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10 THE NATION TUESDAY, APRIL 28, 2015 CITYBEATS YOUTHS yesterday blocked the Eko Electricity Distribution Company (EKEDC) office in Badagry, Lagos, over poor power supply. They burnt tyres on the firm's premises, while chanting war songs. The protesters brandished placards with the inscriptions: "Don't throw Badagry into darkness," "Don't you want light in your life?", "Stop giving us bills" and "Leave here if you can't give us light". There was heavy traffic as the protesters blocked a portion of the road where the firm is located. Mr Olayinka Okoya, the leader of the group, told NAN that there has been no light in Badagry in the past three weeks. "We have had more than enough of this. They do not give us light yet they bring bills at the end of the month and the bills are as high as N120, 000. "Despite the fact that we do not have light, officials of EKEDC would come to our houses and cut us off even after we pay bills for power that we do not get. "We have been living in darkness for the past one month; we have complained several times, yet nothing has been done about it, so we decided to come out and express our grievances. "This must stop, we must be given power and outrageous bills must stop because we A42-YEAR-OLD Mus lim cleric,Abdulateef Ibrahim, is being detained by the Lagos State Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) for allegedly duping 34 accommodation seekers of over N5 million. The suspect hails from Agbekun in Ifelodun Local Government Area of Kwara State, but lives in Orile- Iganmu in Lagos. He is said to have absconded after collecting money from the victims for one-room, a-room-and-aparlour, self-contained apartments and mini-flats without meeting their demands. After waiting for long, 10 of the applicants forced themselves into some of the apartments, fixed doors and windows, and moved in. Lagos Police Command's spokesperson Ken Nwosu, a Deputy Superintendent •The protesters...yesterday cannot take this anymore," he said. EKEDC officials declined to comment. Hoodlums cashed in on the situation to harass motorists and loot some shops. Sachets of "pure" water were thrown at passersby and motorists; broken bottles littered the road. Some roadside shops and a Prospective tenants lose N5m to developer By Ebele Boniface (DSP), said the suspect claimed to be an estate agent/developer. Nwosu quoted the suspect as saying that he collected N950, 000 from his motherin-law to develop and let out her plot at 2, Odumola Street in Ajegunle, Lagos. After collecting between N100, 000 and N400, 000 from each of the victims, the suspect claimed he used the money to build the house. His arrest followed the landlady's petition to the Commissioner of Police, Kayode Aderanti. Defending himself, Ibrahim said: "My in-law gave me an old house at 2, Odumola Street, Ajegunle. I was a bricklayer and cement supplier for six years. On March 27, my in-law gave me N450, 000 to renovate the house. When it finished, she Youths protest power outage in Badagry mini-mart at a nearby Mobil Petrol station were looted. A passerby, Miss Morenike Ajayi, told NAN of her ordeal with the protesters. "I was just walking on my own when "pure" water sachets were thrown at me, what is my business with their protest or did I say the power supply should be bad? "I did not deserve such attack and it was uncalled for," she said. Mr Audu Ali, a tricycle operator, said his phone was stolen. "Some boys who were among the protesters just came to me and snatched my phone and quickly joined the crowd. "I don't know how I will get another phone and this is not fair at all," he said. The Divisional Crime Officer, Badagry Police Division, Aletor Peter, a Deputy Superintendent (DSP) told NAN that attendants at the Mobil Petrol station reported to the police that their shop was looted. He said investigation had begun into the incident. Lagos gives 100 vehicles to monarchs THE Lagos State Government has bought no fewer than 100 vehicles for traditional rulers and chiefs, Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs Commissioner Ademorin Kuye said yesterday. Speaking at the 2015 Ministerial Press Briefing in Ikeja, he said the vehicles would help the beneficiaries in the discharge of their duties. Kuye said the government was committed to the welfare of obas, adding: "With these vehicles and more that we have provided for our obas and chiefs, we can boldly say our traditional rulers are the most taken care of in the whole of the country. "We see traditional rulers as partners in progress and we will continue to do our best to make them comfortable,'' he said. Kuye said government was building new palaces and renovating old ones to enhance the comfort of traditional rulers. He said the palaces of the Alara of Ilara, the Ayangburen of Ikorodu and Suenu had just been furnished. The commissioner said government processed about 44 applications for the recognition and upgrade of chieftaincy stools in the last one year. The Chieftaincy Standing Tribunal of Enquiry, he said, had begun inquiry into applications for upgrade to Obaship from some divisions. He said the government approved seven new chiefs and Baales in Epe/Ibeju division of the state within the period under review. Kuye named the new chiefs as Prince Adewale (Iwajoba of Akodo), Rafiu Bello (Baale of Okun-Ise), Raufu Mustapha (Baale of Okun-Tiye), Raufu Alaka (Olisa of Orimedu), Lamoriu Adekoya (Apebi of Orimedu), Babatunde Lamidi (Aro of Orimedu) and Kabiru Ganni (Losi of Orimedu). Woman robbed inside Keke Marwa ONE man has been ar rested by the police for allegedly robbing a woman inside a tricycle (aka Keke Marwa). She was attacked by a robber who pretended to be a passenger, at Guinness Bus stop on Oba Akran Avenue, Ikeja. They were coming from the nearby Ashade Market, Agege. The robber reportedly ordered the woman to surrender her belongings at gunpoint. The robber also slapped the tricycle driver and ordered him to surrender his key. Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) operatives ar- By Ebele Boniface rested the tricycle driver, Sodiq Adefowope (27), who confessed working with the robber whose name he gave as Moruf. While parading Adefowope yesterday, police described Moruf as the leader of the tricycle riders' robbery gang. According to the police, the gang terrorises passengers in the night and robs them of their valuables. The police said: "The woman boarded a tricycle at Ashade Market, and going to her destination (withheld for security reasons) when •Ibrahim gave me another N500, 000 but she could not give me more money to continue. To save the building from collapsing due to the coming rainy season, I put the apartments up for let. "I collected N5, 000,170 from 33 applicants and spent the whole money on the building. As I am talking to you now, I don't have one kobo in the bank or house.’ all of a sudden the Keke Marwa rider stopped for the first passenger to alight but to her greatest surprise, the passenger instead of alighting started threatening the woman with short gun and ordered her to surrender her bag containing huge sum of money. "Having obliged by surrendering her bag, the robber slapped the Keke Marwa rider and ordered him to go to the back seat which he complied; the woman did not know that they are of the same gang." Adefowope, who hails from Oro in Asa Local Government Area of Kwara State confirmed that Moruf is a member of his gang. He said: "But, to be frank with you, I did not know that Moruf will strike because he was telling me about their exploits the day before. I would not have carried him if I knew that he had the intention to rob the woman. But I blame myself because I know that a criminal can strike anytime and anywhere unless he is not a real criminal, which was my miscalculation. "The game is up; there is no need to hide anything. When we reached Guinness Bus stop, Moruf attacked the woman with a locally made gun and carried her bag. Before he escaped, he took over my Keke Marwa steering and started the Keke Marwa. I was dumbfounded because I never expected it. "Since I did not have alternative, I cooperated with him for the robbery operation to be successful but see what is happening now, he has escaped, I am the only one suffering. "If I am released, I will be careful in life because it was carelessness and carefree life style that put me into this mess." CITYBEATS LINE: 09091178827 ‘Be fire safety conscious’ By Wale Adepoju NIGERIANS have been urged to be fire safety conscious to prevent loss of lives and property. A fire safety expert, Mr Franklin Akinmokun, gave the charge at the International Bio-medicals Laboratory Science Day organised by the Association of Medical Laboratory Scientists of Nigeria (AMLSN), Lagos State branch. The theme was: "Safety starts with you: patient safety first." He said despite precautionary measures, fire still occurs, adding: "Time is of the essence in fire prevention." Besides, people must have necessary equipment, such as fire extinguishers in their cars, homes and workplaces, among others to quell fire. They should have fire stations' telephone numbers in case of an emergency, he added. Akinmokun, a fire fighter with the Federal Fire Service (FFS), said fire does not kill but its smoke does. Moreover, it takes four minutes for people to stop breathing before they die. "Before people's hearts stop beating, they can be saved by performing chest compression (CPR) to restart the heart or call emergency response team, such as ambulance services. People should learn safety tips, especially CPR. Fire fighters should be contacted as soon as possible when there is a fire to put it out," he said. He identified fuel, heat and oxygen as the three elements of fire. Akinmokun said since fire safety concerns safety of lives, property and environment, people should install in their homes and offices smoke detectors to track fire as soon as it starts. Fire, he said, is the greatest threat to life and property. "Investment acquired in years can be razed within minutes if nothing is done fast to stop a fire," he said. •CP Kayode Aderanti
THE NATION TUESDAY, APRIL 28, 2015 11 THE NATION BUSINESS E-mail:- bussiness@thenationonlineng.net Institute signs MoU with agency to monitor hotels From Bukola Amusan, Abuja THE National Institute for Hospitality and T o u r i s m , (NIHOTOUR) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Trans African Homes and Estate Management Services to monitor and regulate the activities of hotels in the country. The Director of NIHOTOUR, Chika Balogun who signed the MoU on behalf of her agency said it is always ready to work with sister agencies that will make its work easier. She said NIHOTOUR is highly disturbed with the ways some hotels are being operated in the country where rules, standards and regulations are not being considered in their operations “We are partnering with the Trans African homes and estate management services to boost the services of hotels in the country, to train hotel staffs and assess their services and operations periodically “We are worried over the state of some hotels in our cities and it is time we start to proffer sanctions to hotels that fail to operate within the approved guidelines,” she said. She added that training of hotel workers will assist in boosting the revenue of hotels so that a unique selling point can also be maintained in their services. Chairman, Trans African Homes and Estate Management Services said the agency embarked on the partnership in order to bridge the gap in the way hotels are being managed in the country. He said the agency will work with NIHOTOUR to recognise hotels that can be worked with in the first phase of the exercise. Oil COMMODITY PRICES Cocoa Coffee Cotton DATA STREAM $58/barrel $2,686.35/metric ton ¢132.70/pound ¢95.17pound Gold $1,396.9/troy Sugar $163/lb RATES Inflation 8% Treasury Bills -10.58%(91d) Maximum lending 30% Prime lending 15.87% Savings rate 3% 91-day NTB 15% Time Deposit 5.49% MPR 13% Foreign Reserve $34.5b NIGERIA’s bid to mi grate to digital broadcasting in the next two months may be a mirage after all, as about 95 per cent of television boxes in Nigeria are analogue. Executive Director, Pinnacle Communications Mr. Dipo Onifade, said the Nigerian Broadcasting Commission (NBC) has been deceiving Nigerians about the project. Onifade whose firm won a bid to distribute signals to homes alleged that the planned Jos digital switchover was a hoax, designed to deceive Nigerians and the Federal Governmen into thinking that the sqitchover is about to commence. He insisted that it will be impossible for the country to distribute 26 million boxes to households in Nigeria before the deadline. Besides, there is a pending legal action before the law THE Ogun State govern ment yesterday signed an agreement with the Chinese Civil Engineering Construction Company (CCECC) for the construction of inter and intra-city railway project to commence soon. While the Secretary to the State Government(SSG), Mr Adeoluwa Taiwo, signed the contract documents on behalf of the state government, the Chairman of the construction firm, Mr Cao BaoGang, signed for it. Governor Ibikunle Amosun and his Works Commissioner, Arc. Lekan Adepite served as witnesses • 95% households yet to get set-top boxes • Jos launch a hoax From Vincent Ikuomola, and Kehinde Ore court which could also hamper the country’s switchover plan before the deadline. The Geneva 2006 Agreement sets 17 June this year as the date after which countries may not be able to use the frequencies currently assigned for analogue television transmission for digital services, without being required to protect the analogue services of neighbouring countries against interference. This date is generally regarded as the internationally agreed date for analogue switch-off date along national borders. The Broadcasting Organisation of Nigeria (BON) had recently allayed the fears that the country will be switched off from the international community should it fail to meet up with the June 17 digital switch over deadline. But Onifade, explained that plans by Nigeria to migrate to digital broadcasting by June 17 might have hit a brick wall, following the apparent unpreparedness on the part of the Federal Government to meet the deadline. On why he felt the country was not prepared for the digitaal switch on, Onifade said more than 95 per cent of television boxes in Nigeria are analogue while 26 million households are yet to get these boxes barely two months to the deadline. Commercial banks are not manufacturing-friendly as their interest rates are usually very high; therefore, commercial banks remain a major challenge to the sector. Even the Bank of Industry’s (BoI) framework, which pegs interest rate at nine per cent, only finances machinery acquisition; it does not cater for working capital. -MAN President, Dr Frank Jacobs Nigeria far from digital migration, says Pinnacle chief He also noted that the current arrangement favours foreign media companies; accusing the NBC of conniving with a South African-based firm to shut out indigenous firms from participating in the process. He added that every household in Nigeria will be compelled to pay over N6,000 in order to secure the set-top boxes in order to enjoy the dividends of the digital migration. He said: “We are talking about digital switchover. Nigeria is nowhere near being ready to switchover. This takes time. About 95 per cent of television boxes in Nigeria are analogue. How are you going to distribute 26 million boxes to households in Nigeria before the deadline? These issues have not been ironed out; so, we are not ready to migrate. • From left: Chairman, Jaiz Bank Plc, Dr Umaru Mutallab; Vice President Namadi Sambo and Managing Director of the bank, Mr Muhammed Nural-Islam, during their courtesy visit to the Vice President at the Presidential Villa in Abuja...yesterday. Consumers seek independence as NERC offers to fund advocacy From John Ofikhenua and Ayorinde Hope, Abuja WITH one voice, elec tricity consumers yesterday told the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission ( NERC) not to temper with the independence of the Nigerian Electricity Consumer Advocacy Network (NECAN). The interaction was all at the inaugural meeting of the commission with the group in Abuja. Their fears was that since NERC would provide the take-off fund for the running of the affairs of NECAN, the commission would not allow it the desired autonomy to operate effectively. Representative of Golden Spring Estate, Sylvester Ugu said the platform has been for customers to build upon and do their homework. He said: “I think the proper thing to do is to have our independence, and it is for the association to get registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC). That takes it off from NERC and NERC will now be making recommendations.” Besides, representative of Lafarge Cement, Dr. Abdullahi Buba said there was suspicion even if it was not based on fact. “So I still want to emphasise on the risk of independence. From the document you have presented, I want to say more on the mitigating aspect, that this body is independent of NERC, but it must be seen to be independent of this body.” The commission had in its terms of reference for the development of framework for engaging consumer advocacy groups in the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI) maintained that it would provide a start-grant for the Corporate Head Office of the NECAN. The terms of reference reads: “The start-up grant will incorporate office furniture and utilities, salaries for its core staff for two years, and a funding for some of its consumer education and outreach activities. Ogun, Chinese firm seal intra-city railway deal From Ernest Nwokolo, Abeokuta in a ceremony attended by the Chinese Consul-General, in Nigeria, Lin Kan. Although discussion about the cost implication is still ongoing between the two parties, it is estimated that about $3billion will be spent on the project while the construction work would take at least three years to be completed. On completion, the railway project is expected to ring the four divisions of the state and places such as Abeokuta- Sagamu-Lagos, Ilaro, Agbara Industrial Estate and Idiroko. Other places to be linked with the rail project include Papalanto, Lafenwa in Abeokuta, Ijoko - Ota, Alagbole, Akute and parts of Ijebuland, the Redeemed Christian Church of God(RCCG) area (Sagamu) and that of the Winners Chapel (Otta). In justifying the need for the rail system, Amosun said the project upon completion, would take the much pressure off the roads as well as boost commerce and industries in the Gateway State. The governor however said the work on the railway project wont commence until ongoing roads and bridges being built in the state are completed with the laying of the last asphalt. According to him, emphasis would also be placed on building rural roads to open communities and villages in the state for rapid socio-economic growth and development. While urging CCECC to work round the clock and ensure the project reaches an appreciable stage when the state would clock 40 years by February next year, Amosun said it will redefine the landscape of the state and also engender the desired development. Amosun said: “No doubt, this is an important day in the history of our dear state. This agreement signing with the Chinese company for the rail project, when completed, will complement our road infrastructure all over the state. “Apart from infrastructural development, it will also attract bring to our state, it will also create jobs for our people and as well as quicken the movèment of persons and goods across the state. “Like I always emphasise, without functioning and proper infrastructure, we cannot develop. This step we are taking today will help in technology transfer and bring positive impact on the lives of our people.”
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