Wednesday, October 24, 2012 by GLOBAL MEDIA MIRROR LIMITED

N250bn budget tears Reps, NDDC apart TORDUE SALEM ABUJA

embers of the House Committee on Niger

Tambuwal

Vol. 2 N0. 476 OLUSEGUN KOIKI AND OMEIZA AJAYI

ear gripped passengers aboard an Arik Airline flight from Maiduguri to Enugu yesterday as a passenger suspected to be member of the dreaded Boko Haram sect caused panic mid-air. This dramatic incident forced the aircraft to make an emergency landing at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, CONTINUED ON PAGE 2>>

Delta Development Commission, NDDC, yesterday stormed out of the meeting for the defence of the N250bn budget of the commission due to major

disagreements. The members, who had met for the budget defence, were divided on some figures in the budCONTINUED ON PAGE 5>>

Tax tribunal orders Oando to pay FIRS N72.9m

P.6

Tinubu

Wednesday, October 24, 2012

N150

Bomb scare aboard Arik Air flight Pilot diverts plane from Maiduguri to Abuja

Turbulence triggers suspect’s mental imbalance –SSS

Rufai

Governors responsible for education rot –NUC Saudi deports seven female pilgrims P.12,51

Traffic jam in Lagos yesterday.

JTF raids gunmen’s hideouts in Kano Police confirm killing of student by vigilance group P.5

PHOTO: OLUFEMI AJASA

Protests continue as Lagos impounds 3,000 motorcycles One feared killed, police deny report

Kwankwaso

Gunmen kidnap Ogun lawmaker’s mother

P.8 P.9

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Wednesday, October 24, 2012

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Dutch govt commits 26m euro to support agric sector TOLA AKINMUTIMI ABUJA

he Dutch Government has committed about 26 million Euros to support the ongoing Agricultural Transformation Agenda in the country. The amount excludes an addition two million Euros that would also be used, in collaboration

with the International Fertilizer Development Centre, next year to enhance the fertilizer GES in the country. Giving the hint at a forum where the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Akinwunmi Adesina, received officially the United Nations Special Envoy on Inclusive Finance, Princess Maxima of Netherlands

yesterday in Abuja, the Netherlands Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Bert Ronhaar, explained that the funds and other supports were aimed at helping Nigeria to boost its productivity in Cassava and cocoa production as well as add value to all processes of their value chains. The envoy specifically stated that about six million Euros was being

Queue at NNPC filling station on Kudirat Abiola Way in Lagos over fuel scarcity, yesterday.

committed to the cassava farming and processing industry while approximately 20 million Euros was also being provided to improve cocoa production and its processing industry. He explained: “The Dutch Government is supporting the cassava industry and the small holder cassava growers in Nigeria with contribu-

PHOTO: YINKA ADEPARUSI

tion of six million Euros, and development in valueadded chain in cassava which results in creating employment and income for approximately 100,000 Nigerian farmers and families. “At the same time, the Dutch Government is supporting the cocoa growers in this country, the cocoa processing industry and it is also supporting the value chains in the cocoa industry and that programme which will last for over five years with approximately 20 million Euros. But it is not about money always; it is about the ideas, it is about philosophy, it is about the drive and the experience which will come along with Nigeria. “Another programme which is to start in 2013 is a programme that is the nationwide drive in agriculture, agro processing and is being implemented by the International Fertiliser Development Centre and that will be about two million Euros. We

really hope to bring the expertise together to support the local industries,” Ronhaar added. Earlier in his remarks, the minister, who specially commended the UN Special Envoy for her efforts at promoting financial inclusion in global economies, said Nigeria was in need of financing that will go into agriculture, particularly the type that will support women farmers who constitute the majority of the 70 per cent or people who engage in farming at the grassroots. He explained that while official development finance could be relevant to current drives of African economies towards growth, there was the need for donor agencies and development partners that official development finance alone would not help in leveraging the various developmental efforts at national levels in view of the rapidly changing structures of the economies.

authorities of the airport as well as the airline. It said the suspect was hired by the wife of the Secretary to the Borno State Government, Hajia Yachilla Jidda, to carry out some interior decoration work only for him to start exhibiting some funny traits. SSS spokeswoman, Marilyn Ogar, said: “On October 19, 2012, wife of the SSG to the Borno State Government, Hajia Yachilla Jidda, travelled to Maiduguri in company of one Aminu Galadima, an interior decorator based in Abuja to do some interior decoration work. “On arrival in Maiduguri, he was lodged at Greenland Hotel. “During the course of his stay, he exhibited unusual behaviour by smashing a window, and ended up with lacerations on his hands. “The SSG was contacted and in collaboration with the hotel management, the subject was taken to Atal Hospital, also in Maiduguri, where he received treatment. “His family in Abuja

was contacted and they gave confirmation that Galadima has been mentally unstable. “In addition, his elder brother who lives in the UK was contacted and he requested that subject be returned to Abuja for medical attention. “On Sunday, October 21, 2012, he was taken to the airport to be returned to Abuja, but missed the flight. “However, the airport management was informed of his state of health, and they advised that whenever his return is scheduled, the management should be notified. “Unfortunately, when Galadima was taken to the airport on October 23 for his return trip, the management of the airport was not informed, and 10 minutes into the flight, due to slight turbulence, his condition was triggered off.” She said Galadima is already in the custody of security forces, explaining that the clarification has “become necessary to dispel the unfounded rumours concerning the flight.”

Bomb scare aboard Arik Air flight CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

Abuja, following which other users of the airport scampered for safety. Our correspondent gathered that while the plane was mid-air, the accused, Aminu Galadima, allegedly stood up and started preaching, which drew the attention of the about 100 passengers onboard. He was subsequently subdued by co-passengers and crew members. But another version of the story said that a Boko Haram member with explosives attempted to bomb the Arik plane, but that the bomb did not go off. Our correspondent also gathered that the suspect was trying to detonate a bomb, which refused to explode and was arrested at Abuja Airport. Arik Air spokesman, Mr. Olabanji Ola, however, denied the incident, saying that some passengers felt one of the passengers was a Boko Haram member. He explained that the suspect was frisked by the police attached to the airport, but nothing incrimi-

nating was found on him. A statement from the airline reads: “There is no iota of truth in the rumour making the rounds that a passenger attempted to bomb an Arik Air aircraft operating a flight from Maiduguri to Abuja today, Tuesday, October 23, 2012. “To set the records straight, a passenger on board flight W3 812 from Maiduguri to Abuja caused a scare when he started shouting Allah Akbar shortly before the aircraft landed at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja. The frightened passengers on board the flight became suspicious thinking the man was about to do something sinister. “All the passengers on board the flight, including the man in question, had all gone through the normal security check at the Maiduguri International Airport and nothing incriminating was found on anyone. “However, when the aircraft landed in Abuja, another security check was conducted on the passenger and nothing

incriminating was found on him. “A further security search was conducted on the operating aircraft, a Boeing 737-700 NG (Next Generation) and no trace of bomb or explosives were found. The aircraft went back to service immediately.” The Minister of Aviation, Stella Oduah, also in a statement denied the incident, describing it as “a rumour without any iota of truth.” Oduah in the statement stated that a passenger, Aminu Galadima, an indigene of Minna, Niger State, boarded a Maiduguri – Abuja bound Arik Air aircraft with registration number 5N MJE after going through all mandatory security screening, stressing that nothing incriminating was found on him. The statement reads in part: “At mid-air, the passenger began to act strangely, loudly screaming, God is Great. “Fellow passengers, alarmed by this behaviour rushed to apprehend him. “A thorough search by

fellow passengers and crew members revealed nothing dangerous on him. “The pilot immediately radioed Air Traffic Control and airport security operatives. “The plane landed safely at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, at exactly 12:53 hrs and the suspect handed over to the State Security Services, SSS, at about 14:45 hrs where he is currently being interrogated. “We wish to reassure the flying public of the continued focus of the Federal Ministry of Aviation on the safety and security of the nation’s airspace, while cautioning fellow Nigerians on spreading dangerous rumours. These rumours do not help to make our airspace either safer or more secure.” Meanwhile, the Department of State Security Service, DSSS, has said that the suspect is mentally unstable. The police blamed the speculation on a communication gap between the family of the suspect and

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Wednesday, October 24, 2012

Midweek Interview Former National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Prof. Rufai Ahmed Alkali, bemoans the ceding of oil-rich Bakassi to Cameroun. In this interview with OBIORA IFOH, he says President Goodluck Jonathan was armtwisted on the issue. Excerpt.

Parting with Bakassi, a very painful decision – Alkali

Nigeria recently celebrated its 52nd anniversary and the thinking of Nigerians is that the country will get better, what potential do you think lay ahead of the nation? Nigeria is great and I believe that this country is destined to even be greater. The issue of nation-building is a huge challenge not only to Nigeria, but to most African nations and as recent events have shown, even the rest of the world, there are changes going on and the entire world has been facing some major structural movements. If you look back to 30 years ago, the kind of changes that took place around the world, you find out that every region of the world has been facing one challenge or the other and certainly African has not been left behind. But as a patriot and someone who believes in this country, I believe that Nigeria is much better than other African countries in terms of potential for greatness. But as the President has said during his independence anniversary speech, that it has to be a collective responsibility for everyone of us. But as analyses have shown, great leaders make the difference but even then you also need very good followership. Things have actually changed in Nigeria and whatever challenges we are facing today are such that will make us stand and fight for our nationhood. Where do you see Nigeria in the next one year? The President has said categorically even when he was campaigning that he wants to make a difference and I think this issue has been well-articulated. Initially, people were not too sure what he wanted to do but transforming a country cannot be done overnight and surely the fundamentals of development that we are all yearning are being addressed including the energy sector, agriculture, education, healthcare sector, infrastructure both urban and rural amongst others. These are fundamentals which government has engaged itself in the last one year and I know that sometimes our people intend to be a bit cynical, there is this tendency not to trust government but people sometimes are first judged by their intentions and since there is a lot of conscious efforts to address these issues, I think we must give the President the needed support so that together we can move the country forward. There are certain things which we as Nigerians must do individually and collectively to ensure that we move this country forward, it shouldn’t be a one-man show as it is. There are political parties including the opposition, the government, National Assembly, judiciary, clergies, traditional rulers, everybody should speak against evil and speak for peace, so that Nigeria can come out of the woods.

Alkali

CEDING ANY PART OF THIS COUNTRY MUST BE A DIFFICULT DECISION.

NOT REALLY

BECAUSE OF THE OIL WELLS THERE

...EVEN IF IT IS JUST A

HAMLET THAT YOU HAVE TO

PART AWAY WITH, IT MUST BE A VERY PAINFUL DECISION

The government is soliciting for prayers and has actually inaugurated a prayer team, does this in any way suggest incompetence on the side of government in tackling the ills of the society? If you have ever seen the symbol of Northern Nigeria, you had the horse on one side and the carmel on the other side and the slogan was ‘work and worship’ and even in your daily life, the two things go together. While you work hard, you must pray that God blesses whatever you do. Of course, prayer cannot substitute hard work but I think what government is doing is to let people come back and to remember that Nigeria is the only country that we have and if we damage it, it wouldn’t be the country alone but ourselves.

this Bakassi crisis. As a human being, imagine what will happen if you cut off one of your fingers. You will feel a lot of pains. Bakassi was supposed to be part of Nigeria but if along the history of evolution of modern Nigeria and modern Cameroun, that certain things happened to let Bakassi out of this country and has now been internationalised and United Nations found itself involved and how Nigeria committed itself having passed through all the international agencies; it is not for me to now begin to comment on it because when the National Assembly spoke, I believe they know something about the issue that most Nigerians do not know. I believe also that when the Federal Government stands by its decision, there is also something they know. Along the line, I believe they are talking together and a final decision will be taken by them, so that this issue will be sorted out once and for all. But no matter what decision they take, ceding any part of this country must be a difficult decision. Not really because of the oil wells there, it is not the oil that makes the people but people decide their environment. So, even if it is just a hamlet that you have to part away with, it must be a very painful decision.

What’s your take on the Bakassi controversy? Even as a political scientist and a person who has been teaching International Relations, I have my reservation on

Recently, there were threaths of impeachment against President Jonathan over non-implementation of the 2012 budget. How do you see the development?

I don’t know who you are listening to, opposition political parties or National Assembly? The constitution provides for impeachment and also provides the basis of impeachment and also how impeachment is carried out. Impeaching a President is not something that is done like that, it is a very difficult process and on this note, I want to ask that people should allow the process of government administration to continue. The National Assembly and the executive will continue discussing issues at all levels and it is not for me to talk about impeachment because we are not part of it. I believe we voted people into position of authority to serve the country and the only way they can do that is in an atmosphere of peace and stability. Having served in the last National Working Committee (NWC) of the PDP, can you give your leadership a thump up? I have said repeatedly that no matter the imperfections in party politics, PDP has been able to achieve a few things that we have taken for granted because until 1998 the history of the evolution of party politics tend to be regionally-based and build around personalities. PDP is not controlled by any individual as at today and it is not being controlled by any small group maybe coming from one region or ethnic group or have any religious inclination or whatever. It is based nationwide and wherever you go in this nation, even in wards, you will see the flag of the PDP flying. What we have also done within the short time we had was to build the party in such a way that by the time we went for the 2011 elections, at least we were broad-based but that does not mean that we didn’t have challenges or had internal divisions but it was expected because everybody wanted to be part of the service; everybody wanted to be part of the action. This shows how important the party is; I mean of all the parties INEC registered, how many of them have you ever heard had organised convention or NEC meetings? We strengthened the foundation of the party and we look ahead knowing that we were building democracy and the nation at the same time.

Photo News

Wednesday, October 24, 2012

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L-R: Catherine Edohor, Kalu Ikeagu, Darey Art Alade, Cultural Attache, Fra Daniel, Co-Partner Vaugh and Johnson Promotions, Rotimi Vaugh, Consul General, Francois Sastourne, Nse Etim Nkpe and Yinka Johnson, during the visit of the organisers of Nigerian Independence Party in Paris to the France Consulate General in Lagos, recently.

Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta/Chairman, Presidential Amnesty Programme, Hon. Kingsley Kuku (left) and Nigeria’s Ambassador to the United States, Amb. Adebowale Ibibapo Adefuye, during the envoy’s visit to the Amnesty Office in Abuja, yesterday.

L-R: 2nd Vice-President, Nigerian Bar Association, Ikeja chapter, Mrs. Carolyn Ibeh; 1st VicePresident, Mr. Adeshina Ogunlana; General Secretary, Mr. Adeshina Adegbite and Welfare Secretary, Mr. Samson Omodara, at a press briefing on the state of the nation, in Lagos, yesterday.

L-R: Director, ST and T Regency School, Dr. Maggie Ibru; Director, Supreme Education Foundation School, Mrs. Adenike Adamolekun; Chairperson, Association of Professional Educators of Nigeria (APEN), Dr. Olufemi Ogunsanya, and Managing Director, Access Bank Plc, Mr. Aig Imoukhuede, at the 4th APEN Conference in Lagos.

PHOTO: OLUFEMI AJASA

National News

NFIS will create access to finance, says Jonathan TOLA AKINMUTIMI ROTIMI FADEYI

AND

ack of access to cheap finance has been identified as one of the major factors hindering Nigeria’s economic growth. President Goodluck Jonathan identified this in Abuja when Princess Maxima of Netherlands, United Nations Special Envoy for Financial Inclusion, visited him at the State House. The President said the National Financial Inclusion Strategy, NFIS, of his administration would complement the goals set by government to improve the financial inclusion component of the ongoing transformation agenda. Jonathan said financial inclusion was necessary if all citizens must directly feel the impact of growth in the economy He said: “It is important for us to have structures that will enable all Nigerians have access to financial services as well as funds, and we have started programmes targeted at empowering youths, women

and the creative industry.” The President said the NFIS nurtured by the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, would enable more Nigerians have access to funds and help reduce poverty, especially in the rural areas. He explained that the government would support the strategy and pool the relevant departments of government to implement it for the benefit of Nigerians. Jonathan said his administration recognised the importance of small and medium enterprises as the major vehicle to create employment in an increasingly industrial world, and commended the CBN for the new strategy to provide access to funds. Also later at the launch of the National Financial Inclusion Strategy, NFIS, Jonathan, who spoke through Vice-President Namadi Sambo, said the programmes targeted at creating more job opportunities, providing investment climate that would promote private enterprises development would definitely contribute to the country’s quest of becoming one of the largest world

economies by 2020. He said: “At the assumption of office, we set clear policies and programmes that will put our nation on the path of economic growth and development. This administration remains committed to ensuring that the atmosphere is right for Nigerians to find gainful employment, especially for the youth and women. “To achieve this, we have embarked on the YouWin programme for youth and women. All of these are aimed at accelerating the pace of economic growth and development.” In her remarks at the forum, Maxima advised the country to prioritise the implementation the NFIS. The UN representative added that implementation of the strategy was key to economic development. She, however, pointed out that implementation could not be accomplished by the CBN alone. Maxima, therefore, urged the CBN to work in conjunction with the different states, the Ministry of Agriculture, and the Ministry of Communications, to

allow mobile phone banking get into the different states in the rural areas. She said: “We have to commend the CBN for making such a tremendous effort in developing this National Strategy for Financial Inclusion. But writing a strategy is just the beginning of the whole process. So the key issue here is to coordinate and to cooperate so that together we can actually get to the last man and the last consumer can actually have access to financial services at very affordable prices. If one goes by talks it would be impossible but coordinating efforts would really be essential to making this happen.” Earlier, Maxima commended Jonathan for supporting the financial inclusion strategy and for the work of the Economic Management Team and the effective coordination of relevant ministries and departments. She said a very good communications network was necessary for adequate support to reach rural agriculture while also commending the President

for providing the impetus required for this to be achieved. On his part, the CBN Governor, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, disclosed that the NFIS was initiated to create an enabling environment that substantially lowers the cost of financial services through the deployment of innovative technology, and implement a sound regulatory framework that values the goal of financial inclusion with integrity and stability. Currently, 39.2 million

or 46.3 per cent of the total adult population of 84.7 million Nigerians are excluded from financial services. In addition, women account for 54.4 per cent of the excluded population, 73.8 per cent are aged less than 45 years, 34 per cent are without formal education while 80.4 per cent reside in rural areas. NFIS aims to make banking services more readily available to a wider range of Nigerians than are currently available.

85,071 Nigerians to participate in Hajj rites MURITALA AYINLA

t least 85,071 Nigerians are now in Saudi Arabia as part of the two million pilgrims from all over the world that have arrived the Holy Land for this year’s hajj. The highpoint of the pilgrimage falls on Thursday when pilgrims pray the whole day on the plains of Arafat. The Commissioner in charge of research at the National Hajj Commis-

sion, Dr. Okenwa Salleh, confirmed the number of Nigerians in Saudi Arabia. He disclosed that the commission had agreed to adopt the Grade C tent introduced by Lagos State last year in Mina for the entire country. Meanwhile, the Lagos State Commissioner for Home Affairs and Culture, Oyinmole Danmole, said arrangements had been concluded to house the state pilgrims in Mina and Arafat as part of the rites for this year’s Hajj.

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he Joint Security Task-Force, JTF, in Kano has launched a house-to-house search in Hotoro, Tsamiyar Boka and Tishama areas of the metropolis. An eye witness told the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN yesterday in Kano that the operation was carried out on Monday night up to the early hours of Tuesday. According to the witness, the search, which was conducted for over seven hours, was aimed at fishing out suspected gunmen in the affected areas. “The raid was carried out at three flash point areas of Tishama, Tsamiyar Boka and Hotoro quarters all in Kano metropolis.

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Wednesday, October 24, 2012

JTF raids gunmen’s hideouts in Kano •Police confirm killing of student by vigilance group “The areas were condoned of for several hours during the search,” the eyewitness, who requested anonymity, told NAN. NAN learnt that several people in the affected areas could not attend the early morning prayers as a result of the operation. When contacted, the JTF spokesman, Lt. Ikedichi Iweha, who confirmed the development, however declined to comment on the number of people arrested. “Yes, we carried out

operation this morning in the areas you mentioned. As you are aware, these places are dangerous spots, we don’t want to be taken unawares,” Iweha said. The JTF had recently increased raids on areas suspected to be hideouts of suspected gunmen and other criminals in the city. Meanwhile, the Nasarawa State Police Command yesterday confirmed the killing of Rukoma Dapo-Johnson, 25, a Chemical Engineer-

ing Student of the Federal Polytechnic Nasarawa by a vigilante group. The state Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Michael Ada, confirmed the killing in an interview with the NAN. Ada said the deceased was killed by suspected members of Mararaba Vigilante Group in Udege Development Area of the state. He said investigations by the police showed that the victim was stoned to death and later burnt beyond recognition.

Ada said that the police detectives were deployed to Agwada/Onda Wayo Road on October 2, for intelligence gathering with a view to unravelling the circumstances that led to his mysterious disappearance. “Dapo-Johnson was said to have left Nasarawa town on the ill-fated day to Agwada development area to see his inlaw who resides there, only for him not to return,” he said. The police spokesman explained that the detectives demonstrated their skills and professionalism when they discovered the charred remains of the late student in a thick forest located in Onda Wayo village. He said the deceased was alleged to be in possession of stolen motorcycle when he was arrested.

The victim, alongside one Sani Onga Osu, who claimed to be owner of the motorcycle, purported to have been stolen by the former, were taken to the house of the chairman, one Azuma Okah, to adjudicate the case. “The chairman found him guilty of the offence and he has no option than to direct that the victim should be caned. “The victim was not given the opportunity to appeal against the judgement.” Speaking on the incident, the Police Commissioner, Mr. Abayomi Akeremale, decried the treatment meted on the victim. He said all the perpetrators would soon be prosecuted in accordance with the law of the land. Akeremale warned the entire vigilante group and other private security outfit in the state to desist from such barbaric act, saying “they do not have statutory backings to take laws in their hands.”

N250bn budget tears Reps, NDDC apart CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

L-R: Minister of National Planning, Dr. Shamsudeen Usman; Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria, Mallam Sanusi Lamido; UN SecretaryGeneral’s Special Advocate for Finance Development, Princess Maxima of The Netherlands; President Goodluck Jonathan; Finance Minister, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala and Minister of Labour and Productivity, Chief Emeka Wogu, after a meeting at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, yesterday.

Lagos to provide free bus ride on Sallah day

he Lagos State government has said it would provide free bus ride to the people during the Eid-Il-Kabir celebration on Friday to ensure easy movement of persons. A statement by the Managing Director of the Lagos

Metropolitan Area Transport Authority, LAMATA, Mr. Dayo Mobereola, said this would enable Muslim faithful have easy access to different praying centres across the state. He said that the free bus service would help reduce

congestion and accidents on the roads during the festive period, adding that the service would run for 13 hours starting at 7.00am and ending at 10.00pm. Mobereola said the first BRT Cooperative, operator of the Bus Rapid Transit,

BRT, would offer free services on the Mile12 to CMS, Mile 12 to Obalende, Ajah to National Stadium, Ajah to Obalende, Mile 12 to National Stadium, Mile Two to National Stadium, Oshodi to Obalende and Oshodi to National Stadium routes.

Common ailment may soon resist cure, says NMA

he Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) has said that some common ailments might soon resist cure in Nigeria. The Chairman, Kaduna State chapter of the association, Dr. Aliyu Bappa, made this known yesterday at the 2012 Annual Physicians’ Week in the State. Bappa said the theme of the event was “Prescription of Medicines in Nigeria Abuse and Implication for the Health of Nigerians.” He said there was an urgent need for people to act against the global waves of using unauthorised and

inappropriate prescription for medicines. He said that most antibiotics which were man’s only resort for the control of infections were no longer effective due to usage abuse. Bappa decried the manner in which people obtain and take drugs without recourse to established rules and regulations governing it. He warned that too much overdose and unnecessary intake of drug might cause resistance. The chairman assured that the NMA would re-

main committed to improving its members’ capacity for compliance with best prescription practices. Bappa urged governments at all levels to protect doctors’ exclusive right to prescribe medicines as it was practiced in civilised parts of the world. He criticised the manner in which the nation was losing millions of foreign currency on the simplest ailments, saying $500 million was spent on the healthcare needs of some Nigerian government officials abroad in 2011.

He urged the government to adequately fund the nation’s healthcare system instead of blaming Nigeria doctors of incompetence. He said that the number of senior citizens in the country was rapidly increasing and would surpass 17 million by 2015, noting that the earlier the nation started preparing for them, the better the quality of their lives. “The earlier we start looking into the field of geriatrics, that is the area of medicine that takes care of the elderly, the better for us,” he said.

get and subsequently stormed out of the closeddoor meeting. The NDDC came before the House committee to defend its 2012 budget which went through second reading last week. The committee had earlier sent journalists out of the session and commenced a secret deliberation over the budget. The NDDC had last week told the House of Representatives committee that it required an additional N1.3trn to satisfactorily fund ongoing capital projects in the region. Sources alleged that the meeting was to find ways of infusing additional funds into the budget of the commission, but the members of the committee were divided over certain figures and amount. The House passed through second reading the NDDC total budget of N250,857,925,434 for the year 2012 last week. But the NDDC Chairman, Dr. Chris Oboh, had told the Nicholas Mutu-headed committee last week that the annual

budget allocation to the NDDC was insufficient of funding capital projects under the auspices of the commission. He also requested for extra funds, which the commission would use to mitigate against the devastating flood that had ravaged the region. The Chairman of the committee, Mutu, had earlier promised to brief reporters on the reason for the sudden termination of the budget defence and the disagreement between lawmakers and the NDDC. Questions had been asked in certain quarters over the process leading to the passage of the budget of the NDDC. The budget passed through second reading even before the Commission had defended its 2011 implementation before the House. Lawmakers also questioned the lateness of the presentation of the 2012 budget two months to the end of the year. Mutu, also expressed displeasure over the budgetary process of the NDDC, saying it does not show inclusiveness of other stakeholders.

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Wednesday, October 24, 2012

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EFCC docks suspected fraudster ISE-OLUWA IGE ABUJA

Daughter of former United States President, Miss Chelsea Clinton (left) and Director General of National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Dr. Paul Orhii, during the presidential launch of “Save One Million Lives” in Abuja recently.

ISE-OLUWA IGE ABUJA

he Tax Appeal Tribunal (TAT) sitting in Abuja yesterday ordered Oando Plc to pay the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) the sum of N72.92 million. The judgement sum as ordered represents tax liabilities. The tribunal also awarded N100,000 cost against Oando after deciding the matter in favour of FIRS. The Tribunal’s Acting Chairman, Mr. Nnamdi Ibegbu (SAN), gave the order after dismissing an appeal filed by Oando challenging the FIRS’s refusal to amend its tax assessment for the year 2003. The judgement is expected to bring to a close

Oando loses at tax tribunal, to pay N72.92m liability

the seven-year legal tussle between the company and the FIRS. Oando had in March 2003 dragged FIRS before the Tax Appeal Tribunal for refusing to amend its assessment on additional income tax and education tax for the year 2003 amounting to N72, 912,838. The relief sought by Oando to quash the assessment served on it by the FIRS in respect of interest disallowed as deductable for the assessment year, 2003, was dismissed by the tribunal. It also dismissed the appellant’s prayer seeking an order to prohibit the respondent from assessing

the appellant to any further tax assessment for the year 2003 in relation to interests and similar charges. In the ruling on Oando’s appeal of the 2003 FIRS assessment, the Tax Appeal Tribunal upheld FIRS’s assessment and ordered Oando to pay N72, 912,838 as tax. “The tribunal holds that the case of the appellant failed and the relief sought by the appellant, in this appeal, are hereby dismissed,’’ Ibegbu said. The tribunal, therefore, ordered that “the appellant is not discharged of the assessment of tax served on it by the respondent in respect of inter-

ests the respondent disallowed as deductable for 2003 year of assessment.’’ It also granted an order that the respondent is not prohibited from assessing the appellant to any further tax in 2003 year of assessment in relation to interest and similar charges. The tribunal directed that `the appellant shall pay tax as assessed by the respondent which is the sum of N72, 912,838. Bright Igbinosa, supported by Udoh Etebong and Ifoma Ihenacho, represented FIRS in the appeal, while Samuel Ibrahim and Shofola Bukola represented Oando.

Court orders courier to forfeit 25% of money laundered K AYODE KETEFE

ustice C.J Aneke of a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos yesterday ordered the man recently caught with $7million at the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Abubakar Sheriff Tijani, to forfeit 25 per cent of the undeclared $2 million to the Federal Government. It will be recalled that Tijani, 25, was arrested on September 27, 2012 by operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos while allegedly trying to smuggle the said $7million out of Nigeria.

EFCC claimed that it found out that Tijani, who was travelling to Dubai, United Arab Emirate, only declared $4.5 million as the foreign currency in his possession out of the $7million that he was actually carrying. This was discovered after his luggage was searched. When he was interrogated by operatives of the EFCC, Tijani reportedly confessed that he was hired by 20 persons to traffic the money to Dubai. During his arraignment yesterday by the EFCC for the offence of non-disclosure of cash, Tijani pleaded guilty to the charge said to contravene Section 12 of the Foreign Exchange (Moni-

toring and Miscellaneous Provisions) Act Cap.F34 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004 and Section 2(5) of the Money Laundering Prohibition Act 2011. In his ruling on the forfeiture order, Justice Aneke said that the court took into consideration the fact that the accused was a first offender and a young person. The judge observed that the accused did not benefit from the money directly, but was being employed by some underneath persons, who are the direct beneficiaries. Justice Aneke noted that the case would be an eye opener for the accused whom she said should have learnt his lesson by the ordeal he went

through. The anti-graft agency had alleged that investigations revealed that “Tijani is a regular traveller and one of several couriers of illegal cash suspected to be proceeds of crime. “Travellers leaving the country are statutorily required to declare cash in excess of $10,000. However, under the provisions of the Money Laundering Act, it is not sufficient to declare excess cash; the onus is on the person making the declaration to explain the source of the excess cash and the reason for the export. “Globally, bulk cash smuggling is usually associated with proceeds of crime, where legitimately earned funds are processed through the banking system.”

he Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) yesterday arraigned one Bello Godwin Onimisi before Justice Adebukola Banjoko of an Abuja High Court sitting in Gudu. Onimisi was arraigned on a four-count charge of conspiracy, obtaining money under false pretence and Internet fraud. Onimisi was also alleged to be a member of a syndicate that is impersonating the Comptroller General of Customs, Dikko Inde Abdullahi. His arrest followed a petition by one Bako Abdulmumuni alleging that a syndicate was using the telephone number of the Customs Comptroller General to demand payment of money into several bank accounts. The bank accounts included those of Oruche Chidubem, 2006021582 Zenith Bank and Ebubeogu Kenneth Ndubuisi, 303541221, First Bank. The syndicate allegedly contacted the complainant via e-mail and impersonated the Comptroller General of Customs, claiming he, Abdullahi, was on a quick trip to Saudi Arabia. In the e-mail, the fraud-

sters demanded that Abdulmumuni should urgently pay N240, 000 to someone in Nigeria. A transfer was made using First Bank and the suspect was arrested in Awka in Anambra State and moved to the EFCC in Enugu. The accused person pleaded not guilty when charges were read to him. The defence counsel, P.A Omoluabi, pleaded with the court that the accused be granted bail, saying the offence is bailable. But the prosecution counsel, Joshua Saidi, who said that though granting of bail is at the discretion of the court, urged the court to give conditions that would enable the accused to stand trial for the alleged offence. After listening to the two counsel, Justice Banjoko granted the accused bail in the sum of N100, 000 with two sureties in like sum. She said the sureties, who must show evidence of residence in Abuja, must produce evidence of three years tax clearance and must produce bank guarantor. Adjourning the case till November 28 and 29, the court added that the accused person and his sureties must produce three passports photographs each.

Sheilla Solarin’s burial arrangement ready FEMI OYEWESO ABEOKUTA

he Solarin family has released programmes for the burial of the late Sheilla, widow of the late social critic and foremost educationist, Dr. Tai Solarin. Mrs. Sheilla Solarin died at the Babcock University Teaching Hospital (BUTH), Ilishan – Remo in Ikenne Local Government Area of Ogun State last Sunday afternoon. National Mirror gathered that the body of Mrs. Sheilla will arrive at Ikenne-Remo, Ogun State, on November 8 from the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) morgue, followed by a motorcade procession to Ikenne Town Hall and later to Mayflower School, which she co-founded with her late husband. Her body will be lying-

in-state at the Schmid Hall where Alumni members of May Flower School (ExMays) will be paying their tributes. Also, students of the school will pay their last respects at the Mayflower Junior Sports Field while a wake-keep to be coordinated by the Methodist Church will take place at the same venue by 4.pm. There will also be an interdenominational service on Friday, November 9 by 11.00am to be followed by a private family interment.

Solarin

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

News

Wednesday, October 24, 2012

Terrorism: Ashafa lied over denial of link with Al-Qaeda –SSS ISE-OLUWA IGE

he State Security Service (SSS) yesterday told a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja that Mr. Mohammed Ashafa, standing trial in connection with terrorism charge lied over his claims that he neither had any link with the AlQaeda terrorist group nor confessed his involvement in terrorism.

Two operatives of the SSS, Ibrahim Mohammed and Hafsat Bawa, who mounted the witness box yesterday to give evidence in the on-going trial within trial over Ashafa’s denial said he not only confessed his involvement in terrorism to them, but also voluntarily made statement to the effect that he signed and thumbprinted in their presence. The SSS told the court that Ashafa was a security risk given his antecedent.

Sagamu-Ore tragedy: NEMA

recovers five more bodies FEMI OYEWESO ABEOKUTA

he National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), yesterday evacuated another batch of five corpses of the victims of a 36-seater passenger bus which plunged into Omu River along the Sagamu-Ore-Benin Expressway last Friday. NEMA’s Public Relations Officer in the SouthWest, Mr. Ibrahim Farinloye, said all the five bodies were discovered following continued rescue operation at the scene of the accident. Farinloye further told journalists in Abeokuta, that the five corpses recovered, in addition to the one recovered on Sunday, bring to 21, the total number of bodies recovered so far. He said one of the survivors, Madam Christiana Umwena, who is still recu-

perating at an hospital in Ore, Ondo State, revealed that 21 people were on board the Hyundai 36-seater Federal Mass Transit bus, marked ABUJA 428 XA, which plunged into the river as against the earlier media reports. Farinloye also said that families of the victims have been collecting the remains of their relations earlier deposited at the Ijebu-Ode General Hospital. It will be recalled that the victims were travelling to Benin, Edo State from Lagos for a burial ceremony before the incident occurred. Three out of the 21 passengers, including a pregnant woman survived the accident. Men of the Federal Road Safety Corps, NEMA, Red Cross and other humanitarian agencies on Sunday recovered 12 bodies.

Alliance against PDP, sign of weakness –Oyinlola OBIORA IFOH ABUJA

he Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has described the alliance by the opposition in the country as a gang up, a development which has further exposed their weaknesses and an indication that opposition parties cannot stand on their own and win election. The party also said that the lesson it learnt from the just concluded governorship election in Ondo State, where the Labour Party won, is that the PDP should go and do an appraisal on where it has missed it and continued to work hard enough to convince the people of the state or any other state it would contest an election, so that it can do better.

The party said that it has not lost control of its members, against the backdrop of the action of the lawmakers where they opposed President Goodluck Jonathan on the $75 benchmark during the 2013 budget presentation to the joint session of the National Assembly, where the party controls majority of the members. Briefing correspondents at the party national secretariat in Abuja, the National Secretary of the party, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, said the PDP is not threatened by the ganging up by parties as championed by Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) and the All Nigerian Peoples Party (ANPP). According to him, “In

Specifically, the SSS yesterday told the court that as far back as 2006, he was detained over alleged involvement in terrorism but was admitted to bail only to be picked up after following intelligence reports that he was recruiting young Nigerians for terrorism training abroad. Ashafa is suspected to be the leader of Al-Queda terrorist group in Nigeria. He had earlier appeared severally before Justice Binta Murtala Nyarko, over terrorism charge before the judge was transferred to Lagos. Ashafa, in 2006, had claimed that he could not speak English and his trial suffered a couple of times. But, it later emerged that Ashafa not only understands English but could also express himself sufficiently in

the language. Justice Adamu Bello, the current presiding judge had ordered a trial-within-trial when the suspect alleged that the operatives of the SSS obtained his statement confessing involvement in terrorism from him under duress. At the resumed hearing of the case yesterday, Mohammed, a prosecution witness told the court that Ashafa was a liar. He said the Assistant Director in the Department of Operations, had instructed him to record the accused person’s statement on March 30, 2006. He said the assistant director had informed him that the accused person was prepared to give a voluntary statement. Bawa, the second prosecution witness, however,

said that she was privy to the transaction between Mohammed and the accused person. She explained that the accused person was treated with a measure of respect because “we were taught to regard all suspects as innocent. “The narration the accused person gave in Hausa were what my colleague, Mohammed recorded because he (Mohammed) is proficient in both Hausa and English languages. “It was the accused person who told Mohammed about how he (Asafa) arranged some people for trips to Niger Republic for terrorism training,” she said. Asafa was arrested in August, 2005, over alleged membership of the international terrorist group. The SSS earlier told the court that the Chief of Al-

Queda for West Africa, Adnan Ibrahim, based in Kano, bankrolled the training of Asafa. The SSS said the accused person was linked to the delivery of a good number of Nigerians to be trained as terrorists by the group in the Sahel region. According to the SSS, the accused joined the group with a clear motive of carrying out attacks in Nigeria and other parts of Africa. It will be recalled that Asafa lost his bail on August 15, 2011 over allegation of mentoring some members of the Boko Haram sect at the premises of the National Mosque, Abuja. The matter was adjourned to November 19, for the continuation of the trialwithin-trial as the accused person would enter the witness box to give evidence.

Cross section of Batch 3 officers of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) and Kick Against Indiscipline (KAI) at the induction parade of the ongoing Career Evaluation Training Programme for Law Enforcement Officers at the Public Service Staff Development Centre, Magodo, Lagos, yesterday.

those days when NPN and NPP where closing ranks, it was called accord, when the UPN and GNPP were merging they called it ganging up. Honestly speaking, ganging up is an indication of some weaknesses. Why can’t a party stand on its own and contest election if you are sure that you will be acceptable to the people, you don’t need to gang up. Prince Oyinlola said that PDP is not at cross purposes over the outcome of the Ondo governorship election. But when it was pointed out to him that the Ondo chapter of the party said it would go to court over the outcome of the election, he said congratulating the winner of the election is a civilize thing to do, and that the national leadership of the party is still waiting to get a detail feedback from the observers they sent out to monitor the election.

Tambuwal, Ojo Maduekwe to grace FRSC lecture OLUSEGUN KOIKI

he Speaker of the House or Representatives, Hon. Aminu Tambuwal and the Nigerian High Commissioner to Canada, Ambassador Ojo Maduekwe, are among the dignitaries that will grace this year’s edition of the annual lecture series of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) slated for Abuja, next week. An on-line statement signed by the Deputy Public Education Officer, FRSC, Mr. Bisi Kazeem, said the purpose of the annual lecture, which is in its fourth edition, was to further renew its determination to entrench safer road use in Nigeria. Kazeem said the 2012 edition would be geared towards stimulating public discourse

and action on safer transportation as a core element for actualising the transformation agenda with the theme: Safe and Sustainable Transportation: Lessons For Nigeria.” slated for November 1, 2012. The statement said that Tambuwal would be special guest while Ojo Maduekwe would act as the chairman of the occasion. The statement read in part: “This year’s edition, which is the fourth in the series will strive to leverage on the outcomes from the 2010 and last year’s version of the FRSC annual lecture to further advocate for increased public consciousness on safer transport modes in the country. The event will have the President and Chief Executive Officer of the American Association of Motor Vehicle

Association (AAMVA), Neil Schuster, as guest speaker. “Dedicated to reducing road crashes and fatalities and working with a number of other safety law enforcement and motor carrier partners, the American Association of Motor Vehicle Association helps agencies in 69 jurisdictions in the United States of America and Canada to develop best practices to improve road safety and ensure the security and accuracy of driver’s licence and other identification credentials and reduce motor vehicle title fraud.” It will be recalled that FRSC had the inaugural edition in 2009 with the last edition focused on, “Achieving the Decade of Action on Road Safety 2011-2020, Integrating Road Safety into National Development.”

South West

Wednesday, October 24, 2012

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Lagos seizes 3,000 motorcycles in one week Okada rider dies, police deny killing

MURITALA AYINLA

bout 3,000 motorcycles have been seized in Lagos State in the last one week in the ongoing enforcement of the traffic law in the state. Our correspondent noted that the office of the Lagos State Task Force on Environmental and Special Offences (Enforcement) was filled with the impounded commercial motorcycles, popularly called Okada. The motorcycles were seized by the police and later dumped at the task force yard at Alausa. It was learnt that the seizure of the motorcycles may not be unconnected with the matching order given by the Inspector. General of Police, Muhammed Abubakar, to begin the enforcement of the law on Okada riders on the 475 prohibited routes in the Lagos metropolis. It was observed that trailers, trucks, pick-up

vans, and carrying seized motorcycles lined up for their turns to offload the impounded motorcycles at the dumping grounds. A policeman, who did not want his name mentioned, told our correspondent that yesterday alone, over 1,000 seized motorcycles were brought to the task force office, saying that more were still coming. Meanwhile, the state Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Ade Ipaye, said the masterminds of the attacks on BRT buses would be prosecuted under the criminal law. “There are criminal laws in the country, they can’t just vandalise vehicles. It is a criminal offence. Once we ascertain that the culprits have been arrested; those arrested will be charged to court,” he told our correspondent. However, the enforcement of the traffic law yesterday recorded a casualty as a commercial motorcyclist was allegedly shot

and killed by policemen. Another motorcycle rider was injured as the enforcement of the ban on the operations of the motorcyclists on some routes in the state continued to meet resistance and protests. It was learnt that the rider was killed by policemen attached to the Alakuko Police Station on the outskirts of the Lagos metropolis, while the second one was injured at Pen Cinema, when a patrol van knocked him down.

The motorcyclist was said to have been killed at Kollington Bus Stop on the Lagos - Abeokuta Expressway. He was allegedly shot by policemen enforcing the ban on the operations of Okada when he refused to stop after being flagged down. After the shooting, commercial motorcyclists were said to have taken to the streets, destroying properties, especially government-owned. They also threatened to set the Alakuko Police Station ablaze. At Pen Cinema, it was

gathered that policemen attached to the Rapid Response Squad, RRS, in an attempt to apprehend the motorcyclist and confiscate his motorcycle, knocked him down with their vehicle. The motorcyclist was taken to the Pen Cinema Police Station by his colleagues, who demanded that the police paid for his medical bill. But a source said the policemen hit the man with their baton. “He was stopped by the police around LASU Museum. He was hit with a baton by the police while

on speed. He fainted immediately and lost consciousness. I doubt if he will survive, because he was motionless and was conveyed in a cart,” the source said. However, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Ngozi Braide, refuted the claim that policemen shot and killed a commercial motorcyclist. According to her, the policemen were on routine patrol when the said Okada rider suddenly sighted them and in a desperate move to escape, fell into a ditch but still managed to escape arrest.

Alaafin flays police over support for traditional chief KEMI OLAITAN IBADAN

he Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi III, yesterday berated the Oyo State Police Command for allegedly aiding and abetting criminality by providing security cover for an Oyo chief, Alhaji Ganiyu Ajiboye, who had earlier been charged to court on an alleged criminal offence and granted bail. The monarch, who spoke in his palace while hosting the state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Mbu Joseph Mbu, said the police in Oyo town provided security for the baale, who paraded himself as an oba during the last Muslim festival, thus encouraging him to further commit the offence for which he was arraigned, charged and granted bail. Ajiboye, who was installed as baale of Ago Oja in Oyo town by the immediate past administration, and whose title a high court had declared as nonexistent in the Oyo State Chiefs Law, was recently

charged before an Iyaganku Magistrate’s Court for violating a perpetual high court order restraining him from further parading himself as an oba. Adeyemi described the police action as a manifestation of ineptitude and crass violation of what they stand for, as well as an act capable of undermining the sincerity of the force in the enforcement of law and order. The monarch said the baale of Ago Oja ought to have been re-arrested for committing the same offence he was charged with, but instead, the police gave him cover. He said: “How somebody, who has been charged to court for an offence and was granted bail, could now be provided police escort to commit the same offence for which he was on bail? “If the police are aiding and abetting criminality, people will not respect them. Such an action could lead to breakdown of law and order. We are ever ready in Oyo to give support and cooperation to the police.”

L- R: Moderator, Mr. Fubara Anga; Head of EU Delegation and ECOWAS Ambassador, Dr. David MacRae; Ogun State Governor Ibikunle Amosun; Chairman of the panel, Mr. Foluso Phillips and Director-General, Trade, EU Commission, Mrs. Marta Middlebro, at the first European – Nigerian Business Forum in Lagos, yesterday.

We’ll challenge Mimiko’s victory in court –PDP HAKEEM GBADAMOSI AKURE

he Ondo State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, said yesterday that it would approach the Election Petitions Tribunal to challenge the results of the governorship election in the state. The state PDP Publicity Secretary, Wale Ozogoro, disclosed this in a statement. Ozogoro said compila-

tion and collating of report were ongoing across the state after which the party would go to the tribunal. He said there was need to study the result released by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, on Sunday with a view to pursuing justice through the appropriate quarter. The publicity secretary frowned at the attitude of some leaders of the party over the congratulatory vis-

its to Governor Olusegun Mimiko over the election. He said: “The party has noticed misapplication of electoral guidelines in the gubernatorial election. We are indeed convinced that justice will be achieved as we intend to seek same at the appropriate time. “However, the party is not taken aback as to the comments of a few individuals who feel that the party should not approach tribunal to seek redress.

“We want to put it on record that seeking justice at the appropriate quarter is part of the rule of law, which is the bedrock of democratic ethos. “We therefore, want to avail ourselves of every available option under the law to seek justice and rekindle the hope and aspiration of all Ondo people that democracy built on fairness, equity, and justice can truly be achieved.”

Fashola lifts restriction on movement during sanitation MURITALA AYINLA

he administration of Governor Babatunde Fashola has lifted the order restricting movement of people during this month’s environmental sanitation exercise on Saturday. The move, according to the Lagos State government, is to allow free

movement of people and allow those who may wish to travel for the Eid-elKabir easy access. The Commissioner for the Environment, Tunji Bello, who disclosed this, said it was to ensure a hitchfree Sallah celebration. He said: “According to the popular saying, ‘cleanliness is next to godliness.’ We cannot but encourage cleanliness in all aspects

of human endeavour and therefore enjoin all and sundry to ensure that the festival is celebrated in the cleanliest environment possible.” Bello, therefore, urged the Lagos residents to still clean their homes and immediate environment, irrespective of the lifting of the restriction order. Wishing Muslim faithful a happy celebration, the

commissioner admonished Lagosians to bag their refuse properly for easy collection and disposal at designated dumpsites by the Lagos State Waste Management Authority, LAWMA, and PSP Operators. Bello also assured that LAWMA would deploy men and equipment to ensure quick evacuation of waste generated during the festive period.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

South West

Wednesday, October 24, 2012

Gunmen kidnap lawmaker’s mother FEMI OYEWESO ABEOKUTA

he security threat sweeping across Ogun State yesterday assumed a new dimension as gunmen numbering about six kidnapped the mother of a federal lawmaker representing Ijebu North, Ijebu East and Ogun Waterside Federal Constituency on the platform of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in the House of Representatives, Hon. Abiodun Abudu Balogun. Alhaja Obedatu Abudu Balogun was said to have been abducted from her residence at Ita-Otu in Ijebu Waterside Local Government Area of the state by gunmen at about 9.30pm. The abduction of the lawmaker’s mother came barely 24 hours after a 15man armed robbery gang invaded the state where they killed five policemen with several others sustaining varying degree of injuries. As at the time of filing this report, the 49-year old lawmaker, who is also the Deputy Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Internal Security, could not be located.

But, he has reacted to the kidnap of his mother. Hon. Balogun, confirmed the kidnap, describing the incident as too painful to bear. Balogun said what himself and the members of the family needed was prayer as to how the woman would return safely. When contacted, the state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Muyiwa Adejobi, said his command was yet to be informed about the kidnap. Adejobi assured that the police would surely move into action immediately details about the kidnap were received. Meanwhile, the state police command has also said that one of the suspects arrested in connection with the armed robbery incident which claimed lives of five of its officers was already cooperating with the command in their investigation. Adejobi, who said the investigation was on top gear added that the command would not hesitate to release the Honda Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV) recovered from the scene of the robbery attack to its owner if such comes out to claim it.

Nurses’ strike paralyses Ogun hospitals FEMI OYEWESO ABEOKUTA

ctivities at the state hospitals and other Primary Health Care centres (PHCs) across Ogun State were yesterday paralysed following the three-day warning strike embarked upon by nurses in the employment of the state which entered its second day yesterday. The nurses, under the auspices of the National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives (NANNW), which cut across the state Hospital Management Board, the Health Ministry and Local Government Areas, were demanding for improved manpower in the state health sector which they wanted the government to address. In most of the hospitals monitored yesterday, particularly at the State Hospital, Ijaye, Abeokuta South Local Government Primary Heath Centre at OPIC, OkeIlewo, Olikoye Ransome Kuti

Memorial Hospital, Asero, Oba Ademola Hospital, Ijemo, all within Abeokuta metropolis, National Mirror observed that many patients were stranded at the hospitals without anybody to attend to them. Aside from the Out Patient Departments (OPDs) that were deserted, all patients on admission at the hospitals also complained of absence of health workers to attend to their needs. One of the patients who spoke with National Mirror at the hospital, Michael Oke, an official of the state Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Agency (TRACE), who was at the hospital for the treatment of injuries sustained during an accident, lamented the strike and said he would have no option than to wait till the strike was over. The strike action also grossly affected the services of medical doctors whose services rely heavily on the primary services of the nurses.

Ekiti State Deputy Governor, Mrs. Funmi Olayinka (left) and Chief Medical Director, Federal Medical Centre, Ido-Ekiti, during a visit to the deputy governor in Ado-Ekiti, yesterday.

Doctors urge N’Assembly to expedite action on drug bills ABIODUN NEJO ADO EKITI

he National Assembly has been urged to expedite action on the various bills aimed at regulating prescription of over the counter drugs before it. Chairman of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) in Ekiti State, Dr. Obitade Obimakinde, lamented that indiscriminate use of drugs and over the counter drugs were endangering the health of the people. Obimakinde, who spoke at the opening of the NMA Physicians’ Week 2012 in Ado-Ekiti yesterday, described drug abuse as a serious malaise in the country. He said many of the drugs being sold over the counter have side effects.

According to him, the NMA at the national level has presented many bills before the National Assembly to curb the trend, which he said the timely passage of the bills would help to sanitise the system. His words: “It (drug abuse/across counter drugs) is a serious malaise in the country. It is regrettable that people now hawk drugs on the streets. People should get doctor’s prescription before approaching any chemist for drugs.” State governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, pleaded with doctors to always treat their patients with utmost patience, saying that the state government was not pleased with the negative comments from members of the public against doctors and other medical workers.

Police arrest, detain The Sun correspondent WALE FOLARIN OSOGBO

sun State Correspondent of The Sun Newspaper, Bamigbola Gbolagunte, was on Monday arrested by men of the state police command, who were said to be acting on the orders of the state Police Commissioner, Mrs Khalafite Adeyemi. He was detained for several hours at the State Criminal Investigations Department (SCID) over a report captioned; “Police Officer found dead after Osun Students’ riot” published in his newspaper on Friday,

October 19, 2012. Bamigbola was arrested at the secretariat of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Correspondents’ Chapel, along Fagbewesa Street, Osogbo, by three plain-clothed policemen at about 4.00 pm and taken to the SCID where he was asked to append his signature on a detention form and later locked up in the cell. He was later released on bail following the intervention of the state Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr Sunday Akere and the Special Adviser to the Governor on Security.

Nestle to launch WET project in Lagos SAM OLUWALANA

estlé, one of the leading nutrition, health and wellness company in the country, is set to launch Project WET (Water Education for Teachers) in Nigeria. The programme will hold on Friday, October 30, 2012 at The Event Place, Plot CDE Industrial Crescent, Ilupeju-Lagos. According to a release signed by the Corporate Communications and Public Affairs Manager of the company, Dr Samuel Adenekan, the project is aimed at facilitating and promoting awareness, appreciation,

knowledge and stewardship of water resources through the development and dissemination of classroom-ready teaching aids. Project WET is a collection of innovative waterrelated activities that are hands-on and easy to use. It focuses on peoples’ relationship to water throughout their lives. The launch ceremony will be heralded by a “Train-the-trainer workshop” under the theme: Water Conservation and Healthy Hydration. The workshop will be facilitated by the Senior Vice-President of Project WET from USA, Mr. John Etgen.”

Pa Daramola for burial Nov 30 at Ise-Ekiti

he remains of late Overseer Joshua Idowu Daramola, a devout member of The Apostolic Church (TAC), who died on August 20, 2012 at the age of 93, will be buried in his country home, Ise –Ekiti, Ekiti State on November 30, 2012, Until his death, Overseer Daramola was a professional carpenter, a reputable timber contractor and a saw miller in both Ekiti and Ondo States respectively. He was a pillar behind the establishment of many of The Apostolic Church branches in many areas of Ondo and States, One of the latest he established was that of Ogbese in Ondo State, where he passed on to glory. Late Daramola’s corpse will leave the State Hospital, Akure, on November 29, 2012 for a Christian wake keep at his Iro-Odo, Ise-Ekiti resi-

Pa Daramola

dence , while internment will hold on November 30 at the same venue. The late timber contractor, who was fondly called “Baba Ise” spent most of his time planting churches and overseeing the flock. He also gave free accommodation to ministers of God and was generous to family members and all that he came across during his life time. Overseer Daramola left behind, his wife, Deaconess Mary Daramola, many children and grand children.

South East

Wednesday, October 24, 2012

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Imo flood victims return to submerged homes LG chairmen donate N3m drugs in Anambra

CHRIS NJOKU AND CHARLES OKEKE

ome victims of flood disaster in Ohaji Egbema and Oguta local government areas of Imo State have decided to return to their homes despite the possible outbreak of epidemic from water borne diseases. This followed the failure of the state government to provide temporary camps for the victims in the local government areas. A visit to Oguta Local

Government at the weekend showed that some of the displaced people have commenced repairs of their homes in areas where the flood has receded. But observers said they risked beiegn submerged with the slightest rainfall, adding that the displaced people ought to have been provided with temporary sites while the reconstruction of their submerged houses should take a gradual step. Some of the victims told our correspondent that they were tired of

waiting endlessly for the government to provide them with temporary camps that was why they decided to return to their homes to salvage whatever was left. “We have waited endlessly to no avail and the government doesn’t seem to be coming to our rescue,” one of the victims, Mrs. Chinwedu Ogbonna, said. Another victim, Chikezie Okwuksa, expressed disappointment over the whole situation. He said: “We are disappointed with what is hap-

pening to us. They have been collecting money on our behalf and none of it gets to us. Even the relief materials that were brought were diverted by some people who are not affected.” However, when contacted, the member representing Ohaji/Egbema constituency in the state House of Assembly, Hon. Luke Chukwu, said four camps had been approved for the victims by the Assembly. He added that the construction would commence soon in the two local governments. Meanwhile, the 21 coun-

cils in Anambra State yesterday donated drugs worth about N3 million to flood victims taking refuge in designated camps in Otuocha, Onitsha, Ihiala, among others. The essential drugs jointly donated by the transition committee chairmen were received by a member of Anambra State Flood Disaster Relief Committee, Prof. Stella Okunna.

Govt may terminate NMTI contract –Lawmaker NWABUEZE OKONKWO ONITSHA

L-R: Representative of the Speaker of House of Representatives, Mr. Leo Ogor; Chairman, House Committee on Information and National Orientation, Mr. Umar Jibir; Chairman, Senate Committee on Information, Media and Publicity, Sen. Eyinnaya Abaribe and Director-General, National Broadcasting Commission, Mr. Yomi Bolarinwa, at the opening ceremony of Africast 2012 in Abuja, yesterday. PHOTO: NAN

Police arrest kidnappers, rescue cleric, royal father CHRIS NJOKU OWERRI

olice have made a significant breakthrough in the war against crime and criminals in Imo State with the arrest of four suspected kidnappers and two robbers’ informants. Parading the suspects

at the command headquarters, Owerri, the state capital, yesterday, the Commissioner of Police, Mr. Baba Adisa Bolanta, said the suspected kidnappers were arrested in an underground room in Orodo in Mbatoili Local Government Area. He said his men were able to rescue one Ezeelect, a reverend father

and a 72-year-old man from the kidnappers’ den. Bolanta said the kidnappers abducted the traditional ruler-elect of Owerre Nkworji in Nkwere council, Nelson Orisakwe, and his 72-year-old cousin, Sir Godwin Orisakwe, on their way to court in Owerri. He disclosed that the suspects drove their vic-

tims in their Mercedes Benz saloon car, after blindfolding them and intercepted another Toyota RAV4 Sport Utility Vehicle, SUV, and kidnapped the driver who happened to be the Rev. Father in charge of St. Anthony Catholic Church in Uloano in Isu council, Fr. Faustinus Ibewuike.

Streamline private schools’ operations, NUT tells Ebonyi

he Ebonyi State chapter of the Nigerian Union of Teachers, NUT, has called on the state government to standardise the operations of private schools in the state. The state NUT Chairman, Mr. Joseph Nweke, told the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, in Abakaliki yesterday that government should streamline operations of private schools to comply with the minimum

best standard. According to him, private schools play crucial role in the development of education in the state hence their operations and control should be streamlined through an enabling law. Nweke said a good number of the private schools in the state lacked the necessary infrastructure to function as schools and that most of them used unqualified teaching staff

to run their academic programmes. He said: “Some of these private schools operate in shanties and make-shift structures. They lack educational facilities such as libraries, conducive classroom blocks, and administrative blocks, among others. “A good number of the schools use non-professionals to teach.’’ Nweke said the use of unqualified teachers for

teaching and learning was capable of undermining qualitative and functional education in the state. “A visit to most of these schools shows that they lack the infrastructure needed for academic activities. “Most worrisome is that only a few of the schools can boast of teachers with the Nigeria Certificate in Education, NCE, or bachelor degrees in education,” he said.

The drugs included pain relievers, multivitamins, antibiotics, and cough syrups. Speaking at the event, which took place at the Government House, Awka, the Chairman of Njikoka Local Government Transition Committee, Chief Daza Udeozor, who spoke on behalf of his colleagues, said the donation was to meet the health needs of the victims.

he contract for the school auditorium project and workshop at the National Metallurgical Training Institute, NMTI, Onitsha, Anambra State, may be terminated if the contractor fails to complete it on schedule. The lawmaker representing Anambra East and West Constituency in the National Assembly, Hon. Kris Kato Ameke, gave the warning yesterday while inspecting some ongoing projects at the permanent site of the institute in Onitsha, as part of the legislature’s oversight function. He said the National Assembly would not tolerate a situation where projects were delayed even when the Federal Government had released enough funds. Ameke, who is the vicechairman, House of Rep-

resentatives Committee on Mines and Steel Development, directed the Director of the institute, Mr. Joseph Ajamolaye, and the Chairman of Jimbaz West Africa Limited, the firm handling the project, Dr. Celestine Mbaezue, to submit a detailed report of the contract for onward transmission to the National Assembly. The lawmaker, however, expressed joy at the completion of the school library which he described as magnificent. He said the importance of completing old projects could not be over-emphasised as it would allow the initiation and execution of new contracts in the institute. Ameke disclosed that the institute was strategic to steel and industrial development of the country. He also reiterated the desire of the committee to assist the institute in its quest for expansion.

Court orders SSS, police to investigate traditional ruler’s abduction K AYODE KETEFE

Federal High Court in Lagos yesterday ordered the Director-General, State Security Service, SSS, Mr, Ita Ekpenyong, and the Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar, to investigate the abduction last year of a royal father in Anambra State, Chief Lawrence Oragwu. Justice Mohammed Idris, who gave the order, also directed the IGP to commission a special unit of the police to commence or take over and conclude the investigation on the abduction of the royal father. Idris also ordered the respondents to transmit to

the court’s registry a typewritten report of their respective investigations “within three months.” The judge entered judgment in favour of the plaintiff against the respondents after he noted that the respondents did not defend the action. The royal father’s son, Mr. Nnamdi Oragwu, a lawyer, had instituted the case to compel the security operatives to investigate his father’s abduction. Chief Oragwu, a retired Deputy Comptroller-General of Customs, was abducted by gunmen on June 2 last year in Agulu, Anaocha Local Government Area, Anambra State, on his way from church with his driver.

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PHCN distribution firms may fall into wrong hands –Uduaghan •Seeks National Assembly’s intervention

elta State Governor, Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan, has solicited the intervention of the National Assembly to checkmate the process adopted by the Federal Government in the sale of the distribution companies of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN), saying they may fall into wrong hands. Dr Uduaghan, who made the call when the House of Representatives Committee on Petroleum Resources (Down Stream) sector, led

South South

Wednesday, October 24, 2012

by its Chairman, Hon. Dakuku Peterside, paid him a courtesy call in Asaba, expressed worry that the companies would go into wrong hands. According to him, a situation where the communities and states directly affected are sidelined does not portend good for the people and certainly would not make for peace in the communities. Besides, the governor said such shoddy process that was fraught with

fraud, was bound to throw up incompetent hands that would not be able to deliver as expected. He said the National Assembly should intervene to ensure that due process was followed taking into cognisance the huge investments of state governments in PHCN. The governor, who said that the privatisation exercise should be done rightly, regretted that what has been done could create more problems for the

country. He appealed to the authorities not to allow politics to take away the essence and need to provide regular power supply to the people, stressing that the need for the roles played by states in the energy sector to be acknowledged and compensated for. Continuing, he said; “State governments play crucial roles in the energy sector, with the provision of transformers, setting up the network of electric lines. Governors are deeply concerned over the power situation and when the chips are down, it is the state governments that communities run to for transformers, among other equipment.”

Dickson tasks HoS on politicisation in service

Police kill two armed robbers in Rivers CHINEDUM EMEANA PORT HARCOURT

wo suspected armed robbers were yesterday killed when their gang engaged men of the Rivers State Police Command in a gun-battle along the Ada-George Road in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital. According to the Deputy Commissioner of Police incharge of Operations, Mr. Joshak Habila, who briefed journalists at the police headquarters in Port Harcourt, the two suspected robbers died from bullet wounds on their way to the hospital while two other members of the gang escaped with

EMMA GBEMUDU YENAGOA

ayelsa State Governor, Seriake Dickson, yesterday tasked the new Head of Service (HoS) in the state civil service, Frazer Okuoru, to address the issues of politicisation among public servants in the state. Dickson said the civil servants were expected to be non-partisan to enable them guide and offer the needed support to the present political leadership in the state by rendering quality service to the people. The governor spoke in Yenagoa shortly after the swearing-in of the new HoS, he urged him to restore the public service to its timetested principles of loyalty, efficiency and anonymity as well as respect for the cardinal rules of the service. He went on: “I don’t want to see political directors, permanent secretaries because it complicates issues; I want to see a virile and well-trained civil service rather than struggling for recognition and political space.” Governor Dickson observed that the appointment of Okuoru was a demonstration of the fact that the career prospects of a civil servant ought not to be dependent on nepotism and favouritism as he urged him to work with the leadership of the service to restore its lost glory. “Okuoru’s appointment was based on seniority as he is the most senior, fit and proper person to head the service at this point in time.”

Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Dr. Chris Oboh, presenting the 2012 NDDC budget proposal to Chairman, Senate Committee on Niger Delta, Senator James Manager, in Abuja, recently.

bullet wounds. The deputy commissioner said a team of policemen on routine monitoring of banks’ premises along the Ada-George Road spotted a dark-coloured Toyota Corolla Salon car with four occupants sitting inside in front of a new generation bank. He added that when the policemen, suspecting that the occupants may be hoodlums, stopped to question the occupants, the driver zoomed off, prompting the police to go after them, which resulted in the gun duel. “Our men, who were on routine monitoring of banks’ premises in Port Harcourt sited a dark Toyota Corolla car in front of a new generation bank along Ada-George Road. The team suspected that the four occupants of the vehicle may be armed robbers.” “So, the policemen stopped their patrol van to find out who the occupant were, only for the driver of the vehicle to zoom off. The police gave a hot chase which resulted in a shoot-out. At the end, two of the suspected armed were fatally wounded while two others escaped”, he said. He said the command is still in search of the fleeing gang members and assured that they will be caught.

Aluu killings: NBA demands prosecution of suspects

CAROLINE CHUKWUKA

he Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Ikeja branch yesterday rose from an emergency meeting and demanded that the trial of the suspects linked with the killings of undergraduates of the University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT) should not be swept under the carpet. Addressing journalists at a press briefing yesterday in Lagos, the first ViceChairman of the associa-

tion, Mr. Adesina Ogunlana, also called on government at all levels to adequately compensate the families of the victims. Adesina, who represented the NBA Chairman, Mr. Monday Ubani, at the briefing lamented the culture of lynching, which he likened to be common to both “irate mobs” and “uniformed killers.” According to him, “It is done not only by “irate mobs” but even by “uniformed killers” particularly by security agencies. “Indeed it is a widespread

culture indeed that indicates the failing of the state; and mass dehumanisation. People and institutions have become generally disconnected from due process resort to self-help is common place in Nigeria, likewise lynching. “Only barbarians and savages will find comfort in lynching and use of terror. Attempting or trying to regulate conduct by force or terror is of the jungle and not of the society. Violence can only bring more violence and in the end, chaos of anarchy.” Speaking on the theme:

“Nigerian’s Hobbesian State of Nature…A Portent of A Coming Tragedy Protocols,” the NBA boss also decried the spate of insecurity in the country. Ubani also said that the country was grossly mismanaged because the generality of Nigerians have allowed it to be so, adding Nigerians must insist on the prosecution of the suspects implicated in the murder of the UNIPORT students. “We have so much allowed our leaders to deal with us anyhow they please. So it is not only that they

have looted our wealth, we have allowed them to demystify us. Otherwise, how can Nigerians kill and maim fellow Nigerians, fellow human beings, openly and for four hours on unproved allegation of stolen laptop and phones? “Life has become so cheap and valueless for us collectively. We need a collective re-orientation, especially from our homes and religious institutions to the effect that life, human life, human rights are too important to be taken or abused or destroyed so lightly”.

Party (PDP) after their negotiation with the ruling party was concluded. National Mirror investigation revealed that there is a pending suit in the Supreme Court challenging the eligibility of Governor Dickson, candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the February 11, 2012 gubernatorial poll by

the CAP flag-bearer. But, in a statement made available to our correspondent yesterday in Yenagoa, by the National Secretary of CAP, Mike Omohimua, said the state acting chairman of the party has been suspended indefinitely from the party for alleged gross misconduct, lukewarm attitude and other allegations levelled against him by the state executive of the party.

My life under threat, says Bayelsa CAP chairman EMMA GBEMUDU YENAGOA

mbattled Acting Chairman of the Bayelsa State chapter of the Change Advocacy Party (CAP), Deme Kolomo, yesterday alleged that his life was under threat after he dissociated himself from the gubernatorial ambition of Dr. Imoro Kubor.

Kolomo alleged that he has been receiving death threats via calls and text messages from anonymous persons since he withdrew his support for Kubor, stressing that he had already reported the matter to the appropriate security agencies. The acting chairman, who spoke yesterday in

Yenagoa, at a press conference, however, said the party was not deterred in any way with its recent decision to withdraw its support for Kubor and back the administration of Governor Seriake Dickson. There are strong indications that Kolobo and some party members may defect to the Peoples Democratic

North

Wednesday, October 24, 2012

Governors behind nation’s education rot –NUC WOLE ADEDEJI ILORIN

xecutive Secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC), Prof. Julius Okojie, has blamed the challenges confronting tertiary education in the country on state governors, saying they don’t fund their institutions. Okojie, who represented President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday at the 28th convocation of the University of Ilorin (UNILORIN), said learning environments in public institutions had been adjudged better than private and state universities. He said: “With much influence of governors, they would want to move state universities to their home towns or that the ViceChancellors do not know the total number of stu-

dents in their institutions. “There is lack of integrity in the system. The issue of part-time programme is another major distraction to the system.” Stressing that what he said was his personal opinion, the NUC secretary added that there was the need for capacity-building in the educational system to encourage research. Okojie, however, expressed worries that 60 per cent of university teaching staff are without PhD. He said: “How can you do research with that? You can’t go to war without a general. You can’t win the war because they form the nucleus of the research.” Prof. Okojie said that research should be done on hitherto neglected traditional crops such as “red yam, Ijebu snake beans, yam from stem, vegetables,

animals like bush rats, African giant rabbit,” adding that research should not only be focused on cassava and maize. He said: “We are richly blessed in this country. All we need to do is to harness our resources.” The NUC secretary advised the graduating students to use their skills to bring about the development and transformation of the country. He said the Federal Government had awarded scholarships to 100 First Class graduates to further their studies, adding that among the beneficiaries was a physically challenged person. UNILORIN Chancellor, the Dein of Agbor Kingdom, Dr. Benjamin Ikenchuku, called on the Federal Government to tackle youth unemployment. He said unemployment

is capable of posing a serious security threat to the nation. The Chancellor, who reminded the graduating students of challenges ahead as they contend for gainful employment after the compulsory National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) , urged them to be good ambassador of their families and the country wherever they find themselves. He advised then to shun despicable acts in a bid to weather the storm of life. The monarch, however, called on well-meaning individuals to support the university, especially in the provision of hostel facilities for students. The university’s ViceChancellor, Prof. Abduganiyu Ambali, advised the graduating students to always exemplify excellence in their dealings.

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FG committed to improved power supply, says Maku JAMES ABRAHAM JOS

igerians have been assured of the government’s commitment to improved power supply. Minister of Information, Mr. Labaran Maku, gave the assurance yesterday in Jos while inspecting the new 132/33 KV sub-station at Bukuru in Jos South Local Government Area of Plateau State. Maku led the Good Governance Team to inspect some of the projects executed in Plateau State. He said: “The determination of President Goodluck Jonathan is never to allow a drop in power supply and to ensure that no power generated is wasted; this is why we are building power stations across the country to provide the necessary infrastructure for the country’s growth.” The minister, who was billed to inspect a similar project in Pankshin later in the day, said with such National Integrated

Power Projects (NIPPs) spread across the country, power supply would improve over time. He said: “Power supply is key in President Goodluck Jonathan’s priority and nothing is being spared to deliver it.” Yesterday’s morning, the Good Governance Team, comprising Maku, his Water Resources counterpart, Mrs. Sarah Ochekpe, and others visited the Technical Incubation Centre in Bukuru, Agricultural Services and Training Centre in Vom, the Vom-Manchok Road and the Police Staff College - all in Jos South and Riyom local government areas of Plateau State. Ochepe, however, praised the Federal Government for constructing the N3.9 billion VomManncok Road, stressing that it would facilitate easy transportation of foods from farms to the market. She advised motorists plying the road to obey traffic laws and not to be carried away by its smoothness.

Gombe signs N2.7bn conference centre contract DANJUMA WILLIAMS GOMBE

T A member of staff of Department of Petroleum Resources, Adamawa Zonal Office, sealing off a filling station on Yola-Numan Road for selling above pump price.

‘Why we haven’t conducted LG poll’ DANJUMA WILLIAMS GOMBE

he Gombe State Government has explained why it is yet to conduct the much awaited local government election. It blamed the delay in conducting the election on the violence perpetrated by the Boko Haram Islamic sect in some parts of the North. The Commissioner for Local Governments and Community Development,

Alhaji Ahmed Walama, spoke during the presentation of vehicles to the newly appointed caretaker chairmen of the 11 local government areas of the state. Walama said: “No date has been fixed for the conduct of the election. We recognise that fixing the date for the election is the responsibility of the Gombe State Independent Electoral Commission (GOSIEC), but Governor Ibrahim Dankwambo is very serious about the con-

duct of the local government election. “The local government election is a very serious issue and it has been in the plan of this administration to hold a credible poll, but the current insecurity confronting the North is a factor we must consider. “We have been very careful about the election issue because it will be easier for hooligans and criminally minded politicians to take advantage of the security situation to cause trouble. Because of

this, therefore, the local government election cannot hold.” He, however, advised the local government chairmen to use the vehicles for the purpose for which they were bought. Speaking on behalf of his colleagues, the Chairman of Gombe Local Government Area, Alhaji Ibrahim Sa’ad Maifata, thanked the governor over the provision of the vehicles, promising that they would be put to judicious use.

he Gombe State Government has signed a N2.7 billion contract for the construction of an International Conference Centre. The Centre is to be built in Gombe city, the state capital. The State Commissioner of Housing and Transport, Hon. Robinson Wasa, told National Mirror that the project would be executed in 30 months. The International Conference Centre, which will have a standard restaurant, conference hall and many other facilities, is expected to complement the Five Star Hotel in Gombe by hosting

international meetings, conferences, workshops, seminars and other events. The contract, awarded to an Italian construction giant, Vido Limited, is also expected to serve the North-East and the nation in general owing to the relative peace in Gombe State. The commissioner, however, said the construction of 5,000 housing units promised by Governor Ibrahim Dankwambo would soon takeoff as the government had begun negotiation with private companies over the project. He added that the new office of the Secretary to the State Government (SSG) would be completed soon.

Wednesday, October 24, 2012

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Politics

Sloganeering, mudslinging and maximum security E lection reporting has its different dimensions. The pre-election, actual election and post-election activities have their peculiar significance to all persons – politician, news reporter and others. Hence, every facet of the coverage of the Ondo State governorship election and its peculiarities will go down in the annals of history as an eventful one. From the outset, many people looked forward to the election with trepidation, not just because of the location of the state in the South-West surrounded by states which strongly believe in regional integration, but also for the historical volatility of this state, especially as far as election violence is concerned. Hence, security was uppermost in the mind of both electorate and the contenders in the just-concluded Ondo State governorship election.

Sloganeering In the build up to the election, the slogan of each of the parties rented the air, even up till Friday night. To the Action Congress, it was Gbaa da nu (Sweep him away), and the broom revolution was presumed to have the effect of a cyclone, going by its success in other states of the South-West. But the Labour Party’s catch phrase Gba si be ko ma loo be (receive the mandate for continuity), captured many people’s fancy. Indeed, at some point, the slogan metamorphose to gba si be ko ma rotate. Unlike the other two parties, the Peoples Democratic party built its catch phrase around

he journey from Lagos to Ondo State was smooth and enjoyable, thanks to the arguments between my cotravellers who are political sympathisers. At Seven Up junction, an official of the Lagos State Traffic Management Agency (LASTMA), jokingly asked the driver if he will vote for Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), the driver said he was only praying for the right candidate to win. From this point, an ACN member in the bus, Mr. Adedayo Adeyokun, who claimed to have visited all the local governments in Ondo State and discovered that the state needs a change took over the arguments, a Labour Party (LP) supporter challenged him and the whole bus became rowdy till when we chose a moderator.

its candidate with the expression ‘Oke gbee mi,’ (Oke swallow him). It was not unusual for PDP youths to shout ‘Iroko kekeke, Oke gbemi. (Oke -hill- should swallow tiny Ikoko trees). But the LP youths were undone. They later came up with such phrases as ‘a thousand brooms cannot uproot an Iroko tree.”

Mudslinging At the close of the campaign, each of the candidates resorted to mudslinging to de-market one another. While one referred to the government of tampering with local government funds and using youth development centres as drain pipes to siphon government funds, the incumbent fought back. In some handbills bearing the caricature of either candidate of the ACN, the PDP and their godfathers, such expression as Ubeeripato, (where a N1.5bn phantom contract was awarded) and from Iragbiji to Lagos, with a picture of a diminutive eyo masquerade were freely distributed on the streets in the state. An ACN leader’s reply attempting to trace the roots of the LP candidate to Kogi State was like a feeble jab in this regard. On Election Day, my phone rang on many occasions. In each case, a party member is accusing another of massive rigging. While one of them informed of unproven rigging at Odigbo, another mentioned ballot box stuffing at the house of a Lagos-based managing director of an advertising company. The alleged activity carried out at Ute in Ose Local

BIYI ADEGOROYE

AKURE

Government was said to have been brought to the attention of the police.

Cash movement Politicians are deft at mobilising the electorate beyond the rallies and campaigns. They proceeded to moving and distributing cash to induce the potential voters. This is called mobilisation. Unit leaders, ward leaders, local government leaders as well as leaders at the state level were at the vanguard of this. Homes and campaign offices of the candidates became like cash centres where various sums were doled out. In two instances when this reporter called to see the DirectorGeneral of one of the candidates, bundles of Naira notes marked for specific wards and units littered the floor. A young graduate who works as a unit leader received about N3 million on behalf of electorate within his unit – whether the money cascaded to the intended target is another kettle of fish as his party lost the local government. In another instance, one of the parties distributed bags of rice, China wares and plastic buckets

to intending voters days before the elections. There were so-called mobilisation meetings where soft drinks and small bags of Semovita were freely distributed. The unlawful, clandestine cash movement and inducement was further confirmed in Ondo West Local Government where two members of a political party were arrested with cash and a list of beneficiaries at one of the polling units.

Security With the initial apprehension and visit of the INEC Chairman and the Inspector-General of Police, Prof. Attahiru Jega and Mohammed Abubakar respectively, no one was left in doubt as to the top security arrangement for the election. True to the pledge of President Goodluck Jonathan on security, soldiers were deployed along with aerial surveillance by military helicopters. On Election Day, my repeated driving through the streets of Akure and Owo, as well as having to open my boot and burnet for security checks more than 40 times throughout Saturday until the early hours of Sunday left me fagged out. Scores of gun-wielding soldiers frisked me and the car in search of exhibits. One point which should not be taken away from the soldiers was their politeness. They remind me of one of those major issues we learnt in Strategic Studies - CivilMilitary Relations. No element of incivility to civilians was found in them, something our policemen are yet to practice.

“If you raise that camera, I will break it” I got to Akure by 2p.m. What intimidated me first was the presence of stern looking security operatives from the various military and para-military security agencies and the police, at the major streets, prompting me to ask if I was in the right place. On Friday, at the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) office, the security was more different, before gaining entrance you must have been cleared and searched. I met members of the NYSC who were complaining of not being paid their training allowances, some were afraid of going to the waterside of the state while others said they were not interested in the exercise again. After col-

lecting my accreditation, I went through the Akure town, trying to get photographs of security situation and how people were reacting to the situation. I was assigned to Owo, on the Election Day. The security became more serious and this made many people, who have been expressing fear over violence, to stay indoor until when they saw electoral officials coming out. Getting out of Akure was interesting; there was no way an unauthorised person would have moved out because we were searched at virtually all checkpoints. Photographing soldiers was very difficult; it was not just allowed. However, a photojournal-

ADEMOLA OAKINLABI

ROVING CAMERA

ist will always snap. At Emure junction, we were stopped by four unfriendly soldiers while another six positioned themselves at different points. A photojournalist, Idowu Ogunleye of the PM News was trying to snap a lady soldier, before he could do that, another soldier came in and warned “if you raise that

One of the soldiers, a team leader I supposed, stopped me just before Owo, and said: “Good morning sir. My name is Adams, what is yours?” When I answered, presented my ID card and INEC election on-duty sticker, he added, “If you don’t mind, please come down for a search of your vehicle and your person.” When he was done, he said: “thank you sir,” and to his men, he said:” Gentlemen, on board,” and they jumped into their vehicle and sped off. Besides manning the roads, soldiers and policemen maintained peace at each polling unit, especially in the metropolis, making election malpractices a near suicidal attempt. But some have argued that not so could be said in the rural areas.

Last line In many cases, logistic issues bared their fang in Akure. INEC officials did not arrive until 11a.m., and some of them, especially the NYSC members had to travel by themselves to their polling units. The dangers of these are enormous. Though the streets were virtually empty, except for the ubiquitous presence of the security agents, the fuel scarcity and closure of shops made feeding a herculean task to the reporter. It also entailed working till the wee hours, as INEC collated the results for announcement. It was an experience with its own peculiarities when compared with the 1993, 1999, 2003 and the 2011 elections which I was also privileged to cover. camera up I will break it.” At Owo, the electorate came out massively to vote, very friendly and peaceful atmosphere where indigenes offered one assistance or the other, a frail-looking septuagenarian came to vote and she told me that it is a civic duty which she must perform. Some old women were not enlightened enough to know where to thumb print while the party agents agreed to render help. After the voting I went back to Akure with the same security on the road. On Sunday while coming from INEC office after the results had been released, a soldier asked: “Oga dey never finish, I beg we want comot this place.” Indeed, it is a worthwhile experience taking photographs in Ondo election.

Politics

he delay by the Independent National Election Commission (INEC) to release accreditation tags to journalists on the eve of the election dragged the take-off time from Akure in Ondo Central Senatorial District to Ondo South Senatorial District. Specifically, the about one and half hours journey from Akure, the Ondo State capital, to Okitipupa took over four hours that Friday, no thanks to the several military and police barricades on the way, checking of vehicles and unnecessary delays. It was, however, a different ball game at the entrance to Okitipupa at about 7p.m. on Friday as the military men barred vehicles from accessing the town, threatening to shoot at any errant motorist. Motorists were quick to make detours on the road in view of the shoot-at-sight order given to the soldiers. However, the accreditation tags and identity cards saved the day for journalists and others on election duty who could summon the courage to get to the soldiers’ totting guns. There was heavy military presence in Okitipupa in terms of patrol and barricades, but the beauty of it was that some resi-

will not pretend to know why Ondo State has been tagged “Sunshine State” but this slogan aptly mirrored one of the first impressions I had on my arrival at the state capital, Akure on the evening of Thursday, October 18, after a tiring journey from Lagos. The journey was supposed to last about four hours according to the information available to me but it eventually took almost six hours to get to my destination. To add insult to injury, the sun showed no signs of letting up, thereby aggravating my discomfort. Fortunately, National Mirror’s regional office at Arakale was just by the roadside, so my colleague and I thankfully made our way into the building despite being almost two hours behind schedule. We got down to work immediately and were assigned to the different areas we were meant to monitor on Election Day. This was my first visit to Akure and my mission, alongside a number of my colleagues, was to cover the Ondo State governorship election that was held on Saturday, October 20. It was also going to be the first time I would be doing such in my capacity as a journalist and a part of me nursed anxious thoughts hovering around the likely incidents that could occur during the course of the election. However, the unmistakable presence of security men who

Wednesday, October 24, 2012

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Prosecuting election like war

dents, particularly members of the three leading political parties, Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Labour Party (LP) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) could gather in small groups at beer and pepper soup joints, hoping for their party’s victory in the following day’s election. That night, the Caretaker Committee Chairman of Okitipupa Local Government, Mr. Wale Ogunmade, assured journalists at his Ode Aye hometown that the election would be peaceful, free and fair in view of the security arrangement in place as he boasted that his LP would garner over 70 per cent of the votes cast in the area. In Okitipupa and Ilaje council areas, the election day came peacefully as other days. While polling officers and election materials arrived on time in most polling units in Okitipupa council, there was late arrival in most units at Ilaje council. Polling officers were even absent at Ugbo 1 in the Ilaje council area. Some electorate in the two council areas trooped out for the accreditation and stayed back in the scorching sun that was the

hallmark of the day in the areas to cast their ballots at the appointed time and as well conducted themselves peacefully. At Idepe Okitipupa, Ikoya, Ilutitun, Iju Odo, Igbotako, Igbodigo, Ayeka and Igodan Lisa in the Okitipupa council area, the voters expressed gladness to perform the civic responsibility. ACN deputy governorship candidate, Dr. Paul Akintelure, and the senator representing Ondo South in the National Assembly and LP chieftain, Senator Bolu Kunlere, voted at Igbotako. The voters at Igbokoda, Mahin, Ugbo, Ugbonla and Ilowo also expressed joy to cast their votes for the candidate they wanted to emerge as the next governor of the state. The PDP governorship candidate, Chief Olusola Oke, who voted at Ilowo in the Ilaje council area said the pre-election activities of the security agencies were impressive, but lamented that it would have been interesting if there were adequate security at all polling booths in the riverine area. Movement from one place to the other that day for journalists was hectic as the military and

ABIODUN NEJO

ONDO SOUTH

police at the various roadblocks would check identity cards and vehicle booths at all stops. Journalists who hired commercial motor bikes went through tortuous experience at the roadblocks and as well had the operators’ exploitative charges to contend with. While the army and police were on land for election security duty, it was the men of the Nigerian Navy and marine police patrolling the waterways of the state in their boats. For the boat operators at Ugbonla, it was time for brisk business on sighting the journalists who they mistook for either politicians or INEC officials. They charged N70,000 for the less than 30 minute cruise to Ilowo where the PDP flagbearer voted. However, after persuasion the journalists

Reconstructing the Sunshine State

had mounted roadblocks at the outskirts of the capital allayed my fears. In fact, from the day of my arrival and subsequent days, the streets were “brimming” with armed and fierce looking security and paramilitary agents made up of members of the Armed Forces, Nigeria Police Force, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Nigeria Immigrations, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency and Federal Road Safety Corps. It was clear that the election was going to be well-secured. They stopped motorists, searched their cars while their sirens blared continuously as though warning mischief makers of impending doom on any form of misbehaviour. Over the next few days, the residents of the state capital came across as people that were very much politically inclined. The election was the subject of debate among co-passengers in the bus that conveyed us from Ore to Akure as well as during our return journey from Akure to Lagos. They seemed to follow the political intrigues and power tussles at play before, during and after the elections. The “okada” men were not left out as well, as they churned out their views whilst transporting us from place to place.

YEMI OLUS

AKURE SOUTH

My destination on Friday was the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) office where I was supposed to collect my accreditation card. The accreditation process for members of the press held at the INEC media centre turned out to be a very rowdy and unorganised affair. We were able to secure our cards after jostling and shoving against each other for hours. Very tired and hungry, I headed back to the office and had to settle for a “Stomach Adjustment Programme” before facing any report I had to send. The office assistant took me to a pounded yam ‘joint’ as I had been told that pounded yam was the meal favoured by Ondo people. I was not disappointed. Having been warned by a colleague before embarking on my journey about falling prey to eating dog meat, I tried to stick to having just

fish in my food but I eventually failed in my resolve. On Election Day, the Regional Editor had to pick us from the hotel as early as 7a.m. to convey us to the various locations from where we were supposed to monitor the election due to the restriction of movement. Checkpoints were mounted within a distance of about 200 metres apart and we had to park for the car to be searched over and over again despite having our accreditation tags. I was to monitor the election at the polling unit close to the Deji of Akure, Oba Adebiyi Adesida’s residence at Akure South Local Government Area. It turned out that there was no unit beside his residence. I saw a policeman seated by the entrance to the monarch’s gate and inquired if the traditional ruler was going to vote and where he would cast his vote. He replied in the affirmative and directed me to Akure Town Hall where he had registered. Indeed, his data were in the register. In the meantime, I walked to the next available unit which was 92 Asamos House, Arakale in Odopetu. The turnout was encouraging and people eagerly formed queues for the accreditation exercise. I was surprised to see a number of aged people who

coughed out N25,000 for the trip. But it was yet another moment of decision, especially for journalists cruising on sea for the first time, whether to take the risk or not without life-jackets. However, they voted for the risk and in a few minutes’ time, journalists were live at the unit to witness the governorship contender cast his vote. However, despite the turnout, it was gathered that majority of the registered voters in the two local government areas stayed away from the polling units in view of their safety, a development some traced to the heavy presence of gun-totting security operatives on the roads and the shoot-at-sight order, which they believed some politicians could harness to prompt the soldiers to kill perceived enemies or opposition members. The day ended with apprehension as rumours keep flying around that this candidate and not that won this or that local government. Fictitious figures and updates were posted on the Facebook and different text messages kept going around. Members of the three political parties could not celebrate as nobody knew which of the conflicting reports and results to believe. did not seem to be intimidated by the crowd but patiently awaited their turn on the queue. The INEC officials and materials were already on ground. A few people complained about not seeing their names while the photograph of a voter appeared twice in the register. These seemed to be the major issues in this particular polling unit. I returned to Akure Town Hall where the INEC officials made up of National Youth Service Corp members and the voting materials were at the polling unit at about 7.30a.m. and accreditation commenced at exactly 8.00a.m. much to my surprise. There was a good turnout of voters as well, including a number of physically challenged people who came to exercise their franchise and were at the mercy of the scorching sun. While some voters went for cover, others remained on the queue. An aged man who almost passed out as a result of dizziness had to be ushered to a seat. I was impressed by the level of determination and resilience shown by the people who seemed interested in having a say on who governed them. However, a communication gap existed especially between the officials and the elderly voters. But officials had to demonstrate what they needed to do when voting commenced at exactly 12:30p.m.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Politics

Wednesday, October 24, 2012

Voters’ inducement amidst tight security

he governorship election in Ondo State has come and gone but the noise and tension that heralded the poll continued to linger in my memory. Even though all the stakeholders in the election, INEC, politicians, security agents and others promised to ensure the success of the election, the apprehension that rented the air at the wake of the election added to the fear of the people of the state. On Thursday, October 18, some 48 hours to the election, the streets of Akure were turned to a ghost town as residents of the state rushed to their various homes over a misinterpreted information from the state owned radio station (OSRC) that a curfew had been imposed on the the state. Earlier at the office we received four of our colleagues from the head office in Lagos who have been assigned to cover the election with the two of us on ground here. We had a meeting and mapped out strategies on the coverage of the election. I resumed at the INEC office on Friday for accreditation which turned to be another tug of war. I have submitted earlier my passport along with some other members of our staff but we had to start the process all over again which lasted about six hours.

have covered and reported many elections over the years so when the Deputy Editor (Politics) told me that I was one of those selected by the management to cover the October 20, governorship election in Ondo State, I didn’t blink an eye. However, a few days after, some of my colleagues analysed how dangerous the assignment could be. One of them said: “It is people like you that they want there. I know you have African insurance.” Many other staff also called to tell me that going to cover the gubernatorial election in Ondo State could be likened to cover election in a war zone. Reading through various newspapers in the week preceding the election also revealed allegation of arms build up by the opposition parties. A colleague from a national newspaper, who hails from Owo in Ondo State, called me on phone and when I told him I was going to cover election he exclaimed: “Esan, with this your physique can you run? God protect you o.” That was the anxiety bordering my mind and so on Thursday October 18, I set for the journey. I got to Akure, the state capital, in the afternoon. Thereafter, we had

On Election Day, I have been assigned to monitor the election in some parts of Ondo Central Senatorial District and some parts of the Southern Senatorial District which include Ondo, Ile Oluji, Oke Igbo, and Ore. I headed towards Ondo only to meet heavy checkpoints mounted within a distance of 200 metres apart. My journey to Ondo from Akure took me about 59 minutes which ordinarily should be less than 25 minutes. Despite my tags and identification card, I had to park at every checkpoint for routine search. Accreditation started in Ondo by 8a.m. with people turning out in their numbers. I headed towards Ile Oluji, voters were seen being attended to by INEC officials, supported by corps members. Some of the voters I spoke with commended INEC’s effort in getting the voting materials to the unit on time. I moved towards Ore where I met a young military officer at Ajue, who politely turned me back informing that I cannot go beyond that point because I was travelling in a private car and not an official car. The young man told me it was an order from his superior which he must carry out. But a call put through to the spokesman of the military deployed to the state for the election, Brigadier Emmanu-

HAKEEM GBADAMOSI

ORE, OKE IGBO

el Onoja gave me the needed pass. The situation in Ore was the same as voters were seen in their large numbers. At the government field area in Ore, voters who have been accredited waited under shield waiting to cast their votes while some were seen with different sizes and shapes of umbrella to avoid the scorching sun. The physically challenged and the aged were given preference by provision of seats for them. However, some party loyalists who tried to induce voters at the government field were dispatched by security officials parading the area. I went round Ore town and by the time I was preparing to leave the town around 1:30p.m., voting has started while in some polling units accreditation was still ongoing. I returned to Ondo town where the incumbent governor and Labour Party candidate, Olusegun

Mimiko cast his vote around 2:20p.m. I moved round some areas within the Ondo West. In all the polling units I monitored, only the three leading political parties were represented at the units, that is, ACN, LP and the PDP. The way these agents relate indicated that the election was not regarded as a do or die. In Ondo West, Ilunla/Bagbe ward, at the open space at St. Joseph Primary School, soldiers were seen moving from one area to another to check possible outbreak of law and order. Most security officials at the polling units conducted themselves professionally, although they were approachable and always at alert. But it should be noted that crowd control was a challenge in the election for security operatives because in most of the units visited, the numbers of registered voters were over 1000 and where a significant number showed up for accreditation the security were overwhelmed and this slowed down the accreditation process. In Ondo West, one Samuel Oni was apprehended by security personnel for being in possession of over 100 voters’ cards and unspecified amount of money. He was said to be inducing voters and was taken away by the police. I left there around 5p.m. to

...Almost like war zone

an editorial meeting where beats to be covered on Election Day were assigned. I was assigned to cover Owo, the hometown of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) gubernatorial candidate, Mr. Rotimi Akeredolu (SAN). On the eve of the election, I followed a colleague to the State Police Headquarters in Akure in the morning and there I saw a litany of policemen all awaiting to be deployed to area of primary assignments. It was there I discovered that the election was going to be a ‘war’ as there were different departments of the Nigerian Police on ground including anti-terrorism squad and anti-bomb squad. Later in the day I decided to visited Owo to do a preview of the election. On entering the ancient town, there were heavy military presence. Roadblocks were mounted in several parts of the town by stern looking soldiers and there were also Nigerian Army and police patrolling team moving round the nooks and crannies of the town and blairing sirens. Fear enveloped the

faces of the inhabitants and some of them were saying, “is it more than governorship election, are we fighting war?” By the time I returned to Akure in the evening, soldiers have taken over the town as they mounted roadblocks and were searching vehicles and passengers. There were also different security agents like the police, the Directorate of Security Service (DSS), the National Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDS) patrolling. It was clear from that time that nobody would attempt disrupting the poll nor attempt to snatch any ballot box. The distance of one roadblock to the other was less than a kilometre. On Election Day, the Regional Managing Editor offered to drop me at Owo, since there were no vehicular movement. Going to Owo, which ordinarily is less than 30 minutes drive was like going through a war-torn country. At almost every kilometre we were checked by soldiers, who ordered us to come down each time after checking the car’s bonnet and boot. Some of the soldiers were friendly while some

AYO ESAN

OWO

were hostile. At a particular check point, one of the soldiers said “you are journalists make una write well o’ I also said “soldiers make una protect us well.” Later he demanded for a copy of our newspaper and we gave him. If that particular soldier was friendly, the next checkpoint was a different ball game as the soldiers there ignored the press tags given to us by INEC insisting on having our identity cards which we presented to them. One of them filtered through the car and when he saw the RME’s complimentary cards he started looking at it until I told him that the cards are not in anyway similar to a voter’s card. Looking through my ID card

get to Idanre before returning to Akure to file my reports but alas, I was hooked between Ondo and Idanre for close to two hours as my car developed fault and no help could get to me because of the no movement order. But I later discovered that there was no water in the radiator. I looked for water around and managed the car to Akure only to understand that the gasket has went flat and need replacement due to the overheating. I got to Akure around 7:25p.m. and file my report before heading to INEC office where results were being collated. I waited till some few minutes before midnight for the final results which was put on hold till Sunday morning. The State Returning Officer, Prof. Biyi Daramola, the Vice Chancellor of Federal University of Technology, Akure, announced the final results at some few minutes after 1p.m. on Sunday. The announcement of the results was greeted with jubilation from LP supporters. Though the election was peaceful, the heavy involvement of military personnel during the election remains a concern though they appeared civil in addressing issues but their involvement should be minimal in future election as it undermines the capacity of the police. one of the soldiers said: “Come here, my friend why is it that many of you are bearing AYO ESAN. Many Ayo Esan have passed through here today.” At another checkpoint close to the ancient town of Owo, we met another roadblock and this was headed by an intelligent young officer from the North. As we were stopped he said, “Good morning sirs, how are you? I am Garba, can I know you.” We were surprised at his intelligence and manner of approach. He quickly asked his boys to check the car and immediately he released us to go. The election in Owo witnessed a large turnout of voters who were apparently eager to vote one of their sons as governor of the state. It was also a peaceful election. It was for the first time that I saw political opponents playing and sharing jokes together at the polling booths. They were friendly to each other and they were very patient. INEC officials and the security personnel also conducted themselves well. At the end of counting of results in polling units, losers and winners were discussing the results. It was a typical convivial atmosphere unlike the past exercise.

Politics

rom my previous experience, Lagos to Akure is about four hours but on Thursday I spent about six hours on the road. Welcoming me to Ondo State were various sizes of billboards and posters of the gubernatorial candidates. Several political parties and governorship candidates branded buses were also sighted on the roads. Though the billboards and posters may not speak volume that election will commence in the state in less than 48 hours, but the presence of heavy security men, especially the soldiers at the boundary of the state in Sagamu-Ore road showed clearly that something significant is about to happen in the state. Getting to Akure, the state capital, was a bit difficult because of heavy security presence and checkpoints. On Friday, I dashed out very early to study the security situation. By 8:10a.m., I was at the office of the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) to get the statistics of security personnel deployed for the election. From the entrance of the main gate of the state police headquarters to the Commissioner of Police’s office, there were thousands of policemen moving in and out in preparation for the election. Many of the police officers as at 8:15a.m. were just waking up after passing the night on green

Wednesday, October 24, 2012

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Police officer loses belt, rains curses grass, benches, chairs, tables and on bare floor. While I was waiting for the PPRO, I witnessed a drama played out. A female police officer whose belt was stolen. The police officer after several efforts to get her belt has failed started raising curses on whoever had stolen it. Speaking in local dialect, the police officer said whoever stole her belt will not return home safely. So, if any of the police officer deployed to Ondo State did not return safely, it may be the aftermath of curses over the stolen belt. The PPRO later spoke to me on the logistics put in place for the election before the Commissioner of Police addressed a press conference around 11a.m. Another interesting part of the election coverage was media presence in the state. On Friday about 700 foreign and local journalists were accredited for the election. In the course of the election, I heard the name of many print and broadcast media that I have never come across in my eight years of active journalism. On Election Day, I left my hotel room for the field. My first point of call was the INEC office. The INEC office was fully guarded by soldiers and mobile

policemen. About four dogs were also positioned within the premises. From the INEC office I went to some polling units in Akure to assess the election process. Movement within the town was hectic because of the presence of soldiers on the roads. During my visit to many of the polling units, I took courage to move closer to some of the INEC staff and security agents to ask questions about the conduct of the election and many of them were objective. For example, the security men attached to Polling Unit 023, Ward 07 in Ondo West Local Government Area facilitated an interview with Bola Osun and Samuel Oni immediately they were arrested for election offences at the polling booths. At the residence of Governor Olusegun Mimiko in Ondo town on the election day, visitors were fed with porridge and rice during the election period. When Mimiko was going to his polling booth for accreditation, he was cheered by many people but the governor knowing the implication of what the people were doing persuaded all of them to be silent. Throughout the election period the governor was on phone calling and receiving calls about situation

TEMITOPE OGUNBANKE

ONDO TOWN

reports on the election. To the surprise of many, while the election was going on, Governor Mimiko rushed out from the house looking very worried. Few minutes later the number of security men in the area increased and within a twinkle of an eye a PDP agent dolling out money to electorate was arrested by security men at Ward 7 in Ondo West Local Government Area. After, trekking on the streets of Akure for about nine hours, I ended up a hungry man at a food joint inside INEC office where I ate pounded yam at about 6p.m. INEC had promised that the result of the election will be announced within 12 hours after voting exercise but the result of the election was not officially announced until around 1:30pm on Sunday after so much tension and expectations. Immediately the election results were

announced, people poured into the streets singing, dancing and rejoicing. Within one hour after the declaration of the Labour Party’s victory, the city was bubbling. As a sign of celebration, the streetlights were powered around 4p.m. and by 9p.m. every nook and cranny of the state was bubbling with people gathering at different junctions for merriments. As I was leaving Akure, many of the security men were also leaving the town on Monday morning in lorries. To show that people appreciate their efforts in the election, many were waving at them, praising and appreciating them for a good job. The election coverage gave me the opportunity to have encounter with many foreign and local journalists. I was opportuned to interact with many journalists during the several hours we spent together in the INEC office. The election coverage also helped me to know many places in Ondo State, especially the major areas in Akure. My journey to Lagos on Monday was very smooth and hitchfree. Ondo State governorship election is an experience I will never forget easily in my career.

Confronting INEC officials with allegation of compromise

was deployed to the Akoko axis of the Northern Senatorial District of Ondo State to report last Saturday’s governorship election. The northern senatorial district is made up of six local government areas out of which four are in Akoko land. The four local government areas are Akoko North-East, Akoko North-West, Akoko South-East and Akoko South-West. Being the first time I would be reporting an election, I initially nursed the fear of molestation and harassment by the stern-looking soldiers and other security agents who mounted several roadblocks across Akoko land. But I devised a way of disarming them psychologically by giving them a sense of importance and the impression that society appreciated them for providing enough security during the election. Two of my colleagues from Daily Trust and The Pilot were in the same vehicle with me. I was the one behind the wheel. Each time we got to a road-

block, I made sure I politely and respectfully greeted the soldiers and the mobile policemen. Although most of them were disarmed by the manner in which I approached them, some of them would still want to ensure that we were journalists. The other thing I did was to put on the best of my clothes since in this clime, the way you dress says much about you and determines the amount of respect you attract to yourself. By the time we passed through three roadblocks mounted by soldiers and we were treated with respect, my initial fear disappeared and I regained my confidence. Our first port of call on the Election Day was Supare-Akoko in Akoko South-West Local Government Area. Supare is the hometown of the deputy governor, Alhaji Ali Olanusi. Former Speaker of the Ondo State House of Assembly, Victor Olabintan, also hails from Supare. While Ali is a chieftain of LP and the running mate of Governor Olusegun Mimiko,

OJO OYEWANDE

AKOKO

Olabintan is a leader of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). I observed that the contest was between Ali and Olabintan in the town. As early as 8a.m., voters had arrived virtually all the polling units in the town. There was enthusiasm on the faces of the electorate. We visited unit 008, Igbure ward where the deputy governor was accredited alongside his wife and children around 8a.m. We were also at Elero compound, Ward 10, Supare-Akoko, where Olabintan was accredited around 8:49a.m. People milled around Olabintan unlike the deputy governor. This development showed that the for-

mer Speaker was in control of the politics of the area. When we approached Olabintan for a chat, some of the boys tried to prevent us, demanding for our identity cards. But the PDP chieftain, who had already recognised us, intervened. We left Supare for Akungba, Oka and Oba. People trooped out to get accredited in all these towns. There was early arrival of the officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) except one unit in Oba-Akoko. The unit is Odo-Iluwa, ward 14. As at 9:15a.m., people were still on queue and INEC officials had not arrived. As we were recognised by some people as journalists, two of them approached and informed us that they had discovered that the INEC officials at a particular polling unit had been compromised. One of them volunteered to take us to the unit but another person called him aside and whispered to his ears. The man later declined to lead us to the place. We later discov-

ered the unit and we confronted the presiding officer with the allegation of compromise. He denied the allegation. We were also at Ikare where the turnout of voters was impressive. From there we went to Ugbe, a small town that is not far from Ikare. You would even think it was part of Ikare. From Ugbe, we decided to go to Ise-Akoko, the hometown of the former state Chairman of the Labour Party (LP), Dr. Olaiya Oni. We latter discovered it was a wrong decision. The road to the town was bad. One of us even felt we should discontinue the journey and go back to Ikare. However, we managed to get to Ise. Oni, who voted at Ise-Akoko at Isowopo ward 1, told us that we could see that the road to the town were bad and that was the reason he was fighting Mimiko. The experience was exciting except that the state of the roads to most of the town in Akoko were bad. I observed that the Saturday election was peaceful, free and fair.

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Views

Wednesday, October 24, 2012

Transparency and the freedom of Information BASHORUN JK RANDLE

ccording to a recently issued report by the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales [ICAEW] Financial Faculty, “A lack of transparency on decisions damaged public confidence” The document: “Enhancing the Dialogue between Bank Auditors and Audit Committees” says there should be more public access to details of accounting judgments challenged by the audit committee and that key decisions should be published in banks’ annual reports. Its recommendations include considering the extent to which the objectives of the auditor, audit committee and management are aligned for annual reporting activities, balancing the level of cooperation and challenge accordingly, making any challenge and debate that has taken place more transparent, by including details in the annual report on key accounting judgements challenged by the audit committee, and debates between the auditor and audit committee, as well as auditor and executive management, considering in the light of risk and planning for an efficient year-end. Ed Milliband the British opposition Labour leader was recently on Bloomberg and he called for;“A new code of conduct for bankers. Anyone who breaks the rules should be struck off.” Within a matter of hours the Treasury issued the following statement as “Breaking News” on Al Jazeera:“Her Majesty’s Government considers that recklessness would be the appropriate basis for a new criminal offence for

misconduct in bank management.” Mark Hoban, Financial Secretary to the Treasury was emphatic in his declaration:“The government is committed to tackling the legacies of the financial crisis and implementing most far-reaching reforms of British banking in our modern history. Because of the serious consequences that a bank failure can have on the economy and tax-payers, we are also consulting on whether to extend the criminal law to cover serious misconduct in bank management. We acknowledge that it will be difficult to draw up a definition of recklessness that gives business sufficient freedom to take risks and make legitimate mistakes. However, creating a new criminal offence involving recklessness would send a clear signal that society – which might have to pay a heavy price for dealing with the consequences of recklessness – is determined to prevent and deter that conduct. At the very least, it would surely make bank directors think twice before taking certain decisions. Of course the Treasury is aware that bank executives may already face sanctions from regulators for negligence or incompetence, for example by refusing to approve them to hold senior positions. Regardless, we recommend that it is necessary to go much further to stop the rot, because of the egregious character of reckless banking.” The British Prime Minister David Cameron also issued an official statement on C-SPAN: “I along with George Osborne, the Chancellor together with Ed Milliband, the Labour leader and Ed Balls, the shadow chancellor

AT THE VERY LEAST, IT WOULD SURELY MAKE BANK DIRECTORS THINK TWICE BEFORE TAKING CERTAIN DECISIONS.

have agreed to set up a parliamentary commission on banking which will recommend how to improve banking standards and culture, following the scandalous and totally unacceptable revelations of the manipulation of Libor rates by Barclays Bank.”Specific penalties have not yet been tabled but we are not ruling out jail sentence for recklessness.” At last week’s joint World Bank / IMF meeting in Tokyo, the theme was “QuisCustodietIpsosCustodes” (Who guards the guards?) The Dalai Lama insisted that each country should name the auditors of all its banks as well as auditors of the regulators. How strange that it was only in Zambia (and probably Nigeria) that all the banks are being audited by only four firms; and the same auditors audit the regulators. To make matters worse, the Dalai Lama alleged that regardless of the prohibition of large audit firms from providing consulting services (following the Enron scandal) and insistence of the American and British regulators, that the largest audit firms should divest from their consulting practices, the audit firms have found a way round it – by selling off their consulting practices while extending

their audit practices to cover “Corporate Finance” and “Transaction Services”. Clever!! The Dalai Lama was incandescent. He distributed a long list of certain auditors who in total disregard of conflict of interest provide consultancy services to the very same clients they are auditing. The Dalai Lama then delivered a quotation from Buddha: “One man wears many caps and soils them all.” The editorial of “The Punch” newspaper of June 22, 2012 has gone viral on internet. Headline: “ICPC’s CURIOUS ALARM ON CORRUPTION” “The alarm raised by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission that, Nigeria could collapse under the weight of massive corruption is timely and serious. It has come at a time when the citizens are beginning to wonder if corruption had ever been so pervasive, so blatant and so potentially destructive in the history of this country. In countries where threats to national survival attract maximum attention, the ICPC warning would have galvanized both the citizens and government into action. There is no doubt that corruption in Nigeria has reached that level. But even when ICPC’s warning is supposed to shock the people out of their lethargy, nobody should expect any serious response because nothing shocks here anymore; not when it is a mere reecho of what is already well known to everybody. To be continued Bashorun J.K. Randle wrote from Lagos

Fast tracking local government autonomy NWAORGU FAUSTINUS

ne of the greatest challenges facing almost if not all the 774 local government areas in Nigeria is the generally perceived, and alleged illegal deduction of funds of council areas by state governors. The deduction which is allegedly facilitated by the present constitutional joint account maintained by state governments and their local government counterparts, is an ill wind that blows no good to these local government areas; given the retrogressive trend and the stagnation of the council areas in terms of development. Truly, local government is the third tier of the administrative structure in Nigeria, aimed at not only bringing the presence of government nearer to rural dwellers but also to provide certain social amenities to the council areas as enshrined in the constitution. Today most of them are mere offshoots of their state governments. This was why Allwell Okpi ,observed in his report that “Though local governments constitute the third tier of government as enshrined in the 1999 Constitution, they have largely operated as appendages of the state governments; some of them are governed by the care-

THE SENATE AND HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES SHOULD THEREFORE ENSURE THE PASSAGE OF THE BILLS INTO LAW WITHOUT CARING WHOSE OX IS GORED taker committees appointed by their governors”. Many observers have argued that the poor or lack of development in many local government areas is due to the interference of the state government in the administration of local government councils, whereby the state government starve many of them of fund which ought to have been used for development projects. Because of the abysmal, sickening and condemnable underdevelopment of local government areas, especially ones situated in rural areas, two House of representative members not too long ago sponsored bills aimed at granting financial, political and economic autonomy among others, to the 774 local government areas.

Hon. Uche Ekwunife, sponsored the bill with the caption “an Act to amend Section 7,162, of the 1999 Constitution and provision of political and financial independence for local government administration in the country. The second bill entitled ‘a Bill for an Act to alter the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 to ensure effective and efficient operations of the local government councils in Nigeria for social, economic and political development and for other matters connected”, which was sponsored by Mohammed Shamsidin Ango Abdulahi, tries to amend Section 7, 313 and Sections 162 among others in the 1999 Constitution (amended) and gives political and economic independence to all the local councils in Nigeria. As essential as these bills are, it is important to commend those at the fore front for the sponsorship of the bills and its eventual passage into law as they will expunge the complaint of stranglehold which state government have over the joint account. It is the positive view of most analysts, commentators, observers etc. that it is when the joint account is abolished by amending the 1999 constitution and by creating a separate account for the 774 local councils for direct sourc-

ing of fund without the interference of the state government, will they heave a sigh of relief and begin in earnest to deliver on its statutory responsibility and duty which will invariably bring rapid development to the rural areas. Anything contrary to this as being suggested in some quarters that a body should be created, perhaps at the state level to oversee the direct disbursement of federal government allocation which accrues to the local government areas should be jettisoned, as this amounts to duplicity and waste of fund. The Senate and House of Representatives should therefore ensure the passage of the bills into law without caring “whose ox is gored” as this will give the council bosses’ freedom to use the federal government allocation amongst other funds available to them , to impact positively on their various councils. Nwaorgu wrote in via Email:fausteness@yahoo.com 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, October 24, 2012

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

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Protests over PHCN’s outrageous billing system

n the last couple of weeks, there have been protests in the city of Lagos and other towns over the outrageous bills being sent to electricity consumers by the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN). In some cases, hikes of between 200 and 1,000 percent over previous months’ bills have been reported, as was the case for the AugustSeptember billing period. Residents of Ajeromi Ifelodun Local Council Development Area, for instance, marched to the Apapa main office of the PHCN last week to protest what they described as ‘highly unusual’, ‘crazy’, ‘unacceptable’ and ‘wicked’ bills imposed on them by the PHCN. The victims demanded a reversal of the bills and the supply of prepaid meters to them. Earlier in the last weekend of July this year, residents of Buoyfat community in EgbeIdimu Local Council Development Area of the state launched a similar protest for exactly the same reason – outrageous and extortionist PHCN bills. The residents also demanded the reversal of the bills and the supply of prepaid meters to save them from PHCN’s ‘discriminatory, arbitrary and estimated bills’, not minding persisting epileptic electricity supply in the area. They, in addition, protested in writing that while prepaid me-

NIGERIANS HAVE BEEN CONNED

ENOUGH BY A PHCN THAT SPECIALIZES IN DENYING THEM ELECTRICITY AND BEING PAID FOR THE DISSERVICE ters had been freely distributed to electricity consumers in some areas, Buoyfat community was left out, but was being used as PHCN’ cash cow instead. While some three-bedroom flats were billed N3, 000 for the month of June, the residents lamented that similar flats in the same area attracted as much as N23, 000 for the same month. Indeed, the complaint is the same across the length and breadth of Lagos State. Worse hit by the extortion, perhaps, are the manufacturing sector and other commercial consumers of electricity. Elsewhere, but still on the same problem in the last weekend of July, well over 500 residents of Okpoko community, a suburb in Onitsha, Anambra State, under the umbrella of a group known as the ‘Peoples Welfare Initiative, in a mass action, held the management and

staff of the PHCN hostage for several hours to protest bloated estimated bills amid electricity supply deficiencies. The protest which was originally peaceful almost turned violent when some PHCN staff attempted to lock out the protesters for fear of being mobbed. These are just a tip of the iceberg when compared to millions of Nigerians currently enraged by PHCN’s callous bills. We recall that about the middle of this year, the PHCN, with the ungodly complicity of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), hurriedly executed an upward review of its tariff veiled as the Multi Year Tariff Order (MYTO). The NERC, before the new tariff regime came into effect, announced in a public statement that the new tariff order would be preceded by the distribution of free prepaid meters to consumers to ensure proper billing. Till date, however; and while the PHCN has been on a ferocious extortion spree, the NERC has remained silent, apparently believing that Nigerians would acquiesce to the grave injustice. Worse still, PHCN officials have no cogent explanation for the ‘crazy bills’ they manufacture other than the excuse that the bills affect consumers not having prepaid meters; whereas even consumers who had paid for the

prepaid meters and those willing to procure them have been frustrated and are yet to be attended to by the PHCN. This is unjust and inhuman! We urge the Federal Government to quickly intervene and halt this cruel deceit by the PHCN and its purported regulator, the NERC, before protests against PHCN’s unacceptable bills turn to a national conflagration that would not only compromise the safety of all PHCN staff and facilities, but further compromise the nation’s already tense and distressing security situation. How can the FG be chastising advance fee fraudsters and ‘yahoo-yahoo’ boys with horsewhips and security operatives, and yet allows the PHCN to be perpetrating the worst of frauds against the entire citizenry? Yes, it is public knowledge that the PHCN has been historically and congenitally corrupt. But the level of impunity and corruption since the FG made public its firm resolve to sell off the unbundled PHCN companies to willing buyers has become unimaginable and unbearable to the public. Nigerians have been conned enough by a PHCN that specializes in denying them electricity and being paid for the disservice. The government should put an end to the rip-off, now.

ON THIS DAY October 24, 2008 “Bloody Friday” saw many of the world’s stock exchanges experience the worst declines in their history, with drops of around 10 percent in most indices. A stock exchange is a form of exchange which provides services for stock brokers and traders to trade stocks, bonds, and other securities. Stock exchanges also provide facilities for issue and redemption of securities and other financial instruments, and capital events including the payment of income and dividends.

October 24, 2002 Police arrested spree killers John Allen Muhammad and Lee Boyd Malvo, ending the Beltway sniper attacks in the area around Washington, DC, United States. The Beltway sniper attacks took place during three weeks in October 2002 in Washington, D.C., Maryland, and Virginia. Ten people were killed and three other victims critically injured in several locations throughout the Washington Metropolitan Area and along Interstate 95 in Virginia.

October 24, 1986 Nezar Hindawi was sentenced to 45 years in prison, the longest sentence handed down by a British court, for the attempted bombing on an El Al flight at London Heathrow Airport. After the verdict, the United Kingdom broke diplomatic relations with Syria, claiming that Hindawi was helped by Syrian officials. Hindawi packed the bomb into the carry-on bag of his pregnant Irish fiancée, Anne Mary Murphy.

Wednesday, October 24, 2012

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Health & Wellbeing We can tackle poverty with family planning –Fashola

Senate to fast-track passage of Health Bill –Mark

Coping with depression

SAM EFERARO

ast week, we told you that depression has become one of the greatest contributors to global disease burden. Currently, the world Health Organisation (WHO) says the condition affects more than 350 million people of all ages, in all communities worldwide. In Nigeria, it reportedly affects over ten million people, especially with the current harsh economic realities and natural disasters such as flooding. Defined as an illness in which the person’s mood goes wild making him feel very low in spirit continuously for a long time, experts have since identified depression as a medical problem for which the affected individual should seek help. While it cannot be detected through laboratory tests, xray, scan or other such diagnostic methods, some signs and symptoms have been identified to help doctors and even infividuals to recognise the condition. These include depressed mood, loss of interest or pleasure in all activities including job, family life, hobbies or sex, weight loss or gain, sleep disturbance, feeling agitated or slow down , lack of energy, feeling worthless, loss of concentration, thoughts of death or suicide etc. As revealed last week, anyone who experiences at least five of the above symptoms (these should include the first two) consistently for two weeks or more is definitely suffering from depression, especially if there is no visible illness of the brain or psychiatric illness. Such a person requires treatment. Also, as discussed last week, depression is a treatable problem. It is however not a condition to be treated at home or with over-the-counter medications. You need to see a doctor who should refer you to the appropriate professional - a psychiatrist, unless the doctors has some knowledge about depression management. To this end, according to the experts, it is necessary to first determine whether your depression symptoms are due to an underlying medi-

Faces of Depression... there is a way out.

CURRENTLY THERE ARE A NUMBER OF EFFECTIVE DRUGS FOR THE MANAGEMENT OF DEPRESSION cal condition. If so, that condition will need to be treated first. The severity of your depression is also a factor. The more severe the depression, the more intensive the treatment you’re likely to need. Currently there are a number of effective drugs for the management of depression. The major ones include the following: Tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs): These are the first range of drugs indicated for the treatment of depression. Although they are quite effective in treating depression, experts say they have more side effects which sometimes could result in more severe conditions. Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) are another early form of antidepressant. These drugs are most effective in people with depression who do not respond to other treatments. Substances in certain foods, like cheese, beverages like wine, and medications can interact with an MAOI, so, people taking this medication must adhere to strict dietary restrictions. For this reason these antidepressants also aren’t usually the first drugs used. Also, because of the risk of hypertensive crisis, patients on these

medications must follow a low-tyramine diet. Other adverse effects can include insomnia, anxiety, orthostasis, weight gain, and sexual dysfunction. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are a newer form of antidepressant. These drugs work by altering the amount of a chemical in the brain called serotonin. Some brands of SSRIs are n the Nigerian market. SSRIs are greatly preferred over the other classes of antidepressants for the treatment of children and adolescents, and they are also the first-line medications for late-onset depression Serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) are another newer form of antidepressant medicine. They treat depression by increasing availability of the brain chemicals serotonin and norepinephrine. It should be noted that these are prescription drugs. They are available in the pharmacies in different brand names as produced by different companies. Only a mdecial doctor or mental health specialist can tell which one will be suitable for an individual based on the manifested symptoms. Although medication can relieve the symptoms of depression, it is not usually suitable for long-term use. Studies show that other treatments, including exercise and therapy, can be just as effective as medication, Indeed, according to experts, medication works best when an individual embraces healthy lifestyle changes as well.

Lifestyle changes have been identified as simple but powerful tools in treating depression. Sometimes they might be all that will be needed in managing an individual’s depression. Lifestyle changes recommended by experts include regular exercise, sometimes just about 30 – 60 minutes of aerobics, good nutrition and a good sleep. Experts say sleep has a strong effect on mood. When you don’t get enough sleep, your depression symptoms will be worse. Sleep deprivation exacerbates irritability, moodiness, sadness, and fatigue. Very few people do well on less than 7 hours a night. An individual should aim for somewhere between 7 to 9 hours each night. There’s also a great need for stress reduction. According to the experts, too much stress exacerbates depression and puts an individual at risk for future depression.

Health & Wellbeing

Protecting your child against abuse 3. Girls and boys must be protected from all forms of violence and abuse. This includes physical, sexual and emotional abuse, neglect and harmful practices such as child marriage and genital mutilation/cutting of girls. Families, communities and authorities are responsible for ensuring this protection.

• sexual abuse and violence.

In workplaces:

Girls and boys can encounter different forms of violence, abuse and/or harmful practices in many settings:

• physical and psychological punishment • humiliation • sexual harassment and abuse.

In the family and home:

In the community (among peers, between gangs, by the police and by traffickers):

• physical violence • psychological violence • sexual violence and abuse • corporal (physical) punishment • neglect and abandonment • child marriage • harmful traditional practices, such as female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C).

In schools and other educational activities: • corporal punishment • psychological punishment • sexual and gender-based violence • verbal and physical bullying • fighting.

In care and justice institutions (e.g., orphanages, children’s homes and detention facilities): • physical and psychological violence under the guise of discipline • neglect • child-on-child violence

SCIENCE

eavy concentrations of secondhand smoke, such as those found in smokefilled bars and cars, can lead to airway restriction for bystanders within minutes of exposure. The study, presented at CHEST 2012, the annual meeting of the American College of Chest Physicians, showed that after 20 minutes of exposure to highly concentrated secondhand smoke, participants experienced near immediate physiologic changes, including airway resistance and impedance. “Bars and cars are places where high concentrations of fine particles usually occur because of smoking. Nonsmokers are then forced to inhale extreme amounts of particulates directly into their lungs,” said Panagiotis Behrakis, MD, FCCP, of the University of Athens, Greece. “The observed short-term effects of secondhand smoke tell us that even a short exposure is indeed harmful for normal airways.” In order to test the effects of short-term secondhand smoke exposure, Dr. Behrakis and colleagues from the University of

• physical violence • armed violence • sexual violence. Children who experience or witness violence often remain silent out of fear, shame or stigma. Some accept it as part of life. While some violence is perpetrated by strangers, most is carried out by people children know and should be able to trust and look to for protection. These may include parents, step-parents or a parent’s partner, relatives, caregivers, boyfriends and girlfriends, schoolmates, teachers, religious leaders and employers. All girls and boys can be subjects of abuse. Generally, boys tend to be at greater risk of physical and armed violence and girls face greater risk of neglect and sexual violence and exploitation. Certain groups of children are particu-

Wednesday, October 24, 2012 larly vulnerable to violence. These include children with disabilities, children of minority groups, children living or working on the street, children in conflict with the law, and children who are refugees, displaced or migrating. Babies and young children are sometimes the object of a parent’s or other caregiver’s anger or frustration, often when children do not stop crying. The caregiver may shake the baby or young child so hard and violently that it causes injury to the child’s brain that can lead to permanent injury or death. It is never okay to shake a child. Symptoms of violent shaking include irritability, difficulty staying awake, difficulty breathing, shakiness, vomiting, seizures or coma. These symptoms require immediate medical care. Typically, the focus is on intervention after child maltreatment occurs. Due to the magnitude of the problem, it is critical that communities shift the emphasis to preventing child violence, abuse, neglect and harmful practices. Every community should create and implement a plan of action to eliminate violence against children.

Some key actions may include: • develop and broadly communicate codes of conduct against all forms of violence in settings where children live, go to school, play and work • educate parents and caregivers to respect the child’s perspective, learn how to use positive and non-violent discipline and not to discipline a child when angry • support schools to nurture attitudes that reject violence and promote nonviolent conflict resolution. This can involve changing classroom management (traditionally based on fear, threats, humiliation and physical punishment) to a child-friendly approach that is nondiscriminatory and supports cooperative learning sponsor public campaigns to stop corporal punishment, abuse and harmful practices such as child marriage and genital mutilation/cutting • provide children affected by violence with health and social services to help them reintegrate into their families and

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communities • establish safe ways for children to report violence against them, such as telephone hotlines or accessible social protection centres.

4. Children must be protected from all work that is hazardous. Work should not prevent them from attending school. Children should never be involved in the worst forms of child labour, such as slavery, forced labour, drug production or trafficking. Children who work often do so to support their families’ livelihood so they can eat and have basic necessities. Many children begin working at an early age, as young as 4 years old. In many cases, it is considered normal for children to work long hours before or after school, or to work all day and evening and not attend school at all. Children can be found working in agriculture, commerce, factories, fishing, markets, housekeeping, childcare, handicrafts, restaurants, garbage dumps and in the streets. Close to 70 per cent of working children work in agriculture, which can be extremely hazardous. It can involve heavy manual labour, long hours, and the use of pesticides and dangerous tools. Children can be at risk of sexual abuse and exploitation, especially during harvesting season (when they often work extra-long hours) and while working on plantations. Some children are engaged in the worst forms of child labour, such as child slavery, debt bondage, forced labour, drug production and trafficking. These are illegal. Children must be removed immediately from such situations and, if it is in their best interest, reintegrated into their families and communities. The work children do should not be hazardous to their health or well-being. It should not prevent children from going to school. The government and local authorities, with support from families and civil society, should develop measures to address harmful child labour situations, such as: • identifying and communicating to the general public the different forms of harmful child labour found in the community and the forms children might encounter if they migrate.

Second-hand smoke in cars, bars impairs breathing within 20 minutes Athens and the Hellenic Cancer Society in Greece, and the Harvard School of Public Health, exposed 15 healthy participants to air heavily concentrated with smoke particulates within an exposure chamber -- simulating a bar or moving car -- for 20 minutes. During this time, researchers measured participants’ total respiratory impedance, resistance, and reactance with the use of an impulse oscillometry, a noninvasive way of measuring the physical properties of respiratory movement during quiet breathing. Results showed that short-term exposure to concentrated secondhand smoke significantly and immediately impacted participants’ airways, invoking such physiologic changes as increased airway impedance and resistance. Participants showed no clinical

signs or feelings of discomfort during the test. Although exposure to secondhand smoke appears to be slightly less harmful than direct smoking, Dr. Behrakis believes secondhand smoking should be recognized as a global health issue. “Secondhand smoking is the most widespread form of violence exerted on children and workers on a global level. The whole issue of secondhand smoke needs to be recognized as a global problem of

human rights violation.” “Research has shown that exposure to secondhand smoke can have short and longterm effects on our health, especially in children,” said ACCP President-Elect Darcy D. Marciniuk, MD, FCCP. “Although select states and cities have taken steps to eliminate smoking in restaurants, bars, and other public areas, more state and local governments need to acknowledge the dangers of secondhand smoking and follow suit.”

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Firm identifies five critical occasions to wash your hands SEKINAH LAWAL

tatistics shows that about two million children die before the age of five and this occurs even more within South-East Asia and most especially in Africa. In Nigeria, facts have shown that about two to three hundred thousand children die every year before the age of five. Half of these deaths are preventable by simply washing hands with soap in five critical occasions. As part of its plans to celebrate this year’s Global Hand-washing Day, Unilever Nigeria Plc, makers of Lifebuoy soap recently organized a party to celebrate the fifth birthday of children by teaching them how to wash their hands at five critical occasion. The event took place at the University of Lagos Sports Centre. The Brand Building

Health & Wellbeing

Wednesday, October 24, 2012

Director, Unilever Nigeria, Mr. David Okeme, in his welcome speech said that what Unilever is promoting is saving lives. The five critical moments include before and after every meals and snacks, before caring for young children, after touching a public surface, before and after preparing food, especially raw meat, poultry, or seafood, after using the rest room or when you or someone around you is ill. He said: “last year, through a media campaign, Unilever raised about seven million Nigerian volunteers from across the country to help carry out this message. They are ambassadors of this initiative. So, it is a movement that we have started and one of the pledges made last year was that for every pledge made, we would make a matching donation to help drive out this killer disease.

We can tackle poverty with family planning –Fashola MURITALA AYINLA

he Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola (SAN) has said that Nigeria and other African countries could aggressively address poverty through proper reproductive plan by families. Stressing that Nigeria does not need a legislation to restrict the number of children every family can have, the governor counsels that people must learn how to control procreation practically and sustainably. He said:” So, we do not need the kind of legislation in China where you can only have one. The Chinese situation can become a tree, they are now reviewing it because we saw a situation in China, where in a class-

room, for 10 boys, there was only one girl, so there is a fundamental problem rising from that legislation; who are those nine boys going to marry? We do not have to get to that extreme.” Governor Fashola who spoke at the launch of Maternal and Child Mortality held at the LTV8, Ikeja, urged parents to put into cognisance, cost of training a child to avoid giving birth to a child without proper care. He added the reduction population growth could curb maternal child mortality in the Nigeria. According to him, the decision to have a certain number of children must be made between the husband and wife because of its economic and social consequences. He said: “After the chil-

dren come, that’s where the real work of parenting starts. You start paying school fees and taking care of all their needs. I and my wife many years ago agreed that we wanted two and we are happy with it, you may decide to be happy with four. But when you look at it you’ll see that it’s because of poverty in our country and in Africa, Africa must begin to slow down its population first, so that the ones that are here already are supported and taken care of before adding to the number. “This is my own argument for family planning; it’s a matter of common sense. If you still want to be paying school fees at 76 when you should be enjoying your pension, well it’s your choice.

Harping on the programme, he said the objective of the programme was to focus on mother and child, adding that those who give life must not lose theirs in the process of doing so. He said the government has initiated various programmes including the establishment of eight 100bed Maternal and Child Care Centres (MCCs) to address the challenge of proximity and accessibility to quality ante and post natal care. He said five out of the eight MCCs are completed and managed by qualified medical personnel just as he revealed that a total of 45, 249 babies have been delivered from 2010 March when the first MCC was commissioned to June 2012.

Expert raises alarm on childhood diseases increase

A cross-section of children pledging to defeat diarrhoea at the celebration of Global Handwashing Day organised by Unilever Plc in Lagos on recently.

he Provost, College of Medicine ,University College Hospital ( UCH) ,Professor Akinyinka Omigbodun, has raised an alarm over the increase in child-related diseases, saying no less than 18,000 are registered annually in the department of paediatrics with different diseases among children. He also said the department recorded about 6,000 in-patients children with series of diseases on yearly basis. The medical expert

who made the declaration recently in Ibadan while addressing journalists on the activities lined up for the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the paediatrics department, said unlike in 1962 when the department was established with only registered cases of 200 patients annually, the situation has changed today . He emphasized that the paediatrics department is suffering from lack of adequate facilities to face the current yearly increase in the number of children that came to the hospital for treatments.

drugs. The introduction of TRUSCAN, which tests the quality of a product and tells whether it is fake or genuine, has assisted NAFDAC in arresting people importing fake drugs into the country. Fake drugs were taken to the laboratory before the introduction of this technology. That usually took over two weeks to get results. With the introduction of the machine, it has become very easy to meet up with Federal Government deadline in clearance of goods at the port. It has also become very easy to have a quick, instanta-

neous result instead of going to the lab. TRUSCAN also has the memory of 90 percent of registered drugs by NAFDAC,” he declared. Each TRUSCAN, he said, costs $50, 000.00. “This machine was introduced by an American pharmaceutical company with the intention of checking drugs. But, NAFDAC is the first regulatory agency in the world who felt that it was not just enough for checking drugs produced in a company alone. We thought it could be used by regulators; even though we are not a pharmaceutical

company. It has made Nigeria a leader in detection and control of counterfeit drugs worldwide. “NAFDAC has succeeded in the last three years in putting Nigerians on international map because of the several international engagements and the high level of visibility that the DG has brought to the regulatory agency. Apart from the TRUSCAN, we also have what we call the Text Messaging System. You enter a pharmacy shop; you have a scratch and text, which is also another technology,” he said.

KEMI OLAITAN IBADAN

Nigeria winning war against drug fakery –NAFDAC

MARCUS FATUNMOLE ABUJA

he Director General, National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Prof. Paul Orhii has said the new technologies being employed by the agency to ensure drug counterfeiting is fought to a standstill in Nigeria are achieving the objective. Orhii made this known at the weekend when presenting the agency’s Scorecard at a press briefing in Abuja, adding that he had

in no way fallen short of the country’s expectation to build on his predecessor’s noble feats. Represented by the spokesperson of the agency, Mr. Abubakar Jimoh, Orhii noted that “there was apprehension in the country and everywhere was tensed when Prof. Akunyili was leaving. She left very credible institution and dedicated and efficient staff to the next person coming. In retrospect, I think we have done justice to that optimism… People were thinking what would happen to NAFDAC. It is natural

because of performance; there will be a kind of nostalgia that what happens when a performing personality is leaving?” Orhii, who took over from Akunyili in January 2009, stated he declared zero tolerance on fake drugs which he said was at “over 40 percent in 2001. Akunyili reduced it to 16.7 percent and now it is 6.4 percent in a study carried out by the World Health Organization and NAFDAC.” “The greatest challenge facing the agency at the time Orhii came on board was the fakery of malaria

Health & Wellbeing

Wednesday, October 24, 2012

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Senate to fast-track passage of Health Bill –Mark MARCUS FATUNMOLE

ABUJA

igerian Senate President, Sen. David Mark, has promised that passage of the Health Bill before the National Assembly would be fast-tracked to help in addressing challenges in the health sector which include meeting the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

Mark made the promise at the 13th Board Meeting of the Partnership for Maternal Newborn and Child Health (PMNCH) held in Abuja recently. According to him, the country should move faster to achieve the MDGs. “We have problems on our hands that all of us collectively must work together to make sure that we attend to,” Mark said. Speaking on PMNCH,

which is a United Nations programme seeking the well-being of mother and child, Mark expressed displeasure with socialreligious practices in Nigeria that allow underaged girls for marriage. His words: “When girls are married at the age of 12 to 13, you can’t do much because they introduce religion to it. Once there is religion, it becomes a sensitive issue for you to

press too hard.” He added that consequences of early marriage are pregnancies which the adolescent expectant mothers find difficult to manage, which may result in death. The Senate President stressed that his expectation from the meeting would be that the Board come up with some guidelines that would reveal health situation in Nigeria

and that they also make suggestions on how best to solve the problems. In an address at the occasion, Minister of Health, Professor Onyebuchi Chukwu highlighted successes recorded by Nigeria in the sector and called for support for the Board. He told National Mirror of the significance of the PMNCH in an interview: “The main thing is that we should not lose any

woman because she wants to give life by giving birth. That is the summary; it is a physiological thing. It is not a disease to be pregnant. For you to lose people from something that is not disease, it is terrible. It is understandable if someone is sick and we are battling to save that individual. There is no reason to lose any woman when giving birth. That is what we are driving.”

Cancer kills 80,000 Nigerians every year - experts LATEEFAH IBRAHIM-ANIMASHAUN

esearch has revealed that out of 100,000 Nigerians that have been diagnosed for cancer, 80,000 die from the disease annually which equals to 10 deaths every hour. At the same time, one out of every three to seven persons will have a cancer diagnosis in their life time which is equivalent to 1.5percent of the world gross domestic product. It is no news that the disease has become a number one killer disease of mankind and is also one of the most expensive illnesses to manage. International Agency for Research on Cancer IARC has also forecast that by 2030, there will be more than 21 million new cases of cancer and 13

million cancer deaths every year. To prevent the continuous deaths of Nigerians, the National Cancer Prevention Programme has chosen October as a month to create awareness and consciousness of Nigerians on the need to create Comprehensive Cancer Centres in the six geopolitical zones, starting with Port Harcourt Cancer Centre PHCC in the South –South . The Coordinator of Port Harcourt Cancer Centre, Dr Kin J-Egwuonwu lamented that some of those who have the means to sponsor themselves abroad for treatments on cancer, are sometimes, being denied visas which he said is the main reason why Nigeria should create its own cancer centres. He urged Nigerians to support the effort to estab-

lish the Cancer centres to decrease the number of deaths in the country. “Extensive consultation undertaken with the Minister of Health of Nigeria, primary health care doctors, cancer sufferers survivors and victims families to find out what was most needed from a comprehensive Cancer centre and a tour of cancer hospitals in Asia and Europe revealed that 63 million naira (ten billion naira) will be needed for the comprehensive cancer centre. He said October 18 has been chosen for the World Pinks Day by NCPP because it is an International Cancer Awareness Month and therefore, also used the medium to mobilize Nigerians from all walks of life including diasporans, to observe the day by adding a touch of pink to their dressing to aid participa-

(L-R): Professor Geoff Gill, professor of International Medicine, university of Liverpool, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine,; Dr O.A Fasanmade, senior Lecturer, Consultant Physician/Endocrinologist, Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Prof A.E. Ohwovoriole, Professor of Medicine, Consultant Endocrinologist/Diabetologist, College of Medicine, University of Lagos. Dr Zulfi Abbas, Muhimbili Medical Centre, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania and Dr Afoke Isiavwe, Consultant Endocrinologist/Diabetologist & Medical Director Rainbow Specialist Medical Centre LEKKI Phase 1, Lagos, at the Diabetis conference held in Lagos recently.

Groupcallsforincreasedsexualeducationamongyouth MARCUS FATUNMOLE ABUJA

non-gover nmental organization, The International Planned Parenthood Feder-

Lagostrainshealthworkersonemergencyobstetriccare,contraceptives SEKINAH LAWAL

agos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola (SAN) said next in line in the quest to overcome the challenge of infant and maternal mortality is the improvement of mid-wives and the traditional birth attendants (TBAs) through the training of 2,350 TBAs, 231 health workers on Emergency Obstetric Care, 121 local government Health workers on essential newborn care and 51 health workers on Contraceptive Logistics Management system. He said this recently while launching the Maternal and Child Care Mortality Reduction Programme. He stated that the state now has eight Maternal and Child Care centres to provide life saving services to mothers and children. “Five have gone into full

operation, while out of the remaining three, two have been completed with training of staff that have been specially recruited to be familiar with the equipment and the facilities before being deployed.” With the unveiling of a five-year plan to achieve a zero tolerance for deaths of pregnant women and infants in Lagos, the state became the first to ensure safe motherhood. Part of the plans include advocacy, use of public enlightenment materials and personalities called maternal and child mortality reduction Ambassadors, provision of infrastructure and life saving skills in emergency obstetric care, provision of Anti-Shock garments, Manual Vacuum Aspirators (MVAs) and post abortion care among others. Presenting an overview on the Maternal and Child

Mortality Reduction Programme, the Chairman of the Committee, Prof. Bamidele Osinusi said that the use of MVA is recommended in all hospitals for safer and better management of abortion care. According to him, availability of safe, legal abortion would further decrease cost and reduce preventable deaths from unsafe abortion. He explained the need to have facilities for abortion or post abortion care which many agreed is a leading cause of death among our women. Globally, 47, 000 women are estimated to die each year from unsafe abortion. Although abortion is legal only to save the life of the woman, complications of poorly performed induced abortions are on the increase. Prof. Osinusi said it is a project within a comprehensive programme to confront the unacceptable

index of women and children or both who lost their lives in the process of giving life. In his welcome address, Lagos Commissioner for Health, Dr. Jide Idris expressed optimism that with the formal launch, gaps in maternal, newborn and child health service delivery will be further addressed with resultant impact on the health indices of the mothers and children. He added that the State will continue to increase her investments in the human resources for health, infrastructural upgrade of health facilities and advocacy relevant to reproductive, maternal, newborn and child health as well as continue to promote collaboration with related sectors like education, water and sanitation, transportation, information and communication technologies to attain her objectives.

ation (IPPF) has called for increased sexual education among youth in Nigeria as one of the ways to preventing maternal and child death. The group made the call in Abuja at the weekend through its Director-General, Tewodros Melesse. According to Melesse, who was also part of the just concluded UN-supported 13th Board Meeting of Partnership for Maternal Newborn and Child Health (PMNCH) in Abuja, the position of Nigeria as a nation with the highest number of maternal and child death globally was unacceptable. He said: “Maternal mortality in Nigeria is one of the highest. Nigeria represents only about 1.7 percent of the total population of the world, but it represents 40 percent of maternal mortality, globally. Is it fair for a mother to die when giving life? The end result of giving a birth should be for the mother to live and to have the kid which brings joy to the family. A woman’s life is composed of endless working. She works to keep the pregnancy. She works when weaning the child

and also works for the family to feed. We need to have a healthy family. For the family to be healthy, the woman should be healthy.” Melesse believed government should intensify efforts in sensitizing the youth on sexual reproduction, promote family planning and help ensure that women’s health are prioritized. He also opined that every girl-child who wants to get married should ask herself: “Would I be able to complete my school? Would I be able to get employment after carrying this pregnancy? Would I be able to be of assistance to my family?” He also observed that unprotected sex could lead to sexually-transmitted diseases. “One message I want to give Nigeria is that it has rich resources and educated manpower but it cannot afford to have so many women dying every year when giving birth. That is not acceptable,” Melesse stressed. He therefore advised that one of the best ways to curtailing diseases and enhance human health is for families to have the number of children they could cater for.

Wednesday, October 24, 2012

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ALUU 4: Innocent as charged...

Bringing the challenges of national service to TV

Protecting the broadcast space from indecency With Africast 2012 going on in Abuja, the need for the National Broadcasting Commission, NBC to further protect the broadcast spectrum from indecency should be at the forefront as some contents still undermine our cultural values. NGOZI EMEDOLIBE

he theme of Africast 2012: Content Rules sounds apt to address what is currently going on in Nigeria as regards content in the broadcast medium, especially radio. As the battle for audiences grow fierce amongst broadcast houses, many content providers have had to bring in marketing advantages that are sexualbased. This is in view of the fact that messages and topics that have sexual appeals always draw audiences. A few examples abound in various platforms like radio, music video and commercials. In Lagos with about 25 radio houses striving to catch the attention of listeners, Arts Lounge notes that the activities of the radio houses have had to be segmented in order to target specific audiences. People with preferences for music, talk, news, or classics have specific options depending on what is being offered. But in spite of this, some radio houses still go the extra mile with x-rated programmes targeted at matured audiences, with no warnings at all. A case in question is the popular Red Light Zone, anchored by Fola Folayan on Nigeria Info, in the radio house that prides itself as the king of news and talk. In less than six months that the show has been on air, it has become the toast of the station. Like the name of the programme, Red Light Zone, suggests, it discusses everything that has to do with sex, most times having people actually call in to relate their sexual experiences as a form of advice or sharing knowledge. Such issues as premature ejaculation, how to satisfy a man/woman and foods that boost libido amongst others themes have at one point or the other warmed the hearts of listeners, who respond by making frantic calls to be part of the show. Like everything that bothers on morality, the show has both friends and foes. On a number of times, listeners who are not pleasantly disposed to the idea have had to call to question the rationale behind putting such a show on radio. An ardent listener, Onyedika Chima, who is one of the avid listeners to the station says there is nothing wrong about talking sex on radio as in the case of Nigeria Info FM. “I have listened and contributed to the programme Red Light Zone which you are referring to, but mind you it is not broadcast in the afternoon. I feel the fact that it is broadcast in the night makes it an adult programme. They must have factored the fact that a minor is not supposed to be awake at about 1.00am, when the pro-

A broadcaster on duty. Inset: Bolarinwa

gramme is on air”. On a particular incident one of the listeners who called in to the show had identified himself as a pastor and had wondered if the presenters were aware that minors could be listening in on the show. But in a swift reaction, one of the presenters, Obinna, had cut him off, accusing him of always staying awake late into the night to complain about the show only to tune in again the next day. Perhaps the success of the Red Light Zone with Fola Folayan may have also spawned another show Talk to Me with Mitchell Okwere which also airs on Nigeria Info at about 12 midnight, where sex is discussed in a rather subtle manner. On a number of occasions, she has had to bring in guests who talk about sex products which are distributed by guests. While advertisings ‘chocolate undies’ that aid husbands initiate oral sex last Saturday, a caller had phoned in to sarcastically condemn what was on air. According to the caller, “I want to know if I can eat these chocolates on the undies and still use my mouth for the sacrament in church on Sunday.” While this trend may seem unabated, the National Broadcasting Commission told Arts Lounge, that it was aware of all these and has kept such programmes on their radar. Talking with Arts Lounge for this article Dr. Armstrong Idachaba, the zonal manager of the Commission in Lagos said it is absolutely wrong for any station to engage in broadcasting obsceni-

WHILE THIS TREND

MAY SEEM UNABATED, THE

NBC SAID IT

WAS AWARE OF ALL THESE AND HAS KEPT SUCH PROGRAMMES ON THEIR RADAR.

ties on air under the guise of lateness. “The laws on ethics of content are clear about that”, he said in a telephone interview. “Irrespective of the time of the day, it is wrong to broadcast anything that connotes vulgarity or pornography. In terms of visual broadcast, no one is allowed to show graphic details of that on air. I am aware of the prograamme called Red Light Zone, and there is another one called Lets’ Talk About Sex on Radio Continental. We have kept them on our radar to have concrete facts to sanction them. Once that is noticed, we will apply the sanctions The fact that they broadcast in the wee hours of the night is not an excuse”. Only last Thursday, Inspiration FM, which brands itself as a family radio showed it, could take obscenity to its listeners in the day time. While interviewing a musical artiste, Capital Femi on the show Toast Me, at about 10am, a caller who was taking part in the show which asks

guests to sexually woo the artiste, brought in an unprecedented dosage of sensuality when she asked the guest to take off his clothes! Why is broadcasting degenerating to this level in the country? A broadcaster, Gbenga Alimi, heaps the blames on lack of professionalism amongst the new crop of broadcasters ‘invading’ the air space. “I just pray it does not degenerate to that point, but things are getting to that level. There is a new crop of broadcasters who are coming into the industry without imbibing the ethics of the profession. The proprietors of most radio houses seem to be concerned about people who are returning from foreign schools and can speak with the phonetics of the white man. But that is hardly what broadcasting is all about. As a broadcaster you must know how to pronounce names of all the dialects in Nigeria. You must know the extent to which you will allow certain subjects be it sex or tribe or race to go on radio. But we do not have that anymore. Once you can speak like a white man and have a good voice, you are on radio”. The Director General of the National Broadcasting Commission, Yomi Bolarinwa has a warning for offenders: “I am optimistic that they are professionals and will do the right thing. But if the right thing is not done, NBC will do the right thing. The right thing for the Commission, in this case, will be sanction. This is the final and last warning”.

Arts Lounge

Wednesday, October 24, 2012

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VOICES

When storytellers fall asleep on duty

LET’S

T AL K FAD

RICHARD O. IKIEBE

with

n October 1954, Ebun Adesioye, the then editor of the Daily Times, wrote a “Dear Tunde” letter to the then Eastern regional representative of the paper, Babatunde Jose. Adesioye was responding to an earlier letter from Jose that spelt out his dilemma: “Should I quit the Daily Times or preserve?” At that time of his life, Jose was at a crucial career crossroads. He had gone on the Enugu posting most reluctantly, six months earlier. He thought and saw the posting as a means to shove him aside, considerably lowering chances of stepping up to the editor’s chair, which he figured was his next rightful claim. From far away Enugu, the chances looked very remote for a former “assistant editor”. To compound his dilemma, Jose had been offered a job by the fledgling Western Nigerian regional government. Its two leading politicians, Awolowo and Akintola, mounted low pressure on Jose and were requesting his term through Bisi Onabanjo, his friend. Onabanjo had impressed on the politicians that Jose was a seasoned “newsman, capable of holding the news section without supervision”; therefore, the politicians wanted him. It was a season of change in the land and for the journalism profession, Onabanjo wrote: “there are plenty of jobs to go round for any and every journalist”. Journalists were dictating their terms for joining this government or that. In his letter to Jose, Adesioye said: “We are living in changing times. What was folly yesterday may be wisdom today. What was real yesterday maybe veneer tomorrow… if it is money that one wants, one can get it by showing sympathy for this or that political party. But the danger is that if one thrives by politics, he will go down with politics. And so, it becomes imperative that professionals like us should be careful in giving out their services. It is dangerous to allow politicians to direct our thoughts”. The history of the Nigerian media predates the history of Nigeria, as an amalgamated entity and as an independent nation. Indeed, the Nigerian press certainly predates the colonial government. Media scholarship has shown limited interests and therefore, understanding in the dynamics that defines today’s media from a historical perspective, particularly in the area of leadership. For instance, the references we see made to Townsend today are not original; many are not even secondary… they are usually tertiary or farther removed. But Dr. S. Biobaku got closer. According to Dr. Azikiwe, Biobaku “had access to the bound numbers of the paper’s issues from January 1860 to October 1867 of Iwe-Irohin and came off with the conclusion that Townsend and the paper had profound effect in shaping the destiny and history of the Egba people in five distinct areas. Iwe-Irohin and Townsend became: A. The publication of record: the recorder of the Egba nation B. The instigator of the deliverance of the Egbas from the Dahomi C. The real architect of Egba policy

Fidelis Duker

fidelisduker@yahoo.com

ALUU 4: Innocent as charged...

I Ikiebe

towards the British D. The channels that brought and caused civilising influences to flourish E. The weapons that fought foreign slave trade as the great obstacle which must be overcome. Questions about management and leadership abound to which only genuine and relevant scholarship can assist in the search for answers about our past has media, and roles we have played in shaping the media that have shaped our nations. To lose our history and connection with where we are coming from is to lose the appreciation of how, and what it cost for us to arrive here; and to constantly have to begin all over again. Jose wrote: “I took the initiative to expand my functions to cover all aspects of the company’s operation in the East. Literarily I seized power. I started by recommending appointments and disciplinary actions to Lagos. Later the general manager, Percy Roberts, delegated to me the authority to hire and fire employees in the region”. That is leadership. These were the roots that formed the iconic Alhaji Isma’il Babatunde Jose, chairman and Managing Director of the legendary Daily Times of Nigeria. How was Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe able to manage and lead seven daily newspapers, as chairman and managing director from 1937-1953? Lord Cecil King called Dr. Azikwe “an excellent journalist” and thought his COMET was “the best source of journalism training” for the young Tunde Jose in the 40s. Do we have serious account of Zik, the journalist, or how he managed to have a string of seven daily newspapers in the 1940s from Kano to Enugu, to Port Harcourt, to Onitsha to Lagos? Two years ago, Chief Anthony Enahoro died. He died with a whole library inside his head. And this year, Chief Segun Olusola has died with his own broadcasting library. Chief Bisi Onabanjo was a veteran of the profession. We cannot readily find a collection of his writing as a newspaper man, or even speeches as governor. Yet, before all these became renowned politicians, they were known, nationwide as excellent and foremost journalists. We need our home grown stories, so that we would not be forgetful any more. Richard Ikiebe is a senior fellow and director, Centre for Leadership in Journalism, Pan-Africa University, Lagos.

t is rather ironic that this the maiden edition of my LET’S TALK with FAD will not dwell on the introduction of my humble self but rather a look at some critical national issues open for debate which I am constrained to discuss this week. Of importance to me is the gruesome and barbaric killing of the four University of Port Harcourt undergraduates over an allegation of stealing a laptop and mobile phone. Interestingly, since the story and the video became viral several conflicting reports have emerged including the complicity of the Nigeria Police in the killing of these young men. This has generated both local and international attention in the last two weeks. It’s rather strange that as I put pen to paper to write this column this week, 13 individuals including the traditional ruler of ALUU community were paraded as suspects by the Nigerian police and curiously, in front of the police, the suspects maintained that police actually joined in the brutal beating of the young men which eventually led to their death. But curiously, no policeman was paraded or have been confirmed to have been arrested. The question then is who are these policemen who participated in this heinous act even when the police too have come out to exonerate the four young men of theft and declared one Coxson Lelebori wanted for being the mastermind of the mob action but unfortunately, his picture was not released to the public. So I begin to wonder like my veteran Nollywood actor Olu Jacob in the popular NTA TV crime series of the 90’s Third Eye, who will say “I wonder, I just wonder”. You can imagine the tragicomedy where we expect the public to help the police in apprehending a faceless wanted Lelebori. This to me is a shame and another joke from the Nigerian police force because you don’t declare a faceless man wanted. Alas, a day after the police claim the faceless wanted Lelebori has been arrested… hmmm yet to put a face to this man. As I complain of the shoddy job done by the police so far, we must begin to ask ourselves the moral question of where has our conscience and culture of being ‘my brother’s keeper’ has gone? When did we as a nation descend to this barbaric act of lynching humans or the absurd cum dehumanising culture of stripping naked suspected female thieves in public? All sorts of inhuman and inhumane things that negates whatever crimes must have been committed, are done to these ladies. I have seen a couple of these videos that have gone viral showing men in their numbers perpetrating this evil of striping

WHEN DID WE DESCEND TO THIS BARBARIC ACT OF LYNCHING HUMANS OR THE ABSURD CULTURE OF STRIPPING NAKED SUSPECTED FEMALE

THIEVES IN PUBLIC? ladies naked because even the Nigerian constitution presumes a suspect innocent until found guilty by a court of competent jurisdiction; so why all this jungle justice? This is where the law enforcement agencies and judiciary must use the death of these four undergraduates as a test case to forestall future occurrences. To me, one of the lessons from the killing of the ALUU four is the power of social media, which was able to expose this grave atrocity and also help in apprehending some of perpetrators of the dastardly act. However as we appreciate the use of social media, there is need for restraints among users in the sense that several people were recording the killing of the four boys without any of them contemplating saving the boys. From the video you could see men, women, fathers, children and sadly mothers watching without an iota of human feeling. It was even during this period Mr. President made his presidential broadcast on the flood issue without a mention of this gruesome act, some commentators have come to the defence of Mr. President that there was no need for him to comment on an issue under investigation but I beg to differ as all I expected from Mr. President was for him to condemn the act of lynching suspects which in effect is a crime because that is taking the law into our hands. Unfortunately, the president did not see it significant, rather the allocation of billions of naira as relief incentive to alleviate the flood problem to state, local and federal agencies. On a lighter note, I need to inform my readers that my colleagues in Asaba have commenced the filming of another Nollywood film on the ALUU four; I will not say much about the movie as we await the film completion which has been delayed by the flood ravaging the country. But as we wait for the release of the movie, I promise to review it here. So wait till we meet next week when I discuss the present ‘Cashless Nollywood’.

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ARTISTE UNCENSORED

Music industry must censor nude images –Bhero Akinyemi Temidayo Ibukun is his real name; but on stage he is fondly called ‘Bhero’. Having made a mark in dancing, he is now shifting his attention to singing… OYINKAN SOMORIN

Arts Lounge

Wednesday, October 24, 2012

erhaps a deep passion for what he does, has earned him the sobriquet, ‘Bhero’. He is a native of Shagamu in Ogun State, but he was born and bred in Lagos. As a child, Bhero had always been a dancer on the stage, special thanks to his family who stood solidly beside him. While coming up, however, he discovered his ability to sing as a gift and decided it was only right to follow this natural inclination when he grew into adulthood. “As I grew in the world of music, my sense of reasoning to explore further got into me, so I decided to go into the studio and test myself ”, he says about delving into singing. After graduating from Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), Ogbomosho, two years ago where he studied Agronomy, he opted to be a full time dancer and musician. The Remo-born artiste says his choice to be a performing artiste was not because of the material gains or fame attached to being an artiste, but the quest to utilise the talent that God has given him to make others happy. According to Bhero, he started dancing at the age of 13 when en he was introduced to Usher Raymond’s videos. deos. “My favourite musician is Usher Raymond, aymond, he is my role model, and since ince I was a child, I have always loved ved Usher. Watching him taught me how to dance.” As a dancer, he e has done over 20 stage performances. ces. Coming to the e level of reckoning for Bhero, hero, has been a journey off mixed blessings. According ding to the artiste, he struggled for several years while learning g to catch up with the latest trends in dance. “When I was young, I always performed at church events and street dance, so if you ask me to do any dance step for you now, so far it’s in vogue, will ue, I do it, because I have spent time learning it.” ” When it comes to his kind of music, the dancer ncer does not want to be restricted stricted to any genre of music sic for the time being. “I mostly ostly sing contemporary (African) African) and hip-hop music, sic, but I have inspiration on for other genres as well.” Bhero describes cribes his work of art rt as Bhero ‘God’s way to get me

THE MUSIC INDUSTRY IS IMPROVING AND THINGS ARE WORKING OUT THE WAY IT IS SUPPOSED TO BE to the top’. While he is yet to release a full album, he has done a single titled Stylist. He says his kind of traditional African music is targeted at bringing happiness to the minds of everyone who dances and listens to his lyrics. As for future dreams, the artiste hopes that his songs would get to all nooks and crannies of the world. “I dream of being a very successful musician and dancer, let my songs be heard from all over the world, not only in Nigeria like most artistes”. How does he hope to achieve this dream? “Right now, I have recorded three singles and I hope it will be a big one. I am still recording some songs in the studio and I teach people how to dance through that, I believe I will make it,” he stresses with optimism. Bhero has a piece of advice for fellow upcoming artistes. “I will just tell them to work hard and not focus on what but on their imthey will get, bu age and how they portray themselves in i the country. They should always focus on their image, because that is b what sells them.” He believes that th the music scene in Nigeria has poNi tentials to expand but honestly wants Nigerian w musicians musician to adopt a new attitude in the a area of music videos. eos According to him, hi the vagrant display of nudidi ty and foul languages must be g stopped. “The music industry is improving and things are working a out o the way it is supposed to be. s They are tryT ing but the ini dustry should d try their best t to censor nude pictures in p their videos and th also als reduce the use of foul languages. We can gua make mak the desired impact by being impac clean in our art.”

MIDWEEK JUMP 8 writers make Literary Star Search shortlist reative Alliance, organisers of the grassroots literary contest, Literary Star Search, has announced the eight shortlisted writers whose short stories have impressed the threeman jury - Tade Ipadeola, Ayodele Olofintuade and Terh Agbedeh. The shortlist includes; ‘Chasing Lizards’ by M.S.C. Okolo; ‘The Woman Without a Name’ by Bode Asiyanbi; ‘Mother’ by Bonaventure O. Chukwu; ‘Bank of Nigeria’ by Buhari A. Sulaimon and ‘Echoes from Bariga Local

Government’ by Soyemi O. Isaac. Others are; ‘The Oodua Code by Kayode Ketefe; ‘The Wailing Drum’ by Kurotmunonye I. William-West and ‘Hiding in a Cupboard’ by Obinna Udenwe. A statement by its spokesman, Mr. Seun Jegede, said the final three writers for the N1m prize money will be made known at the end of the month when the judges would have made a final decision. The award is scheduled to hold on a date yet to be decided in November.

Araism Movement holds exhibition in Abuja he 10th edition of the Araism Movement exhibition series titled: ‘Araism Movement 10’ opens at 4 p.m. today at the Thought Pyramid Art Gallery, Wuse II, Abuja. The show features new works by Mufu Onifade, who is the inventor of Araism painting technique and founder of the thriving Araism Movement. Six of his exponents will also be part of the exhibition that will run till Tuesday, October 30. They include: Oludotun Popoola (Secretary of the Movement), Jonathan Ikpoza, Oluwanbe Amodu, Esther Emmanuel Fakunle (the only female member), Bolarinwa Olowo and Jonathan Imafidor (Assistant Secretary of the Movement). The exhibition will run till Tuesday, October 30. Established in 2006, Araism has presented nine shows to the public; seven of which held in Lagos and two in Abuja. This 10th edition is the third outing in Abuja and it presents new works – 27 in all – in an astonishing variety

of themes, sizes and mediums by seven exhibiting artists. Like other past shows, Araism Movement 10 is employed to relaunch the phenomenon of ARA (Aesthetically Rich Art) and ‘ara’ (wonder) to the consciousness of artists, arts writers, art scholars, gallery owners, the arts community and the general public.

Africast 2012 begins in Abuja

area of broadcast infrastructure and broadcast content in a digital environment. Bolarinwa explained that the event will equally provide the unique opportunity of Master Classes which was introduced in 2010 another effort by the NBC to smoothen Africa’s transition from analogue to digital terrestrial broadcasting by training its army of producers, directors, engineers, technicians and camera persons on production in a digital environment. “So far, 16 local companies and 15 foreign companies have registered to exhibit at Africast 2012 which promises assorted variety of equipment, technology and content display. We have 16 paper presentations all focusing around content to be delivered by highly qualified professionals both from within and outside Nigeria like Solomon Mugera of the BBC, our own Dr. Tonnie Iredia, Jean- Francois Kipp of the DRM Consortium and many more distinguished and tested professionals,” the Director General added.

ince Tuesday, October 23, this year’s edition of Africast with the theme: ‘Content Rules’ has been holding at the Sheraton Abuja Hotels, in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and will close on October 25. The National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), which organises the event, has acknowledged its preparedness to make Africast 2012 a huge success. The Commission’s Director General, Yomi Bolarinwa, an engineer, said that the event, which is Africa’s investment platform for broadcast content and technology, will be a platform of networking for providers, distributors, marketers of broadcast content/ equipment, broadcasters, policymakers, advisers, administrators and end- users. He further said Africast 2012 will also provide an atmosphere of deep intellectual discourse, analysis as well as reflections on broadcast issues by high profile speakers with real expertise and experience in the

Onifade

Arts Lounge

Wednesday, October 24, 2012

FAR AND NEAR

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Training tops agenda as new exco repositions ITPAN TERH AGBEDEH

On the set of ‘Corper Shon’

Bringing the challenges of national service to TV NGOZI EMEDOLIBE

he compulsory twelve-month long national service can be both exciting and challenging to the Nigerian youth after his tertiary education. This is what Corper Shon’ is determined to evaluate with the Nigerian TV audience. The new television drama series, whose general objective is to mirror the challenges, dreams, relationships and lives of Nigerian youths is finally ready to hit the screens. The TV drama series from the stable of Stanword Media Productions and Vinesheild Ltd is set in a suburb town in southwest Nigeria, and features artistes like Benita Nzeribe as Corper Melody, Benedict Johnson as Prince, and Uche Anyamele as Akpan. Other acts bringing their art to bear in this series include: Marshall Mbionwu as Ikechukwu, Rachael Isaac as Nkechi, Anita Duru as Rose and Onyi Eze as Dora. Nollywood star, Hakem Rahman will be starring as Alhaji Jaiyeola; the fun- loving and deca-

dent landlord of the building housing some of the corpers, whose wife is Iya Sikiratu (Jay Bee Sachi). The TV series also features other indigenes making sporadic appearances as the show runs. Alhaji Jaiyeola, who is a local contractor and politician in the small town, is having a sizzling romance with Melody and things will come to a climax when streetwise Iya Sikiratu, who runs a beer parlour, finds out about his illicit liaison. Produced and cast by Stanley U. Okoronkwo, who has blockbusters like Omugwo, Innocent Blood, Killing Machine and Last Day, among others, it was directed by AMAA-award winning Andy Nwakalor and written by Destiny A. Mordy. Other members of the production crew include: Rita Anigbogu (associate producer), Saint DO, (Production Manager) and Salome Oputa who took care of costuming. According to Stanley Okoronkwo, the producer, the series will set a new standard in television drama. “It will entertain and educate viewers and offer a strong platform for advertisers.”

n its first ever press parley last Thursday at Cassia Restaurant in G.R.A. Ikeja, Lagos the Independent Television Producers’ Association of Nigeria (ITPAN) admitted that standards have fallen in television programming in the country and that this is due to lack of training. The new President of ITPAN, Osezua Stephen-Imobhio, said ITPAN is not going to fold its hands and do nothing. “The main thrust for this administration is training. We believe so much in training and retraining. That is the very first objective for us. It is also one of the very key objectives of ITPAN as a body,” he said. He lamented that some of the practitioners have left the industry owing to poor remuneration and lack of patronage, but that the new ITPAN executive was doing everything to reposition not just the association, but also the television industry. “People have been saying that they don’t know if ITPAN still exists, so, we have decided to make ITPAN very visible,” he said. He explained that most of the jobs which should come to mem-

bers of ITPAN are being exported abroad, but “how many people really can meet that standard? What does it really take to bring our people to this particular standard? We want to teach them from the basics. We are going to use our own people within the industry and we will also bring people from outside the country”. He stated that the ITPAN training calendar for 2013 was almost out, while there was an ITPAN Week for next year in the offing. Also on the agenda of the new executive is to open up ITPAN chapters in at least 20 states of the federation. These chapters will start with training in camera work, lighting technique and sound recording. ITPAN plans to work with the youth departments and do a weeklong training free and those trained will automatically start the ITPAN chapter in the respective states. Also, ITPAN now has three categories of membership: Corporate members, individual members and student membership. Among those at the gathering were filmmaker Tunde Kelani, and members of the ITPAN Executive: Ife Owosuna (Asst. Sec. General), Lanre Odukale (Director of Finance) and Ireke Amoji (Director of Publicity.)

Stephen-Imobhio (right) with Owosuna at the briefing.

Search for African village queen begins NGOZI EMEDOLIBE

Queen Udofia

avila Pet, headed by Otobong Udofia, is set for the second season of the African Village Queen pageant scheduled for Akwa Ibom in November. The pageant, which targets women from all over the continent, is borne out of the fact that there is need to market an indigenous brand with African cultural content. According to Udofia, “Western flavours have so influenced what has been projected as African beauty to the extent that our cultures in that regards are surviving on the brink of grace. From the ebony beauties of the Zulu land to the seductive Ethiopian maid-

ens, the Swahillians, the Ghanians Sambans and the ‘Nigerian sisi’, African woman has a lot to offer the world in terms of beauty and virtue.” Incorporated in 2008, Havilla Development Company has been at the forefront of taking Africa’s rare cultural products to the world. In 2011, the Federal Ministry of Culture and Tourism endorsed the hosting of the maiden pageantry event that took place in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State. The African Village Queen pageant is a non-political, non-religious platform for young women of African extraction to achieve personal growth and development and take pride in their heritage, discovering their inner beauty and achieving their humanitarian

goals in life. The annual pageant is founded on the basis of imbibing creativity and cultural renaissance with a clear mandate to groom African Queens as ambassadors for humanity, advocating for African women and the needy by carrying out projects in Africa. Information so far gathered indicates that the 28 maidens already in the camp are from several countries in Africa. There is also so much excitement in the air as Mambe from Tanzania, one of the contestants in the camp, said that “she can’t wait for the 3rd of November to be crowned”, acknowledging that the camp is robust, intellectually tasking and geared towards presenting African woman as a role model to the world.

Wednesday, October 24, 2012

Governor’s Cup: Shehu, others set for second round 29

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Sport

Mr. President should go ahead and dissolve the Nigeria Football Federation completely. That Federation is completely corrupt –Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi

Keshi gets house, car next week

uper Eagles’ coach, Stephen Keshi, will next week get his official house and car, which would cost the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) over N15million (about $94, 000). According to MTNFootball.com report yesterday, the NFF is expected to secure a house in Abuja for about N8million and also hand the former Togo and Mali coach the key to a Kia Jeep worth N7.2m. These benefits are in fulfilment of a four-year contract signed by Keshi last November. “I am in Abuja to finalise

on the car and accommodation for the Eagles coach,” NFF Finance Committee chairman, Shehu Adamu, said. Adamu added, “The NFF president has directed that we resolve the accommodation issue of the coach. So, we are only waiting for the coach to pick his preferred location for his accommodation, while for the car, we would conclude the paper work as soon as possible.” Keshi’s contract also stipulates that he takes the Eagles to reach at least, the semi-finals of next year’s Africa Cup of Nations in South Africa.

Maigari extols Falcons, others

P Super Eagles’ line-up at the UJ Esuene Stadium in Calabar before the last qualifying match with the Lone Star of Liberia on October 13

SA 2013: Eagles know foes today

ADERENLE NIYI

DURBAN, SOUTH AFRICA

uper Eagles of Nigeria will know their first round opponents this evening as the draw for the 29th edition of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) is held in Durban, South Africa. Nigeria is not seeded, having failed to qualify for the last edition co-hosted by Gabon and Equatorial Guinea. Nigeria is also in Pot 2 that will be picked last during the draw. The 16 finalists to the South Africa 2013 are: Zambia, Algeria, DR Congo, Ethiopia, Ghana, Cote d’Ivoire, Morocco, Nigeria, Tunisia, Mali, Burkina Faso, Angola, Niger, Togo, Cape Verde and host South Africa. Hundreds of football stakeholders, including CAF bigwigs, federations’ bosses, national teams’ coaches and media will gather inside Durban’s Inkosi Albert Luthuli Convention Centre for the draw of Africa’s biggest soccer event. Durban, one of the host cities (others are Johannesburg, Nelspruiet, Rustenburg and Port Elizabeth) has shown its preparedness to host the draw and the array of football personalities who have arrived or are presently descending on the coastal town to participate in the event attests to this. Defending champions, Zambia and top

seeds Ghana, Cote d ‘Iviore and host country, South Africa, including Nigeria, are tournament favourites and football pundits here are bristling with anticipation at how the teams’ grouping plays out tonight. On Monday evening, creating the exciting atmosphere for the draw, the eThekwini Municipality, KwaZulu Natal, Durban and Local Organising Committee (LOC) put up a lavish gala/dinner show at the imposing Sibaya Casino Banquet Hall in the municipality. In attendance at the culturally colourful event were CAF President, Issa Hayatou; his deputy, Suketo Patel; Premier, KwaZulu Natal, Zweli Mkhize; Chairperson LOC, Moelo Nkonyana; Deputy Mayor, eThekwini Municipality, KwaZulu Natal; exZambian international and current president of Zambia Football Federation, Kalusha Biwalya; ex-England international and Liverpool legend, John Barnes; ex-England international, Peter Reid and former France and Real Madrid star, Christian Karembeu. Nigeria’s veteran sports journalist and CAF Coordinator, Paul Bassey, and Lagos State Football Association Chairman, Barrister Seyi

Adewunmi, were also in attendance. Speaking through his deputy, Patel, Hayatou said that CAF was overwhelmed by South Africa’s willingness to host the 2013 tournament themed ‘The Beat at the Feet of Africa’, after former host country, Libya, pulled out because of their internal conflict. South Africa had been awarded AFCON hosting rights for 2018 and according to the Premier Kwazulu Natal, “We would be most eager to still retain our hosting rights in 2017 if CAF chooses.”

resident of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Alhaji Aminu Maigari, yesterday in Abuja reiterated that women’s football deserves greater care and attention by administrators in the land considering the glory and honour it has brought to the nation. Speaking at the opening ceremony of the firstever FIFA Women Football Coaching Course, at the Park View Hotel, Maigari traced the history of women football in Nigeria and applauded the three women National Teams – Super Falcons, Falconets and Flamingos - for their various feats in the past 22 years. “From taking part in the qualifying series for the inaugural FIFA Women’s World Cup and emerging Africa’s sole flag-bearer in

China, the Senior Women’s Team of Nigeria, also known as Super Falcons, has played in every edition of the FIFA Women’s World Cup: from China in 1991 to Sweden in 1995 to USA in 1999 and 2003, to China in 2007 and to Germany in 2011,” he said. The Falcons have also won six of seven African Women Championship and have already left the country to participate in the 8th edition of the AWC starting in Equatorial Guinea this weekend. Maigari also hailed the contributions of former National Team Coaches such as Niyi Akande, Paul Hamilton, Ismaila Mabo and Eucharia Uche, while pledging that the NFF will continue to encourage and support ‘Train-The-Trainers’ programmes.

Mikel stays 5 more years at Chelsea

uropean champions, Chelsea, will reward the consistency of Mikel Obi with a new, improved four-year contract, his agent has announced. “Mikel will soon sign a new five-year deal with Chelsea. He will sign a new five-year contract with obviously an improved salary,” said the player’s agent, John Ola Shittu. “We are just about finalising the details of the deal and it can be announced

anytime soon by the club. He has a year left on his contract and Chelsea have decided to add four more (years) to it.” However, Shittu refused to disclose the financial aspects of the new deal for his player, who is reportedly on about £80,000 salary a week. In 2006, Mikel opted for Chelsea ahead of Manchester United in a long-drawn transfer saga. Shittu said the player is now being rewarded for his

consistency. “He is one of the most consistent performers and the club management agree with us that he deserves a new and improved contract,” he said in an interview published by daily sports paper, Complete Sports. The Nigeria international has won several major trophies with ‘The Blues’ including a historic UEFA Champions League last season as well as a league and cup double in 2010.

Sport

Wednesday, October 24, 2012

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Benzema hails Mourinho

alo in

Euro Champions League

Edin Dzeko

City still hangs in balance M

anchester City will be out to show they have learned from last season’s mistakes when the English Premier League title holders travel to face Ajax on today with their UEFA Champions League ambitions hanging in the balance. As tournament debutants a year ago, City had the misfortune to be drawn in the same group as experienced campaigners and eventual finalists Bayern Munich as well as a gifted if volatile Napoli of Italy. Although Roberto Mancini’s men garnered ten points - normally enough to progress from the groups - defeats on the road to both rivals ensured an early exit. This time around, lightning has struck again in that Real Madrid and Borussia Dortmund pose arguably even bigger obstacles in a Group C exclusively containing champions of four top leagues. City are off to a poor start again, following up a last-gasp loss which was minutes away from being a momentous opening win in the Bernabeu with a fortuitous home draw with Dortmund. A win in Amsterdam is vital to City’s hopes as they look to chase down what is already a five-point deficit to Real and three to Dortmund while they will also be praying Real claim a win in Germany that would as good as stake their claim to ultimate top spot. Sadly for Mancini and company, history is not on their side regarding the second part of the equation as Real have lost 16 and won only one of 23 of their previous away matches against German sides. The solitary success came at Bayer Leverkusen, the side Real would defeat in the final a year later for the last of their record nine wins in club football’s most lucrative event. City must shrug off their own bouts of European travel sickness and not succumb to the

late killer goal as they did in Madrid, administered by former Manchester United favourite Cristiano Ronaldo. The Blues hope Spanish star David Silva may recover to play a part following hamstring trouble, assistant manager Brian Kidd said. Kidd said medical staff were “looking at him thinking he might be in with a chance of playing on Wednesday against Ajax. With a couple of days for it to settle down, we will get a better picture.”

arim Benzema has thanked Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho for helping him to become mentally stronger over the two years they have worked together at the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu. Speaking to the UEFA website ahead Real’s Champions League group game in Dortmund tonight, Benzema, 24, said: “The coach made me work a lot on the mental part of my game. I am now stronger in this respect. “I have had many ups and downs since I arrived in Madrid, but I am still here. Mourinho is a great coach, and he is supporting me.” The former Lyon forward said that the pressure of playing for Madrid would make him “freeze” if he did not find ways to relieve it. “I do not take the pressure into the game with me, otherwise I would not be able to play at all. I get rid of it by chatting with my little brother. Pressure has been part of my life since I was at Lyon, though it is more intense here because this is the best club in the world” he explained. Madrid fell to German opposition in last year’s Champions League, with Bayern Munich winning their semifinal on penalties. Benzema said that had hurt at the time, but that he and his team-mates had put it behind them, adding: “We had a good campaign and reached the semi-finals. Unfortunately we lost to Bayern on penalties, and we were disappointed as we thought we could win the Champions League. But it is forgotten now.” Madrid are currently top of Group D after beating Manchester City and Ajax in their two opening games, but Benzema said they could not afford to slip up in Dortmund considering the strength of the other sides in the group. “Dortmund are a good team. They fight every year with Bayern to be first Karim Benzema in the Bundesliga”, he said.

Dortmund misses Schmelzer, Gundogan

Mario

orussia Do look set to be injured duo Schmelzer and Ilkay gan for tonight’s Cha League clash with R drid while they are s on the fitness of Mari Schmelzer, 24, wh bruised bone, traine vidually on Monday not gained any match since picking up the while on internation last week. Gundogan, 21, ha pression of the low after picking up the in Dortmund’s Cha League tie with Man City. Despite having r treatment and inject has yet to return to tr “There is still a with my back, it has better,” Gundogan sai The only positive injury front for mana rgen Klopp is that G

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

o’s influence

ortmund without Marcel Gundoampions Real Masweating io Gotze. o has a ed indibut has h fitness e injury nal duty

as comwer back e injury ampions nchester received tions he raining. n issue s not got id. on the ager Juotze, 20,

Sport

Wednesday, October 24, 2012

Huntelaar hunts Gunners at Emirates stadium

ome strikers regard the word “stress” as synonymous with their specialisation but Klaas-Jan Huntelaar sees no need for such introspection, let alone the superstition and psychological ploys that so often accompany it. Bar a couple of brief, slightly unsatisfactory, spells with Real Madrid and Milan, the Schalke and Holland centre-forward has rarely had to suffer for an art he refuses to invest with the usual mystique. “Scoring goals is like riding a bike,” says this most no-nonsense of Dutchmen. “You never forget.” Naturally there have been the odd drought but, for much of his career, beating goalkeepers has been almost as regular a part of the 29-yearold’s routine as brushing his teeth. Envious rivals can only admire “The Hunter’s” technical gifts. Supremely comfortable scoring with his head as well as either foot, something which means defenders cannot force him on to his “wrong” side, he aims to blemish Arsenal’s impressive Champions League record at the Emirates when Schalke visit north London on today. At 6ft 1in Huntelaar cuts an imposing figure but his scoring record alone is sufficiently formidable to mess with defenders’ minds. Not content with 34 goals in 59 international outings for the Oranje, he finished Bundesliga top scorer last season, netting 29 times in 34 League appearances. In all competitions, Huntelaar registered an astounding 48 goals in 47 games for Schalke during the 2011-12 campaign. Small wonder Louis van Gaal, the Holland coach, describes his country’s latest successor to Marco van Basten and Ruud van Nistelrooy in uncharacteristically gushing terms. “In the penalty area, Klaas is the best player in the world bar none,” says Van Gaal.

Governor’s Cup: Shehu, others set for second round YEMI OLUS

igerian players will face tough battles of the Governor’s Cup Lagos Tennis Championship as they face top seeds in the second round matches on Wednesday. In the Men’s Singles, Nigerian number one Shehu Lawal will have his hands full when he confronts tournament’s number three seed, Japanese Kento Takeuchi in one of the matches to be played at the Lagos Lawn Tennis Club, Onikan. Adamu Sanni will face sixth seed, Egyptian Sherif Sabry, while Clifford Enosoregbe will go to war with Number 2 seed, South African Ruan Roelofse. In the Women’s Singles, Fatimah Abinu will settle scores with top seed Nina Bratchikova from Russia, while Blessing Anuna will battle Chanels Simmonds from South African in another tough fixture. The tie between China’s Jia-Jing Lu with a teenage girl from Madagascar, Zarah Razafimahatratra will be a delight match to watch in Wednesday’s second round games. Razafimahatratra, a consistent product of junior tournaments in Africa is poised to repeat a stunning performance she put against Number 93 ranked Bratchikova in the first leg. In some of the first round matches de-

he 2012 Obudu Mountain Race will feature only professional athletes and runners. This decision was arrived at during the last meeting of the Local Organizing Committee. According to the Chairman of the LOC, William Archibong, the decision is based on the fact that a new course will be used this year, which will make the race more challenging than previously. “This year we are using a new course which is 90% on the bush track and only 10% on the asphalted road. This will make the race more challenging for the runners, so we’ve decided that there will be no more fun runners from this year.

Today’s Fixtures v

Anderlecht

AC Milan

Dynamo Kiev

PSG

Man City

R. Madrid

Schalke

Olympiakos

cided Tuesday, the pair of Nigeria’s Osariemen Airhumwunde and Rita Obasigie were beaten by the duo of Nidhi Chimula of India and Sofia Dmitrieva of Russia, 1-6,1-6 in the Women’s Doubles, so also were the duo of Christie Agugbom and Blessing Samuel who lost to Valeria Patiuk of Isreal Zarah Razafimahatratra 1-6, 0-6. The pair of Destiny Ford Da Silva and Sunday Igbinovia was made to labour to lose in their match against the duo of Alessandro Petrone of Italy and Borja Rodriguez Manzano of Spain in 7-6, 4-6, 7-10 game.

Shehu

Obudu 2012 to feature only professional runners

T who returned from international duty with a thigh problem, trained with the team on Monday and could return to a side in desperate need of creativity. “It is going to be a race against the clock,” Dortmund director of football Michael Zorc told Ruhr Nachrichten. The trio along with Jakub Blaszczykowski were sidelined for Saturday’s 2-1 derby defeat to Schalke forcing Klopp into changing his system from 4-2-3-1 to 3-5-2, resulting in turmoil for his Huntelaar defence. Klopp is likely to go back to a 4-2-3-1 formation Zenit for Wednesday. Schmelzer Malaga could be replaced by Kevin FC Porto Grosskreutz, while Gotze, Maco Reus and Robert LeDin Zagreb wandowski could form the atAjax tacking midfield, with Julian B. Dortmund Schieber as the target man Arsenal up front. Montpellier

Runners in a past Obodu Mountain Race

The Obudu mountain race is now a purely professional race, as most mountain races in the world are” Archibong stated. The race is usually run on an asphalted road, over a distance of 11km uphill, climbing to an altitude of over 1500m above sea level. With Obudu being granted hosting right of the 30th edition of the World Mountain Running Championship in 2014, a new running course has been developed, which will be put to use, with effect from this year in preparation for 2014. The Obudu mountain race is the highest paying mountain race in the world with star prize of $50,000 for both male and female winners.

Sport

Wednesday, October 24, 2012

Nigeria N ig Premier League with

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Cricket

IIKENWA NNABUOGOR ikenwa.nnabuogor@gmail.com

Ocheayi hints at Enyimba exit

nyimba’s goalkeeper Richard Ocheayi has hinted he could be leaving the Aba Millionaires as the new season is set to begin on December 1. The former Kaduna United keeper told National Mirror he was still weighing his options but declined to name the clubs in his wish list. Ocheayi joined Enyimba from Kaduna United after his impressive outings for Kaduna United in the league, FA Cup and Confederation Cup caught the eye of the People’s Elephant. He was between the sticks for a number of

game this closed season as the Enyimba struggled to make any meaningful impact in the league, ending the season without adding any laurel to their cabinet. “I don’t think I will be playing at Enyimba in the next season but I would most probably be heading elsewhere,” he said. “I wouldn’t say I had the best of seasons at Enyimba this past season but I gave my best but I would love to move on. “I gained great experience in Aba, the fans were supportive and my heart goes to them. I need fresh challenges and let’s see how the new season goes.”

Otorogu wants N12m from Rangers

Ezenwa Otorogu (r)shielding the ball from an opponent in a match

Eyimofe mulls over new club F

ormer Dolphins’ defender Joseph Eyimofe has told National Mirror he’s still undecided on which club to sign for in the new season that kicks on December 1. Eyimofe survived a career-threatening injury that took him off the local scene for close to two years. The former youth international went under the knife for a knee complaint in Warri which was successful and subsequent therapy meant he didn’t kick a ball for one and half season. Eyimofe, who underwent the operation last year regained his fitness towards the tail end of last season but decided to hold on till the new season. He trained most of the time with his last club Heartland to stay fit. He also played local competitions in Warri while he waited for the season to end. “I have not decided on which club to join yet as I’m still weighing my options,” he said. “I have a number of clubs that are interested in me but I wouldn’t want to rush things. I still got some time to sort out my future. “I have been out of the game for close to two seasons and coming back to full fitness takes a lot of time. “I have gained my fitness but I still got a lot to do to be in perfect shape.

I know it is just a matter of time before I get back to my best. “It was a bad experience for me but that’s football. I cannot question God but I have no choice to remain thankful to Him because I can still play. “I will be back and better and make up for all the lost time I have had due to injury.”

Eyimofe had to cut short his Euro sojourn at Ukrainian club FC Metalurh Donetsk due to heart concerns. The Ukrainian club cancelled the contract forcing the player to return home to pick up the pieces of his career. He eventually had his heart defect corrected at an Indian hospital before he continued his career.

Inter Turku’s chief scout hunts NPL players

innish top side Inter Turku has sent their chief scout Wilson Chima Ogba to Nigeria to have a look at some NPL players with a viewing to shipping them to Finland to start their Euro careers, National Mirror can exclusively report. Ogbah arrived in the country early last week to start negotiation with some unnamed NPL players after which he will begin their visa application process. The top club which also gave players like Belgium-based striker Kennedy Nwanganga and Sweden-based midfielder Dominic Chatto their early breaks, are

shopping for the best legs in the NPL to shore up things in preparation for the new season next year. The Finnish Premier League draws its curtains this weekend and Turku-based and will only need a win and hope league leaders HJK lose, to win the league title. Inter Turku are perennial league champions in Finland and will stop at nothing in getting the best legs from Nigeria to consolidate their position. Currently, Turku Turku only have a Nigerian, defender Faith Obilor, in their fold.

N12 million (about $75,000) sign-on fee demanded by exEnyimba striker Ezenwa Otorogu may scuttle his return to Enugu Rangers, officials have told mtnfootball.com. It is learnt that the player is demanding the whopping sum before he could sign for his former club. “I must say that the high sign-on fee Otorogu has asked for may see us not having him for next season. No doubt, he is a good player but I don’t think we have that kind of money to spend on him,” stated a top management source. Big striker Otorogu is a free agent after he was released by South African club Bloemfontein Celtic recently. In another development, former Super Eagles defender Uche Oguchi has promised to tie down a place in the Rangers squad for next season after he twice turned down offers from the club. Oguchi, who won the Federation Cup with Heartland last season, said, “I am here to stay this season. I left on two occasions when I came

here previously because the environment was not right for me then. “But, with what I have seen here both from the management and coaches, I am here to contribute my quota towards winning a trophy or two next season.” Meanwhile, more players have continued to hit the training camp of Nigeria Premier League runners-up Enugu Rangers ahead of the new season. Some of the new arrivals include former Dolphin striker Adamu Mohammed, Lazarus Chukwu from Warri Wolves, Wikki Tourists defender Ndala Ibrahim, Enyimba and U20 midfielder Nzube Anaezemba as well as Richard Amadin, who last featured for 3SC last season. “It is a good thing for us to have an avalanche of stars coming to try out with us and I hope we get the materials that we need in them,” coach Monday Odigie said. “I hope that by the end of the week, we would have seen what they have to offer and do our picking so that we could start preparations for the new season in earnest.”

Wednesday, October 24, 2012

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Business & Finance The figure for active subscribers in the mobile networks is around 100 million lines and may surpass 105 million by end of December 2012.

Aviation industry needs genuine investors and trained manpower Chief Executive Officer of Mish Aviation School, Capt. Ibrahim Mshelia

Former Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission Ernest Ndukwe

42-43

Nigeria ranks 131st globally on ease of doing business TOLA AKINMUTIMI ABUJA

igeria is currently occupying the 131st position amongst the 185 economies covered globally by the World Bank/International Finance Corporation’s Doing Business 2013 report which analyzes

regulations that apply to an economy’s businesses during their life cycle, including start-up and operations, trading across borders, paying taxes, and protecting investors. South Africa is ranked 39th while Rwanda, which came top with 26 reforms amongst other economies in Africa that have

consistently recorded a high number of reforms, is ranked 52nd. Tunisia is ranked 50th compared with Ghana which is occupying the 64th position on the ranking list. Mauritius and South Africa are the only African economies among the top 40 in the global ranking.

According to the World Bank, in the report which is the 10th edition of the series, Rwanda particularly stands out having implemented 26 regulatory reforms since 2005 while Singapore tops the ranking globally on the ease of doing business. The country is retaining the number one position

Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, Engr. Andrew Yakubu (left) and President of Zimbabwe, Robert Mugabe at the World Energy Forum in Dubai; yesterday.

for the 7th consecutive year. The 17 economies identified in the report as promoting business reform drives in Africa include, Rwanda, Burkina Faso, Mali, Sierra Leone, Ghana, Burundi and Guinea-Bissau. Others are Senegal, Angola, Mauritius, Madagascar, Mozambique, Côte d’Ivoire, Togo, Niger, Nigeria, and São Tomé and Príncipe. The report stated: “The report, Doing Business 2013: Smarter Regulations for Small and Medium-Size Enterprises, finds that from June 2011 to June 2012, 28 of 46 governments in SubSaharan Africa implemented at least one regulatory reform making it easier to do business—a total of 44 reforms. Burundi, with four reforms, ranks among the 10 economies worldwide that improved the most in the past year across three or more areas measured by Doing Business—the only low-income economy on the list. “Yet despite those achievements, much more can be done to enable African economies to build a strong and competitive private sector. The region’s average ranking on the ease of doing business is 140 out of 185. Mauritius and South Africa are the only African economies among the top 40 in the global ranking”, the report stated.

FG combats flood with sustainable energy security CHIDI UGWU ABUJA

he Federal Government has reiterated its commitment towards ensuring sustainable security of the energy

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mix to promote greenhouse energy initiative and to address the current flooding challenge in the country. The Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation,NNPC, Engr. Andrew Yakubu gave the assurance on the sidelines of the World Energy Forum 2012 with the theme:

“A Forum for World Leaders” in Dubai. According to a statement by the Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division Mr. Fidel Pepple the NNPC boss Federal Government was keying into its abundant hydrocarbon resources to fast track socio-economic development in the country.

97% Nigerian businesses online vulnerable to cyber attack - Expert

Engr. Yakubu averred that the NNPC as a National Oil Company is determined to be part of the global noble initiative that would come up with a road map that was geared towards energy sufficiency and low carbon economy. “The Federal Government under the dynamic leadership of President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan

is focused on gas flare down which would ultimately be converted to an energy mix that would enhance development. The gas emergency initiative which is driven by the Honourable Minister of Petroleum, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke has equally recorded great milestone in the area of sustainable power supply to Nigerians,”.

Flood, insecurity threaten $1.3bn MTN network modernisation project

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 Los-Abj: 06:50, 13:30, 16:30, 19:45 (Mon-Fri/Sat/Sun) 12:30 (Sun) 16:45 (Sat). Abj-Los: 07:30, 13:00, 19:00 (Mon-Fri/ Sat) 10:30, 14:30, 19:30 (Sun) 18.30 (Sat) Los-Ben: 07:45, 11:00, 15:30, (Mon-Fri/Sat/ Sun) 12:30 (Sun) 15:30 (Mon-Fri/Sat/Sun) Ben-Los: 09:15, 12:30, 17:00 (Mon-Fri/ Sat/Sun) 17:00 (Sat), 14:00 (Sun)

EXCHANGE RATES WAUA

234.6271

USD

155.84

CHF

159.2642

SDR

235.0535

CFA

0.2924

GBP

244.1701

EURO

191.3715

OIL / GAS FUTURES ICE BRENT

$123.39

-0.78

NYMEX

$108.45

-0.11

OPEC BASKET

$122.86

+1.16

NATURAL GAS

$2.83

-0.03

How global buyers encourage oil theft in Nigeria

Business Finance

Wednesday, October 24, 2012

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

97% Nigerian businesses online vulnerable to cyber attack - Expert KUNLE A ZEEZ

s Nigeria trudges on with its cashless economy policy, about 97 per cent of Nigerian businesses which currently have their operations online are vulnerable to the activities of hackers ready to wreak havoc to their online transactions. This was disclosed by the Chief Architect, Wini Group, Mr. Tim Pearson, during the Nigerian Digital Agenda breakfast held at Pan African University, Lagos, where he spoke on cyber threats to businesses online and ways to protect online transactions Wini Group is a global Information Technology security, risk management and financial technology company made up of the top 25 global IT security firms. According to him, only three per cent of Nigerian businesses including banks currently have full proof virtualization technology on their networks, making it an easy target for hackers to deploy distributed denial of

L-R: Emma Esinnah, DGM, Marketing Communications Group, Emeka Obiagwu, GM. Lagos Bank and Janet Nnabuko, Head, E-Banking at a press briefing to sensitize the public and customers on the on-going 25th Anniversary Cars & Cash Savings Promo in Lagos recently.

service (DDOS) attacks on the remaining 97 per cent. He said the development, if not effectively addressed with the right cyber security technology is capable of crippling the economy especially the banking system. Pearson, however, said the remaining 97 per cent of Nige-

FG commissions Lagos Airport OLUSEGUN KOIKI

he Federal Government on Monday commissioned the General Aviation Terminal (GAT) of the Murtala Mohammed Airport (MMA), Lagos that has been under reconstruction since last November. The government disclosed that it rebuilt the terminal at the sum of N648, just as it said that work would commence on another 11 airports in the second phase of the project in the next two weeks. With the commissioning of the terminal, some indigenous airlines like Arik Air and Overland Airways that were hitherto using the terminal for flight operations can relocate to the new terminal for their flight operations. Speaking on behalf of the Federal Government, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim commended the Minister of Aviation, Princess Stella Oduah and the Managing Director of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Mr. George Uriesi for a job well done. Anyim explained that Nigeria could not be allowed to be left behind in the development of the industry, which he described as a global practices, stressing

that the current government was not only interested in giving employment to Nigerians, but also concerned itself with safety of the airspace for users and aircraft. He said, “Our goals also include the re-organisation of the aviation agencies including training and retraining of personnel in the sector. Federal government is totally committed to the development of the sector. “I want to seize this opportunity to appeal to others to join hands with the government in order to move the sector forward. The commissioning today will present the terminal for certification by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) standards.” Also speaking, the Minister of Aviation, Princess Stella Oduah disclosed that the remodeled airport cost the government N648m to be completed. She said the government was very prudent with its spending and determined to give to the nation state-of-the-art facilities that would stand the test of time, adding that the ministry would commission about eight terminals between now and January next year. She said, “We were very prudent, we were very materialistic and then we got involved to make sure that Nigeria got what they rightly deserved.

rian businesses were losing up to 50 per cent of their revenues due to absence of virtualization technology. He said: “Businesses will need outside help to be able to bring about some change here

in Nigeria to make them move up in today’s economy. Right now only about three per cent of companies here are virtualised, they are wasting a lot of money. I can make you more secure today with virtual technology

than you ever have with physical technology and I proved it with a forum we had with bankers. “One guy actually grabbed his phone, ran out of the room and called his people and said what are going to do. On virtual technology I can solve that problem,” he said. He explained that Wini Group was already consulting with many banks, businesses and also providing educational infrastructures, getting the best teachers to train the students who will train the masses very efficiently. It is going to depend on Oxygen Network to be able to provide the last mile. According to him, there are terabytes of bandwidths lying at the seashore courtesy of Main One Cable, Glo 1 and West African Cable System. “It is like water everywhere yet there is no drop to drink because you don’t have the last mile to bring it in. We can save over 50 per cent in human capital, electrical resources and move to the cloud. To be virtualised you must educate your people,” he noted.

FG parleys Chinese firm over infrastructure development OLUFEMI ADEOSUN

he Federal Government yesterday sealed a deal with a Chinese firm, CGC Oversea Construction Group Company Limited to provide roads and bridges across the country. Minister of Works, Arc. Mike Onolememen said this in Abuja at a meeting a delegation of the Group led by its President, Mr. JiWeimin. He praised the construction company for the vast projects executed in the country for about 30years, and the employment of over

10,000 employees in their company. Onolememen said that the ministry is willing to discuss with the management of the group on a number of projects in the country even as he commiserated with the Group over the recent demise of 4 Nigerians and one expatriate who died recently while on duty. He added that the Group had shown that it could be taken seriously giving their operations in the face of security challenges in the country. Speaking earlier, the President of the Group, Mr.

JiWeimin, noted that the group had been operating in 26 states of the federation in the area of provision of infrastructure in Nigeria ranging from construction of 140 roads of about 2800km, construction of 38,000 boreholes, 600 km pipelines, crude oil trading between Nigeria and China republic, real estate development, and construction of the greater Lokoja Water treatment plant. He told the minister that the group was seeking for more opportunities to make further contribution in the infrastructural development of the country.

FCMB, FinBank merger receives court’s approval

he Federal High Court of Nigeria yesterday approved the merger of First City Monument Bank (FCMB) Plc and FinBank Plc. The approval paves the way for the two banks to fully integrate and begin to operate as a single entity, which the bank says would be achieved by Saturday, October 27. In a statement made available to National Mirror the bank said up until full integration, customers of FinBank will continue to be serviced through the existing FinBank infrastructure. The bank indicated that, in preparation for full integration, customers have been informed of various

changes that will be taking place between the 24th and 27th October 2012. “FinBank has been a wholly owned subsidiary of FCMB since 10 February 2012. The merger process begun immediately after the acquisition and was subject to approvals from shareholders of both banks, the Securities Exchange Council and the Federal High Court, all of which have now been received. Commenting on the news, the Group Managing Director Mr. Ladi Balogun said: “We are pleased that the Courts have approved our merger. With the culmination of the legal and regulatory

processes, we are now able to integrate our operations fully and deliver the expected benefits to shareholders and customers. The enlarged single entity is well positioned to compete in the consolidating banking landscape. Our customers will experience continued improvements in the customer experience, improved convenience, greater and quicker access to financial support, with simple processes, products and communication. This is indeed a pivotal moment in the history of the bank and one that will lead to significant and sustained increase in shareholder value.”

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Wednesday, October 24, 2012

Business Finance

Wednesday, October 24, 2012

Flood, insecurity threaten $1.3bn MTN network modernisation project KUNLE A ZEEZ

he massive network modernisation and swap-out exercise being implemented by MTN Nigeria, the country’s largest mobile operator, which is a part of its $1.3bn 2012 total capital expenditure, is being challenged by the flood disaster and increasing wave of insecurity in some part of the country. The company’s Corporate Services Executive, Mr. Wale Goodluck, disclosed this during a media interaction in Lagos yesterday to provide update to its subscribers on the ongoing project Goodluck, who appealed for patience on the part of the over 44 million MTN subscribers and other stakeholders,

who have been passing thorough some service hitches on MTN network, said the various activities related to MTN network moderrnisation were progressing steadily. “We regret, however, that the pace of work has been considerably challenged by the spate of insecurity coupled with the unprecedented flooding being experienced in many parts of the country,” he said. The network optimisation exercise will affect over 4, 000 base stations out of over 10, 000 across the country. According to Goodluck, “The task that we are undertaking is tantamount to building a new network. We are seeking to replicate what we achieved over a six period in nine months.” Goodluck explained that considerable progress has

been recorded with regard to the ongoing network improvement plans, stressing that several swap-outs had reached very advanced stages of completion. “The entire network modernisation process is a very logistic-intensive one and the problem of insincerity has seriously affected the pace of work in some parts of the country,” he said. Goodluck noted that in at least 13 states, flooding has created additional logistic impediments such that the pace of the ongoing network modernisation efforts has slowed down. While acknowledging that MTN’s customers had been experiencing some distruption over the last few weeks.

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Firm rolls out wealth creation scheme for Nigerians KUNLE A ZEEZ

global online community, Do-Nothing-MoneyBillionaires Community, aptly called “DonmBill Communit” has rolled out a financial empowerment framework for Nigerians. The spokesperson of Donmbill Community in Nigeria, Mr. Johnbright Anodebe, said as Nigerians grapple with the challenge of poverty eradication, Donmbill Community empowers its members to an honest wealth in real time, through a weekly uninterrupted income in dollars. He said Donmbill started as and will remain a sound business and mass empowerment social e-community, which makes

NACCIMA decries dearth of technical manpower in Nigeria STANLEY IHEDIGBO

L-R: Public Relations & Protocol Manager, MTN, Mr. Funso Aina; General Manager, Funmi Omogbenigun and Corporate Services Executive, Mr. Akinwale Goodluck, at a press briefing held in MTN head office in Lagos, yesterday.

Aviation group insists GAT belongs to FG, not Bi-Courtney OLUSEGUN KOIKI

viation Stakeholders Squaretable yesterday insisted that the controversial General Aviation Terminal (GAT) of the Murtala Mohammed Airport (MMA), Lagos belonged to the Federal Government and not the Bi-Courtney Aviation Services Limited (BASL), operators of the Murtala Mohammed Airport Two (MMA2), Lagos as claimed in some quarters. Speaking through its Chairman yesterday in a press statement, the chairman of the group, Capt. Balarabe Usman stated emphatically that the terminal was not part of the concession agreement the government had with the concessionaire, alleging that some powers that be

skewed the agreement in favour of the concessionaire. It will be recalled that GAT has been under controversy between the management of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) and BASL in the past four years. While the concessionaire claimed that the terminal was part of the agreement it reached with the Federal Government in 2003, FAAN through the government insisted that the terminal was never part of the agreement with the concessionaire. Usman in the statement insisted that GAT was not a part of the concession agreement the government had with the concessionaire, alleging that the agreement was later manipulated in favour of the concessionaire by some people who paraded themselves as staff of FAAN

to manipulate the agreement in favour of the concessionaires. He said, “How can one individual manipulate the system and appropriate our common wealth to himself and his family? The agreement was entered into for 12 years with several concessions offered to the company to enable them make good profits within the said period. Using backdoor tactics, they connived with their powerful friends and unilaterally extended the agreement to 36 years. They nominated their cronies who signed on behalf of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) and happily smiled to the banks. “These agreements are fraudulently skewed in favour of the concessionaires without any sense of morality, equity and justice.

careful examination of each step it takes in providing its members with several business profit centres, unique life changing products and services, and the ability to operate a long term business and friendship global electronic community. He also pledged the community’s resolute commitment to solid, transparent and ethical business practice which will positively transform the way business is done. While encouraging Nigerians not to allow the uncertainties within the business environment in the world today distract them from being part of the economic synergy, Anodebe said there was no better time to let world know of Donmbill’s revolutionary empowerment direction.

he Nigerian Association of Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA) has decried the dearth of technical manpower in the country. Speaking on the association’s forth-coming maiden education summit, the National Vice President and Chairman of the committee on technical education, Engr. Michael Adesina, blamed lack of technical manpower on poor operations and maintenance of infrastructure in the country. He noted that it has become a thing of necessity for the organized private sector to create an effective forum for Public-Private dialogue to address the dearth of technical and vocational education graduates

with appropriate training. According to him, lack of technical manpower in Nigeria has resulted in poor quality of production and excuse for foreign investors to bring into the country thousands of lower and middle level technical manpower, thereby depriving the nation of job opportunities for our teeming youths. With theme “Technical and Vocational Education as Driver for Economic Development and Job Creation”, he said that the Summit is intended to get relevant stakeholders from the public and private sectors of the economy together to brainstorm on the challenges/ problems of technical and vocational education in Nigeria and proffer the way forward, in line with the Transformation Agenda of the Federal Government.

Ezekwesili to deliver lecture on entrepreneurship JOHNSON OKANLAWON

even Nigerians who have distinguished themselves as entrepreneurs in their chosen businesses have emerged as winners of the 2012 edition of the prestigious Success Digest Enterprise Awards holding in Lagos on Saturday. The winners include the Managing Director of Media Reach OMD, Mr. Tolu Ogunkoya, the Managing Director of Swift Movers, Mrs. Yejide Omotayo and the Initiator of Teju Baby Face Show, Mr. Teju Oyelakin. A statement from the organiser of the award, said the trio will cart away the awards in the categories of Male Entrepreneur of the Year, Female

Entrepreneur of the Year and Creative Award of the Year respectively. The Chairman, Board of Directors of Success Attitude Development Centre, Dr. Sunny Obazu-Ojeagbase, said the award is designed to honour Nigerians who took the bold step of actualising the entrepreneurial dreams and do so with the spirit of excellence. According to him, the aim of the award is to encourage Nigerian entrepreneurs who have distinguished themselves in their various fields. He noted that the awardees have helped portray the image of Nigeria in the positive to global community. The award is sponsored by over twenty corporate organisations.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Wednesday, October 24, 2012

Energy Week

udemea@rocketmail.com 07031546994

Illegal oil bunkerers at work

How global buyers encourage oil theft in Nigeria The Federal Government had introduced some measures, including Amnesty programme to restore sanity in the petroleum industry. Despite the measures, oil theft seems to have reached an alarming proportion. UDEME AKPAN reports this and implications, as well as means of tackling it.

ike other countries, Nigeria depends on crude oil for survival. For instance, the nation that produces over 2.5 million barrels per day refines part of the crude to enable her meet seeming rising local demand. Second, crude oil is exported to other nations in order to generate foreign exchange for execution of projects and programmes. For instance, in July this year total crude oil and condensates lifting for both domestic and export was about 74.01 million barrels. Oil companies lifted about 41.11 million barrels (55.55per cent), while NNPC lifted 32.90 million barrels (44.45per cent). Authoritative data of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) states that: “Lifting by fiscal regime shows 39.64, 30.77, and 3.59 million barrels for JVC, PSC/SC, and others regimes respectively. Out of NNPC’s liftings, 24.74

THE MAIN BUYERS OF THE 180,000 BARRELS OF OIL THAT IS STOLEN FROM NIGERIA EACH DAY ARE ORGANISED CRIMINAL NETWORKS IN THE

BALKANS AND REFINERS IN SINGAPORE

million barrels was for Federation Account, while 8.16 million barrels was for domestic use.” Despite the centrality of oil to the nation’s economy, there are many odds against crude oil. One of the major odds is oil theft which constitutes a serious threat to efficient petroleum operations, and by extension foreign exchange generation and sustainable development. As the tour of some parts of the Niger Delta would illustrate, many oil thieves steal crude oil almost daily in the region.

The oil is processed at countless illegal refineries that are located in different parts of the Niger Delta. Part of the petroleum products, especially diesel are sold close to where they are processed while others are distributed through the use of boats and ferries in the coastal states and beyond. This practice which seems to be increasing over time denies the government and operators of genuine income. The operations of the illegal plants also affect the environment as operators also

dump their waste at onshore and offshore environments, thus causing severe pollution of very destructive impact. The trend may be difficult of arrest as there is a strong connivance with influential global syndicates around the world. As Reuters puts it: “The main buyers of the 180,000 barrels of oil that is stolen from Nigeria each day are organised criminal networks in the Balkans and refiners in Singapore, according to a former presidential advisor who launched a campaign against the practice.” It maintains that: “Dele Cole, a politician from the oil-rich Niger Delta, at the heart of Nigeria’s two million barrel a day (bpd) industry, told Reuters that 90 percent of oil snatched was sold on world markets, based on estimates from oil firms and the ministry.” CONTINUED ON PAGE 36

Energy Week

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Wednesday, October 24, 2012

How global buyers encourage oil theft in Nigeria

Yakubu

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 35 The agency remarks that only 10 percent was refined locally by gangs operating in the creeks and swamps of the region. It quoted Cole as stating that: “Oil companies say so called ‘bunkering’ -- tapping into oil pipelines to steal the crude -and other forms of oil theft are on the rise in Nigeria, despite an amnesty that was meant to end a conflict there in 2009 over the distribution of oil wealth. Yet while local gangs hacking into pipelines to steal small quantities for local refining are the most visible sign, it is industrial scale oil theft involving collusion by politicians, the military, Western banks and global organised crime that is the real drain on Nigeria’s resources.” Cole is not alone. The Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) observes in its latest report that unrest has grown, particularly as a result of frustration over lack of benefits from oil production. It states that: “The unrest has turned into a worrying criminal movement, which feeds on massive thefts of crude oil. Heavily armed and well-organised groups attack oil and gas facilities in the delta, shut down operations, kidnap staff and sabotage pipelines.” The firm which notes the clashes of rival gangs in the region states that: “Barges take stolen oil to tankers waiting offshore for export. There is also a massive illegal refining business based on stolen crude oil. All these have reduced the amount of oil SPDC is producing, created environmental and social problems from oil spills and reduced government revenue that could be used to develop in-

Jonathan

Sunmonu

THE UNREST HAS TURNED INTO A WORRYING CRIMINAL MOVEMENT, WHICH FEEDS ON MASSIVE THEFTS OF CRUDE OIL

frastructure and services.” According to the company’ s account, in 2010/2011, there were 237 reported incidents of crude oil theft from SPDC facilities that involved vandalism, spills, fire or arrests (there were 187 in 2009/2010)1 while authorities arrested 145 people and seized among others 18 tankers, 22 vehicles, 16 barges, and 35 locally made boats. The situation sometimes gets out of hand. For instance, in early 2006, a series of attacks forced SPDC to shut many of its operations in the region, thus causing not only the firm but also the nation to record substantial amount of its oil. The impact is not limited to oil production and revenue. The firm states that: “In 2011, criminal gangs kidnapped 19 SPDC employees and contractors (26 in 2010). One fatality was recorded in December 2010 when a contractor employee was killed during an abduction related incident near Imo River in the Eastern Delta Operations. However, the Federal Government’s Amnesty program in the Niger Delta is generating a more enabling environment and this has resulted in a significant increase in Nigeria’s oil and gas production and provided better access for inspection and maintenance of assets.” This trend constitutes a source of

worry to many people. For instance, the Chair and Managing director of SPDC, Mr. Mutiu Sunmonu has it that: “As a Nigerian and someone who has spent a great deal of my career in that region, one thing concerns me above all the others. This is the incredible growth over the last couple of years of the oil theft and illegal refining activities. We estimate that some 150,000 barrels of oil are stolen from facilities every day.” Sunmonu who observes that it constitutes a huge amount – and the effects of this industrial scale theft are devastating for both the people and the environment adds that: “This is evident from the thick smoke from illegal refineries that line the shore. The land, the shorelines and the water are heavily polluted with oil as a result of these activities. The scales of these operations are not hidden.” He explaines that: “The perpetrators of these crimes have set up barge building yards and storage depots for the stolen crude. This is not petty theft undertaken by desperate individuals struggling to make a living. These are well-funded crimes that may be connected with an international syndicate.” The trend has also bothered the government. For instance, the Minister

of Finance, Dr. Ngozi-Iweala is said to have remarked that the nation is losing almost a fifth of its revenues to oil thieves despite its Amnesty programme which is targeted at discouraging people, especially youths from this and other acts. Specifically, she remarked that “Bunkering is an activity we have to stop. The (state oil firm) NNPC reported that 17 percent of oil production was lost in April, and this is about one fifth of revenue.” Already, security agencies have been briefed to launch a major campaign against oil theft and other illegal activities. Investigations showed that major players, including the Ministry of Petroleum Resources, Ministry of Environment, Finance, Interior, Defense, NNPC and other oil firms have at various times met in Abuja and Lagos to review the situation, map out strategies and implement actions capable of eliminating or reducing the trend. More than that, the Joint Task Force established to tackle illegal bunkering and piracy in the Eastern water ways discloses that it has destroyed over 100, 000 litres of diesel, three boats used for the business and arrested six persons in connection with such activities. Despite efforts, a source close to them remarks that not much have been accomplished as a result of challenges, insufficient equipment and materials as well as the existence of bad eggs in the system. From all indications the government and others would need to show more commitment and go beyond rhetoric if the war against oil theft and other related matters are to be won.

Solid minerals road map to create new opportunities CHIDI UGWU ABUJA

he Minister of Mines and steel Development, Arc. Musa Mohammed Sada yesterday said the New Roadmap for Solid Mineral Development will open up opportunities in the sector, adding the policy was highly acclaimed by the Federal Executive Council (FEC). The Minister stated this during the visit of the delegation of the Canadian High Commission to the ministry in Abuja. He said “The new roadmap for solid minerals development will give greater opportunities for local and foreign investors to explore the enormous potentials of Nige-

ria’s solid mineral sector,” He added that an institution such as the Mining Cadastral Office was already in place to administer mining leases and enabling certification to reputable investors. Canadian High Commissioner to Nigeria who led the delegation, Mr. Chris Cooter said that the mission of the delegation was to seek collaboration with the federal government on development of the country’s solid minerals adding that “there is great demand for Canadian investment in Nigeria.” Cooter, who said that Nigeria and Canada had good diplomatic relationship added that Canadian investment in Nigeria’s solid minerals sector would boost the economy of the country.

The High Commissioner, who came in the company of the Executive Vice Chairman of SNC Lavalin Group Inc., Mr. Michael Novak said that SNC was over 100 years old and had presence in 120 countries worldwide, adding that SNC’s proposed investment in Nigeria’s solid mineral sector will develop the sector. Novac said that his organisation was reputed in global mining and energy, adding that it was client to very large mines, governments and individuals. He said that the company was “specialised in mining exploration and infrastructure, adding that the company has the power and energy requirement to successfully explore the huge solid mineral potential of Nigeria.”

Sada

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Energy Week

Wednesday, October 24, 2012

OPEC daily basket price drops to $108.99 per barrel UDEME AKPAN WITH AGENCY REPORT

he price of Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) basket of 12 crudes has dropped from $109.77 to $ 108.99 per barrel over the weekend, according to OPEC Secretariat calculations. The new OPEC Reference Basket of Crudes (ORB) is made up of the following: Saharan Blend (Algeria), Girassol (Angola), Oriente (Ecuador), Iran Heavy (Islamic Republic of Iran), Basra Light (Iraq), Kuwait Export (Kuwait), Es Sider (Libya), Bonny Light (Nigeria), Qatar Marine (Qatar), Arab Light (Saudi Arabia), Murban (UAE) and Merey (Venezuela). Brent crude oil rose further over $110 per barrel on Monday as fighting in Beirut and Gaza intensified fears of widening conflict and the security of fuel supplies from the Middle East, helping stem a four-day decline in prices. Brent lost 4 percent last week on global economic uncertainty. But growing violence in parts of the Middle East, which supplies a third of the world’s oil, has helped counter concerns over weaker fuel demand. Brent crude for December delivery rose 49 cents to $110.63 per barrel by 1325 GMT, recovering from a session low of $109.47, its weakest since Oct. 4. U.S. oil was down 9 cents at $89.96, after

Alison-Madueke

touching an intraday trough of $89.49. Gunmen exchanged fire in Lebanon’s capital on Monday, wounding five people, while protesters blocked roads with burning tyres following the assassination of a security official last week. Many politicians have accused Syria of being behind the killing. “Lebanon has now become a new seat of unrest,” said Carsten Fritsch, an analyst at Commerzbank in Frankfurt. The crisis in Lebanon underscores concerns that the 19-month-old uprising against President Bashar al-Assad is dragging in Syria’s neighbours. Violence spilled over the Turkey-Syria border earlier this month, sparking worries among investors over the security of oil supply in the area. “(The tensions) destabilise the whole

region and therefore have an impact on oil transportation, especially the oil from northern Iraq, which is transported through pipelines over the crisis region,” Fritsch said. Israeli forces killed two Palestinian militants during an incursion in the northern Gaza Strip on Monday that touched off clashes with gunmen from the governing Hamas movement, local officials said. Fritsch said investors were buying back oil after prices had fallen for four consecutive sessions, also supporting prices. Speculators increased their net long positions in both Brent crude and gasoil futures and options for a third straight week, data published by the Intercontinental Exchange (ICE) showed on Monday. But political tensions played out against a weak global economic backdrop that weighed down other commodities on Monday and limited gains in oil. London copper touched a one-month low, following other financial markets after a bigger-than-expected fall in Japan’s exports dented appetite for riskier assets. The Chinese economy could stage a rebound in the fourth quarter on higher public infrastructure spending, although growth will remain lethargic through 2013, a Reuter’s poll of economists showed.

Low demand chases Bonny Light, other crudes

il export from Nigeria and other West African nations has been threatened by relatively low demand. Consequently, crude oil stayed relatively depressed early this week, with lacklustre demand from China and India and unsold cargoes weighing on differentials. Reuters confirmed the development when it stated that: “Around eight cargoes remained unsold from the Nigerian programme for November just days ahead of the expected release of December shipping lists.” It stated that China’s Sinopec Corp has restarted a 104,000-barrel-per-day (bpd) crude processing unit at its subsidiary refinery in Guangzhou after a shutdown of

Source: Oilprice.com

A trader said that while activity in October was relatively strong, it was weaker so far in November and December. “The Chinese are not being nearly as aggressive as they were last year,” a trader said

An oil vessel

around 20 days, an industry official said. The agency stated that the closure of the refinery had helped pressure differentials as

they used West African crude imports, but there was little conviction that demand was set to pick up.

Energy & Oil Prices

Source: Bloomberg

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

PRICE*

CHANGE

% CHANGE

TIME

86.45 108.85 85.92

-2.20 -1.89 -2.81

-2.48% -1.70% -3.17%

12:09 12:20 12:00

PRICE*

CHANGE

% CHANGE

TIME

303.73 259.92

-3.94 -4.83

-1.28% -1.82%

12:09 12:08

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

NATURAL GAS ($/MMBtu)

PRICE*

% CHANGE

11:19

New York City Gate Spot

3.54 3.48 3.64

0.08 0.05 0.15

2.40% 1.46% 4.30%

12:09 10/22 10/22

ELECTRICITY ($/megawatt hour)

PRICE*

CHANGE

% CHANGE

TIME

CHANGE

% CHANGE

TIME

09/24

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

36.67 32.82

4.31 -1.25

13.32% -3.67%

10/22 10/22

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

39.08

-1.13

-2.81%

10/22

Nymex Henry Hub Future Henry Hub Spot

CHANGE

It remarked that Qua Iboe was assessed at around dated Brent plus $2 a barrel, slighlty lower than seen on Friday. Nigeria set its official selling price (OSP) for Bonny Light and Qua Iboe crude oil grades in November at dated Brent plus $1.80 a barrel, the state oil firm said on Thursday. The agency stated that Bonny Light was assessed around Qua Iboe minus 40-50 cents due to unreliable loading dates that mean it is unlikely to be offered into Indian buying tenders, a main source of demand. It remarked that Cabinda was offered at dated plus 50 cents a barrel compared with a previous assessment for November of dated plus 30 cents. Girassol: This grade was also offered higher at dated plus 20 cents a barrel after trading at a small discount to dated Brent in November. Petral, the trading unit of Indonesian state-run energy firm Pertamina, bought two cargoes of Nigerian Qua Iboe for delivery in December, bringing its total spot volume to 3.84 million barrels, trade sources said.

Energy Week

FTZ holds forum on Free Trade Zone Act

The FTZ Nigeria Forum a national, non – profit organization has scheduled its policy dialogue on free trade zone first series at the Nicon Luxury Hotel Abuja on Thursday 1st November 2012 with the theme’ Utilizing the Provisions of FTZ Act: Challenges and Opportunities’. The policy dialogue is hosted by FTZ Nigeria Forum in association with Nigerian Export Processing Zones Authority (NEPZA) and Oil & Gas Free Zone Authority, Onne to enhance dialogue between governments and the private sector, between free trade zone operators and regulatory agencies. Also, its will transfer practical industry experience and fresh ideas in other to bring about coherent and realistic government policies, cognizance of free trade zones operations. According to Mr. Kenneth Odusola-Stevenson the Secretary-General of the FTZ Nigeria Forum, the event seeks to further the operational viability of Nigerian FTZs debate with specific emphasis on the gains, challenges and opportunities including how it currently affects the industry and national development. And it will be attended by federal and states legislators, Officials of MDA’s in charge of trade and investment promotion, officials of states ministries in charge of trade and investment, chairmen and managing directors of the 27 licensed free trade zones, financial institutions executives, Customs, Immigrations and Federal Inland Revenue officials including representatives of chambers of commerce, mines and industries among others. The free trade zone policy dialogue will feature two sessions with one on’ The role of policy in Nigeria’s recent ratings as a fastest growing economy and lessons in making free trade zone economic’. While, the second session will focus on the project execution, decisions and the attraction for free trade zones’.The Honourable Minister of Trade and Investment, Dr Segun Aganga will be the Keynote Speaker on the subject entitled’ Going Forward: The Nigeria Free Trade Zone Vision’. Others to speak include; Mr. Luk Haelterman(MD/CEO, OKFTZ);Dr. Amy Jadesimi (MD/CEO,LADOL ); Comptroller General, Nigeria Custom, Senator Odion Ugbesia (Chairman, Senate Committee on Gas) and Alhaji Yusufu Abdullahi (Director, Snake Island FTZ) among others.

Wednesday, October 24, 2012

Why Independent Marketers sell petrol UDEME AKPAN

ndependent marketers of petroleum products who sell petrol at the average price of 120 per liter, showing N23 in excess of official N97 per litre have accused some members of Depot and Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, (DAPPMAN) for selling petrol to them at higher prices. The Second National Secretary of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), Mr. Mike Osatuyi said in a telephone interview that some Depot owners sell the product to independent marketers at higher rates. He said: “Our members are ready to sell at the N97 per litre official price to members of the public. But that cannot be possible at all times as they get the product from depot owners at high rates.’ Osatuyi who declined to state exactly how much the Independents buy the product said: “Normally, they should buy the product at N87.66 per a litre. Now, they get it at higher prices which vary from one jetty to another. So it is difficult for them to sell at the approved price of N97 per litre.” He blamed regulatory authorities for ineffective monitoring and enforcement of regulations put in place to check the excesses of operators many who are now involved in sharp practices such as under dispensing, diversion and adulteration. The Independent marketers also attributed their action to delays and additional operational cost, including allowances paid to tanker drivers and other officials as reasons for charging high prices. In the past, the marketers said they were able to lift petrol from the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) depots within a few days because of modern loading facilities put in place to enhance loading. This enabled them to increase the frequency while reducing the cost of operations. But with the vandals attack and eventual shutdown on

IMF cautions nations on choice of projects

he International Monetary Fund has urged African oil and gas producing nations to direct their revenue in infrastructure and education rather than on “white elephants”. Exploration in east and southern Africa has been high in recent months as a result of big oil and gas discoveries in Tanzania, Mozambique, Kenya and other regional countries. Antoinette Sayeh, the IMF’s director for Africa, said on Monday the oil and gas sector does not create as many jobs as other sectors of the economy, but if the revenues were directed to education and transport links they would help create jobs. Sayeh said nations could set up sovereign wealth funds to invest for future generations and to provide cash, which could be used to help their economies navigate times of volatility in the global economy. “It is not enough just to maximise your revenues and then to spend them on white elephants, you have to really be using them wisely and leaving some of the wealth for future

Oil platform

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

generations as well,” she said. Sayeh said the IMF is advising Mozambique, Tanzania and Niger to help them boost revenues from oil and gas exports. The Washington-based agency projected in its Regional Economic Outlook launched in Japan earlier this month that Sub-Saharan Africa will grow by 5.25 percent this year and next, driven by robust domestic demand, investments and newly-found natural resources. Despite this forecast, there are concerns that although some of the world’s fastest growing economies are African, the rapid growth rates have failed the inclusion test due to lack of jobs especially among young people. The IMF has predicted inflation in the region would fall to 8 percent at the end of this year from 10 percent in the same time last year, before falling further to 7 percent in 2013. Sayeh urged policymakers in countries that are still facing double-digit inflation, like Nigeria, Guinea, Malawi and Ethiopia to adopt policies that will help lower inflation.

Fuel queues

Arepo pipeline, they were forced to lift petrol from private jetties which they said is relatively slower than that of the NNPC. Consequently, the Independent marketers said they now spent many days at private jetties designated for the loading of the product, thus incurring additional cost, including allowances paid to drivers and other officials involved in lifting the product to their outlets. The Chairman of Depot and Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, (DAPPMAN), Mr. Dapo Abiodun did not take phone calls or answer emails directed to him over the weekend. But a well-informed operator who preferred not to be named said: “The Independents do not have reasons to sell at higher prices as they have access to products like the majors through NNPC at PPMC depots or private depots that do thru put for PPMC.”

Masters Energy set to UDEME AKPAN

n indigenous oil company is set to develop a new oil block it has won in Sierra Leone as part of its plans to boost reserves and production capacity. The firm known as Masters Energy Exploration and Production Company Limited, a subsidiary of Masters Energy Group, Nigeria was awarded an oil exploration block, SL 7C-10, in Sierra Leone. A company source who confirmed the development said: “The Company is in the process of deploying huge resources, including funds, technologies and human capital for the development of the strategically located block.” He said: “This is targeted at building the capacity of the firm to produce commercial quantity of crude for the export market.” The block covers an area of 2,015sqkm. This was communicated to the company via an offer letter from The Petroleum Directorate of Sierra Leone. Masters Energy E&P Company had earlier in the year among many other companies bided for an oil block in Sierra Leone. Block SL-7C-10 is adjacent to the coast in water depths ranging from 10 - 330m. In the south, it is immediately adjacent to Block SL-7B-11, operated by Anadarko Petroleum Corporation in which the deepwater hydrocarbon discovery well Jupiter-1 is located. Two more wells Venus B-1 and Mercury-1 have also discovered hydrocarbon (oil and gas) in Upper Cretaceous channel in the same block. It is therefore, anticipated that the Cretaceous age sandstone and carbonate reservoirs sourced from Lower Cretaceous shale will be prospective targets in SL-7C-10. Announcing the award, the President, Masters Energy Group, Mr. Uchechukwu Ogah said that the award of the oil block has launched Masters E&P into limelight. He said “It is the grace of God that has always seen us through. This oil block in Sierra Leone is a milestone

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Wednesday, October 24, 2012

at high prices

develop new oil block

achievement in the history of this company. We are happy for it.” Also speaking on the oil block award, the company’s Group Business Executive E&P, Mr. Casmir Onuoha said “the award is a big boost to the company’s entrance into E&P. According to him, “The bidding for the oil blocks in Sierra Leone was keenly contested and we had superior presentations that swung the award of the block to our favour. We are really happy because this has launched Masters E&P into the upstream sector in a big way. We hope to achieve first oil soon.” Going forward, Onuoha said that “the company will vigorously move towards developing the block as soon as the documentation processes are over.” Masters Energy Oil and Gas Limited is a leading indigenous oil and gas company. Having consolidated its position in the downstream, the company has re-strategized and diversified into the midstream and upstream sectors of the oil and gas industry in Nigeria.

Ogah

NNRA new fees regime generates controversy The recent hike in licensing fees by the Nigerian Nuclear Regulatory Authority (NNRA) for companies providing radioactive services to the oil and gas industry has stirred up a controversy in the sector, amidst fear of possible dislocation of the Nigerian economy. CHINEDUN EMEANA reports.

He said: “Those who do not have Bulk Purpose Agreement with PPMC may however be forced to buy at any other private depots whose price may be a bit higher.” Meanwhile, the Joint Special Task Force, including members of the Special Task Force on Anti-pipeline Vandalism and other security agencies have taken over the maintenance of security at Arepo pipeline in Ogun State whose damage is mainly responsible for the present scarcity of petrol in the nation. Members of the Task Force and other agencies were seen guarding the pipeline and the entire vicinity when National Mirror visited the area yesterday. A source close to the Force said it became necessary to mobilise to site in order to keep close watch over the important facility.

Energy Week

bout a month ago, the Nigerian Nuclear Regulatory Authority (NNRA) introduced new fees to be charged for its services to the oil and gas industry and other sectors of the economy. The new fees represent between 1,000 percent and 4,900 percent hike in what used to be and was take retroactive effect from August 29, 2012. Besides the new fees, radioactive users still have to bear the cost of clearing by NNRA licensed agents and freight forwarders whose licensing fees have also been astronomically increased to N1, 000,000.00 per annum by the authority; the annual cost of retaining external NNRA licensed Radioactive Safety Adviser (RSA) whose licensing fees have also been outrageously increased by the NNRA to N1, 000,000.00 biennium from N100, 000.00. Moreover, further expenditure include cost of NNRA licensed Dosimetry Service Provider Services whose licensing fees are put at N2,500.000.00 fixed and variable costs; escort administration fees chargeable by the Police Bomb squad which NNRA insists must accompany the radioactive sources in transit and the compulsory use of NNRA licensed truck for transit which annual licensing/ accreditation fee per annum is N2.5 million, which some have argued is most probably above 50 percent of the cost of purchasing the trucks to be accredited. These new increased fees have not gone down well with a group of Nigerians whose business resolves around handling radioactive substances and who are the main bodies that the NNRA is set up to regulate. In fact, the Radioactive Users and Stakeholders Forum (RUSF), a body comprising industry stalwart companies such as Oceaneering, Allied Inspection Services Ltd, Benok Consolidated Ltd, Ozma Inspection Services Ltd, Batek Nigeria Limited, SGS Inspection Services Ltd, Blueveld Ltd, Advanced Inspection Services Ltd, Neat Inspection Services Ltd, Arco Pipelines Ltd, Tracespec Global, Funtola Nigeria Ltd, Aftrac Ltd and Inspection and Tests Nigeria Ltd (ITL) among others, have risen to oppose the new fees regime that the NNRA seeks to implement because of their feeling that the new fees would threaten the smooth flow of oil, Nigeria’s main revenue source. They also point out that if the new fee structure is allowed to exist, it will undermine the existence of many companies who obviously will not be able to cope with the increments thus chipping away at the gains of the Nigerian Content Act of 2010 and plunging over 12, 000 Nigerians into the unemployment market, thus compounding the country’s socio-economic woes. The group has since been crying aloud all over the place hoping to catch the attention of bodies that are

Nuclear energy

able to make the NNRA do a recant through compulsion if it resists listening to their pleas. Already, the group has petitioned President Goodluck Jonathan and Ministers for Petroleum Resources, Health, and Labour, the Senate President, the National Assembly, the Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), The Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC), the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR), as well as Chief executives of International Oil Companies and oil servicing firms in the country. The group appealed to the authorities above the NNRA to prevail on the regulatory agency to focus on its primary assignment of regulating the use of radioactive substances and quit trying to put on the garb of an agency set up to generate revenue for the federal government. It pointed out that the actions of the NNRA is capable of causing upheaval in the oil and gas industry and disrupt crude oil production which in turn will cause a dislocation in the country’s economy. The RUSF remarked that insist that the new fees could lead to shutdown of some companies involved in providing radioactive services to the oil and gas sector, and also lead to job loses whose ripple socio-psychological effect could be crippling. The Chief Executive of Oceaneering Limited, Sir Rowland Nze said: “It is understandable that some members of the public do not understand the uses and application of radioactive substances. Most people are only aware of its use for x-rays in the hospitals. But in the industry (oil and gas), we have industrial x-rays and the reason this can affect oil flow is because they use radioactive sources in well logging. Well loggings are used during drilling process, and drilling is where you produce crude before you can go further to other processes of crude production.” He remarked that: “Now you have a lot of platforms out there, jackets, production platforms, you even have petrochemical complexes, refineries…every single jacket built, every single pipeline constructed, and you know we have pipelines traversing all over the offshore areas of Nigeria, even in-shore areas, so many major pipelines of all sizes. In the industry you cannot ascertain the integrity of any pipeline, any jacket, and any structure without what we call radiographic x-ray.” Nze stated that: “Which means we need this radiographic substance to effect what we call non-destructive testing, this non destructive testing is the ability to test a structure without damaging it. This ability determines the structural integrity of all the welded joints of jackets, platforms, barges, boats, petrochemical complexes and refineries.” He stated that: “That is why it is important, and that is how it can affect the oil industry if this is not rectified. The moment these companies that are doing this stop work, the chain reaction starts, the production system of the pipeline will also stop, even the drilling will stop so that is why we say it will impact the oil industry, the same thing applies to the medical lab, but we are more concerned here with the oil industry”, he said. Industry stakeholders are hoping that the worst case scenario painted by the radioactive substances services providers does not arise, as it is obvious that the government did not establish the NNRA to launch a death kneel on the oil and gas industry, the country most profitable cash cow.

Energy Week

Oil Blocks: TERL urges Nigerian content implementation The Managing Director of Treasure Energy Resource Limited (TERL) Dr Eddie Wikina has said in the actualisation of Nigerian content goals, companies that cannot demonstrate world class operating standards and knowledge in the management of critical social and environmental issues should not be allowed to takeover fields divested by International Oil Companies (IOCs). Dr Wikina told The Tide in an interview in Port Harcourt recently that whether operatorship right was being handed to Nigerian Petroleum Development company (NPDC) or any independent or indigenous oil company respect should be accorded to the Nigerian content law. According to him, “We have passed the stage where an operating company, be it indigenous or international can be imposed on a community without proper engagement and due consultations”. He enjoined government to fund the growth and development of indigenous companies to enable them acquire needed skills and operational capabilities to become players in the risk-prone upstream sector. Meanwhile in defence of the operatorship of shell’s divested blocks granted NPDC, an operating arm of Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), the group managing director of NNPC, Mr Andrew Yakubu said NPDC deserves it as the performance of indigenous companies in the nation’s upstream sector has not been very encouraging. Yakubu said the combined capacity of the 26 Marginal Field Operators (MFOs) were less than 10 per cent of the nation’s crude oil production capacity. “I have always said each time I had the opportunity of doing so that when we look at our participation in the upstream, indigenous participants have performed very poorly because we hardly have up to 10 per cent of total production in the upstream”, he pointed out. He argued that government’s action in respect of the operatorship was fair as NPDC had the best capacity and capability among the new partners to operate the blocks in which the NNPC retains 55 per cent working interest. The Group Executive Director, Exploration and Production, (NNPC) Mr Abiye Membere said it was a misconception to say that government unilaterally handed over the operatorship of the blocks to NPDC explaining that “If you have an asset owned by four parties and if three parties out of the four is leaving, the only persons standing in that asset is NNPC. That is how the operatorship issue came about, it is not that government unilaterally, handed over to operatorship to NPDC”. Three documents were signed between the Shell joint venture partners and Elcrest to seal the transfer of ownership of the 45 percent interest owned by the shell JV, which also included French oil grant, Total, and Italy’s Eni/Agip. The first is the Joint Operating Agreement (JOA) for OML 40 separated from the rest of the JV. The second agreement is also a JOA between NPDC and Elcrest while the third is the Innovation Agreement between the respective parties, according to reports

Ikeja Disco wins NAEC award The Ikeja Electricity Distribution Company has won the year 2012 National Association of Energy Correspondent (NAEC) Merit Award as the most outstanding electricity distribution company of the year. In the citation of the company presented during the Association’s Annual Conference and Awards Ceremony, the Company was said to have injected 905No. distribution transformers into the system between 2009 to date to relieve and uprate overloaded ones and replace faulty ones. A remarkable achievement of the Company as stated, is the fact that within the company’s network, no community is out of service due to transformer failure. The Company’s policy along this line is that any reported failed transformer will be replaced within 48hours. The Company was said to have also embarked on massive rehabilitation and reconstruction work at various injection substations aimed at reducing faults occasioned by poor network and vegetation. Also part of the Company’s ongoing projects is the very extensive reconductoring and rehabilitation of the distribution network to enhance supply stability and operational flexibility.

Wednesday, October 24, 2012

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Consumers of Nigeria’s gas take to substitutes UDEME AKPAN

onsumers of Nigeria’s gas in Ghana, Togo and Benin have started taking to close substitutes in order to generate electricity following the destruction of the West African Gas Pipeline that delivers the product to the nations. The substitutes included fuel oil and petrol which many consumers, including households and industries utilise to generate power. The Managing Director of the Company, Mr. Charles Adeniji who confirmed the development in Lagos said: “The consumers have options have actually taken to those options in order to generate electricity which the need for different purposes.” He raised hope that the pipeline which delivers Nigeria’s gas to the nations for power generation is set to restart operations in December this year. The pipeline that was damaged by a vessel is presently undergoing maintenance. Adeniji said divers have removed the damaged pipe joints for disposal while the remaining pipe ends have been aligned back to their original positions. He said construction barge was hired on September 24, 2012 while a team was mobilised 28 September 2012, equipped with crane, welders, pipe and machines. 6 Pipe joints loaded on the barge. He said: “Line scraper, called “pigs” will be inserted into and launched at one end of the line to remove water which will be received at the other end. Adeniji

WAGP pipeline

said: “Compressed gas or Nitrogen will be used to push the pig- Main line/ Laterals. As the pig travels, water in line will be pushed out, while the compressed gas or Nitrogen will dry the internal surface of the line.” The Managing director said: “The amount of moisture in the gas/ nitrogen will indicate when the line is dried and when pigging can stop. After drying / inerting, the operating valves will be opened to flow, and gas will be introduced into the line and will commence gas transportation operations.” Already, a construction barge has been hired to fabricate the replacement 6-pipe joint spools. Adeniji said: “Concurrently, action plans are being developed for removing water and drying the main and the lateral lines after which gas will be introduced. We expect to commence operations before December 25, 2012. Share-

holders have been very responsive and supporting.” The Managing Director of the Company explained that current works on the pipeline was about 10 per cent completed and that by December it would be over 90 per cent complete after which the pipes would be dried through the removal of water and debris in the lines. The company shut down its operations after the facility was damaged by an unidentified vessel which came under fire from Togolese naval authorities and subsequently stopped all gas deliveries to its onshore stations. The stoppage of gas deliveries to power stations has adversely affected service delivery at the generation, supply and distribution units of electricity services in Ghana leading to the current load shedding exercise in some parts of the country.

BP accepts terms for sale of TNK shares to Rosneft UDEME AKPAN

P said it has signed heads of terms to sell its 50 per cent share in TNKBP to Rosneft, the major Russian integrated oil and Gas Company. Under the heads of terms Rosneft has agreed in principle to buy BP’s share in TNK-BP. The proposed transaction consists of two tranches: BP would sell its 50 per cent shareholding in TNK-BP to Rosneft for $17.1 billion in cash and Rosneft shares representing a 12.84 per cent stake in Rosneft; In a statement, BP said it intended to use $4.8 billion of the cash consideration to acquire a further 5.66 per cent stake in Rosneft from the Russian government. BP would acquire the Rosneft shares from the Russian Government at a price of $8 per share (representing a premium of 12 per cent to the Rosneft share closing price on the bid date: 18 October 2012). Signing of the definitive agreements is conditional on the Russian government agreeing to the sale of the 5.66 per cent stake in Rosneft and it is intended that the TNK-BP sale and this further investment in Rosneft would complete on the same day. Therefore, on completion of the proposed transaction, BP would acquire a total 18.5 per cent stake in Rosneft and net $12.3 billion in cash. This would result in BP holding 19.75 per cent of Rosneft stock, when aggregated with BP’s 1.25 per cent current holding in Rosneft. At this level of ownership, BP expects to be able to account for its share of Rosneft’s earnings, production and reserves on an equity

basis. In addition BP expects to have two seats on Rosneft’s nine person main board. In accordance with the heads of terms, BP and Rosneft have an exclusivity period of 90 days to negotiate fully-termed sale and purchase agreements. After signing definitive agreements, completion would be subject to certain customary closing conditions, including governmental, regulatory and anti-trust approvals, and is currently anticipated to occur during the first half of 2013. In addition, BP will agree not to dispose of any of the Rosneft shares acquired in the transaction for at least 360 days following the completion of the transaction. BP’s chairman Carl-Henric Svanberg said: “This is an important day for BP. Russia is vital to world energy security and will be increasingly significant in years to come. Russia has also been an important country for us over the past 20 years. Our involvement has moved with the times. TNK-BP has been a good investment and we are now laying a new foundation for our work in Russia. “Rosneft is set to be a major player in the global oil industry. This material holding in Rosneft will, we believe, give BP solid returns. We consider that this is a deal which will deliver both cash and long term value for BP and its shareholders. It provides us with a sustainable stake in Russia’s energy future and is consistent with our Group strategy. “Over the coming months we will work hard to complete the transaction and we look forward to the next step of deepening our already strong relationship with Russia.”

BP’s group chief executive Bob Dudley said: “This investment builds on BP’s track record of value creation in Russia. It is consistent with our strategy of deepening our positions in the world’s most prolific oil and gas regions. “BP intends to be a long term investor in Rosneft – an investment which I believe will deliver value for our shareholders over the next decade and beyond. “Rosneft is a company working to become a global leader in the sector. It is developing its substantial asset base with new technologies and improving its management processes and corporate governance. As a major investor BP looks forward to being able to contribute to Rosneft’s success and add value through our participation on the Board. In this regard BP is supportive of Rosneft’s intention to pursue further equity in TNK-BP in due course.”

Chairman Carl-Henric Svanberg

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Wednesday, October 24, 2012

Executive Discourse

Wednesday, October 24, 2012

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

‘Aviation industry needs genuine Captain Ibrahim Mshelia is the Chief Executive Officer of Mish Aviation Training School, based in Ghana. Before establishing the school, Mshelia had worked in virtually all the forms of transportation in the country and eventually worked as a pilot in the defunct national carrier, Nigeria Airways. In this interview with OLUSEGUN KOIKI, he spoke on several topical issues such as the proposed zero tariffs for airline operators, the recent restructuring and accompanied condemnation and the ongoing remodelling of 11 airports by the Minister of Aviation, Princess Stella Oduah, among many other issues. Excerpts: Wh t do What d you have h to t say on the th proposed d removall off customs duties on aircraft and spare parts in the 2013 budget to the National Assembly by the Federal Government? This is a welcome development to the industry. I am so overwhelmed with happiness that this is finally happening in the aviation industry. Airlines have cried for this for a long time now. It is only that such great news is not being celebrated in the manner it deserves. The President and Ministry of Aviation have done well and I am highly impressed with this. Zero duty will definitely assist operators in no small measures and I think the operators and stakeholders are encouraged to come out to praise this laudable government gesture. Government is run by people and praise has its reward. I have seen the usual fashion in which the aviation stakeholders deploy in condemning whatever policy that is passed or perceived to be in the making even before it is pronounced. They must now reciprocate it, otherwise it will speak volumes of operators in the negative and confirms that operators only cry foul about these things and fake bottlenecks by blaming government in order to exploit the travelling public, which is not true. l also encourage government not to stop at this, but complete the remaining by reviewing all past recommendations and fully implement them in addition to this highly commendable move, for example; the tariffs on office accommodation, constant availability of Jet A1 (Aviation fuel) and pricing. I believe if government can be magnanimous to do these, then government can also begin to demand certain respite in return; such as reduced airfares for the general travelling public in addition to quality service. This is the essence; give and take. The essence is to improve the economy generally and not just to create enabling environment for a few. Government has responsibility over everybody. This will ensure that the general public and service provider strike a balance. Nigeria’s founding fathers and leaders have worked hard to put in place policies that will enhance our corporate existence as a nation and one people. The problem we have always had in this country, especially aviation where I belong, is that so many opportunists in the systems who were trusted by government do not see beyond themselves, they continue to misinform government to formulate strangulating policies that did not exist when they started, otherwise even they themselves wouldn’t have made to where they are today. It’s always about them; it’s them first, the second and them third. They go to any extent to ensure they remain relevant even. It’s a pity, but I believe with these kinds of moves by Government, things should get better soon. Above all, I like the style of the current administration, wide consultations and thorough review before taking decisions, this is the ideal thing and it will eventually save the country and expose the truth. If you are to advice the government on the implementation of the proposed policy, what will be your contribution? Now, before these are implemented; I urge the government to clear possible ambiguity by setting up a committee of experts to seat down with the relevant agencies and the Nigerian Customs Services to properly identify what is an aircraft, its parts and the accessories that will enjoy these waivers to check abuse. Knowing ourselves, some people will import washing

machines meantt for off an airline hi f the th guestt house h i li and d call it aircraft accessories or parts. There are very many accessories too that could be confusing to Customs officers, but are actually aircraft operation and maintenance related; like the ultrasound cleaning machines, boroscope machines, propeller balancing machine and ramp testers and the list can go on and on. In choosing who these experts are, we must also be careful not to assume every pilot or engineer or air traffic controller is an expert. The experts we should look for in this case should first be people not known to be involved in any fraudulent activities, must be highly educated in the field and must have operated, managed or been engaged in the day to day running of aircraft operations and maintenance. They will be hands on with what are genuinely parts or accessories. What can you say about the current remodelling of 11 airports in the first phase of which the Minister of Aviation, Princess Stella Oduah has come out to say some of them will be ready for use before Christmas? I am happy that for the first time, 11 out of the 22 main government airports are getting a facelift. I am however very disappointed that all we hear about this are negative remarks rather than commendations, it has been rude comments on the government and the officers in charge. I was in Nigeria recently and travelled through four of the 11 airports being remodelled; I was very impressed, all the four I saw are actually near commissioning in such a short time. The speed at which they completed these jobs is amazing for a government contract. Look at the General Aviation Terminal, structure, beauty and speed all combined. I pray that those who have been castigating government on the remodelling will sum up courage and leave the comfort of their homes and go around and see things for themselves. Not only that, they should also be courageous to shame the devil and speak the truth. What hurts most is that the negative comments are more from those of us so called professionals while the ordinary travelling public keeps singing praises, what a shameful irony! Over 50 years of aviation in Nigeria and over 30 years of my knowledge of some of these airports, nothing like this has happened before and with such quality and speed. Let the truth be told so our children can learn good values from us because they are listening and watching. This is the best effort I have seen in recent times on infrastructure since the last three decades of my involvement in the sector and rising through the professional steps from being first a student Pilot to commercial Pilot, Airline Transport Pilot, Certified Flight Instructor, Designate Pilot Examiner, held all management positions a pilot will hold to an Airline Operator/Airline Proprietor as well as now being the proprietor of the first Private Aviation Training School in the sub-region and sub-Saharan Africa offering training to candidates from scratch to full commercial pilots. I applaud the government this time around. Nigerians should not mind the skeptics crying foul all over the place, government is on the right track this time and well-meaning Nigerians back home are encouraged to support the current Aviation Minister particularly for these bold moves and disregard all these petty attacks on her personality. I am seeing similar efforts here in Ghana on the apron reconstruction that is even causing

Mshelia

THE PROBLEM WE HAVE ALWAYS HAD IN THIS COUNTRY, ESPECIALLY AVIATION WHERE I BELONG, IS THAT SO MANY OPPORTUNISTS IN THE SYSTEMS WHO WERE TRUSTED BY GOVERNMENT DO NOT SEE BEYOND THEMSELVES, THEY CONTINUE TO MISINFORM GOVERNMENT TO FORMULATE STRANGULATING POLICIES THAT DID NOT EXIST WHEN THEY STARTED serious delays to all domestic and regional airlines like Arik, Aero, Asky etc. including, major international carriers like Lufthansa, British Airways , Continental, Delta, KLM, Emirates , Ethiopian, South African, Kenyan you name it! This has also been on for well over a year and still ongoing. Yet, I have not heard a single noise other than praises to the Ghanaian government, especially to the Ghana Airports Company CEO, Mrs. Doreen Fianko and the Director-General of the Ghana Civil Aviation Air Commodore Kwame Mamphey (Rtd)

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Executive Discourse

Wednesday, October 24, 2012

investors and trained manpower’ IF THE SAME GROUP IS ACCUSING THE GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS OF STEALING AND THE SAME PEOPLE HAVE NOW SAID WE WANT TO AUTOMATE THE SOURCE OF

REVENUE, THEN BRAVO. WHY THE CRY?

into conclusions till we have facts and also avoid being prosecutors and judges at the same time. Going to press at free will is the right of everybody wishing to do so. But, I strongly advise that we exercise caution on what we take to the press. Certain official information, even when true, sending it to the press as if advertising products, has very damaging effects on all Nigerians in the end. It has adverse effect on the younger generation and capable of destroying our country’s image in the international community most especially if they turn out to be false.

for a good job at coordination. The future is what everyone is looking at and so we are all taking the pains now to gain later. I therefore say I encourage our people to learn from that, because the truth is that a lot is happening, but we are just ignorantly being skeptical or mischievously being so. Recently, unions in the industry accused the Minister of irregularities in some of her actions in the sector, what do you have to say on this? I was so sad to read the press conference attributed to some unions in the aviation sector. The press release was so unusual and the use of certain words on the Minister of Aviation, Princess Stella Oduah was uncalled for and lacked maturity in presentation. It’s rather unfortunate that this happened and I would expect the leadership of these unions who were not present at the press conference to make a rejoinder on some of the languages used. We have to respect authority no matter what. I would even encourage apologies to the Minister for the use of inappropriate words on her. Union and Management are supposed to be partners in progress who could disagree from time to time, but this should not be reduced to personal attacks on one another. Freedom is good, but freedom does not replace rights of others, rather freedom and rights are meant to blend and be part of each other. I am not qualified to teach ethics, but common sense dictates knowledge in some cases. So everyone’s right must be respected regardless. It’s wise also to always crosscheck and ascertain issues before taking a position, especially if one is not sure of the facts. We should be cautious not to jump

Part of the uproar by the unions against the Ministry of Aviation is the restructuring in the agencies; do you think there is a problem with the restructuring? Is it ethnicised as claimed? In Nigeria or anywhere at all, whenever there is a change in leadership, certain changes take place. Not only in aviation alone does this happen. I have seen and known that every minister carries out restructuring in every ministry in this country anytime there is a change. If this is guilt as you say the unions are portraying, then even the President is also guilty of same offence because he also changed so many things when he became President. As a matter of fact, even when he was completing another man’s term, he also made changes. I do not see what the aviation ministry has done as strange, rather it is the norm and these changes may not suite all, but I believe they are covered by law. If it is so, then it is their entitlements to do so. Whether it is lopsided or ethnicised, I don’t know. I have not seen or read the list. Besides a few directors in the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), I usually don’t even know the remaining directors and the directors in any other parastatals besides these few and the NCAA CEO as well as the CEO of the other agencies. Even NCAA, I normally only know that of four Directorates, which concern me. These are; DATR because of Air Carrier License, which I act as consultant to assist people obtain from time to time, Airworthiness for aircraft maintenance and certifications, Flight Operations and Training because I still fly and they are in charge of Air Operators’ Certificate (AOC) and training and then Director of Licensing who renews my Pilot license periodically that’s all. But, I was involved in an event recently and I got to know more of the other directorates and below is the structure and names of the personnel as at say a month or so ago. Director General, Dr. Harold Demuren (South West), Director of Airworthiness Standards; Engr. Patrick Ekunwe (South South), Director of Air Transport Regulations; Mrs. Anthonia Vincent (South west), Director of Consumer Protection; Mrs. Fatimah Garbati (North Central), Director of Operations and Training; Capt. Olumide Lawal (South West), Director of Licensing; Mr. E. Ogunbambi (South West), Director of Finance; Mr. Johnson Adekola (South West), Director of Aerodromes: Engr. Haruna (North West). I don’t know what it is now after this change that is causing the rancour you are asking me, because I have not seen the list. But, we have lived with the above structure for a while now. As a journalist and you say what the unions are complaining of is ethnicity. I am sure they are referring to Federal Character Act of the Fed Republic of Nigeria. Does this reflect Federal Character? Did you hear any rancour over this before the change? I have really never paid attention to this in the past, but if you ask me now, it is not. I only hope the new list will balance the thing or even compensate regions that have been short-changed. The bottom line for me really, if someone can do the job right without fear or favour, that’s the man. If we can detribalise our thinking and behaviour, will Federal Character matter even if lopsided in aviation?

One thing I can tell you for sure is that I know there are well trained and experienced aviation practitioners from all the six geo-political zones of the country. There were also a lot of cries over the planned automation of the agencies in the industry, how do you think this should be carried out in the sector? Automation generally is like introducing transparency and how can transparency be a bad thing? The world has changed. Now automation is key to development and sustenance of such development in any nation. From what I have read of this automation, it is planned for revenue collection. If we look at it from a nationalistic point of view, automation for revenue collection is a way to go and definitely the best way out. If you automate the revenue collection, you eliminate a lot of leakages and not only on the receiving alone, but also with safe keeping and disbursement. It should be a welcome idea to all wellmeaning Nigerians especially those of us in the aviation sector. How can transparency become a bad thing when we know that it’s a major killer of our country? I am actually now getting confused as to what is going on. If the same group is accusing the government officials of stealing and the same people have now said we want to automate the source of revenue, then bravo. Why the cry? I do understand what automation is and does to a system. I am even at the final stages of automating the administration of my flying school. If I show you the model, you will be shocked at what it does. However, with automation, one thing comes to mind and that is the loss of job for the manual workers where automation will take over. Of course nobody wants to lose his or her job ever, especially in these hard times. But, I am sure the government that is shouting Job creation will not automate and throw away people on the streets, unjustly. I believe they will make plans for the staff that will be affected. Why the brouhaha? The unions should not forget that when you automate, facts they do not even know may emerge and be witting they may be used to fight it without their knowing. The Unions should be very careful that people do not use them to stall the process in order to cover issues that may arise. So I appeal to my colleagues, both young and old to allow the automation exercise. If true they are fighting justice and accountability, what else can guarantee that in modern times?

Global Business

Wednesday, October 24, 2012

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Skeptics dump Spain for German Federal bonds

he European Central Bank’s plan to buy the debt of cash- strapped nations boosted Spanish bond values and cheapened German debt. The price of the 1.75 percent (German Federal bond) repayable in July 2022 dropped from 105.92 at the start of June to as low as 100.47 on September. 17. The dip in bund prices represents a buying opportunity, according to BlueBay Asset Management Ltd., which oversees $41 billion. Demand for German debt, perceived to be among the safest securities, is being sustained as Spain weighs a sovereign bailout to supplement a 100-billion euro ($129 billion) bank rescue package and as Europe’s economy slides toward recession. While analysts have raised year-end forecasts for the 10-year bund rate since the ECB outlined its strategy, the median year- end estimate is 1.63 percent, compared with about 1.52 percent currently and almost half the five-year average of 3 percent. “We like bunds,” said Russel Matthews, a fund manager at BlueBay in London who said he has a “small long

Draghi

position” in German debt. “They are cheap around 1.60 percent. If Spain does request a bailout bund yields won’t get that much higher because of the fundamental backdrop.” German 10-year yields matched a record 1.127 percent on July 23, three days before Draghi promised to do “whatever it takes” to defend the euro. The Sep-

Spanish bad bank risks investor conflict with stressed lenders

Rajioy

pain must ensure a so-called bad bank meets investor demands for yield without undermining the balance sheets of lenders as the government seeks a panacea for the country’s real estate crisis. “If the new investors do not believe they are going to get a good return on their investment, they will not want to get involved,” said Vanessa Gelado, director of

Drago Capital, a Madrid-based real estate fund that’s considering investing in the bad bank. “It’s a very difficult equilibrium to achieve.” The terms of Spain’s 100 billion-euro ($129 billion) bank bailout oblige Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy to set up an asset management firm to house foreclosed homes and real estate loans from banks that received state aid. The government wants private investors to own the majority of the bank so the debt doesn’t contaminate national accounts as it tries to rein in the euro region’s third-biggest budget deficit. The strategy pits investor demands for low valuations on assets transferred to the bad bank with the needs of some lenders to support real estate prices to avoid further losses, said Luis Garicano, a professor at the London School of Economics. “It’s a very difficult balance to achieve, or maybe it’s impossible,” said Garicano in a phone interview. “If you’re the government, you’re trying to attract investors, but at the same time you don’t want to underpay for the assets or you risk undermining the banks and maybe having to recapitalize them unnecessarily.”

Next BOE chief must be independent of banks, Cable says

.K. Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg and Business Secretary Vince Cable called for the next Bank of England governor to be independent of the banking system, with Cable hinting no bankers had applied for the job. “Clearly you want someone who understands banking but is not captured by banking,” Clegg said in an interview with Bloomberg Television yesterday at his Liberal Democrat party’s conference in Brighton. The person needs to have “a suppleness of mind, capable of challenging orthodoxies at a time when many, many orthodoxies on how you run monetary and fiscal policy are being challenged by the very exceptional circumstances that we face,” he added. Conservative Chancellor of the Exche-

quer George Osborne this month formally began his search to replace Mervyn King, who steps down in June. Osborne’s Liberal Democrat coalition partners will have a say in the appointment, which will be announced by the end of this year. In an interview yesterday, Cable said King’s successor must be someone “understanding the banking system but independent of it and able to speak frankly where necessary.” Asked if a banker could do the job, he said: “I don’t know that there are any applying.” Former Bank of England Deputy Governor John Gieve said on September 12 that it would be “very difficult” for the government to select a banker who had worked recently in light of recent scandals tarnishing London’s financial center.

tember 6 announcement of a plan to buy bonds of countries that request aid helped drive the rate to 1.73 percent on September 17, the most since April 26. Spanish 10-year yields, which reached a euro-era high of 7.75 percent on July 25, have fallen more than 2 percentage points to 5.73 percent, while Italian 10year yields have dropped to 5.11 percent

from 6.71 percent that day. The selloff in bunds may prove temporary, according to strategists at Royal Bank of Scotland Group Plc, who forecast the rate will end the year at 1.50 percent. Money managers at Frankfurt Trust Investment GmbH and Glendevon King Asset Management said they may buy should yields reach 2 percent. “By the end of the year things will have got a bit worse,” said Nicola Marinelli, who oversees $160 million at Glendevon King in London. “There will be another wave of flight to bunds and the rates may come back down to around 1.4 percent.” Even as policy makers strive to end the three-year debt crisis, the region’s economic outlook is weakening. Euroarea surveys on September 20 showed services and manufacturing output fell to a 39-month low in September adding to evidence the economy is heading for a recession. Figures Monday showed German business confidence unexpectedly fell to the lowest in more than two and a half years in October.

South Korea plans smallest deficit in six years as growth slows

outh Korea’s government plans to cut its fiscal deficit next year to the smallest in six years as policy makers preserve firepower amid a slowing global economy and rising welfare costs. Total spending will increase 5.3 percent to 342.5 trillion won ($306 billion), the Ministry of Strategy and Finance said in its budget proposal for 2013 released yesterday. The deficit will shrink to 4.8 trillion won, or 0.3 percent of gross domestic product in 2013, down from 14.3 trillion won, or 1.1 percent this year, according to its calculations. “We need to secure fiscal room to respond preemptively to long-term challenges,” Vice Finance Minister Kim Dong Yeon said in remarks embargoed for today’s budget-statement release. “The budget draft aims to improve fiscal health as the South Korean economy is very much vulnerable to changes in global economic conditions.” President Lee Myung Bak’s plan calls for the smallest deficit since the budget swung to a shortfall in 2008, the year Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc.’s collapse sparked a global crisis. Meeting the target will depend on how Asia’s fourth- largest economy recovers as European turmoil and slowing growth cut demand for exports that fell 6.2 percent from a year earlier in August. “The government’s plan to achieve fiscal balance next year or the year after may be delayed as tax collection slows with waning growth,” said Kang Joong Koo, an economist at the LG Economic Research Institute. “Balancing the budget should be a medium-term goal but it’s questionable whether that should be rushed when the economy needs more fiscal support.” The finance ministry announced 5.9 trillion won of spending and tax relief this month, adding to 8.5 trillion won of support measures in June. Standard & Poor’s, Fitch Ratings and Moody’s Investors Ser-

Lee

vice all cited South Korea’s strong position to weather shocks when they upgraded the country during a three- week period starting last month. The won advanced 0.2 percent to 1,118.15 per dollar at 11:15 a.m. in Seoul, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. The benchmark Kospi index fell 0.3 percent. South Korea’s government plans to sell 79.9 trillion won of bonds in 2013, compared with 79.8 trillion won this year, according to a financial ministry official who declined to be identified as the official report is yet to be released. Of the total, 57.5 trillion won will be used for buybacks and redemption payments. The finance ministry will present the budget draft to lawmakers by October 25 for parliamentary approval. The ruling New Frontier Party is seeking to hold onto the presidency in December elections, with Lee’s single five-year term ending in February.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Global Business

Wednesday, October 24, 2012

hina’s central bank added a record 290 billion yuan ($46 billion) to the financial system using reverse-repurchase agreements, seeking to address a cash squeeze in the run-up to a weeklong holiday. The People’s Bank of China conducted 190 billion yuan of 28-day reverse repos and offered 100 billion yuan of 14day contracts, according to a trader at a primary dealer required to bid at the auctions. Yesterday’s total is the highest for a single day in Bloomberg data going back to 2004. “Record amounts of reverse repos are to meet the surge in cash demand before the quarter-end and the holidays,” said Liu Junyu, a bond analyst in Shenzhen at China Merchants Bank Co., the nation’s sixth-biggest lender. “As the central bank steps up adding funds through reverse repos, it’s unlikely to cut the reserve ratio this month.” The seven-day repurchase rate, which measures interbank funding availability, gained 22 basis points to 4.73 percent as of yesterday in Shang-

China’s central bank injects record funds to ease cash crunch

The Chinese flag flies outside the headquarters of the People’s Bank of China in Beijing

hai, the highest level since June 28, according to a weighted average compiled by the National Interbank Funding Center.

French industrial sentiment holds near two-year low

rench industrial confidence held near its lowest in more than two years in September as the economy stagnates and tax increases loom. A measure of sentiment among factory executives was unchanged at 90, national statistics office Insee said in Paris today. Economists expected a reading of 89, according to the median of 18 forecasts in a Bloomberg News survey of economists. A gauge that includes retailers, builders and service industries fell to a three-year low of 86 from 87 in August. Business confidence is faltering in Europe’s second-largest economy after gross domestic product failed to grow for three straight quarters and as President Francois Hollande prepares 20 billion euros ($26 billion) in tax increases for the coming year. Business sentiment in Germany unexpectedly fell to a two- and-a-half-year low this French President, Francois Hollande month, a report showed yesterday, as the sovereign debt crisis drives the euro area falling income expectations. The index will remain at 5.9 for a second straight month, toward recession. “We cannot expect a quick recovery any GfK said. “The fear of German consumers that time soon,” said Joost Beaumont, an economist at ABN Amro in Amsterdam who ex- the economy will slip into recession did not pects the French economy to contract in the increase further,” GfK said in a statement. third quarter and flat-line through the first “But uncertainty of consumers with regard half of next year. “The budget is likely to to their future financial prospects has risen be unfriendly to business. Consolidation is in recent weeks.” necessary but you would have expected the government to lean more on spending.” Hollande’s government presents its 2013 budget on September 28. oyal Bank of Scotland Group Plc Insee’s reading for past production managers condoned and particidropped to minus 18 from minus 9 in Aupated in the manipulation of globgust, while the production outlook fell to al interest rates, indicating that wrongminus 52 from minus 44. The general out- doing extended beyond the four traders look “is deteriorating strongly again, ap- the bank has fired. proaching the very low levels reached in In an instant-message conversation 2009,” Insee said. in late 2007, Jezri Mohideen, then the The euro fell 0.2 percent to $1.2904 yester- bank’s head of yen products in Singaday in Paris. The Stoxx Europe 600 Index pore, instructed colleagues in the U.K. to (SXXP) of shares added 0.1 percent after lower RBS’s submission to the London falling 0.4 percent Monday. interbank offered rate that day, accordIn neighboring Germany, Europe’s larg- ing to two people with knowledge of the est economy, market- research company discussion. No reason was given in the GfK SE predicted its gauge of consumer message as to why he wanted a lower confidence will hold steady in October as bid. The rate-setter agreed, submitting a less pessimistic economic outlook offsets the number Mohideen sought, the people

The central bank kept the yields on 28- and 14-day reverse repos unchanged at 3.6 percent and 3.45 percent, respectively, the trader said. China’s financial

markets will be shut from October 1 to October 5 for the National day and midautumn holidays. China’s monetary authority also auctioned 40 billion yuan of six-month treasury deposits to commercial banks on behalf of the Ministry of Finance at a yield of 4.32 percent, according to a different trader. That compared with yesterday’s six-month Shanghai interbank offered rate of 4.09 percent. The PBOC lowered the amount of cash lenders must set aside as reserves in May to 20 percent, the second reduction this year. China’s one-year interest-rate swap, the fixed cost needed to receive the floating seven-day repo rate, declined five basis points, or 0.05 percentage point, to 3.20 percent, according to data compiled by Bloomberg.

G-20 agree more government action needed for world recovery

roup of 20 officials meeting in Mexico City agreed that the latest monetary easing by developed nations will buy time for the global economic recovery and governments must do more to boost growth, Mexican central bank Deputy Governor Manuel Ramos Francia said. Ramos Francia spoke at a news conference following the end of a two-day meeting of deputy finance ministers and central bank officials from G-20 nations in Mexico City. Mexico is presiding over the group this year. “Time can be bought through monetary easing, but the risks are still present,” Ramos Francia said. “For Europe to effectively heal, for example, other types of policies need to be implemented.” The meetings took place after European Central Bank President Mario Draghi said September 6 that the bank was ready to buy unlimited quantities of short-dated government bonds of nations signed up for rescues. The U.S. Federal Reserve on September. 13 said that it would make additional purchases of debt in a third

round of so-called quantitative easing, while the Bank of Japan unexpectedly increased its asset-purchase fund to 55 trillion yen ($707 billion) at its meeting last week. The G-20 nations called for better transparency in commodities markets and for measures to boost production, transportation and trade of raw materials to reduce price volatilitiy, said Mexico’s deputy finance minister, Gerardo Rodriguez, who co-chaired the September 23 and 24 meetings.

Mexican central bank Deputy Governor Manuel Ramos Francia

RBS managers said to condone manipulation of libor rates

said. Mohideen wasn’t alone. RBS traders and their managers routinely sought to influence the firm’s Libor submissions between 2007 and 2010 to profit from derivatives bets, according to employees, regulators and lawyers interviewed by Bloomberg News. Traders also communicated with counterparts at other firms to discuss where rates should be set, one person said. “This kind of activity was widespread in the industry,” said David Greene, a senior partner at law firm Edwin Coe LLP in London. “A lot of the traders didn’t consider this behavior to be wrong. They took it as the practice of the trade. This

is how things operated, and it seemed harmless.” RBS, 81 percent owned by the British government, is one of at least a dozen banks being probed by regulators worldwide over allegations that traders colluded to manipulate the benchmark interest rate so they could profit from bets on interest-rate derivatives. Barclays Plc, Britain’s second-biggest bank, was fined 290 million pounds ($470 million) in June for rigging the rate, used for more than $300 trillion of securities ranging from mortgages to student loans. Chief Executive Officer Robert Diamond and Chairman Marcus Agius resigned in the aftermath.

Capital Market

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Wednesday, October 24, 2012

Islamic Index gain fails to lift ASI JOHNSON OKANLAWON

ain recorded by Lotus Islamic Index and Consumer Goods Index failed to lift the benchmark indices of equities segment of the Nigerian Stock Exchange yesterday, as other sectorial indices closed negative. The All Share Index lost 0.20 per cent to close at 27, 250.37 points, compared to the decline of 0.08 per cent recorded the preceding day to close at 27,194.13 points. Market capitalisation shed N18bn to settle at N8.67trn, higher than

the depreciation of N8bn recorded the preceding day to close at N8.69trn. Lotus Islamic Index led sectorial indices by 0.19 per cent to close at 1,708.58 points, followed by Cosumer Goods Index with 0.16 per cent to close at 2,382.88 points. The NSE 30-Index dropped 0.21 per cent to close at 1,290.06 points, while the Banking Index dipped by 0.63 per cent to close at 437.73 points. The Isurance Index depreciated by 0.39 per cent to close at 134.83 points, while the Oil and Gas Index fell 0.72 per cent to settle at 156.63

points. Academy Press Plc led the gainers’ table with 34 kobo or 9.97 per cent to close at N3.75 per share, followed by DN Meyer Plc with 32 kobo or 9.94 per cent to close at N3.54 per share. Fidson Healthcare Plc appreciated by eight kobo or 6.96 per cent to close at N1.23 per share, while UACProperties Plc rose by 57 kobo or five per cent to close at N11.97 per share. Cement Company of Northern Nigeria Plc settled at N6.30 per share, up by 30 kobo or five per cent. On the flip side, AIICO

Insurance Plc declined by six kobo or 9.09 per cent to close at 60 kobo per share, while Presco Plc dipped by 92 kobo or 6.17 per cent to close at N14.00 per share. Custodian Insurance Plc lost eight kobo or 5.41 per cent to close at N1.40 per share, while Cadbury Nigeria Plc depreciated by N1.54 or 4.99 per cent to close at N29.35 per share. Neimeth Pharmaceuticals Plc fell six kobo or 4.84 per cent to close at N1.18 per share. A total of 247.9 million shares valued at N2.70bn were exchanged in 5,262 deals.

Union Bank to pay dividends as Osibodu bows out J OHNSON O KANLAWON

nion Bank of Nigeria has said that the bank would soon begin to pay dividends to shareholders as efforts are being made to clear the historic negative reserves. Speaking at the bank’s Annual General Meeting in Uyo yesterday, the outgoing Group Managing Director, Mrs. Funke Osibodu, who is retiring from the bank this month, pointed out that the negative reserves preclude the management from declaring dividends from the improving profits of the bank. The Chairman of the bank, Mr. Dick Kramer,

said that the bank was poised to regain its rightful leadership position in the Nigerian banking industry. According to him, with the foundation laid by the Funke Osibodu -led management and supports from the new core investors and staff, the bank now look forward to increasingly positive results in the future. She said the bank was in the process of getting regulatory approval to reverse the negative reserves with the share premium accounts and put the bank in good position to commence dividend payment. At the meeting, shareholders commended the

dexterity of the Osibodu-led management, which according to them, was instrumental to the recapitalisation and transformation of the bank. The Chairman, Ibadan Zone Shareholders’ Association, Mr.Sola Abodunrin, said the doggedness of the bank’s management in spite of oppositions from some quarters salvaged the bank and ensured that shareholders did not lose all their investments as were the cases in some banks. He said the bank now has bright prospects given the experience and diversity of the new management and board and its large capital base.

The President, Association for the Advancement of Rights of Nigerian Shareholders, Dr. Faruk Umar, stressed that shareholders were appreciative of the efforts made by the management of the bank to restore the iconic bank to its pride of place. He noted that Osibodu deserves a national honour for her roles in rescuing and recapitalising the bank, pointing out that the bank now boasts of a united and visionary board. The Chairman, Port Harcourt Zone Shareholders Association, Mr. Francis Orji, commended the bank’s performance citing the first half results, which indicated rebound to profitability.

Dow drops most since June amid disappointing earnings

nited States stocks fell yesterday, sending the Dow Jones Industrial Average toward its biggest loss since June, amid disappointing results at companies from 3M Company to DuPont Company and as commodities erased their gain for the year. 3M, the maker of products ranging from Scotch tapes to dental braces, and DuPont, the most valuable US chemical maker, slumped at least 3.2 per cent, while Xerox Corporation, the provider of printers and business services, sank 7.5 per cent after saying third-quarter

profit fell 12 per cent. Freeport-McMoRan Copper and Gold Incorporation and Dow Chemical Company slid more than 4.1 per cent as commodities retreated amid concern about a global slowdown. The Standard and Poor’s 500 Index decreased 1.6 per cent to 1,411.39 points, the lowest level on a closing basis since September 5. The Dow slumped 241.36 points, or 1.8 percent, to 13,104.53 points as trading in S&P 500 companies was 15 per cent. “That’s the reality of the situation that inves-

tors are facing,” said Bruce Bittles, Chief Investment Strategist at Milwaukee-based RW Baird and Company, which oversees $85bn. “There’s not much growth in the economy. There’s lack of demand. How can revenues grow?” Thirty-three companies in the S&P 500 are releasing results on Tuesday. Third-quarter sales missed forecasts at 60 per cent of companies, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. Earnings at about 70 per cent of the index’s companies beat analysts’ estimates, the data showed.

All 10 groups in the S&P 500 retreated today as commodity and financial shares had the biggest losses. The Morgan Stanley Cyclical Index of companies most-tied to economic growth declined 1.8 per cent. “The earnings season has not gone as well as many would like,” said Tom Wirth, who helps manage $1.6bn as senior investment officer for Chemung Canal Trust Company, in Elmira, New York. “In general, sales have been disappointing. There’s heightened concern about global growth.”

Source: NSE NIBOR QUOTES 22 OCTOBER & 23 OCTOBER 2012 20.00 19.00 18.00 17.00 16.00 15.00 14.00 13.00 12.00 11.00 10.00 9.00 8.00 7.00 6.00 5.00

22-Oct-12

23-Oct-12

Source: FMDA

Market indicators Market indicators

All-Share Index 7,490,286 points All-Share Index 22,191.14 points Market capitalisation 23,531.63 trillion Market capitalisation 7,084 trillion

Stock Updates GAINERS COMPANY

OPENING

CLOSING

CHANGE

ACADEMY

3.41

3.75

0.34

% CHANGE 9.97

DNMEYER

3.22

3.54

0.32

9.94

FIDSON

1.15

1.23

0.08

6.96

UAC-PROP

11.40

11.97

0.57

5.00

CCNN

6.00

6.30

0.30

5.00

CAP

30.02

31.52

1.50

5.00

CUTIX

1.41

1.48

0.07

4.96

EVANSMED

1.26

1.32

0.06

4.76

MANSARD

1.69

1.77

0.08

4.73

GOLDINSURE

0.50

0.52

0.02

4.00

CHANGE

% CHANGE

LOSERS COMPANY

OPENING

CLOSING

AIICO

0.66

0.60

0.06

-9.09

PRESCO

14.92

14.00

0.92

-6.17

CUSTODYINS

1.48

1.40

0.08

-5.41

CADBURY

30.89

29.35

1.54

-4.99

NEIMETH

1.24

1.18

0.06

-4.84

NAHCO

6.00

5.72

0.28

-4.67

ETERNA

2.20

2.10

0.10

-4.55

NASCON

5.99

5.75

0.24

-4.01

SKYEBANK

4.26

4.10

0.16

-3.76

WAPIC

0.56

0.54

0.02

-3.57

Primary Market Auction TENOR

AMOUNT (N’mn)

RATE (%)

DATE

91-Day

34,88.90

13.95

25-Oct-12

182-Day

45,000.00

14.50

25-Oct-12

364 -Day

31,385.90

16.49

25-Oct-12

Open Market Operations TENOR

AMOUNT (N’mn)

RATE (%)

DATE

297Days

7,878.70

16.40

25-oct-12

289-Day

12,963.25

16.39

24-Oct-12

Wholesale Dutch Auction System AMOUNT OFFERED

MARKET DEMAND

AMOUNT SOLD

DATE

$150m

N/A

$150m

22-Oct-12

$150m

N/A

$150m

17-Oct-12

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Capital Market

Wednesday, October 24, 2012

Stock exchange daily equities summary Equities as at October 23, 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, October 24, 2012

FOR YOUR SUCCESS

WITH DR. DEJI FOLUTILE

Today's Tonic (28) When you least feel like smiling is when you most need to smile. –Robin Sharma *** Your Smile Has Power! The struggles of daily living most of the time threatens our ability to keep a smile on our faces. But we should resist this tendency firmly and keep smiling no matter what! The chinese has a proverb that says he who would not smile should not open shop. Our smiles has power to draw great experiences to us. Smiles can build homes, transform offices, keep relationships strong and eliminate the stress of living. My spiritual mentor is fond of saying that if you keep a long look, it means you have a long way to go! Let’s keep that winning smile on our faces all the time no matter the pressure of the moment. Haven’t you noticed that everyone is beautiful with a smile? TEL 08104942999 E-MAIL deji.folutile@gmail.com Follow me @TwitterOWOTIDE

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Oddities

World’s biggest bra put up for auction

he world’s biggest bra is being auctioned for a breast cancer charity. Although, technically, the recordsetting bra isn’t even the largest cup available. How is that possible? Well, the bra, modelled on a 34B T-shirt bra, is actually a “mega 1,360B” that is nearly as big as two tennis courts and weighs as much as 1,800 traditional bras. “Our aim in auction-

ing the bra is to build awareness and involvement in Wear It Pink Day as well as raise money for Breast Cancer Campaign in the process,” said the director of Chillisauce.co.uk, Adrian Simpson, whose group is auctioning off

the bra. The bra is being auctioned on eBay with a starting bid of £500 (U.S. $800.30). The auction continues through October 28, 2012. Along with the actual bra itself, the winning bidder will receive

Male beluga whale mimics human sspeech –Study

t could be the muffled sound of singing in the shower or that sing-songy indecipherable voice from the Muppets’ Swedish Chef. Surprisingly, scientists said the audio they captured was a whale imitating people. In fact, the whale song sounded so eerily human that divers initially thought it was a human voice. Handlers at the National Marine Mammal Foundation in San Diego heard mumbling in 1984 coming from a tank containing whales and dolphins that

sounded like two people chatting far away. It wasn’t until one day, after a diver surfaced from the tank and asked, “Who told me to get out?” did researchers realize the garble came from a captive male Beluga whale. For several years, they recorded its spontaneous sounds while it was underwater and when it surfaced. An acoustic analysis revealed the human-like sounds were several octaves lower than typical whale calls. The research was pub-

lished online Monday in Current Biology. Scientists think the whale’s close proximity to people allowed it to listen to and mimic human conversation. It did so by changing the pressure in its nasal cavities. After four years of copying people, it went back to sounding like a whale, emitting high-pitched noises. It died five years ago. Dolphins and parrots have been taught to mimic the patterns of human speech, but it’s rare for an animal to do it spontaneously.

The world’s biggest bra hangs from the ITV Tower in London

Photo: eBay

a copy of the Guinness World Records official certificate. The recordsetting bra first made headlines in October 2011, when it was suspended from the ITV Tower in London, in conjunction with last year’s Wear It Pink Day.

Wednesday, October 24, 2012

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Community Mirror Initiation rites: Residents flee as fighting breaks out

50 AMOUR UDEMUDE ASABA

ccusation and counter accusation has continued to trail the recent gruesome murder of the Head of Personnel Management (HPM), Isoko North Local Government Area of Delta state, Chigwe Bernard. Chigwe was murdered in controversial circumstances in his farm at Kwale, headquarters of Ndokwa West council area on September, 30, 2012 when some policemen went with him to the farm to effect the arrest of some Fulani herdsmen said to have been destroying from produce in the farm. Addressing a press conference yesterday in Asaba, Barrister Emeka Chigwe, on behalf of the family, claimed that apart from the conflicting stories surrounding the murder, the police are attempting to shield the actual identity of his murderers and to also sabotage all efforts to efect their arrest. According to the lawyer, their belief is that one Momodu Osuya, a vigilante and youth leader, as well as four police officers from Kwale Police Division, all of whom were present with Chigwe when he was murdered have hands in the murder of the deceased. This, he said, stemmed from the contradicting versions of the police account of his murder and incontrovertible evidence gathered from the scene of the crime. The lawyer said even when the

“We are oppressed by the Federal Government and if you don’t have the human compulsion in you, you are going to oppress your local government and the local government will oppress the people.” EKITI STATE GOVERNOR, DR. KAYODE FAYEMI

Family accuses Delta police of killing council worker family petitioned the Commissioner of Police on the contradictions and suspicion of complacency of the police team in Kwale, CID who visited the crime scene, it was discovered that there was no bush anywhere to facilitate the kind of ambush alleged by the Oferm team, neither was there any fresh cattle footprint on

the farm nor wasted bullet pellets found around. Chigwe maintained that the police’s spurious impression that a Fulani herdsman, Sule Maigari, who shot the deceased had been arrested was a corporate falsehood and attempt to absolve itself of complicity in the murder of their son, stressing that the said Maigari was

People on board a train in Lagos.

ASABA

t was a carnival- like atmosphere on Monday, as more succour continued to pour in for the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Delta state especially those being camped at the St. Patrick College and ICE Asaba by the state government following the recent floods that ravaged some parts of the state. The Organization for the Advancement of Anioma Culture (OFAAC), a socio-cultural organization based in Asaba, at the weekend joined other groups; NGOs, and others to donate relief materials of various items to the state government at the St. Patrick’s College camp, Asaba to cushion the effect

of the disaster. Presenting the materials which include bags of rice, and beans, cartons of noodles, gallons of oil, soaps of different types as well as toiletries to the state government, the President of OFAAC, Architect Kester Ifeadi stated that the organization was moved by the degree of devastation caused by the flood and decided to contribute its own quota to mitigate the effect on victims. Ifeadi who was represented by the Board of Trustees (BoT) Director of the organization, Mr. Emeka Madu expressed confidence that the donation would go a long way in ameliorating the suffering of the flood victims. While commending the state government for the efforts so far in rehabilitating the flood victims

two other suspects he said are helping the police in their investigation. He said the suspects have been charged to court for conspiracy, murder and have been remanded, regretting that instead of the family of the victims to commend the police, they are blaming the force in an attempt to retrieve the vehicle of the deceased.

PHOTO: NAN

Group donates relief materials to flood victims

AMOUR UDEMUDE

nowhere near the scene of crime on the day in question. But the Delta state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Ikechukwu Aduba, said there is no controversy surrounding the matter, as he said one of the suspects was arrested at Onitsha with bullet wounds in his stomach after painstaking investigation, the doctor treating the suspect and

across the state and the need to sustain the tempo, the organization called on other organizations to emulate OFAAC and donate towards the cause, stressing that the task of providing succour for the victims should not be left in the hands of the state government alone. Receiving the items on behalf of the state government, Commissioner for Special Duties, Dr. Tony Nwaka thanked the organization for the gesture saying that the state government was looking forward to further donations from other organizations. According to Nwaka, the magnitude of the disaster was too much for the government to bear and appealed to well-meaning individuals and organizations to come to the rescue of the victims.

Police arrest yam seller, painter for alleged car theft FRANCIS SUBERU

olice officers attached to Ketu Police Division on Monday arrested a yam seller and a car painter for allegedly stealing a space wagon car belonging to a car dealer at Ketu, Lagos. The suspects are being detained at Ketu Police Division Station pending further investigations. According to a reliable police source, the suspects allegedly went to a car dealer in Agege area of the metropolis, under the guise of buying the vehicle. He explained that the vehicle dealer and one of the suspects agreed on a price and that the suspect collected the bank account of the dealer with the pretence of paying the agreed

amount there. “Some minutes later, the suspects returned to the dealer that the money had been paid into his bank account. While the suspects were still with the dealer, he got a payment alert of the said amount from his bank. “Based on the alert, the dealer released the vehicle to the suspects and they took it to Ketu area, where they immediately changed the vehicle’s colour. The dealer was shocked, when he got to the bank and there was no such money in his account and thereafter reported the matter to the police,” he said. The Police, upon receiving the complaint, swung into action and found out through intelligence report that a suspected stolen vehicle was parked somewhere in Ketu.

Community Mirror

Wednesday, October 24, 2012

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Initiation rites: Community residents flee as parties clash FRANCIS SUBERU

WITH AGENCY REPORT

any residents of South Ibie Kingdom, near Auchi, Etsako East Local Government Area of Edo State on Tuesday, fled the community as fighting broke out between some youths of the area and the police. It was gathered that fighting broke out following a dispute between the monarch and a section of the kingdom on whether to hold ``Manhood Initiation Celebration’’ during the Eid-el-Kabir celebration or not. The fight was said to have started on Tuesday morning, when men of the Nigerian Police Force allegedly destroyed the “local shade” set up to mark the initiation ceremony by a section of the Kingdom. Following the development, a hot argument ensued between both parties which led to exchange of gun fire. It was said that some policemen were drafted to the community by the local government chairman, Dr Bruno Oshonebo, to enforce the “no initiation order” on the

Gov. Oshiomole

community as approved by the state government. Oshonebo told journalists that the South Ibie Kingdom government recognised that the monarch had gotten approval from the state government not to allow any manhood ceremony to take place in the kingdom during the Sallah break. “You kno,w there is a long time chieftaincy dispute in the kingdom and each time there is a Muslim festival, there is always a problem. However, to forestall such problem, the state government had acceded to the monarch, whom the government recognised, not to have any form of manhood celebration in the kingdom. This is exactly what I am trying to do, to enforce the ban on any form of celebration in the area during Sallah,” he explain. Though no loss of life has been recorded so far, it was total pandemonium until the situation was brought under control by police and military personnel. The Divisional Police Officer in charge of Auchi, Ahmed Umar, confirmed the incident and blamed the people for flouting government’s order. Umar said that the order to ban any form of `manhood celebration’ was to allow peace to reign during the Sallah and after. He said the communities in the Kingdom had, last week, signed an undertaking with the state Commissioner of Police on the issue in order that peace may reign in the area, saying the people were duly served the notice by the council and wondered why they should insist that the ceremony must hold. It will be recalled that a similar incident happened in 2009 which led to the burning of several houses and loss of lives.

L-R: Music producer, Don Jazzy; Nollywood star, Genevive Nnaji; Delta State Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan; music artistes, Tiwa Savage and Dr. Sid, during the visit of the Reach Out Project to internally displaced persons in the state.

Anambra Waste Authority sues traders, bank, others over sanitation fees Senator honoured with chieftaincy title Flood victims at one of their camps.

CHARLES OKEKE AWKA

nambra State Wastes Management Authority, (ASWAMA) has dragged three traders’ unions operating at the Umuokpu Awka Building Materials Market for non-payment of sanitation fees. The traders’ unions which were sued along with Skye Bank and 48 other corporate bodies include cement and timber dealers’ association, as well as rod dealers’ association. Others are Total Filling Station, Jet Oil, OANDO, AUSCO Oil, Sterling Bank, Queens Suites, Marble Arch Hotel, among others. Specifically, the Rod Dealers’ Association was taken to court for owing ASWAMA to the tune of N240,000 being twelve months arrears of sanitation fee as detailed in the enabling demand notice. As the cases pending before the Chief Magistrate’s Court, Awka were called out on Friday of October 19, for plea and hearing, many of the defendants, through their counsel asked for adjournment to enable them explore the

opportunity of out-of-court settlement. Already, many of the cases which were being prosecuted by a private counsel have attracted critical reactions from the defendants who are protesting that the amounts they were asked to pay were outrageous and unwarranted. Among those protesting the purported high bills, were members of the petrol dealers’ association, many of who have raised preliminary objections against the bills slammed on them. The Manager of one of the major petrol stations sued by ASWAMA, Nwanneka, told Community Mirror that their major grievance was that their monthly sanitation fees were increased by more than two hundred percent without any justification. The manager said: “We were paying N1000 monthly and we paid them N12, 000 arrears which has not expired before ASWAMA, for no valid reason, hiked it to N4000 per month and we said no, that is why we are defending our action”.

OLAJIDE OMOJOLOMOJU

he president of Igbo socio-political action group, the Committee 21 (C21) and senator of the Federal Republic, Annie Okonkwo, was last weekend blessed and anointed as the Ojeligbo-Ozi – (Messenger of Igboland) by the traditional monarch of Obosi Kingdom in Anambra State, H.R.H Igwe Chibueze Iweka. The Igwe, who was celebrating his first Ofala to mark the dawn of a new era of peace in his kingdom, stated that those who have been chosen to be honoured and blessed, were carefully selected pillars of change and light in Igboland. While expressing appreciation to the governor of Anambra State, Peter Obi for creating time to attend the ofala ceremony, Igwe Iweka, who himself is a beacon of peace, described Okonkwo as a proper Igbo son fit to carry the mantle of Ojeligbo-Ozi at this point in time. The Igwe emphasised that the revered title of Ojeligbo-Ozi demands sacrificial service by the holder, because the messenger

must be above board to deliver truth, hope and strength to his people, noting that “a true messenger of his people cannot bear tales of despondency, capitulation or surrender to them, because he is the ultimate negotiator, a shrewd ambassador and great tactician, who carries the royal seal of the Majesty to show authenticity of his message and conclude treaties for the king and his subjects.” The Senator, who also was honoured the same day by the Amesi Improvement Union, Lagos, with a Golden Excellence Award as a friend of the town, was visibly awed by the king’s generous honour and mandate and therefore promised to rise up to the new responsibility with renewed vigour and commitment to the service of Igboland in particular, and the country in general. Other eminent Igbo sons honoured amidst classic display of culture, dances and regalia were: the Speaker of Anambra State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Chinwe Nwafili, the Special Adviser to the governor on Chieftaincy Affairs, Godfrey Motel, Chief Cletus Ibeto among others.

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News

Wednesday, October 24, 2012

Kogi Assembly suspends two members for defection ADEMU IDAKWO LOKOJA

he Kogi State House of Assembly yesterday suspended two of its members for dumping the parties on which platform they were elected.

The two lawmakers Henry Ojuola and Funsho Daniel from Mopa Muro and Yagba East - were suspended following a petition by the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) declaring their seats vacant. Speaker of the House, Hon. Momoh Lawal Jimoh,

said that the Assembly was informed about the defection by the ANPP leadership a few weeks ago. According to the ANPP letter dated October 20, 21012 and signed by Patrick Daudu and Issac Ainoko, Chairman and Secretary respectively, the party

said it asked the House of Assembly to declare the lawmakers’ seats vacant because they violated Section 109(1)(g) of the 1999 Constitution. Hon. Ojuola was elected on the ANPP platform, but defected to the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) to

serve as a running mate to the party’s candidate in the last governorship election. Hon. Daniel dumped ANPP for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) last month. A three-man adhoc committee was, however, con-

stituted to investigate the ANPP petition. At yesterday’s session, the House suspended the two lawmakers and flayed the state police command for sealing off the Assembly complex following the removal of the former Speaker.

NMA flays Nigeria’s poor healthcare system A ZA MSUE KADUNA

he Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) yesterday decried the nation’s deplorable healthcare system. Addressing a press conference in Kaduna to flag off this year’s annual physicians’ week, Chairman of Kaduna State chapter of the association, Dr. Aliyu Usman Bappa, regretted the capital flight by unpatriotic Nigerians who seek foreign medical treatment with tax payers’ money. He urged civil society organisations and the media to tackle few public officials searching medical attention in other countries at the expense of improving the country healthcare delivery system. Dr. Bappa spoke on “Pre-

scription of medicines in Nigeria: Abuse and implication for the health of Nigerians.” He called on the public to ignore unauthorized prescription of drugs by quacks medical professional. He said: “Every year, this nation loses millions of foreign currency to the activities of few privileged and unpatriotic Nigerians, mostly in government who seek medical care abroad even for the simplest of ailment. “Ironically, these Nigerians who see nothing good in our healthcare system end up in the hands of Nigerian doctors who have been attracted to those countries of their destination; this is proof enough that the responsibility of improving the health sector lies more with the government than with the health professionals.”

Governor’s wife donates 100 rams to widows INUSA NDAHI MAIDUGURI

ife of the Borno State Governor, Hajiya Nana Kashim Shettima, through her pet project called Support for Widows, Orphans and Tsangaya (SWOT), has donated rams to widows and Tsangayas for the celebration of Eid El-Kabir. Presenting the rams to the beneficiaries at the Government House in Maiduguri, SWOT Chairman, Alhaji Muhammadu Bello, said the Foundation presented 100 rams to widows and Tsangaya within Maiduguri metropolis. He said Hajiya Shettima approved 40 rams for the Ulamas in selected Tsangaya schools, while 60 rams were given to widows in Maiduguri Metropolitan Council (MMC) and Jere Local Government Area.

Bello said the rams were provided for the beneficiaries to enable them celebrate the Eid El-Kabir. He said: “The governor’s wife has passion for assisting the vulnerable members of the society, hence the establishment of the Foundation. Since the Foundation was established, it has assisted many widows, orphans and Tsangaya with poverty alleviation materials. “We recall that SWOT recently donated over N100 million to widows across the 27 local government areas of the state. “Even during the Eild ElFitr celebration and Independence Day, SWOT assisted prisoners food items and other materials. “It also assisted those who have various ailments by settling their medical bills and sponsored many others for treatment in various hospitals outside the country.”

Kwara State Governor, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed (right) receiving relief materials donated by Sir Ahmadu Bello Memorial Foundation from former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Salihu Alfa Belgore, in Ilorin, yesterday.

NIMASA donates N17m relief materials to Benue flood victims HENRY IYORKASE MAKURDI

he Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) is collaborating with the Federal Government to prevent recurrence of flood disaster in the country. NIMASA is responsible for the formulation of policy regulating conduct of maritime and safety of people inland and outward waterways The agency was led yesterday to Makurdi, the Benue State capital, by Mrs. Lilian Nneji where it donated N17 million re-

lief materials to the state for onward distribution to persons displaced by flood. Addressing journalists shortly after the donation, Mrs. Nneji said it became necessary for the agency to think of ways of handling such a situation. She said that the agency had already visited six other seriously affected states categorized as Grade “A” and had spent about N250 million on the procurement of relief materials for flood victims Mrs. Nneji said agency was worried about the fate of the displaced persons, pointing out that

their upkeep was being given top priority. She, however, sympathised with the government and people of Benue State over the disaster and hinted that the agency would send a bill to the National Assembly on the need to enact a law on the management of flooding in Nigeria. Receiving the donations which include mattresses, many bags of rice and other items at the Government House in Makurdi, the state Deputy Governor, Chief Steven Lawani, praised NIMASA for the gesture. Lawani said: “The ges-

ture is second to none. We are overwhelmed with the unprecedented support.” Stressing that the loss to the flood was monumental, he urged public spirited individuals and organisations to assist the state in rehabilitating the victims.

Benue State Governor, Gabriel Suswam

Hajj: Saudi Govt deports seven female pilgrims

audi Arabian Government yesterday deported another seven female pilgrims for alleged incomplete travelling documents, barely two days to the Arafat. The pilgrims arrived at the country through the

Malam Aminu Kano International Airport at about 4:30am aboard a Boeing 747 Kabo Aircraft. An Airport official told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on condition of anonymity that the pilgrims were deported

from Makka for not having complete travelling documents. He said the identities of the pilgrims could not be ascertained immediately. Effort to contact NAHCON officials in Kano

failed as they were said to be in the Holy land for the Hajj. It will be recalled that two weeks ago, the Saudi authorities deported about 20 Nigerian pilgrims through the same airport for similar offence.

Wednesday, October 24, 2012

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Wednesday, October 24, 2012

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World News

Obama, Romney in final push after debate

PAUL ARHEWE

WITH AGENCY REPORTS

enin authorities have arrested President Thomas Boni Yayi’s doctor, his niece and a former minister over an alleged plot to poison the leader, the public prosecutor said. Justin Gbenameto told journalists on Monday that prosecutors “have requested their indictment for criminal conspiracy and attempted assassination of the head of state,” who is also the chairman of the African Union. Those arrested on Sunday included Moudjaidou Soumanou, former minister of commerce; Ibrahim Mama Cisse, Yayi’s personal doctor; and Zouberath Kora-Seke, one of Yayi’s nieces, who worked at the presidency. “Thankfully, the plot was not successful,” said Gbenameto. “Zouberath spoke about it with her sister and others, and it was those people who warned the head of state.” The 60-year-old Yayi is an economist who first took office in 2006 and won re-election last year. It was alleged that the president’s niece and his doctor were promised $2 million to replace Yayi’s anti-pain medicine with poison. According to prosecutors, Soumanou played an intermediary role. The instigator of the plot was alleged to be a Benin businessman named Patrice Talon, a former ally of the president’s who has recently been at

“It is our and my duty to examine all possible solutions and not to fixate on a military solution (for Mali)” – Ex-Italian Prime Minister and UN’s special envoy for the Sahel, Romano Prodi

Three arrested for plot to poison Benin Rep president odds with him. Talon is currently out of the country and has not been detained, but Gbenameto told the AFP news agency that Benin authorities intended to issue an arrest warrant for him. “On October 17, according to various people, during the head of state’s trip to Brussels, his niece who accompanied him was said to have been invited to the hotel where Patrice Talon was staying,” Gbenameto said. “He had succeeded in convincing her to give the head of state products which would have been provided by the head of state’s personal doctor.” An aide to the president, speaking on condition of anonymity, alleged that the plot may have been linked to a decision to end a monopoly for a company supplying materials for the cotton industry as well as a major port contract. Both the port and cotton industry in the West African nation of some nine million people are major sectors of the country’s economy. Yayi was initially seen as representing change in the country marked by a turbulent half-century since independence in 1960 and had pledged to root out graft, but he has been hit by a number

Last week, some 11,000 miners at Gold Fields’ KDC West mine heeded a company ultimatum and returned to work. South Africa’s mining sector has been hit by a wave of recent unrest which has left almost 50 people dead. Most strikes have been over

South Africa miners embarking on industrial action.

PHOTO: SCMP

Complaints filed by critics of the assembly writing Egypt’s new constitution were referred to a higher court yesterday, a move likely to give the body heavily influenced by Islamists enough time to complete its work before the judges can rule The step appeared to remove legal doubts overshadowing a process that will shape the post-Hosni Mubarak era. But the assembly still faces a struggle to build consensus around a text that is exposing fault lines in Egypt’s new political landscape. “The case is finished. The challenge will now be a political one, not a legal one. If you don’t have a consensus you will have a big crisis,” said Hassan Nafaa, a professor of political science at the University of Cairo.

‘Sudan rebels kill two in shelling’

President Boni Yayi

of corruption scandals. The most prominent was an alleged Ponzi scheme reminiscent of the Bernard Madoff scandal in the US that left scores of people in financial ruin. It also prompted calls for Yayi, who denied any wrongdoing, to

be tried on accusations he helped the firm involved. But while he has been hit by scandal, Yayi has also been praised for several measures aimed at helping the country’s poorest, including a vast microcredit programme.

8,500 striking South African miners sacked

ore than 8,000 striking South African gold miners have been sacked after refusing to return to work, mine owners say. Gold Fields said workers at the KDC East mine had ignored a final deadline set for 4pm (Nigerian time).

WORLD BULLETIN Egypt’s court to rule on new constitution

pay, although the stoppage at KDC East - at Carletonville west of Johannesburg - relates to a local trade union dispute not wages. “All 8,500 people who were on strike did not come back,” spokesman Sven Lunsche told a news agency. “They did not return to work, so we have issued dismissal letters to all of them.” He said the miners had 24 hours to appeal against their dismissal. “We have now reached a stage where we can’t hold off any more. Our hands were forced and we have now done it,” Mr Lunsche said. Gold Fields had issued a final ultimatum to employees to present themselves for work starting with the night shift on Monday 22 October and the morning and af-

ternoon shifts on Tuesday, or face immediate dismissal. It had secured a court order ruling the strike illegal. The unrest in South Africa’s mining sector - one of the world’s biggest - has badly hit the country’s economy, with the rand losing value and its credit rating downgraded. President Jacob Zuma has urged workers to return to work and asked company executives to freeze their pay. Mr Zuma has also set up a judicial commission of inquiry into the killings of 44 people at the Marikana mine, 34 of whom were shot by police. The investigation will determine the roles played by the police, the management of the platinum mine, Lonmin, the unions and government.

Sudanese rebels killed two children and wounded eight other civilians when they shelled the main town in Sudan’s oilproducing South Kordofan state on Tuesday, the army said - the third bout of shelling in the past two weeks. Sudan’s army has been fighting SPLM-North rebels in the state, which borders South Sudan, since June last year, shortly before South Sudan seceded. But the South Kordofan capital Kadugli was until recently kept out of the fighting. Army spokesman al-Sawarmi Khalid told Reuters the rebels had shelled an army garrison outside Kadugli but that some shells had landed inside the town.

Tunisian Islamic-led govt is US puppet –Salafi leader The leader of radical Islamist group Ansar al-Sharia in Tunisia on Tuesday accused the country’s government of being a puppet of the United States and un-Islamic, urging it to release Salafists jailed after an attack on the U.S. embassy last month. The criticism from Saif-Allah Benahssine, who is also known as Abu Iyadh, came as Tunisia’s moderate Islamist-led government celebrated its first anniversary following the ousting of former President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali last year. Benahssine is wanted by the police for allegedly inciting the attack on the U.S. embassy in which four people were killed in a protest over an anti-Islamic film made in California. Benhassine escaped capture at a mosque in Tunis last month.

World News

WORLD BULLETIN Syrian warplanes strike rebel-held town Syrian warplanes yesterday struck a strategic rebel-held town in the country’s north in an attempt to reopen a key supply route, activists said, as a U.N.proposed cease-fire meant to start this week appeared increasingly unlikely to take hold. The U.N.-Arab League envoy to Syria has suggested that both sides in Syria’s 19-monthold conflict lay down their arms during Eid al-Adha, a four-day Muslim holiday that begins Friday. However, neither Syrian President Bashar Assad nor rebels fighting to topple him have committed to a truce, and international envoy Lakhdar Brahimi has not said how such a truce would be monitored. Syria’s stalemated civil war, which has frequently spilled over Syria’s borders and threatens to destabilize an already volatile region, featured prominently in the final pre-election debate Monday between President Barack Obama and his Republican challenger.

Wednesday, October 24, 2012

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Obama, Romney in final push after debate

resident Barack Obama and his Republican challenger Mitt Romney are beginning a two-week drive to US election day following their third and final televised debate. Both candidates will increase the amount they travel, speak at election rallies and spend on advertising as they seek to mobilise supporters and win over undecided voters, BBC has reported. The Tuesday’s early morning tense debate in Florida saw the rivals tangle over foreign policy.

Two instant polls said Mr. Obama won. During the head-to-head, the two men clashed over the Arab Spring, Iran, Israel and China. President Obama forcefully attacked Mr. Romney as “all over the map” on foreign policy. Mr Romney countered by saying the president had allowed “chaos” to engulf the Middle East. Tuesday will see both men campaign in key electoral battleground states - Mr Obama in Florida and Ohio, and Mr Rom-

ney in Nevada and Colorado. Mr Obama’s campaign has released 3.5 million copies of a 20-page booklet - Blueprint for America’s Future - to promote his second-term agenda, amid criticism that the president has not set out a plan for the next four years. It outlines Mr Obama’s plan to improve education, increase manufacturing jobs, enhance USderived energy supplies, reduce the federal deficit and impose taxes on the wealthy.

Taliban ambush kills 10 Afghan troops Taliban insurgents killed 10 Afghan troops in an ambush in western Herat province, police and government officials said yesterday. A spokesman for the provincial governor, Muhiudin Noori, said the Afghan troops — which included both soldiers and police — were searching late Monday for a group of insurgents who had earlier set up a roadblock, stopping and seizing passing vehicles, when they were ambushed. Five policemen, including the district commander and five soldiers died in the ensuing firefight, Noori said. There were no insurgent casualties, but police later arrested 25 suspects found in the area, he said. Also yesterday, an American service member was killed in an insurgent attack in the east, the U.S. military said in a statement. It did not provide further details about the attack.

Kuwait bans public gatherings above 20 people Kuwait has banned public gatherings of more than 20 people and says police have the power to disperse unauthorized crowds. The decision is a sign of deepening tensions between the Gulf nation’s Western-allied rulers and opposition factions led by Islamists. The order limiting the public gatherings was published Tuesday in Kuwait newspapers. It comes after riot police used tear gas in clashes with thousands of demonstrators on Sunday protesting changes in voting rules for parliamentary elections December 1. Kuwait has the most politically empowered parliament among the Gulf Arab states and the election is a critical test for the ruling family and their backers. Opposition lawmakers took control of parliament in February elections, but the government has dropped rules allowing multiple vote-casting for candidates that appeared to favour Islamist blocs.

US Republican candidate, Romney and President Obama

PHOTO: AP

More BBC staff probed on sex claims

sexual abuse scandal shaking the BBC broadened yesterday, with the broadcaster’s chief saying the corporation was investigating claims of abuse and harassment against as many as 10 former and current staff. The BBC has been rocked by allegations that long time children’s host Jimmy Savile, who died last year, abused underage teens over several decades, sometimes on BBC premises. Some of the alleged victims have accused other entertainers and BBC staff of participating in abuse during

the 1960s, 70s and 80s. Director-general George Entwistle told British lawmakers yesterday that the BBC is looking into historical allegations of sexual abuse or harassment against “between eight and 10” past and present employees. Separately, the BBC press office said it was aware of “nine allegations of sexual harassment, assault or inappropriate conduct” involving current staff or contributors to the BBC, which employs some 20,000 people. Entwistle said it was too early to say whether sexual abuse had

been endemic within Britain’s publicly funded national broadcaster, but insisted the BBC would assist police if detectives chose to investigate whether there had been a paedophile ring at the corporation. Entwistle acknowledged there had been “a problem of culture within the BBC ... a broader cultural problem” that allowed Savile’s behaviour to go unchecked. “There is no question that what Jimmy Savile did and the way the BBC behaved ... will raise questions of trust for us

Calm returns to Lebanon as troops deploy

alm returned to the streets of Lebanon’s capital yesterday, a day after troops launched a major security operation to quell fighting touched off by the assassination of a top anti-Syrian intelligence chief. The country’s police chief late Monday released details of the investigation into the killing of Brig. Gen. Wissam al-Hassan, describing a carefully planned car bombing that targeted the intelligence officer as he was moving about the capital in secret. Many in Lebanon blame Syria for the killing. Damascus has intervened heavily in Lebanese

affairs and is blamed for the deaths of many prominent critics. Al-Hassan was a Sunni who challenged Syria and its powerful Lebanese ally, the Shiite militant group Hezbollah. Seven people have died in clashes between pro- and antiSyria factions sparked by the Friday assassination. The blast, the deadliest in Beirut in four years, killed two people in addition to al-Hassan. Maj. Gen. Ashraf Rifi told a group of journalists that al-Hassan was assassinated outside one of his secret offices where he used to meet with informants. He was driving an unarmored

rented car for camouflage. AlHassan was one of Lebanon’s most secretive figures, and until his death many Lebanese did not know what he looked like. “The martyr Wissam had an appointment in this office and it seems he was watched,” Rifi said, adding that the boobytrapped car went off as al-Hassan’s car was passing slowly by through the narrow street. The secret office in the predominantly Christian neighborhood of Achrafieh is few hundred meters (yards) away from the heavily-fortified police headquarters where al-Hassan spent most of his time while in Lebanon.

The ideas are outlined in a new 60-second TV advertisement released following the final debate, in which the president speaks directly to the camera about his plans for a second term. The ad will be broadcast in the nine states whose electoral votes are still considered up for grabs New Hampshire, Virginia, North Carolina, Florida, Ohio, Wisconsin, Iowa, Nevada and Colorado. Mr Romney’s campaign has produced a new TV ad using footage from the final debate of the Republican accusing Mr Obama of going on an “apology tour” of Middle East nations while never visiting Israel as president. Both sides are working to win early votes, with 4.4 million people already having cast ballots ahead of the 6 November election day. Mr Obama will briefly visit his home city of Chicago on Thursday to become the first president to cast his own early ballot. The Democratic president went on the attack from the start of Monday night’s debate, trying to trip up his rival. But analysts say Mr Obama did not land any knockout blows on Mr Romney, who has been gathering momentum with two weeks to go until election day, in a race that is now neck and neck.

Entwhistle

and reputation for us,” Entwistle said. “This is a gravely serious matter, and one cannot look back at it with anything other than horror.” Entwistle’s testimony before the House of Commons Culture, Media and Sport committee came a day after the BBC aired a powerful documentary about the corporation’s role in the expanding sex abuse scandal involving Savile, who died a year ago at age 84. Since Savile’s death, scores of women and several men have come forward to say the entertainer — a longtime host of music and children’s programs including “Top of the Pops” and “Jim’ll Fix It” — abused them when they were children or teenagers. Police have identified more than 200 potential victims.

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senior career bureaucrat, he simply cannot tolerate corruption, and so, in every job he takes, he does his best to put a stop to it. Not surprisingly, that does not always go down very well with his bosses. In 21 years as a government worker in the northern state of Haryana, Khemka’s determination to follow the rules has seen him transferred out of his job 43 times — or moved to another department every six months on average. In his last job, he survived just 80 days. But this time, Khemka turned himself into a national celebrity by taking on the might of the Nehru-Gandhi family, which has dominated Indian politics since independence. With resentment against official graft running high and the media hungry for scams, Khemka was eagerly seized upon as a hero. Khemka’s rise to fame began this month when anti-corruption activists accused Robert Vadra, the son-in-law of India’s most powerful politician, Sonia Gandhi, of amassing tens of millions

ll through the era of the Cyberspace the gamut of most determinants of the well being of Nation states, organizations and individuals have rested on security, economic and political matters. Development of these indices of growth have been lopsided. The more powerful Nations, particularly Unite States of America and other Western countries have entrenched the concept of freedom of the internet which they have used effectively to resolve foreign policy problems among themselves as well as promote their existing democratic culture. Most of the other countries outside the Western world, have suffered debilitating consequences arising from the imports of the Cyberspace in internets. Today, the main regulators of the internet, are American NGOs, IETF, W3C and ICANN. Despite the fact that they are NGOS, Washington controls their operations through memorandum of understanding (MOUS) signed in 2006. Many governments do not like that ICANN – The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers is a US based corporation which is effectively licensed by the US government to maintain the domain name System. The ICANN was initially proposed to be non-profit oriented when it was formed in1998. It operates as top level governing body for coordination of names and addresses on the internet. The status of ICANN is complicated. A formal California based NGO that seeks to expand globally with a network of global connections of individuals and organizational users. The ICANN therefore rep-

World News

Wednesday, October 24, 2012

Indian bureaucrat sacked 43 times for fighting corruption of dollars through a series of shady land deals since Gandhi’s Congress party came to power in 2004. Vadra denies the charges. Khemka, then director of land registration in Haryana, saw a newspaper report alleging that the deals occurred in four districts for which he was responsible. He immediately ordered an inquiry, asking for the relevant land records to be sent to his office. “If the allegations being made are wild in nature, let it be exposed and we can show that we are fair,” he said. “If the allegations are correct, then action should follow. Robert Vadra is an ordinary citizen, and he is under the rule of law of this country.” Khemka said that three days later, bureaucrats in two districts told him they could not comply with his request for the land records because of instructions

Ashok Khemka standing in his garden with his wife Jyoti, in Chandigarh, India

“from the top.” “I said, ‘Look, Robert Vadra is not above the law. If you don’t do it, I will address you a letter and it will become a media storm,’ “ Khemka said.

At 10 o’clock that night, a note arrived at Khemka’s apartment notifying him that he had once again been transferred, demoted to a more junior role running the state seed development cor-

US grip on cyberspace and call for change

US Secretary of Defence Leon Panetta

resents, simultaneously the deliberate devolution by the US of routine authority over internet naming and the retention of at least potential ultimate control. The domain system, is derived under US Defence Department contract containing a series of documented understandings with ICANN which appear to have ceded vast amounts of control while retaining some leverages. Presently, ICANN an in part be seen as the product of US efforts to disentangle its self from the actual running of the internet in consequence to the opposition of the International Community and the United Nations. In doing this, it is at the same time, trying to avoid the capture of internet governance by an international body that will potentially share control with other governments. The status quo as well as inter government control of the internet has inherent advantages and disadvantages. Countries who op-

pose the domain system adopted by the US presently have proposed that UN based governing process should be established to manage the internet’s key technical architecture. This proposal seeks to abolish NGO or private sector management of the internet. Inbuilt in this proposal is the fear of censorship. The cyberspace ceases to be an international highway as nation states will block uncomplimentary developments from the glare of the international community. The digital age will certainly lose its ability of making information available to all. Also autocrats are likely to exploit the system to perpetuate undemocratic culture. Russia and China, argue that government control of internet will help reduce cybercrime and the type of blasphemy that caused the recent world wide Muslim protests against USA and Western interests over an insult to Prophet Mohammed, was con-

sequent upon USA liberal policy of information for all irrespective of how damaging the information could be to specific interests. Cyberspace information has come to stay. A cost and benefit analysis of the era of cyberspace information holds almost the same consequences for both central control as its presently constituted, under USA and the control of Nation States as it currently being canvassed. However, it will appear as if the advantages of the control of internet by Nation States far outweigh those of a central control. Apart from leverages in security economic and political matters, cyberspace reveal meaningful alliances; new alliances that will bring new and needed technologies. Old alliances require the injection of new ones to remain vibrant. Who says alliances must continue to be with England, USA and few other Western powers such as France and Germany. Who says closer relations with what used to be the soviet bloc: Russia, Uzbekistan, Ukraine, the far East, China and a closer understanding with the Arab world will not help the developing and developed world forge more meaningful international economic and political relations. We must begin to do things the way they are done elsewhere without being other directed. Whatever one may think of the expansion of the name space which ICANN is managing there is no question that the process has a political, dynamic and consequent dangers that extend far beyond the narrow remit of the Internet Corporation for Assigned

poration. Khemka said that the government feared “a big exposure” but that he does not know whether his demotion was linked to the Vadra case or other investigations he had begun into a host of similar cases. India’s anti-corruption activists embraced Khemka and vowed to stand with him. “We are fully with Khemkaji,” India Against Corruption leader-turned-politician Arvind Kejriwal told reporters, using a traditional Hindi honorific. “We salute his struggle and will offer any help he requires. I appeal to all honest Indians to show some courage in their districts like Khemka did and expose corruption.” Khemka, who passed one of the most competitive examinations in the world to enter the Indian Administrative Service and has a Ph.D. in computer science, is clearly a man who respects the rules — his conversation is dotted with references to sections of the administrative rule book, to land laws and to the constitution. Culled from Washington Post Names and Numbers (ICANN). These consequences, have significant impacts on the government of the entire internet and on every user and businesses that rely upon it. The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) has begun to accept applications to operate new generic Top-Level Domains. Venerable examples of generic top level domains include .com, .edu, .net and .org. The need to partition the internet, gathered momentum in a call on the 13th of June 2012. In December 2012, delegates from over 200 countries will be debating in Dubai on issues surrounding the control of the internet and will seek to renegotiate the 1988 Telecommunications Treaty. It is expected that hundreds of new generic top-level Domains will be added to the familiar batch we have used since the emergence of popular internet applications. These changes are anticipated as the world clamours to wrest the power of the control and regulation of the internet from USA’s ICANN. The policy intended to partition the ICANN does not merely envision a specific one time expansion of the name space, but instead create a policy mechanism for continued rapid expansion of the number of LTD’s in use. Anticipated change in the system is totalling complex and complicated. With the backing of the United Nations its hoped that a measure of decentralization will be achieved as the meeting winds down. Kamalu Igirigiri Ex-staff of FRCN, wrote in from Lagos.

WORLD RECORD

Most-watched man on television

Vol. 02 No. 476

Wednesday, October 24, 2012

Sacking the motorized hordes

he mayhem was not long in coming, especially given the circumstances of their forceful eviction from the roads. And the recent rampage by commercial motorcycle operators, popularly called Okada conveys a fitting Ode to a thoughtless and insensitive action. Before now, rumours and even white lies had been bandied on the real motives for the ban of Okada riders from Lagos major roads. Some beer parlour reasons have them that, these hordes are increasing by the day and if not checked, their numbers will in no distant time overwhelm the state. Some claim that, many of the motorcyclists were evicted from other states of the federation and so were taking advantage of the urban anonymity of Lagos metropolis, to ply their trade in the most unrestrained manner, thereby adding not only to its notorious traffic gridlocks but more so, to the miasma of blight and motorized anarchy. So, the only way of bringing such night-

ance Armstrong should have to repay his Tour de France winnings after being stripped of his seven titles, says race director, Christian Prudhomme. The International Cycling Union stripped Armstrong of his results

N150

Hugh Laurie (UK) reportedly earns $400,000 (£247,230) per episode as the titular star of the US medical drama House (Fox).

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

mare to an end, is the sacking of this sea of uncouth and undisciplined revelers from the roads. Before now, the rate of accidents involving Okada and other road users has been increasing exponentially, and no day passes without witnessing one. Matters are made worse by the fact that, many of them are barely versed in traffic ordinances, and are known to have a passion for breaking rules and regulations with impunity. Increasingly, they have turned the state into one big urban jungle, where the only laws to be obeyed are the ones suited to their uncultured and violent tendencies. Then came the hammer and a plethora of regulations designed to curb such excesses. But as expected, the Okada riders are up in arms. In the bid to address the problems caused by their operations, the government had proceeded to ban them from plying 475 roads in the state, in the expectation that given their overwhelming numbers, they would be uncomfortably squeezed into very narrow and marginal territories that will negatively impact on the trade and force many to seek for saner alternatives. But trust such laws. They are invariably known to be amorphous and can make for different interpretations depending on who is involved. It would be recalled that in no distant past, the government had restricted the operating hours for motorcyclists to end by 10pm every day. And because of this, there is always bedlam at the bus stops, especial-

FOR NOW, COMBATING CRIMES AND CRIMINALS HAS TAKEN A BACK SEAT IN FAVOUR OF MAKING QUICK BUCKS FROM UNFORTUNATE COMMERCIAL MOTORCYCLISTS ON THE ROAD.

ly in the evening rush hours, as both Okada riders and their passengers struggle to beat the deadline. Then add the ubiquitous presence of grizzled angry looking policemen to the mix, and the scene takes the look and feel of a war zone. At every bus stop, there seems to be sparks of anger and frustration flying in different directions, as frenzied security personnel swoop like preying hyenas on hapless motorcyclists, demanding for ransom payments, as any refusal could lead to fatal shooting. It is in the light of these artificial obstacles that the wider problems of the Okada operator can be fully understood and appreciated. He is the victim of monumental incompetence and gross misrule pervading the entire strata of the Nigerian society. This is a country that lacks the basic facilities that are taken for granted in all decent societies, yet those charged with providing them enact tyrannical laws that will suffocate the life out of the ordinary citizens. In the bid to clean Lagos streets

of these so called cretins, the government has unwittingly whetted the monstrous appetite of the police who now prowl every nook and corner in search of Okada riders, all in the expectation of hunting them down and extorting their day’s returns. For now, combating crimes and criminals has taken a back seat in favour of making quick bucks from unfortunate commercial motorcyclists on the road. For the police, it is ‘manna’ from heaven, and while it lasts, every avenue must be exploited to reap the rewards of an oppressive law. Invariably, poor commuters are the ones paying the price for the shibboleths. Just three weeks ago, agents of the state government made a bonfire of 3,000 motorcycles at Alausa, in a mockery of bringing sanity on the roads. What a waste and puerile exercise? No thought was spared for those whose only means of livelihood depended on those motorcycles and what will become of their future after that? Governments the worlds over, no matter their ideological inclinations are instituted to cater for the happiness of the greatest majority and not pander to the narrow selfish interests of a gilded few. Majority of Lagos residents do not have private means of transportation, while the government sponsored and operated buses inaugurated few years ago, ply only some restricted routes, even as many of them look dilapidated and nondescript. In a parlous economy like ours, the government should have provided enough and efficient means of public transportation before taking these motorcycles off the roads. Given that the state is yet to commission its light rail project, and lacks the financial and technical capacity to move millions of commuters daily, it should have put in place stringent measures aimed at sanitizing the operations of commercial motorcyclists, such as demanding that they attend and pass through driving schools to make them better road users. Now they are out of the way, who takes their place and what becomes of their future?

Sport Extra

‘Armstrong must return prizes’ since August 1, 1998 after ratifying a US Anti-Doping Agency report on him. It has been estimated that Armstrong won around £2.4m some of which was shared with

his US Postal team-mates, for winning the Tour de France in seven successive years from 1999 to 2005. Armstrong has also been asked to return $7.5m in bonuses to Texas insur-

ance company SCA Promotions. The UCI management committee will meet on Friday to discuss the “exact sporting consequences” of the decision, includ-

ing whether the titles and prize money will be re-distributed. Tour director, Prudhomme, called the UCI’s decision “totally logical.” And he added, “The UCI rules are clear. When a rider is disqualified, he must pay the prize money back.”

Armstrong

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