NIGERIAN BEMOANS IN LAW’S FATE OVER EARTH QUAKE IN NEPAL

W-O-R-L-D  E-X-C—L-U-S-I-V-E

NIGERIAN BEMOANS IN LAW’S FATE OVER EARTH QUAKE IN NEPAL

BY ABDULMUMINI ADEKU

………………………………………At  least 4,000 people are believed dead

………………………………………….over 6,500 believed injured as at press time.

……………………………………………….Dozen killed in China,Tibet and China

…………………………………………….At least 200 Climbers rescued in and around Mount Everest

……………………………………………Reports of  at least 70 percent houses destroyed ,according to Associated Press.

A Nigerian,Mrs Susan Annette Adeoba,A former Senior Special Adviser to the Lagos state Government on Technical Education  and a member of the Editorial and Policy Board of E.N.M. Paedia Express Multimedia Group is currently in a state of shock over the recent earthquake in the land locked and mountainous nation called Nepal,just north of India.

In an exclusive conversation with this reporter, Mrs Adeoba while thanking God almighty for the safety of her younger sister who was  in that country but left barely two weeks to the unfortunate tragedy said it was still too early for the family to know whether any of her in laws  were involved.

British Born ,Mrs Adeoba who has been married to a Nigerian since 1974 revealed that the nation had been expecting an earthquake for the past 80 years but did not really know when nature will strike.

According to her,she has been to Kathmandu,Nepal in 2006  when her niece got married and she knew very well that the nation was very poor in basic infrastructure.

Adeoba Speaks:”The roads are very narrow, they have just one airport”

“I even recall that there was a problem with an aeroplane on the runway during our trip and it took them at least one week before they could get a crane from neighboring India to pick it up”

“It is a very poor nation indeed and the two main industries are the cottage industries and its tourism sector,my younger sister and her daughter travel there at least three times in  ayear”

“All the ancient temples and the little traces of modernity the nation has is now destroyed completely ,infact the quake also affected people in India,Tibet,China and Bangladesh”

She added that as at press time ,not less than 4,000 people had been declared dead with several more declared missing and homeless.

As  this reporter and Mrs Adeoba watched the live footage of the tragic incident via the CNN it was obvious that incident had really shaken the latter as she kept lamenting the safety of her in laws in Nepal.

Mrs Adeoba who recently went into retirement at Ifako International Schools where she was technical Consultant , also served as the  Permanent Secretary on Technical Education in the Lagos state Ministry of Education before retiring from public service.

GTBank Declares Q1 2015 PBT of N32.65 billion

GTBank Declares Q1 2015 PBT of N32.65 billion

MR SEGUN AGBAJE IS CEO,GT BANK PLC

Guaranty Trust Bank plc has released its unaudited financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2015 to the Nigerian and London Stock Exchanges.

A review of the Q1 2015 results shows that the Bank continued on a strong growth trajectory, re-affirming its position as one of the most profitable and well managed financial institutions in Nigeria.

The Bank recorded a 17% growth in Gross Earnings to N79.02 Billion, from N67.58 Billion recorded in the comparative period of 2014, underpinned by strong growth in interest income and effective management of operating expenses and cost of risk. Profit Before Tax was N32.65 Billion, an increase of 17% from N28.01 Billion reported in Q1 2014. The Bank reported a Q1 2015 Profit After Tax of N26.56 Billion an increase of 15% over the N23.11 Billion reported in Q1 2014.

The Bank closed Q1 2015 with Total Assets and Contingents of N3.15 Trillion, customer deposits of N1.69 Trillion and Shareholders’ Funds of N357.59 Billion. The Bank’s non-performing loans improved to 3.06% from 3.40% in the comparative period of Q1 2014 whilst the loan book grew by 28% to close at N1.30 Trillion in Q1 2015, from N1.02 Trillion in Q1 2014. The Bank also reported a post-tax ROAE of 29.03% and ROAA of 4.39% respectively.

Commenting on the financial results, Segun Agbaje, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Guaranty Trust Bank plc stated that “a major focus for the Bank this year is to strengthen market positions with distinctive customer propositions in chosen segments in order to deliver long-term sustainable and efficient growth as well as strong shareholder returns”.

As a financial institution with a bias for industry leadership, exceptional service delivery and innovation, Guaranty Trust Bank plc has experienced tremendous growth since its inception in Nigeria in 1990 with business outlays spanning Anglophone and Francophone countries of West Africa, East African and the United Kingdom. The Bank presently employs over 10,000 peoples in Cote d’Ivoire, Kenya, Gambia, Ghana, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Rwanda, Uganda and the United Kingdom.

 

 

 

Keep your promise on halting water privatisation, ERA/FoEN urges Ambode

Keep your promise on halting water privatisation, ERA/FoEN urges Ambode 

Keep your promise on halting water privatisation, ERA/FoEN urges Ambode


 
AMBODE IS WARNED NOT TO PRIVATIZE WATER IN LAGOS

The Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth Nigeria (ERA/FoEN) has congratulated Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode of the All Progressives Congress (APC) on his victory at the just-concluded gubernatorial elections in Lagos, urging him to live up to his electoral promises when he assumes office, particularly the immediate reversal of the planned privatisation of water in Lagos.

Ambode won the elections held on April 11, 2015, beating his closest rival, Mr. Jimi Agbaje of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to clinch the governorship slot in one of the most keenly contested elections in Lagos’ history.

Ina statement issued in Lagos, ERA/FoEN said the emergence of Ambode is manifestation of the wishes of the electorate who cast their votes in the hope that the governor-elect will sustain the enviable pace of development the state has enjoyed in the last 16 years of democratic rule.

ERA/FoEN Director, Corporate Accountability & Administration, Akinbode Oluwafemi said: “We join Lagos residents in congratulating Ambode for the mandate he has received to steer the affairs of the state for the next four years. We urge him at this point to rally all critical stakeholders to implement policies that will not only alleviate the sufferings of the people but also improve the revenue base of the state”

Oluwafemi said that it was pertinent at this point to remind the governor-elect of his electoral promise while hosting critical stakeholders including workers in the water unions that he will not add to the burden of Lagosians through water privatisation.

 “While we trust the governor-elect to push through in halting privatisation under the failed public Private Partnership (PPP) model, we are deeply worried that the Lagos State Water Corporation (LSWC), with the support of the World Bank, is still pushing very hard for privatization of water which will disenfranchise millions of Lagos residents”



He stressed that despite popular opposition to the thoroughly discredited PPP,  the LSWC has now put out a bid for so-called contractors to commence a process which will also include pre-paid meters. 



Oluwafemi said that for ERA/FoEN the PPP promoted by LSWC has failed in Nagpur,Manila and other cities of the world where the in-thing is now a take-back of privatised water corporations as was demonstrated in the divestment of Veolia from public water in Paris.



He asked the governor-elect to now clearly state his position on the issue of water privatization in Lagos state,requesting him to oppose the PPP water privatization scheme and rather strengthen the public water system for optimal performance.

 “While we congratulate Mr. Ambode for his victory, its time to work the talk by guaranteeing universal access to water by Lagos residents. We demand a halt to the dangerous PPP. Remunicipalisation isthe way to go. There is no other alternative.” Oluwafemi insisted.

Philip Jakpor

Head of Media

OBESERE'S NEW ALBUM LAUNCH

Obesere’s new album launch

 This is to  inform the  general public and  distinguish media outlets   that  fast rising Afro hip hop artiste styleh has formed  an allegiance with  household fuji music icon obesere  in a new  music collaboration.
 In a move that further  fuels the endless romance between  hip hop and fuji artiste  styleh who recently dropped a stunning single titled  "  PORTABLE" with a featuring  obesre an  a superb music video directed by  top rated  video director gambit is delighted to further consolidate his rising profile in the industry by working   with  obesere a  step  according to styleh that   would produce  future   work of art   .
styleh  who gained  great reviews with his previous single " iwoni' featuring late high life  legend fatai rolling dollar is poise to headline series of show  in collaboration with obesere   that  would  caters to pure afro  hip hop audience.   Having thrill  the  world for  years  with  his  unique fuji  brand  and fraternizing with some of the brightest  light  in the  hip hop community obesere fondly called papa according to his management  is bringing  further spark and glitter to  the  fast growing Nigeria   hip hop by welcoming  a collaboration with styleh,   a feat which obesere  describe as a step further in enhancing  Nigeria  Afro hip hop  sounds  which  has its root in   the fusion of western music and indigenous African music

styleh whose  real name  is Seun Emeka Otuata  was  born in lagos . He  discovered  that  he  has a  natural talent in  singing years  back.  He recorded his  major  single  titled "NO TIME " in August  2009 and  short a video for  the single that   was shot on the different  location in Nigera

 music  lovers  across the globe  according to styleh music and  sido phobia  management   are hereby  ask to kindly help   spread the word and  support this  movement by posting this  news on their platform  as we long to hold a press  conference  where we appreciate you all .  

ERA/FoEN, Others Decline Bodo Offer of Compensation

ERA/FoEN, Others Decline Bodo Offer of Compensation

 

IS HAVING OIL A CURSE OR A BLESSING FOR NIGERIA?

The Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth Nigeria (ERA/FoEN) and several civil society groups have turned down an offer of financial compensation from the Bodo community after defeating Shell in a landmark suit that has been in court since 2008 for which the company settled out of court for the sum of $84 million.

The offer of compensation was turned down when ERA/FoEN, Oilwatch and Host Communities Network (HoCoN) visited the community to celebrate with them in Bodo, Rivers State, last week. 

ERA/FoEN has been the arrowhead of campaigns to get Shell to compensate the locals for two massive spills that occurred in 2008, depriving about 13,000 fish farmers their trade for five years.   The community maintained that Shell failed to carry out a proper cleaning of the environment after the incident, until the Dutch government intervened, which culminated in the initiation of talks between Shell and Bodo community on the cleanup process.

Under the out of court settlement agreement, 11,500 persons will share the $84 million which Shell agreed to pay as compensation. 

ERA/FoEN Executive Director, Godwin Uyi Ojo said: “Today we are in celebratory mode. We wish to commend the Bodo people for their victory over Shell after six torturous years of twists and turns aimed at evading justice”.

Ojo explained that while the sum remains paltry in the face of Shell’s assault on the environment and their livelihoods, the victory of the people would serve to galvanise other impacted people to also seek justice.

Speaking with the community leaders, Ojo said that: “We applaud your courage. Shell would have preferred that the case remains in perpetuity until the community tires out, but your resilience in the face of such intimidating might forced the company’s hands”

Further, he pointed out that the victory of the Bodo community over Shell is the victory for civil society and people in Nigeria and everywhere suffering from the activities of multinationals.

Receiving the delegates, the Chairman of the Bodo Council of Chiefs, Chief Sylvester Kogbara explained that the struggle and victory against Shell could not have been possible if not for ERA/FoEN and other national and international organizations that were involved in fighting the company.

When we cried you cried with us, and when we were weeping you wept with us. You made our pains your pain. Whatever we have achieved today, ERA/FoEN was part of it. You are always here with us. A day of thanksgiving is coming and we will remember all you have put in and also compensate you."

Deputy paramount Ruler of Bodo City said in his remarks, "We are very pleased with ERA/FoEN for coming to pay us an official visit today. The situation is not over, we need you to continue to fight for environmental justice with us because Shell is yet to begin clean up and restoration of the destroyed environment in Bodo."

Godwin Ojo thanked the council of chiefs and the Bodo people for their kind gesture to compensate ERA/FoEN but however said that ERA/FoEN will not take a penny and no civil society will no matter how much time and energy has been expended on pursuing the case.

The highpoint of the celebration was the  opening up of a register of victims of Shell’s abuse at individual and community levels by ERA/FoEN after which victims were urged to come up for documentation and possible legal action against the company.

In the words of Ojo: “Shell must not be allowed to escape from its human rights violations and environmental degradation of the Niger Delta."