Wednesday, November 7, 2012

Senate rejects national fl ag carrier status for Arik ...as aviation committee report suffers setback T GEORGE OJI AND EMMANUEL ONANI Mark

Vol. 2 N0. 486

he Senate yesterday opposed the recommendation by its committee on aviation that Arik Air be granted

JTF raids Boko Haram’s hideout in Yobe, kills four

.

Four die in Benue cult clash P.51,52

the status of Nigeria’s national flag carrier.

The lawmakers took the decision during the debate CONTINUED ON PAGE 6>>

Ihejirika

Wednesday, November 7, 2012

N150

US poll:

Obama wins Beats Romney AYODELE OJO

WASHINGTON DC

A

gain, millions of American voters re-elected President Barack Obama yesterday for another term of four years as the Democratic candidate won with 284 Electoral College votes.

Obama braced against the odds in his re-election bid.

As at 5:30a.m., Obama had polled over 284 Electoral College votes while his archrival was trailing behind with 203 electoral votes.

There was jubilation in the camp of the President across the US. The biggest haul for Obama were California’s 55 electoral votes, New York’s 29, Florida’s 29, Pennsylvania’s 20, Illinois’s 20 votes, his state; totalling 153.

The President also grabbed Ohio’s 18 votes.

PHCN: Banks reluctant to grant bidders loans –Investigation

Electricity workers accuse FG of insincerity P.5

Rivers received N120bn derivation illegally –Bayelsa gov

P.7

Obama won Florida with 3,856,644 votes against Romney’s 3,835,480 votes.

In the build up to the election, Obama campaigned in Florida for 30 times while Romney made 36 stops.

As at the time of filing this report (4a.m.), President Obama had cleared all electoral votes in Delaware (3), the home state of Vice- President Joe Biden; District of Columbia (3), Hawaii CONTINUED ON PAGE 2>>

RESULTS Obama Romney 44,969,852 45,179,124 ELECTORAL COLLEGE 284 203 Senate Democrat Republican 48 seats 42 seats Congress 120 171

Police shoot Okada rider in Lagos Gunmen attack Nigerian Compass MD P.8,49

Abubakar

2

News

Wednesday, November 7, 2012

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Obama wins, beats Romney CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

(4), his birth place; Maryland (10), Massachusetts (11), Rhodes Island (4), Vermont (3) and Washington (12).

Obama also gained 29 votes from Connecticut (7), Maine (3), New Jersey (14) and New Mexico (5).

Eighteen votes from Maine (1), Minnesota (10) and Oregon (7) also lean towards Obama.

The President was also favoured to win Michigan’s 16 votes.

Texas’s 38 electoral votes went to Romney. Texas is a heavily Republican state.

In North Carolina, Romney defeated Obama with 2,856,644 votes against the President’s 2,835,480 votes to earn the state’s 15 electoral votes.

Ohio’s 18 votes ultimately determined the winner.

To demonstrate the importance of Ohio, Vice President Joe Biden, Republican presidential candidate, Mitt Romney and his running mate, Paul Ryan on Election Day stormed Ohio to sway voters to their sides.

In the battleground states of Colorado (8),

Florida (29), Iowa (7), Nevada (8), North Carolina (4), Ohio (18), Wisconsin (10), Virginia (13), and New Hampshire (6) the President is also having a slight edge.

“We feel confident we’ve got the votes to win,” Obama said last night at his campaign office in Chicago. “I expect that we’ll have a good night, but no matter what happens, I just want to say how much I appreciate everybody who supported me, everybody who’s worked so hard on my behalf,” he said.

Both Obama and Romney held victory night rallies yesterday.

The President held his rally in Chicago, Illinois while the former governor of Massachusetts held his in Boston.

Voting ended on Tuesday by 7p.m. and past 11p.m. (1a.m. and past 5a.m. Nigerian time on Wednesday). The turnout was large.

California has the highest number of electoral votes of 55 followed by Texas with 38 electoral votes.

Romney won in Texas (38), Alabama (9), Alaska (3), Arkansas (6), Idaho (4),

DETAILED RESULTS

State and Votes Alabama (9) 41% Alaska (3) 0% Arizona (11) 42% Arkansas (6) 39% California (55) 0% Colorado (9) 51% Connecticut (7) 56% Delaware (3) 59% Florida (29) 50% Georgia (16) 44% Hawaii (4) 0% Idaho (4) 36% Illinois (20) 58% Indiana (11) 43% Iowa (6) 56% Kansas (6) 40% Kentucky (8) 38% Louisiana (8) 37% Maine (4) 58% Maryland (10) 60% Massachusetts (11) 60% Michigan (16) 51% Minnesota (10) 53% Mississippi (6) 44% Missouri (10) 40% Montana (3) 45% Nebraska (5) 40% Nevada (6) 0% New Hampshire (4) 53% New Jersey (14) 58% New Mexico (5) 54% New York (29) 56% North Carolina (15) 48% North Dakota (3) 38% Ohio (18) 50% Oklahoma (7) 33% Oregon (7) 0% Pennsylvania (20) 54% Rhode Island (4) 62% South Carolina (9) 42% South Dakota (3) 38% Tennessee (11) 34% Texas (38) 40% Utah (6) 33% Vermont (3) 67% Virginia (13) 49% Washington (12) 0% Washington D.C. (3) 92% West Virginia (5) 36% Wisconsin (10) 48% Wyoming (3) 28%

Obama 548,749 58% 0 0% 504,970 56% 227,536 59% 0 0% 874,911 47% 412,420 43% 241,589 40% 3,924,34949% 1,333,92355% 0 0% 52 63% 2,389,14040% 1,051,55755% 316,796 43% 175,512 57% 662,779 60% 515,118 61% 119,337 39% 874,557 38% 1,269,60239% 782,591 48% 360,243 45% 288,967 55% 465,132 58% 17,839 52% 171,315 58% 0 0% 135,320 46% 1,332,44641% 220,283 43% 612,215 42% 2,142,86151% 60,566 60% 1,939,75948% 337,924 67% 0 0% 2,161,93845% 251,165 36% 561,482 57% 81,428 59% 642,576 64% 2,348,51259% 69,813 65% 140,300 31% 1,453,76950% 0 0% 125,372 7% 205,707 62% 454,641 51% 31,603 69%

Romney 765,395 0 666,065 345,609 0 819,118 315,386 164,887 3,888,469 1,658,749 0 91 1,653,582 1,331,286 241,456 251,044 1,051,781 838,681 80,384 551,933 820,262 724,211 310,762 366,964 676,058 20,788 249,065 0 118,861 943,546 175,971 465,650 2,232,477 95,912 1,855,850 693,365 0 1,793,628 144,247 760,695 126,152 1,210,200 3,422,862 134,773 65,247 1,477,563 0 9,421 354,899 488,075 76,766

Kansas (6), Kentucky (8), Louisiana (8), Mississippi (6), Nebraska (4), North Dakota (3), Oklahoma (7), Tennessee (11), Utah (6), West Virginia (5) and Wyoming (3).

States like Georgia (16), Indiana (11), South Carolina (9), South Dakota (3), Missouri (10), Montana (3) and Nebraska CD2 (1) with 53 electoral votes are going for Romney. Arizona (11) also leans towards Republicans.

Two critical issues of economy and jobs informed voters’ choice between Obama and Romney. Other issues that also dictated the choice of America’s president were candidate’s policies on education, foreign, education, and abortion among others The Republican went ahead of the Democrat in the Congressional election as at last night.

Voters in New Jersey affected by Superstorm Sandy still have up till Friday to vote electronically.

There have been four instances where candidates who won the popular votes lost the election.

In 1824, John Quincy

Adams received more than 38,000 fewer votes than Andrew Jackson, but neither candidate won a majority of the Electoral College.

Adams was awarded the presidency when the election was thrown to the House of Representatives.

In 1876, Rutherford B. Hayes had a one-vote margin in the Electoral College, despite the fact that he lost the popular vote to Samuel J. Tilden by 264,000 votes. Also in 1888, Benjamin Harrison lost the popular vote by 95,713 votes to Grover Cleveland, but won the electoral vote by 65.

Recently in 2000, Al Gore of the Democrat had polled 50,992,335 popular votes against George W. Bush’s 50,455,156. But Bush became president with 271 electoral votes.

To emerge a winner, a candidate is expected to secure 270 out of the 538 electoral votes.

As at 5:30a.m. Romney polled over 36m There was nervous anticipation in U.S. as votes trickle in across 51 states and Washington DC from last night till early this morning.

No restriction of movement

U

nlike Nigeria where movement is restricted on election day, Americans were on their duty posts without hindrance yesterday.

Political advertising was still on the day of the election.

Even campaign rallies were held. Republican Mitt Romney campaigned in Ohio and Pennsylvania, contrary to the situation in Nigeria.

Only public schools were shut as their premises were used as polling units.

There was no human and vehicular restriction in most areas visited in Maryland, Virginia and the nation’s capital, Washington DC. In Washington DC, workers were at work.

Many eligible voters were seen casting their vote as

early as 7a.m. and returning to their offices.

In most states, voting commenced at 7a.m. and ended at 7p.m.

The only sign of election was the atmosphere at designated polling units.

At polling units visited in Bethesda, Rockville, Germantown, Glenmont all in Maryland, and Mclean, Tyson’s Corner, Lynchburg, Arlington, Alexandria all in Virginia, voters were seen exercising their civic rights in orderliness.

There were no cases of violence and ballot snatching.

A member of the Virginia House of Delegates, Banbana Cornstock, told National Mirror that she was proud to cast her vote for her party, the Republican.

“My vote is not just for my party but the future of America.

Another voter simply identified as Carol, said: “This election is about issues, not party affiliation.

Americans need leaders who can change their fortunes. That is why I have voted Mitt Romney,” Babara said.

She also told our correspondent that her lot on President Barack Obama was because Obama had the capacity to move the country forward.

“I’m not a politician but I have exercised my voting right today.

“I came to the polling unit by 7a.m. and by 8a.m.

I am done with the voting.

I’m sure Obama will get the mandate of Americans to do another term,” she told National Mirror in Germantown, Maryland.

Shelby Umetsu, a school teacher in Rockville, Maryland, said she could not wait to see the election over.

“It has been a gruelling period, so I can’t wait for the election to be over today.

“The election has almost divided Americans. I have voted for my choice based on performance and promises. I hope after today, when the winner emerges, Americans will come together,” Umetsu said.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

News

Wednesday, November 7, 2012

3

New Jersey extends electronic voting to Friday O verwhelmed with requests from displaced residents of the stormravaged New Jersey, election officials have extended the deadline for electronic voting to Friday.

Thousands of voters who were displaced from their homes and polling districts after Superstorm Sandy will be able to email their ballots to their county clerks by 8 p.m. Friday to be counted in the 2012 election.

This was the directive issued by the New Jersey Division of Elections Tuesday afternoon.

The change came after clerks were

inundated with requests by residents, each of which took staffers more than 15 minutes to complete after comparing the request against a list of registered voters and finishing paperwork, according to an Essex County, N.J., staffer.

Sandy initially knocked out power to more than 800 polling sites throughout the state, although alternative locations were quickly established. Governor Chris Christie announced earlier this week that residents would be able to vote by email if they could not make it to a polling place, becoming the first state to allow electronic voting for the whole

population. Some states have previously offered electronic voting to those serving in the military.

According to the New Jersey offices of the American Civil Liberties Union, county clerks were so swamped with requests for email ballots today that the ACLU petitioned for an extension to typical voting hours.

In American election history, only thrice had a candidate won popular vote and ended up winning the president and those exceptions were in 1876, 1888 and 2000, even as 33 senate seats were up for grabs in this election, with 23 of those

REPORTING

seats being held by Democrats.

It is also been revealed that where no candidate wins the constitutionally required 270 Electoral College votes, the House of Representatives decides who wins the presidency.

Machine wrongly counted votes for Romney

A

Pennsylvania electronic voting machine was taken out of service after being captured on video changing a vote for President Obama into one for Mitt Romney.

Republicans have also said machines have turned Romney votes into Obama ones.

The video was first “posted on Youtube by user “centralpavoter.” It shows a voter’s finger repeatedly pressing the button for Obama, but a check mark coming up next to Romney’s name: Underneath the video, the user gave an account of what happened: “I initially selected Obama but Romney was highlighted. I assumed it was being picky so I deselected Romney and tried Obama again, this time more carefully, and still got Romney. I immediately went into troubleshoot mode. I first thought the

calibration was off and tried selecting Jill Stein to actually highlight Obama.

Nope. Jill Stein was selected just fine. Next I deselected her and started at the top of Romney’s name and started tapping very closely together to find the ‘active areas’. From the top of Romney’s button down to the bottom of the black checkbox beside Obama’s name was all active for Romney. From the bottom of that same checkbox to the bottom of the Obama button (basically a small white sliver) is what let me choose Obama. Stein’s button was fine. All other buttons worked fine.

“I asked the voters on either side of me if they had any problems and they reported they did not. I then called over a volunteer to have a look at it, and said “It’s nothing to worry about, everything will be OK.” and went back to what she was doing. I then recorded this video.

QUOTABLE QUOTES

OBAMA “This election is a choice between two fundamentally different visions for America: President Obama is fighting to grow the economy from the middle out, not the top down. Mitt Romney wants to go back to the exact same policies that caused the recession and hurt the middle class.”

“We can do better. We can have real economic growth, create millions of good-paying jobs, and give middle-class families the security and opportunity they deserve. When I’m president, I’m going to make real changes that lead to a real recovery, so that the next four years are better than the last.”

“The American auto industry is back on top. Home values are on the rise,” he said Saturday in Ohio. “The war in Iraq is over. The war in Afghanistan is winding down. Al Qaeda is on the run and Osama bin Laden is dead.”

ROMNEY On unemployment: “Today’s increase in the unemployment rate is a sad reminder that the economy is at a virtual standstill. The jobless rate is higher than it was when President Obama took office, and there are still 23 million Americans struggling for work.”

“On Tuesday, America will make a choice between stagnation and prosperity. For four years, President Obama’s policies have crushed America’s middle class. For four years, President Obama has told us that things are getting better and that we’re making progress. For too many American families, those words ring hollow.”

Three Obama supporters walk around the south side of Chicago, Illinois wearing Obama and Romney masks holding placards asking people to vote

Obama praises Romney, plays basketball

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resident Barack Obama yesterday expressed confidence that at the end of vote counting, he would emerge the winner of the election.

“I expect that we’ll have a good night,” he told reporters.

“Hopefully we’ll have a good day. Keep working hard all the way through.

“We feel confident we’ve got the votes to win but it’s going to depend ultimately on whether these votes turn out.”

He said he knows Romney’s supporters are “just as engaged, just as enthusiastic” as his own and congratulated the former Massachusetts governor “for a hard-fought race.”

Obama headed for the hard court after he gave a final exhortation to his volunteers to get out the vote, voiced optimism about his chances and congratulated rival Mitt Romney on a “spirited campaign.”

Meanwhile, President Obama yesterday kept faith with his tradition of

playing basketball game on election day. The Democrat candidate along with former Chicago Bulls star Scottie Pippen, childhood friends Mike Ramos and Marty Nesbitt, and Education Secretary Arne Duncan, a former captain of Harvard’s basketball team played together in Illinois, Chicago while the election was going on.

Obama did not vote yesterday. He cast his vote on October 25.

“We made the mistake of not playing basketball once.

I can assure you we will not repeat that,” said Robert Gibbs, a long-time Obama aide who accompanied the president in the campaign’s waning days.

In 2008, Obama played basketball with aides before winning the kickoff Iowa caucuses. They decided to make the games an Election Day tradition after he lost the next contest, the New Hampshire primary, on a day when they didn’t hit the court.

AMERICAN PRESIDENTS IN HISTORY George Washington John Adams Thomas Jefferson James Madison James Monroe John Quincy Adams Andrew Jackson Martin Van Buren William H Harrison John Tyler James K. Polk Zachary Taylor Millard Fillmore Franklin Pearce James Buchanan Abraham Lincoln Andrew Johnson Ulysses S. Grant Rutherford B. Hayes James A. Garfield Chester A. Arthur Grover Cleveland Benjamin Harrison Grover Cleveland William McKinley Theodore Roosevelt William H Taft Woodward Wilson Warren G. Harding Grover Cleveland Calvin Coolidge Herbert Hoover Franklin Roosevelt Harry S Truman Dwight Eisenhower John F. Kennedy Lyndon B. Johnson Richard Nixon Gerald Ford Jimmy Carter Ronald Reagan George W. Bush Snr. Bill Clinton George W. Bush Jnr. Barack H. Obama

Apr 30, 1789 – Mar 4, 1797 Mar 4, 1797 – Mar 4, 1801 Mar 4, 1801 – Mar 4, 1809 Mar 4, 1809 – Mar 4, 1817 Mar 4, 1817 – Mar 4, 1825 Mar 4, 1825 – Mar 4, 1829 Mar 4, 1829 – Mar 4 1837 Mar 4, 1837 - Mar 4, 1841 Mar 4, 1841 - Apr 4, 1841 Apr 4, 1841 - Mar 4, 1845 Mar 4, 1845 – Mar 4, 1849 Mar 4, 1849 – July 9, 1850 July 9, 1850 – Mar 4, 1853 Mar 4, 1853 – Mar 4, 1857 Mar 4, 1857 – Mar 4, 1861 Mar 4, 1861 – Apr 15, 1865 Apr 15, 1865 – Mar 4, 1869 Mar 4, 1869 – Mar 4, 1877 Mar 4, 1877 – Mar 4, 1881 Mar 4, 1881 – Sept 19, 1881 Sept 19, 1881 – Mar 4, 1885 Mar 4, 1885 – Mar 4, 1889 Mar 4, 1889 – Mar 4, 1893 Mar 4, 1893 – Mar 4, 1897 Mar 4, 1897 – Sept 14, 1901 Sept 14, 1901 – Mar 4, 1909 Mar 4, 1909 – Mar 4, 1913 Mar 4, 1913 – Mar 4, 1921 Mar 4, 1921 – Aug 2, 1923 Mar 4, 1885 – Mar 4, 1889 Aug 2, 1923 – Mar 4, 1929 Mar 4, 1929 – Aug 2, 1933 Mar 4, 1933 – Apr 12, 1945 Apr 12, 1945 – Jan 20, 1953 Jan 20, 1953 – Jan 20, 1961 Jan 20, 1961 – Nov 22, 1963 Nov 22, 1963 – Jan 20, 1969 Jan 20, 1969 – Aug 9, 1974 Aug 9, 1974 – Jan 20, 1977 Jan 20, 1977 – Jan 20, 1981 Jan20, 1981 – Jan20, 1989 Jan 20, 1989 – Jan 20, 1993 Jan 20, 1993 – Jan 20, 2001 Jan 20, 2001 – Jan 20 2009 Jan 20, 2009 – Date.

No party Fed Dem-Rep Dem-Rep Dem-Rep Dem-Rep Dem Dem Whig Whig Dem Whig Whig Dem Dem Rep Dem Rep Rep Rep Rep Dem Rep Dem Rep Rep Rep Dem Rep Dem Rep Rep Dem Dem Rep Dem Dem Rep Rep Dem Rep Rep Dem Rep Dem

4

Photo News

Wednesday, November 7, 2012

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

US PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION

Barack Obama on stage with Jay-Z (left) and Bruce Springsteen at a rally in Columbus, Ohio.

Republican presidential candidate, Mitt Romney, his wife, Ann, voting in Belmont, Massachusetts.

Vice-President Joe Biden voting in Delaware yesterday.

Voters in Colorado.

L-R: President Barack Obama; Roman Catholic Cardinal and Archbishop of New York, Timothy Dolan, and Republican presidential candidate, Mitt Romney, at the 67th Annual Alfred E. Smith Memorial Foundation Dinner in New York.

The 10 registered voters in the small village of Dixville Notch, New Hamsphire, waiting to cast their votes yesterday.

Obama (middle), casting his vote at the Martin Luther King Community Centre, in Chicago.

Republican Vice-Presidential candidate, Paul Ryan casting his vote in Wisconsin as his wife and children watch.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

News

Wednesday, November 7, 2012

5

PHCN: Banks reluctant to grant bidders loans –Investigation UDEME AKPAN AND JAMES ABRAHAM

S

ome bidders of the nation’s 11 electricity distribution companies, popularly known as DISCOS, may not be able to pay for the companies as financial institutions appeared reluctant

to grant them credit facilities.

The situation National Mirror learnt, was based on the controversial manner some of them emerged as preferred bidders, perceived lack of capacity to manage huge funds placed at their disposal and uncertainties concerning their operations.

Our correspondent gathered that financial institutions were apprehensive of releasing funds because of allegations that some of the favoured bidders might not have the capacity to run the companies.

One of the banks’ chief executive officers, who will not want his name mentioned, confirmed the devel-

opment: “We have been following events in the sector to know how they emerged.

When we take a look at the firms and competence of personnel that are expected to pilot the affairs, we are not sure some of them have the capacity to deliver. We are also worried about the politics surrounding the bid. Some governors have

L-R: National Chairman, Peoples Democratic Party, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur; President Goodluck Jonathan; Emir of Dutse, Alhaji Nuhu Sanusi and Jigawa State Governor, Sule Lamido, during the visit of the President to Jigawa, yesterday.

threatened to stop companies from operating in their states, so things have to be made very clear”.

He also noted that the huge sums required by the bidders meant that bank had to be extra careful to avoid loans going bad.

“These firms do not require small sums of monies. They require huge sums which will constitute a huge risk. We have to be very careful in considering financing their operations.

I think some of them will have to syndicate the loans.

Some will have to bring money from abroad.

“Despite the attractiveness of the sector, one thing is certain. It is not all the investors that will succeed in business. Some of the firms may fail to deliver, revenue projections are one thing, the reality may be quite different. So, we have to be careful”, he said.

Spokesman of Union Bank, Mr. Francis Barde, said that some of the bidders might have approached the bank for funds but could not immediately

confirm the situation.

He said: “I am unable at this point to confirm the names and status of such applications, if any. That can be done later.”

Investigations showed that none of the bidders had paid for the power firms.

For instance, the Project Director of Integrated Energy Distribution and Marketing Ltd, Dr. Olusola Ayandele, whose company emerged the preferred bidder for Ibadan Electricity Distribution Plc said: “We have the capacity to pay. We are sure we will meet the target.

“There is no way we will not meet the set target. We are working to pay for the company.”

Chairman, National Committee on Privatisation, NCP, Technical Committee, Mr. Atedo Peterside had said the preferred bidders for electricity generation and distribution firms, popularly known as GENCOs and DISCOS, were required to post an additional CONTINUED ON PAGE 6>>

Ihejirika condemns Amnesty report Nigeria loses N80bn annually on medical tourism –Senate committee

T

he Nigerian Army has condemned the recent Amnesty International reports which accused the Joint Task Force, JTF, of gross human rights violations in some parts of the North.

The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt-Gen. Azubuike Ihejirika, told newsmen in Abuja on Tuesday that the methodology used by the International Human Rights Group was faulty.

Represented by the Chief of Civil Military Affairs, Maj.-Gen Bitrus Kwaji, he described the report as unbalanced and highly subjective in favour of the aspirations of Boko Haram.

He said that the military was never contacted or consulted when the Amnesty International was gathering information and conducting interviews from members of the sect from which they concluded their report.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalled that Amnesty International last week in a report entitled: ``Nigeria: Trapped in the Circle of Violence”, highlighted the nation’s security challenges, oil spills and demolition of houses.

“The serious human

rights violations carried out by the security forces include; enforced disappearance, torture, extrajudicial executions, the torching of homes and detention without trial,’’ the report said.

Ihejirika, however, debunked such allegations as biased and ill-conceived with the intention of rubbishing the efforts which the military had been making to restore peace, protect lives and properties, law and order.

According to him, I am happy to observe that Amnesty International recognised that all the acts of Boko Haram are against Nigerian laws.

“They also recognised the fact that Boko Haram attacks were against civilians, this was a crime against humanity.

“We, however, disagreed with the mythology used to get the reports which did not give the military fair hearing.

“In their report regarding the methodology used, it admitted it spoke with affected members of the public in Borno, Bauchi, Kano and Federal Capital Territory (FCT) “The Amnesty Interna-

tional also read newspaper reports and statements from Boko Haram.

“No where did they state that they got in touch with us. They never made any effort to reach us. We have our modes of operation, which were being complied with by our officers.

“There have not been any reports of violation or our officers going outside their rules of engagement,” he noted.

He said: “We want to say that we have not been contacted by Amnesty International on any act of highhandedness by our soldiers, of which their commander is a battle tested professional.’’

He emphasised that the Amnesty International should have felt the pulse of the military.

The Army Chief said that Amnesty International report was skewed in favour of Boko Haram, not taking into cognisance of military efforts to ensure peace and security of law abiding citizens.

He debunked the allegations that JTF was in anyway involved in the killing of the civil war hero, Gen. Mohammed Shuwa.

T

he Senate Committee on Health has expressed concerns over the huge amount of money being spent by Nigerians on trips abroad for medical treatment.

Sen. Ifeanyi Okowa led Committee while exchanging views with the Minister of State for Health, Dr Mohammed Pate and stakeholders in the sector at the budget defence session.

According to him, close to N80bn is being spent yearly on medical tourism in the country and this has to be checked.

“We know that several Nigerians travel outside the shores of this country to the United Kingdom and India for medical treatment.

“You and I will agree that this is not the direction we need to go.

“I believe that we spend close to N80 billion yearly on medical tourism in this country and this is not the way we have to go,” he stressed.

The committee chairman said that with 2013 budget estimate of about N297 billion, only 20 per cent was earmarked for capital development.

The committee also expressed worry over the data collection technique of the ministry and its authenticity as well as the low level generation capacity of the ministry.

In his presentation, Pate told the committee that the ministry was facing several challenges but gave the assurance that all hands were on deck to surmount these challenges.

Pate said N480m of the 2012 budget estimate had been allocated for preparedness and response to epidemic out break such as Cholera, Meningitis and Lassa fever.

He added that N2.2bn had been proposed for procurement of HIV kits and drugs just as N261 million had been appropriated for cancer control.

According to him,

what the budget is trying to convey is President Goodluck Jonathan’s focus on achieving tangible results.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the budget defence session would continue on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, the senate will on Wednesday discuss a motion on why a female judge was denied a Court of Appeal seat based on her state of origin.

Coming under the senate standing rules, the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, informed the senate that Justice Ifeoma JomboOfo, was not sworn in as a Justice of Appeal Court because of her state of origin.

The Senate President David Mark ruled that the matter be taken on Wednesday, noting that it was wrong to discriminate against any female based on state of origin.

The senate had been on a two week Sallah recess and resumed plenary sitting on Nov. 6.

6

News

Wednesday, November 7, 2012

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Senate rejects national flag carrier status for Arik CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

on the report of the Senate Committee on Aviation, which investigated the “Violation of aviation laws and practice by foreign airlines and lapses in the operation of regulatory agencies.”

The committee had recommended that “Arik Air, with over 26 new aircraft in its fleet and any other local airline with similar capacity, which must have operated in Nigeria for a minimum of five years, should be granted national flag carrier status.”

But the senators said that Arik Air did not merit the status, given its poor performance in domestic air operations in the country.

The lawmakers wondered why the committee made such recommenda-

tion, “which clearly falls outside of its original mandate.”

It took the intervention of the Senate President David Mark and his deputy, Ike Ekweremadu, to save the report from being thrown out completely.

This was the second time the report would be returned to the committee for proper legislative work.

The first time the report was presented to the Senate, it was returned to the committee to harmonise the recommendations.

The report was also rejected for not addressing the major issues contained in the original brief to the committee, which was to find solution to the perceived outrageous airfares charged by foreign airlines in Nigeria.

Mark said: “There are questions in my opinion you need to go back to answer.

“We will treat some of the recommendations today but we will give you more work. You need to go back and bring very critical recommendations that will make us change the aviation industry.

“As it is at the moment, there are very many problems. Of course, one of them is to reorganise our airports properly.

“The airports we have at the moment, for foreign airlines to come here, they are doing us a favour because as soon as you get to our airport, you see the chain of confusion.

“We also need to do our homework properly before pointing accusing fingers

or blaming others for our problems.”

Asked what the immediate solution to the problem would be, the Chairman of the committee, Hope Uzodinma, said: “What we can do immediately is that while trying to get NCAA to come up with clear cut economic regulatory framework to check excessive charges of BA (British Airways), Nigerians should be given an opportunity for a choice, to see another airline that can carry them directly from Nigeria to London because 70 per cent of passengers leaving here are going to London and outside British Airways, they have to fly other airlines that are not going directly.”

Deputy Senate Leader, Abdul Ningi, said it was

L-R: Group Managing Director, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, Mr. Andy Yakubu; Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke and Managing Director, Pipeline Products Marketing Company, Mr. Haruna Momo, at the inauguration of reconstructed NNPC refinery jetty in Port Harcourt on Monday.

obvious that the foreign airlines had deliberately refused to pay their taxes to the Federal Government.

He attributed this to the collaboration between the Nigerian regulatory authorities and the foreign airlines.

Ningi questioned the economic sense in designating Arik the official national flag carrier for the country, describing the recommendation as dangerous, unprecedented and completely unacceptable.

Senator Ehigie Uzamere said the problem of the nation’s aviation sector was with the citizens. He noted that corruption was the sole factor driving the inefficiency in the sector.

The senator said that if Arik wanted to be designated the nation’s flag carrier, it must be ready to sell off its entire shares to the Federal Government.

He added that the airline was only trying to achieve a national flag carrier status through the backdoor.

Reps again shelve debate on PIB

D

ebate on the contentious Petroleum Industry Bill, PIB, has again been suspended in the House of Representatives as the Green Chamber is set to merge the bill with a similar bill sponsored by one of its members.

The PIB will, according to a resolution of the House yesterday, be taken at a special session next week where the Petroleum Resources Minister, Dieziani Alison-Madueke is expected to be a guest.

Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal after ruling on the decision of the House, also asked members who would want to make contributions to a debate on the PIB to submit their

names to the chief whip or deputy whip next week.

The decision to merge the two bills was taken following a motion by the Chairman of the House Committee on Rules and Business, Hon. Albert Sam-Tsokwa.

The new bill titled “A bill for An Act to Establish the National New Frontier Exploration Agency, for the Purpose of Exploration and Production of Oil and Gas in the Frontier of Chad basin, Dahomey basin, Imo basin, Benue trough and Sokoto basin,” is sponsored by Hon. Kaka Kyari Gujibawu from Borno State According to Sam-Tsokwa with the introduction of a similar bill, it was in order to merge them.

PHCN: Banks reluctant to grant bidders loans –Investigation CONTINUED FROM PAGE 5

bid security in the form of a Letter of Credit or Bank Guarantee for 15 per cent of the transaction value within 15 business days of notification from the Bureau of Public Enterprises, BPE. He said the preferred bidders’ bank guarantee shall be from a Standard & Poors (S&P) or Moody & Fitch “A” rated foreign bank with a correspondent bank in Nigeria or a Nigerian bank rated “A” by a Rating Agency approved by Securities and Exchange Commission, SEC, and be valid through 21 calendar days after the stipulated proposal validity period or any extended proposal validity period.

Peterside had noted that after the completion of payment, the handover of the successor companies to the preferred bidders would conclude the transactions.

NCP had approved Amperion Power Distribution Company Limited with a bid of $132,000,000 as the preferred bidder for the core investor sale of 51 per cent shares of Geregu Power Plc and Mainstream Energy Solutions Limited, which offered an annual fee of $50,760,665.18 and a commencement fee of $257,000,000 as the preferred bidder for the concession of Kainji Hydro Power Plc. The Council approved that North-South Power Ltd, which offered an annu-

al fee of $23,602,484.87 and a commencement fee of $111,654,534 as the preferred bidder for the concession of Shiroro Hydro Power Plc. The privatization body also approved Transcorp/ Woodrock/Sumbion/Medea/ PSL/ Thomassen with a bid of $300,000,000 as the preferred bidder for the core investor sale of 100 per cent shares of Ughelli Power Plc while Amperion Power Distribution Company Limited with a bid of $252,000,000, was also named as the reserve bidder.

Similarly, the NCP approved that CMEC/ EURAFRIC Energy JV Consortium with a bid of $201,000,000 as the preferred

bidder for the core investor sale of 100 per cent shares of Sapele Power Plc as well as JBN-NESTOIL Power Services Ltd with a bid of $106,500,000 is the reserve bidder Meanwhile, the National Union of Electricity Employees, NUEE, has accused the Federal Government of insincerity in the way it is handling the ongoing privatisation of the energy sector.

The association also urged its members in the North/East zone to disregard the move by the government to privatise the sector, saying it lacks sincerity and honesty in its entirety.

The President of the association, Comrade Man-

sur M. Musa and the General Secretary Comrade Joe Ajero stated this yesterday in their separate statements during the ongoing sensitisation campaign at the conference hall of the Hill Station hotel in Jos. They contended that the Federal Government has failed to convince Nigerians with the proceeds of privatisation, especially with the way and manner Daily Times Plc and Nitel were sold to those they refer to as “dubious individuals in the government”.

Musa stated that the task before them is not an easy one as he charged the workers to resist any attempt by the Federal Government at privatising PHCN, while

calling on them to be resolute and supportive in the struggle until their conditions are met.

He called on the National Labour Congress, NLC, to pressurise the Federal Government to see to the full implementation of the Senate recommendation on privatisation, adding that if the government failed, the Senate should confront the Federal Executive Council and ensure that its decisions are implemented for the benefit of ordinary Nigerians.

On his part, Ajero, who is also the acting President of the NLC, said they are in Jos to tell their members to stand up and defend their rights and that they are not being confrontational.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

National News

Wednesday, November 7, 2012

7

Rivers received N120bn derivation wrongly –Dickson EMMA GBEMUDU YENAGOA

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overnor Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa State yesterday alleged that the Federal Government wrongly paid N120 billion to the Rivers State Government in the last few years.

Dickson challenged his Rivers State counterpart, Governor Rotimi Amaechi, to tell the truth over the derivation fund received in the face of the lingering dispute

over oil wells between the two states.

The governor spoke in Yenagoa shortly after he inaugurated a 14-man State Boundary Committee headed by the state’s Deputy Governor, John Jonah.

He said: “But since my counterpart in Rivers State has made it a communal affair, I believe that he will help us at this point to tell the people of Rivers State and particularly the people of Kalabari Kingdom, whom he claimed he is fighting for,

that the basis of our recent claims is that the government of Rivers State in the past couple of years has wrongly received about N120 billion that shouldn’t have been paid to Rivers State.

“I hope he will also tell the government and the people of Rivers State and particularly the Kalabari people about the refund that was contentiously agreed and effected in favour of Rivers State to the tune of about N15 billion or N16 billion, which he got about a

month ago.

“I want to therefore use this opportunity to call on our law-abiding people, the Nembe clan and Kalabari Kingdom, both of who are Ijaw people, not to allow the unity of the Ijaw nation to be affected by the antics of people who want to play politics with anything and everything. I want to assure you all that we have existing structures to resolve our differences.”

Dickson said the boundary issues were sensitive

matters as he appealed to the Rivers State Government to allow the appropriate federal agency responsible for proper delineation to determine the boundary between the Kalabari people of Soku and Oluasiri in Nembe.

The governor noted that it was wrong for the Rivers State Government to be making unnecessary claims despite ongoing meeting and efforts to resolve the dispute.

“The N15 billion a paid to Bayelsa State recently was

a justified payment from its oil revenue. The people of Kalabari and Nembe should not allow themselves be drawn against each other over the matter that is receiving attention at the federal level,” he added.

Dickson urged the people of Nembe and Kalabari to remain calm in the face of recent disputes over oil wells involving the two states, as he said the two clans were both of Ijaw extraction and should not engage in communal clashes.

LEDAP flays CJN’s refusal to swear in female justice ISE-OLUWA IGE ABUJA

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Long queue at filling stations in Abuja, yesterday.

PHOTO: ROTIMI OSASONA

NBA responsible for judiciary’s poor rating –Adoke EMMANUEL ONANI ABUJA

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he Attorney General of the Federation, AGF, and Minister of Justice, Mohammed Bello Adoke (SAN), has blamed the negative image of the judiciary on some lawyers who indulge in public criticism of judges and court judgements.

Adoke said the timehonoured tradition where the Bar provided protective cover for the Bench against “unwarranted attacks” had lost its “significance.”

The AGF said this yesterday in Abuja at the commencement of the 2012/2013 Legal Year of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT. The 2012/2013 Legal Year of the FCT judiciary was flagged-off by the Chief Judge and Chairman, FCT Judicial Service Commission, Justice Lawal Gummi.

Adoke said there was noticeable erosion of “ethics and discipline” among legal practitioners, leading to a scenario where law-

yers “label any judge they disagree with as corrupt.”

The AGF pledged his readiness to work with the new leadership of the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, to initiate reforms to strengthen the mechanisms of discipline and ethical restoration, through such bodies as the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee and the General Council of the Bar. He, however, enjoined judges to avoid the temptation of conducting their affairs in a way that would expose them to ridicule and odium.

Adoke pledged the commitment of President Goodluck Jonathan to the promotion of the rule of law, independence of the judiciary and peaceful coexistence among all citizens.

He said: “I am constrained to observe that the Bar has over the years consciously or unconsciously contributed to the negative image the judiciary has suffered in recent times.

“It would appear that the sacred duty or respon-

sibility of the Bar to protect the Bench from unwarranted attacks or assault from those with a score to settle has lost its significance.

“It is a matter of regret that ethics and discipline at the Bar in terms of comportment and respect for the Bench has taken a downturn. Members of our noble profession now routinely launch unwarranted attacks on the Bench in the print and electronic media.

“In fact, it is safe to con-

clude that it has become fashionable for our lawyers to label any judge they disagree with as corrupt.

“Our judicial officers must resist the temptation of descending to the arena and conducting proceedings in an oppressive and intimidating manner. Lawyers should be afforded the enabling environment to ply their trade and be granted all the professional courtesies required of the Bench.

egal Defence and Assistance Project, LEDAP, yesterday condemned the refusal of the Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, Justice Mariam Aloma Muhktar, to swear in Justice Ifeoma JomboOfor as justice of the Court of Appeal.

Although Jombo-Ofor was listed as one of the 12 justices to take oath of office as justices of the Appeal Court, she lost the opportunity on Monday on the account that she was nominated from her husband’s state rather than from her state of birth.

LEDAP said in a statement that the CJN should

Justice Muhktar

Reps probe Aviation Minister over Kano Airport TORDUE SALEM ABUJA

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he House of Representatives has set up an investigative panel to look into the allegations that the Minister of Aviation, Mrs. Stella Oduah, has denied landing rights to four airlines at the Mallam Aminu Kano Airport, Kano.

The affected airlines are Emirates, Ethiopian, Turkish Airline, and Skyline Airlines.

The probe panel was set

up after the House passed a motion sponsored by Hon. Ali Madaki (PDP/Kano).

Madaki had stressed that the alleged denial of landing rights to was inimical to the growth of the aviation industry and the economy of northern Nigeria.

The lawmaker argued that the airlines applied several times for landing rights, and showed sufficient interest to start operating at the airport, but were allegedly rebuffed by the aviation minister.

He said: “The choice of the Mallam Aminu Kano

International Airport by these international airlines was informed by the number of passengers that they got from Kano to other parts of the world.

“The refusal of the minister to grant the permission to these foreign airlines is capable of retarding the business growth in Kano and by implication, Nigeria.”

Madaki said the alleged disposition of the minister might be at variance with President Goodluck Jonathan’s good intentions for the industry.

urgently reverse her position and swear in JomboOfor without further delay.

The statement reads in part: “LEDAP is concerned that the decision was arbitrary and unfair, and inconsistent with previous instances in which a number of female justices have been appointed, promoted or elevated on slots from their states of marriage rather than states of birth.

“LEDAP is worried that such practice of denying married women judicial appointments because of their state of marriage negates the principles of fairness and would be detrimental to women in judicial service. It is contrary to the entire values of marriage and of the Nigerian society. When a woman marries, she adopts her husband’s family name and for all intents and purposes has changed her place of origin to her new home.

At the same time, she has lost all entitlements of her place of birth. Now to deny women in judicial services or in any sector whatsoever benefits she is entitled to from her place of marriage is completely unjust and discriminatory.

“We call on NJC to take steps to review such unfair practices in the judicial sector and to ensure that policies and practices are consistent and conform to standards of values of the society.

“LEDAP calls on the Chief Justice of Nigeria to swear in Justice Ifeoma Jombo-Ofor without delay, and to initiate efforts to address similar discriminatory and unfair practices against women in judicial service across the country, including at the lower courts”.

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South West

Wednesday, November 7, 2012

Oyo lawmaker shot, hospitalised KEMI OLAITAN IBADAN

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rmed men have shot a member of the Oyo State House of Assembly, Hon. Bamidele Ojo, in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.

It was learnt that the lawmaker representing Ibadan South East II state constituency on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, was attacked by a gang of robbers on Sunday

morning near Egbeda area of the city.

Ojo’s attackers also snatched his Toyota Avensis car and other valuable items.

It was also learnt that Ojo is at the intensive care unit of the University College Hospital, UCH, Ibadan.

A source at the hospital disclosed that the lawmaker was slated for second surgery today, adding that many bullets were extracted from his body during the

first surgery.

But the state Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, DSP Ayodele Lanade, said he was yet to be briefed on the incident.

He promised to get in touch with the DPO in Egbeda for clarification.

The recent withdrawal of policemen from the state government joint security patrol team codenamed: “Operation Burst,” which included Army, police and the Nigerian Security

and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, has contributed to the surge in criminal activities across the state in the last few weeks.

It was gathered that the rise in insecurity might have necessitated Governor Abiola Ajimobi’s visit to the headquarters of the state police command on Monday.

During the visit, the Commissioner of Police, Mr. Mbu Joseph Mbu, promised a new Operation Burst in the state.

L-R: Former Minister of Information and Communications, Prof. Dora Akunyili; former Minister for Health and Human Resources, Prince Julius Adelusi-Adeluyi and Ogun State Governor, Ibikunle Amosun, during the presentation of certificate to Amosun at the Annual General Conference of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria in Abeokuta, yesterday.

PHOTO: NAN

Lagos holds advocacy seminar, seeks sustained sanitation system

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agos State Government has called for sustained sanitation system to protect and promote human health at a one-day Environmental Sanitation Advocacy Seminar for the informal sector in the state.

This year’s seminar, the fourth edition of the advocacy programme, was organised to develop environmental consciousness and maintain the avenue already created for continued dialogue with the state government on how best to ensure environmental sustainability.

The Special Adviser to the Governor on the Environment, Dr. Taofeek Folami, said the “mutual exchange between the government and members of the informal sector in the state will ever remain relevant as the issues of the environment are never ending, especially as our administration in the state continues to renew its determination to make Lagos one of the most beautiful

cities in the world.

“Lagos State, as we all know, is the industrial capital of Nigeria. It is also the melting pot of the country where every nationality is represented. The attendant challenge of this alluring status and the resultant effect of overpopulation negatively impacts on the state’s infrastructure and our environment; as such, we must collectively and individually as a state come together to protect our environment.”

Folami said the state government introduced the monthly environmental sanitation exercise, observed every last Saturday of the month, to enhance environmental sustainability and encourage citizens’ collective participation in the attainment of a cleaner and sustainable environment.

He enjoined the participants to desist from some unhygienic habits and ways, particularly dumping of refuse in drains, patronage of cart pushers,

non-patronage of PSP operators, erecting structures on waterways and drainage alignments, indiscriminate felling of trees, etc.

Delivering a speech, the wife of the Lagos State governor, Mrs. Emmanuella Abimbola Fashola, commended the Ministry of the Environment for sustaining the initiative over the past four years by providing opportunities for stakeholders in the informal sector to rub

minds with the government to ensure a sustainable healthy environment for today and the future.

Fashola

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

FG must block importation of fake drugs –Akunyili FEMI OYEWESO ABEOKUTA

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ormer Director-General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC, Prof.

Dora Akunyili, yesterday called for more adequate drug policies to improve Nigerians’ access to safe medicines.

She also called on the Federal Ministry of Health to put in place more drug policies to reduce the influx of counterfeit drugs into the country.

Akunyili made the call while delivering a keynote address at the 85th Annual National Conference of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria, PSN, at the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library, OOPL, Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital.

The former Minister of Information decried what she described as a flagrant disregard for ethical pharmaceutical standard in various parts of the country.

She also decried lack of continuing education for pharmacists, existence of clinics within pharmacy premises as well as inadequate storage facilities especially for thermo labile drugs in pharmacies.

Akunyili also condemned a situation whereby licensed patent and proprietary medicine vendors continued to sell drugs outside the scope of their licence.

She said: “All these have the potential of escalating the challenge of lack of safe medicines in Nigeria. Governments, health professionals, and health policymakers should be aware of the increasing needs of Nigerians for safe medicines.

“Government must be proactive in its campaign for safe drugs for Nigerians by implementing policies in support of access to safe medicines in line with recommendations of World Health Organisation, WHO.” Doing so, the former minister said, would enshrine government’s values and commitments as well as create supportive environment for promoting and enforcing access to safe drugs for Nigerians.

She added that pharmacists must be involved in the formulation of health and drug policies, particularly on selection, procurement and distribution of drugs.

Akunyili also urged regulatory bodies, particularly the Pharmacists Council of Nigeria, PCN, to step up its inspection and regulatory activities to ensure lasting solution to the drug distribution problem in the country.

Declaring the conference open, Ogun State Governor, Ibikunle Amosun, said his administration was already putting finishing touches to resuscitating the state Task Force on Counterfeit, Fake and Unwholesome Drugs as part of efforts to eradicate fake drugs in the state.

The governor added that the Pharmaceutical Inspection Committee, PIC, in the state had already been empowered to ensure regular inspection to eradicate proliferation of illegal pharmaceutical premises.

He said: “We would also ensure that pre-approval and routine inspections are carried out so that existing pharmaceutical premises maintain the minimum standard required.”

Gunmen shoot Nigerian Compass MD FEMI OYEWESO ABEOKUTA

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unmen yesterday shot the Managing Director of Nigerian Compass newspaper, Mr. Sina Kawonise.

The incident occurred at Ikeji-Arakeji in Osun State.

Kawonise was said to have been shot in the leg while returning home from Awka in Anambra

State where he had gone to deliver a keynote address at the 17th Annual Conference of the Nigerian Anthropological and Sociological Association at the Nnamdi Azikwe University, Awka.

The Media Assistant to former Governor Gbenga Daniel of Ogun State, Adegbenro Adebanjo, said in a statement in Abeokuta that the attackers opened fire on Kawonise’s vehicle in

order to force it to stop, but were repelled by his two police orderlies who responded to the attack.

He said: “In the ensuing gun battle, Kawonise was shot in the leg by the attackers while one of the two policemen also suffered gunshot wounds. The armed attackers later fled the scene while Kawonise and the wounded policeman were evacuated to a nearby hospital.”

Adegbenro said the former commissioner decided to embark on the journey by road because there was no available flight from neighbouring airports to Awka.

He added that both Kawonise and the wounded police orderly were in stabilised condition, according to the doctors’ report, adding that the police had commenced investigations into the incident.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

South West

Wednesday, November 7, 2012

9

1,323 ghost workers in Ekiti councils –Govt ABIODUN NEJO ADO EKITI

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he just-concluded biometric data carried out by Ekiti State Government identified about 1,323 people who were drawing salaries illegally from the 16 local councils in the state.

Commissioner for Information, Funminiyi Afuye, who disclosed this yesterday, said the government was losing over N63 million monthly and N757 million yearly to the process.

Afuye said the initial biometric counting gave a fig-

ure of 19,212 workers while the last biometric counting revealed a figure of 17,889 workers.

The commissioner, who disclosed that the biometric exercise was not targeted at sacking workers as some people were made to believe, said it was to plug all avenues of wasting government’s fund with a view to spending such money on people-oriented policies and programmes.

Afuye said 1,756 council workers that had educationrelated certificates would be deployed to schools while 4,669 health workers

Fayemi

in the councils would be moved to the state Primary Health Care Development Agency, PHCDA. The commissioner, who disclosed that the administration of Governor Kayode Fayemi had no intention to

sack any local government worker, restated government’s readiness to begin immediate payment of minimum wage to council workers as soon as their bank accounts were verified.

He said: “Ekiti State has limited resources which must be used for the welfare of the ordinary man on the street and since we have now completed the biometric exercise, we are appealing to the local government workers to go back to work and ensure a

proper verification of their account details.”

Afuye, who maintained that the council workers did not follow due process before going on strike, said the administration was still magnanimous to engage them in negotiation before they resorted to industrial action.

The commissioner said the staff audit, which had been carried out in the core civil service, was not meant to witch-hunt any council worker, but to restore efficiency, probity, ac-

countability, transparency and to reduce redundancy in the local government system.

He said: “We have discovered disparity and discrepancies in the number of staff on the payroll of the government in the local government system.

“The governor has reiterated it on many occasions that we have no plan to sack anybody and government is going to pay the arrears of the minimum wage but all these issues have to be resolved first.”

Ondo Assembly suspends nine LG chairmen HAKEEM GBADAMOSI AKURE

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ndo State House of Assembly yesterday suspended nine of the 18 interim local government chairmen in the state.

Announcing the suspension, the Speaker, Hon. Samuel Adesina, said the chairmen “erred” in carrying out their responsibilities and failed to comply with the directives of the Assembly.

Adesina listed the affected local governments as Akure North, Ifedore, Idanre, Owo, Ose, Ilaje, EseOdo, Ile-Oluji/Okeigbo and Akoko North East.

He directed all the affected chairmen to hand over, with immediate effect, to the Directorates of Local Government Administration in their councils.

The Speaker explained that the decision was in accordance with the legislature’s mandate to ensure probity, accountability and good governance at the third tier of government.

Also speaking on the development, the Chairman, House Committee on Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Hon. Afolabi Akinsiku, said the legislature decided to take the step after several failed attempts to call the erring chairmen to order.

Akinsiku disclosed that the chairmen failed to respond to the directives of the Assembly to carry out a staff audit of their personnel in their local government areas.

He said: “On January 5, this year, we wrote to all the

council administrations to carry out staff audit because we heard information that there were ghost workers on their payroll...

“We actually heard that all of them did the audit but the erring ones refused to submit their reports to us as directed. This was after four reminders were sent to them.

“Section 3 of the Ondo State Local Government Law says we can sanction them to ensure good governance, probity and accountability at the third tier of government.”

L-R: Director, Peace and Civic Education, National Orientation Agency, Mr. Wulma Damlong; Director-General, Mr. Mike Omeri and Ataoja of Osogbo, Oba Jimoh Olanipekun Larooye II, during a peace meeting at the oba’s palace in Osogbo, Osun State, yesterday.

Traffic law: Motorcycle dealers cry out over poor sales MURITALA AYINLA

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otorcycle dealers in Lagos State are now groaning over poor sales as fallout of the implementation of the traffic law, which bans commercial motorcycles, otherwise called Okada, on some routes in the state.

The dealers also bemoaned the unavailability of 200CC capacity engine motorcycles in the market.

Sections of the Lagos Traffic Law stipulate that only motorcycles with 200CC and above could ply major roads in the state, especially the highways and bridges.

Motorcycles with less capacity are prohibited from plying 475 roads and bridges in the state.

The development had led to the confiscation and destruction of thousands

of motorcycles.

Speaking with our correspondent yesterday, some of the dealers said the implementation of the law was taking a toll on their businesses.

They appealed to the government to review the law.

The dealers also said the 200CC capacity engine stipulated by the law was not available in the country.

According to them, other people, whose businesses depend on the motorcyclists, are equally affected by the law.

They disclosed that ‘vulcanizers, spare parts dealers, mechanics and other artisans were also facing a hard time as a result of the enforcement of the law.

When our correspondent visited Oke-Koto in Agege, Oyingbo and other areas in Lagos where motorcycles are sold, many of the marketers were playing ludo and other games.

The leader of the OkeKoto Motorcycle Dealers Association, Victor Ezeani, said the 200CC engine was not available in the Nigerian market.

According to him, many Nigerians cannot afford to buy it as it is sold for over N1.5 million.

He said: “Before the en-

forcement of the law, we used to sell more than 10 motorcycles in a day, but it is increasingly difficult to sell one motorcycle in two weeks. That is the consequence of the law on us and other people.”

Another dealer in Oyingbo motorcycle market, Ibuka Uzor, said he had not seen the 200CC capacity engine since

he started the business 15 years ago.

He said: “The pedestrians are groaning, other artisans are lamenting the ban. The 200CC capacity engine motorcycle required by the law is nowhere in the country. I have not seen it for the past 15 years I started the business.”

EFCC’s lawyer’s sickness stalls Ikuforiji’s trial KAYODE KETEFE

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ustice Okechukwu Okeke of the Federal High Court sitting in Lagos was forced to adjourn the trial of the Lagos State House of Assembly Speaker, Hon. Adeyemi Ikuforiji, and his aide, Oyebode Atoyebi, because the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, counsel, Mr. Godwin Obla, was indisposed.

Ikuforiji and Atoyebi are standing trial before the

court for alleged money laundering.

The EFCC had on March 1 arraigned Ikuforiji and his Personal Assistant, Atoyebi, on an amended 20-count charge bordering on money laundering.

The commission alleged that Ikuforiji and his aide committed money laundering offences by accepting cash payment from the Assembly to the tune of N501 million without going through a financial institution.

At the proceedings yes-

terday, the court disclosed that it had received a correspondence from Obla praying it to adjourn the case on the grounds of his illness.

The two lawyers representing Ikuforiji and Atoyebi, Mr. Tayo Oyetibo (SAN) and Mr. Adindu Ugwuzor, said they were aware of Obla’s letter and therefore did not oppose the application for adjournment.

Okeke consequently adjourned the case to November 20 and 21 for continuation of trial.

10

South East

Wednesday, November 7, 2012

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

CD condemns clampdown on BZM activists CHRIS NJOKU AND NWABUEZE OKONKWO

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he Campaign for Democracy (CD), South-East region yesterday called on President Goodluck Jonathan to order the unconditional release of over 500 members of the Biafra Zionist Movement (BZM) held in prison custody.

The group’s members were said to have been rounded up on Monday when they attempted to declare a state of Biafra.

• As MASSOB disowns group

But, in a two-page statement issued and made available to National Mirror yesterday, the CD Chairman, South-East region, Dede Uzor A. Uzor, described the arrest as inhuman and a violation of the people’s fundamental human rights.

“It is unacceptable and wicked for the police in Enugu and other parts of the region to arrest defenceless activists, who are not armed,” he said.

“The movement was just agitating for their freedom

as enshrined in Chapter 4; Sections 33, 34, 35, 36, 37 and 38 of the amended 1999 Constitution, which provides the freedom of association and peaceful assembly,” the statement added.

The statement also condemned the ‘kangaroo’ manner in which the BZM activists were arrested; arraigned and remanded in prison custody.

“This is very sad and unacceptable to the entire Igbo nation going by the killings by the Boko

Haram sect in the north.

“Boko Haram has, so far killed over 3, 000 defenceless Nigerians of which 1, 573 are Igbo, who were killed in their business areas, churches and residential quarters.

“But till now, the Federal Government is not doing enough to checkmate their activities against the Nigerian nation.

“Instead, government machineries were turned against peaceful, harmless, and defenceless Igbo people and throwing them into jail without commit-

ting any criminal offence,” it said.

The statement also said that the CD wanted the federal and the 36 state governments to constitute the much desired “National Sovereign Conference (NSC).”

“It is only the NSC that would grant the various nations that make up the country the opportunity to air their views and decide how they want to be governed to avoid further shedding of blood,”it said.

Meanwhile, the Movement for the Actualisation

FG yet to complete due process on 2nd Niger Bridge OLUFEMI ADEOSUN

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our months after the contract for the construction of the 2nd Niger Bridge was awarded, indication emerged yesterday that the Federal Government is yet to conclude the required due process on it.

This is in sharp contrast to President Goodluck Jonathan’s assurance that his administration would give the construction of the bridge accelerated attention in order to speedily address the challenges posed to road users on the route.

Outgoing Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Works, Mallam Bukar Goni, who gave the indication in Abuja, during the handing over ceremonies, urged his successor, Dr Koro Muhammad, to rigorously pursue the ongoing due process that is currently being embarked upon by the Federal Government.

The N325 million contract, with a completion period of 16 months, is aimed at facilitating easy movement of people and goods between the South-West and the South-East.

Apart from the 2nd Niger Bridge, Goni, who stressed the importance of the ministry in the transformation agenda of the Federal Government, also urged his successor to press for the release of the third quarter funds due to the ministry to enable it take the advantage of the approaching dry season.

L-R: Anambra State Commissioner for Works, Mr. Calistus Ilozumba; Governor Peter Obi and Project Manager, Consolidated Construction Company, Mr. Ali Chani, during the cautioning of sand excavators at the foot of the River Niger Bridge, in Onitsha on Monday.

PHOTO: NAN

of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) yesterday disowned the Biafra Zionist Movement (BZM), another Igbo group agitating for the actualisation of the Biafra republic for daring to re-declare the new republic.

MASSOB leader, Chief Ralph Uwazuruike, who gave this indication in a press statement issued yesterday and signed on his behalf by MASSOB’s Director of Information, Uchenna Madu, described the re-declaration exercise carried out by BZM as an empty action, an exercise in futility, childish and not well guided.

Uwazuruike said the leader of BZM, Mr. Benjamin Onwuka, was expelled from MASSOB few years ago because of his anti-movement activities.

According to the statement, “Benjamin Onwuka, the leader of the BZM, was a former member of MASSOB in Lagos, who was expelled because of his anti-MASSOB activities and rebellious tendencies, just as Samuel Edeson, Onwuka’s lieutenant, who was once a regional administrator in Onitsha, was equally expelled because of his rebellious tendencies as well as using the MASSOB platform to negotiate for monetary compensation.”

Police pensioners protest non-payment of 15 months arrears CHARLES OKEKE AWKA

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etired police officers in Anambra State yesterday staged a protest in Awka, the state capital, over the non-payment of their 15 months pension arrears by the Federal Government.

Chairman of the Association of Retired Police Officers of Nigeria (APRON), Chief Harold Chike Onyeonwu, during the protest

told journalists that they have not been paid their pension since August 2011.

He wondered why their pension should be withheld in spite of the verifications done since July last year.

Chief Onyeonwu said the ugly development has led to the death of about 100 pensioners, who have died of starvation and hunger.

He condemned the situation whereby families of the deceased members were tossed up and down

by those in charge as they struggle for the payment of the entitlements of their relations. He appealed to the Federal Government and the National Assembly to intervene as many of their members are still facing the danger of hunger and death.

The APRON chairman, accompanied by the Administrative Secretary, Mr. Nwobi Bernard and other key officers of the union, like Chief Charles Onye-

chi, Chief Chris Nnaemeka and Chief Godwin Obiorah, said they have petitioned the Senate President, David Mark and the House of Representatives led by Hon. Aminu Tambuwal, to prevail on the Pensions Office and the Police Service Commission, to pay them their pension arrears.

The group also appealed to the Anambra State Governor, Peter Obi, to use his good office to get the President, Dr Goodluck Jona-

Anambra to have special vocational schools CHARLES OKEKE AWKA

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he Federal Government has approved the building of special vocational schools in Anambra State.

The Minister of State for Education, Mr. Ezenwo Onyeso Wiki, who announced this at a stakeholders’ meeting in Awka, during a one-day visit to

the state yesterday, said the approval for the specialised schools was in recognition of Governor Peter Obi’s outstanding contribution to education in the state.

Wiki said the state was chosen to kick start the first phase of the Federal Government programme to promote basic education and reverse the boychild drop out in schools

in the South-East and South-South.

He said the programme is geared towards complementing efforts of the state government to bring education closer to children who are presently involved in one line of business or the other, adding that Governor Obi will approve where the schools would be located.

The minister regret-

ted that out of about 30 million children that had dropped out of school in Africa, 10 million are in Nigeria. He commended Governor Obi for his giant strides in promoting functional education, which he noted has made the state a reference point and thanked him for his support for Federal Government’s policies and programmes.

than, to react positively to their plight as many of them are dying like fowl after serving for over 35 years.

Onyeonwu said the entire police pensioners in Anambra State, including the sick will converge at the state Police Command Headquarters on November 28, 2012 to protest the ill-treatment meted out to them by the Federal Government and the Pensions Office in the past 15 months.

He wondered why retired police officers who left services before 2006 should be earning monthly pensions that are lower than what their colleagues who retired after the period of 2006 are earning.

The APRON chairman appealed for harmonisation of pensions of police officers and the removal of the police from the contributory pension scheme being run by PenCom, like it is done for the Nigerian Army, Navy, Customs, Immigration and Prisons.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

South South

Wednesday, November 7, 2012

11

Three die as JTF deploys troops in Delta communities NUPENG, PENGASSAN SOLA ADEBAYO WARRI

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hree persons have been confirmed dead and scores injured in a bloody clash in Ugborodo, an Itsekiri community in Warri South Local Government Area of Delta State.

Already, the authorities of the Joint Task Force in the Niger Delta, Operation Pulo Shields, yesterday deployed troops in the area apparently in order to prevent the situation from degenerating.

The bodies of the deceased, who were Itsekiri youths, have been evacuated to the morgue of a medical centre in Warri,

the commercial hub of the state.

Similarly, the injured have been brought to the city for medical attention.

Members of the bereaved families wailed uncontrollably yesterday as the bodies were being moved into the city.

Findings by our correspondent showed that the deceased and the injured were ambushed by armed rival youth group of the Itsekiri community at Otumara creeks in Warrri South West Local Government Area.

Security sources told National Mirror that the hoodlums opened fire on the armless youths, who were on legitimate busi-

ness in the creeks, a development which led to stampede.

National Mirror recalls that the latest incident climaxed the recent youth leadership crisis in Ugborodo, which had polarised the youth group of the community into two camps.

The two groups have been trying to gain effective control of the community.

The rampaging group had tried desperately to dislodge the reigning youth leadership in the area.

Consequently, the suspected leader of the violent group had been declared wanted by the police and JTF. It was learnt that the

manhunt for the reciltrant leader has begun.

To this end, troops ofthe JTF yesterday besieged the community ostensibly to restore law and order and apprehend the ring-leaders of the nefarious act.

It was gathered that the deployment was ordered by the Delta Sector Commander of the JTF and Commanding Officer of 3rd Batallion, Effurun, Lt. Col. Ifeanyi Otu. Otu could not be reached for his comment yesterday, but one of his lieutenants confirmed the report.

A source, who craved anonymity, added that the deployment of the troops was meant to restore sanity in the area.

told journalists that the governor’s directive was not enough to make Labour suspend the planned strike because experience has shown that he could not be trusted to keep his word.

Labour insisted that the Ministry of Finance must stop all further deductions and refund money already deducted before they would suspend the planned industrial action.

Oruge said: “The governor’s directive alone does not carry weight. NLC sent a letter to the government giving seven-day ultimatum to stop deductions and refund the one money already deducted. That is why it is necessary for us to seat down with the government.

“As far as I am concerned, the ultimatum I gave the government still stands.”

Oruge said that the government did not deem it proper to explain the rationale behind the deduction to the workers. He said:

“We want to know what we are meant to pay. You don’t just wake up and start deducting people’s salaries.

If it is the social levy, Grade Level 1to 6 is N300; 7 to 10 is N500; 12 to14 is N1000

and 15 and above is N3000 monthly. So, why are they collecting twenty something thousand, fifty something thousand and seventy something thousand from people’s salaries?”

Amaechi’s directive can’t stop planned strike –Rivers workers CHINEDUM EMEANA PORT HARCOURT

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he Rivers State chapter of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has insisted in embarking on strike from Friday if the government did not stop deductions from its members’ salaries.

NLC also asked the government to refund the money deducted from workers’ September and October salaries.

The NLC’s decision followed Governor Chibuike Amaechi’s unscheduled meeting with workers at the State Secretariat on Monday morning in response to the seven-day ultimatum given last weekend by the Congress.

Amaechi, however, directed the Ministry of Finance to stop further deductions from workers’ salaries till February next year.

But NLC Chairman in the state, Mr. Chris Oruge,

threaten strike

•Want substantive Principal appointed for PTI SOLA ADEBAYO WARRI

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he National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) and Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) have threatened to embark on strike over non-appointment of substantive principal and registrar for the Petroleum Training Institute (PTI) in Effurun, Delta State.

Specifically, the oil unions have given a seven-day ultimatum to the Federal Government to appoint substantive helmsmen for the institute or face industrial action.

The ultimatum expires tomorrow. The principal and registrar of the institute have been functioning in acting capacity since 2004.

The former Acting Principal, Dr. Raymond Akpojivi and former Registrar,

Dr. Henry Erivona, acted for five years.

The current Acting Principal, Mrs. Nnenna Dennar and Registrar, Mrs. Sola Ewere, have also been acting for three years.

But PTI’s branche of PENGASSAN and NUPENG have described the trend as unacceptable.

Consequently, the unions have petitioned the Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Deziani Allison-Madueke, to appoint substantive leaders for the institute within seven days or face strike by the workers.

The petition was signed

by PENGASSAN’ s Chairman, Mr. Abolarin Macpaul and Secretary, Mr. Pius Ochekwu as well as NUPENG’s Chairman, Mr. N.O. Mazoje and Secretary, Mr. N.E. Emelogu.

The copies of the petition were also dispatched to the leadership of the relevant committees of the National Assembly.

L-R: Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) staff, Alhaji Garuba Mamu; Delta State Deputy Governor, Prof. Amos Utuama and Acting Director General, NTA, Alhaji Musa Mayaki, during a courtesy call on the deputy governor in Asaba, on Monday.

Ex-militants protest non-inclusion in amnesty Akpabio lauds revival of basic education EMMA GBEMUDU YENAGOA

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bout 200 former militants in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital, yesterday staged a peaceful protest over their non-inclusion in the amnesty programme as they barricaded the office of the Niger Delta Development (NDDC).

They threatened to return to the creeks to collapse all the oil installations in the state and parts of the Niger Delta region, if the Federal Government failed to integrate them into programme.

The former militants, under the aegis of Third Phase Amnesty, stormed the agency’s office along Kpansia Road to demand that they should be integrated into the amnesty programme.

The protest resulted to traffic grid lock along the busy Mbiama-Yenagoa Road as commuters were rendered stranded. Business premises were also shut down abruptly.

It was a sad moment for NDDC as its activities were temporarily disrupted as apprehension gripped the agency’s workers.

The protesters chanted solidarity songs as the security personnel deployed to the premises to prevent break down of law and order pleaded with them to remain calm.

When our correspondent visited the tensed scene, soldiers and policemen were seen controlling the traffic.

The National Mobilisation Officer of the Third Phase Amnesty, Gen. Ebi John, said that the former militants would attack oil installations in the Niger Delta if the government failed to integrate them into the amnesty programme.

IJEOMA EZEIKE ABUJA

G

overnor Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom State has said that the sustained revival of basic education in Nigeria by President Goodluck Jonathan was aimed at developing the country.

Akpabio spoke yesterday at a town hall meeting on back-to-school programme of President Goodluck Jonathan for the South-South held in Uyo, the state capital.

He noted that investments in Almajiris education in the North and out-of-

Akpabio

school children in the South indicated that the President was committed to basic education for Nigeria children.

The governor said: “We want to extend our appreciation to Mr. President for his investments in basic education. Nigerians need

to know that the President is undertaking a revolution of basic education sector in the country.

“The Minister of State for Education, Mr. Nyesom Wike, has brought his grassroots experience to bear in the development of basic education. This brings to bear the need to have the experienced Nigerians to man sensitive positions”.

In his address, Wike noted that schools for the out-of-school children in the South would have vocational training infused into them to empower the less privileged children.

12

North

Wednesday, November 7, 2012

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

True federalism doesn’t exist anywhere, says ACF PRISCILLA DENNIS MINNA

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he Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has stressed the need to hold on to the current structure of the country, saying there is no such thing as universally

accepted true federalism.

ACF said there is nothing wrong with the present arrangement of the country, but all that is re-

quired is appropriate balance of power between the central and the component units.

“That is why no two

federal structures are identical. All the federal systems have their own peculiarities resulting from their circumstances

of birth,” ACF said.

ACF Chairman, Alhaji Aliko Mohammed, spoke yesterday during the presentation of the

Kano plans road maintenance agency AUGUSTINE MADU-WEST KANO

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he Kano State Government is to set up a road maintenance agency as part of efforts to enhance transportation services.

Governor Rabi’u Kwankwaso dropped the hint while addressing stakeholders in the transport sector, property development agents and traders at the Government House in Kano.

The maintenance agency, according to the governor, is to ensure that all roads are in good condition.

Kwankwaso said the decision was taken to curtail irregular road crossing particularly at very busy areas through the erection of aluminum barriers in where necessary and the erection of overhead bridges for pedestrians at strategic spots.

He assured that the installation of street lights had commenced along major roads in Kano city, adding that the programme would be expanded to cover more streets and strategic areas soon.

The governor said the government had reduced the cost of the 500 buses given out to commercial motorists on hire purchase from N730, 000 to N650, 000 as part of efforts to motivate beneficiaries to earn a decent living.

He, however, said plans were on for the emergence of a night market in the state capital and directed that erection of buildings at Kofar Wambai Market should stop forthwith.

Kwankwanso

Bauchi State Governor Isa Yuguda (left) and Principal, Government Girls Special School, Hajiya Hadiza Zailani, during the governor’s visit to the school in Kafin Madaki Ganjuwa Local Government Area of the state, yesterday.

PHOTO: NAN

Sokoto-PHCN feud: Group flays Wamakko’s action A ZA MSUE KADUNA

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Coalition of Northern Youths Group yesterday passed a vote of no confidence on Sokoto State Governor Aliyu Wamakko over his alleged controversy with officials of Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN).

The coalition chairman ,Alhaji Abdurahman Ibrahim, after an emergency meeting in Kaduna, told journalists that it was sad to read in the newspapers that the people of Sokoto State had been thrown into darkness for the sin they

did not commit.

Ibrahim noted that small and medium scale businesses in the state had continued to suffer while the feud rages on between the governor and the electricity workers.

Sympathising with the affected electricity workers whom it described as heroes, the coalition called on Nigerians to condemn what Governor Wamakko allegedly did to avoid recurrence.

Alhaji Ibrahim said the coalition would sensitise other rights groups on the need to rise up against any form of intimidation meted on poor helpless Nige-

rian workers who were impoverished by those who occupy positions of authority.

He said: “There were civilized ways through which Governor Aliyu Wamakko should have handled the matter, but he stooped so low and allowed a wrong reasoning to becloud his sense of judgement.

“Wamakko is among the respected governors we had in the North, but we are taken aback by what he allegedly did. We no longer have that confidence in him and would soon write a formal letter of complaint to the Northern Governor’s Fo-

rum so as to call him to order.

“The people should hold the governor responsible in the event of any breakdown of law and order in the state.”

Ibrahim, however, asked Wamakko to apologise to Nigerians for his action.

Wamako

FG may relocate flood victims to permanent sites –NEMA WOLE ADEDEJI ILORIN

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he Federal Government may relocate flood victims across the country from their traditional homes to permanent sites to guarantee the security of their lives and property.

To this effect, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has sent a proposal on the need for the permanent relocation of the victims to the Presidency for approval.

Assistant Zonal Coordinator of NEMA, Abuja Operations Office, Mr. Slaku Lugard Bijimi, said yesterday in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, that “a permanent relocation of the victims from the flood prone areas will be the best option.”

He, however, said the Federal Government must first of all collaborate with the government of the affected states as well as the victims before taking a final decision on the issue.

Bijimi was speaking during a sensitization and

awareness programme on cerebro-spinal meningitis and other flood-related diseases organised by NEMA for the people of Kwara State.

The NEMA co-ordinator for Abuja Operations Office, Mr. Ishaya Chonoko, raised the alarm of a possible outbreak of floodrelated diseases, such as cholera, lassa fever, measles and other skin diseases as a result of the recent flooding.

He said: “NEMA’s fear was borne out of the fact that the flood has con-

taminated other natural sources of water in various communities.

“The usage of contaminated water by the flood affected people for drinking, bathing, washing due to shortage of potable water can lead to outbreak of cholera.”

Chonoko, therefore, advised Nigerians to ensure proper ventilation of their homes, adding: “Potable water should be well kept and properly covered and periodic washing of hands should be encouraged.”

Road Map for Peace, Unity and Development of the Northern Nigeria to Niger State Governor Babangida Aliyu, who is the Chairman of the Northern Governors Forum in Minna.

He said aside its stand on the structure of the country, ACF also submitted to the National Assembly its position on democracy and form of government, creation of additional states, state police, indigeneship, derivation as well as single term.

Governor Aliyu, however, thanked the Forum for the work done and stressed the need for all to join hands in addressing the myriads of problems confronting the North.

He pointed the need for leaders at all levels to lead by examples, calling for concerted efforts in solving the issue of unemployment among youths.

‘We want Benue governorship conceded to Idoma’ JAMES ABRAHAM JOS

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head of the 2015 governorship in Benue State, a group called Northern Youths for the Advancement of Peace, Harmony and Development, has appealed to the people to concede the position to the Idoma ethnic group.

President of the group, Mr. Melvin Ejeh, told journalists yesterday in Jos, the Plateau State capital, that the appeal became necessary in the interest of equity, justice and fairness.

Ejeh said all the zones in Benue have produced governor at one point or the other, except Zone C since the state was created.

He said Idoma ethnic group has many qualified candidates to vie for the governorship office.

Ejeh said if the endorsement of the former Minister of State for Niger Delta, Chief Sam Odeh, would bring the desired progress to the state, the people would support him.

He, however, urged Idoma people to support any candidate who would emerge from the zone.

Wednesday, November 7, 2012

Staggered polls: Mixed reactions trail calls, despite recent gains

OLAJIDE OMOJOLOMOJU

P

lateau State governor, Jonah Jang yesterday in Jos signed the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) Bill into law.

While performing the ceremony, Jang warned against the diversion of relief materials meant for victims of emergencies by those in charge of emergency services.

It would be recalled that stakeholders, including the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) had severely criticised Plateau State over its inability to establish a SEMA, in spite of its numerous man-

made and natural disasters.

Jang, shortly after signing the bill, Jang said: “I believe this bill I signed into law is holistic and positioned to be relevant to the present realities of global trends in disaster management.

“Signing the bill is a reflection of the lesson learnt from recent disasters and I expect that we must step up our disaster management capacity and structures.”

He described natural disasters such as the recent flood that hit the state and other parts of the country as a “global challenge” which had to be taken “very seriously” so as to save lives and property.

The governor directed

the 17 local government areas in the state to establish similar agencies in their areas, noting that domesticating the law would ensure the attainment of its goals.

Pointing out that no amount of relief could replace losses by persons hit by disasters, Jang said that government’s efforts were usually to cushion the effects and help the victims to recover quickly and continue with their lives.

He said that government had expended millions of naira to procure and distribute assorted foodstuff, beddings, toiletries, building materials, clothing and medicaments to disaster victims, and thanked indi-

viduals and organisations for their assistance.

Jang acknowledged the receipt of N500 million from the Federal Government for onward delivery to the victims, and promised that the funds would be used to rehabilitate the affected people. He thanked the Federal Government for the gesture and warned of dire consequences to the diversion of relief materials by officials charged with the responsibility of such distribution, saying: “We will no longer tolerate such attitude; any official involved in such a shameful acts will be severely dealt with.” The bill was passed by the state House of Assembly on October 10.

13

Politics

2015: The power game in Akwa Ibom

15

Jang signs SEMA bill into law

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

14

CPC to Buhari: Don’t mediate between FG, Boko Haram SINA FADARE

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he National Chairman of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), Prince Tony Momoh, has warned its leader and former head of state, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, to reject his alleged nomination by the Boko Haram sect as a mediator between it and the Federal Government.

Momoh, who disclosed this yesterday in Abuja, noted that there is no point for any other person to attend a meeting between the Federal Government and Boko Haram for whatever grievances they claimed to have, adding: “We in the CPC do not see where Buhari comes in; we are concerned by the way the name of Gen. Buhari is being dragged into this affair.”

Asserting that nobody has “reached out to Buhari to say that he had been nominated or is being nominated along with others, to mediate or be witnesses to discussion between Boko Haram and the Federal

Government,”, the CPC noted that the action of the sect was a mere name dropping, which should not be taken serious.

Momoh said: “A man claiming to be a spokesperson for the militant sect, Boko Haram, reportedly called some reporters in Maiduguri where he mentioned Buhari as one of the people the sect would be willing to negotiate with should not be taken seriously.”

He, however, stated that his party would not associate with issues that involved criminality, adding that as a matter of urgency, the government should wake up to its responsibility by tackling the security challenges that is facing the nation.“We believe in one country which must remain together and move together in the direction of peace, justice and fair play. The abuse of the democratic system is the result of some challenges confronting the country,” the party maintained, arguing that for the nation to witness true democracy, “all hands must be on deck” to tackle corruption in the country.

Stakeholders wants Edo Assembly resolution on LG implemented SEBASTINE EBHUOMHAN BENIN CITY

L – R: Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives, Hon. Emeka Ihedioha; Speaker, Aminu Tambuwal and Chairman, Broadcasting Organization of Nigeria, Mr. Abubakar Jijiwa, during a meeting in Abuja, yesterday.

Group sets to organise protest against Osun govt KEMI OLAITAN IBADAN

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youth pressure group, Osun Rescuers Initiative (ORO), yesterday said it has concluded every necessary arrangement to commence a 90-day stakeholders’ awareness campaign to expose the inhuman governance that has put the people of the state in bondage in the last two years.

The group, in a statement issued in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, through

its chairman, Seyi Adelugba, said the campaign was to awaken the “consciousness of leaders of thought in the state on the need for a generational shift in the leadership of the 22-yearold state, as a necessary condition for growth.“ Adelugba said that the group would organise a million-man march against the Rauf Aregbesola-led administration, stating that it has caused disintegration to the people of in Osun State.

While drumming sup-

port for the gubernatorial ambition of the former chairman of the House of Representatives’ Committee on Defence, Oluwole Oke, Adelugba described the present administration in the state as deceptive and lacking in honour.

He said the government in the state “is incapable of fulfilling the desires of the people for accelerated socio-economic development, but instead has been embarking on escapist tactics such as undue involvement in other states’ affairs and

inflammatory public comments to cover up its scandalous non performance.”

He however called on stakeholders in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state as well as opinion leaders in all communities to rescue the state from retardation and queried why the state government would embark on projects which were abandoned half way only to start new ones which cannot be completed in the remaining life span of the administration.

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he confusion in the management of the 18 local government councils of Edo State yesterday dominated a one-day sensitisation campaign organised by the National Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) with participants roundly condemning the non-implementation of the Edo State House of Assembly resolution dissolving the councils.

The participants, drawn from over of 5,000 NULGE members from the 774 local governments across the country, condemned the delay in the implementation of the resolution adopted last Monday, dissolving

the transition committees that have been overseeing the affairs of the councils since October 25, 2010.

The stakeholders also unequivocally called for full democratisation of local governance in the country that could lead to the granting of full autonomy for councils in the expected new Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

National President of NULGE, Ibrahim Khaleel, who was represented by the National Vice President, South-South, Lucky Ewah, lamented that local government councils have been turned to personal estates of state governors, who often install their family members and cronies to head them most times.

14

Politics

Wednesday, November 7, 2012

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

2015: The power game in Akwa Ibom The resignation, last week, of the former Deputy Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Nsima Ekere, has thrown the spanners in the wheel of the calculations over who succeeds the incumbent governor, Godswill Akpabio, writes OLAJIDE OMOJOLOMOJU.

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ike a bolt from the blues, the news hit the airwaves that the former Deputy Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Nsima Ekere has resigned his position as the number two man in the state. What made it more interesting was the fact that it is not common in this clime to have public officials resign their appointment unless they are hounded out of office either for falling out of favour or have committed one act of impropriety or another.

In a two paragraphed letter dated Wednesday, October 31, Ekere said he was resigning on personal grounds, while thanking the state governor, Godswill Akpabio and the people of the state for the opportunity given to him to serve the state, he wished the Akpabio administration well in its remaining years.

The resignation letter, personally signed

by Ekere, reads: “Pursuant to Section 306 (5) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) I kindly notify you of my resignation from the office of the Deputy Governor of Akwa Ibom State forthwith on personal grounds.

“I want to thank you immensely for the opportunity to serve Akwa Ibom State and wish you and the good people of Akwa Ibom State well in the remaining years of your administration.”

But just as the news of the resignation jolted the political turf, the social media was awashed with insinuations and innuendos as to why the former chairman of the Akwa Ibom Investment and Industrial Promotion Commission, (AKIIPOC), before his last appointment resigned.

The reason for this is not far-fetched, because political office holders, whether elected or appointed scarcely resign in this clime and where they do, it was always to prepare the ground for their next political adventure. Thus it is common to see a minister resigning his ministerialship because he wanted to contest for the governorship of his state and not because it was expedient for him to do so. And this accounts for why no public officer has resigned because of any scandal or misdemeanour in office, perhaps the only exception was the case of the immediate past Minister of Power, Barth Nnaji.

But under the facade of resigning on personal grounds, National Mirror investigations have revealed that there is more to the exit of Ekere than meets the eye. It was discovered that the race for the governorship in 2015 and the underground scheming by the contenders was responsible for Ekere’s exit from office.

National Mirror learnt that immediately he resigned, pressures were brought to bear on him to rescind his decision and withdraw his resignation letter, but Ekere,

Akpabio

Ekere

National Mirror learnt stuck to his guns and this led to his been asked to nominate his replacement. He thus nominated the incumbent, Lady Valerie Ebe, whose nomination was confirmed by the House of Assembly which was recalled from its recess for that sole purpose.

Meanwhile, in the race for the governorship of the state in 2015, Ekere was discovered to be the preferred choice of the Presidency. National Mirror’s source, who pleaded anonymity, revealed that Akpabio was not disposed to Ekere succeeding him in 2015, as he was said to have preference for another candidate. The source added: “The presidency wants Ekere, who is also enjoying the support of the governors of Rivers and Delta states, Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi and Emmanuel Uduaghan, respectively. He also enjoys the support of other big boys from the Niger Delta region.”

But investigations revealed that apart from the shenanigan and intrigues behind the governorship race in 2015, the final straw that broke the camel’s back was the fallout of a meeting convened by Akpabio on Monday, October 29.

Prior to that, it was learnt that Akpabio had planted moles in the camps of the major and leading contenders for his office in 2015 and was alleged to be very disturbed at the plans been embarked upon by Ekere to take over from his boss in 2015. This development, according to impeccable sources necessitated the meeting of the governor with stakeholders, which National Mirror learnt ended in stalemate.

It was also reliably gathered that Ekere became the sacrificial lamb when he voiced out against the governor’s position, asking the Speaker of the state House of Assembly to resign, following a heated debate at the stakeholders’ meeting, which was attended by the Speaker, Sam Ikon and the Secretary to the State Government (SSG),

Umana Okon Umana as well as his discomfort with the way the governor was going about governance in the state. Ekere was subsequently given the option of resigning or face impeachment following the embarrassment his position generated at the meeting.

Further probing revealed that attempts

by Ekere to save his job was unsuccessful, as he was only able to garner the support of only six out of the 26 members of the state Assembly, which had immediately commenced collation of signatures for his impeachment National Mirror learnt that apart from the fallout of the stakeholders’ meeting, Akpabio was alleged to be uncomfortable with Ekere succeeding him. Ekere is the second deputy governor to serve under Akpabio. The first was Mr. Patrick Ekpotu who served in the first term between 2007 and 2011.

Ekere contested the rancourous 2007 governorship primaries of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) with Akpabio and Ita Ekarika, a favourite of the former governor of the state, Obong Victor Attah.

He had then stepped down to save the PDP from further crises, a decision which put him in pole position to become Akapabio’s deputy in 2011 when he dropped Ekpotu.

To avoid the embarrassment and the impediment an impeachment would confer on his person and ambition, when it was glaring that House would probably not back down from carrying out the bidding of the governor, Ekere threw in the towel and took the best honourable option available to him.

He was not unmindful of the negative effect an impeachment would have on his ambition and future political career, hence the decision to throw in the towel.

National Mirror checks revealed that Akpabio was actually supporting his SSG, Umana, as his successor, despite that Ekere

THERE HAS NEVER BEEN ANY CLEAR CUT

ZONING ARRANGEMENT ON GROUND, AS MODERN DAY PROPONENTS OF ZONING ARE PREACHING.

THE GOVERNORSHIP CONTEST IN THE STATE HAD ALWAYS BEEN A FREE FOR ALL

had been said to be his saving grace from series of embarrassment that could have befallen the governor over some alleged underhand deals. It was also discovered by that the zoning arrangement, if allowed to stand favours Ekere, because he is from Ikot Oboreyen in Edemaya clan of Ikot Abasi Local Government Area of the state.

But the million dollar question on the lips of watchers of the political terrain of Akwa Ibom is: Will zoning be allowed to stand? In trying to answer this question, it is instructive to look at what had obtained in the state in the previous dispensation.

In the first instance, there has never been any clear cut zoning arrangement on ground, as modern day proponents of zoning are preaching. The governorship contest in the state had always been a free for all. Former governor, Obong Victor Attah, who hails from Uyo senatorial district, had at different fora contested the governorship with Ime Umanah, from Eket senatorial district and many others.

The incumbent governor, Akpabio, from Ikot Ekpene senatorial district, contested with 57 other contestants, spread across the three senatorial districts in 2007, including Ekere, who eventually stepped down. This has made analysts and political watchers to conclude that had there has never been a clear policy on zoning as the governorship election has always been free for all.

It is on record that the Oros, who claim to be the third leg of the tripod that made up Akwa Ibo State, are yet to ascend the governorship of the state in its 25 years of existence, but the Eket and Ikot Abasi people, which made up the Eket senatorial district are of the view that the zoning should be on the basis of senatorial district and not ethnicity.

From the present calculation, the battle for the 2015 race is between the Uyo and Eket senatorial districts, with Ikot Ekpene senatorial district where the incumbent hails from looking on in amusement, but Umana, Akpabio’s alleged favourite is from the same senatorial district as the governor. Others in the race, apart from Ekere, who is from Eket senatorial district, are former vice chairman of the PDP in the state, Samuel Akpan.

Also, the emergence of the state chairman of the PDP, Paul Ekpo, who was a former Commissioner for Local Government Affairs in the Akpabio administration, from Uyo senatorial district, may be a pointer to the fact that the PDP may have been working on the theory of ceding the governorship slot to Eket senatorial district.

With the hullabaloo generated by the zoning brouhaha, political analysts were of the view that should the PDP desirous of retaining the state in 2015, the best option for it is to throw open the race for all interested contenders for them to test their popularity.

But in politics, nothing is cast on stone, despite that the zoning idea of the ruling party was predicated on the need for equity, justice, equitable and fair representation and rotation of elective and party offices.

The recent events in the state has probably changed the political calculation for 2015 and how the game would be played out remained to be seen, but analysts are watching as events unfold.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

FELIX NWANERI writes on mixed reactions over renewed calls for staggered elections as a result of the appreciable success achieved by the Independent National Electoral Commission in the recent governorship elections in Edo and Ondo states.

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Politics

Wednesday, November 7, 2012

he success recorded by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in the recent governorship elections in Edo and Ondo states is likely to open a new vista in the country’s electoral process, as some stakeholders are renewing calls for staggered elections to further help the Prof. Attahiru Jega-led electoral body consoliddate on the gains it has achieved since the 2011 polls.

The re-elected governor of Ondo State, Olusegun Mimiko, among others, are in the vanguard of the campaign believe that staggering elections will bring the best out of Nigeria’s democratic experience, as well as curb electoral malpractices.

Mimiko, who spoke while receiving his Certificate of Return in Akure recently, said: “One critical element of success is these staggered elections. I’m sure we did not deliberately craft it, but it has been crafted for us. It appears God has decided to intervene in our electoral affairs through this. I believe that our electoral umpire, INEC, should create a regimen of staggered elections for the country.

“From my experience in the elections that took place in Edo and Ondo states on these staggered elections option, it will probably be one credible solution to the challenges of electoral malpractices in Nigeria.”

In countries where staggered elections are adopted, not all places are up for election at the same time. For example, United States (U.S.) senators have a six-year term but they are not all elected at the same time.

Rather, elections are held every two years for one third of the country’s Senate seats.

The staggered election also ensures continuity in the activities of the elected body.

It is against this backdrop that stakeholders and analysts, who want such adopted by Nigeria, are of the view that instead of lumping critical elections such as that of the governorship of the various states of the federation or the National Assembly, INEC should conduct them on regional or states’ basis to ensure close supervision.

To these analysts, the Edo and Ondo states elections have shown that INEC is capable of conducting free, fair and credible elections if it has enough time and personnel, as Nigeria is too big a country to be administered at once.

“If we want our elections to count, then we must look at ways towards staggering our elections. With this, I mean all the elections should not be held on a single day.

This makes it easier for corrupt elements to perpetrate fraud because INEC, as well as the security agencies, are over-stretched.

But if there are staggered elections, a credible election will be assured,” one of the analysts said.

A justification of this assertion is the gains which accrued from the July 14 and October 20 elections in Edo and Ondo states, respectively, due to “heavy deployment” of not only personnel by INEC,

15

Mixed reactions trail calls for staggered polls SPREAD ELECTIONS,

AMONG OTHER THINGS, HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO DEMOCRATIC ADVANCEMENT AS IT CONCERNS THE CONDUCT OF SECURITY AGENCIES ON ELECTION DUTY but the relevant security agencies. This ensured that electoral vices such as ballot papers and boxes snatching, ballot stuffing and brazen intimidation of voters by thugs loyal to contending parties were substantially controlled in the respective elections.

In the Ondo election for example, the electoral body deployed 18 Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) from outside the South-West states, who manned each of the local government areas of state as Returning Officers.

The security agencies like the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) deployed 7,000 personnel to sensitive areas of possible contention such as polling booths, collation centres, INEC state office and annexes, vital transport routes and routes of all Returning Officers from their collation centres and other potential hotspots.

Similarly, 11,000 policemen and three commissioners of police were also deployed to head the security units in each of the three senatorial districts of the state. A police commissioner was earlier posted to oversee the election, following the redeployment of the state’s police command boss. In addition to these were soldiers, who were given orders to shoot trouble makers.

Napoleon Enayaba, an Assistant Programme Officer at CLEEN Foundation, who commented on the security deployment, said: “Spread elections among other things have contributed to democratic advancement as it concerns the conduct of security agencies on election duty. Various security agencies now have enough security personnel on ground.

“For instance, preliminary report of the Edo election shows that security presence was adequately deployed across the state.

It also stated that security personnel were better coordinated and that most polling units had at least two security agents. The police, for instance, have reportedly become more civil on election duty than they were in past elections.”

“The smaller sizes of the electoral environment in the states rather than the large national size, which often throw them into coordination confusion, inadequate distribution of resources and manpower has drastically reduced. This was why the success that the police recorded in Edo State was widely hailed by local and international observers alike.

“Despite few cases of logistic challeng-

Jega

es, each election was an improvement from the previous one. Lessons that would have been learnt in many years of holding elections in the country have now seemingly been learnt in just few months. It is no doubt an undisputable fact that the space in between these elections has created room for learning, through analysis of successes and failures.”

INEC REC in Cross River State, Mr. Mike Igini, who equally backed staggered elections, premised his position on the fact that Nigeria lacks the infrastructure to conduct elections at the same time.

His words: “I have always believed that the best way for us in this country is to go for staggered elections. Several states, whose elections were conducted in April 2011, will be having new elections by April 2015. What could happen is that it is possible for us to have staggered elections within those periods without all of them necessarily having to be the same day even though the tenure would end at the same time.

“The elections could be spread from January till April with intervals of two weeks, which will cut across at least three states from each geo-political zone. Such elections will help the commission, security agencies, political parties and others to maximise their resources and logistics in a more effective way to ensure that we have a very successful outing. I have always believed that as a large country, we do not have the infrastructure to conduct elections simultaneously.”

But despite the arguments of the advocates of staggered polls, which seem good on paper, those opposed to the idea are of the view that it will not reflect the correct preferences of the electorate, as the bandwagon effect, which will be a natural spin off of the exercise will only arm bigger parties in its bully of smaller parties. They also argued that the winner will keep winning even if it rigs the election, while the weak parties will suffer unfair serial defeats.

Former governor of the old Kaduna State and national chairman of the Conference of Nigerian Political Parties (CNPP), Alhaji Balarabe Musa, told National Mirror that only the credibility of the process and not staggered elections will help deepen Nigeria’s democracy.

He said: “What is the meaning of staggered elections. Elections in Nigeria are already staggered, but it has not changed anything. Let us have free, fair and credible elections. It is only when we have such that we can begin to talk of staggered elections.”

Another analyst who dismissed the option, said: “By staggering the elections, which means presidential, gubernatorial, national and states assemblies, holding at different dates, it implies that elections into various offices will span months. This also implies that electoral officials and voters would be moving from one zone to the other to conduct or take part in the polls.

“In a country ravaged by poverty, how will INEC guard against voter apathy? How do you convince a man to go seven times to wherever he registered to cast his vote in the different elections? If a political party picks the bill, will the gesture not compromise the voter ab initio? Staggering elections will not reflect the correct preferences of the electorate. The winner will keep winning even if it rigs the election, while the weak and smaller parties will suffer unfair serial defeats.”

National Chairman of the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), Dr Ogbonnaya Onu, who voiced similar objection when the issue cropped up ahead of the 2011 elections, then argued that besides the bandwagon effect, staggered elections will come with great economic and political consequences.

He said: “Our call for elections to be held in one day is because we want those who occupy elective position to be those who enjoy the will of their people. What we now have in staggered election that takes place in three different days is designed to have bandwagon effect. Once that happens, then many things will come as a consequence “One is that some may lose interest and may not even want to vote again. But the most worrisome is that the will of the people will not be respected. And in a democracy, if you don’t respect the will of the people, then definitely there will be problems.”

He further said that “if you look at the cost benefits of holding elections in one day instead of three days, it means that INEC will save a lot money because it would be conducting one election instead of three elections; the political parties will engage one polling agent instead of three; and if you conduct election in three days, it means Nigerians would be literally be demobilised.”

As the debate rages with the ongoing constitution amendment expected to further strengthen the electoral process, all stakeholders, cannot but join hands with INEC to fashion out a system that will ensure that the 2015 general elections is not only the best in Nigeria’s political history, but also the most acceptable to the electorate.

16

Politics

Wednesday, November 7, 2012

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Ekiti attacks: Govt, opposition trade blames ABIODUN NEJO writes on the blame game between the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN)-led Kayode Fayemi administration and the opposition, over attacks on former governor, Ayodele Fayose and the sack of the regent of IlasaEkiti, Jolaade Onipede.

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he last three days of October would go down as traumatic ones for two leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ekiti State: former Governor Ayodele Fayose and the Nigerian Ambassador to the Republic of Congo, Princess Jolaade Onipede.

While some political thugs attacked and disrupted activities of the Ayodele Fayose Campaign Organisation, where Fayose was bound to hold meetings with some PDP members in different communities, Onipede had a raw deal in the hands of government agents who sacked her as the Regent of Ilasa Ekiti in Ekiti East Local Government Area area of the state.

Trouble started for Fayose and his group on Monday, October 29, when he went to Oye Ekiti in the Oye Local Government Area to hold meetings with PDP members in the council area. Hardly had the meeting stated that political thugs invaded the venue and beat the hell out of the PDP members.

Six PDP members were injured with machete cuts on various parts of their bodies and three vehicles of the opposition party members vandalised.

The Director General of the Fayose Campaign Organisation, Gboyega Oguntuase, said the attackers were members of the ruling Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) who were intolerant of opposition and out to prevent the PDP from assembling.

Oguntuase, therefore, called for adequate security arrangement ahead of the following day’s meeting scheduled for Ilawe Ekiti in the Ekiti South West Local Government Area.

But state ACN Director of Media and Strategy, Tai Akogun, denied the involvement of his party members in the attack, as he asked the PDP to look inward, adding that the situation was a fallout of the internal crisis rocking the opposition party.

Akogun described the attack as a clear case of intra-party wrangling among members of the opposition PDP in the state.

Tuesday’s (October 30) meeting at Ilawe Ekiti could not hold as tension mounted in the town. Several policemen in no fewer than 12 police vans were deployed to the town to forestall breakdown of law and order. But, the presence of the combat ready policemen in their numbers at various strategic locations did not prevent the thugs from coming to the open and making bonfires, all in a bid to prevent the PDP meeting from holding.

In the heart of the town, while policemen were on one side, the hoodlums were on the other.

Even as one needed not be a security expert to know that the town was hostile to strange faces and not conducive for such PDP meeting that day, sources in the Fayose

Fayemi

Fayose

FAYOSE HAD UNRESOLVED DIFFERENCES WITH SO MANY GROUPS AND INDIVIDUALS WITHIN

THE OPPOSITION PDP, WHICH COULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE ATTACKS ON HIM Campaign Organisation said they shelved the meeting owing to security advice.

However, the incidents of Monday and Tuesday were child’s play compared to what took place at Ikere Ekiti, the headquarters of Ikere Local Government Area, where the PDP meeting was slated to hold on Wednesday (October 30).

Ikere Ekiti became a ghost town temporarily that day as the weapon-brandishing thugs took over, and shot sporadically into the air. Policemen were drafted to the town to curtail the excesses of the political thugs.

It, however, took the intervention of men of the State Security Services (SSS), who escorted Fayose to the meeting venue to scare away the hoodlums.

Peeved by the situation which was fast becoming a daily occurrence, the state Police commissioner, Sotonye Wakama, summoned the chairmen of the ruling ACN in the state, Olajide Awe and his PDP counterpart, Makanjuola Ogundipe to a meeting.

The leaders of the two political parties were told by the police chief to call their members to order in a bid to ensure peace in the state.

While the opposition camp said the ruling party was jittery and opted for violence to prevent the PDP members from associating, the ACN blamed the situation on internal crisis rocking the PDP. Ekiti State ACN Chairman, Awe, said he told the police at the meeting that his party was not involved in the matter, adding that Fayose had unresolved differences with so many groups and individuals within the opposition PDP, which could be responsible for the attacks on him and his group.

Ekiti State PDP Chairman, Ogundipe,

Onipede

told journalists later that the attacks on his party members by the ACN thugs were “because they are jittery of losing their jobs in 2014.”

Meanwhile, while there was tension in Ilawe Ekiti in the Ekiti South West Local Government Area as thugs laid siege, Ilasa Ekiti in the Ekiti East Local Government Area, the hometown of Princess Onipede, was in joyful and celebration mood. It was the day the serving ambassador was installed Regent of the community, following the demise on October 1 of her father, the Alasa of Ilasa, Oba Abel Ajibola.

Onipede had told journalists in the palace shortly after her installation that her unanimous choice by the kingmakers in the community was in line with tradition and to foster development.

The former state PDP Woman Leader, had assured of uniting all the segments of the town, regardless of political leanings and ideology, saying being a politician did not take away her responsibility of ensuring adequate representation for the community to ensure it gained from all political associations.

Onipede had said: “I was instrumental to the passage of the Ekiti State Regency Law that limits the tenure of any Regent to two years as Special Adviser on Chieftaincy Affairs under Segun Oni administration. So I can’t impede the process of

selecting an Oba. I have told the members of the next ruling house to start the process in earnest.”

But all these were not to last as the state government declared that it did not recognise her as regent and went ahead to announce another person in her stead in less than 24 hours.

Information Commissioner, Funminiyi Afuye said: “Following the passing on of Oba Ajibola, the Alasa of Ilasa Ekiti on October 1, the Ekiti East Local Government recommended to the state government the appointment of Chief Mrs Idowu as the lawful regent of the town pending the time a substantive oba would be appointed to fill the vacant stool of the town.”

However, the embattled Onipede was quick to react, describing the government’s step as a ruse. She said: “It is a ruse. Afuye does not know the tradition of Ilasa and he is not a native of the town. All the kingmakers of Ilasa cannot come together and make a mistake.

“They (the kingmakers) are the people to announce and they had done that. Idowu cannot come to my father’s palace and room; she will have to go to Afuye’s village to serve as regent and not Ilasa. The state government does not know the rule, or maybe Afuye gave it the wrong interpretation.”

However, few hours after the state government announced the appointment of Idowu, some state government agents invaded the palace, ejected Onipede and installed the government-backed regent.

An embittered Onipede later told journalists on phone from an undisclosed location in Ado-Ekiti that the government agents brandishing guns and other weapons invaded the palace, ransacked it and removed eight crowns, other royal insignias, desecrated the palace and as well beat up her police orderly.

She wondered why the government that ought to ensure security and protect lives and property was the one causing breach of law and order as she expressed determination that no amount of intimidation and threat would make her abandon the throne and her visions for the community.

The state PDP chairman, Ogundipe, said the forcible ejection of the regent from the palace confirms that the present government was determined to muzzle opposition and render them useless in the state through sponsoring series of attacks on opposition party members.

Ogundipe said there was need for the ACN to be cautioned as further victimisation of PDP members could attract vengeance that could be counter-productive to the development and peace in the state.

Responding, Commissioner for Information, Afuye, who dispelled the allegation said: “PDP is a gang of liars. There is no iota of truth in what they have said.

“They rely on lie to keep afloat. So, it is our belief that those that alleged carried out the act. Government did not engage in any act of violence.”

The days ahead could portend danger, if nothing is done to check the breakdown of law and order in Ekiti State. Whether the attacks are from within the PDP or from the ruling ACN, what should be uppermost in the minds of all stakeholders should be peaceful coexistence as violence is an illwind that blows no one any good.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Views

Wednesday, November 7, 2012

17

Suntai’s Air Mishap: Matters Arising PUBLIC DOMAIN

DELE

SETEOLU

deleseteolu@nationalmirroronline.net (08033137577 SMS only)

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he Governor of Taraba State, Danbaba Suntai escaped death when his plane crashed at Ngulore village, 10 kilometers to Yola international airport. Media report disclosed that three people died while the governor was injured. It was reported that two other occupants survived with varying degree of injuries. The report disclosed that Governor Suntai was in control of the Cessna 208 aircraft, with registration number, 5N-BMJ before it crashed.

The governor and other victims were evacuated in an ambulance to the German Diagnostic centre. Meanwhile, Suntai had a private pilot license from the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology, NCAT, Zaria in August 2010, after enrolling in private pilot license in the college. The report, though unconfirmed, claimed he acquired the plane from a former member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Ibu Na’Allah in 2010, shortly on graduation from the college.

Sadly, Governor Suntai operated a private jet amidst the pervasive poverty and underdevelopment in his state. Un-

arguably, Taraba is one of the poorest in the federation. It raises ethical question when a serving governor of a poor state flies a private jet. Politics in Nigeria had been devoid of ethics and morality; hence the pursuit of political power confers economic power through the pillage of state resources.

The report also stated that he enrolled at the Aviation school while in office, thereby raising questions on his commitment to the development challenges in the state. It is unethical for a governor to abandon his duty for pilot training. Did he proceed on leave while at the Aviation College? How did he cope with demands of the office and training as a pilot? The foregoing suggests a skewed perception of public office by the political elite and their emphasis on power politics. Public office in Nigeria and Africa is highly attractive in terms of perquisites’ and access to economic gains.

While I sympathize with relations of the deceased aides, it is important, to draw attention to salient and critical issues that underlie this air mishap. Since the crash, the governor has been flown to Germany and his surviving aides transferred to the National hospital, Abuja.

Suntai’s transfer to Germany draws attention to the poor conditions of public health institutions in Nigeria. The political elite often travel abroad for medical treatments while other Nigerians travel to the West, South Africa and India for medical tourism.

The Nigerian Medical Association, NMA, had disclosed that 5, 000 Nigerians

THE NIGERIAN ELITE ARE ‘LEECHES’ WHO RELY ON THE STATE FOR VIRTUALLY EVERYTHING travel to overseas monthly for medical reasons. The increasing level of foreign travels for health reasons, constitute a major drain on the country’s resources.

We should recall that the wife of the President, Dame Patience Jonathan was in Germany for five weeks for undisclosed illness. The former military President, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida, travelled to the West for a persistent radiculopathy. It hurts the country’s national pride, that serving and retired elite seek medical attention in other countries. It points to the chaotic nature and absence of discipline and character in our national life.

The Nigerian elite are ‘leeches’ who rely on the state for virtually everything.

Ironically, they do very little to reduce material poverty, foster economic growth, develop social infrastructure or offer inspiring and intellectual leadership. This is the tragedy of the Nigerian state, even when no elite factions offer alternative ideas on how to govern the country well.

Meanwhile, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, has disclosed that there 71 private jets operating in the country. The spokesperson, Mr. Sam Adurogboye, disclosed that 10 private

jets are registered in Nigeria and 61 in other countries but operate in the Nigeria. On the contrary, both local and foreign media reported that there are 130 private jets. But the media, including Forbes magazine contradicted claims of the NCAA,while the latter insists the jets are registered in corporate rather than private names, even as it refuses to provide identities of the companies, for verification at the Corporate Affairs Commission.

A report in Nigeria and Forbes magazine, claim that in the past five years, wealthy Nigerians had spent more than $6.5 billion acquiring new jets, which makes the country the region’s largest market for private planes.

There had been proliferation of private jets amid the liquidation of Nigeria Airways. It was sold to Virgin Atlantic, which transmuted to Virgin Nigeria and later Air Nigeria. The national airline ought to be a country’s pride and national identity. There are Ghana Airways, South Africa Airline, Ethiopia Airline, etc, that fly to several destinations in the world. The question is why do other airlines succeed and those in Nigeria fail?

The challenge is to rebuild a national carrier, which should be patronized by both the elite and ordinary citizens. It is noteworthy that Ethiopian Airline is the highest foreign exchange earner for that country, while the British Prime Minister travels in commercial planes. Why can’t Nigeria’s President travel in a re- created Nigeria Airways, rather than maintaining a retinue of jets at state expense?

Corruption: Will government offensive be enough?

BARNABAS MSHELIA

C

an Nigeria win the war against corruption? Millions, whose lives are directly challenged by the negative impact of this pervasive malaise, sincerely hope it can be won sooner than later.

A recent survey suggests that most Nigerians believe that corruption is the greatest threat to the country’s corporate existence, ahead of unemployment, terrorism, and poor infrastructure.

Although corruption has always been a recurring issue of many national public discourses, a paragraph in President Goodluck Jonathan’s October 1 broadcast, seemed to have touched off a frenzied media altercation between government and the opposition. The President had stated that: “In its latest report, Transparency International noted that Nigeria is the second most improved country in the effort to curb corruption. We will sustain the effort in this direction with an even stronger determination to strengthen the institutions that are statutorily entrusted with the task of ending this scourge”. Opposition and civil society groups challenged the verity of this assertion. The Federal Ministry of Information, defending the government, argued that the information was sourced from a report in a usually-reliable national business newspaper.

The opposition had accused government of lacking the political will to fight corruption. It claimed the anti-corruption fight never seriously moved beyond the rhetoric level. High-network, well-connected culprits, did not have to fear arrest or prose-

THE BANKING AND FINANCIAL SECTOR HAS BEEN CLEANED OF SYSTEMIC ROT THAT THREATENED TO WRECK THE LARGER ECONOMY cution because there was neither will nor commitment to bring them to justice.

If the administration felt the need to combat an unflattering representation as an unwilling crime fighter, it chose the battle theme and timing with commendable aplomb. The arrest and arraignment of Mr Ifeanyi Ubah, Chairman of Capital Oil and Gas Limited, added more impetus and sense of urgency to the fight when it decided to investigate and prosecute oil marketers who fraudulently received subsidy on fuel imports between 2011 and 2012. At that point, President Jonathan assured Nigerians that the guilty will not go unpunished.

The President was not alone, as he had strong support. The Coordinating Minister of the Economy and Finance Minister, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, on assumption of office, set a zero tolerance against corruption when she proclaimed that her primary mission was to fight corruption and improve efficiency. She would achieve this end by plugging wastages and ensuring more transparency and accountability in the management of public resources. At a Parliamentary hearing on the fuel subsidy scandal, she warned that she was not going

to invent answers to shield any suspect. The President, she reiterated, was irrevocably committed to fight corruption in the oil and gas sector, even as she revealed plans to reintroduce an oil and gas monitoring unit to ensure strict compliance with extant laws and regulations. A similar unit which she set up during her previous stint as Finance Minister got some international oil companies to repay $1.2 billion to government coffers following a study of their contractual obligations.

Ubah’s arrest followed the arrest and arraignment of 21 oil marketers, including Mahmud Tukur, son of the PDP National Chairman, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, Mamman Ali, son of former PDP National Chairman, Col. Ahmadu Ali, the immediate past Chairman of the Petroleum Products Pricing and Regulatory Agency (PPPRA), and Abdullahi Alao, son of the strongman of Oyo politics, Alhaji Azeez Arisekola Alao. The companies involved are: Nasaman Oil Services, Eterna Oil and Gas Plc, Ontario Oil and Gas Plc, Nadabo Energy Limited, Pacific Silver Line Limited, Axenergy Limited, Fago Petroleum and Gas Limited and Capital Oil and Gas Limited. Also arraigned were Ezekiel Olaleye Ejidele, director of accounting firm, Akintola Williams Delloite, an accounting firm and Fakuade Babafemi of the PPPRA. The shake-up is the logical follow-up to the submission of the report of the Technical Committee, whose forensic examination was completed by the Presidential Committee on Verification and Reconciliation of Fuel Subsidy payment between 2009 and 2011, headed by Mr Aig Imoukhuede, a banker and accounting professional.

Besides the caging of oil and gas tycoons

and sanitizing the industry, the administration has also earned bragging rights on other fronts. The banking and financial sector has been cleaned of systemic rot that threatened to wreck the larger economy. Reference should be made on the trial of former governors of Jigawa, Plateau, Abia, Nasarawa, Gombe, Ogun, Kwara and Taraba states, some of which began since 2007 without conclusion. Judges on the other hand blame defence lawyers, of employing delay tactic to delay or frustrate the trial of their affluent clients. It is heart-warming that the Nigerian Bar Association, cognisant of this drawback, is contemplating the establishment of an anti-corruption committee. The judiciary too can get into a war mood and deploy its entire arsenal against the corruption monster, much like the Executive is doing.

Judges can refuse frivolous requests for adjournment and impose harsh sanctions against prosecutors or counsels who seek to delay corruption trials. The leveling of impunity is one thing though, oiling the machinery of justice to ensure that the trials are concluded in judicious time, is quite another. But can the Nigerian situation afford the costly delay on the judicial front?

Mshelia, an accountant, wrote from Abuja 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.

18

Editorial

Wednesday, November 7, 2012

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

All the Facts, All the Sides A PUBLICATION OF GLOBAL MEDIA MIRROR LTD BARRISTER JIMOH IBRAHIM, OFR PUBLISHER

STEVE AYORINDE

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LANRE OYETADE

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SM, STRATEGIC DEVELOPMENT

FRANK OBOH

HEAD, GRAPHICS

Presidency, NASS and constituency projects

A

t the height of horse-trading between the Presidency and the National Assembly over the alleged poor implementation of the 2012 budget, the Special Adviser to the President on Political Affairs, Ahmed Gulak, had attributed the problem to the delay by the legislature in passing annual budgets.

Gulak and the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Public Affairs, Doyin Okupe, also lambasted NASS for what they perceived as non-complimentary remarks by the lawmakers when President Goodluck Jonathan presented the 2013 budget proposal to a joint session of the Senate and the House of Representatives last month. The leadership of NASS had also tackled the presidential aides for ‘dabbling’ into areas they were not competent to comment about. Indeed, the Senate particularly passed a motion in which it implored Jonathan to caution his aides on their utterances.

Perhaps, the most important fallout of the verbal battle was the claim credited to Presidency sources that the N60 billion built into the 2012 budget for constituency projects of NASS members was really meant to be spent on questionable and nonpriority projects. The said sum was supposed to cover constituency projects to be implemented by government ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) in the country’s six geopolitical zones at the rate of N10 billion each. But reports alleged

THE NATION MUST NOT BE ALLOWED TO CONTINUE WALLOWING IN BRAZEN IMPUNITY ESPECIALLY PERPETRATED BY PEOPLE OCCUPYING POSITIONS OF TRUST that majority of such projects were meant to provide ‘jobs for the boys’, in other words, projects initiated for the pacification of cronies, family members and friends. One report alleged thus: “The truth of the matter is that many of the projects the lawmakers are worrying about are not implementable. They are not well thought out and many of them cannot pass through due process.

The tragedy of the whole issue is that the Due Process office has been bullied to stay off projects initiated

by National Assembly members.

So you find most of the agencies being stuck with the implementation… Many of the constituency projects included by the legislature are believed to be padded… They were just aimed at putting money in the hands of some persons… Many senators were known to have initiated credible projects, but questions

are hanging on the projects of many federal constituencies”. We think these are weighty allegations.

On the face of it, nothing may be wrong with the idea of constituency projects when sincerely handled.

Such projects would not only draw democracy dividends closer to the down-trodden in the hinterland, but would also encourage patriotic representatives to compete in attracting quality government presence to their respective constituencies. Our initial disagreement with the idea had been that gluttonous lawmakers would abuse the privilege if the funds are disbursed directly to them by diverting such monies to personal use, instead of using same to execute projects that would be of benefit to majority of the people.

With the MDAs placed in charge of the execution of constituency projects, public expectation had been that the development would yield better results, notwithstanding the systemic corruption plaguing the country’s public sector.

It is, consequently, regrettable and, indeed, unacceptable that constituency projects’ implementation has been caught in the web of the ‘Nigerian Factor’ as the foregoing allegations seem to suggest. Why, for instance, would NASS members want to cut corners by their alleged blunt refusal to subject their projects to the test of Due Process? Why the penchant for embarking on frivolous and white sepulcher projects

not relevant to the pressing needs of their constituencies? While we commend those lawmakers who are getting it right by deferring to Due Process, we insist that the relevant authorities must ensure that no constituency project is passed for execution that failed the terms and conditions of due process.

The nation must not be allowed to continue wallowing in brazen impunity especially perpetrated by people occupying positions of trust.

It is not unlikely that the Presidency – NASS misunderstanding on constituency projects contributed to the tense relationship of late between the executive and the legislature.

But the executive should ensure that public funds are conserved through Due Process in the implementation of projects all of the time.

Nevertheless, the NASS deserves commendation for piling pressure on the executive to perform, and for stepping up its oversight functions.

These, however, we view as the call of duty that ought to be carried out without acrimony or being over-bearing. Again, the Presidency should strive to control the utterances of its aides against the NASS or its members. For, unlike the aides who hold office at the pleasure of the president, the lawmakers are elected representatives of the people, just like Mr. President.

We think they deserve some measure of respect from the appointees of the president.

ON THIS DAY November 7, 2007 The Jokela school shooting in Tuusula, Finland occurred, resulting in the death of nine people.

The shooting took place at Jokela High School in Jokela, a town in the municipality of Tuusula, Finland. The gunman, 18-year-old student, PekkaEric Auvinen, entered the school that morning armed with a semi-automatic pistol. He killed eight people and wounded one person in the toe before shooting himself in the head.

November 7, 2002 Iran outlawed the advertisement of United States’ products. Advertising is a form of communication for marketing and used to encourage or persuade an audience (viewers, readers or listeners; sometimes a specific group) to continue or take some new action. Most commonly, the desired result is to drive consumer behavior with respect to a commercial offering, although political and ideological advertising is also common.

November 7, 2000 Hillary Rodham Clinton was elected to the United States’ Senate, making her the first former First Lady to win public office in the US. Born October 26, 1947, Hillary is the 67th US Secretary of State, serving in the administration of President Barack Obama. She was a US Senator for New York from 2001 to 2009. As the wife of the 42nd President of the United States, Bill Clinton, she was the First Lady of the United States from 1993 to 2001.

Wednesday, November 7, 2012

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

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Health & Wellbeing Prostate cancer kills 14 Nigerian men daily, says expert

‘Our abattoirs are in terrible condition’

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SAM EFERARO

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he 2012 World Pneumonia Day will be marked globally next Monday amidst reports by WHO showing that it remains the leading cause of death in children worldwide killing an estimated 1.4 million children under the age of five years every year – more than AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis combined. Nigeria alone accounts for 5% of the global burden of Invasive Pneumococcal Disease (IPD), with no fewer than 7 million cases and about 380 deaths out of 100,000 people.

Unfortunately, Nigeria also has the highest burden of sickle cell disease in the world. Sickle cell sufferers, according to experts, are known to suffer very high incidence of IPD – at a ratio of 660/100,000 among sicklers. Nigeria also has the fourth highest number of HIV infections among adults and children in the world. Similarly there are many Nigerians suffering from cancers, liver cirrhosis, chronic renal diseases, nephrotic syndrome to mention a few of the diseases that predispose to IPD. Yet, the nation’s Pneumococcal Diseases Expert Panel says the PD burden is not well appreciated by physicians, healthcare providers and policy makers not to talk of the general public at large – which makes the disease almost unknown in this part of the world.

Just what manner of disease is Invasive Pneumococcal Disease? Is it really as dreadful as described by the Expert Panel?

Chairman of the Expert Panel Prof.

Geoffrey Onyemelukwe a renowned Professor of Medicine and Immunology at the Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital and member, National Certification Committee ( NCC ) on Polio Eradication describes Pneumococcal disease, also known as pneumococcus, as an infection caused by the Streptococcus pneumoniae (S. Pneumoniae) Bacterium. This infection can result in pneumonia infection of the blood There are two main types of pneumococcal diseases: The Non-Invasive Pneumococcal Disease and Invasive Pneumococcal Diseases. IPDs tend to be more serious and occur inside a major organ, or in the blood. These include: • Bacteremia (sepsis) - bacterial infection of the blood. Bacteremia refers to the presence of live bacteria in the blood, while sepsis means a blood

Pneumonia draws global attention •Still world’s leading cause of death in children

A child being treated for Pneumonia

Prof. Onyemelukwe

infection which is associated with capillary leak, shock and an increased risk of mortality.

• Meningitis - inflammation of the meninges. The meninges are the three membranes that cover the brain and the spinal cord.

• Bacteremic pneumonia - inflammation of one or both lungs, with pneumococcus in the bloodstream.

The World Health Organisatiom

(WHO) says pneumonia accounts for 18% of all deaths of children under five years old worldwide. It affects children and families everywhere, but is most prevalent in South Asia and subSaharan Africa. Indeed, anyone can get pneumococcal disease though some groups are at a significantly higher risk either for the disease or its complications. These groups include: infants and children younger than two years of age, children who have an underlying medical condition which predisposes them to invasive pneumococcal disease, people over 65 years of age, children in poor areas of developing countries, People with weakened immune systems, such as those with immunosuppression (e.g. high-dose steroids, chemotherapy), HIV, or AIDS. According to WHO, Pneumonia can be spread in a number of ways. The viruses and bacteria that are commonly found in a child’s nose or throat, can infect the lungs if they are inhaled.

They may also spread via air-borne droplets from a cough or sneeze. In addition, pneumonia may spread through blood, especially during and shortly

after birth. More research needs to be done on the different pathogens causing pneumonia and the ways they are transmitted, as this has critical importance for treatment and prevention.

The symptoms of pneumonia include: • rapid or difficult breathing • cough • fever • chills • loss of appetite •wheezing (more common in viral infections).

When pneumonia becomes severe, children may experience lower chest wall indrawing, where their chests move in or retract during inhalation (in a healthy person, the chest expands during inhalation). Very severely ill infants may be unable to feed or drink and may also experience unconsciousness, hypothermia and convulsions.

Treatment Pneumonia can be treated with antibiotics. These are usually prescribed at a health centre or hospital, but the vast majority of cases of childhood pneumonia can be administered managed effectively within the home. Hospitalization is recommended in infants aged two months and younger, and also in very severe cases.

Prevention WHO describes the prevention of pneumonia in children is an essential component of a strategy to reduce child mortality. Immunization against Hib, pneumococcus, measles and whooping cough (pertussis) remains the most effective way to prevent pneumonia.

“Adequate nutrition is key to improving children’s natural defences, starting with exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of life. In addition to being effective in preventing pneumonia, it also helps to reduce the length of the illness if a child does become ill Addressing environmental factors such as indoor air pollution (by providing affordable clean indoor stoves, for example) and encouraging good hygiene in crowded homes also reduces the number of children who fall ill with pneumonia,” WHO further says.

Health & Wellbeing

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Wednesday, November 7, 2012

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

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ustice for children should be based on child rights. Depriving children of their liberty (incarcerating them) must always be a last resort. Procedures that are sensitive to children should be put in place for children who are victims or witnesses of crime.

Placing children who have committed crimes or have been accused of committing crimes in a detention centre, prison or reform school or any other closed setting should always be a last resort. Detention can be detrimental to children’s development and make reintegration into society more difficult.

Alternatives such as mediation, community service and counselling produce better results for children and their families and communities. Such alternatives are generally more respectful of children’s rights and help children learn how to take on a more constructive role in society. This should be the objective of all justice interventions concerning children.

The majority of children in detention have not committed a serious offence. They are often detained for dropping out of school, running away from home, using alcohol, begging or vagrancy. Some children are in detention because they have been exploited by adults through prostitution or drug dealing.

Children can remain in detention for months or years awaiting review of their case. These children are at higher risk of violence, exposure to drugs, HIV infection and other health problems. Detention can interrupt their schooling and distance them from family. Children in detention generally need a social protection response,

SCIENCE

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cienceDaily (Nov. 1, 2012) — Insomnia and sleep apnea are turning us into major health service consumers, causing us to be less productive at work, and may even lead to serious accidents.

If you can’t sleep at night, you’re not alone. Around ten per cent of the American population, for instance, suffer from insomnia, where you have trouble falling asleep, wake up frequently at night, and still feel tired when the morning comes.

“When you feel tired and indisposed, your performance at work suffers,” says Børge Sivertsen, professor at UiB’s Department of Clinical Psychology and senior researcher at the Norwegian Institute of Public Health.

Depriving children of their liberty must always be a last resort

Protecting your child against abuse (3) not a judicial one.

Children who are in detention should: be separated from adult offenders have their cases addressed within a short time frame be separated by gender have appropriate means to report violence committed against them while in detention.

Pregnant women and mothers with children in detention need special protection, care and support. All children in these circumstances are entitled to protection of their rights, such as access to health care and education.

Child-sensitive procedures for boys and girls should be put in place for child victims and witnesses of crime. Such

procedures should: prevent contact between the child and the alleged perpetrator (the person who is accused of committing the crime) allow for the child’s full participation in the justice process ensure that the child is treated with dignity and compassion.

8. Income support and social welfare services can help keep families together and children in school and ensure access to health care.

Households that need income support and social welfare services may be headed by the elderly, widows, children or individuals who are sick or disabled. This can include families affected by HIV. Income support and social welfare

Sleep problems cost billions

Sleep apnea is a more severe problem, affecting four to five per cent of the population. Sufferers can stop breathing for up to 40 seconds several times during the night, putting a huge strain on the heart. As a result,

they have many micro-awakenings that stop them from reaching deep sleep.

According to the sleep scientist, a recently-published study from the United States puts the annual losses from insomnia alone at 63.2 billion US dollars annually. Only a third of this was due to actual absence from work; two thirds was due to a loss in productivity while at work.

“An Australian study found that about two per cent of Australia’s GDP is lost due to sick leave caused by insomnia and sleep apnea disorder. This shows how common these diseases are and how much they affect work,” Sivertsen says.

In their own ways, each sleep disorder

Discoveries hold promise for Hepatitis B Virus treatment

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University of Colorado Boulderled team has discovered two prime targets of the Hepatitis B virus in liver cells, findings that could lead to treatment of liver disease in some of the 400 million people worldwide currently infected with the CU-Boulder Professor Ding Xue, who led the studies, said scientists have been looking for cellular targets of the Hepatitis B virus, or HBV, for more than three decades.

Infections from HBV promote hepatitis (inflammation of the liver), cirrhosis (scarring of the liver) and liver cancer and can be transmitted through blood and bodily fluids, unprotected sex, unsterile needles and from

infected mother to offspring during birth.

Xue said scientists have known for some time that HBV encodes a pathogenic, tumorpromoting protein known as HBx, but how it works has remained largely unknown.

In two new studies, Xue and his colleagues showed that the “host targets” of HBx in human cells are two small cell proteins known as Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL, both of which are well-known cell death inhibitors but which have not previously been implicated in HBV infection.

HBx uses a particular “motif,” a small string of protein building blocks known as amino acids that resemble those seen in

some cell death-causing proteins, to interact with the Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL targets and stimulate an elevation of calcium in the host cell. The calcium elevation then triggers both viral HBV replication and cell death, said Xue. When the researchers introduced gene mutations into the motif, HBx binding to the Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL proteins and viral replication were prevented. Similarly, when either Bcl-2 or Bcl-xL proteins were “knocked out” or weakened in human liver cells, HBx was less able to cause an increase in calcium and viral replication inside the infected cells.

services can provide children and families the means to: purchase food pay for or access health care and education keep families together keep children out of institutional care or from working or living on the street help families break out of the cycle of poverty.

The government and local authorities, with support from civil society, can help identify families in need. They can assist families with income support and social welfare services such as counselling and legal aid. It is important to ensure that families do not face discrimination related to accessing or using the services.

also has a strong impact on accident statistics. For example, lorry drivers have sedentary jobs, and this increases the risk of developing obesity and sleep apnea.

“The disease is a major cause of the many traffic accidents on American roads,” Sivertsen says.

As for insomnia, drug use can cause problems. Sivertsen’s studies show that sedatives can cause users to feel less rested during the daytime.

“Sleep medication may work in the short term, but after six weeks of use we noticed a decrease in deep sleep. Sleep may be uninterrupted, but you may not necessarily get quality sleep,” he says.

Sleep disorder sufferers are often major health care users, which leads to an increase in social costs.

“Our most important findings are the identification of the motif itself and the two HBx host targets,” said Xue of CU-Boulder’s molecular, cellular and developmental biology department. “Now we can start thinking about new drug targets to treat HBV.” Two papers on the subject led by Xue were published online Oct. 22 in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. In addition to major CU-Boulder co-authors Xin Geng, Brian Harry, Qinghua Zhou, Yan Qin and Amy Palmer, a group led by Professor Ning-Shao Xia from the National Institute of Diagnostics and Vaccine Development in Infectious Diseases at Xiamen University in China collaborated on one of the studies.

—ScienceDaily

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Health & Wellbeing

Wednesday, November 7, 2012

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‘Our abattoirs are in terrible condition’ Registrar, Veterinary Council of Nigeria, Dr Markus Avong, x-rays veterinary services in Nigeria and declares the meat from many abattoirs in the country as unfit for human consumption. In this interview with MARCUS FATUNMOLE, Dr. Avong stresses the need for both human physicians and veterinarians to work together to save the situation.

Excerpts: What exactly is the role of the Veterinary Council of Nigeria?

The veterinary council of Nigeria is an agency of the federal government that is saddled with the responsibility of determining what standards are to be obtained by persons who are at the various levels of being registered as veterinary surgeons in this country. That is the main responsibility of Veterinary Council of Nigeria.

There are others such as the issue of maintaining a veterinary register for those who have been registered. Of course these are the key responsibilities of Veterinary Council of Nigeria. It is so because you have to maintain standard. As from time to time you raise those standards to meet up with global expectation. There is no ultimate in life. There is no standard you can attain that you will say it is the ultimate; it is the peak that you cannot move further. If you look very well, especially in science, which is very dynamic, what obtains today may change tomorrow. The responsibility of the Council is not only to determine standards but to ensure that these standards are raised from time to time in keeping with global expectations. That is basically what we do.

How do you do this?

We are quality assurance agency for the people. We do this through these approaches. In other word, we give accreditation to determine what are to be taught in accredited veterinary institutions. Now, before any university or any institution establishes a college of Veterinary Medicine for the training of veterinarians, apart from obtaining the NUC accreditation, it must equally get accreditation from the regulatory agency, which is Veterinary Council of Nigeria.

The council ensures the faculty or college has all that is required for the teaching of veterinary surgery. I am talking of what is required in terms of manpower and other facilities. Not only do we give the accreditation, after giving the accreditation, Council ensures it periodically assesses these veterinary colleges to ensure that the standards that were determined earlier has not gone down.

So, after the first accreditation, there is a second accreditation after two years of getting the initial accreditation. Thereafter, because the two years is like a probation period, if the universities have all that it takes and can secure the accreditation, we give them a two year probation period, after when we go back to assess whether they are still maintaining that standard. There-

Dr. Avong

after, you go for the accreditation exercise every five years. So, the mere fact that you have an accredited institution doesn’t mean that you will not be accredited after the five years interval. So, we undertake that. Then, we go for examination observation. Now, at least once in a year, you go to assess the professional examination to be sure the examination does not fall below standard. These are the processes we adopt to ensure that teaching of veterinary medicine does not fall below standard.

For those who are being registered as veterinary surgeons, we equally have our way of ensuring that they maintain standard in the practice.

Is there any challenge like brain drain in veterinary services as applicable in other arms of medicine in Nigeria?

Really, if you are talking of employing veterinarians as it should be, then, we could end up with a shortage. But, you are talking of a country that does not employ as it should be. There are states that have about 17 local governments. When you look at the number of veterinarians there, they may be between two to five. Ordinarily, each local government should have a veterinary office. But, in how many states can we find this? Only Yobe is the only state one finds doing this. I noticed during the last Continuing Education, I had to commend Yobe state because the state came into Abuja venue of the programme with about 81 members, including Borno too. These states know the importance of veterinary medicine but other states seem not to have that knowledge. You will not be surprised that you find just between five to seven veterinarians employed in the state. Three of the figure may be at the state capital. The remaining three or five will be manning veterinary establishments inside towns. If they are employed the right way, certainly, we may end up with slight shortage. There are places like National Park; they keep wildlife. Do we

THE BUYERS ARE NOT INTERESTED IN KNOWING EVEN THOUGH IT WAS A DEAD ANIMAL THAT WAS PROCESSED have veterinarians working in all the parks?

We don’t. So, who takes care of the diseases there? Even some of the wildlife parks we have in the state, I remember when I was working in Plateau, I had to be seconded to be overseeing the Jos wildlife park as well as offering services at a veterinary hospital.

In fairness, I know that the Jos zoo has a veterinarian employed. If places that should employ veterinarians do that, we may end up with a shortage of manpower.

If you are talking of National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) shouldn’t there be a veterinarian there? During emergencies, it is not only humans that suffer, animals too suffer. You need veterinarians there so that while you are handling emergency for humans, there should be some forms of interventions for animal. This is for one reason. When there is an emergency, the animals that die pose a very environmental hazard. You need experts to evacuate them. Apart from that, you need experts to take care of those that did not die because whether we like it or not, when human beings get into emergency, for those keeping animal for commercial purpose, the whole of their attention is on the animals. We don’t have this in Nigeria which is not good for the country.

How do you regulate activities of meatsellers across Nigeria, especially at the abattoir?

Abattoirs are veterinary practical prem-

ises. We have put machineries on ground to see how to ensure that these abattoirs are upgraded to acceptable standard. But, of course, when you are trying to manage a very bad situation, it requires a lot of tact to handle it. The abattoirs are in a very terrible situation. Ordinarily, the meat coming from the abattoirs should not be said to be fit for human consumption because it does not meet acceptable standard for meat processing. But, like I said, the situation has been like that over the years. And, if you don’t manage it very well, you may end up in a situation where these butchers who are not under anybody leave where they can be inspected for an obscure environment. If you stop him from butchering here today, he may go and do it a place where you may not get him. So, we want to manage it tactically.

You can achieve a lot when you educate people, when you let people know that a particular process is not good. We are now embarking on a gradual re-orientation. I am calling it re-orientation because some years back, virtually all the state capitals in this nation have a state-of-the-art abattoir. The meat you got from the abattoirs was like meat you could get from abroad. The meat was well-inspected and processed hygienically. Then, you discovered that all butchers whose meat was inspected had a seal for that day so that when buyers go, they would buy only the meat that was inspected. But, today, we have thrown those virtues away. The buyers are not interested in knowing even though it was a dead animal that was processed. All they need is meat. So, we want to let people know the effects of this behaviour.

If we all insist on buying only the meat that was processed, the sellers of un-inspected meat will not sell.

Let us look at livestock management like commercial poultry. Can anybody just set up a commercial poultry? Is there any requirement?

I can use the example of what happens in some of the states. For you to operate in the state, you register with the veterinary department. Of course, the record should naturally end up at the federal level. The veterinary officials are expected to go to your poultry and take the GPS and record it with your name. The essence of this is the instance of period we had the Avian Bird Influenza. If there is any time you have a health problem on your farm and the report comes to Abuja for instance; if the Chief Veterinary Officer wants to do some other investigations, he may not necessarily need to come to ask people where such a farm is located. It could be an emergency that he might not need to be asking people. With the GPS, he will have his way. That poultry would have had a location on the map that is specific. So, if somebody comes from America to visit that poultry; supposing somebody is also coming with the person from the World Health Organization on animal health, he jumps into that poultry without asking anybody.

You must register the farm. In fact, this registration is very necessary. If for instance, like it happened during the last Avian Influenza outbreak, your farm is not registered and your record kept, and your animal dies, you may find it difficult to get compensation.

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Prostate cancer kills 14 Nigerian men daily, says expert

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o fewer than 14 men die from prostate cancer everyday in Nigeria, Dr Abia Nzelu, Coordinator, National Cancer Prevention Programme (NCPP), Lagos State branch, has said.

Nzelu, who said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos on Tuesday, noted that the figure was based on studies.

She said that most men report their cancer cases late when the symptoms had already manifested and attributed the situation to ignorance.

According to her, people die unnecessarily, even when they are diagnosed because there are

no facilities to treat them.

“Prostate cancer, the second commonest cancer in men, kills 14 men in Nigeria every day. This is not acceptable because it can be prevented.

“India has over 120 comprehensive cancer centres and we don’t have even one centre that has everything to take care of any kind of cancer that can carry out world class research.

“We need something like this in our own country, because apart from the fact that those that have, can afford it and travel, what of those that cannot?

“In Nigeria, cancer is like a death sentence that is why most deaths here are unnecessary; they are untimely.

“When we had the Dana crash, we were all shouting, but each day people are dying of cancer. Because, they are dying silently, we are not doing anything about it.”

Nzelu said that the prevention should be through life style modification, screening and routine checkups, at least once a year for those who are 40 and above.

She said that regular exercise, losing weight and imbibing the culture of health maintenance could reduce the risk by 50 per cent.

She advocated the establishment of cancer centres in each of the six-geo-political zones, adding that such centres could be built through self-help projects rather

than waiting for government.

“The only way to go about it is to get our own comprehensive cancer centres and we cannot wait for government to get them.

“And so the Nigerian Communications Commission has created a platform through which everybody, irrespective of economic status, can contribute, can save own life and save the lives of other people.

“By just contributing N100; by

Solar technology will improve our health –Experts SEKINAH L AWAL

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L-R: Founder, The Albino Foundation, Mr. Jake Epelle, Former Senate President, Dr. Joseph Wayas and Minister of State for Education, Barrister Ezenwo Nyesom Wike, during the formal Presentation of Draft National Policy on Albinism in Nigeria, yesterday in Abuja.

‘70% Nigerians lack balanced diet’

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clarion call has gone to Nigerians to always augment their diet with intake of multivitamins as the level of poverty in the society has made balanced diet a rarity.

Speaking at the media launch of Reload Multivitamins, the Chief Operating Officer, Pharmacy Plus Ltd, Mr. Obi Chukwuemeka spoke about the importance of taking multivitamins. “Multivitamins are needed to keep the body healthy, to prevent future health problems, to supplement one’s diet (especially when one does not eat right), and to fuel the body with energy and strength.”

According to Pharmacist Jimi Agbaje, he explained the role of Reload Multivitamin in the diet of Nigerians. He said, “70 per cent of Nigerians are living in poverty, obviously, they do not take a balanced diet while the remaining 30 per cent tend to eat more of one group of nutrients against another and that is why they need to supplement what they lack in nutrients through multivitamins such as the Reload.”

As part of efforts to contribute

its quota to the fight against malnutrition in Nigeria as well as to provide Nigerians with all their daily vitamins and minerals requirements, Pharmacy Plus Ltd, a leading pharmaceutical company, has unveiled a new range of Reload multivitamins.

Duly registered and certified by the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Reload is described as a multivitamin, multi-mineral and antioxidant in a vegetable and fruit blend newly introduced into the market.

“Reload contains 24 fruits and vegetables. Taking one tablet daily would give you all the nutrients you need on a daily basis.

Taking it in the morning will keep you ‘Reloaded’ for the entire day.’’ He said.

According to him, eating right is a big problem that cuts across both the rich and the poor classes in the country and the company understands that as human beings grow there is a resultant change in the nutritional requirements. The Reload brand is specially formed to cater for the nutritional needs of everyone ir-

respective of age and gender.

“As a pharmaceutical company, we understand that as human beings evolve, our nutritional needs evolve. The nutritional needs of a child are much different from that of a man and it is not the same as those of a woman. So, it cuts across gender, the nutritional needs of a man differs from those of a woman. It also cuts across age as well.. This is what the Reload brand has taken cognisance of.’’ He said.

texting `Cancer`to 44777; we will be able to achieve this; we will be able to build these cancer centres in the six geo-political zones.

“We will be able to have it at affordable rates for the poor people. Nigerians should join hands together so that we will achieve this great and noble venture.

“Because together it is possible, that was the theme of this year`s cancer day.”

igerians have been assured of a value-added life through the use of certain solar technological way of water purification.

Making this known recently are the trio of Mr. Alfred Spinnler, Chairman, Value Life Sciences (VLS) Ltd.; Mr. Frank Mogaha, its Managing Director and Mr. Nilesh Pawar, the Marketing Director at a press briefing to introduce the company and its products in Lagos recently.

According to Mr. Spinnler,water is very essential to our livelihood; for all organisms as well as a resource for many industrial processes, hence, water has been and will always be of central importance to all.

“The increase in population, the climate change and the progressive international industrialisation are aligned with a constant shortage of or un cleanliness of water. This is why we are introducing Acqua 1 Solar Technology for the purification and storage of water.”

He said that a long-time research work resulted in the technology of Acqua 1. “The fundamental advantage of this elementary water treatment has been developed because of the urge to renew, ameliorate

and optimise established conditions/situations.

He also mentioned other health-related products from the company aimed at adding value to the lives of many Nigerians and these include the disposable Infection Control products under the brand name CAREALL as VLS is the sole representative in Nigeria for all brands owned by Eurafric Pharma. Mr. Pawar stated that because several newborn babies die due to infections caused due to unclean environment in Nigeria while 30% of doctors pick up infections while treating the patients in hospital settings with many Nigerians spending millions of naira annually due to infections, Careall products can be used by patients, doctors, nurses, midwives etc. to avoid infections. He said that the focus is on prevention of infections which is in the interest of all involved. There is also the costs involved in antibiotic treatment which most families can not afford very often with serious consequences. Also, value-added products like Guard Tour Monitoring System, Solar Oven and Grills, Pepper Spray, and Submersible Water Aerator among others are available at VLS. “We are focusing on hygiene, water purification, pharmaceuticals and security.

L-R: Chairman, Value Life Sciences (VLS) Ltd, Mr. Alfred Spinnler; Managing Director, VLS, Mr. Frank Mogaha and the Marketing Director, VLS Ltd, Mr. Nilesh Pawar at a press briefing introducing the company and its products in Lagos.

Wednesday, November 7, 2012

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

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Arts Lounge

True stories are more interesting –Gozzard, American filmmaker

25 NGOZI EMEDOLIBE

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AFA, AFRIFF host Nollywood at 20 in December

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Stimulating creativity in Nollywood through short films

he story of Afrinolly, a mobile application that directs online users to trailers of Nollywood films is similar to that of major ITbased companies in the world; with one Afrinolly is partnering with MTN in the search for new talents in short film production. But the inherent motive: need. It started in 2011 in the quest for a place at a competition greater news for Nollywood is that this mobile application could be the digital platform to distribute organised by Google, called Android home videos of the future.

Developer Challenge. African software developers were invited to present their fact was attested to by film director applications for an ultimate prize that and actress, Stephanie Okereke, anothis worth $25,000. Nigerian born developer partner in the competition. “Short er, Chike Maduegbuna, the chief execufilms can be tasking because one is extive officer of FansConnectOnline, came pected to task his or her brain in order up with an African mobile app which to bring the story to the form required. has the ability to sieve the cyberspace The short film maker does not have the for Nollywood content, which is packluxury of time, which makes him or her aged for the target audience in a simple very ingenious. On my own, I am happy downloadable form. This application to be part of this quest and would like was named Afrinolly, and interestingly to work with the winners when I go on it clinched the ultimate prize, leaving location.”

Maduegbuna and his team $25,000 richMaduegbuna says the competition er. While the cash reward sounds excitwill also be a forum to expose these Afing, an unprecedented impression had rican talents on the cyberspace. “With been left in the global apps market on this competition, we aim at showcasing one hand and in the African film indusAfrican talent online, and providing a try on the other. With accolades pouring platform to foster the creation of new in, one of the telecoms giants in Africa, online content produced by Africans.

MTN decided to partner with the comThe competition will target over 1,000 pany, leading to the birth of the brand film makers across Africa and ultiAfrinolly, currently being offered as a mately provide the right push to some service on the MTN network. of the most talented creators in the Its far-reaching effect on the film incontinent. Winners will be rewarded dustry in Africa, especially Nigeria, with prizes worth $100,000 in cash and however came to the fore recently, while kind; while top participants will be ofthe partnership was announcing its infered the opportunity to sign online terest in stimulating high quality prodistribution and content deals with AfMaduegbuna, Okereke and Afolayan ductions in Nollywood through a short rinolly. This competition is the first of film competition. its kind in Africa given the high penWhat future does this app hold for downloads with the balances of their etration of mobile devices, relative to ITH THE ERRATIC Nollywood producers who have been air time while producers would recon- desktop computers in Africa, the conseeking new platforms of distributing cile directly with the telecoms provider. cept of the Afrinolly Shortfilm ComPOWER SUPPLY their works? According to Maduegbuna, That is not all. It means that piracy petition was borne out of the need to while the concept would offer trailers, AND SEVERAL MAN would be reduced by making transfers create an ecosystem of short content the ultimate idea is to get lovers of Nolthrough Bluetooth or other peripheral that can be easily consumed on mobile HOURS LOST IN lywood films to go to the cinemas to see devices.” attachments impossible. the final works as feature films. “NollyMembers of the panel of judges But that is part of the futuristic perTRAFFIC GRIDLOCKS wood is evolving into something bigger. ceptions; for now they seem more con- include renowned experts in the enWhile Afrinolly would avail the trailIN IGERIA MOBILE tertainment and ICT industry globally. cerned with uplifting the quality of ers, the final decision lies on the viewer works in the industry, which was why Among them are award winning NollyCONSUMPTION OF to decide what to watch if the movie they announced a continent-wide com- wood movie producers- Tunde Kelani, makes sense to him or her. We are not petition in the short film category. Emem Isong, Obi Emelonye and Femi FILMS SURE HOLDS film makers, the application can help Tagged – ‘Afrinolly Short film Compe- Odugbemi. the audience decide on what to see at PROSPECTS The competition, which is wholly tition’, the initiative is a video-based the cinemas”, says Maduegbuna. “But competition targeted at budding film- online would eventually shortlist 30 you cannot underestimate the power of makers and documentary and anima- submissions for the two categories, and technology. I know what has happened over forty million, could be at the beck tion content creators. Candidates are each judge would watch and select the since a year ago when this application and call of film makers who have works expected to submit a sub-15minute film best ten per category. Thereafter, the was developed. The things one can do to show to the mobile crowd. “I am al- that can be easily assessed on mobile internet public would watch the 2 sets are limitless.” ready thinking. I am wondering what I devices. The competition will run for of best ten and vote online to determine This limitless perspective has al- can do with the forty million subscrib- three months and submissions will be the winners per category. ready gotten some producers thinking. ers that MTN has in this regard because made online through the Afrinolly webWith the erratic power supply and Filmmaker Kunle Afolayan, who is a it means I can make a movie and offer it site. several man hours lost in traffic gridpartner in the short film competition, to many people to download and watch locks in Nigeria, mobile consumption This obviously has the potentials of predicts that with an app like this, it is on the go and pay me directly”. bringing the desired results, consider- of films, sure holds prospects. The quespossible that in the nearest future, the If this system becomes eventually ef- ing that a lot of ingenuity is required to tion now would be how to get everyone wide pool of MTN subscribers, put at fective, subscribers would be paying for condense stories into short films. This adapt to this change that is imminent.

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Arts Lounge

Wednesday, November 7, 2012

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

VOICES

Nigerian creative works in a digital age ALEX EYENGHO

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t a time when consultations are about to start about our own Nigerian copyright system reform, it is vital to our creative industry that coherence should prevail between our national copyright law and the international copyright framework. Both must emphasise strong copyright protection for creative works in the digital age.

We call on our government to re-emphasise the primacy of copyright and exclusive rights as the engine of growth for film and other creative industries, to commit fully to maintaining the international copyright framework and updating Nigeria’s copyright law accordingly. There is no Development Agenda without strong copyright.

We invite government to consult with our industry on all current and future issues discussed at national level and at WIPO, so that the needs and priorities of this important sector of Nigeria’s economy will be taken into account in considering the evolution of the copyright framework both nationally and globally.

Copyright serves the public interest because it is an incentive for creators to create and creative entrepreneurs to take economic risks on cultural production, which is notoriously high-risk. The product of their combined talent and enterprise will support creative enterprise and ensure a rich supply of films available to consumers in Nigeria and in the broader African Diaspora across the world.

Strong copyright protection is the best mechanism to support the efforts of dynamic Nigerian film entrepreneurs in accessing capital, developing and financing their projects, creating new skilled jobs and contributing to GDP growth. Strong copyright protects the value of - and sets the favourable conditions necessary to secure - the investments necessary for film production and distribution.

We have strong copyright law at home because we have strong copyright law internationally. WIPO matters because it is where the whole world agrees on the future shape of copyright law throughout the world. Nollywood needs legal security at inter national as well national level in order to take advantage of growth opportunities in exporti n g Nigerian films t o world markets.

ANCOP calls on government at WIPO to fully affirm the importance off protecting film Eyengho t t ti fil

and other Nigerian creative industries and support action to strengthen film artistes and creative entrepreneurs’ incentives to take risks and innovate. Nollywood needs legal certainty and innovation in order to become more competitive on production values and access capital to support innovation. Access to capital will decline in the long run if opportunities to export cannot materialise and copyright protection at home and abroad decreases.

While the topic of exceptions and limitations to Copyright is being discussed at WIPO, we express the concern that accretion of broad mandatory exceptions and limitations to copyright would be tantamount to the death of copyright by a thousand cuts and would not solve the problems under consideration. If not undertaken with the imperative to find solutions within the existing copyright framework, it may weaken copyright at the stage when our works are increasingly vulnerable to unlawful uses in the form of hard goods and online piracy at home and abroad.

If there are access issues for some types of uses (e.g. libraries and archives, education) or users, we invite government to discuss these with ours and allied copyright sectors and find practical solutions which will accommodate the legitimate needs of some categories of users without doing damage to our industry.

Current work at WIPO includes consideration of an international legal instrument granting exceptions to copyright for the copying and cross-border circulation of - electronic copies of books for use by people suffering from a visual impairment. ANCOP and FIAPF consider that whilst this disability issue is an important one, a future instrument must be focused on text-based, printed works only and be entirely coherent with the existing international copyright framework, so as to avoid weakening incentives to creation and cultural cultur enterprise – we call on our government governme and WIPO not to risk underunde mining copyright in the th pursuit of a legitimate legitima social and humanitarian humanitaria aid.

The ANCOP/FIAPF ANCOP/FIAP joint meeting will offer off an opportunity to explore explo the role of copyright and an related rights as a factor in the growth and international internation integration of the Nigerian film fil industry and to discuss the th challenges of maintainin maintaining the international copycop right framework and an strengthening our own ow copyright law to encomencom pass new technologies. technologies Comrade Alex EyE engho is a publisher publish and national nationa president of th the Association o of Nollywood Core Co Producers, AN ANCOP.

LET’S

T AL K FAD with

Fidelis Duker

fidelisduker@yahoo.com

There is no country...

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have over the last one month read a flurry of comments over Chinua Achebe’s new book There was a Country in which he gave his own account of the happenings during the 30-month Nigeria Civil War. The reactions have been varied; from the tribal, ethnic, sectional to the religiously-inclined arguments of those who have condemned, vilified or supported the contents of the book.

It’s also strange to say the least that most or all of the commentators have not read the book in its total content. Rather, what has generated wide condemnation and support for the book has been the part where the revered writer Chinua Achebe accused the also very revered Chief Obafemi Awolowo of contributing to the genocide of the Ibo race through food and aids blockade during the civil war.

However, it is instructive to mention that the title of this column is not really on the book by Achebe because as an informed commentator I will rather restrain from commenting on the book until I read the book. I have devoted this column to several challenges facing my beloved country Nigeria because I am coming to the conclusion that there is no country.

The past weeks have witnessed several topical issues that require us talking about; of grave importance was the two major near aviation tragedies that were averted, the first one was the psychiatric patient who entered an Abuja bound plane from Maiduguri and mid-way into the flight he started screaming “Allah Akbar “ meaning “God is Great” and of course these attracted the attention of other passengers who panicked and had to overpower him before handing him over to the security agencies.

The unfortunate angle of this story is the fact of how could a man in that condition be allowed into a plane unaccompanied or airport authority not informed of his existence aboard the flight. It is my considered opinion that the safety of those passengers on the Arik Air flight was compromised because under aviation laws globally, the safety of your passengers takes precedence.

It is regrettable to hear government officials defending the incident that nothing actually happened except for a man screaming on board the flight. I have imagined if the man had become so violent as to entering the cockpit or even taking a crew member hostage or even worse still, imagine him entering the cockpit and pressing all the flight and navigation buttons with the crew fighting to stop him. To me these are serious issues that the aviation industry must not sweep under the carpet considering the fact that this could also be a test case or eye opener for terrorist because globally terrorists do dry run or rehearsals before the main act.

Interestingly, some shocking revela-

WE LIVE IN A COUNTRY WHERE LIES AND DECEIT

THRIVE, A COUNTRY WHERE AIR SAFETY IS COMPROMISED AND WE ARE TOLD THERE IS NO PROBLEM tions were made by security experts on a local television station in Lagos recently where we were informed that most of our airports do not have security apparatus to check terrorism as even some of the airports scanning machines are obsolete and cannot even read the sophisticated apparatus of terrorists.

More worrisome was when a caller made reference to Yola Airport as lacking security and safety gadgets because, according to him, he had passed the airport severally and noticed the lapse. Less than a week after this observation about the Yola airport was the fatal crash at the same airport involving the Governor of Taraba State Danbaba Suntai and his entourage which almost claimed their lives.

The crash, according to preliminary report from the aviation ministry, was as a result of loss of contact with the control tower in Yola. All these are happening barely four months after the tragic Dana Airlines plane crash and then the shocker was the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) award for best domestic airline, this was met with outrage considering the sensitive nature of the issue and the loss of 153 lives during the Dana crash. Even if Dana deserved the award according to FAAN, the rational thing to do would have been to suspend the award for this year but as you will agree with me “There is no country” So if I decide to title my column “There is no country”, then you understand we live in a country where lies and deceit thrive, a country where air safety is compromised and we are told there is no problem as we should relax and continue flying without the necessary safety measures taken or where award is given to an airline barely four months after a tragic crash.

It is only in this country where the health status of the first family is shrouded in secrecy and the first lady returns after six weeks to say she was never ill even though in her statements she is seen thanking the nation for standing by her during her period of trial. So I beg to ask was there or is there ever a country? A question for Chinua Achebe to answer.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Arts Lounge

Wednesday, November 7, 2012

25

ARTISTE UNCENSORED

True stories are more interesting –Gozzard, American filmmaker American scriptwriter, producer and director, Mike Gozzard’s first trip to Africa brought him to Lagos, Nigeria. He came at the behest of the Public Affairs Section (PAS) of the U.S. Consulate General, Lagos and IREPRESENT International Documentary Film Festival, iREP to train Nigerian filmmakers for five days and got ‘training’ of his own.

TERH AGBEDEH

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ichael Gozzard rd is the co-scriptwriter of the critically acclaimed movie, Pride, which starred Terrence Howard and the e late Bernie Mac. People know that much h about him but Gizzard told Art Lounge a lot more about himself. For instance, how he rose through the ranks as volunteer intern ern to become story editor for Oscar winner, ner, Morgan Freeman’s production company mpany for several years.

Gizzard went to volunteer lunteer as an intern, “because that is how you get in,” he said. “I was basically cally getting him coffee, his dry cleaning. eaning. I was not even an assistant, nt, his wife needs party balloons... ons... you’d just do ridiculous ous stuff. But on the side, e, you’d read every scriptt that his company wass developing; many y scripts so I’d read them. I’m tired from doing all the stuff, butt then, I would read”.

To hear Gozzard d who studied to become e a disc jockey and radio io presenter at the univerersity tell it working with ith Freeman was the highest est point of his trying forr a movie career. “I’d deliver ver coffee and go, ‘Mr. Freereeman, here is your coffee, ffee, and oh, this is how you fix that second act to that script’. And he’s like, ‘who Gozzard

the hell are you?’ He’d read it and go, ‘that works’. And I’d come in, ‘here is how you fix the third act to the sci-fi movie. What you want again, did a hamburger, pizza?’” Gozzard said it was easy for him to just slip it in and out because he wrote so many scripts before going to Los Angeles, California.

PRIDE IS BASED ON THE TRUE S STORY OF A BLACK MAN WHO LIVES IN

PHILA HILADELPHIA TRYING TO TR TRANSFORM A POOL AT A RECREATION CENTRE The story stor of his move there has an interesting drama dram all its own. But what does he see when he h watches a Nollywood movie?

Gozzard, who w had never watched a Nigerian film fi until he came to the country last year, said he sees unbridle polas tential not only in the movies, but te in the filmmakers involved in the training. He explained that he had tra come to Los Angeles with the same com mindset. min “I came there with just a bag of clothes, some scripts that I had writcloth ten. I come from a factory worker background. My parents all work in back steel town of very modest means a ste and I just went there with very little talent and my English is not litt very good. But the ambition that I ve brought and the passion; I want to br be heard, I’ve a story to tell, I want to make people feel something. I didn’t know how to do it, so I selfdid learned; everything I’m teaching lear here is like 15 years of my learning,” he said.

The filmmaker said he got involved in film the Pridee m movie project because when he comes across a story “I go, ‘that’s really

cool’. I sleep on it and the next morning if I’m even close to excited about it the way I was the night before, then okay there is something here. Then I wait a week and if I’m still just as interested...” And this story made him excited because in America, there are not enough people who are going out of their way to try and make a difference in their communities especially in the African-American community which has had injustice done to it in the past.

Pride is a true story, Gozzard said. He explained that he does not really write original stories that are not based in some fact “because true fact and true stories are more interesting than any dumb thing I can make up”.

Pride is based on the true story of a black man who lives in Philadelphia trying to transform a pool at a recreation centre and save it from the neglect of the gangs, crime and violence. He fights against other African-Americans who are in gangs and crime. What he tries to do is resurrect the pool, get the pool going at the recreation centre, get a programme going and then take endangered kids from the streets, get them out of the danger and bring them into his pool, which is kind of like a safety zone for them.

Gozzard said he is a social adventurer that is why he has been to many places in the world. “I’m not a person that is going to climb a mountain, go sky diving or bungee. No, I want to know you. I want to know where you come from. I want to know your story and I want to know what your life is like. I’m just like a social adventurer. I want to know what you eat, the types of food you eat. And you or someone in Japan, Peru, I want to know these things,” he said.

MIDWEEK JUMP

Afolabi

WESGRO/NFC production forum ends in Lagos

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trans-border forum on trade, investment, marketing, distribution and cooperation as regards the film industry has been concluded in Lagos. The forum was powered by the Nigerian Film Corporation (NFC) in partnership with WESGRO, the Western Cape Destination Marketing, Investment and Trade Promotion Agency of South Africa. The objective of the forum was to

offer motion picture practitioners, investors, financiers from both nations (Nigeria and South Africa) the opportunity to explore areas of co-operation and collaboration in co-production, marketing and financing of films. Foreign and domestic buyers, marketers, producers, distribution companies attended the forum which attracted corporate participants like the Nigerian Export, Import Bank (NEXIM), Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN), Bank of Industry (BoI), NERFUND, and the Nigerian Export Promotion Council, NEPC.

Essay competition on the life of Prophet Mohammad

T

he Message International has announced an essay competition

on the life of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) with the topic “How Has Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) Influenced My Life?”

The competition is for teenage children, 13 to 17 years old and the winning essay will be published in the January-February 2013 issue of the Message International magazine, which will focus on the life of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).

The essay should not exceed 2000 words in length. The competititon is open until the end of November.

10th Macmillan Literary Night holds tomorrow

T

he 10th edition of the Macmillan Literary Night will take place tomorrow at the Agip Recital Hall of the Muson Centre, Onikan, Lagos at 6p.m. The theme for the event this year is: ‘Break

Mrs. Emanuel (l) with MD of Macmillan, Dr. Iyiola Adenekan

It!...Stumbling Blocks to National Development’. According to Mrs. Francesca Y. Emanuel, who is the Vice Chairman of Macmillan Nigeria Publishers Limited and Chairman of the company’s Literary Events Committee, the company has put together the thinking of diverse writers, including politicians, opinion shapers and ordinary Nigerians in order to point a way to future possibilities.

Actors Irhia Enakhimio, Joke

Silva, Nobert Young, Tina Mba, and members of the Crown Troupe of Africa, will interpret the works, while poet and essayist, Odia Ofeimun, as has always been tradition, will be resource person and compere. Also, this milestone year of a decade since inception of the event in 1999, the company that prides itself as ‘Pacesetters in publishing’ has a surprise package for the night and only those who show up will experience it.

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Arts Lounge

Wednesday, November 7, 2012

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

FAR AND NEAR

FG commissions cultural centre in Orozo, FCT IJEOMA EZEIKE ABUJA

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Peace Anyiam Osigwe

AFA, AFRIFF host Nollywood at 20 in December TERH AGBEDEH

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he Africa Film Academy, AFA, organisers of the Africa Movie Academy Awards, AMAA, will, in conjunction with Africa International Film Festival, AFRIFF host a Nollywood at 20 celebration in December. Chief Executive Officer of the AFA, Ms. Peace AnyiamOsigwe, made the announcement at Freedom Park in Lagos on Saturday at the Lagos lap of the road show to screen its 2012 award winning movies in five major cities across Nigeria. The event kicked off in Benin, Edo State in October and has since been to Ibadan, Oyo State.

“We jointly decided to celebrate Nollywood at 20, 1992 to 2012. Celebrating Nollywood is an important landmark; we know that the guilds will also be doing their celebrations all through the year and next year. We just felt it was important to jump start it,” Anyiam-Osigwe, who was accompanied by Ms. Chioma Ude of AFRIFF and Celine Loader, a friend of AMAA, said.

Anyiam-Osigwe, who said the event will hold on December 6 and 7, explained that the celebration will take the form of a conference, which will have the theme: ‘Nollywood: The Jewel in Nigeria’s Diamond’, basically looking at the past, present and the future of Nigeria’s film industry.

“We will be discussing finance, how the money is coming to Nollywood and how it’s going out, distribution: what is the best way for movies to be distributed? Looking at online distribution. So it’s going to be like a one-day conference. And we have a very big gala evening the next day to close it,” she said. Anyiam-Osigwe added that there will be a retrospective on the films that are landmarks in Nollywood. For this reason, AFA has asked people “to tell us their top 20 Nollywood films in the last 20 years”.

Ude said that Nollywood at 20 is a big celebration, “so we decided to come together to do something instead of us having a festival this year, we should do something remarkable”.

he Federal Ministry of Tourism, Culture and National Orientation has commissioned and handed over to the Orozo community, a suburb of the Federal Capital Territory a Cultural Industry Centre.

The Cultural Industry Centre, which serves as the only Federal Government’s presence in the village, is a knowledge-based and labour –intensive facility with the capacity to create employment and wealth.

The centre will be used primarily for the development of skills, which will serve as alternative to their farming profession.

Commissioning the centre, the Minister, Chief Edem Duke, who was represented by the permanent secretary of the Ministry, Mrs. Ibukun Odusote said the Ministry, three years ago, recognised the importance of identifying with Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) to contribute its quota by designing programmes on the alleviation of poverty, as well as jobs creation in line with their mandate.

The Ministry, she said, has set in motion the machinery to ensure that her vision did not become blurred and has replicated the cultural centres in Enugu, Taraba, Ondo; Benue, Sokoto and the FCT to cover the six geo-political zones.

“Today also provides an opportunity to throw some light on what is expected of the

Edem Duke

centres because we all know that Nigeria’s cultural industries have been reaching out to the world, especially through Nollywood and music and as a result, much is expected from us. The centres are built to provide cultural services to their immediate communities and build capacities in entrepreneurial activities. These cultural activities in general terms include crafts, prints, weaving, pottery; beadings, among others and carry out further research into how these cultural services can become more viable”.

The FCT centre would be managed by the private sector and run like an academy envisaged to co-ordinate and integrate the various arts training initiatives of benefiting states.

Akpabio, others for Nollywood awards TERH AGBEDEH

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his year’s edition of Nollywood Outstanding Personalities Awards, NOPA, the fifth, organised by the Association of Movie Journalists of Nigeria, AMJ, in collaboration with Stanword Media Group, will honour Akwa Ibom State Governor, Godswill Akpabio, among others.

A statement jointly signed by the newly appointed interim President of AMJ, Mr. Sunny Okim, and CEO Stanword Media Group, Mr. Stanley Okoronkwo, and made available to Art Lounge, said NOPA, this year, will honour personalities not often identified with the movie industry because of their silent, but effective, contributions towards the growth of the nation’s film industry.

“Governor Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom State is one of such personalities,” the statement said, explaining that Akpabio’s government has built a world class gallery where films, both foreign and local, are being screened daily to the delight of members of the public, for a token.

The organisers said movie journalists are the most qualified to give awards to players of the industry because movie reporters are the real critics of those works and the persons behind them. “And that is exactly what we shall do at this year’s NOPA,” the statement said.

According to the statement, more than eight corporate organisations have already indicated interest to support the event, which

holds on Sunday, November 25 by 4 p.m. at the Regency Hall located at Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos.

Amiable actress, Franca Brown and veteran comedian Allam Blow, will anchor the event, which has guests like Governor Akpabio, as the Special Guest of Honour, while Cardinal (Dr) James Odunmbakun, Vice Chairman Lagos State Chapter of the Action Congress of Nigeria is Chairman of the occasion.

Others are Professor Dora Akunyuli, former Minister of Information- Mother the Day, Hon. Oyinlomo M. Danmole, Lagos State Commissioner for Culture – Guest of Honour with Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, Executive Vice Chairman and General Counsel, ExxonMobil, and Mr. Umar Manko, Lagos State Commissioner of Police also making the list of award recipients.

Akpabio

Wednesday, November 7, 2012

Ozurumba heads to Bangladesh

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

27

Sport

I have a professional relationship with Messi like I have with other players. I’m not friends with him, because we don’t share same dressing room. I respect him like a professional –Cristiano Ronaldo

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Sierra Leone finally grabs Nigerian player IKENWA NNABUOGOR

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he Sierra Leone Football Association (SLFA) has finally confirmed that 25-year-old Nigerian born midfielder, Victor Kayode Igbekoyi, is now eligible to play for Sierra Leone.

National Mirror can exclusively confirm that the Azerbaijan-based defensive midfielder, who had been courted by the Leone Stars coaching crew, was declared eligible to play for Sierra Leone two days before their 2013 South Africa Nations Cup final qualifier against Tunisia in Tunis, can now be selected to play in subsequent games for the West African nation.

Sources close to the SLFA told National Mirror that the Acting General

Super Falcons’ line-up at the ongoing AWC in Equatorial Guinea

AWC: Falcons think cup, clash with Bayana T

Secretary, Abdul Rahman Swarray revealed that Igbekoyi has now fulfilled one of the conditions set out by world’s football governing body, FIFA, for players wishing to switch nationality because his maternal grandfather was from Sierra Leone.

“I expressed joy when I received the good news because my dream has come true. In fact I’m lost of words; all I can say now is that I’m looking forward to make my Sierra Leone debut if I’m picked by Coach Lars Olof Mattsson,” Igbekoyi said.

Kayode was born in Ondo State to Nigerian parents and he played for local team, Sunshine Stars, for a period of six months before moving to Azerbaijan about six years ago.

Glo unveils N62.5m golf tour of West Africa ment, beginning from Asaba

EVEREST ONYEWUCHI

EVEREST ONYEWUCHI

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igeria’s Super Falcons are confident to beat the Bayana Bayana of South Africa today in the semi-final of the ongoing African Women Championship (AWC) toward winning a seventh title.

Falcons are yet to lose to their South African counterparts and are looking forward to continue this dominance in Bata to set up a final most likely against host Equatorial Guinea, who battle the Lionesses of Cameroun in the other semi-final game in Malabo.

The first time Falcons clashed with Bayana Bayana was in 1995, when the Nigerians triumphed 11-2 on aggregate with 4-1 and 7-1 wins in both legs.

Nigeria also beat South Africa in final of the 2000 AWC 2-0 and also defeated the South Africans 2-1 in the 2010 edition of the competition.

Falcons’ winger, Stella Mbachu ,said South Africa would not pose a threat to their title aspirations as they know how to beat them.

“Banyana Banyana cannot stop us; we know them too well and we know how to beat them, we are ready to do same to them again here,” said the ex-

perienced winger who scored the third goal in their last 3-1 win over Cote d’Ivoire last weekend.

“We will go past South Africa to the final,” added Coach Kadiri Ikhana.

However, Bayana Bayana coach, Joseph Mkhonza, said his team was ready to battle six-time African champions for a place in the championship game.

“We are ready for Nigeria, we are not scared of them. We are a

good side,” he declared.

Both teams clashed in a twolegged friendly before the London Olympics. Nigeria drew 1-1 in the first game in Rustenburg and was then held to a goalless draw by the South Africans in the return clash in Lagos.

Today’s Semi-finals E’Guinea

v

Cameroun

Nigeria

v

S/Africa

elecommunications operator and Nigeria national carrier, Globacom, yesterday unveiled the biggest Golf Tour in West Africa with N62.5million prize money on offer.

Addressing newsmen at the Mike Adenuga Towers on Victoria Island, Lagos, Glo’s Commercial Coordinator, Mr. Folu Aderibigbe, said that the competition would be a four-city golf tourna-

Minister gives NASCOM marching orders EVEREST ONYEWUCHI

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he Minister of Sports and Chairman of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, has charged the new board of the Nigeria Academicals Sports Committee (NASCOM) to restore the era of effective sports participation and competitiveness in the nation’s secondary schools.

Abdullahi gave the charge while inaugurating the NASCOM board chaired by

Mr. Yemi Idowu yesterday in Abuja.

He recalled that the glorious years of Nigerian sports witnessed a large pool of elite athletes coming from the school system.

The Minister said it had become imperative to select a crop of future top Nigerian athletes from the country’s schools to make Nigeria become the number one sporting nation in Africa and be rated among the top four sporting nations in the Commonwealth and ultimately in the world.

“In doing this you need to be honest about the true identity, age and talents of the student athletes, such that their performances could be sustained over a period of time,” he added.

Secretary of the NASCOM board is Ohimai Amaize, while other members are: Fela Bank-Olemo, Ibrahim Muhammed, Olabisi Joseph, Dr. Nasiru Gawuna, Barr. Kola Olepoju, Lawrence Oduah, Felix Awoogu, Victoria Kayode, Ayotunde Adelakun and Lizzy Onyenwenwa.

on Thursday before moving to Shagamu, Abuja and Otukpo.

With the highest golf prizes at stake ever in the sub-region, professionals will compete for between N10m and N15m weekly, beginning at the Asaba Golf and Country Club, before going to Blue Elephant Club, IBB Golf and Country Club and ending at the St. Mark Golf and Country Club in Otukpo, Benue State from December 6-9.

At every stop, there will be a brand new Toyota Corolla car at stake for a Hole-in-one winner both for pros and amateurs, while Veterans will slug it out for N1million prize.

It is expected that 250 amateurs would be at every venue, while 100 professionals from Ghana, Senegal, Cameroun, Gambia, Togo and Kenya, will join their Nigerian counterparts at each stop.

At the event yesterday, secretary and trainer of the Professional Golfers Association (PGA) of Nigeria, Bolaji Olajide, pleaded with Globacom to make the West Africa Tour an annual event in order to popularise and revolutionize the sport in Nigeria.

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Wednesday, November 7, 2012

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Mata ready for Shakhtar t

C

Euro Champions League

alo in

Messi

Celtic braces for Barcelona challenge

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eltic hosts Barcelona in a glamour Champions League tie at Parkhead today with both sides carrying lengthy injury lists.

Barcelona could seal their spot in the last16 of the competition if they can claim victory against the ‘Hoops’ in the second of their Group G doubleheader.

The Catalan giants arrive in Glasgow at the top of La Liga after a club-record start of nine wins and a draw in their first 10 matches and lead the pool by five points from Celtic with three wins out of three in Europe’s elite club competition.

However, they are facing a defensive crisis with Adriano the latest to join an ever-growing injury list after he hobbled out of their 3-1 victory over Celta Vigo on Saturday.

The Brazilian defender hurt a muscle in his right leg after scoring the opening goal and will be sidelined for three weeks, dealing another blow to an already thin back-line.

Adriano joins Barca captain Carles Puyol, Eric Abidal and Thiago Alcantara on the club’s list of injured defenders.

Better news for Barca, however, was that Lionel Messi has been passed fit to play after an injury scare in the win over Celta Vigo.

Hosts Celtic are also facing an injury crisis with several top stars struggling to regain fitness for the match.

The Hoops earned plaudits for their performance in a last-gasp 2-1 defeat to Barcelona in Camp Nou two weeks ago, when Jordi Alba grabbed a stoppage time winner.

Venezuelan hitman Miku, who netted 12 goals for Getafe in La Liga last season, scored

his first goal for the Scottish champions in the 2-2 draw and Watt, who set up the first goal and scored the other, believes his new teammate can do a job against the Catalan giants.

“We have got a big squad at Celtic and everybody in it is a quality player. Hopefully, we can do as well as we can against Barcelona,” Watt said.

helsea playmaker Juan Mata reckons Wednesday evening’s crucial UEFA Champions League clash with Shakhtar Donetsk should be treated like a final.

The Blues go into the match knowing a second defeat in a fortnight against the Ukrainian Premier League champion would leave them with a mountain to climb to avoid becoming the first reigning Champions League winner to fail to reach the knockout stage.

Mata, who has been one of Chelsea’s top performers during the early parts of the season, knows what a stern challenge Shakhtar poses and will treat the meeting as a cup final.

“It’s time to move on and to focus on the Champions League match this Wednesday. It’s like a final for us if we want to finish first in our group,” he wrote on his official online blog.

“Besides, in Ukraine, Shakhtar proved to be a top team who are able to beat anyone. Even so, we always have a great support at the Bridge and I’m confident that we will get a victory to face the last two games in a good position. Champions League’s nights at the Bridge are always special.”

The Spain playmaker sat out last weekend’s 1-1 draw with Swansea City with a slight hamstring problem after

Juan Mata

playing the whole of Chelsea’s 5extra-time victory over Manches ter United in the Capital One Cu and suggested he just needed t rest up after a tiring week.

Northern summer signing Vic tor Moses made his first leagu start for the club at Swansea du

Chelsea’s Stamford Bridge to stag

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helsea FC’s Stamford Bridge will be the host venue, and Faye White the event ambassador, for the UEFA Women’s Champions League final in London on Thursday 23 May. It means the biggest event in European women’s club football returns to London for the second time in three years after Fulham FC’s Craven Cottage hosted the 2011 showpiece.

The final of the women’s compe-

tition will be held two days prior to the men’s UEFA Champions League final, which takes place at Wembley Stadium on Saturday 25 May. UEFA General Secretary Gianni Infantino said: “The UEFA Women’s Champions League final showcases the best women’s club football in Europe and Stamford Bridge, home of the men’s 2012 UEFA Champions League winners, is the ideal venue to host this prestigious event. UEFA is pleased to be bringing the UEFA

Fletcher hands United injury concern

M

Messi

Fletcher

idfielders sat out M Wednesda The pair was n complex on Tuesd tees Phil Jones (ba manja Vidic (both Defender Chris progress in his re sal, did train.

United are in a c maximum points f A draw in Brag ed the 10 points F qualification.

“It depends on hoping that Galat make it easier for Wednesday and w it’s better, but we said Ferguson.

After seeing ca after Christmas, F turn of Chris Sma of the pressure on

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

test

-4 sp to

cue ue

Sport

Wednesday, November 7, 2012

Mario Gomez nearing Bayern return

Spartak without key strikers for Benfica clash

S

M

ario Gomez is on the final leg of his road to recovery after an ankle surgery sidelined him for three

to Mata’s injury with the former Wigan Athletic forward opening the scoring before Pablo Hernandez’s late equaliser.

Moses feels he has shown Chelsea boss Roberto Di Matteo what he can do but reckons the team still needs to improve.

ge women’s final Women’s Champions League final back to London for what will be another successful event.”

Chelsea FC chief executive Ron Gourlay said: “It is an honour for Chelsea FC that UEFA has chosen to bring the showpiece match of this prestigious women’s football competition to our stadium.

Stamford Bridge has played host to many great football events and we are looking forward to adding the UEFA Women’s Champions League

months.

Gomez, 27, said he is eager for his return to the Bayern Munich squad. The Germany international scored 26 goals during Bayern’s 2011-12 Bundesliga campaign and 12 goals in Champions League. However, ankle surgery on an injury picked up after Euro 2012 means that the striker has not played at all this season.

Speaking to FCB.tv yesterday Gomez said: “I feel good. I am very happy it’s getting better from day to day and that in the foreseeable future will be back in the squad.”

The former Stuttgart striker added that he had not set a date to return to the team, but it is anticipated that he could be back in two to three weeks or even sooner.

That raises the hope that he could return in time for Bayern’s potentially decisive Champions’ League group game at Valencia on November 20, and also means he will almost certainly be back in the side when Bundesliga champions Borussia Dortmund visit the Allianz Arena on December 1.

At the time Gomez underwent the operation, initial statements from team doctor Hans-Wilhelm Muller-Wohlfahrt claimed Gomez would be sidelined for six weeks, but the Germany international revealed he knew “from the day of his surgery that it could take three months”.

He also revealed that the ongoing speculation in media about his return date has “amused me a bit”.

comfortable position in Group H with from their opening three games. ga on Wednesday night will give UnitFerguson hopes will effectively clinch

n the result of the other game. I’m tasaray get a result over in Cluj and r us. I’ll be making some changes for we want to win. If we can get the win want to make sure we qualify first”,

ptain Nemanja Vidic ruled out until Ferguson is looking forward to the realling and Phil Jones to relieve some n veteran defender Rio Ferdinand.

Emenike

YEMI OLUS

S

Gomez

Today’s Fixtures Chelsea

v

Shaktar Donetsk

Juventus

v

Nordsjaelland

Bayern Munich

v

Lille

Valencia

v

BATE Borisov

Benfica

v

Spartak Moscow

Celtic

v

Barcelona

CFR Cluj-Napoca

v

Galatasaray

Sporting Braga

v

Manchester United

partak Moscow will be without leading strikers Emmanuel Emenike and Welliton for Wednesday’s Champions League Group G match at Benfica.

Emenike, the club’s top scorer this season, aggravated a back injury in Saturday’s league game in Samara.

The Nigerian, who scored both of Spartak goals in last month’s 3-2 defeat

by Celtic, also missed the team’s 2-1 win over Benfica two weeks ago with the same problem.

Brazilian Welliton, who topped the Russian scoring charts in 2009 and 2010, is sidelined with an unspecified problem, a Spartak spokesman said.

The Muscovites already have several key players out with injury in addition to Emenike and Welliton, including first and second-choice goalkeepers Andriy Dykan and Sergei Pesyakov.

Captain Sergei Parshivlyuk, Brazil midfielder Romulo and Ireland winger Aiden McGeady are also injured.

Spartak’s third-choice keeper Artem Rebrov was in goal for the first Benfica match in Moscow.

Barcelona top the standings on nine points, ahead of Celtic (four), Spartak (three) and Benfica (one).

Abinu unhappy over cancelled doubles match he was meant to team up with either Venus or Serena Williams in a doubles game during the sisters’ exhibition match last weekend but Nigeria’s No.1 women’s player, Fatima Abinu expressed disappointment that the game did not see the light of day.

According to their itinerary, each of the sisters was to team up with a Nigerian female player and engage in a doubles match after their singles game which was the highlight of the event at the Lagos Lawn Tennis Club in Onikan, Lagos.

However Abinu and teen sensation, Sarah Adegoke played against each other to set the ball rolling for the Williams sisters and were already getting set for the doubles before being

s Darren Fletcher and Nick Powell Manchester United training ahead of ay’s Champions League trip to Braga. not involved at the club’s Carrington day morning, with longer-term absenack and knee), Shinji Kagawa and Neh knee) also on the sidelines. s Smalling, who has been making ehabilitation from a broken metatar-

29

Fwatima Abinu

told that the game would not hold any longer.

Abinu said, “I was told that I was going to play with either Venus or Serena but at the end of the day, they only played singles match; I felt bad but what can I do? The organizers had the final say. However their being around inspired me. I would love to see them more if it will be possible.”

She reiterated the need for Nigerian players to be exposed to international tournaments in order to raise the standard of the game: “As a tennis player, you need to play more international tournaments if you want to go far in the sport. The Williams sisters got to this level because they played in a lot of tournaments.

The exposure will build one’s confidence level and determination”, she said.

Perhaps as a consolation prize, Abinu was handed Serena’s Nike trainers another player, Blessing Anuna was given Venus’ pair.

30

Sport

Wednesday, November 7, 2012 2012

Nigeria N ig Premier League with

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Cricket

IIKENWA NNABUOGOR ikenwa.nnabuogor@gmail.com

Olawale undecided on Dolphins stay

D

olphins and Beach Eagles’ star Isiaka Olawale says he’s yet to decide on whether he will spend another season at the Port Harcourt side.

Olawale told National Mirror soon after they arrived from UAE for the Samsung Beach Soccer Invitational that he was heading home to cool off and take some time to decide his future.

Olawale, who also played in Algeria, arrived in Port Harcourt last season to add to several option in the midfield for the Blue Angels. He hinted he

would love to move on with his career if he received better offers elsewhere.

However, he has refused to disclose clubs on his wish list but maintains he will make a way if necessary.

Olawale arrived with the Beach Soccer team Monday evening and headed home to Ilorin where his family leaves. He did not reveal when he would rejoin his club in Port Harcourt in the pre-season build up ahead of the new season which will begin in December.

ThankGod hangs on at Wolves

W Chibuzo Ozurumba (l) being challlenged by an opponent in a match

Ozurumba heads to Bangladesh

F

ormer NPL top scorer Chibuzo Ozurumba, has joined the ever growing number of Nigerian players in the Bangladeshi League, signing a contract with top division side Muktijoddha FC, National Mirror can exclusively report.

The former Enyimba striker penned a year’s contract with the ambitious side.

The all-action striker was first courted

by Sheikh Jamal but it was the Dhakabased side that finally landed the talented striker. He has since settled down at his new club and ready to get into action when the new season begins on November 13.

Ozurumba told National Mirror that he was happy with his move to Bangladesh, saying he was focusing on their league opener on November 16.

“I’m happy to be here because the league here is quite better than what obtains back home in terms of remuneration,” he said.

“The NPL has been lacking sponsorship for over two years and it’s not the same here in Bangladesh and that’s one of the reasons why I came here.

“Clubs are well funded here because sponsors back club financially and players’ welfare is top priority.

“The facilities are also good and the spectatorship is very encouraging. Those are the factors that will make me play well and I can’t wait to get on the groove when the season starts.”

Ozurumba will have three other Nige-

rians for company, including the captain of the team, Emmanuel Dami.

Several top NPL players are currently plying their trade in the Asian country better known for cricket.

Former Enyimba and Nasarawa

United star Chinedu Ezimora leads the pack of Nigerian export in Bangladesh which also includes former Gabros striker Kingsley Eleta, Ikechukwu Okemiri, amongst other players.

Daniel dumps Oluyole Warriors

S

hooting Stars goalkeeper, Emmanuel Daniel has quit his services at the Oluyole Warriors despite last season’s performance with the Nigeria Premier League (NPL) side, National Mirror has gathered..

Emmanuel Daniel was third choice behind, Dele Ajiboye and Laide Okanlanwon under Coach Festus Allen at the early stage of the 2011/2012 NPL season.

Due to Laide attitudes problem as he repeatedly failed to turn up for training, and Ajiboye shoulder injury at the end of the first stanza, Emmanuel was called up to action as first choice.

Emmanuel super performance in the second stanza of the season kept Ajiboye on the bench, till the end of the season as he was instrumental to the team’s late resurgence after struggling at the beginning of the closed season.

Top source revealed that the club management was shocked at the decision of the former Wikki Tourists

player not to renew his contract with the Warriors.

“We still don’t understand the reason why Emmanuel decided not to renew his contract with us. He was fantastic last season, came to the rescue of the team when we had problems at the goalkeeping position,” the source added.

“He was one of the reasons why we finish well last season, kept some good clean sheets, which included some heroics on the road.

“He failed to resume when we called all our players back, but later told us he is moving on with his career. We don’t know his next destination, but we wish him well.”

Meanwhile, the Oluyole Warriors ahead of the 2012/2013 season have completed the signing of five players to strengthen the team. Dolphins FC striker Azeez Shobowale has been added to the Warriors’ ranks while players like James Eke, Sanni Mohameed, Charlse Ituwe, Anthony Agbawula complete the new arrivals.

arri Wolves strong man Ike ThankGod has resumed duties at Warri Wolves ahead of the new season which will soon start. The former Heartland star was courted by Rangers but decided to return to Wolves since he could not agree on a fee with the Flying Antelopes.

He said he was ready to jump at any offer that would better than what he earned at Wolves but since nothing better was forth coming, he wasted no time in returning to base.

Heartland, his former club, were also reported to have shown interest in having the ex-defender in their books but both parties did not agree.

ThankGod has since started pre-season training with his Warri-based side ahead of the new season. He’s expected to start from where he left

Ike ThankGod

off last season where he revelled at the rear for the former Confederation Cup campaigners in their last season’s tentative performance in the league.

“I’m still a Wolves player, at least for now and I’m back in the team, preparing ahead of the new season,” he sounded out.

“I was ready to jump at better offer but since there was none I didn’t have any choice than to return to Wolves.

“Last season was not too good for us but we’re looking forward to a good outing this season. We have put the bad memories behind us and forge ahead.”

Opportunities to take his game aboard have not been in huge supply for the talented defender who has been capped at senior level once, but he rejected an opening in Bahrain citing money issues.

Wednesday, November 7, 2012

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

31

Business & Finance Federal Government should cede some roads to states for proper maintenance Ogun State Commissioner for Works, Lekan Adegbite

Nigeria had done well in the telecommunication industry with the present record of over 100 million subscribers in mobile telephone, it had not done well in the area of data services THE EXECUTIVE VICE CHAIRMAN, NIGERIAN COMMUNICATION COMMISSION DR. EUGENE JUWAH

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Advertising industry revenue hits N103bn MTN, Globacom biggest spenders ADEDEJI ADEMIGBUJI

T

he advertising industry has witnessed an increase of 5.3 per cent at N102.7billion spent on Above -The -Line (ATL) advertising activities (television, radio, outdoor and press) in 2011 as against the N97.549 billion spent in 2010 but spending on newspaper and outdoor dropped in the year under review.

Mediafacts, an annual publication of MediaReach OMD, Nigeria’s most influential media independent agency disclosed this in its 2011 edition.

According to the publication, of the N102.7bn, television had N46bn, radio N13.bn, outdoor N28.1bn while N15.4bn was spent on the press.

The report noted that in 2011, Lagos region accounted for 54 per cent or N55.7bn; North 20 per cent or N20.13bn; the East

N11.4bnbn or 11 per cent while the Western part of the country accounted for the remaining 15 per cent or N15.4bn.

From the total ATL advertising, telecommunications product category spent the highest N20.1bn, followed by personal paid announcement with N8.6bn and entertain-

ment, leisure and tourism was third in the product category with N5.9bn.

In the telecommunication category, MTN topped the list with N6.3bn followed by Globacom which spent N5.7bn. Etisalat and Airtel spent N4.2bn and N3.4bn respectively as all the four brands

topped the list of the top 20 brands in terms of ad spend last year.

Another highlight of Mediafacts 2011 is that of television advertising which amounted to N46bn as against the N39.6bn recorded in 2010. Radio recorded for N13.1bn as against N12.8bn spent in 2010 while the print me-

dia spent N15.3bn lesser than the N16.5bn in 2010.

Outdoor expenditure was N28.1bn also lesser than N28.5bn spent in 2010.

The report also noted that, Nigeria has the potential to build a prosperous economy with its large reserves of human and natural resources, adding that Nigeria witnessed major changes in the economic sector in 2011 some of which were the Federal Government amnesty programme that resulted in higher oil production, growth in the insurance sector and consistent growth in the telecommunication sector amongst others.

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L-R: Chairman, Guinness Nigeria Plc, Mr. Babatunde Savage, Managing Director, Mr. Seni Adetu and Vice Chairman, Dr. Nick Blazquez, during the 62nd Annual General Meeting of the company in Abuja recently.

Naira declines as Barclays set to list Nigeria bonds

igeria’s naira snapped two days of declines against the dollar as Barclays Plc said it will add the nation’s debt to its emerging-market local-currency government bond index from

FLIGHT SCHEDULE

March 2013.

The currency gained 0.2 per cent to N157.05 a dollar yesterday and it has increased 3.3 per cent this year, the second-best performer in Africa, according to data compiled by Bloomberg.

Barclays follows JPMorgan Chase and Company, which added the West African nation’s bonds to

its benchmark indexes last month.

Barclays made the decision after reviewing changes in the market and polling investors on governance and market accessibility. The Londonbased bank’s EM LocalCurrency Index includes securities from 20 eligible countries with a market value of $1.62trn.

“It is a very positive development and the Nigerian economy is getting more credibility,” Jide Solanke, an analyst at First Securities Discount House Limited, said. “Everybody knows they have strict criteria for the inclusion to any government bond index.”

Borrowing costs for the county’s dropped

since JPMorgan’s announcement in August to add the bonds to its GBIEM index series. The yield on the N16.39 per cent debt due January 2022 fell 324 basis points to 12.89 per cent since the start of August, according to Monday’s prices compiled by the Lagosbased Financial Markets Dealers Association.

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)

EXCHANGE RATES WAUA

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159.2642

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235.0535

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0.2924

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OIL / GAS FUTURES ICE BRENT

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Fuel scarcity: NLC may go on strike

PENGASSAN warns against post-PIB era job loss

Why illegal refineries thrive in the Niger Delta

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Fuel scarcity: NLC may go on strike MESHACK IDEHEN

T

he Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has said it is ready to mobilise the country’s workers to proceed on an indefinite strike action in order to resist the speculated attempt by the Federal Government to further hike the price of fuel and other petroleum products.

According to the NLC, the congress has observed that the current fuel scarcity being experienced across the country and in Lagos in particular was a clear conspiracy by the Federal Government to force another price hike on Nigerians.

In a statement that was made available to our correspondent, the Acting President of the NLC, Mr. Joe Ajaero, said labour will never accept any increase in the price of fuel.

L-R: Lead Coordinator, La Casera Apple Story Activation (Benin Zone), Mr. Gabriel Oyaze; Manager, Master B Boutique, Mr. Bright Chukwuemeka and Mr. Moses Okpunu, La Casera Sampling Official during the Apple Story Activation Show at Ogwashi-Uku, Asaba, Delta State yesterday..

Arguing that the move to increase the price of fuel would further deepen the economic hardship in the country and on the masses in

EIB, UBA to support small businesses across Africa JOHNSON OKALANWON

T

he European Investment Bank (EIB) and United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc, have agreed to strengthen small and medium businesses in Africa through a 50 million euros regional funding initiative.

“The European Investment Bank is committed to supporting the private sector in Africa . This significant partnership between UBA and the European Investment Bank will benefit small businesses seeking to expand and contribute to strengthening of the financial sector in 16 African countries.

“The ability to access harmonised financial services across borders will also encourage greater regional economic integration on the continent.” said Mr. Pim van Ballekom, European Investment Bank Vice President, responsible for lending operations in sub-Saharan Africa.

Also speaking on the development, Group Managing Director and CEO, UBA, Mr. Phillips Oduoza, said, “Our expansion across Africa in the last five years has been driven by our commitment to fostering economic integration on the continent and supporting the development of African businesses.

“The partnership with EIB provides us with an additional

source of medium to long term funding and will enhance financial intermediation in key sectors such as agriculture, manufacturing, infrastructure, transport, energy, health, education and, other sectors where long term funding is required” said According to UBA, the EIB loan will be used for on-lending to eligible customers in its countries of operation. The initiative will assist UBA to strengthen its African regional network and represents the first time that the EIB has provided such facility to a Nigerian Bank for on-lending to small and medium sized businesses across borders.

In addition to directly helping African entrepreneurs seeking to expand their businesses through lower cost funding, this initiative will further support the development of the financial sector and establishment of best practices in key countries where UBA operates, the bank said in a statement..

The initiative will target at private sector enterprises, including small businesses in post-conflict countries such as Sierra Leone and Ivory Coast and will also be used for expanding and strengthening the under-developed financial sectors of Benin , Chad , Gabon and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

particular, the NLC president said It warned that the January mass protests and strike by labour and civil society groups will be a child’s play

should the Federal Government hide under the guise of the current scarcity to increase the pump price of petroleum products.

According to the statement by Ajaero, “the Nigeria Labour Congress observes that for almost two months now, there has been a consistent scarcity of petroleum products in all parts of the country without any cogent explanation from the gover nment.

“In several fuel stations across the country, prices of petrol in particular are higher than the official pump price without any control by government, thus creating undue and avoidable hardship on the generality of Nigerians.

“Should the appropriate agencies of the Federal Government refuse to enforce compliance with the official pump prices of petroleum products, the NLC will not hesitate to mobilise workers across the country to picket stations selling above the official prices” the statement added.

FAAN assures on maintenance of remodelled airports OLUSEGUN KOIKI

T

he Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) yesterday assured the Nigerian public that all the airports presently under remodelling and those commissioned by the government will be adequately maintain by the authority.

The General Manager, Corporate Communications, FAAN, Mr. Yakubu Dati in an interview with National Mirror in his office said that agency was already working on partnering with efficient concessionaire to maintain the state-of-the-art facilities at all the airports in the country.

He decried that the past neglect of the facilities at the na-

tion’s airports led to the rot in most of them, but assured that the present management in FAAN would not allow that to happen to the newly installed facilities in all the airports.

He insisted that the current Managing Director of FAAN, Mr. George Uriesi as an experienced professional with pedigree in airport management would ensure that the infrastructure in all the airports are maintained as at when due and would replicate the Cape Town Airport experience where he acted as its General Manager for years.

He said, “There are so many factors being considered in this drive. FAAN is also going through restructuring by putting the right people in the right plac-

es. It is unfortunate that most of the concessionaires of FAAN who are supposed to provide support services to FAAN have not been living to expectations in the past and if they fail, the backlashes are always on FAAN. So, to move forward, those issues are going to be improved by the government.

“We are going to ensure that only viable and qualified companies partner with us. Also, we have developed a business development department, which is working round the clock to develop areas where we can make maximum benefits from both the aeronautical and non-aeronautical points especially with the regards to the new terminals so that they can be self-sustaining.

Expert tasks FG on special response unit for oil industry CHIDI UGWU ABUJA

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he Federal Government has been challenged to establish a fully automated response unit to tackle accidents and emergency challenges in the oil and gas sector of the economy.

Chairman of Brittania-U Nigeria Limited Mrs. Uju Ifejika gave the charge in Abuja at the ongoing Health Safety and Environment conference organised by the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR).

Ifejika said such specialised and dedicated emergency response outfit would help indig-

enous oil companies which lack the huge capital outlay cope with emergency situation arising from boat drowning and other forms of accidents in the production facility.

“I think that what should come out of this conference should be a recommendation to the government for the establishment of a fully automated response unit that have to be in strategic places in our waterways. We should be able to call at the touch a button an emergency response unit, if people are drowning in the sea, or when people are involved in other forms of accidents in the

production facility” she said.

The Brittania boss who recalled painfully the difficulties she faced when a boat conveying ten of workers was drowning not that National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) cannot be relied upon during emergency arising from the oil and gas production operations.

She said: “we had 10 people in a boat that was drowning and we made frantic efforts to get help, we called even some IOCs (International oil companies) and we were told that people who were able to swim out will be rescued, it should not be so the IOCs have their hands full”

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Wednesday, November 7, 2012

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PENGASSAN warns against post-PIB era job loss MESHACK IDEHEN

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he Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) has said it is canvassing for minimal job losses as against massive retrenchment of workers in the oil and gas sector in the wake of reforms that is expected to come with the passage of the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB).

According to PENGASSAN, the association is aware of expected changes in management and operations of the country’s oil and gas sector when the bill is eventually passed, adding however that it expects that the transition would be credibly managed in

order to ensure minimal loss of jobs for members.

Speaking to journalists on Tuesday, the Chairman of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) Headquarter Branch of PENGASSAN, Mr. Francis Johnson, said that the union is also aware of some unfavourable issues that had come with privatisation of public companies in Nigeria and would not want such to happen to workers in the oil and gas sector.

Johnson explained that PENGASSAN had chosen to educate oil and gas workers on the challenges that will come with reforms in the sector as soon as the PIB is passed into law by the National Assembly.

He said, “There is no way

we can have reforms in the sector and not expect job losses, but what PENGASSAN is saying is that for anything like that (reforms), there must be minimum loss of jobs. However, people will require to be trained for their new schedule in relation to postings and change of job descriptions that will come with the PIB. “The pressure to restructure the NNPC is still on and it appears that the PIB must translate into some radical changes of the public sector of Nigeria’s oil and gas industry and it is in recognition of this inevitable wind of change that PENGASSAN headquarters branch is being proactive in addressing challenges that will come from that for the unions,” he said.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

FirstBank launches Firstmonie mobile money service UDO ONYEKA

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irst Bank of Nigeria Plc. working with the Pan African ICT Company, Computer Warehouse Group (CWG) has launched her Firstmonie Mobile Money Service, an innovative product that enables customers to access financial and other value added services offered by the bank through their mobile phones.

Firstmonie mobile money service was birthed as part of First Bank’s dynamic innovative drive to drastically reduce the rate of unbanked adults in Nigeria while providing “convenient and safe banking” for the “under banked “and the “banked” to access their

LAPO chief lauds CBN over restructuring of microfinance banks

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L-R: Public Affairs Manager, Lafarge Cement WAPCO Nigeria Plc, Mr. Sunday Awofodu; President, the Nigerian Institution of Structural Engineers, Engr. Busola Awojobi and Products Development Manager, Lafarge Cement WAPCO Nigeria Plc, Mr. Femi Yusuf, during the presentation of award for excellence to Lafarge Cement WAPCO in Abuja, yesterday.

PHOTO: ROTIMI

GAT: Bi-Courtney tells FAAN to wait for S’Court verdict OLUSEGUN KOIKI

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arely 48 hours after the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) insisted that the newly renovated General Aviation Terminal (GAT) of the Murtala Mohammed Airport (MMA), Lagos does not belong to Bi-Courtney Aviation Services Limited (BASL), operators of the Murtala Mohammed Airport Two (MMA2), the latter has charged the former to wait for the verdict of the court on the issue.

Speaking to National Mirror yesterday in Lagos, the Media manager, BASL, Chief Stephen Omole-Ajulo insisted that the utterances of FAAN on the controversial ownership of GAT showed disdain for the judiciary.

Omole-Ajulo insisted that the terminal belonged to BASL, adding that rather than the 12 years contractual agreement being

brandished in some quarters by FAAN, the contractual agreement was 36 years.

He explained that the attempt of the ministry of aviation was to render over 2, 000 workers of the company jobless and also ensure the total collapse of its facilities with the remodelling of GAT by the minister, Princess Stella Oduah.

He said, “By insisting that GAT is not Bi-Courtney’s and that our concession tenured of 36 years is 12 years, despite court orders to that effect, they have further shown how lawless they are and their disdain for the judiciary.

“They should allow the Supreme Court hear their appeal over the concession agreement they signed with us instead of putting forward shallow and irrational argument. We are aware of their grand conspiracy to render MMA2 useless, send over 2000 Nigerians into the job market and

also render our billions of naira investment in MMA2 useless with the build of GAT. If they so much love Nigerians, they should answer the several questions put to them on the issue.”

FAAN had in yesterday’s report carried by the media including National Mirror that GAT was not part of the contractual agreement the government had with BASL. Speaking through a press statement on Monday, the General Manager, Corporate Communications, FAAN, Mr. Yakubu Dati alleged that the agreement with BASL on Public Private Partnership (PPP) was skewed in favour of the concessionaire and against the Nigerian people.

He, however, explained that the ongoing controversy between the government and BASL would not discourage private investors from further investing and collaborating with the government in the industry.

bank account through their wallet and transfer fund from their bank account to wallet and vice versa using their mobile phone.

Having perceived the value this financial product/solution (Mobile Money Services) will add to the individuals and the economy at large, FirstBank and CWG team have successfully deployed the Firstmonie Mobile Services in order to provide cost effective and excellent services to FirstBank customers. CWG has worked with FirstBank right from the pre-approval stage through to the approval in principle stage to the final stage of license approval from CBN up to this moment in the capacity of mobile technology solution provider and hosting partner.

anaging Director of Lift Above Poverty Organisation (LAPO), Micro finance Bank, Mr. Godwin Ehigiamusoe, has commended the Central Bank of Nigeria on the on-going reform of the sub-sector.

Ehigiamusoe gave the commendation in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Benin on Tuesday.

He said that the on-going reform and policy review of the microfinance sub- sector was necessary in addressing emerging and unanticipated issues and developments in the operating environment.

He also said that the proposed establishment of special courts by the CBN to hear cases on loan default by customers of microfinance banks was a welcome development.

Ehigiamusoe said that this would help microfinance banks to recover their bad loans.

He also extolled the CBN on the creation of a Micro finance

development fund called the Microfinance Small and Medium Enterprises Development (MSMEs) Fund.

“Most of the microfinance banks are faced with the challenges of inadequate funds for on-lending; the Fund is expected to provide funds to microfinance banks on affordable terms.

“The other benefit is that loans to clients will obviously be cheaper as microfinance banks will access low cost funds from the MSME Fund”, he said.

Ehigiamusoe, however, urged the CBN to put adequate measures on ground to make the plan work effectively.

“As in other countries, where similar Fund has worked well, there will be a number of factors that will be required for success.

“Sources of funds for the Fund should be diversified to include private sector contributors, development agencies and government”, he said.

Ogun state reassures OPS of support STANLEY IHEDIGBO

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gun State Government has reassured the Organised Private Sector (OPS) of its preparedness to continually support the local investors.

The Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Mr. Bimbola Ashiru, who spoke at the Ogun State day at the Lagos International Trade Fair , said that the administration of Senator Ibikunle Amosun, has pioneered a radical economic reform programme that is in-

digenous, transformational and self-sustaining which seeks the active support of the private sector in a mutually beneficial relationship.

He added that the state government in collaboration with the private sector is therefore committed to promoting the building of an enduring, virile and profitable value chain in every key sector of the economy, most importantly agriculture.

According to him agriculture remains the viable option to get of the economic rut that petrodollar has brought upon this nation.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

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Wednesday, November 7, 2012

Energy Week

udemea@rocketmail.com 07031546994

Illegal refineriery

Why illegal refineries thrive in the Niger Delta Despite efforts made in the past few years, illegal refineries continue to thrive in the Niger Delta. UDEME AKPAN, who investigates the subject, unfolds some factors and how the menace can be addressed.

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takeholders, especially the Federal Government and operators in the nation’s oil and gas industry hate illegal refineries like leprosy for some reasons.

First, the refineries encourage massive oil theft in the region. Second, the plants have impacted negatively on the environment.

Third, the output of the refineries, especially diesel and petrol are also said to be sub standard and harmful to automobiles.

These and other considerations compelled the government and others to embark on campaigns, targeted at eliminating the illegal plants. For instance, Shell Petroleum Development Company Limited confirmed that authorities arrested 145 people and seized among others 18 tankers, 22 vehicles, 16 barges and 35 locally-made boats in 2011.

In June, this year, the Maritime Guards Command of Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) also arrested a vessel suspected to be carrying

THE UNREST HAS TURNED INTO A WORRYING CRIMINAL MOVEMENT, WHICH FEEDS ON MASSIVE THEFT OF CRUDE OIL. HEAVILY ARMED AND WELL-ORGANISED GROUPS ATTACK OIL AND GAS FACILITIES IN THE DELTA, SHUT DOWN OPERATIONS, KIDNAP STAFF AND SABOTAGE PIPELINES

185 tons (over 200,000 litres) of illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil (AGO). MT Floris, the 200-ton vessel with an 11-man crew, was arrested after the failure of its captain to produce papers stating the product it was carrying, point of loading and discharge destination.

Also, in September this year, men of the

Joint Task Force, popularly known as Operation Pulo Shield, an arm of 4 Brigade, Nigeria Army destroyed about 50 illegal refineries in Edo, Delta and Ondo States. The Brigade’s Public Relation Officer, Captain Rose Managbe, who confirmed the development in statement said the operations were geared towards enhancing a secured

environment in the interest of national security.

During the operation, several items, including, 100 Cotonou boats, 12 Tankers, 1300 surface Geepee tanks and over 350,000 drums of illegally-refined products, 2 FN riffles, 1 G3 riffle, 1 Sub Machine Gun, 3 AK 47 riffles and I Pump action gun were recovered. Other items recovered included 575 rounds of 7.62mm specila, 42 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, 44 rounds of short gun cartridges, 10 AK 47 Magazines, one magazine, 2 FN magazines, 3 walkie talkies, one metal detector and one battle axe.

In October, this year, the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps destroyed 615 illegal refineries in Bayelsa, Edo, Cross River and Rivers states in the last three months. The corps also impounded 120 trucks from oil pipelines vandals between September and October, 2012.

The Commandant-General of the CONTINUED ON PAGE 36

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Energy Week

Wednesday, November 7, 2012

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Why illegal refineries thrive in the Niger Delta

Amadi

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 35 NSCDC, Dr. Ade Abolurin, said the corps was combating vandals in Kogi, Lagos and Bayelsa states. He disclosed that the corps is collaborating with other security agencies to crack down on vandals of critical national infrastructure, adding that many suspects had been arrested and were being prosecuted for economic sabotage.

With these and other attacks, illegal refineries were expected to be eliminated or grossly reduced in number. But investigations showed that this has not been the case. In fact, illegal refineries and refining are said to be increasing in the region as a result of many reasons. First, the high unemployment rate in the nation is said to have forced many idle youths to take to the illegal business.

Second, the attractiveness of the business is another factor. Investigations showed that many young people are attracted into the trade mainly because of high returns involved in the process of using stolen crude oil to refine various petroleum products. A reliable source who preferred not to be named confirmed that the illegal investors make between N2 million and N10 million weekly depending scope of investment.

He remarked that: “Those who distribute the products even make more profit, especially during periods of shortage because they control the retail side of the illegal trade which involves the use of boats and canoes to move the products from one part of the nation to another.”

More than that, the illegal refineries thrive because of collusion. Some law enforcement officials assigned to enforce the closure of these plants are known to have gone into business because of continuous

Jonathan

El-Badri

FROM ALL INDICATIONS, THESE ILLEGAL OPERATORS HAVE DISPLAYED GREAT INGENUITIES THAT SHOULD BE HARNESSED TO BOOST THE NATION’S DWINDLING REFINING CAPACITIES

exposure to illegal operators and high returns they make.

This has attracted the comments of some observers. One of them is the National President of the Oil and Gas Service Providers Association of Nigeria (OGSPAN), Mr. Colman Obasi who remarked that: “From all indications, the war against illegal refineries is far from being won. It has not even started because perpetrators are still in charge.”

Obasi stated that: “The continuous thriving of illegal refineries despite claims of different agencies portends a bad omen for the nation. It clearly shows that the situation may be going from good to bad and from bad to worse in the industry.”

Already, many oil and gas producing firms have different sad tales to tell. For instance, Shell Petroleum Development Company Limited maintained that, “The unrest has turned into a worrying criminal movement, which feeds on massive thefts of crude oil. Heavily armed and well-organised groups attack oil and gas facilities in the delta, shut down operations, kidnap staff and sabotage pipelines.”

It documented that rival gangs and ethnic groups often clash in the region. As it puts it: “Barges take stolen oil to tankers waiting offshore for export. There is also a massive illegal refining business based on stolen crude oil. All these have reduced the amount of oil SPDC is producing, created environmental and social problems from oil

spills and reduced government revenue that could be used to develop infrastructure and services.”

The operator who hinted that criminal gangs kidnapped 19 SPDC employees and contractors during the same period remarked that, “One fatality was recorded in December 2010 when a contractor-employee was killed during an abduction related incident near Imo River in the Eastern Delta Operations. However, the Federal Government’s Amnesty program in the Niger Delta is generating a more enabling environment and this has resulted in a significant increase in Nigeria’s oil and gas production and provided better access for inspection and maintenance of assets.”

Shell also added that, “This is a huge amount – and the effects of this industrial scale theft are devastating for both the people and the environment. This is evident from the thick smoke from illegal refineries that line the shore. The land, the shorelines and the water are heavily polluted with oil as a result of these activities. The scale of these operations is not hidden. The perpetrators of these crimes have set up barge building yards and storage depots for the stolen crude. This is not petty theft undertaken by desperate individuals struggling to make a living. These are well-funded crimes that may be connected with an international syndicate”.

However, hope is not completely lost as

some people and institutions have emerged with new approaches. One of them is the Executive Secretary of Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI), Mrs. Zainab Ahmed, who has propose increased collaboration and cooperation of many parties, especially oil companies, communities, government and security agencies in the Niger Delta in particular and the nation in general.

She expressed concern that oil theft, proliferation of illegal refineries, pipe line vandalism, and environmental pollution in the Niger Delta have risen to alarming proportions and become a major threat to the country’s economy. The Executive Secretary stated this in Bonny Oil Terminal, Rivers State when she led a team of NEITI management on a facility tour of Shell oil exploration activities in the Niger Delta.

The Executive Secretary who was conducted round the creeks in the Niger Delta lamented that illegal refineries, stealing of crude through illegal bunkering, and pipe line vandalism have become open business in the area in spite of the efforts of the Joint Military Task Force in the area. She noted that the disclosure by Shell which manages Bonny Oil and Gas Terminal, that the nation’s economy lost the sum of $4. 3 million to oil thieves in the last two years at an average rate of $2.3 million annually clearly means that the development has assumed an alarming proportion.

This colossal loss and others should serve as the wakeup call that is needed to fully tackle illegal refineries. Indeed, everyone, especially the Federal Government, States and Local Governments, Communities and individuals should be determined to do more in order to uproot illegal refining in order to ensuring that the nation’s prime wealth is properly harnessed to accomplish the collective interest of the nation.

Mobil seeks cementing and pumping contractors for 2013 – 2016

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obil Producing Nigeria Unlimited (MPN), operator of NNPC/ MPN Joint Ventures has concluded plans to engage Cementing and Pumping Services for Year 2013 - 2016 Drilling Program Services at its locations within the NNPC/MPN Joint Venture (JV) acreage for an anticipated contract term of two years with a one year optional renewal period.

The contract is expected to commence

in June 2013 while the scope of work includes, but is not limited to the provision of Cementing and Pumping Services, associated tools and highly qualified specialist personnel.

Mobil may demand that: “Interested companies must be able to provide the following Cementing and Pumping Services: All personnel, equipment, bulk material, and additives associated with Cementing and Pumping Services.”

It may demand that: “A Pumping Unit capable of carrying out all aspects of the proposed work including the cementation of the proposed casing strings, blowout preventer pressure tests, casing pressure tests, formation integrity tests, required well testing operations and other pressure pumping operations as required by MPN.” Potential contractors are expected to be pre-qualified in the Cementing Services, category in NipeX Joint Qualification

System (NJQS) database. The firm stated that: “All successfully pre-qualified suppliers in this category will receive Invitation to Technical Tender (ITT). To determine if you are prequalified and view the product/service category you are listed for: Open www.nipexng.com and access NJQS with your log-in details, click on continue Joint Qualification Scheme tool, click check my supplier status and then click supplier product group.”

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Energy Week

Wednesday, November 7, 2012

37

OPEC daily basket price stands at $106.26 per barrel UDEME AKPAN WITH AGENCY REPORT

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he price of OPEC basket of 12 crudes stood at 106.26 dollars a barrel on Thursday, compared with $106.16 the previous day, according to OPEC Secretariat calculations.

The new OPEC Reference Basket of Crudes (ORB) is made up of the following: Saharan Blend (Algeria), Girassol (Angola), Oriente (Ecuador), Iran Heavy (Islamic Republic of Iran), Basra Light (Iraq), Kuwait Export (Kuwait), Es Sider (Libya), Bonny Light (Nigeria), Qatar Marine (Qatar), Arab Light (Saudi Arabia), Murban (UAE) and Merey (Venezuela).

This illustrates that many oil producing and exporting countries, including Nigeria would be able to generate adequate foreign exchange for the execution of their yearly budgets.

For instance, at the current price regime, the nation records $34.26 in excess of the $72 per barrel reference price of the 2012 budget.

Allison-Madueke OPEC will boost crude shipments next month as winter demand for oil movements. heating oil and diesel climbs in the The Organisation of Petroleum ExNorthern Hemisphere, according to porting Countries will export 23.84 mil-

lion barrels a day in the four weeks to November 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 December 12 at its headquarters in Vienna.

Fear of force majeure boosts oil demand

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emand for crude has firmed up at the global oil market, as traders expect possible supply disruptions after the Kuito force majeure.

The United States oil major Chevron said that its Angolan subsidiary Cabinda Gulf Oil Company had declared force majeure at the Kuito offshore oil terminal due to a fault with a mooring line.

There was no immediate impact on production since the declaration coincided with planned maintenance at the terminal. Kuito loadings are due to be half the normal level in November, with just one 920,000 barrel cargo due to load.

Source: Oilprice.com

Oil vessel

Other Angolan grades have been selling swiftly this week, with Cabinda and Nem-

ba already sold out, traders said. They estimated that less than 20 of the original

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

56 tankers due to load in December had already been placed.

In Nigeria, traders are already placing some tankers for January loading.

Oil trader Vitol has won a tender to supply Indian Oil Corporation with at least 3 million barrels of west African crude oil, trade sources said on Friday.

The Swiss trader will supply one cargo each of Nigeria’s Qua Iboe and EA grades and a third cargo of Zafiro from Equatorial Guinea in January, the sources said.

One of the sources said that Vitol would also supply a second Qua Iboe cargo. The price details were undisclosed, but traders continued to assess the Nigerian benchmark grade at around dated Brent plus $2 a barrel.

November loadings are still subject to delays of two-three days due to lowerthan-expected output and this is helping to support prices, traders said.

MRPL issued a tender for a 1 million barrels or 950,000 barrels cargo of light, sweet crude oil for loading between 1-15 January. The tender will stay valid until 2 Nov., traders said.

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Energy Week

Vitol wins tender to supply crude oil Vitol has won a tender to supply Indian Oil Corporation with at least 3 million barrels of West African crude oil, trade sources said on Friday.

The Swiss trader will supply one cargo each of Nigeria’s Qua Iboe and EA grades and a third cargo of Zafiro from Equatorial Guinea in January, the sources said.

One of the sources said that Vitol would also supply a second Qua Iboe cargo.

Vitol has resumed sales to IOC in the past few months after being barred from participating in a tender late last year.

It was not clear exactly why the ban was lifted, although traders active in the tender process said that companies deemed to be in violation of IOC rules were typically sanctioned for a one-year period and that this had now expired.

In December, Vitol won the right to supply 2 million barrels of west African oil for the December-loading IOC tender.

Baker Hughes presents at Bank of America 2012 Global Energy Baker Hughes Incorporated has indicated that John “Andy” O’Donnell, Baker Hughes’ Vice President Office of the Chief Executive Officer, will present at the Bank of America Merrill Lynch 2012 Global Energy Conference in Miami on November 13, 2012.

If you would like to listen to the presentation and view the presentation materials during the conference, please log onto the “Events & Presentations” page on our website at: www. bakerhughes.com/investor. If you would like to listen to a replay, it will be available within 24 hours of the live presentation and will remain available through November 28, 2012. You may use the same website address above to access the replay.

Baker Hughes is a leading supplier of oilfield services, products, technology and systems to the worldwide oil and natural gas industry. The company’s 58,000-plus employees today work in more than 80 countries helping customers find, evaluate, drill, produce, transport and process hydrocarbon resources.

IEA, IEF, OPEC examine gas and coal markets The global markets for natural gas and coal would become clearer in the coming years as three institutions have already examined them for the benefits of consumers and producers, including Nigeria.

The market was examined by the International Energy Agency, International Energy Fund and the Organisation of Oil Exporting Countries (OPEC).

OPEC that confirmed the development sated: “At the request of G-20, a first symposium was held at the IEA in Paris to compare current outlooks for gas and coal markets and to examine how such markets are regulated.”

It maintained that the G-20 Cannes Summit Leaders’ Declaration in November 2011 requested “further work on gas and coal market transparency and asked the IEA, IEF and OPEC to provide recommendations in this field.

The cartel stated that the symposium was convened by the IEA, the IEF and OPEC. More than 90 speakers, participants and national representatives attended from the energy industries, from business, from governments and from the academic world. The meeting was held under the Chatham House Rule.

The first session discussed recent developments in gas markets including the impact of increased production of nonconventional gas, the evolving role of LNG in world markets as well as improvements in access to market data, including the extension of the Joint Organisations Data Initiative to gas.

The second session discussed current and future drivers of coal demand, the impact of energy and environmental policy and the effects of competition in power generation on the evolution of coal demand. The session also discussed the sources and quality of coal market data and ways in which it might be improved.

The last session looked at gas and coal markets at the national and international levels, how they compare with other commodity markets and how proposed financial regulation in energy derivative markets might impact them.

The three secretariats will provide their member governments with a full summary of the Symposium proceedings and will report to the G-20 in due course.

Wednesday, November 7, 2012

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Adopt energy saving bulbs –Amoda tells consumers STORIES: UDEME AKPAN

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he Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) has started creating awareness on the application of its energy savings bulbs in the country. The measure aims at enabling consumers and by extension the nation to significantly reduce energy consumption and huge bills.

The firm stated that the development aimed at complementing the Federal Government campaign on Energy Conservation/Efficiency across the country.

The Chief Executive Officer of Eko DISCO, Engr. Oladele Amoda said the firm has started to create awareness within the company’s zone on the advantage of using emerging bulbs, which is to reduce the cost of energy consumption in the country.

Amoda said efficient energy usage is the effort put in place to reduce the amount of energy required to provide products and services.

He said “Energy saving bulbs has been around for a couple of years. But they only got popular in 2007 after the Austrian government decided to ban standard bulbs and replace them with energy saving bulbs. This reduces carbon dioxide emissions, which is environmentally friendly.”

Amoda said; “Energy saving bulbs are said to be five times more efficient than standard bulbs.” Commenting on the lifespan and energy consumption of the newly launched energy saving bulbs, the Eko Boss explained that LED lighting lasts upward of 60,000 hours before needing replacement.

“LED light bulbs use about half the wattage of fluorescent lighting, about 6 watts of power versus 14 watts of

power for a Compact Fluorescent Light (CFL) light bulb.

“For a LED bulb’s lifespan, about 340 kilowatt hours of electricity is used. CFL bulbs used over 60,000 hours (6 bulbs) will use around 840 kilowatt hours of electricity. As far as energy efficiency goes, LED light bulbs are about 5 times more efficient than fluorescent lighting.”

Further explaining the important for electricity consumers within Eko DISCO to embrace the use of energy saving bulbs, Engr. Amoda said “The residential customers constitute a significant percentage of our customer’s population.

“Embracing energy efficiency and conservation can therefore make significant impact on system stability and reliability. Energy saving derived from efficient usage and conservation can be diverted to commercial and industrial usage.

“The rising cost of fuel and electricity makes the need to conserve energy every more evident and the growing need to adopt environmental friendly technology and renewable energy.”

Projects earmarked for completion by December 2012 by the zone according to Engr. Amoda include the reinforcement of critical 33KV, 11KV feeders and rehabilitation of distribution substations for effective evacuation and distribution of Power into all customers of Eko DISCO and the replacement of obsolete 33KV and 11KV Switchgear in various locations among others.

It would be recalled that President Jonathan had in May 2012 launched energy saving bulbs in Abuja with a view to encourage Nigerians to buy the bulbs in order to reduce the cost of energy consumption in the country.

The former launching of the bulbs was a first step in gov-

PENGASSAN canvasses support for local content

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he Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN), has called on multinational firms in the oil sector to comply fully with the provisions of the Nigerian Content Act. The Association’s National Industrial Relations Officer, Mr. Chika Onuegbu, made the call in Port Harcourt on Monday in an interview in Port Harcourt, recently.

He said that such a measure would achieve maximum transformation for the sector within the shortest time possible.

Onuegbu said that the lack of appropriate enforcement of the act had hampered the promotion of local contents and other major issues in the sector.

He decried the laxity of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) for not making enough effort to ensure compliance with the provisions of the act.

The association recalled that the board was set up to supervise, coordinate and ensure compliance of the Nigerian Content Act. “It is rather disheartening that two years after the passage of the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development Act, 2010, the country is yet to notice any positive impact of the act.

“NCDMB needs to wake up and aggressively pursue and deliver dividends of the act to our people, communities and country.

“We want to see our people being trained and assigned accountabilities in critical disciplines of the oil and gas sector, not as figureheads for purpose of statistics,’’ Onuegbu said.

He said that the use of contract staffing and ‘casualisa-

tion’ had been on the increase because of misinterpretation of the act.

“The way the act is going is contrary to the global trends in the employment in the oil and gas industry,” he said.

Onuegbu said that an NCDMB partnership with labour unions would go a long way in making the act successful.

He said that poor implementation of the act would amount to economic sabotage.

“I know NCDMB cannot do it alone. This calls for the participation of statutory bodies such as immigration, customs, Nigeria Police, among others,” he said.

Nwapa

High court rules in favour of Shell

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he Federal High Court sitting in Lagos ruled in favour of Shell in a case brought against the company

by Humanitex Nigeria Limited.

The plaintiffs in the case which was instituted against SPDC about 18 years ago are alleging a breach of contract by the defendants.

Humanitex are claiming the sum of US$20,393,360.00 as damages against SPDC & Oteri (former SPDC employee) for alleged breach of two contracts i.e. to obtain the approval of the IGP for the upgrade of weapons used by policemen assigned to protect SPDC’s JV facilities and to procure the approved weapons for use by the policemen.

Humanitex claimed to be instrumental to facilitating the

approval given by the IGP, and have tried through various means, including legal action, to establish a contractual relationship with SPDC on this basis. SPDC refutes the claim.

The plaintiffs also later alleged that SPDC intended to use the weapons requested for illegal purposes. We have also strongly denied the allegation.

SPDC welcomes the verdict of the Federal High Court on this matter which has been going on for about 18 years.

The firm stated that it reinforces our faith in the rule of law and we believe that justice has been done.

SPDC’s business in Nigeria continues to be guided at all times by the Shell Group Business Principles as well as provisions of Nigerian law.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Energy Week

Wednesday, November 7, 2012

39

Ogun State distributes 500 transformers UDEME AKPAN

E

Ribadu

ernment’s commitment to ensure that reputable companies are persuaded to come to Nigeria to begin local production of the bulbs as well as encourage local manufacturers of electricity bulbs to change to energy saving bulbs.

Chinese refinery capacity expansion suggests global potential

T

he oil map is being redrawn and China’s emergence as a global product exporter is a big part of it,” said Antoine Halff, head of the IEA oil market unit and the editor of the Medium-Term Oil Market Report. “There has always been a risk for refiners to overshoot or undershoot in their expansion plans. It looks like China might now be at risk of overshooting. The result could be more motorists in more parts of the world filling up with gasoline made in China.”

China’s growth in oil demand is showing signs of slowing down, the International Energy Agency says in a recent report, raising questions about how the country will use the significant expansion of domestic refinery capacity under way.

Medium-Term Oil Market Report 2012 reduces the IEA estimate of Chinese demand growth prospects for 2012-2017 to 2.1 million barrels a day (mb/d). That reduces the forecast for 2016 by a full 1 mb/d from what was expected two years ago. In contrast, the IEA estimates that China will increase its refining capacity by as much as 2.9 mb/d over the next five years.

China’s economic growth, the primary variable for Chinese oil demand forecasts, is difficult to predict. But assuming that the IEA is correct in its more conservative reconsideration of the economy, which suggests that China might end up with excess refining capacity. That surplus could position it to expand its footprint as a global player in refined products.

And the IEA’s forecast of Chinese refining capacity expansion is even more conservative than its demand forecast. PetroChina, as well as many other market analysts, say they expect even more capacity growth than the IEA projection, with the national oil company having forecast earlier this year that Chinese distillation capacity would rise by about a third to reach 15 mb/d by 2015.

Sunmonu

nergy is central to practically all aspects of sustainable development including access to water, agriculture and industrialisation productivity, healthcare, educational attainment, job creation and climate change among others.

Out of the 350-400mw power required to effectively run Ogun State, only about 40-50mw is supplied from the national grid which is seven times less than what it is required to power the state efficiently and to serve its purpose of providing the essential needs of the people and in the operation of Small, Medium and Large scale industries .

Towards this end, Ogun State Government in collaboration with Mathesis Consulting Company (UK) organised a 3-day Alternative Energy Expo with the theme ”Alternative Energy for Increase Capacity and Sustainability” which was held between 29th and 31st of October, 2012 at the June 12 Cultural centre in Abeokuta.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, the Governor of Ogun State, Senator Ibikunle Amosun identified efficient power supply as fundamental to the growth and development of the economy of any society saying Nigeria has a huge deficit in her power supply framework which cannot sustain the demand for electricity in the nation hence, the need for an alternative means of energy supply Amosun identified other means of energy supply to include solar, biomass, wind, waste to energy and other renewable sources of energy which if embraced, could help in reducing the people’s dependence on fossil generated power stating that the State hosting of this year’s Nigeria Alternative Energy Expo is part of his administration’s commitments towards providing the enabling environment for economic development and improving the living standard of the people.

As part of efforts of his administration towards contributing to the socio-economic development of the state, Gov. Amosun said the distribution of 500 transformers of different rating has commenced across the state while a solar energy project is been executed at Asore Village all aimed at increasing the access to electricity in the rural

areas.

The Special Adviser to the Governor on Energy, Mr. Taiwo Fagbemi who was also at the event said the expo among other objectives is aimed at creating a platform for Business, Government and NGOs to brainstorms policies on Alternative Energy Solutions, climate change initiatives and technologies and also to examine the challenges and barriers hindering the achievement of the opportunity in renewable energy efficiency and conservation and proffer way forward.

Fagbemi also talked on efforts of the state Government in the area of renewable energy which he said includes the Energy Workshop that was held early this year to train professionals in the energy sector and also the Energy Survey which will commence in December to determine the energy requirement of each household, and local government.

Some of the foreign exhibitors present at the Expo who spoke to our correspondence declared their readiness to partner with the state in the area of renewable energy .The companies include Anji Dasol Solar Energy (China), Agama Energy(South Africa), Black Lite Energy (South Africa), Bam Equipment &Technology(France) among others.

Amosun

NCDMB, others to boost local content soon

M

any stakeholders are set to boost the implementation of local content in the nation’s petroleum industry when they gather in Bayelsa State to take a look at critical issues and adopt new measures for implementation.

The Nigerian Content Development Monitoring Board (NCDMB) that confirmed the development stated that: “Due to the flooding in Bayelsa State we have postponed the Practical Nigerian Content Conference and hope to hold it on November 20-22 2012.”

It maintained that: “In recent years, we have witnessed remarkable progress in the implementation of Nigerian Content initiatives. Perceptions have changed, and what used to be viewed as a compliance issue is now regarded as a source of business opportunities.”

The Board stated that: “The event would be held in partnership with the Nigerian Content Development & Monitoring Board, NCI’s second Practical Nigerian Content event will welcome you to Yenagoa, where you will receive an update on progress and future strategies and devise how your business can best benefit from the Nigerian Content Agenda.”

It called on stakeholders not miss out on this unique opportunity to share ideas, benefit from case studies by Intels Nigeria, Tenaris, Seawolf Oilfield Services, Marine Platforms and many more, hear the perspectives of government and experience Nigerian Content in action.

Speakers would include the Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke, Executive Secretary of NCDMB, Engr. Ernest Nwapa, the governor of Bayelsa State, Mr. Seriake Dickson, former group Managing director of the Nigerian national petroleum Corporation, Mr. Funsho Kupolokun and Director, Department of Petroleum Resources, Mr. Osten Oluronsola.

Meanwhile, the Board looks forward to doing more as the Nigerian Content Support Fund (NCSF), a pool of one percent of profits made by oil companies in the country, has about $100 million in its coffers.

Giving a speech at the just concluded Nigeria Oil and Gas Trade and Investment forum in Onne, Rivers State, Engr Nwapa said NCSF which would be launched in October, its designated accounts and procedures for payment of one percent have been set up.

According to him the Structure for NCDF has been developed and approval secured for award to financial advisors and added that the new fund would be used as a pool to attract and facilitate venture capital.

He explained that to close all identified gaps in the old fund, Professionals would run the NCDF saying the structure of the new arrangement would insulate the operations of the fund from the NCDMB but the board still has overall responsibility for the fund.

He said to succeed in using the fund for targeted capacity,and the industry’s Cooperation would be required and attributed the growth of Nigerian content from five percent in 2004 to 35 percent in 2010 to the implementation of the Nigerian content Act 2010.

Through the implementation of the Act, it would ensure the retention of about $ 40 billion in the nation’s economy within the next four years at an average of $10 billion annually, it was disclosed that the nation’s economy at present retails only $4 billion out of the annual oil and gas expenditure which stood at N20billions.

The Nigerian content Act 2010 also has the capacity to create over 30,000 direct employment and training opportunities as well as enhance the establishment of three to four new pipemills to service the demands of the industry and develop one or two dock yards.

Also, Hon. Olusegun Aganga, the Minister for Trade and Investment who noted that the oil and gas industry plays a dominant role in the growth of the nation’s economy pointed out that the Oil and Gas free Zone concept was central and strategic to defining sustainable transformationstrategy for the national economy.

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National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

WAPCo moves to complete pipeline maintenance

FG under pressure to act on oil graft report

The management of West African Gas Pipeline Company (WAPCo) has intensified efforts to complete the maintenance of the West African pipeline to enable it begin gas export to consumers in Ghana, Togo and Benin.

A top official who confirmed the development in a telephone interview said: “The rehabilitation work has gone very far. We are intensifying efforts to ensuring that it is completed on or before December, this year.”

The official who declined to state the extent of the work so far executed said: “It is difficult to say in terms of percentage. But I can assure you that it would be completed on set target.”

The pipeline established to facilitate the export of Nigeria’s gas to the nations was destroyed by a vessel suspected to be involved in oil bunkering offshore Lome.

Since then, consumers of many people and organizations are said to have taken to close substitutes in order to generate electricity in the affected nations.

The substitutes included fuel oil and petrol which many consumers, including households and industries utilise to generate power.

The Managing Director of the Company, Mr. Charles Adeniji who confirmed the development in Lagos said: “The consumers have options have actually taken to those options in order to generate electricity which the need for different purposes.”

He raised hope that the pipeline which delivers Nigeria’s gas to the nations for power generation is set to restart operations in December this year. The pipeline that was damaged by a vessel is presently undergoing maintenance.

Adeniji said divers have removed the damaged pipe joints for disposal while the remaining pipe ends have been aligned back to their original positions.

He said construction barge was hired on September 24, 2012 while a team was mobilised 28 September 2012, equipped with crane, welders, pipe and machines. 6 Pipe joints loaded on the barge.

He said: “Line scraper, called “pigs” will be inserted into and launched at one end of the line to remove water which will be received at the other end. Adeniji said: “Compressed gas or Nitrogen will be used to push the pig- Main line/ Laterals. As the pig travels, water in line will be pushed out, while the compressed gas or Nitrogen will dry the internal surface of the line.”

The Managing director said: “The amount of moisture in the gas/ nitrogen will indicate when the line is dried and when pigging can stop. After drying / inerting, the operating valves will be opened to flow, and gas will be introduced into the line and will commence gas transportation operations.”

Already, a construction barge has been hired to fabricate the replacement 6-pipe joint spools.

Adeniji said: “Concurrently, action plans are being developed for removing water and drying the main and the lateral lines after which gas will be introduced. We expect to commence operations before December 25, 2012. Shareholders have been very responsive and supporting.”

The Managing Director of the Company explained that current works on the pipeline was about 10 per cent completed and that by December it would be over 90 per cent complete after which the pipes would be dried through the removal of water and debris in the lines.

The company shut down its operations after the facility was damaged by an unidentified vessel which came under fire from Togolese naval authorities and subsequently stopped all gas deliveries to its onshore stations.

The stoppage of gas deliveries to power stations has adversely affected service delivery at the generation, supply and distribution units of electricity services in Ghana leading to the current load shedding exercise in some parts of the country.

He asked governments in the sub-region to work to ensure a secured business environment devoid of criminality, vandalism, kidnapping and other vices to sustain business growth and to attract and sustain investors in the region.

Mrs. Harriet Wereko-Brobby, General Manager, Corporate Affairs-West African Gas Pipeline Company, said the company had its headquarters in Accra-Ghana, with field offices in Badagry-Nigeria, Cotonou - Benin, LomeTogo, Tema and Takoradi, both in Ghana.

UDEME AKPAN WITH AGENCY REPORT

T

he Federal Government has come under severe pressure under to tackle corruption after an oil probe released last week showing billions of dollars of lost state revenues sparked a political row.

Reuters exclusively reported details on October 24 of former anti-corruption chief Nuhu Ribadu’s report on the oil sector, which showed Nigeria had lost tens of billions of dollars in cut-priced deals struck between government officials, the state-oil firm and multinational oil companies over the last decade.

It also found hundreds of millions of dollars of oil bonuses and royalties paid to government were missing.

Nigeria is one of the world’s top crude oil exporters and a key supplier to the United States, China and India. It also holds the world’s ninth largest gas reserves and one of its largest Liquefied Natural Gas export terminals.

The Ribadu committee report was presented to the Oil Minister Diezani Alison-Madueke, who commissioned the probe, in August but it was not made public or sent to the president. Once it had been leaked Jonathan requested it be given to him.

Alison-Madueke told Reuters the leaked independent report was a draft, it contained mistakes and the government needed to give input. Two members of Ribadu’s committee were then quoted in local newspapers dismissing findings in the probe.

But when Ribadu presented the report to Jonathan on Friday the probe chairman said the report would not be changed and that the deriding committee members were “compromised” after being given top jobs at the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), the biggest stakeholder in the industry they were investigating.

“Even though the chairman (Ribadu) said that committee members became

Oil plant

board member of NNPC, that does not disqualify them from being members of committee ... There is nothing wrong in any of them been appointed,” Jonathan said in reaction.

“Both men should have resigned ... the moment they were given the plum jobs (at NNPC),” the Action Congress of Nigeria, a major opposition party, said in a statement on Sunday.

“The fact that they stayed on ... is the clearest indication yet that they were meant to play that exact role of spoilers.”

The Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI), part of the global EITI scheme aimed at improving transparency in commodity industries, added its voice to calls for government to take action and not bury graft reports.

“Had the remedial issues identified by

the NEITI audit reports been dealt with ... some of the issues necessitating and identified by these probes would have since been dealt with,” the agency said in a statement on Monday.

The agency found $9.8 billion of missing government revenue in its own audits of the oil sector for the period 1999-2008 and said there was “no sufficient effort to recover the funds.”

Ribadu’s probe was one of several set up after more than a week of nationwide strikes in January, which began as protests against the removal of petrol subsidies but morphed into a campaign against widespread corruption in the oil sector.

A parliamentary report in April found mismanagement and theft by top Nigerian officials involved in the corrupt fuel subsidy cost the country $6.8 billion.

Power generation stabilises at 4, 500 megawatts UDEME AKPAN

E

lectricity generation in the nation has hit a peak capacity of 4,500 megawatts (mw), one of the highest in recent times.

The feat recorded on Monday, this week showed an increase of 100 mw against an average of 4, 400 mw recorded in the past.

The supply, excluding spinning reserves has culminated in improved supply to consumers nationwide.

Authoritative data of the Ministry of Power showed that 4,250 mw are dedicated to transmission while 250 mw constituted the nation’s reserves which are not always for transmission and distribution.

A breakdown showed that while the older stations of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN), including Egbin, apparently the biggest in the nation accounted for over 3,000 mw, the newly constructed plants under the Integrated Power Scheme accounted for 1,000 mw.

The Head of Press in the Ministry of Power, Mr. Greyne Anosike who confirmed

the development said the feat was achieved as a result increased investment in generating plants and other infrastructure, located in different parts of the nation.

He said the improvement was not accidental as the government has in the past few years made enormous investments in the sector. These, he said have gone a long way to building the nation’s capacity to generate substantial mw of electricity.

Anosike said there has also been improvement in transmission and distribution facilities nationwide. These are targeted at ensuring that electricity gets to every part of the nation, including the rural areas.

He said’ “The former Minister of Power of power, Prof. Bart Nnaji and others assisted in many ways to put in place the right structures. Consequently, power supply will continue to improve not withstanding who occupies one office or another.”

Spokesman of the Niger Delta Power Holding Company (NDPHC), Mr. Yakubu Lawal who confirmed such increased investments in the sector said the firm has commissioned 11 power injector sub-sta-

tions in Lagos alone.

He said each of the 11 sub-station is 1x15 MVA with the capacity of generating power for about 10,000 residents in AgbowaIkosi, Ipakodo, Ijede, Agbara, Ajangbadi, Orile-Coker, Fowler, Alagbon, Bekley, Apapa Raod and Tincan. Lawal said the firm also commissioned 500 transformers of 50KVA each to boost power supply.

Lawal assured Lagosians and residents in other parts of the nation that the projects would boost the electricity supply, promising that supply would continue to improve as new plants and facilities come on stream.

Incidentally, many consumers have started feeling the impact of improved supply. For instance, the spokesman of Union Bank, Mr. Francis Barde said in a telephone interview that: “We can confirm that there has been an improvement in power supply in recent times. In the past we used to have about two hours of public power supply which compelled us to over- depend on our plants, located in every branch to run our operations. But in the past few weeks, we hae about 10 hours of public power supply”

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Wednesday, November 7, 2012

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Executive Discourse

Wednesday, November 7, 2012

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Federal Government should cede some roads Mr. Lekan Adegbite, is the Commissioner for Works in Ogun State. In this interview with DAYO AYEYEMI, he spoke on criteria for selecting some of the ongoing road projects in the state; major challenge of the state government and reasons the administration of Senator Ibikunle Amosun is embarking on the construction of Sango-Ojodu Road. He also spoke about sorry state of federal roads in most states, urging the Federal Government to cede some of the roads to the states for routine maintenance.

Can you let C l t us into i t your activities ti iti so far? f ?

We have done so many roads in terms of repair and rehabilitation and construction, even with that, it is always on going but our major road as our flagship is Oke-Sokori-Totoro Road for our first year anniversary. Since then we have awarded the fly-over bridge at Ibara Roundabout which is also part of that road because it was by virtue of the road we have done that we realised that we needed to get separator at the Ibara-Roundabout.

Also, as a continuation of that, we have another one going towards Ita-Iyalode- Agbeloba and the contractors are about doing that. That is the major work we have done in Abeokuta but we are not going to bed yet because we are about to sign contract for another 10 roads.

And like we said at the beginning that the Totoro road would serve as our experiment, what the governor called our standard, “Ogun Standard’ in terms of how wide we want it to be and the road furniture, the drainages, the walk-ways and so on. We have done these successfully on that road and we now believe that we can work successfully on other parts of the state.

Within the next two weeks, we should be signing the contracts of Ilo-Awela Road. As we speak, our surveyors are already on the area marking the right of way. They are also in Ijebu-Ode too, the major road is Ejinrin Road, and we are also doing another road in Ijebu-Ode. We are moving to Sagamu, we have Over-head Bridge there and a level bridge, also the Ilisan-AgoIwoye. We are doing four lane road there because it is intra city. At the same time, we are coming back to Abeokuta from Ogun State Television and we are coming right a way to Brewery, the right of way has been marked. The second one we are doing in Abeokuta is Ojere Road to Adatan area; our men are already marking houses to ensure the right of way there.

We have surveyors and consultants on the road to do the evaluation and the amount of compensation to be paid and as soon as the compensation is paid, our contractors will move to the site and expand. These are major roads we are doing.

Even though, we don’t have the money because we inherited huge amount of debt but through some debt instruments the governor is trying to put in place because we are not taking bond now because by the time we finished the processing of bond, things would have been more worse.

Why? The debt profile is just too much for bonding and by the time we wait for bond processes, it will be more like junk. As we speak now, if the state wants to settle for bond, it cannot be beyond N5bn and that will not be worthwhile.

When the past administration was leaving, the document they handed over to us was N49 billion debt but when we got there and discovered that it is about N87 billion by the time we collated everything. That is a lot for the state that was generating N700 million.

That is where we are on the issue of roads and we know that the projects will take us for about the life span of this administration because some of them will take about two years before completion. The intention is that we want to take only the things that we can pay for.

How much have you spent so far within the last one

Adegbite

year on road construction?

Since last one year, we have not really spent any money on road construction. In fact, it is not what I am proud to say. Totoro Road is just what we have done, and apart from that, we have not touched any other major contract since we came to the office. The major project we have done is Totoro. That does not mean that we went to sleep, we are doing our home work. We don’t want abandoned project so it is taking us time before we arrive here.

Though, I may not be able to state the exact figure now but that is because we are still getting our contractors to accumulate something and that is why I said in the next few weeks they should be through but we are looking in the region of N100 billion.

The Sango to Ojodu Road is going to take about N30 billion, there are about three bridges along that road with level crossing. Also it has an interchange at the Lagos end. The road alone is taking about 30 per cent of the entire budget. It is a four-lane road and we need to pay compensation and that is about N5 billion.

We need the cooperation of Lagos State to acquire the right of way, because about one percent of the road lies in that state. We have had meetings and interactions with the commissioner for works in the state.

How do you determine the selection of projects to be

THE REASON WHY WE ARE DOING THE SANGO-OJODU ROAD DESPITE ITS COSTLY NATURE IS BECAUSE OF THE FACT THAT IT WILL PROVIDE INFRASTRUCTURE TO THOSE THAT ARE LIVING IN

OGUN

STATE, BUT WORKING IN LAGOS STATE SO THAT THEY CAN BE PAYING THEIR TAXES IN

OGUN STATE executed?

We looked at an even spread across the state because we need to balance it. All the roads I have told you are based on the economical value while some

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Wednesday, November 7, 2012

Executive Discourse

43

to states for proper maintenance –Adegbite are selected for political relevance. There are roads that go from Ilara-Ijoun-Ilase all in the border towns and cut across about four local governments in Yewa.

Basically what we have done in the selection of roads is to try and look at all the local governments in the state and all the senatorial districts.

While most of these roads will not bring economical value but they have their political values, like the Ilisan-Ago –Iwoye. We are not really opening up communities there but it is the road that linked major communities.

The reason why we are doing the Sango-Ojodu road despite its costly nature is because of the fact that it will provide infrastructure to those that are living in Ogun State but working in Lagos State so that they can be paying their taxes in Ogun State.

It will give us moral justification to actually block the tax payers there. There are lots of people living there but are working in Lagos; that is an economical viable road.

The Ilara-Ijoun road is another road which will help us to open communities there because there are lots of farming communities there, so it will help us to develop the place and make the road accessible to our farmers there, and Abeokuta being the state capital needs some infrastructural development.

This is a major problem we have in Lagos-Ibadan but I also know that the minister is doing a lot about that place but the problem as a country is the federation arrangement is cumbersome. It is difficult for federal government to lay claim on having projects in states.

Though they claim that they have federal controller of works in every states but it is difficult for somebody to be in Abuja and identify federal road between Ilaro and Owode. The person who is in Abuja does not even know where the communities are. So it is difficult for such a person to appreciate the problems of such road between Ilaro and Owode. What the Federal Government has at hand is too big and I think they should devolve; it should do more in terms of funding to states and give the projects to the states to maintain. In fact, most people that pass through these roads are not aware of the demarcation, all they know is that they are passing through Lagos and Ogun states and if they see any failed portion of

the road, they put the blame on the states.

Despite that most roads in Lagos belong to federal government, the people there pass blame on the Lagos State government for any bad portion on a road. Even the Lagos- Badagary Road is Federal road but Lagos is rehabilitating it.

The federal government is too insulated; they are too far away, so I think the solution is for it to cede those roads to states. I don’t think it should own any road though it can intervene in states by choosing an infrastructural project or where there is boundary between two states, the government can do that by creating those roads and leave it to the states to maintain. This will allow the Federal government to do new things by providing the railway and airports; I think that will go a long way.

THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS TOO INSULATED; THEY ARE TOO FAR AWAY, SO I THINK THE SOLUTION

Is the government not thinking about concessioning some of these roads?

There are some roads we are considering for that; one of them is the road from Ijebu-ode to Epe. I did not mention that as part of the road we are doing because it is Public-Private Participation (PPP) project. We are also doing a road from Akute, there should be a bridge that will come out around the Multi-Trex Cocoa Industries at Warewa along Lagos-Ibadan Expressway. It is about 5 kilometres road with about 120 metres bridge across the Ogun River. It is a PPP project and we are at the advance stage. We are already advertising for expression of interest.

Another road is the flower gate, where Nestle is located to Papalanto. The road is economically viable and we are on that too, we are doing all these roads because we know that investors will only come when they know that the roads are motorable.

These are the roads that are economically viable.

SHOULD OWN ANY ROAD THOUGH

Sometimes, when you came last year, you looked more worried but now you are relaxed is it that you are politically getting used to stress?

Well like I said, I have not held public office so it is part of the learning process, when you were here last year the project we had at hand which we were under pressure to deliver for the time caused a lot of pressure. Also being the first time in such an office but it’s a success story, so we have learnt our lessons and we to move on.

What are the challenges?

Major challenge to all these is funding. If the debt profile of the state is not so challenging when we came in, we would have been able to perform so much wonders but the debt is so much that people are weary of doing business with us. But the governor puts himself on the line as an expert who had being in the finance industry for sometime but don’t forget that since we assume duty, we have had salary increment across the board which of course increase the over head cost of the government without necessarily increasing the income. What we met as Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) was N700 million compared to the work force.

Even our salary over head is enough for what we are taking in Abuja, so funding has been the major challenge. We have had the goodwill of the people which is helping us too.

Who are the contactors that are handling these projects?

We have about 10 contractors who have demonstrated capacity and competence over the years and we cannot afford to gamble with experiment with company, hence we have done our home work.

What are the solutions that should be the focus of the Federal Government to the issue of federal projects that are in territory of states, particularly the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway?

IS FOR IT TO CEDE THOSE ROADS TO STATES. I DON’T THINK IT

IT CAN INTERVENE IN STATES BY CHOOSING AN INFRASTRUCTURAL PROJECT OR WHERE THERE IS

BOUNDARY BETWEEN TWO STATES, THE GOVERNMENT CAN DO THAT BY CREATING THOSE ROADS AND LEAVE IT TO THE STATES TO MAINTAIN

If you look back, how is public service?

Well all my life, I have been a private person but coming to public office shift unnecessary attention to one but having accepted to serve, its giving me a wider platform to access more people, interacted with more people, and I have also learnt a lot as a professional . I have been enriched. I have learnt a lot, I mean things I couldn’t have learnt as a private person.

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Wednesday, November 7, 2012

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China plans boosting export-tax rebates on some goods

C

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 July 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 exports now is the weak demand from

RBA holds key rate as economy withstands global slowdown

Glenn Stevens

A

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 yesterday 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

J

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 September 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.

overseas markets, and tax rebates won’t help much in boosting demand.”

Finance Ministry 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 yesterday The ministry didn’t immediately respond to faxed questions from

Bloomberg News.

China used the tool in 2009 and 20011 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 2010 from 2011.

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 November 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 today. “Export growth should remain weak.”

Merkel, Monti step up diplomacy as ECB comes in focus

E

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 yesterday 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 yesterday 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 yesterday. 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 7, 2012

R

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 emailed 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 October, 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.”

Japan’s fiscal impasse threatens stimulus to spur growth

J

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 Aug. 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

45

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 yesterday in Moscow.

Slowing polish economy may force Tusk to ease budget cuts

P

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 September 10, according to the median of seven projections in a Bloomberg survey.

Non-deliverable 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 Aug. 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.

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. stagnated amid global slowdown

M

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 yesterday.

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.

46

Capital Market

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Wednesday, November 7, 2012

Banking sector lifts equities by 0.5% JOHNSON OKANLAWON

T

he banking sector performance mostly listed the benchmark indices of equities segment of the Nigerian Stock Exchange yesterday.

The sector enhanced the All Share Index by 0.46 per cent to close at 26,724.02 points, compared to the increase of 0.15 per cent recorded the preceding day to close at 26,600.10 points.

Market capitalisation appreciated by N40bn to close at N8.52trn, higher than the increase of N13bn recorded the preceding day to close at N8.48trn.

The Banking Index led sectorial indices with 1.26 per cent to close at 427.61 points, followed by the NSE 30-Index with 0.29 per cent to close at 1,262.05 points.

The Oil and Gas Index gained 0.68 per cent to close at 157.51 points, while the Consumer Goods Index appreciated by 0.29 per cent to close at 2,305.03 points.

The Insurance Index and the Lotus Islamic Index shed 2.27 per cent and 0.06 per cent to close at 131.44 points and 1,66.93 points respectively.

United Bank for Africa

Plc led the gainers’ table with 27 kobo or 5.88 per cent to close at N4.86 per share, followed by First Bank Plc with 80 kobo or 5.13 per cent to close at 16.40 per share.

Honeywell flour Mills Plc gained 10 kobo or 4.98 per cent to close at N2.11 per share, while NAHCO Plc rose by 27 kobo or 4.82 per cent to close at N5.87 per share. GlaxosmKline Pharmaceuticals Plc closed at N43.80, up by N1.91 or 4.56 per cent.

On the flip side, UACProperty Plc lost N1.25 or 10 per cent to close at N11.25 per share, while Academy

Ikeja Hotel profit drops by 8% in Q3 JOHNSON OKANLAWON

I

keja Hotel Plc has declared a profit after tax of N727.5m for the nine months ended September 30, 2012, a decline of 8.1 per cent when compared to N791.6m recorded in the same period of 2011.

The company’s revenue dropped by 7.5 per cent to N3.27bn in the review period, from N3.54bn recorded in the corresponding period of 2011.

According to the result presented to the Nigerian Stock Exchange yesterday, the company’s operating

income stood at N19.9bn, from N37.7bn recorded in the 2011 nine months, while the administrative expenses fell to N95.4bn, from N97.9bn in the same period of 2011.

Further analysis of the result showed the company’s net assets of N3.57bn, from N3.39bn in the 2011 nine months, while the value of stocks stood at N201.9m, from N233.7m in the third quarter of 2011.

Sheraton Oversees Management Corporation stood at N65.3m in the review period, from N29.9m in the same period of 2011, while total liabili-

ties stood at N2.98bn, from N28.9bn in the 2011 nine months.

The Chairman of the company, Mr. Goody Ibru, had in June this year attributed the poor performance on the security challenges currently bedevilling Northern Nigeria, which had had an adverse effect on tourism and the hospitality industry.

He said, “International travel arrivals slowed and many government functions were cancelled or moved to areas perceived to be relatively more secure.

Consequently,

Press Plc dropped 41 kobo or 10 per cent to close at N3.69 per share.

Custodian Insurance Plc dipped by 11 kobo or 8.46 per cent to close at N1.19 per share, while Fidson Healhcare Plc shed eight kobo or 7.02 per cent to close at N1.06 per share.

Red Star Express Plc declined by 21 kobo or 6.98 per cent to close at N2.80 per share.

A total of 253.2 million shares worth N2.76bn were exchanged in 4,876 deals, compared to 188.7 million shares valued at N1.47bn traded in 4,046 deals the preceding day. projected demand for accommodation, food and beverages could not be met.”

Ibru told shareholders that Sheraton Hotel Abuja was currently undergoing renovation, which was designed to improve customer relations.

He added, “Having designed, installed and approved the model (mockup) room, the process of full roll-out of the renovation exercise has begun.

“The process of redesigning the public areas has also started. The renovation project is designed to improve the comfort of our guests and enhance brand loyalty to the hotel.”

US stocks rise as voters head for presidential election

U

nited States stocks rose yesterday, sending the Standard and Poor’s 500 Index higher for a second straight day, as American voters went to the polls to pick a president.

Boeing Company and United Technologies Corporation added at least 1.1 per cent to pace gains among the biggest companies, while Computer Sciences Corporation, the manager of networks for NASA, surged 15 per cent as a costcutting program helped boost its profit forecast.

Express Scripts Holding Company, the largest US pharmacy benefits manager, plunged 16 per cent after saying analysts’ profit estimates for 2013 were overly aggressive.

The S&P 500 rose

0.4 per cent to 1,422.44 points. The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 75.29 points, or 0.6 per cent, to 13,187.73 points as trading in S&P 500 companies was 21 per cent below the 30-day average.

“We’re moving closer to a definition on the election front,” said Mark Luschini, who helps manage $54bn as chief investment strategist for Philadelphia-based Janney Montgomery Scott LLC. “It’s offering investors’ reason to say: we move from the unknown category regardless of the outcome.”

US voters decide yesterday between giving President Barack Obama another four years in office or replacing him with Republican challenger Mitt Romney. The next president will need

to address a so-called fiscal cliff of more than $600 billion in tax increases and spending cuts that take effect in 2013 unless Congress can reach a budget compromise.

The S&P 500 has surged 13 per cent this year as central banks stepped up stimulus to boost the economy.

About 71 per cent of companies that released quarterly results have beaten estimates, according to data compiled

by Bloomberg.

Eight out of 10 groups in the S&P 500 rose as energy, industrial and financial shares had the biggest gains. United Technologies added 1.5 per cent to $79.08. Boeing added 1.1 per cent to $71.21.

Computer Sciences jumped 15 per cent to

$36.20. The company has cut jobs and worked to better manage its contracts, helping boost cash flow. Computer Sciences said that it continues to reshuffle operations. That includes divesting non-core assets such as a smaller business in Italy.

Chipotle Mexican Grill Incorporation added 4.4 per cent to $276.96.

The burrito chain criticized by hedge fund manager David Einhorn was raised to buy from neutral at Bank of America Corporporation.

Lam Research Corporation gained 2.5 per cent to $37.77. The chipequipment company was raised to positive from neutral at Susquehanna Financial Group by equity analyst Mehdi Hosseini. The 12-month shareprice estimate is $48.

Source: NSE

NIBOR QUOTES 5 NOVEMBER & 6 NOVEMBER 2012 20.00 19.00 18.00 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

05-Nov-12

06-Nov-12

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

UBA

4.59

4.86

0.27

% CHANGE 5.88

FIRSTBANK

15.60

16.40

0.80

5.13

HONYFLOUR

2.01

2.11

0.10

4.98

NAHCO

5.60

5.87

0.27

4.82

GLAXOSMITH

41.89

43.80

1.91

4.56

WAPIC

0.52

0.54

0.02

3.85

JAPAULOIL

0.55

0.57

0.02

3.64

OANDO

11.30

11.70

0.40

3.54

NEIMETH

0.97

1.00

0.03

3.09

IKEJAHOTEL

1.07

1.10

0.03

2.80

CHANGE

% CHANGE

LOSERS COMPANY

OPENING

CLOSING

UAC-PROP

12.50

11.25

1.25

-10.00

ACADEMY

4.10

3.69

0.41

-10.00

CUSTODYINS

1.30

1.19

0.11

-8.46

FIDSON

1.14

1.06

0.08

-7.02

REDSTAREX

3.01

2.80

0.21

-6.98

ETI

11.60

10.98

0.62

-5.34

UPL

4.83

4.59

0.24

-4.97

CADBURY

27.00

25.75

1.25

-4.63

ETERNA

1.99

1.90

0.09

-4.52

CUTIX

1.78

1.70

0.08

-4.49

Primary Market Auction TENOR

AMOUNT (N’mn)

RATE (%)

DATE

91-Day

30,647.81

13.50

01-Nov-12

182-Day

20,000

15.50

01-Nov-12

251 -Day

31,147.28

15.54

08-Nov-12

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

31-Oct-12

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Capital Market

Wednesday, November 7, 2012

47

Stock exchange daily equities summary Equities as at November 6, 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

48

Wednesday, November 7, 2012

FOR YOUR SUCCESS

WITH DR. DEJI FOLUTILE

Today's Tonic (38) “Never fail to learn from your failures, large or small.

The most instructive experiences in my life have not been my successes; they’ve been my stumbles.”

–Tom Brokaw *** Failure Is A Teacher Of The Wise He that is afraid of failure may not taste success. We can fail and stumble, but once we have resolved never to stop trying, we will one day stand on the ground of success.

Nature has many lessons to teach us. Why is it that the rose has a thorny stem? Why is it that most trees have their fruits on their extremity? Why is it that certain plants has their yield inside the ground? The simple truth is this: we must labour to enter into favour. We must move against the tide to reign in life.

We have so much to learn from our failures than our successes. To those who accept this perspective and walk, work and war by it, they will keep celebrating victories out of the failures of life.

TEL 08104942999 E-MAIL deji.folutile@gmail.com Follow me @TwitterOWOTIDE

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Oddities

Woman to wear ‘idiot’ sign for driving on sidewalk

A

woman caught on camera driving on a sidewalk to avoid a Cleveland school bus that was unloading children will have to stand at an intersection wearing a sign war ning about idiots.

Court records show a Cleveland Municipal Court judge on Monday ordered 32-year-old Shena Hardin to stand at an intersection for two days next week.

She will have to wear a sign saying: “Only an idiot drives on the sidewalk to avoid a school bus.”

The judge ordered

her to wear the sign from 7:45 a.m. to 8:45 a.m. both days.

Hardin’s license was

suspended for 30 days and she was ordered to pay $250 in court costs.

Messages seeking

comment were left at a telephone listing for Hardin and at her attor ney’s office.

S’Africa school parking argument ends in shooting

A

n argument over a parking space between parents at a Johannesburg primary school prize-giving ended in a shooting that left three people injured and one man facing attempted murder charges, police said.

South Africa’s Times newspaper said two mothers were arguing with another

parent over the same parking spot at Culembeek Primary School west of Johannesburg before one of them ran off to get help from a relative.

“When the man arrived, the argument escalated,” the paper quoted a mother who witnessed the Monday evening incident as saying.

“The gunshots came from nowhere,” she said. “The person

just pulled out a gun and started going wild. People were trying to hide. Some parents were lying on top of their children.”

Police spokeswoman Katlego Mogale said a man would appear in court on Wednesday on charges of attempted murder. The three injured - a man and two women - were taken to hospital but were not thought to be seriously injured, she added.

A funny human design with an orange peel.

PHOTO: CREATIVENERDS.CO.UK

Wednesday, November 7, 2012

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

49

Community Mirror Husband absconds as wife delivers triplets

“Let me assure you that government will continue to identify with flood victims in their time of grief.”

ANAMBRA STATE GOVERNOR, PETER OBI

50

Fuel station manager docked, granted bail for assaulting journalist NWABUEZE OKONKWO ONITSHA

A

manager at one of the Oando Filling Stations in Onitsha, Anambra State, Oluchukwu Ali has been arraigned before an Onitsha Magistrate’s Court on a fivecount charge of conspiracy, threat to life and stealing of properties belonging to Eche Nwaobasi, a journalist attached to 3rd Eye Magazine.

In the charge No. MO/902c/2012, the prosecuting police officer, Sergeant Pius Obanovwe told Magistrate A. N. Okolie that the accused person, Ali and others at large had, on October 25, 2012, at the Oando Filling Station on No. 61, New Market Road, Onitsha, did conspire among themselves to assault Eche.

The prosecutor further told the court that the accused person had on the same date and venue, hindered the complainant from performing his official journalistic work which he is lawfully entitled to, adding that she equally threatened the life of the complainant if he dares publish that OANDO Filling Station is selling petrol at N120 per litre.

The court also heard that Ali and others now at large had, on the same date and time, did steal one digital camera valued at N20,000, tape recorder RCA Model valued at N20,000 and cash sum of N40,000, totaling N80,000, property of 3rd Eye Magazine publishing company.

The offences, according to the prosecution, are punishable under sections 495 (a), 252, 317 (c), 120 and 353 (12) of the Criminal Code, Cap. 36, Vol. II, Revised Laws of Anambra State of Nigeria, 1991, as amended.

When the charges were read, the accused person pleaded not guilty but the presiding Magistrate, Mrs. Okolie granted her bail in the sum of N50, 000 with one surety who has three-year tax clearance, an affidavit of means and who must be residing within the Onitsha Magisterial District.

She therefore adjourned the case to December 12, 2012 for further hearing.

Police shoot Okada rider in Lagos FRANCIS SUBERU

A

n unidentified commercial motorcyclist was on yesterday morning shot around Ilupeju in Lagos in an attempt by policemen from Ilupeju Police Division to enforce the new Lagos traffic law.

It was initially reported that the motorcyclist was allegedly shot dead by the yet to be identi-

fied policemen, but it was later discovered that the victim was rushed to a nearby hospital where he is still recuperating.

The incident sparked off serious protest from angry mob, mostly commercial motorcyclists, before they were later dispersed by a team of mobile policeman.

It was gathered that the Okada rider was trying to evade arrest when one of the policemen chasing him shot him in the chest.

An eyewitness said that after the shooting, the policemen entered their van and sped off; but passers-by rushed him to a nearby hospital where he is still receiving treatment.

Another version of the story has it that the okada rider and a policeman were struggling with the motor bike, when the policeman riffle unexplainably opened up, hitting the rider in the process.

A scene of an accident at Lafia in Nasarawa State, yesterday.

However, image maker in charge of the Lagos State Police Command, Ngozi Braide, while speaking on the incident, described it as an accidental discharge and added that both the policeman and the motorcyclist were injured in the incident.

Braide also added that the police in the state had begun investigations into the incident and urged motorcyclists not to take the law into their own hands.

PHOTO: NAN

Flood: Uduaghan charges camp commandants to shun tribalism

D

elta state governor Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan has appealed to camp commandants in the state not to resort to tribalism in the distribution of relief materials to avoid confusion and discontent.

Dr Uduaghan, who made the appeal at a meeting with political appointees and elected public officials to review the flood situation in the state, enjoined camp commandants to treat all displaced persons equally.

He charged them not to give preferential treatment to their tribesmen, but should be fair to all and discharge their duties with the fear of God.

The governor explained that if they treated their tribesmen differently, they would only succeed in creating disharmony in the camps, even as he pointed out that such situation would not augur well for peace and the image of the state.

His words: ‘’Do not create confusion in the camps through ethnic politics. Do not give preferential treatment to your ethnic people in the camp in the distribution of relief materials. Treat everybody equally because they are all displaced persons and deserve the relief materials’’.

Dr Uduaghan also charged the camp commandants not to allow

any donor present or distribute cash in the camps.

He urged them to advise any donor whether corporate or individuals to use the cash to buy food items such as rice, garri, yam or other necessities, explaining that the distribution of cash often sends out wrong signals.

Emphasizing further, Dr Uduaghan said: ‘’we do not want people to donate cash. The policy of my government on donation is not to accept cash. Any donor wishing to donate should come with food items, mattresses, buckets, blankets, among others’’.

The governor particularly appealed to the people of Ughelli

South to eschew ethnic rivalry and cohabit peacefully among their neighbors.

Dr Uduaghan urged them not to be at each other’s throat, but be their brother’s keeper and manage relief materials prudently.

He commended Deltans, especially the political class for their contributions and selfless service at the various camps.

The Governor assured that there would be a well-planned programme for the resettlement of the flood victims. Members of the recently inaugurated committee meant to manage the flood fund also attended the meeting.

50

Community Mirror

Wednesday, November 7, 2012

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Husband absconds as wife delivers triplets FEMI OYEWESO ABEOKUTA

A

33 year old man, identified as Yemi Oyeniyi had fled his matrimonial home in Abeokuta, Ogun state following the delivery of

triplets by his wife.

Oyeniyi, who was said to be an automobile enginneer was said to have absconded from his home five months ago after the ultra sound scanning done by his wife revealed triplets.

Community Mirror gath-

ered that the couple had previously been blessed with two children before the wife now delivered triplets.

Speaking with newsmen yesterday from her hospital bed, the 27-year old mother of the triplets, Esther, stated that her husband has also

switched off his mobile phone since June 3rd, 2012 after she brought the result of the ultra sound scan home.

Mrs. Oyeniyi, who said she teaches at one of the Nursery and Primary Schools in Abeokuta me-

tropolis, also said since the sudden disappearance of her husband, she had relocated to one Cherubim and Seraphim Church at Okeyidi area of Abeokuta.

She said it was from the church she was brought to the State Hospital in Ijaiye,

FCTA bans meat haulage through rickety vehicles, okadas OMEIZA AJAYI ABUJA

T

he Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) on Tuesday prohibited haulage of meat through the use of rickety vehicles and motorcycles in the Federal Capital.

The ban also covers area councils and satellite towns.

Under the new policy rolled out by the administration, the mode of meat haulage in the FCT is now through dedicated meat vans and special purposemade tricycles with meat haulage compartment.

The Honourable Minister of State for Federal Capital Territory, Oloye Olajumoke Akinjide, disclosed this during the launching of the first phase of the

Lawmaker advocates state police MURITALA AYINLA

T

he Deputy Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Finance, Otunba Michael Yomi Ogunnusi has affirmed that establishment of state police is crucial to the nation’s effort at addressing its security challenges.

According to the lawmaker, apart from the contributions it would make to the nation’s security, it will also help in the area of employment generation, as state or community police, if allowed would create jobs for many unemployed youths.

He said: “I am sponsoring a bill on community policing in the House of Representative because I believe it is the solution to our security problems. Let us have state police. We tend to underrate the country when we say we are not ripe for state police. There are so many advantages to be derived in having state police.

“Criminals are not spirits; they live in our communities. I believe that if we have been having federal police for over four decades and there is no improvement in our security system, we should be courageous enough to try other options. A lot of people deserve to head police formations in their localities and this is what will happen by

the time we allow community police”.

The lawmaker urged governments at all levels to address the rising problem of unemployment in the country; saying engaging the youths meaningfully is synonymous to curtailing crimes in the society.

“The government must create jobs for the youths .It is because they do not have jobs that they take to drug trafficking. Some take to piracy, cybercrimes, internet fraud and terrorism.

Peace is a prerequisite for sustainable development in any nation. Peace, rule of law, security of lives and property are indispensible ingredients in any nation’s development paradigm,” he said.

The lawmaker, who made a cash donation of N45m to empower people of his Ifako-Ijaiye Constituency, said the gesture was in consonance with his promise to the people of his constituency that he would always support the downtrodden in the area during and after his election as lawmaker.

He said: “My people have always been my backbone.

They have been assisting me to realise God’s plan in my life and I shall forever appreciate God and the people. I must give back to the people who have been there for me. It will not be proper if I ride on their back to political office and dump them.”

FCT Meat haulage Programme at Karu Abattoir in Karu, Abuja.

Akinjide, who was represented by the Secretary of Agriculture and Rural Development Secretariat, Mrs. Olvadi Bema Madayi, said the new policy was part of measures to ensure wholesome meat consumption in the FCT. The minister stated that the tricycle meat vans were to be used to convey meat to distances not more than 3km from the slaughter points while the four wheel meat vans would serve for meat haulage to longer distances.

She said, “The specifications for acceptable vehicles required for meat transpor-

tation are solely dedicated meat Vans which are being commissioned today and special purpose-made tricycles with meat haulage compartment.

“The internal coverings of the meat compartment of the vehicles are stainless steel sheets. The emphasis on stainless steel coverage is to ensure non-metal contamination of meat. This measure is in line with National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) standards,” Akinjide said.

The FCTA, she noted, viewed with disdain the existing way of meat transportation in rickety vehicles and motorcycles.

“The importance of consumption of hygiene food in improving the quality of life of the populace cannot be overemphasised. Meat, being a perishable produce, must be handled right or it may endanger the public health,” she stated.

The minister directed the Nigeria Police, NAFDAC, Abuja Environmental Protection Board, Federal Road Safety Corps and Directorate of Road Traffic Services to enforce the new meat haulage regulations of the FCT. She added, “The effective enforcement of these regulations is an important thrust in ensuring best practices in meat handling.”

Abeokuta on October 19, 2012 and put to bed on October 29, 2012.

She further stated that relations of her husband reside in Iganna, one of the satellite towns in Oke – Ogun, Oyo state.

Family holds fidau for Alhaja Niniola

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hildren and relatives of Alhaja Niniola Sanni, have announced that fidau prayer would be held for their late mother today, Wednesday, November 6, 2012.

Alhaja Niniola who died on, October 17, 2012, at the age of 85 a had since been buried according to Muslim rights.

The twenty-one-day Islamic prayers would be held in her residence at SW9/721, Ayileka Street, Odo-Ona, Ibadan.

She is survived by children and grandchildren among who is, Biodun Sanni, a chartered accountant and consultant on tourism.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

North

Wednesday, November 7, 2012

Four die in Benue cult clash HENRY IYORKASE MAKURDI

A

t least four students of the College of Education, Katsina-Ala in Benue State were yesterday feared killed in a cult clash at the institution.

The death of the students led to serious unrest as a result of which the school authorities shut down the institution indefinitely.

National Mirror learnt

that the crisis started on Monday night when rival groups of students, suspected to be cultists clashed resulting in the death of one of the students.

Following the death of the student, his group launched a reprisal attack on the other group which resulted in the killing of three other students of the rival gang as they were allegedly shot dead at the campus.

A student, who did not

want his name in print, told National Mirror that the clash started on Monday night between the Black Cats and the Black Axe groups, with the students coming from various departments in the institution.

Another student also alleged that the rivalry between the two cult groups is affecting the students as each group wants to claim supremacy over the other as well as be seen as having an

edge over the other.

Meanwhile, the Rector of the college, Dr. Hans Senwua, has directed that the college be closed down indefinitely to forestall any likely escalation and also to beef up security within the campus.

Speaking with National Mirror on the student’s unrest, the Benue State Police Command’s Public Relations Officer, Daniel Ezeala, confirmed that two students lost their lives in the fracas.

Chairman, Caretaker Committee, Faskari Local Government Area, Alhaji Isiyaku Faskari-Ahamad (middlle); council’s Primary Healthcare Coordinator, Alhaji Rabe Bala (right), during the inauguration of Yaddabaro Village Healthcare Centre at Tafoki Ward in Faskari, Katsina State, yesterday.

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Flood victims in Kogi leave camps, allege frustration

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any flood victims in Kogi State have left the three temporary camps in Lakoja, alleging neglect by the state government.

A correspondent of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), who visited the camps at Kabawa, Gadumo and Adankolo on Monday, reports that most of the victims have left for their homes.

The Kabawa camp was virtually empty as only 11 men, six women and 13 children were present as against the more than 500 displaced persons who took refuge in the facility at the peak of the crisis.

A similar situation prevailed at the Gadumo and Adankolo camps, although the number of victims was higher than that of Kabawa.

NAN also observed that officials of the Red Cross, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), the Ministry of Environment and the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), had left the Kabawa camp.

However, only four policemen remained in the camp to provide security for the remaining victims.

A spokesman for the vic-

tims at Kabawa, Mr. Yakubu Iliyasu, said the people moved out of the camp last week out of frustration and without any monetary assistance from the state government.

Iliyasu said the government, the Red Cross and NEMA officials finally moved out of the camp last Saturday, adding that the medical stand in the camp had also been removed.

He said the few victims remaining have been abandoned as they had not been served food, medicine and other essential items for five days. He added there was no government official around to whom anyone could complain.

NAN recalls that some of the victims from Adankolo camp on Friday staged a peaceful protest against alleged poor government handling of money and relief materials donated to them.

State Deputy Governor, Mr. Yomi Awoniyi, who is also the Chairman of SEMA, had denied the allegation. He said all money donated to the victims are still intact while the relief materials had been judiciously distributed among the victims.

Work to reduce farmers-herdsmen’s clashes, Shema urges monarchs Our monthly allocations are istence between farmers groups to ensure understereo-typed, says Kwara Gov J D and herdsmen. standing among them.

AMES

KATSINA

WOLE ADEDEJI ILORIN

K

wara State Governor, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed, yesterday complained of a stereo-typed funds allocation system from the Federal Government to the states. This, he said led to paucity of funds and difficulties in executing government programmes at the state level.

The governor, who was speaking at a forum; “The Governor Explains” aired live on the state’s media outfits, said for upward of eight years in some cases, allocations from the federation account to states had been the same figure even when the government responsibilities in such states are growing daily.

Governor Ahmed said the allocations are even shrinking in some of the states, irrespective of the growing needs and demands from the people, coupled with other social services that are begging

for attention.

The governor called for a review of the allocation from the federation account in order to meet the prevailing challenges confronting the states.

He said the sovereign wealth fund designed by the Federal Government to take care of the rainy days in the states and local governments should be made available to the states without any delay in order to help them solve some of the current challenges facing them.

“The modalities in support of states required to be reviewed. The pressure we are facing today is not what past governments faced. Unfortunately, the resources made available to us by the Federal Government are almost less than what we had before.

It’s putting a lot more pressure on us, he said.

Continuing, the governor said; “That’s why the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) has been putting pressure on the Federal Government.”

ANJUMA

T

raditional rulers in Katsina State and elsewhere in the northern part of the country have been urged to work towards reducing frequent clashes between Fulani herdsmen and farmers in the state and region.

Shema said traditional rulers were revered and respected by people at the grassroots and hence should use such opportunity to work towards promoting peaceful coex-

The governor stated this when he received the Emir of Daura, Alhaji Umar Faruk Umar, district heads and other traditional title holders from Daura Emirate Council in his office.

He said the promotion of such peaceful coexistence in the region and state would avert the frequent crises often witnessed between the two groups.

Governor Shema said as harvesting of crops was yet to be completed, there was the need to promote peace between the two

He also called on the traditional rulers to work at eradicating polio in their communities and the state in general.

The governor, in addition, appealed for understanding from parents as government and the two Emirates of Daura and Katsina, are working hard to eliminate the disease in the state.

Governor Shema, however, assured Daura Emirate of his administration’s resolve to continue to initiate and execute more de-

gagements led to a last-minute cancellation of the visit.

Vice-President Sambo, according to sources, was scheduled to open an Almajiri school being built by the Federal Government in the state.

He was also scheduled to speak to victims of the recent flood disaster on behalf of President Goodluck Jonathan, and to possibly announce government’s assistance to the

victims.

The vice-president had earlier visited other states that were affected by the flood, particularly states in the Niger Delta region.

Katsina State, like several others across the country, was affected by flooding with more than 10 people dead and property worth millions destroyed.

Relevant federal ministries and agencies had been to the state to sym-

Shema

velopmental projects for the benefit of the citizens of the state.

Earlier, the Emir, Alhaji Faruk Umar, said it has been the tradition of the emirate to pay such homage to the governor as a mark of respect and loyalty.

VP’s visit to Katsina postponed till Nov 17 JAMES DANJUMA KATSINA

A

scheduled official visit by Vice-President Nnamadi Sambo to Katsina State yesterday was postponed till November 17.

Although, government officials did not give reasons why the visit was shifted, National Mirror, however, learnt that the vice-president’s other en-

pathise with the state government and render assistance to those affected.

The state government, on its part, has also given assistance to the victims with additional assistance being expected in the coming weeks.

The vice-president is also expected to be in the state sometimes in December this year to commission the country’s first windpropelled power station.

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News

Wednesday, November 7, 2012

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Gunmen wipe out family of four JAMES ABRAHAM JOS

I

t was another sad day in Plateau State on Monday as a man, his wife and two of their children were brutally murdered by gunmen .The incident occurred in Chaha district of Vwang in Jos South Local Government Area of the state.

Eye witness account says that the gunmen had, at about 10.00 pm, invaded the home of 42-year-old Yakubu Illiya, when they were about to go to bed.

They were said to have used machetes to open the door of the Illiyas and killed them right inside their house.

Among those killed were

a one-year-old baby girl identified as Peace Illiya, his father, mother, Lyop Illiya, 38 and Nuhu said to be 10 years old, while 14-yearold Alice was said to have sustained gunshot wounds.

One of the surviving children, Patience, who narrated the story to journalists, said when the murderers arrived they were calling

the name of his brother Nuhu and were speaking impeccable English.

Her words: “When they came, I heard one of them calling my brother, Nuhu’s name. They were using something to break the door and when they eventually gained entrance, I tried to hide behind the door, but they shot at me. My elder

sister hid behind the wall at the back of the house and was lucky not to be shot.”

She said she did not know the fate of her parents thereafter, adding that it was when one of her uncles arrived at the scene of the murder that they discovered that her parents and some of her siblings had been shot dead.

Special Adviser (Media) to Governor Jonah Jang, Mr. Pam Ayuba, who confirmed the incident, described it as a dastardly act.

He called on security agencies to intensify patrol in the affected areas.

Police spokesman, Emmanuel Abuh, said that police are intensifying efforts at arresting the suspects.

JTF kills four Boko Haram members in Yobe INUSA NDAHI MAIDUGURI

T

he Joint Task Force (JTF) in Yobe State, yesterday killed four suspected members of the Boko Haram sect and arrested four others during a raid of one of their hideouts in Gashua.

The task force in a raid in the early hours of the day also recovered some arms and ammunition that includes three AK 47 rifles and 42 rounds of ammunition.

Speaking on the raid and arrests in Damaturu, the spokesman of the JTF, Lt. Lazarus Eli, said that at about 5.00am yesterday, men of the security task force raided a suspected terrorists’ hideout in Gashua town of Bade Local Government Area of Yobe State.

He said the raid was based on the information available that some of the terrorists that operated in

Potiskum and Fika, relocated to Gashua to launch attacks and bombings on civilian and military targets.

His words: “During the JTF raid, which was initially faced with resistance from the terrorists, our men overcame their resistance with superior fire power and killed four suspects with the arrests of four other suspects.”

Eli further disclosed that the arms and ammunition recovered during the raid include three Kalashnikov rifles, 42 rounds of ammunition, three magazines, a Thuraya handset, two laptops, a blood pressure gauge, 21 wrist watches, 13 handsets, a CD player and 18 SIM cards.

He, however, appealed to the public to continue to provide the task force with information on the operations of the group, assuring them of the military commitment to restore peace back to the area.

25 ministries’ve signed performance agreement –Minister INUSA NDAHI MAIDUGURI

T

he Joint Task Force (JTF) in Yobe State, yesterday killed four suspected members of the Boko Haram sect and arrested four others during a raid of one of their hideouts in Gashua.

The task force in a raid in the early hours of the day also recovered some arms and ammunition that includes three AK 47 rifles and 42 rounds of ammunition.

Speaking on the raid and arrests in Damaturu, the spokesman of the JTF, Lt. Lazarus Eli, said that at about 5.00am yesterday, men of the security task force raided a suspected terrorists’ hideout in Gashua town of Bade Local Government Area of Yobe State.

He said the raid was based on the information available that some of the terrorists that operated in Potiskum and Fika, relocated to Gashua to launch attacks and bombings on civilian and military targets.

His words: “During the JTF raid, which was initially faced with resistance from the terrorists, our men overcame their resistance with superior fire power and killed four suspects with the arrests of four other suspects.”

Eli further disclosed that the arms and ammunition recovered during the raid include three Kalashnikov rifles, 42 rounds of ammunition, three magazines, a Thuraya handset, two laptops, a blood pressure gauge, 21 wrist watches, 13 handsets, a CD player and 18 SIM cards.

Scene of an accident involving a truck and a Toyota Camry car on Agege Motor Road, Oshodi, Lagos, yesterday.

PHOTO: OLUFEMI AJASA

Security: Presidency endorses peace confab OBIORA IFOH ABUJA

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eyond the acceptance of the Presidency and its readiness to meet with some of the conditions of the Islamic sect, the Boko Haram, for dialogue, the Federal Government is also proposing a national peace conference to promote dialogue and bring about total peace in the nation.

Special Adviser to President Goddluck Jonathan on Political Matters, Alhaji Ahmed Ali Gulak, yesterday in Abuja, said such peace conference will not only complement all other

positive actions by Nigerians to achieve peace, but will also help the government in concentrating in its resolve to ensure that Nigerians benefit maximally from the present leadership of President Jonathan.

Alhaji Gulak while receiving a delegation of the Niger Delta Peoples Network (NDPN), led by its National Chairman, Hon. Lucky Ayomanor, who paid him a courtesy visit in his office also acknowledged the challenges in the regions and the nation, but urged the network to continue to push its peace initiatives.

He also promised to get a presidential approval for the proposed conference. “I pledge to work hard to get a presidential approval, but I also want to implore the NDPN to work hard to put a stop to crude oil theft and all other forms of unrest in the region.”

He also addressed the oil well tussle between Cross River and Akwa Ibom States. “The oil field tussle between Rivers and Bayelsa States as well as Akwa Ibom and Cross River States is needless.

I urge the states to seek dialogue; they should also remember that they were

once in the same state.

There is no need to let a God-given resource bring division between them.

These resources are for development, not personal enrichment. What is paramount is the development of the states and the nation.

President Jonathan

Currency counterfeiting: Man bags 25-year jail term

ISE-OLUWA IGE ABUJA

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Federal High Court sitting in Gombe, has sentenced a currency counterfeiter, Mr. Abdullahi Bello, to a 25year-jail term.

The sentence followed Bello’s conviction by the high court on five separate count-charges of conspiracy, dealing in and possession of counterfeit

Nigerian currency notes and others.

Although, the judge said that the convict was to serve a five-year-jail term upon conviction on each of the counts; he, however, clarified that the jail terms were to run concurrently.

By implication, Bello will spend five prison calendar months behind bars with hard labour.

The Presiding high court judge, Justice Ba-

batunde O. Quadri, who handed down the verdict, gave no option of fine.

National Mirror reports that Bello was arrested, charged to court and prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The offence for which Bello, who was arraigned on October 31, 2012, was convicted, are contrary to Sections 6 (2) (b) and 4 (1) of the Counterfeit Cur-

rency (Special Provision) Act CAP C35 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.

Bello had earlier pleaded guilty when he was arraigned on October 31, prompting the judge to adjourn sentencing till Friday, November 2, 2012.

But, on the adjourned date, Bello changed his guilty plea to “not guilty”, forcing the court to adjourn till November 5, 2012.

Wednesday, November 7, 2012

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

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World News

Cameron accepts safe passage for President Assad

55

“Any additions or hints that make the constitution religious will not be acceptable, not only to Copts but to many sectors in society.”

– Egypt’s new Coptic Pope, Tawadros II

South Africa banknotes launched with Mandela’s image PAUL ARHEWE

WITH AGENCY REPORTS

Marikana mine killings: Police ‘planted weapons’

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ew South African banknotes featuring the image of former president and anti-apartheid icon Nelson Mandela are going into circulation.

Reserve Bank Governor Gill Marcus made the first purchase using the new rand notes at a small shop in Pretoria yesterday.

She says the country tries to upgrade its notes every seven years for security reasons as technologies change.

The new 10, 20, 50, 100 and 200 rand banknotes feature Mandela’s image on one side and the other side maintains the Big Five animals- lion, leopard, rhino, buffalo and elephant- already on the bills.

Marcus said Mandela was shown the new banknotes and that he was delighted. She also noted that South Africa tries to update its currency every seven years for security reasons.

He won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1993 for his campaign against white minority rule and was elected president the following year before stepping down after a single term.

Known affectionately by his clan name “Madiba”, he has now retired from public life.

Meanwhile, South African po-

South African Reserve Bank Governor Gill Marcus smiling as she displays the country’s new banknotes, featuring an image of Mandela, yesterday in Pretoria.

PHOTO: REUTERS

lice have been accused of planting weapons near the bodies of workers killed during strikes at the Marikana platinum mine.

Photographs taken by police suggested large knives had been placed near the bodies after they had been shot, a lawyer told an inquest into the deaths.

Thirty-four miners died when police opened fire at striking miners in August, leading to widespread shock. The police say they were acting in self-defence.

The bloodshed occurred on 16 August, days after the deaths of 10 people, including two police officers who were hacked to death.

Judges are holding an inquiry into all 44 of the deaths.

The inquiry was presented with photographs showing the bodies of the miners after the shooting - the most deadly police action since the end of apartheid in 1994.

In one photograph, a dead man is seen lying on rocky ground near the mine. A second picture, taken later the same day, is identical except a yellow-handled machete is now lying under the man’s right hand.

“The evidence clearly showed there is at least a strong prima facie case that there has been an attempt to defeat the ends of justice,” lawyer George Bizos told the inquest, according to the Sapa news agency.

Lawyer for the police Ismael Semenya told Sapa that the national police commissioner Riah Phiyega had begun an investigation into the allegations.

He said police authorities had been aware of the photographs since they were handed to the inquiry two weeks ago.

The BBC’s reporter in Johannesburg says the court also saw video footage which showed the dead bodies of miners with their hands handcuffed behind their backs.

Biya marks 30 years as Cameroun’s president

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ameroun’s 79-year-old President Paul Biya marked 30 years in office yesterday with boisterous celebrations staged by the ruling party while police fired tear gas and water cannons to disperse an opposition protest.

Biya, who won re-election in 2011 and vows to run again in 2018 if his health permits, touts his landslide victories as proof of his continued popularity. In 2008, he removed term limits from the constitution.

Not all Cameroonians’ are rejoicing at Biya’s lengthy rule.

Nearly two-thirds of Cameroonians lack access to potable water and electricity, and many leave for Europe and elsewhere in search of a better life.

“I am 30 years old. Can you imagine? I was born the same year Biya came to power,” said Nicole Nana, a Douala resident.

“Today, I am a jobless mother of two; unable to feed and send my kids to school. I am a summary of the Biya era in which corruption and bad governance means that despite the vast potentials we have, we are a sacrificed generation.”

Only three other presidents across Africa have exceeded three uninterrupted decades in power: Equatorial Guinea’s Teodoro Obiang Nguema, Angola’s Jose Eduardo dos Santos and Zimbabwe’s Robert Mugabe.

“The goal of any political party is to win and maintain power and we’re only using the rules of de-

mocracy to conserve power,” said Benoit Ndong Souhment, adviser at the General Secretariat for Biya’s ruling Cameroon Peoples’ Democratic Movement (CPDM).

“They talk about change, but all this while, they’ve failed to present a fit alternative to Paul Biya which means there is a problem with our political class.”

Biya was named prime minister in 1975, and in 1982 constitutionally succeeded Ahmadou Ahidjo, who resigned, purportedly from ill health.

Biya has ruled Cameroun ever since, surviving several coup plots, including the first in 1984 for which his predecessor was accused as mastermind and handed a death sentence. Ahidjo fled to exile and later died in 1989 in

Biya

Dakar, Senegal.

Analysts say Biya emerged from the botched coup galvanized. But in the late 1980s, popular discontent surged against him as a global financial crisis crippled the economy.

WORLD BULLETIN Military experts prepare for war in Mali Military experts from Africa, the United Nations and Europe have drawn up preliminary plans to recapture northern Mali from al Qaeda-linked rebels, African officials said on Tuesday.

A source with knowledge of the plan said it will involve a force of more than 4,000 personnel, mostly from West African countries.

“Every military option will be used - ground and air,” the source said, asking not to be named.

The crisis in Mali has become a security concern for Western governments worried its vast desert could turn into a training ground for militants.

Once an example of African democracy, it fell into chaos after a coup in March in the capital Bamako that toppled the president and paved the way for the rebel takeover of the north.

International military experts drew up the plan at a week-long meeting in Bamako and submitted it to the West African regional bloc ECOWAS for approval on Tuesday.

The blueprint will then be reviewed by the United Nations Security Council in mid-November, setting the stage for action.

“We need to respond in detail to the Security Council on the logistics, timing, size and funding for the deployment of this mission.”

ECOWAS ministers meet in Yamoussoukro over development ECOWAS Ministers in charge of infrastructure are to meet in Yamoussoukro, Cote d’Ivoire on Friday to agree measures for the domestication of the Action Plan on the Programme for the Infrastructure Development in Africa (PIDAPAP) projects, and for the strengthening of the coordination, capacity and synergies for the development of regional infrastructure.

The ministerial gathering being preceded by a two-day regional experts meeting, is expected to build consensus for the speedy implementation of the PIDA-PAP within West Africa, focusing on the dissemination of the outcomes of the PIDA Study and its implementation strategy as it relates to capacity building for the PIDA implementation within Regional Economic Commissions (RECs) and Member States.

Specifically, the meeting will introduce Ministers and Experts to the intentions and objectives of the African Union PIDA and how it aligns with the continental strategic programming. It will also further sensitize Member States on West Africa’s component of the PIDAPAP and regional development plans to help drive the domestication of PIDA projects in national plans and budgetary provisions.

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Wednesday, November 7, 2012

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

World News

Wednesday, November 7, 2012

Cameron accepts safe passage for President Assad

U

K Prime Minister David Cameron says he would back offering President Bashar al-Assad safe passage out of Syria if it ended the bloodshed there.

Mr Cameron said the international community should consider anything “to get that man out of the country.”

He also told al-Arabiya TV he would favour Mr Assad “facing the full force of international law and justice.”

Amnesty International criticised Mr Cameron for “talking about immunity deals for President Assad.”

“David Cameron should be supporting efforts to ensure that he faces justice, ideally at the International Criminal Court at The Hague,” the human rights campaign group said in a statement.

The uprising against President Assad began in March last year.

Activists say more than 35,000 people have been killed.

Speaking to al-Arabiya during a trip to Abu Dhabi, Mr Cameron said “number one concern” should be that the loss of life in Syria would continue.

“I am very frustrated that we

• Brother of Syrian parliament speaker assassinated can’t do more,” he said. “This is an appalling slaughter that is taking place.” I am certainly not offering [Mr Assad] an exit plan to Britain, but if he wants to leave, he could leave, that could be arranged.”

He said the UK had no current plans to arm rebel groups fighting Mr Assad.

Meanwhile, gunmen killed the brother of Syria’s parliament speaker as he drove to work in Damascus yesterday, the staterun news agency reported, as the international envoy for Syria warned the country could become another Somalia.

Mohammed Osama Laham, brother of Parliament Speaker Jihad Laham, was killed in the Damascus neighbourhood of Midan,

the SANA news agency said.

It was the latest in a wave of assassinations targeting Syrian officials, army officers and other prominent supporters of President Bashar Assad’s regime. Four of the president’s top security aides were killed in a rebel bombing of state security headquarters in Damascus on July 18.

The killing came a day after some of the most intense fighting in Damascus in months as rebels wage a civil war to unseat Assad.

U.N.-Arab League envoy Lakhdar Brahimi said what is happening in Syria is a “big catastrophe.”

In remarks published Tuesday in the pan-Arab daily Al Hayat, he said the international efforts now are focused on getting a “binding

resolution by the (U.N.) Security Council” to start a political process that will lead to change.

“I don’t want to go too far in pessimism, but the situation in Syria is very dangerous. The Syrian people are suffering a lot,” Brahimi said. “I believe that if the crisis is not solved in a right way, there will be the danger of Somalization. It will mean the fall of the state, rise of war lords and militias.”

The east African nation of Somalia has been mired in war for two decades after warlords overthrew a longtime dictator in 1991 and then turned on each other.

The government, backed by African Union troops, is currently battling Islamist extremist rebels linked to al-Qaida.

WORLD BULLETIN Storm Sandy: UN to send food aid to Cuba The UN’s World Food Programme (WFP) is to deliver emergency aid to the south-east of Cuba, where Hurricane Sandy wrought widespread damage.

It was “the worst catastrophe in 50 years in Santiago de Cuba,” WFP spokeswoman Elisabeth Byrs said.

The WFP is also appealing for $20m (£12.5) to help some 425,000 Haitians affected by the storm. Sandy caused widespread damage to infrastructure, crops and livestock in both Haiti and Cuba.

The WFP is planning to work with the Cuban government to distribute emergency one-month aid in Santiago de Cuba, which is home to 500,000 residents.

The hurricane, which hit Cuba on 25 October and left 11 people dead, brought down many buildings and knocked out the electricity.

Gaza police catch crocodile after two years in sewage pit

32 killed in Iraqi military base blast

A

suicide bomber driving a car packed with explosives detonated the vehicle near an Iraqi military base as soldiers changed shifts north of Baghdad yesterday, killing at least 32 people and wounding more than 46, according to authorities.

The blast struck around midday as troops were leaving the base in Taji, 20 kilometers (12 miles), north of the capital, police said. Twenty two soldiers were among the dead, and several vehicles were damaged, they said.

The casualty toll was high because the attacker blew up the car while large numbers of soldiers were walking to and from a parking area for waiting minibuses that take them to and from work, officials said.

Insurgents frequently target members of the country’s security forces in an effort to undermine confidence in the Shiite-led government. Although violence has ebbed in Iraq since the height of the insurgency, attacks still occur frequently.

Officials said many of the wounded were soldiers. They warned the death toll could rise further because several of the injuries were serious.

Hospital officials confirmed the casualties. All officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to talk to the media.

55

Syrians standing at the scene after a blast occurred in the Mazzeh al-Jabal district of the Syrian capital Damascus, Syria, on Monday.

PHOTO: AP

Bulgaria’s Patriarch Maxim dies at age 98

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atriarch Maxim of Bulgaria, who weathered a revolt over his communist-era ties to lead the Balkan country’s Orthodox Christians for more than 40 years, has died. He was 98.

The patriarch died of heart failure early yesterday at a Sofia hospital where he had been for a month, the Holy Synod said in a statement.

The Holy Synod of 13 senior clergy will meet to make funeral

arrangements and choose an interim patriarch until a larger Church Council is held within the next four months to pick Maxim’s successor, church officials said.

Orthodox Christianity is Bulgaria’s dominant religion, followed by more than 80 percent of the country’s 7.4 million people.

Maxim was the church’s leader for more than four decades, bridging the country’s transition from communism and withstanding efforts

Bulgarian Patriarch Maxim being helped as he blesses people in Nevski cathedral, in the Bulgarian capital Sofia, last year.

PHOTO: AP

to oust him by the new democratic government and rebel priests who saw him as a communist stooge.

Born on October 29, 1914 as Marin Naidenov Minkov, he graduated from the Sofia Seminary in 1935 and entered Sofia University’s theology department in 1938, before rising through the church ranks to be named Patriarch on July 4, 1971.

After the collapse of communism in 1989, the new democratic government sought to replace communist-appointed figureheads, including the patriarch, but because of the division between church and state such a decision could only be made by the church. It split between supporters of Patriarch Maxim and breakaway clergymen, who attempted to oust him and then formed their own synod.

The division plunged the church into turmoil, with occupations of key church buildings; priests breaking into fistfights on church steps; and water cannons and tear gas being turned on rebel bishops to clear the main Alexander Nevski cathedral.

It took an Internet search, shark nets and two weeks of floating in a sewage pond, but Gaza policemen said Tuesday that they have finally captured a crocodile that was terrifying residents.

The 1.75-meter (5-feet-9-inch) crocodile fled his zoo enclosure two years ago and crawled about a kilometer (half a mile) to a large sewage pit near the northern Gaza Strip town of Umm al-Naser, said Lt. Col. Samih al-Sultan, who led the hunt.

“He had a lot of spirit in him. He wanted to be free,” al-Sultan said, watching the crocodile in its new home in a pond with four other crocodiles in a zoo under construction in nearby Beit Lahiya.

“We hope he lives a good life here with his wives,” he said.

Residents said they didn’t leave their houses in the evenings, fearing the scary reptile they say ate their ducks and goats.

“We were afraid he would eat us,” said farmer Hassan Mohammed of Umm al-Nasser.

Poland gets Russian gas price reduction Poland has obtained a significant price reduction on the gas it imports from Russia, ending a legal dispute that had escalated to international arbitration, officials said Tuesday.

The head of Poland’s PGNiG gas an oil monopoly, Grazyna Piotrowska-Oliwa, said her company and Russian supplier Gazprom signed a deal in Warsaw on Monday that “changed the pricing formula” of their 2010 agreement by linking the cost of the gas to market prices.

As a result, the price was reduced by more than 10 percent, effective immediately, she told reporters. The change “brings Poland in line with other major gas-importers in Europe,” she added.

According to business reports, PGNiG had been paying Russian supplier Gazprom some $500 per 1,000 cubic meters of gas, while the average price in Europe is $380.

WORLD RECORD

Highest jump by an insect Vol. 02 No. 486

Wednesday, November 7, 2012

“ It pays to know the enemy-not least because at some time you may have the opportunity to turn him into a friend”Margaret Thatcher.

Nigeria’s cliffhanger

I

n the past one week, the public discourse has revolved on the wisdom or otherwise of the Federal Government accepting the olive branch extended by the Boko Haram in ending the low intensity war that has gripped the country in the past two years. As usual, opinions are divided as there are voices. While some are calling for outright rejection of such peace talks, others are enamoured of the opportunity it would avail to end once and for all, the mayhem and give the citizens the much desired respite. Even though the sect has nominated those it wants to speak on its behalf, it still remains unclear whether they will accept the offer.

For now, the national chairman of the

N

o fewer than 600 referees are participating in the 2012/2013 fitness test at the National Stadium, Abuja, an official said yesterday.

The President, Nigerian Referees Association (NRA), Ahmed Maude, who disclosed this to the News

N150

The highest recorded jump by an insect is 70 cm (28 in) by the froghopper (Philaenus spumarius). When it jumps, the insect accelerates at 4,000 m (13,000 ft) per second and overcomes a G-force of more than 414 times its own body weight.

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

Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) General Muhammadu Buahri, has dissociated himself from any peace talks, on the grounds that he was not consulted and that accepting to be part of the delegation would tar him with the brush of being a member of the group. Interestingly, one nominee, the former governor of Yobe State, Senator Bukar Abba Ibrahim, has indicated willingness to mediate in any talks between the government and the sect. With this, it goes to show that even in the midst of such interminable imbroglio, there is an understanding that rather than fight for pyrrhic battlefield victory, it is better to talk till all issues are resolved. But the fear is that there is trust deficit between the two camps. And this can be gleaned from the pronouncements of those demanding that members of the sect reveal their identities to let government know those it is dealing with.

While that may sound proper, it could also lead to a brick wall in view of the security implications for the guerrilla group, especially given the morbid fear for their lives and the likelihood of them becoming sitting targets for security forces. It is against this background that Nigeria must learn from the ongoing negotiations between Columbia and the FARC rebels. It is of interest to note that, both government forces and the group had fought for more than three decades with thousands of casualties on both sides.

Moreover, very many international figures and prominent natives had fallen victims to kidnappings and assassinations, fuelled in

BUT IT WOULD TAKE MORE THAN PIOUS INTENTIONS TO PERSUADE THE SECT TO ABANDON ITS VISION OF POLITICAL UTOPIA the main by cocaine money and slush funds from foreign sympathisers.

Tragically, that war is clothed in ideological robe, with America supporting the Columbian government, while Venezuela and Cuba are backing the FARC. In the end, wisdom has prevailed as both parties have seen the futility of perpetual conflict and are now alternating their peace meetings between Norway and Cuba. If they eventually reach a compromise, it would have saved the country from years of interminable brutal conflicts and slow deaths for the citizens. More so, it would have pulled the economy back from the brinks and give foreign investors every reason to rush back to the country.

One lesson here is that in accepting to talk, neither side insisted on any preconditions nor demanded on bringing previous baggage of grievances along. That is where the Federal Government’s rejection of any conditionality should be seen in its perspective, because bowing to such demand would amount to blackmail and an

early victory to the other party.

The final solution to the present nightmare would only be achieved when there is genuine resolve by the contending forces to come to the talks with an open mind and clean slate, so that any perceived grievances can be appreciated and wanton wrongs mitigated. But it would take more than pious intentions to persuade the sect to abandon its vision of political utopia. That is where the task of its emissaries becomes even trickier and painstaking. But the ability to gingerly navigate the mine fields of a secular Nigerian reality and the distant dream of a theocracy would determine the success or failure of any talks whether in Brussels or Saudi Arabia.

Those opposed to any peace talks may have reasoned that in the absence of the sect members revealing their identities, there is the real danger of going back to the trenches should the negotiations fail to address their demands. In such circumstance, the country would have given them the much needed respite to restock and consolidate their arsenal and supply lines.

But refusing to talk to them would put Nigeria in a catch 22 situation and may even radicalize the more moderate members in their ranks. The ominous signs are already revealing themselves.

Sadly, the country’s security forces are putting more faggots in an already incendiary situation through rampant human rights abuses and extra judicial killings in some of the volatile areas. Such distressed environments make for easy recruitments of aggrieved and willing hands whose sole purpose would be to wreck vengeance on the society. And more terrifying is the presence of extremist Al Qaeda groups in nearby Mali, which like vultures are waiting to take advantage of mass political dislocation resulting from any failed peace talks.

The country is faced with a stark choice of either fighting to the death or talking till a solution to this state of suspended animation is found. We cannot escape from reality of this situation.

Sport Extra

NPL: 600 refs undergo fitness test Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja, said the referees were drawn from the six geo-political zones.

Maude said the five-day event, which started yesterday was meant to test the

level of fitness of the referees “who will officiate in the 2012/2013 football season.”

“This fitness test is for referees who will officiate in the 2012/2013 season of the Nigeria Premier

League (NPL) and the Nigeria National League (NNL).

“We decided to categorise the referees under six geo-political zones and we are expecting a total of

600 to be tested from the six zones. The test starts today with the South-West zone, which a total of 152 referees.

Maude said the fitness test was aimed at finding out the health status of the referees when the season starts.

Aminu_Maigari

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