Wednesday, November 28, 2012 by GLOBAL MEDIA MIRROR LIMITED

Jonathan fires BPE boss NCC commissioner, Gwandu, affected too TOLA AKINMUTIMI, ROTIMI FADEYI, GEORGE ORJI AND CHIDI UGWU Onagoruwa

Vol. 2 N0. 501

Economic woes:

he Director-General, Bureau for Public Enterprises, BPE, Ms. Bolanle Onagoruwa, was yesterday relieved of her appointment. A statement by the Se-

Fuel scarcity worsens as NUPENG strike enters Day 2

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nior Special Assistant, Media and Publicity, to the Vice-President, Umar Sani, directed Onagoruwa to hand over to the most senior director in the bureau, CONTINUED ON PAGE 5>>

Wednesday, November 28, 2012

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Sanusi calls for sack of civil servants … N’Assembly members, scrapping of LGs WHY SHOULD A GOVERNOR SAY HE IS UNABLE TO EMBARK ON PROJECTS BECAUSE THE MONEY HE GETS IS USED FOR WORKERS’ SALARIES?

SOLA ADEBAYO AND OLUFEMI ADEOSUN

Amaechi

State police, devolution of powers divide govs

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he Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Governor, Mallam Lamido Sanusi, yesterday canvassed the sacking of public sector workers as part of measures to halt the nation’s economic woes and engender sustainable growth. Sanusi also advocated for the scrapping of the 774 local government councils in the country to take the country out of economic doldrums. The CBN governor, who opposed the creation of new states as being canvassed by some Nigerians, also suggested the reduction of seats in the National Assembly as CONTINUED ON PAGE 2>>

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Alison-Madueke

Fashola accuses FG of scuttling Lagos’ $600m P.8 loan

. Pomp as Eko 2012 festival begins State contingents at the opening ceremony of the 18th National Sports Festival in Lagos yesterday.

AREGBESOLA UNCENSORED! In his most explosive interview ever, Governor Rauf Aregbesola speaks on the politics in Osun State, opposition, the future of ACN and Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and the South West integration without Governor Segun Mimiko. See pages 3,14,15&16

PHOTO:ADEMOLA AKINLABI

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Gunmen kill 5 policemen, raze police station in Borno attacks

Edo bank robberies claim 3 soldiers, 7 civiliansP.2,50

Death toll in Plateau bar attack rises to 10

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Wednesday, November 28, 2012

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Edo bank robberies claim 3 soldiers, 7 civilians SEBASTINE EBHUOMHAN BENIN

o fewer than 10 persons were feared killed in the robbery incident in a first generation and three new generation banks in Auchi, Edo State on Monday night.

The robbery occurred on Igarra and Jattu roads in the town. Among the victims were three soldiers who were shot dead by the robbers and seven civilians. Two of the victims, 16-year-old girl, Khadijat Musa, a yam seller from Kogi State and an uniden-

tified young man, died as they were being rushed to Auchi Central Hospital for treatment. The Chief Medical Director of the hospital, Dr. Jude Omoregie, said that Musa had two bullets deposited in her body. The victim was on a commercial motorcycle near

First Bank when they ran into the robbers. Omoregie also confirmed the death of the three soldiers, who he said were brought in dead to the hospital. Eyewitnesses told our correspondent that the incident lasted for over three hours and queried the

L-R: National Chairman, Peoples Democratic Party, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur; Treasurer-General, African National Congress, South Africa, Dr. Matthews Phosa; President Goodluck Jonathan and Vice-President Namadi Sambo, after a meeting at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, yesterday. PHOTO: NAN

claim by the police that they responded to the attack. Following the robbery attack, many homes and roads at the town had been deserted while our correspondent noted yesterday that the remaining fearstricken residents stayed indoors. Soldiers and armed mobile policemen blocked all entry and exit routes into Auchi, resulting in traffic snarl on Benin-Okene-Abuja highway. Hundreds of passengers were also stranded at two different border towns of Okpella and Avielle. Deputy Governor, Dr. Pius Odubu, led an entourage to assess the damage yesterday. He was accompanied by the Secretary to the State Government, SSG, Prof. Julius Ihonvbere; Majority Leader, House of Assembly, Hon. Philip Shaibu; the Acting Commissioner of Police, Mr. Muhammed Hurdi; the representative of the Commander, 4 Mechanised Brigade of the Nigerian Army and the Director

of the state command of the State Security Service, SSS, Mr. Tukur Bakori. Speaking at the palace of the Otaru of Auchi, Alhaji Haliru Momoh, the deputy governor said: “We have seen things for ourselves, we have seen the damage done to the police divisional headquarters and the area commander’s office and four banks. “It is clear that these people came with one intention: to wreck maximum havoc. They were dare-devil armed robbers who were blood thirsty and sadistic in approach. “We want to assure you that the government of Edo State will spare no efforts in ensuring that these people are traced, arrested and charged to court. “On our part, we will do everything humanly possible to assist the security agencies to do a good job at that. “I want to charge on behalf of the government of Edo State the InspectorGeneral of Police to deploy enough men and modern equipment and materials CONTINUED ON PAGE 5>>

Sanusi calls for sack of civil servants CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

one of the options to cut government spending on recurrent expenditure and create means to fund capital and development projects. He spoke in Warri, Delta State, yesterday at the opening of the 2012 edition of the Capital Market Committee Retreat of the Securities and Exchange Commission, SEC. The theme of the retreat which was attended by captains of industry and private sector bigwigs, was tagged, “Pivotal roles of the capital market in the transformation agenda for the Nigerian economy.” Sanusi, in his presentation at the forum, solicited fiscal prudence in public sector, describing the trend in which the federal and states’ governments committed 70 per cent of their income into the payment of workers’ wages and allowances as unacceptable. He said certain structural problems inherent in the running of governments’ businesses must be addressed and tackled

in order to put the country on the path of sustainable economic growth. As part of the efforts, Sanusi urged those in leadership positions at the federal and state levels to reduce recurrent expenditure and cut down overhead. The CBN governor, whose positions on sundry national issues drew divergent reactions from the participants, said the federal and state governments had no justifiable reason to maintain huge labour force when they could not fund development projects. He asked the authorities at the federal and state levels to cut down the size of their labour force to reduce yearly recurrent expenditure and pave the way for economic growth. Similarly, Sanusi said there was no justification for the present 774 local government councils in the country, advising that they should be scrapped. He described the councils as “unnecessary conduits” of revenue. The controversial CBN

boss also opposed creation of new states, adding that it would amount to needless increase in government’s recurrent expenditure. He also expressed reservations about the number of seats in the National Assembly, stating that it “is huge and unnecessary.” Sanusi advised that conscious efforts should be made by stakeholders to reduce the number of representatives in the two chambers of the National Assembly. Sanusi said: “Why should a state governor say he is unable to embark on projects because the bulk of the money he gets is used for workers’ salaries? “The answer to the governor’s problems is simple: sack workers, sack workers. Why employing people you cannot pay their salaries? “You need to find out that any society which commits 70 per cent of its income on its employees and leaves 30 per cent for the rest of the country has a problem.

“Those in authorities must as a duty reduce recurrent expenditure and cut down overhead costs. “Some people are canvassing for creation of new states, for what importance? Is it to further increase government’s recurrent expenditure at the detriment of capital projects and meaningful economic growth and development? “If you create new states now, we are going to have additional members in the National Assembly. When the number of our representatives increases, the recurrent expenditure will automatically rise. That is a problem. The number of representatives in the National Assembly is already high. “What is the essence of the local government councils, they should be scrapped to reduce recurrent expenditure and leave more money for capital projects and development efforts. The states and local governments are too many.” Sanusi, however, promised that the cur-

rent high interest rates would soon go down, adding that monopoly profit by universal banks would be addressed. He lamented that the capital market had failed to provide credible alternative to break the monopoly of the universal banks in favour of private operators. The CBN governor described the inflation rates as structural, adding that it was untrue that the apex bank was interested in fighting inflation and not economic growth. He said the CBN would not be stampeded to abandon its core mandate of guaranteeing stable economic environment, adding that it was not the mandate of CBN to create economic growth. Sanusi commended the appointment of a coordinating minister for the economy by President Goodluck Jonathan and called for synergy among government’ ministries and agencies. But Delta State Gover-

nor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, disagreed with Sanusi that public sector workforce be scaled down, adding that such idea would engender crisis and confusion nationwide. Uduaghan, who jokingly referred to Sanusi as “governor-general of controversy”, blamed the huge public workforce on the collapse of the private sector. He insisted that the ailing private sector must be revamped before the reduction of the public workforce could be contemplated by the authorities. The governor recalled how similar idea initiated in the banking sector precipitated crisis, lamenting that the confusion resulting from the idea persisted. Similarly, the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, has said that Sanusi is merely flowing against the tide of the popular wish of the people, not only for retaining the third tier of government but also that it be granted constitutional status. CONTINUED ON PAGE 5>>

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Wednesday, November 28, 2012

Midweek Interview We’ve a duty to continue the progressive current Awolowo initiated – Aregbesola Osun State governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, in this extensive interview with Editors of National Mirror speaks on a number of issues ranging from his policies and programmes in the last two years, to the politics of the South-West, his relationship with Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and the role of his party in the last elections in Ondo State. He also responded to the controversies that have characterised his government lately with the public holiday granted the Muslim faithful to mark Hijra. Though acknowledged as a radical on certain issues, Aregebsola explains why his views may appear as non-conformist and why he is unapologetic about his convictions. You appear to have successfully silenced the three key political players in the state - Olagunsoye Oyinlola, Isiaka Adeleke and Iyiola Omisore. Did you set out to do that mainly by defeating them at the polls or did you deliberately set out to “deal with them”? And again in the past two years, how have you protected your territory from the onslaught of the opposition? We see ourselves as a part of the aspiration of the Nigerian people for self actualisation in the truest sense of it, improved condition of living, for freedom and for liberty. So, my stay here in the last 24 months has afforded me an opportunity to not just be an agitator for those things I believed in, but to be leading the process that promises the actualisation of the dreams. I didn’t set out to humble or humiliate anybody. We have a duty to continue the progressive current the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo initiated. People must understand that we must revive the progressive tradition of our people which Awo represented. Awolowo re-invented government that long held tradition of our people. So what I and my other colleagues are working on is revival of that process. So, we intend to mobilise seriously for that revival and that we did in our ethical revolution, rebranding and what have you. We are a part of humanity that has a culture, a tradition, a custom of people that are not just keen on their individual benefit, but seeking their benefit and situating that individual interest in a communal mood. That has been our approach to it. So you cannot therefore be mobilizing the people and expect anything less than what we had. The perception of political office by the trio that you are talking about is different from ours. They never ever believed in the people as the end of political service, or office occupation. To them, the people are just pawns to be used and dumped, not the end of politics. You don’t see the people opportunistically; you see the people as the total objective of political office, not as just dispensable elements. To me there is no way, if there is a free and fair election that they can matter. There is just no way. Our views are different, our understanding of the process and the position is different, our appreciation of even the office and our role in the office are different. So, where would we therefore be competing and contesting? There is no basis for it. It is only when the electoral process is compromised that there will be an issue between us. If a transparent process is in place, they know and we know that there won’t be any competition. I went about governance with a clear mind of being one with the people, to solve whatever challenges that confront them and in the course of it, stimulate them to believe in themselves and understand our role in their course. To the glory of God, I cannot have a better support from the majority of our people. They have at all times demonstrated an unbelievable commitment to our programmes which are their programmes and our course which is their course. Under that condition, the opposition as you want us to look at them have no chance and they know that they have no chance. To know that these people are irrelevant here is so

Aregbesola

I CANNOT HAVE A BETTER SUPPORT FROM THE MAJORITY OF OUR PEOPLE.

THEY HAVE,

AT ALL TIMES, DEMONSTRATED AN UNBELIEVABLE COMMITMENT TO OUR PROGRAMMES WHICH ARE THEIR PROGRAMMES simple. A governor, Oyinlola, left office on November 26, 2010, after being in office for 90 months. Just out of office for 103 days, he could not win any local government in a senatorial election he participated in. It’s beyond me, it just can’t be Rauf. For a man who was the governor for 2,700 days and was simply out for 103 days, not to have

won his own local government, it’s the height of political irrelevance. What that tells you is that this man could not even be returned as local government chairman in his native local government. That is the simple meaning. It means this man does not worth being a local government council chairman not anywhere in his native local government. Where did he win? He won only in the two wards in his home town. So what that man could be is a councillor and he can sponsor another councillor. Go and check the margin. The margin is so close. The same thing happened to Omisore. He (Omisore) won his polling unit with some paltry three votes and after that nothing. The only one among them that one could even give some recognition to in terms of capacity is Adeleke who controlled his two native local governments out of 10. He won the two local governments in his base out of 10. For as long as it lasted for them to overbear and compromise electoral system, they were there, subverting the will of the people, imposing themselves on the people. When some measure of credibility came into the electoral CONTINUED ON PAGE 14

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Wednesday November 28, 2012

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L-R: Akwa Ibom State Deputy Governor, Lady Valerie Ebe; Governor Godswill Akpabio and Speaker House of Representatives, Alhaji Aminu Tambuwal, during the first Commonwealth Youth Parliament Conference (Africa Region), in Uyo, yesterday.

L-R: President, Nigeria Computer Society, Sir Demola Aladekomo; Osun State Governor, Alhaji Rauf Aregbesola; Chairman, Conference of Nigeria Computer Society, Prof. Adesola Aderonmu and Archbishop of Lagos Anglican Communion, Bishop Adebayo Akinde, during a courtesy visit to the governor in Osogbo, yesterday.

L-R: Secretary to the Government of Ekiti State, Alhaji Ganiyu Owolabi; his wife, Modupe; their son, Mr. Abdul Azeez Owolabi; Mr. Ayodele Daramola; his mother and wife of Ekiti State Chief Judge, Mrs. Omonike Daramola and her husband, Justice Ayodeji Daramola, during the Call to the Nigerian Bar ceremony in Abuja, yesterday.

L-R: Resident Representative, United Nations Population Fund, Ms. Victoria Akpyempong; United Nations Country Representative, Dr. Daoda Toure and Chairman, National Population Commission, Chief Festus Odimegwu, at the launch of the State of the World Population Report 2012 in Abuja, yesterday. PHOTO: ROTIMI OSASONA

National News

Fuel scarcity worsens as NUPENG strike enters day two Gives FG two-day ultimatum to address Shell workers’ sack Stern-looking policemen Capital oil, AMCON settlement talks deadlocked were at Shell and Chevron

SOLA ADEBAYO AND STANLEY IHEDIGBO

he fuel shortage in the country now bites harder following the closure of the Warri Loading Depot operated by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, by the protesting members of the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, NUPENG. The depot services virtually the entire country with petroleum products refined by the ailing Warri Refinery and Petrochemical Company, WRPC. Although WRPC operated epileptic production pattern, it is about the only functioning refining plant in the country. All the oil tankers which thronged the depot from different parts of the country to load petroleum products since Monday were stranded yesterday as the strike entered the second day. The strike began on Monday to protest alleged unfavourable business decisions by the Anglo-Dutch

oil firm, Shell Petroleum Development Company, SPDC, and American energy giant, Chevron Nigeria Limited, CNL, especially the sacking of the union members in the employ of the oil firms. NUPENG alleged that SPDC sacked 1,500 workers, including the company’s union chapter chairman, while CNL was accused of terminating the contract awarded to six contractors, a development which led to the casualiasation of 2,000 of its members in the companies. The union vowed to sustain the strike until the oil firms rescinded the decisions and reinstated its members. NNPC’s Warri depot was deserted when our correspondent visited the area yesterday. Tanker drivers under the aegis of Petroleum Tanker Drivers, PTD, shunned their routine duties in compliance with the stay-athome order by NUPENG. Already, the strike has worsened acute fuel shortage in Delta State for instance. Long queues of vehicles have resurfaced at a

few filling stations selling fuel to motorists in major towns in the state. Oil dealers cashed in on the situation to extort motorists by selling fuel at astronomical rates. A litre of Premium Motor Spirit, PMS, popularly known as petrol, was sold for between N120 and N150. To this end, the Chairman of Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, IPMAN, Chief Akpos Edafevwotu, has appealed for quick resolution of the face-off. Edafevwotu, who spoke with our correspondent, regretted that the strike had worsened fuel supply in the state. Meanwhile, operations of Shell and Chevron in the Niger Delta were at low ebb yesterday as NUPENG remained adamant over its demands. Members of the union in the two companies faithfully observes the strike order Security was, however, beefed up at various locations and offices of the oil majors in the region, apparently to prevent a breakdown of law and order.

operational offices in Warri, the commercial hub of Delta State. NUPENG National Secretary, Mr. Isaac Aberare, said in a telephone interview yesterday that the action would be sustained until Shell and Chevron had a re-think of their actions. He said: “It is no retreat, no surrender. We oppose the business decisions taken by Shell and Chevron and the strike will continue until our members, who have been unjustly disengaged under the guise of divestment and corporate business decision are reinstated by the two oil companies.” NUPENG has also given the Federal Government a two-day ultimatum to address the issues of the sacked workers or face a showdown. The union also asked the government to find out who directed the Military Joint Task Force to shoot Nigerians pressing for their demands after putting 15 to 25 years’ services into the oil company. Speaking at a press conference in Lagos, NUPENG President, Comrade Igwe

Achese, urged the government to intervene in the labour issues between Shell and the sacked workers. Achese said the union would sustain the picketing and stoppage of fuel supply to Shell until all the labour issues were resolved. He said: “We cannot fold our hands as union that is supposed to protect the interest of our workers to allow SPDC hire and fire at will without respecting the extant labour laws of this country. We see the sack of our members in the company as that of victimisation because of their union activities.” Commenting on the persistent fuel scarcity, Achese said it would continue, until payments were made to verified marketers. According to him, the Ministry of Finance is withholding payments and the marketers cannot import product or even service loans owed banks. He said: “It is against this background that we as a union, after our findings, are calling for the resignation of the Chairman of the Presidential Task Force on Petroleum Subsidy, Mr. Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, from the body. This is because of the indictment of his bank, Access

Bank, in the subsidy scam.” In a related development, the much-talked about amicable settlement of debt issues between Capital Oil and Gas Industries Limited and Assets Management Company Limited, AMCON, appears to have ended in a stalemate. Providing insight on the situation barely 48 hours after Capital Oil and Gas said it was satisfied with ongoing discussions with AMCON, the company’s Chief Executive Officer, Nick Hayes, said the major reason for the deadlock was the inordinate ambition of some forces to take over the running of affairs of the company. He said: “It has now become very obvious that there is a grand design by some very ambitious people to capture the entire business concern and run it as if they set it up in the first instance. “These people are the ones pushing AMCON to bring very unacceptable conditions to the negotiating table. Their whole plot is to ensure that there is no amicable settlement and in that way, AMCON can do their bidding which simply is, to take over the running of the affairs of the company.”

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Wednesday, November 28, 2012

FG fires BPE boss, Onagoruwa CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

Mr. Benjamin Ezra Dikki. He is to occupy the position of director-general in an acting capacity. The statement added that President Goodluck Jonathan expressed his appreciation to Onagoruwa for her services to the nation and wished her the best in her future endeavours. Although no reason was given for the sack of Onagoruwa in the two-paragraph statement, investigation showed that it might not be unconnected with the Manitoba contract in the privatisation process of the power sector. There has been controversy over the cancellation of the Manitoba contract by the BPE but President Jonathan during his last media chat on November 17 declared that Manitoba contract had not been revoked. Onagoruwa also had some issues with the Senate, which had last December recommended that she should be relieved of her appointment by the President. Justifying their position, the lawmakers accused

her of gross incompetence in the management of the BPE and the illegal and fraudulent sale of the five per cent of Federal Government’s shares in the Eleme Petrochemical Company Limited, EPCL. Chairman, Senate Committee on Information, Media and Public Affairs, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe said Onagoruwa’s sack was in order. The Senate spokesman said: “The Senate had during the consideration of the Senator Lawan report on privatisation approved the recommendation for the disengagement of the DG, BPE. “The Senate, therefore, sees this as evidence of the harmonious working relationship with the executive.” Also, the Chairman, Senate Committee on Rules, Senator Eta Inang, said: “It is within the routine action of the President to appoint and sack certain public office holders. He does this sometime while listening to the views of Nigerians. “The sack of the BPE boss falls within such statu-

tory powers of the President.” Yesterday’s removal of Onagoruwa was one of the 45 recommendations by the Senate Ad-Hoc Committee that investigated the privatisation and commercialisation of public companies between 1999 and 2011. The Senate committee also called for the reprimand of three of her predecessors – Nasir el-Rufai, Julius Bala and Irene Chigbue – for various offences during their tenures. The Presidency had a few weeks ago blamed the BPE for infractions which led to the cancellation of the management contract for the Transmission Company of Nigeria, TCN, awarded to a Canadian firm, Manitoba Hydro International by the government. The Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, had said that contrary to the provisions of the Public Procurement Act 2007, the BPE, rather than the National Council of Privatisation, awarded the management contract, thereby invalidating it.

Julius Berger workers rehabilitating Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, yesterday.

Abati had said: “The BPE has no power to approve a management contract, according to the provision of Section 16 sub section 4 of the 2007 Public Procurement Act.... “The management contract in question is $23.6m, which is above the approved threshold of BPE. The vicepresident is a member of FEC. “For the BPE to approve that contract simply means that due process was not followed. It is a matter of due process, a matter of best practice; it is not a personality matter. “The infraction was committed by the BPE.” However, the cancellation of the contract was again reversed by the President a few days later in a nationwide media chat when he confirmed that the contract was not determined. Jonathan had said: “There were some issues raised due to misunderstanding... We saw some loopholes that were not properly done and we say look, we should do it properly so that if we leave, after few years, nobody will

PHOTO: BAYOOR EWUOSO

Sanusi calls for sack of civil servants CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2

NLC Deputy President, Promise Adewusi, in a terse text message to one of our correspondents, said that the position of the union on the issue had been that local councils in the country should be empowered. Adewusi said: “As a Nigerian, Sanusi has a constitutional right to hold

and express any view within the purview of the law. “But on the issue of local government, he is obviously flowing against the tide of the more popular wish of Nigerian people, which is that the third tier of government should not only stay but be granted constitutional status. This remains the

position of NLC. On states creation, he said: “We believe that viability should rank very high among the indices to be considered in deciding whether or not new states should be created.” At the retreat, SEC Director-General, Arunma Oteh, lamented that less than 10 million of the Nigerian population of

over 160 million were participating actively in the capital market. She said the figure was high in other countries. Oteh listed various efforts being made by her management to revamp the ailing capital market and assured that the problems hunting the sector would be over in the next five years.

come and ask questions. We believe that we should rectify what was not properly done.” Another issue that might have cost Onagoruwa her position is the lingering crisis over the ownership of the Ikot-Abasi based Aluminium Smelter Company of Nigeria, ALSCON,

nearly six months after the Supreme Court had invalidated the existing Purchase Sale Agreement, PSA, between the Dayson Holdings Limited and the Federal Government on the plant. The Supreme Court had in July this year ruled on an appeal brought before it CONTINUED ON PAGE 50>>

Edo bank robberies claim 3 soldiers, 7 civilians CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2

to ensure that everything is done to trace these people down. “We want to assure you that Edo State can never and will never be a safe-haven for criminals.” Hurdi said that the “police were not caught unawares. “This is because if you look at the time they got there, that was the time when the police were changing over duty and some of them were praying. Others were taking over duty form to go on night patrol. That was the time they attacked. “I have visited all the places and the extent of the damage is what matters; that is, where the police station, the Area Command and other banks were affected. “These places were destroyed by dynamites but in terms of loss (of cash), it was only one bank they were able to gain access to. That is where we have some loss of amount of money that is yet to be ascertained. There were lives that were lost too. But we are yet to determine the number of persons that died at the moment.” However, the Police Command in Edo confirmed that only seven civilians died from the robbery incident in Auchi on Monday. The acting state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Muhammed Hurdi, a Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), made the confirmation while speaking with newsmen in Benin. “No death was recorded among the police except that two policemen got shot in the leg,” he said, and denied that no soldier was killed in the incident. He admitted that dynamites and sophisticated guns were freely used by the robbers, adding that the robbers attacked both Auchi Area Command and Divisional Police Station, respectively. Hurdi explained that the robbers threw dynamite at

the buildings just as four banks in the town were also affected. He gave the names of the banks as First Bank, Access Bank, GTB and Ecobank, respectively. According to him, it is a coordinated attack, noting: “no police weapon was taken away from any of the police station. “We are already investigating the matter and have information as to who these people are.” Robbers on Monday night unleashed terror on Auchi, leaving the town and its environs in total chaos, pains and anguish. While some residents of Auchi, the headquarters of Etsako West Local Government Area were preparing for dinner at exactly 6p.m. and Muslims were deep into their evening prayer, the gunmen unleashed simultaneous attacks on four banks in the locality. An old generation bank, First Bank Plc, situated on Otaru Road and three new generation banks: Ecobank Plc, Access Bank Plc and GTBank Plc located on Poly Road, were attacked. Eyewitnesses told our correspondent that the armed robbers freely used dynamites and bombs to gain entry into the premises and vaults of the banks in their bid to steal the cash. About the same time, attacks were launched at the Divisional Police Station and the Area Command’s Office of the Nigeria Police Force, both located on Jattu Road, destroying buildings and patrol van parked opposite the Area Command’s office with bombs. Apparently determined to ensure that there was no mobilisation against them, the bandits also attacked the Warrake Road private residence of some soldiers after allegedly demobilising the Armoured Personnel Carrier, APC, stationed to safeguard the area.

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Wednesday, November 28, 2012

Jaji blast: We won’t take Boko Haram for granted again –CDS AZA MSUE KADUNA

he Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Admiral Olasa’ad Ibrahim, yesterday said the military would not take the Boko Haram Islamic sect for granted again, following Sunday’s attack on St. Andrew’s Military Protestant Church in Jaji, Kadu-

na State. No fewer than 15 worshippers were killed and many others injured in the attack. Admiral Ibrahim described the incident as sad and least expected in a peaceful environment that had been cherished for many years. The Defence Chief spoke while answering questions

from journalists after his visit to the scene of the incident, adding that a board of enquiry had been set up to investigate it. He said: “We expect that the board of enquiry will reflect blame worthiness of the few and then we will treat it on its merit, but we cannot pre-empt what took place and how the bomb laden vehicles got into the

cantonment. “We also respect the due process and the rule of law and there are codes out there that we must insist because that is the only way we can render justice, but the report itself is the only thing that can define precisely who is to blame and who is not to be blamed and who is to be rewarded for exemplary actions.”

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NASS queries fuel deductions by PPPRA GEORGE OJI AND EMMANUEL ONANI

he National Assembly Joint Committees on Petroleum (downstream) yesterday expressed shock over the deduction of 15 kobo for every liter of petrol imported into the country by the Petroleum Product Pricing and Regulatory Authority (PPPRA) and consequently directed the agency to appear before it today to explain how the money is being utilized. The committee was also appalled at the revelation by PPPRA that it spends N5.7 billion on salaries and allowances for staff strength of 247 persons. The joint committees sat yesterday to review the 2012 budget performance of the parastatals under the Ministry of Petroleum

Resources as well as to ask them certain questions on their defence of the 2013 budget proposals. Members of the joint committees, who were apparently not satisfied with the explanations of Mr. Stanley Reginald, the Executive Secretary of PPPRA, on the N5.7 billion on the 249 staff strength of the agency walked out on him in anger. The lawmakers were also stunned at the inability of Reginald or any member of the management team of the agency to produce document to justify the Internal Generated Revenue (IGR) and the administrative charges of by agency. The inability of either the executive secretary or any member of the management forced the lawmakers to walk out on the entire team and asked them to come back on another yet to be fixed date.

Senate to retrieve N10bn coal fund from Power Ministry

Batch ‘C’ NYSC members rejoicing after their passing out ceremony at the FCT Orientation Camp in Kubwa, yesterday. PHOTO: NAN

FG advocates unified criminal code for South, North ISE-OLUWA IGE ABUJA

he Federal Government has advocated the unification of the two Criminal Codes being operated by the Southern and Northern part of the country, saying it will foster national unity. Addressing participants at a workshop on unification and reform of Criminal and Penal Codes yesterday in Abuja, the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Mohammed

Adoke

Adoke (SAN), said that the Federal Government supported the plans by the Nigerian Law Reform Commission to unify the laws. He noted that operating two different criminal codes had resulted in the North and South dichotomy in national discourse. Adoke believes that unification of the two sets of law would help the government to forge a national unity as a crime in Lagos would also be seen as a crime in Kano. He said: “It has, therefore, been argued that our colonial heritage of two legal systems dealing with criminal matters has been one of the mechanisms that had perpetuated the concepts of North and South in critical national discourse. “In addition to the needs to address this historical distortion through a bold attempt at harmonization, there is an equal imperative to review both codes, modernize them and keep

them relevant to the needs of our society.” Chairman of the Nigerian Law Reform Commission, Justice Umaru Kalgo, a retired justice of the Supreme Court, said having a single penal code would promote greater sense of oneness. According to him, the two criminal codes were long overdue for reforms as some of the provisions have become obsolete,

spent and unnecessary. He said: “Although we consider the exercise as capable of fostering national unity, we shall improvise to maintain our diversities and warn ourselves of the need for strict adherence to the principles of federalism, and by so doing, we promote and maintain fundamental values of democracy, good governance, human rights and rule of law.”

he Senate yesterday promised to retrieve the N10 billion meant for coal development, which was allegedly trapped by the Ministry of Power in the past three years. Chairman of the Senate Committee on Power, Phillip Aduda, who spoke during the budget defence by the Mines and Steel Ministry, expressed surprise that the Ministry of Power had refused to release the funds to the Mines and Steel Ministry for proper utilization. The N10 billion was

budgeted for the Mines and Steel Ministry in the 2010 budget for coal studies. The fund was allocated to the ministry to enable it develop coal as a secondary source to support power generation in the country. The intervention of the Senate was consequent upon the complaint by the Minister of Mines and Steel, Dr. Musa Mohammed Sa’ada, that despite persistent appeals by his ministry, the Power Minister has remained adamant in releasing the money.

EFCC arraigns two ex-bank workers for alleged N9.7m fraud ISE-O LUWA IGE ABUJA

he Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) yesterday arraigned one Bright Evogbai and Okechukwu Okolo before Justice Dije Abdu Aboki of Kano State High Court. The former bank workers were arraigned on an eight-count charge bordering on conspiracy,

forgery and obtaining money under false pretences. The suspects, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge. The defence counsel, Yakubu Aliyu, urged the court to admit the accused persons to bail, but the prosecuting counsel, Mainforce Adaka, opposed the bail application on the point of law and urged the court to accelerate hearing of

the substantive matter. The accused persons ran into trouble following a petition by Intercontinental Bank (now Access Bank), alleging that the suspects were its former workers in Kano office. The suspects allegedly connived to defraud the bank of N9.7 million. According to the petition, the suspects allegedly forged a customer’s instructions on a stolen

letter heads, forged the customer’s signature and used same to fraudulently transfer the money in five tranches to other customers’ accounts. Justice Aboki, however, ordered that the suspects be remanded in EFCC custody pending the determination of the bail application. She adjourned the ruling on the bail application till December 17.

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National News

Wednesday, November 28, 2012

Nigeria spends $11bn on food import –Minister JAMES DANJUMA KATSINA

espite having 84 million hectares of arable land, Nigeria still spends $11 billion or more than N1.7 trillion annually to import basic foods like wheat, rice, fish and sugar. Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, stated this yesterday during the flag-off of sales of fertilizer for the

2012/2013 dry season farming in Katsina State. Adesina wondered why a country that has so much arable agricultural land could still be having most of its citizens living in poverty. The minister, represented by the Regional Director, Agricultural Transformation Agenda of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Dr. Nyam Yusuf Leo, said with the kind of agricultural potential

existing in the country, Nigeria has no business importing food. According to him, “Nigeria should be a major net exporter of food,” and for that to happen, the country must take a hard look at herself and “change our approach to agriculture.” He, however, said the ministry had embarked on major efforts at unlocking the potential of the country’s agriculture which would move her from ig-

noble status as one of the “largest food importers in the world, to a foodsufficient country with expanded exports.” He said the ministry is treating agriculture as a business and that in the area of agricultural value chain, the Federal Government recently raised tariffs on imported brown and finished rice as way of encouraging local production and milling of the product.

2016 census will gulp N600bn – NPC chairman •Says Nigeria has no credible population figure

MARCUS FATUNMOLE ABUJA

he Chairman of the National Population Commission (NPC), Chief Festus Odumegwu, has said that the national biometric data for 2016 census would gulp N600 billion. He made the disclosure yesterday in Abuja at the launch of the United Nations’ State of the World Population Report, 2012. Odumegwu said the effort would save Nigeria billions of naira as a result of current proliferation of the exercise by various agencies of government. According to him, “Nigeria has no data. People can’t really tell you precisely what the population is. You hear people say today

that we are 170million. This week, I have heard 160million; I have heard 156million. Some people even say we are 200 million. “So, you have to do demographic data to start with. That is what the commission is geared to provide towards 2016 when we will do a biometric data.” He added the biometric data, already approved by the President, would help in better economic planning for national development. The NPC chairman blamed the inability of the country to have credible population statistics on failed leadership. “The problem has always been lack of enough credible and imaginative leaders in political governance, particularly, in recent times.

Cybercrime law passes second reading TORDUE SALEM ABUJA

A L-R: Rivers State Governor, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi; Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola and their Jigawa State counterpart, Alhaji Sule Lamido, after a meeting on Constitutional Amendment in Abuja, on Monday.

NLC tackles govs over moves to place Labour on concurrent list OLUFEMI ADEOSUN ABUJA

he surreptitious moves by the state governors to catchin on the ongoing 1999 Constitution review in the state Houses of Assembly to remove labour issues from the exclusive list to the concurrent list is unsettling the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC). In view of the enormous influence the governor’s wield over their state lawmakers, the congress, at a Central Working Committee meeting at Abuja yesterday, urged its members to thwart the alleged plans. The most desirous governors, according to the NLC, are the governors from the south, who allegedly stagemanaged the proceedings of the public hearings in their states. It was learnt that during the public hearings, most of the governors were constantly calling the attention of their representatives at the public hearings to the issue of ensconcing labour

in the concurrent list. Some of the labour leaders, who spoke at the emergency meeting, lamented that some of the hearings were stage-managed in a way that those against the governors’ position were never identified to speak at the hearings. In some cases, the NLC alleged, security operatives were ordered to walk out perceived opposers of the idea, who could stand up to the governors from removing labour matters from the exclusive list. According to the congress, the governors are bet on lobbying their Houses of Assembly to make labour a concurrent matter to enable states to negotiate their minimum wage. The NLC President, Abdulwahed Omar, quoted the Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, Rotimi. Amechi, as saying that; “I pay my workers so what is the concern of the Nigeria Labour Congress.” Continuing, Omar said; “The governors are very

serious about it. Their major concern is the issue of local government autonomy and labour.” Omar vowed that; “We will continue to rise up as labour unions to make sure that they don’t catch us unaware. Communicate to your leaders at the states so that we can fight Omar this issue together. “

Budget 2013: Reps reject N20m security vote for NAPTIP TORDUE SALEM ABUJA

he House of Representatives yesterday opposed a N20 million security vote in the 2013 budget proposal for the Executive Secretary of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Traffic in Person and other Related Matters (NAPTIP), Mrs. Beatrice Jedy-Agba. Jedy-Agba, who had initially complained before members of House Committee on Human Rights on lack of fund to effectively run the agency, however, could not defend the security.

The committee had challenged her to refer it to a specific section of the 1999 Constitution or Act establishing NAPTIP which empowers her to allocate fund for security vote. Before the committee went into a close-door session for further questioning, it directed the NAPTIP principal to go back and overhaul her recurrent budget. Hon Ismaila Gadaka (Yobe- ANPP) said; “Those things that you put under recurrent are not relevant. Please give us what will make your agency to be more effective.”

law that seeks to clamp down on internet scammers or cybercrime scaled through the second reading in the House of Representatives yesterday. The piece of legislation seeks to provide for stiff penalties against computer manipulation and other cybercrimes in Nigeria. In a lead debate, the bill’s sponsor, Aisha Modibbo (Adamawa/PDP), cited the recent gruesome killing of Cynthia Osokogu, who was lured to Lagos, raped, robbed and slain by her ‘friend’ on a BlackBerry chat room.

According to her, the absence of laws to track such criminals cast the country in bad light. Ahmed, who described cybercrime as a “well organised and coordinated enterprise” said the absence of cybercrime legislation has exposed sensitive economic, intelligence and security and sundry government outfit to hacking by cybercrime syndicates. The legislator told the house that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has made 288 cybercrime- related arrests but 234 of the cases were still pending in court largely due to the absence of cybercrime legislation to prosecute the cases.

Adoke promises to update FoI guidelines EMMANUEL ONANI ABUJA

ttor ney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Mr. Mohammed Bello Adoke (SAN), has promised to put in motion a machinery that will update the guidelines of the Freedom of Information (FoI) Act. Adoke dropped this hint yesterday in a welcome address he delivered at a Consultation Forum on the Revised FoI Act Implementation Guidelines. The AGF said he will continue to push for the implementation of the FoI Act by Ministries, Departments

and Agencies (MDAs) in accordance with Section 29 (6) of the Act, which he maintained, entrusts him with the responsibility of ensuring compliance. To ensure full compliance by MDAs, the chief law officer said the Ministry of Justice is in partnership with the Democratic Governance for Development (DGD) Project. His words: “Conscious of the need to have a participatory approach to the FoI Act process, I have initiated a process of updating the guidelines through a participatory process with the hope of publishing the revised version later this year.

South West

Wednesday November 28, 2012

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Fashola accuses Jonathan of scuttling Lagos’ $600m loan Bauchi, Kaduna, Niger, Ondo to take $551m foreign loans

TORDUE SALEM ABUJA

overnor Babatunde Fashola (SAN) has accused President Goodluck Jonathan of stopping the $600 million loan sought by the Lagos State Government from the World Bank. Fashola yesterday told the House of Representatives Committee on Aid,

Loans and Debts that the President’s action could adversely affect the economy of Lagos State and its 20 million residents. He said: “We have a commitment with the World Bank for a loan of $600 million offered to Lagos. It is supposed to be in three tranches and the first tranche was paid in 2011. We were expecting the payment of the second

tranche when we got the shocking information that the loan facility had been stopped.” The governor said he was yet to be briefed by the Debt Office of the Federal Government on why the loan was stopped. He, however, said that the Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, merely told him on the telephone that his state was

excluded from the 2013 and 2014 borrowing plans. On the likely reasons for stopping the loan, Fashola said: “Whatever the reasons are, for me, development and fairness and consistency are more paramount. And the interests of those people are more paramount, because roads have no political colour. The water that we have to provide has no po-

L -R: New Ogun State Commissioner for Agriculture, Mrs. Ronke Shokefun; Ogun State Governor, Mr. Ibikunle Amosun and Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Mrs. Yewande Amusan, after their swearing-in ceremony in Abeokuta, yesterday.

Ogun police parade 24 robbery, murder suspects FEMI OYEWESO ABEOKUTA

he Ogun State Police Command yesterday paraded 24 robbery and murder suspects in Abeokuta, the state capital. Addressing journalists during the parade at the Eleweran headquarters of the command, the Commissioner of Police, Ikhemefuna Okoye, said the suspects were those arrested this month alone. He said the parade was necessary in order to keep residents abreast of the

achievements of police as well as to serve as deterrent to other criminals. Okoye, who said the command had returned the sum of N6.9 million stolen last Sunday by armed robbers from the Automated Teller Machine (ATM) in one of the new generation banks in Shagamu area of the state, added that most of the suspects paraded were involved in armed robbery cases with live ammunitions caught with them. One of the suspects, Azeez Salami, 27, denied being an armed robber,

but claimed to be a member of a secret cult. Claiming that he was a member of Eiye Confraternity, Salami said he was a 400 level Sociology student of Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU), Ago-Iwoye but was paraded for murder and armed robbery. But the police commissioner said the suspect was arrested with one cutto-size single barrel gun in his hideout at Ago Iwoye. He said Salami had been a wanted person in the case of murder which is still under investigation

and was also said to be the second-in-command of the Eiye Confraternity. Also, Usman Lateef and Endurance Dibie were arrested by a police patrol team who foiled their attempted robbery at OkeAro junction in Agbado area of the state.

Abubakar

Ekiti withdraws recognition from contending regents ABIODUN NEJO ADO EKITI

ollowing the rising tension in IlasaEkiti over the emergence of two regents, the Ekiti State Government has derecognised the two claimants to the regency. It was gathered yesterday in Ado-Ekiti that the state government had, through the Bureau of Chieftaincy

Affairs, communicated the two contenders that neither of them was no longer recognised. The two regents are Nigerian Ambassador to Congo and daughter of the late king, Ambassador Jolaade Onipede; and Chief Mrs Comfort Idowu. While Onipede, a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain was installed regent at a ceremo-

ny at the palace, the state government, who said it did not recognise Onipede, announced Idowu as the legitimate regent the following day. Onipede, who confirmed to journalists on telephone yesterday that she had been briefed, said the new twist to the regency tussle would not dissuade her from pursuing the case she had instituted

against the state government over her forcible removal from office and subsequent installation of Mrs Idowu as regent. Special Adviser to Governor Kayode Fayemi on Chieftaincy Matters, Chief George Akosile and Information Commissioner, Hon Funminiyi Afuye, declined comments on the issue, saying they were pending in court.

litical colour and security is politically-blind.” The governor told the House Committee that the stoppage of the loan had affected Lagos’ 2013 and 2014 budgets, and that road, water and other projects were bound to suffer. Fashola was disappointed that the Federal Government would seek to frustrate a measure aimed at improving the lot of the citizens, more so when Lagos State “has diligently pursued fiscal disciplines and prudence on the basis of which the World Bank released the first tranche of $200 million.” Meanwhile, four states - Bauchi, Kaduna, Niger and Ondo - have decided to go on borrowing spree, planning to take $551million foreign loans. While Bauchi State is seeking approval for $171 million, Kaduna State wants to take the sum of $234 million. Ondo State is proposing $20 million, while Niger State wants to borrow $28 million. Chairman of the House of Representatives Com-

mittee on Debts, Aids and Loans, Hon. Adeyinka Ajani, who gave the hint, said had a few days ago quizzed the Bauchi State Governor, Mallam Isa Yuguda, over the proposal. He said the committee wondered why the states, particularly Bauchi, would go borrowing a few weeks to the end of the year. Yuguda explained why his administration wanted the $171 million loan, saying the facility was meant to build an Independent Power Plant, (IPP). The governor and representatives of 11 other states appeared before the committee to defend their requests for loans as captured in the 2012 to 2014 External Borrowing Plan of the Federal Government. The committee was worried that the states were preparing to extract huge foreign loans that could mortgage the future of the country again. Members of the committee also asked the states to justify the need for the loans and to explain how they planned to liquidate the funds.

New judge sworn in as member of Lagos election tribunal K AYODE KETEFE

new judge, Justice Kazeem Olanrewaju Alogba, was sworn-in yesterday as a member of the Lagos State Local Government Election Appeal Tribunal Justice Alogba is replacing a former judge on the tribunal panel, Justice Habeeb Abiru, who has recently been elevated to the Court of Appeal. In a ceremony conducted by the Chief Registrar of the Lagos State High Court, Mr. Gafar Safari, Justice Alogba was swornin at the office of the Chief Judge of Lagos State, Justice Ayotunde Phillips. Other members of the tribunal are the chairman, Justice Opeyemi Oke, Justice Candido Johnson, Justice Mojisola Dada and Justice Olatunde Oshodi. Speaking on the occasion, the Lagos CJ, Justice Phillips, urged members of the tribunal to be fair and just and not to allow themselves to be swayed by any extra-judicial considerations or sentiments.

She said: “I urge you all to be bold, fearless and do what is right in the face of God.” The CJ also cautioned the members of the panel to be wary of their utterances and refrained from making unguarded statements which might convey wrong impressions to stakeholders and members of the public. Justice Phillips said: “You know we judges do speak through our judgements. So, avoid making comments that can be misconstrued in another way. “I have confidence in every member of the tribunal and I am sure they would do what is right and best and that which is in the interest of justice.” The CJ added that the temporary stalling of the sitting of the tribunal had come to an end with the swearing- in of Justice Alogba, stressing that she hoped the tribunal would commence sitting soon. In her response, Justice Opeyemi Oke thanked the CJ for the confidence reposed in the members of the tribunal.

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South West

Wednesday November 28, 2012

Osun settles 36,177 candidates’ WASCE fees WALE FOLARIN OSOGBO

he Osun State Government has commenced the process of payment of N359 million WASCE registration fees of over 36,177 candidates in all the public secondary school for the 2012/2013 session. The state governor, Alhaji Rauf Aregbesola, gave the hint yesterday during his second year anniversary broadcast in Osogbo. He said that his administration had increased the running and examination grants to primary and secondary schools to N424 million and N427 million respectively. Stressing that education was the key to leading people to greatness, the governor said his administration had reorganised the state’s school system into Elementary, Middle and High schools. According to him, the state government has started constructing modern school buildings with a capacity to accommodate 900

Amosun swears in two female commissioners

gun State Governor, Ibikunle Amosun has sworn in two commissioners, thus bringing the number of women in his cabinet to 12. The new appointees are Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Mrs. Yewande Amusan, and Commissioner for Agriculture, Mrs. Ronke Shokefun. Speaking at the inauguration ceremony yesterday at the Governor’s Office, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta, Amosun urged the new commissioners to sustain the culture of excellence, selfless service and outstanding performance that set the state apart from others. He said: “We can only repay the electorate through selfless performance. Let it be said that Ogun State witnessed phenomenon development during our tenure.” Mrs Yewande Amusan was, until her appointment, the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Public Private Partnership (PPP) while Mrs Ronke Shokefun was in charge of Bureau of Lands.

students at the elementary and middle school levels. Aregbesola said: “The new high school building is a three in one which will accommodate 3000 students. Other facilities in consonance with international academic standard will include a standard football pitch, recreational facilities, laboratories, libraries, food court and examination hall that is big enough to sit a minimum of 1000 students. “In our elementary schools, we have introduced school feeding programme. We are also providing free

uniforms for all pupils in public schools. Our vision is to provide world class education infrastructure manned by well motivated teachers who will, in turn, produce global leading scholars. What we spent on primary schools alone in one year is more than what our predecessor spent in eight years.” According to him, in a bid to ensure that students become ICT compliant, both for learning and selfdevelopment, his administration would soon distribute computer tablets to SSS 1 to 3 students in public

schools. He said the tablet is preloaded with 17 subjects offered by students in the West African Senior Secondary Certificate Examinations (WASSCE) and National Examination Council (NECO), while it also contains six extracurricular subjects, including Sexuality Education, Entrepreneurship, Yoruba Proverbs, Civic Education, Yoruba History and Yoruba Traditional Religion. The governor said: “In addition, we are also planning to employ 3,230 teachers in the primary school

and fill vacancies that will be left by retiring teachers this December.” Aregbesola added that his administration had mobilise the people of the state to project a positive self image and realise the innate goodness in them and their capability for greatness. He said: “The rebranding exercise is actually a win-win. If our people are positioned as Omoluabi and they act accordingly, the markets in the state will attract more patronage from all over the world because shoppers know they will not be cheated

L-R: Wife of Oyo State Governor, Mrs. Florence Ajimobi; Guest Speaker, Dr. Funke Adetuberu; Secretary-General, Women Rights Advancement and Protection Agency, Mrs. Saudatu Mahdi, at a seminar on Stamping out Violence Against Women held in Ibadan, yesterday. PHOTO: NAN

Fashola constitutes LASU Governing Council MURITALA AYINLA

overnor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State yesterday approved the constitution of a new Governing Council for the Lagos State University (LASU). The governor also appointed Mr. Olabode Agusto as the Chairman and Pro-Chancellor, while other members of the Coun-

cil are Mrs. Ibukun Awosika, Mr. Leo Stan Ekeh, Dr. Leke Pitan, Mr. Yomi Hotonu, Prof. Shafideen Amuwo, Fatima WaliAbdurrahaman, Mr. Sam Omatseye, Mr. Olaseinde Kareem, Mr. Adewunmi Ogunsanya and Mr. Jide Adesoye. In the same vein, Fashola approved the replacement of three members of the Governing Council of the Adeniran Ogunsanya

College of Education (AOCOED), whose tenure expired recently. The appointed members are Prince Abiodun Ogunleye, Mrs. Victoria M. Peregrino and Mrs. Oludapo Odunlami. The Governor also appointed Prof. Tunde Samuel as the Chairman of the Board of CG-EKO LLP. The CG-EKO LLP is a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) venture between

Group flays nation’s insecurity JOHNSON OKANLAWON

group, Champion Youths Development Association of Nigeria (CHYDAN), has condemned the incessant violent activities of the Boko Haram Islamic sect in some part of the country. The group chided members of the sect for taking law into their hands.

CHYDAN President, Alhaji Umar Isma’il, spoke yesterday during a visit to National Mirror Headquarters in Lagos, saying that 70 per cent of violence in the North were caused by youths. He said: “Some of the youths told us that they were killing because they were being cheated, whereas the youths they are killing are part of them. “The government has

failed the citizen in some ways, but killing one another is not the way to confront the government.” Isma’il, who explained that the aim of CHYDAN is to encourage youths and orientate them on the need to live peacefully, said that about 1.3 million of its members cut across 13 states of the federation. He said: “Nigeria is a peaceful country, but what is happening today is dan-

Coscharis Group and the Lagos State Government. All the appointments are with immediate effect. Urging the appointees to support his administration in developing the state, Fashola expressed his sincere appreciation to former members of the LASU and AOCOED Governing Councils, whose tenures recently expired, for their selflessness and dedication to the service.

gerous to allow only the government to proffer solution to it. “If really you want to fight for your rights, don’t fight your fellow youths. We should note that empowerment cannot be taken by violence. “We want one Nigeria. If we cannot nip in the bud the problem we are having now, I don’t know where we are going to find ourselves in the next three years.

and they will get real value for their money.” According to him, his administration has taken a big step in the implementation of the O’Beef programme, adding that a 78.8-hectare Cattle Ranch has been commissioned at Oloba, which will be equipped with a feedlot infrastructure to accommodate 1,500 cattle.

Fayemi’s wife, others honoured he International

Planned Parenthood Federation Africa Region (IPPFAR) has honoured the wife of Ekiti State Governor, Mrs. Bisi Fayemi and the two co-founders of the African Women’s Development Fund (AWDF) with awards. A statement by the AWDF Programme Officer for Communications, Ms Nana Sekyiamah, said the awardees were decorated during the 60th anniversary of the IPPFAR held yesterday in South Africa. Other recipients of the IPPFAR awards are Head of Mission, Medica Mondiale, Liberia, Ms. Joana Foster, and Executive Director of Mentoring and Empowerment Programme for Young Women, Dr Hilda Tadria. Quoting the IPPFAR, Sekyiamah said: “Philanthropy Awards recognises the work of individuals and institutions that are actively impacting communities and women’s development on the continent through philanthropy and community engagement.” In 2000, Mrs. Fayemi and the two other awardees co-founded the AWDF, the first African-wide grant-making fund, which supports the work of organisations promoting women’s right and empowerment in Africa. Medica Mondiale is a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) offering psycho-social assistance to Liberian refugees, as well as advocacy for women on sexual and gender-based violence and legal assistance for traumatised women.

Bisi Fayemi

South East

Wednesday, November 28, 2012

Two-storey building collapses, kills one

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Obi gives out 21 vehicles to permanent secretaries CHARLES OKEKE AWKA

Responding on behalf of his colleagues, the Head of Service, Mr. Chidi Exeoke, expressed gratitude to God for what he called “the gift of Peter Obi to Anambra State”, describing him as the most worker-friendly governor in the country. He recalled that he was a permanent secretary in 2006 when Obi took over and never had official vehicle until Obi became the governor and that the story is the same with all the groups in the state, including judges and magistrates. Ezeoke commended the governor on his gesture. He assured him of the workers’ loyalty and promises of increased productivity, adding that their prayers is for God to give Anambra somebody better than Obi or at least as good as he is, at the end of the day.

L-R: Deputy Vice-Chancellor, University of Nigeria, Enugu campus, Prof. Innocent Onyeyili; representative of the Minister of Science, Prof. Pius Okeke and representative of the Director-General, Energy Commission of Nigeria, Mr. Johnson Ojosu, at the 3rd International Workshop on Renewable Energy for Sustainable Development in Africa in Enugu, yesterday.

nambra State Governor, Peter Obi, has released 21 brand new Nissan Centre buses to permanent secretaries in the state’s civil service. The vehicles were released to the permanent secretaries at a ceremony held at the Governor’s Lodge, Awka. Speaking during the ceremony, Governor Obi said permanent secretaries are the engine-room of the civil service in the country and must be provided with adequate tools to carry out their work. Among those who got the vehicles were the old permanent secretaries and some newly appointed ones. The governor also said that the government is working out modalities to extend car loans to directors and deputy directors in the service, as part of the move to motivate the entire gamut of the civil service for increased efficiency and productivity. He called on the workers to reciprocate government’s gestures of love by joining hands in the building of a better society for the people of the state.

Robbery suspect dies in auto crash

Court to rule on N500m judgement debt against LG chairman

CHRIS NJOKU OWERRI

two-storey building that was under construction on Works Layout, Owerri, the Imo State capital, yesterday collapsed killing one of the workers. The worker, a carpenter simply identified as Ikenna, was said to be one of the workers hired by the

NWABUEZE OKONKWO ONITSHA

ne of the three robbery kingpins that allegedly have been terrorising inhabitants of Ogidi, Idemili North Local Government Area of Anambra State, yesterday died in an auto accident shortly after a robbery operation, while two of his gang members escaped

contractors. It was gathered that the engineer handling the building used sub-standard materials which caved in from the second floor. According to an eye witness, the incident occurred at about 9.00pm yesterday during a heavy down pour in the city. Sources said the building collapsed immediately after the younger brother to the owner left the site

with severe injuries. The incident, according to a police source, occurred shortly after the suspects, who operated on a motorbike, robbed a petrol filling station along the OgidiAbatete Road. According to the source, the robbers had carted away an undisclosed amount of money from the filling station and while on their way to escape with

after answering calls from his brother. The sources said the two carpenters working in the building came back that evening from where they went and immediately one of them excused the other to buy cigarette from a nearby store. But before he could return, the building had collapsed killing his colleague. When the owner of the building was contacted on

their motorbike, nemesis caught up with them as they had a head-on collision with a commercial bus coming from the opposite direction. Sources close to the scene of the accident said soon after the robbers left the filling station going towards Abatete direction, luck ran out of them as their motorbike had a head-on collision with a

phone, he rushed to the place where he later discovered that the carpenter had been buried in the rubble.. The corpse of the carpenter was later removed with the help of a bulldozer. When contacted, the Imo State Command Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Mr. Vitalis Onugu, confirmed the incident, saying that one of the workers, a carpenter, was killed in the incident.

Mitsubishi passenger bus both of which caught fire immediately. The Divisional Police Officer (DPO) at Ogidi, Mr. Kanayo Uzuegbu, who confirmed the incident in a telephone chat with journalists, said one locallymade pistol and six rounds of live ammunition believed to belong to the suspects were recovered from the accident scene.

Orji flags off 16 road projects in Aba GEORGE OPARA ABIA

bia State Governor, Chief Theodore Orji, yesterday flagged-off the rehabilitation and construction of 16 roads in Aba, the commercial hub of the state, with a charge to the residents to monitor the quality of work done by the contractors. The roads, all in Aba

metropolis, include Ngwa Road, Nwala by Faulks Road, Azikiwe Road, Jubilee and Cemetery Roads. Other roads to be worked on are Millerton Avenue, Eziukwu-Okigwe Roundabout, Ama Ogbonna and Ehere Road to Brass Junction at Aba Owerri Road. The others are the Ohanku Road, which is ongoing, Emelogu Road, completed but drainage to be

added, Ehere Road, Omoba Road, Umuola Road, Ikot Ekpene Road from Opobo Junction to Bata, Amaogbonna-Omuma by ACCN, Nwigwe by Nwagba Avenue and Geometric Access roads. Flagging off the road projects, Orji said it was in fulfillment of his promise that he would commence massive road rehabilitation work in Aba.

According to the governor, “We came here to do a great work. We come to tell Aba people and the zone that we fully come to do the roads in Aba. “As promised, the dry season has come and we have come to do what we promised. We don’t promise and fail. And I want to tell you that it is not only roads we are doing in Aba. We are doing other things.”

NWABUEZE OKONKWO ONITSHA

n Ogidi High Court in Anambra, presided over by Justice Ijem Onwuamaegbu, is expected to hear and determine a motion on notice filed by the President of Nkpor Youth Movement (NYM), Prince Godwin Onwukwe and nine others, against the Chairman of Idemili North Local Government Transition Committee, Raphael Asha Nnabuife. Nnabuife is also the Director of Finance/Administration of the incumbent Interim Management Committee (IMC) of Nkpor Development Union (NDU), as appointed in 2008. In the motion, Prince Onwukwe and the nine others are asking the court to enter judgement in their favour as per their writ of summons, in default of appearance of the defendant,

Obi

as well as for default of the defendant to file his pleading (statement of defence). The plaintiffs contended that their grounds for seeking the relief was because the defendant has failed to enter or cause to be entered appearance in this suit, and is also in default of filing his pleading as prescribed by the rules for court, more so, when there is no leave of the court to enlarge the prescribed time for entry of appearance and filing pleading by the defendant. Also in an affidavit in support of the motion, the first plaintiff, Onwukwe, averred that his counsel, Frank Molokwu, informed him and he verily believed him that the defendant has no defence to this action, and is merely playing pranks and unnecessarily procrastinating the hearing and determination of this suit to frustrate the plaintiffs.

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South South

Wednesday, November 28, 2012

Kidnapping: Setraco flees NDDC site SOLA ADEBAYO WARRI

leading construction company, Setraco Construction Limited, has deserted the sites of a coastal road in Delta State following Monday’s kidnap of two foreign nationals, employees of its contractor, Foundation Tech, by gunmen. Setraco was working on the multi-billion naira coastal GbarigolorGbekebor-Ogulagha Road awarded by the Niger Del-

Whereabouts of abducted Lebanese contractor workers unknown ta Development Commission (NDDC) before some gunmen invaded the site in Gbaregolor in Ughelli South Local Government Area of the state, killing an indigene of the community, before abducting the expatriates. The deceased, identified as Joseph Ekpudi, worked for Setraco before he was killed by stray bullets of the rampaging hoodlums. A cyclist identified as Fedude Ayaware,

who sustained gunshot injuries in the deadly incident, was rushed to a medical centre in Bomadi, headquarters of Bomadi Local Government Area of the state. It was learnt that the construction firm had sublet the construction of six bridges along the coastal road to Foundation Tech. The gunmen, after the incident, escaped in a speedboat through coastal Okoloba community in

Bomadi LGA, in company of the expatriates, who were simply identified as Habib and Charbel. Their whereabouts could not be ascertained by security agents as at the time of filing this report. Gbarigolor community was restive yesterday, 24 hours after the killing of the indigene of the area. Although Setraco had pulled out of the site in the wake of the security

breach, National Mirror learnt that the contractor would return to work as soon as security was beefed up in the area to reinforce the confidence of the workers. It was gathered that the incident ignited fears among the workers, especially the expatriates. Reliable sources in the company told National Mirror yesterday that the morale of the workers were low in the aftermath of the das-

tardly act. Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) Delta State Command, Mr. Charles Muka, could not be reached for comment. But a reliable source in his office, who would not want his name mentioned, said the police had launched manhunt for the hoodlums. One of the sources assured that the hoodlums would be apprehended while the victims would be released unhurt from captivity.

Akpabio seeks economic integration among Commonwealth African states TONY ANICHEBE UYO

L-R: Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria, Mallam Sanusi Lamido; Director-General, Security and Exchange Commission, Arunma Oteh and Delta State Governor, Emmanuel Uduaghan, during the 2nd Annual Capital Market Committee Retreat in Warri, yesterday.

overnor Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom State has called for an economic integration among Commonwealth African States to help in creating job opportunities for the youth. Akpabio made the call yesterday at the opening of Commonwealth Parliamentary Association’s Africa Youth Parliament At Ibom Hall, Uyo, on the theme: “Economic Integration Amongst Commonwealth African States. He said: “If European nations, in spite of their relative wealth and level

of industrialisation, could recognise the need for them to integrate under the European Union and compete in the world market as an economic unit, then we in Africa have no reason to sit idle and think we can succeed in isolation. “African integration is no more a need; it is an obligation. Africa has crossed a lot of bridges, but we know we still have many rivers to cross. We are in a continent which potential has been stymied by conflicts. But those conflicts were not always there. Our developmental pattern was affected when Europeans cut our continents into tiny bits.”

FG sacks Gwandu, NCC FG loses N97bn foreign exchange to fish importation commissioner EMMA GBEMUDU YENAGOA

inister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, yesterday lamented that the Federal Government loses at least N97 billion foreign exchange annually on the importation of fishes and fishery products into the country. He said government was working out plans to initiate a ban on the importation of these items owing to the yearly loss.

The minister, who was represented by his Minister of State, Alhaji Bukar Tijani, who spoke yesterday in Yenagoa at a meeting with stakeholders in the sector, said the rising cases of importation from Europe and Latin America was a huge drain on the nation’s economy. Adesina noted that the proposed ban on importation of fishery products would be enforced if the transformation agenda of the Federal Government to restore agriculture to its former glory as a leading

sector of the economy in terms of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) earnings. “The new agenda of the Federal Government is set to promote the increase in the supply of raw materials for agro-industries, employment generation, foreign exchange earners, conservation of foreign exchange through import substitution, local consumption and national food security.” He said the Federal Government has approved N17.6 billion to be shared among flood devastated states for fish and crop

farmers to assuage anticipated cases of food crises. “We can assure the people that there would not be food crisis as another N9.7 billion initiative for food production has been put in place.” Earlier, the President of the Fisheries Society of Nigeria (FISON), Dr. Abbas Abdullahi, argued that the era of importation of just anything in to the country should be over as a high volume of heavy metals have been imported and are dangerous for human consumption.

NULGE, MOAN launch campaign against multiple taxation

n continuation of their battle against multiple taxation, the National Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) and the Mobile Adverts Agency of Nigeria (MOAN) will, on Friday, inaugurate a ‘National Task Force Against Multiple Taxation’ to checkmate

all the groups and individuals perpetrating the act. The NULGE’s biometric pin, aimed at ensuring the total remittance of all the revenues collected on behalf of the councils nationwide, will also be unveiled at the three-day seminar, slated for Doris Dey Hotel, Benin City, the

Edo State capital, President of MOAN, who is also the Chairmandesignate of the task force, Otunba Mike Osimen, said NULGE President, Comrade Ibraheem Khaleel and the General-Secretary, Comrade Joshua Irapakob, are to flag off the seminar, while the keynote address

would be delivered by the Assistant Secretary-General, Comrade Rasaq Lawal. He said the biometric pin, which is not for sale, would be made available to only genuine council revenue officials with “valid and verifiable authorisation from their councils”,

KUNLE A ZEEZ

he Federal Government has sacked the Executive Commissioner, Engineering and Technical Services of the Nigerian Communication Commission, NCC, Dr. Bashir Gwandu. A Presidency source, who confirmed the development to National Mirror yesterday, said the sack letter was signed by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator Anyim Pius Anyi, with effect from November 9. The source said it was a result of “overwhelming case of insubordination to the leadership of the NCC and also to the Ministry of Communications and to the Board of the NCC.” According to the source, after investigating recent allegations bothering on frequency issues at NCC, the Federal Government

found Gwandu’s allegations to be “false and unfounded.” “There has been a running story in the media claiming that there were underhand dealings of frequency sales at NCC. That false information was traced to Gwandu. “The development which prompted the Ministry of Communications Technology and the NCC Board to investigate the allegations and later found the allegations false which may have informed the President’s decision to approve his removal as an executive commissioner in charge of engineering and technical services of the NCC,” the source said. Gwandu was, until his sack, serving a second tenure as an executive commissioner, having completed his first five years in 2011, when he was reappointed by the President for another five years.

North

Wednesday, November 28, 2012

Death toll in Plateau restaurant attack rises to 10 JAMES ABRAHAM JOS

wo other people, who were shot following Monday’s attack in a restaurant in Barki Ladi Local Government Area of Plateau State, died yesterday. It will be recalled that some gunmen stormed SK Drinking Bar on Monday in Plateau State and attacked customers, killing eight people on the spot and injured others. The injured victims were, however, rushed to a nearby hospital. Residents said that the

•LG boss accuses STF of connivance gunmen stormed the place at about 9.30 pm in a Hilux van and shot at their victims. In a statement yesterday, spokesman of the Special Task Force (STF) on Jos crisis, Captain Salisu Mustapha, confirmed that the death toll had risen to 10. He said: “The gunmen opened fire on customers who came to unwind at the bar, killing eight people on the spot, while two died as a result of gunshot wounds in the hospital.” The statement stated that residents protested

against the violence, barricaded the highway and prevented commuters from using the road. The statement said the troops deployed in the high way dispersed the protesting youths and brought the situation under control. It added that STF is monitoring the situation to avert any ugly incidence on commuters plying the road. Security agents, the statement added, promised to apprehend those behind the attack. Meanwhile, Chair-

man of Barki Ladi Local Government Area, Hon. Emmanuel Loman, has accused members of the STF of connivance in the attack. Addressing a press conference yesterday in Jos, Loman said survivors of the attack have identified a police corporal attached with the task force as one of the attackers. According to him, the corporal, identified as Salisu Gidado, serving in Tatu village, dressed exactly like his accomplices (the attackers).

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Violence: Woman flees Maiduguri AFOLABI GAMBARI

ersonal safety and perception of government’s insensitivity to the violent activities of the Boko Haram Islamic sect have led a Maiduguribased woman, Mrs. Olukemi Ogbonna, to hurriedly vacate the city. Mrs. Ogbonna, who spoke to National Mirror yesterday, said she had opted to relocate to Lagos against her wish. “Relocation could, most times, mean dislocation, but I have resolved to leave Maiduguri for good in the interest of my safety,” the woman said, adding: “It would have been a different matter if the government is committed to ending

Jang advises 36 states on revenue generation

Group wants Nasarawa bloodletting probed IGBAWASE UKUMBA LAFIA

JAMES ABRAHAM JOS

overnor Jonah Jang of Plateau State has urged the 36 states of the federation to strengthen their Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) so as to be economically and financially viable. Jang said a situation whereby the 36 states rely on the Federal Government for survival was not healthy for the country’s development, hence the need to reverse the trend. He spoke shortly after inspecting facilities for the take off of full automation of the Plateau State Board of Internal Revenue operations in Jos. He said strategies aimed at boosting the IGR was the only way the 36 states of the federation could free themselves from depending on the federal allocation for survival. Governor Jang, however, said his administration would diversify the Plateau State revenue sources. He said: “We can’t continue to depend on oil money from the Federal Government for our survival. I hope my colleagues in other states will do what we are doing here in Plateau.” The governor, who registered and collected his own Tax Payer’s Identification card, said the project, when fully completed, would block loopholes that had been identified as sources of revenue loss.

the menace of the terrorists but unfortunately, that is not the case at the moment.” She expressed dismay over the Federal Government’s stance on not negotiating with Boko Haram. Mrs. Ogbonna said: “We see them almost every day and they appear on the loose and we feel the heat as well. But it is disheartening to hear the government say members of the Boko Haram sect are faceless. Indigenes and non-indigenes feel unsafe all the time.” Asked if she would return to Maiduguri soon despite her family’s affinity with the otherwise peaceful city, Mrs Ogbonna said: “Of course, I will not rule it out. But let peace return to the city first.”

Gombe State Governor Ibrahim Dankwambo(right) presenting cash to a beneficiary of the conditional cash transfer under the Millennium Development Goals in Gombe, yesterday. PHOTO: NAN

Alleged N15bn fraud: Judge admits sensitive documents in Bafarawa’s trial ISE-OLUWA IGE ABUJA

ustice Bello Abbas of the Sokoto State High Court has admitted in evidence, the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between the state government and 23 local council chairmen in the N15 billion corruption suit against former Governor Attahiru Bafarawa and 15 others by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). Also tendered in the court was the cash book of the Ministry of Local Government, which was allegedly used by the former Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Alhaji

Muhammadu Maigari Dingyadi, to withdraw funds from the local government joint account. Among those standing trial alongside Bafarawa on a 47-count charge for breach of trust, misappropriation of public funds and money laundering, are Alhaji Nasiru Dalhatu Bafarawa, Alhaji Isa Sadiq Achida, Hajia Aishatu Binji, Sen. Salihu Bakwai, Alhaji Salihu Maibuhu Gunmi, Adamu Gurori, Alhaji Adamu Gurori, Alhaji Habibu Halilu Modaci, and Sambo Bello Danchadi. Others are Alhaji Abdullahi Ahmed Bida, Chief Mike Umeh, Alhaji Umaru Kwambo, Shehu Koko, Ubale Yahaya, Alhaji Mai-

gari Dingyadi and Alhaji Tukur Alkali. During cross examination by the lead prosecuting counsel, Chief Jacob Ochidi, at the resumed sitting of the court, the state Auditor General, Alhaji Yusuf Nawawi, said Bafarawa, Dingyadi and former Commissioner for Finance, the late Alhaji Garba Mohammed, signed the MoU on behalf of the government on one hand, while the former 23 local council chairmen signed the document on the other hand. He told the court that the MoU was certified by the current SSG, Alhaji Sahabi Isa Gada, as the certified true copy,

while the cash book was certified as true copy by the Director of Finance and supply in the Ministry of Local Government, Alhaji Ibrahim Umar.

group, the Migili Cultural and Development Association, has called on the Nasarawa State Government to set up a judicial panel of inquiry to investigate the remote and immediate causes of last week’s communal clash. The group said the crisis led to the wanton destruction of several lives and property worth millions of naira belonging to its members at Agyaragu in Jenkwe Development Area of the state. In a statement issued yesterday in Lafia, the state capital, by its national president, Mr. David Musha, the group said: “We believe that constituting the panel of inquiry will enable the government identify perpetrators of the violence and their sponsors, as well as punish them accordingly, irrespective of their positions, to serve as deterrent to others.”

800 corps members redeploy from Kano AUGUSTTINE MADU-WEST KANO

bout 800 of the 2,129 National Service Youth Corps (NYSC) members deployed to Kano State this year have sought and got redeployment on grounds of insecurity. This is just as the state governor, Dr. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, warned that no corps member posted to government establish-

ments should be rejected. The state NYSC Coordinator, Alhaji Bashier Yakassai, spoke yesterday in a chat with journalists shortly after the passing out parade of Batch ‘C’. He said: “As at now, about 800 corps members have redeployed out of the 2,129 posted to Kano State. The doors are still open to whoever wishes to be redeployed for one reason or the other, this is in line with the NYSC guideline.”

Wednesday, November 28, 2012

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Politics

For two years, it’s been tough and challenging – Aregbesola

14,15&16

State police, devolution of powers divide govs OBIORA IFOH ABUJA

he Nigerian Governors Forum (NGF) yesterday rose from its meeting with a major disagreement on the vexed issues of state police and power devolution. The meeting which lasted for about five hours at the Rivers State Lodge was attended by most of the governors.

In a communiqué read by the chairman of the forum, Governor Rotimi Amaechi, the governors said that they deliberated extensively on several issues which include devolution of powers, revenue allocation, local government autonomy, land use act, National Youth Service (NYSC) scheme act and security. Amaechi said that discussions on the issues and

others relevant to the constitution review are still ongoing, adding that members also reviewed a number of other issues including polio eradication and agreed to continue dialoguing with all stakeholders. Speaking to journalists after the meeting, Imo State governor, Rochas Okorocha said the governors failed to agree on most of the issues deliberated, particularly state police and devolution

of powers. He said: “We deliberated on so many issues and we did not arrive on any particular decision on any matter but we are hoping to do so very soon. On the issue of state police, we have divided opinions, some people believe that we should have state police and others said no, explaining that state police in the hands of politicians might be abused, while others believe that

state police is the best way to handle the increasing security crisis in the country. We should encourage all segments of smaller police. I think there is the need to distinguish the responsibility of the federal police and state police. “On the issues of power devolution, we have not taken any position, but we

PDP denies complicity on Borno crisis FELIX NWANERI

Benue State governor, Gabriel Suswam (left) and Hon. Bem Tseen, signing the oath of office, during the swearing in of newly inaugurated local government chairmen at the IBB Square, Makurdi, yesterday.

Tukur expresses worry over insecurity

ROTIMI FADEYI ABUJA

ational Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, yesterday said the party is worried about the growing security challenge in the country. Tukur, who spoke with State House Correspondents after leading a delegation of South Africa’s African National Congress (ANC) to meet with President Goodluck Jonathan, said from the ward level, members of the party were not happy with the security situation in the country. He, however, expressed confidence that the security agencies are competent to tackle the problem. His words: “We are very

concerned about growing insecurity but political parties are not security organisations. We are concerned about what is happening, so right from the ward level, we are not happy. “The security organisations, which are there to primarily protect the people, I am sure, are doing what they are supposed to do. Ours is to ensure that our members are sensitised to be security conscious. We are also encouraging them to give useful information that can help bring these miscreants to book. It is not a political party’s role to dabble into security.” Speaking on the collaboration between the PDP and ANC, Tukur said that the two parties will work together to tackle the challenges of employment, edu-

cation, health and agriculture in the continent. Meanwhile, the PDP has congratulated its National Treasurer, Bala Kaoje, for his election as the national president of the Association of Professional Bodies of Nigeria (APBN). In statement by the National Publicity Secretary of the party, Chief Olisa Metuh, the PDP commended Kaoje’s leadership qualities, describing him as a worthy ambassador. The party said: “A golden fish has no hiding place. As the former Minister of Sports, he served the country diligently. As a member of the House of Representatives, he distinguished himself. When our great party decided on him as the best hand for our treasury, he left no one in doubt. Now,

the APBN has elected him as its president. He is indeed a worthy ambassador. This is no doubt an honour to him, to his state, to our great party and to the nation at large.

believe that power should be devolved as the federal government is carrying too much than it can handle. And since majority of our people live at the state level, we can devolve more powers to the states and to the local governments, where the services and facilities can move faster and touch the people.”

he Borno State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has denied that it had hands in the insecurity crisis rocking the state. Reacting to an allegation by the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP)-led government in the state that the PDP was behind the persisting violence in Borno State, a group in the party, PDP Elites Vanguard, said the party is composed of peaceful individuals who would not subscribe to violence of any form. The group further said the allegation made by the state Commissioner for Information, Inuwa Bwala, was just a cover up for the inefficiency of the state government. In a statement signed by Mishelia Dili and Hassan Kolo, the group’s coordinator and secretary,

respectively, the PDP Elite accused the state government of playing a tune being dictated by the former governor of the state, Ali Modu Sheriff, covering the ANPP’s non-performance. The group added it was unfortunate that a highly sensitive matter as the rising cases of killings in Borno State is being politicised for personal gains. It said: “What they are trying to do is to shift the people’s focus from their non-performance and present themselves as defacto leaders of Borno politics. “While we concede that Sheriff had been influential in the past politics of the state, it would be doublejeopardy to believe that he still possess political clout in the state. We therefore enjoin the Presidency and indeed the national leadership of the PDP not to fall prey to any ambitious politician whose political lexicon has always been about ‘me, myself and I.’

Delta SIEC: Keyamo sues Uduaghan, Assembly ISE-OLUWA IGE

agos lawyer, Festus Keyamo, has dragged the Delta State governor, Emmanuel Uduaghan, and the House of Assembly before the state high court over the law they just passed, stipulating the age limit of 45 and 40 years respectively for candidates jostling for appointments as the chairman and members of the Delta State Independent Electoral Commission.

Keyamo is contending that the law is in breach of the provisions of the 1999 constitution as amended. He is arguing that the 1999 Constitution clearly stipulated the age limit to be 30 years for any interested candidate for the positions and that the Delta State government has no power to increase or decrease the said age limit. Also named as defendants in the suit is the Attorney General of the state. In a statement made available to newsmen yes-

terday in Abuja, Keyamo said he has no interest, whatsoever, in any of the affected positions nor would he accept, if offered. He however argued that he is under obligation to protect the nation’s constitution against any subversion. Besides, he is contending that the law, as it is, has disenfranchised majority of eligible Deltans from showing interest in the positions. The suit which was reportedly filed yesterday is yet to be assigned to any judge for hearing.

Politics

Wednesday, November 28, 2012

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

For two years, it’s been tough and CONTINUED FROM PAGE 3 process, their true political weight and influence became obvious. As I said we are not the same with them. We are a product of the struggle of the people for emancipation, for deliverance from the yoke of exploitation, of oppression, of bad government and we cannot therefore but be different. We do not see ourselves as an overlord. We see ourselves as part and parcel of the people. That is the meaning of the mystery that you saw at the 2011 elections and nothing has happened to affect that. People have been observing the things you do and they tend to see you as a radical. First is the seemingly radical change of Osun State to the State of Osun and the whole concept of “Ogbeni Till Day Break” that stretches from midnight till morning and many more. Do you see yourself as a radical? The last ‘Ogbeni Till Day Break’ that we had on a work day was an aberration. The one before was not during the week, so it should not be seen as a pattern. It is the fact of it and its organisation that must be looked at. In this clime, executives in their liberal and general sense don’t always put themselves out for people to quiz, and here is a man who gives the people the opportunity to say all what they want to say. That is the most important thing and not the day of the week the programme takes place. Why did you suddenly declare holiday for the Muslims to celebrate Hijira; something you don’t have in the North where they appeared to be more Islamic? If my actions are radical and people want to so tag me, I will only object if those things that I do are not well-thoughtout. What I want to tell you is that I work hard on my programmes and policies. For as long as I convince myself that my programme will benefit the people, I go on and I will not unnecessarily go into the debate on whether I am a radical or not. It is left to whoever wants to judge me to do so. When we set out to change Osun State to the State of Osun, there was no undue excitement about it. We are not the only state in the world that refers to a state structure the way we do. Who is the radical now, is it the one that says that look at how the world does this thing or the one that says no we want to be different from the rest of the world? There are states that address themselves the way we do. Malaysia does, India does, ditto Germany, Mexico, Brazil, United States of America and so on. They don’t call their sates the way we do. So, why must we therefore continue. It was so before because we had a government that will not even allow expression, but now that we have democracy must we continue? What does the constitution says? The correct name for a state is just ‘the state’ without any prefix or suffix. Also, I am a Yoruba man. The only way you can call this state meaningfully is the way we have called it. Where then is radicalism? We did not made it an issue, if we had done that, probably they will say we were seeking attention, but we went about it quietly, but some people thought they could scandalise us and they are making it an issue. It was almost one year after we have so done, that an issue came out of it. This thing began on February 20, 2011 without any much of noise. It was only this year that some people thought that they can make a mountain out of a mole hill. If I had made a fuss out of it, they could have described me as an attention seeker or something. We introduced it and we were going on as if nothing happen. I have not placed any advertorial on how you should address my state. If it was such an issue, I could take a page, but we did not, and every time they ask us we try to explain. For over 40 years which state has glorified Christian festivals and traditional festivals the way we have done in Nigeria? When we did, it did not attract any attention. Why must the Muslim festival now attract attention? We organised fireworks in this state in nine towns to herald the year 2012; a programme that lasted for 30 minutes in each towns. It was seen everywhere. It was marvellous. The excitement was unparalleled, nothing like that has happened in the last 40 years. I challenge anybody to say that in their conscious life any government, be it local, state or federal did that. We were the first government to celebrate New

Aregbesola

Year the way that the entire world do. That did not elicit any comment if not for mischief, and I am sorry to use that word, why should an innocuous celebration of a festival that a section of our people have been doing for well over 100 years elicit such comment. What could therefore be the basis of the hoopla? I can’t even see it. Would you describe the recent event when you received scores of opposition party members into your party as a mark of acceptance of your programme? Again, you referred to things that Awolowo re-invented and one of them is free education. To what extent is your government consolidating on that, such that the people will be talking about your own legacies in this area? These things come natural and you don’t make extraordinary effort to attract it. The reason is simple. I am the product of the people. There is no way a part of the whole can be different from the whole. If you can visualise that, it will be clear to you why I am who I am. If you look at me, you may want to say that this man is spending a whole lot of time doing this to get this result, not at all. I participate in people’s activities, I go to their houses, I immerse myself

FOR OVER 40 YEARS, WHICH STATE HAS GLORIFIED

CHRISTIAN FESTIVALS AND TRADITIONAL FESTIVALS THE

WAY WE HAVE DONE IN NIGERIA?

WHEN WE DID, IT DID NOT ATTRACT ANY ATTENTION

into their lives and through that I know their innermost feelings, their fears, their desires and I struggle to use the weight of the office to ameliorate those challenges and through that, people will identify with me than somebody who is alien. If you understand why I have a lot of people around me, it’s not just starting. During the build up to the election of 2007, we challenged the incumbent administration then to a public street walk. We even said that if he was afraid elsewhere, let us go to his home town, but nobody picked it up. So if we are so confident about the popularity of our person and programmes among the mass of the people when we were still aspiring, what of now that we are the incumbent? I don’t dissociate myself from the people, I associate with their wishes, their desires, their aspirations, their fears, anxiety and join hands with them to meet their aspiration, eliminate the fears and whittle down the anxieties. In the course of it, there can’t be any doubt as to the fact that the result will be affection and adulation. I do not want to claim personal victory. I give victory to God for giving me the capacity to do it. As for Omisore, I commend you for your boldness. Omisore should be forgotten because with all the facts about his utterance, what did he do? He denied. A man that could not own up to what he said what else do I need to do other than to just ignore him. Omisore is engaged in what is called adult delinquency. As to the other issue, the Yoruba’s idea of a nation would not accept mischief in their community. We are a welfarist and communal people that care for the condition of all members of their community. It is a common feature in what we called pre-industrial society, but we are realising now that even in spite of our assimilation into industrial and modern age, we have not lost the affinity, the care, the concern for one another to the chagrin of the so-called de-

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Politics

Wednesday, November 28, 2012

challenging – Aregbesola WE HAVE DEMYSTIFIED GOVERNMENT, WE HAVE

TAKEN IT FROM THE REALM OF ESOTERIC TO THAT OF LIFE AND ORDINARINESS, AND IT IS IN THE UNDERSTANDING OF IT THAT YOU WILL APPRECIATE WHAT WE ARE DOING istics of our people which Awolowo patented.

veloped societies. No matter how insensitive you want to be as individuals, you will realise that you can’t just take your mind off the plight of not only your immediate family, but also that of the extended family. That is a cardinal custom of the Yoruba. We have passion for one another. That was what Awolowo used to re-invent the welfarist approach to government and that was what made him popular. It is that tradition that the first set of progressive leaders in UPN adopted and utilised and that was what the next set again adopted. The Segun Osoba era and so on. That was what Tinubu honed to an admirable height and that is the path most of us today in our states are pursuing. It is the minimum that Yoruba can even tolerate. Anything to the contrary will not fly with the people. We are doing our best but not to supplant Awolowo legacies, but that we are not supplanting his legacies does not mean we are not building on it. For example, we feed students in primary one to four now with nutritious meal that develops their brain and body. Not just any meal, but one developed by nutritionists as the best for people in that formative age. That is why we have raised the grants for primary schools from meagre N7.4million per annum which we met, to N454 million per anum. This is not only happening in primary schools, ditto the secondary school and tertiary. We have taken education as a major programme of our administration. It is so major that what is going into it is out of proportion with our income. The bulk of the bond we are pursuing at the SEC is to develop basic education infrastructure. The reason why that is so is that we realised that there can’t be any future for the society that does not develop a competent, properly prepared, well motivated succeeding generation. And the ambition, expectation is not to supplant Awolowo, but to build on his legacies. So we don’t see ourselves as separate, it is a continuum. We are continuing the process that is the major character-

There seems to be a lot of hype on your achievements. May be you want to tell us the intangibles that your administration has done in the past two years as well as the actuals. I want to challenge you to send your best and most trusted reporter to our state. Send a no-nonsense objective, factual correspondent to come here and do an inspection for a week. You will realise that there is no hype here. As a matter of fact we are under-reported. So it is a misinformation but there is no way that I can say it that will make meaning, but I want you to take up the challenge. Talk to people, ordinary women, taxi drivers, discuss about us so as to convince yourself whether there is hype indeed or a campaign to smear us. Which government had ever thought of intervening in the mass unemployment the way we did? It is not a joke. To even select 20,000 without sentiment out of over 250,000 applicants was a huge task but we did and the people understood, they saw it to the extent that there is no household here in this state that does not benefit from it. Through that alone N200 million enters this economy every month that never entered it before. School feeding alone draws N270 million every month. It was not so before, if at all anything like that happened it would be a fraction of that. If you see the women engaged, when you compare their appearance with the women that were there before, you will ask yourself where they get this idea from. How I wish you were here yesterday to see the uproarious reception we received in Ilesa. It was not an Ilesa affair; it has been the pattern everywhere. That was the eighth edition of work to live. Ask yourself which government is independent in Nigeria to mobilise the people for physical fitness. It could be ordinary to you, but as ordinary as you think the people see it as a major effort at getting them to really live well. Is it because we did not seek editorial all over the place? We have done too many things. Beside the social, look at our intervention in the provision of physical infrastructural facilities. There is no local government here, where we are not working, doing things in quantum that has never ever happened. There is no hype here. We are embarking on school re-development programme and all these are beyond the capacity of the state government. Through ingenuous financial engineering we are going on. Is it the position of our culture that you want to talk about? Is it the fact that no government has recognised traditional worshipers like we are doing today in Osun in all public functions? So, if some people now find offence in our own populist approach what do we do? Must we stop because of them? We won’t say yes to them. So it is left to them how they want to react to us. We will keep on doing what we think is in the interest of our people. How others relate to us is their own choice. We would not slack or falter in pursuing that which gives the greatest joy to the greatest number of our people. As long as freedom for all, life more abundant is our goal and aspiration, no other thing matters. We have changed the face of agriculture here. We are multiplying multimillionaires among farmers. We have demystified government, we have taken it from the realm of esoteric to that of life and ordinariness, and it is in the understanding of it that you will appreciate what we are doing. We are with the people responding to their needs and aspirations. How will you take the fact that no

government has ever invested in security as we have done? We are the first government that will purchase sophisticated equipment for security management. Besides several patrol vans, we have APCs and they are the type that can enter anywhere. They are not the bogus type that you see all about. We have a character that you must come close to appreciate. From afar, you cannot judge us properly. So, if some people react to us, those who think that we are grandstanding, we have no apology. You raised the alarm on the state of treasury that you met on ground. How have you been able to raise the volume of IGR without necessarily taxing the people and since you came into office you have travelled out of the country trying to draw the attention of investors to certain areas where they can be of assistance to the state, how fruitful has it been? First of all, Osun is 21 years old, but Osun as a people cannot be less than 1,500 years, it can be more. Do you know that no government has dredged the water ways? With the rains of 2011 we started massive dredging exercise. Flooding simply became improbable. When we began it was like a joke. The equipment that we deployed was so novel that they constituted excitement. People were struggling to have a look at the equipment we brought to dredge areas that have been taken to be potential lagoons. Nobody gave much of attention to our effort outside the Nigeria Institute for Meteorological, who recognised us with a letter, while the Ministry of Environment gave us an award. We have not stopped; we knew the implication of blocked canals, waterways and streams. The fact that people are no longer under the fear of flooding in their houses is enough for us. There was never a time I had problem with financial management. I had the benefit of serving under the best financial engineer any society could produce and that is Asiwaju Bola Tinubu. Look at Lagos, the revenue of Lagos before Tinubu was N200 million per month and the allocation was N600 million. So the totality of what Lagos used to earn in 1999 before our assumption could not even pay salaries of civil servants. That was what we met and without any extraordinary measure we succeeded in raising the revenue profile of Lagos from that paltry level to what it is today. Something that is beyond anybody’s imagination and the man talking to you was part of that administration. So why would I therefore be frightened by a revenue base of N200 million which I met. The insolvent condition of the CONTINUED ON PAGE 16

Politics

Wednesday, November 28, 2012

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I’ve plugged financial leakages – Aregbesola CONTINUED FROM PAGE 15 state government economy and the parlous nature of the economy generally, I knew that was the situation and I simply rose to it. That was why I went ahead to initiate OYES two weeks after assumption of office. That was even when we were borrowing money to pay salary of workers. So, for us to embark on such a huge expenditure programme will tell you that we were prepared. With the background that I had, it was to me a challenge that must be overcome. I took it in my stride and I moved on. By the fourth month of our assumption of office, we have refinanced that and were moving on. People don’t even know that not appointing commissioners was part of the fund conservation strategy. We kept on and let me tell you something, we told the world how we had been conserving resources. For Osun, in terms of fund management, it’s been quite appreciable and satisfactory. That is a clear manifestation of our dexterity. I give the glory to God for giving us the capacity. Osun is 34th on the allocation table. The IGR was nothing to write home about. We plugged the leakages to be where we are now. We earn about N650 million monthly now from N200million and we are still moving up. What I must say is that we are not doing badly. It is tough and challenging, but life itself is meaningful when you have challenges to grapple with. So we are making the best of it. On my travels, the most remarkable which I must not fail to say is the trip to Germany which has been very encouraging. It has been extremely productive. We will be the first state in Nigeria to have the benefit of a return visit at official level from another state or from a counterpart state from another country. Recently we visited the state of Saxony-Anhalt, we went in search of agricultural cooperation and relationship. We visited an old institution that was established in the 16th century and all of them came to Osun. The Dean of the College of Agriculture, Geo-physical Scientists and agriculturists and officials of the state Ministry of Agriculture, the president of the cooperative associations in the state, they all came and spent about a week or so here. It is the most successful of our trips. We went to China, looking for a full relationship. It led to some positive things which we have not been able to fully tap. Not because of them, but because of the challenges here. For example, we got an offer of five locomotives, 40 wagons and coaches to support our agricultural produce which we are yet to receive the green light from the Federal Government to bring. We went to Zambia to look at their agricultural method, particularly animal husbandry. The cattle rearing genetics as well as the Oloba ranch programme which will lead to be development of ram cow fattening is on and it is successful too, though not at state to state level, but an individual collaboration with the state. It is a visit that has attracted farmers in Zambia to participate and collaborate with us. We have signed an agreement with a council in UK and I can’t even say that any of our foreign trips has not been successful, because we get one or two benefits from such trips, if not directly as in the case of Germany, exposure itself is learning and it is quite refreshing. May be it’s because of the presence of Alpha Beta? There is no Alpha Beta in Osun. Alpha Beta is not on ground here and that is a clear manifestation of our dexterity. I give the glory to God for giving us the capacity. Osun is 34th on the allocation table. The IGR was nothing to write home about. We plugged the leakages to be where we are now. We earn about N650 million monthly now from N200 million and we are still moving up. What I must say is that we are not doing badly. It is tough and challenging, but life itself is meaningful when you have challenges to grapple with. So we are making the best of it. Was there any time you went on medical trip? Yes I told the world that I went for medical check up in India. There was hoopla about it and I said I went for medical check up. If there is any truth to the rumour of cancer you won’t see me here talking to you. I want to believe that a cancerous patient would not be as lively as I am. Let’s talk about the verbal explosives between you and

over Nigeria. If people don’t know this, probably we are not ripe for democracy. And I believe we are ripe for democracy. No nationality is averse to our desire for freedom and commitment to growth and healthy engagement. Back to election issue, man proposes, God disposes. The truth of any idea about human being is to attempt and go on. When you win, you must be allowed to enjoy the joy of victory. Ideally, as a victor, joy associated with victory and those of us, who have lost too, have taken the result with equanimity. Joy of victory is permitted in democracy such as sadness of losing. What do we do? We have accepted what God has done. We made efforts; it did not work. What do we do? We won’t lose our sleep because of that. But nobody can deny the fact that we put in our best. And we will continue. That is what democracy is all about. You cannot even appreciate your worth until you suffer this sort of experience. It is only when you have such experience that you will appreciate your limitation and you work on it. To us, we are going on.

Aregbesola

THE MOST IMPORTANT THING FOR US IS HOW WE USE THE OPPORTUNITY WE HAVE TO

ELEVATE OUR PEOPLE, OUR LAND AND MAKE SURE WE ARE PART OF HUMANITY IN THE REAL SENSE OF IT.

ONE IS

DISTURBED BY THIS GENERAL LACK OF DEVELOPMENT IN OUR LAND Mimiko... I will correct the impression, one from the notion of ‘verbal exchange’ between me and another person. There was a misinformation and a response was made to correct this misinformation. It was reported that you made the statement over regional integration by ACN governors in the South-West. Was it said that I made the verbal explosion? That is incorrect and I think the proper thing to do is to situate the event of that day and there shouldn’t be doubt from those of you who are managers of information dissemination as to event you are reporting. But to correct the impression, there was nothing like that. And nothing was taken personal. Meanwhile, the proper question to be asked is: How do you think it can be prosecuted in the light of the result in Ondo State? There was never a time that I made Ondo election a personal thing or agenda. That is one correction I want to make. I think because of the long military rule we don’t sometimes understand what democracy is. Democracy involves contest and competition in the most mature manner, of ideas, promises, programmes and platforms. That is democracy. Democracy is not straightjacketed. It is not an unquestionable ideal that you cannot contest. Democracy is about multiplicity of ideas, programmes and policies as well as contesting for relevance. If you know this, you will understand that it is natural for me to desire for my party to rule not only Ondo but all

You made a statement last year by being the only ACN controlled state that ensured the presidential candidate of your party won in your state. We heard that you made that statement and that it was not as if Lagos could not make the same statement, but why did you go against your party’s position? There was no party position. So, it will be wrong of me to accept that the party had a pro-Jonathan position. I was involved in all the negotiations. Our negotiations were with Buhari not with Jonathan and the negotiation collapsed. I won’t say more than that. I therefore, in compliance with my party’s position, ensured that our candidate won in the state. There was no understanding. It was not as if anybody broke party’s agreement, No. let us leave it like that. First of all, one of the issues I adumbrated during the campaign is the fact that Yoruba man is in his complete… now and in the remote part of Kwara. That cannot be the be-all and the end-all. Wherever you see them, Yoruba people love one another. They accommodate other ethnic groups but reject being subjugated. This led to a war that scattered them to where you find them today. But they are complete where you find them. Yoruba people have oriki (panegyrics) that when they chant in Owo will link you farther to Egba, or Ijebu or Ekiti. All Yoruba people are like that. So if we want to integrate all it means we are formalizing a process that was natural there before. It is an economic programme that cannot be affected adversely by anybody. It was natural. Traders will go to Owena Market whether any government wants it or not. Ditto for Akure market. We are looking at a programme where all our governments can work and support ourselves officially with government resources. That is all. And from what I have read he has not said he would not be part of it. We only expect more vigorous pursuit of the programme from him. That is all. There is no problem and there won’t be any problem. We only believe that it would have been better if there is no doubt as to the conviction and commitment of a government. Nothing more. Lagos is a commercial centre in the West African subregion. It is a huge market for those of us who are within 150 to 200 kilometres radius of that market to maximise the market opportunity that Lagos offers. If we fail to maximise the commercial opportunity, it is sad. The integration is about how to organise ourselves to take maximum advantage of our proximity to Lagos. The most important thing for us is how we use the opportunity we have to elevate our people, our land and make sure we are part of humanity in the real sense of it. One is disturb by this general lack of development in our land. I am so disturbed that no other thing interests me outside how I can make of the opportunity I have to overcome the debilitating issue of underdevelopment and poverty that we have here. That is my honest interest, view and passion. All my efforts are towards the objectives of getting our people out of the rot that we have unfortunately found ourselves.

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Views

Wednesday, November 28, 2012

Placing Gallup report on Nigeria in perspective PUBLIC DOMAIN

DELE

SETEOLU

deleseteolu@nationalmirroronline.net (08033137577 SMS only)

he debate on crisis of corruption in Nigeria has re-emerged in the public domain. A foreign organization, Gallup, in its first report on ‘Global states of mind: New metrics for world leaders’, said 94 percent of Nigerians believe there is widespread corruption in government. The poll rated the country as the second most corrupt in the world. The poll shows that only Kenyans believe their government is more corrupt. About 96 percent of Kenyans affirmed there is widespread corruption in their government while the figure for Singapore is 5 percent. Singaporeans believe their country is the least corrupt in the world. Gallup noted that the revolutions in Tunisia and Egypt, where GDP was increasing, suggest that world governing elite need more than GDP and other traditional economic metrics to administer their countries. To Jim Clifton, CEO of Gallup, “Economic data are becoming less and less valuable because they tend to be outdated by the time they are made available. More significantly, GDP is less valuable because leaders now need to

know much more than what people are spending. They need to know what they are thinking; GDP isn’t enough if you are watching for instability…GDP isn’t enough if leaders are trying to figure out levels of hunger, hopelessness or suffering”. To him, the United Nations did not see those revolutions neither did the World Economic Forum nor the World Bank. Gallup’s world poll spans more than 150 countries, territories; annually capturing what more than 98 percent of the world’s adult population is thinking on topics of basic needs and job creation. Its world poll data set includes 1million interviews since 2005. Respondents were asked questions on law and order, food and shelter, institutions and infrastructure, good jobs, well being, brain drain and quality GDP growth. The methodology of the poll is satisfactory in the sense that Nigerians, through interviews, conveyed their views on specific issues that affects their well-being. The research outcome is unique in the sense that it is based on the perception of state actors by Nigerians. It is difficult to flaw this process as self serving or meant to disparage the country. It suggests the mindsets of Nigerians about their leaders. The governance process in Africa, including Nigeria, has often been characterized by the arrogance of state actors and their disinterest in the preferences and thinking of the populace. The state actors behave like philosopher-kings,

THE RESEARCH OUTCOME IS UNIQUE IN THE SENSE THAT IT IS BASED ON THE PERCEPTION OF STATE

ACTORS BY NIGERIANS who are all knowing and beyond errors. Meanwhile, the crisis of corruption has often been posed as a major crisis in Nigeria. The nature of this crisis is explained in terms of maladministration, social infrastructure collapse, alienation of the people, increasing material poverty and social decay. The recent report on Nigeria’s oil sector that $7 billion worth of oil theft is recorded in the country annually and the fuel subsidy scam are often cited as major instances of the decadent level of theft by state actors and their cronies. The crisis of corruption, however, is a fall-out of the crisis of the Nigerian state. The rentier nature of Nigerian state creates a non-producer ruling class that relies on state apparatuses for political and economic leverage. The Nigerian state lacks autonomy and is vulnerable to the struggles of fractions of the governing class to control state structures with a view to structuring the primitive accumulation process for the dominant class. While legal frameworks and political

will to deal with corruption are useful, it is imperative to recreate the state from dependency to autonomy. It is also important to shift from the rentier state character and mentality of state actors to a state that is involved in the production process based on internal capital and democratized access to state resources by various social groups. President Goodluck Jonathan, in his last media chat, reiterated his commitment to anti-corruption campaign, especially in government. The EFCC has been less active and is less diligently prosecuting cases under its charge. The size of the Presidency is huge with a major cost implication for cost government. The Presidency itself is perceived as a major corruption centre characterized by leakages, profligacy, excessive overhead cost, huge salaries and allowances and frivolous foreign travels. The state and local governments in Nigeria hardly deliver on social dividends. The state and local infrastructure are decadent; the state actors at these levels appropriate resources without significant impact on the living conditions of working people, artisans, students, urban poor and rural peasants. These governments largely rely on the centre for oil wealth, hardly self sustaining and contemptuous of the people. The foregoing political economy interpretation has been useful to deconstructing the origin of corruption, the nature of Nigerian state and its implications for corrupt practices in Nigeria.

In defence of okada men AGATHA NWOKOCHA

t rained heavily the previous night and as l stepped into the car of my generous landlord to hit Victoria Island, my place of work; just outside the gate, the sight was horrible. There was total blackout, besides the road was in a terrible condition. Many cars got stuck in the muddy road. Suddenly, okada men came to the rescue. Honestly, they were the only happy people around. Happy because they were on high demand and making more profit, as they delivered their services. Some of them may have muttered a few prayers like, ‘Lord give us tomorrow, another heavy rain’. Even car owners, going late to work or appointment due to heavy traffic congestion, packed their cars to beg for their services. Blessed indeed is the one that patronizes okada, they shall never be late to work, they shall be free from queries, their jobs shall be secured and promotion, if there be, shall be assured. After all, in a situation like this, cars are of no use. No fuel, and the roads are bad. It is suffering and smiling as l curled inside the car in regret. Yes I remember about 15 years ago as a Duty Continuity Announcer with the Broadcasting Corporation of Abia, l wrote a commentaries totally against okada in the Umuahia metropolis. They flew in and to all directions, causing accidents; and l saw them as dare devils that needed to be stopped. I never

OKADA IS THE ONLY AVAILABLE SOLUTION TO OUR TRANSPORTATION NIGHTMARES:

BAD ROADS, FUEL SCARCITY AND TRAFFIC CONGESTION appreciated them. But here I am in the almighty Lagos eating my words. The clear truth is that in a place like Lagos, okada should not be banned. It is just unrealistic, no matter how fast we want to transform Lagos. This is not a case of fixing only Oshodi. We are talking about movement in all parts of Lagos. Okada is the only available solution to our transportation nightmares: bad roads, fuel scarcity and traffic congestion. And l make bold to call them honourables. Those giant hearted Nigerians, who in the bid to fend for their families in the midst of harsh economy, take to riding okada riding. Among them are university graduates and professionals, who against their wish, make their honest living through it until they are financially fit to establish their own business. Because they are left unorganized in their operation, criminals and ritualists have sneaked in, thereby tarnishing their noble work. Although their age bracket ranges from

early 20s to late 40s, some of them never rode even bicycle before and many never understand simple English language. In most cases, the streets or destination they take their clients or ply are totally new, if not strange to them. Surprised? Yes, many might just arrive Lagos the previous day or week with their money making machines. The next thing is to hit the roads. Most of their machines are as bad as their monstrous look. They drive without helmets; if there are, it is either for themselves and none for their passengers or the helmets are broken and wire patched. They speed because they want to meet up with the day’s target, and most often, it is their client that compels them to do so. True they maneuver recklessly, go down the road the wrong way, fail to indicate, honk horns at will, especially after heavy lunch with a bottle or two to wash it down. These are some of the pictures the okada men expose you and l, including themselves, due to government negligence. However, how can one sit in his comfort zone, to proclaim a ban on my honorables? Are they no more Lagosians? Come to think of it, they are human beings, fellow citizen for that matter and probably the main population that cast vote for you in trust to make better not miserable their lives. Why must they be tortured and their motorcycles destroyed, motorcycle some of which were bought on hire purchase? Why is it in this our

country that the only laws put in automatic effect without reverse gear pertains only to the poor and marginalized like the okada men? Yes, they went to the extreme to burn down BRT buses, but that was as a counter reaction to what befell them. However it is not justifiable because it is still the masses, the class they belong that use the BRT buses. So it is like hitting their own self. I furiously ask, was okada not a concept of the state government? Like generator, okada is a perfect substitute to buses and taxis because all our roads are like PHCN. So l say go ahead and ban okada if we have a more efficient road transportation system. Go ahead if all our roads are okay and well maintained. Go ahead if there is a lasting solution to traffic congestion. Go ahead if there will be a stable and constant fuel supply. If not, humbly call off the ban. Apologies to my honourable okada men, their families and millions of Lagosians, who were tortured by this law. Dr. NWOKOCHA, chibugwum_nkwachukwu@ymail.com, a media and communication trainer, lives in Lagos Send your views by mail or sms to PMB 10001, Ikoyi, or our Email: mail@ nationalmirroronline.net mirrorlagos@ yahoo.com or 08164966858 (SMS only). The Editor reserves the right to edit and reject views or photographs. Pseudonyms may be used but must be clearly marked as such.

Editorial

Wednesday, November 28, 2012

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Optimising local technological breakthroughs

evelations at the recent Maker Faire Africa Entrepreneurs’ event held in Lagos between November 5 and 6 have further strengthened the widely held belief that geniuses abound in Nigeria, whose combined intellectual output, if properly harnessed, could lead to home-grown technological breakthroughs, eventual industrialization and improved living standards for the populace. Though the star attraction of the fair was a urine-powered generator, the product of the fecund brains of four teenage girls, Duro-Aina Adebola (14), Akindele Abiola (14), Faleke Oluwatoyin (14) and Bello Eniola (15), four other innovations equally excited the organizers. With the inherent potentials in such innovations, our thinking is that now is the appropriate time for the country’s leadership to put in place machineries that will convert them to wealth for both the inventors and the nation. In addition to the urine-powered generator, the other innovations included ‘Wecycler’, the brainchild of Billikiss Abiola (Nigeria) and Jonathan Kola (Kenya). It is a plant capable of recycling aluminium and plastic products. There was also the tricycle called ‘Tuk-tuk Limo’

THE NATION LOSES INESTIMABLE HUMAN CAPITAL TO BRAIN-

DRAIN ON DAILY BASIS jointly produced by Ibrahim Adekunle and Shola Omoniyi, which promises a replacement for ‘Keke Marwa’ if properly reconfigured. The invention is spacious enough to accommodate a maximum of 13 commuters, including the rider. There were hydraulic propelled toys like the dump truck, excavator and helicopter, etc., products of 15-year-old Odo Gerald; as well as the ‘farmking’, a portable processing plant for root crops and grains made by Sulaiman Famro, a 65-year-old engineer. The dieselpowered ‘farmking’ can remotely process crops like cassava, soya bean, sweet potatoes, yam and many other root crops and grains. The innovations also enjoyed a wide appeal; an indication that if given the required attention and properly harnessed, they would assist in the search for solutions to some of the country’s socioeconomic problems. The urinepowered generator, if seriously worked on and mass produced,

would not only help many homes tackle the serious deficit in power supply, but force down the prices of some categories of imported power generating plants, for example. The same applies to the hydraulic toys and the crop processor. For too long, Nigerians have watched helplessly as past inventions and discoveries of citizens were treated with ignominy, as if they were worthless. In some cases, some of the brains behind such works were compelled to relocate to other climes in their desperate search for recognition and appreciation. The country would probably have boasted of its first indigenous car in the late 1990s if the efforts of Ezekiel Izuogu, the engineer who fabricated the ‘Z-600’, the first indigenous car with all-African technology, got the right support from the government and the private sector. Similarly, the late Professor Ayodele Awojobi of the University of Lagos’ Mechanical Engineering Department did not only successfully convert his family’s car from right-hand drive to lefthand drive, but came up with a hybrid vehicle he called ‘Autonov 1’, which was capable of moving in both forward and backward directions with all four pre-exist-

ing gears. Examples of Nigerians who have blazed the trail with their creative talents overseas include Jelani Aliu, the Sokoto born Nigerian who designed the ‘Cherry Volt’ for General Motors in the United Sates; as well as Dr. Patrick Usoro, a prodigious inventor and expert in mechanical and power-train systems, also working for General Motors. Usoro holds over 160 American patents. There is also the USbased researcher, Yemi Adesokan, whose discovery was said to have the potential of changing the ways humans respond to disease pathogens. Adesokan’s efforts was seen as a major breakthrough in the global drive to bring to an end the increasing problem of drug resistance worldwide, particularly in sub Saharan Africa. Indeed, the nation loses inestimable human capital to braindrain on daily basis. The government should show commitment to bridging the gap between intellectual property and societal needs by offering generous support to local inventors. This seems the only way to encourage their efforts, shield them from the gluttony and exploitation of shylock financiers, and make their works beneficial to the nation and the world.

ON THIS DAY November 28, 2002 Suicide bombers blew up an Israeli-owned hotel in Mombasa, Kenya; but their colleagues failed in their attempt to bring down Arkia Israel Airlines Flight 582 with surface-to-air-missiles. The 2002 Mombasa attacks refer to an Israeli-owned hotel and a plane belonging to an Israeli airline in Mombasa, Kenya that were targeted on November 28, 2002. A red all-terrain vehicle crashed through a barrier outside the Paradise Hotel and blew up when it hit the lobby.

November 28, 1987 South African Airways Flight 295 crashed into the Indian Ocean, killing all 159 people on board. An extensive salvage operation was mounted in order to try to recover the flight data recorders, one of which was recovered from a depth of 4,900 metres (16,100 ft)—the deepest successful salvage operation ever conducted. The official inquiry headed by Judge Cecil Margo was unable to determine the cause of the incident, leading to a number of conspiracy theories.

November 28, 1942 In Boston, Massachusetts, United States, a fire in the Cocoanut Grove nightclub killed 492 people. The Cocoanut Grove was Boston’s premier nightclub during the post-Prohibition 1930s and 1940s. The club was the scene of the deadliest nightclub fire in US history, killing 492 people (thirty-two more than the building’s authorized capacity) and injuring hundreds more. It was also the second-worst single-building fire in American history; next to the 1903 Iroquois Theatre fire in Chicago that recorded 602 deaths.

Wednesday, November 28, 2012

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Health & Wellbeing How global fund changed our perception about HIV/AIDS – Community

Coﬀee can reduce risk of cancer –Dr Odukoya

A premature baby undergoing treatment

Premature births still major cause of neonatal death – Experts L ATEEFAH IBRAHIM-ANIMASHAUN

ou might ask why a country like Nigeria still records more premature death of infants, why the viability stage for preterm by is 28 when that of America and Britain are 22 and 24 respectively and why why it remains the country with the second highest neonatal deaths in the world after India. A Pediatrician from Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Prof Edna Iroha answers these questions by saying the pervasiveness of premature deaths in the country is due to poverty, inability of women to attend antenatal clinic where the doctors will be able to monitor the progress of the baby in the womb, infections, malaria, multiple abortion which might lead to the weakness of the cervix, multiple gestation (giving birth to twins or triplet at the same time). The American Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), described that preterm birth as the birth of an infant prior to 37 weeks gestation. It is the most frequent cause of infant death, the leading cause of long-term neurological disabilities in children, and costs the U.S. health care system more than $26 billion each year. 75% of the deaths in developing coun-

tries could be avoided if a few inexpensive treatments were available across the globe, says the report. Some 15 million babies are born premature, which means they are not fully grown and are highly vulnerable to infections and birth complications. 1 million of them will die while many others are disabled – but many of these premature births and deaths are preventable, according to the US March of Dimes Foundation, the Partnership for Maternal, Newborn and Child Health, Save the Children and the World Health Organisation (WHO). Prof Iroha identified other common causes of preterm births to include hypertension, diabetes, genital tract infection, cigarette smoking in pregnancy, history of premature births and spontaneous abortions among others. “When there is premature birth, the lungs, eyes, intestines of the baby may not be matured enough and that out of all these organs, the lungs is the most important. In the developing countries, they have machines to help the baby survive”, she said. She said infections that are caused by bacteria can affect the womb of a woman which weakens the amniotic sack and the water bursts, and the baby is born prematurely. In addition, if the early birth resulted

from induction or C-section due to a medical condition, such as placental abruption, the effects of that condition could affect the baby’s health and survival also — such as if there was oxygen deprivation before the delivery. “Another factor can be if doctors had time before the birth to treat the baby with steroids to speed up lung development. The patient/mother gets the steroids, which then passes through the placenta to the fetus. A very premature baby treated with steroids before birth is more likely to survive than a baby born premature unexpectedly, because the steroids can make a difference in whether or not the baby is able to breathe outside the womb”. Preventing preterm birth remains a challenge; however, clinical research continues to identify ways to help women reduce the number of babies being born too early. Prof Iroha advised the government to make health care affordable for pregnant women and children below 5 years as this will reduce the problem contributed by poverty to premature deaths in the country. She urged the government of the country to show political will by making health care for pregnant woman and children less than five years affordable. The government should also train birth

attendants on how to treat the women whenever they show up with cases arround their pregnancy, build more hospitals and health centers and create a malaria control centre. “Poverty, ignorance and diseases are a continuous circle. Illiteracy will not help any woman at all and whenever the women are properly empowered, they will be able to seek good health care”, Prof. Iroha further said. Research by CDC also showed that out of the asseessment of 283 of these children at around 30 months to determine levels of disability. They found that 49% of the children had some form of disability, most commonly problems including non-fluent gait, some difficulty with feeding with both hands, impaired sight and hearing, and delays in talking. Just under a quarter of the children met the criteria for severe disability, which included being unable to walk without help, unable to feed themselves, being blind, or being unable to talk. The matter is not always as simple as being past a particular point in the pregnancy at the time of the birth. Multiple factors can play in to whether or not a baby will survive premature birth, for example, the baby’s birth weight. Low birth weight is independently linked to reduced odds of survival and a higher risk of disabilities and health problems.

Health & Wellbeing

Where there is water, it is important to:

over wells and water tanks so children cannot open them turn tubs and buckets upside down when not in use, and always supervise children taking a bath teach children to stay away from ditches and drains for families who live near bodies of water, install a fence around the house and close the gates to prevent young children from going in the water fence ponds and pools with vertical rails spaced close together to prevent children from getting through them to the water for families who live directly on the water, put vertical bars on terraces, windows and doors to prevent young children from falling in the water teach children how to swim when they are young have young children and children who cannot swim wear an approved flotation device (life jacket) when playing in the water or on a boat always supervise children who are swimming teach children never to swim in fastflowing streams and never to swim alone in flood-prone areas, carefully watch children when the water begins to rise; make sure that all family members, including children old enough to understand, are well informed of safe places to go to if they need to leave the home quickly. 4. Burns can be prevented by keeping children away from fires, cooking stoves, hot liquids and foods, and exposed electric

Wednesday, November 28, 2012

Preventing children from injuries (2)

wires. Burning and scalding are among the most common causes of serious injury among young children. Burns often cause permanent scarring, and some are fatal. The great majority of these are preventable. One of the most common types of burns is from direct contact with fires or flames or touching hot surfaces. To prevent this

Fetal alcohol exposure affects brain structure in children

SCIENCE

hildren exposed to alcohol during fetal development exhibit changes in brain structure and metabolism that are visible using various imaging techniques, according to a new study being presented November 25 at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA). Alcohol use by expectant mothers can lead to problems with the mental and physical development of their children -- a condition known as fetal alcohol syndrome. Research suggests an incidence of 0.2 to 1.5 per 1,000 live births, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Costs for care of individuals affected by fetal alcohol syndrome in the U.S. have been estimated at $4 billion annually. Advancements in mag-

Using a self monitoring device

netic resonance imaging (MRI) are affording unprecedented insights into the effects of alcohol on the central nervous systems of children whose mothers drank alcohol during their pregnancy. Recently, researchers in Poland used three different MRI techniques to better define these effects. The study group included 200 children who were exposed to alcohol during

kind of burn: keep young children away from cooking fires, matches, paraffin lamps, candles and flammable liquids such as paraffin and kerosene put stoves on a flat, raised surface out of the reach of children if an open cooking fire is used, make it on a raised mound of clay, not directly on the ground. A barrier of mud, bamboo

their fetal stage and 30 children whose mothers did not drink while pregnant or during lactation. Researchers used MRI to evaluate the size and shape of the corpus callosum, the bundle of nerve fibers that forms the major communication link between the right and left halves of the brain, in the two groups. Prenatal alcohol exposure is the major cause of impaired develop-

ment or complete absence of the corpus callosum. The MRI results showed statistically significant thinning of the corpus callosum in the children exposed to alcohol compared with the other group. “These changes are strongly associated with psychological problems in children,” said Andrzej Urbanik, M.D., chair of the Department of Radiology at Jagiellonian University in Krakow, Poland. Dr. Urbanik and colleagues also used diffusion weighted imaging (DWI) to study six areas of the central nervous system in the children. DWI maps the diffusion process of water and can be a more sensitive means than traditional MRI for detecting tissue abnormalities. Children in the alcohol group exhibited statistically significant increases in diffusion on DWI compared with the other children.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

or other material or a playpen can also be used to keep young children out of reach of the cooking place. do not leave small children alone near fires or to tend fires or cook keep children away from heaters, hot irons and other hot appliances never leave a child alone in a room with a candle or fire burning. Another major cause of burns is scalding from hot liquids or foods. To prevent scalds: turn the handles of all cooking pots away from the reach of children keep hot foods and liquids in a safe place and out of children’s reach do not let children turn on the hot water tap in a bath or shower by themselves keep the temperature of water heaters below a medium setting to prevent scalding if children turn on the hot water teach children not to play rough around people with hot drinks or in the kitchen when meals are being prepared never hold a child when having hot liquids or foods. Children can get a serious shock or burn if they come in contact with electricity. To prevent shocks and burns: teach children never to put their fingers or other objects into electric sockets cover power sockets to prevent access keep electric wires out of children’s reach cover bare electric wires, which are particularly dangerous, using insulating tape. 5. Falls are a major cause of injury for young children. Stairs, balconies, roofs, windows, and play and sleeping areas should be made secure, using barriers with vertical bars to protect children from falling.

Some flame retardants make fires more deadly

ome of the flame retardants added to carpets, furniture upholstery, plastics, crib mattresses, car and airline seats and other products to suppress the visible flames in fires are actually increasing the danger of invisible toxic gases that are the No. 1 cause of death in fires. That was the finding of a new study presented in San Diego on March 27 at the 243rd National Meeting & Exposition of the American Chemical Society (ACS), the world’s largest scientific society. Anna A. Stec, Ph.D., led the research, which focused on the most widelyused category of flame retardants, which contain the chemical element bromine. Scientists term these “halogen-based” flame retardants because bromine is in a group of elements called halogens. “Halogen-based flame retardants are effective in reducing the ignitability of materials,” Stec said.

“We found, however, that flame retardants have the undesirable effect of increasing the amounts of carbon monoxide and hydrogen cyanide released during combustion. These gases, not the thermal effects of burns on the body, are the No. 1 cause of fire deaths.” Stec, who is with the University of Central Lancashire, Centre for Fire and Hazards Science, Lancashire, U.K., spoke at an ACS symposium on “Fire and Polymers,” which included 60 presentations. Almost 10,000 deaths from fires occur in industrialized countries worldwide each year, including about 3,500 in the U.S. Contrary to popular belief, inhalation of toxic gases released by burning materials -- not burns -- causes the most deaths and most of the serious injuries. Stec’s team set out to determine the effects of flame retardants on the production of those gases.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Health & Wellbeing

Wednesday, November 28, 2012

Coffee can reduce risk of cancer –Dr Odukoya tioner anywhere in the world will tell you that anti-oxidants are good for the body. One advantage of coffee is that it is very rich in anti-oxidants and that is the reason we want to promote coffee as the healthy alternatives. Coffee is not the only substance that has anti-oxidant, fruits and vegetables are high in coffee but coffee contains more antioxidants per unit than fruits and vegetable combined. Coffee is a clearly rich source of antioxidants.

Studies have shown that people taking coffee might be benefitting from more than just the energy-boosting caffeine in it. This view was confirmed by Dr. Kemi Odukoya, a Consultant and Public Health Physician at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, (LUTH) and lecturer at the Department of Community Health and Public Care in University of Lagos College of Medicine, Dr Kemi Odukoya in an interview with LATEEFAH IBRAHIM-ANIMASHAUN Excerpts. There are diverse opinion on whether coffee is beneficial or harmful to the body. Why this conflicting arguments? Let’s start by defining what coffee is, we need to understand that coffee is obtained from a fruit, which is the coffee bean. And most of the coffee we drink around here is processed from that coffee bean and there are no additives in it which is one plus you have from coffee. The other advantage is that the type of coffee we drink in Nigeria is the soluble coffee which is healthy because it does not have some level of cholesterol that used to be associated with the problem of coffee in the past. What this implies is that the mode of processing coffee sometimes determines the constituents of coffee and can also have an effect on the health benefits. Why are you coming up with a different idea on coffee? Yes, a lot of research has been done on coffee and earlier research suggested that Coffee did have some negative effects but it has been proved that the negative effect is as a result of abuse. One major constituents of coffee that has been highly criticized is caffeine. Unfortunately, caffeine has been confused as nicotine by many. Caffeine is a pharmacologically active substance which is found not only in coffee, but also in our cola drinks, chocolates, some over-the-counter drugs, kolanut and many others. Caffeine on its own is not a bad thing, as a matter of fact, caffeine has some benefits in the sense that it can help people to stay awake, it helps reduce some pain in the body but as

Odukoya

with everything and if there is anything. How often is it recommended to take coffee in order not to cause harm to the body? I want to emphasize, the fact that moderation is key. Everything must be taken in moderation. I give an example of plain water, generally speaking people tend to think water is healthy but when you take too much of water unnecessarily, you may experience water intoxication. So as much as coffee is beneficial to the body, we want to be sure that people don’t take more than they should take on a daily basis. What do you have to say about those that are sensitive to coffee? It is very true that some people are sensitive to caffeine. The effect of caffeine on some people may make their heart beat faster and some may be unable to sleep. To such people we advise that they take decaffeinated coffee because there are still many good things inherent in coffee. Coffee also contains some vitamins and more importantly, coffee contains substances called anti oxidants and that is one of the major advantages of coffee. A lot of research has

WHAT THIS IMPLIES IS THAT IN THE

LONG TERM, PEOPLE WHO ARE REGULAR DRINKERS OF COFFEE TEND TO HAVE SLOWER BRAIN DEGENERATION THAN THOSE WHO

DON’T TAKE COFFEE shown that many of the diseases we have today are as a result of oxidation process that goes on in the body. Just by being alive, one is exposed to what is called oxidative stress and there are many other things such as exposure to sun, stress, and exposure to smoke and so many other things leading to oxidative stress. Because a lot of things have been linked to oxidative stress, anti oxidants are very unique because what they do is to help the body fight the oxidative stress and that is the reason why any health care practi-

Ekiti embarks on free health mission

ver 36,000 patients have so far benefitted in the ongoing free health intervention mission organised by the Ekiti State Government in conjunction with a non-governmental organisation, the Development Support Initiative (DSI). Speaking in Ado Ekiti on the progress of the health intervention programme, the leader of the DSI team, Dr. Dolapo Fasawe said that the medical team had visited seven out of the nine designated

local government areas in the Ekiti Central and Ekiti South Senatorial districts. Fasawe who highlighted areas covered to include Ikere, Orun, Emure, Omuo, Ilawe, Agbado and Ado Ekiti, said the components of the mission were the general out-patient unit, dental services, eye services, immunisation as well as HIV/AIDS test and counselling unit. He expressed satisfaction with the turn out and cooperation of the people adding that the support of each commu-

nity visited by the medical team contributed largely to the success recorded in the programme. Commenting on the health intervention programme, the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Mobilisation and Orientation, Mr Tope Osatoyinbo commended the medical team comprising of officials of the state Ministry of Health and DSI for what he described as their unrelenting efforts at ensuring the success of the programme.

Specifically, what are the health benefits of coffee? Apart from the fact that it contains antioxidants, coffee has been proved by independent studies that when taken in moderation, and please note the moderation part because moderation is key. That it has these benefits does not mean we should go and use coffee as drug or abuse its consumption. What we are saying is that coffee as part of your daily beverage consumption can give some health beneficial effects. Coffee according to reliable studies infuses our alertness especially the one that contains caffeine. What this implies is that in the long term, people who are regular drinkers of coffee tend to have slower brain degeneration than those who don’t take coffee. This means as we grow older, coffee drinkers are more active, alert and more mentally stimulated than those who don’t. There is a disease called Parkinson disease but studies have shown that coffee drinkers are less likely to have such disease; many studies have also considered relationship between coffee and diabetes. It has been shown that people who take coffee have lower risk of type 2 diabetes than those who don’t take it. It has also been proved that people who take coffee are less likely to have liver disease than those who don’t take it. Again, please remember that this amount of coffee are usually in moderation. One to two regular cups of coffee is okay per day. Basically, because of the antioxidants effect of coffee, many studies have shown that coffee has a reduced risk of liver cancer, stomach cancer, and pancreatic cancer and there has been no increased risk of coffee with breast cancer. These are verifiable claims by several studies. You know in medicine, for a paper to be published, it would have gone through peer review and it is through such reviews that the authenticity of the paper. When a paper is peer reviewed in high impact journals, you can be sure the findings are authentic. These evidences have been there for years now and nobody is challenging it. Osatoyinbo who also expressed delight with the turnout for the exercise, stressed the need for the people to be conscious of their health status. In his remarks, the Chairman of Ekiti South West Local Government, Mr Kolawole Genge expressed appreciation to Governor Fayemi for approving the establishment of a new General Hospital at Ilawe Ekiti. Genge however solicited the continued support of the people for the administration in order to ensure the success of its 8-point agenda which he described as people oriented.

Health & Wellbeing

Wednesday, November 28, 2012

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

How global fund changed our perception about HIV/AIDS – Community MARCUS FATUNMOLE NASARAWA

akyano community is a largely agrarian town in Nasarawa Eggon local government area of Nasarawa state. With about 20,000 residents, the village, unlike most communities in Northern Nigeria, is enveloped among various species of trees and large mountains. There are a number of primary and secondary educational institutions,

but the village has no electricity and functional water supply. Only one tiny but motorable path connects Bakyano to the local council headquarters, Nasarawa Eggon. The distance between the two is about 30 kilometres. Two years ago, the village was listed as beneficiary of Global Fundsponsored HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and malaria (ATM) programme in selected states in Nigeria by ActionAid Nigeria. The programme, Community

Strengthening System (CSS) aimed at training community leaders and health workers who are expected to diffuse knowledge acquired to their people and proximate settlements. Specifically, the target was to reduce, or rather eliminate the incidences of HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria through widespread sensitization on the prevention and management of the diseases by these community leaders and health workers.

Unilever partners FG on oral hygiene SEKINAH L AWAL

s the Federal Government launched the new oral health policy with the introduction of new standards in medical check-ups for Nigerians, multinational company, Unilever has pledged to develop new technologies to promote and protect oral hygiene of Nigerians. Expressing the readiness of his company to support and promote oral hygiene and care among Nigerians, Managing Director, Unilever Nigeria Plc, Mr. Thabo Mabe disclosed that the company would soon unveil its latest innovative technique “which focuses on integrated public health education and behavioural change programme aimed at driving improved oral health, hand hygiene and nutrition among school children in Nigeria”. And to ensure that the products from the stable of Unilever Plc continues to be affordable, Mabe noted, “the important thing for us is the business and

so affordability is the key issue for Africans. “Our priority is to make sure our products are sensitive to consumers’ needs.” He added that Unilever is blessed as a multinational organisation and a people who spend time as much as 24hours in the laboratories designing, innovating and coming up with blockbuster innovative technologies that would continue to be in the market places and those technologies are highly committed to making lives of ordinary persons better, improving the oral hygiene of ordinary consumers, improving the oral hygiene of kids to make sure they are also used to the habit of brushing their teeth twice a day. We have already come up with different kinds of technologies within the umbrella of Close-up and Pepsodent and we will continue to innovate and come out with more of the best breakthrough technologies to help ordinary consumers to live better lives. In his keynote address titled: Nigerian Oral Health System, Smiling

Horizon, former President of the Nigerian Dental Association, Col. Olujimi Osisanya, described oral health as an integral part of total healthcare and factors that affect oral health also affects total health and vice versa. He identified some generic factors as affecting the oral wellbeing of individuals in the society which include genetics, environment, cultural beliefs, habits and religious practices saying some of these translates into noncommunicable diseases which according to the World Health Organisation, accounts for 60% of global deaths.“Most of these diseases are preventable but are left untreated due to ignorance” said Osisanya. According to Osisanya, some common oral health diseases include dental caries, malocclusion, cleft lip and palate among others, saying trauma from road traffic accidents, oral presentation of HIV/AIDS and systemic diseases like anemia and diabetes are also posing challenges to healthcare in Nigeria.

Katsina to immunise 2.4m against polio JAMES DANJUMA KATSINA

atsina State has kicked-off another round of immunisation programme with 2.4million children expected to be immunised against polio and other child killer diseases. The state’s health commissioner, Hussaini Yarmama, who made this known at flag-off of national immunisation plus

in the state, said three million doses of vaccines have been made available for the exercise. Yarmama said the exercise would cover every nook and cranny of the state as part of measures to aggressively stamp out polio and other related diseases. He said 200 supervisors have been engaged to supervise conduct of the exercise that adequate measures have been taken to

ensure no child that is of immunisation age was left unattended to. The commissioner said caretaker committee chairmen in the 34 council areas and other stakeholders have been informed on need to support the exercise. He said the immunisation exercise would be intensified to put an end to polio and related disease in the state before the end of next year.

For the people of Bakyano community, no other time than the period was such an intervention needed among them. “Prior to the time of the intervention,” said Chairman, Ward Development Committee of Bakyano, Alhaji Yakubu Asse, “the common belief among our people was that there was nothing like HIV/ AIDS. They also thought that anyone who had such a disease must have been attacked by witches or other evil spirit. There was this superstition all over the place. No matter how you tried to convince them with means of protection against the disease, they would hardly believe you. But, we thank almighty Allah that they have listened to us. Today,

our people understand the effects of contracting the disease.” The initiative has truly yielded dividends. For instance, Mrs Salma Musa is a 35 years old HIV positive woman in the village. The mother of four is a native of the village including her late husband. She discovered she was positive when she went for a test at HIV/AIDS test centre made available through the initiative. The centre is located at the village Model Primary Health Care Centre. The health facility serves as platform for training health workers, while the community leaders meet with local facilitators at designated centres in the village. This woman had been battling with “mysterious sick-

ness” before the test. Unknown to Salma, her late husband was also a carrier of the disease while her last child who died recently was also infected with the virus. During an interview with National Mirror, the recuperating business woman said everyone in the village had resisted everything that had to do with her family before she discovered she was HIV positive. “They didn’t like to come near us because of our condition. They didn’t eat with us. Even, they refused to fetch our water. That was the kind of stigmatization we suffered. I did not know what was wrong with my family until I went to the clinic and I was told I was HIV positive.

L-R: Chairman, Local Organising Committee for the 6th Congress of the African-Middle East Association of Gastroenterology (AMAGE), Prof. Rowland Ndoma-Egba, AMAGE Founding President, Prof. Ziad Shariha and President World Gastroenterology Organisation (WGO), Prof Henry Cohen at the AMAGE Congress in Tinapa Business resort, Calabar recently,

Soyinka advocates healthy living to check diabetes

gun State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Olaokun Soyinka has said living a healthy lifestyle remains one of the ways to control diabetes. Speaking at a public lecture to commemorate this year’s World Diabetes Day put together by the Ministry in collaboration with Diabetes Association of Nigeria, Talabi Diabetes Centre and other stakeholders held at Isara, Remo, in Ogun State, Soyinka said though deadly, abstinence from sugary foods, eating balanced diets and engaging in regular exercises are steps that can be taken to keep the menace of diabetes at bay. Soyinka urged Nigerians to engage in daily and regular exercise to burn calories, eat moderately just as he admonished

victims to take their medications religiously as prescribed by qualified medical personnel if it is to be controlled. Speaking on the rationale behind celebrating the day with the theme “Diabetes: Protect Our Future”, the commissioner explained that it was to sensitize the general public, particularly school children on the dangers of the disease. He therefore enjoined the younger generation to “make sure they read wide and learn more about the disease and other conditions as this will assist them to be healthy later in life”. The Founder and Patron of Talabi Diabetes Centre, Mr. Olumuyiwa Talabi commended the state government for its untiring ef-

forts to enhance the health status of residents, saying the collaboration with the centre was a pointer to this. In a lecture, Dr. Olubiyi Adesina from the centre described diabetes as the absence of insulin produced from the pancreas that brings about a rise in the sugar level, revealing that 200million people are living with it, while 333 million people have been projected to have it by 2025. He attributed the rise in the figure to the inactiveness of the present generation, saying that the western culture being copied is compounding the problem. Also according to him, obesity, age, rural-urban migration, genetic predisposition, smoking and alcohol are other factors responsible for the increase of diabetes.

Wednesday, November 28, 2012

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Arts Lounge

Audiences are tired of regular faces in films - Donatus

Exhibition re-interprets slippers as art medium

25 NGOZI EMEDOLIBE

eople are quick to point towards the super-saturated labour market as the source of security problems plaguing Nigeria. Though the statistics has become a subject of debate, realities on the ground indicate that while unemployment is hovering in the neighbourhood of 23%, underemployment is well over 50%. But the frightening dimension is the fact that over 60% of the unemployment cases involve youths under the age of 45! The reality that more than half of the population brimming with energy cannot find a platform to express themselves makes the situation very deplorable. So much that predictions are rife that if the ugly trend is not stemmed, a possible implosion looms in the country. However, the truth is that a lot could be achieved by looking the way of arts and culture for rescue, especially amongst the youths. While it is not possible to offer jobs to every Nigerian adult exiting tertiary institutions or secondary schools, looking inwards into what makes Nigerians unique as a people can get the country started into ameliorating the unemployment trends. If well-harnessed, so much could be explored in several areas of arts like visual arts, dance, movies, music, stage drama, story-telling, writing and tourism which can engage the youth meaningfully. The case of a Lagos-based dance group, Stepryders is typical of how skills in art can generate employment. Six years ago, this group of six united with a simple and single mission: refining creativity in dance. Today, members of the group who cut across university graduates and undergraduates, earn money doing shows and also appearing in music videos. A member of the group, Emmanuel Iheanacho told Arts Lounge that while they are in dance to satisfy their passion, it also generates money to take care of immediate expediencies. “Since we started dancing, we have been on shows in Lagos, Abuja, Calabar and even Ghana. And we get paid for this. We actually got together because of our interest in dance but along the line, we realised this could help us solve some little problems. We hope it would get better as time goes”. The same is obtainable in the area of home movies. Estimates put the number of people employed by Nollywood at over 20,000, while having a net worth of N52bn, but the truth is that even with this figure, the industry is greatly under-staffed in the area of technical hands. While majority of those seeking employment in the industry look in the direction of acting and directing which are usually competitive, several job openings abound in other areas like Location Management (saddled with the duty to arrange for shooting locations); Props (person responsible for getting things required for the movie project like cars, guns, laptops, phones and other

Arts as panacea to rising unemployment in Nigeria Youth unemployment in Nigeria ranks high amongst the developing nations of the world, but Nigeria can make a lot of progress by searching for solution in the arts and culture industry

IT WILL NOT TAKE AN EFFORT TO GET ALL THE LOCAL COUNCIL HEADQUARTERS IN

NIGERIA TO OWN, AT LEAST, ONE AVERAGE THEATRE FOR PLAYS AND MOVIES

Crown Troupe practising

Stepryders

accessories needed by the characters); Costuming (responsible for getting all the fashion accessories that would be worn); Continuity (making sure that shots are accordingly sequenced); Editor (who sits in the studio and arranges all the rushes brought in from the location); Make-Up (creating physical attributes of movie characters as well as Lighting and Sound aside other behind-the-scene roles. In visual arts, the same great hopes lie in the horizon. According to an Abujabased artist, Mr. Gbenga Sentoris, art work if properly harnessed by the government can generate about two million jobs. He described it as a lucrative venture which requires a lot of patience. “I am surprised when I see some of my colleagues in the profession ending up as teachers; you must endure to make a breakthrough. Nigerians appreciate artwork if they are good and

would not mind paying for them as good artwork sells faster”. This is why the Society of Nigerian Artists, SNA, according to its national president, Oliver Enwonwu is enjoining Nigerian youths with talent in visual arts to register with the society so that they can benefit from the immense opportunities inherent in the visual arts community. “So many opportunities are available for the youths who are willing and talented enough; which is why I always enjoin them to be part of what we are doing in order to benefit from the various opportunities abounding in the visual arts. We have decided to embark on training programmes so they can understand the abundant openings for their works beyond our shores”, he told Arts Lounge. For all these to be realised, government at all levels must be aware of the need to

put infrastructure in place because that is the role of government, according to painter, Sam Ovraiti. “The role of the government is to make infrastructures available. This will naturally create employment and wealth, because all aspects of arts require very conducive environment to thrive”. Arts Lounge however notes that while government at the various levels have been trying, their efforts need to be doubled. While the government of Akwa Ibom has successfully completed construction of a world class cinema which will serve as an outlet to screen Nigerian home videos, some stakeholders in the movie industry believe that greater employment would be generated if this idea is replicated in the 36 state capitals and 776 local council headquarters in Nigeria. Award winning director, Lancelot Oduwa-Imasuen said that is one aspect the government has downplayed the potentials of the movie industry in Nigeria. “It will not take an effort to get all the local council headquarters in Nigeria to own at least one average theatre for plays and movies. If this is done, I bet you so much wealth would be created from this industry and government would have not only created multiple streams of jobs, but also increase their tax collection base. But it is largely still being ignored”. Perhaps, Nigeria should learn from the success of China in 2011. According to French Ambassador in Nigeria, Jaques de Labriolle, China took the leadership position in the art market in 2011 in Nigeria because of its interest in artwork. “There is no state in Nigeria which does not have within its universities or polytechnics, a faculty or school dedicated to artistic education and within such structured environments lie the strength of Nigerian creativity”.

Arts Lounge

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Wednesday, November 28, 2012

MEMORABLE READS

LET’S

T AL K FAD with

Fidelis Duker

fidelisduker@yahoo.com

Letter to Mr. President (2)

T OYERINDE OLOTU Painter. What sort of books do you like to read? I love reading biographies. I am interested in history. So, most of the time; you would catch me reading books that have to do with great figures in the society, like politicians and sports personalities. Which biographies particularly thrilled you? Most of the Nigerian leaders I have read about made great impact on me. I mean people like Nnamdi Azikiwe, Obafemi Awolowo and Tafawa Balewa. I also like Winston Churchill’s biography. Awolowo’s books like Path to Nigerian Freedom and Obafemi Awolowo: My Early Life, will remain evergreen for me. How much do you spend on books annually? I spend good money. I have a big library of biographies. If you come to my house, you will see it. I have a big collection of biographies. I am not into budget for books; I just buy what fascinates me, because it helps me in my work. When I visit bookshops, I make sure I buy either books or magazines. If you decide to write a book, what would it be about?

I will write about Nike Davies, the owner of Nike Art Gallery. I will like to do a research on her and write a book about her, because she is a fantastic woman. I will also like to write a book on Engr. Yemisi Shyllon, another fantastic collector of Nigerian art works. Then, I will also like to do a book about myself.

MUSINGS Refugee Mother and Child (A mother in a refugee camp) No Madonna and Child touch Her tenderness for a son She soon would have to forget... The air was heavy with odors of diarrhea, Of unwashed children with washed-out ribs And dried-up bottoms waddling in labored steps Behind blown-empty bellies. Most mothers there Had long ceased to care, but not this one; She held a ghost-smile between her teeth, And in her eyes the memory Of a mother’s pride...she had bathed him And rubbed him down with bare palms. She took from the bundle of their possessions A broken comb and combed The rust-colored hair left on his skull And then-humming in her eyesbegan carefully to part it. In their former life this was perhaps A little daily act of no consequence Before his breakfast and school; now she did it Like putting flowers on a tiny grave © Chinua Achebe, 2004

he Nigerian creative sector is a major constituent of the Nigerian economy whose economic potentials have not been harnessed to be a major contributor to the Nigerian economy. It, therefore, behoves on you, Mr. President to look at the potentials accruable from the creative sector to the Nigerian GDP and you can imagine what this will do to the economy via employment generation. It is, however, important to mention that I have noticed that the creative sector, which I consider intrinsically ‘showbiz’ is more or less viewed as simply show and the business not given a mention or attention by those in government for the simple fact that they see the sector more of entertainment and fun. The draw back is therefore the enormous per capital income being lost daily by this unfortunate neglect for the sector by those who run the agencies in this sector. I will illustrate two vivid examples of how so much economic revenues are lost by sheer neglect of the sector. Consider a film set that employs a minimum of 40 different professionals in one single production and you have 100 different films going on simultaneously at different movie production centers in one month. The cumulative employment total is about 4000 taxable and employable individuals which resultant effect on the economy will be enormous via taxes that will be accruable to government. The second example will be in the area of organising international creative events where tourist will visit Nigeria and you can imagine the revenue from a fashion, music, cultural, book, film or arts event that has international appeal. What you will get will be a massive revenue generation for the hotels, taxis, shopping centres, clubs and of course the local and international guest and visitors who will visit the event city during the period. The beauty of this will be that the image of country is boasted as a major tourist destination where the world will look to yearly for the event. As I promised in the first part of this letter, I will like to enumerate some areas of intervention for the creative industry as follows: 1. The need for government to create institutionalised structures that will aid the development of the creative sectors (film, TV, music, fashion, theatre, etc.) in Nigeria. For the purposes of time and space, I will suggest a regulatory structure like the proposed MOPICON (Motion Pictures Practitioners Council of Nigeria) bill for the regulation of the creative sector. 2. Putting all agencies of government involved in the creative sector under a well-funded Ministry of Culture and Tourism rather than what we have today where some are in the Ministry of Information and others in the Ministry of Justice for

MR. PRESIDENT, THE CREATIVE INDUSTRY CAN EVEN ACT AS A FALL BACK INDUSTRY WHEN THE OIL INDUSTRY STOPS SUSTAINING THE

NIGERIAN ECONOMY. pecuniary gains which are not beneficial to the sector. 3. The need for professionals to man the leadership of the different agencies of government agencies involved in the creative sector. 4. An immediate broad-based and inclusive review of the copyright or IP laws to better protect professionals in the sector. Setting up of anti-piracy desk or unit in every state police command to liaise with other agencies of government in the fight against piracy of creative works. 5. The establishment of a “Creative Industry Endowment Fund” to aid the development of the industry. The fund will be Grant-based where corporate Nigeria and other government institutions will contribute to this fund annually to sustain the creative sector in their projects. 6. Construction of community arts centres (cinema, theatre and exhibition halls in one place where every segment of the creative sector can use) in the 774 local governments in Nigeria, Government should imagine the number of employment that will be generated at the local, state and federal level via this simple initiative and forgetting the revenue to be generated from this project and the ripple effect on the general economy. 7. The transformation agenda of your administration can also be achieved if you holistically look at the importance of creating a synergy between government agencies and the private sector initiatives through the public- private partnership initiative. Not what is in vogue today where government agencies are in direct competition with private initiatives thereby stifling development and growth for the sector. On a final note I must emphasis, as I mentioned earlier, that if the above proactive suggestions are implemented the creative industry in Nigeria can be a part or a major contributor to the economy and even act as a fall back industry when the oil industry stops sustaining the Nigerian economy. Mr. President sir, thanks for reading my letter to you as I hope you will give it the required attention. To my readers, next week I will delve into the phenomenon of Nollywood at 20, the intrigues in the last two decades till date.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Arts Lounge

Wednesday, November 28, 2012

ARTISTE UNCENSORED

Audiences are tired of regular faces in films - Donatus Although a lot of movie stars came to limelight through his production outfit, director and producer, Donatus Chikezie Nkemdirim, is still passionate about grooming new movie stars.

IT IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE

NGOZI EMEDOLIBE

e is fondly called Don Nkems, because of his production outfit, Don Nkems Studios, which has played very crucial role in the area of music and movie production, distribution and talent grooming. While he has been at the background in Nollywood, he is actually quite critical to what fans of the industry see on screen. His works, perhaps, speak for him: Under,, No Guarantees,, Hidden Sep crets, Tears from Holland, Before the Sunrise, Heartbeats and Unbelievable. Donatus is putting finishing touches to another part of his blockbuster epic, Nne, the Jewel of Ukelu Kingdom, a story of greedy exploits in cultural practices in an African village. His advent into movies, incidentally, started from Aba in Abia State, where he first started as a distributor. “I started as a distributor in 1992 at Aba. Then, there was literally no industry and everything was loosely organised. From there, I decided to venture into production and directing after attending the National Film Institute, NFI, Jos, where I went in search of further studies in film making”. For this Mbaise, Imo born-filmmaker, the need to get further training was stimulated by his passion for growth in the career. “The moment I realised that m o v i e s would be it for me, I knew there was no way Donatus

THAT THE BEAUTY OF

NOLLYWOOD IS THE IDEA OF AFRICANS MAKING THEIR OWN FILMS FOR THEIR PEOPLE to go other than getting further training. That was what lead me to NFI and the experience and knowledge have been very instrumental to what I have been able to achieve in the industry. I have not stopped learning about film making. I am still in search of knowledge because in a dynamic industry like moviemaking, you must upgrade at every point in time”. At the last count, Donatus has become b be come a part of many professional film bodies locally and including: internationally Member, National Film Fund Committee under the chairmanship of Prof. Pat Utomi; Jury Secretary, 1st International Students Film Festival, Jos; Jury Chairman, Lagos International Film Festival 2008; Advisory Board member, BOBTV (2005-2006); General Secretary, Association of Film, Video Producers and Marketers of Nigeria (AFUPMAN) 2003-2007; Memb e r, School of Pro-

ductivity, Lagos; General Secretary, Association of Nollywood Core Producers (ANCOP) (2010 Till Date); Member of British Project Professional Society, United Kingdom; Member Federation of International Association of Film Producers, FIAFP. While the movie industry is seen to be making progress with a galaxy of stars that it has produced, Donatus thinks the movie industry still needs more new stars. According to him, it is dangerous to think it is making progress with a few recognisable faces. This is why he is not relenting in his bid to make more stars in the industry. in “After I realised that the industry had a problem, especially in terms term of stars, my production outfit started what is called Movie Quest which is in the ca second season now and currently, people are applying to be part of it. The selected participants will be camped at a hostel where they would undergo all hos sorts of mentorship mentorsh from known directors, writers and producers. The Th whole episodes will run like a reality TV show, which would be edited and aired w eventually. But the highpoint will be the mouth-watering prizes that w would be given to winners. Someone will get our ultimate prize which is a multiple u film contract and a car. There are other consolation prizes like trips to Ghana and Congo for production, because those are places where our company has production agreements. There are also technological agreem gizmos that are up for grabs”. Why does he think Nollywood is better off with th many movie stars? “I can bet that the audience must be getting tired of the regular faces that grace our home videos. It is not as if I have anything particularly against the known faces, but they are not t enough to give the Nollywood audience the variety they deserve. Urgent Urge steps need to be taken to identify new talents who wh would be taking over from these present day stars. Any industry that has no plans for A its future is taking a big risk. That is the idea behind Movie Quest”. Donatus Chikezie Chikezi is, however, very positive about the industry. “In a few years, we have come out this strong. That is a sign of positive things to come. If s things are better handled and all the things are put h in proper shape, Nollywood will be better and stronN ger”.

MIDWEEK JUMP

Queen Amina of Zazzau opens in Abuja

he Jos Repertory Theatre will return to Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, tomorrow with the production of Wale Ogunyemi’s Queen Amina of Zazzau. The play is based on the life and times of the legendary Queen Amina of Zazzau in what is presently known as Zaria. The production of the play, which had its world premiere in 2000, will take place in Abuja at the Merit House, Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama till Saturday, December 1 at 7.00 p.m. daily. Amina’s reign in the 16th

century witnessed tremendous growth in territory, commerce and relationships with cities which Queen Amina conquered or which she forged friendships with. Her territory extended all the way from ancient Zazzau to the Sudan with the first markings of what later became the trans-Saharan highway. She exerted tributes of kolanut, gold and slaves from territories that she conquered and from territories that wanted friendship with Zazzau. Her reign witnessed a lot of infrastructure development and pioneered the use of iron coat armour by her soldiers in their military campaigns and conquests. The famous Zaria Wall is attributed to her reign and ingenuity.

Ms. Chief set to debut with a bang

s. Chief got unto the music scene in 2011 and has since become an act to watch. With the release of her latest single, titled ‘Slow’ already enjoying massive radio airplay in Nigeria, Ms. Chief said she is more than ready to take over the Nigerian music scene with her unique style of rap. Signed to BeatBuxx360 management, with the release of the labels mixtape, ‘Recognise’, Ms. Chief shows that she can survive in a male dominated industry. The accounting graduate of the University of Lagos, UNILAG, said her upcoming al-

Online story contest calls for entries

aijaStories.com has announced another online writing contest titled: “Give Us Your Best Short” to be judged by Chika Unigwe with a $350 prize money. The online contest opened on November 21 and submissions will close on December 20. bum has a lot to offer lovers of Organisers said those intending to good music with songs that re- enter the competition can write in any veal the intelligence of a natural genre, but must bear in mind the five songwriter. elements of a short story; plot, point Born Opeyemi Hassan, of view, character, setting and theme. 22-year-old Ms. Chief started her “We’re looking for really good shorts career at the age of 16, but only and winners may be selected for the released her first single, ‘Want- next Naija Stories Anthology. So, give ing’ ft Ex-O, in October 2011. us your best short”, said a statement She has worked with a couple of from the organisers. well known artistes like Wizkid, Unigwe is a Nigerian author based Skales, Ace ThaEmcee, Teeto, in Belguim. Her novel, On Black SisCeemos, Jberg, Yemi Alade, ters’ Street, won the 2012 NLNG LiteraZara, Xii gage and Kel. ture Prize for Fiction.

Arts Lounge

Wednesday, November 28, 2012

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

FAR AND NEAR

Artefacts law: NCMM set to prosecute violators IJEOMA EZEIKE ABUJA

Evictions

Exhibition re-interprets slippers as art medium NGOZI EMEDOLIBE

hat pair of slippers resting on one’s door mat means different things, depending on who is looking at it. For Joseph Eze, it is an art medium, and this is what he is set to re-establish as he stages his 4th solo exhibition, which will start on December 1 until December 13. Eze, a 2001 graduate of the Nsukka Art School will be holding the exhibition at Watersworth Gallery, Lekki, Phase 1 in Lagos. Having experimented with various mediums in the course of his career, Eze has, in recent times, returned to explor-

ing slippers as a creative medium having had brief stints with it in the early 2000s. In tandem with the title of the show: Head to Toe: re-interpreting slippers, the artist attempts to stretch the potentials of slippers to ambitious lengths. Works which will be featuring in this show will task viewers’ preconceptions about a medium generally considered unsophisticated. “I would have succeeded with this show if, by the end of the day, the viewer goes home to take a wholesome fresh look at the slippers at his door mat”, he says. The collection features works made of strips of slippers strung together

Profile with bird

to form lengthy wall hangers, embossed words cut out of slippers protruding out of canvas surfaces, and free standing sculptural installations in an art scene saturated with clichés and somewhat creative stagnation.

he Director General of the National Commission for Museums and Monuments (NCMM), Mallam Yusuf Abdallah Usman, last Thursday in Abuja said henceforth, the commission, through its proposed new law, shall have the power to prosecute violators or looters of the nation’s artefacts. Abdallah, who made this known at the workshop on; “Ratification and Adoption of the Draft Laws of the NCMM”, said the act is made possible by virtue of new provisions in the new Act of the Commission which has vested NCMM with powers of a regulatory agency. He said: “Unlike in the past when policemen who had little knowledge of antiquities prosecuted offenders to no success in courts, the NCMM, like the National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control, NAFDAC; Standards Organisation of Nigeria, SON; Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC and other regulatory bodies, shall henceforth prosecute offenders”. Mallam Yusuf said the new law, when passed by the National Assembly, will help to empower them to have heritage inspectors that can monitor and protect heritage sites and archaeological sites and also expand the scope of the operations of the commission by providing room for growth and development among the staff. He said, “among the notable provisions in this draft law are the introduction of heritage inspectors in each local government to serve as watchdogs against antiquity theft, monument defacement and sundry offences that are regularly committed against our nation’s heritage resources. Also included is the need to have ethnographers and other officers of the commission who will be present in local governments to record and preserve ethnological materials”. The Director General hinted that the new law will also help in retrieving the nation’s lost and looted artefacts all over the world; the law will first stop the looting and assist in recovering those that have been looted before now. Responding, the Minister of Tourism, Culture and National Orientation, Chief Edem Duke, promised to ensure that the draft law is passed to the National Assembly and that all will be done to turn it into an Act of the Federal Republic. It will be recalled that stakeholders in the tourism sector met last year to review the old law, which was the Decree 77 of 1979, which was later re-enacted as Cap 242 of the laws of the Federation 1990.

Enwonwu was mentor to young artists –Onobrakpeya TERH AGBEDEH

he ninth edition of the Distinguished Ben Enwonwu Lecture series held in Lagos on Tuesday, November 20 at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs, NIIA, with acclaimed artist and printmaker, Professor Bruce Onobrakpeya delivering the keynote address. Started in 2004 to commemorate the life and work of Professor Enwonwu, this year’s lecture holds 18 years after the death of the pioneer indigenous visual artist. A large crowd of artists, arts collectors, friends and students gathered for the event. In his paper titled: ‘Informal Art Education through Workshops: Gains and Challenges as Lessons from the Harmattan Workshop Series’, Professor Onobrakpeya paid tribute to the iconic artist, describing

him as a pillar upon which many young artists, including himself climbed to limelight. “Enwonwu can be described as the father of visual arts in Nigeria. I worked under him in his studio when I just came back from the Nigeria College of Science and Technology, Zaria in 1962. Indeed, he was a mentor; through him I came to realise the importance and power of mentoring in the lives of young people”, he said. Speaking further, Onobrakpeya said it is easier to acquire artistic skills through informal settings than the confined and often regimented nature of the classrooms. Using his personal experience with his pet project, the Agbara-Ottor Harmattan Workshop, he explained that the gains derived from informal settings include; bringing together people of diverse cultural and social strata, thus promoting freedom of expression among partici-

pants. He also noted that materials for such practical experiments are sourced locally and the end-products have often ended up as masterpieces. In her speech, Chief (Mrs.) Opral Benson who chaired the ceremony, eulogised Enwonwu, describing him as a Nigerian whose character is worthy of emulation. She praised the Ben Enwonwu Foundation, BEF, for keeping the spirit and ideals of the man alive nearly two decades after his death. Prof. Enwonwu was, before his death in 1994, awarded the Member of the British Empire, MBE. In his professional career, he was noted for challenging the perceptions of European critics who regarded African art as primitive. Publisher of Vanguard newspaper, Chief Sam Amuka-Pemu, Chief Arthur Mbanefo, Victor Edozie former deputy governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, famous art collectors Yemisi Shyl-

lon, Sam Olagbaju and Carol Enwonwu, the deceased’s widow, were some of the prominent guests in attendance.

Onobrakpeya

Wednesday, November 28, 2012

Why Eagles aren’t cup favourites – Emenike 29

Sport

I couldn’t have wished for the season to end any better –World number one golfer, Rory McIlroy

NNL: Zamfara United recruits 12 players

Eko 2012: Oyo, Rivers win first gold

IFEANYI EDUZOR

yo and Rivers yesterday, confirmed their readiness to top the medals table at the ongoing National Sports Festival in Lagos, by winning gold medals in cycling events. Team Rivers’ cyclist, Edward Osim’s superlative performance from the beginning of the race at Eric Moore, Surulere, saw him winning the gold medal at the expense of Enoruwa Marvis of Ogun State who settled for the silver just as Issa Mohammed of Kaduna State won the bronze. In the female category, Oyo State cyclist, Durogbade Joke, against all odds won the first gold for her team after defeating Juliet Akaegbu of Rivers in the keenly contested final of the 200m event, while Clara Enadogbor of Delta State picked the bronze medal. Osim told National Mirror after the race that he came to Lagos to win four gold medals. “I am here to defend the titles I won at the last sports festival in Port Harcourt and I will not disappoint. My target is to win four gold medals because I want to show the whole Nigerians that Rivers is the best cycling state in the country,” Osim said. Meanwhile, the 18th National Sports Festival tagged ‘Eko 2012’ took off on a disappointing note with athletes and officials complaining about poor accommodation arrangements made for them by the Local Organising Committee (LOC) of the Games. Most of the officials who spoke to National Mirror said the mattresses and room spaces provided for them at both the University of Lagos and National Institute for Sports are of very poor quality. “It is a pity that the LOC did not put our comfort into consideration before advising us to check into UNILAG and NIS hostels.”

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Obinna Nwachukwu and his team mates are ready to forget Christmas festivities to be in camp.

AFCON: ‘Eagles ready to forfeit Xmas holidays’ EVEREST ONYEWUCHI WITH AGENCY REPORT

ome-based Super Eagles’ players are ready to forfeit their yuletide celebrations and remain in camp to prepare for the Africa Cup of Nations in South Africa in January. Heartland FC of Owerri midfielder, Obinna Nwachukwu, who made his views known on the impending camping exercise of the senior national team, said home-based players were ready to sacrifice their Christmas celebrations. Eagles are expected to resume final camp preparations for the biennial football showpiece on December 17 with home-based players, who will be joined by their foreign-based counterparts later in Faro, Portugal on January 4. Nwachukwu maintained that no sacrifice would be too much for his teammates to make in order to get the AFCON preparations off the ground. “There is nothing new staying in camp at Christmas and New Year periods; it’s no big deal. No sacrifice will be too much for the AFCON. “We’ll be ready to make the necessary sacrifice to ensure we have the best of preparations for the Nations Cup,” he told supersport.com.

Nwachukwu expressed confidence that Eagles are going to South Africa to clinch their third AFCON title. “Of course, we’re not going to South Africa to make up the numbers, but to achieve the desire of every Nigerian - winning the title for the third time. It won’t be cheap but we’re determined to pay the price to achieve the desired goal.” Nigeria is in Group C with title holders, Zambia, Burkina Faso and Ethiopia.

amfara United FC of Gusau has recruited 12 new players to strengthen its team ahead of the 2012/2013 Nigeria Nationwide League. The club’s Manager, Alhaji Garba Bala, told newsmen yesterday in Gusau that the recruitment of the players was to strengthen the squad to ensure an impressive outing. Bala said the club was fully prepared for the challenges ahead and aims to secure promotion to the Nigeria Premier League at the end of the season. “You know that we finished the 2011/2012 league in the third position and we are determined to improve on last season’s performance to secure promotion to the premiership,” Bala said. He disclosed that 12 players were last year suspended from the team for various offences, adding that those recruited were meant to replace them. News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the newly signed players have raised the total number of players in the club to 30 for its campaign during the season. Bala commended the state government for ensuring adequate welfare of players which, he said, was responsible for the team’s improved performance. “I am happy to say that our players now receive their salaries and other bonuses promptly at the end of every month like any other civil servant in the state.”

Governor Abdul-Aziz Yari

… S/African police pledge on security

he South African Police Service has assured football fans of adequate security during the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations which takes place from January 19 to February 10. “Everything is in place with regards to security; we started planning for the tournament as early as May this year,” Deputy Minister of Police, Maggie Sotyu, told newsmen in Pretoria yesterday. She added, “Both national and international screenings regarding the participating 16 teams have been completed. Security will be provided for all the teams, including Bafana Bafana 24/7.” The minister added that security would

be tightened at all the entry points into the country. “We will strengthen security at all ports of entry during this period, especially our borders, airports, seaports and border points. “All the teams would be provided round the clock security; from the airport to their hotels, their training sessions and to match venues, to ensure maximum security for them.” Also, Chairperson of the National Joint Intelligence Structure (NATJOINTS), Lt. Gen. Elias Mawela, said part of the security concept to effectively contain any form of hooliganism was also in place.

Sport

Wednesday, November 28, 2012

Arteta defends coach

Emmanuel Adebayor

Adebayor hints AFCON no-show T ogo captain, Emmanuel Adebayor, has threatened to withdraw from the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations because of the side’s poor preparation for the tournament. Adebayor, the key component in Togo’s qualification for January’s competition in South Africa, says he would consider staying with his English club Tottenham during the competition. Togo has been drawn in the ‘Group of Death’ to face Ivory Coast, Algeria and Tunisia in Durban but the lanky player is unhappy with the federation over preparation. “We might as well stay with our clubs if we have to make all these efforts to qualify just to show poorly in South Africa next

January,” Adebayor said yesterday. “As I am talking to you, I have no idea what is planned for our preparation and our stay in Durban.” Adebayor’s appearance in South Africa will be the climax of a big turnaround in his international career, given that he retired in 2010. The 28-year-old was involved when the Togo team bus was fired upon on to the way to the 2010 African Cup of Nations in Angola, when three people were killed. He retired from international duty four months later, but agreed to play for his country again in November 2011 after assurances from the Togo Football Federation regarding safety.

rsenal midfielder, Mikel Arteta, has defended manager Arsene Wenger in the wake of fan criticism at the weekend. Wenger withdrew striker Olivier Giroud for midfielder Francis Coquelin during Saturday’s goalless draw at Aston Villa, sparking chants of ‘You don’t know what you’re doing’ from the visiting fans. Arteta respects the right of supporters to voice their frustrations but insists Wenger has his reasons for every decih ssion he makes.

“They can say whatever they want,” Arteta said yesterday. “If they feel that way it has to be respected, even when they say something to one of us. “I think the coach has got experience and he has been here for 15 years. He is someone who knows the club better than anyone. He knows the players really well and he knows what he can get from each of us. “If he does it once then maybe it’s a mistake but if he does it four or five times then there is a reason why and he’ll explain that better than anyone.”

“He has two-anda-half years left and that’s quite a long time,” Wenger said. “We have built a team where we have a lot of young English players, or British players like Gibbs, Chamberlain, Wilshere. “We still have the case of Theo Walcott, Aaron Ramsey. You want them all on long-term contracts.” Meanwhile, wantaway Theo Walcott has yet to commit himself past the end of the season, with Wenger revealing “unfortunately, I cannot give you any news.”

Why Eagles aren’t cup fa

Spartak Moscow striker, Emmanuel Emenike, sa ble at the AFCON 2013 finals. He tells MTNFootb pressure as the country is not listed among the f What has the experience been playing under Stephen Keshi? It’s been wonderful, like every other coach I have played for. He’s great leader and it’s great to play for him. There were rumours that you did not get on well with Keshi. How true is that? I never had issues with the ‘Big Boss’. I respect my coaches because I have a lot to learn from them. As a matter of fact, I never had any issues with him. How could I have anything against him and he would still be calling me to play for him? Is there any player bigger than his coach? If there is, I am not that player. What has he told you about your game? He has always passed on tips to me. He has told me to keep the focus, that I am very useful for his team with my physique and ruggedness. He has advised me to be determined and keep working hard. His encouragement has been great. I also remember when I was injured and he called me to know how I was doing. I have every reason to be committed to his team.

Mikel Arteta

Wenger reveals youth dream ‘Kompany ‘ll play Wigan’ rsenal Manager, Arsene Wenger, says the club’s future lies with the team’s young players like returning midfielder, Jack Wilshere. Wilshere, who has been at the Gunners since the age of nine, has just returned from a lengthy spell on the sidelines and is thought to be negotiating a contract extension. But Wenger, who also praised fellow England internationals Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Kieran Gibbs, is confident the 20-year-old will commit to the club.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

anchester City has no concerns over the fitness of captain Vincent Kompany ahead of tonight’s trip to Wigan. It had been speculated that the 26-year-old central defender might be given a rest, having defied the knee injury he picked up against Real Madrid last week to play the whole 90 minutes at Chelsea on Sunday. The Belgian was man of the match in that 0-0 draw and City’s firstteam coach David Platt says a second match in quick succession will not present a problem.

Do you hope to start scoring goals for the Eagles in South Africa if you make the squad? Of course, as a striker I will do my best to hit the target for Nigeria at the Afcon, but I am not so desperate for self glory. I am a team player, I prefer making assists for my team and win the game than scoring goals and lose. I am still confident that my goals will flow for the Eagles. I won’t be under pressure not even in South Africa because we must play as a team. All I wish if I am part of the team is to contribute towards the team glory. Sometimes it is not the goal that is important, but the victory and for coaches to have you in their team consistently, that means you are making impact which is the most important thing. For me, I don’t like to be selfish, though as a striker you need to be selfish but not at the detriment of the team. I am not promising goals but I will aim to win with Nigeria if I am there.

“It’s not a case of it being too much at all,” Platt said yesterday. “Vincent would have still been feeling the effects of the injury that he picked up last Wednesday in the Chelsea game but he got through the game and got through it very well. “There were no after effects and he iced it straight afterwards as a precaution.” Kompany will probably line up alongside the 19-year-old Matija Nastasic, who is currently keeping England inter- What are your expectations at national Joleon Lescott the Nations Cup? out of the side.

Emmanuel Emenike

EVERY COUNTRY AND THE N ATIONS C UP W MY EXPECTATION IS

GERIA BECOME THE C

I AM SELECT

Every country and players at the Nations Cup want to win. My expectation is to help Nigeria become the champions if I am selected, and if I’m not, I will still pray for the team to do well and bring back home the trophy. The most important thing is to give support to the team but it is absolutely going to be tough for every team. With the quality of players in the team, how would you rate Nigeria’s chances at the tournament? We don’t have a chance, yes we don’t. Why I said that is because we don’t need to hype ourselves before the tournament. As it is now, nobody is talking about our chances, but we could shock the continent by winning it. I am a Nigerian and we need to be patriotic. Eagles can be African champions whether I am part of the team or not, no matter what we must all support the team. People don’t see us as the favourites, that is the truth, and we need to correct

that i media the pi All team, do the by m passes the fr to put need t of the ing th highe Nigeri Burkin Ethiop you fe I fe don’t Zamb champ much that i ery te again This N produ

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National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Sport

Wednesday, November 28, 2012

avourites –Emenike Sponsor tasks NFF ays small teams could prove formida- over NPL start ball.com that Nigeria will not be under

favourites

AFOLABI GAMBARI

irector of Total Promotions Limited, broadcast sponsor of the Nigeria Premier League (NPL), Mr. Niyi Alonge, has advised the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to consider the commencement of the league season as top priority as the football house meets today in Abuja. The NFF board will deliberate on issues affecting the country’s football as the members converge, although National Mirror learnt yesterday that the Annual General Meeting and Super Eagles’ participation in the 29th Africa Cup of Nations in South Africa next year will dominate proceedings. But Alonge contended that the premier league could not be wished away, saying it should also engage the board members. “The league is the bedrock of

D PLAYERS AT

WANT TO WIN . TO HELP

NI-

HAMPIONS IF

TED

impression, not in the a, but in South Africa on itches. we need is to play as a the midfielders should eir primary assignment making the necessary s not to try and outshine ront man. We just need t our house in order. We to know the importance e tournament. I am sayhis so that we could fly r in South Africa. ia will be playing against na Faso, Zambia and pia. Which of these do ear most? ar all of them because I know them. I only know ia as the defending pions but I don’t know more about them and s why we must play eveam as if we are playing st Brazil or Barcelona. Nations Cup is going to uce a lot of shocks.

ambian President has d Chipolopolo to keep crown. Do you see them so? at is his wish and you

any football nation and harping on it at the meeting has become even more vital in view of the crisis that has trailed the system in the past weeks,” the TPL boss said. “We are about the only country in the world where the league is not running as scheduled and I think this is not good for our reputation internationally,” he added. “Already, the implication of this anomaly is beginning to weigh on us with fears that our representatives in the 2013 continental competitions may face early knock-out as a result of lack of competition arising from the non-kick off of the league season.” Alonge reiterated his earlier contention that the NPL must operate as a limited liability to achieve its objectives. “There is no alternative to this if the league must be free from undue control by the NFF,” he submitted.

can’t dispute that as no one considered them in 2012 and they won. He may have his own reasons. We don’t need to listen to what is in the newspapers. We need to prepare ourselves for the war in South Africa. South Africa 2013 is going to be war, the smaller teams are dreaming to upset the bigger team and that is why we should stay focus and play as a team. Apart from Cote d’Ivoire and Ghana, Nigeria has some big stars going to South Africa. Do you see the Eagles beating Ghana or the Ivorians? Beating Ghana and Cote d’Ivoire would put us where we belong in African football. We have suffered a lot of knocks for some years now, but beating these teams would restore our pride. We should not see ourselves as a favourite, rather we should come out and compete against any team, playing for each other. You provided assists during the qualifier against Liberia, so how relieved were you after Eagles qualified for the Nations Cup? It was a big relief for me. I was determined to help the team and I thank God for achieving my aim. I had some sleepless nights, I was worried because it was a mustwin game for us.

EKO 2012: Team Nassarawa bemoans treatment IKENWA NNABUOGOR

harp practices were recorded in the camp of Nasarawa State at the ongoing National Sports Festival in Lagos, as some officials and journalists in the contingent complained yesterday about denial of kits and meal tickets, in addition to being short-changed of their Duty Travelling Allowance. Assistant coaches and journalists were also denied track suits and toiletries provided by the state government. Although the athletes were paid their allowances, they complained that the amount was not enough to cater for their needs during the festival. Close sources revealed that the state government had released about N10m to finance the state’s contingents to the festival for well over 150 athletes, including officials and journalists, but officials of the state’s Ministry of Youth and Sports were reported to have cut down the number to less than a hundred to maximize reserves. It was gathered that most officials were short changed in the DTA’s just as journalists were also paid a paltry sum of N40, 000 and N50, 000 for the fourteen-day event, while top officials now make brisk business. An official who did not want his name in print told National Mirror that the plan evolved back in Lafia, the Nassarawa capital, was hijacked in Lagos by those he called top management members of the ministry.

Female football enters Day 2 IKENWA NNABUOGOR

he female football event of the National Sports Festival enters Day 2 today with Team Akwa Ibom taking on the Osun female team at the refurbished Agege Stadium. Benue and Enugu will also take to the pitch in the second game of the day. Team Taraba drew bye to the next fixture which will pitch it against Team Osun tomorrow. The group is made of five teams. In Group A, Team Ogun will engage Edo State at the stadium at 2pm while Team Imo will encounter host Lagos at 4pm.

TPL boss, Alonge

Golf: Ladies tee-off in Ikoyi YEMI OLUS

bout 200 golfers from across Nigeria and West Africa will participate in the 38th Ladies Open Golf Championship teeing off today at the Ikoyi Club 1938 in Lagos. The three-day event which will end on Friday. Lady Captain, Yinka Aruwajoye, reiterated that the annual tourney was amongst other things targeted at improving the culture of golf playing among ladies. According to her, this year’s edition will be unique in differ-

ent ways. “Of course, there is an increase in numbers and quality of golfers,” she said. “Ladies from different state in Nigeria as well as from Ghana will be coming for the event”. National Mirror learnt that golfers who distinguished themselves would receive goodie bags as a mark of participation. Aside the ladies’ event, however, there will also be a clinic for children who have already shown keen interest in the sport. The main attraction will be the new Toyota Camry donated by Mandilas for any lady golfer that makes a hole-in-one.

Why I dumped Edo–Cyclist IFEANYI EDUZOR

do State silver medalist in the cycling event of the 17th National Sports Festival, Marvis Enoruwa, has declared that he ditched his state for Ogun due to insincerity of officials. Enoruwa, who represented Ogun State yesterday, won silver in a one sided race dominated by Edward Esim of Rivers State while Issah Mohammed of Kaduna State took the bronze. “I am happy to represent Ogun State because my home state is not interested in the welfare of athletes,” the cyclist said. “With my achievement, Edo would have recorded their name on the medals table but since they decided to dump those of us that have won laurels for the state in the past, we decided to represent other states and win medals for them”.

Wednesday, November 28, 2012

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Wednesday, November 28, 2012

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Business & Finance We must all join hands, both private and public sectors at the Federal, States and local levels to ensure that we support the development of SME in Nigeria

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

Minister of State for Trade and Investment, Samuel Ortom

Senate questions NPA over N30bn contract FRANCIS EZEM

enate, Nigeria’s upper legislative chamber on Monday took a swipe at the Nigerian Ports Authority over the award of over N30billion for the management of seaport channels both in Lagos, which covers ports in the Western part of the country and Bonny area, which covers ports in the southern part of the country. NPA had, following the conclusion of the port reform programme, which stripped it of cargo handling functions, which were now placed under the private terminal operators incorporated the Lagos Channel Management Limited and Bonny Channel Management Limited to take care of the channels in both areas in terms of maintenance dredging. Under this arrangement, NPA has 60 percent equity share in each of the companies while some operators, includ-

ing foreigners have the remaining 40 percent ownership, even as most of the dredgers belong to the authority. Senator Ben Ayade, a member of the Senate Committee on Marine Transport, who spoke during a visit to the authority, questioned the

management of the authority over the award of N15billion each for the two channel management companies, in defiance to relevant provisions of the Public Procurement Act. The senator, who was responding to a slide presentation by the Managing Director of the au-

thority, Mallam Habib Abdullahi, had observed that the two companies awarded channel maintenance contracts to the tune of N15 billion each, which he described as insider abuse, argued that NPA was awarding contracts to itself without due process.

“In law, what you are doing is insider abuse, because you would be awarding contract to companies you have 60 percent equity participation, which runs foul of the Public Procurement Act”, the senator reminded the management of the authority. “I would also want the managing director to tell us the value and method of payment to NPA by these channels management companies for its 60 percent equity shareholding because from what you told us, the vessels belong to the authority.

FLIGHT SCHEDULE Arik Air Los-Abj: 07:15, 09:15, 10:20, 15:20, 16:20, 16:50, 18:45 (Mon-Fri/Sat/Sun) Abj-Los: 07:15, 09:40, 10:20, 12:15, 15:15, 16:15, 17:10, (Mon-Fri/Sat); 12:15, 15:15, 16:15 (Sun) Los-PH: 07:15, 11:40, 14:00, 16:10, 17:15, (Mon-Fri) 07:30, 11:40, 15:50 (Sat) 11:50, 3:50, 17:05 (Sun) Abj-PH: 07:15, 11:20, 15:30 (Mon-Fri) 07:15, 16:00 (Sat) 13:10, 16:00, (Sun) PH-Abj: 08:45, 12:50, 17:00 (Mon-Fri) 08:45, 17:30 (Sat) 14:40, 17:30 (Sun) Abj-Ben: 08:00, 12:10 (Mon-Fri/Sat) 08:55, 12:10 (Sun) Ben-Abj: 09:55, 13:30 (Mon-Fri/Sat) 10:50, 13:30 (Sun)

Aero Contractors

L–R: Chief of Staff/Head, Corporate Division, Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), Mr. Bola Adeeko; Chairman, FBN Holdings Plc, Mr. Oba Otudeko; Chief Executive Officer, Mallam Bello Maccido and Group Managing Director, First Bank of Nigeria, Mr. Bisi Onasanya, at the listing of FBN Holdings Plc at the NSE on Monday.

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)

Minister urges public officials to embrace planning for devt TOLA AKINMUTIMI ABUJA

he Minister of National Planning, Dr Shamsuddeen Usman, has charged top officers involved in planning, research and statis-

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tics in the public service to show greater commitment to their responsibilities in the ongoing efforts to achieve a holistic transformation of the country. The minister who described planning as a veritable framework for leaders of public and other organisations to fulfil their missions and meet their mandates, urged the officers to embrace it in or-

der to actualise the dream of turning Nigeria into one of the most developed economies by year 2020. Giving the advice in his keynote address at the just ended 2012 Conference of Directors of Planning, Research and Statistics in Katsina, Katsina State, Usman said it would be practically difficult for the country to grow if

NEXIM to deepen financial, technical ties with TurkEximbank

developmental initiatives were not based evidenced-based researches and proper planning. The minister said: “The relevance of strategic planning to growth and development cannot be over emphasised. It serves as a veritable framework for leaders and managers of public and other organisations to fulfil their missions

and meet their mandates” He listed some of the key benefits of developing strategic plans as namely; facilitating the establishment of long-range, unified and broad directions for government in sectoral policy areas, allowing for accountability and effective response to the needs of the nation.

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Nigeria not alone in slow IFRS compliance - ACCA report

Why utilisation of renewable energy resources is low in Nigeria

Business Finance

Wednesday, November 28, 2012

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

NEXIM to deepen financial, technical ties with TurkEximbank TOLA AKINMUTIMI ABUJA

he Managing Director of Nigerian Export Import Bank (NEXIM), Mr. Roberts Orya, has presented a strategic framework to his Turkish counterpart aimed at deepening the existing collaboration between the two banks Making the presentation during a one-day visit to TurkEximbank on Monday when he led high level officials of the African Export Import Bank – AFREXIM Bank from Cairo, Egypt, led by the Executive Vice President, Finance, Administration and Banking Services, Mr. Denys Denya, in Ankara, Turkey, Orya said the business visit to Turkey was borne out of the need to explore additional offshore sources of financing to cater to the bank’s rising profile of investors in the mass sectors of Nigerian economy. A statement by the bank’s Corporate Communication Department, Chinedu Moghalu, quoted the NEXIM boss as re-

L-R: Member, House of Representatives’ Committee on Banking and Currency, Hon. Murtala Busari; Chairman, Hon. Jones Onyereri and Branch Controller, Central Bank of Nigeria, Lagos, Mr. Chris Okpala, during an inspection tour of the new CBN building in Lagos as part of the legislative oversight visit of the committee to CBN locations, recently.

minding the TurkEximbank officials that there is great economic potential between Turkey and Nigeria with the value of bilateral trade hitting over

FG, Embraer collaborate on aircraft acquisition for local airlines OLUSEGUN KOIKI

n a bid to ensure that domestic airlines grow and compete with their counterparts around the globe, the Federal Government through the Ministry of Aviation is collaborating with Embraer manufacturing company. The collaboration would enable the indigenous airlines acquire modern aircraft cheaper and easier than they presently do. An online statement signed by the Special Assistant, Media to the Minister of Aviation, Princess Stella Oduah, Mr. Joe Obi stated that this was the outcome of preliminary talks opened last weekend in S.J Dos Campos, the headquarters of Embraer in Brazil on the subject matter. Obi stated that the Federal Government’s delegation was led by the Managing Director of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Mr. George Uriesi while the Embraer team was led by Senior Vice President Operations, Mr. Luis Carlos Affonso. According to the statement, Uriesi told the Embraer Executives that the Federal Government has altered its strategy for the development of the aviation sector with respect to domestic airlines by its intention to assist them increase their fleet

with new aircraft from reputable manufacturers around the world. He emphasised the need for the use of proper aircraft by domestic operators, hence the need for government to intervene directly in the acquisition of aircraft that are effective, efficient and appropriate for the routes. He said, “Domestic carriers use wrong equipment for most of their operations. There is no established record of sustainability for these airlines mainly because of the use of wrong equipment. “Intervention fund by the Federal Government in the past to assist them re-fleet has failed because there was no evidence of the money being ploughed back into the airlines leading to them failing in the long run. ‘’Government wants to change this model entirely by floating a fund for the acquisition of new aircraft for the domestic carriers. In this regard, government is seeking a partnership with Embraer that will lead to a discussion on how these new aircraft will be procured at very competitive, fair, and concessionary rates.” Responding, Affonso said the company welcomes the opportunity to work, partner and collaborate with the government of Nigeria in its desire and determination to assist domestic carriers acquire new and more efficient fleet.

one billion dollars by June this year. According to the NEXIM’s Chief Executive, Nigeria offers great opportunities to Turkish

businesses in terms of investments in non-oil sectors, particularly in the service sector comprising, tourism promotion and branded hotels invest-

ment, amongst others in view of their high potentials for job creation and foreign exchange earnings. Receiving the team, the Deputy General Manager of TürkEximbank, Mr. Alaadin Metin, commended the NEXIM Bank chief for rekindling the existing relationship between the two financial institutions and expressed optimism that the present discussions will yield the desired results in line with the already beneficial relationships between the two countries. Metin emphasised that TürkEximbank is a fully stateowned bank acting as the Turkish government’s major export incentive instrument in Turkey’s sustainable export strategy with the mandate to support foreign trade and Turkish contractors/investors operating overseas. As a means of aiding export development, like its Nigerian counterpart, the bank offers specialised financial services through a variety of credit, insurance and guarantee programmes.

Workers wants erring companies sanctioned MESHACK IDEHEN

orkers in the construction sector have said they are calling on the Federal Government to urgently sanction companies that are not complying with the Pension Reforms Act 2004. In the same vein, the workers under the auspices of the National Union of Civil Engineering, Construction, Furni-

ture and Wood Workers, said that they want the National Pensions Commission, to step up its regulatory function in order to stop rising cases of fraud in the pension industry. General Secretary of the union, Mr Babatunde Laide told journalists on Tuesday, that government should be commended for the pension reforms actwhile describing the act as capable of sanitising the sector.

According to him, pension fund’s management and administration should be treated with utmost transparency and accountability, and should be given the same priority as salaries by government and employers. Speaking further, the union leader said the issues of health, safety and environment in the workplace should be given the urgent and attention that it deserves.

PHCCIMA makes case for development of Egi land UDEME AKPAN

resident of Port Harcourt Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture, (PHCCIMA), Engr. Emeka Unachukwu has advised communities in the country to embrace the spirit of enterprise and build entrepreneurship, if they hope to improve on capacities, eliminate social and economic problems and lift the people collectively. The PHCCIMA helmsman made this assertion while delivering a keynote address at the inauguration of a strategy, board and a trust fund team for the new Egi city development initiative organized by the Egi People’s Assembly, EPA at Novotel in Port Harcourt . Delivering his address titled: ‘Developing Egi city through the

spirit of enterprise’, he regretted that in spite of huge resources at the disposal of Egi community, the people are still socially and economically behind, even as the injection of external investment funds and external expertise have done so little in the transformation of Egi land to a fast growing city. Unachukwu emphasized the need re-strategise and inculcate the innovation of enterprise to bring about the development of people and the community. He said the people must address inequities; thid he however cautioned must not be done in some sapless, trickle down manner, but rather by creating economic spaces and providing resources to kindle the spirit of entrepreneurship that will lift the people collectively. He described enterprise as a creative and innovative response

to the environment, adding that creativity and innovation flow from the inner mind which demands a positive rekindling of the spirit that drives enterprise. Citing examples, he said entrepreneurship is influenced by experience of individual, traditions of the family and the society in which he lives, support systems of finance, vocational training and extension services and finally supporting and mentoring governmental policy framework. Unachukwu who was also inaugurated alongside two others as member of the Egi strategy and mentors team said his committee is expected to achieve its objective through the strategic development framework by involving in developing appropriate policies and special programmes for the development of entrepreneurial talent.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Business Finance

Wednesday, November 28, 2012

to honour Obasanjo, NPF restates commitment to cashless policy NCS others at NITMA 2012 STANLEY IHEDIGBO

he Nigeria Police Force has restated its commitment to the cashless policy saying it will assist in reducing crime in the society. Speaking at the two day workshop on a theme, “the dynamics of cashless economy and emerging methods in financial crimes”, organized by the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) Special Fraud Unit, in Lagos yesterday, Commissioner of Police, Special Fraud Unit, Mr. Tunde Ogunsakin, said that all

over the world, cashless economic transaction has become the hallmark of financial system. According to him the Federal Government plans to join the rest of the world in the trend in financial transaction, by implementing a cashless transaction policy in the country is part of the vision of being amongst the top 20 economies by the year 2020. He added that before now, there had been reported cases of attacks on financial institutions and bullion vans, which the cashless policy will cer-

tainly put an end to such. The commissioner added that there is a strong need to put mechanisms in place to forestall, whatever device or method that may be used to replace the attacks on financial institutions and bullion vans. He noted that the Central Bank of Nigeria objectives of introducing the policy was aimed at curbing high cost of cash management, high risk of using cash, and corruption in the country. In his address, the Inspector-General of Police, Alhaji Muhammed Abubakar, said that apart

from providing the needed security to create an enabling environment, the police have moved up to educating the public on the need to embrace government policy on cashless society. Commenting on the aim of workshop, he said that is not an indication that the police is timid and indirectly shying away from its responsibility of confronting bank robbers. Rather it is to sensitized participants and members of the public on the need to embrace modern trend in global financial transactions.

NASS commends pace of work at CBN’s Lagos office UDO ONYEKA

he House of Representatives Committee on Banking and Currency has commended the speed at which construction work is proceeding at the Central Bank of Nigeria’s Lagos office adding that it has shown that both the CBN and the contractor , Julius Berger are seriously making efforts to see that

the building project is completed on time. Speaking at the visit of the NASS committee members in Lagos, as part of a national legislative oversight function to all CBN branches across the country, the Chairman, Banking and Currency committee, Mr Jones Chukwudi Onyereri said that members of his committee were satisfied with the speed of construction of work at the Lagos office, also

informed that his committee would visit all branches of the apex bank to see things for themselves. He said that his committee would not fail to speak out where and when things are not done properly in the course of their tour. Speaking further, the chairman of the committee said that CBN has been doing its best based on the mandate it derived from the constitution.

KUNLE A ZEEZ

iding on its vision to reward great achievement and contribution to the Information and Communication Technology sector, the Nigeria Computer Society said it will confer honourary fellowship on three eminent Nigerians at this year’s edition of the National Information Technology Merit Awards, the most prestigious and recognised award ceremony within Nigeria’s IT community. The honourees, including former President of Nigeria, Chief Olusegeun Obasanjo; Governor of Cross Rivers State, Senator Liyel Imoke; and Founder, Zenith Bank Plc, Mr. Jim Ovia, will receive the awards at the fourth annual NITMA holding at Civic Centre on December 14, 2012. Speaking at a press conference in Lagos on the annual award cere-

mony, the National President, NCS, Mr. Demola Aladekomo, said the trio who have distinguished themselves with exceptional achievement and service that has accelerated IT development in Nigeria will be honoured with Honorary Fellowships. According to him, the ICT sector experienced accelerated development during Obasanjo’s tenure as the President of Nigeria. According to him, Obasanjo’s passion for the development of the ICT sector led to the establishment of National Information Technology Development Agency, NITDA, Galaxy Backbone, launching of SAT3 by Nigerian Communications Satellite, the National Communications Commission, Computerize Nigeria scheme aimed at encouraging the use of made-in-Nigeria computer systems, among others.

TENDER NOTICE CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA ON BEHALF OF DMO NIGERIAN TREASURY BILLS Notice is hereby given by the Central Bank of Nigeria on behalf of DMO that the Federal Government of Nigeria Treasury Bills of 91, 182 and 364-day tenors amounting to N32,970,708,000, N45,000,000,000 and N50,000,000,000, respectively would be issued by Dutch auction on Thursday, December 06, 2012. All Money Market Dealers should submit bids through the CBN TEMENOS INTERNET BANKING between 9.00a.m and 11.00 a.m. on Wednesday, December 05, 2012. Each bid must be in multiple of N1, 000 subject to a minimum of N10, 000. Authorized Money Market Dealers are allowed to submit multiple bids. A bid may be for authorized Money Market Dealers own account, Non – Money Market Dealers or interested members of the public. The result of the auction would be announced by 11.30 a.m. on Wednesday, December 05, 2012. The Bank reserves the right to reject any bid. Allotment letters would be issued for successful bids on Thursday, December 06, 2012, while payment for the successful bids should be made to your account with Central Bank of Nigeria not later than 11.00am on Thursday, December 06, 2012. The Bank reserves the right to vary the amount on offer in line with market realities prevailing as at the period of auction of the Nigerian Treasury bills.

GOVERNMENT SECURITIES OFFICE CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA ABUJA.

Business Finance

Wednesday, November 28, 2012

Nigeria not alone in slow IFRS compliance - ACCA report KUNLE A ZEEZ

hile most orgainsations in Nigeria are said to be reluctant in complying with the Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS), in their accounting procedures, a recent survey by the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants has indicated that Nigeria is not alone in the slow adoption. The new research from ACCA indicated that the same slow adoption is being experienced in the United States where the study was conducted. The study finds that US investors expect that the country will eventually adopt IFRS, but that the process will take time and need substantial investment in staff and training. In a report called, ‘IFRS in the US: An investor’s perspective’, the research was conducted for ACCA by Forbes Insights, survey-

ing nearly 500 US-based investors. According to the study, 57 per cent of investors expect that the SEC will one day require reporting under IFRS, with more investors agreeing than disagreeing that the long term benefits of adoption would outweigh the costs, 41 per cent against 29 per cent. The most significant challenges identified by investors are the one-off transition matters, while longer-term concerns are rated less highly. According to the study, “The most informed investors polled believe it will take United States corporates some four and a half years to be ready for IFRS. They ask that convergence plans aim for full convergence, allowing adequate time for investors and industry to adjust. “Awareness of IFRS among US-based investors is modest when asked, only 34 per cent of investors felt able to cite specific

differences between US Generally Accepted Accounting Principles, GAAP, and IFRS. However, the study also stated that 38 per cent of investors said they were comfortable comparing statements prepared under IFRS with statements prepared under US GAAP. “Investors saw marginal differences between IFRS and US GAAP, with 22 per cent of investors claiming that the quality of disclosures under IFRS is higher, against 25 per cent who favoured US GAAP. Among investors with a solid understanding of IFRS, however, the balance shifts to 4 per cent to 21 per cent in favour of IFRS. Commenting on the study, Technical Director at ACCA, Sue Almond, said, more investors believe the eventual adoption of IFRS in the US will result in a net benefit to the US economy than not.

FG commends LADOL over Nigerian Content promotion

he Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) has commended the Lagos Deep Offshore Logistics (LADOL), which incorporates the LADOL Free Zone over its commitment to the growth and development of Federal Government’s local content initiative. The Federal Government had in 2010 enacted the Nigerian Content Act, which seeks to promote the participation of Nigerians in the oil and gas sector, practically dominated by foreigners and also created the NCDMB to ensure the success of this policy. The Executive Secretary/CEO of NCDMB, Mr. Ernest Nwapa, who spoke at the just concluded three-day Practical Nigerian Con-

Evans unveils new Eva soap to checkmate counterfeit ADEDEJI ADEMIGBUJI

he General Manager of Evans Industries, Mr. Dan Nwaiwu, has appealed to the Federal Government to prevail on the relevant regulatory bodies to assist the nation’s manufacturers in fighting the war against counterfeiting, noting that high-selling goods are being cloned by counterfeiters on a daily basis, a development, he stated, had succeeded in crippling not a few manufacturing businesses in the country. He made this appeal recently in Lagos at the unveiling of his company’s new range of Eva soaps. ‘We have been having serious issues with the fakers. The

tent Evaluation Forum held in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, capital, described LADOL as one of the signposts to the successes so far recorded by government in the administration of the Local Content law in Nigeria. The event was the Second Practical Nigerian Content Conference/Exhibition, organised by the board in conjunction with the London-based CWC Group and the Bayelsa State Government. Nwapa who recalled that he had on several occasions made official visits to the LADOL Free Zone (LFZ) located off Apapa Port in Lagos, noted that the Oil and Gas logistics service base was a swamp only a few years ago, but has now been transformed into a world-class support base. According to him, the promoters of this wholly indigenous facility should be commendedfor set-

ting a remarkable example in the Lagos area, arguing that they have aspiration to succeed in standing out as an indigenous firm in addition to desiring to do things that would make Nigeria proud. “ Nigeria cannot be rightly described as a great oil producing nation for now, owing to the dearth of infrastructure, facilities and trained personnel, this situation has thus posed a challenge to the board because Nigeria has got all it takes to rank among the great nations considering the enormous natural endowments and the human capacity”, he noted. It was gathered that the board has commenced its reformative works on the premise of two options of strategic development, one of which is ‘revenuefocused in which operators seek cheapest fastest route to first oil.

danger in this is that most times some of these products sold are substandard and even harmful; since they contain some ingredients that should not be used in the first place. Unfortunately, many consumers would not know these details,’ he stated. While appealing to the media to sensitise the consumers on the need to patronise genuine products, Nwaiwu explained that the company had put in place some security features in the new products that would make it difficult for them to be counterfeited. He stated that the company’s new Eva range of soaps are vegetable-based and designed for the nation’s feminine gender, desirous of maintaining a glowing skin.

Phd, graduate drivers to complete training in January 2013 MESHACK IDEHEN

L-R: Head, Glo World, Mr. Regiv Handa; Head, 3G and Electronic Sales, Mr. Gabriel Olanrewaju and General Manager, Marketing and Strategy, Mr. Ashutoh Tiwary, during a press briefing on the new Glo-Bolt innovation in Lagos, recently. PHOTO: OLUFEMI AJASA

FRANCIS EZEM

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

ajority of the Phd, masters and graduate drivers recently recruited by the Dangote Group will complete their training from the Nigeria Institute of Transport Technology in Zaria, Kaduna State in January 2013. The Director General of the institute, Alhaji Aminu Yusuf, told journalists that those that will complete their professional driving training are those in the first batch of the programme. He said that the training will be done in batches of 100 on a quarterly basis, adding that the final batch is expected to complete their training in 2016.

According to the NITT DG, the institute was carrying out the training in collaboration with the Federal Road Safety Commission, in order to jointly provide a world class standard training for the trainees. He explained that most of those recruited have not driven vehicles before, adding the graduates will be issued drivers’ licenses as soon as they are certified. Yusuf added that the trainees will be given both theoretical and practical trainings that include orientation, stimulation, and test track driving before being exposed to the highways, the institute is committed towards contributing to human capital development in the country.

Mobile devices will drive Africa’s cloud adoption- Samsung KUNLE A ZEEZ

amsung Electronics West Africa has said the increasing number of smartphone devices being used by people in Africa will drive the continent’s adoption of cloud-based services. Director of IT Solutions and Business-to-Business unit at Samsung Africa, Mr. Thierry Boulanger, who stated this also cautioned on the need for businesses to adopt a strategy that allow people to be able to access their services and products directly from their mobile devices. He noted that accessibility of technology and growth of online shopping has seen many consumers bypass local channels to gain access products from elsewhere

before they are available in their traditional retail markets. According to Boulanger, this is not always ideal as using the correct channels provide benefits that people might not always be aware of. “While technology adheres to certain uniform principles, some manufacturers tailor their devices to suit the requirements of specific countries. For example, the Samsung Built for Africa programme sees products designed to meet the needs, resources, and conditions of the continent,” he said. He disclosed that following extensive research and development, Samsung had applied this methodology to products ranging from televisions, fridges and even to air-conditioners.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Wednesday, November 28, 2012

Energy Week

udemea@rocketmail.com 07031546994

Solar panels

Why utilisation of renewable energy resources is low in Nigeria

Despite their abundance, the use of renewable energy resources remain low in Nigeria. In this report, UDEME AKPAN and MESHACK IDEHEN attribute this to some factors, including high cost of components.

he world is moving towards increased consumption of renewable energy resources, including sunlight, wind, biomass, tides, waves and geothermal heat. Available statistics showed that about 16 percent of global energy consumption comes from renewables, with 10 percent coming from traditional biomass, which is mainly used for heating, and 3.4per cent from hydroelectricity. More than that, the application of wind power is increasing at a yearly rate of 20per cent, with a worldwide installed capacity of 238,000 megawatts at the end of last year. As of 2011, small solar PV systems provide electricity to millions of households, and micro-hydro configured into mini-grids serves many more. In fact, over 44 million households use biogas made in household-scale digesters for lighting and/or cooking while more than 166 million households rely on a new generation of more-efficient biomass cookstoves. But the story seems to be different

THE RISING SCARCITY OF FOSSIL FUEL, WHICH IN TURN HAS BROUGHT ABOUT ASTRONOMICAL INCREASE AND INVESTMENTS IN EXPLORATION COSTS, HAS MADE RENEWABLE ENERGY

RESOURCES TO BECOME MORE IMPORTANT GLOBALLY in many developing nations, especially Nigeria despite their strategic locations in the tropics. As one of the nations in the tropics, the Nigeria is endowed with many renewable energy resources, including sunlight, wind, rain, tides, waves and geothermal heat. Almost all the resources abound in all parts of the nation. Ordinarily, the nation should be able to harness them for various purposes because of the reserves which are also inexhaustible. But a recent survey showed that most people still depend on conventional or petroleum related products such as petrol, diesel, fuel oil,

kerosene and natural gas for domestic cooking, industrial production among others. The reasons are not farfetched. First, investigations showed that many people know very little about them. Consequently, they have not been able to exploit them for productive and other purposes. Second, most of the components are imported from other economies, including China, Japan, United States and Soviet Union. Third, renewable energy resources are also expensive to harness as a result of high cost of components. Take the case of solar as an example.

Some components, especially the panel required to harness sunlight to solar are very expensive to procure and install, thus making them unaffordable to potential consumers. These notwithstanding, stakeholders have made case for the use of renewable resources in the nation, particularly because of the conviction that a shift to solar would assist to reduce huge dependence on conventional fuels. Proponents of renewable energy resources believe that increased application would boost the conservation of conventional fuels in the nation. In fact, proponents in different parts of the world, particularly in Europe, Asia and even Africa also support their application because of the belief that they would assist to tackle climate change, and by extension environmental pollution in Nigeria and other nations around the world. The former Head of Feedstock Division of Global Biofuel Limited, ProfesCONTINUED ON PAGE 36

Energy Week

Wednesday, November 28 2012

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Why utilisation of renewable energy resources is low in Nigeria

Kuchi

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 35 sor Babatunde Obilana told National Mirror that global energy need, currently sourced from fossil fuel has, for over a century, constituted the major driver of economies and industrialisation. Obilana explained that the rising scarcity of fossil fuel, which in turn has brought about astronomical increase and investments in exploration costs, has made renewable energy resources to become more important globally. He remarked that there is a great need to pursue increased application of renewable resources because of the need to create more employment opportunities and stimulate rural transformation in the nation. However, some stakeholders remarked that there is a great need to confront certain long held opinions. For instance, an energy expert, Mr. Henry Omonaike stated that, “alternative energy source to many, especially in developing countries is synonymous with turning food to fuel. Citing the campaigns once launched by promoters of alternative fuel, including some states Like Ekiti, Ondo of plans to use maize, sorguhm, sugar and even cassava as primary materials for the production of the energy. He

Labo

Akinniranye

APPROPRIATE ENERGY MIX IS ALWAYS A FUNCTION OF A NATION’S ENERGY POLICY added that most investors are scared of investing in the sector apparently as a result of some uncertainties in the economy. An Economist, Mr. Peter Iwaleka attributed the low development of renewable energy resources to the high cost of technology and technical expertise required to explore and exploit renewable energy resources for commercial applications in the nation. Iwaleka who noted the rise in global demand for called for increased investment and application of renewable in order to enable nations, especially Nigeria meet their energy targets now and in the future. However, hope is not lost. Some experts, including the Duke Energy Distinguished Professor of Environmental Engineering and Science, and Professor of Earth Science, Professor Hilary Inyang, observed that the future is not bleak. Inyang who criticised the continuous gas flaring in the Niger Delta made a strong case for the adoption of policies and programmes targeted at promoting renewable energy develop-

ment in the country. Already, some bold steps seem to have been made toward the development of renewable energy resources. For instance, the Ministry of Power stated that: “State governments, which have now been permitted to generate and distribute power, are also building. Nigerian and foreign businesses are not left out. Not to be forgotten is that there are a number of abandoned dams in the country; we hope to generate electricity from some of them, ranging from 1mw to 10mw, which will be domiciled in their respective localities, instead of being on the national grid.” It stated that: “We are going beyond the traditional sources of generating power in Nigeria, which are hydro and thermal sources. The Federal Government is leading the effort to build three coal-fired stations to be located in Enugu, Gombe and Kogi states, with each producing 1,000mw. We may need to remind critics that coal is the biggest source of power in the United States and South Africa, among other places.” These steps have attracted the com-

ments of some people. For instance, the National President of Oil and Gas Service Providers Association of Nigeria, OGSPAN, Mr. Colman Obasi noted that, “We in OGSPAN are pleased that the nation has started to talk about renewables which have also been given a place in the nation’s energy mix.” Obasi noted that the nation is rather late attributed the delay to some factors, especially lack of functional energy policy to guide the nation throughout a greater part of its post independence existence. As he puts it: “Appropriate energy mix is always a function of a nation’s energy policy. It is the policy that guides nations on the selection, development and application of energy resources, based on the need to realise set objectives.” He explained that, “Unfortunately, Nigeria did not have such a policy at independence. It took a long time before the policy was put together. During that period, it was possible that many things went wrong which need to be corrected.” However, Obasi and others agreed that there is a great need for the government to emerge with new measures capable of addressing the various challenges, including high prices of components and limited awareness of consumers in the nation.

Chinese firm, Multiverse Plc get mining lease CHIDI UGWU ABUJA

wo mining investors, a Chinese mining company,Tongyi Allied Mining Limited and Multiverse Plc were recently issued with Mining Leases Licences (MLL) by Federal Government in Abuja for exploration of mineral deposits in the country. Speaking at the occasion, the Minister of Mines and Steel development Arc Musa Mohammed Sada noted that the two mining investors had satisfied the necessary requirements as provided in Sections 50, 54(1) (a-b), 65 and 66 of the Nigerian Minerals and Mining Act 2007.

Multiverse Plc is to mine lead-zinc ore in its tenement area located in Nasarawa state while Tongyi Allied Mining Company, a Chinese mining firm, is to mine cassiterite and associated minerals (Columbite and Tantalite) in its tenement area, located in Bauchi state. Sada said the activity satisfies the ministry’s mandate to facilitate active mining operations in at least one major mining operation exploiting targeted strategic mineral resources by the end of 2012. “This development will no doubt create wealth and jobs for Nigerians as well as generate revenue for government in the form of royalties and taxes as well as re-launch Nigeria onto the map of min-

ing nations having been active player before the discovery of oil” he stated. In his remarks, the Managing Director, of Tongyi Allied Mining Limited, Mr. Zheng You said the decision to invest in Nigeria was based on a long history of friendship based between Nigeria and China. He assured the Tongyi will attach great importance to environmental protection in its mining exploration activities in the country. Mr. You pledged to devote time to achieving mutual and beneficial relationship with the people of Nigeria, adding that through their activities more jobs will be provided and employment oppor-

tunities would also be provided for Nigerians. “Our company shall endeavour to fortify the friendly and cooperative relations between these two countries as well as promote mutual development; secondly the mining industry in Nigeria has a vast and promising future with great potentials, however, our company is very aware that Nigeria is not only home to Nigerians but also home to foreign investors like our from China. We also attach great importance to environmental protection as well as community development which will ensure our company’s harmonious and sustainable development in Nigeria” he stated.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Energy Week

Wednesday, November 28, 2012

OPEC daily basket price now $108.08 per barrel UDEME AKPAN WITH AGENCY REPORT

he price of Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), basket of 12 crudes stood at $108.08 dollars a barrel over the weekend, compared with $107.94 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). At the current price, OPEC basket is still valued in excess of the yearly budgets of many oil producing nations, including Nigeria that projected its revenue generation for the execution of its 2012 budget at the reference price of $72 per barrel. This means that the nation still generates about $36 in excess of the budget reference price. However, Crude oil prices started to fall later this week as concerns about Greek debt talks and U.S. budget negotiations kept the specter of dampened oil demand in focus. While uncertainty about attempts to address fiscal dilemmas on both sides of the Atlantic applied pressure to oil prices, the political crisis in Egypt kept fears about the region’s oil supply in focus, along with the fragile ceasefire in Gaza and the ongoing conflict in Syria. Caution about talks to release emer-

Alison-Madueke

gency aid to keep Greece financially afloat weighed on equities around the globe, including Wall Street stocks, and pressured the euro. Investors awaited as euro zone finance ministers and the International Monetary Fund began a third attempt in as many weeks to release emergency aid for Greece, with policymakers saying a write-down of Greek debt was off the table for now. “There are reports the Greek debt talks are not going well,” said Carsten Fritsch, oil analyst at Commerzbank in Frankfurt. “Wall Street is opening down and other markets are following.” The recent wrangling among United States lawmakers has produced little progress toward a compromise designed to avoid mandated tax increases and government spending cuts scheduled for January 1. The threat to oil demand would result

if the sudden shock of the tax boosts and government spending cuts sent a sputtering U.S. economy back into recession. Brent January crude fell $1 to $110.38 a barrel yesterday, retreating below the 50-day moving average of $110.58 and the 100-day moving average of $110.48. U.S. January crude was down 91 cents at $87.37 a barrel, near the $87.27 session low. “Crude is feeling some pressure from the concerns about Greece and Spain and the nagging worries about the fiscal cliff, with the stock market lower and the dollar index strengthening adding some pressure,” said Phil Flynn, analyst at Price Futures Group in Chicago. Mild forecasts for U.S. weather pushed U.S. natural gas futures lower and helped U.S. heating oil futures slump more than 1 percent. Violent protests in Egypt helped support prices early on Monday. Investors are worried that a political crisis in Egypt over an expansion of the powers of President Mohamed Mursi, could destabilize the rest of the region. Mursi was to meet senior judges on Monday to try to ease the dispute that has set off violent protests reminiscent of last year’s revolution, which brought him to power. “If it is getting messy there, it could spill over into other countries - oil producers in North Africa and even into the Gulf and even countries like Saudi Arabia,” Fritsch said. Egyptian mediators began separate talks on Monday with Hamas and with Israel to flesh out details of a ceasefire agreed last week that ended eight days of fighting in the Gaza Strip.

Why MYTO 2 was introduced –Amadi

he Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, (NERC), has stressed that the nation electricity tariff was reviewed to enable to attract new investors into the sector through efficient cost recovery. The Chairman of the commission, Dr. Sam Amadi said: “Without a cost-reflective tariff, no utility provider will enter any market, however large the market.” Amadi who made a presentation at a forum in Lagos stated that the absence

of a cost-reflective tariff is a key reason for the failure of the power sector to serve Nigerians for the past three decades. He said: “The tariff framework allocates risks efficiently to those best placed to manage them. It provides incentives for improving performance – it incentivise cost reduction and quality of service.” Amadi stated that it provides for the achievement of social goals such as universal access and demand-side management. He said the review was also carried out

Energy & Oil Prices

Source: Bloomberg

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

Source: Oilprice.com

to correct the wrong projections in MYTO 1, especially load projections, e.g., 16,000 mw in 2011. He said the tariff was further carried out to increase natural gas supply and transport prices, include Feed-in Tariffs (Wind, Solar, Biomass and Small Hydro) and add tariff for coal-fired generation. He said the measure was also targeted at reducing inefficient consumption and wastage and increase the use of pre payment meters to discourage estimated bill-

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

ing. The Executive Secretary of Nigeria Association of Small and Medium Enterprises, (NASME), Mr. Eke Ubiji said NASME is ready to engage relevant government institutions, especially Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission in order to change the situation. Consequently, NASME has called for the creation of separate classifications specifically for NSMEs aimed at enabling them to reduce the present high operational cost. It further called for the elimination of all fixed charges. NASME stated that: In the medium to long term future, NASME recommends that the fixed charge is completely eliminated and all charges become variable based on consumption.” The organization explained that this would ensure that its members only pay for what they consume and ultimately encourage energy conservation in the nation. It also made a case for the introduction of a unified standard for information shown on payment receipts, explaining that: “The minimum information requirements for each distribution company to be the same, in order to improve transparency.”

Energy Week

BP appoints new upstream head

ritish Petroleum, has announced the appointment of Lamar McKay as Chief Executive, Upstream. He will take up the position with effect from January 1, 2013. In his new role, McKay will lead BP’s combined upstream business, comprising the Exploration, Developments and Production divisions together with the upstream strategy and integration team. These upstream functional divisions were formed in late 2010 in a major re-organisation of BP’s Upstream segment designed to improve risk management and implementation of global standards. They currently report to BP Group Chief Executive, Bob Dudley. Their current structure and management teams will remain unaffected by this change in segment leadership. McKay, who will be based in London, will report to Bob Dudley and is already a member of BP’s executive management team. He is currently Chairman and President of BP America -- a role he has held since early 2009 -- serving as BP’s chief representative in the United States and also overseeing BP’s Gulf Coast restoration work. McKay has a petroleum engineering background and has served in a variety of operational and commercial roles globally, during his 32 years with the company. Commenting on the appointment Bob Dudley said: “During the past two years, we have successfully introduced a more centralised organisation to our Upstream; BP’s largest organisational change for two decades. I believe it is now timely and appropriate to appoint a fully dedicated chief executive to this, our largest business. “Lamar is an outstanding leader, with a proven record of strong operational effectiveness and strategic success. His leadership of BP America over the past three years has been exemplary, during a most difficult period for our company. His long and deep experience in the upstream, and of the US and Russia, will be invaluable as we deliver our Upstream strategy worldwide.”

Group holds workshop on oil spills

group of experts, United States Department of State Alumni Engagement Innovation Fund Project is to hold a two-day stakeholders’ workshop on alternative ways of cleaning oil spills in the Niger Delta. In a statement by the Team Leader, Dr Morufat Balogun and Dr Moji Edema, chairperson, Publicity committee, said that the workshop would hold on November 28 and 29, at International Students’ Centre, University of Port Harcourt, Rivers State. The workshop, which has as its theme: “Clean the Spills: Going Green in the Niger Delta’’, will witness practical ways of using kenaf, a local plant, to clean oil spills. Already, over 100 stakeholders have signified their intention of attending the workshop. Edema said that Governor Chibuike Amaechi of Rivers State would be the chief host of the workshop while the Vice Chancellor of University of Port Harcourt, Prof Joseph Ajienka would be the host. She added that Dr Christian Oboh, Managing Director of Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), is expected to be the chairman of the occasion. She said that other stakeholders in the oil communities as well as the affected rural communities in the Niger Delta are also slated for the workshop. Balogun, the team leader, said that the workshop was in partnership with the University of Ibadan, Institute of Agriculture Research and Training (IAR&T) and National oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA). She said the mission of the team was ``to be foremost in community integration and use of local plants for oil spill clean-up in Nigeria’s Niger Delta by developing sustainable strategies that are prompt and acceptable to stakeholders with no threat to the environment”. She said the Kenaf Clean-up team comprises of 40 members, 16 of which are United States alumni and 24 volunteers, exceptionally skilled and diverse in their chosen professions and spread across Nigerian Universities, Agencies, Private sector and Research Institutes.

Wednesday, November 28, 2012

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Make IT, safety way of life, NNPC SRORIES: UDEME AKPAN

he Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, (NNPC), Engr. Andrew Yakubu, has urged members of Staff of the corporation to embrace Information Technology and imbibe the tenets of health safety and environment so as to remain competitive in the global oil and gas industry. Speaking at the formal opening ceremony of the combined IT/HSE Awareness Week of the Corporation, themed Beyond Compliance, held at the NNPC Towers, Abuja, Yakubu noted that IT and HSE have become key business drivers and enablers not only in the oil and gas industry but in every facet of business and human endeavours including organizations and individuals striving to be competitive at the global level. “My dear colleagues, IT and HSE are here to stay in NNPC and because they work, I urge all staff to use them as means of improving workplace productivity, increase individual and team competencies while securing NNPC’s competitive advantage in the Global Oil and Gas Industry,’’ the GMD said. Yakubu stated that in recent years the corporation has embarked on increased deployment of technology solutions and tools, emplacement of the

recently commissioned NNPC Data Centre, deployment of SAP, the interconnectivity among the Corporate Headquarters and Strategic Business Units and Corporate Service Units, Video Conferencing Solutions, NNPC Workplace Portal and Corporate Email among others. “All of these investments are part of our efforts at ensuring that we remain competitive as an oil and gas company. Mastering and leveraging these transformative tools will enable the Corporation maximize the benefits that would be derived from the use of the IT tools,’’ he stated. In his presentation on the HSE aspect of the combined IT/HSE Awareness Week, Engr. Adebayo Ibirogba, Group General Manager, Engineering and Technology noted that the choice of the theme-Beyond Compliance - is derived from the key policy objectives of the corporation which is to demonstrate social and ethical responsibility in promoting HSE compliance. Speaking on the IT component of the exercise, Mr. Don Aholu, GGM Information Technology Division, said the Awareness Week is affording the NNPC workforce the opportunity of experiencing firsthand, the different IT tools and solutions that have been emplaced in the corporation. “IT in NNPC has evolved overtime, however, today we

NDDC sponsored hostels ready soon

ome of the 176-room prototype hostels being built by the Niger Delta Development Commission, (NDDC), in 19 universities and polytechnics in the nine Niger Delta states would be ready for commissioning in few months. NDDC Managing Director, Dr. Christian Oboh gave this assurance after inspecting the hostel projects at the Rivers State University of Science and Technology (RSUST) and University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT). Oboh, who was represented by his Media Adviser, Honour Sirawoo, said he was impressed with the milestones achieved and charged the contractors to keep up the pace. He explained that 11 out of the 19 hostel projects were placed on fast-track to ensure that they were completed as soon as possible. Oboh stated that NDDC, as an interventionist agency, would continue to provide development infrastructure that would benefit the Niger Delta region. “We see the hostel projects as a way of alleviating the accommodation problems of our students, thereby encouraging them to excel in their academic pursuits,” he said. Project Manager of the RSUST NDDC-hostel, Engr. Ebi George disclosed that going by the work programme, he was confident that the hostel would be completed in January 2013. “We are now mounting the door frames and fitting the glass windows. Generally, we are working on the internal fittings, which will be completed in a few weeks time.” At the University of Port Harcourt, the supervising engineer, Mr. Victor Uromtah, said that roofing of the hostel would be completed in a couple of weeks assuring that the job would be delivered in February, 2013. He said his company had no reason to fail since funds were being released on the achievement of every milestone. Similar assurances were given at the Federal University of Technology, Owerri (FUTO) NDDChostel project where the site manager, Engr. Henry Onoha said the complex would be ready for commissioning before the end of the year. Recently, the Rivers State University of Science and Technology has commended NDDC for its pioneering effort in the establishment of an information technology center in the institution.

The university is Nigeria’s premier university of science and technology. The Vice Chancellor, Professor Barine Fakae disclosed that the commission laid the foundation of the institution’s e-center with the donation of 140 work centers. According to him, the IT center is also fully powered by the NDDC through the donation of two 325kva generators. “NDDC set the pace, we try to use the standard you set to challenge others”, Fakae said. He stated that the center had been expanded to the extent that oil companies and other corporate organisations enlist its services for on line examinations. Fakae commended the choice of Oboh as the Managing Director of NDDC, describing him as a dedicated and committed young man who proved himself even as a lecturer in the university. Earlier, the NDDC boss had said that the commission was proud to be associated with the university and was willing to enter into more partnerships with the institution. “We are here to partner with your ICT department on the engagement of some engineers. Our commission is willing to partner with you, even in our post graduate scholarship programme. On the hostel accommodation by the NDDC, the managing director said, “we are in the process of directing the contractors to quickly clean up the hostels”.

Oboh

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Energy Week

Wednesday, November 28, 2012

GMD tells staff

30mw solar plant takes off in Katsina State

Andrew Yakubu

are pleased to present to you a transformed NNPC IT, an IT that is forward looking, where the boundaries of collaboration are expanding and where vast amount of information from both internal and external sources are available at our fingertips’’, Aholu enthused.

he people and economy of Katsina State will in the near future receive a boost as a result of improved electricity supply. This has been made possible by the flagging off on Monday, November 12, of the 30megawatt solar power plant project at Kankiya, Kankiya local government of Katsina State. The project was conceived as part of the Nigerian-German Energy Partnership. The coming of this project is a major milestone in achieving sustainable energy via renewable means. Investment into this field has never been attractive due to the high capital outlay needed. A critical concern by investors when setting up a power plant is that of cost recovery, and this is achieved through a wholesale tariff that allows for reasonable rate of return on investment. In order to promote investment in the area of renewable energy, NERC had proposed a number of incentives such as a guaranteed market for renewable, simplified licensing process, land access and most importantly a feed-in- tariff that is robust enough to allow for operators to recover their costs over a period of time. The feed-in-tariff is designed to enable producers of renewable energy sell their power to the grid at considerably higher prices than those of conventional means such

Bayelsa to boost local content

he Bayelsa State Government has offered to host the Practical Nigerian Content Conference annually in the state. The Deputy Governor of the state, John Jonah announced this in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State on Wednesday while closing the conference. He recalled that crude oil was first discovered in Nigeria in 1956 by Shell D’ Arcy Petroleum, in Oloibiri, Bayelsa State, a historical fact that made it imperative for stakeholders to gather in the state every year to discuss the state of the industry and how to ensure greater benefits for all and sundry. Earlier in his address at the opening ceremony on Tuesday, Governor Seriake Dickson canvassed for the implementation of the Nigerian Content Act to benefit indigenes of the oil bearing communities. While identifying with the aspirations of the Act and the successes recorded so far by the board, Dickson argued for greater focus of the implementation on the oil bearing communities and their indigenes. The governor regretted that many indigenes of oil bearing communities were not actively involved in the ownership and operatorship of service companies, a scenario, which he argued had left the communities underdeveloped and the populace impoverished. He challenged the Nigerian Content Development & Monitoring Board and other stakeholders to come up with targeted programmes that will mainstream and grow indigenes of the communities in the service end of the industry. Already, the board has initiated steps to draw up a Memorandum of Understanding that will spell out modalities and responsibilities between itself, the Bayelsa State Government and NCI-the conference owners towards organising the event annually in Yenagoa. The 2012 Conference, which ended with a visit to the Niger Delta Petroleum Resources in Ogbele, Rivers State on Thursday, was attended by over 600 delegates across two days and took presentations from more than 20 experts in diverse fields of the industry operations. Some of the speakers included former Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, Engr. Funsho Kupolokun, the Director of the Department of Petroleum Resources, Mr. Osten Oluronsola, Special Adviser to

as gas, hydro or coal powered plants. An average retail price is calculated from this mix, and this is what constitutes the retail consumer tariff. Another incentive proposed by NERC that has been approved and already in effect is the complete import duty waiver for parts required for power generation. Already, the chairman of the Electricity Regulatory Commission, NERC, Dr. Sam Amadi has tasked distribution Companies to treat consumers as kings. Amadi assured that NERC was determined to achieve adequate, reliable, safe and affordable electricity in line with international best practice in electricity service delivery. Amadi was emphatic when he stated that the forum remains an avenue for the Commission to inform, enlighten, but more importantly to listen to consumers for the purpose of policy formulation. “We want to both talk and listen to consumers of electricity, that way, the Commission comes up with policy formulations that would further enhance the NERC’s mandate to the consumer” Amadi said. The Commissioner, Government and Consumer Affairs, Dr. Abba Ibrahim assured that NERC is poised to ensure that the electricity market functions efficiently. According to him, the consumer assembly is a journey to reform the sector.

SPDC presents relief materials to flood victims

Dickson

the President on Technical Matters and Secretary Sure-P, Nze Akachukwu Nwankpo and Managing Director, UBA Capital, Mr. Wale Shonibare. Other included the Executive Director, Corporate Banking and Lagos-West Businesses, Diamond Bank Plc, Mr. Uzoma Dozie, Managing Director, Fidelity Bank, Mr. Reginald Ihejiahi, Executive Director, Onome Seawolf, Remi Okunlola, Managing Director, Niger Delta Exploration & Production Plc, Dr Layi Fatona and Executive Director, Total E&P Nigeria Ltd, Dr Kingsley Ojoh. An additional 300 Bayelsa youths attended a capacity building workshop organised by the Board and NCI on the opening day of the conference. The conference set the record of attracting top officials of the oil and gas industry, who included the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Petroleum, Ambassador Abdulkadir Musa who represented the Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke and the Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, Engr. Andrew Yakubu. Other dignitaries at the event included the Managing Director, Exxonmobil, Mr. Mark Ward, the Managing Director, Chevron Nigeria Ltd, Mr. Andrew Fawthrop and the Managing Director of Total E &P, Mr. Guy Maurice. The Managing Director of SNEPCO Mr. Chike Onyejekwe, Managing Director, Nigerian Agip Oil Company, Mr. Ciro Pagano, Managing Director, Addax Petroleum, Mr. Cornelis Zegelaar and chief executives of multinationals and local service companies were also in attendance.

he Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Ltd (SPDC) has presented relief and medical materials worth over N75 million to flood victims in Rivers, Bayelsa and Delta states. This is in addition to the $ I million jointly donated by SPDC and Shell Nigerian Production Company (SNEPCo) in support of displaced persons in 24 states across the country. The money and relief materials were donated through the Red Cross and would be used along the lines of an MoU signed with the humanitarian organisation. The support comes as the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) announced that the floods have claimed 363 lives and displaced 2.1 million people in different parts of the country. “We are deeply touched by what the flood waters have done to people across the country and in the Niger Delta,” said SPDC Managing Director, and Country Chair Shell Nigeria, Mr. Mutiu Sunmonu. “We recognise that our assistance will not solve all their problems, but it can help them cope with the impact of the tragedy at this time.” Sunmonu toured relief camps in Rivers, Delta and Bayelsa states along with SPDC’s Health-in-Motion team, which treated various ailments, dewormed children, delivered health awareness talks and gave out insecticide treated nets. An SPDC mobile clinic worked with the team and attended to emergencies. During one outreach at Bishop Dimeari Grammar School, Yenagoa, the biggest of the 28 relief camps in Bayelsa State, the mobile clinic had to support a woman in labour who was rushed to a nearby hospital where she gave birth. The commandant of the camp, Dr. Duonebiyah Udisi said: “We are happy for the outreach, as it meets the immediate health needs of the displaced people.” The Health-in-Motion team also donated an assortment of drugs including anti-malaria, anti-hypertensive, anti-fungal, anti-ulcer, anti-diabetics, antibiotics and syrups. Staff of Shell companies in Nigeria are contributing to a voluntary fund which SPDC will match 100percent. SPDC’s support will aid the Red Cross in relief management, camp coordination and management, emergency shelter, livelihood support and early recovery, family reunification, psychosocial support and risk reduction. Earlier, the company had provided helicopter flights, geomatics expertise, satellite imagery and maps of affected areas to aid proper relief operations planning and execution.

Oil field

Energy Week

‘Gas initiative to boost agriculture production’ The Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke has said the Federal Government’s Gas revolution agenda would boost agriculture and significantly increase the nation’s GDP growth. Alison-Madueke, who made the assertion at the on-going 8th International Gas Conference & Exhibition in Abuja, said the initiative would create world scale fertilizer plants and therefore enhance productive capacity of agricultural sector through improved yield. She said: “We believe through Gas Revolution Initiative, the creation of world scale fertilizer plants will enable linkages between the gas industry and agriculture. As you know, agriculture is the largest contributor to GDP in Nigeria. By enhancing the productive capacity of the sector through improved yield that comes from fertilizer application” The minister, who was represented at occasion by the Group Executive Director, Gas and Power, Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Dr. David Ige, said that by stimulating higher yield the initiative would improve the agro-based processing industries which in turn may translate to the much desired employment for the country youth population. According to her, with petrochemicals, Nigeria can create the basis for the growth of a diversified industrial base as over 70 per cent of goods used in the country are made out of plastics. She said ‘the rule of thumb is that for every ton of petrochemical capacity, you create five jobs across the value chain, adding that the successful delivery of a 1.3MTPA petrochemical plant can create over five million jobs. Alison-Madueke stated that with petrochemical government can stimulate growth of packaging, car accessories, dashboards, computer casings, plastic casing among other numerous spin-off industries.

Emeka Unachukwu emerges PHCCIMA president Engr. Emeka Unachukwu has been elected the new President of Port Harcourt Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture, PHCCIMA. Unachukwu, who until his election was the first deputy president was elected at the 55th Annual General Meeting of PHCCIMA held at the prestigious Hotel Presidential, taking over the mantle of leadership from former president, Dr. Vincent Furo. The new PHCCIMA president who is expected to serve a three year tenure was elected alongside, Dr. Renny Cookey as First Deputy President, Dr. Emi Membere Otaji, 2nd Deputy President, Mr. Allison Tene Ogidigen, Financial Secretary and Mrs Stella Agada as Treasurer. Also elected were six council members who are; Pst. Oluwatobin Alabi, the MD/ CEO of The promise confectioneries M/s Jovita Iroemeh, Chief Oris Onyiri, President of Egi People’s Assembly, Dr. Felix O. Felix, Dr. Walter Otunyo and Mr. Chima Wami. In his post election speech, the newly elected president pledged to operate a transparent and an all inclusive government. He said his administration will commence a conscious and aggressive reform of the chamber to place her enviably ahead in the comity of chambers in the country. According to him, his first priority as President would be to ensure that businesses of its vast membership thrives which consequently would have a positive effect on the city, state and country’s economy at large. Speaking further, he noted that one of the major functions of PHCCIMA is to grow business and ensure that its vast membership benefits with resounding success and that according to him is part of his major objective. “We want to see a situation where a member joined PHCCIMA with one million naira but can now boast of a hundred million in their kitty”, he opined, stressing that if that is achieved businesses will grow, employment would be created, the economy of the state would improve, government would get more taxes; the city will benefit, the state will benefit and overall on a wider perspective the country at large would also benefit.

Wednesday, November 28, 2012

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Oil Spill: NNPC boss calls for review of UNEP report CHIDI UGWU ABUJA

he Group Managing Director of Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Mr. Andrew Yakubu has reiterated the need for the review of the recommendations of United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP) report on oil spill in Ogoniland in Niger Delta. The GMD who spoke at a meeting of Hydrocarbon Pollution Restoration Project (HYPREP) stakeholders in Abuja said such move would allow for the adoption of an implementation strategy for all the recommendation of the report. “It has become necessary for us to ensure that we review, adopt and put an implementation strategy for all the recommendation of the UNEP Report”, he stated. He stated that NNPC has keyed into the recommendations with specific actions that will address the issue , adding that one of the international oil companies that is directly affected has gone ahead to do some preliminary activities in term of actualising the report, ahead of the implementation. The NNPC boss who noted that governments has shown goodwill and support at the actualisation of the UNEP Report, however, lamented the continued illegal bunkering, vandalisation of NNPC pipelines, establishment of illegal refineries and other vices which he said have become a challenge to the corporation. According to him, the continued ‘attacks on pipelines throws confusion as to who the actual polluters are and brings in that controversy as who is really the polluter’. Earlier, the Hydrocarbon Pollution

Restoration Project (HYPREP) said that barely three months into its operations, it has achieved 100percent of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) recommendation for the remediation of the polluted regions in parts of Ogoni land. The National Coordinator of the HYPREP Mrs. Joy Numieh-Okunnu who disclosed this at a meeting held in Abuja yesterday ostensibly to appreciate HYPREP donors and supporters for their role in ensuring implementation of emergency measures. Okunnu who lamented the level of the pollution as a result of artisanal oil refining activities in the area, stated that one out of every woman in the area is at risk of one form of cancer or another. “We are carrying out public campaign against artisanal refinery in communities impacted by hydrocarbon pollution. We have set up differ-

ent technical group in line with MDG guidelines” she said. According to her, the campaign involves spreading relevant messages among youths, chiefs, schools, churches and other social groups in the area, adding that plans are underway to carry out a re-vegetation of the mangrove. In her remarks, the Minister of Petroleum Resources Mrs. Diezai Alison-Madueke said the HYPREP objectives are very important in that tends to ensure the restoration of all communities impacted by hydrocarbon pollution. “HYPREP is what justifies why laws should exist at all because if you do not do this PIB or not whatever you are doing in terms of local content would be useless. If these communities do not exist or if these communities no longer exist because they have been phased out or they migrated because of the pollution in the environment, the local content and PIB will be meaningless”

Oil spill

IEA makes case for renewable energy development

he International Energy Agency, (IEA), has made a strong case for the deployment of new technologies, targeted at boosting renewable energy development. Executive Director, Maria van der Hoeven stated that renewable energy technologies will play a vital role in the transition to a secure and sustainable energy future. Hoeven told Planet B that neither renewable energy nor energy efficiency are anything new. She said: “Humans have been using biomass for heat and cooking for millennia, and hydropower has been around for decades. Meanwhile, reducing energy inputs to produce the same output has been part of economic competition for centuries, and modern concerns with energy conservation have seen energy intensity across developed economies broadly improving since the 1970s.” The IEA boss stated that both renewable energy and the trajectory of energy efficiency gains have changed in recent years. We are seeing the rapid development of a portfolio of renewable technologies, including newer forms such as wind and solar power. She said: “That kind of renewable energy is emerging as a fundamental part of the global energy mix. At the same time, the rise of emerging economies has risen millions out of poverty, but these countries tend to put relatively less emphasis on energy efficiency, reversing the global trend toward

lower energy intensity in the past few years. The technologies are often already there, but new enabling frameworks and mechanisms are being developed to unlock efficiency gains, both in developed and emerging economies.” The IEA boss remarked that energy efficiency and renewable energy technologies will play a vital role in the transition to the secure and sustainable energy future that we seek. She said: “This transition certainly entails challenges for policy, but experience shows us time and again that unlocking the power of private sector investment is the only way to achieve the sustainability goals that societies demand. Creating the proper market structures and incentives, while at the same time minimising interference in business decisions and ensuring policy stability can be tricky.” Hoeven stated that at the International Energy Agency, energy security sits at the core of our mandate, and that is precisely why we recognise that sustainability is such a prized goal. An efficient and low carbon energy system reduces reliance on energy supply for economic growth, mitigates threats to energy security coming from climate change, and reduces the global economy’s exposure to disruptions in fossil fuel supply. She said energy efficiency measures, by reducing energy intensity, contribute to short-term energy security by reducing our

dependence on global energy supply chains. The most secure energy is the barrel or megawatt we never have to use. The IEA boss stressed that: “over the longer term, energy security is also linked to environmental developments. Rapidly rising energy use and emissions of greenhouse gases will have severe impacts on the natural environment and the global climate. Rising sea levels, changing rainfall patterns, and increasing incidence of droughts, floods and heat waves will affect ecosystems, food production, water resources, and of course, energy production itself. Fossil reserves are not unlimited, and the costs of producing the marginal barrel, cubic metre or tonne

Maria van der Hoeven

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Wednesday, November 28, 2012

Executive Discourse

Wednesday, November 28, 2012

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No speculation for tenure of board Mr. Olusola Ladipo-Ajayi is the former Chairman of the Nigeria Insurers’ Association (NIA) and Managing Director of LASACO Insurance Plc. In this interview with OMOBOLA TOLU-KUSIMO, he bares his mind on some topical issues affecting the sector. Excerpts.

What is the performance level of LASACO Assurance? The board, management and staff of LASACO have all been working hard to grow the company into an exceptional brand with increased returns and long term value for all our shareholders. Our year-on-year performance comparison in our 2011 year end shows a 32 percent overall growth in our 2011 gross premium income compared to 2010 which was N2.7 billion in 2011 as against N2.1 billion in 2010. Despite the prevalent insecurity and instability in parts of the country during the year and the impact of a tough economy,, all of which slowed down business opportunities and development, we were able to post a 24 percent increase in our premium earned N2.1 billion in 2011 as aginst N1,2 billion in 2010. Our profit after tax for 2011 was N213million as against N249 million in 2010 which had a lower earned premium reflecting the impact of lowerthan-planned investment and other income and general unfavorable business climate. However, unpaid premium, write-offs and agency debtors continue to pose serious challenge in the insurance industry. The banking industry seems to be ahead of the insurance industry in adherence to corporate governance especially in the change of boards where managing directors that served up to 10 years resigns. Why is it difficult for insurers to follow in this line? If you look at the corporate governance of the National Insurance Commission (NAICOM), it has not stated the tenure of office as an executive director. However, all the companies have their career pattern. There are companies you retired no matter how long you have spent or worked, immediately you are 60 while some have different male and female retirement ages. For example in my own company, a male retires at 60 while the female retire at 45. But that has been reorganised such that male or female is now 60. So the issue is neither here nor there because the company that keeps their managing director has not contravened the NAICOM guideline. If the banks for whatever reason have that kind of guideline, you have to understand it in totality of that concept. Sometimes, it doesn’t necessary mean that you have stay long because you are good or bad. It is a matter of individual, and this individual board should be able to determine. Look at the English premiership match. Manchester United Manager, Alex Ferguson, is an old man and average people will say this is man is not old. Being a manager, he is achieving result and they don’t want him to go. So, if you look at the corporate governance of NAICOM very well and you look at Companies and Allied Matters Act well, there is no speculation that the chief executive in an insurance company has tenure of 10 years. In our company, what the chairman has said is that somebody who is 70 years old can be on the board of company but it is just the person need to be re-elected every year. So, when one policy comes up in one institution, it does not necessarily apply to everybody. Moreso, the policy that people are hailing today may be reserve when another Governor of Central Bank resume. The present governor of CBN is not doing what the past one did and some the past governor’s policies have be retained by the present Governor.

Ladipo-Ajayi

As a former chairman of NIA and LASACO CEO, what is your reaction to the recent sack of insurance CEOs by NAICOM? I believe that this is an issue of somebody doing something wrong and the regulatory body steps in to sanction the person. The regulator cannot just come and sanction someone because they want to be popular. They don’t just wake one day and sanction. They saw them doing what they ought not to do. I don’t believe they are copying anybody rather, they are doing their job. If tomorrow five other companies fall foul of the law, let them be sanctioned, but you do not create offence where none exists. Will it affect insurance companies’ image? No. It cannot affect insurance industry’s image but will rather boost it. If all the insurance companies on the list of the Commissioner for insurance have abused the system, they should all be sanctioned. There has been problem on unpaid dividends. Kindly give an insight into why and how this can be resolved? There are so many reasons people have unpaid dividend. Sometimes people buy shares and don’t have proper documentation. But some people are good at keeping their records and these are mostly professional shareholders. But some people approach stockbroking firm to buy shares for them. After buying the shares, they later dump them somewhere. People should be serious enough to fol-

THE REGULATORS CANNOT JUST COME AND SANCTION SOMEONE BECAUSE THEY WANT TO BE POPULAR.

THEY DON’T

JUST WAKE ONE DAY AND SANCTION.

THEY SAW THEM

DOING WHAT THEY OUGHT NOT TO DO.

I DON’T BELIEVE

THEY ARE COPYING ANYBODY RATHER, THEY ARE DOING THEIR JOB. IF TOMORROW FIVE OTHER COMPANIES FALL FOUL OF THE LAW, LET THEM BE SANCTIONED low these things. Some people change their address without carrying the company along; so these and many more are the cause of unpaid dividend. But they are asking for the payment of these dividends into their savings account? Yes, they are asking. But when you say you have

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Wednesday, November 28, 2012

Executive Discourse

in insurance, says Ladipo-Ajayi unpaid dividends, it means that the owner has not come forward to claim it. There is distinction between the point somebody was trying to make on the floor of the house that don’t say unpaid because there is no time you come forward with your warrants that the companies will not pay, even if you don’t have any evidence to show for it, you just go to the registrars and give your names . They will help you to check on the register of unclaimed dividends warrant and if you are there, they will give your dividend warrant and you will sign. This is because every shareholder signed and they can verify your signature. Once they can verified your identity, they will even update the dividend warrant. A dividend warrant is like a cheque and it becomes stale after six months but the registrar it and update it so it becomes valid for the next six months . Now the point is not on the side of the quoted companies but on the side of the shareholders. If you look at our statements, most companies now encourage their shareholders to open an account or provide details of an account where they can pay your e-dividend. But most times they ask for current account and the dividend in question may just be N1000? It is the banking system in the country. The bankers prefer it that way. But you see, a dividend warrant is like a cheque and they will prefer it that way. I am not in a position to explain but the Central Bank or the banks can explain why they are insisting. It is not the companies that are insisting. There is nothing the quoted companies can do about it. What is your take on the ‘no premium, no cover’ monetary sanction to be imposed on brokers by NAICOM over non remittance of premium to insurers from January 1, 2013. Some of them have threatened to go to court? They can go to court and let the court intervene. You are never sure of your position until you have gone to court. When some people are trying to resist changes that are transparent, then, you know who is taking advantages of the situation. The situation as it is presently is unfair to underwriters. Right now, we don’t know when premium are paid to them and we cannot run after it. We as underwriters are not expected to go behind our brokers to ask question. But the world is changing and NIACOM needs to amend the laws and cover what the brokers want to do. But the brokers have alleged that from their findings, some insurers hide behind outstanding premium in order to hide losses in their account. What is your position on this? Well, there should not be controversy about whether they remitted premium when they ought to or not because it is a commercial transaction between two parties. You owe me or you don’t owe me should not be an issue. What it means is that I show you the instruction you gave me and I show you my debt note, I show you the cover I granted you neither by the way of solicit document or endorsement. The law said whoever alleged must prove, if I am going to challenge you that you are owing me; I have to produce substantial documents to show that you owe me. If I provide the substantial documents and you are not able to counter it, then who is lying. NAICOM is an independent body and they looked at whatever document can you provide to back your statement before they give their judgment. At LASACO for instance, we have not had any reason to argue with brokers over premium remitted or premium not remitted. All the cases we had against people were substantiated. If NAICOM is making effort to ensure that outstanding premium reduce to the barest minimum, I don’t think it is to the benefit of the underwriter only but of the brokers because anybody who does business, without being paid, is doing so at the expense of its balance sheet. So, I

do not see the reason anybody will complain about that, but all of us know where the pendulum swings and what happened in the past. There is simple procedures that can make this problem end and I am telling you this from my own experience in the international practice. In the oil and gas business we did in abroad, the brokers stated how much they are going to charge and the underwriters stated theirs too. The insured paid underwriter their premium and the brokers got their commission. But here in Nigeria, the brokers will say they do not want us to e to know how much brokers earn, while the brokers will not want the insure knows much they earn. In advanced countries, everybody who has access to the insurance companies know how much a broker earns in every transaction. In the United Kingdom, when we went for oil and gas, everybody sat and openly disclosed how much they were going to charge for the risk and how much that is going to NIACOM . At the end, brokers will negotiate and compute the whole thing everybody will be paid directly. So there will not be problem? Yes, there will no be problem of I paid you or you didn’t pay me. Why do the brokers want to be the interface between the underwriters and the insured. They fear that they may be phased out of the system? They are not being phased out. Even in UK, the brokers still do their job, and get paid directly from the insure. We are not brokers, we are underwriters and we are not phasing them out. But we are saying let them collect their premium and let us collect our own. Is there any problem with that? What underwriters are complaining about is that because most people do not pay their premium, some brokers hid under that cover. When they collect premium, the underwriter will not know. Let have transparent procedures, whereby everybody will know what happens,

THERE ARE SO MANY REASONS PEOPLE HAVE UNPAID DIVIDEND.

SOMETIMES PEOPLE BUY SHARES AND DON’T HAVE PROPER DOCUMENTATION. BUT SOME PEOPLE ARE GOOD AT KEEPING THEIR RECORDS AND THESE ARE MOSTLY PROFESSIONAL SHAREHOLDERS that is what NIACOM is planning to do, and whoever is complaining about what the agency is trying to do must have some hiddenagenda. How will the ‘no premium, no cover’ policy affect the insured? Who does the insured call when he want to go and buy a car in Toyota, when he want to cement from cement companies, where do they get their money. Do they buy those things on credit? No. It is only when it comes to insurance that they want to buy on credit. This is happening because we have presented ourselves like that. But I believe that there will be a time when insurance will pick up. It happens in other land and clime.

Global Business

Wednesday, November 28, 2012

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China plans boosting export tax rebates on some goods

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

Wen Jiabao

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

RBA holds key rate as economy withstands global slowdown

Glenn Stevens

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

export. Reserve Bank of Australia Governor Glenn Stevens and his board left the overnight cash-rate target at 3.5 percent, according to a statement 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

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

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

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

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

Merkel, Monti step up diplomacy as ECB comes in focus

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

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

Merkel

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Global Business

Wednesday, November 28, 2012

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

Russian inflation accelerates to 5.9% in August, below estimates

Russian President, Putin

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

Japan’s fiscal impasse threatens stimulus to spur growth

apan’s political gridlock threatens to curtail the government’s ability to apply fiscal stimulus as a rebound falters in the world’s third-largest economy. Opposition parties in the upper house of parliament stymied legislation approved in the lower house August. 28 that enables the issuance of 38.3 trillion yen ($490 billion) of deficit- financing bonds, seeking to force Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda into an early election. The government could hit a spending ceiling as soon as October, according to the Finance Ministry. The freeze may suspend outlays from this year’s budget for the first time, according to Goldman Sachs Group Inc., and limits Noda from proceeding with the supplementary spending package he mooted in July. With economists increasingly seeing an economic contraction this quarter, the deadlock adds to risks facing global expansion that include a so-called fiscal cliff of spending cuts and tax increases in the United States 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

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

Slowing Polish economy may force Tusk to ease budget cuts

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. This 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.

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

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

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

Donald Tusk

Manufacturing in U.S. probably stagnated amid global slowdown

anufacturing probably teetered between growth and contraction in August, a sign the pillar of the recovery is now struggling, according economists surveyed before a report 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 United

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

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

Capital Market

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Wednesday, November 28, 2012

Index drops 0.4% in bullish trading JOHNSON OKANLAWON

rading in equities closed on bearish note on the Nigerian Stock Exchange yesterday, as some investors sold their holdings to take profit from the gains recorded the previous days. Specifically, All-Share Index lost 0.35 per cent to close at 26,270.41 points, in contrast to the increase of 0.15 per cent recorded the preceeding day to close at 26,360.55 points. Market capitalisation depreciated by N29.3bn to close at N8.36trn, as against the rise of

N12.2bn recorded the preceding day to close at N8.39trn. Lotus Islamic Index led the sectorial indices with 1.27 per cent to close at 1,646.51 points, followed by the Oil and Gas Index with 0.63 per cent to close at 152.20 points. The Consumer Goods Index rose by 0.16 per cent to close at 771.78 points, but the Banking Index dropped 1.43 per cent to close at 302.75 points. The NSE 30-Index shed 0.56 per cent to close at 1,243.59 points, while the Insurance Index lost 0.54 per cent to close at 114.05 points. GlaxosmithKline Plc

led the gainers’ table with N1.96 or 4.98 per cent to close at N41.34 per share, followed by RT Briscoe Plc with six kobo or 4.44 per cent to close at N1.41 per share. Sterling Bank Plc gained six kobo or 4.03 per cent to close at N1.55 per share, while Air Service Plc rose by 10 kobo or four per cent to close at N2.60 per share. Nestle Nigeria Plc appreciated by N23.32 or 3.88 per cent to close at N625.00 per share. On the flip side, Academy Press Plc dropped 24 kobo or 9.88 per cent to close at N2.19 per share, while Union Bank of Nigeria Plc

dipped by 46 kobo or 5.82 per cent to close at N7.44 per share. Morison Plc fell by 23 kobo or 4.89 per cent to close at N4.47 per share, while Eterna Oil Plc depreciated by seven kobo or 4.83 per cent to close at N1.38 per share. Transcorp Plc declined by four kobo or 4.26 per cent to close at 90 kobo per share. Transaction volume in equities rose by 8.1 per cent, as a total of 256.13 million shares valued at N2.07bn were exchanged in 4,437 deals, compared to 236.99 million shares worth N1.54bn traded in 3,167 deals the preceding day.

FirstRand gets Nigeria merchant banking license JOHNSON OKANLAWON WITH AGENCY REPORT

irstRand Limited, South Africa’s second-biggest financial company, has obtained a license to run a merchant bank in Nigeria. The bank is expected to commence business early next year. According to the Central Bank of Nigeria spokesman, Mr. Ugochukwu Okoroafor, the bank was granted a license after it met the N15bn ($95.2m) minimum capital requirement and other conditions. Bloomberg yesterday quoted the bank’s Chief Executive Officer, Alan Pullinger, as saying that the license will enable

the bank’s unit, Rand Merchant Bank, which already has an office in Nigeria to more rapidly build out its franchise, provide products and services to the corporate and institutional client segments FirstRand once tried to buy Nigeria’s Sterling Bank Plc, walking away after a price couldn’t be agreed. The CBN introduced modified licensing rules for lenders as part of reforms after a debt crisis in 2009 brought the industry to the verge of collapse. Banks are either licensed as holding companies operating local and international units or as national, regional or specialized banks. Meanwhile, First Se-

curities Discount House Limited on Friday said it has obtained the final approval from the CBN to become FSDH Merchant Bank Limited. A statement from the company said it would convert from operating as a discount house to operating as a merchant bank. It explained that since March 1993 when FSDH began operations as the first discount house in Nigeria, the company has become a financial services group focused on delivering expert financial services to its select clientele, thereby assisting them in achieving their financial goals. The research and investment company explained that in order to

US shares fall reversing global trend, euro drops

nited States stocks fell yesterday, reversing the earlier positive trend for stocks elsewhere in the world, and the euro slipped as worry over the threat to the economy posed by the US fiscal cliff offset optimism from a deal to ease Greece’s debt burden. Earlier shares globally had climbed and safe-haven German bonds fell after global lenders agreed a new deal to reduce Greek debt and release loans needed to keep the country afloat. But as Democrats and

Republicans prepared to resume budget negotiations this week in Washington, investors in US stocks took a second look at risk. US data failed to allay concerns. A gauge of planned US business spending increased by the most in five months in October but a fourth straight month of declines in shipments underscored the damage that fears of tighter fiscal policy next year are inflicting on the economy. “For those of us that are worried about the economy in 2013, given the uncer-

tainty of the fiscal cliff, this is a little bit helpful,” said Hugh Johnson, chief investment officer of Hugh Johnson Advisors LLC in Albany, New York. “But that doesn’t remove the overarching worry about the cliff or that tax policy and spending policy will not be right, given the weak economy.” The Dow Jones industrial average finance/markets/index was down 3.73 points, or 0.03 per cent, at 12,963.64. The Standard and Poor’s 500 Index was up 0.07

retain the brand essence and strong brand equity, it has decided to adopt the name, FSDH Merchant Bank Limited. “FSDH is excited by this development as it will enable the company to offer a broader range of services to its clients thereby deepening its client relationships and expanding its frontiers. “Whilst the company does not underestimate the challenges that it will face, it is however confident that with its Corporate Culture of Customer Orientation, High Performance, Image Building, Collaboration and Learning, all obstacles that may come its way can be surmounted,” the statement said. points, or 0.00 per cent, at 1,406.36. The Nasdaq Composite Index was down 1.03 points, or 0.03 per cent, at 2,975.75. The MSCI index of global stocks was last little changed. The euro touched $1.3009 earlier in the global day, its highest since October 31, but lost momentum as caution set back in and was last down 0.3 per cent at $1.2930. US consumer confidence rose to a four-and-a-halfyear high in November as consumers became more optimistic about the outlook for the economy, according to a private sector report released on Tuesday.

Source: FMDA

Market indicators Market indicators

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

Stock Updates GAINERS COMPANY

OPENING

CLOSING

CHANGE

% CHANGE

AGLEVENT

1.20

1.26

0.06

5.00

INTBREW

6.61

6.94

0.33

4.99

CAP

24.12

25.32

1.20

4.98

REDSTAREX

2.62

2.75

0.13

4.96

BERGER

6.93

7.27

0.34

4.91

ETERNA

2.35

2.46

0.11

4.68

CADBURY

15.25

15.95

0.70

4.59

BAGCO

1.56

1.63

0.07

4.49

IKEJAHOTEL

1.12

1.17

0.05

4.46

AIRSERVICE

1.57

1.64

0.07

4.46

CHANGE

% CHANGE

LOSERS COMPANY

OPENING

CLOSING

CONTINSURE

0.63

0.60

0.03

-4.76

GTASSURE

1.75

1.67

0.08

-4.57

UTC

0.92

0.88

0.04

-4.35

STERLNBANK

1.07

1.03

0.04

-3.74

ROYALEX

0.55

0.53

0.02

-3.64

OANDO

13.99

13.61

0.38

-2.72

DANGFLOUR

6.30

6.13

0.17

-2.70

DANGCEM

112.40

110.00

2.40

-2.14

UNILEVER

35.50

35.00

0.50

-1.41

DANGSUGAR

4.55

4.50

0.05

-1.10

Primary Market Auction TENOR

AMOUNT (N’mn)

RATE (%)

DATE

91-Day

30,647.81

13.50

08-Nov-12

182-Day

20,000

15.50

08-Nov-12

364 -Day

Open Market Operations TENOR

AMOUNT (N’mn)

RATE (%)

DATE

178Days

14,231.30

15.50

08-Nov-12

118-Day

50,282.86

14.08

08-Nov-12

Wholesale Dutch Auction System AMOUNT OFFERED

MARKET DEMAND

AMOUNT SOLD

DATE

$200m

N/A

$126m

05-Nov-12

$180m

N/A

$147m

08-Nov-12

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Capital Market

Wednesday, November 28, 2012

Stock exchange daily equities summary Equities as at November 27, 2012 1st Tier Securities

1st Tier Securities Sector

Company name

No Of Deals

Quotation(N)

Quantity Traded

Value of Shares(N)

Sector

Company name

No Of Deals

Quotation(N)

Quantity Traded

Value of Shares(N)

Cocktail

Wednesday, November 28, 2012

FOR YOUR SUCCESS

WITH DR. DEJI FOLUTILE

Today's Tonic (52) “Before success comes in any man’s life, he is sure to meet with much temporary defeat, and, perhaps, some failure.” –Napoleon Hill Many of us had given up many times at the edge of breakthrough. l read about a lone survivor from a shipwreck who kept trying to drink water from the ocean and discovered that the water was too salty. He tried many times and gave up dying of thirst. But alas his dead body was discovered on a clean fresh water. He unknowingly actually stop trying a few metres to where fresh water was! We may fail many times on the road to success, let’s train ourselves not to give up trying for the best that we can be! TEL 08104942999 E-MAIL deji.folutile@gmail.com Follow me @TwitterOWOTIDE

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Oddities

72-year-old grandfather embarks on fashion modelling

iu Qianping was visiting his 24-year-old granddaughter in the southern Chinese city of Guangzhou recently when the women’s clothes the aspiring fashion entrepreneur was packing into boxes caught his eye. His visit came as the model that granddaughter Lu Ting and four friends had booked for a photo shoot to promote their online fashion business suddenly cancelled, dealing a setback to their new ven-

ture. But Liu, a 72-year-old former farmer visiting to escape the chilly winter of central Hunan province, stepped in to help. “I walked into the room and saw them packing up some clothes and I thought they looked quite interesting and quite cute,” Liu told Reuters. “So I tried on a jacket and they found it really

funny, and I thought it was quite funny. So they asked if they could take pictures of me and post them on the Internet to sell the clothes. And I said, ‘why not?’” It was at that time two weeks ago that a star was born. Liu, known affectionately as “MaDiGaGa” funny elderly - is now one of China’s most recognized models.

Delighted with his new fame, Liu says he now sometimes looks at fashion program on television for ideas on how to pose but generally relies on Ting’s team for direction. He does, however, have his own opinions on styling. “He will tell us which items should be stronger and what should be improved,” Ting said.

$600 car issued over $100,000 in parking tickets

n abandoned car in Chicago worth an estimated $600 has been issued more than $100,000 in parking tickets over the past three years. Jennifer Fitzgerald, 31, is currently stuck with the bill but says the 1999 Chevy Monte Carlo actually belongs to an ex-boyfriend who registered the car in her name without her knowledge or consent. The Expired Meter reports that from May 23, 2009, through April 30, 2012, the Chicago Department of Finance (DOF) issued 678 tick-

ets against the car, totalling $105,761.80 and setting a Chicago record both for the total number and amount of parking fines issued. In fact, it blew past the previous record holder, which was $65,000 from approximately 400 violations. But Fitzgerald says she doesn’t owe the city a dime and has filed a lawsuit in Cook County Circuit Court against the city of Chicago, United Airlines and the ex-boyfriend. Fitzgerald has two main arguments in her case. First, she says her ex-boyfriend,

Brandon Preveau, is the actual owner of the car, having purchased it from her uncle for $600 in 2008, according to Courthouse News. In fact, Preveau paid for the car’s title, registration and insurance, but it was nonetheless registered in Fitzgerald’s name. “Brandon used his 2007 income tax refund to pay Patrick $600 for the automobile,” reads Fitzgerald’s complaint. “For reasons not recalled by Patrick, however, Patrick signed the title to the automobile over to Jennifer.”

Liu Qianping being helped during a modelling shoot in the southern Chinese city of Guangzhou, recently. PHOTO: REUTERS

Wednesday, November 28, 2012

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Community Mirror

“Once you shut down your mission in the capital of any country you are automatically regarded as an enemy of that country and they will not like to do business with you.” MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS, OLUGBENGA ASHIRU

Chieftaincy crisis: Policeman, 11 others killed EMMA GBEMUDU YENAGOA

he lingering chieftaincy crisis in Agbere community in Sagbama Local Government Area of Bayelsa State yesterday claimed 12 lives, including a policeman. There was tension in the area as the house of the community acting paramount ruler, Chief Victor Alali, was set ablaze by some youths. Also torched were posh homes belonging to prominent indigenes of the community. Agbere is a coastal community, which hosts Nigeria Agip Oil Company, NAOC, and Shell Petroleum Development Company, SPDC. It was gathered that the policeman was killed during an invasion of the community’s Police Post by some angry youths in the area. Investigation showed that the warring youths supporting different factions in the chieftaincy tussle fought with guns and other dangerous weapons. A source in the community told our correspondent that the cold war existing between groups of youths snowballed into a war following a report of the commission set up by the local government on the issue of who should emerge as the community’s paramount ruler. The source added that the report recommended that the acting paramount ruler be made a substantive paramount ruler which provoked a section of the community that went on the rampage. Former paramount ruler of the community, Chief Aziza Ekade, was dethroned by former Governor Timipre Sylva over alleged violation of existing

Affected traders at the Breadfruit Street market inferno on Lagos Island, registering to evacuate their wares.

chieftaincy laws. After this, Alali as was appointed as acting paramount ruler. The state Commissioner of Police, Kingsley Omiri, visited the community with anti-riot policemen and troops of the Joint Military Taskforce, JTF. When contacted, Governor Seriake Dickson’s Chief Press Secretary, Daniel IworisoMarkson, told our correspondent that the crisis had been brought under control. He said: “The state government will not condone such acts of lawlessness and

criminality. Anybody indicted over the crisis will be made to face the full weight of law and will be prosecuted. We hereby warn any aggrieved section of the society to pursue a legitimate means of resolving conflict and channel grievances through the proper channel.” Contacted on the incident, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Fidelis Odunna, confirmed the incident. He, however, said the number of persons killed and houses razed in the crisis were yet to be ascertained.

Mudasiru’s estate: Firm abandons suit against widow FRANCIS SUBERU

construction company, G. Cappa Plc, has told a Lagos High court that it did not instruct its lawyer to sue Mrs. Foluke Mudasiru, widow of former Military Governor of Lagos State, late Air Commodore Gbolahan Adio Mudasiru, over her husband’s estate. G. Cappa Plc had instituted the suit in 2008 but Mudasiru’s widow filed a counter claim against it. Mrs. Mudasiru had complained to the court, that G. Cappa had been dealing with the purported trustees of her husband’s estate without probate, which prompted the order that it render account to the court. The trial judge, Justice Doris Okuwobi,

, had in her ruling in a counter claim filed by the widow, directed the firm to account for all monies received as rents, in respect of the disputed property from October 1, 2004 till date but it failed to comply. As a result, a contempt proceeding was filed by Mudasiru’s lawyer, Chief Robert Clarke, against the Managing Director of G. Cappa Plc.Chief Emmanuel Ofolue. However, at the resumed hearing of the suit, Chief Ofolue, filed a motion for preliminary objection to the contempt application, arguing that he was not aware that Mrs. Mudasiru was sued because the company’s Board of Directors never took such decision. He equally wrote a petition against the judge, requesting the case to be returned to the Chief Judge for reassignment. The situation became embarrass-

ing as G. Cappa’s lawyer; Chief Mary Bassey, apologised and pleaded for an adjournment because as, she was not aware of the MD’s action. Justice Okuwobi, who expressed dismay, said the company could not be approbating and reprobating at the same time, by filing a motion for preliminary objection that he was not aware of the case and same time asking that it be withdrawn by the Chief Judge. Mudasiru’s lawyer, Mr. Tony Omaghomi, representing Chief Robert Clarke, SAN, described the company’s action as a calculated attempt to truncate the case and escape with the contempt motion pending in the court. Justice Okuwobi said the court would communicate to the litigants when the case would come up again for hearing.

PHOTO: YINKA ADEPARUSI

Ogun to stage Yuletide trade discount FEMI OYEWESO ABEOKUTA

esidents in the three Senatorial districts of Ogun State will be treated to a joyful yuletide season as Governor Ibikunle Amosun, has concluded plans to organise Christmas trade discount and fun fair in Abeokuta the state capital. The fair, which is being put together by the ministry of Commerce and Industry in conjunction with GAIL Entertainment, is said to be a follow up to the investors’ forum held early this year. At the press briefing to herald the activities, the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of GAIL Entertainment, Abayomi Asekun said the fair, which will begin from December 1st to 31st, is aimed at providing the people access to more international markets given of its closeness to Lagos State. Asekun also disclosed that the fair would attract over 120, 000 visitors from and outside the state as traders from agro - allied, FMG companies as well as manufacturers will be coming. He further explained that the fair’s objective was to provide a convergence for food and manufacturing companies to showcase their various goods and services and ensure families enjoy Christmas in a more conducive environment.

News

Wednesday, November 28, 2012

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Gunmen kill 5 policemen, raze police station in Borno attacks INUSA NDAHI AND OMEIZA AJAYI

unmen suspected to be terrorists yesterday laid ambush to Rann, the headquarters of Kala Balge Local Government Area of Borno State, killing five policemen. They reportedly used Improvised Explosive Devices, IEDs, during the operation. The hoodlums, who invaded the town on mo-

torcycles, also succeeded in attacking the official residence of the Local Government Caretaker Committee chairman, the Central Primary School, the Government Lodge and destroyed the GSM telecommunication masts belonging to major communication firms, MTN, Glo and Airtel. Three AK 47 rifles were also stolen from the station by the gunmen. This development followed Sunday’s attack by some yet-to-be-identified

gunmen who stormed a popular pub, Artillery, on Bayan Railway Quarters, a few metres away from the demolished enclave of the Boko Haram leader, Ustaz Mohammed Yusuf. During the incident, two persons – a female attendant and another woman – were shot dead. The Kala Balge incident, our correspondent gathered, took place about 3a.m. yesterday when most of the residents were asleep. The Police Public Rela-

tions Officer, Mr. Gideon Jubrin, a DSP, could not be reached for official reaction to the incident as his phone rang two times without response. But a top security officer, who did not want his name mentioned, confirmed the incident. Meanwhile, following the re-arrest of some suspects after Monday’s gun attack on the Abuja office of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad, SARS, police detectives are said to begin a fresh in-

Imo State contingent during the opening ceremony of the 18th National Sports Festival in Lagos, yesterday. PHOTO:ADEMOLA AKINLABI

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 5

by BFI Group which challenged the earlier ruling of a lower court over the ownership of the multi-billion naira company and ordered that the BPE should ensure enforcement of the ruling which validated the position of the appellant. Specifically, the court in its ruling on the appeal brought before it by the BFIG Group, had ordered the defendant/respondent, that is BPE, to provide the mutually agreed Share Purchase Agreement for execution by the parties to enable the plaintiff/appellant, that is, BFI Group to pay the agreed 10 per cent of the accepted bid price of $410m. The apex court also ordered that $41m should be paid 15 days from the date of the execution of the SPA in accordance with the agreement dated May 20, 2004 and that the 90 per cent balance of bid price shall be paid within 90 days.

terrogation of those that were arrested. Deputy Force Public Relations Officer, Frank Mba, had in the wake of the attack stated that about 30 suspects escaped from custody but that 25 of them were immediately re-arrested by detectives, while the force was still on the trail of the remaining five. As at yesterday evening, it was not certain whether those at large had been re-arrested as the force kept mute on the issue. When contacted, Mba promised to avail our correspondent of further details whenever the situation was ripe. It was, however, gathered that detectives would interrogate those who were re-arrested to ascertain their culpability in the botched attack. “It is possible that some of them here may have had some links with the gunmen. “They may even have been communicating with themselves in a way. “This is all I can tell you but be sure that some of those we re-arrested may have one or two useful links to give us,” a police source said in Abuja.

FG fires BPE boss, Onagoruwa

Despite the fact that the National Council on Privatisation, NCP, had directed the Bureau to ensure the enforcement of the judgement, the director-general was unable to mobilise the needed law enforcement agencies, including the police, to dislodge the illegal managers of the plant, United Company Rusal, which is managing the plant on behalf of Dayson Holdings Limited. A feeble attempt by her to commence the enforcement of the judgement about two weeks ago vide a letter dated November 13, 2012 in which she indicated that some members of the NCP Technical Committee, officials of the Bureau and other stakeholders would pay a three-day working visit to the plant as from last Wednesday was rebuffed by the management of UC Rusal Company. Besides her inability to enforce the judgment,

the assets of the company in which she served as a Board member was said to have depreciated by over N100bn within six years of Rusal’s management of the plant. A report published by the audit firm, Pricewatercoopers Limited, prior to the bid, noted that the company’s fixed asset as at December 31, 2003 stood at about N127.7bn, while the figure dropped marginally to N127.3bn at the beginning of 2004. But no sooner had UC Rusal effectively taken over the control of the plant in early 2007, its management carried out a comprehensive re-evaluation of the assets and marked down their value by over 76 per cent, from N129.9bn at the end of 2006 to N30.98bn. Indications are that the company’s asset base suffered massive devaluation by over N101.2bn within just one year of the take-

over of the plant by UC Rusal under what the report called “revaluation surplus/deficit”. The certified true copy of the audit report by the audit firm of KPMG obtained from the Corporate Affairs Commission, CAC, shows that since 2006, the asset base of the company under the Russian managers underwent consistent depreciation and decline in value. From N30.98bn in 2007, the company’s net asset value went down to N25.2bn in 2008; N19.4bn in 2009 and N14.9bn in N2010. The report for 2011 is yet to be published. Speaking on the removal of the BPE boss, the Coordinating Director of ThinkAct, the Pan African Centre for Strategic Reflections, Planning and Action, Mr. Ayodeji Ajayeoba, noted that the action was a reflection of the perceived conflicting interests of

politicians and technocrats over how divestments of government’s interests in privatised entities should be pursued. He explained that Onagoruwa was the immediate casualty of the recent inconsistent postures by the government over the privatisation agenda, saying that from what had been heard from the President in recent days there was no doubting the fact that those at the corridors of power had some political interests they intend to achieve in the ongoing privatisation of the power sector. “Given the time and circumstances surrounding her sack, particularly coming on the heels of the resignation of the former Minister of Power, it is clear that the politicians have some interests to pursue which run contrary to what the technocrats feel is right and best for the country.

Also yesterday, a meeting of the FCT SARS commander with the Federal Capital Territory Minister, Senator Bala Mohammed, was cancelled at the last-minute due to unexplained reasons. Mohammed was slated to meet with the police officer in the evening, ostensibly to officially brief him as the Chief Security Officer, CSO, of the territory. The meeting was postponed till further notice. In a statement last night, Chief Press Secretary to the Minister, Muhammad Hazat Sule, said the minister expressed sorrow over the loss of lives during the unfortunate incident. Mohammed directed the FCT Police Command to always be on alert to ensure the safety of lives and property. Speaking earlier, the FCT Police Commissioner, Mr. Aderenle Shinaba, said that the attack was carried out with gruesome murder of two police officers and serious structural damage. The police commissioner explained that the attackers were many and attempted to free some of the inmates at the SARS headquarters detention facility.

“It is a further proof that contrary to government’s claims, the process is not transparent and this can be understood from the contradictory statements and views that have been expressed by the government, including the President, over the whole agenda. You will recall that government said the Manitoba contract had been revoked only for the President to come out a few days later to sing different tune. “What we are witnessing is still the rot in governance process which the privatisation programme is just exposing some part. This approach can only undermine the purpose of the whole exercise and adversely affect the country. You cannot continue to remove DGs of the Bureau incessantly and expect to sustain the gains. The politicians have already made up their minds to sell these entities to their cronies,” Ajayeoba said.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Wike tasks mothers on girl-child education SAM OLUWALANA AND IJEOM EZEIKE

ILORIN

K Wike

“We believe that the children are closer to their mothers and that the mothers can impact the lives of their children, especially the girls in their community to encourage them to attend school,” he said. The workshop which had over 320 participants drawn from Kaduna, Jigawa, Kano, Zamfara, Katsina, Sokoto and Kebbi States was viewed by organisers as a tremendous boost to the campaign for girl-child education. Wike expressed optimism that the workshop will meet the objectives set by the ministry to achieve improved enrolment among girls. In a keynote address, North-West Zonal Coordinator of the Universal Basic Education, Mr. Aliyu Kardi, recalled that the issue of women education in the north was raised since 30 years ago and expressed happiness that it is receiving attention now with the success recorded by the workshop.

Kogi elders’ ranting, a cheap blackmail –Wada’s aide SINA FADARE

he Kogi State government yesterday said that the recent attack on the administration of Governor Idris Wada by some PDP elders in the state was a cheap blackmail employed by the group to give a dog a bad name in order to hang it. In a statement issued yesterday by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr. Richard Elesho, the state government said it is a known fact that the so-called elders are mere birds of the passage in the PDP in the state, who are actually working for the opposition, the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN). Elesho said it was not a surprise that the selfstyled Kogi Elders’ Fo-

rum of the PDP has simply transmuted as the fore-runner of the state executive of the opposition, ACN, adding that the statements from the said elders in their ongoing campaigns to malign Governor Wada, are constantly followed by a thumb up for them by the ACN state leadership. He said the real elders’ forum of the PDP led by General Salihu Ibrahim, has come out, not only to deny the group, but to also express confidence in Governor Wada and his team. Elesho explained that the discredited leaders are not only wiping emotional sentiment on the altar of cheap political cleavage, but equally want to distract the administration of Wada on the good work he is doing in the state, but that they have failed woefully.”

Protect corps members in your domain, Ahmed tells monarchs WOLE ADEDEJI

inister of State for Education, Ezenwo Nyesom Wike, has tasked mothers in the North-West geopolitical zone to shape the future of their female children by ensuring that they are enrolled in basic schools across the region for access to free and qualitative education. Wike spoke in Sokoto yesterday while declaring open a capacity building workshop organised by the Federal Ministry of Education in collaboration with the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) office for the seven states of the NorthWest geo-political zone. Represented by the Deputy Director, Special Education, in the Ministry, Mrs. Elizabeth Bosede Omotowa, the minister noted with concern that out of the over 10 million children out of school in the country, about 7.5 million are females. He said such statistics was not good for the future of the girl-child. The minister said that the capacity building workshop was aimed at empowering mothers to shore up the enrolment capacity of children in their communities.

North

Wednesday November 28, 2012

wara State Governor, Abdulfatah Ahmed, yesterday tasked traditional rulers and security agencies in the state on the security of National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members serving in the state. Ahmed gave the challenge at the closing ceremony of the orientation course for the 2012 Batch “C” corps members at the NYSC Orientation Camp in Yikpata, Edu Local Government Area of the state. The governor, who said the corps members should be given adequate security

in the communities they are posted for their primary assignments, urged monarchs and security operatives in the respective communities to provide adequate security for them. The governor said the responsibility of ensuring security of the corps members in particular and the general populace in the state does not rest with the government alone but that it is a collective one. He assured corps members that concrete measures have being put in place by the government to provide them with security in all parts of the state. Governor Ahmed charged the corps mem-

bers to generously reflect on the lectures and training they received on selfemployment and entrepreneurial skills during the orientation for the purpose of becoming skilled and self-reliant youths. He said his administration would create the ambience where the skills and expertise acquired within the three-week exercise will be translated into concrete achievement in the nooks and crannies of the state. Earlier, the state Coordinator of the National Youths Service Corps (NYSC), Ngozi Ezekwe, advised the corps members to be security conscious, asking them to avoid trav-

elling without permission, to dress decently and not to live or move alone. Ezwkwe, who disclosed that the management of the NYSC had resolved to reinvigorate the Community Development Service (CDS) programme, charged the corps members to get involved in more creative, challenging and concrete development projects aimed at nation building in communities they would be serving. Her words: “Reflect on all you have been taught on skills acquisition and work towards being employers of labour rather than being job seekers right from now.”

Former Councillor, Barkin-Ladi Local Government of Plateau State, Mr. Sunday Gyang (left) and Chairman of the local government, Mr. Emmanuel Loman, briefing journalists on an attack by gunmen at Heipang village in Jos, yesterday. PHOTO: NAN

Kano govt, foundations partner on healthcare delivery AUGUSTINE MADU-WEST KANO

he Kano State government has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Dangote Foundation and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to support routine immunisation exercise in the state. The MoU is a three-year collaboration aimed at improving routine immunisation and primary healthcare delivery in Kano State with a goal of reaching 80 percent coverage with basic vaccines by 2015. Shortly after signing the agreement at Government House, the state governor, Governor Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso, said his administration is ready to partner with donor organisations to make

Kano State polio free. Kwankwaso said his administration is investing millions of naira in transforming the health sector of the state, explaining that the effort is manifest in the construction of three health institutes across the state, renovation of Gwarzo General Hospital as well as the pro-

vision of medical consumables in hospitals across the state. The governor, who commended the two foundations for their commitment to eradicate vaccine-preventable diseases, tasked other wealthy individuals in the state to join hands with the government to uplift the living

standard of the people. He paid glowing tributes to Alhaji Aliko Dangote, for signifying his intention to construct two diagnostic centres in Kano and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation for its enormous investment in health and development programmes across Nigeria.

Agency moves to reduce maternal mortality rate A ZA MSUE KADUNA

he National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) yesterday said it would produce functional primary healthcare blueprint to tackle the nation’s high maternal mortality rate. Executive Director of the agency, Dr. Ado Muhammad,

stated this at a refresher training programme for NorthWest zonal technical officers on primary healthcare methods and processes held in Kaduna. He said for the system to succeed, the agency must remain in the forefront of national socio-economic and political agenda. The NPHCDA boss, who hinged the agency’s activities on transparency and accountability, said the pri-

mary health care content of the country’s health policy at the moment is low, adding that the training would improve access to quality and efficient health delivery system in the country. His words: “The training activity will help build your skills and enhance your experience in key steps in primary healthcare project formulation and implementation.”

Wednesday, November 28, 2012

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Wednesday, November 28, 2012

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

World News

Arafat’s remains exhumed, tested for poison

PAUL ARHEWE

WITH AGENCY REPORTS

housands flocked to Cairo’s central Tahrir square yesterday for a protest against Egypt’s president in a significant test of whether the opposition can rally the street behind it in a confrontation aimed at forcing the Islamist leader to rescind decrees that granted him near absolute powers. Waving Egypt’s red, white and black flags and chanting slogans against President Mohammed Morsi and his Muslim Brotherhood, the protesters joined several hundreds who have been camping out at the square since Friday demanding the decrees be revoked. Even as the crowds swelled, clashes erupted nearby between several hundred young protesters throwing stones and police firing tear gas on a street off Tahrir leading to the U.S. Embassy. Clashes have been taking place at the site for several days fueled by anger over police abuses, separately from the crisis over Morsi. The president’s declaration last week of new powers for himself has energized and — to a degree unified — the mostly liberal and secular opposition after months of divisions and uncertainty while Islamists from the Muslim Brotherhood and other groups rose to dominate the po-

“This is not about returning to an older way of thinking, carrying out massive, general, permanent nationalisations” – French President, Francois Hollande

Mass protest in Egypt against Morsi power grab

he Indian High Commission in Nigeria has organised a three-day interactive conference for a delegation of Indian businessmen who intend to expand their ICT and

Indian High Commissioner to Nigeria, Mahesh Sachdev

M23 rebels will not withdraw from Goma unless the Congolese government meet a series of demands, the group’s president has said. Addressing journalists in a hotel close to the border with Rwanda yesterday, Jean Marie Runiga, M23’s president, said that the group were not against withdrawing from the city, but would only do so if certain conditions were met. The announcement came shortly after Ugandan officials announced the imminent withdrawal of M23 from Goma and Sake. Ugandan General Aronda Nyakairima said the rebel group was scheduled to start withdrawing from Goma by midday on Thursday, and to leave the city completely within 24 hours, In response, Runiga reiterated that this would happen only through negotiations.

Indicted Kenyans seek political alliance Egyptians carrying a wounded protester in clashes with security forces near Tahrir square, in Cairo, yesterday

litical landscape. The turnout for Tuesday’s protest call is key to whether the opposition can keep a movement going against Morsi. While the edicts last week sparked the protests, they have also been fueled by anger over what critics see as the Brotherhood’s monopolizing of power after its election victories the past year for parliament and the presidency.

“We want to change this whole setting. The Brotherhood hijacked the revolution,” said Rafat Magdi, an engineer who was among a crowd of around 2,000 marching from the Cairo district of Shubra to Tahrir to join the rally. “People woke up by his mistakes, and any new elections they will get no votes.” Morsi’s decrees, issued Thursday, placed him above any

PHOTO: AP

kind of oversight, including that of the courts, until a new constitution is adopted and parliamentary elections are held — a timeline that stretches to mid-2013. The opposition says the decrees give Morsi near dictatorial powers by neutralizing the judiciary at a time when he already holds executive and legislative powers. Leading judges have also denounced the measures.

High Commission hosts Indian business delegates in Nigeria PAUL ARHEWE

WORLD BULLETIN DR Congo rebels set conditions for Goma exit

electronics ventures to Africa’s largest market. In the conference which kicked off on Monday in Lagos, the Indian Electronics & Computer Software delegation, representing different established firms in India met with their Nigerian counterparts, and discussed ways for partnership. Rajan Swaroop, the Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of Airtel Nigeria Ltd., who welcomed the Indian business delegates, admonished them that from his over two years experience in the country he can assure them there are many untapped resources and a huge potential market in Nigeria. According to Swaroop, India in the 1990s was in the same developmental phase Nigeria is currently experiencing. “Nigeria has the potential and resources for its economy to even surpass countries like India

in some years to come.” The Indian delegation head, who also is the MD and CEO of Telematics4u Services PVT Ltd, Pratap Hegde, said there are immense opportunities for small business to small business cooperation. He opined that the Indian small and medium business is ready to conquer the world and wants to do business with emerging economies like Nigeria. Hedge said his organisation already has some local partners, but it is seeking more partners in order to expand its business. Adejare Amoo, Council Member, LCCI and Member of Trade Promotion Board, told National Mirror that the purpose of the conference is to promote the Indian ICT business and those in Nigeria and to see how best to bring about collaboration and cooperation in the countries technological driven economies.

He said Indian has a well developed ICT industry and a good pricing system. Amoo further opined that cultural difference is an obstacle and a big challenge to the IndianNigerian trade relations; where Nigerians are stereotyped with tendencies of exhibiting sharp practices. He said the collaboration between the Indian and Nigerian teams would fashion ways of demystifying this cultural misbelieve. Some Indian organisations represented during the conference include Sierra ODC Private Limited, Electronics and Computer Software export promotion Council, M-tech Innovations Ltd. and Telematics4u Services Pvt. Ltd. The delegation is expected to meet with Nigerian businesspersons on Wednesday in another conference, in Abuja

Two former bitter political rivals in Kenya facing trial at the International Criminal Court, Uhuru Kenyatta and William Ruto, are negotiating an alliance for next year’s election. But a statement from Mr Uhuru’s office backtracked on an earlier announcement that a deal had been officially agreed. On Thursday, a court in Kenya is due to hear a petition seeking to bar them from contesting the election. Both men deny playing key roles in the violence which followed the 2007 poll. Some 1,200 people were killed and 300,000 forced from their homes. Deputy Prime Minister Kenyatta and Mr Ruto, a former minister, were on opposite sides in the 2007 election.

Four Ugandan bombing suspects allege FBI abuse Four terror suspects charged with killing 76 people watching the World Cup soccer final in 2010 on TV in Uganda claimed they were physically abused during interrogations by United States FBI agents, an international rights organization said in a report released yesterday. The suspects said men who identified themselves as FBI agents beat them up during questioning between 2010 and 2011 in the East African country, the Open Society Justice Initiative said in its report. Hijar Nyamandondo, who is from Tanzania, alleged that an interrogator hit him in the eye, causing his glasses to break, his eye to bleed, and making him collapse on the ground. Nyamandondo also said that when he attempted to stand up a Ugandan official in the room punched him in the chest, causing him to fall back down

World News

WORLD BULLETIN Protesting farmers spray European Parliament with milk Angry farmers protesting at falling dairy prices in the EU have sprayed fresh milk at the European Parliament and riot police in Brussels. Thousands of dairy farmers, accompanied by hundreds of tractors, descended on the Belgian capital on Monday for two days of demonstrations. Disruption has continued, with EU officials hindered from reaching their offices by tractors blocking roads. Farmers want an increase of up to 25% in their prices to cover costs. EU milk is often sold at below production costs due to a drop in international demand and increased competition. The European Milk Board (EMB), which is co-ordinating the protest, says small farmers are being forced out of business. In Belgium, for example, the wholesale price for a litre of milk is 0.26 euros (£0.21; $0.34) but the cost of producing it is 0.40 euros, the board said.

Wednesday, November 28, 2012

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Arafat’s remains exhumed, tested for poison

orensic experts took samples from Yasser Arafat’s buried corpse in the West Bank yesterday, trying to determine if he was murdered by Israeli agents using the hard-totrace radioactive poison, Polonium. Palestinians witnessed the funeral of their hero and long time leader eight years ago, but conspiracy theories surrounding his death have never been laid to rest. Many are convinced their icon was the victim of a cowardly assassination, and may stay convinced whatever the outcome of this autopsy. But some in the city of Ramallah where he lies deplored the exhumation. “This is wrong. After all this time, today they suddenly

want to find out the truth?” said construction worker Ahmad Yousef, 31, who stopped to watch the disinterment, carried out behind a wall of blue plastic near the Palestinian presidency headquarters. “They should have done it eight years ago,” he said. French magistrates in August opened a murder inquiry into Arafat’s death in Paris in 2004 after a Swiss institute said it had discovered high levels of polonium on clothing of his which was supplied by his widow, Suha, for a television documentary. “Samples will be taken according to a very strict protocol and these samples will be analyzed,” said Darcy Christen, spokesman for Lausanne University Hospi-

tal in Switzerland that carried out the original tests on Arafat’s clothes. “In order to do these analyses, to check, cross-check and double cross-check, it will take several months and I don’t think we’ll have anything tangible available before March or April next year,” he added. Arafat was always a freedom fighter to Palestinians but a terrorist to Israelis first, and a partner for peace only later. He led the bid for a Palestinian state through years of war and peacemaking, then died in a French hospital aged 75 after a short, mysterious illness. No autopsy was carried out at the time, at the request of Suha, and French doctors who treated

Court orders Turkish woman to learn German An illiterate Turkish woman who has lived in Germany for 30 years must attend German language classes, an administrative court has ruled. The 61-year-old woman asked a court in the south-western state of Baden-Wurttemberg to permit her to forgo the classes required for all foreign residents, the German news agency DAPD reported yesterday. The woman told the court despite her poor language skills she had managed to raise welleducated children who paid taxes and were German citizens. The court ruled there was a societal interest “that all foreigners living permanently in Germany can at least verbally express themselves in a rudimentary fashion.” The ruling confirmed an order made by a public authority for foreign residents.

Livni returns to Israeli politics with new party The former Israeli foreign minister, Tzipi Livni, has announced her return to politics as the head of a new party. Ms Livni said “The Movement” would contest January’s general election on a manifesto that included the pursuit of a peace deal with the Palestinians. She said she would appeal to “people who do not have anyone to vote for.” Ms Livni served as foreign minister from 2006 to 2009. She resigned from parliament in May after losing the leadership of the Kadima party. At the time, she said she was leaving the Knesset but “not retiring from public life”, adding that Israel was “too dear” to her. At a news conference in Tel Aviv on Tuesday, Ms Livni criticised the government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for its failure to make any progress in negotiations with the Palestinians in recent years.

him said they were unable to determine the cause of death. But allegations of foul play immediately surfaced, and many Palestinians pointed the finger at Israel, which confined Arafat to his West Bank headquarters in Ramallah for the final two and a half years of his life after a Palestinian uprising erupted. Israel denies murdering him. Its leader at the time, Ariel Sharon, now lies in a coma from which he is expected never to awake. Israel invited the Palestinian leadership to release all Arafat’s medical records, which were never made public following his death and still have not been opened. Polonium, apparently ingested with food, was found to have caused the death of former Russian spy Alexander Litvinenko in London in 2006. But some experts have questioned whether Arafat could have died in this way, pointing to a brief recovery during his illness that they said was not consistent with radioactive poisoning. They also noted he did not lose all his hair.

France to back Palestinian’s UN status

F Suha Arafat, widow of the late Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat, watching the ceremony after her husband’s exhumation in the West Bank city of Ramallah, on television from her apartment in Sliema, outside Valletta, yesterday. PHOTO: REUTERS

Mexican beauty queen killed in shootout

20-year-old state beauty queen died in a gun battle between soldiers and the alleged gang of drug traffickers she was travelling with in a scene befitting the hit movie “Miss Bala,” or “Miss Bullet,” about Mexico’s not uncommon ties between narcos and beautiful pageant contestants. The body of Maria Susana Flores Gamez was found Saturday lying near an assault rifle on a rural road in a mountainous area of the drug-plagued state of Sinaloa, the chief state prosecutor said on Monday. It was unclear if she had used the weapon. “She was with the gang of criminals, but we cannot say whether she participated in the shootout,” state prosecutor Marco Antonio Higuera said. “That’s what we’re going to have to investigate.” The slender, 5-foot-7-inch brunette was voted the 2012 Woman of Sinaloa in a beauty pageant in February. In June, the model competed with other seven contestants for the more prestigious state beauty contest, Our Beauty Sinaloa, but didn’t win. The Our Beauty state winners compete for the Miss Mexico title, whose holder represents the country in the international Miss Universe. Higuera said Flores Gamez was trav-

eling in one of the vehicles that engaged soldiers in an hour-long chase and running gun battle on Saturday near her native city of Guamuchil in the state of Sinaloa, home to Mexico’s most powerful drug cartel. Higuera said two other members of the drug gang were killed and four were detained. The shootout began when the gunmen opened fire on a Mexican army patrol. Soldiers gave chase and cornered the gang at a safe house in the town of Mocorito. The other men escaped, and the gunbattle continued along a nearby roadway, where the gang’s vehicles were eventually stopped. Six vehicles, drugs and weapons were seized following the con-

frontation. It was at least the third instance in which a beauty queen or pageant contestants have been linked to Mexico’s violent drug gangs, a theme so common it was the subject of a critically acclaimed 2011 movie. In “Miss Bala,” Mexico’s official submission to the Best Foreign Language Film category

Gamez

rance said yesterday it would vote in favour of Palestinian non-member status at the United Nations, boosting Palestinian efforts to secure greater international recognition. Frustrated that their bid for full U.N. membership last year was thwarted by U.S. opposition in the U.N. Security Council, Palestinians have launched a watered-down bid for recognition as a non-member state, similar to the status the Vatican enjoys. The proposal, which is due to be put to the vote in the General Assembly at the end of the week, would implicitly recognize Palestinian statehood. It could also grant access to bodies such as the International Criminal Court in The Hague, where the Palestinians could file complaints against Israel. “This Thursday or Friday, when the question is asked, France will vote yes,” Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius announced in the French National Assembly, the lower house of parliament. Abbas’ bid seems certain to win approval in any vote in the 193-nation assembly. The United States say Palestinian statehood must be achieved by negotiation and has called on Abbas to return to peace talks that collapsed in 2010 over Israeli settlement construction in the occupied West Bank.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Sport

Wednesday, November 28, 2012

Pomp, as Eko 2012 festival begins IKENWA NNABUOGOR

he 18th National Sports Festival began yesterday evening with the colourful ceremony witnessed by thousands of fans, participating states and top government officials. The ceremony which started after the arrival of the Vice President, Namadi Sambo, representing President Goodluck Jonathan and Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Fashola, had the trappings of splendor and glamour. Balloon powered by helium was released into the air as the participating states took turns to file out for the official martch past where Team Delta stole the show with a contingent numbering over 800, led by the wife of the state governor, Mrs. Roli Uduaghan. Team Oyo also caught the eye with six kid cyclists leading out the contingent on the tracks, followed by Team Rivers which captivated the crowd with its display of culture and colourful attire. Nollywood stars also took parade with fans and spectators scrambling to catch glimpses of their favourite artistes at the march past. Deputy Governor of La-

…Elite athletes may participate in future

Team Lagos at the opening ceremony last night. Inset: Eko 2012 Mascots.

gos State who is also Chairperson of the festival’s Local Organising Committee, Mrs. Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, delivered an opening speech before Sports Minister Bolaji Abdullahi gave his ad-

dress after which Governor Fashola delivered his address which was followed by Vice President Sambo, with all the speakers pledging to ensure that the festival help to foster unity.

PHOTOS: ADEMOLA AKINLABI

Sambo commended the efforts of the host state after which he officially declared the festival open. The arrival of the Fair Play and the Games Flag by the Boys Brigade and the

Nigerian Navy added colour to the opening ceremony as the appreciative spectators applauded the scene with the hoisting of flags and oath taking by the participating athletes coming after.

Rivers net defectors IKENWA NNABUOGOR

thletes from other states have defected to Rivers State for the ongoing 18th National Sports Festival apparently for the lure of lucrative offers, National Mirror has learnt. Athletes representing Team Rivers are reportedly the highest paid and have been promised other incentives with a view to encouraging them to haul medals for the state. National Mirror learnt that the athletes, who pocketed N60, 000 monthly, had been in

camp for seven months leading to the festival. Interestingly, special athletes from are said to be attracted to the Rivers’ lucre despite reports that the host state also pay high wages to its representatives. Rivers State Governor, Chibuike Amaechi, has promised a cash gift of N1m for a gold medal won at the EKO 2012 fiesta. Team Rivers is in Lagos with over 600 athletes and will compete in swimming, football and cycling, among others. Rivers State hosted the last festival and came first on the medals table.

Security fears keep Teslim Balogun Stadium empty

States compete for FG’s N45m YEMI OLUS

PROGRAMME OF EVENTS 18TH NATIONAL SPORTS FESTIVAL

nly television viewers at home savoured the impressive show put up by the Local Organising Committee (LOC) last night during the opening ceremony of the 18th National Sports Festival at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere.

Reason: The 19, 000 police officers and men, 300 officers and men of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and other security agents massively deployed at the stadium ensured that the purpose of throwing the gates open for Lagosians to fill the

stadium was defeated. The security agents, in their overzealousness to protect Vice President Namadi Sambo, who represented President Goodluck Jonathan and other dignitaries at the venue, prevented uniformed school children from gaining en-

try into the stadium. As a result, while the terraces of the Teslim Balogun Stadium were empty, the crowd milled outside and overflowed into the National Stadium, regretting why they honoured the free invite from the Lagos State Government.

articipating states that finish first, second and third places on the medals table at the end of the ongoing 18th National Sports Festival will be rewarded with N20m, N15m and N10m respectively by the Federal Government. Vice President Namadi Sambo, who stood in for President Goodluck Jonathan announced the largesse at the opening ceremony last night. At the occasion, President Jonathan pledged to implement the report of the technical committee set up to harmonise the communiqué reached at the presidential summit on sports held recently at the Presidential Villa in Abuja. In his own speech, the Minister of Sports, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, said that the National Council on Sports would meet to discuss the eligibility criteria for future NSF with a view to throwing the fiesta open to even elite athletes in the country. Abdullahi stated that this year’s edition would serve as a hunting ground for talents that would represent the country in future. “The experience of London Olympics has made the discovery of genuine talents very paramount to us as a nation and I hope Eko 2012 will produce the future athletes that will make the country proud in the nearest future,” he said.

Complaints galore! IFEANYI EDUZOR

he 18th National Sports Festival took off on a bad note with coaches and officials complaining about poor accommodation provided by the Local Organising Committee. Many officials who spoke to National Mirror noted that the mattresses and room spaces provided for them at both the University of Lagos and the National Institute of Sports lacked quality, forcing them to seek alternatives. “It is a pity that the LOC did not put our comfort into consideration before advising us to check into Unilag and NIS hostels,” an angry official said. “We discovered that some of the hostels are still being painted, which prompted most of us to demand for money to enable us to look for alternative accommodation.”

WORLD RECORD

First road maps Vol. 02 No. 501

Wednesday, November 28, 2012

Bombs for breakfast

t is becoming difficult for ordinary Nigerians to come to grips with the grinding realities of their daily existence. A lot has been said and written on the ever increasing spate of violence across the country and its concomitant effects on the psychological and socio-economic wellbeing of the citizens. But in spite of our collective angst, anger and condemnations, the carnage and destructions have continued unabated. Increasingly, the international community is beginning to see Nigeria as a place where mindless violence prevails, as no Sunday passes without the horrific news of barbaric killings on grand scale by some deranged mobs. Definitely, any clever pundit would safely predict the detonation of a bomb in a church next Sunday, and it will come to pass. Such prediction is not borne of any supernatural gift for forecasting tomorrow’s events, but from a verifiable and observable pattern of activities that have been put through series

Zimbabwean model, Kessel Kausiyo, has revealed how she got engaged to Manchester City defender, Kolo Toure, after the £90,000-a-week Ivorian international told her he was a car salesman.

N150

The Romans created the first road maps. They were used not only for military reasons to conquer, control and administer their vast Empire but for commerce as well. Emperor Augustus Caesar had his son-in-law Marcus Agrippa (63 B.C.-12 B.C.) run a mapping mission that took surveyors nearly 20 years to finish.

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

of tests to arrive at an incontrovertible conclusion. Things are as bad as that. And one does not need a soothsayer to tell where the country is headed, if the present impunity continues to fester unchallenged. The sheer bravado exhibited in these bombings leaves many dumbfounded, in view of the targets which for long had been seen as fortresses that can only be breached at any attacker’s risk. But this has not deterred those whose main aim is the destruction of many lives as possible in the pursuit of an ethereal dream. This state of anomie is spawning a climate of fear and helplessness among Nigerians, who now see their lives reduced to that of the lowest creatures that can be eviscerated without remorse or regrets. And because little or no concrete actions are being taken to stop such reign of terror, those in the trade have taken a licentious zeal to kill and maim at will. If not, how can we explain last Sunday’s bombing of a church at the Armed Forces Command and Staff College, Jaji, which is the equivalent of attacking Britain’s Sandhurst Military Academy or America’s WestPoint. Even when no group has claimed responsibility for the attack, it smacks of affront that such act could be allowed to happen in an institution that prides itself as the centre of military excellence. By this, we mean that those desirous or in quest of scientific military knowledge, are encouraged to go through the hallowed chambers of this college. Incidentally, all its famed intelligence appurtenances failed

NIGERIANS ARE GRANDMASTERS AT PLAYING THE OSTRICH AND LIVING IN PERPETUAL DENIAL OF THE SORRY STATE OF OUR COMMONWEALTH to detect or interdict the bombs before they went off. Although, there is dearth of statistics on the average number of people killed daily, a cursory observation should put Nigeria above other dangerous places as Mexico and Columbia, and in the same league with more bloody zones like Afghanistan, Pakistan and Syria, even when the latter is caught in a maelstrom of sectarian conflicts. Obviously, the negative impact of this dysfunctional state is that the ongoing violence has taken a life on its own, and spawning a whole new industry that include kidnapping, rape, assassination and human trafficking, which incidentally are the only things outsiders see and hear of Nigeria. Aside the parlous state of the economy, which had provided the background and alibi for these acts of sadism, the perpetrators are enamoured to continue their gruesome trade because the laws and their enforcements are not only enfeebled, but have

become caught in the pernicious web of religious and ethnic politics, thereby rendering them prostrate in the face of continued onslaught. Such cocktail of intrigues, can best explain the half hearted measures seen so far in tackling these insurgencies. And due to the development, opinions are divided on ways of confronting this menace. As usual, many are calling for the declaration of state of emergency in Borno, Yobe, Kano and Kaduna states, which are the epicenter of the mayhems. This is coming against the background of the Federal Government’s refusal to enter into political dialogue with any of the armed group(s). Those in favour of military solution argue that it worked in Jos, following politically motivated killings and general insecurity during the administration of Joshua Dariye. The latter was deposed by President Olusegun Obasanjo, and replaced by Major General Chris Ali (retd) as military administrator from May 18 to November 18, 2004. But years after, events have proved the contrary, as the killings between Hausa/Fulani and indigenous Berom people have ferociously continued. Invoking such diktat in Kaduna would prove even trickier, given the extreme confessional nature of the state, which has adversely affected the relationship between Christians and Moslems. All it takes to invite a conflagration is the storming of the place by soldiers under the command of officers from any of the religious groups. Curiously, this government wants to solve the problem through payment of ransom for arrest and even decapitation of the insurgents’ leadership. That also may not bring the rebellion to a triumphal end. Nigerians are grandmasters at playing the ostrich and living in perpetual denial of the sorry state of our commonwealth, which is fraying at the edges. As always, we shall continue to advocate for a national conference as way out of this imbroglio, for anything short of it amounts to postponing the evil day. An outright military victory by one side will only encourage future rebellions by some dormant groups now watching from the sidelines.

Sport Extra

Toure entangled in extra-marital affair Kausiyo, 22, said she enjoyed a two-year affair with the former Arsenal star who she claimed introduced himself as ‘Francois’ before buying her gifts and giving her

money to her mum back in Zimbabwe. Keeping up the charade, the Ivory Coast ace bought Kausiyo a £1,000 engagement ring at the same time as he married his current

wife, Awo, with whom he has two children. “He refused to pose for pictures with me and did not introduce me to his family because of his strict Muslim heritage” Kausiyo said.

“Around the time he got married, he said he was back in Africa and had just sold two cars,” the model, who said the pair met at a Manchester nightclub in 2010 and swapped numbers, further disclosed, stressing, “I feel devastated.”

Kolo Toure

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