Wednesday, November 14, 2012 by GLOBAL MEDIA MIRROR LIMITED

Bank customers to enjoy free inter-bank ATM transactions Female student wins MTN’s aeroplane

TOLA A KINMUTIMI ABUJA

Sanusi

eprieve came the way of bank customers yesterday as the Bankers’ Committee finally removed Auto-

Vol. 2 N0. 491

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N’Assembly won’t create states now –Ekweremadu Tambuwal orders committees to submit 2012 budget reports

mated Teller Machines, ATMs, charges on interbank transactions. The decision, which

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Wednesday, November 14, 2012

N150

PDP, ACN, CPC blast Jega over bribery allegation .

OUR RESPONSE TO IT IS THAT JEGA

JEGA KNOWS CLEARLY THAT PDP

SHOULD BE HONOURABLE ENOUGH TO

THAT ENSURED HIS APPOINTMENT IS THE

MENTION THE NAMES OF THE POLITICAL

MAJOR CULPRIT IN THIS DESPICABLE AND

PARTIES INVOLVED

UTTERLY REPREHENSIBLE ACT

–PDP

–CPC

AYODELE OJO AND OBIORA IFOH

Ihejirika

No hiding place for Boko Haram –Army

olitical parties yesterday turned the heat on the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Prof. Attahiru Jega, for accusing them of bribing security agencies and the electoral commission to rig elections in their favour. The parties described Jega’s statement as dishonest and untrue, challenging him to name the culprits in the bribery saga. But former governor of old Kaduna State, Alhaji Balarabe Musa, told National Mirror that commerCONTINUED ON PAGE 2>>

Gunmen kill lecturer, director in Maiduguri

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L-R: Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Aloma Mukhtar; awardee, Delta State Deputy Governor, Prof. Amos Utuama and AttorneyGeneral of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Mohammed Adoke (SAN), during the Honorary Fellowship Awards of the Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies in Abuja, yesterday.

N1.8bn subsidy scam:

2015: Zik’s widow pushes for Igbo presidency

Tukur, Arisekola negotiate charges with EFCC

15 cars destroyed as parties clash in Makurdi P.10,12

Forgery: Trial of three CAC pastors resumes P.8

Nigerians spend $8bn on medical tourism –Cardiologist

Mrs. Azikiwe

Police contractors hold perm sec hostage

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News

Wednesday, November 14, 2012

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Tukur, Arisekola negotiate charges with EFCC FRANCIS FAMOROTI

ndications emerged yesterday at an Ikeja High Court, that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, and the lawyers to Mahmud Tukur, son of the National Chairman of the

Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, and three others have initiated negotiations on the charges of N1.8bn fuel subsidy fraud preferred against them. Tukur is being tried before Justice Adeniyi Onigbanjo along with Abdullahi, the son of business

mogul, Alhaji Arisekola Alao; Ochonogor Alex and Eternal Oil and Gas Plc. Shortly after their arraignment, the defendants had pleaded not guilty and were each granted bail in the sum of N20m. The defendants resurfaced in court yesterday looking relaxed.

When the proceedings resumed, the lead counsel to the defendants, Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN) and Prof. Taiwo Osipitan (SAN), told the court that their clients were discussing with the EFCC over the charges preferred against them. According to Olani-

L-R: Special guest, Chief Felix Ibru; former President, International Federation of Women Lawyers, Mrs. Stella Ugboma; Chairman of the occasion, Mr. Goodie Ibru and Managing Partner, Avis Oyolu and Associate, Mr. Victor Oyolu, during a seminar on law of defamation in Lagos, yesterday.

pekun, “we have studied the processes filed by the prosecution against our clients. “As senior counsel, we owe it as a duty to our clients to enter into discussion with the prosecution regarding the charges. “That is why we did not challenge the charge when it was filed.’’ He, therefore, asked the court to give more time to the defence to discuss with the prosecution so that the matter could be speedily resolved. The EFCC counsel, Mr. Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), also confirmed this development, stressing that he was not opposed to an adjournment of the matter. Justice Onigbanjo then adjourned the matter to December 13 for mention. In a related development, the EFCC also arraigned another oil marketer, Rowaye Jubril, yesterday at an Ikeja High Court on charges involving about N963.7m fuel subsidy scam.

Jubril, who was brought before Justice Lateefat Okunnu, was arraigned on a 13- count charge, bordering on obtaining money by false pretences, forgery and uttering. He was charged along with his company, Brila Energy Limited. EFCC lawyer, Mr. Seidu Atteh, alleged that the defendants had between October 2010 and May 2011 in Lagos fraudulently obtained N963.7m from the Federal Government. The anti-graft agency said that the defendants obtained the money from the Petroleum Support Fund, PSF, for a purported importation of 17.3 million litres of premium motor spirit, otherwise known as petrol. Besides, the prosecution alleged that the defendants forged documents, including certificate of cargo transfer, certificate of origin and cargo manifest. CONTINUED ON PAGE 5>>

PDP, ACN, CPC blast Jega over bribery allegation CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

cialisation of elections by political parties had been going on in the country for long. The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP; Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN; Congress for Progressive Change, CPC; All Nigerian People’s Party, ANPP; All Progressive Grand Alliance, APGA; and Conference of Nigerian Political Parties, CNPP, spoke with National Mirror on the issue yesterday. Jega had, at a two-day roundtable conference with the theme, “Party politics in Nigeria and lobbying the lobbyist and the legislature” on Monday in Abuja, said: “Political parties budget funds with which to bribe security agencies and INEC officials during elections. “Of course, this is being resisted but we have to stop all this in our electoral process. “There is a terrible lack of civility with which the parties relate to one another or the stakeholders.” The PDP through its National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh, how-

ever challenged INEC to mention names of political parties that budget money for the purpose of bribing the commission for electoral favour. Metuh said: “We heard what the INEC chairman said that some political parties bribe INEC officials to help rig or influence elections, but our response to it is that Jega should be honourable enough to mention the names of the political parties involved. “Under the circumstances of transparent and fair election, INEC officials can no longer rig or influence elections.” The party said that INEC officials could not afford to rig or influence elections as the governorship elections in Edo and Ondo states had proven. But the CPC said that Nigerians knew who Jega was referring to, even as it also indicted the INEC chairman as having contributed immensely to the problems besetting the electoral process in Nigeria. The CPC National Publicity Secretary, Rotimi Fashakin, told National

Mirror that Jega knows CPC is not in this ignoble endeavour. “Prof. Jega knows clearly that PDP, the ruling party that ensured his appointment, is the major culprit in this despicable and utterly reprehensible act. “INEC, very altruistically, has always worked in a way to undermine the interest of other parties. “But for judicial interventions at the highest level, INEC under Jega’s watch had compromised itself in imposing candidates on the parties. “Truth be told, Jega’s INEC contributed immensely to the perils of the electoral process in Nigeria. “In other climes, such commentary as Jega’s should have attracted further investigations from the law enforcement agencies. “Which parties are involved? Which INEC officials have been compromised already? What has Jega done to ameliorate the situation? It is not just enough to try and look good with this kind of statement.”

ACN National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, denied his party’s involvement in the untoward act. “I know that ACN do not vote money to bribe security or INEC officials. On the contrary, all we have been asking for is a level-playing ground in the electoral process. “Unfortunately, some political parties have more influence on INEC, security agencies and others. “And we have always been disturbed that as long as chairman and INEC members are appointees of the ruling government and the police are centrally controlled, it will be difficult to persuade anybody that there is a level-playing ground,” the ACN spokesman said. The ANPP National Publicity Secretary, Chief Emma Eneukwu, denied ever budgeting for the bribing of INEC officials and will never do such. According to him, “If we are budgeting to bribe INEC, we will not be diminishing the way we are

in some states. “If there is any bribing, then it is done by PDP, not my party. “We only budget for our agents and what we budget for them is not enough. “He (Jega) should come out clearly to say that PDP budgets to bribe INEC officials. It is clearly the style act of PDP to budget for INEC during elections.” The National Chairman of APGA, Chief Victor Umeh, described Jega’s statement as a mere allegation. He said: “We’ve not budgeted money for bribing INEC and security agencies during elections. “What we know is that candidates, especially incumbents, out of desperation bribe INEC and security agencies to rig elections in their favour. “It will be funny if a political party make a provision for bribing INEC security agencies during election in its budget. This is so because party budgets are opened to the public. “Some parties may be

doing it through other means, but in APGA we don’t believe in compromising the electoral process.” The APGA national chairman challenged INEC to name the parties involved in this unwholesome act. “If Jega has evidence of those political parties making provision for money to bribe INEC and security agencies during elections, he should make them known to the public so those involved would be prosecuted,” he told National Mirror. Balarabe, however, said there is element of truth in Jega’s statement. “Commercialisation of election in Nigeria has been going on for long. “Since 1960, rich political parties have been able to manipulate the electoral process. That is why election is not free and fair in Nigeria. “Jega’s allegation is certainly possible. Setting money aside in the budget to bribe security agencies and INEC by political parties is not impossible in the CONTINUED ON PAGE 5>>

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Wednesday, November 14, 2012

Photo News

Wednesday, November 14, 2012

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

L-R: Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development and Guest Lecturer, Dr. Akinwunmi Adesina; President and Chairman of Council, Chattered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria, Mr. Segun Aina and former Head of Interim National Government and Special Guest of Honour, Chief Ernest Shonekan, at the 2012 CIBN Annual Lecture in Lagos, yesterday.

L-R: Commercial Development Manager, Africa, GlaxoSmithKline, Mr. Jide Adeosun; Chairman of the occasion and Managing Director, Jaykay Pharmaceuticals, Mr. Jimi Agbaje and Guest Speaker, Prof. Udoma Mendie, at the GSK’s Branded Generics launch in Africa, in Lagos, yesterday. PHOTO: YINKA ADEPARUSI

L-R: Minister of Health, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu; Senate President David Mark and Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, Mrs. Fatima Bamidele, at the launch of the National Oral Health Policy, in Abuja, yesterday. PHOTO: ROTIMI OSASONA

L-R: Chief Accountant, Coremedia Ltd, Mr. Raheem Olayiwola; Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Olpharm Nigeria Limited, Mr. Johnson Olusetire and Chief Executive Officer, Coremedia Ltd, Mr. Jide Adediran, at the media launch of Combisunate Antimalarial Drug in Lagos, recently.

National News

2012 budget: Tambuwal orders committees to submit reports

•Jonathan writes lawmakers on external borrowing, NCC budget TORDUE SALEM ABUJA

he House of Representatives Speaker, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, yesterday ordered the chairmen of the 89 standing committees of the House to submit on or before Thursday, final reports of their oversight of government Ministries, Departments and Agencies, MDAs, on the level of implementation of the 2012 budget. The order is to enable the House properly assess this year’s budget performance as it also considers the 2013 budget earlier proposed by President Goodluck Jonathan. This is as the President yesterday sent three letters to the House seeking amendment to 2012-2014 Medium-Term External Borrowing Plan to allow borrowing to fund certain infrastructure projects. Jonathan is seeking legislative approval for plans

to issue a $1 billion Eurobond and another $100 million Diaspora Fund next year to fund the power and gas sector reforms and to drive participation of Nigerians abroad in the development of the country, in the case of the Diaspora bond. The President is also seeking permission to obtain a $200 million facility from the African Development Bank, ADB, to fund a water project in Rivers State. Jonathan informed the lawmakers that the Federal Government was currently developing a low-income housing finance facility to support the provision of affordable homes for Nigerians. He said: “This scheme will be financed using a $300 million credit facility from World Bank. We would like to swap this new $300 million credit facility with the proposed guarantees for the power sector in the draft borrowing plan, thereby ensuring that we

do not increase the overall size of loans proposed in the external borrowing plan.” The President also sought the approval of the House for 2013 budget proposal of the Universal Service Provision Fund, USPF, and the Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC.

N7bn debt: Police contractors hold Perm Sec hostage, demand payment TORDUE SALEM ABUJA

ore than 50 contractors of the Nigerian Police Force, NPF, invaded the Ministry of Police Affairs hostage yesterday, demanding immediate payment of N7.4 billion debt owed them for projects done for the police from 2005 to 2012.

The contractors also threatened to dump the corpse of one their colleagues at the ministry if the payment was not made immediately. They said seven of their colleagues had died while waiting to be paid. The contractors had besieged the office of the Director of Finance and Administration, Permanent Secretary, Mr. Adewale

Karaki, on learning that the Police Affairs Minister, Navy Caption Caleb Olubolade (rtd), was not in his office. The irate contractors held Karaki hostage, insisting that they must be immediately paid. A team of policemen led by ASP A. Momodu, however, intervened and calmed the down the contractors.

FG gives firms generating own power tax credit ROTIMI FADEYI ABUJA

he Federal Government has offered tax credit to manufacturers generating their own power as a way to revitalise the country’s industries. The development of the industries was the key issue discussed at the meeting of the Economic Management Team, EMT, yesterday held at the Presidential Villa, which lasted about seven hours. The EMT meeting was

presided over by President Goodluck Jonathan. At the end of the enlarged meeting with leadership of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, MAN, and other stakeholders, MAN President, Kola Jamodu, said the association had enjoyed robust partnership with the government in the area of improving the economy. Jamodu told State House Correspondents that the country must get the industries working to provide jobs.

He said the major challenge facing industries in the country was the provision of stable power supply. The MAN president, however, said that with the privatisation of the power sector, there was hope that industries would start production again. Jamodu said MAN had already submitted a blueprint to government on the problems facing the manufacturing sector, stressing that government was already addressing them. He expressed optimism

that with the commitment of government, manufacturing industries would soon start to make great contribution to the development of the economy. Speaking in the same vein, the Minister of Trade and Investment, Dr. Olusegun Aganga, said the development of the industries was a major concern to the government. He noted that government was already taking steps to revitalise the manufacturing industries to contribute to the Gross Domestic Product, GDP.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

News

Wednesday, November 14, 2012

Bank customers to enjoy free inter-bank ATM transactions CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

was amongst those taken at the end of the committee’s meeting in Abuja, is expected to save millions of naira monthly for customers who, over the past two years, have been crying over spurious charges for services, which sometimes are not rendered by their banks. Speaking on the rationale for the removal, the Managing Director of

First Bank Plc, Mr. Bisi Onasanya, said the decision was to minimise the financial burden of bank customers and also make services friendly in such a way that would encourage the financially excluded Nigerians to access banking services. He said that the free inter-bank ATM regime would become effective immediately. Onasanya, however,

said the banks would have to agree on the modalities of its implementation. He said: “At the Bankers Committee’s meeting today (Tuesday), we have jointly agreed to stop charges for usage of ATMs. “Presently when you use the ATM of a bank other than your bank, there is a charge of N100 which is borne by the ac-

count holder. “We have decided that we will work out the modalities and ensure that with immediate effect, we will pass on this cost to the respective banks. “We will bear the cost of providing services so that no matter wherever you are drawing your money, you would not be subjected to any charge for using the ATMs. “This does not cover

L-R: Papal Nuncio, Archbishop Augustine Kasujja; Senate President David Mark; President, Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria, Archbishop Ignatius Kaigama and Archbishop of Ibadan Diocese, Felix Alaba Job, at the Second National Pastoral Congress in Abuja, yesterday. PHOTO: NAN

PDP, ACN, CPC blast Jega over bribery allegation CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2

case of rich political parties. “For a political party to be involved in bribing INEC and security agencies, it must control at least a state in Nigeria. “And if you look at the existing political parties, only six are in the position of controlling a state. “So, those six political parties who have the capacity should be asked why they

are doing that.” The National Chairman of Labour Party, LP, Chief Dan Nwanyanwu, said that the allegation was founded but that it was not too difficult for INEC chairman to call a spade a spade. Nwanyawu said Jega must be referring to the big political parties with money and not small parties like LP that he said was struggling to meet its obligations financially.

He said that INEC could say that because it was either that the commission’s officials had been bribed in the past or there had been attempts to bribe them. Nwanyanwu said: “It is worrisome. For him to say such thing means he must have been experiencing such pressures from moneybags in the big political parties. “But it would have been more apt for him to name

the parties involved because such statement suggests that attempts have been made to bribe INEC officials by political parties. “At the same time, we must have to congratulate Jega for having the courage to speak out because these are what small political parties like LP suffer in the hands of mega-parties whose leaders and officials have deep pockets built from our commonwealth.”

Senate plans oil spill fund GEORGE OJI AND EMMANUEL ONANI

o cushion the environmental impact of oil spills, the Senate is proposing the establishment of an “Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund,” which it said was in line with international best practices. This initiative is contained in a bill currently before the Senate, seeking an amendment to the existing National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency, NOSDRA, Act of 2006.

The Chairman, Senate Committee on Environment and Ecology, Bukola Saraki, who made the disclosure yesterday in Abuja, said: “Nigeria has the highest number of oil spill incidences among oil producing countries.” He regretted that “no penalty regime is attached to such oil spills,” despite the recurrence of the unfortunate incident across Niger Delta. Saraki, who spoke at a public hearing on the NOSDRA (Amendment) Bill, added that: “The level of spill in Nigeria reflects the

total disregard placed on our environment and the dignity of our people... an irresponsible environmental behaviour and reckless waste of our people’s wealth and benefits.” Justifying the setting up of a trust fund to mitigate the devastation occasioned by oil spills, Saraki said: “It makes a lot of economic sense to set up an oil spill liability fund. This is why this bill will ensure that we have an oil spill management scheme that incentivises good behaviour and punishes environmentally reckless behaviour wheth-

er by the leaseholder or by a third party.” Declaring the one-day public hearing open, Senate President David Mark said the National Assembly was committed to environmental safety, which he noted, was part of its responsibility as a legislature. Mark, who spoke through Deputy Minority Whip, Senator Abu Ibrahim, expressed worry that environmental challenges posed by perennial oil spills had the potential of frustrating the Millennium Development Goals, MDGs.

withdrawals inside the banking hall when the ATMs are on but for transactions on what we call not on us. “When you are a First Bank customer and you use the ATM of GTBank, it is free, you don’t bear any cost.” Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Director, Banking Supervision, Mrs. Agnes Martins, said that as part of the apex bank’s efforts to ensure financial stability, it would be working with the Securities and Exchange Commission, SEC, to supervise major broking companies in the country. She explained that the primary target of the planned exercise was broking entities owned by holding companies under the new banking reform. Martins said:”Going forward, we are going to be working with the SEC to carry out joint examination of top broking firms. “Presently, we supervise the banks but in the interest of financial stability, we are going to be working with SEC to supervise the broking firms, especially those that are owned by hold-

ing companies under the new banking reforms. “This is just to ensure that financial stability is maintained.” Another decision of the committee was banks’ plan to provide a mortgage liquidity facility to support the Federal Government’s initiative to provide more affordable housing to the growing middle class population. The committee noted that the initiative was borne out of the banks’ concern over the rising cost of housing in the country and the need to support Nigerians desirous of owning their houses through mortgage financing. The CBN had last November issued new guidelines for the deployment of offsite ATMs by banks and independent ATM deployers, giving banks and other ATM deployers the authority to charge customers a maximum of N100 per transaction on their ATMs. The guideline is in line with its cashless policy objectives and in view of the critical role ATM deployment and availability play in ensuring the success of the policy.

Tukur, Arisekola negotiate charges with EFCC CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2

Atteh stated that their alleged offences contravened Sections 1(3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act of 2006. He added that the offences amounted to a breach of sections 467 and 468 of the Criminal Code Laws of Lagos State 2003. Jubril, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges. Ruling on the plea for bail, Justice Okunnu granted Jubril bail in the sum of N75m with two sureties in like sum. The judge, however, ordered that the sureties must be gainfully employed and should depose to an affidavit of means. Justice Okunnu also ruled that one of the sureties must own a landed property in Lagos State

while the other must be a director in public or private quoted company in the country. The judge directed that the sureties must produce three years’ tax clearance certificate. In addition, the documents must be verified by an EFCC official. Jubril is also required to deposit his international passport and other travelling documents with the chief registrar of the court. The judge ordered that the defendant must not travel out of the country without the court’s permission. The court asked him to report once every month to the EFCC office during the duration of the trial. Justice Okunnu, therefore, adjourned further proceedings to January 23, 2013 for trial.

News

Wednesday, November 14, 2012

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Law schools, others can’t benefit from TETFUND –NUC, ASUU TORDUE SALEM ABUJA

L-R: Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi; his counterparts from Delta and Rivers, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan and Rotimi Amaechi (right) and Chairman, Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote (middle) during the arrival of the governors and invited guests for the second term inaugurations of Edo State Governor, Adams Oshiomhole, in Benin City, on Monday.

Reps debate anti-same sex marriage bill TORDUE SALEM ABUJA

he House of Representatives yesterday debated with rigour and intensity, a bill opposing same-sex marriage in the country. The bill was summarily referred to the “Committee of the Whole House,” after a reference to Section 12 Rule 83. Bills are usually referred to Standing Committees for public hearings before they are returned to the House as reports to be considered by a Committee of the Whole, chaired by the Deputy Speaker. But to accelerate the passage of the bill into law, the House skipped procedure and referred the bill to a Committee of the Whole. It is to be considered today. The development is coming a year after the Senate passed a bill banning samesex marriage. It prescribed 14 years imprisonment for defaulters. The senate’s bill is waiting to be ratified by the House before being assented to by President Goodluck Jonathan. The bill by the House is seeking to tighten existing legislation, which already outlaws gay sex, by criminalising anyone who witnesses or assists such marriages and making same-sex public displays of affection a jail-able offence. Under the new law, groups that support gay rights would also be banned. The Majority Leader of the House, Hon. Mulikat Adeola-Akande (PDP Oyo) stressed; “It is alien to our

society and culture and it must not be imported. Religion abhors it and our culture has no place for it.” Members pounced on gays and lesbians in strong terms as soon as the leader rounded off her lead debate. Hon. Adams Jagaba Adams (Kaduna/PDP) and Bimbo Daramola (Ekiti/ ACN) called on Nigerians to defy pressure from the Western countries to cut foreign aid to Nigeria for opposing same-sex marriage. Chairman, House Committee on Diaspora, Abike Dabiri-Erewa (Lagos/

ACN), speaking in support of the bill, however, called for caution in view of the touchy human rights implication on persons likely to be affected by the legislation. In his own contribution, House Minority Leader/ Leader of Opposition, Femi Gbajabiamila (Lagos/ACN), contended that ‘the bill represents a convergence of both law and morality. This issue (samesex marriage) is both illegal and immoral.’ He insisted that same-sex marriage was in clear breach of Nigeria’s Marriage Act. Similarly, Chairman,

House Committee on Foreign Affairs, Nnenna Elendu-Ukeje (Abia/PDP), argued that the bill was a ‘a competition between religious principles and international convention which Nigeria is signatory to.’ After an exhaustive debate which lasted for about two hours, House Speaker, Hon. Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, refered the bill to the Committee of the Whole House for further legislative action. Homosexuality is illegal in most African countries. However, Malawi is on the verge of amending its 2010 laws to legalise it.

Subsidy scam: Melaye threatens court action against Finance Minister OLUFEMI ADEOSUN ABUJA

he Executive Secretary of the AntiCorruption Network, Hon. Dino Melaye, has threatened to sue the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the economy, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, for alleging he was sponsored by indicted oil barons to stage protest against her. Melaye had last week led hundreds of protesters to the headquarters’ office of the Ministry of Finance, calling for the resignation of Dr. Okonjo-Iweala, even as they accused her of ruining the economy. A letter written to the minister by Kayode Ajulo Chambers, solicitors to Melaye, a copy of which was made available to National

Mirror yesterday in Abuja, accused the minister of calling Melaye; “A disreputable former member of the House of Representatives sponsored by some of the indicted oil barons, who are currently being investigated and prosecuted for subsidy fraud.” The letter said the minister’s statement revealed a grand conspiracy designed to bring Melaye into public opprobrium and disrepute despite being known for his forthrightness and patriotic anti-corruption activities. The letter read in part; “Having been briefed, our approach, in accordance with our age-long practice is to premise our doubts on the presumption that you never authored such libellous statement knowing its full implication.

“Permit us to fulfil all righteousness by formally demanding whether you made such libellous statement against our client and if so, to unequivocally demand that you retract the statement in writing within seven days of your receipt of this letter so that our client’s injured reputation and justifiable grievance would be assuaged. “In the very likely event that you never made nor authorised the statements complained of, we would be most relieved to be assured by your response within the same seven days period. “If you refuse, fail or neglect to accede to our demand for retraction and apology, we will have no option than to take appropriate court processes against you in addition, claim damages.

he National Universities Commission (NUC), the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and civil society organisations promoting the development of education in the country, yesterday opposed a bill to include monotechnics, Colleges of Agriculture and the Nigerian Law Schools on the list of beneficiaries from the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TEFFUND). The bill presently before the House of Representatives and brought for input by stakeholders in the education sector at a public hearing organised by the Hon. Roseline Okoh-led House Committee on Edu-

cation. The bill, entitled: “A bill for An Act to amend TETFUND 2011”, was torn to shreds by ASUU, NUC and other stakeholders as soon as inputs started to trickle in on its clauses. The first with the salvo was fired by the Executive Secretary of TETFUND, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, who dismissed the bill as a mere item brought in to ‘slow the progress of the TETFUND’ in particular and ‘the education sector in general.’ He warned that if TETFUND, as enacted in 2011 by the National Assembly were not allowed to be in its present state, the aim for which the fund was established would be defeated and the progress recorded so far reversed.

Wike inaugurates committee on implementation of SMASE IJEOMA EZEIKE ABUJA

he Federal Government yesterday inaugurated the ministerial committee on the review of implementation of Strengthening Mathematics and Science Education (SMASE). Inaugurating the committee in Abuja, Minister of State for Education, Nyesom Wike, charged the committee members to be totally committed to the project so as to accomplish the task at the set time. It will be recalled that a similar committee was raised after series of meetings with stakeholders on the implementation and funding of the project in April, 2012.

Wike recalled that the committee met severally and came up with far reaching recommendations on the implementation of the project. The minister noted that Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) arranged for a high powered Nigerian delegation to visit Kenya in order to acquaint stakeholders of the sustainability strategies of the Kenyan SMASE project both at the primary and secondary education levels as well as to deepen the stakeholders understanding of the implementation of the project in Nigeria. His words: “The study tour was successfully accomplished with some far reaching recommendations made thereafter.”

‘Women occupy 45% of key positions in FCTA’ OMEIZA AJAYI

ederal Capital Territory Minister, Senator Bala Mohammed, yesterday dismissed insinuations that the FCT Administration has relegated women in key appointments, explaining that he has surpassed the administration’s target of 35 percent gender representation in governance by giving 45 percent key appointments to the women folk. Mohammed made this disclosure at the opening

of the Women Leadership and Empowerment Summit and the presentation of a book entitled; “Women and Leadership,” that was held at the Centre for Women Development, Central Business District, Abuja. Represented by his Senior Special Assistant on Information Management System, Hajiya Jamilah Tangazah, the minister restated his determination to continue to strive along this affirmative direction as it is a way for the Federal Government to quickly achieve its Transformation Agenda.

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Wednesday, November 14, 2012

Alleged discrimination: Reps summon Emirates, Ethiopian airlines TORDUE SALEM ABUJA

he House of Representatives Committee on Aviation has ordered Turkish, Emirates, Ethiopian and other foreign airlines operating in the country to appear before it over allegations that they were stopped from landing at the Aminu Kano International Air-

port, Kano. Chairman of the House Committee on Aviation, Hon. Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, yesterday summoned the airlines at a meeting with some aviation stakeholders in Abuja. According to Onyejeocha, the invitation became necessary because of the controversy surrounding the alleged discrimination against the airlines.

She said since there were conflicting claims from parties in the dispute, there was need for the airlines to present their positions. The Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Aviation, Ms Anne Ene-

Ita, who represented Minister of Aviation, Princess Stella Oduah, dismissed the allegation, insisting that none of the airlines was restricted from operating in Kano. She said there were procedures to be followed be-

fore airlines could land at airports. According to her, apart from signing the Bilateral Air Service Agreement (BASA) between Nigeria and the airline’s country of origin, there were some other procedures which

airlines ought to follow. But Hon Aliyu Madaki insisted that there was a deliberate plot to discriminate against the airlines and stall activities at the Kano Airport. He also tendered some letters to buttress his claims.

Lagos CP walks out journalist over report

agos State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Umar Manko, yesterday ordered a reporter of The PUNCH, Kunle Falayi, out of the premises of the police command headquarters, Ikeja. Manko was annoyed by a story published on Tuesday entitled: “Guard shot by policemen in critical condition”, describing the report as “an attack on police integrity”. The commissioner said: “So, you are the one who wrote this rubbish? Were you there when the policemen shot the security guard? You people like to write rubbish”. Manko then asked his orderly to walk the journalist out of the premises, saying: “You must not come back until he is out of this prem-

ises.” The journalist was at the command headquarters to carry out his legitimate duty of reporting a press briefing to be addressed by Manko and the parade of some suspected criminals. However, journalists from other media houses were allowed to cover the event. The Deputy Commissioner of Police, Operations, Mr. Tunde Shobulo, had earlier asked the reporter to identify himself before the event began. PUNCH Metro had, on Monday and Tuesday, reported that a banker, Femi Badejo, and a security guard, Joshua Musa, were shot by policemen who had responded to a distress call to foil a robbery at the victims’ house in Ikota, Lagos on Saturday.

Eko 2012: Contractors get four-day ultimatum MURITALA AYINLA

he Lagos State Government yesterday issued a four-day ultimatum to contractors handling renovation of all the designated centres for the 18th National Sports Festival. Speaking shortly after carrying out an on-the-spot assessment of facilities, the Deputy Governor, Princess Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, said the contractors should be ready to handover the projects to the Local organising Committee (LOC) on Saturday. Adefulire, who also the chairman of (LOC), inspected the Rowe Park Sports Centre, Yaba, UNILAG Sports Centre, beddings, mattresses, mosquito nets, buckets as well as the ElKanemi and Queen Amina Hall where the athletes will be sheltered. The Deputy Governor,

however, expressed satisfaction at the level of work done, adding that the government WAS ready to host the Festival billed for November 27 TO December 9. She said: “I think so far, we have made so much progress and we are prepared and ready to host and receive our visitors, athletes and officials from all parts of the country. In the next few days, we would round up all work on the facilities and start receiving our visitors” “Most of the contractors assured that by Thursday they will be through but we would give them Saturday. I will go round tomorrow till Saturday; I think this will ginger them to finish up what they have started. But by Saturday, we should be ready with all the facilities and hand them over to the facility managers and venue sub-committee of the Local Organising Committee (LOC).”

L-R: Special Adviser to the President on Ethics and Value Orientation, Chief Sarah Jibril; former Minister of Information, Prof. Dora Akunyili; Special Adviser to the President on Gender Issue, Dr. Asmau Abdulkadir and Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Hajia Zainab Maina, at the Women Leadership and Empowerment Summit in Abuja, yesterday. PHOTO: NAN

PDP flays CPC over comment on UN House rehabilitation OBIORA IFOH ABUJA

he Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has condemned the alleged attack by the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) on the Presidency for providing financial assistance to the United Nations in the rehabilitation of the bombed UN building, saying the party needs a lesson in international diplomacy. In its statement, CPC had said: “On the first year anniversary of the bombed UN building, the government of Dr Goodluck Jonathan provided N3.2 billion to rehabilitate the UN House made up of N2.6 billion to start the building and N600 million to provide temporary accommodation, in addition to

promised refund of $580,000 for the treatment of victims. “It did not really matter to this profligate PDP government that the United Nations, in its world-wide operations, has comprehensive insurance for its buildings and workers, even against terrorism.” But a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Olisa Metuh, PDP said: “While we doubt the veracity of the figures released by the CPC, it is becomes necessary to educate the party that in terror related cases, no amount is enough to compensate the victims of terror for their loss and sufferings which is why responsible governments always ensure that victims receives as much compensation as possible.

“If the CPC wants to betray its ignorance in diplomacy and government, it should do so on its own dime and not in a way that demeans Nigeria before the international community as it has done by this unseemly criticism of the victims. Many in the international community will indeed be wondering why the CPC does not have harsh words for the propagators of terror, but choose to use its words against the victims and the government. Since the advent of terror attacks in Nigeria, we do not have the CPC on record anywhere condemning them. “We urge discerning Nigerians to note that the United Nations are in Nigeria as guests of the government and people of Nigeria

to whom they have been offering selfless service for decades and it is most undiplomatic for any one, least of all a party that aspires to national governance, to criticise a gesture aimed at providing succor to a body such as the U.N which suffered from terrorism while in the service of Nigerians.”

Tukur

he Copyright Society of Nigeria (COSON) yesterday withdrew the suit it filed against Silverbird communications Limited before a Federal High Court, Lagos, saying it is no longer willing to pursue the case against the broadcasting firm. The chairman the company, Mr. Murray Bruce, was joined as second defendant in the suit.

Addressing the court why it filed the notice of discontinuance, the plaintiff ’s lawyer, Mr Justin Ige, said that the management of the defendant’s company was now willing to enter into an out-of court negotiation with the plaintiff. This information was not contradicted by lawyer to the defendant, Mr Gbenga Bello, who added that he had no objection to the notice of discontinuance. After hearing the two counsel, the presiding judge, Justice Musa Kurya,

held that since both parties had agreed to settle their matters out of court, the court would accordingly oblige them their request. The judge said: “An order is hereby made to discontinue suit no FHC/L/ CS/838/12” The plaintiff had instituted the action against the defendant on July 18. The plaintiff had filed the suit asking for exemplary damage of N500 million and general damages of N1.5 billion on the grounds that the de-

fendant’s company had engaged itself in unauthorised copying, communication and broadcasting of musical works of Nigerian artistes, without licence from COSON. COSON specifically stated that the defendants engaged in broadcasting musical works of departed artistes like: Sunny Okosun, Oliver de Coque, Christy Essien Igbokwe among others, which it claimed it had the sole rights to collect royalties on as agents of their estate.

South West

Wednesday November 14, 2012

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

ACN rejects Ogbomoso South LG boss’ removal Urges Assembly to snub governor’s action

KEMI OLAITAN IBADAN

he Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in Ogbomoso South Local Government Area of Oyo State yesterday kicked against last week’s removal of the council caretaker chairman and his substitution with another person by Governor Abiola Ajimobi.

The ACN executive and members, in a Save Our Soul message signed on their behalf by Messrs Ajayi Oyelade and Adedokun David in Ibadan, the state capital, rejected the governor’s action. They asked the state House of Assembly to reject Chief Matthew Fasola as replacement for Mr. Olajide. Describing Ajimobi’s

action as a breach of the party’s structural arrangement in the local government, they urged the ACN National Chairman, Chief Bisi Akande, to prevail on the governor to thread the path of justice and fairness. The ACN members said that they rejected Chief Matthew Fasola because his nomination “was against the generally-

agreed position sharing formulation of the party.” They said: Chief Fasola has never attended any of the ACN meetings, either at the ward or local government level since the inception of this administration. Then, how can such an uncommitted member be made a chairman of the local government? “Fasola’s nomination is foreign to the party because neither the executive committee members nor

elders of the party have a hand in his nomination.” The ACN members, therefore, urged the House of Assembly not to screen Chief Fasola “so as not to support injustice and an action that can lead to chaos among members.” Meanwhile, Governor Ajimobi has denied that the three former commissioners recently relieved of their appointments were sacked because of incompetence.

This was disclosed in a statement signed by the governor’s Special Adviser on Media, Festus Adedayo. According to him, the former commissioners served the state meritoriously to the best of their abilities. Adedayo said that the former commissioners were dropped in line with the restoration, transformation and repositioning agenda of Ajimobi’s administration.

Institute wants Ogun regional planning law reviewed

‘Nigerians spend $8bn on medical tourism annually’

FEMI OYEWESO

KEMI OLAITAN IBADAN

ABEOKUTA

he Ogun State chapter of Nigerian Institute of Town Planners (NITP) has called for the review of the existing Urban and Regional Laws to enable it meet up with the modern day realities. Its chairman, Mr. Sola Adelakun, made the call yesterday at a press conference held in Abeokuta, the state capital. Adelakun said reviewing the Ogun State Urban and Regional Planning Law 2005 would go a long way at removing “some gray areas” as well as enhance the new ministry created by Governor Ibikunle Amosunled administration for effective service delivery. Adelakun, who commended Governor Amosun for creating the Ministry of Physical Planning, explained that the creation would enhance the practice town planning in the state. NITP Chairman, who noted that Ogun was the only state in the SouthWestern part of Nigeria that did not have the ministry, stressed that such would go a long way at attracting laudable developmental programmes in the urban and regional structures. He said: “It is hoped that with the creation of the ministry, town planning and the profession will be given a pride of place in the formulation and implementation of laudable developmental plans.”

L-R: Former Lagos State Commissioner for Agriculture, Chief Olajide Aleshinloye-Williams; Event Sponsor, Chief Molade OkoyaThomas; Commissioner for Youth, Sports and Social Development, Mr. Waheed Oshodi and Chairman, Lagos State Table-Tennis Association, Mr. Femi Shokoya, at a news conference on the 44th Annual Asoju Oba Cup Table-Tennis Championship held in Lagos, yesterday. PHOTO: NAN

Alleged forgery: New judge begins trial of three CAC pastors KEMI OLAITAN IBADAN

new judge, Justice Agnes Obaseki-Adejumo of Federal High Court in Ibadan, has started afresh, the trial of the former President of Christ Apostolic Church (CAC) Worldwide, Pastor Elijah Oluseye and three others for alleged forgery. Other accused persons are Pastor Gideon Okegwemeh, the General Secretary of the church; Pastor Johnson Olabisi of CAC at Adamasingba, Ibadan, and a senior official of the Corporate Affairs Com-

mission, Mr. Abdul Hameed Mohammed. They were all docked for conspiracy and forgery of documents to illegally register the church on the pretext that the certificate of incorporation of the church registered in 1945 got lost. At the sitting of the court, the judge, who replaced the former trial judge, Justice Johnson Sharkarho, demanded to know from the parties involved in the suit if they have confidence in her to try the case. The two parties consented to the trial of the case with a unanimous decision to give her a free hand.

The first prosecution witness, Pastor Moses Ayantoye, narrated how the accused persons on several dates particularly on September 27,1990, formed an association called CAC Forum under which they plotted the removal of authentic leaders of the church and declared themselves as the new leaders. He deposed that Pastor Olusheye and others on September 1,1991, forged two documents containing minute of meetings held at two places simultaneously with the same attendants at the two places. He said the decision of

the accused pastors was to send the false minute of the meetings to the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) in Abuja which was misled to register their faction of the church. He further testified that in November 1991, the three accused persons also went ahead to forged another document where they agreed that the Supreme Council of the church had been abolished, adding that the forged documents were aimed at misleading the Corporate Affairs Commission to register their faction of the church.

Ondo poll: Oke denies flaying Jonathan, PDP SAM OLUWALANA

he Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in Ondo State, Chief Olusola Oke, has denied a report that he flayed President Goodluck Jonathan and the party’s leadership for not supporting him in the October 20 poll. Oke criticised the opposition for the report, which

he said was designed to place a wedge between him and the President and the party’s leadership, both of whom he said supported his candidacy in every way possible. The PDP governorship candidate, who spoke with journalists yesterday in his Akure home, thanked the President and the party’s leadership, but flayed those behind the alleged mischievous report.

He said: “My attention has been drawn to a publication alleging that Mr. President and the leadership of my party dumped us and worked for the opposition during the last governorship election. The publication is false in the extreme, apart from the fact that I did not personally speak with the reporter of the story. “In the press realease made by my Special Ad-

Oke

viser, there were no allegations as such. Our disposition since the election has been to show clear gratitude to Mr. President and the national leadership of the party for the invaluable support accorded us during the election.

Nigerian cardiologist based in the United States, Dr. Kamar Tayo Adeleke, has revealed that influential Nigerians spent $8 billion annually on medical tourism. He spoke yesterday in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, lamenting that the huge amount of foreign exchange being wasted on medical tourism by influential Nigerians was“incredible” just as he submitted that such funds should have been better deployed to the development of local health infrastructure and facilities. Adeleke, who is the leader of a 50-member Free Health Mission from the United States, said his team was partnering with the Oyo State Government to boost its healthcare service delivery. He said most of the common ailments being diagnosed and treated by the Free Health Mission include diabetes, high blood pressure, infections, fever, pneumonia, hernia, fibroid as well as varied degrees of eye problems. Adeleke said: “Our mission is also evaluating Oyo State health facilities to see what need to be done to further help the government. “We are going to see how we can collaborate and upgrade the facilities by bringing more equipment. We will later bring more doctors, including ophthalmologists, dentists and general surgeons here for consulting services.”

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South West

Wednesday November 14, 2012

Ekiti women berate public hearing on constitution review Seek 35% women representation

ABIODUN NEJO ADO EKITI

omen in Ekiti State have berated the conduct and outcome of last weekend’s public hearing on the proposed amendment of the 1999 Constitution in the state, saying anything short of the inclusion of 35 percent representation for women at all levels of government is unacceptable. The women, under

the auspices of the Ekiti Women Shareholders’ Forum (EWSF), were promoted by the wife of the state governor, Mrs. Bisi Fayemi; the state Deputy Governor, Mrs. Funmilayo Olayinka; Mrs. Jumoke Adamolekun and Chief Ronke Okunsanya. They said; “The consensus of participants at the hastily arranged hearing was not a fair representation of the views of the majority of the citizens of

Ekiti State on many of the complex issues debated during the session.” The women spoke in a statement in Ado Ekiti yesterday by the President of the state chapter of the International Federation of Women Lawyers, IFWL, Mrs. Rita Ilevbare and her National Council of Women’s Societies NCWs, counterpart, Mrs. Nike Obatayo, on behalf of the EWSF. Members of the forum include FIDA-Ekiti; NCWS (Ekiti); Moving

Minds; Forum of Women in Leadership; National Council of Market Women, Ekiti Development Foundation; Community Development Advocacy Network; Gender Empowerment Development; National Market Women Association of Nigeria; and New Initiative for Social Development. The forum said it was disappointed in “the process, timing and dismal mobilisation strategies used to convene the public hearing,” as well as

the lack of inclusion and qualitative engagement as experienced by the handful of women who participated in the process allegedly dominated by men. The statement read in part: “The EWSF on behalf of the vast majority of Ekiti women, totally dissociate ourselves from the purported outcome of the November 10, 2012 meeting, which took place in Ekiti. “At the meeting, it was alleged that representatives of the various interests groups from Ekiti State voted against the inclusion of representa-

tion of women in decisionmaking in the new constitution. “We unanimously and unequivocally seek the provision for a minimum of 35 per cent representation of women at all levels in the proposed new constitution,” they said. They expressed belief that women’s demand to have a voice in decisionmaking at all levels needed to be taken seriously, adding that; “It is impossible for any community or country to achieve development without the full and equal participation of women.”

Fraudsters created Facebook account for my wife –Fashola MURITALA AYINLA

L-R: Chairman, Section on Legal Practice, Nigeria Bar Association, Mr. Donald Denwigwe (SAN); former Chairman, Mr. Emmanuel Ukala (SAN) and President, Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Mr. Okey Wali (SAN), at the Annual Conference of the NBA Section on Legal Practice in Ibadan, yesterday. PHOTIO: NAN

Gov’s wife calls for community associations’ partnership with govt WALE FOLARIN OSOGBO

ife of the Osun State governor, Mrs. Sherifat Aregbesola, has called on community development associations and other community-based organisations in the state to collaborate with the state government in its effort at fast tracking the socio-economic development of the state. He said such cooperation became imperative for the growth and development of

the state, adding that it has become apparent that the government cannot do it alone. Aregbesola made the call yesterday in Osogbo, the state capital, while speaking during a three-day skill acquisition workshop organised by Oranmiyan U.K. chapter in conjunction with the Oranmiyan Foundation. She admonished community-based associations to come up with programmes that will empower and bring economic advancement to the people of

the state, adding that the present administration in the state was ready to collaborate with such organisations. Speaking on the occasion, President of Oranmiyan Foundation, Prince Felix Awofisayo, said the organisation has continued to intervene in the areas of need of the people, particularly in ensuring good governance, efficient and effective service delivery, economic emancipation and skill acquisition for the people. His words: “As an organisation, we have given our expertise, knowledge and skills

in the area of medical and health intervention such as free medicated eye glasses, free eye test and surgery as well as surgical festivals for critical ailments.” According to him, in line with his goal of empowering the teeming youths of the state, the organisation has contacted international agencies for financial assistance, adding that by February next year, the organisation would give financial assistance to youths trained in various skills by the organisation.

Lam Adesina lived a purposeful life –Senator Adamu

lawmaker and former governor of Nasarawa State, Senator Abdullahi Adamu, has said that the vacuum created by the demise of the former Oyo State Governor, Alhaji Lam Adesina, will be hard to fill. The senator, who said this in a condolence message issued yesterday in Abuja, described the late

Lam Adesina as a true patriot who lived a purposeful life dedicated to improving the lot of the common man. He said the former Oyo State governor was one of the shining lights of the Class of 1999 Governors, who brought his age and experience to bear on governance, adding that he and his colleagues benefitted immensely from

Lam’s wealth of wisdom. The senator representing Nasarawa West recalled that during his tenure as chairman, the late governor was a moderating voice during the meetings of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum, whose timely contributions helped to douse tension whenever tempers rose. The former Nasarawa

State governor also lauded Alhaji Adesina as a very religious man who at all times was guided by his convictions and was never afraid to tell the truth no matter who may be offended by it. He prayed to Almighty Allah to grant the late former governor Aljannah Firdaus and his family and all Nigerians the fortitude to bear the great loss.

or the second time in three months, Internet fraudsters have unleashed their activities on the first family of Lagos State. A facebook account has been created in the name of the wife of the state governor, Emmanuella Abimbola Fashola. The state governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, had, on August 10, 2012 raised the alarm that his telephone number and e-mail address have been hacked by fraudsters and called on residents to disregard messages asking them to pay certain amount to his Skye Bank account. The latest scam was on the existence of a social media account impersonating the identity of the governor’s wife. In a statement issued by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Media, Mr. Hakeem Bello, the Office of the Governor disowned the existence of any facebook account purportedly being operated by the state governor’s wife. According to Bello, the governor’s wife does not operate a facebook, twitter or indeed any social media account, describing impersonation as a criminal offence punishable by law. The statement warned members of the public to beware to avoid falling victim of fraudsters and impersonators on the facebook or any social media outlet. Part of the statement

read: “For the avoidance of doubt, the Lagos State governor’s wife, Dame Emmanuella Abimbola Fashola, does not operate any facebook, twitter or indeed any social media account. “The attention of the Governor’s Office was recently called to the activities of impostors posing as the wife of the Governor of Lagos State via facebook, thus leading to an investigation that revealed about four different facebook accounts purportedly operated by the governor’s wife.” While calling on members of the public to be wary of the antics of the hackers, the release warned the perpetrators to desist from their act before nemesis catches up with them. “Perpetrators of the criminal act should desist henceforth or should be ready to face the music when the long arm of the law catches up with them,” the statement said. It will be recalled that the governor, three months ago, complained about Internet scammers who hacked into his email account and telephone line.

Fashola

South East

Wednesday, November 14, 2012

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Police arrest 12 as thugs invade Imo LG secretariats CHRIS NJOKU OWERRI

s the war between Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha and local government chairmen continues, a fresh crisis erupted yesterday in Owerri, the state capital, as armed thugs attacked more council secretariats. Tension rose in Owerri as the armed youths, who wore camouflage that looked like police uniform, stormed Owerri Municipal Council, shooting sporadically and beating anybody on sight. The attackers, who drove

into the council secretariat in three Hilux vans, went straight to the chairman’s office and descended on his aides. Narrating the incident, a witness, who did not want his name mentioned, said: “When they came in, we thought they were policemen from the way they were dressed, but when they started shooting, we all abandoned our duty posts and ran away. “Sensing a complete breakdown of law and order, we quickly alerted the police and luckily, a combined team of police and Army arrived at the scene

and dislodged the thugs, as well as arrested 12 of them”. It will be recalled that armed hoodlums on Monday began a clampdown on local government chairmen in the state The hoodlums, allegedly sponsored by the state government, bundled out the chairmen from their offices. The over 50 armed thugs stormed the secretariat of Owerri North Local Government Area and whisked away the chairman, Dr. Eric Ogwo, to an unknown destination. But speaking at the

Headquarters of the Imo State Police Command in Owerri, the Secretary of the state chapter of the All Local Government of Nigeria (ALGON), Hon Enyinna Onuegbu, who led other chairmen to a meeting with the Police Commissioner, Baba Adisa Bolanta, decried the harassment of the chairmen. He said: “We are not engaging the state government in any power show or muscle flexing, we are only protecting our mandate and no matter what they do, we won’t vacate the local government secretariats until court gives ruling on our

tenure elongation”. Meanwhile, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has condemned the invasion of the secretariats by the hoodlums. “It is a tragedy that has befallen us, this state is witnessing a climax of lawlessness,” PDP said. In a statement signed by its Publicity Secretary, Chief Blyden Amajirionwu, the party expressed worry that “a government could degenerate to the level of brutality is most undesirable in this our dear Imo State. This government has, in several ways, brought shame and discomfort to all of us. We condemn the act of guorrilla used to intimidate and humiliate elected council officials”.

The police spokesman, Mr. Vitalis Onugu, said that the members of the Imo State Security Network were arrested because of illegal possession of firearms and disruption of public peace. Onugu said: “They were not authorised to carry firearms and their actions constituted a breach of public peace and that was why they were arrested and investigations are on to understand the reasons for their actions”, he said. But the Commissioner for Information, Mr. Chinedu Offor, said that the Imo State local government areas are running smoothly, there is no crisis in the councils and workers are going about their duties.”

…Deny commercialisation of investigation in Anambra CHARLES OKEKE AWKA

T L-R: Morrocan Ambassador to Nigeria , Mr. Mustapha Bowh; Anambra State Governor Peter Obi and Morrocan Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Youssef Amrani, at a meeting in Abuja, yesterday.

GEORGE OPARA ABIA

overnor Theodore Orji has sworn in three justices of the Abia State High Court and two of the Customary Court of Appeal. At the Okpara Auditorium, venue of the event, Governor Orji assured the judges that his administration would create an enabling environment for them to rise to the pinnacle of their profession as long as they join the crusade against corruption and other vices. The governor said he had charged the judiciary to do everything within its powers to ensure the decongestion of prisons as well as provide the enabling environment for speedy dispensation of justice. He explained that his remodeling of High Court buildings in the state was aimed at giving members of the judiciary a conducive atmosphere to operate. The governor stressed that in the last 17 years, the

Orji swears in five judges state has never witnessed such opportunity to have many judges elevated, saying that the swearing in of five new judges was unprecedented and a sign of better things to come. He said the duty of screening, selecting and recommending members of the Bar and the Bench for elevation was done by the Abia State Judicial Service Commission, which sent the names of those selected to the National Judicial Commission for final approval. Orji said six were nominated for elevation as High Court Judges and four for the Customary Court of Appeal, but the list was pruned to five by the NJC, saying that he felt fulfilled by the development. The governor charged the judges to discharge their responsibilities creditably, saying: “Be good agents of change by uplifting the image of the judicia-

ry through incorruptibility, key into the reformative progrramme by improving the justice system in Abia. “If you do this, the sky, which is the Supreme Court, will be your limit.” Responding on behalf of the newly sworn in judges, Justice (Mrs.) Ugbo Ononogbo, said they were aware of the responsibilities entrusted in them and assured that they would not fail.

Orji

he Anambra State Police Command yesterday berated the human rights and good governance watch group, International Society for Civil Liberties and Rule of Law,(INTER SOCIETY), for alleging that its officers engaged in misconduct, such as bribe taking, mounting of illegal road blocks and commercialisation of investigations. Spokesman of the Anambra State Police Command, Mr. Ralph Uzoigwe, described the allegations as false and baseless. He said: “The police have since proscribed bribery and do not extort money from the public.” Uzoigwe cautioned InterSociety to stop writing, if it does know what to write. It will be recalled that InterSociety had, in a recent statement entitled: “Anambra: Security and Crime

•Flay rights group Under Review,” signed by its Board of Trustees Chairman, Mr. Emeka Umeagbalasi, accused officers of the Anambra State Police Command of extorting money from complainants and commercial motorcyclists. The InterSociey’s statement read: “It is widely believed that in Anambra State, 99 per cent of complainants bear the total costs of filing criminal complaints ,arrests of suspects, writing of police reports, procurement of human and material witnesses and prosecution of suspects, among others.” But the police spokesman dismissed the allegations, saying the group is “looking for cheap attention.” Uzoigwe accused the group’s chairman, Emeka Umeagbalasi, of ignorance of the dimension of crimes in the state.

2015: Zik’s widow pushes for Igbo presidency DENNIS AGBO ENUGU

idow of the first Nigeria’s President, Prof. Uche Azikiwe, has joined the league of those pushing for the next Nigerian President to emerge from the SouthEast in 2015. Prof. Azikiwe spoke yesterday at the on-going public hearing on 1999 Constitu-

tion review held in Nsukka, Enugu State. She said that it was high time the Igbo is unanimously allowed to produce Nigeria’s President after her late husband was made a ceremonial President in 1960. At the town hall meeting, the Nsukka people unanimously demanded the creation of Adada State from the present Enugu State. Convener of the meeting,

the Senator representing Enugu North Senatorial District, Ayogu Eze, said the forum was organised in order to ascertain the position of the people of the senatorial zone concerning the various issues that had been raised for consideration in the proposed constitutional review. He said the National Assembly was committed to handing over an acceptable constitution to Nigerians.

Prof Azikiwe, however, said the people of the SouthEast would play a major role in deciding whether an Igbo man would be elected Nigerian president in 2015. She said it was only in an atmosphere of unity and harmony that the Igbo could take their expected position in the nation’s polity, urging that time had come for the people to begin to respect their leaders.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

South South

Wednesday November 14, 2012

Dangote unveils plan for N300bn fertilizer plant in Edo SEBASTINE EBHUOMHAN BENIN

he ground breaking ceremony of what should be Africa’s largest fertilizer manufacturing plant worth about $2 billion (N300billion) would be held in Agenebode, Edo State, before the end of January, 2013. Disclosing this at a reception organised in Benin as part of activities marking the second term inauguration of Gover-

nor Adams Oshiomhole, President of the Dangote Group of Companies, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, said all necessary arrangements have been concluded for the ceremony that will be held between now and the end of January next year. Dangote said the completion date of the plant, expected to employ more than 10, 000 people, has been set for three years. Dangote’s words: “Yes, we will be building the biggest fertilizer plant in

Africa here in Edo State,” adding that the choice of Edo State was to complement the state government’s effort that has ensured the transformation of the state in just about four years of good governance under Governor Oshiomhole. “Governor Oshiomhole has delivered on roads and other infrastructure; but now, he’s going to deliver on job creation. We will partner with him to make sure he gives us a condu-

cive environment to create jobs here in Edo State. “It is a commitment. I am reassuring you, Your Excellency, that by the year end, either in December or January, next year, we will perform the ground breaking ceremony in Edo State. It will be at a cost of $2 billion,” Dangote said, “I am reassuring you that in the next three years, Edo State will be exporting fertilizer from here to other parts of Africa.”

L-R: Bayelsa State Deputy-Governor, Rear Admiral Gboribiogha Jonah; Senator Paulker Emmanuel and Senator Clever Ikisikpo, during the public hearing on Constitution Review in Yenagoa, yesterday.

Bayelsa pensioners groan over N3.5bn gratuity arrears EMMA GBEMUDU, YENAGOA

ggrieved pensioners in Bayelsa State yesterday handed a two-week ultimatum to the state government to settle the N3.5billion arrears owed them as pensions and gratuities; else they would embark on a state-wide protest that would be followed by a court action. The pensioners alleged that the administration had neglected them by failing to pay the arrears owed them by successive governments in the state. The retirees, speaking under the auspices of state chapter of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP), said the amount was verified by an eightman committee set up by Governor Seriake Dickson in March this year. State Chairman of NUP, Emmanuel Namatebe, who spoke with journalists yesterday in Yenagoa, said the pensioners were disappointed that the governor was yet to offset the arrears in spite of his promise to do so. Namatebe regretted that retired civil servants in the state last received their gratuities since 2006,

which he described as very unfortunate. According to him, all efforts to make the state government pay the back-log of arrears of gratuities had fallen into deaf ears. Namatebe appealed to Governor Dickson and President Goodluck Jonathan, to intervene in the matter to enable the pensioners receive their due pensions and gratuities. “The state government should pay the N18, 000 minimum wage increase to pensioners that has already been implemented to serving civil servants as well as 30 months’ salary arrears owed to some primary school retirees in the state and the harmonisation of pensions,” he explained. Continuing he said; “As a body, we are aware that the backlog of pension’s gratuities was inherited by the present administration, but we believe that government is a continuum. Since, Governor Seriake Dickson is on restoration mission, we plead that the governor should look into the plight of the pensioners by clearing the backlog of gratuities piled up over the years as this would be a credit to his administration.”

to revamp infrastructure Focus on security, sanitation, Uduaghan tells LG chairmen Dickson destroyed by flood

elta State Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, yesterday inaugurated caretaker committee chairmen to run the affairs of local government councils in the state until elections are held next year. Performing the swearing in ceremony in Asaba, Governor Uduaghan directed the Commissioner for Finance and the state Accountant-General to release all funds saved for local governments to enable the caretaker committees perform. The governor, who said the funds were reserved to serve as a spring board, enjoined the chairmen to pay attention to sanitation and security. He said there were security challenges at the grass root level, urging the chairmen to tackle and overcome them. Governor Uduaghan also stressed the importance of keeping their environment clean even as he explained

that a filthy environment has the danger of exposing residents to health hazards. His words: “I want you to pay special attention to security and sanitation. It is difficult for you to make progress in an atmosphere of insecurity. Besides, you need a clean environment to avoid epidemics; therefore, I charge you not to

toy with these two areas.” Amidst ovation, the governor said the revenue accruing to local governments would improve next year as the Governors’ Forum and the National Assembly have discussed extensively on how to improve revenue allocation to local councils next year. He therefore charged

them to live above board as his administration will not tolerate corrupt practices under any guise. The governor also charged the new chairmen to key-in into the state government’s social and economic plans as well as programmes and strategies to alleviate the difficulties faced by the people.

Delta flood camps not yet shut down –SSG AMOUR UDEMUDE ASABA

elta State government yesterday said it has not shut down any flood camp in the state as has been reported in some quarters, but said that any individual who feels like returning home could do so as there was no law preventing such. Disclosing this yesterday in Asaba, Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Comrade Ovuozou-

rie Macaulay, appealed to flood victims in various government designated camps to be patient with government as everything is being done to mitigate the hardship from the disaster. His words: Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan, given his background as a medical doctor and his compassionate nature, would not allow the victims to feel neglected in any way, adding that people should ensure that they are registered

in any of the 22 relief camps set up by the state government. While urging the victims to disregard speculations that the government was sharing funds to the victims in some camps, the SSG said talks about compensation to victims of a disaster was out of the question and unfair to all parties, stressing that government’s interest was to assist the victims find their feet again and go back to their means of livelihood.

EMMA GBEMUDU YENAGOA

s the devastating flood that hit Bayelsa State two months ago continues to recede, the state government yesterday said it has set aside a supplementary budget to enable it revamp infrastructure such as roads that were affected by flood in the state. Already, displaced persons in the various flood relief camps have started relocating to their respective homes. Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Prof. Edmund Allison-Oguru, disclosed this to journalists in Yenagoa while receiving a truck-load of relief materials donated by a Non-Governmental Organisation, Sidoni Foundation. Allison-Oguru, who is also the Secretary, State Flood Management Committee, said transport arrangement would be made

available to the displaced persons that might be willing to relocate to their former homes. He said a good number of displaced persons had gone back to their communities to start fishing activities. His words:”As we speak, I am made to understand that a good number of them have started moving to their homes. We commend such persons; in fact, there is even a specific case where we were told that the people are moving back because they want to ensure that the fishes entrapped in the waterlogged areas can be caught now.”

Dickson

North

Wednesday November 14, 2012

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Terrorists have no hiding place –Army A ZA MSUE KADUNA

he Nigerian Army yesterday said the terrorists group; Boko Haram, has no hiding place in the country, describing them as anarchists. Commander of the Nigerian Army Infantry Corps Centre, Maj.-Gen. Mohammed D. Isah, said members of the sect are insurgents rather than religious warriors. He said the days of the sect are numbered as Nigerians want to end terrorism. Isah said the security

threat posed by the sect lies in the hands of every Nigerian, adding that there was never a problem without solution. He was speaking at the opening ceremony of a one-week training programme organised by the Tactics Wing of the Nigerian Army School of Artillery (NASI) for commanding officers, young officers and corps commanders that was held at Jaji, Kaduna State. Gen. Isah, who spoke on the theme: “Nigerian Army and Contemporary Operational Challenges,” averred that the excesses

of the terrorists group will be checked sooner, as the army was ready to rid Nigeria of terrorism. His words: “There is no problem without solution. No nation is ever defeated, unless the citizens accept defeat and these security challenges we are talking about is not peculiar to Nigeria. It is a problem that can be solved. It is the security responsibility of every Nigerian. Since the people we are talking about are not spirits, but human beings, who are our sisters and brothers, children or parents, we can fish them out.

“The problem is that we are not prepared to assist ourselves. And the only way we can assist ourselves is to assist the security agencies with useful information to unmask these people, because they live among us. “There is no religion that I know of that preaches violence. All the religions I know of preach peace. So, these people I believe are not religious people. They are anarchists. “So, why can’t Nigerians assist the security agencies by reporting anyone viewed as a sideliner, behaving abnormally, so

that, they can keep him on watch,” Gen. Isah said. “I have absolute confidence that this insurgency will varnish very soon, because, the Nigerian Army has the capability and necessary support from the government and it will get rid of it soon.” Earlier, the Chief Instructor of the Tactics Wing, NASI, Colonel Bulama Biu, said the training was aimed at improving the operational skills of participants, including foreigners, to key-in into the contemporary security challenges facing the nation.

Gunmen kill lecturer, director in Maiduguri INUSA NDAHI MAIDUGURI

s the killings in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital continued unabated, some gunmen, suspected to be terrorists, yesterday shot dead a lecturer at the University of Maiduguri (UNIMAID) and a Deputy Director in the Borno State Ministry of Land and Survey. The lecturer with the Department of Geography, Mr. Babagana Kolo, National Mirror gathered, was trailed by his assailants to his house in Ummarari Ward of the metropolis at about 5.00pm on Monday and was shot dead. The Deputy Director, Mallam Yerima, was also trailed to his residence in Galadima Ward at about 7.30am yesterday and was shot dead. When contacted, the Joint Task Force spokesman, Lieutenant-Colonel Sagir Musa said he was not in Maiduguri, as he was at the Defence Headquarters in Abuja for an official assignment, but a top security officer attached to the JTF, who did not want his name mentioned confirmed the separate killings. He said on November 13, 2012, at about 0730 hours, at Galadima area of Maiduguri Metropolitan Council, one Yarima, a deputy director in the Ministry of Land and Survey was shot dead at his residence by gunmen suspected to be Boko Haram members.

L-R: Kwara State Commissioner of Water Resources, Engr. Idris Abubakar; Minister of Water Resources, Mrs. Sarah Ochekpe; Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed and Chairman, House Committee on Water Resources, Hon. Aliyu Patigi, during the third National Water Conference in Ilorin, yesterday.

Ahmed reshuffles Kwara cabinet WOLE ADEDEJI ILORIN

wara State Governor, Abdulfatah Ahmed, yesterday carried out a minor cabinet reshuffle involving three commissioners. The development, according to a statement by the Secretary to the

State Government (SSG), Alhaji Isiaka Gold, was “part of efforts to strengthen Governor Ahmed’s administration for efficiency and effectiveness.” Gold said the erstwhile Commissioner for Environment and Forestry, Mr. Samuel Bamisaiye, has been moved to the

Ministry of Social Development, Culture and Tourism to replace Hajia Ramata Abaya, who is now the Commissioner for Sports and Youth Development. He also said Mr. Anthony Towoju, has been moved to the Ministry of Environment and Forestry as its new commis-

sioner. The new appointments were said to be with immediate effect. The SSG also reiterated the determination of the Ahmed administration to deploy all strategic human and material resources required for the rapid transformation of the state for the benefit of the people.

15 cars destroyed as PDP, ACN members clash in Makurdi HENRY IYORKASE MAKURDI

violent clash yesterday erupted in a part of Makurdi, the Benue State capital, where several vehicles were smashed and occupants of the vehicles sustained injuries. The clash was between people suspected to be members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN). Though, as at the time of filing this report, no

life was reported lost, but property estimated at over N10 million were destroyed, prompting traders and passersby to scamper for safety. An eye witness told National Mirror that the ACN members were on a road show in a build up to the November 24, 2012 councils’ poll when a group of youths, numbering about 10, blocked their passage, smashing vehicles on the convoy of the campaign train. Reacting on the development, Special Media

Adviser to Senate Minority Leader, Mrs. Becky Orpin, said she was taken aback when she was told of the attack and lamented that the ACN members were unjustly humiliated, pledging that something must be done to bring the perpetrators to book. Orpin said vehicles conveying party supporters and stalwarts for the road show in preparation for the forthcoming councils’ election were badly damaged. The state Chairman of the Conference of

Nigerian Political Parties (CNPP), Engr. Baba Agan, also condemned the action, saying that the country has come of age and that all political associations should be given a level-playing ground if we are truly practicing democracy. The CNPP boss described the action as an act of cowardice and said everyone must be free to express himself as enshrined in the constitution if only to ensure fairness and respect for each other.

Insecurity: STF recovers grenades, arrests nine in Jos JAMES ABRAHAM JOS

he Special Task Force, STF, on Jos crisis yesterday recovered two Rocket Propelled Grenades, RPGs, behind Bass Klan village in Bassa Local Government Area of the state, a statement from the JTF Media Officer, Kingsley Egbo, said yesterday. According to the statement, the area was immediately cordoned off and the bombs evacuated by the state police anti-bomb squad. Two persons were also arrested in connection with the incident and efforts are being made to further uncover the circumstances surrounding it. The statement also said that unknown persons also yesterday set fire on three huts in Campas village in Barkin Ladi Local Government Area of the state, but the STF troops deployed to the area arrested one suspect in connection with the incident Also, gunmen again attacked Shonong village in Barkin Ladi LGA of the state, but were repelled by men of the STF as one of the gunmen was captured. According to the statement, no casualty was recorded during the attack and the suspects are currently undergoing investigation. Meanwhile, indications emerged yesterday that workers in tertiary institutions in Plateau State may embark on another round of strike over what they called ‘no work no pay’ policy imposed on them by the state government. It will be recalled that the workers were on strike for eight months and only suspended the action in July last year. Addressing a press conference yesterday in Jos, Chairman of the Joint Unions of Plateau State Owned Tertiary Institutions (JUPTI), Comrade Victor Dawurung said since the union members suspended the action, their three months salaries are still being withheld because of government’s ‘no work no pay policy.’

Wednesday, November 14, 2012

Buhari: Between mediation role and booby trap

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Politics

Job creation’ll address rising insecurity – Ogunusi

Again, Buhari, Bafarawa meet over insecurity, 2015 A ZA MSUE KADUNA

ormer Head of State and presidential candidate of the Congress of Progressive Change (CPC) in the 2011 presidential election, Muhammadu Buhari yesterday held closed-door talks with former governor of Sokoto State, Attahiru Bafarawa over the insecurity facing the North. The crucial meeting, which lasted over three hours, may not be unconnected with pressure be-

ing mounted by Northern elites on Buhari to accept the mediating role in the Federal Government/ Boko Haram peace parley. A source at the meeting told National Mirror that other issues bordering on the unity as well as the future of the region and the nation in general were discussed. Buhari and Bafarawa held similar meeting in September where the unity of the region were said to be seriously discussed. Bafarawa, a member of the Board of Trustees

(BoT) of the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), had in that meeting expressed concern over political disunity among the people of North ahead of the 2015 general elections. The former governor had said: “I didn’t come as a member of the ANPP to visit General Buhari , and I did not come to see him on the ground of his own party, the CPC, I came to him to discuss in order to chart the way forward on how we can unite ourselves in the North because the North is in disarray, there-

fore we need to unite since we are masters of all trade when you talk of political activities in the North. “All the political parties in the country can be found in the North, therefore we have to concentrate and put our house in order. I came to see Buhari as a senior brother and partner in progress in order to move the Northern region forward.” Yesterday’s meeting; according to the source was a continuation of the September meeting, where “several matters affect-

ing North and the country were discussed.” Bafarawa said that the meeting was to make them more united to face the current reality in the country, especially the security challenges, the 2015 general elections and the stability of the country. Urging Nigerians to be “strong, dedicated and hardworking towards sustaining the country’s unity and future for the

‘Yoruba can regain lost glory’ SINA FADARE

Osun State governor, Rauf Aregbesola addressing a mammoth crowd of members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) who defected to the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), at Government Technical College ground, Osogbo, yesterday.

OBIORA IFOH ABUJA

he Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday said that its former national chairman, Dr. Okwesilieze Nwodo, was sacked because of his futile attempt to hijack the PDP in Enugu State. Speaking with National Mirror, the National Publicity Secretary of PDP, Chief Olisa Metuh, reacting to the comments by the party’s former national chairman, Nwodo that the PDP has been hijacked by money bags said: “PDP is very accommodating and this explains why it still accepted members like Nwodo who took the party to court back to its fold to become the national chairman.

Why PDP sacked Nwodo – Metuh His words: “Let it be on records that there is no truth that the party has been hijacked by money bags or a clique. It was Nwodo who made a failed attempt to hijack the PDP in Enugu State. The people of the state resisted him. He cannot turn around and accuse the party of being hijacked by money bags, when he was the person that made failed attempt to take over the party in Enugu State and the people resisted.” Metuh warned Nwodo, who is a member of the National Executive Committee (NEC) and Board of Trustees (BoT) of the party against what he described as unguarded comments,

explaining that the party has procedures for members to channel their grievances, if any. He said: “We will no longer tolerate members to bring their personnel grievances on the party to disparage the PDP.” On comments by the national leader of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Bola Tinubu, that the opposition will take the Presidential Villa by 2015, Metu said: “This boast is a challenge to us and let it be known that religious and ethnic antics of the opposition are not tantamount to viable opposition. “We assure that the elections in 2015 will be free and

fair and PDP looks forward to 2015 so that this matter would be settled on which political party would be accepted.”

betterment of upcoming generations,” Bafarawa said that they were committed to sustaining and widening the scope of the meeting to include other stakeholders, saying that the strength of the North in building and bringing positive solutions to the country would be derived from honest advice and approach on the issues that are bedevilling the country.

he Yoruba nation can still re-launch itself back to political reckoning and relevance in Nigeria if it looks inward and fine-tune strategies to restore the ancient landmarks which their fore fathers were noted for. This was the position of a social critic and spokesman of the Save Nigeria Groups (SNG), Yinka Odumakin, while delivering a lecture to a group of Yoruba in the Diaspora in United States, hosted by Ekiti Focus Group (EFG), recently. Odumakin, who noted that anybody who wants to lead the Yoruba people must respect them, however expressed disappointment that 14 years of civil rule in Nigeria has accelerated increase in poverty among the Yoruba people and at a rate that has never been experienced before.

He therefore challenged the EFG to come up with ways of re-assessing the state of affairs in the region within the context of the struggle for political freedom and economic emancipation. Arguing that from historical perspective, power in Yorubaland resided with the people and not politicians, Odumakin emphasised on the imperativeness of having a system in place to monitor and evaluate the performance of Yoruba politicians for good governance. He also stressed the need for the Yoruba nation to ensure that educated professionals are at the helm of affairs. His words: “Having the best to represent us politically is necessary in order to prevent the growing influence of ‘political leaders without pedigree, credentials, or commitment to Awo’s ideals and traditions’.”

Adesina was a man of peace – Gani Adams AYO ESAN

he National Coordinator of the Oodua People’s Congress (OPC), Gani Adams, has said that the death of the former governor of Oyo State, Alhaji Lam Adesina, has robbed the country of a man of peace. Adams, while commiserating with the people of Oyo State, expressed his

sadness and that of the entire OPC family over Adesina’s death. In a statement made available to National Mirror, Adams described the former governor as a “selfless man who was always ready to offer a hand of assistance to the less-privileged,” adding: “He was at the forefront of the struggle against military rule, during which he displayed an uncommon trait. His death has brought

an end to a chapter in the politics of Oyo State and Nigeria at large.” He further said: “As governor of Oyo State, he was modest and dedicated to leaving a legacy that will outlive him in the politics of the state. It was to his credit that during his tenure as governor, Oyo was peaceful and devoid of the violent politics that have characterised the state in recent times.

Politics

Wednesday, November 14, 2012

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Buhari: Between mediation role and booby trap FELIX NWANERI writes on the nomination of former Head of State and leader of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, as a mediator in the proposed peace talks between the government and Boko Haram Islamist sect, which he has turned down.

BUHARI HAS NEVER HIDDEN HIS AMBITION TO BE PRESIDENT UNDER THE PRESENT DEMOCRATIC

DISPENSATION, SO THE NOMINATION COULD BE A POLITICAL BOOBY

he recent nomination of former of former Head of State, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, by the Boko Haram Islamist sect as the chief mediator in its proposed dialogue with the Federal Government, has put him on the edge, as it is one likely to determine his political future. Buhari, who is the national leader of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) and its presidential candidate in the 2011 elections, was penultimate Thursday named by Abu Mohammed Ibn Abdulaziz, said to be the next in command to Boko Haram’s leader, Imam Abubakar Shekau, as leader of its team to the talks, which the group wants in Saudi Arabia. The CPC leader is expected to be joined by some members of the Northern elite. They include a former minister, Dr. Shettima Ali Monguno; former Yobe State governor, Bukar Abba Ibrahim, Ambassador Gaji Galtimari, Hajia Aisha Alkali Wakil and her husband, Alkali Wakil. Abdulazeez, who also doubles as Boko Haram’s spokesman, in a teleconference with journalists in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, however gave conditions such as the arrest and prosecution of the former Borno State governor, Ali Modu Sheriff, as one of the peace terms. Others are government’s compensation for members of the group, rebuilding of their places of worship destroyed during the 2009 uprising, release of all arrested members and rehabilitation of their wives and children who were displaced as a result the crises. Founded in 2002 in Maiduguri by late Ustaz Mohammed Yusuf, Boko Haram has grown from a mere band of religious adherents to gain international recognition as a result of the sectarian violence that it has introduced in the country since 2009. The sect’s opposition to western education prompted the late Yusuf to set up a religious complex, which included a mosque and an Islamic school in Maiduguri. But Boko Haram is, however, not only interested in education, its political goal was to create an Islamic state, and the school became a recruiting ground for jihadists to fight the state. Some analysts are, however, of the view that the insurgency has a political undertone. Proponents of this argument maintain that recent experiences have shown that politicians, in their quest for power, have cunningly introduced violence into the polity and are quick to point to the inability of most political leaders in the North to condemn the violent acts perpetuated by the Boko Haram group to justify their position. The Northern leaders, however, have persistently disputed the claim and insisted that dialogue, rather than use of

TRAP FOR HIM

Buhari

force, will bring an end to the insurgency though it is on record that past attempts by the Federal Government to parley with the sect yielded little or no fruits as there was no identified leadership of the sect to discuss with. It is against this backdrop that many have welcomed the latest move though some are skeptical about its genuineness, as few hours after the Boko Haram extended the Olive Branch, gunmen suspected to be its members shot and killed Gen. Mamman Shuwa (rtd) in Maiduguri. To these pessimists, naming Buhari as Boko Haram’s chief mediator may be a calculated attempt to destroy him, politically. But how will his acceptance or decline of the nomination affect his political fortune? There are two distinct positions by analysts. First, a decline, like he has done, will portray him as one not committed to peace despite his position as an elder statesman. Another political school of thought, on the contrary, believes that an acceptance may be used against him in future, especially by those who have persistently accused him of instigating the post-election violence that claimed several lives in some states of the North in 2011. The leader of the pan Yoruba socio-political group, Afenifere, Reuben Fasoranti, whose view tilted towards this belief, told National Mirror: “Whichever way it goes, it would be an embarrassment if he participates. He threatened to make the country ungovernable if he fails to win the presidential election last year and since then the sect has been perpetuating violence, he has not come out to speak against it. There must have been a meeting point of the minds somewhere before the sect nominated him as a mediator.” The founder and president of the Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC), Fredrick Fasehun, also expressed the same sentiment. He wondered why the sect would nominate Buhari as a mediator, saying it is unacceptable. His words: “In Boko Haram’s choice of representation and mediation, it has named Gen. Buhari, but it is not acceptable. Is Buhari a member of Boko Haram?

Does Buhari himself have good standing with Nigerians and the government? Nigerians cannot forget that Buhari led his party to endorse the killings and attacks launched against perceived supporters of the candidacy of President Jonathan in the North, including members of the NYSC, who were wantonly slaughtered. Buhari and his party excused the killings on the premise that people who felt cheated in an election had a right to express their anger anyway they deemed fit.” Founding chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Chief Chekwas Okorie, told National Mirror that the nomination may turn out a political booby trap for the former military ruler. He said: “I have read and watched the drama and the amusement over the nomination at the same time. Nobody is addressing the issue. Who are the Boko Haram members? These people are unknown, so I don’t make anything out of it. Buhari has never hidden his ambition to be president under the present democratic dispensation, so the nomination could be a political booby trap for him, though I am not saying that it is the PDP that is behind it. He added: “This is however not to say that I am against dialogue. I am definitely in support of discourse, but the President’s spokesman, Doyin Okupe, reducing Buhari’s decline to a motor park argument, is rather unfortunate.” Buhari himself holds similar view. Speaking with journalists in Abuja, shortly after his party’s Board of Trustee (BoT) meeting last week, he said his nomination for the planned peace parley without his consent was a ploy by the PDP-led government to indict and nail him. His words: “Firstly, I do not know any member of the Boko Haram sect. I do not believe in and I do not know of any religion that will tell people to kill others and burn schools. There was a stage where I mentioned that I agreed with one intellectual who said there are three Boko Harams, one of Muhammed Yusuf, whom we know of. A leader of the military then in Maiduguri did what we know in the military about internal security. “They looked for Yusuf and they handed him over to the police. A healthy young man and he died under a very dubious account in the police custody. Again his in-law was murdered; their houses were razed to the ground. I understood that Borno State government had to pay compensation. “The second Boko Haram was a criminal, attacking banks and market places, stealing money and they issued a state-

ment that they are Boko Haram. “And I said, and I have no regret saying it, the biggest Boko Haram is the Federal Government itself, because it has all the powers to stop anarchy in the country. Now, the social part of the country has been paralyzed, economic activities have stopped. People are no longer thinking of employment, they are thinking of what to eat and how to go about the following day.” The national chairman of the CPC, Tony Momoh in an interview with National Mirror, also wondered why the PDP-led government is trying to rope in Buhari and his party into the Boko Haram imbroglio. According to him, of all the people identified with the sect, none is a member of his party and that neither Buhari nor the CPC has anything to do with the sect. Wondering why Buhari would be dragged into the matter, Momoh said: “You now see that there is a deliberate attempt by the PDP to rope in Buhari and the CPC. Many people have been identified with the Boko Haram; none of them is a member of the CPC or any of the opposition parties. The PDP should sort out its problems with Boko Haram without dragging the CPC and Buhari to it.” But despite the fears of the Buhari camp, there is pressure on the CPC leader to accept the mediator role in the peace overture by the Boko Haram sect. Former Head of State, Gen. Yakubu Gowon, who implored Nigerians not to misconstrue the intention of Boko Haram’s request for Buhari on the negotiation table, said the CPC leader should be given a chance if it would bring lasting peace to the country. He also added that Buhari is not going to be the sect’s spokesman, but will only help to ensure that peace reigned again in the country. Similarly, the President General of the Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Ambassador Ralph Uwechue, urged Buhari and others nominated to accept it for the restoration of peace to the country. His words: “Buhari is a senior citizen and an elder statesman; I think he and others would do whatever would help solve the crisis. We are only interested in seeing the end of the violence. So, the people nominated should accept the offer if that would solve the problem. But the Federal Government should verify how authentic this offer from Boko Haram is.” The pressure, notwithstanding, legal luminary, Chief Mike Ahamba (SAN), believes that Buhari is an adult and therefore, should be allowed to take decisions in matters that concern him. “He (Buhari) has a right to say no to the nomination. He is entitled to his position. He has said that he doesn’t know any member of Boko Haram and cannot represent them,” he told National Mirror. Buhari has always predicated his interest to lead the country again on two compelling objectives: the need to sanitise the Nigerian polity, and to ensure that the masses enjoy the dividends of democracy. Will the Katsina-born General, who is known for his unbending stance, then yield to the mounting pressure to participate in the talks? Time will tell; as peace in the polity will only guarantee the change that he yearns.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Politics

Wednesday, November 14, 2012

Michael Ogunnusi is a member of the House of Representatives. He speaks with MURITALA AYINLA on states creation, state police and other sundry issues. Excerpts: You are one of the lawmakers rooting for the creation of more states. Is creation of additional states the solution to Nigeria’s challenges? Yes, there is need for the creation of additional states to bring about rapid development in the country. I don’t hide my feelings and opinions on the issue. I am in total support of the creation of Ijebu State and I also support the creation of other states across the country. That is the best way to go. We did it in the country before and saw the difference. Do you share the belief that Nigeria is not ripe for state police, against the backdrop of its misuse by state governors? What about the central police that we are operating now, are they not abusing it? When Chinwoke Mbadinuju and Chris Ngige were governors in Anambra State, was the central police not used against them? If not for the private vigilance group, they were all naked. So, the central police have also been abused. There are a lot of countries in Africa that have community and state policing, then, why are we saying we are not ripe for it when the Navy can build war ships? Don’t dare Nigerians in anything. Why are we sticking to a system of over 50 years? Why can’t we try something different, especially when the security situation is very bad? Why are we afraid of change? For example, if we had not changed the banks, we would still be talking about three banks. If we had not done the same in electronic broadcasting, we would only be talking about the NTA. So, let us decentralise the police. I’m not even talking about advanced countries, in Kenya, Namibia, they have community police. The beauty about it is that in any community, there is no crime that does not have local content. So, my position is that even the central police have been abused and we are talking of the future. If a governor is abusing state police now, is he going to be there for life? If he is forcing people to vote for him, if you are not good, there would continue to be political upheaval. If you have an effective institutionalised state and community policing, you will reduce unemployment. Most of those youths fronting for Boko Haram, employ them as community police officers, fifty thousand of them, nobody will be available on the streets again to be wrongfully employed to cause havoc. So, we will solve the problem of unemployment and additionally, solve the problem of security because there is nothing you can do in this country with insecurity. Even if there is power and you have enough to eat, if there is no security, how can you eat, when there is no security how can you sleep? People are buying bullet proof cars today; will they equally sleep on bullet proof beds? Central policing for 40 years has failed us, let us try something else. It is gradual, it is not overnight, the first few years might bring up some challenges, and even people will start donating to their states to improve security if state police is created. When you look at our population of 167 million, what is the number of policemen that we have now? We are under-policed. As the Vice Chairman of the House Committee on Finance, what efforts have your committee made to grow the revenue of the government, especially in the area of tax collection? The Federal Inland Revenue Service has done creditably well, they have surpassed their budget for the year but I think there are still a lot of porous areas and leakages that need to be blocked. There are still lots of issues in the petroleum tax; there are lots of evasions there. So, there is need for the authorities to do a kind of back duty checks, then even the banks, they also need to be checked. There are a lot of wrong debits that banks pass into public accounts. I remember a colleague telling me that about N2 billion was taken from the account

Job creation’ll address rising insecurity – Ogunusi is faking one another, from the rich to the poor, from the low to the high. If we are all retaliating like that, then we would all end up in doom. But this can be stopped if we start aggressive employment because people will change if they are meaningfully engaged. Those who are begging on the road, they want to have jobs. We must focus on reducing unemployment. When I raised the bill on state and community policing, it had a double edged sword, it’s not an end to itself, but a means to an end. For example, if a state has a loan approval from the World Bank, it needs the money so that it can use it to fight unemployment or provide for capital projects. The Federal Government should not slow it down, states need such money because by so doing, unemployment would be reduced, the GDP will increase and the standard of living will also be enhanced. What is the level of progress on the bill in terms of its passage? It is part of issues in the constitution amendment debate. Even the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu is in support of state and community policing as well state creation. Let’s have more of these states, so that people will start moving to their states to develop them. The issue of more local governments to give more power to the people is also part of it. As it is now, over 50 per cent of the nation’s wealth is going to the central government and that is wrong. The centre is just Abuja and how many are they?

Ogunusi

of Police by way of wrong debit. These are areas that we should recognise in the budget and such money can be used for sustainable infrastructure. In the case of the 2013 oil benchmark for the budget, I still also agree that N80 per dollar is not bad because we need to get rid of 50 percent of our deficit outside. Fifty per cent of any money that comes in should be used to write off our external borrowing and 50 per cent for sustainable infrastructure, you cannot continue to owe. Then you now say you are taking the money to Sovereign Wealth Fund and share it again, we would go about talking the same story, can’t we think of reducing our external debt? What is the House doing to checkmate the menace of corruption in the country, as recently witnessed in the celebrated cases of fuel subsidy and pension scams? There have been reports from the Senate and from the House; some are already in court and some about to be filed, so let us wait and see. But my position is that we are all wicked to each other, don’t let us be talking about Senate, House of Representatives or ministers, even those down the ladder, if you give a plumber or an electrician any work now, they would use fake materials for you. So, Nigerians, all of us must be ready for change. People obtain fake results and certificates, so everyone

PEOPLE ARE BUYING BULLET PROOF CARS TODAY; WILL THEY EQUALLY SLEEP ON BULLET

PROOF BEDS?... WHAT IS THE NUMBER OF POLICEMEN THAT WE HAVE NOW?

WE ARE

UNDER-POLICED

You recently disbursed N450 million as empowerment fund for your constituents in Ifako/Ijaiye, what informed the gesture? Part of the empowerment was cash gifts during the sallah. It involved the disbursement of about N15 million for the wards and executives. What I told them was that I do not believe in peanuts, I was saving the money for them. An average person got about N70,000, that means they can get themselves engaged in vocations like sewing, plumbing work and so on. They can start motorcycle hire purchase business; they can also start a small trading with it rather than giving people peanuts every month. I wanted to develop their propensity to save, rather than propensity to consume. It’s a free gift for the community. It was meant to help them. The 30-seater bus we gave to the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and the League of Imams and Alfas, to me is a collective community based initiative. That notwithstanding, there are lots that I have been able to attract from the budget. For instance, we got several boreholes in the 2012 budget, transformers and power sub-station for the Hausa community worth about N100 million. That is the essence of effective representation because as a member of the House, you must lobby your colleagues to make sure that constituency projects are implemented. You disclosed plans for ICT empowerment for youths. When is it going to take off? The National Communication Commission (NCC) has it as part of its budget to computerise some local governments, so we sent two schools for approval, one in Ifako-Ijaiye and one in Ojokoro and each of that ICT equipment will cost N30 million. I am sure that it will be impemented because it has been approved, but we will monitor and supervise it and make sure we provide security so that they don’t vandalise it. That’s part of the NCC plan, but it’s also part of my efforts as well. What other programmes do you have for your constituents? We cannot really do everything, but I will look at how to assist the aged persons in our constituency, those who are above 70 as well as indigent students.

Politics

Wednesday, November 14, 2012

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

CONSTITUTION REVIEW

NASS won’t create states now – Ekweremadu GEORGE OJI AND EMMANUEL ONANI

he Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, may have dimmed the hope of state agitators in the country following his disclosure yesterday that the National Assembly could not create new states now. He was emphatic that the current constitution review exercise could not produce any new state because the exercise was different from state creation. Fielding questions from newsmen at the National Assembly on the ongoing constitution review process, particularly the Senate’s zonal public hearings, which kick off tomorrow across the six-

geopolitical zones of the country, Ekweremadu said the explanation became imperative so that state agitators would not expect the impossible from the exercise. The deputy Senate president said neither him as the chairman of the Constitution Review Committee, nor his deputy from the House of Representatives, Hon.

Emeka Ihedioha, (both of who are from the South-East) could influence the creation of additional states for the zone or any other zone. He said: “It is something you don’t expect that at the end of the constitution amendment exercise, this committee or indeed the National Assembly will announce

states that have been created, that is not going to happen. “So, I don’t think that the SouthEast will expect either myself or any person to announce that they are going to get a state tomorrow or next tomorrow because that is not what the constitution says.” Some members of the National Assembly have been going about

Ondo votes for more states HAKEEM GBADAMOSI AKURE

Ibadan North wants new state KEMI OLAITAN IBADAN

he people of Ibadan North Federal Constituency have joined the clamour for the creation of Ibadan State out of the present Oyo State. They made the demand at a one-day public hearing on the amendment of the 1999 Constitution facilitated by the member representing Ibadan North Federal Constituency at the House of Representatives, Abiodun Awoleye, at the Cultural Centre, Ibadan, the state capital. Notable speakers at the event said the creation of Ibadan State was long overdue, insisting that the composition of the 11 local government areas in Ibadan with a population of over 2.3 million, according to the 2006 census, was more than the population of Balyesa, Nasarawa and Ekiti states. The people therefore urged the National Assembly to expedite work on the amendment process to ensure the successful creation of Ibadan State in the ongoing constitution amendment. Awoleye while assuring the people of a new people-oriented constitution, said similar session, also taking place in other federal constituencies across the country would take cognizance of views, opinions, demands, submissions and aspirations of the people regardless of political affiliations. The event, which had Prof. Bayo Okunade, the Director, Centre Distance Learning and lecturer at the Department of Political Science, University of Ibadan, as the moderator, had in attendance the Deputy Speaker, Oyo State House of Assembly and member representing Ibadan North state constituency I, Babatunde Olaniyan.

assuring their constituents that they would use their positions to ensure that states are created from their areas. Senate President David Mark is one lawmaker who has been assuring Nigerians that the National Assembly would do everything within its powers to create additional states.

Cross section of constituents at the just concluded Constitution review public hearing session at Tudun Wada area of Kano State, recently.

Review forum in Ogoni, a sham – Rivers ACN CHINEDUM EMEANA PORT HARCOURT

ivers State chapter of the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, has described the constitution review meeting held last weekend in Bori, Khana Local Government Area of Rivers State as a sham and a mockery of democracy. Khana is the largest Ogoni community in the state. The state ACN Publicity Secretary, Mr. Jerry Needam, told journalists in Port Harcourt yesterday that the outcome of the Bori conference was not the consensus position of the Ogoni people and should be discarded.

Needam, who is also an Ogoni, said another review session was imperative to make room for a more representative position of all the Ogoni. The ACN publicity secretary faulted the Bori constitution review session organised by the member representing Khana/ Gokana Federal Constituency, Mr. Morris Poronem, on account of poor attendance. According to him, the main stakeholders in Khana and Gokana local government areas including the chairmen, councillors, recognised traditional rulers, representatives of youth, human rights activists, intellectuals, students, serving and

former lawmakers and women groups, among others, were denied the opportunity to participate in the exercise due to poor publicity and restriction of invitation to a selected few in addition to general apathy to the House of Representatives’ style of leadership. Another reason for the poor turn-out to the review exercise, according to the Rivers State ACN, was the observance of the 17th anniversary of the extrajudicial killing of Ogoni hero and environmental activist, Ken Saro-Wiwa, and other Ogoni martyrs which coincided with the constitution review forum at the same venue and time.

Kogi Central demands rotation, LG autonomy OLAJIDE OMOJOLOMOJU

he people of Kogi Central Senatorial District have called for constitutional provisions for the rotation of governorship seat among the three senatorial zones at the state level, as well as financial autonomy for local government councils. The call was made at a forum organised by the senator representing the district at the Senate, Nurudeen Abatemi-Usman, as part of the ongoing efforts of the

National Assembly to d amend the 1999 Constitution. Voting for governorship rotation, various speakers at the meeting, moderated by Dr. Tom Adaba, pioneer Director-General (DG) of National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), argued that it would give a sense of belonging to the three districts in all the states, stressing that it was unfair and unjust for a particular district to continue to rule because of its population, while others continue to play second fiddle in the running of the affairs of state.

The people also voted in favour of financial autonomy for the local government councils in the country even as Abatemi-Usman disclosed that he already had a bill on the matter before the Senate Constitution Review Committee, which had scaled through first and second reading. He argued that there was the need to abolish Section 162, subsections 5, 6, 7 and 8 to provide for fiscal independence of local government councils, to pave way for rapid growth and development at the grassroots level.

takeholders at the meeting on the review of 1999 Constitution in Ondo State yesterday unanimously supported the creation of more states in the country. They said the creation of more states would help to correct the imbalance and to aid equal distribution of opportunities as well as boost social and economic development. Speaking at the stakeholders’ sensitisation meeting as a prelude to the zonal public hearing in Lagos, the senator representing Ondo South Senatorial district, Boluwaji Kunlere, said review was necessary to address some issues and loopholes in the country’s constitution. According to Kunlere, the 1999 Constitution remains the longest in the history of the country’s laws to be amended. The sensitisation meeting was convened by the senators representing Ondo Central, Ayo Akintelureand, Ondo South, Kunlere, in the National Assembly. However, their counterpart representing Ondo North Senatorial district was absent at the meeting held at the Cocoa Conference Hall of the Governor’s Office, Alagbaka, Akure. The stakeholders including politicians, traditional rulers, community leaders, civil servants, religious bodies and students’ union, among others, also called for the regionalisation of the National Youth Service Corps, NYSC. According to them, the regionalisation of the NYSC would reduce casualties being experienced in the country in recent times, particularly with regard to the Boko Haram insurgence. Other issues endorsed by the stakeholders include rotation of office by the executive at the Federal and state levels, reform of the judiciary, devolution of powers to show reflection of a true federalism and constitutional recognition for the six geo-political zones in the country.

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Views

Wednesday, November 14, 2012

Constitutional amendment process: Who’s interest? PUBLIC DOMAIN

DELE

SETEOLU

deleseteolu@nationalmirroronline.net (08033137577 SMS only)

he National Assembly has commenced the amendment process of the 1999 constitution. Earlier, the Deputy President of Senate and Chairman of the Senate Committee on constitution amendment, Senator Ike Ikeremadu had outlined the issues for amendment. These include revenue sharing, states creation, rotation of power, local government, state police, political structure, etc. The House of Representative has further pursued the amendment process through the stake holders meetings in the 360 federal constituencies last weekend. The parley presumably held in each federal constituency; and the views collated at each centre should contribute to shaping the amendment process. I had in a previous article articulated my views on the constitution amendment process. I feel obliged to restate those arguments in the light of going-on constitution amendment process. The 1999 Nigerian constitution was based on faulty premise and should not be referred to as the people’s constitution. The Abdul-Salam Abubakar administration had promulgated Decree 24 of 1999 into law and without a referendum. The 1999 constitution, therefore, was not predicated on the ideas, as-

pirations and preferences of the Nigerian people. This explains its nebulous nature and dysfunctional character. The 1999 constitution was a military imposition foisted on the Nigerian people, in the context of a military supervised political transition. To this extent, it is incongruent and illogic to commence amendment process of a fundamentally flawed constitution. I share the argument of Prof. Akin Oyebode in an interview held in on ‘Politics Today’ on Channels Television last week, that the 1999 Nigerian constitution is similar in context to the colonial constitutions; 1922 constitution, 1946 Richards, 1951 Macpherson and 1954 Lyttleton constitution. The constitutions referred to earlier, were designed and conceptualized by the colonial elite without recourse to the Nigerian people to foster colonial political and economic interests. The consultations embedded in the 1946 Richards constitution were grand standings and camouflage to attenuate anti-colonial protests. The current constitution amendment process is a charade, and will not radically alter the dysfunctional nature of Nigeria’s political economy. Meanwhile, it is noteworthy that the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, had called a referendum to endorse the constitution amendment process. This position was rejected by the National Assembly on the premise that the 1999 constitution does not provide for referendum. This is a major flaw and further buttresses why it should be jettisoned. In modern democracies, the proviso on referendum is a critical element of the constitution making process. The formulated constitution is

THE NIGERIAN FEDERAL SYSTEM IS ANOMALOUS AND HAD RESPONDED TO MILITARY CENTRALIZED INFLUENCE submitted to the populace through a referendum for endorsement or otherwise. The legitimacy of the document and government partly depends on the outcome of a specific constitutional engineering. The absence of this in the 1999 Nigerian constitution depicts the arrogance of the state actors and contempt for the Nigerian people. The viable alternative for Nigeria is a national conference or a constituent assembly to design a new constitution for the country. The Nigerian federal system is anomalous and had responded to military centralized influence. This perversion was inherited and exacerbates conflicts and stress in the country. The recurring ethno-religious conflicts in northern Nigeria, secessionist tendencies in the South East, Bakassi; and ethnic militia in the South West are signposts of a jaundiced federation. The structural imbalances and contradictions inherent in the country’s federal structure are further deepened by the Boko Haram crisis, citizenship question, settler and indigene ship dichotomy, security deficit, politicization of religion and

ethnicity. To this extent, the constitution amendment process is not a viable alternative to a people based national conference or constituent assembly to discuss the issues that impinge on the country’s survival. This national conference will draft a new constitution for Nigeria on the basis of representation by ethnic-nationalities, social class-groups, labour, artisans, intellectuals, military and business elite, bureaucratic and traditional elite, students’ movements. The national question in Nigeria will be inadequate where it is hinged on ethnic-nationalities; the nature of Nigerian state and the struggle to own and control the political and economic space. I differ with Prof. Akin Oyebode on the strict ethnic basis of representation at the national conference or constituent assembly. The nature of Nigerian crisis is deeper than the ethno-nationalist interpretation. At this juncture, it is useful to revisit the debate on sovereignty. The Presidency and National Assembly are fractions of legal sovereign and not superior to the popular sovereign. Popular sovereignty resides in the people, to determine the future of Nigeria’s constitutional and political architecture. The national conference or constituent assembly, suggests that the ruling elite will be interim leaders to supervise the transition into a new political system based on the emergent constitution. The governing elite should shed its arrogance and philosopher king attitude to appreciate the imperative of a new and radical approach to addressing Nigeria’s social-economic and political crises.

Ribadu Vs Oronsaye: Raw zeal against process and propriety ALEX AYEWOH

ince the altercation between the Chairman of the Petroleum Revenue Special Task Force, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, and his deputy, Mr. Steven Oronsaye, over the report of the committee which it submitted to President Goodluck Jonathan on November 1, 2012, it has been a rain of criticisms and invectives on the latter in the media and other fora for public discourse. There is hardly a day one does not get to read one article or comment in the print or social media castigating the former Head of Civil Service for daring to disown the report of the committee of which he was deputy chairman. While some threw caution to the dogs and descended to name-calling, others took the popular path of reading meaning to his words and actions and summarily declared him guilty of playing the spoilsport, by allowing himself to be used to discredit the committee report. This type of media mob action against Oronsaye is fast becoming typical of the Nigerian society, where most citizens are just lurking and waiting for anyone to hang on the toga of a villain and then proceed to visit their own version of justice. The curious and dangerous aspect of this trend is that when situations like this arise, there is always a conspiracy of silence from everyone, even among those who should know better. It is true that corruption has grown to

A CLOSE LOOK AT THE REPORTS WOULD REVEAL TO ANY

OBJECTIVE READER, THAT THE COMMITTEE WAS ACTUALLY IN TOO MUCH OF A HURRY assume a life of its own in Nigeria that everyone is yearning for a monument of deterrence, a drastic punitive action against some members of the ‘untouchable’ class to serve as a signpost to others to desist from the evil. Noble as this yearning seems, it has bred a mob sentiment that tends to make people see every other person as the, villain, rogue or robber to be crucified. Anyone who dares raise a voice of caution is automatically branded a traitor. That is what the Ribadu vs Oronsaye imbroglio has brought out in stark relief. His dissension with the committee of which he was deputy chairman, is seen as an act of treachery for which he is being pilloried. The overwhelming urge to catch and punish the ‘fat’ thieves in the oil and gas sector, has drowned the voice of caution which Oronsaye represents. It is not that he does not want the ‘fat’ thieves to be punished as insinuated by many commentators. Nothing he said at that occasion suggests or connotes that. He only dissociated himself on the ground that the pro-

cess of arriving at the report was flawed. I have not met Oronsaye in person, but those who know him, say he is a forthright person. His words and action at the report submission ceremony were consistent with that reputation. It takes a forthright person to insist that the right and proper thing be done and due process be followed when his boss says otherwise. His argument was simply that, even if the President has directed that the report be submitted on a particular date, the committee should have been bold enough to request for extra time to ensure that due process was followed. It is easy to understand how a rational position like that from a man known for being a stickler for due process and excellence could be misconstrued as a sign of being compromised. For one, the pervasive nature of corruption in the land and especially the oil and gas sector and the urgent need to stem it has put a lot of people in a thief-catching mode. Then, Ribadu, being a former police chief and anti-corruption crusader, is naturally imbued with the zeal to catch thieves and criminals. So when Ribadu raises the alarm through the report, that thieves abound in the oil and gas sector, everyone is bound to rush out with clubs. Thus anyone who comes out to caution that due process was not followed in arriving at the conclusion (just like Oronsaye did,) could easily be dubbed a spoilsport. A close look at the reports would reveal to any objective reader, that the committee was actually in too much of a hurry, apparently driven by the zeal of its chairman, to

nail the thieves that it jettisoned due process. For instance, in its cover letter to the report, the committee admitted and stated: “The data used in this report was presented by various stakeholders who made submissions to the Task Force in the course of our assignment at various dates which have been discussed in relevant sections of the report. Due to the time frame, some of the data used could not be independently verified and Task Force recommends that government conduct such necessary verifications and reconciliations.’’ What this simply means is that because of time constraint, the committee could not follow the due process of independently verifying the data submitted to it by the various agencies. The wider implication of this is that, the figures and allegations are not to be taken as facts until they are verified. Perhaps, if it had followed due process as suggested by Oronsaye it we would have been celebrating the imminent arrest and prosecution of some thieves as the ground for their indictment would have been cast on concrete. Ayewoh is an Abuja-based public affairs commentator 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, November 14, 2012

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Violent Ebonyi community and Port Harcourt-Makurdi rail project

he festering clashes between members of the Amaeze community, Ishiagu, in the Ivo Local Local Government Area of Ebonyi State and Eser West Africa Limited, the contractor engaged by the Federal Government to rehabilitate the Port HarcourtMakurdi rail lines which passed through the community, has reportedly led to the suspension of the rail project. Regional District Manager of the Nigeria Railway Corporation (NRC), Eastern District, Felix Njoku, told newsmen recently that the community prevented Eser from using the railway quarry site located in Amaeze. “The Ishiagu Quarry Site is vested in the NRC by the 1955 Act of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as well as (the) Land Use Act of 1978 and now the Laws of the Federation 2007. Nobody has contested this position, not even the Amaeze community…”, Njoku said. He disclosed that Eser won the contract to rehabilitate the railway track and was shown the quarry from where it could extract crushed stones for the project. On getting to the quarry site, he said it was discovered that another company, M/S James J. S. Construction Company Limited had taken over the site based on a ‘license erroneously granted it by the Federal Government’. “It was also discovered on enquiry that the host community illegally granted the same company (M/S James J. S. Construction Company

THE AMAEZE COMMUNITY AND

ESER SHOULD NOT SEE THEMSELVES AS

ENEMIES AS YET, BUT SHOULD VIEW EACH OTHER AS PARTNERS IN PROGRESS HINDERED BY INCOHERENT GOVERNMENT LAWS AND POLICIES Limited) permission believing that they were the land owners”, Njoku stated. The NRC regional boss insisted that the lease granted M/S James J. S. Construction Company Limited by the Federal Ministry of Mines and Steel Development in respect of the NRC quarry was in contravention of Section 3 (1) of the Nigerian Mineral and Mining Act, 2007. The aggrieved Amaeze community, on the other hand, claimed that it had lost 17 people as a result of Eser’s uncontrolled blasting of stones with explosives within the past 10 months. Consequently, the community’s leaders said they had vowed not to allow Eser’s workers to continue with their ‘illegal mining of granite stones in the area’. Apart from its illegal entry into the

community’s land, the community leaders said, Eser ‘did not follow the laid down procedures for moving and blasting explosives. They claimed the uncontrolled blasting of stones and illegal use of explosives by Eser and the concomitant health hazards had wreaked much havoc, particularly on women and children in the area. Eser’s major complain, however, was that the Amaeze community was deliberately frustrating the execution of the rail contract, despite the fact that it had a subsisting agreement with the NRC to operate the now contentious quarry. From the stories as already told, it seems clear that the ineptitude and slipshod performance of FG ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) in matters as sensitive as the rehabilitation of the nation’s rail lines are at the root of the confusion and violence now dogging the Port Harcourt-Makurdi rail rehabilitation project. The cavalier attitude to public service so far displayed by the MDAs would not only deny Eser the cooperation of the Amaeze community should it go ahead to force itself on the project, but might degenerate to full scale restiveness and possible break down of law and order in the community if normalcy is not quickly restored. Indeed, why should the FG or any of its agencies grant another company license to operate the quarry in contention, without reversing

the transaction when it legitimately awarded the rail contract and handed over the same quarry to Eser. If the transaction is not double-dealing on the part of the FG and its agencies, what then is? It is, therefore, not surprising that the embattled Ebonyi community appeared more at home with M/S James J. S. Construction Company Limited, the first company granted license to operate the quarry, and had been antagonistic to Eser whose use of the quarry would be of more benefit to Nigerians. This kind of confusion is often responsible for the public’s perception of the government in the country as confused and rudderless. Fortuitously, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Anyim Pius Anyim, hails from the axis in question. We implore the SGF to intervene decisively in resolving the logjam before it leads to the stultification of the all-important rail project. We have consistently reminded the FG and the National Assembly of the need to review all Acts that inhibit the nation’s progress and development, such as the outdated NRC Monopoly Act. We again seize this opportunity to renew that call. The Amaeze community and Eser should not see themselves as enemies as yet, but should view each other as partners in progress hindered by incoherent government laws and policies. They should allow peace to reign and give the project a chance.

ON THIS DAY November 14, 2002 Argentina defaulted on an $805 million World Bank loan repayment. The World Bank is an international financial institution that provides loans to developing countries for capital programmes. The World Bank’s official goal is the reduction of poverty. According to the World Bank’s Articles of Agreement (as amended, effective from February 16, 1989), all of its decisions must be guided by a commitment to promote foreign investment, international trade, and facilitate capital investment.

November 14, 1982 Lech Walesa, the leader of Poland’s outlawed Solidarity movement, was released after eleven months of incarceration near the Soviet border. Walesa (born September 29, 1943) is a Polish politician, trade-union organizer, and human-rights activist. A charismatic leader, he co-founded Solidarity, the Soviet bloc’s first independent trade union, won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1983, and served as President of Poland between 1990 and 1995.

November 14, 1979 Iran Hostage Crisis: United States expresident, Jimmy Carter issued Executive Order 12170, freezing all Iranian assets in the US in response to the hostage crisis. The Iran hostage crisis was a diplomatic crisis between Iran and the US in which 52 Americans were held hostage for 444 days from November 4, 1979, to January 20, 1981, after a group of Islamist students and militants took over the American Embassy in Tehran in support of the Iranian Revolution.

Wednesday, November 14, 2012

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Health & Wellbeing World’s gastroenterologists meet in Tinapa

FG moves to combat Pneumonia

WHO predicts more diabetes deaths! •All you need to know about the killer disease SAM EFERARO

he World Health Organisation (WHO) has predicted more deaths worldwide as the World Diabetes Day promoted by the International Diabetes Federation is marked today globally to commemorate the birthday of Frederick Banning who discovered insulin along with Charles Banning in 1922. According to a release by the World Health Organisation, no fewer than 347 million people worldwide have diabetes and the number has continued to increase every year. The world body projects that the number of diabetes death would increase by two-thirds between 2008 and 2030. It is estimated that about 3.4 million people died from the condition in 2004 alone especially in the lowincome and middle income countries which account for 80 per-cent of the global diabetes death. Diabetes is a chronic disease that occurs either when the pancreas does not produce enough insulin or when

the body cannot effectively use the insulin it produces. Insulin is a hormone that regulates blood sugar. Hyperglycaemia, or raised blood sugar, is a common effect of uncontrolled diabetes and over time leads to serious damage to many of the body’s systems, especially the nerves and blood vessels. The international Diabetes Federation (IDF) estimates that Nigeria has the highest number of people with diabetes with approximately 1.2 million people affected. Nigeria is also reported to have the highest number of people with impared glucose tolerance – about 3.8 million people. According to IDF, there are three main types of diabetes: Type 1 diabetes also referred to as insulin-dependent, immune-mediated or juvenile-onset diabetes; Type 2 diabetes sometimes called non-insulin dependent diabetes or adult-onset diabetes and Gestational diabetes (GDM), a form of diabetes consisting of high blood glucose levels during pregnancy. Type 1 diabetes caused by an autoimmune reaction where the body’s

defence system attacks the insulinproducing cells. IDF says the reason why this occurs is not fully understood. People with type 1 diabetes produce very little or no insulin. The disease can affect people of any age, but usually occurs in children or young adults. People with this form of diabetes need injections of insulin every day in order to control the levels of glucose in their blood. If people with type 1 diabetes do not have access to insulin, they will die. IDF says Type 2 diabetes accounts

for at least 90% of all cases of diabetes. It is characterised by insulin resistance and relative insulin deficiency, either of which may be present at the time that diabetes becomes clinically manifest. The diagnosis of type 2 diabetes usually occurs after the age of 40 but can occur earlier, especially in populations with high diabetes prevalence. Type 2 diabetes can remain undetected for many years and the diagnosis is often made from CONTINUED ON PAGE 20

Free screening for Nigerians at Lagos Boot camp

s part of activities marking the World diabetes Day in Nigeria, Rainbow Specialist Medical Centre will today begin a capacity building diabetes Boot camp for people living with diabetes, their family members, primary care doctors and nurses caring for persons with diabetes. According to a statement signed by the Medical director of the centre, Dr. Afoke Isiavwe, the Boot camp holds from today till the the end of the week at Lekki Waterside Hotel,

2b Wole Olateju Crescent, off admiralty Way, Lekki Phase 1. Highlights of the event apart from the free screening include, Presentations from Diabetologist, Dietitian/ Nutritionist, Ophthalmologist, Hands on practical sessions on nutrition, self glucose monitoring, insulin injection techniques and free eye screenings. Dr. Isiavwe disclosed that admission to the Boot camp will be free though participant are expected to register by contacting the organisers on 07042196808.

Health & Wellbeing

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WHO predicts more diabetes deaths! CONTINUED FROM Pg 19 associated complications or incidentally through an abnormal blood or urine glucose test. It is often, but not always, associated with obesity, which itself can cause insulin resistance and lead to elevated blood glucose levels. GDM usually disappears after pregnancy but women with GDM and their offspring are at an increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes later in life. Approximately half of women with a history of GDM go on to develop type 2 diabetes within five to ten years after delivery. WHO describes Type 1 and type 2 diabetes as chronic and life-long conditions that require careful monitoring and control. Without proper management they can lead to very high blood sugar levels which can result in long term damage to various organs

Warning signs According to IDF, individuals can experience different warning signs, and sometimes there may be no obvious warning, but some of the signs of diabetes are commonly experienced: • Frequent urination • Excessive thirst • Increased hunger • Weight loss • Tiredness • Lack of interest and concentration • Vomiting and stomach pain (often mistaken as the flu) • A tingling sensation or numbness in the hands or feet • Blurred vision • Frequent infections •Slow-healing wounds The onset of type 1 diabetes is usually sudden and dramatic while the symptoms can often be mild or absent in people with type 2 diabetes, making this type of diabetes gradual in onset and hard to detect.

Diagnosis and treatment

and tissues such as the heart, blood vessels, eyes, kidneys, and nerves.). For instance, it may affect the heart and blood vessels resulting in fatal complications such as coronary heart disease (leading to heart attack) and stroke. Cardiovascular disease is the major cause of death in people with diabetes, accounting in most populations for 50% or more of all diabetes fatalities, and much disability. Diabetes may also result in total kidney failure and the need for dialysis or kidney transplant. According to the experts, diabetes is an increasingly important cause of renal failure, and indeed has now become the single most common cause of end stage renal disease, i.e. that which requires either dialysis or kidney transplantation. It can also lead to ulceration and amputation of the toes, feet and lower limbs. Loss of feeling is a particular risk because it can allow foot injuries to escape notice and treatment, leading to major infections and amputation. There’s also diabetic retinopathy characterised by damage to the retina of the eye which can lead to vision loss. Women with gestational diabetes may have children who are large for their gestational age.

Risk factors The risk factors for type 1 diabetes are still being researched. However, having a family member with type 1 diabetes increases the risks for developing the condition, as do the presence of some genetic factors. Environmental factors, increased height and weight development, increased maternal age at delivery, and exposure to some viral infections have also been linked to the risk of developing type 1 diabetes. Several risk factors have been associated with type 2 diabetes and

Early diagnosis can be accomplished through relatively inexpensive blood testing. Treatment of diabetes involves lowering blood glucose and the levels of other known risk factors that damage blood vessels. Tobacco use cessation is also important to avoid complications. Interventions that are both cost saving and feasible in developing countries include: • moderate blood glucose control. People with type 1 diabetes require insulin; people with type 2 diabetes can be treated with oral medication, but may also require insulin; • blood pressure control; • foot care. Other cost saving interventions include: • screening and treatment for retinopathy (which causes blindness); • blood lipid control (to regulate cholesterol levels); • screening for early signs of diabetes-related kidney disease. These measures should be supported by a healthy diet, regular physical activity, maintaining a normal body weight and avoiding tobacco use. A diabetes patient injecting himself with insulin

include: • Obesity • Diet and physical inactivity • Increasing age • Insulin resistance • Family history of diabetes • Ethnicity Changes in diet and physical activity related to rapid development and urbanisation have led to sharp increases in the numbers of people

Prevention According to WHO, Simple lifestyle measures have been shown to be effective in preventing or delaying the onset of type 2 diabetes. To help prevent type 2 diabetes and its complications, people should: • achieve and maintain healthy body weight;

Using a self monitoring device

developing diabetes. Pregnant women who are overweight, have been diagnosed with Impaired Glucose Tolerance (IGT), or have a family history of diabetes are all at increased risk of developing Gestational diabetes (GDM). In addition, having been previously diagnosed with gestational diabetes or being of certain ethnicities puts women at increased risk of developing the condition.

• be physically active – at least 30 minutes of regular, moderate-intensity activity on most days. More activity is required for weight control; • eat a healthy diet of between three and five servings of fruit and vegetables a day and reduce sugar and saturated fats intake;

Management

oday, there is no cure for diabetes, but effective treatment exists. If you have access to the appropriate medication, quality of care and good medical advice, you should be able to lead an active and healthy life and reduce the risk of developing complications. Good diabetes control means keeping your blood sugar levels as close to normal as possible. This can be achieved by a combination of the following: Physical Activity: a goal of at least 30 minutes of moderate physical activity per day (e.g. brisk walking, swimming, cycling, dancing) on most days of the week. Body weight: weight loss improves

insulin resistance, blood glucose and high lipid levels in the short term, and reduces blood pressure. It is important to reach and maintain a healthy weight. Healthy Eating: avoiding foods high in sugars and saturated fats, and limiting alcohol consumption. Avoid tobacco: tobacco use is associated with more complications in people with diabetes. Monitoring for complications: monitoring and early detection of complications is an essential part of good diabetes care. This includes regular foot and eye checks, controlling blood pressure and blood glucose, and assessing risks for cardiovascular and kidney disease.

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Health & Wellbeing

Wednesday, November 14, 2012

Health minister calls for dialogue on polio JAMES DANJUMA KATSINA

M L-R: Commissioner of Health, Cross River State, Dr. Angela Oyo-Ita; GMD Hygeia Group, Mrs. Fola Laoye; Minister of State for Health, Dr. Mohammed Ali Pate; Commissioner of Health, Lagos State, Dr. Jide Idris and CEO of Friends Africa, Dr. Kudo Ikemba at the 3rd Thistle Praxis sustainable conversation on public health held at the weekend in Lagos.

FG pledges commitment to oral health MARCUS FATUNMOLE AND JOEL AJAYI ABUJA

he Federal Government has stated its commitment to strengthening the national oral health policy. This, it said, became imperative because oral health “is an integral part of general health and awareness must be properly created to preserve selfesteem and enable individuals contribute meaningfully to the society.” Minister of Health, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu made the pledge in Abuja at the second edition of National Oral Health Week which commemorated 2012 World Oral Health Day with the theme: “Transform-

ing Lives through Sustainable Oral Health.” The Minister noted that diseases such as anaemia, leukaemia, diabetes mellitus, osteoporosis as well as HIV infection “are present in humans with oral manifestations which show that the mouth is the mirror of the body.” Chukwu, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Mrs. Fatima Bamidele said that stringent implementation of the policy would break new grounds in the nation’s health system. According to him, the priority areas of the policy are: oral health promotion, training resources development, service delivery among others. Targets of oral health research component, according

to the Minister, include capacity building for staff at all level to conduct research on oral health; to develop basic tools for monitoring and evaluating oral health activities in the country; to develop and disseminate a standard data collection format for oral health as well as to create a draft for oral database. He stressed that several activities and the programs were being vigorously pursued in line with the approved national oral health policy which includes human resources development, equipping and re-equipping of federal dental facilities as well as other oral health promotion activities. The Minister added that the ministry was partnering with relevant stakeholders and or-

ganizations to develop robust programmes that would reach out to communities and school children in particular. Earlier in a remark, Director of Hospital services, Dr. Wapada Balami had opined that the essence of oral health “is the well-being of the oral cavity including the dentition and supporting structures as an in integral part of general health, which includes optimal functioning of the mouth and the tissues in a manner which preserves the self-esteem and sound health.” He therefore, call on the citizenry to support the government in sensitizing the public in manner that would translate to better oral health status in particular and total health in the country.

inister of State for Health, Prof Moh’d Aliyu Pate has called for continued dialogue among stakeholders to address challenges faced in fighting polio and other health issues relating to women and children in the country. Pate, who made the call in Katsina yesterday, said there was need to support technical staff participating in the immunisation exercise to ensure eradication of the disease in the state and nation in general. He acknowledged efforts of the state, the emir of Katsina, traditional rulers and other stakeholders in fighting the scourge in the state. The minister however called for collective effort to wipe out the disease, adding that the interaction his team held with state team was an eye opener in improving healthcare services in the state. He said for two years, the state had not witnessed polio cases and urged that it should strive to be polio-free by next year, In his response, Governor Ibrahim Shema said his administration would continue to support the primary, secondary and tertiary health sectors to achieve the desired boost. Shema noted that the fight against polio is a must for all, and that“the state will not rest until success is achieved in the fight against the menace”. He assured that government would support stakeholders in fight against polio, and commended federal government’s and other relevant agencies’ efforts in kicking polio out of the state.

World’s gastroenterologists meet in Tinapa LATEEFAH IBRAHIM-ANIMASHAUN

he Sixth Congress of the African Middle East Association of Gastroenterology (AMAGE) being organised in collaboration with the Society of Gastroenterology and Hepatology in Nigeria (SOGHIN), kicks off next Thursday at the serene Tinapa resort near Calabar, Cross Rivers State. The congress which will be attended by internal medicine physicians specialising in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases of the digestive system (Gastroenterologists) from all parts of the world has been endorsed by the World Gastroenterology Organisation (WGO) and will have in attendance its Secretary General, Prof. Chan Yurdaydin. It is expected to be declared open by the Governor of Cross River state Senator Lyell Imoke while the keynote address will be de-

livered by the Health Minister Prof, Onyebuchi Chukwu. According to a press release signed by the President of the AMAGE Congress Prof. Hussein Abdel-Hamid of Egypt and the General Secretary, Prof. Olusegun Ojo of Nigeria, the congress which promises to be the highest gathering of scientists and internal medicine physicians all over the world is expected to feature scientific papers is all fields of gastroenterology and Africa health in general. The Release further recalled that Nigeria was chosen to host the congress because of its position as one of the important gates to the Sub-Saharan African region. “The decision to hold the congress in sub-Saharan Africa was important and challenging because the main goal of AMAGE is to bring people together, no matter how different they are regarding religion, colour,

culture or ethnicity. Many of our colleagues have visited several countries all over the globe but only few have visited subSaharan Africa. It is high time to correct this defect by inviting gastroenterologists, surgeons, paediatric gastroenterologists, pathologists, radiologists and nutritionists from all over the world to sub-Saharan Africa. Nigeria is one of the important gates to this region as it has a wide medical base, a good number of universities and a good representation of the pharmaceutical industry, not to mention that Nigeria has the biggest oil reserve and the biggest population in the continent of Africa”. The scientific sessions are expected to feature presentation by prominent African scholars, physicians and their counterparts from other parts of the world. They include Cihan Yurdaydin (Turkey), Ahmed

L-R Prof. Vice President, African Middle East Association of Gastroenterology (AMAGE), Prof. Rowland Ndoma-Egba, Treasurer, Prof. Reda Elwakil, General Secretary Prof. Olusegun Ojo and President. Prof. Hussein Abdel-Hamid, on the arrival of the AMAGE Governing Council Members in June for facility inspection in preparation for the AMAGE congress.

El-Garem (Egypt) Ziad Shariha (Jordan), Hussein Abdel-Hamid (Egypt), Christopher Record (U.K), Olusegun Ojo (Nigeria), Reid Ally (South Africa), Elias Ghandour (Syria / USA), Reda El-Wakil (Egypt), Rowland Ndoma – Egba (Nigeria Christian Tzeuton (Cameroon), Massimo Crespi (Italy), Shoukry Hunter (Egypt), Paul Goldberg (South Africa), Yehia El-Shazly (Egypt Edith Okeke (Nigeria) ) , Ebere E Anomneze (Nigeria), Vasudevan Naidoo (South

Africa), Rosemary Audu (Nigeria), and Gamal Esmat of Egypt). Others include Helmy Abaza (Egypt), Hesham El-Khayat (Egypt), Mostafa El-Awady (Egypt), Oladipupo Hammed (Nigeria), Mostafa Gabr (Egypt), Oudou Njoya (Cameroon), Abdel Khalek Hamed (Egypt), Mohammed El-Atik (Egypt), Jesse Otegbayo (Nigeria), Sylvester Nwokediuko (Nigeria), Musa Muhammed Borodo (Nigeria), Alberto Montori (Italy) and several others.

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FG moves to combat Pneumonia MARCUS FATUNMOLE AND JOEL AJAYI ABUJA

he Federal Government has expressed readiness to end the scourge of pneumonia by 2013 through the use of the newly-introduced pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PVC) across the federation, to protect children against pneumonia, meningitis and other infections caused by the pneumococcal bacteria. The Executive Director, National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), Dr. Ado Muhammad,made this known in Abuja on Mon-

day, as part of activities to commemorate 2010 World Pneumonia Day. Represented by Head of Statistics and Planning of the agency, Dr Emmanuel Odu, Mohammed called on wellmeaning Nigerians to join hands together in fighting the disease through sustained advocacy on Pneumococcal Vaccination. According to him, the disease is responsible for 70 per cent of infant mortality rate in the country. He promised that by the end of March 2013, when the third phase of the critical vaccine would have been fully implemented, the disease would have been defeated.

Ogun State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Olaokun Soyinka handing over the health reform plans of the state to the representative of all LG Chairmen in the state.

Muhammed further stressed that Nigeria is ranked second in the world among nations with high prevalence. Adding that about 130,000 Nigerian children lose their lives yearly, to the disease. “There is much silence about the disease because it is not something that happens just in a town. It is the same all over the country and we have to bear such burden. You can imagine, 130,000 children die in one year. “Pneumonia has been called a silent killer of the children because it catches them unnoticed. Not much noise is heard about it, but it is a condition that has devastated much in our society.” The World Health Organization said pneumococcal disease is the leading vaccine-preventable killer of young children worldwide. According to the organisation, introducing the vaccine would prevent up to 206,000 child deaths in Nigeria by 2018. Earlier this year, the Federal Government had introduced the pentavalent vaccine with five antigens for the treatment of poliomyelitis and other related ailments.

L-R: Former Vice-Chancellor, University of Port Harcourt, Prof. Nimi Briggs; Representative of the Minister of State for Health and Director Hospital Services, Federal Ministry of Health, Dr Wapada Ballami and Director-General, Nigerian Institute of Medical Research (NIMR), Yaba, Lagos, Prof. Innocent Ujah, at the opening session of the 3rd International Scientific Conference organised by NIMR in Lagos, yesterday. Photo: TUNBOSUN OGUNDARE

‘Safe blood cardinal to sustainable health system’ OMEIZA AJAYI ABUJA

inister of state in the Federal Capital Territory, Olajumoke Akinjide has stated that for the nation to achieve the health component of the Millennium Development Goals, MDGs, it must begin to place greater emphasis on voluntary blood donation and improved blood bank system which she described as the key to survival of patients dur-

Detecting ectopic pregnancy LATEEFAH IBRAHIM-ANIMASHAUN

n simple terms, Ectopic pregnancy means a pregnancy that is out of place. This means that the foetus is not developing in its right place. In a normal pregnancy, the fertilized egg implants and develops in the uterus. In most ectopic pregnancies, the egg settles in the fallopian tubes. This is why ectopic pregnancies are commonly called “tubal pregnancies.” The egg can also implant in the ovary, abdomen, or the cervix, so you also might see these referred to as cervical or abdominal pregnancies. Although ultrasound can often identify the condition, sometimes the growth is too small to see, particularly in early pregnancy. So, the patient has to be monitored regularly, until the embryo grows big enough to be seen on ultrasound. During this period doctors cannot take any action because to do so might end a perfectly healthy pregnancy. According to the experts, the first warning signs of an ectopic pregnancy are often pain or vaginal bleeding. There might be pain in the pelvis, abdomen, or, even the shoulder or neck (if blood from a ruptured ectopic pregnancy builds up and irritates certain nerves). The pain can be mild or crampy initially and can become sharp and stabbing. It may concentrate on one side of the pelvis. It could also come in form of vaginal spotting, dizziness or fainting (caused by blood loss), low blood pressure (also caused by blood loss) and lower back pain.

Research has however shown that nowadays, there can be an accurate early screening test for ectopic pregnancy, using four biological markers in the blood. The test gives three results: confirmed ectopic pregnancy, confirmed intrauterine (normal) pregnancy, and no confirmed result. It was proven that, in a trial of 200 women in the first three months of pregnancy, 100 of whom were known to have an ectopic pregnancy and 100 a normal pregnancy, it managed to give a confirmed result in 42 per cent of cases.

ing emergencies. Akinjide who spoke in Abuja when she received members of a youthbased blood donation advocacy group, Club 25 said a sustainable blood bank system would reduce cases of maternal mortality as well as deaths occasioned by bomb blasts and other emergencies. “Safe blood is cardinal to a sustainable healthcare system. Maternal mortality is reduced when you have a safe blood bank. You need

the blood bank in situations of emergencies. We are happy to announce that as at today, we have world-class blood screening facilities across our hospitals”, Akinjide said. Focal Person of the club, Mr. Peter Ehigie, called for safer blood donation practices among Nigerians. Ehigie said his organisation was mobilising Nigerians to boost the National Blood Bank initiative of the Federal Government.

In these it was able to differentiate between ectopic and normal pregnancy with 99 per cent accuracy. Experts revealed that the test could potentially give a same-day result - saving women days or weeks of uncertainty, and saving lives which means it could be used as a test that somebody in early pregnancy could use to diagnose ectopic pregnancy and could then be immediately treated. According to Dr Mary Rausch from Pennsylvania University in the US, the pregnancy sometimes takes days or weeks to be diagnosed. “During that time they can have a tubal rupture, which can lead to maternal morbidity and mortality. If the tube does rupture, the woman can bleed into her abdomen. It can be fatal if not treated quickly enough”, she stressed. Spotting an ectopic early also increases the chances of ending the pregnancy using drugs, rather than by surgery, which often leads to the loss of a fallopian tube. Consequently the test could “potentially preserve the fertility of women”, she said. Currently women suspected of having an ectopic pregnancy that does not show on ultrasound are monitored every other day for the pregnancy hormone HCG, she said. If levels increase steadily that indicates a normal pregnancy, while if they remain low that indicates an ectopic pregnancy or miscarriage. But Dr Rausch said HCG levels were only an indicator of pregnancy status - not a diagnosis. Research states that it would be most applicable for women early in pregnancy, when they can’t see it on ultrasound. It could also be used if ultrasound was unavailable, she added.

Wednesday, November 14, 2012

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Arts Lounge

I want to create songs that appreciate ladies –Kola Soul

Macmillian literary night breaks barriers

Endangered species called Nigerian scriptwriters While the Nigerian film industry continues to be talked about in glowing terms, the reality is that the originators of the story (writers) are the least-celebrated, most-exploited, least-rewarded and obviously, the most-criticised if a movie turns bad. Enter the precarious world of the Nigerian screen writer. NGOZI EMEDOLIBE

t is easy to know the state of wellbeing of everyone working in the Nigerian movie industry. Much as they live a very competitive life, they like to announce their opulence, because according to them, it ‘helps in branding’. That is essentially why award events, exclusive parties, designer apparels, choice automobiles and huge mansions are the yardstick with which they measure who is what. While this fad is not exclusive to the Nigerian industry, many of the practitioners seem better off than the scriptwriter, which is evident in the wide difference between what writers earn and what the actors or directors earn. A case in question is the popular movie, Cross Fire, which starred Pete Edochie and Segun Arinze some years ago. While it was the movie that took Pete Edochie to the N600,000 per picture limit ( a phenomenon by industry standards then), the writer, Azuka Mordy got a paltry N30,000 for his efforts, because it was his first movie script. While Pete Edochie could ask for royalties for remakes and possible adaptations, the writer has been bought over and may not be considered if there are future projects in this regard. Why is the screenwriter at the receiving end of the production chain? Chyke Bryan, the national president of the Screen Writers Guild of Nigeria, (SWGN), blames it on the general industry mentality which makes everyone feel he or she can write a movie script. “I always tell people that writing is a skilled aspect of the film business, but it is unfortunate that people do not see it that way. In Nollywood, we have a bunch of untrained and unprofessional writers and when it turns out wrong, you see people generalising that writers in Nollywood are not good. The producers in the industry have a penchant for sourcing their stories at the wrong places. We work in an industry where everything is done in a hurry and that means that you get to see a producer getting an executive producer even before a movie script. Once the executive producer asks if the story is good, the producer runs back to the writer and gives him one week to produce the script. That is why sometimes, there are lapses because there will always be holes in the story written in a hurry”, he says. While the standard practice in most industries is that the writer creates his

Shooting of a movie at a location.

REMUNERATION IS

NOT VERY FANTASTIC, ESPECIALLY WITH THIS GENERAL PERCEPTION THAT WRITING IS EASY AND CAN BE DONE BY ANYONE story, which the producer tries to buy into if it fascinates him, most producers in Nollywood, guide the writer on what they want to produce. Mordy, who has been writing for Nollywood for over a decade, calls it the most frustrating part of the job. “A writer is supposed to sit down and create his story with the creative license he can muster but in Nollywood, they will tell you what to write, depending on what is selling in the market. Some of the marketers will tell you to create a story revolving around Osita Iheme and Chniedu Ikedieze because that is what is selling, which is wrong. Even when you write, they begin to check how much would be involved in making the movie. If the props or special effects will gulp a lot of money, they would tell you to look elsewhere. It is only when you are a big name that they begin to treat you based on your name”. Arts Lounge findings show that initially, the screenwriter was seen as the demi-god, but as the industry began to transform into a commerce-driven one,

Script workshop in Nollywood

the fortunes of the screenwriter began to wane. For instance, at the early stage of the industry, screenwriters like Joe Dudun, Reginald Ebere and Ken Oghenejabor collected as much as N300,000 to pen a movie. Although this may leave screenwriters in other industries squeal in surprise, it is a far cry to today’s realit, where fees for such efforts have dropped considerably. Bryan was asked if it was possible to see a screenwriter in Nigeria earning up to N1 million. “I would not know, but it is not likely. Remuneration is not fantastic, especially with this general perception that writing is easy and can be done by anyone. Sometimes, this has led to the bastardisation of the story. The implication is that people get you to do their bidding and prefer to pay you off. For now, nobody is talking about royalties and the likes, because they still do not see the writer as essential in the chain”.

Mordy agrees with this assertion. According to him, in most cases, the producer tries to cut corners with the writer especially when he is new in the industry. “Usually, when they ask for scripts and you give them, some dubious ones will make photocopies of the script and will not remember to give you back until you ask for it; or begin to ask for your money. Then they will tell you that they do not like the script. It happened to me when I wrote a script titled, Save Our Souls. I gave it to a production house called Ayo Holdings at Onitsha and they made photocopies and returned the script to say they did not want it. But a few months later, a similar story was out with a different title as a movie. The names of the characters had changed. I have also not forgotten what happened between me and Ayo Makun, the popular AY. We have actually come a long way. I knew him when he was just starting out. He asked me to create a comedy series for him, which I did and titled it AY’s Crib. Till date, I have neither received any form of payment nor have I gotten credit for doing that. I also gave him a comedy script, Our Kingdom Come, which he said he misplaced. I have a prophetic saying for the plight of writers in the industry. They are like the seeds and Nollywood will not bear any right fruit until they begin to recognise them”. Another writer, Ben Akponine, said he quit writing screen plays for the industry over sharp practices. According to him, the first script he managed to sell almost degenerated into crisis because the producer did not want to pay. “After shooting it into a movie, he began to wonder if what I did was worth paying for”. The situation is worse for writers in the television industry. Although writers like Yinka Oguns and Kayode Peters bestride the industry with appreciable level of success, it is a tale of woes for many others, especially new ones. Even at the established production houses the style is to get an inhouse writer who does a screenplay out of every story, which would now be shot into a series that could run for four quarters. In some cases, such stories, which are building blocks of the hit drama series, cost the company only N10,000! This has left the Nigerian writer with no option but to either eke a living out of something else or join the leagues of producers from where he continues the cycle of exploitation. For now, there is hardly a director or producer who would not try his writing mettle to prove the point.

Arts Lounge

Wednesday, November 14, 2012

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

MEMORABLE READS

DURO ONI Academician, playwright

What do you find intriguing about these novels? They are so down-to-earth; for me they tell stories that are so realistic. The books are talking about people and you think that you know them one on one. I also had occasions to feel that way about just a few works. When I was a child I was reading books like James Hardly Chase and I was a voracious reader in school. I read all of the works of Shakespeare; I enjoyed the Shylock Holmes series. But these days, I don’t have the time as I am trying to reach deadlines. It’s not often that I get around reading, of course maybe when I’m travelling.

Who is your favourite author? That is difficult to tell right now because I come across different works regularly like Lola Shoneyin’s The Secret lives of Baba Segi’s wives. Is that what you are reading now? No, this is one of the books that I read and I enjoyed very much. Then I read Kaine Agary’s novel, Yellow Yellow and I enjoyed it tremendously. But for now, I’m not reading any novel because what I do now is

LET’S

T AL K FAD

more of academic work. Once in a while, I still get back to reading. Of all the novels I have read, I like very much these two novels.

What is your annual budget for book? There is no budget for books. When I get into a book store, I am always looking for something, I like some autobiographies, like expresident Clinton’s book and also Hilary Clinton and I think she will eventually become the president of the United States. I think she is just a wonderful person.

MUSINGS Port of Harcourt Alas The ship depart we port a handful of men aboard desperate to raise a fortune. A bandwagon of women hungry for equality hence must set sail at once. So we sail With blood of uncertainties clot in our pupils River of dreams washing Through our heart And certainly The fear of the unknown seized our breath. Still We set sail A band of families on the other end Bade goodbye to breadwinners who have resolved to be Laurel Champions. We set sail Tears stood in our eyes like Elephant grasses... And then Like pebble of raindrops. © Matt Pantaleon October 2012

with

Fidelis Duker

fidelisduker@yahoo.com

Illuminati, creativity… the Nigerian angle

o much has been said about the spirituality behind the Illuminati group. Many have ascribed negativity and diabolism to the activities of the group. The source of their success and powers has been said to be gotten from the Devil. This perceived assumption has laid credence to the widely accepted contraption that the success of most talents in the creative industry globally is from the Illuminati sect, how true this is should be left in the minds of readers. Globally, several entertainers like JayZ, Beyonce, Kanye West, Rihanna, Eminem, Dr. Dre, Lady Gaga, Britney Spears and several superstars in music and movies have been said to belong to the Illuminati but the question I ask is; must creative success be ascribed to ‘vodooism’ and negativity? In my understanding, it is simply envy of the success story. Recently, we have heard stories, before the breakup of D’Banj and his former partner Don Jazzy that the duo was members of Illuminati based on their success story and relationship with Kanye West. It must be noted that before D’Banj, there have been success stories like 2face, Daddy Showkey, Shina Peters, King Sunny Ade, Fela, Majek who have all made hits that were nationally accepted. I remember with nostalgia how Shina Peters was the focus of Weekend Concord in 1990 with the bold headline Shinamania in the Afro Juju series 2; it was a national hit but nobody at that time referred to him as a member of Illuminati. Why? maybe because Illuminati was not the vogue then, possibly some might have attributed his success then to either using juju and belonging to the Ogboni fraternity. But today, when a creative artiste hits a blockbuster in music or movie, what you hear is he or she has gone to his village to re-engineer his juju; funny as it may sound, most people have come to accept it as the truth and of course the newest fad- the Illuminati story. On a lighter note, my wife told me recently that if truly D’Banj, Don Jazzy, Genevieve and the others are members of the Illuminati fraternity, they will be the maiguards, cleaners and chefs during their meetings, because she cannot understand the professional and financial success of the likes of Beyonce, Jay Zee, Lady Gaga to our own D’Banj and co, her argument was funny but very realistic. What baffles me is the general and erroneous assumption that any success story is based on involvement in occultism, juju or fetishism. I am not holding brief or saying there is no juju but my argument is simply; must we ascribe success to spirituality or negativity? In the past week during the recently-

IF TRULY D’BANJ, DON JAZZY, GENEVIEVE ARE MEMBERS OF

THE ILLUMINATI FRATERNITY,

THEY WILL BE

THE MAIGUARDS, CLEANERS AND CHEFS concluded American elections, Barack Obama was mentioned as being a member of Illuminati and that he represents the end time anti-Christ. They have gone further to argue their points with biblical quotes, which I find rather strange and misguided The basis of this article is simply to change our erroneous belief that every success should be ascribed to occult or evil power but we must respect the creative and entrepreneurship ingenuity of our talents. The likes of D’Banj, Don Jazzy, Genevieve, and Charly Boy amongst others, are simply some of the creative products of our movie and music industry that we should encourage and support rather than condemn and ascribe negativity to them. It’s important before I conclude this article to say that the issue of Illuminati in Hollywood is still a guided secret that even the proponents do not discuss in public and there are no verifiable facts to prove the membership of the association except the preconceived signals and signs found in the musical video. It is with this I will like to delve into old story of the crash of Mo’hits group and the determination of D’Banj to break into Hollywood as an international star. What D’Banj must realise is simply that it is better you are a big superstar in Nigeria than a mere ‘waka pass’ in Hollywood because the music industry in Hollywood is a close guarded ‘cult’ environment where they create all the impediments that will prevent a new entrant. What these signals is that maybe by the time he decides to run back home, he might have to join the line at the back. So my candid advice is to build and develop your business in Nigeria to an enviable position and I bet you that Hollywood will come looking for you but not the other way round where you go looking for Hollywood. To sign out I will say “ab’oro l’an so fun omoluabi…” (A word is enough for the wise). Till we meet next week when I will share my thoughts on Mohits break, enjoy your week.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Arts Lounge

Wednesday, November 14, 2012

ARTISTE UNCENSORED

MIDWEEK JUMP

2013 Commonwealth Prize I want to create songs that receiving entries appreciate ladies –Kola Soul T Nigerian music is making a lot of waves in Africa and beyond but there are those who insist that there is still a lot of noise and not enough soul in the thousands of songs released. Enter Kola Soul, who is not just interested in R’n’B, but is also ready to bring back the soul with his songs. TERH AGBEDEH

ola Soul born Kolawole Ogunwunmi to a Nigerian father and Ghanaian mother released ‘Aje’ a single in September and is on the verge of releasing another one titled ‘Sugar Cane Daddy’. The second single may come across as suggestive but the R‘n’B singer says it’s a song for Nigerian ladies. “I want to be able to create songs that appreciate ladies and make them say that I’ve actually found somebody that is singing to me. We love the Nigerian lady, ladies in general and we just want them to be happy”, he told **Arts Lounge** in an interview in the Alchemist Music studio in Lagos. Kola Soul, who co-owns Alchemist Music, a label based in Lagos and is a leader of a sixpiece band, qualified as a Marine Engineer and is graduate of Agronomy from the University of Ibadan in 2008. This is all thanks to his parents who insisted school must come first in his life before anything else while they were alive. His road to music is paved by songs by Dolly Parton, Aretha Franklin and Luther Vandross, among others that his mum used to play back when he was only a six-year-old. He used to hum to those songs. But he said that one thing that struck him about music was when he took part in a Karaoke competition and won money. “I was struggling really hard and somebody just dropped N50,000 in my laps. The competition was at Murphy’s on the Lagos Island. That was the first time I met Howie T. and Faze (Plantashun Boyz) came first in that completion while I came second. This was around 1999/2000”, Kola Soul, who was born into wealth but whose family later hit hard times, recalled. Kola Soul, who was then at the School of

Kola Soul and a model

Oceanography, Bar Beach, Lagos, gave some of the prize money to his mum and bought himself the Direct Entry form to the university. He went on to take part in another competition where he won N100,000 and kept doing shows even though he kept his performances a secret to his course mates till he was in final year. “I also won N100,000 at Club Towers, which was having a costume Karaoke competition. I told myself that I could actually make money from this so I decided to see how it would work out. My parents were happy but still insisted that it was school first”, he said. After the up-and-coming musician graduated in 2008, he got signed on to a record label “but things didn’t work out like I wanted them to two years after so we parted ways”. That label was owned by a friend, who is still Kola Soul’s very good friend. He said he left when his contract expired because he felt there was so much more that he could do. It’s one of the reasons he set up Alchemist Music which he and his partner hope to rule the world with. Since graduating Kola Soul, who had a recent stage name change from K-Soul, said he has done a couple of A-list shows among which is the annual Rhythm Unplugged concert and a Guiness brand launch. But does he really think that the Nigerian audience is ready for R‘n’B? Kola Soul’s answer is a resounding yes. “They have been able to enjoy both sides of the world and the world is a lot smaller. If Chris Brown or Usher were to come to Nigeria now, everybody would want to go for the event. I’ve seen the response to Banky W and to other R‘n’B singers; it’s amazing that Nigerians have actually opened up to R‘n’B and soul music. We’ve got Asa, Bez and a couple of other fantastic singers and Nigerians have accepted them as ‘our own’,” he said.

he entry forms for the 2013 Commonwealth Short Story Prize and the 2013 Commonwealth Book Prize are now available online. Part of the Commonwealth Writers initiative, the prizes unearth, develop and promote the best new fiction from across the Commonwealth. The Commonwealth Short Sto-

Post-humous exhibition for Akin Lasekan

he local arts community will celebrate one of its own and a pioneer of modern arts in Nigeria, late Akinola Lasekan (1916-1972), with a threeday Art Exhibition and Symposium. Themed: “The Life, Times and Art of Akinola Lasekan” it is slated for November 15 through 18 in Lagos. The artist is widely acknowledged as one of the pioneers and masters of modern Nigeria art in the same league as esteemed artists such as Aina Onabolu, Ben Enwonwu, Erhabor Emokpae and Bruce Onobrakpeya. In an official statement from the family signed by Dr. (Mrs.) Olusola Dublin-Green, the family called on Nigerian artists to rally-round and participate in this exhibition as part of activities marking the 40th anniversary of Lasekan’s passage. Lasekan started his career as a textile designer before veering into book illustrations for publishing companies such as the CMS Bookshop. He later established an art studio and became an art teacher in 1941. After studying commercial art at the Hammersmith School of Art in London, he became a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts London, UK in 1962. Lasekan taught Arts at the Universities of Nigeria, Nsukka and Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University). He made name for himself as a nationalist with his sharp political cartoons, which appeared daily in the defunct West African Pilot. Some of Lasekan’s popular works include an oil painting called “The last political mission of Herbert Macaulay”; “The story of Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe” (oil on canvas) and a pictorial and historical composition entitled “The return of Ajaka of Owo” (poster colour on paper), amongst others”. Given Lasekan’s public spiritedness, several of his artworks were donated to the National Gallery of Arts (NGA) and were exhibited during the 2nd World Black and African Festival of Arts and Culture (FESTAC) in 1977. Some of his other artworks also adorn Art galleries across the world.

ry Prize is awarded for the best piece of unpublished short fiction (2000 to 5000 words). Regional winners receive £1,000 and the overall winner receives £5,000; the closing date is December 4. Awarded for best first book, the Commonwealth Book Prize is open to writers who have had their first novel (full length work of fiction) published between January 1 and December 31, 2012. Regional winners receive £2,500 and the overall winner receives £10,000. The closing date for online entries is December 18. For the first time, works translated into English from other languages are eligible for both prizes; and we are accepting selfpublished books from all Commonwealth countries. Online entry form and further information, including the eligibility and entry rules are available on the organisation’s web site.

Publishers discuss book trade in Lagos

s part of the 14th Lagos Book & Art Festival, LABAF, which holds from November 16 to 18, the third pre-festival Publishers’ Forum will hold tomorrow by 10.00 a.m. at GoetheInstitut office, City Hall, Lagos Island. Organised by the Committee for Relevant Art, CORA, the theme for the event is ‘Financing the Book Trade’. It provides a space for key publishers in Nigeria to gain critical insight into their current operations within the context of the challenges facing the industry. Stakeholders also brainstorm and identify key steps that can be taken as individual businesses or as a collective to improve bottom line. The publishers will interface with the public as well during a cocktail. Farafina Books will have a conversation with Literamed Publishers on funding options they have employed in running their businesses among other pertinent issues. Otunba Lawal Solarin (Publisher, Literamed) and Muhtar Bakare (Publisher, Farafina) lead the discussion.

Bakare

Arts Lounge

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Wednesday, November 14, 2012

FAR AND NEAR

Recovered Titanic jewels to go on display

ANA Convention: Writers primed for e-literature

he 2012 edition of the annual convention of the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA), held under the theme Nigerian Literature: Social Media and Security, ended over the weekend in Uyo, Akwa Ibom. The convention was set to find links between literature and the social media towards enhancing the craft of writers in Nigeria. Welcoming the delegates to the convention, ANA National President, Prof. Remi Raji noted the importance of the theme for today’s writing in Nigeria saying writers will not take the social media for granted but rather see how “we can harness it to enhance our craft”. He also mentioned how difficult it has been to organise the convention in the absence of external support, but stated that the executive body would continue to host successful conventions members would be proud of. The keynote paper, What Does Nigerian Literature Secure, delivered by Pius Adesanmi, Professor of African Studies, Carleton University, Canada, attempted a discourse on the importance of security of the writer as a requisite for the prosperity of the e-literature in the age of social media. More presentation by YSG Hubs, a corporate group partnering with ANA on e-book publishing and Ebedi Writers Residency capped events on the opening day of the convention. The first session of the plenary session featured paper presentation with Al-Bishak of Nasarawa State University who presented: African Literature, Education Illiteracy and Intellectual Insecurity in the Age of the Internet; Jerome Dooga of University of Jos who presented a paper: “At the Click of the Button: Is Social Media Promoting Literature?” and Monday Michaels Ashibogwu who made a power point presentation titled, The Rise of Social Media in Nigeria: A Strategy for the Nigerian Writer, among other papers. The second session of the plenary witnessed ANA in its trademarks of hot exchanges as members debated issues on the life, state and welfare of the association. The session ended with a excursion which took members as far as Ibom Le Meridien Hotel on the outskirts of Uyo city. The evening ended with a dinner held at the Entry Point Hotel where the winners of the 2012, ANA Literary Prizes were announced. High profile participation in this years’ convention included Hon. Wale Okediran, Chief Eddie Onwuzurike, Barrister Mffonmbuk Akpabio and Odia Ofeimum, among others.

Performers take a bow

Macmillian literary night breaks barriers TERH AGBEDEH

he 10th Macmillan Literary Night, which held on November 8 at the Agip Recital Hall of the MUSON Centre, Onikan, Lagos was as entertaining as it was soul searching. With the theme: Break It! Stumbling Blocks to National Development, many in the audience that filled the hall to overflowing, said the performances, most of which invoked laughter, were a sad commentary on Nigeria. Organised by Macmillan Nigeria Publishers Limited actors Irhia Enakhimio, Joke Silva, Nobert Young, Tina Mba, and members of the Crown Troupe of Africa, read/performed the works chosen across the genres of dance drama, poetry and prose. Issues in the works include: corruption, impunity, anarchy, citizenship and ethnicism, religious bigotry and leadership, among others. Those whose works were performed include: Segun Adefila, Ayeola Mabiaku, Tanure Ojaide, Uzodinma Iweala, Promisca Anoni and Unoma Azuah. Iquo Eke and Francesca Emanuel (Nee Pereira) performed their own works of

poetry. Odia Ofeimun was compere and resource person. While making his speech, Chairman of Macmillan, Mr. Bode Emanuel said the theme for this year was chosen due to a “high sense of national consciousness coupled with the uncompromising belief that the multifaceted obstacles hampering Nigeria’s development are not unbreakable”. He vowed that as foremost publishers, Macmillan would not relent in its efforts in publishing well-focused books for meaningful national development. “We covet the support of development partners in the onerous task”, he appealed. Chairman of the event, Izoma Philip Asiodu also appealed to those who have talent in poetry and theatre to explain to Nigerians that the world has changed. The event instituted to further the company’s corporate social responsibility (CSR) policy and which failed to hold only twice since inception in 1999, also had poet and playwright, J.P. Clark and member of the organising committee, Mr. Ben Tomoloju, as well as management staff of the publishing company in attendance, among other highly esteemed dignitaries.

ost of the jewellery recovered from the wreckage of the Titanic will go on public display for the first time with a three-city tour. The jewellery is from a single purser’s bag found during a 1987 research and recovery mission. The collection includes diamond and sapphire rings, brooches, necklaces, cuff links and a gold pocket watch. Although single pieces of the jewellery have been on display at one or more permanent and travelling exhibits sponsored by Premier Exhibitions Inc., their Atlanta debut is the first time the majority of the collection has been available to the public. Exhibition company Premier is the parent of RMS Titanic, which owns the rights to salvage from the luxury liner’s wreck on the bottom of the North Atlantic. Conservators and curators have been studying and preserving the jewellery to gain a better understanding of individual passengers’ lives aboard the ill-fated voyage. Alexandra Klingelhofer, vice president of collections for RMS Titanic Inc., said the purpose of the exhibit is to show the public the wonder of exploration. “Going down two and a half miles below the ocean, recovering a bag, bringing it back up and opening it and finding ... jewellery”, Klingelhofer said. “We’re able to give a glimpse of... the beautiful jewellery of the Edwardian Period”. Titanic: The Artefact Exhibition opened in Atlanta earlier this year to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the sinking of the Titanic on April 15, 1912. Klingelhofer said this jewellery mini-exhibit is being added to provide personal insight. “We are constantly researching the artefacts, learning more about their story”, she said. After a two-month exhibit at Premier’s display gallery at the Atlantic Station development, the jewels will travel to Orlando-Florida, and Las Vegas-Nevada. Culled from Associated Press

Bracelet from the RMS Titanic recovered during an expedition from the ocean floor

Nigerian poet appears on American music compilation ADEBIMPE OLATUJA

wo poems, Edward Gone Bedward and I am a Nigerian, written by scholar and poet, Dr. David Olusegun Agbaje, have been recorded into music for an MP3 album compilation titled Alone Again, produced by America-based Star Tune Records. The award-winning Assistant Comptroller-General of Nigeria Customs had

submitted three of his poems for an International Poetry Contest organised by Paramount Group, Nashville, Tennessee, U.S.A. in 2008.The company discovered hit songs potential in two poems and thereafter sent Agbaje a songwriting contract which he signed. “I am a Nigerian’’ was written in 1979 during my year in NYSC member in Awka and Edward Gone Bedward was written in 1992”, Agbaje said. The Ondo-born poet, who holds a Ph.D.

in English, explained his love for nature inspired him to write. “My poetry is loaded with themes of love, hope, universal brotherhood, adoration of the supreme intelligence that gave birth to the world, appreciation of the beauty in nature and denunciation of vices. “I always like to impact on lives anywhere I find myself; I always like to give motivational words to depressed souls”. Apart from his academic prowess, Agbaje has served the country meritorious-

ly and creditably in various capacities in the Nigeria Customs winning numerous awards including the Comptroller-General’s Letter of Commendation for the discovery and recovery of huge underpayment at Onne Port (1997) and the Nelson Mandela Life Achievements Award (Ghana 2011). Alone Again is a 12-track album first released in March 2011 and re-released in July 2012. It features all new songs written by new songwriters.

Wednesday, November 14, 2012

Messi, Iniesta deserve world honours – Matthaus

AFOLABI GAMBARI

os Angeles Blues midfielder, Bright Dike, arrived in camp late yesterday ahead of today’s friendly with Venezuela in Miami, Florida. The 25-year old striker who has got his first national team call-up to the Super Eagles, trained with the rest of the team for the first time after his arrival. Dike, who plays for USA club Portland Timbers and was born in Oklahoma City to Nigerian parents will

Sport

Eaglets, Mali get Ivorien ref

he Confederation of African Football has appointed Kouame Ndri as the centre referee for the African U-17 Championship 2013 qualifier between Nigeria and Mali scheduled for the U.J. Esuene Stadium, Calabar on Sunday. Ndri’s compatriots Cherif Mamadou Bogbe, Kouadio Oussou and Denis Dembele will be 1st Assistant, 2nd Assistant and 4th Official respectively while Benoit Zian-

ga will be Match Commissioner. The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) had formally requested the Federation Malienne de Football on Tuesday to release details of its delegation’s arrival in Nigeria as well as the size of the delegation. Sunday’s match is the first leg of a final qualifying fixture, after the Eaglets dismissed Niger Republic and Guinea in earlier rounds.

Ameobi hails club’s stance

ewcastle striker, Shola Ameobi, has commended the club’s understanding of his Nigerian invitation, saying he was hardpressed to accept the national call. The experienced striker, who has earned international recognition for the first time at the age of 31, had been capped at U-21 level by England. “I think Manager Alan Pardew is worried with my age and the travelling, but it’s something that we will look at and Levante striker, Obafemi Martins, will attempt to use this game to convince Coach Stephen make sure I’m not doing Keshi of his new form a disservice to the club,” The Miami game is scheduled Ameobi said yesterday. months to the Afcon finals. “This is the first op“I need the best players and to kick off at 8pm Florida time portunity to do someI think this is in perfect order,” (2am Nigerian time tomorrow). thing that I’ve always Keshi said.

…Dike last to arrive IKENWA NNABUOGOR

The Mandela Challenge means so much more than just a friendly with the Bafana Bafana –Zambia captain, Christopher Katongo

Friendly: Eagles set to battle Venezuela

eports from Miami, Florida in the United States of America where Nigeria is camped ahead of today’s friendly match with Venezuela said yesterday that the Super Eagles are ready for the encounter which some players desire to impress Coach Stephen Keshi as preparation begins ahead of the Afcon 2013 finals in South Africa. Spokesman of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Ademola Olajire told National Mirror that all the invited players had arrived in the camp. “The team trained twice today (yesterday) and the coaches were satisfied with their response. I think the players realise the need to compete for places in the team,” Olajire said. Olajire listed the players in the camp to include goalkeeper Austin Ejide, defender Elderson Echiejile, midfielders Raheem Lawal, Ogenyi Onazi, Nosa Igiebor and USA-based Bright Ejike, as well as strikers Brown Ideye, Shola Ameobi and Obafemi Martins. Goalkeeper Chigozie Agbim led the home-based players that also include defenders Godfrey Oboabona, Solomon Kwambe, Azubuike Egwueke, Benjamin Francis and Umar Zango, midfielder Henry Uche and forwards Sunday Mba, Ejike Uzoenyi and Gomo Onduku. Nigeria had previously met Venezuela in a friendly in London in 2003 as captain Austin Okocha scored the lone goal that ensured victory for the Eagles. Meanwhile, Stephen Keshi has reiterated his earlier remark that the door of his team has not been shut against any player, despite having less than two

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

be expected to make his first bow for Nigeria tonight. Media officer of the Super Eagles Ben Alaiya, who confirmed the arrival of the player, said that the squad had been complete ahead of the game.. Dike was drafted in the first round (12th overall) of the 2010 MLS SuperDraft by Columbus Crew. However, after training with the club all preseason, he did not make the squad and was released upon which he signed a one year contract with Portland Timbers on April 7, 2010, making his professional debut on April 22, 2010 in a

game against AC St. Louis. Dike was named on October 19, 2010 as one of the first four players to be signed by the Portland Timbers ahead of their expansion into Major League Soccer in 2011, along with Steve Cronin, Ryan Pore and Eddie Johnson. But he was loaned to USL Pro club Los Angeles Blues on May 8, 2012 and recalled to Portland on July 10, 2012. The Nigerian is currently on a fine goal burst this season, scoring 12 goals, six for Los Angeles Blues and five for his current club, Portland Timbers, on return from loan. Bright Dike

Shola Ameobi

wanted to do. It’s a great honour to play for my country and I don’t take it lightly. “I want to do the best I can, I don’t just want to be a local hero, I want to be an international one. That’s what has driven the decision to play for Nigeria.”

Sport

Wednesday, November 14, 2012

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Ferdinand delays future talks

anchester United defender, Rio Ferdinand, may be willing to extend his club career, but will make a call on his future at Christmas. The experienced centre-half will see his current deal at Old Trafford expire at the end of the season, and it has been suggested that he will then take the opportunity to hang up his boots. Ferdinand has refused to speculate on the decision he will take, with all options still open - with his former club West Ham United one of those to already express an interest. United boss Sir Alex Ferguson is keen to see the 34-year-old pen an extension, with it his opinion that the former England international still has plenty of football left in him yet. “It is always good to hear the manager say things like that,” Ferdinand said yesterday. “But you have to take every week and month as it comes. The best thing I can do is to see how I’m feelRio Ferdinand ing.”

‘Balotelli not quitting City’

Steven Gerrard

he agent of Mario Balotelli, Mino Raiola, has insisted the striker is not looking for a way out of Manchester City and intends to honour his contract. Speculation regarding the Italy international’s future has intensified on the back of his omission from City’s matchday squad for Sunday’s 2-1 victory over Tottenham Hotspur. Balotelli was forced to watch on from the stands as fellow forwards Sergio Aguero and Edin Dzeko found the target for the reigning Premier League champions. It is now being suggested that the 22-year-old is ready to cut short his time

mark. “Steven Gerrard has been cleared to travel with the England squad to Sweden having undergone a precautionary scan on Monday afternoon,” a statement from the Football Association read yesterday. Manager Roy Hodgson has had to deal with a number of withdrawals prompting late calls for uncapped youngsters Wilfried Zaha and Carl Jenkinson. Five players, including Wayne Rooney, have pulled out of a trip that has caused consternation among Premier League managers keen to avoid their international stars becoming burned out.

Beckham

David Beckham believes it would be careless of he and his LA Galaxy teammates t protect their three-goal MLS Western Conferen second leg on Sunday. The Galaxy beat Seat Sounders 3-0 at The Ho Center on the weekend now head to CenturyLin try and progress to the for the second year run

Alonso

Latest reports have revealed that Real Madrid will open new contract talks with midfielder Xabi Alonso s The former Liverpool is inside the final two yea existing deal and has be with a return to England But the reports howev Madrid officials are alrea on a new two-year exten Spain international to co the offer will be made to agent in time before the transfer market.

Zaha

Manchester United and Manchester City have joined the battle for Crystal Palace winger Wilfried Zaha. Reports said yesterda Zaha has been on Sir A Ferguson’s radar ever s sensational performanc Palace to a shock Carlin victory over United last N As a two-footed winge is seen as a potential re ment for Nani if the Portu international is allowed t Old Trafford.

El Shaarawy

AC Milan striker Stephan El Shaarawy is delighted the club is backing coach Massimiliano Allegri. Milan vice-president A Galliani announced yes Allegri’s job was safe. El Shaarawy, as he jo with the Italy squad, said one has always defende the right decision to con Allegri.”

Gerrard boost for Three Lions

iverpool captain, Steven Gerrard, is set win his 100th England cap in Sweden today after overcoming an injury scare. Gerrard had a precautionary scan after playing 90 minutes for Liverpool against Chelsea on Sunday, amid fears he had suffered medial ligament damage late in the game. But the scan revealed no damage and Gerrard is available to lead his country in Stockholm and become only the sixth England player to reach a century of caps. Only Bobby Moore, Peter Shilton, David Beckham, Bobby Charlton and Billy Wright have previously reached the land-

in England and head home, with former employers Inter Milan said to be keen on reacquiring his services. Balotelli is, however, contracted to City until June 2015 and his representative claims his client will see out that deal and force his way back into Roberto Mancini’s plans. “There’s no Italy and no plans to go there,” Raiola said yesterday. “He’ll work until the end of his contract. He doesn’t want to leave. There’s no player happy with not playing in a game, but he accepts it. It’s all part of the game. It doesn’t mean he wants to leave Manchester.”

Tit bits...

Keane

Mario Balotelli

Juan Mata

LA Galaxy striker, Robbie Keane, is the best player in MLS, according to head coach Bruce Arena. The Republic of Irelan tional continued his stell form with a match-winni in the 3-0 Western Confe final first leg on the week take his season goals ta and playoff record to fou last two outings. “I’ve said it a number think he’s been simply o ing since his return from ropean Championships, said yesterday.

o try and lead in the nce playoff

ttle ome Depot d and will nk Field to MLS Final ning.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Messi, Iniesta deserve world honours –Matthaus

Former Germany international, Lothar Matthaus, is considered one of the finest players that the country has ever produced, after participating at five FIFA World Cup and is still his country‘s most capped player, with 150 appearances. The former World Player of the Year spoke to FIFA.com on current issues in world football

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Sport

Wednesday, November 14, 2012

Lionel Messi (left) and Andres Iniesta

What makes the FIFA Ballon d’Or Gala so special? A simple glance at the names on the shortlist shows how special the gala is. Whoever is chosen by the journalists and experts there as best player or best coach deserves the honour, and they’ll receive an award for their performances that no-one can ever take away from them. Being given the trophy on stage in front of the best players in the world is a very special kind of recognition and appreciation of your work and it’s something to be extremely proud of. What memories do you have of being named World Player of the Year in 1991? When I think back on receiving the award, it still fills me with great pride. It shows that I’m among an elite group of the best players of all time, one of the greatest footballers the game has ever produced. That’s why I’m very happy and grateful to have been given the accolade. Who do you think deserves the FIFA Ballon d’Or 2012? In my opinion there are currently several exceptional footballers who could justifiably win the title. Of course, last year Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo amazed us all with their clubs, setting unbelievable records with the amount of goals they scored. However, they couldn’t repeat that kind of form at international level, which is why I think a Spaniard should win the FIFA Ballon d’Or. My favourites are Xavi and Andres Iniesta. Maybe they don’t stand out as much as Ronaldo and Messi because they don’t score as often, but they’ve won one trophy after another for club and country. They’re the heartbeat in both teams and are always pulling

the strings on the pitch, as they impressively demonstrated at Euro 2012. What about FIFA World Coach of the Year? Coaches are judged on titles. The more they win, and the more significant titles they win, the better. That’s why I think a Spaniard has the edge here too. Vicente del Bosque has won everything on offer with Spain, which is why he’s my favourite. Jose Mourinho triumphed in Spain’s Primera Division with Real Madrid, so he’s up there too. I’d say Borussia Dortmund’s Jurgen Klopp is a dark horse, having weakened Bayern Munich’s dominance in German football, and he even won a domestic league and cup double last season. I think Roberto di Matteo has a chance too, as he won the Champions League with Chelsea and has taken them back to the top end of the Premier League this term. Pep Guardiola shaped modern football with Barcelona in the last few years, but he was only a coach for six months in 2012, so I don’t think he’ll be in the top three. What chance do you think the German candidates (Mesut Ozil, Manuel Neuer, Jurgen Klopp, Jupp Heynckes and Joachim Low) have? Mesut Ozil and Manuel Neuer are superb players, but they’re not ready to receive an award like this yet. Given the names on the shortlist, a place in the top ten would already be a big achievement. Neuer is lacking the titles to be a serious contender this time. Even as Germany’s first choice goalkeeper, he occasionally suffers dips in form. Just recently he conceded four goals with the national team. At least Ozil won the championship in Spain and that’s why I think he’s got a better chance of making the top ten.

Rio 2016: Toriola wants ‘adequate funding’ YEMI OLUS

ormer African table tennis champion, Segun Toriola, says Nigeria will not win a medal at the Rio 2016 Olympics unless the sports sector receives adequate funding like other medal-aspiring nations. Toriola was one of the four athletes that represented Nigeria at the London 2012 Games where he made history as the first Nigerian to feature in six Olympic Games, having made his debut in Barcelona ’92. He lost out in the first round to Sweden’s Jorgen Persson while compatriots, Funke Oshonaike and Edem Offiong lost their first games respectively. Aruna Quadri advanced to the second round where he was beaten by China’s Vang Bora. Nigeria did not return with a single medal from London and Toriola, who was Africa’s No.1 player for a decade, foresees a repeat in 2016. “There is no magic in sports. If the federal government does not spend more money on sports, Rio 2016 will be like London 2012. The government needs to give funds to the National Sports Commission now to start preparation for Rio 2016 and that is the only way we can win medals,” he said. “NOC and NSC started preparation for the Olympics three years before the games but the needed funds came late so there was little or nothing that could be done.” It is not certain if Toriola who has four All-Africa Games singles titles to his name would compete in 2016 but the 37-year old declared that he is still far from retirement.

Wheelchair coach trains in Ghana, Gambia YEMI OLUS

igeria’s coach Frank Tarmena will tomorrow commence an eight-day developmental programme in Ghana and Gambia on the International Tennis Federation Silver Fund Programme. Tarmena, who is the ITF Wheelchair Tennis Developmental Officer for Africa, will spend four days in Ghana where he will conduct coaching seminar/workshop on November 14 and 15 before featuring in exhibition game the next day after which he will round off his visit to the former Gold Coast with visits to rehabilitation centres and disabled homes where he will be expected to recommend the sport as well as solicit assistance and support for players. While in Gambia, Tarmena will engage in reassessment of the sport in that country, where he had set up wheelchair tennis in 2008. He will also conduct training for the country’s coaches with a view to making them familiar with the latest techniques of the game and boosting the profile of wheelchair tennis in Gambia. Through the Wheelchair Tennis Silver Fund, the ITF aims to establish long-lasting wheelchair tennis programmes in developing countries, providing disabled children and adults with owpportunities to enjoy an active and rewarding life. Tarmena is due to back in Nigeria on November 23.

Sport

Wednesday, November 14, 2012 2012

Nigeria N ig Premier League with

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Cricket

IIKENWA NNABUOGOR ikenwa.nnabuogor@gmail.com

Pillars tackle JUTH FC

hampions Pillars will host lower league outfit JUTH FC today in a preseason friendly ahead of the coming season. Pillars, who recently won an invitational tournament in neighbouring Niger Republic, have also agreed to take part in an eight-team tournament in Kaduna from November 24. “We will take on JUTH in a friendly match on Wednesday after which we will feature in a tournament in Kaduna that involves several top clubs like Enyimba and Kaduna United,” Pillars spokesman Idris Malikawa told MTNFootball. com A proposed friendly against Sokoto United last week was cancelled due to logistic problems, officials disclosed. Pillars and NPL Runnersup Enugu Rangers will represent Nigeria in next year’s CAF Champions League. It will be the Kano club’s third appearance in the competition after they reached the semi-finals in 2009 and were knocked out by Wydad Casablanca of Morocco in the qualifying rounds of the annual tournament

E Gambo Mohammed

assive renovation work started at the camp of Dolphins football club on Monday ahead of the new football season. The work going on at the camp is total and is akin to rebuilding the camp of the team located at the Elekahia Estate in Port Harcourt. According to sports commissioner, Fred Igwe, the camp is dilapidated and is in deplorable state and it was time to release funds for the jobs. “It is something we had to do because I even visited the camp of

Stanley Eguma

ormer Kano Pillars and Jigawa forward, Moses Ogaga, has agreed to a new deal at 3SC, keeping him at the club till the end of the 2012/2013 season and ending speculation about his future. Moses, a nephew of former 3SC star, David Ogaga, was one of the reasons the Ibadan side had a turnaround in the second half of the 2011/2012 season. The forward, who is on loan at the Ibadan side was initially linked to hometown club, Warri Wolves. It’s widely understood that Wolves supremo, Amaju Pinnick, had expressed his desire to lure Ogaga to the Warri outfit following his five-star out-

ing for 3SC last term. “3SC is a big club and I’m excited to have agreed a new deal with the club. “The fans of the club have been wonderful since my arrival from Jigawa. I actually spent sometime at Wolves, but decided to spend more time here,” Ogaga said. Interestingly, Wolves gaffer, Solomon Ogbeide is also a long time admirer of the forward and was eager to sign him to his rooster. It is learnt that Ogaga’s return has since boosted the morale of the club’s hierarchy. Before his decision to join 3SC last term, Ogaga had never played football in the south.

Amapakabo tips Enyimba for revival

Dolphins renovate camp

Ogaga pledges 3SC future

the team too and was not impressed with what I saw. “The players need to see us as being serious about their welfare and as they return from the break it will be a morale booster for them to see their camp looking much better than they left it when the League ended last term,” Igwe said. “Dolphins is one club that the ministry supports, just like Sharks too so I’m glad we are putting things right and I am glad we will finish soon.” The renovation work includes

deroofing/ reroofing, replacing the plumbing system, replacing beds, windows and mosquito nets, repainting as well as a new power generator to serve the camp. Meanwhile, Dolphins Technical Adiviser, Stanley Eguma says the renovation work going on at the camp of the tam will give a new lease of life to players. Eguma says he commends the Rivers State sports ministry over the decision to rebuild the camp since it had deteriorated over time. “We have been yearning for this kind of work to be done even two seasons ago but thank God as they say, it’s better late than never. “You can see the players are happy to see that the authorities are concerned about where they stay and we commend the Sports commissioner, Fred Igwe and we believe this will life the spirit in camp and spur the players to work very well,” Eguma said. The team is still holding a one week long open screening exercise before they depart for Nnewi for closed camping ahead of the new league season.

nyimba goalkepper coach Imama Amapakabo has declared that the new coaching team at Enyimba will make a notable impact in the upcoming season. Amapakabo joined the Peoples Elephant recently and has started work with technical adviser Salisu Yusuf, Paul Aigbogun and Shaibu Suleiman. Enyimba have not landed any silverware in the past two seasons, but the former Sharks coach believes it is now only a matter of time for the once dominant club to return to the upper echelons of Nigerian football. “Enyimba is undoubtedly the biggest club in Nigeria and it is a big honour when such a club appoints you to be part of its technical crew,” he said. “I’m happy that the other coaches share the same views with me on the game and I’m confident the club will soon return to the top playing attractive football. “I don’t think it is by sheer coincidence this technical crew was put together, but it has come about because of the ambition of a tested management to take the club back to its place as one of the top teams on the continent. “I’ve been impressed with our preparations for

the new season and we are determined to justify the confidence reposed in us with good results at the end of the season.” Amapakabor also told supersport.com he was overwhelmed by the rapturous welcome by the fans of the club. “The reception since my arrival has been great; the last time I felt like this was during my playing days and this has certainly given me a sense of belonging. “I had a lot of offers, but no other club comes bigger than Enyimba and I hope to make progress here as it is a wonderful addition to my c.v.,” he said. Amapakabor was eased out of Sharks after a strike by the players over unpaid wages was followed by an unexpected home defeat to Wikki Tourists towards the end of last season.

Imama Amapakabo

Wednesday, November 14, 2012

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Business & Finance We need to look at tarriﬀs that will make competition in ICT industry fair Minister of Information Technology, Omobola Johnson

We are just talking about poor quality of services. What we need to solve poor quality service is further investment. We have to expand the existing facilities that the service providers have, and the money for that comes mainly from external sources EXECUTIVE VICE CHAIRMAN, NIGERIAN COMMUNICATION COMMISSION, EUGENE JUWAH

42-43

DMO appoints Stanbic IBTC as govt’s stockbroker TOLA AKINMUTIMI

he Debt Management Office (DMO) has appointed Stanbic IBTC stockbrokers limited as the government stockholder. With the appointment, the bank will be managing Federal Government’s investment instruments in the bonds market. Disclosing this yesterday in Abuja, the Director General of the Office, Dr. Abraham Nwankwo, said Stanbic IBTC stockbroker’s responsibility as government stockbroker will include providing prices for FGN bonds on the floor of the Nigeria Stock Exchange (NSE), so that investors especially retail investors who wish to buy or sell FGN bonds can do so. Nwankwo also said the bank will be acting as a liaison between the DMO, NSE, other stockbrokers and other market participants to ensure that all activities in FGN bonds and other FGN securities that

may be listed in future are effected smoothly. The DMO boss stated that with the new arrangement, “investors can now access FGN bonds on the NSE, the investing public can now diversify their portfolio further by introducing bonds, it will provide an opportunity for

investors to earn regular income on their investments through coupons paid on FGN bonds and it will be an additional and assured means through which investors can sell their FGN bonds before maturity”. Nwankwo noted that further stimulus would

soon be introduced for the bond segment as well as higher volume of transactions both of which will immensely benefit the nation’s capital market. For the economy, the debt management expert explained that the government stockbroker will bring about “improving

the savings culture by providing access to high quality investment for a wider segment of the populace in addition to providing an opportunity for the retail investor to contribute to the government’s development activities such as infrastructure, education and health.

FLIGHT SCHEDULE 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

L– R: Director-General, Debt Management Office, Dr. Abraham Nwankwo; Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Stanbic IBTC Bank, Mrs. Sola David-Borha; Head, Global Markets, Stanbic IBTC Bank, Mr. Sola Adegbesan and Chief Executive Officer, Stanbic IBTC Stockbrokers, Mr. Oladele Sotubo, at the signing of the agreement between Stanbic IBTC Stockbrokers Limited and DMO in Abuja, yesterday.

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)

Cashless economy: ‘Increased e-fraud awareness still needed’ KUNLE A ZEEZ

he Chairman, Nigeria Electronic fraud forum (NeFF), Mr. Emmanuel Obaigbona, has said increased awareness for all stakeholders

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was still required in order to build the confidence of Nigerians in nascent cashless economy initiative of the central bank of Nigeria. Obaigbona stated this at the Payments System and Fraud Conference for West Africa organised by the Electronic Payment Providers Association of Nigeria in collaboration with NeFF in Lagos recently.

According to him, “While we have made considerable progress in the fight against e-fraud, we still have a long way to go in enlightening all stakeholders in the industry on e-payments fraud prevention.” He said the importance of being proactive in the industry cannot be emphasised as fraudsters were innovative and seek breach-

Senate moves to create oil spill fund

es to new controls almost immediately after these controls are deployed; sometimes even before. He explained that as eager as Nigeria is to join the trend in the electronic payments system, it is not without real challenges. He said these include very low and unstable power supply; insufficient telecom and banking Infrastructure as well as limit-

ed bandwidth internet and the Grand Packet Radio Service (GPRS). Obaigbona noted that there was also the issue of security especially in the light of the increase in sophisticated cyber-attacks which are features of advanced economies with higher compliance ratings to internationally accepted standards than Nigeria.

Student emerges aeroplane winner in the MTN Ultimate Wonder Promo

EXCHANGE RATES WAUA

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How United States oil export can affect Nigeria, other OPEC nations

Business Finance

Wednesday, November 14, 2012

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Senate moves to create oil spill fund GEORGE OJI AND EMMANUEL ONANI ABUJA

s a means of cushioning the environmental impacts of oil spills, the Senate is proposing an establishment of “Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund”, which it said, was in line with international best practices. This initiative is contained in a bill currently before the Senate seeking an amendment to the existing National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) Act of 2006. Making the disclosure yesterday in Abuja, Senate committee chairman on Environment and Ecology, Senator Bukola Saraki noted that “Nigeria has the highest number of oil spill incidences among oil producing countries”, regretting that “no penalty regime attached for such oil spills”, despite the recurrence of the unfor-

L-R: Managing Director/CEO, Bank of Industry, Ms Evelyn Oputu; Chairperson, Women in Management, Business and Public Service, Mrs. Adeola Azeez and Chairman, Board of Directors, Etisalat Nigeria, Mr. Hakeem BeloOsagie, at the 2012 annual conference to mark the 11th Anniversary of WIMBIZ, held in Lagos recently.

tunate incident across the Niger Delta region. Saraki who spoke at a public hearing on the NOSDRA

FG sets January as IPSAS’ adoption date TOLA AKINMUTIMI ABUJA

he Federal Government yesterday set January 1 next year as take-off date for the use of the International Public Accounting Standards (IPSAS) for preparation of financial statements in the public sector. Giving the hint at a stakeholders’ workshop on the IPSAS roadmap for the country, the Accountant General of the Federation, Mr. Jonah Otunla, said the adoption was long overdue as other countries of the world including African countries like Benin Republic, Ghana and Kenya have long adopted the standards. He explained further that when adopted, users of government’s financial statements would see more transparency, accountability and integrity of financial statements. Expatiating further, the AGF said the standards would also help to build confidence of donor agencies, improved service delivery, enhance public private partnership and boost peer review mechanism of financial reports among the three tiers of governments and governments of other countries. Other benefits that would accrue to the country by the adoption of the standards include, better access to financing through either bond releases or interna-

tional financing from organisations such as the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank Otunla stated: “The implementation of IPSAS in Nigeria is long overdue as other countries of the World including African countries like Benin Republic, Ghana and Kenya have long adopted the standards. “The subcommittee has set for itself a final implementation date by 2013. This workshop is one in the series of activities lined up by the sub-committee for the implementation process which has been set to commence by January 2013.” In order to ensure efficient and effective implementation, he disclosed that the sub-committee has prepared drafts of the National Chart of Accounts and General Purpose Financial Statements for IPSAS Cash basis and IPSAS Accrual basis. He clarified further: “The IPSAS cash basis will be implemented with effect from 2013 financial year while IPSAS accrual basis will come into operation in 2015. “We expect that at the end of the implementation process, it will deliver to the nation, a Standardised Uniform Chart of Accounts, Budget and General Purpose Financial Statements that will meet international best practices as required by IPSAS.

(amendment) bill further observed that, “the level of spill in Nigeria reflect the total disregard placed on our

environment and the dignity of our people...an irresponsible environmental behaviour and reckless waste of our

people’s wealth and benefit.” In justifying the setting up of a trust fund to mitigate the devastation occasioned by oil spills, Saraki said: “It makes a lot of economic sense to set up an oil spill liability fund. This is why this bill will ensure that we have an oil spill management scheme that incentivizes good behaviour and punishes environmentally reckless behaviour whether by the leaseholder or by a third party.” Declaring the one-day public hearing open, Senate President, David Mark declared that the National Assembly was committed to environmental safety, which noted, was part of its responsibility as a legislature. Represented by Deputy Minority Whip, Senator Abu Ibrahim, Mark expressed worry that environmental challenges posed by perennial oil spills have the potential of frustrating millennium development goals(MDGs).

Foundation donates N70m relief materials to flood victims KUNLE A ZEEZ

he Mike Adenuga Foundation has eased the pains of victims of recent flooding in parts of the country as it donated relief materials worth over N70million to those affected in Bayelsa State. The relief materials were presented to Governor Seriaki Dickson at the Government House, Yenegoa recently. They included 4,000 mattresses, 4,000 pillows, 4,000 blankets, 2,000 cartons of noodles, 2,000 cartons of detergent, 500 bags of rice, amongst several other items. Handing over the items to

the governor on behalf of the Founder of the foundation, Dr Mike Adenuga Jr, GCON, the Managing Director, Mike Adenuga Foundation, Mr. Yomi Ogunbamowo, said the gesture was aimed at supporting the government to reduce the pain of victims of the flood disaster and assist them in getting back to normal lives again. Ogunbamowo expressed the foundation sympathy with the victims on the flood that devastated many states across the country, with Bayelsa State being one of the worst affected. According to him, “We quite appreciate the agony the people affected by the flood disaster have had to contend with. “Many of them lost their loved

ones, including their bread winners while several others were displaced from their homes or business premises. The Mike Adenuga Foundation sympathises with all the victims and hopes these materials will help alleviate their pains.” He noted that the mission of the foundation was to help improve the quality of life of disadvantaged individuals and communities by supporting socio-economic development related causes in Nigeria and other countries in Africa where the Mike Adenuga Group of companies has its footprint. “This assistance to the flood victims is in line with this mission,” he said.

Nikon assures on curbing grey imports CHIDI UGWU ABUJA

lobal Camera manufacturers, Nikon has said it has established presence in Nigeria in order to curb grey imports and protect its brand name. New Creation Worldwide Link Nigeria Limited, distributors of Nikon brand of camera in Nigeria said the product would be competitively priced to discourage patronage of grey imports. The Managing Director, Mr. Kish Primalani, who gave the assurance in a chat with news-

men, stated that Nigerians are beginning to enjoy and appreciate the durability and quality of the genuine Nikon cameras, adding that he reach out to customers directly to ensure quality service delivery. “As the managing director, I don’t allow my employees to walk the ground. I walk the ground myself and one of the things I want to do is to price our Nikon cameras competitively so that those importing grey cameras will stop,” he said. According to him, the potential for DSL professional cameras in Nigeria and the

African market in general is huge. Prior to entering the Nigerian market, the Regional Sales Manager, Nikon Middle East FZE, Mr. Narendra Menon, said the Original Equipment Manufacturer had no organised African representation, no stock supplies, had no brand building initiatives and very less market share. However, since it entered the Nigerian market in May 2012, Menon said the company’s main objectives had been to offer its customers faster response, accessibility and credibility in service delivery.

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Business Finance

Wednesday, November 14, 2012

CEMA amendment: Customs’ CG is too ambitious – Stakeholders FRANCIS EZEM

reight forwarders under the aegis of National Council of Managing Directors of Licensed Customs Agents and other stakeholders yesterday took a swipe at the Comptroller General of Nigeria Customs Service, Mr. Abdullahi Dikko over his alleged role in the ongoing amendment of the Customs and Excise Management Act currently at the Senate, Nigeria’s upper legislative chamber. The Federal Government had in 2010 began the review of the 54-year old CEMA, CAP.C45, which many agree is obsolete and therefore not in tandem with current realities in the international trade arena by constituting a review committee. There, however, have been speculations that CG lobbied the Senate to remove the service from its

supervisory ministry, the Ministry of Finance and make it autonomous and also whittle down the power of the president in the granting of import waivers and entrust same with the office of the CG. The bill if passed into law also seeks that the CG be empowered to appoint of members of the Customs board and the fusion of both policy and executive powers in the Customs administration headed by the CG. National President of the association, Mr. Lucky Amiwero, who spoke in an interview, noted that it was too ambitious of the CG to seek to be absolutely independent in the running of the affairs of the service; a development experts argued would breed serious corruption. “As an expert in this area, it cannot work where the chief executive officer of the service will be a regulator, will make policy and also

implement it”, he argued. “It has never happened In the United States, Malaysia, Ghana or anywhere else in the world, what you have is that the ministry supervises the service, the president approves the granting of waivers so that there will be a measure of checks and balances. Amiwero, who said he has served in many committees on the reform of the service, also said he was a member of a sub- committee on the review of the CEMA. Another stakeholder, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, argued that the CG of Customs does not mean well for Nigeria for asking for such wide and absolute powers under the new legislation. According to the operator, what may have prompted the boldness of the CG to go out of his way to lobby for such powers was because government two years ago,

granted the management under him seven percent of the total duty collection for the running of the service, which was never granted to his predecessors. While calling for the immediate sack of the CG, the stakeholder argued that if left on the seat, the Customs boss may influence the passage f the bill, considering the huge sums of money at his disposal, arguing that if the bill passed as presented now, the prospects of international trade and commerce in Nigeria would have been jeopardised. Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, who spoke at a public hearing on the bill had strongly objected to the proposal to erode the powers of the President to grant waivers, appointment of members of the Customs board and the fusion of both policy and executive powers in the Customs administration as proposed in the new bill.

Aulic seeks partnership with MAN on local products STANLEY IHEDIGBO

he concessionaire of Lagos Trade Fair Complex, Aulic Nigeria, is seeking partnership with the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), on the promotion of Made in Nigeria products through its maiden edition of specialised exhibition fair that kicked off yesterday. The company’s Deputy Managing Director, Dr. Chika Eze, who disclosed this to journalists, said that they are making moves to seek audience with the manufacturers so that they can take advantage of specialised trade expo organized by its firm at the trade fair complex to boost “Buy Nigeria.” She added that MAN members can come to exhibit their quality Made –in-Nigerian products, as about 850,000 people visit the complex daily

to transact businesses. “We are focusing six specific sectors of the economy, and they are fashion, textiles and accessories, food and beverages, security and surveillance including health and beauty sector as well as electronics and automotive industry”, she said. According to her it is their first exhibition and are excited about it, because of the level of responses they have gotten so far from domestic and international exhibitors from Ukraine, Belarius, Poland, Cotonou and China. Commenting on the just concluded Lagos International Trade fair organised by Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), Eze commended the group for its consistency in the organisation and management of the fairs over the years, saying it is as a well dignified exhibitions.

Business Finance

Wednesday, November 14, 2012

Student emerges aeroplane winner in the MTN Ultimate Wonder Promo ADEJUWON OSUNNUYI

bout 24-hours after the Nigerian Communication Commission, NCC, placed a ban on all promotions and lotteries being run by telecoms companies, Ebube EssienGarricks, a 27-year old student of College of Health Science and Technology, Rivers State, yesterday emerged the winner of a Cessna 182T aircraft in the much talked-about mother of all promos - the MTN Ultimate Wonder promo. She emerged winner in an elaborate and transparent draw held at the Golden Plaza, Ikoyi, Head Office of MTN in the full glare of journalists, Nigerian Lottery Regulatory Commission and the Nigerian Communications Commission. The NCC’s directive on promos did not affect the MTN’s Ultimate Wonder Promo as the

promo, which started on 10th August, 2012 had actually ended 31st of October, 2012. Addressing the press, Larry Annetts, Chief Marketing Officer, MTN stated that the journey so far in getting the Ultimate winner for the aeroplane, as promised by MTN, has been interesting, credible and transparent. “When we came out with the promo, many doubted us but today, we have an Ultimate winner who will go home with the promised Cessna 182T aeroplane. The take-home for us here is that MTN is committed towards enriching the lives of its consumers. When we say we will do something, you can be sure that we don’t renege on our promises. The Can-do- spirit is forever guiding our paths in offering utmost satisfaction to our consumers and we are glad that today a Nigerian has been enriched and empowered with an

aeroplane,” he stated. Ebube ,who was notified of her good fortune via a phone call, immediately opted for the cash value of the plane, which is N64 million. Overwhelmed and full of emotions, she showered praises on MTN describing the ultimate prize as a true wonder coming just in time for Christmas. “ I am short of words, there is no word to describe what I feel right now, it is almost as if it is a dream but I know that nothing can be more real than what I am feeling right now. This must be the best Christmas gift ever. It is truly wonderful,” she exclaimed. Speaking on the process so far, in the selection of winners for the promo, the assistant director, Lagos zone of the NLRC, Mr. Obi Iriegbu, stated that it has been transparent and credible.

L-R: President, Europe, Africa & Middle East Region, Starwood Hotels and Resorts, Mr. Roeland Vos; President & Chief Executive Officer, Worldwide, Mr.Frits van Paasschen and President Global Development, Mr.Simon Turner, at a media roundtable in Lagos, yesterday.

Pensioners charged on life after retirement JOHNSON OKANLAWON

he Director General, Administrative College of Nigeria, Mr. Ajibade Peters has stressed the need for civil servants to take full advantage of the Pension Reform, saying that its provision would guarantee better life in retirement. Ajibade, who spoke at the preretirement training workshop for officers of the Federal Civil Service at Badagry on Monday, said that the 2004 Pension Reform Act was a landmark by the Federal Government to reduce the drudgery and other chal-

lenges associated with the old pension regime. He all federal civil servants to key into the new pension exercise so as to make life more meaningful during retirement. He said the programme, which was in collaboration with the Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation, was designed to assist the retiring officers to plan for meaningfully for life after retirement. “Today’s retirees have redefined retirement and are often found active a variety of areas after leaving behind a career of many years. In deed, some are known to have even pursued some other part-time or fulltime employment,” he said.

He urged the retirees not to be dreadful of retirement, but should begin to take active interests in their environment and their physical and mental health. According to him, retirement can be a good means of reducing stress, the period of retirement offers the much-needed free time to serve one’s community, religious bodies and render some philanthropic activities where possible. He added that the Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation has carefully enunciated the programme to assist participants in preparing a business plan and managing small businesses profitably.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Dangote Group begins training of PhD, graduate truck drivers MESHACK IDEHEN

he Dangote Graduate Drivers Training Scheme which recently accepted application from six Phd holders; 704 master degrees holders and thousands of first and second class graduates as trucks drivers for its ultra modern cement and allied products distribution trucks has commenced the training of its recruited applicants at the Nigerian Institute of Transport Technology (NITT) Zaria, in Kaduna state. Furthermore, the scheme by the group which is expected to

train over 2000 graduates from various disciplines to become professional trailer and truck drivers for the Dangote cement brands is said to have decided on a salary of range of between N300, 000 and N400, 000 as the monthly take home pay of the successful applicants. This development is coming even as the group consider the value that educated and well trained trucks and will bring to its envisaged Trans African products and commodity distribution network, considering moreso, the several acquisitions that the group has made in various parts of Africa.

BrandXchange launches website for consumer protection ADEDEJI ADEMIGBUJI

randXchange a Lagosbased company that samples consumer opinion on products /services and aims to reward customerfriendly brands yearly, has launched a website tagged www.brandx changeonline. com to bridge the gap between brands and consumers. The highly interactive web portal, which features brand/ consumer news, incisive articles, blogs and opinion polls, gives the public a unique opportunity to share their brand experiences in aviation, bank & insurance, food & beverage, telecoms, media & TV, electronics, among others. The objective is to make brands conscious of consumer opinion regarding their products and services so they can

modify same to suit customers’ needs. According to the Content Director, Fisayo Ajibola, every day, every second, there are exchanges between the consumers and manufacturers of products and services. However, the consumer is always at the mercy of the sellers and we think this should not be the situation. He added that in this part of the world where the issues of standardisation, quality, sincerity and honesty of brands have been challenged over the years, the time has come for true brand owners, the kings in the marketplace, to have a voice and the voice is BrandXchange. The BrandXchange website has links to Facebook and Twitter, so consumers and brands on the social networks can also be brought on board.

‘Stocking density has major economic implications for broiler industry’ MESHACK IDEHEN

irds that are raised for eggs also known as laying hens, and those raised for meat called broilers in poultry farming parlance must be “adequately and spaciously housed” in order to increase their yield and production. Animal Production Expert, Professor Abiodun Adeloye, expressed this view to journalists on Tuesday, while also warning poultry producers against stocking more birds than they can carry at any particular time in their farms. Speaking with National Mirror, Adeloye, who is of the Department of Animal Production, University of Ilorin, said overstocking of poultry production units with birds could also affect the bird’s

health, and eventually profit loss by the farmers. According to him, keeping a small number of broilers within a reasonable space provides for better body development, while on the other hand, congesting them encourages cannibalism and spread of diseases. Adeloye explained that broilers in particular could die in rearing houses as a result of painful and distressing conditions usually occasioned by overcrowding. He said further that broiler chickens are susceptible to a significant number of health problems that can compromise their welfare, adding also that the necessary precautionary measures by poultry farmers are often ignored because of the financial implications involved.

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Wednesday, November 14, 2012

Energy Week

udemea@rocketmail.com 07031546994

Bakken Formation, USA

How United States oil exports can affect Nigeria, other OPEC nations Many people and institutions are worried about the emergence of the United States, a major crude oil importer, as a major and exporter. UDEME AKPAN takes a critical look at how the development will likely affect Nigeria and other members of the OPEC.

ntil a few weeks ago, many people did not know that the United States of America, the nation’s major importer has the capacity to become self sufficient in crude oil production. The reasons are not farfetched. First, America that imports about 40 per cent of the nation’s crude always acted as if it has no oil. It started depending heavily on the Middle East for supplies, especially before the 1970s. With the Middle East crises that reached its peak, America started turning to other parts of the world, especially Nigeria. Since the 1980s, the United States have depended more on Nigeria’s crude oil, especially Bonny Light which most refiners prefer because of high yield at low cost of refining as well as low impact on environment. Second, US did not stop there. It adopted several strategies, including stockpiling of crude for future use. The nation

THIS SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN THE CASE. THE UNITED STATES WAS A MAJOR PRODUCER AND EXPORTER EVEN BEFORE

LORD LUGARD DECIDED TO PUT DIFFERENT PARTS OF

NIGERIA TOGETHER

TO FORM ONE NATION that was at the forefront of agitation against high prices, sometimes released stocks to cause oversupply and low prices. Consequently, it was unthinkable for many people that US could wake up one day to take charge of its destiny.

However, this is not surprising. The United States was a major producer and exporter even before the Governor General, Sir Frederick Lugard decided to put different parts of Nigeria together to form one nation. In other words, the net importer was in serious business several years before Nigeria made its first major oil find in 1956. In fact, the history of its petroleum industry dates back to the early 19th century, although the indigenous peoples, like other ancient societies, have used seeps since prehistoric times to exploit crude oil. Petroleum became a major industry following the oil discovery at Oil Creek Pennsylvania in 1859. For a greater part of the 19th and 20th centuries, US became the largest oil producing nation in the world. Records showed that Indians had made use of the oil in western Pennsylvania many years before the mid-19th

century. European explorers noted seeps of oil and natural gas in western Pennsylvania and New York. Interest grew substantially in the mid-1850s as scientists reported on the potential to manufacture kerosene from crude oil. The process was modernised gradually over the years. For instance, in 1859, George Bissell and Edwin L. Drake made use of a drilling rig on a well drilled to produce oil at Oil Creek near Titusville, Pennsylvania. The well is often referred to as the “first” commercial oil well, although that title is also claimed for wells in Azerbaijan, Ontario, West Virginia, and Poland, among others. This was remarkable because before then, oil-producing wells in US were wells that were drilled for salt brine, and produced oil and gas only as accidental by-products. The success of the Drake well led to oil drilling in other locations in the western Appalachian Mountains, where oil was seeping to the surface. During the American Civil War, the oil-producing region spread over much of western Pennsylvania, up into western New York State, and down the Ohio River valCONTINUED ON PAGE 36

Energy Week

Wednesday, November 14, 2012

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

How US oil export can affect Nigeria, other OPEC nations

Obama

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 35 ley into the states of Ohio, Kentucky, and the western part of Virginia (now West Virginia). The Appalachian Basin continued to be the leading oil-producing region in the United States through 1904. Oil was discovered at Bartlesville and Burbank in 1897. The discoveries did not create much excitement until output started to blossom. The increased drilling resulted in major discoveries at Cushing in 1912 and Healdton in 1913. The largest oil field in the lower 48 states, the East Texas oil field, was not discovered until 1930, when wildcatter Columbus Marion Joiner drilled the Daisy Bradford No. 3 well, in Rusk County, Texas. The United States grew significantly till the 1950s and 1960s when output started to decline. This was partly because the nation needed to new technologies to explore difficult areas, capable of yielding additional reserves of oil and gas. One of the areas that needed to be explored was what has come to be known as Bakken formation, consisting of lower shale, middle dolomite, and upper shale. With increased investment and application of new technologies, it was possible to explore previously difficult terrains, including the Bakken formation. The greatest Bakken oil production comes from Elm Coulee Oil Field, Richland County, Montana, where production began in 2000 and was targeted to hit 270 million barrels. The state Industrial Commission put crude production in September 2011 at 464,122 barrels per day. The President of the North Dakota Petroleum Council, Mr. Ron Ness was optimistic that United States would realise about 150 million barrels of oil produced in 2011. Total oil production has continued to increase as more fields are brought on stream, thus encouraging United States to end its long era of massive crude importation as well as become a major exporter in the globe. Already, the International Energy Agency, IEA has predicted that the United States will overtake Saudi Arabia and Russia as the world’s top oil producer by 2017. The forecast which advises large industrialised nations on energy policy, were in sharp contrast to previous IEA reports, which saw Saudi Arabia leading. The current report states that energy

Alison-Madueke

El-Badri

OUR FEAR IS THAT A POSSIBLE UNCONTROLLED EXPORT TO THE MARKET CAN CAUSE SERIOUS DISRUPTION BECAUSE THE

UNITED STATES, WHOSE BAKKEN

FORMATION ALONE HAS THE CAPACITY TO PRODUCE OVER

458,000 BARRELS PER DAY THROUGH THE APPLICATION OF MODERN TECHNOLOGIES, IS NOT A MEMBER OF OPEC developments in the United States are profound and their effect will be felt well beyond North America, and the energy sector. It made it emphatic that: “The recent rebound in U.S. oil and gas production, driven by upstream technologies that are unlocking light tight oil and shale gas resources, is spurring economic activity with less expensive gas and electricity prices giving industry a competitive edge.” Since the re-emergence of US as a force in the global oil business, the questions most people have asked are: how would that affect Nigeria and what should the nation do to ameliorate such negative impact? From all indications, exporting crude oil to United States would soon be like taking coal to Newcastle. In other words, the decision of the United States to stop oil imports from Nigeria may impact negatively on Nigeria because of the huge volume involved. But Nigeria can afford to keep its head above the troubled waters because of the quality of Bonny Light which attracts buyers as a result of high yield at low refining cost. Already, many emerging economies, especially China and India have started to import significant oil from Nigeria which would be sustained as the nations and others continue to witness significant investment, thus encouraging increased utilisation of crude oil and gas from Nigeria. But the fear of stakeholders is that United States uncontrolled supply to the international oil market could cause excess supply, leading to instability and low prices which Nigeria and other members of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting countries (OPEC) have over the years strived to accomplish. In any case, the expected lower prices would easily bounce

back because of the speculative nature of the market that is often fuelled by developments around the world. Some watchers think this way. For instance, the National President of Oil and Gas Service Providers Association of Nigeria (OGSPAN), Mr. Colman Obasi said in a telephone interview that: “We in OGSPAN do not see how the expected stoppage of oil importation can affect Nigeria because there are other buyers presently demanding the nation’s crudes, especially Bonny Light.” He said: “Our fear is that a possible uncontrolled export to the market can cause serious disruption because the United States whose Bakken formation alone has the capacity to produce over 458,000 barrels per day through the application of modern technologies is not a member of OPEC, meaning that she cannot be controlled.” Obasi challenged the Federal Government and indeed the governments of other oil producing nations to watch emerging developments carefully and adopt measures capable of achieving stability and higher prices in the volatile and highly speculated market. He said: “The United States dependence on Nigeria’s crude oil over the years was as a result of American policy to source oil from elsewhere other than the Middle East that experienced a lot of crises. The Obamaled administration which seemed determined to change this long policy based on internal pressure, and reduce huge energy bills and reduce overdependence on other nations have the right to do so after all policies are subject to change.” As he puts it: “This is not intended to be punitive. It is for leaders and decision makers in other nations likely to be affected to review and emerge with new measures to prevent or ameliorate pos-

sible consequences on their nations, and indeed the global oil market.” The General Manager in the Group Public Affairs Division of Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Dr. Omar Farouk said players in the global oil market are free to take decisions on many issues, including what and where to buy or sale their oil without interference. He said:”The United States decision to change its oil policy should not cause any alarm because it is a free market. Moreover, Nigeria has other buyers in other continents, especially Asia that are importing oil from Nigeria because of economic expansion that encourages increased consumption.” The President of Trade Union Congress, Mr. Peter Esele the development is a wakeup call on the nation to use its oil earnings to stimulate the development of the non oil sector. He said: “This is a strong reminder that a time has come for us a nation to use our resources to ensure the diversification of the nation’s economy.” Esele said: “We can no more afford to toy with the diversification of the nation’s economy in the light of recent development. We should start to consider how we can develop other potentially viable and feasible sources of foreign exchange generation.” Indeed, Nigeria is blessed with many other precious natural jewels such as natural gas, coal, gold, diamond, columbite, bitumen, iron ore and uranium among others. These need to be well – developed through the guidance of the nation’s energy policy which many people do not even know exist. Arguably, the United States presents the best model to follow. If the former importer can remain focused until the making of a great history, it therefore means that others, especially Nigeria and other OPEC member States can develop their capacities to not only diversify their economic bases but also construct refineries, capable of enabling them to become major downstream players in the world. This and other topical issues should occupy the minds of OPEC leaders who have concluded plans to meet next month in Vienna, Austria if the oil market, and by extension economies of nations must be rescued from another round of instability.

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Energy Week

Wednesday, November 14, 2012

OPEC daily basket price stands at $104.58 per barrel UDEME AKPAN WITH AGENCY REPORT

he price of Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries, OPEC basket of 12 crudes has dropped from $106.87 to $104.58 per barrel over the weekend, 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). However, the volatile market showed a leap on Monday this week when crude oil rose above $110 per barrel as geopolitical tensions in the Middle East offset concerns about the looming U.S. fiscal cliff and weak data from Japan. Reuters that confirmed the development stated that fresh violence in the Middle East, which supplies a third of the world’s oil, as well as recent data showing China’s implied oil demand surged in October, supported prices. Also, worries about the United States, the world’s top oil consumer, slipping into recession as a result of about $600 billion in expiring tax cuts and spending reductions capped gains. Data showing that Japan’s economy shrank 0.9 percent in the July-September period from the previous quarter also put pressure on oil prices and suggested the economy may be heading into a mild recession. Brent crude rose 75 cents to $110.15 by 1500 GMT, after gaining more than 2 percent on Friday. U.S. oil was up 25 cents at $86.32 after finishing up more than 1 percent last week ending a three-week slide.

Oil vessel

“The battle continues between the negativity from the slowing of the global economy compared to what global stimulus programs might do to the economy going forward, while geopolitics have continued to remain an issue for market participants,” said Dominick Chirichella of New York’s Energy Management Institute. The Greek government won parliamentary approval for its 2013 budget on Sunday, seen as a key step in reviving its stalled international aid, but German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble said that the troika of international lenders to Athens was unlikely to deliver its full report in time for the euro zone finance ministers’ meeting on Monday. Violence in the Middle East lent some support to prices on Monday, as Syrian warplanes tore along the Turkish frontier and bombed the rebel-held town of Ras al-Ain just inside the border, testing of Turkey’s pledge to defend itself from any violation of its territory or any spillover of violence from Syria.

Israel’s army said it fired tank shells into Syria and scored “direct hits” in response to a Syrian mortar shell that struck the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, underscoring international fears that Syria’s civil war could ignite a broader regional conflict. “Drawing Israel into the Syrian conflict even on a limited scale would clearly raise the geopolitical stakes and make any political solution to the conflict more difficult,” JBC Energy said in a note to clients. Data pointing to growth in oil demand in China, the world’s second-largest fuel user, and news that the Buzzard oilfield in the North Sea shut down again, also propped up prices. Implied oil demand in China grew 6.5 percent in October from a year earlier, close to September’s record high, bolstered by fuel inventory building and new production capacity.

NERC directs electricity distribution companies on customer sensitisation UDEME AKPAN

ollowing the deluge of customer complaints on excessive estimated billing, the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission has directed electricity distribution companies (DISCOs) to organise sensitisation workshops for their staff. This sensitisation exercise will in no small measure bridge the gap be-

tween regulations and their effective implementation. This initiative became necessary in light of the fact that the DISCOs have neglected to rigorously apply the methodology on the estimation of electricity bills. The methodology on estimated billing was enacted by NERC to regulate the practice of arriving at electricity bills for customers who do not have prepaid meters. DISCOs are required to scientifically calculate electricity consumption,

ensuring that customers pay for only what they use. Investigations by NERC revealed that the staff of the DISCOs does not understand how to apply this methodology, and this has a significant linkage to many of the complaints lodged by customers. It is believed that the sensitisation will equip those responsible for billing with the necessary information and skills needed to estimate electricity bills in a scientific, fair and transparent manner.

Energy & Oil Prices

Source: Bloomberg

OIL ($/bbl) Nymex Crude Future Dated Brent Spot WTI Cushing Spot

PRICE*

CHANGE

% CHANGE

TIME

85.95 111.01 85.54

0.41 0.90 -0.74

0.48% 0.82% -0.86%

07:42 07:52 10/29

PRICE*

CHANGE

% CHANGE

TIME

310.55 275.30

-0.97 -0.38

-0.31% -0.14%

07:37 07:41

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

NATURAL GAS ($/MMBtu)

PRICE*

CHANGE

% CHANGE

11:19

New York City Gate Spot

3.77 3.43 3.57

-0.03 0.09 0.11

-0.84% 2.69% 3.18%

07:43 10/29 10/29

ELECTRICITY ($/megawatt hour)

PRICE*

CHANGE

% CHANGE

TIME

% CHANGE

09/24

Nymex Henry Hub Future Henry Hub Spot

Mid-Columbia, firm on-peak, spot Palo Verde, firm on-peak, spot

32.95 35.23

-0.40 -0.76

-1.20% -2.11%

10/26 10/29

BLOOMBERG, FIRM ON-PEAK, DAY AHEAD SPOT/ERCOT HOUSTON

30.25

2.04

7.23%

10/26

Source: Oilprice.com

The Chairman/CEO of NERC, Dr. Sam Amadi said, “We have mandated the DISCOs to organise a sensitisation workshop for the business managers in the DISCOS to ensure compliance with the regulation. The workshops must take place before the end of November, 2012”. Other areas to be dealt with during the sensitisation exercise will include metering plans and targets, and the regulation on connection charges. Electricity consumers are important stakeholders in the scheme of things concerning the power industry. They are to be protected from the service provider. This was the message of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) to electricity consumers at the recently held Power Consumer Assembly in Umuahia, the Aba state capital on 16TH August, 2012 and in Keffi, Nasarawa state, on 23rd August, 2012 respectively. Power Consumer Assemblies are avenues the c ommission uses to meet and interact with consumers across the country including the staff of electricity utility companies, the civil society among others.

Energy Week

General Electric to develop 1,000 megawatts in Kenya

General Electric Company is partnering with Kenyan government and industry to develop 1,000 megawatts of power in the East African nation and is in talks with Kenya Power Ltd. (KPLL) about a power-purchase agreement. The power projects will probably be developed over five to 10 years, Jay Ireland, president and chief executive officer for Africa said in a phone interview. He didn’t give a price for the partnership in which his company will provide technology and equipment. “We are in the process of working with Kenya Power to develop a power purchase agreement shortly,” he said. GE, as the company is known, in May signed an agreement with the government to develop power, rail, health care, aviation and training projects, he said. Kenya plans to spend as much as $50 billion over the next 20 years to meet a 14 percent annual increase in electricity demand, according to the country’s Energy Regulatory Commission. Kenya, east Africa’s biggest economy, will need 16,905 megawatts annually by 2031 from 1,520 megawatts this year, the regulator said. GE signed similar development agreements with the governments of Nigeria and Ghana. Under the accord with Kenya, It will develop wind-energy projects and refurbish rail locomotives in partnership with Rift Valley Railways, Ireland said. The company would be interested in building locomotives for Kenya’s proposed railway line to South Sudan and Ethiopia, he said. Angola Power The Fairfield, Connecticut-based company supplies jet engines for the Boeing 787s and Embraer planes flown by Kenya Airways Ltd. (KNAL), sub-Saharan Africa’s thirdbiggest carrier and one of GE’s main customers in the East African region. In Tanzania, it has power generation projects and is providing health care equipment in Ethiopia and Rwanda. In Angola, where GE is already supplying oil and gas companies, the company will seek “power generation opportunities,” Ireland said. “We are looking at mostly utilizing gas or diesel,” he said, without giving more details. Angola is Africa’s second-biggest oil producer after Nigeria. The southern African nation said Oct. 19 it will start six diesel power stations to supply the capital Luanda by the end of this year. Angola is expected to have economic growth of 6.8 percent this year, according to the International Monetary Fund, as it pumps about 1.7 million barrels of oil a day.

Access Bank refrained from freezing Capital Oil’s asset The Federal High Court holding in Lagos has restrained Access Bank and Coscharis Motors Limited from interfering with the properties of Capital Oil and Gas Limited, belonging to Mr. Ifeanyi Ubah. Capital Oil and Gas, the Plaintiff had on October 30, filled a suit, calling on the court to issue an interlocutory injunction, restraining the Defendants/Respondents, their agents, privies or any other person(s) acting for or claiming through them or acting on their behalf from interfering with the applicants properties and or business. The Plaintiff also prayed the court to grant such other order(s) as it may deem fit to make in the circumstances of the case. The Plaintiff lawyers, R. S Lawal Rabana (SAN) Kizito Orji and Tosin Alawode had prayed the court to grant the prayers sought on the motion paper. The Defendants who were duly served the application and hearing notice were absent and unrepresented in Court on November 9, 2012. Determining on the case yesterday, the Presiding judge, Justice O. E. Abang granted the prayers of Plaintiff. He declared that: “The Defendants their agents, privies or any other person acting for or declaring through them or acting on their behalf are hereby retrained from interfering with the Applicants’ properties and or business interest pending the final determination of this suit.” Abang also adjoined the case to of January 21, 2013 for hearing. Capital Oil and Gas Industries Limited. is a privately owned, wholly Nigerian concern. It is a major player in the importation, storage, distribution, trading and retailing of oil products. The Company was established in 2001 by Ifeanyi Patrick Ubah and the depot opened for business in March 2007.

Wednesday, November 14, 2012

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

NEITI to complete new audit report UDEME AKPAN

he Nigerian Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) has concluded plans to release its 2009 – 2011 comprehensive audit report in Decem-

ber. The Chairman of the National Stakeholders Working Group (NEITI Board), Mr. Ledun Mitee stated that this is in line with the resolve of the Initiative to bring about increased transparency and accountability in the nation. He said: “Over the years, NEITI has conducted three different cycles of industry audits spanning the period 1999-2004, 2005 and 2006-2008 respectively. The report of another round of comprehensive audit of the oil and gas sector for 2009- 2011 which began early in the year is expected to be concluded by December 2012.” Mitee said NEITI has followed with keen interest media reports on the recent report of the Nuhu Ribadu Committee on governance, transparency and accountability in the oil and gas sector. He stated that: “As an agency statutorily set up to develop a framework for transparency and accountability in the management of revenues from Nigeria’s extractive industries, especially oil and gas, NEITI has legitimate interest in not only the report, but the processes, its findings and the outcome. The chairman stated that over the years, NEITI has conducted three different cycles of industry audits spanning the period 1999-2004, 2005 and 2006-2008 respectively. The report of another round of comprehensive audit of the oil and gas sector for 2009- 2011 which began early in the year is expected to be concluded by December 2012. He said each of the past NEITI audit Reports clearly identified financial, physical and process lapses, and revealed a loss of some $2.6 billion due to underpayments, under-assessments, poor judgment in the computations of volume of crude sales and other leakages only. Mitee said: “From the past audits, NEITI reports equal-

ly disclosed that a total sum of $9.8 billion (equivalent to 1.373 trillion at the current exchange rate) is outstanding recoverable fund due to the Federation Account from the companies. NEITI also openly expressed concern that there was no sufficient effort to recover the funds from the companies, by the affected relevant government agencies, even when the companies have not shown any resistance to pay. He stated that NEITI industry audits have also consistently identified and highlighted the problems within the sector, proposed solutions and ways to implement them, but implementation of these recommendations and remediation issues have remained a major challenge in spite of the efforts of NEITI under the Inter- Ministerial Task Team set up by the Federal Government for these purposes. Mitee said: “NEITI notes that the reported findings of the Ribadu committee is not surprisingly, rather it followed the trend of NEITI audits, given the prevailing poor institutional linkages, systematic leakages, poor legal framework, governance and process lapses which appear to characterise business ethics in the oil and gas industry in Nigeria over the years. The Ribadu Report has re-opened a compelling and urgent case for necessary follow- through actions on remedial issues already identified and recommended by the extant NEITI reports. He remarked that: “Whilst NEITI also considers the series of probes now on-going in the oil and gas sector as most welcome fundamental steps towards actualizing the global principles and objectives of Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative which Nigeria voluntarily subscribed to as a member since 2003, it feels however that had the remedial issues identified by the NEITI audit reports been dealt with or had NEITI the necessary enabling enforcement powers, some of the issues necessitating and identified by these probes would have since been dealt with. The chairman said: “Vindicated as NEITI, no doubt feels by the reported findings of the Ribadu

Electricity distribution: NSE urges TCN to adopt HVDC CHIDI UGWU ABUJA

he Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE) has called on the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) to adopt High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) as against the current High Voltage Alternative Current (HVAC) method being used in the country for electricity distribution. The professional group stated that HVDC transmission are slightly more expensive for short lines but is ultimately cheaper after the break-even distance of 700 km for overhead lines, achieving more power per tower. According to the group, HVDC is usually applicable under the conditions prevalent in the country’s grid, adding the application would improve the wheeling capacity of TCN and enhance stability in the system. The Chairman NSE Maitama branch, Engr. Paulinus Ogu who gave the advice at the opening session of the 2 Engineering Week in Abuja on Monday stated that HVDC would be ideal in transmission of bulk power over long distances. According to him, the system is more appropriate where AC would be uneconomic, impracticable and subject to environmental considerations, and in connection of systems with different or asynchronous frequencies, stressing that it will improve stability. “Our main recommendation therefore is for TCN to adopt the application of HVDC. The present method of transmission in Nigeria has been HVAC. The application of HVDC will enhance the wheeling capacity of TCN as well as greatly improve stability”, he stated. The group also condemned what it called commercial conspiracy against the success of the power sector where most of the power projects are being handled by countries whose interests will be hurt by the economic independence of Nigeria through the success of the power sector. NSE further decried lack of coordinated succes-

sion plan for technical and commercial manpower in the power sector saying it spelt doom for the country. Ogu, who pointed out the looming danger while speaking on the theme: “Eliminating the barriers to the growth of the power sector-A veritable necessity” noted that while the power network infrastructures are expanding the manpower capacity has been neglected leading to shrinking skilled workforce. He said the overstaffing issue often highlighted by productivity index of megawatts per staff by government analysts has hindered recruitment of qualified experts to man the electricity supply industry. “There has been no coordinated succession plan for technical and commercial manpower in the power sector. This is a critical failure path. While the power

Power station

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Wednesday, November 14, 2012

in December

Afren produces first oil at Okoro extension UDEME AKPAN

Mitee

Committee, it is our belief that one further thing the Ribadu Report has clearly achieved is to expose the need to further strengthen NEITI through necessary amendments to its enabling Act to give it the necessary enforcement powers as well as visible steps to implement the findings and recommendations of audit reports. He stated that: “Whilst awaiting the full publication of the Ribadu report and anticipated government action thereon, NEITI believes that the ultimate lesson to be derived from these is the need for coordinated efforts of all; the media, civil society, companies, government and the public for speedy passage of the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB), with clear contents and provisions that will bring about accountability, openness, competition, competence and integrity as well as promote investment-friendly environment in our oil and gas network infrastructures have been focused on for needed expansion, the manpower capacity has been neglected” he said. Ogu who stated that it takes minimum of five years for a young engineer be trained to be able to work unsupervised warned that the nation’s is already running late for recruitment of engineers as most of who would train the newly recruits would soon retire out of service. According to NSE, political interference in technical decision and way- leave issues are also among factors militating against the sector. Ogu noted that greed and lack of common national interest further complicate issues in the country, adding that way-leave compensation in most cases doubles the cost power projects and frustrates the drive for rapid development in the industry.

fren Plc has started oil production from the Okoro Field Extension, offshore South East Nigeria, at a stabilised rate of 5,000 barrels per day (bpd), increasing total output from the Okoro area to approximately 21,500 bpd. The Okoro-14 (Okoro Field Extension) development well was drilled by Afren and partner Amni International Petroleum Development Company Ltd. (Amni) from the existing Okoro main field wellhead platform (WHP), with the objective of establishing early production from the new field extension that was announced in January 2012. The well targeted Tertiary aged reservoir sands within a new play comprising a deeper buried horst block structure. The well has been completed and brought on stream via the existing Okoro floating production storage offloading vessel (FPSO) at a stabilised rate of 5,000 bpd of 38° API oil, making it the most productive well drilled in the Okoro area to date. The Adriatic IX drilling rig has now been relocated to the Ebok field in order to undertake planned rigbased work, which includes the drilling of a development well to similarly establish early production from the Ebok North Fault Block discovery that was announced in May 2012. The Chief Executive of the firm, Mr. Osman Shahenshah remarked that: “I am delighted that we have commenced early production at the Okoro Field Extension, just nine months after the initial discovery. He said, this is an evidence that we are creating tangible value and volume growth from our ongoing exploration drilling campaign, and further testament to the Afren team’s fast track development capabilities.”

Shahenshah stated that: “Not only will we see an outstanding economic return from early development wells that utilise existing infrastructure, but we will also gain valuable production experience and reservoir data that will assist in optimising the full field development solution. We are looking to replicate this early production template at the Ebok North Fault Block discovery as we work towards realising the full production potential of our high quality Nigerian asset base.”

Okoro field

Political instability, violence bane of W/A’s power projects CHIDI UGWU ABUJA

here is no any doubt that the spread of insurgency across the West African sub region is taking a toll on the socio-economic lives of the people. The violence political instability and uncertainty which characterizes the region in recent times have in no small measure disrupted the developmental processes designed to boost economic activities and attract investments for the social wellbeing of the people in the region. The veracity of foregoing was brought to the fore at a recent forum in Abuja where the Secretary General, West African Power Pool (WAPP), Engr. Amadou Diallo decried the socio-political situation in West Africa saying it is inimical to the region’s drive to integrate electricity networks . Diallo while speaking to stakeholders in the West Power industry regretted the recent events in the region which he noted have had very negative repercussions on the business environment in the region. “Cote d’Ivoire since 2011 has been engulfed by a longdrawn out socio-political crisis and sporadic armed attacks, latest of which targeted the Azito power station in Abidjan, as though the situation had not been dire enough, after the attack, one of the turbines of the power station, which had been supplying about 15 per cent electricity production in Cote d’Ivoire, was damaged,” recalled Diallo. This is beside the military coup which shook the fragile socio-political equilibrium of Guinea Bissau in April 2012, and the political instability and insecurity which rocked Mali to its very foundation constituting a considerable threat to peace in the entire West African sub-region. “So violence, political instability and uncertainty combine with the effects of the international financial crisis are working together to worsen the problems existing in our sub region. You will agree with me that such a context is hardly favourable for the development of economic activities and establishment of climate of security which is indispensable for attracting investors, in the electrical power sector” However, in spite of these obstacles and difficulties, WAPP said it has continued to obtain results through the cooperation among ECOWAS member states and support of technical and financial partners. For instance, Chairman of WAPP Executive Board Dr. Joseph Makoju said the organisation has mobilized 60 million Euros for the construction of Information and Coordi-

nation Centre which will serve as the hub for the emerging electricity market for the West African sub region. He urged governments to create enabling environment that would allow cost reflective tariffs in order to attract private investments into the power sector in the sub region, stressing that WAPP has witnessed rewarding developments over the last few years. According to Makoju, WAPP diligently implemented emergency electrical power supply programmes which were initiated with the support of the ECOWAS and UEMOA Commissions to reabsorb the severe energy crises affecting certain countries in the sub region. The WAPP chairman said the emergency electricity programme supplied electricity to the town of Bissau, Conakry, and the Gambia, adding that the fourth programme which is currently in its preparatory stages aims to strengthen security with electricity supply to strategic regions in Mali. Other projects include the interconnection (225 KV) of Cote d’Ivoire to Mali which started operations in September last year. The Felou dam and hydro-electric station which is at verge of beginning operations and Aboadze-Kumasi-Han and (161KV) Tumu-Wa in Ghana lines as well as the interconnection (330KV) of Volta (Ghana)-Lome C (Togo-Sakete (Benin Republic), Bolgatanga (Ghana)-Ougadougou (Burkina Faso) some of which are to enter implementation phase. According to WAPP boss, the border electrification projects developed under the ACP-EU Power facility Programme, medium term networks of which started in Ghana are supplying electricity to at least 21 rural border communities south of Togo, and at least 6 rural communities in Burkina Faso, adding that the integration of national electricity networks is also being developed between Cote d’ Ivoire and Liberia, between Togo and Benin and shall be extended to many more countries over the coming years. Earlier, Amadou said foreign investors are willing to invest in the West African power projects but are sometimes skeptical as the stability of the region becomes questionable. For instance, he stated that funding of the interconnection project for Cote d’ Ivoire –Liberia-Sierra LeoneGuinea(CLSG) totaling 323 million euros was fully secured from the World Bank, the African Development Bank Group, and the European Development Bank respectively. Similarly, funding for the interconnection project for Bolgatanga (Ghana-Ougadougou (Burkina Faso) estimated at about $111 million was also secured from the World Band, European Investment Bank and French Development Agency.

Energy Week

Nigeria needs strategic public/ private partnerships to optimise oil output –Aitken The Co-Chief Executive Officer of Atlantic Energy, Mr. Scott Aitkin has called for increased public/private partnerships in order to boost oil and gas investment in the nation. Aitkin who made a presentation at the recently concluded 19th Africa Oil Week, Africa’s premier oil and gas event noted that Nigeria which has the world’s 10th largest oil & gas reserves and the 7th largest population in the world, began production as far back as the 1950s but has not been able to optimize oil and gas production till date. He said that Nigeria has hundreds of mostly undeveloped onshore discoveries due to a number of inhibiting factors ranging from funding constraints of the National Oil Company - Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC); International Oil Company (IOC) portfolio ranking priorities as well as security, environmental and community legacy issues. These are important issues that need to be addressed, as Aitken noted the Nigerian average daily production of crude oil has fluctuated but not changed dramatically since the 1970s and in this regard, Atlantic Energy has partnered with the Nigerian Government through the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company (NPDC), a wholly owned subsidiary of the NNPC to assist Nigeria optimize it’s oil and gas production. Recently, the Nigerian government tasked NPDC; an operator with 130,000 bopd of current production with a target of reaching 250,000 bopd by 2015 and significantly increasing the supply of domestic gas to the country to enable an increase in power generation and support local manufacturing industries. Additionally, the fact that the licenses of IOCs are slated to expire soon, with four IOCs’ (Shell, Total, ConocoPhillips and Agip) announcing divestments of interests in 12 onshore blocks over the last 18 months ahead of their license expiry and NPDC’s increased commitment to developing Local Content makes it apparent that it is not business as usual, Aitken declared. In furtherance of its goals, the NPDC executed a number of Strategic Alliance Agreements (SAAs) including four with Atlantic Energy to facilitate petroleum operations for Oil Mining Leases 26, 30, 34 and 42. These SAAs with Atlantic Energy are similar to agreements NPDC have executed with international companies including Agip and Sinopec over the last 10 years, which have resulted in excess of 100 Million barrels of crude oil produced under these strategic alliances.

North America leads shift in global energy balance –IEA The global energy map is changing in dramatic fashion, the International Energy Agency said as it launched the 2012 edition of the World Energy Outlook. The Agency’s flagship publication, released in London, said these changes will recast expectations about the role of different countries, regions and fuels in the global energy system over the coming decades. “North America is at the forefront of a sweeping transformation in oil and gas production that will affect all regions of the world, yet the potential also exists for a similarly transformative shift in global energy efficiency,” said IEA Executive Director Maria van der Hoeven. “This year’s World Energy Outlook shows that by 2035, we can achieve energy savings equivalent to nearly a fifth of global demand in 2010. In other words, energy efficiency is just as important as unconstrained energy supply, and increased action on efficiency can serve as a unifying energy policy that brings multiple benefits.” The WEO finds that the extraordinary growth in oil and natural gas output in the United States will mean a sea-change in global energy flows. In the New Policies Scenario, the WEO’s central scenario, the United States becomes a net exporter of natural gas by 2020 and is almost self-sufficient in energy, in net terms, by 2035. North America emerges as a net oil exporter, accelerating the switch in direction of international oil trade, with almost 90 percent of Middle Eastern oil exports being drawn to Asia by 2035. Links between regional gas markets will strengthen as liquefied natural gas trade becomes more flexible and contract terms evolve. While regional dynamics change, global energy demand will push ever higher, growing by more than one-third to 2035. China, India and the Middle East account for 60 percent of the growth; demand barely rises in the OECD, but there is a pronounced shift towards gas and renewables.

Wednesday, November 14, 2012

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Okonjo-Iweala extols Geometric on power supply

eometric Power Limited, founded by former Power Minister, Profr Bart Nnaji to generate and distribute electricity in Nigeria to international standards is a trailblazer, according to the Minister of Finance, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala who is also the Coordinating Minister of the Economy. “Geometric Power’s uniqueness in our national history owes not so much to its being Nigeria’s first indigenous power company as to its ability to combine both electricity generation and distribution”, the minister said recently after a tour of the company’s premises in Aba, Abia State. Okonjo-Iweala, immediate past managing director of the World Bank, explained that while other independent power producers (IPPs) seek sovereign guarantees to execute their projects, Nnaji’s Geometric has never sought a power purchasing agreement (PPA) from the government. “This is because Geometric will sell its power direct to the consumers when it is commissioned next February”, noted the minister who played a key role in the establishment of the facility in Aba. She revealed that Geometric wanted to build the 188 megawatt power plant for only manufacturing firms who were experiencing acute electricity shortages in Aba, often called the Japan of Africa because of its large indigenous industrial base, but decided to include all categories of electricity users in Aba following the visit of the then World Bank president, James Wolfensohn, in 2004. Okonjo-Iweala, who accompanied Wolfensohn during the visit, said it was heartbreaking to see that the power crisis was also paralysing the work of a large army of small and medium scale manufactures at the Ariara industrial market producing high quality shoes, handbags, belts, clothes and other items which they labeled “Made in Italy”, “Made in France”, etc.

Okonjo-Iweala

“I informed Mr. Wolfensohn of a globally respected Nigerian professor of robotics in the United States, Bart Nnaji, who could build a power plant in this city to solve this severe problem”, stated Okonjo-Iweala, who was then the finance minister in the Olusegun Obasanjo administration. “I told Wolfensohn that Nnaji had by 2002 built a 22Megawatt power station in Abuja and operated it successfully for almost three years without an interruption of even one second, and everyone was excited”. The World Bank boss was thus favourably disposed to the International Finance Corporation (IFC) of the World Bank Group being involved in the $500million project. She praised former President Obasanjo for agreeing that Aba metropolis be concessioned to Geometric and also Nnaji for his patriotism and doggedness in starting the project even before the liberalization of the power sector with the 2005 Electric Power Sector Reform Act. “It was something like a leap of faith for him to embark on this huge project despite the near paralyzing odds”, she stated.

Nnaji thanked the minster for her unflinching support, observing that the capital-intensive project would have been finished earlier than but for inconsistent public policy and the global economic meltdown of 2008 which affected project financiers like the European Investment Bank, Emerging Africa Infrastructure Fund and the International Finance Corporation of the World Bank Group. The governor of Anambra State, Peter Obi, and his Abia State counterpart, Theodore Orji, had earlier in the day visited the facility and expressed satisfaction. “I am delighted that plans have reached an advanced stage for Geometric to supply power to the leading industrial cities of Nnewi and Onitsha, which are located in my state”, said Obi, who is also the chairman of the Conference of Southeast Governors. Orji described Aba project as “a perfect example of Public Private Partnership in Nigeria”, saying that ,“it is a thing of great joy that Aba will soon become the first city in West Africa to enjoy quality and uninterrupted power supply. “Investments will now flow into our state ceaselessly and on an unprecedented scale”. The governor promised to construct the road leading to the Geometric plant within three months. National Assembly members led by Senator Nkechi Nwogu (Abia Central) had inspected the facility the previous day and commended Nnaji for showing a “worthy example in the reversal of the brain drain and capital flight phenomena”. The federal legislators were accompanied by local government chairmen, traditional rulers and other prominent people from the area who pledged to protect the company’s facilities against vandalism and praised Geometric for demonstrating “a very impressive sense of corporate social responsibility even before starting commercial operations”.

OPEC to increase shipments on heating demand

he Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries, (OPEC) will boost crude shipments next month as winter demand for heating oil and diesel climbs in the Northern Hemisphere, according to Oil Movements. The organization will export 23.84 million barrels a day in the four weeks to Nov. 10, up 0.8 percent from 23.64 million a month earlier, the tanker- tracker said today in its weekly report. The data exclude Angola and Ecuador. “Distillate demand is going to strengthen over the winter, no question about it,” Roy Mason, the researcher’s founder, said by telephone from Halifax, England. “Refiners are going to have to get runs up to meet that.” Sailings from the Middle East, including non-OPEC members Oman and Yemen, will increase by 1.5 percent to 17.49 million barrels a day in the four-week period, the report showed. Crude on board tankers will average 469.43 million barrels, down 0.3 percent from 470.76 million in the previous month, the researcher said. Oil Movements calculates the volumes by tallying

tanker-rental agreements. Its figures exclude oil held on board vessels as floating storage. OPEC comprises Algeria, Angola, Ecuador, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Libya, Nigeria, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Venezuela. The group’s next meeting is scheduled for Dec. 12 at its headquarters in Vienna. The cartel is a permanent, intergovernmental organisation, created at the Baghdad Conference on September 10–14, 1960, by Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Venezuela. The five founding members were later joined by nine other members: Qatar (1961); Indonesia (1962) – suspended its membership from January 2009; Libya (1962); United Arab Emirates (1967); Algeria (1969); Nigeria (1971); Ecuador (1973) – suspended its membership from December 1992-October 2007; Angola (2007) and Gabon (1975–1994). OPEC had its headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, in the first five years of its existence. This was moved to Vienna, Austria, on September 1, 1965. OPEC’s objective is to co-ordinate and unify petroleum policies among Member Countries, in order to secure fair and

stable prices for petroleum producers; an efficient, economic and regular supply of petroleum to consuming nations; and a fair return on capital to those investing in the industry. OPEC’s formation by five oil-producing developing countries in Baghdad in September 1960 occurred at a time of transition in the international economic and political landscape, with extensive decolonisation and the birth of many new independent states in the developing world. The international oil market was dominated by the “Seven Sisters” multinational companies and was largely separate from that of the former Soviet Union (FSU) and other centrally planned economies (CPEs). OPEC developed its collective vision, set up its objectives and established its Secretariat, first in Geneva and then, in 1965, in Vienna. It adopted a ‘Declaratory Statement of Petroleum Policy in Member Countries’ in 1968, which emphasised the inalienable right of all countries to exercise permanent sovereignty over their natural resources in the interest of their national development. Membership grew to ten by 1969.

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Wednesday, November 14, 2012

Executive Discourse

Wednesday, November 14, 2012

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We need tariffs that will allow fair competition She was the Country Managing Director of Accenture in Nigeria and now Minister of Communication Technology. Mrs. Omobola Johnson came to office with a strong professional pedigree in the private sector which has over the past one and a half years made her reformative touch bear positively on the Technology Ministry. In this interview with Abuja Bureau Chief, ISE-OLUWA IGE, Assistant Business Editor, TOLA AKINMUTIMI and Chief Correspondent, ROTIMI FADEYI, the minister speaks about developmental and policy thrusts of the ministry and government’s plans to use the ICT industry to leverage Nigeria’s efforts to play leading roles in the global economic system. Excerpts:

What would you consider as your achievements in terms of capacity building across the broad spectrum of the ministry since you assumed duty as the Minister about 18 months ago? For a ministry that has just been created, I think it is a bit premature to be talking about achievements. We have only been around for a year and some months, you know what we are doing and what we have planned to do, I think it is difficult to say we have achieved this and that but there are certain things we have done. We have submitted the first National ICT policy to the Federal Executive Council for approval. We have designed a road map for the ICT industry which covers a number of priorities including local content, including the development of broadband infrastructure. We have got Mr. President’s consent and the Presidential Committee to develop a broadband roadmap inaugurated sometime ago, which is a major achievement. We have met with industry’s stakeholders both in telecoms and in IT to get their views on the way forward in the industry. You can say these are achievements but in terms of tangible things we want to do which is the overarching objective, which is to basically increase the contribution of ICT to GDP, we have not achieved. But on that, we are well on the way because we have taken the right steps to make sure that we do everything like local content, device manufacture, building capacity and skills within the ICT industry, improve the quality of service in telecoms, broadband infrastructure, utilising that broadband for education, for health, for agric, for commerce and I think with all of these things, we are on the right track. What I hope is that by the time they are measured in 2013 and 2014, we would have seen some very significant improvements or developments in the ICT industry. Given the enormity of the issues you have raised, one will naturally feel that adequate allocation in yearly budgets should be very germane to actualization of your vision for the sector. Based on your experience so far, would you say that the ministry is properly funded? What you need to understand is that ICT industry is a completely liberalised industry. So, when you talk about the ministry, the ministry is a policy making institution. That is, our major role, to make policies, it is to ensure that there is enabling environment for the industry to thrive. So, a lot of the money that is spent in the ICT industry is spent by the private sector and not by the ministry. Yes, we intervene in some ways or the other but really at this point, the funding we have at this point for the ministry is sufficient because we don’t embark on

Johnson

WE NEED TO LOOK AT TARIFFS THAT WILL MAKE THE COMPETITION FAIR, BUT RIGHT NOW, THOSE TARIFFS ARE NOT THERE. IT IS ALL ABOUT CREATING A LEVEL PLAYING FIELD SO THAT THE LOCAL INDUSTRY CAN COMPETE WITH THE INTERNATIONAL INDUSTRY AND THAT IS THROUGH TARIFFS AND THROUGH INCENTIVES any major project. So, basically funding is not the problem for the ministry. What is the issue for the ministry is that we have the right skills; we have the right capacity to develop the policies, programmes and interventions to move the industry along. Developing local capacity in ICT manufacturing has been a major challenge for government. What do you think could be done to grow this critical sector, particularly to protect our local ICT industries? We live in a globalised world and we can’t be an island and the world has moved on. I think we will

make a terrible mistake if we want to start protecting the industry and basically banning the importation of things. I think it will be a mistake to do that because the ICT industry is a global industry, it is not a domestic industry but you are right in the sense that we need to grow this industry particularly the IT side of the ICT industry but we don’t have a protectionist agenda. What we are trying to do within the IT industry is to ensure it grows at the same pace the telecoms industry grew by creating a level playing field for players in that industry. What I mean by level playing field is, for instance, things like tariffs, if I am assembling a computer in Nigeria; I know how much it cost in terms of power, diesel and all the things that come with manufacturing. I need to have that advantage, I need to be compensated for that manufacturing when you compare it to someone who just makes the computer in China or wherever it is and brings it in. So, we need to look at tariffs that will make the competition fair but right now those tariffs are not there. It is all about creating a level playing field so that the local industry can compete with the international industry and that is through tariffs and through incentives, the kind of thing that the Honourable Minister of Trade and Investment, Dr. Olusegun Aganga, said that companies that are investing in infrastructure, local infrastructure would get some kind of waivers on tax. So those are the kind of things that government is doing, it is not that we are going to ban this or ban that but to create a level playing field, I also need to say in particular of device manufacture industry, PC industry. We have seen that PC tablet penetration and the device penetration apart from telephones in

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Executive Discourse

Wednesday, November 14, 2012

in ICT industry fair –Johnson Nigeria today is very low. We need to increase that penetration so that more people would use the internet, more people would benefit from this broadband infrastructure that we are building up and what we said is that we are creating some programmes and we are making those programmes available to only our local assemblies. How are you addressing complaints of Nigerians about poor telecoms services through policy frameworks and guidelines and are there challenges in getting the operators to comply with regulatory directives? It is not so much about policy. When you say complaints, the complaints are all about quality of service. We have a big issue with quality of service and I don’t think anybody will dispute that but we are working with the network operators. As you know, a few months ago they were fined because they didn’t meet the quality of service indicators but fining them does not solve anything. They paid a lot of money but quality of service is still bad. What we are doing is that we are working with them, they have submitted to us their plans for improving their network infrastructure and they are all going through that process of upgrading their networks to improve their quality of service. However, there are also challenges, the challenges in the permits that they require to erect the infrastructure, the base stations they need to do, building more base stations, there are challenges in terms of the right of way as they need to lay the infrastructure. So, we have to work together. While the quality of service is bad, they are doing what they can to upgrade the quality of service; government needs to create that enabling environment for them to improve the quality of service. We have to make it quicker for them to get approvals for them to build the base stations; we need to ensure that they are not paying multiple taxes that are being levied on them by local governments or state governments. We need to ensure that the time it takes to procure approvals on environmental impact assessment to erect the base stations, right of way to lay fibre is shorter because as it is today getting those things done are taking far too long. And we have started working on that. With the Ministry of Works, we have come up with the federal right of way which requires that within 30 days of application, you will get your right of way approved and will cost you a standard amount of money. I will give you an example. We had a situation where we have implemented this new regulation and one of the network operators was having a problem in a particular part of the country and they wrote to us that we issued this regulation but this thing is not working in this particular part of the country and they told me which part of the country it was. I called the Honourable Minister of Works that this problem is happening and immediately he called the State Controller in that state and told him he was not following the guidelines and I know that problem was quickly resolved and that is what we need to do so that the network operators can easily lay their fibres very quickly. So, it is not only about the network operators, Yes, they need to upgrade their infrastructure, yes, they need to do more and we also have to do more in terms of making it easier for them to build that infrastructure and as this things happen, you will see the quality of service begin to improve because it is not in their own interest as well to have this terrible quality of service. So it is about us working together with the network operators that they improve the quality of service they offer. Let us talk about the $100 million loan from the Chinese bank and the intention of government to commit substantial part of it to Galaxy Backbone projects even as some stakeholders saying that government should have brought stakeholders

WE ARE INSISTING ON CERTAIN AMOUNT THAT WOULD BE DEPLOYED TO NIGERIAN

COMPANIES AND THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT WE ARE DOING WITH

GALAXY

together to really look at how the money could be channelled into critical sector of the economy and not necessarily about Galaxy Backbone. How do you react to this? Let me answer by explaining that Galaxy Backbone is basically the provider of ICT infrastructure for the Federal Government. We’ve got to have one body that does that. We can’t have every single ICT contractor providing that but this is what we have seen in the past. So, today, we have a proliferation of data centres all over for the country while actually we need just two world class data centres but contractors are building data centres in ministries that really don’t understand ICT. So, Galaxy

Backbone is really the provider, they are the Custodian or Coordinator of ICT services. So what is this loan going to be used for? This loan is being used to improve government’s ICT infrastructure. It is about building a Network Operating Centre to house a government data centre. It is about providing connectivity to the MDAs and remember, all the MDAs are not all in Abuja, they are all over the country and providing that connectivity service, we could talk to each other, that money is going to be utilized to improve government ICT infrastructure. Galaxy doesn’t make computers, Galaxy doesn’t build infrastructure, Galaxy doesn’t lay fibre, all of those things are going to be deployed through the private sector. So for laying fibre optic network, somebody have to do it, for building a data centre and for buying machines and everything, somebody is going to supply those machines. Yes, that money is going to be used to build government infrastructure but that money is going to be deployed through the private sector, but of course it is a Chinese loan and like most export credit loans, you have to use Chinese companies to deploy a substantial part of that loan and like all of the Chinese loans that are being taken on by the Federal Government, we are insisting on certain amount that would be deployed to Nigerian companies and that is exactly what we are doing with Galaxy. So, that is what that money is going to be used for. It is to improve government ICT infrastructure and we will work with the private sector to deploy this funds. Is there a way the government is looking at regulating the subscription rates of pay TV like DStv, Startimes and others just like the telecoms industry because Nigerians are complaining about the high subscription rates charged by these pay TV companies? They are regulated but they are not regulated under this ministry, it is NBC that is the regulator for Pay TV and so I cannot really talk extensively about that because it is not under this ministry. But then, what I may say is that we are operating a liberalized market and we cannot dictate prices to private sector operators and it is not compulsory that you have pay TV, it is by choice, Yes, we still need to regulate them, they cannot just call any price but we must understand that we need to have a private sector and all government does is that it creates an enabling environment. You cannot dictate to private sector companies what they should charge, you can regulate it, you can make sure that it is fair but you cannot tell them that they must charge a particular price. If a company invests and say that if you want to use my service, you pay N11, 000 or whatever it is, what NBC will do and I am sure that is what they will do, is to ask if that is the fair price given the investments they are making. And that is what people always forget, they put that infrastructure in place, they employ people, they are using ICT, they have got call centres all over the country. I am not making a case for them, what I am saying is that people cannot say that this thing is expensive, it is your choice whether or not to subscribe to pay TV. I think what will happen and that is what we need to do is not to complain about price. It is to make sure there is competition, when there is competition, then they compete about price, leave it to them. As we migrate from analogue to digital television, there are tremendous opportunities and many when other companies compete, the price will come down because you are offering more services to people, we are competing based on the quality and value of service, then you can now talk about prices coming down not by government regulating what they should do.

Global Business

Wednesday, November 14, 2012

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China plans boosting export-tax rebates on some goods

hina may expand exporters’ tax rebates to help them cope with a slump in trade growth, according to three people with direct knowledge of the plan, deploying a stimulus tool used during the global credit crunch. The government may give a full rebate of the 17 percent value-added tax on products including furniture, shoes and toys, up from the current range of 13 percent to 15 percent, said the people, who asked not to be identified because the discussions are private. The policy may be rolled out as soon as this month, depending on whether trade remains weak, they said. Premier Wen Jiabao has pledged policy “fine tuning” to cope with a deepening slowdown in the world’s second-largest economy that saw export gains slump to an annual 1 percent pace in November from 11 percent in June. The deterioration in trade escalated the risk that Wen will miss his full-year economic expansion target for the first time since he took office in 2003. “The tax rebates cover mainly laborintensive products, and it reflects the

Wen Jiabao

government’s concern about rising unemployment pressures,” said Joy Yang, chief Greater China economist for Mirae Asset Securities (HK) Ltd. in Hong Kong. The policy change is unlikely to increase exports, said Yang, who formerly worked for the International Monetary Fund. “The biggest problem for Chinese

RBA holds key rate as economy withstands global slowdown

Glenn Stevens

ustralia maintained the highest benchmark interest rate among major developed economies as domestic demand weathers a global slowdown that’s driving down the price of iron ore, the nation’s biggest commodity

export. Reserve Bank of Australia Governor Glenn Stevens and his board left the overnight cash-rate target at 3.5 percent, according to a statement today in Sydney. While domestic consumption was “quite firm” in the first half of the year, commodity prices have fallen “sharply” in recent months and China’s growth outlook is more uncertain, he said. In Australia, “growth has been running close to trend, led by very large increases in capital spending in the resources sector,” Stevens said. “Labor market data have shown moderate employment growth, even with job shedding in some industries, and the rate of unemployment has thus far remained low.” The currency rebounded from near a six-week low after the decision as investors pared bets on rate reductions. While Europe’s fiscal crisis is weighing on global growth and Chinese demand, Stevens’s 75 basis points of cuts in May and June helped spur domestic spending and stabilize the housing market in an economy that’s avoided a recession for 21 years.

Spanish unemployment to swell as public jobs vanish

erez de La Frontera, a Spanish town of 214,000 in southern Andalusia, is negotiating with unions to fire 13 percent of the 2,000 government workers who absorb 80 percent of its budget. “It’s not easy because these are people and families,” said deputy mayor Antonio Saldana. With a quarter of Spain’s workforce already jobless, Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy’s efforts to retain investor confidence by shaving more than twothirds off the nation’s budget deficit by 2014 will worsen the highest unemployment rate in the European Union. Tenyear yields at 6.86 percent mean “we can’t finance ourselves,” Rajoy said on November 1. “There’s going to be less hiring and

more firing for the spending cuts to be made,” said Ricardo Santos, an economist at BNP Paribas SA in London who sees unemployment climbing to 27 percent next year from 24.6 percent currently. “The more unemployment persists, the more difficult it’ll be for the government to meet budget goals and implement reforms.” Television stations, airports, hospitals, schools, fire brigades and social services from Spain’s southernmost tip to the Balearic islands in the east are reducing headcount as Rajoy tasks regions and municipalities with shouldering 60 percent of the cuts needed to reduce the budget shortfall to 2.8 percent of gross domestic product in the next two years.

exports now is the weak demand from overseas markets, and tax rebates won’t help much in boosting demand.” Dai Bohua, a spokesman for the Ministry of Finance, which oversees tax policy, didn’t answer the phone when Bloomberg News attempted to reach him three times today. The ministry didn’t immediately respond to faxed questions from Bloom-

berg News. China used the tool in 2008 and 2009 to help the economy when exports plunged during the global financial crisis, at one point raising tax rebates on 553 products including motorcycles and sewing machines. The nation’s exports fell 16 percent in 2009 from 2008. Shipments abroad of products covered by the tax change totaled at least $130 billion in 2011, or about 6.8 percent of China’s overseas sales, based on data compiled by Bloomberg News. China’s customs administration is scheduled to publish August trade data on September 10, and the September figures on October 13. The nation’s gross domestic product expanded 7.6 percent in the second quarter from a year earlier, the slowest pace in three years. Wen set a 2012 goal of 7.5 percent in March. “Further policy loosening is needed to prevent a further slowdown in production growth,” Sun Mingchun and Sun Chi, Hong Kong-based economists at Daiwa Securities Group Inc., wrote in a note yesterday. “Export growth should remain weak.”

Merkel, Monti step up diplomacy as ECB comes in focus

uropean leaders are stepping up shuttle diplomacy this week as details of a bond-buying plan emerged from the central bank, fueling gains in the euro and a surge in some Spanish and Italian debt. European Union President Herman Van Rompuy traveled to Berlin for talks with German Chancellor Angela Merkel today as Italian Prime Minister Mario Monti hosts French President Francois Hollande in Rome. They were given a hint about what may be in store when European Central Bank President Mario Draghi said yesterday he would be comfortable buying three-year government bonds to aid nations struggling to fund themselves. The stewards of the single currency, who have sparred as borrowing costs diverged in the 17 nation-euro area, have a chance to fall in line behind Draghi. Merkel, whose country shoulders the largest cost of bailing out weaker governments, has indicated she would back a more active crisis-fighting role at the ECB and told a crowd of beer drinkers in Bavaria that Germany must show solidarity with Europe. “I think there is broad agreement among these people,” said Luca Jellinek, head of European interest-rate strategy at Credit Agricole Corporate & Investment Bank in London. “Many people are realizing that monetary policy is broken in Europe, badly broken.” The euro traded near a two-month high against the dollar today, gaining 0.1 percent and adding 0.4 percent against the yen as of 10:47 a.m. in Rome. Italian and Spanish two-year yields dropped the most in about a month. In both countries, the two-year yield fell to the least on record relative to 10-year bonds. Leaders are back from summer va-

cation and facing what Merkel called a “very ambitious agenda” this month to quell what has been a three-year sovereign debt crisis. Talks haven’t always gone smoothly, as Merkel and Monti clashed last week in Berlin over details while agreeing on the broad principles of collective action. Monti has pushed for flexibility on market intervention, while Merkel has focused on budget rigor. “We have to press for reforms in other countries even if they sometimes say we’re hard-line,” Merkel said to a packed beer tent in the town of Abensberg, northeast of Munich. “It’s not enough just to keep muddling through. But I also say that in such a difficult phase these countries deserve our solidarity and that we root for them to overcome their difficulties.”

Merkel

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Global Business

Wednesday, November 14, 2012

ussia’s inflation accelerated in August to near the upper limit of the central bank’s target as food prices grew after a three-month drought seared millions of hectares of cropland and pasture. Consumer prices rose 5.9 percent from a year earlier, the highest level since December, from 5.6 percent in July, the Federal Statistics Service in Moscow said today in an e-mailed statement. The median estimate of 14 economists in a Bloomberg survey was for 6 percent. Prices grew 0.1 percent from a month earlier, less than the 0.2 forecast in a separate poll. Breaching the inflation target may force the hand of policy makers in Russia, the last major emerging economy to keep borrowing costs unchanged this year. A drought since May has curbed production and affected 5.99 million hectares (14.8 million acres) of plantings in 22 of Russia’s 83 regions, with 20 of them declaring an emergency. “Breaking through the 6 percent threshold is only a matter of time,” Dmitry Polevoy, chief economist at ING Groep NV, said by e-mail before the release. “Everyone but

Russian inflation accelerates to 5.9% in August, below estimates

Russian President, Putin

the central bank has already said making 6 percent inflation this year isn’t realistic, including the Economy Ministry. The sooner it does that and explains its position to the market, the better.”

The ruble is the fourth-worst performer of 25 emerging- market currencies tracked by Bloomberg over the past six months. The ruble strengthened 0.6 percent to 32.1825 per dollar at yesterday. in Moscow. Non-de-

liverable forwards, which provide a guide to expectations of currency movements, showed the ruble at 32.6419 per dollar in three months. Russia, the world’s third-largest wheat exporter last season, cut its grain crop estimate August 31 to between 70 million and 75 million metric tons, down from 94.2 million tons in 2011. Deputy Prime Minister Arkady Dvorkovich said the government won’t restrict grain exports this year. Food costs, with a 38 percent weighting in the Russian consumer-price basket, may stoke inflation further by adding 2 percentage points in the September-March period, Julia Tsepliaeva, head of research at BNP Paribas (BNP) in Moscow, said in an emailed note. Wheat futures have climbed more than 30 percent this year on concern dry weather in Russia and the worst U.S. drought since 1956 will curb global grain supplies.

Japan fiscal impasse threatens stimulus Slowing Polish economy may force to spur growth tusk to ease budget cuts

apan’s political gridlock threatens to curtail the government’s ability to apply fiscal stimulus as a rebound falters in the world’s third-largest economy. Opposition parties in the upper house of parliament stymied legislation approved in the lower house August. 28 that enables the issuance of 38.3 trillion yen ($490 billion) of deficit- financing bonds, seeking to force Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda into an early election. The government could hit a spending ceiling as soon as October, according to the Finance Ministry. The freeze may suspend outlays from this year’s budget for the first time, according to Goldman Sachs Group Inc., and limits Noda from proceeding with the supplementary spending package he mooted in July. With economists increasingly seeing an economic contraction this quarter, the deadlock adds to risks facing global expansion that include a so-called fiscal cliff of spending cuts and tax increases in the U.S. at year-end. “The impasse on deficit-covering bonds may delay the compilation of a stimulus package and would be a drag for the economy,” said Taro Saito, Tokyo-based director of economic research at NLI Research Institute and a past winner of a Japan Center for Economic Research award for accuracy in forecasting. “This is not as severe as the U.S. fiscal cliff but could be said to be Japan’s fiscal slope.” Japanese stocks headed for a fourth day of declines, the longest losing streak in more than a month, on pessimism about the global expansion. The Nikkei 225 Stock Average was down 0.4 percent yesterday in Tokyo. The yen was at 78.37 per dollar, about 4 percent from its postwar high, underscoring the threat to exporters of a strong currency. Besides exchange-rate appreciation, Japan’s manufacturers are facing diminishing demand abroad, hurt by the European crisis, China’s slowdown and stunted

Yoshihiko Noda

American growth. A government report yesterday showed capital spending rose 6.6 percent in the second quarter from a year before, less than the 7.8 percent median estimate in a Bloomberg News survey. Yesterday’s report spurred economists to cut forecasts for Japan’s second-quarter gross domestic product, initially reported at an annualized 1.4 percent gain. Officials may pare that calculation to 0.9 percent on Sept. 10, according to the median of seven projections in a Bloomberg survey.

oland’s slowing economy is putting pressure on Prime Minister Donald Tusk to ease deficit cuts to avoid the fate of other European Union nations where austerity measures to tackle the debt crisis helped suffocate growth. Tusk’s Cabinet will meet in Warsaw today to discuss a revised 2013 budget after the economy expanded at the slowest pace in 11 quarters in the three months through June. While Poland will stick to a plan to cut the 2012 budget gap within the EU’s limit of 3 percent of output, the slowdown means its “ambitious goal for a 2.2 percent deficit next year is out of the question,” Maja Goettig, a member of Tusk’s Council of Economic Advisers, said by phone on August 31. “Everyone, including markets, would understand and maybe even appreciate it, if the government avoided excessively harsh austerity for the sake of growth, which is now key to financial stability,” said Goettig, who’s also a Warsaw-based strategist at KBC Securities. Tusk, the first Polish premier to serve a second term since communism ended in 1989, must weigh EU deficit demands

against concerns that further spending cuts may damp growth in the nation of 38 million people, whose GDP-per-capita is 40 percent below the 27-nation bloc’s average. While his Cabinet still enjoys broad support in polls, governments across Europe have collapsed after protests against austerity policies that helped plunge economies from Romania to Spain into recession.

Donald Tusk

Manufacturing in U.S. probably stagnated amid global slowdown

anufacturing probably teetered between growth and contraction in August, a sign the pillar of the recovery is now struggling, according economists surveyed before a report today. The Institute for Supply Management’s factory index was little changed at 50 compared with 49.8 in July, according to the median estimate of 70 economists surveyed by Bloomberg. A reading of 50 is the dividing line between shrinking and expanding. Spending on construction projects probably rose in July, other figures may show. The possibility that taxes will rise and government outlays will fall if U.S. law-

makers don’t act by January may shake confidence and cause consumers and businesses to curb spending. The European debt crisis represents another stumbling block that threatens to limit orders to American factories. “Domestic uncertainty and global weakness are both restraining growth in manufacturing,” said Yelena Shulyatyeva, an economist at BNP Paribas in New York. “It’s a weak sector of the economy right now. We don’t expect a lot of pickup in investment activity this year.” Estimates ranged from 48.7 to 51.5. The group has said that an index (S15MACH) reading above 42.5, while signaling contraction in manufacturing, is generally

consistent with an expanding overall economy. The gauge averaged 55.2 in 2011 and 57.3 in 2010. Other reports show manufacturing, which accounts for about 12 percent of the U.S. economy, weakened last month. Factory activity in the New York region contracted in August for the first time in 10 months, and production in the Philadelphia-area shrank for a fourth month, Federal Reserve reports showed. The Institute for Supply ManagementChicago Inc.’s business barometer also fell in August, indicating manufacturer’s pace of expansion was slowing and that companies may hold the line on production until sales pick up.

Capital Market

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Wednesday, November 14, 2012

Lagos begins process to float N80bn in bonds JOHNSON OKANLAWON WITH AGENCY REPORT

agos State Government has started a process to gauge investor interest in its proposed seven-year N80bn ($507m) bond sale. The Chief Executive Officer of Chapel Hill Denham Securities Limited, Mr. Jude Chiemeka, said coupon guidance has been given at 12.75 per cent to 14 per cent with order requests closing on November 19. The proposed size of the issue may change once the book- building process has been completed, according to a term sheet obtained by Bloomberg News. The proceeds from the sale would be used to fund infrastructure projects including an

urban rail line to help ease traffic congestion in Lagos, Governor Babatunde Fashola, said in an October 27 interview. The state first issued debt in 2008, when it sold N50bn of five-year securities with a 13 per cent coupon. It concluded a N50bn, seven-year bond sale in April 2010 at a 10 per cent coupon, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. The planned sale comes after borrowing costs for Nigeria’s federal government dropped after JPMorgan Chase and Company announced in August that it will add the country’s bonds to its GBI-EM index series from October 1. The yield on the

16.39 per cent federal government naira debt due 2022 has dropped 339 basis points to 12.74 per cent since the start of August, according to data compiled by the Financial Markets Dealers Association. Meanwhile, expert in bond trading has said that the inclusion of Nigeria in the JP Morgan Government Bond Index has attracted international investors into the country. The Global Head of Sales and Trading of Dunn Loren Merrifield (DLM), Mr. Malcolm Gilroy, noted that despite the current conditions of the global financial markets, the inclusion attracts further inflows into the Nigerian bond market.

Gilroy, noted that the market has witnessed increased flow from offshore investors since the announcement in August 2012, and has contributed to the significant decline in average yield to 13 per cent, from N15 per cent in August. According to him, it is estimated that the upward weight review will translate into a total inflow of $1.5bn into the domestic bond market before the end of the year. He pointed out that there is huge risk in investing in bond, but a short term bond is more secured than a long term bond, which is usually done by the Pension Commission and the insurance companies.

Index drops further by 1.2% on profit taking JOHNSON OKANLAWON

rading in equities segment of the Nigerian Stock Exchange continued on bearish note yesterday, as more investors sold their holdings to take profit from the gains recorded the previous weeks. Specifically, the AllShare Index dipped by 1.20 per cent to close at 26,290.42 points, compared to the decrease of 0.41 per cent recorded the

preceding day to close at 26,609.34 points. Market capitalisation depreciated by N101.6bn to close at N8.37trn, higher then the decline of N34.7bn recorded the preceding day to close at N8.47trn. Flour Mills of Nigeria Plc led the aginers’ table with N3.15 or five per cent to close at N66.15 per share, followed by Air Service Plc with 12 kobo or 4.80 per cent to close at N2.62 per share. Wema Bank Plc rose by two kobo or 3.85 per

cent to close at 54 kobo per share, while Japaul Oil Plc appreciated by one kobo or 1.75 per cent to close at 58 kobo per share. Oando Nigeria Plc gained 20 kobo or 1.69 per cent to close at N12.00 per share. On the flip side, Academy Press Plc dropped 36 kobo or 9.76 per cent to close at N3.33 per share, while Red Star Express Plc dipped by 28 kobo or 8.81 per cent to close at N2.90 per share. Nestle Nigeria Plc declined by N48.50 or

7.70 per cent to close at N581.00 per share, while Julius Berger Plc fell N1.51 or 4.93 per cent to close at N29.10 per share. May and Baker Plc shed eight kobo or 4.73 per cent to close at N1.61 per share. Transaction volume in equities rose by 19.9 per cent, as a total of 258.58 million shares valued at N2.22bn were exchanged in 4,576 deals, compared to 215.75 million shares worth N1.91bn traded in 3,856 deals the preceding day.

World shares, euro slide on Greece, US fiscal worries

lobal shares fell for a fifth straight day yesterday and the euro slid to a more than two-month low against the dollar after international lenders clashed over help for Greece, stoking fears the country’s debt crisis could flare up anew. Concern about the looming US fiscal cliff, a series of budget cuts and tax hikes worth $600bn that could risk pushing the economy back into recession, weighed on the Standard and Poor 500 and Nasdaq. “Global financial markets are in a cautious mood today,” said Nick Bennenbroek, head of currency strategy at Wells Fargo in New York. “Between euro

zone debt jitters and the US fiscal cliffs market worries are likely to persist.” The MSCI world equity index fell 0.4 per cent to 321.45 points, having hit its lowest point since early September. The index has lost about 2.5 per cent so far this month. European shares fin a n c e / m a rke t s / i n d e x shed 0.4 per cent to 1090.80 points. On Wall Street, the Dow Jones industrial average edged up 11.10 points, or 0.09 per cent, at 12,826.18. The Standard and Poor’s 500 Index fell 0.62 points, or 0.04 per cent, at 1,379.41. The Nasdaq Composite Index was down 7.91 points, or 0.27 per cent, at 2,896.35.

The euro slid as low as $1.2660 on Reuters data, the weakest since September 7, before recovering to $1.2696, down 0.1 per cent. The euro zone common currency trimmed losses after a German newspaper said Germany wants to bundle Greek aid into a single payment of more than 44 billion euros. Traders interpreted the report, which cited government sources, as a sign that the euro zone’s paymaster was eager to see a deal done. Asked about the report, a German finance ministry spokeswoman said no final decision had been made on Greek loans. But analysts say the euro remained vulnerable to

uncertainty about Greece after euro zone finance ministers on Monday held off disbursing more aid to the debt-ridden country. A further Eurogroup meeting would take place on November 20. Brent crude oil slid below $108, declining for a second day on worries about demand growth in a well supplied market as the United States and Europe grapple with fragile economies. The International Energy Agency, which advises industrialized nations on energy policy, issued a bearish report on Tuesday, showing improving supply, more limited increases in demand and rising global inventories.

Source: FMDA

NIBOR QUOTES 12 NOVEMBER & 13 NOVEMBER 2012 20.00 19.00 18.00 17.00 16.00 15.00 14.00 13.00 12.00 11.00 10.00 9.00 8.00 7.00 6.00 5.00

1 2 -No v -1 2

1 3 -No v -1 2

Market indicators Market indicators

All-Share Index 7,342,308 points All-Share Index 22,191.14 points Market capitalisation 23,066.74 trillion Market capitalisation 7,084 trillion

Stock Updates GAINERS COMPANY

OPENING

CLOSING

CHANGE

% CHANGE

AGLEVENT

1.20

1.26

0.06

5.00

INTBREW

6.61

6.94

0.33

4.99

CAP

24.12

25.32

1.20

4.98

REDSTAREX

2.62

2.75

0.13

4.96

BERGER

6.93

7.27

0.34

4.91

ETERNA

2.35

2.46

0.11

4.68

CADBURY

15.25

15.95

0.70

4.59

BAGCO

1.56

1.63

0.07

4.49

IKEJAHOTEL

1.12

1.17

0.05

4.46

AIRSERVICE

1.57

1.64

0.07

4.46

CHANGE

% CHANGE

LOSERS COMPANY

OPENING

CLOSING

CONTINSURE

0.63

0.60

0.03

-4.76

GTASSURE

1.75

1.67

0.08

-4.57

UTC

0.92

0.88

0.04

-4.35

STERLNBANK

1.07

1.03

0.04

-3.74

ROYALEX

0.55

0.53

0.02

-3.64

OANDO

13.99

13.61

0.38

-2.72

DANGFLOUR

6.30

6.13

0.17

-2.70

DANGCEM

112.40

110.00

2.40

-2.14

UNILEVER

35.50

35.00

0.50

-1.41

DANGSUGAR

4.55

4.50

0.05

-1.10

Primary Market Auction TENOR

AMOUNT (N’mn)

RATE (%)

DATE

91-Day

30,647.81

13.50

08-Nov-12

182-Day

20,000

15.50

08-Nov-12

364 -Day

Open Market Operations TENOR

AMOUNT (N’mn)

RATE (%)

DATE

178Days

14,231.30

15.50

08-Nov-12

118-Day

50,282.86

14.08

08-Nov-12

Wholesale Dutch Auction System AMOUNT OFFERED

MARKET DEMAND

AMOUNT SOLD

DATE

$200m

N/A

$126m

05-Nov-12

$180m

N/A

$147m

08-Nov-12

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Capital Market

Wednesday, November 14, 2012

Stock exchange daily equities summary Equities as at November 13, 2012 1st Tier Securities

1st Tier Securities Sector

Company name

No Of Deals

Quotation(N)

Quantity Traded

Value of Shares(N)

Sector

Company name

No Of Deals

Quotation(N)

Quantity Traded

Value of Shares(N)

Cocktail

Wednesday November 14, 2012

FOR YOUR SUCCESS

WITH DR. DEJI FOLUTILE

Today's Tonic (42) Oh man! There is no planet sun or star that could hold you, if you but knew what you are. –Ralph Waldo Emerson *** MY THOUGHTS The secret of dominion is knowing who you really are. The battles of life comes to us mainly to make us doubt our identity in God. Once you lose a sense of who you are, failure is inevitable. There is no greater revelation than to know that you are created in the image of God; that you are a spark of the divine! And that you are a piece of the MASTER. It is the I AM THAT DETERMINES THE I CAN! (Please meditate on this). We must do EVERYTHING POSSIBLE to realize our identity in order to emerge winners in the numerous battles of life. When you know who you are, nothing and no one can intimidate you. TEL 08104942999 E-MAIL deji.folutile@gmail.com Follow me @TwitterOWOTIDE

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Oddities

Four Nigerian girls invent urine-powered generator

our Nigerian girls have created a generator that produces electricity for six hours using a single litre of urine as fuel. The generator was unveiled at last week’s Maker Faire in Lagos, by the four teens Duro-Aina Adebola, Akindele Abiola, and Faleke Oluwatoyin, all age 14, and Bello Eniola, 15. So how exactly does the urine-powered generator work? Urine is put into an elec-

trolytic cell, which separates out the hydrogen. The hydrogen goes into a water filter for purification, which then gets pushed into the gas cylinder. The gas cylinder pushes hydrogen into a cylinder of liquid borax, which is used to remove the moisture from the hydrogen gas.

This purified hydrogen gas is pushed into the generator. And as for delivering the fuel itself ? Well, we’ll leave that up to the consumer. The Maker Faire is a popular event across the African continent, drawing thousands of participants who travel to Lagos to show their inventions and other

practical creations. As the Next Web describes it, the Maker Faire is intended to highlight creations “that solve immediate challenges and problems, and then works to support and propagate them. Put another way, this isn’t just a bunch of rich people talking about how their apps are going to change the world.”

Courtt orders C d protester t t tto stay t away ffrom Prince Charles

New Zealand court ordered an anti-monarchist on Tuesday to stay away from Prince Charles and his wife Camilla after he was charged with planning to throw horse manure at the visiting royal couple. Sam Bracanov, a 76-year-old with a history of protest against the British royal family, pleaded not guilty to preparing to commit a crime, a day after he was arrested in Auckland. The royal couple had not

yet arrived in New Zealand’s largest city. Bracanov was ordered to stay at least 500 metres (550 yards) away from the royal couple as part of his bail conditions. He was ordered to re-appear at the Auckland District Court later this month. Sitting outside the courthouse, Bracanov said he would have thrown the manure at Charles, the longest serving heir to the British throne, and his wife had he not been arrested.

“I make it liquid like porridge,” he told reporters. “I would have done it.” Bracanov has used sweeter-smelling ways to express his anti-royalist feelings in the past. He was convicted and fined for spraying air fresheners at Prince Charles to “remove the stink of royalty” during a previous visit to Auckland in 1994. A smattering of antiroyalists have heckled the royal couple during their six-day visit to New Zealand.

Three of the four inventors of the urine-powered generator.

PHOTO: AP

Wednesday, November 14, 2012

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Community Mirror Man held for defiling daughter

“If a state can have over 50 percent of its population as unemployed, it is a major problem that needs serious attention.” FORMER PRESIDENT OLUSEGUN OBASANJO

Lagos robbery: Arms dealer, more suspects arrested STORIES: FRANCIS SUBERU

he Lagos State Police Command has arrested the supplier of arms and ammunition to the gang of armed robbers who carried out the September 9 serial attacks in Lagos. The suspect, Emmanuel Tochukwu was arrested on November 7, 2012 following the arrest of five other suspects including Akindele Akinyemi, popularly known as AK, Emmanuel Ehianeta a.k.a. Arab, Segun Runsewe, Isiaka Lawa and Nonso Ndubisi. According to the Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command, CP Umaru Manko, the suspects, after the September 9 robbery in which several people including police officers were killed in Lagos, moved to Kwara State on September 11, 2012 and robbed a First Bank branch at Share Town, Kwara State. Manko said; “the robbers were formerly members of a notorious armed robbery gang comprising of Ajibola Fatai Sule aka Officer, Tunde Oyebade, Adewale Adeniyi, Bode Oyekan, Ismaila Oshowemimo, Ayomide Adedoyin Jeremiah aka James and others who had earlier met their waterloo in gun battles with SARS operatives in Lagos.” It was learnt that Tochukwu’s arrest was sequel to Akinyemi’s arrest. Akinyemi was arrested after a careful analysis of the footage from the First Bank’s Close Circuit Television (CCTV) which was obtained by the Lagos State Police Command from the Kwara State Police Command. In the footage, one Akindele Akinyemi who had been on the wanted list of the Lagos State Police Command was identified. He was then lured to Lagos by Abba Kyari and his men from his hideout in Cotonou, the Republic of Benin and was promptly arrested. His confessional statement that the rifles and ammunitions found in their possession were supplied to them by a notorious arms dealer, led to a massive manhunt for the suspected arms dealer. “The efforts of OC/SARS and his men paid off when on November 6, 2012, the suspect was traced

Recovered arms and ammunition

Segun and Isiaka

Tochukwu and Nonso

Emmanuel and Akinyemi

to Sea Park Hotel, Asaba, Delta State and on November 7, SARS operatives invaded the Hotel and arrested Tochukwu.” Items recovered from him included his Mercedez Benz 230 Vboot car with number plate Enugu, DA 307 ENU. Also, two AK47 rifle with the serial numbers scrapped, 750 live ammunitions and 14 AK47 rifles magazines were recovered from him. In an interview with Community Mirror, Tochukwu confessed that he was dealing in arms on be-

half of a man he simply identified as Alhaji ; adding that the suspect is based in Benin Republic. According to Tochukwu, “I am not the owner of the arms. I have somebody I collect the arms from in Benin Republic. I normally act as the main contact between anyone who is interested in buying rifles or arms and the Alhaji. Depending on the present market value, an AK47 rifle is sold for N280, 000.” He denied any involvement in the Sunday September 9, rob-

bery saying Arab (Emmanuel Ehianeta) who used to be his contact point with the deadly gang never told him they were robbers. Tochukwu said; “If I had known they were robbers, I would not have been dealing with them. He told me they were oil bunkerers and that they needed the rifles to protect themselves. I have only sold eight riffles to him so far. I never knew they were robbers until I got here.” The Lagos sate Police Com-

missioner said Tochukwu is still helping the police to trace the fleeing Alhaji who was identified as the major arms dealer. Available information had it that he lives in a border town between Benin Republic and Niger Republic. Arms recovered from the suspects include 12 AK47 rifles, one GPMG 97, 619 GPMG ammunitions, 111 AK-47 rifle magazines, 5,922 rounds of ammunition, four GMPG chain bullets and 180 live ammunitions.

Etim Iyang gives reasons for setting up PCRC

ormer Inspector General of Police, Chief Etim Iyang has said he established the Police Community Relations Committee, PCRC, to foster a good relationship between the law enforcement agents and the public, so as to enhance community policing. Speaking in Lagos when the PCRC Chairman in Rivers State, Mr. Austen Yong paid him a visit to donate copies of a book published on the committee, Iyang

said policing will be impossible if policemen distanced themselves from the public whom they serve. He said with participatory policing, where the public work in tandem with the police, will engender mutual confidence and exchange of information which will facilitate easy arrest of suspects, quick gathering of evidence and consequent prosecution. He called on the PCRCs in all

parts of the country to live up to their reason for existence by assisting the police in carrying out the task of protecting lives and property, avoid abuse of their position, merely to secure bail of suspects or intervening in just any arrest. Presenting the book titled, “Hand Book for PCRC Patrons and Honorary Members,” Yong said the publication was designed to educate the public on the purpose, activities and pros-

pects of PCRC in the country in line with the dream of its founding fathers. Yong also intimated Chief Iyang with the reasons behind the institutionlisation of the “Etim Iyang Annual Lecture on Community Policing” which commenced this year, stating that the idea was conceived to perpetuate the name of the former police boss, and provide a yearly forum to rob minds on security issues in the country.

Community Mirror

Wednesday, November 14, 2012

Man held for raping daughter AUGUSTINE MADU-WEST KANO

28 year old man is being detained in Kano by the police for allegedly raping his 6 year old daughter, Fatima Usman. The suspect, whose name was given as Ibrahim Lawan, is being held

at the Rijiya Zaki police station for sexually assualting his biological daughter. Sources said the suspect allegedly dragged the victim into his room, undressed her and defiled the minor. The police said the little girl was taken to the hospital where medical

examination confirmed the sexual attack. The state Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Idris has consistently lamented the increasing cases of rape in the state and appealed to parents to monitor their female kids closely. He noted that most rape cases in Kano involve chil-

Cows being loaded into a trailer at a market in Bauchi.

dren below age three. Other category of victims, according to him, are under-aged girls hawking items on the streets. Police statistics on rape released lately showed that no fewer than 50 cases of rape have been reported to the command in the last four weeks.

PHOTO: NAN

BATN donates cassava processing factory to community

ritish America Tobacco Nigeria (BATN) Foundation yesterday donated a cassava processing factory to Ezzen community of Bukan Sidi, Lafia in Nasarawa state. The cassava cottage factory, which is the second project donated by the foundation to Nasarawa communities, is fully equipped with modern equipment, such as cassava grater, heavy duty cassava pressers, cassava sifters, fermentation racks and stainless steel fryers. The factory also has a functional borehole with five thousand litre water storage tank. It also has a standalone electricity generator to ensure continuity of power whenever the public source fails. Inaugurating the proj-

ect in Lafia, the state capital, chairman of BATN Foundation, Dr. Christopher Kolade, said the factory would improve efficiency and reduce waste. His words: “This cassava industry will greatly improve efficiency in the processing of agricultural produce, as well as reducing wastage and increase productivity. The new system of processing cassava into gari and other derivatives will engender higher product quality, higher income and better quality of life for members of Ezzen community.” Nasarawa State Commissioner for Agriculture, Ahmed Tijani Usman, in his remarks, said the choice of Nasarawa State Fadama III project for this collaboration is

not by accident as the state is one of the highest producers of cassava in Nigeria. He, therefore, welcomed more collaboration from BATN Foun-

dation to fast-track agriculture and rural community development in the state, calling on other NGOs and COS to come to the state with similar initiatives.

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Centre embarks on productivity campaign in Cross River OKAY OSUJI

ational Productivity Centre has carried out sensitisation campaigns in school on ways of making youths, in Cross River State productive. According to Coordinator of the Centre, Mr Joseph Bankole, the schools are St. Anne High School, State Housing Estate, Calabar, De-Wise Secondary School, Calabar, Federal Government Girls College, Calabar, Police Secondary School, Akpabuyo, West African Peoples Institute (WAPI), Calabar, Hope Waddell Institution, Calabar, Navy Secondary School, Calabar, Holy Child Secondary School, Calabar and Unique Secondary Commercial School, Calabar. The essence of the campaigns, Mr Bankole said is to inculcate in young ones the spirit of hard work and academic excellence necessary to make them self-reliant and not constitute nuisance to the society. The Coordinator said, productivity clubs have been formed with students as executive members, while discussions are ongoing in other schools to get them onboard. Recently, the management of the centre inaugurated the club at St Anne High School, State Housing Estate, Calabar with a charge on the executive body to generate debate and essay topics among the students, in order to encourage them into engaging in productive ventures. At the inauguration, Mr Bankole said the Pro-

ductivity In-Action School programme is an off-shoot of National Productivity Awareness campaign, adding that it is aimed, among other things, at encouraging the young ones to embrace productivity etiquette while spreading the frontiers of productivity, as well being at the vanguard of entrenching productivity for national development and meeting the vision 20:2020. Explaining further, Bankole said Productivity In-Action was a form of pre-employment and prevocation education to create awareness and prepare the youths for functional and productive work life, by teaching the necessary skills and knowledge which conventional schools do not teach. Part of this knowledge, he said is the form of education that de-emphasises literary tradition, which is education for self-employment, good citizenship, moral development, selffulfillment and happier life. He announced that the centre has received approval from the state Ministry of Education to extend the campaigns in four government schools, assuring that the process will commence early next year. In her remarks, Proprietor of St. Anne High School, Mrs Anne O. Etta, praised the centre for the initiative and wished it is sustained for the benefits of the younger generation. She called on schools yet to identify with the club to do so, as it will expand their entrepreneurial and skills’ knowledge.

Most Okada riders are liars –Task Force boss MURITALA AYINLA

he Chairman, Lagos Tasks Force on Environment and Special Offences, Supol Bayo Suleiman has raised the alarm over claims by some motorcyclists that their motorcycles have been impounded by his team, saying many of those bikes were secretly sold by the riders. Sulaiman, who reacted

to incessant complaints of missing motorbikes, said most motorcycle riders are capitalising on the enforcement of the restriction order in Lagos State to lie to owners of their motorcycles that their bikes have been impounded. Sualaiman said:”It has come to our notice that most riders now secretly sell their bikes and lie to their owners that our men have seized them. They are hiding under the cur-

rent enforcement of the Traffic Law to dispose of their motorcycles and lie to their boss and companies that the motorcycles have been impounded. “We have discovered many of them, who after thorough investigation, confessed that they actually sold the bikes and not that they were impounded. So, we are telling owners and companies to be wary of this.” Confirming the development, Mrs. Rofiat

Oladejo told Community Mirror that her son’s motorcycle could not be found at the Tasks Force yard as claimed by the rider. She said; “When records available at the Tasks Force office were searched, we could not trace the motorcycle, but after a while, we got to know the whereabouts of the bike. The rider was later caught while making attempt to sell it at a place in Ayobo area of Lagos”.

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Wednesday November 14, 2012

Security personnel hunt suspected terrorists in Kano AUGUSTINE MADU-WEST KANO

security team is hunting for the suspected terrorists who killed a barber and injured two others in Terauni area of Kano on Monday. National Mirror learnt that soldiers and police-

men had been deployed to the area to fish out the suspected killers. Security team was also sent to places identified as flash points in Kano city to fishout suspected criminals. It was learnt that the security personnel had begun house-to-house search for gunmen in or-

der to rid Kano State of criminals. Heavy military equipment and personnel were spotted in some places identified as flash points, including Durayi, Hotoro and the University town of Kabuga. It will be recalled that gunmen struck in Tarauni area of Kano city on

Monday, killing a young barber and leaving two other residents in critical conditions. The attackers stormed the area in a motorcycle and opened fire on the victims, killing the barber on the spot. The police spokesman, Mr. Mustapha Abubakar , confirmed the incident to

journalists. The gunmen immediately fled the scene after the attack. The body of the slain barber has been deposited at the mortuary of Murtala Mohammed Specialist Hospital, Kano. The injured victims were taken to an undisclosed hospital for treatment. At the time of filing

this report, the police have cordoned off the place in search of the suspects. The Kano State Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Idris, said he had a list of suspected serial killers to be declared wanted. He said the police would track down the attackers through the effort of residents.

Kaduna decries low turn-out of pupils in schools

he Kaduna State Government yesterday decried the low turn-out of students in public schools, more than two weeks after the Sallah break. The government said it was more worried that only a few of the new intakes into Junior and Senior Secondary Schools had resumed classes across the state. Public Relations Officer in the Ministry of Education, Mrs Jummai Adamu, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Kaduna that the state government was seriously monitoring the situation. Mrs. Adamu appealed to parents and guardians to send their children back to school as the first term examinations would soon commence. She said: “School activities have commenced fully, yet some of these students have not resumed since after the Sallah break. “Most of the defaulters are JSS and SS one students.’’

Yakowa

Mrs. Adamu warned that the state government would not hesitate to take appropriate action if such attitude continued. She reiterated the commitment of the state government towards reviving the ailing education sector for rapid socio-economic growth and to curtail social vices among youths. She noted that poor attendance of schools would affect the attainment of the state government’s transformation agenda in the education sector. A mother, Mrs. Murna Sunday, told NAN that the late resumption was largely due to financial constraints. She said most families have very low income, hence it would be difficult to send their children back to school, especially the new intake. Malam Danjuma Ali, however, blamed some parents for nonchalant attitude towards the education of their wards. Ali stressed the need for poor parents to take education seriously, as it would ``emancipate them from poverty’’. `` When you educate a child, it is not just the state that would benefit from it. The family, as well as the community would also reap from the investment spent to train the child.’’

L-R: Plateau State Governor Jonah Jang; Chairman of the occasion, Chief Solomon Lar and Senator representing Plateau Central Senatorial District, Joshua Dariye, at the public session on review of 1999 Constitution held in Jos, yesterday. PHOTO: NAN

NEMA holds awareness campaign on meningitis for flood victims ADEMU IDAKWO LOKOJA

he National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) yesterday organised a sensitisation and awareness programme on cerebrospinal meningitis and other related diseases for flood victims in Kogi State. Addressing journalists shortly after the first session of the programme in Lokoja, the state capital, NEMA Coordinator, Mr. Ishaya Isah Chonoko, said that the programme became

Katsina, Germany to establish 30MW solar power plant

he Katsina State Government has said that it would partner with Republic of Germany to establish a 30 mega watt solar power plant in the state. The N13.7 billion plant would be used to enhance power supply. The state governor, Alhaji Ibrahim Shema said in Kankia that his administration would give

all necessary support to ensure the success of the project. He said that the state was also collaborating with a Japanese firm to generate 10 mega watt of windmill energy. The German Ambassador to Nigeria, Mrs. Dorothee Jenetz, said the project would strengthen the relationship between the two countries.

She also said the project would enhance agriculture, education research as well as improve socio-economic activities of the people. Jenetz said Germany would continue to conduct more researches on renewable energy particularly on nuclear energy, hydro-power and solar energy to assist developing countries.

necessary in view of the adverse effects of the recent flood disaster witnessed in some parts of the country. He said that diseases, such as cholera, lassa fever, measles and other skin diseases might occur, owing to the fact that natural drinkable water sources had been con-

taminated by flood. Chonoko advised that proper ventilation in homes should be encouraged and drinkable water should be well kept and properly covered. Earlier in her address, the Executive Secretary of Kogi State Emergency Management Agency, Mrs Alice Ogedengbe,

said the workshop was very timely because of the enormous challenge the disaster had posed for the government and the people. Mrs Ogedengbe, therefore, called on the participants to dedicate their time to the training so as to be useful to others who may need their services.

Kogi stakeholders demand two more states ADEMU IDAKWO LOKOJA

articipants at the Kogi State forum on the review of the 1999 Constitution yesterday clamoured for the creation of two additional states. The participants, including the three senators representing the state, traditional rulers and members of the civil society spoke at the forum held at the Glass House in Lokoja, the state capital. The resolutions reached at the forum include the rotation of gov-

ernorship position among the three senatorial districts, financial autonomy for both state House of Assembly and local government, non-allocation to non-elected officers of the local government councils and others. In his remarks, the Senator representing Kogi West, Smart Adeyemi, commended the participants for agitating for additional states from the present structure. Adeyemi, who is also the Kogi State representative on the review of the 1999 Constitution in the National Assembly, ex-

plained that if more states were created from Kogi, the decision would bring development closer to the people and create more jobs for youths. He, however, promised on behalf of the two senators, to support Governor Idris Wada for the rapid socio-economic development of the state. Responding, Governor Wada described the public hearing on the review of the constitution as a welcome development which enabled the people to participate in ensuring that the country has a peopleoriented constitution.

Wednesday, November 14, 2012

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Wednesday, November 14, 2012

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World News

Israel considers resuming assassinations in Gaza

PAUL ARHEWE

WITH AGENCY REPORTS

chartered Boeing MD82 airplane aborted its takeoff yesterday in South Africa after its landing gear caught fire when a tire came off its mount, officials said. No one was injured. The Global Aviation Operations Ltd. flight was attempting to leave O.R. Tambo International Airport near Johannesburg when one of its pilots saw the landing gear on fire, said Unathi Batyashe-Fillis, a spokeswoman for the Airports Company South Africa. The pilot halted the takeoff and stopped the plane on one of the runways at South Africa’s busiest airport, temporarily closing it. The flight’s destination was the southern African nation of Malawi. Rescuers and emergency workers quickly surrounded the plane which had 136 people on board, officials said. The plane had been bound for Lilongwe, the capital of Malawi, she said. Global Aviation Operations, which flies charter flights throughout Africa, blamed the fire on a “tire separation.” A statement Tuesday from its CEO Ronald Finger said the company would investigate the cause of the tire problem. Those on the

“Very sad situation to have him (Petraeus) end his career like that. I think he took the right step by resigning.” – US Defence Secretary, Leon Panetta

Plane in South Africa catches fire, no injuries

The McDonnell Douglas MD-82, a jet aircraft sitting on the runway after a failed takeoff at O.R. Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg, South Africa, yesterday. PHOTO: AP

flight were flown out on an alternative aircraft, he said. The McDonnell Douglas MD82, a jet aircraft often used by airlines for middle-distance flights, is a model owned by Boeing Co. McDonnell Douglas had stopped production of all but one of the models in the series

when Boeing bought its smaller rival in 1997, and it closed down that line two years later to focus on newer models of its own popular midrange jet, the 737. The plane involved in Tuesday’s incident was manufactured in 1990 and exported to South Africa in 2009, according

to U.S. Federal Aviation Administration records. In April 2007, the airline operating the plane had trouble with the aircraft’s nose landing gear and found packing around a valve cracked, according to FAA records. The packing and gear later were serviced, the records show.

Kenya hunts for suspects in police attack

olice in Kenya say 42 officers are now known to have been killed in the deadliest attack on police in the country’s history. The officers were chasing suspected cattle rustlers on Saturday when a gun battle broke out in the remote Samburu district. Some police were airlifted to hospitals in Nairobi for treatment, but later died from their injuries. The ambush happened near Baragoi, in a dry northern region mainly inhabited by nomad communities. “The officers were in a team pursuing stolen cattle when they were ambushed,” the official, who did not wish to be named, said on Saturday. “Some of the bandits were wounded in the attack and others killed,” during the gun battle, he said, but could not give precise numbers. “Now we fear (police) repri-

sals because the force that is going to be used to pursue the cattle thieves is not going to be directly only against them and a lot of innocents will suffer,” Paul Lenaimadu, a local resident, told AFP news agency. Cattle theft and the ensuing clashes between rival groups claim dozens of lives every year in Kenya. Al Jazeera’s reporter in Nai-

robi: “Although of these conflicts are routed in tribal issues, it appears it is connected to political issues due to the elections taking place in March next year”. “A lot of human rights organisations and observers are getting worried by the increase of violence.” It is rare, however, for police officers themselves to be at-

A man injured during the ambush on his hospital bed

tacked. Police numbers there are low and the officers are poorly equipped. The cattle herders have therefore armed themselves against attacks from rival groups. The group of rustlers police were pursuing at the time of this latest clash were already suspected of having killed 13 people and wounded three others in a previous raid on October 30. Elsewhere in Kenya, in the southeast Tana River region, inter-communal violence claimed more than a hundred lives in August and September. The scale and intensity of those killings - women and children were hacked to death or torched in their huts - shocked many. Some observers have accused local politicians of stirring up inter-communal hatred for political ends.

WORLD BULLETIN ECOWAS donates $382,000 to Nigerian flood victims The ECOWAS Commission has presented a cheque for US$382,000 to Nigerian government to help alleviate the effects of the recent flood disaster which claimed several lives and caused substantial damage to properties in parts of the country. “While I know that there is no volume of assistance that can bring back lives, we wish to express our solidarity and compassion,” President of the Commission Kadre Desire Ouedraogo said in Abuja on Monday, while presenting the cheque to Nigeria’s Foreign Minister Ambassador Olugbenga Ashiru, at a ceremony in the Ministry. He said that providing assistance to alleviate the sufferings of ECOWAS citizens affected by humanitarian challenge “is a core mandate”.

Four stolen paintings found in S’Africa cemetery An informer’s tip led South African police to a private cemetery yesterday where they found four paintings hundreds of miles away from where they had been stolen from a museum in the capital, authorities said. The tip is the latest twist in a heist that saw $2 million worth of art stolen Sunday from the Pretoria Art Museum by pistol-wielding thieves posing as eager students with their teacher. One oil painting of a South African township streetscape by artist Gerard Sekoto remains missing. A canine officer received a tip from an informer Tuesday that led him to a private cemetery in Port Elizabeth, a city about 1,100 kilometres (700 miles) from Pretoria, said Brig. Marinda Mills of the South African Police Service.

Yellow fever kills 107 in Darfur – WHO A yellow fever outbreak in Sudan’s Darfur region has killed 107 people in the last six weeks, the World Health Organization reported Tuesday, warning that the disease could spread all over the country. The number of deaths from the outbreak is steadily rising, and Sudan is working on an emergency vaccination drive. Officials reported last week that 67 people had died in the outbreak. There is no medicinal cure for yellow fever, which is spread by mosquitoes. Doctors treat the main symptoms — dehydration, fever, bleeding and vomiting — and wait for the viral infection to pass. The WHO estimates that more than 500 million people in 32 countries in Africa are at risk of yellow fever infection.

World News

WORLD BULLETIN Ex-England bishop arrested in child sex abuse inquiry A former Church of England bishop was arrested yesterday on suspicion of sexually assaulting boys as young as 12, police said, the latest public figure to be accused after weeks of child abuse claims that have engulfed the BBC and celebrities. Separate police investigations into the late television presenter Jimmy Savile have fuelled a national abuse scandal that has dominated public debate and provoked a bout of national soul searching. Police said Peter Ball, 80, was held in western England on suspicion of sex offences against eight boys and young men, aged from 12 to their early 20s, in the late 1980s and early 1990s. He was a bishop in Lewes, southern England, and Gloucester, in the southwest. A woman who answered the telephone at his house in Somerset, southwest England, declined to comment on the arrest.

Wednesday, November 14, 2012

Israel considers resuming assassinations in Gaza

srael is considering resuming its contentious practice of assassinating militant leaders in the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip in an effort to halt intensified rocket attacks on Israel’s south, according to defence officials. That Israel might renew a practice that brought it harsh international censure is evidence of the

tight spot Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is in. With Israeli elections two months away, rocket barrages from Gaza are disrupting the lives of one million residents of southern Israel, pressuring the government to come up with an effective response. In the latest flare-up, Gaza militants have fired more than 100

Jordan to back UK’s appeal over cleric ruling Jordan is seeking to assist the British government in efforts to appeal the ruling against the deportation of a radical Islamist cleric described by prosecutors as a key al-Qaida operative. Britain’s government has been attempting since 2001 to expel radical preacher Abu Qatada. He was convicted in his absence in Jordan of terrorist offenses related to two alleged bomb plots. He would face a retrial if he is sent back. Judges in Britain on Monday ruled that the cleric cannot be deported because Jordan could not guarantee him a fair trial. They said there is a risk that evidence obtained through torture would be used against him. But Jordan’s acting Information Minister Nayef al-Fayez said Tuesday the kingdom’s constitution and a constitutional court “guarantee a fair trial” for the cleric.

French guru jailed for swindling family A man who tricked and made a French noble family scared they were victims of an imaginary plot by freemasons has been jailed for eight years. Thierry Tilly, 48, was convicted of false imprisonment and of abusing the weakness of psychologically vulnerable persons at his trial in Bordeaux. An accomplice, Jacques Gonzalez, was jailed for four years. Tilly robbed the De Vedrines family of their possessions, including their chateau, Monflanquin, the court heard. The victims were dubbed by the French media as the “recluses of Monflanquin” because of the sheltered lives they led as a result of Tilly’s scheming. After gaining access to the family, he made himself indispensable before manipulating each of his dupes “in a diabolical manner”, France’s Le Figaro newspaper writes.

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Palestinians gathering around a pool of blood and the remains of the wheelchair of Hamas spiritual leader Sheikh Ahmed Yassin, following an Israeli air strike that killed him, near his house in Gaza City, in 2004. PHOTO: AP

rockets at Israel in recent days, triggering retaliatory Israeli airstrikes that have killed six people in Gaza. Some Israelis are demanding a harsh military move, perhaps a repeat of Israel’s bruising incursion into Gaza four years ago. Others believe Israel should target Hamas leaders, a method it used to kill dozens of militants nearly a decade ago. Advocates say targeted killings are an effective deterrent without the complications associated with a ground operation, chiefly civilian and Israeli troop casualties. Proponents argue they also prevent future attacks by removing their masterminds. Critics say they invite retaliation by militants and encourage them to try to assassinate Israeli leaders. Defence officials, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss confidential discussions, said the assassination of Hamas leaders is shaping up as the preferred response to the stepped-up rocket fire. They have the backing of two former military chiefs with experience in the matter. Opposition lawmaker Shaul Mofaz served as military chief of staff and defence minister when Israel carried out a wave of assassinations against Hamas and other militant leaders in the early part of the past decade. He and other former senior defence officials contend these assassinations left the Hamas leadership in disarray and put a halt to the rash of Hamas suicide bombings that

Top US general linked to Petraeus scandal

he US commander in Afghanistan, General John Allen, is under investigation for “inappropriate” emails to a woman linked to the sex scandal involving former CIA director David Petraeus, a defence official has said. The revelation yesterday represented yet another stunning turn in a widening scandal that has jolted Washington only days after the re-election of President Barack Obama, with legislators vowing to get to the bottom of the case. The Pentagon official told reporters the FBI had uncovered a trove of 30,000 pages of correspondence, mostly emails, between Allen and Jill Kelley, a key figure in the scandal that brought down the CIA chief. Petraeus, a former four-star general who had previously led the US wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, resigned abruptly last week over an extramarital affair with his biographer Paula Broadwell. Kelley, of Tampa, Florida, had alerted the FBI to receiving threatening emails earlier this

year that were eventually traced to Broadwell. The FBI then found emails between Broadwell and Petraeus that revealed their affair. The senior US defence official, speaking on condition of anonymity, told reporters travelling with Defence Secretary Leon Panetta there was a “distinct possibility” the Allen emails were connected to the Petraeus investigation. “The allegations involve inappropriate communications” between Allen and Kelley, the official said. The senior official, who discussed the matter only on condition of anonymity because it is under investigation, said Leon Panetta, the US defence secretary, believed it was prudent to launch a Pentagon investigation, although the official would not explain the nature of Allen’s problematic communications. The official said the tens of thousands of pages of emails and other documents from Allen’s communications with Kelley between 2010 and 2012 are under

review. He would not say whether they involved sexual matters or whether they are thought to include unauthorised disclosures of classified information. He said he did not know whether Petraeus is mentioned in the emails. “General Allen disputes that he has engaged in any wrongdoing in this matter,” the official said. He said Allen currently is in Washington.

General Allen

killed hundreds of Israelis. “I’m in favour of targeted killings,” Mofaz told Army Radio on Monday. “It is a policy that led Hamas to understand, during the suicide bombings, that they would pay the price should (the bombings) continue.” Vice Premier Moshe Yaalon, the chief of staff at the time targeted killings surged, is convinced the practice worked. “Clearly over these past 13 years there has been an ongoing war, but there have also been extended periods of calm,” Yaalon told Army Radio on Monday. “When I was chief of staff, the targeted killings against Hamas led to extended periods of quiet.” Hamas dismissed the threat of targeted killings as “psychological warfare,” and its political leaders were not in hiding. The group’s military commanders tend to keep a low profile anyway, for fear of Israeli assassination attempts. “This is psychological warfare designed to terrorize our people,” Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri said of the assassination talk. “Hamas will not bow to Israeli threats and people in Gaza will continue to live their ordinary lives not fearing such threats.” Under Yaalon and Mofaz, Israeli aircraft struck at the commander of Hamas’ military wing, Salah Shehadeh, the movement’s spiritual leader, Sheik Ahmed Yassin, his successor, Abdel Aziz Rantisi, and dozens of other senior Hamas military commanders.

Workers block off Arafat’s grave in West Bank

est Bank workers have blocked off Yasser Arafat’ grave ahead of the planned exhumation of the Palestinian leader’s remains later this month. The gravesite was surrounded with a blue tarpaulin and roads leading to the Arafat mausoleum were closed off on Tuesday. Palestinian officials say the exhumation will take place in late November. They say the Palestinian Authority insists on privacy and doesn’t want the process observed by media and others. They spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the exhumation.. Swiss, French and Russian experts are to exhume Arafat’s body to try to clear up some of the mystery surrounding his November 2004 death in France. A Swiss lab recently discovered traces of a deadly radioactive isotope on clothes said to be Arafat’s, reviving allegations that he was poisoned.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Wednesday, November 14, 2012

Rwandan aid: UK to reflect ‘very carefully’ before continuing support

he UK will reflect “very carefully” before giving more financial aid to Rwanda, International Development Secretary Justine Greening has said. Her predecessor Andrew Mitchell is under fire for signing off £16m in aid on his last day in the job - despite concerns about Rwanda’s alleged backing for violent militias in DR Congo. Ms Greening said his de-

cision had been taken in a “sound and robust” way. But continued support for Rwanda would depend on progress on various issues. The UK’s decision to go ahead with an initial £16m tranche of funding to Rwanda was controversial as the African country’s rulers have allegedly funded rebels from the M23 militia group accused of murder and rape in neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo.

Other EU nations have withdrawn funds and the UK suspended budget support in July over concerns about Rwanda’s alleged behaviour. But Mr Mitchell told MPs last week he had decided to resume aid to the country after two out of three conditions set by the UK - a ceasefire in the Kivus region and an end to practical support from Rwanda to militias - were met.

World News

WORLD RECORD

Longest anamorphic painting Vol. 02 No. 491

Wednesday, November 14, 2012

I “

Theatre of the absurd

t made an interesting theatre, especially the way it ended. The dramatis personae were Chief Justice of the Federation (CJN), Justice Aloma Miriam Mukhtar, who was the “lead actor” and Justice Ifeoma Jombo-Ofo who was put in the position of “villain”. Subsequently, as spectators sat applauding the stage drama, the curtain suddenly fell; with no one even sure of what went wrong. Incidentally, the only script was that with the Chief Justice and she decided when to end the high drama, and so kept everyone in and outside the audience guessing. The drama as everyone knows took place last week during the swearing in ceremony of new Justices for the Court of Appeal. Mrs. Ifeoma Jombo-Ofo alongside 11 others was to be administered the oath of office for their new positions. But when it came to her turn, the music suddenly stopped on the orders of Mrs. Miriam

ustralian Lleyton Hewitt has announced he has no plans to call time on his career next year, saying he is already looking ahead to the Australian Open in 2014. After overcoming a foot injury that threatened to

N150

The longest anamorphic painting measures 106.3 m (348 ft 9 in) and was created by Joe Hill of 3D Joe and Max (both UK) and unveiled at West India Quay, London, UK, to celebrate Guinness World Records Day, on 17 November 2011.

Okay Osuji (okayosuji@nationalmirroronline.net) 08034729256 (sms only)

Muhktar, for the bizarre reasons that a flood of petitions emanating from sources which till now remained a mystery, had protested her elevation on grounds that she was not from Abia, even when she is married to an indigene and had served for more than 14 years as a judge in that state. Curious was the fact that, even when she was a nominee of the state government and Governor Orji came along with a train of dignitaries to witness the ceremony, the Chief Justice refused to see any wisdom in swearing in a bona fide citizen to a position she deservedly merits. Surprisingly, the Chief Justice has continued to stand her grounds, even in the thick of public uproar and amazements. The question is what really informed this unprecedented action by the country’s judicial head, in this day and age? Her office has been taciturn in letting Nigerians know what really transpired, and only has been accusing the media of hysteria and not diligent enough to hear both sides of the story. But it is pertinent to let the CJN know that in a situation like this, the onus of proof and responsibility is on her to bare all material evidence concerning the issue, in order to lay the ghost of victimization now making the rounds to rest. In the first instance, should the Chief Justice have allowed Justice Ifeoma Jombo-Ofo into the venue, when to all intents and purpose, she was not qualified to be there? Why was her name sent to the National Judicial Council (NJC) and Presi-

SURPRISINGLY, THE CHIEF JUSTICE HAS CONTINUED TO STAND HER GROUNDS, EVEN IN THE THICK OF PUBLIC UPROAR AND AMAZEMENTS dent Goodluck Jonathan for approval, if she was incompetent to hold the position? Must she be subjected to such public humiliation just to score cheap points? Section 42(1) (2) of the Nigerian Constitution states, that no one should be discriminated against on the basis of state of birth or origin. What it all boils down to, is that we are victimizing her for marrying outside her state of origin. But when did place of birth become a deciding factor on where someone marries and lives in Nigeria? Shamefully, we are marching back to the Stone Age where clannishness and primitive loyalties define who we are and where we belong. Justice has a universal appeal and remains one of those most enduring ethos that bind humanity across all spectrums of society. Thereby, it should not be limited or stymied by the prejudices or negative dispositions of any individual or group of faceless petition writers with

very selfish interests. As far as we continue having preference for promoting the culture of indigene to perpetuate tribal loyalties and incompetence, the more the country continues to drift and deviate from the road of development and national unity. It is smacks of hubris, that in this era of democratic dispensation, the Bench should be at the vanguard of leading the assault on freedom of choice and sanctity of marriage by hiding under the canopy of frivolous petitions to deny justice to a person duly qualified for it. Incidentally, this is happening in a country that had in the past sent legal luminaries to places such as Botswana, Uganda and Gambia as Chief Justices, even when they never laid any claims of being natives. Late Justice Udo Udoma, from present Akwa Ibom State, was Chief Justice of Uganda from 1963-69. Late Akinola Aguda, was Chief Justice of Botswana, and also held a concurrent position of judge of the Court of Appeal of Swaziland and Lesotho from 1972 -75. Also, Justice Emmanuel Olayinka Ayoola, was a onetime Chief Justice of the Gambia from 1980-83. It may interest those kicking against the appointment of Mrs. Ifeoma Jumbo Ofo, that the present Consul of Niger Republic to the United Kingdom, Dr. Chuma Igbokwe, is a Nigerian. Then how does anyone explain this travesty, that a Nigeria cannot hold a judiciary position in any part of the country just because of not being a state indigene. When did justice become a parochial affair? The CJN should have demanded that the petitioners go to court, if ever they had any genuine grouse bordering on breach of the constitution, rather than holding a secret conclave where her fate was decided in absentia. That is why the National Judicial Council (NJC) must immediately wade into the matter, and rectify this gross anomaly and daylight injustice. The country should abandon this misnomer of “indigene” and “state of origin” now.

Sport Extra

Hewitt makes retirement U-turn, eyes Aussie Open end his career, the former world number one said he felt fresh both physically and mentally. “I seriously doubt it,” the 31-year-old said yesterday when he was asked

whether his appearance at the Australian Open in January would be his last. “I’d say I’ll be back again. I’m playing all next year. I can’t see myself getting to the Paris in-

doors and not the Australian Open a month later.” The 2005 Australian Open finalist, who spoke at a promotion for the AAMI Classic, said he would use the event as

part of his preparation for the opening grand slam of 2013 at Melbourne Park. “I’m not putting results on the table or goals to get to certain rounds,” he added.

Lleyton Hewitt

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