Thursday, january 8, 2015

FG justifies Excess Crude Account, foreign reserve spendings

Investors panic over falling oil prices

...reserves now $34.4bn, says CBN TOLA AKINMUTIMI AND OBIORA IFOH Okonjo-Iweala

Vol. 5 3 N0. 1022 657

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he Federal Government yesterday denied allegations of massive depletion of the nation’s foreign reserves.

The government in a statement by the Federal Ministry of Finance pointed out that it was absolutely CONTINUED ON PAGE 5>>

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Alison-Madueke

Thursday, January July 4, 2013 8, 2015

N150 N150

DSS accuses APC of plot to hack INEC server Allegation hogwash, disservice to Nigeria –Party

OBIORA IFOH AND OMEIZA AJAYI

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he Department of State Services, DSS, said it had uncovered plots by the All Progressives Congress, APC, to hack into the websites of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, and media houses in the country.

The Service also said that it discovered lists containing names and photographs of security personnel, foreigners and under-aged on the registered members’ list of the party.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 2>>

Reps meet Jega, stakeholders over elections P.4

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All Progressives Congress (APC) Vice Presidential Candidate, Professor Yemi Osinbajo (fourth right); Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola (fifth right); his wife, Sherifat (sixth right); Deputy Governor, Mrs. Titi Laoye-Tomori (2nd right); Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Moshood Adeoti (right) and others, during a Walk For Change to mobilise support for Buhari/Osinbajo Presidency in Osogbo, yesterday.

No Arab country funds my campaign, says Buhari

…accuses PDP of systematically destroying Nigeria

Terrorists kill 12 in Paris newspaper office attack

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No Arab country funds my campaign, says Buhari OBIORA IFOH, CHRIS NJOKU, BOLADALE BAMIGBOLA AND RICHARD NDOMA

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ll Progressives Congress, APC, Presidential candidate, Maj. Gen. Mohammadu Buhari, has denied reports that he was expecting fund from some Arab countries to prosecute his campaign ahead of the February presidential elections.

Speaking with journalists yesterday in Abuja, the convener of the meeting of the Buhari Support Group, BSG, and the Chief of Staff to the former Head of State, Col. Hamid Ali (rtd) debunked the allegation.

“It is not true. I am part of it, I am in the centre of it and I don’t know of any Arab nation that has spoken to us, so it is untrue, it is false,” Ali said, adding that Buhari lunched the BSG to get money from ordinary Nigerians so that when he gets to the office, he will be more committed to serve them.

He confirmed that the campaign team is also getting money from other people, who may not necessarily have to buy card before donating to the course, adding that if such money is deposited into the account and the source is known they will also make it known to the public.

He disclosed that the

fund-raising efforts, also known as Buhari Crowding Funding Initiative has netted N118.7m.

Ali explained that the N54m was realised as at December 24, 2014, while N64.7m has been contributed to the fund as at yesterday.

On Gen. Buhari’s academic qualifications, Ali said: “Gen. Buhari went through the military, he got admitted and went to UK to train, so if Gen. Buhari does not have the required qualifications, he would not in the first place be admitted as a Cadet.

“So, from that time on he has gone through so many courses and so many trainings, and I am surprise that today at 72, somebody is talking about the issue of certificate, after he has run for three presidential elections, and this is the fourth one. So, why is it today that someone is talking about credentials? What did INEC used to clear him before now?” he queried.

Meanwhile, Gen. Buhari yesterday said that he would deal with corrupt government officials if he is elected as president on February 14.

Buhari, speaking at the Government House, Owerri, the Imo State capital, during a stopover, warned that he would reintroduce some measures as president to tackle corruption headlong.

He noted that the remote cause of the country’s eco-

nomic woes, insecurity and other decays in public institutions was traceable to corruption.

The former Military Head raised the alarm over the level of rot in the system, stating that, “corruption has become a vicious circle in Nigeria and except it is tackled, nothing can be done about insecurity.”

He vowed to deal with corrupt government officials from top to bottom.

“Corruption has destroyed the country, when I was in power, N1 was equivalent to $1.4, but today corruption has taken over all aspects of our public life and except

we tackle it, nothing can be done about insecurity,” he added.

He accused the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, of systematically destroying public institutions by encouraging corruption among government officials.

“PDP has destroyed the country; one does not know where to start from. Today there is insecurity, no infrastructure, no power. If the money budgeted for the military was used for the purpose it was meant for, we won’t have the problem of insecurity. If the Federal Government had deployed

the same number of soldiers sent to Ekiti and Osun for the elections after the abduction of the Chibok girls, they would have been rescued,” he stated.

Earlier in his speech, Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha, assured the APC candidate of the support of the Southeast.

“South East is your home, I ran the primary election against you. I came out to win you but you defeated me. Your coming here today has opened the door for new discussions. In your previous elections, you had difficult challenges in the South East but this time

we will sing a new song,” Okorocha said.

He enumerated the challenges confronting the zone and appealed to Buhari to tackle them when elected.

He said: “We need additional state in the South East, we need a second Niger Bridge and the roads from Enugu to Onitsha, Aba to Ikot-Ekpene are in terrible shape, we appeal to you to give these issues priority when you become the President”.

Buhari was accompanied on the visit by the APC National Chairman, Chief John Odigie Oyegun, the Director General of Buhari CONTINUED ON PAGE 5>>

L-R: Wife of Akwa Ibom State Governor Unoma Akpabio; Governor Godswill Obot Akpabio; Gubernatorial candidate of the PDP, Mr Udom Gabriel Emmanuel and his wife Martha, at the Town Hall meeting and presentation of Emmanuel, organised by Akwa Ibom State Community in Lagos, yesterday.

DSS accuses APC of plot to hack INEC server CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

The DSS addressed a press conference in Abuja to present the result of its investigation into alleged activities of the APC to sabotage the electoral process after a raid on the party’s data office last year.

Deputy Director, Public Relations of the DSS, Marilyn Ogar at the briefing recalled that on November 22 last year, the Service raided No. 10, Bola Ajibola Street, Ikeja, Lagos, during which items including a temporary Voters Card and a Permanent Voters Card were allegedly discovered.

Also, one of the hard drives recovered from the building allegedly contained a video of 21 hacking tutorials.

“The tutorial video focused on the following ar-

eas; how to become a hacker and steps to take to avoid detection in the process of hacking web servers; steps and procedures of system hacking, passwords cracking, decrypting, escalating access privileges, and creating backdoors to servers.

“It also explicitly explained how to evade security of databases such as Intrusion Detection Systems, IDS, firewalls and other measures put in place to deter hackers.

“The video outlined ways to identify vulnerabilities in systems and how to surreptitiously drop a USB flash drive in a target establishment, which when plugged into any computer, transmits malicious codes enough to gain access into and compromise the entire system of the target organ-

isation and “Finally, the video explains how to hack into the systems of media houses, with the aim of broadcasting fake stories or headlines,” Ogar said According to her, in the course of investigation, it was discovered that the APC registered several security personnel from the Nigerian Army, the Nigeria Police Force, the Nigeria Customs Service, the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, the Federal Road Safety Corps and a host of others “in their uniforms as members of the party.”

She noted that membership of political parties by security personnel could serve a death-knell for democracy, stating that security operatives are statutesbarred from being partisan.

She said the identities of the personnel have been forwarded to their various agencies and that the onus is now on those agencies to conduct in-house investigations and mete out appropriate sanctions where a deliberate misdemeanor is established against such personnel.

The DSS, which displayed all the exhibits it recovered from the building, said it was also discovered that the APC registered under-aged persons “including several infants and babies as members.”

According to Ogar, Article 9.1 of the APC Constitution expressly states that, “membership of the party shall be open to any citizen of Nigeria who has attained the age of 18 years and accepts the aims and

objectives of the Party...”

While she said many in the intelligence community had expressed worries when the party decided to adopt INEC’s registration points as its own membership registration points, Ogar said the APC also had registrations of individuals in multiples of 16, 12 and 10 while several foreigners were also registered as its members.

Also, the APC allegedly filled forms without passport photographs, and have books containing names of people with their phone numbers.

Equally discovered were several envelopes containing passport photographs of various individuals.

“From the foregoing, we suspect that there was an elaborate and well-artic-

ulated plan to inflate the party’s membership data as well as hack into INEC’s voter registration database through the creation of party membership forms and cards to match INEC’s voters register across the country,” Ogar submitted.

She equally said the APC intended to hack into the web-portals of media houses in order to disseminate fake news reports to Nigerians.

Ogar said contrary to the free opinions variously expressed by the party’s Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed “and a number of uninformed members of the public on the action of the Service, truth remain sacred and sacrosanct.”

“Even in a democracy, CONTINUED ON PAGE 5>>

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L-R: National Adviser, Market Leaders Association of Nigeria on Political Affairs, Mr. Chidiebere Ani; Vice- President, Alhaji Adamu Lekale and President, Deacon Obih Ugoabata, during meeting of the association in Lagos, yesterday.

L-R: Snr. Manager, Business Development, Marketing and Strategy, MTN Nigeria, Mr. Henry Okoede; Chief Marketing Officer, Mr. Bayo Adekanmbi; General Manager, Corporate Affairs, Ms. Funmi Onajide and CEO, NEO2 Analytics, Mr. Fola Akinmolayan, at the launch of MTN 2015 Betterme APP in Lagos, yesterday.

L-R: National Commercial Director, Nigerian Bottling Company Ltd, Mr. Matthieu Seguin; Marketing Manager, Colas, Coca-Cola Nigeria Ltd, Mrs. Bolajoko Bayo-Ajayi; Marketing Director, Mrs. Patricia Jemibewon and Communications Manager, Mr. Sam Umukoro, during the media launch of Share a Coke campaign in Lagos, yesterday. PHOTO: YINKA ADEPARUSI

L-R: Preacher of Jesus Dream, Pastor Emmanuel Ehimoke; the Author/Osile Oke-Ona Egba, Oba Adedapo Tejuoso, and Omoba Oluwafemi Tejuoso, at the presentation of the book”, Handling Victory or Defeat in Elections” in Lagos, yesterday. PHOTO:ADEMOLA AKINLABI

National News UDEME AKPAN

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rices of many crude oil grades have crashed from over $55 to below $50 per barrel in the global market.

Price of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries, OPEC, basket of 12 crudes has dropped from $48.99 to $46.69 per barrel, according to OPEC secretariat calculations.

The new OPEC Reference Basket of Crudes, ORB, is made up of the Saharan Blend (Algeria), Girassol (Angola), Oriente (Ecuador), Iran Heavy (Islamic Republic of Iran), Basra Light (Iraq), Kuwait Export (Kuwait), Es Sider (Libya), Bonny Light (Nigeria), Qatar Marine (Qatar), Arab Light (Saudi Arabia), Murban (UAE) and Merey (Venezuela).

Also, the price of Brent crude, which is usually used to benchmark the prices of other oil grades crashed to $51.10 per barrel.

Traders and close watchers of the volatile market said oil prices would likely continue to fall in the coming weeks because of excess

Investors panic as oil prices drop to $46.69

supply and dwindling demand.

Chairman of International Energy Services Limited, Dr. Diran Fawube, said in a telephone interview that the present lull showed that OPEC is no more the sole determinant of the state of the market.

He said the United States of America and some nations in the Middle East have significant influence as they supply commercial crude oil to the market than in the past.

“Unlike in the past, the United States and the Middle East now supply more crude oil to the market. OPEC member states, including Nigeria have lost their control of the market,” he said, adding that the new development clearly explains why OPEC members refused to cut their outputs as doing so would reduce their market share without much impact on prices.

Director General of the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Mr. Muda Yusuf, said the market situation is a wake-up call on the Federal Government to initiate measures that would culminate in diversification of the nation’s economy.

“The government should as a matter of urgency work towards diversification of our economy because we cannot depend on one commodity,” he said.

However, OPEC stated in its latest report that world economic growth for 2014 and 2015 remains unchanged from the 3.2 per cent and 3.6 per cent, respectively.

“The OECD forecast has been maintained at 1.8 per cent for 2014 and at 2.1per cent for 2015. Figures for both China and India remain unchanged from the previous report at 7.4 per cent and 7.2 per cent for Chi-

na and 5.5 per cent and 5.8 per cent for India in 2014 and 2015, respectively,” it stated.

It noted that the projections represent a decline of 0.12mb/d from the previous report, mainly as a result of lower-than- expected consumption in the OECD region.

The report stated that for 2015, world oil demand is expected to increase by around

1.12mb/d, some 70tb/d lower than the estimation in the previous report, with total world oil demand expected to reach 92.26mb/d.

“Non-OPEC oil supply in 2014 is estimated to grow by 1.72mb/d to average 55.95mb/d. This represents an upward revision of 4.0tb/d over the last report and is 0.58mb/d higher than the initial forecast, of

which 0.31mb/d is due to an upward revision to the 2013 base-year figure,” it stated, adding that OECD Americas is expected to be the main driver for oil supply growth, followed by Latin America.

In 2015, non-OPEC oil supply is forecast to increase by 1.36mb/d to average 57.31 mb/d, representing an upward revision of 0.12 mb/d over the previous report.

and to proffer necessary solutions,” a notice by the House Committee Chairman, Jerry Manwe, said.

The invitation notice, dated January 8, was signed by the acting Committee Clerk, Mr. Oscar Okoro.

According to the committee, the stakeholders will address INEC’s level of preparedness for the election, including funding, security issues, franchise of Inter-

nally Displaced Persons, IDPs, and sundry issues arising from concerns by Nigerians.

Monitors have raised the alarm over the possibility of elections not holding in the insurgency-wracked North East.

The chances of the country’s 3.3 million IDPs voting in the 2015 elections remains a major political issue.

Reps meet Jega, stakeholders over February elections

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ouse of Representatives Committee on Electoral Matters has invited the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, and other stakeholders on the level of preparedness for the coming general elections.

“The purpose of this event is to underscore the current burning issues on the 2015 general elections

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Thursday, January 8, 2015

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FG justifies Excess Crude Account, foreign reserve spendings CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

untrue that the present administration squandered the foreign reserves, noting that the funds were used appropriately in the course of normal transactions required for the development of the economy.

Specifically, it clarified that as at the end of May 2007, Nigeria’s gross reserves stood at $43.13bn - comprising the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN’s, external reserves of $31.5bn, $9.43bn in the Excess Crude Account, ECA, and $2.18bn in Federal Government’s savings.

According to the ministry, rather than blame the government for the drop in the reserves, critics should be fair to note that since May 2007, the reserves had fluctuated in line with developments in the international oil market, rising from $43.13bn at that time, peaking at $62bn in September 2008 during the Yar’adua/ Jonathan administration, when oil prices reached

a peak of $147 per barrel, and falling subsequently to $31.7bn in September 2011.

It added that the fall in reserves was largely a result of the vicissitudes of the global economy and oil market, which caused the CBN to intervene, using some of the reserves, to defend the value of the naira.

On the excess crude savings, the ministry maintained that as a component of the reserves, the ECA was largely used to cushion the economy at the height of the global financial crisis in 2008-2009, thereby making Nigeria one of the few countries in the world that did not seek funding assistance from international financial institutions at that time.

It explained further that the fiscal stimulus used to shore up the economy during that period was shared by all the tiers of government just as savings in the ECA were also used to pay for fuel subsidies and that such payments have always

been published since 2012.

“It is true the savings in the ECA would now have been higher but for the fact that a number of governors, against strong professional advice, actively kicked against continuous building up of the ECA and, indeed, pushed for its sharing. It is on record that states even took the Federal Government to court on this matter, and the case is still pending at the Supreme Court.

“It is also worth noting that the Jonathan administration built the first ever Sovereign Wealth Fund,

SWF, for the nation in which savings are being made for future generations of Nigerians and important infrastructure investments are being supported.

“It is also a matter of public knowledge that the Fund would have generated more savings and investments if the same sort of opposition that blocked savings in the ECA had also not been at work,” the ministry said.

Expatiating further on the public finance situations, the ministry pointed out that by common agreement between the Federal Government and state governors, in

2009, $5.5bn was drawn from the ECA and used for investment in Independent Power Projects of which the states are shareholders.

It explained that it was not correct to say that the nation’s external reserves were dipped into or misapplied by the administration, claiming that this is not possible since the management of external reserves is one of the statutory mandates of the CBN. The ministry stated that this was in line with section 2 sub-section (c) of the CBN Act (2007), which states that the Bank shall “maintain

external reserves to safeguard the international value of the legal tender” The ministry added that the reserves were also used to settle both public and private sector foreign currency obligations, including the importation of goods such as equipment for power sector.

Also yesterday, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Presidential Campaign Organisation replied the former president Olusegun Obasanjo, over his claims of depletion of the foreign reserves.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 6>>

DSS accuses APC of plot to hack INEC server CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2

free opinion, an opposite of truth, must be separated completely and cannot enjoy the same latitude,” Ogar said.

She recalled how the DSS had received actionable intelligence that the Ikeja building was being used for cloning of Permanent Voter Cards by some people “with intent to hack into the INEC database, corrupt it and replace same with their own data.

She said upon receiving the report, the Service immediately took appropriate steps to investigate same by first seeking and obtaining a search warrant as required by law.

“This is contrary to claims by the APC, that the building was accessed illegally. On arriving at the building, officers of this Service found that the building did not have the signpost, banner or flag of any company or political party, she added.

But APC has dismissed as hogwash the DSS allegations.

It said that the ‘findings’ presented to the media is a great disservice to Nigeria and an embarrassment to

all intelligence-gathering organisations around the world.

In a statement issued in Abuja by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party also described the timing of the release of the ‘findings’ as a plot orchestrated in collusion with the PDP to distract the APC from its ongoing campaigns for next month’s elections.

It described as disingenuous, flimsy, premeditated, partisan and an irritant the conclusion that the APC had an “articulated plan to inflate the party’s membership data as well as hack into INEC’s voter registration database through the creation of party membership forms and cards to match INEC’s voters register across the country.

“First the DSS and the PDP said the APC was cloning Permanent Voters Cards at the raided office, without a shred of evidence. Now, after a ‘painstaking’ investigation, the DSS has found out that the APC was only planning to inflate its membership data and then hack CONTINUED ON PAGE 6>>

L-R: Vice-President Namadi Sambo; new INEC Commissioner, Prof. Akinola Salau; President Goodluck Jonathan and INEC Chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega, during the inauguration of Prof. Salau in Abuja, yesterday.

PHOTO: NAN

No Arab country funds my campaign, says Buhari CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2

Campaign Organisation and Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi, Senator Chris Ngige and Senator Osita Izunaso, among others.

Buhari was also in Calabar, Cross River State, where he pledged to revamp the nation’s economy.

He also assured that he would ensure that government resources are judiciously utilised if given the opportunity reiterating that without power the people would continue to remain poor.

He promised to boost the power sector, which he said, remains one of the topmost priorities of his government.

Buhari said his administration policy thrust was going to receive a boost so as to generate better job opportunities and drastically reduce unemployment, which has bedeviled the nation in recent times.

Earlier, Governor Ameachi charged the people of

the state to shun ethnic sentiment and vote Buhari as the right candidate for the presidential position.

In the same vein, the vice presidential candidate of the party, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, said in Osogbo, Osun State yesterday, that if elected, the administration of Gen Buhari, would create 20, 000 jobs in each of the 36 states and Abuja.

He disclosed this while addressing the crowd that participated in a walk organised by a group called Walk for Change at the Osogbo Sports Stadium.

Osinbajo said: “APC would provide 20,000 jobs in each state. Agricultural products would be bought over from farmers. Then, government would resell it to the people.

This kind of approach would encourage people to embrace farming and boost agricultural production.”

Osinbajo said that APC

represents the new Nigeria that people have been craving for.

He pointed out that the APC government when sworn-in on May 29 will change the country from poverty that has bedevilled it under the President Goodluck Jonathan-led government to wealth and prosperity.

The vice-presidential hopeful held that the coming of APC will usher in a government of the masses which will focus on youth employment and infrastructural development in all facets of life.

Osinbajo added that pupils of primary schools in Nigeria will be fed free every school days in every state, noting that healthcare and other sectors will be adequately cared for.

Also speaking, the state governor, Mr. Rauf Aregbesola urged Nigerians to brace up for a change of govern-

ment this year.

He said the PDP-led Federal Government has failed to better the lot of Nigerians, positing that a wind of change, being spearheaded

by APC would offer a new lease of life.

“President Jonathan is deceiving himself when he said his achievements would speak for him during the election. Is growing poverty part of the achievements and before 1999 and now, has the power supply or generation improved?

The PDP government is inflicting pains on Nigerians.

“This suffering must not exceed May, 2015. All Yoruba should vote for the APC on February 14. We should collect our Permanent Voters’ Cards and utilise it as a tool to sack the PDP and bring about the desired positive change to move the nation forward,” the governor said.

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DSS accuses APC of plot to hack INEC server Continued from page 5

Deputy Director, Public Relations, Department of State Security Services Marilyn Ogar addressing Media during Display of items recovered from PHOTO APC at No 10, Bola Ajibola Street, ikeja, Lagos, at the Department of State Services in Abuja, yesterday. INSET: A registered minor.

ROTIMI OSASONA

Obasanjo not acting like a statesman, says Jonathan ROTIMI FADEYI ABUJA

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resident Goodluck Jonathan yesterday said some Nigerians parading themselves as statesmen and senior citizens are just politicians, because of the provocative statements they make which can set the country ablaze.

Jonathan in a veiled reference to former President Olusegun Obasanjo, said he was not acting like an elder statesman because of his utterances, which do not contribute to nation building.

Obasanjo has been very critical of the administration of Jonathan, describing his government as corrupt and inefficient.

Speaking yesterday when he met with members of the Northern Elders Council, NEC, at the Presidential Villa, Jonathan said, “Some people call themselves statesmen, but they are not statesmen, they are just ordinary politicians.

“For you to be a statesman is not because you have occupied a big office before, but the question is what are you bringing to bear? Are you building this country? Or are you a part of people who tell lies to destroy this country? To create enmity and make

people who ordinarily would have been living together to fight themselves? Are you planning to set the country ablaze because you did not get that particular thing you want?”

“At the appropriate time Nigerians will know all of us even though I know most of you know us, but the younger ones do not know. Some people are hiding under some clogs; some big names and creating a lot of problems in this country, making provocative statements in this country, statements that will set this country ablaze and you tell me you are a senior citizen, you are not a senior citizen you can never be, you are ordinary motor park tout.

“Because if you are a senior citizen you will act like one. It is not because of the offices we occupy; it is by divine grace and providence that some of us occupy these offices.

But what role are you playing to build this country?”Jonathan asked.

The President said it was sad that the younger ones are beginning to see the country as divided; that a Muslim and a Christian cannot sit down together.

Speaking further, Jonathan said, “I was

told that even the driver of Tafawa Balewa was a Christian. Our people lived together in those days, why not now that we have even modern ways of life? Our children leave us and go abroad, they stay together and do a lot of things together.

The president also described as false the insinuations that he is against the North, saying that his government has ensured development in the region.

Jonathan noted that his Vice President, Namadi Sambo, is from the North as well as some of the people who work with him, including his Principal Secretary and his Chief Detail are from the North, adding that they have been with him since he was Deputy Governor of Bayelsa State.

He noted that his administration also initiated programmes to ensure that there is quality education in the North, including the establishment of Almajiri education, stressing that the government ensured the establishment of a Federal University in all the states of the country.

Speaking earlier, Chairman of the Council, Alhaji Tanko Yakasai, said the country was passing through political

transformation, and that all Nigerians and indeed northerners need to appreciate that the country was crafted in a manner that no one section of the country can rule without support from the other.

He stated that the north in its characteristics culture of fairness and equity had endorsed the principle of power shift’ which brought about the Presidency of Obasanjo as well as Jonathan, stressing that it behoves on northerners and all Nigerians to continue to respect the principles of democracy in the country.

According to him, the council believed in peaceful co-existence and extension of hands of fellowship to brothers and sisters from the other side of the nation.

into INEC’s database. And this is the outcome of its massive, months-long investigations?

“This would have been funny if it were not from a primary domestic intelligence agency saddled with a great responsibility.

“Can this wishy-washy report stand any serious scrutiny? Can any serious intelligence gathering agency anywhere else in the world take this report seriously?

“With these kinds of findings, one can now understand why Boko Haram has continued to strike at times and places of its own choosing without any prior knowledge by our all-powerful DSS. “Even the presentation of the report by a poorlytrained and highly-politicised spokesperson of the DSS worsened the so-called findings.

“Why would the spokesperson of a national agency sound like a megaphone for the ruling party, freely castigating the opposition spokesman and ‘a number of uninformed members of the public?’ Why does she have to go personal in presenting a report that supposedly is in the national interest?

“We have always warned that our democracy is in clear and present danger, not just from desperate politicians, but also from institutions of state that have compromised in their roles and resorted to crass lawlessness. :The DSS’ ‘findings’ today (yesterday) have given us another reason to repeat this warning.

“While we are willing to meet the DSS in court, we can confidently say that the ‘confessions’ extracted from the arrested persons, after they were subjected to incredible acts of torture, can-

not even stand in any court of law,” APC said.

The party recalled that in its statement of December 5th 2014, it accused the DSS of resorting to the use of torture to obtain forced confessions from those who were arrested during the first raid on the party’s Ikeja Data Centre.

“In that statement, we called the action of the DSS to the UN Convention against torture to which Nigeria is a signatory and a violation of the citizens’ fundamental human rights.

“We also said the DSS shackled the hands and legs of those arrested and blindfolded them while they were being taken to Abuja. The arrested persons remained in chains even at the dark detention cell where they were made to sleep on the bare floor for the 10 days they were detained illegally.

“Guns were pointed at their heads by DSS personnel who threatened to shoot them, while a pregnant woman among those who were arrested was denied access to her drugs even when she started bleeding due to the torture to which she was subjected by the DSS. “Now the DSS has confirmed what we said in that press statement. Is anyone still surprised at the action of countries that are distancing themselves from Nigeria over human rights violations? it queried.

APC said the impending release of the ‘great findings’ by the DSS after its world class investigations must have been the reason why the agency recently threatened it would arrest any politician who makes inciting comments, adding: “Apparently the DSS needed to silence all so that no one will dare criticise its earthshaking findings.’”

FG justifies Excess Crude Account, foreign reserve spendings Continued from page 5 Meanwhile, the CBN yesterday pegged the nation’s foreign exchange reserves at $34.49bn (N5.74trn) as at January 5.

The News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, reports that the CBN posted the foreign exchange reserves data on its website.

According to the bank, the figure represents an increase of $20m (N3.36bn) from the $34.47bn (N5.79trn) recorded on Dec. 31, 2014.

The bank said that the $34.49bn (N5.74trn) repre-

sented the ‘gross’ amount, while $33.52bn (N5.63trn) was ‘liquid’ and $975m (N163.8bn) ‘blocked’.

NAN reports that the Federal Government had through fiscal policies made attempts since 2013 to shore up the foreign reserves to $50bn (N9.05trn).

The CBN had in 2014 relied heavily on external reserves to support the Naira, which came under pressure, following falling international prices of crude oil.

According to the CBN, the continuous pressure on

the foreign exchange market was also attributable to the rise in the internal demand for the dollar.

The CBN Governor, Mr. Godwin Emefiele, had earlier said that the country had spent huge assets from the foreign reserves in ensuring that the official exchange rate was maintained at its previous value of N155 to a dollar.

NAN also reports that, in spite of the government’s efforts to shore up the Naira, the CBN devalued the Naira to N168 to a dollar in November, 2014.

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Thursday, January 8, 2015

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Play by the rules, Ondo REC advises politicians HAKEEM GBADAMOSI AKURE

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Commissioner of Police in-Charge of Elections Planning and Monitoring, CP Ghazzali Mohammed (right), discussing with representative of CP, Anambra State Command, Mr. Emmanuel Sunday, during a meeting on the role of security personnel during the elections in Abuja, yesterday.

PHOTO: NAN

Fashola blames FG for insecurity, economic woe FRANCIS SUBERU

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overnor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State has blamed the prevalent insecurity in the country on the federal government, saying it has no solution to the challenges confronting the country.

Fashola made the statement at the commissioning of the Cooperative Home Ownership Incentive Scheme, CHOIS City at Agbowa, Ikosi-Ejirin Local Council Development Area, LCDA and the first solarpowered Primary Health Care, PHC centre, Epe. According to the governor, the federal government is not sincere in its account

to Nigerians and foreigners on the state of the nation’s economy and security, saying the much publicised economic rebasing is untrue.

He said: “First they were ignorant and later lied to Nigerians. This indicates that they don’t know what to do on the challenges confronting this country, especially insecurity.

“On insecurity facing the country, first they (Federal Government) lied that their political opponent were the cause. Later, they lied that it was people in their government. After that, they told Nigerians that those behind the insecurity in Nigeria were foreigners. Again, in their usual tactics, they came out to say that some

it was some saboteurs who were behind the insecurity in the country,” he said.

The governor noted that Vice president Namadi Sambo’s statement on Lagos and taxation is an indication of the federal government’s cluelessness on what to do.

He said: “I don’t think he (Sambo) moved around the state to see how the population of the Lagos was increasing daily. Also, they said that we were selling property to residents of Lagos at over N100 million.

They are ignorant and have shown it publicly.”

Fashola noted that the state government designed the Lagos HOMS to address shortage of housing in the state which was increasing

daily.

He said: “The challenge before the state government was to provide affordable housing for residents of the state.”

President of Lagos CHOIS, the agency managing the CHOIS City, Brigadier-General Tunde Reis, said that the CHOIS City was a suburban community that would provide opportunity for low and medium income earners to have their own houses.

Fashola also urged the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria, JUSUN to sheathe its sword and return to work, saying: “I made this plea in the interest of the masses who rely on the judiciary for fair judgment.”

PDP tasks APC on connection with MEND OBIORA IFOH ABUJA

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eoples Democratic Party, PDP, has tasked the All Progressives Congress, APC, to come out clean and explain to Nigerians its connection with Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta, MEND. The PDP National Publicity Secretary, Olisa Metuh, in a statement yesterday said while the onus lies on the APC to choose those to work with in their quest for power, “the explanation has become necessary following the unsavoury public reactions and concerns trailing

the statement by MEND backing their Presidential candidate, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari.

“What have APC (members) in common with MEND; why do they want to resurrect it? Nigerians want to know. Are we also expect-

ing similar statement from insurgents in the north, who initially named Gen. Buhari to lead the dialogue between them and the Federal Government?

“Nigerians are indeed worried by these developments. We therefore urge

the APC to come clean and explain to the citizenry what they have in common with these groups, especially given the statement by their flag bearer, after the 2011 elections, that the ‘dogs and baboons will all be soaked in blood.”

Buhari, Amaechi visit injured APC members in hospital DENNIS NAKU

PORT HARCOURT

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ormer Head of State and Presidential candidate of All Progressives Congress, APC, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (retd), yesterday visited seven injured party members at the Kesley Harrison Hospital in

Mile One, Dibou, Port Harcourt.

The APC members were attacked in Khana and Asari-Toru local government areas by masked gunmen, on their way to attend the flag-off of the party’s presidential campaign rally at Adokiye Amesiamaka Stadium in Igwurita-Ali, Ikw-

erre local government area on Tuesday.

Buhari was accompanied on the visit by the Rivers State governor, Chibuike Amaechi, the APC national chairman, John Odigie-Oyegun, the party’s governorship candidate in the state, Dr. Dakuku Peterside.

ewly redeployed Ondo State Resident Electoral Commissioner, REC, Segun Agbaje, yesterday called on political parties and politicians in the state to play the game by the rules to make way for a credible general election.

Agbaje, who stated this in Akure, the state capital while assuming duty at the commission’s office in Alagbaka, also advised all political parties participating in the forthcoming elections to shun campaigns of calumny.

He said the February polls would be credible if political parties and their candidates play by the rules guiding the electoral process and expressed the commission’s readiness to conduct a credible poll.

He also called for the assistance of all stakeholders in the electoral process of the state.

The INEC official, however, cautioned against politics of bitterness, adding that this would help create an enabling environment for the conduct of peaceful polls in the state.

He said the distribution of the Permanent Voter Cards, PVCs was ongoing, and that over 63 percent distribution have been recorded.

“We have not stopped distributing the PVCs because when we finished at the polling unit level we move the process to the offices of the commission in all the 18 local government areas of the state and we are still issuing it out to members of the public that registered for it.

“Over 63% have been

recorded and very soon we are expecting the CRV done in August last year to be ready for distribution.

We hope before the general election, the commission would have achieved about 70% collection,” he said.

On political parties that are yet to field candidates for the elections, Agbaje said: “Only the PDP is having issues with the lists of House of Assembly candidates for the election, and there is a deadline for this.

But I am sure they would sort it out.

“If they don’t, the worst that would happen is that PDP will not present candidates for the state House of Assembly election and our legal department will come together by looking into the various loopholes and if noticed they have breached the electoral act, sanction would be applied.” he said.

He, however, revealed that the electoral body would be partnering with the media, security agencies, civil society organisations and other agencies to ensure proper sensitisation of the electorate in the state ahead of the February presidential election.

The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, had last week announced the redeployment of its Resident Electoral Commissioners in the 36 states including the FCT as part of its preparedness for a peaceful conduct of the forthcoming general elections.

Agbaje, was redeployed from Kogi State to replace Akin Orebiyi, who was redeployed to Lagos State for the same mission.

PUBLIC NOTICE

THE BIBLE COVENANT ETERNAL HOPE MINISTRY

This is to inform the general public that the above named organization applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for Registration under part “C” of the companies and Allied Matters Act, 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE:

1. Apostle Michael Asuqwo Ekpot 2. Pastor (Mrs.) Ruth Ekpot Michael 3. Mr. David Usen Bassey 4. Deaconess Mary Bassey Effiong 5. Mrs. Inyang Etim Bassey AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE: 1. Propagation of the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.

2. To win souls 3. To help the needy and the under privileged in the Society.

4. To train pastors and to send missionaries to other lands for the propagation of the gospel.

5. To plant Churches and establish several Christian worship centres in Nigeria.

6. To hold crusades, seminars, retreats and revivals in cities, town centres and rural areas.

Any objection to the above registration should be forwarded to the Registrar General, Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420, Tigris Crescent, off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, Abuja within twenty eight (28) days of this publication.

SIGNED: APOSTLE MICHAEL ASUQWO EKPOT -CHAIRMAN

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Lagos APC candidates task INEC on PVCs OLAJIDE OMOJOLOMOJU

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was expected to be on it.

“Any structure on it is illegal,“ he said.

He said demolition had already been carried out on the stretch in Lagos and some areas in the northern part of the country,adding that those who encroached on the company’s right should therefore stay clear and not wait for the demolition team to arrive.

ith one voice, the g ove r n o r s h i p, Senate, House of Representatives and House of Assembly candidates of All Progressives Congress, APC, in Lagos State, yesterday called on the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to ensure that the over six million registered voters in the state get their Permanent Voter Cards, PVCs, before the general elections.

Expressing concern over hitches in the distribution and collection of PVCs in the state, the candidates lamented that eligible voters in Lagos might be disenfranchised if the situation is not urgently addressed.

Lagos APC has 68 candidates vying for various slots in the February general elections.

Speaking at a well-attended parley hosted by the party’s gubernatorial candidate, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, at his campaign office in Gbagada, where all Lagos APC candidates mount a unified front in their campaign strategies, the candidates said it would be disastrous if registered voters, who have been unable to collect their PVCs are denied the opportunity of exercising their constitutional right.

They lamented that available reports showed that several eligible and registered voters in the state may not be able to cast their votes because they have been unable to obtain their PVCs due to curious and intractable logistic challenges on the part of INEC. Urging INEC to allow those with Temporary Voter Cards, TVCs, to exercise their civic obliga-

House and stoppage of their salaries by Fayose.

The speaker, who denied ever saying he was misled

by APC leaders during his meeting with the Ekiti State Police Commissioner, Mr Taiwo Lakanu, on Tuesday, said: “I want the CP to publish what I wrote in the undertaking whether I said I was being misled by APC

leaders.

“I have tried with my colleagues to reach a truce with Fayose, but each time we made efforts, what we used to see was a petition to all security agencies blackmailing us that we were planning to invade the state with thugs and security would be stationed everywhere to stop us,” Omirin stated.

Scene of an accident on Ojuelegba Bridge in Lagos, yesterday.

Protest over imposition of executive secretaries in Lagos FRANCIS SUBERU

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ome party men in Lagos on Wednesday stormed the streets of Lagos to protest what they described as imposition of executive secretaries by leaders of the All Progressives Congress, APC. The protesters brandished placards such as “Appointed Executive Secretaries are errand boys of party leaders,” “Iru VI must be freed from the grip of armchair leaders at least for once”, “there is need for real change that we propagate

in APC at all levels,” among others.

They said the normal procedure of nominating executive secretaries on merit was not followed by party leaders that recommended them to Governor Babatunde Fashola.

Speaking on behalf of the protesters, Honourable Akinwunmi Bayode said the executive secretary of Iru Victoria Island Local Council Development Area was imposed on the people by party leaders in the area, appealing to Governor Fashola and APC National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, to in-

vestigate the selection process.

He said, “We are saying the swearing in of executive secretaries on Monday at the Lagos secretariat was not properly done. There were constitutional breaches by the party leaders, who submitted the names to the governor, just to protect their selfish interest.

“Party members were not carried along and when we agreed that a popular candidate be nominated on merit to serve us, they gave deaf ears to our appeals.

“Take for instance in Iru Victoria Island Local Coun-

cil Development Area, Chief Abayomi Daramola who had served out two tenure as chairman of the council returned again as the Executive Secretary, knowing very well that he has served in one capacity or the other between 2003 and 2014. This to us is surprising, because such services he rendered never brought development to us.”

The governor had on Monday swore in 57 Executive Secretaries, ES, to manage the affairs of the local councils pending when election will be conducted into the councils.

FG clamps down on structures along NNPC’s right-of-way

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he Federal Government has warned those who encroached on the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC’s right-of-way to vacate such locations.

Public Affairs Manager of Pipelines and Products Marketing Company, PPMC, Mr Nasir Imodagbe, stated this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN,

in Abuja.

Imodagbe said government was set to clear all structures obstructing the oil pipelines’ “right of way” across the country.

He said the mandate of PPMC was to clear obstructions to secure the company’s right-of-way.

The spokesperson, who decried the high level of encroachment on the right-of-way, said there

would be no compensation for anyone whose structure is demolished.

He further said that those encroaching on the stretch were illegal occupiers of government land because they had no approval from government before they built on the pipelines’ right-of-way.

He added that oil pipelines passed through the way and that no structure

Ekiti speaker denies requesting Christmas gift ABIODUN NEJO ADO EKITI

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peaker of the Ekiti State House of Assembly, Honourable Adewale Omirin, has denied requesting for Christmas gift from Governor Ayodele Fayose.

Omirin accused the governor of concocting and

peddling rumour about him and other 18 All Progressives Congress, APC, lawmakers in the state with the intent to frustrate them from returning to the Assembly to continue with their legislative duties.

He told journalists at Aisegba Ekiti yesterday, that the governor did not have the love and interest of the

state at heart by attempting to impose Honourable Dele Olugbemi of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, who he described as “illiterate and money-monger” on the state as factional speaker.

Omirin disclosed that the 19 APC lawmakers would storm the National Assembly to report their illegal ban from the plenary of the

tion during the forthcoming polls if voters would not be able to collect their PVCs, the candidates said this option became necessary to forestall massive disenfranchisement.

Ambode said: “PVCs is critical to successful polls and a commendable electoral system and we demand that INEC provides these tools of change for the masses.

“Under no circumstances should any eligible registered voter be disenfranchised because of non-availability or collection of PVCs. “All voters must be able to exercise their rights and choose the candidate of their choice during the polls through every legitimate means.”

His running mate, Mrs. Oluranti Adebule, said: “I want to advise INEC to decentralise the distribution and collection of the PVCs instead of directing the masses to one point of collection in a whole local government.”

Lagos West APC senatorial candidate, Hon. Olamilekan Adeola, said: “No voter should be disenfranchised. Every vote must count and no one should be stopped from voting.

“We believe our party has the support of the people and they should be allowed to vote using their temporary cards since they are registered.

“It is curious that it is only the APC that has been alerting the public on the PVC issue. Why are other parties not worried about this important issue?

“It seems there is a hidden agenda that must be thoroughly looked into.

Democracy is all about allowing every voter to make his or her choice.”

Candidates at the parley include Senator Gbenga Ashafa, Lagos East; Hon. Adeola, Lagos West); Hons Abiodun Faleke, Adeyemi Alli, Akeem Muniru and Wole Diya of Ikeja, Mushin, Oshodi-Isolo and Somolu federal constituencies respectively.

Others were Desmond Elliot, Surulere 1); Hons Olusegun Olulade, Epe; Rotimi Abiru, SomoluBariga; Tunde Braimoh, Kosofe and Tobun Abiodun, Epe, among others.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

South West

Thursday, January 8, 2015

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Group slams Lagos CP over comment on LASAA officials FRANCIS SUBERU

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entre for Rights and Grassroots Initiative, CRGI, has criticised the Lagos State Police Commissioner, Kayode Aderanti, over his comment on activities of the state’s Signage and Advertisement Agency, LASAA. It urged Aderanti to focus attention on the spiraling crime wave in the state rather than threaten LASAA officials, who go about their lawful duties, with arrest.

The group condemned attempt by the Lagos CP to arrest LASAA officials,

describing the action as dangerous to public peace, democracy and unity of Nigeria.

Addressing journalists yesterday, the Executive Director, Nelson Ekujumi, said the CP’s threat is not only ridiculous but a slight on the exalted office, adding that though election is significant to Nigerians, it should not be allowed to take pre-eminence over regard for human life and dignity.

Ekujumi said: “We regard this lawless and provocative statement from the head of a security agency in Lagos State, which is constitutionally empowered to enforce the

Abba

law, as an assault, not only on the democratic rights of Lagosians but also on the constitution of the Federal Republic of

Nigeria. The threat is irresponsible, barbaric, unconstitutional, criminal, threat to public peace, democracy and constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“We are aware that LASAA like the Nigeria Police is a creation of the law with statutory functions.

So, we wonder under what law the police commissioner derived the powers to threaten a state institution from carrying out its statutory functions.

“To educate Mr. Aderanti, we need to remind him that LASAA was created to establish sanity

and protect the environment from defilement, nuisance, visual blight and other adverse effects of uncontrolled/unregulated deployment of posters of any kind on public facilities and the agency has been performing its responsibilities creditably without prejudice to any interest.”

The group, which accused the police commissioner of acting the script of some individuals in the country, noted that it being an election year in the nation does not mean the regulatory agency would condone indiscriminate

pasting of posters across the metropolis.

Also, a board member of the group, Shina Loremikan urged the Lagos Police Commissioner to focus attention on the increasing crime rate in Agege, Bariga and Ijora Badia, rather than victimise LASAA officials from carrying out their lawful duty of regulating indiscriminate pasting of posters.

The group further demanded immediate retraction of the offensive statement, and an apology to LASAA and people of Lagos.

Ogun police arrest fake ASP, Islamic cleric FEMI OYEWESO ABEOKUTA

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en of the Ogun State Police Command yesterday paraded a dismissed police corporal, Funmilayo Balogun, 35, who impersonated an Assistant Superintendent of Police, ASP, to steal a vehicle worth N5 million in Abeokuta.

The impostor, who was dismissed in 2010 for using fake Senior Secondary School Certificate to get enlisted into the police, was paraded alongside an Islamic cleric, Quadri Rabiu, that allegedly used the armpit and pubic hairs as well as fingernails of a young lady to enable him prepare love portion for her.

Parading the suspects before journalists at Magbo, Abeokuta yesterday, Police commissioner Ikhemefuna Okoye explained that men of the Special Anti Robbery Squad, SARS, arrested the duo of Funmilayo and Quadri along with 12 other armed robbery suspects who specialised in snatching cars along the triple bridges of Ibafo-Kaara/ Ojodu- Berger long bridge in the Lagos axis.

Okoye further stated that the fake ASP, Funmilayo, was arrested by the police having launched a manhunt for her after she duped an automobile dealer shop in Abeokuta of its ‘Crosstour’ 2014 Honda

car.

In her confessional statement, Funmilayo, who said she has made a fortune from the illicit business, told journalists that she took to duping unsuspecting automobile dealers with the fake uniform having been dismissed by Owo Division of the Ondo State police command in 2010.

In his statement, the Islamic cleric, Rabiu, told journalists that the items he collected from the lady who consulted him for spiritual assistance were part of the materials meant to prepare the special love concoction that would assist the lady attract wealthy men to her side either for romance or marriage.

The CP also paraded three armed robbery suspects, Julius Nanzo, Saheed Abogun and Wale Oladokun, that specialised in robbing unsuspecting motorists along the triple bridge of Ibafo to Kaara long bridge in Ojodu-Berger axis of Lagos State.

Also paraded with the robbery suspects was Kayode Osikoya, 31, who allegedly murdered his mother during the yuletide celebration in Odogbolu local government area of the state.

Items recovered from the suspects included locally made pistols, toy AK 47 guns, fake police reflective jackets, charms as well as eight Toyota vehicles.

Oyo State Labour Party Governorship Candidate, Chief Adebayo Alao-Akala, during his campaign in Ibadan, yesterday.

Poor PVC distribution: Group clamours for option A4 FRANCIS SUBERU

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n order not to jeopardise the democratic process in the country, a civil society organisation operating under the auspices of Democracy Watch Group, DWG, yesterday called on the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to settle for Option A4 and jettison the idea of using E-Card reader for the February general elections, so as not to disenfranchise many voters.

The group, which stated this while addressing newsmen in Ilupeju, Lagos, said INEC’s lack of adequate preparation for the election is telling on the process and very worrisome, adding that if care was not taken, the polls may be jeopardised.

Chairman of the group, Barr. Wale Ogunade, who addressed the conference together with Nelson Ekujumi, DWG General Secretary, said INEC’s failure portends serious danger to democracy, but could be averted if we do the right thing.

“The Democracy Watch Group notes with concern the hiccups trailing the collection of Permanent Voter Cards, PVCs, in most states of the federation, with the consequence of disenfranchising millions of voters in violation of the constitution.

“We are aware that INEC has made it unambiguously clear that possession of PVC is the basic requirement for voters to exercise their franchise on election days. This is due to the fact that the e-Card

reader is going to be deployed for that purpose,” Ogunade said.

The group said from reports monitored by observers on the field including the media, INEC has performed poorly as a result of inadequate preparation.

The group also condemned INEC’s shoddy Continuous Voter Registration, CVR, exercise, which according to the group was characterised by malfunctioning and inadequate data capturing machines, inadequate personnel, lack of public power supply to power the systems as well as inadequate time frame.

It stated: “It behooves on INEC to do all within its powers to ensure the active participation of all eligible Nigerians in the process by making the PVC available

for collection or adopt any other acceptable means in line with the doctrine of necessity, option A4 being the preferred alternative.

“The failure of INEC to meet with these demands within the stipulated time of January 31, means that it has failed in this project in which it has taken Nigeria through, and the only alternative remains the option A4 voting system.”

Jega

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South East

Thursday, January 8, 2015

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Jonathan to flag-off campaign in Enugu Friday DENNIS AGBO ENUGU

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resident Goodluck Jonathan will on Friday present the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, flag to Honourable Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi as governorship candidate of the party in Enugu State The president is expected in Enugu tomorrow to also flag-off his Presidential Campaign in the state.

The ceremony will put an end to the controversial issue of authentic governorship candidate of the party.

Meanwhile, Governor Sullivan Chime has therefore declared his readi-

ness to mobilise the people of the state to deliver 100 per cent of their votes to the president during the February 14 presidential election.

This is coming as the Youth Council of the apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohaneze Ndigbo, yesterday carpeted the fiery Enugu Catholic priest, Reverend Father Ejike Mbaka, over his recent advise to Nigerians to reject President Jonathan in the coming election over alleged nonperformance.

National President of Ohaneze Youth Council, Mazi Okechukwu Isiguzoro, urged Ndigbo to ignore

the vituperations of the Catholic priest as he was not speaking for Ndigbo.

But, addressing newsmen on President Jonathan’s campaign visit to Enugu State, Chime, who doubles as coordinator of the Presidential Campaign Committee in the state, said the state would be fully mobilised for the president, noting that as a PDP state, the president should not lose sleep over the antics of the opposition All Progressives Congress, APC. The governor who spoke through the Deputy Coordinator, Chief Charles Egumgbe and Secretary, Rita Mbah

said apart from flagging off the Presidential Campaign, the president would also use the opportunity to formally present the party’s flag to the gubernatorial candidate of PDP in the state, Ugwuanyi.

He said the rally which would take place at the main bowl of Nnamdi Azikiwe stadium, Enugu would be the “mother of all rallies”, noting that it would be similar to the rally organised by the Enugu Movement for the Re-election of President Jonathan, EMJ, last year.

On their part, the Ohaneze Youth Council said the comments

Permanent Secretary, Enugu State Ministry of Transport, Mrs. Chika Nebo (left) and Director of Traffic, Mr. Emma Uchenwa, addressing newsmen on traffic control during the holidays in Enugu, yesterday.

PHOTO: NAN

Izzi clan backs Ebonyi PDP guber candidate ALIUNA GODWIN ABAKALIKI

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o fewer than 5,000 prominent stakeholders of Izzi clan, which has about 50 per cent voting strength of Ebonyi State, yesterday insisted that power must shift to Ebonyi South senatorial district to ensure equity and justice as earlier advocated by the Governor, Chief Martin Elechi.

The stakeholders revealed that the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, will continue to rule Ebonyi State and that it is a taboo to allow other political parties to thrive in Ebonyi, stressing that Izzi will not allow any one to deceive them again.

Prominent among the stakeholders who made the

declaration are Engineer Elias Mbam, Chairman Revenue Mobilization Allocation and Fiscal Commission, RMAFC; Senator Nguji Ngele, Barrister Augustine Nwankwoagu, former speaker of Ebonyi State House of Assembly, Honourable Jocee Eze; former Commissioner for Justice, Godwin Ogbaga; former Minister for Steel, Slyvester Ogbaga; member, House of Representatives, Chief Bony Ofoke; Mathew Uguru, former two time chairman of Abakaliki LGA, Chukwuma Nwazunku, speaker; HRH John Nwenyi, among others.

The stakeholders who hail from Abakaliki, Ebonyi and Izzi local government areas that made up Izzi clan, made this known after a meeting at Nwaofee Com-

munity Secondary School chaired by Chief Elias Mbam.

The stakeholders said, Izzi clan should not be divided and called on their members in the labour party to come over to PDP. Responding, Chief Bony Ofoke said, ‘’Dave Umahi is a savour to Izzi land anyone trying to prevent Ebonyi South zone from producing the next governor of Ebonyi State, is an enemy to the progress of the clan.’’

He, however, called on other prominent member of the clan who supports other party in the state to resign immediately or face wrath of the clan.

In his part, HRH John Nwenyi said Izzi land is known for truth and justice, adding that anyone trying to go contrary to the desires

and plan of the clan in voting in President Goodluck Jonathan as the next president of the country and Engineer Dave Umahi as the next governor of the state is doing so at his or her own peril.

Also speaking, Senator Nguji Ngele, said the governorship candidate of Labour Party, Engineer Edward Nkwengu came to his house to solicit for his support, but it is obvious that he has no political clout to intimidate PDP who have contributed meaningfully to the development of the clan.

He stated that izzi clan did not benefit from the administration of Governor Martin Elechi and that the clan cannot be deceived again by Elechi’s loyalists, adding that Izzi will continue to support PDP.

by Mbaka against the president were not only vexatious, but inciting

and advised him to steer clear of politics and face his spiritual calling.

Malaria: Abia requires 1.9m nets —Govt GEORGE OPARA ABIA

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bia State requires about 1.9 million long-lasting mosquito insecticide nets, even as 19,000 personnel have been trained for the nets replacement campaign, which kicked off yesterday at the Umuahia North Local Government Council secretariat.

This was disclosed by superving Minister of Health; Dr. Khaliru Alhassan.

The minister, who was represented by the National Coordinator, National Malaria Elimination programme, Dr. Nnenna Ezeigwe, said over 50 million nets have been distributed since 2009 worldwide, including Nigeria.

The minister, however, lamented that the use of nets has been low in spite of increased awareness creation campaign.

He called on the state government to commit more resources to the fight against malaria.

Dr Alhassan reiterated that the nets were free, having been paid for by the government through its partners.

In his address, Governor

Theodore Orji, said the state government would not relent until malaria is eliminated from the state. He said it was regrettable that 25 per cent of the population does not sleep under the nets.

The governor said the essence of the nets replacement campaign was to prevent malaria from spreading.

Also speaking, the state Commissioner for Health, Dr Okechukwu Ogah, said about 1.4 million long lasting insecticidal nets (LLINs) were distributed in the state three years ago.

According to him this led to the improvement in the nets ownership from four percent to 47 per cent.

Ogah added that the present campaign would not only improve the net ownership, “but also help in the protection of our people from the scourge and consequences of mosquito especially malaria.”

“In the present campaign, the state government in partnership with the Federal Government and the Roll Back Malaria Partners will distribute about 1.9 million nets to the 683,003 households in the 291 political wards of our state. About 1,019 distribution points will be used,” he said.

Okorocha inaugurates Imo e-library

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mo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha, on Wednesday inaugurated the first phase of a digitalised electronic library and resource management system at the new Imo Library Complex, Owerri.

Okorocha at the event said the 100-seat capacity building would promote qualitative education and research development.

He said the state government embarked on the project in recognition of the importance of e-learning to education and research development.

The governor said the electronic library would be replicated in all institutions of learning in the state.

He advised Imo people to avail themselves of the library facilities, and charged

the library workers to dutifully attend to users.

Earlier, Mr George Opara, the Chief Operations Officer of the Centre Point Network Limited which handled the project, said that the company developed the design after a thorough feasibility study.

He said that the second and final phase of the library project would begin without delay.

Opara expressed gratitude to the governor for giving the company an opportunity to contribute to the education advancement of the state.

The Director, Imo Library Board, Mrs Ngozi Amadi, thanked the governor for relocating the library to a more conducive environment.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

South South

Thursday, January 8, 2015

11

IYC, ex-militants flay MEND’s endorsement of Buhari OSAHON JULIUS YENAGOA

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jaw Youth Congress, IYC, and some ex-militant Generals that served under the defunct militia group, Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta, MEND, yesterday described the adoption of retired Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, of the All Progressives Congress, APC, presidential candidate, as inconsequential.

The IYC also described as “ghost” and of no electoral value the MEND support for Buhari, “as election is won by votes cast by physical and verifiable human beings.”

The IYC, an umbrella

body of Ijaw youths worldwide, through its spokesman, Eric Omare, and that of MEND, Gen. Eris Paul, dismissed the endorsement as a “pseudo” claim by a non-existing group of paid elements in the region.

The ex-militant leaders who formed MEND led by its former Senate Leader, Gen. Eris Paul, also known as Ogunboss, said the purported endorsement of Buhari by the defunct MEND was laughable and a clear call on the Niger Delta people to brace up for war against invading political elements sponsored by leaders of APC. The former militant leaders, at a mini-protest march

yesterday in Yenagoa, accused the purported MEND members of having been paid $500,000 by a former governor in Bayelsa and serving governor of a SouthSouth state to embark on the fake endorsement and an orgy of violence in the region.

Ogunboss, who led other ex-militant generals from the region, said though Niger Delta people do not subscribe to violence, “we will react violently to any plan by opposition political leaders to sponsor few disgruntled elements in the Niger Delta to perpetuate violence.

If there is any attack in the Niger Delta, it will be met by multiple attacks in the states

under their control.

“In a situation where people of the Niger Delta have decided to adopt a nonviolent posture because of President Goodluck Jonathan, it should not be taken to mean that we are cowards. We want members of the pseudo MEND and their sponsors to know that if they buy arms to carry out their evil intentions, we will also produce guns to counter them. If they buy bombs, we will produce bombs.”

The ex-militant leader said the founders of MEND and other former freedom fighters in the region were solidly behind President Jonathan, “We want to clearly dissociate ourselves

L-R: Rivers State Peoples Democratic Party governorship candidate, Mr. Nyesom Wike; former state governor, Mr. Celestine Omehia, deputy governorship candidate, Mrs. Ipalibo Banigo, during their campaign visit to Isiokpo in Ikwerre Local Government Area, yesterday.

PHOTO: NAN

UNIBEN saga: I will resign if —Edo Attorney-General

E

do State AttorneyGeneral and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Henry Idahiagbon, has debunked claim by authorities of the University of Benin that the state government recovered 18 properties belonging to it despite service of an application for a stay of execution of a court judgment in the government’s favour.

According to the Attorney-General, the government never got any service of stay of execution.

He said, “As I speak, the four respondents involved in this case which include the Edo State government, the governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, the Attorney-General of the state and the Commissioner for Lands, have not been

served any court processes since December 16, 2014 when judgment was given.

“I also want to state categorically that if the University of Benin and their counsel are able to show proof of service of any application for stay of execution of judgment on any of the four respondents, I, Henry Idahiagbon, will resign as Attorney-General of Edo State and go back to my village to farm.

“They may have filed, that I am not aware because after filing, they have to serve. It is the service of court processes that invokes the jurisdiction of court. Until a party is served, the party is known before court and since December 16 when judgment was given, the case at the High Court ef-

fectively ended.

“If they are starting any appellate process, the four people, that is, the respondents mentioned earlier, must be served personally and none of us have been served.”

Idahiagbon further clarified that what was done by the state government was not a demolition exercise but a possession exercise pursuant to the court judgment, stressing that the court gave judgment that UNIBEN and the occupants of the buildings should deliver possession forthwith.

He said, “Every hour after the delivery of that judgment, they ought to have packed their properties and given up the possession. Instead, they insinuated that they are

federal government, that they have a 100,000 students. But this country is still being run by the rule of law and no institution of government, no matter how powerful, no matter the number of persons under your control, can be bigger than the government or the law.”

The Attorney-General further added, “Those living in the lodge were given quit notices since 2011 and the court rightly held that they were not tenants to Edo State Government but that they were licencee.”

He said in 1981, UNIBEN had gone to court on the same matter where late Justice Ugbobine also gave judgment that the property does not belong to the University of Benin.

from the purported statement by MEND. There is (no) organisation called MEND. The defunct MEND comprises people you see here today. We are aware that those disgruntled elements were paid money to

issue a statement of lies and deceit.”

The IYC in the statement issued by its spokesperson, Comrade Eric Omare, said it was not surprised by the adoption of Buhari by the purported MEND.

Ex-militants reject Bayelsa security outfit’s board OSAHON JULIUS YENAGOA

E

x-militant leaders under Phase II of the Presidential Amnesty programme have kicked against the composition of the new Bayelsa State-owned Izon Ibe Security Company board, describing its membership as lopsided and demanding its immediate reorganisation to include the Phase II leaders for equity sake.

The former militants, while commending the Bayelsa governor Seriake Dickson for setting up the security outfit, described most of the board members as mere political opportunists who have nothing to offer, and stressed that nothing good will come out of the outfit if their demand for the review of its composition is not carried out.

The group stated these

in a statement in Yenagoa signed by its spokesperson, Ibena Rufus, and chairman Stephen Ebisinte.

“We appreciate Governor Seriake Dickson for appointing Chief James Jephtah as chairman of Izon Ibe Security Company. We, the phase II leaders, are not comfortable with the composition of the (board) because there are critical stakeholders that the governor needs to recognise and involve in the system to enable the outfit succeed.

“It will be in the best interest of the state if the state governor uses his good office to resolve the issue of the composition of the board. We are appealing to the state governor to integrate the second phase Amnesty leaders because if some people are left out and others are appointed, there will be sabotage,” the group said.

Holy Trinity old students to hold party

H

oly Trinity Grammar School, Sabongidda Ora Old Students Association, Lagos branch, will hold its New Year party on Sunday, January 11.

According to chairman of the association, Engr.

Ugba Eboreime, the event is scheduled for Sportshaq and Suites, off Adeniran Ogunsanya in Lagos.

The party is an avenue to offer gratitude to God for the outgone year and awaken optimism to face the New Year, Eboreime said, and urged members of the association to come with their spouses to the event, which would be supported by Barr. Godwin Dudu-Orumen and family.

The association chairman further stated that the occasion would provide platform for members to derive maximum pleasure, have fun and relax.

He said: “The monthly meeting is a forum to support new alumni and a platform for new friendships and business relationships. Moreover, we strive to ensure that the high standards of the school are maintained to meet current challenges and skills required in today’s world.”

Founded in February 1948, Holy Trinity Grammar School, Sabongidda Ora is one of the leading Secondary Schools in Edo State, with notable graduates in the academia, business, politics and in government.

Eboreime also said that “a one-minute silence would be observed during the festivities in honour of our provost, Mr. Omoikhoa Obaika (1992/96 set) who passed away on December 7, 2014 and Mrs OgoigbeGiwa Amu.”

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North

Thursday, January 8, 2015

Jonathan tasks INEC on voter card distribution …PVCs ready by Feb 14 -Jega

ROTIMI FADEYI ABUJA

P

resident Goodluck Jonathan yesterday urged Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to ensure that all Nigerians get their Permanent Voter Card, PVCs. He made the appeal while swearing in the INEC National Commissioner representing Oyo State, Prof Akinola Murtala Salau.

Jonathan noted that election cannot be conducted where some people would not be able to vote.

He stressed that people must decide who rules

them at all levels not just in the presidential elections but at other levels of elections conducted by INEC including the state Assembly, House of Representatives and Senate.

The President said all Nigerians must vote and INEC must do everything possible to make sure that all Nigerians have their voter card, saying we cannot have a situation where some Nigerians are disenfranchised.

“Talking about the PVC, even some governors are complaining that they are yet to get their PVCs. If governors are yet to get their voters cards; of course, that means that so

many Nigerians are yet to get (theirs too) and people are a bit worried.”

He however said the clamour for PVCs was good and showed voters were more aware unlike in the past. “Before 2011 how many Nigerians complained about not having voter card; elections were not conducted with voter cards. Nobody cared, we are all adults in Nigeria and we knew what was happening. But some people came on board and sanitised electoral process, though others want to take the glory.

“We have to commend ourselves that today ordinary Nigerians, big busi-

ness men, religious leaders are complaining that they want their voter card. Nobody talked about that before 2011. So, people should commend us.”

The President further congratulated Salau on his appointment, saying INEC needs people of impeccable character like him.

He also tasked INEC to be absolutely neutral and conduct credible election, saying the world was watching Speaking with State House Correspondents after the swearing in ceremony, Jega assured that every registered Nigerian would get voter card before February 14.

FEC approves N1.2bn for FCT sewage project ABUJA

T

he Federal Executive Council yesterday approved N1,234,583,457.37 for the construction of sewage facilities in Guzape area of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT. The sewage facility, which is expected to be completed in 16 months, will connect Guzape District (Lots 1 and 2) to the trunk mains (Stage I -connection of Guzape Lot 1) in the FCT.

Briefing State House Correspondents after the FEC meeting, Supervising Minister of Information, Dr. Nurudeen Mohammed, said Guzape District located around the fringes of the FCT was not initially considered to be part of the Abuja City Master Plan.

Mohammed, who spoke with FCT Minister Bala Mohammed, disclosed that in order to avoid abuses and uncoordinated development around the fringes of the city, the administration embarked on the land use and detailed site de-

velopment plan of the city fringes to integrate them into overall city planning scheme.

The Minister said consequently Guzape District Lots 1 and 2 were planned and provided with facilities such as roads, water supply, storm water, drainage system and internal sewage network including mini sewage treat plants.

According to him, the scope of the work, its significance and substantial compliance of the award process with the provisions of due process were

Falling oil price: FG protecting masses’ interests –Group EBERE NDUKWU

Participants at the Bauchi Radio Corporation workshop on security consciousness at all time for 2015 general election in Bauchi, yesterday.

PHOTO: NAN

ROTIMI FADEYI

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

noted and extensively deliberated by members of the council.

The Minister said the council noted specifically that the project would provide employment opportunities for about 50 indigenous professionals, artisans, skilled and unskilled labour.

According to him, N300 million was already provided from FCT internally generated revenue for commencement of the project as well as provision made in the FCT Funding Plan for the project.

C

oalition of Civil Society Group for Transparency and Good Governance, CCSGTGG, has expressed delight over Federal Government’s protection of the common masses in its management of the impact of oil price fall.

In a statement made available to National Mirror, the group said initially it learnt of government’s plans to deal with the situation, it was scared that the ordinary people across the nation would bear the brunt of government’s measures not unlike in the past.

It said more worrisome was the recent devaluation of naira that seemed to aggravate the situation.

But, according to the group, the government had surprised it. “We have been pleasantly surprised that the government of President Goodluck Jonathan has demonstrated a clear determination to protect the interests of the ordinary man and woman in the details of the 2015 budget provided by the Coordinating Minister for the Economy and Minister of Finance, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala.

“We are particularly happy that the price of some common food items like beans, rice, maize and garri did not rise in major markets across the country during the Christmas and New Year as is the practice at festive periods. This is practical evidence that food production has actually gone up as stated by the Minister of Agriculture and the agricultural reform programme is working. We also commend the Federal Government for working hard to keep the inflation rate low which has helped to keep prices of some essential items down,” it stated.

The group, which comprises nongovernmental organisations across the six geo-political zones of the country, expressed delight that high profile corruption cases were now at different stages of judicial prosecution.

It said, “As watchdogs of

the society, we some time ago issued series of press statements to condemn culture of financial impunity which led to the Pension Fund fraud and the ‘Faruqgate’ Fuel Subsidy scandals.

But we are now delighted that these high profile corruption cases are now at different stages of judicial prosecution.

“Accordingly, we hasten to affirm our resolve to critically engage the government when need be on matters of public significance, particularly those that affect the common masses.

But we shall not shy away from extending necessary commendation whenever it is observed that government is doing well at least to encourage better performance. After all, government and civil society are partners for the common good of the society.

“It is in the light of the foregoing that the group wishes to expressly commend the Federal Government of Nigeria for its masses inclusive policies, programmes and projects it has adopted in the handling of the steep fall of the global oil prices”.

The coalition said it was also gratified that the Federal Government has imposed tax on luxury items in the 2015 budget, saying it was a step in the right direction.

It added: “The usual thing is to load all the pain on the ordinary people whenever any form of austerity is contemplated. By taxing owners of private jets, expensive boats and yachts as well as expensive drinks like champagne, the government of President Jonathan is demonstrating that rich citizens should also contribute their quota to putting the economy back on course.”

The group commended the various steps by the government to diversify the economy and to reduce the country’s dependence on oil. It said the improvement in revenue collection of the Federal Inland Revenue Service was heartwarming and urged the government to do everything possible to meet the new target of N450 billion in the next three years.

Thursday, January 8, 2015

President Goodluck Jonathan on Tuesday inaugurated his Presidential Campaign Organisation in Abuja and also fixed today as for the kick-off of his campaign in Lagos. OBIORA IFOH, GEORGE OJI, WOLE OLADIMEJI, TORDUE SALEM, OMEIZA AJAYI and UBONG UKPONG, take a look at the composition of the presidential campaign team and what they can offer.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

13

Politics

Campaign: The challenges before Jonathan’s foot soldiers

S

pecial Adviser on Political Matters to the President, Prof. Rufai Alkali, in a release last week named chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Tony Anenih as the national campaign adviser, while a former National Chairman of the PDP, Ahmadu Ali, assumes the Director-General of the PDP Presidential Campaign Organisation, PCO. A former minister, Tunde Adeniran, is to serve as deputy Director General of the campaign, while the duo of Special Duties Minister, Kabiru Turaki and former governor of Anambra State, Peter Obi serve as deputy Directors-General for North and South respectively.

Others are former Minister of Aviation, Femi FaniKayode, Director of Media and Publicity; former Information Minister, Jerry Gana, head, contact and mobilisation unit; former Minister of Information, Aliyu Umar, head, directorate of administration and logistics; Senator, Nenadi Usman, head, finance directorate; Senator Nimi Amange, head, directorate of planning, research and statistics; Emmanuel Imohe, directorate of security and intelligence; PDP’s National Youth Leader, Abdullahi Maibasira, head, youth mobilisation; Nick Eze, heads the directorate on civil society and support groups; and Becky Igwe, heads women mobilisation.

The charge On Tuesday at the Legacy House Presidential Campaign headquarters in Abuja, President Goodluck Jonathan, while inaugurating his ‘campaign foot soldiers,’ charged them to ensure that PDP wins the February elections, more as democrats and not as hooligans and renegades.

Jonathan said that he is fully convinced that the campaign team would work as a team and also has all that it takes: “the passion, intellect, drive, commitment, and the know-how to run a focused, robust and purposeful campaign that will further endear our ticket to the electorate and bring us victory once again. Many of you are tested veterans of political campaigns.”

He also warned against a ‘do-or-die’ contest, insisting that whatever grievances party members have can be resolved within the family and will be resolved, noting that “there is a job to be done, and all loyal members of our great party must play their expected roles. I urge members of the PCO to go round the country, propagating our message of transformation and continuity.

I urge you to fully mobilise all party faithful in every ward and every district to work for the victory we require to take our agenda for national transformation forward to a successful conclusion for the benefit of present and future generations of Nigerians.”

While reeling out the achievements of his government in the last four years, the President said: “Our creditable performance in the past four years should be our strongest selling point as we go to the campaign fields. Flaunt our achievements in all parts of the country, tell the story of what we have achieved and let the

Anenih

Ali

A LOOK AT THE CAMPAIGN LEADERSHIP UNDER THE HEADSHIP OF

ANENIH

SHOWED A CONFLUENCE OF OLD AND NEW BREED POLITICIANS WHO HAVE PAID THEIR DUES IN THE GAME OF POLITICS facts and figures be heard in every nook and cranny of Nigeria. In doing this, you must be civil, decorous and law-abiding. I have repeatedly promised Nigerians and the international community that as much as it lies within our powers, the coming general election will be free, fair, credible and violence-free. I made that pledge with all seriousness and I fully intend to fulfill it.

“Some other politicians and campaigners are threatening fire and brimstone. Do not join them. Some other parties are pulling down other people’s posters. That is primitive. Please, do not join them. Every Nigerian must be free to campaign anywhere. Thuggery, violence and malpractice or rigging must have no place in our campaign and electoral activities. Do not join those who threaten to start fires and turn them into infernos in our country.”

In his acceptance speech, the DG of the PCO, Ali, said: “Let the word go out to all and sundry that our conduct during this presidential campaign will be exemplary because we have the fear of the Almighty God. Let me restate the fact that our party, the PDP, is in power. We are the defending champion with the belt tightly around our waists.

“In this 21st century where great nations of this

world are fielding young men and women in their forties and fifties as presidents and prime ministers, it is ironic that Nigeria’s All Progressives Congress, APC, is fielding a septuagenarian with fossilised ideas of how to run a government and social engineering. Nigeria deserves a better leadership than their candidate who has no certificates to tender as requirement for entering an election.”

Nine governors of the ruling PDP on Tuesday shunned the inauguration of the PCO of the party in Abuja. They are: Theodore Orji (Abia), Dr. Olusegun Mimiko (Ondo), Sullivan Chime (Enugu), Seriake Dickson (Bayelsa), Martin Elechi (Ebonyi), Idris Wada (Kogi), Ibrahim Shema (Katsina), Sule Lamido (Jigawa) and Jonah Jang (Plateau). It is however believed that the governors have crucial roles to play in the campaign as all the governors will serve as the campaign coordinators in their states while six of them have been penciled down with the added responsibility of coordinating the campaign in the zones.

They include Lamido (North-West), Mimiko (SouthWest), Orji (South-East), Akpabio (South South), Suswan (North Central) and Yuguda (North East) A look at the campaign leadership under the headship of Anenih showed a confluence of old and new breed politicians who have paid their dues in the game of politics. They are also confirmed loyalists of the President, but how far they can go will be seen on February 14.

Tony Anenih Mr. Anenih, a former Police officer, made an uncanny foray into politics from the security sector, as early as the 1980s. His ability to turn light into darkness and pluck off political possibilities from gloomy skies has made him, even in his very old age, something of a phenomenon.

He was a former chairman of the defunct Social Democratic Party, SDP, in the 1990s, where he and a few others cobbled up the winning, but ill-fated presidential CONTINUED ON PAGE 14

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Politics

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 13 ticket of late Moshood Abiola and Gana Kingibe.

Moving on from being a staunch supporter of late Head of State, General Sani Abacha to be one of the founders of PDP in 1998, Anenih is considered a mastermind of election fixing in Nigeria since 1999, hence he is popularly known as ‘Mr. Fix It’. Already in his 80s, he continues to wield great influence in the PDP and the Presidency.

He has been given an advisory role in the 2015 PCO by Jonathan at a time his political prowess seems to be waning. He lost dismally down to his ward in Uromi to the opposition defunct Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, in 2011 and has continued to lose to the APC, even in bye elections.

His magical reticence may have remained, but he has been gravely de-mystified by a litany of defeats here and there by the opposition and he appears badly dressed down politically, even in the PDP. His threadbare and peripheral role as advisor of the presidential campaign appears to be one of the signs of his waning power in the politics of the country. He is likely, by these turn of events not to wield a serious influence on the committee.

Dr Ahmadu Ali Heading the Jonathan’s PCO comes with a lot of issues for Ali. While some of his party men and women believe in his capability to sell the president to Nigerians, a careful review of his antecedents would reveal that Ali may first have to sell himself to Nigerians first before attempting to sell his boss to them.

A former national chairman of PDP, he was said to have used his “good offices” or “privileged position” to grab two major board appointments for members of his family. While his wife, Dr Marian Ali was made chairman of the board of the Nigeria Ports Authority, his son, a certain Ali Ogala Adah was made a member of the board of the Nigeria Railway Corporation.

Ali was drafted into PDP leadership by former President Olusegun Obasanjo to check the excesses of the late Sunday Awoniyi, who was a thorn in the flesh of the party leadership. This was also at the period the former President attempted to elongate his tenure and Ali offered massive support for the former President. Ali was accused of high handedness in the party but he was quick to defend most of his actions as indication of loyalty to the party.

In a recent interview, Dr. Ali was reported to have praised Obasanjo to high heavens, concluding that the Yoruba people are “totally ungrateful kind of people in this country.”

Reminded that the Yorubas had a grouse with Obasanjo over his failure to pave the way for late Chief Obafemi Awolowo to become the president in 1979, Ali simply snapped: “You are talking rubbish. That is the stupidity of the press and the self-appointed Yoruba leaders who are failures in their various fields of endeavour.”

Recall that his relationship with Obasanjo dated back to the military when as a Colonel and a member of

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Thursday, January 8, 2015

Campaign: The challenges before

Adeniran

Obasanjo’s military government in 1978, he created a major crisis over a 50 kobo hike in the meal of students which led to the ‘Ali-Must-Go’ saga.

His acceptance of the Director General of Jonathan’s campaign and his absolute loyalty to Obasanjo, an avowed critic of Jonathan’s government is a puzzle yet to be unraveled.

Turaki

Obi

IN THE SOUTH-EAST ZONE WHERE JONATHAN COMMANDS LARGE FOLLOWING, OBI WILL ENCOUNTER SOME DIFFICULTIES STANDING BEFORE THE PEOPLE OF THE ZONE BECAUSE OF HIS BETRAYAL OF

Prof Tunde Adeniran Prof. Adeniran, the deputy DG of the PCO, was a former Minister of Education in the tenure of Obasanjo. But he came into limelight when he was appointed the Secretary/Director, Directorate for Social Mobilisation, MAMSER, between 1987 and 1992 and chairman, MAMSER between January and August, 1993.

The Ekiti State born professor of Political Science retired into politics in 1998 as founding member of the PDP and was appointed minister in June 1999 and later Nigeria’s ambassador to Germany.

Adeniran however had an inglorious honour of becoming the first Nigerian to be refused ambassadorial nomination by the United States when he was appointed ambassador to the US by the late President Umar Yar’Adua due to the scandal he was enmeshed with then.

His several failed attempts to win elections in Ekiti State pointed to the fact that he neither possesses the clout nor the popularity to make any meaningful contribution in winning votes for the President. Therefore, his exalted appointment may just be another case of ‘a job for the men’.

from that committee, as Special Duties Minister, Turaki is one of the trusted aides of the President who has immense reach in the North and has used this opportunity to record a massive relationship between the Presidency and the traditional institutions in the region. The fact that he is preferred ahead of other notable Northern leaders is a mark of trust the President has in him.

However, Tukari’s appointment raises an eyebrow as the intention of the PDP to make any serious inroad into the 19 states of the North, as it is viewed as a contest for power and not loyalty. This is because, former Vice President Atiku Abubarkar has been detailed to win the North for APC and undoubtedly, Turaki cannot be said to be a match to Atiku.

If indeed, Turaki is the best the PDP can afford in the North, a section where there are notable political figures and strategists, then there may be a huge surprise waiting for the party at the end of the tunnel.

Peter Obi Kabiru Turaki No doubt, the Minister of Special Duties, Turaki, deputy DG, North, is a quality addition in the PCO. The erudite Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, is one Northerner with the interest of the North at heart. That, he exhibited when he headed the 21-man Presidential Committee on Dialogue and Peaceful Resolution of Security Challenges in the North to constructively engage key members of Boko Haram and define a comprehensive and workable framework for resolving the crisis of insecurity in the country.

Though nothing positive was achieved

The former governor of Anambra State, Obi has been drafted to serve in the deputy DG, South of the PCO. Obi governed Anambra under the All Progressive Grand Alliance, APGA, but later defected to the PDP about the middle of last year, simply, according to him, to support the re-election of President Jonathan. Many political observers saw his appointment as deputy DG as the first step to compensate the former governor for ignobly dumping APGA which provided him the opportunity to become everything he has become today in Nigeria politically.

APGA

As the deputy DG for the entire Southern zone of the country, it remains to be seen how Obi, who to all intents and purposes, lacks the required political savvy to navigate the entire South-East region to market the candidacy of Jonathan, will be able to lead the political campaign of Jonathan to the South-West zone, where the APC remains the dominant party.

Obi’s job in the South-West will be made more difficult because he is not reputed as having political friends among the Yorubas and it will be doubtful if he will be welcomed in the zone.

Even in the South-East zone where Jonathan commands large following, Obi will encounter some difficulties standing before the people of the zone because of his betrayal of APGA, a party considered by many as the political face of Ndi Igbo.

If Obi’s reputation as a thrift spender is to be believed, then, the former governor is in for a show in his new assignment, given that politics is all about big spending. These are some of the factors that will likely hamper PDP’s assignment of marketing President Jonathan.

Prof Jerry Gana Considering his exploits as chairman, MAMSER, during the hey days of General Ibrahim Babangida’s military rule, successive governments and the political class took special interest in the professor of Geography, given his enticing, convincing and convicting methods of massively mobilising the citizenry to accept and support government and its policies, political party and even individual courses.

Gana has successfully done this over

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Politics

Thursday, January 8, 2015

15

Jonathan’s foot soldiers

Gana

the years from military to civil rule, where he often played active roles as minister, or handling other juicy appointments, earning him the criticism of supporting ‘Any Government in Power, AGIP.’ To the citizenry, Gana appeared to be an unprincipled man, who falls for any person or group of persons who found their ways to power. He was seen to have become like a ready tool for use by both good and evil forces, knowing full well that he had such potentials and would never say no to appointments.

An elder statesman from the North Central zone, Gana became very popular, powerful and rich in contacts by these appointments so much that almost all politicians and non-political elements sought to associate with him.

However, like diminishing returns, he was also fast losing his relevance after late President Yar’Adua assumed power in 2007 and like Prof Adeniran, Gana is not known to have won any election in the past, even after severally indicating interest in the Presidency in some occasion.

He must have quickly advised himself that it was time to bow out when the ovation was loudest, and so he did, leaving active party politics for younger generation. He decided to live a quiet and peaceful life, channeling his potential into his new found religious involvements as a Christian faithful.

It is not surprising however that President Jonathan has found him a man that he could not do without in his campaigns, even though he could not serve in his government. It is in recognition of this fact that Gana was appointed the director of PCP’s directorate of mobilization and contacts. He recently chaired the committee that raised a record N21 billion for PDP projects including Jonathan’s campaign.

This is very crucial to Jonathan’s reelection come February, knowing full well that he will be facing former Head of State, General Muhammadu Buhari, rtd, who is opposition APC candidate, well loved by the North and Muslims, and has found favour with the South and Christians.

Gana, a Christian from the North is expected to use his contacts, accumulated over the years and his wealth of expe-

Usman

GANA, A CHRISTIAN FROM THE NORTH IS EXPECTED TO

USE HIS CONTACTS, ACCUMULATED OVER THE YEARS AND HIS WEALTH OF EXPERIENCE IN POLITICS AND MASS MOBILISATION TO COUNTER THE FORCES AGAINST

JONATHAN’S REELECTION rience in politics and mass mobilisation to counter the forces against Jonathan’s re-election.

Femi Fani-Kayode Fani-Kayode, a legal practitioners from Osun State and former Minister of Aviation, has however, been on record more as a smear artist and master propagandist, than a legal practitioner. He has been listed as the director of media and publicity. His official outings have been marked by controversy and scandals.

He has however managed to come up as a dreaded opponent of his detractors in his adopted profession.

His choice, within the framework of his party’s objective for President Jonathan, is strategic and would probably give the APC nightmares, but the problem however is that, the party risks been hampered by Fani-Kayode’s baggage.

He has in the past, while a member of APC lambasted Jonathan in the most unprintable manner, and that record has been on social media platforms in words, pictures and videos.

The Buhari Support groups on this platform are likely to use these records to

Udenta

Barigha-Amange

counter whatever Fani-Kayode is likely to dredge up against the Buhari candidacy.

If the social media counter occurs, as it is already happening, Fani-Kayode is likely to be a liability, instead of an asset to the Jonathan PCO. He also lacks a political base in the South-West. He doesn’t even pull weight in Osun, where the APC is extremely strong for Buhari.

Buhari’s running mate also has a strong support in Osun and in other parts of the South-West, including Ekiti and Ondo where PDP is thought to be holding sway at the moment.

The media job may turn out to be a nightmare for Fani-Kayode or Jonathan or both.

Perhaps, the only credential Usman possesses for the new job is her brief and controversial stint as the Finance Minister under former President Obasanjo.

The lawmaker who possesses a postgraduate degree in demography from Ahmadu Bello University, ABU, Zaria, was criticised for not giving strong voice to the marginalisation of the people of Southern Kaduna at the Senate. She was also blamed for not providing effective leadership for the PDP in the state, a situation that nearly led the opposition party to overrun PDP in the zone Political pundits in Kaduna believed Usman’s appointment is compensation because her political career appears to have nosedived following her last defeat in the PDP primaries in the state. How she makes a success of the new opportunity is yet to be seen.

Dr Udenta Udenta Udenta, a political activist of a Marxist bent and media consultant, is expected to fill in what Fani-Kayode lacks, as the assistant director of media and publicity.

Former National Secretary of Alliance for Democracy, AD and until recently, the face of the Transformation Ambassadors of Nigeria, TAN, the foremost campaign organisation of President Jonathan, Udenta will deploy his wealth of experience in handling such big events as the presidential election.

His wealth of experience, which also included his role as the DG, Saraki Presidential Organisation as well as deputy DG, Atiku Presidential Campaign in 2011 will likely be the hidden strength of the campaign publicity.

The cerebral former lecturer is indeed a good addition but it is hoped that the overbearing influence of Fani-Kayode and his uncensored speeches will not rock the boat.

Nenadi Usman As the Finance Director of the Jonathan PCO as well as the secretary of its Finance Committee, it is doubtful what political value Usman is going to bring to the organisation. Currently representing Southern Kaduna in the Senate, Usman was roundly defeated in the last PDP primary elections in December by little known Danjuma La’ah, for alleged lack of adequate representation and misleading the party in the zone.

Nimi Barigha-Amange The Bayelsa State born politician holds an HND in Petroleum Engineering and LLB and BL degree. Elected to the Senate in 2007 to represent Bayelsa East senatorial district, he only served one term before he was unseated in 2011 by Senator Clever Ikisikpo.

Amanges’s appointment as the director of planning, research and strategy of the PCO, is seen by political observers as compensation for his massive support for Jonathan in his home state and largely also to resuscitate the rusty and moribund politician. It remains to be seen how Amange will bring his legal background to bear on his new job and make a success of it.

Alhaji Aliu Umar When the roll call of political heavy weights in the North will be made, certainly, Umar, a former Minister of Information will certainly not be included. He was appointed to be part of the presidential campaign team as head of the directorate of administration and logistics.

As a former minister, he is expected to use his present and past positions to garner support for the President so that he could win the election but that would be lacking as the former minister certainly cannot be classed as a peoples’ leader.

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Politics

Thursday, January 8, 2015

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AHEAD 2015 GENERAL ELECTIONS

Ughievwen political leaders unite, vow to speak with one voice THEOPHILUS ONOJEGHEN WARRI

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head of the 2015 general elections, political leaders in Ughievwen kingdom, the second largest kingdom in Urhobo nation from Ughelli South Local Government Area of Delta State, have united to pursue the overall interest and development of the area irrespective of their political differences.

The leaders, under the aegis of Ughievwen Political Assembly, UPA, also expressed strong commitment to henceforth speak with one voice, claiming that lack of unity was responsible for the underdevelopment of the area.

At its maiden meeting, former DESOPADEC com-

missioner and UPA leader, Evangelist Johnson Boro, called on leaders from the kingdom to unite for the common goal of the people.

Boro noted that Ughievwen, as the second largest kingdom in Urhobo land, has not benefited much in the sharing of political positions following failure by its political leaders to speak with one voice and articulate a common front in the past.

Ughievwen Council of Chiefs’ secretary, Chief Benson Itietie, said UPA is a gathering of all political leaders in the area irrespective of the political parties they belong, stressing that the body would chart a common front and decide the political future of their people.

Abia PDP guber candidate in tax scandal EBERE NDUKWU

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here is palpable fear that Abia State Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, candidate in the February 28 gubernatorial election, Okezie Ikpeazu, may lose the opportunity to stand as the party standard bearer following allegation of nonpayment of his personal income tax promptly as and when due for 2010 and 2011 in compliance with the mandatory provisions of Section 24(f) of the CFRN, 1999.

In this vein, Uche Ogah, who came second in the gubernatorial primary election held on December 8, 2014, may be presented as the PDP candidate.

In a suit number FHC/ ABJ/CS/1086/2014, dated December 22, 2014 instituted at an Abuja High Court,

by Obasi Uba Ekeagbata and Chukwuemeka Mbah, against PDP, Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC and Ikpeazu, the plaintiffs are asking the PDP and INEC to disqualify Ikpeazu from contesting the 2015 general elections because he is not fit to contest, having failed to pay his personal income tax for two years in line with the provisions of the Constitution of Nigeria. They asked that he

should instead be replaced

by Ogah.

The reliefs sought by the plaintiffs among others are: a declaration that the 3rd defendant, having failed and/or refused to pay his personal income tax promptly as and when due for the years 2010 and 2011 in compliance with the mandatory provisions of Section 24(f) of the CFRN, 1999, as amended, as well as paragraph 13 of part iv of the Electoral Guidelines for Primary Elections 2014, is not a fit and proper person to contest the gubernatorial election of Abia State in the 2015 general election, and is accordingly disqualified from contesting the election; an order barring the 1st defendant from presenting the 3rd defendant to the 2nd defendant as candidate to contest Abia State 2015 general election; an order barring the 2nd defendant from accepting the 3rd defendant as a candidate to contest the Abia State 2015 general election and a consequential order that the candidate at 1st defendant’s primary election of December 8, 2014, who polled the second highest number of votes cast at the said election is the rightful candidate of the 1st defendant for the Abia State 2015 gubernatorial election.

Tejuoso warns against blood-letting OLAJIDE OMOJOLOMOJU

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head of February general election, the Osile of OkeOna, Egba in Ogun State, Oba (Dr.) Adedapo Adewale Tejuoso, has warned Nigerians, especially politicians against shedding of blood before, during and after the elections.

Speaking during the presentation of his book, ‘Handling Victory or Defeat in Elections,’ to journalists in Lagos yesterday, Oba Tejuoso, said God doesn’t like bloodshed and therefore advised politicians not to allow anyone’s blood drop to the ground on account of their political ambition.

The traditional ruler also attributed the various problems in Nigeria to lack of fear of God and therefore urged Nigerians to fear God and be prayerful for God’s will to prevail in Nigeria.

He said that the Association of Christian Traditional Rulers of Nigeria, AOCTRON, as fathers of the nation will do their parts to ensure that there was no shedding of blood in next month elections.

He also disclosed that AOCTRON will hold a National Royal Thanksgiving and Praise Day of Nigeria in January between January 28 and 30 to pray to God for peaceful election in Nigeria.

He added that the planned exercise for Abuja was not meant to campaign for any political party or candidate, maintaining that it was purely to appease God not to allow the country witness bloodletting during the coming General Elections.

“God said we should do it before elections. God didn’t say we should go and campaign who should be elected. Everybody is a child of God,” he said, expressing

the belief that God would answer their prayers and prevent blood-letting in the country in the coming elections.

His words: “When a politician or his or her supporters kill someone, the image of God has been destroyed.

And it cannot be recalled.

Blood has a voice that cries to God. When you or your supporters kill someone in the process of electioneering, the blood cries to God continually even when you are unaware.

“On getting to a desired, though temporary political office, would someone’s lifetime blood cry to God against you? Don’t let anyone’s blood drop to the ground on account of your political ambition.

“When you kill to attain positions through which you acquire wealth, such wealth transferred to your wife/husband or children became bloody wealth.

Very normally, no true

father or mother will rejoice if his or her children inherit evil. It is time to think!”

“Nigeria is one large family. We do not need to kill ourselves to get to positions. God wants peace and a bloodless election.

I am begging you as a father in this nation that we should all go about our businesses whether political or otherwise as men of God. God has created us for his own purpose and pleasure. God did not create us to kill one another.

So, I am appealing to all politicians in this nation as I have been directed by God to so do.

“This booklet will go places. It will go beyond the shores of Nigeria and Africa. This book is not for today alone. It is not for tomorrow alone. It is a book for all seasons whenever elections take place. God doesn’t want anybody’s blood to be shed.”

L-R: Director-General campaign committee of Senator Oluremi Tinubu 2015, Alhaji Mutiu Are; Senator Oluremi Tinubu and Mr Wale Edun, during the inaugural meeting of Restoration 2015 Re-Elect Senator Oluremi Tinubu for Lagos Central senatorial district, in Lagos, yesterday.

We stand by our endorsement of Jonathan –APGA ADEOLA TUKURU ABUJA

A

ll Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, yesterday assured Nigerians that it still stands by the endorsement of President Goodluck Jonathan’s candidacy and will campaign everywhere to showcase their strong stance with the President.

APGA National Publicity Secretary, Okwukwe

Ibiam, in a press statement said APGA stands by a government looking to propagate the ideals for the development of Nigerian citizens, because it stands strong for advancing the welfare of the electorate.

It noted that the Jonathan administration has presented a landscape where Nigerians may pursue their livelihood within and across Nigerian borders, and engage in necessary activity required for

the development of their vocations in trade, education, economics, healthcare, science and technology, and general life skills, helping Nigeria and Nigerians to emerge, and compete effectively in the comity of nations, this 21st century.

Ibiam dissociated APGA from some comments credited to one Mr. Campbell Umeh-Nzekwe, a former contact and mobilisation personnel for Lagos APGA,

saying that the comments do not in any way, shape or form reflect the opinions of either the National Chairman, the National Working Committee, NWC, nor the convention of our great party.

He said: “APGA views Mr. Umeh-Nzekwe’s comments as flippant and totally misguided. Mr. Campbell Umeh-Nzekwe we believe was reflecting his rather erroneous individual opinion.”

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Views

Thursday, January 8, 2015

17

Effectiveness of Buhari as a change agent EXISTENTIAL HUMANISM

FRY

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

A

fter a very exhaustive campaign and political maneuvering, General Muhammadu Buhari finally emerged the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for the February 14, 2015 presidential election. A crisis free National Convention of the party supervised by former Ekiti State governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi, produced this result. It was a pleasant and joyous moment for the retired General, more so as he was quickly congratulated by his opponents in the “historic convention”. With this development General Buhari will be going into his fourth attempt at occupying the highest political office in the land.

More than ever before, there has been quite immense and enthusiastic discussion on the prospect of General Buhari emerging as the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. His admirers are quick to point out his past track records in public service as military head of state, Minister of Petroleum Resources, Chairman of Petroleum Trust Fund, and of course, his meritorious

career in the army. He has been variously described as prudent and incorruptible.

His tenure as Nigeria’s military leader ushered in some level of probity and decorum in our national life. It was also at this period that palpable fear pervaded the land on account of human rights abuses. The regime, indeed, was rated low on this score. Every Nigerian was cautious, both in his public and private lives. I remember vividly how the late Nnanna Ukaegbu hurriedly closed down his Technical University, Imerienwe, on the order of the regime. That would have been Nigeria’s first private university. The fear of the regime didn’t even allow the proprietor to seek redress in the court.

General Buhari made great impact as Chairman of PTF, an interventionist institution of the regime of the late General Sani Abacha that got involved in road construction, education, health and other social services.

That intervention remains about the only good of that regime acknowledged by Nigerians.

There have, however, been questions on why about 70 percent of the Fund’s projects were in the North. That allegation is a challenge to his sense of fairness and equity. Questions have equally been raised why he involved mostly his family members in the execution of the projects of the PTF. These questions are germane in assessing the general’s sense of justice and his pan-Nigerian credentials.

The bane of this country is corruption and nepotism. They remain impediments to our quest for greatness. Nigeria has been ridiculed for the ineptitude associated with social infra-

THE THREAT OF FIRE AND BRIMSTONE IF A PARTICULAR CANDIDATE DOES NOT WIN IS UNCALLED FOR structures provisioning; the loopholes in the system have created and sustained emergency billionaires and millionaires that cannot be linked with identifiable businesses. Transparency International has continuously focused its searchlight on the nation and its verdicts on corruption have always been very disparaging.

The Goodluck Jonathan administration, in the popular imagination, is not doing something very concrete on the issue of corruption. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) have further been hamstrung by the lethargy of the nation’s judiciary .

Many see General Buhari as having the will power to confront the corruption ravaging the land. He is seen as a no nonsense man that would not submit to the corruption virus; and that as a petroleum minister he recorded a landmark achievement by building three refineries. After that feat, not one refinery has been built till date, and even the turnaround maintenance of the existing ones

has been problematic. The strong desire to have this apostle of change to drive the governance process of the country from the very top is hinged on the need to get things rights.

However, with President Jonathan, there have been accolades for the successes recorded in some areas. His human rights record is comparatively reasonable.

The recent NASS-police faceoff with the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal, at the centre, dented this record. But Nigerians have enjoyed free press and freedom of expression under this administration, which has made a breakthrough in revitalising and modernising the rail transport sector that was abandoned for decades. That economic waste and national shame has received new lease of life.

On security, life, for Nigerians, has been brutish and nasty, a situation worsened by Boko Haram-induced insurgency. What started as a protest by a pocket of religious fundamentalists has metamorphosed into international terrorism. It is a big surprise that the economy has recorded increase in spite of this. It thus may makes sense to argue for a second term for President Jonathan to enable him complete his ongoing projects. But this decision should be left to Nigerian electorate. The threat of fire and brimstone if a particular candidate does not win is uncalled for. Let hope and wish for free and fair elections in 2015.

Happy New Year!

Matters arising from judiciary workers’ strike

O

n Monday, January, 5, 2015, the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN), an organisation comprising low and middle cadre supporting staff in the judiciary arm of government, embarked on yet another indefinite strike. The association, which had given notice of an indefinite strike since December last year, eventually started this nationwide strike at the first working day of this year. According to the National President of JUSUN, Comrade Marwan Mustapha Adamu, all courts in the country would remain shut until governments at all levels take the necessary steps to ensure a free, vibrant and independent judiciary in Nigeria.

What grounded the face-off between JUSUN and the government is attributable to a judgment the union obtained against the Federal Government in January 2014, which the government has not obeyed.

Comrade Adamu, elaborating on the position of his organisation on the strike had said: “The 1999 Constitution provides that all monies for the judiciary should be given to them through the heads of the courts, either at the NJC level or at state level. We appealed several times to them but they failed to listen, then we decided to go to court for the interpretation of Sections 121 (3), 81(3), and 163 (9).

“All these sections contain provisions about financial autonomy and independence of the judiciary. Eventually judgment was given in our favour on January 13, 2014; unfortunately, since then they have failed to comply with the judgment.

All the 36 state governors were served with the court order but they refused to imple-

THE JUDICIARY OF ANY NATION IS THE BASTION OF HOPE,

THE SUCCOUR FOR THE DOWNTRODDEN AND THE VANGUARD OF SOCIAL JUSTICE ment the decision”.

In the judgment referred to by JUSUN delivered by Justice Adeniyi Ademola of the Federal High court, Abuja, the court directed that funds meant for the Judiciary should be disbursed directly to the heads of court and not to the executive arm of government. The judge then restrained the heads of the federal and state executive arms of government from holding on to funds appropriated for the judiciary.

JUSUN had earlier embarked on nationwide strike last year, which it eventually suspended when government made an undertaking it would obey the judgment.

Given the rationale behind the latest JUSUN strike as stated above, it would be difficult to fault the union’s position. The organisation has done what you would expect in a civilised society by going to court.

It has obtained a judgment which is yet to be overturned by any court of competent jurisdiction.

The onus is now on the government to obey the judgment. As a matter of fact, it is rather ironic that it is an organisation of workers that is now pressurising the government into undertaking a measure

that is legally and constitutionally its responsibility. It devolves on government to uphold the tenets of democracy and the rule of law by obeying a legitimate court order.

Continual obstinacy of the establishment in doing what is not only necessary but legally incumbent is taking its heavy toll on all of us. The Judiciary of any nation is the bastion of hope, the succour for the downtrodden and the vanguard of social justice. Therefore, whenever this organ of government is grounded to a halt, it is the people and the entire nation that suffer.

Each time there is a strike of this nature cases that worth millions of naira are trapped in court; aggrieved litigants are kept waiting in despair; while socio-economic activities, which cannot thrive without the justice system, are also adversely affected. From whatever angle, this is one battle the government cannot win.

To start with, the Judiciary workers, like any other category of workers, have the right to strike. The right of workers to strike is a right recognised in most part of the civilised world. Indeed, two resolutions of the International Labour Oorganisation (ILO) provide guidelines for recognition of the right to strike in member States.

The first is “Resolution concerning the Abolition of Anti-Trade Union Legislation adopted in 1957, which calls on member states to make “laws ensuring the effective and unrestricted exercise of trade union rights, including the right to strike, by the workers”. The

CRITICAL STROKES

KAYODE

KETEFE

kketefe@nationalmirroronline.net 08032147720 (SMS only)

second resolution is “Resolution concerning Trade Union Rights and Their Relation to Civil Liberties ”, adopted in 1970. This enjoins member nations to take “action to ensure full and universal respect for trade union rights in their broadest sense”.

Moreover, section 40 of the Nigeria’s 1999 Constitution guarantees a citizen’s right both to form a trade union and to belong to any trade union of his choice for the protection of his interest. The government cannot legitimately claim to be operating within the confines of the rule of law and the constitution if legitimate court orders are flagrantly disobeyed. Impunity should never become our national character.

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

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

18

Editorial

Thursday January 8, 2015

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

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

ACTING HEAD, GRAPHICS

Beware, harmattan is here

F

inally, the harmattan season, a period which usually lasts from November to March in most parts of Nigeria, is here with all its cold, dust and dryness. Poor visibility on both the air and highways occasioned by its haze is also one of its trademarks. If poorly managed, it spells doom for the social and economic lives of many. Not uncommon during the period are domestic fire outbreaks, bush fires, road accidents and air mishaps, for example. In all of these, many human lives are wasted and property and other valuables worth billions of naira consumed. It is, therefore, not quite surprising that the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) recently directed airline operators and pilots operating in the country to adhere strictly to approved weather safety advice.

The Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) also cautioned motorists to be conscious of the weather and the early morning/ late evening haze usually experienced during the period.

By the same token, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) had for long acknowledged that there were lots of security threats at worship centres, motor parks, markets and other human gatherings during the period. About four years ago, for instance,

Alhaji Muhammad Sani-Sidi, the Director-General of NEMA, at a workshop the agency organised for stakeholders from Gombe, Bauchi and Taraba states on how best to avert the dangers harmattan could pose, said the agency and various domestic and foreign groups were committed to confronting such hazards. Not to be forgotten in hurry, however, were the fire disaster of December 20, 2010 that struck Sheik Abubakar Gummi Central Market, Kaduna and the disastrous petrol tanker fire of Birni-Gwari town in the Brinin Gwari Local Government Area of the state on February 6, 2011. In Lagos State, roughly 65 shanties were consumed by fire in the Ebutte Meta area in 2011.

The same year, the Keffi Central Market in Nassarawa State was gutted by fire, among other such incidents nationwide.

Like the NEMA boss, SaniSidi, once said: “Fire outbreak remains a major disaster in the country which swiftly causes incalculable losses directly and indirectly… Apart from the lives, monies, wares, structure and other valuables consumed by the fire, there are social and psychological issues those affected continue to suffer for quite a long time thereafter. Most disturbingly, market fires create and heighten unemployment, thus sabotaging government’s

THE NATION HAS SCARCELY BEEN SPARED THE NEGLIGENCE AND CARELESSNESS OF INDIVIDUAL CITIZENS AND INSTITUTIONS THAT LEAD TO THE HORRORS OF FIRE poverty alleviation programmes and schemes. As we all know, the incidence of fire and its intensity of damage and losses are more during harmattan season…”

Our concern, nonetheless, is that in spite of repeated warnings in the past about the risks and dangers that usually characterize the harmattan period, the nation has scarcely been spared the negligence and carelessness of individuals and institutions that lead to the horrors of fire. The hoarding or storing of premium motor spirit (petrol), which is highly inflammable, is still a common practice among Nigerians, for instance. Potential victims give the excuse of using the petroleum product to power their generators; while ‘black marketers’ of fuel relish the risk for the purpose of moneymaking. Many unscrupulous cigarette smokers drop the butts anywhere and anyhow, while

many vehicle owners leave their engines on while refueling their vehicles, etc.

We add our voice to drawing attention to the grave risks associated with all kinds of pains and anguish not managing the harmattan season well could visit on households, larger communities and the nation as a whole. But warnings or guidelines springing from the government and its agencies charged with ensuring the safety of lives and property may not be as effective as individuals and organizations being very conscious of precautionary measures. Now is the time to err on the side of caution to forestall harmattan-related fires and accidents.

Relentless public enlightenment campaigns are absolutely necessary. For its part, the FRSC especially can assist by sanctioning vehicle operators that formed the habit of travelling with jerry-cans of fuel when on long trips. The ban on smoking in public places should be firmly enforced in states where such law exists. Reckless bush burning should be avoided, especially in farming communities, while fire service facilities and ambulance services in various states of the federation should be upgraded and compelled to remain alert in the event of the unforeseen.

ON THIS DAY

January 8, 2002

January 8, 2010

An Antonov An-32B cargo aircraft crashed into a crowded market in Kinshasa, Zaire, killing up to 237 on the ground and leaving 253 others seriously injured; but the aircraft’s crew of six survived the crash. The incident occurred when the overloaded aircraft, wet-leased from Moscow Airways and bound for Kahemba Airport, overshot the runway at the N’Dolo Airport in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo.

Gunmen from an offshoot of the Front for the Liberation of the Enclave of Cabinda, Angola, attacked a bus carrying the Togo national football team on its way to Angola for the 2010 Africa Cup of Nations, killing three people. The guerrilla group was fighting for the independence of the province of Cabinda. Formerly under Portuguese administration, Cabinda later became a province in Angola on the latter’s independence.

January 8, 2011 An attempted assassination of Arizona congresswoman, Gabrielle Giffords; and subsequent shooting at the Safeway grocery store in Casas Adobes, Arizona, United States, led to the deaths of six people, with 13 others injured, including Giffords. The attack came a week into her third term in office. The congresswoman was meeting publicly with constituents at the supermarket where the shooting took place.

Thursday, January 8, 2015

IN CONJUNCTION WITH

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

19

Education Today

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

TUNBOSUN OGUNDARE

T

eachers of students with disabilities are not in the best of mood at the moment. They are angry and somehow depressed that the nation does not appreciate their efforts. They are disappointed in the government and society that seem to have ignored their efforts in attending to the educational and social needs of children with disabilities.

Speaking under the aegis of National Association of Special Education Teachers (NASET), the teachers are angry that they are being rated like their counterparts who are teaching normal children. They want more than they are currently getting and called on their employers, the government, to reconsider the poor ratings.

NASET members say their students are a special breed who require great skills from them, the teachers, to be able to absorb the normal learning that is often taken for granted in other normal school children.

They believe they deserve better treatment because they have to combine the normal teaching skills with several other skills and attributes to be able cope with the needs of their students.

In an exclusive interview with National Mirror, the teachers decried the manner they are being treated and insisted that they should not be placed on the same level with their counterparts in the regular schools.

They explained that they deserve special privileges and special rewards because of the peculiar challenges they face in the process of imparting complete knowledge and skills on their disabled students.

“Some of these children, particularly the mentally retarded ones are very difficult to educate,” a NASET official confided in National Mirror.

“Many of them, irrespective of age, would learn the first five letters, 1-5, or alphabets, A-E for several weeks before they are able to understand anything.

“We even have to go beyond the academics and attend to those of them in their teens who cannot eat or empty their bowels unaided,” he told National Mirror.

According to the 2006 population census, the country has about 1.3 million of such children. This figure represents 39 per cent of the total 3.3 million persons living with disabilities across the country. They include the physically, visually, intellectually, hearing and communication impaired children.

We deserve better treatment!

— Special education teachers cry out

Students during the 2014 International Day for Persons Living with Disabilities in Lagos. Below: NASET members during a match pass at the occasion.

MANY OF THEM,

IRRESPECTIVE OF AGE, WOULD LEARN THE FIRST FIVE LETTERS, 1-5, OR ALPHABETS, A-E FOR

SEVERAL WEEKS BEFORE THEY ARE ABLE TO

UNDERSTAND ANYTHING. Interestingly, schools for children with disabilities operate the same curriculum with the regular schools. The students with disabilities however require special skills, talents, commitment and tolerance to be able to assimilate.

“Our experience cannot be the same thing with our counterparts in regular schools since their students do almost everything by themselves,” one of the teach-

Again, ASUU seeks Fashola’s intervention in LASU crisis 20

ers, who pleaded anonymity, said.

“Many of our students cannot cope with serious studies. We even have to introduce them to non academic work like sewing, shoe making and bead making, among others. We also have to teach them morals and civic education, teach them to respect constituted authorities, views of others and be God fearing in their activities.

“Getting them to learn all these is not easy, not like when you are training their able-body counterparts,” the teacher fur-

Psychologist identifies effects of Chibok girls’ abduction 20

ther said.

In addition to these challenges, the teachers say they still have to contend with the regular problems associated with government-owned schools such as overcrowded classrooms, shortage of staff, insufficient teaching aids, poor environment as well as lack of school bus to convey students to school and outside engagements.

“Since our jobs demand extra efforts and commitment, we deserve commensurable salary and welfare package that should be more than what is obtainable in regular schools,” the teachers insisted.

Indeed, some state governments are reported to have recognised the peculiar nature of teaching students with disabilities. According to NASET officials, the Lagos State government, for instance, once introduced special allowance for this group of teachers but this was stopped in 2011 and there has been no explanation on why it was stopped.

Now, NASET wants the government to reCONTINUED ON PAGE 21

Doctors’ housemanship: Universities, politicians blamed for space problem 21

20

Education Today

Make education policies realistic, govt urged SAIDAT ALAUSA

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he founder of Flobeez Private School, Ojodu, Lagos, Mrs. Olubisi Akintayo has called on the government at all levels to always formulate policies that would be achievable for the development of education in the country.

Giving the advice in a chat with National Mirror, the educationist urged the policy makers in education sector to evolve attainable policies and programmes rather than changing them anyhow.

On curriculum, Akintayo said education is the same everywhere hence Nigerians should not limit the children to one aspect of education in order to enable the children compete with their counterparts in the world.

She also advised that in putting curriculum together, they should always look out for what is in vogue and remove outdated topics and schemes and replace them with new ones.

Advising parents on what is expected of them, she said they should pay more attention to their children, though the economy situation in the country warrant they go out always to work but they should realise that education takes place first at home and it is their duty to give it.

Northwest University gets new VC TUNBOSUN OGUNDARE

T

he Governing Council of the Northwest University, Kano has appointed Prof. Danjuma Maiwada as the acting Vice-Chancellor for the institution.

The council has also approved the appointment of Raliya Aliyu Abubakar as the acting Registrar.

A press release by the Head of Corporate Communications of the institution, Abdullahi Abba Hassan said the development was a follow up to the council’s resolution at its eight special meeting which was presided over by the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council, Malam Sule Yahaya Hamma.

Hassan noted that both appointments which took effect from January 1st, 2015 will last three month.

The two appointments according to him are to fill the vacancies created due to the expiration of second term tenures of former Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Dato Mohd Razali Agus and registrar, Alhaji Faruk Muhammad on December 31 pending when substantive officers will be appointed.

Hassan urged the university community to cooperate and support the new officers so as to be able to move the university forward in the brief stay in office.

zzzz Maiwada

Thursday, January 8, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Award recipient and Commissioner for Education, Lagos State, Mrs. Olayinka Oladunjoye (middle) flanked by the Chairman of the occasion and former ViceChancellor, Lagos State University, Ojo, Prof.

Abisogun Leigh(left) and Chairman, State House Committee on Education, Science and Technology, Hon. Wahab Alawiye-King during the principals’\Directors’ end- of-year party and award ceremony organised by the state Ministry of Education, recently.

NUC renews commitment to universities SAIDAT ALAUSA

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he Executive Secretary, National Universities Commission (NUC), Prof Julius Okojie has renewed the commission’s commitment to the development of the nation’s university system.

He made the commitment in his New Year message to the university community in the country.

He also expressed profound appreciation to Goodluck Jonathan and all stakeholders for all the achievements recorded in the just ended year, particularly the launch of the Nigerian Research and Education Net-

WALE IBRAHIM LOKOJA

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rovost, Federal College of Education, FCE, Okene, Dr Iyela Ajayi has said the priority of the institution for now is to embark on massive production of infrastructural facilities that would enhance both learning and teaching in the institu-

work.

He stated that NUC would continue to promote quality research and innovation activities in the universities.

Encouraging institutions which are yet to connect to the network to do so in order to enhance their research activities, he said research was the bedrock for sustainable development and one of the tripartite functions of universities.

Prof. Okojie said that the commission would continue to ensure the provision of an enabling environment for research in the universities while collaborating with local and international donors.

He said this would be achieved through the mobilisation of adequate funds, to pro-

mote the conduct of cutting edge research in the universities.

The executive secretary also stated that the commission would this year focus more on consolidating on its achievements through effective regulation, to ensure compliance with the Benchmark Minimum Academic Standards (BMAS) and a holistic quality assurance of the system.

He gave the assurance that as a quality assurance agency, quality would continue to occupy the front burner in the operations of the commission.

He added that accreditation exercises would continue to be conducted in the universities to ensure that quality is not compromised.

Infrastructural development, our priority —Provost tion.

He stated this in his speech at the convention of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Zone C and award ceremony held recently.

He was conferred with the Provost of the Year award at the forum held at the institution.

Ajayi who also disclosed that the institution would not joke with students’ welfare noted that a total of 40 capital projects had been executed and another 70 renovated to make the college environment conducive for students as well as for workers.

Also speaking, the Senior

Special Adviser to President on Youth and Student Matters, Mr. Jude Imagwe represented

by Mr. Abah Abah commended the provost on what he called giant strides and thanked him for hosting the convention.

He urged the leadership not to rest on their oars in taking the institution to the next level.

Again, ASUU seeks Fashola’s intervention in LASU crisis EZEKI TITUS BAUCHI

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orried by the adverse consequences of lingering crisis at the Lagos State University (LASU), Ojo, especially on students, the Academic Staff Union Of Universities (ASUU) Bauchi Zone has joined its counterparts from other parts of the country to call on the visitor to the institution and Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babatunde Fashola as well as the National Universities Commission (NUC) to quickly intervene and save the crisis from degeneration.

The intervention according to the zone is mainly to put an end to the alleged tyrannical policies of the Vice-Chancellor of the institution, Professor John Obafunwa.

The union in a press release made available to National Mirror and signed by the coordinator of the zone, Prof. Nanmwa Voncir said attempt by the university leadership to silence ASUU members in the university would not work.

The Bauchi zone of ASUU according to him is worried about the crisis at LASU and therefore deems it fit to seek the governor’s intervention on the issue, especially in the interest of the students.

The union alleged the VC of victimising its leadership in the institution for their role during the last industrial action against what it called maladministration

and outrageous school fees.

Ever since the strike was suspended, he stressed, there have been perpetual assaults by the VC on ASUU members in the university.

While calling the VC not to shy away from the truth and justice in his administration, the union charged its members to remain steadfast and law abiding.

L-R: ViceChancellor, University of Ibadan, Prof.

Adewole; Dean of Students, Prof.

Abdulrasak Alada and Students’ Union President, Olufemi Odesola at a workshop organised for students’ leaders of the institution, recently.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Double honours for Covenant University

Education Today

Thursday, January 8, 2015

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How student bagged 6-year scholarship

SAIDAT ALAUSA

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ust as Covenant University, Ota, Ogun State bagged the Best Private University in Nigeria Award for the second time, the institution’s Vice-Chancellor, Professor Charles Ayo, also emerged as the best VC of the private university in the country also for last year.

Both awards were presented to the VC by the Centre for Democratic Governance in Africa.

In his remark at the event, the vice-chancellor attributed both awards to God, saying it was Him that favoured the university over others in the country.

While appreciating the leadership of the centre for the two honours, he said it was a clear attestation to the commitment of the university towards becoming the best in Africa in due course.

He promised to continue the good work so as to rewrite the history of higher education in the country.

In his own remark, the Director-General of the centre, Dr. Dafe Akpocha said the two awards were purely on merit.

According to him, the centre came up with Covenant University after rigorous work to make a fair and unbiased judgment.

“We undertook a very broad research and even went beyond our usual scope of assessment. We looked into the various institutions and their Vice Chancellors, their pedigree and what they have to offer. We had a voting process where people voted by SMS to indicate their judgments. Most of the votes we got were for Covenant University and Landmark University.”

He stated that the criteria used in the selection should encourage other private universities in Nigeria to improve on their academic standards, environmental and infrastructural development.

We deserve better treatment!

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suscitate the gesture and called on other state governments and the Federal Government to follow suit.

Interestingly, despite the challenges, the teachers still expressed satisfaction with their job.

They told National Mirror that apart from the fact that it serves as their means of livelihood, seeing their students becoming useful in life gives them joy.

“Our mandate is to see that nobody, on the condition of ill health, is useless in life and therefore it becomes a thing of joy for us seeing our products doing well in life.”

They pointed out that some of the students with visual, hearing and physical impairments sometimes get up to university education and become professionals in their chosen fields including music and law.

“This kind of thing is a big achievement to us and we always give God the glory for that,” Mr. Adeleke Owoade Phillips, the Acting Chairman of NASET, said.

He explained that the government, especially that of Lagos State is trying in ensuring that things get better with the system by the day, “But they need to do more,” he told National Mirror.

Star prize winner, Master Justine Nwaoha (with the trophy) and parents, Mr. Ogochukwu Nwaoha( 2nd left) and Mrs. Louisa Nwaoha(5th left) and others at the grandfinale of the 2014 PZ Cussons Chemistry Challenge in Lagos.

TUNBOSUN OGUNDARE

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he beginning of every school term in the country like this usually puts many parents, especially whose children attend private institutions in fear because of the huge school fees they will need to pay. But this is not the case for Mr. Ogochukwu and Mrs. Louisa Nwaoha whose son, Justine Ifeanyi Nwaoha emerged as the winner of the PZ Cussons Chemistry challenge held last December among the senior secondary school students in Lagos State.

The competition was organised by the PZ Cussons Foundation, a charitable arm of PZ Cussons Nigeria Limited as part of its contribution to the education development in the country.

Interestingly, it is not that Justine’s parents are super rich. They are in the middle income class. As a matter of fact, his father is a pharmacist while his mother is a counselor cum businesswoman. But Justine’s excellent performance in his studies right from when he gained admission into JSS1 almost six years ago has been rescuing them from financial pressure.

The 16-year-old SS3 student at Isolog College, Ojodu, Lagos had been on scholarship in the high profile private school due to his unequalled consistency in academic records every session.

The boy didn’t just become brilliant according to his mother overnight. “He had been an exemplary student right from his nursery school days as he always comes first in every exam in class,” the soft-spoken mother of two, added. “His outstanding performance in the entrance exam into the college gave him the first scholarship award and he is able to renew it by coming first in every academic session since then. We are indeed proud of him.”

Interestingly, the development has been helping the family according to his mother to divert thousands of naira meant for his school fees to other needs.

Even for the boy taking first position

in the quiz competition, he was rewarded with N700, 000 cash, a laptop, a trophy and gold medal. The largesse did not end with him. His Chemistry teacher, Mr. Mayowa Adeoti and school also benefitted from his effort. Now, Adeoti is 100,000 richer while the school library has additional N100, 000 worth of chemistry textbooks as rewards for producing a champion.

“The boy must have taken the virtue after me,” Justine’s father, who admits that hereditary plays a great role in a child’s brilliancy cut in, adding that the only language the boy understands, is to ask him to go and read his books.

Justine scored 72 per cent in both the theory and practical sessions of the competition. The record kept him 10 per cent distance away from Jamiu Abayomi Animashaun of Federal Science and Technical College, Yaba and 21 per cent from Azeez Balogun of Kingston High School, who is the first and second runners-up in the competition, respectively.

He told National Mirror that his exceptional performance not only in the competition but also in his studies generally didn’t come cheap.

“The success has been the product of hardwork, diligence, commitment, focus and above all, God’s benevolence. He is the one crowning my efforts,” he declared.

Justine from Imo State also spoke glowingly about those who have come in contact with him in a way, especially the parents and teachers, saying their contributions had really helped him in his studies.

“But it is not as if I make reading my only work. I also play games and engage in other activities like every other in my age bracket but with moderation. I don’t use the time to study for something else and my parents and teachers know me for this,” he pointed out.

Justine best subjects are Chemistry and Further Mathematics while he wants to become a medical doctor.

His Chemistry teacher, Mr. Olugbenga Adeoti confirmed this to National Mirror, saying the boy is consistent in his studies.

Justine, he pointed out, loves challenges.

“He always asks questions in class,” he added.

That is the kind of students the PZ Cussons Foundation is aiming at according to Professor Oladele Osibanjo for organising the competition.

Osibajo is the Chairman of the advisory board of the foundation.

Somebody like Justine and several other school children will need to be encouraged in the study of chemistry and other science subjects.

Chemistry, he pointed out, involves life and drives other sector of the economy.

Executive Director, Amville School, Lagos, Mrs. Mosun OwoOdusi (left) with Chairman, Parents Teachers’ Association, (PTA) of the school, Mrs. Kemi Okunsanya at the school’s endof- year party, recently

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Education Today

Thursday, January 8, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

CIAPS announces N5m Commonwealth scholarship TUNBOSUN OGUNDARE

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he Centre for International, Advanced and Professional Studies (CIAPS), Lagos has announced a scholarship scheme for current and aspiring Commonwealth school leaders wishing to obtain a postgraduate qualification in school management in 2015.

The Registrar of the centre, Annette LeSage in a statement said, “There are 20 scholarships worth N5 million available” adding that “Every successful applicant can receive up to N300,000 towards his or her tuition fees at the centre for the duration of the recipient’s one-year study.”

The Commonwealth scholarship is part of the new scholarship programmes by the centre and it is designed to help cushioning financial burden of brilliant but indigent students.

Shedding more light on the programme, the centre Director, Prof. Anthony Kila explained that CIAPS is “dedicated to the advancement of knowledge, learning and understanding in the service of society.

“So we are looking for teachers and school managers who are pursuing higher learning so that they can play a part in making their school and society a better place.”

Other professional

courses offered at CIAPS according to him include Project Management; Journalism; Business Administration; Banking and Finance; Senior PA and Executive Assistant He noted that students would be selected based on their personal profiles and interview.

A good personal statement according to him must not exceed 1,000 words and to include why applicants think they deserve the scholarship and how they would use it to serve the society better after graduation On eligibility, Kila, who is a professor of Strategy and Development from Oxford University, UK, said holders of first degree in second class lower division and Commonwealth citizens or residents in a developing Commonwealth country, refugees and people working with organisations linked with developing Commonwealth countries are all qualified to apply through the centre’s website www. ciaps.org.

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Psychologist identifies effects of Chibok girls’ abduction SAIDAT ALAUSA

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senior lecturer at the Department of Psychology, University of Lagos, Akoka, Dr. Oni Fagboungbe has said that the continuous keeping of school girls abducted by Boko Haram at Chibok, Borno State in their custody would continue to reduce girl-child enrolment in schools in the country.

He said it was quite unfortunate that the incident took place at the period the people in the troubled three states of the north began to accept western education for their female

children.

He made this observation in a chat with National Mirror last weekend, saying “In that region before now, few girls went to school as they engaged in marriage early with the responsibility of cooking and bearing children.

Now the development, he stressed, has dampened their spirit.

The psychologist noted that the development would equally encourage many parents in the region to feel that female children who are going to school are not secured.

All these according to him are outside all sorts of abuse the abducted

girls would have been subjected to in the hands of their abductors.

On what to do if the girls are eventually released, Fagbohungbe said government would need to move them away from the Nigerian environment to the hands of experts in order for them to start a new life.

He said taking them away from the environment and far away from the centre of occurrence would assist them to forget the experience.

He also enjoined everyone to show them love if eventually they are released to proof to them that they are totally accepted and are still part of the society.

Give your studies deserved attention, VC tells students SAIDAT ALAUSA Kila

School board rewards headmaster with motorbike

he Sokoto State Universal Basic Education Board on Tuesday rewarded the Headmaster of Gidan-Bunga Primary School, Sokoto State, Mr. Muhammad Altine with motorbike.

The reward was in appreciation for obtaining a personal bank loan to purchase learning materials for the school pupils.

Altine had some time ago obtained N106, 000 bank loan which he used to purchase materials for the school located in Shagari Local Government Area.

The Chairman of the board, Prof. Musa Maitafsir while handing over the motorcycle to the elated headmaster at a brief ceremony

Pupils of St. Paul’s Nursery and Primary School, Apapa Road, Costain, Cleaning their environment at the resumption of schools in Lagos on Monday.

said the token is to show appreciation for the efforts and magnanimity of the headmaster.

“We need to appreciate him, his gesture is worthy of emulation by all his colleagues and all of us.”

He urged the people of the state to emulate the patriotic effort of the headmaster by contributing positively to the development of the state.

According to him, the era when communities will solely depend on government to provide all their needs is over.

Responding, Altine commended the board for the donation and pledged his continue support to proper education of pupils under his care.

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he Vice-Chancellor, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB), Ogun State, Prof. Olusola Oyewole, has enjoined students in the university to devote quality time to their studies.

He said this during the orientation programme for fresh students of the Centre for Excellence in Agricultural Development and Sustainable Environment (CEADESE).

According to him, the programme was timebound therefore they need to study hard and put in their very best to come out in flying colours.

Represented by the university Registrar, Mr. Mathew Ayoola, the vicechancellor recalled that the African Centre of Excellence was an initiative of the World Bank, the Association of African Universities (AAU) and the

beneficiary countries.

He added that the aim was to restructure education at the postgraduate level so that universities could train graduates that would be relevant to industrial needs as well as national and regional development.

He noted that the World Bank was keen on enhancing teaching, training and research in the attainment of its objective, by encour-

aging research collaboration with other national and regional institutions.

Congratulating the students for their admission, Prof. Oyewole stressed that about 150 applications were received for the programme out of which 90 were successful.

He added that it was to satisfy the requirements of the World Bank that only brilliant and proven candidates should be admitted

into the centre.

Earlier, the Director of the centre, Prof. Okanlawon Onagbesan told the students drawn from Togo, Benin Republic and The Gambia, among others to study hard because the programme is not business as usual as World Bank was desirous of having students that would impact positively on the country they came from as well as the sub-region.

Registrar, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB), Ogun State, Mr. Mathew Ayoola (left) and the Dean, Postgraduate School, Prof. Ololade Enikuomehin at the orientation programme organised by the school for the newly admitted students, recently.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

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here is no gainsaying that there is gross shortfall in the manpower requirements of the nation. The deficit both in number and quality of qualified manpower has been a critical factor in the very slow speed of agricultural, industrial and technological development of the country. Ironically, this shortage is manifesting despite the large number of graduates of the many secondary and tertiary institutions that are being dumped into the job market every year. However, because of the poor quality of the majority of these products, they do not manage to secure any available jobs and remain unemployed for several years. It is becoming evident that if the problem of unemployed graduates is not given prompt attention, it may trigger a social unrest of an unimaginable proportion.

In order to mitigate the huge shortfall in qualified manpower, the federal and state governments have resorted to offshore training of large numbers of personnel through the award of overseas scholarships to “qualified” candidates. The efforts of the federal and state governments are further supplemented by local corporate bodies and foreign governments who award many overseas scholarships to many Nigerian students. On the whole, over a thousand foreign scholarships may be offered by Nigerian governments and its agencies on a yearly basis.

However, it does not appear that this effort is yielding results fast enough to significantly amelio-

Education Today

Thursday, January 8, 2015

Alternative to overseas scholarship awards Education as I see it

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

THE REASON FOR THE FAILURE OF THE FOREIGN SCHOLARSHIP SCHEME TO AMELIORATE THE CHRONIC SHORTAGE OF QUALIFIED MANPOWER IS THE DRAIN ON THE FINANCIAL RESOURCES REQUIRED TO BUILD LOCAL CAPACITY rate the chronic shortage of qualified manpower being experienced in the industries. Furthermore, it does not attempt to address the poor quality products continuously dumped into the job market by the tertiary institutions.

In addition, the success of these efforts is often undermined by the deliberate inclusion of large numbers of unqualified candidates among the beneficiaries of the foreign scholarships through undue emphasis on quota system, equality of states, and political patronage. Sometimes, the unqualified beneficiaries are compelled to pass through remedial programmes before proceeding to the course proper. At other times, the beneficiaries cannot complete the programme

because of poor academic performance.

But this is only the beginning of the problem. On many occasions, the beneficiaries do not return to the country after successfully completing the programme because there is no legal requirement for them to do so. Some migrate to one of the fast growing economies of the Middle East and South East Asia to seek better economic opportunities. Those who return because of their patriotism are frustrated and rendered redundant by the utter dilapidation of facilities in the tertiary institutions.

The most important reason for the failure of the foreign scholarship scheme to ameliorate the

chronic shortage of qualified manpower is the drain on the financial resources required to build local capacity. Foreign scholarships are expensive to fund because of the high cost of tertiary education in the developed world. For example, the cost of tuition in Manchester University for the doctoral degree in Engineering for the 2015/2016 academic year is £19,000. Other expenses including room and boarding, transportation plus incidentals may push the total cost to about £30,000 which at a modest exchange rate of N270 per pound gives an outstanding N8 million per candidate each year. This would amount to a whopping eight billion Naira to sponsor approximately 1000 students for one year in western universities through the foreign scholarships scheme.

This amount could easily train ten times more Nigerian students of comparable quality if invested onshore on targeted Nigerian institutions.

Targeted onshore investments on Nigerian universities could facilitate the development of cutting-edge facilities locally and allow the training of qualified manpower more rapidly than the overseas scholarships. Apart from providing research facilities for graduate studies, the same facilities will also allow for the effective training of undergraduates and thus improve on the quality of graduates from such institu-

Delta parents protest schools’ poor infrastructure AMOUR UDEMUDE ASABA

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arents, under the umbrella of Parents Teachers Association (PTA), in Asaba, on Monday, came out enmass protesting what they called unlawful denial of comfortable classroom for their children.

The students from Delta State Ministry of Women Affairs Primary School Asaba was gathered to have been out of school since July 2014 following the prolong renovation of their class room blocks.

The visibly angry parents who lamented the situation, demanded that the state government should as a matter of urgency complete the renovation of the classroom blocks.

Speaking with Journalists on behalf of the angry parents, at the premises of the school, a parent who identified himself as Apostle Israel Inana lamented the abysmal performance

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of the contractor handling the contract which has caused the children and parents serious trauma and untold hardship.

“I feel like weeping, now it is time for political campaign. How do you think these parents from this school will vote, when their children are not taken care of ? We want the state gov-

ernment to find out what is happening because our children must not suffer the same way they did last year.”Inana stated.

According to Inana, the removed zinc and woods had been carted away and no work was going on. He also lamented the plight of the teachers who are yet to be paid their December

salaries.

Also speaking, another parent who simply identified herself as Mrs. Queen Orakeme, condemned in strong terms the attitude of the ministries overseeing the project, especially the Women Affairs Ministry stressing that the fate of the pupils was hanging in the balance.

L-R: 400-level political science student, University of Ilorin, Mr. Ahmed Ajibola receiving award of excellence from Sanni Zainab and a lecturer from the department, Mr. Oluwashina Adebiyi during a public lecture organised by the National Association of Political Science Students of the institution, recently.

tions.

For an institution or programme to be qualified for such targeted investment as proposed here, it must have a substantial component of competent academic and supporting staff. It would not serve any useful purpose to build a state of the art laboratory in an institution without qualified personnel to man it. Excellence and not political exigency should be the sole criteria for establishing such centres of excellence. Functional facilities in Nigerian institutions would attract students from other African countries and beyond and counter the current unidirectional flow of capital from the nation.

Nevertheless, Nigerian students seeking admission into foreign universities for very specialized courses could be assisted to take advantage of the numerous scholarships offered by foreign organizations. According to Scholarship-positions.com, about 79 different organizations worldwide offer scholarships to qualified Nigerians ranging in value from £2,000 to $50,000 per annum at the graduate level.

On the long run, utilizing these scholarship offers effectively and investing local funds on local capacity building would grow the nation’s manpower base more rapidly and catalyse the rapid economic, industrial and technological development of the country.

Osun: N-mates announces quiz competition AISHA TITILAYO

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he N-mates, which is an association of 1993 political science graduates from Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, Osun State has announced a quiz competition for the senior secondary school students across the Ejigbo Local Government area of Osun State. The current Speaker of Osun State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Salaam Najeem is a member of the group.

The quiz, which is organised in conjunction with the Iwaloye Education Support, a community-based charity organisation is open to students in both private and government-owned schools in the council area from SS1 to 3 and will be held in stages between Monday, January 26 and Friday, February 5, 2015.

The coordinator of N— mates, Mr. Tope Mustapha in a press release, said the

objective of the quiz was to contribute to the education development of the local government area and by extension, Osun State.

According to him, government cannot all alone provide quality and quantitative education to the citizens hence the need for private participation.

While noting that participation is free, Tope who is the Coordinator of Planning and Programmes at Awolowo Centre for Philosophy and Good Governance, Osogbo explained that bountiful prizes in cash and materials are awaiting the top three winners of the competition and their schools as well other participants.

He said the students would be tested in core subjects that include Mathematics, English Language and General Studies with questions set from the syllabus by the organisers in conjunction with the schools in the area.

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National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Thursday, January 8, 2015

Edited by: Saidat Alausa saidat_alausa@yahoo.com 08027633686

NANS honours musician YAKUBU TEMITOPE FEDPOLY, ADO EKITI.

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he National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) had conferred on the popular fuji Musician, King Saheed Osupa the Icon of Excellent Award. The award was presented on behalf of the association to the musician by its National Deputy Senate President, Mr. Oluwasegun Famuyibo at the musician house in Magodo area of Lagos.

Olusegun said the musician was recognised due to his numerous contributions to youth development in the country.

Speaking after being conferred with the award, Saheed Osupa commended NANS for recognising him and cautioned them not to allow politicians to use them as thugs. He promised to give out scholarship to some outstanding students in some selected universities across the nation.

Saheed also advised the students to attach importance to their academic pursuits and shun cultism.

Other NANS executives and stakeholders present at the event include Jide Lawal, Adewoye Abraham Temitayo, Sola Ninalowo and Pelumi Ogunbekun.

10 UNILAG students get Etisalat scholarship SAIDAT ALAUSA

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en outstanding students of the University of Lagos have received the 2014 Etisalat Merit Scholarship Awards of One Hundred Thousand Naira each.

They are Chiamaka Mbanefo, Accounting Department, Tope Victor, Electrical/Electronic, Abiola Ajibowu, Elect/Elect, Eigbe Eghonghon-Ife, Accounting, Chike Ejiofor also from Accounting Department and Fatai Akeju of Computer Science Department.

Others are, Sulaimon Ibrahim, Accounting, Bodunwa Temiloluwa, Computer Science, Tolulope Ajekigbe, Elect/Elect and Daniel Obawole also fronm Computer Science Department.

The ten awardees were presented with their certificates of awards at the Etisalat Merit Award Ceremony which was held recently in Lagos.

During the ceremony, five tertiary institutions selected for the 2014 Etisalat Merit Award exercise also received One Hundred Thousand Naira (N100, 000.00) each.

Students of the University of Ilorin, Kwara State during a bonfire night, recently.

UNILORIN has zero tolerance for indiscipline, VC tells freshers AFIS ODEYEMI, AND AMINAT AFOLABI,

300L EDU HIS, 400L, CHEM, UNILORIN

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he Vice-Chancellor, University of Ilorin, Kwara State, Prof. Abdulganiyu Ambali has charged newly admitted students to adhere strictly to the university rules and regulations.

He also told them to work hard in their studies by attending lectures and other academic activi-

ties regularly.

He gave the advice during the matriculation ceremony held in honour of the students recently.

As students of UNILORIN, he pointed out “You are expected to respect yourself, your mates, your lecturers and other staff members.

“You are also not expected to involve in examination malpractices nor any other forms of untoward behaviours that will jeopardise your stay as student of this university.”

‘YOMI AYELESO

200L, BUS ADMIN. AAU,

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he visitor to Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko and governor of Ondo State, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko has inaugurated the five-storey Senate building of the institution, just as he pledged his continuous support for the university.

The ceremony held recently was attended by members of the state executive council, traditional rulers, academia, staff and students of the university and well-wishers. Addressing the gathering, the governor said the determination his government to ensure that the products of the university and other tertiary institutions of learning in the state are globally competitive cannot be compromised.

He noted the determination informed his administration’s commitment to improve in funding the university and other institutions in the state.

He highlighted some of the abandoned projects inherited and completed in the university to include, the VC Lodge, Guest House and Gymnasium. “Also, projects initiated by our administration and completed include the Obafemi Awolowo Lecture Theatre, the 30-Classroom Quadrangle, the Nelson Mandela Hall, University Health Cen-

Giving the breakdown of those admitted, the vice-chancellor said, out of the 114,700 students that applied through direct entry and UTME, only 41,470 students met the university minimum requirement of 180 as prescribed by the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB).

The process, according to him, saw the Faculty of Education with the highest number of admitted candidates with a total

of 2,152 students.

The vice-chancellor urged the students to be grateful to God, their parents as well as the university for considering them worthy of admission among many applicants.

The matriculation oath was administered on the students by the university Chief Registrar, Mr. Emmanuel Dada Obafemi, who also advised the students to adhere strictly to the agreement of the oath sworn to.

AAU inaugurates Senate building tre, Library Resource Centre among others.

The governor paid glowing tribute to the outgoing Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Femi Mimiko, whose tenure expired last Sunday for his visionary and purposeful leadership and for kick-starting the process of building a 21st

Century University that will be globally competitive.

Earlier, in his address, the Pro-Chancellor of the university, Ambassador Oladele Akadiri, said the inauguration of the building was an enduring legacy.

Award recipient and musician, Saidi Osupa(2nd right) with members of the National Association of Nigerian Students at the conferment of Excellent Award on him by the association, recently.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Education Today

Thursday, January 8, 2015

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FUNAAB student wins Doctors’ housemanship: international award Universities, politicians blamed for space problem

SAIDAT ALAUSA

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500-level student at the Department of Animal Nutrition, College of Animal Science and Livestock Production (COLANIM), Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB), Ogun State, Miss Adejumoke Adeniran, has won the Nigerian Women Association of Georgia (NWAG) Award. Speaking with National Mirror on how she won the award, Miss Adeniran said that she applied through the Internet and was shortlisted to write two essays, titled, “The Effects of Frequent Nigerian Teachers’ Strikes on Student Academic Performance and Learning” and “Reasons why I should receive the scholarship award.”

The event was held recently in Abuja and had over 100 applications drawn from the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.

The scoring criteria were based on the content, style and the organisation of the essay.

Adeniran further stated that after graduation, she intends to further pursue agricultural research in partnership with multi-nationals and blue-chip organisations.

NWAG is a non-governmental organisation based in United States of America and had offered scholarships to 37 Nigerian female students.

OGBEMUDIA UWOGHIREN UNIBEN

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member of the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN), Prof. Philip Olatunji has faulted universities admission board, politicians and parents for the inadequate space for houseman ship for fresh medical graduates.

He made the observation at the third joint national students and doctor’s conference held in Imo State recently.

According to him, “MDCN gave universities quota to admit yearly but many of them overshot the quota because of corruption.

Even parents are in the habit of lobby for admission for their children into medical school.”

He disclosed that last year, the MDCN passed a circular to all state governors to immediately upgrade their state general hospitals so they could be used for housemanship programme and residency training but only the Edo State Governor, Adams

Oshiomole replied the circular with a promise to comply.

“You will all agree with me that our leaders lack the political will on many issues.

If the universities for instance have kept to their admission quotas, many of you seated in this hall won’t be medical students today.”

On doctors’ harassment of female students, Prof. Olatunji stated that medical students should read their books. “Before a doctor will humiliate a student during ward round, the student must have defaulted. Don’t be afraid of humiliation after you fail a simple question. Please read your books.”

Welcoming participants earlier, the National President of the doctor’s arm of the association, Prof. Oluwatosin Odunayo stated that the conference was organised to make a rediscovery of the calling and ministry.

“We will also retrace our steps back to the fundamentals that differentiate a Christian doctor and student as stewards of the profession that handles the sacredness of human life,” he said.

Delivering a paper, titled: “Medicine, a

ministry,” Prof. Sam Ike from the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH), stated that there was no gainsaying that the medical profession in the country was losing relevance. According to him, medicine was able to attain the pinnacle it found itself because back then, the patient was the most important person in the hospital setting; at such, health workers gave their best to the patient, even more than themselves.

“They never had spotlighted and focus on themselves. The result of their commitment was evident in the hospital. They lived within boundaries of contentment and were more dedicated to their work; some even saw their work as a points to offer service to humanity and nothing short of it,” he said.

According to Prof Ike, there has been a shift of focus and an unusual concentration on the personality rather than service to humanity and the patient.

The joint conference which holds once every four year is the largest gathering of medical students and doctors in the country.

Vice- Chancellor, Federal University of Technology , Akure ,Prof. Adebiyi Daramola (centre) flanked by principal officers and members of the university Mass Choir shortly after a Christmas carol service organised by the institution, recently

STUDENT VIEW

Adeniran

OAU holds social critics to confab

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bafemi Awolowo University, OAU, Ile-Ife, Osun State has concluded arrangement to have a successful hosting of conference of social critics to discuss political, sociocultural, economic, as well as ethnic and religious status of the country.

The two-day conference, which will begin from Friday, January 30, is expected to discuss issues like poverty, insecurity, inequality in wealth distribution, corruption, among others and suggest possible ways to tackle them.

A press release by the Local Organising Committee of the conference and signed by its Chairman and Secretary, Drs. Dipo Salami and Chijioke Uwasomba, said willing participants are expected to submit papers relevant to the theme and sub-themes of the conference, with abstract of not more than 300 words sent to nationalcollective@ yahoo.com.

Nigerian politicians and defection OLUWATOSIN FASANYA

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here are no permanent enemies in politics but there are temporary friends is the saying among politicians in Nigeria.

It is not unusual to see politicians who are allies today become fierce enemies tomorrow and the day after re-unite. That depressing spiral of calculated gain seems to recycle.

They tend to unite as a single font with issues of common interest and burst the shed in the slightest provocative conflict of interest.

The politics obtainable in Nigeria is in no way different from that obtainable among the gorilla where the male and female gorillas tend to emigrate from their natal groups to join another.

The practice of decamping or party switching as the case may be has been an ever present and recurring phenomenon in Nigeria since the beginning of democracy

in 1999.

Party switching in itself is not a bad act and it is not unconstitutional as the 1999 constitution provided that each citizen has right to freedom of association.

However, the frequent and incessant rate of party switching by Nigerian politicians is quite alarming and calls for concern. Such perpetual act is detrimental to our continued democracy and the stability of the country as a whole.

Among the political party that exists in Nigeria as of today, there seems to be none with a clear-cut political ideology.

In the United States of America, the Democratic Party reflects the liberal ideas while the Republican Party reflects the conservative ideas. The Action Group in the first republic has its political ideology as Democratic socialism or Awoism. This ideology attracted the likes of Sir Adeyemo Alakija, Ooni of Ife, chief Bode Thomas and a host of other stalwarts to the party.

The lack of political ideology of the current crop of parties in existence has resulted in the

concomitant lack of ideological commitment by members who sees the party as a medium of clinging political power. The lack of ideological commitment explains why most politicians switch from one party to another when their objectives aren’t achieved.

Most politicians’ affiliation to a party is largely due to political position. They hunt for parties where they can be guaranteed or assured slot failure of which they switch to another party.

Lack of democracy within political parties can also be attributed to this incessant party switching.

The situation in most political parties in Nigeria is the “influential figure practice” as against the democratic practice where an influential person would be chosen as the flag bearer of a party without due and proper primaries. This singular act has dissuaded many politicians from total commitment to the cause of the party.

Party defection happens all over the world and it is not a bad act but it should be largely curtailed to enhance the growth of democracy.

Fasanya is a 400l student of Mass Communication, University of Lagos, Akoka.

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“O

Thursday, January 8, 2015

haneze crisis: Elders (Elders’) council (Council) sets up caretaker committee” “Grass to grace (Grass-to-grace) story of….”

“Condition of the barracks depressing, embarrasing (embarrassing)” “The terror attack in (on) Kano mosque” (The Guardian Editorial Headline, December 12) “Maybe more light needs to be thrown into (on) this explanation.” (THISDAY Back Page Right of Reply on Seven Years of Fashola, December 12) “FIFA demands for Electoral Appeals’ Committee report” (THE GUARDIAN, December 9) Delete ‘for’.

“Truely (why?) a leader” (Full-page advertorial, The PUNCH, December 11) “We deserve a bouyant economy and jobs for our youths” (Full-page advertorial by Atiku 2015, THE GUARDIAN, December 8) For a change & Nigeria for all: buoyant “I’m in best position to succede (sic) Akpabio’s shoes” (THE GUARDIAN, December 12) This way: wear Akpabio’s shoes “Lets (Let’s) do it together” (Full-page advertorial by Presidential Declaration Committee, Media & Publicity, THISDAY, November 11) “One of such trouble shooting efforts by the leadership of the party and the president” National News: trouble-shooting efforts THISDAY of November 13 comes next: “So I said it is (was) not just about complaining or pointing fingers (pointing the finger) at anybody….”

Remembering Oseni

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Seven years of Fashola IT is difficult to believe that last year marked a decade that my mentor left these shores. If he had been alive I am cocksure that our relationship would have blossomed to unimaginable heights. Of all friends of mine that have gone ahead of us, this man meant most to me because he contributed inestimably to my professional ascent hence this especial remembrance tribute.

I still find it an inconsolable reality that my master, chummy and ardent fan of my column, Wordsworth, has taken a glorious flight out of this gloomy space. I am pained the more on grounds of our inexplicable circumstances that made it impossible for us to meet in almost two years, long before his death! This consummate journalist and media manager meant so much to me that words cannot capture.

The only way for me to commemorate his painful exit is to cite five memorable encounters out of the legion we had together on several platforms of brotherly mutuality.

On an occasion when some cliquish elements in the old Daily Times, where he was the managing director, ganged up against me, it took the swift intervention of this detribalized man of profuse humility all the way from our 3, 5, 7 Kakawa Street, Lagos, corporate head office to extricate me from their clannish and bellicose stranglehold

in Times Publications Division, Agidingbi, Ikeja. Shortly after that unwarranted belligerence, he unprecedentedly presented me to the company’s shareholders at the 70th AGM for my exemplary contributions to institutional objectives and contemporaneously gave me a cash-backed award for professional excellence through my quintessential language column. He really appreciated my unparalleled productivity and profundity of skills.

When he became former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s Senior Special Assistant (Media & Publicity) in 2001, he never failed to invite me to executive events in Abuja—in my capacity as the editor of The Post Express—alongside select reputable editors. At one of the presidential media chats in which I participated, he stood at the last gate at Ota Farms where the special session held waiting anxiously for me because I arrived extremely behind schedule due to bad roads and concomitant traffic bottlenecks.

After the media chat, he visited me in my office in Apapa months later to solicit my support for government’s initiatives and also establish the imperative need for me to be less critical of the Obasanjo administration. The last meeting I had with Egbon Oseni was when I rode with him in his official car from Aso Rock, after an exclusive presidential session over dinner with about

10 title editors of frontline national newspapers in September 2002 or thereabouts, to NICON NOGA Hotel where we were lodged. All through the journey from the seat of government to the hotel he kept expressing bitterness over my hypercriticisms of Obasanjo. I promised to softpedal, which, alas, I never did for obvious reasons! (To further prove our amity, while we used his vehicle colleagues of mine were taken in other vehicles back to the hotel). How would I have known that it was the last goodnight as the man of urbanity bade me farewell at the NICONNOGA Hotel lobby? I can vividly recollect it all as if it were yesterday!

My unassuming boss may your gentle soul rest in peace. You were nice to me in and out of Daily Times. I have not forgotten the aristocratic reception you accorded me the day I visited you at your Ikoyi, Lagos, home. How can I also forget your fondness of my rugged Volvo 244 of yore?

Your love for me was exceedingly great.

Till we meet again to part no more, continue to rest in peace, for you were a good man. I will never forget you, fine brother.

We exchanged goodnight years back in Abuja without any inkling that it was going to be the last! What difference it would have made…I commit you to God’s bosom. Again, adieu! Some day we shall meet to part no more! God shall continue to grant your family the fortitude to bear your great demise and comfort the rest of us your colleagues and friends.

Taqwa Schools represent Nigeria at WRO SEKINAH LAWAL

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aqwa Group of Schools, Lagos took the first position at the National Robotic Olympiads and represented Nigeria at the 2014 World Robotic Olympiads, WRO, which took place in Sochi, Russia, recently.

The Managing Director of Taqwa Schools, Alhaja Maryam Alimi has described the atmosphere in Taqwa Schools as that of total education. She revealed this while speaking on the students experience at the just-concluded WRO. Alimi also emphasised the need for Nigerians to pay more attention to the development of research and technical skills among our children and young people “It is a deserved honour for the school and students to have participated in a unique and important event

organized for young inventors and constructors because it will prepare them as future scientists and researchers who will surely make our world a better place and a more technologically-advanced nation.

Besides the competition, we engage the students in many other educational events.

The final competition in

Russia brought together participants from all over the world with great victories and spectacular ideas.”

One of the pupils at the Russia’s event, AbdulKadir Sayyidi revealed that being part of the competition has really helped in building his confidence. “Our school usually strives to bring out the best in everybody.”

Also speaking, Ruqoyah Falade, a Basic5 pupil of Taqwa Schools said she was indeed elated to be among other participants from other countries all over the world and interact freely with them. “I pray that Nigeria will win next time.”

“Though it is very challenging and time-consuming, parents should coop-

Students of Anny International School, Osogbo, Osun State during a debate at the school end-of-year party, recently.

erate with and encourage their wards.We are very proud as we raised the bar by winning the Lagos State Private Schools Table Tennis “Talent Hunt”, the Sci-

ence Olympiad Competition in Lagos State with 3rd Position (Overall), the Quiz Competition of Dowen College, Lekki, Lagos with 1st Position on Saturday, July 5, 2014.

School commended for winning British Council award

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he Administrator, Grace children school and Grace High School Gbagada, Lagos, Mrs. Tokunbo Edun on Tuesday commended the staff and pupils of the school for winning the prestigious International School award.

The award was given by the British council for schools working towards global citizenship.

The award presentation ceremony took place recently at the Lagos office of the British Council. According to Mrs. Edun, the ceremony was first of its kind in Nigeria and Grace Children School was the first and only school in Nigeria to receive

the award competed for by 50 schools in Nigeria.

The award, according to her was always given to the school with the best globally recognized curriculum which also makes the best presentation of scientific and technological innovation by children.

“The award means that the recipient institution has global accreditation which lasts for three years.”

Speaking with journalist at the school premises on Tuesday, the administrator said “the school is proud of all the staff and the pupils that have worked hard to earn this international recognition. We are indeed very pleased with you all.”

Business Thursday, January 8, 2015

FG targets 800,000 jobs from farm mechanisation

28

Shun substandard mobile phones, experts warn consumers 31

FG unveils e-collection platform to boost non-oil revenue Tola Akinmutimi ABUJA

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he Federal Government has unveiled an Electronic Revenue Collection platform which is designed to enhance the nation’s non-oil internally generated revenue in the face of the declining oil prices at the international market.

This is just as it also directed all Ministries, Departments and Agencies MDAs, to close their Revenue Accounts with Deposit Money Banks, DMBs not later than February 28 in line with the new fiscal initiative.

According to government, the balances of the revenue account should be transferred to the Consolidated Revenue Fund of the Federal Government.

Disclosing the fiscal initiatives at a Workshop on the takeoff of the electronic collection project in Abuja, the Accountant General of the Federation, Mr Jonah Otunla, explained that the commencement of the e-collection platform was the result of series of treasury reforms which began in 2012.

Otunla, who pointed out that the reforms were aimed at improving the transparency and accountability in the management of the nation’s resources, explained that this led to the

launch of the Government Integrated Financial Management Information System, GIFMIS, and the Treasury Single Account, TSA. He explained: “Our efforts this morning on the e-collection of revenue is a revenue enhancing program by freeing more funds for budget performance.

We are perfecting a system of collection. We are not perfecting a system depriving commercial banks of income.

“So we just want to make revenue collections a little more efficient but in the process it might influence the inflow to the commercial banks and that’s why the Central Bank is playing a pivotal role”, Otunla added.

In his remarks on the new revenue collection platform, the Director, Funds, Office of the Accountant General of the Federation, Mr Mohammed Dikwa, said that henceforth government revenues would now be

P

ast Nigerian leaders and governments have been blamed for the non-diversification of the country from crude oil over the years.

The over-independence of the country on crude oil has therefore crippled the nation’s economy.

These were the views of the Ekiti State Governor Ayo Fayose during an interview with airport correspondents at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, MMIA, Lagos during the week.

27

2015: How technology will define consumer market, trends 33

paid into the CRF/TSA. Specifically, Dikwa clarified that with the coming of e- collection, MDAs can no longer maintain Revenue Bank Account with commercial banks.

He therefore advised the MDAs to transfer any outstanding balance in their RBA to the CRF and commence the processes for closing the accounts, warning that failure to comply with the directive will attract appropriate sanctions.

FLIGHT

SCHEDULE Arik Air

Lag-Abj:07.15, 09.15, 10.20, 13.05, 15.20, 16.20, 16.50,18.45 (Mon-Fri/Sat/Sun).

Abj-Lag: 07:15, 09.40, 10.20, 12.15, 15.15, 16.15, 17:10, (Mon-Fri/Sat/Sun); 12.15, 15.15, 16.15 (Sun) Lag-PH: 07:15, 11.40, 14.00, 16.10, 17.15 (Mon-Fri); 07.30, 11.40, 15.50 (Sat) 11.50, 3.50, 17.05 Sun) Abj-PH: 07.15, 11.20, 15.30 (Mon-Fri) 07.15, 16.00 (Sat) 13.10, 16.00 Sun) PH-Abj: 08.45, 12.50, 17.00 (MonFri) 08.45, 17.30 (Sat) 14.40, 17.30 (Sun) Abv-Beni:08.00, 12.10 (MonFri/Sat)08.56, 12.10 (Sun) BeninAbj:09.55,13.30

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

Med-View Airline

L-R: Managing Director/CEO, Bank of Industry Limited, Mr. Rasheed Olaoluwa; President, Nigeria Society of Engineers, Engr. Ademola Isaac Olorunfemi; Managing Director/CEO, Niji-Lukas Nigeria Limited, Mr. Kola Adeniji and Regional Manager North, BoI, Mr. Adetokunbo Akinsola, during the visit of the Nigeria Society of Engineers, to the bank’s head office in Lagos.

‘Blame leaders for non-diversification of economy’ Olusegun Koiki

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Fayose told journalists that it was absolutely wrong for Nigerians or anybody to impose the non-diversification of the nation’s economy on President Goodluck Jonathan alone, saying that before he received the baton of leadership, former leaders did not lay the foundation for the diversification of the economy.

He specifically mentioned that Generals Ibrahim Babangida, Muhammadu Buhari and others were at a point in time leaders of this country and queried their diversification plan before the coming of democracy in 1999.

He said, “Nigeria and the country started with some people. This same Gen. Muhammadu Buhari at one time was the leader of this country. The same General Ibrahim Babangida was the leader of this country at a point. Most of our leaders in the past were majorly Northerners. So, nobody should absolve himself from the current crisis.

Nobody should tell us they have laid the foundation that can lead to diversification of the economy.

“So, our leaders today would want to blame every living current leadership for the woes of this country, but they started

it. The foundation was wrongly laid, what would the righteous do? The problem is global and not Jonathan’s problem.”

Fayose however said that for the nation’s economy to improve, diversification must be achieved and urged all to cooperate with the current government in its bid to improve the economy.

It would be recalled that the price of crude oil had dwindled in the last few months from about $145 per barrel to the current $56 per barrel.

The sharp drop of the crude had however crippled several economies around the world including Nigeria.

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. AbujaYola: 11.00. Yola-Abuja: 13.00.

Lagos-Abuja (Sat): 08.00, 08.50.

Abuja-Lagos (Sat): 10.00, 15.00.

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

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Business News

Thursday, January 8, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Govt targets 800,000 jobs from farm mechanisation Tola Akinmutimi ABUJA

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he Federal Government has said that about 800,000 direct jobs would be created through the implementation of farm mechanisation.

This is just as it projected that 4,800,000 MT of food will be added to the national supply and an additional 10 million farmers will have access to mechanisation facilities through the Agricultural Equipment Hiring Enterprise, AEHE.

The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr Akinwumi Adesina, who gave these hints, explained that the new mechanisation policy was designed as a Public Private Partnership, PPP, where the government will provide 35 per cent of the finance, financial institutions will provide 35 per cent, Agro-machinery vendors provides 20 percent while Service Providers Operators, SPOs,would provide 10 per cent.

He also explained that the short term projection of the scheme through the partnership was to make available

a minimum of 6,000 units of tractors and power tillers each and also about 13,000 units of various harvest and post harvest equipment to set up a minimum of 1,200 Agricultural Equipment Hiring Enterprise, AEHE, to render Mechanisation Support Services to farmers nationwide.

In addition, he also said that this network of AEHEs will provide leasing/hiring services of various kinds of agricultural equipment for land preparation, harvest and postharvest processing to farmers nationwide.

Adesina, pointed out that in

order to drive the mechanisation scheme, said that the Federal Government, through the FMARD approved N4.5 billion, to implement an intervention scheme to serve as a model for replication.

He said that the first phase of this intervention will make available 590 units of tractors, 500 power tillers, and various harvests and post harvest equipment to set up 118 AEHEs centres.

The minister also said that when fully implemented, the on-going mechanisation scheme will provide 1,230 units of tractors, 2000 power tillers

and 3400 units of various harvest and post equipment such as rice reapers, grain threshers, cassava planters and harvesters, boom sprayer among several other equipment to set up 246 units of AEHEs in demand driven locations nationwide.

The minister also said that the network of AEHEs will provide mechanisation services for 1.2 million hectares of farm land, add an additional 4.8 million MT of food to our national food production, and create 800,000 direct and indirect jobs, especially for unemployed youths nationwide.

China to triple patents by 2020 Isaiah Erhiawarien WITH AGENCY REPORT

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L-R: Marketing Manager, Kasapreko Company Nigeria Ltd Mr. Peter Adegor; Deputy Chairman, Institute for Government Research Leadership Technology, Prof. John Ndanusa Akanya; Managing Director, Kasapreko Company Nigeria Limited, Mr. Kojo Nunoo, and Sales Director, Mr. Sam Osafo, receiving award conferred on Alomo Bitters as the Medical Herbal Drink of the Year 2014 by the Institute for Government Research Leadership Technology in Abuja recently.

SAHCOL to launch new warehouse Olusegun Koiki

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he Managing Director of the Skyways Aviation Handling Company Limited, SAHCOL, Mr. Oluropo Owolabi has revealed that its newly built warehouse at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, MMI, Lagos would be opened to the public by March this year.

He also disclosed that the management would next month commence the test running of the facilities provided in the warehouse to know its capacity.

Speaking with our correspondent in Lagos, Owolabi described the type of facilities at the new warehouse as “a complete village on its own,” stressing that all that is expected for facilitation in the cargo handling are installed in the new warehouse.

He added, “We have facilities for handling human remains, facilities for dangerous goods, we facilities for cold-room storage and for freezers. We also have facility for the handling of radio-

active materials, for safe keeping of valuables.

“Whatever time you come into the country, we have facility for perishables like vaccines and pharmaceutical products and so on. We are therefore providing facilities for all the necessary needs that are expected in a warehouse.”

Owolabi boasted that on completion, the warehouse would not only be the best in the country, but in the entire West Africa in terms of facilities being provided by the management.

Owolabi however refused to mention the amount of money the construction of the warehouse has gulped so far, but noted that the project worth multi-million of naira.

He further hoped that the government would address the issue that led to the closure of the two ground handling companies by the Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, for over two weeks in 2014, saying that all the parties involved including the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, FAAN, lost several billions of naira to the closure.

He added, “We are even yet to get out of it. So, as it is now, it’s been very difficult to compute our losses. No doubt, we lost millions of naira. Don’t forget that we have to increase our manpower to assist in the clearing of backlog of cargo to be able to meet up with the expectations of our customers during the festive seasons.

We don’t pray that this type of closure ever happen again.”

On double taxation from government agencies on the operators in the sector, Owolabi decried that it had always been a serious issue, which had not been resolved over the years.

He hoped that the recent committees formed by the Minister of Aviation, Chief Osita Chidoka to address some burning issues in the system would take appropriate recommendations on the issue.

He insisted that all the multimillion naira equipment the company invested in and pay duties on are stationed at on the tarmac for airport use and yet the ground handlers are being billed

by FAAN.

hina is aiming to triple the number of patents it files by 2020 as Beijing looks to boost the country’s hitech economy in areas from agriculture to pharmaceuticals, according to a notice from the central government yesterday.

China is targeting 14 invention patents per 10, 000 inhabitants by 2020, compared to four in 2013. It published 629 612 patents in 2013, over 200 000 more than the US, according to a Thomson Reuters study in December.

Beijing wants to become a bigger player in high technology industries as the country grapples with slower growth and rising costs for its manufacturing base.

This is likely to raise a challenge to global players operating in

China and abroad, which have typically dominated in more innovative sectors.

“Intellectual property, IP, is increasingly becoming a vital component of China’s strategic resources and competitive ability,” the statement posted on the Central People’s Government Web site said.

It added that by 2020, China would have boosted its legal environment for IP protection and management, often an area of contention for foreign firms which say IP law in China sometimes favours local players.

Beijing is also looking to reduce the length of the review process for patent and trademark applications. Patent reviews will decline to 20.2 months in 2020 from 22.3 months in 2013, while trademark reviews will fall to nine months from 10 months.

Eurozone economy slows further

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he eurozone economy saw anaemic growth in December and suffered its worst quarter for more than a year, a survey has indicated.

The closely watched Markit/ CIPS composite purchasing managers’ index, PMI, for December fell to 51.4 from an earlier estimate of 51.7.

But that was better than the previous month’s reading of 51.1, which had marked a 16-month low.

The eurozone economy has seen 18 months of continuous, albeit weak growth.

Markit said its latest PMI survey, which combines the results of individual surveys of the construction, services and manufacturing industries, suggested the eurozone economy grew by just 0.1 per cent in the last three months of 2014.

Persistently low inflation since the start of last year has led consumers and business to hold off making purchases or making investments in the expectation that prices will continue to fall.

The problem has been exacerbated since the summer by the falling price of oil. Brent crude has fallen by more than 50 per cent since August to $51.54 per barrel.

The fear of deflation led the European Central Bank, ECB, to lower interest rates to 0.05 per cent and begin an asset purchase programme to inject cash into the economy in August.

However, the ECB has resisted taking the same action as central banks in the US, UK and Japan by buying government debt.

Chris Williamson, chief economist at Markit, said the weakness of the latest PMI surveys would “add to calls for more aggressive central bank stimulus, including full-scale quantitative easing, to be undertaken as soon as possible”.

He added: “The euro zone will look upon 2014 as a year in which recession was avoided by the narrowest of margins, but the weakness of the survey data suggests there’s no guarantee that a renewed downturn will not be seen in 2015.”

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Group canvases operational guidelines for trade facilitation Francis Ezem

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ustoms brokerage operators under the aegis of Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents ANLCA, have made a case for the building strong institutions within the supply chain in the country that would enhance trade facilitation in the country.

National Secretary of the association, Dr. Emmanuel Opara, who spoke against the insinuations that most agents do not promote the ideals of trade facilitation due to lack of integrity in their import declarations and documentations, said that the maritime industry need very strong institutions that would enforce import trade regulations.

According to him, there also is an urgent need for the setting of some operational guidelines especially for the private sector in order to promote trade facilitation in the country.

He noted that it was unfair that some government agencies oper-

Business News

Thursday, January 8, 2015

ating in the industry always look at the clearing agents and other freight forwarding practitioners as fraudulent people, which he said is not good enough.

“There is urgent need to build an enduring public-private partnership in the maritime industry, which I believe is a necessary tool for the development of the industry because no segment of the industry public or private can do it alone and so all hands must be on deck towards the building of a sustainable maritime industry”, he argued.

He noted that the current perception of most public institutions that the private sector operators are not genuine and honest in their dealings is unfair and would not help in building the publicprivate sector synergy that would grow the industry.

“We are honest, patriotic and genuine citizens and stakeholders in the maritime industry, all the stakeholders should work together for the ideals of trade facilitation to be realised because neither the public institutions not the pri-

vate sector operators can do it all alone”, he further advised.

In addition to setting up operational guidelines, he also made a strong case for the training and re-training of the private sector operators both locally and internationally, who he said are also critical stakeholders in the supply chain within Nigeria.

The ANLCA-scribe, who also made reference to recent insinuations by the Standards Organisation of Nigeria SON that the clearing agents and importers should be held responsible for the influx of fake and substandard goods had said that no agent in his right senses would want to promote such economic sabotage against one’s nation.

SON had recently as part of measures to check influx of substandard goods and other international trade-related fraud introduced the electronic product registration for all regulated products, which it said was also in line with its efforts at enthroning a regime international best practice in the nation’s supply chain.

Skye Bank strengthens support functions Johnson Okanlawon

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s part of the initiatives to strengthen all cadres of its work force, Skye Bank has engaged the services of Optimum Continental Services, Strategic Outsourcing Limited and Integrated Corporate Services Limited, to manage its support function staff.

A statement from the bank said the decision was taken as part of initiatives to position itself for excellent service and superior performance in the coming years.

The bank noted that efficiency and excellent customer service will be key to winning in the market place in the years ahead.

It acknowledged that the support functions are pivotal to the ability of the bank to meet its growth objectives and as such need to be managed by professional human resource companies who have extensive skills

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Foreign airlines account for 60% of revenue –NAMA

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he Managing Director, Nigerian Airspace Management Agency, NAMA, Mr. Ibrahim Abdulsalam, has disclosed that over 60 percent of revenue generated from the nation’s aviation sector accrued from foreign airlines.

Speaking at the Association of foreign airlines representatives in Nigeria, AFARN, Safety Summit 2014, held in Lagos, Abdulsalam said that foreign airlines were significantly contributing to the growth of the industry.

He said safety remains key to sustenance of the aviation in-

dustry and vowed to prioritise safety and make the airspace safe.

Abdulsalam said the agency would soon commence training of 40 Air Traffic Controllers ,ATC, on Performance Based Navigation ,PBN, in Cairo, Egypt, adding that the training is part of the wider effort of management in ensuring the continuous training and retraining of personnel to keep pace with dynamics of evolving technology adding that another five Air Traffic Controllers have been billed for Wind Shear Equipment training in

Germany by December, 2015.

He said that with the Mode ‘S’ Data link and Controller/Pilot Data Link CPDLC, almost ready for take-off, much of verbal communication between pilots and control tower would give way to digital/data communication, leading to less fatigue and increased flight precision.

He also expressed delight that management’s effort in staff training has boosted the area radar control service introduced last year with more Air Traffic Controllers, successfully obtaining ratings from the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority,NCAA.

and competence in this regard.

To assure the welfare of the staff who are mostly on the lower cadre, the bank insisted that a non - negotiable condition for taking over the support staff by the human resource companies is that the staff will enjoy the same terms and conditions as they did, when they were employed by their former employer, Skye Bank Resources Limited.

“Under the new arrangement therefore, the affected officers who consist of drivers, security officers, tellers and other support staff have been absorbed automatically by the new employers on the same terms and conditions they enjoyed prior to now.

“It is expected that the management companies who are industry leaders and experts in human resource management will enrich the quality of the officers by relevant training, skills transfer and enhanced welfare packages,” the bank said.

LASAA vows to remove illegal posters on Lagos streets David Audu

Shareholders of Ikeja Hotel Plc locked out of the extraordinary meeting of the company in Lagos.

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he last may not have been heard of the face-off between the Nigerian Police and the Lagos State Signage and Advertisement Agency, LASAA, over the latter’s removal of illegal posters on the streets of Lagos as the agency had vowed that it would not relent in its bid to rid the metropolis of illegal posters.

Reacting to the recent warning of the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Cornelius Aderanti, to desist from removing the campaign posters and billboards of political parties in the state, the Managing Director of the agency, Mr. George Noah, stated that the agency would continue with its lawful business of removing illegally pasted posters within the metropolis, insisting that its activities had been nonselective as it had removed posters irrespective of politicians and political party involved.

Noah stated that it would not relent in carrying out its statutory responsibility of removing election campaign materials indiscriminately placed at unauthorized places in the state.

According the LASAA boss, the removal of posters that deface the environment is a statutory obligation of LASAA, adding that it will be unlawful for the police to arrest any LASSA staff for carrying out their law-

ful duty.

Noah said the agency had published guidelines for deploying electoral materials in four national dailies in addition to a town hall meeting it convened with all the political parties where the guidelines were presented to them.

‘Let me state clearly that the removal of posters that deface our environment is a statutory obligation of LASAA. The agency is therefore baffled that the Nigerian police responsible for enforcing the laws of this nation is by the statement encouraging and expressly supporting the flagrant disregard and contravention of environmental guidelines issued to all political parties,’ he stated.

Describing the police action as an attempt to intimidate staff of the agency, the LASAA boss argued that election materials not properly deployed or that which violates the agency’s guidelines will be removed regardless of the threat.

He expressed shock at the utterance of the CP, despite cordial discussion he had with the him on Monday that lasted for about 15minutes.

Noah urged politicians to be more creative in the way they go about creating awareness, adding that over 100,000 political posters are illegally deployed in the state on a daily basis and their removal had been based on fairness.

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Business News

Thursday, January 8, 2015

India to invest in Nigeria’s Energy sector I ndia government has signified interest to invest in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector as African oil exports faces pressure from Gulf States.

There are fears that Asia has become a market for a price war between African and Gulf oil producers, who compete for the global oil supply market, Africa needs to diversify and secure its global market position as a global oil exporter. Hope might come from India.

Many African sellers like Nigeria and Angola now faced with precarious finances due to plummeting oil prices, are struggling to make inroads into

Asia, which is a Middle Eastern stronghold.

Low operating costs in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and the Emirates allow these countries to offer bigger discounts while African exporters face higher transport costs and are more exposed to fluctuations in freight rates between Africa and Asia given the relative advantage of Middle Eastern shipping distances to Asia.

West African producers traditionally sold most of their oil to North America and Europe, but exports dwindled given the increase in domestic oil production in the United States

and higher output from nations outside the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, OPEC. This has been a big setback for West African oil producers but the news about India’s state-run companies looking to acquire stakes in oil and gas blocks in Africa comes as a relief to African exporters.

The country has announced to form joint ventures in Africa to meet increasing fuel demand in India and at the same time become a reliable supplier of petroleum merchandise to Africa.

India has been facing a substantial energy deficit and im-

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ports about 80 per cent of its crude oil needs.

India’s oil minister S. Jaipal Reddy said, as quoted by Oil Review Africa, ORA, “Today as a lot as 21.5 per cent of India’s crude oil imports are from Africa. In the years ahead, we seek a lot more crude oil and liquefied organic gas from Africa.”

His country has been facing a substantial energy deficit and imports about 80 per cent of its crude oil needs and is in scouting for hydrocarbon assets that can boost its energy safety in the long term, the minister added.

“Our firms are also interested in farm-in possibilities in creat-

ing blocks, especially in Libya, Algeria, Egypt and Nigeria,” Reddy said according to ORA, adding that firms like GAIL ,India, Ltd, Petronet LNG and Indian Oil Corporation ,IOC, are interested in sourcing allnatural gas on a long-term basis from Africa.

The minister is quoted as saying that there is no ceiling on imports from the African continent and that India is attempting to maximize its oil sources in Africa.

However, he didn’t specify which projects Indian oil providers had been eyeing, how much they would invest.

Zambia proceeds with mining royalty hikes

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Members of the Correspondent Chapel, Gombe State with National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, officials, during a familiarisation visit by the newly posted head of operation of the agency Alhaji Saidu Mini in Gombe State recently.

Google to empower Nigeria media with election reporting tool Isaiah Erhiawarien

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s part of its plan to ensure that the 2015 general election becomes a success, Google Nigeria said that it will empower Nigerian journalist with the required ICT^ tools to that will enable them to report the elections credibly.

The one day, workshop with the theme: data Tools for Election reporting is expected to avail journalist with the online tools for elections story telling.

Communications and Public Affairs Manager, Anglophone West Africa, Google, Mr. Taiwo Kola-Ogunlade said that in the last decade, social media and online journalism have played an important role in helping to build stable democracies resulting from informed voting.

He noted that as more people get online, this impact grows

saying that the weeks leading to the Nigerian 2015 elections present great opportunities for media people to innovate on their story telling abilities through the use of online tools and social media.

“The Google for Elections workshop is a one-day, hands-on Certificate program focused on using Social Media tools, Visualisation and Citizen Reporting tools in ‘unearthing’ and telling elections-based stories. Participants will learn to use online tools like Fusion Tables, Polls, Trends and Tables to result and develop stories”, he said.

He added: “This program is ideal for editors, journalists, social media/digital reporters interested in becoming proficient in learning to leverage online/digital tools for better elections reporting.”

Kola-Ogunlade said that the training, which comes up Friday, 16, 2015 is for the first 100 journalist who register http://goo.gl/ tjVwM3 adding that upon completion, participants will have the

knowledge and tools necessary to apply their new skill set immediately and will also be issued with certificates from the Google Media Academy.

espite threats of reduced production and employment in the mining sector, the Zambian Government has gone ahead with sharp increases in mining royalties, which were first announced in its 2015 Budget in October last year.

In his budget speech, Zambian Finance Minister Alexander Chikwanda had proposed that, instead of the current six percent royalty for all mines, split levels of eight per cent and 20 percent mineral royalties would be introduced as a final tax on underground mining and on open cast mining operations, respectively.

Chikwanda had explained that the measure is intended to increase Government income from the mining sector and achieve a more equitable distribution of mineral returns between the Government and the mining companies.

However, the Chamber of Mines of Zambia had immediately emphasized that, although mining companies will

no longer be subject to corporate income tax, the increased royalties would cause a shutdown of some mines, which would then be unprofitable.

In fact, last month, Canadabased Barrick Gold announced that it has suspended operations at the Lumwana copper mine in Zambia on account of the plan. Its Co-President Kelvin Dushnisky said that: “Despite the progress we have made to reduce costs and improve efficiency at the mine, the economics of an operation such as Lumwana cannot support a 20 percent gross royalty, particularly in the current copper price environment.”

Nevertheless, despite a recommendation from the International Monetary Fund last month that Zambia should reconsider its plan, its acting President Guy Scott assented to the relevant legislation as an amendment to the Mines and Minerals Development Act 2008, and the increased royalties went into effect on January 1.

Lenovo, IBM seal pact Isaiah Erhiawarien WITH AGENCY REPORT

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enovo has integrated IBM’s x 86 businesses in its Middle East and Africa, MEA, operations, and transferred staff over, it said.

This follows the initial closing for the acquisition of IBM’s x86 server business at worldwide level last October for $2.1bn.

As there is a large number of countries and processes in the Europe, Middle East and Africa region, Lenovo said these units will be transitioned over the next few months to ensure a smooth integration.

The company recently introduced one of its leading brands of mobile phone the YOGA Tablet 10 HD+ in gold and silver into Nigeria.

The multimode Android YOGA Tablet 10 HD+, with its incredible battery of up to 18 hours incorporates the latest technologies including a full HD screen, Qualcomm Snapdragon processor and a sharp high resolution camera.

The new Lenovo Yoga Tablet comes with a 20/20 Vision display graphics, as well as a Full HD resolution, which makes movies and photos look crystal clear and more like real life.

With the new Smart Display, the

tablet automatically adjusts the images and text on the screen to the ambient light, making it gentler on users’ eyes in all its modes.

Built for accessing multimedia on the go, apps and files load quickly thanks to its new Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 Processor. The new Lenovo tablet also features rich Dolby audio sound, 10 point multi-touch, a micro USB port, a new high definition 8MP rear camera and an optional keyboard.

The tablet’s signature three modes - Hold, Tilt and Stand continue to give users a better way to use the tablet in nearly any situation.

Thursday, January 8, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

31

Info Tech

Shun substandard mobile phones, experts warn consumers The ICT revolution created a lot of business opportunities in the country with Nigeria now referred to as the largest market in Africa. Unfortunately, it opened up the nation to all forms of dubious business activities, one of such is the thriving trade of fake and substandard mobile phones. ISAIAH ERHIAWARIEN writes.

Mobile phones

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he ICT revolution kicked off a lot of business opportunities in the country making the Nigeria market to be referred to as the largest in Africa. Unfortunately, it opened up the nation to all forms of dubious business activities; one of such is the thriving trade of fake and substandard mobile phones writes, Isaiah Erhiawarien.

The mobile phone industry growth in Nigeria, which was kicked off following the revolution of the ICT opened the country to several business opportunity benefitting everyone but the nation is unfortunately likely to pay for it unless some key regulation ideas are urgently addressed.

One of such is the volume of unregistered mobile phones that are brought into the country by brief case carrying mobile phone dealers and mobile manufacturers who are taking advantage of the corruption in the Nigerian society.

Recently, a Chinese man identified as Lin Tian Huan, was arrested at the popular Computer village, home of ICT products in the country by the task force of the Phone and Allied Products’ Dealers Association of Nigeria, PAPDAN, an association of traders in the computer village for being in possession of 10,000 substandard mobile phones.

He was found with fake and substandard mobile phones which passed for Nokia and Samsung brands.

Upon questioning by the police at the Computer Village, Huan said he illegally imported over 10,000 pieces of different models of mobile phones products into the country.

Standards Organisation of Nigeria, SON, recently sealed a Chinese warehouse stocked with suspected substandard phones during its enforcement exercise in Ikeja.

SON discovered that the warehouse had mobile phones that were not registered with it and could not be linked with neither registered manufacturer nor importer.

According to the director-general of the Standards Organisation of Nigeria, SON,

If you are looking to replace a battery or charger, then you should refer to the original

manufacturer’s information to make sure you purchase the appropriate battery or charger for your model of phone Dr. Joseph Odumodu, more than 80 percent of the mobile phones and other related computer accessories at the market are not genuine.

In China, where most of the fake and substandard mobile phones were said to originate, a mobile phone recently exploded and caught fire in a bus.

Reported by the Guardian UK, CCTV footage from the bus in Nanchong city, in South-West China, showed the phone battery exploded in its owner’s hand and caught fire. The incident happened as the passenger was changing her phone batteries.

The Daily Mail UK also reported that a shop worker died after his mobile phone exploded, severing a major artery in his neck.

It was believed that the 20-year-old man just finished charging the phone’s battery before placing it in his breast pocket.

Alarmingly, local reports claimed the incident was the ninth recorded mobile phone explosion in China since 2002.

All mobile phone batteries and chargers must undergo the same stringent testing to

ensure they meet all levels of safety. Genuine mobile phone batteries are tested under intense conditions to ensure they can handle varying conditions of use.

Counterfeit and substandard mobile phones, batteries and chargers on the other hand are not subject to such comprehensive testing and therefore the safety of fake phones cannot be verified or guaranteed.

According to the Commission, around the world, there are incidents where mobile phone batteries have exploded and injured people. Upon investigation these incidents have been linked to the use of counterfeit or sub-standard batteries. Counterfeit and some third party manufactured batteries do not meet all of the safety requirements that prevent these incidents. Non-genuine batteries may not have safety circuits which regulate voltage, current and heat within the battery, without these the battery can short circuit and explode or heat up and burn people.

The NCC stated that fake phones, batteries and chargers are made from cheap, substandard components and may contain chemicals, which are dangerous to the environment and human health.

It added that the cheap and low quality components used to manufacture fake phones and accessories are untested, uncertified and can be a safety hazard for users saying that the substandard components in fake phones often malfunction with the potential to injure users and damage property.

It said further that fake phones can also contain dangerous chemicals and metals, such as lead and mercury noting that these are associated with a range of adverse health effects.

Fake phones, the NCC observed have been known to cause a drain on mobile phone networks thereby reducing network speed and reception for users stressing that some of them have unpredictably short lives.

The Commission said that they are not

registered or certified to operate on cellular networks because they are produced from cheap and substandard components that can damage service in a network area adding that testing has shown that counterfeit and substandard phones experience high levels of dropped calls and failed connections.

Recently, the Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, said that the task of checking the in flock of fake and standard mobile phones into the country was beyond its power because several loopholes in the nation’s boarder make it possible for all kinds of phones to come into the country.

According to the Secretary General of the Mobile Manufacturers Forum, MMF, Mr. Michael Milligan some of the tell tale signs of counterfeit mobile phone products are the price and the poor quality saying consumers should look for inaccurate printing, misspelled words, crooked label placement and signs of defective workmanship.

He added that they do not come with warranty saying that all genuine mobile phone manufacturers offer a limited warranty that covers the handset, software and accessories.

He said: “Look out for words like ‘Replacement battery for…’ or ‘Charger compatible with…’.. Genuine products tend to only state which model handset the product is for” saying that to avoid fakes, consumers should always buy mobile phone products made by registered manufacturers and sold by trusted retailers.

“If you are looking to replace a battery or charger, then you should refer to the original manufacturer’s information to make sure you purchase the appropriate battery or charger for your model of phone,” Milligan said.

According to the International Telecommunications Union, ITU, One out of every five mobile phones sold in the world are illegal or unlicensed copycats saying that the Middle East and Africa which include Nigeria, Turkey, Egypt, Iran account for 38.2 million units.

Also shipments of gray-market Chinamade mobile phones reached their peak in 2011 with a total of 250.4 million according to IHS iSuppli report.

On the effects, the ITU said that it results to loss of revenue due to non-payment of customs duties and sales taxes saying that the danger it posses to public security is the absence of valid IMEI or “no IMEI” number which are potentially attractive for criminal activity and terrorism.

Also on security and privacy issues, ITU said in cases of theft or stolen phone, it is difficult to track the phone with invalid IMEI or “no IMEI” number while the operator experiences lowering of QoS of mobile telecommunication services such as loss in voice and data capacities, data transmit speeds, reduced coverage.

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Info Tech

Thursday, January 8, 2015

Tech Box

Amazing 3D printer wristband

Smart classroom will enhance learning says, Teledom Isaiah Erhiawarien

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irgin Media has teamed up with two teenagers to create a wearable 3Dprinted wristband called KipstR that can tell your DVR to pause or record what you’re watching if you happen to fall asleep in front of the TV. To figure out whether you’re asleep or in a TV-induced coma, KipstR monitors you via a pulse oximeter. If the gadget determines you’re asleep, the wearable can mimic a DVR remote to tell it to pause or record whatever you were watching.

There’s also a resume feature that presumably will switch the program back on if you wake up again. KipstR was designed to work with TiVo DVRs. The story behind the story: KipstR isn’t the first time we’ve seen a wearable using this basic concept. In February, Netflix engineers tried out something similar during a company hack day. The engineers used a Fitbit wristband to detect whether

a viewer was asleep and then pause what they were watching.

The viewer could then resume their program later. Netflix has no current plans to release the feature.

Whether you’re talking about KipstR or Netflix, this wearable idea is an incredibly practical solution to an admittedly trivial first-world problem.

KipstR appears closer to reality, in any case, because Virgin Media plans to launch a trial for the product in 2015 in the U.K. It wouldn’t be surprising to see KipstR, or an imitator, start working with a U.S. cable provider soon.

KipstR was created by Ryan Oliver, 15 and Jonathan Kingsley, 14 two students at the Manchester Creative Studio in the U.K. The students developed the gadget as part of Virgin Media’s “Switched on Futures” initiative, a program to encourage coding and hardware hacking among students.

Lenovo Yoga Tablet 2 styled to excite

eledom Group Nigeria Limited, a whole owned Nigerian company has delivered the first set of smart classrooms for Nigerian universities with a promise from the managing director and chief executive of the company, Dr. Emmanuel Ekuwem that the smart classroom will enhance learning in the nation’s educational system.

Presenting the smart classroom to the Minister of Communications Technology, Mrs. Omobola Johnson, at the College of Medicine, University of Lagos, Ekuwem said that the facilities are of world class and they are the same ICT equipment used in Europe and America.

He told the minister who was at the medical school to commission the facilities, which was

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with just the push of a button, so you don’t have to worry about chipping a nail when prying it loose. The Lenovo Yoga Tablet 2 Pro is one sleek piece of hardware. Its 13.3-inch Quad HD IPS display is great for multitasking, too.

The Lenovo Yoga Tablet 2 Pro takes up most of the tray table on a jam packed plane. Actually using it on the plane was a bit of a drag. Apps that don’t support landscape mode required that I flip the tablet vertically, which made it awkward to hold in a narrow airplane seat.

build with funding support from the Universal Service Provision Fund,USPF, that lectures can now be streamlined live to any other smart classroom of medical colleges in the country.

According to Ekuwem, students can take their lectures online from any location wherever they are using their smart devices once they get connected to the link of the smart classroom adding that voice and data of lectures can also be retrieved by students who for one reason or the other was not present in the class or could not join the online lecture.

Explained that the smart classroom consist of desktop computers in each of the students desk with internet connection, power backup, a digital board, digital podium with a screen that is connected to the digital board, which also comes with a projector captures not only the data but the image of

the lecturer.

He said that whatever the lecture writes on the digital screen of the digital podium is not only seen on the digital board but could also be seen on the desktop of the student.

He added that whatever is written on the digital board via the screen of the digital podium could also be viewed on any smart devices that are WIFI enabled noting that lectures are also stored in the serve for students who made want to copy into their flash drive and take home for further study or review.

He stated that one key thing that the smart classroom does is the possibility of reliving the classroom experience so freshly that it makes it real for the student to understand as it captures not only what is written on the board but the voice and the image of the lecturer.

Representative of the Chief Executive Officer of Zinox Computers, Leo Stan-Ekeh, Mr. David Aloh receiving the award of Zinox Computers as outstanding computer company of the year from the President of the Nigerian Internet Group, Engr.

Bayo Banjo during the Africa Digital Awards and Forum held in Lagos recently.

‘No destination for digital economy’ Isaiah Erhiawarien

A he Lenovo Yoga Tablet 2 Pro is out of the ordinary.

It’s not much bigger than most Android tablets at 13 inches, but it has a pico projector embedded in its hinge. That’s in addition to its neat kickstand that you can orient any way you like.

The Lenovo Yoga Tablet 2 Pro is quite the stylin’ tablet.

It features a sleek aluminum finish around the edges and on its backside, giving it a nice business-like aesthetic. Its rearfacing kickstand is also made of aluminum.

It also pops out more easily

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

s the nation joins the developed economies of the world in the race for a digital economy, the Federal Government has said that there is no destination in view for a digital economy.

The Minister of Communications Technology Mrs. Omobola Johnson, told journalists in Lagos that what the nation needs is the appropriate technological infrastructures for the realisation of the objectives of a digital economy.

She said that government is committed towards building an enduring telecoms infrastructure saying that the e-commerce sector is currently growing fast due to the infrastructure on ground.

She explained that a digital economy is an economy that leverages on technology to develop its economy whether in agriculture, trading or finance noting that “We are on our way towards a digital

economy, and even the United States of America cannot say that they are already there now.”

According to the minister, the digital movement towards a digital economy is not a destination but a journey calling on all telecoms companies to rollout infrastructures to fast track the growth of the economy.

She assured that the government through the Infraco will subsidise the investment in the rollout of infrastructure in the rural areas so that companies investing there do not make any lost noting that the government is working on the challenges of the Right of Way, ROW, for the telecoms operators.

She said: “If you look at what the government is doing in the smart state policy, we started by asking the states to bring down the taxes on ICT infrastructure and we have seen some states doing that. Lagos, Bayelsa and Anambra has done it, and Rivers state is about do it.”

The minister noted that bringing ICT to the states is a good but

that helping to bring the cost down and cheaper will make it faster for the people to enjoy the benefit of ICT. On the claim by the Osun State governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbosola that the state is yet to feel the impact of ICT development, she said that the ministry has been talking to Osun to reduce the cost for the ROW explaining that the ROW that the state gave the ministry to link the Medical College of the Obafemi Awolowo University to one of the Universal Service Provision Fund, USPF, University Inter-Campus Connectivity Project, UniCC was very expensive.

“What we said was that if you want connectivity in your state you must be able to bring down this cost. So we have been negotiating and dealing with Osun State but have not signed the MOU and that is why they will not feel the impact of telecoms infrastructures until they make it easy for the telecoms companies to rollout infrastructure in the state”, the minister explained.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Info Tech

Thursday, January 8, 2015

33

New Innovative Technology

MTN to stream video-on-demand

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TN, Africa’s largest cellphone operator has joined the video-ondemand,VOD, with the launch of FrontRow its VOD solution to take advantage of its service in a market it dominates.

MTN unveiled FrontRow, the first content offering from a mobile operator promising subscribers “thousands” of movies and series episodes. Offerings can be watched via a browser, or an Android appliation, while an iOS application is in the works, said MTN. The operator initially expected to reveal its VOD service by the

end of November, but testing of equipment required for the service took longer than had been anticipated.

On the Web site, MTN noted that the service will allow users to connect to MTN’s 3G or long-term evolution network via a device and watch movies or series episodes via a handset and subscribers can also plug devices into a TV, MTN explained.

After subscription, users can watch ‘thousands of films and TV series’ as much as they like, as long as they are up to date with their subscriptions, notes MTN. However, new movies are only added

about three months after release on the big screen.

FrontRow subscribers can access FrontRow Premiere, which provides access to the “latest blockbuster films and more”. This option gives subscribers two days

to watch the entertainment of their choice.

However, once a subscriber depletes their data bundle, the normal data rate kicks in, saying, “You can then buy either another MTN FrontRow data bundle or a

standard MTN Internet bundle.

The MTN FrontRow data bundles don’t have an associated out-ofbundle rate.”

FrontRow data bundles are only valid for 30 days and cannot be carried over.

Google’s gmail blocked in China

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oogle’s Gmail was blocked in China after months of disruptions to the world’s biggest e-mail service, with an anti-censorship advocate suggesting the Great Firewall was to blame.

Large numbers of Gmail Web addresses were cut off in China on last Friday, said GreatFire.org, a China-based freedom of speech advocacy group. Users said the service was still down as at Monday.

“I think the government is just trying to further eliminate Google’s presence in China and even weaken its market overseas,” said a member of GreatFire.org, who uses a pseudonym.

Google’s own Transparency Report, which showed real-time traffic to Google services, displayed a sharp drop-off in traffic to Gmail from China on Friday.

“We’ve checked and there’s nothing wrong on our end,” a

L-R: Vice chancellor of the University of Lagos, Prof. Rahamona Bello, Provost, College of Medicine, Prof. Folashade Ogunsola, Minister of Communications Technology, Mrs. Omobola Johnson, during the commissioning of the smart classroom build with support fund from the Universal Service Provision Fund under University Inter-Campus Connectivity Project, UniCC, recently in Lagos.

Singapore-based spokesman for Google said in an e-mail.

In Washington, the US State Department expressed concern over China’s actions.

“We encourage China to be transparent in its dealings with

international companies and to consider the market signal it sends with such acts,” state department spokesman Jeff Rathke said.

Almost all of Google’s services have been heavily disrupted in China since June this year, but un-

til last week Gmail users could still access emails downloaded via protocols like IMAP, SMTP and POP3.

These had let people communicate using Gmail on apps like the Apple iPhone’s Mail and Microsoft Outlook.

Financial Technology

E-payment association warns shoppers of online fraud Isaiah Erhiawarien

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he E-payment Providers Association of Nigeria, E-PPAN, has warned shoppers to beware of the nefarious activities of online fraudsters who may want to take advantage of the Yuletide season to fleece them of their hard earned money.

The association urged all Nigerians to be security conscious especially at this festive season where a lot of transactions take place with the use of various payment instruments.

Be it shopping physically at merchant outlets using the POS terminal; mobile Banking/Payment; online transactions or even at the ATM. E-PPAN in a press statement said that fraudsters also use this festive season to launch their nefarious activities to unsuspecting bank customers saying that shoppers should consider safety in all transactions.

The statement advised cardholders never to share their PIN with anyone, ensure they keep it safe and never to leave their cards unattended in public places saying that “Like we all always tell

consumers it is very safe to use any of the payment instruments but to minimise the chances of becoming a victim of electronic fraud.”

It stressed that cardholders should follow some safety tips such not letting their card out of sight when making a transaction saying “Look after your cards and card details at all times.”

E-PPAN stated: “For those who will use the ATM at any point we always advice that never use an ATM at any isolated location especially at night and weekends.

ATM’s are generally safe; however they do sometimes attract criminal attention so you still need to

follow common sense precautions when withdrawing cash. At the ATM when entering your PIN, stand close to the ATM, use your free hand and your body to shield the number in case someone is watching you over your shoulder.

“Once you have completed a transaction, put your money and card away before leaving the ATM. If the ATM does not return your card, report it immediately to your service provider. Destroy or preferably shred your ATM receipts, mini-statements or balance enquiries when you dispose of them. If you think someone has seen your PIN you can change it at the next ATM or by contacting

your bank.”

The statement called on cardholder to minimise the chances of having their card or card details stolen at an ATM noting that “if you spot anything unusual about the ATM, or there are signs of tampering, do not use it. Report it to the relevant authorities immediately.”

E-PPAN advised those traveling overseas to call their financial service providers and inform them on their location of travel, take only cards they intend to use and leave others in a secure place at home adding that “When you are overseas don’t let your card out of your sight, especially in restau-

rants and bars; when you get back check your card statements carefully for unfamiliar transactions.

If there are any, report them to your financial service provider as soon as possible.”

The statement urged those doing online transactions to shop on secure sites explaining that “Before entering card details ensure that the locked padlock or unbroken key symbol is showing in your browser. Additionally, the beginning of the online retailer’s internet address will change from ‘http’ to ‘https’ to indicate the connection is secure. Never send your PIN over the internet.

will make it easier to plug any Carrizo chip into any laptop, regardless of size or price.

AMD will supply just one motherboard that will support a wide range of Carrizo and Carrizo-L laptop chips. The new approach will provide PC makers the flexibility of using a range of Carrizo chips in any laptop.

Laptop buyers as a result will be able to get a processor of their choice instead of set-

tling for one they don’t want, said Jason Banta, director of product management for client solutions at AMD. AMD’s chips typically go into low-cost laptops, and Carrizo,which was announced a few months ago will be in laptops in the first half of this year. The Carrizo-L is for entrylevel and mainstream laptops, while Carrizo is for mid-range and performance laptops.

Carrizo succeeds the previ-

ous chips, codenamed Kaveri, which have not done well.

The Carrizo chips, which are based on the new Excavator CPU core, will bring “incremental experiences to our prior offerings,” Banta said, adding that the company will share more processor details in the coming months.

AMD could show some PCs running on Carrizo and Carrizo-L at the International CES trade show in Las Vegas.

AMD retools laptop chip strategy to challenge Intel’s dominance

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dvanced Micro Devices wants its chips in more laptops, and is devising a new strategy to reverse a free fall it has endured in the PC market over the last few years.

The chip maker is reshaping the way it supplies chips and components with the hope that more PC makers will use its upcoming Carrizo processors in laptops. At the center of the strategy is a plug-andplay component approach that

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Global News

Thursday, January 8, 2015

U.S. stocks fluctuate after biggest drop since October

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nited States stocks fluctuated, as investors gauged whether signs of a strong economy will help lift equities after a slide in energy shares sent the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index to its biggest drop since October.

The S&P 500 added 0.1 per cent to 2,023.13 Tuesday in New York. The gauge yesterday completed its first four-day loss since 2013 and slid below its average price for the last 50 days. The Dow Jones Industrial Average increased 21.35 points, or 0.1 per cent, to 17,523 Tuesday.

“It’s a balancing act between bulls and bears,” Allan von Mehren, chief analyst at Danske Bank A/S in Copenhagen, said.

“Many investors are playing the recovery scenario and will buy on setbacks, but others get nervous after a strong rally. The U.S. economy will have a strong first quarter and this should help stocks rise, but we will have higher volatility.”

The S&P 500 has dropped 3.3 per cent since an all-time high reached December 29. The benchmark index posted its first De-

cember decline since 2007, trimming its annual increase to 11 per cent. Strategists are calling for an 8.5 percent gain this year.

Oil prices extended their drop below $50 a barrel, for a fourth day of losses, amid forecasts that U.S. crude inventories will expand. Oil lost almost half its value in 2014 as competing producers resisted calls to cut output, exacerbating a global supply glut. Energy companies in the S&P 500 retreated 10 per cent in 2014, the most among 10 industry groups.

“The baseline for global growth is improving and lower oil is a positive for this, but at the same time risks are increasing,” said von Mehren. “We don’t know where the breaking point is, where the oil price gets so low it triggers a financial crisis somewhere that could then spread.”

Data today may show service providers from retailers to builders expanded activity last month, while factory orders declined at a slower pace in November, economists predicted. Reports on U.S. hiring are also due this week.

Obama

The Federal Reserve tomorrow releases the minutes from its last policy meeting at which it pledged patience in raising interest rates even as the economy expands.

Investors later this month will evaluate corporate earnings reports to help gauge equity valuations. Alcoa Inc. unofficially starts the earnings season when it reports fourth-quarter results on January 12. Profit at S&P 500 companies probably climbed 2.4 per cent in the period, analysts predicted.

U.K. borrowing costs drop to record as prospects for economy dim

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nited Kingdom 10-year borrowing costs have never been lower as investors seek the relative safety of gilts amid signs the British economy is slowing and as tumbling oil prices subdue inflation prospects.

The benchmark gilts were sold at a record-low auction yield and 30-year rates dropped to anew low alongside those of German bunds. The pound slid against all but one of its 16 major peers after a report showed U.K. services growth slowed.

Analysts forecast the Bank of England will leave policy unchanged in its next announcement on Jan. 8 even as the Federal Reserve moves toward increasing interest rates and amid speculation the European

David Cameron

Central Bank is preparing to purchase sovereign debt.

“If the alternative is buying an incredibly low-yielding bund or a higher-yielding Treasury but with the danger that the Fed starts raising rates, then gilts don’t look such bad value, relatively,” said Anthony O’Brien, a fixed-income strategist at Morgan Stanley in London. “The price action is clearly to the upside. Nobody is talking about where they should be selling.”

Benchmark 10-year gilts climbed for a sixth day, the longest streak since November, pushing yields down 10 basis points, or 0.10 percentage point, to 1.58 per cent Tuesday in London. They earlier reached 1.57 per cent, the lowest level since August 2012. The 2.75 per cent bond due in September 2024 rose 0.89, or 8.90 pounds per 1,000-pound ($1,518) face amount, to 110.495.

The U.K. Debt Management Office sold 2.75 billion pounds of 10-year gilts at an average yield of 1.622 percent today, the lowest since Bloomberg began compiling the data in 1998. The DMO plans to auction 950 million pounds of inflation-linked debt due in March 2044.

The yield premium investors get to hold 10-year gilts over equivalent-maturity bunds, re-

garded as among Europe’s safest assets, narrowed to the 113 basis points, the least since April 15.

The rate on 30-year gilts reached 2.329 percent, the lowest level since Bloomberg began compiling the data in 1996.

Markit Economics said its purchasing managers index of services fell to 55.8 in December from 58.6 the previous month.

That’s the lowest since May 2013 and compared with the 58.5 median estimate of economists surveyed by Bloomberg. A reading above 50 indicates expansion.

Markit said the report, along with its manufacturing and construction surveys, indicates Britain’s economy grew 0.5 percent in the fourth quarter, down from 0.7 per cent in the previous three months.

Gilts returned 15 per cent in 2014, outperforming U.S. and German securities, according to Bloomberg World Bond Indexes, as investors pushed back bets of higher interest rates by the Bank of England and growth stalled in the euro area. Tenyear U.K. yields have dropped 18 basis points this year.

Sterling fell 0.5 per cent to $1.5173 after touching $1.5174, the lowest since August 2013.

The U.K. currency weakened 0.2 per cent to 78.42 pence per euro.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Yuan advances as China speeds up $1trn project spending

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he yuan advanced, halting a two-day drop, as China is said to be speeding up work on seven trillion yuan ($1.1 trillion) of infrastructure projects as it tries to bolster an economy estimated to expand the least since 1990.

Premier Li Keqiang’s government approved 300 projects as part of a wider 400-venture, 10 trillion yuan plan to run from late 2014 through 2016, said people familiar with the matter who asked not to be identified as the decision isn’t public. The Bloomberg Dollar Spot Index, which tracks the U.S. currency against 10 major counterparts, fell 0.2 per cent, after rising 1.1 per cent in the past two trading days. The gauge reached the highest level yesterday since its inception in December 2004.

The yuan advanced 0.11 per cent to 6.2130 a dollar in Shanghai, China Foreign Exchange Trade System prices show. The currency weakened 0.26 per cent Monday and 0.03 per cent on December 31 before markets shut till this week.

“There’s been speculation in the market about the probability of more stimulus in the Chinese economy,” said Khoon Goh, a Singaporebased strategist at Australia & New Zealand Banking Group Ltd. “The latest talk about infrastructure

spending is seen in the light of authorities looking at ways to try to stimulate the economy.”

China’s Purchasing Managers’ Index for services compiled by HSBC Holdings Plc and Markit Economics rose to 53.4 last month from 53 in November, according to data released Tuesday. Fifty is the dividing line between expansion and contraction.

The economy grew 7.4 per cent in 2014, according to the median estimate in a Bloomberg survey.

The People’s Bank of China cut the yuan’s reference rate by 0.01 per cent to 6.1256 a dollar. The onshore spot price traded 1.4 per cent weaker than the fixing, within the two per cent daily limit. In offshore trading in Hong Kong, the yuan advanced 0.16 per cent to 6.2164, data compiled

by Bloomberg show. Twelve-month non-deliverable forwards rose 0.21 per cent to 6.3195, 1.7 per cent weaker than the spot rate in Shanghai.

Xi Jinping

Verizon approaches AOL for possible takeover or joint venture

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erizon Communications Inc. has approached AOL Inc. about a potential acquisition or joint venture with the Internet company to expand its mobile-video offerings, people with knowledge of the matter said.

The wireless carrier hasn’t made a formal proposal to AOL, and no agreement is imminent, said the people, who asked not to be named because the discussions are private.

Verizon is primarily interested in AOL’s programmatic advertising technology -- the automated buying and selling of ads online -- which two people said could be paired with a future online-video product. With a takeover it would also gain paying subscribers and Internet properties including the Huffington Post.

Chief Executive Officer Tim Armstrong has used digital-advertising acquisitions to transform AOL from the Internet portal once known for its “You’ve got mail” alerts. Verizon is seeking expertise in three areas: online content, mobile video and advertising, one person said, and a venture -- rather than a takeover -- would keep it focused in those areas.

“Verizon needs a digital response and AOL has shown the best strategic foresight of navigating the digital-video world,” said Laura Martin, a senior analyst at Needham & Co. “Verizon can buy or build that, but

it’s unlikely to build it fast enough.”

The company also has held talks with several of AOL’s peers about how to bolster those businesses, one person said.

AOL rose 5.3 per cent to $47.12 Tuesday in New York, giving it a market value of about $3.7 billion.

Verizon was slightly higher with a market value of about $194 billion.

Spokesmen for Verizon and AOL declined to comment.

Researcher EMarketer Inc. projected in July that mobile advertising would lead 2014’s rise in total media ad spending in the U.S., with advertisers spending 83 percent more on tablets and smartphones than they did in 2013 -- an increase of $8.04 billion. Verizon is looking to catch up with AT&T Inc. as wireless providers enhance their offerings. AT&T last year struck a $48.5 billion deal to acquire satellite TV provider DirecTV. With a takeover, Verizon would also gain AOL’s 2.3 million paying members, in addition to Internet brands TechCrunch and Engadget.

It’s unclear if Verizon is interested in those media properties, which draw more than 200 million unique visitors a month, the fourth-most in the U.S., behind Google Inc., Yahoo Inc. and Facebook Inc., according to November data from researcher ComScore Inc.

Thursday, January 8, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Brands & Marketing 2015: How technology will define consumer market, trends The reality of technological innovation is here with us, and brands are tapping into it to increase market reach. DAVID AUDU takes a look at this trend and implications for consumer marketing in 2015.

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s the curtain falls on 2014, the question is what technological trends can we expect to shape the business world in 2015? Tech analysts are increasingly on the lookout for answers. To make headway, reflections on the major advances in a wide range of technological fields are being made and used to set the stage for an eagerly anticipated 2015.

According to International Data Corporation, IDC’s market predictions, worldwide ICT spending will grow 3.8 per cent in 2015 to more than US$3.8 rn.

Nearly all of this spending growth will be focused on third platform technologies, while second platform technologies, PCs, will continue to see declining spending. A third platform technology is built on mobile computing, social networking, cloud services and big data analytics.

IDC projected that wireless data will grow up to 13 per cent of telecommunications spending, accounting for $536 billion, while mobile device and app sales will reach $484bn in 2015, and accounting for 40 per cent of IT spending growth.

IDC Senior Vice President and Chief Analyst Frank Gens, also foresaw “new partnerships forming among ‘strange bedfellows,’ such as Facebook with Microsoft and IBM or Amazon partnering with HP, to expand market opportunities.”

The corporation also predicted that Big Data spending will grow to $125 billion in 2015, with video, audio and image analytics taking on more importance. it projected that Data as a service will drive the forging of new big data supply chains focused on commercial and open data sets.

The predictions also identified the internet of things, IoT, as one of the most important factors for growth in 2015.

IDC predicted the invention of more intelligent and connected “things,” with a third of IoT spending focused on intelligent embedded devices and predictive maintenance emerging as an important IoT category Analysts have poured over mountains of data, analysing market trends and

consumer habits in order to gain greater perspective on what 2015 holds for the tech industry. Often, when looking at future trends, it is easy to lump emerging technologies and imagine them as living separately to one another.

However, the challenge for many leading manufacturers of new technologies is how to help consumers understand how these new innovations will impact them as a whole and also identify a common benefit to the technology they see as providing better solutions to everyday life.

While it is expected that contextbased computing, the internet of things, fashionable wearables, increased potential for mobile computing and optimized cloud solutions will define trends of 2015 and all will be highlighted at the consumer electronics show 2015 curtain-raiser. The next CES will also be its most connected ever, with virtually all attendees sure to be packing the latest smart devices, ready to serve as elite taste makers by sharing their opinions on the new products.

Though smart technology has been

available to fashion designers for well over a decade, only recently has mainstream wearable technology entered into the public eye. Experts believe the main reason for the sudden renaissance in wearable technology is that engineers are finally taking cues from fashion-conscious designers.

Now that wearable technology developers have started to understand the way that fashion operates, consumer interest is also reaching a fever pitch.

While technology is primarily developed with practical application in mind, fashion in contrast is ultimately about beauty, desire, identity, and social standing.

Smart watches are sure to be the big tech item of 2015, and their renewed appeal derives from not just their increased capabilities, but conscious attempts at creating visually striking technology that fits seamlessly into users’ everyday lives.

As a leading consumer electronics manufacturer, LG Electronics has kept a watchful eye on global tech trends and is entering 2015 with a variety of

new partnerships forming among ‘strange bedfellows,’ such as

Facebook with Microsoft and IBM or Amazon partnering with HP, to expand market opportunities

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cutting-edge products that utilise recent innovations in order to make life easier for consumers. According to a statement from the company LG is looking for new ways to innovate and enhance the competitiveness of its products.

In the summer of 2014, LG unveiled its much anticipated G Watch. Though the device’s hardware specifications placed it at the top of its competitive market segment, several reviewers knocked its small screen size and clunky design. LG responded by releasing prototypes of its G Watch R, a more stylish device that boasts a larger, round screen. This story provides an excellent example not only of LG’s willingness to innovate, but of the company’s determination to hold its products to an incredibly high standard.

At IFA 2014, LG unveiled an engaging catch-all term for the suite of new products show cased in Berlin back in September. ‘Innovation for a Better Life’ encapsulates just how integrated LG has become in consumers’ lives and sees the company further position itself as a brand that delivers a refined, smart user experience across its entire line-up of consumer electronics and home appliances that respond to natural language text messages.

Speaking at IFA Wayne Park, executive vice president and Global Sales and Marketing Officer at LG Electronics said: “What consumers really desire is to live a better life without giving up the technology that more often than not makes our lives more complex”. It is a sentiment set to remain underpinned to LG’s communications, past CES and well into 2015.

The G Watch R is one of LG’s leading products heading into 2015, and perfectly exemplifies the strides that the company has made in stylish, context-driven wearable technology. The other items featured in the presentation also demonstrate not only how LG has capitalized on current trends, but how the company plans on staying in front of them.

With LG managing to combine the ‘best of all worlds’ ahead of its competitors in 4K OLED, now the world’s biggest TV makers are looking at a new format to compete on. While not offering the superior picture quality of 4K OLED, Quantum dot technology, QD, however offers a straight forward manufacturing process which can provide decent picture quality at a cheaper cost than using organic light-emitting diodes, OLED. Leading the way in technological trends, LG Electronics has once more demonstrated that it is committed to introducing progressive technological products that delights as well as address the peculiar needs of its consumers, while not tearing their pockets in mind.

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Brands & Marketing

Thursday, January 8, 2015

Worldwide ad spend to hit $600bn in 2015 –Study David Audu

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orldwide ad spend is expected to gross $592.43 billion in 2015, according to new figures from eMarketer, indicating an increase of 6.0 per cent over 2014.

Currently, the top five spenders in each advertising category are the United States, China, Japan, Germany and the UK. While the UK lags Japan and Germany in total media spending, its digital ad market outpaces both, with digital and mobile ads representing significantly higher shares of overall advertising than its two predecessors in the overall market.

The US remains the dominant advertising market worldwide.

Next year, marketers will spend $189.06 billion on ads in the US, an amount that represents 31.9

per cent of the global ad market.

That figure is also higher than the aggregated total for China, Japan, Germany and the UK. Through 2018, the US will essentially maintain that share, dipping to only 31.1 per cent, and will continue to account for more in total media ad spending than the rest of the top five combined.

Mobile advertising is the key driver of growth around the world, and advertisers will spend $64.25 billion worldwide on mobile in 2015, an increase of nearly 60 per cent over 2014. That figure will reach $158.55 billion by 2018, when mobile ads will account for 22.3 per cent of all advertising spending worldwide.

“The latest figures for worldwide mobile ad spending are higher than previous forecasts, due chiefly to faster-than-expected growth in China’s mobile ad mar-

ket. According to new data, marketers will spend $6.39 billion on mobile ads in China in 2014, up 600.0% from just $913 million last year; this total will increase another 90.0% to $12.14 billion in 2015.

By way of this year’s gain, China will surpass both the UK and Japan to become the second-largest mobile ad market in the world”.

Mobile’s share of worldwide digital advertising will surpass 50 per cent in 2017. Meanwhile, digital’s share of total advertising will reach 33.5 per cent that same year.

The forecast also tipped Brazil to become the fourth-largest global advertising market by 2018, surpassing the UK and Germany. Indonesia will have the largest digital ad spending growth rate of any country in each year throughout the forecast. Combined, Canada and Mexico will be the fifth-largest ad market worldwide by 2018.

L-R: Communications Manager, Coca-Cola, Mr. Samuel Umukoro; Coordinator, Network of People Living With HIV/ AIDS in Nigeria, Mrs. Haminat Adigun; immediate past coordinator, Mr. Ibrahim Umoru and Director, Public Affairs and Communications, Coca-Cola Nigeria, Mr. Clement Ugorji at a dinner to celebrate 2014 World AIDS Day Community Health Outreach held in Lagos recently.

Mr. Chef Awuff Now, Now promo winners emerge David Audu

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r. Chef, one of Nigeria’s leading food seasoning brands, heightened the fun of the festive season in the Northern Zone of Nigeria recently when it presented prizes to winners in the ancient city of Kano in the on-going nationwide Mr. customer-reward promotion.

Managing Director of Bayswater Industries Ltd, makers of Mr. Chef Seasoning, Mr. Piyush Nair underscored the importance of the brands promotion, saying it was meant to deepen brand and consumer relationships.

He said Mr. Chef Awuf Now, Now promo was launched to sustain the brand’s excellent relationship with its loyal customers not just by offering them quality products but by giving them instant rewards for their unwavering patronage.

“Awuff Now, Now is a reward

promo to celebrate the fruitful relationship between Mr. Chef and our teeming customers all over Nigeria in a manner that makes everyone a winner,” Mr. Nair said.

The Kano event saw Alhaji Saleh Abdullahi topping the list of winners when he received a ticket to Dubai. Other winners of high value gifts in the bumper reward programme include Karima Ishmaeel, Isa Rabiu, Saidat Abubakar and Muhammed Gafar, each of whom won a generator. Abdullahi Adamu and Garba Musa won mini refrigerators whilst Saminu SaminuYa’uYankaba won a big fridge and Abdullahi Salihu Usman, an LED TV. Three other winners also emerged in Minna, North Central Zone and Aba, Eastern Zone and Benin, Eastern Zone where Messrs Abubakar Muhammed won a big fridge; Shiloh, a 1.2KVA generator and Ngozi Nwaneri, a mini fridge respectively. Many more winners are expected to emerge in different

regions before the promo ends on 31 December, 2014.

Said Nair: “Although you get an instant free gift with every purchase you make, the high value gifts, some of which we have just presented in Kano, are won by scratching the cards in the cartons; what you scratch is what you instantly win at Mr. Chef’s redemption centres.”

The high value gifts include Kia Rio cars, trips to Dubai, generators, LED TVs, and refrigerators, which are contained in Scratch Cards in the cartons.

“If our customers buy ‘Now Now,’ it is only right for them to win ‘Big Big’; without raffle draws and certainly, No Go Come,” he said, stressing, “Awuff, Now, Now’ makes everyone an instant winner.”

He enjoined customers to spice up their cooking experience by continuing to make Mr. Chef their chicken or beef seasoning cube of choice, saying:

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Palms shopping mall shower N10m on customers

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n its bid to recognize loyal customers, the management of The Palms Shopping Mall recently rewarded shoppers to the Mall with prizes worth over N10m and a brand new Kia Ceranto car in its 25 days to Christmas promo According to the Head of Marketing, The Palms Shopping Mall, Mr.Tunji Folayan “the festive period offers no better way to recreate the joy of the season than extending to shoppers at the Palms shopping mall a truly exciting experience for their patronage”.

Folayan expressed his delight at the continuous patronage the mall has enjoyed from its loyal customers. As the foremost

shopping mall in Nigeria, the promotion was aimed at rewarding loyal customers who make repeated visits to the mall in the course of the year, to show appreciation for their patronage and most importantly share the joy of the season with them, he said.

The grand finale winner of the Kia Rio car, Mr. Chukwuma Emekume expressed joy, stating that this festive period marks the best he has ever had and thanked the management of the Mall effusively for the promo.

According to Emekume, I never knew this promo was real, I am grateful to the management of the palms shopping mall and I will always do my shopping here.

Dangote tops most valuable African brands

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angote Industries Limited, DIL, has been ranked among Africa’s top 100 most admired and most valuable brands in 2014, according to a released by Brand Africa in conjunction with African Business magazine, DIL emerged as the only brand of Nigerian origin among the continent’s topmost brands.

According to the 2014 Brand Africa 100 rankings of the most valuable and most admired brands in sub-Saharan Africa, DIL leads with a brand value of $253 million, ranked 36 in admiration and 76 in terms of brand value.

According to analysts, the ranking did not come as a surprise as DIL has presence in about 15 African countries and the brand more visible among the local populace.

President and Chief Executive, Dangote Industries Ltd, Aliko Dangote was recently ranked among the world’s most powerful 72 people by Forbes Magazine. The continent’s foremost billionaire is also listed as the 68th most powerful person in the world, and is one of only two Africans to appear on this year’s list.

The magazine ranked Egyptian President Abdel Fattah elSisi as Africa’s most powerful man, ranks 51st on the power list.

Going by this ranking therefore, Dangote is the second most powerful man in Africa.

The Magazine writing on Dangote states: “Heralded by some as the face of the new Nigeria, Africa’s richest man is looking beyond cement, sugar and flour — the three commodities that built his fortune — to the oil business.

Havas partners Universal Music Group on music fans

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ecord label Universal Music Group has partnered with ad group Havas to share data to create new marketing opportunities for clients.

The Global Music Data Alliance will pull together Universal’s data on music, ticket and merchandising sales, streaming, social media and airplay.

This will be layered with Havas’ data on consumer insight and brands to find correlations between artists, music fans and brands for a “comprehensive view” of music consumption.

The partners claim music artists and labels will benefit from understanding the “different characteristics of their fans and which offers and products appeal to them”

while advertisers will be able to discover which specific brands appeal to fans of certain genres and artists.

The chairman and chief executive at UMG Lucian Grainge said: “We want to continue to find new revenue and marketing opportunities for all of our artists around the world by leveraging our industry-leading big data tools and working with forward-thinking companies such as Havas to supercharge our efforts to realise previously untapped revenues from consumer brands and other new business partners.”

The chairman and chief executive at Havas, Yannick Bolloré Grainge announced the alliance at CES 2015, which takes place this week.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Brands & Marketing

Thursday, January 8, 2015

37

BRAND talk with Michael Umogun

Tel: 08023117969/08031100462 Email: michael.umogun@millwardbrown.com

Is shopping about interaction?

F L-R:; Director of ICT, Ministry of Education, Mr. Orji Kalu; Head of Tax, Airtel Nigeria, Mr. Bolarinwa Akapo; Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Education, Hon, Aminu Suleiman; Chairman, Tertiary Education Trust Fund Board of Trustees, Dr. Musa Babayo and Executive Chairman, Federal Inland Revenue Service, Alhaji Kabir Mashi during the award presentation to Airtel Nigeria, for its consistent payment of education tax at the TETFund 2014 Taxpayers Forum, in Lagos recently.

APCON vows to eliminate quacks in industry David Audu

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he Registrar of the Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria, APCON, Alhaji Garba Kankarofi, recently came down hard on quack in the industry to regularise their practice or be ready to face the wrath of the law.

The Registrar, who spoke in Lagos at the long service award ceremony organised to honour some of the council’s members of staff vowed that it would do all it could to rid the advertising industry of quacks.

He said that the council could

not tolerate illegal advertising practitioners in the country any more, saying “We will do all we can do to ensure that we get rid of quacks in the industry”.

He added that anybody found operating illegally would be prosecuted.

The APCON registrar said that the council had been able to reduce the number of illegal practitioners drastically in the last four years.

“Everybody is trying to comply with APCON rules now, being the regulatory body for all the advertising firms in Nigeria,” he said.

Kankarofi expressed grati-

tude to the 10 senior members of staff that were given long service awards for giving their best to the council.

Early this year, the council, after several sensitisation visits to advertising establishments and warning notices to illegal persons in advertising practice, it commenced the arrest and prosecution of offenders.

The crackdown on offenders took the enforcement team of APCON to advertising agencies and media organizations identified as employing unlicensed persons who were invited for questioning by the police.

rom ancient bazaars to today’s street markets, shopping malls and online marketplaces, people like to interact. In Nigeria, especially in the South East, there are various kinds of markets - while some are monthly affairs, others are bi-monthly, some weekly or daily, and there are those that happen for only a few hours in the immediate neighbourhood. The uninitiated would wonder the rationale behind such multi-levels of marketing activities. But shopping is not so much about a product or place, the truth is shopping is about interaction and connecting.

For brand marketers, influencing a retailer is not an easy thing to do. It feels like inviting yourself to someone else’s party.

So, as it becomes more and more difficult to get a good return on investments in brand communications, what other options do brands have to influence people as they shop?

The good news is that there are indeed many options available. It is a simple matter of making the most of the very meaning of the word “commerce,” which Webster’s defines as “social intercourse: interchange of ideas, opinions, or sentiments.” Trading goods, then, is about human interaction. To succeed, market-

ers should focus on leveraging opportunities to directly interact with people.

“The Clue Train Manifesto” made the same point when it was published online over a decade ago, and these points still remain true. Written by four experts on the then-nascent Internet, the Manifesto described the new reality of online communication. “Markets are conversations,” reads the first of the 95 theses. The beauty of that observation resided not only in the way it predicted the extraordinary rise of social media and renewed interest in word of mouth, but also in its ability to remind us of a simple human truth that we had somehow forgotten on this side of the globe: At its core, shopping is a deal between two people.

As products continue to be produced on an ever-moremassive scale, Millward Brown research indicates that people yearn for personalisation. As our environment becomes more digital and complex, people appreciate personal warmth and engagement. Brands can capitalize on these trends by offering shoppers products and experiences that are personally relevant in an environment that’s warm and hospitable.

Brands that will shape 2015

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he brands that will stand out in the New Year should be prepared to demonstrate a strong commitment to providing quality customer service at every facet of their operations. More than ever before, customers are wearied by poor customer service delivery and they are willing to embrace competitive brands at the slightest opportunity. Brands need to continuously improve in order to ensure that customer satisfaction and fulfillment are guaranteed.

Every organisation needs a strategic focus to provide seamless customers’ service delivery.

Today’s customers are highly discerning and they are loyal to brands that create exciting and memorable moments for them.

The most potent tool to retain customers is to ensure that the service delivery meets their aspiration and align with their de-

sire.

The customers need to be accorded the rightful place by brands. The present market dynamics shows that brands that show no respect to customers around loose out in the competitive game Customers are the life wire of any organisation and they should be treated with respect and courtesy. Some companies still believe they can maltreat customers without any consequence. This can no longer happen as customers beyond switching their loyalty to other brands can enforce their rights though the customer right agency. This is one area that should be given critical focus as most consumers are docile when it comes to enforcing their rights.

This is one major reason that I align with the one customer concept of Sterling Bank. The concept focuses on the individual

Brand X-Ray with Ayodeji Ayopo Tel: 08023448199 E-mail: mayomipo@yahoo.com customer, and the continued existence of the organisation depend solely on the customer. It is very important to give individual customers the appropriate attention. Customers need to be treated as kings’ and this should be the focus of every organisation.

Relationship building is also very important as brands are yet to build a beneficial relationship with customers. Brands should critically examine their relationship with customers and proffer appropriate strategies to improve. This has become funda-

mental as customers do not just purchase any brand. They have both physical and emotional attachment with any brand they purchase. The need to maintain positive relationship with customers cannot be overemphasised. Customers maintain loyalty and ultimately become ambassadors to the brands they love. Every brand that wants to distinguish its offerings should place a high premium on the customers. Every customer needs to be courted to deepen equity for the brand. Brands can utilise

strong relationship with customers to create a differentiating edge in the market place.

A veritable platform to maintaining a solid relationship with customers is through a pro-active and meaningful customer engagement. Several brands do not engage customers, in order to feel their pulse. There should be consistent avenue to generate insight and gauge the perception of the customers. The feedback obtained from such interactions goes a long way in responding to the several complaints and observation of the customers.

Customers’ insights are very essential to not only building a positive brand image, but also gaining an edge over competition.

Companies should develop customer centric strategies that will distinguish their brands in the market place. Thereshould be a culture that creates a compelling value for customers.

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Special Report

Thursday, January 8, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Terrible toll: Bum-bum contestant suffers infection

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ndressa Urach, 27, was runnerup in Brazilian rear end beauty contest. But the model was hospitalised after cosmetic gels ‘rotted’ her muscles. Wounds got infected after they were removed, causing septic shock. She has released horror photos taken during her intensive care.

Brazil has overtaken U.S. to become most prolific plastic surgery nation. A model, whose bottom came second in Brazil’s Miss BumBum beauty contest has revealed the terrible harm plastic surgery wreaked on her body,.

She spent a month in intensive care and feared she would lose her leg after fillers ‘rotted’ her muscles and had to be removed, triggering a life-threatening infection.

The photo shows the shocking extent of the damage to one of the most controversial TV presenters in Brazil, a nation which has overtaken the U.S. to become the cosmetic surgery capital of the world.

Miss Urach, who once made hotly-contested claims that she slept with footballer Cristiano Ronaldo has reportedly undergone at least nine cosmetic procedures in the past five years.

They were said to have included a nose job, a bioplasty facial ‘correction’, jaw reduction, breast enlargement, liposuction and even vaginal lip reduction.

Most important of all was her prized rear. It won her the runner-up title in the 2012 Miss BumBum contest, which aims to find Brazil’s most attractive bottom.

She reportedly had injections of two filers, hydrogel and PMMA to make it larger and plumper.

But in July she began complaining of discomfort and had 400ml of hydrogel drained from each of her upper thighs.

She told Brazil’s R7 website at the time: ‘The hydrogel was not absorbed by my body and started to harm me.

“Now I’ve discovered that the PMMA is sticking to my muscles and causing the tissue to rot”, she said.

Despite the operation, she continued to be in pain and in November she was taken to the Conceicao Hospital in Porto Alegre with an advanced infection of her left leg.

She underwent two unsuccessful drainage procedures, according to reports, before suffering from septic shock and being moved to intensive care.

At one point her life was in danger and it was claimed her leg could have had to be amputated.

Her mother, Marisete De Favari, logged in to her Twitter account, asking the model’s 220,000 followers to pray for her as she remained on the ward in a serious state.

‘I would ask for prayers from friends and people who wish for the recovery of my daughter,’ she wrote on December 10.

‘She’s starting to walk, put her foot down and sit. After all this time lying down, she expected it would be painful.

She has been taking morphine since entering the hospital, but now they are taking the drugs away from her gradually.

Brazilian TV presenter Andressa Urach, a runner-up in Brazil’s Miss BumBum competition, has revealed the terrible damage wreaked on her body by plastic surgery after wounds in her thigh were infected

NOW I’VE DISCOVERED THAT THE

PMMA IS STICKING TO MY MUSCLES AND CAUSING THE TISSUE TO ROT

Andressa before the surgery

‘As she had sepsis, healing will be slow, because it has to happen in a natural way so that it is not subject to a new infection.

‘This takes time and she is assisted by doctors all the time. She has had no contact with anyone but the doctors and her mother.’

The model added on December 26: ‘My loves, thank you for the affection and chains of prayers. God is great and is taking care of me.’

Miss Urach hit headlines around the world after claiming she had had an affair with footballer Cristiano Ronaldo, a claim the Real Madrid striker strenuously denied.

She said the footballer slept with her in a hotel just 48 hours before a Champions League semi final which his team lost 4-1 to German side Borussia Dortmund.

The Portuguese winger, 29, took to his Facebook page to say he was ‘deeply outraged.’

He accused Andressa of ‘pure fiction and forgery’ and ‘seeking the limelight on

my account’ and insisted he was at the Madrid hotel where she claimed they made love for a media interview.

Brazil overtook the U.S. in 2013 to become the most prolific plastic surgery nation in the world.

Almost 1.5 million procedures were performed in the South American country an increase of 600,000 in just two years.

These included 226,000 breast enlargements and 64,000 buttock augmentations, a fifth of all those in the world.

Brazil has more than 5,000 plastic surgeons who also performed 78,000 facelifts, 77,000 nose jobs and 219 penis enlargements, according to the International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons.

But the U.S. was still far ahead for the number of non-surgical procedures, such as laser hair removal and chemical peels, with 2.5 million to Brazil’s 650,000.

Fellow Miss BumBum contestant Jessica Lopes, who shared a flat with Urach, said last year: ‘Andressa and I would go to the plastic surgeon as if we were going shopping.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Special Report

Thursday, January 8, 2015

39

Shocking: Mother-of-two violently attacked by boyfriend loses memory A

mother-of-two lost her memory after a brutal eight-hour attack at the hands by her boyfriend, which has brought him to justice.

Zoe Dronfield, 38, from Coventry, West Midlands was stabbed in the neck by her estranged boyfriend, Jason Smith, 31, who then stamped her on head, leaving her with horrific injuries.

She passed out and was hypnotised into reliving the traumatic ordeal to give evidence.

Smith was found guilty of GBH with intent last month at Warwick Crown Court and is now awaiting sentence.

Ms Dronfield suffered a cracked cheekbone, a bleed on the brain from her head being stamped on and a stab wound on her neck, just 1cm from her jugular vein.

She said: ‘After the attack I was a shell of my former self and I’ve never been so low in my life.

‘Many women take their own lives after such events but I had to find a way to fight through it and that’s why I wanted to get hypnotherapy- to build me back up mentally and fill in the blanks.

In the same vein, a wedding guest was charged with murder of 46-year-old, according to police, who are questioning the dead man’s son for a second day.

Thomas Gilbert, the 70-year-old founder of Wainscott Capital Partners was found shot dead in his Manhattan apartment on Sunday night and police took his son, Tommy Gilbert, 30, into custody around 10:45 p.m.

Authorities said. Tommy Gilbert was still being interrogated by police at the 17th precinct as of noon today, a spokesperson for the NYPD told ABC News.

The spokesman said that no charges have been filed in the case. Did ‘trust-fund killer who shot his $200m banker father dead...

‘I couldn’t remember anything, but thanks to the hypnotherapy I have been able to put my life back together and come back fighting.’

Ms Dronfield worked with cognitive behavioural hypnotherapist David Kilmurry a month after her ordeal and through their sessions was able to piece together what happened on the night she was attacked and bring Smith to justice.

She said: ‘I was able to give evidence in court against Jason all thanks to the hypnotherapy- I would not have been able to do that without David’s help.

Dronfield suffered a cracked cheekbone, a bleed on the brain from her head being stamped on and a stab wound on her neck, just 1cm from her jugular vein Both of her arms were cut in the attack.

Smith was found guilty of GBH with intent last month at Warwick Crown Court and is now awaiting sentence ‘I want to show other women they can do the same, we do not have to let abusers win.’

Dronfield had been in a relationship with Smith for a year and he showered her with gifts and meals out at expensive

Zoe

MY BEDROOM WAS COVERED IN BLOOD AND THE BED WAS SODDEN. IT WAS LIKE A SCENE FROM A HORROR FILM restaurants. But when he became increasingly controlling she decided to have time out from the relationship.

It was during this separation that the couple met on February 2 2014, before Smith brutally attacked her while she slept.

She said: ‘My bedroom was covered in blood and the bed was sodden. It was like a scene from a horror film.

‘Jason had never previously showed any signs of being a violent man - quite the opposite - in fact he made me feel like the most precious person in the world.

He would call me his soul mate and his princess and even said he was my protector. It is shocking I was with this man and not aware of this capability. ‘ She said: ‘My dad would help me a lot with my children and Jason stepped in to help out. He was amazing and would look after the children for me when I worked.

‘But I realise now this was a way of him controlling my life. At that point he was my

saviour - little did I know what destruction was around the corner.

Hypnotherapy has been approved for use by the British Medical Association since 1955 and is also recognised by the National Institute of Clinical Excellence (NICE).

The form of therapy enables you to enlist the help of your conscious and unconscious/subconscious mind to deal with a range of mental, emotional and physical conditions. For those who have experienced a traumatic experience practitioners will tend to use cognitive hypnotherapy or analytical hypnotherapy, which uses the unconscious mind.

Ms Dronfield worked with cognitive behavioural hypnotherapist David Kilmurry a month after her ordeal and through their sessions was able to piece together what happened on the night she was attacked and bring Smith to justice.

Their sessions involved regression and Mr Kilmurry said her progress was ‘amaz-

ing’.

He said: ‘Directly after the event Zoe had no recollection of what had happened to her. It wasn’t until later on down the hypnotherapy line that the trust built up and she was confident enough to go to ‘parts unknown’ we embarked on some regression to the event and the detail she remembered was quite amazing even in and out of unconsciousness.’

40

Cocktail

Thursday, January 8, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Oddities

Fireworks factory explodes in Colombia

T

he explosion of a fireworks factory near the Colombian capital was captured on video and caused at least two injuries.

Firefighters in Granada, near Bogota, said two people were injured in the Sunday morning blast, including a driver who was passing by at the time of the explosion.

The Crue emergency centre of Cundinamarca province said the driver suffered shrapnel wounds on his

right arm and was released following treatment.

Carlos Espinoza, the man filming the explosion, was thrown by the force of the blast, the video shows.

Authorities said the factory blast and ensuing fire destroyed five warehouses that were being used to store gunpowder.

Provincial Gov. Alvaro Cruz said the cause of the explosion is under investigation.

Firefighters free toddler from washing machine

F

irefighters in a northern Chinese city used an electric power saw to free a two-year-old girl who became trapped in a washing machine.

The rescue, which was recorded on video, featured firefighters using electric power saws, an

angle grinder and pliers to split the drum from the washer in half to free the girl in the city of Hohhot.

The toddler was pulled

from the tube by her father when the cutting afforded her enough wiggle-room.

She was not injured.

The girl, who remained

Naked woman rescued from California chimney F irefighters in California rescued a naked woman who became stuck in her estranged husband’s chimney while trying to get into his home to see their children.

Tony Hernandez of Woodcrest told authorities in Riverside County he heard his wife’s voice calling for help just prior to 5 a.m. Saturday and he searched for her in the front and back yards be-

fore she shouted that she was stuck in the chimney.

The Riverside County Fire Department said they had to make a hole in the brick chimney to free the 35-yearold woman, who told rescuers she had shed her clothing in an attempt to fit down the 1 foot by 1 foot chimney.

The woman said she had knocked on the door and tried the doorbell before her chimney-climbing attempt.

Hernandez told investigators he did not want his wife in the house, but she sometimes stopped by asking to see the couple’s three children. He said the children were not at home at the time of the incident.

The woman was taken to a hospital with minor to moderate injuries. It was unclear whether she would face any charges from the incident.

The baby being freed from the washing machine

calm during the rescue, had crawled into the washer while playing and was discovered by her mother.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Capital Market

Thursday, January 8, 2015

41

Naira drops as CBN rules choke trading JOHNSON OKANLAWON WITH AGENCY REPORT

T

he naira weakened for a third day, declining 0.2 per cent to trade at N184.23 per dollar yesterday.

The Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, had in December told banks to clear foreign exchange positions daily, having previously allowed them net-open positions of one per cent of shareholder funds.

The move has made it difficult for non-Nigerian investors to exit their holdings, according to the Head of African Strategy at Standard Chartered, Mr.

Samir Gadio.

“For those who remain in Nigeria, it’s become virtually impossible to get out,” he said by phone from London. “There’s a risk that these measures last as long as the CBN feels it doesn’t have the ability to control the exchange rate.” had said that the government will never introduce capital controls and was reviewing a rule introduced last month that investors said crushed liquidity in the foreign exchange market, according to the governor of the central bank.

The currency has been battered by crude prices that have dropped more

than 50 per cent since June.

The naira depreciated almost 11 per cent in the past three months, the most among 24 African currencies tracked by Bloomberg.

The CBN Governor, Mr. Godwin Emefiele, said, “There will be a review in due course. But I can tell you categorically it will no longer be one per cent.

It will be less than one per cent. The reason we put a stop to one per cent is because we felt that it was too large to be held by banks as a trading position.”

According to him, the bank has no plans to change a rule adopted

around the same time that dollars bought in the interbank market be used within 48 hours or sold to the regulator, adding that the naira is currently appropriately priced” and no new measures are being considered.

“We are satisfied with the current adjustment that’s been done. It remains a free entry and free exit market.

“The elections have nothing to do with our decisions. We look at the economy, we look at what’s happening in the banking system and the foreign exchange market,” Emefiele said.

Stock prices attractive as index slides 4%

HANNAH AYANGBILE

T

he New Year has continued to present more opportunities, as stock prices decline to attractive levels.

Stocks analysts have advised investors to take position on companies, as most of them are trading below price value.

The banking sector was most affected by the trend as investors remain concerned about the ability of banks to post impressive returns for the financial year ended December, 2014.

Shares of Zenith Bank dropped 9.7 per cent, the most since October 2008, while Guaranty Trust Bank shed the same value.

The All share Index de-

preciated 4.17 per cent to close at 31,167.54 points, almost to the shed of 4.19 per cent recorded the preceding day to close at 32,522.31 points.

Market Capitalisation decline N448bn to close at N10.32trn, compared to the shed of N471bn recorded the preceding day to close at N10.767trn.

On the sectorial indices, the NSE 30-Index depreciated 4.46 per cent to close at 1,401.31 points, while the Banking Index shed 7.47 per cent to close at 309.83 points.

The Insurance Index gained 0.29 per cent to close at 146.70 points, but the Consumer Goods Index dropped 3.01 per cent to close at 814.42 points.

The Oil and Gas index declined 1.52 per cent to close at 368.34 points, while the Lotus Islamic Index dipped 2.11 per cent to close at 2,061.36 points.

The Industrial Index lost 2.58 per cent to close at 1,969.43 points. The Alternative Securities Index remained flat at 1,213.36 points.

Presco Plc led the gainers’ table with N2.54 or 10.19 per cent to close at N27.47 per share, followed by the PZ Cussons Plc with N1.32 or 5.24 per cent to close at N26.50 per share.

Wema Bank Plc was up three kobo or 3.33 per cent to close at 93 kobo per share, while Forte Oil Plc appreciated N6.78 or 3.01 per cent to close at N231.88

Global stocks gain as low oil prices feed ECB stimulus hopes

U

nited States and European stock prices rose yesterday on hopes the European Central Bank would embark on more stimulus soon to avert deflation in the euro zone, and oil prices showed no sign of rebounding soon from their lowest levels since 2009.

Crude oil prices have slid sharply since mid-2014, tipping monthly euro zone inflation into negative territory for the first time since 2009. The European statistics office estimated that prices were down 0.2 per cent in December from a

year earlier.

Investors grew more hopeful that the ECB might roll out a bond-buying program to prevent a downward price spiral. This helped knocked the euro to a nineyear low and bond yields in several euro zone members to record lows.

“We think they will deliver quantitative easing (bond buying) in the first quarter, and that will offer support to European stocks,” said Robert Parkes, an HSBC strategist in London.

The FTSEurofirst 300 index of top European shares jumped as much as one per

cent after three losing sessions. It was up 0.4 per cent at 1,328.46 points in late European trading.

The rebound in European shares revived Wall Street.

The Dow Jones industrial average was up 142.81 points, or 0.82 per cent, to 17,514.45, the S&P 500 was up 17.82 points, or 0.89 per cent, to 2,020.43 and the Nasdaq Composite was up 42.85 points, or 0.93 per cent, to 4,635.58.

Tokyo’s Nikkei ended flat at 16,885.33, while the MSCI world equity index, which tracks shares in 45 nations, rose 0.37 per cent, to 405.54.

per share.

International Breweries Plc rose 50 kobo or 2.44 per cent to close at N21.00 per share.

Conversely, Guinness Nigeria Plc shed N15.30 or 9.74 per cent to close at N141.74 per share, while the Zenith Bank Plc depreciated N1.66 or 9.71 per cent to close at N15.44 per share.

Guaranty Trust Bank Plc decline N2.36 or 9.70 per cent to close at N21.96 per share, while Diamond Bank Plc dipped 49 kobo or 9.46 per cent to close at N4.69 per share.

FCMB Plc dropped 23 kobo or 9.39 per cent to close at N2.22 per share.

A total of N393.4 million shares valued at N5.462bn were traded in 3,930 deals.

The ECB meets on January 22 but may be reluctant to act aggressively before Greece’s general election on January 25. The country might move to exit the euro zone if the left-wing Syriza party wins.

The oil market remained depressed. Brent crude LCOc1 slid more than two per cent early, dipping below $50 a barrel for the first time since early 2009 before bouncing up to just over $51.

By midday in New York Brent and US crude were up from the previous session but still far below last summer’s highs.

Source: NSE

Market indicators All-Share Index 31,167.54 points Market capitalisation 10.32trn

Stock Updates GAINERS COMPANY

OPENING

CLOSING

CHANGE

% CHANGE

PRESCO

24.93

27.47

2.54

10.19

PZ

25.18

26.50

1.32

5.24

WEMABANK

0.90

0.93

0.03

3.33

FO

225.10

231.88

6.78

3.01

INTBREW

20.50

21.00

0.50

2.44

WAPIC

0.59

0.60

0.01

1.69

MANSARD

3.05

3.10

0.05

1.64

ASHAKACEM

21.49

21.60

0.11

0.51

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

LOSERS COMPANY

OPENING

CHANGE

% CHANGE

GUINNESS

157.04

CLOSING 141.74

-15.30

-9.74

ZENITHBANK

17.10

15.44

-1.66

-9.71

GUARANTY

24.32

21.96

-2.36

-9.70

DIAMONDBNK

5.18

4.69

-0.49

-9.46

FCMB

2.45

2.22

-0.23

-9.39

FBNH

8.30

7.81

-0.49

-5.90

OANDO

17.10

16.15

-0.95

-5.56

ACCESS

6.07

5.74

-0.33

-5.44

UACN

32.30

30.60

-1.70

-5.26

UBCAP

1.60

1.52

-0.08

-5.00

FGN Bonds Offer

Bid Description

Price

Yield

Price

Yield

13.05 16-AUG-2016

1.61

96.95

15.23

97.10

15.12

15.10 27-APR-2017

2.30

99.45

15.36

99.60

15.28

16.00 29-JUN-2019

4.47

102.20

15.30

102.50

15.21

16.39 27-JAN-2022

7.06

104.80

15.25

105.10

15.18

14.20 14-MAR-2024

9.18

95.80

15.05

96.10

14.98

10.00 23-JUL-2030

15.54 71.20

14.77

71.50

14.71

Closing Market Prices of January 07, 2015

Treasury Bills Maturity Date

Bid

Offer

09-Apr-15

11.09

11.41

25-Jun-15

13.50

14.40

17-Dec-15

14.15

16.33

NIBOR Tenor

Rate (%)

O/N

11.1867

1M

14.0591

3M

14.6320

6M

15.6408 The Fixings of January 07, 2015

42

Capital Market

Thursday, January 8, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Stock exchange daily equities summary Equities as at January 7, 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)

43

Young & Next Generation

Thursday, January 8, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Curbing youth involvement in electoral violence LEONARD OKACHIE

A

ll over the continent of Africa, youths have been very active participants in the electoral process. No human collectivity can experience any meaningful and sustainable level of progress if it fails to systematically, deliberately and constructively engage and harness the drive and energy of the youths.

Unfortunately, some of them have often been used negatively to undermine the electoral and political process. And study has shown that most of them who are perpetrators of electoral malpractices are unemployed, uneducated and idle, that is why they are bamboozled to beat up political opponents and people sympathetic to them.

For instance, in 2011, after the results of the presidential elections were announced, some youths in the northern part of the country, especially Kano and Kaduna took to the streets violently protesting the veracity of the election results. In those states they destroyed property, set fire to the house of Namadi Sambo, President Goodluck Jonathan’s vice. The action led to the imposition of curfews in both states and several others.

With the 2015 general elections around the corner, there are concerns that the youths, like the previous elections might be ready tools in the hands of greedy politicians, who will use them to perpetrate electoral violence.

The bulging youth population, with over 70 percent of Nigeria’s 170 million population, makes this group a darling to many political office seekers.

In curbing this menace, the Electoral Institute (TEI), a centre of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), recently held a lecture series on youth and electoral violence.

The Director-General of the Institute, Prof. Abubakar Momoh, said that the lecture series was geared towards curbing violence in 2015 general elections. ``We intend to use lecture series as we have always done, as a way of drawing attention not only public but also the commission to key issues,” he said.

By the end of last year, no fewer than 1,000 Nigeria youths marched along some streets of Lagos to sensitise the public on the importance of ensuring that the 2015 elections are peaceful.

The peaceful walk was organised by the Advocates for Collective Transformation (ACT) and `A Village to Village Campaign

Youths involved in electoral violence

Initiative.’

President of ACT, Mr. Oluwatayo Fashogbon noted that the walk was to sensitise Nigerian youths ahead of the forthcoming elections.

“We know the youth are critical to the success of any election.

We have seen how their peaceful conduct in Osun, Ekiti and Niger contributed to the success of the polls. We have mapped out our strategies to ensure we train youths in all nooks and crannies of the country,” he said.

Fashogbon said that many Nigerian youths would not succumb to thuggery and other vices, if given the right information and guidance.

“Our youths and women should not sit back at home during the 2015 elections, they should register to vote and elect credible candidates, vote for integrity and protect their votes,” he added.

In an interview he granted the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recently, the President of the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), Mr Wale Ajani, urged government to create the enabling environment for the youth to play key roles.

Ajani urged the youth to actualise their collective dreams of leading Nigeria to the Promised Land through their concerted efforts.

He said: ``The youth are very ready; it is just the enabling environment that our political leaders need to give to them. They have seen young people more of a liability than an asset and that

is why they only call you when there are pea nuts; they only call you for thuggery. ``But I think, we are not coordinated; we need to think and begin to see that tomorrow is not tomorrow but that tomorrow starts today.’’

Also, the Chairman, National Youth Council (NYC), Delta Chapter, Mr. Hope George urged youths in the country to shun all forms of violence and thuggery.

George, who granted a press interview in Asaba, said for the country to have a peaceful and credible election in 2015, youths must shun electoral violence.

He said the country could achieve a peaceful and smooth transition if the conduct of the elections was devoid of rancour and violence.

“Rather than encouraging youths to be violent during the elections, politicians should educate their supporters on the dangers of violence. Violence has nothing good to offer the democracy of our dear country and for a peaceful and smooth transition; all hands must be on deck,” he insisted.

According to him, the politi-

cal class is using the youth for destructive activities that have jeopardised the safety of the entire society by exploiting the weakness of the system.

Similarly, a don, Dr Joseph Fayeye, urged youths to resist being used to cause mayhem in the forthcoming 2015 election.

Fayeye, a lecturer at the Centre for Peace and Strategic Studies, University of Ilorin, made the call at the inauguration and induction of new members of the Society of Intellectuals. ``Do not lay down your lives on the altar of petty politics for anyone to win election,’’ he said even as he urgedthem to engage aspirants seeking elective offices in debate about their programmes and manifestos.

According to Fayeye, any youth who allowed himself or herself to be recruited as an agent of destruction are as good as “devaluing themselves”.

Fayeye, who spoke on “The Role of Youth in Promoting Peaceful Environment for Credible Elections”, said youths are great asset of any nation. ``Therefore, Nigerian youths cannot afford to be used as cheap

labour to disrupt elections and foment troubles,’’ he said.

Also, the Chairman of Federal Polytechnic, Kaura Nomoda, Zamfara chapter of the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnic, Mr. Abdulkareem Ibrahim lamented that Nigerian youths were being used to cause mayhem during elections.

Ibrahim noted in his paper, entitled “Youth and Election; The Barometer for Development”, that youths are supposed to take charge of the nation’s leadership in future and not to cause trouble.

Worried by the turn of events, the Dean, Faculty of Education, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, Prof. Malami Tambuwal, recently cautioned politicians against turning the youths into drug addicts.

The don spoke in Tambuwal, Sokoto State at a one-day campaign against election violence, peaceful co-existence and nation-building, which had its theme as,” Curbing the security challenges towards 2015 general elections”.

“This obnoxious act has been the major pre-occupation of most of the politicians electioneering across Nigeria.” Youths as the future leaders of Nigeria are unfortunately being used by some selfish politicians and they give them drugs to perpetrate violence. Democracy will not thrive in an atmosphere of violence and rancour. Rather, peace is the most veritable tool of national development,” he said.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Young & Next Generation

Thursday, January 8, 2015

44

Youths advised to acquire vocation LEONARD OKACHIE

Y

ouths have been advised to acquire a vocation to enable them make meaningful contributions to the development of the country.

A motivational speaker, Mr. Niyi Sikiru, who said this in Badagry recently, noted that acquisition of relevant vocation would also give them an edge in any career they chose to pursue.

“I have never seen any graduate who learned tailoring, carpentry, painting, photography and ends up looking for job. Going to school should not be the only thing; acquisition of vocational skills will help the youths to be relevant to themselves and gain recognition to move up in life,” he said.

Sikiru, the Assistant Director, Works and Services Department, Adeniran Ogunsanya College of Education, said that Nigerians should stop blaming the government for their woes. ``One thing is certain, government cannot be there forever, so people should learn to rely on themselves and not on the government. ``If you want to take charge of your destiny, you must have something to show for it; you can do that by looking inwards for the solution by doing something to make you relevant to the society,” he said.

Sikiru also advised youths to cultivate the habit of hard work and saving, adding that it would help them succeed in life.

Meanwhile, Senior Executive Officer, Federal Ministry of Finance Graduate Internship Scheme, Mrs. Amaka Asiegbu has said

100 additional graduates had been trained under the Graduate Internship Scheme of Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme (SURE-P) in Gombe.

Asiegbu made this known recently in Gombe at the opening of the second batch of the training workshop, adding that the training was part of Federal Government’s initiatives to empower graduates.

She said the graduates would be under the programme for 12 months and thereafter be attached to various government and Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs).

According to her, each intern will be paid N30,000 each by the Federal Governments as allowance.

Asiegbu encouraged the participants to take advantage of the scheme as it would help them in future.

Youths in skills acqusition class

The senior executive officer said government was also encouraging NGOs to retain the interns at the end of the programme if they showed commitment.

In his remarks, a Consultant with FAJ-J Ventures, Coordinators of the programme, Mr. Segun Ijagbemi said that the aim of the training was to reduce the rate of unemployment in

Nigeria.

Ijagbemi said the programme would also prepare the interns for their future as they would have gained some work experience, adding “Youth empowerment is one of the cardinal points of the Federal Government through SURE-P.’’ One of the participants, Miss Rachael James, a graduate of Business Edu-

cation from University of Maiduguri, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that her expectations at the end of the training was to gain more knowledge that would prepare her in future.

James said she was deployed to Government Secondary School, Pindiga, to teach and that she was enjoying her job.

Mothers’ education significant to children’s academic success — Study

A

mother knows best - and the amount of education she attains can predict her children’s success in reading and math. In fact, that success is greater if she had her child later in life, according to a new University of Michigan study.

Sandra Tang, a U-M psychology research fellow and the study’s lead author, said children of mothers 19 and older usually enter kindergarten with higher levels of achievement. These kids continue to excel in math and reading at higher levels through eighth grade when compared to children of mothers 18 and younger.

Science for kids

A dry season in Nigeria

“These results provide compelling evidence that having a child during adolescence has enduring negative consequences for the achievement of the next generation,” Tang said.

The negative consequences of teen mothers not only affect the child born when the mother was an adolescent, but they affect the mother’s subsequent children as well.

Pamela Davis-Kean, associate professor of psychology and a research associate professor at the Institute for Social Research and Center for Human Growth and Development, said the findings present good news and

bad news.

The good news is that the children of teen mothers who continue their education after having children do better academically than children of teen moms who did not continue, she said.

“However, these children--and other children born to the mother when she wasn’t an adolescent-never catch up in achievement across time to children whose mothers had them after completing their education,” Davis-Kean said. “This group continues to carry a risk for lower achievement.”

The study’s data was taken from the Early Child-

hood Longitudinal StudyKindergarten Cohort, a nationally representative sample of children who were first assessed upon entering kindergarten in 1998 and were interviewed through spring 2007.

In 14,279 cases, the children’s math and reading scores were collected in third, fifth and eighth grades.

Researchers used this data to compare achievement trajectories (kindergarten through eighth grade) of children born either to teen moms (18 or younger) or to adult mothers (19 and older) at the birth of their first child. The

Mother helping daughter to do homework

analyses took into account mothers’ educational expectations for their children, the home environment and

other characteristics, such as household income, that may influence children’s achievement.

Why do seasons change?

S easons are caused because of the Earth’s changing relationship to the Sun. The Earth travels around the Sun, called an orbit, once a year or every 365 days. As the Earth orbits the Sun the amount of sunlight each place on the planet gets every day changes slightly. This change causes the seasons.

Not only does the Earth rotate around the Sun every year, but the Earth spins in a circle every 24 hours.

This is what we call a day. However, the Earth doesn’t spin in a straight up and down manner relative to the Sun. We are slightly tilted. In scientific terms, we are tilted 23.5 degrees from our orbital plane with the Sun. The tilt has two major effects: the angle of the Sun to the earth and length of the days. For half of the year the Earth is tilted such that the

North Pole is more pointed towards the Sun. For the other half the South Pole is pointed at the Sun. When the North Pole is angled toward the Sun, the days on the northern part of the planet (north of the equator) get more sunlight or longer days and shorter nights. With longer days the northern hemisphere heats up and gets summer. As the year progresses, the Earth’s tilt changes to where the North Pole is pointing away from the Sun producing winter.

For this reason, seasons north of the Equator are the opposite of seasons south of the Equator. When it’s winter in Europe and the United States, it will be summer in Brazil and Australia.

We talked about the length of the day changing, but the angle of the Sun changes as well. In summer the

sunlight shines more directly on the earth giving more energy to the Earth’s surface and heating it up.

During the winter the sunlight hits the Earth at an angle. This gives less energy and doesn’t heat the Earth as much.

In the Northern Hemisphere the longest day is on June 21st while the longest night is on December 21st.

It’s just the opposite in the Southern Hemisphere where the longest day is December 21st and the longest night is June 21st. There are two days a year where the day and night is exactly the same. These are September 22nd and March 21st.

Sun Angle and Seasons - See how the angle of the Sun effects the temperature and causes the seasons.

Source: ducksters.com

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Thursday, January 8, 2015

STORIES : LEONARD OKACHIE

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he National Broadcasting Commission, NBC, has embarked on public consultation process in order to further enlighten stakeholders and members of the public on the need to authorise credible and transparent broadcast rating agencies in Nigeria.

The Commission is empowered by section 2(1) of the National Broadcasting Commission Act, Cap. N11, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria (LFN) 2004 to regulate and control the broadcasting industry, and promote authenticated radio and television audience measurements and penetration in Nigeria In a statement posted on its website www.nbc.gov.ng , recently, the Commission stated that it wished to lay down comprehensive guidelines for broadcast rating agencies in Nigeria to ensure transparency and accountability in the rating system.

It emphasised that the objective of the Public Consultation is to seek the comments/views of stakeholders and members of the public on the issues related to laying down comprehensive guidelines for television rating agencies in Nigeria.

Giving a background for the rating process, the Commission said: “Broadcasting is integral to modern living. It plays an important role in shaping our intellectual and physical consumption.

In order to understand its impact, it is necessary to appreciate and measure how people interact with the medium.

“Since its advent, radio and television has been identified as sources of enter-

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

NBC embarks on public consultation for broadcast rating

Digital broadcast studio

tainment, relaxation, education and information. Availability of multiple channels and technological advancements allow listeners and viewers to take advantage of additional listening and viewing options and the increased ease of switching between them. The variable use of radio and television makes audience measurement an especially difficult task.

“Audience measurement implies measurement of what is being listened to or viewed. Audience measurement is essential since a significant source of

funds for broadcasting is advertising and programme sponsorship. It indicates the popularity of a channel or a programme and assists advertisers, broadcasters and advertising agencies in selecting the right media at the right time to reach the target audience.

“The major impetus for audience measurement is advertising. Advertising expenditures are typically guided by audience measurement and also cost of reaching various audience segments, advertisement placements and programme

schedules.”

In its proposal for the rating, the Commission said further: “The importance and need for a credible, transparent and representative broadcast audience measurement system is globally recognized. Continuance with an inadequate broadcast rating system will hamper the growth of the industry as financial decisions; production of content and its scheduling are largely influenced by broadcast ratings. The effect of error in ratings will get perpetuated in the ecosystem affecting different stakeholders.

“Incorrect ratings will lead to selection of programmes by broadcasters which are not sought after and consequently advertisers will end up allocating resources to programmes which will miss the desired target audience. The consumers will also not receive the desired content. It is therefore felt that a credible and transparent system to generate broadcast ratings should be put in place.”

Therefore, the Commission is inviting all members of the public, including existing licensees, private individuals, public organisations and commercial entities (together, the “Respondents”) to participate in the Public Consultation process.

Respondents are expected submit written comments in response to the consultation document not later than close of business on Friday, 27th February, 2015.

Group calls for training of journalists on election reportage

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hairman, Partners for Electoral Reform, an NGO, Mr. Ezenwa Nwagwu, has called on media organisations, civil society groups and the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to train newsmen on the rudiments of election reportage.

Nwagwu, who made the call in Abuja, said that the call became necessary because most newsmen in the country had little or no knowledge on reporting election activities.

According to him, election reportage is a specialised aspect of journalism that needs lots of training and retraining for newsmen to understand the rudiments of electoral process.

“As a practitioner, I discover that reporters that are reporting other beats are covering election, which they do not understand at all,’’ he said.

On the roles of the civil society organisations observing elections, he urged them to ``intensify efforts in looking, seeing and taking notes during elections’’. ``Such organisations are aimed at ensuring that the lessons learnt from a particular election impact positively on the future elections.’’

He said that his NGO had played a lot of

roles in election monitoring and impacted positively on the observations of elections in Nigeria.

According to him, INEC has improved tremendously as indicated in Ekiti and Osun states elections.

He, however, said that INEC’s achievements could not have been possible without the interventions and efforts of observers accredited to observe elections.

The chairman said that Partners for Electoral Reform had been educating the youth through different radio programmes on the forthcoming general elections, to ensure a productive and active participation.

He called on INEC to ensure a level playing ground for all stakeholders in the electoral process, to forestall violence.

“We cannot be urging young people not to participate in violence, while we create the environment that would enable them to indulge in violence,” he said.

Meanwhile, INEC has urged journalists to operate in line with the ethics of the profession.

The Chairman of the commission, Prof.

Attahiru Jega, represented by Kogi Resident Electoral Commissioner, Mr. Olusegun Agbaje, gave the advice while delivering a paper at a training workshop for

Journalists in a training workshop

journalists in Lokoja.

The workshop, tagged: ``Effective Coverage and Reportage of 2015 General Elections’’ was organised by the Nigerian Press Council (NPC), in conjunction with UN Development Programme.

According to Jega, the media represents critical stakeholder in the democratic process and their optimal performance is essential to any true democracy.

He said ``some have argued that demo-

cratic elections are indeed impossible without the media, because of the role they played in the democratic process. ``The media also provide the platform for debates, so that the electorate will be able to make choice based on the programmes of candidates.’’

The INEC boss said that for democracy to thrive in any society, the media must provide the people with information they needed to guide them and safeguard their choices.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Media

Thursday, January 8, 2015

46

NGE urges fair play in general elections LEONARD OKACHIE

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he Nigerian Guild of Editors, NGE, has called for fair play in the February 2015 general elections, as the reputation of the country, as well as that of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is at stake.

This is contained in a communiqué issued by the Guild, after its last Quarterly Meeting for 2014, held in Lagos.

It noted that with the shoddy arrangements in the issuance of Permanent Voters Cards, there is urgent need for INEC to redeem the process by ensuring that eligible voters are not disenfranchised.

According to the communiqué signed by the NGE President, Mr. Femi Adesina, the Editors advised the political class, security agents and the populace

to be cautious in their utterances, abide by the rules of campaigning and exhibit tolerance before and during the elections to avoid over-heating the polity.

Security agencies, particularly, should be non-partisan.

The Guild lamented that insurgency has lasted for too long in the northern part of the country, especially in Nigeria’s North East, with its attendant huge death toll and massive number of Internally Displaced Persons, adding that the crises call for harmonisation of efforts, change of tactics, and a review of the country’s security architecture, to win the war.

The communiqué further said : “The Guild notes that the sudden sharp fall in global oil prices is a wake up call on the Nigerian government to urgently go beyond rhetorics by developing economic policies and measures to diversify the economy. Federal and other

arms of Government must take drastic actions to reduce the huge cost of governance, particularly in the face of recently announced austerity measures.

“The Guild laments the high failure rate in the just released November/December results of the West African Examinations Council, WAEC, believing it is symptomatic of the decay in the education sector. It therefore calls for increased allocation to the education sector, and training and retraining of teachers.

“The Guild appreciates the unifying role of Sports globally, and laments that as the Nations Cup kicks off in January 2015, our national team, Super Eagles and defending champions will be conspicuously absent at the AFCON tournament. The football authorities are therefore urged to resolve all issues bedevilling the nation’s sports sector with promptitude.”

Director Adesina General of NBC, Emeka Mba

Dan Foster advises budding talents to exude humility

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Dan Foster

Media Abroad

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he jury in the trial of six former and current Sun journalists accused of paying backhanders to public officials for stories has retired to consider its verdicts.

Former managing editor, Graham Dudman, 51, head of news Chris Pharo, 45, ex-deputy news editor; Ben O’Driscoll, 38, picture editor; John Edwards, 50, and reporters Jamie Pyatt, 51, and John Troup, 49, are all accused of paying public officials for stories.

They have been accused of several conspiracies spanning nine years between 2002 and 2011.

According to the prosecution they worked in at a paper where “wheelbar-

renowned radio presenter, Dan Foster, yesterday advised upcoming talents in the nation’s entertainment industry to exude humility at all times, in order to succeed in their chosen careers.

Foster told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that some celebrities who had humble beginnings did not believe that they would rise to the top of their trade today. ``Entertainment has risen in leaps and bounds since I’ve been here in 2000 and is doing better. I was here when Tu-

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international stars. ``Even `P’ Square, I was there in the beginning when I was playing their songs and they were just on the radio, just having fun. ``And then all of a sudden, everything just blew up. I was there when Genevieve and Stella Damasus were helping me with a script on ``Face of a Liar,’’ doing a Nigerian movie. ``And now, these people are humungous now in the industry. They are very famous and they are very rich and they are into their gifts.’’

Sun journalists: Jury retires to consider verdicts rows of cash” was used to entice prison officers, police and other public officials to sell tips and stories on the “lives and personal tragedies” of the rich, famous and of notorious criminals.

Kingston crown court heard Pyatt, the Thames Valley district reporter, paid “bungs” to Surrey PC Simon Quinn and Broadmoor orderly Robert Neave, with the knowledge and approval of Pharo, O’Driscoll, and Edwards.

Pharo and O’Driscoll, who sat beside each other on the newsdesk, are also accused of signing off payments to a “Chel-

Kenya’s Supreme Court delays analogue transition enya’s Supreme Court on Monday (January 5th) enabled three media houses to continue analogue broadcasting pending a ruling by a seven-judge panel, Kenya’s Daily Nation reported.

The Nation Media Group, Standard Media Group and Royal Media Services filed a petition with the court requesting more time to complete the migration from analogue to digital broadcasting.

In September, the Supreme Court gave the media houses, the Communication Authority of Kenya (CAK) and other stakeholders 90 days in which to negotiate a new deadline for cutting off analogue broadcasting prior to the international switchoff date of June 17, 2015.

face Idibia was with a group called the Plantation Boys. I was there when Basket Mouth was hanging around me and he used to be on ``Okada’’ (motorbikes) going to shows,’’ he said.

Foster, a U.S. citizen, who had featured in numerous television reality shows as a panelist, told NAN that the upsurge in the fortunes of most of the nation’s celebrities was quite remarkable.

He continued: ``I was there in the beginning and I saw them all just blow up.Today, Julius Agu is holding shows at the Muson Centre and now, they are all

Cabinet Secretary for Information, Communications and Technology Fred Matiang’i last month announced a non-negotiable deadline of December 31st, after several extensions to the deadline.

Deputy Chief Justice Kalpana Rawal restrained CAK from cancelling broadcasting licences issued to the three media houses pending the hearing and determination of the application, Kenya’s The Standard reported.

Rawal did not grant their request to temporarily suspend the analogue switch-off, however, leaving CAK free to terminate the signals. The media houses say they have not had adequate time to make the necessary infrastructure changes for the switch.

sea copper” for celebrity stories about footballers Wayne Rooney and Jack Wilshire.

Dudman is accused of signing off a payment by Troup to a prison guard at HMP Whitemoor. The crown also alleges he paid a City of London police officer for inside information on the Soham murder investigation.

The defendants have all strenuously rejected the crown’s case.

O’Driscoll accused Pyatt of lying about his knowledge of his activities, while Pharo claimed he had been in the dark about Pyatt’s sources.

Pharo accused News International of concealing evidence to implicate junior employees but protecting those at an executive level.

Pyatt has admitted payments for some stories, but said he did not know it was wrong and that the stories were in the public interest.

Dudman’s counsel told jurors they had been “completely misled at the outset” by the prosecution in relation to authorisation of cash payments.

Blogger jailed for ‘insulting military high command’

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unisian blogger Yassine Ayari has been jailed by a military court for three years on charges of defaming the army and insulting the military high command.

Human Rights Watch reports that Ayari, a Tunisian national who lives in France, was arrested at Tunis-Carthage airport when he arrived from France on 24 December 2014. Next day he appeared before a military judge who informed him he had been convicted in absentia on 18 November.

The charges relate to Ayari’s Facebook posts in August and September which were critical of Tunisia’s defence minister for refusing to appoint a new head for military intelligence and for weakening military institutions.

International law prohibits the trial of civilians before military courts and Ayari’s lawyer has requested a retrial. But he was consigned to prison pending that trial.

Ayari’s father, Taher, was shot dead in May 2011 by a radical Islamist group.

Thursday, January 8, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

47

Community Mirror The troops on ground in our various states are not enough to contain the situation, so we are appealing to the Federal Government to deploy additional troops with full equipment to stem the tide.

GOVERNOR OF YOBE STATE– IBRAHIM GEIDAM

Millions lost in Warri market inferno THEOPHILUS ONOJEGHEN WARRI

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roperties worth millions of Naira, including a poultry and Presidential Amnesty Training Centre were yesterday lost in an early morning inferno that engulfed some sections of the popular Pessu Market in

Warri South Local Government Area of Delta State.

National Mirror gathered that the fire began around 11am from one of the stores containing diesel and other petroleum products in the waterside end of the market, which is one of the oldest markets in the city.

It was reliably gath-

ered that a shop attendant who was asleep when the fire started was roasted to death before help could come.

When our correspondent visited the scene, it was observed that a twoblock poultry building with over 20,000 chickens at the time of the incident were also roasted.

Also, a training workshop identified as Shetans Nigeria Limited, used as skill acquisition centre for Niger Delta youths by the presidential amnesty training programme, Chevron Nigeria Limited and Niger Delta Development Commission was completely razed.

The training supervisor,

who identified himself as Fregene Omawechogwa, told our correspondent that equipment worth millions were lost to the inferno.

The centre, which serves as computer, photography, welding and other training ground, according to him, could not save anything.

A paint selling shop in the market and speedboats servicing workshop adjacent to the building where the fire began was also gutted.

Victims were seen lamenting the ugly incident, while some who managed to speak to our reporter couldn’t pinpoint where the fire started.

2015: Council chair preaches peace, unity

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hairman of Toto Local Government Council in Nasarawa State, Alhaji Mohammed Musa, has called on Nigerians to embrace peace and unity and show love to one another for a successful conduct of the 2015 general elections.

Musa, who made the call on Wednesday in Toto, said that peace and unity was a necessary ingredient for national development.

He said Toto was currently the most peaceful local government area in Nasarawa State because the people realised that conflicts and violence stall development.

According to him, no nation or society could develop in an atmosphere of rancour and confusion.

He appealed to Nigerians to bury their differences, embrace peace and tolerate one another irrespective of ethnic, religious and political affiliations.

He also urged religious leaders and traditional rulers to continue to preach the gospel of peace to their followers, and equally advised the youths not to allow selfish individuals to use them to foment trouble just as he urged them to respect constituted authority and be law-abiding.

The council boss advised unemployed youths

to engage in meaningful ventures to make them self-reliant and contribute their quota to national development.

While urging parents to give priority to the education of their children, Musa noted that education was the best legacy parents and governments could leave behind for the people, restating the determination of the council to initiate peopleoriented projects to fight poverty and youth restiveness.

Burnt stalls at the Pessu Market in Warri South Local Government Area of Delta State, which was gutted by fire, recently.

Photo: THEOPHILUS ONOJEGHEN

FRSC warns politicians not to cover road signs with posters

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ederal Road Safety Commission, FRSC, has warned politicians and their supporters to desist from covering road signs with campaign posters.

The commission also warned them to stop violating traffic rules, especially during electioneering campaigns.

The call was made on Wednesday by Corps Commander, Imoh Etuk, FRSC Public Education Officer in Abuja.

According to Etuk, the commission has a duty to ensure road safety before, during and after the elections.

According to him, “The

FRSC management under the stewardship of Corps Marshal Boboye Oyeyemi, has directed all commanding officers of the corps to raise the bar on sensitisation and enforcement during elections.

“We have been carrying out public advocacy on road safety at different places in the country, including motor parks, radio and television stations, as well as newspapers, posters and signposts,” he said.

He implored politicians and their supporters to avoid night trips, violation of speed limit, reckless driving and overloading of vehicles during rallies.

“They should also avoid covering road signs with their campaign posters so that every road user can see the instruction on road usage.

“The corps marshal also said that any form of enlightenment without enforcement translates to entertainment, hence the need to ensure sanity on the highways through enforcement of traffic laws,” he added.

Etuk revealed that the commission planned to curb indiscipline on the nation’s roads using a roadmap, which would be totally enforced to deter road users from violating traffic regulations.

Kebbi LG distributes irrigation machines to farmers

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irnin-Kebbi Local Government Council in Kebbi State has procured 2,500 water pumping machines worth N7.5 million for distribution to farmers in the area.

Chairman of the council, Alhaji Musa Dan-Illela, disclosed this in an interview with newsmen in BirninKebbi on Tuesday.

Dan-Illela said the machines would be distributed to registered farmers in electoral wards.

According to him, the Agriculture Department had been mandated to ensure equitable distribution to beneficiaries, adding

that the machines would be distributed to farmers on soft loan to be repaid in two years; the measure would encourage commercial production of wheat, rice and vegetables.

He said each machine was purchased at a cost of N30, 000. “The beneficiaries are expected to repay half of the amount as part of efforts to promote food production and security,” he said.

Dan-Illela called on farmers in the area to register to enable them benefit from the scheme designed to boost agricultural development.

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Community Mirror

NGO urges community to embrace safe reproductive health

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hacks and Slum Dweller Association, a Non-Governmental Organisation, NGO, has called on residents of Kanzo community in Kuje Area Council, Abuja, to embrace safe reproductive health to reduce maternal mortality.

National Coordinator of the NGO, Mr. Williams Ngwakwe, made the call during a sensitisation programme organised for residents of the community recently.

Ngwakwe lamented the complete absence of health facility in the area and called for support from relevant authorities to address the challenges of accessing healthcare in the community.

According to him, the advocacy programme funded by Amnesty International, was being implemented by the Centre for Democratic Development, CDD, through the NGO. The coordinator said the programme was aimed at educating rural communities on measures to achieve safe reproductive health.

“The programme is tar-

geted at educating rural communities on their right to basic healthcare and the need to demand for it from relevant authorities.

“So far, we have been able to train some traditional birth attendants in the community on modern delivery techniques, safe reproductive health as well as family planning methods.

“We decided to adopt this approach because of the distance residents of the community had to move in accessing health care, particularly pregnant women,” he said.

Ngwakwe identified safe motherhood, infertility, antenatal care, prevention of sexually transmitted diseases, safe use of drugs during pregnancy, as well as malaria prevention as issues deliberated upon at the programme.

He, however, commended residents of the community for embracing the sensitisation programme.

The coordinator pledged commitment of the NGO to support the community on its plan to build a mini health centre.

Thursday, January 8, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

LAWMA strengthens waste depots in low income areas DARE AKOGUN

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agos State Waste Management Authority, LAWMA, on Wednesday said it would strengthen its communal wastes depot operation to rid low income areas of filthy environment.

General Manager of the authority, Mr. Ola Oresanya, told newsmen in Lagos that the operation started in July 2014, with two communal depots.

The communal waste depot is a site designated for people in ghetto or low

income earners residents to deposit their wastes for eventual evacuation.

He said the depots were located in Ilasan and Badia in Agege and Apapa local government areas, respectively.

According to him, “the communal depots have started in low income areas to address the emerging wastes in those areas.

“The wastes coming from those areas are huge and coming up strong. So, we started the communal waste depot and these areas are not easily accessible for door-to-door waste

collection.”

He said this year the authority hopes to open three additional depots in low income areas.

“We started the Ilasan communal waste depot and the Badia project is ongoing also, we would have projected more, but we are working on low budget because of the economic situation in the country,’’ he said.

The general manager explained that different communities were emerging in Lagos at an alarming rate, saying the Lagos population explosion rate

in 2014 is between 12 per cent and 15 per cent.

“The city of Lagos is growing and the average person in Lagos is now generating about 600 grammes of waste per day.

“So, you can imagine if you suddenly have about three million people; that will tell you the quantum of waste that will emerge on daily basis.

“This is more than 1,500 metric tons extra wastes that is emerging daily and that is really stressing our projection for waste recycling,’’ he said.

Cattle breeders laud Dakingari’s Animal Husbandry Ministry

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ebbi branch of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria, MACBAN, has commended Kebbi State government for establishing the Ministry of Animal Husbandry and Fisheries.

This is contained in a statement issued on Wednesday in Birnin-Kebbi by Chairman of the association, Alhaji Muhammad Gwandu.

The statement said the new ministry would go a long way in boosting livestock and fisheries production in the state.

It added that the new ministry would also boost family income, generate employment and improve nutrition in-take of the people.

The statement noted that livestock was the

best insurance against drought, famine and other natural calamities and appealed to members of the association to unite and support government’s policies aimed at improving their economic status.

“We would strive to end clashes between farmers and cattle breeders in the state,” the statement added.

Adesina

Scene of an accident on the Ilorin-Omu-Aran highway at Eleyin Village in Kwara State at the weekend.

PHOTO: NAN

Group advises traders to elect leaders with vision

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arket Leaders Association of Nigeria, TMLAN, has advised Nigerian traders to elect leaders that would contribute to sustainable development and growth of the economy.

National President of the association, Mr. Charles Obih, said that traders would only elect leaders with economic blueprints that would pro-

tect their interest and investments.

“We traders have decided not to vote for any leader that will not include us in his agenda. We are playing a major role of contributing to Nigeria’s economy, so our voices should be heard and our interest protected.

“The market system in Nigeria has transcended beyond buying and selling to active involvement

in governance, promotion and safeguarding of our investments.”

He appealed to traders to collect their permanent voter’s cards and exercise their electoral power to make a difference.

Also speaking, Dr Mike Adavize, Chairman of the Alaba Rago Market Unit A, of the association, said “it is high time traders got involved in governance; we should not

just be taken as a fundgenerating community.

We are advocating that our traders vote wisely so that government’s decision will not continue to adversely affect our business activities.

“Let us vote for leaders that will provide us with good roads, water and reduce the stress of multiple taxes on traders,” Adavize said.

Thursday, January 8, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

49

World News

Terrorists kill 12 during attack at Paris newspaper office

This development (fall in prices) is not new in the oil market, and the kingdom has in the past dealt with it firmly and wisely –Saudi Crowned Prince Salman

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PAUL ARHEWE

WITH AGENCY REPORTS

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ganda’s military has confirmed that a senior commander in the rebel Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) movement has been taken into custody by US forces.

The army spokesman told the BBC that soldiers had visited Dominic Ongwen, who was being held in the Central African Republic, to identify him.

The International Criminal Court (ICC) wants to put Ongwen on trial for war crimes and crimes against humanity.

But the Ugandan government has said it would prefer to try him at home.

Government spokesman Ofwono Opondo told the BBC that Ongwen should be in Uganda by the end of the week, when he would be charged.

The LRA has abducted thousands of children in northern Uganda, and neighbouring countries, forcing the boys to become fighters and the girls to become sex slaves.

LRA rebel commander surrenders to US forces The US first deployed about 100 special forces in 2011 to support thousands of African troops searching for LRA commanders.

Dominic Ongwen is considered by some to be a deputy commander to LRA chief Joseph Kony.

The Seleka rebel group in the Central African Republic (CAR) said it had captured Ongwen during a battle near the eastern town of Sam Ouandja earlier this month, a news agency reported. “[He] wanted to escape but he came into the hands of our second team who arrested him,” it quotes a Seleka commander, Mounir Ahmat, as saying.

Earlier, US State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said a man who identified himself as an LRA defector had surrendered to US forces.

Ongwen

Bomb blast kills dozens near Yemen’s police academy

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months, with militants from alQaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) battling Shia Houthi rebels who have taken control of the capital.

Wednesday’s bombing took place early in the morning in a central part of Sanaa near the central bank and the defence ministry building.

The explosion was heard across the city and a large plume of smoke was seen rising from the scene.

The victims included many cadets at the police academy as well those waiting to enrol, and passers-by, officials said.

“We were all gathering and... [the minibus] exploded right

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Military still weakening Somalia’s al Shabaab, says AU severely wounded a university lecturer yesterday.

An African Union force, known as AMISOM, and Somali soldiers have recaptured swathes of territory since launching an offensive last year which the AU envoy said had driven al Shabaab from “85 percent” of areas it had controlled.

“When they were hit by AMISOM, the tail went down to

‘Mozambique police release opposition leader’ Mozambique police have released an opposition spokesman they had arrested for allegedly leading an illegal demonstration and inciting violence, local media cited his lawyer as saying yesterday.

Antonio Muchanga, spokesman for Mozambique’s main opposition Renamo party, was arrested on Tuesday after leading protests against the result of last October’s election that the ruling Frelimo party and its candidate Filipe Nyusi won.

Police said the march on Saturday in Maputo was illegal because the organizers did not obtain permission in advance.

Tensions have been running high in Mozambique as Renamo and its candidate, former civil war rebel leader Afonso Dhlakama, allege widespread fraud and irregularities in last year’s poll, including ballot stuffing.

In the run-up to the election, Renamo partisans clashed sporadically with troops and police. The Renamo leader only emerged from a bush hideout in September to reaffirm a 1992 peace pact which ended a 17year civil war.

Youth association urges Jammeh to respect democracy in Gambia

t least 37 people have been killed and 66 others injured by a bomb blast outside a police academy in Yemen’s capital, Sanaa, police said.

Two men were seen getting out of a minibus and walking away shortly before it exploded beside dozens of people queuing to enrol at the academy.

Afterwards, body parts and debris from the bus were strewn across the street.

There has so far been no claim of responsibility, but an offshoot of al-Qaeda has carried out similar attacks.

Yemen has experienced a wave of violence in recent

military offensive by Somali and African Union forces has pushed al Shabaab Islamists into two dwindling pockets of territory, in the north and south, the AU’s special envoy said.

Al Shabaab, which controlled Mogadishu and southern Somalia until it was driven out of the capital in 2011 has steadily lost territory since. But it still launches guerrilla-style attacks, and was blamed for a car bomb that

WORLD BULLETIN

Military personnel at the scene of the blast

next to all of the police college classmates,” Jamil al-Khaleedi told the Associated Press. “It went off among all of them.”

A paramedic at the scene de-

the Jubba valley and the head towards Puntland,” Maman Sidikou told Reuters, referring to the regions to the south and north.

Sidikou said al Shabaab had its biggest concentration of forces in the fertile stretch of land straddling the Jubba River in the south.

He would not give details of further offensives but said: “Dis-

scribed the situation as “catastrophic”.

“We arrived to find bodies piled on top of each other,” he told Reuters news agency.

cussions are ongoing and plans are very much advanced.”

Al Shabaab says the offensive has not diminished its ability to strike across the southern central region to cut off supply routes.

The semi-autonomous, northern region of Puntland has been relatively calm but in the past week Puntland troops have battled al Shabaab forces in the Galgala hills region.

Gloway youth association has urged Gambian government led

by Yahya Jammeh to respect democracy, rule of law and human right, amid recent alleged coup plot.

The press release, signed by the association’s leader, Baruga Abdullahi Ibrahim, condemns the violence unleashed on the serving government of Gambia in an attempt to topple their administration. “ It is quite unfortunate that some people still resort to violence in attempt to change a government when there are better ways to register their grievances.

“We plead with the government of Yahya Jammeh not to take advantage of the failed coup attempt by blaming people who had nothing to do with it, there may be no need for repression since he is still in the position to marshal the activities of governance, but to carefully probe the incidence and work on modalities on how the culprits will be brought to book.

We need to be alerted that many of those dissidents today are the same people who when given the opportunity to serve initiate, promote and preserve the trend they vowed to change.

50

World News

WORLD BULLETIN

AirAsia jet tail found underwater The tail of a crashed AirAsia jet has been found on the sea bed about 30 km (20 miles) from the plane’s last known location, Indonesia’s search and rescue agency said yesterday, a breakthrough that investigators hope will lead to the crucial black box recorders.

Flight QZ8501 vanished from radar screens over the northern Java Sea on Dec. 28, less than half-way into a two-hour flight from Indonesia’s second-biggest city of Surabaya to Singapore. There were no survivors among the 162 people on board.

“We’ve found the tail that has been our main target,” Fransiskus Bambang Soelistyo, head of the search and rescue agency, told a news conference in Jakarta.

The tail was identified by divers after it was spotted by an underwater machine using a sonar scan, Soelistyo said. He displayed underwater photographs showing partial lettering on the sunken object compared with a picture of an intact Airbus A320-200 in AirAsia livery.

“I can confirm that what we found was the tail part from the pictures,” he said, adding that the team “now is still desperately trying to locate the black box”.

Forty bodies and debris from the plane have been plucked from the surface of the waters off Borneo, but strong winds and high waves have been hampering divers’ efforts to reach larger pieces of suspected wreckage detected by sonar on the sea floor.

Heavy snowfall, strong winter storm hits Middle East Snow fell in parts of the Middle East yesterday as a powerful winter storm swept through the region, killing two Syrian refugees in Lebanon and forcing thousands who have fled their country’s civil war to huddle for warmth in tents in refugee camps.

In Syria, the guns fell silent as snow fell in the cities of Damascus and Aleppo and government warplanes remained on the ground because of bad visibility.

The storm dumped rain and hail on Lebanon’s coast and heavy snows in the mountains and central Bekaa Valley. Gas stations, schools, banks and shops shuttered and power was cut throughout Lebanon, but it was particularly trying for the hundreds of thousands of Syrian refugees who live in tents and makeshift shelters.

In eastern Lebanon, security officials said a Syrian shepherd, Ammar Kamel, 30, and a 7-yearold boy, Majed Badawi, died in the storm Wednesday as they made the dangerous trek through the rugged, snow-covered mountains from Syria to the Lebanese border town of Chebaa. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to the media.

Thursday, January 8, 2015

H

eavily armed gunmen shouting Islamist slogans stormed a Paris satirical newspaper office yesterday and shot dead at least 12 people in the deadliest attack in France in four decades.

Police launched a massive manhunt for the masked attackers who reportedly hijacked a car and sped off, running over a pedestrian and shooting at officers.

Police said witnesses heard the attackers, who were armed with a Kalashnikov and rocket launcher, shout “we have avenged the prophet” and “Allahu akbar” (God is greatest).

Two police were confirmed among the dead and four people were critically injured.

The capital was placed under the highest alert status after the attack on Charlie Hebdo, a satirical weekly that has sparked anger in the past among Muslims for publishing cartoons of the prophet Mohamed.

Television footage showed large numbers of police in the area, bullet-riddled windows and people being carried away on stretchers.

The attack took place at a time of heightened fears in France and other European capitals over fallout from the wars in Iraq and Syria where hundreds of European citizens have gone to fight alongside the radical Islamic State group.

President Francois Hollande, who immediately rushed to the scene of the shooting, described

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Terrorists kill 12 during attack at Paris newspaper office

Masked gunmen just before one of them appears to shoot a Paris police officer at close range, following an attack on the office of weekly newspaper yesterday in Paris, France.

it as a barbaric terrorist attack.

“An act of exceptional barbarism has just been committed here in Paris against a newspaper, meaning (against) the expression of liberty,” Hollande said at the scene.

One man who witnessed the shooting said he saw two attackers shooting their way out of Charlie Hebdo at around 11:30 am (1030GMT).

“I saw them leaving and shoot-

ing. They were wearing masks.

These guys were serious,” said the man who declined to give his name.

“At first I thought it was special forces chasing drug traffickers or something. We weren’t expecting this. You would think we were in a movie.”

Hollande called for “national unity”, adding that “several terrorist attacks had been foiled in recent weeks”.

The White House condemned the attack in the “strongest possible terms,” while British Prime Minister David Cameron called it “sickening.”

“We stand with the French people in the fight against terror and defending the freedom of the press,” Cameron said in a message on Twitter.

Wednesday’s shooting is one of the worst attacks in France in decades.

Syriza party slightly lead in Greece’s poll

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reek anti-bailout opposition party Syriza’s lead over the ruling conservatives has narrowed slightly, according to a poll conducted after Prime Minister Antonis Samaras called a snap parliamentary election for January 25.

The Alco survey to be published in the To Pontiki newspaper on Thursday showed the radical leftist Syriza would win a 33.8 percent share of the vote if elections were held now, ahead of Samaras’s New Democracy party which would take 30.5 percent.

That marked a slight drop from a 3.6 point lead Syriza held

U

S President Barack Obama condemned the “horrific” assault on a French satirical newspaper that left 12 dead yesterday, calling it a terrorist attack on America’s “oldest ally” and pledging assistance.

“We are in touch with French officials and I have directed my administration to provide any assistance needed to help bring these terrorists to justice,” he said.

in the previous Alco survey. Syriza wants to scrap the painful austerity measures agreed by Greece under a 240 billion euro bailout program with its international creditors.

The telephone survey of 1,000 people, conducted on Jan. 4-6 nationwide, also showed that a party set up by former prime minister George Papandreou last week -- the Movement of Democratic Socialists -- would get 2.7 percent of the vote.

The Alco survey was the first to include the new party, which is expected to siphon away votes from the Socialist PASOK that it

Alexis Tsipras (L), opposition leader and head of radical leftist Syriza party, smiles during a meeting with members of the Greens-Ecologists party, at the party’s headquarters in Athens, yesterday.

split from as well as other leftist parties including Syriza and the centrist To Potami.

There is a three percent threshold for a party to win seats in the Greek parliament.

Obama, Arab league condemn French newspaper attack Also, the Arab League and Al-Azhar, Sunni Islam’s most prestigious centre of learning, both condemned a deadly attack Wednesday on a Paris satirical newspaper.

“Arab League chief Nabil alArabi strongly condemns the terrorist attack on Charlie Hebdo newspaper in Paris,” the League said

The weekly had attracted controversy by publishing satirical cartoons of the prophet Mohammed.

“I strongly condemn the horrific shooting at the offices of Charlie Hebdo magazine in Paris that has reportedly killed 12 people,” Obama said.

The US president praised France as a partner “in the fight

against terrorists who threaten our shared security and the world.”

“Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims of this terrorist attack and the people of France at this difficult time,” he said.

“Time and again, the French people have stood up for the universal values that generations of our people have defended.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

North

Thursday, January 8, 2015

51

PDP’ll reclaim Nasarawa, says Speaker IGBAWASE UKUMBA LAFIA

S

peaker of Nasarawa State House of Assembly, Honourable Ahmed Mohammed, has expressed confidence that the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, will reclaim its mandate come the gubernatorial election on February 28, 2015.

Mohammed stated this in Lafia, Nasarawa State

capital, yesterday, during a parley with journalists, insisting that the PDP has emerged stronger from its mistakes of the past and is ready to wrest power from the All Progressives Congress, APC. Making reference to the local government elections conducted about a year ago, the speaker said it was an acid test of popularity for the two leading parties in the state, with the PDP win-

ning 12 of the 13 local government areas.

Asked what the PDP selling points would be in the build-up to the election, he said: “What were our selling points when we won 11 or 12 local government areas out of the 13 we have during the last local government electros? The Nasarawa State Independent Electoral Commission, NASIE, just announced what they wanted?”

He said further, “PDP has always been the winning party and will continue to be the party to beat in Nasarawa State, and I assure you that by 2015, PDP will reclaim its lost glory.

Yusuf Agabi, who is now our candidate for the election, would be sworn in as governor of the state, Insha Allah.”

The speaker also charged Nasarawa State Government to furnish citizens of

the state and the assembly with records of their financial dealings in the spirit of transparency and probity it had always laid claim to.

He accused the state government of not publishing its financial record from 2012 to date, demanding they should do so urgently in public interest and to aid the assembly in the discharge of its duties.

“The last statement of account we received was that of 2011 and we are yet to receive that of 2012 to date and I was sounding a

caution that you cannot be talking about models of accounting systems you employed in formulating the budget without respecting other provisions of the constitution, the accounting standard and indeed financial regulation.”

He continued: “That was why l advised government that they should make do as a matter of urgency to make publication for the two years since the 2014 fiscal year has just ended.

I hope they will heed that advice.”

Katsina LGAs to spend N101.5bn JAMES DANJUMA KATSINA

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Children receiving Jonathan’s rice and other gift items at Green Pastures Orphanage in Kano, yesterday.

Borno politicians warned against foul language INUSA NDAHI MAIDUGURI

B

orno State Police Command yesterday warned politicians against the use of foul language that could cause unrest during electioneering campaign for the 2015 general elections.

Commissioner of Police, Mr. Clement Adoda, gave the warning in Maiduguri during a meeting between the police and political parties.

“Election is a process and not by accident and

there are various activities before the elections and this necessitated this gathering. The essence of this meeting is to sensitise you on the dos and don’ts during this coming election,” CP Adoda said.

He warned that the police would prosecute any politician who violated the directive, according to the law.

“There is need to caution ourselves, particularly on the use of foul language during election campaign. Whoever violates these rules will be

prosecuted according to the law.

“We appeal to you to practice politics of brotherliness, election is every four years; it should not disintegrate but unite us.

Your ambition should not override that of the society,” the police commissioner said.

He called on politicians to also educate their followers against the use of foul language during electioneering campaign.

“Campaign should be based on issues and not on individuals, the police will

not fold it arms and allow unrest during the election. Already, we are battling with the problem of insurgency and cannot afford another problem that can divert our attention from the enemy,” he said.

The police boss added that the police are ready to provide adequate security during the elections; adding that he had already called on the Inspector General of Police, IGP, for deployment of more personnel to assist the men on ground during the elections.

Aliyu warns against re-enacting 2011 post-election violence PRISCILLA DENNIS MINNA

C

hairman of Northern States Governors Forum, NSGF, Mua’zu Babangida Aliyu, has warned against reenactment of the violence that followed the 2011 general elections.

Aliyu, who is also governor of Niger State, said if the current sentiments

among the people persist, it may lead to another violence, which the nation cannot afford to bear again.

He stated this in Minna when he inaugurated the board of the Broadcasting Corporation of Niger State headed by a former Registrar of the Federal University of Technology, Minna, Alhaji Mohammed Datti Usman. He said against

this backdrop there was need to reduce the rate of political tension for stability and growth in the polity.

According to him, before the election a section of the society is already making noise and creating tension, especially when sentiments and reality on ground are not going together.

Aliyu, however, urged

the people to support whoever emerges winner of the February 14 election to enable the person succeed, saying, “ We are thankful that we have seen 2015, February 14 will also come and go peacefully.”

He then called on media practitioners in to be careful in their reportage by refraining from publication of materials that can lead to crisis in the country.

he 34 local government areas of Katsina State are to spend N101.5 billion in the 2015 fiscal year.

The amount, which covers both current and capital expenditure, is to be expended under the state and local government joint projects.

Speaking after the House of Assembly approved the amount, the House’s Committee Chairman on Local Government, Bala Sani Yaya, said the committee would ensure strict monitoring of the budget’s implementation.

Yaya said the 34 council areas would execute

projects on empowerment programmes for youth and women, construct feeder roads and provide potable water, among other projects.

He called on the council areas to ensure proper monitoring of such projects for improvement of the people living in the areas.

In another development, the Katsina State House of Assembly has passed a budget of N110.8 billion for 2015 fiscal year.

The budget, which was presented to the house by various heads of ministries, parastatals and agencies, was also presented before the committee on appropriation.

The budget was later approved following adoption by the committee yesterday.

Kaduna owes N60.82bn local, external debt –Commissioner

K

aduna State government has said its local and external debt profile stands at N60.82 billion as at November 2014.

Commissioner for Economic Planning, Mr. Madami Garba, disclosed this in Kaduna, while giving a breakdown of the 2015 budget.

Madami said the state’s total external debt stood at N31.81 billion, while N17.

83 billion was owed local contractors; N3.48 billion secured from commercial banks and N1.4 billion from the capital market.

According to him, the state government is able to settle N24.56 billion from January to November 2014, out of its previous debt profile of N85.39 billion.

He said N10.41 billion was paid to commercial

banks; N1.4 billion for bond; N12.11 billion to local contractors, while N639.57 million went to external debt servicing.

In a remark, Commissioner for Finance, Alhaji Samaila Aliyu, said the huge debt profile was not part of the debt relief obtained by Nigeria from London and Paris Clubs during former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s administration.

“They are loans obtained from multilateral institutions such as the World Bank, International Development Bank and Africa Development Bank.

“Over the years, subsequent administrations in the state continued to borrow from these financial institutions for infrastructure development projects and it amounted to 185, 964, 750.26 dollars.’’

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Thursday, January 8, 2015

52

Thursday September 4, 2014

Thursday, January 8, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

53

Sport

It’s painful to miss out of the AFCON N through injury. But I am happy my recoveryy is going on smoothly – Ghana midfielder, Kwadwo Asamoahh

Glo-CAF Awards: Enyeama chases history today 55

Agent receives Emenike in London ...as Sivasspor signs Eneramo ADEOLU JOHNSON

E

mmanuel Emenike’s Agent, Erdem Konyar, confirmed yesterday that the Fenerbahçe striker had arrived in London, but insisted that the Nigerian international was on holidays.

Turkey-based Emenike feels frustrated at Fenerbahce and

has been closely linked with a move to Tottenham.

“I grew up in London; I spent a few years here with my family and Emenike has now arrived to spend some time with me as well,” Konyar told Radyospor.

Konyar also revealed that Spurs are interested in Emenike and admitted that he could enter talks with the Premier League outfit if Fenerbahçe

give the green light.

“We just spoke about how he is doing at the club. He is just on a short holiday; we have not had any direct talks with other clubs.

“I would not conspire behind the back of Fenerbahçe; if they want to sell Emenike however, we will enter negotiations as there are a number of clubs interested.”

Emenike has reportedly fallen out of favour with Fenerbahçe manager, Ismail Kartal.

“Tottenham only really have one striker right now so it is not a surprise that they are interested,” Konyar said.

Similarly, Sivasspor has signed Nigerian international striker, Michael Eneramo, from İstanbul Başakşehir.

The Yigdos have agreed to loan the 29-year-old from Başakşehir until the end of the

UAE friendlies:

Amokachi names squad as Eagles jet out

JOEL AJAYI ABUJA

H

ome-based Super Eagles Coach, Daniel Amokachi, will release a 19man squad list before the team travels later today to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) for two friendly games against Cote d’Ivoire and Sudan.

Amokachi confirmed the developments yesterday, shortly after their last training session inside the main bowl of Abuja National Stadium.

Eagles will face Equatorial Guinea 2015 AFCON-bound Elephants of Cote d’Ivoire on Sunday in Abu Dhabi and will then play Sudan’s Falcons of Jediane in Dubai on January 17.

Asked yesterday if the dismissal of Emem Eduok from camp would not affect the composition of his team, Amokachi said that he has a replacement.

“As a coach you don’t miss just one single player and right now my focus is 23 players I have in camp, only one cannot affect my team because one player cannot do what I what on the field of play.

“We have over 160 million people in Nigeria and out of that 160 million we have 20 million people that play football and Emem is one of them to be lucky to be picked. He is not the best player. Though he is a player that we need, but definitely we have others who can do what he does on the field. We just wish him the best in his transfer saga,” Amokachi said.

Meanwhile, ex-Golden Eaglets coach, Fanny Amun, has lambasted the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) for taking the hasty decision of throwing Eduok out of camp over the player’s transfer saga.

Amun told National Mirror yesterday in Abuja that the NFF President, Amaju Pinnick, was overzealous in his decision, more so when neither CAF nor FIFA had sanctioned the player.

“I think anybody that has taken that position should be considered a bad person. I am not saying the decision they took was wrong, but they are hasty as long as he has not been sanctioned by either CAF or FIFA,” the former NFA secretary-general, said.

Amokachi

season.

Eneramo signed for Başakşehir on the transfer deadline last September from Besiktas on a free transfer.

The Powerful striker failed to find the back of the net in six appearances for the Istanbulbased club.

Sivasspor has been active in the January transfer window having already signed Ibrahim Ozturk from Bursaspor and Gikhan Zan from Galatasaray.

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Thursday, January 8, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Ejide Unity Cup: Agulu emerges maiden winner AFOLABI GAMBARI

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he inaugural Austin Ejide Unity Cup Football Competition has ended with All Stars Football Club, Agulu emerging victorious after beating Warri

Branch 5-3 on penalty shootouts.

The encounter ended goalless in regulation time.

Agulu also won a trophy and N500, 000 while Warri Branch got N300, 000 as Elephant FC which defeated Ejeagwu FC 3-0 in the third place match

got N200, 000 at the final held at the St. Peter’s Anglican Church pitch, Agulu in Aniocha Local Government Area of Anambra State.

Cup donor and sponsor, Super Eagles goalkeeper, Austine Ejide, said he was motivated to encourage youths from the

area to take sports as a living.

“It will also help turn their minds away from vices because I believe we can produce future stars for this country through such competitions,” Ejide said, adding, “This competition will be organised annually.

Ejide

Jonathan unveils President Cup Pinnick

NFF badges 28 FIFA referees

T

he Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) will today, in Lagos, present badges to Nigeria’s FIFA Referees for the year 2015.

The list includes six men referees, three women referees, seven men assistant referees, four women assistant referees, four Futsal referees and four Beach Soccer referees.

NFF President, Amaju Pinnick, will badge the referees at the Eko Hotel & Suites just before the 2014 Glo-CAF Awards ceremony inside the same edifice.

The men referees are: Amao Joshua Opeyemi, Udoh Anietie Ferdinand, Ao Abubakar, Shuaibu Abdullahi, Odey Benjamin Ekabatiem and Ogunyamodi Henry Shina, while women referees are: Nwogu Uloma Nneka, Musa Hadiza and Foluso Adewuyi Ajayi.

Men assistant referees are: Edibi Peter Elgam, Baba Abel, Pwadutakam Samuel, Usman Isah, Orowole Tope, Igudia Efosa Celestine and Ogwu Peter Eigege, and women assistant referees are Momoh Bosede Adijat, Iyorhe Mimisen Agatha, Nkwocha Hulda Uba and Aliu Felicia Obile.

Futsal referees are: Musa Dung Davou, Ukah Ndubuisi, Umar Ibrahim Fagge and Umuago Paul Akpome, while Ogunmuyiwa Jelili, Mohammed Sani, Jimeta Suleiman Abdulrahman and Ushie Michael are Beach Soccer referees.

Idoko

Idoko bags Pillars job

F

ormer executive director of the Ondo State Football Agency, Mike Idoko, has been appointed into the 14man Kano Pillars CAF Champions League Committee.

Idoko’s nomination came at the instance of the Kano State Deputy Governor, Alhaji Umar Ganduje, who is also chairman of the committee that includes former Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) president, Alhaji Ibrahim Galadima, a former General Manager of the team, Abba

ROTIMI FADEYI ABUJA

P

resident Goodluck Jonathan yesterday launched President Cup tournament to promote youth soccer development in the country.

The competition was initiated by some former Nigeria internationals led by former Super Eagles captain, Nwankwo Kanu.

The initiative is to promote youth soccer development, especially at the grassroots.

Jonathan, who was inducted as the Grand Patron of the President’s Cup, commended the initiative of the ex-internationals, noting that they had brought pride and glory to the country while mentoring younger players to succeed them.

“Whenever you people are

playing, we do not know the difference between a Moslem or a Christian, or a northerner and a southerner or easterner or westerner,” the president said.

“We believe the younger ones will emulate you and also do what you have done,” he added.

Sports Minister, Tammy Danagogo, described the President Cup as a private sector contribution to football development aimed at discovering teenage football talent through tournaments.

Former internationals who attended the launch include Peter Rufai, Taribo West, Emmanuel Babayaro, Patrick Pascal, Garba Lawal and Austin Eguavoen, as well as coaches Shaibu Amodu, Kashimawo Laloko, James Peters, Kadiri Ikhana, Manu Garba and Anthony Chinasa.

Yola, and the Kano State FA boss, Sheriff Alan.

“This is great honour for me to contribute my quota to the quest of Pillars to win the CAF Champions League for Nigeria,” Idoko said.

“I started my football career in Kano and it is delightful that years after, the people of the state still see me worthy of an assignment.

“I have worked in other zones of the country but this is the first time I will be given appointment in the North.”

‘Gabros makes Nigeria proud’

A

member of the Nigeria Football Federation Elections Appeals Committee, Victor Nwangwu, has commended Gabros International Football Club for the team’s successful tour of Europe, saying the newly promoted Nigeria Premier League side boosted the country’s image abroad.

The former secretary of Anambra State Football Association expressed delight at the team’s comportment during the tour, saying all the 16 players and three officials had returned home.

“It shows all hopes are not entirely lost for Nigeria foot-

ball despite the Super Eagles not qualifying for the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations in Equatorial Guinea,” the former Enugu Rangers player said.

“Gabros has demonstrated the true meaning of integrity, professionalism and corporate image of a club and country,” he added.

“I think other Nigerian clubs should emulate Gabros International in our quest to move the nation forward.”

Gabros played four matches in Europe and won all, with striker Michael Ohanu scoring seven goals while Emeka Isaac scored six as the duo emerged as the toast of European scouts.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Sports

Thursday, January 8, 2015 Toure

55

Aubameyang

AWARD CATEGORIES/SHORTLISTS African Player of the Year (in alphabetical order) Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Gabon and Borussia Dortmund) Vincent Enyeama (Nigeria and Lille) Yaya Toure (Cote d’Ivoire and Manchester City) African Player of the Year – Based in Africa Akram Djahnit (Algeria and ES Setif) El Hedi Belamieri (Algeria and ES Setif) Firmin Mubele Ndombe (DR Congo and AS Vita) Women’s Player of the Year Annette Ngo Ndom (Cameroun and Amazon Grimstad) Asisat Oshoala (Nigeria and River Angels) Desire Oparanozie (Nigeria and Guingamp) Youth Player of the Year Asisat Oshoala (Nigeria and River Angels) Fabrice Ondoa (Cameroun and Barcelona) Uchechi Sunday (Nigeria and River Angels) Most Promising Talent Clinton N’jie (Cameroun and Olympique Lyon) Vincent Aboubakar (Cameroun and Porto) Yacine Brahimi (Algeria and Porto) Coach of the Year Florent Ibenge (DR Congo) Kheireddine Madoui (ES Setif) Vahid Halilhodži

(Former coach of Algeria)

National Team of the Year

Glo-CAF Awards:

Enyeama chases history today EVEREST ONYEWUCHI SPORTS EDITOR

Algeria Libya Nigeria Women’s National Team of the Year Cameroun Nigeria Nigeria U-20 Club of the Year Al Ahly (Egypt) AS Vita (DR Congo) ES Setif (Algeria) Football Leader of the Year Moise Katumbi Chapwe - President of TP Mazembe (DR Congo) African Legend award Oryx Club (Cameroun) – winners of the maiden edition of CAF Champions League 1964.

Stade Malien (Mali) - runner up of the maiden edition of CAF Champion’s League 1964.

Past winners 1992:

Abedi AYEW PELÉ (Ghana)

1993:

Rashidi YEKINI (Nigeria)

1994:

Emmanuel 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 (Cameroun)

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 (Cameroun)

2010:

Samuel ETO’O (Cameroun)

2011:

Yaya TOURE (Cote d’Ivoire)

2012:

Yaya TOURE (Cote d’Ivoire)

2013:

Yaya TOURE (Cote d’Ivoire)

2014:

??????

S

uper Eagles goalkeeper, Vincent Enyeama, is in line to make history, as the 2014 Confederation of African Football (CAF) Awards Gala sponsored by telecommunications company, Globacom, holds later this evening at the Convention Centre of Eko Hotels, Victoria Island, Lagos.

Enyeama is among the final shortlist for the African Footballer of the Year including Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang of Gabon and Yaya Toure of Cote d’Ivoire, who has won the award in the past three editions.

The Nigerian first-choice stopper is chasing history set by Badou El-Zaki 28 years ago, as the Moroccan retired goalkeeper is the only safe hands to have won the continental crown.

Thirty-two-year-old Enyeama has come a long way since he began his professional career at Ibom Stars FC that later took him to Enyimba International FC, Iwuanyanwu Nationale (now Heartland FC), Bnei Yehuda, Hapoel Tel Aviv and Lille.

At Enyimba, his prowess blossomed and he played a great role between the goal posts as the Aba Elephants became the first Nigerian club to win the C A F

Champions League in 2002 and retained the trophy the next year.

His displays and confidence attracted national team selectors, as Coach Adegboye Onigbinde called him to the Super Eagles camp and named him in the squad for the Korea/Japan 2002 World Cup, where he made his debut against England in the last group match and kept a clean slate.

Since then, he has remained a major factor in the Nigeria senior national team, winning bronze medals at the 2004, 2006 and 2010 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) championships in Tunisia, Egypt and Angola before winning the ultimate prize at the last edition held in South Africa in 2013.

This is what CAF said about Enyeama when it released the final shortlist for the African Footballer of the Year last December: “Despite being a goalkeeper, he has always made his presence felt in games for both club and country. His performance in Lille saw him being named the Best African Player in the Ligue 1 for the 20132014 season. At the World Cup, he was arguably Nigeria’s best performer, thanks to some stunning saves in the four matches, especially against Argentina and France. Enyeama has conceded twice in the Orange AFCON 2015 qualifiers lasting the entire duration in both games.”

Enyeama’s imminent glory may not be coincidental, as there is a seeming paradigm shift among soccer aficionados to give more credit to the efforts of the goalkeepers as the last men in defence. It is in this wise that Germany and Real Madrid keeper, Manuel Neuer, is also in the running for the 2014 FIFA Ballon d’Or that will be decided on January 12 in Zurich, Switzerland.

WORLD RECORD

First professional film stuntwoman

Vol. 05 No. 1021 Thursday, January 8, 2015

The first professional stuntwoman was Helen Gibson, who doubled for Helen Holmes in the first 26 episodes of Kalem’s serial The Hazard’s of Helen (US14).

N150

Matters Arising from APC Flag-off

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very campaign season gives voters the opportunity to see and assess the candidates and political parties jostling for positions. The recent flag off of the All Progressives Congress (APC) campaign presented such an opportunity. I wish to share my thoughts on the claims and promises of the APC. Among other things, the party promised to fight corruption and economic crimes, create jobs, improve national security, diversify the economy and promote agriculture. The promises at the rally are the type you hear especially when a party is short on clear programmes or templates for executing anything at all. That is why it did not, at any time, say anything about how it would go about changing the country for the better The APC could not say in concrete

N

igeria’s Aruna Quadri has been named as the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) Star Player of the Year at the award ceremony yesterday at the Armani Hotel, Dubai.

Quadri claimed two awards ahead of players from Asia and Europe to get standing ovation

Guest Columnist

Peter Obi

terms how it would further diversify the economy through agriculture, given the series of initiatives put in place by the Dr Goodluck Jonathan administration to boost food production and food security, expand the contributions of agricultural to the nation’s export and to re-engineer the entire sector towards making it a major player, locally and globally. The party gave no alternative to the National Agricultural Investment Plan [NAIP], which is a private sector-driven agenda focused on all the components of the agricultural value chain. It also did not propose any alternative to the holistic approach to this programme, which goes all the way from conception, production, storage, processing, marketing to delivery. It is Nigerians that will benefit from the over 10 per cent annual growth rate; significant reduction in post-harvest losses; expansion of irrigated and cultivated land to some 100,000 hectares expected from NAIP. The jobs being created through training of thousands of extension workers and the generation of at least US$ 35 billion for the country from agro-exports, with cassava, rice, cocoa, vegetable oil, cotton, tomatoes, sugar and yams as the major focal crops, are for Nigerians.

Will the APC now take over and stop the on-going crop improvement projects, Agriculture Quarantine Services for enhanced crop and yield, and livestock and fishery drive, just to show it

WHAT IS THE APC’S UNDERSTANDING OF CORRUPTION AND HOW DOES IT PLAN TO TACKLE IT WITHIN THE RULE OF LAW? has something to offer in agriculture?

Will it annul the improved surveillance capacity against pests and diseases, the Seed Inspectorate Services, Fisheries and Livestock Departments, Dam and Irrigation Schemes for all-season farming and agricultural research that are on-going today? Perhaps the party will cancel, or reverse, the expansion of the national food storage capacity from 300,000 metric tonnes to about two million metric tonnes, just to show that it is doing something in agriculture. The implementation of the Nigerian Sugar Master plan and the N500 billion this would save annually are gains no one can deny.

The truth is that this government is creating thousands of visible jobs through the youth agricultural programme, SURE-P and YouWin, among many others. There are now over 3,000 businesses under YouWin 1 and 2, with over 22,000 jobs created by the primary beneficiaries. Some 6, 000 young entrepreneurs would have ben-

efitted from this programme by the end of YouWin 4. The increase in funding of the insurance sector to N1trillion from the current N300 billion within the next three years, with the aim of further raising it to N5 trillion within the next decade will generate hundreds of thousands of jobs. While the SURE-P programme support Social Safety Net programmes, like Save One Million Lives, which has saved over 631,250 lives by giving renewed priority to health, nutrition, prevention of mother to child transmission of HIV, malaria control and routine immunization, the Graduate Internship Scheme (GIS) has hired and deployed 13,339 graduates so far. This is quite apart from the Community Services, Women and Youth Employment (CSWYE), which has created nearly 120,000 jobs; with a minimum of 3,000 in each state and the Federal Capital Territory.

Concerning corruption, which the APC mentioned at its rally, let us all frankly admit that corruption is, first and foremost, a collapse of values and disregard for norm that cuts across the educational system, the traditional institutions that create the wrong role models through the titles they confer, the religious organisations that preach and focus on material prosperity, as well as the abuse of office by public office holders. The termination of the fertilizer scam that has persisted for decades, the decisive intervention in pension reforms, the tax reforms, among other initiatives, are institutional measures taken by the Jonathan government to end endemic corruption. What is the APC’s understanding of corruption and how does it plan to tackle it within the rule of law? There is no mention of method, programme content, or approach to efficient public administration.

To be continued Obi was the immediate past governor of Anambra State.

Sport Extra

Table tennis: Quadri emerges Star Player of the Year from guests at the occasion.

The world’s number 30 ranked player was adjudged the best male player, beating world number one, China’s Xu Xin, and his compatriot, Fan Zhendong, who is the 2014 Youth Olympic Games gold

medalist as well as Portugal’s Marcos Freitas, who is the 2014 European Team Championships winner and the first Portuguese player to be ranked in the world’s top 10.

Quadri’s crucial winning point against Olympics and

World Champion, Jan Zhike of China, at the 2014 ITTF World Cup was adjudged the best in the Star Point category at the second edition of the award.

“This is the best day of my career,” he said, adding, “I promise to continue to work hard.”

Quadri

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