemen have also been deployed for the election duty.

In the same vein, the

IGP has also placed an order banning movements in and out of the LGAs where elections will hold with effect from 6am to 6pm on Saturday 9th January, 2016. However, persons on essential duties such as Ambulance service providers, INEC officials, on-duty, security men, accredited election monitors/observers, accredited journalists are not affected by this order.

While expressing his regrets over the inconveniences that road users and the general public may suffer as a result of this restriction, the IGP appeals for the understanding and cooperation of the entire citizenry, as the restriction is essentially to ensure the effective security of citizens, election officials and materials. It is a strategy to curtail the influx and movement of undesirable and criminal elements in and out of the affected Local Government Areas before and during the election.

The citizens of Bayelsa State are enjoined to come out enmasse to exercise their civic right, as the Police assisted by other security agencies, have mapped out plans to ensure that persons who are out to cast their votes, do so without fear of molestation from any quarter. They are advised to shun violence and all forms of thuggery, as the full weight of the law will take its course on anyone apprehended.

L-R: Deputy Governorship Candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC Elder Willson Igiri; Governorship Candidate, Timiperi Sylva and State Chairman of the Party, Tiwei Orumigha, during a news conference on Southern Ijaw re-run Governorship election, in Yenagoa yesterday.

PHOTO:NAN

LG Poll: Niger APC vows not to concede any LG to PDP

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iger state chapter of the All Progressives Congress, APC has vowed that it will not allow its major opponent, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP to win any of the 25 Local Government Areas in the council polls fixed for 16th January.

Speaking at the flag off of its campaign, the state Governor, Alh. Abubakar Sani Bello said winning the whole councils election would ease administration for the ruling party from state to local government levels.

According to him, “ We voted President Muhammadu Buhari of the APC, at the state myself and at the local government, I want us to do the same by voting APC in the 25 councils, so that we can effectively deliver the dividends of democracy to the people from the national to the local government levels.”

Speaking, the state APC BoT Chairman and former Deputy Governor in the

immediate past administration, Alh. Ahmed Musa Ibeto said having produced three senators, 10 out of 11 House of Representatives members, it would be wrong to lose any of the 25 councils or the 274 councillorship seats to the main opposition in the election.

He stated, “ After wining all the three senatorial seats, 10 out of 11 house of representatives seats, we will disgrace President Buhari, if we, even lose a seat to our main opponent. Therefore, we will not give a single seat out.”

Also, the national vice chairman, North Central zone, Alh. Ibrahim Idi commended the effort of the party in the state, noting that in the whole country, Niger state chapter of APC won all the national positions through hard work, which must be maintained at the grassroot polls.

According to him, “ We must not give any seat to the PDP. PDP is now our wife,

we cannot concede any seat to it.”

Similarly, the state chairman of the party, Engr.

Mohammed Iman in his address explained that earlier, speculations were rife in the

state alleging that the party cannot conduct the election, noting that fixing the date (January 16th) has clearly sent a message in the ability and preparedness of APC to hold it.

Lagos lawmaker cautions on Lassa fever RobERT AwokusE

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agos State House of Assembly Chairman, Committee on Health Services Hon. counSegun Olulade has coun seled residents in the state to be cautious and report to the nearest hospital any symptoms of Lassa fever.

This is coming on the heels of the outbreak of the disease in Taraba state, with one person dead and two others quarantined.

Olulade who is representing Epe 11 in the House advised Lagosians to look out for every symptoms of

the disease and immediately report if any of the symptoms is discovered anywhere.

Notable amongst the symptoms according to the lawmaker include nasal and anal bleeding, adding that people usually get infected with the virus after exposure to infected rodents, while person to person transmission occurs through direct contact with the sick person.

The lawmaker further called on the residents to avoid contact with rats, just as he urged them to do a total fumigation of their environment.

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Dismissed killer cop: Matters arising CRITICAL STROKES

KAYODE

KETEFE

kketefe@nationalmirroronline.net 08032147720 (SMS only)

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nd the killer cop was posthumously dismissed! The killer cop, a triggerhappy, drunken mobile policeman, Stephen James, attached to Mopol 22, Ikeja, Lagos, had last December 26 shot dead three innocent persons, including twin brothers, in an hotel in Ketu, Lagos.

The twin brothers, Taiwo and Kehinde Oyesunle and Jeje, their common friend, were in their 30s before they were cut down by the inebriated cop, who later killed in himself. The offence of the victims was that they had refused to buy beer for the cop, who was reported to have earlier blackmailed customers in the hotel into buying drinks for him or risked being shot! The killer policeman had reportedly abandoned his primary duty post at First Bank of Nigeria Plc, Alapere Branch, and went to the hotel in Ikosi area of Ketu for his nefarious activity.

In swift response, the Lagos State Police Command, through the Provost Department of the Mopol 22 Squadron, claimed it had posthumously tried the police officer, found

him guilty and dismissed him from the Force. The effect of the dismissal being that the relatives and dependants of the deceased police officer would not get any terminal benefits from the police establishment.

In spite of swift reaction of the police to this sad development, not many people were impressed. The cases of people being slain in their prime by the so-called law enforcement agents are just too many. Many rational minds are asking the basic question whether nothing could be done to prevent incidents like this rather than having post-incident knee-jack responses by the authorities.

In Rivers State recently, a court sentenced a policeman, Inspector Samuel Timothy, to death by hanging for killing one Onyekachi Nwasouba. Nwasuoba, a graduate of chemistry, was forced by unemployment into the production and distribution of sachet water, but had his life terminated by the convict who led a patrol team and thought he had the right to execute any person he suspected as a shady character.

Still fresh in the memory is also the case of Mr. Godwin Ekpo, a tricycle operator who was shot along with his wife simply because he refused to give a policeman a bribe of N2, 000! Ekpo and his wife together with their four children were returning from church on a Sunday in Lagos when the unfortunate incident occurred. While Ekpo survived, his wife, a nursing mother, died.

One could go on and on with examples like these. Nigerians are simply tired of incessant killings of this nature by the very

WHAT MANY NIGERIANS WOULD BE HAPPY TO SEE IS THE CULTURE SHIFT OF THE POLICE AT THE INSTITUTIONAL LEVEL

people who are supposed to be their protectors. Why should we be recording killings by the law enforcement authorities on regular basis? Law is about orderliness; it is about fostering harmonious coexistence in the society and ensuring peace to enable people engage in their diverse socio-economic and other activities without let or hindrance.

The police authorities have a way of making great show of dismissing the culprits of embarrassing affairs like the ones recorded above, and they are always not loth to making scapegoats of shameless officers for dragging the image of the police in the mud. But every Nigerian, of course, knows reckless killings, bribe-taking and corruption by the police is a daily phenomenon and that only those officers, whose acts are publicized with attendant public portage and scandal, get punished.

People are of the opinion that except in publicised cases that might cause embarrassment for the institution, the police rarely invoke the big stick against their own officers, therefore making them to grow bold, unconscionable and

The revelations of the damned (11) AKINTOKUNBO ADEJUMO

THEIR PRIMARY PATH TO FINANCIAL SUCCESS

Continued from last week Wednesday

W

hat one cannot understand is the glee with which this set of Nigerians embrace every setback that comes the way of the current regime in cleansing the corrupt system.

That to me is the sign of sick minds, and it is unpardonable. Can you imagine a man jumping for joy and clapping enthusiastically every time firemen try to put out the fire in his burning house, with his family trapped inside? That is exactly the behaviour of those Nigerians that do not wish the current government well in its bid to stem the rot of the past years.

What is even more shocking and disturbing is the revelation that national budget appropriations were shared like groundnuts in the market under the guise of funding to contain the raging internal terrorism and the head of that government claimed ignorance the release of the funds. All the beneficiaries of the bonanza were ex-President Jonathan’s allies. Where are the checks and balances put in place by the Constitution and the statutes books? Where were the Auditor and Accountant Generals of the Federation? What kind of criminal racket are we operating here in this country that we call government?

The political class in Nigeria has sought office not because of the desire to change our economic situation through

HAS BEEN THROUGH PRIMITIVE AND RAPACIOUS ACCUMULATION OF WEALTH THROUGH STEALING OF PUBLIC FUNDS dedicated, sincere and committed service, but mainly for their personal development. Their primary path to financial success has been through primitive and rapacious accumulation of wealth through stealing of public funds. It is so deep that the fight over fiscal federalism is nothing but for personal aggrandisement. Yet, the fight is so strong and intensive that one may think that it is for the good of the commonwealth. No, it is not, as we are all seeing and experiencing in our daily lives as the unfortunate victims of these criminals, or as the late great Fela Anikulapo Kuti dubbed them several decades ago, Vagabonds in Power (VIP).

The scale of this primitive acquisition of wealth can only be comprehended from the littering of the national landscape with failed projects, moribund development, collapsed and prostrate economy, dilapidated and decayed infrastructure, poor healthcare, collapsed education, lack of public utilities, decayed social services, chaotic way of life, insecurity of lives and properties, uncertainly of daily bread, etc.

These are all product of the prevalent and virulent corruption that has enveloped and strangulated the country; all because those entrusted to deliver these service provisionings to the people have betrayed our trust by pocketing the money voted for them.

Of more concern should be the deleterious effects on Nigerians - poverty, distress, hopelessness, sufferings, diseases, hunger and deaths that we see and experience every day. Yet, some people still hang on to the belief that the current government is lying about the looting of this country over the past 16 years, and even more; or that the exercise to flush out the looters and hold them accountable is driven by vindictiveness and witch-hunting against principal members of the last government and ruling PDP. Well, do they care? Until several lots of them are handed long jail sentences (or maybe even executed) this spectacle will continue. The hydraheaded corruption is not a beast to be tackled with soft gloves; let some high profile corrupt politicians, ex-governors, legislators, and their parasitic and sycophantic rich tag-along businessmen, who derive their wealth by preying on government contracts and largess go to go to jail at Agodi or Kuje prisons, with the hardest of labour.

So, dear compatriots, please look around you and perceive the chaos, despondency, desperation, poverty and hopelessness on the faces of our people and tell the man in Aba, Mai-

well-enmeshed in unprofessional and callous practices. However, suspending a police officer, jailing him or worse still, posthumously dismissing him can do very little in curbing this rampant senseless killings of innocent Nigerians. The bottom-line is that the Nigeria police are reeling under the deadweight of ineptitude, inefficiency, under-funding, misconception of roles and corruption.

What many Nigerians would be happy to see is the culture shift of the police at the institutional level. The underlying fundamentals that predispose the police institution to corruption and aberrant behaviourism need to be addressed rather than occasional sacrificing of exposed officers and men. The police authorities also need to ascertain the mental health and psychological constitution of their personnel before they entrust them with firearms and ammunition. If the internal cleansing mechanism is really efficient, bad officers would be gradually weeded out of the force.

We must also ensure adequate manpower training to ensure that policing is a service rather than a liability to the country; the operational philosophy of the police needs to be redefined. Not a few police personnel think their uniforms merely confer privileges on them to exploit, subjugate and extort from, or worse still, kill at will “the bloody civilians” Ketefe may be followed on twitter@ Ketesco

duguri, Asaba, Ugep, Ado-Ekiti, Ilorin, Makurdi, Owerri, Ede, etc. that NOBODY is responsible; nobody can be held culpable for their unfortunate plight in a rich country like ours; and that the people, rulers that forced or rig their way into power, are elected, selected, appointed and entrusted with managing their wealth and welfare for the past 16, 30 or 50 years cannot or should not be probed and jailed for their roles in the looting and raping of their country.

A word of caution to the current administration: Buhari must not be distracted from his anti-corruption stance; however he must also not allow himself and his government to be swamped and grounded in the mire of the corruption fight. Corruption will always fight back a hundred times more viciously than the ones after it, and will do everything to stay ahead of the game. He should concentrate on governance and put reliable, sincere, seasoned and equally vicious anti-corruption people in place to engage in this fight for him and Nigeria.

It is indeed the season of revelation of the damned!

Concluded Adejumo wrote from Ibadan, Oyo State via akinadejum@aol.com Send your views by mail or sms to PMB 10001, Ikoyi, or our Email: mail@ nationalmirroronline.net mirrorlagos@ yahoo.com or 08164966858 (SMS only). The Editor reserves the right to edit and reject views or photographs.

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

18

Editorial

Thursday January 7, 2016

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

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

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

On inland waterways’ development

T

he Lagos State government, early last month at the first Annual Stakeholders’ Forum organised by the Lagos State Waterways Authority (LASWA) in Lagos, indicated its quest to develop water transportation as part of the measures aimed at tackling the problem of traffic gridlock across Lagos metropolis to ease the stress of movement on residents. The state Commissioner for Waterfront Infrastructure, Mr. Ade Akinsanya, who stood in for Governor Akinwunmi Ambode on the occasion, said water transport mode formed a critical part of the intermodal transportation policy of the government. Put simply, an intermodal transport system involves the transportation of freight and the commuting public through multiple modes of transport, like trains, ships/boats, cars, buses and articulated trucks, et cetera.

According to experts, Lagos business community loses about N11 billion monthly due to endemic traffic snarls, whereas the state occupies a large swath of territory put at 3,577 square kilometers, 22 percent of which represent a huge water body that can be converted to transportation gains if well developed. But like Professor Olukayode Oyesiku of Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago Iwoye, Ogun State, lamented on the occasion, because of government’s non-commitment to exploring waterways as a

veritable means of transportation, armed robbers freely resort to the transport mode to unleash attacks on their targets and go scot-free.

Some of the advantages ascribed to transportation through waterways include short travel time.

Many reports indicate, for instance, that it takes approximately 45 minutes to get to Ikorodu from Victoria Island by boat, whereas if the journey is by road, it could take as much as two hours, perhaps more than that. Inland waterway transportation reduces traffic congestion, especially in high vehicular density cities. Lagos, being one good example of such cities, is credited as having 30 percent of vehicular density in the country; and accounts for 70 percent of importation network nationwide.

What this means is that Lagos generates a huge chunk of the freights that crisscross the nation. Water transport also contributes to the longevity of city roads and major highways, which will suffer less pressure and wear and tear occasioned by heavy vehicular traffic, particularly by articulated trucks and tankers, among others.

At the national level, experts feel strongly persuaded that a viable commercial inland waterway on the rivers Niger and Benue is, perhaps, the nation’s single most important infrastructure to spur economic growth throughout the country. The argument is that the

ACCORDING TO EXPERTS, LAGOS BUSINESS COMMUNITY LOSES ABOUT

N11

BILLION MONTHLY DUE TO ENDEMIC TRAFFIC SNARLS…

two rivers transverse every region; and that despite many inherent structural problems, the creation of navigable waterways is perhaps the easiest, cheapest and most effective for Nigeria when geography and return on investment are taken into consideration. According to experts, for example, evidence from other countries shows that inland waterway construction follows the course of natural rivers because of the high costs of building manmade canals. The cost of dredging, deepening the channels and eliminating sharp curves on the rivers are normally much more cost effective than building an integrated railroad and road network to move the same amount of cargoes.

Pinpointed also are natural inland waterways which run across the length and breadth of the country before emptying into the harbours of the Gulf of Guinea in the Atlantic. They are as follows: River Niger; starting from Kebbi in the Northwest through Kwara, in the West to the confluence town of

ON THIS DAY

January 7, 1980

January 7, 1993

President Jimmy Carter authorized a legislation giving $1.5 billion in loans to bail out the Chrysler Corporation. Chrysler Group LLC is an American automaker based in Auburn Hills, Michigan, a Detroit suburb. It was in a strategic global alliance with Italian manufacturer, Fiat, since 2009. Chrysler was first organized as the Chrysler Corporation in 1925. Its core brands today are: Chrysler, Jeep, Dodge, Ram, etc.

The Fourth Republic of Ghana was inaugurated with Jerry Rawlings as President. Jerry John Rawlings (born June 22, 1947) is a former soldier. Rawlings initially came to power in Ghana following a coup d’état in 1979. After initially handing over power to a civilian government, he took back control of the country on December 31, 1981 as the Chairman of the Provisional National Defence Council.

Lokoja, Kogi State, in the Middle Belt; and River Benue, starting from Adamawa through Benue State to Lokoja and southward through Onitsha to Yenagoa in the Niger Delta.

In a 2013 report published by ‘Newswatch Times’, a sister publication, an analyst so optimistic about the viability of water transport nationwide stated: “This is a potential game changer capable of engendering an economic revival that will ameliorate the anxiety among our people distraught under the perpetual worry of the indispensable necessaries of life...

Nigeria has become a member of ‘MINTS’ (an acronym referring to the economies of Mexico, Indonesia, Nigeria and Turkey. The term was originally coined by Fidelity Investments, a Boston, United States-based asset management firm). It is incumbent upon the government to mandate the Army Corp of Engineers to draw up a plan for the dredging of the two rivers and a further plan linking other rivers into an integrated inland waterways system…”

Now is the season for budget presentation at both the federal and state levels. What plans, other than recognising its importance, do federal and state governments have for developing the nation’s waterways, especially now that the rail system is enjoying some measure of attention?

January 7, 2012 A hot air balloon crashed near Carterton in New Zealand, killing all 11 people on board. Hot air balloon is the oldest successful human-carrying flight technology. It is part of a class of aircraft known as balloon aircraft. On November 21, 1783, in Paris, France, the first untethered manned flight was performed by Jean-François Pilatre de Rozier and Francois Laurent d’Arlandes in a hot air balloon created on December 14, 1782 by the Montgolfier brothers.

Thursday, January 7, 2016

IN CONJUNCTION WITH

AFE BABALOLA UNIVERSITY, ADO-EKITI (ABUAD)

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

19

Education Today

In ABUAD, You Get It All —Dr Ayodele Fayose, Ekiti State Governor.

TUNBOSUN OGUNDARE AND JOHNSON OKANLAWON

O

ne of the major mandates of the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB), according to the Act establishing it, is to conduct entrance examinations into both the public and private universities, polytechnics and colleges of education in the country. And the board has been performing this role on yearly basis in addition to the placement of successful candidates in their preferred schools as determined by respective schools for their desired courses.

This year’s exam, known as Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) is around the corner. Just like the previous editions, the exam has been tentatively fixed by the board for April even while the sales of forms for candidates which may likely close on January 15 is ongoing. However, many more stakeholders in the education sector have joined others to call on the Federal Government to review the JAMB’s UTME policy by splitting the exam into three separate units according to the level of education concerned.

They hold the view that, based on past experiences and the outcomes of previous exams, it is no longer beneficial for students seeking admission into the universities, polytechnics and colleges of education to undergo the same entrance exam as it is presently being conducted by JAMB. Over 1.6 million candidates write the exam on yearly basis with about 70 per cent of them choose to go to the universities leaving the rest to share among others.

The Vice-Chancellor of University of Lagos, Akoka, Prof. Rahamon Bello, for example, attributed the introduction of UTME to the persistent admission crisis confronting many Nigerian higher institutions, especially the universities in recent years.

He told National Mirror in an interview that the fact that UTME offers every admission seeker the opportunity to choose their university, using the same exam and result, has increased the number of candidates seeking to attend universities even when they don’t have the required potential for university education.

He argued that many students would have ordinarily preferred to go to either the polytechnic or college of education where they know they have comparative advantage to the university but opt for the later just because of the variety of options that UTME offers them.

“That is why it would be far better, like the old practice, if the board could conduct separate tests for those seeking admission into

JAMB should split entrance examinations —Stakeholders It’s unnecessary –Ojerinde

THERE IS NEED FOR US TO REVISIT THE INTRODUCTION OF

UTME AND SPLIT THE ENTRANCE EXAM INTO THREE TO FORESTALL UNNECESSARY OVERSTRETCHING OF FACILITIES

Ojerinde universities and those aspiring to go to either the polytechnics or colleges of education rather than fusing their exams,” he further argued, adding that, “It is only between 10 to 20 per cent of educated population that attend universities in the developed countries while almost everyone wants to go to university here in Nigeria.”

Using UNILAG to support his argument, the vice-chancellor, who is a Professor of Chemical Engineering, said the university was always facing crisis of over-subscription of admission seekers on yearly basis, not only because the school offers sound and quality education but also because so many people just want them to be known as degree holders.

Politics, gains of Osun schools’ restructuring 21

“So, to me, there is need for us to revisit the introduction of UTME and split the entrance exam into three to forestall unnecessary overstretching of facilities which is the order of the day in many of our universities because of their increasing intakes without corresponding upgrade of infrastructural facilities,” he stressed.

Holding similar view, the Provost of Michael Otedola College of Primary Education (MOCPED), Noforija-Epe, Lagos, Prof. Olu Akeusola totally condemned UTME, saying its introduction is totally uncalled for. According to him, the UTME is responsible for the slow progress in the nation’s tertiary education sector, especially in the area of admission.

UNILORIN extortion: Culprits won’t go unpunished —Authorities 23

“Apart from the fact that fewer candidates apply to colleges of education nowadays, using the same parameter to test and grade them together with those seeking admission into the universities or polytechnics is illogical,” he said.

Akeusola, a Professor of Comparative Grammar asked how JAMB would explain using the same exam for a candidate who wants to study Law, Medicine or Pharmacy in the university and another candidate going for a course in a college of education?

“The practice is not logical. It should be discontinued in the interest of our tertiary education,” he stressed.

But the Registrar and Chief Executive of the board, Professor Dibu Ojerinde countered that there could be no entrance examination more suitable for admission seekers into all tertiary schools in the country than the UTME, at least for now.

Contrary to the views expressed by Prof.

Bello and his administrator colleagues, Ojerinde who spoke to National Mirror in OkeOgun area of Oyo State last weekend, said apart from the fact that the candidates who sit for UTME are all products of the same secondary schools, the exam has helped greatly in increasing admission access, especially to the polytechnics, colleges of education, monotechnics and Innovative Enterprise institutions. He stressed that it would be unnecessary to discontinue the exams as it is currently being conducted.

‘‘

White Paper, not separate probe will address UNIABUJA crisis — ASUU 22

20

Education Today

Taxes: Ogun to clamp down on defaulting schools tunboSun ogundare

T

he Ogun State Ministry of Education, Science and Technology will any moment from now begin to enforce registration and revaluation of documents on all the private schools operating in the state.

The exercise, the ministry believes will enable erring school owners to comply with all the registration formalities after the property might have been sealed by the state government.

The Commissioner in charge of the ministry, Mrs. Modupe Mujota stated this while hosting the leadership of the state chapter of National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools (NAPPS) in her office recently, saying the enforcement which had already been approved by the state Executive Council would not only ensure that the annual renewal fees are paid to the state government, but it would also sanitise the system.

She said in a press release by the Press Officer for the ministry, Mr. kayode Oduyebo that government would no longer fold its arms and allow some people to jeopardize the future of children in the State.

On alleged imposition of multiple taxations by government and its numerous agencies on private schools, the commissioner promised to discuss the issue with Governor Ibikunle Amosun and found a common ground on the matter.

Private body to build 5,000 bed-space hostel in UNILORIN Wole adedeji ILORIN

The Orange Group; a private organisation is to build 5000 bed-space hostels in the University of Ilorin to ease accommodation challenges in the institution, Vice Chancellor, Professor Abdulganiyu Ambali has said . Speaking in an interactive session with the media last weekend in Ilorin, Professor Anbali said the university in its bid to cope with the steady growth it is recording found it advantageous to explore all avenues to sustain the development.

He said the institution was the first to involve private bodies in developmental efforts which he claimed had been paying off particularly in the area of infrastructures and making such affordable for students.

Speaking on the institution’s focus for 2016, the Vice Chancellor said in addition to encouraging researches, build on the discipline which it is noted for and completion of projects and as well as initiating fresh ones in tandem with senate approvals.

Meanwhile, the National Universities Commission, NUC, has increased the Ilorin varsity’s admission quota from 7,000 to 9,000 according to the Vice Chancellor as prospective students that qualified for admission this year could not get places.

National Mirror learnt that about 107,000 candidates were said to apply and sat for admission into the university in the 2015 Unified Tertiary Matriculation xamination, UTME conducted by Join Admission Matriculation Board, JAMB.

Thursday, January 7, 2016

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Okojie wants NgREN well-funded

Open University of Nigeria, mance computing, use of simuthe platform offered.

The Executive Secretary noted NOUN, had fully subscribed to lators to train medical students that the inauguration marked the the platform, while only 27 fed- facilitated by the coalition with he Executive Secretary, commencement of the Phase 11 eral universities were connected Nigerian Physicians in North America with the view to breach National Universities of the project implementation to the REN. the distance, by teaching students He informed the gathering Commission, NUC and aimed at consolidating on the from their base. that about 81 universities were Chairman Board of Nigerian gains achieved in the Phase 1 inHe also said the new phase expected to be connected to the Research and Education Net- cluding the tele-conferencing and would actualise the implementaNetwork in the Phase11. work, NgREN, Prof. Julius the video-conferencing already tion of an e-timetable and bridge He particularly enjoined priOkojie has appealed for more available through the platform. the gap among various campuses vate universities to join the platHe charged tertiary institufunding and other technical through a chain system, thereby form as government was comsupport from government and tions to subscribe to the Network saving cost of transportation and mitted to carrying them along by corporate bodies to enable the by putting up the various struceffective management.

The Phase providing an enabling environnetwork achieve information tures that would enable connecII, he added, would help in some ment and access routes to their sharing among tertiary insti- tivity to the platform, noting that specialised courses that the nainstitutions. tutions and attain its goal of it was only through their effort tion had few experts training stuThe chairman announced that enhancing the growth of re- and cooperation that NgREN dents, who would easily connect some innovations would be witcould witness effective growth. search in the country.

He however regretted that as nessed in the Phase 11, such as and teach students from different He made this call during the inauguration of the recently re- at Phase 1, only the Federal Uni- the provision of smart building, campuses connected through the versity, Lafia and the National super computers for high perfor- platform. constituted board of NgREN. He stated that the Research and Education Network, REN, is information and communication technology system owned by the NUC, Association of ViceChancellors of Nigerian Universities, AVCNU and the entire Nigerian University System, NUS, vested with the task of enhancing information sharing and dissemination among universities, polytechnics, colleges of education and tertiary hospitals.

He reminded the gathering that the Network was financed through, $1Om support from World Bank, to provide a cost effective subscription among tertiary institutions.

He therefore enjoined tertiary institutions to subscribe to the Sub-Dean, Students Affairs, University of Ilorin, kwara State, Dr. Abdulkareem Yussuf, (3rd L-R); platform in order to access the Guest lecturer, Dr. Femi Olaleye; wife of Kwara State Governor, Deaconess Omolewa Ahmed and other guests during the cancer awareness campaign organised by the students of the institution, wide range of services which recently.

Saidat alauSa

T

Samsung explains why is into engineering school

A

s a way of further enhancing youth vocational and employability skills in the country, Samsung Electronics West Africa has launched another Engineering Academy in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State bringing the number of such academy nationwide to two. The first one is in Lagos.

Partnering Ekiti State government for the project, the Managing Director of the company, Mr. Brovo Kim said the academy was designed to equip Nigerian youths with right technical and vocational skills that would

help them not only to become self--employed but also to contribute meaningfully well to the economy upon completion of training.

He noted that the academy, similar of which he said had been launched in South Africa and Kenya was established in line with the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals, which address poverty, inequality in education and indecency at work, among others.

Kim explained that like the one in Lagos, the Ekiti academy also has three rooms each

L-R: Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education,, Science and Technology, Ekiti State, Dr. Eunice Dada; Commissioner in charge of the ministry, Mr. Jide Egunjobi; Deputy Governor, Ekiti State, Dr. Kolapo Olusola; Corporate Social Value Manager, Samsung Electronics West Africa, Mrs. Abosede George-Ogan and Training Manager, Samsung Engineering Academy, Mr. Dickson Odikayor at the launch of Samsung’s second Engineering Academy in Ado Ekiti, recently.

for both theory and practical work with each of them has a capacity to accommodate 20 students conveniently at once.

He pointed out that the students would be taught in three major areas, namely: Audio visual, home appliances as well as information mobile and technology.

The academy according to him is central to Samsung’s vision to fast track the entry of many youths into the electronics job market either to work as independent service technicians within the company’s retail channel outlets or to establish their own private businesses to earn decent living.

Expressing appreciation to Samsung for establishing the academy in Ekiti State, the state Deputy Governor, Dr. Kolapo Olusola said the academy would create windows of opportunities for youths in the state to develop themselves in any of the three areas to be taught He however called on other relevant stakeholders to emulate Samsung in this respect so as to as get many more youths in the country engaged with economic activities.

Also speaking, the state’s Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Mr. Jide Egunjobi applauded Samsung’s initiative, saying it would go a long way to enhance youth vocational skills and entrepreneurial spirit.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Thursday, January 7, 2016

Include ICT teaching in curriculum, expert urges govt ‘Yomi AYeleso AKURE

A

n expert in leadership training, Mr. Jeffrey Abidoye has advised government at all levels to include the teaching of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in the curriculum of primary and secondary schools in the country so as to get the youth abreast of ICT application at early stage.

He said the use of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) by the youth could provide employment opportunities in the country if properly deployed and utilised.

Abidoye, who is the Chairman of Ondo State Scholarship Board, gave the advice while speaking as a guest speaker at the annual public lecture of Federation of Igbotako Students’ Union (FISU), Okitipupa LocalGgovernment area of the state. He spoke on “The impact of ICT on youth development.”

He said ICT had been playing a leading role in getting rid of unemployment in our society, by constantly engaging the teeming youth whose talent is very vibrant in the area.

He pointed out that the

use of ICT in various locations could help the youth to maintain cultures, gain knowledge, develop skills and most importantly generate income.

Abidoye also said the youth segment must be trained to a certain level of competence both in intellectual and moral development to be able to attain the required position of leadership. He said the youth represent the future of any nation.

He further said a segment of the youth population see the advent of ICT as a way of getting quickly rich, and as such making the impact of ICT innovation less impactful.

While also decrying the use of internet by the youths in the country, urged the government to tackle the current security challenges in the country so as to provide a safe business environment that would encourage both local and foreign investors to invest in ICT. Speaking at the event, the National President of Federation of Igbotako Students’ Union, ‘Yomi Ayeleso ,said the theme of this year’s lecture was deliberately chosen to examine some of the issues that are central to youth development in the area of ICT.

Gombe University Governing Council okays N1.5bn hostel project WilliAms AttAh

GOMBE

T

he Governing Council of the Gombe State University has expressed satisfaction with the quality and standard of three new gigantic hostels capable of accommodating no fewer than 1, 500 students.

Undertaken by TETFUND, the three student hostels are expected to be occupied by the students as soon as they resume from the New Year break according to the Chairman of the Governing Council of the university, Professor Idris Mohammed.

Speaking to Journalists after council members with journalists inspected the project, Professor Idris Mohammed stated that the project which began two years ago was now ready to be accommodated by the students, adding that two of the hostels would be for boys while one would be for girls.

He said the university had developed tremendously within the last few years as its first set of medical students would soon proceed on practical at the Federal Teaching Hospital Gombe and the State Specialist Hospital Gombe.

He explained that the council also received tremendous assistance from the State Government in its bid for the development of faculties and departments as most of the projects within the university were on-going.

It was gathered that the medical college has received approvals from Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria and other professional bodies and that not long from now, Gombe State would soon have medical personnel trained by its university.

Professor Idris however explained that top among challenges faced by the council was funding, a problem he said was being faced even by the Federal Government.

Education Today

21

Politics, gains of Osun schools’ restructuring BolAdAle BAmigBolA +OSOGBO.

P

erhaps in the recent past, the heat generated by the decision to restructure primary and secondary education initiated by the then freshly inaugurated governor of Osun state, Mr. Rauf Aregbesola in 2011, would go down in the annals of history, as one of the hottest disagreements fueled by policy of government in the country.

But despite the huge criticism that followed the restructuring plans which came into being, after an education summit, the first of its kind to be held in the state and chaired by Prof.

Wole Soyinka, the state government still went ahead and commenced implementation of the new policies.

Under the new education policy being operated in the state, primary schools are renamed elementary schools, junior secondary schools are carved out of the old secondary schools and named middle schools and senior secondary schools are named high schools.

As synonymous with politics in many climes, the opposition, Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, tore the new policy into shred, describing it as “strange and unconventional”, even with persistent efforts to explain what was embedded in the new policy and the gains that await the state after the policy must have run its full circle by the ruling party.

Another major issue raised against the new policy by the opposition had to do with the dislocation that the existing structure would suffer before the new one being introduced, that encompasses not only renaming the schools, but wholesale reconstruction of structures in public schools, recruitment of teachers and introduction of e-learning in public schools, would stabilise.

However, three years down the line, the new system appears to have survived those early days challenges, just as the criticism of those days are gradually making way for commendations, while efforts is seeing going the direction of consolidation on the gains already achieved.

The peak of the accolades that has gone the way of Osun state government since the commencement of the revolutionary restructuring of primary and secondary education in the state, came after the unveiling of a model high school named after the unarguably the biggest African literary export, Prof.

Wole Soyinka, in Ejigbo, the headquarters of Ejigbo local government area of Osun state.

Christened Wole Soyinka Government High School, WSGHS, the school has facilities that include: 72 classrooms of 49 square-meters each capable of sitting 49 students, 6 offices for study groups, 6 fully furnished laboratories, 18 toilets for young ladies, 18 Toilets for young men, 1 fully furnished science library, 1 fully furnished art library, 1 facility manager’s office, 1 bookshop and a sick bay.

It also has 1 Bursar’s office, 3 principals’ office, 3 general staff office, 1 Senior principal’s office, 1 Record store, 1 Security shed/reception, a total of 1000square-meters of floor space hall capable of sitting 1000 students for external exams.

Other facilities include: storage for equipment, and utility storage, a stage Office Space, Storage for Documents, 4 Female Toilets, 4 Male Toilets, Borehole, and a transformer to ensure uninterrupted power supply.

Besides, the project also considered appropriately facilities that makes a complete school which include: a standard football field, 7 lane sprinting tracks for 100meters and 400meters with pavilion, outdoor basketball court that doubles as lawn tennis court and ample parking space for more than 75 cars.

The new school, a magnificent three-in-one school, has capacity for about 3,000 pupils.

Addressing guests and students at the commissioning of the school, Nobel Laureate, Prof. Soyinka, commended Governor Aregbesola for doing a great job with the construction of the school, saying he was elated that such honour was bestowed on him, pledging not hesitate in visiting the school to see how it is faring.

He enjoined leaders in the country to ensure that children are brought up with a feeling that one religion is not superior to the other to avoid creating ill feelings in their reasoning,

Aregbesola adding that all hands must be on deck to see to it that children in schools are not differentiated along religious line for a better Nigeria.

He said: “I sympathise with the religious policy of governments in schools. Children must not be brought up with a feeling that religion inhibits knowledge. In schools, we need not distinguish our children, the fatalistic religious holiness and the holier than thou attitude must be reduced among our students.”

In his remarks, Governor Rauf Aregbesola disclosed that the cost of the high school though huge, considering the lean resources of the state, but averred that it was an investment worth it, saying that within the first quarter of next year, his administration would also commission for use another set of schools in the same category.

He stressed that no government can overspend on the education of the people, because education is human development and primary way any family can get a lasting benefit from government.

Aregbesola noted that one of his first acts in office after inauguration in 2010 was to hold an education summit chaired

by Prof Wole Soyinka, adding that the rehabilitation of schools and construction of new ones were derived from the outcome of the summit.

He maintained that it is befitting that Osun named the school after Prof Wole Soyinka, who he described as an excellent product of public education in Nigeria and a distinguished academic who brought honour to Yorubaland, Nigeria, Africa and the black race with his Nobel Prize in Literature in 1986.

“We can construct a good road that will last for 50 years and we are doing that, but this can never compare to the enlightenment an educated person receives, in terms of its value to the society and humanity.

“The state of education prior to our coming was appalling and frighteningly so. Zoos were better than the places where the pupils were receiving education. Many of them were dilapidated and falling down.

“These schools were therefore not encouraging any serious learning or character building. The result was that the pupils themselves were behaving like animals. They were forming cult groups, fighting regularly with dangerous weapons and engaged in all immoral acts. These are children aged seven and above. My heart bleeds to see the public education system disintegrate and become dysfunctional,” the governor said.

The governor added that the commissioning of the school is Osun’s way of making a statement that public schools can be the best and be returned to the pre-eminent position it occupied in the past.

He retreated his commitment to complete all ongoing projects embark upon by his administration in the state despite the dwindling economic fortune of the country and the state in particular.

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Education Today

UI VC blames high unemployment on irrelevant courses Saidat alauSa

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he Vice-Chancellor, University of Ibadan, Oyo State, Prof. Abel Olayinka, has identified the disharmony between academic curricula and job placement has the cause of high unemployment in the country.

According to him, the dissonance has created a significant gap between labour market demand and programmes offered in the university which led to high unemployment among graduates.

He blamed the huge gap on a number of factors, including, students having little or no work experience when graduating; limited employer input into the curricula or teaching-learning process; the lack of focus on general employability skills, such as learning-to-learn, problem solving, project and team-work; and communication skills as well as the degrading learning equipment and infrastructure for teaching The Vice-Chancellor stated this while delivering the 2015 Convocation Lecture of the Crawford University, Igbesa, Ogun State.

He called on all education stakeholders to encourage students to acquire knowledge and skills from their undergraduate experience, adding that knowledge provided the foundational infrastructure for tasks that individuals performed throughout their lives.

He stressed that knowledge acquisition did not have to be the singular focus of university education and that the mere accumulation of knowledge without the ability to apply that knowledge, restricted the benefits to the individual and to society’s substantial investment.

ATBU graduates 32 First Class EzEkiEl tituS BAUCHI

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he Vice-Chancellor, Abubakar Tafawa-Balewa University (ATBU) , Bauchi, Professor Saminu Abdulrahaman Ibrahim said the university would graduate no fewer than 7, 688.

He gave the hint while addressing journalists at the senate building of the university during the pre-convocation press briefing ahead of the university 19th-22nd convocation ceremonies that would come to a close on Saturday January 23.

Ibrahim added that 845students ate for diplomas, 5,554 for first degrees, 1,219 for post graduate diplomas/masters as well as 64 for PhD. He disclosed that 32 obtained first class,1,203 to bag second class upper while 2,702 would go home with second class lower, among other categories Highlights of the occasion, the VC stressed, is the unveiling of the investiture of the newly appointed Chancellor DR. Rufus Adeyemo Adejugbe Aladesanmi who is also expected to be honoured with doctorate degree of Doctor of Science(Honoris Causa) The VC had expressed appreciation for the projects executed by various Federal Government agencies, saddled with the development of the tertiary schools, especially TETFUND “Without TETFund, it would be difficult to imagine how the Nigerian institutions would be faring in terms of physical infrastructure, human capacity and research opportunities,” Ibis said.

Similarly, the V.C stressed that within the last one and half years, ATBU had been able to record some modest achievements which includes new directorate of research of innovation among others According to professor Ibrahim, the university management had renovated and up-graded all students hostels to make them more habitable as part of students welfare drive including the constructions of more hostels in both Gubi and Yelwa campuses.

Thursday, January 7, 2016

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

White Paper, not separate probe will address UNIABUJA crisis —ASUU Chairman, Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), University of Abuja branch, Dr. Ben Ugheoke reacts to issues concerning the institution in this interview with REGINA OTOKPA. Excerpts: Could you draw a line between the immediate past and the present administration of the university?

The Vice-Chancellor that governed the university from 2009 to June 30, 2014 is totally different from the one in charge, especially in their approach to issues. I remember the former one once bluntly told me that he was not afraid of conflict and that he served better in conflict situation while the current one if you take him up on an issue will respond and succumb to superior arguments.

From the lecturers’ perspective, what do you think are the challenges facing this university?

They are many. Many lecturers do not have office accommodation which means we are work in unfriendly condition. This is Abuja, where the cost of living is very high. So, when your monthly pay packet is the same with lecturers in places like Yola, Maiduguri, Calabar and so on, you will begin to imagine what we go through here in Abuja. Also, where the university is located is a challenge to us. The welfare is a serious issue, not many of us have house accommodation and the few that have is like in poultry.

I hope someday those who conceived the idea of having the University of Abuja sited in this place should look into this institution very well to see what they can do to turn it around. This is the university that could serve as the first port of call for any leader paying a visit to Nigeria but no leader has come here just because of the poor state of infrastructure. We don’t also have enough lecture halls. Almost everything is inadequate in UNIABUJA. So far, what is the union doing to address these challenges?

The university does not belong to the union. It belongs to the Federal Government, governs by a council and administers by the management. Nevertheless, the union is at arm most of the time with the administration to ensure judicious allocation of its scarce resources to solve these challenges.

UNIABUJA is currently ranked 33rd in Nigeria and 85th in Africa by Webometric, what could be the problem?

Where were we before June 30th, 2014 in Nigeria and Africa?

We ranked 118 in Nigeria, from over 100 to 33 within a space of a year and half that should encourage us that truly things are moving in the right direction. Sometimes when we have a square peg in a round hole, things could be stalled. But we are moving up Could you throw more light on your achievements as ASUU chairman in this university and what do we look forward to this New Year?

I have presided over a tough union under tough circumstances but if I look at where we are coming from and where we are now, I would say we have better off as an association. When I came in, professorial promotion was a settlement scheme but today it has moved from that level. There were 59 academic staffers whose promotion into the professorial cadre was held in limbo but within the space of a year and two months, we have had 95 lecturers promoted into the professorial cadre. We have had challenges of unpaid promotion arrears, accumulated over the years and now we have had a deal with the current administration, which has promised to pay in whole meal. We have always engaged the administration over policies and decisions when necessary to ensure right things are done. I feel that we have a stake if we must have a civil academic calendar, if we must ensure that there is peace, progress and prosperity in the system.

We must not allow the administrator to make mistakes before we begin to fight them for mistakes that are avoidable. We should put structures in place to avoid crisis from coming up and that is what we are doing. This is one of our greatest achievements and

Ugheoke within the space of one and a half years, there have been no fight.

What is the current status of the university in terms of course accreditation?

One of the reasons we went on strike during the tenure of the immediate past administration was the issue of accreditation.

Over 93% of courses were not accredited then and the VC at the time did not allow the accreditation team to come into the university for assessment because of the poor state of the things then.

He knew it would be difficult to pass accreditation but when the current Vice Chancellor came in July by October, November he permitted the accreditation team to come. That is mainly because he had pumped in some life into some of the programmes. Yes, there were courses that lost accreditation but we still had over 65 % pass on accreditation that was not good enough but it was not as bad as it was.

What of your engineering and medical courses?

We have four programmes in engineering all accredited by NUC and COREN, all the programmes in agric are accredited and that of the College of Health Sciences which now has students doing clinical.

What is the reaction of ASUU to Federal Government’s recent probe of University of Abuja?

We don’t want it to look as if we are preventing the Federal Government from carrying out oversight functions through relevant organs but then why single out UNIABUJA? The same UniAbuja that has been pressing for the release of the White Paper of the 45-man Special Visitation Panel that was sent to this place that sat for more than eight weeks and spent over N40 million of tax payers’ money and till now could not release the white paper.

Instead has the effrontery to send in a probe panel over petitions of people who feel aggrieved over some things they wanted in the system.

It is their university but let them go back; dig out the white paper if what they have talking about will not have addressed these things they are setting panel to come and check again.

How effective is the needs assessment fund on University of Abuja?

We have many ongoing projects courtesy of the needs assessment funds. These projects have transformed the face of the university. Hostels are touched, lecture halls are face lifted, some new constructions are coming up to support existing ones. My only worry is that apart from fulfilling government pledge as fallout to our 2013 strike, government has not made any other release. They made promises that they were going to release billions of naira over a period of time and they broke it down to years within a period of five years to address the needs for the time but only the first year has been released, what happens to that of 2014, 2015 and now we are in 2016. Government should go back to the agreement they have with the union and implement it.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Education Today

Thursday, January 7, 2016

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Safeguarding massive investments in education T he government has proposed massive investments in the basic education system to increase access and improve the quality of the products. This includes the introduction of free meals to the primary schools and massive recruitment of teachers into the primary school system. Without doubt, this would involve additional investments in infrastructure to accommodate the projected increase in enrolment. These massive investments may not yield the expected dividends unless specific plans are put in place to maximize the output. Investments in the educational sector can only be maximized if the learning experience is maximized.

Apart from the poor access which may be tied to a number of different problems which include poverty, distance of school from pupil’s residence, absence of essential learning infrastructure, inadequate number of teachers, the quality of products of the existing facilities has been a source of worry to many in the industry.

Poor performance of pupils and students in the primary and secondary educational systems have been associated with poor quality of existing teachers and absenteeism from school on the part of both pupils, students and teachers. Another reason for poor performance of pupils and students is the widespread examination malpractice mindset which has quenched the desire of pupils and students to learn. These problems are bound to be compounded by the expected expansion in the school system. Specific plans must be laid down to improve attendance at classes for pupils, students and staff and to improve teachers output and reduce the incidence of examination malpractice.

Hearing is the most effective method of learning and attendance at class provides the best opportunity of acquiring knowledge first hand! The sheer importance of learning by hearing has made many institutions to make it mandatory for students to achieve a minimum

percentage of attendance to qualify for examination in the programme or course. The National Universities Commission (NUC) demands a 75% attendance for Nigerian university students to qualify for examination. The Lagos State government in 2014 began implementing a requirement of 90% attendance for SS3 student. The main problem is implementation! Some students don’t even attend lectures at all but are permitted to write exams by sympathetic lecturers and school administrators! When untutored students are allowed to present themselves for examinations, monumental examination malpractice would be the unavoidable consequence!

Absenteeism among students affects only the students involved. Among teachers, it could be devastating since large numbers of students are impacted! The role of teachers in the learning process is very critical.

Apart from the poor quality of teachers, absenteeism is high among primary and secondary school teachers in public schools in Nigeria. This vice is fuelled by the belief that teachers need to supplement their incomes which are often regarded as inadequate. They spend a lot more time in their stores selling all kinds of goods in the urban areas than in the classrooms. Some, to cover up their criminal negligence, hand over their notes of lesson to the class prefect to copy on the board, obviously with no explanation. The learning experience is reduced to the barest minimum!

UNILORIN extortion: Culprits won’t go unpunished —Authorities

. L-R: Representative of the Lagos state Deputy Governor, Mr. Dele Obaba; President, Home Science Association, Mrs. Folasade Bakare; Chairman on the occasion, Mr. Femi Popoola; Obanikoro of Lagos, Chief Adesoji Bembe; Agbaje of Lagos, Chief Waidi Yusuf; Wife of the Oba of Lagos, Olori Kudirat Akiolu; special guest, Mrs. Jumobi and the guest lecturer, Prof.

Florence Osanyin at the 50th anniversary of the Home Science Association Nursery and Primary School, Ikoyi, Lagos, recently.

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he authorities of Babcock University, IlisanRemo, Ogun State have said their expectations were to produce world-class doctoral degree graduates in accounting.

The expectation was reechoed by the Head of Accounting Department of the university, Professor Ishola Akintoye while addressing the first set of PhD accounting students during their matriculation ceremony recently.

Akintoye, who is an expert in Financial Economics and Strategic Management designed the programme for the university.

According to him, the

But by far the greatest threat to the massive investments in the educational sector is the examination malpractice mindset. This is a thought pattern of believing that success in examination can be achieved by the deployment of the huge array of examination malpractice techniques without the knowledge of the subject matter. This mindset appears to be extremely virulent, affecting every strata of the society, from the primary school pupils to the university professors in the educational system and from the petty traders to the top business men and politicians in the rest of the society. It has denigrated the quality of our educational system to the extent that, our certificates are hardly valued more than the paper on which they are printed in many circles. Like a wild virus, it will keep spreading unless effective control measures are implemented.

Hitherto, there has been no conviction for examination malpractice; there is no one in jail in Nigeria for this widespread corrupt practice. Our present and our future are both in jeopardy because of the timidity of the regulators of the educational system in the face of this marauding vice. Many students do not want to learn anymore because of their trust in examination malpractice. Many private and government owned institutions continue to swell the ranks of miracle centres annually because there are no actions to curtail the act.

Unless we kill examination malpractice, examination malpractice will eventually kill the Nigerian educational system. We must begin to implement crushing penalties on the perpetrators of examination malpractice to serve as deterrent. These should range from the confiscation of institutions dedicated to the obnoxious act, to the sack of principals and teachers incriminated in the act. We must wake up from our slumber and act without further delay to save our massive investments in the education system.

Tunbosun ogundare

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Expectations high as Babcock University matriculates PhD accounting students target of the university was to create a solid foundation for the PhD accounting programme and make it as well as its products competing favourably with those of the developed countries.

He explained that was why the faith-based university would have to engage panelists from notably universities in the countries which include Obafemi Awolowo University, Ileife; Federal University of Technology, Akure; Federal University of Agriculture,

Abeokuta; Enugu State University of Technology and Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-iwoye for cross fertilization of ideas during class sessions.

He said the first outing was to project the image of the programme and to let the world know that the university was following the NUC guidelines, adding that the students would also be exposed to happenings in no fewer than 20 other universities around the world before completing the course.

Prof. Akintoye however urged the students to go all out for highly impactful researches that would further lift the profession and the economy at large.

Ademola Tayo, VC

he authorities of University of Ilorin, UNILORIN, have vowed to sanction whoever that is found culpable of collecting illegal fee under whatever guise from the newly admitted post graduate students into the university’s Faculty of Law. It will be recalled that some fresh students alleged unnamed coordinators of Faculty of Law postgraduate programmes of the institution of collecting N5, 000 cash each from them as ‘clearance fee’ as a condition for manual registration of courses as new students which the authorities said was contrary to the practice in the university.

The university spokesman, Mr. Kunle Akogun who spoke to National Mirror on Tuesday said the university was already investigating the allegation and would ensure it get to the root of the matter and punish whoever that is found culpable ac-

Ambali cording to the law.

He however noted that in as much as the university would not debunk the claim expect investigation proves so, he said the university would not spare whoever that is in connection to the allegation if found to be true.

He explained that all transactions especially as regards the school fees and sundry fees payable by students in UNILRON were and is still being conducted online or through banks.

“So, it is surprising to hear somebody or group of persons ask students to pay un-receipted fee under whatever guise in the university,” he said.

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National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Thursday, January 7, 2016

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

Lecturer to develop computer programme AbbA SAmAilA igomu

400L, MASS COMM. FEDPOLY, BIDA

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lecturer in the Department of Chemical Engineering, Federal Polytechnic, Bida, Niger, State, Mr. Abdullahi Mohammed has embarked on the development of a virtual laboratory computer programme.

He disclosed this in an interview with Campus News in his office, recently.

According to him, the program will enable students to perform all forms of experiments and calculations without the use of physical equipment, adding that the program is part of a computer aided design enhancement course in Chemical Engineering.

He stated that the software to be used include; MATCAD Professional, Matrix Laboratory (MATLAB), Hysys and Comol Multiphysics that is Finite Element Method (FEMLAB).

Mohammed noted that the program will allow students to set-up and solve ordinary and partial differential equations that describe mass, energy and momentum balances and also visualize the velocity, pressure, temperature and concentration profile within laboratory and industrial equipment.

The Engineer stated further that the program if developed will be used as part of teaching process, a new progress form which students can also use to run real life experiments with accurate results, adding that it is a form of virtue laboratory experiment that will enhance students’ understanding of Chemical Engineering.

He told Campus News that the visualisation of the chemical processes could provide students with a better understanding of what is happening within given equipment saying that it enhances the learning of engineering mathematics.

The lecturer revealed that the advantages of simulating experiments include; effectiveness, convenience for study anytime, anywhere, ability to include complex hazardous real world, processes and ability to direct students efforts towards experimental design and data analysis rather than operating equipment.

He added that simulated experimental works could serve as effective preparation for conducting actual laboratory experiments.

The chemical engineer mentioned that the software to be used in developing the program are very expensive ranging from N800,000 to N1m naira adding that inadequate computers also pose a challenge to the development.

The Head of Department (HOD), Chemical Engineering, Alh. Umar Danladi Sule pointed that the program would also enable students to simulate and test their design works on paper to see how the design will look like before fabrication.

The HOD revealed that the department had written to the management of the institution, Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Unit for the supplies of 30 computers.

Sule disclosed that works and service department of the institution had visited the proposed laboratory room in the department for provision of computer desks and chairs.

He also mentioned that the management of the institution and the department were working towards the accreditation of the computer aided design enhancement course.

Adamu

‘I want to become CBN Governor’

Ayodotun Akinbola, one of the graduating students who made a First Class at the recent 6th convocation ceremony of Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba Akoko, Ondo State obtained a Cumulative Gradient Point Average, CGPA of 4.60 out of the possible 5.0 points. A Business Administration graduate in this interview with ‘YOMI AYELESO, 400L, BUS ADMIN, AAU, shares his experience and his aspiration for life. Excerpts: throughout my four years on campus. She didn’t cease for a moment from praying for me. She also encouraged and advised me a lot. My brother was also a big blessing to me thus far. He supported me throughout and showed me the love I would never get from friends.

How were you able to make a First Class in the face of distractions here and there within the university environment?

Fir of all, I must say that I did not make First Class, but God made it for me. Although God made it for me, that doesn’t mean I didn’t work hand in hand with God to make it possible. Right from my 100 level days, I had the determination to graduate with a CGPA equal to or more than 4.50. I tried all I could not to skip lectures and I read assiduously to make sure I mastered all the topics in the courses I register each semester a week before the examination commences.

Each semester, I set a target CGPA for myself and see myself having it already, having the conviction that God is going to get it for me.

When results were out and they seemed bad, that is, not encouraging, I did not relent in my efforts, I pressed forward and hoped for the best.

At the end of everything, I’m just grateful to God that it all worked out.

What were the challenges you encountered in school?

Although I didn’t face any specific challenges, I faced almost all the challenges faced by most Nigerian students, ranging from financial challenges to challenges posed by peer groups to challenges posed by lecturers, the list goes on. I recall when I was in my first year, I had to face the challenge of choosing who my close friends would be, because I knew this would determine the activities I engage myself in. Also, I remembered having a grade I didn’t desire or say deserve in one of the borrowed courses in my second year; I felt like giving up in the race, but thank God I didn’t.

Did you read more than what you were taught in

What are your future plans?

With the help of God, I want to further my studies up to PhD level. Also, my tall dream is to rise up to the level of the Governor of the central Bank of Nigeria. I love the office and I would be very committed to my work to ensure I am considered for the post when time comes God willing.

Akinbola class?

Of course, one cannot depend solely on what he or she is being taught in class.

Reading outside the class notes and further reading topics related to a course surely enhances one’s understanding of the course.

How was your social life on campus?

Although, I am not the party type, I was not lagging behind socially. I participated actively at departmental and faculty dinners, fresher’s orientation programs, departmental picnics, etc. I also attended birthday parties organised by my course mates, villa mates, fellowship members, etc. Also pertaining to interpersonal relationships, so many people find it fun and comfortable to be around me because I’m the jovial type.

What were the involvement of your parents and

relatives?

I got their full moral, financial, and spiritual supports. For instance, I always bless God in the life of my mother because she proved herself to be a mother indeed

What is your advice to students with ambition to make first class?

They should note that every tall castle has a solid foundation on which it rests. So, for those who are still in their first or second year, the time to lay a solid foundation is now. For those already with a good foundation, they should be more hard working and focused to sustain their grades till graduation.

FUNAAB releases supplementary admission into PG school

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ederal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB), has approved supplementary postgraduate admission for the 2015/2016 Academic Session.

The supplementary postgraduate portal opened on Monday, December 21, 2015 and would close on Friday, January 8, 2016. Deans of Colleges and Heads of Departments with postgraduate programmes, who can still accommodate more students into the 2015/2016 Academic Session, are enjoined to encourage candidates that have indicated their desire to take advantage of the opportunity, by taking into cognizance the sanctity of the set dates.

Postgraduate programmes in the 2015/2016 admission exercise include Master’s and Ph.D in Agricultural Economics and Farm Management, Biochemistry, Microbiology, Nutrition and Dietetics, Computer Science, as well as Master of Environmental Management and Protection (MEMP) in Environmental Management and Toxicology (Academic).

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

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Thursday, January 7, 2016

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

FEDPOLY Bida student invents alcohol detector RebeccA olAnipekun

400L, MASS COMM. FEDPOLY, BIDA

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n a bid to reduce road accidents cause by alcohol, a final year student of the Electrical Engineering department, Federal Polytechnic Bida, Niger State, Simon Reuben has invented a rechargeable alcohol detector, which is also known as Breathalyzer.

The supervisor of the project and also a senior lecturer in the department, Mr. Sani Aliyu, in an interview with Campus News stated that the project is designed to detect the smell of alcohol in drunk drivers.

He stated that the invention was motivated due to the incapability of drunk drivers to control their state of drunkenness.

According to Aliyu, the method used by security personnel in the olden days is to draw a straight line on the floor and ask drunk drivers to walk on the lines. The effect of the alcohol will make the tested individual to stagger and this will reveal the state of the person. But the detector was necessary because some people are now used to drinking

that they can control their movement when tested and this has made the old method a waste of effort.

The Electrical Engineer further revealed that there is a censor and buzzer among the materials being used to invent the alcohol detector and these materials will always give a signal whenever a drunk person is tested.

While speaking on the usefulness of the alcohol detector, he stated that the alcohol detector can be used by officials of Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), Vehicle Inspectors, Tertiary Institutions and even banks.

The lecturer further disclosed that the alcohol detector can be produced in mass if it is requested for by any organisation.

Mr. Christian Onu, also a lecturer from Electrical Engineering department, who tested the detector, explained that the alcohol detector is a technology system that is fast, accurate and reliable.

While explaining the attributes of the alcohol detector, he stated that the detector has a resistance value and once you breathe on it, the resistance will increase, thereby revealing the state of the tested individual.

FEDPOFFA lecturer urges Christians to move closer to God

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he Dean of School of General Studies, Federal Polytechnic Offa, Rev. Sunday Adeyemo has advised Christians to seek God more than never before by establishing a better relationship with Him as they are now in a new year.

He gave the advice in his sermon at the Christmas Carol service organized by the Advisory Committee on Christian Religious Affairs (ACCRA) in the polytechnic, recently.

The lecturer who is also a cleric berated attitudes of some Christians as against the teachings of Jesus

Christ and lessons of Christmas, saying it was unfortunate that many only profess Christ without truly knowing him.

Quoting from Isaiah Chapter 9 verse 6 to draw home his ser mon, the dean described Jesus as a Superstar whose birth occurred in a manger, at a unique time and in a unique way for the purpose of reconciling man back with God. He however told his congregation that they should ensure they put God in whatever they do in the New Year so as to enjoy His benevolence year’s round.

Cross section Team McU during NPUGA games at Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti.

NPUGA 2015: McPherson VC okays team performance As Afe Babalola calls for reform in sports

Ayodeji AdesinA

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he Vice-Chancellor, McPherson University (McU), Abeokuta, Ogun State, Prof. Adeniyi Agunbiade, has commended the team of the university for winning medals at the just concluded 6th edition of Nigeria Private University Games (NPUGA) hosted by Afe Babalola University, Ado Ekiti, between Thursday, December 10 and 20, 2015.

It was Team McU’s debut since inception of the competition and they successfully clinched five medals.

The VC appreciated the team for their stunning professional performances and the general conducts of the team thought the period.

According to him, Team McU’s result was encouraging since it was the team’s maiden outing in the local competition.

He, however, charged the university’s 9-man coaching crew to begin quality preparation for the 7th edition which will hold at a later date in the last quarter of this year.

His word: “We diligently monitored your progress from game to game of the 10-day event. We understand you faced touch tasks and ‘stronger’ teams. We commended your efforts and commitment. I believe the experience you gathered as a team would serve as a spring board that will catapult you to aim higher and achieve more in the next edition.

“I can assure you that the management will not relent in her supports for sporting activities and other developmental programmes that will bring out the best in our champions at all time”, the VC stressed.

McPherson University athletes won five medals in Chess and Scrabbles.

Meanwhile, McPherson University

Sports Co-ordinator, Mr. Ayodeji Awotula, appreciated the management for the support before, during and after the event.

On the other hand, the founder of Afe Babalola University, Ado Ekiti, Chief Afe Babalola (SAN), has advocated for reforms in the Nigerian Private Universities Games.

He said organisers of the games should review the age of participants to between 16 and 25 so that the event could serve the purpose of talent discovery it is meant for.

“Only youths who possess talents which have yet to be discovered should participate and indeed qualify to partici-

pate in NPUGA,” he said.

The legal luminary spoke during the closing ceremony of NPUGA hosted by ABUAD in Ado Ekiti where he was honoured by Sports Writers Association of Nigeria.

Former African sprint queen and five-time Olympian, Mrs. Mary Onyali, was also honoured at the event by the institution for adding “colour, character and candor to the event” with her presence.

The Local Organising Committee of NPUGA’15 equally presented Special Recognition Medal to the ViceChancellor, McU, Prof. Agunbiade.

UNILORIN students intensify campaign against cancer olAwAle odeyemi

400L, HISTORY, UNILORIN

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tudents of University of Ilorin (UNILORIN), Kwara State in partnership with LEAH Foundation recently organised cancer awareness campaign within the university community.

The campaign which was the first in the institution was about the spread and treatment of breast and cervical cancer.

The exercise according to the students was part of their corporate social responsibilities to ensue women stay healthy.

Speaking at a seminar organised as part of the campaign, the Vice-President of the Students’ Union who is also the convener of the project, Imam-Lawal Ummu said cancer mortality may be prevented if early detected through intensive and continuous awareness, standard screening methods such as selfbreast examination, clinical breast ex-

amination and mammography screening for breast cancer victims.

The Vice-President lauded the leadership of the students’ union under the headship of Comrade Idris Alao, the union President for showcasing absolute commitment to the wellbeing of the females’ students and staff of the university.”

In her address, Vice-President, College of Health Sciences (COHS), Students’ Union, University of Ilorin, Olubunmi Afuye simply identified cancer as excessive growth of normal body tissue which has the tendency to perforate faster than it should be on a normal occurrence.

Cancer, she said has been a particular case that has caused trouble among cells issues in the world generally.

The university Vice-Chancellor, Professor Abdulganiyu Ambali represented by the provost, College of Health Sciences, Prof. Johnson described the seminar as landmark discourse.

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T

Thursday, January 7, 2016

HE PUNCH of January 2, 2016, welcomes us today: “The President also said that (sic) the fight for the return of the Chibok girls is (was) ongoing and….”

Voice of The Nation of December 22 takes over from The PUNCH with copious blunders: “Lawyer charged for (with) stealing documents, $40,000” “The entire Masters Energy Group felicitates with the Executive Vice Chairman (Vice-chairman), Techno Oil Limited, Mrs. Nkechi Obi, MON, FNIM on her 50th Birthday Anniversary” Delete the last word in the extract. ‘Birthday’ encompasses ‘anniversary’.

“NNPC awards crude lifting (crude-lifting) contract to 21 off-takers” The excerpt implies that the crude is lifting contract!

“FG probes Aero Contractors (Contractors’) use of ladder to disembark passengers” “Firm to bridge students (students’) accommodation shortfall” “…As minister advocates for peaceful industrial relations environment” Yank off ‘for’ from the sentence.

“Few (A few) months ago….”

“Please join us to pay respect to the wife of our….” We pay last respects to the dead DAILY SUN of December 30, 2015, circulated a few blunders: “Shettima meets civilian JTF, donates N20m for (to) members” “IYC commends Buhari over (for/on) on NDDC appointment” “Okowa condoles (condoles with) CBN gov over mother’s death” Next on our line-up is The PUNCH of January 2, 2016, which disseminated a few errors: “Senator commends Buhari over (for/on) plans to recruit 500,000 teachers” “Leadership of comfort amidst (amid) poverty” ‘Amidst’ is ‘old school’ “As a result, millions of people are impacted daily through life changing initiatives.” (Full-page advertisement by MTN, The PUNCH, January 2) Everywhere you go: life-changing (take note of the hyphenation) initiatives Wrong: combine service; right: combined service (for the attention of Livingspring Chapel International)

EzEkiEl TiTus BAUCHI

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ollege of Education, Azare, Bauchi State in conjunction with the National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE) has held a three-day sensitisation workshop on the use of Quality Assurance Toolkit for institutional self assessment of

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Charge with…not ‘for’

“However, their children’s spouses might see this behaviour as intrusive and react accordingly, which could result to (in) misunderstandings and quarrels.”

Overheard on the early morning belt of Classic FM 92.3, Monday, January 4: “If we treat ourselves (one another) well….

DAILY SUN Headline of November 23 also goofed: “N23bn monthly allocation crash inter-bank rates” Business English: allocation crashes.

“Excitements greet Adeboye Vanguard ministration” (Vanguard Front Page Headline, November 25) ‘Excitement’ is uncountable.

“2011: Anglican bishop wants vigilante groups to help policemen protect ballot boxes” (DAILY SUN Headline, November 24) In the interest of eschatology: vigilance group.

“Today, it is becoming increasing (increasingly) clearer that a free and fair election is possible in Nigeria….” “…this he applied in fighting the cause of oppressed (the oppressed). He was Igbo (an Igbo) leader.”

“Itse Sagay accuses Supreme Court justices of setting bad precedence in the country’s judicial history.” There is a morphological distinction between ‘precedence’ and ‘precedent’, which applies to the extract.

“Economics, as if the poor matters!” Voice of the nation: the poor matter!

The next lexical lawlessness is from Vanguard of November 11: “Before independence, you don’t lobby to (sic) made a judge.” Get it right: you did not lobby to be made a judge.

From this medium a fortnight ago comes the next farcical entry: “Are the leaders calling for prayers so that we learn not to kill ourselves….” Truth in defence of freedom: we learn not to kill one another. “…it was common (a common) sight to see a classroom crowded with between 150-200 children….” (DAILY INDEPENDENT, November 11) Either: between 150 and 200 or from 150 to 200 (depending on context) No mix-up.

“The grassroot man of Oyo politics” (DAILY INDEPENDENT, November 11) Basic knowledge: grassroots man “We invested heavily on their training and welfare and

so should be told what led to their death….” (THE NATION, November 12) Ejigbo crash: we invested heavily in their training….

From THE NATION of November 12 comes the next impropriety: “Festo, as I use (used) to call him….”

“The church…was filled to capacity last weekend as….”

(THE NATION SOCIETY, November 12) We cannot mention ‘capacity’ when a hall is filled as that fact is implied. According to my copious dictionaries and reference books on the English language, fill means, “to occupy the whole space of….” This also applies to “filled to the brim”, et al.

“What the church has joined together…” (Source: as above) Ancient English: joined together. Modern version: joined.

Still on THE NATION of November 12: “In the area of health, Aliyu has moved in to reduce maternal mortality through the introduction of anti-natal (what!) care for pregnant women….” “…ante-natal for pregnant women? Should it have been for which other women or, worse still, men?

The next two improprieties are from THISDAY of November 13: “…multiple allocations which has (sic) lingered for over 10 years is (sic) finally put to rest.” No further comment.

“Of all the first generation (a hyphen, please) universities, OAU is arguably the one that was able to preserve its known ideology for the longest.” I do not agree with the usage of “arguably” by a majority of Nigerian writers. The explanation I got from one of the country’s frontline editors recently was not convincing: when you have points to justify your claims, it becomes arguable and when there are no justifications, you employ “unarguably.” If you are sure of your statement, make it declarative by jettisoning “arguably.” And if you are unsure, do not make claims. If you do, be ready to argue it elsewhere when confronted (not in your contribution). For the avoidance of doubt, “arguable” (adjective) and its adverb (arguably) mean: ”…for which good, if not necessarily convincing, reasons may be found/open to doubt/not certainly, but reasonably held to be.” (Source: THE NEW LEXICON WEBSTER’S DICTIONARY OF THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE, 2011) My grouse about this excerpt is the intrinsic element of doubt.

Bauchi college, NCCE educate staffers on self assessment principal officers of the college.

The workshop according to the college’s Public Relations Officer, Mr. Suleiman Shehu was in line with the recommendation by the National Commission of Colleges of Education (NCCE) on a minimum standard expected of every

college of education in the country.

Those in attendance include lectures, exams officers, deans and directors as well as other stakeholders in the college.

Shehu noted that the workshop was also designed to guide the college on structures, contents and

methodologies of service delivery with a view to identifying the most effective way of doing the job.

He added that the effort would also enable various colleges to restructure their systems using Quality Assurance Unit to develop detailed action plans that could form a new curriculum.

While pointing out that the Ex-

ecutive Secretary of NCCE, Prof.

Joshua Monday in his address earlier through a representative and a Director in the commission, Dr A. Y. Abdulkarim commended the college management for taking the step, he added that the exercise would help the college to produce quality and globally competitive graduate teachers.

DELSU Law Faculty loses NUC accreditation

T L-R: Dr Susanna Adepoju, Dr Taiwo Togun of IGo Eyewear, Massachusetts, USA with the children of Tiny and Great Creche/Nursery, Ogbomosho, Oyo State during a free eye test for the children in partner with the African Center For Innovation & Leadership Development (ACILD), Toronto Canada, in Ogbomoso, recently.

he Law students of Delta State University, Abraka are currently in a state of panic following the withdrawal of NUC‘s accreditation of the faculty.

It will also be recalled that the institution’s faculty of engineering lost is accreditation as well four years ago.

It was learnt that some of the requirements which the institution failed to meet which led to the law faculty losing its accreditation include the provision of computers for the faculty’s e-library, up-

grading of books, provision of air conditioners for the library, the completion and furnishing of the lecture and the moot court.

While commenting on this, the President of the Law Students Association of Nigeria, LAWSAN, Mr. Desmond Orisewezie appealed to the state government and the school authorities to work towards restoring the accreditation of the two faculties.

According to him, if this trend continues, the institution may be shut down.

Business Thursday, January 7, 2016

Customs Service Owerri zone rakes in N2.7bn in 2015

31

Local ICT investors jittery as foreign firms rev up market 31 share drive

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

High electricity tariffs may stifle e-commerce growth –Expert 32

LCCI, MAN rue forex restrictions’ threats to real sector FRANCIS EZEM

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he President of Manufacturers Association of Nigeria MAN, Mr. Frank Jacobs and Director General of the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry LCCI, Mr. Muda Yusuf, at the weekend predicted that many manufacturing companies would face very tough times this year due to the government’s foreign exchange restriction policy.

The MAN President noted that many operators in the nation’s real sector closed shop in 2015 due to harsh operating environment characterised by poor infrastructure, low consumer demand and unfair competition from low quality products smuggled into the country, warning that many more firms would close down due to the foreign exchange policy.

“These companies have invested heavily in plants, equipment and machinery worth several billions of dollars in the country and what the CBN is indirectly telling them is that it is not bothered about the challenges this policy has posed to our members with the attendant loss of jobs”, the MAN boss said While calling on the Federal Government to have a rethink on the policy by making foreign exchange available for real sector operators that need to import raw materials, he warned that if not reversed, the policy will lead to the closure of more companies.

Yusuf, who also spoke on the development, warned that unless something urgent was done, the policy would portend a great danger for the Nigerian economy, especially in the first quarter of 2016.

According to him, one of the direct implications of the policy is that many firms would be left with only one alternative, which is to embark on a mass sack of their work force in a desperate move to reduce cost in order to remain afloat.

He clarified: “The position of the LCCI is that we want the CBN to lift the ban on foreign exchange now because government needs to do something urgently to convince Nigerians, private sector operators and manufactur-

ers in the New Year. We believe that lifting the restriction on foreign exchange and adjusting the exchange rate of the naira will make substantial impact on the nation’s economic recovery in the New Year.

“We have previously engaged the CBN and other authorities through several media including dialogue sessions and memoranda as part of efforts to draw

attention to the implications of its restrictive poreign exchange policy, not only on the business community but also on the nation’s economy as a whole”, Yusuf added.

He said that the Chamber and indeed all real sector operators and the entire business community were very concerned about the current state of the economy and the consequences of the for-

27

eign exchange policy thrust in the past few months.

It would be recalled that the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, had last year as part of measures to stem the sharp decline in the value of the naira against other foreign currencies excluded some 41 items of imports, including some raw materials, from sourcing foreign exchange from the official market windows.

AIRLINES’ FLIGHT SCHEDULES Med-View Airline Lagos- Abuja (Mon-Fri): 07.00, 08.50, 12.00, 16.30. Abuja- Lagos (Mon-Fri): 09.00, 14.00, 15.00, 18.30. Lagos-Yola (Mon-Fri): 8.50am. Yola-Lagos (Mon-Fri): 13.00. Lagos- PHC (Mon-Fri): 17.00. PHC-Lagos: 19.00. Abuja-Yola: 11.00. Yola-Abuja: 13.00.

Lagos-Abuja (Sat): 08.00, 08.50.

Abuja-Lagos (Sat): 10.00, 15.00.

Lagos-PHC (Sat): 17.00. PHC-Lagos (Sat): 19.00. Lagos-Yola (Sat): 08.50. Yola-Lagos (Sat): 13.00

Dana Air L-R: Representative of Shehu of Borno, Alhaji. Zanna Mutawalli Liberty; Hon. Commissioner of Education and representative of the Executive Governor of Borno State, Hon. Musa Inuwa Kubo and Executive Director, North, Fidelity Bank Plc, Mohammed Balarabe, at the bank’s Back to School Project for IDPs in Maiduguri recently

Cassava, pencil production can create 3.4m jobs –Onu REgINA OtOkpA

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he Minister of Science and Technology, Dr Ogbonnaya Onu, has projected that about 3.4 million jobs could be created through the FIRO cassava project and production of pencils in the country The minister made the disclosure during a meeting he held with the Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG), in Abuja yesterday, stressing that the ministry and its agencies have the capacity to enhance the drive towards improved jobs creation and diversification of the economy.

Lamenting the impact of imported products that could be locally produced on the economy, Onu noted it was time the nation shifted attention from exportation towards exploring the enor-

mous resources in the country to become self sufficient.

According to him, the bench mark for growing any economy was developing new technologies which he maintained was dependant on rich investment in research and development.

He said: “We want Nigeria to come up and be in the first 20. We are determined to make sure we use technology to diversify the economy, create jobs and grow our economy.

“The policy trust is to ensure that we create new jobs, and our agencies have the capacity to do so. When I was in PRODA a few days ago, PRODA assured me that by just producing pencil in Nigeria, we can create 400,000 jobs.

“FIRO cassava project, where cassava can be used to replace flour in bread making, FIRO said that by just 20 per cent of using cassava, as many as 3 million jobs

can be created. These will be the thrust of the ministry this year” Expatiating on the activities of the ministry, he explained that there were 17 agencies under it with activities in areas of biotechnology and food production.

“In terms of agriculture, we want to make sure that the food we produce is not wasted so, processing is our target. We are also interested in making sure that we produce our own machines in NASENI and PRODA, building capacity so that many of the machines we import are produced here,”the minister added.

Earlier, the Chairman Board of Directors NESG, Mr Kafari Bukar, said the body was committed towards expanding the scope of job creation in the country.

Abuja-Lagos 9am, 1pm, 5.28pm daily Lagos-Abuja 7am, 11am, 1.23pm,3.30pm daily Lagos-PH: 7.20AM, Ph-Abuja9.54am, Abuja-ph: 3.30pm and Ph-Lagos: 5.28pm daily Lagos-Uyo: 9.20am, Uyo-Abuja: 11.07am, Abuja-Uyo 1.05pm, Uyo-Lagos: 3pm daily Weekends Lagos-Abuja: 7.02am, 9am, 3.30pm Abuja-Lagos: 9am, 2.20pm and 5.28pm Lagos -Phc: 11.07am Phc-Lagos: 1.05pm Phc-Abuja: 12.51pm Abuja-Phc: 10.50am Lagos-Uyo: 9.18am Uyo-LOS -3.03pm Uyo-Abuja: 11.07am Abuja-Uyo: 1.05pm

Aero Contractors Lag-Abj: 06.50, 13.30, 16.30, 19.45 (Mon-Fri/Sat/Sun), 12.30 (Sun) 16.45 (Sat) Abj-Los: 07.30, 13.00, 19.00 (Mon-Fri/Sat, 10.30, 14.30, 19.30 (Sun, 18.30 Sat) Lag-Benin: 07.45, 11.00, 15.30 (Mon-Fri/Sat/ Sun) 12.30 (Sun 15.30 (Sat) Ben-Lag: 09.15, 12.30, 17.00 (Mon-Fri/Sat/Sun) 17.00 (Sat) 14.00 (Sun)Lag-Owe: 7.45am, 2pm daily

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Business News

Thursday, January 7, 2016

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Customs Service Zone C rakes in N2.7bn in 2015 …arrests 315 suspects CHRiS nJoKu, OWERRi

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igeria Customs Service, NCS Federal Operations Unit, FOU, zone C Owerri yesterday disclosed that the unit made a Duty Paid Value, DPV, of N2.7 billion last year up from the N1.8 billion generated the preceding year.

The Area Controller in charge of the unit, Victor David Dimka, who disclosed this to newsmen in his office, said that the collections represented a geometrical progression of what the unit made in 2014 adding that it would hopefully go higher in 2016 because the officers of the unit are ever ready to work.

With over N72 million recorded as revenue in 2014, Dimka said that N130,144,132 million was made in 2015.

Dimka who took stock of the performance of the unit last year

in comparison with that of the preceding year 2014, said that while 466 seizures were made in 2015, 363 was made in 2014, adding that a total of four suspects were convicted in 2014 and one in 2015.

Shedding more light on the unit in the year under review, he said that while 18 cases in 2014 are still pending in court 23 cases are similarly in court in respect of seizures made in 2015.

He said that the unit arrested a total 316 suspects in the year 2015 in connection with the smuggling of various contraband goods into the country.

According to the Area Controller, the figure was recorded in contrast to that recorded in 2014 which stood at 104.

According to him the feat was accomplished because officers of the unit fine-tuned their strategies against smuggling in the zone just as they said he said the need to redouble their efforts in the on-

Lawmaker urges FG to assist farmers on bank credit AliunA Godwin, AbAkAliki

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he member representing Ohaozara-Onicha-Ivo federal constituency of Ebonyi state, Hon Linus Okorie on Monday uappealed to President Mohammadu Buhari to assist farmers on bank credit to enable them boost their productivity.

Okorie made this known while addressing thousands of his constituents at his country home, Isiama-Onicha in Onicha local government area while distributing cars, motorcycles, Keke tricycles, hairdressers, generating sets and other empowerment tools.

This is even as he promised to assist cooperative societies that were able to acquire land to access the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN-facilitated low interest agric loan and other commercial bank loans.

He said that with the dwindling price of oil in the international market, Nigeria which up till now operated a monocultural economy based on oil, had no choice than to embrace agriculture which holds the key to the nation’s economic diversification.

The lawmaker called on Federal Government and banks to remove collateral as conditionality for agricultural loans but instead to use the land as basis for granting the loans.

Okorie who is chairman House Committee on Agricultural Colleges and Institutions announced that he secured 56 federal jobs for youths in his

first term and part of his current second term.

Tagged “Hon. Linus Okorie Empowerment Scheme,” the constituency items distributed include: 245 Motorcycles, 30 Tricycles, 18 Cars, 20 Grinding machines, 20 Industrial sewing machines, 98 Power Generating sets, 30 Hair Dressing sets, 10 Barbing sets and 10 Vulcanizing Machines, 2 Dorman sawing machines, 18 computer sets, all valued at the cost of over N65m.

In his remarks, the State Governor, David Umahi, who was represented by his Special Adviser on Rural Development, Ogbuefi Enekwachi Akpa, commended the lawmaker for the gesture, saying it was the first of its kind since 1999.

slaught against smuggling.

Dimka boasted that officers of the unit had been trained and retrained with formidable reliable and dependable information network gathering quite different from those of previous years to

meet their challenges.

He commended sister agencies and other organizations for their sustained support and collaboration with the NCs in the crusade against smuggling and called for its sustenance.

L-R: Manager, Sponsorships, Etisalat Nigeria, Orah Egwu; Head, Events and Sponsorships, Etisalat Nigeria, Modupe Thani; Content Director, Corporate Dance World, Ibrahim Suleiman and Manager, Public Relations, Etisalat Nigeria, Chineze Amanfo, at the stage performance of the Etisalat-sponsored Avalanche - The Kings of Dance, held at the MUSON Centre, Onikan, Lagos

VAT payment on unused flight tickets chargeable –EU Court

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he European Court of Justice recently ruled that Value Added Tax (VAT) is chargeable on unused air tickets that are not refundable, in Air France -KLM and Hop!-Brit Air v. Ministère des Finances et des Comptes publics (C-250/14 and C-289/14).

Air France-KLM (Air France until 2004) is a French air transport company. Within French territory, flights operated by Air France-KLM are subject to VAT at a reduced rate of 5.5 percent.

As from 1999, Air France decided to no longer pay to the French tax authorities VAT on the sale of tickets that passengers had not used and for which they could not claim a refund. Since they considered that VAT was payable

on those tickets, the tax authorities notified Air France-KLM of additional assessments to VAT amounting to EUR4m (USD4.3m) (excluding default interest) covering a period of three years.

In addition, a subsidiary of Air France, Brit Air (which became Hop! Brit Air in 2013), performed at that time air passenger transport services in the context of a franchise agreement concluded with Air France-KLM. The latter was responsible for marketing and ticket management on the routes operated as a franchise by Brit Air. Air France-KLM received the price of the tickets before paying it on to Brit Air with respect to each passenger transported.

In respect of tickets not used by

Apple suppliers drop after iPhone output cut report

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pple Inc. suppliers from Asia to Europe fell after a report saying the world’s most valuable company would reduce first quarter output of its latest iPhones by about 30 percent.

Dialog Semiconductor Plc, which makes chips used in the iPhone and gets most of its sales from Apple, lost as much as 6.6 percent in Frankfurt after Nikkei Asian Review reported the output cut. Earlier today in Asia, suppliers led by Sharp Corp. and Pegatron Corp also fell.

“There is a risk inventory adjustment will continue and will not be over by March,” said Yasuaki Kogure, chief investment officer at SBI Asset Management Co. Kristin

The Controller however decried isolated cases of unwarranted media attack and blackmail against the NCS by some sections of the media and enjoined such institutions to always contact his office for verification of facts whenever necessary.

Huguet, a spokeswoman for Cupertino, California-based Apple, declined to comment. Dialog, based in Reading, England, reiterated its forecast when contacted by phone today while declining to comment on the report.

Inventories of the new iPhones, which debuted in September, have piled up at retailers in China and Europe amid lackluster sales as an increase in the dollar against other currencies makes the device more expensive in those countries, Nikkei reported. Apple had initially told suppliers to keep production of the iPhone 6s and 6s Plus models for the January-March period at the same level as for their predecessors, the publication said.

Dialog dropped 3.4 percent to 29.78 euros a share at 11:15 a.m. in Frankfurt. Dialog’s Austrian rival AMS AG fell 4.8 percent to 31.05 Swiss francs, while ARM Holdings Plc, the semiconductor designer whose technology is used in most smartphones, slumped 3.1 percent to 972.50 pence in London.

Earlier today in Asia, Sharp dropped 3.3 percent at the close in Tokyo. Japan Display Inc. slumped 3.5 percent. The Japanese companies both supply screens for Apple devices. Pegatron, which assembles iPhones, fell 5.7 percent in Taipei. Sharp spokesman Toyodo Uemura and Ryoichi Imai, a spokesman for Japan Display, declined to comment on the report.

passengers, Air France-KLM paid Brit Air an annual flat-rate compensation calculated as a percentage (2 percent) of the annual turnover (including VAT) from the routes operated as a franchise. Since Brit Air did not subject that lump sum to VAT, the tax authorities also sent it demands for VAT. Ruling at last instance on the dispute between Air France-KLM and Brit Air, on the one hand, and the tax authorities, on the other hand, the French Conseil d’État (Council of State) was unsure as to whether the unused transport tickets may be subject to VAT. In its judgment, the ECJ answered that question in the affirmative. The Court noted that VAT is payable where, first, the sum paid by the customer to the airline company is directly linked with a service (in the present case, air transport) and, second, that service is performed.

However, the Court stated that the consideration for the price of the ticket does not depend on the physical presence of the passenger at boarding, but that it consists of the passenger’s right to benefit from the performance of the transport service, regardless of whether the passenger exercises that right. In other words, for VAT to be payable, it is sufficient that the airline company

enables the passenger to benefit from the transport service. In that regard, the Court stated that VAT becomes chargeable on receipt of payment of the ticket price.

Ho

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Global News

Thursday, January 7, 2016

U.S. auto sales on pace for record year in 2015 A utomakers on Tuesday reported strong U.S. sales in December, indicating that 2015 would smash records, and most forecasters said the new year will be even better.

General Motors Co said sales will end at 17.8 million vehicles on a seasonally adjusted annualized basis for the year, topping the previous record of 17.35 million vehicles in 2000 as low gasoline prices, easy credit and moderate economic growth boosted the industry.

In a Thomson Reuters poll, 38 economists and analysts forecast sales of 18.1 million vehicles.

“The U.S. economy continues to expand and the most important factors that drive demand for new vehicles are in place, so we expect to see a second consecutive year of record industry sales in 2016,” said Mustafa Mohatarem, GM’s chief economist.

Mohatarem said the most important factors are employment and

growth in personal income, which will remain strong this year.

GM, the top seller in the United States, said monthly sales rose 5.7 per cent from a year ago, and Ford Motor Co, the No. 2 U.S. automaker, reported a jump of eight per cent.

Toyota Motor Corp, third in U.S. sales, had a gain of 11 percent.

Fiat Chrysler Automobiles and Nissan Motor Co Ltd posted doubledigit U.S. sales gains in December, Fiat Chrysler up 13 per cent and Nissan up 19 per cent.

Fiat Chrysler is the No. 4 seller of vehicles in the U.S. market, and Nissan is sixth.

While December sales are likely not to meet expectations, the forecast is for double-digit gains over a year earlier as well as the most vehicles sold in the U.S. market for any December.

Several forecasters, including TrueCar Inc, said 2016 sales will reach 18 million vehicles. Slightly

Obama

higher interest rates will not significantly affect auto deliveries, said Eric Lyman, TrueCar vice president.

GM said total 2015 sales will be 17.5 million vehicles, matching several forecasts from analysts last week.

The industry has steadily recovered since the 2008-2009 downturn.

In 2009, sales hit 10.4 million vehicles.

Some Yahoo investors want to sell Internet business

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everal major Yahoo Inc shareholders are so concerned the company’s core Internet business could fall in value that they want it sold as soon as possible.

The shareholders said they would prefer that than wait for Yahoo to go through with its plan to seek a tax-free spin-off of the operation, which includes Yahoo’s sports and news sites as well as its popular email service.

Reuters reviewed a letter sent to the Yahoo board by one major shareholder and spoke to people with knowledge of the views of others with significant stakes.

The investors argue that it would be better to take an additional tax hit now rather than owning shares in a spin-off that may have lost significant value later. Yahoo’s stock has fallen 36 per cent over the last year, making investors nervous about the risk of a further big decline.

Some are also concerned that

CEO Marissa Mayer

the Internal Revenue Service may challenge the tax-free status, which could leave shareholders with a big tax bill anyway. The IRS helped to kill off a previous Yahoo plan to spinoff its stake in Chinese ecommerce giant Alibaba Group Holding Ltd by declining to issue a ruling endorsing its tax-free nature. That would have left Yahoo vulnerable to an IRS challenge to the status at a later date.

The pressure on Yahoo’s management and board has increased since November, when Starboard Value LP, which owned 0.75 per cent of Yahoo as of Sept. 30, making it the company’s 23rd largest shareholder, called for the sale of the company’s main business instead of the Alibaba spinoff.

Yahoo in December abandoned plans to spin off the Alibaba stake and announced it would instead spinoff its other assets, including its stake in Yahoo Japan, into a new company. Now, that new strategy is also being questioned.

Canyon Capital Advisors, the 30th largest shareholder, wrote to the Yahoo board twice in December and demanded that it explore an immediate sale of the company, according to a Dec. 11 letter reviewed by Reuters. Canyon, with a 0.60 per cent stake in the company as of Sept. 30, said in one letter that a year is “too long to wait” for a spinoff.

Mason Capital, Yahoo’s seventh largest shareholder, is also pushing for an immediate sale, according to people familiar with the

matter.

Some shareholders have expressed doubts for much of the past year about whether CEO Marissa Mayer has a robust plan to revive the struggling Internet media business.

“I don’t think the market’s going to give any bump in value as long as the current management is in place,” said Eric Jackson, managing director of SpringOwl Asset Management LLC. SpringOwl, which hasn’t disclosed the size of its stake, has pushed for Mayer’s removal.

These investors criticize Mayer for what they say were a series of ineffective acquisitions and her inability to stem the continued decline in the value of the Internet media business as reasons to replace her.

But some analysts have said it is unclear if anyone could have done a better job under the circumstances.

Yahoo hasn’t publicly responded to critics and declined to comment for this story.

A person familiar with the matter tPivot Research analyst Brian Wieser.

In September, the IRS said it will no longer issue so-called “private letter” rulings to companies seeking guidance on the taxable nature of spinoffs before they happen, which means Yahoo will not know if the spinoff meets the criteria to be taxfree until after it occurs.

When asked specifically about Yahoo, IRS spokesman Dean J. Patterson said, “Federal law prohibits the IRS from discussing specific taxpayers.”

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German politicians fear hefty U.S. fine could hit Volkswagen jobs

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U.S. lawsuit against Volkswagen has sparked concern among German politicians that a multi-billiondollar fine could endanger jobs at the country’s biggest carmaker.

The U.S. Department of Justice said on Monday it has sued VW for allegedly violating environmental laws by installing devices to cheat emissions tests in several 2.0 liter diesel vehicle models.

While any fine is likely to be well short of the theoretical maximum of $90 billion, the claim has shone the spotlight back on the German company’s problems just as Volkswagen (VW) had hoped it was starting to make progress in tackling the scandal.

“Of course the news from the United States is worrying to those who are concerned about securing jobs in the German automotive industry,” said Hubertus Heil, deputy head of the Social Democrats (SPD) in the German lower house of parliament. The SPD is part of Chancellor Angela Merkel’s governing coalition.

Heil said he still hoped “dramatic consequences” could be avoided by clearing up the scandal swiftly and comprehensively.

He added VW’s workers should not be made to bear the responsibility for the misconduct of those

who carried out the emissions test cheating.

Germany has largely rallied around VW since the scandal was uncovered by the U.S Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in a bid to try to limit the damage to a company that employs some 270,000 people in Germany.

Michael Fuchs, deputy parliamentary leader for Merkel’s conservatives, said the hard line taken by U.S. authorities could bolster U.S. automakers at the expense of German rivals.

But Kerstin Andreae, deputy head of the opposition Green Party in parliament, which has criticized the coalition government’s handling of the scandal, said the U.S. government’s actions were to be expected.

Andreae

Ford will expand self-driving test car fleet to 30

F

ord Motor Co (F.N) said Tuesday it plans to triple to 30 the size of its fleet of self-driving test cars as part of an effort to accelerate autonomous vehicle development.

In an announcement coinciding with the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, Ford said it will begin using a new, lower cost LiDAR sensor made by California-based Velodyne.

The high cost of such sensors, which act as the eyes of a self-driving car, is one of the main technical obstacles to widespread commercialization of self-driving vehicles, industry executives say.

Ford said it will be the first automaker to use Velodyne’s new solid state “hybrid Ultra PUCK Auto” sensor. The compact device replaces the spinning scanners mounted on the rooftops of some autonomous test vehicles. Ford said two of these sensors

Ford car

could replace four current LiDAR sensors. The Ultra PUCKs are small enough to mount on a side-view mirror, Ford said.

Ford said it will add 20 hybrid Ford Fusion sedans to its existing 10-vehicle self-driving car fleet, and test them on roads in California, Arizona and Michigan. Rival automakers are also testing fleets of selfdriving cars on and off public roads.

Alphabet Inc’s (GOOG.O) Google has been testing self-driving cars of various kinds, including some of its own design, since 2009.

Separately, Ford said it is exploring ways to link in-home automation devices such as Amazon.com Inc’s (AMZN.O) Echo to the Sync communications systems in its cars to allow consumers to control lights or thermostats inside the home from the car, or start up cars and check fuel levels from inside the house.

30

Capital Market

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Thursday, January 7, 2016

Naira exchanges at N272 to dollar at parallel market Johnson okanlawon

T

he demand for the United States’ dollar at the parallel market rose further yesterday, driving down the naira to 272 against the dollar even as the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, sold $10,000 to the bureau de change operators.

The naira had on Tuesday closed at N262 to the dollar in the unofficial market, compared to 267.5 on Monday.

The Acting President of the Association of Bureau

de Change Operators of Nigeria, ABCON, Aminu Gwadabe, confirmed to National Mirror that the CBN sold $10,000 to the operators yesterday.

The Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Ibrahim Magu, had on Tuesday said that BDC operators involved in the ongoing $2.1 billion arms deal probe would not be spared.

According to him, there are fraudulent involvements of BDC op-

erators in the arms deal scandal, as some of operators withdrawing as much as N500million in two, three, four tranches in this arms deal scam.

“I think there should be a documentation regarding your activities, as this will enable your group to checkmate anyone who is involved in any fraudulent activity.”

Earlier, the chairman of the operators, Gwadabe, had expressed the resolve of the group to join hands with the commission in the ongoing war

against corruption and economic crimes.

He also highlighted some major challenges that the bureau de change operators were facing from policy regulators and security agencies.

The forex dealer decried the activities of black marketers who, according to him, had been giving the licensed operators a bad name.

“Most of the time, fraud is perpetrated within the banking premises,” he said.

Source: NSE

Inter-Bank Rate Naira

Johnson okanlawon

T

he benchmark index of equities on the Nigerian Stock Exchange dropped further for the third day running, as more investors sold their holdings.

The All Shares Index also lost 921.38 points to close at 27,180.76 points, compared to the opening figure of 28,102.14 points.

Market capitalisation dropped by N317 billion to close at N9.347 trillion, compared to N9.664 trillion recorded on Tuesday.

Stock analysts at APT Securities and Fund Limited noted that the general market posture remained negative as excess supply depresses stocks further.

The investment firm advised investors to en-

ment chart closed in favour of the bears with 14 gainers as against 21 losers.

Specifically, Dangote Cement Plc recorded the highest losses at the close of trading, followed by the manufacturing sector, which depressed the market with N16.57 or 9.75 per cent to close at N153.43 per share.

PZ trailed with 71 kobo or 2.91 per cent to close at N23.71 or 2.91 per cent to close at N23.71 per share, while Nigerian Breweries Plc shed N6.74 or 5.49 per cent to close at N116.00 per share.

Union Bank Plc dipped by 34 kobo or 4.93 per cent to close at N6.56 per share, while Okomu Oil Plc was down by 30 kobo or 0.94 per cent to close at N31.49 per share.

Market indicators All-Share Index 27,180.76 points Market capitalisation 9.34trn

Stock Updates

Conversely, West African Portland Cement Plc recorded the highest gains with N8.99 or 9.38 per cent to close at N105.00 per share.

Seven-Up Plc added N6.89 or 3.79 per cent to close at N188.89 per share, while Berger Paints Plc was up by 50 kobo or five percent to close at N10.50 per share.

Nigeria Aviation Handling Company Plc added 18 kobo or five percent to close at N3.78 per share and Portland Paints Plc recorded 18 kobo value addition, representing 4.79 per cent to close at N3.94 per share.

In all, investors exchanged 202.72 million shares valued at N1.481 million in 3,012 deals.

Global stocks open lower on China, North Korea worries

A

ll three major indexes fell more than one per cent yesterday as investors looked for safe havens after China allowed its currency to weaken further and oil prices fell to their lowest in more than 11 years.

Investors were also nervous about rising geopolitical tensions after North Korea said it had successfully tested a hydrogen bomb and Saudi Arabia cut ties with Iran.

The People’s Bank of China set the yuan’s official midpoint rate at its weakest level in 4-1/2 years, while a PMI survey showed services sector activity expanded at its slowest rate in 17 months in December in the country.

Gold hit a four-week high, while the US dollar touched a

one-month high against a basket of major currencies.

“While geopolitical concerns generally aren’t long lasting, rising incidents have investors and the markets concerned,” said Peter Cardillo, chief market economist at First Standard Financial in New York.

The Dow Jones industrial average was down 241.88 points, or 1.41 percent, at 16,916.78, the S&P 500 was down 27.41 points, or 1.36 percent, at 1,989.3 and the Nasdaq Composite was down 65.35 points, or 1.34 percent, at 4,826.08.

All the 10 major S&P 500 sectors were lower with the energy index’s 2.54 per cent fall leading the decliners. Shares of oil majors Exxon and Chevron were down over 2 percent

and weighed the most on the sector.

The year was off to a shaky start after weak economic data from China reignited fears of a global economic slowdown and as the dip in oil prices show no signs of abating.

US Federal Reserve Vice Chair Stanley Fischer told CNBC in an interview that levels of uncertainty had risen after events in China and North Korea.

Fischer said the Fed did not know enough at the moment to comment on how many hikes there would be in 2016 but that four hikes were in the ballpark in his view.

Investors will get a clearer picture into the Fed’s thinking when the central bank releases minutes from its December

$1

N196.98

Equities shed 3.28% as investors sustain stocks sale gage in cautious trading and accumulation of undervalued symbols in tranches to dilute exposures.

Also, analysts at DLM Securities Limited said that there was an improvement in trade volume, however, the day’s activity mirrored the recently established trend where transactions remain highly focused on sell side.

“As the performance of the market is clearly linked to the current economic cycle, we reckon that the associated risk for short term approach to investments in equities has increased considerably even as valuations remain attractive at the current depressed level,” the firm added, The market price move-

US Dollar

15-16 meeting, where it raised interest rates for the first time in nearly a decade.

Rate (%) Inflation

8.2

MPR

13

Crude oil price

$58.96

GAINERS COMPANY

OPENING

CLOSING

CHANGE

% CHANGE

WAPCO

96.01

105.00

8.99

9.36

BERGER

10.00

10.50

0.50

5.00

NAHCO

3.60

3.78

0.18

5.00

FIDSON

2.47

2.59

0.12

4.86

PORTPAINT

3.76

3.94

0.18

4.79

IKEJAHOTEL

3.13

3.28

0.15

4.79

VONO

0.85

0.89

0.04

4.71

LEARNAFRCA

0.74

0.77

0.03

4.05

NPFMCRFBK

1.05

1.09

0.04

3.81

7UP

182.00

188.89

6.89

3.79

CHANGE

% CHANGE

LOSERS COMPANY

OPENING

CLOSING

DANGCEM

170.00

153.43

-16.57

-9.75

UNHOMES

4.97

4.50

-0.47

-9.46

SKYEBANK

1.50

1.36

-0.14

-9.33

NB

122.74

116.00

-6.74

-5.49

UBN

6.90

6.56

-0.34

-4.93

ETERNA

1.86

1.77

-0.09

-4.84

TIGERBRANDS

1.08

1.03

-0.05

-4.63

FIDELITYBK

1.52

1.45

-0.07

-4.61

TRANSCORP

1.52

1.45

-0.07

-4.61

AIICO

0.96

0.92

-0.04

-4.17

FGN Bonds

Offer

Bid

Description

Price

Yield

Price

Yield

15.10 27-APR-2017

1.31

107.13

9.15

108.13

8.37

16.00 29-JUN-2019

3.48

115.42

10.58

116.42

10.27

15.54 13-FEB-2020

4.10

113.72

11.26

114.72

10.98

16.39 27-JAN-2022

6.06

121.77

11.32

122.77

11.12

14.20 14-MAR-2024

8.18

115.50

11.25

116.50

11.07

10.00 23-JUL-2030

14.54 90.54

11.34

91.54

11.19

Closing Market Prices of January 6, 2016

Treasury Bills Maturity Date

Bid

Offer

Exchange

Rates (N)

07-Apr-16

4.13

4.17

WAUA

270

USD

196.98

30-Jun-16

6.47

6.66

EURO

214

15-Dec-16

7.92

8.45

CFA

0.32

YEN

1.64

Tenor

Rate (%)

SWISS FRANC

202

O/N

1.5000

POUNDS STERLING

293

1M

8.4203

3M

9.8291

SDR

273

NIBOR

6M

11.2807 CBN Clearing Rates of December 18, 2015

Thursday, January 7, 2016

Info Tech

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

31

Local ICT investors jittery as foreign firms rev up market share drive Nigerian indigenous companies have never enjoyed adequate demand for their ICT products and solutions in the domestic market over the years due to a combination of factors, particularly high cost of business. As global economic dynamics continue to make Nigerian market attractive to foreign ICT entities, including Indian ICT products and software providers, the local investors are worried about the future of their competitiveness in the increasing changing market. Isaiah Erhiawarien reports.

G

lobally, the need for corporate entities to explore foreign markets to sustain their operations and ensure good returns for their shareholders and foreign exchange earnings for their countries is becoming increasingly imperative as major economies are beginning to slide into recession.

For instance, the whirlwinds from the international oil market over the past 18 months and other crises in Greece, China and other emerging economies have continued to pose serious threats to many countries macroeconomic stability, with the attendant implications for docile economies to bear the brunt of such upheavals in the hitherto rapidly growing economies.

A cursory appraisal of the trends of foreign markets drive by companies in Europe, Asia and other continents showed that all of them are exploring markets where they feel their products and services could compete favourably in those markets.

Among the leading companies trying to open new markets for their products are the ICT products and solutions developers.

Specifically, these companies have identified Africa as marketing haven, as most of the economies in the continent still contend with technological under-development and lack of capacity to meet domestic markets needs.

According to statistics provided by the University of Manchester’s Centre for the Development Informatics, the share of exports in total IT output has risen from 19 per cent in 1991/92 to 49 per cent in 2000/01 to 67 per cent in 2007/08 to 81 per cent in 2014/15.

In the rapidly evolving ICT export business, the Centre noted that IT companies remained a major player with the country’s yearly domestic computer hardware production in 2013/14 estimated at $3 billion while domestic IT consumption was $12.4 billion.

It was further learnt that location of production has changed since the early 1990s, such that 75 per cent of work took place onsite, while 25 per cent was in India.

And by 2013/14, it was said that 20 per cent of work took place on-site, 80 per cent in India which means that net foreign exchange earnings will have risen as a proportion of gross since offshore work requires much less foreign exchange outflow than on-site working.

According to the University of Manchester’s Centre for the Development Informatics Indian software workers who undertake

their contracts overseas, marketing, multinational profit repatriation, importation of hardware and software are estimated to be around 35 per cent of the gross figures.

As the Indian companies rev up their drive for more shares in the global ICT markets, one of the economies that are bearing the huge cost of such aggressive market drive is Nigeria, whose domestic ICT products and software market is largely dominated by the adventuring Indian entities.

In 2012, Indian ICT companies, numbering about 20, under the auspices of the National Association of Computer and Software Companies of Indian, NASSCOM, had discussion with the Information Technology Association of Nigeria, ITAN. The discussions were on various areas of partnership relating to technology transfers, domestication, deployment of local latent by Indian firms and the need to support local IT entrepreneurs to grow.

And since then, India’s export of computer software and IT products to Nigeria and some other countries of the world have increased by 16 per cent rising from $84 billion in 2013 to $97 billion in 2015.

The Indian High Commissioner, Ajjampur Ghanashyam in a press statement disclosed that there are about 200 Indian companies operating in Nigeria in areas such as e-security, finance, banking, insurance, manufacturing, education and training, embedded software, animation, packaged software, and innovative technologies.

And last year about 250 members of the Indian business community came to Nigeria for the Indian Show 2015 in Lagos, the highest Indian business delegation ever to visit any country in Africa.

National Mirror findings revealed that the Indians have gannet for software development so much that their tracks are in even seen in the most developed economy of the world.

As far back as 1980, years before Nigeria began to witness ICT revolution, the India

Shittu software industry had begun to record export figures while its overall IT outputs began from 1991.

It was gathered that although the Indian domestic IT market is large and growing, production for exports is growing faster than production for the domestic market.

But the presence of the Indians in the nation’s economy, particularly ICT is without complaint from their Nigerian counterpart as more Nigerians seem to lost businesses to them.

President of Programos Software Group, Emmanuel Amos while outlining some of the challenges of the software industry in the country revealed that there is a huge lack of patronage of India and South African developed software by mostly financial institutions.

Amos who developed software for the Nigerian Stock Exchange said that so many Nigerian software developers are not in real time business because after spending sleeplessness night writing programme for software, the software ends up in their shelf.

The reason, he said is the Nigerian mentality of absolute loyalty to imported goods, which is also reflected on the software industry noting that the Indian software are the gainers in this regard.

TalenTedge sTaTed ThaT The pacT would bring To The nigerian markeT, a bouqueT of Technology Training applicaTions ThaT had already helped To change iT learning in india and oTher developing naTions

According to the former President, Institute of Software Practitioners of Nigeria, ISPON, Mr. Chris Uwaje, “over 90 per cent of the software used in Nigeria are imported, thereby creating enormous capital flight” saying that it will only change as more investors get involved, and government pay closer attention to the industry.

But the Chief Executive Officer and co-founder, The Co-Creation Hub, Bosun Tijani, thinks that the Nigerian Software Industry is undergoing a quiet knowledge revolution.

He said at an ICT event that the software industry is driven in part by demands from evolving non-traditional sectors like entertainment, creative arts, tourism and hospitality amongst others and the general awareness of the potential role of technology in leapfrogging development across the entire African continent.

Tijani said that at Co-Creation Hub “emphasis are placed on supporting and preparing local software developers to build working prototypes of their solution, demonstrate its value through initial testing and inherently engage investors and potential customers in improving their solution through a lean approach.”

Beyond software, the Indian ICT community in the country already has firm grip on IT training in Nigeria with most of the notable IT training centres such as NiiT and Karrox coming from India.

Recently, another Indian firm, Talentedge, India’s premier technology training company, came into the country and has unveiled plans to boost information technology education in Nigeria through a partnership with local internet company, Linkserve.

32

Info Tech

Thursday, January 7, 2016

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

High electricity tariffs may stifle e-commerce growth –Expert StorieS by iSaiah erhiawarien

A

s businesses commence operations in the new year, there are fears that increased electricity bills may affect the cost of doing business, an operator of e-commerce companies has observed.

Managing Director of online hotel booking portal, Jovago Nigeria, Kushal Dutta, while responding to questions from journalists on how the industry fared last year, identified high electricity charges as a deterrent to investment and business development in Nigeria, particularly for the e-commerce sector.

This is coming as the Association of Nigerian Electricity Distributors, ANED, revealed that less than 40 per cent of electricity bills are paid by consumers and as a result higher tariffs are expected to be levied in a bid to plug the loss in power

revenue.

He said one of the highest cost e-commerce companies in Nigeria cover is electricity because online-based business need constant power supply to function and deliver services to clients saying, “we spend a bulk of our revenue which should go into increasing operations on buying diesel for generators that run almost 24 hours each day.”

He observed that with recession poised to sweep through the economy, an unstable currency washing out capital security and epileptic power supply forcing a dependence on generators, the hike in electricity tariffs will limit industry growth.

“Although we predict better market opportunities for the sector, there is need to curb this inflation in tariff pricing so that investing companies can begin to thrive and achieve real growth,” Dutta said.

‘Mobile technology models key to business growth’

M

obile technology model has the potentials to make productivity, mobility and security more efficient and profitable in 2016, experts at Signal Alliance and Microsoft has revealed.

Speaking at a business technology forum organised to demonstrate how mobile technology model affect business, the experts said that due to the current technology trend, businesses are beginning to learn more about how mobile technology can be used to increase their productivity and lead to increased profitability.

According to them, the massive growth of adoption of these technologies in Nigeria and other parts of the world has made many business managers wondering how to effectively position their firms to benefit from this trend.

One of the experts, Signal Alliance Head of Operations Sikiru Abass, said access to company’s tools is paramount to most companies to help increase the productivity of their employees saying that “It’s also been observed that today’s employees have at least one internet enabled device to consume companies’ resources. For this reason, companies need to ensure all communication between unmanaged devices and the companies’ information are secured and save.”

According to him, “This is

what a Mobility Solution offers.

It helps manage devices that are not within the security boundary of an organisation and ensure corporate data saved on employees devices are save in the case of theft or loss of the device. It also provides integration amongst applications for seamless users’ access experience and ultimately enhances the company’s efficiency in service delivery.”

While consumers of power bemoan the instability and high cost of sourcing electricity, Sunday Oduntan, executive director of the Association of Nigerian Electricity Distributors, ANED, said that the high charges were dismissible in view of the low payment habits of Nigerians.

According to Oduntan, consumers pay less than “40 per cent of their actual bills.” This

M

tinues to pile up.”

With the government removing fuel subsidies and oil marketers refusing to sell diesel at pump prices, the cost of doing business in Nigeria is expected to double over the next three months especially as oil hits a benchmark price of $38 per barrel with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) predicting a further drop to $20 per barrel by mid-year.

L-R: Mrs. Nike Animashaun, Immediate past Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Science and Technology, Mr. Yinka Farounmbi Esq., Chairman, Nigerian Bar Association, Ikeja Branch and Mr. Austin Okere, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Computer Warehouse Group (CWG Plc), at the formal unveiling of the NBA Ikeja website at the Bar Centre in Lagos

NITDA rewards outstanding corps members with prizes

R

ealising the potential of ICT for job creation, National Information Technology Development Agency, NITDA, has given its support to innovations in the ICT ecosystem in Nigeria through an

Alibaba-backed Chinese phone maker to cut workforce by 5%

eizu Technology Corp., the Chinese smartphone maker backed by Alibaba Group Holding Ltd., is planning to cut as much as 5 percent of its roughly 4,000 staff to strengthen its performance as industry growth cools.

Meizu plans to trim as many as 200 people from its workforce by mid-February and will cap headcount growth at under 10 percent this year, Li Nan, a spokesman for the company, said Tuesday. Chief Executive Officer Bai Yongxiang told employees he drew inspiration from a “20-70-10” vitality model espoused by former General Electric Co. Chairman Jack Welch, intended to root out the bottom 10 percent of performers, Li said.

China’s smartphone market growth is expected to have slowed to the “low single-digits” in 2015, IDC estimates. That deceleration is affecting a domestic industry crowded with lower-end brands

revelation was made after electricity distributors began recording redline cash receipts on a quarterly basis.

“I’ve toured all the 11 Discos and I see the same pattern across board in terms of our peoples’ attitude with respect to the payment of electricity bills,” he said, “You give a bill of N5,000 and they’ll pay N2,000 and will tell you they will clear it next time. This is how it con-

such as OnePlus, Oppo and Meizu, in which Alibaba bought a minority stake last year for $590 million to promote its “YunOS” operating system.

Xiaomi Corp., the country’s second-largest vendor, was in danger of missing its target of selling 80 million smartphones in 2015, people with knowledge of its production plans said in November.

“The mid to low segment of the smartphone market is shrinking,” said Jeff Pu, a Taipei-based analyst at Yuanta Securities Co. “Even though Alibaba’s support helps Meizu price itself very competitively, it faces a challenge in hardware profitability.”

Meizu is expected to grow shipments 25 percent to 25 million smartphones this year, according to estimates by Bloomberg Intelligence, reflecting intensified competition in the low-end smartphone market where the company mostly competes.

award initiative.

Using the Office for ICT Innovation and Entrepreneurship (OIIE), a subsidiary of NITDA prizes for ICT innovation were awarded to outstanding National Youth Service Corp, NYSC, members in Abuja who excelled in its inaugural Idea Sprint under its multi-year ICT Innovation and Entrepreneurship Programme.

Established in line with NITDA Act 2007 and National ICT Policy, the OIIE was setup to nurture, cultivate and expand the ICT innovation and entrepreneurship in Nigeria.

Winners that emerged at the inaugural edition of the programme went away with cash prizes as idea development grants. They are Opaluwa John and Awulona Obinna.

Consolation prizes and certificates of participation were issued to 13 teams of corp members who were shortlisted for the final round of the competition.

Speaking at the prize presentation, Director General of NITDA, Mr. Peter Jack said that the top five winners that received the Idea Development Grant would use the funds to produce the prototype of the ideas they have committed to NITDA OIIE. He added that some NYSC members that presented creative

ideas to OIIE would observe their one-year mandatory service with OIIE in Abuja, saying that OIIE has sent a formal request to the management of the NYSC to that effect.

“The top two richest men in the world (Bill Gates and Carlos Slim) derived their wealth from ICT. We are committed with new zeal to accelerate IT development across the country, especially ICT innovation and entrepreneurship”, he said.

Jack disclosed that to spearhead the innovation, NITDA established the office for ICT Innovation and Entrepreneurship noting that “we are pleased at the pace of work and programs emerging from this subsidiary.”

He expressed satisfaction at the level of collaboration with the leadership of NYSC, especially the Director General of NYSC, Brigadier-General Johnson Bamidele Olawumi, who has expressed full support for the programme.

National Coordinator of OIIE, Bunmi Okunowo said that OIIE will leverage on its network of incubators to monitor, support and encourage the corp members to build their ideas into prototype and then begin to build a product out of it.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Thursday, January 7, 2016

Brands & Marketing

33

Appraising prospects of Nigeria’s advertising industry in 2016 With the increasing challenges of the nation’s economy, development analysts are pondering on the direction marketing communications business will take in the current year in order to add value to stakeholders’ interests. DAVID AUDU takes a look at the sector and how its players could navigate the expected turbulent tides for survival and profitability.

L

ast year, leading global media network, Carat, had predicted that total advertising expenditure would hit US$25billion. The prediction was based on optimism of positive global and regional outlook and solid growth in Digital and Mobile spend across board.

For Nigeria, the windfall come in 2015, as the two main political parties were said to have spend N4.9 billion on election campaign shared among the various agencies in the integrated marketing communication. The euphoria or 2015 seemed be short-lived as agencies are prepared for the harsh reality of 2016 as insinuated in the 2016 budget.

The call for austerity measures compel corporate organizations and public institutions to trim down on expenditure. The huge question is how will the marketing communications which depend on client magnanimity survive? It has often been said that in a down economy, the first budget of organization to be adversely affected is the public relations and advertising budgets.

Just like any other sector of the economy, practitioners in the IMC industry, equally shares in this admixture of pessimism but tinged with hope and optimism.

For instance, while many, in the, would see the new year as that which may ultimately sound the death knell of the industry, since the fortune of crude oil, the mainstay of the nation’s economy, has not fared better in the global market, not a few however still see the year as that of ‘recovery’ for the industry, especially with the body language of the new government in place, signifying its readiness to take the bull of the economy by the horn.

For instance, one of those factors the optimists hinge their belief, of a more prosperous IMC industry in Year 2016, on is that of the change mantra, being preached by the government at the centre, and which seems to be having a trickle-down effect on every sector of the economy.

The Managing Partner of a Lagos-based public relations outfit, Mr Bolaji Abimbola, in a telephone chart with National mirror argued that unlike the previous year, where the first two quarters of the year were ‘squandered’ on elections and electioneering campaigns, operators in the various sectors of the economy might settle down for business, earlier than expected, in the new year; a development, he believed, would be further enhanced by the early release of the nation’s budget.

“Besides, the presidential media chat, for me, is an eye opener that more than ever before, the industry would be needed, at least to communicate some of the intentions and sometimes those laudable programmes of the present government to Nigerians; since it is obvious that the government has the best of intention in turn-

Chairman, APCON, Ufot Udeme

President AAAN, Kelechi Nwosu

WHILE ARGUMENTS CONTINUE TO MOUNT ON WHAT THE ADVERTISING INDUSTRY MAY LOOK LIKE IN THE YEAR, PERHAPS THE COMMON CONSENSUS AMONG INDUSTRY PLAYERS IS THAT OUTLOOK FOR BUSINESS SURVIVAL AND GROWTH STILL REMAINS BRIGHT ing the nation’s economy around.

“Moreover, if you notice the trend in the past few months, various businesses are keen on coming to explore the nation’s market, and this is no doubt good business for us in the industry since they would need communications to penetrate the market,” argued Bolaji, who is the managing partner of Indigo, a Lagos-based public relations firm.

Bolaji, however, stressed the need for practitioners to re-tool and re-invent to remain relevant in the industry; noting that practitioners, still desirous of doing business the old way should not expect to see different results in the year.

“For instance, public relations and experiential arms of the industry might steal the show in the year; since brand owners are looking for a measurable and more cost-efficient way of marketing their brands, a space which I think PR and experiential marketing will be able to fill conveniently this year,” he argued.

This optimism is also shared by John Ajayi, publisher of the popular integrated marketing communications journal, the Marketing Edge Magazine. According to him, the recently- pronounced restrictions on the foreign exchange would no doubt go a long way in protecting the domestic industry and enable genuine local businesses to do business in Nigeria, since it would go a long way in checking abuse.

He also believes the early release of the nation’s budget would enable businesses settle down on time; since the budget usually forms the blueprint for individual

and corporate budgets in Nigeria.

“What this early treatment of the budget, by both the executive and the legislative arms of government as we are currently seeing, means is that individuals and corporate organisations would not have to sit idly throughout the first quarter of the year, as it is usually the norm in the past years, when Nigerians wait endlessly for the release of the nation’s ever-delayed budget,” he argued.

Managing Director, Compact Communications, Mr Chuddy Uduenyi, would not be left out of the optimism train either. While arguing against the claims in some quarters about the possibility of the MTN’s N1.04 Trillion fine ‘derailing’ the advertising spend in the new year, the marketing communication expert believes that rather than impacting negatively on the overall advertising spend for the year, the development might even bolster the spend.

“Ordinarily a lot of people might look at it from that perspective, especially going by the fact that the telecoms service provider remains a huge spender in that segment. But the fact remains that this is not the time for the network to cut down on advertising budget.

“It would be a year the telecoms outfit would have to embark on several marketing communications campaigns to tell its own side of the story. And the beautiful thing in all these is that the telecoms outfit is a big brand that understands the importance of communications,” he stated.

But Mr Biyi Adesuyi, the Chief Execu-

President PRCAN, John Eheguise

tive Officer of Wealthgate Advisor would rather preach ‘cautious optimism’, especially to those looking for a rosy new year for the industry.

“With all the developments on both domestic and foreign scenes, there is no way the purchasing power of the average Nigerian consumer would not be affected.

“For instance, while the fate of our crude oil in the global market has continued to dwindle, more worrisome is the fact that the United States of America would start exporting crude oil in huge quantity, as from this year January. The country had not exported this product in the past forty years, which means we have more competitors on our hand to grapple with now.

“Besides, the embargo on Iran has been lifted which means that Iran will also join the number of countries participating on the global oil market, a development that may not be good news to the nation’s economy.

“Since every government in Nigeria relies on oil to survive and the citizenry both individual and corporate, in turn, rely on the government to survive, what it means is that the purchasing power of the average Nigerian consumer is not likely to be enhanced unless a miracle happens. And in a situation where the purchasing power of Nigerians continue to be hampered, the consequences should better be imagined,” he stated.

While arguments continue to mount on what the advertising industry may look like in the year, perhaps the common consensus among industry players is that outlook for business survival and growth still remains bright.

For instance, with the much-touted diversification of the economy taking place, resulting in enhanced purchasing powers, the IMC may still have cause to smile in the New Year.

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Brands & Marketing

Thursday, January 7, 2016

Data to be prioritized in global marketing strategies STORIES: DAVID AUDU

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ew research from the World Federation of Advertisers, WFA, has demonstrated how important data has become for brands seeking to understand consumers and deliver personalised marketing.

The research reveals that as data consumption and processing increases, marketers are becoming increasingly respectful of consumer privacy, and how they handle personal data.

The research, conducted in conjunction with The Customer Framework, found that 72 per cent of senior marketers view data as a strategic asset, although more than half are only just starting the process of giving it a central place in their marketing strategies.

Based on responses from 32 companies with a global annual marketing spend of $35bn, the survey found that 31per cent described themselves as advanced or highly advanced in

the adoption of data-driven marketing, DDM, using multiple data personalisation and segmentation techniques.

These advanced companies were underpinning their efforts with a range of technology solutions including customer relationship management systems, analytical systems, data management platforms and rules engines.

However, not all companies are as advanced. Fifty-six per cent of respondents recognise they are still early in the journey, at best in the initial planning stage and have yet to deploy a DDM strategy.

The study also found a range of confidence in analytics, with only half “somewhat confident” and 27 per cent “not very confident” in their ability to identify return on investment via data analysis.

Nevertheless, investment into analytics and insight is on the rise with 89 per cent of respondents expecting to increase budgets and 31

per cent to boost them “greatly”. The goal is to evolve the analytics function from historical reporting of ‘what happened’ to more predictive and prescriptive approaches, something that a quarter of respondents already claim to be able to deliver.

The desire to build direct customer relationships via the use of first-party data was clearly highlighted by the research, with 73% of respondents considering this ‘business critical’, and 88% planning on ramping up usage.

With the increased use and processing of consumer data, however, 85% of respondents acknowledged that privacy is integral to building customer trust, and more than just legal compliance.

New data protection legislation in Europe, for example, which is expected to come into force in 2017 following a two-year implementation period, will create a number of additional compliance obligations for brands seeking to process data for marketing purposes.

L-R: Globacom customer, Tosin Ajayi; Globacom Brand Ambassador, Burna Boy and another Glo customer, a medical officer at Nigerian Prisons Service, Jonas Akwajie, at the Glo Stand at the ongoing One-Lagos-Fiesta, sponsored

by Globacom at Bar Beach.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Long service workers unveil new Shoprite mall

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embers of staff who worked for Shoprite supermarket chain since it was first launched in Nigeria in 2005 officially unveiled the company’s new mall as it opened its 16th supermarket in Lagos, Nigeria recently.

Shoprite Executive Director, Mrs Adeola Kagho, who initially joined Shoprite Nigeria as a Store Admin Manager, cut the opening cake, while other long-serving employees, including a former Creditors Manager, now the Regional Admin Manager for the South region Femi Oke, and a former Back Admin Manager, now the Branch Manager for Shoprite Apapa Mall, Julius Nwankwoala, participated in the official opening of new store.

Located off Lekki-Epe Express

Road in Lagos, the 3,500m2 store caters for all daily, weekly and monthly food and household requirements of its customers.

In addition to the wide range of food and non-food lines, it features various service departments including butchery, bakery, fish shop, delicacies, fresh fruit and vegetable department as well as a wide range of wine & liquor.

With 18 standard till points, six express tills and 379 parking bays, the Shoprite at Circle Mall offers customers a convenient shopping experience. Branch manager Mr. Collins Amadi and his team invited the local community to visit their new store for a pleasant and hassle-free shopping experience.

12,000 people experience 2015 CBS family fun fair

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ver 12,000 people, families and friends visited the 2015 edition of the Continental Broadcasting Services, CBS, family funfair with many recalling great experiences.

The fair which held for 20 days at the company head office in Lagos featured live performances from top Nigerian Hip hop and Fuji artistes, including Adekunle Gold, Helen Paul and Obesere.

Speaking on the success of the Funfair, Director Programmes, Continental Broadcasting Service, Morayo Afolabi-Brown, described the 2015 edition as a memorable fair.

“The 2015 edition of CBS Family Funfair was in every sense an unforgettable experience, right from the start date till the end. What we did differently this year was to ensure that every single idea was a reflection of the theme of the fair.

“This year, we provided entertainment, games and refreshments appropriate for all age groups in a harmonious atmosphere. Right from the gate to the venue and within, we made sure that the security was very tight and we are excited to say again that, just as before, there was neither one crime

reported, nor any accident or injury recorded, she added.

“Over 12,000 people visited and enjoyed CBS Family Fun Fair this year, and we have received nothing but showers of encomiums and praises. It was a success in every way and we look forward to a great future, and of special thanks to some of our sponsors and partners; MTN, Infinity Snacks, etc for believing in our brand.”

Reflecting on her experience, Mrs Abimbola Okesina, who visited the Funfair for the first time with her family members, described the fair as a wonderful experience for her family.

She said that, “With N1, 000, my kids enjoyed lots of games, swimming and fantastic gifts from Santa for a whole day. Though, I did not want to come at first, but the feedback from one of my neighbors that attended the fair during the first week and the images online encouraged me to give it a shot. After my experience, I had to invite my brother’s kids for a two day holiday at my place just because I wanted them to have a feel and I am glad they did too.”

HP Nigeria, Star Wars AwakenYourForce launch holiday campaign SIFAX group strategizes for global dominance, trengthening it market propo- Storm trooper branding . Other HP ly and are entered into a draw to

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sition across the globe, the leading device manufacturing company, HP has partnered with Star Wars, the American epic space opera franchise, centered on a film series created by George Lucas to create exceptional experience for its customers across the segment.

The HP Star Wars Campaign, which broke recently online and in Lagos at the Genesis Deluxe Cinema, Lekki, where selected HP customers across Lagos were hosted at the private screening of Star Wars The Force Awakens VII, at the screening customers had the rare opportunity to experience the new HP StarWarsTM Special Edition Notebookloaded with customized Star Wars images and movies, the notebook comes with Aurebesh design,heavybacklit keyboard,

Notebooks showcase were the detachable Pavilion x2 & convertible Pavilion x360 The new campaign, which is global, is being run in Nigeria and Kenya simultaneously for the African market and a consumer promotion is built into it to ensure customers get full value for the money worth. According to the Marketing Manager for HP West, East and North Africa,Tolulope Lawani, who spoke on the essence of the campaign, said “HP believes that technology can empower anyone from anywhere, and we are enabling those with passion and ingenuity to put their own mark on Star Wars: The Force Awakens.

Consumers who purchase any HP Star Wars Special Edition, Pavilion x2 & Pavilion x360 from participating retailers gets rewarded instant-

WIN and amazing prizes weekly” “This campaign is to further support our drive to reach the young and mature millennial. To ensure we localized this campaign, we’ve partnered with one of Nigeria’s foremost Artiste Ice Prince to engage with HP Consumers and teeming fans in the Awaken Your Force Competition where fans with the most creative entries and most likes are entered to win amazing HPdevices” Lawani said.

On the expectation of the campaign in Nigeria, the West, East & North Africa Marketing Manager said “With the support of our partners Intel & Microsoft, our expectations are very simple, reach-out to our audience, drive sales and of course engage with our consumers beyond selling but giving them value.”

unveils new identity

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IFAX Group, a multinational corporations with interests in maritime, aviation, haulage & logistics, oil & gas and hospitality, has launched a new brand identity as part of the company’s efforts at repositioning the brand for its next growth phase.

The strategy behind the new identity, which was unveiled to the media in Lagos, is to achieve a very strong corporate brand, SIFAX Group, which will deliver superior customer experience across all its subsidiaries.

Speaking at the event, the Group Executive Vice Chairman of the company, Dr. Taiwo Afolabi, who was represented by the Managing Director, SIFAX Shipping Company Limited, Mr. Markus Brinkmann, said the brand was transiting to a global one

and needed a strong brand identity to compete on the global stage.

“The consensus about our performance and impact on the Nigerian business environment is that we have done very well. With interests across maritime, aviation, haulage & logistics, oil & gas, hospitality, among others, SIFAX Group has carved a unique niche for itself. With various diverse opportunities emerging globally, we felt the need to launch a new identity that signifies our global business intentions and ambitions.

“This identity, among other reasons, would bring uniformity to our image as a company across all our subsidiaries, improve our service delivery and establish our brand as a force to reckon with in all our areas and countries of operations.”

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Media

Thursday, January 7, 2016

35

Digital switchover: NBC calls for appropriate regulatory structure Leonard okachie

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head of the digital switchover in 2017, the Director General of National Broadcasting Commission, Mr. Emeka Mba has called for an appropriate regulatory structure to be put in place, so as to accommodate the changes in the new era.

The director-general, who made this call during his New Year message, stressed that digital is by its nature disruptive, “It will disrupt the way we do television and the way we interact with television.

This means that the present rules and regulations as applied will need to also undergo some changes to make them more suitable in the new era.

He disclosed that the Commission had’’ begun an early review of the Nigeria Broadcasting Code and would embark on securing necessary legislative backing to accommodate the anticipated changes in the digital era.

Mba said that the Commission is starting its public enlightenment in January along with its grassroots campaigns to make sure that the people are adequately and accurately informed of the change that is coming.

Reiterating reason Nigerian failed to meet the switchover deadline in the previous year, Mba said: “We have given Nigerians detailed explanation on why we could not meet the ITU’s June 17, 2015 deadline for the switchover from analogue to digital broadcasting.

“It was largely due to lack of funding. But we have also seized the initiative by working with our neighbours in the ECOWAS, who were also looking up to us for leadership and partnership; and we have agreed on a new DSO deadline of June 20, 2017.

“We in Nigeria are working day and night to meet this new deadline. Our target is that by that date, more than 80 per cent of Nigerians that depend on free-toair television services are given adequate coverage before the final switchover. We cannot afford to leave anyone behind. Indeed, we are not leaving anyone behind.”

He stated Plateau State, which is the pilot state, now has full digital signal coverage, but recognised that the large majority of the people who receive freeto-air television are not on digital yet; neither affording digital television sets, nor subscribing to pay platforms.

Digital TV studio

He maintained that they would need set top boxes to enable them enjoy the digital experience, adding that the Commission has put in place a strategy for securing set-top boxes, which would enable everyone join the digital platform.

Mba boasted that NBC’s set top box strategy is to manufacture it here in Nigeria, insisting, “In that regard, we are already working with 18 Nigerian companies, which are at various stages of starting local production of set top boxes. This will not only provide the needed

equipment, but will also provide badly needed jobs for Nigerians.

“However the first batch will be manufactured offshore in order not to further delay the transition. Plateau state is almost ready for deployment, and we are already looking to the next set of states that will join the digital platform.

“We are at the same time encouraging the development of the digital platforms through the Pay TV services, now available in about 32 cities across Nigeria.”

The director-general urged broad-

casters to use their medium to create an engaging platform for the freedom of expression as well as to set the agenda for national discourse in a manner that promotes unity, tolerance and understanding of all shades of opinion.

“Broadcasters must remember that we are fighting a war against insurgency, and must not lend themselves to the propaganda of the enemies of our nation by sensationalising stories about them to the detriment of the morale of our gallant troops,” he said.

Journalists accuse Lalong of gagging James abraham Jos

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ournalists in Plateau State under the aegis of Correspondents’ Chapel of Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ has called on Governor Simon Lalong not to suppress press freedom in the state.

The group in a statement in Jos expressed concern over what it called “Government’s attempt to censor the practice of journalism in the state through restricted access to Government House, Ministries and Agencies as well as government functions” The statement which was signed by chapel Chairman, Mr. Aminu Yusuf Idegu and Secretary,Peter Amine, blamed the problem on the information managers of the Governor It insisted that the composition of the media team of the Governor, which comprises Director

of Press and Publicity Mr. Samuel Emmanuel Nanle, Senior Special Adviser Media and Publicity Mr. Mark and Commissioner for Information and Communication Mallam Nazifi Muhammed, fell below expectation considering the Governor’s earlier promise to “appoint the best hands in positions of authority that would play significant role in sharpening, articulating and implementing strategic government policies for sustainable development”.

Expressing frustration that the situation is made worse particularly by the Director of Press and Public Affairs,Emmanuel Nanle who it accused of hardly picking calls from journalists seeking government clarifications on certain issues, the statement called on the Governor to urgently address the issues involved.

The statement further condemned a situation whereby members of the Chapel have never been invited for any government functions in

the state since the last seven months of the APC administration saying that such disposition does not augur well for the information dissemination of government activities and programmes.

Part of the statement reads:”The Chapel strongly advise Governor Simon Lalong to realise the critical role of information dissemination in his government by ensuring he sets up a functional media team that will effectively coordinate media activities in the state.

This has become necessary to ensure Lalong

36

Media

Thursday, January 7, 2016

IFJ advocates international laws protecting journalists Leonard okachie

Journalists

ed killings and unless the journalist is a well-known by-lined correspondent the world barely notices. Journalism is put daily to the sword in many regions of the world, where extremists, drug lords and reckless warring factions continue murdering journalists with impunity.”

The report said IFJ recorded an escalation of violence in the Middle East, targeting media professionals by extremists in Iraq and Yemen, where there was a spike in killings and kidnappings, mainly of local journalists covering their cities, communities and countries.

In Latin America,IFJ observed that the killings were mostly at the hands of drug lords who operate across borders, particularly in Mexico, putting journalists who investigate drug trafficking in the region at greater risk.

The Federation also urged the UN to take concrete measures through its Ac-

tion Plan for the Safety of Journalists and take a strong stand against impunity for crimes targeting journalists.

The Federation said that it ran a three-week campaign in 2015 to hold governments accountable for the lack of investigation of crimes against journalists, which leads to the erosion of freedom of expression across the world.

“The IFJ reports over the last 25 years have clearly shown that journalists and media staff have become easy targets because there is very little respect for national and international laws that are supposed to protect them,” added Anthony Bellanger, IFJ General Secretary.

“The current levels of violence against media workers have served as a wake-up call. They have opened a small window of opportunity to take drastic action to enforce these legal provisions, which should not be missed.”

Media Abroad

Saudi Arabia, Egypt block access to Qatari-owned news website

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audi Arabia, Egypt and the United Arab Emirates are blocking access to a Qatari-owned news website in a sign of escalating tension in the region.

A spokesperson for Al-Araby AlJadeed, which runs The New Arab and its Arabic language version, described the move as surprising and unexplained.

Both sites were initially blocked by the Saudi Arabian Ministry of Culture and Media, and then in the UAE and Egypt.

In a statement, Al-Araby Al-Jadeed said: “The blocking of these websites goes against the company’s principles of supporting democracy, human rights and liberty, as well as the notion of press freedom. The New Arab and its sister site provide a platform for the voice of the Middle East and aim to provoke an exchange of ideas and open discussion in a responsible manner.”

The sites were particularly popular in those countries that had put the blocks in place, it added.

Pope launches monthly prayer intention video on social media

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resident of International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), Jim Boumelha has called on the United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and the heads of UN agencies to enforce international laws protecting journalists.

The Federation according to its annual report published recently observed that 2015 was another deadly year for journalists, with at least 109 journalists and media staff killed in targeted killings, bomb attacks and cross-fire incidents.

The IFJ 2015 list named the 109 journalists and media staff killed across 30 countries, together with three who died of accidental deaths, noting that it marked a small drop from 2014 when 118 killings and 17 accidents were recorded.

It stated that 2015 was marked, in particular, by an increase in targeted terrorist attacks against journalists, stressing that French journalists paid a disproportionately high price when terrorists gunned down media workers at the French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo in Paris.

According to IFJ, iIn the United States, the killing by a disgruntled ex-employee of two former colleagues at US TV WDBJ in Virginia took place in front of a global TV audience during a live transmission.

Boumelha, said “I reiterate once again my call to UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and the heads of UN agencies to enforce international laws protecting journalists. The attacks in Paris shocked the world and put on the world stage the tragedy of the drip-drip slaughter of journalists worldwide, which are today the only professional group that pays so dearly for just doing the job.

“Sadly, there were scores of unreport-

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Saudi King Salman

Doug Madory, director of internet analysis at Dyn, an internet performance company which tracks access restrictions, confirmed that users in Saudi Arabia were barred from The New Arab. Visitors from within Saudi Arabia to www. alaraby.co.uk, which is based in London, are currently presented with messages in English and Arabic saying “sorry, the

website requested is violating the regulations of the ministry of culture and information”.

When asked why the site had been blocked, Al-Araby chief executive Abdulrahman Elshayyal said he didn’t know: “We have been balanced and objective in our coverage despite the silly accusations.”

The site, like fellow Qatari news outlet Al-Jazeera, has come under fire from Egyptian authorities, which have accused it of being a mouthpiece for Islamic political group the Muslim Brotherhood.

Egypt, which at the start of December was imprisoning more journalists than any country except China, has proved especially hostile to Al-Jazeera, locking up three of the channel’s journalists under terrorism offences until releasing and either deporting or pardoning them last year.

ope Francis’ monthly prayers will soon broadcast on social media so Catholics around the world can watch his message and pray with him, a Jesuit-led prayer coalition has announced.

The Jesuit-led Apostleship of Prayer program announced on Vatican Radio this week that starting on Jan. 6 (yesterday) the pontiff ’s monthly prayer intentions will be broadcast on the social media platforms of Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.

Jesuit Father Frederic Fornos said during an interview with Vatican Radio that the pope’s appearance on social media will offer hope to Christians facing a multitude of daily challenges.

Fornos added that the purpose of the new iniative is to encourage Christians around the world to pray with the pope. “[…] to pray together with Pope Francis for these challenges will help a lot,” Fornos said on the radio program.

The video, which will also be available on YouTube along with social media platforms, will be offered in 10 different languages.

According to the Vatican, the first prayer intention, set to air on Wednesday, will have the theme of peace and justice among all people of faith, with the Vatican saying in a statement that the purpose of this prayer intention will be “that sincere dialogue among men and women of different faiths may produce the fruits of peace and justice.”

According to the Catholic Herald, the pope’s topics for his 2016 prayer intentions include “greater care for creation; more support for families in difficulty; just compensation for small farmers; greater respect for women and indigenous peoples; helping sports contribute to peace; encouraging journalists to respect truth and be more ethical; greater support for countries that take in refugees; and an end to the use of child soldiers.”

The pope’s Twitter account has 8.23 million followers and he uses the platform to share tweets and post photos with fans in the many countries he visits throughout the year.

The pope has been described by many as both the “people’s pope” and a pope for

Pope Francis

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Young & Next Generation

Thursday, January 7, 2016

37

Cliqfest: UNICAL stands still for Nigerian Idol stars Leonard okachie

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igerian Idol discoveries, Evelle, K-Peace, Eye-D and Dolu recently brought alive good memories of the leading TV reality show when they took to the stage to perform at the just concluded Etisalat Nigeria’s Cliqfest, a youth-centric edutainment initiative held at the University of Calabar in Cross River State.

Leading the pack on the day was Nigerian Idol Season 5 Winner, Kunle Ogunrombi popularly known as K-Peace whose rendition of John Legend’s ‘All of me’ in Fuji thrilled the students to no end and he topped his beautiful showing with his latest single ‘Orire’, meaning “I’ve Made it” The students were further treated to wonderful display of vocal artistry and strong performance from the winner of Season 4, Evelle real name Evelyn Zibili who sang some of her singles such as ‘I’m Naughty’ and ‘Kilimanjaro’ to great applause from the delighted students.

There were performances on the day from Dolu and Eye-D, both Nigerian Idol runners up for season 5 and 4 respectively. Dolu reminded the crowd of her sonorous voice which ruled the waves during her time on the Nigerian Idol show with a rich rendition of Adele’s ‘Hello’.

Eye-D, like her successor, serenaded the crowd with her ‘Pray for Nigeria’ note dedicated to the trying times the country is going through.

Like in other tertiary institutions that have experienced the Cliqfest storm since its debut, the students turned up in large numbers for the two-day event which included a seminar by renowned motivational speaker, Niyi Adesanya who dished out nuggets on how to suc-

Leonard okachie

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orried by the incessant child sexual abuse in the country, children have been advised not to allow anyone touch their bodies, especially their private parts and should quickly call attention whenever there is such a move.

Founder and Project Co-ordinator of Christianah Fate Foundation, Mrs. Christianah Akindolie, said this at free

L-R: Eye-D, K-Peace and Evelle at Cliqfest UNICAL

ceed in the market place. It also featured a football match, a rap music contest, dancing competition and a raffle draw where phones and laptops were won by the students.

The climax of the event was the emergence of Violet Ukama, a 400 Level student of Soil Science as winner of the star prize, a Hyundai i10 car, in a raffle draw.

The Dean, Student Affairs, University of Calabar, Prof. Eyong Ubana said the university was grateful to Etisalat Nigeria for visiting the school, and commend-

ed the company for taking a huge interest in Nigerian youth especially students of tertiary institutions.

Manager, Youth Segment at Etisalat Nigeria, Idiareno Atimomo remarked

that Cliqfest is a platform that allows Etisalat to engage with its customers, while bringing them fun, entertainment and learning that they need.

“Cliqfest takes us to 16 tertiary institutions annually - Federal and State Universities, Polytechnics and Colleges of Education. We do not discriminate because the youths are important to us; they are the future, and also rank as some of our best customers who are loyal to us. So this is our own unique way of showing our appreciation to them,” he said.

Experts warn against child sexual abuse

child workshop entitled, “Child Sexual Abuse Awareness and Prevention” held in Lagos.

The workshop organised by Christianah Fate Foundation, a Non -Governmental Organisation, was attended by

Members of Young Christian Workers (YCW), St. Michael’s Catholic Church, Ajaguro, Ikorodu, at children’s Christmas party, organised by YCW in collaboration with Catholic Women Organisation (CWO), recently. Photo by LEONARD OKACHIE

parents, teachers, journalists, child advocacy groups, security agents while resource persons from legal and medical fields were on ground to educate participants on Child Sexual Abuse, CSA. Akindolie who spoke on the topic: “Child Sexual Abuse, a Silent Epidemic” said child sexual abuse is eating deep into the society and people hardly speak about it because of fear of stigmatisation.

She defined child sexual abuse as any activity that takes place between an adult and a child, a teenager and a child, an older child and a child, which a child cannot fully understand nor give consent to.

She said that it is confirmed that one of every three girls and one of every six boys will have experienced one form of sexual abuse before attaining the age of 18 even as she listed abuse of other children, promiscuity, homosexuality, masturbation, suicide, sleeplessness among others as effects of child sexual abuse.

The inspirational speaker and author of Child Sexual Abuse –A Handbook for Children, urged the media as a powerful tool in curbing child sexual abuse, to develop story lines, images, cartoons, programmes that promote sexual health attitudes in children.

On how to prevent child sexual abuse, Mrs. Akindolie advised parents to get education on CSA, teach their children defensive skills (touch & secrets), report any abuse, know their children’s friends and not to trust anyone one with their children.

Speaking on “The Role of Security Agents in Child Sexual Abuse”, Barrister Abiye Tam-George stated that when sexual abuse occurs, it involves other forms of abuse such as emotional, physical and neglect.

Giving legal implications on CSA, the Child Rights consultant noted that sections 357, 359, 360 of the Criminal Code, provide for the definition of rape, punishment for rape, attempted rape and indecent assault on females.

38

Young & Next Generation

Leonard okachie

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inister of Youths, Sports and Social Development, Mr. Solomon Dalong has charged the National Youths Service Corps (NYSC), to renovate all existing orientation camps in the country.

The minister, who made this call when he paid an official visit to the NYSC Orientation Camp at Iyana-Ipaja, in Lagos State, said it had become very important for the camps to be upgraded to accommodate the increasing number of graduates that would be expected for the scheme.

While expressing satisfaction during the tour at the Lagos camp, he charged the NYSC to install a high tension illuminating light at the camp, to ensure adequate security.

“You should have high tension Illumination at the camp, as soon as possible. If you have over 2,000 Nigerians in a place like this, you should have a perfect illumination due to the present security challenges in the country. I am impressed with what I have seen on ground at the camp; the facilities are good, I am satisfied,’’ he said.

Dalong advised the scheme to put it in mind that more people will be using the facilities as it embarks on renovation.

He said, “I am saying this because I do not know when we will get a new orienta-

Thursday, January 7, 2016

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Minister charges NYSC to renovate orientation camps nationwide

NYSC orientation camp in Lagos

tion camp, but we are sure that we will have more students passing out of the tertiary institutions. When we started this scheme, we never planned for what we have now.

“Nigeria did not plan to have the number of graduate we have today, so the whole concept of NYSC would have started with permanent structures. The visionaries of the scheme did not antici-

pate that the scheme would live this long, after the civil war.’’

Dalong maintained that t the Federal Government would sustain the NYSC scheme, adding that he would stand for the sustenance of the scheme and that it should continue to grow.

The minister continued: “What we need to do now is introduce skills acquisition, empowerment; we need to now re-

package the scheme.

“At the level of the Federal Government, we are thinking of after the mandatory one year service, those who want to learn a trade, skills acquisition and entrepreneurship can be retained and be given more training.

“Our graduates are enlightening minds, whatever you teach them, they will survive with it.So a grant will be given to them at the end to start off and train other people.’’

Director-General, NYSC, Brig. Gen. Johnson Olawunmi, while conducting the minister round the camp, said it had five boreholes which served over 200 rooms.

Olawunmi said the budget of the corps was reduced from N1.7 billion to N227 million between 2013 and 2015.

He said the corps was facing serious challenges following the reduction by the past administration.

“We pay Security about N180 million yearly to secure all the orientation camps in the country out of the budget and we are left with little or nothing to run our programmes.We have even reduced the camp to two batches, because of lack funds,” he added.

Science for Kids

Parental absence affects brain development in children –Study

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esearchers in China have found that children who have been left without direct parental care for extended periods of time show larger gray matter volumes in the brain, according to a study being presented today at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA).

Throughout the world, due to political upheaval, economic necessity or other reasons, parents sometimes are compelled to travel away from home for months or years at a time, leaving their children behind.

In China, large numbers of workers are migrating away from their children in pursuit of better jobs. Researchers wanted to study how this migration has affected the millions of children who have been left in the care of relatives for a period of more than six months without direct parental care from their biological parents.

“We wanted to study the brain structure in these left-behind children,” said study author Yuan Xiao, Ph.D. candidate at the Huaxi MR Research Center and the Department of Radiology at West China Hospital of Sichuan University in Chengdu, Sichuan, China. “Previous studies support the hypothesis that parental care can directly affect brain development in offspring. However, most prior work is with rather severe social deprivation, such as orphans. We looked

at children who were left behind with relatives when the parents left to seek employment far from home.”

For the study, which was led by Professor Su Lui and conducted at the Second Affiliated Hospital & Yuying Children’s Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, MRI exams from 38 left-behind girls and boys (ages 7 to 13) were compared to MRI exams from a control group of 30 girls and boys (ages 7 to 14) living with their parents. The researchers then compared the gray matter volume between the two groups and measured the intelligence quotient (IQ) of each participant to assess cognitive function.

The researchers found larger gray matter volumes in multiple brain regions, especially in emotional brain circuitry, in the left-behind children compared to children living with their parents. The mean value of IQ scores in left-behind children was not significantly different from that of controls, but the gray matter volume in a brain region associated with memory encoding and

Children of Grace High School, Gbagada, during the recent Parents’ Appreciation Day

retrieval was negatively correlated with IQ score.

Since larger gray matter volume may reflect insufficient pruning and maturity of the brain, the negative correlation between the gray matter volume and IQ scores suggests that growing without parental care may delay brain development.

“Our study provides the first empirical evidence showing that the lack of

direct parental care alters the trajectory of brain development in left-behind children,” Xiao said. “Public health efforts are needed to provide additional intellectual and emotional support to children left behind by parents.”

Co-authors on the study are Lili Yang, M.D., Zhihan Yan, M.D., Yuchuan Fu, M.D., Meimei Du, M.D., and Su Lui, M.D. Source: Radiological Society of North America

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Broad Street Diary

Thursday, January 7, 2016

39

Ijora traders seek govt’s intervention on market reconstruction

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raders at Ijora Seven up have protested against the developer saddled with the responsibility of reconstructing the proposed market. The traders in their hundreds alleged that the developer had questionable character and that they could not trust in him.

The traders, who expressed their displeasure during the protest at the market on Tuesday, said they were not against the redevelopment of the market, which was awarded to a contractor, Mr. Apostle Adeniyi, the CEO of Yinbif Ventures; rather, they rejected the developer himself based on his alleged questionable character.

They said the developer would leave the project uncompleted as shown by some such projects he had handled in the past, thereby subjecting traders to more hardship as well as disrupting the commercial activities in the market for a longer period of time.

They therefore called on the Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwumi Ambode, the Lagos State Market Board and the Iyaloja General of Nigeria, Mrs. Folashade TinubuOjo and the National Leader of the All Progressives Congress, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu to stop the proposed demolition and reconstruction of the market.

The protesting market women said they wanted the Iyaloja General to select the contractor to handle the redevelopment of the market, rather than giving it to a developer who has a ‘’controversial record’’ in the business of construction.

According to one of the protesters who identified herself as Mrs. Filicia Oloruntobi, investigations conducted by the traders about the contractor chosen to handling the project revealed that many projects handled by him were abandoned midway which caused the original owners more hardship.

Oloruntobi appealed to Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwumi Ambode, to set up a committee to look into the matter, describing the governor as a person who doesn’t want anyone to suffer in the state.

She said the developer

had earlier given the traders seven days ultimatum to demolish the structure in the market forcing the traders to relocate most of their wares to their houses.

Also speaking, Mrs. Musilimot Tejuosho, said the proposed reconstruction would further compound their hardship because they suspected that after the reconstruction they might not be able to access the market as result of

planned exorbitant price the developer would put on the shops as rent.

Tejuosho recalled that the original occupiers of similar reconstructed shops in some areas such as Oshodi and Yaba as well as Lagos Island never returned to their shops due to high rents placed on the shops after reconstruction.

In a remark, the leader of Igbo Traders in the market,

Udo Ezekiel, appealed to relevant authorities especially the Iyaloja General of Nigeria to come to their aid, saying the developer and the contractor wanted to subject them to untold hardship and make them unable to cater for their families.

He added that the relocation of their wares from market to their homes made them to celebrate the New Year with sadness. He expressed

fear that the little amount realised from their business might not be enough to settle the payment of the shops after reconstruction, pleading for the intervention of the Iyaloja General to ease their pains.

He added that Mrs. TinubuOjo knows their pains and would not agree with the terms and agreements that would not favour the traders.

–Abolaji Adebayo

CBD and the unending culture of street trading

Street traders at Breadfruit Street, Lagos Island

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raders in Balogun market and its environs have called on the Lagos State government to continue to allow them trade on the streets.

The traders, who spoke with Broad Street Diary, BSD, on Wednesday, said many of them embark on street trading to survive because they could not afford the high cost of renting shops.

They also appealed to the present administration to build shops that are affordable to masses.

“We want the government to help us by building more shops that are affordable to small-scale traders because shops on the Central Busi-

ness District around here are highly expensive,” Mrs. Adejoke Ogunlana lamented.

She told Broad Street Diary, BSD, that it is government that can ameliorate the plight of traders like her. “I don’t even have enough capital to trade, not to talk of getting money to pay rent even if shops are available.

“We are appealing to the Governor to continue to allow us trade on the streets because we have dependants that we must meet their needs.

She commended the Lagos State government on the efforts to reduce crime in the market and for maintaining a clean environment made possible by the Central Busi-

ness District officials who were always on hand to ensure that people comply with environmental rules.

Another trader, Mr Chinedu Nwanze told BSD that they are appealing because they want the government to allow them to continue to do business on Broad Street.

“Most times we are not always comfortable because of the fear of the CBD officials who usually come to seize our goods.

That is why I usually come very early to sell and sometimes in the evening when they might have closed for the day,” He said.

But a shopper, Mrs Fayida Salami, was of a different opinion, she told BSD that

government should not allow street trading.” I don’t support that since the government established CBD, sanity has returned to the market and we can shop with ease.

She said if government legalise street trading on Broad Street, the market will returned to Balogun of old where crime was the order of the day.

Also, one of the shop owners who do not want his name mentioned said government should not allow street trading, according to him, if it is allowed, shop owners may not be able to make enough sales as it will be a disincentive to shop owners.

–Saidat Alausa

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Capital Market

Thursday, January 7, 2016

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Stock exchange daily equities summary Equities as at January 6, 2015 1st Tier Securities

1st Tier Securities Sector

Company name

No Of Deals

Quotation(N)

Quantity Traded

Value of Shares(N)

Sector

Company name

No Of Deals

Quotation(N)

Quantity Traded

Value of Shares(N)

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

41

Thursday, January 7, 2016

World News I have to say what I have to say. There’s a problem. We have to find out what the problem is and then try to solve the problem.

–US REPUBLICAN PRESIDENTIAL HOPEFUL, DONALD TRUMP

Tearful Obama reiterates strict gun laws AFOLABI GAMBARI

WITH AGENCY REPORT

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resident Barack Obama grew emotional late on Tuesday as he made a passionate call for a national sense of urgency to limit gun violence.

Obama was introduced by Mark Barden, whose son Daniel was killed in the 2012 massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Connecticut and circled back to that shooting in the final moments of his speech.

“Every time I think about those kids, it gets me mad,” Obama said, pausing to wipe away tears.

“And by the way, it happens on the streets of Chicago every day,” referring to his hometown where he began his political career.

The White House is seeking to expand background checks for buyers. The measure clarifies that individuals “in the business of selling firearms” register as licensed gun dealers, effectively narrowing the

US President Barack Obama so-called “gun show loophole,” which exempts most small sellers from keeping formal sales records.

Former Congresswoman and gun control advocate Gabby Giffords, who was seriously injured in a 2011 mass shooting, was

also in attendance at Tuesday’s event and was greeted with a standing ovation from the White House audience.

Obama hammered congressional Republicans for opposing measures like expanded background checks as he called on

Americans to punish them at the polls and defended his actions to strengthen background checks for purchasing guns, answering critics who say the measure would not make it harder for criminals to obtain firearms.

“Each time this comes up, we are fed the excuse that commonsense reforms like background checks might not have stopped the last massacre, or the one before that, or the one before that, so why bother trying,” Obama added.

The President blasted the gun lobby, particularly the National Rifle Association, and insisted that his actions are “not a plot to take away everybody’s guns.”

Meanwhile, Democratic presidential front-runner, Hillary Clinton, vowed in New Hampshire on Tuesday that she will take on that fight and continue Obama’s gun control push if she is elected.

“I will have to build on that progress, not rip it away,” Clinton said.

Syria conflict: Besieged villages in ‘tight corner’

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he situation in three besieged villages in Syria is extremely dire, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) warned yesterday.

Activists said civilians had died because of a lack of food and medicine in rebel-controlled Madaya, near Damascus, or died trying to escape.

People are also reported to be eating grass to survive in the government-held Foah and Kefraya, in the north-west.

The ICRC said it hoped to get aid to all three villages in the coming days.

The UN said all parties to the four-year conflict in Syria had used siege warfare, in clear breach of international human rights and humanitarian laws.

An estimated 393, 700 people were living under siege as of late October.

Madaya, which is situated about 25km (15 miles) northwest of Damascus and 11km from the border with Lebanon, has been besieged since early July by government forces and their allies in Lebanon’s Shia

Islamist Hezbollah movement.

The situation in the predominantly Shia villages, about 7km (5 miles) to the north of the rebel-held provincial city of Idlib, is also reported to have worsened since the fall in September of a nearby government air base where helicopters were able to land and drop off food supplies.

Placard-carrying Syrian children yesterday

Gang sex assaults worry Germany

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spate of alleged sexual assaults and robberies at New Year’s Eve festivities in the German city of Cologne

Angela Merkel

has fueled a political firestorm over immigration in Germany.

Ninety criminal incidents, a quarter of which were sexual assaults, were reported following New Year’s Eve celebrations in the city, Cologne police told CNN. Police said victims described the perpetrators as gangs of Arab or North African men. Many of the assaults were likely intended to distract, allowing attackers to steal mobile phones and other devices, police said.

Authorities said the crimes, including a rape, occurred around the train station, next to the western German city’s landmark cathedral.

Video footage of the celebrations in the area show riotous scenes, with revelers shooting

fireworks into crowds.

In a phone call with Cologne Mayor Henriette Reker Tuesday, German Chancellor Angela Merkel expressed outrage over the attacks, labeling them “disgusting” and calling for the culprits to be identified and punished as soon as possible.

Cologne police Chief Wolfgang Albers said at a press conference Monday that the incidents were “intolerable,” describing them as “crimes of a totally new dimension.”

The episode raised questions about the viability of Cologne’s famous Carnival next month when hundreds of thousands are expected to join celebrations on city streets, he said.

WORLD BULLETIN

N/Korea tests hydrogen bomb North Korea yesterday celebrated what it called a successful hydrogen bomb test-a milestone that, if true, marks a colossal advancement for the reclusive regime and a big test for leaders worldwide to determine what to do about it.

“Make the world look up to our strong nuclear country and labour party by opening the year with exciting noise of the first hydrogen bomb,” read a document signed by North Korean leader Kim Jong Un on state television.

Pyongyang has been very vocal about its nuclear ambitions, pressing on despite widespread condemnation, sanctions and other punishments. Having a hydrogen bomb-a device far more powerful than the plutonium weapons that North Korea has used in three earlier underground nuclear tests-ups the ante significantly.outside

ANC moves against racism South Africa’s governing African National Congress (ANC) says it will push for tougher legislation to jail anyone guilty of racial bigotry or glorifying apartheid.

The nation has been gripped by a racism row after Penny Sparrow, an opposition Democratic Alliance (DA) member, on Facebook called black people monkeys.

She denied she was a racist, although the DA party suspended her membership.

A spokesman for the ANC chief whip’s office, Moloto Mothapo, said current legislation was insufficient to tackle racism.

The ANC also said it had filed criminal charges against several DA members-including Sparrow and MP Dianne Kohler Barnard.

NASA issues El Nino warning US space agency NASA has warned that the effects of the current El Nino weather phenomenon could be as bad as those of 1998, the strongest on record.

That El Nino played havoc with world weather systems and was blamed for several extreme weather events.

The current El Nino has been linked to several floods and unusually warm conditions in the northern hemisphere.

The phenomenon sees warm waters of the central Pacific expand eastwards towards North and South America.

El Nino, which occurs every two to seven years, usually peaks late in the calendar year, although the effects can persist well into the following spring and last up to 12 months.

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North

Thursday, January 7, 2016

500 Catholic faithful march for peace in Kaduna A zA Msue, KAduNA

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o fewer than 500 Catholic faithful yesterday marched in Kaduna State, demanding for peace in Nigeria and the world in general.

Leading the peaceful march to commemorate this year’s World Peace Day, Archbishop of Kaduna Catholic Archdiocese, Most Rev. Mathew ManOso Ndagoso, said justice and equity must be practiced, otherwise peace will be difficult to achieve in the society.

Ndagoso, who called on suspected nation’s looters to repent and seek God’s forgiveness, urged President Muhammadu Buhari to convict corrupt Nigerians for milking the country dry.

The archbishop, who wondered how looted monies recovered were misappropriated, called on Bu-

hari to follow due process in his war against corruption.

“We want the conviction of all looters; and they should bring back all they looted for us to move forward as a nation.

“We must win peace for the world. We are here to demonstrate our desire for peace in Kaduna, Nigeria and the world at large.

What concerns my brother concerns me; what is affecting a nation affects another nation.

“When people’s rights are denied, there may be problem. Our resources are for all, not for few people.

How individuals stole our common wealth meant for all. There must be justice in the family and the society; if not, it may be difficult for peace to reign.

“We have to repent as a nation. There is suffering in the land. We are suffering because of greed and selfishness,” he said.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Army, Shiite clash: ‘No group bigger than Nigeria’ A zA Msue, KAduNA

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eneral Officer Commanding, GOC 1 Division, Nigerian Army, Kaduna, Major General Adeniyi Oyebade, yesterday said the Nigerian Army has no apology for any group or sect that threatens the peace and stability of the country.

“In the cause of doing our work we make no apology to any group, either Shiite sect, Christian sect or even pagan sect that constitute obstacle to protecting the lives of Nigerians,” Oyebade said.

Briefing journalists at

the premises of 1 Division in Kaduna, the official said the Nigerian Army has no issue with the Islamic Movement of Nigeria or Shiite sect.

According to him, “they (Shiite) are like any other sect in the land; as long as they obey the law of the land, no problem.

But if any group chooses to challenge the authority of the land, it means they do not value sanctity of life and the Nigerian Constitution.

“There is no organisation in the land that respects sanctity of life more than the Army because that is the business we do, to safeguard the lives of the people.

“We have problem with those who choose to challenge the authority of the state and create a state within a state, and do not recognise the laws of the land.”

He insisted that the Army remains the guardian of Nigeria’s democracy, adding that any attempt on the life of the Chief of Army Staff, COAS, is akin to an attempt on a sitting president.

On the general security of the North West zone, which is his jurisdiction, the GOC said Boko Haram has been defeated. He also insisted that what is happening now is mere mop-up op-

eration and solicited support from the communities, revealing that about 21 Boko Haram members have been picked up within the zone.

The GOC said during the past year six soldiers were killed in the course of different operations, while about 10 were seriously wounded and two soldiers had gone missing.

He added that North West state governors have also been assisting in providing needed support and collaboration with the army and other agencies of government to ensure calm in the zone.

Kaduna dissolves 23 councils’ interim committees A zA Msue, KAduNA

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aduna State government yesterday dissolved the interim management committees of 23 local government councils.

A statement by Samuel Aruwan, spokesman of Governor Nasir el-Rufai, explained that the decision was based on the expiration of their six-month term of office.

The government also directed each Interim Management Committee to handover to the most senior director in their respective local governments, who would oversee the office of chairman pending action by members of the House of Assembly.

The statement reads: “The interim management committees of the 23 local government councils were appointed on July 3, 2015 for a period of six months in the first instance. The Local Government (Administration) Law No. 12 of 2012 provides that their tenure can be extended by the Kaduna State House of Assembly.

“The government has made appropriate submissions for the extension of the tenure of the IMCs, but the House of Assembly is currently on recess.

Therefore, the lawful thing to do is to dissolve the interim management committees with effect from January 6, 2016.

“Mallam Nasir el-Rufai, governor of Kaduna State, has therefore approved the dissolution of the interim management committees.

The governor also extended his profound appreciation to all the IMC members for their selfless and dedicated service to their local governments in particular, and Kaduna State in general,” Aruwan said.

GOC, 1 Division, Nigeria Army, Maj.-Gen. Adeniyi Oyebade (right), inspecting some weapons seized from members of Islamic Movement in Kaduna, yesterday.

PHOTO: NAN

26 Yola prison inmates freed Livinus Menedi, YOlA

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atholic Diocese of Yola has facilitated the release of 26 prison inmates serving sentences with option of fine from Yola Prison.

Bishop of Yola Catholic Diocese, Rev. Father Stephen Dami Mamza, who facilitated the release of the inmates, yesterday after he met their fine condition before their release, said the church’s compassion represents the outlook of the global Catholic Church to commemorate 2016 as the Year of Mercy.

Mamza, who gave insight into the release of the inmates, said he was

moved with compassion to seek the release of the inmates, some of whom he disclosed have been incarcerated for over a year due to their inability to pay the meagre fine option attached to their sentences.

He said he came to know about the plight of the inmates following the shocking revelation of one of the inmates sentenced to two years imprisonment with an option of N700 fine, when he visited Yola Prison during last Christmas celebration.

He said in line with the church’s outlook to commemorate 2016 as the Year of Mercy, he felt it

was only proper to show mercy to some of these prisoners who couldn’t afford their fine.

“Some of them it is only N700 but he couldn’t afford to pay and he is serving two years. For some others it is N1,000 but the highest is only about N11,000. So I got somebody to compile those affected.

“I decided to do this because this year is very special and has been declared by the Holy Farther Pope Francis, as the Year of Mercy. We need to be merciful to one another so that God can be merciful to us,” the bishop said.

Superintendent Kawo A. Ribadu, who represent-

ed the prison Comptroller while setting the inmates free, reminded them that their freedom had been facilitated by the Catholic Church.

“The Bishop here has paid your fine, you are therefore free,” Kawu said, while admonishing the 26 released inmates to be responsible citizens in the society.

But the reprieve which came for the inmates however raised concerns about the excesses of local vigilantes, after it was discovered that one of the released inmates and only female was extra-judicially sentenced to two years imprisonment or an option of N12,000 fine.

Blessing Ishaku, the only female among the released inmates, had spent one month into her two years sentence before her release yesterday. She told journalists that members of a vigilance group picked her up a month ago around their neighbourhood and handed her over to the police. She said she however ended up at Yola Prisons after being sentenced to two years jail term with an option of N12,000 fine.

The 17-year-old teenager explained that since none of her relatives knew her whereabouts and there was no one to pay the fine, she ended up at the prison.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

North

Thursday, January 7, 2016

Lawyer docked over N11.6m fraud Wole aDeDeji, ilorin

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n Ado Ekiti-based lawyer has been arraigned in Ilorin, Kwara State, for allegedly defrauding a client of N11.6m.

The lawyer, Mr. Benjamin Onyeabo, was arraigned at an Ilorin Chief Magistrate’s Court alongside one Dominic Ochi for criminal conspiracy, criminal breach of trust, fraud and forgery charges against them in a case said to be contrary to sections 97, 312, 174 and 363 of the Penal Code law by police prosecutor, Inspector James Odaodu.

An ex-Offa Local Gov-

ernment chairman, Mr. Segun Olawoyin, who is also a legal practitioner, had written a petition to the police on December 9, 2015, complaining that sometime in January 2014 he filed a civil process on behalf of his client, one M.B. Global Nigeria Ltd., at the Ekiti State High Court and at the time used the accused person’s office as address of service for the suit.

The accused person allegedly collected N11.6m from the court on behalf of the complainant’s client, M.B. Global Nigeria Ltd., since December 2014, out of which he paid only N1,666,700 to him (Olawoye) and converted the balance to his own personal use.

The accused person had

allegedly fraudulently prepared and filed terms of settlement in the matter, which led to the court’s judgment without the complainant’s consent.

According to police’s First Information Report, FIR, investigations conducted by the police showed that the accused persons, Onyeabo and Ochi, conspired to fraudulently obtain the court’s judgement without the consent of the petitioner and subsequently converted the bulk of the judgement sum paid into their personal accounts since December 2014 without the consent or approval of the petitioner.

Inspector Odaodu, after the accused lawyers had pleaded not guilty to the

charges, objected to their lawyer’s request for bail by the court.

He told the court that investigation was still ongoing on the matter, pointing out that any attempt to admit the accused to bail at the stage of prosecution would jeopardise investigation.

The prosecutor told the court presided over by Chief Magistrate Nurudeen Adeyanju, that the accused persons might jump bail if granted, because they are not resident in the court’s Kwara State jurisdiction.

However, Chief Magistrate Adeyanju granted the accused persons bail for N1 million each with three sureties in like sum.

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Niger to spend N4.9bn on education - Vatsa Priscilla Dennis, Minna

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iger State Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, Mr. Jonathan Vatsa, says the N4.29 billion pegged for the education sector is meant to improve its fallen standard in the state.

Vatsa, who stated this in Minna, said currently, the education sector was in a sorry state; hence, the need to adequately tackle challenges confronting it headlong.

“Education is the bedrock of any nation; if you give people good education you have brightened their future.

The present administration, having seen the problems of education, rose to the challenges by trying to improve on

its fallen standard.

“Governor Abubakar Bello has already declared a state of emergency in the education sector. Because of the rotten system, all hands must be on deck to redeem our schools,” he said.

According to him, the budget for the sector would be spent on the provision of basic amenities and train and re-train teachers in line with the world’s best practice, adding that all schools in the state would benefit from the money allocated to education.

He lamented that the immediate past administration only wasted resources without according the education sector the priority it deserves.

Abubakar presents N135.3bn budget in Bauchi ezekiel TiTus, Bauchi

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overnor Mohammed Abdullahi Abubakar of Bauchi State has presented a budget proposal of N135.3bn for the 2016 fiscal year to the House of Assembly to deliberate upon.

Adamawa PDP governorship candidate, Malam Nuhu Ribadu (middle), sympathising with traders during his visit to the recent burnt Central Market in Yola, yesterday. Right is Chairman of Adamawa State Traders Association, Alhaji Ibrahim Muhammed.

NEMA records reduction in road crashes Gloria usman, aBuja

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ational Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, said it recorded a significant reduction in the number of road crashes during the 2015 yuletide.

Speaking during Operation Eagle-Eye’s flag-off ceremony and celebration of the accident-free end-ofyear 2015, NEMA’s zonal coordinator, Abuja operation office, Ishaya Isah Chonoko, who disclosed this, noted that the number of traffic crashes recorded during the ember month was nothing compared with what was recorded in previous years.

“We are celebrating with other critical stake-

holders involved in disaster management on the achievements recorded during the yuletide, which in the past was characterised by high road traffic crashes and similar incidents; however, during the 2015 yuletide, we cannot say it was zero accidentfree but significantly, the number of road crashes reduced,” he said.

Chonoko attributed the development to effective coordination and proactive nature of disaster managers in the country in preventing occurrence of incidences, stressing that stakeholders should be more proactive and maintain the status quo in line with the United Nations decade of action against road traffic injuries - 2010-2020 - which

aims at reducing road traffic fatalities by 50 per cent.

He gave a breakdown of Emergency Response and Ambulance Bays, ERABs, in Abuja by the agency from inception in September 2013 to November 2015 as1,264 incidents involving 4,852 persons. About 1,749 persons were injured; the total number of death is 218, while the total number of persons not physically injured is 2,885.

He maintained that incidences between April 2014 and October 2015 ranges from road traffic accidents, fire, collapsed structures to five incidences of bomb explosions - three at Nyanya, one at Wuse II and one in Kuje.

The coordinator said an analysis of the report showed that in every 10

incidences responded to, nine were road-related crashes caused by overspeeding, disregard for traffic rules and regulations and non-use of pedestrian bridges.

He said: “Road traffic crashes remains the highest cause of death especially in developing countries like Nigeria,” adding that road crashes should be treated as a national emergency and that concerted efforts should be made to mitigate their impacts.

Continuing, he said: “It is my hope that as we celebrate accident-free end of year 2015, we must equally continue to step up our efforts in reducing road traffic crashes through prevention, enforcement and response.”

It is made up of N65,498,008,456 as recurrent expenditure, and N69,805,091,554 capital expenditure.

Presenting the budget proposal to the Assembly, Governor Abubakar gave the recurrent revenue in the budget as N67,136,820,593.

The estimate is made up of internally-generated revenue, IGR, of N9,998,136,773 and statutory allocation of N57, 138,683,820, making a total of N67,136,820,593.

The governor also said the budget’s recurrent expenditure of N65, 498,008,456 comprises a personnel cost of N25, 182,118,675; overhead cost of N23,745,885,004; and consolidated revenue fund charges of N16,570,004,777.

According to the governor, the consolidated revenue fund charges comprise pension and

gratuity of N8.5 billion; public debt charges/debt services of N7.02 billion; and public officers’ salaries of N1.04 billion.

Abubakar said it is projected that Bauchi State would realise capital receipts of N57,714,770,077, comprising an opening balance of N250 million and internal loans of N21,600,000,000; external loans of N7,774,261,216; grants and aids of N9,993,223,164; and other capital receipts/local government joint project of N18,097,285, 697.

The budget’s capital expenditure breakdown shows that the administrative sector got N5.4 billion; economic sector N30.5 billion; law and justice sector N1.9 billion; regional sector N3.3 billion, and the social sector 28.5 billion, bringing the total to N69,501,091,554.

The governor explained that the present administration came into power at a time the economy was at the brink of total collapse with public treasuries at all levels of government empty. It also coincides with a period of high level corruption and insecurity of lives and property nationwide.

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Thursday, January 7, 2016

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Army explains delay in payment of troops’ allowances

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igerian Army on Wednesday explained the delay in payment of allowances to some of its officers, attributing it to challenges of implementing the Treasury Single Account, TSA, by the Federal Government.

Maj.-Gen. Hassan Umaru, the Theater Commander of the Operation Lafiya Dole, told newsmen in Maiduguri that the troops of the Nigerian Army had done the country proud by their gallant efforts against the Boko Haram insurgents.

CORRECTION OF NAME

My name was Wrongly written as Adesuyi Adebowale John imstead of Owoeto Samuel now Owoeto Samuel. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME This is to inform the general public that AUSTIN GUOBADIA ODIASE with date of birth 13th August 1956 and AUSTIN GUOBADIA with date of birth 14th August 1957 is the same person, that I now wish to be known, called and addressed as MR. AUSTIN GUOBADIA ODIASE with date of birth 13th August 1956. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME FORMERLY KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS IBRAHIM TAIWO AYOOLA NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS IBRAHIM TAIWO MUSTAKEEM . ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID GENERAL PUBLIC SHOULD PLEASE TAKE NOTE

CHANGE OF NAME

UDE: I, formerly known and addressed as MISS UDE CRESCENTIA IFEANYI, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS CHIEGWU CRESCENTIA IFEANYI. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

ILUKWE: I, formerly known and addressed as ILUKWE CHIGOZIE IFEANYI, now wish to be known and addressed as ILUKWE CHIGOZIE IFEANYI PAUL. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as SAHEED OLASUNKANMI ALABI, now wish to be known and addressed as SAHEED ALABI OTOLORIN. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

He said the authorities were doing all within their power to fast track payment of the troops’ allowances as soon as possible.

He said: “Let me acknowledge the tremendous successes and achievements of our gallant troops in the field.

“Their discipline, determination, courage and selfless service are highly appreciated by our dear nation and the world at large.’’

However, Umaru said that the introduction of the TSA last year by the CHANGE OF NAME

Federal Government slowed down businesses in some agencies, the military inclusive.

“We are all aware of government’s introduction of the TSA, which in one way or the other affected government organisations.

“The development also affected the payment of salaries to civilians, apart from the officers and men of the Armed Forces,” he added.

The theater commander said some troops in the theater had also not been paid allowances due to

the development, noting that there were some other administrative issues hindering payment of the troops allowances.

“There are issues of duplication of names, wrong account numbers, improper Bank Verification Numbers (BVN) and the

CCB verifies assets of governor, 125 others in Kano

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ode of Conduct Bureau (CCB) has verified the declared assets of Governor Abdullahi Ganduje and 125 other government officials in Kano State.

Director of CCB in the state, Alhaji Umar Sau-

CHANGE OF NAME

lawa, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Kano yesterday.

He said the state’s Deputy Governor, Prof. Hafiz Abubakar, as well as local government chairmen were among others whose

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assets were verified.

Saulawa said that the verification exercise was conducted with the bureau’s Federal Commissioner-in-charge of North West Zone, Alhaji Ibrahim Manzo.

He said that the essence

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as Mrs. Nworgu Nene, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Nene Kingsley Nworgu. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

Formerly known and addressed as OGUNKOYA FATAI AINA OLATUNJI, now wish to be known and addressed as OGUNKOYA FATAI OLATUNJI. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

Formerly known and addressed as Ominisan Ebimobowei Joseph, now wish to be known and addressed as Hitler Ebimobowei Joseph.

All former documents remain valid.

General public please take note.

Formerly known and addressed as MR. AHMED ADEGBOYEGA , now wish to be known and addressed as MR. WAHAB AHMED OLAWUWO. All former documents remain valid.

General public please take note.

UNUMADU: I, formerly known and addressed as MISS UNUMADU ELIZABETH OLUFUNMILAYO , now wish to be known and addressed as MRS. AROWOSAFE ELIZABETH OLUFUNMILAYO. All former documents remain valid.

General public should please take note.

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CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as John Afomma Akudo, now wish to be known and addressed as Onyekwe Angela Akudo. All former documents remain valid.

General public please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as Rahman Moshood Aremu, now wish to be known and addressed as Abdulrahman Moshood Aremu. All former documents remain valid.

General public please take note.

Formerly known and addressed as ELUROMA PATIENCE UDUGBA, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. UDUGBA PAT NDIDI. All former documents remain valid.

General public please take note.

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CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as MISS AJIBOYE AJOKE FOLASHADE. Now wish to be known and addressed as MRS. ODUBADE AJOKE FOLASHADE. All former documents remain valid.

NYSC and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CHIGOZIE: I, formerly known and addressed as ANYAEGBU IFEANYI CHIGOZIE, now wish to be known and addressed as ANYAEGBU IFEANYI SOLOMON. All former documents remain valid.

General public should please take note.

I formerly known as SOKEMI KEHINDE BABAWALE. Now wished to be addressed as SOKEMI KEHINDE OLUWADAMILOLA. All former documents remain valid.

First Bank, Zenith Bank Plc., and the general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME I, FORMERLY KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS Miss OGUNYEMI OLUWAKEMI NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS Mrs. JUNAID OLUWAKEMI MODUPE .

ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. GENERAL PUBLIC SHOULD PLEASE TAKE NOTE

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

NWOBODO: I, formerly known and addressed as NWOBODO MONDAY JOHN, now wish to be known and addressed as CHRISTOPHER AFAMEFULA MONDAY.All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

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EBUE: I, formerly known and addressed as MISS EBUE AMAKA GENEVINE, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS MADU AMAKA GENEVINE. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

OCHI: I, formerly known and addressed as MISS ASSUMPTA CHINENYE OCHI, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS ASSUMPTA CHINENYE CHUKWU. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

NGENE: I, formerly known and addressed as HAPPINESS AKUABATA NGENE now wish to be known and addressed as HAPPINESS AKUABATA NGENEAGU.All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME AHARA: I, formerly known and addressed as AHARA SAMUEL .O., now wish to be known and addressed as AHARAO SAMUEL. All former documents remain valid.

General public should please take note.

Formerly known and addressed as FABIYI TEMITOPE, now wish to be known and addressed as OGUNBANKE TEMITOPE FALILAT. All former documents remain valid.

General public and Skye Bank should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly known and addressed as JINAD MORUFAT ABISOLA, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS. MEMUD-ODUSANYA MORUFAT ABISOLA. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly Francis Oladejo Akintade now wish to be called and addressed as Agbaje Kabiru Wale. All former documents remain valid , General public take note.

ONAH: I, formerly known and addressed as ONAH GILBERT ONOYIMA, now wish to be known and addressed as EZEH GILBERT ONOYIMA. All former documents remain valid. Enugu State Universal Basic Education Board (ENSUBEB), FCMB, Access Bank and general public should please take note.

Formerly ABDULLAHI MODE now wish to be called and addressed as ANGO ABDULLAHI GERO. All former documents remain valid. Eco Bank PLC and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

CORRECTION OF NAME This is to inform the general public that my name was written as METIBEMU FEYISOLA CHRISTIANAH instead of METIBEMU CHRISTY. My correct and full names is METIBEMU FEYISOLA CHRISTY henceforth. All former documents remain valid. Heritage bank, First bank and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, Formerly known as MISS ANNA ABAKA ANGBALAGA, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS. ANNA ALLU OMBUGADU. All former documents remain valid. NYSC, other concerned authorities and the general public to note please.

CHANGE OF NAME

I formerly known as ADEMOKUN IBIYELE RACHEL, now wish to be known and addressed as AKANDE OBIYELE MODUPEOLA. All former documents remain valid.

The general public should please take note.

OYEDEKO: I, formerly known and addressed as MISS OYEDEKO ABIMBOLA, now wish to be known, called and addressed as MRS AKINWUMI ABIMBOLA. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME EKUM: I, formerly known and addressed as EKUM MONICA NNEJI, now wish to be known, called and addressed as MAKONG MONICA NNEJI. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME EZEH: I, formerly known and addressed as EZEH NONYE GLADYS, now wish to be known, called and addressed as OFFORDILE NONYE GLADYS. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

I FORMERLY MISS ADEWALE ADENIKE AMINAT NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS MRS YUSUF ADENIKE AMINAT. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. NYSC, UNION BANK, STANBIC IBTC AND GENERAL PUBLIC TAKE NOTE.

CHANGE OF NAME

ISRAEL: I, formerly known and addressed as UKWUBILE ELEOJO ISRAEL, now wish to be known and addressed as UKWUBILE ELEOJO INELO. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

CORRECTION OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed : as TAIWO KEMI AYETOSHO, now wish to be known and addressed as TAIWO KEMI BABATUNDE in every documentation & identification. General public please take note.

SHITTU: I, formerly known and addressed as MARIAM EJIDE SHITTU, now wish to be known, called and addressed as OMOTOLANI MARIAM ABUBAKRE. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

BEBINKI: I, formerly known and addressed as ESTHER JONAS BEBINKI, now wish to be known, called and addressed as ESTHER ABANG EROH. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME Arogundade:I formerly Miss Arogundade Foluke Mary now Mrs Olajubu Foluke Mary, All former documents remain valid,Diamond Bank and the general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

OKOYE: I, formerly known and addressed as MISS OKOYE DORIS CHIMA, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS OBIEKWE DORIS CHIMA. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

CORRECTION OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

I, MRS OSANI MODUPE A., the propriatress of DUPEOLU COMPREHENSIVE COLLEGE wish to change the name of the College from the above named COLLEGE, to be known, called and addressed as VALUE PLACE COLLEGE. All former documents remain valid. General public and Authorities Concerned to take note.

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as IDOWU ADENIYI GABRIEL, now wish to be known and addressed as OLUWASEUN GABRIEL TAIWO. All former documents remain valid.

General public please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME I, formally known as Adesuwa Evelyn Okhiria, now wish to be known and addressed as Adesuwa Evelyn Agbontaen. All my documents remain valid with this development. General public take note.

FORMERLY KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS IBRAHIM TAIWO AYOOLA NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS IBRAHIM TAIWO MUSTAKEEM . ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID GENERAL PUBLIC SHOULD PLEASE TAKE NOTE

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Formerly known and addressed as MISS ADERINTO SAUDAH ADEBUKOLA , now wish to be known and addressed as MRS SANUSI SAUDAH ADEBUKOLA . All former documents remain valid.

General public please take note.

THAT MY NAME WAS WRONGLY WRITTEN IN MY BVN AS MEMUDU and MARUFAT. MY CORRECT NAME THAT I WISH TO BE KNOWN AND CALLED AND ADDRESSED IS MRS. MEMUD ODUSANYA MORUFAT ABISOLA. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

Formerly known and addressed as OPASHOLA TITILOPE JUDITH now wish to be known and addressed as OLUWAFEMI OLANIKE ALICE. All former documents remain valid, general public should please take note.

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of the verification was to make corrections where necessary.

The director thanked the governor and other public officers for their turn out during the exercise and called on others to emulate them.

He listed members of the state House of Assembly as well as heads of government boards and parastatal agencies as constituting the next batch in the verification exercise.

Formerly called, known and addressed as JERRY ANSLEM now want to be known, called and addressed as ASHIBUOGWU LUCKY ANSLEM. All former document remain valid. U.B.A Bank and General public take note.

Formerly known and addressed BLESSING EMMANUEL now wish to be known and addressed as BLESSING ORADI NGODOO. All former documents remain valid , general public should please take note.

Formerly known and addressed as Akeem Iyabo Gbemisola, now wish to be known and addressed as Olaitan Iyabo Bolatito. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

new policy of remitting allowances directly into individuals’ accounts,” the commander said.

He said both the Federal Government and the military authorities were making efforts to provide more logistics to enhance the troops operation.

CHANGE OF NAME

This is to inform general public that my name was wrongly wrtten as ASHERI IDOWU STEVEN instead of ASHERI IDOWU STEPHEN. That my correct name is ASHERI IDOWU STEPHEN henceforth. All former documents remain valid. First Bank, U.B.A Bank and General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

AGONNA: I, formerly known and addressed as AGONNA OLUSEGUN SHADRACK, now wish to be known, called and addressed as SOLOMON OLUSEGUN SHADRACK. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

Thursday, January 7, 2016

Thursday September 4, 2014

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

45

Sport

Angola hold Eagles in Pretoria

Lots of people think the MLS is a walk in the park. Far from it. I have experienced the league to know the great quality

46

–LA Galaxy midfielder, Steven Gerrard

Aubameyang

Ayew

Toure

2015 Glo-CAF Awards

Toure, Ayew, Aubameyang await decision tonight

EVEREST ONYEWUCHI SPORTS EDITOR

W

ho will win the 24th African Best Player crown for 2015? The winner will emerge later this evening at the International Conference Centre, Abuja, Nigeria, as the Glo-CAF Awards ceremony holds.

The gala is expected to be with a lot of pomp, ceremony and glitz, as Africa honour its illustrious sons and daughters who have distinguished themselves across the world, playing or administering football in the last one year.

A major highlight of the night will be the African Player of the Year Award category, with the top three players -Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang of Gabon & Borrussia Dortmund of Germany; four-time African Player of the Year, Yaya Toure of Cote d’Ivoire and Manchester City, and Andrew Ayew of Ghana and Swansea City FC – shortlisted.

Mbwana Aly Samatta of Tanzania and TP Mazembe, Baghdad Bounedjah of Algeria and Etoile du Sahel and Robert Kidiaba of Democratic Republic of Congo and TP Mazembe are the top three nominees in the Africabased ‘Player of the Year’ Award.

The lists were prepared through a vigorous selection process by the Technical, Football and Media Committees of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), taking into account the performance of the players for

their national teams as well as clubs from January to November of each year.

Expectedly, the gala for the annual award, sponsored by next generation telecommunication network, Globacom, will be a gathering of top football celebrities and government officials across Africa.

A statement from Globacom yesterday, said that top sports administrators and government functionaries from different parts of the world had arrived in Abuja for the ceremony which will be presided over by the acting President of FIFA and President of CAF, Alhaji Issa Hayatou.

Top acts expected to entertain guests and VIP’s at event include singing sensation, Salif Keita, an afro-pop singer cum songwriter from Mali, who is rated highly because of his reputation as the “Golden Voice of Africa”, Ladysmith Black Mambazo, a South African male choral group that sings in the vocal styles of isicathamiya and mbube. Awilo Longomba, a Congolese musician who was a drummer in Viva la Musica, Stukas, Nouvelle Generation, Charles Nii Armah Mensah Jnr popularlyknown by his stage name Shatta Wale, a Ghanaian born producer and reggae-dancehall musician. Ahmed Soultan, a Moroccan singer artist, considered as one of the leaders of the “Nayda” (new urban Moroccan scene) and Sammie Leigh Bush Jr. known professionally by the mononym Sammie, an American R&B singer best known for his hit, “I Like It”.

Past Winners 1992

Abedi Pele

(Ghana)

1993

Rashidi Yekini

(Nigeria)

1994

E m m a n u e l Amuneke

(Nigeria)

1995

George Weah

(Liberia)

1996

Nwankwo Kanu

(Nigeria)

1997

Victor Ikpeba

(Nigeria)

1998

Mustapha Hadji

(Morocco)

1999

Nwankwo Kanu

(Nigeria)

2000

Patrick Mboma

(Cameoun)

2001

El Hadji Diouf

(Senegal)

2002

El Hadji Diouf

(Senegal)

2003

Samuel Eto’o

(Cameroun)

2004

Samuel Eto’o

(Cameroun)

2005

Samuel Eto’o

(Cameroun)

2006

Didier Drogba

(Cote d’Ivoire)

2007

Fredric Kanoute

(Mali)

2008

Emmanuel Adebayor

(Togo)

2009

Didier Drogba

(Cote d’Ivoire)

2010

Samuel Eto’o

(Cameroun)

2011

Yaya Toure

(Cote d’Ivoire)

2012

Yaya Toure

(Cote d’Ivoire)

2013

Yaya Toure

(Cote d’Ivoire)

2014

Yaya Toure

(Cote d’Ivoire)

2015

?????????

46

Sports

Thursday, January 7, 2016

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

CHAN:

Kasperczak names Carthage Eagles squad T

unisia national coach, Henryk Kasperczak, has named an extended 27-man locally-based squad ahead of the 2016 African Nations Championship (CHAN), which will take place in Rwanda from January 16 to February 7.

The French-Polish manager looked to the country’s big guns for the core of the team, with Etoile du Sahel, CS Sfaxien, Espérance Tunis and Club Africain providing 21 players.

However, Kasperczak decided to drop several Tunisia-based senior internationals, including Aymen Mathlouthi, Moez Ben Cherifia, Hamdi Nagguez, Am-

mar Jemal, Houcine Nater, Taha Yassine Khenissi, Saber Khalifa, Yoann Touzghar and Fakhreddine Ben Youssef.

The Carthage Eagles will resume a 7-day training camp on 8 January, with a warm-up friendly against Union Sportive Monastirienne scheduled for January 12.

A final 23-man squad will fly out to Rwanda on 15 January, before launching their continental campaign against Guinea in Kigali on 18 January.

And they will then face their other two Group C opponents, Nigeria and Niger, in their bid for a spot in the knock-out stage of the tournament.

Kasperczak

...Dussuyer makes surprise Diallo Elephants inclusion

C

ote d’Ivoire coach, Michel Dussuyer, has named a strong 23-man squad for CHAN 2016 that is set for January 16-February 7 in Rwanda.

The Frenchman made a surprise inclusion of second division defender Kouassi Diallo Romuald who features for Abidjanbased side, Williamsville Athletic Club.

Romuald is the only player who features for a team outside the Ivorian first division.

Les Elephants are camping in South Africa where they will play two friendly games against Guinea on January 8 and Nigeria on January 11 as they prepare to take on hosts Rwanda in the opening game of the biennial tournament.

Cote d’Ivoire is in Group A along with Gabon, Morocco and hosts Rwanda as Les Elephants make their third appearance at CHAN having hosted the inaugural edition in 2009 and competed in Sudan at the 2011 edition.

Dussuyer

Elephants: Goalkeepers: Bamba Drissa (Stade d’Abidjan), Cisse Abdoul Karim (Sporting Gagnoa), Sangare Badra Ali (AS Tanda) Defenders: Britto Dagou Willy (AS Tanda), Comara Cheick Ibrahim (AFAD), Coulibaly Soualiho (Stade d’Abidjan), Goua Mahan Marc (Asec Mimosas), Kangoute Adama (Asec Mimosas), Koffi Marcellin (AS Tanda), Kouassi Diallo Romuald (WAC), Ouattara Soualio Dabila (Africa Sport) Midfielders: Aka Essis Beaudelaire (Sewe Sport), Badie Gbagnon Anicet (AFAD), Ble Nilmar Treika (Sewe Sport), Diabate Inza (AS Tanda), Nguessan Yao Serge (AFAD), Yace Okpekon Marius (Africa Sport) Forwards: Atcho Djobo (AS Tanda), Boua Koffi Davy (AS Tanda), Guiza Franck (Sewe Sport), Mevy Dominique (Moossou FC), Toh Wassawaly (Yopougon FC), Zakri Krahire Yannick (Asec Mimosas)

...Atlas Lions ready

M

orocco yesterday announced the 23-player squad which will compete at the 2016 African Nations Championship.

It will be the Atlas Lions’ second appearance at the continental tournament, whose latest edition will take place in Rwanda from January 16 to February 7.

They will be looking to reach the last four of the competition after falling to Nigeria in the quarterfinals of the last edition in South Africa in 2014.

Angola hold Eagles in Pretoria

A

ngola’s Palancas Negras held the Super Eagles B to a 1-1 draw in a pre-African Nations Championship (CHAN) friendly in Pretoria yesterday.

Nigeria took the lead in the 84th minute when Ibrahim Attah Salau was upended in the Angolan box, with midfielder Bartholomew Ibenegbu making no mistake from the spot.

Angola equalized from a corner kick with only two minutes left in the game.

Midfield Trojan Paul Onobi was an early substitute as he sustained a knock in the 35th minute and was replaced by U-23 ace Usman Mohammed.

The Negras, silver medallists at the 2nd African Nations Championship in Sudan five years ago, tried to pile pressure on the Eagles in the second half, but five substitutions made by Coach Sunday Oliseh kept the 2014 bronze medallists in the ascendancy.

The Super Eagles have another top-notch friendly – against Cote d’Ivoire – in Pretoria on Monday.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Sports

Thursday, January 7, 2016

Gaidam opens gym, donates bus to sports council

Gov. Gaidam

Inusa ndahI, Damaturu

Y

obe State Governor, Ibrahim Gaidam, on Monday donated a brand new 52-seat bus to the State Sports Council to enable its athletes travel to competitive events with ease.

The governor made the donation when he visited the Damaturu Sports Stadium to open a new gymnasium complex built for sportsmen and women in the state.

Gaidam expressed appre-

ciation with efforts of the sports council director, Abubakar Alhaji Ago, for “hard work and commitment” to reviving sports in the state.

“The director of sports deserves our commendation for his hard work and commitment to reviving sports in the state.

Within just a few months of his appointment, he has given a new lease of life to how sport activities are conducted. His singleminded commitment is exemplary,” Gaidam said.

The governor donated the bus to the council in response to

a request made by the director of sports and asked him to channel his other requests through the office of the Secretary to the State Government for his attention.

Ago told the governor that the new gymnasium was built to assist sportsmen and women stay fit as they continue their activities.

He said Yobe’s performance in competitive sports including in karate, badminton and parasoccer, among others, is improving significantly, pledging to do more to make the state proud.

IfeanyI eduzor

T

he Chairman, Local Organising Committee (LOC) of the Amalgamation of Nigeria Women Football Coaches All Stars tournament, Hans Kramer, has promised that this year’s final slated for January 16 at the National Stadium, Lagos will be the best in the 20-year history of the off season fiesta.

The Swiss who said he joined women football development in the country accidentally some years back told National Mirror that plans have been concluded to celebrate women football with a unique closing ceremony on January 16.

“I was just a football fan watching the All Stars tourney, but became active immediately I fell back on my fair medical knowledge from Europe to salvage the situation when one of the players was injured. Since then I vowed to give my best to young women footballers getting set for the next season or trying to get new clubs.

“Women football is very interesting but the Association of Nigeria Women Football Coaches wants to present a spectacular final on January 16.

“Indeed the final would beat whatever may have been done by the Nigeria Football Federation at any point before now,” he said.

“Women footballers deserve special treatment, hence we invited NFF officials, club officials and indeed stakeholders to the finals of the football carnival,” stated Kramer who also expressed grati-

Paul erewuba

I

n demonstration of its commitment to empowering Nigerians, telecommunications company, Etisalat Nigeria,

Joel aJayI abuja

C

Kids at a basketball clinic

can also become senators and governors without using basketball as a career. So, we are trying to put everything together to give them a clean and good life.

We are using this platform to teach them to aspire to be great people in future.”

Daudu who is also the Head Coach of the National Under-17 Female Basketball Team said a system had been established to monitor the development of the kids in basketball.

“We have a system through the Ada Mark Foundation where

LOC gears up for All Stars women tourney

Uwak

tude to the Sports Minister, Solomon Dalung and other top shots of the National Sports Commission that gave approval for the use of the Hockey and Astro Turf pitches of the National Stadium for the tourney.

Kramer was equally grateful to the National Institute of Sports (NIS) for giving them some rooms to accommodate players from outside Lagos as he also thanked main sponsors, Chinese Embassy, Liebher, Air France, Beautiful Tours Ltd, Pan Orobica Structures, PW Nigeria and GTESC Ltd. Meanwhile, Public Relations Officer of the association, Micheal Ayoka, has expressed happiness over the arrival of former Super Falcons player, Cynthia Uwak,from France, ahead of the kick off of the tournament tomorrow.

Golf: Etisalat charity tourney holes out

Basketball: Mark d’ball clinic will nurture stars –Coach oach Adeka Daudu, Mark d’ball Kids Basketball Clinic instructor, has expressed optimism with the future of the sport in Nigeria.

In Otukpo, Benue State, at the recent clinic, Daudu said that Nigeria would soon be a country to reckon with in the game of basketball.

According to him, the future of the game is bright if the kids are properly guided and nurtured.

“There is awesome future for Nigeria’s basketball with what is going on here. This is supposed to be the product of years to come.

“So, we are trying to get something we can finish years from now; we have kids and people that can become super stars,” the coach said.

He continued, “These kids

47

we check the development of these kids.

“We are trying to use this forum to groom them in terms of how good they are and we will assess them at the next camp coming up in February in Abuja,’’ he added.

recently supported a charity golf tournament “The Capital Golf Invitational Tournament”, with a view to assisting the less privileged in the society.

Commenting on the reason for supporting the worthy course, the Head of Events and Sponsorship, Etisalat Nigeria, Mrs. Modupe Thani. said the company was delighted to identify with the less privileged in the society and offer them assistance.

“We at Etisalat are delighted at this opportunity to demonstrate our human contribution to the betterment of the society.”

In his remarks at the golf tournament and gala night, Hamid Abbo, Captain, Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida Golf and Country Club, Abuja praised Etisalat for supporting the tournament and announced that money raised through the registration of participants for the tournament will be donated to Ace Charity.

Highlight of the event was the presentation of trophies to winners of various stages of the tournament with Emeka Okata receiving the star prize, giant trophy for emerging the overall winner of the tournament.

WORLD RECORD

First people to reach the north pole The first person to reach the North Pole has long been a matter of controversy and debate between two American explorers, and their supporters

N150

Vol. 05 No. 1279 Thursday, January 7, 2016

On Mr. President’s maiden media chat M y friends all, I don’t envy President Muhammadu Buhari.

More than a week after his maiden media chat, he still continues to savour a baptism of fire sort of. A man who had been used to the military communication tradition of what I call one-sided dictator-conferencing has suddenly found himself in a much more dynamic discourse setting. The truth be told, I believe the President did not do badly at all in articulating his views in the glare of a nationwide TV and radio audience. Despite the sometimes probing questions, there was a very clear attempt at forthrightness; and he surely disappointed many who had anticipated volatile responses from a man who they believed had not been used to being scrutinized.

In his first coming, who dared comment let alone sit in conference to debate

F

ormer Cameroun captain, Samuel Eto’o, has ended his stint as interim player-manager at Turkish club, Antalyaspor.

BBC Sport reported yesterday that Eto’o has been replaced by Jose Morais, who was Chelsea’s assistant manager under his compatriot coach, Jose Mourinho.

Guest Columnist

Sola S l

Ojewusi

his decrees? Democracy has changed that; and to me, the President, given his background, did not perform badly. But he could have done better. Indeed, from the still lingering debate and reactions regarding some of his pronouncements, many still believe Mr. President is yet to understand fully the dynamics of carrying everyone along his policy directions.

It also turned out that he has not been able to fully clear the cobweb of dictatorship fears from the minds of many Nigerians. With particular reference to his seemingly recalcitrant pronouncement on court orders regarding IPOB’s Kanu and ex-NSA Dasuki’s detentions, on the one hand, and the military’s handling of the El Zakzaky’s irascibility on the other, many expressed the fear that the President is still bogged down by vestiges of dictatorship. To drive home the fact that the President’s message did not really sink home among many, let me quote copiously from the recent opinions of some social media commentators about the chat.

Innocent C Chukwuma’s post on his Facebook page of January 3 not only elicited fiery reactions from many, it almost turned to a virtual war among opponents and supporters of the President.

Chukwuma began with this salvo: “Buhari may just turn out to be the most criticised, scrutinised President we’ve ever had. And his antecedents have not prepared him for that. And, as has become obvious, the organs of the Presidency have not equipped (are not adequately equipping) him to cope with the short-

MANY STILL BELIEVE MR. PRESIDENT IS YET TO UNDERSTAND FULLY THE DYNAMICS OF CARRYING EVERYONE ALONG HIS POLICY DIRECTIONS fall. So much is expected of Buhari that he is blamed for everything that is not delivered. Yet, the Presidency/government is not one man’s job even though the buck stops on one man’s table. At present, too many things are wrong with the machinery of government and it requires more than just a change of ‘engine oil’! It needs full SERVICE and a change of parts.”

One Ihria Enakirimio, in reacting,said: “One of Buhari’s greatest shortcomings would have to be that he doesn’t seem to recognise his own limitations. For a man who looks as stern as he does, he should be able to order a change of tailors if his costumes consistently do not fit! Even an Obama, ever ready to speak extempore, writes, re-writes, rehearses when there’s opportunity. The ‘professional’ actor whose heart does not skip a beat when the klieg lights come on is as good as dead! Not to be fully prepared to meet a nation is an act of utmost disrespect!”

Abdul Rimdap, in his own view, has

this to say: “PMB is doing much better things, though much slower than expected, but it is true that there are little but damaging things that could have been handled better. The issue of bail for Dasuki and Kanu should have been diplomatically handled than he did. He could have referred the questions to EFCC and DSS to find out the grounds for rearresting them. The same thing with the Shi’ites killings in Zaria. It was clear that the body language of the President favoured the extra-judicial killings. If the Shi’ites have been causing havocs in the area, why not arraigned them and charge them to court? Who gave the military to wage a war against Nigerians and killed so many like they did in Zaria? I am one of the strongest supporters of the President since I knew him at Rukuba Barracks as GOC 3rd Div in 1982 and have been with him all these days, but these little things are damaging to him. They should be handled more professionally. We must continue to pray for his success to bring change we voted for.”

Further hammering on this lingering dictatorship fears, another commentator, Vivian Odimma waxed rather spiritual: “God has given President Muhammad Buhari another opportunity to be the President of Nigeria not the President of Hausa Fulani. It is left to him to take the opportunity and write his name in gold or to continue with his dictatorial tendencies. The choice is his. It has nothing to do with the Destiny of Nigeria. The salvation of Nigeria is nearer with God on our side.”

From the flurry of volatile opinions above, it is clear that the President still needs to rethink his engagement strategies to avoid unpalatable and sometimes dangerous outcomes. He must be prepared to fully grasp the dynamics of democratic communication and shed the lingering vestiges of imperial presidency.

Ojewusi wrote via solaojewusi@yahoo.com

Sport Extra Eto’o ends coaching stint at Antalyaspor Morais, who had been linked with the vacant job at Swansea City, also worked with Mourinho at Real Madrid and Inter Milan.

Eto’o took over in early December as player-coach and won his first two games in charge before suffering two losses and a draw.

The 34-year-old striker, who joined the club on a three-year contract last June, took over from Yusuf Simsek when his contract was terminated by mutual consent on December 7.

The former Barcelona and Chelsea star, who will continue

at the Turkish club as a player, last year set up the Yellow Whistleblower FC foundation to raise funds and awareness to help people fleeing Nigeria and Cameroun amid a rising tide of attacks from Boko Haram militants.

Eto’o

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