Thursday, may 22, 2014 by GLOBAL MEDIA MIRROR LIMITED

US gives conditions for investing in Nigeria

…unveils plan to boost power supply JOHNSON OKANLAWON Obama

Vol. 4 3 N0. 857 657

he United States of America yesterday said she would not do business in countries that did not follow the rule

of law, maintain ethical standards, abide by workplace safety, encourage workforce training and CONTINUED ON PAGE 5>>

Thursday, May July 4, 22,2013 2014

Jos blasts death toll rises to 200

...victims’ relations besiege hospitals Bombings callous, inhuman, say Mark, Ekweremadu, ACF

N150 N150 GEORGE OJI, JAMES ABRAHAM, INUSA NDAHI AND EZEKIEL TITUS

he death toll from Tuesday’s twin bomb blasts in Jos, the Plateau State capital, has increased from 118 to over 200, National Mirror gathered yesterday. The security situation in Jos has also taken a massive toll on private and public businesses as many of them did not open for fear of the CONTINUED ON PAGE 2>>

FG’s fuel subsidy hits N2.02bn per day in May P.4 INSIGHT

Scene of Tuesday’s bomb explosions in Jos, yesterday. INSET LEFT: Director-General, National Emergency Management Agency, Alhaji Muhammed Sidi (left) and Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar, sympathising with a victim at Jos University Teaching Hospital. RIGHT: Another victim in the hospital. PHOTOS: NAN

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Nigerians condemn 62.5% tariff on book importation

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Father of two abducted Chibok schoolgirls dies of heart attack US troops deploy in Chad NUT orders schools shut

Police recover hijacked bus, rescue passengers

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News

Thursday, May 22, 2014

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Father of two abducted Chibok schoolgirls dies of heart attack INUSA NDAHI AND FRANKA OSAKWE

56-year-old man, Mr. Mutai Hona, whose two daughters were among the over 200 students of the Government Girls Secondary School, Chibok, Borno State, abducted by the Boko Haram one month ago, has died of heart attack. The news of his death was announced by his brother, Mr. James Yama, in Maiduguri, the state capital yesterday. The father of eight children and two wives was said to have died on Sunday. Yama told journalists that the deceased died as a result of psychological trauma he went through when he realised that none of his two abducted daughters were in the video clip released by the sect leader, Abubakar Shekau. He was buried in Chibok on Monday, according to Christian rites. Yama said that most of the parents were not eating or sleeping because of the psychological trauma inflicted on them.

“We are suffering in silence, one of my brothers, Mr. Mutai Hona, whose two daughters were among those abducted died last Sunday as a result of heart attack. Since the incident, he has not been eating well before he developed high blood pressure. “It will interest you to note that on Sunday this week, officials of the National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, in charge of North-East Zone, were here in Chibok to distribute relief materials to the victims, but none of the parents collected even soap. “They protested to NEMA officials that all what they wanted was for government to bring back their abducted daughters. In fact, most of those who benefitted from the relief materials were people whose daughters were not among the abducted. “If we had seen the corpses of our girls, we would have forgotten about them. They have turned the whole episode into hide and seek game with the authorities not letting us know really what is happening, it is unfortunate,” he stated.

In another development, the United Nations Population Fund, UNFPA, has announced plan to support the Chibok victims and their families once they were back home. In a statement, UNFPA’s Executive Director, Dr. Babatunde Osotimehin, expressed shock over the abduction of the young girls from the safety of their school.

He said the organisation would lead a coalition of partners to provide psychosocial therapy to stabilise the parents of the victims and teach them to offer the necessary assistance to their children, when they were released. “We will also provide immediate diagnosis and treatment to the victims to ensure their health, including their sexual and repro-

ductive health. “We will initiate programmes that will encourage the girls’ reintegration into the educational system to enable them to complete their education. “These girls are our daughters and sisters. We, therefore, have the responsibility to demand their safe return. And for us at UNFPA, we have the duty to ensure that they are fully

reintegrated into their community, once they are back with their families and to provide for their well-being.” The statement noted that the prevailing conflict in North-East had had a devastating impact on women and girls over the past year. “Even prior to the current crisis, the situation was dire as only 43 per cent of CONTINUED ON PAGE 5>>

L-R: Former President of Mexico, Vicente Fox; his wife, Marta; Ogun State Governor Ibikunle Amosun; his wife, Olufunso; Chairman, Troyka Group, Mr. Biodun Shobanjo and Vice-President, European Investment Bank, Anton Rop, during the opening of the Ogun State Investors’ Forum in Abeokuta, yesterday.

Jos blasts death toll rises to 200 CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

unknown. Some major streets, including Murtala Muhammed Way, the scene of the blasts, were deserted. This is even as the city and its environs remained calm with security agents stationed in strategic locations to forestall any eventuality. Checks by our correspondent also revealed that shops around the ever-busy Terminus market where the explosions occurred remain closed even as passersby avoided the area as roads leading to the scene of the blasts were closed by security operatives. Also, at the old campus and the permanent sites of the University of Jos, along Bauchi Road, students abandoned lectures and other academic activities. It was learnt that the casualty figures rose as many of those who were rushed to hospitals after the blasts died in the early hours of yesterday. Seven of those who died were identified as final year

students of Medical Laboratory Science of UNIJOS. A final year student of the department, Eku Vivan Ijeoma, confirmed that the students were heading for home after lectures at the old campus of Jos University Teaching Hospital, JUTH. She said four of the corpses of the students had been identified by family members. She gave the names of the students as Michael Ogbote, Francisca Nwafor, Lydia Komolafe Dolapo, Milly Yusuf, Doris Gegunem, Vivian Chiamaka and Obilor Wungak. But the institution’s Deputy Registrar, Information and Publication, could only confirm that one student was hospitalised, saying that he had been moving from one hospital to another trying to locate the students as at the time of filling this report Some of the victims receiving treatment at the four major hospitals in the city, including JUTH, Bingham University Teaching Hospital, BUTH, Plateau

Specialist hospital and NAF Hospital, also recounted their ordeals to our correspondent. Elizabeth Nyam, a 25-year-old woman said she was in the market making her purchase and was about going home when the first blast went off. According to her, she was knocked unconscious and suffered severe burns on her two hands and other parts of her body. She added that immediately the blast occurred, she could not hear anything because she was closed to the scene and the explosion blocked her ears. Nyam added that she only realised that she was in the hospital yesterday morning with her two hands and body in bandage and swollen eyelids. Similarly, Abubakar Mohammed, who was on the bed with two of her legs bandaged, could not utter a word to our correspondent as his son stood by his bedside. Selina from Shendam Local Government was sell-

ing roasted corn in the area when the blasts occurred. She had her left leg badly injured and was on wheelchair at the accident emergency unit of the Plateau Specialist Hospital, Jos, Another victim, Mr. John Chuwang, the Deputy Public Relations Officer of the Plateau State Water Board, said that he was in the market to address to some customers of the board. Chuwang said that immediately he alighted from the vehicle that took him to the market, he heard a bang after which something hit his leg. “I saw people beside and in front of me falling dead but God saved me with only this wound on my leg,’’ he said. An official at the Blood Transfusion Unit of the hospital told our correspondent that 15 of the injured victims brought to the casualty unit died before midnight. The official added that most of the 15 victims died during treatment due to loss of blood. He said although there

were a few blood donors, the hospital needed a lot more to treat the victims. “Yesterday, we had persons who came and donated blood freely to the National Blood Transfusion, we are calling for more donors,” he said. Also, our reporter counted at least 53 corpses on the floor of the hospital mortuary, including that of a child. Most of the corpses were women and children, including seven pregnant women. Also at the JUTH mortuary, which is adjacent to the blasts scene, about 100 corpses were piled upon themselves, making it difficult to do and exact count. The situation was similar at BUTH, although officials declined comments. However, a medical personnel at JUTH, who did not want his name mentioned, said about 120 corpses were brought to the hospital, while injured persons were rushed to the permanent site for treatment. In most of the hospitals visited, relatives of those

who were killed in the blasts were seen at the mortuary unit, trying to identify the corpses of their loved ones. Mr. Chuks Ikemefuna said: “I have gone to almost all the hospitals but I have not seen my brother, Francis, who owns a shoe shop close to where the bomb exploded yesterday. “I have checked the casualty wards but I didn’t see him, now I want to check the mortuaries in case he was killed,” he said. The inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar, has vowed that the perpetrators of the bomb blast would not go unpunished. Addressing journalists at JUTH after going round the casualty wards to ascertain the number of the injured, the IGP said the police would soon unmask those behind the blasts. He described the situation as unfortunate, promising that security agencies were on top of the issue. “We would do anything humanly possible to unmask those who committed CONTINUED ON PAGE 5>>

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Thursday, May 22, 2014

Photo News

Thursday, May 22, 2014

L-R: Lagos State Commissioner for Finance, Mr. Ayo Gbeleyi; Permanent Secretaries, Mrs. Oluranti Odutola (Ministry of Information and Strategy) and Mrs. Oluwatoyin Adegbuji-Onikoyi (Ministry of Finance), during ministerial briefing in Lagos, yesterday.

L-R: Director and Project Coordinator, Nigerian Export Promotion Council, Mr. Henry Otowo; Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Olusegun Awolowo and ITC export quality expert, Mrs. Ludovica Ghizzoni, during a workshop on expanding export of sesame seed and sheanut butter from Nigeria in Abuja, yesterday.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

L-R: Members of the National Conference, Mrs. Felicia Sanni; Dr. Joe Oke-Odumakin; Comrade Issa Aremu and Mrs. Bola Ogunrinde, protesting the abduction of Chibok PHOTO: ROTIMI OSASONA schoolgirls at the conference in Abuja, yesterday.

L-R: Director, Naval Information, Commodore Kabir Aliyu; Chief of Policy and Plans, Naval Headquarters, Rear Adm. Ameen Ikioda and Chief of Administration, Rear Adm. Joe Aikhomu, at a news conference to mark 58th anniversary of the Nigerian Navy in Abuja, yesterday. PHOTO: NAN

National News

FG’s fuel subsidy hits N2.02bn per day in May UDEME AKPAN

he daily fuel subsidy has risen from N2 billion in April to N2.02 billion in May, thus placing much financial burden on the Federal Government. The development, our cor-

respondent learnt is fueled by an increase in the price of many crude oil grades, including Nigeria’s Bonny Light, presently hovering in excess of $105 per barrel at the global market. Investigations showed that the increase is also as a result of charges involved in fuel importation and storage

at depots. Consequently, the May template of the Petroleum Product Pricing Regulatory Agency, PPPRA, showed that the subsidy, which stood at N49.81 per litre in April, increased to N50.62. This culminates in N2.02 billion per day as the Federal Government needs to import

about 40 million litres daily to meet domestic demand. Specifically, the PPPRA puts the landing cost, insurance, trader’s margin, lightering expenses, NPA, financing, jetty depot thru’ put charge and storage charge at N132.13. The agency puts distribution margins such as re-

tailers, transporters, dealers, bridging fund, marine transport average and admin charge at N15.49. It also puts the total cost at N147.62 and official exdepot price at N81.51, thus arriving at an under recovery price of N50.62 per litre. A survey showed that the domestic market is well-

Nebo inaugurates 11-man committee to fast track gas to power project

he Federal Government has inaugurated an 11-member committee headed by Mr. Beks Dagogo-Jack, to fast track the realisation of the Gas to Power project. Dagogo-Jack, who is the Chairman, Presidential Task Force on Power, is expected to galvanise the committee into realising its mandate. This was contained in a statement issued by Deputy Director (Press), Ministry of Power, Mr. Timothy Oyedeji, in Abuja yesterday. The statement stated that the Minister of Power, Prof. Chinedu Nebo, stressed the

need for a holistic approach to the gas challenge in the power sector. Nebo said the committee, an inter-ministerial committee of professionals, was expected to drive government’s plan of increasing gas-fired plant contribution to the grid from the current 70 per cent to 85 per cent by December. “We are thus at the mercy of gas in order to meet this target, it is for this reason that Mr. President has tasked us to find solution, otherwise we can be strangulated by gas shortage,” he said. He decried the gas challenge to the power plants,

which he said, had been made worse as a result of pipeline vandalism. Nebo expressed regrets that the National Integrated Power Projects, NIPP, was conceived with no adequate provision for gas, which he described as the back bone. “We cannot be giving gas to the world through export, while we are in dire need of gas to fire our plants,” he added. On power situation, the minister appealed to Nigerians for understanding as the new owners of the electricity companies were working round the clock to ensure stable power supply.

He also stressed the need for Nigerians to pay their bills and report those involved in illegal connection to the appropriate authority so as to ensure steady power supply to all. Nebo said a 12-point term of reference had been handed over to the committee, which included developing a policy framework that would ensure availability of gas and strategies for curbing vandalism of gas infrastructure. He appealed to the members of the task force to do all they could to ensure the success of their assignment. It stated that Minister of

Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Allison-Madueke, said the ministry was working with stakeholders, including oil companies to develop the framework and gas infrastructure for the country. Alison-Madueke said the ministry had identified various critical projects, adding that the Federal Government had released funds for their realisation as this would tackle the challenges where necessary. The statement stated that Mr. Sanusi Garba, Director, Ministry of Power, would serve as Secretary of the committee.

supplied with the product and that there is no threat, capable of leading to shortage. Meanwhile, major marketers said they have increased supply to assist in tackling shortage experienced in many parts of the country. The Executive Secretary of Major Marketers Association of Nigeria, Mr. Timothy Olawore said fuel supply in many parts of the country has stabilised as a result of increased importation. Some weeks ago, the Federal Government released N41.074 billion as fuel subsidy payment to 27 marketers. The Special Adviser on Communications to the Minister of Finance, Mr. Paul Nwabuikwu stated in a statement that the various claims of marketers were properly verified before the payment. Nwabuikwu stated that the ministry would continue to ensure transparency and accountability in the management of the fuel subsidy regime.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

News

Thursday, May 22, 2014

US gives conditions for investing in Nigeria CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

protect intellectual property. Speaking in Lagos, the US Secretary of Commerce, Mrs. Penny Pritzker, said that these conditions would increase trust and confidence among international and local business leaders and encourage further investment. Pritzker is leading 20 American companies on an energy business development trade mission to Ghana and Nigeria. She noted that Nigeria had made impressive and important progress in recent years, by joining the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative, and adopted new anti-corruption laws. Pritzker, however, said that laws only operated on behalf of business and the people when they were enforced predictably and reliably. According to her, businesses seeking to invest in agriculture, health care, transportation, tourism, information and commu-

nications technology and manufacturing must be able to operate free from unnecessary regulation, government interference and corruption. She said: “Nigeria needs the active participation of business and civil society to successfully root out corruption. Nigeria should adopt the international best practice of providing whistleblower protections. “Honest citizens who are willing to alert authorities to corruption as it is taking place are your best resources in this fight. “The steps that government takes to counter corruption must be reinforced by predictable regulations that help companies not only enter the market, but support their ability to do good business.” Pritzer explained that such conditions that promoted ease of doing businesses would open the country to more investment and innovation, as more companies succeeded in Nigeria, they would act as change

Father of two abducted Chibok schoolgirls dies of heart attack CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2

pregnant women accessed antenatal care, and almost 30 per cent of women had experienced gender-based violence. “The abduction of the girls at Chibok and the situation of other women and girls in the region put them at a high risk of facing a variety of sexual and reproductive health issues, including increased rates of sexually transmitted infections, such as HIV and hepatitis, sexual abuse, teenage pregnancies and psychosocial trauma.” Meanwhile, he United States has deployed about 80 military personnel to Chad as part of its efforts to rescue the kidnapped schoolgirls, President Barack Obama said in a letter to Congress yesterday. “These personnel will support the operation of intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance aircraft for missions over northern Nigeria and the surrounding area,” Obama said in the letter. “The force will remain in Chad until its support in resolving the kidnap-

ping situation is no longer required,” he said. Meanwhile, the Nigeria Union of Teachers, NUT, has directed its members not to come to school today to protest the abduction. The NUT National President, Mr. Micheal Olukoya, gave the directive at a news conference in Abuja yesterday. Olukoya said the union had resolved to hold “Bring Back our Girls” rallies today simultaneously across the 36 states and Federal Capital Territory, FCT. “All schools nationwide shall be closed as the day will be our day of protest against the abduction of female students in Chibok and the heartless murder of 173 teachers. “We remain resolute in our resolve to continue the campaign even as we mourn the death of our colleagues. “We will continue with the protest until our girls are brought back safe and alive and the perpetrators of the heinous crime are brought to book,” he said. Olukoya said that out of the 173 teachers killed by the Boko Haram sect, 170 were from Borno and three from Yobe.

agents. She urged the country to implement its public procurement laws according to international best practices and to join the World Trade Organisation’s Government Procurement Agreement. Pritzker noted that the Nigerian government, business and civil society leaders could develop home grown solutions to these challenges and act as agents of change. “Together, the US government, the Nigerian government, the business leaders and American companies

that are committed to Nigeria can lay the foundation for prosperity, jobs and sustained economic growth. “Fundamentally, I believe that together we can, must, and will move forward on all fronts – from strengthening our security, to ensuring that democracy can flourish, to spurring more trade, investment, and economic opportunity to benefit all of our citizens,” she added. She also reiterated that the United States “is a committed partner in the country’s economic progress and

will work with the country to promote opportunity and security, while also rooting out corruption.” Pritzker stressed that the goal of the mission was to promote US exports and expand her companies’ presence in Africa by helping American firms launch or increase their business in the energy sector. She said that the firms joining the mission had the expertise to help African countries develop and manage energy resources and systems as well as build out

power generation, transmission and distribution. “Already, the US government has committed $7bn toward Power Africa, and had secured additional commitments totalling $14bn from 35 private-sector partners. “Simply put, Power Africa is designed to catalyse new financing and investments in energy solutions that will help Nigeria – and the five other countries that comprise Power Africa -provide reliable electricity to its citizens,” Pritzker said.

L-R: Ministers: Mr. Mike Onolememen (Works), Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke (Petroleum Resources) and Prof. Chinedu Nebo (Power), during the Federal Executive Council meeting in Abuja, yesterday. PHOTO: NAN

Jos blasts death toll rises to 200 CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2

this heinous act,” he said. Abubakar said no government would tolerate the situation, adding that President Goodluck Jonathan, worried over the plight of the Plateau people, “had directed me to come here to ascertain the number of those injured and report the level of damage to him.” He added that investigation had begun and that the security agencies would ensure that the masterminds were arrested. Meanwhile, Senate President David Mark and his deputy, Ike Ekweremadu, have condemned the twin bombings, describing them as callous and totally unacceptable. In separate statements yesterday, they urged Nigerians to be more vigilant. Also, the Arewa Consultative Forum, ACF, described the bomb blasts as “wicked and gruesome”. The National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Muhammad Ibrahim, in a statement in Kaduna, added that the act was condemnable, con-

sidering the huge destruction of property and loss of lives left behind on its trail. “The North has witnessed and experienced too many bomb blasts in the last six years, distorting its economic life and undermining its socio-economic development,” the statement said. ACF also described the activities of the dreaded Boko Haram sect as most unfortunate, adding that it had led to the death of innocent people. Meanwhile, no fewer than 29 people were killed by Boko Haram members in Shawa and Alagarno villages of Askira Cuba and Damboa local government areas of Borno State. The attackers also carted away food items after setting ablaze almost all the houses in the villages. Shawa is about three kilometres south of Kwapchi village, which came under attack two weeks ago with 12 people killed and several houses set ablaze, while Alagarno village is about 30 kilometres to Chibok town. Sources said the Shawa

incident took place on Monday evening while the Algarno attack took place yesterday. Mallam Musa Ibrahim, a resident of Shuwa, told our correspondent that the insurgents invaded the village about 1pm on Monday and opened figure on residents, killing 10 people while 11 sustained gunshot wounds with several houses set on fire. He noted that the attackers wreaked serious havoc on residents before they fled into the bush. Also, Mallam Umaru Saina, who spoke with our correspondent on the phone, said about 30 terrorists on 10 motorcycles stormed Alagarno village about 1:30am yesterday and had a field day before they left. “A young woman in Alagarno village was missing during the attack, but nobody knows whether the woman was taken by the insurgents. “They destroy everything we have and burnt down our remaining food. Most painful thing is that, they did not

spare children. They killed a child, they killed women, they killed men, at least over 19 people were killed,” he said. Neither the police nor the Army have commented on the incident as at the time of filing this report, but sources within the military said security operatives had been drafted to the area to ensure normalcy. In a related development, pandemonium reigned in Bauchi yesterday over a suspicious object, suspected to be a bomb, at the popular Wunti Market. The market is the biggest and busiest in the state, playing host to over one million traders, who troop there on a daily basis. The state Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Haruna Mohammed, however, said it was a false alarm. Haruna said that the police Explosive Ordnance Disposal team, drafted to the scene and cordoned off the place, discovered that the object was a kerosene stove and not an explosive device as feared.

News

Thursday May 22, 2014

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Senate moves to ratify Chemical Weapons Convention GEORGE OJI ABUJA

he Senate yesterday commenced deliberations on the bill seeking to regulate the use of chemical weapons in the country. The bill, which aims at prohibiting the development, production, transfer and use of chemical weapons in Nigeria through the establishment of a native authority, incidentally, scaled second reading on the floor of the Senate. The bill is entitled, “Chemical Weapons Prohibition Bill 2013,” and seeks to provide a legal framework that will stem and control it use. Being an executive bill, it was sponsored by the Senate Leader, Victor Ndoma-Egba. In his lead debate, Ndoma-Egba, said that the main thrust of the bill was to establish a body that would ensure effective liaison with the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, OPCW, with a view to fulfilling Nigeria’s obligation under the convention. He described chemical weapon as toxic chemical contained in a delivery system such as shell or bomb including any toxic chemical or its precursor that can lead to death, injury, temporary or sensory irritation through its chemical action. According to him, victims of chemical weapons usually suffer painful and traumatic death or debilitating effects throughout their lifetime

adding that these weapons have over the years been evolved through the development of chemical products such as artillery shells, mortar projectiles, aerial bombs, spray tanks and landlines. The effect of this development, he said, was the frightening capacity of the weapons to destroy and maim. He recalled that the use of chemical weapons resulted in the destruction of 90,000 lives and over a million casualties during the first world war, Ndoma-Egba noted that large scale chemical weapons used during World War I and World War II resulted in large scale abandonment of chemical weapons which he said now posed serious threats to peace in many countries. This was as the leader noted that the bill would facilitate the enforcement of the prohibition in respect of persons (natural or legal) within the territory of Nigeria, including the prevention, elimination and/or reduction of the production and use of chemical weapons in the country and across the globe. Furthermore, the bill would facilitate the destruction of chemical weapons production facilities and monitor the conversion of such facilities to other uses, even also as it would facilitate the cooperation and assistance between Nigeria and other State Parties of the OPCW to eradicate and stem the proliferation of chemical weapons globally.

L-R: President, Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN), Rev. Felix Omobude; Delta State Deputy Governor, Prof. Amos Utuama; Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan and Vice Chairman, PFN, South-South, Rev. Simeon Okah, during PFN’s visit to the governor in Asaba, yesterday.

Boko Haram: Army begins mass recruitment

• Maku flays northern govs over insecurity ROTIMI FADEYI AND UBONG UKPONG

he Nigerian Army yesterday warned that those who were not ready to sacrifice for their fatherland, by joining the forces in the North East to fight the Boko Haram insurgents, should not bother to apply in its ongoing recruitment exercise. Director of Army Public Relations, DAPR, Brigadier General Olajide Laleye, while briefing journalists in Abuja, stated that the exercise was solely to increase the manpower of the Army to join the ongoing campaign against the Boko Haram insurgents in Borno, Ad-

amawa and Yobe states where the battle was fierce. “Those recruited will be trained after which they will form part of the forces to undertake campaign in the North East. Therefore, only those prepared to fight for their fatherland should volunteer,” the Army spokesman warned. He said the exercise was part of the annual manpower requirement of the Nigerian Army to recruit qualified able bodied Nigerians into the force. Laleye, who disclosed that the recruitment exercise had since commenced with online registration of all interested persons, said it would be followed by pre-screening examination at designated centres

Reps resumes Alison-Madueke’s probe over N10bn private jet expenditure TORDUE SALEM ABUJA

he Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Aminu Waziri Tambuwal has directed the House Committee on Public Accounts to resume investigations into allegations that the Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison- Madueke blew N10 billion of public funds to fuel her private jet.

Tambuwal while giving the directive at a plenary session yesterday regretted that earlier newspaper reports suggested that he directed the Committee on Public Accounts, to suspend the investigative exercise following a court injunction. But the Speaker yesterday told the Chairman of PAC, Hon. Solomon Adeola Olamilekan (APC-Lagos) to resume the probe

of the allegations against the minister. “You can continue with the exercise”, Tambuwal directed the committee. Recall that the House had, through a motion sponsored by Hon. Babatunde Adejare (APCLagos) mandated PAC to look into allegations that the minister misapplied public funds on her private airplane. The minister who was invited to appear

before the committee went to court instead to secure an injunctive relief against the House. The relief she sought was however denied by a High Court sitting in Abuja. Spokesman of the House, Hon. Zakari Muhammed (APC-Kwara) however gave the impression at a press briefing a month ago that the court had stalled the investigative exercise.

all over the country. At the same time, he said the Nigerian Army would also commission duly qualified persons as officers through the Direct Short Service Commission, DSSC, and Short Service Commission, SSC. Meanwhile, Minister of Information, Mr. Labaran Maku yesterday took a swipe at northern governors, saying that they are not doing enough to contain the violent activities of Boko Haram sect in their states. According to him, in the fight against terror, every state in the north must go

back to the basis by reorganising their people to be vigilant. While briefing journalists on the outcome of the Federal Executive Council’s meeting, FEC, the minister said the council condemned the bomb blasts in Borno, Kano and Plateau states and commiserated with the families of those who lost their lives in the separate incidents. While calling on the northern governors to wake up to their responsibilities, Maku said in order to defeat terror, every community in the north must be security concious.

FRSC secures helicopters for rescue missions

he Federal Road Safety Commission, FRSC, on Wednesday said that it had secured some helicopters to evacuate accident victims to hospital for urgent medical attention. The Corps Marshal, Osita Chidoka, unfolded the new initiative at an air rescue demonstration in Girin junction, Gwagwalada, Abuja. Chidoka said the helicopters would complement the 23 ambulance points on some major highways in some parts of the country in attend-

ing promptly to crash victims. He said the commission had entered into agreement with some petroleum companies for the use of helicopters in their fleet during such emergencies. “The FRSC is committed to reducing the impact of road accidents on victims,’’ he said. Chidoka, however, pointed out that not all road accident victims required air ambulance rescue, stressing that only in critical cases would the services of the helicopters be requested.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

National News

Thursday May 22, 2014

FG challenges suit on appointment of Appeal Court president ISE-OLUWA IGE ABUJA

he Federal Government yesterday requested a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja to throw out a suit seeking to nullify the appointment of Justice Zainab Bulkachuwa as the President of the Court of Appeal. The government is contending that the suit did not disclose any reasonable cause of action, saying it was ‘academic’ and of no utility value. The government disclosed its position to the suit vide a preliminary objection it filed in court. A lawyer, Chief Nkereuwem Udofia Akpan had approached the court two months ago with a suit to challenge the appointment

of Bulkachuwa by the National Judicial Council, NJC and President Goodluck Jonathan. He asked the court to set aside the appointment and named President Jonathan, the Attorney General of the Federation, AGF, NJC and the Senate as defendants. But the president and AGF, in a preliminary objection filed through their counsel, Mr. Ahmed Raji, a senior advocate, told the court that the suit of the plaintiff did not disclose reasonable cause of action. They also argued in their objection that the plaintiff had no locus standi (legal rights) to institute the action. The defendants further submitted that the necessary parties were

not before the court and that the plaintiff ’s case was hypothetical, academic and of no practical utilitarian value. During proceedings yesterday, the plaintiff was absent in court, but a counsel who represented him told the court that she was not fully briefed about the matter. The case was adjourned to July 3 due to the absence of the NJC in court. The court ordered that hearing notice should be issued to the NJC before the next adjourned date. In the main suit, the plaintiff asked the court to immediately withdraw the recommendation made to the President for the appointment of Justice Bulkachuwa as the

UK ‘bribes’ embassy staff to deport Nigerians, lawmaker alleges PAUL ARHEWE

WITH AGENCY REPORTS

secret deal entered into by the British Homeland Office and the Nigerian Embassy in the United Kingdom, UK, has been tabled before the parliament. An allegation of monetary incentive in exchange for travel documents was yesterday tabled by a lawmaker in the UK legislature. It entails that the Nigeria Embassy and others were ‘handsomely paid’ to release travel documents to facilitate the deportation of unwanted Nigerians and other migrants from the UK. According to the report in the UK Guardian newspaper, “The payments, which could amount to millions of pounds in total, do not appear in the department’s annual report, and a spokesperson could not say who authorises them, or which budget the money comes from.”

A British Labour party lawmaker, Jeremy Corbyn, tabled questions in parliament about the secrecy surrounding the Home Office payments, and is said to be asking for more information about them. A Freedom of Information (FoI) request from The Guardian about payments the Home Office made to the Nigerian embassy reportedly confirmed that the department holds the information, but officials rejected the request to reveal it. According to the publication, response to the FoI stated that disclosing the information would provide transparency about the level of co-operation between the Home Office and the Nigerian authorities, but that doing so could influence future agreements and negotiations between the two countries. One asylum seeker was said to have appealed to a contact at his country’s embassy not to provide the

travel document the Home Office had requested for him, as he feared for his life if forced to return home. “My contact told me there was nothing he could do to help me because there is an agreement between the Home Office and the embassy that they are paid large sums of money for issuing travel documents,” he said. The newspaper also reported that there had been cases when people had been documented and removed to countries other than their own. In 2008, German magazine, Spiegel, reported that the country was paying Nigerian embassy officials 500 per person to issue travel documents for people they wanted to remove. Diplomatic sources from embassies in Asia, Africa and the Middle East described how the money was offered in return for providing travel documents as quickly as possible, the report added.

President of the Appeal Court on the grounds that it did not conform with the age-long tradition of appointing heads of courts in the country on the basis of seniority. He also asked the court to order that the name of the most senior justice of the Court of

Appeal be sent to the President for appointment as the substantive PCA. In the affidavit in support of the originating summons, the plaintiff argued that when the former PCA, Justice Isa Ayo-Salami, was suspended from office, the

most senior Justice of the Court of Appeal as at then, Justice Dalhatu Adamu, was appointed as the President of the court in acting capacity. The plaintiff observed that the most senior judge had always been appointed as the head of court in the country.

Reps demand monthly briefing on Boko Haram TORDUE SALEM ABUJA

he House of Representatives has passed a resolution ordering Nigerian security agencies to brief it on a monthly basis on efforts to tackle insurgency in three states of the NorthEast. The House passed the resolution after adopting a motion by Hon. Aishatu Dahiru Ahmed (PDP-Ad-

amawa). She had argued in her motion that “a periodic briefing on the measures being undertaken by the security agencies to combat the insurgency since the declaration of the state of emergency will go a long way in reassuring Nigerians of adequate guarantee of security of lives and property.” Ahmed lamented that “despite the provision of over N9bn in the 2013 na-

tional budget for security, there appears to have been minimal success recorded in tackling insurgency in the country.” She expressed concern that “the collective action in containing the insurgency may be difficult to achieve due to the distrust and apprehension among stakeholders over the escalating activities of the insurgents, despite the imposition of a state of emergency.”

UNAUDITED RESULTS FOR THE FIRST QUARTER ENDED 31 MARCH 2014 The Board of Directors of Nestlé Nigeria PLC hereby announces the following provisional and unaudited results for the first quarter ended 31 March 2014.

Revenue Gross Profit Result from Operating Activities Net Finance Cost Profit Before Income Tax Income Tax Expense Profit For the Period

Unaudited Jan-March, 2014 N'000

Unaudited Jan-March, 2013 N'000

33,425,485 14,864,161

30,696,326 13,236,427

7,726,856 (655,477) 7,071,379 (1,067,060) 6,004,319

7,518,663 3 (465,275) 140 7,053,388 0.3 (1,058,000) 0.9 5,995,388 0.1

% 9 12

COMMENTS Based on the adoption of the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) in Nigeria, we have prepared the Company's Financial Statements for the period ended 31 March 2014 in compliance with the provisions of the IFRS, in particular, IAS 34. The detailed interim Financial Statements prepared in line with IAS 34 will be available on the Company's website, www.nestlecwa.com/en/investors/nigeria. “We are pleased with the turnover development for the first quarter of 2014 despite the challenging business environment. The Profit development reflects our commitment to stronger Marketing and Distribution activities which build the basis for the future growth of the Business. The Directors are optimistic that barring any unforeseen circumstances, the Company will record good level of performance in the subsequent quarters of the year.”

Dated this 28th day of April 2014

BODE AYEKU, ESQ.

22-24, Industrial Avenue, Ilupeju, Lagos

South West

Thursday, May 22, 2014

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Ex-Mexican president, Fox, tasks leaders on transparency ...as Amosun declares 2nd Ogun investors’ forum open

FEMI OYEWESO ABEOKUTA

ormer Mexican President, Vicente Fox, yesterday said Africa, especially Nigeria will rule the world economically if the political leaders demonstrate transparency and will to harness potentials.

He stated that development on the continent can be fast-tracked if the leaders would develop passion and innovation to drive it to a higher level. The former Mexican president made the declaration yesterday in his keynote address at the second Ogun state Inves-

tors’ Forum held at the June 12 Cultural Centre, Abeokuta. Recalling the challenges Mexico went through before becoming an exporter of 70 per cent of America’s food and fruits’ needs, Fox challenged Nigerian leaders to show more commit-

ments, transparency and accountability towards building a healthy nation which other African countries would be proud of. He emphasised that the African Union, AU, which aims at promoting the continent’s integration and unity should serve

as a major machinery to move the country forward. Fox stressed that the AU should be the avenue through which the continent would become the new driving engine to propel the world’s economy since the ‘old engine’ in Europe, Asia, as well as North America, appeared to be tired. He tasked Nigeria’s political class to set a roadmap to serve as the takeoff point in the journey towards upgrading the country’s economy. Speaking on the theme of the forum, which the host governor, Senator

Ibikunle Amosun, had hinged on agriculture that will lead to industrialisation and urban development, the former Mexican leader charged the country’s leaders to borrow a leaf from the success story of his country before it became one of the world’s greatest economies. In his speech, Governor Amosun said the success achieved by the first edition of the forum in March 2012 made his administration to create an enabling environment to make the state an investment destination of choice.

Police rescue hijacked luxury bus, passengers FEMI O YEWESO ABEOKUTA

T L-R: Guest Lecturer, Emeritus Prof. Michael Omolewa; Prof. Bolanle Awe; Guest of Honour, Emeritus Prof. Jacob Festus Ade-Ajayi and President, Organisation for Historical Research in Nigeria, at a roundtable in honour of Ade-Ajayi to mark His 85th birthday, organised by the organisation at the University of Ibadan, yesterday.

Lagos begins German, Chinese languages teaching in schools FRANCIS SUBERU

he Lagos State Government has said that it has commenced the pilot teaching and learning of German and Chinese (Mandarin) languages in six schools.

Commissioner for Education, Mrs. Olayinka Oladunjoye, who disclosed this at a briefing in Lagos, stated that Birch Freeman Senior High School is the pilot school for teaching of German language. She said government of-

ficials had visited the school to ascertain the level of commitment of the German Embassy on the project. On learning and teaching of Chinese, the commissioner said that the pilot programme started in 2013 at Bolade Junior Grammar School, Oshodi

and Ikeja Junior Grammar School. Others schools, according to her, are Immaculate Heart Comprehensive Junior High School; Mende Junior High School, both at Maryland, and New Era Junior Girls School, Surulere.

Maternal health: SURE-P records 88,000 deliveries HAKEEM GBADAMOSI AKURE

he Subsidy Reinvestment Programme (SURE-P) yesterday disclosed that about 88, 000 deliveries have been recorded under the Maternal, Newborn and Child Health, MNCH programme. The programme, it said, was initiated to improve the well- being of mothers and children in the country.

A representative of SURE-P, Nonso Onwundinjo, who disclosed this yesterday in Akure, the Ondo State capital, at a one day-public dialogue on MNCH agenda. The dialogue was put together for stakeholders by Emmanuel World Children Foundation and Dowa Education Development Foundation. Onwundinjo said that, apart from the deliveries, the organisation had disbursed N18m under its Condi-

tional Cash Transfer programme, He said the fund was made available to encourage women assess facilities at government hospitals under the programme with ease. According to him, the programme was part of the health intervention and supply of health workers, renovation and construction of health facilities, accommodation for health workers and provision of health commodities and drugs.

He said the conditional cash transfer involved payment of N1,000 to every pregnant woman who registered in any of the facilities of SURE-P, payment of N3,000 upon delivery and additional N1,000 to the mother when the child is presented for immunisation. Onwudinjo explained that the cash transfer was introduced as a way of ensuring the health and safety of women and children.

he Ogun State Police Command yesterday said it had recovered a luxury passenger bus belonging to a Lagos-based transport company which had earlier been hijacked by armed robbers along the Lagos-Benin expressway. A statement issued yesterday in Abeokuta by the command’s Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Muyiwa Adejobi, said the Port Harcourt, Rivers Statebound bus was hijacked on Monday at about 1:30pm, with all the passengers on board. According to the

PPRO, some armed men suspected to be robbers had blocked the SagamuBenin expressway with a truck around the Odogbolu axis of Ijebu-Ode where they snatched the bus with the registration number: LAGOS LSD 235 XJ, along with the passengers. Adejobi said that the police anti-crime patrol team attached to the Odogbolu Divisional Division while on routine duty along the expressway, however, received a distress call which prompted them to give the robbers a hot chase. He said the robbers had to abandon the bus and the passengers following the police chase.

Ekiti NSCDC arrests 8 oil theft suspects A BIODUN NEJO ADO EKITI

he Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCSC, Ekiti State Command, has paraded eight suspects arrested by men of its Anti-Vandalisation Unit in Ado-Ekiti. They were arrested while attempting to divert petrol meant for other states to another destination enroute AdoEkiti. Others were arrested for suspected adulteration of alternate gas oil

expected to be supplied in the state before their apprehension. A statement from the Corps Public Relations Officer, PRO, Mr. Tolulope Afolabi, said the suspects arrested in connection with diversion of petrol were arrested with a tanker-load of 33,000 litres, in a trailer with registration number FKJ 487 XH. Afolabi said two others were arrested with a tanker-load of petrol of about 33,000 litres in a vehicle with registration number LSR 270 XF.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

South West

Thursday, May 22, 2014

Group wants state created from Oyo KEMI OLAITAN IBADAN

Lead Specialist for Health, Nutrition and Population in Africa, Dr. Don Bundy (In glasses); Executive Director, Partnership for Child Development, Imperial College, London, Dr. (Mrs) Lesley Drake (fifth left); Special Adviser to Osun Governor on O-Meal, Mrs. Funmi Adeyi (left), in a group photograph with O-Meal food vendors , during the opening of technical meeting on Osun Elementary School Feeding and Health Programme (OMeals), at the Centre for Black Culture and International Understanding, Abere, Osogbo, yesterday.

We’ve set aside N47.8bn for loan repayment -Lagos commissioner FRANCIS SUBERU

he Lagos State Government yesterday revealed that about N47.8billion has so far been generated and set aside by the state government for repayment of the second tranche of the bond collected in 2010 and due for repayment in 2017. The value of the second series of the N275billion multi-tranche bond programme is valued at N57.5billion. it was issued in 2010 and due for payment in 2017. Commissioner for Finance, Ayo Gbeleyi who made the disclosure at a ministerial briefing on the activities of his ministry in the last one year, noted that the first tranche of the bond valued at N50billion and issued in 2009, reached

maturity in 2014 and had since February 2014 been retired by the state government. Fielding questions from journalists after his address at the briefing, Gbeleyi said Lagos State Government had from the onset developed a framework that will guarantee sufficient generation of funds required to settle the N275 billion multitranche bonds programme. He said that a fixed proportion of 15 percent of the state’s Internally Generated Revenue, IGR, has been set aside in a consolidated debt service account for the purpose of managing the debts. According to him, N47.8billion has so far been generated as sinking fund which is being managed by independent trustees for the repayment of the loans. The commissioner said: “We contribute 15 percent

of our revenue into the consolidated debt service account which enables us fund all the obligations whether it is the interest which is called coupon that is paid on the bond or the principal and that is regulated and managed by the trustees. “When the bond of N57.5billion is due in 2017 as it has happened with the N50billion that was due in February this year, the provision would have been fully made because it’s a strict regimentation.” The bond series began in 2009 with the issuance of N50 billion in tranche one (which has matured and had fully been redeemed) and N57.5 billion in 2010 in tranche two of the same series expected to mature in 2017. Under series two of the bond issuance, the state in 2012 raised N80billion in tranche one, which is ma-

turing in 2019, and eventually sealed the deal in 2013 when it raised N87.5billion last tranche of the series two. With N50 billion offset, the outstanding in the state bond programme is now N225 billion. Speaking on the anxiety often expressed by the people on the decision of the state government to raise money through bond and the implications of borrowing on the state’s economy, Gbeleyi said in Lagos, such fears need not arise. He said that all indices guiding purposeful borrowing benchmarked against international best practices, and the size of the state’s economy, allow Lagos it to borrow, even as all monies raised through the bond programme are channeled into capital projects which gave room for more money to build.

WHA summit focuses on gender-based violence FRANKA OSAWE

ender based violence and newborn health issues were the major focus at the 67th World Health Assembly meeting held yesterday at Geneva, Switzerland. One of the key speakers, Dr Christine Kaseba-Sata, First Lady of Zambia, World Health Organisation’s, WHO, Goodwill Ambassador against gender-based violence, deplored the prevalence of

violence against women and girls and the extent to which cases of violence remain hidden and unrecognised. Kaseba-Sata restated the lasting damage such violence can inflict on mental and physical health: “Almost all genderbased violence victims fall on the doorstep of the health sector.” She stressed that the health sector has a responsibility to address the causes and consequences of violence.

She called on delegates to ensure that everyone affected by violence has timely, effective and affordable access to all the health services they require, and that those services are free of abuse, disrespect, and discrimination. Also, Melinda Gates, Co-chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation highlighted ways to improve the health of mothers and newborn babies, emphasising the value of linking efforts to improve reproductive, maternal,

newborn and child health “the continuum of care”. She pointed out that: “If women can plan their families, they are more likely to space their pregnancies. If they space their pregnancies, they are more likely to have healthy babies. If women’s babies are healthy, they are more likely to flourish as children. When mothers have healthy pregnancies, and when children thrive, the positive benefits last a lifetime.”

he Oyo State stakeholders on state creation yesterday reiterated its position for the splitting of Oyo State, insisting that if any state must be created from the South-West region, it must be from the state. The stakeholders said this in a statement signed by Chief Wole Akinwande and Mr. Jare Ajayi respectively, and made available to journalists in Ibadan. While berating southern delegates at the National Conference for supporting the creation of a new state called Ijebu State from the present Ogun State, they said incontrovertible data and records shows that the present Oyo State is the largest in terms of population and other demographic indicators in the South

West. According to them, with a landmass of about 28,245.26km2, Oyo State is bigger than about ten states in Nigeria presently, while Ibadan the state capital remains the only regional and provincial headquarters that has not become a state of its own. “In the spirit of fairness, equity and justice, it is high time Ibadan too is given the same treatment. Kaduna and Enugu, as regional capitals have been created into states.” They said. The stakeholders said that the delegates from the state to the National Conference spoke their minds in the press conference they addressed last Friday where they underscored the fact that Oyo State is where states should be created at any time states are to be created from the South Western part of the country.

N5bn fraud: Court grants Ex-Chevron accountant N5m bail MATTHEW IRINOYE

Lagos State High Court judge, Justice Sedoten Ogunsanya, yesterday granted N50 million bail to the former staff of Chevron Nigeria Limited, Mr. Michael Adenuga. Adenuga was last week Monday arraigned before Justice Ogunsanya of the Lagos State High Court, Ikeja by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, for fraudulently converting landed property worth N5.5 billion to his personal use. Lead prosecution counsel, Jamiu Musa had alleged that Adenuga and his company Convenant Apartment Limited between September 2011 and February 2014 at Aiyetoro Ikota area of Lagos State converted to himself about 22.68hetres of land situated at Ikota peninsula The anti-graft agency had alleged that the defendant forged a Lagos State land sales document alleging that the said land had been sold to him by a Swiss firm.

The commission claimed that the defendant had tendered the document before its officials at its Lagos office with the intent to deceive them. Adenuga however, pleaded not guilty to the three-count charge when it was read to him in the open court. While arguing the accused bail application yesterday, his counsel Mr. Ehis Badmus prayed the court for liberal bail conditions, saying that his client is diabetic and suffered from high blood pressure and that remanding him in the Kirikiri prisons would further worsen his condition. Badmus further submitted that, before the defendant was arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, he has been given administrative bail and that he did not jump the bail. Badmus said said that prior to the allegation; the defendant has never appeared before any court for criminal matter. He therefore urged the court to grant his client bail on liberal terms.

South East

Thursday, May 22, 2014

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

FG declares May 29 public holiday

MEND not responsible for P/ Harcourt Refinery explosion -IYC

OMEIZA AJAYI

OSAHON JULIUS YENAGOA

he Ijaw Youth Congress, IYC, the umbrella body of Ijaw youths, yesterday said the Niger Delta militia group,the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta, MEND, were not responsible for the explosion which rocked the Port Harcourt Refinery at the weekend. The group had earlier claimed responsibility for the explosion. However, the IYC said the explosion at the refinery which led to the death of eight persons was triggered by the activities of oil thieves in the area. Its Publicity Secretary, Comrade Eric Omare, during an interaction with the Media in Yenagoa yesterday, said preliminary investigation conducted by the three-man committee set up by the IYC over the incident discovered that the explosion was triggered by an open boat engine used by the suspected oil thieves. According to Omare,” we set up a committee over the explosion and we discovered that it was not MEND that was responsible, but those suspected to be involved in oil theft and illegal bunkering activities in the area. We discovered that with the poor and uncovered engine used by the suspected oil thieves, explosion was imminent.” Omare said though the incident was unfortunate, the concern of the IYC was the request made to President Goodluck Jonathan on the need for the renewal of the oil pipeline surveillance contract in the region and the involvement of the indigenes of coastal communities in the protection of these pipelines. On the rising protest by Ijaw communities over the proposed Ogidigben Export Processing Zone, EPL, by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company,NNPC, and the Delta State Government, the IYC said the development have become worrisome and called on the President Goodluck Jonathan to intervene.

L-R: Member, Enugu Coalition of Professional and Business Associations, Lady Claire Asogwa; Vice President, Ozo Ramsy Onyia and Secretary, Sir Emeka Okereke, briefing newsmen on decisions reached at their conference in Enugu, yesterday. PHOTO: NAN

Nigerian Navy acquires eight new ships UBONG UKPONG ABUJA

he Nigerian Navy yesterday, said that it has acquired additional eight ships in its fleet, to boost its capacity to police the country’s maritime environment. At a press briefing in Abuja, to mark the 58th anniversary of the Nigerian Navy, the Chief of Naval Staff, CNS, Vice Admiral Usman Jibrin, disclosed that 38 ships were arrested between January and May this year, for their involvement in various illegalities in the country’s territorial waters. The Chief of Naval Staff,

who was represented by the Chief of Policy and Plans, COPP, Rear Admiral Amin Ikioda, said that eight of the ships currently in the custody of the Navy were Chinese ships, adding that the acquisition of the additional ships would further help in checking and stopping such acts of illegality. Admiral Jibrin disclosed that the acquisition followed the adopted “doublepronged strategy” of the Navy towards achieving the recapitalisation of its fleet, which he said was top priority. “On one hand, ships are being acquired from some friendly countries while on the other hand, the NN is

complementing with local construction of ships. “In this regard, the United States Coast Guard Cutter GALLLATAIN was transferred to the NN on May 7, 2014 at Charleston, South Carolina. The ship, which has been renamed NNS OKPABANA, is expected to sail from the United States in the 3rd quarter of the year to join the country’s naval fleet. “In the same vein, the navy has acquired 2x1800ton offshore patrol vessels, OPVs, on order from China. One of the OPVs, NN CENTENARY, is expected to join the NN fleet before the end of this year, while about 30 percent of the second one

will be constructed in the Nigerian Naval Shipyard, Port Harcourt in partnership with the shipping yard in China. “Furthermore, 5xK47 boats currently under construction in the Netherlands will also join the naval fleet before the end of the year”, he said. He said that the Nigerian Navy had also taken bold step in the local construction of vessels, with the first 31-metre Seaward Defence Boat constructed locally by the Nigerian Navy at the Naval Dockyard Limited, Victoria Island, Lagos State, and already commissioned by President Goodluck Jonathan.

Insurgency: Army presents cheques to families of late soldiers T he Nigerian Army on Wednesday in Abuja presented cheques to 10 next of kins of soldiers who died in the course of fighting insurgency in the northern part of the country. The Managing Director of Nigerian Army Welfare Limited, Maj.-Gen. Bitus Kwaji, presented the cheques on behalf of the Chief of Army Staff, COAS, Lt.-Gen. Kenneth Minimah to the next of kins of soldiers who died in Maidu-

guri last month. Kwaji said the COAS was very passionate about the immediate relations getting the cheques. According to him, the payments were in three folds: Nigerian Army Welfare Insurance Payment, Benevolent Fund, and the Nigerian Army Life Policy. He said that the payment was part of the series of payments the army would be making to the families before the actual payment of the death benefit by the

Military Pension Board. “This payment we are making today is to ensure that the families of the deceased have something to live on before they get the death benefit. “The payment would have been made since April, but the documents and the next of kins were not available. That is why the money is being paid now. “It took us quite some time before we could get the particulars of the next of kins.

He said the COAs has directed that all those in service must their particulars documented regularly, so that their next of kins can be traced and paid immediately. Kwaji also advised the next of kins of fallen heroes to ensure that they follow up with processing their documents at the Military Pension Board. He emphasised that if the documents were processed early, the pension board would pay them in time.

he Federal Government has declared Thursday next week as public holiday in commemoration of this year’s Democracy Day celebration. Making the declaration yesterday in a statement in Abuja on behalf of President Goodluck Jonathan, the Minister of Interior, Comrade Patrick Abba Moro urged Nigerians to continue to be patriotic in the service of the nation. He also urged Nigerians to continue to support and actively participate in the onerous task of national development, saying the president would continue to do more to deliver democracy dividends to Nigerians. Signed by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Interior, Mrs Fatima Bamidele, the statement wished Nigerians a warm celebration, urging them to support the transformation agenda of the present government by participating actively in democratic governance so as to move the nation to the next level.

Govt to licence bandwidth service providers

he Federal Ministry of Communications Technology has initiated plans to license telecommunications infrastructure companies to provide bandwidth services to Nigerians. The ministry stated this in a progress and programmes report made available to the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, on Wednesday in Abuja. The report said the initiative would ensure faster deployment of National Broadband Network, NBN, plan across the country. It added that the infrastructure companies would provide intercity fibre which will include the provision of metro fibre. The report added that under the initiative, geographically focused infrastructure companies would provide wholesale bandwidth services on a non-discriminatory, open access and price regulated basis.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

South South

Thursday, May 22, 2014

We may not complete all projects in Delta -Uduaghan THEOPHILUS ONOJEGHEN ASABA

elta State Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan’s ‘Finishing strong’ slogan yesterday received some knocks as the governor admitted that the present administration might not complete all ongoing projects against his earlier assurance. Uduaghan said this yesterday in Asaba, the state capital, while addressing journalists. He noted that there was no going back on the determination to finish strong, saying that the present administration had made tremendous progress in the infrastructural development of the state. The governor, however, assured that the state government would redouble its

efforts to complete major projects. Meanwhile, worried by the spate of insecurity in the country, Uduaghan said that the state government would not celebrate this year’s Children’s Day and Democracy Day. He noted that the two days had been set aside for special prayers for the release of over 200 abducted schoolgirls in Chibok, Borno State. According to him, the rising insecurity challenges in the country demands special prayers, stressing that for this year’s Children’s Day celebration, school children in the state would be assembled at various local governments to observe fasting and prayers for their colleagues kidnapped by Boko Haram. Uduaghan stressed that

the situation in the country called for sober reflection and prayers by Nigerians and no celebration. The governor, while calling for vigilance, assured that President Goodluck Jonathan would surmount the current challenges. “We are working with neighbouring states to deal with criminal activities in the state. We need to be vigilance in our domain. We must also be very careful with strangers,” Uduaghan said. Recounting the state’s experience with the cattle rearers, he said the recent committee set up to monitor their movement was to guide against similar activities that had claimed several lives in northern states. He added that their activities was almost pushing

farmers in the state from going to farm. He also explained that his administration would not be deterred from deporting persons suspected to be illegal aliens, assuring that the exercise was not targeted at fellow Nigerians. The governor said that he was not against people aspiring for political positions, but that such ambition must be done in a manner that would not heat up the system. Uduaghan added that he had asked his cabinet members nursing political ambition to resign in order not to create discord in governance. He appealed to aspiring politicians in the forthcoming local government election to conduct themselves in a peaceful manner.

Suspected armed bandits paraded today by the Department of Security Services in Uyo, Akwa Ibom state, on Wednesday

Kidnapped Rivers LG boss regains freedom DENNIS NAKU

PORT HARCOURT

hree weeks after he was kidnapped, the Chairman of Ahoada-West Local Government Area of Rivers State, Hon. Awori Miller, has been released. This is coming just as the police disclosed that they have arrested about 814 kidnap and robbery suspects between February and April this year in the state. The arrest excludes additional 11 suspects paraded yesterday by the Commis-

sioner of Police, Mr. Tunde Ogunsakin, at the state Criminal Investigation Department, SCID, Port Harcourt. The commissioner, while briefing journalists in Port Harcourt yesterday, stated that over 35 kidnapped victims, including Miller, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, APC, were rescued from the suspected kidnappers. Meanwhile, a close family source told our reporter that the kidnapped council chairman was dropped off along the East-West Road

yesterday morning. The source, however, could not ascertain if any ransom was paid before the release. Miller, spent over three weeks in captivity. Ogunsakin confirmed the release of the chairman to journalists yesterday. He said Miller was freed after much pressure from the state police command. “I want to use this medium to inform you that the Ahoada-West Local Government Chairman, Hon. Awori Miller, who was kidnapped, was freed from

kidnappers’ den around 0300 hours this morning (Wednesday). “We have never encouraged payment of ransom. We are not aware of any ransom. What we did was that we mounted pressure on the kidnappers to release him,” the police commissioner added. Miller, a lawyer, was abducted by three armed men, near Acinia Hotel along the newly constructed Ada George Road in Port Harcourt about 10pm on May 3, 2014.

Oshiomhole bids defectors safe journey SEBASTINE EBHUOMHAN BENIN

do State Governor Adams Oshiomhole has said that he will not be intimidated to surrender the resources of the state to service individuals. He was reacting to the gale of defection sweeping through his party, the All Progressives Congress, APC, to the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. Oshiomhole wished the defectors a “safe journey” to their new destination. The governor accused some individuals of not having the interest of the state and its people at heart, reiterating that the state government would work for the masses and not for godfathers. He spoke at the inspection of the ongoing Storm Water Master Plan Project in Benin, yesterday. Oshiomhole said: “I am aware that some people have left our party. We wish them safe journey. When I came, I was clear and I said we will work on the people of the state. I did not say I was going to work for individuals. “So, if individuals feel angry that I have not helped them in what they call ‘individual personal empowerment’, I have the choice to make, work for individuals or work for the people; I choose to work for the people. “Day or night, come sun or rain, I know that the voice of the people is the voice of God and when God stands by us, who can we be afraid of ? I know that with time, water will find its level. Those who cannot cope will leave and many have left. Those who are happy with the progress will stay and the overwhelming majority of the people have stayed. “I know that many people were deceived and they are already returning because they were told come for a meeting only to see people carry microphone saying they are resigning from the party. We will not defect. “We will continue to do what God asked us to do and I know that the people of Egor will continue to support me. “In the last election, I got 96 per cent in this lo-

cal government. I know that the more we work, the more benefits people will see because we are still going to build more schools; the construction work will continue; we will deliver more transformers. “Let me assure you, for us, it is ‘let the people lead’ not let the godfathers enjoy and allow the people suffer. If the godfathers like, let them move away, we will continue the development of Edo State and our people will continue to enjoy good governance.” The governor reaffirmed his commitment to urban renewal in the state. “When we came out to ask for your votes in 2007, I did make the point that the problem of Benin City is not beyond solution and that the problem of flooding, making people to be afraid whenever the rain is threatening, is not an act of God but a result of many years of neglect by various governments. “I said I am not coming to Edo to lament but that I am coming to Edo to fix it, and to lay foundation for the future. As you can see, we are right now standing on a huge underground drainage, which is part of the Benin City Water Storm Master Plan that the water that drains from this area gets into the underground drainage and it will take it to the river; so that the problem of this community is solved forever. “The most difficult part has now been completed. You have seen the side drains that they are doing; when we finish it, this place we are standing will be asphalted. So you will be driving on it and will not know that you are driving on top of an underground drainage measuring about 40 feet deep and 20-30 feet wide.”

Oshiomhole

North

Thursday, May 22, 2014

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Kwara, PDP at war over N23bn bond WOLE ADEDEJI ILORIN

he Kwara State Government appears set on a war path with the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP over a N23bn bond to be sourced from the stock market. Finance Commissioner, Nurudeen Banu, had set the ball rolling when, at a press conference, he an-

nounced that the bond was part of an envisaged N250bn needed to develop the state. Of the amount, he stated that the state had earlier taken N17bn and N10bn respectively as bonds. The Commissioner and the Special Assistant on Investments to Governor Abdulfattah Ahmed, Yomi Ogunshola, stated at the press briefing that, out of the N23bn, N7.5bn would

Gov: Opposition parties plot ‘vote-buying’ PRISCILLA DENNIS MINNA

head of the 2015 general elections, Governor Muazu Babangida Aliyu has accused the opposition political parties in Niger State of financially inducing the electorate to pave their way to victory. He urged also the electorate not to sell their 38 votes or compromise their stand for lucre, or compromise the future of their children and development of the state. Aliyu stated this in Minna, the state capital, when he received a delegation from Magama Local Government Area, on a thank-

you visit for the appointment and reappointment of their kinsmen into the state executive council. The governor, however, promised that the ruling Peoples’ Democratic Party, PDP, in the state would not be involved in such antics of inducing voters or buying their votes. According to him, the performance of the party alone was enough to give it victory at the polls. He said: “My administration will continue to judiciously use all the financial resources available to the state to better the lot of the people, instead of embarking on the unconstitutional act of buying people’s minds.”

be used to offset outstanding loans secured from some commercial banks. But the PDP, through its state chairman, Chief Iyiola Oyedepo, berated the government, calling on it to publicly disclose the actual debt profile of the state. The party also demanded to know what had been done with the loans previously taken by the state, before thinking of gunning for another bond. Oyedepo said the PDP’s position on the proposed bond was that the state government should first reveal its debt profile. He said that since 2009, all the bonds taken by the government were neither accounted for, nor were they seen to have been judiciously and prudently

spent. “Governor Ahmed should not take a loan of N23bn without accounting for all he has taken since 2011,” Oyedepo stated. He alleged that the state government had not accounted for the N17bn and N10bn bonds taken in 2009 and 2010 respectively. According to him, all the projects the state government claimed it used the funds for had no direct effect on the well-being of the citizens. He added that the agriculture modernisation the government said it has perfected was nothing but a ruse. Oyedepo said the construction of State Secretariat, Phase II, Ilorin Water Reticulation, Aviation College, Cargo Terminal,

Kwara State University, urban road projects, as well as settlement of outstanding debts, which the government claimed to have expended on had no direct bearing on the living standards of the people. “No agriculture has been modernised in Kwara. The PDP’s position is that the Songa farm experiment is a total failure. The farm has not been able to pay the N650m the state guaranteed for it yet,” he said. According to the PDP chairman, the N650m was later deducted from the state’s statutory allocation to offset the Songa loan. “A farm that cannot pay back its loan is nothing but a failure. I challenge the government to prove

that it is the proceeds from the Songa farm that paid the loan,” Oyedepo stated. He also averred that the Ilorin water reticulation project that had gulped about N5.2bn, out of the N7bn earmarked for it, was not justified. This, Oyedepo said was because over 70% of Ilorin metropolitan at present cannot access good water not to talk of other communities in the neighbourhood. Meanwhile, the government had said the N23b bond would be used among others on the Ilorin Water reticulation, completing cargo terminal, the university and others being the projects that had started from the days of the immediate past administration.

Dangote urged to compensate accident victims WALE IBRAHIM LOKOJA

he Kogi State House of Assembly has called on the management of Dangote Cement Company, Obajana, to compensate victims of road accidents allegedly caused by its trucks on the highways. This followed the adoption of a motion on a ‘Matter of Urgent Public Importance’ moved by the chief whip of the House, Alhaji Suleiman Babadoko (PDP-Lokoja 1). According to him, fatal crashes involving Dangote Cement’s trucks on the highways in and around Lokoja were no longer news. “And each time the nasty incident happens, it leaves families and property owners in a state of despondency and anguish,” Babadoko said. The chief whip recalled the case of the recent crash

at a military check-point at Otokiti area of Lokoja, the state capital, one of many. He said: “According to an eyewitness, the trailer belonging to Dangote lost control and veered off its lane, before ramming into the vehicles carrying passengers.” He added that five commercial vehicles were damaged beyond repairs and condemned, while a female passenger lost her life and several others injured. Babadoko, therefore, called on the House to pass a resolution mandating Dangote Cement Company to ‘adequately compensate’ those whose vehicles were damaged beyond repairs, injured passengers and the family of the deceased woman. The motion was seconded by the Majority Leader, Alhaji Yakubu Yunusa (PDP-Ofu), who said the members were happy to receive the company when it came.

Participants at the Nigerian Army Finance Corps, Warrants Officers and Senior Non-Commissioned Officers training in Jaji, Kaduna State, yesterday. PHOTO: NAN

Nasarawa police nab 55 robbers, 11 cultists IGBAWASE UKUMBA LAFIA

asarawa State Police Command yesterday said it has apprehended 55 armed robbers and 12 persons over the possession of locally-made firearms. It also stated that 11 suspected cult members were in its custody. Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Idris, disclosed this to journalists at a press briefing Criminal Investigation Department, CID office in Lafia, the state capital. He also gave a breakdown

of the command’s ‘harvest of crimes’ since his assumption of duty in February. These, the police boss said, include the recovery of five AK-47 arms, 32 locally- made firearms, one each of Mark 4, G3 rifles, a dane gun and six locally-made ‘toy guns’. According to him, “Ammunitions recovered during the period under review include 346 of 7.62mm, eight of 5.5mm and 12 of 0.9mm of rounds of ammunition respectively, as well as 15 cartridges. The ploice also paraded a 14-year-old boy, Barnabas Karo, for allegedly threatening

to bomb a school in new Karu. Parading the suspected bomber with five robbers and six fraudsters, the police commissioner said he was a school drop-out. Idris said the police swung into action and traced the suspect following a report it received on May 10 from the school’s proprietor that the matron, Mrs. Eugenia Samuel, received a phone call of somebody threatening a bomb attack. The two suspects, he said, had earlier robbed a school bus at New Nyanya-Abuja, at gun point. According to the police

boss, “they were intercepted with the bus along Nasarawa Eggon–Lafia road.” He added that a gang of robbers, comprising Bamai Mustapha (aka Dan Borno), Jamilu Ado and Auwal Adamu, both males and residents of Lafia, who specialised in terrorizing the state were equally apprehended. He said: “Also the five suspects were involved in the recent murder of a first class traditional ruler in Nasarawa State, the Gom Mama of Mama Chiefdom in Farin Ruwa Local Council Development Area, Zubairu Adamu.

Thursday, May 22, 2014

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Politics

Al-Makura: Surmounting challenges of governance in Nasarawa

LP crisis: Rights group petitions NJC STORIES: BOLADALE BAMIGBOLA OSOGBO

new twist resurfaced in the crisis rocking Osun State chapter of the Labour Party, LP, yesterday, as a human rights group, Centre for Human Rights and Social Justice, CHRSJ, petitioned the National Judicial Council, NJC, over alleged mishandling of cases involving the party by a judge of Osun State High Court, Justice Oyejide Falola.

Osun LP, which has been embroiled in leadership crisis in recent times, is also involved in several court cases and a cold war over who will be its candidate in the forthcoming governorship poll,a development which has not also helped its cause. The rights group, in a petition addressed to the Chairman of NJC, Justice Marian Aloma Mukthar, and signed by its executive chairman, Comrade Adeniyi Sulaiman, a copy of which was obtained

by National Mirror yesterday, demanded that all political cases, particularly, that of LP be withdrawn from Justice Falola and reassigned to another judge. Alleging that the judge refused to hear stay of execution and proceedings the LP filed since Thursday, April 17 against nullification of its local and state congresses held between February 19 and 25 this year by Justice Falola’s rulings of Monday, March 31 and Thursday, April 3, CHRSJ also alleged

that the non-release of necessary papers by the judge is frustrating attempts to file appeal against his earlier rulings that nullified its congresses. It also urged the NJC to query the rationale behind the alleged assignment of “LP cases to only Justice Falola in recent times.” While calling on Justice Falola to disqualify himself from all political cases, the group also demanded constitution of independent team by the NJC to verify all its claims against the judge.

Osun State PDP supporters in Osogbo recently.

Violence: Police read riots act to candidates

ommissioner of Police, Osun State Command, Mr Ibrahim Maishanu, yesterday warned governorship contestants in the state and their supporters, against acts that may jeopardise peace of the state. Speaking at a meeting with representatives of all the political parties in the state and security chiefs, the police boss contended that security agents working in the state would work towards ensuring security of lives and properties, during and after the election. Cautioning politicians in the state against acting in deference to the Electoral Acts Maishanu stressed that all security chiefs in the state have agreed to work round the clock to provide security ahead of the August 9 governorship poll. While reading relevant sections of the Electoral Act to the politicians, Maishanu warned against maiming, arson, killing and other criminal acts during and after the election. He also urged the leadership of all political parties in the state to always obtain police permit before embarking on any political activity in the state, stressing that any political activity held

79 DAYS TO GO without police knowledge would amount to illegal activity. His words: “I want to urge you to desist from peddling rumours and making unfounded allegations in order to raise alarm. “Use of siren by unauthorised persons or groups in the state is not allowed, no individual in the state is allowed to drive vehicle with tinted glass.” While making case for a violent free campaigns and rallies, the police boss enjoined politicians to exhibit high level of tolerance and perseverance in the interest of peace. He declared that the state police command would not hesitate to deal with any individual or group of people that attempt to foment trouble in the state before, during and after the election.

Osun NOA advises politicians against rumour

sun State chapter of the National Orientation Agency, NOA, yesterday advised political parties participating in the August 9 governorship poll to refrain from peddling rumours capable of aggravating tension in the state. The Osun State director of NOA, Dr. Lawrence Martins, while addressing members of the Correspondents’ Chapel of Osun State Council of Nigeria Union of Journal-

ists, NUJ, in Osogbo, said many of the accusations remained unsubstantiated, but end up creating tension among people. He specifically mentioned accusations and counter accusations about selling of voter cards as one issue capable of throwing the state into crisis, urging politicians to put the wellbeing of the residents ahead of other considerations in their quest for power. Martins added that

unsubstantiated accusations usually send wrong signals to the electorates, stressing that what the state needs is free, fair, credible and violence-free election. He said: “I want to add that NOA is watching the activities of all political parties, their candidates, campaigns and that of all other stakeholders in the August election with keen interest. “At present, the agency has not noticed any sin-

ister move on the part of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, the police or from any of the governorship candidates that could portend danger during the election. “The critical project before NOA is the August gubernatorial election. It is the belief of the agency that unless people are well informed of government programmes on issues of public interest, they are not likely to participate or

contribute meaningfully no matter how lofty they are. “In view of this, the agency carries out its mandate through three important strategies of public enlightenment, orientation and mass mobilisation of the citizenry.” Cautioning parties to show decorum, decency and sportsmanship in the election, he challenged them to call their followers to order to abide by the rules, adding that the

agency would not hesitate to report any breach of peace to the appropriate authority. Martins also charged journalists in the state to provide the citizens with unbiased and complete information that are issue-based about the manifestoes of the political parties, their ideologies and the election processes to help people of the state choose the best among the contestants to govern the state.

Politics

IGBAWASE UKUMBA writes on the giant stride of the Tanko Al-Makura-led All Progressives Congress, APC, in Nasarawa State despite the security challenges he inherited from his predecessors.

asarawa State has been engulfed in violence among the diverse ethnic nationalities of the state. The violence, which predated the Umaru Tanko Al-Makura administration, took a new twist in May, 2013, when dozens of security operatives, including men of the Nigeria Police Force and the State Security Services, were massacred. The Al-Makura administration took the bull by the horns from the inception of his administration when he, as his first official assignment after being sworn-in, as the third executive governor of Nasarawa State, in June, 2011 at Yelewata, a border town in Benue State, attended a joint peace meeting between Nasarawa and Benue state governments, to proffer solutions to the lingering herdsmen and farmers crises along the border line of the two states. But despite these challenges, Governor Al-Makura did not allow the pressures to weigh him down as he was hell-bent to see to the completion of some of the abandoned projects he inherited from his predecessors. This was even as the present administration inherited over N10 billion contract debt from the immediate past administration of Governor Aliyu Akwe Doma, which the present administration was able to offset. It was against this backdrop that while rubbing minds with newsmen sometime ago in Lafia, the state capital, the governor said: “My administration will not embark on any new project until all the projects embarked upon by my predecessors are completed.” According to him, “any attempt to initiate new projects in the state will be tantamount to waste of taxpayers’ money.” He argued that “abandoning the projects initiated by my predecessor to embark on new ones will not augur well for the state, because my projects will equally be abandoned by my successor if not completed, and the state will continue to remain underdeveloped.” Al-Makura had, no doubt, kept to his pledge by working assiduously to complete of some of the abandoned projects that have direct bearing on the lives of the people of Nasarawa State. However, he had said that he will not hesitate to initiate new projects in the state before his tenure runs out, provided he would be able to complete those abandoned projects that have direct bearing on the lives of the people. Aware of the fact that the city of Lafia, the state capital, has been known for a long time as a commercial nerve centre of the North-Central geo-political zone, and coupled with the enormous agricultural endowments and other natural resources that abound in the area; and the business activities t attracts from all parts of the country, the governor hitherto hastened up the completion of the long abandoned Lafia modern market complex, to bequeath the state capital with its deserved status. At the commissioning of the market, AlMakura said: “It is a fulfilment of the long

Thursday, May 22, 2014

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Al-Makura: Surmounting challenges of governance in Nasarawa aspiration of the people for a state-of-the-art market,” adding that he believed it would mark the beginning of more robust commercial activities in Lafia, essentially for the promotion of socio-economic development in the state. “I need to point out that since the creation of Nasarawa State in 1996, the influx of people into Lafia and the attendant growth and expansion of business activities have overstretched the available facilities in the old market. The situation has led to unprecedented congestion in the market which places undue constraint on free movement of goods and services within Lafia metropolis,” he added. It was in connection with this that Al-Makura equally completed and commissioned the long abandoned Lafia Ultra Modern Abattoir, started over 12 years ago by his predecessors. At its inauguration, Ai-Makura said that “government considers the completion and commissioning of the abattoir a matter deserving priority attention. Accordingly, on assumption of office in May, 2011, we did not hesitate to commit resources to the completion of the abandoned abattoir project inherited from the previous administration.” To effectively enhance human capital development and economic empowerment in Nasarawa State, Governor Al-Makura, with a deep sense of humility and responsibility, on July 29, 2013 had some of his projects initiated about two years ago, when he assumed office, inaugurated by President Goodluck Jonathan. The core value of the inaugurated projects was to promote and enhance the wellbeing of Nasarawa residents in general; by strengthening their capacity, creating an enabling environment for the promotion of honesty, accountability and integrity, and advocating for the greater opportunities in governance, health, economic and social activities. Among the projects inaugurated by the President Jonathan were TA’AL Model School, Bukan Sidi; as 36 of such similar schools were constructed in all the 13 local government areas of the state, and 11.59 kilometre network of township roads in Lafia. Investigation by National Mirror showed that notable among the Lafia network of roads which were completed and later commissioned by the President include the 1.43 kilometre T. Abdun Kura Street and Abdul Shatu-Adamu Muazu road, 1.1 kilometre Agwai Hotel Junction to Angwan Nungu (Millionaires Quarters) Road, 4.8 km kilometre Lafia East –Government Guest House leading to Shendam Road, 1.2 kilometre Peoples’ Bank (Super Cinema) –New Market Road,

WE ARE DETERMINED TO AVAIL OUR CHILDREN THE OPPORTUNITY TO ACQUIRE THE BEST EDUCATION

Al-Makura

3.5 kilometre Tudun Gwandar -Gonar Mallam Sarki Road and the 1.2 kilometre Awe Street- Makurdi Road, Sabon Pegi. The TA’AL Model School, Bukan Sidi comprises 2-blocks of 8 classrooms each and 32 units of water-cistern toilets, designed to cater for Early Child-Care Development Education, ECCDE, Primary and Junior Secondary Schools. It has common facilities like ICT, Library, Arts and Crafts, workshops, Science Laboratories and a multipurpose hall among others. At the inauguration, President Jonathan, represented by Vice President Namadi Sambo, said the projects so far executed by Al-Makura were in tune with the Federal Government’s transformation agenda. He said: “The over 30 other similar TA’AL Model Schools that are completed in other parts of the state and the network of township roads will contribute towards the achievement of the Federal Government’s Transformation Agenda.” The President assured Al-Makura at inauguration that the Federal Government will continue to partner with the Nasarawa State government under the Universal Basic Education, UBE, by providing the state with its counterpart funding towards the achievement of the state’s educational goals. Jonathan said: “The transformation agenda of this administration is on course. We are resolved to ensuring that we fulfil promises, especially in infrastructural development, job and wealth creation, economic stability, transparency, good governance and national security as we promised during the electioneering campaign which culminated in the mandate we received from Nigerians.” Earlier, Governor Al=Makura had told the President that his administration has “committed resources into this elaborate project in consonance with our conviction that our progress as a state cannot be swifter than our progress in education. And, because the human mind is our fundamental resource, we are

determined to avail our children the opportunity to acquire the best education possible, since a child mis-educated is a child lost.” In the same vein, rural electrification in the state in the past two years got a boost as several rural communities benefited. Inaugurating one of the projects at BukanKwato, a suburb of Lafia metropolis, which has 2.8 kilometres wiring of the entire settlement and an electric transformer capable of stepping down a 330 kilo voltage electric power, Al-Makura re-echoed the commitment of his administration to assist the vulnerable group in the state to improve in their standard of living by providing the basic social amenities in both towns and villages of the state. According to him, “it is against this backdrop that my administration focuses its attention on the provision of water, roads and electricity in rural areas.” He said that for his administration to meet up with its electrification projects in the state as scheduled and specified, the Nasarawa State Electricity Company, NASECO, has been mandated to execute all the electrification projects instead of contracting privately owned firms to that effect. Commenting on this development, Mallam Abdullahi Abimiku, a commercial motorcyclist, said with the completion of some of these road projects, the business of commercial motorcycling is booming as many unemployed youths are taking advantage of that to be self employed in the okada business, saying: “If the entire roads projects in the town are completed, commercial motorcycle business would become a lucrative venture.” Also, a Lafia based food vendor, Mrs. Ngohol Zaki Aondover, said that the opening up of these roads in the state capital will enable her to expand her business frontiers, saying: “As the governor is opening up more new roads in the state capital and his investment in power supply to connect areas that were without electricity, many people will flood the state to commence lucrative business that will generate more revenue to the state.”

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

OBIORA IFOH ABUJA

ll Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, Youth Coalition has described as inconsequential the vote of no consequence allegedly passed on Hon Emeka Nwogbo, representing Awka North and South federal constituency, as a deliberate attempt to intimidate the lawmaker. An APGA chieftain, Chief Ndigwe had penultimate week passed a no confidence vote on the lawmaker, insinuating that he had been ineffective in rep-

Politics

Thursday, May 22, 2014

You can’t recall House member, APGA youths tell chieftains resenting the constituency at the lower chamber of the National Assembly. Declaring the no confidence vote null and void, the national coordinator and secretary general of APGAYC, Engr. Reginald Udoka and Prince Obinnna Anaigor respectively, said having investigated from the constituency, the exercise was noth-

ing but a deliberate attempt by some APGA chieftains to score cheap political goals as well as distort the harmonious relationship that existed in the federal constituency before now. The duo said: “APGA remains the heartbeat of the Igbo man and the platform on which it will get to the Promised Land. Therefore,

folks like Chief Ndigwe must desist from using the platform to run what obviously seem like an extortionist enterprise. “We demand from our representatives, selfless and genuine representation as illustrated by the exemplary leadership qualities of Hon Nwogbo to his constituency, having studied and authen-

ticated his claims in his service score card.” Warning APGA chieftains to desist from creating deliberate chaos in the party and allow it to forge ahead as the leadership crisis threatening the prospects of the party have

CALABAR

L-R: Speaker House of Representative, Hon Aminu Waziri Tambuwal; Deputy Ameera Federation of Muslim Women’s Association of Nigeria (FOMWAN ) Mrs Farida Sada, and Ameera, FCT, FOMWAN, Hajiya Rabiat Akinbobola during visit of FOMWAN on the Chibok girls abduction and other crisis in the nation, yesterday.

Zamfara commissioner resigns GUSAU

head of 2015, Zamfara State Commissioner for Agriculture, Dr. Malami Aliyu Yandoto has resigned his membership of the state executive council. Yandoto, in a letter addressed to the Governor Abdulaziz Yari Abubakar, through the Secretary to

OBIORA IFOH ABUJA

ational Working Committee, NWC of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, yesterday said while it shelved its political campaigns scheduled to hold in Ado Ekiti today over the unfortunate bombing incident in Jos, the opposition All Progressives Congress, APC, was busy campaigning in Ekiti State, pointing out that it remained hypocritical, even in the face of loss of lives to insurgency. Rising from its meeting in Abuja, the National Publicity Secretary of PDP, Chief Olisa Metuh,

the State Government, SSG, disclosed that after careful consultation with his family and political associates, he decided to quit his position as commissioner, saying that the decision was to enable him forge ahead to greater heights politically. Thanking Governor Abubakar for the opportunity given him to serve as a member of the state execu-

tive council, Yandoto said his resignation takes effect from tomorrow, May 23. National Mirror gathered that his resignation was not unconnected with his desire to slug it out with the incumbent governor in the 2015 elections, as investigations have revealed that he has concluded arrangements to dump the All Progressives Congress, APC for

the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. A political associate of Abubakar, National Mirror gathered that he was gearing up for the Zamfara Central senatorial seat. A competent source from the office of the SSG confided in National Mirror that the letter was acknowledged, but declined to give further information.

kept the party at its lowest ebb, the coalition said the best chieftains of the party could do at the moment was to ensure that the interest of the party superseded all selfish interests, just as campaigns of calumny should be stopped.

C’River 2015: North resists reversal of zoning RICHARD NDOMA

IBRAHIM K ANOMA

Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, chieftain and ardent supporter of Jeddy Agba’s 2015 aspiration in Cross River State, Chief John David Undie, has called on the people of the Northern senatorial district of the state to resist any attempt by the leadership of the ruling PDP to deny them the rare privilege and opportunity to produce Governor Liyel Imoke’s successor in 2015. Undie pointed out that one way to do this was for the senatorial district to be united and speak in one voice on all political issues and forge unity of purpose on the 2015 gubernatorial project so as to diffuse and neutralise the plans of certain persons from the Southern senatorial district who are neck deep in thwarting and frustrating effort of the party leadership, who had zoned the governorship to the North. In a press statement issued in Calabar and made available to National Mirror,

Undie charged the Northern senatorial district to avoid doing anything that would fan the embers of disunity and create wrong impression that they were not united, especially now that they are struggling to ensure that there was equity and fair play, in the quest for who takes over the Government House next year. He said: “For the people of the Northern senatorial district to realise the dream of producing the next governor of Cross River State, they should not only remain united but must learn from history. We should not forget so soon that our political landscape is replete with deceit.” Lauding the number of aspirants from the district, he described it as a welcome development that will make each of them to work hard to merit the governorship ticket, adding that the entrance of Agba into the race has up the ante making the contest lively, saying that Agba was one of those genuinely committed to taking Cross River to the next level if voted into office.

Ekiti campaign: APC hypocritical in face of loss of lives to insurgency explained that even with the twin Jos bombings and another in Kano, the APC went ahead to organise a rally in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State. While accusing APC of orchestrating violence in the country, the PDP insisted that in spite of the killings and destruction of property, “the APC kept celebrating violence.” He maintained that by orchestrating violence, merry making and celebrations, “APC sheds crocodile tears and engages in its blame-game.” Stressing that even after engaging foreign pub-

licist, the opposition party engages in propaganda and misinformation, the PDP said that Nigerians would not be deceived. Cautioning Nigerians and the international community to be wary of the APC which he accused of joining the naysayers in making the country ungovernable so that the doomsday prediction that Nigeria would split would become a reality, the PDP expresses shock that while the entire nation is still mourning following yesterday’s bomb blast in Jos, even as another incident was reported yesterday in

Borno and the debris yet to be cleared from the streets of Kano, “the cold hearted APC moved its campaign train to Ekiti State in total affront to the sensibility of Nigerians and in tacit indication that the party is benefiting from terrorism. “The APC has shown that it is a party of hypocritical lots who thrive only when there is violence. Is it a case of a dancer and the drum beater or the falcon and the falconer? Is there a correlation between the spate of insurgency in Nigeria and the capacity of APC to thrive?

“We call on Nigerians to note that it is not a coincidence that a party which had lost its voice with the lull in the spate of attacks suddenly regained its voice, drive and impetus after the abduction of the Chibok school girls and the Nyanya bomb blasts which led to the death of many innocent Nigerians. “Since violence and confusion are their only source of impetus, Nigerians can now deduce why the APC, a party made up of elements who vowed to make the country ungovernable for the PDP-led administration, must contin-

ue to use all instruments at its disposal to promote division, cause mayhem and encourage all actions that will embolden insurgents and their supporters. “When we compared the APC manifesto to that of the Janjaweed, we went beyond mere political statement. The truth may still be hidden for sometime but it has a way of expressing itself. We urge Nigerians therefore to make their deductions. Again, the question: Which party is benefiting from this spate of bombings?”

Politics

Thursday, May 22, 2014

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Confab wants state of origin scrapped STORIES: WOLE OLADIMEJI AND OMEGA AJAYI ABUJA

he National Conference yesterday commenced the consideration of the report of the Committee on Citizenship, Immigration and Related Matters. Chairman of the committee, the Emir of Yauri, Dr. Mohammad Zaiyanu Abudullahi, told the whole house that his committee recommended that section 25 (a) should be amended to allow Nigerian women enjoy the rights accrued to all Nigerians either at her place of origin or that of her husband. Almost all of the 20 committees set up to look at the various memoranda presented by the general

public on various issues affecting the unity of the country have submitted their reports for consideration. Almost all the delegates that spoke on the report supported all the recommendations in the report while others made some amendments on the report. The committee in its report recommended amendment or deletion of section 6 (c) of the constitution, which is a bar from access to the courts with respect to chapter 2, as a necessary step towards Nigerian citizenship, based on residency. Other recommendations in the report included that national institutions should be strengthened to prohibit and punish criminal conduct which targets,

kills or destroys lives and property on the basis of origin, belief, religion or circumstance. On immigration and internal security, the committee observed that the Nigerian Immigration Services, NIS, is understaffed, underfunded and lacked modern technology for adequate policing of the expansive Nigerian borders. It therefore recommended that at least 10,000 persons should be recruited yearly in the next five years. It also added that there is need for community policing of the borders as well as redirection of attitudes of members of the border communities. It said: “There should be the construction of border plazas which should be

equipped with radars, sensors as well as cargo and document scanners.” Discussing the report at the plenary, nearly all the delegates who spoke commended the committee for what was described as a job well done. Prof. Olabisi Aina said if anybody has been living in an environment, he or she should be allowed to enjoy the full benefits accruing to the indigenes of such environment, adding that despite the huge amount of money Nigeria make from her border posts, there are no infrastructure at those posts to show for it. Senator Isa Brahimoh, noted that for the purpose of promoting national unity, he proposed that five years instead of 10 years should be allowed.

Members of National Conference Committee on Political Restructuring and Forms of Government during a meeting on the recommendation of the committee in Abuja. PHOTO: ROTIMI OSASONA

Yoruba’ll benefit from conference –Arogbofa

delegate, representing Afenifere at the ongoing National Conference, Bashorun Sehinde Arogbofa, yesterday assured that Yoruba as a race would benefit from the confab. Arogbofa, who declared that they were not given mandate to come and scatter the conference but rather to come and negotiate on issues affecting each of the regions, denied allegation that some Yoruba delegates have been a sell out in their positions. Assuring that the SouthWest delegates will achieve better deal at the end of the conference, Bashorun Arogbofa, who admitted that though the region, lost out at the committee level on the issue of zonal gov-

ernment, said that does not mean that some of the issues would not be revisited at the plenary. He said: “We will still go on pushing these things when the debate on reports commence fully at the plenary.” He explained that the South-West delegates were faced with stiff opposition at the committee level on the issue of state constitutions and regional government. His words: “I must confess to you that our leaders are taking some measures that at the end of the day, we would know that all is not lost. We just started deliberating and you can’t really know what each delegate may have in mind, that does not mean we in

the South-West are going to be sell out; no we won’t, there must be a minimum that other people too must accept.” Reacting to an allegation of being bought over by some powers-that-be through a group known as Southern Nigerian Delegates, Arogbofa said there was nothing of such. He said: “Chief Edwin Clark is not the leader of Southern Peoples Congress, he is just one of the leaders, we have three leaders, one for South-West, one for South-South and one for South-East; it is just that Clark happened to be the most vocal and the most experienced politically. “So, to say that Clark is doing things the way he likes, I don’t agree with

that position. “Honestly, we Yoruba should be able to give honour to those whom honour is due, our leaders are doing well, they can do better. We are now matured in our approach and that is why we have not fought; we have to negotiate and it is a thing of give and take.” According to him, “Our position paper was to negotiate and when you negotiate you can’t have everything; other delegates are not fools, they have their interest and unless we go through give and take, we won’t achieve much. I don’t see what we have done so far as a total failure, no. We are recording successes here and there; it may not be as great as the people expected.”

Delegates disagree on indigene and settlers status

elegates to the ongoing National Conference have disagreed on the statuses of indigeneship and settlers in the country. This came on the heels of a debate by delegates deliberating on the report of the Committee on Citizenship, Immigration and Related Matters. The chairman of the conference, Justice Idris Kutigi, had called on the chairman of the committee, the Emir of Yauri and delegate representing National Council of Traditional Rulers of Nigeria, Alhaji Dr. Zayyanu Abdullahi to read the committee’s resolution in the plenary for discussion. Abdullahi told the conference that the committee worked in harmony which made it possible for them to come to a harmonious conclusion. He also stressed on the need for the country to get the correct census figures and for all the agencies saddled with the responsibilities of data management to be equipped with modern facilities to achieve their set objectives. A delegate representing North-East geo-political zone, Barrister Chris Abongaby, proposed that everyone should qualify to be indegene of any place, if he or she has stayed for a period of time and contributed to the well being of the people and the settlement. Supporting Abongaby, a delegate representing Ebonyi State and former deputy governor of the state, Prof Chigozie Ogbu, faulted the committee’s recommendation that chapter 2 of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria which deals with Fundamental Objectives and Directives of State Policy, should be made justiciable, saying that it will cause a lot of confusion which will not augur well for the nation. Ogbu said: “We should rather allow the fundamen-

tal human right to be justiciable instead of the fundamental objectives which is a social right.” A delegate representing South-East and chairman of Enugu State Traditional Rulers, Igwe Lawrence Agubuzu, suggested that every citizen who wish to reside anywhere in Nigeria should do that providing that the person fulfils his/her civic obligations. A Lagos lawyer and a delegate representing Civil Society Group, Chief Femi Falana, stressed the need for the conference and delegates to work according to the provisions of the law. He said: “We should be guided by the constitution or treaties which give individual’s right to movement and liberty.” Insisting that the confab has the duty to discuss any issue that should be brought before it or of urgent national importance, a delegate representing South-South geo-political zone, Hon Orok Otu Duke said that delegates were at the confab to right the wrongs of the constitution or charters wherever they have defects or even change them if need be. His words: “We are here to right the wrongs of the constitution or charters or even change the constitution. We are here in order to consider these issues.” Former governor of Kebbi State and a delegate representing North-West geo-political zone, Senator Adamu Aliero, informed the delegates on the need to desist from discussing the issue further, saying the committee has recommended and it is left for the conference to adopt. “The essence of going into committee stage is to settle things on consensus. The committee has already done everything and it will be out of order for anybody to bring up anything new,” he added.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Views

Thursday, May 22, 2014

Chibok Girls and Boko Haram’s increasing infamy EXISTENTIAL HUMANISM

FRY

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

he Islamic militant sect, Boko Haram, has finally shot itself on the foot. Its last April decision to abduct over 200 students of Government Girls Secondary School, Chibok, Borno State, has pricked the conscience of the entire world. Even within its own circle of sympathizers, that heinous act has scandalized some of them. Though Boko Haram claimed to be propagating Islam, renowned Muslim clerics have roundly reminded the sect members that what they are championing is unsupported by the tenets of Islam. However, if there is any doubt on what their agenda is, the purported forced conversion of the kidnapped girls to Islam has given a clue on what they claim to be pursuing. At home, there appears a united front against the fundamentalists. Northern governors that seem to be foot dragging all along have come out unequivocally to demand concerted actions against the group. The chairman of the Northern Ni-

geria Governors’ Forum, Governor Babaginda Aliyu of Niger State, after a recent meeting of the Forum and some USA investors, urged the Federal Government to stamp out the sect within three months, adding that America’s interest in the saga was the result of the meeting they had with its leaders. Many prominent Nigerians including Professor Wole Soyinka, have expressed support for the internationalization of the cause to crush Boko Haram. Nigeria needs the expertise of the more advanced countries to save these girls from the hands of the evil men. General Ibrahim Babaginda (retd), a former military president, favours also the foreign intervention, saying it is wise thing to do under the prevailing circumstances. Unfortunately, the global coalition against Boko Haram has not produced the desired result. The news that the girls might have been moved to Central Africa Republic, though not confirmed, is quite disturbing. It is to be recalled that the leader of the sect, Mallam Abubakar Shekau, has threatened to sell the girls into slavery, if the FG disregarded the swapping option he proposed. The situation calls for prompt actions. The foreign intervention is a welcome development, though it is belated. It is reported that the FG has been reluctant to embrace this option long offered by the West. I do not understand the reason for the refusal. It is very clear this is a mis-

THE JONATHAN ADMINISTRATION SHOULD DEMONSTRATE UNCOMMON COURAGE TO ENSURE THAT THIS MONSTER IS STAMPED OUT ONCE AND FOR ALL sion that the Nigerian government cannot accomplish all alone, given the devilish agenda of the sect and its reckless tactics. An organization of this nature that has no principles and no modus operandi is as deadly as they have appeared. You give them chance at your own risk. This is the consequence of our procrastination. It is curious that some egg heads have argued that we will be mortgaging our sovereignty by inviting foreign personnel to assist us at this time of our needs. I totally disagree with this line of thought. The Nigerians armed forces play major role in the liberation of Liberia, Sierra Leone, Cote d’Ivoire, and even Mali. These countries have not lost their sovereignty as a result. A powerful Britain invited USA to assist her during the Falkland crisis. She was not ashamed to do that and the country did not mortgage its sovereignty to USA thereafter. The Nigerian Civil war could have been something else if not for the intervention of Britain

and then Soviet Union. Did the country lose its sovereignty as a result? And as a matter of fact the foreigners we are inviting are not coming to fight for us, they are rather, as Honorable Nnenna Elendu Ukeje, chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Foreign Affairs stated, are ‘’bringing in technology which Nigerians at this point in time has not acquired’’. The help the US, Britain, China and Canada are bringing are intelligence and surveillance technology. It is unthinkable that we will lose our sovereignty if we call on world to assist us with military intelligence to sort out this intractable problem call Boko Haram. In the past we had calls for economic, medical, educational, and scientific aids. It will be absurd to be reluctant at this one that human lives and territorial integrity of the country are involved. The Jonathan administration should demonstrate uncommon courage to ensure that this monster is stamped out once and for all. It is significant that the sect has been seen for what it is: an international terrorist organisation. With the pledged cooperation of other ECOWAS after the Paris conference, the onslaught on the hoodlums could become more effective. The House of Representatives has played a patriotic role in aligning with the proposed extension of state of emergency in the North East. The morale of the soldiers should be boosted so as to achieve maximum result from them.

Who needs a Christian governor in Lagos?

he Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) last weekend clamoured for a Christian governor as successor for Mr. Babatunde Fashola in 2015. Expectedly, the governor reacted in thoughtprovoking manner, howbeit rhetorically. He was quoted as saying: “What will the preference for governor of one faith over the other even benefit us? Will it give one religion roads that other faiths cannot use? Will it give them schools that children from other faiths cannot attend or will it bring water that only one faith can drink?” The PFN had based its agitation on the fact that only Muslims have been the governors of the state since return to democracy in 1999 and called for redress. To start with, I don’t know the qualitative difference between a pious Christian and devout Muslim or the difference between a spiritfilled child of God and god-fearing servant of Allah. To me one is as good as the other, and either would make a good leader. In Yorubaland, a typical family is, on average, equally populated by people of the two major faiths, and in some instances, with a sprinkle of traditional faith practitioners and they have all lived in harmony. With utmost respect, it appears to me that the position of PFN has the tendency of drawing back our civilisation. Yoruba people are politically sophisticated and culturally advanced to the point that certain frivolities have ceased to be part of their socio-cultural realities. True, we are very religious but we are not fanatical about it – a development which underscores the fact the greatest number of in-

YORUBA PEOPLE

ARE POLITICALLY SOPHISTICATED AND CULTURALLY ADVANCED TO THE POINT THAT CERTAIN FRIVOLITIES HAVE CEASED TO BE PART OF THEIR SOCIOCULTURAL REALITIES ter-faith marriages are among the Yoruba. Really, I fail to see the point in insisting person of a particular faith should be preferred for election into public office for the purpose of balancing. Balancing what? What logic inheres in insisting on a person of particular faith? What if the person becomes an apostate after being elected on the platform of his faith? Are we going to impeach him immediately for this spiritual volte face or endure his “apostasy” for the next four years? Somebody may argue in opposition that our constitution itself recognises right to religion and guarantees freedom from discrimination on the basis of religion, among other grounds. Beautifully said! But the truth is that what the 1999 Constitution guarantees is freedom from discrimination on the basis of religion and not affirmative action on religious ground. These are two different things. Freedom from discrimination operates

to bar situations when a person is denied his entitlement or rightful position on the ground of his religious conviction. Affirmative action on the other is a policy of deliberate reservation of some posts, offices or benefits to some group considered underprivileged or discriminated against. There is no basis for affirmative action on the ground of religion in our law. Both Senator Bola Tinubu and the incumbent Governor Fashola are Muslims, so what? Lagosians voted for them because they believed in them. Incidentally, the wives of these two eminent men, Mrs. Oluremi Tinubu and Mrs. Abimbola Emmanuella Fashola respectively are Christians, should we then insist that the next two First Ladies must be Muslims in order to balance the equation? When will we stop trivializing the art of governance? The agitation for a Christian governor may also be faulted on other grounds. Now, if we say we want a Christian governor, which Christian are we talking about? Is it a member of Deeper Life Bible Church, with his puritanical doctrine, a Pentecostal Christian, firmly rooted in the doctrine of Trinity and belief in hellfire or Jehovah Witness, who believes neither in Trinity nor in hellfire, or a Seventh Day Adventist who insists Sabbath must be observed on Saturday and never on Sunday? Or maybe the post should be rotated among these diverse sects whenever it is the Christians’ turn to produce the governor! But wait, why should only the Muslim and the Christians monopolise the rotation, how about the traditional

CRITICAL STROKES

KAYODE

KETEFE

kketefe@nationalmirroronline.net 08032147720 (SMS only)

worshippers? Methinks they too should have a shot at the coveted seat, whatever is sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander. Perhaps, they too would have to rotate it among different worshipers of the deities in the pantheon. How about starting with Sango adherents, then Ogun devotees would have their own slot and give the baton to Sonponno faithful who would also have the worshippers of Orisa Oko queuing up behind them! Where will all these take us? What one is really saying is that we should not unnecessarily endanger the spirit of religious tolerance God has given us in this part of the country by making unnecessary invidious agitations capable of driving wedges into the fault lines rather than bridging them. 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.

Editorial

Thursday, May 22, 2014

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

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

KAFILAT OGBARA

MANAGING DIRECTOR/CEO

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SEYI FASUGBA

DAILY EDITOR

GBEMI OLUJOBI

SATURDAY EDITOR

KAYODE FASUA

ACTING EDITOR, SUNDAY

AYO OLESIN

GENERAL EDITOR

BEN MEMULETIWON

GENERAL EDITOR

DOZIE OKEBALAMA

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CALLISTUS OKE

EDITORIAL PAGE EDITOR

ISE-OLUWA IGE

ABUJA BUREAU CHIEF

FIDELIS LEMCHI OWOAMANAM

REGIONAL DIRECTOR, S/SOUTH

KING ODODORU

HEAD, GRAPHICS

Government’s funding of federal polytechnics The Federal Government, through its Ministry of Education, recently said it did not have funds to pay the arrears of allowances owed polytechnic lecturers, who have been on strike for more than 10 months. The Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Education, Mr. Mc-John Nwaobiala, made the remark while addressing the House of Representatives’ Committee on Education at a meeting called to resolve the strike. Nwaobiala said, however, that his ministry would appeal to President Goodluck Jonathan to release special funds to meet the demands of the striking lecturers, who are demanding the establishment of a national polytechnics’ commission; publication of the report of visitation panels and better conditions of service, among others. The inability of the FG to adequately fund its polytechnics buttresses the nation’s scant regard for polytechnic education and by implication, its technological advancement as well. The government has no acceptable justification for this dereliction of its social responsibility to the nation. There are about 81 polytechnics nationwide and the FG owns only 21. How can a central government that controls over 50 per cent of the country’s revenue claim that it has no funds to pay polytechnics’ staff, when since 2010, a barrel of oil has

been selling for not less than $70, with roughly two million barrels sold on daily basis? A conservative estimate suggests that the nation earns at least $140 million per day, out of which the FG pockets about $70 million, going be the current revenue allocation formula. Our thinking, therefore, is that with government’s prudent management of the nation’s resources and a little sacrifice, it should be able to accommodate the demands of the lecturers and still attend to other imperative challenges. Indeed, even with what passes for a token budgetary allocation to education since 2012 to date, if well managed, the FG should have enough in its coffers to cater for the needs of our polytechnics and colleges of education staff. The allocation for the education sector in 2012 was N400.15 billion, which is about 8.43 per cent of the budget, for example. In 2013, N426.53 billion or 8.7 per cent of the budget was set aside for the sector. The proposed 2014 budget of N4.6 trillion, which is yet to be implemented almost six months into the year, earmarked N424.2 billion for education or 9.2 per cent, comprising N373.5 billion for recurrent and N50.7 billion as capital expenditures. This is the highest allocation since 1999. Unfortunately, however, President Jonathan has not signed the appro-

FG’S SPENDING OF WELL OVER

N10 BILLION

ON CENTENARY CELEBRATIONS DOES NOT SPEAK WELL OF THE MANAGERS OF THE NATION’S RESOURCES priation bill into law. The delay in implementing the 2014 budget may be one of the reasons the FG is finding it difficult to end the protracted strike by polytechnic teachers. But even if it is, the alibi is unacceptable because the lecturers have been on strike since October 2013. The FG ought to have made provisions for the special funds the permanent secretary made reference to before now if it had interest in polytechnic education. It is high time the FG took education funding in the country seriously to save future generation, like some African countries are already doing. Whereas the UNESCO prescribes that nations should set aside at least 26 per cent of their annual budgets for the education sector, Ghana’s allocation for education in 2014 is 31 per cent; South Africa, 25 per cent; Cote d’Ivoire, 30 percent; Kenya 23 per cent and

Morocco, 18 per cent, for example. It then follows that even the 9.2 percent 2014 budgetary allocation for education is still far below the UNESCO’s benchmark. When the N424.2 billion is shared among 40 federal universities, 21 polytechnics and 21 colleges of education, about 30 unity secondary schools plus the education ministry and its numerous parastatals, it will be clear that the allocation to education sector is grossly inadequate. Even if released on time, the N50.7 billion projected as capital expenditure for the sector cannot meet the needs of all federal educational institutions. This is amidst wastages, corruption and mismanagement in virtually all public educational institutions. And until the FG eliminates political patronage and cronyism as the determinants of who gets appointed into the governing councils of public tertiary institutions, the vices may never end. The token funds made available would always be largely squandered. Like we once said, FG’s spending of well over N10 billion on centenary celebrations does not speak well of the managers of the nation’s resources. Therefore, for the same government to turn around and say it has no money to fund any aspect of the education sector is objectionable. It should quickly muster funds to bail out the nation’s polytechnics.

ON THIS DAY May 22, 1958

May 22, 2012

The Sri Lankan riots of 1958 occurred. The total number of deaths was estimated to be 300, mostly Sri Lankan Tamils. The riots in Ceylon were the first island-wide ethnic riots that targeted the minority Sri Lankan Tamils in Ceylon after it became an independent country from Britain in 1948. The riots lasted from May 22 to 27 and led to the declaration of a state of emergency on June 1, 1958.

Tokyo Skytree was opened to the public. It’s the tallest tower in world (634 m), and the second tallest man-made structure on Earth, after Burj Khalifa (829.8 m). The Tokyo Skytree is a broadcasting, restaurant, and observation tower in Sumida, Tokyo, Japan. It became the tallest structure in Japan in 2010 and reached its full height of 634.0 metres (2,080 ft) in March 2011, making it the tallest tower in the world, displacing the Canton Tower.

May 22, 2013 British soldier, Lee Rigby, was murdered in a London Street during a terrorist attack. He was attacked and killed by Michael Adebolajo and Michael Adebowale near the Royal Artillery Barracks in Woolwich, southeast London. Rigby was off duty and walking along Wellington Street when he was attacked. The terrorists told passers-by that they had killed a soldier to avenge the killing of Muslims by the British armed forces.

Thursday, May 22, 2014

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Education Today

IN CONJUNCTION WITH

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

Certificate scandal rocks UNICAL 107 students expelled

Authorities blame past administration

The main entrance of the university

RICHARD NDOMA CALABAR

he University of Calabar, Cross River State has in the recent years been enmeshed in certificate scandal among its students. This development has compelled the university to expel a total of 107 students within three years beginning from 2009. The Vice-Chancellor of the institution, Prof. James Ekpoke who disclosed this said the students were expelled for allegedly using fake Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination (SSSCE) and the Advanced Level results to gain admission into the institution during the period. Speaking through the school’s Public Relations Officer, Mr. Effiong Eyo, the vicechancellor told National Mirror that vir-

tually all the departments of the university were affected. Giving the breakdown, the vice-chancellor who noted that 48 other students were also suspended for between one and two years for examination malpractice during the period said the Curriculum and Teaching Department took the lion’s share of 65 students followed by Medical Laboratory as well as Sociology and Medicine and Surgery with 18, and 10 students respectively. He gave statistics of other departments to be nine students each for the department of Marketing and Law; Linguistics and Communication, eight each; Accounting, four; Micro- Biology, three; Vocational and Special Education, three; Human Kinetics and Health Education, three; Human Anatomy, two; Political Science, two; Soil Science, Economics,

Philosophy and Agriculture, two each; and Business Management, three. The number is not end here. Modern Languages, Educational Foundation, Guidance and Counselling Departments also have two each while Geography and Regional Planning; Public Administration; Chemistry; Maths/Statistics; Religious Studies; Theatre Arts; Library and Information Technology; History and International Studies equally have one student each. Explaining how the bubble burst, the Deputy-Vice Chancellor in charge of Academics, Prof. Austine Obiekezie said, “When the present administration came on board some years ago, it discovered that many students who were parading themselves as students were actually not authentic students. He said they were able to come in largely

because admission process then was offered on the basis of face value of entry certificates more so that students for direct entry would need to write entrance examinations before coming into the university. “So, those students were given admission on the basis of the face value of certificates they presented to the admission officers as well as the quota system that favoured most of them,” he added. He explained that the authority was able to discover that their certificates were forged when it became suspicious that almost all the students for direct entry paraded results with very good grades including distinction from their previous schools. “It is not that students cannot do excellently in their exams but the kind of results those students presented called for suspicion,” he said. And for avoidance of doubt, Prof. James recalled that the management had to swing into action by going to their acclaimed former schools as well as the West African Examination Council (WAEC) to verify the authenticity of their studentship as well as the results in their possessions as the case may be. “It was surprising to discover that about 60 per cent of those certificates were forged and the university has no option than to expel those concerned,” he said. The deputy VC noted that in addition to the SSSCE results, the forged certificates carried names of schools such as the Federal College of Education, Obudu; College of Education, Panchi; Akanu Ibiam Polytechnic, Afikpo; Alvan Ikoku University, among others and that those certificates had a national spread. Interestingly, a large number of the affected students had spent between one and two years on campus receiving lectures and writing exams before the bubble burst while the rest were part of the newly admitted students. Knowing full-well that the game was up and apparently believing that they were risking arrest and prosecution, they took to their heels. On the possibility of some university’s workers conniving with the students in perpetrating the act, the don said the school had not been able to establish that from all CONTINUED ON PAGE 22

Insecurity: ASUU chair calls for Jonathan’s resignation over Chibok girls’ abduction 25

Bus driver’s son is best maths student in Lagos

‘Politicians sponsor students’ union elections for selfish gains’ 24

Education Today

Thursday, May 22, 2014

Bus driver’s son is best maths student in Lagos

•He deserves scholarship, says ex-commissioner TUNBOSUN OGUNDARE AND EMMANUEL EGHAGHE

17-year-old student of Epe Senior Grammar School, Epe, Lagos State took audience at this year’s edition of the Bright Rewarding Future (BRF) quiz competition by surprise. At the event organised by the state’s Ministry of Education, Joseph Yeko distinguished himself in speed, accuracy and confidence to outshine three other contestants, namely: Jagbojagbo Adesola from the same school, Jasanya Oluwakayode from Oriwu Senior Model College Ikorodu and James Isah of Agindingbi Senior Grammar School to become the winner of the Mathematics category. The competition became very tough when it remained only him and his arch rival, Jagbojagbo Adesola, a girl in the race. At a point, the same question which involved serious calculation was asked for whoever that answered first correctly to take the day. Yeko answered just as the quiz master finished his question and for that, he received standing ovation from the audience including the Commissioner of Education, Mrs. Olayinka Oladunjoye and the former commissioner of the ministry, Dr.

WOLE ADEDEJI ILORIN

Bulgaria-based Non Governmental Organisation (NGO), Global Peace Movement, may now be the one to make peace between the workers of the three Kwara State-owned colleges of education and the government. The workers, both academic and non-academic, coordinated by the Committee of Unions of Tertiary Institutions (CUTI) had nine weeks now gone on strike protesting poor pays and infrastructures in their respective campuses. Speaking to newsmen on behalf of the group, Mr. Afolabi Olayemi, its Coordinator said the group decided to wade into the crisis in the interests of the students. He said the strike might had adverse effects on the students who were supposed to be in school. Olayemi said he had earlier written to the state Governor, Dr. Abdulfatah Ahmed, pleading with him to do something urgently to resolve the crisis. The letter, copy of which was made available to journalists was dated May 7, 2014, while another one was forwarded to the

Yeko

Leke Pitan. The edition, which was the fifth in the series, was described as toughest ever. Although, Yeko had once represented the state at the Pan African Mathematics Olympiad in Abuja where he came second in the unofficial category, he said his performance was not based on the past glory. On his secret then, the young boy whose father is a metro bus driver and mother; a trader, told National Mirror that he believes in himself and knows that God had ordained

him the champion of the quiz long before the competition. Speaking on how he edged out his opponents, he thanked God and those who supported in one way or the other right from the preliminary. He noted that his winning did not come cheap as all his opponents are also very strong. Interestingly, Yeko did not like Mathematics when he was in primary school believing that the subject was difficult to understand. “I actually developed interest in the subject in about three years ago and now it has become one of my favourites,” he said. Agreeing that most students do not like the subject, Yeko encouraged those in that category to develop interest for it, saying it would be as simple as ever. His aspiration is to become a computer engineer. Commending Yeko’s exemplary performance, the former state’s Commissioner for Education,Dr. Leke Pitan said the brilliant boy as well as his first runner-up deserve the state scholarship up to the university level. Pitan said the kind of Yeko was not somebody that should not further his education on the basis of financial difficulty.

Group wades into govt-teachers feud in Kwara Speaker of the state House of Assembly on the same day. According to Olayemi, the main interest of Global Peace Movement is how reconciliation could help to improve the lives of the people. He also said the group was worried that the students of the three colleges were being denied their rights to quality education with the demands of the workers coupled with the delay in their programme occasioned by the strike. “Any hindrance in the flow

of their skills’ acquisition would not only clog the political process, but equally pose a serious threat to the democratic process in the state,’’ he noted. Olayemi had attached the seven demands made by the union leaders to the governor and the speaker which included upgrade of infrastructure and computation of retirement benefits with 100 per cent ‘CONPCASS/CANTEDIS’. Others include the demand for 65 years retirement age for lecturers in the colleges and migration

of officers on ‘CONTTISS 1-11’. He appealed to the governor and his perceived godfather; Senator Bukola Saraki, to dialogue with the unions instead of wielding the big stick in dealing with the matter. The Information Commissioner, Mr. Tunji Morohunfoye had on Thursday on a programme of the State radio; Radio Kwara said the government would this morning Monday 18/05/2014) open a register mandating the workers to sign or would all be considered sacked.

A cross section of parents of the students of Leadforte Gate Schools, Lagos, at a familiarisation forum with the management and staff of the school, recently.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Amosun’s wife lifts education of 500 pupils FEMI OYEWESO ABEOKUTA

o fewer than 500 pupils identified from two distressed schools have benefited from the first phase of Uplift the Schools’ programme of the wife of Ogun State governor, Mrs. Olufunsho Amosun. Uplift the School is a pet project of Mrs Amosun to assist indigent school children, especially from remote communities. Under the scheme, Amosun’s wife has distributed items that included sandals, school bags, exercise books, biro and pencils to pupils from two local government council areas of Obafemi-Owode and Ifo. While 130 pupils from St. Mathew’s Anglican school, Lademo village in ObafemiOwode local government area benefitted from the first phase, the remaining 370 pupils were selected from the Ajunwo Junior and Senior High Schools in Ifo Local Government area of the state. She also donated 300 units of benches and chairs to the school for the use of the students. Speaking with journalists at the event in Lademo village, Mrs. Amosun said she had chosen the occasion which also coincided with her 48th birthday to celebrate with the less privileged in the society which she said included the school children who are the future leaders. She was accompanied by the state Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Mr Segun Odubela and his Women Affairs and Social Developments counterpart, Elizabeth Sokunbi.

Expert recommends space science education in schools TUNBOSUN OGUNDARE

he Chief Scientific Officer, African Regional Centre for Space Science and Technology (English), Dr. Wunmi Alabi has said the encouragement of space science education in schools would help, a long way, in addressing the current security challenges confronting the country. He made the observation at the launch of Schools’ Space Club for private schools in Lagos State. No fewer than 23 schools participated in the launch co-organised by the regional centre and the MD Schools, Lagos. Alabi said young ones would need to be empowered on science technology because of the importance of the sector to mankind and nation’s development. On the school club, she said the students would be introduced to many things that would make them vast in space science. She noted that teachers of participating schools would be trained annually on the space science. In her remark, the Proprietress of MD Schools, Mrs Omolara Adedugbe said the club would actually make improve the students’ knowledge not only on space science but also in their studies and the happenings around the world.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Education Today

Thursday, May 22, 2014

Educationist mentors students on reading, exploration TUNBOSUN OGUNDARE

L-R: President, Nigerian Library Association (NLA), Mr. Rilwanu Abdulsalami ; CEO, Elis Associates, Mr. Tunji Okegbola and Managing Director, The Book Company Ltd, Mr. Dayo Alabi during the international conference at the just concluded 2014 Nigeria International Book Fair in Lagos. PHOTO: SAMUEL ADETIMEHIN

Kogi reassures students of conducive environment WALE IBRAHIM LOKOJA

s part of effort to ameliorate their suffering, Kogi State Government has reassured the students in the state-owned schools that the government would continue to provide a conducive learning atmosphere for them. Governor Idris Wada made this known while inauguration three new

hostel blocks at the main campus of Kogi State Polytechnic, lokoja on Monday, saying it is only in a conducive environment that students can learn well. While urging the management of the institution and the expected users to ensure judicious use of the hostels, the governor warned the students of tertiary institutions across the state against their involvement in social ills including cultism in and outside campuses.

He vowed that his administration would do all the needful to stamp out cult-related in the state. The Rector of the polytechnic Professor Idowu Ajibero on his part, expressed gratitude to the governor for redeeming his promise to build the hostel when he visited the institution for the first time in 2012. Ajibero stated that hostel had become one of major problems confronting the institution over the years.

Tambuwal urges more employment from book industry TUNBOSUN OGUNDARE

he Speaker of House of Representatives, Hon. Aminu Tambuwal has called on stakeholders in the book industry to collaborate with the Federal Government in reducing unemployment rate in the country. He made the call at the just concluded Nigeria International

Book Fair (NIBF) held at the University of Lagos, Akoka. He was the guest of honour at a conference organised during the annual fair, which was the 13th edition. It was themed: “Emergence of e-book and the survival of physical book in Africa.” Represented by the Chairman, House Committee on Education, Hon. Aminu Sulaiman, the speaker said the Federal

Government was aware of the strong contribution the book industry had made so far to the development of the economy but would appreciate it to do more, especially in the area of employment generation for the teeming unemployed youths. Tambuwa however, stressed the need for government to protect the industry without posing any threat to players in the advancement of technology.

Vice-Chancellor, Caleb University, Imota, Lagos, Prof. Ayodeji Olukoju(left) with the guest of honour, Prof. Akin Mabogunje, at the launch of the UN-Habitat State of World Cities Report at Imota, recently.

He said this would be done through legislation and enforcement of those laws by relevant bodies. The speaker said the house was already reviewing copyright laws and also started the process of ensuring that the use of electronic books was regulated in the country. Also speaking, the Chairman of NIBF, Mr. Samuel Kolawole called the Federal Government to drop the imposition of tariff policy on books coming into the country. He said what the book industry wants from the government was encouragement and not policy that would worsen the reading culture and the education sector as a whole. He explained that about 80 to 90 per cent of books written for tertiary education in the country were being produced abroad by foreign authors and hiking tariff on them would take many important books off the shelves of school libraries. The keynote speaker and Registrar, Librarians’ Registration Council of Nigeria, Dr. Victoria Okojie said the emergence of e-books though gaining wider acceptability could not displace physical books. She therefore urged major stakeholders in the industry to move along with the new trend so as to remain relevant globally.

he Chief Executive Officer, Association of International School Educators of Nigeria, Mr. Ola Opesan has said the surest way for students to distinguish themselves was to cultivate the habit of reading, writing, studying and exploring. He said by so doing they would adequately prepare for future challenges. Opesan made the observation as a guest speaker during the exhibition programme organized by Lead Forte Gate School, Ogudu, Lagos, recently. The scholar maintained that any student who reads, studies and explores, as well as engaging in extensive research would definitely create a wide gap among his peers because of various experience and in-depth knowledge to be garner through the process. While commending the school especially for inculcating good educational and moral knowledge and entrepreneurial spirit in their students, he added that introducing them also to varieties of culture would make global students. In his remark, the Chairman of the school, Mr. Tunde Lemo said Open House, as one of the core values of the school was aimed at strengthening relationship among students, parents and teachers, as well as the public at large. While imploring parents not to abandon their children to teachers, he said they should see themselves as complimentary unit in bringing up the children to the position of responsibility. Lemo, who is the immediate past deputy governor of Central Bank of Nigeria in charge of Banking Operations, told students to face their studies and be obedient to parents, teachers and the constituted authorities in the land. The Principal of the school, Dr. Ben Greyling on his part, said the management would continue to make the school both learning and working friendly. He however asked the students to take their studies very seriously and be of good behaviour in and outside the school.

Lemo

Education Today

Thursday, May 22, 2014

‘Skill acquisition, a key to nation’s building’ Dr Chris Ierwua Utov is the President, Fidei Polytechnic, Benue State. In this interview with HENRY IYORKASE in Gboko, the educationist spoke on the factors that led him to invest in the educational sector, his dissatisfaction with education management and other burning issues in the sector. Excerpts: What inspired you to veer into education? What inspires me particularly to invest in education is my belief that education gives a person the orientation to live by himself or herself and also to live very well and It also makes you to know exactly the idea of living. What inspires me most especially is to see to it that my younger ones who had no opportunity of travelling to distant places for further education can get it here. I also want to complement the efforts of government in giving education to the youth. Once you are educated, you are no longer a slave because you try to live by yourself and to understand exactly what you have to do. Education enlightens people and I feel it is necessary for me to invest in education because by investing I am helping the nation to be better developed and this can create peace and love. Are you satisfied with the way education is being managed in Nigeria today? No, education management in the country is somehow very poor because of incessant strike actions in our school system. For example, in Benue State, for over six months now, the primary schools are closed down. Perhaps, when they resume, the pupils who are in primary one would they remain there? No! They will be promoted to primary two without actually learning what they were supposed to learn in that particular class. So, education in Nigeria is fluctuating based on this strike actions and also people being very greedy by not spending the allocations very well. Also, you see a lot of students coming out with nine credits at WAEC and NECO but in the actual sense, when you ask them to prove their nine credits, it is very, very difficult for them to do so. Why? Because the teachers are also not doing their job, they relax and some of them say they are not being paid very well. To some, it’s just a careless attitude; they don’t want to teach. The system itself is changing from

Utov

one point to another. Recently they had a summit and termed it ‘economic summit,’ based on education in Nigeria, where a lot of people spoke about the set up of education in Nigeria. We are talking about science-oriented courses, Arts and so on and so forth. But when you get into these institutions that are emphasizing science, you will notice that the equipment are not there and practicals are not carried out. But in Fidei Polytechnic here, I emphasise on practicals. That is why we have very well equipped laboratories. So, education here is quite different from what I think people are doing elsewhere. People say we are not that rich but there is corruption everywhere. What, in your own view, is the way out? Everyone seems to be talking about the way out, the way forward. But don’t you think when we talk of the way out, the way forward, we are all making noise? Because in the actual sense, who are to implement this way forward?. We can sit here and talk about it, it will go into the pages of the papers but those who are to implement it may not do it. In any case, I will say teachers should give their time to teach, be focused and make students to be attracted to learning. They should also make students realised the importance of skill acquisition.

L-R: Guest of honour, Mr. Femi Adesina; Acting Tutor General/Permanent Secretary, Lagos Education District 1V, Mrs. Aderinsola Soname and Bride’s father and Chairman, Parents/Teachers Association, South-West, Deacon Olusoji Adams during his daughter’s wedding ceremony in Lagos, recently.

For instance, in the polytechnic here, if you are studying Laboratory Science, or Electrical and Electronics Engineering, all these are practical courses that can make the student independent. You don’t need to be employed but you can set up your own workshop and earn your living there. Consider also Building Technology which we offer here for instance, people are building houses on daily basis so a building technologist does not necessarily have to be employed but can earn his living through his know-how. It is actually difficult to proffer solution to the problem of education in the country because of the question of who to implement them. In Nigeria, people will tell you, ‘I have graduated for many years but can’t get a job.’ This should not be happening but I think with skill acquisition, unemployment rate will drop. Another thing is that Nigerians should have interest in giving education to others, those who acquire education should also learn to share by teaching, and we must encourage more youths to study education in the university. You spoke about poor quality of education especially at the elementary level. What do you think can be done to improve the learning process? First of all, I said equipment must be obtained and then teachers have to be properly trained. You can train teachers even when they are on the field. I will suggest that from time to time, there must be a sort of seminar to impact knowledge into teachers so that the teachers can in turn give more knowledge to the students. At Fidei, we have equipped our laboratories such that our students are taught in practicals, what they are required to do after graduation. If we all give attention to the quality of education that we provide and teachers are properly trained, including during long vacation periods, instead of teachers wasting time going here and there, organize them for a short course to refresh their ideas, this can improve the standard of education in our country. Nigeria’s education curriculum is said to be broad-based with little specialization. What is your take on this? I don’t think it is broad-based as such; the curriculums are very nice. I don’t know elsewhere but I have a polytechnic and my staff here are looking at the curriculum.. I ask my teachers ‘can you create ideas of how these things can be taught so that we will narrow our ideas to what NBTE has given us.’ If there are new ideas, particularly in the practical aspects that are good, we can present this matter to NBTE and tell them ‘these are the new ideas that we have come up with.’ And then you can also go ahead to say in my little research, this is what I have found that will be good to impact on to the students.

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Science, technology can boost national security - Okebukola SAIDAT ALAUSA

ormer Executive Secretary, National Universities Commission, NUC, Prof. Peter Okebukola has said improvement of science and technology sectors would greatly help in finding solution to today’s national security challenge in the country. He made the submission recently at the University of Ilorin, Kwara State while delivering the keynote address at the 49th annual conference of the Science Association of Nigeria, SAN. He spoke on “Exploiting advancement in science and technology for national security.” Okebukola, who is the Pro- Chancellor and Chairman of Council, Crawford University, Igbesa, Ogun State said national security was a collective responsibility of the citizens. He urged members of the association to contribute meaningfully to attainment of the transformation agenda of the Federal Government on science and technology. He also enjoined the Federal Government to provide an enabling environment for the nation’s security forces by investing more in science, technology and engineering infrastructure. In his speech, the vice- chancellor of the university, Prof. Abdul Ganiyu Ambali urged participants to improve on their fields so as to contribute more to the science and technology sector.

Certificate scandal rocks UNICAL CONTINUED FROM PAGE 19 the investigations carried out so far. He however, not ruled out the possibility completely since the country has been enmeshed in corruption. He gave the figure of both academic and non-academic staff of the institution at around 4,000, saying the possibility of having bad eggs among them is not doubted. “I quite agree that there is a possibility of having a Judas in every 12 but as far as this case is concerned, the school has not be able to establish the involvement of any worker,” he pointed out. He noted that the development had necessitated the university no to give students with direct entry qualifications admission again to start at 100 level. “That is our new policy to guard against repetition of such incidence and by implication, the school now admits few students into 200 level. He however warned prospective students of the university to desist from such act, saying there was no hiding place in the university and that the authority would not hesitate to handover whoever that flout admission rules to the police for prosecution. He said the university was known for standard and would not in any way compromise its reputation built over the years.

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Education Today

Thursday, May 22, 2014

Bridging North-South education gulf

igeria is one nation but the statistics coming from the different regions of the nation seem to suggest otherwise. These statistics are glaringly different and include such diverse parameters as poverty, economic development, skilled manpower, maternal and infant mortality, educational advancement, and possibly life expectancy and employment opportunities. Among these diverse parameters, the educational divide has generated a lot of individual, national and international debate. The onset of conflagration in the north east geo-political zone of the country has further disrupted academic activities in the region and aggravated an already bad situation. We believe that a positive change in the educational equation would have a positive impact on the other troubling parameters. The UNESCO statistic reporting 10.5 million Nigerian children out of school and about 35 million illiterate adults reveals the stark realities of the Nigerian educational system. The statistics from the north as a whole is worse still. In the National Common Entrance Examination (NCEE) conducted in 2013 to select candidates for admission into the nation’s unity schools, there were astronomical disparities in the cut off marks for candidates from the north and south. In 2011, only 17 out of 18,000 candidates that sat for the se-

Education as I see it

by Tosanwumi Otokunefor

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

THE DESIGNATION OF THE NORTHERN STATES AS EDUCATIONALLY LESS DEVELOPED AND THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE QUOTA SYSTEM OF ADMISSION FOR OVER 40 YEARS HAS FAILED TO REVERSE THE SITUATION.

nior school certificate examination in the entire Gombe State obtained the minimum of five credits including English and Mathematics. In the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination of 2011, the performance of the entire north-eastern geopolitical zone was not as good as that from a single state in the south-east zone. A screening test in Kaduna State in 2013 indicated that more than 80 per cent of primary school teachers could not pass a primary four level test. These are very grim statistics which cannot be ignored. The National Teachers’ Institute which was established in 1976 does not seem to have made any impact on the quality of teachers in Kaduna State or any-

where else. The measures adopted so far by government to address the north-south inequalities have so far failed. The designation of the northern states as educationally less developed and the implementation of the quota system of admission for over 40 years has failed to reverse the situation. Rather, it seems to have left them unmotivated and permanently entrenched in backwardness. The establishment of special facilities for the almajiris and the girl-child respectively has not significantly improved the outlook on school enrolment in these states either. A lot more needs to be done to improve the educational standard of the old northern region as a whole. A non parti-

san working group of eminent educationists from the northern states should be setup to address the educational backwardness of the north. They should be saddled with the responsibility of drawing up and implementing an action plan to redress the educational imbalance in 10 years, irrespective of the party in power in each state. Among important points to consider are the problems of unqualified teachers, the contribution of poverty to the current enrolment statistics, improved infrastructural development and provision of the minimum equipment for the improved teaching of science. To improve on the quality of teachers, new teachers’ training colleges must be established in every state of the north with qualified teachers recruited from wherever they are available with adequate incentive to train science teacher de novo. Such facilities would be expected to produce the first batch of qualified teachers locally within three years. Every teacher graduating from such college must be guaranteed automatic employment. Problems that influence enrolment in the school system must be tackled. Apart from the cultural barrier which provides a major resistance to western style education, poverty has been identified as another major factor. The provision of school uniforms, ex-

ercise books, and textbooks are major challenges to poor peasant farmers struggling to make ends meet. In the same vein, the inability of parents to provide meals for their children and wards is an additional barrier to their utilising the tuition “free” education the government is providing. Meals, if provided locally, could stimulate the local economy and sustain the primary school enrolment drive. A good foundation in the primary school is the necessary foundation to a sound education. Government must provide moderate, cost effective and durable classrooms and seats with functional laboratories for both the primary and secondary education levels with special provisions for the vocational courses All these would require more than doubling the budgetary allocation for the ministry of education and reducing the wastage due to corruption. The Federal Government would as a matter of priority support this initiative by making special budgetary allocations to the northern states. Improvement in education would have a multiplier effect on other spheres of life including increased economic activity, reduced criminal activity and ultimately reduced security and military spending. The alternative is continued dissatisfaction of the youths with the status quo and eruptions of insurgency in other parts of the country, especially north; the choice is ours!

Commissioner lauds Lagos teachers on improved performance SAIDAT ALAUSA

he Lagos State Commissioner for Education, Mrs. Olayinka Oladunjoye has commended teachers for their dedication and diligence to duty which she said had improved the standard of education in the state. She gave the commendation during the annual education merit award ceremony organised by the Education District 1 held at the Government Senior College in Agege last week. She said in a bid to ensure a brighter rewarding future for the students the state would continue to prioritise teachers’ welfare to get the best from them.

The commissioner therefore advised them to continue to work hard, adding that the state gov-

ernment would continue to make available to them necessary facilities that would aid their productiv-

ity. Congratulating award recipients, Oladunjoye admonished them not to

(L-R) Tutor General/Permanent Secretary, District III, Mr. Gbemi Olaniyi; Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, Mrs. Omolara Erogbogbo; winner and student of Epe Senior Grammar School, Epe, Miss ---Commissioner for Education, Mrs. Olayinka Oladunjoye, debate co-winner, Amusa Zainab; Special Adviser to the Governor on Education, Otunba Fatai Olukoga and Chairman House Committee on Education and Technology, Lagos House of Assembly, Hon. Wahab Alawiye-King at the presentation of awards to the winners of this year’s edition of the Lagos Schools Debate held last week.

see the achievement as the peak of their performance but the beginning of hard work that would lead to greater ones. Earlier in her welcome address, the Tutor-General and Permanent Secretary, Education District 1, Mrs. Florence Ogunfidodo described the award as a celebration of excellence of schools, principals, vice principals, teachers as well as the students. Commending teachers for a job well done, she said they had done well by maximising the resources and opportunities provided by government to improve teaching, learning and students’ performance in internal and public examinations. She said the steady improvement of students in Basic Certificate Ex-

amination (BECE) and the West African Senior Certificate Examinations (WASSCE) was a proof of the commitment of the present administration to the improvement of education. The best school at the senior category in the district which comprises Agege, Alimosho and Ifako-Ijaiye local government went to Keke Senior High School, Ifako-Ijaiye while the junior category went to Sasa Community Junior Secondary School, Alimosho. The best principal award was won by Mrs. Akinbami of Iju Senior Grammar School, IfakoIjaiye and while Mrs. Itiade Ladigbolu of Sasa Community Junior High School won the junior school category.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Thursday, May 22, 2014

Edited by: Saidat Alausa shinyan20022002@yahoo.com, 08027633686

Lawmaker wants Adeyemi College of Education upgraded HAKEEM GBADAMOSI AKURE.

he Chairman of the Information Committee in the Ondo House of Assembly, Hon. Oyebo Aladetan has called on the Federal Government to upgrade Adeyemi College of Education, Ondo to a university status. He made the call during an award presentation to commemorate the 50th anniversary and 33rd convocation ceremony of the institution recently. He noted that the upgrading of the college was long overdue, adding that the institution had contributed to human capacity development for the country in the last 50 years of its existence. According to him, Adeyemi College of Education had produced qualified teachers who had contributed to the education development of the country which had also contributed to growth of education sector saying giving the college the status of a university would help to fight brain drain in the country.

EKSU VC becomes Academy of Science Fellow SAIDAT ALAUSA

he Vice-Chancellor of Ekiti State University, EKSU, Ado-Ekiti, Prof. Oladipo Aina has been inducted as a Fellow of the Nigerian Academy of Science (NAS). He was among the 10 scientists in the country newly inducted into the academy at a grand ceremony held in their honour in Abuja last week. Prof. Aina’s induction is based on his vast knowledge on soil science and management practices in the tropical agro-ecosystem. His research on erosion processes, soil water retention and transmission, crops and environmental sciences in general has also adjudged as one the best in the country. Expressing gratitude to God for the recognition shortly after his investiture, he promised to do more for science profession, humanity and the country. Prof. Aina a Soil Science First Class graduate from the University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University, (OAU), in 1972 earned his professorship in Soil Physics in 1989 and became the vice-chancellor of EKSU three years ago.

‘Politicians sponsor students’ union elections for selfish gains’ Olawole John is a 400-level student of Political Science, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife. He has served as Electoral Commissioner for different unions on campus including the Students’ Union Government. The 25-year-old Ondo prince bares his mind to KEMI BUSARI (400L,Pol.Sc.Ile-Ife) about politicians sponsoring elections of students’ leaders, what should be the roles of youths in governance, among other issues. Excerpts: What was your experience-like as the electoral officer for various students unions on campus?

because they have the strength. It is not that I am in support of what these set of people are doing, but what I am trying to say is that the strength, ideas and will to serve the country well are also reside with the youth and not the elders. The elders most of whom have been in government for many years should excuse young blood to come into the governance and we will see the transformation that will come into the land.

My involvement in electoral assignment started during the 2011 general elections in the country when I served as electoral observer in Awokonjo area of Lagos State. Since then, I have been involving in one election or the other. Now on campus, I served as the Chairman of the Electoral Commission for the National Association of Ondo State Students (NAOSS) and National Congress of Akoko Students, the Obafemi Awolowo University branch. My experience so far has given me a sense of belonging as well as serving as a learning ground for me. It has equally given me an opportunity to practice what I am being taught in class. What is your assessment of Nigerian electoral system? As an observer of the Nigerian political system since the return of civilian government in 1999, I think the Nigerian electoral system is nothing to write home about. The essence of an election is for it to be free and fair but the reverse is the case in the country. This explains why after every election, contestants go to tribunal. We can say it is getting better now because of the experience in the last election conducted by Prof. Attahiru Jega. For the first time in the country, there were multiple victories for contestants at the tribunal. How will you compare students’ election with that of the outside world? Both are totally different. Students conduct fairer elections at students’ level. Also, there is less funding in students’ election compared to the heavy funding for general elections. If what we do at student level is been inculcated at the general stage, I believe it’s going to yield a better result. Politicians nowadays fund students going for elective positions on campus, in your opinion, what does this portend for the country? Politicians in my own view do this for their selfish interest. They fund students’ elections in order to woo students to campaign for them during the elections. But sadly, many of them turn their back against the students soon after they are being voted in. They take decisions that are even inimical to students’ welfare and what have you. Similarly, the action, no doubt, can ridicule the students by making them objects to be tossed around by the politicians once they get into office. So, I don’t see

Olawole

such as something to be encouraged. Some people believe that youths are been marginalised in the Nigerian political system, how will you react to this? That is the home truth. And I will blame the legislative arm of government for this. In the early years of political independence, our leaders such as Tafawa Balewa, Ahmadu Bello, Obafemi Awolowo and Herbert Macaulay served in their 30’s and 40’s and they performed well. This is largely because they were youths with lots of strength. They were also passionate about serving the public with the whole of their hearts. Just to think of it, most of the insurgents who are currently disrupting peace of the country are youths just

Few students are members of the ongoing National Conference, what is your position on this? The fact is that most times, youths have been sidelined in scheme of things of national importance in the country. It pains to know that our current leaders are been sent to school by the leaders of their days but they do little or nothing for the present generation. The youths of today are less educated and that makes it easy for them to be sidelined. The implication is that the youth shouldn’t expect anything good from the conference. The country’s constitution has good plan for the youth, and I will implore the leaders to follow it to the letter. How do you advice youths on the forthcoming general elections? There is a popular adage which says that the baby elephant should be allowed to whistle when he is still alive so that he won’t do it wrongly when he is dead .This goes to mean that the youths should be inculcated in the politics of the country. I also advice the youth to make themselves available for responsibilities and always ask for their rights. I will also advise them not to allow politicians to use them as hooligans to achieve their selfish gains.

Students of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife protesting the fees’ increment by the authorities of the institution on Tuesday PHOTO: SIKIRU AKINOLA

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Campus News

Thursday, May 22, 2014

FG should create special funds for young entrepreneurs, says ex-minister HAMEED MURITALA UNILORIN

he former Minister of Sports, Mr. Bolaji Abdullahi has called on the Federal Government to create a special purpose fund for young entrepreneurs in the country and that they should be trained on how to use the funds judiciously. This according to him is one of the ways the problem of youth unemployment in the country could be tackled. He gave the recommendation last Thursday while delivering a paper at the annual public lecture of the Association of Business and Social Sciences Students (ABSSS) of the University of Ilorin (UNILORIN). The lecture titled: “Menace of youth unemployment in Nigeria: Is there really no way out?” was held in honour of the former minister. Abdullahi who lamented the growing rate of youth unemployment in the country also advised the students to design a template for themselves by diversifying into vocational and entrepreneurial skills. This according to him would greatly help to address the alarming rate of joblessness. He encouraged the students to identify and develop their unique selling points to help them overcome the challenge of unemployment in the society, stressing that they must always take responsibilities for their lives. Abdullahi advised them to know the direction they were heading if problems must be solved, adding that the society requires people with skills and critical thinking to solve the multifarious problems facing it. He, however, decried the system of education in the country, saying that it fails to adequately train the students to meet the market requirements. He said because of that, the education system would need to be restructured to make it functional to meet the requirements of the global labour market. The former minister also noted that 80 per cent of students are in the higher institutions of learning not because they felt the conscious need, but because they considered it as the next thing in their lives after secondary education. He said the essence of going to school was for students to become economic agents and contribute actively to the growth and development of their society. Also speaking, the Sub-Dean, Students’ Affair unit of the institution, Dr. Abdulraheem Yusuf said the country was faced with the problem of corruption that must first be addressed for the issue of unemployment to be tackled. The highpoint of the occasion was the presentation of awards of leadership excellence to Mr. Abdullahi; the Vice-Chancellor of the university, Prof. Abdulganiyu Ambali; former speaker of the Osun State House of Assembly and lecturer in the Political Science department of the institution, Prof. Mojeed Alabi.

Some women at OAU campus protesting the abduction of schoolgirls in Borno State, recently

Insecurity: ASUU chairman calls for Jonathan’s resignation over Chibok girls’ SIKIRU AKINOLA AND KEMI BUSARI 400L, POL. SCI. OAU

he Chairman Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, Obafemi Awolowo University Ile Ife chapter, Dr. Caleb Aborisade, has advised President Goodluck Jonathan to resign if the girls abducted at the Federal Government Girls College, Chibok in Borno State are not found soon. He said this during the protest by the women community of the university recently. He also condemned the condition given by the leader of the sect, Shekau, saying that only

an ineffective government will honour such condition. All dressed in white and red clothes and numbering about hundred converged at the motion ground of the university and later moved round the campus to express their displeasure over the missing children. The group led by the Director of the Centre for Gender and Social Policy Studies, Professor Soetan, expressed sadness at the abduction of the girls, carrying placards with inscriptions such as “bring back our girls now!”, “our staff and students condemn the abduction of Chibok girls”, “If it can happen to Chibok Girls, then no

one is safe”, “Real men don’t buy girls”, “I am a parent and I condemn the abduction”, “As parents, we feel the pain and anguish of the families of the Chibok girls”. Speaking during the protest, Prof. Soetan said that the protest was organised in order to join their voice with national, regional and international organisations to protest the abduction of the future female leaders. She said that the centre is outraged by the heinous crimes against humanity by the insurgent, saying that the abduction of the Chibok school girls is the height of it and the government

needs to act fast. “We are concerned about the plight of these young girls who have not committed any crime to deserve this treatment meted to them by the insurgent Boko Haram sect. They’ve gone to school so that they could be liberated and in the process got punished for what they knew nothing of. It could be my child, it could be yours. Let’s join hands against insecurity in Nigeria,” she said. She also appealed to security agents and well meaning Nigerians to provide information as to the whereabouts of the missing girls.

UNILORIN distributes ipad to new students

Some of the new students of the institution displaying their ipad

ALI TOYIN ABDUL 200L, LAW, UNILORIN

s part of the objectives of fostering academic excellence through information technology and cognitive innovative, the University of Ilorin has introduced the usage of ipads and other sophisticated items among its

students. This, according to Vice Chancellor of the institution, Prof. AbdulGaniyu Ambali, is to enhance quality education, and boost the research orientation of the teeming students. The new initiative was considered a mirage owing to the controversies surrounding its inuaguration. But it later saw the light of the day last week when the univer-

sity management started the distribution of the item to the anticipating freshers. When National Mirror visited the distribution venue, the atmosphere was endearing as many fresh students were seen queuing to receive their own package of the product. In a brief chat with some of the students, Shoneye Adewale Tosin, 100 Level Law said: “I really appreciate the school for this wonderful initiative; it will further assist me in my academic pursuit”. Another student, Kolapo Sodiq Abidemi described the initiative as a performance booster for any serious minded persons. “Kudos to the university management,” he added. As for Ali Ibrahim Adedotun, this item would makes us global competitors among our contemporaries as we can now make academic research at our own convenience. Another student who preferred anonymity added that the item would make many students unaffordable lazy. In a remark, the students’ union director of publicity, Anifowose Titilope, commended the university vice chancellor for its sterling leadership, and also implore the students to make good use of the technology products.

Thursday, May 22, 2014

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Make-or-mar polls in Ekiti, Osun

UR first port of call today is THE NATION ON SUNDAY COMMENT Page headline of May 18: “Ekiti and Osun: Nigeria’s make or mar (make-or-mar) elections” DAILY Sun Front Page headline crash of May 12 comes next: “AMCON urged to extend deadline on (for) Mainstreet Bank’s acquisition” As an aside, why not ‘Main Street’? THE NATION ON SUNDAY COMMENT (EDITORIAL) of May 11consolidates our entries this weekend with this lapse: “…they want peace and order to return once again to their dear country….” Rescue this extract by deleting ‘once again’ to avoid pleonasm. ‘Return again’/’reverse back’ are faulty expressions. NATIONAL MIRROR of May 8 continues the race against improprieties today with too many faulty lines: “Bring back our girls protest hits Rivers” This way: ‘Bring-back-ourgirls protest’ hits Rivers “He said the state government is (was) delivering on affordable homes as promised.” I do not know why basic principles of reported speech should be challenging for some journalists! “UNICAL expels 107 students over (for) certificate forgery” “The practice of ruling party wins-all-council (win-all-council) offices has made stakeholders to see the SIECs as irrelevant and undesired (undesirable), thus leading to calls for its (their) scrapping.” “…SSA to the acting governor of Taraba State on Media and Publicity recently speaks to (recently spoke with) journalists….”

SAIDAT ALAUSA

he Vice-Chancellor, Professor Olusola Oyewole, has approved a formal collaboration between the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, FUNAAB, Ogun State and the International Fertilizer Development Centre (IFDC), International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) and the National Root Crops Research Institute, Umudike, on the development of a proposal for the actualization of the Bill and Melinda Gates foundation initiative on ‘Improving fertility management system for Cassava’. During a meeting with the coordinator of the project, Mr. Cecil Osei of IFDC, the Vice-Chancellor, who was represented by his Deputy in charge of Development, Prof. Fe-

“Librarians blame high cost of printing on incessant power outage” Education Today: incessant power outages/cuts “Polytechnics (Polytechnic) Medical Directors elect officers (officials)” “Forging Pan African (pan-Africa) integration through unified marketing education” “Nigerians to watch World Cup (World Cup matches) free—OSMI” “Dollar falls to lowest since October on lower yields” Global News: lowest level “Genetics explain (explains) why some twins are bigger than others” “Why DStv staged All Stars (all-star) show” “Lack of funding, poor management (mismanagement) and lack of vision has (have) stunted the development of….” “OSSAA reads Riot Act to outdoor owners” Brands & Marketing: the riot act The back page of NATIONAL MIRROR under review rounds off the long introduction: “Maybe the scales has (have) now fallen off Jonathan (Jonathan’s) eyes….” “…to advise and not to keep pokenosing into the affairs of the nation….” There is nothing like ‘poke-nosing’. Get it right (informal): poke your nose into something! So, the man should be advised not to keep picking/poking his nose into the affairs of the nation…. Nobody has the right/’poetic licence’ to change fixed/ stock phrases, especially as borrowed users of the English language. Usage note: both ‘singlehandedly’ and

‘SINGLEHANDEDLY’ AND ‘SINGLEHANDED’ ARE CORRECT AND CAN INTERCHANGEABLY BE USED.

‘singlehanded’ are correct and can interchangeably be used. Someone should inform Classic FM 97.3 presenters, editors and newscasters that the right expressions are ‘mature people’ and ‘marching orders’—not ‘matured people’ and ‘marching order’! (Thursday, May 8 evening belt programme and Tuesday, May 6, 11.15 a.m. bulletin respectively) Wrong: A force to reckon with Right: A force to be reckoned with The next two contributions are from Bayo Oguntunase (08056180046): “95,926 candidates to write (do/take/sit) exams” (THE NATION ON SUNDAY Headline, April 27) “The late National Security Adviser, Andre Owoye Azazi, said that modern equipment had to be provided as a way of bringing the insecurity crisis (security crisis) to an end.” (DAILY SUN, April 17) Usage note: we correctly say or write insecurity or security crisis/security problem/security challenge. Similarly, unemployment or employment problem/crisis/ challenge…. Our next capture is THE NATION ON SUNDAY of May 4 which could not police its Page 2: “…the fallouts from the aborted

visit are still reverberating in democratic circles all over the country.” Barometer: ‘fallout’ is non-count. “Nyanya blast: Troops arrest 8 Nigerian (Nigerien), Cameroonian suspects” The COMMENT (EDITORIAL) of the above edition follows with just two minor drawbacks: “It tells of how we value human lives, compared to how people in more civilized climes value same (the same)….” “More worrisome is the harsh reality that majority (a majority) of the victims were pupils….” “Group sensitises traders on (to) security” “…on discovering the business potentials (potential) in comedy….” The next serial errors are from a full-page press release signed by Dr. Aminu Ahmed, Secretary, Anambra State Congress Committee of the APC: “To review the overall conduct of the wards congresses with view to determine harmonious acceptable outcome….” Get it right: …ward congresses with a view to determining a harmonious and an acceptable outcome…. “To monitor and supervise the process and resolution of any problem that might have arise (arisen).” “The state congress committee, therefore (another comma) wish to announce the reschedule (rescheduling) of the congresses in the state.” Finally from the blunder-ridden press release: “By this notice, all card carrying (cardcarrying) members of APC (the APC) in the state are advice (advised) to prepare for the congresses.”

FUNAAB to collaborate on improving cassava fertility lix Salako frowned at the practice which excludes turning natural resources into the value-chain process, stressing that this played a vital role in productivity. According to him, lots of research proposals had ignored the importance of soil management to their researches, terming it as just applying fertilizer to soil for fertility. The Vice-Chancellor commended the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, while assuring the unflinching support of the university. He stated that the university, through its grants management directorate, had managed numerous research grants successfully and with a trackrecord of accountability in the course of executing

the projects. Responding, Mr. Cecil Osei, lauded the university for operating a vibrant grants management directorate and for successfully hosting the last Interna-

tional Society of Tree and Root Crops Conference held in 2012, which speaks volume of the high standard of the university. Giving an update on the proposal, he said that

it will be in the form of a unique consortium in which the main focus of the donor would not only be on detailed agronomy research, but also on how to improve research focus.

Youths waiting to buy jamb scratch cards at the Bauchi State Scholarship Board in Bauchi, yesterday. PHOTO: NAN

Earlier, the Director of grants management, Dr. Kolawole Adebayo stressed that “FUNAAB is expected to work on soil fertility for cassava farms; IFDC is going to contribute on the fertilizer aspect in terms of the best fertilizer regime for growing cassava; IITA will put in agronomy and breeding while Umudike and Crop Research Institute in Ghana will add cassava farm management system into it”. He said that the proposal, when approved would be of immense benefit to the university because presently, FUNAAB was working on the C:AVA project, which is a value-chain, market-led project and that its inclusion allow the university to research into how to boost the productivity of cassava farms.

Business Thursday, May 22, 2014

Shipyard project: NIMASA seeks five-year moratorium on 28 contribution

Bridging ICT infrastructural deficit

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Omnicom, Publicis merger, shows downside of large business 33 expansion

Reforms’ll unlock revenue potential in insurance industry –Accenture survey DELE AYELESO

ccenture has said that insurance industry will tap into huge revenue potential only through a deliberate transformation and positioning of the sector. According to survey by experts at Accenture titled; ‘Consumer Innovation Survey on Insurance’, demonstrates convincingly that insurance customers want relevant, convenient and costefficient products that address their buyer values and needs. The survey shows that the predominant insurance product uptake by 1.5 per cent of the population that is insured is motor value insurance. Another survey across several geographies indicates that 67 per cent of customers would consider buying insurance from organizations other than traditional insurance companies, while indicating that insurers must take the offensive, make some bets and take some calculated risks to attract and acquire new customers and to retain the customers they already have. “The revenue potential that is at play for the insurance industry is significant but will only be realized through deliberate trans-

formation and positioning that enhances all channels and experiences. “Companies that transform their technologies as well as underlying business models will be equipped to deliver the experiences that customers will increasingly expect and demand. Only true digital transformation at a strategic level will let customers define their own experiences rather than simply provide products for them to buy, “the survey said.

Accenture recall that the EFInA Access to Financial Services in Nigeria 2012 survey confirm that: while 28.6 million adult Nigerians are currently banked, representing a banked population of 32.5 per cent of the adult population, only 1.3 million adults, 1.5 per cent of the population have personal insurance; EFInA noted that as a result of the deliberate collaborative strategy and individual actions by banks to focus on specific

un-banked and under-banked groups, the banking sector is well on track to dent the financial exclusion trap and to increase banking inclusion to 80 per cent by 2020; “The insurance industry in Nigeria is over-concentrated on intensively competitive, oversold and narrow-margin corporate underwriting, dominated by brokers while under-serving and under developing personal risk underwriting”, the survey said.

he Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN has said that the country is making steady progress towards attainment of the 20 per cent exclusion rate targeted for 2020. A statement by the CBN posted on its website quoted the Acting Governor, Dr Sarah Alade as saying at the just concluded World Economic Forum, WEF, in Abuja, that the country was making committed efforts towards reducing the number of financially excluded persons through strategic reforms in the financial sector.

FLIGHT

SCHEDULE Arik Air Lag-Abj:07.15, 09.15, 10.20, 13.05, 15.20, 16.20, 16.50,18.45 (Mon-Fri/Sat/Sun). Abj-Lag: 07:15, 09.40, 10.20, 12.15, 15.15, 16.15, 17:10, (Mon-Fri/Sat/Sun); 12.15, 15.15, 16.15 (Sun) Lag-PH: 07:15, 11.40, 14.00, 16.10, 17.15 (Mon-Fri); 07.30, 11.40, 15.50 (Sat) 11.50, 3.50, 17.05 Sun) Abj-PH: 07.15, 11.20, 15.30 (Mon-Fri) 07.15, 16.00 (Sat) 13.10, 16.00 Sun) PH-Abj: 08.45, 12.50, 17.00 (MonFri) 08.45, 17.30 (Sat) 14.40, 17.30 (Sun) Abv-Beni:08.00, 12.10 (MonFri/Sat)08.56, 12.10 (Sun) BeninAbj:09.55,13.30

Aero Contractors Lag-Abj: 06.50, 13.30, 16.30, 19.45 (Mon-Fri/Sat/Sun), 12.30 (Sun) 16.45 (Sat) Abj-Los: 07.30, 13.00, 19.00 (Mon-Fri/Sat, 10.30, 14.30, 19.30 (Sun, 18.30 Sat) Lag-Benin: 07.45, 11.00, 15.30 (Mon-Fri/Sat/ Sun) 12.30 (Sun 15.30 (Sat) Ben-Lag: 09.15, 12.30, 17.00 (Mon-Fri/Sat/Sun) 17.00 (Sat) 14.00 (Sun)Lag-Owe: 7.45am, 2pm daily

Med-View Airline

L-R: First Vice President, Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria, CIBN, Otunba (Mrs.) ‘Debola Osibogun; Executive Director, Business Development, The Nigerian Stock Exchange, Mr. Haruna Jalo-Waziri and President/ Chairman, CIBN, Dr. Segun Aina, during a courtesy visit and bell ringing ceremony at the Exchange, at the weekend.

Nigeria’s 20% financial exclusion rate target achievable –CBN UDO ONYEKA

The Acting Governor said that with the percentage of excluded adult Nigerians dropping from 46.3 per cent in 2010 to 39.7 per cent in 2012, the country was making steady progress towards achieving the 20 per cent exclusion rate targeted for 2020. This progress, according to her, was made possible by the implementation of various intervention programmes and initiatives spelt out in the Strategy. President of Women’s World Banking said that 55 per cent of men and 45 per cent of women are financially included globally, while for the population living under $2 a day, 80 per cent of men and only 20 per cent of

women are financially included. This according to her, underscored the need for schemes tailored towards fostering women’s financial inclusion. Also Mr. Michael Miebach of MasterCard said that mobile banking was making remarkable impact in Africa beyond transactions through debit/ credit cards, and stressed that in order to optimally harness the opportunities, regulators need to issue guidelines that support other financial transactions beyond payments. Group Chief Executive Officer, CEO, Equity Bank, Kenya, Mr. James Mwangi explained that the reasons for the huge

success of the Kenyan mobile money platform were the ease with which people can use it, the informal nature of the sector, and the enthusiasm with which the Kenyan citizens were willing to embrace transactions through the mobile platforms. According to experts at a technical session of WEF, transforming markets, like Nigeria have high population density but low income. “These markets are characterized by underdeveloped physical and financial infrastructure and adverse political interference that could pose challenges in implementing financial inclusion strategies’’, the expert said.

Lagos- Abuja (Mon-Fri): 07.00, 08.50, 12.00, 16.30. Abuja- Lagos (Mon-Fri): 09.00, 14.00, 15.00, 18.30. Lagos-Yola (Mon-Fri): 8.50am. Yola-Lagos (Mon-Fri): 13.00. Lagos- PHC (Mon-Fri): 17.00. PHC-Lagos: 19.00. AbujaYola: 11.00. Yola-Abuja: 13.00. Lagos-Abuja (Sat): 08.00, 08.50. Abuja-Lagos (Sat): 10.00, 15.00. Lagos-PHC (Sat): 17.00. PHC-Lagos (Sat): 19.00. Lagos-Yola (Sat): 08.50. Yola-Lagos (Sat): 13.00

Business News

Thursday, May 22, 2014

Shipyard project: NIMASA seeks five-year moratorium on contribution FRANCIS EZEM

he Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency NIMASA, has asked the Federal Government to be exempted to from contributing to the Federation Account to enable it fund its two major projects, the ship building and ship repair yard and the Nigerian Maritime University both located in Gbaramatu Kingdom in Warri South Local Government of Delta State. Director-General of the agency, Mr. Patrick Akpobolokemi, who spoke the official ground breaking ceremony of the shipyard and official flag off of academic activities at the university recently by President Goodluck Jonathan, also made a strong case for the granting of a measure of autonomy to enable it perform its unique statutory functions of port state and flag state administration. Akpobolokemi noted that both projects, which are massive and capital intensive, and therefore require extensive funding, also represent massive infrastructural development in line with

the transformation agenda of the Federal Government. “The management of NIMASA humbly requests to be granted at least five-year moratorium from contributing to the Federation Account. We there request that rather than remit our annual operating surplus, the agency should be allowed to invest it in these projects and other key infrastructural projects”, he said. According to him, the university was a strategic response to the dearth of indigenous qualified manpower on a consistency basis to address the problem of dearth of such manpower in the country. He said: “The university is a tertiary institution that is quite different from any other tertiary institution in Nigeria because it is going to be closely monitored and supervised by the International Maritime Organisation IMO,. It is envisaged to become a centre for excellence in maritime research for the industry”. According to him, when fully operational, the university will provide high manpower training for Naval Architects, Nauti-

cal Scientists, Master Mariners and other specialised trade skills needed for the industry. Akpobolokemi had also said that the decision of the agency to embark on the shipyard project was in response to the infrastructural gap that has negatively affected the performance of the maritime industry in the country. He also said: “The shipyard and dockyard facility will support the Nigerian Maritime University by providing the opportunity for the training of Naval Architecture, Marine Engineers, Communication and Control Engineers for the adequate training of the students”. He however disclosed that both projects have provisions for a Public, Private Partnership PPP both in terms of management and operations of both establishments, which will commence upon completion. On the issue of autonomy, the NIMASA-boss pleaded with the government to strengthen the agency to carry out its unique core mandates as the maritime administration of the country, which do not lend to bureaucratic controls.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Makurdi Airport’s perishable cargo terminal ready soon –FAAN OLUSEGUN KOIKI

he Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, FAAN, has assured that work will be concluded on the ongoing Makurdi Airport perishable cargo terminal in the next few weeks. On completion, FAAN stated that the terminal would be the biggest perishable cargo terminal in the country and probably in West Africa. An online statement signed by the spokesman for FAAN, Mr. Yakubu Dati stated that the Supervising Minister of Aviation, Dr. Samuel Ortom made this revelation during his inspection tour of the airport earlier in the week. Dati stated that Ortom also assured that the ongoing construction of perishable terminals across the country would be facilitated as soon as funds are released from the 2014 budget, adding that projects under the Airport Master Plan, initiated by President Goodluck Jonathan for the aviation

Nigeria good place for business – Coscharis CEO ABOLAJI ADEBAYO

L-R: Senior Partner, PwC Nigeria, Mr. Uyi Akpata; CEO/NSIA, Mr. Uche Orji; CEO Stanbic IBTC Holdings, Mrs. Sola David-Borha; GMD/CEO, Dangote Cement Plc, Mr. Devakumar Edwin, and MD/CEO Goldman Sachs, Mr. Colin Coleman, during the PwC Networking Breakfast Meeting to discuss Africa Business Agenda, in Abuja at the weekend. PHOTO: ROTIMI OSASONA

UDEME AKPAN

he Nigerian Petroleum Investment Management Services, NAPIMS has decried the dearth of personnel in the nation’s oil and gas industry. The organisation, which manages the Federal Government investments in the industry made this observation at the commissioning of school block constructed by Chevron Nigeria Limited in Lekke Lagos on Tuesday. The Group General Manager of NAPIMS, Mr. Jonathan Kwame stated, “One of the challenges facing the development of the Oil and Gas industry in

industry, were still on course and would be implemented as scheduled by the government. Dati stated that Ortom was joined at the airport by the Air Officer Commanding, AOC, Tactical Air Command of the Nigerian Air Force, Air Vice Marshal, U. A Omeiza where issues of mutual interest were discussed in view of the status of Makurdi Airport as a military airport. The Supervising Minister, who was accompanied on the tour by Capt Alkali, a Director in the Ministry of Aviation and the Managing Director of FAAN, Engr. Saleh Dunoma was earlier told by Saleh that work on the remodelling of the Makurdi Airport terminal had reached 90 per cent completion. It would be recalled that there were speculations recently that work had since been suspended on the ongoing airport remodeling exercise due to paucity of funds and the alleged highhandedness the Permanent Secretary in the Federal Ministry of Aviation, Dr. Jamila Shu’ara.

gainst the notion of many people that the country is a hopeless place for setting up business enterprises, the Chief Executive Officer of Coscharis Group, Dr. Cosmas Maduka has assured the prospective entrepreneurs that Nigeria is a good place to do business. He said while many young Nigerians condemn their own country for business opportunity, the foreigners, especially the Chinese have leveraged on the economic advantages of the country. He said, “Despite the negative things people say about the coun-

try, it is still better to do business than many other countries. That is why the Chinese and others from other countries come to the country to take the advantage of our economic atmosphere.” Speaking on the basic rules of entrepreneurship recently in Lagos, Maduka said a would-be entrepreneur must first define the area of the business he wants to go into, after which he should look for the gap in that area and bridge that gap. “An entrepreneur should know what people are doing and look for the way of doing it better in order to challenge the status quo. Look for what can catch the fantasy of the customers,” he advised.

NAPIMS decries dearth of personnel in oil industry Nigeria, and indeed globally, is the dearth of skilled manpower which we call the big crew change. I believe investments such as this in the education sector would help close the gap. He stated that the project is a fruit of partnership, good neighborliness and a spirit of caring for others demonstrated by the employees of Chevron Nigeria Limited through the Employee Volunteering Programme. The GGM stated, “This is a development best practice that should be emulated by employees of other organizations in Lagos State and indeed Nigeria, because government cannot solve

all the nation’s problems alone. I applaud this achievement and encourage even more of such collaborations in the future. He called on students to make the best use of the facility in a sustainable manner so that it can serve generations of students to come after you. The Director, CNL/NNPC, Mr. Supo Shadiya said CNL was happy to return to Ilasan Secondary School to participate in this ceremony a few years after it took part in a similar ceremony for the handover of a fully equipped science laboratory donated to the school by the Company and some employees.

He said, “As was the case then, the project we are commissioning today is a product of the efforts of some employees in our Employees Voluntary Program ,EVP, the Management of CNL and Lagos State Ministry of Education. Shadiya said under the EVP, employees identify a worthy project and raise funds for executing the project, while the company provides 100 per cent of the funds raised as a matching grant for the project execution. He said, “This is one of the ways we encourage our employees to give back to the society. I want to specially thank the Gov-

ernment of Lagos State led by Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola for supporting the renovation of the classrooms. I also extend our appreciation to the staff and students of Ilasan Secondary School for their efforts in ensuring successful completion of the project. The Director said the company believes that education unlocks the potentials of the people especially the youths and galvanizes them for progressive development. He said, “That is why it is committed to educational development as one of the thematic areas in its corporate responsibility program’’.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Business News

Thursday, May 22, 2014

FMBN assures of affordable housing delivery to Nigerians TOLA AKINMUTIMI

he Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria, FMBN, has assured Nigerians that it would strive to deliver on its mandate of providing quality and affordable housing to Nigerians in order to bridge the housing gap which currently stands at about 16million units. Chairman of the Board of the Bank, Chief Bisi Ogunjobi,

made the declaration at the conferment of sterling Award for Excellence in Leadership and Entrepreneurship on the Managing Director of the Bank, Gimba Ya’U Kumo, by the Arewa Youth Forum ,AYF, in Abuja. Egunjobi said the current board and management of the bank had been trying its best to change the perspective Nigerians have of the bank by putting actions and policies in place that have impacted on its ability to

deliver on its mandate. Commenting on the award, National President of AYF, Alhaji Ibrahim Gujungu said the award was initiated as part of the Forum’s overall effort to promote the public and private sector-led socio-economic development in Nigeria with the view to recognize, honour and encourage leaders that have promoted and excelled in leadership activities. Gujungu said the main objec-

tive of the award is to hold out these individuals as a source of inspiration and motivation to upcoming leaders and future generations of Nigeria. In his remarks, Ya’U Kumo said he was humbled by the award describing it as an encouragement for someone doing little to be able to do more. He said the bank was committed to providing affordable housing to Nigerians and commended the board and management

for their support so far. While commending the group on the award, the Bank’s Chief Executive Officer said Nigeria belonged to all and urged Nigerians to strive to contribute their best to the progress of the country. “This country belongs to us and we will keep on doing our best because no one will do it for us. We will continue to do more to make Nigerians proud” he said.

Lagos approves 2,067 building plans, seals 1,939 defective buildings BABALOLA YUSUF

L L-R: Managing Director, FrieslandCampina WAMCO, Mr. Peter Eshikena; Chairman, Mr. Jacobs Moyo Ajekigbe and Secretary, Mrs. Bolade Obat-Olowu, at the 41st Annual General Meeting of FrieslandCampina WAMCO, held at Muson Centre, Lagos, on Tuesday. PHOTO: SAMUEL ADETIMEHIN

NACCIMA to host dialogue on shipping gridlock ABOLAJI ADEBAYO

he Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines & Agriculture ,NACCIMA, has concluded plans to hold a oneday National Dialogue session tagged “Unlocking shipping gridlock at the ports: stakeholders initiative.” The dialogue, which is scheduled to hold on June 3rd, in Lagos will be declared open by the Special Guest of Honour and Honourable Minister of Transport, Senator Idris Umar who will also deliver the keynote address. The National President of NACCIMA, Alhaji Mohammed Badaru Abubakar, said the dialogue session is to provide the press and other stakeholders in the Nigerian business environment with all relevant facts and figures that would enable them to make informed decisions on the way forward for Nigeria, adding that a communiqué would be issued at the end of the session and presented to Government for consideration and adoption. In recent times, ports users have been faced with numerous challenges, ranging from the payment of huge demurrage by shipping companies, unnecessary delay in Pre Arrival Assessment Report, PAAR, issuance/wrong computation and the perennial

traffic congestion that is evident in and around the ports, amongst others. Badaru said it is for this reason that the stakeholders’ dialogue is being organised by NACCIMA to provide answers to a number of burning issues on the shipping gridlock at the ports, with a view to coming up with a communiqué that would assist the Government in achieving her on-going onerous task of transformation of the Ports for the overall benefit of the Nigerian society. In furtherance of its advocacy role, the NACCIMA boss said, “The Association is keen on the

need to finding a lasting solution to these issues as experienced at the Ports by Exporters and Importers in particular and the public in general. Expected paper presenters at the dialogue session include the Nigeria Ports Authority, NPA, and National Association of Government Approved Freight Forward, NAGAFF, while discussants are the Assistant Comptroller General of Customs ,Zone A, Nigeria Shippers’ Council, NSC,; Association of Nigeria Licensed Customs Agent, ANLCA, and Intrass Limited.

agos State government said it has recorded significant achievements in building plan processing, noting that his ministry has granted approval for 2,067 applications. The state government also said it had identified a total of 232 defective buildings across the state. Speaking in Alausa on Tuesday, the Commissioner for Physical Planning, Mr. Toyin Ayinde said the state government sealed up 1,939 buildings which failed to comply with the state physical planning regulations. The commissioner said the information about some of these defective structures were received via the Short Message Service ,SMS, emails and telephone calls sent to the government by concerned residents. He however disclosed that the state government is not relenting in its effort to ensure that incidences of building collapse are nipped in the bud. Ayinde also revealed that 22

NEXIM declares N2.44bn profit, first in 23 years

he Nigerian Export and Import Bank, NEXIM, on Tuesday in Abuja said it recorded a profit N2.44bn from its activities between 2010 and 2012. The Managing Director of the bank, Mr Robert Orya, made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN. Orya said that 2010 was the first time the bank made profit since it began operation 23 years ago. He, however, disclosed that the actual amount available as profit to the bank in the three years was N508 million due to redemption of “legacy accounts” inherited from the previous administrations in the bank.

``We made a profit of N800m in 2010 but retained only N189m after redeeming our legacy account commitment. ``In 2011, we made a profit of N1.29bn but because of this legacy account it came down to about N71m,” he said, adding that the bank’s profit in 2012 was N348m. He said that in the three years that the bank made profits, it paid dividends to the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, and the Ministry of Finance, who are the equity owners of the bank. Orya said that record of activities of the bank in 2013 was still being audited. He said the bank recovered about N1.9bnfrom its “bad loan ac-

counts” and restructured its loan policy and credit management committee. “We have been able to create a lot of developmental impact in Nigeria’s economy, adding that the bank was funding mainly businesses in manufacturing, mining, agriculture and services sectors. “Our focus is to give funds to sectors capable of growing the economy, generate employment and alleviate poverty. “We decided to choose manufacturing, agro processes, solid minerals which have huge potentials that the nation has not been able to tap, and services which include tourism, transportation and entertainment,” he said.

locations were the Lagos cable car stations and towers would be installed have been identified, adding that the project promoters have taken possession of all identified sites. He said the project designed to facilitate public transportation is another effort of government geared towards complementing other modes. Speaking on security, the ministry said it has also contributed As part to ensuring security in the state, the commissioner said the ministry collaborated with Police authority to install about 1,000 surveillance cameras across the state. He also noted that some identified black spots and other sensitive areas are currently being proposed for surveillance and monitoring. He explained further that the government has made tremendous progress in the plan to relocate Okobaba saw milling industry from Ebute-Metta to Agbowa in Ikosi-Ejinrin Local Council Development Area, LCDA. “This is our flagship regeneration project which is multidimensional in its environs that will catalyze growth and thus bring about an increase in real estate value”, he said. Ayinde added that the project would also provide a specialization centre for wood related industry, pave way for the clean-up of the entire Okobaba-Makoko axis and allow the regeneration of the highly valued waterfront ambience. He also stated that the government has not abandoned its plans to relocate the mile 12 markets to the proposed Ikorodu regional stuff commodities market, linking the delay in the relocation of the traders to the constant violations and encroachment of government acquired and committed parcels of land for overriding public interest.

Business News

‘NIHOTOUR plans food fair to commemorate Nigeria’s centenary’

irector-General, National Institute for Hospitality and Tourism, NIHOTOUR, Dr Munzali Dantata, on Tuesday said the institute was planning a food and cultural fair to commemorate the country’s centenary. Dantata told journalists in Abuja that the fair was scheduled for June 24 to June 26. He said the fair, which will hold in Abuja, would provide a platform for organisations in the food industry to promote their brands to meet international standard. “Hotels, restaurants, airlines and other hospitality businesses serve food and beverages in the course of their normal business. “This makes them integral members of the food industry at the end of the value chain.

“The fair will provide a platform for such organisations to promote their brands,” the NIHOTOUR director-general said. Dantata said the occasion would also bring together professionals and experts from across various sectors to deliver papers on topical issues in the food and hospitality industry. He said Nigeria’s food landscape had recorded dramatic transformation over the last 100 years, resulting in a positive change in the eating habit of Nigerians. “The planning and execution of the fair is focused on achieving best international standards and practices, taking into consideration our cultural values, customs and traditions’’, Dantata said.

2014 budget: Bad omen for Nigerian aviation –Stakeholder OLUSEGUN KOIKI

n economist and aviation consultant, Mr. Taiwo Adenekan, has described the inability of the Federal Government to approve the 2014 budget as a bad omen for the Nigerian aviation industry. He also said that the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, needs a substantive DirectorGeneral to be able to carry out its functions properly. Speaking with our correspondent yesterday at the Murtala Mohammed Airport, MMA, Lagos, Adenekan noted that for the government to still continue to dilly-dally on the approval of 2014 budget for the country was a big shame, which required urgent attention.

He insisted that the inability of the government to approve and implement the year’s budget had prevented NCAA from carrying out its duties as expected, adding that the agencies could not complain in the public about the situation. He said, “On the budget of 2014, I want to say it here that it is a shame that almost six months after, the budget for the year has not been approved and this is affecting the industry. America would submit the 2015 budget to the National Assembly by August. What are we doing here? We need to move forward if we want to be taken seriously. “It’s not about Boko Haram or President Goodluck Jonathan. And by December, they will write a memo to the agencies that the agencies should not spend any amount of money again.”

Dana Air getting ready for IOSA

he Dana Air on Tuesday said it had commenced Implementation Training Initiative ,ITI, ahead of the International Air Transport Association, IATA, Operational Safety Audit. This was contained in a statement signed by the airline’s Head, Commercial Services, Mr Obialor Mbanuzuo, and made available to newsmen in Lagos. The Operational Safety Audit is the benchmark for global safety management in airlines. According to the statement, the commencement of the ITI is part of Dana Air’s determination to meet global aviation safety standards. The statement said that Dana Air was one out of the 10 airlines benefiting from the ITI funded by

the International Airline Training Fund ,IATF. It noted that Dana Air was the only domestic carrier that had successfully undergone an operational audit conducted by the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority Flight Safety Group in partnership with foreign counterparts. The statement said that Dana had introduced additional flights across its existing route network from its hub at the Lagos Murtala Mohammed Airport Terminal 2. It said that this was in response to growing demands by air travellers. It has strengthened the AbujaPort Harcourt route with the introduction of an additional flight to cater for the growing needs ofthe flying public.

Thursday, May 22, 2014

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

‘Why 48-hour cargo clearance not feasible in Nigeria for now’ FRANCIS EZEM

minent freight forwarder and Managing Director of Mac Tonnel Nigeria Limited, Mr. Tony Nwabunike has said that the projection for 48-hour cargo clearance in Nigeria’s seaport industry may remain a mirageuntil certain measures were put in place to drive the system. Nwabunike, who spoke in a telephone interview, observed that 48-hour cargo delivery possible only in an environment where stakeholders, especially freight forwarders and clearing agents are connected electronically to facilitate on-line, real time business transactions. He regretted that in the Nigerian situation, over 80 per cent of the freight forwarders are not computer literate; leaving about 20 per cent literate ones to transact their businesses electronically, a development that will continue to stall the projected 48-hour cargo delivery.

“In all honesty, 48-hour cargo delivery is achievable in Nigeria but it is not feasible for now due to obvious reasons. Freight forwarders are critical to cargo delivery process and greater majority of them cannot use the computer or an Information Communication Technology ICT, so it is not feasible now even if other stakeholders are computer literate”, he further insisted. Nwabunike, who was the pioneer chairman of the Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria CRFFN, disclosed that all efforts by the council under his leadership and subsequent leaderships to train the freight forwarders failed as many of them are still reluctant to embrace this new way of doing business. While listing other impediments to the realisation of the 48hour cargo delivery projection, he said that the government as represented by some of its agencies at the port, have not demonstrated enough commitment towards

achieving the target. For instance, he listed the inadequacies associated with the Pre-Arrival Assessment Report PAAR, regime of the Nigeria Customs Service. “More than six months after the coming on stream of the regime in December last year, PAAR, which must be presented before a consignment will be released, is not transmitted electronically and the banks are not helping matters because no one is actually regulating them and so they are not answerable to anybody so how can you achieve 48-hour clearance, which is all about efficiency in a situation where there is no coordination?”, he further wondered. Nwabunike, who doubles as managing director of CAAL Shipping, also noted that there is near absence of the basic infrastructure that drive the 48-hour cargo delivery at Nigeria’s seaports, citing the deplorable state of the access roads that has made movement of consignments in and out of the ports a nightmare.

L-R: Fellow, Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria, ICAN, Deacon Jide Soetan; ICAN President, Alhaji Kabir Mohammed; Immediate Past President, Mr. Doyin Owolabi and Registrar, Mr. Rotimi Omotosho, at the unveiling of the New Professional Examination Syllabus for ICAN in Lagos on Tuesday.

Nigeria to boost oil production capacity as Afren makes progress offshore UDEME AKPAN

he nation’s oil production capacity may soon be boosted as Afren Plc, a major oil producing firm which produced 35,465 barrels per day; bpd worth millions of dollars in the first quarter of 2014 has made progress in its offshore development. The firm which made this known in its latest report stated that the installation of the Central Fault Block extension platform has started on Ebok which is expected to be completed by the end of Q2 2014. It stated that the development drilling is planned for the third quarter of 2014 targeting additional reservoirs in the CFB.

It stated, “Batch drilling has started on the North Fault Block (NFB) from the West Fault Block (WFB) platform with production to the existing MOPU. The firm stated that the Okoro field continued to perform well with gross production at the field averaging 15,648 bopd in the period, incorporating planned downtime. It stated that the Field Development Plans (FDP) for the Okoro Further Field Development and Okwok were approved by the Nigerian authorities. The firm stated that the Okwok wellhead jacket has been fabricated and is currently in transit to the Okwok field area, with platform installation to be completed in Q2 2014 prior to development

drilling planned for Q3 2014. Afren stated, “On OML 26 we expect the rig to arrive in June with a view to drilling three wells in 2H 2014 (two producers and one water injector). It stated that on the Barda Rash block in Kurdistan, the BR-4 well has tested two horizons in the Triassic Kurra Chine formation at 6,100 bopd and 1,750 bopd respectively. Afren stated, “The BR-5 well has intersected a similar hydrocarbon-bearing sequence in the Kurra Chine formation and will be tested in due course. It stated that the flow lines and facilities have been updated and BR-4 is online while BR-5 will be brought into production later this year.

Thursday, May 22, 2014

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Info Tech

Bridging ICT infrastructural deficit To ensure pervasive broadband access in the country, the government says it has identified the need to bridging infrastructural deficit in the Information and Communication Technology. KUNLE AZEEZ reports.

ealising the critical role the need for robust infrastructure in the sector is to the expected digital transformation in the country, the Federal Government has said it would continue to work through the Ministry of Communication Technology and the Nigerian Commutation Commission, towards focusing on measures to accelerate broadband coverage by formulating policies aimed at bridging the extant ICT infrastructural deficit and driving increased broadband frontiers in the country. This was the renewed commitment of the government made known by the Minister of Communication Technology, Mrs. Omobola Johnson, at this year’s celebration of the 2014 World Telecommunication and Information Society Day, WTISD, held in Abuja last week. The minister was optimistic that, having identified infrastructural deficit in the ongoing implementation of the National Broadband Plan, the government had come to terms with the imperatives of having a strategic policy to improve broadband, and by extension, Information and Communication technology infrastructure across the country. Speaking at the event, the Johnson said broadband connectivity is a critical element today in ensuring that information and communication technologies are used as effective delivery vehicles for health, education, governance, trade and commerce in order to achieve sustainable socio-economic growth. According to her, this year’s theme of WITSD: ‘Broadband for Sustainable Development’ was apt in that it was in line with the current revolution being driven in Nigeria, saying that broadband is the next frontier in the ICT industry which will help in transforming the economy drastically. She stated further that the broadband vision for Nigeria was one of a society of connected communities with high speed Internet and broadband access that facilitate faster socio-economic advancement of the nation and its people. Interestingly, the minister said the policy goal of the Federal Government of Nigeria recognised the immense socio-economic importance of broadband services to national development and therefore seeks to ensure that the infrastructure necessary to provide ubiquitous broadband services is available and accessible to all citizens at affordable rates. “The transformative benefits of having broadband available to all are clear and include improved learning, increased job cre-

Omobola-Johnson

Eugene

Government would is adopting a multidimensional approach to ensure that an

all-encompassing framework to address infrastructural deficit in the sector ation, better community and civic engagement, improved trade and commerce, and a positive impact on Gross Domestic Product (GDP). According to the minister, over the years, the modest success recorded with broadband in the ICT sector has been with several initiatives that ride on the back of the immense success of the digital mobile services boom in Nigeria, including the subsequent landing of several high capacity submarine cable systems that slashed wholesale international bandwidth prices. “However, ineffective distribution and transmission of the available bandwidth inland have continued to make accelerated expansion of broadband Internet access at more affordable end-user prices, a major challenge and a barrier to faster realisation of the desired broadband boom in Nigeria,” she said. Speaking on where the country is currently on its broadband revolution, Johnson said the country now has a clear broadband supply chain that comprises international connectivity, a national backbone network, metropolitan access links, and the local access network (the last mile).” According to her, minister said: “Nigeria has an estimated population of over 167 million people and a land mass of 923,768 square kilometres. The telephone subscriber figure for Nigeria as at the end of February 2013 was 116,601,637 active lines. The four active GSM operators have about 96 per cent market share while the three active CDMA operators have the rest. “Also, the 2G mobile coverage is at 98 per cent but 3G coverage which is mostly concentrated in urban areas is very limited at less than 35 per cent. Internet penetration is quoted at 33 per cent and Broadband penetration is at 6 per cent. Though the Internet was first introduced in Nigeria in 1996, no appreciable uptake was recorded until the further opening of the market in 2001.” She, however, lamented that the slow uptake of Internet has been largely attributed

to network infrastructure deficiency among other factors. “Nigeria currently boasts of primary fibre optic backbone infrastructure presence in all the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, with most fibre infrastructure concentrated in state capitals and a few urban centres. Of the 774 existing local government headquarters, very few that happen to be on the route of the primary fibre backbone are connected.” Meanwhile, the minister pointed out that the key objectives of the Nigerian National Broadband Plan were to promote pervasive broadband deployment; increase broadband adoption and usage; and ensure availability of broadband services at affordable prices. These, she said, are aimed at maximizing the socio-political and economic benefits of broadband to the people. “It is intended over the period of this plan to see more than a five-fold increase in Internet and broadband penetration figures. It is also intended that all state capitals and urban cities have metro fibre infrastructure installed. “Certain estates and business districts within major cities shall have fibre to the home or premises, whereas, on a national scale, it is the intention of government to facilitate full rollout by operating companies of 3G networks with the potential for immediate transition to 4G/LTE as spectrum becomes available,” she stated. In the area providing spectrum for the players to deploy their services, the minister said: “It is worth mentioning that in an effort to increase Broadband accessibility, the present administration had auctioned 30MHz on the 2.3GHz frequency band and further arrangement is in to gear to auction 2.5GHz band frequency spectrum. Furthermore, it is expected that at the end of digital switch over in 2015, there would be availability of spectrum for Broadband deployment.” She, therefore, called on the on the gov-

ernments at all levels, industry, academia and technical experts “to identify key gaps in broadband research and development, infrastructure, and packaged development of applications and services and to seek leading edge technological solutions, particularly in the extension of broadband access into rural areas, unserved and underserved areas for the socio-economic development of our country.” In the same vein, speaking at the Lagos edition of the WITSD forum, the Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications, Dr. Eugene Juwah, has assured Nigeria and foreign investors on the continuous determination of the Commission to make Nigeria a favourable investment destination for broadband. According to him, the economic impact of broadband penetration has been found to be quite impressive, World Bank studies show, quite conclusively, that in low and middle –income countries, every 10 per cent percentage point increase in broadband penetration accelerate economic growth by 1.38 percentage points. Yet, this impact has been said to be even greater than in high income countries and equally greater than the impact of any other telecommunication service. “Notwithstanding the benefits that have been associated with broadband, in developing countries it has to be understood that broadband for all is a medium to long term strategy and the main beneficiaries, in the short term, of the broadband revolution will be businesses. “Because broadband networks need to generate traffic to lower their costs and increase their profitability, and in light of the fact that broadband is an ecosystem in which users play a central role, stimulating demand is also critical by having the required type of contents and services online.” Juwah, therefore, argued that the government would is adopting a multi-dimensional approach to ensure that an all-encompassing framework aimed at addressing infrastructural deficit in the sector is achieved towards the realisation of increased broadband penetration and accrue the benefits to the country that will arise as a result. In addition, Juwah said the NCC has been embarking on regulatory interventions in the market to ensure equality of access to all players. These interventions, he said, focus on reduction of barriers to market entry by ensuring existing and new players in the broadband space have access to transmission infrastructure on a nondiscriminatory basis, and without a need to duplicate existing infrastructure by way of fiber backbones. Others, according to him, focus on frequency spectrum availability for service delivery; ensuring proper business model and ensuring competition; while the regulator can also create the environment for private sector participation and investment in the broadband ecosystem, facilitate deployment with incentives to underserved and un-served areas, facilitate agreements and resolve disputes among stakeholders, adapt legal and regulatory framework to the realities of the digital economy (privacy, spam and security issues).

Info Tech

Thursday, May 22, 2014

Tech Box

Preparations for NCS meets Enugu Gov over 2014 confab

his year’s edition of the annual national conference of the Nigeria Computer Society holding in Enugu State between July 23 and 25, is already gathering momentum. As part of its preparation to have an exciting show, a delegation of the National Executive Committee of the Society led by its National President, Prof. David Adewumi, has recently paid a courtesy call on the Governor of Enugu State, Mr. Sullivan Chime, to intimate him on the conference. Adewumi informed the governor that Enugu was chosen as the 2014 Host State because of the great strides the state is making in the use of technology to drive public service delivery. “We are aware that Enugu State has decided to make the public service technology-driven and your Excellency has embarked on the training of all civil servants in other for them to have basic computer skills. This indeed will ensure better governance and transparency,” he said. He also stated the conference

theme: ‘Building a KnowledgeBased Economy in Nigeria: The Role of Information Technology’ is in line with the various ICT revolution taking place in the state’s public sector. “Critical issues that will be focused on include; broadband access for all: Strategies and Tactics, business process outsourcing, e-governance Solutions: Improving Transparency and Public Sector Service Delivery through Technology, Security Issues in a KnowledgeBased Economy, training and Education for the Youths and IT Industry in Nigeria, Manpower Development and Income Generation, and Harnessing innovation, creativity and entrepreneurship: Opportunities for the youths. “Also, on the agenda will be Social Media Masterclass, Mobile Application Technology in Nigeria: A Case Study for Innovation & Transformation, IT Applications in the Different Sector of the Economy, and Application of knowledge Technologies and Engineering in National Development,” he said.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Nigeria needs policies on ICT sector –Lawmaker Kunle A zeez

ecognising the increasing importance of Information and Communication technology sector in boosting a nation’s economy, Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, has underscored the need for Nigeria to give priority to policies and bills aimed at developing the country’s ICT sector. Speaking at the 2014 edition of the Digital Africa Conference and Exhibition in Lagos, Ekweremadu said one particular area that policies should focus on should be in the areas of liberalisation of the sector to bring more competition to the market and boost growth of the industry as well as attract investment to the sector. He also assured the gathering that the lawmakers would continue to support the industry with the right policies and by ensuring that the lawmakers are ICT-compliant in terms of knowing the trends in the industry t be able to enact the right laws to support its continued growth. “For us at the Nigeria’s legisla-

tive chambers, we believe that in carrying out our legislative duties, representation and effective oversight functions, as well as connect with the public and improve the image of the parliament; the place of ICT and its applications cannot be underestimated. We are not unmindful of the opportunities provided by ICTs for efficient service delivery and social inclusion enhancement. “For us, there is no alternative to digital legislation f African legislative process must be made effective and efficient. Legislation all over the world now is driven by innovation and creativity powered by ICT applications,” he said. Speaking earlier, the Executive Chairman, Digital Africa Consult, organisers of the event, Dr. Evans Woherem, who undertook a treatise of how ICT is revolutionsing the way “we live in the world and the world around us”, said ICT has remained critical to the progress of any economy. Stressing that Nigeria cannot afford to be left behind in the digital revolution, Woherem explained “This is, indeed, a time of growing international attention on Africa

as an investment destination and there is increasing talk of an African economic renaissance.” He noted that the continent’s exports remain too heavily focused on commodities and its share of world trade remains low, despite numerous regional economic communities and domestic market liberalisation. However, Woherem said it had become evident that there is cumbersome and non-transparent border administration, particularly import-export procedure, the limited use of ICT and persistent infrastructure deficit as major barriers to higher levels of regions integration. “More so, Africa’s infrastructure deficit presents a serious impediment to regional integration, a problem that is made more pronounced by growth in consumer markets and urbanisation. Developing adequate and efficient infrastructure will assist African economies to increase productivity in manufacturing and service delivery, contribute to improvements in health and education and help deliver more equitable distribution of national wealth,” he said.

Weco Systems committed to solving IT challenges

leading Information Technology firm and system integrator, Weco Systems International has said it was committed to solving IT challenges being faced by Nigerian businesses through seamless and quality delivery of innovative technology solutions. The company made this known during the unveiling of the two awards it won as a testimony to its leading position in the ICT space both in Nigeria and beyond. Speaking at the forum, the Chef Executive Officer, Weco Systems International, Mr. Obinna Ekwonwa, said the two awards, “Enterprise Partner of the Year 2014 – Africa

and “Enterprise Partner of the Year 2014 for Middle East, Africa & Russia Region were won at the recently-concluded Cisco Global Partner Summit held in Las Vegas, United States. Ekwonwa, while noting that Weco Systems was the only Nigerian and sub-regional company that won awards this year at the summit, said with the awards, Weco has been further challenge to remain glued to its efforts at deploying innovative solutions to transform customers’ operations in ways that not only boost their business performance but also increase their business agility and competitiveness.

Huawei to train 10, 000 in Nigeria, others

leading Information and Communication Technology, Huawei, has made a commitment said it will provide training to 10,000 people in Nigeria and other Africa countries over the next five years. Making the announcement in Abuja recently, Global Vice President, Huawei, Mr. Charles Ding, said Huawei was committed to developing its business in Africa where our commitment will create mutually beneficial opportunities and win-win outcomes. According to him, “Africa and China have enjoyed a strong relationship that has seen extensive cooperation in political, economic, and cultural areas. Africa has

an open and inclusive approach to international trade relations, which has created a sound business environment for Huawei’s development in the region.” Ding discussed Huawei’s approach for the region, saying “Huawei considers Africa to be one of our most important strategic growth markets, by localizing our operations, we can better understand the needs of the market, and improve our overall capabilities. We’re proud to have an opportunity to play an important role in Africa’s modernization. We are also committed to create more jobs and promote ICT industry growth and development in Africa.”

L-R: Managing Director, Samsung Electronics West Africa, Mr. Brovo Kim and Executive Secretary, Lagos State Technical and Vocational Training Board, Mr. Olawunmi Gasper at the first graduation ceremony Samsung Engineering Academy in Lagos recently.

Kunle A zeez

he National Identity Management Commission said it has captured the biometric data of close to three million Nigerians, even as it disclosed its ongoing measures grow the number of enrolments from 60,000 a day, to 100,000 a day. To achieve the new target, the Commission has deployed over two hundred new enrolment centres across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. According to the Director of Operations, NIMC, Mrs. Cecilia Yahaya , the commission has also commenced enrolment exercises for the National Identification Number, NIN, in the enrolment centres in the last 10 weeks. Yahaya, who stated these in

NIMC hits 3 million enrolments statement signed by the Commission’s Deputy Director, Corporate Communications, Mr. Abdulhamid Umar, said NIMC was committed to ensuring that the deployment of all enrolment infrastructures based on global best practices is done expeditiously to enable NIMC meet the Presidential directive of December 31, 2014. “Some of the enrolment centres are located in the following Local Government Areas: Alimosho, Eti-Osa, Lekki, Agege, Army Barracks Ojo, Ipaja in Lagos state. Others are Akpabuyo, Odukpani, Biase, Ogoja, etc., in Cross River State; Gerei, Minchika, Song and Mayobelwa in Adamawa State; Nnewi North, Onisha North and South, Anoacha, and Ogbaru in Anambra

State. “Other Centres are Kano Municipal, Madoni, Kura, Wudil, Gezawa Tarauni, in Kano State; Alkaleri, Dass, Toro, Katagun in Bauchi; Ivo, Ishilu, Izzi in Ebonyi State and others,” she said. Yahaya added that a number of enrolment centres had also been opened in more tertiary institutions nationwide including the University of Ilorin, IBB University Lapai, FUTMinna Permanent and Temporary Campus, University of Benin, University of Calabar, Maritime Academy, Covenant University, Crawford University, University of Kastina, Kaduna Polytechnic, Federal Polytechnic Birnin Kebbi, Federal polytechnic Ibadan, Ladoke University of Tech, ABU Zaria.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Thursday, May 22, 2014

Brands & Marketing

Omnicom, Publicis merger shows downside of large business expansion

Ten months ago, two advertising giants Omnicom and Publicis announced a merger plan to form the biggest advertising agency in the world. Today, the two have mutually agreed to part ways. DAVID AUDU examines the reasons for the merger failure and implications for Nigerian advertising agencies.

he news that the planned merger between two advertising giants, Omnicom and Publicis had been called off reverberated throughout the advertising world with as much drama as that which trailed the initial announcement of the merger plan. Though some viewed the attempted merger as evidences of the sector recovery from the gloom of worldwide economic recession, sceptics were in doubt about the success given the fact that both firms worked for competing brands. Industry observers also worried about the implications of creating a advertising behemoth that would be in a position to corner the most lucrative accounts leaving the smaller agencies picking up the crumbs. One of such critics, Rose Kimbarovsky, an advertising analyst, writing in his blog a few months into the merger talks noted that the two companies’ public statements about the merger, and the market dynamics driving the combination, underscored the rapid decay of the advertising industry. He specifically pointed out that the advertising industry was crumbling, and that the merger was creating little more than a house of cards. Though the statement seemed to be essentially true, optimists of the industry’s potential to redeem itself from such negative perception disagreed. But what were the motives behind the merger, and what went wrong along the line? Since the merger talks started in July last year, dramatic scenes played out, as accounts and legal issues of the two agencies across regions were thrown up for scrutiny, while rival agencies watched keenly to see how it would eventually play out. Some of their clients jumped ship while key staff, unsure of their future moved on. To some industry watchers, it was therefore no surprise that the merger crashed as ‘expected’. Announcing the termination of the merger, Publicis Groupe and Omnicom said they have terminated their proposed merger of equals by mutual agreement. Reports stated that both parties were released from obligations and there were no termination fees payables. It also clarified that the management board and supervisory board of Publicis Groupe and Omnicom’s board of directors have approved the decision. Also, speaking jointly on why it was no longer expedient for the two companies to continue the relationship, Maurice Lévy, the chairman and chief executive of Publicis Groupe, and John Wren, the president and chief executive of Omnicom, said: “The challenges that still remained to be overcome, in addition to the slow pace of progress, created a level of uncertainty detrimental to the interests of both groups and their employees, clients and shareholders. “We have thus jointly decided to proceed

APCON Chairman, Lolu-Akinwunmi

Oke

THE LESSON IS THAT THERE ARE ALWAYS DEEPER ISSUES TO GLOBAL MERGERS. THERE ARE LOTS OF DEEPER ISSUES THAT PERHAPS THEY WERE NOT AWARE OF BEFORE, AND WHEN IT GETS TO THE SURFACE THEY REALISE THAT THIS MARRIAGE CANNOT JUST CONTINUE along our independent paths. Months and weeks to the formal cancelation, news had already gone round that the proposed merger was costing the groups millions of dollars in fees, as the $35 billion deal was delayed by tax rulings and plagued with rumours of infighting. Speaking on the issue, Marcus Anselm, a partner at the corporate finance advisor Clarity, said that it was a serious distraction to both companies. “There is also the cost of the distraction to management time. They will have hundreds of very senior people focusing on the deal who could be focusing on strategy and growth.” Problems seemed to have arisen when the United Kingdom HM Revenue & Customs placed conditions on whether the merged company can be registered for tax in the UK. A spokesman had said then that HMRC was vigilant over “aggressive” tax planning and international tax reform. Alluding to this, John Wren of Omnicom commented that the UK tax hold-up was “unexpected”. Tax rulings were also pending in the Netherlands and France where the new company was to be legally domiciled. China also represented another hurdle for competition laws. Indeed, it was the fear of the Chinese hurdle, as experts explained, that eventually

weighed heavily on the final outcome. The China angle never cleared up before the two finally threw in the towel to abort the merger. Other reasons were that while it was agreed that both companies would each form 50 per cent of the new group, it was inevitable that one has to acquire the other for accounting reasons, thus setting the stage for employees bickering and infighting. Sources close to the group disclosed that there has already been infighting over senior positions. Speaking further on the reasons the merger failed, Tom Laranjo, the managing director of independent agency, Total Media, said he was “surprised, actually, at the timing of the release, but actually not so surprised with the outcome. I think there have been whispers of it for a while,” he added. Also at an industry conference recently, Sam Diamond, the head of Brands and Communications at Gumtree.com, said he was most interested to see that the merger didn’t happen because of cultural differences. “It just goes to show that when you build up a big empire like that, you have a very specific way of doing things, all the people are sailing on the same ship going in one direction; it’s very difficult to combine two companies.” It would be recalled that the merger was expected to bring under one roof agencies

including Omnicom’s BBDO Worldwide and Publicis’s Leo Burnett and Saatchi & Saatchi, extending their presence in every major market. The failed merger was expected to give the owners more clout to negotiate for their clients better ad rates for media placements on television, the Internet and in print, as the global advertising industry has started to show signs of a recovery. Commenting on the future of advertising as a result of the merger fall out, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer BBDO, West Africa, owned by Omnicom, Mr. Demola Olasunmade, said “Omnicom brands are already very strong in the markets they operate”, adding that “BBDO’s client will continue to deliver world class services for which the brand is known all over the world”. Also commenting on the merger, President of the Advertising Agencies Association of Nigeria, AAAN, Mrs. Bunmi Oke said there is nothing to worry about as the advertising business goes on. She said every business comes with some level of risks, stressing that people should also know that to start a business doesn’t mean it is going to be successful. She said the Omnicom/Publicis is like an experiment that unfortunately didn’t work. “The lesson there is that there are always deeper issues to global mergers. There are lots of deeper issues that perhaps they were not aware of before, and when it gets to the surface they realise that this marriage cannot just continue. “It is like couples that after they got married they start to see the other side of the spouse, and they say if we have seen this other part earlier, we would not have got married. There are smaller companies that have merged successfully and waxing strong, because it was not a sensational global celebration by the media. “But don’t also forget the power of the media, some have merged in the past and fallen apart because in those days we do not have the global media and internet to communicate instantaneously as we have today. “What I am saying is that we should not condemn things that did not work. In this particular case there are things to learn. In business mergers there are lot more complicated things than meet the eyes. What I will simply say is that what will not work today may work tomorrow. Like everything else just keep an open mind. Learn from those failures. For us in Nigerians, I think there are lots of things Nigerian agencies need to learn from it.

Brands & Marketing

Thursday, May 22, 2014

La Casera showers N60m gifts on outstanding distributors DAVID AUDU

n a bid to appreciate and celebrate its esteemed distributors for their support and loyalty, The La Casera Company, recently, rewarded its loyal distributors for performing exceptionally well last year. The La Casera Partners’ conference, a yearly event, featured the presentation of awards to distributors, who distinguished themselves in enhancing sales for the company in the year 2013. In addition to the awards, distributors also went home with prizes, ranging from Ford Ranger vans to cash prizes amounting to N60m Speaking at the event, The Chief Operating Officer of the

company, Mr. Dileeban Ponniah, said he was honoured to celebrate, recognise and reward distributors who have consistently shown great loyalty to the company with their unflinching support to our growth and aspirations. “Your immense efforts have contributed to the phenomenal growth of the company, and we are indeed proud and thankful to be associated with you,” he said. One of the distributors, Divine Plaza, from Abuja expressed his appreciation to La Casera for the gesture, noting that the quality of the brand ensured that sales grew effortlessly. “With occasions like this to encourage us, the only outcome is a stronger long lasting relationship between

the company and its trade partners,” he said. “We look forward to a fruitful and trustworthy relationship in the years to come. The General Manager, Mr. Peter Candlish, also highlighted in his address that our distributors have created a strong distribution network which can support launch of new products and flavours thereby helping the company grow faster The Chief Operating Officer also implored distributors not to relent as the company’s vision of maintaining its leading status is still on course, adding that the company is more than ready to constantly look for ways to make the relationship with her distributors mutually beneficial.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Bloomberg appoints Adam Freeman as first MD for Europe, Middle East and Africa DAVID AUDU

loomberg Media Group CEO Justin B. Smith has announced the appointment of Adam Freeman as the first Managing Director of Bloomberg Media for Europe, the Middle East and Africa, responsible for leading Bloomberg’s multi-platform media operation – web, mobile, television, digital video, print magazines and live events – across the regions. The new leadership structure reflects Bloomberg Media’s new strategy to expand its global media footprint beyond television to multiple media platforms across European, Middle Eastern and African markets. Freeman’s appointment will ensure Bloomberg’s consumer media content, ad products, distribution, licensing deals are carefully tailored to serve each distinct, individual market. The new management structure is part of Bloomberg’s new global media strategy, first outlined by Smith in March. Freeman will start this week and will be based out of Bloom-

berg’s European headquarters in London. Freeman is the founder of Mutual Media, a digital advertising start-up, and served as Chairman for Metropolis Music Group. During 13-year tenure at The Guardian – most recently as Executive Director of Guardian News and Media until 2013 – he worked alongside the editorial leadership to drive the digital transformation of its print brands and spearheaded the expansion of its global commercial operations. Freeman held a variety of positions at The Guardian, including Director of Media Consumer Media and Digital, General Manager; and leadership roles in sales and marketing, publishing, advertising and business development “With bureaus in 72 countries, Bloomberg’s global presence is unrivalled in the consumer media industry,” said Bloomberg Media CEO Justin B. Smith. “Adam’s appointment is a statement of our ambition to develop the world’s leading next-generation global business media company.

Star recruits Okocha, Kanu to celebrate Nigerians

L-R: Consultant Pediatrician Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Prof. Chinyere Ezeake; Prof. of Pharmacy, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Prof.Charles Ezimue; Excecutive Board Memeber, Nestle Nutrition Institute Africa, Prof. James Renner and Prof. Steiner Asiedu at the training Workshop for Nutrition Programme for Anglophone Countries in Ibadan recently.

TLS School rebrands, changes logo to reflect international status DAVID AUDU

ender Loving School, TLS, Ikoyi, recently changed its name and unveiled a new logo as part of the school’s rebranding efforts to play premium role in the education of Nigerian Children. The school, which was formerly known as Tender Loving Child Care, started as a crèche, pre- school and nursery, has now added primary level and changed the name to Tender Loving School, TLS. The new logo consists of a heart shaped emblem, a crest and with the initials TLS em-

bossed on the logo. According to the Proprietor of the school, Mrs. Olubunmi Egbeyemi, the school decided to change the name and logo to give it a more matured corporate image. She said the addition of the primary was to enable smooth transition of pupils from one class to the other as the school grows, adding that the transition was smooth, as out of about 20 pupils that graduated from nursery, 10 stayed back in the primary, an indication that the parents were satisfied and confident about what the school has to offer. She said the transition was

wonderful, couple with quality teachers who ensured that the curriculum is effectively covered. She also explained that the school place much premium on the need for training and re-training teachers of teachers. “It is not about the building and the cosy environment for learning alone but about what the school has to offer. She said”. On the curriculum, she the school offers international curriculum to ensure that pupils from the school imbibe international character, culture and learning, especially, music, songs and dances.

tar lager beer has launched a series of activations geared towards deepening its association with Nigeria’s favourite sports football. For starters, the beer brand, manufactured by Nigerian Breweries Plc., has partnered DSTV to beam all the football matches of the upcoming FIFA Football Mundial to TV audiences. it has also unveiled ex - internationals, Austin Jay Jay Okocha and Kanu Papillo Nwankwo as ambassadors for the brand’s football activation. The tagline ‘ShineOnNigeria’ was also announced as the rallying call for the country’s participation at the quadrennial event. Speaking at the Star Football Activation unveil media parley,

Walter Drenth, Marketing Director, Nigerian Breweries Plc., said: “Star lager beer’s support for the Nigerian entertainment sector, especially the music platform is well – known. As the true Nigerian beer brand that seeks to be a part of the lives of Nigerians, we have identified the Football platform as an avenue to deepen our bond with the citizens of this great country. Indeed, the affinity which the average Nigerian has with football is legendary. I have heard people say that during football matches, Nigerians put aside all divisive sentiments and cheer our country’s representatives to victory.” Star Football encompasses various football-themed activities, geared towards ensuring that Nigerians derive maximum satisfaction while enjoying their football matches.

Ije Nwokorie selected Cannes design jury president

he new Global CEO of Wolff Olins, Ije Nwokorie, has been appointed as the new Design Lions jury president. Born in America, Nwokorie spent his early years in Nigeria; an experience he credits underpins his creative outlook, as a world where commerce, culture and creativity are intertwined with everyday life.He completed his architecture training at Columbia University and has worked on urban regeneration projects in Africa, special effects in New York and computer gaming in London. Nwokorie joined the Wolff Olins team in 2006 as a senior strategist, was appoint-

ed managing director of Wolff Olins’ London office in 2010 and became global CEO in 2014. In his new position, he will lead the global business forward into an exciting new chapter, to inspire, as well as drive, facilitate and deliver strategy and innovation for big corporations. Increasingly his role is as much about creating, as it is about bringing great people together to make things happen. The agency is responsible for brands such as (RED), Orange, GE, MercedesBenz, New York City, London 2012, Tate, Unilever, Target, Hero MotoCorp, Tata Docomo and AOL.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Brands & Marketing

Thursday, May 22, 2014

Wild Fusion launches digital training outfit DAVID AUDU

frica’s leading digital marketing agency and Google AdWords certified partner, Wild Fusion has launched a specialist digital training organisation, Wild Fusion Digital Centre, WDC, to provide expert digital marketing training. WDC provides professional training courses that specialise in helping businesses train their staff in creating real opportunities for increased access to consumer leads, brand awareness and increased revenues streams across digital platforms. The Centre is the official certified local partner of the Digital Marketing Institute, DMI, Ireland; the global standard in digital marketing education and certification. It offers DMI’s

Professional Diploma in Digital Marketing suitable for professionals at all levels involved in planning, implementing and measuring digital strategies. The Professional Diploma in Digital Marketing is a practical programme that focuses on current trends and best practices in Digital Marketing, creating innovative strategies and leveraging on these strategies to gain competitive advantage for businesses. According to Managing Director of Wild Fusion Africa, Noel DouglasEvans, “We are living in an everevolving digital world and developing capability in the digital marketing arena is absolutely paramount. What we offer will help raise the standard of marketing, help build capacity in the digital industry, and create a new level of marketing professionals to the

BRAND talk with Michael Umogun

business community. The benefits for all us working this expanding digital space are obvious as more and more marketers in digital learn their craft’. “This is an internationally recognised Digital Marketing certification programme accredited by the Digital Marketing Institute, Ireland and also by the Scottish Qualifications Authority’. With its focus of providing practical training, all courses at Wild Fusion Digital Centre are delivered by experienced certified digital professionals who make use of the digital tools and knowledge taught in its courses on a daily basis. Other courses offered at Wild Fusion Digital Centre include Google Training Courses; Google AdWords and Analytics, and LinkedIn Training Courses; for sales and marketing professionals, recruiters and jobseekers.

L-R: Assistant Director, Monitoring and Enforcement, National Broadcasting Commission. Mr. Okoduwa Matthew; Marketing Manager, DStv, Ms. Chioma Afe; Regional Operation Manager, MultiChoice Nigeria, Mr. Fuad Kadiku, and Public Relation Manager, MultiChoice Nigeria, Ms. Caroline Oghuma, during the DStv Customer Forum in Lagos yesterday.

Tel: 08023117969/08031100462 Email: michael.umogun@millwardbrown.com

Dare to be different as a brand

eing different is scary and in marketing, trying something different is really scary. Nobody wants to be the marketer that messes up a multi-million dollar brand. It’s easier to play it safe, relying on what has worked before or for others. That must be why at Millward Brown we have often heard from clients that there is a certain way to advertise in their category. For example, TV ads for men’s razors must start with a 10second story, continue with a 15second product demo, and end with a 5second joke. “This is how we must advertise in order to succeed,” they say. But copying from a template often leads to mediocrity; one forgets that consumers have been exposed to hundreds of such ads. The trigger to purchase is lost and millions of naira can be spent without the desired result. The ‘Michael Jackson’ brand became popular in the 1980s because he dared to be different. Michael Jackson took musical videos from drab to fab, revolutionising the music industry with music videos like ‘Thriller’, ‘Beat It’ and ‘Billie Jean’. It’s no surprise that ‘Thriller’ won over half a dozen Grammys. Nearer to home, another Michael became a household name in Nige-

ria because Guinness dared to be different as a brand. The African market for Guinness was faltering at the time. The goal was to advertise Guinness to the diverse populations across the continent and double sales within six years. The solution? The African answer to James Bond Michael Power was born. Guinness created a series of mini adventure ads on radio and television, with Michael Powers in various action scenarios highlighting his resourcefulness and virility. The Critical Assignment campaign became one of the most well known alcohol advertising campaigns in Africa, creating value for Diageo and the Guinness brand. Within a year, Guinness led the African beer market by 50 per cent. Brand recognition reached 90 per cent and volume growth rose 50% in some markets in Africa. Guinness sales doubled two years ahead of schedule and Michael Power’s face became one of the most recognisable in Africa. Because of its huge success, Diageo adopted the same formula in Asia with the character Adam King. In today’s world, it takes ads that are different to stand out and capture attention, and ads that capture attention have a better chance of helping to build great brands.

Glow in the dark brands: Deepening equity in Nigerian market

he quality of any brand is crucial to its overall performance and success in the market place. This is because quality is a notable feature of a good brand. Any brand that does not match the expectations of the consumers will not have any equity. The indiglow range of products which cut across paving stones, tiles, paints and helmet are marketed by Stone Beams Limited. The world class products are invented and produced in Germany by NIGHTEC. The Nigerian market offers enormous potentials for the world class products hence the need to build share of voice. Glow in the dark brands are affordable, cost effective and ecofriendly. The brands are universally acknowledged due to their top class quality. The brands have a strong pedigree and as a result, penetrating the Nigerian market. Glow in the dark brands are also anchored on value creation to the

consumers. They glow non-stop for hours and are easy to install as well as being eco-friendly. The brands offerings align with the desires and aspirations of consumers in the Nigerian market. The brands benefits are anchored on safety, beauty and convenience. The products are environmentally friendly and use natural means to renew their energy. Indiglow products recycle stored light and are capable of emitting enough light throughout the night. During low level lighting conditions, the products enhance safety, reduce energy consumption while also creating an aesthetically appealing environment. Brands need a convincing proposition of quality which is consistent to enhance consumer satisfaction. This is one area to develop a sustainable competitive advantage in the market by offering products that keep attracting

Brand X-Ray with Ayodeji Ayopo Tel: 08023448199 E-mail: mayomipo@yahoo.com

consumers. Consumers maintain affinity with brands that deliver its promise while also offering value. The Indiglow products resonate with the target audience through their offerings and benefits to offer safety, comfort and appealing beauty. These are distinguishing features of the brands. The Indiglow paving stone transform into a soft luminous aqua colour that absorbs light during the day and glows at night. The stones provide beauty to exterior parts of buildings and swimming pools. This provides illumination at night as well

as safety and security. The tiles have the strength and resilience to give brilliant eco-green during the night. The tiles also add the extra touch of class and beauty to the ambience of the building environment. Consumers have a high taste for quality products which meet their expectations, align with their aspirations and lifestyle. The Indi glow paints in its normal and eco-green variants have strong effects to provide beauty and innovation into interiors and exteriors of buildings. Glow in the dark brands leverage on the platform of safety and

appealing beauty. This is one veritable way to create meaningful and impactful images in the minds of consumers. These brands have been rated high dues to their quality and world class pedigree. Stone Beam, with a franchise for the West Africa region has a strategic focus on the Nigerian market. It has conducted research and gained useful insights on how to deepen equity for the brands in the market place. The importance of consumer engagement cannot be underestimated. Stone Beam needs to touch base with consumer more. This is in terms of experiential marketing in order to gain a wide acceptance. The brands definitely resonate well with consumers due to their notable features, but consumers need to feel the brand and gain better understanding of its offerings.

Global News

Thursday, May 22, 2014

U.S. stocks fall as small caps sink; bond yields decline

President Obama

nited States stocks fell as a slide among small-cap shares overshadowed gains in technology companies. Emerging-market equities dropped from a six-month high, while Treasuries gained for the first time in three days. The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index dropped 0.2 per cent at 11:57 a.m. in New York following two days of gains. The Nasdaq 100 Index rose 0.3 per cent, approaching a two-month high, while the Russell 2000 Index of small companies sank 1 percent. The MSCI Emerging Markets Index lost 0.2 per cent after closing Monday at the highest since October. The yield on 10-year Treasury notes fell toward a six-month low. Nickel

dropped 2.1 per cent after Monday rising the most in 20 months. Dick’s Sporting Goods Inc. and Staples Inc. led retailers in the S&P 500 lower after issuing forecasts that fell short of analysts’ estimates. Home Depot Inc. rose the most in a month after saying sales have rebounded amid warmer weather. Amazon.com Inc. and TripAdvisor Inc. rallied at least 1.7 per cent to pace gains among technology shares. Thailand’s Army Chief Prayuth Chan-Ocha said the imposition of martial law is not a coup and is aimed at keeping order. “What we’re seeing is a re-assessment of the growth prospects of earnings,” Brad McMillan, the chief investment officer for Commonwealth Financial Network, said by phone. His firm oversees $83 billion. “It’s not a question of ‘are we going to grow?’ Because we are. It’s ‘are we going to grow as fast as we thought we would?” The S&P 500 climbed 0.4 per cent Monday in one of the slowest trading days of the year. The benchmark gauge ended little changed last week after reaching a record on May 13. The index trades at 16 times estimated earnings, compared with a fiveyear average of 14.3 times, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. The Russell 2000 fell 3.3 per cent over three days last week before rebounding 0.6 per cent on May 16 and

a further one per cent on Monday. The gauge is 8.6 per cent below its record from March. The technologyheavy Nasdaq 100 rose 0.2 per cent, headed for the highest close since April 3. Staples retreated 12 per cent after its earnings forecast was less than estimated. Dick’s dropped 17 per cent, while TJX Cos. sank 6.5 per cent after cutting the top end of its full-year projection. Home Depot Inc. rallied 2.7 per cent after the largest U.S. home-improvement retailer said sales, which trailed estimates in the first quarter, are rebounding as warming weather spurs demand for gardening supplies. The Federal Reserve said last month the economy is showing signs of picking up and the job market is improving. Three rounds of bond purchases have helped send the S&P 500 up 179 per cent from a 12year low in 2009. Treasuries gained for the first time in three days as risk appetite ebbed before the Fed minutes. The yield on 10-year notes erased earlier losses, falling two basis points to 2.52 per cent, near a six-month low. The yield on Italy’s 10-year bond rose 12 basis points to 3.26 per cent, the highest since April 4, as investors prepared for European Parliament elections on May 22-25 that risk a voter backlash against austerity.

Real estate gains keep Canadian consumer sentiment high

ising real estate prices and low interest rates are keeping Canadian households upbeat. The share of Canadians who are predicting higher home prices in their neighborhood remained above 40 per cent for a fifth week in the latest weekly polling by Bloomberg and Nanos Research. That’s kept consumer confidence levels at near the highest in four years, the data show. Improving views on housing follow a recent acceleration in the real estate market in recent months that reflects a shift by policy makers at the Bank of Canada to dim expectations for rate increases as it plays down concerns over rising household debt to focus on stimulating the economy. “The crux of it is the rates environment,” said David Tulk, chief macro strategist at TD Securities. “It’s that combined impact of seeing your own asset increase but also realizing that no one is going to take away the punch bowl.” The Bloomberg Nanos Confidence Index measured 59.6 in the week ended May 16, little changed from the previous reading of 59.5.

The survey-based index hit a fouryear high of 60.1 on April 25. The index is calculated on scores derived from weekly polls on the outlook for real estate prices, personal finances, job security and the Canadian economy. The proportion of survey respondents who believe home values in their neighborhood will rise over the next six months was at 40.7 per cent last week. While down from 42.8 per cent two weeks ago, the score has averaged 41.9 per cent over the past five weeks, up from an average 37.3 per cent over the past year. The share of Canadians who expect a decrease in

Canada housing

real estate prices fell to 9.7 per cent last week, the lowest since January. The Nanos data are based on phone interviews with 1,000 people, using a four-week rolling average of 250 respondents. The results are accurate to within 3.1 percentage points. Last week’s poll coincided with Canadian Real Estate Association data that showed home sales in April rose 2.7 per cent, the fastest pace since August, largely on a surge in transactions in Vancouver and Toronto. April’s sales gain was the third consecutive increase after a four-month winter skid.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Gold demand stable as jewelry counters lower investment

old demand was little changed in the first quarter as jewelry purchases countered declines in investment and central-bank buying, the World Gold Council said. Global demand fell to 1,074.5 metric tons in the quarter, from 1,077.2 tons a year earlier, the Londonbased council said Tuesday in a report. The gain in jewelry usage represented the strongest start to a year since 2005 with buying up about 10 per cent in China, the biggest gold consumer. While bar and coin demand slid a combined 39 per cent, sales through bullion-backed exchange-traded products were the lowest in more than a year. Bullion slumped 28 per cent last year, the most in three decades, on expectations that U.S. stimulus would slow. The drop had boosted demand for jewelry to ingots, particularly from Asia. Prices gained this year, partly as tension amid Russia’s standoff over Ukraine spurred demand for a haven. “We’re now in a lower price environment than we were two years ago, so for many people, jewelry has become more affordable,” Alistair Hewitt, manager, market intelligence at the World Gold Council in London, said by phone yesterday. Bar and coin demand last year was “exceptionally high and we’re not going to see a similar response this year. We’re seeing a return to the long-term fundamentals of the gold market.” Gold for immediate delivery traded at $1,290.67 an ounce by 12:36 p.m. in London for a 7.4 per cent gain this year, according to Bloomberg

generic pricing. It averaged $1,292.15 in the first quarter, down 21 per cent from a year earlier and 1.6 per cent more than the fourth quarter. Global jewelry demand rose about 3 per cent to 570.7 tons in the latest quarter, with China’s purchases rising to 203.2 tons and jewelry buying dropping 8.7 per cent to 145.6 tons in India, the secondbiggest bullion user. Global bar buying slumped 39 per cent to 216.4 tons in the three months through March and coin demand slid 33 per cent to 52.1 tons, resulting in the weakest combined bar and coin purchases since 2010’s first quarter. Global consumer demand slipped 16 per cent to 853.3 tons, according to the report. Total Chinese consumption fell 18 per cent and Indian usage slid 26 per cent as the government held restrictions on imports to curb a current account deficit. Some consumers were also reluctant to buy gold in the run up to Indian elections, the council said. China overtook India as the top user last year.

Gold

Russia fails to sign China gas deal at Shanghai meeting

he presidents of China and Russia failed to sign a $400bn gas supply deal at a meeting on Tuesday in Shanghai, prolonging negotiations that started more than 10 years ago. Talks are continuing as the two countries seek a compromise, Alexey Miller, chief executive officer of Russian gas-exporter OAO Gazprom, said in a statement after Vladimir Putin and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping signed bilateral agreements that didn’t include the gas deal. Russian officials said before the meeting that the two sides were close to a deal on gas price, opening the way to building a pipeline linking the world’s largest energy producer with the biggest consumer. That has been the stumbling block throughout the past decade, though with Putin facing sanctions from the U.S. and Europe after he annexed Crimea, an agreement had been seen as more likely than at previous sum-

mits. “It shows that Russia is not willing to cut a low-price deal just to make a political point with the west,” said Chris Weafer, founder at Macro Advisory in Moscow. “The danger is if a deal is not concluded this year China may switch its efforts to secure pipeline gas elsewhere.” The two countries are working out pricing, and an agreement could be reached at any time, Dmitry Peskov, Putin’s spokesman, said after Tuesday’s meeting. Gazprom shares fell as much 3.93 rubles, or 2.7 per cent, to 144.1 rubles in Moscow on Tuesday. The stock traded at 144.9 rubles. “It’s time we reached an agreement with the Chinese on this issue,” Russian Prime Minister Dimitry Medvedev said in a Bloomberg Television interview in Moscow Tuesday. “It is very likely that there will be a contract, which means long-term contracts.’

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Global News

Thursday, May 22, 2014

German stocks drop; U.K. inflation accelerates Most Lanxess falls, Continental gains on airfare surge M

aster boosted United Kingdom inflation last month as air and sea fares helped push up consumer prices by more than economists forecast. The acceleration to 1.8 per cent from 1.6 per cent in March may do little to trouble Bank of England Governor Mark Carney, who says the outlook for price growth is “benign” and will be limited by the strength of the pound. Inflation is in the midst of its longest stretch below the BOE’s two per cent target since 2009. Tuesday’s data compared with economists’ forecast for a reading of 1.7 per cent, based on the median of 34 estimates in a Bloomberg News survey. The Office for National Statistics also said that core inflation quickened to two per cent, the fastest in seven months. “Inflation will gradually grind higher over coming quarters,” said James Knightley, an economist at ING Bank NV in London. Tuesday’s data “isn’t going to be particularly significant in the BOE policy debate. It is wages that are key.” In addition to helping support Carney’s case for keeping the benchmark interest rate at a record-low 0.5 per cent, the slowdown in inflation over the past year is also easing a squeeze on households. That may give a lift to the

David Cameron

economic recovery by helping to support consumer spending. Consumer prices rose 0.4 per cent from March. Transport costs jumped two per cent, with airfares surging 18 per cent and sea fares by 22 per cent. The four-day Easter weekend this year was three weeks later than in 2013. Food prices dropped 0.5 per cent, which the statistics office said may be partly related to better growing conditions for produce compared with a year earlier. The pound rose against the euro after the data and was 0.3 per cent stronger at 81.33 pence Tuesday in London. Sterling was 0.1 per cent

higher at $1.6825 and has gained about 10 per cent against the dollar in the past year. The BOE said last week that the pound’s appreciation will probably put “temporary downward pressure on inflation for the next couple of years.” It sees price growth “at or slightly below the two per cent target over the next few years.” In a separate report today, the ONS said input costs at factories fell 1.1 per cent in April from March, the most in almost a year. They dropped 5.5 per cent compared with the same month in 2013, a sixth straight annual decline. Output prices at factories were unchanged on the month and rose 0.6 per cent from a year earlier, according to the report. An easing in inflation as the economy recovers and the labour market improves has alleviated the strain on U.K. consumers. Data last week showed that annual wage growth was 1.7 per cent in the first quarter. “We are just at a point right now where basically earnings growth is matching inflation. We expect it to pick up because we expect productivity to pick up,” Carney said in a Sky News interview broadcast on May 18. “We see real wages turning positive soon.”

China’s stocks rise on gains for technology, small-cap companies

hina’s stocks rose, led by technology and smallcompany shares, on easing concern that new share sales will divert funds after the government announced fewer initial public offerings than some analysts had estimated. Leshi Internet Information & Technology Co., the biggest company in the ChiNext index, jumped the most in a month. Yonyou Software Co. surged 5.4 per cent as a gauge of technology shares climbed the most among industry groups. Kweichow Moutai Co. and Wuliangye Yibin Co. dragged down consumer-staples producers for a second day with losses of at least 1.9 per cent. The Shanghai Composite Index added 0.2 per cent to 2,008.12 at the close, rebounding from a threeweek low. China’s securities regulator said on Monday the nation plans to have about 100 IPOs from June through the end of this year. UBS AG strategist Chen Li said the amount was fewer than the 350-400 IPOs that he had expected. “Stocks are rising today because the government finally announced

the number of IPOs it is planning to have,” said Zeng Xianzhao, an analyst at Everbright Securities Co. “This removes the uncertainty in the market and investors can prepare accordingly. Moreover, this amount is smaller than expected.” The ChiNext surged 1.3 per cent, extending gains for a second day after entering a bear market on May 16. The CSI 300 Index was little changed. The Hang Seng China Enterprises Index fell 0.3 per cent at 3:44 p.m. in Hong Kong trading. The Shanghai measure has lost 5.1 per cent this year on speculation slowing economic growth will curb earnings and a flood of IPOs would sap liquidity. Industrial-output and investment growth unexpectedly decelerated last month, while new building construction fell 22 per cent in the first four months of the year. New-home prices rose in April in the fewest cities in a year and a half as developers offered discounts. “Today’s gains aren’t sustainable,” said Zeng. “The economy isn’t doing well.” Kweichow Moutai, the biggest baijiu maker, slid two per cent,

adding to yesterday’s 4.6 per cent plunge. Rival Wuliangye Yibin dropped 1.9 per cent to the lowest level since March 10. The China Securities Journal reported Monday the company had cut the price of some liquor products by more than 30 per cent. The China Securities Regulatory Commission resumed IPO sales in December after a 15-month freeze. The securities regulator halted listings of new share offerings since January to inspect the balance sheet of companies seeking to go public.

Xi Jinping

ost German stocks fell after advancing Monday, with Lanxess AG and ThyssenKrupp AG leading the declines. Lanxess and ThyssenKrupp lost more than 1.5 per cent each. K+S AG fell 1.1 per cent after Kepler Cheuvreux cut its stock rating. Deutsche Annington Immobilien SE dropped 5.6 per cent as investors are selling a 12.5 per cent stake in the landlord. Continental AG gained 2.4 per cent after rival Michelin & Cie. said demand for car tires rose last month. The DAX Index slid 0.2 per cent to 9,639.08 at the close of trading in Frankfurt, with 19 of its 30 stocks down. The benchmark gauge has risen 5.1 per cent since April 15 amid increased mergers-and-acquisitions activity and the European Central Bank’s pledge to ease monetary policy next month if necessary. The HDAX Index also fell 0.2 per cent Tuesday. “The market seems to waiting for catalysts,” said Yves Marcais, an equity-sales trader at Global Equities in Paris. “There are elections in Europe and the Ukraine coming up and concerns about aversion to the European Union. Also, in two weeks the ECB decides. The market is waiting to invest.” On May 22-25, voters in 28 nations will elect 751 lawmakers to a five-year term in the European Parliament. Europe is emerging from a debt crisis that has fed the popularity of anti-European Union politicians. The next European Central Bank rate decision is on June 5 in Frankfurt. In Ukraine, a presidential election is set to take place on May 25, despite waves of violence and political instability. Chocolate billionaire Petro Poroshenko is set to win the vote, according to opinion polls.

The volume of shares changing hands in DAX-listed companies was 22 per cent lower than the 30-day average, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. Lanxess fell 2.1 per cent to 51.10 euros for the biggest decline in the DAX. Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services lowered the long-term credit rating of the maker of synthetic rubber and agricultural chemicals to BBB- from BBB. ThyssenKrupp, Germany’s biggest steelmaker, lost 1.7 per cent to 21.79 euros. It’s slipped 2.7 per cent from its two-year high last week. K+S slid 1.1 per cent to 26.20 euros after Kepler Cheuvreux downgraded its rating on the shares to hold from buy. Europe’s largest potash supplier has had a good run and is now missing catalysts to drive the shares higher, the brokerage said. The stock rallied 63 per cent from its August low through Monday and reached its highest price since July last week. Deutsche Annington Immobilien, Germany’s largest publicly traded owner of homes, dropped 5.6 percent to 20.18 euros. Monterey Holdings I S.a.r.l. and CPI Capital Partners Europe GP LLC are selling a stake valued at 642 million euros ($880m), according to a statement on Monday.

Angela Merkel

Yahoo Japan jumps after scrapping EAccess deal with SoftBank

ahoo Japan Corp. surged in Tokyo trading after canceling plans to acquire eAccess Ltd. from SoftBank Corp. to focus on developing services as part of a strategy to expand into mobile. The shares rose 12 per cent, the biggest gain since January 2013, to close at 459 yen. The Tokyobased Internet portal operator has slumped 22 per cent this year, compared with an 11 per cent drop in the broader Topix index. SoftBank added 0.4 per cent. Yahoo Japan and eAccess decided they didn’t need to combine businesses and that they could cooperate while developing their operations separately, according to a statement on Monday. Yahoo Japan will still pursue the “Y!mobile” service with SoftBank while eAccess builds infrastructure, according to the statement.

“The decision to terminate the eAccess deal was the right one,” Eiji Maeda, an analyst at SMBC Nikko Securities Inc. in Tokyo, said in a note dated Monday. The acquisition of eAccess would have resulted in “opportunity costs,” diverting cash from Yahoo Japan’s core competencies, wrote Maeda, who upgraded the company to an outperform rating from neutral. Analysts raised questions about the cost of the 324 billion yen ($3.2bn) deal when it was first announced March 27 and whether the price was appropriate given that all three companies are controlled by Masayoshi Son. The original agreement called for Yahoo Japan to pay 80 per cent more in cash for eAccess than the 180 billion yen SoftBank paid for the assets at the end of 2012.

Insight

Thursday, May 22, 2014

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Book importation: Nigerians A

deyombo Adegboyega is a 500-level student of Pharmacy at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State. Apart from paying adequate attention to lecturers in class, he has to read many textbooks to be able to excel in his studies. But unfortunately most of the recommended textbooks are just too expensive even for students from average homes like him to afford. The school library that should have come to his rescue is also without many recommended books. How does he cope? He relies according to him, mostly on lecturers’ prepared power-point lesson notes, online editions as well as the photocopies of most relevant pages from few friends who are able to afford those books. According to him, only a few recommended books are written by Nigerian authors while the rest are by foreigners. Adegboyega named those recommended for his class and are from Nigerian authors to include, “Essential Microbiology” by Professor Adebayo Lamikanra, “Essential Medicinal Chemistry” by Professor Ajibola Olaniyi and the “Trees and Evans Pharmacognosy” by Professor Abayomi Sofowora,” while scores of others are by foreign authors. “But sadly, all these books irrespective of authors and places of publication are quite expensive for students like me and that is why most of us see photocopies as our saving grace,” he stressed. John Adeoye, a 300- level Nursing Science student of the same institution is also not comfortable with the dearth and high cost of books in the country. Worse than that of Adegboyega, Adeoye has only one out of scores of textbooks recommended for his class written by a Nigerian- Professor Oyebola. Others are from abroad. And they include “Harper’s Illustrated Biochemistry,” which was co-authored by Robert Murray, David Bender, Kathleen Bothlam, Peter Kenedy, Victor Rodwell and Anthony Weil; “Atlas of Human Anatomy 5” by Frank Netter; Junqueira’s Basic Histology”; “Last’s Anatomy” co-authored by Chummy Sinnatamby; “Essentials of Medical Physiology” by K Sembulingam and Prema Sembulingam and “Fundamentals of Nursing” by Audrey Berman and Shirlee Synder. Expectedly, none of these books was published in Nigeria. The story is the same for Johnson Ikudayisi, a 500- level Dentistry student also of the university. Except one, all other recommended books totalling about 18 are by foreign authors. The implication is that he and most of his mates also source for their materials online as most of the books are not only scarce at the local shops but also expensive. The trio are not alone in this situation. Hammed Amzat, a 400-level student of Education Management at the University of Ibadan is also not finding reading materials easy to come-by in the country. Most of his textbooks are by foreign authors, scarce and expensive. According to him, virtually all the recommended books for students of Economics at UI from 100 to 400-level are by foreign

Nigeria as signatory to the 1950 UNESCO Treaty on Zero Tariff on books across member countries has reneged as it has imposed a cut-throat tariff on book importation into the country. And before now books importation was free. But suddenly the Federal Government has imposed 62.5% tariff on books. TUNBOSUN OGUNDARE reports that stakeholders are lamenting the dying reading culture worsened by dearth of books.

Books on display at a fair

authors. Hamzat identified “Principles of Economics” by Crystal and Lipsey; “Fundamental Methods of Mathematical Economics” by Alpha C. Chiang and Kelvin Wainwright; “Introductory Mathematical Methods in Economics” by Mik Wisniiewski; “International Economics” by D.N Dwevidi and “Basic Econometrics” by Damodar N. Gujarati as a few of them. Nevertheless, the few that are written by Nigerian authors and recommended for students of Education Management in the university such as “Principles of Educational Administration” by Adepoju T.L., Nwakwo J.I and Obilade S.O, according to him, are also expensive. Sikiru Akinola, graduating student from the Department of Political Science, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, on his part, also lamented the development, saying he didn’t find it easy to get materials to read throughout his four years stay at OAU. He pointed out like most of his mates did that he knew only three lecturers currently in his department that had written what he called serious textbooks so far in their life history. “So, about 95 per cent of the books recommended for us throughout my studies are by foreign authors and publishers,” he said. National Mirror found out that the story is not different from one student to another. It is all about dearth and high cost of textbooks, especially by Nigerian authors. Investigations have shown that Nigerian lecturers don’t write to publish. They are only good in writing term papers and at best, journals. However, the story is a different ball game for primary and secondary school education. Most of the books recommended

BEFORE NOW, BOOKS IMPORTATION WAS TAX FREE IN

NIGERIA

AS THE COUNTRY IS A SIGNATORY TO THE

UNESCO TREATY ON ZERO TARIFF ON BOOKS ACROSS

MEMBER COUNTRIES AROUND THE WORLD SINCE

1950

at both levels are by Nigerian authors and publishers and the situation according to stakeholders, is largely because of the low level of thinking and research required at the level. It has also been observed that quality of books in terms of packaging and materials used in printing those books may not be that important to users at that level. And this invariably means that importation of books affects mostly tertiary education and professional studies in the country. And in spite of this, the Federal Government has imposed a tariff on books imported into the country. Making the announcement last January, the Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, said the policy would take effect from the following month. And true to her deadline, the policy actually commenced before it was later sus-

pended till August this year due to pressure from stakeholders in the book industry who kicked and continue to kick against it. Before now, books importation was tax free in Nigeria as the country is a signatory to the UNESCO Treaty on Zero Tariff on books across member countries around the world since 1950. A breakdown of the 62.5 per cent new tax regime shows import duty of 20 per cent, levy and value added tax of 35 per cent, surcharge of 7 per cent and comprehensive import supervision scheme of 0.5 per cent. Okonjo-Iweala said the policy was to protect local publishers and printers as well as raising income for the government. But major stakeholders in the industry including scholars kick against the policy on the premise that it would not only worsen the dwindling reading culture and poor education standard in the country, but that it would also thwart economic development. Prof. Wole Soyinka is one of the high profile authors not only in Nigeria but in Africa. He has so many literary works that have become household names globally. Even at that, most of his works were also published abroad due to better quality and comparative cost advantage. Yet, the Nobel Laureate is not happy that government imposed tax on books importation. To him like many others, tax policy on books importation would adversely work against the Federal Government’s ‘Bring Back the Book’ project launched four years ago to encourage the youths to do more of reading and writing. On the issue, Soyinka, author of “The Trial of Brother Jero”, “The Lion and the Jewel,” among others, in his keynote ad-

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Insight

Thursday, May 22, 2014

condemn FG’s 62.5% tariff

Minister of Education, Wike

WHILE NOTING THAT BOOKS IMPORTATION IN INDIA THAT IS EVEN MORE ECONOMICALLY ADVANCED THAN

NIGERIA IS TAX FREE, HE SAID IT DOESN’T MAKE SENSE FOR NIGERIAN GOVERNMENT TO IMPOSE TARIFF ON BOOKS dress recently, at the World Book Capital in Port Harcourt passionately appealed to the Federal Government to drop the idea as it would not do the country any good. Agreeing with Soyinka, Mr. Abiodun Omotubi, Executive Secretary, Nigeria Book Fair Trust (NBFT) said books published locally were just grossly inadequate and of low quality compared to those from abroad. NBFT is umbrella body of major stakeholders in the nation’s book industry, consisting of Nigerian Publishers’ Association, Association of Nigerian Authors, Booksellers Association of Nigeria, Nigerian Book Foundation and Association of Nigerian Printers. Fuming at the new policy, which Omotubi condemned in its entirety just like Prof. Soyinka, he said all that was required from government to boost the industry is to create conducive environment by putting in place uninterrupted power supply and supportive infrastructure like road networks, machines and printing materials in the country. “It is only when all these things are in place that our scholars can be encouraged to write books to publish and other units in

Students in a library

the book chain like publishers, printers as well as sellers can make profit,” he further observed. An author of “Burning Heart and teacher,” Mrs. Unyime-Ivy King, said Nigerian environment was truly not friendly to the authors and publishers as well as printers. To write serious books according to her will require the writer to be in a right frame of mind to be able to do serious thinking and research “There is little to expect from lecturers or any other writers for that matter who are not well paid and cannot also enjoy steady electricity and water supply or stay several hours in traffic, among others in this regard,” she pointed out. Nevertheless, National Mirror’s investigations revealed that only a few scholars are actually writing books on curriculumbased subjects especially at the tertiary level in the country. And the books are limited to arts and humanities-related fields. Even many of those books including some of Soyinka’s are published abroad. So, when it borders on such fields like medicine, law, pharmacy and engineering, Nigerian schools and students rely heavily on imported books. Omotubi however, called on the government to always involve stakeholders on issues that affect them before introducing any policy. He argued that the imposition of tariff on books had shown that those at the corridors of power in the country actually have little or no knowledge about the nation’s education standard as well as the importance of the sector to the economy. “That is why NBFT family says no to tariff on books as the policy is not to our interest,” the secretary declared. He explained further that the industry was also being threatened by piracy, plagiarism, e-books, among others without the government putting workable policy in place to arrest the problem, but only be concerned about how to raise money from already impoverished masses. Like Soyinka and Omotubi, Alhaji Riliwanu Abdulsalami, the National President, Nigerian Library Association, is equally

against the imposition of tax on imported books. He told National Mirror that what the government should be more concerned about is how to encourage citizens to write, read and study and not to raise money at the expense of education sector. He affirmed that around 90 per cent of books, especially in the tertiary and research institutions’ libraries in the country are from aboard. “So I see the tariff on imported books absurd and discouraging,” he stressed. The Registrar and CEO of Librarians’ Registration Council of Nigeria (LRCN), a parastatal of the Federal Government, Dr. Victoria Okojie, also shared the view, saying what to do to make libraries around the country functional should be the priority of all stakeholders including the government. However, National Mirror confirmed how weak the book industry is in the country at the just-concluded Nigeria International Book Fair held at the University of Lagos, Akoka. The week-long fair had participants from Asia, America, UK, Africa, Middle East and Caribbean in attendance. There, it was observed that many Nigerian exhibitors displaced books for basic education, many of which are by Nigerian authors and publishers. But when it comes to tertiary education, most of the books displayed on the shelves are by foreign authors and publishers. At Florence and Lambard Nigeria Limited’s stand, only one book was authored by a Nigerian and published in Lagos. The book is “Electric Power Distribution, Planning and Development: Economic Overview” by S.O. Uwaifo. Others especially in general science, management and business, law, media and mass communication, language and linguistics, accounting, marketing, engineering and pharmacy are all imported. Mr. Abiodun Ikotun, the Sales Manager of the company told National Mirror that apart from the fact that those foreign books are cheaper and of better quality, many Nigerian scholars do not also write to publish.

Agreeing with him at a nearby stand, Head of Communications, Rainbow Book Club, Port Harcourt, Mr. Chinedu Amah, pointed out that it was far better to publish in India for example, than in Nigeria. Books from India according to him are not only less expensive, but they are also more appealing to eyes. Confirming this, an Indian participant at the fair, Mr. Saurabh Gupta, who is the Managing Director of Laxmi Publications Pvt. Limited noted that his country did not joke with book industry because of its importance to the nation’s development. While noting that books importation in India that is even more economically advanced than Nigeria is tax free, he said it doesn’t make sense for Nigerian government to impose tariff on books. He saw it as absurd for Nigerian government trying to boost custom service revenue through tariff at the expense of education sector. According to him, it is the responsibility of government to look all out for things that will lead to the socio-economic development and the education sector is one of this. “So, the Nigerian government’s game to me is like robbing Peter to pay Paul,” he stressed. Gupta however, has one engineering book, “Fundamental of Engineering Heat and Mass transfer,” by an Indian, R.C. Sachdeva that is co-authored with a Nigerian, Dr. Ola Kamiyo, a mechanical engineer at the University of Lagos on his shelf. Just like many others, the book was published by New Age International in India. National Mirror also observed that even Holy books such as Bible and Quran as well as literary works by notable writers including Prof. Soyinka’s “Beatification of Area Boys,” Chinua Achebe’s “Things Fall Apart” and Ngugi wa Thiong’O’s “Weep Not Child” which are widely read globally were all published abroad. A Ghanaian exhibitor from Afram Publications Limited, Mr. Charles Ahartse, also said books’ importation is tax free in his country just to encourage reading and boost education.

Cocktail

Thursday, May 22, 2014

High School charges parents $200 for premium

Florida high school is charging parents $200 to sit in premium seats that will offer a good view of their child’s graduation. Manatee High School in Bradenton also charges students a $20 fee to participate in the event. “It’s being discriminatory,” parent Mark Domer told Fox News. “Economically, socially, socio-economically, it’s just not fair.” The school said the pre-

mium seat fee is needed because the cost of holding the event escalates each year and the budget doesn’t have enough extra money to fund it. “$200 is a lot of money for a preferred seating,” parent Mayu Fielding told ABC News. “Is my child more important than yours?” Despite the high prices, all ten rows of premium seating for the May 31 graduation have already sold out.

Woman charged for forcing child 3-year-old to eat faeces

n Arizona woman was arrested Saturday on child abuse charges after she allegedly forced a 3-year-old girl to eat her own faeces as punishment after she went to the bathroom in the bathtub. Nicole Candelaria was booked into the Tempe City Jail on one count of child abuse after she allegedly held down her boyfriend’s daughter and forced her to eat her own poop and then put soap in her mouth.

Candelaria was also in charge of watching the girl’s siblings, ages 3 and 5. The 27-year-old has denied the girl’s accusations, but the 3-year-old’s siblings have corroborated their sister’s story. During an examination, “bruising was observed on the girl’s chest, back, sides and legs,” CBS 5 reported. According to Candelaria, the bruise on the girl’s back occurred after she was playing with her and hit her too hard.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Oddities

Woman faces charges for stashing bag of marijuana in her vagina A F lorida woman was hit with a pot possession charge after she admitted to having marijuana stashed in private parts while she was being booked at the Palm Beach County Jail on an outstanding war rant. Jessica Johnston confessed to having a bag containing 2.6 g rams of marijuana in her vagina after being told that she would face a felony charge if she was caught bringing contraband into the jail, the Palm Beach Post reported. The 25-year-old was being booked at the jail in connection to an alle ged battery that took place in October where she reportedly sprayed mace or pepper spray at a man and a baby. Johnston, who list-

ed her occupation as a “chef/companion,”

Johnston

is facing a failure to appear charge in addi-

tion to the marijuana possession charge.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Capital Market

Thursday, May 22, 2014

Dangote Flour Mills drags down Tiger Brands JOHNSON OKANLAWON WITH AGENCY REPORT

iger Brands yesterday reported a disappointing performance for its year ended September 31, 2013 weighed down by a South African consumer under pressure and a weak performance from its most recently acquired business in Nigeria. The group’s 63.35 per cent stake in Dangote Flour Mills of Nigeria, acquired in October last year, dragged down its headline earnings per share to 1,624c. This was a 3.8 per cent decline on the previous year — but with Dangote excluded from the results, headline earnings per share would have risen 5.4 per cent to 1,781c. The fall in headline earnings was despite a 19 per cent rise in group turnover to R27bn. The group’s share price

took a beating after the results were released, falling 5.8 per cent to an intraday low of R292, before closing 2.58 per cent lower at R302. Tiger Brands CEO Peter Matlare said Dangote had encountered some once-off costs, including retrenchment costs and penalties for late payments of Valued Added Tax. However, the group had started doing the right things with Dangote, and the early indicators are positive, but there’s a lot of work to be done to get the business to where it should be. Meanwhile, Matlare said the group’s performance was also driven largely by the trade-off between our ability to recover cost increases through appropriate pricing and the pressure on consumer’s spending ability, particularly in South Africa. Matlare said consumers were under pressure, and Tiger Brands had decided not

to pass on cost increases to consumers to the extent that was probably appropriate or necessary. He said the disappointing results reflected a difficult transitionary phase as we reposition our domestic business and drive expansion in Africa. Trading conditions were expected to remain tough, so quite clearly it’s about having relevant propositions for consumers to try and drive value for them and hopefully remain relevant in their baskets. The group reported that income from associates rose 23.9 per cent to R515.1m due to solid earnings from Oceana, in which Tiger Brands increased its shareholding to 41.9 per cent, and a 10.1 per cent foreign currency effect from offshore associates. In addition to a bigger stake in Oceana, Tiger Brands acquired Mrs Ball’s Chutney and some sugar confectionery

trademarks from Mars, in the year. Electus investment analyst Gregory Cort said Dangote’s performance was the biggest swing factor in Tiger Brands’ results. Mr Cort said the big disappointment locally was Tiger Brands’s groceries operations, which were unable to increase prices sufficiently to cover higher costs, despite widening price premia to competitors and a weak rand environment. In addition, the group’s milling and baking division saw its first operating profit decline in a decade, he said. Absa Asset Management portfolio manager, Paul Steven, said in October the consumer environment was expected to continue deteriorating, which would affect producers’ top-line growth and put pressure on margins.

Source: NSE

Source: FMDA

Market indicators All-Share Index 39,102.77 points Market capitalisation 13.01 trillion

Stock Updates GAINERS COMPANY

OPENING

CLOSING

CHANGE

% CHANGE

IKEJAHOTEL

0.75

0.81

0.06

8.00

OANDO

15.80

16.59

0.79

5.00

Caverton top losers as Index shed 0.2%

COURTVILLE

0.63

0.66

0.03

4.76

ETI

14.81

15.50

0.69

4.66

LEARNAFRCA

1.74

1.82

0.08

4.60

UBCAP

2.30

2.40

0.10

4.35

JOHNSON OKANLAWON

IPWA

0.50

0.52

0.02

4.00

OASISINS

0.51

0.53

0.02

3.92

WAPIC

0.78

0.81

0.03

3.85

AFRIPRUD

3.19

3.29

0.10

3.13

nvestors in equities sold some of their holdings on the Nigerian Stock Exchange yesterday, leaving 23 stocks shedding weight, including Caverton which listed 3.35 billion shares valued at N31.8bn on Tuesday. The company lost 92 kobo or 9.68 per cent to close at N8.58 per share, from the opening figure of N9.50 per share. Conoil Plc followed the chart with N2.46 decline or five per cent to close at N46.74

per share, while May and Baker Plc dropped eight kobo or 4.73 per cent to close at N1.61 per share. Red Star Express Plc fell 21 kobo or 4.46 per cent to close at N4.50 per share. Again, Ikeja Hotels led the gainers’ table with six kobo or eight per cent to close at 81 kobo per share, followed by Oando Plc with 79 kobo or five per cent to close at N16.59 per share. Courtville Plc gained three kobo or 4.76 per cent to close at 66 kobo per share, while Eco-

bank Transnational Incorporated Plc added 69 kobo or 4.66 per cent to close at N15.50 per share. Learn Africa Plc was up eight kobo or 4.60 per cent to close at N1.82 per share. On sectorial indices, the Oil and Gas Index top the gainers with 1.21 per cent to close at 1,781.18 points, followed by the Consumer Goods Index with 0.60 per cent to close at 1,003.11 points. The Insurance Index was up 0.26 per cent to close at 141.28 points, but the NSE

30-Index shed 0.08 per cent to close at 1,781.18 points. The Banking Index dipped 0.35 per cent to close at 408.27 points, while the Lotus Islamic Index fell 0.31 per cent to close at 2,680.03 points. The Industrial Index depreciated 0w.61 per cent to close at 2,483.74 points. The Alternative Securities Market remained flat at 950.94 points. A total of 852.3 million shares worth N10.2bn were exchanged in 4,689 deals.

25 investors bid for Mainstreet Bank -AMCON

•Diamond Bank seeks $400m rights issue

he Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria, AMCON, yesterday announced the successful completion of the submission of Expressions of Interest, EOIs, phase of the divestment of its shareholding in Mainstreet Bank. A statement from the corporation explained that 25 EOIs were received from local and foreign banks and local and foreign investment groups. According to the corporation, the number of requests received exceeded expectations and the corporation is

impressed with the profiles of the entities. It said, “All successful EOI applicants will now be required to submit further information in order to enable the advisers perform a due diligence on them. “At the completion of the exercise, the successful applicants will proceed to the next stage which will be the due diligence phase. That phase is expected to take four to six weeks after which they will be required to submit their bids. Meanwhile, Diamond Bank is filing for regulatory approval to raise between

$300m and $400m via a rights issue from existing shareholders, its chief finance officer told Reuters yesterday. “We are in the process of filing with the relevant regulatory authorities for a rights issue ... which we expect to conclude by third quarter,” the bank’s CFO, Abdulrahaman Yinusa, said. The bank’s non performing loan ratio has reduced to 3.5 per cent in the financial year ended December 31, 2013, a decline of 34.3 per cent when compared to 4.7 per cent recorded in the same period of 2012.

The bank’s coverage ratio, which shows its ability to meet obligations hits 107.5 per cent in 2013, while earning per share was 197 kobo, from 153 kobo in 2012. The Group Managing Director of Dr. Alex Otti, had explained that the bank has exceeded its N30bn profit guidance to return a profit before tax of N32bn in 2013. Otti added that all directorates recorded growth in their business, attributing the attainment to changes in staffing, structure and businesses over the past two years.

LOSERS COMPANY

OPENING

CHANGE

% CHANGE

CAVERTON

9.50

CLOSING 8.58

-0.92

-9.68

CONOIL

49.20

46.74

-2.46

-5.00

MAYBAKER

1.69

1.61

-0.08

-4.73

REDSTAREX

4.71

4.50

-0.21

-4.46

DEAPCAP

0.95

0.91

-0.04

-4.21

WEMABANK

1.00

0.96

-0.04

-4.00

UTC

0.53

0.51

-0.02

-3.77

AIICO

0.84

0.81

-0.03

-3.57

COSTAIN

1.29

1.25

-0.04

-3.10

Primary Market Auction TENOR

AMOUNT (N’mn)

RATE (%)

DATE

91-Day

22,057.31

11.50

07-Nov-13

182-Day

30,000.00

11.59

07-Nov-13

182-Day

47,786.39

13.05

07-Nov-13

Open Market Operations TENOR

AMOUNT (N’mn)

RATE (%)

DATE

178-Day

86,709.13

12.35

07-Nov-13

175-Day

95,368.69

12.35

07-Nov-13

Wholesale Dutch Auction System AMOUNT OFFERED

MARKET DEMAND

AMOUNT SOLD

DATE

$350m

N/A

$343m

04-Nov-13

Capital Market

Thursday, May 22, 2014

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Stock exchange daily equities summary Equities as at May 21, 2014 1st Tier Securities

1st Tier Securities Sector

Company name

No Of Deals

Quotation(N)

Quantity Traded

Value of Shares(N)

Sector

Company name

No Of Deals

Quotation(N)

Quantity Traded

Value of Shares(N)

National Mirror National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net www.nationalmirroronline.net

43 43

Thursday May 22, 2014

Community Mirror We stand shoulder to shoulder behind our colleagues from all the states affected. SENATE PRESIDENT, DAVID MARK

Newspaper vendors accuse KAI boss of extortion .Seek Fashola’s intervention

DARE AKOGUN

he Newspapers Distributors Association of Nigeria, Ojuelegba branch, Lagos has accused the Area Commander of the Kick Against Indiscipline Brigade controlling Surulere area, Mrs. Success Oladuni of extortion. The association said her behaviour was making life unbearable for members. Community Mirror gathered that the KAI boss who assumed office only re-

cently was extorting money from the vendors under the guise of planning to beautify the popular Ojuelegba Under Bridge by asking the vendors to either vacate the place or plant flowers round the four corners of the bridge. The Chairman of the branch, Mr. Ndubuisi Obi, alleged that KAI officials came to their stands two weeks ago, claiming that they were directed from their headquarters at Alausa to get rid of the traders and commercial drivers from under the bridge with

the excuse that government wants to plant flowers in the area. He said, “The agberos (touts) working with the National Union of Road Transport Workers, NURTW, protested that day and drove her away. “We were told that they would take four feet from the road. I told her that vendors would know how to arrange themselves behind the four feet taken, but she insisted that the vendors should leave the place entirely.” Obi further explained

that the association met with the said area commander at her office where she allegedly demanded a sum of N 150, 000 from them before she could allow them to continue displaying their newspapers at the spot. She claimed to be acting on instruction from the headquarters. He recalled that flowers were once planted at the spot but didn’t last up to a week before they were removed. So, the state government can go ahead with their beautification but the vendors should be left

alone. “Even newspapers are being displayed in front of government secretariat at Alausa,” he stressed. Another vendor, who simply identified himself as King also lamented the development, noting that KAI officials even manhandled him, broke his tables and flung his newspapers threatening to deal with him. The 65 -year- old vendor who claimed to have been selling newspapers at the spot since 1971 even before the over head bridge was constructed stated that, “During the military era, I fought with soldiers severally because they wanted to force me out of this place, I took them to court and won and they left me alone. “Even I don’t pay the agberos here kobo, because whenever they asked for money, I always told them that they met me here, that I am the father of agberos and they never bothered me. “So, I told KAI people that if they want me to

leave here, they should take me to court.” Sunday Ayodele on his part, said, “We don’t have problem with the state government’s plan to beautify Ojuelegba. The problem is that we gathered that it was not the state government that wants us out of the place but the KAI Area Commander who actually initiated the project to extort money from the vendors and the commercial bus operators in Ojuelegba. “Our business has been paralyzed since two weeks this issues had started. So, we are appealing to the state government to call KAI boss and her men to order. And if the directives is truly from the state government, the government should endeavor to notify us officially,” he added. When National Mirror went to KAI office at Onilegogoro, Masha area of Surulere for reaction, the officers said their area commander was not around and none of them could comment on the issue.

Lawmaker constructs bridge to improve security Mr. King displaying his newspapers on the ground at Ojuelegba, after KAI officials destroyed his table yesterday.

Community supports family planning initiative MARCUS FATUNMOLE ABUJA

esidents of Gishiri community in the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, have pledged their support for a family planning initiative, aimed at helping birth spacing and control. Speaking at a campaign by organised by the Nigerian Urban Reproductive Health Initiative, NURHI, Grace Gani, a resident of the community and a mother of five, expressed

satisfaction with the awareness, noting that she got practical knowledge of family planning for the first time through the campaign. “This is the first time I have seen this programme demonstrated to me. I believed what I saw and I am convinced everything said about the programme is true. Even though I have five children already, I will be campaigning to younger women who may still want to have children that are not spaced,” she said.

Another resident in the community, Amina Ibrahim, told our reporter that though she had been informed of the programme at various forums, it has been difficult for her to choose the best suitable for her. Federal Capital Territory, Team Coordinator of the group, Mrs Adebusola Salako, informed Community mirror that there was need to reach out to the people in the grassroots, especially those in the urban slum

areas, as according to her, they do not have the adequate knowledge on family planning. She said, “We should think about the accessibility and the affordability of any service given and that is what Nigerian Urban Reproductive Health Initiative is all about, we are trying to bridge it by looking at what the problem is from the consumer’s view, and we discover that most of them cannot afford these services.

JAMES ABRAHAM JOS

ajority Leader and Member representing Riyom Constituency in the Plateau State House of Assembly, Hon. Daniel Dem, has constructed a two kilometers road network and a bridge that gulped over N15 million to make the rural communities accessible to men of the Special Task Force (STF), in charge internal security in Jos and its environs. The lawmaker also built an examination hall for Government Secondary School, Wereng, and two class room blocks for Community Secondary School,

Tom-Gangere, in Sopp ward of Riyom Local Government Area as part of his constituency projects. Hon. Dem while inspecting the ongoing Projects lamented the lack of Access Bridge to link some communities within Rim Districts of the council area which has led to lost of several lives and properties in the past. He noted that the bridge will improve the security of lives and properties within the community, as security operatives in time past complained of the poor topography of the area and lack of accessible road to respond promptly to crisis that has bedeviled the area.

Young & Next Generation

Thursday, May 22, 2014

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Children’s Day: Celebration of creativity or fanfare? It is another period of commemorating children worldwide. Considering the plight of Nigerian children at the moment, there is a need to examine the commemoration of Children’s Day over the years and locate a focal point for a genuine celebration that will secure the future of Nigerian children. OLAYIWOLA AWAKAN reports:

hildren are celebrated worldwide and come next Tuesday, Nigerian children will be engaged in various activities in commemoration of this year’s Children Day. But the question that sticks to lips is: Is the Day worth celebrating in Nigeria? The celebration of children got its first echo in 1925 by the World Conference for the well-being of children. One of its reasons for the formal establishment in 1954 after it was proclaimed in 1925 was to allow all children access to an education and protection of children from dangerous circumstances. Aside the International Children’s Day which is commemorated every November 20, the UN General Assembly recommended that all countries regardless of geography should choose an appropriate day to celebrate their children. In this stratum, Nigeria pegged its annual celebration of children for May 27. The day is often declared as public holidays for primary and secondary school students. The government of each state provide s supports to make the yearly celebration colourful through activities like marching, ceremoniously involving them in special jobs meant for adults, competitions organized for children to compete in military parades format after which prizes are given, religious organizations do organize special programmes and in all children are treated with full attention by the media. It’s always a memorable day for children in the country. Taking an overview of the celebrations over the years, it discovered that a lot is yet to be done for the protection and enhancement of the dreams of the Nigerian children. The fanfare of children’s day has overshadowed the reasons for establishing the day. The present situation of the country has subjected children to many challenges ranging from abduction, child trafficking, abuse of rights, sexual harassment, hawking, high infant mortality rate, children living on the streets, children affected by communal conflicts, drug abuse, deprival of compulsory primary education, bad environmental condition, rape, early marriage to insecurity that is fast cracking the wall of the nation. More worrisome is the high rate of unemployment which the children will eventually contend with in future if something is not done drastically to combat.

According to the United Nations, at least 10 children are sold every day across the country. And most of the traffickers when caught often buy their ways out of the nest. Some of these culprits hide under the pretence of running an orphanage home. More disheartening is the dastardly act of abduction of almost 300 schoolgirls from Chibok in Borno State by the Boko Haram sect on April 14 2014. Over one month after, all effort to get the girls back has proved abortive even with the intervention of the international community. So far, this is the worst threat that has befallen Nigerian children considering the attention that the issue has pulled from the world. Painfully, last year when those abducted girls were celebrating Children’s Day, they never imagined what their fate would hold for them this year! What about cases of rape even in schools and at home? There was a case of a 12 year-old Junior Secondary School girl in Queens College, Lagos who was raped by a technician in the Physics laboratory. Many of such ugly situations have taken their toll on innocent girls. A report recently by the Centre for Environment, Human Rights and Development, an NGO said that in 2012 no fewer than 1, 200 girls were raped in Rivers State alone. A lot of our currency will go down the drain again, all in the name of celebrating Children’s Day. Some of the kids celebrated will live to face the scourge of unemployment years to come. The question is what does the society have for the children beyond converging them to mark the year’s Children’s Day? It is believed that creativity enhancement in children is an investment that will always yield a productive future where the nation would be assured of a better tomorrow in terms of leadership, local industry creation, entrepreneurship and general sanity in the society. Lately, individuals, NGOs and few organizations have taken up a course in the creative industry for children to be enlightened on the usefulness of talent to the development of self and the country at large. The Nigerian children get threatened day by day. Sadly, the religious organizations that are meant to be a refuge home have been turned to dungeons. Incidence of rape is reported in an increasing degree even in religious organisations. Children are being trafficked beyond imagination. Sometimes last year, 17 pregnant teenagers were rescued from an illegal motherless babies’ home in Owerri, where the business of selling new born babies was a source of income for some people. The girls were between the ages of 14 and 17. Conscientiously, there is a lot to be col-

Children celebrating Children’s Day.

Children observing march parade on Children’s Day.

lectively done by the society to ensure that Nigerian children get the best from where they legitimately belong. And the responsibility lies in the hands of parents, schools, government and the children themselves. The home is the first place of contact of a child, whatever level of exposure and training that he gets is what will form the foundation of such a child. Parents are to firstly guide their children through the right path. If a child is successful in the future, the parents get the chunk of the benefit. Parents should be able to identify the dream work of their children through the things that they passionately do as children. That will give them a guide into the career that best suits such a child. However, the school on the other hand is the formal training ground for children, where they are meant to learn to know the basis of life, survival, education

and how they can build a career. What are our teachers doing to ensure that these children get the best vocationally beyond mere teaching the children A for Apple? How many teachers are even creative? In 2003, the Federal Government inaugurated the Children Parliament to enhance children’s participation. Meanwhile, not all the states have inaugurated the children’s parliament. The Child Rights Act that was also adopted in 2003 to domesticate the Convention on the Rights of the Child, as passed at the Federal Level can only be effective if State Assemblies also ratify it. “Nigerian children need to rise up to their responsibility by connecting to their creativity. It is their right!” These should be the basis for the commemoration of Children’s Day and not mere festivity where the children would merry and continue wallowing in the hardship and threat posed to them.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Young & Next Generation

Thursday, May 22, 2014

British Council, Virgin to promote budding entrepreneurs Stories: Leonard Okachie

he British Council, in partnership with Virgin Atlantic Airways, have announced a competition called ‘Enterprise Challenge’ in a bid to promote the development of entrepreneurial skills in Nigerian youth. “Enterprise Challenge” is an online competition which seeks to give young, brilliant entrepreneurial minds the opportunity to further develop their skills in this area and bring their innovative ideas to the fore for possible future development. It will be a battle of the best minds. The competition is designed to test a range of consumerist skills and will take place in three task cycles over a five- week period. Participants will compete for the opportunity to win flight tickets to the UK on Virgin Atlantic Airways and an opportunity to meet and be mentored by one of UK’s foremost entrepreneurs and Chairman of the Virgin Group, Sir Richard Branson.

The competition is open to Nigerians currently domiciled in Nigeria and those studying in the UK who fall within the 18 to 35 year age bracket. The British Council creates international opportunities for the people of the UK and other countries and builds trust between them worldwide. It is a Royal Charter charity, established as the UK’s international organisation for educational opportunities and cultural relations. Its 7000 staff in over 100 countries work with thousands of professionals and policy makers and millions of young people every year through English, arts, education and society programmes. On the other hand, Virgin Atlantic Airways was founded by entrepreneur Sir Richard Branson almost 30 years ago after he decided the UK aviation industry needed shaking up. Virgin Atlantic flies to 35 destinations worldwide, including locations across North America, the Caribbean, Africa, and the Far East. Some of its most recent additions to its flying network include Cancun, Vancouver, Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Manchester.

Chibok Girls: CLO urges govt to shelve Children’s Day celebration

he Bayelsa chapter of Civil Liberties Organisation (CLO) has urged government at all levels to shelve the 2014 Children’s Day celebration as a mark of honour for the abducted Chibok schoolgirls. The group also called on the leadership of the Boko Haram sect to respect the rights of the Nigerian child and release the schoolgirls. More than 200 schoolgirls of Government Secondary School, Chibok, Borno, were abducted from school on April 14, which Boko Haram insurgents claimed responsibility for. In a statement issued by the Bayelsa Chairman of CLO, Chief James Nengi

in Yenagoa, the group suggested that government at all levels should shelve the ceremonial fanfare associated with the May 27 Children’s Day. The group also urged government to use the day to reflect on the current global campaign to free the missing schoolgirls. The statement quoted Nengi as saying ``although the Children’s Day is a day set aside for the celebration of the Nigerian Child, it is our view that the 2014 celebration should be shelved. ``Rather, this May 27 should be used to mobilise children nationwide to join the campaign for the release of the schoolgirls abducted from Chibok.’’

A cross section of corps members during a passing out parade.

Corps members decry accommodation challenge in FCT

ome corps members serving in Abuja have called on the FCT Minister to build an NYSC lodge in the city for members whose employers cannot afford to accommodate. They said that though the responsibility of providing accommodation for corps members was that of employers, the FCTA could introduce a housing scheme for them. The corps members made the call while speaking to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja. Miss Nnoli Ogozirim, a batch `B’ member, said accommodation was one of the major challenges facing corps members. She said: “I am from a state where accommodation and transportation is relatively cheap. It is not easy getting accommodation in Abuja. Living here in the city is expensive. Even when you get it, you will pay so much. ``I am now staying on the outskirts of Abuja and my allowance from the NYSC, in addition to what they give me from my primary place of assignment, ends up being spent on accommodation every month.” Ogozirim also appealed to the Federal Government to increase the monthly al-

lowance paid to FCT corps members. Also speaking, Mr. Madu Melody, a batch `C’ member, said the appeal was necessary because of the difficulties experienced in the FCT in obtaining accommodation. ``Though our NYSC letter of posting states that our employers are responsible for our accommodation, we appeal to the FCT Minister to build a lodge so that we can live in it and move out for the next batch of corps members. ``I am appealing to government to come to our aid by providing affordable accommodation for corps members in the FCT,’’ he said. Another member, Mr. Babatude Femi, said that the NYSC members were not asking for a big house, adding,``We are asking for a room to a corps member. We will provide our beds, mattress, and pillows. The lodge could be in form of a hostel for corps members in the city to reduce some of the challenges we are facing. ``The only lodge we have in the whole of FCT is the small one in Nyanya, Abuja, which cannot contain much people. ``We are really facing a lot of problem. We call for the intervention of government to reduce this trouble for us.”

Science For Kids

Why are gorillas similar to humans?

taring face to face with a gorilla, it’s hard not to find them eerily similar to humans—and now the first published gorilla genome supports that, according to a new study. In 2008 geneticists took DNA from Kamilah, a then 30-year-old female western lowland gorilla from the San Diego Zoo. Four years later the team published the species’ genome, which completes a basic genetic library of the great apes— a branch of primates including people, chimpanzees, gorillas, and orangutans. “Previously, people had some sort of picture based on ... probably one percent of the whole [gorilla] genome. So we now have a complete picture,” said study coauthor Richard Durbin, a geneticist with the U.K.’s Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute. “Based on the comparisons between them, it helps us explore the evolution-

ary origins of humans and where we separated from other great ape species in Africa between six and ten million years ago,” Durbin said. But Durbin and a team of 70 other researchers didn’t stop with a family tree comparison. The team also detected groups of gorilla genes that were surprisingly similar to human genes. “Although [70 percent] of the human genome is indeed closer to chimpanzees, on average, a sizable minority of 15 percent is in fact closer to gorillas, and another 15 percent is where chimpanzees and gorillas are closest,” said geneticist Aylwyn Scally, a study co-author also at the Wellcome Trust. Primatologists know from fossils that humans, chimps, and gorillas shared an ancient ancestor. Tracing exactly when these lineages diverged, however, is tricky.

Thankfully for the scientists, pairs of DNA letters called base pairs mutate at a fairly regular pace. A single base pair of primate DNA, for example, has a roughly one-in-a-billion chance of mutating each year—which means genetic differences in a pair can help estimate when a split occurred. According to the new genetic research—when combined with known fossils—the lineage that led to humans, chimps, and gorillas evolved from a common ancestor about 10 million years ago. Humans and chimps then popped off of that lineage some 6 million years ago, according to the new study. Another surprising result is that part of the gorilla genome is at odds with the current structure of the great ape evolutionary tree. For example, instead of gorillas being most similar to chimps and then humans in that portion of the DNA, the branches flip to humans being most similar to gorillas and then chimps.

A baby gorilla relaxing in a human-like position.

A gorilla walking on his rear legs.

Thursday, May 22, 2014

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

‘Women journalists should be applauded’

...NAWOJ praises Olejeme’s leadership skills Sekinah L awal

igerians have been urged to show more appreciation and respect to women journalists for engaging in a very risky but very important profession. Making the appeal recently was the former governor of Lagos State, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu while speaking on: “The Roles of Career Women in National Development”, at the 2014 National Delegates Conference of Nigeria Association of Women Journalists, NAWOJ, which took place in ASCON Resort, Badagry-Lagos. Tinubu, who was represented by the National Spokesperson for All Progressive Congress, APC, Alhaji Lai Muhammed, described women as the soul of any nation, most especially career women like women journalists. According to him, women journalists are to be loudly applauded and encouraged for being in a very risky and useful profession like journalism. He reiterated the fact that nation building is a work in progress and many women have shown to be capable of excellent performances if given the opportunity to serve. He condemned the idea of our leaders claiming to be giant of Africa without any tangible development, saying that greatness of our nation has to be earned. “If career women rise up to the task, they can challenge leadership in Nigeria and ensure that we have quality leadership at all levels with honesty, integrity, focused-leadership and discipline as their watchwords in order to ensure success in all areas of human development,” he said. He also advised that Nigerian leadership must provide for quality education as well as implement plans on women development. President Goodluck Jonathan who was represented by Alhaji Bello Markafi commended Nigerian women journalists for their great strides and urged them to al-

L-R: NUJ President, Mallam Garba Muhammed; representative of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, Alhaji Lai Muhammed; representative of President Goodluck Jonathan, Malam Bello Markafi and former National President, Nigeria Association of Women Journalists, NAWOJ, Hajia Asabe Baba Nahaya at the NAWOJ’s National Delegates Conference which took place in ASCON, Badagry-Lagos recently.

L-R: Vice-Chairman, Nigeria Association of Women Journalists, NAWOJ, Lagos Chapter, Mrs Eno Okon; Managing Director/CEO National Mirror Newspapers, Mrs. Kafilat Ogbara and Chairman, NAWOJ, Lagos Chapter, Mrs. Dupe Olaoye Osinkolu at the award night to commemorate NAWOJ in Lagos recently.

ways verify their stories and continue to be tools of national development. He called on all Nigerians to support the Federal Government with prayers and vital information to bring back the abducted Chibok girls safe and sound. Goveror Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State who was represented by the state’s Commissioner for Information and Strategy,

Beat 97.9fm launches in Ibadan Leonard Okachie

ll is set for the official launch of the Beat 97.9 fm; the Ibadan arm of Lagos’ leading urban radio station, the Beat 99.9 fm To herald the establishment of the hottest new radio station in Oyo state, which already has been operational since January 2013, the Beat 97.9 Ibadan

has formally announced plans for its first ever concert. Speaking excitedly about the upcoming event, Beat 97.9 fm Programs Director, Vicki Alozie said “it’s long overdue! We really need to shake up the cool quiet town of Ibadan. It’s going to be the biggest concert in these parts and who else is gonna do it? We are The Beat!” The ground breaking launch/concert which is slated for June 13, 2014 will feature performances by the Ma-

Madam Ibim Semenitari enjoined journalists to be professional in carrying out their duties and be united in order to earn the needed respect. “Let us make it a point of duty to unite our leaders and pray for them.” She urged the new executives to make training, retraining and mentoring programmes some of the cardinal aims to be achieved and

vin crew, Phyno, Tillaman, Kayswitch, Chidinma, Dbanj, Skuki, Ayo Jay and Saeon amongst others. The Beat Ibadan concert which will be held at the Muave 21 event Centre on Ring road at the heart of Ibadan, will also have Funnyman Basketmouth and Gbenga Adeyinka the first, as the Host of the night! Tickets for “the Beat 97.9 Ibadan official launch’’ which come in Regular, VIP and Tables, are available at Beat fm Ibadan office, Mauve 21, Filmhouse cinema, KFC and Mr Price.

called on all women journalists to support the new executives in order to take NAWOJ to greater heights noting that mentoring and leadership training for young ones should be a priority. “As media professionals, we must continue to play our roles as watchdog, be voice for the voiceless, ask our leaders questions about accountability and make sure those who have begged to serve are actually serving.” Those representing NAWOJ and other women groups at the confab were urged to demand for 50% in all elective posts for women. The National President of Nigerian Union of Journalists, NUJ, Mallam Garba Muhammed said that government should see media as part of governance, accord it the needed respect and freedom to operate. Meanwhile, NAWOJ Thursday night praised the chairman of Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF), Dr. Ngozi Olejeme for her exceptional qualities, saying she remains the best for Delta State. “Many qualities separate Olejeme from other aspirants; vision, courage, character, commitment, loyalty and sincerity. She will chart the right course and provide a clear focus for where the people and the state want to be and how to get there” the organization said. Bestowing the Nigeria Association of Women Journalists’ Positive Thinker Award on her in Lagos, the organization said “Olejeme is the most suitable person to lead Delta State after the tenure of Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan”. Mrs. Asabe Baba-Nahaya, Toro Oladapo and other prominent members of the association who spoke about Olejeme, extolled her leadership qualities and proven records of service. The organization called on Governor Uduaghan and other prominent men in the state to give Dr. Olejeme the opportunity to demonstrate her commitment to the will and the welfare of the people. The organization also advised women to rise to the challenge posed by men. “The men must be willing to cede power to Olejeme in 2015, while they prepare for a more auspicious opportunity in the future” In her acceptance speech, Olejeme said “the award will provide a tremendous lift to her”. Represented by former majority leader, Delta State House of Assembly, Hon. Aneke Ifemeni, Olejeme told the gathering that nothing will deter her from redoubling her efforts. “I must thank you for recognizing my thoughts, personality and contributions to Nigeria, particularly Delta State. Thank you for this award. Thank you for your support”, she said.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Media

Thursday, May 22, 2014

APRA conference kicks Media Abroad Kenya to host digital media off on Tuesday boot camp

Stories: Leonard Okachie

ome of the biggest names in public relations and marketing communications are getting ready for an unforgettable experience in the world’s most celebrated Mediterranean resort Island, Mauritius as the 26th edition of the African Public Relations Association (APRA) conference kicks off on May 27, 2014. Themed “Advancing Africa”, the conference parades an array of renowned speakers including; President and CEO of The Holmes Group; Paul Holmes; Former World President of the International Public Relations Association (IPRA); Mrs. Loula Zaklama; Chairman and CEO of Burson-Marsteller, Robyn de Villiers; BlackHouse Media (BHM) Founder/CEO Ayeni Adekunle; Group CEO of Frontiers International Services Limited; Muyiwa Afolabi ; Head of Corporate Communications and CSR at Airtel Ghana, Mr. Donald Gwira, Debrett’s Jeremy Galbraith, and a host of others. “I feel highly honoured and privileged to be speaking at the 26th edition of the African Public Relations Association (APRA) conference,” said Adekunle. “With the advancement of Africa as the theme of the conference, I believe we have a good opportunity to use the advantage of Public Relations in helping our continent become the best it can be. It’s about time we built the desired global image for Africa.” The conference which is aimed at identifying and creating an agenda for the numerous challenges of Africa with focus on her image as well as driving a cohesive action in the promotion of Africa’s image, will deal with such diverse topics such as; PR & Ethics, Reputation Management - Critical to Success, Crisis & Security Communication: The Before, The During & The After, PR Consulting in Africa: Shifting Gear,

Adekunle

Robyn de Villiers

Digital Media: The Undisputable Future of Public Relations, Emerging Trends in Corporate Social Responsibility, The 10 Global Trends in PR, Driving Sponsorship: A Case Study of Football Sponsorship in Africa and Managing Government Communication in Africa: Challenges & Opportunities. This year’s conference is riding on the success of the last summit held at the prestigious new African Union Complex, Addis Ababa in May 2013, themed ‘Rising Africa: The Imperatives of Communication’. It is expected that the outcome of its deliberations will be forwarded to The Summit of Heads of Government of the African Union for ratification.

Harp Applause magazine hits newsstand

rusader Media Network has launched Harp Applause magazine, the official print format of its popular TV programme on Dove TV tagged Minstrels TV Show. Minstrels TV Show is a programme

renowned for showcasing top and upcoming gospel artistes while Harp Applause celebrates top icons in the business world. Minstrels TV Show, which is presently on terrestrial and satellite channels such as Startimes Nigeria (Channel 814), MYTV & RTM Satellite Network as well as social media network such as Facebook, Twitter and YouTube, has a vision to bring a new dimension to the entertainment sector, nationally and globally. Crusader Media Network also organises ‘Minstrels in ya Neighbourhood’ in partnership with churches. According to the Managing Editor, Mr. Bimbo Ajayi, ‘Minstrels in ya Neighbourhood’ is a programme that introduces and brings to churches and their neighbourhood, emerging gospel stars. The event creates a forum that inspires, informs, educates and entertain music ministers, church choristers and the music generation at large.

he United States International University Africa (USIU-A) and media monitoring company Globetrack International have partnered to host Kenya’s first digital media boot camp with the aim of providing insight to local professionals on digital media best practices. The boot camp will feature renowned author and social media expert Erik Qualman who has been named by Forbes as among the Top 50 digital power influencers. The event will target CEOs, government representatives, marketing and communication professionals, e-learning specialists among others. Esther Kagiri, MD, Globetrack International said the boot camp will also present a perfect platform to clearly identify the return on investment where digital media is concerned while exploring opportunities aimed at improving targeted online communication. “We are keen on developing a virtuous cycle while continuously redeploying resources aimed at inventing new sources of strategic growth opportunities. Digital media is unmistakably part of this frontier and our first ever Boot Camp will present an unrivalled platform to not only share knowledge and intelligence but also define best practices that will enhance interactions with all stakeholders,” said Kagiri. She notes that the African audience has become more audible through channels provided by social media with democratic reforms and advances in telecommunication also recognized for opening up communication. On her part, Freida Brown, VC, USIU-A noted that technology has reshaped the edu-

Kenyan President, Uhuru Kenyatta

cation sector especially how information is delivered to students with the university investing millions to introduce interactive educational digital platforms. Ms Brown added that social media on its part has been found to improve communication between students and faculty thus creating a better learning environment. New media has also resulted to career and business opportunities with employment opportunities emerging for people to manage organization’s reputation, sales, and new products development. “With plans underway for USIU-Africa to launch its Master of Arts in Communication studies, we shall pay special attention to digital communication that will tackle strategy, online corporate branding, effective web design and strategy and social media strategies all crucial for the survival of any brand,” said Brown. The boot camp will take place on July 24 to 25. Source: CIO

New media won’t kill job of journalists, editors –Expert

rint journalists can take heart — digital media won’t kill your job anytime soon. But life has just got a bit tougher for you. “In the digital world, it’s easier to distort, replicate and repurpose content. Is that good or bad? The consumer will ultimately decide what’s good or bad,” said Marcel Fenez, global leader for entertainment and media practice at PwC, while addressing media investors in Dubai. “What people want is consistent, high-quality. “He [consumer] tends to get drawn to quality. Social media is great. But if you want good analyses or editorial content, you go to brands you trust. So, there’s a business case for quality content. Big content providers are not dying any time soon, but they have to be more flexible in the way that they package and deliver those services.” He agrees that no one seems interested in paying for commoditised content — especially news — amid an explosion of social media. But they would pay for “enhanced content experiences”. While digital has lowered entry barriers for newcomers and spawned more competition, it has also led to greater fragmentation. This is why, Fenez says, professional journalists and editors are still needed to filter what’s out there. “It’s more likely that

in 10 years, we’re not going to talk about social or digital,” said Fenez, who set up the PwC Hong Kong Entertainment, Media and Communications group in 1995. “It will be just plain media. The question is: ‘How do we consume, where do we do it and who do we do it with?’ “There’s so much information overload, so consumers with limited time will need to have some sort of filtering. It’s not just a simple search function, but filtering through engagement with trusted brands of content providers.” Fenez said it’s no use referring to digital content as if it’s a separate entity. “Consumers don’t really differentiate. Whether it’s an app, a programme or a game that allows him to play with a friend next to him or halfway across the world, the key differentiator is the ability to add experience to the content. They key is interactivity, sharing, playing.” Keybroker Group, an online marketing agency, reckons that the global media market stood about $500 billion in 2006, but online advertising reached $100 billion in 2012. “The opportunity for making money off content may follow certain business models,” Fenez said. “At a simple level, the old way is either subscription-based or advertising funded. Or pay-per use.” Source: gulfnew.com

Thursday, May 22, 2014

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Obituary On behalf of my friend, Mike Okiro, Nigeriaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s foremost Inspector General of Police of sterling record, we say Goodnight Ma. Thank you for giving us an astute security officer

Madam Bessy Okiro

Barrister Jimoh Ibrahim, OFR

Thursday, May 22, 2014

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

World News

‘Russia troops pulling back from Ukraine border’

We need to innovate our security cooperation (and) establish a new regional security cooperation architecture

–Chinese President, Xi Jinping

Egypt’s court jails Mubarak, sons for embezzlement PAUL ACHEWE

WITH AGENCY REPORT

court in Egypt has sentenced former President Hosni Mubarak to three years in prison after finding him guilty of embezzling public funds. His two sons, Alaa and Gamal, were also convicted and given four-year terms. The three were also fined $3m (£1.8m) and ordered to repay the $17.6m they were accused of stealing. Mubarak, 86, is also on trial for abuse of power and conspiring in the killing of protesters during the 2011 uprising that forced him to resign. He was found guilty of the charge relating to the protesters in 2012 along with former Interior Minister Habib al-Adly, and sentenced to life in prison. But in January 2013 the Court of Cassation upheld an appeal by the two men against their convictions on technical grounds and ordered a retrial. In August, a court ordered Mubarak’s release from prison and transfer to a military hospital in Cairo, where he is being held under house arrest. Gamal, the president’s one-

his sons - the embezzlement was a family affair. Mubarak appeared alert as the brief session began, but betrayed no emotion. After the verdict a few supporters showed their anger outside, some shouting at police. One man claimed, through tears, that Hosni Mubarak had been convicted now - just before the presidential election - for political reasons. But the protesters numbered around half a dozen or so - a striking indication of how little public support or public attention Hosni Mubarak commands these days.

Most Egyptians appear to have lost interest in the man who ruled for three decades, and who once seemed immovable. In February, the Mubaraks were accused of diverting $17.6m meant for maintenance of presidential palaces to renovate their own private residences in Cairo and on the Red Sea coast, as well as a family farm. They denied the charge and asserted at the trial that the prosecution’s case was “completely unsubstantiated because it never happened”.

Radical lawmakers in red shake up S’Africa parliament

outh African President Jacob Zuma was elected for a second five-year term by parliament yesterday, as radical lawmakers shook up the normally staid proceedings. An attempt by the opposition to have Zuma declared unfit for office because of alleged graft that was deemed to be in conflict with the constitution was brushed aside and he was elected unopposed. Zuma, who heads liberation leader Nelson Mandela’s African National Congress (ANC), had seen his personal image battered by a scandal over the spending of some $23 million dollars (17 million euros) of state funds on his rural home. But he was assured of a second term by the ANC-dominated parliament, which swept to power in elections earlier this month.

He is due to be sworn in on Saturday. The expected formality of the re-election was disturbed only by new lawmakers from the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), who turned up at parliament in bright red overalls, red hardhats and Wellington boots. The EFF charges that the ANC has betrayed the trust of poor black South Africans since taking power at the end of apartheid 20 years ago. The newly formed party, led by breakaway ANC youth league firebrand Julius Malema, won 25 seats in the 400-seat parliament in elections earlier this month. But the sole challenge to Zuma’s nomination came from the official opposition, the centrist Democratic Alliance, which did not put forward an alternative candidate once its ob-

jection had been rejected. The ANC lost ground compared to the previous elections in 2009, but still won an overwhelming victory with 62 percent of the vote. Before entering parliament, EFF lawmakers danced and sang revolutionary songs on the steps of the imposing building in central Cape Town as a light drizzle obscured the iconic Table Moun-

Calm returns in Malawi after election riots, voting extended Voting was extended into an unscheduled second day in Malawi’s riot-tainted election yesterday, as the country waited to see if a massive corruption scandal would scupper Joyce Banda’s bid for a second term. In Blantyre’s volatile Ndirande township, camouflage-clad riot police clutched automatic rifles as they helped direct as many as 15,000 voters queuing at a polling centre to cast their late ballots. Soldiers, deployed on Tuesday after sporadic rioting, stood at a distance with their rifles at the ready in a bid to ensure calm as voting was extended in 13 polling stations. Voters on Tuesday, furious at lengthy delays in the opening of the polls, burnt down voting centres and forced both police and electoral staff to flee for their lives.

Malian army flees Kidal amid rebel fighting

Mubarak and his two sons inside a cage during the sentencing in court.

time heir apparent, and Alaa, a wealthy businessman, are also being retried on separate corruption charges. A lone supporter of Hosni Mubarak staged a one-woman protest outside the Cairo police academy from early morning, clutching a poster of the former president. In court, a small number of journalists were joined by a handful of Mubarak loyalists. The aged former leader was seated in a wheelchair, his hair still improbably black. He was flanked by

WORLD BULLETIN

tain in the background. Members of parliament representing other parties wore traditional suits and frocks. Explaining the overalls -- which some MPs, including Malema, had tucked into Wellington boots -- lawmaker Mpho Ramakatsa told a news agency it was to prove they were there to represent the poor and the workers.

South Africa’s new left-wing MPs attended their first parliamentary session dressed as maids and miners.

Malian soldiers retreated from the northern town of Kidal yesterday after heavy gunbattles with ethnic Tuareg separatists, a major setback for the army less than a year after its highly unpopular return to the rebel stronghold. Fighting reignited early Wednesday in the town, according to residents who stayed inside their homes as the gunbattles intensified near the governor’s office. A weekend of violence was followed by a couple days without intense fighting. Capt. Remi, a spokesman with the French forces who did not give his last name in accordance with French military policy, said the Malian army was seen leaving the town later in the day. Over the weekend the rebels had stormed government buildings, killing at least eight civilians and taking more than 30 hostages who were later released.

‘ECOWAS war against malaria enters crucial stage’ The ECOWAS war against malaria will achieve a major milestone on ECOWAS Day, 28th May 2014 with the official launch of the application of anti-mosquito biolarvicide product during a ceremony at Aflao on the Ghana-Togo border, involving the armed forces of the region, National Malaria Progamme Managers and representatives of civil society organizations, among others. Lending total support to the strong participation of the military in the regional malaria elimination campaign and especially the official launch of biolarvicide application, participants of the just-ended military-civilian Training of Trainers Workshop in Accra, Ghana, recommended that the region’s armed forces should play a key role in the process in collaboration with the malaria control programmes of Member States, civil society and the communities.

World News

WORLD BULLETIN

Quake hits India’s east coast, no damage reported An earthquake of magnitude 6.0 struck off India’s east coast yesterday and the tremors were felt in several cities. The quake was centred 275 km (170 miles) southeast of the port of Paradip in the Bay of Bengal at a depth of 40 km, the United States Geological Service said. No tsunami warning was issued. Residents in a wide arc stretching from Odisha province, where Paradip is located, to the southern city of Chennai as well in Delhi in the north said they had felt tremors. No damage was immediately reported but a Reuters reporter in the eastern city of Cuttack said guests attending a wedding reception in a hotel had rushed out into the street, and that power and mobile phones had briefly gone off.

Iranian police arrest six over ‘Happy’ video Police in Iran have arrested six young people for posting a video online of them dancing to Pharrell Williams’ hit song “Happy,” showing them on state television as a public warning to youth in the Islamic Republic. The song has sparked similar videos all over the world, with people dancing down streets and smiling in choreographed crowds. However, in Iran, some see the trend as promoting the spread of Western culture, as laws in the Islamic Republic ban women from dancing in public or appearing outside without the hijab. The government also bans some Internet websites.

Thursday, May 22, 2014

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

‘Russia troops pulling back from Ukraine border’

ussia said yesterday that troops deployed for exercises near the Ukrainian border had dismantled equipment and were moving to train stations and airfields for return to their permanent bases, but NATO said it saw no sign of a pullout. The Kremlin said on Monday that President Vladimir Putin had told his defence chief to order troops to pull back from the frontier with Ukraine, where eastern regions have fallen largely under the control of proPro-Russian activists guard a checkpoint outside the eastern Ukranian city of Luhansk, yesterday. Photo: Reuters Russian rebels. After spending a day disman- were leaving the area and made no pro-Moscow separatists in the still seen no “visible evidence” tling field camps, packing and mention of two other provinces east. of a Russian troop withdrawal preparing military vehicles, that border eastern Ukraine. NATO has said Russia had from the border. forces in the Rostov, Belgorod “I wake up every morning A withdrawal, cooling Western amassed some 40,000 troops near and Bryansk provinces “have fears of a any immediate Rus- the border, adding to tension hoping to see a real and meanbegun to move toward train sta- sian intervention, could ease ten- since Russia’s annexation of the ingful withdrawal of Russian tions and airfields”, the Defence sion before Sunday’s presidential Crimea region which brought re- troops, but I have to tell you that Ministry said in a statement. so far we have not seen any viselection in Ukraine. The United lations to a post-Cold War low. It said troops were returning States and EU hope the vote will NATO Secretary-General An- ible evidence of a withdrawal,” to their permanent bases, but strengthen the central govern- ders Fogh Rasmussen said on Rasmussen told a news conferdid not specify how many troops ment in Kiev, which is fighting Wednesday that the alliance had ence in Sarajevo.

Prince Charles ‘compares Putin to Hitler’

rince Charles was mired in controversy yesterday after he reportedly compared the actions of Russian President Vladimir Putin in Ukraine to those of Adolf Hitler. The heir to the throne made the apparently unguarded comment during a trip to a museum in Canada, in conversation with a Polishborn woman who had fled the Nazis as a child. “I had finished showing him the exhibit and talked with him about my own family background and how I came to Canada,” Marienne

Ferguson told Britain’s Daily Mail newspaper. “The prince then said: ‘And now Putin is doing just about the same as Hitler’.” Ferguson, now 78, moved to Canada with her Jewish family when she was 13. She lost relatives in the Holocaust. “I must say that I agree with him and am sure a lot of people do,” she told the newspaper. But she added: “I was very surprised that he made the comment as I know they (the royal family) aren’t meant to say these things, but it was very heartfelt and honest.”

The remark made headlines around the world, and Russian media said it threatened to further “complicate” relations between Britain and Moscow. The future king and Putin are both attending commemorations marking the 70th anniversary of D-Day on June 6th, although royal aides said no formal meeting was scheduled. The prince’s office would not confirm his remarks but said he would not have intended to make a political statement.

Military sights abducted Chibok schoolgirls in Lake Chad region - Report

igeria’s Special Forces from the Army’s 7th Division have sighted and narrowed the search for the more than 250 abducted Chibok schoolgirls to three camps operated by the extremist Boko Haram sect north of Kukawa at the western corridors of the Lake Chad, senior military and administration officials have said. “It has been a most difficult but heroic breakthrough,” according to a senior military official in Abuja, who spoke with Premium Times. That claim was supported by another senior commander from the Army’s 7th Division, the military formation created to deal with the insurgency in the Northeast. The 7th Division is headquartered in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital. The breakthrough comes at a critical moment for the

Nigerian military that has faced cutting criticism over its handling of the kidnapping of the girls more than a month ago. The news is also key for the Maiduguri-based 7th Division a week after a humiliating mutiny by troops of its 101 battalion who fired at the General Officer Commanding the division, Ahmadu Mohammed, a Major General. Maj. Gen. Mohammed escaped unhurt, but has since been redeployed. The soldiers blamed him for the deaths of at least four of their colleagues killed near Chibok, a remote community in Borno State where the girls were taken captives April 14. But military insiders said Mr. Mohammed was targeted for daring to arrest the growing indiscipline within his troop. The abductions have sparked international outrage, with the United States,

United Kingdom, France and Israel, providing intelligence and surveillance assistance. According to Premium Times, Nigerian military officials coordinating the search and other officials in Abuja said Boko Haram insurgents split the girls into batches and held them at their camps in Madayi, Dogon Chuku and Meri, all around the Sector 3 operational division of the Nigerian military detachment confronting the group’s deadly campaign. Another source said there is a fourth camp at Kangarwa, also in Borno State. That claim could not be independently verified. “Our team first sighted the girls on April 26 and we have been following their movement with the terrorists ever since,” one of our sources said. “That’s why we just shake our heads when people insinuate that the military is

lethargic in the search for the girls.” The location of the abducted girls – north east of Kukawa – opens a new insight into the logistic orientation of Boko Haram, responsible for thousands of deaths in a five-year long insurgency. President Goodluck Jonathan said the group has killed at least 12,000 people so far – that’s minus the hundreds killed in a car bomb on Tuesday in Jos and the about 10 murdered on Sunday in Kano in a suicide bombing. But the details established by the military shows that while the world’s attention is focused on the Sambisa forest reserves, about 330 kilometres south of Maiduguri, the terrorists mapped a complex mission that began at Chibok, and veered north east of Sambisa, before heading to west of Bama and east of Konduga. With the sighting, officials fear that Boko Haram

militants may be seeking to create new options of escape all the way to Lo-goneEt Chari in Cameroon to its Southeast, Lake Chad to its east and Diffa in Niger Republic to its north, providing a multiple escape options in the event of hostile ground operations against it. Notwithstanding the sighting, the government is said not to be considering the use of force against the extremists, a choice informed by concerns for the safety of the students. But with growing local and international pressure, a likely option may be for the authorities to enter into talks with the group, whose leader, Abubakar Shekau, in a May 12 video broadcast, called for dialogue and “prisoner” swap with the government. The government has ruled out that option in the open but knowledgeable sources in Abuja hinted at

a possible “twin track” approach that includes open rejection and a closet engagement. “That option is not as bitter as you think in the face of the alternatives confronting us,” the source who has deep insight on the thinking of the administration, said. “Government is working hard to free the girls in less than one week, possibly before end of this week,” the source said. Defence spokesperson, Chris Olukolade, a Major General, told Premium Times he would not comment on the ongoing rescue operation. “You don’t expect me to tell you that the girls have been sighted or have not been sighted,” Mr. Olukolade said. “I will only say our team are working hard and taking note of every information provided to ensure that our girls are rescued without delay.”

Thursday May 22, 2014

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Sport

Union Bank, Dodan Warriors set for Lagos 53 showdown

The latest invitational tournaments were good. Butt the Commonwealth Games will be greaterr –Nigerian athlete, Blessing Okagbare

Supporters to depart for Brazil June 13 PAUL EREWUBA

W/Cup:

Nigeria will reach semi-finals

he Nigeria Football and other Sports Supporters Club will leave the shores of Nigeria for Brazil to cheer the Super Eagles at the 2014 FIFA World Cup on June 13. President General of the Club, Dr. Rafiu Ladipo, revealed this to National Mirror on Tuesday night during the flooped Fund Raising Dinner held in Lagos to facilitate the members’ trip. Dignitaries invited to the fund raising dinner did not attend except for the Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, who sent the Chairman, Union Bank of Lagos FC, Kayode Ojerinde, as his representative with no amount of money announced. Ladipo told reporters that the group requires about N800million for the travel expenses of at least 800 of its members in Brazil. “We want to make money so as to make supporters comfortable in Brazil. We have gotten our accommodation in Sao Paulo, Brazil. The NFF has also booked a befitting hotel for the players,” he said. Ladipo added, “President Goodluck Jonathan has made a donation of N50m to us, but we need more money for the project; that is why we are having this fund raising. This is the first phase, the second phase would be held in Abuja and the President has promised to mobilise the ‘big boys’ to help us.”

–Enyeama EVEREST ONYEWUCHI

uper Eagles first choice goalkeeper, Vincent Enyeama, has expressed confidence in Nigeria reaching the semi-finals of the imminent Brazil 2014 World Cup. The Lille FC of France safe hands, who is warming up for his third World Cup told FIFA. com that the Eagles were determined to set new African record at the Mundial.

“I think we are going to make big progress,” Enyeama said. “We are focused on the World Cup, to make Africa the proudest continent. Ghana almost reached the semi-finals four years ago. We are going to achieve a better result and be the first African team to get to the semi-finals of the World Cup.” Although Nigeria struggled at both Korea/Japan 2002 and South Africa 2010, 31-year-old Enyeama insisted that the Ea-

gles would qualify from Group F comprising Iran, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Argentina. It will be the third time in a row that Nigeria will be facing Argentina at the World Cup, but more importantly for the Nigeria deputy captain, a match-up with France in the second round could be on the cards. “If we play against France, it will be interesting, but if we play against Switzerland, it will also be interesting. The impor-

tant thing is to qualify. “Playing France for a place in the last eight is not really what matters to me right now; I just want the team to make it to the second round. But maybe we will come out first, and then we will not have to play against France.” Enyeama has enjoyed a highly successful season with Lille, helping the club to third in the league, keeping 21 clean sheets in the process and coming close to breaking the Ligue

1 record for a goalkeeper without conceding a goal and eventually winning the Marc-Vivien Foe award given to the best African player. However, those statistics are far from the most important thing to him. He said, “I don’t care about statistics. I just want to see how far I can go and help my team. When I am no longer effective, then I leave the scene. I also do not care to be the most-capped player in the history of the Super Eagles - things like that.”

Sports

Thursday May 22, 2014

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

AWC: Oparanozie, 17 other Falcons in Rwanda JOEL AJAYI ABUJA

Obinna Metu (left) will be a major absentee at Bahamas meet this weekend

uper Falcons Coach, Edwin Okon, has released his 18-woman team, including two foreign-based professionals, Onome Ebi and Desire Oparanozie, for the Africa Women Championship (AWC) qualifying match against Rwanda this weekend in Kigali Notable players missing in the team that traveled yesterday aboard an Ethiopian airliner to Addis-Ababa before connecting to Kigali were Gloria Ofoegbu, Lilian Cole, Uchechi Sunday and Glory Iroka. Surprised inclusions in the squad are captain of the under-17 girls that got to quarterfinals of the recently concluded FIFA U-17 World Cup in Costa Rica, Chiwendu Ihezuo, and two members of the U-20 Falconets,

Asisat Oshoala and Yetunde Adeboyejo. Executive Committee member of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Mrs. Dili Onyedinma, is leading the team that comprises four coaches and six officials.

The squad:

Goalkeepers: Precious Dede, Ibubeleye Whyte Defenders: Onome Ebi, Blessing Edoho, Ngozi Ebere, Mariam Ibrahim, Josephine Chukwunonye Midfielders: Evelyn Nwabuoku, Onyinyechi Ohadugha, Ngozi Okobi, Azizat Oshoala, Ceceilia Nku, Chioma Wogu, Stella Mbachu, Esther Sunday. Strikers : Desire Oparanozie, Chiwendu Ihezuo, Yetunde Adeboyejo

Golden Eaglets’ keepers train with dummies

G Bahamas 2014:

Injury hits Team Nigeria camp

igeria’s preparation for the inaugural edition of the IAAF World Relays holding in Bahamas this weekend has suffered a setback with injuries to top sprinter, Obinna Metu, and the trio of Bukola Abogunloko, Josephine Ehigie and Ada Benjamin. Reports from the camp yesterday also revealed that Rita Ossai and Chukwudike Harry had also joined the casualty list. But Athletics Federation of Nigeria ((AFN) is optimistic that the contingent will perform well at the event scheduled for the Thomas A. Robin-

son Stadium in Nassau. Female quartermiler, Patience Okon, left Nigeria late yesterday for the USA alongside winner of the men’s 400m in the last Golden League, Omeiza Akerele, to boost the team’s chances in Bahamas. Meanwhile, AFN President, Evangelist Solomon Ogba, has thanked Nigerians for their support while maintaining that the relays will be used to assess the strength of the country ahead of the Commonwealth Games scheduled for Glasgow. The IAAF Relays has attracted teams from more than 40 nations comprising more

than 500 athletes who form the best relay quartets on the planet, including USA, Jamaica, and Russia. The innovative two-day competition will see men and women compete in the 4x100m, 4x200m, 4x400m, 4x800m and 4x1500m in front of a capacity crowd for a total prize purse of $1.4 million. Any team that breaks a world record in Nassau will be awarded a USD $50,000 bonus by the IAAF while the top eight teams in the 4x100m and 4x400m will automatically qualify for the 2015 IAAF World Championships in Beijing.

olden Eaglets goalkeepers’ training yesterday became fun as two dummies that appeared like masquerades were introduced by Coach Emeka Amadi. The team’s Media Officer, Morakinyo Abodunrin, said the dummies decked in black and white, were actually goalkeeper’s dummies to stimulate the players’ interest to ensure proper training. “The goalkeeper’s dummy is nothing new because it is used in major top clubs and academies abroad; unfortunately, it is not yet a common feature here.

“The dummies are essential part of the training as it helps in sharpening reflexes and agility,” Amadi said. The keepers’ trainer added, “The beauty of the goalkeeper’s dummy is that you can actually collide with it without getting injured unlike the plastic type that was in vogue in the past and which is prone to accident.” One of the Eaglets’ goalkeepers, Benjamin Amos, said he was excited by the introduction of the dummies. “Training today was very interesting. It was a new experience to all of us, but we enjoyed every bit of it,” Amos said.

DAWN Games: Oyo edges Lagos, face Ogun in final IFEANYI EDUZOR

yo State football team yesterday stopped Team Lagos from reaching the final of the male football event at the ongoing DAWN Games at the Agege Stadium. The encounter saw Team Oyo scoring two quick goals in the first half of the match through Tajudeen Sodiq, while effort of Team Lagos to equalise could only produce a goal in the second half through Michael Andrew. In the other semi final match, Team Ogun beat Team Osun 1-0 to set up a final clash against Team Oyo today. The female final between

Lagos and Ogun will also be decided today. Meanwhile, the Permanent Secretary, Oyo State Ministry of Youth and Sports, Mrs. Modupe Omonigbehin, has expressed satisfaction with the games.

Lagos DOS, Tandoh

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Sports

Thursday May 22, 2014

Union Bank,

Dodan Warriors set for Lagos showdown Azuma Dike of Dodan Warriors going for a dunk against Union Bank player during their meeting in the first stanza of the DStv Premier Men’s Basketball League in Lagos

STORIES: PAUL EREWUBA

odan Warriors and Union Bank will compete tomorrow at the Indoor Sports Hall of the National Stadium, Lagos in what basketball enthusiasts have dubbed ‘40 minutes of hell’. With four games to end the season, Union Bank ties on points with the Warriors having played 10 games so far. In the first stanza, Warriors lost to Union by two points and in the ongoing stanza both have won same number of games, although Union Bank has defeated Warriors more. Indeed, it promises to be a tough game as Warriors will aim at out-dunking their opponents so as to make the remaining games a comfortable home cruise. Dodan Warriors Assistant Coach, Dosu Victor Mensah, underscores his team’s readi-

ness for battle. “I believe all the fans will be on the edge till the end of the game because we are ready,” Mensah said. “The players and coaching crew are on top of the game. We want to win on Friday because want a continental ticket this time around,” he added. On the level of officiating so far, Mensah said: “We want the league coordinator to look at the caliber of games before appointing referees for the game. For now, basketball is all about fans and if there is any reason that some of the matches involving top teams could be shifted to Saturday and Sunday. “Most of the teams are one man show with regard to welfare, with the exception of clubs like Islanders that receive support from the Lagos government, Police Team from the Police and Union Bank.”

NBBF boss banks on National Open

NBA: Heat out-dunks Pacers

he Miami Heat produced a fourth-quarter surge to claim an 8783 win and level their Eastern Conference final series against the Indiana Pacers at 1-1. The Pacers led 75-72 with just over five minutes to play but could not contain the defending champions with LeBron James and Dwyane Wade combining to score their final 20 points. Wade top scored for the Heat with 23 points while Lance Stephenson put up 25 for the home side. “That’s what it is about, it isn’t going to be pretty,” James said. “It’s never pretty basketball in the Eastern conference, it’s about who can sustain runs. “Who can get the defensive stops, who cannot turn the ball over and who can get great shots and I think we did that in the fourth.

“I needed to do something in fourth. I needed to make a few buckets in the fourth quarter and was able to come through for us. “We’re never satisfied until we close out a series so have a lot of work to do.”

Wade

resident of Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF), Alhaji Tijani Umar, has declared that the National Open will help to produce quality players for the national team. “We have declared the National Open in selecting players that will represent us at th the national team,” Umar n said. “Sometimes I justify it by “So o saying sayin n some home based players should join the foreign s based d ones. “The “T h NBBF’s plan of a National tiona al Women Open Championship is to ensure that pionss female fema a clubs in the country participate in at least one pa ar competition in the year. co c “The female league this year has been very tth interesting. The few days iin that th h the players stayed in Ilorin have prepared them Illo forr the second phase and fo from frro there we now select teams that will do the te e playoffs in Lagos.” p National Mirror

NBBF boss, Umar

learnt that half of the teams will drop in Ilorin while eight players will be in Lagos. “The league not only gives us the opportunity to select the two teams that will represent us at the continent, but to also get players that will play for us in the national team,” Umar explained, saying the federation looked forward to the impending AfroBasket qualifications.

Spurs edge City in Conference

T Duncan

he San Antonio Spurs took full advantage of Serge Ibaka’s absence to take first blood in the Western Conference final against Oklahoma City. Tim Duncan scored 27 points as the Spurs dominated inside in a 122-105 win in Texas. Tony Parker shrugged off a

hamstring complaint to add 14 points with 12 assists. “It was a great team win,” said Parker. “Everybody played well. Defense was pretty good so hopefully we can keep it going.” Kevin Durant had 28 points and Russell Westbrook 25 for the Thunder, but they could not find another significant

contributor. “We’re a no-excuse team,” Oklahoma City coach Scott Brooks said. “Serge is out. He’s not coming back. We have to play better. If we expect to beat one of the best teams in basketball, and a very good offensive team, we have to play and we’re not going to make an excuse.

Sports

Thursday May 22, 2014

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

countdown

England battles history, odds AFOLABI GAMBARI

ngland’s perennial under-achieving status was thought to have resulted from managerial issue at some point. The 1990s saw four managers, each in the role for a relatively brief period. Graham Taylor was Bobby Robson’s successor, but left after England failed to qualify for the 1994 World Cup. At Euro ’96, held in England, Terry Venables led the Lions to their best performance at a European Championship, reaching the semi-finals. He resigned following investigations into his financial activities. His successor, Glenn Hoddle, similarly left the job for nonfootballing reasons after just one international tournament-the 1998 World Cup-in which England was eliminated in the second round again by Argentina and again on penalties (after a 2–2 draw). Following Hoddle’s departure, Kevin Keegan took England to Euro 2000, but performances were disappointing and he resigned shortly afterwards. Swedish Sven-Goran Eriksson took charge of the team between 2001 and 2006 and was the first non-English manager of England. Despite controversial press coverage of his personal life, Eriksson was consistently popular with the majority of fans, guided the side to the quarter-finals of the 2002 World Cup and 2006 World Cup. He lost only five competitive matches during his tenure and England rose to number four in world ranking under his guidance. His contract ended after the 2006 World Cup. Steve McClaren was appointed as head coach, his reign yielding little success with England failing to qualify for Euro 2008. McClaren

was sacked unanimously by the Football Association after only 16 months in charge, making him the shortest-lasting full-time England manager since the inauguration of the post in 1946. He was replaced by the former Real Madrid and FC Juventus manager, Fabio Capello. Under Capello, England won all but one of its qualifying games for the 2010 World Cup. A 5–1 victory over Croatia at Wembley ensured the team qualified for the final tournament with two games to spare, a feat that had never been achieved before. At the 2010 World Cup itself England drew its opening two games leading to questions about the team’s spirit, tactics and ability to handle pressure. Even when the English team progressed to the next round, it was beaten 4–1 by Germany, its heaviest defeat in a World Cup. Capello resigned from m his role in February 2012, following wing a disagreement with the FA over its request to remove John Terry from team captaincy after accusations ccusations of racial abuse concerning rning the player. By May, Roy Hodgson n took over, just six weeks before Euro 2012 where England managed d to finish top of its group, winning ng two and d drawing one of their fixtures,, but exiting the tournament ament in the quarter-finals with yet another penalty shootoot-out defeat, this time to Italy taly. Despite the rather unenviable history, howwever, Brazil 2014 seems a looming breath of fresh h air. The Lions’ attack k

has Liverpool\’s forward, Daniel Sturridge, who has scored 24 goals this season and will be vital to England’s efforts. He is likely to be partnered by Manchester Unites striker, Wayne Rooney, who interestingly has fallen short at national team level. Perhaps, one of the most exciting, and terrifying parts of Hodgson’s selection is the fact that many of the players lack big-game experience. It is exciting because he has selected many young players, who possess a lot of talent, but Hodgson will still need players like

Rooney and Gerrard to lead by example. As much as England needs its experienced players to perform, it also needs its defensive players to be playing to the best of their abilities. But defence is definitely England’s weakest area. Most of the defenders are making their World Cup debut, and their opposition will be looking to exploit that. Right-back could be a point of weakness for England because if Glen Johnson is hurt, it is likely that Chris Smalling or Phil Jones

Rooney still holds the ace

ayne Rooney became the youngest player to play for England when he earned his first cap in a friendly against Australia on February 12, 2003 at 17; the same age at which he also became the youngest player to score a n England goal. His first tourn a ment action

was at Euro 2004, in which he became the youngest scorer in competition history on June 17, 2004, when he scored twice against Switzerland. Rooney top scored for England in their 2010 201 World Cup qualifying campaign with nine campa goals; one behin behind the UEFA section’s overall top goal scorer, Theofanis Gekas, of Greece. Gek November 14, 2009, On Novem Rooney captained England for the first time in a pre-tournament friendly l with Brazil. zil 2014 may B r a be his best chance at c proving skeptics provi because he fiwrong be nally has a st strike partner in Daniel Sturridge, who will Sturrid bury the chances that Rooney makes for him. Indeed, if England must progress far in pr Brazil, Rooney will wi need to perform at his very best. b

will deputise for him. Jones and Smalling can play in multiple positions. The duo offer depth, but they both endured mixed seasons with Manchester United and it could lead to a lack of confidence which could be exploited by world-class opposition, such as Uruguay’s Luis Suarez, who they face in the group stage. FACT-FILE Capital: London Population: 53.01million Association: The Football Association Appearances: 13 (First in 1950) FIFA Ranking: 11th Best Outing: Winner in 1966 Nickname: The Three Lions Record Scorer: Bobby Charlton (49) Most Capped Player: Peter Shilton (125) Captain: Steven Gerrard Coach: Roy Hodgson

Group Matches Saturday, June 14 vs Italy (Manaus) Thursday, June 19 vs Uruguay (Sao Paulo) Tuesday, June 24 vs Costa Rica (Belo Horizonte)

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

STORIES: ABIODUN NEJO ADO EKITI

eadership of the All Progressives Congress, APC, yesterday expressed concern over the spate of insecurity in the country, particularly Tuesday’s twin bomb blasts in Jos, Plateau State, in which about 200 Nigerians lost their lives. The party’s leaders including Major General Muhammadu Buhari; Senator Bola Tinubu; Imo State governor, Rochas Okorocha; APC national spokesman, Alhaji Lai Mohammed; and the Director General of Kayode Fayemi Campaign Or-

Politics

Thursday, May 22, 2014

Why we held mega rally –APC •National leaders, govs endorse Fayemi ganisation, KFCO, Hon Bimbo Daramola said the APC, though pained by the attendant loss of lives, continued with its mega rally in Ekiti State to effect change that would bring about security in the country. Speaking yesterday at a mega rally in Ado Ekiti, where the party’s flag was presented to Fayemi as its candidate for the June 21 governorship election and endorsement of the governor for another term by fellow APC governors,

the APC leadership condemned the President Goodluck Jonathan administration for alleged ineptitude in taming the Boko Haram insurgency, saying APC was set to offer the much needed change desired by Nigerians. Buhari, who spoke against the rising wave of killings in the country, said that the APC had “competent hands to steer the ship of the nation. It is a party I believe in and have conviction that can

bring Nigeria out of its present situation.” Tinubu said APC is the cure to Nigeria’s headache in the areas of unemployment, killings, ineptitude, adding that “in Ekiti State, Fayemi is the doctor”. He told the electorate that the June 21 election was an opportunity to show their rejection of the PDP, adding: “God forbids the reversal of the fortunes of the state. Election is not a tea-party. You have to be ready. Do not sell your votes or be bought

L-R: Former governor of Ekiti State, Mr. Segun Oni; Deputy Governor, Prof. Modupe Adelabu; Interim National Chairman, All Progressives Congress, APC, Chief Bisi Akande; Governor Kayode Fayemi; his wife, Erelu Bisi; National Leader, APC, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and former Head of State, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (rtd), during the presentation of party flag to Fayemi, ahead of the June 21 governorship election in the state, in Ado-Ekiti, yesterday.

Rally, height of insensitivity –Fayose

eoples Democratic Party, PDP, governorship candidate in Ekiti State, Mr Ayodele Fayose, has described the mega rally held by the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, attended by the party’s national leaders and governors yesterday as the height of insensitivity in the face of the Jos twin bomb blasts which claimed about 120 lives. Fayose said: “We expect APC leadership and the ruling party in the state to be patriotic enough to cancel the rally in honour of the victims of the bomb blast.” Speaking yesterday at a press conference to announce the suspension of the party’s mega rally and presentation of to him by President Goodluck Jonathan, earlier billed for the Kayode Oluyemi Stadium today, Fayose said: “The Ayo Fayose Campaign Or-

ganisation, AFCO, after an emergency meeting this morning has decided to suspend the ongoing political campaign in honour of the victims of the blast. “We believe that the life of any Nigerian is more precious than the political ambition of any person. As my party candidate, I share the grief and sorrow of the victims and their families. I share their pain and I pray that God will give them the fortitude to bear the loss.” Lamenting that there was political dimension to the bombings, he said: “I begin to see these as distraction. Each time the Federal Government wants to do the needful to move the country forward, they always come up with distraction. “I lay this at the doorstep of the APC. This distraction is from those who feel Jonathan should not

over by the PDP.” Governors Okorocha (Imo), Rauf Aregbesola (Osun) and Adams Oshiomhole (Edo) said their support for Fayemi was borne out of the solid and enduring legacies he had laid in Ekiti in the last four years. Okorocha, who called out other governors in attendance to present their endorsements of Fayemi, told the governor: “Let me prophesy on this 21st day of May that your victory has been signed sealed and delivered.” Fayemi, flanked by his wife, Bisi; deputy, Prof Modupe Adelabu; and House of Assembly Speaker, Hon Adewale Omirin, appreciated the people for their support, assuring: “What we have seen are the first fruits of what can happen when we pull together and work together.” Using the occasion to present his agenda for second term, Fayemi said: “By the grace of God and

DAYS TO GO with your invaluable help, we are once again lifting the flag of our great party to run in the gubernatorial race, and we are confident you will give us your vote. “Elections are choices and as we prepare for the polls to be held on Saturday, June 21, it is important that we understand that the elections will go beyond merely choosing between people or parties, but choosing the principles that we want to define us and what sort of Ekiti State we want to build. “Consequently, the governorship elections will confront us with an ideological and a moral choice.”

Accord blames politicians for Ekiti woes

ccord in Ekiti State has blamed imported politicians for Ekiti woes, saying capital flight and overbearing economic godfatherism are the major factors causing poverty in Ekiti-State. Accord candidate for the June 21 governorship election, Barrr Kole Ajayi, speaking while addressing party supporters at Ilu-Omoba Ekiti in Gboyin council area yesterday, said the idea of foreigners ruling the state since 1999 had been a source of woe. Ajayi said that people coming to superintend over Ekiti are people that do not understand Ekiti values and they have led

the state to total economic decimation as a result of capital flight. He said that the present administration had made things worse in view of overbearing godfatherism. Imploring Ekiti people that the only solution to bad governance in the state was through a homebased government to preserve the wealth of Ekiti State to reside in Ekiti, Ajayi cautioned Ekiti people of the danger that money politics portended, saying that when they collected money from candidates, “the resultant effect is paying back in hundred folds when they get into government.”

contest the 2015 Presidential election. They cannot stop Jonathan and they cannot stop the country from moving forward.” But spokesperson for Kayode Fayemi Campaign Organisation, Mr Dimeji Daniels, who described Fayose’s assertion as attempt to draw cheap public sympathy, said: “After all, Nigerians know which party was dancing azonto in Kano and popping champagne in Ibadan few hours after many were killed in the Nyanya ex-

plosion in Abuja.” Saying that it was strange for the PDP which is in control of the government at the centre to accuse others of its numerous failings, Daniels added that it was on record that APC governors and leaders have shown more concern for victims of insurgency in the country “in the way they have always cared for the victims through donations and love, way before the PDP-led government woke up from its lethargy.”

OLAJIDE OMOJOLOMOJU

Ex-Gov Oni identifies with opposition party

ormer governor of Ekiti State under the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Engr. Segun Oni, formally identified with the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, yesterday at the party’s mega rally in Ado Ekiti.

Oni, who was said to have defected alongside his supporters to the APC last month, showed up at yesterday’s mega rally, saying that a new political order is being put in place in the state to ensure that the people enjoy dividends of democracy.

Saying that Ekiti people must ensure that Fayemi is voted back to office massively on June 21 to make more difference in their lives, Oni added: “We are not here to enthrone mediocrity, but for Ekiti people to have a government that our children will benefit from.

“Anybody that our children will not see as a role model, I will never endorse such a person. We don’t want a governor who will pass under the barbed wire. We can no longer afford a governor that people will be asking Ekiti people what is wrong with them.”

WORLD RECORD

Heaviest building moved intact

N150

Vol. 04 No. 857 Thursday, May 22, 2014

The heaviest building moved intact is the Fu Gang Building at West Bank Road Wuzhou, in the Guangxi Province of China. It was successfully relocated by the Guangzhou Luban Corporation on 10 November 2004.

North’s dependence on oil and festering terrorism

he ongoing national conference has been fraught with some very controversial issues one of which is resource control. Already, the South-South and Northern delegates are locked in fierce altercation. If the last debate on the issue at the confab had lasted for 30 more minutes, insults and fisticuff would have ensued. Such is the fervor with which such engaging issues are debated. The northern delegates have never flinched while openly canvassing for their region in a manner that irks the South. Thereisacertainpredispositionfromthenortherneldersattheconfabthatsomehavedescribedas arrogance. It appears they want to lord it over the Niger Deltans to control their God given resources. The self-acclaimed marginalised Nigerians from the South-South have argue that the Federal Government, oil majors and Nigerian elite have grown fat and rich on petrodollars from the oil of their region, while neglecting the people from the region to groan in the squalor of pollution and environmen-

wo-time NBA Champion and Basketball Hall-of-Famer, Hakeem Olajuwon, was yesterday named NBA Ambassador to Africa and will play a prominent role in the development of basketball on the continent. Olajuwon will work

Guest Columnist

Theophilus

Ilevbare

taldegradationof explorationactivities. In the most dishonest manner, northern leaders have taken a stand in the face of profoundly disturbing spate of bloodletting; they blame the poverty in the North on the 13 percent derivation of oil revenue given to Niger Delta. Recently, Governor Murtala Nyako in his letter to Northern Nigeria Governors’ Forum, made allusion to this deposing that poverty and illiteracy have festered terrorism, which would have been considerably reduced if the revenue from oil were more equitably distributed. Niger Delta elders saw such comments as unfair and a lack of appreciation of the status of oil-producing states. Governor Nyako failed to realise that there are also non-oil producing states in the South who receive meager allocations like those in the north, but have managed to steer the ship of state aright. Former governor of Central Bank, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, in his hey days shared similar sentiments, attributing the upsurge of violence in the North and the rabid Islamism that snowballed into Boko Haram and other terror groups to the uneven distribution of the country’s wealth. Add the raging clamour for power shift to the North in 2015, then you get a bunch of ‘elders’ who are self-serving, whose parochial interest to gain juicy contracts, corner oil blocs and privileged appointments is their motivation. They care less if poverty, diseases and illiteracy is ravaging the ordinary northerner. Northern elders should be more concerned about keeping our nation united at this trying time. Above anything else, leaders of the North have failed to call their youths who run the state ragged with mindless killings and abductions to

PLATEAU, NASARAWA AND ADAMAWA, AMONG OTHER STATES IN THE REGION, HAVE DISCOVERED OVER

32 DIFFERENT MINERALS RANGING FROM TIN TO

SILVER, GOLD TO LEAD AND COLUMBITE order. Theirs remind us of the Niger Delta restiveness. Oil installations were vandalised and sundry militant activities to boot, the elders in this region called the youths together with their leaders in the creeks and presented the FG’s amnesty programme to them. The rest today, is history. Amid the horrendous terrorism unleashed on Nigerians, the elders of the North have been unable to call those responsible to order. These are the issues that they ought to grapple, because with rising insecurity, no meaningful development can take place even with so much oil money to spend. However, the issue of resource control and revenue allocation formula is so contentious that none of the revenue sharing formulas adopted at various time by different regimes since 1964 has gained general acceptability with the Nigerian people. It is instructive to note, that under the Independence Constitution, derivation weight in the revenue allocation formula was 50 percent. That was the time of groundnut pyramids, cotton, tin, hides

and skin that were produced by the North. But as soon as oil became Nigeria’s main foreign exchange earner, derivation was downplayed. At a time under the military it was less than three percent. The current 13 percent was a compromise made possible by the new democratic order in 1999. From the foregoing, it is glaring that derivation has essentially become a political rather than economic tool. The practice of true fiscal federalism in the USA ensured that resource states such as Texas flowing with oil, pay only taxes to the federal government. That is what the people of Niger Delta want. Government should empower each federating unit to control its own resources. According to the late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, revenue from resource control should accrue to individuals, not the state, and power should be devolved to the federating units. This he espoused as a veritable tool for rapid regional development. The standard of living of Nigerians was higher when the initial three regions of North, East and West, and later four when Mid West was created, were operational during the First Republic. During this era, poverty rate was 16 percent. Now it is 75 percent. Then, agriculture accounted for about 80 percent of Nigeria’s export earnings. What happened to the abundant mineral deposits in the North? Plateau, Nasarawa and Adamawa, among other states in the region, have discovered over 32 different minerals ranging from tin to silver, gold to lead and columbite. Individuals from those areas are allowed to mine these resources with the revenue accruing to them but oil revenue from the South-South is the one that must be shared at Abuja among the 36 states of the federation and FCT. The current arrangement that all oil discoveredonandoff shorebelongstotheNigerianstate has to change with the window that the national conference presents. Those who bear the brunt of the degradation and other hazards of oil exploration that has destroyed the ecosystem of littoral states should be in control of their resources. Ilevbare, a public affairs commentator, could be engaged on twitter, @ tilevbare and his blog, http://ilevbare. com.

Sport Extra

Olajuwon bags ‘NBA Ambassador to Africa’ job closely with the NBA Africa office, which is located in Johannesburg and led by Amadou Gallo Fall, NBA Vice President for Development in Africa. The Nigerian will rep-

resent the NBA through a range of basketball development events and NBA Cares activities across the region to help grow the game, give back to communities in need, and bring

attention to diplomacy through sport. Olajuwon, who described the honour as amazing, said: “Basketball has given me so much in life. “In this new role I am

looking forward to impacting young Africans and using sport to help change lives in what is an exciting new chapter in my career.” Olajuwon was selected with the number one pick in the 1984 NBA Draft, becoming the first African player selected first overall.

Olajuwon

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