Wednesday, May 1, 2013

N100bn deceased ‘customers’ funds trapped in banks TORDUE SALEM ABUJA

Sanusi

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he House of Representatives yesterday disclosed that about N100bn belonging to

Vol. 3 N0. 611 FRONT PAGE COMMENT

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oday is Workers’ Day. And this year’s will be the 32nd edition of the Nigerian version of this global event which underscores the importance of labour in the production process; and also acknowledges the

deceased banks’ customers is presently trapped in dormant accounts across the country.

According to the lawmakers, while the banks continue to trade with this

Presidency denies report on First Lady’s health P.8

money, beneficiaries of the deceased persons’ estates are living in penury, with many unable to feed.

The House therefore mandated its Committee on CONTINUED ON PAGE 8>>

Dame Patience

Wednesday, May 1, 2013

N150

Dwindling fortunes of Nigerian workers

strides of trade unions and labour movements in the daunting task of defending the rights and interests of workers. It is for these reasons that the event is generally programmed to draw attention to the

conditions of the workforce in most parts of the world.

Regrettable, however, it has been the yearly experience where the otherwise serious occasion that demands sober reflection by both workers and the employers

of labour, is often turned to a hollow ritual marked by speeches and march pasts to gratify top political leaders or their representatives in government, while some unprincipled leaders of CONTINUED ON PAGE 16>>

PDP crisis:

Lawmakers allege plot to impeach Amaechi Court nullifies suspension of 27 Assembly members Reps probe grounding of governor’s aircraft

SAM OLUWALANA, TORDUE SALEM, OLUSEGUN KOIKI AND GODWIN OKONKWO

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he Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Hon.

Otelemaba Amachree, yesterday raised the alarm over plot to impeach Governor Rotimi Amaechi by the Felix Obuah-led Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, state executive committee.

The Speaker, in a stateCONTINUED ON PAGE 6>>

EU, Nigeria sign N18bn funding agreements Active phone lines now 116.6 million P.9,31 L-R: Chairman, Diamond Bank Plc and Obi of Onitsha, Chief Nnaemeka Alfred Achebe; Directors, Mr. Christopher Low; Lt.-Gen. Jeremiah Useni and Group Managing Director, Dr. Alex Otti, at the bank’s 22nd Annual General Meeting in Lagos, yesterday.

FG squandered N1.23trn special funds –Senate

Afe Babalola University lists admission requirements

P.6 P.4,5

Okonjo-Iweala

UEFA Champions League:

Dortmund beats Real Madrid 4-3, cruises to Wembley final P.56

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Photo News

Wednesday, May 1, 2013

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L-R: Former Governor of Cross River State, Mr. Donald Duke; wife of Lagos State Governor, Dame Abimbola Fashola; Country Director, Empretec Nigeria Foundation, Mrs. Onari Duke and Senior Adviser, Enterprise Value Chain Competitiveness, Mr. Hong Siew Lim, at the 2013 Global Roundtable on Supply Chain Management in Lagos, on Monday.

L-R: Former Nigerian International, Mutiu Adepoju; Head of Marketing, Intercontinental Distillers, Innocent Oboh and Chairman, Prince of Anthony Hotel, a brand of Hotel 1960, Akin Adeoya, at the Salsa Sunday dance with the Prince of Anthony in Lagos, on Sunday.

L-R: Chairman, Nigeria Union of Journalists, Oyo State, Mr. Gbenga Opadotun; representative of the Alaafin of Oyo, Chief Yusuf Ayoola; Chairman, Odua Investment, Chief Sharafadeen Ali; Senator Lekan Balogun and Group Managing Director, Alhaji Adebayo Jimoh, at a lecture and book presentaPHOTO: NAN tion to mark Ali’s 50th birthday in Ibadan, yesterday.

L-R: Directors, Friesland Campina WAMCO Nigeria Plc: Mr. Bob Steetskamp, Mrs. Oyinkan Ade-Ajayi; and Rev. Isaac Agoye; Managing Director, Mr. Peter Eshikena and Chairman, Mr. Jacobs Ajekigbe, at the 40th Annual General Meeting of the company in Lagos, yesterday.

National News

ThisDay bombing: Suspect threatens to kill star witness –FG

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he Federal Government yesterday raised the alarm before a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja that a selfconfessed member of the Boko Haram sect, Mr. Mustapha Umar, who allegedly bombed the offices of ThisDay, The Sun and The Moment newspapers in Kaduna on April 26, 2012, had threatened its star prosecution witness, Mr. XYZ of Oxford Street, with death.

The lead prosecution counsel, Mr. S. M. Ladan, who made the allegation yesterday in court, said the threat was made in Hausa language.

He urged the court to intervene before further trial could commence in the case yesterday.

But the suspect dismissed the Federal Government’s claim as a fabricated and wicked lie made against him by the prosecution.

His lawyer, Mr. Nureni Sulymon, who jumped to his feet yesterday to deny the allegation on behalf of his client, said such a thing

• It’s not true, says suspect never happened.

But Ladan, who is prosecuting the accused on behalf of the Federal Government, insisted that he was saying the truth even as he told the court that the threat was reported by one of the newspapers which covered the proceedings.

Efforts to get the reporter who heard the suspect issue the threat were to no avail yesterday.

The judge, however, asked the court interpreter who stood with the suspect all through the proceedings on Monday to confirm if indeed Mustapha issued such threat to any of the witnesses that day.

The court interpreter, since the beginning of the trial, had been interpreting the testimonies of witnesses from English to Hausa language to the accused person.

The interpreter who had earlier sworn to an oath with the Holy Quaran confirmed, openly, yesterday,

that Mustapha, indeed, issued the threat in Hausa language on Monday.

“Sincerely speaking, he made the threat against the first accused person yesterday. What he actually said was that this witness must die, having sworn with the Holy Quran and still lying against him,” he told the court yesterday.

He went ahead to interpret what he told the judge to the accused person in Hausa language.

Mustapha was, however, quiet after the interpretation was done to him in Hausa Language.

Because the accused did not express any surprise, the trial judge yesterday said that he must have said so and insisted that his counsel must warn him immediately to desist from such behaviour.

The judge, who directed the lead counsel to the accused, Mr. Nureni Sulymon, to deliver his message in Hausa language

said he would not tolerate a repeat of his conduct.

“Tell your client that I take his threat not only to the witness against whom it was directed, but against the entire court and everybody here. Tell him, tell him now,” he directed Nureni who instantly complied yesterday and apologise on his behalf.

Two other witnesses had mounted the witness box yesterday to testify against Mustapha after the warning was issued to him.

The first witness claimed she took the statement of the accused person on the day of the incident.

But Mustapha said he never made any statement to anybody and that all through the time he was with the police, he said he was unconscious. He denied the authorship of the statement.

But the testimony that made Mustapha to allegedly declare that Mr. XYZ of Oxford Street would die runs thus: “On 26 April, 2012, at

about 10.00am, I was passing along Kotangora Road in Kaduna, when I saw people gathered around SOJ Plaza. In the plaza, they sell flowers at the basement of the building. On the upper floor are the offices of ThisDay, The Sun and The Moment.

“I moved closer to find out what was happening.

On getting closer, I saw one Honda car very close to the wall of the building. I saw about two people trying to rescue the accused from the vehicle. He was sitting in the driver’s seat. I joined in attempting to rescue him because I thought it was a car accident.

“But as much as we tried to bring him out, we failed. This is because the doors to the vehicle were locked from inside and we could not open them. But we eventually forced the car doors open to rescue him.

“Immediately we brought him out, to our amazement, he started shouting that he brought bomb to the premises and

that it could explode any moment. He was speaking in Hausa language ‘Bomb Che, Bomb Che, Wallahi.’

“By this time, the number of crowd wanting to know what was happening had increased. Some of them pounced on him and started beating him. When the beating was getting much, I made attempt to call the police to come and rescue him. As a privileged member of the society, we have special numbers with which we can get in touch with the police.

“When I discovered that the police was not forthcoming, I put a call to the Nigerian Army of the 1st Mechanised Division.

They worked hand-in-hand with the Nigerian Police called Operation Yanka; but no security officer showed up.

“At this juncture, those beating him were asking him to remove the bomb which he claimed to have brought to the premises from his car but he said if he did, it would explode.”

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FG squandered N1.23trn special funds –Senate GEORGE OJI ABUJA

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he Senate Committee on Public Accounts which probed the Special Funds Account, SFA, has alleged that the Federal Government applied N1.23trn from the fund to purposes other than what was intended.

The committee also indicted three former presidents including Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, the late Musa Yar’Adua and President Goodluck Jonathan for abusing the funds.

The total accruals to the SFA from 2002 to June 30, 2012 amounted to N1,518, 871,357,426.64 with N1,235,166,781,347.52 spent within that period.

The report, which was presented before the Senate yesterday by the Chairman of the committee, Senator Ahmed Lawan, accused the former presidents of misapplying the funds for purposes for which the funds were not originally designed.

The SFA, which was created by executive directive in 2002, was made up of three per cent of accruals to the Development of Natural

Resources Account; 1.46 per cent from the Derivation and Ecological Account and 0.72 per cent of the Stabilization Account.

The recommendations of the report, however, were yet to be debated and adopted by the Senate as the committee was directed to take back the report and ascertain those who borrowed money from the fund, those who have not paid back their loans and those who have honoured their loan obligations and report back to the Senate in four weeks time.

The committee said it found out during its investigations that several approvals of funds from the special funds account did not conform to the purposes for which the funds were established while there were no operational guidelines for the administration, regulations, approvals and procedures for the release of money from the funds and that the funds were practically being operated as loan granting pools.

The committee also said it found out that several beneficiaries of the fund utilised the cash for purposes

that were not contemplated by the intendment of the fund created, that the loans granted from the accounts have not been paid back several years after such loans were granted and that there were no regular reconciliations between the Accountant-General of the Federation and the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN. Some of the abuses detected by the probe committee included a N2bn loan granted for payment

to Gitto Costruzioni General Nigeria Limited on September 19, 2005; a loan of N3.7bn granted to the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 2004 to purchase a chancery building in Tokyo and a N5.7bn loan granted to the Ministry of Power and Steel in 2005 for the payment of severance package to disengaged steel workers.

There was also the withdrawal of the sum of N10bn by the Ministry of Finance

in 2007 for the payment of arrears of monetisation benefits owed Federal Government parastatals.

According to the report, out of N329.8bn released from the ecological funds, N149.8bn was abused, representing 45 per cent, from where a loan of N1bn was advanced to Edo State Government in November 2002 and March 2003, respectively.

From the account, a loan of N309.2m was granted to

Gridlock at Seven Up toll gate along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway in Lagos, yesterday.

Lawmakers allege plot to impeach Amaechi CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

ment signed on behalf of other members of the House, alleged that a fake mace has been smuggled into the state to enable anti-Amaechi lawmakers impeach the governor and cause mayhem, as a prelude to a declaration of a state of emergency.

The statement reads: “The leadership and members of the Rivers State House of Assembly wish to bring to the notice of the people of Rivers State and Nigerians some of the dangerous moves by the Felix Obuah-led PDP to cause general chaos and confusion in Rivers State.

“We have been reliably informed that a fake mace has been smuggled into the state to enable five members of the House hold an emergency session even when the House adjourned sine dine on Tuesday, April 23, 2013.

“The Abuja plan on ground is to falsely impeach the Rt. Hon. Speaker and the Executive Governor of Rivers State, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amae-

chi and create confusion through varied responses, which they hope will make the state ungovernable and provide them with some kind of warped basis to introduce Emergency Rule in Rivers State.

“Furthermore, there are strong indications that some persons have been detailed exclusively to create systemic collapse of security in the state, putting lives and property in danger.

“This is undemocratic, unacceptable and a complete violation of the mandate that the good people of Rivers State have vested on us.

“We call on the good people of Rivers State to remain calm, watchful and law abiding as the scenario unfolds.”

But the state PDP chairman, Obuah, denied any involvement in the alleged move to impeach Amaechi, saying he does not have the power to remove the governor.

He said that he only told the governor to explain the ownership of the controversial aircraft recently

grounded by the Federal Government.

Obuah said: “By virtue of my position as the state PDP chairman, I have no power to impeach the governor. I know the powers of my office as a party chairman. I only told him (Amaechi) to explain the ownership of the plane. The party has no constitutional right to impeach the governor,” Obuah said.

In a related development, the Rivers State High Court, sitting in Port Harcourt yesterday granted an interim injunction restraining the state chapter of the PDP over Monday’s suspension of 27 members of the state House of Assembly.

The court order was dated Monday, April 29, the same day they were suspended even as the senator representing the Rivers South East in the National Assembly, Magnus Abe, described the suspension order as an attempt to intimidate the legislature, advising the lawmakers and the people of the state to ignore the order from the party exco.

The majority leader of the House of Assembly, Chidi Julius Lloyd, who was among the 27 lawmakers suspended by the state PDP, had approached the court with an affidavit requesting for an interim injunction restraining the Obuah-led executive from suspending them from the party on Friday, April 26.

The case was filed by Barr.

Emenike Ebette.

Lloyd’s action came on the heels of a 48-hour ultimatum given to the lawmakers by the Obuah-led executive to reinstate the Chairman of Obio/ Akpor Local Government, Timothy Nsirim; the vice chairman, Solomon Eke, and all 17 councillors suspended by the lawmakers on Monday April 22, or face disciplinary action by the party.

The interim injunction, which was granted by Justice Sika Henry Aprioku, also restrained the PDP, Obuah and Prince Ibibia Opuene O’Walters, state secretary, from declaring their seats vacant as well as from applying to the Independent National Elec-

toral Commission, INEC, to conduct elections to replace them, pending the hearing and determination of the substantive suit, which comes up for hearing on May 6.

Reacting to the suspension, Senator Abe said the action of the state exco was designed to undermine the constitution of the country, adding that it is unprecedented and ridiculous in its entirety.

“I think it is ridiculous and it is clear that the exco has been foisted on the state and it is there only to try to destroy the party, because anybody who is a legislator will tell you that nobody by the laws of this country is supposed to try to intimidate the legislature in the execution of their constitutional duties. So, what this amounts to is a clear effort by somebody to undermine the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. It has never happened anywhere.

“Even in the House of Representatives when the party came to prevail on the PDP members in the

the Inspector-General of Police to purchase vehicles for the UN peacekeeping operations in Haiti in 2006.

In addition, N750m was released for the development of the Abuja Downtown Mall in 2007 from the fund meant to assist states ravaged by ecological problems. The Presidential Research and Communication Unit also received N200m loan from the ecological fund in November 2002.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 7>>

PHOTO:ADEMOLA AKINLABI

National Assembly to elect somebody as Speaker, and they elected somebody else, nobody suspended all the PDP members of the House of Representatives because everybody understands that a lawmaker is supposed to vote according to his conscience at critical times.

“This is the foundation of our presidential system of government. So, we are not in a parliamentary democracy where the party can order you to vote one way or the other. It’s a ridiculous action. And I want to urge Rivers people to ignore it and urge the House of Assembly to ignore it and go about their constitutional responsibilities.

Nobody can intimidate the legislature in this country,” Abe said.

Meanwhile, the House of Representatives yesterday mandated its Committees on Justice and Aviation to investigate the justification behind the “grounding” of Rivers State governmentowned Bombardier BD 700 Global Express jet by the CONTINUED ON PAGE 7>>

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Lawmakers allege plot to impeach Amaechi CONTINUED FROM PAGE 6

National Airspace Management Agency, NAMA, and report to the House in two weeks.

The House mandate followed a motion from Hon. Ahmed Idris (PDP-Plateau State).

The member of the House representing Wase Federal Constituency of Plateau State, saw the grounding of the plane, which was conveying Governor State, Amaechi; Speaker of the House, Hon. Aminu Tambuwal and other members of the House to the burial of late Deputy Governor of Ekiti State as a witch-hunt of perceived political enemies of the Presidency.

Idris, who is also the Chairman of the House Committee on Federal Character, said he was “worried that impunity, lawlessness and political vendetta are now the order of the day in a 21st century democratic Nigeria.”

He noted that “a bombardier BD 700 Global Express aircraft with registration number 5N565RS belonging to Rivers State Government, which conveyed the Governor of Rivers State and other government officials from Owerri to Akure was grounded by NAMA in controversial circumstances at Akure Airport on Friday April 26, with a request that the entourage should contact either Hon. Minister of Aviation or Managing Director of NAMA for clearance as the only condition for the aircraft to be allowed to fly.”

He expressed worry that “three different reasons have been adduced for the controversial grounding of the Rivers State Government aircraft,” stressing that “this incident raises serious issues as to the abuse of powers by the executive and the use of state machinery to witch-hunt perceived political opponents.”

He added that the trend was “extremely dangerous and detrimental to any democracy and tends towards dictatorship and draconian tendencies typical of the military era.”

The motion was adopted without much debate and referred to Committees on Justice and Aviation to probe.

Also, the Rivers State Government yesterday

said that it was yet to get any formal communication from the nation’s aviation authorities over the suspension of jet.

The Commissioner for Information and Communication, Mrs. Ibim Semenitari, in a statement in Port Harcourt expressed dismay over the series of comments attributed to officials of different agencies in the aviation sector on the status of the aircraft.

“It is pertinent to note that all of the information and queries about this aircraft have only been through the mass media.

The Rivers State Government has not received any communication from the Ministry of Aviation or any of its agencies querying the status of its aircraft even up till this moment,” she stated.

According to the commissioner, the government was surprised to read about matters of administrative procedure and allegations of illegality and abuse of process in the media, saying that the press conference and the various issues raised arose only after the embarrassing incident of the delay of the aircraft and its passengers at Akure on Friday, April 26, 2013 She noted that all the issues raised at the press briefing would be the third reason adduced for the delay of the aircraft in Akure.

“However, for purposes of clarification and in keeping with its policy of rendering ‘transparent and accountable stewardship’ to Rivers people, we would wish to state the following for the avoidance of doubt: Aircraft N566 RS arrived Nigeria and has been operating since October 2012.

“It was bought by Rivers State Government and registered as a US Aircraft in the first instance, to preserve value and provide ease of operation and sourcing of available pilots.

To qualify for N registration, the operator must be a US citizen hence RVSG entered into a trust with Bank of Utah Inc, a bank that specialises in aircraft trust.”

She explained that the relationship between the state government and Bank of Utah is that of a trustor and trustee.

All N registered aircraft enjoy the privileges of a US citizen, adding that trust

agreement for the purpose of N registration is common in the aviation industry.

“It is important to state that there are other aircraft owners in Nigeria with N registered aircraft. This practice is because of the ease of movement that N registered aircraft are privileged to enjoy. We do not therefore understand why Rivers State Government has been singled out.

“The clearance referred to was PH-Accra-PH and not Accra-PH-Accra as stat-

ed. Aircraft was being operated through a local operator, Caverton Helicopters, pending approval of importation licence by Minister of Aviation.

“Request for this license was filed by the operator on behalf of the Rivers State government and this was expressly stated in the request filed on August 27, 2012 and received in the minister’s office on September 4, 2012.

“The Rivers State Government is a responsible

sub national and guardian of the resources of its people. It will at all times and in all circumstances act within the confines of the laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” she added.

One of the most respected voices in the Nigerian aviation industry, Group Capt. John Ojikutu, while reacting to the issue berated the Federal Government and the country’s aviation agencies for the controversy trailing the delay of the jet.

Ojikutu, a former Com-

mandant at the Murtala Muhammed Airport, MMA, Lagos, said the action of the aviation agencies has exposed the country and Presidency to ridicule, stressing that the dust was yet to settle on the muscling of the journalists with the recent arrests of reporters with Leadership Newspaper.

He said it would amount to big indictment on the part of the aviation regulatory body if it was true that CONTINUED ON PAGE 11>>

L-R: UN Resident Coordinator, Daouda Toure; Women Country Representative, Dr. Grace Ongile and representative of the Ministry of Women Affairs, Dr. Ijeoma Unaogu, at the 2013 International Women’s Day and launch of the UN Gender Equity Briefing Kit in Abuja, yesterday.

PHOTO: NAN

FG squandered N1.23trn special funds –Senate CONTINUED FROM PAGE 6

The report also revealed that the sum of N191.7bn was misapplied from the Stabilisation Account, created to provide for unforeseen contingencies and economic downturn.

The committee found out that the total accruals to the Development of Natural Resources Account amounted to N873,400,023,790.19, while payments from the account amounted to N701,489,494,960.61.

It also found out that the sum of N389,983, 433, 066.07 accrued to the Derivation and Ecological account from 2002 till last year and that the major beneficiaries from the fund were the state governments and the National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA. It put the total withdrawals from the funds at N329,866,978, 289.92.

Regarding the Stabilisation Funds account, the committee found out that the total amount that accrued to the fund was N255,487,900,570.38 and that the total sum of

N203,810,308,096.99 were payments made from the funds.

The committee further disclosed that it found out that out of the total sum of N1.518,871,357,426.64 that accrued to the special funds account, N1,235,166,781,347.52 were spent from the fund.

It stated that the sum of N580,019,682, 738.00 was disbursed as loans and that out of the amount, the sum of N347, 997,583,008.41 is yet to be recovered from various loans beneficiaries.

It said several releases under this account were not related to the intendment of the account and that the sum of N329,329, 745, 916 was granted as loan, out of which N200,585,790,991.64 is still outstanding under the funds.

Similarly, under the derivation and ecological account, a total of N61bn was granted as loans, out of which N30bn is still outstanding.

Meanwhile, the Senate indicted itself for failure to live up to expectations in its oversight responsibilities, particularly in the moni-

toring of the disbursement and utilisation of the SFA. The senators expressed this view while contributing to debates on the report of the Public Accounts Committee.

Reacting to the findings of the committee, Senate Leader, Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba said: “My conclusion is that if our public finances have been opaque, if special funds have been misapplied and the misapplication did not start today, this report has its root since 2002. So, if the situation has endured till today it is because the National Assembly has been indifferent, and if we have been indifferent, then we have been complacent.

“So, this is a wake-up call for us. If the Nigerian public has been saying that we have been doing nothing in the past, I will agree with them on this occasion, we have done nothing. This is one occasion I will agree we have failed in our responsibilities.”

Commenting on this, Senator Abdul Ningi stated

that, “Over the last decade, no committee was saddled with the oversight of this account and every time the executive submits its budget proposal in no one occasion has the National Assembly raised questions about this issue and in no one occasion did we reduce these figures. Going through the report we see that it is a culmination of personal issues to those who collect the loans and to those who are given.”

Senate President David Mark, who spoke along the same lines, noted that the establishment of the funds is not a bad idea because it is an interventionist fund.

He said the problem was the lack of guidelines for the utilisation of the funds.

He also indicted the committee of the Senate for not over-sighting the proper application of the funds, stressing that “we share in the blame of the wrong disbursement of the funds.”

The Senate adjourned further sittings till Tuesday next week.

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Insert plea bargain in 1999 Constitution, EFCC begs Reps TORDUE SALEM ABUJA

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he Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, yesterday made case for the inclusion of the plea bargain system in the 1999 Constitution.

The EFCC made the appeal at a one-day Public Hearing held at the National Assembly premises on the “Administration of Criminal Justice Bill, 2013”.

It was organised by the House of Representatives Committee on Justice.

The committee Chairman, Hon. Ali Ahmad (PDP-Kwara), took submissions on the bill from the National Human Rights Commission, the National Institute of Legal Studies, Justices of High Courts, the Attorney General of the Federation and others.

In his submission, the EFCC Chairman, Mr. Ibrahim Lamorde, who spoke through a representative at the event, commended the House for taking the bill through stages to a public hearing, but pleaded that plea bargaining should be included in the 1999 Constitution which is presently under the review process in the National Assembly.

Lamorde said the issue of plea bargain had generated unnecessary controversy, because of the ignorance of the police and the general public.

He said: “The problem we (EFCC) are facing is that, many (legal) practitioners and members of the public do not understand the concept of plea bargain, and another problem is that people continue to argue that it is not in the constitution and therefore unconstitutional, but we are using this medium to appeal to the National Assembly to include plea

ABUJA

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he Presidency yesterday denied fresh report on the health status of the First Lady, Mrs. Patience Jonathan.

The Presidency was reacting to an online publication, which said Mrs. Jonathan’s health had “deteriorated again”.

The report, which claimed the First Lady had been dropped from President Goodluck Jonathan’s state visits to Namibia and South Africa, said “sources which informed of the medical situation stated that Mrs. Jonathan remained unwell after returning from Germany about three weeks ago”.

According to the report, since returning from that trip, the First Lady has remained under medical observation at the Presidential Villa.

It said: “Her latest trip to Germany is the third medical trip since her prolonged trip last year where she spent several months in a Wiesbaden hospital.

“Although she denied

evitably thrown up by the changes in the society.

“As a country, we need to pay more attention to our laws particularly those pertaining to the system of criminal justice administration.”

In his submission, the Chairman, National Human Rights Commission, Prof. Chidi Anselm Odinkalu, picked the proposed sections of the bill apart as he stressed that Nigeria’s justice system must be reformed to meet requirements of the new world.

Odinkalu suggested that a clause should be included

in the piece of legislation which would allow the country transfer a criminal who is a citizen of another country to Nigeria for trial over a crime he might have committed here.

At the hearing, the Attorney General of the Federation, Mohammed Adoke (SAN), the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Ibrahim Auta, the Chairman of the Presidential Panel on the Implementation of Justice Reforms, Justice Ishaq Bello, and several others commended the committee for its efforts.

President Goodluck Jonathan receiving the report of the Baga killings from the Chief of Defence Staff, Admiral Ola Ibrahim, at the State House, Abuja, yesterday.

Presidency denies fresh report on First Lady’s health MARCUS FATUNMOLE

bargain in the 1999 Constitution.”

The Speaker of the House, Hon. Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, who opened the hearing, also set the tone for the dissection of the justice system in Nigeria.

Tambuwal observed that the justice system needed to be updated and modernised.

He said: “We must improve and create more effective and efficient mechanisms, procedures and institutions for dealing with the new realities and challenges that are in-

those details upon her return, in a thanksgiving service in February 2013, she confessed her travails, including nine surgeries within one month, and declaring she had died but was saved by God.” The Presidency, however, described the report as the “latest in the series of deliberate efforts to mislead the innocent public and demonise the First Lady”.

The reaction is contained in a statement signed by Special Assistant on Media to the Office of the First Lady, Ayo Osinlu.

The statement reads in part: “We wish to state emphatically that the report is absolutely untrue and a creation of the wicked expectations of Sahara Reporters and those who pay their bills.

“For the avoidance of doubt, we state again that the First Lady is not an official of the Federal Government of Nigeria, and is therefore not under obligation to join every foreign trip made by her husband, in perfect expression of his statutory duty to foster both bi-lateral and multi-lateral advantages for the country.”

N100bn deceased ‘customers’ funds trapped in banks CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

Justice and Judiciary to liaise with the Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, Justice Aloma Mukhtar to relax the requirements for access to bank accounts of deceased persons by their next of kin and dependants.

This, the lawmakers said, can be done by simplifying the process of obtaining Letters of Administration from the courts.

Letters of Administration is an instrument issued by a court or public official authorizing an administrator to take control of and dispose of the estate of a deceased person.

The resolution of the House followed a motion by Hon. Abiodun Balogun (ACNOgun), which was unanimously adopted.

In the motion entitled: “Need to stop the pains of Beneficiaries of Dead Account Holders go through in Nigerian Banks and Courts,” Balogun noted that death was an inevitable end for all living souls.

According to him, most people keep reasonable amount of their money in the

banks due to the culture of savings imbibed by Nigerians and that when account holders die some of these monies are usually left with the banks.

He said that N100bn of deceased persons’ money was lying idle in dormant accounts in Nigerian banks.

He argued that while banks had continued to trade with such monies, the beneficiaries of deceased account holders wallowed in penury.

The lawmaker noted with concern that the beneficiaries often found it difficult to access the funds as the next of kin owing to bottlenecks placed by banks.

He further expressed worry that beneficiaries of bereaved contributors to the Contributory Pension Scheme, CPS, also experienced same cumbersome process of getting Letters of Administration.

Balogun said that the inability of the beneficiaries to assess funds of deceased bread winners was discouraging people from saving with banks.

He stressed the need for

the process of obtaining letters of administration from the courts to be simplified to allow beneficiaries with genuine claims access their inheritance.

He said: “That anytime beneficiaries show up to access the funds as the next of kin to the deceased, the banks usually place official and unofficial hurdles to frustrate them. The courts that are supposed to issue Letters of Administration also engage in unwarranted delays sometimes for a period of up to one year before such Letters of Administration are issued, thereby adding greatly to the frustration of the already traumatized beneficiaries.

“Even the beneficiaries of the bereaved contributors to the CPS are not left out as they are frustrated due to their inability to make claims for their entitlements as a result of the cumbersome process of getting Letters of Administration.

The inability of beneficiaries to access unclaimed funds may further discourage people from saving in our banks.”

Alleged forgery: We stand by our story –Leadership reporters ISEOLUWA IGE ABUJA

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eadership newspapers’ reporters yesterday told a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja that they did not forge any document containing a purported presidential directive to the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, not to register an opposition party ahead 2015 polls.

The document is said to bear the signature of President Jonathan Goodluck.

Those standing trial for the said forgery are the newspaper’s Group News Editor, Mr. Tony Amokeodo and Political Correspondent, Mr. Chibuzor Ukaibe.

The Leadership newspaper had, about a month ago, sourced a story from the said document purportedly emanating from the Presidency.

Although the Presidency denied the authorship of the controversial directive and accused the newspaper of forging the document bearing the directive, the newspaper, however, insisted that it stood by its story and published same conspicuously.

The Federal Government had dragged the newspaper and the two reporters whose by-lines appeared in the story to court for forgery and were all arraigned yesterday.

But for six separate times, yesterday, both the Leadership newspaper represented by one of its Executive Directors, Dr. Mike Okpere, and the two reporters, pleaded not guilty.

They also served a notice in court yesterday that the charge brought against them was incompetent on the account that a Federal High Court had no subject-matter jurisdiction to hear the case.

Mr. Femi Falana (SAN), who represented the journalists, said the charge contained state offences which had nothing to do with the revenue of the Federal Government.

Falana asked the court to hear the application challenging its jurisdiction before attempting to arraign the accused but he was overruled.

The trial judge, Justice Adeniyi Ademola, held that the issue of jurisdiction could be raised at anytime and that the application could be heard after arraignment.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

News

Wednesday, May 1, 2013

Nigeria’s active phone lines rise to 116.6 million KUNELE A ZEEZ

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he total number of active telephone lines in Nigeria has increased to 116.6 million, according to the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).

In a latest industry subscriber data released by the regulator yesterday, the total number of connected telephone lines stood 159.9 million.

But of the 159.9 million connected subscriptions, only 116.6 million are active.

Both the active and total connected lines comprise those on the networks of the Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM), the Code Division

Multiple Access (CDMA) and the fixed wired/wireless operators.

According to the NCC’s latest data, the connected lines grew by 5.3 million from 154.5 million in January to 159.87 million in February.

The statistics revealed that the operators, which had 114. 4 millions active subscribers in January, added about 2.2 million to their respective networks and by February, the figure climbed to 116.6 million.

Similarly, the country’s teledensity, which is defined as the number of telephone connections for every hundred individuals living within an area, grew from 81.7 per cent in January to 83.2 per cent in

February.

However, teledensity varies widely across the nations and also between urban and rural areas within a country.

It has significant correlation with the per capita of people in an area. It is also used as an indicator of economic development of the country or specific region.

Unfortunately, the report revealed that the troubled CDMA subsector, with players such as Starcomms; Visafone; Multi-Links sustained its low profile, losing about 99,966 subscribers within a month.

The CDMA operators, which had in January about 2.89 million subscribers, went down to 2.79

million in February.

In contrast, the fixed wired/wireless operators, which had just 406, 222 active lines in January, added 4,442 lines to hit 410, 664 lines in February.

Further analysis of the data by National Mirror revealed showed that the total telephone installed capacity by the GSM operators stood at 196.8 million lines; while CDMA operators have 18.4 million lines, the fixed operators have 11.3 million lines, which is about 226.6 million lines altogether.

Installed capacity is the total number of telephone lines which telecoms networks have build their network capacity to accommodate at a particular period of time.

L-R: President, Nigeria Labour Congress, Comrade Abdulwaheed Omar; Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Sen. Pius Anyim and President, Trade Union Congress, Mr. Peter Esele, at the Pre-May Day Symposium in Abuja, yesterday.

PHOTO: NAN

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Two die in Benin-Auchi-Okene auto crash SEBASTINE EBHUOMHAN BENIN

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o fewer than two persons died yesterday morning in an auto crash in Edo State.

The accident occurred when a Toyota Hiace bus in which the two persons were travelling hit a tipper from the rear on the Benin-Auchi-Okene Road.

According to the Iruekpen Unit Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Mr. Eshiet Udeme, the victims were

on their way from the North.

He added that 12 other persons were injured in the crash.

Udeme, however, claimed that the crash could have resulted from the bus driver’s fatigue.

“They travelled all night. But around 4am, the bus hit a tipper from the rear,” he said, without explaining whether the tipper was stationary or not.

The bodies of the victims have, however, been deposited in a mortuary.

Govt promises water-tight security ways. for embassies ingful He said: “The essence OMEIZA A JAYI ABUJA

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he Federal Government has promised to strengthen security in and around foreign embassies and consulates in the country.

It said most countries represented by the embassies had continued to partner with Nigeria’s security agencies.

The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mr. Mohammed Abubakar, who spoke shortly before a closed door parley with ambassadors of 12 countries as well as police and security attaches of embassies in Abuja, said the meeting was necessitated by the need to review Nigeria’s security situation with a view to engaging the countries in more mean-

of this meeting is primarily to look at security challenges with one embassy or the other and to exchange views on how we can get expertise and technical assistance from them.”

Abubakar, who commended the foreign nations for the support extended to the police in fighting crime, promised to ensure the security of the embassies and their personnel.

According to him, the meeting would help to deepen the relationship between the Force and the nations represented by the embassies.

Meanwhile, the Federal Government has announced partnership with the United States on the introduction of modern technology to police Nigeria’s porous borders.

May Day: Organised labour decries workers’ condition Arms importation: FG to drop charge against Russian suspects MESHACK IDEHEN

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he organised labour has decried the poor condition of the nation’s workers.

It said the workers’ condition has not improved in the nation’s 100 years of existence.

According to the organised labour, much of the nation’s infrastructure collapsed over the years, while many industries and business enterprises still struggle to break even due to the overly high overhead costs they incur on transportation, power generation, exorbitant demurrage at the ports, high exchange rate of the naira and multiple taxations.

In a May Day speech made available to National Mirror, President of the Trade Union Congress (TUC), Mr. Peter Esele, and his Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers Senior Staff Association (PENGASSAN) counterpart, Mr. Babatunde Ogun, said Nigeria’s manufacturing sector is worst hit by these negative factors which have resulted in capacity utilisation remaining abysmally low, following which the domestic economy has witnessed an unprecedented closure of factories and production plants, and unemployment profile continuing to rise.

Esele said the relocation of several companies from Nigeria to

Ghana and other countries is indicative that all is not well with the country.

On his part, the PENGASSAN president said employers of labour now circumvent procedures to disengage workers from employment using redundancy, restructuring, termination or acquisition as a cover without recourse to stipulated industry best practices and observance of the extant laws.

Ogun said aside the hardships faced by workers, the harsh conditions in society further imperil them, while describing terrorism, communal clashes and general state of insecurity confronting the country as worrisome.

KAYODE KETEFE

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he case of 15 Russians alleged to have involved in importing arms and ammunition into Nigeria took an unexpected turn yesterday as the Federal Government disclosed that some of the expatriate had been wrongly charged and that it would drop the charge against them.

This was disclosed at the Federal High Court in Lagos by the Director of Public Prosecution in the Federal Ministry of Justice, Mrs. Olufemi Fatunde, who is prosecuting the Russians.

The Russians, who had all earlier been arraigned before Justice Okechukwu Okeke, are Myre Seadiver, Zhelyazkov Andrey,

Savchenko Sergel, Chichkanov Vasily, Varlygin Igor, Komilov Alexander, Lopatin Alexey and Baranovskly Nikolay.

The remaining are Mishin Pavel, Llia Shubov, Dimitry Bannyrh, Alexander Tsarikov, Kononov Sergel, Korotchenko Andrey, Vorobev Mikhail and Stepan Oleksiuk.

They were arraigned on a four-count charge comprising the alleged offences of entry into the Nigerian territorial waters without due clearance and licence and illegal importation of firearms and ammunitions into the country.

When the case was called before Justice Okeke yesterday, Mrs. Fatunde promptly applied for adjournment on the grounds that the govern-

ment needed time to sort out those who deserved to have been charged from those who should not have been charged.

She added that after this exercise is carried out the charge would be amended and those who were adjudged to be prosecuted would be arraigned on the new charge.

Fatunde said: “I want to apply for adjournment to enable us sort out the names of those who ought not to have charged from those we should charge.

We have found out that some of these expatriates before the court were not arrested on the ship but flew in by air into the country.

“We need to sort out this before the next adjourned date.”

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National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Leventis Manager, two others docked for stealing KEMI OLAITAN IBADAN

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L-R: Chief of Staff to Oyo State Governor, Dr. Adeolu Akande; wife of the Oyo State governor and Oyo State Net Ambassador, Mrs. Florence Ajimobi; Governor Abiola Ajimobi; Deputy Team Leader, USAID, Ms. Celeste Carr and Advisor, President’s Malaria Initiative (PMI) and Senior Advisor for Child Health, USAID, Mr. George Greer, when the PMI team and USAID visited the governor in Ibadan, yesterday.

We’ve paid over N18bn to 3000 retirees –Fashola MURITALA AYINLA AND KEMI OLAITAN

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agos State Governor, Babatunde Fashola, yesterday said the state government has paid over N18 billion into the retirement savings account of over 3, 000 retirees in the state civil service since inception.

Speaking while presenting the retirement bond certificates to over 780 retirees in the state, Fashola reiterated the state government’s commitment to the welfare of the retired civil servants.

He said the money is the accrued pension rights

which are made up of gratuity and pension benefits for entitlements under the old scheme.

Fashola, who was represented by the state Head of Service, Adesegun Ogunlewe, said the government is paying over N3.5billion for the retiring 780 civil servants.

On his part, the DirectorGeneral of the state Pension Commission, Rotimi Hussain, said the state is committed to ensuring a better retirement life for employees of the state.

The director-general affirmed that before this batch, about 2, 604 retirees had been paid N14, 486, 214, 538.53k, insisting that pres-

ent administration would continue to go the extra mile to improve the welfare of the residents.

He said the state pension commission is trail-blazing global standard services delivery on pension matters, adding that it had deployed world class technology and well motivated workers to ensure financial freedom for Lagos State retirees.

Meanwhile, the Nigerian Union of Pensioners, Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria branch, yesterday called on the management of the bank to ensure prompt and up-to-date payment of their pension arrears in the interest of their members.

The union made the call in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, during its second delegates’ conference and lecture titled; “The role of Federal Mortgage Bank pensioners in promoting housing delivery in Nigeria.”

The President, Nigerian Union of Pensioners, FMBN, Chief Ladipo Ani, in his speech at the occasion, said the concern of members is the legitimate demand of pension and arrears.

The Head, Corporate Affairs of FMBN, Mr. Dauda Yusuf, while declaring open the conference, assured the union that the bank would look into their demands.

Decongestion: Lagos chief judge releases 96 prisoners KENNY ODUNUKAN

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agos State Chief Judge, Justice Ayotunde Philips, yesterday released 96 inmates awaiting trial from the male and female sections of the Kirikiri Medium Security Prison in Apapa.

Altogether, eight female inmates and 88 male inmates were set free by the chief judge.

The freed inmates have been awaiting trial for a period ranging from three to nine years.

Prior to the chief judge’s visit yesterday, the female facility, built to accommodate 211 inmates has 207. Out of this, 167 are awaiting trial, 36 had been convicted, three are condemned criminals while one is on a life sentence.

The male section, on the other hand, was built to accommodate 1,700. The facility presently is home to 2, 496 inmates out of which 2, 344 are awaiting trial and 152 had been convicted.

It will be recalled that Justice Phillips had earlier released 279 inmates from the Kirikiri Maximum and Medium Security Prisons and Ikoyi Prisons last year.

The chief judge said: “The release of the awaiting trial inmates is aimed at decongesting the prisons and in exercise of my powers under Section 1 (1) of the Criminal Justice Release from Custody Special Provision Act CAP C40, 2007, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria.”

The chief judge admonished the freed inmates to be of good behaviour and ensure that they stay away from criminal acts.

“I release you all from custody today and admonish you to go and sin no more,” she said.

Justice Phillips remarked that the matter of awaiting trials and decongestion of prisons is very close to her heart. She said those who were released were those found worthy of the exer-

cise.

“When I was sworn in, I said I would look into prison decongestion and I meant what I said then. When I came in September, I released some of you; again your number has swelled up. But I would keep on doing it till I retire,” she assured the inmates.

he Property Manager of Leventis Plc in Ibadan, Mrs. Grace Adeliyi and two others were yesterday arraigned before an Iyaganku Chief Magistrate’s Court for stealing and felony.

Other accused persons docked alongside Adeliyi include a 35-year-old man, Akeem Yusuf and one Samuel Udu. According to count two of the charge, the three accused, in collaboration with others now at large, were on March 13, at about 1.30 am at Lebanon Street in Ibadan, allegedly stole three steel containers valued at about N1.1 million, property of one Dapo Davies and thereby committed an offence contrary to, and punishable under section 390 (9) of the criminal code cap 38 vol. 11 Laws of Oyo State of Nigeria, 2000.

Adeliyi and the two, together with others now at large, in count three, were alleged to have conducted themselves in a manner likely to cause the breach of the peace by removing the carcass of a demolished shops done by the Oyo State Ministry of Environment and thereby committed an offence contrary to, and punishable under section 249 (D) of the criminal code.

In count four, Adeliyi, Yusuf , Udu and others at large, were accused of maliciously damaging three steel containers valued at about N1.1 million, property of Dapo Davies and thereby committed an offence contrary to, and punishable under section 451 of the criminal code cap 38 volume 11 Laws of Oyo State of Nigeria, 2000.

But the three accused persons pleaded not guilty to all the four-count charge when their pleas were taken yesterday.

Ekiti honours Olayinka with cancer diagnostic centre ABIODUN NEJO ADO EKITI

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kiti State government has announced plans to establish a cancer diagnostic centre in honour of the late Deputy Governor, Mrs. Funmilayo Olayinka.

The centre, to be located at the Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital, will be a collaboration between the state government and a nongovernmental organisation - Ekiti Development Foundation, EDF. A statement from the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr. Olayinka Oyebode, said the centre would focus on early detection and treatment of the dreaded disease.

The late deputy governor died on April 6, after a protracted battle with cancer.

Oyebode said: “The cen-

tre would commence initial operation in the coming months with the commissioning of a mammogram aimed at detection and early diagnosis of breast cancer.”

As part of efforts to immortalise the Olayinka, the state government yesterday named one of the administration’s legacy projects - the ultra modern civic centre, currently under construction, after her.

The civic centre, which is being built on a large expanse of land near the Government House complex and billed for completion by the end of the year, would be known as Funmilayo Olayinka Civic Centre.

Governor Kayode Fayemi also named the newly constructed AtikankanBaptist Church Road in Ado-Ekiti as Funmilayo Olayinka Drive.

Agency denies political undertone in billboards’ removal ABIODUN NEJO ADO EKITI

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kiti State Signage Agency has denied any political undertone in the ongoing removal of billboards which fees have not been paid across the state.

Director-General of the agency, Prince Adewole Ajakaiye, who urged owners of billboards to pay up their dues to avoid embarrassment, said its operations

were not targeted at politicians only.

Ajakaiye, who told journalists yesterday that operations of the agency covered billboards and posters of private and public corporate businesses as well as politicians, assured the aspirants of the various political parties in the state of fair treatment.

The signage boss, who refuted allegations by some politicians whose billboards

were removed in Ado Ekiti last week and that the agency has been politicised, said all billboard owners in the state have always been given fair hearing.

While regretting the destruction of some politicians’ billboards by hoodlums, he said the agency did not remove the campaign materials of those who had paid up.

The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Chairman in the state, Mr. Makanjuola Og-

undipe, had last week alerted that the agency was victimising the party’s governorship aspirants through the removal of their billboards despite paying the required fees.

Ogundipe displayed the receipts of some of the aspirants whose billboards were removed despite payment, including Senator Gbenga Aluko, Chief Abiodun Aluko, Prince Dayo Adeyeye, and Hon. Gbenga Aribisala.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

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Wednesday, May 1, 2013

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Two Ondo monarchs in supremacy battle over lesser chief’s installation HAKEEM GBADAMOSI AKURE

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ension seems to be building up between Akure and Ayede -Ogbese in Ondo State as the Deji of Akure, Oba Adebiyi Adesida and the Alayede of Ogbese, Oba Prof. Iseoluwa Oluyede are in show of strength over the installation of lesser chief for Alayere community in Akure North Local Government Area.

It was learnt that the Alayede, Oba Prof. Oluyede had installed Prince Adeni-

ran Aladetoyinbo as the Olu of Alayere, while the Deji also installed Prince Seyi Aderemi as the community’s traditional ruler.

However, with two people laying claims to the traditional stool of Alayere, tension seems to have rented the air in the community.

Aladetoyinbo was installed by the Alayede of Ayede- Ogbese on November 1, 2011, while Aderemi was installed by Deji on April 24, 2013.

It was, however, learnt that the Regent of the town,

Princess Wuraola Ogunsuyi, still parades herself as the head of the community.

Speaking through his Chief of Staff, Prince Bayo Aderinto, Deji said he has the authority over Akureland and since Alayere is within Akure domain, he said he has the right to install the community’s head.

But in a letter sent to the Chairman of Akure North Local Government Area, the Okiti of Iju and Chairman of Akure North Chieftaincy Committee, Oba Amos Farukanmi, said: “This is to

certify that Prince Adeniran Aladetoyinbo was selected and installed as the Olu of Alayere community in Akure North Local Government under the prescribed authority of His Royal Majesty, Oba (Prof) Iseoluwa Oluyede in accordance with the Ondo State Chiefs Law of 1984 as amended in 1991.

“In view of the foregoing, Prince Aladetoyinbo is the Olu of Alayere community duly recognize by the Akure North Local Government and should be given due recognition.”

Addressing journalists yesterday in Akure, Aladetoyinbo said since he was installed in 2011, he had been collecting stipend from the local government authority as the Olu of Alayere.

He urged the Ondo State Government, the Council of Obas and the security agencies to call Deji to order before his action leads to the breakdown of law and order in the community.

Similarly, the Alayede, Oba Oluyede, said he installed the Olu of Alayere without breaching any norms, rules or regulation of the country.

He said: “I have meticulously followed due process as stated above. I also emphasize that Olu Alayere is a mi-

nor chieftaincy according to chiefs law of Ondo State. Secondly, I want to say that Olu of Alayere, the minor stool is within Alayede-Ogbese jurisdiction.”

Describing Deji’s action as intransigency, Oba Oluyede said such attitude should not be allowed to continue for law and order to be maintained.

But Aderinto said the Alayede who claimed to have prescribed authority was installed by Deji, saying the creation of local government does not remove the power of Deji to install lesser chiefs for his domains.

He said that Deji has paramount authority over towns and villages in Akure North Local Government Area.

Two suspects held with 1.2kg of cocaine at Lagos Airport OLUSEGUN KOIKI

T L-R: Vice Chancellor, Osun State University, Prof. Bashiru Okesina; former District Governor, Lions Club international, Lion Prof.

Adesokan Ayoade; Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola and others during a visit by the club to the governor in Osogbo, yesterday.

Lawmakers allege plot to impeach Amaechi CONTINUED FROM PAGE 7

the aircraft papers had expired since April 2, 2013 and only found out almost a month before the aircraft was grounded, adding that it portends serious problem to safety and security of the country.

This, he said, amounts to again spreading political fangs into the delicate aviation industry and warned that the agencies needed to be very careful on this turf else they exposed the travelling public into the murky waters of Nigerian politics.

He warned that this could set up the industry for international sanctions.

Ojikutu, in an interview with journalists in Lagos, said: “When has the submission of passengers manifest on private aircraft flight become mandatory and also the responsibility of NAMA? The need for passengers manifest on private aircraft (if any is required and in force) can only be the responsibility of the SSS and (in the case of private aircraft on international flight)

the Immigration Services.

This new development by NAMA will soon make it an Open Sesame for controllers to start making such irresponsible demand from pilots of private aircraft.

“For whatever reasons, where were the various aviation agencies now crying wolf when the aircraft left Port-Harcourt?

Did the aircraft leave Port Harcourt without filing a flight plan or was the aircraft not given Air Traffic Control clearance between Port Harcourt and Akure?

Lagos to pay Ijegun fire victims N81m MURITALA AYINLA

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ive years after a pipeline explosion wrecked havoc in Ijegun community, the Lagos State Government yesterday promised to assist victims of the incident with N81 million.

The 191 victims had filled

a suit against the state government, HITECH Construction Company, the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and Pipelines and Products Marketing Company Ltd (PPMC).

The victims demanded N97 billion compensation from the defendants for their alleged negligence, which they claimed caused the ex-

plosion.

But plan to assist the victims was the aftermath of out-of- court settlement agreed with them by the government.

Addressing journalists after a closed-door meeting held with representatives of the victims at Aluasa, Ikeja, General Manager of the Lagos State Emergency Man-

“Are these two aviation agencies located only at Akure airport and not at Port Harcourt airport?

What these agencies are telling Nigerian is that an aircraft with all these alibi crossed the red-line unnoticed in Port Harcourt and could have flown to any other place other than a Nigerian airport.

“If whatever these agencies are now telling Nigeria is true to their duties and not politically motivated, then they have all failed in their responsibility and that portends danger in the management of our airspace and the air traffic control services.” agement Agency (LASEMA), Dr. Femi Oke-Osanyintolu, said the government’s gesture was in fulfillment of its resolve to alleviate the pains of its citizens.

He added the money would be paid according to the degrees of the effect of the inferno on the victims, saying those severely affected would be duly assisted while those mildly affected would also be adequately supported.

he National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) yesterday said it apprehended two suspected drug traffickers at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport (MMIA) in Lagos.

The suspects, the agency said, tested positive for narcotic ingestion, adding that one of them inserted four wraps of cocaine weighing 210 grammes in his anus while another ingested 67 wraps of the same substance weighing 1.085kg, making a total of 1.295kg.

According to the NDLEA Airport Commander, Mr. Hamza Umar, tension rose when one of the suspects, Onedigbo Chibueze Emmanuel, 28, who planned to travel to Pakistan, could not expel one wrap of the substance.

Hamza said: “While Akwaeze Anthony successfully expelled all 67 wraps of cocaine he ingested without assistance, the case of Onedigbo Chibueze Emmanuel, who inserted four wraps of cocaine in his anus, was different. He was unable to expel one of the wraps until

medical doctors came to his rescue. We were disturbed because his life was in danger.”

A statement signed by the agency’s Head of Public Affairs, Mr. Mitchell Ofoyeju, stated that officials were worried that the suspects may die like others who ingest narcotic drugs due to the poisonous nature of drugs.

He said preliminary investigation revealed that Onedigbo Chibueze Emmanuel is an unrepentant drug trafficker who was recently deported from Thailand after serving a three-year jail term over drug related offences.

He was apprehended during the screening of passengers on Qatar Airline flight.

Emmanuel, who hails from Okija in Anambra State, however, said: “It is true that I was deported in February 2013 after serving three years jail term in Thailand. I went back into drug smuggling because there was nothing for me to sustain myself.

“My desire was to get some money from the drug deal and establish a business that could help me prepare for my future. I feel sad that it turned out this way.”

Oyo adopts PPP for hospitals’ rehabilitation

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he Oyo State Government is set to carry out comprehensive rehabilitation of Adeoyo State Hospital, Ring Road, Ibadan and other state-owned health facilities through a Public Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement.

Governor Abiola Aji-

mobi stated this yesterday in Ibadan when he received a delegation of the Malaria Control Partners comprising the USAID Washington and President Malaria Initiative in his office.

He said the PPP initiative was part of his administration’s efforts aimed at revitalising the health sector.

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National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Auto crash: Okorocha lifts co-victim with N200, 000 CHRIS NJOKU OWERRI

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L-R: Imo State Deputy Governor, Mr. Eze Mmadumere; Commissioner for Information, Mr. Chinedu Ofor; Governor Rochas Okorocha and Hon. Osita Nnewuihe, at a press conference on Okorocha’s arrival from medical treatment abroad in Owerri, yesterday.

Crisis: Umeh seeks to be joined in APGA suit CHARLES OKEKE AWKA

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he embattled factional National Chairman of the All Progressives Alliance (APGA), Chief Victor Umeh, yesterday asked a Federal High Court sitting in Awka, the Anambra State capital, to be joined as a party in the suit filed by one Mr. Charles Nwazojie for himself and on behalf of the members of the party executive committees at the ward, local government and state levels.

The suit was filed by Nwazojie against the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Commissioner of Police, Anambra State chieftain of

DENNIS AGBO ENUGU

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ome members of the National Assembly elected on the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) platform in Enugu State may have concluded plan to defect to the yet be registered All Progressives Congress (APC), it was learnt yesterday.

A chieftain of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) and supporter of APC, Dr. Ben Nwoye, told journalists yesterday shortly after ACN held its congress in Enugu that many PDP members would soon dump the party for APC. Nwoye said that as soon as APC is registered by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the PDP chieftains would

•Okwu challenges court’s jurisdiction APGA, Mr. Maxi Okwu and Egwuoyibo Okoye.

This development came when counsel to Okwu and Okoye, Mr. Chidi Obieze, filed a motion challenging the jurisdiction of the court.

At the hearing of the application filed by Nwazojie, the presiding judge, Justice M.T Salihu, took arguments on the issue of pending interlocutory applications of joinder, jurisdiction and legal representation for APGA. But counsel to Chief Umeh, the party seeking to be joined in the suit, Mr. P.I.N Ikwueto (SAN), asked the court to first hear his client’s application.

Ikwueto said: “There is need to hear the application

for joinder first, issue of parties being heard in a suit is also an issue of jurisdiction because if a case is determined without the relevant parties, then the court would have acted in vain as the issue of jurisdiction of the court is adversely affected” Similarly, Obieze canvassed arguments to have his application challenging the jurisdiction of the court heard first.

He said that it is trite in law that an application dealing with jurisdictional issue should be given priority before any other pending application.

Obieze said that he was properly briefed to represent

APGA in the case.

Another lawyer, Mr. Kingsley Awuka, also represented APGA in the suit.

Describing his application as very important, Awuka said there is need for APGA to have proper representation in the suit.

Awuka, who stated that his application should therefore be heard first, repudiated the appearance made for APGA by Obieze and his colleagues. He said he was the person briefed by Umeh to represent the party.

The court adjourned the suit till May 15 for hearing on two key applications dealing with the issues of who represents APGA and request for joinder.

Enugu PDP legislators to ‘dump’ party for APC

dump the party en masse for APC. He said: “I can assure you that once the APC is pronounced registered, you will see massive defection from the PDP, massive defection from the ward to the local government to the state House of Assembly and even some serving executive members of this state, you will see massive defection all the way to the Senate and the House of Representatives, you will see massive defection.”

Nwoye, however, blamed the nation’s political and economic woes, as well as the insecurity of lives and property across the country on President Goodluck Jonathan’s lack of ideas to tackle the challenges.

Stressing that Nigeria could no longer continue in the mess caused by bad governance, he called on true democrats to embrace the proposed APC. Nwoye, a renowned human right lawyer, accused the Federal Government of deliberately planning to deny the people their freedom of speech through surveillance of phone calls.

Reacting to money approved by the Federal Government for the victims of the violence that erupted after the 2011 general election , the ACN chieftain said that PDP was afraid of the next election, hence its decision to approve the money two years after the violence.

Nwoye said though he was not against the fund, he

thought that the funds were slush money they use to perpetrate fraud.

He also expressed dismay over the way the Federal Government is handling the nation’s security challenges.

On a purported court order obtained by some aggrieved members of ACN, Nwoye said that no order restrained the party from conducting congress in Enugu State.

He added that the purported order did not also restrain INEC and the State Security Service (SSS) officials from observing the congress.

Nwoye said the injunction only restrained the caretaker committee of the party from parading themselves.

mo State Governor Rochas Okorocha has announced a cash donation of N200, 000 to Osita Nnawihe, the victim who recently collided with him in an auto crash.

The governor announced the gesture yesterday in Owerri, the state capital.

He said the money would aid Nnawihe to offset his hospital bills.

It will be recalled that the governor’s convoy was involved in head -on collision with Nnawuihe’s Mercedes Benz car on April 19 on Orlu Owerri Road.

The crash occurred when the governor was on his way to inspect a project in Imo West Senatorial District.

Okorocha, who sustained minor injuries as a result of the auto crash, was later treated by his physician, Dr. Sylvester Igwe, before he was flown London for further medical treatment.

However, addressing journalists shortly on arrival from the foreign medical trip, Okorocha described the incident as unfortunate.

He expressed gratitude to those who prayed for his quick recovery

and advised motorists to always be careful while driving on the road.

Okorocha said: “When you drive, do not drink and when you drink, do not drive.”

Stressing that the incident thought him a lesson and also encouraged him for greater services to the people, the governor said: “I am back, hale and hearty. And let me reassure the good people of Imo State that there is nothing wrong with me because the doctor thoroughly examined me and said that I am now fit to work.”

Meanwhile, the victim, Nnawuihe, who was a former councillor in Oru East, asked Okorocha to forgive him, saying that he was unaware that the convoy was that of the governor.

Narrating the incident to journalists yesterday at the Government House in Owerri, Nnawuihe said: “When the accident happened, I fainted and was rushed to Federal Medical centre (FMC), Owerri, where I was admitted and treated before the police came for me.

“I was still not aware of what I have done until the police told me that I was involved in an accident with the governor and I shouted. I want the governor to forgive me.”

Ex-agency boss makes case for sacked 10,000 workers CHRIS NJOKU OWERRI

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politician and former Director of Imo State Orientation Agency, Mr. Chukwuemeka Mbamara, yesterday urged Governor Rochas Okorocha to recall the sacked 10,000 workers employed by his predecessor, Chief Ikedi Ohakim, or forget celebrating today’s Workers’ Day. Mbamara told journalists at his Iho country home in Ikeduru Local Government Area that the sack of the workers, who were mainly youths, was unwarranted and wrongfully carried out.

The retired Army officer said: “The sacked workers, who were engaged in the state work

force after going through all legitimate procedure of employment, are now exposed to untold hardship.

“The dismissal of the 10,000 youths was political vendetta against Ikedi and to throw the youths into unemployment after they have been employed for five months is most mindless and wicked act, and in the spirit of the Workers’ Day celebration, let him recall them with immediate effect”.

Mbamara also accused the state civil service of compromising, adding that “the dignity of workers has been destroyed by the government.”

He said: “Workers cannot complain for fear of being victimised.”

Wednesday May 1, 2013

Omisore doesn’t have what it takes to govern Osun –Salami

PDP denies Tukur’s resignation ABUJA

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he National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Olisa Metuh, has denied that its National Chairman, Bamanga Tukur, has resigned his ap-

pointment in the party.

Unconfirmed report yesterday said that Tukur mailed his resignation letter to President Goodluck Jonathan from his base in Europe.

According to a source, Tukur resigned his appointment after the Presi-

dent asked him to formally withdraw his service after it became obvious that after one year in office he could not achieve unity in the party.

The party source said: “He travelled out of the country without putting his house in order and his in-

ability to arrest the political crisis in Rivers State PDP infuriated the president, who now demanded his immediate resignation.”

It would be recalled that only last week, the presidency forced the PDP chairman to sack his entire aides including his son, Awal Tu-

L-R: Chairman, House of Representatives’ Committee on Justice, Ali Ahmad and Speaker Aminu Tambuwal, during a public hearing on Administration of Criminal Justice Bill 2013, in Abuja yesterday.

Oshiomhole raises alarm over plan to cause mayhem in Edo SEBASTINE EBHUOMHAN

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do State Government yesterday raised an alarm about a plan by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to recruit thugs masquerading as students to cause disaffection in the state over issues of bursary award and scholarship.

According to a statement signed by Governor Adams Oshiomhole’s Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Peter Okhiria, the students who were said to have held a clandestine meeting at the SUG building of the University of Benin are to mobilise and lead students to agitate on the streets of Benin City at the end of a seven-day ultimatum that will be issued to the government to commence payment of bursary.

The statement warned, however, that security agencies have already been placed on a red alert to deal

decisively with anyone or group, which tries to foment trouble in Edo State under the guise of bursary awards and scholarships.

Okhira stated: “We want to state clearly that the payment of bursary is not a ‘birthright’ as the students claim and is not compulsive on a state government as there are many states in the federation which do not pay.

Some states which are

generally described as disadvantaged in terms of western education pay bursary to encourage their students go for higher education. To therefore equate Edo State, which even the students admit ranks tops on the education scale and has one of the highest number of students in tertiary institutions in the country with such educationallydisadvantaged states as

Yobe, Zamfara is comical.

“We want to state categorically that at no time did the Governor of Edo State, Adams Oshiomhole promise to pay bursary to students of the state in tertiary institutions as the state’s resources cannot cope with the burden.”

But the state PDP, speaking through its spokesman, Matthew Umoghide has denied the allegation in entirety, describing it as lies.

2014: Why I’m inCongress Osunofguber race –Akinlabi Nigeria (ACN) tion come 2014.

OLAJIDE OMOJOLOMOJU

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guber natorial aspirant on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Osun State and former Minister of Youths Development, Senator Olasunkanmi Akinlabi, has said that he is on a rescue mission.

Speaking to journalists in Lagos on Monday, Akinlabi said that the Action

administration led by Rauf Aregbesola has failed woefully, a reason which he said has made the people of the state resolved to sack him from office come 2014.

Expressing optimism that he would clinch the PDP gubernatorial ticket through what he believed would be a free and fair primary, the former minister assured that he would also win the governorship elec-

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Politics

Onshore/offshore dichotomy: The law Kwankwaso won’t let go

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OBIORA IFOH

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

He promised to execute best policy on education, health, transportation, agriculture, infrastructural development, job creation and poverty alleviation, among others.

He said the winner of the PDP primary would determine who owned the PDP machinery in Osun State, saying that he is the most qualified and credible candidate suitable for the office among the contenders.

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kur. He is yet to reappoint a new team before travelling out over the weekend.

But, Metuh described the resignation news as a rumour and the handiwork of the opposition.

In a telephone interview with National Mirror Metuh said that the Tukur will be back to the country by weekend.

He said: “Our chairman is not under any pressure to resign and he has not told the National Working Committee (NWC) that he will be resigning. It all remains a rumour obviously from the opposition party which can go to any length to disparage the PDP.” Also, the Special Assistant (Special Duties) to Tukur, A.Y Ahmad, denied the report.

Ahmad said Tukur was rather on a national assignment to Canada to attend an official function on the invitation of the Nigerian Ambassador to Canada, Ojo Maduakwe, and would return to Nigeria as soon as he concluded his assignments.

He attributed the speculation to the machinations of some faceless, treacherous and wicked individuals who he said were aiming to profit from misleading innocent members of the PDP and Nigerians in general for no sane reason.

He said: “The National Chairman is a national and international figure.

He has been working hard to ensure the repositioning of PDP to cope with the future challenges and so had no plan to resign as being suggested by some sworn enemies of the party.”

Meanwhile, a group, Mass Mobilization for Transformation (MMT), has earlier tasked Tukur to step down from office over what it described as the increasing divisiveness traced to his leadership.

The group, in an open letter to President Jonathan, alleged that the Tukur leadership in over one year has failed to bring the party together, alleging that his actions could pose a challenge to the president’s chances in the 2015 election.

UPN pays N1m registration fee to INEC

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political association, the Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN), said it had paid the N1 million non-refundable fee to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to qualify for registration.

The acting National Secretary of the party, Abubakar Sokoto, disclosed this to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja.

Sokoto said that the amount was paid on Monday, April 29.

“I confirm to you that we (UPN) paid the N1 million non-refundable registration fee to INEC yesterday (April 29). And INEC had acknowledged receipt of same the same day,” he explained.

A letter conveying the payment to INEC Chairman, Attahiru Jega, dated April 29, was made available to NAN in Abuja.

The letter, entitled “Re: Instruction to Register A Political Party: Request for Information/Modalities”,

read in part thus: “We write to acknowledge receipt of political party (hereinafter referred to as Unity Party of Nigeria) registration form from Ben Nwaokenya Esq (acting National Legal Adviser) a fortnight ago.

“We have gone through the requirements for the party (hereinafter referred to as Unity Party of Nigeria) registration that come along with the form and we wish to present our N1 million registration fee for your commission. Other requirements will be met soonest.”

Fredrick Fasehun, the acting National Chairman of the group, also told NAN on phone that they stood on the socio-political and economic legacies of the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo.

“Equality of good fortune must be to each reward; liberty and brotherhood are the goals for which we will strive; plus plenty and the good things of life. All the political parties since 1999 have failed us.”

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Views

Wednesday, May 1, 2013

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ECOWAS’ new thinking on 90 days stay limit PUBLIC DOMAIN

DELE

SETEOLU

deleseteolu@nationalmirroronline.net (08033137577 SMS only)

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he Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) will likely abolish two key provisions of the regional protocol on tree movement of persons, which impose a 90 day limit for community citizens visiting other member states, and residency card requirements.

This proposed abolishment is at the behest of heads of ECOWAS national units, civil society and immigration officials.

Based on the 1979 regional flagship protocol on free movement of persons, the right of residence and establishment, ECOWAS citizens are required to stay a minimum of 90 days on a visit to a member state; and secure residence permit for stay beyond this period. The officials cited earlier had also prescribed that the existing regional travel certificate be replaced in 2015 by an ECOWAS biometric national identity card.

These decisions were reached at a meeting held on 8th March 2013 at the ECOWAS Commission headquarters, Abuja. The free movement protocol has made the West African sub-regional community the only visa free region in Africa.

The Abuja meeting reviewed the states of implementation of the protocol, iden-

tified the grey areas, prescribed amendments and revision. It was argued that the abolition of the 90 day limit is consistent with the decision of the mini-summit of Heads of State and Government held in Abuja in March 2000 and the 7th Forum of Ministers in charge of security held in November 2009. The parley suggested that the clause ‘in accordance with national legislation’ should be expunged from the protocol; it called for the creation of a ‘working group’ to develop modalities for a secure and effective identification mechanism for community citizens residing within member states and border communities.

The member states were advised to reconcile their divergent immigration laws and policies to ensure the successful deployment of the national ID Cards. The dialogue urged member states to expedite actions on ECOWAS passport and ‘identify possible areas of intervention by the ECOWAS Commission’. It urged member states to ensure equal treatment of their citizens and nationals of other member states in the creation and management of enterprises or private companies. There were prescriptions on the harmonization of national laws on citizenship and nationalization; and affirmation that ‘dual nationality should no longer be considered to be a limiting factor’.

The foregoing prescriptions to improving economic integration in West Africa are commendable and should be sustained in the light of global economic realities. The trend of globalization has led to reduced barriers and increasing cooperation, collaboration and integra-

THE WEST AFRICA SUBREGIONAL BODY HAD BEEN CONSTRAINED BY RIVAL ORGANIZATIONS, THE

ANGLO AND

FRANCOPHONE DIVIDE, NON-CONVERTIBLE CURRENCIES, HARASSMENT OF

CITIZENS, ALLEGED DISCRIMINATION AND

EXTORTION, AND MONOCULTURAL ECONOMIES tion for economic, political, and military reasons. The nation-states have realized the immense gains in constituting trade blocs and economic groupings as against the pursuit of strict nation-state economic interest. The European Union, Association of Southeast Asian Nations, Maghreb Union, North America Free Trade Area, et cetera, emerged in this context. These trade blocs constitute major economic players in global economic relations and possess the capacity to pursue strategic edge in the dealings with other economic and political organizations at regional and regional level. For instance, the formation

of European Parliament, single European currency, pursuit of common European foreign and defense policy are signposts of the strength of the European Union in international economic relations.

Meanwhile, the West Africa sub-regional body had been constrained by rival organizations, the Anglo and Francophone divide, non-convertible currencies, harassment of citizens, alleged discrimination and extortion, and mono-cultural economies. The sub-region should rethink its strategies and improve on the scale of economic integration. The Abuja ECOWAS summit is significant to this extent of the mediation of the barriers to trade and economic relations in the sub-region.

The global shift to supranational organizations includes strategies to pursuing strategic economic and political interests; optimizing the gains of bigger market and interpenetration. The sub-region requires democracy and democratization, diversified economy, convertible currency, harmonization of information sector, cross border industries, harmonization of custom and tariff regimes, and highly improved social infrastructure to harness the gains of economic cooperation.

West Africa is underdeveloped, pseudocapitalist and peripheral; it is imperative to reduce dependency and build autonomous economies. The BRICS states, for instance, are assertive in global politics and economic relations to the extent of the sizes of their economies, export led economies, convertible currencies, stable political systems and relatively autonomous state structures.

Nigeriaphobia and Mark’s righteous indignation DAVID ATTAH

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he Senate President, Dr. David Mark, is well-known for his forthrightness, courage and candour. Perhaps, his military background belies his reputation for frankness. Similarly, beyond the façade of his conviviality and sense of humour, lies a lion heart. Those who know him well enough agree that he is made of a sterner stuff. It is from this standpoint that his recent outburst over what he viewed as general hostility to our glorious Super Eagles by African countries and their leaders in South Africa must be examined.

Nigeriaphobia, a strong feeling of hatred and fear of Nigeria by fellow African countries, goes far beyond what happened in South Africa. In our unpleasant experience, it is amazing why good turns which should deserve another, are often taken for granted, especially in Africa. The attitude smacks of gross ingratitude. Ordinarily, the country which sacrificed so much to liberate a sister country from political bondage, ought to be respected as a token of appreciation.

Even our dyed in the wool critics reluctantly accept Nigeria’s superlative global peace-keeping role. It is without doubt that her leading role in the decolonization process in Africa is second to none. The countries that have profited most in this regard are South Africa, Angola, Mozambique, Zimbabwe and Guinea Bissau, not to talk of our leadership in peace keeping role in Sierra Leone, Liberia, Chad and now Mali.

The case of South Africa is particularly

IT IS TRUE THAT

NIGERIAPHOBIA IS NO LONGER AN AFRICAN PHENOMENA BUT A GLOBAL PERTURBATION disturbing because the battle against the obnoxious apartheid rule was waged more or less from Nigeria. Every Nigerian of my age and above was involved in one way or the other writing to conscientise the world against the evils of apartheid. Musicians, civil rights activists, journalists etc, were all actively involved as a reflection of her Afrocentric foreign policy.

Young South African students were brought to Nigeria to be educated at selected unity colleges and universities. South Africa artists like Ipi Tombi were also brought in to help sensitise Nigerians on the evils of apartheid. The nation was at home to Mrs. Winnie Mandela, for her “Free Mandela Campaign”.

When freedom finally came in 1994, Nigerians from all walks of life were there to witness the epoch making occasion. I was privileged to be a witness to the great history as I was opportune to accompany the then Head of State, General Abacha, on the trip as his Chief Press Secretary. That experience was most fulfilling for me.

For this noble role, people have looked forward to a very cordial relationship between the two countries, particularly with their potentials to lead and launch Africa into the new millennium. But somehow, South Africa

prefers looking inward for its development.

The prejudice against Nigeria can be best illustrated with a Rotary joke told to us at a Rotary Convention held in Owerri in 1989.

On the surface, the joke could be very amusing, but worrisome on reflection.

In the joke as told, leaders of some African countries were said to have led a protest delegation to the “Author of the Universe and Giver of all Things”, demanding to know why Nigeria was blessed with oil, arable land, human and other material wealth while the rest of them contended with desert, poverty and general scarcity?

Of course, the proverbial protesters see unfairness in this situation and demanded an explanation.

In response, God in His infinite wisdom and infallibility smiled, and cajoling the protesters, He told them that they and Nigeria were equal in His sight and there was no way He discriminated against any of them.

God concluded by assuring the protesters that at the end of the day, they will manage their scarcity better than Nigeria will manage her enormous endowment!

There is no better way to situate Nigeria’s abiding paradox of poverty in the midst of plenty. It is not just in Africa, the rest of the world sees us through unfavourable stereotypes, a country that seems not to punish evil nor reward virtue.

There are other more damaging jokes people poke at Nigeria. They say hyperbolically that we have more generals than soldiers. Observers also say Nigeria is the only country in the world where “poor civil servants” become billionaires over and above

practicing business men and women”.

It is true that Nigeriaphobia is no longer an African phenomena but a global perturbation. The beauty of the situation is that this awful discovery was made by the number three citizen, Senator David Mark (GCON). By virtue of his being at the head of the apex legislative body in the country, the Senate President’s righteous indignation over this development should compel the redesigning of policies and programmes that will sufficiently address the problem of our carefree attitude.

We have had enough of image bashing and apparent show of ingratitude. We are simply seen as the Santa Claus of Africa, who dispenses favours to sister African countries not out of love and care, but as an ostentatious display of its enormous might and surplus wealth. How very irritating!

It is the contention of this writer that more often than not, Nigeria has walked away from situations without developing mutually rewarding arrangements between us and the countries we have helped to liberate and stabilize.

Chief (Hon) Attah, david.attah@yahoo.com, was Chief Press Secretary to the late General Sani Abacha 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.

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Mail Mirror

Wednesday, May 1, 2013

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Don’t politicise Henry Okah’s conviction

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2015 and Jonathan’s marching order

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ast Tuesday’s National Mirror lead story titled 2015: Jonathan orders Tukur to win 32 state, shocked me to my bone marrow. Though there was nowhere in the story the President directly made a statement close to that captured in the headline beyond that of the National Chairman of the PDP, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, saying to the effect that President Goodluck Jonathan “mandated” him to widen the party’s grip on power by winning not less than 32 states in the 2015 elections, and describing 2015 as a year of serious political war, no reasonable Nigerian would not be alarmed by that audacious marching order.

Harmless, it appears in political parlance, the statement could overheat the polity; jolt the opposition to the threatening reality of a premeditated overrun of the nation by the ruling PDP, and trigger arms buildup as a counterpoise. Professor Attahiru Jega, chairman of INEC, has responsibility to deter conduct likely to foster political violence.

The return of Chief Tony Anenih as the chairman, Board of Trustees of PDP, is already sending danger signals to opposition politicians. His reputation as a “Mr. Fix it” is not helping matters. The consolation therein is that Nigerians are increasingly becoming sophisticated in their political preferences. In Edo State, the mantra now is our mumu don do, while in the South West it is protect your vote. These have succeeded in checkmating unwholesome politics.

Chief Anenih has said the “PDP is a party to beat” and that when the time comes “we will do what we know how to do best”. He should be told that in 2015 he can be rest assured that Nigerians would build human barricades to prevent any form of political chicaneries as happened in his Edo State in 2007 and 2012. If he could not reenact his winning formula in Edo 2007 and 2012, there is no way victory will come easy in 2015 for any unserious political parties like the PDP that are taking the people for granted.

Cletus Eze, Ojo Alaba, Lagos State

totally disagree with Festus Keyamo that Henry Okah’s conviction is politically motivated with the active connivance of the Nigerian government because he refused the amnesty programme of the Federal Government.

Okah is a beneficiary of Yar’Adua’s

amnesty programme because, prior to the amnesty programme, he was facing treasonable charges at the Jos Federal High court where he was being represented by Femi Falana. And, as part of the amnesty deal, Yar’Adua’s govt withdrew the charges and Okah was freed before

he went to South Africa and continued his gun running business.

To me, the facts of his involvement in the October 1 bombing is unassailable and we should not be sentimental about this. Though I concede to Keyamo that he is working for his legal fees, which is legitimate, justice is a three-

way traffic. Justice to the accused, justice to the state and justice to the victim. People lost their lives in this bombing, with a man losing almost his whole family. So, we should not politicize a patently criminal action.

Richard Akinnola, Lagos

DANGER POINT….Abandoned damaged bridge that connects Nigeria and other neighbouring countries at Ajilete, Yewa South Local Government.

PHOTO: BAYOOR EWJUOSO

Choosing Fashola’s successor

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bout 12 years ago, Lagos State was very dirty, disorganized and lack the necessary infrastructure to carry the heavy burden of an exploding population. However, today the state is much cleaner and far better organized. All these were achieved at a high financial cost by the Ministry of Environ-

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he good that men do, will surely live after them. This aphorism is recently relived in the family of Chief Obafemi Awolowo, the most accomplished Yoruba leader, dead or alive. Ikenne has literarily become a Mecca of a sort as who is who in Nigeria have been trooping to the town for condolence visit to the matriarch of the family, Chief HID Awolowo, following the death of her son, Chief Oluwole Awolowo, the publisher of the Nigerian Tribune, at 70 last month in a London hospital.

Present and past Nigerian leaders, including incumbent

Letters to the Editor

ment.

If a mistake is made in the choice of the person to succeed Bbatunde Fashola in 2015, Lagos State will no doubt fall back into a state of abject decay. And to clean it up again may take another 20 years and it will cost 10 times the amount of money it took to put it in this present envi-

Y

our editorial in the last Tuesday edition of your newspaper titled Gombe: Dankwambo’s youth empowerment initiative, makes an interesting reading.

With leaders like Governor Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo of Gombe State there is hope for this country.

Leadership is about perception, selflessness and aggressive drive to add value to people’s lives. Even with what the states earn monthly as statutory allocations from the Federation Account, much could still be achieved by a leader with drive and initiative, and more importantly, a leader that is ready to serve and not to loot.

Were it possible to allow him to express his objective opinion on the pervasive poverty in the North, which is now being tied to the growing youth restiveness in the biggest region in the country, Governor Dankwambo would have liked to tell his brother governors to develop home grown development and empowerment templates to address their numerous socioeconomic problems and be committed to them.

Bitrus Nankpah, Jos, Plateau State

able shape. Lagos cannot afford that kind of shameful set back.

In order to avoid this kind of pitfall, only a candidate with an excellent track record in the service of the environment in the state can maintain and build upon the existing standard.

Eko o ni baje oo.

Ghaalib A., Owutu-Ikorodu, Lagos State

Awo and his enduring legacy President Goodluck Jonathan, captains of industries such as Dr. Jimoh Ibrahim (OFR), an illustrious son of Oodua and Publisher of National Mirror, Daily Newswatch and Newswatch magazine, were at Ikenne to condole the family.

The Awo family is reaping bountifully from the enduring legacies of its patriarch, great sage and first Leader of Government and later first Premier of Western Nigeria from 1951 till 1959 when he moved up to Lagos to play national politics as the Federal Opposition Leader.

The North needs many Dankwambos

The lead the Western Nigeria (South West) still maintains in western education in the country is due to his free primary education policy, which was launched on January 17, 1955; he later raised the bar of revolutionized education in the country when in the Second Republic his Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN) implemented free primary and secondary education and subsidized tertiary education through generous bursary awards to undergraduates and post graduates in the old Lagos, Ogun,Ondo, Bendel and Oyo

Gov. Fashola

(LOOBO) states.

He is also remembered for laying the solid foundation for the industrialization of Lagos and the rest of South West geopolitical zone through the creation of industrial estates.

Unlike the banal and prebendal politics of today, Awo, Nnamdi Azikiwe, Sir Ahmadu Bello et al showed, in their words and deeds, what selfless service to humanity meant. The relevance of Awo’s name in today’s politics should cause a change of heart in our present day politicians.

Andrew Ondo State

Salami,

Akure,

Send your letters or or mails mailsto toPMB PMB10001, 10001,Ikoyi, Ikoyi,ororour ourEmail: Email:mirrorlagos@yahoo.com mirrorlagos@yahoo.com and info@nationalmirroronline.netor or 08056180209, 07033375481 and info@nationalmirroronline.net 08054103275, 07033375481 (SMS (SMS only).Editor The Editor reserves thetoright edit and letters reject letters or photographs.

Psuedonyms may be but used, butbe must be clearly marked as such. only). The reserves the right edit to and reject or photographs.

Psuedonyms may be used, must clearly marked as such.

Wednesday, May 1, 2013

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

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Health & Wellbeing Our aim is to o y eliminate malaria by 2015 -Expertt

Hypertension: FCTA creates 12 emergency rooms for diagnosis and treatment

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Hope dims for malaria vaccine!

SAM EFERARO

… Effectiveness of most promising candidate vaccine wanes over time

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he World Malaria Day was marked around the world last week amid depressing news that the most promising vaccine ever developed for the disease is no longer as effective as earlier discovered by researchers.

Developed by Multinational pharmaceutical company GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), the vaccine, tagged RTS,S - the world’s first potential malaria vaccine ever to advance to phase 3 of clinical trial, was found to offer only 16.8 percent protection of children over four years. Research findings published in a recent edition of New England Journal of Medicine showed that the vaccine’s effectiveness rate, which was initially as high as 53 percent, faded swiftly after an average of eight months.

“It was a bit surprising to see the efficacy waned so significantly over time. In the fourth year, the vaccine did not show any protection,” said Ally Olotu of the Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI) Wellcome Trust Research Programme in Kenya, who led the follow-up study, dimming the hope for the vaccine-prevention of Africa ’s most prevalent disease.

GSK’s Vice President, Medical Affairs, Dr François Meurice had described the vaccine, at a vaccinology workshop in Abuja three years ago, as the first ever to establish that young children

DISAPPOINTING: World’s first potential malaria vaccine shows reduced efficacy

and infants exposed to intense P. falciparum transmission could be protected from infection and malaria disease.

According to him, both phases 1 and 2 of the clinical trial had established a high efficacy of the vaccine against severe forms of malaria. According to him, Phase 2 findings at different transmission settings in Kenya, Mozambique and Tanzania revealed beneficial effect on clinical and severe

disease over 42 months.

Also, he disclosed, the vaccine showed a higher trend of efficacy against severe forms of disease and an acceptable safety profile in the 9000 doses administered to 3000 children. It was also established that the vaccine could be co-administered within the infant immunization schedule adding that the company’s target was to produce a vaccine “to immunise children aged 6 weeks to

17 months in malaria endemic regions against clinical disease and severe malaria resulting from Plasmodium Falciparum infection, a vaccine that is safe and well tolerated, a vaccine that is compatible with standard EPI vaccines (DTPw, HBV, Hib, OPV etc.), a vaccine that is implementable through existing delivery programs such as the EPI and also complements existing malaria control measures.”

... TOTAL partners Federal Government SAM OLUWALANA

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s part of the efforts to eradicate the scourge of malaria in Nigeria, Total Upstream has pledged to partner with the Federal Government and specialist organizations in their malaria control programme.

The commitment came recently at the company’s 2nd biennial Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) conference at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja, attended by experts, partners, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and other stakeholders from all over the country.

The theme was: “Creating Value for our Stakeholders.”

“We shall be involved in the National Malaria Control program with the aim of seeking a comprehensive approach towards the eradication of this pandemic”, Guy Maurice, Managing Director/Chief Executive of Total Upstream Companies in Nigeria, said as he expressed the

company’s desire to support government’s bid to realize the Millennium Development Goals.

About 90 per cent of the country’s 167 million people is said to be at risk of malaria infection and the disease is said to have contributed to 30 per cent of childhood mortality and 11 per cent of maternal mortality. Also, malaria-related illnesses and mortality are estimated to cost Africa’s economy about $12 billion annually, according to a 2012 report by the National Malaria Control Programme.

“The portfolio of CSR projects we have in Nigeria today, is more than 50%, Africa is 75% and the other 25% is to the whole world”, Antonin Fotso, the Secretary General for Africa, Total Exploration and Production, explained. He lauded TOTAL Nigeria’s consciousness in the area of CSR and said it showed that the Total group was in the right direction in investing in CSR projects in Nigeria and other countries.

In her concluding remarks, the Executive Director,

The clinical trial is being conducted in collaboration with the scientific community and with feedback of the World Health Organisation (WHO), the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) FDA and the European Medicines Evaluation Agency (EMEA).

A spokeswoman for GSK however told Reuters that since the latest results were from a small, mid-stage trial, they did not “provide definitive answers about the duration of protection or how the vaccine candidate works in different malaria transmission settings”.

The study involved 447 children in Kilifi, Kenya, who had been part of a mid-stage, or phase II, trial to assess the safety and efficacy of RTS,S. Of the 447 children, 320 were able to be followed up for four years.

Phillip Bejon, a researcher at the KEMRI-Wellcome Trust programme who also worked on the study, said despite the falling efficacy “there is still a clear benefit to the vaccine.”

“Many of the children (in Africa) will experience multiple episodes of clinical malaria infection, but overall we found that 65 cases of malaria were averted over the four-year period for every 100 children vaccinated,” he said.

“We now need to look at whether offering a vaccine booster can sustain efficacy for longer.”

Human Resources & Corporate Affairs, Mrs Edith OfiliOkonkwo noted that “The overall objective of today’s event has been to articulate in practical terms what we as a company could do in order to delight our numerous stakeholders.” She described the feedback at the end of the conference as “amazing and eye-opening” as well as a huge contribution to the task of nation building.

Earlier, the Executive General Manager, Corporate Services, Mr Vincent Nnadi had noted that the ideas from the conference would be used to advance the company’s CSR policy.

The 2nd Biennial CSR conference featured workshop sessions and an enthralling panel discussion on the topic: “How IOCs can create value for all stakeholders”. Eminent political economist, professor, Pat Utomi and a former Permanent Secretary in the Federal Civil Service, Dr Hakeem Baba-Ahmed presented keynote addresses. Participants discussed ways to create value through: Local Content Development, capacity building, Economic Development and Arts, culture and national heritage.

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Health & Wellbeing

Wednesday, May 1, 2013

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Inadequate information bane of NHIS –Enrollees MARCUS FATUNMOLE ABUJA

E

L-R: Special Adviser to the Lagos State governor on Public Health, Dr. Yewande Adeshina; Commissioner for Health, Dr. Jide Idris and his counterpart, Information and Strategy, Aderemi Ibirogba, during a 2013 ministerial press briefing on the state’s health sector in commemoration of the 2nd year of the second term of the Babatunde Fashola administration in Lagos, yesterday.

PHOTO: OLUFEMI AJASA

Hypertension: FCTA creates 12 emergency rooms for diagnosis and treatment OMEIZA AJAYI

T

he Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Administration says it has provided 12 wellequipped hospitals and state-of-the-art emergency rooms to assist in the diagnosis and treatment of hypertension in the territory.

FCT Minister, Senator Bala Mohammed who made this disclosure during the week long 2013 FCT World Health Day Celebration, themed, “Control your blood pressure”, added that his administration has made services available in the Primary Health Care Centre across the six

area councils of the FCT to confront headlong the silent killer disease in the remote areas of the territory.

Represented by the Secretary of health and human services in the FCTA, Dr. Ademola Onakomaiya, the minister said: “In addition, services had been scaled-up greatly in the Primary Health Care Centres of all the six area councils in the Federal Capital Territory to effectively combat the disease”.

He directed the health and human services secretariat to create aggressive awareness in order to allow residents avail themselves of the opportunity to lead better and quality lives;

Doctors blame crisis in health sector on politicking by government MARCUS FATUNMOLE ABUJA

D

octors have blamed the crisis rocking the health sector on politicking by government.

Briefing newsmen in Abuja recently, President of the Association of Pathologists of Nigeria, Dr. Kenneth Iregbu, said the nation’s health sector was a victim of people on an ego trip who chase shadow in a bid to satisfy inordinate

ambitions.

“Though the blame for the rivalry cuts across, government should take all the blame; government is taking everything from a political perspective. Government has been doing nothing. The Federal Ministry of Health has done nothing tangible about the contentious issues. Government has failed to put its feet down in finding solutions.

“How can children be

insisting that all the residents of the territory must know and control their blood pressure through appropriate means.

“As part of the transformation agenda of Mr. President, qualitative health care delivery is critical to bring about economic growth in our great country of which the FCTA has substantially keyed into,” the Minister emphasized.

Senator Mohammed remarked that hypertension is a silent killer responsible for over 10% of all Nigerian adult death and that over 25% of Nigerian adults suffers from the condition.

He stated that the World

Health Organization has identified hypertension as the most important preventable risk factor for premature death; lamenting that most times it remains undiagnosed until lifethreatening complications sets in, thereby making it difficult to control at that stage.

Earlier, Secretary of FCT Health and Human Services Secretariat, Dr. Ademola Onakomaiya, represented by Dr. Benjamin Udofia, Director Medical Diagnostics said that non-communicable diseases like hypertension have in the recent years posed great health challenges across the world.

involved in fracas and their father is doing nothing? Maybe they are waiting for the children to kill themselves. We have raised alarm from our own angle.

Government has refused to do the right thing, and they know the right thing to do.

It is our desire that this situation does not go on like this. There have been several committees to resolve the issues in the past, but what have become of such committees?” he queried.

While offering solution to the crisis, Iregbu said the situation called for a declaration of state of emergency in the sector. “We are saying this because those who are in position

to take the right decision or enforce the right thing but keep quiet believing that the problems will go away, might end up being the causalities of a near collapsed healthcare system.”

He slammed people opposing doctors’ headship of hospital, saying they are ignorant. “There is an orchestrated gang-up to sabotage anything the doctor does or is involved in irrespective of the consequences of such sabotage. This is most unfortunate as this is the only known country in the world where the allied health professionals challenge, oppose and sabotage the doctors’ leadership position in the patient care.

nrollees on the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) have blamed substantial challenges of the scheme on inadequate information.

This was a general opinion of enrollees at an interactive session organized by the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) for the Health Maintenance Organization (HMOs), enrollees on the scheme and the NHIS leadership in Abuja recently.

The enrollees therefore called on the health insurance regulatory body to partner media across the country to help enlighten citizens on the mode of operation of the scheme.

One of the enrollees and Director of Programmes, Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN), Dr Emeka Odikpo, called on the managers of the NHIS to improve on dissemination of information related to the scheme to enable enrollees and members of the public know the processes involved in the scheme.

According to him,

dearth of adequate information remained a bane to the scheme. He therefore appealed to managers of the scheme to partner media to help enhance availability and accessibility to necessary information pertaining to the NHIS. “How can we secure health care at affordable price? This and more questions brought the National Health Insurance Scheme into being.

The National Health Insurance Scheme is a system where the government subsidizes health care for its citizens. It is a great idea from the government, no doubt.”

The big question now is ‘is the Health Insurance Scheme working? Yes, it is working to an extent but the challenges are numerous. It starts from the delay in the health facilities once you are under the health insurance scheme to getting an attitude from the health personnel, then down to giving patients under the insurance scheme drugs that are substandard, then finally to the point where you will be told that this and that services are not covered under the scheme.”

‘Malaria responsible for Nigeria’s under-development’ DENNIS AGBO ENUGU

P

art cause for Nigeria’s under-development has been attributed to the scourge of Malaria.

Enugu state commissioner for health, Dr. Fidelia Ugwu gave the insight during the celebration of 2013 World Malaria Day in Enugu.

The commissioner disclosed that malaria is a major pubic health problem in Nigeria, accounting for 60 percent of out-patient attendance and 30 percent of hospital admissions.

She stressed that malaria contributes significantly to undevelopment and poverty in the country, adding that “it is also responsible for high rates of absenteeism from school, work and markets and puts heavy treatment cost on households and the health system.”

Dr. Akpa however stated that Enugu state government has made tremendous effort towards addressing the scourge of malaria by providing

insecticide treated nets to children and pregnant women.

She recalled that the state government introduced free maternal and child health care programme at inception of the administration, in order to reduce the burden of diseases such as malaria among children and pregnant women.

The health commissioner said that the success of roll back malaria was based on provision of effective case management with Artemisinin based combination therapies; provision of intermittent preventive treatment with sulphadoxine Pyremethamine (SP) to pregnant women for prevention of malaria in pregnancy.

She also acknowledged that the provision of long lasting insecticide treated nets, residual spraying, supportive supervision of local government areas and environmental management have all contributed in successes recorded in the fight against malaria.

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Health & Wellbeing

Wednesday, May 1, 2013

21

Blood pressure: What’s food got to do with it?

N ew publication on Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH), by Harvard Health Publications has revealed how to stop the deadly disease with food!

According to the new publication healthy diet—along with regular exercise, stress control, and medications if needed—is a cornerstone of treatment for high blood pressure (hypertension).

But what do you need to eat to lower your pressure, and how much?

A good place to start is the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) eating plan. It’s scientifically proven to combat hypertension, but it’s not for everyone. “A healthy diet, such as DASH, does take discipline and commitment,” says Dr. Deepak Bhatt, a professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School and chief of cardiology, VA Boston Healthcare System. “People can certainly do it, but it can be challenging.”

Some men may also find a Mediterranean-style diet to be an appealing and ef-

DASH daily nutrient targets Nutrient Daily Target* Total fat 27% of calories Sodium 2,300 milligrams** Saturated fat 6% of calories Potassium 4,700 milligrams** Protein 18% of calories Calcium 1,250 milligrams Carbohydrates 55% of calories Magnesium 500 milligrams Cholesterol 150 milligrams Fiber 30 grams *Based on a 2,100-calorie-per-day diet. **The lower-sodium version of DASH calls for a daily limit of 1,500 mg.

Hypertension: Plenty servings of fruit and vegetables of the rescue.

How to DASH it We’ve known that DASH lowers blood pressure since a landmark study was published in 1997 in The New England Journal of Medicine. After two months of DASH-style eating, study participants lowered their systolic pressure (the upper number of your blood pressure reading) by about 10 mmHg and their diastolic pressure (the lower number) by 5 mmHg. This reduction is comparable to the effect of a blood pressure medication.

The DASH diet is quite different from the conventional meat-centric American diet, which may contain up to a third (or more) of its calories as fats. In the DASH diet, you keep fat intake to within 27% of total calories, eat plentiful servings of fruit and vegetables, choose whole instead of processed grains, and eat low-fat or nonfat dairy products and small portions of poultry, fish, and nuts as your primary source of protein, rather than red meat (see “The DASH eating plan”).

The DASH eating plan: What to eat and how much?

Food group Servings Grains (whole grain preferred 6-8 per day

Vegetables

–5 per day

Serving size (typical examples) •1 slice bread •1 ounce dry cereal* •1/2 cup cooked rice, pasta, or cereal •1 slice bread •1 ounce dry cereal* •1/2 cup cooked rice, •pasta, or cereal

Fruits

4–5 per day

•1 medium fruit •1/2 cup fresh, frozen, or canned fruit •1/4 cup dried fruit •1/2 cup fruit juice

Fat-free or low-fat dairy

2–3 per day

•1 cup milk or yogurt •1 1/2 ounce cheese

Lean meats, poultry, and fish

6 or less per day •1 ounce cooked meats, poultry, or fish •1 egg**

Nuts, seeds, and legumes

4–5 per week

•1/3 cup (1 1/2 ounce) nuts •2 tbl. peanut butter •2 tbl. (1/2 ounce seeds) •1/2 cup cooked legumes (dry beans and

2–3 per day

•1 tsp. soft margarine •1 tsp. vegetable oil •1 tbl. mayonnaise •2 tbl. salad dressing •1 tbl. sugar •1 tbl. jelly or jam •1/2 cup sorbet, gelatin •1 cup lemonade

peas) Fats and oils

Sweets and added sugars

5 or less per week

* Serving sizes vary between 1/2 cup and 1 1/4 cups, depending on cereal type. Check the product’s Nutrition Facts label. ** Eggs are high in cholesterol, so limit egg yolk intake to no more than four per week; two egg whites have the same protein content as 1 ounce of meat. Table adapted from Your Guide to Lowering Your Blood Pressure with DASH (NIH Publication No. 064082).

The mix of nutrients in the

DASH diet includes abundant amounts of calcium, potassium, magnesium, and fiber. Potassium is particularly important.

Foods that are high in potassium include sweet potatoes, tomato paste, and low-fat yogurt. “It’s harder to control blood pressure—even with medications—if there isn’t enough potassium in the diet,” says Dr. Michelle Hauser, a clinical fellow in medicine at Harvard Medical School and a certified chef and nutrition educator.

The importance of salt restriction The DASH diet also is low in salt. The average American man takes in 4,200 milligrams (mg) of sodium per day. That’s nearly three times what’s healthy. The primary sources of the excess salt are processed foods such as soups, cold cuts, cured meats, frozen dinners and other packaged foods, and breads and snacks. Breads are a particularly underappreciated source of sodium—especially fast

food bagels and croissants. A single serving of these products may contain 500 mg of salt!

The low-salt version of DASH, which works best overall for hypertension, requires cutting back to 1,500 mg of sodium per day, or the amount in two-thirds of a teaspoon of table salt. A moderatesalt version, with 2,200 mg per day, also lowers blood pressure, but not as much as the low-salt plan.

The challenge of DASH DASH is medically proven to work, but it does require you to eat a lot of servings of fruit, vegetables, and whole grains—15 to 18 per day, although each serving is typically either a half-cup of cooked vegetables or grain or a whole cup of raw leafy vegetables. That still demands planning, shopping, and the cooking skills to make a plantbased diet tasty.

The nutrition goals of the DASH plan read a bit like a spreadsheet instead of a grocery list. If you are detailoriented and don’t mind reading nutrition labels and crunching some numbers, the

DASH diet is reliable and effective. “Typically, I have seen a lowering of 5 to 10 mmHg in people who are very good about restricting their salt intake and

losing weight,” Dr. Bhatt says. “Few people are able to commit to that type of lifestyle change, but those that do certainly reap the benefits.”

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Our aim is to eliminate malaria by 2015 -Expert As the new Coordinator of National Malaria Programme, what are your plans in rescuing the country from the scourge of malaria?

Let me start by saying that malaria is the greatest public health problem we have in the country. It kills the greatest number of people. It is responsible for 30 percent of under-five mortality and 11 per cent of maternal mortality. In addition to that, it imposes a lot of social economic burden on the Nigerian populace. It causes them absence from work places, schools, farms.

At the end of the day, it costs Nigeria as a country about N480billion in terms of money spent on treatment and prevention taken by individuals and families, yearly.

This informs the enormity of malaria burden on Nigeria. It is even very difficult to quantify it. The figure I gave was just an attempt to quantify the burden because it is very difficult to tell how much Nigerians lose annually to the disease.

Consequently, Nigeria as a country has spent quite a lot resources to fight the scourge. Not only Nigeria alone, malaria control actually enjoys support from partners. They have actually invested a lot in the fight against malaria. The fight goes on. Our aim is to eliminate malaria by 2015 in line with the goal of ECOWAS region.

Recently, ECOWAS have come together and said that all hands must be on deck to get this scourge out of the shores of West Africa.

Nigeria currently contributes 25 percent to global malaria burden, how can we scale down the statistics soon?

The way the statistics can be brought down considerably is for all hands to be on deck. There are interventions that have proven to be effective. These are strategies and interventions that have been tested globally and have been found to be effective. So, in Nigeria, we have keyed into that global strategy to develop our National Strategic Plan. This is a plan of action that we hope will take us to the ultimate goal of bringing malaria to a level that will no longer constitute a threat to public health.

These interventions are targeted at, for instance, if we understand how malaria disease comes about, it is caused by a parasite that is called plasmodium, and it is transmitted from one person to the other. The vehicle of that transmission is the female anopheles mosquito. So, it takes mosquito, human being and the malaria parasite which is the plasmodium for the malaria to occur. We are now targeting each of these areas of transmission. We target the vector, which is the mosquito, through a process that is called integrated vector management. By that, we mean to prevent the contact, or eliminate the contact between human beings and infected mosquitoes, through the use Long-lasting Insecticidal Net. In fact, the greatest effort is channeled to the use of Long-lasting Insecticidal Net. By that we advise people to sleep inside long-lasting insecticidal net every time they sleep. Another way to target the vector is to spray the inside of the house with what is called Residual Insecticide; that is Indoor Residual Spraying, with chemical.

That is one of the best ways to target the

Dr Nnenna Ezeigwe is the new Coordinator, National Malaria Control Programme. In this exclusive interview with Health Reporter, MARCUS FATUNMOLE, she shared her plans on the fight against the scourge which, according to her, costs Nigeria N480 billion, yearly and reportedly kills an estimated 300,000 people in the country annually. environment good, the burden will reduce.

And, then, talking about the environmental health officers, I will like to quote the honourable minister, he said that measure would be introduced. And also at the level of Federal Ministry of Environment, they are hoping to introduce it. So, with all hands on deck, that is, when relevant ministries play their parts, and individuals play their parts, malaria will be eliminated.

It is a fight that everybody must be engaged in for us to defeat malaria.

Ezeigwe

IF YOU KNOW ANY FACILITY THAT IS STILL SELLING CHLOROQUINE,

IT WILL BE VERY HELPFUL FOR YOU TO BRING IT TO THE ATTENTION OF

NAFDAC

vector. Also, there are other areas like these two I mentioned that target adult mosquito.

There is also intervention that targets the mosquito larvae in the bodies of water.

When I mentioned how malaria is transmitted, there are other environmental factors that encourage the breeding of these mosquitoes. In water, that is where the life cycle occurs in majorly. They lay the egg in the water; the eggs mature to the larvae.

From the larvae, they mature to the pupa and from the pupa; they now mature to the adult mosquito. At that larva stage, there is also an intervention that is carried out there; that is larvicide. That is the use of either chemical or biological larvicide to target those larvae and eliminate them, so that they don’t even have a chance to grow into adult mosquitoes. These are adult vector measures, anti-vector measures. Recently,

there was an event in Port-Harcourt where there was a ground-breaking ceremony for a factory that will be producing this larvicide so that it will be easier for us in the country to acquire the larvicide and be able to use it all over the country.

There is another area like I said. You can now target the human reservoir because the parasite has to be in human being to cause disease. Mosquito will now take it from one infected individual and pass it on to uninfected individual. We also target the human reservoir of the parasite. By that, we mean that anybody that has malaria infection treated with appropriate medication.

Hygiene plays a major role in malaria control. How do you collaborate with relevant government agencies to enforce environmental laws since many of our communities swell with filth?

The people need to understand how malaria transmission goes on, then, they will be able to appreciate how to keep their environment clean. If they understand that if their environment is not conducive for the mosquitoes to breed, I think they will be more prone to keeping their environment clean. So, we are working on developing communication strategy that will be able to make people understand why people should make their environment clean. Secondly, we are also working with the Ministry of Environment because they also have a big role to play. If they are able to do the drainages, build proper roads and keep the

Self-medication is a major problem that further aggravates malaria, how can this be addressed?

Every fever is not equal to malaria. It is very important and everybody must take note of that. What we encourage from here is that when you have fever or you have a symptom that suggests you might have malaria, the next thing you should do is to get tested. We don’t encourage treatment without test. In fact, I tell people any malaria that is not diagnosed is null and void. We encourage that you get yourself diagnosed for malaria before you treat. That is what I want to tell the people that anytime you have malaria symptom, you must go to the health facility and get yourself tested. If it is positive, then, you take appropriate medicine. The appropriate medicine is ACT medicine, which include artemisinin combination therapy among others. If you take any other thing, it might give you problem.

Not only you; doing that might give the whole township problem because we talk about issue like resistance, parasites that are now resistant to the medication that we have.

The former WHO Country Rep in Nigeria recommended ban of artemisin monotherapies namely chloroquine and the likes, as a result of drug resistant malaria. Why are these drugs still in market today?

The use of what we call monotherapy like chloroquine has been banned in the country. NAFDAC is the agency that is driving this policy. If NAFDAC finds any facility that is selling the drug, they will be sanctioned. So, if you know any facility that is still selling chloroquine, it will be very helpful for you to bring it to the attention of NAFDAC. We don’t encourage that.

NAFDAC has banned it. All we are preaching now is ACT after testing.

The rate of poverty in the country does not allow many Nigerians to access health facilities for testing for malaria. Is there anything the Federal Government can do to encourage the people?

Malaria treatment is currently reduced through the intervention of the Federal Government in conjunction with Global Fund. Global Fund is supporting the sale of affordable medical items for malaria. Through that the ACT medication has been brought down to cost nothing more than equivalent of one dollar, which is about N150. People should never buy ACT from the chemist more than that.

Wednesday, May 1, 2013

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23

Arts Lounge

My goal is to develop youth skills –Licht

COSON celebrates ‘birthday’ with lecture

26

25

Frank Nweke Jnr.

T

he theme was apt: “Building the Industry of our Dreams”. Incidentally, this is what everyone who gathered last week at Eko Hotel & Suites, venue of the 2013 Nigerian Entertainment Conference, NEC, must have pondered once in his or her career life.

Although the Nigerian entertainment industry has been on an upward swing since the dawn of this millennium, there are still visible signs of weaknesses in its vital operations, which, if not checked, could send the industry crashing in no distant future. These and more were the focus of the deliberations which gathered eggheads in the various genres of entertainment like music, movies, marketing, sponsorship and media, when they constituted themselves into facilitators, panellists, moderators and audiencs to ruminate on the basics of making Nigeria realise her entertainment potentials.

For over six hours, facilitators like Kenny Ogungbe (founder of Kennis Music and co-founder of Prime Time Entertainment); Amaka Igwe (Chief Executive Officer, Amaka Igwe Studios); Kola Oyeyemi (General Manager, Consumer Marketing, MTN) and Chris Ubosi (Chief Executive Officer, Megalectrics) took 30 minutes each to talk about topics like ‘Are Record labels endangered species?’; ‘The Nollywood Paradigm: Reflections of an unapologetic Nollywood filmmaker’; ‘Relationship between Corporate Nigeria and Entertainment: Parasitism of symbiosis’ and ‘Role of the media in developing the industry of our dreams’, respectively.

The conference which opened with a speech by the Director General of the Nigerian Economic Summit Group, NESG, Frank Nweke, recognised that the Nigerian entertainment industry, if wellstructured, had the potentials to contribute more than its current stake to the current Gross Domestic Product, GDP, in Nigeria estimated to be worth $250bn.

Various statistics have previously put the size of Nigeria’s entertainment industry at about $350m. In contrast, PricewaterhouseCoopers, in 2011, put the worth of the US entertainment industry at $754b as against the GDP reputed to be currently in the neighbourhood of $16trl.

L-R: Kenny ‘Keke’ Ogungbe, DJ Jimmy Jatt and Jude ‘M.I.’ Abaga

2013 NIGERIAN ENTERTAINMENT CONFERENCE

Juxtaposing entertainment with modern realities

Stakeholders in the Nigerian entertainment industry gathered last week at the Grand Ball Room of the Eko Hotel & Suites, Lagos, to ruminate on how to build ‘the dream entertainment industry’ in the country. The conference convened by the Nigerian Entertainment Today newspaper (NET) identified some problems and proffered solutions. NGOZI EMEDOLIBE was there: While this has very much been said at several previous conferences, Kenny Ogungbe who took the floor to explain the intricacies of running a record label in Nigeria harped on the need to let everyone operate according to the forces of the market, noting that Nigeria with its large population needs more than one copyright administration bodies, considering what a single music album constitutes in terms of intellectual rights. “My record company”, according to him, “has many albums to her credit and I can tell you that each record that is made means a lot in terms of copyrights administration. Of course, you would be talking about rights to publishing, videos, and so many others”.

Some contributors in the audience noted that Nigerian musicians needed to avail the listening audience quality content with messages, but arguments identified that the musician who is a businessman also needed to sell his craft according to what the society demands.

Sound Sultan, a music artiste and one of the panellists, summed it up by asking his colleagues to create music that would have commercial viability while standing the test of time, in order to attract income when they have gone into retirement.

One factor that was noted about the music industry was the attitude of star artistes who often feel that the problem of the industry was not their business.

Jimmy Jatt, another panellist, cautioned artistes with such mentality, that ‘stardom was not a permanent phenomenon’.

ARTISTES SHOULD LEARN TO KNOW HOW TO DRAW THE LINE BETWEEN

THE ‘BUSINESS OF ENTERTAINMENT’

AND THE ‘BUSINESS IN ENTERTAINMENT’

The second session handled by Amaka Igwe, which centred on the movie industry otherwise called Nollywood, took the audience through the evolution of the industry and the various strategies that got movie business to its present state. She lauded activities in the industry, noting that the giant strides which the industry has achieved was done with little funding in the form of loans from banks. Some of the problems she identified bedevilling the movie industry are poor guild activities, piracy, (which she noted is currently thriving in Asian countries) and capacity building.

“Thank God Ejike Asiegbu is here, he was the national president of the Actors Guild of Nigeria, AGN, when J.T Tom West died. I called him and told him that the guild should have regulations on how their members work. I still think that J.T Tom West had no business being on a location at that time of the night when he

was involved in that accident”, she said.

Ejike Asiegbu, a part of the audience, subsequently rose to put the records straight about Tom West’s death. “After the accident”, he said, “Tom West drove himself back to the hotel without knowing he had been internal bleeding. Afterwards, he started feeling dizzy. People around now took him to the hospital and by then it was late. When I was called, I went to the hotel and was told he had been taken to the hospital”.

Ibinabo Fiberisima, the current national president of the AGN, a member of the panel at this session, implored Nigerians to tolerate the current trend where actors now always honour invitations to government functions for what is termed ‘Thank-you-envelops’.

“We are hungry. We have to go. But I must confess, sometimes as the president of the guild, I am blackmailed into attending such functions. They sometimes tell me that I have to be there as the president”.

Kunle Afolayan, a filmmaker and panellist at this session reminded his colleagues that there was so much money to be made in filmmaking, hinting that films like Ije and Anchor Baby have proven this.

Division, along tribal lines and cliques was also mentioned as factors that must be addressed in the industry, but actress, Nse Ikpe Etim-Sule, noted that it is not exactly true. “I joined this industry six years ago. In those years, I have worked with directors and producers across ethCONTINUED ON PAGE 24

Arts Lounge

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Wednesday, May 1, 2013

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VOICES

When a one night stand becomes a marriage THERE IS THE ISSUE

KOLE OMOTOSO

R

ussell Luxemburg, one of the greatest characters in the history of socialism, who of course was tried and shot, used to advise Lenin not to get used to emergency measures.

What has happened in this country is that we have gotten used to emergency measures. A generator is not a permanent supplier of power. In any other modern society, it is to provide emergency solution and while that emergency solution is being provided the real provider of that service is then made to stabilise so that you can go back to it.

The other day I was in NEPA office, which had to issue an invoice and they had to use a generator in order to be able to give you an invoice for electricity supply that they did not supply.

Each time one speaks about Nigeria, people are passionate in analysing the problems. But the question is, ‘okay, what do we do?’ I remember at the Adekunle Ajasin University when I suggested that from this moment, let us all stop using generators and everybody said, no, thank you.

Again, I told the university that there is no way I would come back to Nigeria. How can a government be budgeting for generators? it doesn’t make sense; I will not sit down and accept it. So, the first issue that I cannot deal with is when a one night stand becomes recognisable as a wedding.

The second issue (which is the first line of my forthcoming novel), is how do you have successful politicians in an unsuccessful polity? How can you have a successful Prime Minister of England in an England that is not successful? Or a president of the United States of America who is successful but America is not successful? It is only in Nigeria that you will find politicians are celebrated, who have been Heads of State, who claim to have succeeded in a situation where the country is a failure.

Over the years, I have raised the issue of the absence of Nigerian Federation in the Nigerian novel. Recently, I did a piece for an American publication especially devoted to administration. When you read any Nigerian novel, it is as if Nigeria doesn’t exist. How can you write about a present-day Nigeria and you do not recognise the interconnectedness that has CONTINUED FROM PAGE 23 nic lines. I think you must be good and attend the right auditions to work in Nollywood”.

Another panellist, Fidelis Duker agreed with this. “Like I mentioned earlier, everyone is free to operate. Nollywood currently has two shades. Aside the productions going on in Lagos dominated by the old names in Nollywood, a new class of producers are currently thriving in Asaba, working regularly with another class of actors and directors for another section of the market”.

Amaka Igwe, capped this argument by reminding the audience that every filmmaker is in business to make money. “I am

OF THE ABSENCE OF

NIGERIAN

FEDERATION IN THE NIGERIAN NOVEL taken place long before. Literature is not an innocent occupation or preoccupation; people consciously work towards creating communities of sensibilities. But what we have here is that we create communities of faith and each faith, whether it is ethnic, religious, politics or whatever, fights against the other and that is the end.

The issue comes up all the time: ‘Yes, it is easy for those of you who left the country to talk and preach’. It is not easy. Personally, as a Nigerian, I can say it was not easy to leave this country. I had enough offers and temptations. I can remember telling one of the eminent persons from northern Nigeria that they were trying to solve my problem at a personal level and the issue I was trying to deal with in Just Before Dawn (a novel) was about the Nigerian situation, not my personal problem. So, if you look at your situation and you cannot dislocate what exists then the option you have is to relocate.

In the 60s, the African National Congress, ANC, came to a decision, Oliver Thambo was sent to London, Nelson Mandela was asked to stay and then he went to prison. So, some relocated. Those who stayed tried to do as much dislocation as they could and the two came together finally to be able to produce whatever it is that they have in South Africa today.

Anybody who is familiar with the recent writings on Nigeria would have seen Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala’s book, Reforming the Unreformable. At the end of that book, Okonjo-Iweala makes the point that the Nigeria Civil Service is unreformable; it cannot be reformed and will not allow itself to be reformed. The Nigerian Ports Authority and everything to do with imports and exports cannot be reformed.

Okay, but Okonjo-Iweala is back as Minister of Finance. Is it to be able to reform that which is unreformable or to sit down and enjoy the fruit of the land? It is a question we need to ask ourselves.

People talk very much about corruption.

Omotoso

I think the issue of corruption is irrelevant today to Nigeria. It is impossible in Nigeria to punish corruption. It has become so powerful that it has become the system. When you look at the dislocation in Nigeria, you have to look at the issue of abandoned projects. How does a government abandon 40,000 projects in a period of 20 years?

About six months ago, it was discovered that the FG had about 500 containers at the port, which had been abandoned along with their content. So, where is the possibility for change when one set of government abandons something and the next set of people come, they abandon more stuff ? These abandoned projects include schools, roads and bridges.

This joke was made about South Africa and I think it is more relevant to Nigeria than South Africa; it says that South Africa has a great future behind it. So, we can say that Nigeria has a great future behind it. If you look at those unrealistic expectations, Nigeria is going to be one of the greatest countries in 2020. I don’t know if you remember one of Fela’s songs about supplying water, they will supply water in 1990. Of course, e the calendar doesn’t care what you expect of don’t expect; it keeps on counting. We have a situation where we are not doing things differently but you are expecting different results.

For me, that means insanity.

One of the short novels I hope to publish is about a group of African heads of state meeting in a low profile country, which cannot provide Mercedes Benzes

for everybody, so it provides buses. It happens that on the day, a driver is given the responsibility of taking 30 mentally ill patients from a provincial hospital to the country’s capital. On the way, they convince the driver to allow them answer the call of nature. 30 mad people get out of the bus and start to run around; when it was time for the driver to pick them up, they don’t answer him. He decides this is Africa; people are always waiting for lift. So, he drives off and arrives where the African heads of state are waiting for a bus to take them to their conference. The driver tells them, ‘please get in, I am sorry I am late’. They get in and he takes them to the national mental hospital. So the doctor comes out to meet them and one says ‘I’m a head of state’. The doctor says, ‘we will talk about that later. In the hospital each of the heads of state are interviewed.

A former minister in the British government has written a book called In Sickness and in Power and he looks at the possibility of mental illness and political power. It is an area of science that we have not bothered to look at in this country and I think we should.

I come to my last point, what is there to celebrate? One of the things that I try to do in my writing is to link what I call political purpose to artistic purpose. It is on the basis of that I will tell you how the short story called, ‘The Revolt of the Light Bulbs’ came about. Anybody who lives in South Africa, especially in Johannesburg will know that workers like electricians are likely to be Zimbabweans. I have somebody called Andrew who comes to the house from time to time to look at the electrical fittings and do some work.

One day, he came and while working he said, ‘excuse me sir, the bulb won’t come out’. I said, ‘what?, Which bulb?’ ‘The burnt bulb in the study will not come out’.

Suddenly, an electric bulb has its own life and can decide that now that it is burnt, it doesn’t want to leave although it cannot provide the service that it was put there to do. That was the generation of that story.

Anybody whose time is up and refuses to go is like when the light bulbs revolts.

South Africa-based Prof. Bankole Omotoso turned 70 on April 21. The novelist, playwright and biographer gave this speech at a birthday event in his honour in Lagos.

Juxtaposing entertainment with modern realities unapologetically a commercial filmmaker. I make films because I want to make money and be able to pay school fees and feed.

Producers will first and foremost look at the faces that would sell their movies. But if you think you are good enough to sell a movie, it will be good to get some money and shoot a film with every member of your family. It is nobody’s business who you decide to use”.

The business side of the conference which opened with a lecture by Kola Oyeyemi of MTN, identified that artistes should learn to know how to

draw the line between the ‘business of entertainment’ and the ‘business in entertainment’ hinting that being grounded in this concept will determine how brands can work with entertainers on a symbiotic basis.

“Based on the present relationship between brands and the industry; if you ask me whether the relationship is parasitic, I will say, may be not; but there is a possibility that it is”.

A panellist for this session, Audu Maikori, identified that the industry still lacked key professionals who make the

job of entertainment easier.

According to him, “If you ask who the best entertainment accountant, best director of photography or best entertainment lawyer is, you probably will be guessing. The industry needs these key professionals to be able to function optimally”.

The crew which handled the media session identified the importance of the media and raised some obvious challenges on both sides of the industry.

Panellists however resolved that the media should be seen as part of the entertainment

industry, with the ultimate aim being everyone’s wellbeing.

One point that stood out during the conference was the recognition that one day is inadequate to talk about the problems of the entertainment industry, but the organising crew, headed

by Adekunle Ayeni (Publisher of NET) said it would be a continuous exercise. “There is no way everything would be handled today; it will be a continuous exercise. At the next event, we would identify some more problems and gather again to talk about them”.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Arts Lounge

Wednesday, May 1, 2013

ARTISTE UNCENSORED

MIDWEEK JUMP

Most young people will like to travel the world and add value to the society they live in.

American poet and Fulbright Fellow, Erica Licht, is living that dream. Not only does she delight with her spoken word poetry at Lagos events, she anchors a radio programme on UNILAG FM and runs the UNITE programme in three communities in Lagos State, Nigeria.

Hands across Artificial Borders previews today

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etween 5.00 p.m. and 10.00 p.m. at Nimbus Art Gallery located in Ikoyi, Lagos, a special preview of the exhibition titled: ‘Hands across Artificial Borders’ will Wewe take place today.

It is an art project conceived by the United Peoples of Afrika U.P.A, exploring four creative paths towards achieving Afrikan unification. Curated by Dupe Lawaani and Chike Nwagbogu, the exhibiting artists are: Tola Wewe (Nigeria); Kajero Kamptchouang and Ngamo Jean Romeo (Cameroun); Marius Dansou and Benjamin Deguenon (Benin).

The United Peoples of Africa project was conceived at a turn of the millennium in Lagos within the Ikoyi premises of the Afrika Centre, Lagos.

TERH AGBEDEH

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oet and Fulbright Fellow, Erica Licht, has been in Nigeria in the last eight months and is rounding off her year long programme sponsored by the American-based Fulbright Foundation.

“It’s been really good. I spent the first few months meeting a lot of people, forming a lot of partnerships and trying to understand things from the ground perspective. For the last four months, I have been running my programme, which is like my dream in coming”, she told our correspondent in an interview in Lagos.

How did this happen? Licht explained that she designed an independent research project and applied to the Fulbright Committee in the United States and was ultimately awarded this grant for one year to be in Nigeria. The focus of her work is on youth and justice and trying to use environmental education as an alternative to violence and incarceration.

The programme is called UNITE, which stands for ‘U and I Teach Each other’. Licht explained that UNITE has happened before in the United States and is taking place for the first time in Lagos “where it’s truly a bridge between three things; youth, criminal justice and the natural environment. I like to think of my radio show as also a bridge between criminal justice and the natural environment”.

In the last four months Licht has been working with young Nigerians in Ajegunle, Ojota and Lagos Island.

She said that what informed these three choices is that each side represents variables; something like the geography of Lagos.

“Ajegunle is south west Lagos; Ojota-Ogudu is north east Lagos and the Lagos Island is south. Also, it’s three communities that exist next to wealthy communities but are isolated. Ikoyi is on Lagos Island, Ogudu GRA is a really wealthy community but the secondary school in the area serves people who don’t live there.

Most of them live in Ojota and Ajegunle is its own isolated place”, she said.

“In the group, the youngest youths are in Ojota at the secondary school.

Then, in Ajegunle they are between

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Workers’ Day: Salt-N-Pepa rock at Divas concert

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My goal is to develop youth skills –Licht 20 and 25 years old and mostly out of school. Some work and some others are in vocational programmes. For Lagos Island, they are much older like 35 to 40 years old”, Licht said.

Licht has also worked with adults who are incarcerated and the highpoint of this programme is that it serves as an alternative to the youth she works with getting incarcerated.

She said, the idea is corrective in nature; by engaging youth, especially young men before they get into trouble or before they develop negative behaviour. Even if they have negative behaviour, successfully curbing the behaviour, then means the programme is effective.

The programme essentially breaks down barriers between young people and the criminal justice system and the natural environment.

“That translates literarily into youths meeting with and getting to know police in their community on a firsthand basis. Also, young people going into nature and breaking down the barriers of nature literarily. My goal for them is that by working, meeting and understanding law enforcement and also engaging with nature, youth develop practical life skills in communication,

leadership, stress management, interpersonal skills and responsibility. These are personal development and understanding skills that they can apply back to their own urban environment”, she explained.

Licht, who has performed her poems at Lagos events including the album launch of Edaoto at Alliance Francaise recently, said she started poetry while working in the prison system in the United States.

“The inspiration then was a session that I was a part of through the alternative surveillance project or AVP. At the time, college students and men who were incarcerated were in a group and we shared experiences but we also learned skills. It was the final celebration day that I wrote a poem for the first time”, she explained.

She said that experience was very important since her work in Nigeria is centred on the same AVP organisation. They are one of the sponsors that brought her to Nigeria and have remained a big inspiration for her work.

“Poetry, for me, is a way to express myself and I don’t like writing very much so I prefer to speak”, she said, which is the reason she has not published a collection.

he Grammy winning Hip-hop duo, SaltN-Pepa, consisting of Cheryl James (Salt) and Sandy Denton (Pepa) arrived Nigeria last Sunday for the Rodizzio Entertainment’s Divas Rock concert to hold at 100 Degrees in the Oregun area of Lagos today in commemoration of Workers’ Day. Also to perform at the show are Nigerian artistes, Sasha P, Weird MC, Ms. Jaie and Eva Alordiah.

Salt N Pepa gave women a voice in a male dominated industry and transformed the way the music world saw women forever. With their hits ‘Push It’, Let’s Talk about Sex’, ‘Shake Your Thang’, ‘Shoop’ and ‘Whatta Man’, the legendary American female group catapulted hip-hop to new levels.

Salt and Pepa with Igos (centre) at Wazobia FM, Lagos, after their arrival in Nigeria on Sunday

Handover of entries for Literature Prize

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he Advisory Board for Literature for The Nigeria Prize for Literature will on Friday, May 3, hand over the entries received for the 2013 The Nigeria Prize for Literature to the Prof. Romanus Egudu-led panel of judges.

Also to be handed over are entries for the Prize for Literary Criticism introduced this year.

This handover ceremony holds in Ikoyi, Lagos at 12.00 noon and media personnel in attendance will have the opportunity to also interview/interact with the Advisory Board, the Panel of Judges and the NLNG team.

The 2012 edition of The Nigeria Prize for Literature worth $100,000 was won by Chika Unigwe for her book, On Black Sisters’ Street.

She was honoured at a public presentation at the Princess Alexandra Auditorium, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, UNN, Enugu State on January 29

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Arts Lounge

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National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

FAR AND NEAR

Arts journalists urged to uplift culture IJEOMA EZEIKE ABUJA

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he total neglect of the culture and tourism sector and the poor budgetary allocation to the sector constitutes a cog in the wheel of progress of the culture sector of Nigeria. Disturbed by this ineptitude, the National Institute for Cultural Orientation, NICO, again organised it annual oneday national media workshop for arts writers and editors on Thursday, April 25 in Lagos.

Tagged “Culture as a Panacea for Peaceful Co-Existence in a Multi Ethnic Nation: The Role of Media”; art journalists were urged to play critical roles in using culture and cultural events as instruments of unity and peaceful co-existence in a multi ethnic Nigeria.

One of the resource persons at the event, Mr. Alvan Ewuzie, Associate Editor, **The Sun** Newspaper said that the media has the latent power to bring up issues to public attention and thus cause desired changes in the society.

“In matters relating to culture, media practitioners, especially reporters in that sector owe the public and political office holders a duty to correct the erroneous impression that culture begins and ends with drumming, singing and dancing. In a nation challenged by security infractions such as we have, the media should bring to public attention the efficacy of deploying cultural events in fostering unity amongst the multi ethnic

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groups with the same potency as football”, Ewuzie said.

He cited example of the annual National Festival of Arts, NAFEST, which a Nigerian president or head of state had failed to attend the opening ceremony since 1990, describing it as a pointer to their rating of event.

“Sometimes governors, whose states are hosting the event, would leave town and delegate deputies and other official to attend. Yet such governors would fly across continents to watch football matches involving the national team or boxing events”, he added.

Ewuzie pointed out a situation whereby most parastatals in the culture sector seldom sponsor programmes and events in furtherance of their mandate.

“Funding hampers them, which is why some states do not come for NAFEST and other cultural events. Many states directors of culture have had to borrow money to send their state contingents to events, pending the last minute release of the approved paltry sums. Media practitioners ought to point out these lapses. This propensity to under fund the sector has led to the decay of a cultural edifice as the National Theatre, the depreciation typifies widespread neglect of the sector”.

In a paper entitled, “Nigeria’s Season of Anomie: Fashioning a Cultural Media Tool Kit”, delivered by Prof. Foluke Ogunleye of the Department of Dramatic Arts, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife, Oyo State, she said

he premises of the National Theatre in Iganmu will witness significant activities on Monday, May 20 as the COSON Lecture, the second big event of the much talked about COSON Week berths.

Apart from the respected names lined up for the lecture, what is also very significant is that the day marks the third anniversary of the official approval of Copyright Society of Nigeria, COSON, by the Federal Government as the nation’s sole collective management organisation for musical works and sound recordings.

To mark the day with the necessary pomp and pageantry, COSON has invited one of the most revered brains in the world, Professor Helge Ronning of the Department of Communications, University of Oslo to come to Nigeria to speak to the nation on Intellectual Property, Communications, International Co-operation & National Development. Prof. Ronning is also Chairman of the Norwegian Copyright Development Association, NOR-

that mass media have the power to create new convictions on issues that the public may not be familiar with. Prof. Ogunleye suggested the need for discussions and reading of other people’s cultures to build cultural awareness.

The Executive Secretary of the NICO, Dr. Barclays Ayakoroma in his speech said that Nigeria’s multi ethnic and religious composition has been a serious challenge to national development.

“It is disheartening to note that over five decades after our political independence, most Nigerians still have the fastidious attachment to their ethnic origins to the detriment of national unity; rather than celebrate our unique cultural identities”, Ayakoroma stated “It is the contention of peace and development experts that the present ethnic, political and religious intolerance in Nigeria can best be addressed if the media is encouraged to play a vital role in educating the citizenry on the immense benefits of embracing peaceful co-existence”.

Conceptualised in the year 2010, the NICO media workshop is a platform for arts journalists to hold robust interactions, exchange ideas and engage in peer review in order to enhance overall professional competence. According to the Executive Secretary, the institute has concluded plans to expand the scope of the programme to give recognition and awards to deserving arts writers and editors for outstanding contributions to the nation’s cultural development.

Cast of V-monologues

A-list actors in V-monologues comeback TERH AGBEDEH

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-Monologues returns with a stellar cast and Ifeoma Fafunwa in the director’s chair. She will be helming a stage production that boasts a line up of female actors which includes ageless screen goddess Taiwo Ajai Lycett, Bimbo Akintola, Ireti Doyle, Dakore EgbusonAkande, Omonor, Biola Segun Williams and new comer Rita Edward. The cast also includes Lala Akindoju who is wearing two hats –as producer and actor.

Fafunwa will be taking a second stab at the global phenomenon but this time she will be directing the Nigerianised version. The play will go on stage at the Agip Recital Hall of the MUSON Centre, Lagos, on May 3 and 4, with a command performance on May 4.

Speaking on what she is bringing to the play this time around, Fafunwa who trained

as an architect before moving into directing and the stage, said she is glad to be directing such a spectacular cast and then noted that “Nigerians will be amazed at what these eight incredible women will be bringing on stage”.

Lala Akindoju also explains why she is taking on the project. “I am producing the V-Monologues this year because I am very passionate about women and as an actor, performer and artiste, I think we don’t use the platform that we have to speak on issues enough”.

The young producer further adds that “you can never get tired of doing the V-Monologues. First of all, it’s a big deal artistically around the world. It hasn’t been on stage for two years because nobody was ready to sacrifice themselves and do the house girl work. Thankfully, the Kudirat Initiative for Democracy, KIND, has worked hard and made the Nigerian version”.

COSON celebrates ‘birthday’ with lecture CODE, which does significant development work in copyright around the world.

A high-powered panel of discussants will also be present to analyse the issues around the lecture. On the panel are Prof. Bankole Sodipo, Nigeria’s intellectual property guru and President, Intellectual Property Law Association of Nigeria, IPLAN; Prof.

Adebambo Adewopo, former DG of Nigeria Copyright Commission, NCC, Intellectual Property Law at Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies; Prof. Emevwo Biakolo, Dean, School of Media & Communication, Pan Africa University.

Also to join the panel are: Finland’s expert in the field of copyright, Ms Tarja Koskinen-Olsson. Ms. Koskinen-Olson who is Honorary President, International Federation of Reprographic Rights Organisations, IFFRO, has held numerous positions at the highest level of world

copyright and Mr. Afam Ezekude, current Director-General, NCC. His Excellency, Mr Rolf Ree, the Ambassador of Norway to Nigeria, is expected to be the Special Guest of Honour at the Lecture.

Speaking on the forthcoming big COSON Lecture, COSON Chairman, Chief Tony Okoroji, said; “Apart from the many experts from different countries who will be here for the lecture, we are inviting many of the big Nigerian lawyers with interest in intellectual property, communication experts and the massive Nigerian creative community.

Knowledge is power and Intellectual Property is the big subject of today. It is the new frontier around which several battles will be fought at home and abroad. Nigeria must prepare herself for these battles”.

Also speaking on the event, COSON General Manager, Mr. Chinedu Chukwuji said, ‘it will be multiple celebrations on

Okoroji

May 20. Immediately after the big lecture, we will hold the COSON Annual General Meeting at the same venue with COSON members from across the country and together we will cut the celebration cake”.

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Wednesday, May 1, 2013

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Sport

I think we are capable of turning the tide against Bayern at Camp Nou. I believe we can do it

Enyimba to build on new winning form

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- BARCELONA DEFENDER, ERIC ABIDAL

Laurels: NFF blows own trumpet EVEREST ONYEWUCHI

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Super Eagles line-up before one of the matches of the 2013 AFCON in South Africa that NFF is toasting.

Westerhof, Bonfrere to honour Yekini

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rstwhile Nigeria’s Super Eagles’ coaches, Clemens Westerhof and Bonfrere Jo, have signified their intentions to be in Ibadan on Friday to honour late Nigerian legend, Rashidi Yekini, a year after he died.

Yekini, who is Nigeria’s alltime highest goal scorer died on May 4, 2012 at the age of 48 and was interred the next day in his home town in Irra, Oyun Local Government in Kwara State Yekini’s lawyer and planner of the one-year remembrance

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programme, Barrister Jubril Mohammed Olanrewaju, said the two former handlers of the Eagles had revealed that Yekini was the hero who contributed immensely to their success while handling the Nigerian senior national team.

“Westerhof and Bonfere Jo have shown interest to be in Ibadan on Friday for the first year anniversary of Rashidi Yekini and we are working on the logistics to bring them in for the event,” he disclosed.

Olanrewaju also disclosed that the Nigeria Football Feder-

ation (NFF) last weekend sent two sets of jerseys and balls to the Rashidi Yekini Foundation in order to properly kit the ex-international and Yekini’s former teammates, who would play at the Lekan Salami Stadium, Adamasingba in honour of the late football star.

“The NFF has promised us in a meeting that apart from gracing the book launch slated for the Jogor Centre on Thursday, May 2nd, they would also do their best to make the ceremonial football match a memorable one.”

he present Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) administration led by Alhaji Aminu Maigari has taken a critical assessment of its 16 months in office and awarded itself pass mark.

Executive Committee member and Chairman of the Media and Publicity Committee, Chief Emeka Inyama, said yesterday that the NFF had achieved “ so much in the past 16 months to deserve applause from Nigerians.”

In a statement sent to National Mirror, Inyama, a foremost football journalist and publisher of note, reviewed the statistics of all national teams since January 2012 and added, “The Maigari administration deserves not only commendation, but rousing ovation for what it has achieved for Nigeria on the field. The great thing is, the achievements were not only on the field; there were plenty off the field as well.”

For the records, the NFF said that no Nigeria National Football team has failed to qualify for continental or global competition since the beginning of 2012.

Super Eagles were successful in the qualifying race for the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations and eventually triumphed in South Africa at the finals; the Flying Eagles qualified for the 2013 African Youth Championship (AYC) and finished third in Algeria to qualify for the FIFA U-20 World Cup that takes place in Turkey from June 21 – July 13 and Golden Eaglets qualified for the 2013 CAF U-17 Cham-

Open sports festival gets official nod

he proposed National Open Sports Festival and National Youth Games have been approved by the National Council on Sports, the highest policy and decision making organ on Sports in Nigeria.

In a comunique issued at the end of the 19th Council Meeting held on April 25, 2013 in Ilorin, Kwara State Capital, Council took far reaching decisions among others and directed the National Sports Commission (NSC) to forward a memorandum to the National Council of States intimating it of this development.

The Council urged states governors and Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to bid for the hosting of the games in view of the numerous benefits and eco-

nomic potentials of such events.

The Council also directed that a 12-man Committee be set up to work out modalities for the organisation and management of the National Open Sports Festival as well as the National Youth Games. The committee is to comprise six states Directors of Sports, each representing a geo-political zone, five representatives of sports’ stakeholders and representative of the NSC to serve as chairman.

Another critical issue discussed by the Council on Sports was the on-going process by the National Sports Commission to concession Federal Stadia in accordance with the recommendation of the Federal Executive Council Committee. The stadia are: Ibadan, Kaduna, Bau-

chi, with Abuja and Lagos as pilot scheme.

On the need to develop schools sports more effectively in the country, Council directed the National Academicals Sports Committee (NASCOM) to Synergise its programmes with those of YSFON, Schools Sports Federation and the various National Sports Federations to avoid duplication.

Council enjoined Nigerians to encourage and support efforts by the League Management Committee (LMC) in its quest to overhaul the league and also commended efforts of the Hon. Minister of Sports and Chairman of the NSC, Bolaji Abdullahi, in revamping the administration of Nigeria Football League.

pionship and only lost the Final match to Cote d’Ivoire after penalty shoot-out in Marrakech last Saturday.

The Super Falcons qualified for the 8th African Women Championship (AWC) and finished third in Equatorial Guinea; the Falconets qualified for the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup and reached the semi-finals, while the Flamingoes reached the quarter-finals of the FIFA U-17 Women’s World in Azerbaijan and equalled a tournament record.

Even the Beach Soccer team, also known as Supersand Eagles, did Nigeria proud by winning the COPA Lagos invitational tournament for the second successive edition and putting up a credible showing at the Samsung Intercontinental Tournament in Dubai.

“It has been fabulous showing here and there for Nigeria football in the past 16 months, and critics must give that to this administration,” Inyama added.

Maigari

Salami going nowhere, says 3SC

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op Shooting Stars FC official, Ade Somefun, has insisted that Sunshine Stars’ target Gbolahan Salami, will see through his year’s contract at the club.

The management committee member disclosed that Salami is not on loan from Sunshine and he has signed a year’s contract with Shooting Stars which he will honour.

“Salami is not on loan from Sunshine. He has a year’s contract with us and he will see this through,’ Somefun told MTNFootball.com.

Top sources have suggested Salami is on his way back to Sunshine Stars during the Nigeria league transfer window, which opened on Monday and will close on Friday.

Salami was conspicuously absent from 3SC training on Monday evening and it is believed he has travelled to Akure to negotiate a transfer to Sunshine Stars.

Meanwhile, goalkeeper Richard Ochayi who has been absent from the team for some weeks, finally returned to training on Monday.

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Sport

Wednesday, May 1, 2013

Tit bits...

Beckham PSG star, David Beckham, says he now feels settled at the Paris club after his sensational move from MLS side LA Galaxy in January.

“I am impressed with how things have gone so far here and I really can’t ask for more at this moment,” the former Madrid and AC Milan winger said yesterday.

“The manager has been wonderful and so have the fans been fantastic as well,” the former England international added.

Lampard

Barca banks on Messi resurgence Messi

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ounded Barcelona will be expected to seek miracle from inspirational Lionel Messi as the home side goes for the seeming impossible victory in today’s second leg semi final match with motivated Bayern Munich at Camp Nou. Barcelona goes into this game knowing it has to overcome a 4-0 defeat from the first leg last week.

The dicey situation leaves the Catalans with a mountain to climb and the fact they failed to score an away goal in Germany, means they would need to score sixth should Bayern score in Barcelona.

Messi played in Munich, but the Argentina international looked to be a shadow of himself due to a hamstring injury, even as many believed he would have been rested.

The feeling of Messi’s return has brought a new optimism to a club where the downward journey to de-

scent seems to have commenced in a stylish manner.

Meanwhile, midfielder Sergio Busquets has been way off his best form in recent weeks and is suffering from a pelvic injury that may see him replaced by Alex Song in the centre of the park as Alexis Sanchez and David Villa could partner Messi in the attack.

But Bayern Coach, Jupp Heynckes, has promised that his side will not sit to defend the 4-0 lead, apparently hinting the Germans will go for an early to put the game beyond Barcelona.

Swashbuckling Bastian Schweinsteiger is a guarantee in the central midfield role, while Arjen Robben and Frank Ribery will be a threat up front.

Bayern has interestingly lost two Champions League finals in the past three years, losing a nail-biting one to Chelsea via penalties at the Allianz Arena last year.

Neuer wary of pressure

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ayern Munich goalkeeper, Manuel Neuer, expects Barcelona to put the German club under pressure in today’s match at Camp Nou in an all-ornothing attempt to make it to the Champions League final billed for May 25 in Wembley.

The Bundesliga champion will be confident of holding off its opponents after their 4-0 first-leg win at the Allianz Arena last week, but the former Schalke goalkeeper has stressed that the Catalans cannot be written off entirely.

“We have to invest everything to avoid a catastrophe because Barcelona is wounded but will still do everything to make the final by putting us under incredible pressure,”

Neuer said yesterday.

The Germany international previously played at Camp Nou with Schalke in 2007-08 and has not forgotten about the atmosphere and the behaviour of the ball boys during the encounter.

“I remember the special atmosphere and how the ball boys reacted to Barcelona taking the lead.

They stopped throwing the balls back onto the pitch.

“I kept coming close to a yellow card, because it made me so mad.

So it could be that the balls fly back onto the pitch very quickly tomorrow (today).”

Today’s fixture Barcelona

vs

Bayern

Frank Lampard says Champions League qualification is crucial for Chelsea than anything else.

The midfielder remains firmly fixed on ensuring we are playing against Europe’s best next season.

“Our game with Manchester United next week is very crucial but I believe we’ve got the strong-minded players to go and do it,” Lampard said yesterday.

Ibrahimovic PSG striker, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, is being linked with Real Madrid.

Reports said Ibrahimovic is unsettled in Paris and a return to Spain, where he flopped at Barcelona, is under consideration.

Real could be the destination for the Swede, who does hold a burning ambition to prove the critics connected to Barcelona wrong.

Hazard

Chelsea midfielder, Eden Hazard, admits the pace of the Premier League has taken him aback.

“The biggest difference I have found between the football in England and that in France is the intensity,” the Belgium international said.

“In France, the game can be quiet for spells, but in England it is intense for 90 minutes and is more physically demanding.”

Full house delights Fergie Pard to p

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anchester United Manager, Sir Alex Ferguson, has confirmed he has plans in place to improve his squad in the summer.

The Scot, who claimed his 13th league title with United this season but has already started his preparations to defend that crown next term, is convinced he has the players at the club to provide a solid foundation for the next five years.

“You have to look at the structure of the club at present, in terms of the number of first-team players we have at 23 or under,” Ferguson said yesterday.

“David De Gea, Rafael, Phil Jones, Chris Smalling,

Alex Buttner, Nick Powell, Tom Cleverley and Danny Welbeck, Shinji Kagawa and Chicharito are 24. Jonny Evans is 25 and Wayne Rooney is hitting his peak at 27,” he added.

“Older players like Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes and Rio Ferdinand may be coming towards the end of their careers, but these younger players are the foundation for the next five or six years.”

Boateng re-enters Fulham radar

L

atest reports have revealed Fulham’s revived interest in Ghana international midfielder Derek Boateng.

The Cottagers agreed a deal with Boateng in January and won a work permit for the player.

However, the 29-year-old was in dispute with his club Dnipro and Fulham failed to finalise the deal before the deadline on January 31.

After failing to secure his Fulham move, Boateng held talks with Greek giants Olympiakos who also tried to complete a deal but again the issue with Dnipro scuppered the move.

However, Boateng, who has now freed himself from his contract with Dnipro after he won his case at the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Switzerland, is a free agent.

Fulham boss Martin Jol is a big fan of Boateng and the latest news will lighten his mood.

Valdes Barcelona goalkeeper, Victor Valdes, insists he did not snub the captain’s armband against Athletic Bilbao.

Valdes did not take the captain’s armband when Xavi was taken off, giving it to Lionel Messi and causing debate over whether he had deliberately turned it down.

“I couldn’t adjust the armband comfortably to my arm, so I decided to give it away,” Valdes posted on his Facebook page.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Boateng

Di Canio rues ‘humiliation’

B

eleaguered Sunderland Manager, Paolo Di Canio, yesterday suggested he did not read the signals ahead of his side’s 6-1 mauling by Aston Villa and confirmed the club will appeal Stephane Sessegnon’s red card.

Sunderland headed to Villa Park on the back of two straight wins, but missed out on the chance to all but secure Premier League survival after being torn apart by a rampant home side.

The result leaves both teams on 37 points, five points outside the bottom three, and Di Canio was left to reflect on what he called humiliation.

“It’s a very bad defeat and our performance I’m not very happy about but probably we thought the main job was done,” Di Canio said.

“If the team has performed in this way, the first person responsible is the manager, and also the players, but the signals we probably didn’t read in the week.

“Maybe this is a medicine in some way that can let us understand that we have to play with desire and commitment.”

N

his own Army’s nearly a erpool l Liver win at worst r side fo lowed o derby d against in the m Newc mathem side is bottom months top five Whil has no giving that hi decided ley, with ing tha some do “Unt my job make it beleagu terday.

“The much a that we think th ing.”

Pardew

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Sport

Wednesday, May 1, 2013

29

dew caves pressure

ewcastle Manager, Alan Pardew, admits that his future is not in n hands after the Toon worst home defeat in a century against Livlast weekend. rpool claimed a 6-0 St James’ Park-the result seen on Tyneor 88 years-that folon from their biggest defeat in a generation t Sunderland earlier month. castle is still not matically safe, as the now destined for a -five finish just 12 s after finishing in the e. lst Pardew insists he issue with the fans him stick, he admits s future can only be d by owner Mike Ashh some reports claimat his position is in oubt. il I’m told otherwise, is to lift the team and t as good as I can,” the uered coach said yes-

e players are very aware of the situation e are in and I don’t hey need a lot of tell-

Chipolopolo unfolds future plan Coach Herve Renard

Z

ambia’s home-based team is set to camp in the Persian Gulf this month and will also face Namibia in a friendly.

According to General Secretary of the Football Association of Zambia (FAZ), George Kasengele, the schedule will be part of the homebased team’s build-up for the 2013 Cosafa Cup outing and South Africa 2014 CHAN qualifiers in July.

“We have been invited by Namibia for a friendly on May 24 in Windhoek,” Kasengele said.

“There is also a trip to Oman where the team will play a couple of friendly matches.”

Kasengele said the Oman training camp would take place before the trip to Namibia, although details had

yet to be finalised.

The Zambia home-based team’s May itinerary comes after the side’s initial engagement on April 28 when it beat Zimbabwe 2-0 in a friendly at Nkoloma Stadium in Lusaka.

Zambia will host the Cosafa Cup from July 6 to 21 and a week after the tournament ends face Botswana in a CAF African Nations Championship (CHAN) first round, first leg qualifier away in Gaborone.

Kasengele, however, said details of the main Zambia team’s training camp for its June 8 Brazil 2014 World Cup Group D qualifier would be released after consultations with Coach Herve Renard.

Zambia will host Lesotho at Levy Mwanawasa Stadium in Ndola in both sides’ fourth Group D match.

Harambee eyes ‘rewarding June’

T

he Harambee Stars of Kenya have planned to tackle their international friendly against Ghana on June 1 with all seriousness.

Reports from Nairobi yesterday said that the duo of captain Dennis Oliech and first choice goalkeeper Arnold Origi, who are suspended for the June 5 World Cup qualifier against Nigeria, will feature in the test match.

Both will, however, be eligible for the second qualifier against Malawi in Blantyre on June 14.

The friendly will be played

Harambee Coach, Amrouche

Nigeria National Hockey Team walking off the pitch after a game.

Hockey: Union Bank wins BAI tourney AFOLABI GAMBARI

U

nion Bank Hockey Team of Lagos has emerged champion of the annual Bukar Abba Ibrahim National Men and Women Open Hockey Championships which ended in Abuja last weekend.

Playing before a sizeable crowd in the final matches which took place at the Astroturf pitch of the National Stadium, the Tunde Odedokun-coached Union Bank defeated Plateau Tigers 2-0 to lift the Men’s title, both goals scored in the game’s second

half by Sikiru Salau and Okwudili Menyei.

Delta Force outscored Yobe Queens 2-1 in the Women’s final to lift the trophy.

According to the Nigeria Hockey Federation (NHF) President, Patrick Ukah, who attended the final alongside sponsor and former NHF chairman, Senator Bukar Abba Ibrahim, the contribution of the latter to hockey development in Nigeria has been unprecedented.

“Ibrahim’s name will forever remain in gold because of his immense support to the sport’s growth at the

grassroots,” Ukah said.

Senator Ibrahim, a former governor of Yobe State, was also honoured as patron of the NHF at the occasion witnessed by the fedration’s board members and stakeholders.

Meanwhile, Senator Ibrahim has pledged his continuous support for Hockey in Nigeria.

“I thank NHF for this recognition and I will not relent in my effort to support hockey’s youth development,” he remarked.

Seventeen male and female clubs participated in the five-day tournament.

Abesan Cup: Ceejay donates kits, balls

S

at the Nyayo Stadium in Nairobi where the Black Stars will begin camping from the last week of May. “We are taking the friendly seriously thus we want all our top players ready for it,” Kenya’s Assistant Coach, James Nandwa, said.

Ghana’s Coach, Kwesi Appiah, is yet to name his squad for the Black Stars’ doubleheader against Sudan and Lesotho.

Appiah has recently completed a one-week knowledge sharing exchange programme at Manchester City.

Abesan product, Super Eagles’ Pius Ikedia

ports kits distributor, Ceejay Sports, has donated jerseys, balls and boots to organisers of the 2013 Abesan Cup scheduled to begin on May 19.

Items donated include four set of jerseys, 30 match balls and five pair of boots.

Chairman of Ceejay, Cajethan Ekejiuba, said his organization was passionate to lifting Nigerian football.

“We are glad to identify with the Abesan Cup,” he said.

“I have followed the success story of the Abesan Cup since its inception in 1998,” the donor added while urging well-meaning Nigerians to support grassroots sports in the country.

“The grassroots need encouragement and support to enable them to produce more talents from the country and nothing is too big to donate for grassroots sports to attain greatness which I believe will impact positively on our national teams and clubs.”

Cordinator of the Abesan Cup, Tayo Adeyemo, said the 2013 event would hold in Sango Otta, Idimu, Egbeda and Agege centres.

“About 22 of the 32 teams have reached us at the moment and a total of N500, 000 will be won as prizes this year,” Adeyemo disclosed.

30

Sport

Wednesday, May 1, 2013

Nigeria Premier Nig League

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Cricket

with

IIKENWA NNABUOGOR ikenwa.nnabuogor@gmail.com

Mass exodus hits Gombe United

M

ass exodus of players is imminent at Gombe United as top players are set to dump the club in the mid-season transfer windows that opened late last week.

One of the top players, who didn’t want his name in print, told National Mirror he was fed up with the poor conditions in their camp coupled with coach Maurice Cooremans’ preference for young and inexperienced players.

The players lamented their poor form in the season which has seen them lose games mostly at away.

Cooremans’ strange tactics have been fingered by the want way players as the major cause of their poor performance. The players are also groaning under bad conditions as they are yet to receive their entitlements.

“I’m looking for a club badly as I’m no longer interested in continuing at Gombe United,” a senior player said.

“I can’t continue playing in a team where experienced players are sacrificed for inexperienced players.

Amanfor Chime

Enyimba to build on new winning form

E

nyimba are expressed happiness coming back to winning ways after an unimpressive start in the season which saw them struggle at the foot of the log. The six-time league champions have come over a rather unconvincing start that saw them lose a number of away games to start a new found form that has shot to mid table on 10th position after nine games.

Star midfielder Amanfor Chime tells National Mirror he’s happy with the new trend of events in their camp and said the players have promised to step up their game with a view to campaigning for honours.

“We’re back to winning ways and ready to do more.

We have had really bad times in the last few weeks but we have overcome that to start some fresh hopes,” he affirmed.

“I want to say that those bad days are over now, we are just five points behind the league leaders Rangers with 29 games to go.

“We are really training very hard and ready to go

all out any opposition in the league and we’re not making pretences about this.

Amanfor is confident that Enyimba are in strong position to fight for honours judging by their performance in the league games lately.

“If you watch our games, you will see that no club has ever scored more than two goals against us both at

home and away.

“We have grown to play like a team over time and the coaches are pushing hard to get us there and I believe with hard work and grace of God, we will get to the top soon.”

With no games this weekend, Enyimba are up against Lobi Stars in the Week 10 clash in Makurdi Thursday next week.

NPFL Standings – Week 7 Pos Team

P

W

D

L

GF

GA

GD

Pts 17

1

Rangers

9

5

2

2

16

7

+9

2

Sunshine

9

5

2

2

14

6

+8

17

3

Pillars

9

5

2

2

8

7

+1

17

4

Nasarawa

9

4

3

2

9

7

+2

15

5

Heartland

9

4

2

3

17

7

+10

14

6

Nembe City

9

4

2

3

11

10

+1

14

7

Bayelsa

9

4

1

4

10

11

-1

13

8

Lobi Stars

9

4

1

4

9

12

-3

13

9

Warri Wolves

9

2

6

1

10

7

+3

12

10

Enyimba

9

3

3

3

6

4

+2

12

11

3SC

9

4

0

5

13

13

0

12

12

Kwara United

9

3

3

3

7

7

0

12

13

Gombe United

9

4

0

5

8

14

-6

12

14

ABS

9

3

2

4

8

8

0

11

15

Dolphins

9

3

2

4

7

9

-2

11

16

Kaduna United

9

3

2

4

8

11

-3

11

17

Akwa United

9

3

1

5

10

15

-5

10

18

El-Kanemi

9

2

3

4

8

12

-4

9

19

Sharks

9

2

3

4

5

10

-5

9

20

Wikki Tourits

9 2

2

5

6

13

-7

8

Cooremans

“We have had very bad results especially at away since the league started and we’re not getting any better.

“So, I have had enough and I want to leave for a better place where I will express myself with players of like style and experience.”

Gombe United are at the foot of the log, losing all their four away games, winning three at home in the seven-week old season.

Buhari lifts Kaduna United

B

uhari lifts Kaduna United Former U-17 star Ali Buhari has been handed the responsibility of lifting Kaduna United to greater heights this season. The diminutive star, who joined the Kaduna-based side from a Danish club, has also been hailed by the club management and coaches for his superlative performance so far in the league.

Buhari shrugged off an ankle injury early in the season to continue to inspire the club currently anguishing in the foot of the log, in their bid to finish in good position this season.

“I’m happy to be in Kaduna United and I have the backing of the management and coaches to do even better,” Buhari said.

“I had offers from other club but I chose to stay here because of the favourable conditions here. I missed some games in the beginning of the season because of ankle injury but i’m back now.

“Though, I’m yet to attain full fitness but the club has helped to overcome it and I know very soon I will hit full fitness.

“The season is still young and there are many games to play and by the time the season gets to the end, we will improve greatly.”

Meanwhile, the Kaduna-based side have been boosted abundantly with the arrival of Trinidad &Tobago 2001 U-17 World Cup stars

Ibrahim Ndala and Moses Ayuba.

Both players teamed up with the club at the beginning of the season and have helped with their international experience having played in Israel and Italy, respectively.

Ayuba returned to the local scene after playing in Italy since he helped Nigeria win silver at Trinidad & Tobago U-17 World Cup. Ayuba played in the lower divisions in Italy before returning home to pick up the pieces of his fast fading career.

Ndala Ibrahim

Wednesday, May 1, 2013

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

31

Business & Finance We need to look for alternative way of building to bridge housing gap Marketing Director, Nigerite Nigeria Limited, Toyin Gbede

Subsidy scheme will expand access to cooking gas

EXEC. DIRECTOR, INTERNATIONAL CENTRE FOR ENERGY ENVIRONMENT AND DEVELOPMENT EWAH ELERI

42-43

EU, Nigeria sign N18bn project funding agreements TOLA AKINMUTIMI ABUJA

T

he European Union (EU) yesterday signed three financing agreements totalling €89 million (about N18 billion) with the Federal Government to support the country’s water, health and non-oil sector related developmental programmes.

The EU Ambassador to Nigeria, Dr David MacRae, explained that the grants committed to three programmes namely, Maternal and New-born Health, Water Supply and Sanitation Sector Reform, and Nigeria’s Competitiveness Support, were bound to impact positively on the targeted sectors and by implication, help the country in leveraging its successes so far and support the current efforts to attain of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) targets.

Ambassador MacRae disclosed that of the EU grants, Maternal and Newborn Health Support programme would gulp €30 million compared to the

Water Supply and Sanitation Sector Reform programme’s €40 million and Nigeria’s Competitiveness Support programme’s 19 million Euros.

The total cost of the Maternal and New-born Health Support programme is €33 million out of which the EDF’s contributions is €30 million and the Water Supply and Sanitation Sector Reform Programme will cost €52.25

million out of which the EDF countries will provide €40 million. The Nigeria Competitive Support Programme is costing €230.5 million and the EU is contributing 19 million euros.

He pointed out that specifically that the Maternal and New-born Health Support programme’s grant would help in improving the health status of women and children through an enhanced and sustainable

D

iamond Bank and Union Bank have declared a profit after tax of N30bn for the financial year ended December 31, 2012.

Specifically, Diamond

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L-R: Senior Brand Manager, Legend & Life, Mr. Funso Ayeni; Corporate Media & Brand PR Manager, Nigerian Breweries Plc, Mr. Edem Vindah; Marketing Director, Mr. Walter Drenth and Marketing Manager, Mr. Emmanuel Agu, during the press conference on Legend Real Deal Promo in Lagos, yesterday.

Diamond, Union Bank net N30bn in 2012 DAMILOLA AJAYI

primary health care delivery system while the Water Supply and Sanitation Sector Reform grant would increase access to safe adequate and sustainable water, sanitation and hygiene services in Adamawa, Ekiti and Plateau states.

In his opening remarks, the Secretary to the National Planning Commission, Barrister Fidelis Ugbo, who signed the agreement on behalf of the Minister

of National Planning, Dr Shamsuddeen Usman, for the Federal Government said by authorising the three financing agreements with the EU providing €89 million, Nigeria will be on the right track to make considerable progress in the achievement of the MDGs. He also expressed optimism that the grants would also significantly assist the country in achieving its developmental goals as enunciated in the Vision 20:2020, the present administration’s Transformation Agenda and the imminent 2nd National Implementation Plan.

Bank Plc posted a profit after tax of N22.1bn for the financial, an increase of 250 per cent when compared to loss after tax of N13.7bn recorded in the same period of 2011.

The bank’s total asset base hit the N1trn mark, as total asset stood at N1.2trn, up by over 47 per cent N796.2bn recorded in 2011.

Analysis of the result showed an increase of 51 per cent in customer depos-

its, from N603bnin 2011 to N910.2bn in 2012.

Speaking at the bank’s Annual General Meeting in Lagos yesterday, the Group Managing Director, Dr Alex Otti appreciated the effort of the bank’s customers, noting that without them there would be not be Diamond Bank.

Meanwhile, Union Bank has announced a profit after tax of N7.9bn, as against

a loss of N76.7bn recorded in the corresponding period of 2011.

According to the result, earnings per share also increased to 46 kobo in 2012, in contrast to negative N12.51 kobo in 2011, while customers’ deposits stood at N482bn in 2012.

The Group Managing Director of the bank, Mr. Emeka Emuwa said, “Our 2012 results have fully incorporated all costs relating to the recently concluded

recapitalisation and clean up of our loan portfolio.”

According to him, the transformation roadmap is well under execution as the bank upgrade and strengthens its operating platform to serve customers better.

The Executive Director and Chief Financial Officer of the bank, Mr. Oyinkan Adewale said, “We are happy to report improvement from year-end 2011 to year-end 2012 in most performance measures.

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NUPENG urges FG to make use of illegal oil refiners

MITI remains main driver of Vision 2020

Nigeria, other West African nations in search for reliable gas

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Business Finance

Wednesday, May 1, 2013

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

NUPENG urges FG to make use of illegal oil refiners STANLEY IHEDIGBO

N

igeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas workers (NUPENG) has advised the Federal Government to assemble illegal oil refiners and give them further training, instead of chasing people around the creeks and destroying their tools.

Speaking at the NUPENG special delegates conference in Lagos, the National President of the union, Comrade Igwe Achese, advocated that the Federal Government should establish legal refineries for the illegal oil refiners to work,

in their region after training them .

He added that if these young Nigerians can come up with a local technology to refine crude oil, they should be encouraged as it will go a long way to reduce unemployment and restiveness in the Niger Delta.

According to him, it is a sad commentary that the nation’s four refineries are still in comatose.

“They are not working at optimal capacity. The turnaround-maintenance (TAM) is only on paper. We continue to import petroleum products to the detriment of our economy.

We call on the Federal Government to fix the refineries to reduce importation and even establish new ones in order to ensure our economy is stabilised”, he said.

Commenting on vandalisation of pipelines, Achese urged government to establish a pipeline protection agency that will be saddled with monitoring, protecting and salvaging the over 5000 kilo meters starch of pipelines that traverse the nooks and crannies of the nation.

NUPENG National President called on the law makers to ensure a quick passage of the Petroleum Industry Bill

(PIB), after looking at the grey areas with objectivity, especially on labour issues of gratuities, pensions, transfers and status of the members in new companies that will emerge.

President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Abdulwahed Omar, also said that the union must insist that the version of the Petroleum Industry Bill that will be passed into law will serve national interest .

He added that the massive theft of crude oil in the Niger Delta is a conspiracy by some top government officials, their military and foreign collabo-

rators to short-change Nigerians.

It is estimated that Nigeria is currently losing about $9billion annually to crude oil theft.

Omar said because the economic implications of the oil theft are enormous, NLC is ready to be part of the struggle to check the evil practice in the country. ‘’NUPENG as a union and its allies in the industry should do all they can to expose, frustrate and possibly stop this illegal business. The implications on the economy are enormous. We at the congress are prepared to be part of that struggle,” he said.

PTDF trains over 2,500 petroleum engineers CHIDI UGWU ABUJA

T

he Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF) has disclosed that through its intervention programmes for the development of the oil and gas industry, it has trained over 2,500 petroleum engineers within the last twelve years.

The Head, Press and External Relations, Mr. Kalu Otisi, made the disclosure yesterday when a delegation of National Mirror from Abuja bureau, paid the management of the agency a courtesy visit in Abuja.

Otisi said when the programme started about twelve years ago, there were not up to ten qualified petroleum engineers in the country but the agency has succeeded in satuL-R: Marketing Manager, Dufil Prima Foods Plc, Mr. Manpreet Singh; Public Relations and Events Manager, Mr. Tope Ashiwaju; rating the industry with qualiChief Executive Officer, Mr. Deepak Singhal and Managing Director, BD Consult, Mr. Tola Bademosi, at a press conference for the 6th edition of Indomie Independence Day Heroes Award in Lagos recently.

AfDB to focus on Africa’s development in next 10 years

T

he African Development Bank Group said it has made a 10-year plan and strategy that would focus on the economic transformation of the African continent.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, Mr Donald Kaberuka, President of the bank, said the strategy, approved by its executive directors, emphasised quality and sustainable of growth of Africa.

Kaberuka said: “Our 10year plan reflects Africa’s vision for itself – a vision of transformation that is achievable.

“It is a 10-year vision, which can make this continent the global growth pole that we know it can be and want it to be: a place fit for our aspirations and those of our children.

“The strategy reaffirms our bank’s strategic choices around infrastructure, economic integration and the private sector.

“We will build climate resilience and sustainable management of natural resources.`` According to him, the strategy identifies the five main channels through which the bank will deliver its work and improve the quality of growth in Africa.

“The key areas include infrastructure development, regional economic integration, private sector development, governance and accountability, skills and technology,`` he said.

The bank president said that the plan would seek new and creative ways of mobilizing resources to support Af-

rica’s transformation, especially by leveraging its own resources.

He said that wider use of public-private partnerships, co-financing arrangements and risk-mitigation instruments will draw in new investors.

“In a decade of seismic shifts in the global economy, Africa has defied the pessimists and experienced significant growth.

“That economic growth must now translate into real economic transformation, which will bring jobs and opportunities to its citizens,`` the bank’s president said.

“That is what makes the next decade so decisive and the African Development Bank’s strategy for 2013 to 2022 so vital.”

fied petroleum engineers over time.

“When we started our training programmes especially the overseas policies, about 12 years ago, I am not sure that we have up to 10 qualified trained petroleum engineers. And we have succeeded in saturating the industry with qualified competent petroleum engineers as a consequence of the training that we offer” he said.

According the PTDF spokesman, the agency trained not less than two thousand Nigerians at the MSc level and five hundred in PHD levels.

He stated that the focus of the agency was not having the trained engineers work in the country but for them to be acceptable anywhere in the world as trained oil and gas practitioners.

CAC to open offices in London, Hong Kong soon STANLEY IHEDIGBO

T

he Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) is to open offices in London and Hong Kong this year to enhance the registration of businesses in Nigeria.

Chairman of the commission, Otunba Funso Lawal, disclosed this during a stakeholder’s forum meeting with board of the commission, yesterday in Lagos.

He said that his leadership in the commission will witness a transformation which includes opening offices in London to serve the Europe continent while the Hong Kong will serve the Asia continent.

He further said that anybody, neither Nigerians in Diaspora or foreign investor that want to register business or other registration don’t

need to come down to the country to do that, but visit those offices , both questions and responses through the agency website and the client will get feedback immediately .

He added that as Nigeria has become investment heaven, it is necessary to make effort to see that things are put in place for ease registration of businesses in and outside the country.

“We have set goals, the issues of automation is number one in our plan, to register businesses online, compliance, staff customer orient “.

According to the Chairman, the commission will soon be a paperless organisation where every transaction includes registration of businesses; verification of names can be done by the clients and enquiry through the agency website, even Nigerians in Diaspora will have access to.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Wednesday, May 1, 2013

33

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Business Finance

Wednesday, May 1, 2013

Why we’re employing more staff – AIB OLUSEGUN KOIKI

T

he Accident Investigation Bureau, AIB, yesterday cleared air on why its management embarked on recruitment of more personnel for the agency.

The spokesman of the agency, Mr. Tunji Oketunbi, in a reaction to a story carried by National Mirror stated that plans are underway by its management to open regional offices in some parts of the country to enhance speedy delivery of its mandate to the industry.

The text of the rejoinder reads: Our attention has been drawn to a write up titled ‘Who wants to choke AIB? written by your reporter, Segun Koiki in the National Mirror of April 23, 2013 and another one written earlier. As a matter of policy we rarely write rejoinders to newspaper articles but it became imperative for us to do so at this time to correct wrong impression the stories may have created.

It must be realised that the Federal Government or Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB) has the prerogative and also the powers to employ and disengage staff. The manpower needs of an organisation and its future development plan is determined by its management. The development plan and expansion projections of an organisation are usually anchored on the available resources including manpower resources.

Accident Investigation Bureau has been planning for some years back to open regional offices in some parts of the country to enhance speedy delivery of our mandate. This of course will require additional manpower resources.

In addition, due to the nature of our operations which are basically technical such additional manpower must be engaged prior to expansion to enable them to be properly trained.

You may also want to recall that some years back we announced that we were introducing a Succession Plan, which was aimed at recruiting young Nigerians who

would be trained and given necessary industrial experience to replace the bulk of our technical personnel that are largely retired aviation experts. This is a process that takes time but nevertheless must take off on time for timely achievement of our goals. The attainment of this goal however will assure the future of the Bureau and its critical contribution to the advancement of air safety.

It is only reasonable to expect that you cannot engage a large number of personnel without making adequate financial resources available. This has been taken care in the agency’s budgetary allocation. No government would want an agency such AIB to collapse.

The new staff engaged in the Bureau are Nigerians from various geopolitical zones of the country. There are training programmes in place to make them fit into their various jobs or assignments. AIB is determined to fulfill its mandate of promoting air safety through thorough and professional accident investigation.

Rivers State Deputy Governor, Mr. Tele Ikuru (left) and European Union Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. David Macrae, at the launch of Micro- Projects Programme in Port Harcourt recently.

‘MITI remains main driver of Vision 2020’ STANLEY IHEDIGBO

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he Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, Mr. Dauda Kighu, has described the ministry as one of the main drivers of the nation’s economy under Vision 20:2020 and the transformation agenda of the Federal Government.

Speaking at the opening ceremony of the technical session of the 6th National Council on Industry, Trade and Investment Ministry, in Ibadan, Oyo State, Kighu said the ministry is saddled with the responsibility of attracting investment into the country particularly in producing sectors such as agriculture, solid minerals, manufacturing oil and gas, as well as the tourism rest squarely on the Indus-

try, Trade and Investment Ministry.

“The ministry will continue to strengthen strong partnership between the Federal Government, States and Organised Private Sectors as this will maximally unlock the needed capital Investment”.

Kigbu urged the formulators policy and seasoned practitioners to critically examine the industry, trade and investment sector with a view to identify how it can effectively impact on vision 20:2020 as it relates to wealth creation, employment generation, sustainable livelihood and enhancement of standard of living of the people.

The Permanent Secretary stressed that deliberations at the meeting will focus on attracting Investment, boosting industrialization increasing

trade and developing SME’s among others.

He enjoined the delegates to take advantage of the excellent arrangement and put in place by the Oyo State government and its people, engaging in useful and productive discussion on best strategies to be adopted in moving the nation’s economy forward.

Speaking earlier, the Oyo State Commissioner for Trade, Investment and Cooperation, Honourable Adebayo Adegbenro noted that though Nigeria ranks as one of the richest country in the globe ranking 6th largest producer of crude oil but with 70 percent of its population living below poverty line of $2 per day as adjudged

by World Bank recently thereby making Nigeria 3rd largest of the poor in the world.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Elumelu makes case for youth empowerment

C

hairman, Heirs Holdings, Mr Tony Elumenlu has said It is imperative to enhance the skills set of Nigerian graduates and improve their chances for employment if the Nigerian economy is to grow at sustainable rates.

Elumelu, who spoke at the Graduate Internship Scheme (GIS) stakeholders’ interactive session, held in Abuja insisted that employability must be a collaborative effort between the government, organized private sector and the youth.

He said, “To me, this initiative is about more than creating employees; it is about turning these young men and women into tomorrow’s employers of labour. Hard work and professionalism is key.”

“Heirs Holdings will demonstrate support for this pro-

gressive initiative by engaging some of these graduates in our companies. As the government and the private sector work hand-in-hand to create job opportunities, these young individuals must also be proactive in enhancing their professional growth and development.”

The Coordinating Minister for the Economy and Minister of Finance, who was also at the event said, “Government is serious about tackling youth unemployment, and the GIS has had visible results,” According to her, “85,000 graduates have registered with the program. 1,000 have been paired with host companies. We need more companies to come onboard, and the government has created fiscal incentives for those firms that retain interns.”

Quarry ownership tussle stalls Eastern rail project -NRC

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trong indications emerged that Federal Government’s 2013 deadline for the completion of the eastern flank rail line contract, especially the Port Harcourt –Enugu link may not be realistic owing to the ownership struggle that has engulfed the quarry in the area, which is a major source of material for the project.

The Eastern lines comprise of (lot 1), which is a 463 Km rail link from Port Harcourt to Makurdi; (lot2), which is 1,016 Km from Makurdi to Kuru with the inclusion of spur line to Jos and Kafanchan even as (lot3) is 640 Km from Kuru to Maiduguri..

Managing Director of the Nigerian Railway Corporation

(NRC) , Mr. Adeseyi Sijuwade, who briefed the Minister of Transport, Mallam Idris Umar in Abuja at the weekend, on the level of work done so far on the Lot 1 of the rehabilitation of the Eastern Line rail services, disclosed that one Ishiagu community in Ebonyi State, which shares boundary with Enugu State is currently laying claims to the ownership of the quarry and has therefore denied the contractors access.

According to him, the inability of the contractor handling the project, ESER Contracting & s Industry Company Incorporated to access the main quarry for the project located at Ishiagu has slowed down the pace of work.

Lee Follender to feature at PPLD training

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he Purpose Power and Lifestyle Design (PPLD) International would hold its first certified intensive training tagged “T3” from May 13 – 25 at its training centre in. The training for potential trainers is specifically designed for success driven individuals who truly desire to distinguish themselves in their businesses, careers and lives. It would have renowned leadership and management training expert and CEO of Aware Consulting Services Texas, USA, Lee Follender as guest trainer.

As a powerful and dynamic coach, trainer, and business consultant, Follender has worked with thousands of individuals and organizations over the past 18 years. She has worked as a coach and curriculum writer for, and with, internet gurus like Joe Vitale, Bob Doyle, Marci Shimoff and others; coaching their clients and delivering coaching

on the specifics of their principles and has trained leaders of organizations like Time Warner Cable and Dell Computer Corporation.

Her skills and abilities in the area of one-on-one and group coaching have made an extraordinary impact with entrepreneurs and corporate business executives alike. She has spent the last 18 years, working with people to create breakthrough performance results for themselves or their staff and with teams of professionals, looking to improve or transform their work environment.

According to PPLD”s founder and visioner in Nigeria, Mr.Tunde Makun, ‘’it is a pleasure and rare privilege to have Lee Follender at the training programme as she would bring her wealth of over 18 years experience in leadership and management training expertise to bear’’.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

35

Wednesday, May 1, 2013

Energy Week

udemea@rocketmail.com 07031546994

Nigeria, other West African nations in search for reliable gas

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ith 187 billion standard cubic feet of natural gas reserves, Nigeria clearly presents herself as a major gas destination, capable of meeting the energy demand of many nations. This partly explains why three West African nations – Ghana, Togo and Benin - sealed gas purchase agreements with Nigeria in the 1990s. The agreement which preceded the construction of the West African Gas Pipeline project was to guarantee constant supply to the nations.

Under the terms of agreement which was endorsed by the Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS, the product was to be channeled through the 678 kilometer West African Gas Pipeline that links into the existing Escravos-Lagos pipeline at the Nigerian Gas Company’s Itoki Natural Gas Export Terminal and proceeds to a beachhead in Lagos.

The pipelines move offshore to Takoradi, in Ghana, with gas delivery laterals from the main line extending to Cotonou (Benin), Lome (Togo) and Tema (Ghana).

The Escravos-Lagos pipeline system has the capacity to deliver 800MMscfd to users. The main offshore pipeline runs East to West at an average water depth of 35 metres though some sections such as the South East of Ghana, South of Lome and the Benin – Nigerian frontier ranges between 50 to 70 meters. The main pipeline is 20 inches in diameter.

Cotonou and Lome laterals are eight inches respectively while the Tema lateral is 18 inches. The termination point at Takoradi (Aboadzi) forms part of the main pipeline.

The West African nations cherish the pipeline for a number of reasons. First, the natural gas that it contains is free of heavy hydrocarbons, liquids and water.

Second, it is good for electricity generation which most nations need to stimulate socio-economic development. Third, the gas is also relatively cheaper and cleaner than other alternatives.

Unfortunately, the consuming nations have not enjoyed adequate and lasting supplies from Nigeria as a result of some challenges, including frequent vandalism and accidents. For instance, last August, a vessel that carried out illegal operations ran into the facility, thus rendering it useless. Several efforts to fix it have not yet been completed. This has impacted negatively on the stakeholders, especially the three importing nations, corporate organisations and consumers of electricity.

Take the case of Ghana as an example. The Chief Executive of Volta River Authority, Mr. Kwesi Awotwi who confirmed that inadequate and unstable gas supply constitute a serious impediment to the nation’s electricity sector said

The hearts of energy consumers in Ghana, Togo and Benin leaped for joy when agreements were sealed with Nigeria to supply commercial gas for power generation in the 1990s. The great expectation has, however, not been met as a result of some. problems. UDEME AKPAN who investigated issues related to the continued shut down of the pipeline in consuming nations reports that the nations encounter serious energy crises.

West African Gas pipeline

IT HAS COME TO A POINT WHERE WE CANNOT PRETEND THAT ALL IS WELL. IT IS NOT WELL WITH THE SECTOR BECAUSE WE FIND IT DIFFICULT TO GET THE GAS FOR POWER

GENERATION.

THE PIPELINE HAS BEEN DOWN SINCE AUGUST LAST YEAR. AUTHORITIES HAVE NOT YET BEEN ABLE TO FIX IT DESPITE SEVERAL PROMISES.

Ghana was finding it difficult to meet the demand of consumers which has increased from 2,000 megawatts, in 2011 to about 2,800 mw in 2013 as a result of the development.

He stated that: “It has come to a point where we cannot pretend that all is well.

It is not well with the sector because we find it difficult to get the gas for power generation. The pipeline has been down since august last year. Authorities have not yet been able to fix it despite several promises.”

Awotwi stated that Ghana has started to utilise light crude which is relatively

expensive for electricity generation at higher cost. Plans are also underway to import and later develop Liquefied Natural Gas and Aluminium schemes to boost power generation. The government of Ghana and other nations that disclosed this as part of its short term plan stated that it has also started to invest in many flagship gas projects, capable of replacing imports from Nigeria in the coming years.

Some of the projects are ongoing while others are still on the drawing board. The ongoing projects included Takoradi 3 (T3) which is a 132 mw Com-

bined Cycle Thermal Power Project and located close to the existing VRA Thermal Power Plants. The plant is made up of four (4) UGT 2500 Gas Turbines, four (4) Once Through Steam Generators (OTSGs) and a Steam Turbine. The plant has the capacity to operate on Light Crude Oil, Natural Gas or Diesel.

They included the Kpone Thermal Power Plant (KTPP), a 230 mw Simple Cycle Thermal Power Project which is made up of 2 Alstom units of 115 mw capacity each. The plant is expected to be commissioned by 2015. The projects include the Takoradi 2 Thermal Power Project (T2) Expansion, an Independent Power Producer jointly owned by VRA and TAQA Energy of Abu Dhabi which seeks to expand the 220 mw T2 plant from a Simple Cycle Power plant to a combined cycle power plant.

They also include the VRA Solar Power Projects which aim at developing 10mw of PV plant capacity in Northern Ghana in the NEDCo areas of operation. These and others, it was gathered were targeted at enabling the nation CONTINUED ON PAGE 36

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Energy Week

Wednesday, May 1, 2013

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Nigeria, other West African nations in search for reliable gas to generate 5,000 mw target by 2016. A source from Togo who preferred not to be named stated that: “The negative impact of lack of gas supplies from Nigeria is not limited to Ghana. We face similar challenges in Togo. It is worse in our nation. He stated that power generation has dropped considerably since August last year when supplies from the pipeline became a sad reality.

Another source from Benin said: “The impact of pipeline has not been fully felt in Benin. The state of power supply has greatly deteriorated to a point where it has become very uncertain for many consumers when they are likely going to have electricity.”

Investigations showed that many consumers in the affected nations now generate power through the use of private generators at higher cost in order to sustain their various businesses at high cost. The cost has been passed in terms of prices to consumers who buy their goods and services. Although manufacturers confessed that they do not bare any direct burden, the high prices have made their goods to become uncompetitive at the global market. In other words, their products are not attractive at the international market because consumers have options in cheap goods from other parts of the world, including China and India where energy supply is more guaranteed at reasonable rates.

However, the management of WAGPCo belonging to Chevron West African Gas Pipeline Ltd (36.7per cent); Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (25per cent); Shell Overseas Holdings Limited (18per cent); and Takoradi Power Company Limited (16.3per cent), Societe Togolaise de Gaz (2per cent) and Societe BenGaz S.A. (2per cent) said the pipeline would be back on stream by the end of April 2013.

Spokesperson of WAPGCo, Mrs. Harriet Wereko-Brobby of WAPGCo who raised hope on the coming on stream of the facility in Lagos stated that major component of the rehabilitation have already been completed. It is however doubtful that the target would be as there

Jonathan

Allison-Madueke

Ghana President, John Dramani Mahama

This call should not be dismissed.

From North to South and East to West, everyone is discussing gas. For instance, member States of Gas Exporting Forum, GECF, that met in Malabo, Republic of Equatorial Guinea, on November 21, 2012 adopted gas as a major energy resource that should be exploited for commercial applications in different parts of the world.

The ministers stressed the importance of natural gas as an environmentally-friendly fuel, an abundant resource and a safe, clean, reliable and efficient

energy source. They acknowledged the efforts being made by the member countries to promote the stable supply of natural gas in order to guarantee the security of sustainable demand and the necessary conditions for infrastructure development. They also stressed the importance of adopting a non-discriminatory and foreseeable legal framework together with energy, commercial, tax and environmental policies to increase the development of the gas industry. The ministers also examined the changing nature of gas market dynamics and the appearance of new producers and consumers, modern technologies, as well as non-conventional and renewable energy sources that are constantly changing the energy outlook.

This was a bold and collective step to address critical gas challenges with some lessons for stakeholders in West Africa. One of the lessons is that much result could be achieved if all nations can come together to examine issues in the sector. Indeed, West Africaan nations, especially Nigeria, Ghana and Togo should organise a town hall meeting to identify the constraints as well as address them in order to ensure that natural gas is not only harnessed but safely delivered to consuming nations in the region.

West African Gas pipeline map

have been other failed targets in the past.

This has attracted the comments of many stakeholders. For instance, the National President of Oil and Gas Service Providers Association of Nigeria, OGSPAN Mr. Colman Obasi stated that there is a need for Nigeria and other nations to find a permanent ways and means of ensuring that gas is delivered to consumers in West Africa. He stated that: “We have the gas. Everyone should explore reliable means of getting it across to consumers who need it for various purposes in the region.”

Divestments will create more opportunities for local firms – Experts

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il & Gas experts have called for fair and effective legal and regulatory framework in the medium and long term to enhance investments and growth in the sector in Nigeria.

This is as international and local companies continue to take advantage of investments despite the prolonged reform of the current framework especially due to the non-passage of the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB).

Speaking at the 2013 edition of the ESQ Energy/Oil & Gas Summit held recently in Lagos, Mr. Sola Adepetun, Managing Partner, Caxton-Martins, a full service commercial law firm, said that: “The current legal and regulatory atmosphere of uncertainties and legal risks is unsustainable and The PIB must be enacted expeditiously to provide the needed legal solutions.

Adepetun who spoke on the topic: “The

Evolving Legal and Regulatory Framework Governing the Nigerian Petroleum Industry: Examining the Challenges, Risks and Opportunities”, said that if the PIB cannot be enacted expeditiously enough, a review of relevant existing laws and regulations should be carried out in the short to midterm to effect required amendments, new regulations and guidelines.

The Executive General Manager, Public Affairs & Communications, Total Upstream Companies, Mr. Chidi Momah disclosed that the IOCs support the PIB and believe there is need for reforms as the current Act is over 40 years old.

He noted, however, that there were general concerns if the PIB will achieve the stated aim that will enable IOCs in Nigeria to move forward.

The Legal Adviser, Mart Resources Inc., an Independent Canadian Oil & Gas

firm, Mrs. AsiyahAlao-Mutallab advised that with the increasing divestments from IOCs, Nigeria needs to look at how to attract foreign investors and keep them.

According to her, “With the discovery of crude oil in over 30 African countries with closer routes to the export market, we need a speedier process of contract approval to enable and create a more reliable legal and regulatory environment.”

The Executive Vice Chairman and General Counsel for ExxonMobil Nigeria, a leading international oil company, Mr. Ibe Kachikwu described the legal and business environment surrounding the Nigerian petroleum industry as uncertain.

He reiterated that to maintain robust and viable petroleum industry, Nigeria needs to look at its African competitors and adopt favourable tax regimes that will attract investors.

The Chief executive Officer of Legal Blitz, the organisers of the Conference, Mr. Lere Fashola, said the annual event was designed as a dynamic forum to promote strategies for open business model, business mentorship, collaborations, ideas and knowledge sharing among industry players and networking among companies.

Since its inception, the ESQ Energy/ Oil and Gas Conference has become the most prestigious Energy/Oil and Gas conference in the Nigeria.

The main aim of the summit is to attract maximum attention to the vast opportunities of the Nigeria’s hydrocarbon industry and to critically asses the risks/ challenges in Africa’s hottest jurisdiction for energy. The conference shows the prospects of oil and gas industry reforms highlight key challenges and propose reforms.

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Energy Week

Wednesday, May 1, 2013

37

OPEC daily basket price rises to $100.70 per barrel

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he price of Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries, OPEC basket of 12 crudes has risen from $99.89 to $100.70 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).OPEC daily basket price stood at $99.89 a barrel.

This means that member States of the organisation, including Nigeria would be in a position to generate adequate foreign exchange for the implementation of their projects and programmes.

For instance, at the present market price, Nigeria that has $79 per barrel as 2013 budget reference price would be in a position to earn over $21 in excess of the budget reference price.

However, the price of Brent fell over the weekend, following a two-day, $3 rally, as weak economic data from the United States sounded a note of caution on growth prospects in the world’s largest oil consumer.

Reuters stated that oil and other commodities such as metals slid in a midday selloff that may have been prompted by fund liquidations as European markets closed for the weekend. Later, Brent pared losses in the afternoon.

Even after Brent’s biggest one-week gain since November 2012, it remains more than six percent below where it started April.

A string of disappointing reports in recent weeks from the United States, China and Germany have stoked fears of global economic slowdown.

Traders said low trading volumes indicated a lack of conviction in this

Oil vessel

weakening the Brent side of the spread, while market participants are less concerned with the overhang of crude oil in the U.S. Midwest as the ability to move oil out of the region continues to increase,” Dominick Chirichella of Energy Management Institute said.

Ritterbusch cautioned that the spread could reverse course to widen next week, citing elevated supply at the U.S.’s Cushing, Oklahoma hub, and reduced availability of Nigerian oil and lower Norwegian production beyond next month that could move Brent higher.

The Commodities Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) said Friday that money managers raised their net long U.S. crude futures and options positions in the week to April 23.

Money managers went short heating oil, however, selling 15,900 contracts to arrive at the largest short position seen since January of 2007, Tim Evans, energy specialist at Citi Futures Perspective wrote in a research note.

week’s rally. Volumes for U.S. crude were 22 percent lower than the 30-day moving average and 11 percent lower for Brent.

The Commerce Department reported U.S. gross domestic product expanded at a 2.5 percent annual rate in the first quarter, slower than the 3.0 percent rate expected. The data fed worries about a deceleration in the second quarter and U.S. equity markets fell for most of the session.

Brent slipped 25 cents a barrel to settle at $103.16 a barrel after touching a low of $102.25.

U.S. crude settled down 64 cents at $93.00 after going to $92.06 at midday.

U.S. crude prices have skidded from over $97 at the beginning of April to below $86 by midmonth.

“The Brent trade is still providing a study in contrasts as the curve structure is strengthening amidst further weakening in Brent-WTI,” Jim Ritterbusch, president of Ritterbusch and Associates in Galena, Illinois, wrote in a research note.

“The market has gone through a period of relatively robust North Sea production, thus

Kerosene shortage persists in Lagos, environs

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he shortage of kerosene has persisted in Lagos and its environs despite efforts of stakeholders to meet demand.

A market survey showed that many major and independent petroleum marketers do not have the product to sell to consumers.

National Mirror learnt that supply which comes from the global market and local refineries have not been very steady in the past few months.

Consequently, prices have risen considerably. For instance, under

the present price regime, the depot price of the product is N40.90 while the pump price is pegged at N50 per a liter.

Investigations showed that the price of kerosene has risen by over 150 per cent following the acute shortage.

Marketers, including Capital Oil, a privately owned, wholly Nigerian concern that has an arrangement with the NNPC to sell the product at only N50 per a liter did not have the product.

A source in the company noted that for the NNPC/Capital Oil and Gas KeroDirect initiative which aims at taking the essential product directly to consumers

said: “We do not have kerosene at the moment and it is not possible to say exactly when we are going to have another stock.”

The depot price of the product has increased from N40.90 to N102 per a liter, showing an increase of over 100 per cent in most depots visited.

A Lagos-based operator who preferred not to be named said: “There is no way marketers can sell kerosene at N50 per liter because we do not get it cheap. We cannot even sell it at N80 per liter because we source it at a higher price.”

The NNPC stations expected to sell at N50 per liter because the corporation re-

Commodity

Units

Price

Change

% Change

Time(ET)

Crude Oil (WTI)

USD/bbl.

95.58

+0.77

+0.81%

08:26:50

Crude Oil (Brent)

USD/bbl.

108.26

+0.13

+0.12%

08:26:24

TOCOM Crude Oil

JPY/kl

61,280.00

+180.00

+0.39%

08:28:44

NYMEX Natural Gas

USD/MMBtu

3.87

+0.02

+0.23%

08:26:11

Source: Bloomberg

Source: Oilprice.com

mains the sole importer of the product did not have it. Other major and independent marketers who managed to source the product sold it at high prices, ranging from N120 to N150, depending on some factors, especially location.

A market survey in the Federal Capital Territory, FCT showed that many filling stations, including NNPC did not have any stocks of the product to consumers. The Acting Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division of NNPC, Ms Timinu Green did not take her telephone calls or respond to text messages.

However, the spokesman of Petroleum Products Marketing Company, PPMC, Mr. Nasir Imodagbe said in a telephone interview that: “I think there should be enough supplies because the refineries are doing well.

He also stated that: “I will find out the situation and let you know when work resumes on Monday, this week.”

Consumers who spoke with National Mirror said the product has not been readily available for several months, thereby causing them untold hardship in different parts of the nation.

38

Energy Week

Total partners government to fight malaria

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s part of efforts to eradicate the scourge of malaria in Nigeria, Total Upstream has pledged to partner the Federal Government and specialist organisations in the malaria control programme.

The commitment came on Monday, April 22, 2013, as experts, partners, nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) and other stakeholders from all over the country gathered at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja for Total’s 2nd biennial Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) conference. The theme was: “Creating Value for our Stakeholders.”

“We shall be involved in the National Malaria Control program with the aim of seeking a comprehensive approach towards the eradication of this pandemic”, Guy Maurice, Managing Director/Chief Executive of Total Upstream Companies in Nigeria, said as he expressed the company’s desire to support government’s bid to realise the Millennium Development Goals.

Total’s commitment to support the fight against malaria pandemic is a noble gesture when put in proper perspective.

About 90 per cent of the country’s 167 million people is said to be at risk of malaria infection and the disease is said to have contributed to 30 per cent of childhood mortality and 11 per cent of maternal mortality. Also, malaria-related illnesses and mortality are estimated to cost Africa’s economy about $12 billion annually, according to a 2012 report by the National Malaria Control Programme.

“Nigeria today in the portfolio of CSR projects we have, is more than 50%, Africa is 75% and the other 25% is to the whole world”, Antonin Fotso, the Secretary General for Africa, Total Exploration and Production, explained. He lauded TOTAL Nigeria’s consciousness in the area of CSR and said it showed that the Total group was in the right direction in investing in CSR projects in Nigeria and other countries.

In her concluding remarks, the Executive Director, Human Resources & Corporate Affairs, Mrs Edith Ofili-Okonkwo noted that, “The overall objective of today’s event has been to articulate in practical terms what we as a company could do in order to delight our numerous stakeholders.” She described the feedback at the end of the conference as “amazing and eye-opening” as well as a huge contribution to the task of nation building.

Wednesday, May 1, 2013

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Four firms emerge for NEITI oil and gas audit STORIES: CHIDI UGWU ABUJA

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our firms have emerged from the 43 audit consultants that expressed interest in 2012 audit of the Nigerian oil gas industry on behalf the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI).

During the public opening of the financial proposals at the weekend, the Executive Secretary, Zainab Ahmed, announced Taju Audu Effectivo Consortium, Sada Idris & Co., Abayomi Dosunmu Consortium and Olaolu Olabitan & Co., as the four successful firms shortlisted by the evaluation committee.

She said the selection followed the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) guidelines which were outlined in the request for proposal issued to bidders.

Taju Audu Effectivo, scored 86 per cent with a financial biding of N139, 453, 764, and Sada Idris scored 83.93 per cent biding N122,470,000 while Abayomi Dosunmu got 77.17 with N113,898,000 bid and Olaolu Olabimtan and Co., got 75.11 per cent with financial bidding of N71, 824,200 respectively.

Speaking after the opening of the financial bid, Ahmed assured that all participants still have the chance of winning the contract stressing that technical proposal carries 80% weight while financial proposal carries 20 percent weight

Ahmed

and that both technical and financial bid would be considered in selecting a winner.

“At the end of financial evaluation, the relevant weights as indicated in the RFP will be applied to both technical and financial scores to determine the firm that will be recommended for contract award first to the Board Tender Committee and the National Stakeholders Working Group (NSWG). The report will then go to the BPP and subsequently to the Federal Executive Council for final approval,” she stated.

According to her, NEITI Secretariat commenced the selection process of consultants for the conduct of the 2012 oil and gas audit, in July last year with requests

for expression of interest (REOI) from eligible consultants under international competitive bidding.

She noted that at the deadline of submission of total of 43 expressions of interests (EOI’s) were harvested and the secretariat presented an evaluation report of the EOI to the NSWG and approval was given to proceed on the selection process in November 2012.

The NSWG had earlier approved that Request for Proposal (RFPs) be issued out to shortlist of bidders who satisfy the payment of N100, 000 bid processing fee.

Subsequently, request for Proposals was issued to 21 shortlisted consultants in January, 2013 to 19 firms that beat the deadline of submission of 26 February 2013.

According the ES, after the evaluation of technical proposals the firms that attained the minimum technical score of 75per cent points and met all the statutory requirements were qualified to proceed to financial evaluation stage.

The public opening of financial proposal was adjudged free and fair having witnessed by coalition of civil society organisations, the media and stakeholders in the sector.

All the participating consultant firms expressed satisfaction over the level of transparency exercised by the Nigerian Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) over the transparent processes and procedures applied in selection of the successful companies.

Nkem Onyekwere of the Sada Idris & Co, commended NEITI for it openness in the processes stressing that no looser would feel cheated because the exercise was conducted in a transparent manner and in the full glare of all concerned.

Also speaking, the representative of the Abayomi –Dosunmu & Co, Mr. Aramide Dosunmu while praising NEITI’s efforts at transparent processes urged other government agencies to emulate NEITI, stressing that the country would be better for it if every other government arm will ensure transparent procedures in awarding contracts.

TCN commissions new 80MVA transmission substation in Kano

Transmission line

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n a bid to build a robust transmission network in the nation Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has completed and energised a new 2X30/40MVA, 132/33kV Transmission Substation in Tamburawa, Kano State.

In a statement signed by TCN’s Assistant General Manager (Public Affairs), Mr. Dave Ifabiyi, said the new Tamburawa Transmis-

sion Substation, situated in the outskirts of Kano metropolis was constructed by Nespak Nigeria Limited, with the supervision of TCN engineers.

The substation is connected to the Zaria-Kano 132kV Single Circuit Transmission Line and its successful installation and commissioning means that transformer capacity within the Kano axis has increased by additional

80MVA, thereby improving power supply to the state and environs.

According to the statement, the Challawa Industrial area and the Tamburawa Water Works in Kano State stand to benefit maximally from the new transmission substation, as soon as the Kano Electricity Distribution Company completes the on-going construction works on two 33kV

feeder lines from the new substation to both areas.

TCN also revealed that within the last four weeks, it had successfully completed the in-house installation and commissioning of a 60MVA, 45MVA and 30MVA, 132/33kV power transformers in Ibadan, Oyo State.

Other projects completed recently include 60MVA, 45MVA and 30MVA, 132/33kV power transformers in Suleja in Niger State and Akure in Ondo State respectively.

Also a 150MVA, 330/132/33kV power transformer provided by the World Bank, through the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN)’s Project Monitoring Unit (PMU) was successfully installed in collaboration with TCN engineers within the same period in Ibadan.

He added that with the successful installation of the four power transformers and commissioning of the new Tamburawa Substation, the nation’s transmission capacity has increased by a total of 285MVA. TCN in the statement, pledged to continue to work towards the steady expansion of the nation’s grid.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Energy Week

Wednesday, May 1, 2013

Oil magnate partners Reps to tackle pipeline vandalism UDEME AKPAN

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hairman of Petroleum Product Monitoring Services (PPMS), Prince Henry Omorodion, has assured oil and gas workers who had threatened to stop production due to the menace of vandals, that adequate logistics are in the offing to curtail excesses of the vandals.

In a statement, Omorodion, who is also the Chairman of Hensmor Oil Company disclosed that PPMS is in partnership with the House of Representatives, with a view to finding permanent solution to oil theft in the country.

Apparently reacting to threats by the oil and gas workers union on Wednesday, that the union members would suspend production if the government fails to checkmate the rate of activities of vandals, the chairman disclosed that PPMS has brought in experts from Georgia, United States of America (USA).

He added that pressure from the Presidency and from Chairman, House Committee on Petroleum, Hon Muraina

Ajibola, facilitated the action of PPMS in bringing the foreign experts and gadgets into the country.

The oil magnate further disclosed that, PPMS and the House Committee would meet next week to inspect the gadgets, adding that the gadgets would be mounted at a strategic location for effective monitoring and curbing oil theft.

It is interesting to note that PPMS introduced petroleum monitoring in all parts of the country, since former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s regime. Since then, it has been researching on how to end pipeline vandalism. Subsequently, PPMS has resolved to import sophisticated gadgets to put an end to the activities of the vandals.

Facts on Petroleum Industry Bill What will happen to the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) after it is unbundled?

When the bill is passed, the NNPC will be unbundled into three independent commercial entities. This means that capitalized corporate entities with solely commercial purposes will be created as against the former arrangement where the NNPC served both commercial and regulatory purposes. The new commercial structure may eliminate the perennial joint venture cash-call/funding inabilities of the NNPC. This transmutation into a listed corporate entity will reverse the current order whereby NNPC is “answerable to no one”. For instance, the board of directors of the newly-created (National Oil Company) NOC will be accountable to a wider membership of shareholders who typically hold voting rights at general meetings, and will elect all or some of the directors.

National Oil Company: By Section 148 of the Bill, the Minister shall incorporate the National Oil Company as a public company limited by shares, not later than three months after the Bill is passed. The NOC shall be vested with certain assets

Varsity laments erratic power supply

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Oil pipeline

and liabilities of the NNPC. The Federal Government is required to divest 30 per cent of its shareholding in the NOC and list the shares on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), to sell to the Nigerian public. The involvement of the public in the ownership and management of the proposed NOC, would not only promote private participation, but also significantly help to reduce corruption, inefficiency and the lack of productivity plaguing the sector. Anyone can become a member of the National Oil Company (NOC) by acquiring shares in the company. Shares may be acquired through outright purchase, except where the company’s articles specify that certain people are automatically entitled to receive one or more shares.

What does the Petroleum Technical Bureau do?

Section 9 of the PIB establishes the Petroleum Technical Bureau as a special unit in the office of the Minister of Petroleum Resources. The Bureau, consisting of professionals with expertise in the upstream and downstream sectors of the petroleum industry, will assume the functions of the former Frontier Exploration Services of the NNPC. The Bureau’s

functions include working in conjunction with other departments of the Ministry to provide technical and professional support to the Minister on matters relating to the petroleum industry and assisting the Minister in the formulation and development of strategies to implement government policy on the petroleum industry. It also assists the Minister in monitoring the implementation of government policy, increasing information about the petroleum resources base within all frontier acreages in Nigeria. The Bureau will also develop exploration strategies and portfolio management for the exploration of unassigned frontier acreages in Nigeria; undertake studies, analyse and evaluate all unassigned frontier acreages in Nigeria; and undertake activities to stimulate the interest of local and international oil and gas companies in exploration of the frontier basins of Nigeria to increase Nigeria’s petroleum resources.

What is the difference between a petroleum exploration license and a petroleum prospecting license?

A petroleum exploration licence (PEL) grants the holder non-exclusive right to carry out geological, geophysical and

Last Wednesday, representatives of Independent Petroleum Marketers Association (IPMA) in the South-West with Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), held a stakeholders meeting in Ibadan. In the meeting, NSCDC tasked IPMA to provide logistics to enable the security outfit effectively curb activities of vandals. geochemical exploration for petroleum within the area of its licence and to drill holes not deeper than one hundred and fifty (150) meters using only percussion drilling techniques.

This license does NOT include any right or option to win, get, work, store, carry away, transport, export or otherwise treat petroleum discovered in or under the said licence area. On the other hand, a petroleum prospecting licence (PPL) grants the holder exclusive right to carry out petroleum exploration operations within the area of its licence, and includes the right to carry away and dispose of crude oil, natural gas or bitumen won during prospecting operations as a result of production tests. The PPL is granted by the Upstream Petroleum Inspectorate, and is valid for three years while the PEL is granted for a period of five years, consisting of an initial exploration period of three years and a renewal period of two years with respect to onshore and shallow water areas. But in the case of deep water areas and frontier acreage, PEL is granted for a period of eight years, consisting of an initial exploration period of five years and a renewal period of three years. (Sections 175, 176 and 177) Source: Spaces for change To be concluded

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he General Overseer of Four-Square Gospel Church and the visitor of the faith based institution, Macpherson University, Rev Felix Meduoye has urged the Minister of Power, Professor Chinedu Nebo, to intervene and save the new university from near total darkness.

Deputy Director of Press in the Ministry of Power, Mr. Timothy Oyedeji, in a statement said the visit was a follow-up to a letter earlier written on the subject to the ministry in 2011.

According to Oyedeji, the delegation which comprised of the visitor and the Governing Board members to the university, told the minister that all efforts put in place to solving the problem from both Ibadan and Sagamu axis have proved abortive.

He described the situation as very serious, difficult to be borne by a fledging institution, adding also that the surrounding communities have not fared better. “Nigeria deserves regular power, but all contacts with Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) regional offices have not helped as they made series of futile efforts in solving the problem”.

Responding, the minister described the reason for the visit as very important as problem shared is problem solved just as he identified power as a major component in development of scholarship in any citadel of learning.

He said, “We will first of all send our experts there to identify the problem, before giving instructions to the appropriate Disco and or the Transmission Company of Nigeria’s Chief Executive ear nestly. The rains are coming, the problematic forest might become inaccessible, and we need to clear the vegetation disrupting supply”. He thus pleaded with the visiting delegation to bear with the Ministry, but was quick to assure them that the problem would be solved soon.

The minister described as scandalous for a university community to enjoy public electricity for less than 48 hours in 5 months, as power is as important as life in the contemporary time, he promised to get the problem solved soon.

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Energy Week

CSR: SEPLAT begins free health programme in Edo, Delta communities

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he NPDC/SEPLAT have commenced the 2013 edition of the free SEPLAT Eye Can See Corporate Social Responsibility, CSR initiative targeted at improving the health of people in its host communities.

The eye sight correction/restoration programme is an extension of SEPLAT’s CSR initiatives and continuing community engagement platforms which focus on bringing high quality health care to the company’s host and impact communities.

The programme comes on the heels of the NPDC/SEPLAT’s maternal health care project, SEPLAT Safe Motherhood, which provided first-rate health services and counseling service to pregnant women, including the distribution of pregnancy kit bags and insecticide treated nets to them.

Speaking on the initiative, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of SEPLAT Petroleum Development Company Limited, Mr. Austin Avuru, said the project is part of the company’s yearly CSR programmes and its objective is to make quality health care accessible to people in Delta and Edo states, particularly those in our host communities.

He said good eye health and eye care are crucial to preserving excellent vision and protecting overall health because eyes are the “gateway to your soul, and can influence or reveal common or serious health problems, such as diabetes and hypertension, among other commonly associated health problems”.

Medical experts, including opticians/ ophthalmologists and consultants will conduct free eye screening, correction and restoration surgeries (cataract) and counseling during the programme. They will also distribute free reading glasses and treatment of eye related diseases like Diabetes and hypertension in carefully selected centres across many communities in the two states.

The experts will be supported by the Delta State branch of the Medical Women Association of Nigeria, MWAN comprising medical doctors, laboratory attendants, nurses and pharmacists.

SEPLAT, a key player in the petroleum exploration and production business, is the operator of the Joint venture Assets, OML 4, 38 and 41 with the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company, NPDC Ltd., a fully-owned subsidiary of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC. The firm was formed by two Nigerian E & P companies viz; Shebah E & P and Platform Petroleum, was registered in 2009 as a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) for the acquisition of 45per cent Interest in Oil Mining Licenses 4, 38 and 41.

Maurel & Prom, a French Independent energy company, subsequently acquired a 45per cent equity in SEPLAT while Shebah E &P & Platform retained 55per cent to maintain SEPLAT’s indigenous status.

Maurel & Prom has a track record in E & P Operations in Gabon, Republic of Congo, Tanzania and Colombia.

The consortium successfully acquired stakes in the three onshore Oil Mining Licenses (OMLs 4, 38, 41) from Shell/ Total/Agip.

Wednesday, May 1, 2013

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Group faults National Assembly on oil bill UDEME AKPAN

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group has faulted the National Assembly on its approach to getting inputs for the nation’s petroleum Industry Bill, PIB. The group known as Spaces for Change stated that the two days used to source inputs from stakeholders at the zonal level were not adequate.

It stated in its recent report that: “The 2-day zonal public hearings on the PIB conducted across the country, especially in the South-South region was grossly inadequate, as it afforded scant opportunities to both stakeholders and several oil producing communities to participate and voice their concerns regarding the bill.

The body also submitted major inputs on PIB to the National Assembly to assist it make a comprehensive law for the nation’s oil and gas industry.

In its recent submission, the group stated that sustainable development in petroleum producing communities can only be achieved through the fostering of equitable social development and inclusion; creating equal opportunities for all, raising basic standards of living; and promoting integrated and inclusive management of natural resources using rights-respecting strategies that support environmental conservation, regeneration and restoration.

The group which had extensive engagements with stakeholders in oil communities to gather adequate inputs for its report stated that the independence of the two regulatory agencies: Upstream Petroleum Inspectorate (UPI) and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Agency (DPRA) must be guaranteed, and mechanisms put in place to enable them better inform policy deci-

Mark

sions.

Spaces for Change stated that oil theft, illegal refining and gas flaring and the resulting environmental damage they cause portend great danger to oil-bearing communities, requiring urgent and ambitious action to bring them to an end, in accordance with the principles and provisions of the Nigerian Constitution, regional and international human rights treaties Nigeria voluntarily signed onto.

It stated that multi-stakeholder collaboration between all tiers of government, including oil companies and their host communities is required in order to proactively address the continuing high levels of unemployment and underemployment, particularly among young people in petroleum.

The body maintained that efforts to achieve lasting peace, environmental security and sustainable community development in the region should be reflected in national, state and local policies and plans.

It stated that: “The passage processes

must underscore access to information, broad public participation and the meaningful involvement and active participation of national, state and local-level legislatures and all major groups: women, children and youth, indigenous peoples, non-governmental organizations, local authorities, workers and trade unions, business and industry, the scientific and technological community, and farmers, as well as other stakeholders, including local communities, volunteer groups and donor agencies and persons with disabilities.

The Spaces for change maintained that oil producing communities welcome the establishment of a Petroleum Host Community Fund, and urge the government to establish a community-based participatory structure, known as the Community Development Board (CDB) for the effective administration of the fund.

It stated that: “In this regard, the CDB will serve as an independent body, without prescriptive interference from government agencies, state governors and traditional institutions, whose members are appointed for a fixed tenure by different interest groups – women, youth, traditional rulers, elders’ council - within oil producing communities.

The body counseled that the term host community should be clearly defined for the purpose of determining the direct beneficiaries of the PHC Fund. Any proposed definition must include both oil-bearing and oil-impacted communities.

It stated that contributions into the PHC Fund should be based on a minimum of 10 percent of crude oil sales rather than 10per cent of oil and gas companies’ net profits because of the difficulty in determining the actual net profit of different operators.

BPE processes bids for Afam, Kaduna Distribution Companies

Afam power plants

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he Federal Government has started processing bids for Afam Power Plc and Kaduna Distribution Companies.

A source at the National Council on Privatisation, NCP who confirmed the development stated that the processing of bids was moving according to plan to enable the government work on the privatization of the firms.

He said: “The Bureau of Public Enterprises, BPE which received 20 bids for Afam Power Plc and Kaduna Distribution Companies started screening the

bids immediately after closure.

The official said that nine bids were received for Afam Power Plc and 11 for Kaduna Distribution Company.

At the deadline of January 31, 2013 for the submission of Expressions of Interest (EOIs) from prospective bidders, BPE received 19 applications for Kaduna Disco and 29 applications for Afam Generation Company. Consequently, the Bureau, on February 4, 2013, sent Requests for Proposals (RFP) to the 48 prospective bidders.

Afam Power Plc and Kaduna Electric-

ity Distribution Plc were among the 17 PHCN successor companies that were earlier advertised for sale in December 2010 along with the 15 other PHCN Successor Companies that went through a full competitive tender process which culminated in the submission of technical and financial proposals in July 2012.

However, following the rigorous technical evaluation that all bids were subjected to, none of the bids received for Afam Power Plc and Kaduna Electricity Distribution Plc scored the minimum 75per cent required to progress to the financial bid stage. This development compelled the National Council on Privatisation (NCP) to order a re-run of the entire transaction as it was not prepared to settle for a second best.

The pre-due diligence conference for the re-tender of Afam Power Plc and Kaduna Electricity Distribution Plc was held in Abuja on Monday, March 4, 2013.

Meanwhile, about 30 indigenous and foreign investors have indicated interest in 10 of the nation’s independent power plants.

The plants include Calabar, Egbema, Ihovbor, Gbarain, Sapele, Omoku, Alaoji, Olorunsogo II, Omotosho II, Geregu II and which have 561 megawatts, mw, 338mw, 450mw, 225mw, 450mw, 250mw, 1,074mw, 750mw, 500mw and 434mw respectively.

WORLD RECORD

Observatory - lowest Vol. 03 No. 611

Wednesday, May 1, 2013

N150

The lowest observatory is at Homestake Mine, South Dakota, USA, where the `Telescope’ is a tank of cleaning fluid (perchloroethylene), which contains chlorine, and can trap neutrinos from the Sun.

Stopping ex-rulers’ gravy train

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e are now in interesting times.

With the intrigues and scheming going on, especially among the political elite, something tells me that the days ahead will be full of surprises.

At present, the country is transfixed with the menace of the Boko Haram and the purported rivalry between President Goodluck Jonathan and Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi over what some have predicted as the sign of things to come as we gingerly approach the 2015 elections.

Definitely, the long knives are out and the bonhomie that has so far defined such relationship is now turning sour, bringing with it a combustible mix of executive high handedness and gangland violence. But while some people are agitated at the unfolding drama, those enamoured of a higher ideal will definitely care less.

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IFA honorary president, Joao Havelange, 96, has resigned after a report ruled he had taken bribes.

The Brazilian was described as “morally and ethically reproachable” for taking kickbacks from a World Cup rights market-

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

For us, one piece of news that has gladdened hearts is that emanating from the Senate.

Last week, the upper chambers rejected a bill that would have allowed former Senate presidents and speakers of House of Representatives to enjoy allowances and pension already paid to former presidents and military heads of state. If the bill had sailed through, it would have provided former leaders more money as up-keep allowance in addition to the pension entitlement under the 1999 Constitution. More roiling is that it stated that on the death of the former leaders, their families and spouses shall continue to collect the allowances annually until the death of the last spouse of the office holder. It meant therefore, that if we are unlucky to have an inveterate polygamist as president, with a wanton habit of acquiring women to keep up with an insatiable libido, the country would then be stuck perpetually w i t h paying an ocean size bill to maintain a harem of widows left behind after his death.

What seem to have caused the angst among lawmakers is that those who would have enjoyed the extra remuneration are already getting more than a fair share of the national cake and patronage. And topping the already overflowing largesse would amount to consigning a larger percentage of the nation’s resources to looking after the narrow comfort of an over pampered few. Besides, what makes it imperative that Nigerians must fend for past rulers till they breathe their last, especially given that leadership in this country is not about service, but a race to loot

IN AN ERA OF DWINDLING ECONOMIC FORTUNES AND MOUNTING

UNEMPLOYMENT, IT WOULD BE INSENSITIVE FOR THE STATE TO INDULGE PAST RULERS the commonwealth to their hearts content? Curiously, those supporting passage of the bill, had hinged their argument on the recent interview granted by Second Republic Senate President, Joseph Wayas, in which he lamented his present poor financial state.

While such revelation is capable of eliciting sympathy, it still does not address reason why the state should be his permanent nanny just because he held past political office. Barring all emotions, why should Nigerians pay for the up keep of former military heads of state, whose only credentials for such golden handshake is that they violently shot their way to power? Rather, they should by now be facing trial in the country and at the International Court of Justice at The Hague.

Why should evil be applauded and compensated? That is where the chairman, Senate Committee of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Senator Smart Adeyemi should be commended for differing from

his colleagues. According to him, the former military dictators should apologise to Nigerians for organising coups against the people. “All those who have derailed democracy should not tell us they are now champions of democracy. If you have derailed the system before, how come you are now saying the system is good?”

It would amount to adding insult to injury if Nigerians are unwittingly forced to pay the bills for the maintenance of those who should be facing trial for treason.

The retrogressive state of Nigeria’s democracy is traceable to their past villainous actions. And the only way to show our displeasure is to turn off the spigot of the financial tap.

Nigeria would not cease to amaze the outside world. In the hurry to abandon our past parliamentary system, framers of the new constitution reached for the more expensive American Presidential system. In doing so, they ignored the fact that it did not put every political officer holder that happened to pass through the executive and legislative chambers on lifelong dole.

With the exception of retired chief justices and other justices of the Supreme Court, those entitled to state largesse for the rest of their lives are former presidents. Past House speakers and other officers have gone to become consultants or support themselves through intellectual and business engagements after office.

It is the ingrained culture of laziness that is driving our lawmakers to always see the state as a godfather that must indulge the needs of former office holders, even when they become private citizens.

The lure of staying permanently on the nation’s financial drip has been the only motivation for their going into politics. For past military dictators, it will amount to a welcome nod to those waiting in the wings to stage coups to become heads of state.

In an era of dwindling economic fortunes and mounting unemployment, it would be insensitive for the state to indulge past rulers, while the vast majority of their compatriots are struggling daily to put food their tables.

Sport Extra

Havelange, FIFA honorary boss, resigns ing agency.

The report by Fifa’s ethics chairman HansJoachim Eckert also claimed Nicolas Leoz had received bribes.

Leoz, 84, resigned from

the governing body’s executive committee last week, citing health and personal reasons.

The Paraguayan was accused in the report of being “not fully candid” in his ex-

planations over the affair.

However, while the report says that payments made in the 1990s to Havelange, who was Fifa president from 1974 to 1988, Leoz and former Fifa executive

Ricardo Teixeira, Havelange’s son-in-law, qualified as bribes, they were not crimes at the time.

Champions League Result Madrid

2-0

Dortmund

Havelange

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