Wednesday, July 25, 2012 by GLOBAL MEDIA MIRROR LIMITED

Patience

Vol. 2 N0. 411

FG wades into Turai Yar’Adua, Patience Jonathan’s land tussle

Oil subsidy fraud:

P.5

EFCC arraigns Tukur, Arisekola’s sons, others

P.5

Lamorde

2 DAYS TO GO

Team Nigeria contingent for opening ceremony P.30

JULY 27 - AUGUST 12, 2012

Wednesday, July 25, 2012

N150

Atta Mills, Ghanaian president, dies at 68 P.2-4

Promo P romo

Jonathan, Obasanjo, govs, Jimoh Ibrahim pay tribute

John Mahama sworn in as President

...says I’ve lost a father, friend

US seizes Ibori’s mansion, bank accounts P.51

PROFILE

Born on November 29, 1958 Attended Institute of Social Sciences, Moscow Elected to parliament in 1996 Appointed Deputy Minister in 1997 Minister in November 1998 Re-elected into parliament in 2000, 2004 Appointed NDC Director of Communications in 2002 International Observer, Zimbabwe’s parliamentary elections, 2002 Member, Pan African Parliament, 2003 Became Vice-President in 2008

Mahama

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Wednesday, July 25, 2012

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Atta Mills, Ghanaian President,

L ANRE OYETADE AND PAUL ARHEWE WITH AGENCY REPORTS

hree days after he marked his 68th birthday, President John Atta Mills of Ghana yesterday succumbed to death after a protracted battle with throat cancer. Mills died suddenly at a military hospital on Tuesday afternoon a few hours after becoming ill, Chief of Staff in the Office of the President, John Henry Martey Newman, said in a statement. A presidential statement said that Mills’ health had deteriorated on Monday night. “It is with a heavy heart that we announce the sudden and untimely death of the President of the Republic of Ghana, His Excellency, Prof. John Evans Atta Mills,” the statement said yesterday. “The death occurred at the 37 Military Hospital this afternoon while receiving medical attention after taken ill a few hours earlier.” No further details were given. Vice President John Dramani Mahama was immediately sworn in as the nation’s new president last night. Mills was sworn in as President on January 7, 2009. He had served as Ghana’s vice president between 1997 and 2001. The president had denied rumours about his health for months. “Does my continued living pose a threat to some people?” he told reporters at a January event, according to the state-run Ghana News Agency. In June, the late President Mills had travelled to

the United States for a routine medical check-up. On his return on June 25, Mills told reporters at the airport that he was very fit, stressing that the report of the check-up indicated that the energy he had was enough for the present and the future. “The President is back, and it is business as usual,” Koku Anyidoho, Director of Communications at the Presidency had said. “The President is in good shape, and determined to fully deliver on the mandate given to him by Ghanaians.” The President, he said, remained highly optimistic of securing a second term, saying he was prepared to work to merit that mandate from the nation. There were concerns and speculations in some quarters about the turn of health of the late president last month where his ruling party, the National Democratic Congress, NDC, was accused of hoarding information surrounding his illhealth. “Issues about the President’s health had been treated as a state secret by the NDC, leaving many people speculating about the true state of his health,” a Ghanaian newspaper, The New Statesman, reported late last month. President Mills’ health issue has been in the news for a while. The NDC 2008 presidential primaries featured more on his health. Party bigwigs like Dr. Ekow Spio Garbrah and Mr. Michael Teye Nyaunu did make some politics with the state of his health during the electioneering, according to media reports. Some observers said because the President was

looking pale and weak, they suspected something might be wrong. Mills’ death came several days after he celebrated his 68th birthday. He had said he would run for re-election in December. Before his death, President Mills had asked his supporters not to entertain any fears as the general elections draw close, saying “we are on the right path.” “I have no fears,” he declared, expressing confidence of victory on the eve of his 68th birthday held on July 21. He called for unity and teamwork among members of government and the ruling party. “I want all of us to work together to overcome the challenges. Let us be confident because I know that when you are doing the right things, the people of Ghana will support you. Let’s work hard and show them that we have used the resources given us purposefully,” he stressed. “I know that there will be many more happy returns from all Ghanaians,” The opposition New Patriotic Party, NPP, expressed condolences in a statement yesterday. “We join the nation in mourning this sad loss to Ghana,” the statement said. Mills was the third President of the Fourth Republic of Ghana. He was inaugurated on January 7, 2009, having defeated the ruling party candidate, Nana Akufo-Addo, in the 2008 election. He was Vice-President from 1997 to 2001 under President Jerry Rawlings, and stood unsuccessfully in the 2000 and 2004 presidential elections as the NDC candidate.

Mills, a stabilising influence in Ghana –Obasanjo

ormer President Olusegun Obasanjo, who is in Ghana for an engagement, has described Atta Mills’ death as a “shock to the people of Ghana and all of us who knew him.” “He has been a stabilising influence in his country and indeed West Africa,” he said. “With the permission of President Atta Mills, I was invited to the University for Development Studies, Tamale,” Obasanjo told the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, via telephone. “I was scheduled to pay a courtesy call on him today (Tuesday) and while waiting, I visited Vice-President

John Dramani Mahama (now President). A couple of hours after leaving the vice-president, we heard about the death of the president at the Military Hospital,” Obasanjo said. He said that after due consultation with the authorities of the institution, he decided that “as a matter of honour to the memory of the late President Mills, the scheduled lecture series be postponed indefinitely”. “My heartfelt condolences to the people of Ghana, the Vice-President and the family of the late President,” Obasanjo added. The former Governor of old Anambra State in

the Second Republic, Chief Jim Nwodobo and Prof. Pat Utomi also described Mills’ death as a tragedy for Africa. Nwobodo described the news of Mills death as “very saddening and a rude shock”. He told NAN in a telephone interview that “Mills’ death was a big loss for Africa in general and ECOWAS in particular”. “The relations between Nigeria and Ghana were liberal under his presidency. The face-off between Nigeria and Ghana over business concerns of Nigerians in Ghana would have escalated if not for his kind of person.

L-R: President Boni Yayi of Benin Republic; John Atta Mills; Jacob Zuma of South Africa; AliBongo Ndimba of Gabon

I’ve lost a father, says President Mahama

ewly sworn in President John Mahama yesterday paid glowing tribute to the late President John Mills. In a short speech after he was sworn in by the Chief Justice Georgina Theodora Wood, President Mahama said: “This is the saddest day in our nation’s history. Tears have engulfed our nation and we’re deeply saddened and

distraught. I never imagined that one day I will address our nation in such difficult circumstances,” Mahama said. “I’m personally devastated. I’ve lost a father, I’ve lost a friend, I’ve lost a mentor and a senior comrade.” According to him, the president died at 2:15 pm after a short illness. In a sober mood and a

heavy heart, President Mahama on behalf of the government and the people of Ghana extended his condolences to the family of the late president. He said Mills was a humble and modest person throughout his public life and the finest tribute to give the late president is to maintain unity and stability in the party and country as a whole.

Jonathan, Tinubu pay tribute ROTIMI FADEYI ABUJA

resident Goodluck Jonathan yesterday expressed sadness over the sudden death of President John Atta Mills of Ghana. In a statement issued in Abuja by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, the President said he received the news of the death of Mills with great shock. Jonathan expressed the sincere condolences to the late Mill’s family as well as the government and people of Ghana on behalf of himself, the government and people of Nigeria. He assured the people of Ghana of the sympathy

and solidarity of the people of Nigeria as they mourn Mills who did his best during his tenure to carry forward the process of democratic consolidation and socio-economic development in Ghana. Jonathan prayed God Almighty to grant the late President’s soul eternal rest and bless his successor with the fortitude and wisdom needed to keep Ghana firmly on the path of peace, stability and progress. He also expressed hope and expectation that the excellent relationship which existed between Nigeria and Ghana during Mills’ tenure will continue to be strengthened under the new leadership in Ghana in the mutual interest of both

countries. Former Governor of Lagos State and national leader of the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has condoled with the government and people of Ghana on the death of President Mills. In a statement issued in Lagos yesterday, he said: “He was a good man. A patriotic man highly committed to the progress of his country and its people. He was dedicated to the ideals of democracy and the development of his country. “President Mills lived a good life. He has left a legacy of hard work, respect for human rights and his people’s culture. He will surely be missed by all.”

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Tribute

Wednesday, July 25, 2012

dies at 68

Ghana loses pragmatic, loyal leader to national development and common heritage –Jimoh Ibrahim

he Group Managing Director of Energy Group, Barrister Jimoh Ibrahim, OFR, has described the late Prof. Atta Millls as a Level-5 leader who, according to him, was pragmatic and loyal to the national development of Ghana and Af-

rica’s common heritage. Atta Mills, a professor of Law, was a simple leader whose commitment to Ghana’s economic development and the interest of the common man is not surpassible. “During his time, Ghana recorded an unprec-

edented status of second fastest growing economy in the world after China and at a time in the life of Atta Mills’ administration, Ghana was rtecording a 26percent growth - a key indivator that Africa can be on the path of development’ says Ibrahim.

He added that it was bad to believe that Prof. Mills is dead ‘with the reality of his uncommon achievements in the area of governance.’ ‘Greatly, I sympathise with Ghana and the rest of the world’, Ibrahim added.

Mills: Academic, astute politician, sportsman FELIX NWANERI

President Mahama taking oath of office yesterday

A great loss to Africa –Govs

overnors Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State and his Ekiti State counterpart, Kayode Fayemi have described the death of President John Atta Mills as an irreparable loss to the African continent. Aregbesola said in a statement issued yesterday, that Mills had continued the job of advancing the course of democracy in his country which had become a source of pride to West African sub-region in democratic tenets. He said: “Africa has lost a rare gem. Atta Mills was quintessential leader who left no one in doubt over his readiness to advance the course of democracy. Had African countries been blessed with the likes of Atta Mills over the decades, our continent

would have successfully demonstrated to the world that Blacks too are capable of organising themselves to live better lives than what we currently have throughout our continent.” Fayemi described the death of the Ghanaian President, a sad loss to the African continent and democracy. Reacting to Mills’ death in a military hospital a few hours after admission, the governor said he was shocked that a shining star in the African firmament was taken away a few months to the end of his glorious tenure. Fayemi described the late President as a progressive politician, democrat per excellence, a true leader and a pride of Africa.

orn on July 21, 1944, Prof. John Evans Fifii Atta Mills was the third President of the Fourth Republic of Ghana. He was inaugurated on January 7, 2009, having defeated the then ruling party’s candidate, Nana Akufo-Addo in the 2008 election. He was the country’s Vice-President from 1997 to 2001 under President Jerry Rawlings and contested unsuccessfully for the country’s presidency in the 2000 and 2004 elections as the candidate of the National Democratic Congress, NDC. Mills’ journey to Ghana’s presidency was not easy. In 2000, he became the NDC candidate for the 2000 presidential election after Rawlings had served his terms as president. At the time, after two decades of Provisional National Defence Council, PNDC/NDC rule, the NDC’s war chest for the upcoming elections was certainly much stronger than that of the NPP. The election went into two rounds: In the first round, held on December 7, 2000, Mills gained 44.8 per cent of the vote while Kufuor secured 48.4 per cent. This result forced the election into a two-party run-off vote on December 28, 2000, where Kufuor defeated Mills with 56.9 per cent of the votes. In 2002, Mills was elected as the candidate of the NDC for the presidential election in 2004. He was, however, defeated again by Kuffuor, who won by a margin of 52.45 per cent. On December 21, 2006, Mills, for the third time, became the NDC candidate for the 2008 presidential election, winning his party’s ticket by 81.4 per cent. Election campaign

President Mills acknowledging cheers from supporters

was strong, particularly with advertising, which was clearly much heavier with the NPP candidate. The first round of voting took place on December 7. In a very close result among all parties, Nana Akufo-Addo’s NPP scored 49.13 per cent of the vote, close to the outright margin required to win in the first round, while Mills’ NDC had 47.92 per cent. The other parties garnered 2.37 per cent of the votes. The result forced a second-round of voting between NPP and NDC on December 28. The result was a slim margin held by Mills, but due to problems with the distribution of ballots, the Tain constituency, located in the BrongAhafo Region, was forced to re-run its voting on January 2, 2009. The voting in the Tain constituency led to a landslide victory for the NDC. For several days, the Electoral Commission of Ghana did not call the result to the NDC, and the NPP filed a lawsuit, claiming that “the atmosphere in the rural district was not conducive to a free and fair election”. On January 3, 2009, the election result was finally announced. Mills, who had failed to win in two previous elections, made history by winning the 2008 presidential election, becoming the third President of the Fourth Republic of

Ghana. An academic, sportsman and an astute politician, Mills had his early education at the famous Achimota Secondary School, where he obtained his General Certificate of Education, GCE, Advanced Level, in 1963. He also attended the University of Ghana, Legon, where he received a bachelor’s degree and professional certificate in Law in 1967. He later earned a PhD in Law at the age of 27 from the prestigious School of Oriental and African Studies, SOAS, at the University of London after completing his doctoral thesis in the area of taxation and economic development. Mills was selected as a Fulbright scholar at the equally prestigious Stanford Law School in the United States. His first formal teaching assignment was as a lecturer in the Faculty of Law at the University of Ghana, Legon where he spent close to 25 years imparting knowledge, rising from lecturer to senior lecturer then to associate professor. His contribution to intellectual development in Ghana is remarkable, having served on numerous boards and committees. During the almost 30 years of teaching and researching, Mills served as a visiting lecturer and professor at a number of educational

institutions worldwide and presented research papers at symposiums and conferences throughout the world. His publications include: Taxation of Periodical or Deferred Payments arising from the Sale of Fixed Capital (1974); Exemption of Dividends from Income Taxation: A critical Appraisal (1977); Report of the Tax Review Commission, Ghana, parts 1, 2 & 3, (1977) and Ghana’s Income Tax Laws and the Investor (an interfaculty lecture published by the University of Ghana). His track record of financial knowledge and strong professional credentials led to several important appointments. In 1988, Mills became the acting Commissioner of the Internal Revenue Service of Ghana and named Commissioner in September 1996. His expertise, however, went beyond the classroom as shown in the various examiner positions he held with finance related institutions throughout Ghana. They include the Institute of Chartered Accountants, Institute of Bankers and Ghana Tax Review Commission. As an active sportsman and sports fan, the late Mills supported the academic community and the nation at large through his contribution to the Ghana Hockey Association (he once played for the country’s national hockey team); National Sports Council of Ghana and Accra Hearts of Oak Sport Club. He was known in Ghana as “Asomdweehene” which literally means the “King of Peace.” He was married to Ernestina Naadu Mills, an educationist and has a son, Sam Kofi Atta Mills.

Photo News

Wednesday, July 25, 2012

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

JOHN ATTA MILLS (1944 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 2012)

United States President Obama and Atta Mills during Obamaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s state visit to Ghana in July 2009

Atta Mills taking the oath of office as President of Ghana

L-R Group Managing Director, Energy Group, Dr. Jimoh Ibrahim and President Atta Mills, during the commissioning of Energy Bank of Ghana in February 2011

President Blaise Campaore of Burkina Faso; Atta Mills, President Goodluck Jonathan and former Senegalese President, Abdoulaye Wade

Former Ghanaian President John Jerry Rawlings and President Atta Mills

President John Atta Mills (second left), turns on the valve to allow the first barrel of crude to flow from the Jubilee offshore oil field on December 15, 2010.

Atta Mills and his mother

Motla Ramasia, who presented the Ghanaian president and wife, Mrs. Ernestinah Naadu Mills, with flowers on their arrival at Cape Town International Airport during his state visit to South Africa September 2011

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

News

Wednesday, July 25, 2012

EFCC arraigns Bamanga Tukur, Arisekola’s sons, others AYODELE OJO AND WALE IGBINTADE

he Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, will today arraign the son of the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, Mahmud; the son of the business mogul, Alhaji Arisekola Alao, Abdulai

Alao and some other oil marketers and companies indicted in the fuel subsidy fraud. A staff of the Petroleum Products Pricing and Regulating Agency, PPPRA, Mr. Fakuade Babafemi Ebenezer and Ezekiel Olaleye Ejidele, a director of the accounting firm, Akintola Williams Delliote will also be arraigned for their alleged involvement in the

subsidy fraud. The suspects, comprising seven oil companies and 12 individuals, will be docked in Lagos courts. The companies involved are: Nasaman Oil Services; Eterna Oil and Gas Plc; Ontario Oil & Gas Plc; Nadabo Energy Limited; Pacific Silver Line Limited, Axenergy Limited and Fago Petroleum and Gas Limited. The other individuals

involved in the scam are: Mamman Nasir Ali, Christian Taylor, Ochonogor Alex, Walter Wagbatsoma, Adaoha Ugo-Ngadi, Abubakar Ali Peters, Jude Agube Abalaka, and Oluwaseun Ogunbanbo. The information sheet signed by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) of the Federation, Mrs. O.O Fatunde, on behalf of the Attorney- General of the

Chairman, Presidential Committee on Verification and Reconciliation of Fuel Subsidy Payments, Mr. Aigboje Aig-Imoukuede (left) presenting the committee’s report to President Goodluck Jonathan in Abuja, yesterday. PHOTO: NAN

FG wades into Turai Yar’Adua, Patience Jonathan’s land tussle EMMANUEL ONANI ABUJA

he Attorney-General of the Federation, AGF, and Minister of Justice, Mr. Mohammed Bello Adoke, SAN, yesterday approached a Federal Capital Territory High Court sitting in Bwari, for an out-of-court settlement in the land tussle between the First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan and her predecessor, Hajia Turai Yar’Adua. There has been a cold war between the first ladies over the revocation of a parcel of land originally allocated to a non-governmental organisation, NGO, believed to be Mrs. Yar’Adua’s pet- project, The Registered Trustee of Women and Youth Foundation. Adoke, who is named as the fourth defendant in the suit instituted by the NGO, made an oral application before the court yesterday for a “convenient adjournment” of the suit to enable the parties to explore the possibility of settling the dispute among them and to reach decisions that would

be binding on the court. Other defendants in the suit with number FCT/ HC/CV/2591/2010 are the FCT Minister, Senator Bala Mohammed; the Federal Capital Territory Administration and the Abuja Geographic Information System, AGIS. The suit is in respect of the revocation of Plot 1,347 at the Cadastral Zone A00, measuring approximately 1. 84 hectares and “bounded by beacons numbers PB 48, PB 1596, PB 1599 and PB 6827. The disputed plot of land is covered by “an accepted Offer of Right of Occupancy dated Febuary 19, 2010.” It lies in-between NANET Suites and Federal Secretariat, Shehu Shagari Way, Central Area District, Abuja. Already, Dame Jonathan has concluded arrangements to host all African First Ladies on the land between July 24 and 27, this year, even as it has been earmarked to serve as the Secretariat of the First Ladies Peace Mission, chaired by the First Lady. The revocation, which Adoke said was done “in

overriding public interest”, formed the basis of the suit and the subsequent interlocutory order “restraining the defendants whether individually or collectively by themselves, their servants, employees, agents, privies, subsidiaries, departments, agencies, officers or otherwise howsoever from acting on the notice of revocation.” Moving the motion on behalf of the AGF on the need for settlement, Mallam Baba Saidu told the trial judge, Justice Peter Affen, that “there are arrangements to settle the matter out of court and we have reached out to counsel on all sides. In the circumstance, we urge your Lordship to grant us convenient adjournment to report back to this honourable court.” He expressed confidence that fruitful results would be achieved from the proposed dialogue option, against the backdrop of the interest shown by the plaintiff and other defendants, when they were approached. The plaintiff’s counsel, Innocent Lagi, and that of the 1st, 2nd and 3rd defendants, Felix Ibanga, expressed their

readiness to settle the matter out of court. They told the court that the AGF had actually reached out to them to cooperate for the rift to end. Justice Affen, therefore, adjourned the matter till September 24, 2012 “for report of settlement.” He had earlier turned down an attempt made by Lagi to move an exparte motion for the leave of court to serve defence forms 48 and 49 (contempt charge and committal to prison). The foiled contempt charge was consequent upon a subsisting order of interlocutory injunction restraining the defendants from acting on the notice of revocation dated November 2, 2011. Adoke had filed a motion on notice brought pursuant to Order 7 Rule 7 (2) of the FCT (Civil Procedure Rules 2004), where he urged the court to discharge the restraining order saying “the previous allocations were duly revoked and a fresh allocation made out to the African Peace Mission in overriding interest.”

Federation, AGF, filed at the Lagos State High Court registry was brought pursuant to Section 174(1) of the Constitution and Section 13(2) of the EFCC (Establishment) Act. According to the EFCC’s spokesman, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, Nasaman Oil Services; Mamman Nasir and Christian Taylor are to face charges bordering on obtaining N4,460,130, 797. 94 from the Federal Government of Nigeria under false pretences. The anti-graft agency alleged that the money was fraudulently obtained as subsidy payments from the Petroleum Support Fund, PSF, for the purported importation of 30.5 million litres of Premium Motor Spirit (petrol) from SEATAC Petroleum Limited of the British Virgin Islands. Abdulahi Alao and Axenergy Limited will face prosecution for allegedly obtaining the sum of N2,640,141, 707.75 being payments received from the PSF for the purported importation of 33.3 million litres of petrol. Mahmud Tukur, Ochonogor Alex, Abdulahi Alao and Eterna Oil and Gas Plc will be docked for allegedly obtaining the sum of N1,899,238,946. 02 from the PSF fraudulently for a purported importation of 80.3 million litres of PMS. Tukur is the company’s managing director. Also, Nadabo Energy Limited, Abubakar Ali Peters, Jude Agube Abalaka and Pacific Silver Line Limited are to be prosecuted for allegedly obtaining the sum of N1, 464, 961, 978.24, being payments fraudulently received from the PSF for a purported importation of 19.4 million litres of PMS. Walter Wagbatsoma, Adaoha Ugo-Ngadi, Fakuade Babafemi Ebenezer, Ezekiel Olaleye Ejidele and Ontario Oil & Gas Nigeria Limited will be arraigned for fraudulently obtaining the sum of N1,959,377,542, 63 from the PSF for a purported importation of 39.2 million litres of PMS. The Commission said Fago Petroleum and Gas Limited and Oluwaseun Ogunbanbo are to be docked for fraudulently obtaining the sum of N979,653,110.20 from the PSF for a purported importation of 33,627,840 litres of PSF.

“The 20 suspects are among the over 140 individuals and organisations involved in the ongoing investigations into the subsidy payments by the EFCC. More suspects will be arraigned periodically as the investigation progresses. “This investigation is massive and extensive; and the Commission wishes to reassure Nigerians that every effort will be made to bring all those who defrauded the country in the guise of subsidy for imported fuel to book,” the EFCC stated. The indicted oil marketers and companies are to be arraigned before Justices Habeeb Abiru and Adeniyi Onigbanjo, both of the Ikeja High Court. Those to be arraigned before Justice Onigbanjo are Mahmud Tukur, Ochonogor Alex, Abdulai Alao and Eterna Oil and Gas Ltd. The defendants are facing a nine-count charge related to conspiracy, obtaining money by false pretence, forgery and use of false documents. The EFCC alleged that they had on April 28, 2011 in Lagos, fraudulently obtained a total sum of N676.9m from the Federal Government purporting same to be payment accruing to Eterna Oil under the Petroleum Support Fund. Specifically, Alao is facing a seven-count charge bothering on obtaining by false pretence, forgery and use of false documents before Justice Abiru. He is alleged to have fraudulently obtained N2.5bn in December 2010 from the Federal Government as subsidy payments for supplying 13,364,284 and 20,014,627 litres of PMS from Ex- MT Gavros and Ex-MT Nippon Princess. The quartet of Walter Wagbatsuma, Adaoha UgoNgadi, Fakuade Babafemi and Ezekiel Ejide alongside their company, Ontario Oil and Gas Ltd, will also be arraigned before Justice Abiru. They are facing charged with a nine-count charge related to conspiracy, obtaining money by false pretence, forgery and use of false documents. The EFCC alleged that the defendants fraudulently obtained over N1.9bn from the Federal Government under the Petroleum Support Fund from July to CONTINUED ON PAGE 6>>

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Wednesday, July 25, 2012

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Subsidy: Panel recommends recovery of N382bn ROTIMI FADEYI ABUJA

he Aigboje AigImoukhuede-led Presidential Committee on Reconciliation and Verification of Subsidy Payments has recommended the recovery of N382bn subsidy payment from oil companies that illegally benefitted from the subsidy regime in the year 2011. According to AigImoukhuede, the committee recommended possible criminal investigation and prosecution of 21 oil mar-

keters and trading companies found to have engaged in likely fraudulent issues while auditors and any government functionaries would be further interviewed to determine the roles that they played in the whole issue. Briefing State House correspondents after submitting its findings to President Goodluck Jonathan at a closed door meeting in Abuja yesterday, AigImoukhuede who did not disclose the names of the 21 companies affected, said that while the committee

made 22 recommendations to the Federal Government, it also discovered that there was a duplication of N18bn as subsidy payments. He stated that the presidential committee was left with the task of verifying N403bn instead of N422bn subsidy payment earlier identified in the report of the Technical Committee after removing the N18bn which were discovered to be duplicated. He explained that out of the N403bn, N21bn was cleared by the presidential committee while the sum of

N382bn was in contention for which the presidential committee recommended that the process of recovery should commence. Aig-Imoukhuede stated: “Out of the N422bn identified by the Technical Committee which I chaired, the Presidential Committee took steps to identify and remove duplication, which may have been contained in the Technical Committee’s report which was also discovered in the course of the panel’s interviews. “Of the N422bn, N18bn was found to be duplica-

Disengaged staff of Mainstreet Bank protesting in Lagos yesterday.

EFCC arraigns Bamanga Tukur, Arisekola’s sons, others CONTINUED FROM PAGE 5

xxx December 2010. All the defendants were also alleged to have forged bills of lading and other vital documents which they allegedly used in perpetrating the fraud. The EFCC said their alleged offences contravened Sections 1(3) of the Advanced Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act of 2006 and Sections 467 and 468 of the Criminal Code Laws of Lagos State 2003. Meanwhile, the EFCC has filed a separate charge No-ID/117c/12 before Justice Samuel CandideJohnson of the Lagos High Court, against Durosola Omogbenigun, Peter Mba, Integrated Resources Limited and Pinnacle Oil and Gas. National Mirror gathered that all the four defendants are to appear in court tomorrow (Thursday) for arraignment. They were alleged to have conspired to obtain money by false pretence

punishable under Section 1 of the Advanced Free Fraud and Other Related Offences Act, 2006. The charge reads: “That you Integrated Resources Limited, Durosola Omogbenigun, Pinnacle Oil and Gas and Peter Mba between 2010 and 2011 within the jurisdiction of the Honourable Court conspired to commit an offence to wit: obtaining funds by false pretence from Federal Government of Nigeria, purporting the said funds to be payment accruing under the Petroleum Support Fund as subsidy for the purported importation of Premium Motor Spirit from Europe to Nigeria.’’ They were also alleged to have “on February 4, 2011 within the jurisdiction of the Honourable Court, by false pretence and with intent to defraud obtained from the Federal Government of Nigeria the sum of N986,154,970.41 purporting to be subsidy payable to Integrated Resources Limited

by the Federal Government under the Petroleum Support Fund in respect of 19, 347, 753 litres of PMS which you falsely claimed from NIMEX Petroleum Limited of Gibraltar and allegedly imported to Nigeria through Mother Vessel, MT Torm Laura and MT Emantha, The Daughter vessel and finance through Form M No-MF 936913’’. Other counts are: “That you Integrated Resources Limited, Durosola Omogbenigun on or about September 15, 2011 with intent to defraud obtained from Federal Government the sum of N343, 182,230.20 purporting to be subsidy payable to Integrated Resources Limited by the Federal Government under the Petroleum Support Fund in respect of 4, 115, 951 litres of PMS which you falsely claimed to have purchased from Alcamo Integrated Limited /Vitol SA Geneva and allegedly imported to Nigeria

through Mother Vessel MT Box and MT Althea Ex MT Sea Power the Daughter vessels and financed through Form M No. MF681009’’. “That you Integrated Resources Limited, Durosola Omogbenigun on or about November 15, 2011, by false pretence and with intent to defraud obtained from the Federal Government of Nigeria the sum of N823, 304,765.84 purporting to be subsidy payable to Integrated Resources Limited by the Federal Government under the Petroleum Support Fund in respect of 9,190,815 litres of PMS which you falsely claimed you purchased from Alcamo International Limited/ Vitol SA Geneva and allegedly imported to Nigeria through Mother Vessel MT Box and MT Althea, Ex MT Sea Power the Daughter vessels and financed through Form M No. MF681009.”

tion. So, the actual amount that was being verified is N403bn. Of this amount, N21bn was cleared and that leaves N382bn as the sum in contention for which the committee recommended that the process of recovery should be made. “Painstaking efforts were made to ensure fairness, oil marketers and trading companies were given the opportunity to come back with as much documentation and even be re-interviewed where necessary. “We have six categories of issues, likely fraudulent cases for criminal investigation – you have 21 oil marketers and trading companies affected. We have short-time certificate issues, you have as number of oil marketers and trading companies involved in irregular payments and so on.” He further disclosed that his committee discovered that a total of 116 oil marketing and trading companies participated in the petroleum subsidy scheme in the period of review. According to him, the presidential committee invited all 116 oil companies for interviews, saying that the 107 oil companies, which honoured the invitation, were interviewed by various panels constituted by the committee. He noted that with the report of the Presidential Committee, the government would be able to make a strong case against oil companies found wanting in the subsidy regime. While speaking on possible recovery of the N382bn subsidy payment in contention, Aig-Imoukhuede, who said government may not be able to recover the whole money noted that the most important thing is that the state diligently pursues recovery to its logical conclusion. “But, is it likely that we can recover the sum of N382bn in a process like this? It will be naïve to believe that we can recover the whole amount. The most important thing is that the state diligently pursues recovery to its logical conclusion. At the end of the day having exhausted all means at its disposal, I think the people of Nigeria will know that justice has been done,” he said.

While stating various options through which the money could be recovered, Aig-Imoukhuede said, “There are number of options including processes to determine whether you have some of the subsidy payments due still within the banking system in the possession of those who illegally collected them.” He also disclosed that there are other powers that the Federal Government has with respect to transactions that are ongoing and claims that such people may have for additional fuel subsidies. While the committee recommended total deregulation of the oil sector as a solution to the subsidy fraud, it advised government to move into action and speedily implement all the recommendations in the Technical Committee’s report “We believe that at this juncture and based on the recommendations of the committee, Nigerians will begin to see the Federal Government take the action that is visible having gone through the invisible hard work of putting together the cases against those who may have misbehaved in the fuel subsidy programme,” he added. Also speaking at the briefing, the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Mohammed Bello Adoke (SAN) noted that the report of the Presidential Committee was to fine-tune what the EFCC is doing, saying that it is complimentary of the EFCC report as well as that of the House of Representatives. “The entire objective is that the government is not just interested in prosecuting those that are engaged in impunity for violating the process but also recovering the money and will need technocrats to help us identify the exact amount of money because with the prosecution, the society itself must benefits by having restitution. We are going to recover this money and we are going to set the process for recovery alongside the prosecution,” Adoke said. Jonathan had on Thursday, July 5, constituted the 15-member Committee on Verification and Reconciliation of fuel subsidy payments.

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Wednesday, July 25, 2012

South West

Wednesday, July 25, 2012

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Bakare petitions AIT over misrepresentation of views SINA FADARE

onvener of Save Nigerian Group (SNG) and General Overseer of Latter Rain Assembly, Pastor Tunde Bakare, has petitioned the management of the African Independent Television (AIT) for alleged

misrepresentation of his views and blatant lies against his personality on his invitation by the State Security Service (SSS) in the firm’s news bulletin aired on July 23, 2012. According to the petition signed on behalf of the cleric by his lawyer, Mr. Flora Ogbuitepu, he said there is no iota of truth in

the publication, adding: “It is malicious, offensive and intended to disparage our client and cause him embarrassment and public condemnation. “It is also intended to make our client lose the confidence of well informed Nigerians, as well as his church congregation who are undaunted in their

solidarity to democracy in Nigeria and their worship to God respectively.” Bakare said the publication grossly lowered his reputation in the estimation of right-thinking Nigerians, adding that it exposed him to public odium and ridicule. The petition reads: “If he (Bakare) can convene the peaceful protest on the re-

moval of subsidy in Lagos, he would not be so cowardly as to deny making the said speech or attributing the content of his speech to the misquotations of the press. “It corrodes the reputation of our client to suggest that a man of his status, who chooses to walk the path of honesty, would use the Lord’s name for political gains or lie

against the press.” The cleric, therefore, demanded a “retraction of the defamatory statement and an apology to be broadcasted in your daily news broadcast and the “Focus Nigeria” programme within the next 48 hours, otherwise a legal action would be instituted against your corporation”

Lagos to get 20 more e-libraries soon MURITALA AYINLA

L - R: Principal, Parker Associates Global, LLC, PAG, Mr Samuel Parker Jr.; President, Patricia Hayes-Parker; Ogun State Governor Ibikunle Amosun and a member of the African Business Roundtable, Mr. Ola Famuyiwa, during a visit to the governor in Abeokuta, yesterday.

Ijesha chief denies abdicating his traditional title KEMI OLAITAN IBADAN

he Obanla of Ijesaland, Chief Oyekanmi Ogedengbe, yesterday described as untrue the recent claim by the Owa Obokun of Ijesaland, Oba Adekunle Aromolaran, that some chiefs, who declined oath taking, have abdicated their titles. Chief Ogedengbe, in a statement made available to journalists in Ibadan, said himself and other affected Ijesa High Chiefs had not relinquished their traditional titles. He described the purported resignation as a handiwork of a falsifier employed by Oba Aromolaran to have his way, saying he has never, at any point in time, thought of resigning from the position he inherited from his forefathers. Chief Ogedengbe said: “There was no time I contemplated of resigning my title, whatever document they might be parading is nothing, but a ruse. I have instructed my lawyer to take appropriate action. “The position I occupied is my legitimate heri-

tage where nobody can force me to leave, Owa is the paramount ruler of Ijesaland and nobody is contesting that, but he cannot force us to do anything that is against our conscience and the tradi-

tion of the land”. He also dismissed the allegation that he stole a gate belonging to another person ,describing such as a pre-arrangement to tarnish his image. It will be recalled that

Oba Aromolaran recently frowned at some of his chiefs over their non-compliance to take oath of allegiance to him, declaring that they have resigned their appointments as traditional chiefs of Ilesa.

Collapsed infrastructure: Lawmakers want ecological fund released

embers of the Oyo State House of Assembly have appealed to President Goodluck Jonathan to come to the aid of the people through the release of ecological fund to repair dilapidated bridges in the state. The call was contained in a motion adopted at the House plenary sitting yesterday. Moving the motion titled: “Evolving Strategic Management and Monitoring of Infrastructural facilities in Oyo state,” a lawmaker representing Ibadan South-West Constituency II, Hon. Kehinde Subair, noted with concern the dilapidating state of infrastructure, such as roads and bridges in the state . He noted that the infra-

structure collapsed due to factors such as natural disaster, age, weight and pressure. Subair said the stories of woes, sorrow and tragedy that have attended families and communities, especially as a result of loss of lives and property due to over flooding and breakdown of bridges and roads demand urgent intervention by the Federal Government. In their various contributions, members of the House urged Governor Abiola Ajimobi to ensure that the various bridges and roads under construction were well-dated with their expiry date clearly indicated on them or by their side, adding that the development would enable

agos State Governor Babatunde Fashola yesterday said that plans are underway to install over 20 e-libraries across the state’s public schools. He said the library was part of the government’s intervention to reposition education sector. Speaking at the commissioning a state-of-the-art e-library on Lagos Island, Fashola said the government had installed about 120 e-libraries in public schools to enhance teaching and learning. The governor said the move was to make pupils in public schools information technology-inclined. He said: “Our initiatives are producing a lot of entrepreneurs now who are already standing tall on their own and of course you will see that the government is moving day to day from Information Technology as a basis for improved service delivery. “The essence of providing these facilities in schools is to ensure that before students leave secondary school, they are already IT compliant and getting

ready for admission into university.” Fashola added that the government transformed the old Lagos Library to the new e-library complex as a strategy to use knowledge and innovation to drive the state`s economy. He said the Lagos Public Library building had a long history behind it, saying the history informed government’s decision to preserve it into an electronic library. He recalled: “The block from this rectangle down to the Tafawa Balewa Square hosted the most important buildings in the whole of this country. This is where the whole of Nigeria was built. This is where the taxes were collected. This was where the first health centres were. This was where the prisons were, this was where the courts were. This was where so many things happened in this country. This was where Abuja was planned, in the premises, in this block. In this administrative, from CMS to TFS, that was the Governor General’s Office was. This was where a lot of Nigeria’s history was written and this library hosted a lot of the records that define the achievements and the decisions that took place here”.

Oyo to recruit 1,000 health workers KEMI OLAITAN IBADAN

O Ajimobi

future generation to heed early warning signals. Other highlight of the sitting was the adoption of the report of the House delegates to the 43rd Commonwealth Association (CPA) Africa Region Conference held in Gauteng, South Africa, between June 27 and July 8 presented by the Majority Leader, Hon. Oyeniyi Oyeniran.

yo State Governor Abiola Ajimobi has approved the immediate recruitment of over 1,000 health workers to address shortage of staff across the state secondary healthcare facilities. Chairman of the Oyo State Hospital Management Board (OYSHMB), Alhaji Olayide Abas, stated this yesterday in Ibadan, while addressing journalists on the achievements of the board in the last one year. He said the governor mandated the board to recruit health workers of various categories so as to

improve healthcare services delivery. Abas said the recruitment had started, assuring that the effect would soon be seen in many public hospitals. The chairman added that the recruitment would be a continuous exercise. Decrying the low patronage of public hospitals by patients, he urged the Oyo State people to patronise government hospitals and clinics nearest to them for effective and prompt medical attention. He, however, said the public health team carried out hernia operation on 1,118 patients at the just completed state free health programme.

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South West

Wednesday, July 25, 2012

Osun monarch, Akande, others canvass Yoruba unity WALE FOLARIN OSOGBO

he Orangun of Ila, Oba Wahab Oyedotun and the National Chairman of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Chief Bisi Akande, have called on traditional rulers in Yorubaland and other

countries in West Africa to work towards a united Yoruba nation. They made the call yesterday in Ila Orangun, Osun State while hosting two of the three children of Okanbi, the son of Oduduwa the progenitor of the Yoruba race in the Republic of Benin, who paid the Orangun a courtesy visit.

Oba Oyedotun, who gave kudos to the Onisabe of Sabeland for initiating the visit, stressed the need for greater and tighter relationship, first amongst the monarch sons of Okanbi and all other Yoruba monarchs in general, so as to bring about closer relationship among the people. According to him, a unit-

ed Yoruba nation will be a sure catalyst for the growth and development of the race and its environs which eventually will affect all other people in the nation. Oba Oyedotun used the occasion to emphasise the sacredness of the position of Yoruba Obas and the strategic position they occupy in the governance and admin-

L-R: Special Adviser on Security to Edo State Governor, Mr. Olu Steve; Commissioner for Information, Mr. Louis Odion; Oyo State Governor Abiola Ajimobi and his Edo State counterpart, Adams Oshiomhole, during a condolence visit to Ajimobi in Ibadan on Monday.

Oyo govt to dualise Idi Ape-Akobo road

yo State Commissioner for Works and Transport, Alhaji Yunus Akintunde, has said that the state government will soon commence the dualisation of Idi ApeAkobo-Olorunda Abaa Road in Ibadan, the state capital. Alhaji Akintunde, who disclosed this in a statement issued in Ibadan yesterday, said the dualisation of the road would ease the

traffic snarl currently being experienced in that axis and boost economic activities in the area. He said all was set for the award of the contract for the first phase of the project, which would begin from Idi-Ape and terminate at General Gas, adding that the second phase, which would start from General Gas to Olorunda-Abaa, would commence after the completion of the first

phase. “I like to state that Governor Abiola Ajimobi had on several occasions visited the area and has been so concerned with the plight of the residents. He has, therefore, approved the award of the contract for the dualisation of the road to ease the perennial traffic gridlock in the area,” the commissioner said. The commissioner also said that the state Road

Maintenance Agency (OYSROMA) would, any moment from now, commence the filling of potholes in some roads within the Ibadan metropolis to ensure that the roads are passable. Meanwhile, the Catholic Diocese of Oyo has commended Governor Ajimobi for the reconstruction of Mariama Road in Oyo West Local Government Area of the state.

OJO OYEWAMIDE

effective security for the elderly and the physicallychallenged. The aspirant, who said he would reduce corruption and economic sabotage in the state, decried what he described as lack

of maintenance culture of the people which has led to the collapse of infrastructures in the state. His words: “If I get the mandate of the people of the state, I would embark on aggressive infrastruc-

tural development and continuous maintenance. I would make sure my government put in place policies that would ensure qualitative and standard education for our children.

Agagu’s ex-aide joins governorship race AKURE

former special assistant to former Governor Olusegun Agagu of Ondo State, Mr. Daniel Abiodun Iwatan, yesterday declared his interest to contest the October 20 governorship election in the state. Iwatan, who is from Irele Local Government Area in the southern senatorial district of the state, is contesting on the platform of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC). He promised to transform the state for the benefit of the people if elected. Declaring his ambition to the state executive members of the CPC, Iwatan said his administration, if given the mandate, would provide

istration of their people. The Oba called on his colleague monarchs to live above board, avoid partisanship in their dealings with their subjects in the present political dispensation. Akande, in his goodwill message, traced the history of the Yoruba and established the existence of the seven sons of Okanbi, whose father was Oduduwa, who founded the Yoruba nation. Chief Akande, who called for unity among the monarchs also emphasised that there is blood affinity between the Olowu, Alaketu, Oba of Benin, Orangun, Onisabe, olupopo and the Oranmiyan of Oyo. He said there was need for greater unity among the Yoruba Obas and the people wherever they are domiciled across the world, adding that they should start a process of harmonious relationship that will bring greater economic prosperity that will

positively rub on all other nations. His words: “What remains today is how to harmonise our relationship for greater cooperation and collaboration within Nigeria, the West African sub-region and in the Diaspora.” The Alaketu of Ketu and Olupopo of Popo expressed happiness and joy at the possibility of the reunion, saying it was a dream come true to interact fully with his kith and kin that have been separated by artificial boundaries created by those who do not know their historical affinity. The monarchs noted that their efforts at searching for their siblings were worth the while. The deputy governor of the State of Osun, Grace Titilayo Laoye-Tomori commended the monarchs for the step taken, especially for not allowing man-made boundaries to separate them.

ABIODUN NEJO

that as a stickler to the rule of law, he would not do anything contrary to the pronouncement of the courts. His words: “The Court of Appeal has granted a stay of execution as the first leg of our appeal on the injunction order filed by some people who went to court to take ex parte injunction.” He said the anomalies and irregularities that greeted the just-concluded local government election in Ogun State have brought to the fore the need for the scrapping of state independent electoral commissions (SIECs) and allowing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct council elections. The PDP leader said: “The election should set some of us thinking whether we should continue to spend public funds on the charade like we saw in Ogun State. INEC should be in charge of local government elections. There is no need for state independent electoral bodies.” He lamented the ‘widespread irregularities such as disenfranchisement, non-collation of election results at polling centres,’ among others in the election, saying the country needed to move urgently to save its democracy.

I remain PDP National Vice-Chairman, says Oni ADO EKITI

ormer Ekiti State governor, Chief Olusegun Oni has cleared the air on the national vice-chairmanship position of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the South-West that has been enmeshed in legal tussle. Oni said he remains the national vice-chairman of the party in the zone by virtue of the Appeal Court order that had vacated the earlier order of a high court which asked him to stop parading himself as such. The PDP leader told journalists at his Ifaki Ekiti country home yesterday

Ondo guber race: Crack in ACN as major groups dump party HAKEEM GBADAMOSI AKURE

he crisis within the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) Ondo State chapter deepened yesterday as two major groups within the party, the Legacy Campaign Group (LCG) and Sunshine Liberation Forum (SLF) pulled out of the party. While the Legacy Campaign Group found solace in the rival Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) the SLF leadership pitched its tent with the ruling Labour Par-

ty (LP). Addressing the PDP leadership at the party secretariat, the President of LCG, Mr. Femi Ikoyi, said his members were ready to fuse with PDP at the ward and local government levels. Ikoyi cited the crisis that trailed the choice of Rotimi Akeredolu, as the party’s candidate in the October 20 election in the state as one of the reasons why his group decided to dump ACN for PDP. He also disclosed that the only remaining group in the

party, the Omoluwabi Platform, which is headed by Dr Olu Agunloye, was on the verge of leaving the party. He attributed the defection of the groups from ACN to lack of internal democracy within the party and condemned the imposition style of the party leadership. According to him, the LCG which comprised of officials of ACN was stronger than any of the aspirants under the platform of the party. Ikoyi said “LCG is an assemblage of grassroots can-

vassers with membership cutting across 230 wards. Voter’s card is our identity. We will mobilise traders, farmers, women, youths, artisans and the entire electorate in joining the PDP.” He commended the PDP leadership for the arrangement in which the party consensus candidate emerged, saying Oke is the most credible among the three candidates seeking to contest the next governorship election, pledging that the group would help mobilise voters for him.

South East

Wednesday, July 25, 2012

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Murder suspects’ trial stalled by opposition against ex-AG MADU EZENOHA ABAKALIKI

n Abakaliki High Court in Ebonyi State has adjourned hearing in a murder case involving seven suspects till October 4, 2012. The court adjourned the case following the opposition against the appearance of former Attorney-General and Commissioner of

Justice of the state, Chief Jossy Eze, as counsel to one of the suspects. The prosecuting counsel, Mr. Donatus Njoku, who had earlier obtained a fiat from the State Ministry of Justice to prosecute the suspects, yesterday filed a motion to stop Eze from appearing for the 5th defendant, Obinna Nwibo. Nwibo and six others were charged with the murder of one Maxwell Nwodor

from Ozigbo in Ebonyi Local Government Area in 2009. The prosecuting counsel said that having received and studied the case file, Eze was no longer competent to appear for the defendant. He said: “The suspects were charged with the murder of Maxwell Nwodor in 2009. Then, the matter was investigated, the police sent the case file to Ministry of Justice and the ministry,

under Chief Jossy Eze, vetted the case file and charged them. Now, Chief Eze, who has been removed as the Attorney-General, is appearing for one of the suspects.” But Chief Eze, represented by Mr. F. I. Ogbuewu, told the court that he was served the paper in the court and requested for time to study the motion in order to reply appropriately at a later date. Counsel to the second accused person, Mr. Emeka

Uwakwe, earlier pointed out that based on the new regulations guiding the issuance of fiats, the prosecuting counsel ought to have been in court with a counsel from the Ministry of Justice. Uwakwe said: “I have my doubts about the competence of prosecuting counsel… there is incomplete representation because he must appear with a lawyer from the ministry.”

The presiding judge, Justice Eze Udu, adjourned the suit till October 4 for all the parties to be present and for information and appearance. In the case HAB/50/2010, Pius Aligwe, Kelechi Uguru, Obinna Nwifuru, Ozoemena Okenmini, Obinna Nwibo, Ogbonnaya Okenmini and Uchenna Nwankwo were charged with the murder of Maxwell Nwodor in 2009.

15 held for alleged sale of adulterated products GEORGE OPARA ABIA

L-R: Anambra State Governor, Peter Obi; students, Ifeanyi Enemo and Lilian Eze; Minister of State for Education, Mr. Ezenwo Nyesom Wike and Executive Secretary, Universal Basic Education Commission, Dr. Ahmed Modibbo, during the flag-off of SouthEast Distribution of Instructional Materials for Basic Education Institutions in Nigeria held in Awka, yesterday.

Enugu approves N2bn for workers’ estate •N255m for ESUT information centre

DENNIS AGBO ENUGU

nugu State Governor Sullivan Chime has approved N2bn loan from the Federal Mortgage Bank for the development of Workers’ Estate at Ogbeke Nike in Enugu East Local Government Area. The Commissioner for Information, Mr. Chuks Ugwoke, stated this while briefing the press on the

outcome of a meeting of the state executive council in Enugu. Ugwoke said the project, which will be executed by two estate developers, Ceebt World Development and Kayllods Limited, would consist of two-bedroom, three-bedroom bungalow, four-bedroom duplex and two-bedroom block of flats. He said the housing project was in line with Governor Chime’s determination

to provide affordable and decent accommodation for workers. The commissioner, who was accompanied by his Education, Rural Development and Environment counterparts, Dr. Ortuanya, Dr. Oluedo and John Egbo, added that the government approved N255m for the deployment of Information Communication Technology (ICT) centre at the State University of Science and Technology (ESUT).

MASSOB plans to fish out ‘bad eggs’ among Igbo elite NWABUEZE OKONKWO ONITSHA

he Movement for Actualisation of Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) has vowed to fish out those it described as “bad eggs” and saboteurs among the Igbo elite for appropriate sanctions. MASSOB said such sanction would not be meant to witch-hunt anyone, but to bring sanity to

the South-East region. MASSOB’s Regional Administrator for Mbaitoli Region in Imo State, Chief Kennis Anojuru, stated this in a statement issued in Onitsha, Anambra State. In the statement signed on behalf of Anojuru by MASSOB Deputy National Director of Information, Mazi Chris Mocha, the group regretted that some Igbo elite had consistently remained a thorn in the flesh of Ndigbo by con-

stituting themselves into agents of Igbo oppressors. Stressing that MASSOB is united, focused and consistent in its quest to achieve a Republic of Biafra, Anojuru said the Igbo elite usually carry out their oppression in form of assassination, kidnapping, rigging of election, purchase of government buildings, as well as sponsoring conflicts in their respective host communities.

he Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has arrested no fewer than14 men and one woman for alleged bunkering and sale of adulterated products in Umuorie Obohia and Amanapia Riverside in Ukwa West Local Government Area and Cemetery market in Aba, Abia State. The suspects are: Maduabuchi Ananaba, Uchenna Nwachi, Abraham Peters, Nnaji Okechukwu, Martins Esuchulam and Emmanuel Iwuchukwu, among others. Items recovered are 31 kegs of 25/50 litres containing adulterated AGO known as blue gas in a vehicle marked XC417NGK and another vehicle,

marked XC676APR, was loaded with 40 empty kegs of 25 litres. Another vehicle marked XC481 APR was also impounded with 25 litres of crude oil, but owner of the vehicle reportedly ran away. The adulterated products recovered from the suspects at cemetery market in Aba are insecticide, St Lauren Wine, Seaman’s schnapps, seaman’s branded cups, 5 Alive juice, Eva wine, Chelsea London dry Gin, Mc Dowell’s Whisky, Squadron blended Dark Rum, Bacchus wine, Milo (tin) tea and others. NSCDC Commandant, Mr. Nathaniel Ubong, however, condemned the desperate actions of the suspects and the likely harmful effects of the adulterated products to human health.

FG to impose sanctions on illegal levies in schools SAM OLUWALANA Chime

He said the project, which will be handled by AFRI HUB Nigeria, would consist of 600 work stations and one digital library with 30 computers. According to him, the project will also include seven multi-media classrooms each with 30 computers, a cyber café centre with 100 work stations and also provide hours of free browsing for students. Also at the state executive council meeting, the government approved the installation of additional 178 units of solar powered bus shelters within Enugu metropolis for the comfort of commuters.

he Federal Government will investigate all reported cases of imposition and collection of illegal levies in basic education institutions across the country, Minister of State for Education, Mr. Ezenwo Nyesom Wike, has said. The investigation, according to the minister, was aimed at imposing sanctions on head teachers and managers who deny Nigerian children access to quality education. Wike also said that the free textbook programme of the Federal Government is one of the most imaginative ways of open-

ing the treasury of learning to Nigerian children. Wike, who spoke yesterday at the South-East books distribution flagged off in Onitsha, Anambra State, noted that the Federal Government planned to kindle the future of Nigerian children towards a greater intellectual and rewarding career development for them. The minister said: “Apart from meeting the learning needs of pupils of all backgrounds, the free textbook policy is also intended to eliminate inequities and disparities in the education system in terms of access to study materials as well as as participation and performance in and out of the classroom”.

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South South

Wednesday, July 25 , 2012

Gunmen kill church founder, abduct wife in Delta G

Oshiomhole’s victory, end to brigandage in Edo – Ajimobi

SOLA ADEBAYO, WARRI

unmen have murdered the founder of Train of Praise Ministry, Incorporated, Prophet Polycap Iroagba, in Delta State. The assailants also abducted the wife of the slain cleric, Victoria. Information available to our correspondent on the incident yesterday showed that the cleric was killed on Sunday by three gunmen at the headquarters of the church in Orerokpe, the headquarters of Okpe Local Government Area. It was learnt that while the remains of Iroagba have been deposited in a morgue in Warri, the whereabouts of his wife were yet to be ascertained at press time. Eyewitnesses said that the assailants, who arrived the church ahead of the deceased, waited patiently for him. It was also gathered that the hoodlums approached and opened fire on the cleric as he alighted from his Sport Utility Vehicle, SUV,

in the church premises. Members of the church scampered to safety when it was dawned on them that the cleric was at the mercy of the gunmen. Investigation showed that the gunmen thereafter invaded the church and ordered the wife of the pastor into their car. They fled with her. Some members of the church, who pleaded anonymity, said that the gunmen promised that Victoria

would be freed whenever information got to them that her husband was dead. The cleric died on the way to a medical centre. The church has been deserted since Sunday. The incident occurred on the day the Delta State Head of Service, HOS, Mr. Okey Ofili, was also shot by gunmen in an abduction attempt in Asaba, the state capital. Ofili, who was shot on the leg for his effrontery

to ignore the order of the hoodlums, escaped due to the intervention of the policemen attached to a new generation bank in the state capital. The state Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Charles Muka, confirmed Iroagba’s murder in a telephone interview with our correspondent yesterday. Muka said that the police had spread their dragnet to rescue the cleric’s wife and apprehend the hoodlums.

YENAGOA

t least five children have been killed by polluted rivers by oil spill in Foutorugbene and Apodubigha communities in Ekeremor Local Government Area of Bayelsa State. As a result, the communities have given the Shell Petroleum Development

CHINEDUM EMEANA PORT HARCOURT

Group Managing Director, Indorama Worldwide, Mr. Amit Lohia; Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi and Managing Director, Indorama Eleme-Petrochemicals, Mr. Manish Mundra, during the commissioning of the company’s new Polyethylene Terephthalate facility in Rivers State, yesterday.

Company, SPDC, a sevenday ultimatum to clean up the spill, or face legal action. The oil spill, which occurred in May at Benisede flow station belonging to SPDC, is causing panic in the communities, as the oil giant is yet to mop up the spill. A statement issued by the Chairman of Fouturogbene community, Preye Warri and others in Yena-

goa yesterday, gave the identities of the deceased as Arekedomene Pigha, Blessing Adiboere, Tabode Owei, Debowei Timiebi and Debowei Peretu. Warri said the spill had polluted waterways, creeks, and canals thereby disrupting fishing activities in the locality, adding that the river, which is the only source of their drinking water, was polluted. He said: “Shell Petro-

Subsidy fraud: EFCC’s plan to try marketers, good - Group CHINEDUM EMEANA PORT HARCOURT

Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has been commended for its plan to arraign oil marketers indicted in the National Assembly Ad-hoc Committee fuel subsidy probe report. A Benin-based Non-Governmental Organisation, NGO, the Africa Network for Environment and Economic Justice, ANEEJ,

gangsterism, brigandage, godfatherism, subterfuge, and perfidy.’’ The governor expressed appreciation to his Edo State counterpart for finding time to come to Ibadan to commiserate with him, saying, however, that he was not surprised “because politically, we are brothers; intellectually, we relate a lot; courageously, we are partners and in open-mindedness, we are very much in tune”. Ajimobi recalled that his mother’s wish was to see him as governor for just one day, stressing, however, that God made it possible for her to see him as governor for 417 days. In his remarks, Oshiomhole thanked God that the late Alhaja Ajimobi lived a fulfilled life and died at a ripe age.

Amaechi commissions Indorama’s multi-million dollar plant

Oil spill: Bayelsa communities give Shell ultimatum over five children’s death EMMA GBEMUDU,

overnor Adams Oshiomhole’s reelection has put an end to the activities of promoters of brigandage and political jobbers in Edo State. Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State said this on Monday while receiving Oshiomhole who was in Ibadan to commiserate with the former over the death of his mother, Alhaja Dhikrat Abeje Ajimobi. Congratulating Oshiomhole on his victory, Ajimobi said that his triumph at the polls would serve as an encouragement to people who never believed in those vices. He said: “Let me congratulate you on your hardwon but well-deserved return as governor of Edo State. With your victory, you have encouraged many of us who never believed in

gave the commendation in a statement issued by its Executive Director, Rev. David Ugolor. Ugolor was reacting to the commission’s assurance to Nigerians that it would charge the detained directors of seven oil marketing companies, including Eterna Oil Plc and Nasaman Oil Services Limited, to the Lagos High Court for their alleged complicity in the petrol subsidy fraud.

He said: “We are delighted that the EFCC had in the course of its investigations identified marketers, who were alleged to have fraudulently and knowingly collected subsidies from the Federal Government and was able to establish the fraud committed by the marketers, by comparing the bills of lading at their offshore banks with the bills of lading they had submitted to the Petroleum Products Pricing Regula-

leum Development Company refused to clean up the area and the river is the only economy source in the community. We fetch and drink from the polluted river, including our children and newborn babies. Our kids died as a result of this process. The pollution has affected our fishing nets, traps, hooks, canals and creeks thereby throwing the community into hunger.” The communities called on Governor Seriake Dickson and Speaker of the state House of Assembly to prevail on SPDC to clean up the spill, to avoid a breakdown of law and order in the affected communities. Meanwhile, about 200 aggrieved women in Koroama, Yenagoa Local Government staged a peaceful protest against SPDC over its alleged insensitivity to the community, since it began exploration in the area 39 years ago.

overnor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State yesterday inaugurated a new Polyethylene Terephthalate, PET, plant worth millions of dollars built by the Indorama Group, core investors in Indorama Eleme Petrochemicals Limited, in Eleme, near Port Harcourt. The project is reputed to be the first of such plants in sub-Saharan Africa. PET is a thermoplastic polymer resin of the polyester family used in synthetic fibre and manufacture of beverage, food and other liquid containers. The Indorama PET plant will produce 86,000 tons in the first phase, which will effectively satisfy the country’s 50,000 tons domestic market requirement, while the others will be exported. This will move Nigeria from a net importer of PET resin, to a net exporter of the product. Before he switched on the machine to kick-start the operations of the PET plant, Amaechi said he was happy that the firm was progressing and expanding which indicated that more jobs were being created. He said only industrialisation and job creation could stem the tide of

crime in the country. The governor lauded the Indorama for its prompt completion of the new PET plant, a few months after it announced an investment portfolio of $2bn for the PET, fertiliser and methanol projects. Amaechi said Indorama’s new projects would help Nigeria to realise its vision for 2020 projections. He prayed that the new plant would help to create jobs to reduce unemployment in the country, especially the Eleme host communities, which he commended also for being peaceful and law-abiding. The Group Managing Director of Indorama Corporation, Mr. Amit Lohia, said that the new PET plant had capacity for producing 86,000 metric tons of PET resins per annum. The dream of Indorama, he said, was to turn Nigeria to net exporter of PET resins. Lohia also said that for now, Nigeria imported 100 per cent of its local demand for PET resins and pledged that Indorama’s PET production would cover all local demands and for exports to neighbouring African countries. He said: “Our new PET Plant has capacity to help Nigeria to save a whooping $140m from import substitution. Our dream is to turn Nigeria to a net exporter of PET resins.”

North

Wednesday, July 25, 2012

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Jos flood disaster: 65 cholera cases reported, 10 more corpses recovered JAMES ABRAHAM JOS

t least 65 cases of cholera outbreak have been reported in the camps of the recent victims of the Jos flood disaster. According to Tawa Abdulrahman, who led a team of medical personnel from the Federation of Muslim Women of Nigeria (FMWN), most of the children that were rescued from drowning may have drank from contaminated water that has resulted in cholera outbreak in the

•8,000 take refuge in camps, 30 still missing

camps. Abdulrahman, a medical laboratory scientist said this development, if not checked and treated, may spread to others. Meanwhile, about 8, 000 displaced residents are now taking refuge at the Local Government Education Authority Primary School in Gangere and College of Islamic and Arabic Studies in Rikkos, all in Jos. Reports yesterday said the Zonal Coordinator of the National Emergency Management Agency

(NEMA) North Central zone, Abdulsalam Mohammed, has disclosed that 10 additional dead bodies were discovered overnight, bringing the total of bodies recovered to 45. He was speaking at the Local Government Education Authority Primary School in Gangare, Jos while distributing relief materials to victims of Jos flood disaster. He said NEMA’s duty was to provide succour to the displaced people and to cushion the hardship they are facing in

the camps. He said they are going to distribute the relief materials to the victims immediately so as to alleviate their suffering in the camps. The state Public Relations Officer of NEMA said more than 8000 people have been displaced. His words: “We have just recovered more dead bodies at different locations in addition to 35 corpses which were earlier recovered. We also discovered that about 30 more people are still missing. As I am

talking with you now, our search and rescue team are still working in the field to be able to recover more victims.” He said NEMA was able to donate some relief materials to the victims after visiting their camps in Rikkos and Gangere. “NEMA has donated some relief materials to assist the victims. Right now we are working to assist the victims who are now taking refuge in Gangere and Rikkos. We have visited the two camps, we have about 8, 000 displaced so far who are currently camped in there.

We have given them some relief materials to take care of their immediate needs.” The public relations officer, who blamed the cause of the flood on houses built on waterways, also warned the people to desist from building houses in such river banks and waterways. “We discovered that the flood was caused by blockage of water channels. Most of the houses washed by the flood were built on waterways this is very dangerous. There is the need for the people to know this so as to avoid this kind of calamity.

North is not poorer than south, says Shehu Sani A ZA MSUE KADUNA

resident of the Civil Rights Congress of Nigeria (CRCN), Mallam Shehu Sani, yesterday faulted claims that the northern part of the country is poorer than its southern counterpart. Sani called on the leadership of the north to free itself from dependency on oil revenues, religious and ethnic conflicts that has become a serious threat to the stability and unity of the country. In an e-mail to National Mirror, Mallam Sani said considering the enormous natural resources, human wealth, as well as the potentials that abound in the

Ritualists arrested with a severed head in Abuja, yesterday.

Jonathan, Mark, Jang pay last respect to Dantong JAMES ABRAHAM JOS

resident Goodluck Jonathan, Senate President, David Mark as well as Governor Jonah Jang of Plateau State were among other dignitaries who gathered yesterday to pay their last respect to late Senator

Gyang Dantong, during a funeral service held for him at the Rayfield Government House in Jos. Jonathan, who was represented at the occasion by the Minister of Health, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu, described the late Dantong as an Ambassador of Peace, who died in the course of serving his peo-

ple and Nigeria, his fatherland. He blamed the elites for causing most of the problems the country was passing through, saying that ordinary Nigerians want to live in peace. “The elites are behind Nigeria’s problems. Ordinary Nigerians want to live in peace; they want to live together.”

On his part, Senate President David Mark, who described Dantong as the sacrificial lamb who died to ensure that lasting peace returns to Plateau State, urged those who engineer other people to cause crisis in the state to think twice; adding that those behind the mayhem would soon be exposed by God.

Mark also called on the people of the state to learn to forgive each other and to be prayerful. The wife of the late senator, Mrs. Hanatu Dangtong, has said that those involved in the attack that led to her husband’s death would know no sleep till they repent and confess their sins before God.

to St. John’s Anglican Church with ‘Missionary’ boldly inscribed on it. The accident, it was learnt occurred as the driver attempted to dodge a pothole by veering into a ditch of about three feet deep. National Mirror gath-

ered that it took the surrounding communities several hours to rescue the victims as they were trapped in the vehicle while two of the victims were said to have died immediately, even as efforts were being made to rush others to a nearby St. Vincent Hospital, Aliade.

Two corps members die in auto crash HENRY IYORKASE MAKURDI

wo members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), lost their lives while 13 others sustained injuries in a ghastly motor accident yesterday along Igbor-Aliade Road

in Gwer East Local Government Area of Benue State while on their way to their area of primary assignment after completing the three weeks orientation course. National Mirror learnt that the accident occurred about eight kilometres from Makurdi,

the state capital. It was gathered that corps members were of the Batch “B” 2012 group who were travelling to their areas of primary assignment when they met their death. They were said to be travelling in a 14-seater Toyota Hiace bus belonging

region that are absent in other geopolitical zones, the north has no reason to be poor. Sani’s words: “The assertion that the north is poorer than the south is largely untrue if we put into cognisance the enormous natural and human wealth and potentials that abound in the north that is absent in other geographical zones of the country.

Communities cautioned to stay clear of flood plains PRISCILLA DENNIS MINNA

ommunities living along riverine areas of Niger, Kwara, Kogi and Kebbi States have been cautioned by the Niger State government to stay away from flood plains as a result of the looming flood that may follow this year’s rain. Giving the warning in Minna, the Niger State Commissioner for Agriculture, Alhaji Mohammed Abdullahi Kpotu, said the warning became necessary so that communities along the plains would be on the alert for imminent danger that may come with the rains.

Aliyu

Wednesday, July 25, 2012

Insolvency and clamour for new states

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Politics

Office of First Lady: Belgore’s scrapping option

No impeachment motion before Reps – Emordi GEORGE OJI AND EMMANUEL ONANI ABUJA

pecial Adviser to the President on National Assembly Matters, Senator Joy Emordi has refuted the report that members of the House of Representatives ever moved a motion seeking to impeach President Goodluck Jonathan over budget implementation. Consequently, the presidential aide has advised against what she described as unnecessary overheating of the polity with sensational reportage and uninformed comments by people on the issue of the impeachment threat. Emordi in a statement yesterday in Abuja explained that the original motion in the House had only two prayers and after deliberations and an amendment by Hon. Ogbuefi Ozomgbachi, only one prayer was carried and it had nothing to do with impeachment threat.

According to her, “what happened during the debate on budget implementation was that the Minority Leader in his contributions mentioned impeachment, which was not even put to vote.” She further said at no time did the House resolve to impeach the President. “In fact, the House in its resolution urged Mr. President to ensure implementation of the provisions of section 6 of the 2012 Appropriation Act by directing the Minister of Finance to release immediately, all outstanding funds appropriated to Ministries, Departmets and Agencies (MDAs) for the first and second quarters and begin forthwith to comply with the act by ensuring that the funds appropriated under the act to the MDAs for the remaining third and fourth quarters are released as and when due,” she said. Emordi noted that budget formulation and implementation involves

some technical requirements that at times cause delays before funds are released. She however assured that plans are underway to ensure that the executive and legislature work together to effectively tackle these challenges.

She, nonetheless, said the concerns of the members of the House of Representatives on the level of implementation of the budget by the executive are not out of place, noting that the executive is also concerned about the same

issues and is working hard to ensure that they are resolved for effective implementation of the budget. The presidential adviser appealed to the media to focus on reports that will promote democracy and not negative reports

that tend to create tension in the polity. She in addition urged Nigerians, especially opinion leaders and public commentators to exercise restraint in their comments on the issue to avoid heating up the polity unnecessarily.

Senate President David Mark (left) and Plateau State Governor Jonah Jang, during the funeral service for Sen. Gyang Dantong in Jos, yesterday. PHOTO: NAN

PDP seeks to nullify Oshiomhole’s re-election Party lost Nassarawa to protest vote, says Abdulahi

.. We’ll put them to shame again – Governor SEBASTINE EBHUOMHAN

he Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) will soon file a petition, seeking to nullify the July 14 governorship election in Edo State in which the Independent national Electoral Commission (INEC) declared Comrade Adams shiomhole of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) winner. National Mirror gathered yesterday in Benin City that the party’s strategists are currently working round the clock in Abuja on the petition that is seeking to nullify the election on the grounds that Oshiomhole lacked the basic educational qualification to contest for the office of governor. According to Section 177 of the 1999 Constitution as amended, “A person shall be qualified for election to

the office of Governor of a State if: (a) he is a citizen of Nigeria by birth; (b) he has attained the age of thirtyfive years; (c) he is a member of a political party and is sponsored by that political party; and (d) he has been educated up to at least School Certificate level or its equivalent.” But the Chairman of Edo PDP, Chief Dan Orbih could neither confirm nor deny the preparation of the petition. Speaking with National Mirror on telephone, Orbih said: “All I can say is that our team of experts are still looking at the entire election process. As soon as they conclude their work, the party will openly make its position known to you and the whole world. Before that, whatever anybody says now or tells you is merely speculative.” But Oshiomhole faulted the PDP’s claim that he

did not attend a secondary school. Oshiomhole said he is already aware of the surreptitious moves being made by the PDP against his victory, but assured that it will fail just like their half-hearted contest. He said he was not losing any sleep whatsoever as he was patiently waiting to further disgrace the party.

OBIORA IFOH ABUJA

ormer governor of Nassarawa State and immediate past Secretary of the Board of Trustees of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Abdullahi Adamu has attributed the defeat of the party in Nassarawa State in the 2011 governorship election to protest vote against its candidate,

Akwe Doma. This is as the party has expressed belief that Governor Tanko Al-Makura will stage a return to the PDP as soon as the intraparty squabble within the party is resolved. According to Adamu, his successor abandoned the projects he inherited and performed far below expectation, which led to strikes in the state and when the people got the

PDP lauds Airhiavbere, calls for reconciliation

he national leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has commended the party’s candidate in the July 14 governorship election in Edo State, Major Gen. Charles Airhiavbere (retd) for his efforts during the exercise despite his loss to the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN). National Chairman of the party, Alhaji Bamanga

Tukur, who commended Airhiavbere for his efforts during the poll in a letter dated July 19, however charged him to remain committed to the reconciliation and re-building process in the Edo PDP, notwithstanding the election’s outcome. The reconciliation, he explained, will position the party to re-take the state in the nearest future.

In a similar letter, the PDP National Chairman also charged the executive of the party in Edo State, under Mr. Dan Orbih to ensure the reconciliation of all members. The charge is coming on the heels of growing agitation by some members of Edo PDP for a restructuring of the party’s leadership after its loss in the just held election.

opportunity to shove him aside, they did so with their votes during the last election. He traced the genesis of the crisis in Nassasawa PDP to the era when cracks developed within the party two years after Doma came into office. Adamu told the PDP National Working Committee (NWC) that the crack deepened last year when the present state executive committee breached all the rules on the conduct of PDP primaries and swapped the offices amongst themselves against the agreement reached by stakeholders in the party. In his response, the PDP National Chairman, Dr. Bamanga Tukur expressed appreciation to Adamu for giving the NWC an objective insight into what led to the impasse and electoral misfortune of the party in Nassarawa State.

Politics

Wednesday, July 25, 2012

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Office of First Lady: Belgore’s scrapping option FELIX NWANERI writes on calls for the abolishment of the Office of the First Lady which started as a way of exuding influence and power beside the man on the executive seat, but has turned into an avenue of wealth accumulation and waste of public funds.

clash of interest between the executive and legislature looms ahead of the constitution amendment by the National Assembly, following the recommendation for the scrapping of the office of the First Lady by the Presidential Committee on the Review of Outstanding Constitutional Issues. The recommendation is one of the highlights of the report of the former Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Alfa Belgore-led committee submitted recently to President Goodluck Jonathan. It reads in part: “The Committee noted, the response from the State House on the Office of the First Lady and recommends that since the office does not operate under any legal framework, that the operation and funding (both in kind and cash) of such offices at all levels of government should be discouraged and abolished forthwith.” Perhaps, copied from the United States of America (U.S.A.) where the use of the title, First Lady to describe the spouse of an executive began in the early days of the republic, the office of the First Lady is not recognised by the Nigerian Constitution though wives of the president and governors have over time continued to enjoy public acknowledgement and some perks. This however has generated lots of controversies among stakeholders who not only see it as an illegality but a drain on the nation’s resources. From a mere status in the First and Second Republics, the First Lady phenomenon has metamorphosed to a power broking one. It particularly became part of the polity in 1986 through the wife of the then military ruler, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida, late Mariam. Since then, wives of subsequent leaders, military or civilian have not only continued to glamourise the position, but strengthening it as well. As a result of this scramble for power, the title which has no mention anywhere in all of Nigeria’s different Constitutions from colonial times to the one of 1999 as amended, has become an affliction at all levels of government in Nigeria - federal, states and even local councils. And despite the fact that formal budgetary provisions are not made for these offices, they are very generously funded with public funds. Also, the various first ladies are allocated a retinue of aides who are paid from public funds. These are beside their pet projects which are equally funded by the government. Like in the Ibrahim Babangida era, when the First Lady introduced the Better Life for Rural Women programme, it has become the norm for spouses of successive presidents and governors to introduce one form of pet project or another. These projects, many have argued, are avenues to siphon public funds as they make little

Mrs. Fayemi

Mrs. Jonathan

THE COMMITTEE... RECOMMENDS THAT SINCE THE OFFICE DOES NOT OPERATE UNDER ANY LEGAL FRAMEWORK, THAT THE OPERATION

AND FUNDING (BOTH IN KIND AND CASH) OF SUCH OFFICES AT ALL LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT SHOULD BE DISCOURAGED AND ABOLISHED FORTHWITH or no impact on the lives of the people even as they fizzle out once their initiators leave office. Apart from the Better Life Programme which ceased to exist after Babangida relinquished power, other examples of pet projects by former first ladies which went with their initiators include the Child Care Trust Programme of late Mrs. Stella Obasanjo (wife of former President Olusegun Obasanjo) which focused on empowerment of children with physical and mental disabilities and the International Cancer Centre project by Hajiya Turai Yar’Adua (wife of late President Umaru Yar’Adua). It is against this backdrop of wastages that most political analysts and observers have hailed the Belgore committee recommendation though there are indications it may face stiff opposition by the time the President submits the Belgore’s committee recommendations to the National Assembly in form of an executive bill given the stance of the “incumbent” First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan. Mrs Jonathan believes that rather than scrap the office of the First Lady, constitutional roles should be assigned to its occupants. The President’s wife who spoke with journalists shortly after being sworn in as a Permanent Secretary in the Bayelsa State Civil Service by Governor Seriake Dickson, last Friday, said inclusion of the office in the constitution will “enable the occupier of that position to enjoy benefits of the office like their husbands on retirement.” She recalled a situation when Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State prevailed on the President to call her to order because the role of the First Lady is not in

the constitution and therefore tasked the Constitution Amendment Committee to look into the issue with a view to including it in the country’s law book. “The Constitution Amendment Committee should look into the issue of wives of political appointees. We should be included in the Constitution so that we too can retire with benefits. With that we can enjoy our career,” said Mrs. Jonathan, who initiated the Women for Change Initiative aimed at ensuring improved welfare for women and 35 per cent inclusion of women in the country’s decision making. Whereas many critics will quickly disagree with the position, she is likely to have the backing of wives of state governors, who equally have the first lady appellation attached to their names. Wife of Ekiti State governor, Bisi Fayemi, in an article: “Democracy in Nigeria and the Office of the First Lady,” published recently, had maintained that the fact that the Office of the First Lady is not provided for in the constitution does not make it illegal. She wrote: “Many commentators on the First Lady debate raised the issue of the ‘illegality’ of the position, since it does not exist in the Constitution. The fact that it is not written in the constitution does not make the office ‘illegal’. There is nowhere in the constitution where it is written that there shall be an Office of the Chief of Staff, for example. However, it is hard to see how a President or Governor can operate without appointing someone into that position, even if the designation is called something else.” She, however, noted that one of the problems with the office is that Nigerians have

over the years, allowed their experiences with power-hungry, unscrupulous women, listening to poor advice to cloud their judgement on the issue, adding that the question of legitimacy can be addressed if the people can engage in conversations devoid of the usual venom, hypocrisy, sexism and ignorance. She said: “If there is legislation and a budgetary provision recognising the office of the spouse either at national or state level, then there will be more transparency and accountability around their activities. “The Office of the First Lady of the United States evolved over time. It is not in the American constitution, and for many years the office was not funded, except for the use of seconded, temporary staff. All this changed in November 1978 when President Jimmy Carter approved Public Law 95-570 which provided for the First Lady’s budget and staff. Till today, debates still rage in the U.S about the various occupants of the office, their politics, choices, their value addition or subtraction and so on, but there is consensus that the office itself has come to stay and it does have a vital role to play.” But brilliant as the argument for the legalisation of the office of the First Lady may sound, some stakeholders who insist that it should be done away with, are of the view that it is an aberration. National Coordinator of Niger Delta Peace Coalition (NDPC), Zik Gbemre, who shares this view, particularly decried the rate at which an office that has no constitutional backing is being used by the government of the day to carry out some sensitive state functions. He cited the recent commissioning of the newly procured warship by the Nigerian Navy; NNS Thunder, at the Naval Base, Apapa, Lagos, by Mrs Jonathan, querying: “Why should the First Lady be the one to commission a sensitive national asset on security? What constitutional bearing does the First Lady have, to be given the responsibility to commission one of the country’s warship? “Since when has the wife of the President, assume the responsibility of the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Nigeria? If Mr. President is indisposed to commission the NNS Thunder (as the Commander-in-Chief), we believe other government officials like the Vice President, the Minister of Defence etc, whose offices are recognised by the Nigerian Constitution are there to appropriately represent him. ” Prominent lawyers, Messrs Femi Falana and Fred Agbaje, also shared similar view. To Falana, “there is no such position as the Office of the First Lady under the 1999 Constitution but one of the terrible legacies of prolonged military rule in Nigeria.” Agbaje, on his part, argued that Nigeria’s presidential system of government does not allow for presidency by substitution, adding: “The criminal allocation of resources to the First Lady must never be encouraged.” While the First Lady phenomenon seems to have come to stay, Nigerians cannot, but watch how the executive – the president and state governors whose wives are beneficiaries, will handle the issue, especially in the wake of dwindling revenue which calls for a review of the nation’s already overbloated bureaucracy.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Wednesday, July 25, 2012

Politics

Wednesday, July 25, 2012

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Insolvency and clamour for new states Despite that existing states are on the verge of insolvency, save for a few like Lagos, Rivers and Akwa Ibom states among others, the clamour for creation of new states have reached an all time high of 65 demands at the last count. OLAJIDE OMOJOLOMOJU writes on the propriety of such call.

he alarm was first sounded last year at the presentation of a book titled “Against All Odds,” written by Prof. Adamu Baike, in Kaduna by the governor of Central bank of Nigeria (CBN), Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, where he was the guest speaker that most states in the country are on the verge of bankruptcy, saying that the political structure in the country was cumbersome and economically wasteful. Sanusi noted that this has made development in the country a mirage, adding that something drastic measures should be taken to avert a looming danger in the polity. He said that almost all the states spend 96 per cent of their income to pay salaries of the workforce. He had queried: “Do we need 36 states. Do we need the number of ministries that we have?” Sanusi opined that if development is desired in the country, then tough decisions, that may not necessarily go down well would have to be taken. He added: “Ultimately, we will have to be confronted with the task of taking very difficult steps in looking at the political structures that we have. Is an economy in which states spend 96 per cent of their revenues to pay their civil servants, an economy that is likely to be developed in the long term?” To many, especially the state governors, Sanusi was nothing but an alarmist, who is probably poke-nosing into what does not really concern him. But this was to be dispelled by a motion on the floor of the upper legislative chamber of the National Assembly, titled “Looming Danger of Bankruptcy in States: The Need for Fiscal Evaluation,” by Senator Olubunmi Adetunmbi (Ekiti North/ACN), decrying the weak financial base of the states and calling for drastic action to be taken by the National assembly to avert a disaster waiting to happen. Adetunmbi recalled the research by the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), which revealed that no less than 20 states face the prospect of unstable and unfavourable financial standing, given the prevalent high percentage their wage bill take from the total revenue accruable to them. He told the Senate that 32 states of the federation were spending between 30-127 per cent of their gross revenue on wages of civil servants, who constitute less than four per cent of the states’ population. But despite the parlous state of the finances of the states and the mortgaging of the future of their citizens with the bond profile of many of these states, and the calls by stakeholders for sundry bailouts for existing states to avert insolvency, agitation for the creation of more states contin-

Ekweremadu

ued to go haywire. At the retreat for the Senate Ad hoc Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) last week, the chairman of the committee, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, disclosed that his committee has received about 65 requests for state creation. This is even as the Justice Alfa Belgore Presidential Committee on the Review of the Constitution has advocated for the creation of only one state in the South-East, to make the zone at par with other zones of the country. Before now, states in Nigeria have always been created by military fiat. States creation timeline began in 1946, when the British colonialists divided the country into three regions of North, West and East. The regions grew to become four in 1963, with creation of Mid-West by the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa administration. The Yakubu Gowon military regime began modern day states creation in Nigeria with balkanisation of the country into 12 states in 1967, while the Murtala Muhammad/ Olusegun Obasanjo military junta added seven states to make the country a 19-state entity in 1976. The Ibrahim Babangida junta took the tally to 30 states in 1991 while the administration of the late Gen. Sani Abacha increased it to the present 36-state structure in 1996. A look at the demand for state creation showed that the clamour cuts across geopolitical zones, as virtually all the zones have requested for one new state or the other. From the South-West came requests for Ibadan, Ijebu-Remo, Ijesha, Oduduwa, Ijebu, Yewa, New Oyo, Ose, Lagoon, Oluwa and Oke-Ogun states among others; while from the South-South came the clamour for the creation of Toru-Ibe, Ahoada, Urhobo, Minji-Se, Ado, Anioma, Warri, Ethiope, Oil Rivers, Ogoja, Afemaiesan and New Delta states. From the South-East came the agitation for Aba, Adada, Orashi, Ugwuaku, Etiti, Equity, Njaba and Orimili while from North West came clamour for the creation of Karaduwa, Gurara, New Kaduna, Tiga, Ghari, sardauna and Biyajida states. There is demand for Kainiji, Edu, Okura, Confluence, Borgu and Okun states from

Sanusi

AT THE MOMENT IT IS A WASTE OF TIME TO CREATE MORE STATES BECAUSE THE EXISTING

STATES SEEM TO BE UNVIABLE.

MANY

OF THE EXISTING STATES CANNOT STAND ON THEIR OWN WITHOUT

FEDERAL

GOVERNMENT GRANTS

North Central zone while the North East is clamouring for the creation of Katagum, Amana, Savannah and new Borno states among others. But apart from the insolvent of existing states, which many analysts believe would go a long way in hindering the consideration for creation of new states in the constitutional review exercise, many are of the opinion that scaling through the constitutional hurdle for the creation of new state would be like the Biblical passing through the eye of the needle by many of the agitators. The 1999 Constitution (as amended) elucidated the steps to be taken by the National Assembly before any new state could be created. Section 8(i) states that: “An Act of the National Assembly for the purpose of creating a new state shall only be passed if – (a) A request, supported by at least twothirds majority of members (representing the area demanding the creation of the new state) in each of the following, namely – (i) the Senate and the House of Representatives, (ii) the House of Assembly in respect of the area, and (iii) the local government councils in respect of the area, is received by the National Assembly.” The section further states: “(b) A proposal for the creation of the state is thereafter

approved in a referendum by at least twothirds majority of the people of the area where the demand for creation of the state originated; (c) The result of the referendum is then approved by a simple majority of all the states of the federation, supported by a simple majority of members of the Houses of Assembly; and (d) The proposal is approved by a resolution passed by two-thirds majority of members of each House of the National Assembly. Quite a tall order! Second Republic governor of old Kaduna State, Alhaji Balarabe Musa, kicked against the creation of additional states. He told National Mirror that Nigeria should be divided into different regions and each region should be given the power to create the number of states and local government it can manage, rather than embark on creating additional states. His words: “At the moment it is a waste of time to create more states because the existing 36 states seem to be unviable. Many of the existing states cannot stand on their own without Federal Government grants. They all depend on the Federal Government grants and what they get monthly from the Federation Account. “But better still, we can restructure Nigeria’s present 36 states to regional system. We can break the 36 states into six or eight regions.” Also, a chieftain of the Yoruba socio-political group, Afenifere, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, wants the National Assembly to carefully handle the knotty issue of state creation, opining that states should only be granted to those who deserve it after meeting the necessary constitutional requirements. He said: “We have provisions for creation of states and those who have satisfied that conditions should have it. It should not be everybody that says he wants a state that will get it. The constitution provides for creation of additional states, therefore, I believe the process should be followed.” But as the clamour continues to ring louder and louder, with Nigerians watching the development with utmost interest, what fate awaits the agitators for new states? Will the National Assembly succumb to these demands and balkanise the country into what may turn out to be over 100 states? Time, will surely tell.

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Wednesday, July 25, 2012

IGP Abubakar on state police PUBLIC DOMAIN

DELE

SETEOLU

deleseteolu@nationalmirroronline.net (08033137577 SMS only)

he Inspector General of Police, Alhaji Mohammed Dikko Abubakar has joined the debate on the state police question. His main argument against the idea is that the country is not mature for state police. He maintained that a centralized police system would be the best for the country now. The IGP position has merely renewed a lingering debate. I posit that the Nigerian state needs a state police and it should not be denied any longer. The First Republic had local, regional and central police systems, in line with the federal practice. The military regimes subverted the country’s federal system, which it supplanted with a unitary system. The successive civilian governments inherited and sustained this centralized political order. It is time the federal government reviewed the system and concede to the states the right to have their own police force to reflect the country’s federal arrangement. There has been a huge security deficit in the country; and the Boko Haram menace has heightened a gaping security gap. The military has been involved in local security issues to the extent that the police seem over-

whelmed. More so, the state governments contribute huge funds and resources to sustaining the federal police. Most of the states create security funds with a view to equipping the police with vehicles, walkie-talkies, buildings, et cetera. It is logical that the states should create their police structures rather than appropriate fund for a federally controlled police force. The fear on likely politicization of the police by governors is misplaced. The challenge is to provide counter force mechanisms to prevent the over ridding influence of the governors. It is noteworthy that the Shehu Shagari administration had co-opted the police force led by Mr. Sunday Adewusi into partisan politics; the police was heavily armed and used to perpetuate the mass electoral malfeasance of 1983 general elections. The state police are attractive for its advantage to recruit men and officers who understood the local socio-crime topography instead of imposing police officers with different history-cultural orientations. The fear of local police cover up for crimes on primordial basis is misplaced. The civil society in Nigeria is developing to the point that it will less likely compromise its security for ethnoregional bias.

Senate’s retreat and state creation The Senate recently had a retreat in Asaba, Delta State capital where it identified state creation as a priority issue in the ongoing constitutional amendment process. You will recall that the agitations for new states in virtually all the six geo-political zones were predicated on the fact this would lead to rapid economic growth, social infrastructur-

IT IS LOGICAL THAT THE STATES SHOULD CREATE THEIR POLICE STRUCTURES RATHER THAN APPROPRIATE FUND FOR A FEDERALLY CONTROLLED POLICE FORCE al development, enhancing sense of political inclusion etc. The state creation debate has been recurring since the 1967 state creation exercise. That the struggle for new states has not abated suggests that new contradictions are created by each exercise. These new contradictions provide the bases for further agitations for state creation. The 36-state structure has been virtually subordinated to the central authority that controls about 52 percent of the country’s wealth. The resource distribution limits the capacity of the federating units to appropriate resources. The challenge is to redistribute power and resources between the central authority and federating units instead of state creation. The state resources are often perverted and pillaged by predatory political elite. The consequences are underdevelopment and social alienation. The state governors also hijack the local government councils, install cronies as chairmen and expropriate their funds. The local government has therefore, been characterized by mal-governance, ab-

sence of social provisioning and underdevelopment. The poor voters turn-out at local government elections is largely explained by their poor capacity for social service delivery. The creation of new states would more likely create new fractions of bourgeois class, expand the over bloated bureaucracies and increase recurrent expenditures. The challenges are to recreate the local government councils for efficient social service delivery, genuine political representation and inclusion, accounting and responsible leadership. The joint local government/state account should be abolished with a view to enhancing the local government autonomy. The unified local government system should be abolished and the third tier should reflect the history-cultural realities of people. The states governors should be curtailed through the abolition of immunity clause with a view to punishing corrupt political elite; scrap security vote, allocate at least 23 percent of yearly budget estimates to education and at least 25 percent to social provisioning. The civil society should struggle for justiceable rights on education and employment in order to promote accountable leadership at every level. The Senate rejection of sovereign national conference is a reflection of arrogance and unreflective of the aspiration of Nigerian people. The Senate should not impose its ideas on the populace. The growing contradictions and increasing centrifugal forces points at the imperative of SNG to re-discuss the country’s political economy.

Dasuki and absurdity of his dialogue option BEN NANAGHAN

country’s office of National Security Adviser (NSA), is the hub of its security operational apparatuses. In the USA, which is the focal point of global terrorism, NSA coordinates matters of national security and reports only to the President. By his privileged status, he sits on the National Security Council alongside the President, Vice President, Defence Secretary and Treasury Secretary and the Secretary of State. This explains why only highly experienced ex-military top brass are recruited for the job. The near intractability of the current Nigeria’s security challenge got General Andrew Owoye Azazi (retd) fired last June as NSA and was replaced by Col. Dasuki (retd), a scion of the Sokoto Caliphate. Essentially, this piece is to offer him salient information on how best to approach his assignment. If the new NSA plans to succeed in his delicate assignment, he should completely jettison the idea of dialogue with Nigeria’s main insurgent group, Boko Haram. This is because the FG has branded the group as faceless. Colonel Dasuki elatedly told the world that he has the telephone numbers of this amorphous group, only for them to denounce him. The NSA must realize that once he opts for dialogue, the contending parties must adopt a give and take dialogue template.

NO NORTHERN LEADER HAS EVER MOOTED THE DEPLOYMENT OF MAXIMUM FORCE IN CURBING THE GROWING INSURGENCY IN THE

NORTH

This means the parties must be ready to shift grounds. But Boko Haram has left nobody in doubt that its core demands of northern Christians converting to Islam and that no non-Muslim should rule over Muslims in Nigeria, are non-negotiable. This militant group demanded for the sack of some of the Muslim governors in the North, as another precondition for dialogue. This means that the group will decide who can become governors in the North or even President of Nigeria. In dialogue both parties must come to the negotiating table with flexible mindsets on all negotiable issues. The people Dasuki wants to negotiate with are masters in the art of violence, who are sponsored by faceless retired generals and their civilian collaborators, people who lost out in the power game that was April 16, 2011 presidential election. It is unfortunate that the NSA shouted Eureka over the

much touted fact that he has the telephone numbers of leaders of Boko Haram. Any Nigerian who says he does not know the sponsors of the current insecurity situation in the country is a pretender and does not have the love of Nigeria at heart. These sponsors shouted at the roof tops that they would make Nigeria ungovernable if President Goodluck Jonathan won the 2011 presidential election. And even till date they have never veered from that destructive path. Does the NSA know that any dialogue with this group makes it a legal entity and confers on it a stakeholder status? Apart from this, dialogue will boost the group’s morale and shore up its psyche. This might not be to the advantage of Nigeria as a united and indivisible nation. What we should do as a serious nation is to trace the sponsors of the growing insecurity, cut off the source of their funds and use the law court to decapitate them. More importantly, Dasuki must form a network with countries with expertise in counter terrorism and enlist their support. America and Israel are ready to assist Nigeria. I think we should accept the offer. The US made the first bold move to enlist three leaders of Boko Haram as terrorists. The next would be to brand the group a terrorist organization. If this happens, America will target the group’s Nigerian sponsors who are well within its global radar. Such sponsors’ bank accounts and investments in America and the EU would

be targeted. Moreover, Nigeria will benefit from training, intelligence gathering facilities and financial assistance from America. When the Niger Delta militants made life unbearable for Nigeria, the Umaru Musa Yar’adua government established the Joint Military Task Force, which brought them to their knees. The capitulation made possible the Amnesty Programme. The rest is history. I remember in May 2009, the chairman of the House Committee on the Judiciary, Bala Nallah, suggested wiping out the entire 20 million Niger Delta people to restore peace to the region. He was not joking when he moved this motion in the House even though he later termed it a parliamentary joke. No northern leader has ever mooted the deployment of maximum force in curbing the growing insurgency in the North. It is time to act forcefully to remove the growing menace in the North. In doing so, we must put aside emotion and pretence. Let us all join hands with Dasuki for the sake of Nigeria’s unity and progress. Nanaghan, bennanaghan@yahoo. com, wrote from 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

Wednesday, July 25, 2012

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

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HEAD, GRAPHICS

Lessons from Edo governorship poll

iolent language, mayhem and all manner of electoral malfeasances define the character of Nigerian politics. They collectively represent the most feared aspects of politics and politicking in the country. Indications before the July 14, 2012 governorship election in Edo State suggested a looming implosion of monstrous intensity was in the offing unless something decisive was done. As it turned out, however, the elections were held in an atmosphere devoid of the much predicted violence and calamities. The major sad news was the death of three policemen and a staff of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC); when their boat capsized while ferrying election materials from the riverine community of Ologbo, in the Ikpoba Okha Local Government Area of the state. We recall that few months to the election; Governor Adams Oshiomhole’s convoy was involved in a ghastly motor accident along the Warrake-Auchi road which claimed the lives of three journalists. This was followed by the cold blooded murder of the governor’s Principal Private Secretary, Mr. Olaitan Oyerinde. Soon after, both the governor and some of his principal aides raised alarms of threats to their lives. Indeed, the July 14 Edo gubernatorial election had the trappings of a real war. However, it is to the credit of the President Goodluck Jonathan administration that some strategic maneuverings, which

involved the redeployment of the top officers of the State Police Command, including the state Commissioner of Police, and the deployment of soldiers in the state were undertaken few days to the poll. It is widely believed that the intervention and the civilized conduct of the policemen, soldiers and election officials (INEC) contributed to making the election a smooth ride. The incumbent governor and Action Congress of Nigeria’s (ACN) candidate, Mr. Adams Oshiomhole overwhelmed the PDP candidate, Gen. Charles Airhiavbere (rtd) with 477,478 votes to 144,235. More than anything else, Oshiomhole’s administration’s dedication to hard work in social infrastructure provisioning was publicly acclaimed as what earned the governor victory at the poll. As a nation, however, we think the main lesson of the Edo poll lies in the fact that the Nigerian electorate are gradually but increasingly becoming more informed and discriminate in taking political decisions. Had Oshiomhole taken to profligacy, stealing and squandering of state funds on non-relevant projects; and had been a reveler as was alleged against some of his predecessors, he probably would not have enjoyed the massive support of the people as was demonstrated on July 14. The election also exposed INEC’s inadequacies in the handling of election-support materials, logistics and delivery

IT GOES WITHOUT SAYING THAT THE SPECIAL ATTENTION GIVEN TO THE JULY

14 EDO POLL…

CONTRIBUTED TO THE HUGE SUCCESS RECORDED services, which are critical to the success or failure of any election. The Commission, for instance, failed to enlist the support and assistance of the Marine unit of the Nigeria Police in transporting materials to riverine and remote areas, a situation that led to ridiculous vote delay in the affected places. Perhaps, with inter-agency cooperation, the aforementioned boat mishap that claimed lives would have been averted. The electoral body should synergize with other agencies relevant to its assignment to improve on its performance especially during pressing election periods. The recurring late delivery of election materials which leads to the disenfranchisement of eligible voters should be seriously tackled; while the Commission can manage the fake voter’s cards syndrome with the appropriate Information and Communication Technology (ICT) gadgets. We believe that with its offices

spread across virtually all the local government areas in the country, INEC has the capacity to meet this basic standard. In addition, the contestations and bitter litigations that trailed past polls have thrown up the need for staggered elections. It goes without saying that the special attention given to the July 14 Edo poll by all the relevant authorities and agencies contributed to the huge success recorded. General elections in the form the nation has been practicing for decades task the capacities of electoral bodies and the security agencies to the limit. Poor security coverage of past elections had often been attributed to inadequate security personnel, for example. Staggering the electoral process could help the nation out of this quagmire. There is, perhaps, the need for INEC to understudy the United States model for possible adaptation. Again, contrary to the seeming popular impression that the deployment of soldiers is the panacea for taming political thuggery and cases of ballot stuffing and snatching, etc; care must be taken not to make the military a permanent feature of managing electoral problems in the country. When stated with all candour, the neutrality of the military is subject to the predisposition of the political leadership. An unbiased and restrained leader like President Jonathan might not always be there.

ON THIS DAY July 25, 2010

July 25, 1994

Wikileaks published classified documents about the War in Afghanistan, one of the largest leaks in United States’ military history. The Afghan War documents leak is the disclosure of a collection of internal United States military logs of the war in Afghanistan, also called the Afghan War Diary, which were published by WikiLeaks on July 25, 2010. The logs consist of 91,731 documents, covering the period between January 2004 and December 2009.

Israel and Jordan signed the Washington Declaration, which formally ended the state of war that had existed between the nations since 1948. The Israel–Jordan Treaty of Peace (full name: Treaty of Peace Between the State of Israel and the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan), and sometimes referred to as the Wadi Araba Treaty) was signed in 1994. The treaty normalized relations between the two countries and resolved territorial disputes. The conflict had cost roughly US$18.3 billion.

July 25, 1978 Louise Brown, the world’s first “test tube baby” was born. Louise Joy Brown (bornJuly 25, 1978) is the first person to have been conceived by in vitro fertilization, or IVF. Louise Brown was born at Oldham General Hospital, Oldham, United Kingdom by planned Caesarean section delivered by registrar John Webster. She weighed 5 pounds, 12 ounces (2.608 kg) at birth. Her parents, Lesley and John Brown, had been trying to conceive for nine years.

Wednesday, July 25, 2012

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Health & Wellbeing Health workers union laments reemergence of Lassa fever virus

Certain jobs dads do linked to higher risk of birth defects

More Nigerian women infected with herpes Now common among teenagers and pre-teens!

Remains incurable

No safe sex, also transmitted through kissing TOBORE OVUORIE

gynecologist, Dr. Daniel Adjekpemevor has said that no fewer than two out of every five Nigerian women are living with herpes, an incurable sexually transmitted disease. Speaking in an exclusive interview with National Mirror recently, Dr. Adjekpemevor, who is the Medical Director of Esiri Specialist Hospital, Ikorodu, Lagos, disclosed that a majority of the affected women are not even aware they have the infection as most people often don’t link the common symptoms such as blisters and ‘cold sores’ with the herpes virus. “Most of the time, people, even General Practitioners mistake itching and ulcer (sore) of the genitals for toilet infections. As a result of this, they remain ignorant of the fact that they have contracted a viral infection for which they ought to learn how to cope and live with since it still has no known cure”, he said. According to him, the age range of Nigerians that used to contract the infection was between 14 to 49 years, but in recent times, this has drastically extended to 12-50 years. The reason for pre-teenagers contracting it, he explained, may not be unconnected with the fact that very young people today are now sexually active. Genital herpes, often called “herpes,” is a viral infection caused by the Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV) and is transmitted through intimate contact with the mucous-covered linings of the mouth or the vagina or the genital skin. The virus of this Sexually Transmitted Disease (STD) enters the linings or skin through tiny tears which ordinary eyes cannot see. Once inside, the virus travels to the nerve roots closest to the spinal cord and stays there permanently. There are, however, two types of HSV:

herpes simplex virus-1 (HSV-1) and herpes simplex virus-2 (HSV-2). HSV-1 more often causes blisters around the mouth area. This comes in the form of fever blisters or cold sores, but could also affect the genital area and produce sores. HSV-2 more often causes genital sores or abnormal changes known as lesions in the area around the anus though could also infect the mouth. Hence, both HSV 1 and 2 can produce sores lesions in and around the vaginal area, on the penis, around the anal opening, and on the buttocks or thighs. Occasionally, sores also appear on other parts of the body where the virus has entered through broken skin. Unfortunately, most people who have genital herpes don’t know it because they either never have any symptoms, or do not recognize them. Besides, when there are symptoms, they could be different in individuals. Most of the time, an infected person does have itching or burning feeling in the genital or anal area, pain in the legs, buttocks or genital area, discharge fluid from the vagina and feeling of pressure in the abdomen. At times, the infection, in its early

stage, gives tingling, itching, burning or pain as warning symptoms; known as ‘prodrome’ in medical parlance. This is then followed by the appearance of painful red spots which, within a day or two, evolve through a phase of clear fluid-filled blisters which rapidly turn whitish-yellow. The blisters burst, leaving painful sores which would then dry up, scab over and heal in approximately 10 days. Sometimes the development of new blisters at the early ulcer stage can prolong the episode. However, laboratory findings reveal that the blister stage may be missed completely and ulcers may appear like cuts or cracks in the skin. In women, vaginal discharge at times could be noticed. But then, the severity and range of symptoms differ from person to person, though most women frequently experience painful urination. To ease the difficulty in urinating, Dr. Adjekpemevor advises that infected persons drink more water during such periods. This, he said, will reduce the pains and difficulty in passing out urine. For the first time, the symptoms will appear within two to 10 days and is usually most severe because the body’s

immune system has not yet come into contact with the virus. These first episodes of symptoms, gynecologists say, usually last two to three weeks. But the outbreak of herpes has also been discovered to be closely related to the functioning of the immune system. Researches so far indicate that women who have suppressed immune systems, because of stress, infection, or medications, have more frequent and longerlasting outbreaks. Sadly, there are no available statistics of the exact number of Nigerians living with this burden. But recent reports from the World Health Organization (WHO) bulletin reveal that no fewer than 500 million people are infected worldwide with the virus that causes genital herpes and more than 20 million people become newly infected each year. This first-ever estimate of the global burden found that roughly 16 of the world’s population in the 15-49 year-old age group were infected, with considerable geographic variation. Women were also discovered to be more commonly infected than men, with the highest CONTINUED ON PAGE 21

Health & Wellbeing

Wednesday, July 25, 2012

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

How to keep your family malaria-free L

ong-lasting insecticide-treated mosquito nets last for at least three years and do not require re-treatment with insecticide. These nets are distributed by malaria control programmes and can be obtained through health facilities or during child health days or integrated campaigns. Most mosquito nets are distributed free of charge, especially to pregnant women and young children. They can also be purchased in the marketplace or through social marketing programmes, mainly in urban areas. In the few cases where untreated nets might still be in use, trained health workers can advise on safe insecticides and re-treatment. Insecticide-treated mosquito nets should be used throughout the year, even when there are fewer mosquitoes, such as during the dry season. Some countries operate programmes to spray the walls of houses with long-lasting insecticides to kill resting mosquitoes. Communities should cooperate with spray teams to ensure that all houses are sprayed. In addition to using insecticide-treated mosquito nets, or if mosquito nets are not available or used, other actions can help, but they are not nearly as effective as using mosquito nets: putting screens on doors and windows;

these are mostly used in urban settings and are not very effective in traditional rural housing using mosquito coils; these are used to repel but not kill mosquitoes – they have no lasting effect wearing clothing that covers the arms and legs (long sleeves and long trousers or skirts); these can help reduce mosquito bites if worn when malaria mosquitoes are most active – from dusk until dawn. 2. Wherever malaria is present, children are in danger. A child with a fever should be examined immediately by a trained health worker and receive an appropriate antimalarial treatment as soon as possible if diagnosed with malaria. Artemisinin-based combination therapies (ACTs) are recommended by WHO for treatment of Plasmodium falciparum malaria. It is the most serious type of malaria and causes nearly all malaria deaths. Malaria should be suspected if anyone in the family has a fever, or if young children refuse to eat or have vomiting, diarrhoea, drowsiness or fits. A child with a fever believed to be caused by malaria needs immediate antimalarial treatment as recommended by a trained health worker. If possible, the child should be tested with a Rapid Diagnostic Test (RDT) or microscopy (laboratory diagnosis involving the examination of the person’s blood under a microscope) to confirm the malaria infection. RDTs are inexpensive

A child with malaria needs to take the full course of treatment, even if the fever disappears rapidly. and increasingly available. If a child with a malarial fever is not treated within a day, she or he might die. ACTs are recommended by WHO for treatment of Plasmodium falciparum malaria. A trained health worker can advise on what type of ACT treatment is best and how long it should be taken in accordance with national guidelines. Malaria usually causes a high fever and chills. A child with a high fever should be kept cool for as long as the fever persists by: sponging or bathing the child with tepid water (cool, not cold) providing treatment with antipyretics (medication that prevents or reduces fever), such as paracetemol or ibuprofen, but not aspirin. Keeping the fever from going too high is important to prevent convulsions, which could lead to disabilities.

Certain jobs dads do linked to higher risk of birth defects

everal types of job carried out by future fathers may be linked to an increased risk of birth defects in their babies, suggests research published online in Occupational and Environmental Medicine. Previous research has linked certain occupations with a higher risk of birth defects in offspring. But it has tended to lump together very different types of defects and occupations, in order to achieve large sample sizes, with the attendant potential to skew the results, say the authors. They base their findings on data from the ongoing US National Birth Defects Prevention Study, which is investigating a range of potential risk factors for major birth defects in a large population sample. They obtained the job histories of just under 1000 dads who had had a child with one or more birth defects born between 1997 and 2004, and those of just over 4000 dads whose kids did not have congenital abnormalities, via telephone interviews with their partners. This included defects among stillborn babies, and those that were aborted, as well as in live born children.

Sawmill operatives associated with an increased risk of having a child with a birth defect.

Jobs were then classified into 63 groups, based on assumed exposure profiles to chemicals or other potential hazards within the job itself and within the profession/ industry. Job classification was restricted to the three months before conception and the first month of pregnancy, considered to be the critical period for susceptibility to damage passed on in the father’s sperm. Particular mathematical methods were used (Bayesian analysis) to take account of the statistical difficulties associated with analyzing small sample sizes in numerous categories of risk exposure and more than 60 different categories of birth defect. Most (90%) of the dads had

had only one job during this four month period. The most common groups of jobs were those in management/admin; sales; and the construction industry. Their analysis showed that nearly a third of job types were not associated with any increased risk of birth defects. These included architects and designers; healthcare professionals; dentists; firefighters; fishermen; car assembly workers; entertainers; smelters and foundry workers; stonemasons and glass blowers/cutters; painters; train drivers/maintenance engineers; soldiers; commercial divers. But certain types of jobs seemed to be associated with an increased risk of having a child with a birth defect in three or more categories. These included: mathematicians, physicists, computer scientists; artists; photographers and photo processors; food service workers; landscapers and groundsmen; hairdressers and make-up artists; office and admin support workers; office and admin support workers; sawmill operatives; those working with petrol and gas; those working in chemical industries; printers; those operating cranes and diggers; and drivers.

A child with malaria needs to take the full course of treatment, even if the fever disappears rapidly. If the treatment is not completed, the malaria could become more severe and difficult to cure. Incomplete treatment regimens can also lead to the development of drug resistance among people in the local area. If the malaria symptoms continue after treatment, the child should be taken to a health centre or hospital. The problem may be: the child is not receiving enough medicine the child has an illness other than malaria the malaria is resistant to the medicine, and another medicine is needed. Health-care providers have the responsibility to ensure that parents and caregivers are well informed about ways to prevent malaria and the best practices for caring for a child with malaria.

SCIENCE Anxiety disorders in poor moms likely to result from poverty, not mental illness- Study suggests

oor mothers are more likely to be classified as having the mental illness known as generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) because they live in poverty -- not because they are suffering from a psychiatric disorder, according to Rutgers researchers. Judith C. Baer, an associate professor in the School of Social Work, and her team, in the study, “Is it Generalized Anxiety Disorder or Poverty? An Examination of Poor Mothers and Their Children,” published online in Child and Adolescent Social Work, argue that although high levels of stress over long periods can lead to psychological problems, there is no evidence that generalized anxiety disorder in poor mothers is because of an “internal malfunction.” The findings confirm earlier studies that the poorest mothers have the greater odds

of being classified as having generalized anxiety disorder. But Baer and her team wrote, .” ..there is no evidence for a malfunction of some internal mechanism. Rather, “there is a physical need in the real world that is unmet and produces anxiety.” “The distinction is important because there are different ways to treat the problem,” Baer said. “While supportive therapy and parent skillstraining are often helpful, sometimes the most appropriate intervention is financial aid and concrete services.” Rutgers researchers argue that changing and broadening definitions for GAD have caused, in some cases, mental health experts to categorize the reactions of these mothers to the extreme conditions they face daily as symptoms of the anxiety disorder. –Science Daily

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Health & Wellbeing

Wednesday, July 25, 2012

That sore could be herpes CONTINUED FROM PAGE 19 prevalence in sub-Saharan Africa where up to 70 percent of women are infected. Available data however indicate that the infection is transmitted through sexual contact (vaginal, oral or anal sex) with someone who carries HSV. It used to be believed that transmission (passing it on) only occurred if herpes blisters or sores were present; however it is now known that transmission can occur when herpes blisters or sores are not present. There are many people who are exposed to and infected by the virus but never develop any signs or symptoms of the infection. These people carry and may ‘shed’ the virus from time to time without showing symptoms and in doing so may transmit the infection to their sexual partner if they have sex at that time. Medical data further indicate that up to 50% of people get HSV from partners who have no signs and symptoms of HSV and are unaware they have the infection. Again, a person with genital herpes also can infect a sexual partner during oral sex. The virus is spread only rarely, if at all, by touching objects such as a toilet seat or hot tub. Transmission is caused by close oral, anal, or genital contact, including intercourse, masturbation, kissing, or any direct skin-to-skin contact which allows for the transfer of bodily fluids. An infected individual could also spread the virus to other parts of his or her body by touching an area shedding virus and then touching, scratching, or rubbing another susceptible part of the body. Towels experts say are veritable sources for spreading the virus from one part of the body to another. In women, the genital areas most affected are the vulva and the entrance to the vagina. Sores can some-

An infected person could spread the virus to other body parts

times develop on the cervix. In men, sores are most common on the glands (end of the penis), the foreskin and shaft of them penis. Sometimes, sores can develop on the testicles. Less commonly, both men and women can experience sores on the anus, buttocks and tops of the thighs. Usually, this brand of infections does not cause major problems in healthy adults but if a woman has her first episode of genital herpes while she is pregnant, she could pass the virus to her unborn child and may deliver a premature baby. Half of the babies infected with herpes either die or suffer from damages to their nerves. A baby born with herpes can develop serious problems that may affect the brain, the skin, or the eyes.

Meanwhile, if a pregnant woman has an outbreak, which is not the first episode, her baby’s risk of being infected during delivery is very low. In either case, a pregnant woman who is infected with genital herpes, needs to stay in close touch with her doctor before, during, and after her baby is born. Although there is still no known cure for herpes, there are however several treatments and ways to manage outbreaks. Dr. Adjekpemevor, reveals that there are oral medications that prevent the virus from multiplying and even shorten the length of the eruption. Although topical (applied directly on the lesions) agents exist, they are generally less effective than other medications and are not routinely used. Medication that is taken by mouth, or in severe cases intravenously, is more effective. It is important to remember that there is still no cure for genital herpes and that these treatments only reduce the severity and duration of outbreaks. For people with more than six outbreaks in a year, suppressive therapy to prevent frequent recurrences may be recommended. He however noted that though no prevention method is 100% effective, the only truly effective way to keep herpes at bay among unmarried people is abstinence, while married couples who have tested negative to it remain faithful to themselves. According to him, though the use of condoms is medically advised, they are mainly useful in decreasing the spread of certain infections, such as Chlamydia and gonorrhea; but do not fully protect against other infections such as genital herpes. Having sores in any part of your genitals or around the mouth? Dr. Adjekpemevor recommends the following: • Do not to touch the eyes or mouth after touching the blisters or ulcers. • Thorough hand washing is a must during outbreaks. • Clothing that comes in contact with ulcers should not be shared with others.

CONTINUED FROM LAST WEEK

Modern family planning methods you should know Method

Description

How it works

Intrauterine A T-shaped Suppresses device (IUD) le- plastic device the growth of the vonorgestrel inserted into lining of uterus the uterus that (endometrium) steadily releases small amounts of levonorgestrel each day Male condoms

Effectiveness to prevent pregnancy >99%

Comments

Reduces menstrual cramps and symptoms of endometriosis; amenorrhea (no menstrual bleeding) in a group of users

Sheaths or Forms a bar98% with corAlso protects coverings that rier to prevent rect and consis- against sexually fit over a man’s sperm and egg tent use transmitted inerect penis from meeting fections, including HIV 85% as commonly used

Female condoms

Sheaths, or Forms a bar90% with corlinings, that fit rier to prevent rect and consisloosely inside a sperm and egg tent use woman’s vagina, from meeting made of thin, transparent, soft plastic film

Also protects against sexually transmitted infections, including HIV

79% as commonly used Male sterilization (vasectomy)

Per manent >99% after 3 Keeps sperm c o n t r a c e p t i o n out of ejaculated months semen to block or cut semen evaluation the vas deferens tubes that carry sperm from the testicles

3 months delay in taking effect while stored sperm is still present; does not affect male sexual performance; voluntary and informed choice is essential

97–98% with no semen evaluation Female sterilization (tubal ligation)

Per manent Eggs are contraception to blocked from block or cut the meeting sperm fallopian tubes

>99%

Voluntary and informed choice is essential

L a c t at i o n a l Temporary Prevents the 99% with cora m e n o r r h e a c o n t r a c e p t i o n release of eggs rect and consismethod (LAM) for new mothers from the ovaries tent use whose monthly (ovulation) bleeding has not returned; requires exclusive breastfeeding day and night of an infant less than 6 months old

A temporary family planning method based on the natural effect of breastfeeding on fertility

98% as commonly used Emergency ProgestogenPrevents ovuReduces risk Does not discontraception only pills taken lation of pregnancy by rupt an already (levonorgestrel to prevent preg60–90% existing preg1.5 mg) nancy up to 5 nancy days after unprotected sex Traditional methods Intrauterine Small flexible device (IUD): plastic device copper contain- containing coping per sleeves or wire that is inserted into the uterus

Copper component damages sperm and prevents it from meeting the egg

Withdr awal Man with(coitus inter- draws his penis ruptus) from his partner’s vagina, and ejaculates outside the vagina, keeping semen away from her external genitalia

Tries to keep 96% with corsperm out of the rect and consiswoman’s body, tent use preventing fertilization

>99%

Longer and heavier periods during first months of use are common but not harmful; can also be used as emergency contraception One of the least effective methods, because proper timing of withdrawal is often difficult to determine

73% as commonly used

Concluded

Health & Wellbeing

Wednesday, July 25, 2012

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Health workers’ union laments re-emergence of Lassa fever virus JAMES DANJUMA KATSINA

he association of Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria has lamented the re-emergence of the Lassa fever virus in some parts of the country, and called on the Federal Government to immediately take necessary action to check its spread. Lassa fever is an infectious and

often fatal viral disease that is marked by high fever, headaches, muscle pain, hemorrhaging, ulcers of the mucous membranes, as well as heart and kidney failure. Speaking recently to newsmen in Katsina State at the opening of a workshop for union members, National President of the union, Comrade Ayuba Wabba described the reemergence of the virus as a source of concern to health work-

ers in the country. Wabba said the union thought that the virus, which killed many people in recent years, had been eradicated but that its resurfacing was an indication that “our public health system is not doing well”. He said the union needed to “appraise members with the new information and fact about the disease” among other diseases and that the workshop would form platform to ensure that health

workers are not endangered with emergence of the virus. He added that the workshop would provide ways for members to take precaution against the virus because they often become the victims while examining affected patients. In his speech, the state chairman of the union, Comrade Hamisu Hussaini called on the state government to provide needed manpower in all government-

owned hospitals. Hamisu also called on government to provide tax relief to health workers and the inclusion of other health care cadres in the hajj medical team. He however commended government for providing modern machines in the existing hospitals as well as ambulances for the 34 council areas to augment efforts in bettering the health conditions of community members.

Young delegates with UNAIDS Executive Director Michel Sidibé during the Youth Force pre-conference in Washington DC recently. PHOTOS: UNFPA

Jonathan urged to sign National Health Bill into law Katsina moves to avert health TUNBOSUN OGUNDARE

he Chairman, House of Representatives’ Committee on HIV/AIDS, Malaria and Tuberculosis, Dr. Joseph Kigbu, has urged President Goodluck Jonathan to sign without further delay, the National Health Bill into law. He also advised the Federal Government to encourage research into genetic disorder, HIV/ AIDS vaccines and hypertension. Kigbu gave this advice at a symposium organised recently by the Nigerian Institute of Medical Research, Yaba, Lagos, to mark the second anniversary of the Director- General of the institute, Prof. Innocent Ujah. He was the chairman of the occasion. According to him, signing the National Health Bill into law would do the country many good without any harm. He explained that the bill was all about making the country’s health care delivery system more effective and that the two upper legislative chambers had since May 19 jointly passed it to the president for his assent. He, however, acknowledged the fact that there could be issues in the bill that are contentious among key players in the medical and allied fields, saying however that this should not be the reason

for the president to withhold his assent since the bill could be amended in future. He noted that just like Nigerians, the country’s international partners on health-related issues are interested in the passage of the bill to law. On the issue of research into such health conditions as genetic disorder, HIV\AIDS, as well as hypertension, Kigbu advocated the use of existing medical research institutes in the country for the purpose, saying such would help save some resources than to establish new ones. He said the prevalence of these health conditions in the country had made it necessary for government to give them a deserved attention. Delivering a lecture on ‘Lassa fever epidemic and response in

Nigeria’ at the event, the Director, institute of Lassa Fever Research, Irrua, Edo State, Dr. Dan Asogun, cautioned Nigerians to avoid practices that could expose them to the dreaded Lassa fever virus. He said practices such as dirty and untidy environment, unnecessary exposure of foods, bush burning and cultural practices, among others, were the most risk factors that could attract rodents that have Lassa virus not only into their homes but also shed the virus in urine and drop on foods and other items. He noted that Lassa fever though treatable was deadly. “If the disease is not detected on time,” he stressed, “it may result in renal failure, deafness, as well as miscarriage, among other complications for sufferers.”

workers’ looming strike JAMES DANJUMA KATSINA

s a way of ensuring that medical and health workers do not go on strike, the Katsina state government has set up a committee that would look into their grievances and come up with solutions in the coming days. Medical and health workers in the state had two weeks ago, threatened industrial action should the state government refuse to look into their demands. Some of their demands include better remuneration and working conditions, reduction

in amount of money being deducted as tax from their salaries, payment of outstanding dues owed them by government, among other issues. Speaking to newsmen yesterday, the state’s Head of Service, Moh’d Aliyu Daura, said the committee was established to take a holistic look at the grievances of the health and medical workers with a view to proffering solutions. Daura said the committee members would consist of representatives of both government and those of health and medical workers and that they would meet for two weeks and come up with viable recommendations.

First NAFDAC NYSC-CDS-group inaugurated in Abuja MARCUS FATUNMOLE ABUJA

s part of measures to speed up the fight against the menace of drug fakery, substandard food production and consumption among others in Nigeria, the National Agency for Food, Drugs Administration and Control, (NAFDAC) yesterday inaugurated the first NAFDAC NYSCCommunity-Development-Service

(CDS) group at the Kubwa, Abuja, camp of the National Youths Service Corps, where “Batch B” corps members are currently undergoing three-week orientation programme. Speaking on what prompted the initiative, Director General of the Agency; Dr. Paul Orhii said with the level of education of the corps members and the different places where they would be carrying out their Primary Assignments, it

would be of immense benefits to the Agency to have the young people as ambassadors of NAFDAC. “Their efforts and commitment will help consolidate on stemming fake food, drugs and other things such as drug abuse or misuse in Nigeria. Our responsibilities are very large; that is why we are calling you to join in our activities. You are enlightened and are also part of the consumers. The reason for calling

on you for this assignment today is that we want to make you our partners. We trust in your abilities. You have the intelligence and will; you can make the change we want and help in achieving our goals,” Orhii said. Orhii who also donated 1,000 plastic chairs and other items to the camp restated the agency’s resolve to continue to work with other partners to ensure the nation is rid of illicit drugs among others.

Wednesday, July 25, 2012

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Arts Lounge

I want to be best female m manager in the world ––Sarah Owatemi

Movie stars, journalists chart new course in Nollywood

The National Institute for Cultural Orientation, NICO, recently organised a workshop to sensitise art and culture writers about engendering national peace, which experts believe is a step in the right direction. IJEOMA EZEIKE ABUJA

ithout doubt, culture is of core essence in national unity. What people read, watch or the stories they hear are what will become an integral part their identities and personalities. Acknowledging the unlimited advantages involved in art writing, the National Institute for Cultural Orientation, NICO organised an arts writers workshop tagged “Propagating Peace and Security Through the Media: Agenda for Art Writers and Editors” in Lagos recently. It was a one day workshop where art writers were urged to personally become involved and motivated in contributing the best of their talents towards the development and promotion of the multicultural peace system. The importance of this can be seen from the fact that arts and culture writing, like weather are always with us and like weather, it helps to provide constant materials for conversations-positive and negative. It also comprises all spheres of human endeavours. It has been discovered that a conscientious balanced and responsible media can help in the process of healing the country of its violent characteristics that are gradually penetrating other communities. Art writers in Nigeria have therefore been called to redirect and strengthen themselves to fight the inhuman violence that has eaten deep in the society through balanced reporting, balanced representations and encouragement. They are also being tasked to reform the society in such a way that they can become reliable vehicles for the promotion and diffusion of the multicultural peace, albeit globalisation that is taking place at a very rapid rate. Experts also discovered that arts writing can break up stereotypes which will help in bringing about the required openness and changes in the consciousness of individuals and in the society; hence it promotes the interconnection

A cross section of journalists at the event.

Role of culture writers in promoting national unity of different societies, while facilitating their attempt to reach each other and to open up to other realms than just their own. The present incidents of suicide bombings, increasing rate of kidnapping, political assassination, and armed robbery experts said is clear evidence that the maintenance of peace and security has become a threatening challenge to the government and Nigerians. In search of a lasting solution to the challenge and in view of the critical importance of peace to the development of any nation, strategic partnership with the media according to experts has become imperative in sensitising the citizenry of their role in addressing the problem. Speaking at the occasion, the Executive Secretary of National Institute for National Orientation (NICO), Barclays Ayakoroma noted that given the present security challenges, some Nigerians are of the opinion that mutual distrust emanating from ignorance has been the bane of national integration, peace and unity in the country. The national quarterly gathering he reasoned has enabled his institute to discover the necessity of inter-facing with the media, especially with journalists on the

EXPERTS ALSO DISCOVERED THAT ARTS WRITING CAN BREAK UP STEREOTYPES WHICH WILL HELP IN BRINGING ABOUT THE REQUIRED OPENNESS arts desk, who are responsible for effecting positive attitudinal change through the propagation of the programmes and activities of government MDAs in the culture sector to the public. Ayakoroma called for the need for sustained public enlightenment campaign to be carried out which according to him will help to foster cultural rebirth. “Some people are of the opinion that mutual distrust, arising from ignorance has been the bane of national integration, peace and unity in Nigeria, thus, the way forward is for sustained public enlightenment campaign to be carried out, which would foster cultural rebirth. “In response to the prevailing security challenges, the institute has taken bold steps by contributing its quota in the search for peace and security in the country. “Also in furtherance of the search for security and peace, NICO recently organised a 2-day national conference on ‘Culture, Peace and National security: the

Role of Traditional Rulers and Local Government Chairmen’, to re-awaken and re-orientate them on their role in sustaining peace in their domains”, he added. An arts collector, Engr Omonoba Yemisi Shyllon, who chaired the occasion, said NICO’s commitment to the media training underscores its recognition of the primary responsibility in educating, informing and entertaining the public as well as setting agenda for development. Shyllon noted that the importance of partnering with the media in a view to ensuring sustained peace in the country cannot be over-emphasised. In his words: “There is no gainsaying the fact that the media plays a key role and central as an interface between government and people and facilitates the flow of information on the dynamics of society to set agenda for national development. The workshop with the theme ‘Propagating Peace and Security through the Media: Agenda for Arts Writers and

Editors’, could not have come at a more auspicious time than now when the general security in Nigeria has been under constant threat. I am also aware that this is the 6th edition in the series of the media workshop, since inception in 2010. I therefore commend the management of NICO for sustaining the workshop initiative”. He however called on the media to as the watchdog of the society, to ensure that its approach in times of crisis should not be to celebrate the violence but rather to mobilise through her reportage, collective action in dealing with the situation. “My expectation is that at the end of this workshop. Media practitioners will be better informed on how best to sensitize the Nigerian public on the need to take issues of security serious as human progress and development are, unarguably, anchored on the existence of a peaceful and stable environment”, he urged. While all these are necessary for national healing in view of the violence ravaging some parts of the country, it is imperative to use media as a vehicle of stressing the cultural affinity that exists amongst the various ethnic nationalities, rather than bringing division by stressing imported aspects of our lives, like religion.

Arts Lounge

MEMORABLE READS

DOZIE EBOH Producer and pageant director

Wednesday, July 25, 2012

Making the authors live: The blue pills PETER OKEBUKOLA

Who is your favourite author? I am down with fiction and self-development books. So, I will go for Agatha Christie, whom I have read a lot of her books. But I have also enjoyed the works of authors like Bertha Clay. When I was much younger, I was fascinated by the numerous works of James Hadley Chase. I am yet to see an author that has the descriptive skills of Hadley Chase. What book is your best? It will be The Mafia Manager: A Guide to the Corporate Machiavelli. It is a book that will teach you the steps to success in life. And they are practical guides that have proven to be real. It teaches you to watch you who you trust. What about Nigerian authors? A few of the new ones are trying, but the emphasis on Nigerian literature needs to be heightened to get them exposed. I like members of the old brigade of authors. I mean the Achebes, the Soyinkas, the Elechi Amadis. How much do you spend annually on books? I spend a manageable portion of my income. I wish I had more to expend. What theme are you most concerned about in Nigeria? Corruption. That is the bane of the nation and I wish our writers can focus on creating characters in novels that have resisted corruption and became successful.

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n seeking an antidote to the poisonous red pills, we shall pursue the symbolism further by proposing blue pills as antidote to save the potential author from “dying”. We will proceed in the reverse order and take it from basic to higher education. Our pill no.1 is the promotion of reading culture among basic education students. The political will in favour of this pill is in the air with the presidential initiative on reading. Beyond theoretical solutions, I offer a solution that worked for us while studying in St. Malachy’s College, Sapele. Every two weeks, all students are expected to read a book of any type obtained from the school library or elsewhere and present a summary to the class on the Saturday closing the second week. The best summary for the month, for the term, for the year were given awards. We are given essays to write every month. There was an essay competition for the entire school where all students- junior and senior participated. Once a month also, all classes assembled in the school hall for the Elocution (oral English) class. The combination of these efforts bolstered the reading culture in the school. Little wonder a sizable percentage of students in our class made distinction grades in the West African School Certificates in 1966 and many rose to the rank of professors in their different fields in record time. Since University Press Plc is desirous of nurturing potential authors, it is proposed that it supports the establishment of what I can label the Malachy Model of promoting reading culture among secondary school students. An initial selection of two schools as can be the target for implementation in Oyo State (one rural, one urban) and in the state where UP Plc regional offices are located. A consortium of publishing houses can scale up these practices. Moving onto other antidotes, we note that not less than a quarter of a secondary school students in Nigeria have mobile phones. The least smart of such phones selling for about N3, 500 can have e-books loaded in them just has some already had the Bible and Koran loaded. Rather than populate i-pods that many students carry about with music and videos, the Federal Ministry of Education and State Governments should insist that students load their gadgets with and read e-books, many of which are free on line. Teachers should be trained in the use of e-books on which class assignment should be based. This is blue pills no. 2. The third blue pill is the setting up of TV channels such as DSTV channel 319 (learn) to entice secondary school students away from channel O, MTV and E!, and others that do not have much educational value. Channel 319 is devoted to improving and testing the knowledge

VOICES

THE FEDERAL MINISTRY OF EDUCATION AND STATE GOVERNMENTS SHOULD INSIST THAT STUDENTS LOAD THEIR GADGETS WITH AND READ E-BOOKS

and skills of secondary schools students at all levels. The content is based on the secondary curriculum of South Africa which is not markedly different from the Nigerian secondary school curriculum. Recording from the channel should be reproduced and circulated widely among secondary school students. In defence of national pride, the Federal Ministry of Education should develop and implement a similar or better production and transmit on NTA or other networks. The establishment of Author’s Academy, like football academies all over the country is blue pill no.4. The academy which can have presence in each of the six-geo-political zones will provide opportunities for budding authors to acquire basic techniques in writing books. If it has been done successfully for football, success can also be achieved with education. The establishment of such academies should be through joint-ventures partnership amongst publishing houses, state and federal government. I have no doubt that UP Plc will spearhead this initiative. Another very strategic blue pill (pill no.5) is the reformation of teacher education. It is a delight to read in the papers that a suspension order has been placed on part time programs in Nigerian universities- the factor for producing mediocre teachers. At a lecture at Tai Solarin University of Education entitled: “Rethinking teacher Education”, I propose a number of strategies for addressing challenges to teacher education so that we can be assured of teachers who will provide the enabling intellectual environment for developing good quality authors. Teachers need to be trained in a way that will strengthen their content knowledge in their teaching subjects and motivated enough to deliver quality instructions (see Okebukola, 2012). Moving now to higher education, we have blue pill no. 6 which is the introduction of a compulsory course on reading skills in the curriculum of higher education institutions in Nigeria. This general studies course should include such techniques for improving reading as Structure-Preposition-Evaluation (SPE) Survey-Question-Recite-Review (SQRR); skimming; scanning; speed reading; and

Okebukola

many other modern methods of promoting reading (Okebukola 2011). NUC by the way of blue pill no.7 should take steps to sanitise the ignoble practice of self-publishing including publishing in spurious journals and through blue pill no.8 work with vice chancellors to improve the respectability and rigour of appointment and promotion to professorial positions and blue pills no.9 to rid the system of plagiarism of undergraduate and post graduate of project reports. Of course, there is a composite blue pill no.10 which will provide remediation for deficiencies relating to policy incoherence and implementation; funding; infrastructural/facilities; curriculum content; curriculum delivery; and social vices enumerated earlier. Peter Okebukola, a professor is also an executive secretary at the National Universities Commission.

MUSINGS I FEAR… A dome of dark, gloomy clouds caps this landscape. But, not for rain. A cacophony of thunderous applause shakes the land. But, not for rain. A frenzy of flashes hurries the folks to bolt their doors. But, not for rain. I fear… The omen. I fear The feigned repentance of shepherds has herded the flock astray. I fear The gavel of judgment is now resounding for a rebellious nation. I fear The time has arrived to harvest the fruits of the seeds of injustice. I fear The goblets of kings are brimming with sour wine of indignation. I fear The whetted swords of punishment demarcated the soil for justice. I fear The deluge of the cries of lamentation drowning a hapless people. I fear... The omen. Chukuemeka Akpe

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Arts Lounge

Wednesday, July 25, 2012

I want to be the best female manager in the world –Sarah Owatemi

I HAVE A DEGREE IN BUSINESS MANAGEMENT, WHICH

ARTISTE UNCENSORED Having an artiste management experience with some notable musicians in the country is not an easy task. But Sarah Owatemi aka Owatz007, has her way around it.

IS ALSO RELEVANT IN THE MUSIC INDUSTRY

OYINKAN SOMORIN

edia Serve at Thomas Okoya Estate, Adeniyi Jones Ikeja, may look like a small world. But it has great intentions in consonance with the lady who runs it, Sarah Owatemi. Hers is a skill that is more rooted in demeanour and talent, than university degree, judging from the fact that she is on the opposite side of her educational qualification. “I studied History and International Relations. I have always wanted to be known; a popular person and I can bet you that what I studied has no link with what I do right now.” Sarah gave a brief history of how she entered into the world of entertainment thus:” My first work is with Ajayi Brova’s Productions, now I have another artiste and his name is Snow Alapomeji. Presently, he has a single and his video will soon come out. It is titled “Meow”. The single is presently played in all radio stations. We are really working hard on this video which is going to be directed by Clarence Peters. As for the Ajayi Brova’s Productions they are out with a new video titled, ‘Gbodowa’ which is now airing on Lunchbreak (AIT). A new video for that same single is coming out but it’s going to be a re-mix which is featuring Terry G.” Meeting Alapomeji, according to her was borne out of personal conviction about her abilities. “When I worked with Coded Tones in 2010, we had an event where Alapomeji was invited. He walked up to me and told me that he believed in me. He asked if I could be his manager. I do a lot of publicity for him. I go everywhere including radio stations, like Ray

Owatemi

Power, Star Fm. I also go for photographic interviews. I go up and down to drop his CDs. Ajayi Brothers have three videos that are airing right now. They are linked to Alapomeji Productions. I dropped the video with Labby of Lunchbreak and Bukky of SoundCity. Well I do all that so that I will be their female manager soon.” For Sandra Owatemi, nothing less than being the best female manager in the

world is good enough. “I want to be the best female manager because I believe I can do better than them, I am a goal-getter. I go for the best. I don’t go to low-rated shows with my artiste. I work hard on my artiste’s record labels by organising shows too, not only for my artiste but for people too. I manage models too, that works for me. I told you, I am into showbiz. Anyway I am working on it, and when I finish I as-

sure you that not even the female mangers in Nigeria can stand me because I will be on international levels”. In the music circle, Sarah Owatemi is fondly called ‘Owatz007’. What does ‘Owatz007’ mean? “My surname is Owatemi, the short form of Owatemi is Owatz. I have actually been called Owatz since secondary school days. When I entered the university, I decided to add 007 to my name because everything I do ends in 7. For example I was born on the 7th day of the 7th month and I come from a family of 7 children where I am the 7th child and I finished from the university in 2007. So why shouldn’t I be 00? Even my matriculation number while I was in school ended with 7.” While overseeing activities at Media Serve, she also finds time for a new company called Hypnotic. How does she find the time to combine such ventures? “Hypnotic is an organization that is involved in full time show business. They organise events for the popular artistes every last Saturday of the month, especially if it’s their birthday month. We also organise for upcoming artistes who want to showcase their talents”. Sarah summarised her views about the Nigerian entertainment circle thus: “The industry is a bomb about to explode; in the Nigerian entertainment industry there is money. For example, when one of my artistes blows up, I am gone. There is big money in there but it’s really not easy to get there, because there are many people out there who want to sing. But my advice to the younger ones is that they should keep working hard because anyone who says it’s easy is lying. They don’t have to sit down and think the Holy Spirit will come down. No, God said ‘work hard and pray’.”

MIDWEEK JUMP Mike Aremu for July’s GNLive

couragement and great support to artistes elevating gospel music and all forms of conscious music.

he third in the series of GNLive concerts coming up tomorrow in Lagos will feature Saxophonist Mike Aremu, singer Efe and others performing at the Rodizzio Hall, Isaac John Street, Ikeja. GNLive is a carefully thought out strategy to put conscious Nigerian artistes back on Nigeria’s music map. It has been on for the past three months and holds a music concert every last Thursday of the month, where many artistes perform

M.I. at a previous edition of GNLive

and talk about their music. Artistes like M.I, Akin Alabi, Midnight Crew, Sabina of Naija FM, Sammie Okposo, Bouqui, Helen Paul and more have all strongly supported this movement powered by Spinlet. GNLive has been a source of en-

DaGrin’s Tribute Song ‘Haters’ Released on Spinlet.

pinlet, Nigeria’s premier digital music distribution platform has announced the exclusive release of Dagrin’s latest single Haters from his forthcoming posthumous album on the Spinlet platform. The single, which is exclusive to Spinlet, features sen-

sational hip hop star Dammy Krane, Tipsy, PennyHustle, Oba Dice and Bigstreet. Announcing the release of the single, Mark Redguard, Chief Marketing Officer of Spinlet, said “For such a young artiste, DaGrin’s music was way beyond his years. It is an inspiring fusion of Nigerian rhythms, hip hop beats and a gritty street soul that strongly endeared him to thousands of his fans. Just like his fans, we are determined to keep his music living forever, so we’re just as excited to present Haters to Nigerians and the

world in general”. Recently, Spinlet also announced the release of new singles from Nigerian gospel artist Nikki Laoye as well as from Hip Hop star Rocksteady.

Arts Lounge

Wednesday, July 25, 2012

FAR AND NEAR

From Passion to Portfolio will instil entrepreneurial skills

NGOZI EMEDOLIBE

he need for a synergy between reporters and the movie stars in Nollywood has been stressed to help the industry grow. That was the submission of the various speakers who took turns to address the audience during A Nite With Nollywood Stars, hosted by the Association of Movie Journalists at the Genesix Hotels, Ogba. This has become important in view of the strategic roles the two parties have in the development of the industry. One of the actresses who took part in the programme, Ngozi Nwosu, lamented the media buzz that trailed her last year as very unfortunate. According to her, “a paper went to town with a very untrue story about my ill health last year without making any effort to contact me. They said I had leukemia and HIV/AIDS whereas my medical report confirmed I was suffering from an acute pile which made me to lose a lot of blood. My doctor advised that I trimmed down for quick recovery. I was so devastated when my attention was drawn to that report. I wondered why a fellow man would be so wicked to put such a story in print when he knew that what he wrote was very far from the truth,”, she said. A Nite with Nollywood Stars & Celebrities, according to Stanley Okoronkwo, immediate past president of Association of Movie Journalists of Nigeria, is a programme which his association has put together aimed at further seeking ways of moving Nigeria’s movie industry forward. “The event of today, A Nite with Nollywood Stars, is another of the numer-

L-R: Sunny Okim, Rose Peters and Stanley Okoronkwo

Movie stars, journalists chart new course in Nollywood ous events we have organised in the past all aimed towards moving the industry forward. We are not just here for the glamour of it. This evening, we are going to brainstorm, in a lighter mood, to see how we can collectively make Nollywood to overtake all the other existing “Woods” on the surface of the earth in another twenty years.” Highlights of the all-night event which was graced by Lagos State Police Commissioner, Mr. Umar Manko, as special guest of honour included a panel dis-

cussion on the topic, “Fostering a Better Relationship between Film makers and the Media”, Star on Hot Seat, and scintillating performances by some music acts. The peak of it all was the handing over of the mantle of leadership of the Association of Movie Journalists to Sunny Okim, former Senior Editor of HINTS magazine and foremost entertainment journalist. Okim will serve as the association’s interim president for 6 months. He is expected to organise a credible election during the period.

Tales from African metropolis

Steven-Markovitz

ADENRELE NIYI

elected from 40 entries, seven African filmmakers will each explore their African Metropolis using the legendary cities of Abidjan, Cairo, Dakar, Johannesburg, Kinshasa, Lagos and Nairobi as part of an initiative presented by executive producer Steven Markovitz

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

and the Goethe Institut, South Africa, with further support from the Hubert Bals Fund of the International Film Festival of Rotterdam. African Metropolis is set in cities across the continent, but what ties the seven films together is the idea that the city is the setting in which the drama of life is played out. From Nairobi, Jim Chuchu directs A Sun Came, where the end of the world is a good chance to make amends. Jim is a director/photographer from the stylish world of fashion, art and music, as well as a member of ‘Just a Band.’ In Berea, acclaimed Johannesburg director Vincent Moloi tells the story of the ageing Aaron Zukerman, who is trapped in his dilapidated inner city apartment as the crazy outside world closes in on his memories and happiness. Patrick Kalala Tujibikila’s Doubtful Client is set in the streets of Kinshasa, where a taxi driver’s unlikely passenger takes him on a wild journey around his own city. Patrick is an actor-turned-filmmaker. From Lagos, director Folasakin Iwajomo presents a noir thriller, Noose, about how two women’s chance meeting on a bus leads to planning the perfect murder. A video editing lecturer, Iwajomo has

won recognition for his short films. Award-winning Egyptian filmmaker Ahmed El Ghoneimy will film The Giza Zoo in Cairo. Here a young boy steals a lion cub as an act of bravado, but can’t imagine the consequences of his actions. Abidjan director Philipe Lacote’s short film To Repel Ghosts centres on the celebrated artist Jean-Michel Basquiat, who travelled to the Cote d’Ivoire city two years before his death. Lacote has made a number of documentary films and is about to embark on his first feature entitled Run. Senegalese-Martiniquan filmmaker Marie Ka is the only woman director in the group. Set in Dakar, The Other Woman tells of a 50-year-old housewife who discovers her true self when she allows her husband’s second wife into her home. The seven directors are at the Durban International Film Festival (DIFF), which opened last Thursday, where they will participate in a workshop by script editor James Akchoti and will have a chance to network with filmmakers from across the continent. During the next year they will enjoy full support as they go into production with their short films. The completed short films will be launched at the International Film Festival at Rotterdam and next year’s DIFF.

rom Passion to Portfolio, a new series of short-form films on CNN International that will focus on individuals whose hobbies have evolved into profitable investments. The series, which will appear in commercial airtime on CNN International, follows a wide variety of people from across the globe, examining how their commitment and drive in doing what they truly love have helped them achieve business success. Every month CNN will examine the backgrounds of these individuals and discover what drove them to turn their hobbies into business ventures. Using first hand accounts, the series will also explore how their lifestyle choices have impacted on their professional lives. Jennifer Cheug, a Harvard graduate who left the 100 hour working week of an investment banker to open a dessert shop and now runs a successful chain of shops across Hong Kong, features in the first programme. Reme Al-Saiegh, Vice President at CNN International, said: “From Passion to Portfolio will be a fast-paced look at intriguing businesses and the passionate, entrepreneurial people behind them. We’re delighted that First Bank has chosen CNN and the Passion to Portfolio series to connect to an international audience.” Folake Ani-Mumuney, Head of Marketing and Corporate Communications at First Bank of Nigeria Plc, added: “The series aptly captures how everyday people can produce business solutions that transcend borders through sheer enterprise and passion for what they love doing. FirstBank aims to promote the spirit of entrepreneurship across the globe, and we are delighted to be associated with CNN International’s From Passion to Portfolio series.” First Bank will sponsor the entire series alongside a rotator campaign across EMEA & Asia on CNN International. Online, the bank will have banners and video on CNN.com’s international edition, as well as on CNNMoney.com.

Ani-Mumuney

Wednesday, July 25, 2012

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Sport

I cannot promise anything yet; but I am sure that we will not disappoint Nigerians in London

London 2012... Team Nigeria contingent for opening ceremony

- NIGERIAN TABLE TENNIS STAR, SEGUN TORIOLA

Gov. Obi

Obi pledges sports development CHARLES OKEKE AWKA

nambra State Governor, Mr. Peter Obi yesterday flagged-off sports development programme for schools in the state with distribution of instructional materials to basic secondary and primary schools in Onitsha. The governor presented N100, 000 to each of the selected 1, 000 primary schools, as well as N200, 000 each to the 260 secondary schools that were also selected for the largesse. Obi said his government was determined to turn around education in the state through the pro-

vision of the necessary reading materials and reinventing of sports in the schools. “Let me reassure you that we are trying our best to rebuild the state,” he told the audience that include traditional rulers. Commissioner for Sports, Dr. Aroh Edozie, had earlier in his speech announced that the cups and trophies to be competed for under the programme would be presented soon. Highlights of the event include the presentation monetary gifts to some schools that excelled during academic competitions held at the local and national levels.

AFCON 2013: Eagles gets resumption date Super Eagles’ striker, Ike Uche (in green shirt) will be relied on to make Nigeria fly over Liberia

AFOLABI GAMBARI

igeria Football Federation (NFF) has fixed August 19 as resumption date for the Super Eagles camping ahead of their crucial Nations Cup 2013 qualifier with Lone Star of Liberia scheduled for September 8 in Monrovia. Spokesman of the team, Ben Alaiya, said the federation had considered logistics as well as the two-week holiday given to the coach Stephen Keshi before arriving at the camp date. “I think this clarification has become

necessary in view of the conflicting reports on the team’s camping and whether the team will play an international friendly match before the date,” Alaiya told National Mirror yesterday. “Although the federation has not relented on the search for alternate friendly dates after FIFA cancelled the free week, I can confidently say that the team will report at the familiar Bolton White Apartments in Abuja on August 19 and training will take place the following day,” Alaiya added. “I expect that the comprehensive list of the invited players will be made public in the first week of August after the

technical crew would have resolved on the number of invitees and their desirability,” the spokesman further said. Meanwhile, the duo of home-based Eagles; Godfrey Oboabona of Sunshine and Reuben Gabriel of Pillars FC of Kano have kept busy in the past week in apparent shaping up for the September qualifier. Oboabona starred for Sunshine in the Champions League loss to Esperance and the goalless draw last week while Gabriel has shone for Pillars in the ongoing Federation Cup which entered the semi-final stage on Monday.

Eko 2012: Lagos, marketers sign pact AFOLABI GAMBARI

n a step up towards making the 18th National Sports Festival memorable as a business venture, the Lagos State government has inaugurated its partnership with event marketers with a view to setting a sustainable standard in the annual competition. Deputy Governor and Chairperson of the Local Organising Committee for the festival, Mrs. Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, who presided over the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the state and the marketers yesterday, said

the host was determined to ensure the competition underscore the gain of public-private initiative. “We are guided by the historical fact that Lagos hosted the first sports festival in 1973 and on this score we want to be the first to also turn around the festival in tune with the realities of the 21st century,” the deputy governor said. “By this signing, we have asked the marketers to leverage on the state’s cordial relationship with the corporate community by getting their support towards making the festival a huge success,” she added. Orelope-Adefulire, who listed the tar-

geted partners to include the oil & gas, banking and automobile sectors, however commended the Lagos-based Alliance Autos Limited for donating five vehicles to the LOC during the week. Chief Executive Officer of Hotsports, Mr. Taiye Ige, who spoke on behalf of other marketers, pledged the group’s determination to get adequate sponsors for the festival. “We will not fail to deliver on target,” he assured. Chairman of the Marketing Sub-Committee for the NSF, Chief Molade OkoyaThomas, and Lagos State Commissioner for Sports, Mr. Wahid Enitan Oshodi, also attended the occasion.

Managing Director Hotsports Mr. Taiye Ige (l), Lagos State Deputy Governor, Mrs. Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire and Commissioner for Sports Mr. Wahid Enitan Oshodi at the signing of the MOU on the Eko 2012 National Sports Festival in Lagos yesterday

Sport

Wednesday, July 25, 2012

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Muntari targets early injury return

File copy of the 2011 edition where Ghana’s Liberty Professionals ® won the trophy

Pepsi U-17: St. Bedes due in Lagos AFOLABI GAMBARI

ne of the competitors expected at this year’s Pepsi U-17 International Tournament, St. Bedes College, Eastbourne, United Kingdom will arrive in Lagos today aboard Air Nigeria for the event billed to kick off this weekend in Abeokuta, Ogun State.

Director of the Pepsi Football Academy (PFA), Dr. Kasimawo Laloko, who disclosed this to National Mirror yesterday, said officials of the UK team had resolved to explore the widely acclaimed talent pool that Nigeria was endowed with. “St. Bede’s is one of the renowned youth institutes in the UK and it means a lot for the team to accept to partake in

Onyemah in Olympiakos U-turn

ormer Golden Eaglets invitee, Philip Chidi Onyemah, has resolved to return to cashstrapped Olympiakos Nicosia of Cyprus, after failing to get a better option elsewhere in Europe in the near-ending transfer season. Onyemah’s career has been on a slide since failing to gain promotion to the senior squad of FC Porto of Portugal in 2005, despite emerging top scorer for the side in the Portuguese junior league, and the 28-yearold striker is seeking another shot at a breakthrough in the Cypriot league. The protégé of former Nigeria international and former African Footballer of The Year, Emmanuel Amuneke, has also starred for three other Portuguese lower division sides, Fornos De Algodres, FC Farmalicao and Rio Ave, but admits that favour has not been on his side. “It’s true that I have not had the best of fortunes in terms of accelerating my career, but I am not complaining,” the product of Pepsi Football Academy, Surulere Lagos told National Mirror yesterday. “I would have loved to play in Portugal once again, but the offers I got over there this summer were not just encouraging. I weighed the finan-

cial implications of everything that was available to me and I thought it would be better to face what I already new how to manager in Cyprus,” Onyemah, who had earlier deals at Landskrona of Sweden and Timisoara of Romania fall through a few seasons back, further said. The Pepsi Academy Player of The Year 1996 and second runner-up in the first and only John Fashanu Grassroots Soccer Awards in 1998 aims to consolidate his current overall scorecard of 62 appearances and 17 goals for Olympiakos Nicosia, which he joined in 2010.

this competition,” Loloko said. The annual competition had since inception hosted only teams from Africa and particularly from the West African sub-region. But according to Laloko, the resolve to expand the scope to Europe derived from the 20th anniversary of the Pepsi academy which he founded in 1992. “I think the fact that the PFA has come a long way, in addition also to the fact that the academy has produced lots of players for local and foreign clubs suggest that we explore the internationalization of the competition,” the former technical director of Nigeria Football Association (NFA) added, stressing, “In particular, we want to make the world know what we are doing with a view to establishing firm partnership with similar institutions in other countries.” Chelsea and Super Eagles midfielder, John Obi Mikel, ranks as the biggest export of the Pepsi academy, in addition to several players that include Osaze Odemwingie, Chinedu Obasi, Onyekachi Apam and Elderson Echiejile. The two-day international tourney scheduled for July 27 and 28 will have Pepsi Academy, Oyo State Academicals and River Lane Academy, Enugu contesting for laurels.

C Milan midfielder, Sulley Muntari, yesterday reiterated that he will make a quicker-than-expected recovery from the serious knee injury he suffered last month. The Ghana international, who is expected to be out for six months after rupturing the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee during an off-season game with friends in Accra, had surgery to correct the problem. But he had also incurred the wrath of Milan CEO Adriano Galliani for sustaining the freakish injury as earlier reports claimed Milan would slash his salary over the freak injury. Latest reports however said the 27-year-

old has insisted he would soon regain full fitness and rejoin the Rossoneri for the upcoming campaign. “I will return soon because my knee ligament wasn’t that damaged and every day I’m working with a lot of will and desire,” Muntari said. “Adriano Galliani was right to be furious and it’s another motive for me to return soon and I’ll make him happy again,” he added. Milan has since brought in Kevin Constant on loan from Genoa as Muntari’s replacement. Muntari joined Milan on loan from townrivals Inter in January where he made 14 appearances in all competitions and scored three goals.

Muntari

Sports: Anambra eyes private sector NWABUEZE OKONKWO ONITSHA

T Onyemah

he Anambra State government has reiterated its determination to partner with the private sector in engineering youth empowerment through sports development and establishment of skill acquisition programmes. Commissioner for Youths and Sports Development, Dr. Edozie Aroh, who disclosed this during a facility tour of Ro-

jenny Games/Tourist Village Oba, in Idemili South Council Area of the state, said government was committed to discovering and developing the potential of its teeming youths. “We have concluded plans to go into partnership with the private sector to roll out a comprehensive blueprint for sports development that will launch the state back to her pride of place as one of the leading states in sporting activities in the country,” Aroh said.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Sport

Wednesday, July 25, 2012

Nigeria Premier Nig League with

Cricket

IIKENWA NNABUOGOR ikenwa.nnabuogor@gmail.com

Fed Cup 2012: Obi, Gambo eye the crown

Okwuosa hopeful of Ajax deal

nugu Rangers skipper James Okwuosa has said he is confident he will win a contract with South Africa’s Ajax Cape Town this week. The hard tackling big central defender played half an hour for the South African club in Saturday’s pre-season friendly against Manchester United. “I strongly believe that I will have my contract by Monday at the latest,” Okwuosa informed MTNFootball.com “My manager is talking with them and we are confident of things here.” He came on as a replacement for ex-Bafana star Matthew Booth. His agent, Mohammed Lawal, further said, “I believe it will not be long before we finalise on James (Okwuosa).” Okwuosa first trained with Ajax on Friday. The Rangers star said he was thrilled to play against the mighty United. “It was very great playing against the likes of (Dimitar)Berbatov, Chicharito and other top stars from Manchester United. I give God all the glory that I did my best in few the minutes I was on the pitch,” he said. Ajax drew 1-1 with United, who are on a playing tour of South Africa ahead of the new season.

‘Ayaya’ yet to hit full fitness

wara United mid-season signing Emeka Nwanna is still recovering from a muscle complaint he sustained as a result of motorcycle accident. The former Enyimba striker, who was the first player in the NPL history to sign a million naira contract, was hit in the hip muscle by a bike while standing on a road side which left the Aba-born star in pains and caused him to miss games for his new club. ‘Ayaya’ is yet to kick a ball for his new team as a result of the accident since he switched from Rangers in the mid-season. He told National Mirror he was receiving treatment at a local hospital in Ilorin but didn’t know when he would return to action. The former Rangers hit man is optimistic that he will return to action before the season, which has got four left, draws its curtains. He appeared to be limping a bit on the left leg when he was spotted at the Agege Stadium on last week as his team struggled and failed to qualify from their Lagos group.

Emeka Nwanna

Brendan Ogbu

Ogbu’s trial in Turkey and South Africa uncertain H eartland striker Brendan Ogbu may have had his trial opening at unnamed Turkish club and Bloemfontein Celtic hit the rocks due to some circumstances, which has left him rueing his luck, National Mirror can reveal. Ogbu was billed to hit South Africa two weeks ago to begin a two-week trial at Celtic in a deal packaged by South Africa-based former international Mohammed Lawal but the big former Rangers striker failed to make it happen because he could not to turn up at the South African High Commission to get his visa. Ogbu had been in talks with another agent who assured him on a deal in Turkey and didn’t want to disappoint the agent on the Turkey move. The lanky forward may have lost both chances as he is yet to travel to Turkey as he lamented that the agent was not forthcoming with the move. “I didn’t want to miss on on Turkey move because he had been assured of the trip by the other agent and that was why I didn’t turn at the High Commission to start the process,” Ogbu explained. “Again, the visa process would take about two weeks to complete and I didn’t have the whole time to pursue that. “I didn’t know it would turn out like this, otherwise, I would have gone for Celtic. I hope Lawal would understand my predication and give me another chance.”

Lawal told National Mirror he was upset with the player whom he had give the Celtic officials his words was worth a look-in. Lawal added that the officials waited endlessly for the striker to turn up but he was not forthcoming.

ano Pillars duo of defender Eugene Obi and striker Gambo Mohammed have expressed their wishes to lift the Federation Cup title. Both players told National Mirror that the team appears to have all it takes to lift the title. Obi revealed that the burning desire to make names for themselves was the catalyst for getting this far in the competition and hoped that it would only get better for the Kano-based team. “It’s not that we got all the financial gains in our pockets yet from the governor but we are not thinking about that yet because we have a cause to fight for,” the Lagos-born defender said. “It’s at this stage that players will get all to play for which is very essential and then we can talk about finance. “We’re good to go and anything short of the great expectation we got for ourselves will not be good enough. “I see bright chances for us at this stage and the stage which has brough us this far, is still in us and will utltmately take us far.” Towering striker Gambo told National Mirror that he shifted the date of his departure to Egypt to attend trials at Al-Ittihad because of the Federation Cup task ahead. He has also expressed delight they have hit the knockout stages. Gambo scored his fourth goal of the competition, as Pillars edged Plateau United 3-2 on Monday to qualify for the semi-finals.

Pos

Team

Pts

Enugu Rangers

Enyimba

Lobi Stars

Dolphins

Sunshine Stars

3SC

Kano Pillars

Akwa United

Gombe United

-2

Sharks

-2

Heartland

Kwara United

-5

Warri Wolves

Wikki Tourists

-12

ABS FC

Niger Tornadoes

-5

Jigawa Golden Stars

-15

Kaduna United

-8

Rising Stars

-12

Ocean Boys

-22

Sport

Wednesday, July 25, 2012

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Delegation list: Athletics

Chika Chukwumerije (in blue helmet) holds Nigeria’s brightest chance for a medal in the taekwondo event

2 TODAYS GO TO GO

Team Nigeria contingent for opening ceremony EVEREST ONYEWUCHI

JULY 27 - AUGUST 12, 2012

Female football kicks off

he football event of the London 2012 Olympic Games will kick off today with the women taking to the centre stage. Women team of the host Great Britain will take on their counterparts from New Zealand at the Millennium Stadium. FIFA on Monday appointed referees for the game, handing USA’s Kari Seitz the task of manning proceedings at the centre. Her Assistants are Veronica Perez (USA) and Marlene Duffy (USA) and the Fourth Official is Quetzalli Alvarado (Mexico). This will be Kari’s third Olympic Games. Also, at a meeting of the FIFA Organising Committee for the Olympic Football Tournaments, officials for the first matches in the men’s and women’s football tournaments were confirmed.

bout 116 Team Nigeria contingent to the London Olympic Games is warming up for the opening ceremony on Friday. The team is made up of 55 athletes, 12 coaches, 29 administrative officials and nine medical personnel, according to information provided by the Nigeria Olympic Committee President, Engineer Sani Ndanusa, at the conclusion of the Delegation Registration Meeting (DRM) prior to their departure to London. Team Nigeria also includes five contingent officials and six secretariat staff. Nigeria will be competing in Athletics, Basketball, Boxing Canoeing, Table Tennis, Taekwondo, Weightlifting and Wrestling.

Athletics would be represented by 49 persons, 29 athletes, 14 coaches and two administrative staff; Basketball with a team of 16, comprising 12 players, two coaches and two accompanying officials. Boxing has a total of seven comprising three boxers, two coaches and two accompanying officials. Others are Canoeing to be represented by four–an athlete, a coach and two administrative staff; Table Tennis (eight) four athletes comprising two coaches and two accompanying officials; Taekwondo (six) with two practitioners, two coaches and two administrative staff. Weightlifting has (seven), two weightlifters, a coach and two other officials; Wrestling (seven), four wrestlers, a coach and two administrative officers, while the contingent officials (20) comprise six from the NOC, nine medical personnel and five other officials.

Our boxing medal chances slim–Okorodudu

quarter finalist at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics, Jerry Okorodudu, has said that Nigeria’s chances of clinching a medal in boxing at the London 2012 Olympics were slim. Okorodudu asserted in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that the boxers selected to represent the country lacked the requisite experience. “They are talented boxers with prospects. However, I do not expect a medal from boxing because they are fresh from the block, boxers that still need exposure. “It will take a lot of guts in the boxers to stand in the ring with the mammoth crowd that will sit at the ringside and the lights focused on them to concentrate on the match. I don’t see the Nige-

rian boxers having this characteristic,” he said. However, he wished them the best of luck and prayed that they made the country proud. The former boxer also decried the manner in which the Nigeria Olympian Association (NOA) was being run, alleging that it was without a constitution. Okorodudu claimed that the NOA was being run undemocratically and urged its president to correct the anomaly. “When Henry Amike, the president of the association, returns from the Olympics we will get some lawyers to help draw up a constitution for the association. Because without a precise structure, the association cannot be selfgoverning,” he said.

100m Women:

Blessing Okagbare, Gloria Asumnu, Lawretta Ozoh

200m Women:

Gloria Asumnu, Lawretta Ozoh, Christy Udoh

400m Women:

Regina George, Omolara Omotosho

400m H Women:

Ajoke Odumosu

High Jump Women:

Doreen Amata

Long Jump:

Blessing Okagbare

Shot Put:

Vivian Chukwuemeka

Hepthatlon:

Uhunoma Naomi Osazuwa

Marathon:

Esther Obiekwe

100m H Women:

Seun Adigun

4 x 100 m Women:

Blessing Okagbare, Gloria Sunmu, Lawretta Ozoh, Oluwadamola Osayomi, Wisdom Isoken, Christy Udoh

4 x 400 m Women:

Regina George, Omolara Omotosho, Bukola Abogunloko, Endurance Abinuwa, Idara Otu, Margaret Etim

100 m Men:

Obinna Joseph Metu, Ogho Oghene Egwero, Peter Emelieze

110 H Men:

Selim Nurudeen

400 m H Men:

Ameadi Morton

Triple Jump:

Oluwatosin Oke

Probation –200m Men:

Noah Akwu, Stanley Azie

100m H Women:

Jessica Ohanaja, Stanley Gbageke

Officials:

Yusuf Alli, Innocent Egbunike (Head Coach), Nat Page, Gabriel Okon, Christopher Doomes, Ken Onuaguluchi, Paul Obodochima, Daniel Etsebimor, Oluyomi Sule, Gabriel Opuana, Solomon Aliu, Sunday Uti, Falilat Ogunkoya, Maria Wophill (Admin. Personnel), Chief Solomon Ogba (Team Leader)

Basketball:

Oyedeji Olumide, Diogu Ikechukwu Somto, Oruche Richard Chukwuma, Ugboaja Ejike, Dagunduro Adedokun, Oguchi Chamberlain Nnaemeka, Aminu Abdul Alade, Ibekwe Ekenechukwu, Archibong Aniekan Okon, Aminu Al Farouk, Obasohan Derrick Osamuuyi, Skinn Anthony Oludewa, Ayodele Bakare (Head Coach), Sani Ahmed, Francis Gbiri (Admin Personnel) Tijjani Umar (Team Leader)

Boxing:

Akanji Muideen Olalekan (75kg), Lawal Lukmon Olaiwola (81kg), Ogoke Edith Agu (75kg), Idika Nsofor (Coach), Anthony Konyegwachie (Coach), Patrick Uwagbale (Admin. Personnel), Major-Gen. Tobiah Minimah (Team Leader)

Canoeing:

Jonathan Peter Akinyemi (K1 Slalom), Ebenezer Ukwunna (Coach), Olubunmi Oluode (Admin. Personnel), Rear Adm. Festus Porbeni (Team Leader)

Table Tennis:

Aruna Quadri, Segun Toriola, Edem Offiong, Olufunke Oshonaike, Nosiru Bello (Coach), Richard Edem (Coach), Segun Oguntade (Admin. Personnel), Alhaji Kayode Abdulwahab Omotose (Team Leader)

Taekwondo:

Chika Chukwumerije (+80 kg), Isa Mohammed (-68 kg), Keum Silwan (Coach), Carl Lewis Langan (Coach), Chinedu EzealahOgundare (Admin. Personnel), Chief Jonathan Nnaji (Team Leader)

Weightlifting:

Ekpo Felix Cobham (77kg), Usman Maryam (+75kg), Patrick Bassey (Coach), Uche Onwumeh (Admin. Personnel), Mr. Chimdi Ejiogu (Team Leader)

Wrestling:

Boltic Sinivie ( 96kg) Freestyle, Dick Adibo (84kg), Freestyle, Obiajunwa Amarachi (52kg) Freestyle, Oborodudu Blessing (63kg) Freestyle, Daniel Igali (Coach), Olumide Bamiduro (Admin. Personnel), Chief Austin Edeze (Team Leader)

Officials:

Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi ( Hon. Minister of Sports & Leader of Delegation), Engr. Sani Mohammed Ndanusa (President Nigeria Olympic Committee), Chief (Dr) Sir Patrick Ekeji (Chef de Mission), Hon. Babatunde Popoola (Secretary General, NOC), Mr. Alhassan Yakmut (Deputy Chef de Mission),

Medics:

Dr. Abdulkadir Mu’azu (Team Doctor & Head Medical), Dr. Hirekaan Lazarus, Dr. Ibrahim Gyaran, Dr. Ken Anugweje, Mr. Oladipo Odunuga (Physiotherapist), Mr. Ekundayo Ogunkule (Physiotherapist), Mr. Kayode Abdulsalam (Physiotherapist), Miss Judith Enebe (Physiotherapist), Mrs. Nneka Eze (Nurse)

Secretariat:

Manufor Hellen (Admin Personnel), Emmanuel Nweri (Admin Personnel), Augustine Odijie (Admin Personnel), Tony Ubani (Press Attache), Emmanuel Igbinosa (Admin Personnel), Olalekan Alabi (Admin Personnel).

Wednesday, July 25, 2012

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Business & Finance We will not impose a sickly company on Nigerians

Nigeria has been very good at announcing targets in the power sector, but we don’t have the competence to manage it

Commissioner for Insurance, Mr. Fola Daniel

42-43

MINISTER OF FINANCE , NGOZI OKONJO-IWEALA

CBN mops up N600bn from banks •Retains MPR at 12%, raises CRR by 4%

AYO OLESIN AND TOLA AKINMUTIMI

he Monetary Policy Committee of the Central Bank of Nigeria yesterday adopted further monetary tightening measures by increasing the cash reserve ratio of banks and reducing foreign exchange net open position though it retained the Monetary Policy Rate at 12 per cent. The aggressive tightening measures follow concerns about developments in both the domestic and global economic environments and the need to mitigate their likely negative impact on the nation’s economy. Specifically, the Committee at the end of its two day meeting in Abuja yesterday, the fourth this year, increased the cash reserve ratio (CRR) from eight per cent to 12 per cent, effective from today even as it also reduced the net foreign exchange open position (NOP) to one per cent from the three per cent fixed at its last meeting held in May this year. It also retained the symmetric corridor of +/-200 basis points around the MPR. The CRR increase means that at least N600bn has been mopped up from the banking system. Briefing the media at the end of the Commit-

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LAGOS: 01-8446073, 08094331171, 08023133084, 08034019884 ABUJA: 08033020395, 08036321014

tee’s meeting in Abuja, the CBN Governor, Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, said that the MPC had to take the very hard decisions after having critically assessed recent developments in the increasingly turbulent global economic environment and the need to ensure economic stability in the country. He explained that faced with the spectre of declining oil prices, declining foreign reserves, increased demand for foreign exchange, fiscal dominance and capital flow reversals, mon-

etary policy must bear a larger burden of economic adjustment. He said the Committee was faced with the option of protecting reserves by reducing the supply of dollars at the WDAS or addressing monetary and liquidity conditions more aggressively by tightening liquidity and raising domestic interest rates, amongst others. The CBN Governor pointed out that having considered the pros and cons of each option (and combinations of options), including the challenges of stemming the infla-

tionary pressures sustaining a stable exchange rate for the naira; creating a buffer for external reserves and mitigating the impact of the continued slowdown in global economic activities, the Committee decided in favour of the retention of the MPR and jacking up the CRR, amongst others measures. “Already, the European decline has taken its toll on oil demand and exports. The rising global uncertainty and weaker external demand are causing headwinds for export-dependent econo-

mies. The unfavourable outlook is further strengthened by the fragile domestic conditions. The MPC is of the view that growth could further decline during the rest of the year”, Sanusi said. Chief Executive Officer, Financial Derivatives Company, Mr. Bismarck Rewane, welcomed the CBN’s move pointing out that it was geared towards protecting the naira exchange rate. He said the CRR increase was to tighten liquidity and tell bank that they cannot throw money around as it would increase cost of funds and reduce margins but will not have effect on lending rates.

FLIGHT SCHEDULE Air Nigeria International (Lagos - London) Los- LGW (VK293): Tue, Thurs, Fri & Sat 11.55pm LGW-Los (VK292): Wed, Fri, Sat & Sun 10.50am

Arik Air Los-Abj: 07:15, 09:15, 10:20, 15:20, 16:20, 16:50, 18:45 (Mon-Fri/Sat/Sun) Abj-Los: 07:15, 09:40, 10:20, 12:15, 15:15, 16:15, 17:10, (Mon-Fri/Sat); 12:15, 15:15, 16:15 (Sun) Los-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) Abj-Ben: 08:00, 12:10 (Mon-Fri/Sat) 08:55, 12:10 (Sun) Ben-Abj: 09:55, 13:30 (Mon-Fri/Sat) 10:50, 13:30 (Sun)

Aero Contractors Los-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) Los-Ben: 07:45, 11:00, 15:30, (Mon-Fri/Sat/ Sun) 12:30 (Sun) 15:30 (Mon-Fri/Sat/Sun) Ben-Los: 09:15, 12:30, 17:00 (Mon-Fri/ Sat/Sun) 17:00 (Sat), 14:00 (Sun) L-R: Registrar/CEO, Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers, Mr. Emmanuel Ajayi; President, Mr. Ariyo Olushekun and Chief Executive Officer, Nigerian Stock Exchange, Mr. Oscar Onyema, during the CIS Executive’s visit to the Exchange in Lagos, yesterday.

NIESV seeks partnership with EFFC to check corruption DAYO AYEYEMI

he Nigerian Institution of Estate Surveyors and Valuers (NIESV), is seeking to collaborate with the Econom-

Broadband: NIGCOMSAT, Main One to tackle last-mile connectivity

ic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC), to make it difficult for corrupt government officials and individuals to use proceeds from illicit practices to buy multiple landed properties without being traced and reported to the

government. The initiative, according to the President of the NIESV, Mr. Emeka Eleh, is part of the association’s drive to support the Federal Government in its policy to eradicate corruption in the country.

Technology can boost dairy industry’s revenue to N300bn monthly –NOTAP

Eleh disclosed to newsmen in Lagos yesterday that the association has commenced process to partner EFCC to create a platform through which suspicious property dealings can be reported to the commission.

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How TCN protest dwindles productivity in power sector

Business Finance

Wednesday, July 25, 2012

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Broadband: NIGCOMSAT, Main One to tackle last-mile connectivity KUNLE AZEEZ

he Nigerian Communications Satellite Limited, in collaboration with Main One Cable Company, has launched a Teleport addressing the challenge of broadband connectivity arising from lack of lastmile connectivity by deepening access to bandwidth by last mile Internet users. The hub, which is located within the premises of Main One Cable in Lekki, Lagos will significantly reduce the dearth of bandwidth in rural areas especially, thereby providing services to the underserved or not served areas in West Africa and African nations, where NigComSat-1R has footprints. Chairman, NIGCOMSAT Board of Directors, Prof. Turner Isoun, who led a delegation of some Board members including Mr. Olabode Oroge and Miss Alma Udoyen, said the initiative was a breakthrough for the country as the relationship will greatly enhance access to the internet via broadband and create dividends of democracy for the people. Isoun, a former Science and Technology minister, said, “the two indigenous companies decided on this cooperation for the

L-R: Director, Public Communications, University of Ibadan, Mr. Olatunji Oladejo; Director, Institute of African Studies, Prof. Isaac Albert and Dr. Femi Olaoba, at a news conference on the 50th anniversary of the institute in Ibadan, yesterday. PHOTO: NAN

benefit of our people.” Besides this, Isoun said the partnership will augment capacity building in the Information and Communications Technology industry. Above all, it will lead to a major crash in the cost of bandwidth which has been on the high side. Main One Cable and NIGCOMSAT will serve their customers seamlessly. NIGCOMSAT will carry traffic from the Teleport to far flung places where cable can-

NPC scribe hinges economic growth on proper planning TOLA AKINMUTIMI ABUJA

he Secretary of the National Planning Commission, Mr. Ntufam Fidel Ugbo, has described planning as critical to Nigeria, if she must develop economically and also achieve her dream of becoming one of the top 20 economies by the year 2020. Ugbo, who stated this Monday in Enugu at the Joint Planning Board (JPB) and National Council On Development Planning (NCDP) meetings with the theme - ‘Development Planning And Transformation: Key To National Economic Growth and Development’, urged members of the Council to accord priority to the deliberations of all the issues slated for deliberations at the forum with a view to using knowledge shared for proper planning on all aspects of national development. Specifically, he pointed out that the decisions on the issues would be part of the input into the meeting of the National Council on Development Planning to be held today (Tuesday) under the Chairmanship of the Honourable Minister/ Deputy Chairman of National Planning Commission.

He also reiterated that as technocrats and experts, much is expected of the Council on development planning and economic management in Nigeria, including far -reaching recommendations with respect to the modalities for deepening the implementation of the Federal Government’s Transformation agenda and State’s plan expected to be reached at the meeting. In his remarks at the forum, the Director Macro Economic Analysis, NPC, Mr. Tunde Lawal who spoke on the topic ‘National Development Planning and Transformation Agenda: The Malaysian Experience’ noted that Nigerian economy witnessed improvements in the periods when strategic plans were implemented in 1962- 1975 with average Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of 9.4 per cent, population growth rate of 0.5 per cent and poverty rate of 47.9 per cent. He pointed out that in the period between 1990 and 1999 when national planning took the backstage, average GDP dropped to 2.8 per cent, population growth rate rose to 2.8 per cent and poverty rate hit 70 per cent.

not get, via satellite. “This is a win-win situation for both companies, the end-users and the country,” he said. He stated that NIGCOMSAT’s role in said to be important in the partnership, given country lack of a national backbone network and is thus, overtly reliant on networks controlled by the GSM providers for Internet access. NIGCOMSAT’s satellite provides an alternate distribution platform that is as accessible in

rural parts of the country as it is in metro areas and is quick to deploy without having to undertake hundreds or thousands of kilometers of civil works that the deployment of fiber optic networks require. Chief Executive Officer of Main One Cable, Ms. Funke Opeke, said the partnership will lead to a significant price crash “to the benefit of our end-users especially those in the last mile domain which cable can hardly

reach.” The hub consists of two satellite dishes, a major 6.3 metre hub able to transmit information to locations across Nigeria and another smaller dish, which serves as a tracking antenna to keep the hub aligned with the satellite. The NIGCOMSAT hub at Main One brings together Main One’s submarine cable network and IP next generation network with NIGCOMSAT’s satellite technology. It is based on the agreement signed between the two companies in late 2011 whereby Main One will provide bulk Internet connectivity while NIGCOMSAT will provide last mile connectivity to distribute such services around the country. Both projects are home-grown out of Nigeria and designed to broaden internet access and reduce the cost of accessing the Internet across all parts of Nigeria. By partnering with Main One, NIGCOMSAT is now positioned to start having a major impact on deploying broadband services to all parts of Nigeria, especially rural areas or areas not as well connected. It is expected that the partnership will galvanise many government agencies and academic institutions to have online presence.

SURE-P intervenes in the completion of Abuja-Lokoja road

he Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment programme committee (SURE-P) has intervened in the completion of the Abuja-Lokoja road. Deputy Chairman of SURE-P, Maj. Gen. Mamman Kontagora, who disclosed this in Abuja assured that the subsidy funds accruing to the Federal government would be channelled into practical infrastructural development. “We want to translate the subsidy funds into practical infrastructural development”, he said, while inspecting a section of the 200 kilometre Abuja-Lokoja road

under construction by Dantata and Sawoe. The company handling 54.70km of the road has promised to complete the dualisation by December, this year. The 54.70km section 1of the Abuja-Lokoja road dualization starts from Abuja and terminates at Sheda along Gwagwalada-Abaji Expressway. Kontagora said that the intervention funds will be provided through the funds generated from the removal of petroleum subsidy adding that the Abuja-Lokoja road is an important route and gateway to the federal capital, requiring urgent intervention for

completion. Lamenting on the spate of accidents on the road, which he said will be greatly reduced, if the expansion and repair work that is on going on the highway is timely completed, he stressed: “This road is one of them that we seek to intervene. He called on both the Federal Ministry of Works and the contractor to review downwards the Kuje interchange from 4 to 2 arms in keeping with existing financial realities adding that if that scope is achieved, it will help obtain needed funds for more needful items on site.

Apple estimates $2.52bn damages in Samsung battle

pple Incorporated claims it is entitled to $2.52bn of damages in its high-stakes battle against Samsung Electronics over patents for technology used in smartphones and tablets, such as the iPhone and iPad. According to a partially redacted filing on Tuesday with a federal court in San Jose, California, Apple believes Samsung owes “substantial monetary damages” because the Korean company illegally “chose to compete by copying Apple.”

Apple said this allowed Samsung to overtake it as the world’s largest maker of smartphones, and reap “billions of dollars in profits” while costing Apple $500m of profit, Reuters reported. It said damages, including reasonable royalty damages, reach “a combined total of $2.525bn.” Apple said it also plans to seek a permanent injunction to stop future violations. Samsung countered Apple’s allegations in a filing 13 minutes later, accusing the Cuper-

tino, California-based company of trying “to stifle legitimate competition and limit consumer choice to maintain its historically exorbitant profits.” It said Apple, in fact, should pay for the use of Samsung’s patented technology, “without which Apple could not have become a successful participant in the mobile telecommunications industry.” The world’s largest consumer electronics companies are scheduled to go to a jury trial on July 30 before U.S. District Judge Lucy Koh.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Wednesday, July 25, 2012

Business & Finance

Wednesday, July 25, 2012

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Technology can boost dairy industry’s revenue to N300bn monthly –NOTAP

MTN gives out 14 SUVs in Goodwill Automania promo

KUNLE AZEEZ

se of appropriate technology in Nigeria’s dairy industry can increase the sector’s monthly income to about N300bn, the Director General of National Office for Technology Acquisition and Promotion, Mr. Umar Bindir has said. Bindir, disclosed this during a courtesy visit of the Registrar and Chief Executive Officer of the Librarians’ Registration Council of Nigeria, Dr. Victoria Okojie, to NOTAP in Abuja recently. According to him, when 100 million of Nigerians consume a glass of milk at N100 per glass, it could generate N10m per day which in turn could create millions of jobs and translate into a N300bn monthly revenue. But he noted that inadequate deployment of appropriate technological tools to enhance dairy

operations has prevented the country from realising the potential huge income accruable from the sector. He said, “Milk come from cows and cows eat grass and maize to be productive. We have cows, grass and maize but we don’t have milk because we have not deployed the required technology to generate employment, produce milk, create wealth and provide easy and quality nourishment for our economic and social wellbeing.” He explained that Nigeria’s high population of approximately about 200 million is an asset that provides endless opportunities for jobs and wealth creation but regretted that Nigerians are yet to take full advantage of the opportunities so presented. Bindir stated that beside dairy products, poultry and local food delicacies in Nigeria also provide opportunities for job creation and poverty eradication if there

were firm commitment and the political will to add value to the raw materials available in the country. According to him, locally-available natural resources required value addition to be commercially viable. The NOTAP boss, however, decried the continued exportation of raw materials and importation of finished products into the country. He commended the librarians’ association for its initiative to partner with NOTAP for the promotion of Science Technology and Innovation, STI, which, Bindir described as ’the bedrock of development.’ Earlier in her address, LRCN registrar expressed her desire to work in collaboration with NOTAP to promote local technologies as well as local content in the country.

igeria’s telecommunications giant, MTN hasgiven out another set of 14 brand new Hyundia ix35 SUVs to winners in the third prize presentation of its ongoing MTN Goodwill Automania Game. It was a harvest of praise and commendations for the mobile telecoms service provider when the prizes were given out at a recent event held at Golden Royale Hotel, Enugu. The lucky winners, officials of National Lottery Regulation Commission as well as the members of the general public could not hide their feelings as they all poured out resounding

Cashless: Aero adds Quickteller to online payment channels KUNLE AZEEZ

L-R: Executive Director, Nigerian Capital Development Fund (NCDF), Alhaji Tajudeen Kareem; Director General, Alhaji Babatunde Oralusi; Special Adviser to Oyo State Governor on Housing, Mr. Gbolagade Abiodun; Mrs Funmi Abe of NCDF and Baale of Ido, Chief Sulaiman Adeniyi, at the presentation of cheques by NCDF to farmers in Oyo State, yesterday.

FG releases Vitamin A enriched maize hybrids

MESHACK IDEHEN

he Federal Government has released two new maize hybrids that can provide more Vitamin A in the diets of millions in the country, raising optimism about stemming the menace of Vitamin A deficiency in the years ahead, especially among children, pregnant women and nursing mothers. The provitamin A is converted by the body into Vitamin A when the maize is eaten, according to a statement issued yesterday by the International Institute for Tropical and Agriculture. According to IITA, the hybrids, which are the first generation Vitamin A-rich maize, were released on July 4, 2012 by the National Variety Release Committee of Nigeria as Ife maisehyb 3 and Ife maizehyb 4. They are recognized as IITA

hybrids A0905-28 and A0905-32, respectively. “The hybrids are a product of nearly a decade of breeding for enhanced levels of pro-vitamin A,” the IITA maize breeder who led the development of the new maize hybrids, Dr. Abebe Menkir said. The hybrids outperformed local checks with yields ranging from six to nine tonnes per hectare compared with two tons per hectare recorded on most farmers’ fields. The Vitamin A hybrids were developed by IITA in partnership with the Institute of Agricultural Research & Training using conventional breeding in a project funded by the HarvestPlus—a Challenge Program me of the CGIAR as part of strategies to address the prevalence of vitamin A deficiency, the statement said. Other collaborating partners include the Institute for Agricultural Research (IAR), Zaria;

University of Maiduguri; International Maize and Wheat Center (CIMMYT), University of Illinois, and University of Wisconsin. IITA noted that in Nigeria, Vitamin A deficiency afflicts about 30 per cent of children below five years of age, almost 20 per cent of pregnant women, and 13 per cent of nursing mothers. Vitamin A deficiency lowers immunity and impairs vision, which can lead to blindness and even death. Researchers say the two hybrids can supply enhanced levels of vitamin A in the diets. Maize is consumed by millions of people throughout Nigeria, whether roasted and eaten off the cob or as a dish prepared from fermented maize flour. According to Menkir, maize is the most frequently consumed staple in Nigeria with about 20percent of households consuming it at different times within a week.

encomiums on the mobile telecoms company for once again fulfilling its promises. One of the winners, Chimezie Donatus Godwin, a Lagosbased clergyman, commended MTN for the initiative. There is nothing he could do other than to thank God for sending MTN to him at this time. “If I fail to acknowledge what MTN has done for me, then I don’t appreciate the work of God,” he said. Another winner and a retired Air Commodore in Nigerian Air Force, Mr Dave Esi, was also full of praises to the mobile telecoms company. “As from today, I want every Nigerian to continue to believe in MTN, this is not a hoax, I can say today I am the most excited winner,” the 56-year old declared.

o create flexible payment options for its customers in line with the emerging cashless economy policy of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Aero, the leading airline in West Africa, has added Quickteller mobile platform as another online payment channel for its passengers. The service enables customers make payment for tickets on quickteller mobile site on their mobile phones. The airline, in a statement made available to National Mirror, said the function, which gives a wider choice of self service options, can be processed from Aero website, where customers choose the option of making pay-

ment via quickteller mobile by logging onto quickteller official website. The statement said, “The new payment option was introduced as part of the national development as the nation prepares for the CashLite Policy of the Central Bank of Nigeria.” Speaking on the online payment initiative, the Managing Director, Aero, Mr. Akin George, said the airline was pleased to offer the service to its customers. According to him, “Adding quickteller to our website payment option is for safer and easier payment, we are offering more options and even greater flexibility to customers purchasing travels at Aero. Quickteller provides just the kind of security and convenience that meets our travellers’ expectations.”

CSI launches in-store LCD advertising screens KUNLE AZEEZ

onsumer Scores International Limited, a specialist retail media solutions provider, has introduced an innovative advertising platform into the Nigerian advertising market. The new medium is the Liquid Crystal Display advertising screens installed inside leading supermarkets in Lagos metropolis. The screens have the capacity to play both video and audio files given brand owners the opportunity to connect with their target market at the point of purchase. Speaking at the product launch in Lagos recently, the

Founder and Chief executive Officer, EO, Mr. Akachi Ngwu, said with the increasing clutter as well as fragmentation of the traditional media, vehicle such as television, radio and press, the new advertising medium will improve the effectiveness of media budgeting and planning. Ngwu restated the commitment of his organisation to deliver value for money to brand owners, pointing out that all fast-moving consumer goods owners such as Unilever, Nestle, Promasidor, Reckitt Benckiser, Friesland WAMCO, Procter & Gamble, Coca Cola, PZ, Nutricima, Cadbury, etc will find the new medium suitable and relevant in their brand communication strategy.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Wednesday, July 25, 2012

Energy Week

udemea@rocketmail.com 07031546994

Afam Power Station

Labour protests reduce productivity in power sector For the past few months, the Federal Government has made frantic efforts to boost power supply through the implantation of its short term plan and other measures. UDEME AKPAN, who calls for urgent intervention, reports that the ongoing protest of TCN workers would affect productivity in the subsector.

ith the generation generation, transmission and distribution of over 3,000 megawatts (mw) of power, the Federal Government, that still holds forte as the main investor in the sector has not been able to meet electricity demand in the nation. This is mainly because the present generation level is about 7,000 mw below the estimated 10,000 mw national demand. Consequently, many consumers, individuals, households and companies have embarked on independent power generation at higher cost. This leads to high prices of goods and services as providers of such essentials pass the cost to consumers. The development affects turnover and the ability of local products to compete favourably at the global market among other consequences. The government is not unaware of these and other serious implications. Determined to find a lasting solution to the challenge which is fuelled by factors such as low gas supply, lack of basic infrastructure, especially pipelines and vandalism, the Prof. Bart Nnaji-led Ministry of Power emerged

with short, short medium and long term plans a few months ago. Under the short term plan, which is to last between two and seven months, the ministry expects moderately improved power supply and a renewed distribution model which will allow d istribution companies in their various areas of distribution to promote planned distribution and have citizens informed. During the period, the Ministry expects that there would have been completion and operation of some new power generating plants, transmission lines and a more devel-

oped distribution pattern. It further expects, the reconstituted NERC to effectively implement the new tariff which implementation started on June 1, 2012. The minister remarked that, “It will interest Nigerians to know that whereas there is tariff of N7 per kilowatt is what is being paid now by the urban poor and rural dwellers; the new tariff rate will allow this class to pay at N4 per kilowatt. Three ratings will be involved in the payment for power supply. The new electricity tariff, which has been approved by Mr. President, has a great consideration for the poor in our midst and the R3 will be used to provide billing for the users of electricity above 50 kilowatts per hour.” Under the medium term, scheduled for implementation between 2013 and 2015, the reform would allow the privatisation of the generating centers and the distribution centre, which will then give higher efficiency and have input of high funding levels to in-

NIGERIA IS THE FACT THAT THE DI-VESTMENT PLAN BY THE BUREAU OF PUBLIC ENTERPRISES (BPE) WILL BE KEY TO THE CITIZENS OF

CONDUCTED IN A TRANSPARENT MANNER IN ORDER TO GIVE

NIGERIA AND NIGERIANS THE

BEST INVESTORS IN THIS SECTOR

crease power supply to the people. Nnaji confirmed that, “key to the citizens of Nigeria is the fact that the di-vestment plan by the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) will be conducted in a transparent manner in order to give Nigeria and Nigerians the best investors in this sector. It is also our belief that it will fast track development and snowball into better management of the power sector. The minister said the impact on the labour force in the power sector would be more positive and sustainable, while Nigerians would benefit with a sustained power service delivery. Suffice it to say that the medium term, which runs between 2013 to 2015, would provide generation of power to a higher level of adequacy with increased transmission lines. Under the long term, there would be increased diversification into renewable energy source. This will include small and medium hydro-power, solar, bio-waste to energy and coal. These seem to be good plans. Consumers are however watching to see how these and others would be implemented to make positive impact on the sector and economy. However, the implementation of the plans is under threat. The protest of labour against the appointment of Manitoba Hydro International of Canada to manage the nation’s electricity transmission system constitutes a serious threat to the nation’s CONTINUED ON PAGE 36

Energy Week

Wednesday, July 25, 2012

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Labour protests reduce productivity in power sector

Bart Nnaji

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 35 capacity to transmit power in particular and boost productivity in general. Confirming the development, Nnaji said, “It has come to our attention that a handful of workers of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) have since Wednesday, July 18, 2012, been disturbing the peace and serenity of the corporate headquarters of the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), following the introduction to the TCN management the previous day of Manitoba Hydro International of Canada as the company which will from Monday, July 23, 2012, begin to manage TCN, one of the PHCN successor companies.” The minister said the workers have in the last three days used all manner of force to prevent conscientious and law-abiding TCN employees from not only carrying out their legitimate duties but even gaining access to their offices. He said, “These misguided workers who are purportedly acting under the auspices of the National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE) allege that security forces have been unleashed on them, that the TCN has been privatised and consequently handed over to Manitoba International to retrench the company’s entire workforce without their severance benefits being paid.” The minister who remarked that these allegations are false said that security has since September, 2011, been enhanced at all PHCN installations and facilities across the nation because of the obvious security challenges in some parts of the country. As he

Hussein Labo

puts it, “We are glad that deployment of soldiers to assist the police to protect the workers and the public assets from potential terror attacks has proved to be far-sighted. It is important to reiterate that the TCN has not been privatised, and will not be privatised. Since the enactment of the Electric Power Sector Reform Act in 2005, the Federal Government has always made it clear that the TCN will not be privatised, but rather managed by a company with a requisite record in this field.” Manitoba was on March 26, 2012, announced by the Bureau of Public Enterprises as the winner of the bid to manage the TCN after a rigorous competition with some other world-class electricity firms. He said the management contract between Manitoba International and the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) was signed on Monday, July 23, 2012. The minister remarked that, “It is, therefore, a distortion of facts for some misguided staff of PHCN to allege that the TCN has been sold to any firm and that its workers are about to be retrenched without the payment of their entitlements. In fact, far from TCN employees being laid off, the Ministry of Power has consistently made it clear that that the TCN is grossly understaffed. The Honourable Minister of Power, Professor Bart Nnaji, has given approval to the TCN management to hire over 1,000 engineers, technologists and technicians.” Justifying the engagement of Manitoba, Nnaji remarked that, Manitoba is coming with only eight expatriate workers. He

Nigerian oil exports to fall in September

igerian crude oil differentials were supported by an expected fall in exports to an 11-month low in September while traders reported strong demand for Angolan grades. The nation is set to load around 1.81 million barrels per day of crude oil in September which is the lowest level since last October. This programme excludes Oso Condensate and Akpo. Traders said they expected the lower exports to help support Nigerian differentials which fell to more than two-year lows earlier this month. “Angolan grades are going fairly briskly,” said one trader, citing better demand from European refiners and lower West African exports. Qua Iboe: Valued by traders at between dated plus $1.00 and dated plus $1.50 a barrel. This grade will load 10 cargoes in September com-

pared to 11 or 12 in a typical month. Usan: Will load four cargoes compared to five in August. Output from this grade began in February. Girassol: Total has lifted a force majeure on its loadings of Angolan Girassol crude oil following a production problem last week, trade sources said on Monday. Still, the production glitch is expected to disrupt loadings for August and September, traders said. A new loading programme is due to be published in the next few days and traders are expecting delays of 2-3 days. The grade was last heard offered at dated plus 90 cents. India’s Bharat Petroleum Corp. Ltd. issued a tender to buy crude including Nigerian and West African grades for loading. Last month, the nation’s oil attracted buyers, although at least 10 cargoes from July were still unsold. Reuters said “They are moving slowly and

James Olootu

Olushola Akinniranye

IT IS NOT GOOD THAT AUTHORITIES SHOULD ALLOW THE SITUATION TO REMAIN UNRESOLVED FOR SO LONG.

EFFORTS SHOULD BE MADE TO

ADDRESS THE PLIGHTS OF LABOUR said, “The Nigerian employees of the TCN, including the top management staff, will not leave their current positions but will stay on as deputies and “shadows” to understudy the new managers with a view to improving their technical and managerial skills and subsequently taking over the management of the state-owned enterprise as soon as possible.” The Minister stressed that as regards the payment of retirement or severance benefits of the TCN staff or the PHCN staff; “we would like to make it crystal clear that all employees will receive their legitimate entitlements on time. Indeed, adequate funds have been provided for this purpose.” He remarked, that “We would like to use this opportunity to inform the Nigerian people that, contrary to the allegation by some trade unionists in the power sector, there are no sufficient funds in the PHCN Pension scheme to settle the retirement benefits of the 50,000 PHCN workforce. Up to July 1, 2004, when the Pension Reform Act came into force, the PHCN operated a noncontributory pension scheme. As much as 88billion naira is required to pay the retirement entitlements of the 50,000 PHCN staff we will have to see what China will do,” said a West African trader. Qua Iboe, Nigeria’s largest crude stream was assessed unchanged from late last week at dated plus $1.40/$1.60 fob.” According to the programme, Amenam grade would load three cargoes in August compared with four for July. Usan is expected to load five cargoes of around 1 million barrels each compared with four cargoes for July. Okono is expected to load two cargoes in August versus one in July. Traders said that August cargoes are generally trading at 1050 cent discounts to July levels. Hungo: was heard offered at dated minus $1.50 a barrel. Traders said that West African traders’ interest in Pertamina tenders may fall in coming months because of requests for more favourable credit terms. Indonesia’s Petral bought Algerian Saharan Blend, Libyan The agency said “Amna and El Sahara via tender to import sweet crude for August delivery. It did not take West African barrels.”

members as of June 30, 2004, but only N3 billion is available in the PHCN pension scheme account. This scheme is administered jointly by the PHCN management and the three trade unions in the power sector.” Nnaji promised that PHCN employees would not be made to suffer undue hardships; the Federal Government has offered to provide the shortfall of N85billion in the PHCN Pension Scheme account. He said, “This offer has since been conveyed to PHCN workers’ representatives, including leaders of the three trade unions in the power sector, in the ongoing negotiations with the Federal Government on the payment of PHCN employees’ benefits in the wake of the privatisation of PHCN assets.” The minister said government is proud of its record in the enhancement of the welfare of power sector workers. He said “Some of the far-reaching steps which the Administration has taken to improve the welfare of the employees are the payment of N57billion monetized benefits which were denied them for a whole seven years; conversion of about 10,000 casual workers to permanent staff, with even retroactive effect; and a 50per cent salary increase across the board, with even a N9billion grant (not loan) to enable the PHCN to start paying the new huge wage bill.” The workers may not return to work until their grievances were positively addressed. From all indications, labour enjoys the support of some people and institutions. One of them is the President of the Senior Staff of Association of Electricity and Allied Company, Mr. Bede Opara, is said to have remarked that the government ought to have addressed all pending issues before the privatisation. The National President of Oil and Gas Service Providers Association of Nigeria (OGSPAN), Mr. Colman Obasi remarked that, “It is not good that authorities should allow the situation to remain unresolved for so long. Efforts should be made to address the plights of labour.” It intervention is necessary in order to end the protest as well as guarantee the provision of stable transmission of electricity to consumers in different parts of the nation.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Energy Week

Wednesday, July 25, 2012

OPEC daily basket price stands at $103.71 per barrel Analysts said only supply side geopolitical risks could underpin oil prices, with a string of bomb attacks in Iraq and ongoing tensions with Iran, but in the current environment these were unlikely to prevent further price falls. “There is still a lot of correction potential in oil prices,” said Fritsch. “We had risen some $10 in seven days up until last Thursday. That was purely driven by perceived supply side risk but there has been no real improvement in fundamentals.” Iran has sent a new batch of enriched uranium to fuel a medical research reactor in its capital, the country’s nuclear chief said on Sunday, an indication that Tehran is digging in as its standoff with world powers over its nuclear programme continues.

UDEME AKPAN WITH AGENCY REPORT

he price of Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) basket of 12 crudes stood at 103.71 dollars a barrel on over the weekend, compared with $101.73 the previous day, according to OPEC Secretariat calculations. The new OPEC Reference Basket of Crudes (ORB) is made up of the following: Saharan Blend (Algeria), Girassol (Angola), Oriente (Ecuador), Iran Heavy (Islamic Republic of Iran), Basra Light (Iraq), Kuwait Export (Kuwait), Es Sider (Libya), Bonny Light (Nigeria), Qatar Marine (Qatar), Arab Light (Saudi Arabia), Murban (UAE) and Merey (Venezuela). The current price level showed $31 in excess of the $72 per barrel reference price of the nation’s 2012 budget. The development raised hope that the Federal Government may be in a position to generate sufficient funds for the execution of the budget. But the hope started to wane this week when prices started to crash. Reuters confirmed that oil prices slipped below $103 a barrel on Monday as investors sold off riskier assets and fled for the perceived safety of the dollar on fears that Spain will not be able to avoid a costly sovereign bailout. For instance, Brent crude was down $4.02 at $102.81 a barrel after touching an intra-day low of $102.42. Brent had posted a fourth straight weekly gain in the previous session. U.S. crude fell $3.71 to $88.12 a barrel. “When you’ve got fear in the markets, risk assets get sold off,” said Michael Hewson, an analyst at CMC Markets. Oil prices followed equities, the euro and other commodities down on worries that Spain, the eurozone’s fourth-largest economy, may be forced to seek a lifeline from international lenders as its regional authorities begin to go cap in hand to the central government. “There are fears this could be the beginning of a domino effect which ultimately leads to Spain having to join Greece, Portugal and Ireland in asking for an official rescue,” said Carsten Fritsch, energy analyst at Commerzbank in Frankfurt. “So far it is only the Spanish banking system that has asked for this help. But the spike in Spanish bond yields is indicating this.” Spanish 10-year government bond yields hit their highest level since the

Allison-Madueke

euro was launched after weekend media reports that half a dozen local authorities were ready to follow in the footsteps of Valencia. The heavy selling in oil accelerated as U.S. traders arrived at their desks and the dollar strengthened. At 1336 GMT it was up 0.50 percent against a basket of currencies as investors and traders abandoned the euro. A stronger dollar puts pressure on commodities priced in the U.S. currency. Investors and traders were also reacting to weekend reports that the International Monetary Fund will not contribute any more monies to Greece as it thinks it unlikely Athens will be able to reduce its debt-to-GDP ratio to 120 percent by 2020. “That has increased fears that Greece will go bankrupt in September and have to leave the eurozone,” said Fritsch. Greek Prime Minister Antonis Samaras said on Sunday his country was in a “Great Depression” similar to that of the United States in the 1930s. International lenders will arrive in Athens later this week to push for additional cuts needed for Greece to qualify for further rescue payments to keep it afloat. Analysts also pointed to comments by an adviser to the People’s Bank of China over the weekend saying that third-quarter growth could slow to 7.4 percent. “That has raised fears China may not be the catalyst for global growth that everyone hopes,” Hewson said. “China is a big oil consumer so demand concerns are increasing again.”

Nigeria’s August oil programme attracts more interest

ore loading programmes have emerged for the nation’s crude oil in August this year. The oil has also attracted buyers, although at least 10 cargoes from July are still unsold. One cargo of Agbami is said to have been sold on early this week at less than a $1 premium to dated Brent. Traders said Angolan cargoes were also moving slowly due to a pause in Chinese buying interest. Reuters said, “They are moving slowly and we will have to see what China will do,” said a West African trader. Qua Iboe, Nigeria’s largest crude stream was assessed unchanged from late last week at dated plus $1.40/$1.60 fob.” According to the programme, Amenam grade would load three cargoes in August compared with four for July. Usan is expected to load five cargoes of around 1 million barrels each compared with four cargoes for July. Okono is expected to load two cargoes in August versus one in July. Traders said that August cargoes are generally trading at 10-50 cent discounts to July levels. Hungo: was heard offered at dated minus $1.50 a barrel. Traders said that West African traders’ interest in Pertamina tenders may fall in coming months because of requests for more favourable credit terms. Indonesia’s Petral bought Algerian Saharan Blend, Libyan. The agency said, “Amna and El Sahara via tender to import sweet crude for August delivery. It did not take West African barrels.”

Energy & Oil Prices OIL ($/bbl) Nymex Crude Future Dated Brent Spot WTI Cushing Spot

PRICE*

CHANGE

% CHANGE

TIME

88.01 103.85 87.91

-0.13 -0.39 -3.53

-0.15% -0.38% -3.86%

07:37 07:48 07/23

OIL (¢/gal) Nymex Heating Oil Future Nymex RBOB Gasoline Future

PRICE*

CHANGE

% CHANGE

TIME

280.97 284.77

-0.92 -3.52

-0.33% -1.22%

07:36 07:33

NATURAL GAS ($/MMBtu) Nymex Henry Hub Future Henry Hub Spot New York City Gate Spot

PRICE*

CHANGE

% CHANGE

TIME

3.10 3.06 3.26

-0.02 0.04 0.07

-0.64% 1.32% 2.19%

07:37 07/23 07/23

PRICE*

CHANGE

% CHANGE

TIME

28.26 33.53 32.30

0.30 3.41 -1.45

1.07% 11.32% -4.30%

07/23 07/23 07/23

ELECTRICITY ($/megawatt hour) Mid-Columbia, firm on-peak, spot Palo Verde, firm on-peak, spot BLOOMBERG, FIRM ON-PEAK, DAY AHEAD SPOT/ERCOT HOUSTON

Source: Oilprice.com

FG’s revenue on oil climbs 32% in June

Federal Government revenue increased by 32 percent to N763.6 billion ($92.7 billion) in June from the previous month, boosted by company and oil taxes. The government distributed 569.4 billion to federal, state and local administrations last month, Accountant-General of the Federation Jonah Otunla said in a statement handed to reporters in Abuja, the capital, yesterday. Nigeria is Africa’s top oil producer and the government earns 80 percent of revenue from crude exports. The price of oil jumped 10 percent in New York since June 1, reaching as high as $92.30 a barrel today. Government revenue from oil increased 11 percent to 529.9 billion naira in June from the previous month, Otunla said. The Federation Account Allocation Committee transferred N207.9 billion into Nigeria’s excess-crude account, which the government uses to save windfalls when international oil prices exceed its budgeted price of $72 a barrel. That brought the total in the excess-crude account to $6.9 billion, Yerima Ngama, minister of state for finance, told reporters in Abuja yesterday.

Energy Week

Statoil fails to sell forties crude Statoil ASA failed to sell North Sea Forties crude at a higher price than yesterday. Glencore International Plc offered Russian Urals in northwest Europe without success at a bigger discount to Dated Brent. Libya’s state-run National Oil Corp. reduced its August official selling price of benchmark Es Sider crude to the lowest level in almost three years, according to a price list obtained by Bloomberg News. Statoil offered the Forties cargo for Aug. 10 to Aug. 12 loading at 20 cents a barrel more than Dated Brent, according to a Bloomberg survey of traders and brokers monitoring the Platts trading window. This compares with a premium of 5 cents for a trade yesterday. Chevron Corp. didn’t manage to sell a consignment for loading on Aug. 5 to Aug. 7 at 25 cents a barrel more than Dated Brent, the survey showed. BP Plc failed to sell Ekofisk for Aug. 9 to Aug. 11 at $1.20 more than Dated Brent, 5 cents less than its offer yesterday, the survey showed. Reported crude trading typically occurs during the Platts window, which ends at 4:30 p.m. London time. Before the session, Forties loading in 10 to 25 days was at 4 cents a barrel more than Dated Brent, the lowest since July 3, compared with a premium of 34 cents, data compiled by Bloomberg show. Brent for September settlement traded at $106.50 a barrel on the ICE Futures Europe exchange in London at the close of the window, down from $107.29 yesterday. The October contract was at $105.80, a discount of 70 cents to September. Glencore was unable to sell 100,000 metric tons of Urals for Aug. 1 to Aug. 5 loading at 55 cents a barrel less than Dated Brent, delivered to Rotterdam, the survey showed. This compares with a discount of 20 cents for an offer by Royal Dutch Shell Plc yesterday. No bids or offers were made for Urals in the Mediterranean for the second day. The blend was 13 cents more than Dated Brent in the region, compared with a premium of 20 cents yesterday, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. The price of Es Sider was cut by $1.60 a barrel to a discount of $1.30 to North Sea Dated Brent, the lowest since at least January 2010, data compiled by Bloomberg show. Nigeria plans to export eight Agbami crude cargoes of 975,000 barrels each in September, unchanged from August, according to a loading plan obtained by Bloomberg News.

Nigeria to Increase September Akpo crude exports to six cargoes Nigeria, Africa’s largest oil producer, plans to increase exports of Akpo crude to six cargoes of 1 million barrels each in September, one more than August, according to a loading plan obtained by Bloomberg. The nation will also export four shipments of Escravos, three Erha and two Yoho, separate plans showed. Cargo sizes range from 950,000 barrels to 985,000 barrels. Shipping schedules of Amenam and Okono grades weren’t available yet. Loading programs are monthly schedules of crude shipments compiled by field operators to allow buyers and sellers to plan their supply and trading activities.

Wednesday, July 25, 2012

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

PIB proposes national petroleum products UDEME AKPAN

he Federal Government has proposed the creation of a National Strategic stock for petroleum products in the nation. The government that proposed the creation in its new Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB), maintained that the institution shall: Administer and ensure compliance, distribution and storage of the national strategic stocks of petroleum products in accordance with regulations made by the minister on the advice of the agency. The body would determine the amount to be charged as a levy for the financing of the national strategic stock, which shall form part of the retail price of each petroleum product; and designate, in conjunction with the appropriate authorities and national security agencies, the strategic points across the country where the national strategic stocks shall be distributed and

maintained. The PIB stated that “The agency shall monitor -the prices of petroleum products applying in the domestic market to ensure that there is no pricing collusion or manipulation; and any activity of any operator in the downstream petroleum sector that, in the opinion of the agency, is likely to adversely affect the prices of petroleum products.” It maintained that, “The agency shall coordinate with other relevant authorities to inspect the metering of pumps and other facilities at retail outlets to ensure they conform to existing national standards , to the extent that any distortion of such metering is likely to affect the prices of petroleum products; inspect all facilities at retail outlets to ensure that the products conform to such quality standards as set by the agency and to the extent that non-- compliance is likely to affect the prices of petroleum products.” The body is expected to inspect any facility used in the

Jonathan

storage and transportation of petroleum products in whatever quantity, whether used legally or otherwise, to ensure that no petroleum product is transported or stored in a manner capable of creating scarcity or artificial hikes in the price of the products. The PIB stated that “A per-

Morgan, BP sign long-term agreements

inder Morgan Energy Partners and British Petroleum North America have entered into long-term commercial agreements to provide BP condensate processing services and storage at Kinder Morgan’s terminals located on the Houston Ship Channel. BP has committed over 40,000 barrels per day (bpd) of throughput at Kinder Morgan’s petroleum condensate facility which will split condensate into various components such as light and heavy naphthas, kerosene and gas oil.

The approximately $200 million facility has been designed to provide future processing expansions up to 100,000 bpd throughput. BP also will lease an additional 750,000 barrels of storage that Kinder Morgan will add at its Galena Park terminal. BP stated in a statement that, “The expansion is part of Kinder Morgan’s approximately $75 million investment to construct five tanks that will connect to its condensate facility with new piping, manifolds and pumps. Kinder Morgan expects the new storage tanks and condensate fa-

cility to be in service in the first quarter of 2014.” Paul Reed, It quoted the Chief Executive of BP’s integrated supply and trading business, Paul Reed, as stating that,“BP is proud to participate in a project that helps unlock additional domestic energy production and offers US Producers an alternative home for their condensate barrels.” He said, “This long-term commitment demonstrates BP’s desire to provide its customers with flexibility in managing their feedstock and product needs and enhances our stra-

son shall not - obstruct or assault any officer of the Agency or any person authorized by the Agency in the exercise of the powers conferred on to the Agency under this Act; refuse any officer of the Agency access to any premises, facilities or retail outlets, or refuse to submit to a search of any tegic relationship with Kinder Morgan. “We are pleased to enter into these contracts with BP, which reflect continued strong demand to bring Eagle Ford Shale production to the Gulf Coast,” said The President of Kinder Morgan’s Products Pipelines, Tom Bannigan said, “Our splitter facility combined with our Eagle Ford to Houston crude/condensate pipeline and associated Houston Ship Channel storage facilities offer customers like BP unparalleled connectivity to the full range of Gulf Coast markets including refineries, chemical companies, gasoline blenders, outbound pipelines and marine facilities.”

Aker Solutions wins drilling equipment UDEME AKPAN

ker Solutions has signed a contract with Hyundai Heavy Industries to supply a complete drilling equipment topside package to a new semisubmersible drilling rig the South Korean yard is building for Seadrill, the rig operator. The contract includes an option to supply one more drilling equipment package. “We are very pleased to deliver our first complete topside drilling package to Hyundai Heavy Industries, and we look forward to further develop a suc-

Thor Arne Haverstad

cessful partnership,” said Thor Arne Håverstad, head

of Aker Solutions’ drilling technologies business. Aker Solutions will handle all major aspects of the topside equipment delivery, from engineering support and procurement to installation and commissioning. The work will be executed in Aker Solutions’ facilities in Kristiansand, Horten and Asker in Norway and Erkelenz, Germany. Installation and commissioning services will take place at the Hyundai Samho Heavy Industries yard in South Korea. Aker Solutions also offers training services in its upgraded facilities in South Korea. Most of the equipment

will be delivered in 2013 and the rig will be completed in the fourth quarter of 2014. Aker Solutions offers complete drilling equipment packages, including project management, engineering, procurement and commissioning. The company provides the full range of topside drilling equipment and systems, and worldwide customer support through a global drilling lifecycle services organisation. The firm has also won riser contract. It maintained that, “The CLIP riser enables a faster connection and disconnection of the riser joints, which improves operational efficiency and safety.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

strategic stock premises, facilities or retail outlets by any authorised officer or agent of the agency refuse to acknowledge the receipt of any summons by the agency issued and duly delivered to any person; or fail to comply with any lawful demand, notice, order or requirement of an officer or authorised person of the Agency in the execution of the officer’s duties under this Act.” It maintained that a person or company shall not - engage in refining, marketing, distributing or operating any petroleum or gas processing plant or transmitting facilities, terminal or premises without a valid licence and remove any pipeline or other works or installations utilised for the purpose of supplying petroleum products. It stated that, “Any person who violates the provisions of Section 226 of this Act commits an offence and is liable on conviction to payment of a fine which shall be as prescribed by the minister in a regulation made pursuant to

Energy Week

Wednesday, July 25, 2012

this Act. Where an offence has been committed under the provisions of Section 227 of this Act, the affected company or person shall discontinue the supply of petroleum products until any damage, alteration, malfunction or loss has been rectified and all safety issues have been resolved.” Notwithstanding the provisions of Oil Pipelines Act, the agency may grant a transportation pipeline owner licence, which may include the right to own, operate and maintain a transportation pipeline within a route as defined in the license. It also added that, “A transportation pipeline owner licensee shall undertake the activities contemplated by the transportation pipeline owner licence in a manner best calculated to comply with the obligations to: operate and maintain economical, safe and reliable transportation infrastructure, taking into account any strategic plans that may be formulated by the Agency and manage supply shortfalls and where feasible.”

TEPNG signs partnership agreements with Olo, Ekpeye communities UDEME AKPAN

otal E & P Limited has signed a 5-year development partnership agreement with Olo communities and Ekpeye kingdom. This is coming on the heels of the successful tripartite partnership agreement signing ceremony involving TEPNG, Egi Oil & Gas Families and Egi Clan. The signing ceremony which took place in Building 22 of the Port Harcourt office was witnessed by representatives of the Rivers State Government, United Nations Institute for Training & Research (UNITAR) and chiefs as well as opinion leaders of the two communities. The new agreement will deal with issues of: employment, educational development, skills development, infrastructure development. Scholarship awards: post primary 130 persons, post secondary, 100 persons; post graduate, local 8 persons; and post graduate, foreign 3. Skills development: 250 persons in five years from 2012 to 2016, infrastructure development envelop of N472 million in

CRS: NDDC to consolidate partnership with Rivers State

he Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), said it will consolidate on the long standing partnership with the Rivers State Government towards accelerating the growth of the 160 million capacity Syringe Manufacturing Company in Port Harcourt. Managing Director of the Commission; Dr Christian Oboh, gave the indication when he visited the factory in company of the Rivers State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Sampson Parker. “NDDC is proud to be ‘associated with you; we’are going to make more contributions to ensure that the factory grows”. The Managing

contract The deepwater drilling riser system will be manufactured and delivered from Aker Solutions’ manufacturing plant in Port Klang, Malaysia.” The drilling riser system is scheduled to be delivered in the autumn of 2013. Aker Solutions has previously delivered risers to the Atwood Osprey and Atwood Condor drilling units. Another two drilling riser systems are currently being produced for the Atwood Advantage and Atwood Achiever units. “The unique technology behind the CLIP riser offers the drilling operator a faster connection and disconnection of the riser joints,

Director said. Oboh who was elated by what he saw at the factory said, “with what I have seen, I think I have more hope now in Nigerian projects, if Nigerians can do these here, it means it could be extended to other places”. The Rivers State Commissioner for health, Dr. Sampson Parker disclosed that plans are on; to expand the factory to a One billion syringe’ production capacity to enable it weather demands from international Markets. According to Parker the expansion will also create job opportunities for over 2,000 workers as which improves operational efficiency and safety. The drilling riser from Aker Solutions can be disconnected and pulled out of the water in half the time it takes to remove a traditional riser, which saves the operator time and money,” said Tom Munkejord, senior vice president and head of Aker Solutions’ drilling riser business. Aker Solutions offers complete drilling equipment packages, including project management, conceptual design, detailed engineering and procurement. The company provides the full range of topside drilling equipment and systems, including drilling risers, with worldwide customer support through its lifecycle services organisation.

Oboh

against the 150 presently in its employment. “The multiplier effect is enormous, it is a good thing to invest in the project and it is a good thing to be part of it. We, therefore, implore the Federal Government, NDDC, and private sector to put in their best interest in the factory”. The Commission has also focused on education. A total of 3,100 candidates of Niger Delta extraction out of about 6,000 that applied for the NDDC Foreign Scholarship Scheme have written an electronic examination. The candidates consisting of persons for the Master and Doctorate Degrees were drilled in general science among others. The Director, Education, Health and Social Services, Dr. Christy Atako was said to have remarked that the choice of electronic examination was to enable the Commission shortlist the right candidates to be interviewed for the scholarship scheme. “It is a transparent way of short-

Maurice

five years; and employment slots for community indigenes into the company within the duration of the agreement. Ekpeye Community: Scholarship awards: post primary, 75 students; post secondary, 100 students; post graduate, local 8; post graduate, foreign 3. Skills development 290 persons in five years from 2012 to 2016, infrastructure development envelop of 510 million naira in five years; and employment slots for community indigenes into the company within the duration of the agreement. In his remarks, the Rivers State Commissioner for Chieftaincy & listing them, each candidate has opportunity to compete and then we would take the best”, Mrs. Atako said, disclosing that several applications were received but only those who met the criteria were shortlisted for the computer based test. On emphasis in the sciences, Atako said, “you know we have a lot of gaps in our oil and gas sector, and that is what we desire in the Niger Delta region and Nigeria at large”. According to her, “we also need to encourage our youths to show interest in engineering for the sake of our projects. We need qualified engineers that can manage our projects just as in agriculture, environmental science and other science related courses”. “We believe that our children should have some exposure outside the country in addition to their studies to enable them learn from people of other nations in both lifestyle and academics”, she said. Speaking on behalf of the consultant, Mr. Asawo Ibituro emphasised that electronic examination breeds transparency. “There is no room for anybody to change your grade since your picture and details are in the system, after writing the examination your score is reflected immediately”. Some candidates who spoke to journalists, thanked NDDC for the electronic examination, pointing out that it was not only fair but gave the applicants equal opportunity to compete. The Commission recently conducted similar electronic examinations for Engineers and Lawyers seeking employment into the NDDC.

Community Affairs, Mr. Charles Okayi commended Total for its harmonious relationship with its host communities observing that the harmony had fostered peace and development in Rivers State. He praised the parties for their maturity and peaceful disposition which culminated in the signing of the agreement. Olo communities and Ekpeye kingdom are hosts to some of the company’s facilities and installations. Recently, as part of its commitments to the host communities in OML 58, Total E&P Nigeria Limited officially flagged off a two-week mass free health programme at Obite. A third week was added as a result of the demand and success of the initiative. The free health programme benefitted about 9,000 patients during that period. In the first two days of the programme of free services provided by a team of doctors, about 1,731 people were attended to. The medical team carried out 75 general surgical procedures; attended to 64 dental cases; rendered 246 optical services with 56 pairs of eye glasses given out and 61 HIV/AIDS tests administered along with counselling, according to Dr. Humphrey Igwacha, Coordinator, Universal Medicare Foundation.

RRB Energy targets African market with smaller turbines RRB Energy Ltd., Vestas Wind Systems former joint-venture partner in India, expects as much as 25 percent of sales next year to come from exports of smaller turbines to emerging markets led by Africa. The New Delhi-registered manufacturer, one of the earliest to enter India’s wind power market in 1987, said it is bucking an industry trend toward larger turbines and has restarted production of a 225-kilowatt machine discontinued in 2005. “There’s a lot of potential in emerging markets where so far there’s been no development of wind power like Africa,” Deputy Managing Director Sarvesh Kumar said in a phone interview yesterday. “They can’t simply start with megawatt-class machines.” Wind-turbine makers are seeking to diversify as they struggle with overcapacity and declining demand in traditional markets. Growth is set to slow in China, the world’s biggest wind market, for the first time this year, while governments in the United States. and Europe are rolling back cleanenergy subsidies. Closely-held RRB, which sells more than 95 percent of its turbines in India and has annual sales of about $200 million, plans to approach power utilities in Ghana and Nigeria. It has also exported two 225-kilowatt turbines to farmers in the U.K. and expects to sell nine more. “I don’t face much competition because the 225-kilowatt has a proven track record of 20 years,” which makes it easier for wind-farm developers to get bank financing and insurance, said Kumar. “No other supplier of small turbines has that.”

Energy Week

Nigeria LNG makes $3 bn in first quarter Nigeria LNG’s first-quarter revenues totaled more than $3 billion, up sharply from $1.9 billion in the year-ago quarter on higher exports, a spokeswoman said. Platt quoted spokeswoman, Siene Allwell-Brown as stating that, “The first quarter of 2012 has gone very well for us at NLNG.” “We have had full gas sufficiency throughout the period, while our costs were well-managed below the target we had during the year.” The Bonny LNG plant is owned by state-owned Nigeria National Petroleum Corp. (49%), Shell (25.6%), Total (15%) and Eni (10.4%). It has combined capacity of 22 million mt/ yr of LNG (equivalent to 2.8 Bcf/d of gas) from six trains. NLNG said in March that it shipped a record 330 LNG cargoes last year from Bonny LNG, bringing it $10 billion in revenues. Nigeria exported 18.86 million mt in 2011, equivalent to 330 standard-sized cargoes of about 57,000 mt (equivalent to 2.7 Bcf of gas) each, according to sources. In 2010, NLNG exported 17.97 million mt, and in 2009 it exported a relatively small amount of 11.62 million mt, because Shell’s Soku gas-processing plant, which provides about half of the feed gas to NLNG, was shut much of the year due to illegal tapping of pipelines by local groups in an effort to steal condensates. NLNG has suggested it would build a seventh train that would increase Bonny production capacity to 30 million mt/yr. The company would acquire six new LNG tankers ahead of the increased output, Allwell-Brown said. Nigeria LNG was incorporated in 1989. In November 1995, a Final Investment Decision (FID) was signed by the shareholders to build a Liquefied Natural Gas Plant in Finima, Bonny Island in Rivers State. In December 1995, a consortium of engineering firms comprising Technip, Snamprogetti, M.V. Kellog and Japan Gas Corporation (TSKJ) was awarded a turnkey Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) contract for the construction of the Plant, the Gas Transmission System and the Residential Area. Construction of the plant site commenced in February 1996 and by August 1999, one of the two trains (Train 2) was completed. On August 12 of the same year, the plant was ready for start-up, and production of LNG commenced on September 15. The second train of the Base Project, Train 1, came on stream on February 27, 2000. Train 3 came into operations in November 2002. NLNGPlus, comprising Trains 4 and 5, came on stream in November 2005 (for Train 4) and February 2006 (for Train 5). The plant has rapidly and successfully made the transition from a construction project to a stable production operation, with a robust delivery chain underpinned by relentless focus on asset integrity and HSE assurance. This has made NLNG to achieve, within a short span, the status of a reliable supplier of LNG in the Atlantic Basin, serving the European and North American markets.

Wednesday, July 25, 2012

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Simrit-2 exploration well encounters additional oil UDEME AKPAN

fren plc has drilled the Simrit-2 exploration well in the Kurdistan region of Iraq to a depth of 3,800 metres and the total net oil pay has increased to 460 metres. It has also accomplished a cumulative flow rate of 13,584 bopd has been achieved from three out of 12 zones to be tested. In a statement, the company said “Having previously encountered an estimated 409 metres of net oil pay throughout Cretaceous, Jurassic and Triassic reservoirs down to the initially planned total depth of 3,700 metres, Afren and operator Hunt Oil Middle East subsequently elected to deepen the well and continue drilling to a revised total depth of 3,800 metres in order to test additional prospectivity.” It stated that an analysis of data collected indicates the continual presence of light oil shows throughout the deepened section of the well, extending the estimated net pay encountered by the well to 460 metres. No oil water contact has been established in the target reservoirs.

The firm said upon completion of drilling operations, an extensive well test programme commenced in June. It is the partners’ intention to conduct up to 12 separate drill stem tests (“DSTs”) throughout the Cretaceous, Jurassic and Triassic aged reservoirs. To date, three DSTs have been completed at separate zones within the Triassic age Kurra Chine Formation, yielding an aggregate flow rate of 13,584 bopd of 39° API gravity oil. Kurra Chine Formation Oil rate (bopd) Gas rate (mmscfg/d) Zone A (3,453m – 3,524m) 6,200 3.5 800 psi FTP Zone B (3,636m3,650m & 3,654m-3,668m) 3,102 10.0 1,426 psi FTP Zone C (3,700m3,800m) 4,282 10.0 1,472 psi FTP Aggregate rate 13,584 23.5 Following completion of this first batch of DSTs, the partners will now switch the Viking-11 drilling unit for a work-over rig at the Simrit-2 location in order to complete the remaining nine planned DSTs. The Viking-11 drilling rig will then be mobilised to commence drilling of the Simrit-3 exploration well in August. Afren has a 20 per cent. interest in the Ain Sifni PSC and is partnered by Hunt Oil Middle East (60 per cent. and operator)

Chairman, Afren Plc, Egbert

Imomoh

and the Kurdistan Regional Government (20 per cent.). Osman Shahenshah, Chief Executive of Afren, commented: “The latest results on the Simrit-2 exploration well confirm the transformational potential of this discovery to Afren, further validated by the test results, suggesting excellent production capability.” Afren is an independent upstream oil and gas exploration and production company listed on the main market of the London Stock Exchange and constitu-

ent of the Financial Times Stock Exchange Index of the leading 250 United Kingdom listed companies. Afren has a portfolio of 29 assets across 12 countries spanning the full cycle E&P value chain. Afren is currently producing from its assets offshore Nigeria and Côte d’Ivoire and holds further interests in the Kurdistan region of Iraq, Ghana, Nigeria, Côte d’Ivoire, Congo Brazzaville, the Joint Development Zone of Nigeria - São Tomé & Príncipe, Kenya, Ethiopia, Madagascar, Seychelles, Tanzania and South Africa.

FG favours NNPC, local firms in $60bn oil deals UDEME AKPAN

he Federal Government has been tasked to pay more attention to mining sites as it generates tailings which threaten surface and underground water resources in the country. The pollutants is said to be dangerous, particularly as it often get to the surface and underground water. Professor Hilary Inyang, Duke Energy Distinguished Professor of Environmental Engineering and Science, and Professor of Earth Science at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, USA said, “Solid mineral mines on either side of the equator, within the tropics in countries such as Brazil, Ecuador, Liberia, Ghana, Nigeria, Congo, and Zambia, generate huge quantities of mine tailings that are usually piled up.” He said, “Using Nigeria as an example, tin mining in the Middle Belt states generates a lot of tailings that threaten surface and underground water resources.” Presenting a paper at the University of Ilorin, Kwara State, Inyang said dredging of many waterways to establish navigable water courses for transportation between the hinterland and coastal harbours also generates sediments that are contaminated with metals, organic sub-

Hilary inyang

stances and at times, radioactive materials. He said “Standard practice is the pile-up of dredge spoils within the river channels or proximal upland areas in configurations. Whether or not the contaminants drain directly into the water bodies, the resulting ecological and human health damages can be profound as documented in other global regions.” Inyang said, “It is worthy of note that on Friday, August 6, 2012, the leadership of Nigeria’s National Steering Committee of the FGN-IAEA Technical Cooperation Project on Marine Contamination Monitoring observed that effective monitoring will enable Nigeria to know the quality of toxicants on seafood

and waters in line with specification from the World Health Organisation. Let the implementation begin.” He said while heaps of household wastes exist, waste dump sites are usually selected but often poorly designed in the humid tropics. Consequently, he remarked that, “Environmental and human health risks are usually elevated at such sites due to their reception of industrial, hospital and other special wastes that contain highly toxic and possibly radioactive substances.” Inyang said owing to their unfortunate socio-economic circumstances, the poor inhabitants of neighborhoods close to dumpsites often scavenge for discarded items within the waste, oblivious of associated health risks. He remarked that, “I have observed this circumstance in South America, West and East Africa and Southeast Asia. In 2011, I led the evaluation of compilations of information on such sites in the Niger Delta Region for the Nigerian Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs.” The environmentalist stated that other compilations of data on dumpsites in 14 towns of the South-South and Southeast geopolitical zones of Nigeria by E.E. Nkwocha and A.C. Emeribe (9) indicate a total of 118 unauthorised waste dumpsites covering burrow pits, gullies, river banks, open farmlands and swamps.

He said another survey of industrial waste constituents in Port Harcourt, Nigeria (10) shows that they contain materials such as empty channel drums, oil sludges, scrap metal, batteries, dyes, plastics, wooden pallets, blasting grit and liquid wastes. Inyang remarked that, “An additional development in waste dumping has been the illegal transfer of hazardous industrial wastes from technologically advanced countries to sites in the humid tropics. Within the past few years, nuclear and hazardous wastes were dumped in Somalia by some Italian companies. Some British companies were named by Brazil’s Environmental Inspectorate upon investigation of the dumping of hospital and household wastes there.” He said several people have died in the Middle Belt and other areas due to consumption of water that is contaminated with mining wastes and agricultural chemicals that leach from waste plies, exposed chemical stockpiles and fertilizer-treated fields. Inyang, however called for the putting in place of control measures for contaminant leaching from wastes and the consequent hazards to ecological and human health can be sub-divided into institutional control measures and engineering control systems.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Wednesday, July 25, 2012

Executive Discourse

The National Insurance Commission (NAICOM), has since 2007 carried out various reforms which have restored sanity and ethical behaviour among industry players. The Commissioner for Insurance, Mr. Fola Daniel in this interview with OMOBOLA TOLU-KUSIMO speaks on the progress made on Investment and Allied Assurance Plc which it took over last year, his vision on MDRI and the recent Dana crash.

Wednesday, July 25, 2012

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

We will not impose a

NAICOM took over IAA based on alleged fraud committed by its former management led by the Managing Director, Mr. Funmi Adenmosun and put in place an interim management. But the company has since encountered some challenges which made it difficult for it to move forward as expected. Are you stranded over the take over? I think the question to the answer is why did we take over IAA? Firstly, it is in order to protect the interest of the larger public particularly the interest of the insuring public. Secondly, the action we took in respect of IAA is to protect the entire insurance industry. There is poor perception of insurance in the country which we are still struggling with and it is getting very difficult to wipe off. People see insurers as charlatans and non-performers. Therefore, if we have any inclination of any player that is negative, we have to act. What we have done is commensurate; it is the right thing to do at that time. You said sometimes in October last year that you have reported a case of fraud committed by the sacked management of the company to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for prosecution and that the EFCC told you they were investigating the matter. Can you tell us if you have made any progress on the matter with the EFCC and any regrets so far? Regrets? No. We donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have any regret whatsoever. In fact, we are the one that is making sacrifices because we put in place a management and we are funding salaries including that of the Board. We left the Board chairman because we believe he is a key player and vital to making the company move forward. The chairman himself was not a voluntary investor in the company. He is a victim of what happened. He had transaction of about N3bn with them. His money was hanging and was converted to equity. As the largest individual investor, he became the chairman. However, we have worked with the Board to see that we bring this company out of the woods and the Board as represented by the chairman has been very corporative. Two months back, the chairman spoke with Nigerians who are willing to invest in the company. But because the company is a public quoted company, there was a need to follow due process and one of the process needed to inject more funds or new investor was to do an Extra-Ordinary General Meeting. They advertised that an EGM will take place which sole objective was to raise money and get the company going. But the man who christened himself vice chairman got an injunction to stop the EGM. We do not know what the prayers are. So he became the cog in the whel of progress. As far as IAA is concerned, our interest is to ensure that we do not either by act of omission or errors continue to inflict a sickly company on Nigerians. If we must have insurance companies, they must be the ones that are doing well and can continue to be in business in an environment like ours and that is why we took that action. So a temporary setback was what we suffered by the court injunction. This is not about us. We are not part of the EGM, we were just observers. But I can tell you that right now, a lot of companies including foreign entities

Daniel

AS FAR AS IAA IS CONCERNED, OUR INTEREST IS TO ENSURE THAT WE DO NOT EITHER BY ACT OF OMISSION OR ERRORS CONTINUE TO INFLICT A SICKLY COMPANY ON are showing interest in IAA and as long as we have this ray of hope and we see light at the end of the tunnel, we believe the company will make appreciable progress. Right now, the company directly or

NIGERIANS

indirectly is indebted to AMCON and they have taken a tangible share of the company. The company itself was used in obtaining loans directly or as a guarantee to loans that was never brought into the

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Executive Discourse

Wednesday, July 25, 2012

sickly company on Nigerians â&#x20AC;&#x201C;Daniel company and that is the reason the company was indebted to Bank PHB and Access Bank. But AMCON has taken over the non-performing loans and has taken over the position of those investors that took the money. I believe that the intent of AMCON is for the company to live on and be able to pay back the loans otherwise the money is gone. What is the alternative open red to NAICOM? The alternative is to liquidate the company but even if we do that, those we sought to protect their interest, the policyholders will suffer because they are not likely to get 100 per cent indemnity under a liquidation process. We believe that this company can be managed in a way that it can continue to do business. But we had that setback and the good thing is that as I am talking to you, there are people in and out side Nigeria that are ready to invest in it. What is the next step? Presently, the injunction has being vacated and we are able to get companies to bid for it. I do not want to give the names because they may not want it in the public domain yet. They are still in an exploratory kind of session and it is better we allow discussions to be full blown. But the injunction, which restricted the company from marching forward, has been lifted and so there is no encumbrance. What is the fate of the staff of the company? The company employed some Nigerians and many of them have not being paid for up to one year. It is a sorry situation and we believe that if we are able to stir this company out of the murky waters, some lives will be saved and workers that have been working and became hopeless can become hopeful by getting the entitlement that they deserve. When did you petition the EFCC on this matter? We petitioned the EFCC over a year ago. We have also done a reminder and we were told that they are investigating. This is the best we can do as a regulator and I can tell you that we have not just reported the case to EFCC, we have reported to Independent Corrupt Practices and Other related Offences Commission (ICPC) Director General of the SSS, Inspector General of Police, and Office of the National Security Adviser (NSA) giving details of what we discovered in the place. So, if we are told that they are investigating, we can only hope that they are investigating.

THE FUNDAMENTALS THAT INFORMED OUR CONCLUSION ON

MDRI IS STILL THERE

JUST AS THE POTENTIAL IS

ALSO STILL AVAILABLE.

YOU

CAN FEEL IT AND YOU CAN ALMOST TOUCH IT

How long should an investigation take place? I cannot pass judgment on how long they have to investigate a case. I am not privy to their methodology or style but as a responsible organisation, if they say they are investigating then, we just have to wait. For us, we will continue to explore other avenues of keeping the company going and that is what we are doing. The office of the NSA and Director General, SSS has invited us when they got our petition and we gave a statement. What do you have to say to Nigerians the Dana Air crash given that insurers have a major role to play in compensating victimsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; families? I express sympathy for the departed souls. I grieve with their dependants because what happened was very tragic and we pray that we do not suffer this kind of calamity again. Sadly, 160 people died suddenly. As an insurance institution and industry, our responsibility is to pay compensation. I believe all the insurance companies involved will live up to their responsibility. This is an opportunity for insurers to showcase that insurance mechanism works and that it gives benefit and values. I wish there were no deaths but a less tragic occasion that involves only properties so we can say to

people that those of you who lost your houses, here are your cheques. If it involves lives, there is no amount of money that can replace or compensate for a life but what we can do is fulfill our promises and that is what we are going to do.

As part of the reforms in the industry, NAICOM embarked on various programmes in 2009 and set a target of N1trn premium income as what the industry will achieve especially through the sales of compulsory insurance. Considering the fact that the industry achieved only N200bn in 2011, do you still stand by your word? Yes. This is because the fundamentals that informed our conclusion on MDRI is still there just as the potential is also still available. You can feel it and you can almost touch it. I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t sell insurance but we are saying given the environment and what is available to us, the figures as given is realisable and we have no reason whatsoever to believe that we gave a figure that is not attainable. In fact, the figure is an understatement of the potential that we have in the country. For any reason, if some companies have not leveraged on this opportunity, they would have themselves to blame. What we as a regulator have tried to do is to open windows and that is what is done with the MDRI and other opportunities that we have opened. We did all that and lay emphasis on the development of the industry than regulating and supervising. Primarily, my job is to regulate and supervise but we are stakeholders in the development of the industry. I believe that serious minded people in the industry are leveraging on this opportunities. I am happy to see companies like Leadway Assurance, Mutual Benefit and even NICON Insurance which did some advertisement in the newspaper to support the MDRI. This is good and I expect others to also take full advantage of the opportunity and potentials waiting to be tapped. But some insurers have said they are constrained because there is no proper law to back the compulsory insurance up and the strategy is wrong. What is your take on this? I do not think anybody would be complaining that there is no legal backing or talk about wrong strategy because as NAICOM, we have never claimed to have the monopoly of strategy. This is why we have asked them to join hands with us in all of our public outings. As a matter of fact, before we went public, we set up a joint committee with the industry and NAICOM to come out with the best strategy for us to use for the MDRI. I believe that every strategy is a roadmap, which can be adjusted and fine tuned. So, if anyone feels the strategy is wrong, he or she can make recommendations and we are equally ready to take it. On legal backing, the law is there and it is sufficient. I do not know the legal backing they are talking about and I hope no one would expect that we come and sell insurance for them or ask people if they have insured their vehicles. Insurers need to come up with appropriate policies that will encourage people to buy. It should be value-added policies that will generate the interest of the public. The deadline for divestment of bank owned insurance company according to directives by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) is April this year. What is the status of these companies now? I believe many of the companies are divesting or partially divesting. A few of them are yet to and this few belong to the category of those given special extension by the Central Bank. Primarily, it is an issue for CBN anyway but as an insurance industry regulator, we are interested in the follow up guideline. I can tell you that many of the insurers are divesting. For instance, ADIC and some other companies are in the hands of new investors while others are in the process of complying fully. A few of the companies are keying into the holding company structure but the idea is to separate non-core banking business from core banking business.. Some are doing partial divestment while some are doing full divestment.

Wednesday, July 25, 2012

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Global Business

Wednesday, July 25, 2012

T&T Incorporated, the largest Unitede States phone company, posted second-quarter profit that beat analysts’ estimates after paying less money in subsidies to get customers to buy new smartphones. Net income attributable to AT&T climbed 8.7 percent to $3.9 billion, or 66 cents a share, from $3.59 billion, or 60 cents, a year earlier, Dallas-based AT&T said today in a statement. Analysts projected 63 cents a share on average, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. Sales rose less than 1 percent to $31.6 billion, compared with an estimate of $31.7 billion. AT&T added 320,000 monthly contract customers, a smaller number than a year earlier. AT&T added 320,000 monthly contract customers, a smaller number than a year earlier. While the decline is bad for sales growth, it means the company doled out fewer dollars in subsidies -- the payments that make it easier for customers to afford new phones. The lack of a new iPhone from Apple contributed to the lull in subsi-

AT&T profit tops estimates as company doles out fewer subsidies

dy payments, said Joe Bonner, an analyst with Argus Research in New York. “It’s all related to the iPhone cycle,” said Bonner, who has a hold rating on

AT&T shares. “Margins go up without the iPhone, and they go down when they have to pay Apple all those subsidies.” AT&T shares rose 0.3 percent to $35.38

yesterday in New York. The stock has climbed 17 percent this year. Analysts had estimated 236,182 new subscribers, according to a Bloomberg survey of 11 analysts. The contract-customer gains lagged behind the 888,000 at Verizon Wireless, AT&T’s biggest wireless rival. AT&T activated 3.7 million iPhones, compared with the 4.3 million sold in the first quarter. The company also sold 219,000 tablets, a drop from the 240,000 tablets sold in the first quarter. Offering smartphones, including the iPhone, takes a toll on carriers’ profit margins because they typically sell the phones at a loss to lure subscribers into two-year contracts. Users of the iPhone and other smartphones are lucrative in the long run because they spend more each month browsing the Web, sending e- mail and watching video.

Hollande transaction tax drives Cocoa usage falls as grinders erode world butter glut investor quest for loopholes

rench President Francois Hollande’s transaction tax is set to take effect on August 1. Not all investors will be paying it. To escape the tax, many institutional investors will turn to so-called contracts for difference, or CFDs, offered by prime brokers that let them bet on a stock’s gain or loss without owning the shares. Traders have used it successfully to skirt the U.K.’s stamp duty. “We’ve never purchased U.K. stocks without using a CFD,” said Fabrice Seiman, co-chief executive officer of Lutetia Capital, a merger-arbitrage fund in Paris that oversees $100 million. “Now we’ll do the same for French stocks. It is individual investors who are going to pay.” France will become the first European country to impose a transaction tax on share purchases, including high-frequency trading and credit default swaps. The levy, aimed at curbing market speculation, will be paid on transactions involving 109 French stocks with market values of more than 1 billion euros ($1.2 billion), including Pernod Ricard SA and Vivendi SA. The U.K., home to Europe’s biggest financial center, has a stamp duty while opposing a transaction tax. German Chancellor Angela Merkel said on June 22 that she and the leaders of France, Italy and Spain agree on the need for such a levy. The other countries have yet to put one in place. Investors buying U.K. shares pay

German Chancellor, Angela Merkel

a stamp duty of 0.5 percent on their purchase. France’s imposition of the levy may drive investors to search for loopholes, said Fabrice Couste, chief executive officer of CMC Markets France in Paris, which sells CFDs and has operated in France since 2010. “People will see the bill and say ‘it’s too much, we have to find a way to avoid it,’” he said. “The stamp duty in the U.K. made a success of spread betting. France’s transaction tax can do the same for CFDs.”

UPS cuts full-year forecast as slowing economy presses earnings

nited Parcel Service Incorporation, the world’s largest packagedelivery company, cut its full-year forecast after quarterly profit trailed analysts’ estimates amid cooling international growth. Earnings for the full year may be $4.50 to $4.70 a share, down from a previous projection of $4.75 to $5, the Atlanta- based company said. Profit of $1.15 in the second quarter trailed the average estimate from

analysts of $1.17. UPS is seeing revenue decline as it seeks to expand in Europe with the $6.5 billion acquisition of TNT Express, the biggest deal in its 105-year history. International package volume gains have slowed in recent quarters amid slowing Asian economic expansion. Average revenue per piece was little changed as the benefits of higher rates were eroded by changes in customers and the types of product shipped.

lobal cocoa usage may drop for the first time in three years as grinders use cocoa butter stockpiles instead of processing the beans to meet demand in the $108 billion chocolate market. World bean grindings this season will probably drop for the first time since 2008-09, according to Jonathan Parkman, co-head of agriculture at broker Marex Spectron Group in London. Declines in European and U.S. cocoa grindings in the second quarter probably turned the market into a surplus of more than 100,000 metric tons from a small shortage, Parkman said. Chocolate demand is averting a slowdown unlike the 2009 global recession because of low cocoa butter prices. Sales volume will rise 1.2 percent this year, according to Euromonitor International Ltd., a consumer research company in London. When cocoa beans are ground, 80 percent are transformed into liquor, which is then processed into powder and butter. Cocoa butter can be sold in solid form in boxes or as liquid. “Some European grinders, who can, have been melting liquor and butter to supply some of their contracts instead of grinding beans,” said Peter G. Johnson, chief executive officer at Morristown, New Jersey-based Transmar Commodity Group Ltd., a cocoa processing company with factories in Europe, Ecuador and

“Increasing uncertainty in the U.S., continuing weakness in Asia exports and the debt crisis in Europe are impacting projections of economic expansion,” Chief Executive Officer Scott Davis said in the statement. “We are making the adjustments necessary to respond to today’s challenging conditions.” UPS and FedEx Corporation are economic bellwethers because they transport goods ranging from financial documents to pharmaceuticals and industrial parts. Net income climbed 2.2 percent to $1.12 billion, from $1.09 billion, or $1.09 a share, a year earlier.

the U.S. “The cost of purchasing boxed butter and liquor in many cases was cheaper than producing from beans.” Cocoa prices in London have climbed 12 percent this year on speculation El Nino, a warming of the Pacific Ocean, will curb production. Global chocolate sales are valued at $108 billion this year, Euromonitor estimates. Cocoa for December delivery was unchanged at 1,544 pounds ($2,397) a ton by 12:34 p.m. on NYSE Liffe in London. The price reached 1,564 pounds a ton yesterday, the highest since July 11. Cocoa processing in Europe fell 18 percent in the second quarter to a three-year low and declined 9.8 percent in North America. In Malaysia, Indonesia and Singapore, where consumption of cocoa powder had been rising, bean processing advanced 5.7 percent, the Cocoa Association of Asia said. Euromar Commodities GmbH, owned by Transmar, slowed processing at its factory in Fehrbellin, Germany, Johnson said. The plant has an annual capacity of 100,000 tons, according to Transmar’s website. Delfi Cocoa (Europe) GmbH, a division of Singapore-based Petra Foods Limited, started to renovate its plant in Hamburg on July 1, instead of next year, which has resulted in slower bean processing, said Karel Menu, managing director of the company, in Zaandam, the Netherlands. He declined to disclose annual grinding capacity. Cocoa butter inventories came to 150,000 tons, or 15 percent of global production, Steven Haws, founder of cocoa researcher Commodities Risk Analysis LC, said in November. Factories have bought back cocoa butter to stop grinding after powder prices fell, he said last week. Powder prices, which reached a high of 4,100 euros ($4,968) a ton last year, have dropped to about 3,000 euros a ton, according to Haws. Cocoa butter, which trades as a ratio to the price on the NYSE Liffe exchange in London, is about 1.2 times the exchange price, up from 1 last year, he said.

Capital Market

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Wednesday, July 25, 2012

Oteh urges FG to strengthen capital market for economy growth JOHNSON OKANLAWON

he Director General of Securities and Exchange Commission, Ms Aruma Oteh, has said that the country may not record much growth in the economy withour a virile capital market. Oteh who spoke in Lagos yesterday a dialogue with stakeholders in the capital market and organised private sector noted that the Federal Government needs to strengthen the market to support real sector growth. According to her, if telecommunication companies such as MTN Nigeria, Glo and other multinational companies get listed on the Nigerian Stock Exchange, it will encourage investors’ confidence in the market.

Speaking on the roles of private equity and venture capital, she said the country need to do much more in preparing companies in having good management and accounting system. She pointed out that 250 Nigerians invested in mutul fund, 10 million in Brazil, noting that with the country population of 167 million, ‘we can do better.’ The Coordinating Minister of the Economy and Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okojo-Iweala, disclosed that that a committee on forbearance package for stockbrokers has been set up to advice government on various options of intervention to safeguard the capital market. She said, “ I am very passionate about the capital market. It is unfortunate that the capital market is

yet to rebound, but the federal government has limited resources to pump into the market. “Every sector of the economy is clamouring for one form of intervention or the other. So government is mindful of all these, and will in the short run intervene in sectors that are in grave needs and has impact for majority of Nigeria.” The Minister stressed that the government is working on reviving the market through forbearance package to market operators, review of taxes, stamp duties, and other charges. “It is also concerned with increasing number of listed companies and increasing pension fund investment. A committee on the forbearance as been set up and the members include government agencies, such as

Ministry of Finance, Debt Management Office, Assets Management Corporation of Nigeria, SEC, Central Bank of Nigeria and the operators in the capital market. “The committee was given three weeks deadline to submit its recommendations on the modalities for the forbearance package,” she added. The President of Chatered Institute of Stockbrokers, Mr. Ariyo Olushekun, hinted that the country productivity would be determined by the director of the economy. He said, “A virile Nigerian capital market will quarantee funding of infrastructure development, with its attendant strong socio-economic benefits through development of roads, water systems, housing programmes, energy, telecommunications, etc.

First Bank grosses N182.3bn in half year ADEDEJI ADEMIGBUJI

irst Bank Plc has declared a gross earnings of N182.3bn for the half year result ended June 30, 2012, an increase by 26 per cent when compared with N145.1bn recorded in the same eriod of 2011. The bank’s profit before tax increased by 25 per cent, from 24.1bn in 2011 half year to N54.1bn in 2012, while operating income stood at N153.3bn in the review period, from N26.3bn in 2011 half year to N153.3bn in 2012, an increase by 21 per cent. According to the result presented to the Nigerian Stock Exchange yesterday,

net interest margin stood at 8.3 per cent, from 8.4 per cent in the same period of 2011. Further analysis of the banks result showed 17 per cent increase in net loans and advances to customers, from N1.2trn in 2011 half year to N1.5trn in 2012, while non performing loan ratio reduced to 2.7 per cent in 2012 half year from N4.0 per cent in the same period of 2011. The bank’s impairement charge for credit losses stood at N9.1bn in the review period, from N14.4bn in 201 half year, while the liquid ratio stood at 56.3 per cent in 2012, from 71.2 per cent in the same period of 2011.

Commenting on the results, the bank Group Managing Director, Mr. Bisi Onasanya, said that the bank will continue to demonstrate the resilience of banking business. He said, “Given the backdrop of global economic uncertainty, declining oil prices and its resulting impact on the domestic economy, we recorded 125 per cent growth in the group’s profit before tax. “It was particularly pleasing to see the strength of the group’s retail franchise, as we were able to grow deposits over the half year period by 13 per cent, in an environment of tight liquidity management, high interest

rates and higher velocity of money as a result of the increasing deployment of electronic channels across various segments of the economy. Notwithstanding these headwinds, we were able to moderate the impact on our cost of funds.” He added that with the continuing progress in the transformation agenda, which is focused on driving efficiencies in the business, the focus over coming periods will be to consolidate and build on those gains as ‘we refine our business and operational platform to ensure we achieve our set objective of excellent service delivery as a basis to expand business volumes.’

JOHNSON OKANLAWON

Indicies drop 0.91% on blue chip losses

N7.44trn. Air Service Plc led the gainers’ table with eight kobo or 4.85 per cent to close at N1.73 per share, followed by Flour Mills of Nigeria Plc with N2.50 or 4.76 per cent to close at N55.00 per share. Ikeja Hotel Plc gained five per cent or 4.63 per cent to close at N1.13 per share, while Portland Paints Plc rose by 11 kobo or 4.62 per cent to close at N2.49 per share. Access Bank Plc added 30 kobo or 4.20 per cent to close at N7.44 per share. On the flip side, Hon-

rading in equities on the Nigerian Stock Exchange closed on bearish note yesterday, over losses recorded mostly in highly capitalised stocks. Specifically, the AllShare Index lost 0.91 per cent to close at 23,169.24 points, as against the increase by1.24 per cent recorded the preceding day to close at 23,381.05 points. Market capitalisation depreciated by N67.4bn to close at N7.37trn, compared to the increase by N90.9bn recorded the preceding day to close at

eywell Flour Mills Plc dropped by 10 kobo or five per cent to close at N1.90 per share, while Livestock Plc dipped by seven kobo or 4.90 per cent to close at N1.36 per share. Champion Breweries Plc depreciated by 16 kobo or 4.86 per cent to close at N3.13 per share, while Custodian Insurance Plc lost seven kobo or 4.70 per cent to close at N1.42 per share. Eterna Oil Plc declined by 13 kobo or 4.68 per cent to close at N2.65 per share. Financial services sector led transaction volume with 203.81 million shares valued

at N1.66bn in 2,459 deals, as against 129.71 million shares worth N1.11bn exchanged in 2,115 deals the preceding day. The volume recorded in the sector was driven by transaction in the shares of First Bank Plc, Guaranty Trust Bank Plc, Sterling Bank Plc, Zenith Bank Plc and Acces Bank Plc. Transaction volume in equities dipped by 43.5 per cent, as a total of 250.62 million shares worth N2.36bn were exchanged in 4,062 deals, compared to 443.15 million shares valued at N2.14bn traded in 4,508 deals the preceding day.

Source: NSE

Source: Afrinvest

Market indicators All-Share Index 23,169.24 points Market capitalisation 7,372trillion

Stock Updates GAINERS COMPANY

OPENING

CLOSING

CHANGE

% CHANGE

AIRSERVICE

1.65

1.73

0.08

4.85

FLOURMILL

52.50

55.00

2.50

4.76

IKEJAHOTEL

1.08

1.13

0.05

4.63

PORTPAINT

2.38

2.49

0.11

4.62

ACCESS

7.14

7.44

0.30

4.20

GTASSURE

1.55

1.60

0.05

3.23

CONOIL

26.18

27.00

0.82

3.13

CONTINSUE

0.64

0.66

0.02

3.13

FIDELITYBK

1.29

1.33

0.04

3.10

UBN

4.30

4.43

0.13

3.02

CHANGE

% CHANGE

LOSERS COMPANY

OPENING

CLOSING

HONYFLOR

2.00

1.90

0.10

-5.00

LIVESTOCK

1.43

1.36

0.07

-4.90

CHAMPION

3.29

3.13

0.16

-4.86

CUSTODYIS

1.49

1.42

0.07

-4.70

ETERNA

2.78

2.65

0.13

-4.68

DANGSUGR

4.98

4.75

0.23

-4.62

WAPIC

0.69

0.66

0.03

-4.35

DANGCEM

120.75

116.00

4.75

-3.93

26.00

25.02

0.98

-3.77

ROYALEX

0.60

0.58

0.02

-3.33

Primary Market Auction TENOR

AMOUNT (N’mn)

RATE (%)

DATE

91-Day

34,888.90

13.85

26-Jul-12

182-Day

83,229.89

16.10

26-Jul-12

9.06

26-Jul-12

364 -Day

50,000.00

Open Market Operations TENOR

AMOUNT (N’mn)

RATE (%)

DATE

359-DAY

20,250.00

8.80

26-Jul-12

357-DAY

23,630.00

9.00

26-Jul-12

Wholesale Dutch Auction System AMOUNT OFFERED

MARKET DEMAND

AMOUNT SOLD

DATE

$300m

N/A

$300m

23-Jul-12

$300m

N/A

$300m

18-Jul-12

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Ramadan Special

Wednesday, July 25, 2012

Indomie to feed one million Muslims

n commemoration of the ongoing Muslim fasting month of Ramadan, DUFIL Prima Foods Plc makers of Indomie Instant Noodles has announced its plan to feed one million Muslims by providing free meals during the break of fast (Iftar) across the nation during the 30 days fasting period which commenced on Friday, July 20, 2012. According to the Public Relations Manager, DUFIL Prima Foods Plc, Mr. Temitope Ashiwaju, the com-

pany is identifying with Muslims during the 30 days fasting period as part of its Corporate Social Responsibility initiative by serving cooked Indomie products, in well packed foil plates during ‘Iftar’ (Evening Break) at various popular central mosques across the country. Ashiwaju revealed that Indomie believes strongly in connecting with its consumers through varied engagement platforms and that the month of Ramadan provides such unique opportunity to connect with

and engage the Muslim consumers. On the logistics of distribution, Ashiwaju said, “We have identified several central mosques across the country where a total of 25,000 cartons of foil packed Indomie will be served freely at the time of breaking the fast at each of these mosques on a cycle basis, as in one mosque per day and thus in a week, we cover the identified mosques of that city and the cycle continues”, he said. Ashiwaju stressed fur-

ther that the council of Imams in the various locations across the country have given their support to ensure the success of the exercise and the Imams of each mosque will supervise the distribution of freshly prepared Indomie to members during the ‘Iftar’. He declared that the exercise is expected to last throughout the 30 days Ramadan season in all central mosques across the country during which an estimated one Million people would have been fed.

Bauchi women task on attending Tafsir EZEKIEL TITUS BAUCHI

B Bishop of Abuja Catholic Diocese, Archbishop John Onaiyekan serving food to some Muslims, during his visit to Al-Habibiyyah Islamic society of Nigeria for fast breaking in Abuja, yesterday. PHOTO:ROTIMI OSASONA

Cross section of Muslim clerics, during the opening prayer at the 2012 Annual Ramadan Lecture in Lagos, yesterday.

Fruits’ price rise up AZA MSUE KADUNA

he prices of perishable food items, including fruits, have risen in Kaduna metropolis as Ramadan fasting entered day five yesterday just as the less-privileged faithful are facing hardship to break their fast. National Mirror checks in some parts of Kaduna city like Ungwan Sarki, Rimi, Tudun Wada, Kawo, among other areas, revealed that almost all the food items being used by

faithful during the holy month now double the previous rates. A watermelon, pineapple fruit is now sold for N200 each against 100 naira per one, while in some Government Residential Areas (GRAs) like Ungwan Rimi, one watermel on costs up to N400 or N500 depending on the level of patronage in the vicinity. One of the fruit sellers, who identified himself as Aminu Shehu, said the business is slow compared to other years’ fasting season.

He stressed that the current insecurity facing Kaduna and the North in general may be the major cause. “Market is not too good, people do not come to buy and we are not selling much in a day. Maybe they do not have money to buy things,” he said. Another seller, Mallam Kabir Usman identified economic hardship due to insecurity as the major cause of poor patronage of customers. “Last year, market was everywhere, but now we are just managing,” he maintained.

ecause of the great importance attached to Islamic religion, Muslim women in Bauchi State have been advised to make attendance of Tafsir teachings mandatory throughout the Ramadan period. The Commissioner for Women Affairs, Hajia Talatu Mohammed Barwa gave the advice yesterday while flagging-off the distribution of food items to women in Zalanga village, Ganjuwa LGA of the state. The exercise, she added, would cover all the 20 LGA’s of the state as council chairmen have already been contacted to ensure the success of the exercise at various communities in their respective areas as a demonstration of Yuguda administration’s commitment to the plight of women. Items distributed included wrappers, 10 bags of millet, 50 cartons of milk, 5 bags of sugar including 10 bags of rice and about 120 centres would benefit same gesture that cutacross the state. Barwa stressed that the gesture is directly from the office of the wife of the Governor, Hajia Aisha Isa Yuguda, in conjunction with the Ministry of Women affairs. She also charged women in the state to use the Ramadan period to learn more about Islamic injunctions and pray for peace and unity of not only the state, but the nation in general. Receiving the items on behalf of Zalanga community women, The village head, Alhaji Ahmed Baba expressed an unreserved appreciation for the gesture.

Day 6

Amosun calls for more charitable acts L ATEEFAH IBRAHIMANIMASHAUN

igerians must strive to secure the hereafter by engaging in charitable activities that will improve the lives of others and inculcating the spirit of giving back to the society. The governor of Ogun State, Sen. Ibikunle Amosun said this in Lagos recently at a Ramadan Lecture held at De BlueRoof, Lagos State Television, Ikeja Lagos. “By such initiative, every individual will have a flowing charity that will meet him in his grave which, he said, to include children who have been trained and a project that

is beneficial to the society and the knowledge of Islam, mosques building among others.” He urged Muslims to spend in the way of Allah and advised them to spend more on orphanages, water provisions, planting of trees and the likes, which outlive the person who died. Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola of Lagos State asked Muslims to be calm on the search for Alhaji Razaq Gawat as he assured them that all machinery has been put in place to ensure his safe return. He called on those who have clues to his whereabouts not to hesitate to come up with useful information as he promised that his government will compensate such a person.

‘We need divine intervention as a nation’ ADEMU IDAKWOLOKOJA

ember representing Kogi Central District at upper chamber of the National Assembly, Sen. Nurudeen Abatemi-Usman has called on Nigerians, particularly the Muslim faithful to pray fervently for peace, unity and harmony among the people of the country during and after the Ramadan period. Abatemi-Usman made the call in a statement signed by his Special Assistant on Media, Michael Jegede and made available to journalists in lokoja. According to him, current happenings in the country with innocent

Nigerians being killed almost on a daily basis has made it necessary for the people look up to God for succour. “We have had too many disasters in recent time with numerous innocent Nigerians losing their lives for no fault of theirs. As we make efforts on our own to checkmate the menace, we most importantly, need to seek the face of God. We need divine intervention in all of these,” the Senator noted. “As we commence this year’s Ramadan, I am using this medium to call on my fellow Muslim brothers and sisters, and indeed, the entire people of Nigeria to remain steadfast and unwavering in prayers for our beloved country.” The Vice Chairman, Senate Committee on Niger Delta Affairs, equally implored individuals or groups that may have grievances of any kind to embrace dialogue, rather than resort to the wanton destruction of lives and property, in the interest of peace and unity of the country.

Wednesday, July 25, 2012

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Community Mirror Police smash armed robbery syndicate, arrest three

“Kwara State government is interested in doing business with those interested in agricultural business”

KWARA STATE GOVERNOR, ALHAJI ABDULFATAH AHMED

Politician shoots, kills wife in error DENNIS AGBO ENUGU

former political office holder in Enugu State, Hon. Mathias Nweze of Umuida in Enugu-Ezike, Igboeze North Local Government

Area has allegedly shot and killed his wife after his generator went off twice at night. It was gathered that Hon Nweze was sleeping in his house at Enugu-Ezike at about 11pm after his generator went off twice, making him to sus-

pect that thieves may have invaded his compound. Hence, he quickly brought out his pump action gun and fired severally at the direction of the generating set, probably to scare away the purported thieves. In the process howev-

er, one of the shots hit his wife and critically injured her. The woman was immediately rushed to a nearby hospital, but gave up the ghost before she could be admitted. The State Police Public Relation Officer, PPRO, Ebere

Amaraizu confirmed the incident, adding that the state police command has commenced a full scale investigation into the incident, adding that the body of the deceased has been deposited at the mortuary for autopsy.

Council chair donates transformer, commissions road MURITALA AYINLA

he chairman of MosanOkunola Local Council Development Area, LCDA, Hon. Abiodun Mafe has commissioned a newly constructed road, even as he delivered a 500KVA transformer to residents of AB Street in the council. The council chairman who also apprehended two men who were caught vandalising the newly constructed road on Church Street in the council area, said his administration is committed to improving the lives of the residents through his pro-people agenda. Speaking while commissioning the street named after a renowned educationist, Mafe said that the decision to name the street after Mrs Omonike Doregos was in recognition of her contribution to the lives of the people around her. He added that Mrs Dorego’s impact in strengthening the standard of education cannot be over emphasised. “Our council knows the importance of good roads to residents of the community and the development of this council economically. That is why construction of good roads and periodic rehabilitation of the existing ones remain sacrosanct in our agenda. We are naming this road after no other person than someone who has contributed to the council in terms of education,” he said. Mafe described the presentation of the transformer to the community as another landmark achievement of his administration, saying that the goal of every leader is to achieve result by meeting the needs of the led.

Two young men being seperated in a fight at Oshodi bus stop, Lagos.

PHOTO: OLUWASEGUN IJABIKEN

Bloody communal crisis averted in A’Ibom TONY ANICHEBE UYO

major communal crisis was averted in Akwa Ibom following a warning issued by the Amazaba community in Eastern Obolo Local Government Area not to retaliate an alleged attack by its neighbours of Ikot Akpan Udo village in Ikot Abasi Local Government Area of the state. The warning came on the heels of claims by Amazaba community that they were recently attacked at the Amazaba burial ground by people suspected to be from Ikot Akpan Udo village when they went to bury one of their own, Late Mrs. Marion Christian Nglass. The Amazaba and Ikot Akpan Udo communities of Eastern Obolo and Ikot Abasi Local Areas of the state have for long

been entangled in a fight over land matters. The most recent was the 2008 crisis in which hundreds of lives and property worth millions of naira were destroyed. In order to avert further bloodshed, the State Government had ordered that the two warring communities should vacate their villages while it seeks a permanent solution to the recurring boundary disputes between the communities. However, despite the fact that the two communities are not living in their villages, there has being reported cases of guerilla attacks masterminded by Ikot Akpan Udo people against the Amazaba community. The Amazaba community, in a statement jointly signed, by the Chairman of Amazaba Council of Chiefs, Chief Job James and the Chairman Amaz-

aba Development Council, Mr. Gad S. Gad alleged that mercenaries from Ikot Akpan Udo attacked its burial delegation. “The people of Amazaba community were recently shot by the people of Ikot Akpan Udo in Ikot Abasi at the Amazaba burial ground when they went to bury Late Mrs. Marion Christian Nglass. Some of the victims affected by the shooting are presently receiving treatment at a private clinic in Eket”, the statement read in part. However, the statement appealed to youths of Amazaba community not to take the laws into their hands by revenging the attack, assuring them that the state government was willing and capable of bringing lasting peace between the two communities. Amazaba community has therefore, called on the State

Government Peace Committee to facilitate the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) by the two communities to enable them return to their homes which they deserted since 2008. The community also urged the State Commissioner of Police, Umar Gwadabe to immediately withdraw the policemen stationed at Ikot Akpan Udo village, accusing the policemen of aiding and abetting youths of Ikot Akpan Udo to destroy and vandalise properties in Amazaba. The statement also called on the State Government, the State Emergency Management Agency and the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to release the report of their recent inspection of the warring communities to ascertain which of the two is totally deserted.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Wednesday, July 25, 2012

Police smash armed robbery syndicate, arrest three FRANCIS SUBERU

he Lagos State Police Commissioner, Umar Abubakar Manko has paraded three armed robbery suspects who were arrested on Monday night on Lagos/Abeokuta Expressway with five Ak47 rifles and 29 magazines, fully loaded with live ammunitions. The suspects, Wale Adeniyi, Taofeek Bukola and Oladun Agemo, all residents in Ogun State belong to a notorious armed robbery gang that has been terrorizing motorists on Lagos/Abeokuta expressway. According to CP Umar, police officers from Special Anti-Robbery Squad, SARS had been on the trail of the suspects for a while but were able to track them down. He said: “We have been trailing them for quite

some time now. For about 24 hours, our men were in the bush and luckily they came in a Mazda car and they were intercepted and arrested. They are not residents in Lagos, they are all living in Ogun State, but they were preparing to come here for an operation when they were arrested. “Since we have intelligence report on them, we didn’t wait and allow them come into Lagos; we went there to meet them where they were. The three of them are not the only members of the gang, we are still trailing the rest of them because the matter is still under investigation.” One of the suspects, Oladun Agemo, while responding to questions from our correspondent, said he was not part of the gang, saying he did not know that the baggage he was keeping for other members of the gang contained rifles and ammu-

nition. 21-year old Oladun, a barber said: “I don’t know they are thieves. I have never carried a gun in my life. You can ask them if I had followed them before. They usually drop their bags in my shop and they will give me like N5, 000 or N6, 000 just to enjoy myself. I never knew they are armed robbers.” Another of the suspects, Taofeek Bukola confessed to be a member of the gang but said he only joined the gang three months ago. He said he had followed them on three operations. “I have followed them like three times. I used to drive them during operations. I have never carried a gun before. I only drive them because I am a driver. The leader of the gang is Chicago and he was arrested with us. I don’t know why they didn’t bring him out because he is in cell with us.”

Monarch seeks proactive policy on agriculture DENNIS AGBO ENUGU

he traditional ruler of Amuri, Nkanu West Local Government Area of Enugu State, His Royal Majesty Igwe Charles Nwoye has charged different tiers of government to be proactive in policies that could, once again, make agriculture one of Nigeria’s major export products. He said this at his palace during the commencement of this year’s Amuri new yam festival last week. The monarch, who decried the continued neglect of agricultural sector by successive governments

warned that the trend is capable of plunging the nation into serious food crisis in the nearest future. Igwe Nwoye, wondered why government would relegate agriculture to the background, insisting that not until policy makers in the country begin to accord agriculture the attention it deserves, Nigeria may soon be in for serious food crisis. He said paying lip service to agriculture over the years had done serious harm to the growth of the nation’s economy, noting that agriculture if properly funded has the potentials to transform the entire country. “It is quite unfortunate that because of oil and gas

which would one day dry up, those at the helm of affairs in our country have continued to remain insensitive to issues concerning that vital sector which was the mainstay of our economy in the 60s and 70s,” the monarch said. The traditional ruler frowned at the state of infrastructure in many rural communities across the state, just as he said Amuri in particular has agricultural capacity to feed the entire state but for poor infrastructure in the community. He said the community is in dire need of good access road that can enable farmers take their farm produce to urban centers.

Okene bomb blast: Abatemi-Usman calls for calm OLAJIDE OMOJOLOMOJU

ollowing the reported bomb blast involving a suicide bomber in Okene, Kogi State, the Senator representing Kogi Central Senatorial District, Nuruden Abatemi-Usman, has appealed to the people of the area to remain calm but vigilant. Abatemi-Usman made the call in a statement released by his media aide, Michael Jegede, while reacting to the car explo-

sion, believed to have been laden with improvised explosive devices (IEDs), along the Okene-Obehira area on Sunday. Apparently alarmed at the development, Senator Abatemi-Usman, while condemning the abominable act which is becoming a novelty in the state, called on the people of Kogi Central Senatorial District and Nigerians at large, to remain prayerful while the security agents conduct further investigation to unravel and redress the situation.

He commended the security agents for apprehending one of the suspects, and urged them to ensure that such arrest is made to yield fruitful breakthrough in government efforts to tackle violent crimes in the society. He said: “As we thank God that no life was lost in the car explosion, we equally commend the security agents for the arrest of one of the suspects. I urge my people to remain calm and vigilant as they carry on with their normal daily activities.

Community Mirror

North

Wednesday, July 25, 2012

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Borno Assembly approves N1bn agric loan, N16bn virement INUSA NDAHI MAIDUGURI

orno State House of Assembly yesterday gave a boost to the efforts of Governor Kashim Shettima’s administration to combat food

shortage when it approved the executive communication seeking to obtain N1bn agricultural loan from the Federal Government for disbursement to farmers. The Assembly also approved N16bn special virement.

The Majority Leader, Hon. Idrissa Jidda, representing Ngala state constituency, moved the two motions on the floor of the House, and were seconded by Hon. Bukar Gana of Mobbar and Hon. Rawa Goni Bukar of Gulumba

Oloji state constituencies. The lawmakers said the need to obtain the agric loan became necessary, as it would assist peasant farmers in the state. Jidda also said that the approval of the N16bn virement was necessary be-

cause some sectors of the state economy needed to be given additional financial backup. A member representing Gwoza, Hon. Ahmed Jaha, said the N1bn loan was timely as the government would stand as

guarantor and had promised to pay the 7.6 per cent interest. He explained that the N16bn virement would be shifted to other sectors to finance and complete some projects being executed by the government.

Kwara: Anger as some Mineral deposits, 90% more than oil – Minister teachers await June salary J D AMES KATSINA

WOLE ADEDEJI ILORIN

bout 50 per cent of Kwara State teachers, coordinated by the Universal Basic Education Board, SUBEB, have not been paid their June salary. Some of the affected teachers told our correspondent yesterday that the non-payment of the salary had brought about untold hardship on them, particularly the Muslims among them who are observing the Ramadan fasting. It was learnt that the state Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Teachers, NUT, Mr. Farouk Akanbi, who also doubles as the state chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, is affected. Sources said the teachers, who were preparing to stock their homes for Ramadan, were shocked when they did not receive telephone alerts to signify that their respective bank accounts had been credited as against some of their colleagues who were

paid. Some teachers, who spoke on condition of anonymously for fear of being victimised, said, “it is quite pathetic that we are subjected to this type of hardship after we have laboured hard to work for our earnings, knowing well that we have no other source of income. It is even worse that this is happening to us during Ramadan. Many of us had to resort to borrowing to take care of our families”. However, a government source said the problem emanated from the discoveries in the last biometric screening exercise. The biometric machine, according to the source, had left out names of some teachers which made it difficult for computers to include them in the e-payment system. The teachers, however, disagreed with the claim, saying that the screening was done in February and wondered why it was only in July the government was taking action on the exercise.

ANJUMA

ineral deposits exist in about 95 per cent of Nigeria’s landmass which is against the five per cent landmass that has oil deposits in the Niger Delta. The Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Mr. Musa Sada, who disclosed this yesterday while speaking with journalists in Katsina, said the abundant mineral de-

posits in the country had prompted the need for the ministry to conduct scientific study to identify such minerals. He said: “In mining, we must be sure of what is underground and there are many scientific studies that you need to carry out to confirm what is underground. “Unless we do those studies we are not likely to have serious large scale mining companies to come into the country to

invest so government has to augment that study.” Sada said his ministry had forwarded request of funds to the Federal Government to carry out the scientific research. “We are already discussing with all concerned, the Ministry of Finance, Ministry of National Planning and Revenue Mobilisation and Fiscal Commission,” he added. The minister said as way of encouraging mining activities in the coun-

try, the Federal Government, in collaboration with World Bank, had provided equipment to smallscale miners. According to him, the equipment and amenities provided to small-scale miners gulped about $10m, which was a grant provided by the World Bank. Sada said his ministry had commenced registration of genuine miners, adding that about 360 mining cooperative groups had been registered.

Wife of the late Sen. Dantong, Hannatu (right) and her children, during the funeral service of the senator in Jos, yesterday. PHOTO: NAN

The remains of the late Sen. Gyang Dantong arriving for the funeral service in Jos, yesterday.

PHOTO: NAN

Lecturers’ strike: Katsina students protest govt’s poor response Jos flood, unfortunate, JAMES DANJUMA KATSINA

tudents of three tertiary institutions in Katsina State yesterday protested the continued inability of the state government to meet the demands of the striking academic staff of the schools. Institutions where the students demonstrated are the College of Legal and General Studies, Daura, Isa Kaita College of Education, Dutsinma, and Hassan Usman Katsina Polytechnic, in the state metropolis. A statement jointly signed by chairmen of the academic staff union of the three institutions had indicated that the strike followed expiration of a three-

week ultimatum given to the state government to implement the demands of the union. The demands include implementation of 2012 yearly increment, payment of remaining 50 per cent of union dues for September, October and November 2011, and complete dues for December 2011. Others are the payment of salaries for newly recruited academic and nonacademic staff of the three tertiary institutions, release of promotion of officers on CONPCASS/ CONTEDISS 12 and above, pending since July 2010 and the list of financial benefits for the staff promoted since January 2011. At the Hassan Usman

Polytechnic, students, in their hundreds, brandished tree branches and chanted anti-government slogans; they also closed the institution’s gates and asked government to pay lecturers their entitlements. The students were later dispersed by anti-riot policemen. The intervention of the

Gov. Shema

institution’s former Rector, Dr. Kabir Matazu, also prevented another round of protest within the polytechnic’s premises. Matazu assured the students that government was doing everything to address the situation. Also, students of the College of Legal Studies, Daura, and Isa Kaita College of Education, Dutsinma barricaded the gates leading into the institutions. Some of them were carrying their bags and moving out of school premises. Speaking on the issue, the President of the Hassan Usman Polytechnic Students’ Union, Moh’d Sade, blamed government for not meeting the demands of the academic staff.

says ACF A ZA MSUE KADUNA

rewa Consultative Forum, ACF, yesterday condoled with the people and government of Plateau State over the Jos flood which killed over 40 people and destroyed many houses. In an e-mail statement, the ACF National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Anthony Sani, described the incident as unfortunate. The statement reads in part: “Arewa Consultative Forum commiserates with the people and government of Plateau State over the flood in Jos,

which has claimed about 40 lives and did away with over 200 houses, thereby resulting in untold hardship to the people. Our heart goes to them. “The forum prays to Almighty God to provide those who lost loved ones and property the fortitude to endure what cannot be changed as well as the spirit needed to enable the people of Plateau State come together in a united whole and live up their common challenges for the good of all. May the souls of those who lost their lives to the devastating flood rest in perfect peace with God.”

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News

Wednesday, July 25, 2012

US seizes Ibori’s mansion, bank accounts OBIORA IFOH AND EMMANUEL ONANI

he United States Department of Justice yesterday secured a restraining order on the assets of the former Delta State governor, Chief James Onanefe Ibori, who is serving a 13-year jail term in the United Kingdom for corruption and money laundering offences. The assets in question include a $3 million looted funds and a mansion in Houston, Texas, in the United States. He was convicted and sentenced by a British court on April 18, but a Nigerian court had earlier discharged and acquitted him of any wrongdoing while in office as governor

• FG gets forfeiture order on $15m loot

for eight years in the oil rich state. In the current matter, the US Department got the powers to put his assets on hold through an application filed under seal on May 16 in the U.S. District Courts in the District of Columbia, aimed at registering and enforcing two orders from United Kingdom courts against more than $3 million in corruption proceeds related to the same notorious ex-governor Ibori. Information obtained through the wire agencies showed that the Assistant Attorney-General, Lanny A. Breuer of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Director, John Morton, had

made the disclosure in a statement on the U.S. Justice Department website yesterday. According to him, “The application seeks to restrain assets and other proceeds of corruption belonging to Ibori and Bhadresh Gohil, Ibori’s former English solicitor. “Specifically, it seeks to restrain a mansion in Houston and two Merrill Lynch brokerage accounts. U.S. District Judge Lamberth granted the application and issued a restraining order under seal on May 21. “The department was notified today that its application to unseal the restraining order was granted. “The United States is working with the United Kingdom’s Crown Prosecu-

tion Service and the Metropolitan Police Service to forfeit these corruption proceeds,” the statement said. According to the application, Ibori was pointedly named as the person who had served as the governor of Nigeria’s oil-rich Delta State from 1999 to 2007 and misappropriated millions of dollars which belong to the Delta State government. He was believed to have laundered the illicit financial proceeds through a myriad of companies, intermediaries and nominees in several jurisdictions, including the UK, with the help of Gohil. Although, Nigeria’s constitution prohibits state governors from maintaining foreign bank accounts

Archbishop of Ibadan Province, Anglican Communion, Most Rev. Joseph Akinfenwa (right); Otunba Adekunle Ojora (2nd right) his wife, Erelu Oju and Olori Lipede, at the farewell service for the late Chief (Mrs) Sabainah Olayinka Akinkugbe Akinfe in Ibadan, at the weekend.

FG targets $50bn foreign reserves JOHNSON OKANLAWON

oordinating Minister of the Economy and Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okojo-Iweala, has said that the Federal Government’s target is grow the foreign reserves at $50bn by the end of the year. She that Nigerian economy remains vulnerable, and buffers need to be built up, saying that foreign reserves have risen slightly from $32.9bn at the end of 2011 to $37.7bn in June, but have declined recently on the back of global developments. Okojo-Iweala, who spoke

on the state of Nigeria’s economy in Lagos yesterday at a dialogue with the Nigerian Economic Summit Group and Organised Private Sector also disclosed that the government has resolved to rebuild Nigeria’s depleting excess crude account which recently went down to $3.6bn to $10bn by the end of the year 2012. While commenting on building economic buffers, she said, “The country needs a strong buffer against external shocks and one area of providing this is to grow the excess crude account and the Sovereign Wealth Fund (SWF), adding, $1bn has

been earmarked for investment in this fund. Okonjo-Iweala who noted with dismay the myriad of challenges plaguing the country, ranging from global economic slowdown on oil price volatility, security, corruption and other said such challenges may have adverse impact on Nigeria’s economy if not properly handled. She however announced that the Federal Government has taken some decisive and specific steps to tackle the country’s economic problems. Some of the steps, she said, include streamlining of the budget to achieve fis-

and serving as directors of private companies, Ibori and his associates accumulated millions of dollars in assets in the UK and U.S; according to the application. Gohil was also convicted in November 2010 of money laundering and prejudicing a money laundering investigation and was sentenced by a British court to 10 years in prison.

N32.8bn fraud: Appeal Court sustains freeze order on suspect’s accounts OBIORA IFOH ABUJA

n application filed by one of the suspects in the N32.8bn police pension fund scam, Esai Dangabar, challenging an order of a lower court that his accounts and assets be frozen has been dismissed by the Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja yesterday. Dangabar, one of the six suspects filed the application challenging the decision of Justice Lawal H. Gumi of the FCT High Court which ordered the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), to attach and take possession of his assets and to freeze his bank accounts. According to the order, “All the bank accounts

currently being operated and maintained by Inuwa Wada at Keystone and Zenith Banks, totalling 11 in number are hereby temporarily frozen until the determination of the charge Number FCT/Cr/64/2012. Similarly, all the bank accounts presently being operated and maintained by Esai Dangabar, Atiku A. Kigo and Veronica Onyegbula, in the following banks: EcoBank, FCMB, Access Bank, Sky Bank, Fortis Micro Finance Bank, Aso Savings, GTB, Main Street Bank and Wema Bank are herby temporarily frozen pending the hearing and determination of all the said criminal charge No. FCT/64/2012 presently pending before this court”, the judge ruled.

Nigeria police top National Corruption Index OMEIZA AJAYI

cal consolidation, halting spending on unsustainable manner, lowering of the country’s domestic debt payment from N852bn per annum to N100bn this year and improving on the country’s investment climate. On the issue of JP Morgan account, she said, “The Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation owns the account and it is the Central Bank of Nigeria that operates the account for on behalf of government. So the issue that people should be interested is whether money accrued to Nigeria is being remitted and not necessarily who operates the account.”

“Instead of working to benefit the people of the Niger Delta, Ibori pilfered state funds and accumulated immense wealth in the process,” said Assistant Attorney-General Breuer. “He conspired with Mr. Gohil to funnel millions of dollars in corruption proceeds out of Nigeria and into bank accounts and assets maintained in the names of shell companies and nominees,” the statement stressed.

Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), CLEEN Foundation; yesterday published its 2011/2012 report, raising the alarm about the increasing wave of bribery and corrup-

IG, Abubakar

tion in the country and especially among security agencies. While the police came atop the list of most corrupt government agencies in the country with a score of 76 percent, the Nigeria Immigration Service had 66 percent. Others are Customs 65 percent, Prison officials 52 percent, Road Safety officials 51 percent, EFCC 49 percent and the SSS 47 percent. The foundation which lamented that crime and malfeasance or official corruption has been on the increase, however, berated the Federal Government for lacking the political will to stamp out the vice.

News

Wednesday, July 25, 2012

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

SSS arrests two ritualists with fresh human head OBIORA IFOH ABUJA

he State Security Service (SSS) yesterday paraded two suspected ritualists said to have been arrested at the Aya flyover in Asokoro, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). The suspects were said to be on their way to sell a fresh human head to a potential buyer in Maraba, Nasarawa State, before luck ran against them. The suspects John, Yakubu (25) and Ishaya Dakulung (30) were arrested on July 22 at about 1:30am by SSS operatives. This was three days after SSS officials reportedly arrested some persons said to be Boko Haram agents,

who were on their way to Abuja to wreak havoc, including bombing of strategic places such as the Federal Secretariat, St. Alloysius Nursery and Primary School, Area 3, Garki and the AYA roundabout during peak traffic hours. It was an eagle-eye hawker who alerted the security at Area 3 when she saw substance suspected to be bomb neatly planted in a refuse bin near the school premises. The Assistant Director of SSS Operations, Mr. Ibrahim Halilu, however, said that the rutualists were arrested while looking for a buyer of the human head. John Yakubu, who claimed he could not speak English language, but pre-

ferred to speak through an interpreter, confirmed he was involved in the crime. According to him, it was when he sent a boy to buy bread and after buying the bread, he asked the boy to accompany him to a nearby stream so they could take their bath that he pushed

the boy into the stream and thereafter cut off his head with a knife. He said that after beheading the boy, he threw the knife and the boy’s body into the stream to drown so as to cover up his crime. His accomplice, Ishaya Dakulung, who claimed to

be a labourer, said a friend of his met him and told him if he could find somebody who was interested in buying human parts. Dakulung said he obliged to look for a buyer in Maraba, adding that he later met one Bamaiyi, still at large, who promised to

introduce him to a buyer. The suspect, who said he is married and has six children, admitted that he did not know the potential buyer, but disclosed that he would have received nothing less than N250, 000.00 if the deal succeeded.

Ndume gets court permission to perform lesser Hajj

Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has ordered the release of Senator Mohammed Ndume’s travel documents to enable him travel to Saudi Arabia to perform Umra or the lesser Hajj. Ndume, a senator from Borno, is standing trial for allegedly financing the activities of the Boko Haram Islamic sect. Justice Gabriel Kolawole said the relief was granted to allow the accused perform the Islamic religious rites. Justice Kolawole said the prosecution failed to show how the suspect’s trip to the Holy Land would breach the country’s security. He said: “After thorough study of the application and the preliminary objections that went with it, I then come to the conclusion that the applicant be allowed to perform his religious rites. “The Registrar of the Court is hereby ordered to release the travel doc-

Ndume

uments of the accused person to enable him exit the country to perform the lesser Hajj in Mecca between August 1 and August 30. “The only ground that gives life to the application is simply that the accused has the constitutional right to perform his religious rites. “If the accused undergoes medical checkup, he must, within 72 hours of his return, furnish the court and the prosecutor with the progress report from the Saudi-German Specialist Hospital.’’ The prosecution counsel, Mrs. Olufumilayo Fatunde, had argued that the application was meant to indulge the accused person, as according to her, the trip could further negate the country’s security.

L-R: General Manager, Technical Operations, National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), Dr. Hope Uweja; Producer, Bridges Health Insurance Advocacy Drama, Mr. Akin Fadeyi; Acting Executive Secretary, NHIS, Dr. Abdulrahman Sambo and Deputy General Manager, Media, Mrs. Hanatu Ardo, during the presentation of the drama in Lagos, yesterday. PHOTO: YINKA ADEPARUSI

Budget 2012: Agric Ministry records 68% utilisation • World Bank, IFAD, ADB approve $1.23bn for projects

ROTIMI FADEYI ABUJA

inister of Agriculture, Dr Akinwumi Adesina, yesterday said that his ministry has utilised about N9.4bn out of the N13.8bn so far released to the ministry in the N48.1 million appropriated in the 2012 budget for capital projects. The minister, who spoke with State House Correspondents shortly after briefing President Goodluck Jonathan on the key performance indicators on his ministry in relation to

the 2012 budget, noted that the figure represents 68 percent utilisation of the fund released to it from the 2012 budget. Adesina’s words: “The amount released to date to the ministry is N13.8bn. The amount that we have utilised is N9.4bn which is a utilisation rate of 68 percent. Bear in mind that the amount that we got is 29 percent of the amount budgeted for.” Adesina said that contrary to the belief in certain quarters, the ministry had recorded good performance in budget implementation

PHCN workers suspend strike JOHN UWE ABUJA

ormalcy returned yesterday to the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) as workers suspended their strike following the successful signing of the management contractor of the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) for three years by the Federal Government and the Manitoba Hydro International of Canada.

The workers called off the strike embarked upon on July 20 following the signed management contractor and intervention of the National Assembly. However, the workers said it was proper to call off the strike to create room for negotiations and enable Manitoba take over the management of TCN. The National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE) Vice-Chairman, Mr. Etukubes Mbang, said the intervention of

the National Assembly was a welcome development. According to him, the strike had been suspended and all gates leading to PHCN offices had also been reopened. Mbang said: “We opened the gates because the National Assembly is negotiating with our people in Abuja. Our people have been invited for discussion and we deem it fit to resume work pending the outcome of the meeting.”

base on the fund made available to it. The minister added; “When you look at the figure of 68 percent, bear in mind that these are not for on-going projects these are for new projects that we initiated after March 15.” “So we have to do procurement on many things,

we have to follow the procurement laws. You can’t just get up and spend money without following procurement laws.” “I think that many of the things that we are doing are well on track and I believe that as we enter the second quarters you will see that a lot will be drawdown.”

Third Mainland Bridge to be totally shut for two days

agos State Commissioner for Transportation, Kayode Opeifa yesterday said motorists may experience complete diversion of traffic from the Third Mainland Bridge on two Sundays from 6am to 12 midnight. The commissioner said the diversion of the traffic, which will take place on July 29 and August 5, was crucial in order to allow for the concrete casting of one of the three expansion joints (joint 1) currently undergoing repair works on the Lagos Island bound section (phase 1). He added that the other two joints, (joints 2 and 3) may be done on August 5. Opeifa said: “The con-

crete casting and drying process requires zero vibration, hence the complete diversion of vehicular traffic away from the bridge from Oworonshoki end to Adeniji Adele end on Sunday 29th July, 2012 and Sunday 5th August, 2012.” He said during the diversion, motorists coming to Lagos Island and Ikeja would be restricted from having access to the bridge from 6am to 12midnight on both days. Opeifa, however, appealed to motorists to bear with the government as the repair works and diversions are to ensure the safety of motorists and in the general interest of all.

Wednesday, July 25, 2012

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

World News

EU-Iran oﬃcials hold talks on nuclear row

PAUL ARHEWE

WITH AGENCY REPORTS

gypt’s Islamist President Mohamed Morsi named outgoing irrigation minister Hisham Qandil, a reputed independent, as prime minister yesterday and tasked him with forming a new government. The appointment comes 25 days after Morsi was sworn in as Egypt’s first civilian and freely elected head of state to replace president Hosni Mubarak, who was driven from office in a popular uprising in February 2011. Qandil was irrigation minister in the outgoing government of Kamal Ganzuri, whom he replaces. “This appointment of a patriotic and independent figure comes after much study and discussion to choose a person able to manage the current scenario,” said Morsi spokesman Yassir Ali. “Dr Qandil had no affiliation to any political party before or after the revolution,” said Ali. After talks with Morsi at the presidency, Qandil thanked the president and called on all forces to help achieve the goals of the revolution. “I want to thank the president of the republic for the trust he has placed in me for this important, heavy and difficult task, and I ask God to help us,” Qandil said. He urged “all political forces and the people of Egypt to support us in this difficult mission ... We must exert all efforts to achieve

“Three months after its formation, the transition government led by Cheick Modibo Diarra has only become bogged down in incompetence and amateurishness and Mali is only sinking deeper” – Mali’s United Front for the Defence of the Republic and Democracy

Morsi appoints outgoing minister as Egypt’s PM the goals of the revolution.” Qandil stressed that his government would be made up of technocrats and that appointments will “not be based on (political) orientations.” “Competence will be the basis for choosing the ministers,” he said. The incoming premier also said Morsi was in regular talks with the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces, which oversaw the transition from Mubarak’s rule,

over whether SCAF chief Field Marshal Hussein Tantawi would remain in his current post as defence minister. Little known outside political circles, Qandil describes himself as a religious man, telling reporters after his appointment as water minister that he had grown a beard “in line with the Sunna,” the words and practices of the Muslim Prophet Mohammed. Morsi has repeatedly vowed that his team and government

would be inclusive and that he would be a “president for all Egyptians.” He said he would appoint a woman and a Christian as his deputies. Born in 1962, Qandil graduated from Cairo University’s faculty of engineering before doing postgraduate studies in the United States. In 1993, he received a doctorate from the University of North Carolina.

Burundi’s anti-corruption court has sentenced an anti-graft activist to five years in jail for “false declarations”, a spokesman for the court said yesterday. Faustin Ndikumana and his organisation Parcem “were both found guilty of false declarations” under the anti-corruption law, spokesman Leandre Brampahije told AFP. He said Ndikumana had been handed five years in jail and a fine equivalent to $350 (289 euros), while the organisation Parcem was given a fine of $3,500. In addition, the pair were jointly ordered to pay $7,000 damages to Justice Minister Pascal Barandagiye, he said. Ndikumana’s defence lawyer Lambert Nsabimana told AFP his client would appeal the ruling. He had been out on bail, and was understood still not to be in custody.

Tunisia appoints controversial bank governor

Egypt’s President Mohamed Mursi (L) meeting with Irrigation Minister Hisham Qandil at the presidential palace in Cairo on Sunday. PHOTO: REUTERS

US religious groups back anti-gay laws in Africa onservative U.S. Christian groups are setting up fronts in Africa to fight for antigay and anti-abortion legislation to promote their fundamentalist convictions, a report by a Boston research group said yesterday. It accuses evangelical stars such as Pat Robertson and Rick Warren as well as Catholic and Mormon groups of setting up institutions and campaigns in Africa that are “fanning the flames of the culture wars over homosexuality and abortion by backing prominent African campaigners and political leaders.” Reflecting that, the report from independent think tank Political Research Associates of Boston is called “Colonizing African Values: How the U.S. Christian Right is Transforming Sexual Politics in Africa.” Some of the Africans cited in

WORLD BULLETIN Burundi anti-graft activist gets five-year jail term

the report as heading African organizations set up by the U.S. religious right maintain that they are just using funds from foreign friends who share similar beliefs. Among them is Joseph Okia, nephew of President Yoweri

Anti-gay protesters in Zimbabwe

Museveni in Uganda, where proposed legislation would invoke the death penalty for “aggravated homosexuality. Definitely there is a link between conservative Christians in America and conservative Christian leaders in

PHOTO: AP

Uganda,” Okia confirmed to the report’s researchers. Okia spoke of “a close intellectual and mentoring relationship.” Several Africans and Americans named in the report could not immediately be reached for comment. A spokesman for Pastor Rick Warren said he was too busy to comment. The report’s main author, the Rev. Kapya Kaoma, said that while such evangelical groups are in the minority in the United States, they are able to punch way above their weight in Africa, where many oppose homosexuality. Here, many believe the religious right’s contentions that gay men are “recruiting” in schools, Kaoma said. Others believe the U.S. right’s argument that overpopulation is a myth propagated by Western forces who support contraception and abortion.

Tunisia’s National Constituent Assembly (ANC) yesterday appointed Chedly Ayari as the new central bank governor, after weeks of heated debate and another stormy session in the interim parliament. “The designation of Chedly Ayari as governor of the central bank has been adopted,” parliament speaker Mustafa Ben Jaafar said following the vote. Opposition MPs were swift to condemn the circumstances of the vote, in which 190 MPs participated, despite only 156 being present at the start of the debate three and a half hours earlier. It was also a tight race, with 97 lawmakers backing Ayari, 89 of them opposing his appointment and four abstaining.

Fresh clashes in Sudan’s Darfur region There has been renewed fighting between the Sudanese government and rebels from the Darfur region’s Justice and Equality Movement (JEM). Both sides confirmed that there had been clashes, but gave conflicting versions of events. Sudan’s army said more than 50 rebels had been killed as they were driven out two areas of East Darfur, while the JEM said it had taken control of three towns near the Abu Jabra oilfield. The Darfur war first broke out in 2003. It continues to this day, with Sudan accusing the new nation of South Sudan of supporting various Darfuri rebel groups.

World News

enior European and Iranian diplomats met in Turkey yesterday in a bid to seek common ground in the protracted negotiations on Tehran’s disputed nuclear drive. Iran’s deputy chief nuclear negotiator Ali Bagheri met EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton’s deputy

Wednesday, July 25, 2012

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

EU-Iran officials hold talks on nuclear row Helga Schmid at an undisclosed location in Istanbul for talks that were closed to the press, officials said. The meeting was designed to “seek common ground and coordination between the views of the P5+1

and Iran and also to prepare the ground for a telephone conversation between (Iranian chief negotiator Saeed) Jalili and Ashton,” Iran’s ISNA news agency reported. Ashton -- who is leading negotiations on behalf of

world powers -- said in June that she and Jalili should meet if there was enough headway in Tuesday’s talks and a previous technical meeting in Istanbul earlier this month. The ISNA report about a telephone

conversation would appear to suggest that insufficient progress had been made for face-to-face meeting. Ashton’s spokesman Michael Mann had said earlier that the meeting between Bagheri and Schmid would

be followed by a “contact” between Ashton and Jalili. The P5+1 -- the five permanent members of the UN Security Council plus Germany -- has been involved in negotiations to try to curb Iran’s nuclear programme, which Israel and the West suspect is a cover for efforts to build the atomic bomb.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Wednesday, July 25, 2012

WORLD RECORD

Most tornadoes by area Vol. 02 No. 411

N150

Wednesday, July 25, 2012

By area, the Netherlands has more twisters than any country, with one for every 1,991 km² (769 miles²) of land! The USA has one per 8,187 km² (3,161 miles²).

Unworkable cashless banking policy

n a country that has no regular or reliable supply of electricity, a country in which 95 percent of the population has no access to internet services, and in which the lucky few who have internet access in some of our cities often have to face frustrating delays in order to achieve useful connections at irregular intervals, how does the new so called cashless banking policy make sense? I don’t know of other peoples’ experience, but I have just been through a very trying period during which we did not have even one minute supply of electricity from PHCN for one full month consecutively in the Sabo-Yaba, Lagos neighbourhood where I live. That is what we are experiencing in the heart of Lagos, the nation’s economic capital. I am sure the situation is often worse in many other parts of Nigeria! How does one establish and maintain in-

Guest Columnist ternet connection with the banks without electricity and without internet access? I repeat how? Is it by magic or through prayer? Could CBN big wigs tell Nigerians how? The problem with Nigeria is that some of the government officials who dream up these kinds of worthless innovations are totally insensitive to the difficulties that their fellow citizens have to face simply to survive on a day to day basis in the rudderless ship named Nigeria that is currently drifting aimlessly through shark-infested waters, while President Jonathan is preparing to set off for the London Olympics with a large retinue of aides, supposedly for the purpose of seeking largely invisible investors for Nigeria while the Olympic games are in progress... Hopefully, some of the phantom investors that President Jonathan, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Mr. Central Banker of the Year Sanusi and others are going to London to ensnare will no doubt eventually be found hiding under Usein Bolt’s bed in the Olympic Village... Wonders shall never end! Cry the beloved country! Meanwhile, the rest of us are left to continue to manage in Nigeria without reliable electricity or water supply, without motorable roads, and living in constant fear of floods and armed robbers... Since my dear younger brother Sanusi and his colleagues in the Central Bank mostly live in government subsidized hous-

Ola

Balogun SOMEBODY PLEASE TELL ME HOW THE

SO-CALLED CASHLESS BANKING POLICY CAN POSSIBLY WORK IN THIS KIND OF TECHNOLOGICALLY CHALLENGED

ENVIRONMENT? ing with generators and fuel paid for with taxpayers’ money to help them cope with the many hours of darkness that most Nigerians have to contend with every night, they appear to take it for granted that we can all communicate by internet at all hours of day and night... Could one ask them to take a little time off their constant first class air travel and comfortable sojourns in the world’s top hotels to consider the plight of their fellow citizens for even a few minutes before they formulate policies like the cashless banking disaster? I do not do that much banking, but I can readily testify that on at least 10 or 12 occasions over the past year, I have found it im-

possible to have access to funds paid into my account in two of Nigeria’s leading banks for periods ranging from between 36 and 48 hours as a result of internet failure in the banking networks or generator breakdown in the branches of banks. Needless to state, I NEVER had any such experiences in over 40 years of operating bank accounts in Paris, London, Brussels and Los Angeles, or even closer to home in Cotonou! So, somebody please tell me how the so-called cashless banking policy can possibly work in this kind of technologically challenged environment in which we live in the Nigeria of the 21st century, which in many respects has not evolved beyond the conditions in which our forefathers lived in rural communities three centuries ago? And somebody please tell me WHAT PURPOSE exactly the cashless banking is supposed to serve? I am of course aware that several hundred thousand (if not millions!) point of sales machines have been imported and sold all over the country by faceless individuals who are no doubt laughing and dancing all the way to their banks at this moment, but beyond this happy result for the happy anonymous few, what actual useful purpose is to be served by the cashless banking fiasco? Please somebody educate me! I confess to utter ignorance and stupidity, so perhaps the high ranking Central Bank officials who dreamed up this highly illogical policy that they have unilaterally imposed on the long-suffering citizens of Nigeria without any prior consultation will be kind enough to spell out the supposed benefits of cashless banking to stupid bush people like me... Dr. Balogun, scholar and writer, popular filmmaker, scriptwriter, and musician, wrote from Lagos

Sport Extra

er Majesty, The Queen, yesterday sent congratulated the 2012 Tour de France winner Bradley Wiggins. The monarch also praised Wiggins’ historic achievement of becoming the first Briton to win the most prestigious endurance race in cycling.

Queen hails Tour de France winner “I send you my warmest congratulations on becoming the first British cyclist ever to win the Tour de France,” the Queen said in a Buckingham Palace release. “Your historic achieve-

ment of claiming overall victory in this prestigious event is a great testament to the efforts of you and your team-mates,” the release added. Reports revealed vari-

ous calls for Wiggins to be awarded a knighthood, with bookmakers expressing optimism that the Tour champion would become “Sir Bradley” before the end of next year.

Wiggins will be competing for an Olympic medal in the men’s cycling road race which starts and finishes in The Mall on Saturday and will pass the Buckingham Palace. The Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall will watch the riders set off.

Bradley Wiggins

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