Binder1

Fake phones worth N2.7bn imported last year -Minister

FCT directors are liars, says minister

…CPC launches compendium of subscribers’ rights ADEOLA TUKURU ABUJA Johnson

Vol. 41 N0. 805 115

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bout one million fake mobile phone handsets valued at N2.7bn were imported into the country last year.

This is just as the Federal Government bemoaned the poor quality of service delivery by telecommuniCONTINUED ON PAGE 5>>

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Mohammed

Tuesday, Tuesday,June March 7, 2011 11, 2014

N150 N150

Construction of 2nd Niger Bridge begins

OLUFEMI ADEOSUN ONITSHA

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Project to cost N117bn, FG sets aside N40bn Motorists to pay toll, says minister

resident Goodluck Jonathan yesterday flagged-off the construction of the 2nd Niger Bridge to ease traffic on the existing old and dilapidated bridge that was constructed 49 years ago.

The President had at the inception of his administration promised to construct a second bridge over the River Niger in response to agitations by Nigerians, especially the people of the CONTINUED ON PAGE 2>>

Adesina

FG loses N125bn on importation of fi sh, says minister P.8

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L-R: Chairman, Senate Committee on Works, Senator Ayogu Eze; Anambra State Governor Peter Obi; Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu; President Goodluck Jonathan; Minister of Works, Mr. Mike Onolememen and Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Works, Hon. Ogbuefi Ozomgbachi, during the ground breaking for the construction of Second Niger Bridge in Onitsha, yesterday.

PHOTO: NAN

Boko Haram: FG seeks secret trial for varsity don, others ...suspects oppose application

Lagos Airport’ll be more uncomfortable, says FAAN

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Ekiti 2014: PDP clears Olubolade, Fayose, Aluko, 13 others

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Tuesday, March 11, 2014

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Blackout as fire razes 12 TCN towers, 330KV station UDEME AKPAN

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he nation is set to witness more electricity blackout as an inferno caused by a fuel tanker crash has destroyed a major transmission line and 12 towers in

Ugheli, Delta State.

The Transmission Company of Nigeria, TCN, which confirmed the development in a statement yesterday, stated that the accident occurred along the line route as the tanker caught fire between towers 88 and 89 at

about 9:42am on Sunday, 9th March, 2014.

The firm said about N1bn would be needed to replace the lost line and towers.

“The fire caused the melting and snapping of all of the line conductors between the two towers

causing a loss of balance along the transmission line, swinging of towers, which resulted in their eventual collapse. Tower 81 did not collapse but was bent by the incident,” TCN said in a statement signed by the General Manager (Public Affairs),

Minister of Health, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu (left) and Vice-President Namadi Sambo, during the Presidential Summit on Universal Health Coverage in Abuja, yesterday.

PHOTO: NAN

Mrs. Seun Olagunju.

The statement noted that the loaded tanker which overturned and caught fire at Ogborode Junction, near Warri destroyed the 330kV SapeleUghelli transmission line and brought down TCN’s towers No 82 to 93 along its route.

It stated: “With the collapse of the 12 towers, TCN has temporarily lost power evacuation from that line as all power generated by Delta and Sapele Power Stations would now only be evacuated through the second 500MW capacity 330kV transmission line from Ughelli to Benin.”

The transmission limitation notwithstanding, the company assured that the second 330kv transmission line from Ughelli to Benin and the 132kv transmission lines one and two from Benin to Ughelli, will adequately evacuate power generated from the power stations to Benin.

The firm stated that it has put in place plans to ensure that the transmission lines are free of encumbrances to ensure

continued efficient wheeling of power generated.

TCN stated that its engineering team and transmission contractors are already at the accident site to assess the level of damage to the system with the view to putting in place quick remedial plans, pending the re-construction of the 12 transmission towers.

The firm also stated that it has put in place security operatives, to guard the collapsed tower from vandals.

The company pleaded with vehicle drivers, especially those ones with highly inflammable items such as petrol to drive with care and also to ensure that their vehicles are in good order always, to avoid such massive losses to the company and the nation.

The TCN also pledged to do all it can to reconstruct the 330kv transmission line as quickly as possible to check further losses to the nation.

Investigations showed that power supply has already worsened in Ugheli

JB-NSIA, Consortium will immediately commence the construction the early work which include preliminaries, site, clearance, earthwork and road work, main bridge construction (piling works) and temporary earthwork and roadwork including Asaba Access Road, division at Atani roads and slipways,” he said.

Also speaking, the Coordinating Minister for the Economy and Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi OkonjoIweala, said that government had worked out a good financing model that would guarantee that the bridge would be delivered on time and on budget.

She also noted that it would be financed both by equity and debt with the Federal Government shouldering 70 per cent of the cost of construction.

In demonstration of the government’s commitment to ensuring early completion of the Bridge, the minister said that about N40bn had been earmarked for it.

Meanwhile, Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State yesterday called on the Federal Government to rename the bridge as ‘Asaba/Onitsha Bridge’.

The governor said that the second bridge was significant and important not just for Delta and Anambra States, but for the entire country.

According to him, the socio-political and economic benefits of the bridge to the country cannot be quantified in addition to the boost it will give the nation’s unity and integration.

The governor commended President Jonathan for ensuring that the event was a reality.

Uduaghan promised the support and cooperation of Delta State to ensure that the project was completed on schedule without hitches adding: “Let me assure the contractor that you are safe in this place, your workers are safe and your equipment and facilities are safe too”

CONTINUED ON PAGE 5>>

Construction of 2nd Niger Bridge begins CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

South-East for the actualisation of the project The new bridge, designed to be 1,590 metres long will be constructed by Julius Berger/AIIM Consortium at a cost of N117bn.

The project, which is packaged under a Public Private Partnership, PPP, arrangement for a concession period of 25 years, will be delivered under design, finance, built, operate and transfer, DFBOT, model.

Speaking during the flagoff in Onitsha, Anambra State, Jonathan said the construction of the bridge was in fulfillment of his electoral promise to the people of South East states.

He said the bridge is a strategic national infrastructure, which would not only help to link the people of Delta State with those in Onitsha, but would also boost economic activities of the whole of South-East states.

Jonathan said: “You may recall that during my presidential campaign for

the 2011 general election, I promised the good people of South-East and Delta that if elected President, I will ensure that the 2nd Niger Bridge is constructed. Today, I have come as the President who you voted into office to flag-off this vital project in order to bring this solemn pledge of my sincere promise into concrete reality.

“The 2nd Niger Bridge, which foundation we are laying today is a strategic national infrastructure that will boost the economic prospects of the contiguous states and indeed for the entire nation. It is an important economic artery that will connect the great market of Onitsha and Aba and as well as the industrial hub of Nnewi to the rest of the country.

“On completion, the bridge will alleviate the pains experienced by travelers as a result of congestion, especially during festive periods. It would not only improve road transportation in South-East, but significantly improve communica-

tion between the South-East and South-West geo-political zones.”

He however denied that he deliberately decided to delay the flag-off of the project for political exigencies, stressing that it was undergoing due procurement process with a view to ensure adequate funding.

The Minister of Works, Mr. Mike Onolememen, who provided details on the proposed bridge, stated that the Federal Government with the support of the World Bank would commence the procurement and construction of two by-passes to the bridge.

On completion, the minister explained that the bridge would be jointly owned by Julius Berger-Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority, NSIA Consortium and the Federal Government.

He also said: “As obtainable under the PPP model, the Concessionaire will have the right to charge tolls for the use of the new 2nd Niger Bridge as well as have full commercial rights on

the project’s Right of Way, ROW. This will be implemented within the framework of the FGN National Policy on Public Private Partnership and Federal Roads and Bridges Tolling Policy.”

The minister disclosed that the existing bridge would become non-tolled alternative route for local traffic between Asaba and Onitsha.

Onolememen assured that his ministry would not only ensure effective supervision of the bridge to facilitate early completion, it would also ensure that Nigerians get value for money.

“I wish to assure Nigerians that the ministry will hold the concessionaire accountable on both technical and financial issues during the Construction and Operations and Maintenance, Q&M, stages of the project.

“As Mr. President flags off the construction of this flagship project today, the concessionaire, Messrs Julius Berger-Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority,

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Tuesday, March 11, 2014

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Tuesday, March 11, 2014

L-R: Minister of State (1) for Foreign Affairs, Prof. Viola Onwuliri; Minister of Foreign Affairs, Amb. Aminu Wali and Permanent Secretary, Amb. Martin Uhomoibhi, during the inaugural meeting of the new minister with members of the diplomatic corps in Abuja, yesterday. PHOTO: NAN

L-R: President, Nigeria Guild of Editors, Mr. Femi Adesina; Chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof. Attahiru Jega and Resident Electoral Commissioner, Lagos State, Dr. Kunle Ogunmola, at a media interactive forum in Lagos, yesterday.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

L-R: Chairman, Governing Board, Air Commodore Ishaku Mwadkon (rtd); Director General, both of Consumer Protection Council, Mrs. Dupe Atoki and Minister of Communication Technology, Mrs. Omobola Johnson, during the Consumer Roundtable on Phone Rights to commemorate the 2014 World Consumer Rights Day in Abuja, yesterday.

PHOTO: ROTIMI OSASONA

L-R: Group Head, e-Business, Sterling Bank Plc, Mr. Fatai Amoo; Executive Director, Lagos, Sterling Bank Plc, Mr. Devendra Puri and Unit Head, Financial Inclusion, e-Business Group, Mr. Richard Oshungboye, at the media launch of Sterling Bank Agent Banking Scheme in Lagos, yesterday.

National News

Boko Haram: FG seeks secret trial for varsity don, others ISE-OLUWA IGE ABUJA

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Federal high court sitting in Abuja yesterday fixed March 18 to rule on a request by the Federal Government to subject three suspected members of Boko Haram sect in Kogi State to secret trial.

The suspects are Dr. Nazeef Yunus, a lecturer at the Kogi State University, Ayingba, Alhaji Salami Abdullahi, a businessman, and one Umar Musa.

They are facing trial before the Federal High Court, Abuja, over their alleged membership of a Boko Haram cell in Kogi State and involvement in ‘secret sponsoring’ of terrorism.

The trial judge, Gabriel Kolawole, fixed ruling in the matter yesterday, after the opposing counsel argued than two hours on the constitutionality, fairness and appropriateness of secret trial in a publicinterest litigation.

Prosecution counsel, Tolu Ogunshina, had

moved the application seeking secret trial of the accused persons yesterday in court.

He said the motion was brought pursuant to Sections 36 (4) (a) and (b) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) and Section 203 of the Criminal Procedure Act and Sections 33 and 34 of Terrorism Prevention (Amendment) Act, 2013.

He prayed the court to order that persons other than the immediate family members and legal representatives of the accused persons, with the exception of accredited members of the press, should be barred from witnessing the trial of the suspects.

He also pleaded with the court to order that the real names, addresses and identities of prosecution witnesses in the matter should not be disclosed during the trial.

Ogunshina argued that the request was necessary so that they would not be harmed by supporters and loyalists of the accused

...suspects oppose application

persons.

But the defence counsel opposed the motion.

First to react to the application was Hassan Liman, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN. He was representing Yunus, the first accused.

He said he had filed a 15-paragraph counter affidavit deposed to by one Yunus, and a written address to support the same.

Hassan said he formulated one issue, which was; “whether the Federal Government has identified a special circumstance for which the prosecution of the accused persons should not be conducted in public.”

According to Hassan, the averments contained in paragraph 3 (E) and (F) of the complainant’s affidavit, was a conclusion that the accused persons’ supporters and loyalists were members of the Boko Haram sect.

He, therefore, submitted that the prosecution

did not show cause(s) that would warrant the court to grant the application, adding that if the court did that, “it would infringe on the accused person’s right to fair hearing.”

On his part, James Ocholi, counsel to Alhaji Salami Abdullahi, said he filed a 10-paragraph counter affidavit in opposition to the application.

He submitted that “the application lacks merit and should be dismissed”.

Ocholi argued that Sections 33 and 34 of the Terrorism Prevention Act, 2013 (as amended), were in conflict with Section 36 (4) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) and should be voided.

He said he was opposing the secret trial of his client because, “it is easier to tell lie in secret than in public”.

He also told the court that his client had consistently claimed in his processes before that there is

a gang up by the prosecution to use the witnesses to frame him up.

Mohammed Abdul, representing the third accused person, did not file any process, but was granted leave by the court to reply to the Federal Government’s application on points of law.

He argued that Section 34 (2) (d) of TPA, 2013, did not envisage exclusion of persons from proceedings but proceedings, pointing out that prosecution witnesses whose identities should not be disclosed should be on a day of a particular proceeding and not that the entire proceedings should be conducted in secret.

The counsel described the application as misconceived, submitting that, “even if the court should grant the application for secret trial, it should not exceed the constitution.”

Replying on points of law, the prosecution counsel held that since journal-

ists would be allowed to cover the trial, it meant that whatever transpired during the trial would be made known to the general public.

He, therefore, insisted that the court should order a secret trial of the accused persons.

After listening to the arguments and submissions of all counsel in the matter, Justice Kolawole reserved ruling till March 18.

The suspects, among other charges, were accused of acts bordering on terrorism, and procuring of, and being in possession of, two AK-47 rifles, magazines and 60 rounds of ammunition.

They were also alleged to be recruiting and organising members of the Boko Haram in Kogi State cell, while Alhaji Salami was charged for owning a petrol filing station where members of the dreaded sect planned their activities.

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Tuesday, March 11, 2014

Fake phones worth N2.7bn imported last year -Minister CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

cations operators in the country.

Minister of Communication Technology, Mrs. Omobola Johnson, stated this yesterday at the Consumer Roundtable on Phone Rights organised by the Consumer Protection Council, CPC, to commemorate the 2014 World Consumer Rights’ Day in Abuja.

Johnson, who said the

figures could be higher this year, however, noted that government’s “ability to attract investments into the telecom sector is severely hampered if we are lucrative market for fake products”.

She also listed the health hazards of sub-standard devices, pointing out that “fake phones are actually a drain on network resources as they reduce network

speed and impair reception simply because they use substandard components like antenna.

“Sometimes, if you experience poor quality service, it may simply be your phone and not the network operators fault. So the consumers’ well-known adage applies here: If the price is too good to be true then it is too good to be true,” she said.

The minister said though quality service was global, stressing that the source vary from inadequate or weak regulation to inadequate infrastructure, nontransparent billing, customer service and fake phones that compromise the quality of service experienced by the consumer.

“To a very large extent we know where the source of our quality of service is-

L-R: Convener, Save Nigeria Group, Pastor Tunde Bakare; United States Consul-General/Guest Speaker, Mr. Jeffrey J. Hawkins; President, Women Arise/Women of Courage Award recipient, Dr. Joe Okei-Odumakin and special guest and wife of the US Ambassador to Nigeria, Ms. Pamela Schmoll, at the public lecture on “Lifting the siege on womankind in Nigeria,” in Lagos, yesterday.

Blackouts as fire razes 12 TCN towers, 330KV station CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2

and its environs as a result of the accident.

The nation’s epileptic electricity situation worsened over the weekend following another fire outbreak at the power transformer at the TCN Oshogbo Work Centre.

The development affected steady electricity supply to Akure, Ilesha, Ife, Ondo, Osogbo, Ado-Ekiti and Iwo. TCN, which confirmed the accident, had stated, “A 150MVA, 330/132/33kvpower transformer in the Osogbo Sub- regional/ Work Center office of the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) was gutted by fire in the early hours of Friday, 7th March, 2014.

“Consequently, parts of Akure, Ilesha, Ife, Ondo, Osogbo Complex, AdoEkiti and Iwo are now experiencing power rationing.”

The firm stated that the fire which started after an explosive sound was heard from the 150MVA power transformer, raged for most part of the morning, but was successfully extinguished by the fire service, preventing it from spreading to the other transformers.

The firm stated that

the second 150MVA, 330/132kV power transformer in the sub-regional office however tripped during the incident but was not affected by the fire.

“TCN’s Protection, Control and Metering (PC&M) engineers worked tirelessly to re-arrange the 132kv lines taking supply from the station, in such a way that the effect of load shedding in all the affected areas would be minimised.

“With this arrangement, one of the feeders was diverted to Ganmo 330/132/33kv substation, while the remaining three would now be fed from the second 150MVA power transformer that was not affected by the fire incident,” TCN said.

The firm stated that all the affected towns would experience minimal load shedding as soon as the station’s second 150MVA power was restored.

Already, power supply across the country has been epileptic as a result of inadequate gas supply to thermal plants, including Egbin which is the biggest in Africa.

This has caused a significant drop in generation from over 4,248mw to 3,200mw.

For example, Egbin which generated 900mw a few weeks ago can only generate 600mw at the moment.

The Managing Director of Egbin Power Plc, Mr. Mike Uzoigwe said the plant, which has the capacity to generate over 1,000mw of electricity has been badly affected by the adequate gas supply.

Other plants have different challenges. For instance, some major units of Kainji plant, including 1G 5, 1G 6, 1G7, 1G8, 1G9, 1G10 and 1G11 were down for maintenance.

The Jebba plant also has major issues. Its 2G5 and 2G6 units were due for rehabilitation.

The Shiroro plant suffered a setback as its 411G1 unit was down for maintenance.

Unit 4111G4 of the plant was also out for water management.

The ST1 unit of Sapele power plant suffered a major water leakage in its boiler feed pump. Other units, including ST3, 4 and 5 were also out because of fault.

Delta power plant has a generator winding fault in its GT3 and 5. The GT7 was shut because of leakage while the GT 19 was

down for maintenance.

Other units such as GT11 and 15 experienced high vibration and turbine blade failure respectively.

The Afam plant also recorded some problems.

For instance, its GT2 was down while GT3 suffered high vibration. Also, GT4, 5, 17, 18 and 19 were affected as a result of various operational constraints.

The Geregu plant suffered a setback in its GT 12 and 13 due mainly to low gas pressure while units GT2 and 3 of Omotosho were out because of some challenges.

The Omotosho (NIPP) was shut because of gas constraint while the GT1 unit of Ihovbor plant was shut as a result of another fault.

The Olorunshogo plant suffered a setback in its GT5 and 6 because of poor transformer and vibration respectively.

The GT4 unit of Olorunshogo (NIPP) was shut for maintenance.

Units GT21 and 22 of Geregu (NIPP) witnessed low gas pressure because of limited supply of the product.

The GT1 unit of Alaoji (NIPP) was shut for water injection test.

sue lies, it is the inadequacy and vulnerability of our ICT infrastructure and also a need for service providers to begin to behave more like service companies and not infrastructure companies.”

Meanwhile, in a bid to improve consumer education and protect the rights of subscribers from certain exploitative activities of some telecommunications operators, the CPC has launched a compendium of the rights of telecommunication subscribers in Nigeria.

Johnson, who launched the compendium yesterday at the CPC roundtable warned operators to play by the rules in line with CPC’s crusade, saying, “The CPC is an agency that can bark and bite.”

She said there was a need for the NCC to strengthen its collaboration with the council to address subscribers’ complaints on poor telecoms service delivery.

CPC Director-General, Mrs. Dupe Atoki, said: “Like most interventions and innovations that have such an immense bearing on the general populace, abuses are prevalent.

Such abuses remain unabated if the consumers of these products or services know little or nothing about their rights in this regard.

“On the other hand, the conglomerates that provide these products or services benefit from the apathy of the uninformed consumers.

“The Nigerian consumers of telecoms services have been unable to assert their rights due largely to ignorance of these rights and where to complain.

Therefore, in celebrating the World Consumer Rights Day, with the theme ‘Fix our phone rights’, the CPC believes that the way forward is to codify the rights of telecommunications subscribers so that they can access, read and understand these rights.

“These rights come under segments such as poor network, unsolicited services, unlawful deductions/non-transparent billing, exploitative automated services, unauthorised SIM swaps/line disconnection, poor internet services and poor customer service.

“The Compendium of the Rights of Telecoms Subscribers in Nigeria

5

was developed by the CPC and is being launched as part of the commemoration of the World Consumer Rights Day. The consumer can take the compendium, which is very simple and concise, to the relevant operators and say this is my right.

“The initiative is one step for us in our advocacy platform for public enlightenment in Nigeria.”

The CPC DG stressed that the agency would partner regulatory agencies and telecommunications operators “to ensure that consumers get value for their money.”

“In everything, collaboration brings out the best result to the extent that the consumer right is put at the forefront. We will collaborate with the National Telecommunications Commission and the operators. The NCC has its powers while we have ours. There may be some overlapping functions but we will continue to insist that the consumer is the king and they must get value for their money,” she said.

The Minister of State for Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Samuel Ortom, commended the CPC for its renewed efforts towards protecting consumers’ rights.

“I want to commend the efforts of the new leadership of the CPC, led by Mrs. Dupe Atoki, for its renewed tenacity at ensuring that the rights of Nigerian consumers are respected in all ramifications,” Ortom said.

The Chairman, House Committee on Commerce, Hon. Sylvester Ogbaga, said that owing to consumers’ complaints against telecoms operators, there was the need for severe sanctions against operators to restore consumers’ confidence in the sector.

“The regulatory agencies should call the telecommunications operators to order. They should sanction them if there is the need to do so. I believe that there is need to sanction them. However, the Federal Government should look into CPC’s budget because agencies that provide such services like CPC should be provided with adequate funding. If you look at CPC’s budget for this year, it is very ridiculous,” he said.

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Tuesday, March 11, 2014

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Minister accuses FCTA directors of lying

…says, civil servants are frustrating OMEIZA AJAYI

F

ederal Capital Territory, FCT minister, Senator Bala Mohammed, had accused civil servants of frustrating his efforts to develop the city.

He accused departmental directors of often lying to him about the situation of the city.

"A city like Abuja cannot be allowed to degenerate into what it is today. And you have seen things for yourself. I have shown the directors that all the infor-

mation they have been giving me were lies.

"They told me that the city is clean, which is not true. And we have gone round with you (journalists); it is not true. They told me that there are no street traders, but there are, everywhere.

“They told me there are no beggars, and we saw them everywhere. They told me there are no Okada riders, but in fact, the Okadas are even more than vehicles. So, definitely, we can see, what they have told you and I, they are not true.

That is why it is good to al-

L-R: Representative of Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Mrs. Ijeoma Okey-Igbokwe; Comrade Oludare Ogunlana; National Coordinator, Democracy Vanguard, Comrade Adeola Soetan and Chairman, Coalition Against Corrupt Leaders, Debo Adeniran, during a public forum on ‘One-Man-One-Woman-One-Vote’ campaign in Lagos, yesterday.

FAAN alerts Lagos airport users on discomfort

• Police identify touting as challenge OLUSEGUN KOIKI

U

sers of the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, MMIA, Lagos, have been told to prepare for more discomfort at the terminal, following the partial collapse of the cooling systems at the airport.

Those using the old check-in area and arrival lobby would be subjected to the discomfort for at least three days because of the partial collapse of the system, the agency said.

FAAN stated this yesterday in an online media statement. Its General

Manager, Corporate Communications, Yakubu Datti, stated that the partial collapse of the chillers was as a result of the installation of dedicated new 2.5MVA transformer Ring Main Unit, RMU, to serve the chillers at the terminal.

The cooling system at the nation’s foremost airport has often been a source of concern for air travelers and other users of the facilities for almost a decade.

Last December, no fewer than four passengers, who arrived at the airport from Atlanta in the United States of America, collapsed due to excessive

heat at the arrival hall.

The victims were waiting for baggage reclamation, but the four who had just arrived from the US, where the temperature was cooler, got overwhelmed by the heat in the arrival area and collapsed.

Last month, the terminal was also thrown into darkness and the cooling systems collapsed.

But Datti, yesterday, said that installation work had commenced on Monday, expected to last for three days.

He added: "During the period, cooling at both the old check-in area and arrival lobby will be sub-

FG rolls out centenary lottery OMEIZA AJAYI

A

s part of activities marking the nation's centenary, the Federal Government has started a 90-day lottery game.

It announced a megaprize of N100 million and 90 cars, which it said would be won on a daily basis over the next 90 days.

Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, Anyim Pius Anyim, who started the

initiative in Abuja, added that various consolation prices ranging from tricycles, generators, smart phones, television sets and freezers would be given out to lucky winners throughout the duration of the draws.

optimal.

However, the newly extended areas and fingers will not be affected.

“FAAN regrets any inconvenience that passengers and other airport users may experience during the installation as a necessary component of the on-going power upgrade at the airport."

Meanwhile, the airport police command has disclosed that the major challenge facing the airport was touting.

It, however, challenged all and sundry, especially FAAN, to collaborate in order to weed the airport of the challenge.

According to Anyim, there will also be a weekly bonus prize of N5million.

He said the lottery was being facilitiated by Secure Electronic Technology, SET Plc, in collaboration with some telecommunication providers.

ways go on inspection," he said.

Senator Mohammed, who was accompanied on the tour by heads of security agencies in the territory, including the Commissioner of Police, Mbu Joseph Mbu said he had read a riot act to civil servants in the territory.

He said if they were not ready to work in tandem with his vision, he would be forced to source for consultants who would undertake such jobs.

The minister said he felt embarrassed being summoned by the president to explain why certain jobs were not being done, saying he has become tired of talking to civil servants, but ready to wield the big stick.

“It is either they resigned honourably or we show them the way out...

This has become necessary because we have been talking and talking. I felt highly disgusted and so, we have to go on this inspection," he added.

He promised to set up an operational taskforce under the chairmanship of the new police commissioner.

“I was becoming disillusioned and disgruntled. I've read the riot act to all directors. We are sending notices to all those who love to flout our bye laws. We won't allow Abuja to become a jungle," he added.

Mohammed also used the opportunity to donate 45 Hilux patrol vehicles to security agencies in the territory.

The vehicles, which cost was put at about N400m, are fitted with communication gadgets.

Last month, an apparently enraged Minister of State in the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Olajumoke Akinjide, chided the Director of Sports in the Social Development Secretariat of the FCTA, Musa Halim, accusing him of frustrating her, especially with regards to the inauguration of sports associations.

She had expressed shock that even though she had approved membership of the committees over six months ago, the director was yet to follow up on the development or revert to her if he met any brickwall.

Again, APC asks Jonathan to visit Yobe over school killings OBIORA IFOH ABUJA

T

he All Progressives Congress, APC, has again called on President Goodluck Jonathan to visit Yobe State to commiserate with the bereaved families of the innocent schoolchildren who were brutally murdered by terrorists last month.

The opposition party also accused President Goodluck Jonathan and the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, of embarking on a premature electioneering campaign.

In a statement issued in Lagos on Monday by its Interim National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party said it was totally inconceivable that about two weeks after the heart-wrenching killings of more than 29 schoolchildren, the president has not deemed it fit to visit the state.

It said, far from being a mere formality, such a visit will provide great

succour to the families of the victims, reassure them and other residents of the state that the government has not abandoned them to their fate, and also serve as a morale booster for the gallant troops who are battling the terrorists, against all odds.

The party said President Jonathan should take a cue to what obtains in other lands, especially the US, after which Nigeria has modeled, its democracy.

The APC challenged the president to tell Nigerians why he has not or why he would not visit the scene of the gruesome murders.

“Whatever his reasons are, the president and commander-in-chief of the armed forces must not give the impression that there is any part of the country he cannot visit for any reason whatsoever; otherwise, he would only have succeeded in handing some sort of victory to the terrorists who have continued to kill and plunder in the North-East,” it said.

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Tuesday, March 11, 2014

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News

Tuesday, March 11, 2014

Health workers plan protests FRANKA OSAKWE

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wo unions, Assembly of Healthcare Professional Association, AHPA and Joint Health Sector Unions, JOHESU, have given the federal government an ultimatum to address their demands or face industrial action from next week.

At a press conference yesterday in Lagos, the AHPA national chair, Dr. Godswill Okara said the union would commence its protest with a rally in Abuja and would not stop until its demands were met.

Also, the National President, Association of Medical Laboratory Scientists of Nigeria AMLSN, said the resolve was sequel to a recent development in the health sector which has not favoured health workers.

Okara described the proposed change of the scheme of service of healthcare workers in the country as a ‘plot’ to make health professionals subservient to their medical counterparts.

This, according to him, was unacceptable to his members.

“The Prof. Chukwu-led Federal Ministry of Health did not consult with any of the professional health associations, in line with due process in his bid to impose a new scheme of service on health professionals, apart from his professional constituency of medicine,” he said.

According to him, the new scheme was a plot to change the nomenclature of the apex cadre from ‘director’, associated with other graduate ranks, to ‘chief ’, which was unacceptable to them.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

FG loses N125bn on importation of fish, says minister WOLE OLADIMEJI ABUJA

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he Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, has raised an alarm that the nation is losing over N125 billion to importation of fish annually.

And that, according to him, is despite the nation having an estimated 16.3 million metric tonnes of water.

Adesina alleged that some Nigerians are sabotaging the efforts of the ministry at ensuring local production of fish, and denied rumours that the federal government had

banned the importation of fish into the country.

He said fish importation had only been discouraged, to stimulate domestic growth of the industry.

The minister made the revelations during a budget defence of his ministry’s N36.2bn 2014 before the House of Representatives Committee on Agriculture.

He explained that the government had reduced by 25 percent the allocation of fish importation, with a view to improve local aquatic agriculture.

Adesina also told the committee that about 6.4 million farmers redeemed their fertilisers through

the introduced mobile phones, which he said, has recorded success.

He said the ministry planned to tackle malnutrition of 2.3 million children in the North-East states of Adamawa, Yobe and Borno, stressing that food is central to security.

The minister stated that despite the budgetary reduction in the 2014 proposed estimates, the ministry had earmarked N28.2 billion, out of its N36.2 billion war chest, to capital projects.

Adesina, while reviewing the 2013 budget performance, indicated that a $4 million investment had been injected into the sec-

tor. He disclosed that due to the shrink in this year's budget, the ministry could only project an Internally Generated Revenue, IGR, of N1.6bn, as against the N2.6bn realized last year.

Chairman of the committee, Hon. Muhammad Monguno, decried the decreasing agricultural budget, which he said, had fallen from 1.7 per cent in 2013 to 1.4 per cent in 2014.

Monguno said it was surprising for Nigeria to be allocating such a meagre amount to agriculture, despite being a signatory to the Moputo declaration which advocated 10 per cent to annual budgets on agriculture.

FIRS generates N9.8trn in two years WOLE OLADIMEJI ABUJA

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cting Executive Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service, FIRS, Alhaji Kabir Mashi, has told the House of Representatives Committee on Finance that the service generated N9.812 trillion in two years.

Mashi stated these figures in Abuja yesterday, at a hearing of the House on the framework for the 2014 budget and the economy.

He stated that while N4.

805 trillion was generated last year, N5.007 trillion was the revenue for 2012.

Committee chairman, Dr. Mumin Jubrin, had

earlier asked the FIRS chairman what the service generated in the last three years.

Mashi said the revenue generated was against the budget/target of N4.4 trillion in 2013.

“We collected N5.007 trillion in 2012, against our target of N3.6 trillion. In 2011, we collected N4.6 trillion, against our budget of N3.7 trillion, he stated, adding, "in 2014, our target is N3.9 trillion.

We are projecting to collect N4.1 trillion."

The FIRS chairman explained that the projection of N4.1 trillion was anchored on the Petroleum Profits Tax, PPT.

Dangote launches new cement grade

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angote Cement Plc yesterday launched a new grade of cement, 52.5N, into the market.

The launching is coming as a debate rages over the quality of cement produced in the country.

Group Managing Director of the company, Devakumar Edwin, told newsmen in Lagos that the company had commenced the production of the cement grade from its three plants in Ibese, Ogun State, Gboko,

Benue and Obajana in Kogi states respectively.

The cement company said the newly graded cement was being produced in Africa for the first time.

Edwin disclosed that the new cement, which had been certified by the Standards Organisation of Nigeria, SON, as conforming to the requirements of NIS 444-2003 and other relevant standards, would sell for the same amount as the lower grade 42.5N type.

Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Fashola (middle), with members of the Lagos Public Procurement Agency and Audit Commission, after their inauguration in Lagos, yesterday.

Atuche loses bid to stop trial WALE IGBINTADE

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n Ikeja High Court yesterday rejected an application filed by a former Managing Director of Bank PHB, Francis Atuche, seeking a stay of proceedings of alleged N25.7 billion theft charge filed against him and his wife.

Atuche and his wife, Elizabeth, are being prosecuted for allegedly stealing the money from Bank PHB when he was the chief executive officer.

The couple was charged to court by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, alongside a

former chief financial officer, Ugo Anyanwu.

The former bank chief had through his lawyer, Anthony Idigbe, urged the court to stay proceedings of the trial, pending the determination of the appeals filed by the defence and prosecution at the Court of Appeal, Lagos Division.

Ruling on a the application, the trial judge, Lateefat Okunnu, held that Section 273 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law, ACJL, prohibited her from entertaining the application.

She further held that Section 40 of the EFCC Act also compelled her not to determine the application.

The court maintained that Section 36 of the 1999 Constitution provided that a criminal charge should be concluded in a timely manner.

"I hereby strike out the application in its entirety," the judge held.

Atuche had filed an application for a stay of proceedings at the appeal court. He also petitioned that the panel of judges should be reconstituted.

He submitted: "The prosecution has filed a stay of proceedings against our appeal at the Appeal Court.

"They want the court to stay hearing on our appeal, pending the determination of their own, against the

ruling delivered by the Appeal Court on November 21, 2013, at the Supreme Court.

Idigbe argued that it was proper and in the interest of justice for the court to wait for the decision of the apex court.

Responding, the EFCC counsel, Mr. Kemi Pinheiro, said the application should be dismissed for being an abuse of court processes.

"The law, as it stands, mandates the court to uphold Section 40 of the EFCC Act. It is a deliberate ploy to delay and truncate these proceedings," Pinheiro said.

The matter has been adjourned till today for further mention.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

South West

Tuesday, March 11, 2014

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Alleged fraud: EFCC to produce Fani-Kayode’s statement of account KAYODE KETEFE

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he Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), yesterday stated before a Federal High Court, Lagos that it would produce the statement of accounts owned by former Minister for Aviation, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode currently standing trial before the court for al-

leged money laundering offences.

The commission, represented by Mr. Festus Keyamo, however prayed the court, presided over

by Justice Rita Ofilli Ajumogobi, to give it more time to produce the said evidence.

Keyamo told the court that the bank has made a promise to generate the required statement within a week, stressing that the

commission would tender it in evidence as soon as it receives it.

The bank details to be tendered are for the period starting from 2004 to 2008 according to the prosecution.

The EFCC had rearraigned the former Aviation Minister on a 40-counts charge bordering on money laundering to the tune of N100 million when he held sway at the

Federal Ministry of Aviation.

According to the amended charge the former minister was alleged to have transacted funds exceeding N500, 000 without going through financial institution in contravention of the statute against money laundering.

Fani-Kayode was further alleged to have accepted cash payments to the tune of N100 million,

My government receptive to economy-driven ideas -Fayemi

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ing that his administration is committed to building a state where government would be willing to partner with investors in providing enabling environment for businesses to thrive regardless of their sizes.

Governor Fayemi commended the owner of the company, Mr Sola Alabi, for supporting government’s vision in empowering unemployed youths to become self-reliant; he also charged

other Ekiti indigenes to emulate the gesture because government alone cannot provide jobs for the teeming unemployed population.

He expressed worry at the lackadaisical attitude of many youths to selfemployment, saying that youths should not place their focus solely on politics, but instead empower themselves so that selfish politicians would not take advantage of them.

Fashola signs Consumer Protection Agency Bill into law FRANCIS SUBERU

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n order to protect consumers against the antics of unscrupulous manufacturers and service providers, the Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Fashola yesterday signed the Lagos State Consumer Protection Agency Bill into law.

At the signing ceremony, Fashola said Lagos State Government is aware that in developed economies, consumers are well protected to ensure that they get value for their money as they are deemed to be kings.

Fashola said: “This is a

very simple legislative intervention. Many at times when we are growing up, we heard stories of people buying household equipment, cloths, shoes and after using them, they can take them back to store for replacement.

“The rationale was that in all those economies, there is appreciation of value for money. The customers are recognised as kings and Lagos been Africa’s mega and model city, we cannot be different. One of the selling points of this state internationally is its large population and the consumption power that comes with it.

“No government that is

alive to its responsibility will not seek to protect its citizens to ensure that they get value for their money. What the law will do for us is to tell the consumers that they are not helpless.

In the end, everybody benefits, it will raise the service level, improve the quality and standards of good that are pushed into the market.” He said.

While presenting the bill for the governor’s assent, Lagos State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Adeola Ipaye said the law provides for the protection of consumer’s interests, settlements of consumer disputes and other connected purposes.

against the former minister were said to contravene the provisions of Sections 15(1) (a) (b) (c) (d) and 15 (2) (a) (b) of the Money Laundering (prohibition) Act, 2004.

Ijaw communities in Ondo fault list of delegates to Confab HAKEEM GBADAMOSI AKURE

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Sympathisers at Mercyland Prayer Ministries church, Alaro Ibadan where three people were killed during a fire incident that consumed the church building yesterday.

PHOTO: NAN

kiti State Governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi has assured investors willing to establish their businesses in the state of the readiness of his administration to welcome ideas that will drive and fast-track the state’s economy.

The governor gave the assurance in Ado Ekiti during a youth empowerment scheme organised by Royalserve Wireless Limited a partner of the MTN; say-

during his tenure as Minister.

However, the former minister pleaded not guilty to the amended charges.

The alleged offences

he Ijaw Communities in Ondo state yesterday faulted the list of delegates to the proposed National Conference saying there was an error in the compilation of the list.

The Ijaws said they are rejecting the list of delegates from the state as it fails to serve their interest.

Speaking on behalf of the people during a Press conference, Chief Francis Williams noted that the Ijaws are a distinct nationality in the state that should be accorded their right in that capacity.

Williams frowned at the

composition of the delegates saying it was wrong for the Ijaws in Ondo state and by extension in the South West not to be represented at the conference having participated in the pre-conference activities.

He therefore called for the immediate reversal of the omission before the inauguration of the conference slated for March 17.

Williams said anything contrary would amount to excision of the Ijaw communities from Ondo state and the South West, adding that there was the need for the Ijaws to be physically represented at the conference as it would give the people the opportunity to present their position.

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South West

Tuesday, March 11, 2014

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

UCH to perform 11 openheart surgeries next month

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L-R: Member, Ekiti Local Government Creation Committee, Chief Ibidapo Awojolu; Chairman, Justice Akin Ajakaye and Secretary, Mr. Babatunde Famoyegun, addressing newsmen on the proposed creation of more local government areas in Ado-Ekiti , yesterday.

PHOTO: NAN

Ondo workers protest against pension scheme • Paralyse govt’s activities HAKEEM GBADAMOSI AJKURE

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ndo State civil servants Monday staged a peaceful protest over the proposed bill on the Contributory Pension Scheme sent to the state House of Assembly by Governor Olusegun Mimiko.

The workers, who arrived at various government complexes as early as 8.0am, locked all gates leading to the offices and paralysed activities.

They also converged on the House of Assembly complex at Igbatoro Road, Akure, protesting against the pension scheme bill.

The workers had last week threatened to block every road leading to the Assembly in order to stop the public hearing on the bill which was slated for

yesterday.

They also threatened to employ legal means to fight the state government over what they described as "hurried and forceful commencement of implementation of the scheme" without their consent.

A letter written by the Joint Negotiation Committee (JNC), copy of which was made available to journalists, described the scheme as a fraudulent means of enslaving the workforce.

In the letter entitled: “Are we save in our own state?” the workers accused the Office of the State Head of Service of colluding with the government to enslave them with the proposed scheme.

The workers claimed that the circular issued by the state government on March 4, 2014 showed that

the current administration had no genuine welfare package for them.

The civil servants said the law establishing the scheme allows it to be domesticated by each state with input from stakeholders, especially workers.

Expressing doubt over the government’s sincerity on the scheme, the workers called on the governor to show proof of evidence that the state was fully prepared to pay its own monthly share of the contribution as well as the actual valuation before implementation could begin.

Addressing the workers at the Assembly complex, the State Head of Service, Toyin Akinkuotu, said the law backing the contributory pension scheme was enacted in 2004 with the aim to assist the entire workers in the country in order to save towards their retirement.

Akinkuotu told the work-

ers that the proposal on the scheme would take off as soon as the economy of the state improves, pledging that the government would be faithful on its part.

He stated that the government would increase its contribution by paying 12:5% (five percent) as bound and urged the workers to think critically about the age grade of 50 years which he said is in the interest of the Labour and that if the workers think their agitation for 45 years should be the yardstick, then government need to shift ground to suit their demand.

The Deputy Speaker of the House, Hon Dare Emiola, told the civil servants members of the Assembly were elected by the people to represent their interest and, however, promised that the bill would be holistically scrutinised before its passage.

Three die in Ibadan inferno KEMI OLAITAN IBADAN

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ragedy yesterday hit Okoro area of Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, as three worshippers were burnt to death in an early morning inferno that razed their church, Mercyland Prayers Ministry.

National Mirror learnt

that fours other persons, including a pregnant woman, escaped death by whiskers in the inferno which started at about 1.45am.

It was gathered that the fire, which started in the front axis of the church, spread to the power generating set fully loaded with fuel before it enveloped the whole building.

One of the survivors

simply identified as Akin told journalists that the fire caught the victims in their sleep.

According to him, the thick smoke of the fire prevented the victims from escaping.

He said it took divine intervention for him to rescue the pregnant woman from the fire.

It took the combined

effort of men of the Oyo State Fire Brigade Services, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and the police to put out the fire at about 4.05am Hundreds of symphatisers, however, wept yesterday morning as they saw the three burnt bodies on the floor of the church.

he University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, will perform 11 open-heart surgeries next month, Chairman of the hospital’s Department of Intervention Cardiovascular, Prof. Kamar Adeleke, said yesterday.

Adeleke told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that arrangements were being concluded to facilitate the surgeries.

According to him, the operation was tagged: “Awake Surgery” because the patients would be conscious during surgery.

He said medication would be given to take the edge off while the operation lasted.

Adeleke said that the Department of Intervention Cardiovascular was limited financially and was seeking for cash donations from well-meaning Nigerians and corporate organisations.

He said that the department was partnering with some institutions, including Babcock University, Obafemi Awolowo University and Aliko Dangote Health Institution.

The chairman named

other partners as the Kano Teaching Hospital, MTN Health Foundation, and the Lagos State Government.

Adeleke said that a team of Nigerian surgeons recently carried out a successful catheterisation surgery without the supervision of foreign experts.

He said that more than 200 patients were awaiting cardiovascular surgery at the UCH, adding that 11 of them were short-listed for the operation.

Adeleke said the Intervention Cardiovascular Department was able to source for funds for surgery for six of the 11 patients.

According to him, wife of the Oyo State governor, Mrs. Florence Ajimobi, and the Lagos State Government would sponsor three patients each, adding that each operation would cost N2 million.

He appealed to wellmeaning Nigerians to support the department in carrying out the tasks.

It will be recalled that Adeleke led a team of experts in 2013 to perform the first successful openheart surgery at UCH.

Ekiti LG creation committee gets 71 memoranda ABIODUN NEJO ADO-EKITI

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he Local Government Creation Committee in Ekiti State has received a total of 71 memoranda from across the state.

Chairman of the committee, Justice Akin Ajakaye (rtd), said the body received memoranda from 15 of the 16 local government areas.

Ajakaye said at a press conference yesterday in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital, that criteria for the determination of areas where new local government would be desirable included population, internally generated revenue, resources and land mass.

Others, he said, are historical background, homogeneity, contiguity and consensus among residents.

Governor Kayode Fayemi had on January 15 set up the seven-man committee to ask for memoranda for the creation of more local governments in the

state based on people’s request.

The chairman, who described the exercise as part of the constitutional requirements for the creation of councils pursuant to sections 7 and 8 of the 1999 Constitution, assured that "the committee will do what is just and fair, in spite of pressure from all the interested towns and other quarters.”

Justice Ajakaye said: "Members of this committee have names to protect.

We cannot allow our image to be soiled. So, no matter the pressure, we shall not bow to it. We will do what is just and fair.

“It is not part of our terms of reference to determine the number of local governments to be created.

It is the government that will do that.

“We are still going to organise a public hearing where communities will defend their positions apart from the fact that we will visit them personally for on-the-spot assessment."

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

South-East

Tuesday, March 11, 2014

Commuters stranded in Enugu over fuel scarcity

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ommuters in the Enugu metropolis were stranded at various bus stops on Monday, following a sharp rise in transport fares, due to an acute fuel scarcity in the state.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that school children, workers and traders were stranded at bus stops, due to non availability of vehicles.

The development made commercial vehicle operators to increases their fares, forcing many to resort to trekking.

Investigations showed that commercial buses

charged between N80 and N100 from Abakpa Nike to Old Park and Obiagu as against the previous fare of N50.

The same situation obtained at Garki, Emene, Trans-Ekulu and Uwani, where commuters paid as much as N150 to get to their destinations.

Some of the commuters, who spoke to NAN, said they had waited for up to 40 minutes to an hour, to get transport.

At Mayor Bus Stop on Agbani Road, Edith Okafor, a student of Queens’ School, Enugu, said she was told to pay N80 as

MASSOB members attacked Enugu Govt House -Police DENNIS AGBO ENUGU

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he Enugu State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Abubakar Mohammed, yesterday,said that members of the Movement for Actualization of Sovereign State of Biafra, MASSOB, on saturday attacked Enugu government house .

CP Mohammed disclosed that the four persons arrested at the scene of the incident confessed that they were sent to go and hoist Biafra flags at the Enugu government house .

He gave the names of the four men as Ifeanyi chukwuma, Francis Nwokocha, Sunday Okafor and Shedrack Onwuka, all from Anambra state.

Mohammed further disclosed that though one person was shot in the fracas between the invaders and the police, he did not die but only sustained bullet injury and he is being treated.

The CP displayed exhibits impounded from them to include 2 big banners of MASSOB, 34 assorted Biafra flags, matchets, pieces of metals and a bag of Charms.

He stated that those in the police custody are helping the police to trail the sponsors of the attack .

Mohammed alleged

that they tried to forcibly gain entrance into the government house but were prevented by security agents and in the process used matchets to injure a security personnel while the hoodlums were chased away.

He said that those arrested gave the names of those invited to hoist the flags and their motive is what the police is trying to establish.

“We are after those people that invited them, therefore investigation is in progress, we will very soon charge those that have been arrested to court while we continue to look for their sponsors,” said CP Mohammed.

He said that the exact number of the invaders could not be ascertained, adding that their operation did not take up to 30 minutes as the public were previously made to believe.

Mohammed also faulted the story that gun shots did not penetrate the bodies of the invaders, stating that if guns did not penetrate them, one out of them of the men would not have been injured..

The confiscated banners read: “Republic of Biafra, aka tribe of GAD,” “Amalgamation dissolved,” “Biafra an ally and supporter of Israel.”

Also “Eri”, “Agulueri”, “Arochukwu” were written on the banners.

against N40.

Jude Eboh, a student of Government Training College on Abakaliki Road, said he could not afford the fare as he had only N100 for transport.

Some students of the Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT), attending lectures at the Agbani Campus of the university in the Nkanu West LGA, said they paid N200 as against N100 to get to school.

Cynthia Onuh and Okey Eneh said the situation had posed untold hardships to students as they could not afford the fares.

Some commercial vehicle operators said they

purchased fuel at N150 per litre, adding that they spent the whole day in queues at filling stations.

One of them, Mr Chibuike Onwe, appealed to the Federal Government to address the situation urgently.

A taxi driver, Mr Victor Eze, said that transport fares increased because of the increase in the cost of petroleum products.

Tricycle operators also complained bitterly over the latest round of fuel scarcity in the country.

Oil-producing Nigeria has often faced acute fuel scarcity, causing severe hardships to citizens of Africa’s most populous nation.

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Insurgents attack Orient Resource Oil facilities in Aguleri Otu

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he Traditional Ruler of Nkpunando Otu Community AguleriOut, Anambra East Local Government Area, Anambra State, Igwe Alex Edozieuno has expressed shock over the recent attack on Orient Resource Oil Facilities in Aguleri Otu. Speaking to newsmen on the incident, Igwe Edozieuno who expressed dismay, said he personally visited the scene of the attack and was dumbfounded by the gross brutality to Orient workers and quantum of damage to property.

What baffled me was that these hoodlums were able to wreck such magnitude of damage to

life and properly undisturbed, considering the presence of armed Security Agents (mobile policemen, Nigeria Navy, Army and Anambra Vigilante), he said.

According to him, it was a great disappointment and a great shame to humanity in the 21st century Nigeria.

Igwe Edozieuno adviced Anambra State government and Orient Resources Plc to put more security in place to nip future occurrence in the bud.

The Traditional monarch however appealed to the people of Aguleri to remain calm for the attack was a direct blow to Orient Resource Plc and Anambra State government.

L-R: Imo State Deputy Governor, Prince Eze Madumere; Governor Rochas Okorocha; Miss Black Africa UK, Miss Sonia Ike and Commissioner for PHOTO: NAN Information and Strategy, Dr. Theodore Ekechi, during the visit of the beauty queen to the Government House in Owerri, yesterday.

Court grants APGA’s application to join suit against Anambra Gov-elect

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Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday granted an application by the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) seeking to be joined in a suit against Anambra Gov-elect, Willie Obiano.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the plaintiffs, Ugochukwu Ikegwuonu and Kenneth Moneke, had instituted the suit alleging that Obiano registered twice as a voter prior to his election.

Their counsel, Mr Joe Gadzama, SAN, had in

an originating summons, prayed the court to declare Obiano’s election null and void, and prosecute him for double registration.

Gadzama argued that by the double registration, Obiano contravened the Electoral Act and was unqualified to contest, ab initio.

He contended that the voter’s card which the governor-elect tendered before his party for the election was different from the one he submitted to INEC. Initially joined in the suit were Obiano as the

first defendant and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as second defendant.

At the resumed sitting on Monday, APGA’s counsel, Mr Pius Ikwueto, moved an application seeking for a leave of the court to join the party in the suit.

Gadzama did not oppose the application, saying that ``the party seeking to be joined is the political platform of the first defendant’’.

Obiano’s lawyer, Onyechi Ikpeazu, SAN, and INEC counsel, Mrs Joan

Arabs, did not oppose the application as well.

Ruling, Justice Ahmed Mohammed granted APGA’s prayers and ordered the plaintiff ’s counsel to serve the party’s counsel the originating summons within 48 hours.

The judge also ordered the counsel to the defendants to serve and file their replies to the plaintiff counsel’s amended process within 14 days of the ruling.

He adjourned the case to April 16 for definite hearing.

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South South

Tuesday, March 11, 2014

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Alleged N113m fraud: Court remands ex-Edo SSG, three others SEBASTINE EBHUOMHAN BENIN

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n Edo State High Court sitting in Benin had remanded the immediate past Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Simon Imuekemhe, and three others for alleged N113m fraud filed against them by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The others are former State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) Chairman, Mr. Joseph Sule Emoabino; former SUBEB Secretary, Mr. David Eson Igbinoba; and former SUBEB Director of Finance and Accounts, Mr. Aghator Gaskin Efe. As reported by our correspondent penultimate Sunday, EFCC arraigned the four accused persons before Justice Esther

Edigin on an eight-count charge of conspiring and spending the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) fund on unauthorised projects.

When the eight counts were read to them, the four accused persons pleaded not guilty.

Imuekemhe, who drove into the court in a black tinted Honda CRV car marked EDO DP 88 BEN, entered and left the court

heavily guarded by security men. He sat all through the trial, intermittently wiping his wet face with a handkerchief.

However, the bail request for the accused persons by the lead defence counsel, Mr. Omoruyi Omonuwa (SAN), was opposed by the prosecuting counsel, Mr. Aso Larrys Peters of the Legal and Prosecution Department of EFCC, who argued that all the accused

persons had already been enjoying administrative bail since February 26.

In her ruling, Justice Edigin agreed with the prosecution and ordered all the accused persons to be remanded in prison custody till March 14, 2014

Confab: Youths reject Ozekhome’s replacement SEBASTINE EBHUOMHAN BENIN

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L-R: South-East Zonal Coordinator, Nigeria Agricultural Quarantine Service, Stella Oraka; Zonal Coordinator, Nigeria Customs Service Zone ‘C’, Assistant Comptroller-General Dan Ugo and Comptroller, Enforcement and Revenue, Nigeria Customs Service Zone ‘C’, Umar Yusuf, during a sensitisation exercise on the Nigeria Trade Hub/Paar Regime in Port Harcourt, yesterday.

PHOTO: NAN

Jonathan’s cousin abduction: Police arrest Bayelsa chief, others EMMA GBEMUDU YENAGOA

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he Bayelsa State Police Command said it had arrested a 57-year-old chief and five other suspects allegedly linked with the February 23 abduction of Chief Inengite Nitabai, cousin of President Goodluck Jona-

than.

The command also dismissed rumour that the kidnappers had killed Nitabai, describing it as a “wicked lie”.

The Commissioner of Police, Mr. Hilary Opara, said in Yenagoa yesterday that the suspects were arrested at Odioma in Brass Local Govern-

ment Area of the state by detectives.

Opara, who spoke through the Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Alex Akhigbe, said the chief, a native of Odioma, was the father of the leader of the gang that kidnapped Nitabai.

The commissioner said the rumoured death

of the victim was a mischievous attempt to frustrate investigation.

He said the police were on the verge of tracking down the kidnappers and effect the release of the victim.

Kidnappers of Nitabai had last week demanded N500 million ransom to set the victim free.

Ex-NIMASA DG inflated contract for generator supply –Witness KAYODE KETEFE

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witness testifying in the alleged fraud case filed against the former Director-General of the Nigeria Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Raymond Omatseye, Mr. Aliyu E. Aliyu has informed a Federal High Court in Lagos that Omatseye inflated a contract for the supply of a generator during his tenure.

The witness, who worked in the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP), stated this

at the resumed trial of the embattled former DG for alleged contract splitting.

In his testimony, Aliyu said a sum of N100 million was budgeted for a 1KVA generator and that a company, Marine Gold Limited, bided N84 million for the supply.

According to the witness apart from the contract for the supply of the generator which was inflated, the contract for the supply of 100 Blackberry phones was not advertised in two national dailies as required by law.

Aliyu said: “Apart from

Marine Gold Limited which bided N84 million for the supply, another company, Daniel Nigeria Limited, submitted a N100 million bid. However, the contract was eventually awarded to Daniel Nigeria for N129 million. The award is higher than the bid price of N100 million.

“Daniel Nigeria was not among the list of pre-qualified bidders published in a newspaper on September 11, 2009. From the 21 pre-qualified names, I cannot find Daniels Nigeria Limited.

“A contract is null and

void, and a nullity if not advertised in a national newspaper. There is no evidence that there was a formal bid opening process.

“I didn’t see any document containing attendance list of participants with their numbers at the bid opening. Some of the contracts were approved by NIMASA’s Governing Board, instead of a tenders’ board.

The Governing Board has no role to play in the procurement process. The tenders board is the body saddled with the responsibility of awarding contracts.”

when the court would hear their bail application.

The judge, therefore, adjourned the case thereafter.

Justice Edigin said: “I cannot grant bail when the bail application has not been heard.”

he sudden replacement of human rights lawyer and activist, Chief Mike Ozekhome, SAN, with Senator Yisa Braimah as a delegate to the National Conference from Edo State has continued to generate more reactions.

A community-based group, the Kukuruku Youth Renaissance Network, condemned the last minute replacement of the lawyer with the politician.

The group noted that Ozekhome was the choice of the Afenmai Forum for the confab.

In a statement signed by its President, Mr. Theophilus Ibodeme and Secretary-General, Tony Igebor, copied to both Edo State Governor and Secretary to the Government of the Federation, the youths

called for immediate withdrawal of Senator Braimah from the conference.

“We, the youth and good people of Afenmai Ethnic Nationalities pass a vote of no confidence in the process that brought Senator Yisa Braimah and we call for immediate reversal. No man, no matter how highly placed can dictate in his bedroom who represents Afenmai Ethnic Nationalities. We are wise enough; civilize enough; and educated enough to decide for ourselves what we want and who we want.

“We want to reiterate that the National Conference is not a tea party or drinking bar, where delegates drink big stout and eat pepper soup but a conference for intellectuals and sound minds with positive track records, who know their onions and how to brainstorm, harmonize ideas and deliver.

College old students lift alma mater

T

he Old Students Association of Federal Government College (FEGOCOWOSA), Warri, has commissioned no fewer than four projects worth several millions of naira executed by it in the school.

The ceremony, which was part of the events to mark FEGOCOWOSA’s Annual General Meeting (AGM), was attended by members from across the world.

FEGOCOWOSA outgoing National President, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, said the projects were executed to give back to the school which had given them much.

The former Accountant General of Lagos State and Permanent Secretary in the State Ministry of Finance, described education as “the most potent weapon against poverty,” adding that “if youths have good

education, they will be better placed to overcome the challenges ahead.”

The four commissioned projects are Information, Communication and Technology (ICT) Centre, a 500KVA electricity generator, an expanded Infirmary (sick bay) and a renovated dining hall.

Ambode specially thanked Mrs Ifueko Omoigui-Okauru, the former Chairman, Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) and an old student of the college and other members of FEGCOWOSA for their cooperation and dedication towards the realisation of the projects and successful completion of his tenure.

He assured that he would continue to support the incoming executive committee and the association in general to greater heights.

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Tuesday, March 11, 2014

SUPER TUESDAY Confab shouldn’t be dragged down by political considerations - Prof. Azinge

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Challenges of new health bill

14, 15

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Manifesto: The new Nigeria APC wants enthroned Last Thursday, the All Progressives Congress, APC, formally launched of its Code of Conduct and Manifesto. It was a gathering of ‘who is who’ and expectedly, 2015 was the focal point, as speakers after speakers took time to speak on what the party promises to deliver.

OBIORA IFOH reports.

I

t was a day the All Progressives Congress, APC, regaled in an amazing splendour. The occasion was historic and the leaders couldn’t but maximise the opportunity to bring the world into their thoughts on what Nigeria will look like should power be entrusted on them come 2015. It was the unveiling of the APC’s Road-Map aimed at fixing the wide spread failings of successive Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, governments since 1999, in order to bring hope and succour to the longsuffering people of Nigeria.

The interim National Publicity Secretary of the APC, Alhaji Lai Mohammed had in an earlier briefing said that the manifesto was a product of an empirical and painstaking process embarked upon by the APC, in deviation from the old practice of packaging a party’s manifesto on a whim.

He said: “With conditions deteriorating throughout Nigeria, with security an ever increasing concern, with lack of jobs pushing families and young people further and further into poverty and with new stories of corruption within the PDP government appearing day after day, the APC decided to commission the largest ever public opinion survey in Nigerian history to determine the current status of things in the nation directly from those who knew best – the actual people of Nigeria.

Mohammed said: ”The results were even more revealing than the APC had anticipated: When asked ‘if the election were held today, would you vote for Goodluck Jonathan or the candidate of the APC’, the APC candidate held a 10-point lead over the President. By a margin of 44 per cent to 34 per cent (with 22 per cent undecided), the APC candidate was the clear national choice. ”When asked ‘in general, do you think things in Nigeria are going in a good direction or bad direction’, by a staggering more than two-to-one margin (50 per cent to 24 per cent), Nigerians responded that the country was going in a bad direction.

When asked ‘what issue would you like the President and National Assembly to focus on most’, an overwhelming majority (60 per cent) said jobs were the dominant issue

Akande

Buhari

TOP STORY

people themselves, will be the clearest indication yet that the movement for change has indeed begun.

The Code of Conduct that the government should address. ”And then when asked if they found the following statement convincing or not, ‘Goodluck Jonathan has done nothing to create jobs, and far too many people are still unemployed’, decisively, 58 per cent Nigerians found that argument about Jonathan convincing. Finally, when asked if Jonathan was doing a good or bad job fighting corruption, 59 per cent Nigerians thought Jonathan was doing a bad job fighting corruption. ”The voice of the people was clear: The nation is going in the wrong direction. The nation wants change and would not vote to re-elect Jonathan in part because the number one issue to Nigerians is jobs and the nation believes Jonathan has no credibility on the issue of job creation.”

According to the party, the unveiling of the party’s manifesto, designed with the survey results in mind and the real needs of the Nigerian people made evident by the

APC’s Code of Conduct said the party will respect every person’s choice of faith and that it has no tolerance for corruption and would manage the country’s resources responsibly.

Other items in the code of ethics include a commitment to a strong system of government at all levels in order to preserve the unity of the country.

Similarly, the party’s manifesto, tagged ‘Road Map to a New Nigeria’ stated that the APC’s philosophy is the welfare of the common man, and the assurance of a great future for the youth, and a decent and quality life for all.

It said the cardinal principle of its manifesto is the commitment to a nation where every citizen has the opportunity to work and earn a decent wage, and where the disadvantaged elderly, the disabled, and the unemployed are assisted by the state.

The APC said it is committed to a nation where the curse of corruption is no longer tolerated in its political, social and civic af-

THE VOICE OF THE PEOPLE WAS CLEAR: THE NATION IS GOING IN THE WRONG DIRECTION. THE NATION WANTS CHANGE AND WOULD NOT VOTE TO RE-ELECT JONATHAN

fairs.

Manifesto details The first item on the APC manifesto is job creation. It said roughly one in four Nigerians and half of young job seekers are unable to find work, adding that the number of people whose jobs do not cover the cost of food and housing is even greater.

To this end, the APC said it will create 20,000 jobs in each state of the federation immediately for those with a minimum qualification of Secondary School leaving certificate and who participate in technology and vocational training.

It said it will encourage state governments to focus on employment creation by matching every one job created by the state government with two jobs created by the Federal Government.

The party said it will provide a direct conditional monthly cash transfers of N5,000 to the 25 million poorest and most vulnerable citizens upon demonstration of children’s enrolment in school and immunisation, in order, it said, to help promote job empowerment.

APC also said it will establish technology/industrial estates which will be fully equipped with ICT, power and other support across the country to attract and encourage small scale technology businesses and other entrepreneurs.

The opposition party said it will provide allowances to discharged but unemployed youth corps members for 12 months while they seek jobs or acquire training and skills for job placement or entrepreneurship.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 41

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Tuesday, March 11, 2014

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Confab shouldn’t be dragged down by Prof. Epiphany Azinge is the Director-General of the Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies, NIALS. The professor of law speaks with OBIORA IFOH and SEYI ANJORIN on the institute’s 35 years of existence and other sundry issues.

Excerpts: What exactly is the mandate of the institute?

Basically, the Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies is a creation of statutes, in other words, it is set up by law of the National Assembly precisely in 1979, and charged with the responsibility to help in policy formulation, in law and related disciplines, and also to help in researching to various aspects of law and more significantly to also assist in building capacity through continuing legal education, but more significantly we also have the statutory mandate of training lawyers in the highly specialised areas of legislative drafting whether at the masters level, post graduate diploma level and the PhD level.

More often than not, we find ourselves in situation where we assist government to a very large extent, set agenda in areas of law that we feel should dominate public discourse. Also, we draft bills on our own which we pass through the office of the Attorney General, trying to make sure that they reflect the consciousness of the people and to a very large extent, key into the vision of the government of the day. To that extent, part of our mandate is to ensure that we help government to stabilise one way or the other, make sure that the laws are germane and relevant and also help in shifting the frontiers of law to the best of our ability. Digging deeper, we also draw a lot from the dreams and visions of our founding fathers, the Elias and so on, those who clearly thought out the idea of setting up of the institute and in as much as maybe most of their dreams may not have been fully captured in the statutes setting up the institutes. We go back any point in time to make sure that we keep in touch and try to fulfil some of the dreams of the founding fathers.

Ever since you resumed as the DG, what has been your major achievement for the institute?

As many as I can, but not yet towards fulfilling the mandate of the institute and the dreams of its founding fathers. I have not done any other thing that is exceptional. The passion and commitment may be different, but basically I have not departed from the statutory mandates. It is always difficult for me to always recount achievements, I consider that as a little bit immodest but I am sure that in the course of time, people on their own may be in a better position to chronicle things that we have done that seem to have put us in that kind of situation we have found ourselves.

Even at that, what is the vision?

The vision is to make sure that we truly

Azinge

fulfil the statutory mandate and that is exactly what we have been doing. Like I said, maybe the approach has been different; maybe I have tried as much as possible as you said to bring the institute to the consciousness of the Nigerian public, one way or the other through the instrumentality of people like you. My position is that you don’t light a candle lamp and put it under the table; you just have to allow the world to see what you are doing. Maybe I tried to adopt that approach of making sure that people truly see what we are doing and not just see the institute as one laid back research institute that has no meaning to the growth and development of the country. But mostly significantly also, we try as much as possible to engage in pragmatic research. In other words, we try as much as possible to ensure that what we do can be related to what is going on in the country at any point in time, people can identify clearly with what we are doing. You don’t need to be a lawyer to identify with what we are doing, and so the issues we discuss are what people can identify with, they can appreciate and understand. We just finished something on cyber space and social media; it is something that we cannot toy with at any point in time. So much misleading information is there. People can be defamed or libelled against easily and there is nothing anybody can do about it.

But I know that in some jurisdictions, in

THE GOOD THING THAT GOVERNMENT HAS COME TO SAY IS THAT THE INDIVISIBILITY OF THIS

COUNTRY IS NOT NEGOTIABLE, HAVING SAID

SO; WE NEED TO KNOW HOW WE ARE GOING TO CONTINUE IN THIS

NIGERIAN PROJECT AS ONE

UNITED ENTITY North Korea or China, they still have a way of regulating some of these things. People are put in check and they regulate the way and manner people go to the cyberspace without necessarily creating problems for ourselves. We are not saying we are going to lock up like them but time has come for us to start asking questions, if at all, how do we checkmate; some of these our young ones are now dancing around pornographic, social media sites and what have you, how do we control them.

We can control them and make sure they are in school doing something that is productive, and at the same time allow them to come home and hide under the cover of their bedroom to do some of these things.

The church cannot be saying one thing and the people are doing something else, if

not, the whole essence of the anti gay law becomes meaningless because we must at any point in time be in the position to make sure that we marry everything we do so that we have a focus and a bearing of what we are doing. Some of them occasionally would appear very pedestrian, regulating the house help exploitation, we have gotten to a point where regardless of the benefits that is accrued to some of us who are “part of the elite”, what do we do with house helps in our every home, what type of treatment, these are modern day slaveries and these are issues we hope that we can interrogate further on. Some people may think it is outlandish or what have you, but I feel that we have gotten to a point in this country that we have to say bye to house help. For anybody to say this is my

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Tuesday, March 11, 2014

15

political considerations - Prof. Azinge house help is totally unacceptable.

Don’t you think this phenomenon has to do with the poverty level in the country? (...cuts in) But if your parents are not doing very well, what are the terms of conditions of your engagement? Are you paid a legal wage? If at all you are not going to be paid, are you treated as a child of the house? Are you given conditions that you are going to go to school and so on? We need to know, if it is not backed by law or not, the earlier the better, so that any where you see somebody who is wrongfully engaged as a house help and not being treated properly with terms of engagement that we are likely to draw up, you report the person either to the Police or NAPTIP and any of the law enforcement agencies. Whether it is a matter of taking somebody to US or any other part of the world, the time has come for us to put a stop to that. The issue of exploitation is clear, I am from a poor background but I will come and work for you on a condition that you will bring out the best in me, it is not for you to use and dump them, these are some of the issues that we think we have to bring to the front burner and if we don’t do it, who else will do it? That’s how we have been able to push the consciousness of the nation in that regard.

How have you been able to create a market for the programmes run by the institute?

We have a monopoly, we don’t even have enough products to market, ironically, most of the people that come are already engaged in certain companies, institutions or organisations, a good number of them are staff of Ministry of Justice, they come in to do their Post Graduate Diploma, Masters and we are the only institution with the faculty to do it. As at the last count, we have about 15 professors of Law here, that is a clear indication that we are up to it and we are not losing sight of it. Our people are already engaged not that they are going to look for job, they come in as in house trainees, they finish and they go back to their respective positions. Last December, we produced the first set of our PhD and they are doing well.

What is your take on the prevailing corruption within the judicial system?

To an extent, we do the best we can, most of our research projects are geared towards certain areas we feel that we can make our meaningful contribution, we recently presented a seven volume undertaking research of the institute on performance evaluation of judges in Nigeria and I mean all the Nigerian courts. It was at that point in time that the Chief Justice of Nigeria made her now famous statement that ‘unless you make four judgments in a year, you will obviously be sanctioned’, and I feel to that, extent we have also made our contribution in that regard. Whichever aspect that we feel we need to assist in trying to ensure that there is integrity and stability, the judiciary is living up to its expectations and of course the public perception of the judiciary improves to a large extent, we don’t hesitate to do so. We

commend the Chief Justice of the country for the sanitising effort she has brought to bear, but we are also in a hurry to say that two people were indicted, twenty five people were also appointed to the appellate court, and so the numbers of those indicted seem to be insignificant compared to those who have moved on in the judicial ladder.

The judiciary in this country is still one of the best, there will always be bad eggs and the important thing is that we don’t allow these bad eggs to flourish. We have an institutional mechanism for addressing misconduct.

Recently, the governor of the Central bank of Nigeria, CBN, was hammered by the Presidency, has the President acted within the law?

I must tell you that I will decline to comment on this. I am a Federal Government employee and once the President has spoken, I don’t think I am competent to comment on what he has said, as far as I am concerned I have to endorse that as a position of government.

A day to the celebrations of the Centenary, there were attacks in the North, do you think the celebration was appropriate?

Listening to the President and most of the speakers, they paid tribute to the deceased and also condoled with their respective families. I am sure much more would have been done, if there is an enquiry, government would want to know why there are lapses noticed. I am happy that the position is that, if we feel those people are not sufficiently protected, then let us send them home and make sure that they do not resume until things improve positively and then we must make sure that there is sufficient protection for them, but I feel that it is unjust. For it to be at the start of the celebration, it would have been out of place for us to now cancel everything and say we are not going to continue with the celebration. The theme of the centenary summit centred clearly on human security and agenda for the 21st century, some other visiting leaders were given the platform to express their views on some of the key issues. The problem is an African problem, and we had opportunity for African leaders to speak basically on what is basically an African problem. Boko Haram is not a

Nigerian problem because most of the ammunitions and people who are involved in terrorist attacks are not even Nigerians, So if we don’t make sure that we take the neighbouring countries on board in addressing this issue, I think we are missing a point. Once we are through with the mourning of those young children, we should also make sure that we put things properly in perspective.

Some Nigerians turned down the honours, what do you think about this?

I have not followed that, but it is purely their prerogative. Why are they turning down such an award? It is purely personal, you have prerogative to accept an award but again it is prerogative of government to consider you worthy of an award hundred years after, the choice is yours whether you accept it, and not the motive that is the important thing. If the motive is political, then it is a great disservice to this nation. If it is political because there are still many other people that are still included in that list, why did you turn down the whole thing because you don’t support President Goodluck Jonathan’s government, I think that is childish to say the least as far as I am concerned.

National Confab, are there really anything to talk about?

I don’t think that the confab is very much important than as it is now, this is the time that we need to be talking. What are the grievances of Boko Haram, do we know, do they want to secede, do they want to cut off from the rest of Nigerians? How do we know if we don’t talk at this point in time, now that we are a century old? Is it not high time we talk? The good thing that government has come to say is that the indivisibility of this country is not negotiable, having said so; we need to know how we are going to continue in this Nigerian project as one united entity. Let everybody listen to one another and from there we take it up. There are so many things that we can sort out when we talk. If in the past,

THE JUDICIARY IN THIS COUNTRY IS STILL ONE OF THE BEST,

THERE WILL ALWAYS BE BAD EGGS AND THE IMPORTANT THING IS

THAT WE DON’T ALLOW THESE BAD EGGS TO FLOURISH Azinge

we did not implement the outcome of confab, that doesn’t mean that automatically, what we are going to delve on in the next three weeks will not be implemented. You are already pre-judging, there are certain people with a sense of history, they will always do something differently. If he as the President fails to implement it, that is the right time to talk but not now, it is too early for people to run into that conclusion because that is political and it shouldn’t be dragged down by political considerations in most of the things that we do. Let us address issues that are very germane for the growth and development of this country.

Recently, the institute launched its online Pro bono law clinic, how are those who don’t have access to online service access the service?

We have made so many options available to our “clients”, apart from that we have been able to engage the services of Etisalat who promised to assist us with a toll free line that can be used by our client, even if you don’t have access to the computer or internet you could use a toll free line and then you can assess the institute online, the opportunities abound for you to do so and we are prepared to go all out.

It is not just reacting to whatever you have for us, if need be, we are prepared to make legal representation on your behalf and we set up a machinery to address that, it is the management’s decision and we believe it is in the best interest of the generality of the Nigerian public who ordinarily will not have the resources to have their day in court, and we are there to assist them to the best of our ability.

Can you give us insight into some of your proposed bills?

We are a Federal Government establishment and so we cannot on our own push a bill to the National Assembly, it is not acceptable and unethical on our part to do so, so whatever bill we draft, we take it to the office of the Attorney General of the Federation who is the chief law officer who will take it to the Federal Executive Council, and then decide whether it goes to the National Assembly for further legislative measures, ours is just to make sure that the bill is out.

Upon gaining autonomy, how has the institute survived 35 years as regards funding?

The institute has been managing to survive, to be honest. It has been difficult to say the least, but what we have done is to make sure that we reach out to external donors and see whether we can obtain grants or what have you. In some instances, we have succeeded, in some we have not. So maybe through the instrumentality of your medium, we will also advise well meaning Nigerians and other people from outside Nigeria to come to our support if they believe truly in what we are doing and what we have been able to achieve in the last five years. But I believe that there is a lot that the institute can do to help this country one way or the other and we need that support from anywhere that we can find it.

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Tuesday, March 11, 2014

11 new ministers join Jonathan’s cabinet

ASO ROCK FILE with

Rotimi FADEYI

$170m French loan to boost power in FCT T he Federal Executive Council, FEC, last week ratified the approval given to the Ministry of Finance to borrow $170 million from French Development Agency to boost power infrastructure in the Federal Capital Territory, FCT).

The loan which is repayable over 20 years with seven years moratorium, is to enable the government finance 270 kilometres transmission lines, construction of additional substations within the FCT and to build additional power substations to boost power supply in the city.

Minister of Information, Mr. Labaran Maku said the loan is usually given on exceptionally concessionary grounds to developing countries and friendly countries by the French government, adding that the loan agreement was concluded during the

Presidential Villa’s visitors 1.

Obi of Onisha, Igwe Alfred Achebe 2. Anambra State governor, Peter Obi 3. Chairman of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Adamu Mu’azu 4. Special Adviser to the President on Inter Party Affairs, Chief Ben Obi 5. Former governor of Anambra State, Dr Chukwuemeka Ezeife 6. Chairman of All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, Chief Victor Umeh 7. Chief Arthur Eze 8. Tanzania High Commissioner, Daniel Ole Njoday 9. Indian High Commissioner designate, Ajjampur Angaiash Ghanashyam 10. Italian Ambassador designate, Fulvio Rustico

visit of the French President, Francois Hollande to the country for the centenary celebrations last week.

He said: “Abuja is one of the fastest growing cities in the world and certainly the fastest growing city in the continent of Africa.

We need to continually update infrastructure, particularly power supply to the city as it expands from the city centre outwards.”

Maku said that the granting of the loan showed the confidence the French government has in the Nigerian economy.

He explained that in continuation of the President’s promise to involve all Nigerians particularly those in the Diaspora in the transformation agenda, FEC ratified an earlier approval by the President which was given to the Federal Ministry of Finance to float a Diaspora bond of about $100-300 million to enable Nigerians abroad to invest in the country.

Coordinating Minister of the Economy and Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi OkonjoIweala said the terms of the loan would include 1.56 per cent interest rate per annum, commitment charge of 0.5 per cent annually and a service charge of 0.2 per cent per annually payable on the amount withdrawn.

According to her, the loan would boost transmission of electricity in the power sector.

On the Diaspora bond, Okonjo-Iweala said that the idea was for Nigerians who are outside the country who desire to engage in the building of infrastructure and investment in the country, adding that few countries have been able to float Diaspora bond successfully, including Isreal and India.

Eleven new ministers joined President Goodluck Jonathan’s cabinet last week when they took oath of office at the Council Chambers of the Presidential Villa shortly before the Federal Executive Council, FEC, meeting.

They are Amb. Aminu Wali (Kano), Minister of Foreign Affairs; Alhaji Abduljelili Adesiyan (Osun), Minister of Police Affairs; Mrs. Akon Eyakenyi (Akwa Ibom), Minister of Land, Housing and Urban Development; Lawrencia Laraba Mallam (Kaduna), Minister of Environment; Dr. Tamuno Danagogo (Rivers), Minister of Sports; General Aliyu Gusau (Zamfara), Minister of Defence and Boni Haruna (Adamawa), Minister of Youth Development; Others were: Senator Musiliu Obanikoro (Lagos), Minister of State, Defence; Mohammed Wakil (Borno), Minister of State, Power; Hajia Asabe Asmau Ahmed (Niger), Minister of State, Agriculture and Dr Khaliru Alhassan (Sokoto State), Minister of State, Health.

Former Minister of Sports, Bolaji Abdullahi was relieved of his duty from the cabinet as Minister of Sports.

Jonathan urged the new ministers to bring innovation into their different min-

P

istries and the country saying that because of the issues of conflicts between ministers and ministers of states, the government would review schedule of duties in some of the ministries to make sure that conflicts are reduced to the barest minimum.

Jonathan said: “All of you are ministers working for the Federal Government, working for our country. And the designations do not really matter much but we must relate with one another, and do our work in a way that must add value. And I expect that as you come on board that you will really bring some additional value to whatever you are doing.”

He explained: “People look at it from different angles but the key thing is that I believe that if you have been given a responsibility as a President, Governor, Minister, for you to serve for a period of time, if by the time you’re leaving you cannot look back and say that this is an innovation that I brought to bear based on my own creativity, I have been able to do things differently from what others have done and now things are being done better in my ministry or whatever office you’re holding; if you cannot say that, then you have failed.

Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim; Vice President Namadi Sambo and President Goodluck Jonathan at the Federal Executive Council meeting at the State House

Presidential approval for sack of two judges

P

resident Goodluck Jonathan last week approved the compulsory retirement of two High Court Judges from the bench over alleged gross misconduct based on the recommendation of the National Judicial Council (NJC) They are Justices Gladys Olotu of the Federal High Court and Justice Ufot Inyang of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

The decision of the NJC to recommend the two judges for compulsory retirement was taken at its meeting of February 26.

The NJC said that the recommendation for the retirement was based on the findings on the council following petitions on allegations of gross misconduct levelled against them.

The council also issued warnings to three other justices, the presiding justice

The President wise counsel to govs

resident Goodluck Jonathan last week advised state governors and politicians who are abusing and castigating him and his government saying that such action will not help the development of their states.

Jonathan spoke while receiving a delegation from Anambra State at the Presidential Villa led by Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Alfred Achebe and Anambra State governor, Peter Obi, who came on a thank-you and solidarity visit.

The President stressed that the best

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thing to do was to have a good relationship with the government at the centre.

Jonathan said: “A number of politicians feel that the best thing to do is to be abusing Mr. President, abusing the Federal Government and so on, you are elected to develop your state, I think the best thing is to have good relationship with the centre, whether you have a pin or you don’t have but one day it will come, wearing boxing gloves, jumping into the boxing ring to face Mr. President does not help the development of

any state” He commended Obi, whom he described as a governor who worked very hard for the people of the state and had a good relationship with the government, stressing that he was able to manage the state Assembly that was predominantly controlled by another political party He promised to extend the same relationship to Obiano and his deputy when they take over the affairs of Anambra State from Obi.

of the Court of Appeal in Kaduna, Justice Dalhatu Adamu, Justice A A. Adeleye of the High Court, Ekiti and Justice D. O. Amaechina of the Anambra High Court.

Justices Dalhatu, Adeleye and Amaechina faced the NJC panel for absenteeism and low performance-related offences.

The decision of the NJC was contained in a statement issued by Acting Director of Information, Mr. Soji Oye. He disclosed that the decisions on the judges were taken at its meeting of February 26, adding that Justices Olotu and Inyang were recommended for compulsory retirement for gross misconduct pursuant to the findings of the Fact Finding Committee of the council following petitions against the affected justices.

Olotu was alleged to have delivered judgement in suit number FHC/ UY/250/2003, 18 months after final addresses by all counsel contrary to constitutional provision that judgement must be delivered within a period of 90 days.

MORE POLITICS STORIES ON PAGES 41-44

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Tuesday, March 11, 2014

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The return of fuel scarcity TAYO OGUNBIYI

F

or the first time, in recent years, Nigerians celebrated the last Christmas and New Year festivities without experiencing the agony of another spate of fuel scarcity. We were not to know that the euphoria over this feat was not to last long. Fuel scarcity has suddenly returned to major cities and towns in the country.

Throughout the country and at a time Nigeria was celebrating her Centenary Anniversary, motorists, household users and commuters once again groaned under the heavy yoke of serious fuel dearth. As it is always the case, long queues of vehicles suddenly returned to most filling stations across the country with its attendant problems. From all indications, this particular occurrence might take a bit longer before it subsides.

Fuel scarcity is one plague, like corruption, that we are yet to find a lasting solution to in the country. Successive governments have had to contend with this problem without achieving much success. At some point, especially when the fuel refineries in the country were no longer functioning at full capacity, the crisis became so alarming that Nigerians were spending days at filling stations just to get this all important product.

As usual, the few filling stations that are selling the product are ripping off Nigerians by selling at cut-throat

prices in spite of the stress that people have to pass through to obtain the product. In Lagos, public servants and students, among others, are presently battling with the adverse effects of the lingering scarcity. As it is customary, transport fares to various locations in the metropolis have sharply increased.

Similarly, security at various homes, in the state, is being threatened as most people could no longer get the fuel to ‘power’ their generating sets. The implication is that Nigerians could no longer sleep with their two eyes closed.

There have been on-going rumours, across the land, that the Federal Government is planning to increase the pump head prices of petroleum products and that the present difficulty being experienced by Nigerians in accessing the product is only a ploy to achieve this objective. Though government, through PPPRA, has repeatedly stated that it had no plan to review upward the prices of petroleum products, but the current agony being faced by Nigerians could only further add impetus to the rumour of imminent fuel price increase.

Keen watchers of the trend in fuel price increase in the country are beginning to express fears that the present fuel situation might eventually lead to an increase in fuel price. Of course, Nigerians are not new to such developments as succeeding administrations in the country have had to increase fuel prices on various occasions. A chronicle of increase in the prices

NIGERIANS ARE NOT NEW TO SUCH DEVELOPMENTS AS SUCCEEDING ADMINISTRATIONS IN THE COUNTRY HAVE HAD TO INCREASE FUEL PRICES ON VARIOUS OCCASIONS of petroleum products in Nigeria reveal that every regime since General Yakubu Gowon has at one time or the other, tampered with fuel prices for one reason or the other. The Gowon regime increased fuel price from six kobo to nine and a half kobo. General Olusegun Obasanjo, in his first coming as a military leader, jerked the price from nine and a half kobo to 15 kobo, while the General Ibrahim Babangida military junta moved it up from 15 to 70k. The interim government of Chief Earnest Shonekan also increased fuel price from 70k to N5. The Sani Abacha regime moved it from N5 to N11; General Abdusalam Abubakar administration moved it to N20. On the eve of the second coming of Obasanjo, he increased it to N70. But his successor, the late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua reduced it to N65. Incumbent President Goodluck Jonathan moved it to N141 before slashing it to N97 after stiff opposition from Nigerians.

In recent time, the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has

come under heavy criticisms for its gross ineptitude and lack of accountability and transparency. It is rather shameful for a country reputed as the sixth oil exporting nation in the world to continually subject its citizens to the perennial agony of fuel scarcity. The question, of course, is for how long Nigerians would continue to bear the burden of the incompetency of those who rule us? It is bad enough that our lives are being endangered as a result of security challenges. It is equally bad enough that public electricity supply has remained epileptic in spite of several reforms and huge funds committed into the sector. It is, however, undesirable that Nigerians should continue to suffer before they could get access to fuel, a product that providence has blessed the country with.

This is the right time for the Federal Government to look into the various allegations of incompetence, lack of transparency and accountability being levied against NNPC. Nigerians do not deserve this continuous suffering in the midst of plenty. Government’s main purpose is to protect and defend the interest of the people. According to the founder of modern China, Mao Tse-tung, “Our duty (leader) of is to hold ourselves responsible to the people. Every word, every act and every policy must conform to the people’s interests, and if mistakes occur, they must be corrected”.

Ogunbiyi is of the Features Unit, Ministry of Information and Strategy, Alausa, Ikeja.

Celebration of villains and treasury looters AKINTOKUNBO A. ADEJUMO

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his article is not meant to hold brief for Prof Wole Soyinka; I am most confident he can do this more effectively than me. Rather, I seek to protect Nigerians from the insult and onslaught of the spectre of brazen and barefaced arrogance, insensitivity and deception that our society is having to contend with on a daily basis.

When I first read Sadiq Abacha’s reaction to what he perceived as an insult from the esteemed Professor Wole Soyinka’s comment about his father, the late General Sani Abacha, my first reaction was to say “How dare you? Who are you to write against WS?” But on a second thought and a few mulling, I had to admit that Sadiq wrote very well, even if the content bordered on the ludicrous and the typically arrogant. And of course, I do not believe that just because Wole Soyinka is a revered and world-renowned master of letters, no ordinary person should stand up to him.

No! Why not? Wole Soyinka is a mortal like Sadiq, and he has no monopoly of wisdom, intelligence or letters. But like a friend said to me, it is better and more civilised he wrote than sending hired killers and kidnappers against his protagonist.

But our country is one where nobody accepts the TRUTH, least of all those who have benefited from the corrupt and illegal

system. It is a country where corruption, depravity, greed, self-centredness and deceit by anybody in power are celebrated by the very people suffering under the yoke of such malfeasances. Most of our rulers (and the followers), probably due to some warped genetic aberration, do not seem to have any appreciation of the difference between Right and Wrong; between Good and Evil.

Such people cannot have a conscience.

And this is why, even excusing filial loyalty, Sadiq Abacha cannot see, understand and admit that his father, Sani Abacha, is generally, not only within the shores of Nigeria, but also internationally, considered the most despicable and corrupt despot in Nigeria’s history.

But in a way, don’t blame Sadiq too much, or at all. First, he sees others of his father’s malevolent ilk and company, however less notorious in atrocity and depravity, walking and swaggering on the streets of the nation with unconcealed arrogance, looted wealth and lack of remorse, being worshiped by the same people they have wrought havoc of poverty and underdevelopment on, and whose counsel on national issues are still being sought by those who still hold them, albeit dubiously, in high esteem. His words reflect the insensitivity of this breed of people.

Secondly, I don’t expect him to denounce his father who assured limitless wealth for him and his siblings. The side of your father you see at home is usually totally different from the side others see from out-

OURS HAS BECOME A SOCIETY WHERE CORRUPTION IS CELEBRATED HEROICALLY AND THE

REAL HEROES ARE SIDELINED side, so goes the saying. You can pardon the young man, after all, if he doesn’t defend his own father, who will? But he could at least have kept quiet. And if he sees any slander in what is being said about his father, then he could go to court and sue for defamation of character. Unfortunately, by his letter, he has inadvertently, and with a delusion of grandeur, awoken very bitter memories and hatred in the minds of many of his countrymen and women, especially those who suffered or lost greatly under his despotic father.

The sad truth is that General Abacha was not just a heartless dictator, he was also notoriously known globally to be plunderer.

Whereas the Jonathan government seems to ache from regressive forgetfulness, Nigerians and indeed the entire world still remember Abacha’s reign of terror, treasury looting, suppression of free press and vicious elimination of opposition figures.

Sometimes it’s not really the fault of the

people siding with evil; it’s more the fault of the people who choose to celebrate it and the society that chooses to keep mute about it. Governor Amaechi of Rivers State once said that until the people started stoning them (the governors and other rulers, himself included), they will not stop stealing. Stealing in this context, in my own view, doesn’t mean robbery or pilfering in the true sense of the word, it entails every aspect of corruption, mismanagement, ineffectiveness, and bad governance. That Sadiq Abacha is talking back or writing back in support of his father’s award isn’t much his ignorance, but the foolishness and bad sense of timing and judgement on the part of the government bestowing the award on his father.

Ours has become a society where corruption is celebrated heroically and the real heroes are side-lined. This is a depraved society where thieves come home to a rousing welcome, instead of being shamed and chased out of town; a society where thieves donate millions in tithes to the church.

Let the Truth be said always.

Adejumo wrote via akinadejum@aol. com 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.

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Editorial

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Tuesday, March 11, 2014

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Unending fuel scarcity

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easons adduced for the ongoing and embarrassing fuel scarcity with its crippling effect on businesses and all facets of the nation’s socioeconomic life are as diverse and ludicrous as they are confounding and conflicting. Nigerians now wonder whether excuses for failure, which government officials in the petroleum downstream subsector often celebrate, rather than deplore, is what should be fed to Nigerians after decades of oil exploration.

It is even more sickening when cognizance is taken of the fact that the country is a leading member of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC). As of 2011, Nigeria was ranked as world’s 8th largest exporter of crude oil and the largest oil producer in Africa.

The first reason marketed by the Federal Government as responsible for the current fuel scarcity said it was an artificial creation of oil marketers who were speculating that the Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA) might soon increase the pump price of petrol. The false projection was that the hoarding of available fuel in the marketers’ tanks would swell their profit, and that the scarcity would end in a matter of days.

When the scarcity persisted, the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) claimed that the importation of fuel was hin-

dered by the failure of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) to renew the contracts of some independent marketers to bring in the product; especially those of them resisting the official pump price of N97 per litre on grounds that operational costs had completely eroded their profit margin.

The DPR stated, in addition, that the supply of petrol was being hampered by the activities of oil bunkerers. It blamed the non-passage of the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) which passage it said could rein in illegal oil bunkering. After blaming all monkeys and baboons, the DPR said fuel scarcity might persist much longer.

The NNPC, on its part, blames the scarcity of petrol on the breach in pipeline networks that convey fuel to the depots, without offering adequate explanation as to the cause of the breach and why it has failed to renew the contracts of some of the independent marketers. For the marketers, scarcity in the supply chain was mainly caused by the delay of PPRA in approving the allocation of fuel made to marketers in the first quarter.

All of these explanations fly in the face of commonsense and, indeed, conceal the actual reason for the disruption in the fuel supply chain to end users.

It is no longer a secret that the lingering fuel scarcity is the product of the curse govern-

March 11, 1946 Rudolf Hoss, the first commandant of Auschwitz Concentration Camp, was captured by British troops. Auschwitz concentration camp was a network of concentration and extermination camps built and operated by the Third Reich in Polish areas annexed by Nazi Germany during World War II. At least 1.1 million prisoners died at Auschwitz, around 90 percent of them Jewish between early 1942 and late 1944.

WITHOUT FISCAL FEDERALISM, THE NATION SHOULD FORGET

ABOUT ASSIDUITY,

CREATIVITY, INDUSTRY AND PATRIOTISM FROM THE FEDERATING UNITS ment officials placed on the nation by their greed and corruption, a curse that manifests itself through the perennial inability of Nigeria to refine its crude oil locally. Why should a country endowed with enormous crude oil, like Nigeria, continue to import petrol if her leaders are as responsible as they claim? How can patriotic and responsible leaders find it so difficult to muster the capacity to take effective control of their oil economy — a feat that other nations, including those not endowed with crude oil, have performed effortlessly.

Until unscrupulous politicians, the FG and its heavily corrupt petroleum agencies, complicit marketers, all political parties struggling for political power and public office make the domestic refining of petroleum products a priority

ON THIS DAY March 11, 2006 Michelle Bachelet was inaugurated as the first female president of Chile. Veronica Michelle Bachelet Jeria (born September 29, 1951) is a Chilean politician from the Socialist Party. She is currently the President-elect of Chile. She previously served as President of Chile from 2006 to 2010, becoming the first woman in her country to do so. After leaving the presidency, she was given a job by the United Nations.

project in their agenda, fuel scarcity, with its attendant loss of man hour and revenue to the nation; and the untold hardship that it inflicts on the people, will continue to subject the country to open mockery, embarrassment and ridicule in the comity of nations.

Nigeria can only come to terms with its destiny and fully exploit its potentials if it sincerely enshrines the principle of national self-determination in the new constitution envisaged to emerge from the President Goodluck Jonathanconvened national conference.

To give effect to this objective, the conferees should grant regional autonomy to the constituent parts of the country by introducing and encapsulating economic federalism in the relevant sections of the expected constitution. This will translate to the devolution of power from the center to the federating units. Only thus can the nation severally and jointly take control of its oil economy and ensure that requisite structures are erected to realize its full potentials. Without fiscal federalism, the nation should forget about assiduity, creativity, industry and patriotism from the federating units. In their place would remain monumental corruption, pipeline vandalism, rogue subsidies, economic sabotage and all manner of vices yet unraveled.

March 11, 2012 A United States’ soldier killed 16 civilians in the Panjwayi District of Afghanistan, near Kandahar. The Panjwai massacre occurred when US Army Staff Sergeant, Robert Bales, murdered sixteen civilians and wounded six others in the Panjwayi District of Kandahar Province in Afghanistan.

Nine of the victims were children, while eleven of the dead were from the same family.

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Business & Finance Tuesday, March 11, 2014

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MFBs: Retaining public confidence

The closure of 83 micro-finance banks, MFBs by the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, last week has raised concerns over operations MFBs, even as operators insist that the sub sector is coming up stronger. UDO ONYEKA reports.

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ast week’s announcement by the Managing Director, Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation, NDIC, Alhaji Umaru Ibrahim, that the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, has approved the liquidation of 83 micro-finance banks, sent jitters into the sub-sector even as doubts re-emerged over the viability of the institutions.

According to Ibrahim, who appeared before the Senate Committee on Banking and Currency to defend NDIC’s 2014 budget, the

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closure of the 83 micro-finance banks became necessary because it was discovered that some of them existed only on paper, while others were used to defraud Nigerians.

He had added that there were up to 900 micro-finance banks operating in the country, out of which, 83 had been listed for liquidation.

According to him, NDIC is already working to determine the number of depositors and how much each deposited in the banks in order to pay them .

He said the operations of some of the microfinance banks had become epileptic, adding that the corporation’s 2014 budget had made provision for the sum of N105bn as pay-off fund in case any bank went under.

This disclosure by the NDIC boss again brings to the fore the argument in some quarters on whether Micro finance Banks have impacted positively on the economy.

Stakeholders seek media alliance to combat environmental challenges

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According to Managing Director, Fortis Microfinance Bank Plc, Mr. Kunle Oketikun, the fact that Nigerians need more financial empowerment justify the continued existence of MFBs. Nigerians, Oketikun said breakdown of EFInA’s report, late last year showed that out of 84.7 million Nigerian adults and only 15.9 million individuals in Nigeria borrowed money in the last 12 months and only 7.9 million of individuals who borrowed money used it for business purposes.

He said microfinancing is under a decade and in comparison with what obtains in other climes where micro financing has been practiced for over three to four decades.” It will only be fair to say microfinancing in Nigeria is doing well and will do much better in the coming years.

“The sector is gradually gaining momentum more Nigerians are beginning to gain increased confidence in the sector.

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CONTINUED ON PAGE 20

Mixed reactions trail sack of aviation CEOs 31

Operators wants FG to address influx of foreign insurers 33

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Business & Finance

Tuesday, March 11, 2014

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MFBs: Retaining public confidence CONTINUED FROM PAGE 19

“The microfinance sector has done well with over four million accounts of which 57.3 per cent are male and 42.3 percent are female”, he said.

Oketikun said recent statistics show that the sector has disbursed over N97bn in risk assets. “In comparison to where we are coming from, this is reasonably okay”.

“But if we are comparing with what it should be, it is a far cry as well over 67.2 per cent of Nigerian adults summing up to 56.9 million that are still financially excluded as stated in EFInA latest Access to Financial Services survey report in Nigeria.

“Nigeria still lags behind South Africa, Kenya, Namibia and a couple of others in financial inclusion indicators.

Generally, there is more to be done.

“A healthy Microfinance sector should trigger a very active Micro, Small and Medium Scale Enterprises sector, the lifeblood of most viable economies.

“On the whole, microfinance banks in Nigeria have actively engaged a substantial number of Nigeria’s population in the area of financial literacy and access to finance. Through facilitation of group formation and lending more social skills and interaction have been imbued into the consciousness of Nigerians at the base of the economic pyramid, particularly the women.

“In this wise, the sector has not only provided the supply of financial access but are also doing some work in the area of empowering the customers to be well informed on what to demand for.

If the current tempo is sustained and a well-structured support on funding and monitoring is maintained by the apex regulatory bank, the sector will do better and will add significant value to our economy”, he said.

He said there is a strong correlation between financial access and poverty alleviation. If we are looking in terms of available statistics how many people that have been affected, then you can aptly say that there is much room for improvement in the activities of all stakeholders.

Corroborating Oketikun position that MFBs are coming up stronger, the CBN recently gave a clean bill of health to all the 832 MFBs in the country, saying it is generally satisfied with their operating conditions.

Before the CBN report on the MFBs, there had been an earlier report that the CBN was planning to shutdown up to 600 MFBs on the basis of poor performance, but in a reaction, the apex bank said such insinuations were all false and unfounded.

CBN, Director, Other Financial Institutions Supervision Department, OFISD, Mr. Olufemi Fabamwo, said that rather than closing shops, some of the institutions are already upgrading their levels of operations as they meet required guidelines.

“Out of 832 microfinance banks, four of them are now national, 75 are state, and the remaining 753 are unit MFBs. And it is a continuous thing because some people moved from being units to national and we upgraded them because

Ibrahim

Ag CBN Governor, Sarah Alade

Nsa

Oketikun

THE SECTOR HAS NOT ONLY PROVIDED THE SUPPLY OF FINANCIAL ACCESS BUT ARE ALSO DOING SOME WORK IN THE AREA OF EMPOWERING THE CUSTOMERS TO BE WELL INFORMED ON WHAT TO DEMAND they got the capital and met other requirements. So you can actually go from unit to state as you meet the requirements.

“We have not shut down any microfinance bank. The report is therefore not true. I can confirm to you that we are generally satisfied with the current situation of the microfinance banks”.

He explained that the situation currently is that for those MFBs which are not looking to operating more than one branch, they really do not need to recapitalise except when they seek to upgrade their scope of operation.

“The December deadline expired for those who are having branches of more than one and who wanted to keep those branches, so they needed to recapitalise and have N100m to become state MFBs

and retain those branches. But for those who want to remain unit and are not seeking to open more than one branch, they don’t really have to do anything”, he said.

Fabamwo raised concerns that such a misinterpretation of the policy direction in the microfinance sub-sector could lead to the de-marketing of microfinance banks and thus, undermine public confidence which is capable of precipitating panic withdrawals by depositors and investors in the sector.

He explained that all MFBs are examined at least once a year, while some are examined more than once, depending on the exigencies of the situation.

Fabamwo , like Ibrahim disclosed that follow-up visits are made by the regulator to ensure that examiners’ rec-

ommendations are implemented and corrective actions are taken by the operators of the MFBs in order to engender stability in the microfinance space.

Also, Managing Director, Prolific Microfinance Bank, Lagos, Mr. Edward Akinlade, said that MFBs are doing a lot.

“None of the commercial banks has lent to individual a penny without collateral.

But micro-finance banks are doing that because they are close to market women and petty traders. In my bank, we do give out free cash to petty traders every month to do their business. We also give those loans within our cash limit. We do this on a monthly basis because we believe these people create job.

Akinlade said one of the major challenges facing MFBs is manpower.

“There is paucity of skills among people who are running the banks. There are illiterate people who are directors of the banks”, he said.

Managing Director, First Bank Micro Finance Bank, FBNMFB, a subsidiary of First Bank Group, Mrs. Pauline Nsa, said that why some MFBs are finding it difficult to survive was due to ho those organisation were founded.

She said when the microfinance policy guideline was launched in 2005, the CBN directed the defunct community banks to convert to microfinance banks, adding that at the time this policy came out, many of the community banks were already on the verge of collapse because they were not doing too well.

“What many of them simply did was to raise fresh capital to convert to MFB. Before they changed, what needed to be put in place in terms of development of the industry and building capacities were not done. All they did was to raise capital to embark on the newly introduced MFB. Issues like training and how to run the operations of the new MFBs were not done.

She said because what needed to be done were not taken care “ what then happened was that the fresh funds, which the operators of community banks raised to embrace MFBs also went the same way their funds in community banks did. A lot of them had their capital funds eroded by bad loans.

She said many MFBs that transformed from community banks continued to run as before and this was the beginning of their collapse.

“They operated along the same old line they did when they were community banks. They ran their activities like commercial banks instead of facing those individual customers in the small businesses.

“However, though many of them failed, some also survived and those that did are still offering services to their clients even till now. Also, a set of new ones has come on board. Also the CBN, in an attempt to boost the growth of the SMEs and microfinance banks has taken giant strides by initiating some schemes and programmes including the N200bn funds. We believe that these new ones will learn from the mistakes of those that failed and then do better businesses to ensure survival”, she said.

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Business & Economy

Tuesday, March 11, 2014

21

NDIC advocates closer collaboration for economic growth UDO ONYEKA

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he Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation, NDIC, has called for stronger collaboration between the Federal Ministry of Finance and fiscal/monetary agencies under its supervision toward creating better understanding of their operations.

Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, NDIC, Alh. Umaru Ibrahim made this call i at a two-day seminar organised by the Corporation for the management staff of the Federal Ministry of Finance with the theme: “Reforms in the Nigerian Financial System” in Abuja.

Umaru, who was represented by the Director, Research, Policy and International Relations, Dr. J. A. Afolabi declared that it was important for the management staff of the Ministry to be apprised with the emerging developments in the financial system and operations of the various regulatory bodies it supervised to enable them effectively discharge their over-sight

responsibilities.

He noted that the expediency in the economy had underscored the need for continuous harmony between the formulation of fiscal policies by the Ministry and the monetary policies being managed by the Central Bank, CBN, of Nigeria and other regulatory agencies which were geared toward sustainable economic growth and development.

The NDIC boss reiterated the need to provide the Ministry’s management staff with broad understanding of the mechanisms and dynamics of the Nigerian financial system.

He said the Corporation had carefully drawn experienced resource persons for the seminar from the banking, finance, capital market, deposit insurance, pension and the insurance sectors to enable the management staff effectively discharge their official functions.

He urged other financial regulatory/supervisory institutions under the Ministry’s supervision to assist in similar capacity building initiatives for

‘NPA to continue supporting Pilotage boards’

T

he Nigerian Ports Authority, NPA, will continue to support the activities of the four pilotage districts within the Authority to ensure their maximum performance.

The NPA Managing Director, Malam Habib Abdullahi who gave this assurance in Lagos reiterated that the Authority would also provide all the operational requirements of the pilotage districts within budgetary provisions.

Habib who was speaking in his office at the beginning of a meeting with the leadership of the four pilotage districts commended the contributions of the members, consisting of mainly the finest nation’s master mariners, for their contributions to ensure enhanced

performance of the various pilotage districts.

The managing director, also noted the concern of the members on navigational safety of the nation’s channels, and reassured them that the Authority would continue to place priority on the training and re-training of its pilots.

While stressing the roles of pilots as Harbour Masters in the operations of the Authority, Malam Habib appealed to members of the pilotage boards to always make positive suggestions on the marine functions of the organisation, adding that such suggestions would be gladly considered by the Management with a view to improving the efficiency and effectiveness of the system.

FG to sell N90bn, 3- 10-year bonds today UDO ONYEKA

WITH AGENCY REPORT

T

he Federal Government plans to sell N90bn, $547.61m of bonds with maturities of three years and 10 years today at its third monthly debt auction this year, according the Debt Management Office, DMO. T The debt office said it would issue N45bn each of the three- and 10-year bonds, maturing in August 2016 and March 2024 respectively, using the Dutch Auction system.

It would be recalled that the DMO also sold N90bn FG bonds on February 12.

The N90bn worth of bonds also comprised N45bn three-year paper and N45bn of 20-year paper.

The debt office had said that the bonds would mature in August 2016 and July 2030, respectively.

The DMO said that the 2016 and 2030 instruments would attract 13.05 per cent and 10.00 per cent coupon rates, respectively.

The DMO, on Januar.15, issued two tranches of federal government bonds totalling N90bn to investors.

the overall benefit of the nation’s economy.

On deposit insurance, Ibrahim stressed the need for the participants to appreciate the role of the NDIC as a risk minimiser with expanded mandate of deposit guarantee, bank supervision, bank failure resolution and bank liquidation. He pointed out that the mandate of

the Corporation required proper comprehension and continuous education of all stakeholders.

The Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Finance, Mrs. Anastasia Nwaobia, commended the NDIC for organising the seminar in response to the Ministry’s request for capacity building and technical assistance for its management

staff. Nwaobia called on other agencies under the Ministry to emulate the Corporation in such capacity building initiative.

She said that the impressive performance of the economy in 2013 was as a result of reforms in the financial system and the harmonious working relationship between the Ministry and agencies under its supervision.

L-R: Chairman, House Committee on Marine Transportation, Rep. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi; Minister of Transport, Sen. Idris Umar and leader of the delegation of Pinnacle Oil and gas Limited, Mr Peter Mba during the handover of Single Point Mooring Project to Pinnacle Oil and Gas Limited in Abuja, at the weekend.

PHOTO:NAN

Fidelity Bank re-strategises, looks forward to the future UDO ONYEKA

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he Managing Director/ Chief Executive Officer of Fidelity Bank Plc, Mr. Nnamdi Okonkwo said that Fidelity Bank has fine-tuned strategies to not only remain relevant but also meet the challenges in the industry even as the bank remains committed to making financial services easy and accessible to its customers.

Okonkwo, who made the statement while speaking on the CNBC Africa Power Lunch West Africa programme noted that the current banking challenges are not entirely new and called on banks in the country to be proactive and forward looking.

He recalled that similar thing had happened in the industry over 24 years ago when he started banking and that banks then braced up to meet the challenge.

According to him, the Federal Government in 1990 withdrew public sector funds from the banking sector and moved it to the Central Bank. “That created some serious liquidity challenges. It’s just that this time around it’s been long we had that level,” he said.

He maintained that in terms of liquidity, the Central Bank did not mince words over the years on what their focus was going to be, pointing out that in doing

that if they don’t have control of the fiscal side then they will employ all monetary tools at their disposal.

He stated that Fidelity saw the hand writing on the wall, noting that while it hit some banks more than others because they focused on other matters, the bank had traditionally maintained a liquidity ratio in the range of about 48-50 per cent and around 38 per cent even when the CRR was moved to 75 per cent.

“We have been strong in commercial banking, retail and SME over the years. Remember that Fidelity used to be a merchant bank, so we also established a handshake between our corporate banking play and the retail side such that some multinationals ordinarily wouldn’t have signed on by focusing on the value chain of their downstream banking, their distributors and other vendors and so we ended up converting those. That gave us some kind of stable liquidity over the years, and if you notice, we are present in key commercial centres like Onitsha, Kano, Aba, and Port Harcourt.” Okonkwo stated.

According to him Fidelity Bank will be doing things differently from the crowd by raising the bar of what it already knew how to do, which is retail banking. “For us what gets measured gets done. We have re-jigged our

strategy a little bit to use the channels that we have built to continue to amass and build the critical mass of low cost deposits that would act as further buffer from the turbulence that we saw in the system.

“The days of building cathedrals on the main road all in the name of branch network are gone. We have prototype branches that match the environment in which we operate. So, if for instance, I want to do a neighbourhood branch, I don’t need a cathedral. People are savvier now; you use technology, mobile banking and other e-channels.

We are strengthening these distribution channels and increasing the numbers.

“Two years ago, we made a deliberate attempt to track how we are doing in terms of electronic migration. We decided to decongest our banking halls taking advantage of the e-channels that we have. Our electronic migration which actually tried to measure if 100 people came to withdraw in our banking halls, what percentage of that is using electronic channels and what percentage had done physical cash. As at over a year ago, we are somewhere around 45 per cent but today, we are 83 per cent and that means that for every N100 that is withdrawn through our system, 83k is done through electronic channels.”

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News

Tuesday, March 11, 2014

No plan to abandon FG road projects in states, says Onolememen OLUFEMI ADEOSUN ABUJA

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he Minister of Works, Mr. Mike Onolememen has denied any move by the Federal Government to abandon some of its ongoing road projects scattered in states across the country.

He declared as baseless the insinuations in some quarters that the disagreement between the federal government and some states had led to the termination of roads projects in such states This came on the heels of concerned raised by some members of the House of Representatives Committee on works from Rivers, North-Eastern and North-Western alleging that projects in their areas were abandoned.

The minister, however stated that the reasons why there were many abandoned road projects in the North-Eastern part of the country were due to the difficulty in mobilizing contractors to the various project sites occasioned by security challenges in the region, He explained that the du-

alisation of the Ninth MileAjaokuta and Obajana-Abaji-Lokoja road sections I and II were some of the road projects the Ministry would ensure their completion as scheduled, this year.

The Minister insisted that “the Executive has no issue against Rivers State or any state of the Federation”.

The Minister further stated that “there were challenges with contracts awarded last year, the contractors could not access their money as at when due from the Ministry of Finance, but efforts were on to make amends”.

Onolememen, noted that the Ministry would not be able to embark on new road projects due to shortfall of N62bn in the allocation of N128.24bn budget to the ministry in 2014.

But the minister assured on the completion of existing projects despite the shortfall.

The breakdown of the Ministry’s appropriation indicated that N161bnwas proposed for capital projects with the Ministry having N 141bn, while agencies have N201bn.

Council chairmen urged to provide warehouses, security to farmers ALIUNA GODWIN EBONYI

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hairmen of local government Areas in Ebonyi state has at the weekend been urged to provide warehouses to farmers and other farm inputs such as fertilizers and seedlings to farmers as to enable them boost agriculture generally in the state.

Addressing journalists in Abakaliki, the State Director of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Dr Anselm Opara said that farmers who have identity cards which are captured in the database would be allowed to access farm inputs to ensure that the Growth Enhancement Support Scheme (GESS) programme in the state is achieved.

He noted that poultry and fishing activities would be included in the Ebonyi 2014 (GESS) programme adding that this would be a deviation from the normal practice of providing farm inputs such as fertilizers and seedlings to farmers, as it is aimed at boosting agriculture in the

state.

According to him “The farmers who would be involved in this programme have been captured in our data base, as we would ensure that all network problems associated with the Electronic Wallet (GSM) system, are solved.

Opora noted that the programme reached 60, 000 last year through the programme but are targeting double the number-120, 000 this year in the state.

“The programme would avail farmers the opportunity of using the offline redemption system’ which enables them redeem their inputs without the GSM method.

The State Director commended council chairmen who assisted famers and tasked them to do more as to boost agriculture in the state “I commend local government areas in the state that provided warehouses and security for farm inputs” noting that the programme was a collaborative one between the federal and state governments.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Crisis rocks AUPCTRE over alleged planned sale of properties TOLA AKINMUTIMI ABUJA

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brewing crisis in the Amalgamated Union of Public Corporation, Civil Service Technical and Recreational Service Employees (AUPCTRE) over alleged illegality in the proposed sale of the Union’s properties in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) by the Union’s National Executive Council (NEC) has polarised the leaders and members on a war path.

Investigations indicated that the planned sale of the properties appeared to have triggered the anger of some Branch leaders and members against the national leadership of the Union’s who were accused of run-

ning its affairs over the last few years without due process and, total disregard for Constitutional provisions.

In their Letter of Protest dated February 14, 2014 with an attached document signed by Chairmen and Secretaries of 12 Branches of the Union and addressed to the National Executive Council (NEC), the aggrieved labour unionists stated that they were opposed to the planned sale of the properties.

Specifically, among the properties listed by the aggrieved Branch leaders seeking the suspension of all actions by the NEC on the planned sale are, Plot 303, situated at Kado Estate Zone B09, Gwarimpa Shopping Mall and the National

Headquarters of the union at No 27, Suez Canal Crescent, Wuse Zone 4, Abuja.

The signatories to the protest letter described the proposed sale of the propertied as a unilateral decision of the National Board of Trustees (NBOT) and the NEC as unacceptable since it would defeat the initial purpose of their acquisition, alleging that if the sale sails through, it would mortgage the future of the union and frustrate the collective dream of members to have enduring legacy assets they all laboured for over the years.

The letter stated: “The initial intention of our veterans was to put up an investment that can create over two hundred employment within the AUCPTRE family and make the Union financially vi-

brant and independent. Contrary to this dream, the present administration wants to mortgage the future of the union by selling an age long legacy project.

“For us to have the AUPCTRE of our dream, we promise to do everything within our legal framework within the Constitution of the Union to preserve this legacy (AUPCTRE LAND)”, it added.

To forestall the planned sale of the properties by legal means, the 12 branch executives had in a letter by their Solicitors, Alabor Henry Cosmas, dated February 24, 2014, addressed to the (NEC) of the Union indicated their intention to contest the proposed sale in the court by virtue of the alleged illegality of the action.

L – R: Winner of a generator, Mr. Kalejaiye Olumuyiwa; show Anchor Gbenga Adeyinka and another winner of a generator, Mr. Frank Akhigbe during the Star Win a Trip to Brazil promo draws, held at the Crystal Saphire club,at the weekend.

Handover of Iwopin Paper mill, a milestone says Sambo

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ice President Namadi Sambo has declared that the handover of Iwopin Pulp and Paper Company Limited (IPPC) to Beulah Technical Services Company Limited (BETCO) is another important milestone in the transformation agenda of President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration.

Sambo, who is also the Chairman of the National Council on Privatisation, NCP, said government was committed to reviving the nation’s paper manufacturing companies and make Nigeria selfsufficient in paper products.

The VP noted that the handover ceremony was a further attestation to Mr. President’s strict adherence to the rule of law, adding that: “This transaction started 11 years ago, but was only resolved in 2013 due to the willingness of the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan to abide by the dictates of the law”.

The Vice President, who was represented by the Director-0General of the Bureau for Public Enterprises further, advised the core investor that the role of BPE did not stop with the handover; adding that the BPE would continue with its monitoring responsibilities as enshrined in the Share Sales and Purchase Agreement, SPA. He said that “Monitoring and enforcement is to ensure that the investor complies with the spirit and letter of the covenants in the SPA and implements the Post Acquisition Business Plan (PAP)”.

He however reassured that given the technical, managerial and capital investment plan presented by BETCO in the PAP, Federal Government was confident that BETCO was equipped to revive IPPC. Earlier, Chairman of BETCO, Dr. Tunji Braithwaite said that his belief in Nigeria and the Nigeria legal system kept his hope alive

for the past 11 years it took to assume control of IPPC. He reassured the community that BETCO would be alive to its Corporate Social Responsibilities to create jobs for the immediate community and Nigeria at large and improve the economy of the area and by extension, Nigeria.

In his remarks, the representative of Ogun State Governor, Mr. Adebayo Fari expressed the excitement of the State Government in the hope of finally reviving IPPC

by BETCO. He noted that: “For us in Ogun State I think this is one of the things we have been praying and wishing for, because part of our agenda is to rebuild Ogun State and when moribund companies are being revived it is a great joy and we want to be part of it”.

He continued: “Again I would want to repeat the commitment of our government to partner with this company to make

sure that all they have proposed in terms of support would be met so that the objectives of the investor will be realized and we pray that they too will as much as possible be alive to their responsibilities as contained in the agreement we are going to sign today”.

He further hoped that going forward; the intentions of the founding fathers of the plant would have been achieved.

The member, House of Representatives, representing Ijebu North/Ijebu East, Ogun Waterside Federal Constituency, Hon. Abiodun Abudu-Balogun enjoined the company to “embrace and encourage the catchment area policy of employing indigenes of the area as well as others from Ijebu East and Ijebu North particularly those who are from Ogun water side in ways that would impact socially and economically on the people of the state”.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Jobs & Career

Tuesday, March 11, 2014

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‘UN Millennium Campaign addressing productive employment, decent work’ The National Coordinator of the United Nations Millennium Campaign (UNMC), Mr. Hilary Ogbonna tells MESHACK IDEHEN in this interview that post 2015 Development Agenda of the Millennium Campaign makes it possible for the challenges of poverty, unproductive employment and decent work to be sustainably addressed.

What the policy trust of the United Nations Millennium Campaign here in Nigeria?

The UN Millennium Campaign (UNMC) was established by former Secretary-General Kofi Annan, in late 2002 as the flagship initiative of the UN globally for MDG advocacy.

The purpose and mandate of the campaign is to work with a wide range of partners to foster a self-sustaining movement, extending beyond the UN system, for the realisation of the millennium development goals, (MDGs).

UNMC benefits from the highest level of political and moral support including the United Nations SecretaryGeneral, the Deputy Secretary-General and the UNDP Administrator as Chair of the UN Development Group. As an inter-agency initiative, it is able to work across and in synergy with multiple agencies in the UN system.

Could you shed some more light on the themes in post 2015 MDGs? The proposed main themes for post 2015 development agenda are human rights, inequalities, sustainability, while the specific themes are; population dynamics, peace and security, stable and inclusive economic growth, productive employment and decent work, food security, governance including principles of inclusion and participation, promoting transparency and accountability, building resilience of vulnerable population groups As the National Coordinator of UNMC in Nigeria, could you share a background of Nigeria’s experience?

Nigeria is a signatory to the millennium declaration, and as a signatory state, the government of Nigeria introduced programs and institutions aimed at achieving the 2015 MDGs The programs and institutions put in place by the government of Nigeria have shown how the gains of the 2005 debt relief were being channeled towards implementing MDGs programmes, and some of the emerging priority issues and challenges from record are in poverty driven by inequality, imbalance in resource allocation and other governance related factors, insecurity hampering program implementation and service delivery, food insecurity, climate change and population bulge.

How do you situate these themes to Nigeria meeting the post 2015 developmental agenda?

The emerging issues from Nigeria government in identifying citizens’ priorities for the post 2015 development agenda has to do with governance and accountability, fighting corruption, accountability and implementation framework, effective institutions, addressing inequalities, addressing special needs of vulnerable people There is urgent need for government at state, local and national levels to strengthen democracy and continue to improve the nation’s infrastructure in Nigeria’s post 2015 developmental agenda.

This is because it is clearer that the impediments to be seriously addressed have to do with corruption, weak institutions and absence of rule of law, insecurity impacts on the development, data management, availability and quality.

UNMC has an interagency mandate within the UN System to leverage the advocacy potential of the United Nations system.

It has global presence with vast stakeholders across sectors using its impressive array of established partnerships with civil society, the private sector, new and traditional media and government at all levels. The Millennium campaign also has vast networks of trusted partnerships reaching deep into communities as well as capacity to mobilize additional campaigning resources.

improve productivity, earnings and working conditions in order to reduce working poverty that affects nearly half of all the workers in the Nigeria.

This is because ,the insufficient pace in creating decent work in Nigeria points to the need for Government to have a greater coordination of macro-economic policies, as well as active labour market policies at both in the 36 states and at the national level.

Ogbonna

THE INSUFFICIENT PACE IN CREATING DECENT WORK IN

NIGERIA POINTS TO THE NEED FOR GOVERNMENT TO HAVE A GREATER COORDINATION OF MACRO-ECONOMIC POLICIES, AS WELL AS ACTIVE LABOUR MARKET POLICIES As a neutral and credible moral voice for poor people across the world, the UNMC has a multi-level advocacy and campaigning skills to create visibility for MDG progress which will in turn help to create a base of support for international development issues, including employment creation.

The uniqueness of the millennium campaign made it a bridge to facilitate citizens’ interactions with the state as well as strengthen country accountability systems and promote the catalytic use of foreign and national resources to enable the highest return on development and achievement of the MDGs In a nutshell, investing in the UNMC means investing in the development of nationally owned and sustainable accountability capacities, which are a prerequisite to make development results last and, thus, deliver value.

What is your advice to the Federal Government as necessary condition towards reducing working class poverty in the country?

We live in a time of opportunity and uncertainty in which some of the barriers that have prevented workers from fully realizing their capabilities are coming down, but in which good jobs that provide the foundation of security to build better lives are increasingly difficult to find.

And with global unemployment at historically high levels, there has never been a greater need by the Federal Government to put employment at the centre of economic and social policies.

It is unfortunate that, even among those who work, the extent of poverty underscores the need for a far greater number of productive and decent jobs.

A major effort is needed by the Federal Government to

Could you be specific on the empowering tools for citizens by the millennium campaign, and when did the UNMC endorsed its MDGs campaign in Nigeria?

The UNMC has a broad thrust of strengthening citizen feedback on service delivery using the rapidly growing ICT capacity, among others, as empowering tools as well as framing the discourse for the realisation of the MDGs through strategic communications and evidence based advocacy Part of the outcomes of the millennium campaign is the strengthening of old and setting up new alliances that mobilise communities to engage with governments to ensure the effective use of public resources to achieve the MDGs. Also, the re defining and reorganised citizen groups campaigning for effective service delivery and MDGs policy implementation as well as facilitating citizens led demand for the achievement of the MDGs from the grassroots through strategic partnerships and initiatives established for the accelerated achievement of the MDGs. The campaign has been active in Nigeria since 2004, and has over this period invested in and developed trusted relationships across the country involving a variety of civil society organization, such as Global Call to Action against Poverty (GCAP), faith-based organisations, academia and the social research community, parliamentarians and parliamentary committees, and the entertainment industry, among others.

These groups have mobilised millions of people from the global white band days to the signature stand-up and take action for the MDGs campaigns, bringing visibility to the MDGs and building a broad based constituency that can be harnessed in other ways behind a strategy to accelerate achievement of the MDGs.The UNMC and its Nigerian partners are currently mobilising resources towards the implementation of its Nigerian strategy between 2010 and 2015 targets.

Could you suggest the way forward where policies would be of benefits to Nigeria in the post 2015 MDGs plans?

The post 2015 framework is an opportunity to incorporate issues that were part of the millennium declaration but were not reflected in the MDGs like human rights, environmental sustainability, peace and security The post 2015 development agenda is so designed that it must be universally applicable, but flexible to meet specific needs of countries and peoples as participation and inclusiveness and continuing with the ‘unfinished business’ of the MDGs and re-define global partnerships to make it truly global with a clear accountability framework for both developed and developing are enveloped countries to meet the core values contained in the millennium declaration still remain valid in today’s world.

Are you optimistic on Nigeria meeting the 2015 MDGs targets?

I am optimistic that the targets could still be met, but I must emphasise here that before we reach the target date for the achievement of the MDGs, we will have to reflect on how well our collective efforts have succeeded in eradicating poverty.

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Jobs & Career

Tuesday, March 11, 2014

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Tips for dealing with a difficult boss

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n an ideal world, all workers would all have fantastic managers—bosses who helped them succeed, make them feel valued, and who are just all-around great people.

Unfortunately, that’s not always the case.

But, whether the person you work for is a micromanager, has anger management problems, or just isn’t very competent, you still have to make the best of the situation and get your job done.

Try one or more of these tips to find some common ground with your boss— or at least stay sane until you find a new gig.

Make sure you are dealing with a bad boss-Before trying to fix your bad boss, make sure you really are dealing with one.

Is there a reason for her behavior, or are you

being too hard on him or her?

Observe your boss for a few days and try to notice how many things she does well versus poorly. When she is doing something “bad,” try to imagine the most forgiving reason why it could have occurred. Is it truly her fault, or could it be something out of her control?

Identify your boss’ motivation- Understanding why your boss does or cares about certain things can give you insight into his or her management style. if the rules are totally out of control, try to figure out your boss’ motivation. Maybe it’s not that he really cares about how long your lunch break takes; he actually cares about how it looks to other employees and their superiors.

Workers on duty

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he positions for leading available job vacancies for this week come from the educational sector, with Grange Schools, Lagos.

According to the school, vacancies for a vice principal, administration, a head of ICT, a mandarin teacher, a Spanish teacher and a laboratory technology assistant are all on offer.

Also, an admission/marketing officer, a secretary/personal assistant, a lifeguard /swimming pool assistant and a plumber, alongside a house parent/data coordinator, a house staff(male and female) are needed.

Interested and qualified are to forward their resume to recruitment@ grangeschool.com, or visit www.grangeschool.com From the Nigerian Stability and Reconciliation Programme come the vacancies for regional managers that will be in charge of Jos, Maiduguri, Kano and Porthacourt. A research and advocacy manager, to be based in Abuja, a monitoring and evaluation officer and an economic and natural resourcemanager that will also be based in Abuja are also required.

Candidates who are qualified and interested are to visit www.gridconsulting. net to download and complete the application requirements.

The World Bank is in need of an op-

Don’t let it affect your work- No matter how bad your boss’ behavior, avoid letting it affect your work. You want to stay on good terms with other leaders in the company (and keep your job!).

Don’t try to even the score by working slower, or taking excessive “mental health” days or longer lunches. It will only put you further behind in your workload and build a case for your boss to give you the old heave-ho before you’re ready to go.

Stay one step ahead- Especially when you’re dealing with a micromanager, head off your boss’ requests by anticipating them and getting things done before they come to you.

A great start to halting micromanagement in its tracks is to anticipate the tasks that your manager expects and get them done well ahead of time. If you reply, “I actually already left a draft of the schedule on your desk for your review,” enough times, you’ll minimize the need for her reminders.

She’ll realize that you have your responsibilities on track—and that she doesn’t need to watch your every move.

Document everything- Make sure to document interactions with your boss—be it requests or criticisms—so you can refer back to them if she ever contradicts herself.

When your boss asks you for something, get it in writing. You need to create a paper trail of all requests as well as everything you produce. If your boss is the type who gives you directions verbally, follow up with an email that outlines the discussion to ensure that you heard everything correctly.

Cover yourself at all times and be prepared to pull out your documented proof if your

boss questions your outputs.

Wait it out- Dealing with a conflict?

Make sure to give it some time before reacting. Timing is often everything when managing conflict with a boss. Sometimes it makes more sense to wait it out than confront the situation head on. If your boss has a lot on her plate this month, her stress level may be high and she might not take as kindly to your issues.

Act as the leader- When dealing with an incompetent boss, sometimes it’s best to make some leadership decisions on your own. If you know your area well enough, there is no reason to not go ahead creating and pursuing a direction you know will achieve good results for your company.

People who do this are naturally followed by their peers as an informal leader. Management, although maybe not your direct boss, will notice your initiative. Of course, you don’t want to do something that undermines the boss, so keep him or her in the loop.

Identify triggers- If your boss has anger management problems, identify what triggers her meltdowns and be extra militant about avoiding those.

For example, if your editor flips when you misspell a source’s name, be sure to double and triple-check your notes. And if your boss starts foaming at the mouth if you arrive a moment after 8 AM, plan to get there at 7:45—Every. Single. Day. Use tips from couples’ therapy-When dealing with disagreement, pull on some tenants from couple’s therapy to work through the issue.

Source:forbes.com

Job vacancies erations officer that will be in charge of climate change. The incoming will be expected to be operational in the field of environment and natural resource management and climate change.

The selected candidate will be required to provide substantive technical, operational and knowledge management support to the Nigerian and Zambian projects, amongst other responsibilities.

For the full job description and on how to apply, interested and qualified candidates are urged to visit and submit an electronic application at the World Bank careers website at www.worldbank.org/ careers.

From www.findjobafrica.com is the post for a Head, Infrastructure Support for a commercial bank who will b based in Lagos.

Our client is a financial institution that creates value to its clientele by delivering expert financial services.

The Head of Infrastructure Support, according to the bank, is to assist the Group Head of IT to design, deploy, maintain, support and optimize the bank’s technology infrastructure to deliver exceptional customer satisfaction and improved overall operational experience. The successful candidate will be responsible for developing IT Technology Roadmap and gain buy in from the Group Head.

He/she will also review new technologies which will reduce overall cost, create efficiencies and provide significant value, be responsible for directly managing all team resources, addressing all personal issues and performance reviews, maintenance of servers and hardware and software upgrades, Manage security programs, firewalls and proxies and conduct IT audits Qualifications required is a 7 years of experience as a senior technology professional with a minimum of 5 years managerial experience. A bachelor’s degree and superior interpersonal skills and demonstrated ability to work effectively and collaboratively with a wide range of stakeholders is also needed.

Demonstrated ability to successfully distill complex technical information into clear, concise yet comprehensive communication material and Demonstrated ability to meet rigorous deadlines while managing multiple projects concurrently will be required Still from www.findjibafrica.com is the position for a Marketing Coordinator that is expected to be based in Lagos.

The incoming is to creates, maintain and coordinates proposals, presentations and marketing material. He/she will plans and schedules proposal/presentation production activities to ensure team goals are accomplished and dead-

lines are met. Ensures company website is updated.

Other marketing responsibilities are to coordinate and produce proposals including writing and editing text, effective design layout (organisation charts, site logistics, graphics, resumes, schedules etc.) and assembly of a quality final product that is delivered on time. The incoming will also lead the proposals/ presentation process including: manage meetings, coordinate and follow up for timely completion of deliverables from team members, ensure best quality of proposals.

Qualifications, skills and attributes required are 1-3 years’ experience working in marketing, communication, graphic design or the AEC industry and BA in marketing, communication, design. Excellent written and communication skills to develop technical proposals is needed.

The preferred candidate will have successfully managed projects through to completion and be able to balances and prioritizes multiple difficult and demanding tasks and demonstrates flexibility and willingness to reprioritize personal schedule. Ability to efficiently prioritize with a strong attention to detail .Advanced understanding of Adobe Creative Suite, specifically InDesign, Photoshop, Illustrator is also required.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

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Tuesday, March 11, 2014

Real Estate & Environment

Flooded homes in Delta State last year.

Stakeholders seek media alliance to combat environmental challenges The unsustainable manner in which man exploits the earth resources has resulted in a chain of reactions threatening the survival of both the present and the future generations. OLUFEMI ADEOSUN, presents experts opinions on how the media can be a formidable ally in the global efforts to re-define its place within the cosmic-order.

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ever in the history of man, has the world experienced, in its most calamitous manner, the scale and magnitude of natural disasters witnessed in the last few decades. From the recent massive tornados in the United State where several homes were destroyed including schools, The quick striking typhoons that killed over 6,000 people while displacing more than 3.6million others in The Philippines, to Mexico’s storm-induced flooding that displaced over 200,000 people, the world has woken up to the stark reality that man must pay for the serial abuse on the environment.

But for the heavy flooding of 2012, Nigerians would have continued to live in self denial that climate change induced disasters are fairy-tales only possible among the developed countries.

The flood disaster, which occurred in some parts of Northern states, including Lagos and Ibadan, wrecked untold hardship on the people. While about 363 people lost their lives during the unfortunate incident, National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA recently put the country financial loss at N2.6trn, representing about 14 per cent of the nation’s GDP. Besides, the agency also stated that the flood affected seven million people, displaced 2.3 million others and damaged 597,476 houses.

THE FLOOD DISASTER, WHICH OCCURRED IN SOME PARTS OF NORTHERN STATES, INCLUDING LAGOS AND IBADAN, WRECKED UNTOLD HARDSHIP ON THE PEOPLE. WHILE ABOUT 363 PEOPLE LOST THEIR LIVES DURING THE UNFORTUNATE INCIDENT, NATIONAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY, NEMA RECENTLY PUT THE COUNTRY FINANCIAL LOSS AT

N2.6TRN, REPRESENTING ABOUT 14 PER CENT OF THE NATION’S GDP

The flooding incidents, however is not just the only manifestation of the unsustainable use of the environment, there are signs of looming dangers across the nation’s regions. For instance, while acute drought continues to spark off communal clashes in some parts of the North and gully erosion threatens to overrun the East, the West, particularly Lagos is on the edge of the Atlantic Ocean.

Even though, all of these have been brought into the front burner of national

discuss at different forums with experts and environment enthusiasts calling on the Federal Government and the relevant agencies to mainstream issues of environment into the nation’s development plans, none has dwelled more on the role of the media in helping to interface between the people and the environment than the just concluded Annual Environmental Media Lecture organised by the Nigerian Union of Journalists and GEO Environmental.

The event, which took place at the NUJ

secretariat office in Abuja featured environment experts, Civil Society Organisations, Non-Governmental Organisations, representatives of relevant government agencies both at the states and federal levels. Opening discussion at the one day media event’ the Director General and Chief Executive Officer of the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency, Sir Peter Idabor, said that the world, and particularly, Nigeria was facing serious human induced environmental challenges that required active involvement of the media in terms of advocacy.

He said that there was no gainsaying the fact that the natural world in which human beings, animals and plants lived was under severe pressure occasioned by the serious impact of man’s interference with nature and natural phenomena.

According to him, some of the human activities that impact negatively on the environment include urban-industrial pollution and its toxic impact on land, water and air through oil spillage, gas flaring, indiscriminate dumping of hazardous waste and carbon emissions and the burning of fossil fuels, reckless industrialisation and the associated release of effluents.

Others, he posited, included burning of bushes for farming or hunting, which had drastically reduced soil fertility and affectCONTINUED ON PAGE 26

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Real Estate & Environment

Tuesday, March 11, 2014

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Stakeholders seek media alliance to combat environmental challenges CONTINUED FROM 25 ed the bio-diversity; unapproved erection of structures along drainage system and water channels with its disastrous consequences in flooding and overgrazing which, he said, had put serious strain on land.

The NOSDRA boss noted that while efforts were being made across the three tiers of government to put in place mechanisms that would put in check further despoliation of the nation’s environment, the media(both electronic and print) have critical roles role to play in terms of advocacy.

He succinctly summed up the roles of the media in helping to check unwholesome activities of man on the environment, “No doubt, the media throughout history, has been recognized as a veritable agency of social change. This could be glimpsed from their traditional functions as reflected in information dissemination, agenda setting, social advocacy and awareness creation on issues of paramount importance.”

In particular, Idabor enlisted the support of the media practitioners in the country in addressing the issue of oil spillage in the Niger Delta region. More than ever before, he urged them to redouble their efforts in helping to bring to the fore the negative effects of man’s uncoordinated activities on the environment and on the people’s source of livelihoods.

“The Nigerian media, as a social watchdog and based on the principles of development journalism, is expected to be a strategic partner of environmental institutions like NOSDRA in the efforts to raise public awareness on the need to protect the environment, which is part of our global common. In this light, they should redouble their efforts in re-orientating Nigerians towards imbibing environmentally friendly ethos by avoiding actions that dabase, undermine or destroy our natural world.”

“As regards the recurrent incidence of oil spill in Nigeria, particularly in the oilproducing Niger Delta region, the mass media could utilise various communicative outlets like news reports, interviews, editorial and special reports/documentaries to shed light on the debilitating ecological, health and socio-economic implication of the menace”, he posited.

For instance, he said several disturbing scientific studies in recent years had estab-

Oil spill site in Niger Delta

MD, NDDC, Dan Abia

lished causal nexus between the spate of oil pollution in the Delta region and the dwindling fish, livestock resources and plant yields in the oil producing communities.

Thus, apart from helping to put this at the front burner, he noted that the media also could advocate for outlandish change of heart towards the causative factors like malfunction in the equipment and facilities of oil companies, pipeline vandalism, illegal bunkering and mushrooming of illegal refineries.

Apart from that, Idabor also advocated the mainstreaming of the media into oil spill management in Nigeria, adding that, “interesting enough, NOSDRA has recognized the primacy of enlisting the media in creating public awareness on the necessity of zero- tolerance for oil incident in our environment.”

Speaking further, he noted that “the agency has keyed in the media in some of its programmes and activities like initiative on public sensitisation/awareness campaigns in the Niger Delta region, aimed at educating and enlightening indigenes of host communities on the symbiotic relationship between oil pollution and untoward activities like pipeline vandalism, illegal bunkering and proliferation of illegal refineries.”

In his paper entitled, “Awareness and

Irabor

Knowledge of the Environment among Media Practitioners” the immediate past President of the Nigerian Environmental Society, Deacon Uche Agbanusi, submitted that there had been apathy towards the reportage of environmental issues in the country because most of those covering the beat did not have thorough understanding of issues and concerns in the sector.

“It is fundamental for media practitioners to have basic knowledge of the environment features so as to be able to effectively report on it. Reporters on environment need to have basic education on environment and nature studies. What mostly obtains is a situation where the reporter has no inkling about the subject he/ she is reporting on, “he said.

Painting the disturbing picture further, he stated, “What is prevalent now is that many reporters on environment have no clue on how it works nor do they have knowledge on the complex inter connectivity of the ecosystem. They simply write based on the levels of their understanding and their not too well-informed perception of the real situation of events. These types of reportage have confused the listening public and other stakeholders more than help them appreciate the real situation on ground.”

He therefore proposed a number of programmes for the media industry, particularly for those in the environment sector that would enable them keep abreast of issues, concerns and opportunities in the sector.

Some of the proposals he put forward include, development of reliable and environmentally sound curriculum for schools of Journalism in Nigeria, promotion of policies that would encourage and engender sustainable environment, and developing the capacity for awareness creation through sensitization and mobilization of the various stakeholders in the society.

Also speaking, the Chairman of the occasion, Alhaji Shehu Isiwele, who is also the National Chairman, Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria, RTEAN, dwelled on the significance of the event, stressing that it helped to remind the relevant agencies of government the need to initiate policies that promote en-

MD, Shell, Mutiu Sumonu

AS REGARDS THE RECURRENT INCIDENCE OF OIL SPILL IN

NIGERIA,

PARTICULARLY IN THE

OIL-PRODUCING

NIGER DELTA REGION, THE MASS MEDIA COULD UTILISE VARIOUS COMMUNICATIVE OUTLETS LIKE NEWS

REPORTS, INTERVIEWS, EDITORIAL AND

SPECIAL REPORTS/ DOCUMENTARIES TO SHED LIGHT ON THE DEBILITATING

ECOLOGICAL, HEALTH

AND SOCIO-ECONOMIC IMPLICATION OF THE MENACE vironmental sustainability.

He said, “Today’s event is unique in the sense that it is a right signal to all private and public agencies that issues concerning the environment should be embraced by all. That the NUJ is taking the lead in this regard is quite commendable.

“I urge you to intensify this awareness advocacy with a view to bringing environmental issues to the national focus from time to time knowing full well that the objective of the United Nations sustainable development programmes and the goal of the ongoing transformation agenda of President Goodluck Jonathan and the vision 2020 of our great nation can only be realised when issues concerning the environment are properly addressed in proper perspectives.”

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Real Estate & Environment

Tuesday, March 11, 2014

27

ASO Savings emerges national mortgage bank BABALOLA YUSUF

T

he ASO Savings and Loans, Abuja has expressed its determination to build up their mortgage loan portfolio and agressively expand to all states of the federation to meet the demands of Nigerians.

The mortgage bank disclosed this plan after it was given the nod to be the national mortgage bank having met the Central Bank of Nigeria minimum re-

quirement for PMI. The Managing Director, ASO Savings and Loans, PLC, Mr. Hassan Usman said, “With our successful recapitalisation, meeting the CBN’s N5bnminimum requirement for PMIs, ASO is reinvigorating its threeyear plan of expanding its business operations all over the country so that existing and prospective customers can have access to all the unique mortgage opportunities that ASO Savings offers.

This development is part of

our business vision planned for the company this year. We are extending our presence in key areas like Ibadan, Onitsha, Uyo, Aba, and Enugu. “We will be revealing more information about the expansion plans in the coming weeks. He continued, “However, with our solid capitalisation, asset base and capital projects across the country in partnership with both states and federal governments, we have grown so much in equity and capital base. All these, I am confident, will further validate

our positioning statement and brand promise to be the Mortgage Bank of Choice, creating affordable homes for all Nigerians.”

According to Usman, ASO as the nation’s leading Primary Mortgage Bank “with a primary mission to build mutually profitable relationships anchored on a passion for excellence. He revealed that since it started business in 1995, it had created over 15,000 mortgages of over N40bn as well as financed the construction of several housing estates.

The mortgage firm has been in bilateral agreement and strategic alliances with various state governments and even the Federal Ministry of Lands, Housing & Urban Development to provide massive housing schemes for Nigerians. Presently, ASO Savings has its footprints in various states across the country, partnering with State governments in Oyo, Cross Rivers, Abia, Lagos and the FCT among others to provide affordable homes to civil and public servants.

OPIC assures citizens of projects completion before May BABALOLA YUSUF

T

A building in Abuja

Kenya govt to issue licence for new cement factory BABALOLA YUSUF

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he Deputy President of Kenya, Willian Ruto, has assured Alhaji Aliko Dangote, the President of Dangote Group of the commitment of the government of Kenya to accelerate the issuance of an operating licence to the group for the setting up of a cement factory in the country.

The team led by the deputy President said this while being received by the Dangote at the Obajana Cement plant, when they paid him a visit.

The delegation said they were satisfied with the development at the Obajana factory and promised that the Kenyan government would issue the operation licence to the Dangote Group in a month’s time.

Ruto said, “What I have seen here in Obajana has convinced me beyond reasonable doubt that we are dealing with the right man. Dangote has the capacity to change the way we produce cement in Kenya,” he

said.

While responding, the President, Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, said that the conglomerate would invest over $600m in the establishment of a cement factory in Kenya.

He said the cement factory would have capacity for three million tonnes per annum, adding that all arrangements had been concluded by the group for its establishment.

According to Dangote, what is left for now is the operation licence, which the company is expecting from the Kenyan government.

“We have concluded arrangements to invest $600m in the cement factory in Kenya. As soon as the operation licence is issued to us, we will commence work immediately,” he said.

Dangote later took the delegates around the plant and the mining site at Oyo-Oworo village in Obajana.

He said 98 per cent of the raw materials being used by the company were locally sourced,

adding that 180 megawatts of electricity were being generated in the plant to power the machines.

Dangote also said that company was spending N28bn annually on diesel to keep the power plant running, adding, however, that the company planned to use gas instead of diesel, a decision that would cost the company about N8bn per annum.

he Managing Director, Ogun State Property Investment Corporation (OPIC), Mr. Jide Odusolu, has assured the people of the state that all projects embarked upon by the corporation will be completed before the end of May. According to a statement by the Information Officer, OPIC, Mrs. Adeyinka Richard, the MD who is also a special adviser to Governor Ibikunle Amosun gave the assurance during the inspection of the site of the ongoing road construction within the Agbara estate.

He expressed satisfaction with the quality of work being done by the contractor handling the project.

“Our objective is to have all our projects completed by May; I am satisfied with the level of work going on in all of them; the level and quality of work being done on this road attest to this.

We are working round the clock to meet our set target; all hands are already on deck to ensure completion within record time,” Odusolu said In a related development, the Corporation has handed over sites to the nine task managers to

be involved in the construction of 30 units of two-bedroom flats in its Agbara residential estate.

Speaking while handing over the sites, the General Manager of OPIC in Agbara, Mr. Taiwo Aridegbe, said the step was in fulfillment of the Ibikunle Amosun led administration’s promise to deliver housing estates across the three senatorial districts of the state, adding that on completion, the number of houses available in the estate would increase.

Recalling that work was already in progress at the Orange Valley Estate, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta, Aridegbe said the involvement of the task managers would ensure that the project was completed within the planned eightweek period as the managers were to work in clusters.

“This project is a unique one and the beauty of having nine task managers is to ensure uniformity and also have our development in clusters,” he stated.

Aridegbe urged the managers to work as a team and in tandem with the mission of the Governor Ibikunle Amosun administration on delivering quality houses to the people of the state, saying OPIC’s monitoring team would be on ground to ascertain quality of the buildings.

Ekiti can get N3bn yearly from quarry business ABIODUN NEJO ADO EKITI

E

kiti State Government has been urged to encourage private investors to tap into the huge granite deposit in the state, as it can generate revenue close to N3bn annually from it.

A Calabar-based businessman, Mr Abiodun Isinkaye, advised the state government to encourage private investors to open quarry business in the state, saying such would be a revenue earner to the government.

Isinkaye, who is an indigene of

the state, told journalists in Ado Ekiti yesterday that “there are huge granite deposits across the state and you see them in many towns across the state. Allowing private investors to come into the sector will help raise the internal revenue profile of the state”.

Isinkaye, who said private investment was necessary to grow the economy, said his desire to contribute to that aspect of the state’s economy informed establishment of his Prosperous Royal Garden and Resort Centre in Ado-Ekiti.

While saying he had committed about N2bn to the establishment

of the centre, the businessmen said he took the step because of his belief in the economic potential of the state, adding that Ekiti had enough economic potential waiting to be tapped.

Isinkaye said he was moved into establishing the facility in the state because he believed that there was need to complement government’s efforts at lifting the state from poverty.

“What we are doing here has nothing to do with politics. I am not a politician. I am only a patriotic Ekiti man who believes that charity begins at home.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Real Estate & Environment

Tuesday, March 11, 2014

28

Fashola charges HOMS winners to pay mortgage on time BABALOLA YUSUF

T

he Governor of Lagos State, Babatunde Fashola last week urges beneficiaries of the Lagos Home Ownership Mortgage Scheme (HOMS) to pay their mortgages promptly inother to make the scheme self sustaining in the next seven years.

Fashola disclosed this at the first public draw of HOMS held at the Blue Roof Hall on the premises of the Lagos State Television in Ikeja last week.

The scheme gives residents an opportunity to own their own homes and pay in 10 years. Fashola said, “Based on projections from financial experts, the scheme would be self-sustaining in the next seven years if all mortgage owners paid their dues promptly.”

The governor however said that the government would not help any home owners maintain their house, he said, “Unlike previous housing schemes, home owners under this scheme will be responsible for the maintenance of their homes. The government is still saddled with the responsibility of painting, cleaning and maintain-

ing the homes that were sold to residents during the Alhaji Lateef Jakande administration. That will not be allowed under this scheme.

“Home Owners will take responsibility for their homes and pay maintenance fees. By so doing, estate management firms, small companies and your children will have an opportunity to earn an income.

However, 30 of the 98 applicants, who participated in the first public draw of the Mortgage Scheme, emerged winners.

Fashola also asked the private sector, especially housing developers, to partner HOMS to increase the number of homes available to applicants during monthly draws.

He said, “At the second phase of the HOMS project which will commence soon and under the second phase, the private sector would be allowed to build houses for the scheme with government buying the houses and handing it over to Lagos Mortgage Board for the mortgage scheme. “ He continued, “We promised you that there will be a second phase of this initiative and I am pleased to say that the committee has started work on the second

Inter-agency collaboration will end open burning of contraband —NESREA DG

T

he National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA) said on Tuesday that it was ready to collaborate with other agencies to bring to an end open burning of contraband.

The Director-General of the agency, Dr Ngeri Benebo, said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja.

Benebo said NESREA’s collaboration with other relevant agencies in the destruction of contraband was yielding positive result, noting that the culture of open burning would soon be over.

She said the agency’s sensitisation mission had made a remarkable achievement as the public would soon begin to appreciate the new method for the destruction of prohibited goods.

Benebo said that the agency was collaborating with the National Drugs and Law Enforcement Agency, the Nigerian Customs Service, and NAFDAC on how to adopt the new sustainable burning policy.

She said the sustainable burning mechanism was introduced to safeguard the health of the people, noting that open burn-

ing was hazardous and posed a threat to health.

“It is in recognition of the adverse impact of open burning that the Federal Government enacted the National Environmental (Control of Bush, Forest fire and Open Burning) Regulations.

“It was particularly to stem the tide of the high incidence of pollution arising from induced human activities, including open burning.

“This effort is aimed at minimising the destruction of the environment through fire outbreak, burning of material that may affect the ecosystem’s health through the emission of hazardous air pollutants.

“We have observed overtime that the heavy human health and environmental cost arising from emissions and the resultant air pollution during disposal of contraband in open burning could no longer continue.

“The accumulation of these particulates in the human respiratory system often leads to persistent cough, sneezing, wheezing and general body discomfort.

“It also aggravates existing respiratory diseases such as asthma and chronic bronchitis.”

phase.

“In the second phase, we are opening up the scheme to the private sector and housing developers, who will build the homes, while the government will be the guaranteed purchaser of the homes.

“By so doing, we would be in a position to double or triple the number of homes from 200 to 600 or 800 a month. If we allow the private sector to build the homes, we will buy the houses from them and put them up for mortgage.”

He said leftover homes from this month’s draw will be added to the 200 billed for next month’s

draw.

“We promised to make available a minimum of 200 houses every month and we have delivered on that promise. There are 200 homes available for this month.

“From the report I received, we have 322 applicants, but only 98 met the conditions. There are 77 people whose processes are being undertaken but did not meet our deadline for this draw, which was February 28. I believe all the 98 will be home owners when we complete this draw. The remaining 102 homes for this month will be added to the 200 for next month, so we will have 302 for next

month.”

Moreover, the governor declared that the government would not help home owners maintain their homes like it is done in previous housing schemes.

The governor said, “The government is still saddled with the responsibility of painting, cleaning and maintaining the homes that were sold to residents during the Alhaji Lateef Jakande administration, that will not be allowed under this scheme home owners under this scheme will be responsible for the maintenance of their homes.

A building in Lagos

Nigeria needs N2trn to address mortgage problems –Chike-Obi

BABALOLA YUSUF

T

he Managing Director, Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria, AMCON, Mr. Mustafa Chike-Obi, has warned the Federal Government that it may not achieve the aim for the establishment of the Nigeria Mortgage Refinance Company if more money is not injected into the company.

The AMCON boss disclosed this while delivering a lecture in Lagos, tagged, ‘Emerging market challenges and the imperatives of economic reforms.’

He said that the government

Chike-Obi

needed a minimum of N2tn to solve the mortgage problems confronting the nation and not the paltry N100bn initial capital given to the company, saying “government may not achieve much with its N100bn initial capital.”

His words, “We cannot, for example, think we can address our mortgage problems with N100bn capital. We should find a way and the ingenuity to have a mortgage refinance company that has over N2tn in capital; that is the minimum amount.

Chike-Obi said, “The Nigerian economy suffers from a tremendous lack of capital. We do things in incremental fashion because we do not have enough capital to do the big things. We are a very big country and we must start thinking about big things.

“We must build a functioning railway system in Nigeria; we must build a minimum of 4,000km new railways and the cost of that is in the region of $20bn, and we must find it and build it. And we must find at least $10bn immediately to fix our transmission lines.

The power problem will not be solved until we get a modern transmission grid. We can do things to

make us feel good, but I can assure you until we do it, the problem will not be solved. Again capital is an issue.”

Aside solving its housing problems, Chike-Obi said the nation needed to borrow massively to build infrastructure, noting that the country would become the largest economy in Africa as soon as the Gross Domestic Product rebasing was achieved.

He added, “I think that we should focus on Infrastructure, we should borrow massively to do it, but we should do it project by project basis so that as Nigerians see the result, they will get more comfortable. Third Mainland Bridge is a good investment and example of saving for the future.”

The AMCON boss also advised that the private sector Cash Reserve Ratio needed to be slashed from 12 per cent to six per cent to encourage banks to lend to the real sector.

“I think the private sector CRR is too high, in my own opinion. I think we should focus on growth more than inflation. I don’t have a position on public sector CRR. I am more interested in private sector CRR, which is more.”

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Tuesday, March 11, 2014

Real Estate & Environment

29

Choosing the perfect lighting for your home Lighting in your home is one of those items that you don’t always notice when it has a good presence and feeling when you’re in the space.

Although, when the lighting is poor and you are trying to perform a task, or you feel the opposite of how you would like to feel in the space, you notice it immediately. Lighting is for ambiance, aesthetics, tasks, and seeing better in your home. Think about your home and if it has all the lighting qualities you would like. If your answer is no, here are some tips on how to choose the perfect lighting for you and your family.

• Determine what your lighting goals are: Direct or task lighting is focused in the space you are trying to work. Ambient or indirect lighting is used for ambiance and for overall lighting of a space. Once chosen you can begin to choose lighting options. Each room in your home should have a mood you want to set, as well as a function you want your lighting to serve.

• Provide lighting for safety and security on the exterior of your home: Walkways, sidewalks, perimeter of your house, and the front entry should be lit with ambient lighting. Too dim of lighting on the exterior is a welcome sign for intruders. While too bright of exterior lighting is costly and disturbing to neighbors. Consider installing flood lights at the exterior corners of your home that are motion activated to further deter intruders.

Follow the aesthetics and security lighting of your neighborhood for further guidelines as to what to implement at your own home.

• Use exterior wall sconces for décor: Outdoor lighting doesn’t have to only be utilitarian. Wall sconces can provide washes of light against the exterior walls of your home to create ambiance in the evening hours. Directional sconces pointing upwards or down-

Source: www.freshome.com

wards can focus on architectural elements on your home, and draw attention to exterior niches and plantings around your home.

• Inside your home use multiple light sources for one space: For rooms like the kitchen, bedrooms, and living spaces, multiple light sources will help you achieve a variety of functions and activities in that space. In the kitchen, under counter lights can provide great task lighting. While in a living room, opt for a floor lamp next to a couch or favorite reading chair. In bathrooms the lighting at the mirror should be free from shadows and glaring light.

• For high ceilings and modern décor use recessed lighting: “Can” light fixtures, so called because of the metal recessed “can” that is inserted into the ceiling and the light fixture fits inside. These fixtures are subtle and can be directional, and can be connected to dimmer switches to give a range of light from subtly dim to full brightness to illuminate an entire room.

• In nurseries and kid’s rooms, remember night lighting: Think about the lighting for when children sleep when planning lighting requirements. Night lights can help small children from being scared, but can also help

parents navigate through dark rooms.

For nurseries consider a dim wall sconce, or table lamp that can be used for changing diapers, or rocking infants to sleep.

• In formal living and dining areas, research chandeliers wisely: In spaces that a formal chandelier is considered, choose one that will not date your space. Often time’s chandeliers are

bought without thinking of the space and the décor that surrounds it. Chandeliers come in extremely simple designs that include faux candles, small bulbs, or a few lights to the ornate and expensive crystal varieties. Whichever is your décor choice, measure out the space, and ceiling height before ordering to ensure enough head room will be available below the hanging chandelier.

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Real Estate & Environment

Tuesday, March 11, 2014

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

British home builders see profits rise as property recovery continues

B

ritain’s largest private house builder, Barratt Developments, has reported its highest level of completions for five years and other builders are also seeing profits rise as the property market recovery continues.

Its half yearly financial report for the six months to 31 December 2013 shows a 19% increase in completions with 6,195 homes built between April and December last year.

The firm’s turnover jumped by 33% to £1.3 billion over the same period, while pre-tax profit more than doubled from £45.9 million to £120.4 million.

‘Our disciplined approach means that we have been able to increase the number of new homes we are building while driving up profitability, return on capital and dividends,’ said Mark Clare, group chief executive at Barratt.

In other market announcements construction firm Kier Group also reported strong results. Its operating profit nearly doubled from £22.7 million in

the six months to December 2012 to £44.4 million for the same period last year. It was a similar story with Redrow PLC, which announced pre-tax profits more than doubled from £23 million in six months to December 2013 to £47.5 million last year.

Meanwhile, Barratt has also announced the release of self build plots in Bedford as part of its commitment to answering the government’s recent call to double the number of these property types built over the next decade.

The developer has been working closely with Central Bedfordshire Council which is backing the national push to increase the output of self build homes from 10,000 to 20,000 plots.

‘As a leading home builder we appreciate the need for self build homes to help support the housing market and meet the needs of the modern purchaser. We recognise the appeal of being able to build a custom made home which matches a homebuyer’s specific needs and style choices and the release of the new self build plots at our Marston Park develop-

ment represents an opportunity to do just that,’ explained Andrew Swindell, managing director for Barratt Homes.

Those who choose to invest in one of the self build plots will have the flexibility to construct and create their own home, whilst still working within the development’s Design Code and to the Code for Sustainable Homes Level Three energy requirements.

A number of different plots, designed to suit a range of purchasers, will be released for sale later this month with prices for each individual plot available upon request from the Land and Development team at Bedford based property company, Compass.

Suggested house types to suit the plot size include The Cambridge, a four bedroom detached home featuring a kitchen with family and breakfast areas and a large glazed bay leading to the garden. The four bedroom Harborough house is also a popular choice, and offers a free flowing family kitchen and dining room with French doors that open onto the rear garden.

Estate in London

A building in England

Shortlist for round two of build-to-rent building fund in England announced

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enants in the UK are to get a greater choice of newly built homes to rent under plans announced by Housing Minister Kris Hopkins.

He has published a shortlist of developments in areas including London, Manchester, Liverpool and Kirklees, which could benefit from a share of the £1 billion Build to Rent Fund to deliver homes specifically for private rent.

Up to 6,500 homes will be built using this additional funding and he said it means that the government is well on track to have work underway by 2015 to deliver up to 10,000 newly built homes for private rent.

The Build to Rent fund is designed to help developers build large scale, quality homes specifically for the private rented sector.

By demonstrating the viability of the large scale market the government is laying the foundations for future private investment in the sector.

Through round one of the scheme, 18 projects are either in the final stage of due diligence or contracting stage, with around half of these projects in London but also in places including Dur-

ham, Liverpool and Birmingham.

Construction has also already started on two Build to Rent developments in Southampton and Manchester. The 36 projects on the latest shortlist from round two will also now go through this due diligence process, with successful bids receiving funding to deliver new homes.

They include over 500 homes in Manchester to be built by the Housing Capital Trust, over 100 homes in Liverpool by Stanley Dock Properties, 192 homes in Hammersmith and Fulham in London by Imperial West and also in London 350 in Brent, Greenwich and Redbridge by Development Securities.

Hopkins pointed out that around 80 per cent of the projects listed are in London as this reflects the demand for good quality, private rented accommodation in the Capital.

‘The private rented sector offers a flexible option to millions of people looking to rent good quality homes. The Build to Rent fund will give tenants far more choice over where they live and raise the standard of the properties on offer,’’ he said.

Chinese becoming big investors in global real estate

C

hinese cross border investment into global real estate markets has risen rapidly since the global financial crisis of 2008, according to a new analysis from Savills.

It says that wealthy Chinese individuals, with limited investment opportunities at home, have increased their overseas investment rapidly as they have sought to diversify portfolios, seek capital security and find a foothold in international markets.

Mainland China, when combined with Hong Kong, is the second largest source of cross border real estate investment in the world after the United States, the report points out.

From 2013 to date, $23.7 bil-

lion cross border investment has flowed from China and Hong Kong but money invested directly from Hong Kong is now down 42 per cent on 2007 volumes, while Chinese direct investment is up 1,165 per cent.

‘Private capital is particularly important in the domestic Chinese market. China saw $152 billion private capital investment in the year to October 2013, according to RCA, accounting for half of all transactions in the period.

This is well ahead of even the US, where private capital transactions stood at $85 billion in the year to date, accounting for 34% of all transactions,’ said Paul Tostevin, residential research associate at Savills.

He explained that it is this private capital, particularly money flowing into domestic property, that was in the first wave of Chinese cross border investment.

Those Chinese with overseas business interests were among the first to invest abroad, followed by a second wave of buyers seeking property for their offspring, often bases for student children, or to achieve permanent residency.

‘These buyers sought out established, international markets in jurisdictions that have cultural ties with China or with a large Chinese migrant population. Hong Kong, Macau and Singapore, have been followed by other top tier global cities with Chinese diasporas such as

Vancouver, London and Los Angeles,’ explained Tostevin.

‘We anticipate that a third wave of investors seeking income will follow, chasing higher yields in a wider range of locations than previously,’ he added.

But he also pointed out that by total value, it is the big ticket investments by Chinese institutions that are really starting to make waves. ‘Major investments in commercial projects, development sites and trophy buildings have been made around the globe. The biggest deals have taken place in the US and UK, followed by Singapore, Japan and Australia,’ he said.

‘Chinese buyers have taken advantage of the revaluing of real estate assets in North Amer-

ica and Europe to snap up what look like bargains in currency exchange, comparative pricing and yield terms,’ he added.

Examples of major investments include ABP China’s £1 billion direct investment in a 35 acre site in the Royal Docks in London to deliver a 3.5 million square feet office complex targeting Chinese businesses.

In New York, Soho Property has spent more money on Manhattan real estate than any international investor in the last three years. Soho’s purchases included a partnership in a 40% stake in America’s most valuable office tower, the General Motors Building, for $700 million.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Aviation

Tuesday, March 11, 2014

Mixed reactions trail sack of CEOs Aviation stakeholders and professionals in the Nigerian aviation industry are reacting differently to the recent sack of chief executive officers, CEOs, of four key parastatals by President Goodluck Jonathan. OLUSEGUN KOIKI reports.

I

n the past three weeks, the Nigerian aviation industry has been under the keen watch of the presidency. As it is today, no one especially the appointees are sure of their future in any of the agencies in the sector.

No thanks to what some stakeholders and professionals have already tagged ‘Hurricane Jonathan’ in the sector. The storm commenced on Wednesday, February 12, 2014 with the sack of the former Minister of Aviation Ms. Stella Oduah aftermath of the N225m cars scandal and certificate forgery, which rocked Oduah.

However, at a time stakeholders and professionals in the sector were patiently waiting for the announcement of a new minister for the sector by the Presidency, Jonathan once again surprised all by sacking four chief executive officers, in the agencies and announcing their replacements immediately.

Before now, it was the practice in the sector for new ministers to disengage sitting CEOs and appoint those they feel comfortable working with, but it seems the practice has since changed with President Jonathan.

Till date, the Presidency is yet to inform the public the reasons behind the sack of the CEOs, but unconfirmed report claimed it may not be unconnected with the N255m cars scam, which has been rocking the sector since October, 2013.

Sources say presidency was not comfortable with the way and manner the issue was handled by the CEOs, which it felt did not support Oduah well enough during scandal. Another source maintained that Jonathan sacked the CEOs to allow the incoming minister discharge his duty objectively as some of the CEOs were perceived as “Oduah’s boys.”

Speaking on the recent sack in the sector, a member of the National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers, NAAPE, Mr. Chris Elahor said some of the changes were expected by the players in the sector, but explained that this would not bring the expected changes in the industry.

Elahor, pointed out that most of the changes in the sector in the last few years have all been political, adding that the country’s aviation ministry has to be equipped with personnel that know the nitty-gritty of aviation and not how it is presently composed.

He explained that the inconsistencies on the part of the Federal Government would further pull the industry backward, emphasising that for the Nigerian aviation industry to be reckoned with in the international community, those at the helms of affairs should be given the free hand to operate.

He said, “I have a little bit of mixed feelings; both negative and positive. The design change that we are talking about is that the aviation ministry itself needs to be really equipped by aviation experts.

Only changes sometimes we look at them

Capt. Folayele Akinkuotu

Capt. Muktar Shuaib

as being political because as you can recall, recently, during this current political dispensation, we’ve have about 11 ministers and that does not really augur well for the industry.

“The real changes that we really desire, I don’t think it’s very close to us and as you can see that most of our airports are still bad. Go to Abuja, Lagos airports and others you will see that these are not really the changes that we desire. So, I think as one of my colleagues said that ‘yes, there are changes and those that are appointed are Nigerians, but that is not really the changes that we need in the industry.

“The only positive thing is that those that have been appointed are Nigerians, but at the same time, we really need to sit down and see how things are and the real stakeholders are the whole cause of the problems.”

He emphasised that experts in the sector don’t expect much changes from the new appointees, adding that the right thing has not been done by the government. “I don’t expect much as a player in the sector because I’ve lived long to see all those changes. So, I don’t expect much.

I’m even foreseeing crisis because the right thing has not been done.”

Besides, the Head, Research, Zenith Travels, Mr. Olumide Ohunayo said the sack came as a surprise to players in the industry as most thought the government would have allowed the incoming minister to carry out the exercise by himself.

Ohunayo noted that the sack of the CEOs indicated that there were cracks with the so called transformation agenda in the country’s aviation industry as propelled by Oduah.

He insisted that for the government to totally clean the sector, it still needed to sack some management staff in the sector, just as he expressed doubt about the replacement of Mr. George Uriesi in FAAN, Engr. Saleh Dumona, who before his appointment was the Director of Projects.

He alleged that throughout the reign of Oduah in the sector, Dumona was always in Abuja and close to the sacked Oduah, rather than being in the agency’s headquarters in Lagos.

He said, “It came as a surprise to me and I want to believe it is the same with other players in the industry too. I thought the government would have allowed the incoming minister to look at the books of the agencies and eventually decide who to sack. That is what we are used to in the industry.

“The sack of the CEOs shows that there is something wrong with the transformation agenda in the sector. The changes are not enough. I still have my doubt about the replacement in FAAN. This was someone who was always in Abuja throughout the days of Oduah.

“Changes are allowed in the system and they have been made, but the implication of these changes is what we can’t say

I THOUGHT THE GOVERNMENT WOULD HAVE ALLOWED THE INCOMING MINISTER TO LOOK AT THE BOOKS OF THE AGENCIES AND EVENTUALLY DECIDE WHO TO SACK.

THAT IS WHAT WE ARE

USED TO IN THE INDUSTRY

31

yet. Why they are making these changes immediately after the removal of Oduah is what we don’t also know.”

Also, the President, National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers, NAAPE, Engr. Isaac Balami also said the sack came as a rude shock to the players in the sector.

He however said that the association would in the next few days carry out a review of the government’s action.

“I’m confused and this came as a shock to me. It’s a surprised to the sector. Nobody saw this coming, but in the next few days, we will review the whole process,” Balami said.

Another member of NAAPE, Engr.

Sheri Kyari said the government would have taken the action in a bid to overhaul the entire aviation system in the country.

Kyari emphasised that as long as those picked as their replacements were from the sector, this would not have any adverse effect on the system, but hoped that the action would move the sector forward.

“Maybe the government wanted to overhaul those who were loyal to Oduah.

As long as they are not coming from outside, the status quo still remains. But one only hopes that this action will move the sector forward.”

Among those disengaged by the presidency are the Managing Directors of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, FAAN, and the Nigeria Airspace Management Agency, NAMA, Mr. George Uriesi and Engr. Nnamdi Udoh respectively.

Others are the Director-General of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, Capt.

Fola Akinkuotu; the Rector, Nigerian College of Aviation Technology, NCAT, Zaria, Capt. Chinyere Kalu while the Commissioner, Accident Investigation Bureau, AIB, Capt. Muhktar Usman was moved to NCAA pending the approval of the National Assembly, but the DirectorGeneral Nigerian Meteorological Agency, NIMET, Dr. Anthony Anuforom retains his position.

The Presidency had in a statement signed by the Special Assistant, Media, to the Secretary to the Federal Government, Mr. Sam Nwaobasi announced the Director, Project, FAAN, Engr. Saleh Dumona as the new helmsman in the agency; Engr.

Ibrahim Abdulsalam, General Manager, Procurements, NAMA, now takes charge of NAMA. Also, Government Safety Inspector & ICAO Focal Point for Nigeria on line Aircraft Safety Information Systems, OASIS, Capt. Samuel Akinyele Caulcrick immediately replaced Capt. (Mrs.) Chinyere Kalu as Rector of the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology, NCAT and the Commissioner, AIB, Capt. Muhktar Usman was announced as a replacement for Akinkuotu in NCAA while the Director Licensing, NCAA, Dr. Engr. Felix A. Abali is to replace Usman in AIB as commissioner.

However, Akinkuotu resumed as the DG in NCAA, just last August despite his appointment in March, 2013 by President Jonathan. With his disengagement, he became the shortest serving DirectorGeneral in NCAA.

32

Aviation

Tuesday, March 11, 2014

Why we’re restructuring, re-designating staff –SAHCOL boss

Owolabi

STORIES: OLUSEGUN KOIKI

T

he Managing Director of the Skyway Aviation handling company Limited, SAHCOL, Mr. Olu Owolabi has explained the reasons behind the recent restructuring and re-designation of staff in the ground handling company.

Owolabi told journalists in Lagos that the essence of the recent exercise was to refocus the company in line with current realities and make it more prepared to face future projections of surpassing customer’s expectations.

Olu Owolabi, disclosed that the restructuring exercise is ongoing and would spill-over to all staff

of the ground handling company, called on all staff of the company to support the management in this drive and equally asked for their loyalty and commitment of the personnel to realise its goal of satisfying its clients more in the competitive business.

The SAHCOL’s helmsman also advised the staff that in order to build the organisation of choice, they must all be dedicated to their jobs; pay greater attention to customers; display integrity and transparency at all times and in all their dealings; while working as a team.

It would be recalled that SAHCOL in the new structure, Olumide Odebiyi, David Olorundade, Adigun Olaniyi and Lanre Ad-

ekola, who were formally Assistant General Managers, Operations, Human Resources, Sales & Marketing, and Engineering & Maintenance, respectively, were elevated to the position of General Managers.

Also, Olujimi Osho, formerly Company Secretary/Legal Adviser, is now General Manager, Legal Services/Company Secretary, Lawrence Adejo, the erstwhile Chief Accountant, is now General Manager Finance, while Basil Agboarumi, formally Head Corporate Communications, is now Assistant General Manager, Corporate Communications.

Furthermore, Mrs. Boma Ukwunna deployed from the Sifax Offduck Okota, a subsidiary of the Sifax Group, is now the General Manager, Cargo Services.

SAHCOL is an Aviation Ground Handling Company, which is 100 per cent owned by the SIFAX Group. Its duties includes Passenger Handling, Ramp Handling, Cargo Handling/Warehousing, Aviation Security, Baggage Reconciliation, Crew Bus and Executive Lounge Services, as well as other related ground handling Services; executed in an efficient, speedy and safe manner, in line with international best practices, while also ensuring that the right tools are deployed.

Dana Air, Bi-Courtney partner on child education

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ne of the leading domestic airlines, Dana Air and the management of BiCourtney Aviation Services Limited, BASL, operators of Murtala Mohammed Airport Two, MMA2, Lagos are collaborating to propel forward child education in the country.

An online media statement signed by the spokesman of Dana Air, Mr. Sam Ogbogoro stated that the support of the airline for child’s education was part of its Corporate Social Responsibility, CSR, to its immediate community.

He explained that the airline recently on a weeklong expedition programme took pupils on an educational excursion of airport facilities that included having a firsthand experience of how an airplane works.

Through the programme, he noted that the airline opened its aircraft doors to over 500 pupils drawn from various schools across Lagos State.

While welcoming the pupils to the aircraft provided by the airline, Ogbogoro stated that the Chief Pilot of the airline, Captain Segun Omale expressed gratitude to the airline for leading the drive to impact on the lives of children.

Omale according to the statement stated that Dana Airline identifies with all global and local initiatives to improve the education pursuit of children.

He said, “We are a caring airline that will continue to pay serious attention to issues that concern proper education of the future generation and our commitment to take the children on this all important excursion is anchored on our firm belief that a well informed child represents hope for the future of mankind as information drives the development of any nation.”

He also noted that Dana Air through its Kidz Fly Programme has always given children the chance to be ferried from one state to another aboard an aircraft.

It would be recalled that through the airline’s charitable trust, the Sri Sai Vandana Foundation, SSVF, Dana Air has been fulfilling its CSR with an In-flight Envelope Donation Programme, which has helped to raise millions of naira for the National Sickle Cell Centre in Lagos since 2009, as well as involvement in the Autism Awareness Drive.

MD Dana Air, Jacky Hathiramani

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Airside shegzzy4live2000@yahoo.co.uk 08186007273

After the CEOs, who’s next?

T

he sacking of four Chief Executive Directors, CEOs, in the Nigerian aviation industry last week by President Goodluck Jonathan was a rude shock to many players in the sector. The sacking came barely three weeks after the disengagement of Princess Stella Oduah as a minister in the sector.

As it is now, most personnel in the agencies especially the appointees can’t sleep with their two eyes closed and some are already contacting their ‘godfathers’ in Abuja and some states in the country to help them retain their jobs.

The situation is more complicated as it seems President Jonathan keeps sealed lips on his next move until the last minute, only to let out the bombshell when they least expected it.

For instance, Oduah was sacked when she was on tour of some of the remodelled airports while the CEOs were shown the exit in the midst of a closed door meeting with the supervising minister, Mr. Samuel Ortom. Even Ortom had to make contacts to the Presidency to confirm the sack of

the former helmsmen.

It is certain that more heads will still roll in the sector, but who is going to be affected next is what Airside and other players in the industry are not sure of. But Airside wants to say it here that for those whose engagements were proper and followed the civil service rules, they do not need to entertain any fear, but for those who were imposed on the CEOs and given juicy positions by Oduah, definitely, their days are numbered in the industry.

Besides, Airside thinks the sacking of the CEOs; should not be the last resort by the Presidency and advises the government to allow the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, to carry out intensive investigations on some of the CEOs, some senior management staff in the sector and even Oduah. It is obvious that their collaboration with the erstwhile minister did more damage than good to the sector.

The question is who is next on the line to receive the boot? Only time will tell.

The expanding portholes on Lagos Airport road

R

the needful.

It is unfortunate that just like the larger society; FAAN lacks maintenance culture and will do nothing to prevent waste or accident from happening. We are only good at fire brigade approach.

The airport road was one of the legacies of the former Managing Director, FAAN, Mr. Peter Igbinedion, when he dualised the road in the ‘90s, which has since eased traffic within the airport.

Since this lofty achievement, no succeeding helmsman in the agency including the immediate past Managing Director, FAAN, Mr. George Uriesi can lay claim to any major achievement in the sector.

ecently, Airside wrote on this page the existence of a pothole on the Murtala Mohammed Airport, MMA, road, which is directly opposite the headquarters of the Nigerian Air Force on the way to the access gate.

Airside had tasked the management of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, FAAN, the airport manager to as a matter of urgency tackle this emerging deathtrap, but as usual, the agency turned blind eye to the danger.

At present, the pothole has increased from one to two and even much deeper. This can definitely cause havoc to the users of the road, but FAAN is waiting for an accident to happen before doing

Etihad Airways earns $62m profit in 2013

T

he national carrier of the United Arab Emirates, Etihad Airways has announced record financial results for 2013, with net profit up 48 per cent to $62m on revenues up 27 per cent to $6.1bn.

The record performance also saw earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) up 22per cent to $208m and earnings before interest, tax, depreciation, amortisation and rentals (EBITDAR) up 30 per cent to $979m, a margin of 16 per cent of total revenues.

An online media statement sent by the airline’s media consultant in Nigeria stated that this marked

the third successive year of net profitability, in the airline’s tenth year of operation.

Commenting on the achievement, the Chief Executive Officer, Etihad Airways, James Hogan, described the feat as another important step forward in the annals of the airline as a growing, commercially successful business.

He noted that Etihad had hit every financial target for each of the last seven years, bringing sustainable profitability to a business, which has grown from just $300m in revenues in 2005 to more than $6bn today.

He said, “We have delivered

that through our unique strategy, which has seen us combine industry-leading organic growth with wide-ranging partnerships and minority equity investments in strategically important carriers around the world.

“This journey has seen us evolve from a highly successful airline into a growing aviation and travel group, with the infrastructure and strategy to develop even further in our second decade. We are particularly pleased to deliver a return for our shareholder, while also playing a major role in the development of trade and tourism within the emirate of Abu Dhabi.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Insurance

Tuesday, March 11, 2014

33

Operators want FG to address influx of foreign insurers The fears of insurance operators concerning the entry of foreign insurance companies, may be out of place. However stakeholders also agree that operators should brace for competition, while the government ensures effective regulation, MESHACK IDEHEN reports.

I

n spite of the directive by the Federal Government through the former Minister of State for Finance, Dr. Yerima Ngama, that the National Insurance Commission, NAICOM cease issuing fresh licences for the purpose of establishing new insurance companies, new firms, it has been observed, keeps springing up every now and then in the insurance industry.

This development, analysts and stakeholders pointed out, may nevertheless present expansion and growth challenges at the same time for the nation’s insurance sector, if not carefully addressed and managed.

Based on the Federal Government’s issued directive, any investor desiring to own an insurance firm, should acquire existing companies or merge with other firms that are already players in the insurance industry.

With that proclamation, experts are of the view that the government’s directive for the insurance industry may bring about a new dawn in the sector following the influx of global insurers acquiring indigenous players.

Be that as it may, the need to effectively regulate the activities of the new and foreign firms, say the Managing Director of Sovereign Trust Insurance Plc (STI), Mr. Olawale Onaolapo, transcends above whatever opportunities or challenges the new entrants may be bringing into the industry.

Onaolapo, who explained he has closely monitored the influx of older and more experienced foreign insurance groups into the Nigerian insurance market, said also that local operators are not threatened by their presence.

He explained rather than being threatened, existing insurance companies should see it more as a challenge and be encouraged, saying many operators are ready to compete with these new or foreign companies.

According to him, existing operators are ready to give any company a run for their money wherever they are coming from in the world, adding the current issue of interest in business these days is corporate and risk management.

Maintaining that foreign insurance investors may have discovered how they can thrive where the indigenous firms seem to have failed in deepening insurance penetration in the country and on the continent, Insurance Expert and Managing Director of Alpha Insurance Brokers Limited, Mr. Wole Adetiba, told National Mirror the entrance of foreign insurance firms either through mergers or acquisition is a development that constitutes a high level of threat and opportunities to the indigenous operators.

He said the ban by the Federal Government on the issuance of new licences to investors may or may not be having its impact, adding new investors will be able to recapitalise some of the ailing and un-

Onaolapo

Musa

ANYBODY INTERESTED IN INVESTING IN THEM IS WELCOME TO BUY TWO OR THREE OF THESE DISTRESSED INSURANCE COMPANIES, MERGE

THEM, RECAPITALISE THEM AND RUN THEM. IT IS A GOOD DEVELOPMENT derperforming insurance companies in the country, and start running the companies well. He pointed out that there were too many distressed companies in the sector.

According to Adetiba, it is important that the insurance industry regulator liquidates failing firms or get some serious minded people to take them over, in other for insurance to occupy its pride of place and contribute meaningfully to the economic development of the country.

He also cited the example of Old Mutual, one of Africa’s biggest insurers headquartered in the United Kingdom that is already in Nigeria to set up shop, saying there was no need to issue new licences anymore, and that the situation is just like in the banking system where having so many distressed banks is not good for the economy.

Calling for a high level of regulation ,he pointed out that the banking sector does not have a single distressed bank due to effective regulation, saying the same thing should apply to insurance; where there are so many of them.

“Anybody interested in investing in them is welcome to buy two or three of these distressed insurance companies, merge them, recapitalise them and run them. It is a good development,” he explained.

Bancassurance expert, Mr. Basil Ngwuta, said the arrival of Old Mutual and the speculation concerning the impending arrival of the American International Group (AIG) in Nigeria indicate the sector is growing, and that stakeholders should cease the opportunity to consolidate growth.

Ngwuta explained that Old Mutual and AIG which provides life assurance, asset

management, banking and general insurance to over 14 million customers in Africa, the Americas, Asia and Europe and the United States of America will expand the scope and capacity of insurance business in the country.

According to him, new and foreign investors are eager to partake in the domestic market because of its huge population and vast untapped underwriting business, noting that the coming also of Assur Africa Holding, a consortium of three European Development Finance Institutions (DFIs) and two Private Equity (PE) firms which acquired 67.68 per cent shareholding in GTAssure, now Mansard Insurance Plc are also some of the gains being made that requires their activities and those of others in the sector to be closely monitored.

Recalling also that a Group, NSIA, which is based in Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire bought 96.15 per cent equity of Diamond Bank Plc in ADIC Insurance Company Limited, he pointed out Law Union and Rock Insurance Plc had its share of foreign mix when 60 per cent of its controlling shares were acquired by a consortium comprising Alternative Capital Partners (ACAP) and Swede Control Intertek Limited, all foreign insurance and underwriting firms.

The Banasurance expert said all these investments by foreign companies can only but drive the sector forward in the right direction, considering that the firms are coming with a strong management team and a with core investors that will work with external consultants.

Amongst other foreign firms that recently came into the country’s insurance industry, National Mirror recalls that UBA Metropolitan which is a subsidiary of United Bank for Africa, (UBA) has a South African presence from Metropolitan Life, while FBN Insurance Limited, a subsidiary of First Bank of Nigeria Plc also has strong presence of South African Investors called Sanlam Group.

On the merger side, indigenous firms in the local market including Custodian and Allied Insurance Plc, our correspondent recalls, have merged with Crusader (Nigeria) Plc having secured the nod of their shareholders through the court, while Cornerstone Insurance and Fin Insurance are warming up, alongside AIICO Insurance and Linkage Assurance for mergers and acquisitions.

Despite the bright prospects being envisaged, industry analyst and former Principal Technical Manager of Worldwide Assurance Company Limited, Mr. Albert Edigin, said though that a fast-rising bottom population base provides significant headroom for premium expansion, adding that decades of poor insurance uptake exacerbated by widespread cultural aversion and the inefficiency of the micro economic parameters have slowed down and may keep slowing down the desired growth in the insurance sector.

He insisted if the various initiatives in the sector by the regulators is sustained and strengthened, that the insurance sector revenue will assume a positive dimension in the coming years, and perform in such a way that all fears and doubts of existing operators will be erased.

Group Chief Executive Officer of Old Mutual West Africa, Mr. Offong Ambah, told National Mirror that the Nigerian economy is moving fast, and that the country offers significant growth opportunities which his company is banking on.

He said amongst the new foreign insurance companies in Nigeria, that Old Mutual is in the country following the reforms as part of the group’s overall strategy to build a franchise in the West African sub-region, following their acquisition of Oceanic Life.

The company, according to him, is in the final stages of acquiring the short-term insurance company, Oceanic General business, to enable it provide a broad range of short term and life insurance products to the market.

“Our objective is to work with existing insurance companies and regulator to broaden and deepen the insurance market in Nigeria. This we plan to do through the introduction of innovative products financial education reaching out to the underserved and un-served segment of the market tackling the scepticism of Nigerians regarding insurance through prompt settlement of claims and excellent service delivery among others.”

34

Insurance

Tuesday, March 11, 2014

PFAs move to invest pension funds in housing STORIES: MESHACK IDEHEN

P

ension Fund Administrators (PFAs) said they have resolved to invest part of the contributed N4tn pension funds in housing and infrastructure.

The PFAs said also that they have already forwarded the request to the regulator of the pension industry, the National Pension Commission,(PenCom) for approval, saying the move would enable workers to utilise part of their Retirement Savings Account (RSA) balance for the acquisition of houses.

National Mirror gathered that the PFAs and the Pension Funds Custodians took the decision at their last meeting held recently in Lagos under the auspices of Pension Fund Operators Association of Nigeria (PenOp).

According to the association, “The executive members discussed the concept with PenCom and the concept is to fund both the demand and supply side and allow some part of the Retirement Savings Account balance to be used as credit allowance for mortgage.”

PenCom, according to the association, insists that there is a need to amend the Pension Re-

Uduanu

form Act 2004 to accommodate the proposal, with the operators noting that this might not be achievable as quickly as possible except by buying into some financial instruments.

Managing Director of AIICO Pension Managers Limited, Mr. Eguarekhide Longe, supported the suggestion to go for financial instruments which would reduce the cost of mortgages.

Former Chairman of PenOp and Managing Director of Pensions Alliance Limited, Mr. Dave Uduanu, also said this would offer more benefits to the RSA holders, pointing out that they had decided to work with advisers

that would spell out the modalities and risks involved, and that it would also push for the amendment in preparation for the implementation of the proposal.

Based on the investment guideline by PenCom, the PFAs are only allowed to invest the money in Exchange Traded Funds. There was also the introduction of guidelines for global depository receipt, notes and Eurobonds with a maximum restriction on transactions done by the PFAs, with PFCs mandated to take permission from the PFAs before any investment, since they must not contract out the custody of the pension fund assets to third parties, except for allowable investments made outside Nigeria.

In the aspect of foreign investment, the PFCs were to obtain prior approval from PenCom before engaging a global custodian for such allowable foreign investments, considering that Section 3.3 of the investment guidelines states that All primary market investments by PFAs in units of open, close-end, hybrid investment funds, including Exchange Traded Funds, and specialist investment funds (REITs, infrastructure fund and private equity fund), should be through public offering or private placement arrangement.”

CPS’ll provide assured future for workers after retirement, says Sogunle

T

he Managing Director, Stanbic IBTC Pension Managers, Dr. Demola Sogunle, has said Nigerian workers must ensure that their employers are making the required contribution to the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS) established for all workers in the country.

He said the Pension Reform Act 2004 establishes a CPS for all employees in the public service of the federation, Federal Capital Territory and those in the private sector’s organisations with five or more employees.

Speaking with journalists in Lagos Sogunle called on workers to demand compliance from their employers bearing in mind that their future will be determined by what they contribute to the pension scheme during their working life.

He explained for those who have been contributing to the pension scheme, that they are in good hands and that their future is assured, noting that the pension operators are working on their behalf to ensure that when they stop receiving salary, they

can maintain their living standard.

According to him, “It is because of the contributors we do investment strategies, work hard daily, so that they can have something to fall back on when they stops working. It is when people stop working they become more vulnerable and that is when we come in. Contributors should rest assured, for they have nothing to fear.”

Pointing out that the CPS is one of the best things that the government in recent time bequeathed to the Nigerian workers, Sogunle said the scheme has helped to provide a secure future for workers at retirement, adding that workers need not adjust their age any more as there is something to sustain them after working life.

“With the scheme, once you are 50 years, you should retire.

People need not adjust their age anymore. People adjust their ages because they are not sure of their future. But with the Scheme, once a worker is tired he or she should retire,” he said.

He maintained that the new pension system has a strong internal mechanism to ensure the safety of pension fund assets, adding that on monthly basis, those who have contributed to the scheme collect their pension benefits without hassles.

People, according to him, are yet to come to full realisation that it takes a lot to come from N2 trillion unfunded pension liability to N4 trillion assets in a period of eight years.

Sogunle

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Must-do tips for retirement saving

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magine yourself at your farewell party as you leave full-time employment and head into retirement. If, on that day, you were to create a line graph representing your retirement savings efforts over the course of your career, that line should tell the story of your life.

For all the preaching done about saving for retirement, life happens. Financial lifecycles tend to reflect the other parts of lives.. Here are some tips you can use to adjust your retirement strategy as you navigate what life throws at you.

When you start working, begin contributing to your retirement plan as soon as possible-- It’s easy to say you’ll start putting money away at some arbitrary date in the future or when you reach some random salary level, but the truth is that the earlier you start saving, the easier it will be. Starting early makes saving easier because of compound interest (your interest earning interest), a powerful financial concept not to be taken lightly. Also, we’re all human and most of us are susceptible to the pull of inertia. Life can get in the way of doing the right thing until suddenly you turn around, five years will have passed and you still haven’t started saving.

When you earn a bonus at work, put some of it aside for your retirement-- You might consider an IRA or Roth IRA if applicable to your situation. You don’t have to put your entire bonus toward retirement (although you may thank yourself later if you do).

Don’t use your retirement money to pay for anything else but your retirement-When you buy a house or car, or if you have college bills, resist the temptation to take a loan from your retirement plan to cover those expenses. Yes, the money is sitting there, and yes, your company may allow you to borrow from it, but that doesn’t mean taking a loan is a good idea. For one thing, you will lose out on compound interest from the money you take and you will pay back your loan with after-tax dollars. And if you leave your employer while you have the outstanding loan, you may be on the hook to pay the entire amount back at once or else suffer unwelcome taxes and penalties.

As you earn more money, increase the amount you save for retirement-- Many investment advisers suggest saving 10-15 percent of income for retirement purposes. You may not be able to save that much right away, but you can plan to increase your savings by a percent or two each year until you reach the 15 percent goal.

Don’t set it and forget it-Sure, you have a lot going on with work, family, friends and community obligations; however, your retirement is your responsibility. Take time to review the account statements prepared for you each quarter—don’t let life get in the way of doing the right thing for your retirement future. Evaluate the amount you’re saving and determine if it will get you to where you want to be by retirement age. If it won’t, work out steps you can take to help you reach your goals. Also, check that the investments you are using are appropriate for your needs and reallocate periodically so you don’t take on more risk than you should.

Avoid early withdrawals from your account-- If you stop working before retirement age because of a layoff, raising children or health concerns, look for alternative ways to stay afloat. No one can say what Social Security will look like in 20 years and many companies are moving away from pensions. Your retirement savings may be the main source of income you’ll depend on in later years, so don’t deplete it unnecessarily.

When you reach age 50, take advantage of the catch-up contribution feature-- Investors age 50-plus can contribute an extra amount toward retirement than when they were younger, so you can make up for some of the times when you weren’t able to save as much.

If you look back at the ups and downs of your retirement savings on a chart someday, you should be able to recognise the events that shaped your contribution levels and account balance shifts. From contribution rate changes to account withdrawals, your retirement strategy reflects what’s going on in the rest of your life. As long as you’re being strategic, it’s OK. Savvy retirement investors are.

Source: www.insure.net

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Money

Tuesday, March 11, 2014

35

Forex probes set to dwarf Libor cases

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he myriad probes into the largest financial market in the world is expected trigger multibillion-dollar bills for fines and civil litigation and has prompted banks as well as regulators to put a vast number of internal and external staff on the case, the Financial Times has reported.

Lawyers and bankers say the initiative is likely to rank among the biggest cross-border regulatory efforts ever and could surpass the sprawling probe into the manipulation of Libor and other interbank lending rates.

“The mountain is much bigger than in the Libor cases,” one senior compliance banker warned.

In a boost to an industry of lawyers, consultancy and data mining firms, some bankers and analysts estimate the resources used is adding up to far more than 1,000 people.

The UK’s Financial Conduct Authority alone, which is attempting to play the lead in the global efforts, has in its enforcement division tasked at least 50 people, including external and temporary workers, with the probe, FT said.

On the industry side, the top 10 banks in forex, including Deutsche Bank, UBS and Royal Bank of Scotland, have assigned far more than 500 people combined to work on the case in their internal probes, according to estimates from several people involved.

Analysts estimate that those three bank, as well as Barclays and HSBC will together have to set aside 8.5bn- 10.6bn for litigation costs including fines and penalties in 2014 and 2015,

on top of the 16.4bn those five banks had already provisioned for legal costs through the end of 2013.

The probe also took a new turn last week when it emerged that officials at the Bank of England, which is assisting the FCA, were told of concerns about forex manipulation as early as 2006.

According to FT, the forex effort includes regulators and prosecutors from the US to Switzerland and Hong Kong.

To cope, the FCA has set up a special team to co-ordinate with other agencies.

“The investigations have prompted unprecedented global co-operation,” Matthew Nunan, head of wholesale enforcement at the FCA, told the Financial Times. “There is a high level of mutual respect and understanding between the authorities. The FCA is playing a key role in driving this forward.”

After what lawyers have described as bickering during the Libor probe, regulators seem keen to avoid such mistakes with forex. They are seeking to reduce the number of overlapping information requests being fired at firms by various agencies.

Often regulators are combing over the same material, but with different goals and legal rule books. Financial regulators are investigating misconduct and market abuse at individual banks while antitrust regulators are looking for attempted collusion between them.

Taking a page from US practice, the FCA is leaning on the banks to perform and

Ivory Coast’s Sifca to invest $74min West Africa

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vory Coast agro-industrial group Sifca, part-owned by Singapore’s Olam International and Wilmar International, will invest 35 billion CFA francs ($74 million) this year to diversify in West Africa, executives said.

Part of the money will go to creating 15,000 hectares (37,000 acres) of palm oil plantations in Liberia and a further 10,000 hectares in Nigeria, executives said at a news conference late on Friday to discuss 2013 results.

The remaining funds will be used to build a biomass power station with a 23-megawatt capacity in Ivory Coast and to pay for a 49.5 percent stake in Wilmar Africa Ltd, the Singaporean company’s African subsidiary.

Bertrand Vigne, Sifca’s managing director, said the group’s 2013 turnover was stable at around 500 billion CFA francs. The company is controlled by the Billon family of Ivory Coast, while the two Singaporean companies have a stake of around 25 percent.

“The group has a clear regional strategy and these projects should allow Sifca to continue to grow,” Vigne said.

Alassane Doumbia, Sifca’s executive vice-chairman, said the company raised the funds for the investment with a 35 billion CFA bond issue in July on the regional debt market.

“Regarding green energy, talks are under way with the Ivorian government to agree a price per kilowatt-hour,” Doumbia said.

pay for much of the investigative legwork. As one lawyer put it, “the FCA has learnt that it is more effective to get the banks to do their work for them”.

Analysts and bankers estimate that the banks are spending as much as several hundred million dollars combined on the internal probes to fund an army of lawyers, consultants, data mining and forensic specialists who help their internal legal, risk and compliance staff.

Many big UK and US law firms have specialists on the case and the big four accountancy firms have units focusing on financial risk and forensic investigations. KPMG last year created a separate Trading Risk Solutions Group led by a former trader and focused specifically on rate manipulation, rogue trading and trader fraud.

The external firms are charged with sifting through chatroom conversations, instant messages, phone conversations, voice mails as well as email and text messages. Then they seek to match the com-

munication with actual market data to determine whether there was manipulation, a complicated task given the vast array of transactions executed every day.

The amount of data is enormous, so the banks hire thirdparty groups that specialise in forensic data mining. UBS estimates that its staff alone send 12m emails each day. “We have hundreds of millions of messages to trawl through,” said an executive at another bank involved in the investigation.

Phil Beckett, managing director at one of the specialist firms, Proven Legal Technologies, said: “The volume of data is incredible so you have to use behavioural science . . . What you are looking at is key dates, key people, key events.”

The analysts also have to struggle to decipher the slang used by traders. In forex, the communication is proving trickier to decode than the more obvious and blunt attempts at manipulation seen in the Libor scandal, lawyers say.

“We try to figure out what the mindset and language of the specific traders is, their key phraseology,” Mr Beckett says. “You still sometimes have the eureka moment of getting a smoking gun document but a lot of it is trying to pull out tiny bits of information and trying to piece them together to get a full picture.”

The scale of the effort was foreshadowed by the Libor case, which has been going on for several years. In that scandal, one large bank’s internal probe retrieved 100m documents and reviewed 18m of them using 1,000 different search terms, according to a banker involved in the efforts.

The bank conducted nearly 200 interviews and used 150 people including third-party vendors.

As a result, the probes may stretch well beyond the 2015 timeframe that Martin Wheatley, head of the FCA, has given, making sure that the armies of lawyers, consultants and computer specialists will continue to be inundated with work.

L-R: Executive Director, Lagos and South West, Fidelity Bank Plc, Mr. Ikemefuna Mbagwu; Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Olusegun Aganga; Managing Director of Fidelity Bank Plc Mr. Nnamdi Okonkwo and Director General of Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency (SMEDAN); Alhaji Bature Masari, during a visit to the Minister on their programmes for small businesses in the country, in Abuja yesterday.

Bankers’ Committee marks 2014 Global Money Week

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n recognition of the role financial literacy plays in the economy, and in furtherance of its 2014 priorities, the Bankers’ Committee through its Financial Literacy and Public Enlightenment Sub-Committee (FLSC) has mapped out activities targeted at primary and secondary school students to mark the 2014 edition of Global Money Week from Monday 10th to Monday 17th March, 2014.

To commemorate the weeklong event, Thursday 13th March 2014, has been designated ‘Financial Literacy Day’, by the Bankers’ Committee. The aim of both Global Money Week and Financial Literacy Day is to inculcate sound financial knowledge and

fiscal planning skills in children and the youth.

Planned activities to mark the week include visits by officials of the various financial institutions to schools adopted by their institutions. The financial institution CEOs will during their visit, teach selected students from the schools a module of a Financial Literacy curriculum specially designed by Junior Achievement Nigeria - a non-governmental organisation focused on educating children about their economic environment. Other activities include visits by students to banks to observe bank activities. The Central Bank of Nigeria will also be organising a Child and Youth Finance Fair/ Exhibition in Abuja to mark the

week.

Speaking on the activities, Emeka Emuwa, Chairman of the Financial Literacy and Public Enlightenment Sub-Committee and Group Managing Director of Union Bank said, “Financial Literacy is a key enabler in our quest to achieve Financial Inclusion for sustained economic growth and development in Nigeria. Members of the Bankers’ Committee are fully committed to stepping up our activities in this area.“ The FLSC has defined its 2014 priorities and objectives as Educating children, youth and adults on Financial Literacy; Launching and promoting Financial Literacy Day and School adoption and ongoing mentorship.

36

Taxation

Tuesday, March 11, 2014

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Mauritius-Nigeria DTT: Any benefits for Nigeria’s tax revenues?

TOLA AKINMUTIMI

ABUJA

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or a country that has been at the receiving end of most bilateral and multilateral fiscal and trade agreements and treaties, ongoing negotiations by the Federal Government to sign new ones could not have escaped the critical comments of analysts that would want Nigeria to make the best of the economic opportunities of such deals for national competitive advantage.

This stance derives largely from the fact that endorsement and ratification of such international trade and taxation treaties by the country have not translated to real socio-economic benefits as the real sector, the hub of broad-based growth, has continued to suffer in the face of unbridled importation of sub-standard products and losses from taxes associated with questionable incentives to foreign investors and revenue leakages at all levels of economic activities.

Among this plethora of treaties, the World Trade Organisation (WTO) agreement, has been particularly criticised by economic development analysts as partially responsible for the unbridled dumping of sub-standard products in the country with the attendant implications for real sector’s woes.

They noted that Nigeria’s ratification of the international trade document symbolised fiscally, creating an unfair ground for domestic manufacturing companies’ competition in a rapidly changing global marketing environment.

Similarly, one of the nebulous treaties which has continued to generate serious controversies is the ECOWAS Common External Tariffs (CET) which many analysts believe was ratified by the Nigeria Government without due consideration for the country’s own development objectives and guarantee that while trying to protect others from sinking, Nigeria is fortified enough to withstand

unexpected wind or turbulence that may try to drown her alongside Even as the dusts raised in the public discourse domain over the treaties remain unabated, the Mauritius-Nigeria Double Taxation Treaty (DTT) is today coming as one of the latest bilateral fiscal policy adventures being pursued by the Federal Government in its frenetic and desperate moves to make new friends in order to attract the badly needed foreign direct investments (FDIs) into the domestic economy.

The representatives of the governments of Mauritius and Nigeria had in August 2012 signed an income tax treaty with the accompanying Protocol which agreements contain measures providing beneficial tax rates for dividends, royalties and interests.

Similarly the agreements provide for resident-based taxation of capital gains arising out of the sale of shares, and rules with respect to the taxation of permanent estab-

Officials opening bids at the Financial Bid Opening for 10 Niger Delta Power Holding Company (NDPHC) Power Generation Companies in ABUJA recently.

PHOTO:NAN

lishments, amongst other fiscal provisions.

The government of Mauritius, ostensibly conscious of the potential opportunities open to its country to explore for bi-lateral national economic advantage, ratified the treaty provisions. Nigeria, which hitherto has not considered the treaty a priority in bilateral relations, is now under pressure to ratify it for enforcement.

But then, fiscal and economic development experts, whose experiences with the implementation of the past trade and fiscal agreements paint a clear picture that Nigeria has remained the loser in almost all her international trade and tax-related treaties and protocols with other countries, are raising the alarm, telling the Federal Government to act with caution on the Mauritius-Nigeria Double Taxation Treaty (DTT) This position was well canvassed at a one-day Dialogue on the Implications of DTT for the Nigeria and Resourcing of Developmental Agenda of the Nation organised by ActionAid Nigeria (AAN) in Abuja, when stakeholders particularly noted that there was the need to subject the proposed bilateral treaty to public hearing and legislative scrutiny before it is finally ratified.

At the forum, the Country Director of ActionAid, Dr Abdu Hussaini, pointed out that despite the potential benefits of international treaties to national developmental efforts, the Nigerian Government should be wary in signing treaties in view of the likely hurting impact on the economy.

Hussaini noted in particular that the draft Mauritius-Nigeria DTT should be subjected to critical study and made to conform to international best practices such as the United Nations and OECD

models before further action is taken on it.

He said: “Mauritius has this kind of treaty with over 30 countries and many of these investors go on treaty shopping. Mauritius has a very good business environment and they just go there and register. So, from Mauritius because the economy is small, there is no proper guarantee for market, they just come there. They will go to bigger markets and use Mauritius as a base.

“So, what I am saying is the principle of the Mauritius-Nigeria DDT. Why are you having this type of treaty with Mauritius?

Why not Brazil, why not India, why not China? Those are where the markets are and where you see the maximum benefits of such bilateral relationship. When you are not doing that, why are you going to an Island of which the Island itself does not have any parent company?” the AAN boss queried.

Faith Nwadishi, National Coordinator of Publish What You Pay, PWYP, Nigeria, the coalition of civil society organizations committed to the promotion of transparency in extractive industries, advocated improved commitment of the National Assembly to international treaties being ratified by the government by ensuring that such treaties are subjected to public hearing in order to do a critical cost-benefits analysis on them and identify the inherent opportunities for national development advantage.

Another analyst and Head (Oil, Gas and Solid Minerals) in the National Planning Commission, Mr Avo Vakporaye, said that the draft EPA should be subjected to further debates by stakeholders in order to remove some of its provisions that are capable of hurting the Nigerian economy.

TAX BRIEFS FROM FOREIGN JURISDICTIONS Malaysia Budget 2014: Special Personal Tax Relief s announced in Budget 2014 and to increase the disposable income of the middle income group, a special one-off personal tax relief of RM2,000 will be given to resident tax payers earning up to RM8,000 a month (aggregate income up to RM96,000 a year).

This will give a tax saving up to RM480 depending on the amount of tax payable after taking into consideration all the deductions.

This special one-off personal tax relief of RM2,000 is given for one year, i.e. year of assessment 2013 only. A tax payer may deduct this special tax relief when he/she is submitting the 2013 tax return

by April 2014.

(Source: NBC Blog: Malaysia

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Business News and Tax) United States of America Twenty-six of the most powerful American corporations – such as Boeing, General Electric, and Verizon – paid no federal income tax from 2008 to 2012, according to a new report detailing how Fortune 500 companies exploit tax breaks and loopholes.

The report, conducted by public advocacy group Citizens for Tax Justice (CTJ), focuses on the 288 companies in the Fortune 500 that registered consistent profit every year from 2008 to 2012. Those 288 profitable corporations paid an “effective federal income tax rate of just 19.4 percent over the five-year period — far less than the statutory 35 percent tax rate,” CTJ states.

One-third, or 93, of the analyzed companies paid an effective tax rate below 10 percent in that timespan, CTJ found.

Defenders of low corporate taxes call the US federal statutory rate of 35 percent one of the highest companies face in any nation.

But the report signals how the most formidable corporate entities in the US take advantage of tax breaks, loopholes, and accounting schemes to keep their effective rates down.

(Source RT Network)

United Kingdom

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new app by the HRMC aims to create an easier way for people to calculate tax and learn what it is spent on.

What about the calculations of who pays what to HMRC? Although the highest rate of income tax only affects a tiny percentage of the UK’s 29.3 million taxpayers, it represents a considerable chunk of HMRC’s revenue from personal income.

Ghana GII demands review of Ghana’s tax regime he Ghana Integrity Initiative, (GII), is demanding that government reviews its tax regime as the first step in addressing the country’s economic inequalities.

This forms part of a new re-

T

Approximately 6,000 people in the UK pay tax on income over £2,000,000. At the lower extreme, 487,000 people pay tax on earnings over £9,440.

The first £9,440 of earnings is free of income tax. Earnings between £9,441 and £32,010 are taxed at the “basic rate” of 20%, between £41,452 and £150,000 are taxed at 40% and anything over £150,000 is taxed at 45%.

In total, 236,000 people pay the top rate of taxes on earnings over

port by Tax Justice Network Africa and international development agency, Christian Aid, about how Africa can fight economic inequality.

The report investigates income inequality in eight sub-Saharan countries, including Ghana, and examines the ability of the tax systems in each of the countries to redistribute wealth.

Executive Director of GII, Vitus Azeem, told Joy News most of the taxes imposed by government are mostly consumer-base – water and light. This, he said has caused the poor in society to relatively spend more than their income.

“So if you end up imposing taxes on those things, the poor people become poorer, whilst the rich people remain where they are or even become richer,” he observed.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Capital Market

Tuesday, March 11, 2014

37

Transcorp breaks jinx, declares N1.93bn dividend JOHNSON OKANLAWON

I

nvestors in Transcorp Plc will receive dividends for the financial year ended December 31, 2013, the first time the company declared dividend since 2004 when it began operation in the country.

The company last week recommended a dividend of N1.93bn to its shareholders on the basis of five kobo per share. Its profit for the 2013 stood at N6.96bn, compared to N2.53bn recorded in the corresponding period of 2012, an increase of 175.3 per cent.

According to the result presented to the Nigerian Stock Exchange, the company revenue rose 42.1 per cent to N18.8bn, from N13.2bn recorded in the same period of 2012, while gross profit increased to N14.4bn, from N9.77bn it posted in 2012 financial year.

Based on increased in sales, the company administrative expenses and operating profit rose to N9.21bn and N10.3bn in 2013 respectively, from N7.52bn and N3.76bn recorded in 2012 financial year.

Further analysis of the company’s balance sheet showed a total asset of N149.5bn in 2013, from N99.6bn in 2012, while total liabilities stood at N62.8bn in the review period, from N35.5bn in 2012.

The company’s non-current assets rose to N122.2bn in 2013, from N74.9bn in the same period of 2012, while the current assets stood at N27.3bn in 2012, from N24.6bn in the preceding year. Non-current liabilities however increase to N47.1bn in 2013, from N18.6bn in 2012, while current liabilities stood at N15.7bn, from N16.5bn recorded in the corresponding period of 2012.

Transcorp President and Group Chief Executive Officer, Obinna Ufudo said tthat the result reflecta the company’s commitment to long term strategic plan, translating into strong and sustainable growth.

He said, “We are excited about the achievements we recorded across our businesses within the past year. Our entry into the power sector has been a significant driver and we are already running ahead of our 2014 estimates. We expect significantly

Elumelu

Obinna

better results this year, as our diversification and growth strategies continue to gain momentum.”

Transcorp Chairman, Tony Elumelu said ‘We are particularly pleased to be able to recommend a dividend to shareholders for the first time in the company’s history.

This is the beginning of a very bright future for all our patient and loyal shareholders.

“With the tremendous progress we have already recorded in our power business – taking the Ughelli plant’s power output from 160mw when we took over on November 1, 2013 to 360mw within three months, 2014 promises to be a very rewarding year for the company and our 300,000 shareholders.”

Shares movement The company shares declined 1.27 per cent on Friday to close at N3.90, from N3.95 recorded on Thursday. The share price, which stood at N1.49 in 2013 when trading began on the NSE, has increased by 161.7 per cent, to N3.90 per share on Friday. The company’s share closed at N1.05 in 2011.

The Nigerian Stock Exchange had on August 27 listed the company rights issue of 12,906,999,142 ordinary shares on its daily official list. It increased the market capitalisation by about 54 per cent from N35.4bn to N54.6bn further affirming the company

as one of the most capitalised stocks on the NSE. Transcorp had earlier in the year issued 12.906 billion shares of 50 kobo each at N1 per share via rights issue to raise fresh funds to finance its power projects. The rights issue was 132.08 per cent subscribed.

Transcorp History The idea to establish Transcorp was floated by former President Olusegun Obasanjo to form a company that is similar to South Korean Chaebols. Having seen the vast business opportunities in the Nigerian economy and other parts of Africa, Obasanjo also envisaged a situation whereby those opportunities could elude Nigerian firms due to limited financial capabilities. Hence, the idea of a company, which would respond to market opportunities that require huge capital investment.

The founders and management of Transcorp targeted to play big in the oil/ gas industry, and telecommunications sectors of the economy. In order to begin with strong foundations, the company made some milestone acquisitions including: Nigerian Telecommunications Limited (NITEL), Nicon Hilton, Abuja and oil block (OPL281). However, Transcorp had to exit the NITEL deal due to negative im-

pact it was having on its finances.

Today, Transcorp portfolio comprises strategic investments in the hospitality, agribusiness and energy sectors. Its businesses include Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja; Transcorp Hotels, Calabar; Teragro Commodities Limited, operator of Teragro Benfruit plant, Transcorp Ughelli Power Limited and Transcorp Energy Limited, operator of OPL 281.

Acquisition The foundation for the improved positive trend seen in Transcorp today was actually laid when Heirs Holding Limited bought into the company in 2011.

Heirs Holding, owned by former Group Managing Director of United Bank for Africa Plc, Mr. Tony Elumelu acquired a significant stake in Transcorp in 2011 to become a majority investor in the company.

Heirs Holdings, which has interests in the financial services, real estate and resources sectors, had explained shortly after the acquisition that the investment in Transcorp was in pursuant of its strategy of creating value and catalysing the economic growth of Africa through its long- term investment approach. The company had said shareholders would benefit from its track record of valuecreation.

Transcorp is a publicly quoted conglomerate with a diversified shareholder base of over 300,000 investors, the most prominent of which is Heirs Holdings Limited, a pan-African proprietary investment company.

The Transcorp portfolio comprises strategic investments in the hospitality, agribusiness and energy sectors, with notable businesses including Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja; Transcorp Hotels, Calaba.

Others are Teragro Commodities Limited, operator of Teragro Benfruit plant – Nigeria’s first-of-its-kind juice concentrate plant; Transcorp Ughelli Power Limited, Nigeria’s largest power generator and Transcorp Energy Limited, operator of OPL 281.

China suffers first corporate bond default

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hina experienced its first domestic bond default in recent history on Friday after a small Shanghaibased solar power company failed to pay out interest on a security it sold two years ago.

Shanghai Chaori Solar said on Friday it had only managed to pay investors a tiny fraction of the Rmb89.8m ($14.6m) interest they are owed on their investment before a deadline of 3pm, when China’s domestic bond markets closed.

“We were not able to deliver full interest payment by today but we will still try in the future to make payments [to investors],” Liu Tielong, board secretary for Chaori, told the Financial Times. He acknowledged that Chaori was now official-

ly in default.

China has not seen a single outright default of a domestic corporate bond since it established a nascent bond market in the early 1990s.

The central bank introduced new rules and restrictions on the market in 1997 following a series of technical defaults on bonds issued by companies backed by local governments across the country that forced those governments to bail them out.

On Friday, Mr Liu said he was not aware of any plan from the Shanghai government to bail bond investors out, as it did a year ago when Chaori first threatened to default on its interest payments.

The company’s bonds were suspended from trading last July and equities sus-

pended last month.

Three retailer holders of the Rmb1bn bond told the Financial Times on Friday that the company had paid them about 4.4 per cent of the interest owing to them on Thursday evening and they did not expect to receive any more.

Chaori said it was only able to pay investors Rmb4m of the Rmb89.9m interest they were owed by close of trade on Friday.

Some analysts have suggested Chaori’s default could be China’s “Bear Stearns moment” – an event that prompts investors to reassess the risks of investing in Chinese corporate debt and causes a run on the entire sector ending in a Lehman Brothers-like crash.

But Chinese bond traders said the mar-

ket appeared calm and well-prepared for the Chaori announcement on Friday.

“There has been no panic in the domestic market because everyone has been expecting a default for some time,” said Ivan Chung, a credit officer at Moody’s in Hong Kong. “We can see that the spread between low quality and high quality bonds has been widening in recent months as the market imposes a risk premium on the poorer quality paper.”

China Securities, the underwriter of Chaori’s bond, is almost entirely owned by the central government so the decision not to bail out the bond has been interpreted by investors as a deliberate signal from Beijing.

38

Global Business

Tuesday, March 11, 2014

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Global debt exceeds $100trn as governments binge, says BIS

T

he amount of debt globally has soared more than 40 percent to $100 trillion since the first signs of the financial crisis as governments borrowed to pull their economies out of recession and companies took advantage of record low interest rates, according to the Bank for International Settlements.

The $30 trillion increase from $70 trillion between mid-2007 and mid-2013 compares with a $3.86 trillion decline in the value of equities to $53.8 trillion in the

same period, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. The jump in debt as measured by the Basel, Switzerland-based BIS in its quarterly review is almost twice the U.S.’s gross domestic product.

Borrowing has soared as central banks suppress benchmark interest rates to spur growth after the U.S. subprime mortgage market collapsed and Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc.’s bankruptcy sent the world into its worst financial crisis since the Great Depression. Yields on all

types of bonds, from governments to corporates and mortgages, average about two percent, down from more than 4.8 percent in 2007, according to the Bank of America Merrill Lynch Global Broad Market Index.

“Given the significant expansion in government spending in recent years, governments (including central, state and local governments) have been the largest debt issuers,” according to Branimir Gruic, an analyst, and Andreas Schrimpf, an economist at the BIS. The

organization is owned by 60 central banks and hosts the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision, a group of regulators and central bankers that sets global capital standards.

Marketable U.S. government debt outstanding has surged to a record $12 trillion, up from $4.5 trillion at the end of 2007, according to U.S. Treasury data compiled by Bloomberg. Corporate bond sales globally jumped during the period, with issuance totaling more than $21 trillion, Bloomberg data show.

IBM factory strike shows shifting China labour landscape

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wildcat strike at an IBM factory in southern China illustrates how tectonic shifts under way in the country’s labour market are emboldening workers to take matters into their own hands, raising risks for multinationals.

More than 1,000 workers walked off the job last week at the factory in Shenzhen, bordering Hong Kong, after managers on March 3 announced the terms of their transfer to new ownership under Chinese PC maker Lenovo Group Ltd. Lenovo agreed in January to pay $2.3 billion for International Business Machine’s low-end server business.

The strike, which continued into Sunday, fits a growing pattern of industrial activism that has emerged as China’s economy has slowed. A worsening labour shortage has shifted the balance of power in labour relations, while smartphones and social media have helped workers organize and made them more aware than ever of the changing environment, experts say.

“Chinese workers, after being exploited for so long, are now more and more aware of their rights and united. They have more of an idea of collective action,” said labour lawyer Duan Yi. A report by the advocacy group China Labour Bulletin last month said it had talled 1,171 strikes and protests from the beginning of June 2011 to the end of December 2013.Many worker protests during that time in Guangdong province, a manufacturing hub where the IBM server factory is situated, were sparked by the closure, merger or relocation of factories.

In November, hundreds of employees stopped work at a Nokia factory in Dongguan, near Shenzhen, complaining of changes following Nokia’s sale of its mobile phone business to U.S. software giant Microsoft Corp.

L-R: CEO MultiChoice Africa, Mr. Nico Meyer; Chairman MultiChoice Nigeria, Mr. Adewunmi Ogunsanya; Managing Director, MultiChoice Nigeria, Mr.John Ugbe and Managing Director, M-net Africa Mrs Biola Alabi, during the 2014 Africa Magic Viewers Choice Award in Lagos at the weekend,

US stocks rise as data overshadow Ukraine tensions

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.S. stocks rose a second week, sending the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index (SPX) to a record, as better-than-forecast data on hiring and manufacturing fuelled optimism in the economy and overshadowed concern on Ukraine.

Goldman Sachs Group Inc. and JPMorgan Chase & Co. added at least 4.5 percent to lead an S&P 500 index of financial shares to a fiveyear high. Lorillard Inc. jumped 8 percent on speculation Reynolds American Inc. is looking to purchase the maker of Newport cigarettes. Staples Inc. and RadioShack Corp. plunged at least 15 percent after the companies said they would close some stores amid sales declines.

The S&P 500 advanced 1 percent to 1,878.04 over the five days to finish the week at an all-time high.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average (INDU) increased 131.01 points, or 0.8 percent, to 16,452.72.

“Any geopolitical risk involving Russia puts markets on edge, but the markets have looked through that,” Darrell Cronk, the New Yorkbased regional chief investment officer at Wells Fargo Private Bank, which manages $170 billion, said by phone. “We got a little bit of whipsaw earlier in the week between

the market falling on Ukraine news and the strong recovery back. Equity markets are telling us they see brighter days.”

The S&P 500 recorded its biggest drop in a month on March 3 on concern Russia’s military presence in Ukraine could lead to a broader conflict. The index rallied 1.5 percent to an all-time high the next day after remarks from Russian President Vladimir Putin eased the tension.

The geopolitical crisis threatened to overshadow economic reports that indicated the U.S. economy is starting to shake off the effects of severe winter weather.

U.S. employers added more workers than estimated in February, a Labor Department report showed. The pickup in the pace of hiring followed the weakest twomonth gain in more than a year.

The jobless rate rose to 6.7 percent from 6.6 percent as more people joined the workforce.

Other reports indicated manufacturing expanded faster than projected last month, while consumer spending rose more than estimated in January. The Federal Reserve said in its Beige Book business survey that the economy in most regions grew last month even as harsh winter weather impeded hiring.

Concerned that high debt loads would cause international investors to avoid their markets, many nations resorted to austerity measures of reduced spending and increased taxes, reining in their economies in the process as they tried to restore the fiscal order they abandoned to fight the worldwide recession.

Adjusting budgets to ignore interest payments, the International Monetary Fund said late last year that the so-called primary deficit in the Group of Seven countries reached an average 5.1 percent in 2010 when also smoothed to ignore large economic swings. The measure will fall to 1.2 percent this year, the IMF predicted.

The unprecedented retrenchments between 2010 and 2013 amounted to 3.5 percent of U.S. gross domestic product and 3.3 percent of euro-area GDP, according to Julian Callow, chief international economist at Barclays Plc in London.

The riskiest to the most-creditworthy bonds have returned more than 31 percent since 2007, according to Bank of America Merrill Lynch index data. Treasury and agency debt handed investors gains of 27 percent in the period, while corporate bonds worldwide returned more than 40 percent, the indexes

China’s exports unexpectedly drop blow to confidence

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hina’s exports fell the most since the global financial crisis, dealing another blow to confidence as Communist Party leaders meeting in Beijing assess the risk from the nation’s first onshore bond default.

Shipments abroad dropped 18.1 percent from a year earlier, the customs administration said in Beijing yesterday, trailing the median estimate for a 7.5 percent increase in a Bloomberg News survey of 45 economists.

Reports today showed inflation eased to a 13-month low in February and producer prices fell for a 24th month.

Distortions in the data from the Lunar New Year holiday and fake invoicing that inflated numbers last year make it harder to assess the true picture. As the nation chases a 7.5 percent annual growth target, set at last week’s meeting of the National People’s Congress, officials need to contain stresses in the financial system from the credit boom that began with stimulus measures in 2008.

“People see a lot of negative news coming out of China: growth momentum is slowing and when there is a default of

one company they tend to think it’s going to be a systemic problem and spill over into the rest of the economy,” said Ding Shuang, senior China economist at Citigroup Inc. in Hong Kong.

“These numbers may support their negative views, that even external demand may not be that strong.”

Even so, the drop in exports isn’t as bad as it appears when taking into account the holiday, the inflated base of last year’s numbers, and a weather-related “soft patch” in the U.S. economy, said Ding, whose forecast of an 8.5 percent decline in sales was closest to the customs figure.

Imports rose 10.1 percent, more than projected, leaving a trade deficit of $23 billion, the biggest in two years.

Shanghai Chaori Solar Energy Science & Technology Co. (002506), a maker of solar cells, on March 7 became the first company to default in China’s onshore bond market after failing to pay full interest due. The number of publicly traded nonfinancial Chinese companies whose debt-to-equity ratios exceed 200 percent has jumped 57 percent since 2007, according to data compiled by Bloomberg.

39

Features

Tuesday, March 11, 2014

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Imo: Reviving moribund water schemes in the midst of shortages Imo State is now facing a severe water crisis, as many of the regional schemes designed to supply the resource have collapsed and their equipment dilapidated.

CHRIS NJOKU writes that the citizens are now resorting to getting water from private boreholes with the dangers of diseases ever present.

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or a very long time now, public water supply in Imo State has been very poor. This is due to increase in human population, especially in Owerri metropolis, dilapidation of many facilities at the water works, damaged pipelines and inability of the corporation to expand its water supply capacity.

The water system built by an Israeli firm during the Sam Mbakwe’s administration was given 10 years guarantee for the replacement of its equipment, but till now no major maintenance has been carried out. As a result, only two of the 10 pumps at the high and low lifts are working.

This decay also has affected the staff who have had lost the positive approach to work due to arrears of unpaid salaries. Furthermore, due to inefficiency in water production and reticulation, many consumers find it very difficult to pay water levies. This has also has hampered the corporation from generating enough fund to maintain the facilities.

Therefore, the corporation can no longer meet up with the high water demand by the public thereby forcing many residents to rely on private water boreholes.

A visit to the corporation headquarters along Owerri Port Harcourt Road shows that it needs total overhaul for efficient service delivery. The structures and facilities are so dilapidated which shows that all is not well with the governmentowned agency.

The pipes through which water flows to homes have also become rusty because water had stopped flowing through them for more than 12 years.

Imo State is one of Nigeria’s oil-producing states, yet most of the capital Owerri , including environs,now have epileptic water supply from the area’s regional water scheme leaves a large section of the population without running water. The rest especially in the hinterland depend on streams and rivers for domestic water supply. Incidences of deaths from water-borne diseases are a daily occurrence.

The proposed water scheme at Orlu and Okigwe that would have assisted in providing sustainable running water for the citizens are in comatose and the

People fetching water from a privately owned bore hole

IRONICALLY, THE SEARCH FOR WATER ENTAILS THOSE FROM BOREHOLES CONSTRUCTED BY PRIVATE INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE NOW MAKING FORTUNES

Empty buckets lined up for water

equipment, it was are being vandalized and sold by some people claiming that be government agents.

People now trek long distances on daily basis in search of water, even sometimes are involved in road accidents while crossing the highways.

A resident of Umuoyima in Owerri Municipal Council Area, Mr. Francis Chima gave a sad description of the hardship they encounter in the search for water. “We trek long distances to

fetch water, sometimes our children are knocked down by careless drivers while attempting to cross the road with buckets on their heads.”

Ironically, the search for water entails those from boreholes constructed by private individuals who are now making fortunes from the inefficiency of the state government-owned corporation.

Apart from accidents on the road, another danger the inhabitants will soon face is the diseases that come from con-

suming the untreated water coming from these boreholes.

Investigation reveals that many of them are sunk without standard specifications.

Experts explained that the minimum drilled depth for a good water borehole is 40 metres and maximum 100 metres, on average of 60 metres depth. These specifications are not being followed due to the desperate need to get water, some families now construct borehole for commercial purpose, notwithstanding the associated hazards, as well as the heavy metals and pathogens associated with ground water.

Experts said areas like Orlu are prone to such hazards, especially communities where oil and gas and other mineral exploration and exploitation are taking place.

In a recent study published in the world’s leading medical journal, The Lancet, as many as 77 million people have been exposed to toxic levels of arsenic in Bangladesh and are at the risk of early death from use of groundwater.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 40

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Features

Tuesday, March 11, 2014

40

Imo: Reviving moribund water schemes in the midst of shortages

A rusted dry tap

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 39 Some Bangladeshi authorities have over the years encouraged the consumption of groundwater in that country. Ground water is supplied through boreholes while surface water is supplied through rivers, seas, lakes.

According to water experts, surface water is the standard choice and more effective source especially in densely populated areas. That must have guided the late Mbakwe-led administration’s choice of surface water for all of its regional water schemes. The administration proposed that water for Orlu be sourced from either Orashi or Njaba rivers or both, and be reticulated to nearly all the 12 local government areas in Imo West senatorial zone. That never took off before the army overthrew the government in 1983.

The Mbakwe administration mapped out five big regional schemes to supply running water to most of the local government areas in each of the five senatorial districts of the old Imo state, namely Aba, Okigwe, Orlu, Owerri and Umuahia. The administration was nearly able to finish four of the water schemes before 1983.

The foundation stone for Orlu water scheme was never laid. Mbakwe was serving his first term and was opposed by the late Collins Obi from Orlu. This political opposition was responsible for the abandonment of the regional water scheme for the area.

Succeeding administrations also never built it. Today, the absence of running water in Orlu has become a problem.

All pleas by well-meaning citizens to the Ikedi Ohakim-led administration to start work on the water scheme for Orlu fell on deaf ears. This was also due to the fact that his predecessor, Achike

Udenwa is from Orlu and for the eight years in office could not build the water scheme,even when the Udenwa administration liaised with the federal government which assisted it to complete the long-abandoned Okigwe regional water scheme.

In Okigwe area, the water scheme was commissioned by the late President, Yar’Adua in February 2008. Since then water from the scheme is yet to be optimised.

However, when the administration of Rochas Okorocha came into office 2011, many believed that the water problem would be a thing of the past, when government through the Ministry of Public Utilities revived and started reticulating water, whereby the old water pipes where replaced with new PVC types.

When this did not work, the governor decided to concession the water corporation last year by signing a Memorandum of Understanding with a South African firm, the West African Utilities Metering System and Services Limited for a takeover and management of water schemes in the state. According to the governor, the move would ensure effective generation and distribution of water in the state.

Apart from tackling age-long misappropriation and embezzlement of fund, cutting down on unnecessary expenditures, the governor said with the new arrangement, Imo citizens would be assured of steady and more effective water supply in the state.

It was learnt that the South African company was expected to pay N100 million for the take-off and N10 million every month to the state government.

It would also manage the corporation for effective circulation of water and pay

staff salaries. However, it was gathered that the company would have started full operations last November, but for the staff of the corporation who made this difficult.

According to investigation, the management and staff of the corporation had protested the 20 years concession of the company, saying such move would cause redundancy which could eventually lead to mass retrenchment of the workforce.

But our investigation however revealed that the agreement between the state government and the company broke down due to the heavy liabilities the company will inherit from the corporation and its dilapidated infrastructure.

However, some staff told National Mirror that rather than embark on concession, the state government should have embarked on major repair works which has not been carried out in the corporation for many years since it was established.

A union leader and staff of the corporation, who pleaded anonymity, said that since the inception of present administration, the corporation has not received any allocation to purchase purifying chemical for water treatment. He disclosed that due to inability of the corporation to pay electricity debt, power supply to Otamiri River , the source of water supply to urban areas was disconnected.

According to him, the entire pipe network within Owerri has been damaged by construction companies working on road rehabilitation. “And each time we asked them to replace the burst pipelines; they would say the work is for government even as the authorities are not doing anything because of the close relationship between the governor and the contractors.”

He also disclosed that some of the corporation’s workers have died because they could not afford to buy ordinary drugs because for the past five months from October 2013 to February 2014, they have not been paid their salaries, including seven months minimum wage arrears and 2011 leave allowance till date.

“The state government also sacked the only water specialist in the state civil service, Engr. Peter Chukwuma who is now with the Ebonyi State Government.

But coming to the defence of the government, the General Manager and Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Dr. Kachi Nwoga ,said that administration has done enough to ensure that water flow in the state.

He said before he assumed duty, the government voted large amount of money to revive the water scheme. “The money was disbursed because certain guarantees were given that it could at least possibly rehabilitate the scheme and keep water running in about 70 per cent of the state, unfortunately that money was spent and success was not achieved.”

He said however the corporation would have expected a new scheme or upgrade of existing schemes because the population and size of Owerri at the time the scheme was built have more than doubled. “Even if the schemes were working at the speed expected, water supply would have been inadequate as at today, unfortunately the scheme is working far below capacity.

He said efforts have been made to service some units, repair pipes and restore pumps at the main head works which, he said is challenged now by power. “We have started reactivating some schemes like Egbeda, Uratta, Egbe and we are concentrating on the satellite schemes now and the governor has agreed to also power more of these schemes by changing the design of water here because the way it was designed here means that one mini water work serves everybody which was so unwieldy.

While appealing for federal government intervention, Nwoga who disclosed that Abuja is owing the state more than N60 billion, said that with the way water work schemes are designed in the state, it would take close to N8 billion to get them working again.

“We are not favoured by the budget of the Federal Ministry of Water Resources; Imo is one of the few disadvantaged states not benefiting from money on water, not even a penny has been released to the state.”

He added that the management has however decided to break the water scheme down to smaller units to be able to manage them. “It does not stop our efforts to get the attention of international agencies which is what we require to reactivate the main water scheme.”

On the outstanding salaries, he said notwithstanding that the corporation would source for money for the exercise, the state government had tried to carry the burden of paying the workers’ salaries since it came to office.

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Politics

Tuesday, March 11, 2014

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 13 Other job creation strategies by the APC as contained in its manifesto is the establishment of plants for the assembly and ultimately, the manufacture of phones, tablets, computers and other devices.

The party said it will provide one meal a day for all primary school students which will create jobs in agriculture, including poultry, catering and delivery services.

It also said it will pay a guaranteed indexed-link price to farmers to ensure that there is always readymade market for their produce.

The second item on the manifesto is the fight against corruption. The APC said it will show zero tolerance for official and/or private sector corruption.

It said it will place the burden of proving innocence in corruption cases on persons with inexplicable wealth, just as it pledges to pursue legislation expanding forfeiture and seizure of asset laws and procedure with respect to inexplicable wealth, regardless of whether there is a conviction for criminal conduct or not.

It also said it will guarantee the independence of anti-corruption and financial crimes agencies by legislation, charging their budgets directly to the consolidated revenue fund.

The party also pledged free, relevant quality education. It said it will make the right of every Nigerian child to receive a free, relevant and quality education a reality, based on free and comprehensive primary and secondary education.

It pledged the provision of free tertiary education to students pursuing science and technology, engineering and mathematics.

It said it will provide free tertiary education to education majors while also paying them stipends prior to their employment as teachers.

Other major items on the APC manifesto include the review and restoration of the country’s agricultural sector, as well as the construction of one million low cost houses within the first four years as part of its agriculture and housing policies.

In the area of peace and security, the APC said it will allow states to have their own local police forces that will address special needs of each community. It also said it will establish a serious crime squad with state of the art training and equipment to combat terrorism, militancy and ethno-religious communal clashes.

APC said its government will provide a comprehensive compensation plan for victims of ethno-religious crisis, communal clashes and terrorism.

The National Summit The major highlights of the day which the party said was a National Summit held at the Transcorp Hotel, Abuja was the unveiling of the party’s Code of Conduct and the Manifesto. It was indeed a convergence of notable political bigwigs including all the founders, leaders and movers of the party as well as the 16 APC governors.

At about 10am, the function roared into action with the delectable songstress, Tiwa Savage mounting the rostrum to render her own version of the National Anthem but the main business of the day started with the video clips of the ‘formation of the party’.

In his opening speech, Lagos state governor, Raji Fashola said that the National Summit was a historic day not only for

41

Manifesto: The new Nigeria APC wants enthroned WE SPEAK OF A NEW NIGERIA THAT CAN TRULY BE CALLED A

FEDERAL REPUBLIC, PRACTICING A FEDERAL SYSTEM AND NOT A UNITARY SYSTEM.

WE SPEAK OF A NEW NIGERIA WHERE OTHER ARMS OF GOVERNMENT ARE TRULY INDEPENDENT Tinubu

the APC but also for the nation. He said, “Our nation longs for change and the APC is committed to leading a Movement for Change. Look no further than how the Party was formed; we in this room are the products of the first ever merger of political parties in Nigerian history.

“So today, not only will we get a look at our “Roadmap to a New Nigeria” in the afternoon, but this morning, we will start something maybe no other political party has ever done for a long time – we’ll present a Code of Ethics – a set of guiding principles that will be our common bond together and to the nation; a set of values that will direct our activities and actions.

“We are tied together by what we believe in: We believe our nation must be economically and socially vibrant; We believe our nation must be peaceful, just and secure; We believe that corruption must no longer be tolerated in any corner of our nation, not in political life and not in our business or civic affairs; We believe in investing in our people, because they are the most important assets of our Nation; We believe every person deserves work that enables them to provide for their families, to contribute to the community and to have a favourable, quality of life.”

Governor Fashola said that no party in more than fifteen years has done what the APC has done, “Publicly, and most importantly, together as a party, tell Nigeria that we believe in a meeting, not in a rally, not in the middle of a political campaign.”

Soon after, the founding leaders which include former military Head of state, General Mohammadu Buhari, former Lagos State governor, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, former Abia State governor, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu and interim National Chairman of the party, Chief Bisi Akande gave the ‘how, where and why’ APC was formed.

However, the four founding leaders where soon joined in the rostrum by a panel moderated by Kadaria Ahmed in their live testimony of the long walk to the merger by other notable leaders of the party which include former governor of Ogun State, Segun Osoba, former National Chairman of the defunct National Republican Convention, NRC, Chief Tom Ikimi, former Vice President Atiku Abubarkar, former governor of Kwara State, Senator Bukola Saraki, former PDP National

Mohammed

Chairman, Audu Ogbe, former governor of Borno State, Senator Modu Sheriff, former governor of Anambra State, Dr. Chris Ngige, APC woman leader, Barrister Sharon Ikeazor, former National Chairman of the Congress for Progressive Change, Barrister Tony Momoh, amongst others.

Former Vice President, Atiku said the PDP was tendering towards a civilian dictatorship through its agenda of systematic frustration of strong opposition party politics since its inception in 1999, insisting that two party system worked very well in the second republic because it provided Nigerians the opportunity to deal with any government that failed in its social contract with the electorates.

Atiku said he had always favoured a two party system of government, even though in 2005, himself alongside prominent progressive leaders tried to form a formidable opposition party but was frustrated by the PDP. “Also, in 2009 and 2011we tried to form another formidable opposition party, but was again frustrated. If Ghana and Senegal can have strong opposition parties, I see no reason why Nigeria cannot have it.

We must get it right and avoid a civilian dictatorship. If the PDP wins in 2015, then civilian dictatorship has come to stay.”

General Buhari said even with the plethora of crisis in Nigeria, “this nation can still be better managed. We need to put good leadership because the youths are getting more agitated.”

Tinubu said that “Nigeria under the APC government should be manufacturing prosperity and creating jobs. May Nigeria again never see the magnitude of killing going on in some parts of the country. I believe a two party system is good for my country.”

Ikimi said that he was a committed apostle of a two party system, saying: “Being a former National Chairman of the NRC, I know that to have a successful party in Nigeria, you must have strong presence in all zones of the country, but former leadership of the PDP believes in one party dictatorship.

While Senator Sherif warned against not putting everything in the right perspectives, so as to guard against the repeat of 2007 merger disaster, Chief Osoba said that the APC became a reality because of the attitude of give and take adopted by the leaders.

Senator Saraki said that the APC became a success because “the country is yearning for change and the people are not happy with the level of impunity and corruption dispensed by the government of the day. The youth have no future and therefore, we do not have more time than to go for the change.”

APC candidate in the recently held governorship election in Anambra state, Senator Ngige said: “All the indices of a failed state are already existing in Nigeria... bad judiciary, dilapidated infrastructure,” even as he encourages the South-East to embrace the party, since it is the only way the zone can attain the highest position in the land.

All the fifteen governors of the party were present at the symposium while Borno State governor, Ibrahim Kashim was represented by his deputy.

Chairman of the Progressives Governors Forum and Imo State governor, Rochas Okorocha, said that the PDP government “has given Nigeria, a bad cheque that cannot be cashed in any bank of prosperity,” calling on the leaders of the party to deemphasis ethnicity and religiosity when in power.

The Rivers State governor, Rotimi Amaechi, also said that the APC is not a religious party as being bandied by the PDP. Drawing attention of the participants to the details of the 2014 budget where Rivers State was not properly captured, he said: “I cannot belong to a party that keeps malice with his people just because one man, the governor disagrees with the President. I can no longer be in a party where my children will be schooling abroad while the children of the poor are forced in poorly funded schools in Nigeria.”

Edo State governor noted that the insecurity in the country is the aftermath of government insincerity in creating jobs for the teaming youths. He said: “Jobs cannot be created by miracles rather; jobs are created by meticulous planning. Miracles can happen in individual’s life but not in a nation.”

He however promised that an APC government will put back the refineries to shape and also restore the industrial base of the nation, particularly those in Apapa, Ikeja, Aba, Kano and Port Harcout. He also noted that since the PDP has failed the naCONTINUED ON PAGE 43

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Politics

THE

PARLIAMENT

Tuesday, March 11, 2014

Challenges of new health bill After about two years in the works, the Senate last month passed the new health bill. GEORGE OJI writes that the greatest challenge of the bill is the political will of President Goodluck Jonathan to assent to the bill to become a law.

T

he new health bill will go down in the history of the National Assembly as one of the bills that attracted the greatest number of interests and reactions, particularly from stakeholders in the health sector.

During the public hearing conducted by the Senate Committee on Health to allow members of the public make inputs into the bill, stakeholders in the health sector nearly drew daggers among themselves. In particular, other health workers were all out against the medical doctors, reason being that the bill was said to have been drafted to favour the doctors more than the other health workers. For instance, the draft bill was said to be in favour of the doctors in terms of not only their membership of health institutions but also their headship of the institutions, in addition to being appointed as health ministers.

However, at the end of the day, the lawmakers and the stakeholders succeeded in coming to some degree of comprise on most of the contentious issues, which led to the success recorded on the bill.

Moreover, there was a general understanding among all stakeholders that the bill should be seen as work in progress, because the passing of the bill would lay the foundation and signify future amendments.

During debate on the bill after the public hearing, because of their divergent interests in the bill, senators were very critical of the contents of the bill, leading to each of the issues being subjected to serious and deep consideration. Unlike other bills, the senators were very painstaking as they debated the bill, clause by clause, before giving their assent to them.

However, despite the seriousness attached to the bill by the lawmakers, National Assembly watchers are concerned that the greatest challenge for the bill is the willingness of the President to assent to it, so that it will become an operational law.

When this concern was put before the chairman of the Senate Committee on Health and the sponsor of the bill, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa (Delta North) recently, the lawmaker surprisingly expressed optimism that it would not be any problem. He based his optimism on the fact that President Jonathan had already committed himself to speedy assent of the bill.

Okowa recalled that when the executive members of the Nigerian Medical Association, NMA, paid Jonathan a visit at the State House recently, the President assured the doctors of his commitment to the bill and indeed, gave his words that he would be prompt in assenting to the bill once the lawmakers were done with their own part of the bill.

Okowa, in a recent interview explained some of the basic contents of the bill.

doctors have spent all the time and they have taken away one kidney and the other kidney makes you functional, and the kidney is being transplanted to the other person, you cannot recall it at that stage. Because recalling at that stage, even without medical effects, psychological effect knocks off that patient.

So, there must be a time I say, I am doing this.

How the bill addresses frequent frictions among health practitioners

Mark

use of blood and blood products; transplantation of tissue has not been regulated before now such that if somebody wanted to transplant kidney or carry out any other transplant, there were no real regulations guiding it and if there was any fault or default, the persons who have done wrong could not be prosecuted in the law court to conclusion.

How it affects the development of the health sector The bill seeks particularly in clause 11 to provide a basic health fund, which is needed at this point in time. We all know that the primary healthcare is within the purview of the local government councils, but the states and Federal governments give support programmes apart from technical supports. This bill also seeks to provide one per cent of the consolidated revenue fund for the purpose of the development of primary health care and also for the purpose of providing health care insurance to certain class of people who are deprived.

How the fund would be applied We are achieving two things because 50 per cent of the one per cent fund that is provided under clause 11 would be utilised by the National Health Insurance Scheme, NHIS, for the purpose of providing health coverage for pregnant women, children who are under five years of age and the elderly persons as well as the physically challenged. It is hoped that we would be able to progress beyond that because the fund provides for at least, one per cent which means that Mr. President and his cabinet could decide to improve on that quantum of money to something higher than that. Beyond that fund, we also have the other 50 per cent that would be used for the development of the primary health care across the nation.

Major highlights of the bill It is a bill that actually seeks to regulate the healthcare industry because before today, a lot of things that we do in health services in this nation are not regulated and this includes even organ transplantand the

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Other special futures of the bill This bill is already proactive in initiating measures to enable us achieve the universal health coverage in the years ahead.

It also provides for the management of the

Onyebuchi Chukwu

DESPITE THE SERIOUSNESS ATTACHED TO THE BILL

... NATIONAL

ASSEMBLY WATCHERS ARE CONCERNED THAT THE GREATEST CHALLENGE FOR THE BILL IS THE WILLINGNESS OF THE

PRESIDENT TO ASSENT TO IT healthcare sector, defining certain roles for various persons and also designing various regulatory procedures that will enable the healthcare industry to attain its best in the years ahead.

The position of the bill on organ transplant There was a long debate on that, but we eventually agreed that there must be rules in everything that we do. If a man says yes, willingly I want to give you an organ, like the kidney, he has two functional kidneys, and if I am giving out one in donation, you are aware that one functions well and sees you through in life. There must be a point in time when you cannot recall that which you have assented to give. That was the level of argument we went through. We said, up to the time of the removal of the tissue, which is the kidney in this instance, you have the right to say ‘no! I am no longer donating’. But when you have been prepared and taken through the process and gone through the psychology and now you are ready in the theatre and the other man is being prepared already in another theatre. It is only fair that when the

The National Health Bill is tended to ensure that everybody, every association is carried along as much as possible. But we also think that by the time we sit down as stakeholders in a forum to discuss amongst ourselves, it will be easier for us to realise that we need to move ahead for the good of Nigerians and not talking about my union, my union. We should be talking about the health of Nigerians rather than my union and what is good for my union. When you create a forum for people to talk, it is easier for them to relate with each other. At the moment they hardly relate to each other. Every union is busy trying to talk self. Everybody must come together in the healthcare industry to ensure that there is good health and good services provided for all Nigerians.

On accidents that result from emergencies We are aware that many accidents do happen and when patients are rushed to doctors, particularly private clinics, they may not attend to you because there is nobody that knows you and nobody is there to pay. We have provided, within a pool of funds for a part of it to be spent by a constituted committee for the purpose of making such payments. People will not be allowed to die needlessly in such accidents.

On the issue of abortion and mercy death The issue concerning abortion has been provided for in the criminal code and penal code; as a result, we have not brought it into this particular bill. I am sure that we also need to revisit this issue in our subsequent bill, in amendment.

Deaths caused by doctors through negligence For the carelessness of doctors, it falls under regulations. It is provided for in the bill, not just doctors, but all health practitioners.

There are those things that you must do and those things you fail to do that will make you to eventually face the wrath of the law. They are provided for very copiously in the clauses of the bill. The issue of the quack doctors, quack nurses and quack hospitals that are not registered. Those things are provided for and they fall under regulations.

On the issue of rape It is not directly provided for, because it is provided for in other laws and if need be we need to access those laws to know if we need some forms of amendments to them and that will require debate of its own. The health bill cannot provide for every single individual case. It is supposed to be a foundation upon which you build generally.

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Politics

Tuesday, March 11, 2014

43

Road cleared for Fayose, Aluko, Olubolade, 13 others •Olowoporoku, two others disqualified OBIORA IFOH ABUJA

T

he Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Screening Committee for the Ekiti State governorship contest yesterday submitted its report to the national leadership of the party, where it cleared 13 out of the 16 aspirants screened

for the party primary scheduled for March 15.

Bosede Cecilia Dada, Senator Bode Olowoporoku and Peter Obafemi were disqualified by the committee for various reasons.

The 13 cleared were: Amb Bejide Oluwadare, Caleb Olubolade, Adedayo Adeyeye, Ayodele Fayose, Adeyanju Bodunde, Ogundipe

Modupe Margaret, Abiodun Aluko, Oladeji Omoyeni, Senator Gbenga Aluko, Oluropo Ogunbolude, Omolara Adubiaro, Ajayi Ayodeji and Adewale Aribisala.

Chairman of the committee, Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba, while submitting the report of the committee to the PDP Deputy National Chairman, Uche Secondus

CSOs task INEC on voters’ register ABIODUN NEJO ADO EKITI

A

Coalition of Civil Societies Organisations, CSOs, has charged the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to evolve a process to produce reliable voters’ register, describing it as the foundation on which the structures of credible election can be erected.

The coalition, which observed the just-concluded three-day verification and issuance of Permanent Voters Cards, PVCs, in Ekiti State, faulted INEC chairman, Professor Attahiru Jega, on the claim that the voters’ registers had been cleaned up.

The CSOs lamented that the appearance of names of dead persons, including the late deputy governor of the state, Mrs Funmilayo Olayinka, on the voters’ registers was an indication that INEC had not done proper job, saying this was capable of marring the electoral process.

The coordinator of the CSOs, Dr Abiola AkiyodeAfolabi of the Women Ad-

vocates Research and Documentation Center, WARDC, also frowned at the low sensitisation and poor security arrangement for the PVC distribution exercise in Ekiti State.

She said: “We expected INEC and other stakeholders to sensitise the people on the importance of the exercise. Even most of the people came to the venue without knowing what they were there to do.

“Again, party agents interfered with the registration process under the guise that one youth corps member assigned to a unit cannot single-handedly attend to hundreds of electorate on the queue and this is

not good for our democracy considering the experiences of the past.”

The CSOs also wanted INEC to look at polling units with over 500 voters and relocation of registration units which led to confusion over actual designated point.

They also advised it to liaise with the security agencies on the need to increase the number of their men perunit in subsequent exercises.

The CSOs commended INEC for a fair job “by conspicuously displaying the voters’ list, ensuring the

Obafemi was disqualified for failure to present his National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, discharge certificate while Dada could not show evidences of payment of membership dues, West African School Certificate, WASC and tax clearance.

Ndoma-Egba told journalists that a copy of the judgement on Olowoporoku’s expulsion was sent to the committee yesterday, but it arrived after the committee had concluded its assignment, adding that Olowoporoku was free to present it to the Appeal Committee, headed by Senator Mohammed Magoro and which begins its sitting today.

Fayose

Olubolade

Multiplication of IDs bothers Rep ABIODUN NEJO ADO EKITI

T Jega

early arrival of materials and making available attestation forms available to those who had lost their temporary voters’ cards.

Other organisations in the coalition include: Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre, African Centre for Leadership, Strategy and Development, HEDA Resource Centre, New Initiative for Social Development, West African Network for Peace, Centre for Democracy and Development, National Council for Women Societies and Electoral Reform Network.

at Legacy House, Abuja yesterday said that Olowoporoku was disqualified because of a petition that he was earlier expelled from the party and has not been readmitted.

Though Olowoporoku told the committee that a court of competent jurisdiction had upturned his expulsion from the party, NdomaEgba said that as at the time the committee concluded its work, the court judgment was not made available to it

by Olowoporoku.

He was also said not to show to the committee any tax clearance certificate to show that he actually paid his taxes as and when due.

he Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Communications, Hon Oyetunde Ojo, has expressed worries over the multiplicity of identification cards in the country.

He listed the cards to include National Identity Card, Driver’s Licence, International Driver’s Li-

cence, International Passport and Permanent Voter’s Cards, PVC. Ojo, who said Nigerians were bothered with the frequency of issuance of the cards by the concerned authorities, charged the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to ensure that the PVC which would be used for subsequent elections in the country “are really permanent.”

The lawmaker spoke

at Erijinyan Ekiti shortly after he collected his PVC, saying: “INEC has been distributing permanent voter cards since 2004. So, let this one being distributed be permanent.”

Ojo urged the INEC not to mess up the forthcoming continuous registration exercise, saying free and fair election starts with credible voters’ registration.

Saying that the All Progressive Congress, APC,

in the state was not afraid of the federal might being flaunted by the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, ahead of the June 21 governorship election in the state, Ojo said: “What we only fear is the repeat of what happened in Anambra State, where INEC had messed up the whole process. In 2007, we didn’t have any elected officials; yet we defeated the PDP with its federal might.

Manifesto: The new Nigeria APC wants enthroned CONTINUED FROM PAGE 41 tion for 15 years, there is nothing new it can do to bring back life to the nation if given the opportunity again.

Also, House of Representatives Minority Leader, Femi Gbajabiamila, while speaking on behalf of the APC members of the House of Representatives said the APC seeks a new Nigeria for the good of all. He said: “In APC, we speak of a new Nigeria where our God given human and natural resources are fully harnessed for the greater good. Every time I remember the words of the great Bob Marley, I wonder if he had Nigeria in mind when he sang ‘in the abundance of water, the fool is thirsty’.”

Gbajabiamila took his time to describe the new Nigeria that the APC seeks to ensure, saying: “We speak of a new Nigeria that can truly be called a federal republic, practicing a federal system and not a unitary system. We speak of a new Nigeria where other arms of government are truly independent and where the rule of law reigns supreme. We speak very expectantly of a new Nigeria where no child will be left behind and education will be a right and not a privilege and where being shoeless will no longer mean be-

ing clueless. A new Nigeria where the word impunity will become a thing of the past and 16 will no longer be greater than 19.

“We propose a new Nigeria where whistleblowers will be protected as is done world over and corrupt officials will be served their just dessert. Ladies and gentlemen we speak of a New Nigeria where no one is a second class citizen and where we will all be our brothers’ keepers and though tribe and tongue may differ, in brotherhood we will stand. We must take our country back from rent seekers and extortionists. Apologies to Mallam El-Rufai for this seeming surreptitious plagiarism, but we must take our country back from accidental public servants, who do not give a damn and hand it over to those who care and are prepared and ready for the job.”

Meanwhile, the PDP has described the APC’s manifesto as a product of a janjaweed ideology, a roadmap to anarchy which is typical of all anti-democratic coalitions, saying that the manifesto lacks character, depth and completely addressed no issue.

A statement by the National Publicity Secretary of the

PDP, Chief Olisa Metuh said the manifesto, which ranked security of lives and property low and gave no clue as to its preparedness to tackle terrorism was a tacit acknowledgment that the APC may be benefiting from the mayhem and knows more than meets the eyes about the spate of terror attacks in the country.

Taking the APC to task on job creation and war on corruption which the party projected as cardinal on its manifesto, the PDP said the APC has no credible recipe for job creation nor has it shown the strength of character to fight corruption more than the PDP does at the moment.

The PDP further said the recent opinion poll which the APC said it derived its manifesto is a familiar product from political party that subsists in lies and deception.

“They sponsored same in Anambra and their governorship candidate, Chris Ngige came a distant third. This is after they sponsored same in Ondo where its candidate in the governorship election, Rotimi Akeredolu also came third.”

The statement further warned that the unseen thrust of the APC manifesto is to balkanise Nigeria and cause disaffection among the people, citing the deportation of Nigerians from Lagos by an APC governor.

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Politics

Tuesday, March 11, 2014

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

S’West PDP: Jonathan, PDP leadership warned over ‘political hijackers’ KEMI OLAITAN IBADAN

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ith the 2015 general elections less than a year away, a group, the South-West Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Mandate Group, has urged President Goodluck Jonathan and the national leadership of the PDP to beware of the activities of “some political hijackers and deceivers, who may want to mislead them, particularly in the South West”.

The group gave the warning in a statement it issued in Ibadan and signed by its zonal Coordinator, Hon. Olarotimi Akinade, adding that the advice became imperative in view of the activities of some “desperate politicians with doubtful followership in the South-West zone.”

Other stalwarts of the party the warning went to are the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim; the Chief of Staff to the President, Brig.-Gen. Jones Arogbofa; the PDP National Chairman, Alhaji Adamu Mua-

zu; chairman, PDP Board of Trustees, BoT, Chief Tony Anenih and the Political Adviser to the President, Alhaji Ahmed Gulak.

The statement reads: “A few days ago, some politicians with doubtful followership in the SouthWest geo-political zone announced the formation of a group known as ‘The Network’. Ordinarily, given the times we are in, we would have encouraged more of such pro-PDP groups and initiatives. But when we probed further, we were taken aback by our findings. One of our own who was named as a member of the group informed us that contrary to the publicised aim of the group, it was an assemblage hurriedly put together by like minds to serve their pecuniary ends.

Just like they did in the past with little or nothing to show for it, they want to be in control of campaign funds for the South-West.”

Akinade said that although his group reliably gathered that most alleged leaders and members of the Network only read about their membership

Forum holds inaugural public service debate OLAJIDE OMOJOLOMOJU

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group of pubic spirited Nigerians with deep interest in promoting the common good, good governance, national development, peace and stability under the aegis of St. John’s Forum, holds the inaugural edition of it public service debate series.

The inaugural edition of the debate, scheduled to hold at 11 a.m. on March 26 at the Agip Hall of Muson Centre, Onikan has as its theme: “Will Nigeria be Better Served by a Parliamentary System of Government?”

The debate is part of a Public Service Debate series designed to bring to the fore, critical issues that affect the Nigerian society.

St John’s Forum aims at promoting and enhancing public awareness, dialogue, and encouraging participatory thought on matters of social and national importance.

Panellists at this maiden edition of the debate comprises some of Nigeria’s noblest minds, including Nobel

Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka; former External Affairs Minister, Mr Odein Ajumogobia, SAN; Senate Deputy President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu; renowned Oxford University scholar, Dr. Abdu Raufu Mustapha. The debate will be moderated by the former Secretary-General of the Commonwealth, Chief Emeka Anyaoku.

A release signed by Okosun Dennis of the R and B Public Relations Company, disclosed that the “St. John’s Forum is apolitical platform committed to advancing dialogues that promote the common good in all aspects of our national life.

“Its activities will be of interest to all segments of the country - industry, commerce, the intelligentsia, the press, politicians, decision makers, and indeed ordinary Nigerians.”

The statement added that the Forum believed that the coming together of such a diverse body of people with widely differing backgrounds and aspirations to debate a singular issue, must ultimately promote the general good.

on pages of newspapers, his group as stakeholders felt obliged to alert PDP national leaders to beware of these political hijackers and deceivers.

Saying that it was not going to be a tea party to wrest power from the All Progressives Congress,

APC, the Mandate Group said the PDP now more than ever “needs men and women with proven track record of selflessness and courage, not the greedy lot who are always looking for what to grab.”

He said: “Regrettably, we have trodden this path

before and cannot allow ourselves to be led into the same cesspool. What is more, someone once described insanity as doing a thing the same way and expecting a different result.”

Urging the PDP leadership not to allow itself to be held to ransom by

anyone or group, Akinade said: “Apart from the chairman of the group, Senator Hosea Agboola, who has some followers in the Oke Ogun area of Oyo State, the patron, Chief Olabode George, has never won his polling booth, let alone ward since 1999.”

Publisher, City People Magazine, Mr. Seye Kehinde (left) presenting the ‘Best Governor Award, Youth Empowerment’ to Kwara State Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed in Ilorin, yesterday.

Adamawa govt’s insistence on N40bn bond criminal -Group tration in seeking for a loan with just about a year to the end of its tenure does not mean well for the state, as it was an attempt to financially strangulate the state.

An Adamawa State High Court presided over

by Justice Hafsat Abdulrahman, last Thursday adjourned to April 30 further hearing in the suit filed by Engr. Albert Stephen, Dr. Penni Poga and Dr. Francis Zira against the state government, Nyako and the state House of Assembly seeking an injunction stopping them from sourc-

ing for over $24 million loan from the Islamic Development Bank, IDB. The adjournment, the court said was to enable the plaintiffs reply to the objections of the defendants to the effect that they lack the locus standi to sue the state government regarding sourcing of loans in addition to the argument that the suit did not disclose a reasonable cause of action. The defendants also said that the court lacked jurisdiction to entertain claims questioning the capacity of the government to take loans.

he Save Adamawa State Movement has described the insistence of Governor Murtala Nyako-led administration in Adamawa State to obtain another N40 billion bond in spite of a pending court action against loans by the state government as criminal and abuse of law and court process.

The Movement in a press statement issued in Abuja said it would not accept a situation in which

a matter pending in court would be circumvented by a defendant by going behind to take a bond in the twilight of the administration in the state.

The statement signed by the Chairman of the Movement, Engr. Albert Stephen, noted that the implication Nyako’s action was to render inconsequential the court ruling, in event of it being favourable to the group, as the damage the case sought to stop would have effectively been scuttled.

The movement said that the Nyako adminis-

EMMANUEL EGHAGHE

Group charges women on political responsibilities

OBIORA IFOH ABUJA

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s parts of activities marking the International Women’s Day celebration, Women Arise for Change Initiative, WA, an activist group for the right of women yesterday held a lecture to rejoice with women across the world.

The celebration, usually held every March 8 since 1911, had as its theme for this year ‘Inspiring Change,’ while the lecture, which topic was: ‘Lifting the Seige on Womankind in Nigeria,’ was held at NECA House, Alausa, Ike-

ja, Lagos with women and men from all walks of life in attendance.

President of WA, Dr Joe Okei – Odumakin in her welcome address noted that “women’s equality has made positive gains but the world is still unequal. International Women’s Day celebrates the multi-faceted achievements of women while focusing world’s attention on areas requiring further action.”

Chairman of the occasion and convener of the Save Nigeria Group, SNG, Dr. Tunde Bakare, expressed optimism that the

topic will localise the global siege, adding that: “God never said women will be inferior to men nor women dominated by men but male and female created Him them. God never said they are weaker vessels but He meant that men should deal with and treat women as delicate.”

He therefore charged the society to stop violence against women and the girl-child.

Delivering a lecture, the US Consul General, Mr. Jeffery Hawkins, expressed faith that the celebration would have great impact on the so-

ciety. He admired one of the four goals of the group which is to run for public offices, hoping to not just to see more women in active politics but desires and knows that very soon, US would have a female president as well as Nigeria.

He therefore charged women to come out in numbers to compete at the polls by voting and be voted for instead of domesticating themselves.

Other dignitaries at the event include US Ambassador’s wife, Dr. Pamela Schmoll, Afenifere spokesman, Yinka Odumakin, Executive Director, Media Concern, Dr. Princess Olufemi.

Tuesday, March 11, 2014

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

45

Community Mirror Nobody will be allowed to perpetuate himself in office; and as far as you are a member, something will get to you, no matter how long it takes.

Benue urged to build refugee camps

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GOVERNOR SULLIVAN CHIME OF ENUGU STATE

Parents arrested for allegedly murdering son ABIODUN NEJO ADO EKITI

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he police in Ekiti State have launched investigatiion into the circumstances surrounding the dealth of a one-and-half year old boy, Ayomide Ojo. Ojo’s lifeless body was discovered in a well.

Consequently, they have arrested Ayomide’s parents, Mr Shomo Owoeye and Mrs Oredola Olakunboye on suspicion of complicity in his death.

Sources, said a search party, discovered the boy’s remains in a covered well, beside their house at Ikere Ekiti.

The sources said that Oredola, a widow, and Shomo are lovers and gave birth to the child.

The Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Mr Victor Babayemi, who confirmed the incident, said the deceased’s mother accused her lover of being responsible for their son’s death.

Babayemi said the

woman disclosed that Owoeye was attempting to deny paternity of the child and had been doing everything to get rid of Ayomide.

The woman had told the police that on the fateful day, she left the deceased

outdoors and went indoors to do some chores but could not find her son when she came out.

She was said to have raised an alarm and search began immediately before the lifeless body was discovered inside a

well.

Babayei, said the corpse had been deposited at the Ikere Ekiti General Hospital for autopsy, even as he admitted that the body was found inside a well.

“But we discovered signs of violence on the

body. The detectives’ also knew that the boy couldn’t have been able to open the lid of the well in view of his age. But we are working on several theories.

The report of the autopsy will determine our next line of action,” he said.

Deputy gov urges indigenes to be grateful

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elta State Deputy Governor, Prof Amos Utuama, has called on indigenes of Ughievwen Kingdom in Ughelli South Local Government Area to always remain prayerful while thanking God for his goodness and mercies. He also charged them to always conduct themselves with decorum and dignity.

Utuama gave the charge at the 2014 Ughievwen Prayer Day and Annual Thanksgiving Service at Otu-Jeremi.

He said the people have good reasons to thank God for all His benefits to them, which stem not only from the peace, progress and love, but for the spirit to even seek Him annually.

“This year we have also come to thank Him and also to pray that when God is distributing all

available opportunities in the world, He should not forget to bless us. We are here to show gratitude to God so that He can bless us the more”.

Utuama said that besides offering intercessory prayers for Ughievwen people, the community has also offered prayers for the three tiers of government in the country. According to him, “once you are prayerful, live peacefully and with a heart that shows gratitude to God, every other thing will be added to you” The Ughievwen annual thanksgiving and prayer day, which was jointly organised the Okobaro of Ughievwen Kingdom, HRM Matthew E. Egbi, JP, Ughievwen Christian Ministers Forum and the Ughievwen Union, has as its theme “By His mercies, we are not consumed”.

Accident scene at Ojodu-Berger in Lagos recently.

Businessman arraigned for defrauding transporter WALE IGBINTADE

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businessman and Chief Executive Officer of A.G Moeller Limited, Olukemi Adeloye has been arraigned before a Federal High Court in Lagos for allegedly attempting to defraud the Chief Executive Officer of Cross-Country Transport Limited, Bube Okorodudu.

The suit filed by Force

Criminal Investigation Department, FCID, of the Nigerian Police, Adeloye was accused of transacting financial business without a valid license by the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, contrary to Section 57 of the Criminal Code Act, Cap C38, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

The offence was said to be contrary to and punishable under Section 59 (6) (b) of Banks and Other Finan-

Bauchi pays land compensation EZEKIEL TITUS BAUCHI

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he Bauchi State Government has paid compensation of N232 million to 335 villagers whose farmlands were acquired for the construction of the University of Bauchi campus.

Presenting the cheques to the beneficiaries, chairman of the payment committee and ‘Galadima’ of Bauchi ,Alhaji Sa’idu Jahun said the government acquired a total of 1,069 hectares of land, for the building of the university’s two main campuses.

He said the commit-

tee spent three weeks to identify the genuine beneficiaries and ascertain the value of their land in order to ensure fairness and justice in the payment of compensation, even as he urged them to see the establishment of the new university as a good development.

“For site one, not less than 139 farmers would be compensated and the sum of N115 million was earmarked for them because government has taken over their 545 hectares of land. While in site two, over 196 people would be paid a total of N117 million, I believe the money

cial Institutions Act (BOFIA), Cap B3, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

At the last adjourned date, Okorodudu, who is the first prosecution witness, was cross-examined

by Adeloye’s lawyer, Kunle Ogunba In count three of the charge, Adeloye’s company was also accused of transacting financial institution without valid license from the CBN.

would go a long way in assisting them ‘’, he said.

Responding, some of the beneficiaries Alhaji Abdullahi Yarima, Suleiman Salihu and Yusuf Musa expressed appreciation to the government for paying the land owners, saying they will invest the money in business.

In count four, Adeloye was said to have: “With intent to defraud, did obtain the sum of N80 million from Okorodudu in excess of the capital sum of N140 million advanced to him through the medium of a contract of finance lease facility induced by false pretence and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1 (a-c) and Section 1 (2) and punishable under Section 1 (3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act, 2006.”

In count five, Adeloye was said to have used the premises of his company at No 2, Ebun Street, Surulere in Lagos to commit the said offences.

The accused persons, however, pleaded not guilty and the court adjourned the matter till April 2 for continuation of Okorodudu’s cross examination.

46

Community Mirror

Tuesday, March 11, 2014

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Benue urged to build refugee camps HENRY IYORKASE

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he Nigerian Union of Journalists, NUJ, Benue State chapter has urged the government to build camps for hundreds of Internally Displaced Persons, IDP, in the state.

In a statement signed by chairman of Benue state council of the union, Comrade Chris Atsaka noted with concern the hardship faced by refugees from suspected Fulani attacks and the consequent relocation to the state capital.

“It will amaze you to see that the displaced per-

sons have now taken over some of the major streets, while some wander helplessly with nowhere to lay their heads owing to this situation. We are making a passionate appeal to the government to provide adequate accommodation with view to ameliorating the situation of refugees in the state” He further stated that the worst affected areas where suspected Fulani mercenaries unleashed terror on innocent citizens include Guma, Gwer west, Agatu and Makurdi in recent times, which also extended to Kwande,Katsina-Ala and Logo respectively.

Fuel scarcity persists in Katsina JAMES DANJUMA KATSINA

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he lingering fuel scarcity in Katsina State may be far from over due to refusal by the Nigeria National Petroleum Company, NNPC, to make the product available.

This was made known by a committee set up by the government for the distribution and sale of petrol in the state.

Speaking on the issue, Secretary of the committee, Bello Yusuf said that because the state is faced with scarcity of petrol, motorists will continue to buy the commodity at exorbitant price.

Yusuf said major and independent marketers have complained over the refusal of NNPC to supply petrol, pointing out that the attitude of the company brought about the scarcity of the commodity in the state.

“We are not getting sufficient petrol from NNPC, and the situation has forced major and independent markers to source for the product from the open market.”

According to reports, the scarcity has affected socio-economic activities in the state, even as residents complained of rise in transport fares.

It was learnt that the scarcity had also encouraged a black market for the commodity within the Katsina metropolis.

The commodity now sells for between N130 to N140 a litre at petrol stations, while black marketers sell for N250 per litre.

Residents, who spoke blamed the NNPC and marketers for creating unnecessary hardship for the citizens.

They said the scarcity has not only brought hardship, but provided opportunity for some individuals to make quick money.

They however called on the federal government to urgently intervene and make the commodity available to consumers in the state.

CHANGE OF NAME

TAJUDEEN: Formerly known and addressed as Miss Tajudeen Rasidat Abimbola, now wish to be known, called and addressed as Mrs. Abimbola Rasidat Fashoyin.

All former documents remain valid.

General public should

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME OBASI: Formerly known and addressed as Miss Obasi Lilian Chiagoziem, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Ihuoma Lilian Chiagoziem. All former documents remain valid.

General public please take note.

POPOOLA: Formerly known and addressed as Miss Popoola Olawuumi Ibironke, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Olawunmi Henry Obiorah. All former documents remain valid.

General public please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME ENERE: Formerly known and addressed as Miss Ruth Chinenye Enere, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Ruth Chinenye Odibe. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as Mrs Ayoku Funmilola Yetunde, now wish to be known and addressed as Miss Omilabu Funmilola Yetunde.

All former documents remain valid.

Nigerian Immigration Service and general public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

The union boss also acknowledged the efforts of the state government at resolving the lingering crises, adding that with the recent letter to President Goodluck Jonathan seeking the deployment of DIG in charge of opera-

tions, Michael Zuamokor the situation still persists.

He also condemned the barbaric attacks on innocent citizens and called on the Federal Government to find a lasting solution to the persistent feud between Fulanis and peas-

ant farmers in the state.

He condemned a situation where indigenes are now aliens in their own state of origin, stressing that this kind of development had made life meaningless for the victims.

“A situation whereby

children of school age have been denied access to schools for over three years due to incessant attacks and weeds have grown in those areas, it means something is wrong with the entire system”.

Pupils of Zobiya Primary School in Dutse Local Government Area of Jigawa receive lessons under a tree on Thursday,

PHOTO:NAN

Residents visit monarch over attack by youths GEORGE OPARA ABIA

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on indigenes residing at Umode, a suburb of Aba, Abia State have paid solidarity visit to the traditional ruler of the area, Eze Noble Young Ajuzieogu at his palace following a recent attack on him by some youths.

Eze Ajuzieogu was on February 17 attacked and his vehicle smashed by some youths from his community, while alleging that the traditional ruler had given out their inheritance to non indigenes.

It was alleged that their grouse was that Ajuzieogu did not let them take control of monies contributed by non indigenes for the rehabilitation of roads in the area.

During the demonstration which paralysed economic activities, non indigenes were also attacked by the rampaging youths and some of their vehicles smashed.

In a letter from ‘Nonindigenes Welfare Association’, Osisioma chapter to the monarch and signed by comrade Anayochukkwu Okpara, Chidiebere Ogbonna,secretary and

Afamefuna Nnaji, the body condemned the action of the youths.

“We condemn the barbaric attitude of the youths who were involved in the attack of his Highness and we have come to pay this solidarity visit to prove our support for your noble actions.”

They commended the traditional ruler for his efforts in bringing peace between the natives and non indigenes in Umuode,as they and urged him not to be deterred by the recent incident.

A youth leader, Chief Chinwemmezu Onwutu-

ebe said it is an abomination for youths to attack and harm their traditional ruler.

Responding, Eze Ajuzieogu said as a traditional ruler, there was no way he would segregate between the natives and non indigenes, stating that all those living within his domain are his subjects.

“Umuode is an emerging urban area and there is no way development will come to the area without the involvement of non indigenes and that is the reason I have refrained from being parochial in my actions.

The Chief Promoter of the Olokun Festival Foundation,OFF, made the call in Ibadan on the 2014 Oke-Badan festival, being promoted by the foundation.

The Oke-Badan Festival, which will come up on Thursday, is expected to attract thousands of peo-

ple to the ancient city of Ibadan, Oyo State capital.

In the statement signed

by Chief Adeola Adeagbo, Adams said the promotion of Yoruba cultural heritage is a means of putting the race back on track.

He maintained that this could only be achieved

through constant cultural reawakening as well as timely and due appeasement of the gods.

He revealed that this year’s edition of the OkeBadan festival will be colourful in order to make it worthwhile and memorable.

OPC leader calls for cultural reawakening KEMI OLAITAN IBADAN

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he National Coordinator of the Odua Peoples Congress, OPC, Chief Gani Adams, has called for a conscious effort to entrench the rich Yoruba cultural values.

CHANGE OF NAME

UKAWILU: Formerly known and addressed as Mrs. Kelechi Nancy Ukawilu, now wish to be known, called and addressed as Mrs. Kelechi Nancy Chukwuonye. All former documents remain valid. General public should FAMILY CHANGE OF NAME OKAKPU: We formerly known and addressed as Mr. Okakpu Jude Chukwuemeka and Mrs. Okakpu Rebecca Uzoma, now wish to be known and addressed as Mr. Orakwe Jude Chukwuemeka and Mrs. Orakwe Rebecca Uzoma. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

ADUAYI: Formerly known and addressed as Miss Aduayi Nanette Gbugbemi Chocho, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Jibowo Nanette Gbugbemi Chocho. All former documents remain valid. Passport Office and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME NNADIKA: Formerly known and addressed as Tony Prince Nnadika, now wish to be known and addressed as Everest Chinedu Tony. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

UDUEGBE: Formerly known and addressed as Uduegbe Suzan Beauty, now wish to be known, called and addressed as David Suzan Beauty. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

NNADI: Formerly known and addressed as Miss Nnadi Ann Chidinma, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Chinagorom Andrew Chidinma. All former documents remain valid. IMSU, NYSC and general public please take note.

PUBLIC NOTICE

THE AMEN CHRISTIAN CENTRE The general public is hereby notified that the above-named Christian Centre has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), Abuja for registration under Part ‘C’ of the Companies and Allied Matters Act 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE:

1.

2.

3.

4.

Ichen Clement Anwuli Ofili Vera Ugonwa Ohen Anslem Oluchukwu Ichen Maryann Ngozi.

- Snr. Pastor.

- Secretary

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES:

1. To preach the gospel of Jesus Christ.

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

SIGNED: ICHEN CLEMENT ANWULI (SNR. PASTOR).

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Emergency Update

Tuesday, March 11, 2013

Still on Africa Regional Platform for disaster reduction ADEDOYIN ADEWUMI

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he National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has a great role to play as the 5th Africa Regional Platform For Disaster Risk Reduction (AfRP) is billed to hold in May 2014 in Nigeria. The aim of the platform is to identify key priorities and commitments for an African position for a post-2015 framework for Disaster Risk Reduction(DRR). The AfRP is a joint programme of the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction and the African Union Commission, and is the primary regional mechanism to support the implementation of DRR strategies and programmes at regional, sub-regional and national levels. It also monitors their progress and facilitates coordination and information sharing between governments, sub-regional organizations and United Nations agencies.

It a gathering of stakeholders from governments, inter-government regional organizations, bilateral and multilateral donors and others all sharing a common commitment to build the resilience of African communities and nations to disaster risk and adaptation to a changing climate.

It is a common knowledge that risks and vulnerabilities are beyond

natural boundaries, hence often need to be addressed trans-boundarily. Regional platforms provide an opportunity to tackle these trans-boundary issues around disaster prevention and preparedness, provide leadership and direction and propose solutions to address disaster reduction and to build resilience of communities and nations.

DRR policies and institutional mechanisms do exist at various degree of completeness in African countries, however, their effectiveness is limited, hence the need for a strategic approach to improving and enhancing their effectiveness and efficiency by emphasizing DRR. Regional platforms for DRR are multi-stakeholder forums that reflect the commit-

ment of governments to improve coordination and implementation of DRR activities while linking to international and national efforts. Inter governmental collaboration is key to addressing DRR at a regional level and theses platforms provide a forum for all those engaged in DRR to showcase practical application for DRR, exchange experience and develop joint statements, strategies and action plans which guide decision makers and practitioners.

The 4th AfRP focused on the progress made at the national, sub-regional and regional levels in the implementation of the African Regional Strategy for DRR and its programs for Action and the Hyogo Framework for Action.

The platform also facilitated tools and mechanisms to accelerate implementation for frameworks and strategies and initiated dialogue on the post-2015 DRR framework.

Over 250 participants form over 45 countries were at the three-day meeting which focused on six areas which included strengthening DRR on regional levels; outlining achievements and challenges faced at sub-regional level ranging from policy formulation and coordination to comprehensive DRR implementation; dealt with risk identification, monitoring and early warning; highlighted initiatives undertaken and recommendations for the future and at the end, it was also able to come up with

recommendations which included integration of DRR into development and humanitarian agendas in a coordinated and multisectoral manner; situating DRR as part of the global sustainable development framework in revisiting the human development agenda; making progress in legislation and its conversion into adequately resourced programs to achieve progress like that which has been made on policy formulation; mainstreaming DRR into poverty reduction strategies and programmes; encouraging and getting as much political commitment as possible for making DRR a national priority and law and enhancing efforts to engage more with the private sector in DRR.

Cars forced into the drain by an articulated vehicle on the Lugbe on Airport Road, Abuja at the weekend. PHOTO:NAN

America supports NEMA on rapid response casualty crisis

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he United States Department of Diplomatic Security Services is partnering with the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) in the area of crisis management and response involving mass casualty figures.

To this effect, members of the team were in the Abuja Headquarters of NEMA to assess the agency’s disasters management and response, especially relating to the Boko Haram insurgency with the view to identify-

ing areas of assistance.

Nigeria Programme Manager for Department of State Office of Anti-terrorism, Gonzalez Anthony, said that the visit would afford the department and the US know how to fill in the gaps in NEMA’s responses to disasters.

“We are into engagement with NEMA in crisis management, response and how the US government can assist in bringing future training to the agency and government.

“We take what has happened in the past and we

try to build on how to adequately response to all the gaps and capabilities that are being developed within the plans that NEMA has.

“We as department and nation are here to assist in trying to fill the needs and gaps that are being identified by NEMA,” he stated.

Earlier, Director General of NEMA, Muhammad Sani-Sidi, who gave an overview of how his agency coordinates disaster management in the country, said that NEMA only provides succour to

thousands of people displaced as a result of the insurgency. He stated that the visit was in continuation of the engagement that Nigeria and NEMA have with the US government, saying that the US Embassy has helped in developing the Nigerian pandemic response plan.

“The US Embassy has been helping in so many areas. This is part of the engagement we have with the US Government and they are here in continuation of this engagement to assist us, looking at plans,

critical management and see how they can assist us looking at identifiable gaps,” Sidi stated.

The DG went further to say that NEMA has mapped out a comprehensive National Disaster Response plan in many stages to help it overcome disaster response challenges facing the country, adding that it has recently in conjunction with United States African Command (USAFRICOM) unveiled a Pandemic Disaster plan to help it face the growing challenges.

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The Albani’s case and the doubting Thomases FATIMA GONI

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ithin a week many developments occurred in a jiffy. From the arrest of the suspected killers of Islamic Cleric, Sheik Adam Albani to attacks in North-Eastern states and now to the recent warning signals from the Defence Headquarters on alleged sympathizers and backers of terrorist groups.

It is no funny especially for some of us who have relatives including spouses serving in the security agencies in the country.

When members of the security forces are deployed to the dangerous zones, we wonder if they would return in alive and in whole.

On the other hand if they are in safer zones, the fear of anticipated redeployment can run shiver in our spines.

Going through some social media, one could easily read doubting Thomases on every actions of the security personnel on the ground. Reports quoting eye-witnesses are more regarded than statements from official spokespersons.

When the Department of States Security Service (SSS) in Abuja paraded seven arrested members of ‘Boko Haram’ over the killing of popular Zaria based Islamic cleric Sheik Adam Albani, yet some postings in social media expressed too much doubts.

It could be recalled that Sheik Albani along with his wife and son were killed in Zaria, Kaduna State, while returning from a preaching session at Markaz Salafiya Centre, Tudun Wada Zaria.

The spokesperson of the SSS, Marilyn Oga, not only announced the arrest, she gave permission to journalists at the head office of the service to ask the suspects questions. From the countenances of some of the suspect one could easily read lack of remorse apart from the fact that most of them confessed to planning and killing their victims.

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Cocktail

Tuesday, March 11, 2014

Man chasing $20 bill gets stuck in drain pit

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man in Lawton, Oklahoma was walking outside when he inadvertently dropped a $20 bill. It fell down a storm drain. Because the man, who has not been identified, needed the money, he went crawling after it. That, as KSWO 7 News reports, turned out to be a big mistake.

The man, who was disoriented and dehydrated when he was finally back above ground, could not tell the police how he was able to get down into underground pipes. However they speculate it must have been via

nearby storm drains. When he got down in there he quickly discovered getting back up wouldn’t be easy.

He was as much as 12 feet below in a cramped, dark, and wet pipe, in a system only one with a map would be able to navigate.

It was only when a group of passing high schoolers were walking by that our wayward friend was helped. They heard screams coming from down below and called 911 right away. Once officers arrived on the scene, they removed a manhole cover and saw the man below.

Cookbook returned to library after more than 21 years

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ore than two decades after a cookbook was checked out of a Kansas library, it’s just now been returned.

6NewsLawrence reports a copy of “The Versatile Grain and the Elegant Bean: A Celebration of the World’s Most Healthful Foods” was placed in a

Lawrence Public Library return box one night this week. The book had been checked out on Sept. 24, 1992.

Library official Kristin Soper speculates the borrower misplaced the volume and came across it just recently. The maximum late fee in 1992 was $3; it’s now $4.50.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Oddities

Teacher forces student to eat food out of garbage

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n Canadian school food news, a teacher at École élémentaire catholique Sainte-Marie, a French Catholic school in Ontario has been “relieved of her duties” after she allegedly forced an eight-year-old girl to eat food from a garbage can. As CHCH reports, the girl’s family is not only angry about the incident itself, but the way the school immediately handled it.

This whole ordeal started when the third-grader threw an old banana into a trash can. Apparently this didn’t sit well her teacher, Renee Oettershagen. The girl’s grandmother, Ann Marie Stewart, relayed to CHCH her granddaughter’s account of what happened next, “[Oettershagen] peeled the banana with her bare hands that had been in the garbage can, broke off a piece, ate it, then instructed my granddaughter to eat the rest of the banana.”

When Ann Marie, and

the girl’s mother, Jordan Stewart, drove to the school to get answers as to why this happened, they were disappointed by the reception. Jordan told CHCH, “In walks the teacher, who said, ‘I was only trying to teach her good food values, not to waste food, and that you shouldn’t throw food into the garbage.’” Ann Ma-

rie, in what was not at all an overstatement, told the station, “It is the most bizarre, abhorrent thing I could ever think of doing to a child.”

In a meeting the next day with the school’s principal, the principal allegedly didn’t think it was too big a deal, which upset the Stewarts even more. They were

concerned over the food safety. Jordan said, “It’s been placed in a garbage bag, that I am positive has odor-eating chemicals, it is treated, let alone all the other contaminants the could have been in there – disgusting, like, Kleenexes, umm, garbage is what people throw away.

Glue, lead, paint.”

Doberman Pinschers Sky and Star appear to be pedalling a bicycle during the Pet Parade in St. Louis, recently.

PHOTO: UPI

Tuesday March 11, 2014

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

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World News “The country is not being shown for what it is”

Extensive search for missing Malaysian jet continues

EQUATORIAL GUINEA PRESIDENT, TEODORO OBIANG NGUEMA

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Pistorius vomits in court at girlfriend’s autopsy details T

rack star Oscar Pistorius, on trial for the murder of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp, wept and vomited into a bucket in a South African courtroom yesterday after hearing graphic details from her autopsy.

Pathologist Gert Saayman was interrupted several times by the 27-year-old Paralympic and Olympic athlete’s sobbing and retching but the defence team argued against an adjournment, saying a break would not improve his state of mind.

Earlier, Judge Thokozile Masipa imposed a broadcast blackout on Saayman’s testimony out of respect for Steenkamp’s family and to prevent children from accidentally hearing its contents.

“Broadcast would compromise the privacy of the deceased, hurt the interests of the Steenkamps and be against the morals of society,” Saayam said when he took the stand to ask for a temporary broadcast blackout of a trial that has so far been shown in its entirety on live television.

Masipa, who has been presiding over the week-long trial, extended the ban to live reporting on Twitter.

Olympic and Paralympic track star Oscar Pistorius reacts during a testimony at the North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria, yesterday.

PHOTO: REUTERS

Pistorius, nicknamed “Bladerunner” for the special prosthetics he wears in competition, admits he shot 29-year-old Steenkamp, a model and law graduate, but argues that it was a tragic case of mistaken identity and that he thought she was an intruder who had broken in to his luxury Pretoria home.

In his testimony, Saayman confirmed that Steenkamp was hit in the head, arm and hip by three shots fired through the locked door of a toilet cubicle. A

fourth round fired by Pistorius missed.

Saayman also disclosed Pistorius was using ‘hollow-point’ rounds, ammunition designed to disintegrate on impact with tissue to cause maximum damage.

Her right upper arm was shattered, the hip wound could well have been fatal, while that to her head would have incapacitated her immediately, he added. No blood was found in her airways, suggesting she breathed only a few times before dying.

In between bouts of sobbing and retching, Pistorius sat with his head bowed, covering his ears with his hands and a white handkerchief in an attempt to block out Saayman’s testimony.

Saayman is the first expert to testify at the trial, which has so far heard several witnesses who reported hearing a woman screaming before a volley of shots in the early hours of February 14 - Valentine’s Day - at Pistorius’ home.

South Sudanese accuse UN of arming rebels

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ore than 1,000 people have protested in South Sudan’s capital, Juba, accusing the UN of arming rebels.

On Friday, the government said its troops had intercepted weapons in a UN convoy marked as carrying food.

The UN denied the arms were destined for rebels, but acknowledged it made a mistake transporting them by road.

The UN has about 8,000 peacekeepers in South Sudan, the world’s newest state where conflict broke out in December between government and rebel forces.

In January, South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir accused the UN of running a “parallel government” in his country - a

charge it denied.

The latest incident will increase government animosity towards the UN mission in South Sudan, known as Unmiss, says Juba-based journalist Mading Ngor.

Protesters demanded the resignation of UN South Sudan special representative Hilda Johnson at the rally addressed by top government officials.

“Down Hilda Johnson. Go away,” protesters chanted.

UN spokeswoman Ariane Quentier told BBC Focus on Africa that a high-level UN team would arrive in South Sudan on Tuesday to carry out a joint investigation with the government into the incident.

The UN acknowledged that it had breached an agreement

WORLD BULLETIN ECOWAS moves to develop community institutions The inter-institutional committee responsible for planning and coordinating the strategic plans for the ECOWAS Commission and community institutions has endorsed a roadmap and the Terms Of Reference to guide the consultants that will draft the Community’s Strategic Framework(CSF) and support community Institutions and agencies in preparing their strategic plans for the the four years 2016-2020.

At the end of its meeting in Freetown on Saturday 8th March 2014, the ECOWAS Strategic Planning Coordination Committee described the CFC as “a systematic process of translating the ECOWAS vision into broadly defined goals and the steps for achieving them”.

France to increase troops in Central African Republic

At least 42 illegal African migrants drowned in the Arabian Sea off the southern coast of Yemen late on Sunday, the defence ministry said on its website.

The ministry’s September 26 website quoted a local official in Shabwa province as saying the migrants drowned off the coastal town of Bir Ali. A naval patrol managed to rescue 30 other migrants, the source said, and were taking them to a refugee camp in the town of Mayfaa.

African migrants often use unseaworthy boats to try to reach Yemen, seen as a gateway to wealthier parts of the Middle East and the West. Hundreds of migrants have died at sea.

Equatorial Guinea seeks to shake off ‘oil curse’ image

Demonstrators demanded the resignation of UN South Sudan envoy Hilda Johnson

with the government when it transported the weapons by road, rather than by air, Ms Quentier said.

A displaced South Sudanese man tunes his radio in the grounds of St Theresa’s cathedral in Juba, on 13 January 2014 Some 860,000 people have fled their homes since the start of a

conflict in December “This is a very, very regrettable mistake because it sent absolutely wrong signals,” she added.

Government troops intercepted the weapons in Rumbek, the capital of Lakes State, as they were being transported to Bentiu, the capital of Unity State, Ms Quentier said.

On land cleared of tropical forest, gleaming new office towers, apartment blocks, homes and highways dazzle the eye in Equatorial Guinea, SubSaharan Africa’s No. 3 energy producer where oil and gas revenues have fed a frenzy of construction.

But cutting away the jungle is proving easier for President Teodoro Obiang Nguema than shedding his central African nation’s dark image as a reclusive, repressive and graft-ridden poster child of the “resource curse”.

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World News

Germany rejects Snowden’s NSA claim

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ermany yesterday dismissed a claim

by NSA leaker Edward Snowden that it had bowed to U.S. demands to water down privacy rights for German citizens.

Snowden told the European Parliament in a statement published Friday that Germany was pressured to modify its legislation on wiretapping and other forms of lawful telecoms surveillance.

The former National Security Agency contractor didn’t elaborate on how the laws were changed or when, but suggested it was standard practice for the NSA to instruct friendly nations on how to “degrade the legal protections of their countries’ communications.”

Tuesday March 11, 2014

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Extensive search for missing Malaysian jet continues

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escue helicopters and ships searching for a Malaysia Airlines jet rushed yesterday to investigate a yellow object that looked like a life raft. It turned out to be moss-covered trash floating in the ocean, once again dashing hopes after more than two days of fruitless search for the plane that disappeared en route to Beijing with 239 people on board.

With no confirmation that the Boeing 777 had crashed, hundreds of distraught relatives waited anxiously for any news.

Thai police and Interpol questioned the propri-

etors of a travel agency in the resort town of Pattaya that sold one-way tickets to two men now known to have been traveling on flight MH370 using stolen passports.

There has been no indication that the two men had anything to do with the tragedy, but the use of stolen passports fuelled speculation of foul play, terrorism or a hijacking gone wrong. Malaysia has shared their details with Chinese and American intelligence agencies.

Malaysia’s police chief was quoted by local media as saying that one of the men had been identified.

Civil aviation chief Azharuddin Abdul Rahman declined to confirm this, but said they were of “non-Asian” appearance, adding that authorities were looking at the possibility the men were connected to a stolen passport syndicate.

The search operation has involved 34 aircraft and 40 ships from several countries covering a 50-nautical mile radius from the point the plane vanished from radar screens between Malaysia and Vietnam, he said.

Experts say possible causes of the apparent crash include an explo-

sion, catastrophic engine failure, terrorist attack, extreme turbulence, pilot error or even suicide.

Selamat Omar, a Malaysian whose 29-year-old son Mohamad Khairul Amri Selamat was a passenger on the flight, expected a call from him at the 6.30 a.m. arrival time. Instead he got a call from the airline saying the plane was missing.

“We accept God’s will.

Whether he is found alive or dead, we surrender to Allah,” Selamat said.

There have been a few glimmers of hope, but so far no trace of the plane has been found.

On Sunday afternoon, a Vietnamese plane spotted a rectangular object that was thought to be one of the missing plane’s doors, but ships working through the night could not locate it.

Then on Monday, a Singaporean search plane spotted a yellow object some 140 kilometres (87 miles) southwest of Tho Chu island, but it turned out to be some sea trash.

Malaysian maritime officials found some oil slicks in the South China Sea and sent a sample to a lab to see if it came from the plane.

Tests showed that the oil was not from an aircraft, Azharuddin said.

Saudi slams Iraqi PM terror accusations

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audi Arabia slammed as “aggressive and irresponsible” yesterday accusations by Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki that the kingdom was supporting global terrorism.

“The kingdom condemns the aggressive and irresponsible statements made by the Iraqi prime minister,” an unidentified official told the state SPA news agency.

In an interview aired on Saturday, Maliki charged that Saudi Arabia and neighbouring Qatar were supporting militant groups in Iraq and across the Middle East as well as terrorism worldwide.

Israel displays rockets seized in Red Sea raid

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srael’s prime minister yesterday triumphantly toured a display of dozens of rockets that navy commandoes intercepted on the Red Sea last week, allegedly on their way from Iran to the Gaza Strip, and angrily accused the international community of ignoring Iranian support for militant groups while falling victim to an outreach campaign by the new leadership in Tehran.

The Malaysia Airlines Boeing 777-200ER that disappeared from air traffic control screens Saturday, taking off from Roissy-Charles de Gaulle Airport in France, Dec. 26, 2011.

Shots fired in air during raid at Crimea naval base

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nidentified armed men fired in the air as they moved into a Ukrainian naval post in Crimea yesterday in the latest confrontation since Russian military groups seized control of the Black

Sea peninsula.

With diplomacy at a standstill, Russia said the United States had spurned an invitation to hold new talks on resolving the crisis, the worst East-West standoff since the Cold

A boy taking picture of military personnel, believed to be Russian servicemen, standing outside the territory of a Ukrainian military unit in the village of Perevalnoye outside Simferopol, recently. Photo: Reuters

War. Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseny Yatseniuk, who said he would address the U.N. Security Council on Thursday, put the blame for the crisis on Russia and accused Moscow of undermining the global security system by taking control of Crimea.

Russian forces have in little more than a week taken over military installations across Crimea, home to the Russian Black Sea Fleet and Russian territory until Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev gave it to Ukraine in 1954.

Pro-Russian separatists have taken control of the regional parliament, declared Crimea part of the

Russian Federation and announced a referendum for Sunday to confirm this.

President Vladimir Putin says Moscow is acting to protect the rights of ethnic Russians, who make up a majority of Crimea’s population, after Ukraine’s president Viktor Yanukovich was ousted in what Russia says was an unconstitutional coup.

On Monday, a group of about 10 unidentified armed men fired in the air at a Ukrainian naval post in Crimea, a Ukrainian defence spokesman was quoted as saying.

Ukraine’s Channel 5 television quoted Vladislav Seleznyov as saying the shooting took place at a

motor pool base near Bakhchisaray. The men in two minibuses drove into the compound and demanded Ukrainian personnel there give them 10 trucks.

Earlier, Interfax Ukraine news agency quoted an unnamed Ukrainian official describing the men as Russian troops and saying that none of the Ukrainians at the site was injured.

Russian forces, who have been in control of Crimea for more than a week, have not so far exchanged fire in anger with Ukrainian troops. Shots were fired over the heads of a group of Ukrainians during a standoff at a military airfield last week.

Tuesday, March 11, 2014

Recuperating George thanks Nigerians

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National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

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Sport

I am hoping on at least one African nation making it to the semi-finals in Brazil 2014 –SAFA President, Danny Jordaan

W/Cup: Keshi admits selection headache

Super Eagles’ midfielder, Mikel Obi (right) tussling with a Mexico player during their friendly match U.S.A last week.

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uper Eagles’ coach, Stephen Keshi, has admitted that he faces a selection headache ahead of the World Cup in Brazil, but adds he is happy it is so.

“It’s going to be very difficult because Nigeria is blessed with a lot of good players,” said Keshi.

“I just pray we pick the right players because even the new ones are pushing hard for a place. It’s a good development for us, but it would give us serious headache to pick the right squad for the country, but that is what we want that we have options,” he told MTNFootball.com Keshi has kept faith with the core of the team who won a third Africa Cup of Nations in South Africa last year, but several others outside this group have been pushing for consideration recently.

The Eagles capped four players, namely Leon Balogun, Ramon Azeez, Michael Uchebo and Imoh Ezekiel, in last week’s friendly against Mexico.

And the likes of Victor Anichebe and Osaze Odemwingie could well earn a recall, while debate lingers on as regards Villarreal striker, Ike Uche, who Keshi has said is not in his plans for Brazil.

…NFF plans to spend $11m

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he Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) plans to spend N2billion (more than $11million) for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, officials have announced.

General Secretary of the NFF, Musa Amadu, said this while defending the federation’s 2014 budget at the House of Representatives Committee on Sports session.

He said, “We expect that N1.2bn will come from government, while the football house will source the balance of the money to ensure a smooth outing for the Super Eagles at Brazil 2014.”

The total expenditure has been put down to N2,084,053,765 with N1,254,164,329 coming from government, while the balance of this amount will come from sponsors and fund raising events.

The money will cover cost of a training camp in Houston, Texas, USA, as well as bonuses and allowances of the team.

Nigeria is drawn against Argentina, Iran and Bosnia-Herzegovina in the first round of the 2014 World Cup, which kicks off in Brazil on June 12.

Enyeama rattles Dangote into action

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frica’s wealthiest businessman, Aliko Dangote, is set to fulfil his promise to reward Nigeria’s senior national team with $1m for winning the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations. ns.

After er a public appeal yesterday terday by Super Eagles captain, Vincent Enyeama, a, it seems Dangote iss about t o come good.

He told BBC Sport, port, “We’ve been waiting aiting for Nigerian officials icials to collect the money, ney, but nobody has written ten to us.

“We will write to them, asking sking for the ac-

count numbers of the players, then we’ll make the transfer immediately.”

Dangote added that “the money was promised through the presidency (during a state dinner last February)” and he had been waiting to be approached about the pledge.

Enyeama

But Nigerian economist and banker, Tony Elumelu’s promise of $500,000 for the Super Eagle’s Nations Cup success in South Africa remains outstanding.

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Sports

Tuesday March 11, 2014

Bayern wary of Gunners’ threat

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National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

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layers and coaching crew of Bayern Munich is heeding the lesson learned from losing to Arsenal at home in the last 16 last season, when only away goals ensured progress before it went on to win the title, knowing another 2-0 loss at the Allianz Arena would level the aggregate score.

“If we let Arsenal have the ball, we’ll have big, big problems,” Bayern Coach, Pep Guardiola, who otherwise has little to worry about, said yesterday.

Guardiola, however, has a full squad to choose from for last weekend’s 6-1 rout at Wolfsburg. Defender Holger Badstuber was among the 20 players that ensured the win after recovering from tearing

the cruciate ligament in his right knee.

The win was Bayern’s 16th in a row, setting a new record in the Bundesliga, where the side is undefeated in 49 games.

In inspiring Arsenal to a 4-1 win over Everton in the FA Cup quarter-finals on Saturday, a Germany playmaker Mesut Ozil returned to the kind of form that persuaded the Gunners to break their club record to sign him from Real Madrid in the summer.

“This is not a match that we can gamble with because Arsenal are not a side that surrenders easily especially at this level,” Guardiola added, stressing, “Suffices it to just say we are completely on guard.”

Atletico banks on Costa

tletico Madrid will have two reasons to feel good about its chances to advance past AC Milan on Tuesday.

First, leading scorer Diego Costa has been well rested after missing Saturday’s Spanish league win at Celta Vigo due to a onegame suspension. Costa scored the winner in Atletico’s 1-0 first-leg victory at

Milan.

Second, David Villa has found his scoring touch after firing home two well-taken goals with Diego Costa unavailable over the weekend in Atletico’s 2-0 victory in Vigo that kept te side in the Spanish title chase.

Coach Diego Simeone may opt to return to aligning both strikers as he did earlier in the season after not playing Villa in the first leg in Italy or in a recent derby against Real Madrid.

“We can’t afford top rest on our oars, especially after the

slim victory at Milan,” Simeone said yesterday, but added: “We are battle ready for Milan who are now like wounded lions.”

Meanwhile, Milan has lost its last two Serie A matches but has Mario Balotelli back from a shoulder injury that has sidelined him since the first leg three weeks ago.

“I am charged for this game,” the Italy international said yesterday.

I think we can take something positive out of it to put us firmly back in the race to the wire,” the forward added.

Heineken ‘Match Your Half Ticket’ winners land in Allianz AFOLABI GAMBARI

Today’s fixtures Atletico vs AC Milan Bayern vs Arsenal

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ive lucky Nigerians who recently won the Heineken ‘Match Your Half Ticket’ raffle have arrived in Munich where they will watch the Champions League second leg Round of 16 match between Bayern Munich and Arsenal at the Allianz Arena tonight.

The quintet, Olawale Ajadi, Ejike Emmanuel, Nonso Oguama, Onimisi Anibaba and Chimezie Onwumer, had emerged winners among thousands of participants in the promotion organised by the sponsor which was held during the group stage of the ongoing Champions League.

Interestingly, it will be the

second time that Heineken consumers will enjoy an all-expense paid trip to same stadium for a UEFA Champions League match after another quintet watched Chelsea triumph over Bayern in the final in May 2012.

“This is once in a life time opportunity that Heineken has offered the consumers,” Senior Brand Manager, Heineken, Ngozi Nkwoji, said yesterday.

Of the five winners, however, only Emmanuel, Oguma and Anibaba are Arsenal fans.

“This all seems as a dream and I can’t wait to have it fulfilled on Tuesday (today),” Emmanuel said before the team departed Lagos yesterday, adding, “Win or lose, I will accept any result.”

Oguma was optimistic that Arsenal would prevail over Bayern in the tricky game.

“We scored two goals there last season and we can repeat same feat against them on Tuesday,” he reckoned.

Anibaba, who is a staunch Chelsea fan, said he would be content with being at the Arena where his club achieved Euro glory in 2012.

“I am glad to be opportune to be at the same venue, courtesy of Heineken International,” he relished.

The promotion commenced in September last year when the group stage matches of the UEFA Champions and consumers at selected bars across the country participated in the exercise.

“More excitement awaits visitors that will come to the Heineken House in Lagos to see the Barcelona versus Manchester City game in Camp Nou,” the brand manager further said.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Sports

Tuesday March 11, 2014

Eagles’ll excel in Brazil –Elegbeleye WOLE OLADIMEJI ABUJA

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irector General of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Hon. Gbenga Elegbeleye, yesterday assured Nigerians that the Super Eagles would advance beyond the first round at the World Cup in Brazil, the team’s highest qualification since its debut in 1994.

Egbeleye, who made the prediction in Abuja after the 2013 budget appraisal/2014 budget defence before the House of Representatives Committee on Sports, said his assertion was due to the timely release of funds and early preparations.

“For every competition that Nigeria participates in, we should go there and win laurels,” the NSC chief said.

“We are good to go

for the World Cup because we have a president who is listening.

May I appeal for timely release of funds, so that we can prepare for our competitions and have enough time for camping with a view to winning the desired medals.”

The NSC has a total allocation of N5, 546, 009, 100 for 2014 from which N2, 418, 069, 776 is voted for sporting activities.

Niger set for Para-Soccer PRISCILLA DENNIS MINNA

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Elegbeleye

DSS defeat annoying –Kogi coach AFOLABI GAMBARI

K Coach Osho

ogi United Coach, Fatai Osho, yesterday fumed at the defeat conceded by his team to DSS FC Kaduna on Saturday, saying a draw would have been a fair result.

He added that the dream to get to premier league is still alive for his team with hope of getting away re-

sults.

“We have been coming so close, yet losing narrowly and this is not good for us as an ambitious side,” Osho told National Mirror.

The youthful coach, however, blamed the bad pitch for the loss, but said his team’s ambition was on course.

“You cannot get a good football from this type of pitch,” he reckoned, adding, “Nonetheless, we still believe in ourselves

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to get things right soon and get victories on away grounds.”

A bizarre second half goal conceded by Kogi United FC resulted to the side’s second consecutive loss in Week 5 of the Nigeria National League, although poor officiating also robbed the Wada Boys of a possible upset against the Kaduna club.

Kogi United sits on six points and will host Mighty Jets in Lokoja this week.

he Para-Soccer Federation of Nigeria (PSFN) has approved the hosting of 1st North-Central Para-Soccer Championship in Minna, Niger State.

National Mirror learnt yesterday that seven states within the region have so far indicated the desire to participate in the event slated for March 12 to 16.

Coordinator of the PFN’s North Central Zone, Mallam Suleiman Isah, said the players and officials would partake in a technical session before kick-off.

“We want to educate them on modern rules of the game and we expect to bring the best players out of the competition as the region has produced quality players that represented Nigeria in the last four nation tourney staged in Lagos,” Isah said.

The coordinator, who is also head of media commission of the PFN, thanked the federation for giving Niger the hosting right in conjunction with the zonal office 1 and 11 of the National Sports Commission.

“We also commend the state government for rehabilitating the handball complex for the tournament,” he added.

De Grace wins Awo Cup AFOLABI GAMBARI

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he maiden annual Obafemi Awolowo U-10 Kid Cup has been won by De Grace Football Club in a final played at the Campos Mini Stadium, Lagos after the side defeated Greater Tomorrow 4-3

through penalty shoot-out.

De Grace thrilled the dignitaries that include former Governor of Ogun State, Chief Olusegun Osoba; former Deputy of Lagos State, Mrs. Sinatu Aderoju Ojikutu; Senator Bode Olajumoke, founder of Odua People’s Congress, Chief Gani Adams and sports philanthropist, Chief Kessington Adebutu.

The encounter had ended 3-3 in regulation time before De Grace showed class in the shoot-out to get N250, 000 for its effort. Runner-up Greater Tomorrow received N150, 000 while Ajah FC who beat Adeomo FC 2-1 in the thirdplace match also got N100, 000.

The tournament, floated

by Obafemi Awolowo Foun-

Dr. Tokunbo Awolowo-Dosumu (left) and Dr. Bode Olajumoke presenting the maiden Awolowo U-10 Kids Cup trophy to captain of De Grace FC at the final of the competition in Lagos, last weekend

dation and organised by National Youth Soccer Association, was staged to commemorate the late sage who passed on in 1987 and would have been 105 years on March 6, 2015.

Chief Osoba expressed delight at the kids’ display, saying they represented the aspiration of late Awolowo who believed in grassroots sports development.

“I am impressed with the manner the kids have conducted themselves,” Osoba said.

Executive Director, Obafemi Awolowo Foundation, Dr. Tokunbo Awolowo-Dosunmu, said the tournament was manifest of the late politician’s presence in the people’s minds in view of the notable figures that graced the occasion.

“Nothing best demonstrates a life well-spent,” the foundation chief said.

Governor Aliyu

Honeywell on sports

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oneywell Flour Mills Plc, maker of Honeywell noodles, has reiterated its ambition to sponsor sporting events and other laudable programmes.

The company sponsored the maiden Obafemi Awolowo U-10 Memorial Kids Cup which ended at the Campos Mini Stadium, Lagos to mark the 105 years post-humous birthday of the late political icon.

Executive Director, Marketing, Mr. Benson Evbuomwan, said the company had identified with grassroots development in sports.

“We support good causes, especially the ones that have to do with children,” Evbuomwan said.

“When we received the request from the Obafemi Awolowo Foundation to sponsor the kids’ cup, knowing the value that the late sage stood for, we promptly agreed to be part of it.

“We will try to support any good cause within available resources, while helping the kids in sports and academics.

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Sports

Tuesday March 11, 2014

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

SOPOT 2014 fallout…

Recuperating George thanks Nigerians

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uarter-miler, Regina George, has thanked Nigerians for their goodwill messages and support for her.

George, who was tipped by many athletics buffs to win the 400m title at the just concluded Sopot 2014 IAAF World Indoor Championship based on her glowing performances in the indoor circuit between January and February, pulled out of the semi-final due to cramps.

When the championship started, George showed the world she was the woman to beat for the 400m title after winning her heat with little effort running a 51.60, the fastest time in all the heats.

After the heats she suffered cramps which ruled her out of the semi-final.

“I thank Nigerians for their support and I also thank my mates and all the officials, especially our president Evangelist Solomon Ogba,” she said.

“I was determined to do well

in my individual event and help my teammates so that we could also win medal in the relay.

“After my heats, I felt normal. But when I got to the hotel I started feeling some pains. I immediately contacted the doctor and was advised to rest and seek adequate medical attention.

“I heeded the advice because I know this championship is just part of our build-up to the Commonwealth Games and I would not like to jeopardize my dream of competing and hopefully winning medals at the Games.

“It is real painful not running in the finals, but it is one of those things. My ultimate dream this season is the Commonwealth Games and the African Championship.”

George’s travail had upset athletics fans and journalists who tipped her to win the ultimate prize.

Regina gina George

Mozia ‘at home’ in camp

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eam Nigeria’s American-born shot put thrower, Stephen Mozia, is loving every minute in the green-whitegreen colour of Nigeria and his failure to reach the final in his first major championship has not dampened his enthusiasm.

“I have always wanted to wear the colour

of Nigeria, my fatherland, d, and I stared taking concrete steps to represent resent Nigeria last year,” he said on sunday.

“I discussed with my coach, oach, (Megan Johnson) and she said ‘why not’. t’. She encouraged me a lot and is one of the pillars behind my dream coming true. We met Gabriel Opuanna and the rest, as they say ay, is history. I am so happy and excited thatt my dream to represent Nigeria has been realised,” ealised,” he added.

Although tipped by many ny to at least make the final in his first majorr competition, Mozia’s mark of 18.91 fellway behind his national record of 20.79 set last month in the United States. If he had achieved ieved his national record mark, he would have ve been the second qualifier after German David Strol whose mark of 21.24 led the field d in the qualifying

round.

Mozia did achieve the mark that would have qualified him with last throw, but in the process of gaining his balance; he fouled leading to the throw not being counted.

“I have put the disappointed behind me now and I am focused on making the Commonwealth Games team,” he said.

“I am looking forward to coming to Nigeria for the AFN/CRS All Nigeria Athletics Championships. It’s been a long time since I have been to Nigeria and can’t wait to return on the way to winning lots of medals for Nigeria.”

Akwu, others target redress T

Akwu

eam Nigeria’s 4x400m men quartet of Noah Akwu, Tobi bi Ogunmola, Isah Saliu and Amaechi aechi Morton, who set a new African record of 3:07.95 in the 4x400m Indoor at the Sopot 2014 IAAF World Championships, ships, have promised to overcome the disappointment of not making the e final by working hard ahead of Commonwealth Games and the Africa Championships.

Ogunmola, who ran the he first leg for Nigeria, blamed amed their recall after they had d gone for more than 100m in the first st race for destabilising him.

“The race went fine until we were

r e due n i

called to techcal failure,” he said.

“At the time they asked us to start the race, we had not rested very well. But am happy we set a new Africa record in the indoor and we also beat Bahamas.

“This is our first race together this year and if our program is followed religiously, we will be in top shape for the Commonwealth Games.”

Mozia

Akwu, who ran his first race of the year in Sopot, also said: “It is an opener for all of us; I never believe we could run as fast as we did because we have not run together in a long time.

“Now we know we can do well at the Commonwealth and African Championships, all we need is to race together and get more bounding.”

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

North

Tuesday, March 11, 2014

Alakyo violence: Senator, five others indicted for financing Ombatse •Panel recommends suspects for investigation IGBAWASE UKUMBA LAFIA

T

he Judicial Commission of Inquiry looking into the killings of security personnel in Nasarawa State has indicted the Senator representing Nasarawa North, Slomon Ewuga, and five others for financing, supporting and promoting the outlawed Ombatse militia.

A member representing Lafia/Obi Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Hon. Haruna Joseph Kigbu, was among those indicted by the commission.

Governor Umaru Tanko Al-Makura had constituted the judicial commission of inquiry following the incident of May 7, 2013 at Alakyo village in Lafia Local Government Area where many security agents were killed by suspected members of a militia group.

Chairman of the commission, Justice Joseph Fola Gbadeyan (rtd), presented the commission’s report to Al-Makura at the Government House in Lafia last week.

Justice Gbadeyan, however, stated that the 534 persons killed during

the violence excluded the 143 individuals reported killed of which no evidence of their killing was available to the commission.

The commission said it “has a high and reasonable suspicion that those persons mentioned are the financiers, promoters and supporters of the outlawed Ombatse, hence there is the need for further investigations on their precise role in the affairs of the Ombatse.”

Justice Gbadeyan said: “The commission notes with deep regret the unfortunate roles played by

the Eggon Traditional Council and its elders in the tacit support of the activities of the outlawed Ombatse group.

“Ordinarily, the commission would have recommended the outright sanction of the Council.

However, the commission strongly recommends the formal admonition and reprimand of the Council and its elders in the interim for their moral failure to call the Ombatse and such affiliated Eggon groups to order when they exceeded the bounds of reason.”

55

Confab: Delegates asked to promote national interest PRISCILLA DENNIS MINNA

T

he Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Governor’s Forum has urged delegates to the forthcoming National Conference to put the nation’s interest above other things.

In a communiqué read by the Forum’s Chairman, Chief Godswill Akpabio, after their 3rd meeting in Minna, the governors expressed joy at the zeal shown by Nigerians for the conference.

They condemned the recent killing of students in Yobe State by the Boko Haram insurgents and other wanton killing in the country.

The governors also

sympathised with the victims’ families.

Commending efforts by security agencies in fighting the insurgents, the Forum urged them to work out new strategies to tackle the insurgents completely.

The Forum congratulated President Goodluck Jonathan on the successful hosting of the centenary celebration and Nigerians for attaining 100 years of togetherness as a people and country.

They also congratulated the President, the PDP National Chairman and other keys officials and members of the party on the success recorded in the unity rallies in Sokoto, Owerri, Ilorin, Katsina and Minna.

Terrorism: Yobe spends N6bn on Army’s logistics INUSA NDAHI DAMATURU

T

L-R: Deputy General Secretary, National Union of Textile Garment and Tailoring Workers of Nigeria, Mr. Sylvester Chimeze; General Secretary, Mr. Issa Aremu and National Treasurer, Mr. John Adaji, during a news conference over the closure of Federal Government Colleges in the North-East due to security situation, in Kaduna, yesterday.

PHOTO: NAN

Ex-members return to PDP as Jonathan visits Kaduna today A ZA MSUE KADUNA

A

s President Goodluck Jonathan visits Kaduna State today for the North-West rally of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), some of the former members of the party have returned to it.

A PDP chieftain, Hon. Mohammed Saleh Annur, told journalists yesterday in Kaduna that many of those who earlier dumped the party had indicated their readiness to return to it.

Annur said: “Many of those who left the party recently did so as result of some internal problems.

Now that we have a new leadership at the national level, the party is becoming stronger and our supporters and those that defected to other party have now realised that PDP is the only party that guarantees them democracy and freedom.

“I want to assure that there are many top members of our great party that left few months ago, but because they are now satisfied with the leadership of the party, they are ready to come back and they have told some of us that they are returning home to PDP.” He, however, hailed Kaduna State Governor Mukhtar Ramalan Yero for

keeping the party as one family because.

Annur said: “The governor has succeeded in keeping the party as one entity because he listens to all shades of opinions and he is always fair to all in carrying out decisions. That is why the PDP in Kaduna has remained strong and solid.”

Meanwhile, preparations for the arrival of Jonathan have reached top gear as thousands of the PDP supporters are already in Kaduna to receive him.

Our correspondent, who went round Kaduna, noted most hotels in Kaduna were fully booked while the commercial activities in the

city peaked as result of influx of the party’s supporters for the North-West rally.

he Yobe State Government has spent over N6 billion on logistics to support the Army and other security agencies in the fight against Boko Haram insurgency in the last 27 months.

The gesture was aimed at protecting people’s lives and property against terrorism, Governor Ibrahim Gaidam said.

Gaidam stated this in a statement signed by his Special Adviser on Public Affairs and Information, Abdullahi Bego, in Damaturu, the state capital.

The governor said that since the insurgents’ deadly onslaught of November 4, 2011 on Damaturu, the increasing security cost had eroded the state’s meagre

resources from monthly Federation Accounts allocations.

The statement reads: “Yobe State does not have control over the Army and the intelligent services, but we work together to provide them with whatever logistic support they need. Till date, we continue to spend a lot of money to ensure we provide that kind of support in terms of operational equipment like Hilux vans and other military gears.”

Gaidam, however, urged the Federal Government to increase its troops to Yobe and other states ravaged by terrorism.

He said: “Our request for more troops to this state was necessitated because of the increasing rates of violence in the three affected states of the North-East.”

Borno replaces torched health centres with EMR units INUSA NDAHI MAIDUGURI

T

he Borno State Government said that the 23 primary healthcare centres recently destroyed by the Boko Haram terrorists in seven local government areas have been replaced with Emergency Medical Response (EMR) units to deliver healthcare services to the people.

The EMR, according to the Ministry of Health au-

thorities, comprise ambulances equipped with medical facilities and accessories to save life and treatments of emergency cases.

Speaking yesterday in Maiduguri, the state Commissioner for Health, Dr. Salma Anas Kolo, said that the destruction of health centres would not stop the government from providing robust governance to the people.

She said: “Even though four of our health officers

were killed by the insurgents, we are determined with the support and commitments of our governor, Alhaji Kashim Shettima, to provide all healthcare delivery services, including free medicare for children below the age of five and pregnant women in urban and rural areas.”

The commissioner said the seven local governments attacked by the terrorists had been provided with equipped EMR 24-hour ambulance services.

WORLD RECORD

Most Emmy Award wins by a game show producer Vol. 04 No. 805

N150

Tuesday, March 11, 2014

The most Emmy Award wins by a game show producer is 11 and was achieved by Harry Friedman (USA), the Executive Producer for the TV shows Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy! as of 15 March 2013.

The context of Caracazo and Nigerian reality

C

ertain events in history remain epochal for many countries of the world. One of such was the Caracazo, which sadly erupted on February 27, 1989 in Venezuela. It was an event that shook not only Venezuela and Latin American, but also the rest of the world. The event is significant for two reasons.

First, it came to be a revolutionary turning point in Venezuelan history, which did not only expose the destructive tendencies of neo-liberalism, whose consequence fostered the rise of the current Bolivarian regime, but also sparked up an emerging populist-leftist movement across Latin America. Second, the Caracazo inadvertently but steadily weakened the American hegemony that had taken centre-stage over the region for decades, leading to the

W

orld number one, Tiger Woods, yesterday admitted that he was happy to put the WGC-Cadillac Championship behind him after struggling at Doral on Sunday with a back problem which forced to him to pull out of the final round of the Honda Classic

Guest

Raheem

Columnist

Oluwafunminiyi

emergence of populist leaders and the sudden political awakening of the rural-urban poor. The Caracazo, however goes beyond this reality.

The word ‘Caracazo’ comes from the name of Caracas, the capital city of Venezuela, where a brutal repression against demonstrators had created a strong wave of protests challenging the imposition of International Monetary Fund (IMF) reforms with attendant socio-economic consequences, and looting on February 27, 1989, took place. The demonstration, which began in Guarenas (a town in Miranda State near to the capital) and spread to Caracas, led to riots and burning after it appeared the IMFinduced reform had led to increase in bus fares and shortage of basic needs.

What made the Caracazo so remarkable is the fact that it captured the mood of a people desperately in need of institutional reform, especially at a time of socio-political and economic decline in Venezuela. This mood became tensed when Carlos Andres Perez, who had once ruled Venezuela amidst a massive oil boom in the 70s with commensurate people-centred programme, became president once more in early February of 1989. His campaign was marked with vituperations against the IMF, which he had demonized as a “bomb that only kills people.”

With this, one would have thought Perez administration would follow on the promise to institute reforms and help stem the worsening socio-economic crisis that had characterised Venezuelan life since the early 80s. Things, however, took a dramatic turn. According to George

THE AFTERMATH OF THE CARACAZO LED TO A CHAIN OF EVENTS IN

VENEZUELA

Ciccariello-Maher, Mr Perez who had attacked international lending institutions and preached debtor-nation solidarity suddenly turned a notorious example of a “bait-and-switch” by instituting a programme of free-market reforms following the recommendations of the IMF. Simply called the Economic Package, its aims were to privatize state companies, eliminate subsidies and the state’s protection over private companies, and promote decentralization among other IMF-induced reforms.

Among the first measures taken was an increase in fuel prices, which as a consequence, led to increase in bus fare. The situation became even more dramatic when many workers woke up to discover bus fares had skyrocketed to as high as 100 per cent. University students who had enjoyed transport subsidies also woke up to the rude shock of an increase. The high prices of cheap food, other basic items and daily needs became unbearable to the mass of the poor who relied on these basics for their survival. The news of the increase quickly spread, leading to demonstrations in the capital, Caracas and other cities in Venezuela. The demonstrations eventually turned into mass riots and led to massive looting and burn-

ing of shops, supermarkets, bodegas and stores for the most critical needs – food and clothes. The looting became more massive and organized towards the night hours such that Caracas alone descended into a state of anarchy.

Faced with a dire situation, Mr Perez quickly suspended constitutional guarantees, established a state of emergency and imposed a curfew with those violating it harshly punished. This event alone marked the beginning of a massive and brutal state repression against the population, which Fernando Coronil and Julie Skurski had observed was “by far the most massive and severely repressed riot in the history of Latin America.” For three days, between the 27th of February when the riot started and March 1, 1989 when it had withered, several costly damages had been done in both human and material terms. The massive over-reaction of the armed forces and brutal repression left about 300 dead even though it was believed twice that number had cruelly been killed.

The aftermath of the Caracazo led to a chain of events in Venezuela. Two military coups in 1992, one led by Hugo Chavez and the other by disgruntled military officers, though they both failed, almost plunged the country into further chaos. Mr. Perez was eventually impeached on corruption charges and placed under house arrest in 1993. The Caracazo not only led to the collapse of the Punto Fijo pact and all its contradictions within the Venezuela political system, it played a crucial role in advancing the idea that Venezuelans needed to be removed from being hewers of wood and drawers of water in a country with vast reserves of oil wealth.

There is no doubt that the Caracazo led to the emergence of the Bolivarian movement in 1998 whose impact had witnessed quite an impressive number of transformational structures in Venezuela. The massive oil spending on social welfare programs called Missions have not only removed more than half of poor Venezuelans from acute poverty but also given them a voice and role to play in their country.

The memory of the Caracazo truly lives on!

Raheem Oluwafunminiyi wrote via creativitysells@gmail.com.

Sport Extra

Golf: Woods succumbs to injury woe last week.

Woods now heads into the year’s first major next month with fears over his fitness after his back problems flared up again on the sixth following an awkward shot out of the bunker.

“It is back spasms, so we’ve done all the protocols and it’s just a matter of keeping everything aligned so I don’t go into that,” he said.

“It’s basically started on six, the second shot out of the bunker,

my foot was out of the bunker.

“I still can make some good swings and shoot a good score but if I feel like this, it would be a little tough.

“I will just see if I can keep the spasms at bay.”

Woods

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