Vol. 3 N0. 657 Thursday, July 4, 2013 N150 Vol. 5 N0. 1117 Thursday, May 21, 2015 N150

P.49

...action compounds fuel scarcity crisis

Mu’azu quits as PDP chairman

P.10CONTINUED ON PAGE 5>>Alison-Madueke

FG upgrades 4 colleges of education to varsities

May 29: AGF lacks power to direct Bayelsa’s CJ –Sagay, others

Defence Intelligence goes after fi nancier of terrorism P.2

P.6

National Mirrorwww.nationalmirroronline.net

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Thursday, May 21, 2015

INSIDE

Apapa road gridlock: Apapa road gridlock: Balogun Balogun traders lament low salestraders lament low sales >47

>48

Fuel scarcity, exchange rate killing Fuel scarcity, exchange rate killing our business, traders cry outour business, traders cry out

Eyin Eyo Idumota, trading center of Lagos. PHOTO: ADEMOLA AKINLABI

‘Porters earn more

money inLagos

markets than traders’

P.4P4

Nigeria owes $60bn in foreign, local debts, says Osinbajo

...Secondus takes over in acting capacityAnenih resigns as BoT chairman

OLAJIDE OMOJOLOMOJU AND GEORGE OJI

Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, National Chairman, Adamu

Mu’azu, yesterday threw in the towel as he resigned his position.

The party’s Chairman, Board of Trustees, BoT, Chief Tony Anenih, also re-signed.

Mu’azu, who is currently in the United Kingdom on medical mission, has been under intense pressure to resign in the aftermath of the party’s woeful outing in

L-R: Ministers, Mrs. Sarah Ochekpe (Water Resources), Hajiya Zainab Maina (Women Affairs and Social Development), Prince Adedayo Adeyeye (State for Works), Mr. Mike Onolomemen (Works), Mr. Boni Haruna (Youth Development); Chief of Staff, Chief Jones Arogbofa; Head of Service of the Federation, Mr. Danladi Kifasi; Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Sen. Pius Anyim; Vice-President Namadi Sambo and President Goodluck Jonathan, during the valedictory Federal Executive Council meeting in Abuja, yesterday. PHOTO: NAN

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P.6 P.38P.38

Ajaokuta Steel: An albatross Buhari must slay to diversify economy

SINSIGHTMutiny: Again, 579

soldiers face court martial

PENGASSAN, NUPENG begin strike

CHIDI UGWU, MESHACK IDEHEN AND GBENGA ODOGUN

Hopes of a timely end to the current fuel scarcity dimmed

further yesterday as the Pe-troleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, PENGASSAN, and the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, NUPENG, began an indefinite strike that

may completely cripple eco-nomic activities nationwide.

In Abuja, the protesting labour union members bar-ricaded the entrance of the headquarters of Nigerian National Petroleum Corpo-

Senators eulogise late Chukwumerije, Zannah

Mu’azu quits as PDP chairman

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net2 Thursday, May 21, 2015News

Mutiny: Again, 579 soldiers face court martial

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

L-R: Chief of Staff, Directorate of Army Public Relations, Col. Onyema Nwachukwu; Acting Director, Army Public Relations, Col. Sani Usman and Deputy Director, Army Public Relations, Army Headquarters Garrison, Col. Aliyu Yusuf, addressing newsmen on activities of the Nigerian Army in Abuja, yesterday. PHOTO: NAN

UBONG UKPONGABUJA

The Nigerian Army, yesterday, said that 579 soldiers were cur-

rently facing court martial over various offences.

This is just as the fail-ure of the Army Council to confirm the death sentence passed last year on 66 sol-ders convicted for mutiny by a General Court Martial, GCM, has left the fate of the soldiers in the balance.

Director of Army Public Relations, DAPR, Col. Sani Usman, while briefing the press in Abuja, disclosed that there are two separate court martial going on in the Army Headquarters Garrison, Abuja and the 81 Division, Lagos, with a view to ensuring quick dispensa-tion of justice, discipline and professionalism.

Usman said that 473 of the soldiers were facing court martial in Army Headquar-ters, while 106 were standing trial in 81 Division.

The soldiers’ alleged of-fences range from insubor-dination to disobedience, acts of cowardice, refusal to carry out military duties, in-discipline, amongst others.

Usman said it was a com-

mon practice in the military that any personnel, who runs foul of the law and who could not be summarily dis-missed, must go to the court martial.

Earlier in 2014, 66 soldiers were sentenced to death for mutiny, but their lawyers were said to have difficul-ties appealing the death sen-tence because the processes have not been completed.

According to military procedure, the Army Coun-cil would have to meet and confirm the sentences and if upheld, the lawyers would be at liberty to appeal to a conventional higher court.

However, the DAPR, who confirmed that the Council has not sat, said this was in process.

Considering that the court martial was also de-pleting the number of per-sonnel prosecuting the war, Usman said the Army was already addressing the is-sue.

Consequently, more per-sonnel are being added to strengthen the force fighting in the North East.

He said 481 Special Forc-es, which comprised person-nel of the Army, Navy, Air force and the police, have completed their training

and inducted into the the-atre of operations within the Z Division area of re-sponsibility.

Similarly, one battalion, the 151 battalion, has also completed its training and inducted into the theatre, while two battalions, the 152 and 153 battalions are cur-rently undergoing training and would be inducted on completion.

“Additionally, Army Headquarters Task Force

Group is currently in the last phase of their training, while Nigerian Army Ar-moured School, Bauchi, has intensified training of Tank Crew personnel.

“Moreover, personnel training on Improvised Ex-plosive Devices, IEDs, in the United Kingdom and United States is ongoing,” Usman said.

He also disclosed that 2, 388 members of 72 Regular Recruits Intake at Nigerian

Army Depot, Zaria, Kaduna State, would pass out on Fri-day, which would also boost the personnel strength.

Usman attributed recent successes recorded in opera-tions against terrorists and other operations within the country to the infusion of these specially trained per-sonnel.

The Army spokesman said Nigerian Army Admin-istrative Policies and Proce-dures last reviewed in 2005,

has recently been reviewed to be in line with current and future realities.

“To ease the problems associated with retiring Ni-gerian Army officers, a one-stop documentation proce-dure was devised recently.

“An office of the Deputy Director Retirement and Documentation was estab-lished at the Army Head-quarters Department of Administration with a 90

the just concluded general elections.

Following the resigna-tion, the National Working Committee, NWC, of the party quickly convened an emergency meeting to re-spond to the development.

Briefing newsmen at the end of the meeting, National Secretary of the party, Prof. Adewale Oladi-po announced that Deputy National Chairman, Uche Secondus would take over in acting capacity as the chair-man.

He said: “The National Working Committee, NWC, of the PDP at its 399th meet-ing today, Wednesday 20, May 2015 received and ac-cepted the voluntary res-ignation of the National Chairman of our great party, His Excellency, Alhaji Adamu Mu’azu.

“Consequently, and in line with the provisions of section 45(2) of the PDP constitution, the Deputy National Chairman, Prince

Uche Secondus acts in place of the national chairman, pending the replacement from the north-east zone of our great country.

The NWC also announced the resignation of Anenih on personal grounds.

“In accepting the resigna-tion, the NWC noted the out-standing contributions of Chief Anenih in the party over the years especially in his capacity as the Board of Trustees Chairman.

“As one of the founding fathers of the PDP, the NWC appreciates Chief Anenih’s guiding role in the party in the last 16 years and wish him well in his future en-deavours.

Consequent upon the res-ignation, the Secretary of the Board of Trustees, Sena-tor Walid Jibrin holds forth pending the election of a new BoT Chairman.

Oladipo, before Anenih’s resignation had disclosed that NWC was to meet today to decide on what becomes his fate in the party.

It was speculated that President Goodluck Jona-than had asked Chief An-enih to step down.

Oladipo had said: “On the correct position of the status of our revered leader, the Chairman of the Board of Trustees, BoT, of the par-ty, Chief Tony Anenih, the NWC will make its position public tomorrow, Thursday, May 21, 2015 because our meeting continues tomor-row.”

He also expressed confi-dence in the party’s national publicity secretary.

“Furthermore, the NWC expressed complete confi-dence of the party in the Na-tional Publicity Secretary.

“Meanwhile, the NWC has set up a 7-man disci-plinary committee headed by Chief Michael Ado. The committee will be inaugu-rated on Tuesday, May 28, 2015 at the national secre-tariat here.

“Finally, the NWC calls for calm and understanding of all members and other

critical stakeholders, includ-ing the media at this time of re-engineering process of our great party, while direct-ing any member with genu-ine grievances to channel such through the appropri-ate organs,” he added.

Meanwhile, the Direc-tor of Media and Publicity of PDP Presidential Cam-paign Organisation, Femi Fani-Kayode, who has been in the forefront of the call for the resignation of the NWC members welcomed Mu’azu’s resignation and insisted that the rest oth-er members of his team should emulate the former chairman and take the part of honour by throwing in the towels.

Addressing newsmen shortly after Oladipo’s state-ment, Fani-Kayode said: “I am delighted in the fact that the national chairman of the party has resigned from his position, almost six or seven hours after we made the call for that, and I was not the only one that made a

call for that, many of us did. “So, it reflects the feeling

of a large number of the people within the party. It was the overwhelming ma-jority opinion of the people that he should have gone and we are glad that he has gone. So, that is one down.

“But clearly there are many to go and we call for the resignation of the entire members of the NWC and we sincerely think that they would take a cue from that and do the honourable thing like the chairman and step down.

“Secondly, it is the reflec-tion of the desperation and the directorial tendencies of these people. Simply be-cause a leading member of the party has stood up to say that they ought to resign their positions because they failed in the election and be-cause, they started off a pro-cess of acrimony within the party by accusing the PCO of costing the president a defeat and casing him not to win an election.

“We reacted to that. Their reaction to us is that we should leave the party, are we members of the party? This is absolutely unaccept-able.

“In any democratic set-ting, in any seriously mind-ed political party, people ought to be able to criticize and condemn leadership style of all those charged with leading the party, espe-cially when they have failed at the polls.

“Not only that, they have cheated their own party members, they have lied, they have collected money from various people in or-der for them to win the pri-maries, they have told the most heinous type of lies, and they have provided the most absurd type of leader-ship and most of us are fed up with this.

“So, if their only reaction is that people should now come and ask whether or not I have the right to speak like that, well, I am a Nigeri-

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National Mirrorwww.nationalmirroronline.net Thursday, May 21, 2015 3

...Blair wants Buhari administration to tackle impunity in governance

L-R: Vice President, Regulatory and Corporate Affairs, Etisalat Nigeria, Ibrahim Dikko; intern of the Etisalat Telecommunications Engineering Programme, Muhammad Ismaila and Chief Technical Officer, Stephane Beuvelet at the ETEP internship closing ceremony in Abuja, yesterday.

Vice-President-elect, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo (SAN), yesterday said

the economy was in its worst moments in history as local and international debts stand at $60bn, while debt servicing has risen to N953.6bn.

This is even as a former British Prime Minister, Tony Blair, urged the incoming gov-ernment to tackle impunity at all levels if it wishes to suc-ceed.

Speaking at an event or-ganised by the All Progres-sives Congress, APC, Direc-torate for Policy, Research and Strategy, for all elected officials in the incoming gov-ernment in Abuja, Osinbajo identified poverty and how to eradicate it as the major chal-lenge of the incoming admin-istration.

Osinbajo said: “The figure of extreme poverty in our so-ciety - 110 million by current estimates - makes it clear that our biggest national problem is the extreme poverty of the majority.

“Thus, no analysis is re-quired to conclude that deal-

Nigeria owes $60bn foreign, local debts

L-R: Managing Director/CEO, Unity Bank Plc, Mr. Henry J. Semenitari; Executive Director, Market Operations and Technology, Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), Mr. Ade Bajomo; Chairman, Unity Bank, Mr. Thomas Etuh, and Executive Director, Unity Bank Plc, Aisha Abraham at the presentation of Facts Behind the Figures at The NSE yesterday.

L-R: Chairman of event, Mr. Moyo Akekigbe; Vice Chancellor, Bowen University, Prof. Matthew Ojo and Guest Speaker/Incumbent President, Nigerian Academy of Science, Prof. Oyewale Tomori, during the 2nd Gamaliel and Susan Onosode Foundation Lecture in Lagos, yesterday. PHOTO: SAMUEL ADETIMEHIN.

Director-General, National Pension Commission, Mrs. Chinelo Anohu-Amazu (left) and Director, Consolidated Accounts Department, OAGF, Mr. Salawu Zubairu, during the Stakeholders Conference on Pension Reform Act 2014 in Abuja, yesterday. PHOTO: NAN

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net4 Thursday, May 21, 2015 Photo NEWS

National News

ing with poverty and its implications is a priority. We are concerned that our economy is currently in its worst moment in history.

“Local and international debt stands at $60bn. Our debt servicing bill for 2015 is N953.6bn, 21 per cent of our budget. On account of se-verely dwindled resources, over two-thirds of the states in Nigeria owe salaries. Fed-eral institutions are not in much better shape. Today, the nation borrows to fund recurrent expenditure.

“This is also against the backdrop of a highly un-equalled society in which, by some

reckoning, the largest chunk of the benefits of our national wealth accrues to a small percentage of our population. Our manifesto offered a vision of shared prosperity and socio-eco-nomic inclusion for all Nige-rians and that leaves no one behind in the pursuit of a prosperous and fulfilling life.

“Our manifesto offered a vision of shared prosperity

and socio-economic inclu-sion for all Nigerians, one that leaves no one behind in the pursuit of a prosperous and fulfilling life.

“Our goal this morning is to evaluate these positions and propositions before a wider audience and launch a robust public conversa-tion on policy directions and priorities that will help form our administration’s approach in the next four years.

“This forum exemplifies a sort of consultative and consensual approach to pol-icy making that our party and the new administration intend to model in office.”

Osinbajo said the incom-ing administration knows the `̀ what’’ and the `̀ why’’, but not adept as to the “how.”

He said the sessions would explore a wide vari-ety of policy priorities, in-cluding the diversification of the economy.

Blair, represented by Mr. Peter Mandelson, a British Labour politician who was Blair’s campaign director who worked with him for

13 years as adviser and min-ister, among other positions, in a keynote address at the event, cited the example of President Joko Widodo of In-donesia.

He said the first thing Widodo did on assuming of-fice in October, 2014 was to slash fuel subsidy, which had toppled previous administra-tions.

According to him, the Bu-hari-led government would have more goodwill dealing with difficult policies or is-sues at the beginning of its tenure than at the end.

“What you do in the first 100 days in office is impor-tant, symbolic, and can have tremendously positive reper-cussions throughout govern-ment and throughout the country.

“You have a limited win-dow of opportunities to make an impression; to make an impact as a new government. When I look at Nigeria, I will say your vulnerability is cor-ruption.

“It’s not new to you, par-ticularly around the oil sector.

People in this country seem to be able to do things with impu-nity.

“You can crack the Nige-rian National Petroleum Cor-poration, NNPC nut, or at least make a start of it in the first 100 days and if you do so, you will have built a very strong foundation for what you have to do in the next four years and beyond.

“That’s how important it is,’’ Blair advised.

He said when the new La-bour Party emerged in Britain it gave the Bank of England independence to decide on its interest rates without interfer-ence from government.

He advised further that the first rule of governance is: `̀ be true to your word and be true to your mandate. We kept the trust of the British people for 13 years.

“Only when our offer be-came vague, to be frank, did we lose election; so look ahead to your next election and subse-quent ones.

“Secondly, government is a team effort; your job is to in-spire people to make them be-

lieve in you and what you are doing.... people in politics now don’t believe in ideology but want change, jobs.

“Thirdly, you cannot do everything at once, you have to be much more skilful and apply a science of delivery, priority... even amid ongoing crisis.’’

Blair said the incoming administration should set its priorities right and have in mind that it was elected to rule all and not just those that voted.

The former prime minis-ter further said the executive should treat the legislature and the people with respect from inception so that things would not turn out ̀ `as usual.

“You need to show the people who didn’t vote for you that you represent their in-terests as much as those who voted for you.

“Its very important that the government shows that it is a government for the whole of the country and not for one section.’’

In his opening remarks, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, a former governor of Ekiti State, said the time has come to deliver on campaign promises.

Mu’azu quits as PDP chairman

Mutiny: Again, 579 soldiers face court martial

PENGASSAN, NUPENG begin strike CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2

L-R: Registrar, Landmark University, Dr. Daniel Rotimi; Guest Lecturer, Prof. James Olukosi; Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Joseph Afolayan and Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Enoch Oyawoye, during the 4th Public Lecture Series of the institution in Omu-Aran, Kwara State, yesterday. PHOTO: NAN

ration, NNPC, thereby pre-venting the employees from resuming in their efforts to get its management attends to their demands.

Specifically, PENGAS-SAN called for a declaration of emergency in the oil and gas sector and urged the in-coming government to do everything possible to ad-dress the plethora of issues bedeviling the sector in or-der to ensure its efficiency.

The association’s Presi-dent, Mr. Francis Johnson, in a statement pointed out that there were many issues requiring urgent attention from the incoming govern-ment to reposition the in-dustry for efficient and effec-tive delivery of its benefits to Nigerians. For instance, he canvassed the need for the Muhammadu Buhari-led government to call an all-inclusive stakeholders’ forum to critically examine and proffer workable and enduring solutions to all the problems in the larger inter-est of the country.

“All the subsectors of the oil and gas industry have one challenge or the other and all these challenges are affecting the deliveries of the benefits of our God-giv-en hydrocarbon resources to the country and the entire people of Nigeria.

“These challenges are as result of past neglects, wrong policies and policy summersault in some areas of the sub-sectors.

“All these are inflicting pains on Nigerians who ought to be enjoying the ben-efits of the natural resourc-es that God bequeathed to the country,” Johnson said.

He listed some of the challenges to include, pipe-line vandalism, crude oil theft, state of the refineries, intractable and persistent scarcity of petroleum prod-ucts, subsidy payment con-troversies, and divestment.

Others are, illegal trans-fer or allocation of oil blocks, irregular Joint Venture, JV, funding with emphasis on delay in cash call payment, inadequate funding of gov-ernment agencies in the sec-tor and undue interference in the management of gov-ernment agencies.

The union leader said that the stakeholders’ forum will chart ways of attend-ing to the critical challenges affecting the industry and evolve a framework that will facilitate its stability, adding

that machinery should be set in motion for periodic meetings to evaluate and re-view the success and work-ability of the framework.

NUPENG on its own said it was time the Federal Government assess more critically how the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company, NPDC, was being managed with a view to en-suring that the guiding laws and rules relating to the op-erations of the company are subverted.

Assistant General Sec-retary of NUPENG, Mr. Adamson Momoh, told Na-tional Mirror that the strike against NPDC, which is an arm of NNPC, would con-tinue until the management sees reasons with the work-ers.

In Lagos, the effects of the strike started manifesting as long queues, which had abated fairly since Monday, became more pronounced in filling stations as motor-ists renew their struggles to buy fuel.

Independent and black marketers virtually took over sales of fuel, dispens-ing at between N120 and N150 per litre, depending on the station and bargaining power of customers.

Most major marketers had no product to sell.

At the Apapa axis, young men and women were seen openly hawking petrol in jerry cans right in front of filling stations and some-times in full view of secu-rity operatives, who seemed helpless in enforcing law and order.

At Onipan along Ikorodu road, black marketers oper-ate in the vicinity of petrol stations, which were also selling at very high prices.

As expected, commercial vehicle drivers had also latched on the crisis to hike transport fares across the city blaming their action on the scarcity of fuel.

When contacted, Conoil spokesman Mike Oduniyi, said that all enquiries about the current fuel situation should be directed to the Ex-ecutive Secretary of Major Oil Marketers Association of Nigeria, MOMAN, Mr Biodun Lawore, who has the mandate to speak on their behalf.

However, efforts to get to Lawore on phone did not yield results.

At the NNPC headquar-ters, it was rumoured that high level negotiation was

National Mirrorwww.nationalmirroronline.net 5Thursday, May 21, 2015 News

ongoing between the man-agement and the union lead-ers to arrive at an amicable resolution of the issues at stake.

It would be recalled that the industry labour unions had early last week threat-ened to shut down explora-tion activities in the country over the failure to reverse the alleged transfer of the operatorship of Oil Mining

Lease, OML 42.The unions had given a

notice, which expired last weekend, urging the Fed-eral Government to reverse the transfer of operator-ship of the Joint Venture, JV, partnership in OMLs 40 and 42 to Neconde Energy Nigeria Limited and Elcrest Exploration and Production Limited.

A statement from the JV

partners, said the shut-in has affected all NPDC operated assets in joint venture with indigenous companies that had applied for operatorship, except Neconde, who, prior to the crisis, had been award-ed the operatorship of OML 42, and immediately got the Joint Task Force, JTF, to se-cure the assets.

Elcrest (OML 40) which is next in line to be awarded

operatorship, Shoreline OML 30 and FHN/Afren (OML 26) have now been shut as oil evacuation is hampered from OML 34 which relies on the OML 30 pumping station.

The unions had accused the Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Allison-Madueke, of strip-ping the two oil blocks from NPDC.

an and I have a right to state my case and I am not the first to say that they should resign.

“Did they ask Fayose to be disciplined for his com-ments? Did they ask the governor of Niger State, Ali-yu Babangida to be repri-manded for his comments? Did they ask that Lamido should be reprimanded for his comments?

“It is absurd but clearly, when I said it, somebody listened and the chairman stepped down. Now, I am say-

ing yet again, the most im-portant thing for us to do as a party is to ensure that every single one of them goes.”

Fani-Kayode had on Tuesday alleged that the NWC was responsible for PDP massive failure.

Fani-Kayode had said: “We must throw out the bad eggs in the NWC and pre-pare for a long drawn out war of attrition with the new incoming government.

“In order to survive over the next four years as a party, we must make the necessary changes at the

top otherwise we will be ut-terly decimated.”

National Publicity of the party, Olisah Metu, who first briefed news-men shortly after the NWC meeting, disclosed that Mu’azu’s letter of resigna-tion was sent to the deputy national chairman.

He said: “I can confirm that we have received the resignation of the party’s national chairman.

“The national chair-man, who had health chal-lenges, stayed on for the party’s primaries, the cam-

paigns and the elections, after which he traveled abroad for medical treat-ment.

“Upon his treatment and after consultations with his family and on per-sonal interest, he has de-cided to resign as national chairman.

“This party commend-ed him for the sacrifice he made during the cam-paigns in spite of his health and commend him for the love and dedication and commitment he has for this party.”

day time line of document-ing and processing retiring officers’ benefits.

“Similarly, a system of annual update of Nigerian Army personnel next-of-kin has been devised. This is intended to eliminate the hardship hitherto experi-enced by families and in particular, the next-of-kin of our fallen colleagues.

In April, 20 next-of-kin re-ceived cheques for payment of Group Life Insurance en-titled to them while a total

of 235 next-of-kin benefitted from the special assistance by the office of the National Security Adviser.

“Similarly, over 2000 chil-dren of deceased personnel were screened and passed for NA scholarship for 2014/2015 academic session.

“Furthermore, up to 20 families have also benefit-ted from the official burial expenses within the last month in addition to the Chief of Army Staff’s token which was intended to pro-

vide immediate succour to the families,” he added.

In a related development, Nigerian Defence Intelli-gence, DIA, yesterday, said that it was intensifying its collaboration with interna-tional counterparts and oth-er related agencies, towards tracking those financing the activities of Boko Ha-ram within and outside the country.

Chief of Defence Intel-ligence, CDI, Rear Admi-ral Gabriel Okoi, made

the disclosure in Abuja, while speaking to jour-nalists at the end of the Deputy Defence Advis-ers/Attaches/Librar-ians Training Conference 2015.

Okoi noted that the banking sector has proved a challenge but the security agencies and Federal Government were determined to crack any loophole through which any funding of ter-rorists might be channeled.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net6 Thursday, May 21, 2015 News

Corpse of the late Sen Uche Chukwumerije was brought to the National Assembly Complex for a befitting Valedictory Session in his honour at Abuja, yesterday. PHOTO: ROTIMI OSASONA

Constitution amendment: Reps move to override Jonathan’s vetoWOLE OLADIMEJI ABUJA

Following President Goodluck Jona-than’s withholding

of assent on the amend-ment of the 1999 Consti-tution, the House of Rep-resentatives yesterday commenced the process that could lead to overrid-ing the presidential veto.

The House at its ple-

nary yesterday, amended Order XIII to introduce new rules (10) - (13) seek-ing to override the veto powers of the president.

In a motion titled, “Amendment of the Standing Orders of the House of Representa-tives: Order XIII, Rule 98,” Sam Tsokwa, Chair-man, Rules and Business and 22 others noted that Order XIII provides the

GEORGE OJI ABUJA

Senators took turns to pay special trib-utes to two of their

dead colleagues at yester-day’s special plenary ses-sion.

The dead senators are Uche Chukwumerije (Abia North) and Ahmad Zannah (APC, Borno Central).

Incidentally, both of them died from cancer-related illnesses.

While Senator Chuk-wumerije, who was Chairman, Senate Com-mittee on Education, died on April 19, 2015, at the Turkish hospital, Abuja, Ahmad Zannah died last Saturday, May 16, 2015, at the National Hospital, also in Abuja.

The two deaths brought to five the num-ber of senators who have so far died in the seventh Senate.

Disturbed by the es-calating spate of cancer related deaths in Nigeria, some senators yesterday tasked the incoming 8th Senate to work towards facilitating the estab-lishment of a specialist hospital that will help in early detection of cancer

Senators eulogise late Chukwumerije, Zannah

FG upgrades 4 colleges of education to varsities

NLC pickets NIPOST, locks out Postmaster General

procedure for altering the 1999 Constitution.

According to these new sub- rules of Order XIII, the chairman explained that where the president withholds assent to a bill, but passed by two - thirds majority of the House as required by Section 58 of the 1999 Constitution, that Bill will become law.

The amendment of this Order by the House

also said that when all re-quirements of sub rules (1) - (10) have been met and the president with-holds his assent or fails to communicate why the assent was withheld probably at a close of an assembly, the succeeding assembly may commence the process of veto over-ride under section 58 of the constitution.

“Notwithstanding the

ROTIMI FADEYI ABUJA

The Federal Govern-ment yesterday ap-proved the conver-

sion of four Colleges of Education and one School of Health Sciences to the status of universities.

Minister of Educa-tion, Ibrahim Shek-arau, disclosed this while briefing State House Correspondents after the weekly Fed-eral Executive Council, FEC, meeting presided over by President Good-luck Jonathan.

Shekarau, who was in company of Minister of Information, Sena-tor Patricia Akwashiki, listed the Colleges of Education covered as Adeyemi College of Ed-ucation Ondo; Federal College of Education, Zaria; Alvan Ikoku College of Education,

Owerri and Federal College of Education, Kano.

The minister ex-plained that the four colleges of education are part of the 21 col-leges that have been awarding Bachelors of Education and Bache-lors of Science degrees in the last three de-cades.

Shekarau also dis-closed that FEC ap-proved the upgrading of the School of Health Sciences Oturkpo, Benue State to function as a full fledged Univer-sity of Health Sciences.

He explained that the institutions had been running degree pro-grammes for the last three decades under closer supervision of the affiliated universi-ties, stressing that they are so mature enough now, to have their own

and other terminal diseas-es to save Nigerians from further avoidable deaths.

Senate leader, Sena-tor Victor Ndoma-Egab moved the motion for yes-terday’s special session for their two dead colleagues.

Presenting the motion, Ndoma-Egba said, “the Senate notes with heavy heart and deep sense of sorrow the demise of Com-rade Uche Chukwumerije, a serving Senator of the Federal Republic of Nige-ria on Sunday 19th April, 2015 at the age of 76,

The Leader further stat-ed that the death of the Abia-born politician was a monumental loss not only to Abia State, his constitu-ents and family, but to the Senate and the country as a whole, in view of his immense contributions to debates at plenary and his robust representation to his constituents.

While speaking on Zan-nah, he said Zannah’s death was a monumen-tal loss not only to Borno State, his constituents and family, but to the Sen-ate and the country as a whole, given his immense contributions to debate at plenary and his robust representation to his con-stituents”

…seek specialist hospitals on cancer

provisions in these rules, the process of passage of a constitution alteration bill shall continue from

one session to another and from one assembly to another,” Tsokwa said.

autonomy to award de-grees of B.Ed., B.A. Ed) and B. Sc. Education.

The minister noted that currently the mini-mum teaching quali-fication has been Na-tional Certification on Education, NCE, but as a result of improvement in the system and de-mand for further quali-tative teaching service, government is making efforts to ensure that university graduates are recruited into the teaching profession.

Shekarau also dis-closed that FEC ap-proved the upgrading of the School of Health Sciences Otukpo in Benue State to function as a full fledged Univer-sity of Health Science

He said the institu-tion has been Medical Health Sciences College under the Federal Uni-versity of Agriculture,

Makurdi. According to him, the

institution was granted autonomy as part of the continuous efforts to ensure quality gradu-ates into the various fields of the medicine and the sciences.

OLUFEMI ADEOSUN ABUJA

Official activi-ties were yes-terday crippled

at the headquarters of the Nigeria Postal Ser-vice, NIPOST, follow-ing a picketing exer-cise staged by members of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, and the National Union of Postal and Telecommu-nications Employees, NUPTE.

The picketing, which was led by NLC Presi-

dent, Ayuba Wabba, was anchored on dis-agreements between two sister unions in the communications sector, where the man-agement of NIPOST was accused of trans-ferring over 4,000 mem-bers of NUPTE to the Senior Staff Associa-tion of Communica-tions Transport and Corporations, SSAC-TAC, through an execu-tive fiat.

The protesters car-ried placards with var-ious inscriptions.

Some of the plac-ards reads “Remit check of f dues of level 07,” “Post Mas-ter General is not above Nigerian Con-stitution, Remit our check-of f dues to NUPTE,” “Postmaster General is violating our right to associa-tion,” “Our right to unionise is not ne-gotiable, NUPTE is my union,” “It is the exclusive right of NIPOST workers to choose the union they wish to belong”.

National Mirrorwww.nationalmirroronline.net Thursday, May 21, 2015 7

…soldiers deployed, police sue for peace

Salaries: Osun govt, health workers bicker over pact

Three feared dead in Ekiti violence

Jafojo urges Buhari to create Lagos Affairs Ministry

Boladale BamigBola OSOGBO

Osun State Associa-tion of Medical and Dental Officers,

OSAMDO, yesterday said it has not reached any agree-ment with Osun State Gov-ernment on the issue of 7 months unpaid salaries of its members.

This was, however, con-trary to the position of Mr. Semiu Okanlawon, Direc-tor, Bureau of Communica-tion and Strategy, Office of Osun State Governor, who claimed the last time state-ment was released on the

Francis suBeru

Former Deputy Gov-ernor of Lagos State, Chief Rafiu Jafojo,

has advised the incoming government of General Mu-hammadu Buhari to look into the possibility of creat-ing Lagos Affairs Ministry to complement the efforts of other ministries at reviving the decaying infrastructure in the state.

Jafojo, who gave the ad-vice yesterday in a statement he signed and made available to journalists; noted that the ministry would help in man-aging Federal Government properties in Lagos and put them to good use.

According to him, now that Lagos has politically united with the Federal Gov-ernment; the state govern-ment should make it count by overseeing the Federal Government agencies sad-dled with maintenance of her leftover infrastructure in the state.

The statement read; “The creation of Lagos Affairs Ministry similar to the Niger Delta Ministry will comple-ment the good work Lagos

aBiodun nejo ADO EKITI

Three persons were feared killed in the vi-olence that broke out

between drivers’ union and butchers in Ado Ekiti, Ekiti State capital, yesterday.

Several others, who were injured in the fracas, were rushed to undisclosed hospi-tals in the state capital where they are receiving treatment.

Hoodlums had a field day as they vandalised and loot-ed offices, shops and mar-ket stalls while the violence lasted.

Traders and residents scampered for safety as the opposing parties in the vio-lence wielded guns, machet-es, swords and other danger-ous weapons.

No fewer than five ve-hicles belonging to the driv-ers were vandalized, just as banks and other shops in the area could not open for busi-ness.

Trouble started yesterday morning, when some com-

mercial drivers were said to have accused the butchers of harbouring fraudsters dup-ing unsuspecting residents in the state capital. This fol-lowed the alleged refusal of the butchers to surrender a man alleged to have duped a woman said to be the wife of one of the drivers.

Sources traced the gen-esis of the crisis to the ac-tivities of the fraudsters who duped a woman, who hap-pened to be a driver’s wife, of N36,000 on Tuesday at the Old Garage area of the capi-tal city.

Unconfirmed sources said the woman was also raped by the culprits in the process.

Following the incidence, members of the driver’s union were said to have gone to the spot noted as hideout of the fraudsters at the Old Garage area to demand for the person re-sponsible.

The refusal of the butch-ers to pinpoint the culprit led to hostilities between the

matter was when he dis-closed that officials of gov-ernment were meeting the doctors over the matter.

In a telephone chat with National Mirror, Okanla-won said Governor Aregbe-sola was pained by the situ-ation and has been looking for avenues to get all work-ers paid their entitlements.

He added: “Whipping up unnecessary sentiments will not take care of the is-sues on ground. What we all need to do is to negotiate and that was the last thing we said regarding payment of salaries to OSAMDO members.”

drivers and the butchers, as dangerous weapons were freely used by both sides.

It took the intervention of the new Police Commis-sioner, who have just as-sumed duties in the state on Tuesday, Mr Etop John James, who led scores of both regular and mobile po-licemen to the trouble spots before the mob retreated.

The police boss, while addressing the warring factions at Old Garage and Atikankan, expressed re-grets over the incidence and vowed to restore normalcy in no time.

James said he had just resumed in Ado-Ekiti on the orders of the IGP over the spate of kidnapping and other heinous crimes in the state.

However, the spokes-man for the police in the state, Mr Alberto Adeyemi, said only four persons sus-tained injuries in the crisis and were being attended to at the Police Clinic at Oke-sa in Ado Ekiti.

State Government is do-ing. It will provide the most needed legal and financial framework to systematically address the infrastructure decay.”

The former deputy gov-ernor noted that most of the Federal Government build-ings in Lagos are in sorry state while others are obvi-ously underutilised.

He said most of the build-ings; including Old Cen-

tral Bank building, Tinubu Square, Race Course, old Foreign Affairs buildings, old Secretariat building, Na-tional Theatre at Iganmu etc; which are in the category of national monuments have virtually been abandoned as they are in dilapidated state.

“These abandoned build-ings are littered everywhere in Lagos State. Most of them can be classified as monu-mental buildings.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.netSouth West Thursday, May 21, 20158

National Mirrorwww.nationalmirroronline.net 9Thursday, May 21, 2015

INSIDE

Apapa road gridlock: Apapa road gridlock: Balogun Balogun traders lament low salestraders lament low sales >47 >48

Fuel scarcity, exchange rate killing Fuel scarcity, exchange rate killing our business, traders cry outour business, traders cry out

Eyin Eyo Idumota, trading center of Lagos. PHOTO: ADEMOLA AKINLABI

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net10 Broad Street Diary Thursday, May 21, 2015

‘Porters earn more money in Lagos markets than traders’

Traders in some major markets in Lagos on Tuesday said that porters

earn more income daily than hawking of goods generally.

Some traders told the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, that porters had become an integral micro-business in markets in spite of its stressful nature.

Mrs Salimot Ajao, a whole-sale trader in household wares at Idumota market, said that the porters on a good or bad day, earn about N1,200 daily.

“We sometimes fold our arms on some days and watch them make money, while some of us who are traders barely sell any-thing following the nation’s eco-nomic challenges.

‘’But you know, your neigh-bour can sell, while you may not, so they get to off load and

assist customers to move their goods to the bus and get paid im-mediately.

‘’On a good day, they make between N2,000 and N3,200 daily without paying shop rent, main-tenance or accumulating debts,’’ Ajao said.

Mr Shekoni Lawal, another trader at Oyingbo foodstuff market, said that porters who largely assisted in the move-ment of goods were making market activities easier.

‘’This is a market where peo-ple buy things in bulk, hotel sup-pliers and restaurant owners all come here and the porters are highly needed always.

``Their job is stressful, but unless they fall sick, they make money every day unlike those of us shop owners here, they some-times make money than some

WE SOMETIMES FOLD OUR ARMS SOME DAYS AND WATCH THEM MAKE

MONEY, WHILE SOME OF US WHO ARE TRADERS BARELY SELL ANYTHING

FOLLOWING THE NATION’S ECONOMIC CHALLENGES

WE SOMETIMES FOLD OURSOME DAYS AND WATCH THE

MONEY, WHILE SOME OF US WTRADERS BARELY SELL ANY

FOLLOWING THE NATION’S ECCHALLENGES

traders, especially the small-scale traders.

``They can make up to N2,000 in a day, and even more, that is at least N60,000 monthly, which is more than the salaries of some graduates in Nigeria,’’ La-wal said.

Mr Yusuf Abdul, a market leader in Ebute-Ero market, La-gos Island, observed that most of the porters in the markets on

the Island are women.He said young women have

taken over the business in their quest to earn decent income.

``Although these people make money, I can never allow my wife to be involved in carrying heavy loads for money.

``We noticed that most of the people doing this job are wom-en, but they are not to be blamed because some of them are wid-

ows or single mothers or those with jobless husbands.

``Each time I see them, I al-ways wish there was a machine that can do the job, but I don’t think that is possible for now.

``I only wish women could be discouraged from the business, they should do less stressful work’’ he said.

One of the lady porters at Balogun market, who preferred to remain anonymous, said she made about N1,500 daily on a bad day and N2,000 on a good day.

She said that in spite of the stressful nature of the carrying heavy loads that job is lucrative.

``Without us, activities will not move well in the market and no matter how stressful this job is, it is better than stealing or re-maining idle,’’ she said.

Porters in Lagos markets. PHOTO: YINKA ADEPARUSI

Kashamu tenders four exhibits to stop extradition

Mayhem in Ekiti.

Student dies on excursion in Ondo

UCH performs mass burial of unclaimed corpses

tors from Nigeria during the March 28, 2015, national elec-tions.

Kashamu’s name was listed as a member of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, elected from Ogun East senatorial district in Ogun State.

The 1931 Bilateral Extra-dition Treaties tagged Treaty Series 849 between Nigeria and the United States, which was signed by His Majesty King of Great Britain, Ire-land and British Dominions beyond the Seas, was pre-sented as exhibit three.

Nigeria was one of the British colonies during the era and the treaty came into effect on January 24, 1935.

Also presented as the

fourth exhibit is the Janu-ary 31, 1967 Extradition Act between Nigeria and the United States.

Unlike in the past when Kashamu faulted the 1998 grand jury indictment and wanted it dismissed under a four-point arguments of due process, mistaken iden-tity, rights to a speedy trial and lack of nexus linking him to the Alhaji charged in the indictment, his lawyers wanted the U.S. to follow due process required in the extra-dition treaty between the two countries.

Anything short of the due process would amount to lawlessness which negates public interest of orderly ex-tradition of criminal defen-

sion because the unclaimed corpses had congested the hospital’s mortuary.

He said some corpses of dead persons between ages one and 50 years had been abandoned in the mortuary since 2012.

The spokesman said that the management, however, contacted the relatives of the

deceased before carrying out the mass burial.

He claimed the relatives might have refused to claim the corpses due to the cul-ture that says that “parents should not bury their chil-dren.”

Bobade explained that three adverts were placed in newspapers at three differ-ent occasions with deadlines for the bodies to be claimed.

“But the adverts gener-ated no response from the relatives either.

“The decision of the management to perform the mass burial was within the purview of the law.

“The exercise was car-ried out by a group from our forensic pathologists and it was supposed to be a top con-fidential issue.

“If the public were aware of the time and date, threats could be posed to the com-munity and this was one of

the reasons why we were si-lent on the issue.

“We tried to take into con-sideration the cultural and the social effects of this ac-tion on the community.

“Our being silent on the exercise was for security rea-sons,” Bobade said.

Also, Dr Uwon Eze, a fo-rensic pathologist in charge of the exercise, said that it was against the ethics of the profession to disclose such information to the public.

Similarly, Dr Adefemi Afolabi, Chairman, Medi-cal Advisory Committee of UCH, said the management had done the needful by per-forming the mass burial.

“The law is clear on this matter. We invited families of the abandoned corpses on many occasions and even went to advertise the information in the news-papers, but to no avail,” he said.

University College Hospital, UCH, Ibadan, Oyo State,

said it has carried out mass burial for many unclaimed corpses in its mortuary.

Spokesman of the col-lege, Mr. Deji Bobade, said in Ibadan yesterday that the management took the deci-

Court remands Lebanese national for evading customs Wale IgbIntade

A Federal High Court in Lagos yesterday ordered the remand

in custody of a Lebanese, Mr. Fares Chawich, pending the time he is able to meet bail conditions granted him.

The accused was charged before Justice Saliu Saidu by the Nigerian Customs Services, NCS, on five-count charge bordering on alleged attempt to evade Customs duty to the tune of N49 mil-lion.

The accused, a resident of 27A, Bishop Oluwole Street, Victoria Island, and one Chief Emmanuel Ekong, of 17, Sobo Arobiodu, GRA, Ikeja, (now at large), were alleged to have on May 18, 2015, broke the seal of NCS placed on different vehicles in an attempt to evade pay-ment of Customs duties on them.

Some of the vehicles are; Brabus G800 jeep, 2013 model, with chassis number 212718; Aybach 625 2009 Mod-el, chassis number 002513; McLaren SLR 2009 Model, chassis number 001960; As-ton Martin 2009 Model, chas-sis number 815026 and Fer-rari 458, 2013 Model, chassis number 195200.

NCS prosecutor, Mr. Ju-lius Ajakaye, informed the court that the alleged of-fences are punishable under section 145 (5) of Customs and Excise Management Act Cap C45, Laws of the Federation, 2004.

When the charge was read, the accused pleaded

OjO OyeWamIdeAKURE

A student of Adey-emi College of Education, Ondo,

Akinsiku Michael Timi-lehin, has been reported dead during an excursion to Erin-Ijesa Waterfall in Osun State.

Timilehin, a 400-level stu-dent of the Department of English Language, was said to have slumped and later

Four exhibits sup-porting prelimi-nary injunction to

prevent the United States from abducting Chief Ba-ruji Kashamu were filed yesterday at the U.S. Dis-trict Court in Chicago, as his attorney mounted another round of argu-ments to halt his extradi-tion to Chicago to answer his 1998 indictment on heroine importation and distribution.

The exhibits presented in court include the January 10, 2003, 10-page Magistrate Tim Workman judgment in Eng-land that voided Kashamu’s extradition to the United States on mistaken identity, and full list of elected sena-

died in a private hospital at Ilesha.

It was learnt that the de-ceased was in good health before embarking on the ex-cursion, which was organ-ised by the Students Union Government, SUG, of the institution to round off its annual week celebration.

Executive members of the student union and other students from various de-partments in the college were said to have participat-

ed in the exercise.A source said the stu-

dents had arrived Erin-Ijesha waterfall at the early hours of the day and climbed the hill to catch fun, adding that the victim sud-denly slumped while com-ing down.

It was gathered that he was quickly rushed to the emergency unit of a private hospital in Ilesha, where he was confirmed dead by doc-tors.

dants, the lawyers said.“If the United States is

allowed to abduct an elected Senator of a foreign nation, citizens, including elected officials of the United States would not be free from ab-duction from foreign gov-ernments that issued arrest warrants or indicted such officials,” the lawyers added.

Kashamu through his at-torney, Robert R. Cohen of the Arbitration Registration and Disciplinary Commis-sion, ARDC, argued that the issuance of a temporary restraining order against Kashamu’s abduction is imperative to avoid the vio-lation of federal and inter-national law as well as the Mansfield Act.

It would also save Kashamu from been killed or harmed and suffer irrepa-rable loss from his abduc-tions, his attorneys argued adding “there is a strong risk that Kashamu could be killed or seriously injured if the United States attempts to abduct him from Nigeria.”

Cohen pleaded with the District Court to prevail on the United States to fol-low procedures required for extradition in the ex-tradition treaty between the two countries as well as the Nigerian Extradition Act which stipulated proce-dures for extradition.

Citing several legal cita-tions including the United States vs. Alvarez-Mach-

hain of Mexico abduction to the country, which the U.S. Supreme Court upheld as legal because the two coun-tries’ extradition treaty did not prohibit extradition, Cohen told the court that Ni-geria and U.S. differed con-siderably because of some provisions in the extradi-tion treaty between the two countries.

Quoting articles eight of the treaty between the two countries, Cohen explained that abduction would be il-legal without the United States abiding “with the laws regulating extradition for the time being in force in the territory from which the surrender of the fugitive criminal is claimed.”

not guilty.Counsel to the accused,

Mr. Chris Emeh, urged the court to admit his client in the most liberal terms.

Ajakaye did not opposed the bail application, but urged the court to order the accused to submit his valid international passport with the court, pending the time the matter will be decided.

Ruling on the bail appli-cation, Justice Saidu, admit-ted him to bail in the sum of N2m with two sureties.

The sureties, according to the judge, must be residents of Lagos State, who owns landed properties within the state.

The judge also ordered that the sureties’ landed properties must be verified by the prosecutor and the court registrar.

He also ruled that the accused should deposit his international passport with the court’s Deputy Chief Registrar.

The matter has been ad-journed till July 8, 2015, for trial.

National Mirrorwww.nationalmirroronline.net 11 Thursday, May 21, 2015 South West

Theophilus onojeghenWARRI

Imo State indigenes under the umbrella of Ndi Imo-N’Uzoije

(Imos in Diaspora), Delta State chapter, have lauded Governor Rochas Okoro-cha for his developmental strides in the three senato-rial districts of the state.

The group said Imo State under the admin-istration of Governor Okorocha has witnessed what they described as ‘uncommon transforma-tion’ in the area of infra-structure, free education and human capital devel-opment than in any previ-ous administration in the state.

While congratulating the governor on his re-election for a second term, the group, in a statement signed by its national co-ordinator and national secretary, Basil Akuwara and Ogbonna Okechuk-wu, noted that Governor Okorocha’s victory at the just-concluded poll was

Imo indigenes in Delta laud Okorocha on development

as a result of his people-oriented policies and pro-grammes that projected the state beyond expecta-tion.

They stated that the group worked assiduously for the election of Gover-nor Okorocha in 2011 and his re-election in 2015 with-out being noticed, urging Imo State indigenes in the Diaspora to support the governor.

The forum also ap-pealed to the governor to “create a special project with one of us as a super-visor as well as create an office for Imos in the Di-aspora with one of us as special assistant.”

They charged Gover-nor Okorocha to sustain the pace of development currently going on in the state, adding that pos-terity would forever re-member him as a man who came to power with the sole vision to impact positively on his people as against the past when leaders came to loot the treasury.

Fire incident involving a luxury bus and private car within the premises of Silver Oil Filling station, Borrowmeo roundabout, Onitsha, Anambra State, yesterday. PHOTO: NAN

Imo guber: APA candidate files suit against Okorocha

Tragedy as girl, 20, stabs lover to death in Imo

Chris njokuOWERRI

Gubernatorial can-didate of the Af-rican People’s Al-

liance, APA, Mr. Charles Osita Nnadi, yesterday filed a suit at the elec-tion tribunal sitting in Owerri, challenging the declaration of Governor Rochas Okorocha, the candidate of the All Pro-gressives Congress, APC, as winner of the April governorship election in Imo State.

Nnadi, while declar-ing the entire election as brazen malpractice, noted that the result of the elec-tion as contained in Form EC8 B did not represent the accurate results con-tained in Form EC8A from the various polling units in the following lo-cal government areas, namely: Ideato North, Ideato South, Mbaitoli, Ngor Okpala, Oru East/Oru West, Nkwerre, Nja-ba, Nwangele, Orlu, Orsu, Ikeduru, Obowo and Okigwe.

In a suit No. EPT/IM/GOV/2/2015 filed through his counsel, I.T. Onwuk-

Chris njokuOWERRI

Tragedy struck yester-day in Ubomiri com-munity of Mbaitoli

Local Government Area of Imo State as a 20-year-old secondary school girl alleg-edly stabbed her boyfriend to death with a kitchen knife.

It was gathered that the girl identified as Chisom Anyanwu, who hails from Umuawumi Ubomiri, mur-dered her 28-year-old lover simply identified as Abio, an undergraduate, in cold

we, the APA gubernato-rial candidate is seeking among others, a declara-tion by the tribunal that the governorship election in the state was marred by corrupt practices, wide-spread and substantial irregularities and non-compliance with the pro-visions of the 1999 Consti-tution, Electoral Act 2010 and the Independent Na-tional Electoral Commis-sion, INEC, guidelines for conduct of the election.

He also sought a dec-laration of the tribunal that Governor Okorocha was not validly elected and returned by major-ity of valid votes cast at the election conducted on April 11 and the April 25 supplementary election, by reason of irregulari-ties and non-compliance with the Electoral Act 2010 as well as the viola-tion of the guidelines for the conduct of the elec-tions.

The APA candidate prayed the tribunal to nullify the declaration of Governor Okorocha as governor-elect on grounds that the election was invalid.

voking an argument which resulted in Chisom stab-bing the boy in the chest.

According to an eye wit-ness, tmuch blood gushed out of Abio’s body and he gave up the ghost on his way to the Christian Medi-cal Centre, Nworieubi, in the council area and doc-tors clinically confirmed him dead.

Effort to meet the medi-cal director of the centre, Dr, Obinna Ozims, for com-ment on the incident failed as he was said to be busy at-tending to patients.

Meanwhile, the news of

Abio’s death which filtered into the neighbourhood caused revolt among some angry youths, friends and relations which resulted in the burning down the house of the parents of the accused. But the police in-tervened to stop them from further destruction.

Imo state Police Com-mand Public Relation Offi-cer, PPRO, Andrew Enwer-em (DSP), confirmed the incident, saying the suspect has already been arrested. “She is in police custody, while investigation is on,” he said.

PDP stakeholders accuse Elechi of attempt to truncate hand-over ceremonyAliunA godwinABAKALIKI

Founding fathers and stakeholders of the Peoples Democratic

Party, PDP, in Ebonyi State yesterday accused outgoing Governor, Martin Elechi of attempts to truncate hand-over of power to the incom-ing administration.

The stakeholders com-prising former deputy gov-ernor, Prof Chigozie Ogbu, former Speaker, Augustine Nwankwoagu, Ambassador Franklin Ogbuewu, Senator Ngiji Ngele, Dr. Igwe Ajan-wachukwu and Chief In-nocent Ugo Chima, among other prominent personali-ties, expressed regret over alleged foul statements of the outgoing governor on the incoming administra-tion and the last governor-ship election in which Engr.

ing governor for commis-sioning an uncompleted secretariat, saying “it is on record that Governor Elechi is the only gover-nor who commissioned uncompleted projects in the course of the last days of his administration even when such projects had consumed more than 10 times the original budget and he could not query the contractors for reasons best known to him.

“The stakeholders have taken notice of the gover-nor’s remarks and threats that are clear invitation to violence and bloodshed in a gathering of the founding fathers, and we urge the gov-ernor to take the few days remaining for his adminis-tration to seek the face of God and refrain from utter-ances capable of instigating avoidable crisis.”

Dave Umahi emerged victo-rious.

The PDP, in a press state-ment signed by 28 of its stalwarts, who hail from the 13 local government ar-eas of the state and read by deputy director general of Divine Mandate Campaign Organisation, Dr. Hygenous Nwokwu, noted the readi-ness of the stakeholders to boycott all programmes initiated by Chief Elechi for the ceremony.

“The last general elec-tions were not only ad-judged to be fair, credible and free but also noted to be the most transparent and participatory. Ebonyians liberated themselves from the clutches of imposition and impunity.

“It was not surprising when few weeks after the election, Chief Elechi, who was generally perceived to

have supported the opposi-tion (Labour Party) at the elections, joined in the victo-ry and liberation songs that echoed all over the state, and invited his deputy and now governor-elect, Engr. Uma-hi, and Barr. Kelechi Igwe, and he (Elechi) acknowl-edged that the election was free and fair, and congratu-lated the governor-elect for his victory.”

They lamented that El-echi who earlier assured of his readiness to prevail on all political parties not to institute any petitions at the tribunal for the sake of peace in the state, has, bare-ly 10 days to the inaugura-tion of the new governor, went contrary to his prom-ise, enjoining the other par-ties to file their petitions at the election tribunal sitting in Ebonyi State.

They berated the outgo-

blood yesterday following an argument between the two.

Abio, a native of Eg-beada in the same Mbai-toli Local Government Area, was said to have vis-ited Chisom’s house late on Tuesday, and she became very angry as she had ear-lier cautioned the boy not to visit her at home, as she would not like her elder brothers and sisters to see him.

Abio, who was said to be the only son of his parents refused to go back when he was asked to do so, thus pro-

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.netThursday, May 21, 2015South East12

National Mirrorwww.nationalmirroronline.net 13Thursday, May 21, 2015

Politics

Many Nigerians did not receive with surprise the res-ignation of the embattled National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Alhaji Adamu

Mu’azu, who yesterday succumbed to pressure from party leaders, stakeholders and supporters of the party, who in-sisted he must quit following the abysmal performance of PDP at the last general elections, where the party lost not only presidential position to the opposition All Progressives Congress, APC, but also some states and its majority in the National Assembly.

Mu’azu in a letter to the Deputy National Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus, noted that due to the abysmal perfor-mance of the party in the 2015 general elections, it became imperative for him to leave and for peace to reign in the PDP.

In that letter, he asked Secondus to step in as acting Na-tional Chairman in line with the party’s constitution.

The beginning of Mu’azu’s travailsMu’azu’s major troubles peaked following reports that

President Goodluck Jonathan has agreed to allow the bulk of senators elected under the platform of the party to be granted automatic tickets to contest in the 2015 elections.

This situation made serving governors, who were not happy with the decision, decided to oppose it in their vari-ous states, most especially were governors with senatorial ambitions.

The governors, it was reported, met Mu’azu few days after the report and wanted to know if the reports were genuine. The chairman told them the party is determined to mend all fences ahead of the 2015 general elections. He urged them to be ready to make sacrifices as party leaders in their various states.

Angry governorsLargely, the opposition to the deal was led by governors

with senatorial ambitions and those interested in who be-come senators in their states, who vowed to oppose the deal in their various states if the national leadership of the party insisted on it.

Then, a PDP governor, who pleaded anonymity described the development as worrisome, saying: “Most governors are unhappy over the move because it is worrisome. I am not interested in a Senate seat but I see the move as a way of sidetracking our colleagues who are interested in going to the Senate.”

Ambition tears party in the seamIn Benue State, Mu’azu got into trouble for throwing his

weight behind a former National Chairman of the party, Barnabas Gemade, who sought re-election to the Senate.

Convinced that Mu’azu is supportive of Gemade’s re-election bid, sources say Benue State Governor Gabriel Sus-wam, who was unwilling to go into political retirement in 2015, frowned at Mu’azu’s interest.

Similarly, Mu’azu lost the support of Governor Sullivan Chime, as a result of his alleged support to the Deputy Sen-ate President, Ike Ekweremadu’s bid to return to the Senate in 2015 ahead of the governor.

Although Chime amicably settled with Ekweremadu, it was not the same in some other states.

Delegate listsAside the allegation that he encouraged Jonathan to

grant the senators automatic tickets, Mu’azu also was ac-cused of tampering with the delegates’ lists submitted from the PDP congress elections held in some states last year.

The governors, who were reported to have opposed Mu’azu handling their delegates’ lists include: Akwa Ibom State governor and chairman of the PDP Governors’ Fo-rum, Godswill Akpabio, Benue State Governor Suswam,

Mu’azu: The travails of a National ChairmanPeoples Democratic Party, PDP, National Chairman, Alhaji Adamu Mu’azu yesterday resigned from office. EBERE NDUKWU looks at his troubles and travails.

Mu’azu

Bauchi State Governor Isa Yuguda, Enugu State Governor Chime, Cross River Governor Liyel Imoke, and Katsina State Governor Ibrahim Shema.

Tukur’s fight backAnother trouble for Mu’azu was the fight back of imme-

diate past National Chairman of the party, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, who tried to regain his seat from Mu’azu. Tukur challenged his resignation as the National Chairman of the ruling PDP, claiming that he did not resign properly as the National Chairman of the party.

Tukur declared that he was forced to resign his post in order for five governors of the party who defected to the op-position APC to return to the party. He however, said that following the defection of the five PDP governors to the APC in 2013, pressures were mounted on President Jonathan to remove him to enable the governors return to the party.

In a counter-affidavit he filed to a suit instituted by an as-pirant to the House of Representatives in Adamawa State, Aliyu Abuba Gurin, who sought to unseat the outgoing National Chairman of the party, Mu’azu, and also stop the party’s planned delegates convention, described Mu’azu’s appointment as a nullity.

PDP stakeholdersBefore the 2015 general elections, PDP stakeholders from

the North-West geo-political zone, advised President Jona-than to as a matter of urgency remove Mu’azu from office for what they called incompetent leadership that led to con-flicts in the ruling party.

Spokesperson, Alhaji Ibrahim Suleiman Zango, gave the advice in a statement in Kaduna and stated that the current conflict between PDP senators and the Presidency was a re-sult of Mu’azu’s inability to resolve amicably the issue as the chairman of the party.

PDP loss, the last straw that broke the camel’s backThe general election, where the PDP’s presidential can-

didate, President Jonathan eventually lost to the APC presi-dential candidate, General Muhammadu Buhari, was in essence the straw that broke the camel’s back, in the bid to unseat Mu’azu.

From the moment the party lost power, things continued to fall apart for the self-acclaimed most populous political party in black Africa and its National Chairman.

The problems led to mass defection of members to the opposition party and most worrisome, was the accusations and counter accusations, among the top chieftains of the party, on who and who did and did not cause the failure of the party at the presidential poll.

The buck of this accusation landed on the head and back of Mu’azu as many party chieftains, called for his resigna-

tion.Among the arrow heads in the PDP blame game is Ekiti

State Governor Ayodele Fayose, who unequivocally called without apology for the sacking of PDP’s NWC, challeng-ing them to provide evidence of money released to him to prosecute the last elections, saying that “only N30 million was received for the last two elections and to the glory of the Almighty God and support of Ekiti people, we won all elec-tions. I therefore demand for the mode with which money was released to me by the NWC.”

He said: “How do we explain the PDP losing so scandal-ously in Bauchi State, despite the presence of the National Chairman, Federal Capital Territory Minister and the state governor?”

Senate Leader, Victor Ndoma-Egba, in a recent interview, explained that the road to PDP’s defeat in the polls was paved from the party’s December 2014 primaries, when the governors deliberately shut out “unwanted candidates” and imposed their own on the party, saying the failure was as a result of impunity and sycophancy of the leaders.

To Alhaji Abubakar Tsav, a former Commissioner of Po-lice in Lagos State, the First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan, Femi Fani-Kayode and Governor Ayo Fayose were respon-sible for the fall of the PDP.

He said: “Imagine the First Lady inciting people to be vi-olent during the campaigns. She also brazenly insulted the people of the North and a former Head of State without due regard to the party chairman, who is from the North. Fayose and Fani-Kayode also engaged in the hate campaign against the opposition. The opposition was focused and never left the substance to pursue the shadow.”

Recriminations about what went wrong, led party stake-holders to trading blames and calling for each other’s head. For instance, after a meeting of 19 PDP governors, who got together to do a post mortem on the election in Abuja, the resolution was that the national officers should resign to pave the way for a new leadership.

Mu’azu and some members of the National Working Committee, NWC, were said to be part of the closed-door meeting, but Mu’azu and his team were later asked to excuse the governors.

Blame gamesNumerous PDP chieftains and members continued to

heap the blame for the loss of the party at the polls at the door of the party’s NWC, insisting that the Mu’azu-led NWC must resign their position or be sacked for failure to deliver the Presidency.

And after weeks of not being able to stomach the blames and name callings, Mu’azu yesterday, threw in the towel and took the humble pie of accepting to relinquish his position as the party’s National Chairman, having failed to deliver the party at the general elections.

Will Mu’azu’s exit be the panacea to the downward trend in the fortunes of the party that held sway in Nigeria’s dem-ocratic space for 16 years? Will the gladiators be contented with Mu’azu’s exit or insist on wholesome exit of the entire NWC? Only time will tell.

after weeks of not being able to stomach the blames and name callings, mu’azu

yesterday, threw in the towel

14 & 15

There’s need to revisit cost of governance, not just lawmakers’ wages –Lawan

14 Politics National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.netThursday, May 21, 2015

Why do you want to contest as the President of the Senate?

The North Eastern part of Nigeria as a politi-cal zone has been ravaged by insurgency. For so long, we have been marginalised and we believe that this Senate Presidency can be more practical and symbolic in terms of welcoming us coming back into Nigeria. I thought we were removed from Nigeria by the Boko Haram, when it declared a sultanate after it took over Mubi.

Having said this, as someone who has been in the Na-tional Assemly in the last 16 years, being a member of the House of Representatives and a senator for eight years apiece and having chaired the Public Accounts Committee for the last eight years, I think I know what we need to do to turn around the economy and I want to provide a 21st cen-tury Senate leadership; a leadership that would work with all segments of senators in the chamber; that will have bi-partisan approach to issues, and will work with the ex-ecutive arm of government such that we would ensure the independence of the Senate and make our independence possible.

I also believe that I am bringing into the leadership incorruptibility and credibility. Nigeria needs an incor-ruptible administration, the President-elect, General Mu-hammadu Buhari was elected on the basis of three major issues – anti-corruption stance, resolve to fight insurgency and address the economy that has been comatose or stag-nated. I believe that I can complement the anti-corruption fight of the President-elect. So, we can be sure that what we are presenting to you is what Nigeria needs. The Nigeria of today needs serious anti-corruption fight because for what-ever resource we have, until we are able to curb corruption, we would never be able to get the kind of maximum impact of what we have.

So, we need to identify those areas that we need to block leakages and ensure that there is minimum or no embez-zlement of public funds. My public accounts administra-tion will help me in doing that because I have worked to ensure that public funds are prudently utilised and those that were embezzled or mismanaged are reported to the Senate, and I believe that this is what the President-elect wants, this is what Nigeria needs, financial management of our resources.

In specific terms, what are your agenda for the Senate?

First of all, I believe that my experience as a legislator that has worked in the two chambers gives me an added advantage of knowing how the House of Representatives works, what the sentiments, tendencies and workings of the House are. Having been in the Senate for eight years, I know how the Senate works and I know all the tenets of the Senate. These 16 years of experience have enabled me to work with six presiding officers, three speakers in the House of Representatives; Salisu Buhari, Umar Na’Abba and Aminu Masari and my experience in the Senate that I moved to in 2007 has been remarkable up to date. I have watched these presiding officers conduct affairs in the two chambers.

Secondly, I have been able to work across party lines with all my colleagues in the House and Senate. So, I be-lieve that I have learnt to be a team player and I can work with all sorts of people regardless of their political affilia-tions. I always like to work on the basis of consensus, and what we need today is to ensure that we build and sustain consensus in the different political parties in the House of Representatives and the Senate. I have also learnt to work with the executive arm of government. I believe that today, we need a situation that good governance must be support-

There’s need to revisit cost of governance, As the 8th National Assembly debuts soon, one prominent figure that will dominate the stage is Senator Ahmad Lawan. Arguably, one of the most experienced lawmakers having first elected in the lower chambers in 1999, Senator Lawan from Yobe State, in the North-East, now eyeing the office of the Senate President in this interview said that the zone should be rewarded for being faithful to the cause of the All Progressives Congress, APC and for the underdevelopment it witnessed in the last eight years due to insurgency. He also speaks on his chances as well as the positive changes he hopes to engender if he becomes the next Senate President. ADEOLA TUKURU brings the excerpts:

We need a national assembly that is led by incorruptible people so that Within the system,

the tendencies that go toWard corruption

Would be minimised

Lawan

ed by the legislature and good governance means delivery of service to Nigerians.

So, I believe that the National Assembly and the Senate that I would lead should be able to balance the budget even if it is in phases that we move from the overwhelming ex-penditure on recurrent to something more practical, some-thing more pro-poor or pro-people by giving more fund for capital and I believe that we need a Senate or National As-sembly, where oversight by members of the National As-sembly and especially the Senate would be done in such a way that would keep the executive arm of government in check.

I am thinking that we should have a statutory period, a mandatory period for oversight, even if it is twice in a year that every committee must go out to monitor what has been released in the budget to the various Ministries, Departments and Agencies, MDAs, and must report to the Senate at the plenary.

So, I want to bring into Senate, a leadership that is fo-cused, a leadership that is pro-people and pro-poor.

You talked about General Buhari’s incorruptible stance, but the two chambers you have represented from 1999 to date are known for corruption. So, how do you want to support the administration in fighting corruption?

Talking about anti-corruption, I think the National Assembly has indeed public image crisis right from 1999, when the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, protested against our furniture allowances. Till today, we have not recovered from that. We have not done enough to make Nigerians, who voted for us understand what they should expect from us. I believe that we need to shed this toga of corruption

and one way of doing that is to keep ourselves on the line of integrity.

There must be transparency in what we do, and Nigeri-ans must know exactly what we do. Sometimes, the anti-corruption charges are frivolous and you ought to allow these things to be investigated. We need a National Assem-bly that is led by incorruptible people so that within the system, the tendencies that go toward corruption would be minimised and I believe that I have that capacity and I be-lieve that with the co-operation of everyone in the National Assembly, particularly in the Senate, we will do what Nige-rians expect from us, to be credible, to be pro-people, and by the grace of God, we will achieve that.

What of the issue of zoning?

Zoning is for our leaders to decide. We don’t have a say in it. What is expected of us is to show interest. I am from the North-East and there are about two or three people from the North-East who are vying for the same office. Two people from the North-Central are vying for the office and I believe that it is our duty to tell our leaders that we deserve to have the Senate Presidency in the North-East and not the North-Central.

For a long time, the most marginalised areas in Nigeria are the South-South and the North-East. In the last three or four years, no capital project was undertaken in the North East, even when budgetary provisions were made, contractors would say they would not go there because of the insurgency. In fact, everything there has collapsed, pub-lic infrastructures burnt down by Boko Haram, our people dislocated, our businesses don’t exist anymore, and people even moved out of the place. We believe that when we are

National Mirrorwww.nationalmirroronline.net 15PoliticsThursday, May 21, 2015

able to have the office of the Senate President, we would be able to help the government, particularly the President-elect, to understand all our issues.

Secondly, our votes for APC are second only to that of North-West. If your votes count and when you are reward-ing such, we are next in ranking in the North, and if the North-West has the presidency, we should have the Senate Presidency.

The North Central itself has produced three Senate Presidents from Dr. Iyorchia Ayu to Ameh Ebute to the cur-rent Senate President David Mark, and three deputy senate presidents from the late Wash Pam, Abubakar Haruna to Ibrahim Mantu. The North East never had any opportu-nity; we believe that our party can trust us and test us to lead the Senate this time.

How can the incoming Senate assist the in-coming govern-ment in reducing the cost of governance?

We need to expand our revenue base, we have to go be-yond waiting for oil funds. Today, the prices of oil have gone down. So, we need to expand our revenue base. We need to look at the leakages, what is happening at NIMA-SA, how is FIRS collecting funds, we need to know that. My experience about taxation and revenue generation counts here, I believe that we can interface with the executive, we can look at the taxation law, we can look at how FIRS is col-lecting funds from who and expand those areas that have not been exploited.

Secondly, it is not only the collection of revenue that is critical, but how the revenue is being put into use. Here, the budgetary provisions would come in, so we would rework the way the budgetary provisions are done at the federal level. First of all, there must be increased communication between the executive arm of government and the legisla-ture because we want a situation, where we must be able to sit on a round table and agree on fundamental areas of intervention

I also believe that there is need for prudence on how we run our government, I would even suggest that our ad-ministration should consider reviewing Orasanye Report; here you have so many government establishments taking funds for doing nothing. From my public accounts experi-ence, I discovered that we have about 650 parastatals, many of them don’t do anything or some of them do the same thing and I believe that we need to review the agencies that are not doing anything or collapsed them into practi-cal number so that they don’t just take our funds and also provide the needed services. I believe that the National As-sembly has a lot to do to work with the executive arm of government to reduce the cost of governance.

The North East Senate caucus has said they would not endorse you. Why this?

The North East Senate caucus did not say they would not endorse me. I was endorsed by the North-West recently, about 20 senators and the North-East Caucus felt I was hi-jacked by the North-West caucus, and there are about two or three other people that want to run for the Senate Presi-dency from my area. It was not like they did not endorse me, but they said they did not endorse anyone from the North-East caucus, and that is fair enough. I don’t think the North Central has endorsed anyone, I am still seeking that my brothers and sisters would endorse me just like two others from the area want to be endorsed, but thank God that I have been endorsed by two caucuses now; the North-West and the South-West.

What of the South-East?I held a meeting with the South East caucus and I believe

that the South-East has every reason to endorse me. I have worked with South-East senators and even members of the House before I entered the Senate, and those that we met in the Senate have been very good friends. I believe that at the appropriate time, the South-East would endorse me. I have been working with the PDP senators and I believe that at the appropriate time, they would support me.

What is the assurance that under your leadership, the Sen-ate would not be a rubber stamp of the executive?

I believe in the independence of the legislature and in my first tenure we fought for the independence of the legis-lature, when former President Olusegun Obasanjo was in power. At that time, what we wanted was a legislature that would not be taking orders from the executive. I am sure

APC is a different player in this, our party is a progres-sive party, our president believes in the rule of law. In fact that is the stand of our party and our leaders, and while we have independence of the legislature, we also have to collaborate, co-operate and partner with the executive to work for the benefit of Nigerians. What we need is good governance for the benefit of Nigerians, so I don’t see how we can become a rubber stamp.

What would you say about the huge wages earned by lawmakers in Nigeria?

When you say lawmakers earn huge wages, I think we need to put it in perspective. The budget of the National Assembly in the last four years has been N150 billion from a budget of N4.9 trillion. You can work out the percentage, and in that you have the National Assembly management as part of it, the National Assembly Service Commission and the aides of members of the National Assembly. I am entitled to five aides. You have the National Institute for Legislative Studies, NILS, and the capital budget of the National Assembly. When you look at the aggregate of the budget, what actually goes to the members of the National Assembly is not what we portray it to be.

So, when we propose a reduction in the cost of gover-nance, it is not going to be for the National Assembly alone, what does a minister gets in his office, what does the Chief Executive Officer of NIMASA or NPA gets, these are issues that would have to be considered in a holistic manner.

I think that Nigerians don’t have enough information about what the members of the National Assembly get. This N150 billion does not go to the members of the Na-tional Assembly alone; it is just part of it. If there is need to revisit the cost of governance and I believe there is, so let there be a total overhaul of the entire system, all the minis-tries and all aspects of governance would be involved.

Are you not worried that your emerging Senate President and another North-Easterner becoming Speaker of the

House may create problem in the polity?I don’t know, but the party is wise enough to take the

right position at the right time. I believe that such a situ-ation would not arise. It is unconstitutional to have a pre-ponderance of people from a certain part of the country in such positions. There is no way you can have the Presi-dent, Speaker of the House of Reps and the Senate Presi-dent from the same geo-political zone.

What about your relationship with PDP senators?My relationship with them has always been cordial. I

have been a cosmopolitan legislator. I have been working together with my colleagues in the Senate, who are from PDP. We are doing fine with cordial relationship.

Is President-elect Buhari or Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu behind your candidature?

It is very practical and realistic that when you run for this kind of office, you go to every leader that you have ac-cess to and ask for their blessing and support and you re-member that leaders of defunct ANPP, Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, Congress for Progressive Change, CPC and All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, have very strong individuals before APC evolved. So, we must give them due respect, we must go to them and ask for their blessing. Where possible, if you can get the support of any, it would go a long way; no leader has come out to endorse anyone. I am not anybody’s candidate; I am seeking continuously for their support because they deserve that respect.

In an open race, do you stand a chance of winning?The arithmetic is simple, out of the four zones that

produced APC, I have got two, we are 60 senators in APC, North West has 20, South West has 13, which are 33, which is already a winner. Ask anyone what my relationship with PDP senators in the chamber is, and ask the same question about the other senators aspiring for the Senate Presidency. For me, all the aspirants are brothers; if any of us gets it, I would work with them, if I get it, they need to work with me and we belong to the same party and we don’t want to rock the boat.

In the 7th Assembly, Aminu Tamuwal emerged Speaker of the House of Representatives against PDP’s choice. How do we avoid a repeat of that event?

I believe that our party is wise enough to understand the implications of having unnecessary fragmentation of senators. I want to tell you very clearly that our party would not allow that to happen. The APC would sort this issue out. The PDP understands that we are supposed to constitute the leadership of the Senate because we are the majority just as we have allowed them to form the leader-ship of the Senate in the last 16 years. I believe that our leaders would do something before we reach such a situ-ation; we would not fall into that trap, we will resolve it.

For me, all the aspirants are brothers;

iF any oF us gets it, i would work with them, iF i get it, they need to

work with me and we belong to the same party

not just lawmakers’ wages –Lawan

Speakership: We’ll not be influenced by party decision –Rep-electOmeiza ajayi and jOel ajayiABUJA

The caucus of newly elected House of Re presentatives

members to the 8th Na-tional Assembly yesterday vowed never to kowtow to the decision of leaders of any of the political parties in picking parliamentary leaders, saying they would maintain their indepen-dence, equity, transpar-ency and selflessness.

The group which has about 75 per cent of new federal lawmakers drawn from across the six geo-political zones told jour-nalists in Abuja that the incoming National Assem-bly members are ready to

acquiesce to the demands of Nigerians for a better na-tion.

Speaking on behalf of the members-elect, Hon. Mark Gbillah represent-ing Gwer East/West fed-eral constituency of Benue State, noted that members, who were elected on dif-ferent party platforms are united and driven by pas-sion to perform their legis-lative functions to ensure the delivery of tangible dividends of democracy to their various constituen-cies and the entire nation.

He said since the Pres-ident-elect, Muhammadu Buhari has promised not to interfere in the struggle, adding that members shall not be influenced by any godfather or party as the

selection will be based on competence, effectiveness and efficiency.

He said: “The New House of Representatives Mem-bers’ Forum recognises and is emboldened by the fact that Nigerians have spo-ken; they want change and a new lease of life in the House of Representatives and indeed the 8th National Assembly.

“The choice of presiding officers, the Speaker and his deputy for the House of Representatives is a cardi-nal responsibility of elect-ed members of the House on inauguration day before oath taking and commence-ment of legislative func-tions of the house.

“It consequently be-hooves on all members-

elect to observe the highest level of decorum, circum-spection, patriotism, equi-ty and selflessness in their choice of individuals for these positions.”

Expressing displeasure at the current spate of un-confirmed endorsements and rebuttals by support-ers of different aspirants to the office of the Speaker on the pages of newspa-pers and other media, the group said it “appreciates the invariable inclination of members to certain aspirants but will like to appeal to all honourable members-elect to show the highest level of decorum and sportsmanship in the hallowed process of elec-tion of the Speaker and his deputy.”

Politics National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.netThursday, May 21, 201516

Federal constituency seat: Judge voids CoR issued Benue reps-elect

Put aside personal ambition now, Ekiti APC told

Kwara transition committee unfolds one-week inauguration ceremony

•Orders IGP to prosecute him...Seeks NBA’s intervention to sanction his lawyerIse-Oluwa Ige

INEC, over their roles in the emergence of Abah, wondered why they failed to disqualify Abah upon the knowledge of the court’s judgment on him.

The court also lambasted an Abuja-based member of the inner bar, Mr Sunday Ameh, SAN, over what it called deliberate use of de-lay tactics to frustrate and elongate trial in the matter.

He ordered that his judg-ment must be served on the disciplinary arm of the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, to serve as basis to sanction him.

The trial judge also or-dered the Inspector-Gen-eral of Police to prosecute Abah for forgery.

Abah had indicated in-tention to vie for the Ado/Okpokwu/Ogbadibo feder-al constituency seat in the House of Representatives.

At the PDP primary poll, he won and was given the party’s ticket to contest the

election. No other political party in the state fielded any candidate to vie for the seat at the National Assem-bly.

But one Mr. Hassan Saleh, who contested the primary poll with him in the PDP, however, ap-proached a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja with a pre-election suit to challenge the eligibility of Abah for the seat.

Saleh had alleged that Abah, in 2011, forged an Ordinary National Di-ploma, OND, certificate in Accountancy purportedly obtained from the Federal Polytechnic, Mubi, in 1985 and presented same to both the PDP and INEC to con-test for National Assembly election.

He said the allegation of forgery became an issue at the National Assembly Election Petition Tribunal in Benue State in 2011.

He argued that the reg-

OlajIde OmOjOlOmOju

wOle adedejIILORIN

The Inauguration Committee for the second term

swearing-in ceremony of Kwara State Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed on May 29, has announced a one-week inauguration programme.

Briefing newsmen yes-terday, committee chair-man, Alhaji Kola Yusuf, said the ceremony will be low-keyed to reflect the general paucity of fund across the country.

He attributed the vic-tory of Governor Ahmed at the April 11 poll to his achievements during his (the governor’s) first term, which he said included completing all inherited as well as abandoned projects by his predecessors

Also, Alhaji Yusuf said the governor initiated his own projects that were done to the satisfaction of all.

The areas the commit-

istrar of the institution where Abah purportedly obtained his certificate had also written a letter affirm-ing that the certificate was forged. He presented docu-mentary evidence to but-tress is allegations.

But Abah denied the al-legation, insisting that he never pleaded such certifi-cate to contest the 2015 poll.

In his judgment, Justice Ademola said his findings revealed that an earlier judgment of the National/State Assembly Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Makurdi delivered on September 6, 2011, and a let-ter by the registrar of the polytechnic, Mr. Suleiman Buba, indeed, affirmed that the certificate presented by Abah to INEC was forged.

The court, consequently ordered the Inspector-Gen-eral of Police, Mr. Solomon Arase, to immediately com-mence prosecution of Abah for, forgery and perjury.

cerned about the problems plaguing the party in Ekiti State and trying to find solution to it, some party members who should know better were busy positioning themselves for yet to be available posi-tions.

Dipe said: “Personal ambition should not come before collective goal. This is unacceptable to us and we will regard such people as part of the problems of the party and the state. You don’t reap where you have not sown. First par-ticipate in the collective struggle of reviving the fortune of the party before thinking of the benefits.”

Restating the mission of APCAG as rebranding the party as peoples’ party, reawakening the spirit of progressivism in mem-bers, re-energising them to want to fight for their rights in the state and linking the state chapter back to the mainstream, Dipe said: “Some of us cannot be struggling to bring back the lost glory of the party in the state, resisting oppression and challenging the status quo, while others are lurk-ing in the dark, position-ing themselves for the benefits there from.

tee chairman said Ahmed recorded achievements in-cluded education, health, power, agriculture, youth empowerment and entre-preneurship, adding that under the governor, Kwara emerged an industrial hub of the North-Central geo-political zone.

The theme of the inau-guration ceremony, Yusuf said was “Making Our Good Better,” coined from the governor’s slogan of “it’s good here.”

Other activities lined up for the inauguration included a Muslim prayer session this Friday, an in-ter-denominational church service, an athletics cham-pionship competition, the inauguration itself, a com-mand performance and a banquet dinner.

The governor had ear-lier last week sacked all members of his cabinet preparatory to what he described as an incoming low-sized governance but full of injected vibrant new bloods.

L-R: Leader, Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, House of Reps Caucus, Leo Ogor; Minority Leader and 8th Assembly Speakership aspirant, Femi Gbajabiamila, and a member of the caucus, Tajudeen Yusuf, during the aspirant’s meeting with the caucus in Abuja, yesterday

wale IbrahImLOKOJA

A group, Idera-De Po-litical Movement, in Kogi State has di-

rected its members to move into the All Progressives Congress, APC.

The group made up ma-jorly of members of Social Democratic Party, SDP, and other organisations also ap-pointed SDP senatorial can-didate in the last election,

Kogi group directs members to defect to APCPastor Toyin Akanle, to champion the course of the association and their politi-cal movement into the APC.

The spokesperson of the organisation, Chief Ayo Daudu, who disclosed this to newsmen yesterday after the organisation’s meeting held at Isanlu Town Hall, in Yagba-East Local Govern-ment Area of the state.

Daudu said: “There is an urgent need to overhaul the present political system, to

allow for the emergence of a new order in Kogi State.

“In view of this, we have appointed in the interim, Pastor Akanle to play a pivotal role in all our politi-cal consideration. We also mandated him and other well meaning political leaders to serve as bridge builders across Yagbaland, Okunland and Kogi State at large.

“Also the leadership of our political movement

should immediately initi-ate actions towards moving us to the APC, which has become the dominant po-litical party in the country.”

The meeting which has over five hundreds del-egates in attendance was convened by the group’s vi-sioner, Pastor Akanle; also have in attendance some politicians from other par-ties, youths, women and members of civil societies across the state.

A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, yesterday, nullified

the Certificate of Return, CoR, issued to the repre-sentative-elect for Ado/Ok-pokwu/Ogbadibo federal constituency seat in the House of Representatives, Christian Abah.

The trial high court judge, Justice Adeniyi Ade-mola, in a judgment, held that Abah was not eligible to contest the election, a National Assembly Elec-tion Petition Tribunal hav-ing affirmed in 2011 that he presented a forged certifi-cate to contest the National Assembly election, four years ago.

Justice Ademola, who was ostensibly angry with both the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and the Independent National Electoral Commission,

Members of Ekiti State All Progres-sives Congress,

APC, have been told to put aside muscle-flexing and self-seeking interests and come together to fight a common enemy.

Ekiti APC Action Group, AG, which handed down this warning in a statement signed by its spokesperson, Segun Dipe, vowed to resist anyone promoting personal ambi-tion at a period that calls for collective struggle and regard such as part of the setbacks dogging the state.

APCAG said while it was the fundamental right of anyone to aspire to any position, it is selfish and an act of irresponsibility on the part of any party faith-ful who ignores the chal-lenges at hand while pur-suing a personal agenda.

Dipe said: “Everyone should key into confront-ing the monster terroris-ing our landscape and de-humanising our people. It must be a collective strug-gle to fight the common en-emy and bring peace and sanity back to our state.

He said that while AP-CAG members were con-

On the police and debt recovery practiceWhen a nation is troubled socio-

economically, there usually emerges a number of aberra-

tions of norms that would require con-siderable efforts political will to correct. One of such recently forced itself once again into my consciousness when an acquaintance was arrested by the police.

His offence was that he owed a well-documented, undisputed debt that he had not finished paying. His creditor, becoming impatient, resorted to the now “usual” method: lodging a report against the debtor at a police station and, apparently after due tipping, got the officers mobilized! The debtor was promptly arrested and told to pay back the debt or face elongated incarceration.

Debt recovery is a normal part of commercial transactions. It is settled that since modern business cannot thrive without borrowing and lending, the legal system of any nation should make adequate provisions to regulate this aspect of commerce. The phenome-non is regulated in Nigeria, like in other places with common law system - law of contract, banking law, negotiable instru-ments, credit sale law and so on. This implies that recourse must be made to the court of law by invoking the civil ju-risdiction of the court if the parties can-not resolve their differences amicably.

However, in Nigeria, a culture of debt recovery that is rampant is the employment of the coercive powers of the forces like the police or even the Nigerian Army for the purpose of debt recovery. Most Nigerians are aware of this entrenched culture of debt recovery

THIS IS ONE ILLICIT PRACTICE IN THE

POLITY THE INCOMING GOVERNMENT MUST

STRIVE TO STOP

FRYNDUBUISI

fryndubuisi@nationalmirroronline.net (08023016709 SMS only)

Professor Ndubuisi is of the Dept of Philosophy, UNILAG

EXISTENTIAL HUMANISM

The 2015 general elections, to the sur-prise and joy of many, have come and gone without all the fears and predic-

tions that trailed them. Against the drum-beats of war and touted disintegration of Nigeria, the conduct and outcome of the elections have been variously described in flowering terms. It is like saying let us cel-ebrate our good fortunes before something else intervene to snatch it from us. It was for this unusual calm that outgoing Presi-dent Goodluck Jonathan has won the heart of many at home and abroad.

The elections have been won and lost, and we are glad that the country is not ham-pered in any way because of their outcome. Thank goodness the agitations we are wit-nessing now are civil and are provided for by the law of the land. However, it is imper-ative we take note of the lessons from the elections and use them to plan for futures ones.

There are times we need to be hard on ourselves, tell ourselves the bitter truth, no

The paradox of free and fair elections THANK GOODNESS, WE HAVE A LEVEL HEADED PRESIDENT THAT IS NOT DESPERATE TO REMAIN

IN POWER

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.

matter how it hurts. A proper exegesis of the 2015 general elections shows that it is about the worst we have had since the re-turn to civil rule in May 1999. A free and fair election must be free in the true sense of the word in the eyes and estimation of a reasonable man. A free and fair elec-tion must be free from intimidation of the electorate; there must not be any actions taken, overt and covert, to disenfranchise eligible voters and all the votes must count. In a free and fair election, political black-mail, using religious and ethnic biases, is an abnormality.

We unfortunately witnessed in the last elections manifestations of all features that hamstrung credible elections. They came in different forms and colorations. There were open threats of reprisals and mayhem unless ‘anointed’ candidates were elected. Many Nigerians ran for their dear lives, thus willfully disenfranchising them-selves. This was one election where some presidential and governorship candidates were chased away from campaign grounds. There was loss of lives in some instances. The traditional institution had in the past maintained respectable distance from politics as a mark of respect for their re-vered offices. But in the last general elec-tions caution was thrown to the wind as our traditional rulers openly and violently canvassed support for their favoured can-didates. In one of the South East states there was even the introduction fetishism to intimidate voters.

The Independent National Elec-toral Commission (INEC), especially its chairman, Professor Attahiru Jega has been enjoying praises for a job well done. This could be justified in the in-terim, which of course is due to the pre election mayhem hype that char-acterized the electioneering and the anticlimax of peaceful elections that followed. But is it not the same INEC that fumbled on fundamental issues that give credibility to the elections? This happens in spite of all the time that it had to prepare for the exercise. As far back as 2011, Jega reportedly informed European Union Election Observation Mission when it came to submit its final report on the 2011 elec-tions that INEC was already preparing for the 2015 general elections.

The permanent voter’s card (PVC) was part of the innovation for the elections. This was a great innovation in our electoral system. It was a key to the success of the 2015 exercise. But the management and distribution of the PVCs was scandalous, with ac-cusations and counter accusations

flying about. The situation was so bad that President Jonathan had to advise INEC to ensure that all eligible voters had their PVCs before the elections. There was even the shameful allegation that non-indigenes were deliberately denied PVCs in some states. At the last count, even after the postponement of the dates for the elections, only about 81 percent of eligible voters got their PVCs; the others were denied for no fault of theirs.

If the distribution of the PVCs was scandalous, the management of the smart card readers was embarrassing. Again the introduction of this biomet-ric technology was a great and noble idea, but it turned out to be a big disap-pointment, especially during the presi-dential poll. At its trial stage, its observ-able level of failure should have raised the yellow flag to INEC to take steps for its improved performance; but that was not be. Its rate of failure could have war-ranted another postponement of the elections.

Thank goodness, we have a level headed President that is not desperate to remain in power. The card reader is a wonderful idea, but we did not learn from the experiences of Cameroun, Ghana, Mali, Cote d’ Ivoire and Colum-bia that have used them before us. We deserve a viable and robust democracy; INEC must put everything in place to en-sure that this objective is achieved.

practice whereby the creditors, includ-ing, unfortunately “enlightened institu-tions” like banks, enlist the help of the police, or even the military to recover debts extra-judicially.

When I was discussing this problem in the midst of some friends, a female banker told me that exigencies had ne-cessitated involving the police in debt recovery and that the practice “is an effi-cient method”, adding: “We all know the problem of undue delay one invariably encounters in court; at times it may take years for a simple contractual case to be decided as a result of incessant adjourn-ments. But with the police, the case is dif-ferent as many people are afraid of being arrested or detained; many recalcitrant debtors would, therefore, pay up.

In spite of this, it may be unequivo-cally stated that the practice is not supported by the Nigerian law! For in-stance, Section 214 of the 1999 Consti-tution (as amended), which created the Nigerian Police Force, states inter-alia “there shall be a police force for Nigeria, which shall be known as Nigeria Police Force, and subject to the provisions of this section, no other police force shall be established for the federation or any part thereof ”

In specific terms, Section 4 of the Police Act, which stipulates the func-tions of the police, provides thus: “The police shall be employed for the pre-vention and detection of crime, the ap-prehension of offenders, the preserva-tion of law and order, the protection of life and property and the due enforce-ment of all laws and regulations with which they are directly charged, and shall perform such duties within or without Nigeria as may be required by them by, or under the authority of, this or any other Act”

It is, therefore, clear that from both the Police Act and the 1999 Constitu-tion that nothing empowers our po-lice to help individuals or institutions to collect debt despite the rampancy of the practice. A number of judicial pronouncements over the years have also underscored the fact that the police have no business in debt col-lection if the transaction does not in-volve fraud.

In a recent case, a Federal High Court Judge, Justice Okon Abang, roundly condemned the police for helping a bank (name withheld) to collect debt from a customer extra-judicially. In the case, the plaintiff, who had taken a N900, 000 loan from the bank defaulted after making some payments. The bank enlisted the help of the police to recover the debt and later arrested and detained him.

The police further collected a cheque of N100, 000 from him under duress and kept harassing him to pay the rest. Chukwuemeka then filed an

action in court alleging that his right had been violated and prayed the court for an order of injunction restraining the police from further arresting and detaining him.

In his judgement, Justice Abang berat-ed the police, stressing they had no right to convert themselves into debt collection agency, adding that they had misused the coercive powers of the state. He awarded the plaintiff damages of N500, 0000 in ad-dition to a N50, 000 costs.

This is one illicit practice in the polity the incoming government must strive to stop. Nigerians must learn to do things in proper way and stop all morbid aberra-tions haunting our system.

Ketefe may followed on twitter @Ke-tesco

National Mirrorwww.nationalmirroronline.net 17Thursday, May 21, 2015 Views

KAYODEKETEFE

kketefe@nationalmirroronline.net 08032147720 (SMS only)

CRITICAL STROKES

18 National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Jonathan on persecution of ministers, aides

Radio broadcaster, Harold Camping, predicted that the world would end on this date. Camping (1921 - 2013) was an American Christian radio broadcaster, author and evangelist. Beginning in 1958, he served as presi-dent of Family Radio, a California-based radio station group that broadcasts to more than 150 markets in the United States. In October 2011, he retired from active broadcasting following a stroke.

May 21, 2011May 21, 1996

A ferry, MV Bukoba, sank in Tanzanian waters on Lake Victoria, killing nearly 1,000 people. MV Bukoba was a Lake Victoria ferry carrying passengers and cargo between the Tanzanian ports of Bukoba and Mwanza. Built in 1979, the ferry had capacity for 850 tons of cargo and 430 passengers. The manifest for her final voyage showed 443 passengers in her first and second class cabins.

President Suharto of Indonesia resigned from office following the killing of students from Tri Sakti Univer-sity earlier that week by security forces and growing mass protests in Jakarta against his ongoing corrupt rule. Suharto (1921 – 2008) was in office for 31 years from 1967, following Sukarno’s removal, until his resignation in 1998. The legacy of his 31-year rule is a subject of de-bate both in Indonesia and abroad.

ON THIS DAY

Outgoing President Good-luck Jonathan recently told his ministers and

other aides not to rule out per-secution and hard times after handing over to his successor on May 29. He spoke at a thanksgiv-ing and farewell service held in his honour at the Cathedral Church of Advent, Gwarinpa, Abuja.

“…I know that worse treat-ment will come, if you take certain decision(s), even the people who are very close to you will abandon you at some points. I used to tell people that more of my so-called friends will disap-pear. So, (it) is the same thing with (the) decision you take, it may be good to the generality, but it will affect people differ-ently. And for the ministers and aides that serve(d) with me, I sympathize with them, because they will be persecuted and they must be ready for that persecu-tion”, the President had said.

For a man who refused to be afflicted with African leaders’ sit-tight syndrome, but conceded defeat to an opposition in-com-ing president; for a man who seized every opportunity to ex-press appreciation for how God and the country elevated him from a humble background to the position of leadership in his Bayelsa home state and Nigeria, Jonathan eminently qualifies,

based on his experiences on the blissful and pangs of defeat and loss, to know and understand what he is talking about. Per-haps, his loss has greater conse-quences for his aides, who are obviously more vulnerable than him in the new dispensation to be ushered in just a couple of days away.

However, only Mr. President can rightly interpret what he meant by ‘persecution’ of those that worked closely with him. Many would have been more comfortable had Jonathan urged those that have any axe to grind with his administration to hold him squarely responsible and not go red-herring with his ministers or other aides, since all bucks concerning the ad-ministration end on his desk. Jonathan says “my interest and prayer point for this coun-try is stability and (a) buoyant economy. That is when people will benefit, irrespective of who is the leader”. And the Primate, Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), the Most Rever-end Nicholas Okoh, who offici-ated at the thanksgiving service where the issues we are examin-ing were raised, described the President as “a man who wants the peace of the country”, add-ing that “Everybody has his own weakness, but definitely, he meant well for Nigeria and he

did his best under the circum-stance he found himself”.

For the golden legacy he bequeathed by leaving office at a time when the ovation cannot be said to be loudest or lowest, a gesture some hawks and wolves lurking around him were not and are still not happy about; and for the promotion of peace and unity of the country, the outgoing President deserves all the commendations Nigerians and the international commu-nity can muster. If, however, by telling his ministers and aides to be prepared for hard times and persecution he implies the incoming administration will be so vengefully inclined as to apply the whip indiscriminately on his aides that performed well, we take exception to that, just as we cannot for any reason side the incoming administration if found to be on a gleeful mission of witch-hunting against Jona-

than’s ministers and aides.The point to be made, like the

Most Reverend Okoh rightly put it, is that “everybody has his own weakness”. Jonathan could really mean well for Nigeria and prob-ably “did his best under the cir-cumstance he found himself”, but can this same remark be gener-alised for all ministers and aides who worked with him? Certainly not! Not with the tips Nigerians now have about the conduct of some of the top men and women that work with the outgoing President. Jonathan’s govern-ment attracted more criticisms on account of the reprehensible conducts of those that work with him, and of course his slow or no response at all to such perceivable infractions, than on the Presi-dent’s personal actions. Jonathan dismissed trust as a virtue in his administration when he said members of his cabinet and those he dined and wined with compli-cated Boko Haram insurgency in the country. He also compelled ministers to sign Performance Contract Agreements (PCA) in 2012. If a minister under him was eventually found to be frolicking all through instead of performing by incoming Buhari government, can such qualify for persecution? For us, this should be no time for preemptive judgements or witch-hunts, but a time to confront realities.

JONATHAN’S GOVERNMENT

ATTRACTED MORE CRITICISMS ON

ACCOUNT OF THE REPREHENSIBLE

CONDUCT OF THOSE THAT WORK WITH HIM

May 21, 1998

Thursday May 21, 2015Editorial

All the Facts, All the SidesAll the Facts, All the SidesA 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

AUGUSTUS IMEKAN ACTING HEAD, GRAPHICS

RichaRd NdomaCALABAR

As the Cross River Uni-versity of Technology (CRUTECH), Calabar has

reopened its gate last week for re-sumption of academic and other activities following the suspension of five months old strike by the various staff unions in the insti-tution, students and management have started counting their losses and also that of the university due to the industrial action.

It will be recalled that the combined staff unions of the institution comprising the Aca-demic Staff Union of Universi-ties (ASUU), it non-academic staff counterpart, Senior Staff Asso-ciation of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) and the National Asso-ciation of Academic Technologists (NAAT) had, in January, jointly declared an indefinite strike over what they termed as unresolved matters with the management con-cerning their unpaid accumulated salaries and allowances and poor conditions of service.

While the unions accused the management of not being sensi-tive to their plights, the manage-ment on their part also accused the workers of not being realistic in their demands. And since both par-ties failed to reach consensus the workers down tools, leaving aca-demic and other activities on cam-pus to have grounded since then.

However, while students are happy on one hand that the strike was eventually suspended follow-ing a renew agreement between the aggrieved workers and the state government, they are on an-other hand, lamenting the untold hardship the strike had caused and will still cause them.

The management and workers on their parts are also expressing displeasures that the strike was indeed dragged for too long before it was suspended on the basis that the government had agreed to start

down tools.“We thought the strike would

not last for more than one month at most but here we are, it lasted for five and half months. If we re-move that number of months from nine months we suppose to use for a session, what can we do within

paying them their salaries begin-ning with that of January and Feb-ruary.

Mfam Etita Eyene, a 300-level student at the Faculty of Education for example, told National Mirror that although she did something meaningful during the period, they were done at the wrong time.

According to her, “I used to go to farm with my parent to do some cultivation and read novels at times which I couldn’t have done ordinarily if there was no strike.”

She explained that she and her mates were preparing for their in-dustrial attachment and teaching practice, which ought to last for seven months when the workers

the remaining four months? That means, the government and the staffers have succeeded in wasting a whole five months from the pe-riod we suppose to spend in school and in life,” she lamented.

Now, Eyene’s fear is that the school authorities may rush them

with academic activities in order to cover up the missing period with-out considering quality.

“Similarly, those of us who sup-posed to have gone for our indus-trial attachment and teaching prac-tice as part of the degree awarding requirements may also be asked to forgo them or at best reduce the number of months to spend to one or two. We all know that the impli-cations of these on the students, the school and the economy are huge,” she further lamented.

Just like Eyene, Sally Ofuka, a final year student of Curriculum and Instructional Technology is

CONTINUED ON PAGE 20

The main entrance to the university

Owan Ochang

Strike: CRUTECH students, mgt count losses

National Mirrorwww.nationalmirroronline.net 19

IN CONJUNCTION WITHEducation Today

Thursday, MAY 21, 2015

AFE BABALOLA UNIVERSITY,ADO-EKITI (ABUAD)

AFE BABALOLA UNIVERSITY,ADO-EKITI (ABUAD)

No Engineering College in any Institutin in Nigeria come close to what obtains in ABUAD —NSE BOSS

…say, ‘Action has drawn us backward’

NAU’s management is after my life —SUG President

Gowon urges Buhari to prioritise education

‘I wish Fashola fulfills his promise to my school’

242021

also not happy about the strike. She said she was already looking forward to when she would finish her studies and mobilise for the one-year manda-tory National Youths Service Corps (NYSC) programme.

“But now with the turn of event, as far as CRUTECH is concerned, our entire set is not likely to meet up for this year’s youth service and that means part of our valuable times have been wasted on strike,” she said.

Another thing she considers to be painful is the fact that she would have to pay another five months rent to secure her accommodation near the campus.

“And I don’t know how I will raise the money which is up to N70, 000 when there are many other neces-sary things to do with money that is not even available,” she lamented.

National Mirror also gathered that some of the students may not return to school to continue with their stud-ies even now that the strike had been

Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, Lagos State, Mrs. Omolara Erogbogbo; Director-General, Lagos Safety Commission, Mrs. Dominga Odebunmi; Commissioner for Education, Mrs. Olayinka Oladunjoye and Director-General, Education Quality Assurance, Mrs. Ronke Soyombo unveiling the emblem for the approved schools in Lagos at Alausa, Ikeja, on Tuesday. Photo: Tunbosun Ogundare

L-R: Editor School Tips and More Magazine, Mrs. Flourish Ayowale-Ezekiel; Managing Director, Edumark Consult, Mrs. Yinka Ogunde; e-Learning Manager, Chips Bits and Bytes, Mr. Oluwaseun Ogunfeyitimi and Editorial Executive, Edumark, Mr. Daniel Iyam, at a press conference on the 7th Total School Support Seminar and Exhibition in Lagos, last week.

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 19 suspended. Why? It was gathered that some female students have al-ready been put in a family way and relocated with their husbands out-side Calabar.

As usual, students are the most af-fected persons by any industrial action in academic circle, but some workers are equally recounted the experience in a negative way.

While some noted that they were also faced with hardship as a result of their unpaid salaries and allowances, some said being idled for over five months was counter-productive.

The Deputy Registrar, Mr. Victor Ndifon told National Mirror that many of them had to struggle hard to survive the strike.

According to him, “majority of us could not feed our family members well let alone pay our children school fees or meet other commitments that are also necessary.”

He however confirmed that the school would have to readjust the cal-ender in order to cover the missing pe-riod occasioned by the strike.

Boladale BamigBolaOSOGBO

The management of Igbajo Polytechnic, Igbajo, in Boluwadu-

ro Local Government area of Osun State has secured approval to commence sending graduates from the school for the mandatory one year National Youth Service Corps Scheme.

This was disclosed by the Rector of the institution, Mr. Tanimowo Oke, while addressing newsmen in his office recently.

He stated that the ap-proval was given by the NYSC headquarters in a letter with Ref. No.NYSC/DHQ/CM/M/124/22 of 29th April, 2015 signed by one Mr. I.I. Fasanu on behalf of the Director General.

The approval letter reads: “I am directed to inform you that after a careful consid-eration of your application viz-a-viz the records from National Board for Techni-cal Education, NBTE, your

Igbajo Poly to presents graduates for NYSC scheme

Nigeria’s progress depends on sound education —Expert

I wish Fashola fulfills his promise to my school, says ex-Lagos One-Day GovernorTunBosun ogundare

The immediate past ‘One-Day Governor’ in Lagos State is eager to see the outgoing governor of

the state, Mr. Babatunde Fashola fulfills his promise to his school befor e leaving office next week.

Master Olabanji Edun, now SS3 stu-dent of Army Children Senior High School, Ikeja, who emerged winner of the last year’s Spelling Bee Competition among the public secondary school stu-dents in the state expressed this willing-ness.

By virtue of his outstanding perfor-mance in the competition, he acted as the state’s One-Day governor alongside five other pseudo cabinet members, who queued immediately behind him according to their performance in the competition. He is the fourteenth per-son to occupy the seat since inception of the annual competition.

Edun told National Mirror that aside the privilege of acting as a pseudo gov-ernor for one day; he had also enjoyed numerous other benefits as a result of his performance.

Like his predecessors and the cur-rent winner, Master Sonoiki Idowu, Edun was rewarded with a sum of N200, 000, medal, trophy and gift items for his effort, many of which he received at the

world after his secondary education.“I so cherish all these and I thank

the state government for providing the platform. I benefitted so much through the achievement. It has given me fame, especially among my peers as many of them are now seeing me as a role mod-el,” Edun said joyfully. “All glory goes to God who made all these possible.”

Now, Edun wants the largesse to ex-tend to his school, which he said pro-duced him.

According to him, if the government is able to build a befitting hall and buy bus for his school as Governor Fashola had promised because of producing ‘One Day’ Governor, the facilities would benefit both the students and teachers now and in future.

“But up till now those promises have not been fulfilled and I wish the gover-nor started the process before leaving office,” Edun said.

grandfinale ceremony of the competi-tion. He had also gone on all paid-ex-penses educational/cultural exchange programme together with the first and second runners-up to Helsinki, Finland last year. That is not all. Edun will also enjoy a scholarship in his choice course and university anywhere around the

CRUTECH students, mgt count losses

institution has been includ-ed in the list of corps pro-ducing institutions.”

Meanwhile, securing NYSC approval by the management of the insti-tution has been applauded by its Governing Board which commended it and described the achievements “as another milestone in the history of the institution.”

Igbajo Polytechnic, the first community polytech-nic to be approved by the NBTE in Nigeria, with student population of over 1,000, currently offered courses in Computer Sci-ence, Accountancy, Science Laboratory Technology and Business Administration. Others include; Computer Engineering, Statistics, Microbiology and Electri-cal Electronics. Approval process is ongoing for courses like Mechanical Engineering Tech, Agric. Engineering Tech, Estate Management, Mass Com-munication and Office Tech and Management.

saidaT alausa

The Managing Di-rector of Edumark Consult, an educa-

tion consulting firm, Mrs. Yinka Ogunde has observed that Nigeria can only attain socio-economic and political prosperity through sound education.

She made the observation at a pre-event press confer-ence for the seventh total school support seminar and exhibition programme, an annual event organised for her firm for all stakeholders in the sector. This year’s edi-tion is scheduled for between 11th and 12th of June.

According to the educa-tionist, it is only through sound education that chil-dren could be raised to cope with challenges of the rap-idly changing world.

Speaking on the forth-coming seminar, Ogunde said the focus was to help the education community in Africa to keep up with global trend in the sector, especially as regards communication and information technology and innovations.

She added that the event would equally service as a good platform for cross fertil-isation of ideas and network-ing for stakeholders such as school owners and adminis-trators and teachers.

Edun

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net20 Thursday, May 21, 2015Education Today

Executive Director, Amville School, Lagos, Mrs. Mosun Owo-odusi (5th right) with grandparents and students of the school at the Grandparent Day held last weekend.

Educationist advocates teaching of culture in schoolsSaidat alauSa

Executive Director, Am-ville School, Mrs. Mo-sun Owo-Odusi has said

that teaching children Nigeria different culture will go a long way to help the learning pro-cess of the students.

She also said this will draw the children closer to their roots, to their country and again to appreciate the family culture available in the coun-try.

The educationist disclosed this at the school’s Grandpar-ent Day, tagged, “Nourishing Our Roots” which took place at the weekend in the school.

The programme according to her is to appreciate grand-parents who are always there as the children grow older es-pecially when their parents are at work or doing other things.

“Through the programme the grandparent has been able to tell the children about their roots and the students in turn have been able to learn how to care for the elderly, respect and show compassion to those around them,” she said.

Citing United States as an

livinuS MenediYOLA

The Vice-Chancellor, American University of Nigeria (AUN), Yola, Dr. Margee Ensign has

charged the newly graduated students from the institution to go into the world and make a difference.

She gave the advice during their graduation ceremony held in Yola, the Adamawa State capital recently. It was the 7th edition and the graduands were 200 in all comprising 184 first de-gree holders and the rest postgraduate degree holders from different depart-ments. A colourful occasion also has in attendance the founder of the institu-tion who is also the former Vice Presi-dent, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and the Chairman All Progressive Congress, Chief John Oyegun and the American Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. James Ent-whistle , among other high profile per-sons.

Ensign, who is officially referred to by the university as President told the graduands that they should not forget to make good use of what she called sound knowledge and skill that the uni-versity had imparted on them.

She said the society was waiting for their contributions to the progress of the country and therefore should make themselves change agents required for the development not only of Nigeria but also the African continent as a whole.

Also in his remark, President Good-luck Jonathan, who was represented by the former Vice Chancellor of Abuba-kar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi, Hamisu Abubakar congratulated the new graduates, urging them to always be positive in their thoughts as they move on in life.

Giving kudos to the proprietor and the management of the university for giving sound training to youths, the president urged them not to rest on their oars.

He noted that without doubt, the establishment of AUN had greatly in-creased access to quality university education in the country.

The highpoint of the ceremony was the presentation of prizes to some of new set of graduates who distinguished themselves in their studies and other areas while in school. They include Miss Hephzber Obiorah, who went home with the best graduating student award with an undisclosed amount of money as a start-up capital for a busi-ness of her choice in line with the tra-dition in the university.

In her valedictory address, Obiorah gave an account of how the vice-chan-cellor of the institution, Dr. Margee En-sign at a time assist her to pay a sum of N200, 000 as part of school fee when she was financially handicapped, say-ing that singular action gave her op-portunity to write her exam during the semester.

She thanked the woman and prom-ised to make good use of the knowledge and skill gained during her schooling in the university to make positive im-pact in life.

Go and impact society, AUN VC tells graduands

L-R: Executive Secretary, Tertiary Education Trust Fund, Prof. suleiman Bogoro; Minister of Information, Mrs. Patricia Akwashi; General Yakubu Gowon and Vice-Chancellor, National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), Prof. Vincent Tenebe during the official opening of NOUN’s study centre at Bogoro community in Bauchi State, last weekend

Gowon urges Buhari to prioritise educationnon-professionals in the affairs of the sector and weak political will of successive admin-istrations, Gowon urged the coming govern-ment to not only engage competent hands but also commit adequate resources capable of restoring the lost glory of the sector.

He however lauded the outgoing admin-istration on what he referred to as its vari-ous interventions in developing the sector, saying the efforts have yielded significant results.

While commending the Executive Sec-retary of Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND), Prof. Suleiman Bogoro for initiating the opening of NOUN’s study cen-tre at Bogoro community and ATBU School of Vocational Studies at Tafawa-Balewa, he said making such initiative showed that the

ezekiel tituSBAUCHI

The former Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon (retd) has advised the incoming president, Muham-

madu Buhari to make education a top priority of his administration by com-mitting enough resources to the sector.

He gave the advice during the official opening of the National Open University of Nigeria’s study centre at Bogoro community in Bauchi State, recently. He was the chair-man on the occasion.

According to him, education is a vital means to attain development in any nation and Nigeria is no exception.

While lamenting that the engagement of

man loves education and development.Also speaking, the Vice-chancellor of

NOUN, Professor Vincent Tenede said opening of the study centre was to take university edu-cation to the door steps of every qualified Ni-gerian irrespective of age, tribe and economic status

He noted that the study centre at Bogoro brought the total number of centres estab-lished so far by the university to 63 spread across the country, adding that more are com-ing.

Tenebe however called on the people of the area who are qualified that they have no excuse not to go to university now with NOUN’s study centre within their reach, saying NOUN’s pro-grammes, which are run online are not only flexible but cost effective.

example where children in the country imbibed from when they are young the country pride, Mrs. Owo-Odusi said its compulsory the children learn about their root right from when they are young so that they will always think positive of the country anywhere they find themselves.

A grandparent at the event, Mrs. Abeni Aderemi told Na-tional Mirror at the event that the initiative by the school will help shape the lives of the young children because they are the future of the country.

Also, Prof. Michael Omoigui in his remark at the event said though the new generation has opportunities which was not available during their time especially ICT but however there is need for them to inter-act with the older generation because this will help them as they proceed in life.

Head of the organising com-mittee, Mr. Muyiwa Olubode said the programme is a yearly event by the school but this year is unique because the grand-parents had the opportunity to interact with the students in

their classes and they had the opportunity to ask the older generation questions.

A year six student, Olu-wabukunmi Owo-Odusi told National Mirror that the programme allowed them to ask some questions which have been bother-ing them and it has helped them to know what educa-tion was like in the olden days.

The children were dressed in different cos-tume to show their culture at the event.

National Mirrorwww.nationalmirroronline.net 21Education TodayThursday, May 21, 2015

Between Awolowo and Babalola

AAre Afe BABAlolA,

just like the lAte sAge,

Chief oBAfemi Awolowo is

pAssionAte ABout how eduCAtion system will Be

reformed in nigeriA.

BabalolaAwolowo

Wale IbrahImLOKOJA

A call has gone to the President–elect, General Muhammadu Bu-hari (retd) to make reposition

of basic education his administration’ s priority so as to benefit parents who can-not afford to send their children to pri-vate schools.

A politician, Hajia Bilkisu Onusagba made this call shortly after she was screened as a member of the Governing Board of Kogi State Universal Basic Education Board (SU-BEB) by the lawmakers.

She noted that it had become imperative for governments at all levels to devote their time and energy towards the development of basic education in the country, stressing that though the outgoing administration of Presi-dent Goodluck Jonathan did a lot for the sec-tor, the incoming president should priotise the subsector.

According to her, “many of our leaders today across sectors were products of public schools. Then public schools were fantastic

‘Buhari should reposition basic education’

Tunde OlOfInTIla

Just like the Holy Bible, in the Book of 1 Corinthians 15:45, referred to Jesus Christ as the second Adam, a Nigerian

academic, Prof. Raimi Olaoye, has described the Elder statesman and Founder of Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD), Are Afe Babalola, SAN as the second and modern day Obafemi Awolowo on account of his (Babalola’s) exploits in the realm of education through which he is putting the smiles on the faces of many and receiving accolades nationally and internationally.

The setting was the personality lecture in honour of late sage and first Premier of the Western Region, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, SAN and Aare Emmanuel Afe Babalola, SAN, titled “Connecting the past with the present for a rewarding future of Nigeria education system”, organised by the Uni-versity of Ilorin Chapter of the Nigerian University Education Students Association (NUESA)

Even though Olaoye, Professor of His-tory and International Relations at the Uni-versity of Ilorin, laboured assiduously to convince his audience that it was an hercu-lean task to deliver a personality lecture in honour of the duo of Awolowo and Babalola whom he described as fathers, role models, foremost educationists, courageous nation-alists and great Nigerians, he held them in rapt attention for the duration of the lecture.

His words: “To write in honour of these great Nigerians is a task uphill. These are great men whose shoes are too big for an ordinary person like me to unlace. I got to know our guests many years ago through their intellectual works and nationalist dis-positions. The only time I physically came into contact with Chief Obafemi Awolowo was in the early ‘80s, during the political campaign of the Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN).

“My physical contact with Aare Afe Baba-lola in the ‘70s was through my uncle, Chief J.A. Aderibigbe, who was his contemporary in a college in Ibadan. But more importantly is the fact that I have the knowledge of these great personalities through their positions in the society, meritorious services to the humanity and invaluable contributions to national development.”

After taking a cursory look at the past, Olaoye affirmed without any fear of con-tradiction, that every individual on planet earth is educated bearing in mind that all human beings, at one point or the other, must have benefitted from one or more of the three broad categories of education: traditional, oriental (Islamic/ Arabic) and Western education.

According to him, in Nigeria, before the advent of colonialism, the precursor of other types of education was traditional education which was largely built on local customs and traditions as a result of which it emphasised the culture, value, norms and mores of the Nigerian communities. And because moral value was the epicentre of the traditional education then, the preva-lence of anti-social vices such as robbery, rape, kidnapping, human and drug traffick-ing, gay marriage, sexual violence and other horrendous vices of today was minimal. This enabled the Nigerian communities to be relatively peaceful and stable, while the is-sues of economy and socio-political growth and development taking their course.

This was the situation, when the British

colonialists came to impose their values on the Nigerian societies.

At some point later, the missionaries of different denominations such as the Church Missionary Society, the Baptist, Methodist, Presbyterian and the Roman Catholic as well as the Sudan Interior Mission (SIM) among others took over to provide Western education with emphasis on three ‘Rs’, that is, Reading, (W)Riting and ‘Rithmetic which emphasised the inculcation of moral value with the overriding philosophy of the mis-sionary education based on European cul-ture, value and orientation.

This was the system of education inher-ited by the Nigerian nation at independence. But because Awolowo and Babalola, both Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SAN) and alumni of the famous University of London and others in their mould who had been bit-ten by the bug of seeing their people beyond mere interpreters, cleaners, messengers and catechists among others in their mould rose up to the challenge to break the barrier in western education which was beyond the reach of the poor.

Of particular importance in this respect was the introduction of Free Primary Edu-cation in the old Western Region by Awolo-wo way back in 1955 and the deployment of as much as 52% of the region’s resources on education to make total men and women out of the indigenes of the region then. This paid off with the monumental development of the region ahead of others, even till today.

He commended the Obafemi Awolowo Foundation for its cardinal philosophy of preserving and nurturing the legacy of education of the late sage to fruition, a de-velopment which gives verve and vigour to the hope of a rewarding education system in future.

Governments at all levels must be awake to their responsibility as far as education is concerned. They must appreciate that sound education constitute a potent weapon to fight ignorance, lack, poverty and disease and so, they must accord education a prime of place in the scheme of things.

It is a notorious fact that Awolowo has played his part and has gone to join the saints triumphantly, but his re-incarnate, Babalola, has stepped into his shoes by vir-tue of the gigantic strides he took by estab-lishing ABUAD which commenced academ-ic works on January 4, 2010 to change the face of education in Nigeria and bring back its lost glory for which he had been com-mended nationally and internationally by education stakeholders including UNESCO.

According to Olaoye, “Aare Afe Babalo-la’s efforts are an indication that there will

be light at the end of the tunnel. Although, I have not been to the university, but what I have been seeing on the television and read-ing from the newspapers are symptomatic of “Renaissance” that promises a re-birth of glorious period of education in Nigeria.

Based on Awolowo’s and Babalola’s vi-sion for education and general development of Nigeria, they, in concert with a few oth-ers like them, have always been seeing as the mould of Nationalists and Pan- Africans like Herbert Macaulay, Nnamdi Azikwe, Kwame Nkrumah, Leopold Cedar Senghor, Houphouet Boign, Dauda Jawara, Nassing-be Eyadema, Marcus Garvey, E.W. Blyden and W.B. Dubois.

“In point of truth, Aare Afe Babalola, just like the late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo is passionate about how education system will be reformed in Nigeria. His popular column on Thursdays in the Nigerian Tribune has always addressed variety of issues on educa-tion such as the need for quality education, good remuneration for teachers, review of school curriculum and education which is responsive to the needs of the country. His strong passion for the future of education in Nigeria is not misguided, knowing him as foremost educationist, erudite lawyer (SAN) and someone who hails from home of pro-fessors, Ekiti-Kete”.

The world is now a global village and new trends in education and other facets of life keep on emerging by the day. In the world of today, the emphasis is on Information and Communication Technology (ICT). The world is also in the direction of knowledge-based economy. In all of these, the use of computer and other ICT facilities would rule the future world of education not only in Nigeria but elsewhere in the world. And so, Nigeria cannot afford to be left behind.

Nigeria should therefore go back to the roots, pick up the pieces and review the policy for a rewarding system of education in Nigeria for the labour of our heroes, past and living, to endure and stand the test of times.

.Olofintila is the spokesman for Afe Baba-lola University, Ado Ekiti

unlike nowadays that many parents don’t want to do anything with public schools because they don’t offer quality education again like before.

“Even many of us who send our children to private schools are not finding things easy. We just have to strive very hard to be able to pay our children school fees. The challenge becomes compounded when you have up to two or three children to pay for. So, if the lost glory of the public schools can be restored, it will assist many parents and the level of girl-child enrollment in primary schools will also increase tremendously,” she explained .

Onusagba pointed out that the two major problems that are affecting the basic educa-tion in the country is that of teachers wel-fare and infrastructures, adding that if the incoming administration can invest in these two key areas, the lost glory will be restored.

She therefore appealed to Buhari to look towards this direction for positive improve-ment while spirited individuals and corpo-rate organisations should also contribute their own quota to the development process in the sector.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net22 Education Today Thursday, May 21, 2015

Solving north education problem

Winner of ‘Spirit of Lagos’ School Challenge emerges

Deputy Governor, Lagos State, Mrs. Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire; (middle) with students from Government College Epe, overall winner of the Spirit of Lagos Schools Challenge 2015 in Ikeja, Lagos, last week.

The greaTesT hurdles To successful

implemenTaTion of The free educaTion programme are The

absence of clear vision, The will To do, and The means To prosecuTe iT.

All the Northern states and four Southern states including Rivers, Bayelsa, Cross Rivers and Eb-onyi States have been branded as Educationally

Less Developed States (ELDS) for a very long time now. This branding which gives a few of the indigenes some advantage in access to higher education and job oppor-tunities was purportedly introduced to improve their chances of catching up with the rest of the country but in reality does not appear to have changed their situa-tion at all. It appears rather, that they have become en-trenched in their predicament, content with the hand-outs of undeserved admission slots in the unity schools and universities, and being offered juicy positions in the federal parastatals ahead of their more qualified counterparts on the basis of the quota system, an off-shoot of the ELDS branding. These ‘benefits’ to the few have apparently taken away from the majority the drive to excel.

It appears that the Federal and state governments are satisfied with the situation and nothing needs to be done. However, the deteriorating security situation in the North East, a fallout of the academic backwardness, should begin to sound a loud warning to all. The economic situation is deteriorating further and quality of life fast eroding away. Poverty is grinding, knowledge is in short supply and self esteem low. The stage is set for further lawlessness, unbri-dled criminality and acts of desperation; it is only a matter of time.

The perpetual status of educationally less developed state is a condemnation to perpetual misery for the masses. While a few benefit from the status-quo, the majority wallows in abject poverty. In addition to educational deprivation, the people are plagued by poor infrastructural development, poor job opportunities and high unemployment. A good ed-ucational attainment is the only panacea to these maladies. Hence we must not only advocate free education for all at the foundation levels, we must also diligently implement it. All hurdles that militate against the implementation must be

removed.The greatest hurdles to successful implementation of the

free education programme are the absence of clear vision, the will to do, and the means to prosecute it. The states and the federal governments hitherto seem to lack the critical vision of the immense benefits of educating the populace and hence have no motivation to act in that direction. The new administration must embrace the vision of peace, pros-perity, enlightenment which education brings to the society.

But the single most important hurdle to implementing the universal free education programme is the financial crunch which many of the educationally backward states are experiencing. The budgets of individual states are as varied in value as the states are diverse. Lagos state with a population similar to that of Kano state had an annual bud-get (N49-113 billion) approximately two to three times that of

Kano (N19-38 billion) between 2001 and 2005. Interestingly, Lagos state devoted a larger percentage of its budget to edu-cation (22-25%) in the same period.

Very interestingly, Bauchi state with an annual budget of between N18-58 billion, devoted only 6-10 percent with a total value of N12.251 billion to education for the five year period. This may be compared to Enugu state with a much lower annual budget of N13-26 billion within the same period that devoted between 19 and 22 percent with a value of N21.434 to education. Poor funding is perhaps the most important reason for the backwardness of most, if not all of the educa-tionally less developed states. It is obvious then that without the vision, it is impossible to muster the will, and hence, dif-ficult to find the way out of the problem.

The facts on ground literarily explain the observation. Rich states from the North devote a small proportion of their income to education while even richer states from the South devote a much larger proportion of their budget to education. Ironically, even poor states from the South de-vote higher percentages of their incomes to education than equivalently endowed states in the north. This is an indica-tion of the value placed by the respective administrations on education. Kwara state which spent about 24 percent of its annual budget on education in 2005 has literarily redeemed itself from the clutches of educationally less developed state status and continued to make good strides in educational achievements through purposeful spending on education.

If change must come to the educational deprived states in the North, then the leaders at both state and federal level must appreciate the benefits of sound basic education and devote a minimum of not less than 25 percent of the budget to education. In addition, the Federal government should as a matter of expediency set aside additional fund to sup-plement expenses on education by the affected states. This fund should ensure that the poorest quintile in the society has access to qualitative education which should give them the opportunity to aspire to the highest position of leader-ship within the polity.

StorieS by Saidat alauSa

Government College Ketu, Epe representing Education District 3 has

emerged the overall winner of this year’s Spirit of Lagos’ School Challenge.

The competition under the Lagos State Government is de-signed for competing schools to come up with developmental projects capable of impacting their schools and immediate en-vironment.

This year’s winning centered on the need for people to imbibe the maintenance culture as a habit in order to protect both private and public infrastruc-ture around them.

The winning school also de-veloped the SOT (Save Our Trea-sure) and DIY (Do It Yourself) slogans to drive this mainte-nance culture among students.

They told the panel and audi-ence at the competition that if well harnessed the project will save the state a lot of money.

Community Senior Gram-mar School, Gberigbe, repre-senting education District 2, came second with their presen-tation tagged ‘Wipe Out Dirt and Litters from CSGS’ com-

munity. Ifesowapo Aboru Senior Secondary School, Alimosho, representing education District 1, emerged third with their presentation which focused on ‘Converting Waste to Wealth’ through a device for heating up waste products such as plas-tics and cellophane to produce crude oil.

In her speech, the state’s Deputy Governor, Mrs. Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire said the ini-tiative, which is in tandem with the state government’s efforts in ensuring overall development of the various communities in the state, would reawaken in students the spirit of patrio-tism, which is the hallmark of

development in any community.She added that no society that

neglects its leaders of tomorrow can truly be said to be heading towards a greater future, noting that the present administration in the state has invested much in the future of the children and youths in terms of infrastruc-ture and education.

The Deputy Governor, while extolling the teachers for as-sisting their students in the de-velopment of their proposals, noted that, “Lagos State Govern-ment is working assiduously to empower the teachers so that in return, they can bequeath the right knowledge and morals on the students”.

Earlier in her welcome ad-dress, General Counsel to the Governor of Lagos State, Mrs. Oyinkan Badejo-Okusanya, thanked the various schools for their continuous efforts in lift-ing the Spirit of Lagos higher by striving to complement the state government’s efforts towards making Lagos a better place for all.

Also in his remark, the Proj-ect Director, Olaniyi Omotoso congratulated the competing schools for their excellent per-formance and described them all as winners for proposing projects that would help im-prove the development of their schools.

The President, Nigerian Library Asso-ciation, Alhaji Rilwanu Abdulsalami has urged members of the association

to tilt towards new trends in order to meet up with the 21st Century challenges.

He said this at the Librarian Day held at the Nigerian International Book Fair which took place at the University of Lagos, Akoka, last week. The librarian also said that embracing new trends, especially ICT was important as the world has turned to a global village.

“The ICT has added a lot of impact on our libraries and it has improved services and information delivery. So I look forward to see our libraries and librarians to move on with the terend,” he said.

Abdulsalami, who is also the Chairman, Nigeria Book Fair Trust, said the association had not been having government attention which he said was needed for the association to be relevant.

On book fair, he drew the attention of the government to the need to be part of the fair which he said if well harnessed could im-prove the economy.

Identifying lack of power supply as the ma-jor impediment to the industry, he said this had made publishers to go outside the coun-try to publish their work which made the cost of production very high.

In his lecture titled, “Role of Library and Information Professionals in African Youth Empowerment,” University Librarian, Na-tional Open University of Nigeria, NOUN, Dr. Ukoha Igwe told members that they need to develop their capacity in order to have influ-ence in their offices.

Librarians tasked on 21st Century challenge

National Mirrorwww.nationalmirroronline.net Education Today 23Thursday, May 21, 2015

Francis EkponEONITSHA

The Students Union Government President of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State, Mr Noble Eyisi has ac-

cused the management of the institution of at-tempt to expel him from the institution for cham-pioning the cause of students.

He also alleged the university Vice-Chancel-lor, Prof. Joseph Ahaneku paid an undisclosed amount to some of his executive members to fa-cilitate his impeachment.

Eyisi in a press briefing with journalists on Monday said one of his aides Samuel Ewuama is currently being detained in a cell in the univer-sity, alleging that plans were on by the manage-ment of the institution to also arrest him.

Eyisi had last week led a protest against the vice chancellor, claiming that the hike in the post UTME examination from N1,000 to N2,000 and the imposition of compulsory N7,500 for biomet-ric data capture were all moves geared at extort-ing students.

In Monday’s briefing, Eyisi said “My sin is that immediately after I was elected, I slashed transport fare around the campus to N20, and also championed a decrease in the price of food as sold by food vendors on campus. I am sup-posed to be getting N20, 000 daily from drivers in the school, but I forfeited that just to ensure that the fare is reduced. But when we slashed the price of a plate of food in the campus from N200 to N150, the management resisted, just because there is an amount of money which the food ven-dors pay to them.

“We have told them that the people who buy the food are students and not management, and we know how we are suffering but they refused to listen. That was how they started fighting me.” Eyisi said.

The SUG president insisted that he was not be-ing sponsored by anyone as alleged by the man-agement of the institution to destroy the vice chancellor, but he was only concerned about the well being of students of the institution which is his primary constituency.

Edited by: Saidat Alausasaidat_alausa@yahoo.com 08027633686

AAU VC tasks govt on research‘Yomi aYElEso300L, BUS ADMIN AAUA

The Vice-Chancellor, Ad-ekunle Ajasin Universi-ty Akungba Akoko, Ondo

state, Prof. Igbekele Ajibefun has urged governments at all levels to keep research and de-velopment on the front burner.

The VC gave the advice while presenting a paper entitled, “Enhancing Research and De-velopment in the Educational sector” to the participants of Senior Executive course 37 of the National Institute For Policy and Strategic Stud-ies, NIPSS, Akure, Ondo State capital, last week, saying that was one of the potent ways to achieve national rebirth.

Ajibefun, a professor of Agricultural Economics said that no country could attain meaningful progress without committing reasonable invest-ment to research development, especially in education circle system.

He said the challenges facing most countries of the world in the 21st Century are enormous and required prompt and ad-equate attention.

These challenges according to him range from unemploy-ment, poverty, security and health issues.

“The global society is faced with myriads of challenges that require in-depth research that could lead to scientific and technological breakthrough that would address such chal-lenges.

“Investment in both basic and applied research and devel-opment seem to present options to tackling the challenges.”

The vice-chancellor main-tained that research and devel-opment were crucial to nation-al development, urging African nations to undertake research-es which are capable of provid-ing solutions to challenges con-fronting the continent.

NAU’s management is after my life —SUG President

Mimiko

In a bid to showcase the practical knowledge of its students, the Department

of Home Science and Manage-ment, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, FU-NAAB, has organised a mod-eling show to display some of the outfits made by its 400-level students.

Welcoming guests to the

He said the SUG bus had been confiscated, and the management had long stopped giving it subvention to the union, just as they now collect the Students Union dues and refuse to remit same to the union for running its af-fairs.

It will be recalled that just last week, ex-ecutives of the union had also addressed the press, disowning the president for circulating hate letters and organising protest against

show, the Acting Head of the department, Dr. Adetoun Amubode, said the modeling show was an initiative of the course lecturer for Textile and Clothing, in which stu-dent fashion designers were encouraged to display their products to potential custom-ers.

According to her, the show

the management of the school insisting that he has been bought over by unknown persons.

But reacting to the allegation, the Public Relations Officer of the institution, Dr. Emma Ojukwu insisted that Eyisi and other mem-bers of the executives of the SUG were like their children and that despite the defama-tory letters being circulated by the president against the vice chancellor, the school will not take action, but hopes he will change.

A cross section of principal officers of National Open University of Nigeria during the institution’s 7th inaugural lecture on “Towards a legal regimen for the transplantation of human organs in Nigeria” held in Lagos, last week.

Some of the participants at the show

could either be indoor or out-door, which would enable the students to be trained in the skills of making dresses and the art of modeling that could attract high patronage.

She said the modeling in-volved the use of corporate outfits that were creatively designed from traditional fabrics and outfits, while stu-dents were scored based on the style and fitting of the gar-ment used, posture as well as the confidence displayed.

Speaking at the occasion, the Dean, College of Food Science and Human Ecology, Prof. Lateef Sanni, congratu-lated the students for taking up the profession, adding that they could achieve anything they wanted to achieve using their outfits.

According to him, this is an expertise that could make their brands known world-wide without leaving their base in Abeokuta.

He advised the students to remain focus and continue to develop themselves through training and re-training and also be more creative in their designs.

Excitement as FUNAAB students hold modeling show

It is a lie —PRO

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net24 Thursday, May 21, 2015

UNILORIN Life Science wins 2015 inter-faculty quiz

FUNAAB holds inaugural lecture

Student association at AAU orientates freshers

The Faculty of Life Sciences, Universi-ty of Ilorin, Kwara

State has won the univer-sity’s 2015 inter-faculty quiz competition.

Faculty of Life Sciences team had a total score of 610 points to beat the Faculty of Agriculture team, which only garnered 285 points to take the second position.

The winning team com-prised Oladele Olaide of the Department of Microbi-ology, Lawal Idris of the De-partment of Plant Biology and Adejumo Lukman of

The Federal Univer-sity of Agriculture, Abeokuta, FU-

NAAB, will today hold its 49th Inaugural Lecture.

The title of the lecture is, “Drying for Wealth, Food Security and Nation Build-ing” and will be delivered by Professor Lateef Sanni of the Department of Food, Sci-ence and Technology of the University.

The event which is scheduled for 2.00pm will be chaired by the Vice-Chan-

‘Yomi AYeleso300L, BUS ADMIN AAU

National Associa-tion of Business Administration

and Management Stu-dents, NABAMS, Ad-ekunle Ajasin University Akungba Akoko, Ondo State recently organised orientation programme for the newly admitted students of the depart-ment.

Addressing the new stu-dents, the Head of Depart-ment, Dr. Gabriel Olorun-leke congratulated them for their admission, urging them to take their studies with all seriousness.

The don further advised them to shun all social vic-es that could truncate their studentship, describing their admission as a special and precious one that must not be joked with.

Olorunleke, who lament-

UNIBEN, IUO students visit Oko Prison eddY Uwoghiren, 300L, MEDICINE AND SURGERY

Christian Medical and Dental Association Students, CMDAS,

of the University of Benin (UNIBEN) and Igbinedion University, Okada (IUO) re-cently visited inmates at the Oko Prison, Benin City.

The students, numbering over 70 were at the prison were conducted round the facilities, during which they were enlightened on the

Guobadia told the inmates to accept Jesus Christ as their Lord and personal sav-iour before leaving prison so as to be able to make heaven after death.

He used the story of Jo-seph in the Bible who went to prison for offence he never committed, stating that God was working better plans for them.

Some of the prisoners got born again during the out-reach.

During the health talk,

Edited by: Saidat Alausasaidat_alausa@yahoo.com 08027633686

the Department of Zoology.Speaking at the event,

the Vice-Chancellor of the university, Prof. Abdul-Ganiyu, Ambali, who was represented by the Direc-tor of Academic Planning, Prof. Kuranga, appreciated the efforts of the organising committee and advised stu-dents to always show inter-est in events such as quiz, debates and other intellec-tual competitions in order to develop their knowledge, widen their horizon and interact with their fellow students.

Cross section of Christian Medical and Dental Association Students, CMDAS of the University of Benin, UNIBEN, Edo State and Igbinedion University, Okada (IUO) during their visit to Oko prison, Benin City, recently.

Chairman, Governing Council, National Film Institute Jos, Dr. Danjuma Dadu and Information Minister, Sen. Patricia Akwashiki (right) during the institute’s matriculation ceremony for new students, recently.

rules guiding prison.The secretary of the as-

sociation, Harry Ogodo, said the visit was part of the as-sociation‘s mission to reach out to the needy.

He urged the inmates not to feel condemned because of their predicament, but to make good use of their stay and the lessons learnt in prison when back to the society.

Delivering a talk, titled: “Free at last,” a 600-level student of UNIBEN, Aisosa

ed lack of reading culture among students, told the new students to inculcate the habit of reading in or-der to be successful in their career, saying readers are the leaders.

The HOD, who said the department has zero tol-erance for examination malpractice and other un-ethical behaviours, warned them to desist from such act, otherwise they will be expelled and punished ac-cordingly.

Lecturers that spoke at the event also told them to set out objectives in order of their preference and worked towards the attainment of those stated objectives.

Welcoming the new in-take, the Vice President of the association, Adeola Ad-ekuoroye, said the group would continue to organise programmes that would en-hance their academic suc-cess.

Minister commends film institute

the students advised the in-mates to wash their teeth daily and keep their environ-ment neat in order to reduce the tendency of falling ill.

The students later pre-sented toiletries, knickers, sanitary pad and food stuffs to them.

The Director of welfare services at the prison, Mr. Osemwengie praised the students for the gesture and encouraged them remain committed tto their studies as well as be law abiding.

cellor of the university and President, Association of African Universities (AAU), Professor Olusola Oyewole.

Professor Sanni, who is also the Dean of COLFHEC, said the lecture would look into the problems of heavy post-harvest losses of agri-cultural commodities based on his over 20 years research experience in the provision of safe and abundant food for wealth creation and con-sumption by individuals and communities in Nigeria.

Information Minister, Senator Patri-cia Akwashiki has commended the National Film Institute, NFI, Jos,

Plateau State for helping to turn out graduates for the film industry.

She said this at the institute’s 2014/2015 matriculation ceremony for their new intake.

The minister also commended managements of the Nigerian Film Corporation and University of Jos for sustaining the needed partnership in training of Nigerians in film produc-tion.

Akwashiki said the Nigerian Film Sector was set to maximise its full po-tentials as one of the world’s best film industry with it admission as the sec-ond African nation into the Interna-tional Federation of Film Producers Association (FIAPF) since 2011.

She noted that “Domestic and for-eign windows of opportunity, partner-ships and collaborations shall contin-ue to receive appropriate endorsement by government.”

Earlier, the Vice-Chancellor, Univer-sity of Jos, Prof. Hayford Mafuyai, said the partnership between the UNIJOS and the National Film Institute has

Danjuma who is also the Managing Director, Nigeria Film Corporation informed the minister that the land which measures 160.5 hectares was ac-quired from Plateau State Government and the corporation efforts in providing the approved designed infrastructure at the site has been hampered by funds.

The Private Public Partnership (PPP) option, Dadu said was being ex-plored to enable the corporation grap-ple with the problems of infrastructur-al development at the permanent site.

increased the fortunes of both institu-tions and the opportunity for research and studies in film production.

The university, he said, would con-tinue to provide the enabling environ-ment for a sustainable affiliation of the two institutions.

Chairman, Governing Council of the National Film Institute, Dr. Dan-juma Dadu, addressing the 162 new students, said the institute’s philosophy was to train job creators and not job seekers.

National Mirrorwww.nationalmirroronline.net 25Thursday, May 21, 2015

Compound adjectives

Don wants FG to extend grants to private universitiesSaidat alauSa

A senior lecturer at the Department of Chemi-cal Sciences, College of

Natural Sciences, Redeemer’s University, Ede, Osun State Prof. Olalere Adeyemi has urged the Federal Government to make its research grants for tertiary insti-tutions extend to private institu-tions.

This according to him will help researchers in such tertiary institutions to carry out their re-searches which he noted would have great benefit to students, universities and the nation.

He stated this while deliver-ing the 2nd inaugural lecture of university titled, “ORGANOME-TALLICS: A Fruitful Amalgama-tion of Metal and Ligand” held at university recently

Adeyemi, a Professor of chem-istry, said despite the fact that the

university for grants without any discrimination.

He added that majority of tax payers also send their children to private universities.

Describing basic science as a backbone of all applied sciences, the don said the study of science

must be encouraged in Nigerian universities.

He lamented that despite the beauty and applications of Or-ganometallics branch of Chem-istry, it is difficult to successfully graduate PhD in this area of Chemistry because of paucity of

L-R: Chief Internal Auditor, Adeniran Ogunsanya College of Education (AOCOED), Otto/Ijanikin, Mr. Nathaniel Eluwande; Deputy Provost, Mr. Wole Ajose ; Chairman, Committee of Head of Internal Audit Directorates in Colleges of Education( CHIADINCOE), Mr. Barnabas Abudu and AOCOED’s Librarian, Mrs. Omotayo Oluwole during the 16th AGM of CHIADINCOE at AOCOED recently.

the state of the-art facilities. In his address, the Vice-Chancel-

lor of the university, Prof. Debo Ad-eyewa said the aim of the inaugu-ral lecture was to bring to the open research activities of the academic to the public domain in order to benefit mankind.

objectives of STEP-B, a Nigerian project on Science and Technol-ogy Education at the Post Basic Level) are met by many Private universities in Nigeria, they are advised to collaborate with prin-cipal investigators from federal ministries.

“We had this bitter experience in Redeemer’s University few years back, the time was short, with available research propos-als at our disposal, we could not reach a suitable researcher that share our objectives, mission and vision and so we could not suc-cessfully apply”.

He further suggested that the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND) should include pri-vate tertiary institutions in its fund disbursement.

According to him, the aim of private schools is also to train youths for the economy, noting that research outputs both in quantity and quality qualified the

“Bishop to newly elected (newly-elected) legisla-tors: Slash your outrageous allowances” This is an example of compound adjectives.

“Reps (Reps’) speaker: South East coalition lobbies Bu-hari”

NATIONAL Mirror of April 27 comes up with copious grammatical crises: “We’ll restore peace in (to) APGA—Ufomba”

Next is its Views Page: “Parents have thus out of greed or fear of discharging their responsibilities to the (their) chil-dren, (needless comma) give (given) them out….”

“Both the federal and states (sic) government (federal and state governments) must take steps to ensure that….”

“There is thus the need to separate politicking from elec-tioneering campaign.” (Editorial) ‘Electioneering’ encom-passes ‘campaign.’

“…and the ousted leadership of the school’s parents/teachers’ association.” Education Today: parent-teacher as-sociation

“St. Saviour’s school commissions (inaugurates) N200m classrooms”

“Forex reserves drops (drop) 0.17% to three month (three-month) low” Because of its grouping role, the hyphen forms adjectives. Otherwise, some lexical combinations will be-come awkward and ambiguous.

Please note that ‘but’ and ‘however’ cannot co-function. And this: ‘at’ applies to a definite time; while ‘about’ refers to an approximate time. Therefore, to use both in the same environment is contradictory and confusing. But you can say ‘at or about’…in an informal setting that allows such es-capist latitude! Lastly: ‘likes’ take ‘compare with’ and unlike terms ‘compare to.’ An example, talking football: You can compare FC Barcelona striker Lionel Messi with Real Ma-drid playmaker Christiano Ronaldo, but Messi to Usain Bolt, the world’s fastest man. However, at a classical level, some likes are incomparable with one another: Nigerian local league players cannot be compared with, but to, either Messi or Ronaldo!

Still on National Mirror: “…activities of unlicensed de-signers is (are) shrinking its market in Nigeria.”

“Air-purifying, energy saving (why omit the second hy-phen?) AC unveiled as Panasonic stirs competition”

“Police counsel Ogun monarchs on grassroot (grassroots)

policing”“Unlawful possession of firearms: Vigilante boss exoner-

ated” Community Mirror: vigilance boss or vigilantes’ boss“Ota DPO calls for concerted efforts (effort) in traffic man-

agement”Finally from the Back Page of NATIONAL MIRROR

which circulated three blunders: “In this critical area, this government has failed woefully (abysmally)….”

“Another job creating (job-creating) initiative like the….”“…functional national infrastructure which are still lack-

ing in our oil dependent (oil-dependent) economy.”“Mama, tens of decades of exemplary contributions to the

upliftment (uplift) of common people….” There is no such word known as ‘upliftment’ in the English language lexicon.

THISDAY of April 22 did not practise robust journalism, as it advocates, on nine occasions: “Enjoy round the clock banking!” (Full-page advertisement by GT Bank) At your service adjectivally: round-the-clock banking!

“HICC pledge (pledges) to support FG’s war against cor-ruption.”

“Our daddy, on this auspicious occasion of your birthday anniversary….” ‘Birthday’ and ‘anniversary’ cannot co-func-tion in the same environment.

“I am not an advocate for albinos to marry themselves (one another)….”

“It was a beehive of activities…as the celebrant’s (celebra-tor’s) parents….” Fairground: a hive of activity (not a bee-hive of activities)!

“Your fight for the less privilege (less-privileged) and down trodden (downtrodden) has (had) indeed changed lives for the better, (a full stop) you are (were) indeed a rare gem.” (Full-page advertisement)

National Mirror Views Page of April 20 takes over the ba-ton with this error: “…the interest of the common man in the street.” The man in the street is basically common! Do not aggravate his circumstance by adding ‘common’!

“Glo’s Move to Greener Pastures (Move-to-Greener-Pas-tures) campaign hits over 50, 000 views (sic)”

“Man charged for (with) tossing wife off cruise ship”

The last slipshod entry from National Mirror just before its editorial: “Italy’s first back (black) minister gets death threat”

Now the Editorial: “…which are interpreted to include the right for (to) sexual preferences.”

“FG says its (it’s) suffering (suffering from) cash crunch”“Ex-dep Senate President, Legogie (another comma) dies

at 65” (Front Page)“Globacom to storm eight cities with Glo slide and bounce

tour” Voice of The Nation: Glo slide-and-bounce tour. Does the telecommunications company have issues with hyphen-ation?

“Encomium galore as Anambra council boss bags award” City SUN: Encomiums galore

“The Lagos PDP, until recently, was bedevilled by intra-party crisis (an intra-party crisis) that has made….”

“APC presidential shoes fits (how?) Okorocha”“Obituary announcement” Just obituary!“Corruption destroying the fabrics (fabric) of Nigeria”“Eagles (Eagles’) attack worries Keshi” “Aba IPP to be commissioned (inaugurated/launched…)

in August—Prof. Nnaji”The Guardian of April 18 goofed: “…work at Baro Port

(Niger State), Oguta (Imo State) and Jamata (Lokoja, Kogi State) (a comma) according to the government (another com-ma) has reached an advanced stage.” What is ‘an advanced stage’? How is the reader expected to know the extent of work carried out with this kind of ambiguous phrase (jour-nalese)? This is loose thinking and speculative writing! Let reporters and their editors express their findings in graphi-cal or statistical terms (percentage)—this way, the reader de-velops a fair idea and perception of the scope of work done. This makes sense in the absence of exactitude!

“…the set-up that has proved to be every inch a drain of (on) public purse…”

From The Guardian of April 2 comes the next set of gaffes starting from its Front Page: “The Federal High Court, Abuja division (another comma) yesterday ruled that the President of the Federal Republic on (of) Nigeria….”

26 National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.netThursday, May 21, 2015

L-R: Chairman, Association of Master Bakers, Lagos State, Prince Jacob Adejorin; Director, Project Management and Design Department, Federal Institute for Industrial Research Oshodi, Dr. Patrick Irabor, and Special Assistant to the DG, NAFDAC, Mrs. Elizabeth Awagu, at the flag off ceremony for the Annual Bread Monitoring Exercise and Seminar organized by NAFDAC, at FIIRO, Oshodi in Lagos, recently.

Arik Air

AIRLINES’ FLIGHTSCHEDULES

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 (Mon-Fri) 08.45, 17.30 (Sat) 14.40, 17.30 (Sun) Abv-Beni:08.00, 12.10 (Mon-Fri/Sat)08.56, 12.10 (Sun) Be-nin-Abj:09.55,13.30

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. Abu-ja-Yola: 11.00. Yola-Abuja: 13.00. Lagos-Abuja (Sat): 08.00, 08.50.Abuja-Lagos (Sat): 10.00, 15.00. Lagos-PHC (Sat): 17.00. PHC-La-gos (Sat): 19.00. Lagos-Yola (Sat): 08.50. Yola-Lagos (Sat): 13.00

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

Aero Contractors

27

Abolaji Adaebayo Nigeria has recorded an estimated $2.7 billion loss to unbri-

dled poultry products smuggling activities on yearly basis, thereby posing serious challenge to the growth of the industry.

Disclosing this during the 3rd PAN Summit on Tuesday in Lagos, the President of Poultry Association of Nigeria, PAN, Dr. Ayoola Oduntan, estimated that the annual poultry products con-sumption of the country totaled 8.8 kilogrammes out of which only 2.2 kilogrammes were pro-duced in the country.He explained that if just only 30 per cent of the smuggled products could be hindered and produced locally, it would go a long way in strength-ening the poultry industry.

Oduntan warned the consum-ers to desist from consuming im-ported poultry products, saying they are contaminated and out of their life span as most of them were embalmed for more than two years before been released to the market.

He declared the readiness of the Association to embark on na-tionwide campaign to sensitise the consumers on the effects of the smuggled chickens and tur-

FRANCIS EZEM

The Federal Government has said that the country will conserve a whopping N1.46

trillion if the new automotive pol-icy is allowed to run its full course over a period of time.

Director General of the Nation-al Automotive Council NAC, Mr. Aminu Jalal, who gave the revenue projection during a town hall meet-ing with maritime stakeholders us-ing 2013 import statistics, said that Nigeria spent up to N1.2 trillion ($6.212billion)yearly on imported vehicles.

According to him, the country in addition to this spends over N260 billion ($1.3 billion) on the importa-

tion of tyres and spare parts, thus making the sector the highest user of foreign exchange in the country after machinery and appliances.

Jalal disclosed that given the growing middle class of over 40 million people and a potential ve-hicle market of 1, 000,000 vehicles annually, which brings about a de-mand of auto products of 400, 000 vehicles annually comprising both brand new and used ones.

While enjoining Nigerians to support the new policy, said that the sector, which is a major com-ponent of the Nigerian Industrial Revolution Plan NIRP, which is a five-year programme developed by the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment to diversify the economy.

It was also gathered that apart from promoting industrialisa-tion, the policy is also expected to enhance government revenue through industry and also increase the contribution of the manufac-turing sector to the Gross Domes-tic Product GDP in 2015 and 13 per cent in 2017.

Under the new policy, the gov-ernment he council has developed an automotive industry develop-ment plan with the Standards Organisation of Nigeria SON, and other stakeholders, through which it has adopted 106 vehicle safety standards in the last two years for the assembled vehicles.

In addition to this, the NAC-boss, who was represented by the director in charge of Infrastruc-

ture department, Mr. Adetoro Kolapo, said that the council is also making provisions for appro-priate tariff measures, patronage scheme, among others.

The council has also as part of measures to ensure the success of the policy has developed a mar-ket development plan through which the indigenous auto mar-ket would be supported which include affordable vehicles acqui-sition programme, vehicle pur-chasing scheme and patronage by the government.

While reviewing the 1980 Auto Policy, he said that the policy failed due to the economic melt- down that greeted the nation’s economy with the attendant low patronage.

Nigeria loses $2.7bn yearly to poultry smuggling

Auto policy implementation ‘ll save Nigeria N1.46trn yearly, says FG

2831

Experts urge incoming govt on Information minister’s

competence

FCMB-financed waste recycling facility commissioned

Unsolicited SMS: NCC moves to end consumers’ plight, losses

BusinessNational Mirror

www.nationalmirroronline.netThursday, May 21, 2015

35

keys, why they should avoid con-suming they and embrace the lo-cally produced ones.

He said, “Over 1.2 million met-ric tons of smuggled poultry prod-ucts: frozen chicken and turkey enters into Nigeria on a yearly basis. Nigeria cannot continue to be a subtle dumping ground for all kinds of poultry and poultry products. It has been proved that

this chicken is stored with carci-nogenic chemicals and is heavy with bacteria due to broken cold chain.”

He added that the industry could be further threatened by the negative effects of the Eco-nomic Partnership Agreements, EPA, signed by ECOWAS leaders in July 2014 at Accra, Ghana and the coming into force of the Com-

mon External Tariffs, CET. The PAN boss also said the gov-

ernment must do all it can to re-open the closed farms, create em-ployment, considering the level of unemployment in the country, and develop the industry rather than wasting valuable forex and causing human and financial losses from disease.

…as PAN cautions consumers on imported poultry products

Non-oil sector accounts for 73% GDP -BoI bossSYLVA EMEKA-OKEKE

Non-oil and agriculture sectors of the nation’s economy accounted for

73 percent of the Gross Domes-tic Products, GDP, in 2014.

While non-oil services in-creased from 26 percent to 51 percent, agriculture contrib-uted 22 percent, amounting to 73 percent.

Chairman of the Board of Directors, Bank of Indus-try, BoI, Alhaji Abdulsamad Rabiu, who disclosed this in Lagos lauded the impressive turnout of the two critical sec-tors.

According to him, the per-formance of the sectors came on the heels of the rebased na-tion’s economy.

According to him, other re-based sectors include manu-facturing, which accounted for 6.7 percent and telecommu-nication 8.7 percent while en-tertainment accounted for 1.2 percent of the GDP.

The BoI boss also noted that the weakening contribution of the oil sector since June 2014 was a major setback to the overall growth of the nation’s economy as oil prices dropped sharply to $52 per barrel while production remained on an av-erage of 1.9m barrel per day, bpd.

As a result of the drop in oil production, he said, the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, took a decisive to devalue the Naira by 8 percent from N155 to N168 to a dollar, thus push-ing the benchmark interest rate upwards by 1 percent to 13 percent in order to preserve the nation’s foreign reserve.

Expectedly, the nation’s capital market was adversely affected by capital flight as a result of currency risk and economic recovery in some de-veloped economies.

Inflation rate dropped from 8.5 percent in August to 7.9 percent in November 2014, but closed the year at 8 percent,

OLUSEGUN KOIKI

The National Association of Air Transport Employ-ees, NUATE, has called

on the President-elect, Gen. Mu-hammadu Buhari to appoint an aviation professional as the next Minister in the sector.

NUATE believed that the ap-pointment of aviation profession-al would help in curbing sharp practices by airlines and other practitioners in the industry, add-ing that this would also help tre-mendously in move the industry forward.

In a congratulatory letter dated May 18, 2015 and signed by the Deputy General Secretary, NU-

ATE, Comrade Olayinka Abioye stated that an internationally regulated and highly technical industry like aviation should not continually be left in the hands of political manipulators and job seekers, but for a principled, properly trained and experienced professional with a solid track record of integrity performance and strong character should be appointed.

He explained that the choice of a core professional would also inspire other professionals in the sector to work hard and be count-ed.

He added, “In the same vein, a professional would be better posi-tioned to stop ‘cutting of corners,’ a term used to refer to malprac-

tices in the sector. A professional would also be well positioned and better equipped to address the critical issue of safety, security and development of the nation’s airports and airspace, which has been neglected over the years in favour of remodeling, which pro-vides faster and cheaper money for the boys.”

NUATE decried that since 1999, no aviation professional had been appointed as a minister in the sec-tor, a situation, which he said had retarded growth in the sector and Nigeria as a nation.

The union urged the President-elect to consider the role played by the aviation sector as the biggest promoter of international trade since the 20th century, noting

The much talked about Ca-lypso coconut liqueur cam-pus concert in collaboration

with Skuki the Afro hip hop duo and their friends, kicked off last week at the University of Ibadan throwing the undergraduates into exciting moments of fun.

The concert tagged “Skuki and Friends Campus Concert” is proud-ly supported by Calypso Coconut Liqueur a premium brand from the stable of Grand Oak Limited to give students the most memorable event of their academic session.

The Skuki and FriendsCampus Concert in University of Ibadan witnessed a large turnout of stu-dents who enjoyed yellow carpet selfie pictures, free makeover for ladies, Calypso Coconut Liqueur cocktails and lots of goodie bags. The high point of the event was the feel of the beach and Caribbean experience brought to the campus where students were made to enjoy Calypso mix in coconut.

The show took place at Pope John Paul II Hall where Skuki, Olamide, Vector, May D, Lil Kesh, Black Magic

took to the stage to thrill the audi-ence with their hit tracks. Spicing up the event was the very popular VJAdams of Soundcity.

Commenting on the evening,the Brand Manager Grand Oak Lim-ited, Miss Joy

Alabata said that Calypso, a brand specially packaged for fun lovers saw the need to partner with the Entertainment Industry espe-cially since their audience reso-nates with our core target.

She said: “So we thought this campus tour will be a good plat-

Union seeks professional as aviation minister

CALYPSO campus concert excites UI students

which was within the range of 6-9% benchmark set by the CBN.

External reserves, which stood at $42.85 billion as at De-cember 2013, declined to $34.35

billion in 2014.Such decrease in reserve,

he said, was due to increased funding of foreign exchange market interventions in order to stabilize the exchange rate.

According to him, the CBN took the decision to close the Retail Dutch Auction System Window, RDAS, due to the wid-ening gap between the rates in the interbank and the RDAS.

He noted that the gap pro-vided the opportunities for unethical practices by mar-ket operators, thereby putting pressure on the nation’s for-eign exchange reserve.

that Nigeria, the most populous black nation on earth and one of the largest exporters of crude oil in the world had not attracted as much foreign direct investment as it should have done due to a number of factors, which had to do with safety and security of the nation’s airports and air-space.

The union added, “As a re-sponsible trade union concerned with the growth and develop-ment of the aviation sector of our national economy, we have found it extremely expedient to canvass a policy thrust that will galvanise the industry into providing a safe, secure and effi-cient air transport industry.

“Taking cognisance of the significance of aviation as a global business with the chal-lenges and complexities of man-aging airports, airlines and air navigation facilities as well as human traffic, it is our convic-tion that leadership of such an internationally regulated and highly technical industry should not be left in the hands of politi-cal manipulators.”

NUATE however advised that in appointing a professional, care must be taken to avoid bringing onboard some of those who were responsible for the de-struction and ultimate demise of the Nigeria Airways and the aviation sector as a whole.

form to engage as well as interact with the students to give them a good night out. We are moving to the next campus for which detailed informa-tion will be disclosed shortly and it promises to be exciting as well”.

A 200 level Student Miss Dar-amola Mojoyinola described the event as “surely an evening that will remain in our memories for a long timeand I personally wish that this kind of event would be staged every semester on the cam-pus to add colour, glamour and ex-citement to campus life”.

L-R: Ajana of Ota land, High Chief Clement Akinyemi; Onikosi of Ota, High Chief Sikiru Anibire; Regional Business Manager Ibadan, Nigerian Breweries Plc, Joseph Bodunrin, and Balogun of Ota, High Chief Idowu Balogun receiving gifts on behalf of the Olota during Goldberg Fuji T’o Bam team’ visit to the Palace recently.

28 National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.netThursday, May 21, 2015Business News

FG unveils MSMEs Policy, as subsector creates 60m jobs OLUFEMI ADEOSUN ABUJA

The Federal Government has unveiled the new Na-tional Policy on Micro,

Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) This is even as re-ported that the MSMEs created a total of 59.7 million jobs in 2013 based on the results of the 2013 National MSMEs survey.

Speaking during a public pre-sentation of the documents on Tuesday in Abuja, Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Mr. Olusegun Aganga, stated that they would help to improve the ability of Nigeria’s MSMEs to compete effectively in local, regional and global markets.

He said, “The new MSMEs policy and the 2013 National MSMEs survey were conducted by the Small and Medium En-terprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) in collab-oration with National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).

According to the minister, the policy envisions an MSME sub-sector that can deliver max-imum benefits of employment generation, wealth creation, poverty reduction and growth to the Nigerian economy, adding that everywhere in the world, MSMEs are the biggest employ-ers of labour.

The Policy also outlined the general parameters, bench-marks and directions within which MSMEs’ programmes, interventions and initiatives

will be designed, implemented, monitored and evaluated Agan-ga noted that the federal gov-ernment was surprised to find that a substantial number of all the businesses operating in the country under the SMEs um-brella were in fact, micro enter-prises, stressing that the find-ings should influence the way policies driving the sector were being crafted and implemented.

“MSMEs are globally re-garded as the backbone of any economy. MSMEs contribute to improved living standards. They bring about substantial local capital formation and help in achieving high level of pro-ductivity and capability.”

“They have also been identi-fied as a vehicle for employment generation and providing op-portunities for entrepreneurial sourcing, training, development and empowerment.

Developing nations such as Nigeria characterised as low income earners by the World Bank, value SMEs for several reasons.” “SMEs have a signif-icant role to play in economic development.

They form the backbone of the private sector; they make up over 90 per cent of enterprises in the world and account for 50 to 60 per cent of employment. They also play an important role in generating employment and poverty alleviation,” he said.

Aganga however, regretted that many MSME operators find

it very difficult to effectively play their role due to some chal-lenges they face in the country.

Some of the challenges he identified, include competition, infrastructure, taxes, technol-ogy, accounting, management, marketing, economic, planning and finance. In his speech, the Director- Director of Small and Medium Dnterprises Develop-ment Agency of Nigeria (SMED-AN) Alhaji Umar Masari states that the new policy on MSMEs would not only facilitate but sustain vibrant enterprises sub-sector. He added,

“The National Policy on MSMEs and the results of the 2013 National MSMEs Survey will, no doubt, provide a veri-table platform for the planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluating development programmes within the MSMEs sub-sector in Nigeria”.

According to him, the agen-cy, in collaboration with the Na-tional Bureua Os Statistics con-ducted the first National MSME Survey in 2010 where it was dis-covered that there were 17.3mil-lion MSMEs in the country with the employment generation status of 32.2m, contributing about 46.54 % to GDP He also informed that 7,500 business plans had been so forwarded and many more were still be-ing forwarded while 340,560 new jobs had been created through the platform of National Enter-prises Development programme (NEDEP).

The Minister of Agricul-ture and Rural Devel-opment, Dr. Akinwumi

Adesina, at the weekend was honoured with the honourary Doctor of Agriculture degree at the Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, in the United States.

The award was conferred on him during spring commence-ment ceremonies in the West Lafayette campus’ Elliott Hall of Music.

The minister was one of the two awardees during the cer-emony, the second being Wil-liam “Bill” Dudley Jr., President and CEO of the Bechtel Group, who bagged a Doctorate degree in Engineering. Both honourees are the university’s alumni.

While conferring the award on Adesina, the President of Purdue University, Mitchell E. Daniels, Jr. paid glowing trib-utes to Adesina for his exempla-ry performance as a minister, which earned him recognition as one of the honorees.

Earlier, the minister was honoured in the College of Agri-culture, where he gave a lecture on lessons to learn from Nigeri-an agricultural transformation.

Dean of the college, Dr. Jay T. Akridge, commended the Minis-ter for deploy his intellect into transforming agriculture under his watch as a minister and was glad that an alumnus of Purdue lived up to their expectation.

Adesina bags Purdue University’s Honorary Doctorate degree

SYLVA EMEKA-OKEREKE

Contrary to speculations that home-grown products are substandard, the President,

African Organisation for Stan-dardisation, ARSO, Dr Joseph Od-umodu yesterday said Made-in-Af-rican products are the best as they meet international standards.

Describing the product stan-dard in Africa as a deliberate one, caused by lack of competence and inability of some manufacturers to do the right thing, the ARSO boss said over 80 percent of sub-standard products in Africa are imported.

The ARSO President, who is also the Director General, Stan-dards Organisation of Nigeria, SON, however noted that the level of substandard goods in Africa is between 30-40 percent, adding that it varies from one country to another.

According to Odumodu, part of his agenda for ARSO, is to strengthen the competitiveness of Made-in-Africa products as well as engender regional and continen-tal fusion into economic block.

While unveiling the informa-tion manual for the President’s Forum, tagged ‘Africa Rises for Standards’, scheduled to hold in Abuja next month, he said part of his agenda, is to boost trade with-in the African continent by at least 25-30 percent.

‘’ARSO President’s forum for Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) of National Standards Bodies (NSBs) is meant to sensitize the World on the readiness of African standardisers to strengthen the continental integration by break-ing inhibiting economic barriers through standardisation to en-hance industrial and economic empowerment’’, he stated.

Established by the Organisa-tion for African Union, OAU, in 1977 with the support of the Unit-ed Nations Economic Commis-sion for Africa, UNECA, the Afri-can standards body, is expected to coordinate issues of standardiza-tion amongst all National Stan-dards Bodies, NSBs, in order to harmonize African standards and conformity.

Beyond this, he said ARCO will also promote competitiveness of African goods and services by re-moving all technical barriers to trade while providing a basis for value -addition on African-orient-ed raw materials to promote in-dustrialization of Africa, just as it will promote self-sustainability for the continent through intra-

Some of the strategic objec-tives include establishment of standards, harmonization of systems that supports sound regulatory framework while also disseminate harmonized stan-dards and guidelines to support intra and inter African as well as international trade and industri-alization.

ARSO boss endorses home-grown goods, decries substandard

Business News

Akinwunmi

L-R: outgoing President of G-NEXID and CEO, Banco Latinoamericano de Comercio Exterior, S.A. (Bladex) Mr. Mr. Rubens V. Amaral Jr., and MD/CEO, Nigerian Export-Import Bank (NEXIM)/new Honorary President of G-NEXID Mr. Roberts U. Orya, at the Palais des Nations, Geneva Switzerland, recently

National Mirrorwww.nationalmirroronline.net 29Thursday, May 21, 2015

The US dollar is broadly higher as yesterday’s gains are extended. The driv-

ing force is not so much a shift in perceptions of the US economy, though the San Francisco Fed that claimed seasonal adjustment quirks are behind the repeated weakness in Q1 GDP helped mar-ket sentiment yesterday in North America.

Rather the euro has been weighed down by comments from the ECB’s Coeure who indicated that the bond-buying program would be stepped up this month and next month to allow for a slower purchases during the thin summer months. This in turn helped spur a European bond market rally. The German 10-year benchmark yield is off 9 bp to 54 bp, a one-week low. Spain, Italy, and Portu-guese yields are off 13-14 bp.

Not only are European bonds ral-lying, so are stocks. Major markets

are up 1.3%-2.0%. The Dow Jones Stoxx 600 is up 1.5%, led by consum-er discretionary and staples, and telecoms.

The euro had approached $1.15 before the weekend. Today it is flirting with the 100-day moving average near $1.1175. It held above the 20-day moving average near $1.1155. It has not closed below the 20-day moving average since April 23. Resistance is now in the $1.1280-$1.1300 area.

The German ZEW was disap-pointing, but the euro did not make new lows in response. A softer report was expected, but the decline was more than anticipated by the consensus. The assessment of current conditions fell to 65.7 from 70.2, and the expectations component fell to 41.9 from 53.3. Despite the pullback, both read-ings remain new cyclical peaks.

Sterling is lower for third day.

It peaked on May 14 after pok-ing through the $1.58 level briefly. Today it is testing the $1.5540 re-tracement area of the leg up that began on May 5 below $1.5000. The next retracement objective is near $1.5450.

Sterling was already coming under pressure, but the negative CPI print accelerated the push lower. April consumer prices rose 0.2% on the month, which was half as much as the consensus ex-pected. This was sufficient to push the year-over-year rate into nega-tive territory (-0.1%) for the first time since at least 1960.

The core rate also was lower than expected at 0.8%. The con-sensus was for an unchanged reading of 1.0%. The implied yield of the short-sterling futures strip fell in response. Next year’s implied yields are off 4-5 bp, and 2017 yields are off 6 bp.

EU steps up bond purchases

UDEME AKPAN

Oil marketing compa-nies have petitioned the President-elect, General

Muhammadu Buhari, over the payment of their outstanding N200 billion fuel subsidy claims.

The marketers said the peti-tion became necessary to enable the new government under-stand all the issues involved on fuel importation, amount paid and outstanding to be inherited from May 29, 2015.

The petition was reportedly jointly signed by representa-tives of Major Marketers As-sociation of Nigeria MOMAN, Independent Petroleum Market-ers Association of Nigeria and DAMPPA.

The Executive Secretary of Depot Owners and Petroleum Products Marketers Association DAMPPA, Mr. Femi Adewole

confirmed that the groups had “petitioned both the transitional Committee and President-elect, General Muhammadu Buhari on the N200 billion fuel subsidy, adding that both the transition-al committee and the new Presi-dent have the right to know and be carried along because of the importance of the issue,”

Adewole said in a telephone interview that said they looked forward to having a formal en-gagement with them to further explain issues that have to do with the fuel subsidy in view of the urgent need to settle the out-standing as only the Nigerian National Petroleum Corpora-tion; NNPC is currently import-ing fuel into the nation.

He lamented that MOMAN and IPMAN no longer had funds to import petroleum products as the banks are not willing to provide loans to them because of the fear of uncertainty over

payment.The Executive Secretary of

Major Oil Marketers Associa-tion of Nigeria, MOMAN, Mr. Femi Olawore corroborated the DAMPPA scribe’s position that the groups had sent a delegation to solicit for a formal engage-ment with Buhari.

He said the planned engage-ment is necessary to enable them know his commitment to ensuring that the outstanding subsidy is paid from May 29 when he takes over government.

“We know he is very busy at this time. But if we can meet and have assurance that he will con-tinue where Jonathan stopped, then the strike would be over. All we need is the commitment that the subsidy would be paid.

“We would not have come to where we found ourselves if relevant Federal Government agencies had given this issue the priority it deserves,” he said.

Marketers petition Buhari on N200bn fuel subsidy

The Group Managing Di-rector/Chief Executive of First City Monument Bank

(FCMB) Limited, Mr. Ladi Balo-gun, has assured that the Bank will continue to support projects and other initiatives that would impact on the environment, people and the Nigerian economy.

He stated this at the commis-sioning of the multi-billion naira Solous 1 Material Recovery Facil-ity (MRF) at Igando in Lagos. The bank acted as the Senior Lender to the project, while FCMB Capital Markets Limited (another subsid-iary of FCMB Group Plc) acted as the Sole Financial Adviser and Ar-ranger.

The facility adopts low/mid technology with a wide range of waste recycling and materials recovery equipment. It recovers waste products at land fill sites and sorts same into re-useable materi-als which are then sold to various off-takers. Such recycled materials include textiles, metals, plastics, glass and paper.

The project was undertaken by WestAfricaENRG Limited under the terms of a concession agree-ment with Lagos State Govern-ment.

The waste management solu-tion proffers environmental bene-fits including, Improved air quality, waste minimization and improved soil quality, Leachate prevention and protection of ground water resources and also aligns with Mil-lennium Development Growth, MDG’s objectives of eradication of extreme poverty and hunger, pro-

motion of gender equality, women empowerment as well as environ-mental stability.

Speaking at the commission-ing ceremony, Balogun said that FCMB’s funding and support of the project was part of its contribu-tions to the well-being of the soci-ety and the nation’s economy.

The FCMB boss said: ‘’We are particularly proud to be associated with this waste-to-wealth project as it will go a long way to improve waste management in the state, therefore promoting a cleaner and safer environment, and a healthier populace, whilst creating employ-ment and income opportunities’’, he said.

“We believe that protecting the environment and conserving our shared scarce resources should be a collective effort. This is why we focus on Environmental Sustain-ability as a core CSR pillar and we continue to innovatively devise means of minimising or totally eliminating challenges posed by the environment. Additionally, we are committed to championing and supporting initiatives to make our planet a safe haven for us and the future generation’’, Balogun added.

He pointed out that the Solous 1 Material Recovery Facility was not just another project but represent-ed “an opportunity to transform our commitment into sustainable action. This innovative project, the first of its kind in West Africa, is a pride to us all. It is a testament to the enormous possibilities that can emanate from purposeful partner-ships”

Russian President Vladi-mir Putin remains cau-tiously hopeful about

the economy as his country adapts to Western sanctions over the Ukraine crisis. Fi-nance Minister Anton Silu-anov believes the worst part of the economic turmoil is over amid low oil prices, shrinking wages and outside pressure.

According to recent data, wages in Russia contracted to levels not seen since 1999, fall-ing 9.9 percent in February. Retail sales fell by 7.7 percent, and this is the second month that retail sales have dipped. Analysts point to a weak ruble and low oil prices as primary reasons for the slump.

Inflation has jumped to 16.7 percent, the highest since 2002, and consumption is fall-ing as well. In fact, consump-tion may fall to its lowest level in over two decades. On top of that, the unemployment rate increased from 5.5 percent to

5.8 percent.With so much going against

Russia, economists predict that the nation will undergo a recession, the first since 2009. The ruble itself has plunged a whopping 40 percent since the Russian annexation of Crimea.

Russia’s central bank has im-plemented easing strategies to give the economy an extra jolt. In addition, Russia’s economic output may surge to six per-cent, allowing the country to pay down its debt. Although the central bank predicts the econ-omy will shrink anywhere from 3.5 to four percent this year, with additional contraction ex-pected for next year, Economy Minister Alexei Ulyukayev is more optimistic, believing the economy will grow at least two percent in 2016. He also believes that inflation had reached its peak, and capital flight may be lower than anticipated, falling under $100 billion.

FCMB-fi nanced waste recycling facility commissioned

Russia braces economic storm amid recession prospectsL-R; outgoing CEO,Royal friesland Campina Wamco nigeria plc, Mr Cees’t Hart; Chairman, Mr jacob moyo Ajekigbe,

and Managing Director, Mr Rahul colaco, at the 42nd Annual General Meeting of the Company, in Lagos, recently.

30 National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.netThursday, May 21, 2015Business News

The revolution of the telecoms indus-try, which began over a decade ago, came with its good and ugly aspect.

One of the ugly aspects that subscribers find annoying is the unsolicited text mes-sages coming from the mobile network op-erators.

But there are already suggests that subscribers may soon get over the ugly impact of unsolicited text messages going by recent development that occur in the industry.

National Mirror investigations re-vealed that text messages are no longer only just from the network operators but the banks and other business concerns have now joined the trend. Today, even the churches, political organisation, social groups as well as government agencies are now in the circle of the organisations that send unsolicited text messages to sub-scribers of all network, and that is beside the daily ones from the operators that drop on the mobile phones of subscribers.

Text messages, are in themselves not

bad but the interruptions it sometimes cause to the thought of the subscriber, who as it may sometimes be said could be expecting money deport alert.

It was gathered that bulk of the text messages emanate from Value Added Services Providers, VAS, who have out-sourcing jobs from other organisations to deliver such messages to their target audi-ence that cut across mobile networks in the country.

Investigation revealed that the text messages comes several times in a day and sometimes eating up the memory space of phones that are not of high-end value thereby denying subscribers space to store other useful text messages.

While the operators seems unwilling to refuse the deployment of text messages through their networks by the VAS, there are indeed also some which may be of ben-efit to the subscribers, and they are such messages that were send to Nigerians dur-ing the period of the Ebola virus rage.

It is also noticed that the operators use text messages to send network related in-formation to their subscribers, however, it was gathered that what subscribers found annoying are the promo text messages, most which also comes from the operators.

Sensing the growing menace of the problem in the industry, and the enormity of public outcry, the industry regulator, the Nigerian Communications Commis-sion, NCC have stepped up its strategy in curbing the menace by educating the sub-

Unsolicited SMS: NCC moves to curb consumers’ plight, losses

Subscribers fiddling with their phones-

There are worries over the growing menace of unsolicited text messages and the subscribers have taken the heat on the mobile network operators at any opportunity, but recently, in quick response, the industry regulator, the Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, went on air to assure the consumers of plans to end years of short-changing subscribers by telecom operators through unsolicited sundry data and voices services . ISAIAH ERHIAWARIEN writes.

THE NCC WENT AS FAR AS BANNING TEXT

MESSAGES THAT COMES AT NIGHT, SAYING THAT

THE COMMISSION IS PUTTING ITS FOOT DOWN AGAINST THE OPERATORS

AND MONITORING THEIR ACTIVITIES AND GIVING THEM VARIOUS

REGULATIONS TO ENSURE THAT THIS DOES NOT

HAPPEN

your phone.��e added that if the subscriber wants to

opt out he could indicate and the message will stop coming to his phone line stating that �If you now want some specific SMS to come to you, then you have to give them the authority to regularly check on your number to ensure that only the messages you desire comes to your phone line.�

Ojobo who also spoke on other press-ing issues in the industry lashed at the subscribers for being responsible for the growing trend of fraudulent promos across the network stating that �If you haven�t invested or engaged in anything and somebody tells you, you have won N� million you should be responsible enough to know that it is fraud and so delete it.�

�e also took time to warn against the sale of pre-registration of SIM card by retailers and dealers saying that once a SIM card is pre-registered it can be used to commit crime.

�e explained that it is the activity of the persons that registered it that will be followed up adding that �you are giving yourself unnecessary persecution that could have easily been avoided.�

The �agos State �onal Controller of the NCC, Mr. Okechukwu Aniweke revealed that between �anuary and May ����, the NCC received ��� complaints and about �� percent of them have been resolved.

�e said that whenever such cases are received by the NCC, the Consumer Af-fairs Bureau ensures that it is followed to its logical conclusion urging those who have complain to call ���.

�e said that the subscriber has the right to stop the messages saying that all the subscriber needs to do is to send STOP to the number that sent the message and it will stop but if that fails, the subscriber should visit the office of the NCC in any part of the country to lodge his complain or call the regulator�s toll free number, ���.

�e however, observed that unsolicited text message is a global problem, and that in developed countries one can call a par-ticular number and activities can be go-ing on while the call wait but that the in-dividual has the power to stop the network from sending text messages to him saying that the �truth is that there are even those good ones that you would like to have in

scribers.It recently took the campaign to the

airwaves across the country commencing with two radio stations in �agos, Metro �M ���.� and �NI�A� �M ���.�.

According to the �irector, Public Af-fairs of the NCC, Tony Ojobo who was on air at the weekend, the Commission has is-sued several directives to mobile network operators to minimise the rate of unso-licited text messages send to subscribers through their network stressing that the NCC has begun to fine them for that.

�e revealed that the NCC went as far as banning text messages that comes at night saying that the Commission is putting its foot down against the operators and moni-toring their activities and giving them various regulations to ensure that this does not happen.

Why urging subscribers not to hesitate to put the operators on their toes concern-ing the issue, he said that they can report cases of unsolicited at the customer care centers of operators stating that most of these things actually come from the Value Added Service Providers.

Ojobo explained that VAS providers use the network to transmit their servic-es noting that �sometimes they get their services through the system without the operator or the NCC unable to detect it. It happens all over the world but we insist that they should be able to provide various types of systems that make it possible to detect these unsolicited text messages, es-pecially those that are not wanted by the subscribers.�

��National Mirrorwww.nationalmirroronline.netThursday, May 21, 2015

Info TechNational Mirror

www.nationalmirroronline.net

32 National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.netThursday, May 21, 2015

Tech Box

Basis updated its Basis Peak activity-tracking wristband not Tuesday with wowing

new features, but with a rather mod-est collection of incremental up-grades. There’s a snazzy new Titani-um Edition case, a variety of colored leather wrist bands, and three quiet software enhancements.

In sum total, the Basis is still moving forward, and now can pair its extremely sophisticated exer-cise and sleep tracking with better-looking hardware. The updates aren’t revolutionary, but they’re just enough to put Basis’ name back in the conversation as Apple and Android Wear watch manu-facturers release ever-more-stylish wearables.

The story behind the story wearables takeaway for 2015 is style matters. Apple is playing up fashion with stainless steel link bracelets and Milanese loops. The Android Wear manufacturers are answering back with LG Watch Ur-bane and the eponymous Huawei Watch. And now Basis is stepping up to the catwalk as well.

I’ve seen the new Titanium Edi-tion and leather bands in person, and they do improve the essential Basis Peak package. Compared to the original Basis B1 activity tracker from 2013, which looked a bit like an original series Star Trek prop, the Titanium Edition is posi-tively posh.

But Basis really hasn’t done that much to improve its core

data-tracking experience which is fantastic, certainly, but could still use a boost now that everyone is talking about Apple Watch fitness features.

Last year’s Basis Peak looked pretty good in its standard alumi-num case. But now we have the $300 Titanium option specifically a “satin finish Grade II titanium case.” This new edition comes with a cognac (brown) leather band as well as a black silicone strap. That’s right: You get two straps in the box.

If you simply want to improve the look of your existing Basis Peak, there’s a new assortment of $50 leather straps (which work with the Titanium Edition as well). All have precious color names, be-cause fashion demands this: Noir (black), Fog (grey), Saddle (cara-mel), Khaki (light tan) and Blush (light pink).

Of course, the Peak and Tita-nium Edition already work with standard 23 mm watch straps. But if you don’t have the imagination to personalize your fitness tracker all by yourself, Basis has you covered. There are also five colors for Basis’ basic $30 SportVent silicone strap.

Basis already has some of the most advanced sleep-tracking in wrist wearables, using its heart rate monitor to provide data on REM sleep cycles. Basis also has extremely accurate heart-rate tracking during the heat of vigor-ous exercise, just like what you get with chest strap monitors.

Basis adds style, upgrades with tracker

STORIES BY ISAIAH ERHIAWARIEN

A study by Ericsson has identified key strate-gies that mobile opera-

tors needed to adopt to drive their businesses to successful heights.

The study was conducted in collaboration with Ernst and Young, a mananegement con-sulting firm.

Successful operators, known as Frontrunners in the study share a common strategy that focus on network performance and customer experience, differentiation, in-novation and technology ap-proaches, the report said.

According to the report sourced by National Mirror the Frontrunner revenues grew at 9.6 percent CAGR, while that of their competitors was at 2.7 percent, even as average in markets with no Frontrunners is -1.4 percent for the year 2010 to 2014.

Ericsson noted that tradi-tional revenues have been un-der pressure and mobile data use soaring, as a result, opera-tors have been forced to evolve both their networks and their business models saying that some have been more success-ful than others.

The company also stated that the Frontrunner strate-gies include quality-led pro-gression stressing that they differentiate through high-performing networks and high brand preference

Market-led adaptation was also indentifeid as a stratgey whereby the Frontrunners differentiate through quick ad-aptation to market conditions while the third strategy was offering-led transformation which refers to Frontrunners that differentiate by being first to market with uniquely de-signed offerings.

The study also revealed a number of ways in which Frontrunners are similar in-

cluding their views on connec-tivity and services as differenti-ators rather than commodities, and their focus on innovating new revenue streams rather than maximising old ones.

According to the company, the Frontrunners displayed greater interaction between marketing and technical roles, rather than the traditional silos, and they leverage net-work performance by either utilising superior network performance as a differentia-tor or by improving network performance to meet customer expectations.

Executive Director of Nor-dic Advisory, Martin Sebel-ius, EY, said that EY clearly sees that despite different strategies, the Frontrunner operators share a common commitment to network qual-ity adding that they constantly seek new ways of challenging industry conventions to make connectivity more relevant to people, business and society.

: L-R : Managing Director, Vodacom Business Nigeria, Guy Clark , Head IT Unilever Ghana,Kwame Manu-Antwi, General Manager, Vodafone Global Enterprise - West Africa, Leraoto Motsoeneng, and Regional IT Manager Nestle Central & West Africa, Derek Tengey, at the IDC West Africa CIO Summit held in Lagos.

Study lists growth strategies for telecoms operators

Computer Warehouse Group Plc.,CWG, may soon replicate the success

it has achieved in the nation’s fi-nancial sector in Cameroon and Francophone Africa.

Founder and Chief Ex-ecutive Officer,CWG, Austin Okere made the disclosure while receiving the Managing Director of Cameroon’s in-terbank agency, “Groupemen-tInterbancaireMonétique de l’AfriqueCentrale,GIMAC,

Mr. Valentin Mbozo and a delegation of the agency who were on a working visit to the corporate head office of the company in Lagos.

He said:“Today, the visit by GIMAC bears the possibility of replicating this history in

Cameroon and Francophone Africa.”

He said that CWG has rolled out a number of solutions that address the issue of financial inclusion in Nigeria noting that it designed FINEDGE, a finanicail solution to give Mi-crofinance Institutions (MFIs)sustainability and mecha-nisms for control with which they can automate their ser-vices and serve the SMEs com-munity effectively.

He said further that CWG is the brain behind the Diamond Yello account that has brought banking to the door step of ev-eryone capable of operating a mobile phone adding that it also introduced SMERP; an ERP solution that allows SMEs

keep their inventory and track sales.

“Another is Openshopen, an e-commerce platform that will help them boost their visibility and improve sales. With these, not only will the SMEs be able tosecureloans and increase profitability but MFIs will feel safeto grant them these loans”, said Okere.

The CWG boss expressed hope that GIMAC will lever-age on the unique opportuni-ties that his company is offer-ing through these solutions to actualise their vision noting that CWG has created a tech-nology platform in the cloud where the various players in the economy transact using technology.

CWG targets Francophone Africa with financial technology

Info Tech

STORIES BY ISAIAH ERHIAWARIEN

About 2000 Nigerians will be trained by MTN Nige-ria on several ICT skills

through its Corporate Social Re-sponsibility, CSR, platform, the MTN Foundation, in collabora-tion with Oracle.

The initiative is meant to give further ICT training to select MTNF scholars as well as bursary funded by Oracle for one student to attend the CERN openlab Summer School in Switzerland.

The 2,000 MTNF scholars will study database design and SQL and Java program-ming skills.

According to the Corporate Service Executive, MTN Nige-ria, Akinwale Goodluck, the gesture is hinged on

MTN’s believe that educa-tion is pivotal to the growth of any nation, saying that MTN is delighted with this collaboration that will see Mufutau Akuruyejo, an MTN Foundation scholar, leave for Switzerland to participate in the nine-week CERN openlab programme.

Akuruyejo will be the first Nigerian to participate in this intensive programme, which

STORIES BY ISAIAH ERHIAWARIEN

More than 80 percent of mobile operators worldwide have con-

tinued to invest in 3G, with total 3G connections globally expect-ed to exceed long-term evolution

(LTE) up until 2020.The Global Mobile Suppliers’

Association’s, GSA’s, latest up-date of the HSPA Operator Com-mitments report, which lists all HSPA and HSPA+ network commitments, deployments and launches worldwide revealed that there were more than 1.83

billion WCMDA-HSPA subscrip-tions globally by the fourth quarter of 2014.

Latest key findings from the GSA’s HSPA report stated that there are 600 HSPA operator net-work commitments in 217 coun-tries/territories and 582 com-mercially launched networks

in 216 countries while all of the world’s WCDMA operators have commercially launched HSPA services.

The report also said that more than 69 percent of HSPA operators have commercially launched HSPA+ systems add-ing that 404 HSPA+ networks

L-R: Chief Technology Officer, CWG Plc., Mr. James Agada,Chief Executive Officer, CWG Plc., Mr. Austin Okere, Managing Director, GIMAC, Mr. Valentin Mbozo’o, and Head Applications, GIMAC, Mr. Valentine Essimbi Jean Valentin during Groupement Interbancaire Monétique de l’Afrique Centrale, GIMAC, working visit to Computer Warehouse Group Plc., CWG’s corporate head office in Lagos.

MTN Foundation to train 2000 Nigerians on ICT skills

Operators’ investments on 3G up 80%

Nigeria’s Chinedu Echeruo has sold his apps, HopStop.com, to

Apple for $1 billion.The Wall Street Journal’s

publication, AllThingsDigital reported that Echeruo. founded HopStop.com in 2005, and makes mobile applications for both iOS and Android that covers over 300 cities and that helps people get directions or find nearby sub-way stations and bus stops.

Although the terms of the deal have not been disclosed as at the time of this report, Chinedu Echeruo, formerly an analyst

at investment banks and hedge funds is now Chairman of the Board for HopStop.

HopStop has been compared to Israel’s Waze which was re-cently acquired by Google for $1 billion. The move is seen as Apple’s plan to bolster its map of-fering especially given Google’s recent acquisition of Waze. A serial entrepreneur, Chinedu Echeruo grew up in Eastern Nigeria and attended Kings Col-lege, Lagos.

He attended Syracuse Uni-versity and the Harvard Busi-ness School in the United States

and founded HopStop.com after working for several years in the Mergers & Acquisitions and Leveraged Finance groups of J.P Morgan Chase where he was in-volved in a broad range of M&A, Financing and Private Equity transactions. He also worked at AM Investment Partners, a $500 million volatility-driven convert-ible bond arbitrage hedge fund. He founded and raised nearly $8 million for his two U.S based in-ternet companies: Hopstop.com andTripology.com.

Tripology.com was acquired in 2010 by American travel and

navigation information com-pany, Rand McNally. True to form, Echeruo is working on yet another venture but this time, focused on small businesses in Africa.

According to him, “there is no reason why every entrepre-neur should have to reinvent the wheel every single time in all the countries in Africa. My idea is to essentially have one place where a budding entrepreneur can ac-cess a template for starting a business, and then customize it to suit their own situation; es-sentially, a business-in-a-box.”

Nigerian sells $1bn apps to Apple

would not have been possible without Oracle’s support.

CERN openlab is a unique public-private partnership between CERN and leading ICT companies. Its mission is to accelerate the development of cutting-edge solutions to be used by the worldwide LHC (large hadron collider) com-munity.

“Our highly competitive stu-dent programme is a corner-

stone of CERN openlab, with the students bringing new ideas and invigorating our collabo-ration,” said Head of CERN Openlab, Alberto Di Meglio,.

He said:“This year, we re-ceived over 1,500 applications from all over the globe and have selected students of the highest possible caliber. We’re very excited to be welcoming them to CERN very soon.”

The MTNF Science and

Technology Scholarship Scheme have provided hun-dreds of brilliant but indigent students the opportunity to acquire qualitative tertiary education. The programme is expected to encourage Nigeri-an students to take interest in science and technology-related courses for the ultimate benefit of the country.

The second initiative fo-cuses on teaching database

design and SQL and Java programming skills to MTN Foundation Scholars, using Oracle Academy curriculum and hosted on-line learning materials. Students will be taught by two Oracle Acad-emy trained faculty from the Ajayi Crowther University and Aived International who have attended and passed the formal Oracle Academy faculty train-ing courses.

have been commercially launched in 168 countries.

So far, 182 DC-HSPA+ (dual channel) networks − more than 31 percent of all HSPA networks − have been commercially launched in 92 countries while most 3G/HSPA systems use 2.1GHz spectrum (3GPP band 1).

However, the report said that UMTS900 is also mainstream: 96 operators in 60 countries com-mercially launched UMTS900 in either a single band or multi-band network deployment.

As defined by Webopedia, HSPA – or high speed packet access – is a set of mobile tele-phony protocols that includes two popular standards: HSDPA (high-speed downlink packet access) and HSUPA (high-speed uplink packet access).

HSDPA is a packet-based data service feature of the WCDMA standard (wide-band code-division multiple access, a 3G technology that increases data transmission rates). HSDPA provides a downlink with data transmission up to 8-10Mbps.

Info TechNational Mirrorwww.nationalmirroronline.net 33Thursday, May 21, 2015

Government Technology

Financial Technology

A federal judge has certified a class-action lawsuit that accuses J C Penney Co Inc

(JCP.N) of marking up retail prices on apparel and accessories to trick shoppers into believing they were getting good deals when the items went on sale.

In a decision on Monday, U.S. District Judge Fernando Olguin in Los Angeles said it was possible “in one stroke” to determine whether J C Penney’s advertising practices caused shoppers in California to buy items at discounts that proved illusory.

The J C Penney complaint ac-cused the retailer of running a “massive, years-long, pervasive campaign” to deceive shoppers about its pricing for private-label brands and outside brands, such as Liz Claiborne, sold exclusively by the retailer.

Lead plaintiff Cynthia Spann said she discovered this after buy-ing three blouses for $17.99 each, a 40 percent discount from the “origi-nal” $30 price, only to learn the price was never above $17.99 in the prior three months.

By letting shoppers sue as a group, the decision could help them obtain greater compensation at low-er cost from the Plano, Texas-based retailer than if they sued individu-ally.

J C Penney did not immediately respond on Tuesday to requests for comment.

Similar lawsuits have been filed against retailers such as Kohls Corp

Judge certifies class action over JC Penney phantom discounts

(KSS.N) and Men’s Wearhouse Inc’s (MW.N) Jos. A. Bank unit.

Olguin certified a class of plain-tiffs who bought private-label or exclusive items from J C Penney in California from Nov. 5, 2010 to Jan. 31, 2012 at discounts of 30 percent or more.

The plaintiffs accused J C Penney of violating state consumer protec-tion laws.

The Federal Trade Commission has said retailers are supposed to sell items at original prices for a “reason-able length of time” before marking them down, if they wish later to pro-vide the original prices to consum-ers who compare prices.

J C Penney moved away from dis-counts in 2012, when Chief Execu-tive Officer Ron Johnson adopted a strategy of “fair and square” ev-eryday low pricing. It resumed dis-counting after sales plunged, result-ing in Johnson’s ouster the following year.

Wal-Mart Stores Inc (WMT.N) on Tuesday became the lat-est U.S. retailer to report

weaker-than-expected quarterly sales, saying consumers were pock-eting tax refunds and savings from cheaper gasoline rather than buying unnecessary items.

Shares of the world’s largest re-tailer, whose earnings just missed analysts’ estimates and whose fore-cast range for the current quarter was largely below expectations, were down 4.2 per cent at $76.56 in morning trading.

Wal-Mart said sales at stores open more than a year increased by 1.1 per

U.S. housing starts jumped to their highest level in nearly 7-1/2 years in April and per-

mits soared, hopeful signs for an economy that is struggling to regain strong momentum after a dismal first quarter.

The strength in housing is in stark contrast with weakness in con-sumption, business spending and manufacturing, which have prompt-ed economists to lower their second-quarter growth estimates and raised doubts that the Federal Reserve will raise interest rates before the end of the year.

Groundbreaking surged 20.2 per cent to a seasonally adjusted annual pace of 1.14 million units, the high-est since November 2007, the Com-merce Department said on Tuesday. The percent increase was the biggest since February 1991.

March’s starts were revised up to a 944,000 unit rate instead of the pre-viously reported 926,000 unit pace.

Starts for single-family homes, which accounts for the largest share of the market, hit their highest level since January 2008. Groundbreak-ing for the volatile multifamily seg-ment also recorded hefty gains last month.

Permits for future home con-struction jumped 10.1 per cent to a 1.14 million-unit rate, the highest since June 2008. Permits have been

cent in the 13 weeks ended on May 1 from a year earlier. Analysts polled by research firm Consensus Metrix had expected an increase of 1.5 per cent.

The tepid growth underscores sluggish spending across the sec-tor. U.S. retail sales have been flat or lower industrywide in four of the last five months, and department store chains Kohls Corp (KSS.N) and Macys Inc (M.N) also disappointed investors by reporting weaker-than-expected results last week.

“Many of our U.S. customers are using their tax refunds and the extra money from lower gas prices to pay

down debt or put it into savings,” Wal-Mart Chief Executive Officer Doug McMillon said on a prerecord-ed earnings call.

Wal-Mart said it drew more cus-tomer visits in the United States for the second straight quarter, reflect-ing efforts to improve service. It also pointed to 7.9 per cent growth in com-parable sales at smaller-format stores as sign of strength in its business.

But sales of consumer electronics declined, in part because port disrup-tions on the West Coast delayed TV shipments, Chief Financial Officer Charles Holley told reporters on a call.

Wal-Mart said net profit fell to $3.34 billion, or $1.03 per share, in the first quarter ended April 30 from $3.59 billion, or $1.11 per share, a year earlier. Analysts on average had ex-pected $1.04 per share, according to Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S.

Revenue fell slightly to $114.83 bil-lion from $114.96 billion, reflecting a hit of about $3.3 billion from the stronger dollar.

For the second quarter, Wal-Mart forecast earnings of $1.06 to $1.18 per share, with results hurt by four cents because of the firmer dollar and 4 cents from its move earlier this year to increase U.S. workers’ pay.

above a 1 million-unit pace since July.Economists polled by Reuters had

forecast groundbreaking increasing to a 1.02 million-unit pace and per-mits rising to a 1.06 million-unit rate last month.

The dollar rose to a session high against the euro on the data, while prices for U.S. Treasuries turned negative.

U.S. stocks index futures were trading higher, also after the Europe-an Central Bank suggested it would speed up its bond buying program.

The firming housing market also buoyed profits at Home Depot Inc (HD.N). The world’s largest home improvement chain by sales reported better-than-expected quarterly profit

and sales, and raised its full-year sales and profit forecast on Tuesday.

While the robust data probably overstates the health of the housing market, the signs of strength fit in with views that a housing rebound is under way.

There is cautious optimism that housing, which has seen an accel-eration in home sales and prices, will combine with a tightening labor mar-ket to lift the economy out of the soft patch hit at the start of the year.

The government reported last month that gross domestic product grew at a 0.2 per cent annual pace in the first quarter. But weak March trade and inventories data suggested the economy actually contracted.

A store

Wal-Mart sales miss expectations as shoppers pocket savings

Robust U.S. housing data offers hope for second-quarter growth

34 National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.netThursday, May 21, 2015Global News

Investment banking reve-nues in the second quarter for eight of the top banks

could fall 15 per cent from the previous quarter, as income from rates trading tumbles, JPMorgan analysts said on Tuesday.

Trading revenue from the world’s biggest banks showed signs of recovery in the first quarter as market volatility boosted dealing room profits after years of attrition.

However, after a normal April, May is proving to be rel-atively weak for revenue from fixed income, currencies and commodities (FICC) that could continue into June and see rev-enues in that division slump 25 per cent, JPMorgan analysts predict.

“We are witnessing a slow-down in investment banking revenues in the second quar-ter 2015, potentially more than normal seasonality, driven by weakness in rates following a strong first quarter perfor-mance” the analysts wrote in a

JPMorgan sees second-quarter slowdown in investment banking

note to clients.The first quarter is typically

the strongest period of the year for investment bank income. In the second quarter, equities di-visions, though are outperform-ing normal seasonal trends and are expected to show only an eight per cent decline quarter-on-quarter, similar to advisory and underwriting divisions.

UBS is JPMorgan’s top pick followed by Deutsche Bank.

An estate in U.S Ron Johnson

JP Morgan CEO, Jamie Dimon

President-elect, Buhari

For years ministerial appointment have not followed professional and educational competences. In

fact, globally, political appointments have been subjects of intrigues and ma-nourvers. In other words, they are often based on political considerations, affili-ations and allegiances. Cases abounds where non professionals are appointed to head ministries that require high levels of professionalism.

For instance, when the late Dora Akunyili was appointed minister of information by the late Yar Adua gov-ernment, there were raised eye brows, because though she performed well as the director general of National Agen-cy for Food, Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC, then, it was in line with her profession. But as informa-tion minister, many asked questions, especially, when there were competent professionals who also have the ruling party’s affiliations.

Among reasons often given for ap-pointing non professionals are that ministers perform mere supervisory functions, and therefore, the bulk of the jobs carried out in ministries are done by the permanent secretaries and directors.

Other excuses therefore are that those party members who have shown loyalty should be rewarded with minis-terial and other appointments such as chairmen, directors and boards mem-bers of parastatals and agencies.

To some extent the argument seem valid in times past. But in modern de-mocracies, where citizens look forward to dividend of democracies, the demand for good governance has placed elected leaders on their toes to deliver. Hence, the growing needs to appoint men and women of proven capabilities to man sensitive positions.

Today, in line with the evolution of communication for development, C4D, which sought to transform ‘traditional’ societies into modern, Western societ-ies through the transmission of atti-tudes, practices and technologies, com-munication initiatives are now adopted to carry out a transfer of information. This includes large-scale media cam-paigns and social marketing.

This, to a large extent, require pro-fessional communicators to handle such offices with the expectations that they will use their professional exper-tise to deepen government policies and carry the citizens along.

Experts urge incoming govt on information minister’s competence

WE EXPECT THAT THE NEW GOVERNMENT WILL APPOINT SOMEBODY WHO WILL KNOW HOW TO

MANAGE THE MEDIA

As the incoming government headed by Muhammadu Buhari sets to take over governance in Nigeria comes May 29, players in the integrated marketing communications are unanimous in one thing, who becomes the next minister of Information. DAVID AUDU in this reports sought the views of practitioners on the issue.

Thursday, May 21, 2015National Mirrorwww.nationalmirroronline.net 35

Brands & Marketing

Experts believe gone are the days of dichotonous information dissemina-tion and cover ups. The prevalence of the internet and the effective use of these cyberspaces by bloggers require that ministries of information are abreast with the most modern devel-opment and that they use them for the benefit of government.

Such expectations is now more glar-ing following the victory of the All Progressives Party at the 2015 general elections, which has now placed heavy burden on the president elect, Moham-madu Buhari, to assemble crack team of technocrats to bail the country out of the present economic quagmire.

Analysts believe that for the new gov-ernment to succeed it must engage the populace in an open, honest and trans-parent information and communica-tion policy, and to do that effectively, it should appoint as minister persons with professional tract record, and those who will be capable of carrying his primary constituency along in or-der to inform and sell government poli-cies to the people.

To members of the integrated mar-keting communications, IMC, com-prising advertising, public relations and marketing, who becomes Nigeria’s next minister of information has been generating debates as members of this professional group believe the task of

informing and communications gov-ernment policies should be elevated above partisan political considerations.

To some of these professionals how well government programmes and ac-tions are communicated goes a long way to engender confidence in the peo-ple to support the government in its day to day governance.

According to the Managing Director of 21 century Limited, an advertising agency, Olufemi Ogala, the task of man-aging the media and the nature of infor-mation put forward is very important.

“Sometimes if you say something and you do not say them well it could be misrepresented. It is important the way you put your information forward because it goes a long way to define the kind of government you have.

“We expect that the new government will appoint somebody who will know how to manage the media. I look for-ward to see somebody who is in the mar-keting communications; somebody who is a professional in the industry. We do not want just anybody”, he added.

The Vice President of Outdoor Ad-vertising Association of Nigeria, OAAN, and Managing Director, IKAD Nigeria Limited, Alhaji Lawal Danladi Yaro, said he has always been against professional politicians taking up such position because they do not know what information entails.

“So, it s always better to bring pro-fessionals who know the job, who know what to do at any given time to help the president elect do his job when he comes into office. As I said, I have al-ways been against politicians, the best thing is for those strategizing now to pick from among the professionals to help them do the job”.

He said, he expects whoever the per-son so appointed to go by the ethics of the profession, and it is only a profes-sional who is guided by the ethics as stated in the Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria, APCON, code that can do the job professionally.

Also speaking on APCON reforms, Yaro said, so far, it has achieved its purpose. APCON reforms are work-ing, noted but it could be better. “I can tell you it has impacted positively in OAAN and I believe it is doing the same in other sectors of advertising. APCON code is impacting gradually”.

Charles Chijide, OAAN president, is also confident that the new minister will be somebody that understands the industry.

“It is our prayer that a professional will be appointed as information min-ister in the coming government. With the antecedent and with what we are hearing, we believe they are not going to appoint a non professional to handle the information ministry.

“I want us to wait for the change we are expecting. I believe we will get a minister who understands the indus-try and the terrain.

For John Ajayi, a communications expert and Managing Director of Mar-keting Edge Communications, the in-coming government’s body language is enough to give the direction they are going.

“I think without sounding unnec-essarily partisan, if we listen to what the president elect has said so far and looking at his body language to give Nigerian a crack team that will hit the ground running, I want to believe that the president elect will put round pegs in round holes, and Nigerians will not be disappointed. The same thing goes with the office of the minister of infor-mation.

The aggregate of the expert’s views are that for the incoming government to succeed, it must recognize the prime place of the information ministry and all related agencies, and most impor-tantly, who heads this ministry.

Minister of Information, Patricia Akwashiki

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net36

DAVID AUDU

FrieslandCampina WAMCO Nigeria PLC, makers of Peak and other milk brands is cel-

ebrating 60 years of operation in Ni-geria with Managing Director, Rahul Colaco, has attributing success to consistent delivering of dairy prod-ucts to Nigerian consumers.

He said “Peak has continued to be strong despite the several changes in the market over the last 60 years, and has maintained presence in Ni-geria’s East, West, North and South”.

“We attribute our success to two things, first, our focus to nourish Nigerians with quality dairy nutri-tion in order to reach their Peak, and second, we continually explore ways of standing out of the crowded shelf and touching every part of the con-sumers’ lives.”

He said peak has won industry recognition as an innovative and trendsetting brand that delivers

dairy nutrition across life-stages. “The brand succeeds because it al-ways connects with its consumers, supports its key business partners and helps the general public to pur-sue their aspirations and reach for their Peak“.

To further serve the consumers based on research and their expec-tation, Peak Evaporated Milk now comes in new packaging as well as a lid that opens and closes easily. It is called ‘Peak Easy Open’.

According to Marketing Direc-tor of FrieslandCampina WAMCO, Tarang Gupta, “Several demograph-ic and lifestyle influences are respon-sible for the drive for convenient so-lutions to food packaging. Peak Easy Open is specifically designed to meet the needs of consumers who con-sciously seek convenience and are looking for packaging solutions that fit their busy lifestyles.”

He explained further that Peak’s success story at 60 will highlight

L-R:Vice President, Outdoor Advertising Association of Nigeria, Alhaji Danladi Yaro; President, Mr Charles Chijide; and immediate past President and Chairman, 2015 Poster Awards Committee, Mr Kole Ademulegun during a press conference on the 2015 Poster Awards in Lagos... on Monday.

Peak Milk attributes success to consumer satisfaction

The SERAs: Nigeria CSR Awards 2015 entry kicks offTruContact CSR, organizers

of the Nigeria CSR Awards otherwise known as The SE-

RAs have released the call for entry for the 2015 edition of the annual awards.

According to Ken Egbas, the founder and coordinator of the awards, “Nigeria Being the most populous nation in Africa with a greater number of her population affected, the world expects Nigeria to lead the African charge in making inroads against hunger, disease and end ending environmental degrada-tion and climate change and helping to put in place infrastructure and processes that will sustain progress.

The task ahead is how we rise to the challenge to provide apt and innovative public-private sector col-laborations and partnerships that will set Nigeria on the path to attain-ing the SDG’s. This will require new levels of investments and account-ability, as well as leadership and soli-darity.”

The award that is Nigeria’s top CSR and sustainability honour enters in ninth year. The awards

process is designed to integrate prin-ciples and frame work of the Global compact, global reporting Initiative and ISO 26000.

The SERAs is reputed to be the major promoter and force behind galvanizing businesses across vari-ous sectors and industries in Nigeria to imbibe the ethos of CSR and sus-tainability in Nigeria.

The adopted theme for 2015 is ‘Building Partnerships for a Sustain-able Future: Business Leadership as a Catalyst for Development.’ This seeks to explore the vital role cooper-ation and partnerships have played in the efforts to achieve the millenni-um development goals (MDGs) and how such inclusive approach will en-hance innovative mechanisms for fi-nancing and accountability as these factors remains crucial for the sus-tainable development goals (SDGs) in the post 2015 development agenda.

To date the SERAs, which began in 2007, has registered more than 520 applications from 92 organisations from 13 different sectors of the Nige-rian economy.

Spirit of Lagos Citizen Awards website goes live

Bluegrass Digital, in partner-ship with Lagos based Play-house Communication, was

recently tasked with creating an interactive website for the Spirit of Lagos Citizens’ Day Awards 2015. The Bluegrass team has a secure footprint in Nigeria, with offices in Lagos and a long standing relationship with both the Playhouse and Spirit of Lagos teams, having previously delivered the Spirit of Lagos website.

Spirit of Lagos is an attitudinal change campaign (Similar to the Lead SA initiative in South Africa) which aims to restore and uphold a positive attitude towards the city and its neighbours. Citizens’ Day is an ini-tiative aimed at rewarding those citi-

SC Johnson has awarded its $600 million global media-buying account to Omnicom

Group’s PHD. The decision comes five months after the consumer packaged goods company shifted its media planning business to PHD from WPP’s Maxus.

The media-buying account had previously been split between the two agencies, with Maxus taking the lead and PHD handling digital. The US claims about $300 million of SC Johnson’s annual global ad spend-ing.

Fisk Johnson, the chairman and chief executive, SC Johnson, said: “We are pleased to partner with PHD for global media buying. After an extensive assessment, we are con-fident that PHD has the capability

and global footprint to help us drive greater efficiencies and reduce com-plexity.”

The reviews took place following the arrival of Salman Amin as chief operating officer, who had previ-ously spent 17 years at Pepsi, most recently as chief marketing officer. There, Amin had worked closely with Omnicom shops including BBDO and OMD.

The win marks the latest in a se-ries of new-business coups for PHD since the autumn arrival of US chief executive, Nathan Brown, including Kohler and Converse.

Maxus had worked for SC John-son since 2011, the same year the company tapped Ogilvy and BBDO to handle creative. Both agencies re-main in charge of that business.

SC Johnson awards $600M media buying to PHD

zens quietly doing extraordinary work in their communities.

The website, that went live recently will allow users to vote for nominated citizens and share this interaction on social media platforms to encourage further votes towards the inaugural Citizens’ Day Awards to be held on 27 May 2015

“We are very proud of the steps that Spirit of Lagos is making as a move-ment and the Citizen’s Day Awards is a great example of this growing posi-tivity. Bluegrass continues to satisfy our digital needs and we continue to be impressed by both their technical skills and their enthusiasm for our projects,” Says Tolu Onile-Ere, MD at Playhouse Communication.

Thursday, May 21, 2015Brands & Marketing

DAVID AUDU

In its continued effort to harness the power of social media to engage the consumer and build

brand loyalty, Chi Happy Hour, a refreshing drink from the stable of Nigeria’s leading maker of fruit juices, CHI Limited, has launched the “Burst of Refreshment Talent Showcase” contest.

The campaign which is aimed at boosting the brand’s popular-ity among followers on social me-dia platforms was unveiled on the recently. The Burst of Refreshment Talent Showcase contest will see winners going home with prizes like Samsung Galaxy S5, digital cameras and cartons of Chi Happy Hour.

To participate in the talent show-case contest, the Chi Happy Hour consumer is expected to record a 30 - 60 seconds video of him or herself singing about Chi Happy Hour to the tune of any song of choice. The song, however, must be refreshing.

In the chorus, the phrases ‘Chi Happy Hour’ and ‘Burst of Refresh-ment’ must be mentioned. The par-ticipant must also be seen drinking Chi Happy Hour in the video while taking an action that signifies how refreshed the participant is.

The participant must then visit Chi Happy Hour’s page on Face-book, ‘Like’ the page and upload the Mp4 file video file as a private mes-sage. Shortlisted videos will then be posted on the Chi Happy Hour timeline.

Shortlisted participants are en-couraged to get all their Facebook friends to ‘Like’ their videos as the videos with the highest numbers of likes will emerge as winners of the competition.

Since the commencement of the Burst of Refreshment Talent Show-case contest on Facebook in May, the promotion has recorded hun-dreds of entries and comments but only shortlisted entries can be seen on the timeline.

With over 64,000 likes on Face-book and counting, the Burst of Refreshment Talent Showcase is a great way to build awareness about the Chi Happy Hour page and by the time the competition is over, the number of likes would have crossed the 100,000 threshold.

CHI launches “Burst of Refreshment Talent Showcase” contest

special moments in a new 360 de-gree integrated marketing commu-nication campaign themed, “The Future is Bright; Reach for Your Peak”. It will focus on the emotional characteristics and values that con-sumers link to Peak.

“The objective is to reinforce the love of the brand with our broad spectrum of consumers as well as reminisce the most important mo-ments in its history and lives of consumers”, he said Peak’s 60th anniversary will be celebrated with lots of emotions.

The message of Peak campaign, created by advertising agency In-sight Communications, is to bring back good feelings of how the brand has been a good part of Nigerian lives and how in the pursuit of ex-cellence, it has used cans of Peak to bring to life imagination and to fuel dreams. It also shows the brand’s commitment to feeding the aspira-tions of future consumers.

Is your brand relevant to the consumer beyond the brand promise? Brands must step

up and make a true positive im-pact on consumers’ lives. This is not a tutorial on Corporate Social Responsibilities. Brands can provide creative solutions to consumer’s unmet needs by transforming their marketing efforts from talking to doing.Marketers should not be dis-suaded by thinking that all the winning ideas are taken. There is an ocean of unmet needs out there.

Brand experts from Mill-ward Brown say if you’re con-sidering such a transforma-tion for your brand, think of three things, captured in the acronym ACT: Assess people’s needs, Craft an innovative solu-tion, and Test for credibility.

First, assess people’s needs and desires. Think not only about your product or category, but also about people’s lives in general. Research what they care about and find solutions to problems that are not being ad-dressed.Brands must recognize that any successful marketing initiative must be built on a foundation of deep consumer understanding.

The next step is to craft so-lutions that address the needs you identified. Brainstorm how you can best serve consumers and improve their lives, even in ways outside of your tra-ditional realm. Chosen initia-

tives should transcend product category and address pressing societal needs of customers and non customers. This is un-doubtedly a powerful vehicle for creating relevance and val-ue for the customers

Finally any initiative that lies outside of a brand’s product category still needs to bolster and support the attributes the brand wants to convey within its category context. You must give your solution a credibility test. Ask yourself: Are we a reli-able source to deliver this solu-tion to consumers? Are we fit to provide this offering, or does it contradict with other aspects of our positioning? Will people be able to make a mental con-nection between this initiative and our brand?

I would like to acknowledge some local brands that have driven this route and benefited; hats off for Promasidor Ni-geria and the National Math-ematics Competition, Nestlé and the unwavering support for football and basketball, and De Foods United support for ed-ucation through the provision of free noodles , exercise books and pencils to kids in schools by the million. How will your brand start moving from com-municating to demonstrating and participating? Your list could be longer than mine, let me know @ michael.umo-gun@millwardbrown.com

Brands and the power of creating relevance in consumer lives

National Mirrorwww.nationalmirroronline.net 37Thursday, May 21, 2015 Brands & Marketing

L-R: Brand Ambassador Omo, FunkeAkindele; Brand Building Director, Unilever Nigeria, Manager Fab Cleaning, Unilever, IbironkeUgbaja at the Omo Imagine and Achieve Competition grand finale in Lagos Mr David Okeme; Brand Ambassador Omo, ChiomaAkpotha; winner of 1 million naira, from Army Children School, AbuleEgba, Lagos, ImurangSalisu; Brand Ambassador Omo, Ali Nuhu and Category.

DAVID AUDU

Twelve-year-old Imurang Salisu of Army Children School, Abule Egba, La-

gos emerged the grand prize winner of N1, 000,000 in bur-saries in the Creative Arts cat-egory of the 2015 Omo Imagine and Achieve Creative Arts com-petition. First Runner-up, Clem-entina Emmanuel of De Brain Foundation School in Kaduna State smiled home with a bur-sary of N500, 000 while Sunday Daniel of Mafah Education Cen-tre, Benin in Edo State rounded off the top three and was re-warded with a N200, 000 bursary.

Omo, a brand on the stable of Unilever Nigeria wrapped up its creative initiative com-petition which commenced in February. The event featured winners from the various state finals along with their winning entries and was graced by par-

Omo rewards winner of Imagine and Achieve competition with N1m

ents, teachers and dignitaries from the education sector, gov-ernment and Industry.

Speaking at the event, Brand Building Director, Unilever Ni-geria, Mr. David Okeme said that the competition had served as a platform for thousands of School children to express their talent.

“Omo is very proud that many more children, their par-ents and schools are getting onboard the OmoImagine and Achieve Initiative and even sev-eral years after its inception, the level of creativity shown by the entrants has continued to amaze. Selecting the absolute best also wasn’t an easy feat as there were tons of great work and you could see the effort the kids put in.”, he said.

The highlight of the Finale was the announcement the La-gos State winner in the Essay Writing category, Adedeji Ad-

esida of the Corona School in Gbagada.

Meanwhile, Category Man-ager for Fabrics Cleaning, Uni-lever Nigeria, Ibironke Ugbaja declared that the initiative was a success and an affirmation that Unilever’s continued in-vestment in empowering the Ni-gerian Child was already yield-ing brilliant results.

“The growing popularity of the Omo Imagine and Achieve Initiative justifies all the energy the Brand puts into discover-ing and nurturing young talent in the country and from what I have seen and heard throughout the period of the competition, I feel confident that the nation’s future is burning brighter than ever”, she said.

This year’s competition had been tagged “Unleash Your Po-tential” and its central theme was on the future careers of the school children.

Tel: 08023117969/08031100462

with Michael Umogun

BRAND talk

Email: michael.umogun@millwardbrown.com

Call it friendly fire. An agen-cy art director posts an un-sanctioned version of a TV

ad for a client on his personal web-site to enhance his portfolio. It was the cut he worked on and fought for—even if that particular ver-sion didn’t make the cut.

The problem is, he doesn’t own the work, and neither does his agency. The clip belongs to the cli-ent, making the art director guilty of copyright infringement.

It’s a scenario that’s become all too familiar at agencies. Copyright-ed content routinely finds its way online, as creatives aim to burnish their own brands as much as the brands for which they work. But too often, career aspirations clash with a marketer’s need to protect its intellectual property. Clients

pay agencies hefty fees and, natu-rally, expect loyalty rather than an art director going rogue.

Creative chiefs attempt to pre-vent such digital dustups, though clearly they can’t police everyone all the time. So, they have taken to schooling employees on the im-portance of protecting the client’s property—stressing that their very job security is at stake.

Posting work without permis-sion can land not just employees but also their employers and even the client in hot water. Ford was forced to apologize in 2013 after a creative team at JWT India posted spec posters that never ran, includ-ing one that featured an illustra-tion of the Kardashian sisters tied up and gagged in the trunk of a Ford Figo. The copy read: “Leave

your worries behind with Figo’s extra-large boot.” The piece ended up on the blog Ads of the World and sparked a public backlash.

JWT now mandates that em-ployees get permission from the client before posting work, ac-cording to worldwide CCO Matt Eastwood, who added that unau-thorized postings can run afoul of talent agreements. “We’re super cautious about posting anything anywhere because if you don’t have the digital rights for talent in a TV spot, you can’t go posting it,” noted Eastwood, who joined JWT last year and faced the problem at prior agency DDB.

Following a couple of incidents at Grey, creative chief Tor Myhren communicated to employees that altering ads was unacceptable

Agencies crack down on unapproved ads and possibly grounds for firing. Myhren said he couldn’t recall the brands in question but noted that in each instance, the marketer itself found the offending ad online. “It is up to agencies to do everything in their power to make sure that does not happen,” Myhren said. “You’ve got to make sure that there are con-sequences for that type of thing, that people know that [brands] just shouldn’t be messed with.”

At the extreme, bogus ads can even find their way into awards shows. A notable example:”Speed Dressing” for JCPenney, which won a bronze Lion at Cannes in 2008 after Epoch Films submitted it for consideration. When it was revealed that the ad was never ap-proved by the client and never even ran, the award was rescinded.

For BBDO’s David Lubars, the solution for that disgruntled art

director who posted his cut on his website would’ve been to fight for the ad he believed in and get it made. “Do the brilliant thing for the client, and then that’s what runs and that’s what you enter in shows. It’s that simple and that challenging,” said Lubars, global CCO. “Do the real shit. Make the real shit great.”

To brand marketing execs, any-thing that threatens to tarnish a brand’s reputation is serious business. Considering that, Pete Krainik, founder of The CMO Club, believes marketing chiefs should educate agency employees just as they would their own rank and file. “I call it leading the brand beyond the marketing department. The best CMOs, I think, are doing that,” said Krainik, a former CMO at Avaya and Siebel Systems.

38 National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.netThursday, May 21, 2015Insight

As Nigerians await the change of government at the federal level after 16 years rule of the Peoples

Democratic Party (PDP), expectations are high that the All Progressives Con-gress (APC) Presidential-elect, General Muhammadu Buhari, would give the re-suscitation of the ailing steel industry, particularly Ajaokuta Steel Company (ASCL) and National Iron Ore Mining Company, Itakpe, top priority after as-suming office on May 29.

The prioritisation of the sector is very important with a view to diversifying the nation’s monolithic oil based economy, in the face of dwindling fortunes from oil rev-enue occasioned by fall in crude oil price in the international market for several months now.

This has impacted negatively on the economy and challenges Nigerians to start looking inwards to create other sources of generating income and revenue for the country.

Informed Nigerians expect the incoming administration to hit the ground running, rise up to occasion and salvage the ailing Ajaokuta Steel Company, which is believed to be the bane of Nigeria’s industrialization in the last three decades.

The 32-year-old steel plant which was conceived and built by the National Party of Nigeria (NPN) administration led by the

Ajaokuta Steel: An albatross Buhari

former President, Alhaji Shehu Usman Ali-yu Shagari was aimed to serve as a hub of industrial revolution and industrialization of the most populous black nation in sub-sahara Africa.

No doubt the Ajaokuta Steel Plant has suffered neglect from successive admin-istrations as much attention has not been paid to the problems associated with its completion and optimal operation, as it was enmeshed in both local and external politics that further deepened the crisis of its inabil-ity to function maximally and achieve the aims and objectives of the founding fathers.

However, National Mirror gathered that Jonathan’s outgoing administration inher-ited a lot of problems when the previous gov-ernment of late President Umaru Yar’Adua terminated the concessional agreement be-tween the Federal Government of Nigeria

and Messrs Global Infrastructures Nigeria Limited (GINL) amidst the allegation of im-proper handling of the concession, with the concessionaire accused of exhausting up all the spare parts met on ground without re-plenishing the stock.

This, it was gathered did not go down well with the GINL management which has led to legal tussle between It and the Federal government of Nigeria in a London Court, thus, stalling efforts of the outgoing Jona-than government to realise its promises to revive the plant.

It was further gathered that during the period under review, several memoranda of understanding (MoUs) were signed for the commencement of operations of the steel plant, when in 2012 a sole administrator, Chief Joseph Isah Onobere was appointed to manage the plant as against earlier man-

agement committee set up by the Federal Government.

National Mirror Investigations also re-vealed that in bid a to ascertain the status of Ajaokuta Steel Plant, a technical audit was carried out by the Federal Government in 2010 which indicated that the facilities and equipment installed in the plant were not obsolete as believed in some quarters.

Following the technical audit carried out by a foreign company from Ukraine, the report estimated about $1.2billion USD to achieve total rehabilitation, completion and commissioning of the balance of infra-structure. This amount is made up of $513m for the plant and $687m for the external in-frastructure.

Outgoing President Jonathan once told a large crowd of his PDP supporters at a presidential campaign rally in Lokoja, Kogi State that the Ajaokuta Steel Plant would soon commence operation, stressing that his administration had done much to en-sure the activation of the plant to boost the steel industry.

The President further explained that the Federal Government had also resolved the hitherto legal tussle that had stalled the op-eration of the plant, noting that the Minis-ter of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Mr. Mohammed Adoke, SAN, embarked on several trips to London to re-solve the legal obstacles.

IN BID A TO ASCERTAIN THE STATUS OF AJAOKUTA STEEL PLANT, A TECHNICAL AUDIT WAS CARRIED

OUT BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IN 2010 WHICH INDICATED THAT THE FACILITIES AND

EQUIPMENT INSTALLED IN THE PLANT WERE NOT OBSOLETE AS BELIEVED IN SOME QUARTERS

Side view of Ajaokuta Steel company

The Ajaokuta Steel Company was built by the Federal Government of Nigeria 32 years ago, but since then, the company has remained moribund, with no production of iron. WALE IBRAHIM reports that the incoming All Progressives Congress (APC) Administration led by Muhammadu Buhari must muster the political will to tackle the international politics and management corruption that have combined to ensure that Nigeria’s quest for industrialisation remains a pipe dream.

National Mirrorwww.nationalmirroronline.net 39Thursday, May 21, 2015 Insight

must slay to diversify economy While corroborating the status of ASCL,

the Sole Administrator, Engineer Joseph Onobere, told National Mirror that the steel plant was not dead after all, stressing that its facilities and equipment were not obso-lete, even when it was established with aims of fast-tracking Nigeria’s Industrialisation and was commissioned in 1983, but yet to be utilised optimally.

Onobere who quoted copiously from the report of the technical audit carried out by the Ukrainians, stated that the situation of the steel plant’s equipment was satisfactory and mechanically the equipment and facili-ties were generally in good condition.

“There is need to educate good people of Nigeria that the Blast Furnace Technol-ogy of steel adopted in Ajaokuta is the best method through which large volumes of steel are produced in the world today. Based on this I had series of consultations with staff and sensitised them to brace up for task of starting up operational activities in some key selected areas of plant we can put into operation,” the sole administrator stated.

He explained that the steel plant is not a rolling mill as many people believed, stress-ing that the plant has four major rolling mills such as, the Billet Mill, the Light sec-tion Mill, the Wire Rod Mill, Medium Sec-tion and Structural Mill which constitute only a part of the steel plant.

Onobere also explained that it is a strate-gic Industry, implying that there is actually the need to do a cost-benefit analysis of the project, pointing out that this has been done several times over and shown to be more at-tractive and for this reason all the steel pro-ducing countries jealously and zealously guard and protect their plants both private-ly and publicly owned.

He stressed further that after the ter-mination of concession agreement by the Federal Government from the Indian Firms (GHIL/GINL Concessionaire) since 2008, ASCL has been on zero capital allocation and on overhead of less than N45million an-nually.

“There are certain agents in our midst that have not been comfortable with modest achievements we have recorded in Ajaokuta so far and the course of action we are chart-ing towards making liquid steel production a reality in the country. They all know that the day Nigeria begins liquid steel produc-tion there would be no going back for the country technologically,” Onobere stressed.

However, the question agitating the minds of Nigerians is, when will the multi-million dollars project be finally completed and commence production of liquid steel to meet the dream of the founding fathers?

Speaking in an interview with National Mirror, the former Kogi State Chairman of Trade Union Congress (TUC) and ex-staff of ASCL, Comrade Ibrahim Obansa, ex-plained that the plant had been 98 percent completed, noting that it was only for the blast furnace which is the hub of iron mills production to be connected. But this has not been done since 1994 when the late General Sani Abacha regime sent away the Russians and Ukranians who had played a major in the construction of the multi-million dol-lars steel plant.

Obansa stated that if ASCL commenced full operation the situation would have not been the same again, adding that the plant would have accommodated no fewer than 15,000 workers for both direct and indirect employment opportunities.

The ex-TUC boss lamented that all the original plans to relocate the indigenous people of Ajaokuta could not be met be-cause of various policy somersaults, stress-ing that these people have since lost hope.

Obansa who went down memory lane pointed out the non-functional of Ajaokuta had equally paralysed business activities of the people around the steel plant, stressing that many have left while a sizable number of them has returned to villages as farmers.

A Lokoja-based public analyst and social critic, Mr. Abdullahi Ahmed Ladan, in a separate interview with our correspondent, stated that apart from corruption that has been institutionalised in the country, it will require a committed political will by any administration to move the Ajaokuta Steel Plant forward.

Landan was of the opinion that the Fed-eral Government must show concern about the ailing plant by quickly identifying the problems and the way forward, noting that

lamented that plan to relocate all the vil-lages around the moribund company could not be met up till now, stressing that it was hoped that one day the plant will work and attract more people to the locality like when the construction of the project began in the early 80s.

While lending credence to a functional Ajaokuta Steel Plant, the Director of Centre for Human Rights and Conflict Resolution (CHRCR), Comrade Idris Miliki Abdul, stat-ed that a functional steel plant would have employed more workers and reduced high rate of unemployment.

Abdul explained that if the incoming administration of General Buhari really wants to improve the Nigerian economy, Ajaokuta Steel Company must be reacti-vated to start diversifying the monolithic oil economy.

The rights activist, therefore, advised the incoming APC Administration to intensify efforts to tackle corruption which has be-come a clog in the wheel of progress of the company and ensure a functional Ajaokuta Steel Plant to kick-start Nigeria’s industri-alisation.

THE QUESTION AGITATING THE MINDS

OF NIGERIANS IS, WHEN WILL THE MULTI-MILLION

DOLLARS PROJECT BE FINALLY COMPLETED

AND COMMENCE PRODUCTION OF

LIQUID STEEL TO MEET THE DREAM OF THE

FOUNDING FATHERS? the government must also not shy away from the international politics involved so as to ensure the nation participates as a key player in production of Iron and steel indus-try.

He argued that the incoming adminis-tration must as matter of urgency give a desired priority to Ajaokuta Steel Company, urging that the administration should set a fact-finding committee to highlight all the problems associated with the production of liquid iron and to recommend the way for-ward, while the government must be ready to explore all avenues to ensure the work-ability of ASCL.

A resident of Ajaokuta, Alhaji Husseni Momoh Jimoh, said many things must have gone wrong and all original plans of the steel plant have not been met because of in-ability to commence operation in the last 32 years.

“The successive governments have been coming to make promises which could not be fulfilled at the end of the day. If Ajaokuta Steel is perfectly working at least many of our children would have been employed at lower cadre and our area could as well be de-veloped than this,” he stressed.

The 75-year-old indigene of Ajaokuta

President-elect, Buhari Minister of Industry and Trade, Aganga

A unit at Ajaokuta Steel company

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net40 Thursday, May 21, 2015Cocktail

Yuan

A Swedish man out training his new hunting dog was

caught on camera ward-ing off a charging bear with a scream emulating a ferocious roar.

Ralph Persson of Jamtland said his dog’s bark indicated there was danger nearby during a training session with the hunter and his wife, Lena, and the couple soon saw a large Scandi-navian brown bear run out of the woods.

The bear ran straight

toward Persson, who re-sponded by trying to in-timidate the predator.

“I screamed as much as I could and made my-self very big,” Persson told the Hela Halsing-land newspaper.

The bear, apparently startled by Persson’s ac-tions, turned and ran back into the woods.

The encounter was caught on video by Pers-son and from a distance by Lena Persson.

Ralph Persson, who said he does not trust the

“lie down and play dead” defense, said he learned how to scare bears by watching birds.

“I have seen in the past how even cranes have chased bears by folding up their wings,” he said.

Persson said he takes responsibility for get-ting too close to one of the notoriously reclu-sive bears.

“This time, I went over the limit. You have to have respect for the animals,” he said.

Oddities

Chinese man with 17 girlfriends arrested for fraud

Man’s roar scares off charging bear

Lightning fi lmed in slow motion over Oklahoma

An Oklahoma v i d e o g r a p h e r shared slow-

motion footage of lightning strikes over Nor man during the weekend’s severe stor ms.

Matt Skuta cap-tured video of the stor m, which passed over Oklahoma and nearby states Satur-

day, and slowed down the footage to show how the lightning passes across the sky.

The Saturday stor m, which Skuta filmed over the city of Nor man, was part of a severe weath-er system that also included tornadoes touching down in the state.

A Chinese man whose 17 girl-friends discovered

each other while visiting him in the hospital last month has been arrested on fraud charges.

Identified by the sur-name Yuan, the Changsha, China, native was injured

in a traffic accident in April.

Medical personnel tried contacting who they thought were fam-ily members, but at least 17 women -- aged between 20 and 40 years old -- who each claimed to be his girl-friend showed up to his bedside and discovered each others’ existence, ac-cording to Chinese media.

Yuan was recently put

under criminal detention stemming from charges of fraud, the South China Morning Post reports.

Setting up an online chat forum called “revenge al-liance,” Yuan’s girlfriends shared details of their rela-tionships to him and found he had asked some of them for large sums of money each month.

In early April he was re-ported to be facing a fraud

charge for allegedly bilk-ing his ex-wife for more than $40,000.

Yuan reportedly had a child with one of the women and had planned to wed another.

According to the SCMP, the scorned girl-friends changed their chat group’s name to “angels” and said they would move on with their lives.

...Index dips 0.05% in value

National Mirrorwww.nationalmirroronline.net 41Thursday, May 21, 2015 Capital Market

Yields on local bonds rose slight-ly yesterday after

the Central Bank of Ni-gerian, CBN, harmonisa-tion of the Cash Reserves Requirement, CRR, on public and private sector deposits triggered a sell-off by some investors.

At it’s rate-setting meeting on Tuesday, the CRR, the amount the cen-tral bank requires banks to set aside, was revised to 31 per cent for both public and private sector deposits. Previously the CRR on private sector deposits was 20 per cent and 75 per cent for public sector deposits.

JOHNSON OKANLAWON

With an increase of 471,000 in retail customer base in

2014 and attainment of N100 billion in savings account, Fi-delity Bank Plc has unveiled a strategy to continually re-duce cost through aggressive growth in the retail space and continuity in the service of the retail market using product programmes.

Presenting the bank’s Facts Behind the Figure on the Nigerian Stock Ex-change, the Managing Direc-tor, Mr. Nnamdi Okonkwo, said that its savings account for the first time in the his-tory hit N100 billion, in seven to nine months.

According to him, savings rose to N25 billion and the bank is still growing at aver-

age of N7 billion a month, all these geared towards in-creased value for sharehold-ers.

He explained the bank’s growth strategy for the finan-cial year 2014 were based on four major planks- improved balance sheet efficiency, in-creased growth pace in retail and SME space, increased migration of customers to electronic channels and tak-ing customer service across all channels seriously, all geared towards reducing cost to serve and improving customer experience, led to significant improvement in profitability.

The bank’s net interest income appreciated by 58.5 per cent to N48.8 billion from N30.8 billion recorded in the same period of 2013, while balance sheet also showed

that capital adequacy ratio stood at 23.2 per cent.

He noted that the bank is targeting a deposit growth of 10 per cent for the financial year ending December 31, 2015, adding that this would achieved through branch expansion and aggressive growth in retail customer base.

Okonkwo explained that the bank would open 25 branches in 2015 and would also use electronic channels to reach out to more custom-ers, adding that the bank was targeting a non-performing loan ratio of 4.0 per cent against 4.4 per cent achieved in 2014 on a net interest margin of seven per cent compared with six per cent posted in 2014.

On the successful N30 bil-lion bond, he stressed that

the bond would enable the bank to be a dominate player in the small and medium enterprises sector of the economy.

“The funds will be used to expand our support to the SMEs and retail segments of the market. It will count as tier II capital in line with the guidelines of Basel II of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN,” he said.

Okonkwo said that the bank was committed to its four growth strategies to en-sure enhanced returns to all stakeholders.

“The strategies are en-hanced balanced sheet, growth in retail and SMEs growth, migration of cus-tomers to electronic chan-nels and efficiency in cus-tomer service,” he said.

Fidelity Bank targets 10% loan growth

Debt yield up on new cash reserves rule

JOHNSON OKANLAWON

Securities and Exchange Commission, SEC, yes-terday suspended BGL

Group from all capital mar-ket activities.

The commission had on April 19, appointed interim management for the group over various complaints re-ceived from investors against subsidiaries of BGL Group.

A notice at the commis-sion website said that fol-lowing the Executive Man-agement Committee of the SEC meeting held on May 19, 2015, BGL Asset Manage-ment Limited, BGL Capital Limited and BGL Securities

SEC bans BGL from market operations

Stock Updates

GAINERSCOMPANY OPENING CLOSING CHANGE % CHANGE

SKYEBANK 2.61 2.87 0.26 9.96

NEM 0.77 0.84 0.07 9.09

TRANSEXPR 1.00 1.05 0.05 5.00

ACADEMY 1.00 1.05 0.05 5.00

ETERNA 2.65 2.78 0.13 4.91

AIRSERVICE 2.25 2.36 0.11 4.89

CAVERTON 3.35 3.51 0.16 4.78

PHARMDEKO 2.13 2.23 0.10 4.69

VONO 0.98 1.02 0.04 4.08

VITAFOAM 6.48 5.29 0.14 2.72

LOSERSCOMPANY OPENING CLOSING CHANGE % CHANGE

NCR 12.19 11.02 -1.17 -5.00

PRESCO 32.30 30.69 -1.61 -9.60

BETAGLAS 36.38 34.67 -1.71 -4.98

NEIMETH 1.10 1.05 -0.05 -4.70

CILEASING 0.69 0.66 -0.03 -4.55

WAPIC 0.55 0.53 -0.02 -4.35

NESTLE 905.02 880.00 -25.02 -3.64

GUARANTY 29.99 29.30 -0.69 -2.76

FCMB 3.17 3.10 -0.07 -2.30

ACCESS 6.35 6.21 -0.14 -2.21

Market indicatorsAll-Share Index 34,533.40 points

Market capitalisation 11.73trn

Source: NSE

Some banks that held more of the private sec-tor deposits in CRR would be required to make an additional pro-vision of 11 per cent due by Thursday, triggering the selling down of their investment in bonds to raise additional money.

“Some banks that have their deposits skewed to private sector are selling down their bond holdings in order to make provi-sion for the increase in the CRR on the deposit, driving up yields at the market,” one dealer said.

The yield on the benchmark bond matur-ing in 2024 inched up to 13.63 per cent from 13.60

per cent the previous day, while that on the 2022 pa-per rose to 13.59 per cent from 13.51 percent.

Interest rates on short borrowing among banks eased, following the in-jection of portion of the budgetary allocations to states and local govern-ment in the banking sys-tem on Tuesday.

“Market liquidity in-creased to around N235 billion from deficit level the previous day,” a cur-rency dealer said.

Secured Open Buy Back, OBB, eased to sev-en per cent, while over-night placement fell to eight per cent from 15

Description Price Yield Price Yield

13.05 16-AUG-2016 1.24 99.14 13.78 99.29 13.65

15.10 27-APR-2017 1.94 102.17 13.77 102.32 13.68

16.00 29-JUN-2019 4.11 106.89 13.74 107.19 13.64

16.39 27-JAN-2022 6.69 112.08 13.57 112.38 13.51

14.20 14-MAR-2024 8.82 103.05 13.59 103.35 13.53

10.00 23-JUL-2030 15.18 68.00 15.54 68.30 15.47

Tenor Rate (%)

O/N 8.9583

1M 14.1760

3M 15.3015

6M 16.6552

Maturity Date Bid Offer

13-Aug-15 12.79 13.18

12-Nov-15 13.74 14.72

05-May-16 13.14 15.04

Treasury Bills

NIBOR

FGN BondsBid Offer

Closing Market Prices of May 20, 2015

The Fixings of May 20, 2015

Limited have been suspend-ed from all capital market activities.

According to the notice, all sponsored individuals of BGL Asset Management Limited, BGL Capital Lim-ited and BGL Securities Limited whose particulars are contained in the commis-sion’s record as at December 2014 be suspended from per-forming any capital market activity.

“That Mr. Albert Oku-magba, the Group Manag-ing Director of BGL Group, should cease to be a regis-tered sponsored individual with the commission follow-ing the withdrawal of the

registration of BGL Plc as a Capital Market Operator. He is therefore no longer entitled to carryout capital market ac-tivities;

“That all suspicious transactions observed in the course of the investigation have been referred to the ap-propriate law enforcement agencies for further investi-gation; and

“That BGL Asset Manage-ment Limited, BGL Capital Limited and BGL Securities Limited and all individuals involved in the management of the said companies have been referred to the SEC Administrative Proceedings Committee, which will give all parties to the cases a fair hearing,” the notice added.

Meanwhile, trading in eq-uities continued on a bearish note on the Nigerian Stock Exchange yesterday, as more investors sold their holdings.

Specifically, the All Share Index depreciated 0.50 per cent to close at 34,533.40 points, compared ot the de-cline of 0.21 per cent record-ed the preceding day to close at 34,706.93 points.

Market capitalisation N58 billion to close at N11.73 trillion, compared to the de-crease of N26 billion record-ed the preceding day to close at N11.79trillion.

A total of 1.88 million shares valued at N5.49 bil-lion were exchanged 4,797 deals.

Inter-Bank RateNaira US DollarN197.00 $1

Exchange Rates (N)

WAUA 270

USD 197

EURO 214

CFA 0.32

YEN 1.64

SWISS FRANC

202

POUNDS STERLING

293

SDR 273

Rate (%)

Inflation 8.2

MPR 13

Crude oil price $58.96

per cent the previous day, traders said.

1st Tier Securities1st Tier SecuritiesSector Company name No Of Deals Quotation(N) Quantity Traded Value of Shares(N)

Stock exchange daily equities summaryEquities as at May 20, 2015

Sector Company name No Of Deals Quotation(N) Quantity Traded Value of Shares(N)

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.netThursday, May 21, 2015 Capital Market42

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net 43Thursday, 21, 2015 Young & Next Generation

LEONARD OKACHIE

As Nigeria prepares for a new era in the incom-ing Muhammad Buhari

presidency, a group of youths has called for inclusion of at least 35 per cent youth and 5 per cent Diaspora participation in political and elective positions.

These were parts of the recom-mendations at a recent summit by the Nigerian Arise cum Nigerian Youth Think-Thank group, West-ern Region, which held at Shera-ton Hotels, Lagos.

The summit, which was or-ganised in collaboration with the African Child Foundation, had as theme: “Generational change and transformation in govern-ment, Nigerian youths and young professional arise; re-write your history, take your destiny in your hands, looking beyond 2015.”

The non-political group in a communiqué issued at the end the summit demanded nothing less than youth inclusion in appoint-ments and elective positions, in-cluding award of contracts to Ni-gerian youth driven companies.

It insisted on the appointment of youths and young profession-als, home and in the Diaspora into federal, state and local gov-ernment boards of parastatals ac-cording to their skills, education and training.

Worried by the high level of corruption in governance, the group also recommended setting machinery in motion for the in-vestigation of public office hold-ers from Second Republic till date, even as it added that leaders should enrol children in public schools.

The communiqué clamoured for appointment of Nigerian young professionals as second minister to understudy experi-enced and corrupt free elders.

It also demanded exchange of crude oil for technology as well as establishment of institution for re-integration of Nigerian youths in Diaspora.

Interestingly, the summit wit-nessed experienced resource persons, who made thought-pro-voking presentations on topical issues as they concern the youths.

It had in attendance different youth representatives, includ-ing corps members, professional youths and members of the me-dia.

Speaking on the topic: “An analysis of youths and profes-sionals involvement in gover-nance from 1st Republic till date; the prospects in 2015 and beyond”

Summit advocates 35% youth participation in political, elective positions

Mr. Ikechukwu Ikeji stated that the essence of his paper was to ignite action to bring all hands on deck to get the youths and young professionals of Nigeria to be autarkically involved in political leadership positions in Nigeria to the tune of at least 35 per cent.

“The narrative is not neces-sarily to show that old people are less productive than young people or that the older you get, the less effective your brain cells. We are only setting out to show that in spite of the usefulness of young people, they are still not given ad-equate representation in political leadership,” Ikeji explained.

Ikeji, who is a legal practitio-ner noted that Nigeria is pres-ently at a threshold of a new era, a new hope, a new beginning, a new chapter and a new mindset, stressing that the new mindset would mean nothing if change is not achieved in critical areas of the socio-political outlay of the country.

He insisted that the time has come for policy makers to accept the reality that the major human resources of a society lie with the youth and young people.

Ikeji continued: “We must im-mediately make the point that there is a momentum for youth affirmative action in political and elective positions. We have been fighting the affirmative action for women participation. The battle is being won to a certain extent, at least the Jonathan administra-tion gave women about 30% of its

xxx

appointive positions with women holding very key offices central to the very life of the administra-tion.

“While we hope that the in-coming Buhari presidency will sustain the tempo and possibly go a step further, it is only natural to agree that it is now the time to expand the scope of this fight to include at least 35% youth par-ticipation in political and elective positions and at least 5% Diaspora participation.

“This should not come as a shock because youth covers male and female and within this group-ing, we shall insist on equal rep-resentation as between male and female. The implication is that women would have got a further inclusion in governance through the channel of youth participa-tion in addition to the general ad-vocacy for women participation.”

While participants were ru-minating on the Ikeji’s thought-provoking lecture, Mr. Alexander Omini made another inspiring presentation. In his presentation tagged “Leadership prerequisites: A must for leadership attainment by Nigerian youths” he stated that the youths of this nation must have the readiness in them for the future and a matter of urgency imbibe the proper leadership qualities through right trainings.

“The question for the youths in Nigeria today is; what is stand-ing between us and the Economic and Social development? The an-swer is Leadership. Everything

rises and falls on Leadership,” ex-plained Omini.

Omini, who is a legal practitio-ner and founder of Generational Intellect Shift Forum, enumerat-ed those leadership prerequisites to include: character, charisma, commitment, competence, cour-age, focus, initiative, passion, pos-itive attitude, relationship, self-discipline, security and vision.

Speaking on the topic: “The wind of change – The now re-alities and the challenges beyond 2015” Mr. Samuel Sobayo told Nigerian youth that the struggle is for your their minds which cor-ruption has and still is dealing with.

He said: “Many youths are re-laxed and expecting miracles of some sort. No,no,no ! It is time to clean up our minds and purge out from ourselves the leftovers of corruption. You have done so much on social media, and nu-merous networks. You all then made sure you voted or made others vote in the direction of change.

“The reality is you have to take it beyond voting which does not count anymore to the level of sac-rificial doing via self inclusion and selected inclusion. It is time to do the talk. And doing requires inclusion.”

On the challenges beyond 2015, Sobayo insisted, “The greatest and only challenge I see is person-al change. Inclusion of youth in governance in this dispensation is good but are the majority ready for attitudinal changes, sacrifices, training, tasks, assignments, mis-sions, and ultimately humility required for productive leader-ship?”

Similarly, Mrs. Adeyinka Eme-ka made a presentation on “An

overview of the plight of Nigeri-an youths at home and in Diaspo-ra from Second Republic till date vis-avis the recurring state of the Nigerian nation.”

She lamented that the Nigerian youths are the most unfortunate group in the society as the battle with myriad of problems. She charged them to wake from their slumber and assume their right-ful places in the society.

Earlier, the Director, Lagos Conference of the group, Mr. Der-ek Onoge gave a recap of the pre-vious summit held at Transcorp Hotel, Calabar and concluded that it was successful.

Founder and Director-General of the group, Dr. Victor Offiong said the programme was impor-tant because they were taking ad-vantage of the wind of change in the country , adding that without a generational change there can be no serious at nation building.

Offiong, who teaches in the uni-versity stressed that there must be a purposeful plan to hand over to the next generation, insisting “Our country as a nation should think of the next generation and not recycling the same thing over and over again.”

Also, the General Coordinator of Nigerian Youth Think-Thank Group, Mr. Ben Eni said the es-sence of the summit was to cre-ate more awareness as well as en-courage Nigerian youths to take the role of authority.

“We have so many qualified and competent Nigerian profes-sional youths that can hold their own anywhere in the world. We have done a lot of awareness moves. We are very strong in the social media, “he boasted.

Some particpants at the summit

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net44 Thursday, May 21, 2015Young & Next Generation

STORIES: LEONARD OKACHIE

In her quest for humanitar-ian services, Ikorodu Dia-mond Club has donated a

six-unit modern toilet facility to Local Government Primary School, Ikpakodo in Ikorodu, Lagos State.

The block, which consists of four units for the pupils and two for the staff, was commissioned recently by the District Governor, District 404A1 Nigeria, Lions Club International, Engr. Olaitan Ono-laja.

The club also gave recom-mended glasses to three pupils of Ayangbure Primary School who had problems with their sights.

Speaking at the ceremony which was graced by members of the club as well as those of Leo District 404A1 Nigeria, the District Governor who was impressed by the project, commended mem-bers of the club for the laudable achievement, adding that such is what Lions Club is known for.

Onolaja noted that the club has actually adopted the school as their project and has carried out a considerable number of projects including reading action

programmes, rehabilitation of classrooms for the school among others.

He explained that the project would enhance learning and hy-gienic conditions of the pupils, stressing that it would help them in knowing that there are people outside that care for them.

“These are some of the things that Lions Club stands for: to pro-vide facilities to the less privileged within the community in which the clubs are located. We lay more emphasis on children because they are our heritage; they are the leaders of tomorrow. If you do not bring them up in the right way, then the future of the country will be at risk,” the District Governor said.

In her response, the Assistant Head Teacher of the school, Mrs. Mojisola Olugbemi expressed gratitude to the club for the kind gesture, saying that it would uplift the healthy lifestyle of the chil-dren.

“I feel very excited because the children had to go far before they could visit the toilet. But now you have given them one that is very close to their class and it is going to help them not to miss classes,” Olughemi remarked.

She said that the school was

founded in 1920 and presently has a population of 1444 pupils that in-clude children with special needs.

Speaking to National Mirror, the President of Ikorodu Diomond Lions Club 2014/2015, Lion Funmi Alabi disclosed that it is one of the laudable projects her club is doing during this Lionistic year.

“Apart from just giving them the toilet we also ensure that the toilet is running with water. Our expectation is to continue to main-tain the toilet for them as long as Lions exists. What we know is that wherever there is need there is Li-ons and we will be there not only for children but also for adults within our community,” she as-sured.

Similarly, the Project and Mem-bership Director of the club, Lion Rotinwa Adeola explained that the club embarked on the project when it discovered during one of its visits that the school had no such facility.

She appealed to the privileged to always give back to the soci-ety, adding “Most of these public schools are lacking. Let us not waste our money on ‘owambes’; let us look into where people need our services and provide for them so that we can make life better for the under privileged.”

Following the success recorded at the Univer-sity of Ibadan, Fayrouz

L’Original Expression Show competition has moved its audi-tion train to the University of Port Harcourt in Rivers State.

The auditions, billed to hold this Saturday at International Student Centre Conference Hall, University of Port Harcourt, will have talented students from within the campus and other cit-ies within the South Region, come out to showcase their artistic tal-ents in the areas of fashion de-

signing, modelling, photography and make up artistry.

Like the previous audition, the jury comprises grounded fashion experts like ace photographer, Kelechi Amadi-Obi, National Re-tail Artiste House of Tara Rhema Akabuogu and renowned design-ers, Mai Atafo and Kunbi Oyelese of April by Kunbi.

The winning team will be cho-sen to represent the region and contest with four other teams at the semi-final stage of the compe-tition holding at the Obudu Cattle ranch, Calabar, in June.

The train will make its next stop at University of Nigeria, Enugu on Saturday, May 30, 2015 before stopping at University of Lagos, on Friday, June 5 and Sat-urday, June 6, 2015.

Sponsored by the natural pre-mium soft drink, Fayrouz, the Fayrouz L’Original Expression Show competition aims at re-warding young creative talents. It kicked off in 2014 and has since being credited as one of the most followed urban and lifestyle com-petitions.

Nigerian pop stars Wiz-kid and Yemi Alade have been named as

nominees in this year’s BET awards.

They have been nominated alongside Ghana’s Sarkodie and Stoneboy, South Africa’s AKA, DRC’s Fally Ipupa and Kenya’s Sauti Sol for the award of Best International Act Afri-ca category.

BET Networks recognises artistes, entertainers, and ath-letes across 20 categories with the BET Awards 2015 nomina-tions. The nominations are selected by BET’s Voting Acad-emy, which is comprised of fans and entertainment profession-als in the fields of television, film, music, social media, digi-tal marketing, sports journal-ism, public relations, and the creative arts.

“This year’s nominees show-case a diverse group of talent

that includes longstanding en-tertainers, breakout perform-ers, and outstanding athletes,” said Stephen Hill, BET’s Presi-dent of Programming. “We congratulate all of the talent on their remarkable contributions to the world of entertainment and look forward to them join-ing us in celebrating 15 years of the BET Awards.”

Senior Vice President & Managing Director, VIMN Af-rica, Alex Okosi, added, “We are thrilled that African ar-tistes and achievers have been given this global platform once again to highlight and celebrate their huge contribution to the totality of global Black culture through our BET Awards fran-chise.”

The BET Awards 2015 pre-mieres simultaneously on BET and BET2 (DStv channel 135) at 8:10PM on Tuesday June 30.

Diamond Lions Club donates toilet block to school

Ikorodu Diamond Lions Club donated toilet block to Local Government Primary School, Ikpakodo, Ikorodu in Lagos State, recently.

Fayrouz L’Original audition moves to UNIPORT

Wizkid, Yemi Alade nominated for “BET Awards”

Wizkid Yemi Alade

Ibadan audition of Fayrouz L’ Original Expression show

MediaNational Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net 45Thursday, May 21, 2015

STORIES: LEONARD OKACHIE

As the June deadline for the migra-tion from analogue to Digital Terres-trial Broadcasting approaches, the

Director General, National Broadcasting Commission, Mr. Emeka Mba has warned that Nigeria would risk cutting off about 80 per cent of its citizens, which would auto-matically kill the content market, as well as the advertising industry in the country if things are not done properly.

Mba, however, assured Nigerians of successful transition, declared that the Ni-gerian television industry is in the middle of a dramatic transformation, noting that digitisation cannot be forced.

The NBC boss, who said this recently in Abuja while speaking with newsmen, gave an overview of some of the steps the Com-mission had taken to see through the pro-cess of transiting to digital broadcasting, the challenges being faced, and what the fu-ture of broadcasting in Nigeria would look like after the switchover.

On the status of the Digital Switchover (DSO), the Director General acknowledged that, “based on the white paper to licence three signal distributors, we have effective-ly licensed two, even though we have chal-lenges with one of them, we are working with the platform coming out of the NTA, called Independent Television Services Ltd (ITS), so that the terms and conditions of the licence is strictly adhered to.”

Mba noted that in the digital broadcast-ing era, an entity would have to aggregate the various contents, which are required by best practice to be branded. He pointed out that the offer was made to the aggregates of the broadcasters which set up a vehicle called MITS for that purpose.

He also stressed that “digital broadcast-ing was going to impact on how we redefine content, who a content creator is, and how

Scribe urges posthumous awards for journalists

A digital TV studio

we distribute content, and so on.”He noted that, one of NBC’s principal

roles as a Commission was to ensure that the existing licensees feel that they have a stake in this process. “Of course, we need to invite fresh investments into the business of broadcasting because we know the chal-lenges, we need new money, and we need new ideas. So, that is how we are thinking.”

The DG disclosed that over the last two weeks, each of the prospective set-top-box-es manufacturers paid 50 million Naira to the NBC to become a set-top-box approved manufacturer. He stated that if there was no faith in what the Commission was do-ing, no serious investor would commit such amount into the project.

He explained the vision of the Commis-sion and noted that “we are working with the manufacturers. They have made a com-mitment, which is fundamental proof that they believe in the system. The content is being worked out now and a lot of people are submitting bids to create digital chan-nels.”

Mba stated that the NBC, working with

Broadcast Regulators of all ECOWAS Mem-ber States have developed and harmonized a Common Transmission Standard for all ECOWAS Countries and a Common Stan-dard for Set Top Boxes. “This will ensure that only type approved STBs and other Integrated Digital Television Sets (IDTV) that conform to government standards and specifications are able to receive DTT trans-mission.”

The DG noted that the focus of the Com-mission is that within the next 18 months, tangible progress would have been made. He acknowledged the challenges of funding but pointed out that the Federal Govern-ment was addressing that challenge.

He said that the President, recently, ap-proved two community radio licenses for each of the six geopolitical zones in the country. He gave a slide presentation of the journey so far and set targets. He, again, as-sured that the migration from Analogue to Digital terrestrial Television Transmission was on course.

Meanwhile, Mba has been decorated with the Copyright Medal of Honour. The

decoration took place yesterday in Lagos at the 5th Anniversary Celebration of the approval of Copyright Society of Nigeria (COSON), the nation’s sole collective man-agement organisation for musical works and sound recordings.

According to the Chairman COSON, Mr. Tony Okoroji,. Mba was unanimously cho-sen by the COSON Board because of the historic role played by him and the Com-mission in resolving the over four decades of raging dispute between the music and broadcasting industries in Nigeria over the payment of music copyright royalties.

The Copyright Medal of Honour is the highest recognition of the music industry for any individual in acknowledgement of that person’s significant contribution to the promotion and defence of the rights of cre-ative people in Nigeria.

Others honoured include Miliki King, Evangelist (Dr) Ebenezer Obey Fabiyi, one time Chairman of the Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC) and also Chairman of the Nigerian Association of Recording In-dustries (NARI).

Digitisation: Nigeria risks cutting off 80% citizens –NBC

Journalists who die in the line of duty should be given posthumous awards, Alhaji Bello Yero, Permanent Secre-

tary, Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs in Taraba, has sug-gested.

Yero made the suggestion while interact-ing with newsmen in Jalingo.

Extolling the virtues of journalists across the world that died in the line of duty, he said the slain journalists were he-roes who deserved honour even in death.

He said: “It is my considered view that such journalists should be given post hu-mus awards. Journalists in Nigeria had the track record of covering violent conflicts

even thoughit had often put their lives in danger.

``When I was the Sole Administrator of Ibi in 2013, I remember, some of you trav-elled with me to Dampar during the heat of the violent crises in the area. Each time I remember that incident, I duff my hat for you for the memorable sacrifice.”

Yero urged journalists to ensure they were always guided by the ethics of their profession, especially the principles of bal-ance and objectivity.

He called on journalists to focus more attention on reports that would promote peace and unity of the countryChannels TV reporter Enenche Akogwu

killed in line of duty.

National Mirrorwww.nationalmirroronline.net46 Media Thursday, May 21, 2015

Committee to Protect Journalists has joined a coalition of nearly 150 civil society organizations, companies,

trade associations, security experts, and policy specialists in sending a joint letter to U.S. President Barack Obama.

The letter urges the president to sup-port the broad adoption of strong encryp-tion and to reject any proposal that inten-tionally weakens the security of products made by U.S. companies.

The letter is a response to statements made in recent months by officials in the U.S. and elsewhere that suggest companies may be compelled to subvert the security of their systems to allow access by West-ern law enforcement and intelligence agencies.

As CPJ has reported, such technical backdoors are as unworkable as they are dangerous. Any vulnerability introduced for one purpose can be exploited by any-one with the technical capabilities, thus imperiling journalists, the free flow of news--even computing as we know it. Fur-ther, such demands give cover to oppres-sive regimes that may abuse anti-privacy rhetoric for their own ends.

Committee to Protect Journalists has called on Burkina Faso authorities to lift its suspension of live politi-

cal broadcasts in the country. The three-month ban comes as Burkina Faso pre-pares to hold elections in October.

The High Council for Communication, the media regulatory body known as le Conseil superieur de la communication, declared a three-month suspension on live political broadcasts aired by TV and radio stations, according to a statement on its website dated May 12. The statement said the order went into effect on May 7.

The move comes after President Blaise Compaore was forced to step down from of-fice in October 2014. Compaore had sought to alter the country’s constitution to allow him to seek re-election in 2015, but was met with a series of protests in October 2014, according to news reports. The country is being ruled by a transitional government until the elections.

“This blanket suspension by Burkinabe authorities amounts to outright censor-ship,” said Peter Nkanga, CPJ’s West Af-rica representative. “If authorities care to hold a credible election this year, they must allow media outlets to resume broad-casting live political debate.”

Media AbroadNCRC commends FG on Community Radio licences

Expert urges use of social media to boost news dissemination

CPJ urges US toprotect encryption for journalists

Burkina Faso suspends live political broadcasts

STORIES: LEONARD OKACHIE

Nigeria Community Radio Coali-tion (NCRC) has commended the President Goodluck Jonathan on

his approval of Community Radio licens-es in the country.

The NCRC in statement by Mr. Akin Akingbulu congratulated the Federal Gov-ernment, the National Broadcasting Com-mission (NBC), advocates in grassroots communities, civil society, academia, me-dia and other development stakeholders, for this achievement.

The statement said: “We recall that the advocacy for the licensing of Community Radio in the past twelve years, has recorded such milestones as the development of a National Policy Document on community radio development in 2006 and the 2010 pro-nouncement by President Jonathan that community radio should become a part of the Nigerian media landscape. The ap-proval of licenses, now done, is a climax of milestones.

“As it is happening in other parts of the world, the introduction of community ra-dio will bring positives to our country. It will, among other things, expand the plural-

Communication specialist, Mr. Yin-ka Olaito has advised media organ-isations to encourage the use of so-

cial media, to boost news dissemination.Olaito, the Chief Executive Officer of

the Michael Sage Consulting, Lagos, how-ever, emphasised the need to regulate the use of social media, to avoid pitfalls.

The specialist said that digital me-dia could be used to gather information, break news and check facts, towards dis-seminating quality news, at all times.

He said: “Media organisations must also formulate social media policies to regulate how their journalists access and use them in their reportage.

“They must have regulation, which should be used as a tool to assist the pro-fession, by promoting, creating and eval-

uating the individuals on the job. It will, however, be out of place to bar journalists from having social media platforms.’’

Olaito encouraged the use of platforms such as google, google plus, facebook, twit-ter, skype, flicker and linkedIn, for posi-tive interactions and news data collection.

He also advised that every social media in an organisation should be secured, to protect data and information.

In a related development, the social me-dia has been described as a major threat to the viability of the newspaper industry and the existence of journalism as a pro-fession.

Information, Media and Broadcasting Services principal director in Zimbabwe, Mr. Regis Chikowore who disclosed this, said newspaper circulation across the

ism of the media sector, cater to the large underserved sections of the population, and help to address the country’s develop-ment challenges at the grassroots.”

It said that the NCRC is available and ready to work with the regulatory body, the

NBC, to ensure the emergence of commu-nity radio stations which operate profes-sionally, demonstrate global standards and help to achieve the development objectives of our great country.

A radio

country was taking a nosedive.Chikowore was speaking during belat-

ed World Press Freedom Day celebrations in Harare recently.

He said the flow of information through multimedia platforms was unparalleled, but posed the question about the future of journalism in the traditional sense.

“If anybody who can read and write can pass for a journalist, doesn’t this pose a threat to the existence of journalism as a profession?”

Chikowore said with the advent of multimedia formats, many people were now reluctant to buy newspapers and sub-scribe to radio or television licences when news could be accessed through the social media.

He urged journalists to look into the fu-ture of their profession, adding “As we cel-ebrate Press freedom, journalists should start to reflect on the future of their pro-fession.”

Chikowore expressed concern over the dearth of quality reporting among news-papers.

He said: “Also arising from the preva-lence of multi-media platforms are ques-tions that have arisen in respect of the quality of reporting that leaves a lot to be desired.

“Consumers of news are beginning to feel the pinch of being short-changed through half-baked stories passed as news and information.”

Preident of Burkina Faso, Blaise Compaore

Social media icons

How street traders make salesNational Mirrorwww.nationalmirroronline.net Broad Street Diary 47Thursday, May 21, 2015

Do you know that street traders make more money

selling on the streets? Broad Street Diary found out how they get their goods and make sales.

Anyone coming into Broad Street which compris-es of Balogun market, Mar-tins, Tinubu, Ebute Ero and Idumota among others, will definitely see these traders displayed their wares on the floor some that sells clothes sometimes hang it for people to see.

BSD gathered that not all their goods are original some sell imitations while some get their wares from shops that are doing clear-ance sales, while some even helped to push out expired product from shops to unsus-pecting publics.

But the truth is that they make more sales because people get to them before

they go into the market and their prices are lower com-pared to the goods inside the market.

One of the traders, Mrs. Hannah Adejumo who spoke with BSD said they always make their sales in the morning and sometimes in the evening when workers closed for the day.

She told BSD that some of the wares they sold are from the shops in Balogun or Idu-mota, “We usually get them from some the shops that do clearance sales.”

She also revealed that they are not limited to a particular product, “we sell any good that is available ranging from weave-on, hair accessories, clothes, shoes, kitchen wares among others.

“But I prefer clothes and weave-on because I have come to realise that they sells faster than other wares.”

On whether in the future

The traffic jam on Apapa Port road, Lagos, in the last

three weeks which was occasioned by fuel scar-city in the country and the rush by tankers’ driver to evacuate the scarce com-modity from the port may have eased, but traders particularly those who carry out their activities within the axis and in-deed Lagos Island are still counting their loss for the period.

Some traders who spoke

with National Mirror on the impact of the two-week traf-fic gridlock, complain of low patronage throughout the period, as the heavy vehicu-lar traffic which stretched from the mainland to Eko Bridge, one of the major roads linking the popular Balogun market, Ebute Ero market, and other business clusters within Lagos Island were virtually blocked dur-ing the period thereby pre-venting easy access to and from the market.

Broad Street Diary gath-

ered that traffic on the bridge made many traders and shoppers to get to the market late, while some even stayed at home during the period. Mrs. Mary Johnson told BSD on Tuesday that the traffic had made sales to be low, as most shoppers and traders were discouraged to come to the market due to the heavy traffic.

“As you can see am just getting to my shop now be-cause I have wasted half of the day in the traffic,” she lamented. Johnson who sells

lace clothing materials, call on government to find last-ing solutions to the peren-nial vehicular traffic in La-gos which not only affect the state economically, but could also cause stress to commut-ers.

Another trader, Alhaja Safiriyu Solanke, told BSD that apart from the traffic which blocked one of the ma-jor accesses to Lagos Island, fuel scarcity also contributed to the low patronage.

“We are appealing to in-coming government to find

Apapa road gridlock: Balogun traders lament low sales

BSD

Shoppers’ Guide

Banana sellers at Broad Street, Lagos. PHOTO: SAMUEL ADETIMEHIN

Traffi c gridlock caused by fuel tankers at Ijora Road, Lagos. PHOTO: YINKA ADEPARUSI

she would get a shop, Ad-ejumo, said if she gets a shop that is affordable she will get one because selling under the sun and rain is not the

best.A shopper, Miss Mon-

surat Oladele told BSD that she just got a necklace bead at the Leventis bus-stop and

if she wants to buy same from shop owners she would spend about N1,500 more.

“Anytime I want to re-sume for a new session I al-

ways come here to shop and you will be surprised that you get nice tops from these people.”

She said instead of buy-ing second hand clothes she can get new ones at cheap rate.

But she however said shoppers like herself are usually not lucky because they do buy inferior wares sometimes, “so you need to be smart when you come here.”

A shopper, who claim to work in one of the private companies on Lagos Island, Mrs. Victoria Onigbale, told BSD that she sometimes patronise street traders be-cause she realised that they sometimes have good wares.

“I do buy my shoes from them and so far I have been lucky because the ones I got from them are of good quality.

-Saidat Alausa

a lasting solution to the issue of fuel scarcity. I have to join public transport this morn-ing because I was unable to fuel my vehicle.”She urged the government to act fast before the situation get out of hands.

In an interview with an-other shopper at the Ebute Ero market, Madam Alice Nwachukwu, she said the fuel scarcity is really making things difficult for traders.

“We were trying to con-tend with the issue of fuel scarcity, and now it is the heavy traffic on Eko Bridge, in fact I was in that traffic for

three hours today,” she told BSD.

She however, thanked the state government for the Bus Rapid Transport, BRT, which she said had made it easy for traders and shop-pers to come to markets on the Island at this difficult time.

Nwachukwu said unlike before now when they had to pay heavily for transport, she said the BRT busses had made the journey to and from the Lagos Island market easy for traders and shopers.-Saidat Alausa

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net48 Broad Street Diary Thursday, May 21, 2015

Just as they were recovering from low sale brought about by politi-cal transition in the country, trad-

ers on Broad Street have started count-ing other losses due to fuel scarcity.

Indeed, they have started experienc-ing low patronage since the fuel scar-city saga started, and as a result have cried out onto to the government to find lasting solution to the persistent fuel crisis for business to thrive.

Speaking to BSD on the effect of the fuel scarcity on business within La-gos Island, a market leader on Broad Street, Mrs. Biola Bello, said since the scarcity started, the rate of commer-cial activities have drastically reduced. She said apart from affecting the prices of various goods, most of their custom-ers have stopped coming to the Broad Street to buy because they could not get fuel to power their cars, instead, they preferred buying within their vi-cinity.

She said although they still made sales; but not as expected in normal situation. She added that the lingering fuel scarcity situation in the country would affect lives of many Nigerians in terms of health and job loss.

According to her, major traders on Broad Street and Idumota market, es-

Fuel scarcity, exchange rate killing our business, traders cry out

THE ISSUE OF NAIRA DEVALUATION REMAINS THE MAJOR FACTOR

AFFECTING BOTH CONSUMERS AND TRADERS, WHICH MUST ALSO BE

TACKLED PROMPTLY. SHE SAID FOR HER, THE COMPLAINTS HAVE ALWAYS

BEEN HINGED ON EXCHANGE RATE

THE ISSUE OF NAIRA DEVALUATION REMAINS THE MAJOR FACTOR

AFFECTING BOTH CONSUMERS AND TRADERS, WHICH MUST ALSO BE

TACKLED PROMPTLY. SHE SAID FOR HER, THE COMPLAINTS HAVE ALWAYS

BEEN HINGED ON EXCHANGE RATE

pecially the textile dealers, have been reducing their workforces (their sales helps) due to low patronages of their markets.

A textile dealer, who gave her as Mama Biliki, said that the non-con-sumable goods traders were mostly af-fected in this kind of situation, believ-ing that no matter the situation, people would surely eat and therefore have to patronise the food sellers.

During the last election, the traders witnessed the same situation, linking it to various factors such as persistent

naira devaluation, which led to the in-crement in prices of major goods while the incomes of the consumers remain stagnant, thereby limiting their pur-chasing power. Others attributed the sit-uation to the gloomy political situation heralded by imminent elections in the country, whereby everybody was afraid of what becomes post-election period.

They believed that the electioneer-ing phobia and after-election uncer-tainty had grounded the commercial activities.

However, the Managing Director of

Lencarl Fashion, a dealer in designer clothes along Broad Street in Lagos, Mrs. Victoria Lencarl, said there were many other factors, apart from the fuel scarcity, affecting the businesses in the country.

According to her, the issue of naira devaluation remained the major fac-tors affecting both consumers and the traders, which must also be tackled promptly. She said for her, the com-plaints have always been hinged on the exchange rates. She added that most of the goods traded in Nigerian markets are imported. Their prices have gone up beyond purchasing powers of most consumers.

She added that the fuel scarcity is-sue only compounded the problems faced by the traders.

She said she was disappointed in the Federal Government to have allowed the situation to be this long. Lencarl therefore appealed to the government to find solutions, as a matter of ur-gency, not only on the fuel scarcity, but also other factors such as exchange rate which she lamented is hurting businesses.

Abolaji Adebayo

Fuel queue at Marina, Lagos. PHOTO: SAMUEL ADETIMEHIN

•Riversfaultsdirective

AGF lacks power to direct Bayelsa CJ to swear in Wike —Sagay, others

L-R: Country Manager, Franks International Oil Field Services Nigeria Ltd, Mr. Osyaldo Behr; Head of Finance and Accounts, Industrial Training Funds (ITF), Port Harcourt Office, Mr. Pomark Zaatpo and representative of Director-General, Mr. Benjamin Ogaji, during presentation of award in Port Harcourt, yesterday. PHOTO: NAN

Rivers Assembly, courts’ll be re-opened soon —Wike

Wale IgbIntade, MattheW IrInoye and dennIs naku

Former dean, Faculty of Law, University of Benin, Professor Itse

Sagay, SAN, and human rights lawyer, Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, have faulted the directive issued by the Attorney-General of the Federation, AGF, asking the chief judge of Bayelsa State to administer the Oath of Al-legiance and Oath of Office on the Rivers State Governor-elect, Chief Nyesom Wike, on May 29, saying it is unconsti-tutional and invalid.

Speaking with National Mirror, Professor Sagay stat-ed that the AGF lacks the au-thority or power to direct any chief judge of any state.

According to him, chief judges, being the head of courts in their respective states, are autonomous and not part of the federal judi-ciary.

He said: ‘’The Attorney-General of the Federation does not have any authority or power to direct any chief judge of a state. In fact, the chief judge of a state is the head of the courts in a state and he is no part of the fed-eral judiciary. The attorney-general cannot even direct any federal high court or any other judge in the Nigeria.’

‘’What the AG has done is to direct the chief judge of a state which is autonomous; it’s nonsense; it’s unconstitu-

dennIs nakuPORT HARCOURT

Rivers State Gover-nor-elect, Barrister Nyesom Wike, said

yesterday that the House of Assembly and courts in the state would be re-opened as soon as he is sworn-in as governor.

It would be recalled that the House of Assembly and high courts in the state have been under lock and key for almost a year, following po-litical crisis that rocked the state.

But, briefing newsmen in Port Harcourt yesterday, chairman, Inauguration Committee of Rivers State Governor-elect, Chief Aus-tin Okpara, assured that the three arms of government in the state, including the executive would function ef-fectively as soon as the gov-ernment of Wike assumes office.

Okpara lamented that the judiciary and legislature were muzzled under the outgoing administration of Governor Chibuike Amae-chi, describing the develop-ment as the height of impu-nity.

Chief Okpara disclosed this during a press briefing

tional; it’s invalid; it’s illegal. He has no power to do so. It is a different thing if he request or persuade or beg the chief judge of another state to please swear him in and that judge can do so on his own discretion in responding to the request.

“In that case we will now have to interpret Section 185 (2) of the Constitution to find out whether if you cannot get the chief judge of a state or grand khadi of the Sharia Court Appeal of a state, or the president of a custom-ary court of appeal of a state, then you can go to any other state. But, the provision did not say other states, but rath-er, the chief judge of a state.”

In his view, Mr. Olu Da-ramola (SAN) said: “The request of the AGF is not proper. If there is a vacuum, the best way to address it is to ask a judge in Rivers State to perform the task of swearing-in the new governor. Asking the Bayelsa State chief judge to perform the swearing-in is an assault on the hallowed principle of federalism and the constitution.’’

Also in a statement issued yesterday, Adegboruwa said the directive is nothing but a continuation of the impu-nity that has characterised the outgoing administration of President Goodluck Jona-than.

According to Adegboru-wa, the directive is ‘’is uncon-stitutional for the Attorney-General of the Federation to issue directives to a sitting

in Port Harcourt yesterday.Okpara who was giving

a line-up of activities ahead of the May 29 swearing- in of Chief Wike as governor of the state, said it is a shame that a state House of Assem-bly was on carrying legisla-tive duties in the Govern-ment House.

“One thing I must say is that the new Rivers State House of Assembly will no longer sit in the Government House. Between May 29 and June 1, the assembly will be re-opened and ready for use by the lawmakers.

“The judiciary will also be functional so that lawyers can go back to the courts,” he said, adding that Wike and the deputy governor-elect, Dr. (Mrs.) Ipalibo Banigo, would be sworn-in, despite the wicked moves by the out-going Governor Amaechi to frustrate the process.

Okpara, a former deputy speaker, House of Represen-tatives, listed some of the programmes preceding the inauguration as a lecture on democracy and good gover-nance to be delivered by the Pro-Chancellor, University of Uyo, Prof. Kimsi Okoko, as well as a thanksgiving ser-vice to rededicate the state to God.

chief judge of a state in a fed-eration.’’

He argued that ‘’the swearing-in of a governor of a state is the internal affairs of that state that cannot be usurped or taken over by the AGF. Although it is true that section 185(2) of the 1999 Con-stitution permits the chief judge or the president of the Customary Court of Appeal of another state to swear in a governor in another state, such a function can only be performed at the behest of the particular state con-cerned - in this case, Rivers State - and not upon the di-rective of the AGF with due respect.”.

But, in his view Lagos-based human rights lawyer, Festus Keyamo, stated that the directive, issued by the Mohammed Adoke (SAN) for the Rivers State governor-elect to be sworn in by the chief judge of Bayelsa State is legal.

The radical lawyer, in a statement dated May 20, 2015 and personally signed by him, argued that “follow-ing the protracted stalemate over the appointment of a substantive chief judge for Rivers State, there was ap-prehension as to who will administer the Oaths of Of-fice and Allegiance on the Governor-elect, Wike on May 29, 2015.

“This was laid to rest re-cently by the directive of the Honourable Attorney-Gen-eral of the Federation, Mo-hammed Bello Adoke (SAN),

that the function should be performed by the chief judge of the neighbouring Bayelsa State. Is he legally correct in giving this directive?

“A close look at Section 185 (2) as analysed above will clearly show that whilst the drafters of the Constitution were very particular in us-ing the phrase “the State” in reference to those officers who should administer the oaths, the last part of the section which allows other persons to perform the func-tion (apart from those stated officers) uses the phrase “in any State.

Meanwhile, Rivers State government has faulted the directive by the Attorney General of the Federation, Mr. Mohammed Bello Adoke to the Bayelsa State Chief Judge to swear-in Rivers State Governor-elect, Barris-ter Nyesom Wike on May 29.

But in a telephone chat with our reporter yesterday, solicitor to the All Progres-sives Congress, APC, the ruling party in Rivers State, Achinike William Wobodo, describes Adoke’s directive as unconstitutional and void.

Wobodo said Adoke was conferring upon himself au-thority that he does not have, pointing out that only a court of competent jurisdiction could interpret the constitu-tion or any other law.

According to him, “the or-der by the Attorney General of the Federation is void. He (Adoke) is not constitution-ally empowered to do

Akpabio inaugurates projects in Akwa Ibom

Governor Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom State yes-

terday inaugurated the first phase of the Uyo-Ikot Ekpene road as part of activities to mark his exit from office.

The governor, who was accompanied by his deputy, Mrs. Valarie Ebe, and the governor-elect, Mr. Udom Emmanuel, also inaugu-rated the Aka-Etinan road which was adorned with street lights.

He also inaugurated a modern drainage system.

In his speech at the in-auguration, Akpabio de-scribed his performance during his eight years in office as `uncommon and unparalleled.’

``No matter what the people say, the evidences are all on ground and the difference is very clear; my performance is uncommon and unparalleled,” he said.

He expressed fulfillment that he kept his promises to the people of the state, add-ing that his administration constructed and inaugurat-

ed numerous road projects with street lights, flyovers and bridges, among others.

Akpabio said that the Federal Executive Council last week, gave approval for the commencement of the Ibom Deep Seaport project in the state.

He added that with the approval, several compa-nies had already indicated their interest to partner with the state on the proj-ect.

Akpabio expressed op-timism that the governor-elect, would perform well and surpass his achieve-ments in the last eight years.

He thanked the various construction companies, especially Julius Berger, for delivering the projects on schedule, adding that the projects would stand the test of time.

News Agency of Nigeria reports that a total of 165 projects were earmarked for inauguration as part of activities to commemorate the transition to the incom-ing elected government.

National Mirrorwww.nationalmirroronline.net Thursday, May 21, 2015 49South South

Omeiza ajayiABUJA

Inspector General of the Police, IGP, Solomon Arase, has directed com-

mand commissioners of police to provide adequate security for all foreign na-tionals, especially mission-aries living in their juris-dictions.

He has also ordered that security be firmed up around embassies in the country.

The directive was issued after the IGP received the

marcus FatunmOleABUJA

Minister of Health, Dr. Khaliru Alhas-san, has been ab-

sent from his office and the entire ministry since Presi-dent Goodluck Jonathan lost his re-election bid, Na-tional Mirror investigation has revealed.

Our correspondent reli-ably gathered that the min-ister was last seen in office few days to the last presiden-tial poll.

Until his confirmation as substantive Minister of Health by President Jona-than on March 18 this year, he had headed the ministry in acting capacity between October 20, 2014, and March 17. He was appointed Minis-ter of State on March 5, 2014, alongside eight others.

On March 18 this year, his current state counterpart, Engr. Fidelis Nwankwo, was appointed as Minister of State by the President.

Alhassan worked with the former Health Minister, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu, who resigned to contest a gubernatorial election in his state, Ebonyi. Chukwu contested on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, but failed at the primary level.

Dr. Alhassan hails from Sokoto State, one of the strongholds of the All Pro-gressives Congress, APC, in the North. The party routed the PDP, which had led the Federal Govern-ment for 16 years.

Since he deserted office, the minister has been rep-resented by Fidelis at func-tions either carried out or

attended by the ministry.One of the sources who

spoke with our correspon-dent but pleaded anonymity said: “We have not seen him (Alhassan) since the defeat of his principal. We learnt he went for Hajj shortly af-ter the election, and since then we haven’t seen him.

“You can see that he is being represented at all events, including the on-going 68th World Health Assembly in Geneva, Swit-zerland. We doubt if he will appear in his office or at the ministry before the May 29 inauguration date, because it is over a month now that we have seen him last.”

Up till January this year, the minister was confronted with the strike embarked upon by health workers in the country. He battled to pacify the ag-

IGP firms up security around embassies

Health minister, Alhassan, deserts office —Investigation

Kano primary school attack leaves one pupil deadabdulgaFar OladimejiKANO

Two pupils of Fagge Special Primary School, Fagge Local

Government Area, Kano State, were yesterday at-tacked by an unknown as-sailant.

The attack left one of the pupils dead.

According to eyewitness account, the victims, whose identity are yet to be ascer-tained were stabbed by their attacker, who was alleged to have found his way into the school premises by climbing the school’s fence from the

rear.Sources in the school told

National Mirror that the in-cident occurred while class-es were ongoing.

The remains of the de-ceased female pupil and her male counterpart, who survived the attack, were dumped inside the school toilet.

National Mirror reports that the surviving male victim was inflicted with wounds on his head.

The watchman attached to the school, Mallam Ibrahim Dan Sariki, said: “At about 1 pm yesterday, Wednesday, some hoodlums

scaled over the school fence and promptly attacked the two pupils, a male and a fe-male, who were dragged into the toilet and subsequently stabbed repeatedly.

“But the female was un-fortunate due to the severe injury she suffered on her head which resulted in her death, while the male sur-vived the attack.”

Spokesman of the Kano State Police Command, ASP Musa Magaji Majiya, con-firmed the incident, noting that the police on receiving an alert moved into action.

According to him, the school‘s assistant headmas-

ter brought news of the inci-dent to the notice of the police, adding that, on arrival at the crime scene, the police met the victims in a pool of their blood, having suffered vary-ing degrees of injury on their bodies.

According to him, the po-lice arranged for immediate transfer of the victims of the attack to the hospital for medi-cal attentions, adding that all the required procedures in connections with investiga-tion into the incidence have been put in place.

Majiya disclosed that rea-sons behind the attack are yet to be established by the police.

L-R: Representative of Plateau State Governor, Mr. Ignatius Longjan; Chairman, board of directors, Nigeria Television Authority (NTA), Chief Patrick Ogbu and Director-General, Mr. Sola Omole, during inauguration of NTA Network Centre in Jos, yesterday. PHOTO: NAN

glOria usmanABUJA

National Emergency Management Agen-cy, NEMA, yester-

day advised stakeholders in disaster management and Nigerians to adhere to the Nigerian Metrological Agency, NIMET’s forecast predictions and be proactive in tackling disasters in the country.

Coordinator, NEMA Abuja Operations Office, Mr. Ishaya Chonoko, who made the call at a stakehold-ers’ forum in Abuja, on the implications of NIMET’s 2015 Seasonal Rainfall Pre-dictions, SRP, on floods and other disaster-related is-sues, said disasters usually affect the economy of a na-tion adversely and that it is important for all hands to be on deck to avert them.

Chonoko said the forum was organised by NEMA in collaboration with the FCT Emergency Management Agency, FEMA, and that the objective falls within moni-toring the state of prepared-ness of stakeholders as well as putting strategies in place to mitigate and prevent di-sasters.

He stressed that informa-tion provided by NIMET is required to assist rel-evant stakeholders make informed decisions for ef-fective preparedness and response at all levels.

The coordinator urged stakeholders to adhere to the forecast and early warn-ings contained in the SRP and formulate plans and programmes for effective response at all levels.

He said this year’s fore-cast would impact on the health, agriculture, water and sanitation sectors; “so,

NEMA harps on adherence to forecast predictions

we must all be alive to our roles.”

He urged the forum to identify a more coordinated approach for the prevention and mitigation of disasters in the FCT based on the 2015 SRP.

Speaking earlier, Direc-tor-General, FEMA, Mr. Ab-bas Idris, noted that disaster management is not a one man affair but a collective effort, commending the con-tributions of NEMA, Abuja operations office and the stakeholders.

Idris called on the forum to come up with pragmatic, cost-effective and sustain-able strategies to step up sensitisation in vulnerable communities in the terri-tory.

Also speaking was the General Manger, Climate Services, NIMET, Mr. Jo-seph Anozie,

According to him, NI-MET has the responsibil-ity to inform Nigerians about the environment, including weather-related issues, because malaria can be created by weather conditions like rainfall and temperature.

He advised the stake-holders to make proper use of information provid-ed in the SRP as it would help planning in various sectors.

Anozie stressed the need to strictly adhere to envi-ronmental cleanliness and avoid stagnant water which could lead to blockage of wa-ter ways and cause increase in diseases such as malaria.

He said increase in ma-laria cases prompted NI-MET to include malaria prediction in the 2015 SRP so that the health sector could make adequate plans on how to tackle the disease.

Ambassador of the Repub-lic of Ireland, Mr. Sean Hoy, at the Force Headquarters yesterday.

The IGP equally assured the ambassador that for-eign missions in Nigeria would continue to receive adequate security.

Mr. Hoy who said he was at the Force Headquarters on a working visit, used the occasion to congratulate the IGP on his appointment.

He promised more col-laboration between his country and the Nigerian police.

grieved workers over the action which lasted for about two months.

Alhassan met with stake-holders in Lagos and the nation’s capital, Abuja, to ensure the action was put on hold, and he succeeded.

The nation’s health sec-tor has been engulfed by feuds among health profes-sionals, necessitating calls for the sack of Prof Chuk-wu. But, Alhassan did not face such a demand.

The performance of the sector has however received applause from in-ternational organisations such as the World Health Organisation, WHO. The peak of such praise was the prompt containment of the deadly Ebola virus disease in the country. Al-hassan took part in the ef-fort.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.netThursday, May 21, 2015North50

National Mirrorwww.nationalmirroronline.net 51Thursday, May 21, 2015 North

Kogi election tribunal receives 28 petitions

L-R: Former Bauchi State Military Administrator, retired Capt. Adisa Raji; Sokoto State Governor Aliyu Wamakko and Galadima of Sokoto, Alhaji Altahiru Abubakar, during the inauguration of Modern Girls Boarding Primary School in Sokoto, yesterday. PHOTO: NAN

Kano drops charges against 14 year-old husband killer

Gaidam signs Yobe’s N80.6bn 2015 budget into law

ABDULGAFAR OLAD-IMEJI KANO

Kano State Min-istry of Justice have asked a Kano

State High Court to set free Wosilat Tasiu, 14, ar-rested and charged with alleged murder of her 35 years old husband and three other persons, who ate a poisonous meal she allegedly prepared for them.

The Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice had filed a four- count charge of culpable

homicide, seeking a death sentence to be passed on the accused.

However, government yesterday reversed it-self when the prosecu-tion, represented by one Barrister Lamido Soron Dinki, brought an appli-cation on behalf of the Ministry of Justice, urg-ing the court to quash the charge filed against Wosi-lat and set her free.

The court, however, de-cline to delve into the re-quest, but adjourned the case till June 9, stating that the application was brought orally.

The court said the application seeking to quash the charge against the accused person ought to have been brought in a written form.

The Kano State Gov-ernment had earlier filed a four count charge against 14 years-old Wosi-lat Tasiu, alleging that she murdered her 35 years old husband, Umar Sani and three others.

The state Attorney General before the new request had told the court that the accused girl on April 5, 2014 at Yan Tsoro village in Gaya Local Gov-

ernment Area in Kano State poisoned a meal with a conceived intent to kill her late husband.

The state further al-leged that Umar Sani 35, Hassan Alhassan 25, Na-siru Mohammed 13, and Indo Ibrahim 12 all ate the poisoned meal and died.

The accused person, Wosilat Tasiu, 14 years-old had remain silent since the commencement of the trial, presided over by Justice Mohammed Yahya, prompting the presiding judge to enter a plea of not guilty on her behalf.

JOEL AJAYI ABUJA

New National Youths Service Corps, NYSC,

Permanent Orientation Camp built by Sokoto State Government at Wa-makko Local Government Area has been formally commissioned.

Performing the cer-emony yesterday in Soko-to, former Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon, praised Governor, Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko for the project, which he said would enhance the comfort of corps mem-bers.

The former Head of State said the NYSC scheme was established by his administration to help keep Nigeria togeth-er, and went on to com-mend successive batches

of corps members for the sacrifices they had made in the service of their fa-therland.

He urged corps mem-bers that are currently serving to strive to excel in their various endeav-ours and to keep alive, the spirit of a united Nigeria.

While praying for their success, he urged them to be good young men and women and to work hard for the progress of Nige-ria and humanity in gen-eral.

Also speaking at the event, NYSC Director-General, Brigadier Gen-eral Johnson Olawumi, praised the efforts of the Federal Government to-wards funding the scheme to enable it discharge its mandate to the Nigerian nation.

He expressed grati-tude to Sokoto State Gov-

INUSA NDAHI DAMATURU

Governor Ibrahim Gaidam of Yobe State has assented

to the Finance and Appro-priation Bill of “consoli-dation and continuity” presented to the House of Assembly in March, with an increase of N815 mil-lion for capital expendi-ture of N37.91 billion and N42.69 billion recurrent expenditure for this finan-cial year.

Signing the 2015 budget into law on Wednesday at Government House, Dam-aturu, the governor said the N80.6 billion budget with a reduction in recur-rent expenditure of N815 million, was however; the most realistic and people-oriented budget, because of the present economic situation and challenges of financing the budget.

His words: “It is clear that the present economic situation poses serious challenges to us. Despite these challenges, I wish to assure this gathering that government shall con-tinue to be accountable, prudent, and transparent in spending public funds to meet its obligations of providing social services to the citizens.

“In order to achieve this objective, we must

Gowon commissions new Sokoto NYSC campWALE IBRAHIM LOKOJA

Following its inaugu-ration few weeks ago, the Kogi State Elec-

tion Petitions Tribunal has received 28 petitions for National and House of As-sembly consideration.

The election tribunal will be sitting at the Kogi State High Court complex in Lokoja

The three-man panel appointed to handle the petitions submitted by the aggrieved candidates was inaugurated on April 29 this year.

Candidates who were not satisfied with the out-come of the elections have approached the tribunal for redress.

The extension of the deadline for the submis-sion of the petitions was due to the re-scheduled

elections in the state. However out of the

twenty eight petitions submitted, three are for the Senate as all the three Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, senatorial candidates in the state are contesting the result of the election won by their All Progres-sives Congress, APC, coun-terpart.

For the House of Rep-resentatives with 9 fed-eral constituencies seats, at least seven candidates representing the follow-ing constituencies filed petitions; Ankpa/Omala/Olamaboro constituency, Ajaokuta,Yagba,Kabba/Bunu/ljumu,and Dekina/Bassa

Others are Idah and Okene/Ogori Magongo federal constituencies only Lokoja/Koto and Okehi Adavi federal constituen-cies did not filed petitions.

ernment for providing the new Permanent Ori-entation Camp despite limited resources at its disposal.

While answering ques-tions on the challenge of inadequate funding, the Director-General pointed out that the scheme was not unmindful of the pres-ent state of the nation’s economy, adding that de-spite the present econom-ic crunch, the three tiers of government had been coming to the aid of the scheme in areas of urgent needs.

Olawumi said: “The camp served as a source of motivation for corps members who, as he put it, were in high spirit; adding that the state gov-ernment’s gesture would spur them to do their best for the state and by exten-sion, the entire nation. He

assured that the facility would be judiciously uti-lised.

The Director-General also acknowledged the ef-forts of some other state governments in discharg-ing their statutory obli-gations to the scheme, especially through the provision of permanent orientation camps.

Earlier, the Sokoto State Governor, Aliyu Magata-karda Wamakko, had said that the NYSC camp was built as part of his admin-istration’s efforts to make corps members comfort-able and have memorable stay in the state.

He acknowledged the role of the NYSC in get-ting the participating youths to know the coun-try better and appreciate its diversity just as he ex-pressed hope in them as future leaders.

be ready to make some sacrifice and consider ourselves as stakeholders in the development of the state. Let me assure you that this occasion is not a mere signing of a docu-ment.”

He said with this re-duction, total capital expenditures stood at N37.91billion or 47 per cent of the budget of N80.6 billion.

Speaker of Yobe State House of Assembly, Alhaji Adamu Dala Dogo, con-gratulated the governor for conceiving a budget that is balanced, realistic and people oriented aimed at achieving the state’s goals of rapid socio-eco-nomic transformation.

Dogo however noted: “The contemporary is-sues confronting us to-day are many, but the dominant one is the ur-gent need for revitalisa-tion of the socio-elegant activities in the state which this budget seeks to squarely address by giving priority to the en-hancement of education, fostering unity, peaceful and harmonious co-exis-tence among the people of the state, stimulating economic growth, creat-ing employment oppor-tunities and encouraging communities to embark on self-help projects.

World News52 National Mirror

www.nationalmirroronline.netThursday, May 21, 2015

French special forces operating in Africa’s Sahel region have killed two senior Islamist militant command-ers, a defence ministry statement said yesterday.

The statement described the two as “important terrorist chiefs” from the groups Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) and Ansar Ed-dine. It named them as Amada Ag Hama, also known as Abdelkrim the Touareg, or Abdelkrim al-Targui, and Ibrahim Ag Inawalen, alias “Bana”.

Amada Ag Hama was the most senior member of the Malian Tuareg community to join AQIM, standing out in a group which was domi-nated by Algerians and leading a katiba fighting force that was primar-ily made up of Malian Tuaregs.

He is also the cousin of Iyad Ag Ghaly, the commander of Ansar Eddine, and has been linked to a number of killings, including two RFI journalists in 2013.

France troop kills two Islamist chiefs in Sahel region

EU parliament votes to ban ‘conflict minerals’

US lawmakers vote to abolish death penalty

Nebraska lawmakers gave final approval yesterday to a bill abolish-ing the death penalty that would make it the first conservative state to do so since 1973 if the measure becomes law.

The vote margin in the unicam-eral Legislature was more than enough to override a promised veto from Republican Gov. Pete Ricketts, a staunch supporter of capital punishment, who said that it was a “dark day” for public safety.

“Nebraska has a chance to step into history — the right side of history — to take a step that will be beneficial toward the advance-ment of a civilized society,” said Sen. Ernie Chambers of Omaha, an independent who has fought for four decades to the end the death penalty.

European legislators on Wednesday unexpectedly voted in favour of a law requiring firms to ensure they do not use so-called conflict minerals from Africa and other areas that end up funding warlords.

The legislation for compulsory regulation of the use of tungsten, tin, tantalum and gold, which are often used in computers and mobile phones, will however face a tough test to get past EU govern-ments.

WORLD BULLETIN

Small minority of South Africans involved in the xenophobic violence. The Mozambicans are our brothers, our sisters, that’s

like a family problem really.–South African President, Jacob Zuma

Soldiers on the streets of Burundi

Baratuza could not confirm de-tails of the soldier’s death.

Red Cross spokesman Alexis Manirakiza said another soldier and three protesters had also been wounded in clashes.

There are few suggestions the struggle is being driven by eth-nicity rather than the desire by urban Burundians to stop Nku-runziza seeking a third term, which they say violates the con-stitution and a peace deal that ended a long civil war in 2005.

Nkurunziza argues that his presidential bid is legitimate since he was appointed to his

“The situation is so unstable and volatile that every day ap-pears to be flashpoint,” said Carina Tertsakian, Human Rights Watch’s senior Burundi researcher. “The demonstrators are not backing down and the government is intensifying its crackdown.”

Nkurunziza, a 51-year-old for-mer sports lecturer, has so far yielded no ground to the protest-ers, whom his government has tried to associate with the failed military takeover, a tactic that has made no dent in the num-bers on the streets.

Paul arheweWITH AGENCY REPORTS

Burundi’s embattled president postponed parliamentary and lo-

cal elections on Wednesday and a soldier was shot dead in the capital amid a power struggle that could unleash more eth-nic bloodshed in Africa’s Great Lakes region.

More than 20 people have been killed in nearly a month of un-rest, including during a botched military coup a week ago, but the demonstrators demanding President Pierre Nkurunziza end his bid for a third term ap-pear determined as ever.

In one incident in the volatile Musaga neighborhood of Bu-jumbura, a Reuters photogra-pher monitoring protests heard a loud explosion in an area from which a slightly injured police-man walked away soon after-wards.

“The protesters have thrown a grenade,” an officer at the scene shouted.

A soldier was also shot dead, with witnesses saying he had been hit in the chest by a round fired by police, an incident that could inflame tensions between different wings of the security forces in the ethnically divided nation of 10 million.

Army spokesman Gasper

first term in office by parliament, rather than by a direct vote.

But the longer the political crisis drags on and the higher the death toll, the greater the chance it reopens the 10-year-old wounds in the East African country with its long history of mass killing between Hutus and Tutsis.

An estimated 300,000 people died in the civil war in Burundi, which has the same ethnic mix as neighbouring Rwanda, where 800,000 - most of them Tutsis and moderate Hutus - were killed in a 1994 genocide.

Burundian soldier killed in unrest, parliamentary, local votes delayed

Osama bin-Laden

Bin Laden bent on spectacular US attack until his demise –Reportsands of files found by US Navy SEALs on May 2, 2011 when they descended on Bin Laden’s hideout in the Pakistani garrison town of Abbottabad and shot him dead.

US intelligence agencies have now declassified more than 100 of these documents taken from Bin Laden’s archive, after law-makers ordered the move and critics accused the CIA of with-holding material.

A news agency was given ex-clusive access to the documents ahead of their release, and they have since been posted online by the Office of the Director of Na-tional Intelligence.

Jeff Anchukaitis, spokesman for the office, said the release

Hunkered down in his Pakistani compound, Osama bin Laden plead-

ed with his followers to stay fo-cused on attacking the United States instead of being dragged into Muslim infighting.

Documents that were declas-sified on Wednesday shed new light on the mindset of Al-Qa-eda’s founder, his debates over tactics, his anxiety over Western spying and his fixation with the group’s media image.

“The focus should be on kill-ing and fighting the American people and their representa-tives,” the late Al-Qaeda figure-head wrote.

The letter was among thou-

of “a sizeable tranche of docu-ments” was in line with Presi-dent Barack Obama’s call for “increased transparency.”

It was also in accordance with a law obliging the spy agencies to review all the Bin Laden mate-rial for possible release, he said.

The documents released are English translations of the orig-inals, and a news agency had no way to independently verify the materials or the accuracy of the translation.

The release came shortly after US journalist Seymour Hersh alleged that Washington’s official account of the hunt for Bin Laden and the raid that led to his death was a lie.

Thursday September 4, 2014 53National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Thursday, May 21, 2015

Sport55

Joel AJAyiABUJA

President of the Nige-ria Football Federation (NFF), Mr. Amaju Pinn-

ick, has warned all the nation-al team players to be ready to adhere strictly to the code of conduct recently prepared by the federation or be ready to be blacklisted.

Pinnick, who gave the warning on Tuesday in Abuja in an interactive session with journalists, noted that the players are issued the code at the point of invitation to camp, adding that any player that is not ready to adhere to it can ignore the invitation

He explained that the rule will apply to all the players for the national under-17, un-der-20, Super Falcons and Su-per Eagles teams.

“We know A to Z of what is going on and we are putting all that measures in place to make sure there is discipline whenever they come to repre-sent their father land. 100% of their commitment is not good for Nigeria; what we are ex-pecting from them is 200 % of their commitment,” the NFF boss said.

Meanwhile, in the wake of the about five weeks medical trip of Pinnick abroad and the anxiety it generated, the NFF General Secretary, Dr. Moham-med Sanusi, has explained that the president and board members are not executive of-ficials.

“It is stipulated in the NFF statute that NFF Board needs to meet three times in a year, but if there is important is-sues they can come to office to a hold an emergency meeting. The secretariat is responsible for day-to-day running of the office,” Sanusi clarified.

–Manchester United midfielder, Juan

Many factors will determine whether I am staying or leaving. But all I can say is that I want to stay

W/Cup 2015:Nkwocha dropped from Canada train

Tension in NIS as minister plans to impose new directorTension in NIS as minister plans to impose new directorifeAnyi eduzor

The relative peace being en-joyed by the National Insti-tute For Sports (NIS) since

the appointment of Dr. (Mrs.) Gloria Obajimi early last month as Acting Director may vanish following plans by the Ministry of Sports/National Sports Com-mission (NSC) to appoint a sub-stantive director from outside the institution.

National Mirror scooped that the Minister of Sports, Dr. Tam-my Danagogo, is also heading for a collision with the Govern-ing Council of the NIS over his decision to appoint a new direc-tor from outside without an in-put from the council, contrary to the enabling law establishing the school.

It was learnt on good authority

that Danagogo had already con-cluded plans to visit the institute today, during which he would of-ficially introduce one Professor Eke from Bayelsa State as the substantive director as well as ap-prove the continued retention of the immediate past director, Dr. Sunny Ikhioya, as a Chief Lec-turer in the institute.

Crisis is brewing in the NIS as the Minister who has less than two weeks to the end of his ten-ure, has refused to take the advice of the various unions who are clamoring for the confirmation of Dr. Obajimi as the substantive di-rector following the relative peace that has been witnessed in the school since her acting appoint-ment.

“It is unfortunate that with less than two weeks to the winding up of the present administration, the Minister of Sports is trying to im-

pose his kinsman as Director of NIS without due process which requires advertising the position, a good selection process and input from the Governing Council,” a source said.

The source added, “We were also told that the Minister will be visiting the school tomorrow (to-day) where he plans to introduce the Director to us as well as ap-prove the retaining of Ikhioya as chief lecturer not minding that the same man was at the helm of affairs in the school for nine years without conducting any convo-cation ceremony coupled with series of crises that trailed his tenure.

“The present acting director has passed through the system and since her appointment, we have been having relative peace. It is also on record that she is the first woman to head the institute

and as such should be allowed to continue her good work.”

Efforts by our correspondent to get the reaction of the Special Assistant (Media) to the Minister, Patrick Omorodion, on the issue proved abortive as all his lines in-dicated that they were switched off.

Errant Eagles, Falcons to face sanctions –Pinnick

Flying Eagles Captain, Musa Mohammed

Sunshine 1 0 Kwara

Taraba 1 1 Dolphins

Lobi 1 1 Heartland

Sharks 1 1 Giwa

Pillars 2 1 Gabros

Bayelsa 1 0 Wikki

Akwa 2 1 3SC

Enyimba 3 1 El Kanemi

Rangers 0 0 Nasarawa

Glo League results

Danagogo

54 Sports National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.netThursday, May 21, 2015

Mosesmakes fitness pledgeRecuperating Su-

per Eagles and Stoke City wing-

er, Victor Moses, has expressed hope of com-ing back stronger from injury ahead of a bet-ter outing next season.

The Chelsea player, who was on loan at Stoke, suffered a ham-string injury on April 11 in an EPL Week 6

game against West Ham United, which ended 1-1 draw.

“My injury is heal-ing fast and I will be back better and stron-ger next season,” Mo-ses said yesterday on Twitter.

Moses joined Chel-sea for £9 million from Wigan Athletic in the summer of 2012.

He was on loan at Liverpool last season (2013/2014), where he scored a goal in 19 games, and this season has played 19 games with three goals for Stoke City.

He made 23 appear-ances for Chelsea in his first season at Stam-ford Bridge, scoring only one goal.

Tourenears Inter‘capture’Inter Milan Vice President, Javier Zanet-

ti, yesterday said the Italian club is on the verge of finalising a deal with Man-

chester City midfielder, Yaya Toure.Speculation has been mounting in re-

cent months of reuniting the Ivorian inter-national with his former manager Roberto Mancini, now in charge at Inter, and a deal for the City star seems to be gaining mo-mentum.

“We are at the stage where we hope that we can finalise a deal as we know he would help us make a step up in quality,” Zanetti said.

Inter is also looking to bring back Ital-ian midfielder, Thiago Motta, who spent three years at the club from 2009-2012, from French champions Paris Saint-Germain.

“Bringing in players like Yaya would mark a step up in quality,” Zanetti added.

Toure, who joined the Premier League club from Barcelona in 2010, has won two Premier League titles, one FA Cup and the Football League Cup in his five years at the Etihad.

Salah boost for FiorentinaSalah boost for FiorentinaManagement of Se-

rie club Fiorentina says the arrival of

Chelsea’s Egyptian striker, Mohamed Salah, has raised the club’s profile.

The 22-year-old became a Florence fan favourite after putting in a string of im-pressive displays with Fio-rentina, whom he joined on a six-month loan deal from the English Premier League side last January.

“We are pleased with the popularity we gained be-cause of Salah’s arrival,” Fiorentina’s Business and Development Manager, Ser-

gi Bernadi, said yesterday.“When just rumours sur-

faced that we would sign Salah, our page jumped to 300,000 likes from Egyptian supporters.

“We have been trying to reach one million likes for seven years until Salah’s arrival helped us exceed that!”

The former Basel winger has been a revelation since joining Fiorentina, scoring nine goals in 24 appearanc-es in all competitions, his typical solo runs and forays forward prompting many to lavish praise on him.

Moses

Toure

Salah

National Mirrorwww.nationalmirroronline.net 55SportsThursday, May 21, 2015

Nkwocha dropped from Canada train

W/Cup 2015: Mercy Jacob

Former African Player of the Year, Perpetua Nkwo-cha, may have tactically retired from international football after she was dropped from the list of play-

ers to represent Nigeria at the imminent Canada 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup.

The 39-year-old played in the 2003, 2007 and 2011 editions of the tournament. Although she was invited to camp for preparation towards the Canadian event, she eventually failed to make the 23 ladies squad which departed Abuja on Tuesday night.

It was not clear why the veteran player was dropped but National Mirror learnt that it might not be unconnected with loss of form.

Meanwhile Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Presi-dent, Amaju Pinnick, has expressed confidence in the Su-per Falcons, even as he urged them to breaking the jinx of the quarter finals appearance at the tournament.

“You have always done the nation proud and I see you do-ing even better in Canada,” Pinnick, who was represented at the departure ceremony for the team in Abuja by NFF Board member, Dilichukwu Onyedimma, said.

“As African champions, I want you to go to the World Cup this time with a clear determination to do better than your predecessors did,” the NFF boss added.

Reports yesterday said au-thorities in Egypt have called off the proposed

friendly international between Pharaohs and Wasps of Rwan-da.

The match was scheduled to hold in Kigali before both sides engage in different AFCON 2017 qualifiers next month. But the Egyptian Football Association explained that its decision to withdraw was due to security concerns and political strife in the south-east African nation.

“After coordination with the EFA President, Gamal Allam, and Pharaohs Coach Hector Cu-per, we have resolved to cancel the match,” a statement said.

Seven-time AFCON winner Egypt has been drawn in Group G of the 2017 qualifiers along with Nigeria, Tanzania and Chad and the Pharaohs begin their campaign against Taifa Stars of Tanzania on June 14.

Egypt has missed out of three consecutive finals since the 2010 edition hosted by Angola.

Joel aJayi ABUJA

Max Air has won the Na-tional Peace and Unity Polo Tournament after

defeating the defending cham-pion, Keffi Ponys 7-2, creating the biggest upset of the competition.

Tournament Manager, Aliyu

Umar, said the tournament had come at the right time in apparent reference to the new political dis-pensation that will usher in the Buhari administration on May 29.

“We are particularly indebted to our sponsors MTN, Sheraton, MRS, Berger Paints Nig. Plc, Nigerian Breweries, Dattaku, Caribbean and KSA Electric,

among others, for their support,” Umar said, even as he described the event as the most exciting and the most attended polo tour-naments in Abuja in the last three years.

“I salute all the players and the polo enthusiasts for making the competition a huge success,” he added.

Paul erewuba

Unseeded Russian-born Nigerian player, Melissa Ifidzhen,

yesterday created a major upset at the CBN Open Men

and Women’s Senior Tennis Tournament when she de-feated Women number two seed, , Sarah Adegoke 6-0, 4-6, 6-0 in the second round of the competition to send the latter out of the tournament and entered into the last eight.

Ifidzhen, who had ear-lier beaten Ebere Fortune in her game on Tuesday, ex-pressed delight to have sent Adogoke packing.

“I think my power play and consistent attack gave me victory,” she said.

Meanwhile, Women’s Singles defending cham-pion and tournament top seed, Christy Agug-bom also cruised into the quarter-final after beating younger Angel Mcleod 6-1, 6-4 while Beauty Mcleod de-

feated Beauty Oghenekev-we 6-2, 6-0.

In the Men’s category, Men’s singles defending champion, Abdulmumuni Babalola, outclassed Michael Eludoyin 6-0, 6-2 to qualify for the quarter-final while

Clifford Enosoregbe defeated Christopher Edward 6-1, 6-4 as Candy Idoko beat Daniel Odeh 6-1, 6-2 to advance.

The Otu brothers, John and Thomas, also won their games 6-2, 6-1, 6-4, 6-2 respectively to advance.

Egypt cancels Rwanda friendly

Polo: Max Air wins Unity tourney

CBN Tennis: Ifidzhen upsets Adegoke, enters q-finals

AFCON qualifier:

Cuper

Polo action in Abuja

Nkwocha

Vol. 05 No. 1117 Thursday, May 21, 2015 N150

WORLD RECORD

The smallest animal currently being trained to potentially detect land mines is the honeybee (Apis mellifera), which measures 12

mm (0.5 in) long.

Smallest animal used in detecting land mines

TochukwuEzukanma

T h kGuest Columnist

Printed and Published by Global Media Mirror Ltd: Head Offi ce: Mirror House, 155/161 Broad Street, Lagos Tel: 07027107407, Abuja Offi ce: NICON Insurance House, Second Floor, Central Business District Area, Abuja Tel: 08070428249, Advert hotline: 01-8446073, Port-Harcourt Offi ce: Suite 115, NICON Hotel, 6, Benjamin Opara Street, Off Olusegun Obasanjo Rd, GRA Phaze 3, Phone: 07032323254 Email: mail@nationalmirroronline.net.

Editor: SEYI FASUGBA. All correspondence to PMB 10001, Marina, Lagos. Printed simultaneously in Lagos, Abuja and Akure. ISSN 0794-232X.

In addition to its defeat in the recent presidential election, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) also lost its

dominance in the Senate and House of Representatives and control of some time-honored PDP states like Plateau, Niger and Benue to the All Progressives Congress (APC), the new ruling party. Following these losses, the party is in deep crisis. The decamping of it members, en masse, and the unremitting bickering and acrimony within the party are enervating and threat-ening it with something of an implosion. It is extremely important that PDP revives itself because Nigerian democracy needs a vigorous opposition, a role which a robust and vibrant PDP can successfully play.

Understandably, PDP is writhing in the pains of electoral trouncing. With a touch of hyperbole, the Senate President, David Mark, said that the party was already in coma and hemorrhaging and “unless we

halt the bleeding and find the necessary therapy, we may be heading for the final burial of the party”. It is hard to swallow the politician’s hemlock: rejection by the electorate. But to the PDP, the pains and sorrow of defeat are even more inconsol-able because, due to the orientation of the party, electoral defeat was inconceivable to its members, and thus not in their political calculus. They believed, as a onetime PDP chairman, Vincent Ogbulafor, once blus-tered, “the PDP will remain in power, (un-interrupted), for 60 years”. He expected the party to remain in power for that long, not because it will continue to command the people’s confidence and mandate, but be-cause the amoral and do-or-die politicians that suffuse the party will continue to hold on to power through electoral fraud and po-litical intrigues.

As Nigerian politics changed, the PDP remained welded to this anachronistic mindset; but the opposition political par-ties coalesced into a formidable union. The social media became a powerful tool of political discourse and campaign. The Ni-gerian electorate became more politically savvy due to increased awakening of their political consciousness and aspirations. And as such, for the presidential election, they expected more than mere political sloganeering and verbal swiping of politi-cal opponents. They expected issue-based campaigns. They wanted the candidates to address the nation’s myriad of problems and proffer policies that will tackle them. Clinging to its outmoded modus operandi, the PDP remained oblivious of these politi-cal changes.

For the election, as an incumbent presi-dent, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan was to trum-pet his accomplishments in the last six years and tell Nigerians what he planned to do, if re-elected. But, as his presidency was an unmitigated failure, he had no achievement to trumpet. With nothing to proclaim, and lacking credibility, as he did not fulfill his earlier election promises, the PDP could not campaign as a ruling party. It took to mudslinging. Relentlessly, it tried to defame the main opposition candidate, Muhammadu Buhari. They accused him of not having the minimal constitutionally required educational qualification to run for the office of the president.

Utterly exasperated by President Jona-than’s disastrous governance, Nigeri-ans were unimpressed by these slanders and slurs. A lady on a radio programme summed up this mood, when she said, “even if Buhari brings his NEPA bill as his certificate, I will still vote him”. While education is a necessary pre-requisite for being the president of Nigeria, there is no direct correlation between the number of degrees one has and ability to lead the country. In addition to education, good leadership demands qualities like vision,

Sport Extra

Reports yesterday said police have arrested more than 50 people as part of an investi-

gation into suspected match-fixing in Italian football.

Those detained include players and directors from about 30 clubs from Italy’s third and fourth divi-sions.

More than 70 people are also under investigation in the inquiry led by prosecutors in the southern town of Catanzaro.

Police, however, said that some of those charged had links to ma-fia organisations.

Catanzaro prosecutors said they

had uncovered an alleged network between club presidents, coaches, players, and some management members.

Those arrested are suspected of conspiracy to commit sporting fraud, the reports said, even as Po-lice said they were studying suspi-

Match-fi xing:Match-fi xing: Italian police make sweeping arrests Italian police make sweeping arrests

Tavecchio

Nigerian democracy needs robust opposition

IT IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT THAT

PDP REVIVES ITSELF BECAUSE NIGERIAN

DEMOCRACY NEEDS A VIGOROUS OPPOSITION

cious results in dozens of matches.According to the reports, secu-

rity agents said the Ndrangheta crime syndicate was believed to be behind some of the match-fixing.

It was not yet clear whether the Police inquiry was linked to a pre-vious anti-match-fixing operation.

courage, discipline and incorruptibility. Education will enhance these qualities if you have them, but will not substitute for them if you lack them. Jonathan, despite his many degrees, lacks these qualities. Not surprisingly, he made a terrible president.

Other members of his administration like Dr. Okonjo-Iweala, Dr. Doyin Okupe, Dr. Rueben Abati, etc, also have many cer-tificates. Wow! These guys have tons of certificates. But then, it seemed they were out to irreparably damage Nigeria with their trailer-load of certificates. They took impunity and arrogance of power to hith-erto unknown levels. They were contemp-tuously indifferent to the deepening eco-nomic woes of the generality of Nigerians; scornfully insensitive to the sensibilities of Nigerians, and totally unresponsive to public opinion.

In exasperation of this governing team, Nigerians voted for change. They voted for a leader, Buhari, that can lead Nigeria out of its morass of official corruption, insecurity, government ineptitude and dysfunctional and crumbling institutions. And because the chairman of the Independent National Election Commission (INEC), Professor At-tahiru Jega, maintained his neutrality as an election umpire, the people’s votes counted, and the PDP lost.

Expectedly, PDP is in the agony of defeat. The frustrations and regrets of its members are all in order. The problem is their refusal to take responsibilities for their actions, and in looking for alibis and scapegoats. These have led to quarrels, blames and accusa-tions that are debilitating and portend to cripple the biggest party in Africa.

Appropriately, Senator Mark is counsel-ing PDP members. He is asking them to learn from their electoral misfortune, come together and rebuild the party. He is urging them to embrace PDP’s new status of an op-position party with all honesty, sincerity of purpose and dedication to duty. The party members should heed this magnificent ad-vice.

Tochukwu Ezukanma wrote from La-gos via maciln@yahoo.com