Tuesday, January 29, 2013 by GLOBAL MEDIA MIRROR LIMITED

Consumers groan as electricity bills rise astronomically Protests in Kwara over PHCN ‘crazy bills’

UDEME AKPAN AND WOLE ADEDEJI Amadi

Vol. 31 N0. 545 115

lectricity consumers are now faced with rising and unexplained bills even as power supply is

yet to improve substantially despite claims of increased generation in the past few months. CONTINUED ON PAGE 5>>

$67bn reserves:

Maku’s response careless –EzekwesiliP.6

Tuesday, Tuesday,June January 7, 2011 29, 2013

N150 N150

Court jails director over N33bn pension scam …sentenced to two years imprisonment EFCC kicks as convict pays N750,000 fine, walks free

EMMANUEL ONANI ABUJA

Federal Capital Territory, FCT, High Court yesterday sentenced an Assistant Director with the Police Pension Board, John Yakubu Yusuf to a prison term of two years with an option of N750,000 as fine for the three-count charge of

conspiracy and stealing of N32.8bn from the police pension funds. Trial judge, Justice Mohammed Talba, also ordered Yusuf to forfeit the sum of N325m and real properties to the Federal Government. According to the judge, “The convict has actually assisted the court by con-

POLICE ARREST FIVE FOR CURRENCY COUNTERFEITING

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S’Africa 2013:

Nigeria in makeor-break tie with Ethiopia P.27

Keshi

2015: Ex-militants bow to Presidency’s pressure P.4

Asari-Dokubo

Fake currencies recovered from counterfeiters on display at the Lagos State Police Command headquarters, Ikeja, Lagos, yesterday.

Boko Haram backs down, agrees to ceasefire Three JTF operatives killed in Borno attack

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Army redeploys 317 senior officers

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News

Tuesday, January 29, 2013

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Boko Haram backs down, agrees to ceasefire INUSA NDAHI MAIDUGURI

fter negotiating a peace deal with the government, members of the Jama’atul Ahalis Sunna Lida’awati Wal Jihad, otherwise known as Boko Haram, yesterday agreed to lay down their arms. The deadly Islamic sect has been terrorising some states in the North, particularly Borno, for some years now. The agreement was reached after a group suspected to be members of the sect claimed to have had a closed door meeting with the Borno State Governor, Alhaji Kashim Shettima, top government officials and religious leaders from the state. Borno State government confirmed the development. Briefing journalists after the said meeting, the selfproclaimed Commander in-charge of northern and southern Borno, Sheikh Abu Mohammad Abdulazeez Ibn Idris, who spoke in Hausa, said after due consultation with the leader of the sect, Shiekh Abubakar Shekau, “as well as intervention and pleading from respectful individuals and groups in the state,” they had agreed to a ceasefire. He however insisted that government should immediately release all their members from custody un-

conditionally; rebuild their places of worship and compensate them. Idris noted that during the lingering insurgency, many Muslim women and children had suffered, adding that they had decided to lay down their arms for peace to reign in Borno State and the country. “Henceforth, I am appealing and calling on all our members through this medium to lay down their arms till further notice,” he said. On the wanton killings, especially the slaughtering of eight people in Gajigana town of Magumeri Council of Borno State on Sunday and burning of public buildings, the commander disassociated Boko Haram sect from the acts, saying that “these atrocities are committed by criminals who are hiding under the guise of Boko Haram.” The transcription of Idris address reads: “I am Sheikh Muhammed Abdulazeez Ibn Idris, the 2nd Commander in charge of southern and northern Borno after Imam Abubakar Shekau of Jamaatul Ahjlil Sunna lidawati wal Jihad, otherwise known as Boko Haram. “For some time now, we, the members of the group, recently had a meeting and dialogue with the Borno State government where we resolved that, given the prevailing situation, there is the need for us to ceasefire.

“We, on our own, in the top hierarchy of our movement under the leadership of Imam Abubakar Shekau, as well as some of our notable followers, agreed that our brethren in Islam, both women and children, are suffering unnecessarily; hence we resolved that we should bring this crisis to an end. “We, therefore, call on all those that identify themselves with us and our cause to as from today lay down their arms. Let every member who hears this announcement relay it to the next member who hasn’t heard. “We have met with the Borno State government on two occasions and the

fallout of the meeting is to ceasefire. “Presently, we are going to comply with the order and by the time we are done with that, security agencies can go ahead to arrest whoever they find carrying arms or killing under our name. “We are very much aware of the fact that some criminals have infiltrated our movement, attacking and killing people using our name. “We have also told the government to try to live up to our demands that our members in detention should be released. “We hope the government will not betray us this time, because we all know

that it was because of the continued detention of our members that this crisis continued for this long. “And if government fails to do as it now promised, then this conflict will never have an end. “Of course, there is a faction within us, but the larger faction of our movement is the one in support of this ceasefire moves. But once top members of our group, including Imam Abubakar Shekau, are in support of the ceasefire, other smaller factions can be dealt with easily. “This message, by the Grace of Allah, comes directly from the office of Imam Abubakar Shekau, the supreme leader of Ja-

maatul ahlil Sunna lidawati wal Jihad.” The state Commissioner for Information, Culture and Home Affairs, Inuwa Bwala, confirmed the development. He said: “It is to us a healthy development. We have always insisted that dialogue is the best approach to crisis situations. We are happy that we have extracted a ceasefire through the intervention of some wellmeaning Nigerians. “We thank God and all those involved in getting us to a roundtable. It is a step further in our quest to ‘nirvana’. Our doors remain open for dialogue with any aggrieved group or individCONTINUED ON PAGE 49>>

L-R: Minister of Health, Onyebuchi Chukwu; President, People’s Republic of China, Mr. Hu Jintao; Minister of National Planning Commission, Dr. Shamsuddeen Usman and Vice-President Namadi Sambo, during the commissioning of Federal Staff Hospital, Jabi, Abuja, yesterday.

Court jails director over N33bn pension scam CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

fessing to have taken N3bn as his share from the stolen N32.8bn leading to this summary trial. “This shows that the convict has a measure of virtue left in him. The court has in this regard found him guilty as charged. “John Yusuf, an Assistant Director with the Police Pension Board, being an accused arraigned in this court over N32.8bn theft of pension funds is hereby sentenced to two years with a fine of N750,000.” The judge also ruled that convict’s properties, which the court had earlier ordered forfeited to the Federal Government, “shall remain permanently so.” Talba further ruled that the convict must forfeit a total of 32 properties to the

government. Yusuf was however able to pay the fine on the spot and went home a free man. The sentence, described by many as “ridiculous” and “a slap on the wrist”, was consequent upon a “guilty plea” entered by the accused person. Yusuf is the eighth accused person to the charge preferred against him and seven others by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC. Other accused persons standing trial on same allegations advanced by the anti-graft agency are: Esai Abubakar, Ahmed Inuwa Wada, John Yakubu Yusufu, Atiku Abubakr Kigo, Mrs Veronica Ulonma Onyegbula and Sani Habila Zira. The convict and his co-

conspirators were charged with an “illegal act” of stealing pension funds meant for police retirees. Specifically, the convict pleaded guilty to counts 18, 19 and 20 where he was alleged to have connived with others still standing trial to convert N24.2bn, N1.3bn and N1.7bn respectively. The offence, according to the commission, was committed between January 2009 and June 2011 at Abuja Division of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory. Before the ruling, defence counsel, Theodore Bala Maiyaki, pleaded with the court for leniency. He said: “My Lord, his conduct has shown respect for this honourable court, he has saved the time of my Lord and being a first

Yusuf

offender, with no previous record of conviction, I urge the court to temper justice with mercy and sentence him with least possible terms.” He said the convict has a serious heart condition and is the breadwinner of not only his immediate family but of numerous others. However, prosecution counsel, Rotimi Jacobs, reminded the court that

Section 309 of the Criminal Procedure Code prescribes a maximum of two years imprisonment, a fine or both for the offence to which the convict had pleaded guilty. He said: “The court needs to send out the message that the era of stealing public funds with impunity is gone. Having regards to the amount and properties involved and the duty imposed on the convict, it would not be good to convict him without regards to assuaging the feelings of Nigerians especially the pensioners.” Delivering his judgement, Justice Abubakar Talba, however, ruled that the sentence would run concurrently on the threecount charge. Justice Talba held that

“plea of leniency has been considered. It has also been considered that the accused is a first time offender and has shown remorse. And most importantly, he has forfeited all his properties.” He added: “The court has a duty to temper justice with mercy, but the court must also do justice to assuage Nigerians who have suffered white-collar crime. The court has a duty to hand down sentences to enable the convict learn his lesson. “Accordingly, the accused has been sentenced to two years on each count with an option of N750, 000 fine. The sentence is to run concurrently.” Among the properties forfeited are two units of a three bedroom semi-deCONTINUED ON PAGE 5>>

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Tuesday, January 29, 2013

Photo News

Tuesday, January 29, 2013

L-R: Secretary, National Universities Commission, Prof. Julius Okojie; Vice Chancellor, University of Nigeria Nsukka, Prof. Bartho Okolo and Secretary to Government of the Federation, Sen. Pius Anyim, at the presentation of PHD Honorius Causa to Anyim at the weekend.

The Ecclesiastical Province of Lagos, Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) held a Welcome and Thanksgiving Service at St. Jude’s Cathedral, Ebute-Meta, Lagos, at the weekend, for the new archbishop of the province, The Most Revd.(Professor) Adebayo Dada Akinde. Archbishop Akinde, second from right, is congratulated here by former Head of State, Chief Ernest Shonekan, left, The Most Revd. Peter J. Akinola, the immediate past Primate of the Church of Nigeria, and The Most Revd. Ephraim A. Ademowo, the former Archbishop of the Province of Lagos ... after the service. PHOTOGRAPH BY SUNMI SMART-COLE

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

L-R: (front row)Managing Director, Federal Housing Authority, Mr. Terver Gemade; Minister of Lands, Housing and Urban Development, Ms. Amal Pepple and Mrs. Bose Bakare, at the inauguration of the Technical Board of Federal Housing Authority in Abuja, yesterday.

L-R: Bursar, University of Lagos, Mr. Lateef Odekunle; Registrar, Mr. Oluwarotimi Shodimu and the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Rahmon Ade Bello at a media briefing announcing the programmes of activities to mark the institution’s Golden Jubilee convocation ceremony, yesterday.

National News

2015: Ex-militants bow to pressure, soft pedal on Jonathan’s re-election bid SOLA ADEBAYO WARRI

ndications emerged yesterday that protesting ex-militants in the Niger Delta have bowed to pressure from Presidency asking them to soft-pedal on their criticism of President Goodluck Jonathan, especially his eligibility to seek re-election in 2015. It was gathered that the ex-fighters have rescinded the decision to oppose the second term bid of the president on the account of his failure to develop the Niger Delta. To this end, the ex-militants, who met in Lagos on Sunday, deliberately avoided the discussion on the re-election of President Jonathan, a development that was contrary to their earlier threat to take a definite stance on the issue at the forum. It will be recalled that the ex-fighters, who accused Jonathan of poor performance had conveyed Sunday’s meeting at the Festac Town, Lagos residence of a prominent member, Chief Ateke Tom. The meeting was held

under the aegis of Izon Ikemi, a grassroots group to challenge a similar group established by another exmilitant leader, Chief Government Ekpemukpolo, alias Tompolo, called Oporoza House. The Izon Ikemi has a Niger Delta activist, Mr. Tony Uranta, as interim leader. But findings by our correspondent, however, showed that the ex-militant leaders kept mute over the main agenda of the meeting, which dragged into the early hours of yesterday. It was gathered that the forum merely discussed the poor state of the East/ West Road and that the Minister of Niger Delta, Mr. Godsday Orubebe, should be held responsible. The forum also discussed the 13 per cent derivation fund and asked that the money should be channeled directly to the oil and gas community for better administration. They accused the governors of the region of misappropriating the fund. It was also learnt that

the group asked the Federal Government to commence the immediate implementation of the Ledum Mittee Technical Committee on Niger Delta. Surprisingly, one of the arrowheads of Izon Ikemi, who is also the leader of the Niger Delta Peoples Volunteer Force, NDPVF, Alhaji Mujarhedeen Asari-Dokubo, was absent at the meeting. Only three ex-fighters; Tom, Ebikabowei Victor Ben, alias Boyloaf and Paul Erics (Ogumbos) attended the meeting. Reliable sources at the

meeting told National Mirror that few delegates, who tried to raise the issue about Jonathan and his chances for re-election were shouted down. One of the participants said Tom and Boyloaf later told the gathering that they had met Jonathan and presented to him their grievances, which included the challenges of underdevelopment of the Niger Delta. They said the President assured them that their grievances would be addressed. Report available to Na-

tional Mirror yesterday indicated that Uranta also had an audience with Jonathan before the meeting. Besides, one of our sources lamented that the Presidency had infiltrated the group ahead of the meeting. It would be recalled that the Presidency had detailed a former Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Chief Tony Anenih, Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Mr. Godsday Orubebe and the Chief of Staff to the President, Chief Mike Ogiadhomhe,

to compromise the key leaders of the group. Our source said it was obvious at the meeting that the leaders of the group had been compromised ahead of the parley. “We were surprised that the arrowheads of the group kept sealed lips about the main agenda of the meeting which was the position of the group about the re-election of Jonathan. Ateke Tom and Boyloaf only said they have met the President and that the issues bothering the group are being dealt with.

Al Qaeda attack: Security agencies hold meeting at MM Airport OLUSEGUN KOIKI

ecurity agencies yesterday met in Lagos in a bid to forestall any possible attack from Al Qaeda as a result of the ongoing war in Mali and to ensure adequate security at the nation’s airports most especially the Murtala Muhammed Airport, MMA, Lagos. A source close to the Nigerian Civil Aviation

Authority, NCAA, confided in National Mirror that all security agencies attached to the airport met at the agency’s headquarters for several hours and deliberated on how to tighten security around the airport environment. The source said that the Director-General, NCAA, Dr. Harold Demuren chaired the meeting, which took place at the regulatory body’s board room. The security agencies

that attended the meeting included the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, Nigeria Air Force, NAF, Nigeria Police, Nigeria Immigration Service, NIS, Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, Federal Road Safety Commission, FRSC, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, FAAN, Director of Security and his team. Others are the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency, NAMA, State Se-

curity Service, SSS, NCAA Aviation Security and the Director-General of External Affairs. The meeting was said to have laid emphasis on the need for all the security operatives at the airport to be on high alert to prevent any security breach. It was also learnt that apart from the need to be on alert, other very crucial security matters as it concerns Lagos airport were also discussed.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

News

Tuesday, January 29, 2013

Consumers groan as electricity bills rise astronomically CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

The situation has been blamed on a lack of understanding of the new tariff structure as spelt out in the Multi-Year Tariff Order II, which took effect mid-last year; pressure on the power distribution companies to generate revenue and nonavailability of pre-payment meters.

Investigations in Lagos and other parts of the nation showed that Power Holding Company of Nigeria, PHCN, had stopped the installation of pre-payment meters, which would have enabled consumers control their consumption and bills. Consequently, the monthly bills of consumers, including households and

industries, have risen by over 150 per cent in the past six months as a result of guesswork. Electricity consumers who live in two-bedroom flats that used to pay about N5,000 monthly tariff now pay between N12,000 and N15,000, depending on the policies and practices of the distribution companies, DISCOs.

Consumers who live in three-bedroom flats and duplexes pay between N16, 000 and N20, 000 per month against about N7,000 they used to pay. These bills include Value Added Tax and “meter maintenance charge” even though most consumers do not have meters. Industry sources said that PHCN officials had

L-R: Senior Director, African Programmes, National Endowment for Democracy, USA, Mr. Dave Peterson; President, Women Arise, Dr. Joe Okei-Odumakin; Assistant Programme Officer, West Africa, NED, Mr. Christopher O’ Connor and Coordinator of Research and Programmes Mr. Gbenga Ganzallo, during the NED USA officials’ visit to Women Arise Secretariat, in Lagos at the weekend.

Court jails director over N33bn pension scam CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2

tached bungalow at R2, A and B, Sunny Homes, Dakwo District, Abuja; two units of three bedroom semi-bungalow- detached at M24, A and B, Sunny Homes, Dakwo District Abuja; four units of a three bedroom semi-detached bungalow, managed by Daniel at Sunny Homes, Dakwo District, Abuja; eight units of an Estates of two bedroom flats, at Gombe, GRA; one unit semi-detached Duplex at house 21, 4th Avenue, Gwarinpa, Abuja; four units of a two bedroom semi-detached duplex at Bricks City, Kubwa Road, Abuja and one unit of semi-detached duplex, at 14B Democracy Crescent, Gaduwa, Abuja. He also forfeits N325.1m in cash. Jacobs, the EFCC prosecutor, however, expressed displeasure with the verdict, saying that “the term was trivial” and could make “nonsense” of the fight against the stealing of public funds. But Bala, counsel to the convict, said his client decided to confess to the charges as a “show of remorse to the crime.”

Attempts by the accused persons on June 25, 2012, to persuade the court to quash the charges against them had failed as the EFCC told the court that it had sufficiently established a prima facie case against the accused persons to warrant their being put on trial. Jacobs had argued in a counter-affidavit that investigations carried out by EFCC operatives showed that the accused persons variously withdrew monies from police pension funds domiciled in an account at First Bank of Nigeria Plc, totalling about N32.8bn. The criminal breach of trust is punishable under sections 97, 315, 115(ii), 119 and 309 of the Penal Code Act Cap. 532, Laws of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, Nigeria 2007. Some of the charges against the accused persons read: •That you Esai Abubakar, Ahmed Inuwa Wada, John Yakubu Yusufu, Atiku Abubakr Kigo, Mrs Veronica Ulonma Onyegbula and Sani Habila Zira, between January 2009 and June 2011 at Abuja Division of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory agreed to do an il-

legal act, to wit: criminal breach of trust by public officers in respect of the sum of N14,518,567,724.36 and that the same act was done in pursuance of the agreement among you and you thereby committed an offence punishable under section 97 of the Penal Code Cap. 532, Laws of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, Nigeria 2007. •That you Esai Dangabar, John Yakubu Yusufu, Mrs. Veronica Ulonma Onyegbula and Sani Habila Zira, between January and December 2009 at Abuja in the Abuja Division of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, being public officers in the service of the government of the Federation and in such capacity entrusted with certain property, to wit: the sum of N8,920,371,822.24 which sum formed part of Nigeria Police Pension Funds in the account domiciled at the First Bank of Nigeria Plc, committed criminal breach of trust in respect of the said property, and you thereby committed an offence punishable under section 315 of the Penal Code Act, Cap. 532, Laws of the Federal Capital Terri-

tory, Abuja, Nigeria 2007. •That you Atiku Abubakar Kigo, John Yakubu Yusufu, Mrs. Veronica Uloma Onyegbula and Sani Habila Zira, between January 2010 and February 2011 at Abuja in the Abuja Division of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, being public officers in the service of the Government of the Federal Government and in such capacity entrusted with certain property, to wit: the sum of N4,739,894.896.06 which sum formed part of the Nigerian Police Pension funds in the account domiciled at the First Bank of Nigeria Plc, committed criminal breach of trust in respect of the said property, and you thereby committed an offence punishable under section 315 of the Penal Code Act. Cap. 532, Laws of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, Nigeria 2007.” Commenting on the sentence, legal practitioner, Chief Mike Ozekhome, SAN said the circumstances dictated the punishment. “I will say that once a law has prescribed a maximum punishment, a judge, looking at the offence, may CONTINUED ON PAGE 49>>

deliberately blocked the issuance of pre-payment meters after a noticeable drop in revenue as users would not need to pay for services not rendered as it is the case with the controversial estimated billing system. The spokesman of Eko Electricity Distribution Company Plc, Mr. Godwin Idemudia, who expressed the commitment of the firm to meeting the yearnings of consumers, confirmed that the company did not have pre-payment meters in stock. Many consumers who have been waiting for months to get the new meters after upfront payment are compelled to continue to pay bills estimated based on the so-called “dynamic average” consumption in a particular locality. This, however, does not take cognisance of consumers, who travel for days or weeks or those who do not have high-power consuming appliances. Besides, many consumers said they were compelled to pay additional N100 for a token in order to pay bills under a “cashless” policy being introduced by PHCN in partnership with a local firm in most Lagos districts. Some of the senior PHCN officials who were asked to explain the N100 surcharge feigned ignorance of what was going on within their own premises, raising suspicions that this was a backdoor arrangement to fleece hapless consumers ahead of the imminent takeover of the discos by private investors. An angry consumer, who did not want his name mentioned said: “I do not see why I should be made to pay additional N100 in the process of paying my normal monthly tariff. This is to say the least, most unwarranted; the EFCC should investigate what is going on in PHCN.” The Chief Executive Officer of Ikeja Electricity Distribution Company Plc, Mr. O. C. Akamnonu, said the various issues were being addressed. Already, small scale industries have sent petitions to the Nigeria Association of Small and Medium Enterprises, NASME complaining that the high cost of the new

Multi Year Tariff Order II, introduced last June was impacting negatively on their operations. A recent NASME sponsored study confirmed several negative implications of the new tariff on small scale business operators, whose activities have assisted in various ways to reduce unemployment in the country. The Executive Secretary of the organisation, Mr. Eke Ubiji, said NASME was ready to hold talks with relevant government institutions, especially Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, NERC, to change the situation. Consequently, NASME has called for the creation of separate classifications, specifically for NSMEs, to enable them to reduce the high operational cost. It also called for the elimination of all fixed charges. “In the medium to long term , NASME recommends that the fixed charge is completely eliminated and all charges become variable based on consumption,” it said in the report. The organisation explained that this would ensure that its members only pay for what they consume and ultimately encourage energy conservation in the nation. It also made a case for the introduction of a unified standard for information shown on payment receipts, explaining that the minimum information requirements for each distribution company to be the same, in order to improve transparency. NASME added: “Distribution companies should be mandated to set up structured and effective complaint and resolution channels with stipulated resolution timelines. Appropriate penalties should be established with supervision by NERC. “There should also be awareness campaigns and sensitisation on MYTO 11 to MSMEs, using grassroots/ practical methods. NASME can provide input about appropriate consultation mechanism for SMEs.” NERC Chairman, Dr. Sam Amadi, who disclosed that the commission had done a lot to address the problems, said in a CONTINUED ON PAGE 49>>

News

Tuesday, January 29, 2013

$67bn reserves: Maku’s response careless –Ezekwesili OBIORA IFOH ABUJA

ormer Education Minister, Dr. Oby Ezekwesili, has advised the Information Minister, Labaran Maku, to seek help in the act of responding to citizens’ demands for accountability. Ezekwesili said Maku was careless in his response to her allegation on government’s reckless spending. The former Vice-President of the World Bank said in a statement in Abuja that her integrity and transparent record in public office particularly as Minister of Education could not be tarnished by baseless allegations. She said: “I have already asked the Federal Government to a public debate of the facts raised in my speech. Such an open debate of facts and figures of oil revenue since 2007 would help situate public accountability as the

•Insists on public debate centre point of our democracy. “In accepting to publicly debate the questions raised in my speech, the Federal Government would model the democratic culture of responding to citizens’ demands for accountability, especially at a time when the general public is eager for improvements in the good governance records of the administration.” Ezekwesili at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, UNN, convocation ceremony on January 24, accused the government of the late President Umaru Yar’Adua and President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration of squandering $67 billion external reserves left behind by the Olusegun Obasanjo administration. Dismissing Ezekwesili’s claim, Maku said at a press conference that Ezekwesili

was off the mark as she did not present the truth at all. Maku, who stopped short of accusing Ezekwesili of non-performance as Education Minister, said government viewed her statements as unfortunate especially given her positions in government and as former VicePresident of the World Bank. He said: “Her recent statements betray a surprisingly limited understanding of government finances. These statements are even more curious in light of the fact that she has held senior positions in government, and more recently, a position as a Vice-President of the World Bank.” But Ezekwesili said she wished to reassure Nigerians that her integrity and transparent record in public office could not be rubbished by baseless allegations regard-

ing her 10 months’ stay as Minister of Education. She said: “Citizens who follow education sector closely will know that the education sector budget which the government spokesperson carelessly referred to represents the consolidated direct budgetary allocation by the National Assembly to the 22 agencies plus all the federal universities, polytechnics and colleges of education in the country. “At no time does a sitting Minister of Education have access to the budgets of statutory bodies under her ministry. The records are at the ministry for the relevant National Assembly committees and the general public to scrutinise. “I remain resolute in demanding full disclosure and accountability by the Federal Government on the issues of poor management of oil revenues, especially the Excess Crude Account and the Foreign Reserve Account.”

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Army redeploys 317 senior officers GEORGE OJI ABUJA

he Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Onyemoabi Azubike Ihejirika, yesterday announced the redeployment of 317 senior officers to fill the vacuum created by the recent promotions and retirements in the Nigerian Army. The Director, Army Public Relations, Major General Mobolaji Koleosho, said in a statement in Abuja that the action was taken “to fill the vacuum and maintain effective command structure in Army units, formations and the Defence Headquarters.” The posting shows that three new GOCs were affected. Major General Ebiobowei Awala is in charge of 3 Division, by Major General Ahmed Jibrin heads 2 Division while the former Commander, Nigerian Army Engineers, Maj. General Ashimiyu Olaniyi is now the new GOC, 82 Division. In the same vein, the new GOC 81 Division is

Major General Obi Umahi while Major General Obidah Ethan is the new Army Headquarters Garrison Commander. Other affected senior officers are the former GOC 81 Division, Major General Kenneth T. J. Minimah now the Commander, Infantry Corps and Centre, Jaji, the former Chief of Training and Operations, Nigerian Army, Major General Lawrence Ngubane is now the Chief of Training and Operations at the Defence Headquarters, while the former GOC, 3 Division, Major General Jack Nwaogbo, is now the Chief of Training and Operations at the Army Headquarters. Also, the former GOC, 2 Division, Major General Mohammed Abubakar, is now the Chief of Army Administration at the Army Headquarters. According to the statement, Major General Paul Isang is the new Chief of Army Standard and Evaluation, CASE, succeeding Major General Shehu Abdul-Kadir.

Senators disagree on state creation GEORGE OJI ABUJA

wo senators yesterday sharply disagreed over the necessity for the creation of more states in the country. While Senator Sulaimon Adokwe (Nasarawa Central) supported creation of more states on the grounds that it would give minority nationalities a sense of belonging, Senator Olubunmi Adetunmbi (Ekiti North) disagreed. Adetunmbi said the creation of more states would constitute additional burden on the cost of governance. Both lawmakers aired their positions while fielding questions from Senate correspondents at the National Assembly. The Senate Committee on the review of the 1999 Constitution listed creation of states as part of its agenda for which about 56 requests have so far been made to the National Assembly. While throwing his weight behind state creation, Adokwe admitted that the process was laborious but said it was imperative to also correct the impression and the myth that only the military government could create additional states. He said: “Although the process is laborious, there is need for us to correct the

impression that only the military government can create states because since the independence no civilian government has ever created any state in the country. “Creation of more states will also give minority groups in a particular state the opportunity to produce a governor because there are some states in the country that will never create an avenue for the minority to govern a state.” But Adetunmbi argued that the proliferation of states would only increase the cost of governance. He said: “I am not a believer of proliferation of states in the country that is not benefiting our people. When the country was in regional government, the quality of life of our people is better than what we have in the country right now.” Speaking on merger of the opposition parties, Adetunmbi said the merger talks between the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, the Congress for Progressive Change, CPC and the All Nigeria Peoples Party, ANPP, would wrest power from the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in 2015 general elections. He added the merger talks within the opposition parties had been giving the ruling party sleepless nights.

L-R: Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Water Resources, Dr. Godknows Igali; Minister, Mrs. Sarah Ochekpe and World Bank Country Director, Ms. Marie Francoise Marie-Nelly, at the championing water utility workshop in Abuja, yesterday. PHOTO: NAN

Committee seeks cut in Perm Secs, directors’ allowances OMEIZA AJAYI

he Adamu Fika-led Presidential Committee on the reform processes in the public service yesterday submitted its report. It called on the Federal Government to cut the allowances of permanent secretaries and directors in the federal civil service. The committee also advocated the abrogation of the tenure policy in the public service. Constituted in March 2011, the committee was mandated to review the tenure of top civil servants.

But the mandate caused bad blood among some of its members. Submitting its report to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, Anyim Pius Anyim, in Abuja, the committee argued that the tenure policy which was introduced in 2009 was done without carrying out any impact assessment study. It added that the tenure policy for permanent secretaries and directors was a violation of their rights. The committee said the policy had largely infringed on the terms of engagement of the officers concerned, while the civil service had lost some of its most compe-

tent and experienced hands as a result. Fika said although the tenure policy had succeeded in freeing positions and a good number of officers who would otherwise be stagnated had been promoted. He, however, said removing top officers merely gave room for junior and less experienced officers who might not even be interested in the service. The chairman added that every organisation should cherish and treasure competence and take all necessary steps to retain all its experienced officers. He also recommended the review of allowances of public office holders fixed by the

Revenue Mobilisation and Fiscal Allocation Commission, RMFAC, which took effect in 2007 and allowed salaries and allowances to rise astronomically. Fika described as worrisome, a situation where allowances are over 10 times greater than salaries, and expressed an urgent need to halt the trend. He said: “It is certainly not morally defensible from the perspective of social justice or any known moral criterion that such huge sum of public funds is consumed by an infinitesimal fraction of the people which is less than 0.013 per cent of the total population.”

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Minister raises alarm over FHA’s N8.29bn debt, liabilities •Sets up committee to restructure agency

OLUFEMI ADEOSUN ABUJA

inister of Land, Housing and Urban Development, Ms. Ama Pepple, yesterday raised the alarm over the huge debt portfolio and liabilities of the Federal Housing Authority, which stands at N8.29billion. Giving the breakdown of the loan, she said the agency owed the Federal Government N7.2billion, being a loan granted to it between 1991 and 2001 and N1.09billion owed the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria. Apart from this, the authority is also said to be finding it difficult to fulfill some core aspects of its operations, even as it is unable to pay retirement benefits to its 816 pensioners. It will be recalled that the authority has for a long time being gasping for breath, relying on its sheer ingenuity to survive because the Federal Government withdrew allocation to it. Pepple, who disclosed this in Abuja yesterday while inaugurating a 10-memeber technical board to restructure the agency, said 40 years into its existence, the agency had failed in its core man-

date of providing housing for the people. She said the setting up of the board as well as the presidential nod that the Bureau of Public Enterprises, BPE, commence an 18-month transition period for the restructuring and commercialisation of the agency, were part of government’s effort to rejuvenate the agency. Pepple’s words: “The FHA was conceived by its founding fathers as a model agency that would satisfy the yearnings of Nigerians

ABUJA

he Board of the Niger Delta Power Holding Company, NDPHC, has approved N5.3billion as operational cost for the company. Speaking with State House Correspondents yesterday at the end of the 25th meeting of the board chaired by Vice-President Namadi Sambo, Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, said the money approved would cover salaries and overhead, stressing that the entire budget would come from the funds generated by the company. The governor assured Nigerians that based on the work done so far, it was certain that all the 10 National Integrated Power Projects, NIPP, across the country would be delivered this year. According to him, Nigerians should expect signifi-

in the delivery of adequate and affordable housing. However, today, as we reflect on its 40 years of operations, the agency’s achievements have remained low and the dreams of its founding fathers have not been attained. “It is noteworthy that in all these years, the FHA has succeeded in delivering about 37,000 housing units in 80 estates. The authority does not generate enough income to meet its wage bills; pay retirement benefits to its 816 pensioners and fulfil all aspects of its operations.

Subsidy fraud: EFCC, oil marketers fail to reach agreement KENNY ODUNUKAN

he ongoing negotiation between officials of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, and some oil marketers indicted for their culpability in the petrol subsidy fraud has broken down. Indication emerged yesterday when counsel to EFCC, Tayo Olukotun, informed Justice Lateefat Okunnu, of Ikeja High Court that the negotiation with the EFCC regarding the N1.3 billion fuel subsidy charge preferred against them has failed. At the last sitting, the oil marketers, Aro Sunday

Bamidele and Abiodun Kayode Bankole, informed the court that they were in talks with the EFCC regarding the N1.3 billion fuel subsidy charge preferred against them. At the resumed hearing yesterday however, EFCC counsel informed the court that the negotiation between both parties has broken down. “My Lord, I wish to inform the court that negotiation between the parties has broken down. We were informed on Wednesday, January 24, of this development. “The defendants have filed a Notice of Preliminary Objection, we would like to

respond to this and would be applying for a short time to respond,” Olukotun stated. The oil marketers were arraigned alongside their company, A.B.S Investment Company Ltd. on October 5, 2012 on an 18-count charge bordering on conspiracy, obtaining money by false pretence, forgery and altering. EFCC had alleged that the defendants had fraudulently obtained N1.3 billion from the Federal Government for the purported importation of 30 million litres of Premium Motor Spirit, PMS. The trial judge, Justice Okunnu adjourned the matter to February 26, 2012 for arguments on the preliminary objection.

N27.5bn scam: Court grants Atuche, others leave to recall witnesses KENNY ODUNUKAN

L-R: South African High Commissioner to Nigeria, Mr. Kingsley Mamabolo; Chairman, House of Representatives’ Committee on Diaspora, Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa and a member of the committee, Hon. Emmanuel Tircel, during their visit to the South African High Commission in Abuja over a Nigerian recently killed in South Africa, yesterday.

Power: FG approves N5.3bn for NDPHC ROTIMI FADEYI

News

Tuesday, January 29, 2013

cant improvement in the supply of electricity this year as all the power projects are nearing completion. Asked whether there was adequate security for the power projects, considering the threat by the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta, MEND, to resume hostilities, Fayemi said that the board has always considered the issue of security for all the power projects in the country. Fayemi stated that states that are mostly affected by security challenges in the north like Borno and others facing such challenges, have been working with security agencies to ensure adequate security for the power projects. He said the board was committed to ensuring that the issues that might impaired the completion of the projects in all the areas where power plants are constructed would be addressed during the year.

Dickson seeks death penalty for kidnappers EMMA GBEMUDU YENAGOA

ayelsa State Governor, Seriake Dickson, yesterday prescribed death penalty for kidnappers in the state just as he said a bill to that effect would be forwarded to the state legislature for passage into law. The state House of Assembly had last year passed into law an executive bill prohibiting secret cult, kidnapping and other related crimes. The governor, who spoke in Yenagoa yesterday at the inauguration of the Chairman and members of the Judicial Commission of Inquiry on Agbere Communal Crisis, said he would not hesitate to sign the death warrant of kidnappers or those attempting to commit the crime as government would no longer condone acts of lawlessness in the state. The Chairman of the commission is Justice Ebiyerin

Omukoro. The governor continued: “We have made it very clear that wherever there is a breach of the peace and a breakdown of law and order, this government will use all its resources and authority to ensure that the right thing is done and people are brought to book.” Dickson warned that any monarch caught aiding and abetting kidnapping and other related crimes would be dealt with in accordance with the law. According to him, the bill became imperative in order to forestall disruption of government’s developmental projects. The governor urged youths to take advantage of government’s policies and programmes geared towards building their capacity. “Let me also use this occasion to sound a clear note of warning in this state, we thought we were through with kidnappings in this

state…but just one incident of kidnapping is bad enough for us. “We have a situation where we have an ambitious programme of infrastructural turnaround of the state because there is work going on in every community of the state and it will be so for quite some time, therefore we do not want to tolerate even one case of kidnapping. “We are aware that if this trend is not checked, those who do not wish this state well will easily use that to foment crisis, scare investors, give our state a continuous bad name and stall our development.” The governor lauded law abiding youths of the state for not disrupting ongoing projects across the state. Dickson said the terms of reference of the commission would include unravelling the immediate and remote causes of the Agbere communal crisis, identifying the principal actors and their sponsors.

n Ikeja High Court yesterday granted the former Managing Director of Bank PHB (now Keystone Bank), Francis Atuche, leave to apply for the recall of two prosecution witnesses, Elizabeth Ebi and Diamond Uju, for further cross examination on some issues. Justice Lateefat Okunnu granted the plea in her ruling at the resumed hearing yesterday. Atuche , his wife, Elizabeth and the Chief Financial Officer in the bank, Ugo Anyanwu, are currently facing N27.5 billion fraudulent allegations. Justice Okunnu in her ruling on the application granted Atuche and Anyanwu leave to apply for the recall of the third and fourth prosecution witnesses, Mr. Diamond Uju and Mrs. Elizabeth Ebi, to further elicit further responses from them. The judge gave an order recalling Uju to be cross-examined only on particular exhibited document and also granted the application to recall Ebi for further cross-examination with a condition that the prosecution is also at liberty to reexamine the witnesses after this. While turning down the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, request to further cross examine the witnesses on their statements on oath, she held that the said statements were before the court when the EFCC first cross-examined the witnesses.

South West

Tuesday, January 29, 2013

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ACN manipulating Lagos LG Appeal Tribunal –PDP OLAJIDE OMOJOLOMOJU

L-R: Oyo State Governor Abiola Ajimobi; the widow of the late Justice Kayode Eso, Helena, and the national leader of Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, during Tinubu’s condolence visit to the Eso family in Ibadan, recently.

Masquerade: Muslim youths torch house over murder in Abeokuta FEMI OYEWESO ABEOKUTA

outh members of an Islamic organisation yesterday set fire to a building allegedly belonging to traditional worshippers in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, to protest the murder of one of their members. The deceased, identified as Lateef Sabiu, was allegedly shot dead by followers of a masquerade during parade of the ongoing festival in Abeokuta on Sunday evening. The late 22-year-old Sabiu, who was said to be on a motorcycle along with two others, was shot dead by the followers of the masquerade popularly called

“Lehin Aponle” who were said to be armed with guns and other dangerous weapons. It was learnt that the development angered the Muslim youths, who later mobilised and razed the house of the masquerade owner at Anigbio’s compound in Oja-Ale area of Ijaye in the Abeokuta metropolis. Speaking with newsmen over the matter yesterday, one of the community leaders, the Balogun of Ijaye and Aare of Egbaland, Chief Ganiyu BabayejuAlemo, said the crisis had forced the Egba Traditional Council in consultation with the Alake of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Aremu Gbadebo, to suspend other

activities for the 2013 Egungun festival in Abeokuta. Babayeju-Alemo, who disclosed that the masquerade had a penchant for violence, said its followers were shooting sporadically into the air before they shot the deceased. He also said the community was forced to invite the police following the attack on the family compound of the masquerade yesterday morning. In response to the crisis, the Ogun State Police Command has suspended the 2013 edition of masquerade festival in Abeokuta and every part of the state. The state Police Public Relations Officer, Muyiwa Adejobi, who disclosed this to newsmen in Abeokuta

yesterday, also said that the command had arrested four people for Sabiu’s murder. Adejobi gave the names of those arrested as Ajayi Olabintan (40), Shittu Adeyemi, Wahed Babalola as well as the masquerade whose identity was yet to be disclosed. However, the state chapter of Muslim Rights Concern, MURIC, described the incident as “disheartening and callous.” In a statement issued in Abeokuta yesterday, MURIC Chairman, Soliu Luqman, said the state government had over the years, turned deaf ears to calls by the association over what it called terrorist acts of the traditionalists in the state.

Don’t enforce London court order, judge tells Access Bank, Coscharis KENNY ODUNUKAN

ustice Okon Abang of a Federal High Court in Lagos yesterday restrained Access Bank and Coscharis Motors Plc from enforcing an ex parte order obtained recently from a court in England. The judge held that the ex parte order obtained in a London court by Access Bank violated an existing order of the Federal High Court in Lagos and ridiculed the entire Nigerian judiciary. At the last hearing, Capital Oil and Gas Limited, Chief Executing Officer, Mr. Patrick Ifeanyi Uba, through his counsel, Chief

Wole Olanipekun (SAN), filed an application before the court accusing the respondents of violating the express orders of the court by approaching a court in London. He added that the bank secured an order on January 23 which violated the existing orders of the Federal High Court in Nigeria made on November 12, 2012. Access Bank Plc and Coscharis Motors Limited are defendants in a suit instituted by Capital Oil and Gas Limited and Uba, challenging the veracity of the defendants’ claims in respect of a loan facility, the terms of which they claimed had been breached by the plaintiffs.

Delivering his judgement, Abang held that by their action, the defendants

denigrated the country’s judiciary and also ridiculed its judicial process.

he Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has accused the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, of manipulating the judicial process in the local government election appeal tribunal over some of the petitions arising from the October 22, 2011 local government elections in Lagos State. Addressing a press conference at the party’s secretariat yesterday in Lagos, the state PDP Chairman, Olatunji Shelle, said certain unseen hands had been controlling the appeal tribunal, culminating in the loss of one of his party’s petitions despite daunting evidence that the party won in the areas affected. He said: “We filed a total of over 96 petitions; most of them were struck out on funny technical grounds, while we only recorded

victories in three chairmanship seats of Badagry, Agbado-Okeodo and IkoyiObalende LCDAs, and in only six councillorship seats. “These few wins are now being challenged by the ACN at the appeal. “However, in a very provocative manner, the appeal tribunal of five sitting Lagos High Court judges have begun to overturn the judgements in the few areas we won at the tribunal. “The cases of the Badagry Local Government chairmanship and four councillorship have now been overturned on appeal. “It is more disappointing that the appeal tribunal is rather political than judicial as it ‘deliberately’ misapplied the provisions of the Local Government Elections Tribunal Law which stipulates that petitions be filed and heard within unrealistic 30 days.

Scammers open fake Fashola’s facebook account to defraud public MURITALA AYINLA

cammers have opened a facebook account for Governor Fashola Babatunde of Lagos State to defraud the public. Following this, the state government has advised the public to be wary of the scammers’ antics so as not to fall victims to the fraudsters. The Special Adviser to the governor on Information and Strategy, Mr. Lateef Raji, said in a statement that the government had dissociated itself from message on the facebook account page. Raji warned the public to regard e-mails or SMS

purportedly from the governor as false. He said: “The Lagos State Government has alerted the general public to be wary of an e-mail on a facebook account fraudulently set up under the name of “Babatunde Fashola” requesting unsuspecting members of the public to pay N2,700 to a GTBank account 0122895107 as application form fee for employment. “The GTBank account is opened in the name of one Onyebe Earnest, who has been sending bulk SMS with the name ‘CSC LAGOS’ to advise the public on the GTB account number into which the money should be paid.”

Ibadan flyover: PDP lacks knowledge of construction –ACN KEMI OLAITAN IBADAN

ction Congress of Nigeria, ACN, yesterday lambasted the Oyo State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, for its lack of knowledge of road construction. ACN said the lack of knowledge affected Oyo State when governors on the PDP platform ruled the state. The party said this in a statement issued by its state Publicity Secretary,

Hon. Dauda Kolawole, in a reply to a statement by the PDP comparing the cost of construction of the Ibadan flyover being constructed by the administration of Governor Abiola Ajimobi and the one commissioned in Ogun State recently. The PDP had raised the alarm over what it said was the wide gap in the cost of constructing the overhead bridge which cost Oyo State N2.5 billion while the 2.5-kilometre Lalubu - Ibara - Totoro overhead bridge cost Ogun State government

N1.5 billion. Kolawole said the PDP should be ashamed of itself for having imposed its naivety about road/bridge construction on the generality of the people. He said: “We are awestruck that a political party could advertise its naivety this shamelessly. What the PDP ought to have done was to demand the details of the two bridge constructions in both states and the details would have shocked it and avert this shameless plunge that it has made.”

Kolawole said the truth of the matter was that the bridge that was commissioned in Ogun State is 400 metres long, while the one being constructed in Oyo State is 640 metres. According to him, part of the Oyo State contract in the construction of the overhead bridge which distinguishes it from that of Ogun State is that apart from the wide differences in their lengths, the inclusion of provision of ancillary facilities to the bridge also set them apart.

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South West

Tuesday, January 29, 2013

Police arrest five for currency counterfeiting

•Suspects sell fake N100, 000 for N5, 000 FRANCIS SUBERU

he police in Lagos State have arrested no fewer than five persons for alleged currency counterfeiting. The suspects were alleged to have printed various denominations of Nigerian naira notes and foreign currencies. Parading the suspects yesterday in Ikeja, the state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Umar Manko, said

NASS urged to make corruption punishable by death SEGUN ADIO

he National Assembly has been urged to enact a law that will attract capital punishment for corrupt practices. A member of the Nigerian Interreligious Council (NIREC), Baba Alakoso Solomon Alao, stated this while addressing the press in Lagos preparatory to the Annual General Meeting of the Cherubim & Seraphim Unification Church of Nigeria. The AGM of the organisation holds in Lagos between Thursday and Sunday. Elder Alao, who said that the laws of the country were too lenient with corruption practices, noted that the cankerworm of corruption that has eaten deep into the fabrics of the nation would only be a thing of the past once corrupt officials are made the pay the supreme price. He said: “All efforts at fighting corruption in this country are sheer waste of time and resources. If we are really serious about the issue, the National Assembly should enact a law making the offence a capital punishment.” Speaking on the menace of terrorism in the country, Elder Alao said the issue is beyond religious bickering, but a problem with a political undertone. He, however, cautioned politicians using terror to settle political differences to desist from the act.

that they were arrested following a tip-off at No. 6, Ogunlana Street, Alagbado, by detectives attached to the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS). The detectives were led by Abba Kyari, a Superintendent of Police (SP). According to the police chief, the duo of Femi Jacob and Ramon Adeoye were arrested during which eight printing machines and large quantity of fake notes, including the United States Dollars,

United Kingdom Pounds Sterling, Ghanaian Cedis, Liberian dollars and others running into about N8 million were recovered. The arrest of the duo, Manko said, led to the picking up of their accomplices - Akeem Ayodabo and Isiaka Usman in Ikorodu where 14 printing machines, a cutting machine and 100 million fake notes, both in local and foreign currencies were recovered in a three-bedroom house rented by one of the sus-

pects, Akeem Ayodabo and also, Onyeka Ibe, who usually came from Mbaise, Imo State. It was gathered that Akeem Ayodabo confessed to have many customers spread across West African countries such as Republic of Benin, Ghana, Mali, Togo, Liberia, Sierra Leone and other coming to buy the currencies. The police commissioner, however, added that the operatives of the Interpol would be contacted to handle the matter in view of the negative implications

the fake currencies outflow might have had on the economies of the West African countries. The principal suspect, Femi Jacob, said he did the illegal business to earn money to sustain his family. Femi said: “If we are making a lot of money from the business, you would have riding on jeeps. The business is risky and we get pea nut from it. I specialize on printing N1000 notes and the cost of printing 100 pieces of N1000 is N1500 and you only sell for between N3000 and N5000.”

UNILAG to honour Balewa, Mbanefo, Afe Babalola

ll is set at the University of Lagos (UNILAG), Akoka, to confer a posthumous doctorate degree on the late Nigeria’s former Prime Minister, Sir Tafawa Balewa. Balewa was picked alongside the former Nigeria’s Ambassador to the United Nations, Chief Arthur Mbanefo, and the former Pro-Chancellor of the university and founder of Afe Babalola University, AdoEkiti, Ekiti State, Chief Afe Babalola. The honour, which is part of the university’s golden jubilee convocation ceremony scheduled to hold between February 5 and February 8, will also feature the investiture of the institution’s newly appointed 11th ViceChancellor, Prof. Rahmon Bello. The VC, who disclosed this yesterday at the institution’s senate chamber during the pre-convocation media briefing, said the decision to honour the three eminent Nigerians was in recognition of the noble roles to the survival of the university and the nation as a whole. He said the university could not successfully mark its 50th anniversary without L-R: Lagos State Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Ade Ipaye; Governor Babatunde Fashola; Dean, Lagos Business School, Dr. Enase honouring those who had Okonedo and Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Mrs. Olushola Oworu, at the signing of memorandum of understanding committed or still commitbetween Lagos State Government and the Lagos Business School in Lagos, yesterday. ting their resources to the growth and development of one of Nigeria’s leading acaand impact on the economic, demic institution. In a statement signed to them. DAYO AYEYEMI AND This attitude, he said, ne- social and traffic situation of by the spokesperson of the Prof. Bello said: “Alhaji TaMURITALA AYINLA state’s Ministry of Housing, gated the spirit and purpose their host communities. fawa Balewa was the Prime At the site of the 420 units Minister of the country Mr Adesegun Ogundeji, the for which the houses were Lagos HOMS project at Ig- when the university was esbuilt. Commissioner in the minishe Lagos State Govbogbo, Jeje said with the tablished and he graciously He said: “We can’t afford try , Mr. Bosun Jeje, urged the ernment has warned project location beside the laid the foundation of what to have properties rot away allottees to take possession the allotteess of its es256 units of flats at Adeboru- is today ranked Nigeria’s best and constitute nuisance to or forfeit the allocations. tates to take immediate poswa Estate, a new town with- university and 16th in Africa. other residents when a teemThe commissioner gave session or have the terms of in town is on the verge of being population of Lagosians the warning in a chat with agreement enforced against “His contributions to the ing created. is in need of decent accomjournalists at the site of the them. nation and education sector He said with a combined specifically cannot be overSome of the estates in 420 units Lagos HOMS proj- modation. “ number of 676 units com- emphasized. So, honouring The commissioner stated ect at Igbogbo at the weekwhich allottees have refused ing up on that axis, the land- him with a posthumous docthat the housing policy of end, Jeje noted that despite to take possession include scape is bound to change; torate degree would not be the state government would the initial admonition to the the Millennium Housing there would be increase in impertinent. help to solve the problem of allottees, some of them have Estates at Ibeshe, Oke-Eletu, population with attendant accommodation problems, continued to abandon apartAlaagba, Ojokoro and Sha“The others - Chiefs Arments in some estates long and, at the same time, help increase in commercial ac- thur Mbanefo and Afe Babasha, among others. after they have been allotted to redistribute population tivities. lola - are also two major pillars of support to the university. While the former was our prochancellor between 1984 and embers of Mo- intendent Dr. G.F Akinade- same day in the church’s bala Olu Cherubim and 1985, the latter held same posiSeraphim Church. tailatu Church wo, described the open- premises. tions for eight years between A three-day revival The late St. Benjamin Cherubim and ing of the multi-million 2001 and 2008. They both reSeraphim Worldwide will naira church – Restoration Akinadewo Adekahunsi, tagged: “Breakdown to corded several milestones, converge on Akute, Ogun Parish – as “a manifesta- who died in 1979, was the Breakthrough” to herincluding the donation of State, on February 2, 2013 tion of God’s miraculous Chairman of Spiritual ald the opening of the Mbanefo E-Resource Centre, Workers’ Union (Alaga church starts tomorrow to open the church’s new work.” Afe Babalola Auditorium A storey building – St. Ojise Olorun) in the de- and a thanksgiving serparish. and the launch of N72 billion A statement by the B.A. Adekahunsi House funct Western Region vice will hold on Sunday, endowment drive by Chief Chief Host, Senior Super- – will also be opened the and founder of Oke-Ig- February 3. Afe, among others.”

Estate: Lagos asks allottees to take possession or risk forfeiture

Motailatu Church opens new parish

South East

Tuesday, January 29, 2013

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Ezu River tragedy: Govt commences exhumation of 15 bodies CHARLES OKEKE AWKA

he exhumation of bodies of about 15 men found floating in Ezu River, Amansea, Awka North Local Government Council of Anambra State on Saturday, January 19, that were buried in a mass grave at the river side,

commenced yesterday amidst tight security. Reports said that after the bodies have been exhumed, full autopsy will be conducted on them individually to determine what killed them. Sources at the river side to witness the exhumation of the bodies said the exercise was

conducted by a five-man team of pathologists led by a commissioner of police from the force headquarters, Abuja. National Mirror gathered that a renowned pathologist from the Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital, Nnewi, was among those that would do autopsy on the retrieved bodies,

which were said to have decomposed extensively, since their burial. Journalists and members of the public were prevented from gaining access to the exhumation site. It will be recalled that Anambra State Commissioner for Health, Dr Lawrence Ikeakor, briefed the journalists last week that

all the 18 bodies, including the three that were initially taken for medical examination, will be exhumed to undergo full autopsy. Ikeakor had stressed that it would be out of place to use the result of the three bodies originally taken away for autopsy to determine the cause of death of the others.

Spokesman of the Anambra State Command, Emeka Chukwuemeka, said the police are only waiting for the report of the autopsy. “What we have been waiting for is the completion of the autopsy, but for now nothing has started, we will brief you people at the end of the day,” he said.

Governorship poll: Monarchs deny endorsing ex-SSG NWABUEZE OKONKWO ONITSHA

raditional rulers from Olu-na-Adagbe enclave, under the auspices of Olu-naAdagbe Traditional Rulers’ Council in Anambra North senatorial district have denied a newspaper publication quoting them as having endorsed the former Secretary to Anambra State Government, SSG, Chief Paul Odenigbo as their candidate for the Anambra 2014 governorship race. A national daily (not National Mirror) had on January 9, 2013 published an article which stated that traditional rulers, under the Olu-na-Adagbe Traditional Rulers’ Council, in Anambra North senatorial zone, had endorsed Odenigbo as its candidate for the Anambra 2014 governorship election. Rising from a meeting held at Otuocha in Anambra East Local Government Area of the state yesterday, the royal father, numbering over 70, unanimously refuted the newspa-

per claim, describing it as frivolous. The monarchs also described as untrue the pronouncements attributed to Igwe Nkeli Nzekwe Kelly, the Okalakwu of Igbariam Kingdom, to the effect that Odenigbo has actually been endorsed by the royal fathers. The traditional ruler of Nteje community (Aborgu II na Nteje) and Chairman of Olu-na-Adagbe Traditional Rulers’ Council, Igwe Rowland Odegbo, who spoke for the royal fathers, told journalists that the publication was “frivolous, embarrassing and insulting” to the body of respected traditional rulers, adding that the monarchs have vowed not to interfere with the due political process in the state. He said what happened on the day in question was that Odenigbo was conferred with a chieftaincy title by Igwe Nzekwe Kelly of Igbariam Kingdom, adding that there was no political statement, agenda or attachment to the chieftaincy conferment during the occasion.

People of Ibeagwa Nike community in Enugu State protesting the leadership style of their Igwe at the Government House in Enugu, yesterday. PHOTO: NAN

Anambra citizens tasked over security NWABUEZE OKONKWO ONITSHA

he Commander of the 302 Artillery Regiment, Onitsha Military Cantonment, Col. Taritimiye Gagariga, has charged residents of Anambra State to assist security agencies in consolidating the gains of the present level of security atmosphere in the state. Gagariga, who gave the

Abia residents allege brutality, killing by army GEORGE OPARA ABIA

oldiers from the 14 Brigade otherwise called the Goodluck Jonathan Barrack, Ohafia in Ohafia council area of Abia State deployed to combat kidnappers and armed robbers in the state have been accused of brutality and killings in their relationship with residents of the area. Reports said the soldiers have become a source of concern to the residents as they meddle in domestic matters, collect tolls on roads, whip citizens and coercive obedience by the

citizens or risk their lives. Investigations showed that not a few citizens and residents of the state are living under fear and a reign of terror of the soldiers. In one of such cases, one Chukwunonso Ifedi, 35, was said to be inside the premises of Princess Hotel located at 87 Hospital Road, Aba, the commercial nerve centre of the state for recreation with friends when he met his untimely death. He was said to have been killed for challenging a soldier who came in to oppress him, an action that led to altercation between them before he was killed.

An eyewitness said the soldier was drunk and that rather than showing remorse when he stepped on Ifedi’s toes infuriated him the more making the deceased to challenge him. Also, one Pastor Ikeagwughichi Sampson, a native of Umuocha in Osisioma Ngwa Local Government Area of the state almost lost his life in the hands of some soldiers. Three soldiers arrested him from his house on the account of a domestic quarrel he allegedly had with his mother to the same military base where he was paraded before Major Iliya, and was battered for hours.

charge at the weekend while speaking to newsmen after a meeting on security held at the cantonment, said consolidating security gains in the state and Onitsha in particular, is not just the responsibility of the armed forces and police alone, but also that of stakeholders, the entire civil society and other relevant bodies. He called on the business community, politicians and other stakeholders, to join

hands in ensuring that the crime rate was brought under control. According to Gagariga, Anambra State security is everybody’s business and not just that of the armed forces or the police alone, adding, you can agree with me that through our collective efforts, Onitsha, the commercial nerve centre of the South-East and South-South geo-political zones, witnessed a relatively crime-free yule-

tide that is unprecedented. Earlier, Secretary to the Anambra State Government, SSG, Mr. Oseloka Obaze, has called for closer synergy between security agencies and members of the public as well as constant meeting of stakeholders to strengthened security in the state. Obaze said the state government was aware of the challenges facing the security agencies, adding that the agencies were doing all it could within its available resources to address them.

Plan to inaugurate Ohanaeze national exco begins CHARLES OKEKE AWKA

he formal inauguration of the new national executive committee of Ohanaeze Ndi Igbo led by Chief Gary Enwo-Igariway, an indigene of Ebonyi State, has been scheduled to hold this week Friday. It was gathered that key elected officers of the panIgbo organisation had on Sunday last week held a strategic in meeting where the plan and arrangement for the inauguration were fashioned out. But, a source who monitored the caucus meeting

held by the incoming national executive said the inauguration may hold on Thursday. The development came at a time South-East governors, in alliance with key principal politicians and stakeholders from the zone, set up a committee headed by Senator Ben Obi, to resolve the crisis trailing the election conducted in Enugu on January 12. While the Ben Obi committee was settling down for its assignment, prominent Igbo leaders who attended the Sunday meeting have directed the contending forces to with-

draw the cases they filed in court on the issue. However, before the Sunday crisis resolution meeting which was attended by four South-East governors, including Anambra State Governor, Peter Obi, an attempt made by some key stakeholders of Ohanaeze to settle the problem at a meeting that was fixed for January 26, was aborted amid protests against it by some key chieftains of Ohanaeze. The protest was led by Justice Eze Ozobu, who insisted that such a meeting must be held in Enugu, the headquarters of the organisation.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

South-South

Tuesday, January 29, 2013

Gunmen kidnap LG boss’ parents EMMA GBEMUDU YENAGOA

unmen on Sunday kidnapped the parents of the Chairman of Ogbia Local Government Area at Oloibiri, Bayelsa State. The kidnapped parents, Mr. and Mrs. Festus Ibegu were abducted at their residence at about 9.19pm while relaxing at home. The gunmen, about three in number, were said to have shot sporadically into the air to

scare intruders. They were also said to have invaded the area with a speed boat while they escaped with their victims by passing through Oloibiri waterways to an unknown destination. This is coming barely a week after the kidnapped mother of the Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Madam Betinah Benson, was released by gunmen after the payment of a ransom. There have been worries

in the state over renewed incidence of kidnapping in the state, but, the state government had alleged that some disgruntled politicians in the state were behind such activities. Investigation by National Mirror revealed that the kidnap of the Ibegus, currently raising tension in the community, may have a political undertone. It was learnt that the gunmen may have abducted the victims for a ransom. But no group has

claimed responsibility for the abduction even as the whereabouts of the victims are unknown. Efforts to reach the Chairman of Ogbia Local Government, Richard Ibegu, were not successful. Contacted, Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, in the state, Fidelis Odunna, confirmed the incident, saying that a police crack team and the Intelligence Unit has been dispatched to the creek to track down the kidnappers.

Board member, state Universal Basic Education Board, Lagos State Ministry of Education, Mr. Sylvester Oparah (left) and Rivers State Deputy Governor, Mr. Tele Ikuru, at the opening ceremony of the 5th National Schools Sports Festival in Port Harcourt, at the weekend. PHOTO: NAN

Jonathan has not failed Nigerians –UNDEDSS TEMITOPE OGUNBANKE

Niger Delta sociopolitical group, the United Niger Delta Energy Development Security Strategy, UNDEDSS, has passed a vote of confidence on President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration, saying that the government has not failed Nigerians. UNDEDSS is made up of a coalition of ethnic nationalities and civil societies in the Niger Delta, reiterated the peoples support for President Jonathan. The group, however, said that the president needs to reciprocate their support by immediately firing every inept, corrupt and impotent agents of the administration be they ministers, heads of parastatals or ambassadors; beginning with the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Elder Godsday Orubebe and the Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke. UNDEDSS President, Prof. Pat Utomi, in his address said considering the

various challenges inherited by the present administration, it will not be fair to say President Jonathan has failed Nigerians. His words: “President Jonathan is beset with challenges that were mostly created by successive administrations before his time, beginning from the military juntas of the 1960s to the 1990s. This does not, however, exculpate him from those actions and inactions he has participated in from 2007, when he and

the late President Umaru Yar’Adua took over the reins of power. “Nigerians have expected even much more from President Jonathan since he, in his own right, became leader of this entity called Nigeria, following the 2011 presidential elections, but we need to be careful about espousing bitterness in rating his Presidency. “He is no miracle-worker, that is obvious, but it will not be fair to score him

as having failed Nigerians at this point.” In his view, the Secretary-General of UNDEDSS, Mr. Tony Uranta, said President Jonathan has probably done better than any of his predecessors, considering the particularly hostile environment he has been compelled to operate in. “Despite being faced with sabotage at many levels, President Jonathan has delivered more electricity power to Nigerians than any past President.”

God’ll fight for me, Amaechi tells detractors

ivers State Governor and Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, Rotimi Amaechi, says despite comments by detractors against his administration, God will continue to fight for him to deliver the dividends of democracy to the people of the state. The governor spoke on Sunday at a special thanksgiving service to dedicate the state to God at the main bowl of the Alfred Diete-Spiff Civic Centre in Port Harcourt.

Amaechi said his administration will continue to depend on God as it strives tirelessly to build a new Rivers State and better the lives of the people. He noted that his ascension to power as governor was divinely orchestrated and that he has nothing to fear, especially over those who are bent on pulling him down. “We need to tell our critics that development is not only about roads, but the projects that impact on the lives of the poor. What about educa-

tion, health, power, water? But unto God, every day is thanksgiving; I am ready for a debate with all those who criticise what we have done in the state. “They should come and tell us what they have done with the position they held. I am open to debate with all those people and I will show what I have done. God will fight for me. When you have God, all those who are fighting you are nowhere and can never defeat or harm you.”

Security: Bayelsa builds emergency response centres

he Bayelsa State government yesterday said 13 emergency response centres, worth millions of naira, built in some designated areas of the state are ready for commissioning. The buildings are located at Oloibiri, Ogbia town, Opume, Opume-Ogbia Town, Otuabagi Junction, Emeyal, Otuoke Junction and Otuasega Shell Camp Junction. Other locations include Onuebum, Agbura, Okaki-Yenegwe Junction, Igbogene-Okolobiri-Glory Drive Round-About, Okordia-Zarama Market, Opokuma Junction and Sagbama Junction. Conducting journalists round some of the project sites yesterday as part of activities marking Governor Seriake Dickson administration’s one year in office, state Commissioner for Special Projects, Mr. Fred Obua, said the projects were borne out of government’s desire to provide adequate security for lives and property as well make the environment conducive for investors and their investments to flourish. If the state is adequately secured, according to the

commissioner, it would encourage local and foreign investors to invest in the state and shore up the economic profile of the state. According to him, in order to further strengthen the existing security network in the state, the state governor has directed the ministry to construct emergency response centres at designated locations in the state. As part of the achievements of the present administration in one year, the commissioner disclosed that a number of projects have been completed under his ministry. They are the reconstruction of the police officers’ mess, emergency response/security buildings, renovation of the state security service quarters, and fencing and landscaping of presidential lodge. The ongoing projects are the reconstruction of traditional rulers’ council building, construction of gate way entrance, glory land drive and Igbogene boundary and completion of abandoned talented children’s school quarters for use by the Federal University, Otuoke.

Council poll: Owan West LGA aspirant tasks ACN SEBASTINE EBHUOMHAN

chairmanship aspirant in the forthcoming local council poll in Edo State, Mr. Francis Uwaifo, has tasked the leadership of the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, in the state to right

Governor Amaechi recalled that his obedience and closeness to God at the time he was robbed of his gubernatorial mandate in 2007 gave him victory in the apex court. “I didn’t depend on anything or anyone, but I depended only on God, and asked God that there must be a reason for me becoming the governor of this state, and the first thing God told me was that majority of Rivers people that are poor, God will use me to better their lives.”

the wrongs of the past that ensured that Sobe in Owan West LGA, Edo State, never produced the chairman of the local government area since its creation. He told National Mirror at the ACN secretariat in Benin while submitting his nomination form that justice and fair play remained the two cardinal points of his campaign in the forthcoming election. Checks by our Correspondent showed that Owan West has a total of four clans - Iuleha, Ora, Ozalla and Sobe. While the first three clans have shared a total of 14 elected and appointed chairmanship positions in the council since 1991, Sobe was not that lucky. It was gathered that indigenes of Iuleha has held the position of the council chairmanship for a total of nine times followed by Ora with three and Ozalla with two.

North

Tuesday, January 29, 2013

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Three die in Fulani, farmers’ clash in Benue HENRY IYORKASE MAKURDI

ell was let loose in Otukpo yesterday, the country home of Senate President David Mark in Benue SouthWest Senatorial District as three Fulani herdsmen, including a couple were brutally murdered

at Amla village by unidentified persons. National Mirror gathered that also killed were eight cows belonging to the herdsmen, while their settlements in the area were completely burnt in the crisis alleged to have been caused following the destruction of farm produce of the host

community to which the affected farmers were said to have complained to no avail. Some of the farm produce destroyed include yam, beans and cassava, which the cattle of the herdsmen allegedly destroyed during their grazing. Apart from farm pro-

duce, the Amla and Emichi communities were said to have been deeply worried at the manner the herdsmen and their cows trespass their streams, making it difficult for them to have access to water for domestic use. Meanwhile, residents of neighbouring Otukpo-

Icho, Otukpo-Nobi and Odudaje have fled their homes for fear of reprisal by the Fulani community. The residents have taken refuge with their kit and kin in Otukpo town. Reacting to the development, the Och’Otukpo, Chief John Eimonye, expressed shock and called on the residents to remain calm, assuring that the matter would be thoroughly investigated with the hope of bringing the perpetrators to justice.

The Benue State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Mr. Daniel Ezeala, confirmed the incident, saying that three persons were killed in the violence. Ezeala, however, said that no arrest had been made in connection with the crisis. He said that efforts were being intensified through the traditional rulers to get at the remote cause of the crisis and urged the parties involved to embrace peace.

Niger lacks enough registration centres –NPC PRISCILLA DENNIS MINNA

T Nasarawa State Governor Tanko Al-Makura (left) addressing internally displaced people who returned to their homes at Iggah in Nasarawa-Eggon Local Government Area, at the weekend. PHOTO: NAN

SURE-P recruits 3,000 vulnerable in Gombe DANJUMA WILLIAMS GOMBE

he Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme (SURE-P) has recruited 3,000 vulnerable persons in Gombe State in an effort to enhance their socio-economic well being. Chairman of the state implementation committee of SURE-P, Alhaji Adamu Yaro Gombe, said 7,000 would still be engaged under the same programme subsequently. In an interview shortly after the flag-off of the recruitment exercise, he said out of an identified 1,000 youths to be engaged under the internship programme, 142 are females. Alhaji Gombe explained that the focus of the programme would be the rehabilitation of health facilities, rehabilitation of primary and secondary schools, construction of mini water projects, infrastructure and constructions, environment related activi-

ties and social services like security, traffic control and enforcement of sanitation. He called on eligible companies to partner with the implementation committee with a view to making the programme successful. The chairman said: “I strongly recommend this project to the entire people of Gombe State, particularly the vulnerable. This SURE–P intervention will provide the ground for jump-starting individual’s economy and by extension, the nation at large.” Earlier at the flag-off ceremony, the state governor, Alhaji Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo, represented on the occasion by his deputy, Mr. Tha’ander Jason Rubainu, lauded the programme for aimed at nationwide reduction of poverty through provision of jobs for youths, women and the vulnerable. He urged the implementation committee to visit all the local govern-

ment areas of the state and meet with stakeholders in their domains so as to share ideas on the best ways to implement the programme. The governor identified local government chairmen and councilors, district heads, community leaders, opinion leaders, faith-based organisations, civil society organisations and community development organisations as those who the implementation committee should meet. Meanwhile, the Acting Secretary of Gombe Market Traders Association,

Alhaji Abdullahi Marafa, has said that the state government promised to assist victims of the fire that raised a section of the market in the early hours of last Friday. Marafa told journalists that the deputy governor assured him of the assistance after he visited the burnt market. He flayed his fellow traders for the extent of the damage done by the fire, saying their blockage of road deprived fire fighters prompt access into the market to effectively combat the inferno.

he National Population Commission (NPC) has blamed the backlog of unregistered children in Niger State on lack of enough birth registration centres, saying the present 68 centres are not enough to meet the needs of the state. It stated that between January and December 2012, the state had a projected figure of 977,807 out of which a paltry 215,291 children were registered. The NPC Federal Commissioner in the state, Alhaji Aliyu Datti, who spoke in Minna during a call on Governor Babangida Aliyu, stressed the need for the setting up of more birth registration centers across the state to attend to the large number that have not been registered. He explained that if the issue is left unattended to, it would impact negatively on the state in some years to come, hence the need to swing into action and ensure that parents

in the 25 local government areas are educated on the need to get their babies registered. Alhaji Datti said: “On our own, the commission has set up machinery to ensure continuous and universal registration of births and death. This programme is very important to any nation as it allows for calculation of entry and departure from life.” Datti, however, said that President Goodluck Jonathan had directed the commission to start preparation for the 2016 census, but noted that the commission is faced with myriads of problems such as poor office accommodation, among others. In his response, Governor Aliyu stressed the need for conducting census, which he observed provides the required statistics for adequate economic and developmental planning for a nation. He directed the state Ministry of Works to visit the Federal Secretariat Complex to find out areas the state could assist in rehabilitating the building.

Ex-PTDF boss sets up transport scheme in Katsina JAMES DANJUMA KATSINA

ormer Executive Secretary of the Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF), Mr. Muttaqha Rabe Darma, has established a transport scheme in Katsina State. Speaking yesterday evening while presenting some of the buses to the Emir of Katsina, Alhaji Abdulmu-

mini Kabir Usman, Darma said the scheme consists of 15 long vehicles with sitting capacity of 40 to 48 people each. He said the first and second phase of the scheme is to transport people to Funtua Local Government Area and Kano State respectively, and is expected to kick off today and tomorrow. He said the scheme was established to alleviate the

plight of those whose economic status could not allow them to afford normal transport fares. Darma said that after leaving the PTDF, he decided to come up with something that would be beneficial to the people. According to him, about 300 per cent of his annual salary was given to him as sovereign benefit from PTDF, and that using part

of it to alleviate people’s plight in the area of transportation was one of the best options available. The Emir of Katsina, Alhaji Abdulmumuni Usman, commended the former PTDF boss for coming up with the project. The monarch, however, called on other rich individuals to emulate Darma for the enhancement of welfare of the poor.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Tuesday, January 29, 2013

SUPER TUESDAY

Politics

How Nebo, Turaki scaled Senate confirmation as ministers

Federal Government oppressing state governors –Fayemi

14&15

The recent stand of the state governors on the issue of local government autonomy has generated a public debate. SINA FADARE writes that the ongoing constitution review by the National Assembly may not achieve the much-desired autonomy for the third tier of government.

Furore over LG autonomy

s the National Assembly puts finishing touches to the review of the 1999 Constitution by collating and harmonising Nigerians’ inputs, it is obvious that one area that will generate a lot of uproar is local government autonomy. From all indication, the Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF) is poised for a showdown with the National Assembly over granting of the much desired autonomy to the councils. The parliament tilts towards granting autonomy to the councils while the governors are aversed to this.

Stirring the hornets’ nest The recent pronouncement of Governor Rotimi Ameachi, who is the chairman of the NGF and Rivers State governor, expressed the thinking of majority of the chief executives about the third tier of government: the local government. Governor Amaechi had declared that his colleagues would resist any attempt by the National Assembly to grant autonomy to local governments. He insisted that they are not federating units. Amaechi said that their stand was based on principle, assuring that the Forum would continue to push against granting autonomy to the third tier of government. His words: “There is no country in the world that there are three federating units; there are only two all over the world. Why should you then say that there must be a third federating unit in Nigeria? Of course yes, let a state governor or let the states create as many local governments as they want to create. Don’t put it there as a constitutional issue.” Echoing his colleague, the governor of Kano State, Rabiu Kwankwaso said the governors had to intervene when council chairmen criminally divert funds meant for development of their areas. Kwankwaso, who backed Amaechi on the two-tier system of government,

Amaechi

TOP STORY

Tambuwal

Kwankwaso

THE GOVERNORS DO NOT SUPPORT THE AMENDMENT BECAUSE

warned the National Assembly not to introduce an illegality into the Constitution.

Muscle Flexing In a swift reaction to Amaechi’s postulation, the House of Representatives said that there was no going back on amending the constitution to grant local governments as part of efforts to free it from the grip of state governors who divert local government allocations for personal use. Chairman, House Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Zakari Mohammed, stated that the governors do not support the amendment because it will put a stop to their siphoning of resources meant for the development of local government areas. He stressed that their action as lawmakers was based on the request of the majority of their constituents during the recent public sessions held across the country. His words: “Local government autonomy as far as Nigerians are concerned is

IT WILL PUT A STOP TO THEIR SIPHONING OF RESOURCES MEANT FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREAS long overdue. As true representatives of the people, our constituents do not agree with the current status where local government funds are being pilfered by governors, including Governor Kwankwaso, at the expense of the people and chairmen who are seen as mere boys for the job. I challenge the Kano State governor to tell people of his state and Nigerians how these funds are managed in Kano since he came to office. “We would certainly not accept a situation where governors turn themselves to demi -gods in the name of joint accounts. It

is only in Nigeria that an elected governor of a state would speak to the media frontally, eroding democratic ideals of which he is a beneficiary. It is saddening to note that local government elections have not been held in some states since 1999.” Mohammed regretted that “just recently, a governor’s wife, who has no constitutional powers, via a memo from her office sacked an elected councilor. Although this has since been reversed, it shows how Kwankwaso and his cohorts play with our collective common wealth.” Chairman of the Senate Committee on Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Smart Adeyemi, also accused the governors of selfishness in their demand. According to him, majority of the governors manipulated the joint account operated by states and local governments, citing instances where, at least, three former and serving state commissioners have been arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for alleged fraudulent diversion of local government funds. He lamented that some local government chairmen have disclosed how they CONTINUED ON PAGE 41

Politics

Tuesday, January 29, 2013

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Federal Government oppressing Dr. Kayode Fayemi has been in the saddle as governor of Ekiti State for over two years now. He believes that his performance will help his re-election bid in 2014. In this interview, Fayemi speaks on his endorsement for second term by his party leaders and local government autonomy. He also denies accusations against the Nigerian Governors’ Forum that it is frustrating the Federal Government. AYODELE OJO reports. Recently, you were endorsed for second term in 2014 by some leaders and groups in Ekiti State. What does this mean to you? It is a humbling experience. I was not a party to what they were doing. I have not announced to anyone that I am running for a second term. I think I just have to take it as a fact of political life. It does not play much on my approach to politics. I think we are only midway into the tenure. For me, I still have a long way to go to fulfil the promises I made to people. Many of the promises are being fulfilled; some are not fulfilled to the level I would have loved to see by midterm. But essentially, we still have a lot of work to do. Politics will happen. It is a fact of life. But governance should not be sacrificed on the altar of politics. Party men will always do what they want to do. It is within their right to decide on how they will pursue their own political agenda. But I don’t want to be distracted by that. What relationship exists between you and Opeyemi Bamidele, a member of the House of Representatives? Opeyemi is representing us in the House of Representatives. Anybody that is representing Ekiti in the House of Assembly, House of Representatives and Senate is my people. To the best of my knowledge, he has been delivering on the task given to him. But following your endorsement, he made some remarks that there were ways of nominating people for governorship in the ACN and that sounded like he was not comfortable with it? I am an avid reader of newspapers. I am a journalist too. If I am quoting him well, he said the party leadership has the right to endorse anyone they want to endorse, but there is a process in the party for choosing candidates for elections. And he is right. What is wrong with that? What he said is factual. There is a process in our party for deciding who a candidate should be. Whether ‘Ekiti Parapo’ in the US says Fayemi will be this or some other persons will be that, that process must be fulfilled at the end of the day and everybody who is a party member is entitled to contest for that post. I don’t think you can fault what he said. Are you really contesting for second term in 2014? I have not come to that conclusion yet. So, what will make you not to run? Did you read my peace in The Nation on Sunday? One of the critical things I said in the piece, in response to what I described as unfounded patriotic attack on public officers who really want to serve, is that, is this the only way I can serve my people? Is it not possible for me to serve my people in the shadows and still derive a lot of benefits in being a servant of the people? But I also argued that every time I run into old women, when I visit the communities, people I don’t know come to me to say ‘thank you, I am a beneficiary of the N5,000

Fayemi

WE RUN THIS FEDERALISM AS A UNITARY STATE... MONIES ARE COLLECTED BY NNPC. WE DON’T EVEN KNOW THE AMOUNT. NO GOVERNOR IN THIS COUNTRY CAN TELL YOU HOW MUCH THIS COUNTRY

EARNS ON A DAILY BASIS. PART OF AN ENTITY.

I AM

THERE

SHOULD BE ACCOUNTABILITY AND TRANSPARENCY you give us every month. I wouldn’t have had any means of livelihood; that they also have four children who left school, they don’t have job’ and so on…’ I feel touched that there is still much to do in government. More than two years in the saddle, what has been the constraint(s) in governing Ekiti? One of the first things I learnt in graduate school and also read in one of the late Sage, Obafemi Awolowo’s books is that educated people are easy to govern, but very difficult to manage. The reason is simple. Everybody knows what is going on. We are 2.5 million people working in this state and you can almost reach a conclusion that those 2.5 million people are up to the task of assessing you as governors themselves. They all have opinions on what the governor is doing well and not doing well; how he should handle a particular issue and he is not doing that. I don’t want to jump into the conclusion that, that does not occur in other places too. But I think there are few places that are as challenging to run as Ekiti State. Because the resources are also very limited, you are bound to have difficulties. I have just met with the Council of Obas and taken a very tough decision that most governors avoided before now. You can call it a folly on my part or courage, depending on which side of the pendulum you belong to. There were communities that have been agitating for autonomy in this state for so long. Past governors have avoided it because of the political implications in communities that did not want them to be independent and in communities that are becoming independent. But we discovered that every process that ought to have been followed had been followed. Some of these communities went as far as the Supreme Court and judgement had been given. Yet, previous governments had been reluctant to do anything about it. I granted those communities autonomy. Of course, within those communities, there were joys and gratitude. Interestingly, the communities they were leaving are, politically speaking, larger communi-

Fayemi

ties; more populated and more damaging, if I don’t manage that situation properly. It is not about bread and butter issue. It is not about putting structures in schools or tarring roads. Within a period of one month, they started calling me ‘Governor Autonomy’. I have been taken to the court by one of the communities. When you have people who are well informed, probably wrongly informed in some cases, they tend to create a lot of distractions for the government. I think that is the greatest challenge that I face here. But what has also helped me is that educated people are easy to govern. We made pledges to the people. They never believed that any governor could come and fulfil them, especially paying benefits to elderly people. The elderly people would say ‘he doesn’t know me and he gave me money, I don’t understand it.” Having done that for one year now, they know that we are serious. A laptop per child initiative in secondary school is unprecedented. Akwa Ibom is not even doing it. Delta and Rivers are not doing it. This is the only state in Nigeria that gives computers to secondary school students. You will see a lot of computer laboratories in other states, but not one laptop per child that we do here. As people have come to believe that government can be trusted, I think it is a critical component of reclaiming governance in Nigeria. Damage has been done to the social contract between the governed and the government. The governors have failed to fulfil the pledges made to the people. The people have deserted the government. When you desert government, charlatans take over and they cannot be controlled and you all have yourselves to blame for disconnecting from affairs that should concern you. I really think that is the greatest challenge. It was last week that I described my state as the most prolific rumour mill in the country. And the opposition have asked you to apologise for the remark... I have nothing to apologise for because people have a way of getting clarifications, but they don’t explore it. The social media, which is uncontrolled, should be a tool for empowering people. It has become something else. A lot of falsehood is being peddled on the facebook. Newspapers will never do that because there are standard rules of ‘who, where, when, why, what and how’ that must be answered. Some people put it on the facebook that you are not well and your family is sent into panic. Many people will start to call you to verify. The jokers, the entertainers who call themselves the opposition in my state, who asked me to apologise, said I had

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Tuesday, January 29, 2013

state governors –Fayemi

been airlifted on an emergency. The previous day, people saw me at a public event. They put it on the internet and people were commenting on it. They said my deputy had resigned. Are there no processes for reaching government? These are the kind of things I was referring to. In serious journalism, facts are sacred, opinions are free. Not anymore in the social media. What you’ll not get are people who do analysis on falsehood. I had read a feature article on the health status of somebody who wanted to resign as the basis for cabinet reshuffle or some other things that are bound to happen in Ekiti. It is just bizarre. Even, as a public officer, I don’t deserve to be abused. I don’t deserve to be insulted. I wrote something on vision and mission for The Nation few weeks ago. I said that, for public officials, this period has become reminiscent. I am not unmindful of the fact that the populace are very angry with us, and rightly so. If governance does not improve my life, I have a duty, even if it is not correct, to blame somebody, for the suffering I am encountering. But most of these malicious stuffs on the social media are actually engineered. Some are from the opposition. Some are also planned. So, serious public officers now have rapid response team for the social media. I don’t have to complain when you apply for a job like this. You must be ready to face the heat in the kitchen. But it is distracting, I must confess to you. To what extent have you been distracted by all these? Let me give you an example: from the eve of Christmas to the first week of the New Year, I received over a thousand text messages over the story I told you. ‘We learnt that the deputy governor is sick’. ‘We heard that you have been airlifted’. I said, how can I be airlifted because of an emergency health problem and I am still talking to you? That is a distraction. So, the choice was not to answer my phone and then, I missed important calls. Either way, it affects governance. How much grounds have you covered in the last two years? The universities were glorified secondary schools when we came in and we merged them into one. Initially, it didn’t go down well with some people but because of the way we went about it, eventually people bought into the idea. We were able to do it with speed. We recruited a first class vice chancellor to run the university. The university has been relatively peaceful since then. Coming to the secondary schools, we have done what was thought to be unimaginable – virtually rebuilding,

renovating and refurbishing all secondary schools in the state. We are ensuring that students study under a conducive atmosphere. Talking about human capital development, this is where you are going to see concentration. If you see the budget for this year, we have something we call community empowerment. I have been meeting with town unions because I find them to be more effective than even the local government structures imposed on those communities. Our approach is to ensure that, in terms of water provision, rural electrification, cooperative services for farmers, market women, we can accomplish much. We are building markets in all the local governments, providing tricycles for farmers and other users on microcredit basis. The way we make budget here is this: between October and November every year, I go round and collate issues that are very dear to the heart of the communities and those are what we incorporate into the budget making process. Towards the middle of the year, I meet with them again and I also meet with them at the end of the year to review whether we have fulfilled what we promised. So, we have done a lot in terms of rural infrastructure, roads to farmlands and solar borehole. A committee has been set up under the former Managing Director of Federal Mortgage Bank, Chief Falegan, who is from Ekiti. We deploy the money on the basis of what is identified: health, water provision and microcredit cooperatives. The committee determines that in conjunction with the government and monitors the implementation of the projects. That is why human development, or what our people call personal infrastructure, is important here.

Are these achievements enough to seal your second term ambition? It will be presumptuous of me to give a yes or no answer. People can go out there and assess. Our tourism hub, Ikogosi, had been abandoned for, at least, a decade before I came in. The Brick Factory in Ire had been comatose for 21 years. The textile factory that we have just revived has been lying since 1991 without being put into use, not to mention the roads that are very important to our people in Ekiti. I think the difference is clear. People will tell you all these effortlessly. Well, they may also tell you that he doesn’t throw money at people and does not sit with them in local joints the way somebody used to do. But if you talk to the average Ekiti person out there, he will tell you that what we have done in two years have not been witnessed in the last seven and half years of the previous administrations. If the answer you want from me is an objective one; that is what you are going to get.

Fayemi

together. The people of Ondo also belong to this same region. They feel the pains Ekiti people feel. They have the same issues that we have. Even if the political leadership there is reluctant about integration on account of not belonging to a particular political party, the people may not necessarily share that view. To the best of my knowledge, I don’t think the governor, in all fairness to him, is averse to regional integration. The meetings of Oodua, he has been present there. When we held integration meeting, he was here with us. We also over-play this political difference. At the end of the day, it is about improving the lot of our people. I have had cause to praise Ondo programme on Abiye health programme. Ekiti runs a unique social security programme that Osun has sent people to understudy. Ondo is interested in all these because they have elderly people in the state too and they have them in their own party who will be saying to them, ‘how much is the allocation to Ekiti that they can give money to the old people?’ Why can’t he do the same here too? So, the pressure is both from below and above. That is the nature of integration. The other point I will like to make is that integration does not necessarily fail because one leg of its membership is reluctant. If you look at the integration experience in Europe, for a long time, it was driven by France and Germany. Britain was always reluctant. In referendum after referendum, they refused until Churchill became the Prime Minister of Britain. That was when they joined the European Union, EU. An EU of two became an EU of six, and nine, and now it is an EU of 27 states because the benefits far outweigh the losses to those who are members. Greece is being bailed out of its crisis now because it is a member of EU. That is on a countrywide situation. But in our own case, regionalism is not to take power from anybody. What we have argued is that we should have a mechanism that can stand between states and the federal and have a commission to which we all belong, a secretariat that brings out this comparative advantages and also where we can pull our resources together to do things. CONTINUED ON PAGE 44

With the loss of Ondo governorship election by the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), what is the situation with the integration agenda in the South-West? It is about development and not about politics. Governance and development are different from partisan politics. There is nothing in the book that says that we must all belong to one party for integration to thrive. And I have never said that. What I have always said is that it is, of course, easier if we all belong to the same party and we respect the ideology and manifesto of our party to work

WE ARE THE ONES BEING OPPRESSED AND NOBODY IS COMING TO OUR RESCUE.

MAYBE, WE HAVE NOT

SUFFICIENTLY MADE IT CLEAR THAT THE STATES ARE THE ONES BEING OPPRESSED BY THE

FEDERAL GOVERNMENT

Politics

Fayemi

Politics

Tuesday, January 29, 2013

Stable power supply, privatisation still major issues

ASO ROCK FILE with

Rotimi FADEYI

Checking excesses of convoy drivers

he rate of reckless driving by convoy drivers of top government officials and particularly elected state governors in recent times had been a source of great concern to the citizens, many of whom have lost relations and loved ones in fatal road crashes while others have become victims because of the painful and serious injuries they sustained in such crashes. Some of the drivers who give in to the whims and caprices of their bosses have lost their lives or become victims of their own reckless driving. These elected governors who are supposed to be the servant of the people and ensure the welfare and security of the citizens of the states have become merchants of death because of the careless and reckless driving of their drivers. Shortly before the end of last year, the convoy of Kogi State governor, Idris Wada, was involved in a road crash that claimed the life of his Aide de Camp (ADC). Other governors whose convoy had been involved in road crashes include Adams Oshiomhole (Edo), Ibrahim Shema (Katsina), Rochas Okorocha (Imo), Umaru Tanko Al-Makura (Nasarawa), Liyel Imoke (Cross River), Abdul Aziz Yari (Zamfara), Emmanuel Uduaghan (Delta) to mention a few. Similarly drivers of other senior government officials and many government establishments had also been involved in fatal road accidents due to over-speeding. This was one of the issues that engaged the attention of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) last week during its weekly meeting in Abuja, where it was decided that convoy drivers need to be trained and retrained about careful driving, but the fact is that many of the drivers are also guilty of reckless driving without respect for other road users and sometimes they abuse the rights of other citizens by assaulting them with the use of horse whip without the ministers cautioning them on their dangerous driving and violation of the rights of other road users. Sometime last year, there was a report that the convoy of one of the ministers

Presidential Villa’s visitors 1. Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Bamanga Tukur 2. Senate President David Mark 3. Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu 4. Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Emeke Ihedioha 5. Former Inspector General of Police, Mike Okiro 6. Chairman, Stanbic IBTC, Atedo Peterside 7. Governor of Anambra State, Peter Obi 8. Managing Director Niger Delta Power Holding Company, James Olotu 9. Senior Special Assistant to the President on Power Reforms, O.S. Egberongbe 10. Minister of Mines and Steel, Mohammed Sada 11. Minister of State for Trade and Investment, Samuel Ortom

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knocked down and killed a pedestrian due to over-speeding. While only a few of such cases were made public; many other innocent citizens had suffered similar fate without mention. But the shocking revelation from the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) was even of great concern as the commission in its report revealed that some of the convoy drivers were incompetent and unqualified which made many Nigerians to ask how the drivers got into the employment without the necessary qualifications and training in the first place. But the Minister of Information, Labaran Maku said that all the issues are being addressed as the FEC has approved a training policy for the convoy drivers to ensure that they are physically and mentally stable to discharge their duties. The training would be conducted by the FRSC whose report revealed that some of the drivers have visual impairment and lacked the necessary skills to discharge their duties.

here were series of meetings on the privatisation of the power sector held at the State House last year in order to solve the challenge of stable power supply in the country which has greatly affected social activities as well as national economic growth. But despite the number of meetings and conferences, the privatisation process of the power sector is yet to be completed as it is still under the control of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN). This year also took off with another meeting last week at the State House still on the privatisation of the power sector which is being handled by the National Council on Privatisation (NCP). At its first meeting presided over by Vice President Namadi Sambo, the Council issued an ultimatum to pre-qualified bidders for the Power Distribution Company in Kaduna and Generating Company in Afam, Rivers State till January 31 to indicate their interest in acquiring the power firms.. The chairman, Technical Committee of the Council, Atedo Peterside, said that the NCP would only commence transaction timetable with preferred bidders who indicate interest. Peterside said: “It is with those people that have expressed interest that we will

now commence the transaction timetable so that a day or two after they express interest, those that have expressed interest will be given transaction documents and begin the process which would continue and lead to them submitting bids.” Speaking further, Peterside assured that the ongoing privatisation of the nation’s power sector would ensure stable power supply in the country as the process when completed would ensure effective and efficient management of the sector. Minister of State for Trade and Investment, Samuel Ortom, said that the council approved the implementation of the report of the committee set up by the Vice President to resolve issues hindering the smooth operations of the Tafawa Balewa Square and the Trade Fair Complex in Lagos. Ortom stated that the council would implement the report of the committee which emphasised that the two agencies should be repositioned to run smoothly. The council also considered the recent judgement of the Supreme Court in favour of an American firm, BFI Group regarding the Aluminum Smelter Company of Nigeria (ALSCON) located in Ikot-Abasi in Akwa Ibom State. Already the council has commenced moves to enter into agreement with BFI Group and the process of handing over ALSCON in line with the order of the apex court.

Jonathan in Davos, pushes terrorism to the front burners

he issue of insecurity has been a major challenge to the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan since he took over as the leader of the most populous nation in Africa. He admitted this in Davos, Switzerland at the just-concluded World Economic Forum where he met with other world leaders, top world businessmen and owners of multinational companies that the security challenge is a major issue. Jonathan said terrorism in Nigeria as well other countries in the sub region-of West Africa and the continent of Africa generally posed a serious threat to peace, stability and the economy of entire African continent. When he appeared on Cable News Network (CNN) in an interview anchored by Christiane Amanpour, Jonathan described the violent Islamic sect, Boko Haram, as a local terror group operating in Nigeria. He disagreed with Amanpour that the terror group sprung up as a result of poverty and hunger in the land, saying that the group came up with the aim of unleashing terror on the nation. While saying that the security agencies are working very hard to contain the deadly activities of the group, he denied allegation of extra-judicial killings as well as killing of women and innocent citizens by security operatives in the process of hunting down terrorists in the country. Jonathan said that the negative reports about Nigeria that were available to the United States Department of State was based on misinformation by certain Non-Governmental Organisations and other interest groups, saying that America should use its own means of gathering information to filter the truth. He also told the world business leaders

Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim; Chief of Staff to the President, Chief Mike Oghiadomhe; Vice-President Namadi Sambo and Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mohammed Bello Adoke (SAN) during the Federal Executive Council meeting at the State House.

gathered in Davos that terrorism on the African continent has been made attractive because of the huge rewards terrorists get as ransom for hostage-taking and drug trafficking. Speaking on the theme “De-Risking Africa” as one of the panellists at an interactive session held during the Forum, Jonathan said Africa needs the cooperation and support of the international community to deal with terrorism in the continent He explained that terrorism was further fuelled by the Libyan crises stressing that terrorists would always want to instigate crises because of the monetary attraction. On the theme of this year’s forum, Jonathan stated that Africa was not the only one facing risks, as there are generally, risks involved in any business venture anywhere in the world, depending on the circumstances. He noted that for sometime now the major risks in Africa was fuelled by the

political instability, adding that so far the continent was gradually putting that behind it. “In terms of political stability African countries have been reasonably derisked because governments has become stable and because the political system is stable it also affects economic planning,” he said. He stated that following the political instability in the region, economic indices were volatile and the exchange rate was highly unpredictable, saying that with the stability, exchange rates have been reasonably stable even as the continent is trying to maintain a single digit inflation. “The growth rate had been stagnant before this time, but over the period the growth rate in most African countries is significantly above the world average,” he said.

MORE POLITICS STORIES ON PAGES 41-43

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Tuesday, January 29, 2013

Rashidi Yekini and Nigeria’s mental health law BOLAJI AYORINDE Continued from yesterday

ike earlier stated, Nigeria’s legal framework regulating the affairs of mentally ill persons is largely based on the repealed Mental Health Act 1959 of the United Kingdom, which has gone through two amendments, first in 1983 and again in 2007. Mental disorder was defined in the United Kingdom 1983 Mental Health Act as any disorder or disability of the mind, excluding those of severe mental impairment and psychopathic disorder, which were included in the lunacy laws in force in Nigeria as a result of the 1959 Ac,t which was copiously enacted. This definition has further widened the term and persons that fall under the definition of mentally disordered persons, as this category is now not limited to just persons suffering from the now omitted ailments, but also other persons that were not or might not have been envisaged under the 1959 Act with exceptions to learning disability or alcohol dependence. The properties of mentally disordered persons are issues of private law over which the state has no power over save certain instances known to law. However, mentally disordered persons are subject to state protection and therefore, there is a state responsibility to handle their affairs. As such, in the United Kingdom, the Mental Health Act 1983 provides that the affairs of the mentally disordered persons (including their properties and belongings) are to be handled by the

IT IS INDEED A SAD COMMENTARY THAT THE

NIGERIAN LEGAL

SYSTEM HAS NOT DEVELOPED A PROPER AND EFFICIENT LEGAL FRAMEWORK TO PROTECT THE MOST VULNERABLE OF ITS CITIZENS AND IT IS ABOUT TIME LEGISLATION IS ENCOURAGED IN THIS FIELD state through Lord Chancellor, who has the power to nominate judges of the Supreme Court to manage such properties and affairs. The Supreme Court has created a court called the Court of Protection for this purpose. The court has a head called Master of the Court of Protection. The existence and the powers of the Court of Protection are entirely statutory by virtue of the Mental Health Act 1983. Section 17 of the High Court law of Lagos State states as follows: “...the High Court shall have the powers and authorities of the Lord Chancellor of Great Britain in relation to the

appointment and control of guardians of infants and their estate, and also keepers of the persons and estates of idiots, lunatics and such as being of unsound mind are unable to govern themselves and their estates” By the above, the High Court of Lagos possesses the power of the Lord Chancellor to the extent that it can appoint guardians for infants and to manage and control the affairs and estate of lunatics who are unable to govern such themselves. Before such management can be embarked on, it must be shown that the subject is incapable of managing his property and affairs by himself through medical evidence given by a registered medical practitioner. While the practice and procedure of the Court of Protection in England has significantly developed over the years, same cannot be said of the Nigerian practice even though there are relevant but insufficient provisions in the High Court laws of Lagos State and indeed other states of the federation. (See for example, Section 11 of the High Court law of Oyo State 2000). One of the most common situations in mental health situations in most jurisdictions is the presence of lunatics on the streets without care or any attempt to take them in and treat them. In the Nigerian jurisdiction, there are no provisions for taking such lunatics in or detaining them. As such they sleep on the streets and in public properties, causing danger to themselves and innocent passersby. In the United Kingdom under the Mental Health Act 1983, Section 136 provides for a lunatic to be removed from places

where the public have access to by a Constable for the protection of the lunatic and the public. Such lunatic will be removed to a ‘Place of Safety’. Section 135 defines a ‘Place of Safety’ as a residential accommodation provided by a local social service authority under part III of the National Assistance Act 1948 and under paragraph 2 of the National Health Service Act 1977, a hospital as defined by the act, a police station, mental nursing home, residential home for the mentally disordered persons or any other suitable place where the occupier willfully receives the patient. It is indeed a sad commentary that the Nigerian legal system has not developed a proper and efficient legal framework to protect the most vulnerable of its citizens and it is about time legislation is encouraged in this field. We have not developed our legal framework, while social distaste and ostracisation remains the unfortunate order of the day in Nigeria with regards to the mentally ill. This article is dedicated to all the victims of abuse who have been let down by the system and who are still waiting for justice. However these people may still be better off than the likes of Rashidi Yekini, who unfortunately may have been let down by the nation he served with his all. Concluded Chief Ayorinde (SAN) is the chairman, Legal Aid Council of Nigeria and former Pro-Chancellor and chairman Governing Council Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomosho

Before Lagosians go berserk FEMI OLUOKUN

or commercial motorcycle operators (okada riders), Lagos roads have become a maze. Since the ban on and restriction of okada operation in some parts of the state, the police have continued to engage recalcitrant operators in a race of death. Attempts to beat a retreat, especially from armed security operatives, who in their vans recklessly pursue offenders, okada riders are at grave risk. The chase is often suicidal. Penultimate Friday, at Oke-Koto, Agege, a road under restriction, a police van almost knocked down an operator who, besides violation, irresponsibly carried two passengers. When the van cornered him at the junction, he in great quandary slammed his brake abruptly. Paralyzed by fear, the extra passenger jumped off his seat landing terribly face down in the asphalt road. He wasn’t run over, but the jump off wasn’t as cool, as his palms and forearms, knees and forelegs, were bloodied. The rider, for his part, tried a detour, but both he and his other passenger ran into an oncoming car. No one died! The following day at 10:45 am, a similar skit played out at Suru Lere Street, Oniwaya area of Agege. An okada rider, in a deft move, heralded by cheers from the neighbourhood spectators, had clearly outperformed a police van, and headed in opposite direction. His cleverness, however, was short-lived. Unknowingly to him,

IN ALL OF THIS, HOWEVER, TASKFORCE MEN AND MEN OF THE

RAPID RESPONSE SQUAD (RRS) HAVE STOOD OUT. THEY HAVE SHOWN

EXEMPLARY POLICING QUALITIES IN THE DISCHARGE OF THEIR DUTIES three other police vans, in convoy, were approaching from his direction. Seized by panic, he abandoned the motorcycle and disappeared into one of the nearby houses. He was nabbed, manhandled and disgraced. This is not a chronicle of cat and mouse, truly; the police are at it again. While the ban is commendable, the police, for its own part, seemed to be overdoing it. How do you explain activities of policemen in unrestricted areas? Take Ogunjebe, Kelani, Ijaiye, Sodipo, and Fashola streets of Agege, where policemen seize operators as a matter of routine. An okada operator, who identified himself as Baba Ike, recounted his ordeal. He said he was arrested at Kelani Street after he had dropped a passenger. ‘I’d to pay N4, 000 be-

fore they released my okada to me’. Another operator, Ibrahim Hassan, said he had at separate times been arrested twice in one day. ‘I had to borrow money to bail my okada. That day, alone, I spent N10, 000’. This unwholesome practice isn’t new. Even before the enactment of the law restricting okada operations, the police had been a thorn in the flesh of okada operators. The trunks of police vans were mostly festooned with motorcycles that usually found their way into circulation again. Now with such activities reminiscent of the past ugliness of roadblocks and check points, which of course, were characterized by brazen extortion, it would not take long before these assumed jobless men go on rampage against such highhandedness and extortion. Trouble almost brewed that day at Oniwaya. Women and youths expressed strong emotion and anger at a police patrol team after an okada man was forced into its van. ‘Look at the way they are dragging him on the floor’, observed a woman who began to weep. ‘This is unfair’. Even so, a crowd of agitated youths began to haul abusive words at the police. Incensed? That’s what I sensed. If, God forbid, he had resisted arrest and one of the youth among many other sympathisers, put up a fight, and the police began to shoot, killing one or two or more persons, what would have happened? The police should know too well to respect the rights of its citizen.

While it is necessary that relevant authorities put these absurdities into check, it should also make available to all, both police and okada riders alike, and even the people of Lagos, map/directory of restricted and unrestricted areas for okada operations. If these matters are well addressed, then no sane okada rider would dare thread where angels do not dread nor any reasonable passenger risk patronising an operator in such restricted areas. In all of this, however, taskforce men and men of the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) have stood out. They have shown exemplary policing qualities in the discharge of their duties. Okada operators, though cringe to say it, admit that once a seizure of their motorcycle is made by these men, ‘it is Alausa straight. No story’. Isn’t this the same police? Can’t stations and divisional commands take a cue from this? The Inspector-General of Police should compel his men and officers to emulate his professionalism. We need a people friendly police force. Eko o nibaje o! Oluokun, delefemi oluokun@yahoo. com, a freelance journalist, wrote from Agege, Lagos Send your views by mail or sms to PMB 10001, Ikoyi, or our Email: mail@ nationalmirroronline.net mirrorlagos@ yahoo.com or 08164966858 (SMS only). The Editor reserves the right to edit and reject views or photographs. Pseudonyms may be used but must be clearly marked as such.

Editorial

Tuesday, January 29, 2013

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HEAD, GRAPHICS

The 50 floating bodies in Anambra river

he grisly discovery of at least 50 floating corpses between Awka and Amansea, two border communities between Anambra and Enugu states recently has once again brought to the fore the stark reality of the helplessness of the nation’s security agencies. Without any sign of fratricidal hostilities, major road accident or fatal epidemic, the yet-tobe-identified, partially burnt bodies which were reportedly dumped into the Enugu State end of the Ezu River were sighted floating in the Anambra State axis recently. Stunned residents of Amansea community, Anambra State, claimed they counted over 50 all-male corpses with their hands tied behind, while figures given by the Anambra State Government and the state Police Command were relatively conservative. Not surprisingly, speculations have been rife on the fate that actually befell the victims, some of whose bodies were already decomposing at the time of discovery. The strongest allegation as yet was that of civil society groups which suspected extra-judicial killings. The International Society for Civil Liberties and the Rule of Law (Intersociety) and the Civil Liberties Organ-

isation, for example, supported their suspicion with the claim that in November 2005, over 20 detained suspects were killed and dumped in the area. They argued that the victims must have been dumped into the river this time because the forest hitherto used by the police as shallow graves in ‘Agu-Awka’, near Awka, the Anambra State capital, has been developed as a residential area. Some also felt the floating corpses could be those of casualties of ritual murder. Governor Peter Obi of Anambra State reportedly cut short an overseas trip to personally witness the shock find. The governor had cautioned those living close to the affected river and the adjoining neighbouring communities it served not to use water from the Ezu River for drinking or cooking purposes to avert any epidemic arising from likely pollution. The Anambra State Government also offered N5 million as reward for anyone able to volunteer information that could lead to the apprehension of the perpetrators of the killing. While the police in Anambra have absolved themselves of culpability in the suspected unlawful killings, not much has been heard from their

NOTHING SHORT OF A THOROUGH INVESTIGATION, DEVOID OF ANY COVER-UP, CAN

REVEAL HOW THE DEATH OF SUCH A LARGE NUMBER OF PEOPLE… CAME ABOUT Enugu State counterparts. But whereas the Obi administration has put up its best under the embarrassing circumstance, nothing short of a thorough investigation, devoid of any cover-up, can reveal how the death of such a large number of people whose bodies were recovered from the river came about. We think that with the N5 million Governor Obi has put at stake, it is only a matter of time before credible information will start filtering in. Consequently, considering the fact that the police are being strongly suspected as the perpetrators of the evil, we advocate that a judicial inquiry with full compliments be constituted to painstakingly interrogate

the circumstances that led to the mystery deaths; especially since civil society groups have pointed to such happenings in the area less than a decade ago. Only the identification, prosecution and punishment of those behind the inhuman act will gratify Nigerians and restore public confidence in the government and its security agencies, especially the police. Besides demystifying the case at hand will also deter other criminally-minded fellows, be they security operatives or civilians, who waste human lives with impunity. And since, according to reports, the Ezu River cuts across several communities in the South-East, special arrangements should be made to provide alternative sources of potable water for communities along the route of the polluted river to avert an epidemic that seems most probable if the necessary precautions are not taken. Considering the rural nature of the affected communities and the high level of illiteracy in such areas, the governments of Anambra and Enugu states should make additional efforts to properly enlighten the people in the language they understand, on the inherent danger in drinking water from the polluted river.

ON THIS DAY January 29, 2002 In his State of the Union Address, President George W. Bush of the United States described “regimes that sponsor terror” as an Axis of Evil, in which he included Iraq, Iran and North Korea. The Axis of Evil was used to pinpoint common enemies of the US and its allies in support of the war on terror. The ter m has stirred controversy as it tur ned out that Iraq never actually possessed any weapons of mass destruction.

January 29, 2001 Thousands of student protesters in Indonesia storm parliament and demand that President Abdurrahman Wahid resign due to alleged involvement in corruption scandals. Wahid (1940 – 2009), was an Indonesian Muslim religious and political leader who served as the President of the country from 1999 to 2001. Wahid was the first elected president of Indonesia after the resignation of Suharto in 1998.

January 29, 1985 Final recording session of the song and charity single, ‘We Are The World’ by the group, USA for Africa, took place. The song was written by Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie; and sold in excess of 20 million copies. The considerable profits from the enterprise went to the USA for Africa Foundation, which used them for the relief of famine and diseases in Africa, specifically the 1983–1985 famine in Ethiopia.

Airlines slash fares to attract patronage, as NCAA assures of safety

ECA has provided for speedy, adequate compensation -NISTF boss 37

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Tuesday, January 29, 2013

Curbing losses from fire incidents

o home is entirely fireproof. But the incessant fire outbreaks with attendant loss of lives and property recently have generated concern among building professionals and stakeholders, canvassing solutions to reduce the menace. The stakeholders blame lack of fire code for building materials; proliferation of imported building materials in the market; absence of fire safety measures in homes; non engagement of qualified professionals during building design, construction and supervision to take cognisance of fire safety; wrong design of building; illegal change of use and non compliance with existing town planning laws by home owners for increase in the cases of fire outbreaks in the country. It shocked many people when a five-storey building, located at No 10-12, Breadfruit Street, Lagos Island went up in flames on October 27, 2012, due to spark from one of the electrical switches, killing two persons, while goods worth millions of naira were destroyed. This was followed by another three-storey cracker warehouse that sparked a major fire outbreak in the Jankara area of Lagos at the close of the year. No fewer than eight multi-storey buildings and several cars were consumed as the raging fire spread to adjoining properties. As if the fire was limited to Lagos, then palace of Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi was caught up in flames recently. Labaowo Market in Ibadan, a storey building at Igando, Okobaba sawmill in Lagos were not spared. According to statistics from

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Building experts have continued to blame the incessant fire outbreaks in the country on proliferation of market with imported building materials without fire code, absence of safety measures in homes and non-engagement of qualified building professionals. Experts have suggested ways out of the woods. DAYO AYEYEMI, reports.

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

Aero Contractors Lag-Abj: 06.50, 13.30, 16.30, 19.45 (Mon-Fri/Sat/Sun), 12.30 (Sun) 16.45 (Sat) Abj-Los: 07.30, 13.00, 19.00 (Mon-Fri/Sat, 10.30, 14.30, 19.30 (Sun, 18.30 Sat) LagBenin: 07.45, 11.00, 15.30 (MonFri/Sat/Sun) 12.30 (Sun 15.30 (Sat) Ben-Lag: 09.15, 12.30, 17.00 (Mon-Fri/Sat/Sun) 17.00 (Sat)

Ongoing building project

the Nigerian Emergency Management Agency, (NEMA), Oyo State recorded seven major fire disasters this year, while Osun, Ogun and Lagos recorded 2, 3 and 6 cases respectively. It is interesting to know that most fire fighting tools are imported. NEMA stated recently that all over south west zone, there is no water hydrant where fire appliances can possibly refill water It is worthy to mention that most residential high-rise buildings in the country do not have fire safety tools such as fire extinguishers, fire safes, smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors especially in the kitchen as most fire starts from there. Giving clue to factors responsible for most fire outbreaks in homes, former Chairman of Lagos Chapter of the Nigeria Institute of Architects (NIA), Mrs. Abimbola Ajayi, said it was unfortunate that the nation

does not have fire code, pointing out that many of the plastic materials currently being used for building construction and finishing are combustible in nature. According to her, well-constructed houses and buildings could help prevent such tragedies by using materials that are relatively fire-resistant. She noted that a major cause of the fire outbreak in homes is electrical, saying power upsurge from Power Holding Corporation of Nigeria (PHCN) after prolonged power outage always spark fire outbreak. According to her, a lot of building materials such as the plastic ceiling and carpet materials do not have fire resistance, urging home owners not to use carpets for their floor as they aid fire. She said smoke from carpet kills easily, suggesting wood

product specifically treated against fire. Fire resistant materials, which are designed to resist burning and withstand heat, she said were not the same as fire retardant materials which were designed to slow down fire or burn more slowly. On what architect can do to include fire code in building design from onset, she stated that architects could only specify materials that are fireproof, advising people to be mindful of building materials in the market before purchase. To avert fire outbreak in homes, she urged home owners to wrap their homeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s exterior with naturally non-combustible and fabricated fire-resistant materials. President of the Nigerian Institute of Building, NIOB, Mr

IRS Lagos-Abuja 7.30 8.30 7.45 8.45 09.30 10.30 10.30 11.30 12.30 13.30 14.30 15.30 16.30 17.30 Lagos-Kano 08.00 09.15 10.30 11.45 14.30 15.40 18.15 19.30 Los-Maid&Yola (Mon-Thur) 09.30 11.30 Fri- Sun 10.30 12.30 Kano-Lagos 07.30 08.45 14.00 15.15 17.30 18.45 Kano-Abj 10.45 11.30 Abj-Lagos 09.00 10.30 11.00 12.00 12.00 13.00

CONTINUED ON PAGE 20

Planning Minister seeks funding of DPRS in MDAs

Experts call for minimum wage in private sector

Construction industry still grapping with implementation of National Building Code

Business & Finance

Tuesday, January 29, 2013

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Curbing losses from fire incidents

Omoiefe

Ajayi

CONTINUED FROM 19 Chucks Omeife, said there were measures clearly spelt out in the National Building Code (NBC), to and reduce the impact in the event of any. He also pointed out that the building code specifies measures to reduce the spread of same by use of certain quality of materials. He said, “The specifications as contained in the NBC cover these areas. It is important to mention that strict compliance to the provisions of the code will reduce to the bearest minimum the incidences of fire outbreak and its attendant hazards. On what steps to be taken to avert future fire accidents, the NIOB president has this to say, “Accidents sometimes cannot be avoided but enforcement of existing safety regulations is very important in the prevention and management of fire outbreaks.” “A typical scenario is the absence of escape staircase in most residential of 2 and 3 storey houses. The issue of fire protection system in houses is another serious matter that government should look into. Government can gradually insist that existing houses provide this facilities as time goes on while enforcing their provisions at the design stage.” He described the issue of incessant fire outbreaks in the country as a reflection of the level of carefree attitude and value people place on life. He said the building code is clear on issues concerning safety measures expected in buildings, building usages and precaution that should be taking in respect of possible fire outbreaks. He lamented that the building code enabling law is still being awaited and as such, the provisions in relation to issues of safety in building are not enforced. He said, “Most buildings that are under construction are still based on discretionary design consideration to provide some level of safety measures. Fire outbreak is an accident which must be anticipated and measures put in place to ameliorate its consequence in the event of any. “While citizens engage in unwholesome and reckless behaviour about their safety and that of others, government has

Pepple

MOST BUILDINGS THAT ARE UNDER CONSTRUCTION ARE STILL BASED ON DISCRETIONARY DESIGN CONSIDERATION TO PROVIDE SOME LEVEL OF SAFETY MEASURES a responsibility to ensure that safety is entrenched in all activities carried out by its people. It is however unfortunate that we are still evolving in different aspect of our development and this is why different laws are being advocated for, in respect of safety”. On possible insurance cover for buildings, Omeife said the building insurance which NIOB and Council of Registered Builders of Nigeria (CORBON), have been advocating in conjunction with the National Insurance Commission was part of the collective efforts to professionalise the construction process by ensuring that buildings to be constructed satisfy the requirements of the regulatory agencies. The insurance of buildings to be constructed, he said was to reduce risk associated with incidences of collapse to the owner, and to the victims. For this to happen, he explained that NAICOM has to ensure that the building is constructed by the appropriate professional recognised by law. He said, “The expectation is that existing physical planning and development laws must incorporate this Insurance law to make it effective and implementable. “Lagos State government has incorporated this into their Physical Planning and Building Control Law. It is our hope that when this Building Insurance Law is fully implemented, it will go a long way in sanitising the construction process and the built environment.” He enjoined government to enforce laws concerning safety both at homes and during construction by ensuring that building designs incorporate necessary safety measures before approvals are granted. “These are some of the little details that our approving agencies must insist on before and during building construction and confirmed after construction before issuing certificate of fitness for habitation

for newly completed buildings,” Omeife stated. Incumbent Chairman of Lagos NIA, Mr. Ladi Lewis, said part of the nation’s building code deals with the issue of fire, stating that architect must be considered first in any building design. According to him, in most cases, architects are left out in house plan design, building usage and supervision, pointing out that building not appropriately design with combustible materials coupled with abuse of use could catch fire at slight opportunity. To curb fire incidents in homes, he advised that requisite safety requirement for cables had to be adopted, adding that electrical appliances, sockets, switching and adaptors must be those coated with fire resistant materials. According to building expert at Gharexpert. com, houses where people spent their lives should be strong enough to handle natural disaster like flood, earthquake and fire. He stressed that fire prevention could be done by ensuring that materials used in building should be of such that does not disintegrate under the effect of heat produced during fire. Such materials, he emphasised should not expand due to heat and should ensure stability of structure. He pointed out that the nature of materials used in building should have minimum contraction due to sudden cooling with water after the materials are heated at high temperature. He said, “The nature of material used in building should be such that it does not catch fire easily.” Some fire resistant building properties for building include: Stone: It is a bad conductor of heat. Sand stone with fine grains can moderate fire successfully without having serious cracks. Granite is disintegrated when it receives heat from fire. Lime stone is eas-

ily crumbled by ordinary fire. Most of stones are disintegrated into small pieces when heated during fire and cooled afterwards. Brick: Bricks are bad conductor of heat. They have no serious effect of heat until the temperature during fire rises above 1200 degrees to 1300 degrees. At the time of construction, if good quality mortar is used and brick work constructed by skilled mason, brick masonry offers good resistance to fire. Cast Iron: This material is rarely used in building construction. Cast iron breaks into pieces when gets a normal temperature after getting heat during the fire. Care should be taken while using cast iron in the building and it should be covered either by brick work, concrete or any other fire resistant material. Steel: It is a good conductor of heat and it is heated quickly in fire. Steel bars lose its tensile strength, yields stress if it is heated above 600 degree centigrade during fire. Steel bars completely melt at a temperature of 1400 degree centigrade. During fire , unprotected steel columns, beams etc. become unsafe due to high temperature and structure may fail. The paint on the surface of the steel items catches fire easily, keeping in the above problem fire resistant paint should be done on steel members. Concrete: Concrete is a bad conductor of heat and an effective material for fire resistant. It offers higher resistance to fire than any other material. The actual behaviour of concrete in case of fire depends on quality of cement and type of aggregate which form concrete. In case of reinforced and pre-stressed structures, it also depends on the position of steel in concrete. There is no loss of strength in concrete when it is heated up to 250 degrees centigrade. The reduction of strength starts when the temperature of fire increases beyond 250 degrees centigrade. Normally re-enforced concrete structure can resist fire for about one hour at the temperature of 1000 degrees centigrade without any serious damage. Hence cement concrete is widely used in fire resistant construction. Glass: It is a poor conductor of heat and expends little during heating. Cracks are formed in glass when it is cooled after heating. Re-enforced glass with steel wire is more resistant to fire than ordinary glass. Re-enforced glass can resist sudden variation in temperature without forming cracks. Wired glass even if it breaks, keeps fractured glass in its original position. Timber: Any structure made from timbers rapidly destroys in case of fire. Timber also enhances intensity of fire. As timber is a bad conductor of heat if heavy section is used it may attain a high degree of fire resistance. To make timber more fire resistant, the surface of timber is coated with chemicals such as ammonium phosphate and soleplate, borax and boric acid. After doing treatment, the timber becomes more resistant to heat. Sometimes fire resistant paint is also applied on surface of the timber to protect it from heat.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Business & Finance

Tuesday, January 29, 2013

Minister seeks funding for research in MDAS TOLA AKINMUTIMI

ABUJA

he Minister of the National Planning Commission, Dr Shamsuddeen Usman, has called on Federal Ministries, Departments and Agencies, MDAs, to make adequate funding provision for Departments of Planning Research and Statistics (DPRS) and Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) in their agencies. The minister canvassed the improved financial support for the departments in his keynote address at the opening session of a sensitisation workshop on Guidelines for Performance Contract Design, Monitoring, Evaluation and Reporting organised by the commission in Abuja. The financial life-line, according to him, will enable the DPRS and M and E to perform their duties effectively under the current administration’s new regime of performance contract system. While noting the challenges of data collection and processing in performance measurement, Usman encouraged the MDAs to work closely with the

L –R: Secretary, Nigerian Red Cross Society (Lagos branch), Ms. Ijeoma Nweke; Representative of staff of Stanbic IBTC Holdings Plc, Mr. Tega Adeda; Chairman, Nigerian Red Cross Society (Lagos branch), Mr. Onibudo Ola and Head, Corporate Social Investment, Stanbic IBTC, Mrs. Morin Adeyemi , during the presentation of a cheque to the Red Cross by employees of the holding company, for the rehabilitation of flooded communities, yesterday.

National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), which as the custodian of the nation’s data, would ensure that the relevant and credible data are made available towards realising their deliverables. He explained that with the perfor mance contract regime there has been a paradigm shift from the old

Nigeria, Canada target $6bn trade volume by 2015 OLUFEMI ADEOSUN

igeria and Canada, on Monday, resolved to strengthen trade and investment ties between both countries by leveraging on areas of competitive and comparative advantage. The two countries also agreed on strategies to double the volume of trade between them to $6billion by 2015 just as Canada disclosed plans to review its visa processing time to aid trade and investment with Nigeria. Nigeria’s value of merchandise trade with Canada stood at about $2.7billion in 2011. The decisions were reached during the Nigeria-Canada BiNational Commission meeting in Abuja, co-chaired by the Nigerian Minister of Trade and Investment, Mr. Olusegun Aganga; and the Canadian Minister for International Trade, Honourable Ed Fast. Speaking during the meeting, Aganga said that Nigeria and Canada would significantly enhance their socio-economic ties through the Bi-National Commission by working on mutually beneficial growth projects along areas of competitive and comparative advantages.

He said, “Nigeria is one of Canada’s largest trading partners in Sub-Saharan Africa. In 2011, Nigeria’s value of merchandise trade with Canada stood at $2.7billion; consisting of $2.5billion in Nigeria’s exports to Canada and $199million import. “The bulk of Nigeria’s export to Canada, however, revolves around oil and gas. It is therefore imperative for us to strengthen our relationship by widening our export into the non-oil sector.” Aganga noted that the meeting provided a veritable platform for the two countries to review their socio-economic progress and chart a new roadmap for increased trade and investment and enhanced economic growth on both sides. “The establishment of the Nigeria – Canada Bi-National Commission (NCBNC) to further facilitate and strengthen the bilateral cooperation between our two countries is indeed an initiative worthy of commendation. This meeting today serves as an avenue for Nigeria and Canada to review the socio-economic progress of both countries with a view to consolidating on gains and re-strategizing for enhanced growth,” he said.

ways of not measuring perfor mance to a new order of delivering services through measurement of their impact to the society.

Usman further said to be able to implement the Vision 20:2020 development policy blueprint and achieve its long term objectives, the country

must adopt a radical way of thinking. This, he pointed out, would enable to assess the performance of preceeding years while charting a way forward for the coming years. Highlighting the essence of the workshop, Usman said “it was a step to building the capacity of the participants on a number of issues, the methodologies of measuring performance and the basic steps for reporting performance”. The workshop was aimed at building the capacity of participants, who are going to play a key role in this concept of performance contract developed by the National Planning Commission. It would be recalled that the President last year signed the performance contract agreement with his Ministers, and it is designed also to be cascaded to the levels of permanent secretaries and departmental directors in all federal MDAs.

Non-oil export earnings decrease by 30.5% -CBN UDO ONYEKA

he total non-oil exports earnings by exporters in November 2012 at US$276.71 million, declined by 30.5 per cent below the level at the end of the preceding month. This was revealed by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), in its economic report of November 2012. The survey however said when compared with the corresponding period of 2011 there was an increase of 35.5 per cent. “This development the report said “reflected, largely, the de-

cline in receipts in respect of agricultural, manufactured and minerals sector. “A breakdown of receipts showed that proceeds of industrial sector and food products rose by 18.7 and 619.6 per cent over the levels in the preceding month to US$165.79 million and $46.08 million, respectively. “Receipts from manufactured, minerals and agricultural sub-sectors fell by 60.4, 90.4 and 37.9 per cent below their respective levels in the preceding month to $31.91 million, $13.42 million and $19.52 million. “The shares of industrial, food, manufactured, minerals and agricultural sub-sectors in non-oil export proceeds were

59.9, 16.7, 11.5, 7.1, and 4.8 per cent, respectively,” the report said. Meanwhile, the report said in sectoral utilisation of foreign exchange the visible sector accounted for the bulk (65.9 per cent) of total foreign exchange disbursed in November 2012. A breakdown of the sectoral disbursement showed that the minerals and oil sector accounted for 14.9 per cent followed by industrial sector 20.8 per cent. Other beneficiary sectors, included: food products (12.3 per cent), manufactured products (14.3 per cent), transport (3.4per cent) and agricultural products (0.3 per cent).

Onne Free Trade Zone workers embark on warning strike MESHACK IDEHEN

he National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) and Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) said they are issuing a notice to embark on a three-day warning strike. According to the oil and gas workers, if companies in the Onne Free Trade Zone (FTZ) do not recall workers sacked for engaging in union activities and stop the impunity and injustice being meted out to oil and gas workers in the Free

Trade Zone, the workers would have no other option than to use the instrument at its disposal, which is to commence industrial action. The workers in a communiqué issued after a meeting of the Joint Action Committee of their two unions stated that the planned industrial action will commence on February 13 and end on February 15, 2013, and will affect the entire South East and South-South states, except Delta and Edo states. According to the communiqué which was made available to National Mirror on Monday, the unions said if after the three days’ warning strike, no

concrete step is taken to correct the injustice by the employers in the FTZ, that a full blown industrial action affecting the country, and including but not limited to total shut down of the oil and gas production will be embarked upon. Media and Information Officer of PENGASSAN, Mr. Babatunde Oke, said the strike was in compliance with an earlier directive of the Joint National Executive Council (NEC), meeting of NUPENG and PENGASSAN which gave a three weeks ultimatum to companies operating in the FTZ to allow unionisation in compliance with the Nigerian labour laws.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Tuesday, January 29, 2013

Jobs & Career

Experts call for minimum wage in private sector The lack of a defined and nationally accepted minimum wage standard for workers in the private sector has resulted in wholesale exploitation. This is even as public sector workers still grapple with non-implementation of the constitutionally approved wage. MESHACK IDEHEN reports

or the nation ’s private and public sectors workers, anxiety continues to mount over series of issues that have come to surrounds the payment of their new minimum wage. Worst still is that at the states and local government ’s area levels, implementing the constitutionally approved new minimum wage has become an unending challenge and burden for the government ’s involved, as developmental projects and initiatives have all been stalled due to workers refusal to be part of such all because of disagreements, strikes and protests over the delay and non payment of the minimum wage. However, with the minimum wage for public sector workers controversy still ongoing, considering the partial implementation by state governments like those of Plateau, Adamawa Ekiti, Kwara and those in the south east, experts said attention should focus on minimum wage standards or baseline wage in the private sector, where many workers monthly take home, according to some experts, may not even be up to the approved new minimum wage for workers in the public service. In the same vein, many of the experts called for the introduction and urgent implementation of a universal minimum wage that can adequately take care of workers and their welfare, irrespective of whether they are working in the public or private sector. “In Nigeria and most African countries ”, say Industrial Relations Specialist, Mr. Kunle Rotimi, “private sector workers are usually at the mercy and grace of their employers as far as a wage standard is concerned, that is if there are any standards at all ”, he said. According to Rotimi, who insisted he was not commending the Federal and state governments for fixing the minimum wage at N18, 000 for the least paid worker in the country ’s public service, there are hundreds of thousands of private sector workers who are annually slaving away for amounts as small as N10.000 monthly. He said because the government has allowed the private sector to “do their own thing ”, that many employers in that sector have taken advantage of that freedom, to pay “death wage whatever they like ” to their workers, adding the high unemployment level in the country has also not help private workers cause in the quest to earn a “living wage ”. Speaking in the same vein while lamenting the plight of private sector workers in relations to non uniform standard in wage last week, the Deputy Director-General of the International Labour Organisation, (ILO), Ms. Sandra Polaski, raised the alarm that more than 52 million people around the world are employed as domestic workers, and that the ILO is admitting that the figure of 52 million excludes children domestic workers below

Rotimi

PRIVATE SECTOR WORKERS ARE USUALLY AT THE MERCY AND GRACE OF THEIR EMPLOYERS AS FAR AS A WAGE STANDARD IS

CONCERNED, THAT IS IF THERE ARE ANY STANDARDS AT ALL the age of 15. According to the United Nations backed global apex labour body, these categories of (domestic and non domestic) private sector workers are frequently expected to work longer hours than other workers, and in many countries, including Nigeria, do not have the same rights to weekly rest that are enjoyed by other workers. “Combined with the lack of rights ”, the ILO said the extreme dependency on an employer and the isolated and unprotected nature of domestic work can render them vulnerable to exploitation and abuse ”. Polaski said new international standards that aim to ensure decent working conditions and pay for domestic workers worldwide have so far has been ratified by only three countries, while only three other countries have completed national ratification procedures and many others have initiated them. “More than half of all domestic workers have no limitation on their weekly normal hours under national law, and approximately 45 per cent have no entitlement to weekly rest periods. Live-in domestic workers are particularly vulnerable to exploitation since they are often paid a flat weekly or monthly rate irrespective of hours worked. In practice it means that a domestic worker is available whenever needed ”, the ILO wailed. While calling on private sector employers operating under the auspices of the Nigeria Employers Consultative Association, (NECA) to urge its members to push for a minimum wage standard for private sector em-

Abdulwaheed Omar, NLC President

ployees, Economist and Social Crusader,Mr.Emmanuel Adako,said such move will do more immediate and long term good for the country ’s economy. He explained that NECA which is the umbrella body of all employers in Nigeria must see it as a duty owed the nation ’s workers, and must champion the cause to eradicate non uniform wage, adding also that a basic and uniform standard wage will enhance productivity. Making a case for invoking the relevant section of the nation ’s extant labour laws, Labour and Industrial Relations Professional, Dr. Peter Okhiria, said if the relevant sections of the laws are invoked, that many employers will be behind bars. Okhiria explained that apart from the “base wage ” paid many workers in the private sector, that many of them are also denied basic things like paid leave, medicals amongst others. Calling for stakeholder ’s emphasis to move from the public sector minimum wage debacle to that of the private sector, Okhiria added “it was time the Federal Government through the Ministry of Labour and Productivity take action, and challenge the unwholesome wage disparities between workers irrespective of where they are engaged ”. Describing the inability of the country ’s leadership to initiate and apply a universal minimum wage that cuts across all sector as “organised, well planned and ungodly ”, the President General of Global Peace Movement International, Dr. Mike Uyi, said the United Kingdom examples will suffice for Nigeria when considering the application of a universal wage. Uyi said in developed countries, that workers barely differentiate between those in the public or private sectors, because there is a basic standard of living wage that is applicable to all. According to him, “Nigeria must immediately commence the process of adopting a universal wage payment model, so as to rescue the millions of workers that are trapped in an unending yoke and cycle of motion without movement ”.

TUC wants urgent action against corruption MESHACK IDEHEN

he Rivers State Chairman of the Trade Union Congress,(TUC),Mr. Hyginus Chika Onuegbu has urge Nigerians to stand up for their future by acting against corruption The Rivers state TUC chairman said also that the congress will continue to draw to the dangers that corruption

poses to the development of any country, saying also that the dangers of corruption in a developing economy such as Nigeria ’s cannot be over emphasized Speaking with National Mirror over the weekend, Onuegbu said corruption undermines democratic institutions, denies the citizens benefits of economic growth, feeds insecurity and terrorism and contributes to governmental instability. Calling for concrete action against corruption in the country, he added that corruption also attacks the foun-

dation of democratic institutions by distorting electoral processes, perverting the rule of law and creating bureaucratic quagmires, whose only reason for existing is the soliciting of bribes. “Economic development is stunted because foreign direct investment is discouraged and small businesses within the country often find it impossible to overcome the start-up costs required because of corruption. Corruption is a major cause of poverty, insecurity and unemployment. It is a monster that knows no colour, creed or religion ”, he said.

Jobs & Career

Tuesday, January 29, 2013

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Controversy trails NDE ’s DG, comments on unemployment, kidnapping STORIES: MESHACK IDEHEN

abour Activist and National President of Progressive Leadership Organisation International, Comrade Emmanuel Ezueme, said unemployment remains the “root and basic cause ” of kidnapping in the South East and other parts of the country. The PLOI president made this comments exclusively to National Mirror, following comments by the Director General of the National Directorate of Employment, (NDE), Mallam Abubakar Mohammed that the root cause (s) of suicide bombings and kidnappings that recently crept into Nigeria are “multifarious ”. Mohammed had while calling on government agencies to take urgent and pragmatic steps to protect workers and gov-

ernment property from attack during a security workshop organised for the employees of the Directorate, said anti-social behaviour such as suicide bombing, armed robbery and kidnapping are not because of unemployment alone, an opinion that many have disagreed with. Acknowledging however it is true that many graduates roam the streets in search of unemployment, the NDE boss maintained that unemployment, alone is not enough reason to go into these anti-social behaviour. Despite the position of the NDE DG,Ezeume said the NDE cannot used the premise of unemployment not being responsible for most of the nation ’s socio-economic woes, to justify the directorate ’s lacklustre performance over the years. He said if the NDE has been living up to expectations since

Ezeume

Minister of Labour and Productivity, Emeka Wogu

it was created several years ago, that the problem of unemployment which many analysts said the northern part of the country is suffering from would have been reduced by now. The NDE boss revealed that the Directorate has begun operations in its Maiduguri and

Tax compliance: Coca-Cola Nigeria gets LASG commendations

he Lagos State Internal Revenue Service (LIRS) has awarded Coca-Cola Nigeria the award of one of the most tax compliant corporate bodies for achieving a 100 percent tax compliance status. The award was presented by the Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, to the Managing Director, Coca-Cola Nigeria, Mr. Adeola Adetunji.

Speaking during the presentation, Adetunji said that the company recorded 100 percent tax compliance, and that Coca Cola has been acknowledged by the state for the past 5 years for its tax compliance consistency. According to him, the award speaks eloquently to accountability and integrity which are the two core

Common questions asked at graduate interviews

hy do you want this job? -- One of the most predictable questions and very important. You need to demonstrate that you have researched the employer and tie your knowledge of them into the skills and interests that led you to apply. Have you got any questions?--At the end of the interview, it is likely that you will be given the chance to put your own questions to the interviewer. Keep them brief, there may be other interviewees waiting. Ask about the work itself, training and career development. Describe a situation in which you lead a team- Many graduate positions involve people management where you will be expected to plan, organise and guide the work of others as well as motivating them to complete tasks. The interviewer needs to assess how well you relate to other people, what role you take in a group and whether you are able to focus on goals and targets. What do you expect to be doing in five years time?--Try to avoid vague or general answer. This question allows you to dem-

onstrate that you have done your research on the career routes open to you within the organisation and so you should try to be more specific - not necessarily tying yourself down to a particular route, but showing that you have at least a general idea of where you want to go. Source:www.kent.ac.uk/careers

values that are at the heart of the company ’s corporate existence,adding,saying also that Coca Cola is convinced that with responsible global citizenship comes the ethical responsibility of prompt remittances of tax, which enables the government provide basic services to the citizenry. Governor Fashola observed that an efficient taxation system is necessary for rapid economic development, explaining countries with the highest tax compliance are countries with the highest standard of living. According to the governor, “Taxes are meant to help bridge the gap between the rich and the poor and address the problem of inequality in society, ” adding the growth rate of Lagos State is 6%, as opposed to the national growth rate of 3%.

Damaturu offices, hitherto bugged down, as a result of bomb blasts that are fast becoming daily occurrences in the North-East zone of the country. Speaking in the same vein, Human Resource and Employees Management Specialist, Mr. Kunle Rotimi,said it is an acknowledge fact all over the world that the greatest panacea to socio economic challenges was the provision of employment and a visible and sustainable means of livelihood for the people. Rotimi maintained that the ever rising insecurity challenges in the country is greatly

influenced the inability of past and present leadership in the country to provide meaningful and sustainable employment opportunities for the populace. Criticising the NDE,s director general premise that public property and personnel must be insulated from being targets for theft, unlawful entry, kidnapping, forcible entry and sabotage, and the likes,Rotimi added that such vices would best be curtailed, if the perpetrators are given a chance to effectively fend and provide for themselves without contravening the laws of the land.

ILO to publish global employment report

he International Labour Organisation (ILO) said it is set to launch its annual report ‘Global Employment Trends 2013, explaining the report is a yearly publication of the Employment Trends unit of the ILO Employment Sector. The ILO said five years after the outbreak of the global financial crisis, that the study offers the latest global and regional information and projections on several indicators of the labour market, includ-

ing employment, unemployment, working poverty and vulnerable employment. According to the apex global labour body, the report also presents a number of policy considerations in light of the new challenges facing policy makers in the coming year, adding electronic copies of the report, executive summary and some associated media material will be made available upon request. The report would be launched in Geneva, Switzerland.

Job vacancies

urrent job vacancies this week open up with the position for a Brand Manager (www, jobs vanguardngr.com) in a firm in Lagos. The minimum qualification is a degree, alongside experience of 5 - 7 years. The job summaries for the position are to manage the company ’s brands to achieve sales targets and improve profitability. This position is also responsible for development and launch of new products. Job description are to organise customer surveys to identify customer needs and wants from existing or proposed

products, translate customer needs/wants into product/service features and liaise with the production department develop products in line with the product concept amongst others. Also on offer, is the position for a Business Development Officer in a firm in the ICT and telecommunications industry. Minimum qualification required is an OND Some of the responsibilities are liaising and networking with a range of stakeholders including customers, colleagues, suppliers and partner organisations; and communi-

cating with target audiences and managing customer relationships; Others are sourcing advertising opportunities and placing adverts in the press - local, regional, national and specialist publications - or on the radio, depending on the organisation and the campaign; and managing the production of marketing materials, including leaflets, posters, flyers, newsletters, e-newsletters. The position of a Banking Implementation Analyst (www.jobberman.com), is also available minimum qualification, and requires a degree

and experience of 1 - 3 years. The responsibilities are identifying software requirements for the banking institution, installation and configuration of banking applications in microfinance banks as well as mortgage institutions and migration of data for the financial institution. A minimum of lower credit or 2nd class lower in accounting, an ICAN and/or ACCA Certification would be an added advantage, alongside proficiency in Microsoft office packages and passion for the information technology industry.

Jobs & Career

Tuesday, January 29, 2013

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Controversy trails NDE DG ’s comments on unemployment, kidnapping STORIES: MESHACK IDEHEN

Ezeume

Minister of Labour and Productivity, Emeka Wogu

Tax compliance: Coca-Cola Nigeria gets LASG commendations

Common questions asked at graduate interviews

ILO to publish global employment report

Job vacancies

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Tuesday, January 29, 2013

Real Estate & Environment dayoayeyemi@yahoo.com 08033312578

Rubble from a collapsed building at Jakande Estate, Lagos.

Construction industry still grappling with non-implementation of National Building Code Seven years after the National Building Code was approved by the then Federal Executive Council, the nation is yet to witness its implementation, no thanks to lack luster attitude of the state governments to promulgate enabling laws to back it up. DAYO AYEYEMI, reports.

hen the National Building Code for Nigeria was approved by the Federal Executive Council in 2006, it was applauded by professionals and stakeholders in the built environment, with the hope that the code would ensure the safety, efficiency and quality of buildings and structures in the country. In addition, they expressed joy that the code would, among other things, nip in the bud, the prevalent cases of collapse of buildings in the country. The code sets out minimum standards to be met in pre-construction such as design; construction and postconstruction stages of buildings, and it is expected to be revised periodically in line with developments in the sector. However, it is worrisome to note that seven years after the approval of the Building Code, its implementation is yet to be enforced, despite several appeals by the stakeholders. Experts have not stopped to link the non implementation of the code to cor-

DILIGENT IMPLEMENTATION OF THE NATIONAL BUILDING CODE WILL SUBSTANTIALLY REDUCE INCIDENCE OF BUILDING COLLAPSE AND REDUCTION IN LOSS OF LIVES AND PROPERTY ruption, leading to incessant collapse of buildings in the housing sector. For the code to be enforceable across the country, they argued that each state government must promulgate an enabling law to back it up, which the states have not put in place, except Lagos. The spate of collapsed buildings witnessed across the country in the last seven years was unprecedented in the history of the country, prompting professionals and stakeholders alike in the sector to seek permanent solution to the menace. Worried by this development, Chairman of Council of Registered Builders of Nigeria (CORBON), Akin Akindoy-

eni, had enjoined all state governments to enact urban planning laws that take into consideration the building code. Akindoyeni disclosed that CORBON had forwarded a sample of the bill to every state governor for consideration. To make it a reality, he appealed that the National Building Code Advisory Committee be inaugurated and empowered without delay to ensure the code was technologically and procedurally current at all times. Also recently, the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), stated that diligent implementation of the National Building Code will substantially reduce incidence of building collapse and reduction in loss of lives and prop-

erty. According to its Director General, Dr Joseph Odumodu, at the first graduation ceremony of building artisans at the Lagos State Polytechnic, Ikorodu, called on stakeholders in the building and construction industry to harmonise efforts and work in synergy to ensure that applicable standards were implemented and enforced in the sector. He remarked that whatever imperfections that might have been observed in the code could be corrected in view of the collective efforts that have gone into the production of the code. He stated that necessary standards have been elaborated for all materials used in the building and construction industry by SON in collaboration with the various stakeholder groups. Speaking during the 2nd Nelson Mandela Metropolitan UniversityÂ&#x2019;â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Construction Management Conference held at Port Elizabeth, South Africa, at the weekend, the President of the Nigerian Institute of Building, Mr. Chucks Omeife, noted that since the approval of the building code, its implementation had been made difficult as it is CONTINUED ON PAGE 26

Real Estate & Environment

Tuesday, January 29, 2013

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Construction industry still grappling with implementation of National Building Code CONTINUED FROM PAGE 25 still grappling with the promulgation of enabling law to back it up. In his paper titled, “The Search for Quality in Construction Inspection and Delivery, ” the NIOB boss said the delay in passing the enabling law to back the implementation of the building code has resulted to unpleasant situations in the built environment which include the issues of shoddy works, poor workmanship and incessant collapse of buildings. He pointed out that major challenge confronting the construction sector in many developing counties has been the implementation of different building laws, codes or regulations put in place by them to maintain quality. He urged all representatives of countries at the conference to ensure that their regulation or code is backed up with enabling law to make it enforceable, “which is the stage we are in Nigeria ”. Omeife also suggested action is required of other developing nations, whose building regulation or code or inspectorate systems are not yet developed, saying they should include the enactment of statutory vehicles for enforcing technical and quality criteria for construction developments. He said, “While those countries that have attained good quality work ethics and process have displayed great discipline in adherence to their existing regulations or building codes, some developing countries don ’t even have an existing building code or regulation while Nigeria has already put one in place but still grappling with the promulgation of enabling law to back it up. ” He stated that the incidences of building and infrastructure collapse and the increase in poor performance of construction and infrastructure

Low cost housing in Abuja

projects have provided opportunity for a rank of new professionals called Construction Inspection Practitioners (CIP), to emerge. This new professionals, he said were solely responsible for work inspection and certification in some countries such as South Africa, United Kingdom and United States of America. The NIOB president explained that the Nigerian Building Code was adequate despite its perceived inadequacies, saying it entailed all that needed to be done to ensure quality assurance of construction works. According to him, in the areas of quality control, the code clearly stated the establishment of the code enforcement division/section/unit; function of the code enforcement division; requirements of building permit and inspection process; stages inspection and code requirements; areas requiring inspection; procedures for inspection and pro-

duction methods. Omeife gave an overview of the evolution of quality control which was introduced by the manufacturing sector during the industrial revolution to ensure quality of products by putting in place quality management process. He said, “This is where the idea of quality control was borrowed from and today, it ’s being used in the construction industry. ” He also gave an overview of inspection, quality control, quality assurance, total quality management. He noted that challenges to quality work inspection and delivery included education, training and skill deficiency. The NIOB president was in company of the Chairman of CORBON, Professor Akin Akindoyeni, General Secretary of the institute, Mr. Tanko Bello Mohammed and the Research and Development Secretary, Dr. Yohanna Izam, to the conference which provided an in-

ternational forum for researchers and practitioners from developed and developing countries to address fundamental problem and constraints that affect the built environment. The conference brought together researchers, academic, administrators and practitioners representing educational institutions, professional associations, Regulatory agencies, government agencies, construction firms, consulting firms; financial institutions, and other construction related organisations from all over the world. In specific terms, the conference seeks responses to critical questions relating to changes that would lead to an improvement in performance; the barriers to change; how can construction management and construction project management be promoted in a developing country context and how can education, training and professional development be improved among others.

At Kukoyi Memorial Lecture:

Experts blame corruption in road contract on non-inclusion of professionals DAYO AYEYEMI

igh cost of construction projects, especially road infrastructure, has been blamed on non involvement of professionals to properly execute the work from the onset. This, according to former President of the Nigerian Institution of Surveyors, (NIS), Dr. Sola Atilola, has contributed to high level of corruption in the construction sector and Nigeria as a whole. Atilola, while fielding questions from journalists on the occasion of the 8th Annual Survey Adekunle Kukoyi Memorial Lecture, organised by the Lagos State Branch of NIS at the weekend, noted that corruption is no longer limited to a particular sector but everywhere.

He argued that corruption could affect any profession if professionalism is not enthroned. He stated that 85 percent of road design is surveying, but wondered why government has not dimmed it fit to involve surveyors in the project. Instead of considering professionals, for job during construction, he noted that government would give it to people who were less qualified. This scenario, he said had made government to lose a lot of money in the past, pointing out that as this practice continues, it would not give room for accountability, saying there won ’t be checks and balances in determining the cost of road construction. Explaining further, he said, “If government engages someone that is not qualified or if it fails to use the right person for the right project, there will be corruption. ”

He noted that good governance and dividends of democracy with professional practice are to be felt by the people, adding, “if government fails to use the right practitioners for the project, it will affect the masses. ” On what constitutes corruption among professional bodies, he stated that unethical practice, job undercut by lowering price and encroachment amounted to corruption, pointing out that a number of cases have been established by the Surveyors Registration Council of Nigeria, (SURCON), while people found culpable were disciplined. The Guest Lecturer at the occasion, Professor Remi Anifowose, lamented the level of corruption among government officials and political office holders, stating that it was time people begin to probe the source of sudden wealth of some of the public office

holders in the country to nip corruption in the bud. According to him, while commending the virtues of late Pa Adekunle Kukoyi, leadership is the most daunting of all challenges facing Nigeria, saying he wished the vision of the late surveyor for the nation are implemented. He, however, suggested solutions to some of the lingering problems such as corruption, insecurity and insurgency confronting the nation. Chairman of Lagos Brach of NIS, Prince Afolabi Solesi, noted that the contribution of Late Kukoyi to surveying and national development could not be overemphasised. He said, “He was a sort of colossus as can be seen in his abridge profile which is in today ’s programme pamphlet. He was an icon who spoke with facts and logic on all issues he was convinced about. ”

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Tuesday, January 29, 2013

Sport

It’s not over for us. I believe we can give all that we have got against Nigeria in today’s game - Ethiopia striker, Saladin Said

Akwu, Ogoegbunam bubble in Rod Memorial 29

Keshi charges Super Eagles

Ethiopia loses top stars to injuries

IKENWA NNABUOGOR

IKENWA N NABUOGOR

uper Eagles’ coach, Stephen Keshi, has backed his players to go for the broke against Ethiopia in their Group C last game at Royal Bafokeng Sports Palace, Rustenburg today. National Mirror gathered that Keshi also charged his wards to shake off average players’ tag and prove to unconvincing Nigerian fans they can be world beaters. Sources close to the former Mali coach revealed Line-up of Super Eagles in their last match against Zambia that Keshi had been talking to his players especially on the Ethiopia and the need to win the game and regain their confidence from the ever critical Nigerian fans. “Keshi has not been comfortable with the ‘ordinary average’ players’ tag the Nigerian fans gave them and Senegal by the same scoreline EVEREST ONYEWUCHI wants to be to prove them SPORTS EDITOR to qualify for the last eight. wrong,” the source added. At the Ghana 2008, Eagles t’s been 25 years since the edged Benin Republic 2-1 in “He’s really worried only time Nigeria failed to Sekondi to make it to the quarabout the situation and win her third and last group ter finals and three years ago, wants the players to put in a lot more effort and up their match of the Africa Cup of Na- hit Mozambique 3-0 in Lubantions. game.” go, Angola to qualify for the last At the 1988 Championship eight. The former Togo coach believed his players could beat in Morocco, the Green Eagles Eagles cannot, therefore, the Walya Antelopes and ad- were held to a goalless draw afford to re-enact that scenario vance to the quarter-finals by the Pharaohs of Egypt in of third match draw at Maroc but admitted the Ethiopians their third group match, but ’88, not to talk of failure, today. still sailed into the semi-finals It is a win or burst as Nigeria must not be underrated. He told the players that following an earlier 3-0 victory battles Ethiopia this evening in neither the technical crew, over the Harambe Stars of Ke- Rustenberg. NFF nor the Nigerian public nya and a 1-1 draw with CamerHistory favours the Eagles will take excuses from them oun’s Indomitable Lions. to defeat the Walya Antelopes Subsequently at Algiers today, though the Nigerians if they fail to qualify for the knock-out stage of the Na- ‘90 finals, Nigeria beat Cote have been short at marksmand’Ivoire 1-0 in her third group ship in their two previous outtions Cup in South Africa. “We should win our match to seal a place in the ing at Mbombela Stadium in matches before bad calls semi-finals. At Senegal ‘92 in Nelspruit against the Stallions are made so that those who Senegal, Nigeria pipped Zaire of Burkina Faso and the Chipoknow next to nothing about (now Democratic Republic of lopolo of Zambia. football will not become our Congo) 1-0 in her third match, In June 2011, the Walya Anovernight technical advis- with the same central African telopes made life difficult for country at the wrong end of a the Eagles in a 2012 AFCON ers,” he said. 2-0 bashing by the Eagles in Tu- qualifier, with Nigeria needing nisia in 1994. a last-gasp equaliser by skipper Co-hosting with Ghana in Joseph Yobo in a 2-2 draw in Ad2000, the Super Eagles lashed dis Ababa. Morocco 2-0 in Lagos in their fiNigeria eventually did not nal group match and in 2002 in qualify for the Gabon/EquatoMali, pipped Liberia 1-0 in Mop- rial Guinea 2012. ti to reach the quarter-finals. Pundits expect the Eagles to In 2004 in Sifax, Tunisia, be at their commanding height Eagles edged the Squirrels of today, against the Walya AnBenin Republic 2-1 and in 2006, telopes who fell 4-0 to 10-man defeated the Teranga Lions of Keshi Burkina Faso Stallions last Fri-

Nigeria in win or burst with Ethiopia today I

day. At Libya ‘82, a young Nigerian team walloped the Ethiopians 3-0 in a group phase match in Benghazi. Current Super Eagles’ coach, Stephen Keshi, scored one goal in each half in that triumph, and is upbeat that his charges will repeat that feat in today’s game at the Royal Bafokeng Stadium in Rustenberg. To earn victory and pick a quarter-finals ticket, the Eagles must be ready to run with the Antelopes, who run like their marathoner brother, Haile Gebreselassie, for at least 30 minutes to tire out the Ethiopians, or force them to play their own controlled game. Eagles must also improve on their shooting statistics. Against Burkina Faso, they had only three shots on target out of nine on goal. Against Zambia, the Eagles had only two shots on target out of five on goal. Their inability to shoot and strike contributed to their two one-all draws, which must be upped in today’s match.

thiopia will be without the services of their two top midfielders, Adane Girma and Asrat Gobena, in today’s Africa Cup of Nations clash against Nigeria, due to injuries. The two star midfielders are out due to injuries they sustained in their last game against Burkina Faso. Coach Sewnet Bishaw announced at yesterday’s press conference that Adane had an adaptor muscle injury in his right leg while Asrat had a knee dislocation. Adane, who scored the Walya Antelopes’ only goal in the tournament, their first in the Africa Cup of Nations in 37 years, was taken off the pitch amidst tears after tearing a muscle in their 4-0 bashing against Burkina Faso in their second group game. He had earlier scored in the 1-1 draw against Zambia and carried the hopes of millions of Ethiopian fans in the subsequent games before injury cut short the aspirations of the enterprising midfielders. Thousands of Ethiopian travelling fans were all in tears as the medics helped him off the pitch. His departure from the game against Burkina Faso would prove costly for the Walya Antelopes who appeared a rudderless ship punished by a scandalous 4-0 loss. Bishaw stated that Adane did not train with the team on Sunday but the doctors were still looking to see if he could be available for selection today.

Coach Bishaw (R) telling Alula Girma to attack Eagles

Country

Burkina Faso

Zambia

Nigeria

Ethiopia

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Sport

Tuesday, January 29, 2013

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Mayuka sings victory song

Super Eagles’ striker Brown Ideye (in green shirt facing camera) must be at his best against Ethiopia today

Laloko wants Eagles focus AFOLABI GAMBARI

ormer Technical Director of the Nigeria Football Association (NFA), Dr. Kashimawo Laloko, has asked the Super Eagles technical crew to ensure proper focus for the team as Nigeria takes on Ethiopia in a mustwin Group C game today. Laloko, who spoke with National Mirror yesterday, said the Nigerian team had failed to take opportunities in the ongoing competition. “At this stage, we should be talking about playing an academic match after we must have won the previous games but unfortunately we have found ourselves in a rather dicey situation,” the Director, Pepsi Football Academy and The Football College, Orile-Imo said. “I believe we have no excuse to say we

AFOLABI GAMBARI

uper Eagles’ striker, Joseph Akpala, has enjoined Nigerians to support the national team’s campaign at the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations, saying it is the “most reasonable thing to do.” The Werder Bremen forward, who spoke on a radio programme monitored in

didn’t go to South Africa to contest credible in a competition where Cape Verde has appeared for the first time and still made it to the last eight. “The onus is now on the coaches to ensure that the players have overcome the attitude of dropping vital points unnecessarily.” The veteran football administrator, however, decried the analysis of Walya Antelopes and Group C’s whipping team which seemed to cede the maximum points to the Eagles in today’s crucial game. “If indeed our pedigree is considered, we should be in the quarter finals even before this match. But here we are and we must sweat to get there,” remarked, stressing, “The Eagles have a lot of work to do to get past Ethiopia and, for that matter, win the cup. I think the earlier we accept this reality, the better.”

Ex-minister banks on Eagles

ambian striker, Emmanuel Mayuka, is optimistic that the Chipolopolo will qualify for the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations quarter finals after their clash with Stallions of Burkina Faso today. “In football you just have to be positive,” the Southampton striker, who said the squad had not felt pressure ahead of the crucial tie scheduled for the Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit, said yesterday. “I believe we will get the result we need against Burkina Faso. But we just have to win.” After two games played, Zambia are tied in second place on two points with Nigeria and are two points behind leaders Burkina Faso. “It is just people who are talking about pressure but we are taking it easy and just a game at a time,” Mayuka said. Meanwhile, Zambia are yet to win a game this year, both competitively or friendly, with four draws and one defeat since losing 2-0 to Angola in a warm-up game on January 5 in Johannesburg.

TEMITOPE OGUNBANKE

ormer Sports Minister, Professor Taoheed Adedoja, has backed the Super Eagles to record what he calls a convincing win over Walya Antelopes of Ethiopia in their crucial AFCON 2013 Group C game in Rustenburg. Adedoja, who spoke to National Mirror yesterday, said the Eagles had performed creditably well to merit a win against the East Africans. “I have faith in the Eagles and we can only keep praying for them to succeed in this game,” the former minister said. “The team has not disappointed us and I believe that with more hardwork they will make the country proud in the competition. The coaches and the players should be commended for their performance so far and I am confident that the team will go far in the competition. “I will appeal to Nigerians to also pray toward the success of the Eagles in the Nations Cup.” Mayuka

…Akpala champions team rally Lagos yesterday, described the Eagles as an evolving side which required time to build. “I expect the results that we have gotten up to this moment based on the arrangement that led to the squad,” he said, adding, “The players have not stayed together for a long time and certainly there should be this kind of disjointed outings.”

According to Akpala, Nigeria has the ability to go all the way in the AFCON, although the Eagles would require what he calls good fortune. “No one can fault the individual talent in the team. But you will need a team to win games at this level without a doubt. “I think with a bit of luck on our side,

we can keep progressing and at some point, just anything can happen.” Asked why he gave Eagles a chance in a competition that has witnessed debutant Cape Verde making it to the quarter finals, Akpala said: “It simply means any nation can progress if it takes its chances.” He, however, said that his return to the national team was not foreclosed. “I will have to rely on consistent performance to get back in,” he submitted.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Sport

Tuesday, January 29, 2013

On the track with

YEMI OLUS danyella172003@yahoo.com

Collins races in adversity

Noah Akwu (left) trailing Jamaican Usain Bolt (m) at the London 2012 Olympics

Akwu, Ogoegbunam bubble in Rod Memorial

iddle Tennesse State University senior, Noah Akwu, was in action for his school during the weekend where he placed second in the 200m at the Rod McCravy Memorial Track and Field Indoor Meet held in Lexington. Akwu, who had a time of 47.50 secs in the race which was his first 400m race this year, was beaten to the title by Western Kentucky University’s Elvyonn Bailey (47.25) while Troy Pollard placed third in 47.73 secs. Earlier in the month, Akwu claimed two titles at the Kentucky Invitational, setting a personal best in the men’s 60m and nearly breaking the track record in the men’s 200 metre. In the 60m race, he qualified third with a time of 6.85 seconds, and improved by .11 seconds (6.74) in the finals to claim the title and set a personal best. His second title of the day came in the men’s 200 meter dash, where he finished just .5 seconds behind the track record, set by U.S. Olympian Tyson Gay in 2004. Akwu crossed the line in 20.91, over .6 seconds ahead of the nearest competitor. Meanwhile national hurdler, Amaka Ogoebunam-Richardson, featured in the women’s category of the quartermile where she finished second with 54.70 behind Missouri State University’s Althia Maximilien (54.35). The athlete is set to make her return to the track following a two year ban after she failed a dope test during the 2009 World Championships held in Germany, and she is yet to wear the national colours after observing her ban. Another Nigerian and freshman with Dickinson State University, Fred Agbaje,

expected to make an impact for his university this season as the Blue Hawk’s coach, Pete Stanton, is counting on Agbaje to mount a serious challenge against his opponents. The team hopes to qualify for the NAIA Indoor Championships that begin February 28 in Geneva, Ohio. Agbaje was not cleared to participate for the school last season but now that the issues in question have been resolved, he is being looked upon to be a leader in the sprints. His 2012 season-best times of 10.31 seconds in the 100 and 21.1 in the 200, both as an unattached runner, would have been good enough to win NAIA outdoor national championship. “He gives us a wide range in the sprints, along with (junior) Jon Dinius as well, who was close to qualifying in the national outdoor,” Staton said.

im Collins put aside anger over his brother’s death to finish second in the 60 metres at the International Match Indoor Meet held over the weekend. The former 100-metre world champion from St Kitts and Nevis, who said he competed in the meet to honour his contractual commitments, fell 0.07 seconds behind Dwain Chambers. Collins’ 40-year-old brother, Winston C. Brown, was shot dead by police in St Kitts after attacking an officer during a domestic dispute last Tuesday. “The only thing I can do for him is make sure he gets a proper funeral and those police officers are brought to justice”, Collins said. Police said officers went to Brown’s home because he had kidnapped his estranged wife and sister and was threatening them with a knife and an ice pick. Brown released his wife, who had been stabbed and beaten, and then lunged at one of the police officers, stabbing him just above his knee. The officer, who has been placed on desk duty pending an investigation, opened fire and shot Brown. “It was clearly excessive force, it should never have happened”, Collins said.

Fraser-Pryce

Fraser-Pryce in winning start

wo-time Olympic 100 metres champion, Shelly Ann Fraser-Pryce, marked her first outing of the year with a comfortable victory at the Queen’s Grace Jackson Track and Field Meet in Kingston, Jamaica. The diminutive but powerful Jamaican sprinter clocked 11.47 seconds at the National Stadium on Saturday to easily dismiss challenges from Rusheen Reid (12.17) and Kristina Gentles (12.53) who were second and third respectively. Fraser-Pryce successfully defended her Olympic title in London last August when she held off a challenge from World Champion Carmelita Jeter of the United States. The 26-year-old is expected to start as one of the favourites at the World Championships in Moscow billed for August 10 to 18.

Imhoaperamhu targets improvement

he fastest man at the recent National Sports Festival, Nicholas Imhoaperamhu, says he desires to lower his Personal Best to 9.90secs before the end of the 2013 season. The 20-year-old, who won the NSF with a PB of 10.51secs has his work cut out, with the World Championships in Moscow, Russia near, and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps officer is hoping to make the team. “I have already commenced training and I had only a week’s break following the holidays,” he told National Mirror yesterday. “I look forward to the new sea-

son and hope to take part in the first Athletics Federation of Nigeria event of the year in March. “My coach has already given me a target of 10.05 in the National Trials that will come up in Calabar in July. He is expecting me to at least run 9.90secs in Moscow but personally I believe I can do better than the target given to me by my coach. “I hope to leave the country after the AFN Golden league so I need to run faster in order to get a good meet to feature in outside the country. I need to run faster than I did at the festival that is why my coach is not taking anything for chance.”

Imhoaperamhu

Tuesday, January 29, 2013

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Real Estate & Environment

Tuesday, January 29, 2013

Sanitation not a social service, but business venture — Adeogun Ade Adeogun is the Sole Administrator, Rivers State Sanitation Agency. In this interview with SAM OLUWALANA, Acting Bureau Chief (South-South) and GODWIN OKONKWO, the RSSA boss spoke on efforts in restoring the glory of Port Harcourt, known as the Garden City in the area of waste management to ensure cleaner city and challenges facing his office. Excerpts. When you came into office, what challenges or sanitation needs did you meet on ground? I ’ll start internally. I met dispirited staff. You had a situation where you have two categories of staff, ad hoc staff that had political leaning and then the civil servants; and unfortunately, both sides didn ’t see eye to eye. Even among the civil servants, you have an issue of ethnic division. And so, we felt the primary thing was to start internal cleansing. Get the workers to understand that they have a purpose, they have a goal, that they have to work together. We inherited the staff of our predecessors. We intentionally kept them believing that those who want to work will stay. Those who will find out that the style does not conform to ours will leave voluntarily and I think that was just what happened. I think the day I reported for duty, there were about 600 who were loitering around the premises. I held a meeting in which I said we are not going to be involved in illegalities, we are not going to be harassing street traders, we are not going to be harassing vehicle for buckets, we are not going to be harassing shop owners for buckets and stickers and all that. And within just four days, 600 people left. We didn ’t have to fight; they realised that they couldn ’t cope and they left voluntarily. Other staff that we inherited left on their own because they realised they couldn ’t work at the pace we were working and our own ethical values. Talking about the waste situation, the waste situation generally was different. The state was filthy. Service providers were barely interested in working. I want to believe that the reason they were not interested was that they were not made to realise what the performance parameters were. If I asked you to work for me, I must tell you what I want. If I tell you to build a house for me, I must tell you the kind of house I want you to build. And so, the only thing we did was to first ensure that you have the tools to do the job you are expected to do. If you didn ’t have the tools, we lay you off. If you have the tools, we now spell out what is the job you are expected to do and we provide the supervision. And within a period of two months, people were able to acquire the tools which they didn ’t have previously. And since we were seeing more, we probably introduced one or two new things- cutting the grasses, cleaning the streets because we saw that no matter how well you take the garbage and the streets are overgrown with weeds, it won ’t be enough. Since we decided that we are going to cut grasses and sweep the streets, we engaged new people. For that, we engaged 70 new people, bought tools for them and engaged them to cut grasses and maintain the greenery and then engage 500 additional sweepers. We made sweeping compulsory for all our service providers. This is a capital intensive job. Did you receive any support like grant or do you have a limitless purse? We don ’t have limitless purse, we have the issue of funding just like every organisation does. For now, we are being funded 100 per cent by the state government. In 2013, the UN programme that is supposed to come to our assistance by way of creating job opportunities in certain parts of the state and to get some young people engaged in the waste management business. They promised a grant but it is still a promise, until we get, it we won ’t expect anything. We are wholly funded by the state government. But that is not the direction we are going in future. There is a bill currently before the state House of Assembly on sanitation, when passed, what will it bring to your operations? Professionalism! That is the key translation of waste management into investment. What we met some months back was something that was run as a government para-

Adeogun

WHAT WE ARE LOOKING IS ATTITUDINAL CHANGE. BUT IF YOU ARE CHANGING CULTURE YOU MUST DO IT IN SUCH A WAY THAT IT IS EMBEDDED IN THE SYSTEM statal. Something that is run as a social service, but we think that waste management is not a social service, it is an investment. So, the bill when passed into law will turn waste management into a business, allowing the private sector to join the waste management value chain and make wealth for themselves. I think that is the key. So you are going to get better services, because the key now is rendering services. We have rendered quality services to our customers who are going to be the waste generators and, at the same time, we get all private sector individuals who are interested in investing in the business of waste collection and waste reuse, who are ready to key into every part of the value chain. And there are waste disposal facilities that people can invest in. So, if you do that and now you have the issue of recycling and issue of gas mining. There are lots of avenues to make wealth but you cannot do that now because the law does not allow it. The number one benefit of the bill is that the state government can now bill people for the waste they generate rather than being a charity. Your operations seem narrowed to the capital city alone. Do you plan to extend your operations to other parts of the state? We are operating at Obigbo and Eleme already. We are operating in Port Harcourt, Obio/Akpo, parts of Obigbo and Ikwerre Local Government Areas. What we are not doing is the entire state. This is more like where I came from. They say if a tree falls on top of another tree, you carry the one on top first. So, let us lift the log on top first which is Port Harcourt and then extend the exercise statewide. But what we are going to do is that we are not going to be carrying waste in other parts of the state but to regulate the process and ensure that in each local government council, it is domesticated. You have started wel, but people ’s concern is sustenance. What plans do you have to sustain these laudable efforts? Sustenance is by institutionalising the process. What we are running is not about me running an agency; I am run-

ning an agency that can operate whether I am there or not, the operation works. What we have done is to put key people in right places and give them the power so that they can empower their personnel to take decision. We decentralised our operations, appointed heads for each of the units we are operating now because we have to confine ourselves to existing laws and then empower them to take decisions. So, what I do is to provide the leadership. I am just the leader of people but I have a lot of intelligent and bright young people I am working with. They have the power to take decisions, whether I am there or not, they can run the agency. How soon do we expect to see the end of street trading, a major source of waste generator in Port Harcourt? There are two things we have to understand about street trading. Even though it is covered by our existing law, the bill before the Assembly does not empower us to get involved in street trading. We are going to be exiting that aspect because we believe that street trading is an urban issue and the Ministry of Urban Development should rightly handle it. What we are doing is to work in conjunction them. We met with market leaders, we met with motor park leaders, you know we met with cart pushers, we are meeting with everybody we need to talk to because we want to first of all do one on one. We have a radio jingle on air that we prepared with the state and a unit of NEPAD. So we are with a lot of people using television talking, we are even using the social media. We are on Facebook, we are on Twitter and we have our own website running already. So, every avenue to communicate we are employing it. But the key is that it is not going to happen overnight, it is going to take years. What we are looking is attitudinal change. But if you are changing culture you must do it in such a way that it is embedded in the system. If you run too fast, if fire burns too fast, it will quench quickly, but you need to allow the thing to ignite slowly it becomes a way of life. The key to solution of waste issues in Port Harcourt is that it becomes a part of the culture and that is where we are heading to. What are your projections this year? A lot of collaborations because you see, we realise that for a long time stakeholders don ’t actually understand the issues about sanitation. We are hoping that our most important function this year is to try and get every stakeholder to understand what it is all about. Cleanliness is about health, its well being, I mean I give an example; you have to spend money to build health centres but can we reduce this cost? We can if clear the drains and water flows, mosquitoes won ’t have avenues to breed. If we sweep the roads very well and water does not find a way to percolate the ground, the roads will last longer so we wave the government cost of maintenance. Now if you don ’t allow people to dump wastes anyhow, we will at least in a way stop pollution of water and so people get safer and cleaner water from their boreholes. So many ways and if you have tourists coming to the state they are going to come because the city is clean not because it is dirty. No tourists will come to a dirty state, they go to clean states. So whichever way we want to offer value to everybody, to every other parastatal. The truth is that when people come into Port Harcourt the first thing they see is the smell of Port Harcourt, the look of Port Harcourt, not anything else and we want them to come to Port Harcourt and feel welcome. Let Port Harcourt smell attract them. So one of the things we are 2013 is to collaborate with Plants and Gardens to improve the greenery, beautify of Port Harcourt work with Urban Development to eliminate street trading, work with TIMARIV to stop people from parking at all manner of places. So if we help everybody get their own bit done we will offer better value, better services, better quality of life to people who live and do business in the state and of course we believe that with the new laws coming in place we will be able to manage waste in a sustainable manner in which it will be able to generate revenue and gradually start by reducing government investment in the process and ultimately eliminate government involvement. Let it be wholly private sector driven, that ’s our goal.

Real Estate & Environment

Tuesday, January 29, 2013

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Essentials of dining room furniture A good foundation is essential for furnishing any room in the home, not just a dining room. That foundation is built by determining your needs before doing anything else. According to experts at about.com Guide, you have to figure out who is going to use it, how it will be used and if there are any special considerations such as the dining room size or budget. What dining room furniture do you need? Before you buy your dining room furniture, determine what kind of space you have. A dining room needs a different approach than a dining area. If you are furnishing a dining room, you should determine how often you use it. A room that is used every day calls for a different approach than one that is seldom used and is there more for show. How do you plan to use your dining room? For smaller homes, a dining room can also be a multi-purpose room. It can double as a home office or a place to do homework. It can also be a place for socialising. Finally, your style matters. If you are not sure what pleases you, determine your style. Dining table shapes

Dining tables come in many different shapes. So do dining rooms. Your dining table should be the best match for your room as well as your needs. There is also the matter of preferences, and how many people you want to seat. Some shapes lend themselves well to seating a few people. Round tables for instance are great for seating a few people, and are very conducive to cozy conversations. Rectangular dining tables work better in long rooms, but if you prefer, you can have two square ones. It is best to consider your options so that you can select a table shape that serves your purpose and makes you happy. Standard dining table measurements When you are in the planning your dining room, it helps to know standard measurements for tables so you can figure out

roughly how big a table you will need to seat the number of people that will be using it. Knowing how many people you can seat comfortably at a table makes it easier to determine what you need to buy. If you donÂ&#x2019;â&#x20AC;&#x2122;t need a large dinner table on most days, it also helps to know how much you can extend it with leaves on days that you do happen to need it. Just as you spend time on figuring out the shape and size of a dining table, spend some time on finding the best dining chair for your needs. It is convenient to buy matching dining sets, but nobody says you have to. Personalise your dining room by selecting just the right chair for you. Consider the size of your room and table. Also consider whether you want armchairs or armless ones. Material can end up determining the look

and comfort, so that needs careful consideration too. How to choose a dining room rug A dining room rug can make the room feel richer, warmer and inject a shot of colour. It can also hide a less than desirable carpet or floor. There are some important considerations before you buy the rug, such as size, material, colour, pattern and shape. One thing that must be kept in mind is that you should be able to draw the chairs back without going over the edge of the rug. Wobbly or unsteady dining room chairs are not that much fun to sit in. Rugs help define an area so using a striped rug to visually stretch the room is an easy trick. A rug can help tie up the colours in the room, completing the look or just recede in the background showcasing a beautiful dining set.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Tuesday, January 29, 2013

Real Estate & Environment

Expert tasks FG on stricter e-waste control measures OLUFEMI ADEOSUN

ABUJA

ublic health challenges arising from e-waste, especially in developing nations, will continue to increase if stricter measures are not put in place by governments to control the menace, an environmentalist, Chuks Okaka, has said. Okaka said this in a statement made available to National Mirror in response to an M. V Marevia vessel that was intercepted by National Environmental Standards and Regulatory Enforcement Agency (NESREA), at the Tin Can Island Container Terminal, Lagos. The vessel, which was claimed to be sailing from Tilbury, England on Saturday, January 5, 2013 and bound for Nigeria was alleged to contain e-waste products. The vessel, currently placed on quarantine by officers of NESREA, is awaiting inspection before it is sent back to its origin in England. E-waste is a term used to describe old and discarded electrical or electronic devices such as television sets, refrigerators and computers among others which are no longer in use. M. V Marevia vessel is the fourth to be detained by the agency after MV Maersk Nashville, MV. Vera D and M. V. Gumel had been impounded. According to Okaka, “Due to lack of formal recycling methods in Nigeria, incineration, acid leaching, wet chemical processing and a host of others have used as informal methods of e-waste recycling.

LAWMA waste collection trucks

These methods release heavy metals like lead, cadmium and mercury into the environment. E-waste also has negative impacts on the environment as these materials can also pollute the groundwater, thereby poisoning our drinking water, fish crops and the soil with dangerous heavy metals. E-waste is toxic, hazardous and very dangerous. ” He noted that most developed countries in the world were aware of the high cost of recycling all the components of e-waste. “They also want to preserve the health of their people and environment, which is why they will not dump such materials on their soil. However, most of these developed countries feel the ‘best available practice ’ is to turn developing countries to dumping grounds for e-waste, especially countries in Asia and Africa, where greedy

traders and corrupt government officials are looking to make profit on these materials and sell them to less suspecting individuals as ‘tokunbo ’ products, ” Okaka added. He also blamed the United States and the European Union for using less industrialised countries, where he said recycling and recovery take place with little regard for human health and environmental consequences, as dumping ground for e-waste. The Anambra-based expert charged developed nations to be more stringent at their borders “to prevent such practices. ” “To further highlight the dangers of exposure to e-waste, the Basel Convention, an international treaty, was designed to reduce the movements of hazardous waste between nations, with the view to preventing transfer of e-waste from de-

Lagos assures early completion of ongoing housing projects

Sir Micheal Otedola Housing Estate at Odoragushin in Epe, Lagos.

DAYO AYEYEMI

agos State Government has reiterated its commitment to the completion of various housing projects across the metropolis. Speaking on the projects, Governor Babatunde Fashola hinted that government has embarked on housing estates in Sangotedo, Agbowa and Ogba, in Ikeja area of Lagos. According to him, the ongoing estates are located in Agbowa Township, in the Old Epe Local Government Area, Sangotedo, in Eti-Osa, Ogba, in Ikeja and Ajara, in Badagry. The Agbowa Housing Estate includ-

ing the Chois City Garden, a partnership development between the developer and state government is being developed by the Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development (MPPUD). Agbowa Housing Estate is a 660 unit ’s mixed accommodation, located along Agbowa-Shagame Road, besides the Resettlement Centre for the flood displaced people, in Agbowa Township. It consists of one bedroom in 80 blocks, comprising 192 units; two-bedroom in 21 blocks made up of 252 units; 3-bed room in 26 blocks, comprising 156 units and 15 blocks of 60 units respectively. The estate covered the area 11,883.74 acres of land, and designed to have a shopping complex, playing ground, boreholes, sewage

plant and wire mess ’ perimeter fence. The project is part of numerous housing estates being developed by government to ensure that it meets the targeted goal. Chois City Estate, located at ImufeImope road, along Itoikin-Epe road, is also a mixed housing type, consisting of 2 and 3-bedroom flats. 3,000 units is being targeted at the location, with 400 units to be ceded to the Lagos government for the purpose of preparing for the Okobaba Saw Mill operators who are to be relocated to the axis. Said Fashola, “We are building over 400 housing units here in Igando, we are building another 400 plus in Ogba, about 500 in Sangotedo and over 600 in Agbowa ”, he said, adding that government is starting the Ajara project in In Badagry.

veloped to less developed countries and Nigeria has been a signatory to this treaty since 1990. “In line with the Transformation Agenda of Mr. president, NESREA went into agreement with European countries with an aim to abolish CFCs, which is contained in outdated refrigerators in Nigeria. This agreement will help to ensure that ships found to contain e-waste are sent back to their point of origin, which is in conformity with the Harmful Wastes Act, ” he stressed. While commending the agency and security agents for prompt interception of the M. V Marevia vessel, Okaka cautioned Nigerians to resist temptations to conniving with perpetrators of illegal importation of environmentally harmful substances into Nigeria. “I also I promised, what we are going to do in Ijora from this year is that we are going on with about 1008 housing units. This is not consistent with a government that is demolishing. We are builders and not demolishers. We are focused; we know where the target is ”, said Fashola, reacting to the purported plan to demolish about 50 houses in Jakande Estate, Ejigbo. Governor Fashola declared, “The present administration is not made up of showmen. We don ’t do turning of the sod. We take our work seriously and this is the work that this new team has put together in one and half years since we got elected. We have not been here but we know the work is going on, the Commissioners take their work seriously; the Special Advisers are also taking their work seriously ”. “I get reports every week on what is going on. So, I wasn ’t under any pressure because in spite of what people were saying, I know the progress we were making. I ’m satisfied with what we have seen and again it is also to show you and citizens who we hope that you will communicate with now that their government is working in many more places ”. He continued, “All those turning of the sod and all of that before you build the house are not for us. You can see structures, you can see buildings, you can see people on site, on all those sites where houses are being constructed. In Igbogbo, 1,038 people were working as well as 26 companies while in the first scheme in Agbowa, there are about 23 companies and 880 people who have been employed there ”.

Real Estate & Environment

Tuesday, January 29, 2013

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

2013 likely to see renewed condence in Dubai property

flurry of new project announcements in Dubai at the end of last year is a signal or renewed confidence in the emirate ’s property market, according to experts, but Abu Dhabi recovery is still some way behind. It means that Dubai could see a broader based real estate recovery in 2013 but certain issues such as oversupply and the UAE central bank ’s mortgage changes could have an effect. The changes limit mortgages taken out by foreigners at 50% of the property ’s value for a first home, and 40% for second and subsequent homes. Caps for UAE citizens have been set at 70% and 60%. Further mortgage rule changes are expected by the middle of the year on top of those already announced. These are likely to include broader regulations covering the stability of the housing mortgage sector and all banks and financial institutions will have to adhere to them. According to Craig Plumb, head of research at Jones Lang LaSalle in MENA, the recent announcement about caps on mortgage loan to value ratios shows that government authorities are

concerned about market stability and want to avoid any rapid increase in real estate prices. ‘While there has been a recovery in rents and prices in the residential, retail and hotel sectors during 2012, this improvement remains focused on a relatively small number of projects. We are likely to see a broader based recovery in 2013 but this recovery will remain challenged by the current over supply and high vacancy levels, ’ he explained. ‘A number of major projects have been announced in Dubai recently, but these will take some time to come to fruition. In the meantime we would urge cautious optimism. Good projects with secure funding and tenant commitments will succeed, but we must avoid the over exuberance and over supply seen before the global financial crisis, ’ he added. The firm ’s latest report said Dubai ’s overall residential market recorded a positive year, with the villa market continuing to outperform the apartment sector in 2012. Prime projects in well established locations continued to see improved performance, but secondary locations are still suffering from rental and pricing declines as tenants relocate

Expert lists panacea for disaster management ABIODUN NEJO ADO EKITI

he Director of Ibadanbased Center for Disaster Risk and Crisis Reduction, Mr Amzat Kolawole, has advocated viable and combat ready Local Emergency Management Authorities (LEMAs), across the country. Kolawole said such was necessary for the Federal Government ’s efforts to fight and mitigate disaster in the country to yield desirable results. The expert in disaster management spoke at a workshop organised by the South-West zone of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), in Ado Ekiti recently. In the lecture entitled: “Strengthening Disaster Preparedness and Mitigation at the Local Level, ” Kolawole regretted that only a few council areas across the country had functional LEMAs to combat emergency situations. He said: “In Ekiti State, how many local government areas have functional LEMAs; the structures are not on ground. Strengthening mitigation at local level is a serious challenge. We cannot have viable emergency management in Nigeria without viable LEMAs. ” According to him, disaster is “any event happening with or without warning, causing or threatening death, injury or dis-

ease, damage to property. ” In his contribution, South West Coordinator of NEMA, Mr. Iyiola Akande, said the workshop was to strengthen the capacity of the local communities in order to solidify their preparedness against any form of disaster. Akande, who was represented by the Assistant Zonal Coordinator in the zone, Mr. Babatunde Adebiyi, called on stakeholders to cooperate with NEMA in mitigating disaster, saying response to disaster should not be left to the agency alone. The NEMA chief said: “The greatest challenge here is that most of the states are yet to statutorily institutionalise their SEMAs as provided by Act 50 of 1999 that set them up, not to talk of the LEMAs, so a gap is created. “Therefore, it is vital that the federal, state, local governments, all stakeholders, NGOs, CBOs, and private sectors come together and discharge their respective roles and responsibilities and complement each other to synergise in achieving shared goals of disaster management; this will go a long way in disaster risk reduction not only at the community level but at the national level. ” Earlier, the General Manager, State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), Mr. Femi Oso, had said the workshop was meant to profer lasting solution to disaster occurrences.

Dubai property

to new high quality projects. The report added that Dubai ’s real estate investment market remained quiet over the fourth quarter of the year with no major open market commercial transaction recorded. ‘Despite the lack of transactions, in-

vestment sentiment in Dubai is improving. The optimistic outlook is reflected in Jones Lang LaSalle ’s latest Investment Sentiment Survey, which shows investors from the region perceive Dubai as the preferred market, ’ the report points out.

Commercial real estate investors favour safe haven cities in Europe

erman cities dominate the investment prospects for Europe ’s commercial real estate sector as investors continue to favour safe haven locations according to a new report. The Emerging Trends in Real Estate Europe 2013, a real estate forecast published jointly by the Urban Land Institute (ULI) and PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) ranks 27 cities across Europe, based on respondents ’ expectations for market performance in 2013. Munich tops the league table followed closely by Berlin in second place and Hamburg in fifth position, with investors taking comfort from each of the cities ’ strong local micro-economic climate and resilient property market conditions. London, which is seen by many as Europe ’s ultimate safe haven market, is the largest riser in this year ’s report taking third position. Investors continue to be attracted by the size and liquidity of its real estate market, the stability of sterling as a currency and its ability to stand alone from the rest of the UK and Europe ’s economic issues. Overall, the highest ranked cities are the larger Western European centres with international appeal and better economic prospects. In contrast, the worst performing cities were those in countries at the heart of the Eurozone crisis or struggling to cope with the consequences of the 2008 financial

meltdown such as Athens, Lisbon, Dublin, Madrid and Barcelona. Respondents to this year ’s survey were more pessimistic on the outlook for cities ’ property markets than they have been since 2004 but were the most optimistic about the future of their own businesses since 2008. The report says that this is indicative of a wider trend, which sees a movement away from investment strategies centred on whole countries, cities or industry sectors and towards a focus on specific individual assets and opportunities. ‘Almost five years since the start of the financial crisis, real estate investors remain cautious about capital deployment and the availability of debt, ’

A UK home

said Joe Montgomery, chief executive of ULI Europe. ‘As a result investors are focusing on the harder to find opportunities in blue-chip cities such as Munich, Berlin, London and Paris, rather than turning to secondary locations in search of higher returns, ’ he added. Simon Hardwick, real estate partner at PwC Legal, said that the report shows that real estate investors are approaching opportunities with a new mindset, conscious that the environment in which they are operating is ‘the new normal ’ and is set to stay the same for some time yet. ‘Investors face ongoing challenges but are cautiously optimistic about their prospects for the first time in many years, ’ he added.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

The recent cut in airfares by indigenous carriers has brought relief to air passengers, but some fear safety might be relegated to the background. OLUSEGUN KOIKI writes.

Aviation

Tuesday, January 29, 2013

Airlines slash fares to attract patronage as NCAA assures of safety

ometime in July 2012, early morning flights from Murtala Mohammed Airport (MMA), Lagos to Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport (NAA), Abuja, oscillated between N35,000 and N40,000. Ironically, at the period, air passengers had abdicated the sector for road transport following the Dana Air crash of June 3, 2012 involving 163 souls onboard and on ground. The singular accident and other safety issues led to the suspension of operations of airlines like Dana, Chanchangi, First Nation and Air Nigeria. At this period, despite the abandonment of the sector by potential air travellers, the few ardent air travellers were exploited by the remaining few carriers like Arik Air, IRS, Overland and Aero. Demand supersedes supply and the airfares skyrocketed astronomically. But, today, the story has changed. At present, the same one-hour flight out of Lagos to Abuja can be conveniently purchased at most of the airlines ’ counters at ridiculously cheaper prices while it is far cheaper if a passenger books online. The commencement of flight operations by Med-View Airline in November and return to flight operations by Dana Air in January after seven months of been in the cooler no doubt forced the airfares downward and created intense competition among the indigenous carriers. For instance, starting fare for Dana Air online to Abuja is N9,000, Med-View, N14, 300 and for those purchasing ticket with the returnee, Chanchangi Airline on the counter starts from N16, 000 and Aero with its online booking gallops around N12, 000 and N16,000, all the fares above depend on when a passenger books online. But it was not the same story six months back. However, it is worthy to note here that in the last two years or so, there has not been reduction in the price of aviation fuel, landing and parking fees charged by the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) and five per cent ticket sales charges collected on behalf of other aviation agencies by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA). The massive crash in airfares by indigenous airlines is obviously a delight to passengers who now thronged the Murtala Mohammed Airport Two (MMA2), Lagos and the General Aviation Terminal (GAT), MMA to purchase tickets to their various destinations. Most of the passengers are indeed happy as they can now purchase conveniently cheaper air tickets to various destinations in Nigeria, but some of them have raised safety fears. Stakeholders, professionals and indeed NCAA say the current air price reduction will not affect safety performance of any of the airline. In fact, NCAA says it is keeping a close tap on all the indigenous carriers. Some of them even say an hour flight should not

Ohunayo

Adurogboye

THE AIRFARES WENT UP AND SOME PEOPLE

DISTINGUISHED THEMSELVES WITH HIGH PRICING,

BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, COMPETITION FORCED THEM TO REDUCE THEIR AIRFARES be more than N15, 000. In an interview with National Mirror at MMA2, a passenger on Aero Airline to Abuja, Mr. Emmanuel Innocent, expressed delight at the crash in fares. He said the crash in airfares will further draw potential passengers to the airport, stressing that during the recent crisis in the sector, the few remaining carriers seized the vacuum created by the absence of Air Nigeria, First Nation, Dana and even Chanchangi Airlines to exploit the remaining passengers. He decried that an hour flight to Abuja jumped from around N20, 000 to N35, 000 and above within the period, but hopes that the increase in the number of indigenous carriers at present will bring normalcy to the fares charged by the airlines. On neglect of safety by the airlines due to the reduction in fares, Innocent expressed optimism that with the vigilance of the regulatory body, it will be practically impossible for the carriers to shift safety to the backseat and urges NCAA to increase their monitoring of the airlines most especially at this period. He said, “I want to let you know that the lack of competition among Nigerian carriers forced the airlines to exploit us at will. It ’s as if demand is more than supply. I can ’t imagine paying N35, 000 from Lagos to Abuja, but we were boarding at that rate. “Now that competition has made them to reduce their fares, I think more willing passengers will return to the industry, but I still want to appeal to NCAA to do their jobs professionally by keeping a close tab on the airlines.

However, I want to say that the current prices are not enough for them not to carry out any safety requirements in their planes. We all travel abroad and we board their local flights, we all know the rates. They are not just comparable to what we have in Nigeria and they still declare profit annually. ” Another passenger with Med-View Airline, Mr. Adekunle Aregbesola said the coming of more carriers into the airline sub-sector will further bring the expected healthy competitions among the carriers without jeopardising safety precautions. He emphasised that an hour flight should not be as high as N30, 000 anywhere in the country, but says inadequate carriers brought about monopoly of sort among the few existing airlines in the sector. Aregbesola appealed to the regulatory authority to set up a monitoring team to check any airline that attempts to extort the passengers due to inadequate carriers and to equally carry out proper safety oversight on the airlines. The Head, Research, Zenith Travels, Mr. Olumide Ohunayo said price war among the domestic carriers will not lead to abandonment of critical safety issues by the airlines. Rather, he said the competition will enhance improved service delivery, innovations, increases the usage of Information Communication technology (ICT) portal, induce cost reduction modalities in operational activities, adding that it is good for the passengers on the local routes. He stated that with healthy competition among the carriers, any airline with inappropriate aircraft would fizzle

out of operations, stressing that carriers can only remain in business with right equipment. Also, an industry expert, Capt. Chris Amokwu admitted that hitherto, the domestic carriers overpriced themselves, but present reality indicate that such high prices must have to come down, but not to the ridiculous level that they can not offset their operational cost. Amokwu said that the ideal fare for one hour flight should be N20,00 so that the airlines will be able to offset operational cost and have funds to effectively maintain their aircraft and pay their workers. He blamed the low pricing to lack of economic oversight and said that if NCAA is monitoring the pricing of the airlines, it will ensure that fares are not brought as low as it would affect the operations of the airlines and threaten safety standards. Speaking on the issue, the Media Assistant to the Director-General, NCAA, Dr. Harold Demuren, Mr. Sam Adurogboye, assured that the current crash in airfares by the airlines will not affect safety standards in the industry. He said aviation practice generally has been deregulated in Nigeria, saying that gone are the days when the airfares were fixed by the government for the operators, adding that the agency can only intervene in airfares if the fares are below expected and accepted industry standards. Adurogboye declared that the sole responsibility for safety of an aircraft lies with the owner, which Nigerians have not come to term with, maintaining that the duty of NCAA is to provide an enabling environment and carry out oversight functions for the operators, which he insists the agency has been carrying out consistently over the years. He said, “Airfares have been deregulated in the industry. The policy on aviation says, NCAA should check the predatory practices, which means if an hour flight is charged let ’s say N10, 000 and someone comes from the blues so say he ’s going to charge N2, 000 for the same flight, the policy then says NCAA should check how the amount will cover the cost of the operators and if the operator can justify it, then no problem. “One of the dividends of deregulation is that we have removed monopoly, which used to be Nigeria Airways alone, but today, customers have choices among the operating airlines. And one of the key things in airlines all over the world is the pricing. At first in the sector, the airfares went up and some people distinguished themselves with high pricing, but at the end of the day, competition forced them to reduce their airfares. “One area people should not think of is that somebody will undercut in this issue. When you have an accident, nobody prays to manage it because you may never survive it. That is the case all over the world. ”

Aviation

Tuesday, January 29, 2013

Etihad Airways to introduce new routes STORIES: OLUSEGUN KOIKI

tihad Airways is set to introduce new routes to its teeming Nigerian passengers going beyond Abu Dhabi with the airline, even as the airline described the Nigerian route as a positive reception to its operations. The General, Etihad Airways, Mr. Maurice Phohleli disclosed this with in an interview with National Mirror in Lagos last week. Phohleli, declared that the airline is set to introduce flight operations to cities like Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam, Sao-Paulo in Brazil and Washington in the USA, adding that there would also be increasing frequencies to a range of destinations across its network. He explained that introduction of new routes to its existing ones would provide its Nigerian clients with greater choice and flexibility and maintained that the airline would continue to offer competitively priced flights on its routes. He said, “In 2013, we will be providing our Nigerian passengers with more special offers, similar to the free one-night stopover in Abu Dhabi campaign that ran in 2012, which proved very popular and provided passengers with the opportunity to experience Abu Dhabi, the Capital of the UAE, as a new and upcoming tourism des-

B.A, CEO Keith Williams

tination. “We will continue to offer competitively priced flights on all our routes and ensure that our products and services continue to provide our passengers with a truly inspiring experience. ” He added that since the airline commenced flight operations in July 2012, the response from the Nigerian passengers had been positive, stressing that its passenger loads are encouraging. He hoped that the route would continue to prove popular in servicing the considerable and growing flow of business and leisure travellers between Nigeria and key commercial and tourism destinations in the Middle East, North

America, North Asia, and China. On its global operations, Phohleli explained that since its launch in 2003, the airline has grown faster than any other full-service airline in commercial aviation history. At present, he informed that the airline has over 10,000 staff while it equally operates a fleet of 68 aircraft that fly to 86 passenger and cargo destinations in 56 countries in the Middle East, Africa, Europe, Asia, Australia and North America. He emphasised that the United Arab Emirates airline has created a brand and a service offering that is the envy of the industry, maintaining that its holistic approach to quality and service was designed to ensure that every customer enjoys an inspirational experience at every touch point, from booking their ticket through to their arrival at their final destination. He said, “This approach has proved highly successful. As a result, we have received widespread recognition from our peers within the aviation industry and amongst the public, as one of the world ’s leading airlines. “A point further reinforced by the countless awards and recognition the airline has received, including the title of World ’s Leading Airline, at the WorldTravel Awards, which it has won consecutively for the past three years. ”

British Airways makes changes to summer schedule

he oldest foreign carrier flying into Nigeria, British Airways last week announced changes to its 2013 summer schedule from March 31. The new changes included a new route, terminal changes and frequency increases. An online statement signed by the airline ’s media representative in Nigeria stated that the airline will start weekend services from Heathrow to Ibiza from April 27 due to the popularity of the services the airline already operates to the White Isle from both London City and Gatwick airports. It stated the flights are on sale now from £66 one-way. This is in addition to new Spanish flights from Heathrow to Palma (starting March 31) and from Gatwick to Lanzarote (starting March 31) and Tenerife (starting March 29). Prices to Tenerife and Lanzarote start from £83 one-way return and to Palma from £99 one-way the airline announced. The airline will also move its new Heathrow flights to Leeds Bradford and Zagreb from Terminal 1 to Terminal 5. The Leeds flights will also be re-timed to better suit business travellers with earlier morning departures in both directions.

From the start of the summer programme on March 31 the schedule from Leeds Bradford will be reduced from four to three flights a day, with the lunchtime and early afternoon slots combined. However, BA said the move to T5 and the new timings will benefit both business and leisure travellers who will be able to easily connect with some of the important longhaul and European destinations. The winter schedules to Dublin and Tripoli will continue into the summer offering up to 53 flights per week to the Republic of Ireland ’s capital and three flights a week to Libya ’s. Travellers booking a short-haul fare with the airline, the airline said can take the advantage of its hand luggage allowance and carry on a good-sized suitcase (56cm x 45cm x 25cm) with no weight limit, plus a handbag or laptop bag as well as checking in a bag weighing up to 23kgs. The airline also offers customers allocated seating in advance, priority boarding for families, complimentary food and drink, flights to convenient airports, high levels of customer service and a frequent flyer programme that rewards them with Avios and tier points.

Phohleli

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Airside shegzzy4live2000@yahoo.co.uk 08186007273

De Skyline Hotel, please clear this drainage

t is unfortunate that most Nigerian companies care less about their operating environment despite all efforts being put in place by different government agencies to clean up the airport. In fact, most of them don ’t care about rendering services to their clients even inside the gutters. One of such companies appear to be the De Skyline Hotel situated very close to the General Aviation Terminal (GAT) of the Murtala Mohammed Airport (MMA), Lagos. It is sad to note that since the commencement of operations by the hotel some few years back, it has not deemed it fit to clean or fumigate the surrounding drainage. Airside was at GAT late last week and was appalled the level of dirt inside the drainage that housed the hotel, which was constructed

for free-flow of water regularly. It is unfortunate that the lack of sanitation by the hotel management and the urge for more profits at the expense of the health of their clients has turned the drainage into an eyesore of sort. Airside perceives this blemish as a disgrace to the hotel management and to an extent the management of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) which acts as the airports ’ landlord. The massive dirt in the drainage and its surroundings will create negative impression to a first time visitor into the country about Nigeria as a whole. More so, a potential client of the hotel may be turned off by the sight of the filth, which surrounds the hotel. Hope the management of De Skyline Hotel will do something fast about this disgraceful.

Why is it difcult for Nigerian airlines to declare revenue generations?

ust last week, the giant United States of America (USA) airline, Delta Air Lines announced its revenue generation figures for 2012 to the entire public. Apart from this, other international carriers like British Airways, South African Airways, Emirates, Etihad, Kenya, Ethiopia and other carriers equally made public their revenue generations for the year ended. This has been an annual practice for these carriers, but unfortunately, despite the array of airlines in Nigeria and the claims by their managements of operating

profitably, none has ever deemed it fit to make public their revenue profiles. Although, some stakeholders and professionals in the country ’s aviation industry have challenged the carriers to make public their book in order to know their financial and health status, but so far, none has harkened to this call. Airside hopes indigenous carriers will take a cue from these foreign airlines especially at a time the Federal Government is thinking of bailing them out with acquisition of airplanes to boost their operations.

Delta Air Lines revenue grows by 2% in 2012

he leading United States of America (USA) airline, Delta Air Lines last week announced that its operating revenue grew at $203m or two per cent as at December 2012 compared to the December 2011 quarter, despite a $75m revenue decline associated with Superstorm Sandy. It said load factor increased to 83.3 per cent, with traffic up 0.7 per cent on a 1.3 per cent decrease in capacity in the same period. An online statement signed on behalf of the airline by its Nigerian media agent added that passenger revenue in-

creased 3.0 per cent or $215m, compared to the prior year period while passenger unit revenue increased 4.3 per cent, driven by a 2.3 per cent improvement in yield. The statement maintained that cargo revenue decreased 5.9 per cent, or $15m for the airline and that other revenue increased 0.3 per cent or $3m, as higher cod-eshare revenue was offset by lower third-party maintenance revenue. Delta ’s Chief Executive Officer, Richard Anderson said, “Our December quarter profit caps off a successful 2012 for Delta with strong finan-

cial results, industry-leading operational performance, and across the board improvements in customer satisfaction. “I want to thank our employees and I look forward to recognizing them next month with $372 million of profit sharing for 2012. We enter 2013 as a stronger airline, with initiatives in place to build on our 2012 success. In the year ahead, we will advance our position around the world and continue to build a better airline for our shareholders, customers and employees. ”

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Insurance

Tuesday, January 29, 2013

ECA has provided for speedy, adequate compensation -NISTF boss The Managing Director of the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund, Alhaji Umar Abubakar, said replacing the Workman’s Compensation Act (WCA), with the Employees Compensation Act (ECA) has done the nation good. In this interview with MESHACK IDEHEN, he explained how the ECA will deal with issues of compensation and conflict resolution. What is the difference between the new NSITF and the old one in relations to dealing with pension issues? The organisation, (NSITF) is still the same in terms of Act 73 of 1993 that established it. However, between 1994 to 2004, NSITF was charged with the responsibility of managing a contributory private sector pension scheme for employees who are employed by a company incorporated (or deemed to be incorporated) under the Companies and Allied Matters Degree 1990; or employed by a partnership irrespective of the number of persons employed by the company or partnership; or in any other case where the number of persons employed is not less than five. The scheme then was based on contribution rate of 10% of basic salary plus housing allowance plus transport allowance in the ratio of 6.5% and 3.5% respectively by employer and employee. What benefits did it provided to contributors? The benefits included retirement grant, retirement pension, or reduced pension, or transitional basic pension, invalidity grant, invalidity pension, survivor’s grant, survivor’s pension, funeral grant and emigration benefits which is grant and pension paid as lump-sum. It is very important to state at this point that following the Pension Reform Act 2004, which deregulated the pension industry by creating Pension Fund Administrators (PFAS) and Pension Fund Custodians, PFCS), the NSITF by virtue of Section 42 of the PRA 2004 Established Trustfund Pensions Plc and transferred its pension management businesses and asserts thereto between 2005 and 2006 accordingly. So, NSITF is no longer a pension organisation? Correct. In fact the new NSITF is mandated by Employees’ Compensation Act 2010 to implement the Employees’ Compensation Scheme, in other words, a work injury benefit scheme. The Act repealed the Workman’s compensation Act of 1942 as amended in 2004. The ECA is the flagship program of the NSITF, what makes the scheme different from others before it and why should Nigerian workers be part of it? The Workmen’s Compensation Act. (WCA) 1942 (88 amended in 2004) was repealed by the Employee Compensation Act. (ECA) 2010. The ECA is different from the WCA mainly in the sense that while the ECA provides for speedy and adequate compensation, resolution of dispute without recourse to the court; virtually all categories of compensation have to be resolved via Law Courts in the WCA. Whereas the ECA ensures that funds maintained centrally are always available to pay compensation, regardless of the financial position of the employer at the time of need,

the WCA had no such provision; under the WCA, only large organised employers took insurance cover for their employees, others did not; even when the insurance was taken disputes took a long time to resolve subjecting the injured worker to untold hardships but the ECA is for all categories of employers, including the informal sector employers and employees even self - employed persons; whereas, under the WCA, the injured employee had to prove that he/she was not negligent in sustaining the injury; the ECA provides a “no fault scheme” it is a social insurance scheme whose primary objective is to provide a fair and speedy process of payment of compensation and other services to victims of employment injury or occupational disease. Under the Act what specifically does the NSITF do? The Act mandates the NSITF to provide for an open and fair system of guaranteed and adequate compensation for all employees or their dependants for any death, injury, disease or disability arising out of or in the course of employment; to provide rehabilitation to employees with work- related disabilities as provided in the Act; to establish and maintain a solvent compensation fund managed in the interest of employees and employers; to provide for fair and adequate assessments for employers; to provide an appeal procedure that is simple fair and accessible with minimal delays; and to combine efforts and resources of relevant stakeholders for the prevention of workplace disabilities, including the safety enforcement of occupational safety and health standards. What is the cardinal mandate of the new NSITF? And who will benefit from its intervention? The new NSITF has the cardinal mandate of implementing the Employees’ Compensation Act, 2010, which makes comprehensive provision for prevention of accidents at work place medical treatment in case of accident involving no disability, payment of compensation for disabilities and death due to work place or outside work related injuries, that is, occurring at workplace or outside work place and rehabilitation for the injured employee who suffers disability. The mandate also covers treatment of

Abubakar

and payment of compensation to employees who suffer from occupational diseases contracted in the course of employment. According to Section 2 of the Act, all employers and employees in the private and public sectors of the Federal Republic of Nigeria will benefit from the Scheme. One of the objectives of the Fund is the development of a national social security framework for a safety net against poverty and crime in the country. How has NSIFT worked to fulfil this mandate? In fulfilling its mandate of developing a national social security framework to serve as a safety net against poverty and crime in the country, the NSITF has taken the following steps. In view of the changes necessitated by the enactment of the Pension Reform Act. 2004 as earlier explained and effective from year 2007 to 2009, NSITF pursued as one of its major programmes, social security advocacy. In 2007 NSITF in collaboration with the International Labour Organisation (ILO) and International Social Security Association (ISSA), an affiliate association with the United Nation’s organ for Social Security matters to which NSITF belongs held a Conference on “The imperative of Social Security for Economic Development and poverty Alleviation in Nigeria. The communiqué issued at the end of the conference was signed by representatives of Government, the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Labour and

THE ECA IS DIFFERENT FROM THE WCA MAINLY IN THE SENSE THAT WHILE THE

ECA PROVIDES FOR SPEEDY AND ADEQUATE COMPENSATION, RESOLUTION OF DISPUTE WITHOUT RECOURSE TO THE COURT; VIRTUALLY ALL CATEGORIES OF COMPENSATION HAVE TO BE RESOLVED VIA

LAW COURTS IN THE WCA

Productivity and labour unions including Nigeria Labour Congress, and Trade Union Congress of Nigeria, Employers (Nigeria Employers Consultative Association-NECA) and the civil societies. Secondly, we have also established a national working committee on social security policy for Nigeria. In April 2009, NSIFT with the backing of the Federal Government initiated the processes that led to the inauguration of a national working committee on social security policy for Nigeria headed by General Dr. Yakubu Gowon. Membership of the committee was drawn from all spectrums of Nigerian society. What can you point to so far as a major achievement of NSITF under your leadership? Most gratifying are the enactment of the ECA 2010 and the commencement of its implementation nationwide which started under my leadership in July 2011. Today, the scheme has successfully taken off with 1020 employers. Having an estimated employees totalling 295,000 joined the scheme from the private sector of the economy and over 10,000 civil servants from the Government has shown good example for other tiers of government at the state and local government to followed by meeting their obligation of paying contribution for the civil servants. In tandem with the provisions in the ILO Recommendation on National Social Protection Floor, which the International Labour Conference (ILC) recently adopted at its 101st Conference in Geneva, NSITF is collaborating with the supervisory Ministry – Ministry of Labour and Productivity to actualise a progressive ratification of Convention No. 102 of 1952 – (Social Security Minimum Standards). The efforts may on the long run involve appropriate amendment to the NSITF Act 1993, (as partially amended by the Pension Reform Act, 2004 with respect to Pension Matters and which still remains the law establishing NSITF as a body corporate.

Insurance

Tuesday, January 29, 2013

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

PenCom identifies compliance challenges with contributory scheme MESHACK IDEHEN

he National Pension Commission (PenCom) said the commission has identified some of the challenges the states in the country are facing in regards to fully embracing contributory pension system. According to PENCOM,the challenges of how to fund the accrued pension rights of both retirees and the working people in many states tops the list of issues that states are grappling with, which in turn, makes states to look the other way whenever the contributory pension is brought to the front burner. This development is arising even as the commission had previously confirmed that eight years after the introduction of contributory pension scheme in the country, that only five states (Lagos, Ogun, Osun, Niger and Jigawa) had fully embraced the social security scheme, which is meant to take care of workers when they post-retirement.

According to the commission, 16 other states are at various stages of compliance with contributory pension, while 14 others were legislating on the enabling laws to enable them transit. Acting Director-General of the commission, Mrs. Chinelo AnohuAmazu made these disclosures to journalists while responding to questions on why many states are reluctant to embrace the contributory pension as prescribed by the Pension Reform Act 2004. Anohu-Amazu said further that in addition to the challenges associated with how to fund the accumulated pension rights of their employees, most states lack of understanding on what the scheme stands for is another major reason for the challenges being faced. According to her, “Funding of the scheme in terms of pension contributions and the accrued pension rights, that is, right to pensions and gratuities for services rendered prior to commencement of the contributory pension scheme constitute serious obstacle to the states.”

Nigeria’s insurance sector offers room for expansion -Report KUNLE AZEEZ

xford Business Group, an economic research firm, has said although penetration rates continue to lag behind those of other formal financial services, Nigeria’s insurance sector offers plenty of room for expansion over the coming years. The OBG in its latest Economic Update report in insurance sector said while there are a number of factors that could hamper growth and restrict earnings, the sector has potential for growth. The report, quoting the National Insurance Commission, said Nigerian insurance market has the capacity to become the biggest in Africa and one of the largest globally. However, for the sector to achieve the elevated position, the NIC said Nigeria’s insurers will have to overcome the resistance to obtaining coverage by individuals and businesses. According to OBG, “One recent study noted that only 2.25m Nigerians have access to the various products and services offered by insurance companies. Though penetration rates across Africa are low, with only seven countries having coverage levels above 2 per cent of their populations, Nigeria are one of the continent’s largest and fastest-growing economies,

meaning the insurance sector is underachieving in an expanding market.” It stated that the report, published in December, 2012 by Enhancing Financial Innovation and Access (EFInA), an agency which promotes financial inclusion, showed that take-up of insurance products was far lower than the level of Nigerians who had access to formal financial services, which stood at 43 per cent of the adult population as of the end of 2012. “This lack of exposure to financial services, including insurance, suggests the sector needs to work harder to sell its products, and educate the potential client base as to their benefits,” OBG said. The OBG update also stated that even in areas where insurance is mandatory there is still low coverage, with motor cover the prime example. “Though there are some seven m vehicles registered in Nigeria, less than one million of these have proper coverage, according to the Nigerian Insurers Association. In response, authorities have begun a campaign to reduce the incidence of unregistered and uninsured vehicles. Implementation and enforcement will be key, of course, but if followed through this may prompt more owners to take out the minimum third-party coverage required by law since 2003.”

She also pointed out that inadequate understanding of the working and operations of the scheme and shortage of skilled manpower capacity that can cope with the requirements of the scheme were some of the other challenges.” The PenCom boss also identified absence of the political will

Commissioner for Insurance, Fola Daniel

to move from the defined benefit scheme to the defined contributory pension scheme as another challenge that states have contended with in embracing the contributory pension scheme. The Pension Reform Act, 2004 provides that every worker in an organisation employing five

people or more must contribute 7.5 per cent of his or her salary to a Pension Fund Administrator (PFA). The employer under the law is expected to contribute 7.5 per cent of the individual salary of workers to their respective Retirement Savings Accounts (RSA) resident with their chosen PFAs.

Chairman, Governors’ Forum, Rotimi Amaechi

Sea robbery: Insurers shun fishing trawlers FRANCIS EZEM

trong indications emerged that industrial fishing subsector in Nigeria might be heading towards extinction as insurance firms refuse to underwrite fishing trawlers due to the heightening sea robbery and piracy attacks on the vessels. The Nigerian Trawlers Owners Association, umbrella body for all indigenously owned industrial fishing companies had recently raised the alarm over the loss whopping N118.5billion by members in the last eight years due to the increasing menace of pirates and sea robbers on Nigeria’s territorial waters Most insurance firms had following the increasing spate of attacks on the trawlers, which more often than not lead to the vandalisa-

tion of the vessels declared the subsector a very high risk area and so are reluctant to insure them. President of NITOA, Mr. Joseph Overo, who spoke in a recent interview in Lagos, noted that owing to the increasing spate of attacks and vandalisation of telecommunication equipment, which are very expensive, the insurance companies declared the fishing vessels high risk items. According to him, this development had made most of them develop apathy towards insuring the fishing trawlers. He also noted that a few of the insurance firms who summoned enough courage to insure the fishing vessels charge special premium, which the vessels owners struggle to pay because they cannot afford to leave their vessels uninsured. But I think it is normal because they are in business to make prof-

it and the problem of increasing sea robbery is very real and so if you can pay their high premium, why not Overo stated. He however regretted that the decision of these insurance companies to charge high premiums on the fishing vessels only helps heightens the dwindling fortunes of the operators, arguing that no matter what you cost of production is, you cannot increase price because you are competing with imported one. “The situation is such that the indigenous fishing companies do not have control over the price of the products because it is an international market and most of the imported ones were produced under much better economic conditions and incentives from their home governments and so their cost of production is lower”, he argued.

Tips for choosing insurance policy

hen buying insurance, whether its home, life, auto, rental or other: Find out whether your state insurance department offers any information concerning insurance companies and rates. This is a good way to get a feeling for the range of prices and the lowestcost providers in your area. Check several sources for the best deal. Try getting quotes from an insurance focused website, but be aware that many online services may provide prices for just a few companies. An independent insurance agent that works with several insurers in your local

area might be able to get you a better deal. Make sure the insurance company is licensed and covered by the state’s guaranty fund. The fund pays claims in case the company defaults. Your state insurance department can provide this information. Check the financial stability and soundness of the insurance company. Ratings from A.M. Best, Standard and Poor’s, and Moody’s Investors Services are available online and at most public libraries. Research the complaint record of the company. Contact your

state insurance department or visit the website of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, which has a database of complaints filed with state regulators. Find out what others think about the company’s customer service. Consumers can rate homeowner insurance companies. Once you pay your first insurance premium, make sure you receive a written policy. This tells you the agent forwarded your premium to the insurance company. If you don’t receive a policy within 60 days, contact your agent and the insurance company.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Capital Market

Tuesday, January 29, 2013

Equities drop 0.3% on prot taking JOHNSON OKANLAWON

rading in equities closed on bearish note on the Nigerian Stock Exchange yesterday, as some investors took profit from the gains recorded the preceding week. The All-Share Index dipped by 0.34 per cent to close at 31,474.88 points, as against the increase of 0.44 per cent recorded on Friday to close at 31,583.49 points. Market capitalisation

depreciated by N32.1bn to close at N10.1trn, in contrast to the rise of N43.9bn recorded on Friday to close at N10.1trn. Five sectoral indices closed positive, as the NSE 30-Index rose by seven per cent to close at 1,508.56 points, while the Oil and Gas gained 0.53 per cent to close at 177.94 points. Presco Plc led the gainers ’ table with N2.62 or 10 per cent to close at N28.82 per share, followed by Julius Berger Plc with N5.15 or 10 per cent to

close at N56.67 per share. Unity Bank Plc gained seven kobo or 9.72 per cent to close at 79kobo per share, while Custodian Insurance Plc appreciated by 16 kobo or 9.64 per cent to close at N1.82 per share. Prestige Insurance Plc increased by five kobo or 9.09 per cent to close at 60 kobo per share. On the flip side, Air Service Plc dropped 49 kobo or 9.86 per cent to close at N4.48 per share, while AIICO I8nsurance Plc dipped by seven kobo or 8.24 per

cent to close at 78kobo per share. Red Star Express Plc lost 19 kobo or 5.72 per cent to close at N3.13 per share, while John Holt Plc shed 10 kobo or 4.85 per cent to close at N1.96 per share. Transaction volume in equities rose by 75.1 per cent, as a total of 970.02 million shares valued at N8.03bn were exchanged in 6,373 deals, compared to 552.86 million shares worth N6.22bn traded in 6,563 deals on Friday.

he Investment Supervision Department of Nigeria ’s National Pension Commission (PENCOM) has endorsed the first Naira bond to be issued by IFC, a member of the World Bank Group. Following roadshows in Abuja and Lagos, IFC plans to issue a $50 million, fiveyear local-currency bond — equivalent to approximately 8 billion (eight billion) Naira —to support the country ’s domestic capital markets and increase access to localcurrency finance in Nigeria. Head of the National Pen-

sion Commission ’s Investment Supervision Department, Ehimeme Ohioma, endorsed the bond in his opening remarks at the roadshow for investors in Abuja, where he was representing the DG of PENCOM. “It is important to encourage issuances from international triple-A rated corporates such as IFC, which offer diversification and fair returns to pension funds and other institutional investors, ” he said. The IFC Naija bond will be IFC ’s first naira-denominated bond. It will also be the first placement by a non-resident issuer in the country ’s domestic capital markets.

The IFC Naija bond is targeted at investors such as pension funds, insurers, asset managers, and banks, who seek to diversify their portfolio while investing in high-quality assets. IFC bonds are rated international triple-A by Moody ’s Investors Service and Standard & Poor ’s. Proceeds from the bond will be used to support IFC ’s private sector development program. IFC ’s committed portfolio in Nigeria stands at $1.1 billion, the largest country portfolio in Africa and the eighthlargest globally. In May 2012, IFC launched its Pan-African Domestic Medium-Term Note Pro-

gramme, which focuses on Botswana, Ghana, Kenya, Namibia, Rwanda, South Africa, Uganda, and Zambia. IFC has also obtained approvals to issue local-currency bonds in Kenya. Previously, IFC worked with Ghana, Zambia, and eight members of the West African Monetary Union to establish local-currency bond programs. In 2006 and 2009, IFC issued bonds denominated in CFA francs. IFC issues bonds as part of its regular program of raising funds for private sector development, and to support the development of domestic capital markets.

NSE introduces market making US stocks fall as pending on xed income securities today home sales drop JOHNSON OKANLAWON

o further deepen the capital market and its focus on product diversity, the management of the Nigerian Stock Exchange will today introduce market making for the fixed income securities. The introduction is a follow up to the successful introduction of market making on equities on September 18, 2012. A statement from the Exchange yesterday said that a market-wide workshop has been slated for today to intimate market stakeholders with the rules and operational guidelines of market making for the fixed income securities. According to the Head, Product Management of the NSE, Mr Dipo Omotoso, the workshop will bring together experts in fixed income market making with other key capital market participants such as broker/dealers,

NIBOR QUOTES 25 JANUARY 2013 & 28 JANUARY 2013 20.00 19.00 18.00 17.00 16.00 15.00 14.00 13.00 12.00

PenCom endorses planned IFC Naija Bond JOHNSON OKANLAWON

Source: NSE

settlement banks, Pension Fund Administrators, Insurance companies and regulatory authorities. The statement said that About 400 participants are expected to take part in the workshop. Offering an insight on the initiatives, Omotoso said that market making for the fixed income securities will operate a ‘hybrid ’ market, which will allow fixed income market makers to provide two way quotes and licensed broker/ dealers of the Exchange to submit orders as it is currently done. “These quotes and orders interact on the order book to “discover ’the best price for a security, ” the statement read in part. It explained further that the Exchange is introducing the programme to enable flexibility and ease of trading, transparency, diversification, additional income stream as well as improved liquidity in retail side of bond market.

nited States stocks fell, following the longest rally for the Standard and Poor ’s 500 Index since 2004, after a report showed pending home sales declined. AK Steel Holding Corporation lost 8.1 per cent after Goldman Sachs Group Incorporation downgraded the shares. Caterpillar Incorporation added 1.3 per cent as it forecast faster growth in its second half. Facebook Incorporation rose 2.7 percent as options traders were the most bullish on the shares. The S&P 500 fell 0.2 percent to 1,500.25 points as the equity benchmark closed above 1,500 last week for the first time since December 2007 amid an eight-day rally. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 14.59 points, or 0.1 percent, to 13,881.39 points. “The sentiment is really, really bullish, ” Barry James, who helps oversee $3.5bn as

president of James Investment Research in Xenia, Ohio, said in a phone interview. “That is a little bit of a warning sign to us that we could be more in a topping phase than actually a new bull phase. It would take a lot to really convince everyone that happy days are here, and we can just ride this off into the sunset. ” The index of contracts for the purchase of previously owned homes fell 4.3 percent to 101.7 after a revised 1.6 percent increase, the National Association of Realtors reported today in Washington. The median forecast in a Bloomberg survey projected no change in the gauge. A separate report showed orders for durable goods in the US rose 4.6 percent in December after a 0.8 percent gain the prior month. The median forecast of 76 economists surveyed by Bloomberg called for a 2 percent gain.

11.00 10.00 9.00 8.00 7.00 6.00 5.00

2 5 -J a n -1 3

2 8 -J a n -1 3

Source: FMDA

Market indicators All-Share Index 10,070,277,368 points Market capitalisation 31,474.88 trillion

Stock Updates GAINERS COMPANY

OPENING

CLOSING

CHANGE

% CHANGE

PRESCO

26.20

28.82

2.62

10.00

JBERGER

51.52

56.67

5.15

10.00

UNITYBNK

0.72

0.79

0.07

9.72

CUSTODYINS

1.66

1.82

0.16

9.64

PRESTIGE

0.55

0.60

0.05

9.09

INTBREW

23.89

25.99

2.10

8.79

UACN

52.00

55.05

3.05

5.87

TRANSCORP

1.11

1.17

0.06

5.41

MANSARD

2.00

2.10

0.10

5.00

FLOURMILL

73.49

77.16

3.67

4.99

CHANGE

% CHANGE -9.86

LOSERS COMPANY

OPENING

CLOSING

AIRSERVICE

4.97

4.48

0.49

AIICO

0.85

0.78

0.07

-8.24

REDSTAREX

3.32

3.13

0.19

-5.72

JOHNHOLT

2.06

1.96

0.10

-4.85

JOSBREW

1.46

1.39

0.07

-4.79

DANGCEM

147.00

140.20

6.80

-4.63

NPFMCRFBK

0.96

0.92

0.04

-4.17

NEIMETH

0.98

0.94

0.04

-4.08

UTC

0.79

0.76

0.03

-3.80

STERLNBANK

2.81

2.71

0.10

-3.56

Primary Market Auction TENOR

AMOUNT (N ’mn)

RATE (%)

DATE

91-Days

21,83851

12.70

24-Jan-13

182-Day

57,729.22

15.31

24-Jan-13

Open Market Operations TENOR

AMOUNT (N ’mn)

RATE (%)

DATE

70 Days

60,717.10

14.00

24-Jan-13

84-Days

50,282.86

14.00

24-Jan-13

Wholesale Dutch Auction System AMOUNT OFFERED

MARKET DEMAND

AMOUNT SOLD

DATE

$150m

N/A

$150m

28-Jan-13

$150m

N/A

$150m

28-Jan-13

Capital Market

Tuesday, January 29, 2013

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Stock exchange daily equities summary Equities as at January 28, 2013 1st Tier Securities

1st Tier Securities Sector

Company name

No Of Deals

Quotation(N)

Quantity Traded

Value of Shares(N)

Sector

Company name

No Of Deals

Quotation(N)

Quantity Traded

Value of Shares(N)

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Politics

Tuesday, January 29, 2013

CONTINUED FROM 13 were made to sign for far less than what was due to them from the Federation Account. He cited a local government chairman who told him how he was made to sign for N40 million when the council was actually allocated N155 million from Abuja. Adeyemi insisted that the lawmakers are determined to lobby stakeholders to ensure financial autonomy for local governments by abrogating the joint account system enshrined in the constitution. His words: “The chairman of the NGF should ask his colleagues if they are doing what he is doing, if not, then, there is reason for us to be concerned. Perhaps, the NGF chairman is unaware that at least, three commissioners are standing trial for alleged diversion of local government funds. Democracy is not about arrogance, but about people discussing and coming up with superior arguments. “In my state, in my senatorial district, there are areas in Kogi State where people still use tankers to fetch water, because there is no money provided for the local government. I then asked where is your allocation? They tell me they collect it from them in the state. When the allocations due to local governments come, they are stuck in the states. Let the governors know that we will do everything humanly possible to discourage this impunity.”

Crux of the matter The proponents of autonomy for the third tier of government are of the view that the governors are economical with the truth in the sense that Nigerians are aware of what majority of them are doing with the joint account they operate with the local government councils and how the grassroots, which is the closest to the people were underdeveloped in terms of infrastructure. They premised their arguments on the recent tango that occurred with some governors who were accused by the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) branches of their states of tampering with their allocations. It would be recalled that NULGE in Ekiti and Ogun states, in December 2012 accused their governors; Kayode Fayemi and Ibikunle Amosun of illegally deducting billions of naira every month from their allocations, but the two governors vehemently denied the allegations, saying that instead, they are the one spending their resources on their respective local governments. If the local governments are put under the states as the governors are suggesting, it is obvious that the country may likely witness another era of spending the joint account funds on white elephant projects like the former governor of Ekiti State, Ayo Fayose, allegedly did when he spent N1.4 billion on a poultry farm with nothing to show for it. In his lamentation, Prof. Akin Mabogunje, a member of the local government reform committee in 1970 said that contrary to what it should be, the local government had been turned to a conduit pipe to siphon money from the national treasury. He said the objective of creating the local government has been defeated, adding that the councils need reconstruction in order to tackle the high level of poverty that has pervaded the country. Holding a similar view, former Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Ibrahim Dasuki, who frowned at the level of poor devel-

Furore over LG autonomy IF THE LOCAL

GOVERNMENTS ARE TO PERFORM, THEY MUST BE READY TO ENDURE AND BE

SUSTAINED.

I DO NOT

BELIEVE THAT IT IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE STATE GOVERNMENTS TO GARNISH THE LOCAL Obasanjo

opment at the local government level pointed out that “the whole thing is mixed up. Look at the local government funds, the chairmen have been marginalised. All they do is to go and sign the money in Abuja and they don’t know what happens to the money.” He lamented the high cost of governance without corresponding development in the country which he hinged on corruption. “You can imagine a wife of a local government chairman given huge amount of money as wardrobe allowance, for what? Even councillors get the same allowance. Is that in the constitution?” he queried. Against this backdrop, former President Olusegun Obasanjo, who incidentally gave local government a facelift in 1976, called for an urgent review of the third tier of government in order to check among other things, the excesses of state governors. Obasanjo argued that this would end the allegations by local councils that state governments are “ambushing” their funds, insisting that the states don’t have the right to embark on such unconstitutional process. According to him, “when we brought the reform nationally, we then said it was the third tier of government in Nigeria. In other words, what we were saying was that the local government is the closest government to the people. “Unfortunately, the adjustments followed, people started asking for local governments in their backyards. The military succumbed and what we had was that they could not deliver. “If the local governments are to perform, they must be ready to endure and be sustained. I do not believe that it is the responsibility of the state governments to garnish the local government money. And that is what is happening in most of the states and that is not the intention of creating the local governments.” He pointed out that since the National Assembly is talking about constitution amendment, maybe it is also important to talk about amending the local government laws so that there would be no means the states can ambush the local governments’ money and there will also be means to call the local governments to give account of their activities. However, former Deputy Governor of Oyo State, Azeem Gbolarunmi noted that autonomy should not be given to the local governments because it will be abused like it was done in the past. Gbolarunmi, who spoke to National Mir-

GOVERNMENT MONEY ror, pointed out that if the state is not allowed to control the activities of the councils; there will be national crisis as most of them will not be able to pay the teachers’ salaries as it happened in the past. This view was equally shared by the Commissioner for Local Government in Osun State, Kolapo Alimi, who pointed out that the third tier of government, does not need any autonomy but restructuring. Alimi told National Mirror: “I hope it will not happen. The worst anybody can do right now is to say they want to give autonomy to local governments. With their present stand, where they are being monitored, they still do some things with impunity. What do you think will happen if they are not under any control? “Despite the close monitoring, things are not going the way we want it, if then you give them autonomy, definitely they are going to abuse it. They have done that in the past. During the Ibrahim Babangida military era, they were given autonomy, but there was spontaneously crisis in the country as they could not manage it, so why give them another autonomy? Many of them could not pay the salaries of school teachers. Transfer of teachers from one local government to the other became problematic.” He further argued that it was when the joint account was established that there was a bit of sanity. His words: “It was when we decided that the salaries of all the staff in the local governments in the state should be paid from the central pool, that we had sanity. It is no longer part of their allocation that they can tamper with when it got to their councils. It is those who are looking at the local governments from the surface that will clamour for its autonomy. Instead I would advocate for a holistic restructuring of local governments.” However, this line of thought was punctured by the national president of the Association of Local Government Chairman of Nigeria (ALGON), Comrade Nwabueze Okafor, who insisted that the autonomy of local governments is the only way development can be felt at the grassroots. He saw the “gang- up” of the governors as a fallout of the incessant cry by ALGON that some governors are short-changing them, noting that the National Assembly members are the representatives of the people and have the confidence that they will do what the people of Nigeria want by giving the local government autonomy to develop according to individual’s pace.

Adeyemi

Okafor, who spoke to National Mirror on phone, pointed out that the matter is beyond the NGF, saying no matter their gang-up and intimidation on the state Assemblies, the will of the people will prevail at the end. “It is now left to Nigerians to come together as one to fight oppressive tendencies and say it loud to the roof of the house that autonomy of local government should be injected in the constitution in order to stop diversion of council funds by state governors. “Local government is the nearest to the people and it is the only tier of government that feels their pulse at the grassroots, any attempt to put it under the state control and governance, development would elude the grassroots,” he asserted. It is no longer a secret that most of the governors have cowed their state Assemblies to the extent that some of them have voted against their own legislative autonomy. National Mirror gathered that this is the area the NGF wants to use as advantage in order to make sure that councils are perpetually under the control of the states.

People’s will There is fear whether the will of the people will prevail or not. The National Assembly alone cannot grant autonomy to the councils without concurrence support from the State Assemblies. The governors are in control of virtually all the Assemblies . Hence, political pundits are of the view that there is ray of hope especially as the helpless masses are looking forward to the National Assembly to bail them out of the gang-up of the governors. Adeyemi equally thinks along this dimension.” We will mobilise other stakeholders against entrenchment of two tiers of government in Nigeria. It’s not a progressive move for the country. We will mobilise NULGE and NLC; that they should not just fold their arms and allow this illegality to continue. “I would rather support devolution of power should go to the local governments rather than the states. We should rather scrap the states because most of them are not even viable.” Corroborating Adeyemi’s view, vice chairman of the Senate Trade and Investment Committee, Ibrahim Musa, dismissed Amaechi’s opposition to financial autonomy for local governments, adding that Section 7 of the Constitution already recognises local governments as a tier of government.

Politics

Tuesday, January 29, 2013

How Nebo, Turaki scaled Senate confirmation as ministers GEORGE OJI writes that following their brilliant performance during the screening by the committee of the whole last week, the Senate did not have any problems confirming the nomination of Chinedu Osita Nebo and Kabir Tanimu Turaki (SAN) as minister-designates of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

n the words of the Senate President, David Mark, the two ministerial nominees were, “very frank and articulate in answering the questions that we put to them.” Mark gave this assessment in his short remarks after the Senate approved the appointment of the duo as ministers. Mark said his only wish was that, “if by the time they are deployed as ministers, they will match their actions with their words; we expect that they will perform very well.” The impressive outing of the two ministerial nominees throughout their screening last week did not come to many as a surprise, particularly given the very intimidating resume both of them paraded. For instance, Nebo, among many other things, served as a former Vice Chancellor of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka for five years, from 2004 to 2009. In February last year, while he was still enjoying his accumulated leave, the professor was recalled by President Goodluck Jonathan to serve as the pioneer Vice Chancellor of the Federal University, Oye, Ekiti State. It was while he was still in office that he was again nominated by the president to join the Federal Executive Council to serve as a minister. Nebo, who is a first class professor of Metallurgical and Material Engineering, hails from Enugu State. He also has in his kitty a number of awards that has to do with academic and leadership excellence. On his part, Turaki is a distinguished member of the legal profession, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) from Kebbi State. He has served in many Federal Government committees. He contested the last Kebbi State gubernatorial election on the platform of the Congress of Progressive Change (CPC) and lost to the present governor, Sa’idu Dakingari. Responding to the question posed by a senator as to whether or not he had a drive to be a minister, Turaki said he considered his nomination to serve as a minister as an extension of national service. For him, it was not about having the drive or desire but about the president finding him worthy of serving in any capacity if confirmed as a minister. He explained that throughout his working career, he had been delivering service and will continue to do so to Nigeria. Commenting on what he would proffer as solutions to the nation’s security challenges, the nominee commended the Federal Government for doing a lot in the

recent past, but said that despite those efforts there should be more collaborations, more enhanced cooperation of the security services. His major concern in the fight against terror was that there has been inter-agency and inter-service rivalry. He said a particular agency may be good at gathering information but may not be good at processing that information. So, if information is not properly managed, it will affect the overall performance of the security agencies in their handling of security issues. “Overall, I think that everything is being done by government to ensure that the security situation is improved,” Turaki concluded. The nominee also responded to the question as to whether it is worth the while to celebrate our 100 years of existence as a nation and agreed that he believed that it was worth the while. He described Nigeria as a plural country, multi-ethnic and multi-religious, a very diversified country but noted that in spite of that we have lived together despite the opinion other people may have against us. “We have been able to pull through the roots, we’ve gone through very serious and challenging times in our lives as a nation when a lot of people never gave us a chance of surviving, but like an old elephant, we shook ourselves and we moved through. We’ve been through situations that had shaken bigger nations of the world, but Nigeria has been able to survive and Nigeria will survive. And so for us, in spite of these limitations, in spite of these difficulties, we have been able to stay together, to have been able to move together, to have been able to get to where we are now, it is something worth celebrating,” the nominee argued. Turaki did not mince words in expressing support for the Federal Government’s recent decision to deploy Nigerian soldiers in Mali. He said Nigeria is in the situation we are today because we are fighting faceless terror groups. According to him, terror knows no bounds; it knows no religion, it knows no tribe. Then if there is strong indication that the source of training and even financing of the terrorists that operate in Nigeria is from Mali, it goes without supporting the deployment. He said if the USA will fly thousands of kilometres and go to Afghanistan and Yemen to attack terror bases just for having training bases in those countries, it was because the resultant effects of their training in those countries are going to affect the interest of America. That being the case, the ministerial nominee noted, there is no reason why Nigeria should not take actions with other nations to attack the base of terrorists in Mali. Beyond this, there is also the factor of contiguity. “There is only one country between us and Mali and that is Niger. The border between Niger and Mali is porous and so is the border between us and Niger. If therefore we do not work hand in hand with other nations to fight terror and introduce sanity in Mali, chances are that those criminal elements and armed people may find their way into Niger and may finally find their ways into Nigeria.

Turaki

Nebo

I HAVE THE COMMITMENT AND

DRIVE. ONE THING I HAVE BEEN KNOWN FOR IS UNCONTROLLABLE PASSION FOR EXCELLENCE

WHEREVER I AM. I AM NOT GOING TO RELENT OR DO OTHERWISE NOW THAT I HAVE REACHED THE GOLDEN AGE “Nigeria is the greatest stakeholder in Africa and so, it must take interest in what happens in our neighbours’ countries. Besides, this Senate has satisfied the constitutional requirement for the deployment of troops to Niger,” Turaki reasoned. Commenting on whether the appointment of SANs is more of political than legal in Nigeria, the learned lawyer remarked first that the honour is the highest that any legal practitioner can be conferred with, stressing that because of that, there are so many lawyers that apply for the honour. He

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said in view of the fact that the privileges committee will have to do a lot of investigation and infiltration to make sure that beyond meeting the minimum requirement that a person that is worthy to be conferred with that rank makes it more honourable. He agreed that there is a limit to the number of people that can be conferred with the title unlike in places like the UK, for instance, where once you apply and you qualify you will be given. In the case of Nigeria, the law streamlines the number of people that will be given in any particular year. Unless that law is amended he would not think that the privileges committee will be able to give more than the persons that are statutorily being made to be given. Concluding on the matter, he said it was not about politicking or nepotism or anything, but that a lot of balancing has to be done before the choices are made. Commenting on the growing insurgency in the North and the increase in road blocks there, the nominee pitched support with the strategy of the security operatives. He said what we are fighting is terror and described the fight against terror in Nigeria as the more difficult than the fight against terror in any other part of the world. According to him, if you fight Al-Qaeda you know who they are and you know where to get them, you know what they stand for, you know how they operate. But in the case of Nigeria, we are left with a group that are shapeless. He remarked: “Today they come on motorbikes, dress in t-shirts and jeans, they unleash mayhem. If tomorrow you are looking for people who will come on bike, they are there in SUV, dressed in Agbada and suit. If you are looking for somebody that is dressed corporately tomorrow you see them come in traditional attires, so they keep on changing form and shape. If that is so and they live among members of the society, it is important for the security services to do a number of change in operations.” On the issue of combating corruption and plea bargain, the he stated that plea bargain as a principle is good, which has been applied in many jurisdictions and has served the purposes. He said there is a difference between when a trial is done summarily and when a trial is done after full hearing. According to him, when a judge tries a matter summarily, there is a limitation to the amount of punishment he can impose. And when an accused person goes before the court and says I am guilty, the amount of punishment that the judge can impose on that person is usually circumscribed than if he allows the trial to go through full blown trial. He described the issue of corruption as cancerous, which has eaten deep into our national fabric, but noted with satisfaction that government is working hard while also that the National Assembly has been able to bring out very good legislation that will guide the processes. The challenge of the prosecuting and investigating agencies, he said is so large, but that even with the limitations that they are confronted with, they have been able to do the best they could do, even though there are still lots of room for improvement. Nebo’s responses as those of Turaki were equally impressive, eliciting occasional cheers from the senators. On insecurity especially a terrorism, the profesCONTINUED ON PAGE 44

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Politics

Tuesday, January 29, 2013

Govs enslaving LGs, assemblies –Kawu

You are sponsoring bills to grant financial autonomy to local government and scrap the joint account, and to give financial autonomy to the state Houses of Assembly. But recently your governor, Rabiu Kwankwaso opposed the proposed bills to review the constitution. What do you think of his opposition to those pieces of legislation? Let us start with financial autonomy for the state Houses of Assembly. Our thinking is that we are operating a federation with three tiers of government. The federal, state and local government and we have legislative arm in each of the these federating units. State Assemblies are also a very important arm of any government, so there is the need for them to be fully independent. We don’t want a situation whereby a governor will dictate to them what he wants, intimidate them, blackmail them and pockets them and make them dance to his tune. That is why we feel there is the need for us to have a truly independent and vibrant legislature. We have it in so many countries and I think it is good for our democracy too. There are some sections of the 1999 Constitution which are very ambiguous which give room for the state governments to tamper with the local governments and the state Assemblies. What is happening in the states is very pathetic and so the governors must allow councils exist for democracy to thrive. The governors are thinking that they are semi-gods in their states. I agree with what our elder stateman, Senator Jibril Aminu said that there is nowhere in the world where governors dictate what happens in the country. They would not allow anybody to appoint a commissioner for them but they appoint ministers for the President. They are dictating who and who will be chairmen of local governments, who will be the state Assembly Speaker. In some cases it’s their wives or relations of their wives who dictate what happens in the local governments and the state. Anybody who is against the independence of the legislature in the state and the local government is trying to undermine democracy because they don’t want check and balance. He is a lone ranger dictator. There have not been elections in the local governments in Kano State for some time now, why? When you go back to 2002 when the first democratically elected local councils were dissolved, it was Governor Kwankwaso who championed it and dissolved the councils and appointed his stooges because he didn’t want anybody to challenge him. He is operating like a god in the state. He does not want any dissenting voice, he is averse to checks and balances. All he wants is to operate as a dictator wherever you challenge him it seems that you challenge God which is not good. He could not conduct the local government elections because he knows the consequences.

What are the consequences? The consequence is that his party will lose. He does not have a party because there are so many crises in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kano State. He knows that he can’t control even the socalled party members who may win elections as council chairmen, because they will claim that they have the mandate of

Suleiman Kawu Sumaila is the Deputy Minority Leader and leader of the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) representing Sumaila Takai Federal constituency of Kano State in the House of Representatives. In this interview with TORDUE SALEM, he accuses Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso of Kano State of leading the fight against financial and political autonomy for local governments and the state Assemblies. Excerpts:

WHAT IS HAPPENING IN THE STATES IS VERY PATHETIC AND SO THE GOVERNORS MUST ALLOW COUNCILS EXIST FOR DEMOCRACY TO THRIVE.

THE

GOVERNORS ARE THINKING THAT THEY ARE SEMI-GODS IN THEIR STATES

Kawu

the people. For instance, he recently used the local government funds which he refused to release to them and awarded double road network contracts of five kilometers amounting to N1.5 to N2 billion in each of the 44 local governments. You can’t find that kind of work anywhere in the world. In places where the whole structure of the village is not up to N1.2 billion he is contracting those roads whereas they don’t have some basic necessities such as health care, schools and poverty alleviation. He is not doing this for the interest of the people but just to draw attention that he is doing something. He also raised another issue with regards to the constitution amendment that the National Assembly is instigating state Assemblies against governors, could that be true? We are doing our work, all we are saying is that allow these people to operate. He doesn’t want anybody to challenge him. This is is problem of our governors when they become governors they think that they are gods in their states; they don’t want anybody to exercise their constitutional powers if you do so they start calling you names. They are intimidating everyone including the traditional rulers thinking that they will remain their forever. Are you saying that Kwankwaso is an overlord in Kano State? Yes he is; he does not have respect for anybody. You know what happened during

the recent attack on our most revered Emir, he left Kano for India that very day without even paying condolence visit to the family of his late sole administrator who was killed in the attack. We have questions in Kano, opposition have so many questions in Kano State. What was so urgent in the trip to India that he must go? No serious investor will come to Kano with the situation we are in now. He is not sympathetic with the people and he is not thinking that we are in a very terrible situation; he just flew out to India spending people’s money without thinking about the consequences. At what stage of legislation is the bill you are sponsoring now? We are almost finished; we will transmit it to the state Assemblies. If state Assemblies are mere appendages of state Government Houses, don’t you think the process will be undercut by them? If they kill the bill, they will be inviting the wrath of Nigerians because it is not our matter it is what Nigerians want, all we are saying is that local governments should be autonomous and state Assemblies should be financially independent. It is a wake up call for all. In Nigeria today, the gap between the leaders and the people is widening everyday and we need to bridge that gab. People know how state executives do pilfer local government funds. I assure you that there will be a serious mass action against the governors if they dare tamper with these two bills because there is real consensus in the country about this. During the public hearings, all the 360 federal constituencies voted in favour of granting autonomy to the local governments and the state Assemblies and the scrapping of the state electoral commissions. All what Kwankwaso is saying are all lies, go and see what he is doing with the Kano State House of Assembly. He gave them constituency projects in 2012 and members of the state Assembly are doing but he now turn around, saying that it is not good and that we are intimidating president.

He said it is a drain on the economy... How? We are doing it to take projects to our people. For instance, in my own constituency, it is only the constituency projects I took there that represents presence of Federal Government. There is no federal presence in most of the federal constituencies in Nigeria. But constituency project is just N100 billion out of the N5 trillion federal budget. Is it the N100 billion that is draining the economy? How much are they collecting and siphoning from the local government joint account? In 2012, Kano has a lot of money and he is introducing so many measures to the detriment of the economy of people of the state. He has introduced Askarawan Kwankwasiyya who are busy harassing people and businessmen in Kano, he has Karota, and another one and they are all extorting money from people and he gave them marching order that they must contribute at least N5 billion annually to the state coffers, how can he do so? His action alone has contributed a lot to the diminishing economy of Kano. Despite the security challenges we are facing, now we are facing three serious issues in Kano. We are battling with Kwankwaso security outfit, the Federal Government security outfit and the elements that are creating difficult business environment for the people of Kano State. And the governor is busy traveling out from the state. Whenever we finish with the process of passing these two bills, the governors will see hell if they try to kill it. Are you saying that the bills will survive opposition by the governors? Yes, it will see the light of the day because Nigerians are supporting it. Even those who are in the same party with Kwankwaso will want to breath some fresh air in the local governments. There are people at that level that have more experience than the governors. They refused free and fair elections to take place, they rather install stooges to help them siphon money. Ask him (Kwankwaso) who and who are doing the contracts he is awarding? What is the bearing on these contracts on the lives of ordinary people of Kano state? And thank God that the opposition in Kano have been vindicated because anytime we say anything against the government they will say it is because we are not in the same political party with him but the man now is battling PDP at the national level, there is now parallel state exco in Kano who are planning to conduct their state congresses, he is fighting the traditional institution, he is fighting the Ulama, he is fighting National Assembly, fighting the common man on the street. See the way he is harassing ordinary people, creating tension in the polity by conducting what he called workers screening every month in Kano. Every month all state government workers must come to Kano to be screened. Which kind of screening is that? Is he doing this to punish the people of Kano State to show them that he has powers as a governor? Imagine! Under the narrow thinking of Kwankwaso, everybody around him must wear red cap. It is an indication of how dictatorial he is because he can kick you out of Kano Government House if you do not wear a red cap. He is harassing even National Assembly members from Kano.

Politics

Tuesday, January 29, 2013

CONTINUED FROM 15 Even, those of us – the ACN governors – are committed to integration, but there is a degree also. Without a doubt, we want it to work, but there are always drivers in every agenda of that nature. As you have drivers, you also have people who want to be part of it and ensure that we derive maximum benefit from our cooperation. It is a challenge, but I don’t think it is fair to say that the government of Ondo under our brother, Olusegun Mimiko, is not interested in the integration. It will not be a fair assessment. The Nigerian Governors’ Forum has been accused of frustrating the ongoing constitution review process and that it is oppressing the Federal Government. What’s your take on that? Also, how do you react to the clamour for local government autonomy? Who is the NGF oppressing? To the best of my knowledge, the NGF is not written in any constitution. It is a voluntary body; funded voluntarily and meetings attended voluntarily by members. Its decisions are not binding on the country. Its resolutions are shared with the press from time to time. It is always driven not by politics. If it is driven by politics, I will not be saying this. I am not a member of the political party that is in the majority in the NGF. It is only things that we agree that we push collectively. There are a lot of things that governors do that they don’t do together. So, I don’t know how anyone will come to the conclusion that we are frustrating the country, oppressing the President and not allowing the constitution review process to progress. This is a federation, and in a federation, as a political scientist now, and not as a governor, we have two federating units. When you have two federating units, they are not subordinate units. They are coordinate units. That is the language we use in political science. It means that they are sovereign, and if you are sovereign, this notion that the Federal Government is the one protecting the nation against the excesses of rascals, criminals at the state level, who Nigeria must be protected from, is what I call feeding-bottle federalism. It is totally absurd and nonsensical because I don’t know of

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South-West integration still on course –Fayemi

being oppressed and nobody is coming to our rescue. Maybe, we have not sufficiently made it clear that the states are the ones being oppressed by the Federal Government. That is actually what is happening. Some people are used to collecting money in an unaccountable manner. Let us render it to the Nigerian people. We like what Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, the Coordinating Minister of the Economy, has been doing by publishing what gets to us. That is fine. Our people should know what we get so that they can monitor us. We too want to know the actual money earned by the Nigerian state to which we belong, so that we can also challenge it with our own independent analysis. People should support us, instead of haranguing us.

Fayemi

any federation in the world that operates that way. In the United States, the President cannot relate to the governor of California or the governor of Massachusetts, who is from his own political party that way. If he crosses the line, they will tell him that, ‘Mr. President, are you really sure of what you are doing?’ You cannot hijack the powers of a coordinate federal unit. But that is what happens here, and because governors are not the most popular public office holders, people confuse logic with logicality. On the issue of state police, we have raised fundamental questions. Our argument has not been about state police; the media described it as state police. It is about multi-level police. We have never been against the federal police. We have said that the federal police has its own role in a federation. State police have their own role. Local police has its own role. Even, the university campus police has its role in that multi-level approach to security, particularly law enforcement. But everybody refused to tow our line. They insisted on federal police. I don’t know any governor that has ever said that the federal police are unacceptable

and unwanted. We have always asked for a multi-level police force to tackle our security challenge. The other issue is our interpretation of the Section 162 of the constitution. We have a religious interpretation of it in the NGF, which is why we are in court on about four cases. Section 162 of the constitution makes it very clear. Every penny that comes to the coffers of the Nigerian state goes into only one account, the Federation Account. Not JP Morgan, not Citibank. But because we run this federalism as a unitary state; of course, our authoritarian military past is affecting us; people do not pay fidelity to this critical issue. Monies are collected by NNPC. We don’t even know the amount. No governor in this country can tell you how much this country earns on a daily basis. I am part of an entity. There should be accountability and transparency, and nobody gives me a full picture of what we earn? Governors have raised these issues at every forum. We have four cases in the Supreme Court. The Federal Government has been requesting for an out-of-court settlement in the cases. Does someone who oppresses you go to the court to seek reprieve? We are the ones

What about council autonomy? Now, you talk about local government autonomy. The argument of states has been validated by those who were architects of local government reforms in this country. Two of them have spoken recently. I find it very insightful and interesting. Former Sultan Ibrahim Dasuki and Prof. Akin Mabogunje talked about the scrapping of the local government and that each state should decide how they want to run their local government structure. Local government has been smuggled in through various subterfuges to what they call a tier of government. In my own political science book, a tier of government is not a federating unit. This country has two federating units and it is not the business of Abuja to be listing the number and names of local governments in the constitution. The American constitution that I have seen is 34 pages, plus the amendment. When you fix a federal road in America, the state can toll it and get a contribution of up to 80 per cent from the Federal Government, and the state decides which road to toll and which not to toll. There are Federal Government’s roads that I am fixing. In the first instance, why should there be roads called Federal Government roads? Adjoining roads? Yes, because the Federal Government is responsible for interboundary issues. But when it gets to my state, it should be my road.

How Nebo, Turaki scaled Senate confirmation as ministers CONTINUED FROM 42 sor remarked that terrorism is multi-faceted, whether as Boko Haram or sheer robbery cases that we find throughout the country or the kidnapping saga that we find in the South-East and the South-South. He stated that one way of addressing this would be to look at the genesis. According to him, addressing the issue of unemployment will substantially reduce terrorism in the country. Responding to the question on how he hoped to assist the President to drive his agenda of transformation, Nebo said he is by nature, commitment and upbringing a transformation leader, and that wherever he went, wherever he was known, whether at home, universities abroad, his work has always been transformational, stressing: “I have the commitment and drive. One thing I have been known for is uncontrollable passion for excellence wherever I am. I am not going to relent or do otherwise now that I have reached the golden age.” Commenting on the unemployability of Nigerian graduates and the growing rate of universities, the nominee explained that you do not look at it just from the point of view of input and output. He said wherever there is an input, there is a process that gives rise to output. He noted that we have a problem in our education sys-

tem and it is not easy to solve because the whole issue does not start with the tertiary level. “At the primary level, we have teachers that are not teachers but cheaters, not because they choose not to be trained but because they did not have the opportunity to be trained and well versed in the art of teaching to the point of committing themselves to the art of nurturing these young ones,” he said. He said the best approach to solving the problem was to begin from the primary schools to instil the principle of entrepreneurial studentship; and then proceed to the secondary schools do the same and then come to the university and insist on the same. “I will say that one way of drastically dealing with the issue of unemployable graduates is to instil in them, entrepreneurial skills early enough, so that when they leave the universities, they will not continue to swell the rank of unemployed and unemployable graduates,” Nebo argued. Responding to another question that if posted to the power ministry, whether he would consider uninterrupted power supply as a minimum for celebration, he said that should the president in his wisdom decides to send him to the Ministry of Power, wonderful things will come as a result. Nebo said he believed that Nigerian’s situation of gen-

erating 4,500 megawatts for 170 million people as opposed to South Africa’s 40,000 megawatts for 40 million people, showing that by per capita, Nigeria is 45 times lower than South Africa was not good enough. This, he said, showed that the surface had not been scratched. He said: “Mr. President, in launching the road map to power has started a revolution that I don’t think that those who helped him to do that understands the marvellous impact that will have. I don’t think that uninterrupted power is a mirage, it will be done but I need to study what is on the ground, what has been made before I can give you a date to that effect.” Commenting on how he intends to avert the conflict of interest in the power ministry if eventually posted there, Nebo observed that the former minister, Berth Nnaji, was a professional to the core; brilliant, intelligent and very committed, stating that it was unfortunate that things happened the way they did. He said since he had now seen that, “there are so many banana peels scathered the path, I have to guard myself very specially.” On his position regarding the principles of federal character, the professor said he believed in it but that within the ambits of that principle, in each state you are considering, you need to take the best and not just anybody.

Tuesday, January 29, 2013

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Community Mirror “As a citizen, all I want to know is the mathematics of the excess crude account and the foreign reserve.” FORMER MINISTER OF EDUCATION, DR. OBY EZEKWESILI

Policeman commits suicide in Yenagoa EMMA GBEMUDU YENAGOA

ragedy has struck the sleepy community of Agudama-Epie in Yenagoa Local Government, as a policeman with the Bayelsa State Police Command committed suicide owing to matrimonial problems in his home. Investigations revealed that the cop died on January 18, after drinking a liquid suspected to be poison.

His corpse was immediately deposited at the Federal Medical Centre, FMC Yenagoa, before being taken away for burial at Oporoma , in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area. The late policeman was said to have less than three years remaining in service before going on retirement. A family source who pleaded anonymity, said his first wife had noticed that the deceased slept for too longer than normal and after trying to wake him up,

raised the alarm that attracted people in the neighbourhood. The source said the middle aged cop had been having running battles with his second wife, even as it was gathered that he attempted to kill himself on two occasions owing to matrimonial issues that were later resolved. When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Fidelis Odunna, said he was yet to be briefed on the incident .

Group decries plan on Okada ban AMOUR UDEMUDE ASABA

sociopolitical pressure group, Emede Political Focus Forum in Isoko South Local Government Area of Delta State has warned Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan against plans to ban motor cycles, popularly called Okada, in areas outside Asaba, the state capital. A statement by Secretary General of the group, Comrade Geoffrey Osiama, expressed sadness and disappointment in a situation where many people have been rendered jobless, as their sources of

Scavengers at the scene of the recent fire incidence at Jesu Oyingbo Market on Mile 12 Road in Lagos.

Ondo monarch suspended HAKEEM GBADAMOSI AKURE

he Olusupare of Supare in Akoko South West Local Gover nment Area of Ondo State, Oba Kasali Adejoro, has been suspended by the council of traditional rulers over allegation of rape against him. Adejoro, had been dragged before a Magistrate’s Court sitting in Supare over the allegation of rape of one of his subjects, Mrs Comfort Awogbamila last year. When the case came up,

the plea of the monarch was not taken when the case came up at the last adjour ned date because he had, through his counsel, Mr Bayo Olorunmeke gone to State High Court to challenge the allegations. Both the magistrate and the High Court, however, did not proceed with the hearing. However, the State Council of Traditional Rulers has suspended Oba Adejoro pending the dispensation of the case at the law courts. In a letter signed by the Chair man of the Council of Obas and the Deji of Akure, Oba Adebiyi Adesida, asked

PHOTO: OLUFEMI AJASA

livelihoods have been eroded by adverse policies. His words: “I want to draw attention of Governor, Emmanuel Uduaghan to the issue of extension on ban of Okada to areas yet to be affected in the state. The ban or plans of extending it to other areas, will not augur well and can never lead to security or any form of development, as it is detrimental to operators whose livelihoods depend on it.” According to the group, the issue of armed robbery, kidnapping, stealing among other social vices, will increase alongside poverty in the state. “The ban would affect not only operators but also mechanics and spare parts dealers. There are major dealers with over a million naira worth of parts in ware houses and this shows the ban won’t affect only Okada operators but businessmen alike. Operating Okada happens to be the only employment for both educated and the uneducated in the state.” While appealing to the governor to reconsider the ban, Osiama stressed that if it is extended to other areas, the rate of insecurity and poverty as well as untold hardship will drastically increase. The group however recalled that in places like Bayelsa, Anambra, Rivers, and Lagos only the state capitals observe bans and not the entire states.

Katsina craft village graduates 3,600 youths the embattled monarch to stay away from the activities of the council until the case is deter mined by the court. The letter read “the attention of the Ondo State Council of Traditional Rulers has been drawn to the recent allegation against your good self and the on-going prosecution at both magistrate and high courts. Following the on-going criminal proceeding, you are advised to stay away from all activities and meetings of the council of Traditional Rulers until the criminal case are resolved. “

JAMES DANJUMA KATSINA

he Katsina State Youth Craft Village has graduated 3, 600 youths since inception three years ago. The village has several vocational skills including wielding, tie and dye, electrical works, among other empowerment schemes. Special Adviser to the Governor on Science and Technology, Sulieman Kuki, who stated this at the graduation ceremony of trainees, said more youths will soon be enrolled in the craft village. Kuki, who congratulated the trainees, said the programme

has duration of three to six months for all categories, even as he urged them to ensure judicious use of financial support given them. He said the aim of the craft village is to empower youths and check problem of unemployment and that trainees within and outside the state were also benefiting. He said the state would continue to give priority to science and technology, and that the institution would be teaching and awarding certificates. Coordinator of the craft village, Samaila Saulawa said total of 200 trainees graduated and had been enjoying stipend of N2,000 allowance during training,even

Community Mirror

Tuesday, January 29, 2013

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Fayemi’s achievements unprecedented – Emure council boss OJO OYEWAMIDE EKITI

he Interim Chairman of Emure Local Government, Hon. Ezekiel Tosin Olotu, has described the achievements of Ekiti State Governor Kayode Fayemi in the last two years as unprecedented since creation of the state. Olotu, who was special adviser to Fayemi before his appointment as council chairman, said people of the state should be grateful for giving them a hardworking and visionary governor at this point in the life of the state. Speaking with Community Mirror, the council boss noted

that the administration had touched all sectors of the state economy. He said: “Emure Local Government Area has benefited a lot like other local governments in the state. The government has embarked on a 5 km road project in Emure Local Government Area. Similar thing is going on in all the other local government areas of the state. The government has made efforts geared towards improving education, while schools infrastructure has received attention. Many schools, built several years ago and which have not been given any facelift, are now been rehabilitated in all the 16 local

government areas of the state. The old people are being attended to as government gives them monthly stipends. Such has never happened in history of the state. Just as government is paying attention to agriculture development, it has concluded to plans to rehabilitate and equip government hospitals in all the local government areas. One good thing is that there is a cordial relationship between Governor Fayemi and all the local government chairmen.” Olotu, said he encountered several challenges when he was appointed Interim Chairman of the local government, but that the council had been able to ad-

Flooded Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway at Ile Epo Bus Stop, Lagos, after the heavy downpour on Sunday. PHOTO: BAYOOR EWUOSO

try projects, oil palm projects and purchased farm inputs like fertilisers, herbicides, spraying pumps for farmers to boost productivity. The administration also embarked on cultivation and maintenance of yam farms.” According to Olotu, apart completing the Local Government Women Development Centre, the council has renovated market stalls at Owode and other communities with a view to empowering the women. Saying his administration had extended electricity to Ose Onija, Owode and Alabamarun communities, Olotu said, the educational sector was not left untouched, adding that the council had distributed 1,000 exercise books and chalks to schools in the area. He said the council had paid its counterpart funds for programmes and initiatives of the state and federal governments like LACA programme on HIV and FADAMA, just as he stated that it had procured security equipment for guards in the local government area. The council boss ascribed the success of his administration to the cordial relationship existing between him and traditional rulers in all communities that make up the local government, saying: “They are my fathers and I have been enjoying their support since I assumed this responsibility.” Olotu, described calls for the scrapping of local government system as unrealistic, saying the country needs the councils for development at the grassroots, just as he supported autonomy for the third tier of government.

Olotu

dress most of them. Speaking on achievements of his administration from February 2012 till date, he said: “When we came into office, the council’s grader was not functioning. We got it refurbished to facilitate grading works in the area. Today, the administration has graded several township and access roads to various farmsteads. We have also constructed box culverts and drainages at different locations within various communities in the local government. “To serve as office for both State and Federal Government agencies in the local government area, the administration renovated the old local government secretariat. We supervise the road project embarked by the state government so we can get the best for our people.” Olotu, who said the council had invested much in the agriculture, added: “We pay a lot of attention to agriculture. We have surveyed 1000 hectares of land for the agricultural projects. The council has also cleared and surveyed some hectares of land for establishment of palm kernel industry. We established poul-

Aguleri oil field is in Anambra –Traditional ruler NWABUEZE OKONKWO ONITSHA

he traditional ruler of Aguleri Ancient Kingdom, in Anambra East Local Government Area of Anambra State, Eze Christopher Nwabunwanne Idigo IV has described as false, the claims by Kogi and Enugu states that part of the oil field in Inland Basin of Aguleri recently commissioned by President Goodluck Jonathan on August 30, 2012, traversed into their territories. He said it was unfortunate that while Anambra was still savouring the good fortune, Kogi and Enugu states suddenly started laying claims to the oil fields. Speaking at this year’s 113th annual Aguleri Ovala cultural festival, Eze Idigo expressed satisfaction that the government has been satisfactorily tackling the claims of neighbouring states, adding

that the community has made its position clear that the oil fields at Enugu-Otu, Aguleri is in Anambra State. The monarch added that Aguleri has made available numerous incontrovertible facts and expressed the hope that the intervention as ordered by the president would put an end to the conflict and give the state rightful possession of the oil fields. He therefore pleaded with people to keep calm, adding that they must not give in to provocations meant to cause chaos,even as he congratulated Orient Petroleum Plc, for being the first indigenous oil company to successfully engage strike oil in an inland basin. At the three-day annual event Tagged: “Ovala Cheta Uno” (think home), Eze Idigo, preached peaceful co-existence among various communities, politicinas, ethnic, tribal and religious groups, as well as gov-

ernment and the governed. Eze Idigo, who inherited the ancient Idigo dynasty, remarked that “no matter the level of religiosity, ancestors will never be happy if we abandon our cultural heritage or desecrate it in the name of religion”. He prayed for repose of those who departed last year including Chief Eddy Igwah, Chief Paul Onwuegbuke, Pa Eddie Ike, Engr. Emmanuel Manafa, Venerable Dr. Emmanuel Meoba, Ezinne Anna Kwazu, Rev. Fr. Dr. Stephen Obiukwu, among others. He also commended Arik Airlines for accepting to sponsor of the 113th Ovala Aguleri, adding that by the airline has lent its weight to the advancement of culture and tradition in Nigeria. He also expressed gratitude to Chief Oranu Chris Chidume, Chairman and CEO of Krisoral Group of Companies for decorating Ovala Aguleri 2013 with event-

banners and availing them with supply of the Omega Aromatic Schnapps, as official traditional drink of the festiva. The monarch also praised Governor Peter Obi him for his unequivocal declaration that his successor would come from Anambra North Senatorial Zone at the 2014 gubernatorial election, adding, “we welcome the challenges and accept the responsibility it poses on us to produce a credible candidate from our people. He also charged the Federal Government and Northern Emirs and elders to explore ways of stopping the Boko Haram menace, even as he said their murderous activities are on the decline. He stressed the need for the security and law enforcement agencies to tighten all loopholes, even in their barracks and cantonments. Eze Idigo applauded the public session on the Constitution Re-

view, undertaken by the National Assembly, adding that it afforded the Nigerians the opportunity to contribute towards review of the 1999 constitution,even as he praised President Jonathan for keeping some of his election promises to in the areas of agriculture, roads, education, power, transportation, security and fight against corruption. He however regretted that power supply is yet to improve, especially in rural areas where a greater percentage of the population lives, adding that states be allowed to supervise construction works in their respective areas, to stem the tide of shoddy jobs on roads. According to history, the Ovala festival was first celebrated by Eze Nwanne Idigo in 1901, to mark his kingship over Aguleri and surrounding vassal communities. This festival which was handed down from generation and has survived over time.

Tuesday, January 29, 2013

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

World News

Nigerian businessmen should explore Pakistani market –Deputy High Commissioner

“Syria has a massive amount of chemical weapons, and if they fall into hands even more extreme ...jihad groups it would completely transform the map of threats” - Israeli Lawmaker, Yisrael Hasson

Malawi auctions presidential jet to provide services for poor

WORLD BULLETIN

Arrests made in Brazil fire, funerals begin

alawi’s government has invited bids for its 14-seat presidential jet, which is being sold off as part of cost-cutting measures. The office of President Joyce Banda says the plane will be sold to the highest bidder. Her predecessor, the late Bingu wa Mutharika, was strongly criticised for buying the jet five years ago at a cost of about $13.3m (£8.5m). Donors cut aid to Malawi by $4.4 million after the purchase. Mrs Banda has refused to travel in the jet since she took office last April, following Mr Mutharika’s unexpected death. She has said money from the sale of the Dassault Falcon 900EX would be used to provide basic services for Malawi’s poor. The notice said the jet was in “perfect flying condition” and can fly a range of 4,500 nautical miles (8,380 km) non-stop. “The bids will be opened and offers read out in the presence of interested buyers or their representatives and any member of the general public on 20 February.” When Mr Mutharika purchased the jet, he said it would be “cheap to run”. However, the opposition and donors accused him of wasting money. Malawi is one of the poorest countries in Africa. It was hit by widespread protests over the rising cost of living towards the end of Mr Mutharika’s rule. Since taking over, Mrs Banda has taken several steps to improve relations with Western donors.

African leaders at the AU meeting in Addis Ababa

Photo: Reuters

French, Mali troops seize Timbuktu, rebels torch library • AU talks break down over DR Congo crisis PAUL ARHEWE

WITH AGENCY REPORTS

rench and Malian troops yesterday sealed off Timbuktu, a UNESCO World Heritage site, after fleeing Islamist rebel fighters torched several buildings in the ancient Saharan trading town, including a priceless manuscript library. Without a shot being fired to stop them, 1,000 French soldiers including paratroopers and 200 Malian troops seized the airport and surrounded the centuriesold Niger River city, looking to block the escape of al Qaedaallied fighters. The retaking of Timbuktu followed the swift capture by French and Malian forces at the weekend of Gao, another major northern Malian town which had also been occupied by the

alliance of Islamist militant groups since last year. A two-week intervention by France in its former Sahel colony, at the request of Mali’s government but also with wide international backing, has driven the Islamist rebel fighters northwards out of towns into the desert and mountains. A French military spokesman said the assault forces at Timbuktu were being careful to avoid combat inside the city so as not to damage cultural treasures and mosques and religious shrines in what is considered a seat of Islamic learning. But Timbuktu’s mayor, Ousmane Halle, reported that fleeing Islamist fighters had torched a South African-funded library in the city containing thousands of priceless manuscripts. “The rebels set fire to the

newly-constructed Ahmed Baba Institute built by the South Africans ... this happened four days ago,” Halle Ousmane told Reuters by telephone from Bamako. He said he had received the information from his chief of communications who had travelled south from the city a day ago. Meanwhile, talks have broken down at the African Union summit in Ethiopia on plans to solve the crisis in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), as the United Nations had not consulted regional players on their efforts to mend the crisis, according to a South African official. A spokesperson for Ban Kimoon, UN secretary-general, announced yesterday at the summit room that the signing ceremony in Addis Ababa had been cancelled.

Violence flares in Egypt after imposition of emergency law

A Banda

man was shot dead yesterday in a fifth day of violence in Egypt that has killed 50 people and prompted the Islamist president to declare a state of emergency in an attempt to end a wave of unrest sweeping the Arab world’s biggest nation. Emergency rule announced by President Mohamed Morsi on Sun-

day covers the cities of Port Said, Ismailia and Suez. The army has already been deployed in two of those cities and cabinet approved a measure to let soldiers arrest civilians. A cabinet source told Reuters any trials would be before civilian courts, but the step is likely to anger protesters who accuse Morsi of using high-handed security tactics of

the kind they fought against to oust President Hosni Mubarak. Egypt’s politics have become deeply polarized since those heady days two years ago, when protesters were making most of the running in the Arab Spring revolutions that sent shockwaves through the region and Islamists and liberals lined up together.

Brazilian police say they’ve made three arrests and are seeking a fourth person in connection with a nightclub fire that killed more than 230 people. Inspector Ranolfo Vieira Junior said at a Monday press conference that the arrests are for investigative purposes. He says the detentions have five-day limits. He declined to identify those arrested or the fourth person sought. More than 230 people died early Sunday during the fire at a university party in southern Brazil. Police have said they think a band’s pyrotechnics show ignited sound insulation on the ceiling, causing the blaze. The Zero Hora newspaper quotes lawyer Jader Marques as saying his client Elissandro Spohr, a co-owner of the club, was arrested. The paper also says two band members were arrested. Funerals began Monday in the city of Santa Maria, Brazil, where the blaze took place. Relatives of the 231 people who died in a Brazilian nightclub fire demanded answers on Monday as to how it could have killed so many people, while police questioned the club’s owner and members of the band whose pyrotechnics show allegedly caused the tragedy.

‘Iran sends monkey into space’ Iran says it has successfully sent a monkey into space. The primate travelled in a Pishgam rocket, which reached an altitude of some 120km (75 miles) for a sub-orbital flight before “returning its shipment intact”, the defence ministry said. Iranian state TV showed images of the monkey, which was strapped into a harness, being taken to the rocket. Western nations have expressed concern that Iran’s space programme is being used to develop long-range missiles. Such missiles could potentially be used to carry nuclear warheads. Iran denies it is seeking to develop nuclear weapons and insists its nuclear programme is solely for peaceful purposes. Satellite technology expert Pat Norris told the BBC that Iran’s claim to have sent a monkey into space was not a major advance on what its space programme had already achieved. The achievement was similar to launching a missile at 4,828km/h (3,000mph) and having its warhead survive the flight - something Iran had done in several tests in recent years, he noted.

World News

Tuesday, January 29, 2013

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Nigerian businessmen should explore Pakistani market –Deputy High Commissioner Nigeria and Pakistan share common ground in the tripartite challenges from national security, efforts at revamping depressing economies and tackling burgeoning corruption in public and private sectors.In this interview, the Pakistani Deputy High Commissioner in Nigeria Ahmed Ali Sirohey, spoke with PAUL ARHEWE on efforts taken by his country in addressing the aforementioned quagmires. He also proffered viable admonitions to Nigerian government and discussed his country’s bilateral trade with Nigeria. Excerpts: How long have you been in Nigeria? What was your impression about Nigeria prior to assuming your present diplomatic position? Has your experience over the years changed this stance? I have been in Nigeria since November, 2010. While coming to Nigeria I was scared by comments from our friends in Sana’a (Yemen). They said the country is not safe and unhealthy. It is alleged that armed robbers and swindlers (419ers) roam the streets of Nigerian cities. The black magic and ritual killings were in vogue. People were uncouth, they said. But my impression drastically changed within week of my arrival in Nigeria. I found people cordial and civilised. Nigerians in majority are hospitable, courteous and loving people. Moreover, I have never encountered any armed robber or 419er. What are those major challenges the Pakistani Embassy is facing in Nigeria? Those major challenges Pakistan High Commission is facing have to do with the promotion of bilateral trade and commerce, seeking and getting proper but prompt action from concerned quarters, commitment into action, facilitating Pakistani businessmen to get visa, motivating Nigerian businessmen to explore Pakistani market. What is the volume of bilateral trade between Pakistan and Nigeria? The bilateral trade between Pakistan and Nigeria has been in the range of $120 million. Are there unexplored business areas that the Nigeria-Pakistan bilateral trade should take advantage of? There are many business areas where Nigeria-Pakistan bilateral trade can take advantages and strengthen long lasting commercial relations. Pakistan is home to 3.7 million small and medium industries where scores of products are manufactured by entrepreneurs. Pakistan’s Small and Medium Enterprise Development Authority (SMEDA) can help the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) in creating clusters at various places. SMEDA can help SMEDAN in establishment of identified clusters in every geographical area in Nigeria, as it is established in Pakistan. Moreover, skill development and technology transfer can be obtained through business to business contacts. Pakistan has one of the largest irri-

gation networks, producing of agricultural equipment, textile and garments. Moreover, it is producing the best surgical and sports goods. It also has one of the established and quality pharmaceutical industries. In the area of agriculture and agro based industries Pakistan has international repute and considered among top five countries. Furthermore, Pakistan has 56 thousand long canal irrigation systems, one of the largest in the world. It has 188000 sq/km land area for irrigation which is more than European Union put together. Pakistan is not only self sufficient in sugar, surgical, iron agricultural equipments but exports all these items abroad. Pakistan and Nigeria can join hands to develop the above highlighted sectors through joint venture. What is the status of your country’s economy, especially after the global recession? What factors would you say have kept/retarded the robustness of your country’s economy? Pakistani economy has been growing despite global recession. Pakistan has achieved $30 billion mark for exports in 2012. Pakistani textile exports recorded 16 percent growth during 201112 and garments growth was 21 percent, which is remarkable in September 2012. Pakistani fish, vegetable, prepared food, hosiery and garments have recorded growth during last year. The garments export increased by 26 percent in 2012. The factors for the growth of GDP and robustness of country’s economy were its size; domestic demand, availability of raw material, skill labour ,cheap inputs and abundant equity offered by the local banks. Pakistani rupee has depreciated 15 percent during 2012 so it has also made Pakistani exports more economical in the world market. Pakistan has been selling to United State, European Union, Middle East, South-East Asia, China, India, and Central Asia. Moreover, Pakistan is also exporting to various counties in Africa like Egypt, Cameroon, Ghana, Benin, Nigeria, Kenya, Ethiopia and Uganda. The 2008 Mumbai attacks which Indian authorities have accused Pakistani terrorists as mastermind highlight one incidence of global insecurity. How is your country managing issues of insecurity? Indian accusation of Mumbai attack is more of political than diplomatic.

Sirohey

THERE ARE MANY BUSINESS AREAS WHERE

NIGERIA-

PAKISTAN BILATERAL TRADE CAN TAKE ADVANTAGES AND STRENGTHEN LONG LASTING COMMERCIAL RELATIONS Pakistan has been asking for incriminating proof to charge the accused in the court of law but Indians were always resorting to blames without documents. Pakistan has one of the cleanest and freest judiciaries in the world so government cannot dictate to the judiciary. Pakistani judiciary can ask the President, Prime Minister, Governors and Minister to appear in the court. The example of the independence of our judiciary is disqualification of the Prime Minister of Pakistan in June 2012 by the Supreme Court of Pakistan. The issue of terrorism is very crucial for Pakistan. We have been fighting and managing security with our own resources. There are many external factors which are

financing and training them to destabilize the country. But our security agencies and armed forces have been fighting the menace of terrorism effectively. Pakistan, like Nigeria, is bedevilled by terrorist attacks. What is your advice to Nigerian government in tackling the spate of local terrorist attacks? Pakistan is tackling terrorism through three pronged strategy. Through talks, economic packages and tough military action if pacification moves do not work. These strategies bring local population to the side of government and militants are isolated. Moreover, economic development will create stake for everybody in the area and none of them wishes to give it up. We have applied it in swat valley and uprooted militants in 2009. How has your government managed the issue of corruption, which is also a stigma in Nigeria? The government has established National Accountability Bureau (NAB) to tackle the issues of corruption. It has been doing even-handed investigations against powerful government officials; including governors, ministers and even prime minister. They bring them before the court of law. It has indicted sitting Prime Minister and governors on financial misappropriations.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

News

Tuesday, January 29, 2013

Boko Haram backs down, agrees to ceasefire CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2

uals.” Also reacting to the development, the Special Adviser to Governor Shettima on Communication, Alhaji Isa Gusau, said: “It is a welcome development as the state government under Shettima since inception has opened its doors for dialogue to end the hostilities, which have disrupted the economic fortunes and peaceful co-existence in the state.” Gusau, however, explained that he was not a member of the State Security Council meeting to confirm whether the sect had met with the state government and agreed to meet the demands of the sect, which led to them to lay down their arms. “But if it is so, it is a good thing that has happened not only to the state, but the country at large. “Well, I am just hearing that from you, but you will agree with me that the issue is that of national security, I am not competent to speak on national security issues. “We have a security council in Borno State, I am not a member of that council and, of course, you will also agree with me that no governor will speak on such critical security issues, so I cannot speak on the matter. “But Governor Shettima has been very firm and consistent, as he has regularly advocated that unless we want to engage in an endless war, the best way out of the crisis is dialogue towards a

peaceful resolution,” Gusau added. Meanwhile, three Joint Task Force, JTF, personnel were on Sunday night killed in Konduga Local Government Area of Borno State. The men were reportedly killed by suspected terrorists believed to have infiltrated the country from a neighbouring country. The terrorists were alleged to have laid ambush to a military checkpoint and killed the three officers, even as unconfirmed report has it that some of two of the terrorists were also killed during the exchange of gunfire. Konduga is about 40 kilometres from Maiduguri, state capital. Our correspondent reliably gathered that the gunmen came on several motorcycles fully armed and took the JTF men at their checkpoint opposite the General Hospital, unawares. When contacted, the JTF spokesman, Lt.-Col. Sagir Musa, said he was yet to receive information on the attack. Regardless, Sagir while reacting to the ceasefire announced by Boko Haram said conflicts are resolved through dialogue, describing the sect’s pronouncement as a welcome development. He however said that JTF will still remain in place to continue maintaining law and order as well as protecting lives and properties of citizens in its area of operational responsibility.

Sick govs: PDP commends Enugu, Taraba officials OBIORA IFOH, ABUJA

he Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has commended the leadership of the party in Enugu and Taraba states for holding forth and ensuring smooth running of government affairs in the absence of their governors. The party praised the acting governors, party chairmen, Speakers of the Houses of Assembly, state caucus members, members of the National Assembly from the states as well as government appointees. PDP National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh, in a statement yes-

terday said the fact that government activities had been going on smoothly in these states showed that that PDP governments had direction and focus in line with the manifesto of the party to ensure the welfare of the people at all times. Metuh also thanked the people of the two states for their steadfastness in praying for them, adding that with prayers, they would soon return to work. “It is sad for somebody to be ill, but we are all human. So the party commends the people of Enugu and Taraba states for their understanding and steadfastness in praying for their governors.”

L-R: Minister of State for Trade and Investment, Chief Samuel Ortom; Minister, Mr. Olusegun Aganga and Minister of International Trade, Canada, Mr. Ed Fast, during a Bilateral Trade Relations meeting between Nigeria and Canada in Abuja, yesterday.

Consumers groan as electricity bills rise astronomically CONTINUED FROM PAGE 5

telephone interview that the commission would look into these and other issues affecting consumers. Amadi, who said the nation’s power challenges were enormous when compared to other relatively small nations in Africa, including Ghana, challenged distribution companies to provide improved services, classify consumers properly as well as educate and inform them to reduce the present high level of misinformation and conflict. “The consumers need to know why and how they are billed. Once they know that the companies are accurate in the billing mechanism, they would be willing to pay as when due, thus, assisting to boost investment and growth of the sector,” the NERC boss said. Amadi condemned the excesses of the companies, stating that many of them were doing so because they did not understand the content of the new tariff order, popularly known as

MYTO II. He said the commission had been informed about the development and had cautioned the chief executives to desist from exploiting consumers through estimation of their bills. The chairman said the commission had also directed that the DISCOs start the training of their personnel on MYTO II to enable them understand and bill consumers accurately. Meanwhile, youths in their hundreds yesterday in Omu-Aran, Irepodun Local Government Area of Kwara State took to the streets, protesting alleged extortion by the PHCN. The protest nearly turned violent but for the timely intervention of the police. The youths, who carried placards with various inscriptions, were protesting what they termed illegal billings and extortion by the PHCN officials. The protesters, who had

gathered in front of the community’s Post Office as early as 7a.m. later took to the streets, chanting war songs and holding placards with different inscriptions. Some of the inscriptions on the placards read: “We are tired of crazy bills”, “Stop this extortion now” and “Omu-Aran no go gree.” The situation became charged and almost got out of hand when the protesters got to the PHCN’s building at the city hall. The policemen along with some officers of the National Security and Civil Defense Corps, NSCDC, had to form a barricade to prevent the youths from entering the building. The leader of the protesting youths, Mr. Wasiu Awoniyi, said that they were forced to embark on the warning protest after several meetings to resolve the issue with PHCN proved abortive. His words: “We have been looking up to the elders and elites in the community for a peaceful

resolution of this ugly phenomenon without any breakthrough. “That is why we took it upon ourselves to embark on this awareness and warning protest. “Our resolve is that no monthly PHCN bill should go beyond N1,500 for an apartment and N2,000 for artisans and other skilled persons. “We are giving PHCN management up till February to make necessary adjustment and correct the situation in the interest of peace.” Secretary, Omu-Aran Development Association, ODA, Mr. Bidemi Olawuyi, said that the association had waded into the matter and had already scheduled a meeting for Wednesday for a resolution PHCN Business Manager in the district, Mr. Moses Oyewole, explained that the organisation was already meeting with the traditional ruler of Omu-Aran, Oba Charles Ibitoye, to resolve the issue amicably.

Court jails director over N33bn pension scam CONTINUED FROM PAGE 5

grant the maximum punishment or a lesser punishment. “The judge can’t give him a higher sentence and based on the circumstances of the case, for example, where the accused person pleaded guilty. “I do not think that it is the judge that should be blamed, as the crimi-

nal justice system is very weak.” Another lawyer, Mr. Fred Agbaje said the judgement was a complete mockery of justice system in the country and it would diminish the fight against corruption. According to him, “That judgement did not serve as any deterrent or any positive measure

against the war against corruption in the system. It ridicules government’s claim to a determination and resolve to fight corruption in the polity.” Agbaje regretted that such verdict would deepen the tentacles of corruption in the country. Also commenting, the Chairman, Nigerian Bar

Association, NBA, Ikeja branch, Mr. Monday Ubani, said: “If it is plea bargaining that was used in the judgement of the case, then I am not happy with that judgement. The sentence is not punitive enough for a criminal. Ubani said he believed that the judgment was not good enough for the country’s legal system.

North

Tuesday, January 29, 2013

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

N30m fraud: Court grants Kaduna Deputy Speaker, six others bail A ZA MSUE KADUNA

Federal High Court in Kaduna yesterday granted bail to the Kaduna State House of Assembly Deputy Speaker, Dr. Mato Dogara, and six others in the N30 million fraud case. Dogara, former Chairman of Lere Local Government; Kabiru Tahir; Ahmed Yahya, former Director of Finance; Billy Graham, former Director of Works and others were arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, for allegedly inflating renovation contract to the tune of N30 million. Others accused are Yushau Aboki, former Director of Personnel;

Hannatu Iliya, and Eric Alhassan, former acting Chairman. The presiding judge, Justice Marcellous Awokenlehin, granted bail to the accused in the sum of N1.5 million each. The accused were granted bail with two sureties each, one of who must be a director in the Federal Civil Service with landed property in Kaduna for the Deputy Speaker, while the rest with Assistant Director in Kaduna State and property in the state. The judge held that: “The property must have a Certificate of Occupancy (C of O). ” He fixed February 10 and 11 for hearing. Counsel to the EFCC, Sa ’ad Hannafi, had told

the court that the accused were standing trial on a six-count charge of conspiracy and fraud, contrary to Sections 1(2)(c) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act 2004. Hannafi explained that the accused between March 2011 and February 2012 conspired and attempted to defraud the council of over N30 million. He said: “You obtained money by false pretence and thereby committed an

offence contrary to Section 8(a) of the Advance Free Fraud and Other Related Offences Act 2006, and punishable under Section 1(3) of the same act. ” The EFCC had also told the court that Tahir, the first accused and former acting chairman of the council, the deputy speaker and three others had conspired with the intent to defraud the state. According to the commission, the accused ob-

tained N17 million via fraudulent award of contract for the renovation of Government Lodge, Saminaka, the property of the Kaduna State Government. The EFCC also alleged that the suspects obtained N8 million via voucher No: 4165 for the supply of hospital equipment “which they knew was false. The accused persons forged a receipt titled Austino Pharmaceutical Limited dated May 15, 2011, to ef-

fect the payment of N8.01 million goods, which were never supplied. ” The commission also accused Dogara, former interim chairman of the council, of obtaining N5.37 million as 10 per cent kick back from one Alhaji Umaru Dangi. It said: “The transaction was conducted between June 2011 and May 2012 through a fraudulent contract for the resurfacing and redressing of Malali road. ”

Fire guts Gombe State varsity DANJUMA WILLIAMS GOMBE

bout six offices belonging to Business Administration and Accounting Departments of the Gombe State University were gutted by fire yesterday. The inferno, which started about 9.30 am, destroyed the roof, office furniture, books and many other things. The students, it was learnt, helped in putting out the fire and prevented it from spreading to other offices in the block. The Vice-Chancellor of the university, Prof. Abdullahi Mahdi, who spoke to journalists, commended efforts of the students in put-

ting out the fire. Mahdi said the fire would have spread and consumed about two other departments in the bock which houses offices of some lecturers. The VC said even though the men of the state Fire Service came on time, they could not do much because they had no water. He blamed electrical fault for the fire. According to him, the fire broke out from a surge in electricity from the Power Holden Company of Nigeria, PHCN. Mahdi said the institution was in dear need of a fire fighting station on its premises. This was the second time a section of the school was gutted by fire.

Teachers in Bauchi State being screened by the Ministry of Education officials in Bauchi, yesterday.

Benue teachers ’ll get minimum wage soon –NLC chair HENRY IYORKASE MAKURDI

he Benue State Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, Comrade

Simon Anchaver, said the government would soon implement primary school teachers ’ minimum wage. Anchaver said this in an interview with our correspondent in Makurdi yesterday.

CAN plans certicate course for Katsina prison inmates JAMES DANJUMA KATSINA

he Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, is to begin a six-month Basic Bible Certificate Course, BBCC, for Christian inmates at the Katsina Central Prison. The Katsina State CAN Prison Fellowship Coordinator, Evangelist John Lawal, disclosed this during the 2013 prison Feast of Love programme at the state central prison. The course is to enable inmates acquaint themselves with teachings of

the Bible as well as inculcate in them moral values that would help them stay out of prisons in the future. Lawal said the organisation planned to recruit more chaplains who would cover Malumfashi, Funtua, Jibia, Kankia, Kaita, Dutsin-ma and the Katsina Central Prisons to effectively attend to the spiritual needs of Christian inmates. He, however, urged government to construct a chapel for inmates to enable them have a worship centre at the prison. Lawal also appealed to

PHOTO: NAN

government to put chaplains in full time employment. He said: “When a chaplain is stationed in a prison like this, he would have time for one-on-one counselling. He will know the remote reasons why people behaved the way they did to find themselves in a place like this. ” The coordinator called on government at all levels to assist the ministry with incentives for effective preaching and teaching activities in the central prisons and across satellite prisons in the state. Also speaking at the

event, the state Chairman of CAN, Dr. Oluwasegun Adediran, called on individuals and relevant authorities not to shun prison inmates but show them all the love and care needed for their eventual transformation. He said: “Those who want to enter the Kingdom of God should not run away from those in the prison. “Whatever we are able to do for you (inmates), we have done it for Jesus Christ and if we run away from you, we run away from Jesus Christ. ” Adediran, however,

The chairman said arrangements had been concluded to effect immediate payment of the primary school teachers ’ minimum wage. He said Governor Gabriel Suswam had earlier

challenged the inmates not to despair over their relevance in society despite their present circumstances, but that they should take a leap of faith and hope for a better tomorrow. He said: “Irrespective of how you got here, and irrespective of what you have been doing since you got here, I want you to believe that Jesus is on the throne because of you and you should not lose hope. ” The Deputy Controller of Prisons, Ibrahim Gide, who was represented by Chief Warder of the prison, Ya ’u Musa Tsauri, commended the

directed the Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters headed by Hon. Solomon Wombo to look into the problem of the primary school teachers with view to ensuring the implementation of the new increment. However, investigations showed that scores of other civil servants in the state are also yet to enjoy the new minimum wage. For instance, workers in the Ministry of Agriculture are yet to benefit from the new salary structure. But Anchaver, who also indicated the desire to vie for governorship in 2015, said civil servants had enjoyed pay rise twice from Suswam ’s administration. He, however, pledged to improve on the consolidation if eventually given the mandate and sought the support of civil servants and other well wishers to enable him actualise in his ambition.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

News

Tuesday, January 29, 2013

VIACOM, NTA partner for robust service delivery ADENRELE NIYI

L-R: Principal Executive Secretary to the Bayelsa State Governor, Mr. Douye Diri; former Managing Director of NDDC, Chief Timi Alaibe and Governor Seriake Dickson, jointly cutting the cake presented by Government House workers to the governor on his 47th birthday celebration in Yenagoa, yesterday.

Why Nigeria Police are not effective –Olubolade M inister of Police Affairs, Navy Capt. Caleb Olubolade (rtd), has blamed lack of effective performance of the Force on poor funding. According to him, the enormous security challenges facing the police have not been matched by adequate provision of resources. He said: “In the face of the current security challenges in the country, the capacity of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) to confront the development has over the years been constrained by the dwindling financial provisions for the force. “The ministry and NPF have to contend with inadequate funding in spite of the increase in violence and criminality as well as consistent growth in the manpower strength of the Force.” The minister stated this in a 2012 report on the progress and challenges facing his ministry. He added that poor funding has also affected the execution of various projects by the ministry. Olubolade, however, said that the operational capacity of the police had been enhanced through training, capacity building, delivery of 1,500 patrol vans and 90 cars, strengthening of the Air-Wing Section of the Force and acquisition of a

strategic intelligence platform. Olubolade said the ministry sent two bills to the National Assembly: the Nigeria Police Force Reform Trust Fund-Establishment Bills and the Nigeria Police Academy (Establishment, etc) Bill 2012. Another policy, he said, was the establishment of a database of companies involved in the activities of explo-

sives, seismic, radioactive, biological and chemical materials in the country at the Force Headquarters, Abuja and Lagos. Also created were 10 new Explosive Ordinance Device (EOD) Sub-Units in Bauchi, Birnin Kebbi, Dutse, Gombe, Gusau, Jalingo, Lafia, Lagos, Minna and Umuahia to address terrorism. The minister noted

that he completion and implementation of on-going reform programme is a marked departure from the previous unsuccessful efforts at reforming the NPF. Speaking further, he said the capital expenditure for the police last year was N9.7 billion; overhead cost was N8 billion; personnel cost was N291 billion, while capital supplementation was N12 billion.

PDP ‘plots’ to sack reinstated Bayelsa LG chairmen EMMA GBEMUDU YENAGOA

he Bayelsa State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is plotting to impeach the three reinstated local government chairmen, it was learnt yesterday. Investigation revealed that the three local government chairman of Kolokuma/ Opokuma, Sagbama and Ekeremor have been at logger heads with their councilors and the PDP chieftains since they were sworn into office in November last year, after the

Supreme Court upheld their primaries as the duly elected flag bearers of the party. The chairmen alleged that the state government was plotting to remove them from office because the former governor of the state, Timipre Sylva, supported them. But in a press briefing with journalists yesterday in Yenagoa, the state capital, the PDP Chairman, Col. Sam Inokoba (rtd), denied that that the party was plotting to instigate the councilors to impeach the chairmen. Inokoba said: “The party does not inter-

fere in the affairs of the legislative arm of local governments, until it becomes necessary. We are aware that the councilors and the three chairmen have disagreement. To our consternation and bemusement, the three chairmen have never seen the need to consult the party under whose platform judgment was passed in their favor.” He alleged that the three chairmen had not deemed it necessary to visit the PDP secretariat in Yenagoa to identify with the party since they assumed office last year.

iacom International Media Networks (VIMN) Africa (formerly MTV Networks Africa) has signed partnership and training agreement with Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) for effective service delivery. From February 1, 2013, NTA will broadcast a daily dose of VIMN programming content including youthfocused editorial under its MTV Base brand, while kids and family-oriented content will appear under the Nickelodeon banner. Nickelodeon programming will air seven days a week while MTV Base content will air five days a week in the early afternoon, with an additional late night slot on Fridays and Satur-

days. Under the deal, VIMN Africa will also provide skills training and workshops in TV production for NTA member stations and personnel, to help develop local production expertise. The government-owned NTA is Africa’s most widely distributed TV network and Nigeria’s only broadcaster with national coverage, reaching 90 million viewers across Nigeria via a network of state channels and local affiliates. Included in the programming to air on NTA are local and international music, lifestyle, reality, chat and animation franchises such as MTV Base VJ Search–Nigeria followed by the Official Naija Top 10, Big Base Beats, The Big Friday Show, Cribs, Run’s House and Pimp My Ride.

Catholic varsity names auditorium after Tambuwal

n recognition of his leadership qualities and efforts at promoting inter-religious harmony in the country, Godfrey Okoye University, owned by the Enugu Diocese of the Catholic Church, has named an auditorium after the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon Aminu Waziri Tambuwal. The decision to name the auditorium after Tambuwal was revealed last weekend by the Vice-Chancellor of the University, Prof. Christian Anieke, during the institution’s Capital Project Campaign held at the institution’s temporary campus in Enugu.

A statement by the Speaker’s Special Adviser on Media and Public Affairs, Malam Imam Imam, quoted Tambuwal as commending the institution for the gesture, saying it would spur him to do more for the upliftment of the standard of education in the country. Speaking at the event, Tambuwal described as worrisome, the glaring absence of academic activities in majority of Nigeria’s institutions of learning. He said the country’s education sector is facing imminent collapse, adding that all hands must be on deck to salvage the situation.

‘I reduced Rivers ghost worker by 8,000’

ormer Rivers State Head of Service (HOS), Mrs. Esther Anuche, says the state government has reduced ghost workers in its service by 8,000. Mrs. Anucha disclosed this yesterday in Port Harcourt at a send-off ceremony organised for her by Etche indigenes in the state civil service. She said she fought the ghost worker syndrome in the service and reduced the state work force from 54,000 to 46,000. Mrs. Anucha, who was the first women Head of Service in the state, said her administration was characterised by industrial peace and harmony. She said she served the

state wholeheartedly and meritoriously, noting that selfless service paid. Mrs. Anucha said she spare-headed the building of Public Service Institute (PSI) at Chokocho in Etche Local Government Area of the state and also introduced inter-ministerial sports competitions. She said she retired a fulfilled woman, having laid a foundation for a vibrant civil service. Mrs. Anucha advised Etche indigenes in the civil service to be good ambassadors of their community. In his address, Chairman of the Organising Committee, Mr Innocent Anyanwu, said Mrs. Anuche employed many Etche indigenes while in service.

Cocktail

Tuesday, January 29, 2013

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Man allegedly stole to impress woman

FOR YOUR SUCCESS

WITH DR. DEJI FOLUTILE

Today's Tonic (87)

Lord, bless our week. Protect our decisions, because acting is a way of praying. –Paulo Coelho * * * MY NOTE: We may know many things and have many plans in life, until we move into the arena of action, nothing tangible will happen in our favour. It is better to act and fail than not to act at all. He who acts and fail is on the path to success with tangible lessons for future action. TEL 08104942999 E-MAIL deji.folutile@gmail.com Follow me @TwitterOWOTIDE

Tourist arrested when he forgets wallet

n Italian man visiting New York said he spent the night in jail when he forgot his wallet and was unable to pay a $208 tab. Graziano Graziussi, 43, said he was preparing to pay his bill at Smith and Wollensky when he realized he had left his wallet at the apartment where he had been staying, the New York Post reported Friday.

Graziussi said workers refused to accept his iPhone as collateral to allow him to retrieve the wallet. He said they instead called police. “I found it completely unreasonable to call the police when I was coming up with possible solutions,” he said. “I wasn’t going to run away. I was there. I had just forgotten my wallet. “

Oddities

South Africa police join hunt for 10,000 escaped crocodiles

outh Africa has called out the police to join the hunt for as many as 10,000 crocodiles on the loose after escaping from a farm during floods and being washed into one of southern Africa’s biggest rivers, officials said on Friday. Crocodile farmers, locals and police have trapped thousands of the reptiles, using plastic bands to tie their legs behind their backs and then piling them into pickup trucks. The flood gates at the Rakwena Crocodile Farm close to the Botswana and Zimbabwe borders were opened on Sunday because it was feared that rising flood waters would crush the reptiles, releasing some 15,000 crocodiles into the Limpopo River. “At night time we have more success. It is much easier to see them,” Zane Langman, whose in-laws own the farm, told news channel ENCA. Most of the crocodiles are less than two meters (78 inches) long. The area

is home to several farms that supply crocodile skins to the fashion industry. “We are working as a team with the stakeholders,” police spokesman Brigadier Hangwani Mulaudzi

said on Friday. There have been no reports of injuries caused by the escaped reptiles. Police in Zimbabwe, on the other side of the Limpopo, also issued warnings to people to avoid going into the

water because of the crocodile threat. Heavy rains and flooding have claimed at least 20 lives in Mozambique and South Africa and led to the evacuations of thousands.

Some of the recaptured crocodiles back safely on the farm they escaped from.

PHOTO: REUTERS

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Sport p

Tuesday, January 29, 2013

We must score more goals –Emenike Nigeria’s striker, Emmanuel Emenike, has said that the Super Eagles must be more ruthless against the Walya Antelopes of Ethiopia in their decisive AFCON clash today. The Spartak Moscow of Russia attacker, who has scored twice in this competition, spoke to MTNFootball.com Ghanaian players jubilating with Asamoah Gyan (2nd left) who opened scoring against Niger yesterday in the fifth minute.

Ghana rides Niger to q-finals

lack Stars of Ghana have eased through to the quarter-finals of the Africa Cup of Nations after beating Menas of Niger to finish top of Group B. Captain Asamoah Gyan was instrumental throughout and he set the Black Stars on their way when he controlled Albert Adomah’s cross and the drove home. Gyan then turned provider as he crossed for Christian Atsu, who chested the ball down before poking it in. Ghana wrapped up the win when Gyan’s header was parried by Daouda Kassaly and John Boye tapped in the rebound. It was a comprehensive victory and a solid performance from a Ghana team that went

Today’s Matches Burkina Faso v

Zambia 6pm

Ethiopia

Nigeria 6pm

RESULTS DR Congo Niger

1-1

Mali

0-3

Ghana

Q/Finals S/Africa

Mali

Ghana

Cape Verde

into the game knowing they only needed a draw to make it through to the last eight. Ghana last won the Nations Cup in 1982 Niger’s hopes of progressing were slim and they were blown away by the pace and precision of the Black Stars, who clinched top spot in the group on seven points to set up a meeting with debutants Cape Verde.

Mali holds Congo, sails through

n early penalty goal by Democratic Republic of Congo striker Mbokani was cancelled out by Mahamadou Samassa as Mali paved their way to the last eight of the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations when they earned a 1-1 draw at the Mosses Mabhida Stadium yesterday. The DR Congo had a very good match and they started like a house on fire, hitting the post through Lomana Lua Lua in the opening minute of the match. The ball got back into play through a rebound and it was tragic to Mali as midfielder Momo Sissoko caused a penalty when he brought down Diba in the box. Mbokani made no mistake from 12-yards, lifting the ball high into the top right corner of the net beyond keeper

Mamadou Samassa in the third minute. The Malians, however, would get back into the match eleven minutes later when they capitalised on a defensive error from the Congolese defence, who failed to clear the ball–it fell to Adama Tamboura on the left and he swung in a beautiful cross which a lurking Mahamadou Samassa snatched home from inside the box to level scores. Three minutes before the interval, Mali skipper Seydou Keita exhibited some great skill to beat his man on the left wing and put in a beautiful ball which Maiga headed over the bar when he was awarded with a free header after poor defensive work from the Congolese.

The Nigeriens may look back on a goal that was disallowed with the score at 1-0 but the gulf in class between the sides was apparent and they can have no complaints about the result. Not that it mattered for the Black Stars or Gyan, who was still given a rapturous reception when he was substituted soon after with his side already assured of their place in the knockout stages.

Glo charges Eagles

elecommunications company, Globacom, has asked the Super Eagles to go all out for total victory as they engage Walya Antelopes today in a crucial Group C match. “The Eagles should know that national pride is at stake and should play total football to enable them over-run the Ethiopians who will definitely put up stiff opposition,” a Globacom statement said yesterday. “All Nigerians are behind the team and will continue to pray for their victory over the Ethiopians,” the statement added. “It is not over until it is over; and we will not expect the Eagles to lose concentration even when leading until the final whistle.” The statement advised the players to be cautious and take their scoring chances while appealing to Nigerians not to relent in their support for the Eagles to rule Africa again since the country last won the AFCON trophy in 1994.

NIGERIANS

How are you looking forward to the game? It is going to be a tough game, but we just need to be focused and let our burning desire be to qualify from group stage goes on. It’s a battle and we are ready for it. Did you envisage any difficulties when the draw was made last year? I knew from the onset that our group will be a most interesting and tough group, but no matter what, we just need to be optimistic of our qualification. As it is now, only victory against Ethiopia can give us the ticket. That means our destiny lies in our own hand and that is why we must give everything. How would you explain Nigeria’s goal drought so far? We need to be more ruthless in front of goal; maybe 1-0 could not be enough to claim victory, so we will do our best to score more goals in our next game. How did you feel at scoring on your AFCON debut? It is always a thing of joy when a striker scores, but my happiness would have been more complete had we won all three points against Burkina Faso.

SHOULD KEEP THEIR FAITH IN US AND WE PROMISE THAT THE TEAM WILL FLY PAST PIA ON

ETHIO-

TUESDAY

my team by contributing my quota, but the ultimate for us in this game is to get the three points no matter the scorer. We just hope that we keep going to seal our much-awaited victory. What message do you have for the fans? Nigerians should keep their faith in us and we promise that the team will fly past Ethiopia on Tuesday. We have a lot to offer the country. We can do much more than what we did against Zambia and we will do that against Ethiopia. SA 2013 coaches Algeria

Vahid Halihodzic (Yugoslavia)

Angola

Gustavo Ferrin (Uruguayan)

Burkina Faso

Paul Put (Portuguese)

Cape Verde

Lucio Antunes (Cape Verdean)

What should we expect from you as the competition progresses? I will always do my best to get the goals whenever I am in position to do so. My goals are possible because I got assists from my team mates. I appreciate everybody’s effort to make it happen. Together we will make Nigerians happy.

Cote d’ivoire

Sabri Lamouchi (French)

DR Congo

Claude Le Roy (French)

Ethiopia

Sewnet Bishaw (Ethiopian)

Ghana

Kwesi Appiah (Ghanaian)

Mali

Patrice Carteron (French)

Morocco

Rachid Taoussi (Moroccan)

Niger

Gernot Rohr (German)

Are you promising goals against Ethiopia? I will do my best as usual to lift

Nigeria

Stephen Keshi (Nigeria)

South Africa

Gordon Igesund (South Africa)

Togo

Didier Six (French)

Tunisia

Sami Trabelsi (Tunisian)

Zambia

Herve Renard (French)

Features

Tuesday, January 29, 2013

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Lagos Traffic Law: Okada riders accuse Fashola of There are social costs to implementing even the best intentioned government policies, prompting FRANCIS SUBERU to report that the Lagos Traffic Law enacted in 2012, though desirable, comes into effect with lots of avoidable pains and dislocations.

LASTMA officials loading seized Okadas into a truck at Ojota area of Lagos.

Motorcycles operators plying Marina bridge.

very good law made in Nigeria suffers abuse of implementation by the enforcement agencies. In most cases, the police and other agents of government charged with the task of implementing the law, turn it into a means for personal aggrandizement and self- enrichment. Such is becoming the lot of the Lagos State Traffic Law enacted in 2012. The law prohibits operations of commercial motorcyclists popularly called ‘Okada’ riders on 475 routes, including major highways, bridges and important roads in all the 57 local councils within the nation’s commercial capital. A few months into the implementation of the law, Okada riders are accusing the police and agents of the Lagos State Traffic Management Agency (LASTMA) of extortion, high-handedness, overzealousness and excessive use of force in its enforcement. The commercial motorcyclists allege that their machines seized by the police, LASTMA officials and the task force are resold to people from neighbouring states at the rate of N10, 000. They also say that the enforcement agents harass and extort money from them even while plying on routes that are not prohibited by the law. Top officials of the state government told National Mirror that only those bent on going against the law have their motorcycles impounded and destroyed. They argued that the law only places restrictions on okada riders’ operations on some roads and highways, saying there are over 9, 000 routes within the metropolis. The restriction, according to the state government, is necessary considering the rate at which motorcycles get involved in road accidents and are also used to perpetrate crimes in the state. Commissioner for Transportation, Mr. Kayode Opeifa, had said that on no account will a motorcycle below 200CC engine capacity be allowed to ply on Lagos highways, adding that motorcycles belonging to despatch riders of companies without proper registration, will also not be allowed to operate in the state. “When Okada accidents happen, in most cases, it is the passengers who bear the brunt. They are the victims in most cases; that is

why we are encouraging commuters to discourage Okada operation in their domains, especially the prohibited areas,” Opeifa said. In sharp contrasts to the stance of the Lagos State Government, most Okada riders who spoke to our correspondent lamented government’s insensitivity to their plight, saying the law has nothing good in stock for them. One of the riders, who simply identified himself as Victor, said. “I have three children, it has been hell taking care of them since the enforcement of the ban. Government should have a rethink over the matter; they should put our plights into consideration.” Another Okada rider, Akinwande Sunday, accused the Lagos State Government of wickedness, saying the motorcyclists are being treated inhumanly in their father land. He vowed that they would continue to protest and demand their rights until government rescinds its decision to ban their operation. Since then, there have been rallies and protest marches organised by the displaced commercial motorcyclists and some organisations and people that have sympathy for their lot. Some of these protests resulted in the destruction of government properties, especially the damaging of about 30 government’s mass transit intra-state vehicles otherwise called BRT buses. A commuter, Mrs. Bimbo Adeleke, who spoke in favour of the riders, said: “Yes, they are dangerous, they are risky but government should have thought of the effects of the action. They should have considered the fact that the action is capable of increasing crime rate in the metropolis. “If over 3,000 motorcycles have been seized and crushed, that means over 3,000 people are out of job. The government is saying they would give them employment, that some of them will work in Lagos State agric sectors, and some would work as drivers, some would undergo training and learn skills but the question is how many will they be able to employ? “Banning okada riders from these routes will not only bring serious hardship on members of the public, but also bring a lot of unemployment in an already choked labour market. And also people now have to work

GOVERNOR FASHOLA WAS THE ONE WHO BOUGHT HELMETS FOR THEM IN

2011 AND

ASKED THE RIDERS TO CAMPAIGN FOR HIM.

LATER ON HE ASKED THEM TO PURCHASE

RIDERS’ CARDS AT THE RATE OF N2, 500 WHICH THEY DID AND EVENTUALLY, HE STABBED THEM IN THE BACK long distance because of this ban.” National President of the Paths of Peace Initiative (PPI), Dandy Eze, who convened the October 12, 2012 rally in which about 20,000 Okada riders demonstrated against the implementation of the traffic law, said so far the Lagos State Government had succeeded in proving its despotic nature to Lagosians. “The action of the Lagos State Government so far has proved that it has militarised the state. The Lagos State Government has become very autocratic such that it no longer feels for the poor masses. “In the first place, Governor Fashola was the one who bought helmets for them in 2011 and asked the riders to campaign for him. Later on he asked them to purchase Riders’ Cards at the rate of N2, 500 which they did and eventually, he stabbed them in the back. He is a betrayal. “The implication of the ban on Okada riders is that thousand of riders in the state have been thrown out of jobs and what do you think will happen when an able-bodied man becomes jobless. He may easily take to crime. So, stopping Okada operation cannot help reduce crime. The police should rather

Destroyed motorcycles at Alausa Secretariat, Ikeja.

use the energy they are using to clamp down on Okada riders to chase criminals.” “The police are more interested in arresting Okada riders than arresting thieves because they normally resell most of the seized motorcycles. There are evidences that most of the seized ones are being resold at the rate of N10, 000,” Eze claimed. On the explanation that the ban is not outright but partial restriction to some designated routes, Eze countered that the prohibited routes are the main routes in the metropolis. “Lagos State Government should stop playing on words. The 496 roads on which Okada riding is prohibited are the main routes in the metropolis. They are the routes which lead to all the local councils in the city. “To me, I see their so called restriction as a grand plan to stop Okada operation in the city. There is no way you will ride Okada in Lagos and not ply any of the 496 roads. The government should use employment to stop crime not ban.” However, reacting to the allegations made against his men and officers in the enforcement of the traffic law, the Lagos State Com-

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Features

Tuesday, January 29, 2013

using and dumping them

Trucks moving confiscated motorcycles along Ketu Road in Lagos

THEY SHOULD APPRECIATE FASHOLA THAT HE ONLY RESTRICTED THEIR

OPERATIONS.

ME,

LEFT TO

I PREFER A TOTAL BAN

PHOTOS: ADEMOLA AKINLABI and OLUFEMI AJASA

missioner of Police, Umaru Manko, said commercial motorcyclists had been banned in many states in Nigeria before the Lagos State’s ban. “Okada riders were banned in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja and some other states and heaven did not fall. They should appreciate Fashola that he only restricted their operations. Left to me, I prefer a total ban. The law must be obeyed by everyone. Law is not a respecter of persons. If I ride Okada on a restricted road, I don’t expect the policemen on duty to respect my uniform. We policemen who enforce the law must also obey it,” Manko said. The police commissioner, who blamed Okada operators for aiding crimes like robbery and kidnapping in the state, added that since the enforcement of the restriction order, crimes had dropped drastically in Lagos metropolis. He also said that the Lagos Traffic Law comprises many other road safety rules and prohibits touting. “Before now, there was no day in Lagos that we did not have an encounter with an Okada man who is an armed robber, either trying to rob at the traffic or making use of motorcycles to commit all sorts of atrocities.”

On the case of alleged high-handedness on the part of policemen enforcing the laws, Manko said, “I don’t expect any policeman to go beyond the normal procedure. Before we started enforcing the law, we held seminars and meetings. We ensured that very senior officers, particularly the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of Operation, DCP Tunde Shobulo, is given the mandate to ensure that the policemen who are enforcing the law are adequately equipped, fully briefed, so that they don’t make mistakes.” He added: “If any police officer goes contrary to this procedure, the laws are there with appropriate sanctions. They have been told. Those of them that have been brought before me for such infractions have been visited with adequate penalties.” Manko said he had warned all Area Commanders and DPOs against harassing any citizen in the process of enforcing this law. “But that does not mean they will not enforce the law, because it is a law that was signed by the governor and it becomes an authority that must be enforced,” he noted. He advised the commercial motorcyclists to comply with the restrictions and seek amendment by making their grievances against the law known to the State House of Assembly, while urging the media to avoid misrepresentation and distortion of facts in respect of the law. The police commissioner disclosed that the Lagos Traffic Law would be enforced in phases, saying after a successful enforcement of the restriction of Okada operations from major highways, the police would map out strategy to contain the activities of Motor Park touts in the metropolis.

Section 4(3) of the Lagos Traffic Law states

o person shall ride, drive or propel a cart, wheel barrow, motorcycle or tricycle on any of the routes specified in Schedule II to this Law. No person shall operate a motorcycle or tricycle without a Rider’s Card issued by the Lagos State Motor Vehicle Administration Agency. No person shall operate a motorcycle or tricycle either as a rider or a passenger without wearing a standard protective crash helmet as may be prescribed under the Regulations to this Law No person shall operate a motorcycle or tricycle either as a rider or a passenger without wearing a standard protective crash helmet as may be prescribed under the Regulations to this Law. No motorcycle operator shall carry more than one (1) passenger at a time, provided that a pregnant woman, a child below the age of twelve (12) years, or an adult with a baby or heavy/large load placed on the head or which obstruct normal sitting on the motorcycle shall not be carried as passenger. Any person who fails to comply with any of the provisions of this Section commits an offence and shall be liable on conviction to(i) imprisonment for a term of three (3) years or render community service in accordance with the provisions of Section 347 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law of Lagos State; and (ii) have his vehicle forfeited to the State. Where a rider is convicted of an offence under subsections (1), (3) and (4) of this Section, the passenger shall also be liable to the same penalty, provided the passenger is not a child.Subject to Section 38 of this Law, the Commissioner may make, regulations providing for any matter necessary for the purpose of controlling the use of motorcycles and tricycles in the State. As from the Commencement of this Law commercial motorcycles shall only operate between the hours of 6.00a.m-8.00p.m within the State.

Prohibited routes and bridges as specified in Schedule II MAJOR HIGHWAYS IN LAGOS

28.

1. Lagos – Ibadan Expressway 2. Apapa – Oshodi Expressway 3. Oworonshoki – Oshodi Expressway 4. Lagos – Ikorodu Expressway 5. Lagos – Abeokuta Expressway 6. Third Mainland Bridge 7. Eti–Osa/Lekki – Epe Expressway 8. Lagos – Badagry Expressway 9. Funsho Williams Avenue 10. Agege Motor Road 11. Eti-Osa/Lekki Coastal Road

9. 10. 11.

12. 13.

14.

15.

16.

17. 18.

19. 20. 21. 22.

23. 24. 25. 26. 27.

29.

30. 31.

32.

33.

LIST OF BRIDGES 1.

2. 3. 4.

Iyana- Ipaja Bridge Agege/ Alimosho Local Government Areas Dopemu Bridge Agege/ Alimosho Local Government Areas Airport/Ikeja Bridge, Ikeja Local Government Area Agege Motor Road/Oshodi Loop, Ikeja/ Mushin Local Government Areas Oshodi Mushin/Isolo Link Bridge Mushin/ Oshodi – Isolo Local Government Areas Dorman Long Bridge Surulere/ Lagos Mainland Local Government Areas Ojuelegba Bridge Surulere Local Government Area

34.

35. 36. 37. 38.

39. 40. 41.

National Stadium Flyover Surulere Local Government Area Iganmu/ Funsho Williams Bridge Surulere Local Government Area Apapa – Iganmu Bridge Surulere Local Government Area Apapa- Ijora Link Bridge Apapa/ Lagos Mainland Local Government Areas Liverpool Bridge, Apapa Apapa Local Government Area Mile 2 Bridge- Loop, Amuwo- Odofin Amuwo- Odofin Local Government Area Okota (Cele)/Ijesha Link Bridge Mushin/ Oshodi - Isolo Local Government Areas Apakun/Apapa- Oshodi Bridge Mushin / Oshodi - Isolo Local Government Network Areas Ikorodu Road/Anthony Clover leaf Somolu/ Ikeja Local Government Areas Bridge Trade Fair Flyover Bridge Ojo Local Government Area FESTAC/Amuwo-Odofin Link Bridge Amuwo - Odofin Local Government Area 2 Flyover Bridges along Alhaji Masha Surulere Local Government Area Road Ojota Clover leaf Bridge Kosofe / Ikeja Local Government Areas Ogudu Bridge Kosofe Local Government Area 3rd Mainland Bridge Lagos Island/ Lagos Mainland/Somolu Local Government Areas Maryland flyover Ikeja/Somolu Local Government Areas Ikeja General Hospital flyover Bridge Ikeja Local Government Area Kodesoh Bridge, Oba Akran, Ikeja Ikeja Local Government Area Opebi Link Bridge Ikeja Local Government Area Sheraton- Opebi Bridge Ikeja Local Government Area Jibowu/Yaba flyover Bridge Lagos Mainland Local Government Area Carter Bridge, Lagos Lagos Island/ Lagos Mainland Local Government Areas Bariga – Ifako Bridge Somolu/ Kosofe Local Government Areas Apapa-Oshodi Expressway/ Somolu/ Kosofe Local Government Areas Alapere Bridge Bariga/Oworonshoki Bridge Somolu/ Kosofe Local Government Areas Apapa - Oshodi Expressway/ Somolu/ Kosofe Local Government Areas Gbagada U-Turn Apapa - Oshodi Expressway/ Somolu/ Kosofe Local Government Areas 3rd Mainland Bridge 3rd Mainland/Oworonshoki Bridge Kosofe Local Government Area Eko Bridge Lagos Island / Lagos Mainland Local Government Areas Apongbon flyover, Bridge Lagos Island Local Government Area Cowry Bridge (Officers Mess) Lagos Island / Eti- Osa Local Government Areas Mcwen Bridge (Bonny Camp) Eti- Osa Local Government Area Marina / Ikoyi Bridge Lagos Island / Eti- Osa Local Government Areas Ikoyi/ Obalende Bridge Eti- Osa Local Government Area

WORLD RECORD

Most birthday greetings videos received Vol. 03 No. 545

Tuesday, January 29, 2013

N150

The most birthday greetings videos received is 10,754 and was achieved by Kinder Niespodzianka (Poland). The videos were collected from all over Poland between 7 September and 11 November 2012.

Impeachment in whose interest?

he recent impeachment threat which emanated from the House of Representatives is a clear demonstration of how not to engage this parliamentary weapon to pursue individual agenda which has no bearing to the aspirations of the electorate whose mandate they stand to defend in the parliament. Though it is quite difficult to distinguish between the interest of the majority and that of the individual members. It is even more difficult to guarantee that where there is conflict of interest, the elected representative will pursue that of the majority who freely gave the mandate in the hope that their interest will not only be

orld number two, Tiger Woods, headed into the fifth day of the Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines in a strong position for the title. With the weather and then bad light forcing play to go into yesterday, Woods returned to the course on 17-under with 11 holes left to play.

TALKINGPOINT Seyi Fasugba

seyifasugba@yahoo.com 08053069514 (sms only)

protected but also advanced on very important issues. According to reports, about seven members of the House had concluded the plans to take the Speaker, Hon. Aminu Tambuwal to task on certain issues bordering on impropriety and for which explanations must be offered convincingly. This, without any doubt, is in line with the essence of parliamentary democracy where members are expected to be true honourable members, ready to defend their integrity when called to question. Prior to that, the House had been on vacation and this would have given members the opportunity to reflect on the business of the House and other issues that had been of major interest to them and the nation in general. It must, therefore, be expected that this group has a strong ground to ask certain questions on the floor of the House based on suspicion of impropriety on the part of an officer of the Legislature. Developments such as putting members of the House to task on their conduct both in private and public life are what keep the integrity of democrac, and which to a long extent help in building a strong and virile democratic culture. Rome was

THE LEADERSHIP OF THE HOUSE IS NOT ABOVE THE LAW AND SHOULD NOT BE.

BEYOND THAT, NO LEADER THAT WANTS TO BE TAKEN SERIOUS SHOULD ASSUME THAT HIS ACTIONS AND OR DECISIONS SHOULD NOT BE CHALLENGED not built in a day. And to fully develop our our democratic institutions, they must be put on trial through constant examination of the operators and issues emanating from parliamentary business. To this extent, one would have no option but to commend the determination and bravery of lawmakers ready to be counted when issues that call to question certain individuals are being discussed. On another hand,

it should not be expected of a serious honourable member to whip up sentiments just to pursue a personal agenda on the floor of the House. The sentiments against an issue notwithstanding if the facts of the matter are genuine and well established, it is a matter of time for such to surface again and to be properly examined. The group of seven lawmakers, though shot down on the floor, had wanted to draw attention again to an issue that was once debated and to which everyone believed it must have been effectively handled and the issues rested. That notwithstanding, if these members suspected an unholy alliance in the handling of the matter hitherto, they should be bold enough to represent their case and justify their reasons. The leadership of the House is not above the law and should not be. Beyond that, no leader that wants to be taken serious should assume that his actions and or decisions should not be challenged, particularly when and if there are reasons for anyone to suspect that something had gone wrong. Since the inception of democracy in 1999, impeachment has been a major weapon in the House for disenchanted members. Salisu Buhari was kicked out after being found guilty of forgery and perjury in 1999. Ghali Naaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Aba and Aminu Masari survived several impeachment threats between 1999 and 2007. Mrs. Patricia Etteh was consumed through impeachment spearheaded by the Integrity Group led by the now embattled Hon. Farouk Lawan. Dimeji Bankole survived the turbulence. For Tambuwal, two attempts have been made to sack him. One thing is clear: the impeachment does not necessarily mean to sanitise the system but for personal agenda.

Sport Extra

Golf: Woods shines in Farmers Open Woods, who was six shot clear of defending champion Brandt Snedeker and Nick Watney, had started the delayed third round with a two-shot lead but he moved clear of the pack after a three-under-par 69. Despite the

quick turnaround, however, he picked up a further three shots in his final round before darkness fell. Snedeker also carded a thirdround 69 to give himself a chance - and he was on 11-under

although with just five holes left to play. Watney, the 2009 champion, could only manage 71 in his third round but he picked up three shots to join Snedeker on 11-under after eight holes.

Woods

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