Monday, August 6, 2012 by GLOBAL MEDIA MIRROR LIMITED

Aviation stakeholders fault minister’s road show to US, China, Canada Interbank rates rise to 17% as CBN tightens liquidity OLUSEGUN KOIKI

AVIATION CORRESPONDENT

viation stakeholders yesterday in unison spoke

Oduah

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against the road show to United States of America, Canada and China embarked upon by the Minister of Aviation, Princess Stella Oduah, describing

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it as a jamboree, which will not yield any fruitful result to the country in the long run. Stakeholders interCONTINUED ON PAGE 4>>

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Nigeria’s non-oil export hits N84bn bn in six months We will combat illegal arms importation, says NIMASA P.A5

Free inside nsi siide de

Monday, August 6, 2012

FRONT PAGE COMMENT:

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Poor budget implementation and endless controversy

he acceptance before a Senate-Executive interactive session last Thursday by the Coordinating Minister for the Economy and Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, of 14 per cent performance in the implementation of the 2012 capital budget seems a sad indication that the country is still saddled with the knotty misfortune of poor-commitment to proper budget

implementation.

A breakdown of the performance of the N1.3trn capital budget which the Federal Government started implementing last April indicated that N404bn or 31 per cent of the fund had been released with a total cash backing of N342bn or 24.9 per cent.

The utilised fund is N184bn or 14 per cent, while unutilised fund represents 10.7 per cent. Nothing was said about the N180 billion SURE-P budget meant to mitigate the crushing effects on Nigerians of the fuel pump price increase of last January 1,

I...Jonathan will replies notBokoresign Haram

CONTINUED ON PAGE 18>>

AYODELE OJO, ROTIMI FADEYI, INUSA NDAHI AND A ZA MSUE

resident Goodluck Jonathan yesterday said he would not resign his office as demanded by the dreaded CONTINUED ON PAGE 2>>

Terrorists kill six soldiers, others in Yobe bombings IBB blasts Clark, says I’ve no hand in terrorism CURIOUS COINCIDENCE–SSS EXPLAINS RIDDLE BEHIND PARADE OF SUSPECTS PICTURE 1

PICTURE 2

In the pictures above are suspects paraded by the State Security Service, SSS, at two different periods this year. Suspects in picture one, were paraded on March 14. They were arrested in connection with the kidnap and murder of a Briton, Christopher McManus and his Italian counterpart, Franco Lamolinara, in Sokoto. In picture two, SSS claimed to have arrested six persons in connection with the murder of Olaitan Oyerinde, a private secretary to Governor Adams Oshiomhole. The riddle: Three of the suspects wore a complete replica of the same shirts worn by the three under-20 suspects arrested in March. See the response of SSS on page 6.

Usain Bolt sets Olympic record, wins gold Nigeria’s tickets in black market P.53

How oil marketers defrauded govt of N382bn –Report MRS, Capital Oil, others indicted for criminal conduct

Canadian firm to restructure TCN

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News

Monday, August 6, 2012

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

I will not resign, Jonathan replies Boko Haram CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

Boko Haram sect. He described the peace condition given by the sect that he should embrace the Islamic faith and become its ardent member or resign from office as blackmail and rude intimidation. This is coming as multiple bomb explosions yesterday rocked Damaturu, the Yobe State capital, killing at least six soldiers and two civilians, including two suicide bombers. Many others sustained various degrees of injuries in the attacks suspected to have been orchestrated by terrorists belonging to the Boko Haram Islamic sect. Speaking through his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, the President said he would not resign since he had the mandate of Nigerians to remain as President. The dreaded Islamic sect had asked President Jonathan to resign and embrace Islam as a condition on which the group would stop the spate of bombings and killings in the country. The sect also rejected dialogue with the Federal Government in a 40-minutes video message in Hausa and posted on YouTube at the weekend. Ironically, there was no logical explanation for its demands and positions. In the video, the sect leader, Abubakar Shekau, in what looked like an Islamic lecture, claimed that Boko Haram “doesn’t kill women and children,” but those “who have offended us, arrested our people and killed them.” The group claimed that some people were committing evil acts in its name, promising to go after such people. Abati said it was laughable for any group in the country to hand down such a condition to a President who was elected by both Muslims and Christians in the 2011 presidential poll even when it was not in contest that he is a Christian. The presidential aide said: “When Nigerians voted overwhelmingly for President Jonathan in the 2011 general election, they knew they were voting for a Christian. He continues to enjoy the goodwill and support of the good people of Nigeria. As president,

Dr. Jonathan is the leader of both Muslims and Christians; in fact, he is the leader of persons of all faiths. “So, it amounts to sheer blackmail for any individual or group to ask the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to convert to Islam. The President cannot be intimidated by any group or individual. The President will never resign. He has the mandate of Nigerians to serve his fatherland and nobody should imagine that he will succumb to blackmail.” In Damaturu, reports said that the attackers hit a patrol vehicle belonging to the Joint Task Force, JTF, stationed at the popular Shagari Low Cost Housing Estate, killing the occupants and some civilians in the vicinity. Several others were also critically injured. National Mirror learnt that soon after the explosions, there was heavy exchange of gunfire between security operatives and some of the terrorists. The incident, which started at about 11a.m. forced many Christian worshippers, who had gone for church services to scamper for safety. Some of them took refuge in houses of friends that were close by to avoid being killed in the attacks. Sources said other explosions were heard in some parts of the city, forcing residents to stay indoors. The Director of Army Public Relations, Brig.-Gen. Bola Koleoso, said that the Army headquarters was yet to confirm the number of casualties in the attack. The Yobe State Police Commissioner, Mr. Patrick Egbuniwe, confirmed the incident yesterday. Egbuniwe said: “The incident occurred this morning when some military personnel on routine patrol suspected a particular vehicle to be carrying some dangerous weapons. “They tried to stop the vehicle before the occupants, who are suspected Boko Haram members, ignited an explosive killing the two of the suspects, six soldiers and one civilian.” The Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Toyin Gbademosin, said that an improvised explosive device, IED, suspected to have been planted by some Boko Haram Islamic sect mem-

bers within Damaturu metropolis exploded very close to where one of the JTF patrol vehicles was parked. Gbademosin said: “My brother, as I am talking to you now, I cannot give you details on the death toll, all I know is that many people were killed while others who sustained various degrees of injuries were taken to various hospitals for treatment. In fact, heavy gunshots are still going on now.” The police spokesman said: “The gunmen laid ambush on a security patrol team using explosive devices around Shagari Low Cost Housing Area.” He said some military personnel in the targeted patrol vehicle were injured and rushed to hospital for treatment. There were also

gunshots reported around the ‘A’ division police station. We are still working to collect the details of the incident,” the PPRO said. Another source said the explosion occurred when a suicide bomber driving a bomb-rigged vehicle was intercepted at a check point by the JTF soldiers. Instead of subjecting his vehicle to a compulsory search by the patrol team, the bomber drove off and this led to a chase by the JTF officers and the suicide bomber detonated the bomb when the team caught up with him. A suicide bomber had on Friday attempted to blow up the Mosque where the Emir of Potiskum, Alhaji Mohammadu Ibn Abbali offered prayers in which

the bomber died instantly while seven others including policemen were injured. In a related development, the JTF on Operation Restore Order, ORO, yesterday faulted media reports on bombardments in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital. JTF Field Commander, Col. Victor Ebhaleme, stated in an interview with newsmen that “the issue of bombardments in Maiduguri is totally untrue, because nothing like that has happened.” “I have been in charge of this operation since it began and we never had any bombardments,” Ebhaleme said. He pointed out, however, that the JTF had embarked on massive cordon and search operations for hidden weapons in parts of

Maiduguri city. “What happened is that the JTF had conducted cordon and search operation in search of weapons in some areas. We conducted the operation in many areas especially near the Shehu of Borno palace, and we recovered lots of hidden arms,” Ebhaleme said. The JTF field commander, who declined to give the exact number of arms recovered, said that the exercise was ongoing. Ebhaleme, who also decried claims of multiple blasts in the city, stressed that the JTF was in control and appealed to the citizens to go about their lawful businesses. In Kaduna, Governor Patrick Yakowa has said CONTINUED ON PAGE 5>>

President Goodluck Jonathan (right) with the Prime Minister of Jamaica, Most hon Portia Simpson Miller, at a joint news conference after a bilateral meeting between the two countries in Kingston at the weekend. PHOTO:STATE HOUSE

How oil marketers defrauded govt of N382bn –Report AYO OLESIN AND SAM OLUWALANA

he Presidential Committee on Verification and Reconciliation for Fuel Subsidy Payments has revealed how oil marketers defrauded the Federal Government through various means to the tune of N382bn. The Presidential panel, which recommended criminal prosecution for those indicted, also exposed the methods which included collecting payments for fuel not imported; presentation of forged documents; collection of $10 per tonne additional

margin without approval and using one per cent bank spread instead of a maximum of 50kobo in computing foreign exchange rate used for subsidy payments. The companies include the seven that have been charged to court by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, along with their principal officers for offences related to the massive fraud. The committee, headed by the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Access Bank Plc, Mr. Aigboje AigImoukhuede, had, in addition to the indictments, recommended that

the companies refund N382bn to the Federal Government. The committee’s report, a copy of which was obtained by National Mirror, catalogued the sleaze that characterised the fuel importation in the last two years, identified 17 categories of infractions and grouped the marketers into five categories, depending on the type of refunds to be made. The major infractions include subsidy payment without signature of external auditors and independent inspectors of shore tank certificates and subsidy payment without proof of existence of vessels or where

ship was in a different location and subsidy claim without evidence of bill of laden; sales proceeds in banks, shipping documents or evidence of payment for products in foreign exchange. There were also cases of differences between subsidies advised by the Petroleum Products Pricing and Regulatory Agency, PPPRA, and external auditors, unpaid penalties, use of one per cent as bank spread instead of 50kobo maximum approved by the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN in computation of foreign exchange rates used for subsidy payment and colCONTINUED ON PAGE 5>>

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Monday, August 6, 2012

Photo News

Monday, August 6, 2012

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

L-R: Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola; former Permanent Secretary, Lagos State, Mrs. Victoria Akran and Representative of President Goodluck Jonathan, Prof. Barth Nnaji during the installation of the new Archbishop of Lagos at the weekend.

L-R: Rt. Rev. Innocent U. Ordu and Rivers State Governor Chibuike Amaechi, during the Synod Thanksgiving Service of Diocese of Evo at St. Michaels Anglican Church Rumuomasi Deanery, Port Harcourt, yesterday.

L-R: Managing Director, Lekki Free Zone Development Company, Mr. Chem Xiaoxing; Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Pinnacle Oil and Gas Limited, Mr. Peter Mbah and Minister of Trade and Investment, Mr.Olusegun Aganga, at Eko Expo Investment Forum and Business Trade Exhibition, Lagos at the weekend.

L-R: Director-General, Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, Dr. Harold Demuren with Managing Director, Skypower Aviation Handling Company Limited, Mr. Olu Owolabi during his courtesy visit at Aviation House, in Lagos at the weekend.

National News

Aviation stakeholders fault minister’s road show to US, China, Canada CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2

viewed by National Mirror yesterday said that rather than embarking on the road show to these countries, the government should create enabling environments for both local and foreign investors to invest in, insisting that it was a waste of taxpayers’ money. Oduah, alongside some selected officials of the ministry and some chief executive officers of agencies under the ministry, had on Saturday embarked on a foreign investment drive to woo foreign investors to key into the transformation and infrastructural development of the aviation sector in Nigeria. The foreign road show is coming on the heels of the one held in Abuja, for potential local investors shortly after the conclusion of the International Conference on Aviation Safety in Africa. Oduah said investors’ road shows are expected to be staged in some selected cities across China, the United States of America and Canada where ‘’Investment Baskets’’ would be opened to reveal the huge investment potential that abound in the Nigerian aviation industry. She said that the idea behind the road show is

premised on the need to urgently tackle and redress the huge infrastructural deficit in the sector by attracting foreign direct investment in the development of facilities and infrastructure that meet international standards and best practices. She said that potential investors would particularly be wooed to key into the development of the proposed four new international airports in Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt and Kano as well as the development of aerotroplis around the major airports across the country. Speaking with our correspondents on the telephone yesterday on the issue, the Acting, Secretary-General of the National Union of Air Transport Employees, NUATE, Comrade Abdulkareem Motajo said that rather than embarking on the road show, the minister and her team could easily sell the country online, stressing that the world had grown to become a global village. He said: that what the country expected from the minister at this period was the implementation of the report of the Presidential committee on the operations of domestic airlines, adding that Nigeria is at

present faced with myriad of security challenges. He said, “We are living in a global village now. Whatever you want to get, you can easily get them through internet. Instead of embarking on a jamboree to these countries, they can easily sell the country online. The country needs to settle insecurity, which is a serious challenge to us today and we need concentration on our internal problems. “The presidential committee on operations of domestic airlines just came out with a report; we need to sit down and look at this report and see where we need to adjust. If we don’t have good infrastructure on ground, the investors they went to woo will never come down to the country. Just look at the number of people who embarked on the journey, the National Assembly, ministry officials and even head of agencies. It is a waste of taxpayers’ money.” Also, the President, Air Transport Senior Staff Services Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN), Comrade Benjamin Okewu said that it would be difficult for stakeholders to decipher the aspect of the sector Oduah wanted to showcase to the entire world.

He emphasised that what the government needed to do was to create enabling environment for investors and be consistent with policies, stressing that without this; investors would continue to abandon the country for others with less potential. “I don’t know the kind of road show she’s doing. It depends on the aspect, which she’s road showing. There are many issues, which do not need road show. A lot of investors are already indicating interest. What we need is the enabling environment for investors. Also, the former President Cabin Crew Association of Nigeria, CCAN, Mr. Olumide Ohunayo, likened the action of the minister

to putting the cart before the horse. Ohunayo insisted that the road show was a jamboree, recalling that similar journey to Dubai recently did not yield any expected result. He insisted that countries like Ghana, Sierra Leone and other neighbouring countries did not go on any road show before investors invested in their aviation industries and challenged the government to create an enabling environment for different categories of investors. “The minister is putting the cart before the horse. Most people see the involvement of National Assembly members in the road show as a way of bringing them

to their side. There are so many things we need before the road show. The minister embarked on a road show to Dubai recently and I don’t think anything is coming out of it.” “It is a jamboree to those countries. Sincerely, you don’t need to go to those countries before they come here. We have infrastructural, security and inconsistent policies that we need to tackle. You don’t need to go there. They will come to you. You don’t go and showcase what you don’t have. Did Ghana embark on any road show before the foreign airlines started to invest in the country? We need enabling environment for the carriers and other investors,” he said.

FCTA to raise food reserve to 2, 250 metric tonnes OMEIZA AJAYI

inister of State in the Federal Capital Territory, Olajumoke Akinjide, has said the FCT Administration would soon raise its strategic food reserve to 2, 250 metric tonnes. The FCT buffer stock’s storage capacity is currently 1,250 metric tonnes. Speaking at the flag off

of the sale of buffer stock grains to residents in the territory, Akinjide said the food reserve would rise to 2, 250MT with the completion of the specialised warehouse at Tungan Maje, which has a storage capacity of 1,000 metric tonnes. “The FCT buffer stock programme has continued to live up to the ideals for which the programme was put in place. These ideals include buyer of last resort

through mopping-up of excess grains and price stabilisation. “Farmers’ co-operative groups in FCT have benefited immensely from this programme. It is our hope that with this increased capacity, the administration will continue to carry out her obligations towards reducing wastage and ultimately ensure food security in the territory,” she disclosed.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

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Monday, August 6, 2012

How oil marketers defrauded govt of N382bn –Report CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2

lection of $10 additional margin given to traders between November 2010 to 2011 without Federal Government’s approval and contrary to Petroleum Support Fund, PSF, guidelines. The most serious cases were those described as “likely fraudulent cases for criminal investigation” in which 21 companies were named and are to refund N62.5bn. Fifty companies were also “recommended for further investigation”

as their shore tank certificates were not signed by external auditors and were to refund N186.1bn, while nine companies are to refund N761m being differences between a subsidy payment collected and amount verified by auditors. A total of 116 companies, which received irregular payments and concessions without authorisation by the Federal Government by acting in collusion with some staff of the PPPRA are to refund N31bn.

The committee also singled out 13 marketers for further verification and investigations concerning transactions valued at N101.4bn to be refunded. Eight companies namely; Obat Oil Ltd, Eterna Oil Ltd, Honeywell Petroleum Ltd, Rahammaniya Oil and Gas Ltd, Swift Oil Ltd, Eterna Oil Ltd, Forte Oil Plc and Tonique Oil Ltd, who were discovered to have defaulted in the payment of the N20m reentry fines for non-performance in previous transactions were ordered to

pay the N20m entry fees now amounting to N160m. Companies accused of criminal conduct include MRS Oil and Gas Company Ltd, which is to refund a staggering N57bn. Its infractions include not showing evidence of N41.4bn sales proceeds in banks; transaction claims disclaimed by banks amounting to N778.9m and receiving N6.25bn subsidy payments without signature of external auditors and independent inspectors on shore tank certificates

L-R: The Senior Special Assistant to the President and National Co-ordinator, SERVICOM, Mr. Sylbriks Obriki; member, Independent Corrupt Practices and other related Offences Commission, Alhaji Ozi Salami; Acting Chairman, Mr. Ekpo Nta and another member, Alhaji Abdullahi Bako, during a courtesy visit by Obriki to ICPC in Abuja, recently.

I will not resign, Jonathan replies Boko Haram CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

that the Northern Governors Forum, NGF, would set up a peace and reconciliation committee to end unrest in the region. The governor stated this at the weekend during the break of the Ramadan fast with members of the Nigerian Union of Journalists, NUJ, Kaduna State Council even as he called on Muslims to pray for peace during the holy month. Yakowa, who was accompanied by some top government functionaries to the event, said he would continue with the administration’s vision on security of lives and property, unity and development of the state. The governor added: “The investors who want to come and invest in Kaduna run away whenever they hear of your reports about the situation. “Media should help government to solve security problems. We have set up a peace and reconciliation

committee as part of government’s efforts to bring lasting peace in this state.” Meanwhile, former military President, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida, yesterday denied insinuations that he was involved in the insurgency being carried out by the Boko Haram Islamic sect in the North. He said that he would not do anything that would affect Nigeria’s unity. Ijaw National Leader and First Republic Information Minister, Chief Edwin Clark, had last week accused Babangida of not doing enough in addressing the Boko Haram challenge and that he had a hand in the sect’s menace. But, Babangida, in a statement issued by his spokesman, Prince Kassim Afegbua, said: “For the purpose of putting the records straight, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida, Grand Commander of the Federal Republic, former President and Commander-In-Chief

of the Armed Forces and civil war hero, does not and will not have a hand in anything untoward against the unity and stability of the Nigerian state. “Having seen it all in life, and now enjoying his retirement in Minna, Niger State, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida has paid his dues by serving his fatherland to the best of his ability at various times in the history of the country. “Having invested so much in the unity and stability of the country, to the extent of fighting in the civil war to keep the country together, it is out of place for anyone, least of all an old man of Edwin Clark’s nomenclature, to impute directly or indirectly that the great IBB should prove his innocence on the Boko Haram menace.” “In fact, it is IBB’s belief that some of the problems were inherited by the present administration. IBB has since left the political

turf for the younger generation of Nigerians. He has said repeatedly that he will no longer be an applicant in the political industry in Nigeria until Allah calls him home. “Rather than crucify General IBB for nothing, Chief Edwin Clark should blame the corruption in the system and the several incompetence and inadequacies of the present system. “Instead of buck-passing and playing the blame game, we expect Edwin Clark to advise the government of the day to do more of consultation with former presidents, opinion moulders and leaders of thought across the country with the aim of getting lasting and integrated solutions to our problems.” “Let it be noted that further implied statements and misplaced accusations from Chief Edwin Clark would be greeted with litigation. A word is enough for the aged.”

MRS is also accused of receiving N1.88bn in $10 margin without government’s approval; illegally using one per cent bank spread to compute forex rates totalling in 93 cases N1.51bn; collecting N6.08bn subsidy without evidence of shipping documents or payment for products in foreign exchange and collecting N19.8m in differences between volume on shore tanks certificates and volumes used for subsidy payments. Another indicted firm is Almnnur Resources Ltd, which, according to the report, received N546.7m as subsidy payments for which mother vessels were no longer operational at the time of transhipment and has no shipping documents to back up claims. The company also received another N504.3m for the same infraction on another deal. It was also one of the companies that illegally received various sums of money totalling N39.2m being $10 additional margin from November 2010 to 2011 without approval of the Federal Government, contrary to the PSF guidelines. Almnnur also used a one per cent bank spread instead of maximum 50 kobo approved by CBN in computation of foreign exchange rates used for subsidy payments, totalling N26.4m. The company is to refund a total amount of N1.11bn. Brilla Energy Limited, according to the report, fraudulently received the sum of N963.7m as subsidy payments for which the vessels claimed for shipments were located in the Far East (China) as at the date transhipment was claimed to have taken place off the coast of Cotonou ( Republic of Benin). It further collected N578.2m without the signature of external auditors and independent inspectors on its shore tank certificates. The company collected illegal payments of N20m as additional margin between November 2010 and 2011, and N22.6m as one per cent bank spread payments instead of the CBN approved 50 kobo maxi-

mum computation. It is to refund N2.54bn. Capital Oil and Gas Industry Ltd is to refund a whopping N19.7bn it collected as subsidy payments without proof of the locations of the vessels. It also collected N10.5m without the required signatures of external auditors and independent inspectors. The marketer also collected N534.7m and N690.9m in unauthorised bank spread and $10 additional margin respectively against laid down regulations. A total refund of N3.6bn was recommended by the committee to be made by Eternal Plc for claiming payments of N578.2m for which there were no shipping documents or evidence of payment for the products in foreign exchange; lack of evidence of N626.4m sales proceeds remitted to the bank; collecting another 917.8m subsidy payments without proof of existence of mother vessel bill of lading (form’926342); non-payment of N20m re-entry fee and additional sums of N148.3m and N98.7m for other infractions. In the case of Eurafric Oil and Gas Ltd, the company was recommended for criminal investigation and sum total refund of N3.7bn. The company was found to have collected subsidy payments for the sum of N2.26bn without proof of the existence of ships. It also collected N202.4m as illegal bank spread computations without authorization. In the case of a marketer, Lumen Skies, two banks disclaimed its claims that they financed its shipping transactions in two deals for which the committee recommended court action and refund was for a total sum of N774.7m. Matrix Energy Ltd is to make a refund of N502.3m for what the report said are payments for subsidy payments for which vessels could not be traced; differences between subsidies advised by PPPRA and subsequent verification by external auditors and payments for which shipping documents were not presented and others.

National News

Monday, August 6, 2012

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

FG to complete Abuja Light Rail by 2015 OMEIZA AJAYI

Assistant Inspector General of Police, Muktari Ibrahim (right),conducting the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal and others round the building affected by bomb blast in Sokoto, at the weekend. PHOTO:NAN

Aviation Ministry didn’t sponsor senators on foreign trip – Abaribe GEORGE OJI AND EMMANUEL ONANI

he Senate has described as false reports that the Aviation Ministry sponsored some senators on a foreign trip. A national daily reported yesterday that as part of efforts by the executive to woo the National Assembly members over and stop the impeachment plot against President Goodluck Jonathan, the Aviation Ministry

organised foreign trips for some lawmakers. It also alleged that while members of the House of Representatives turned the request down, their Senate counterparts grabbed the opportunity. But the Senate spokesman, Enyinnaya Abaribe, denied the report in a statement yesterday. “The story is not true and only exists in the imagination of its authors. “For the avoidance of doubt, the Senate is on vacation and as a result most of

Nigeria’s air safety efforts commendable – ICAO OLUSEGUN KOIKI

nternational Civil Aviation Organisation, ICAO, once again rated the country’s safety oversight supervised by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, high, despite criticisms trailing its performance following the Dana plane crash on June 3. A letter signed by its President, Mr. Roberto Kobeh Gonzalez, and made available to journalists yesterday in Lagos, stated that Nigeria was one of the 13 countries out of 54 in Africa whose Level of Effective Implementation, LEI, of the eight critical elements of ICAO safety oversight was above the

world average. The eight critical elements are legislation; regulation; organisation; technical staff, training, guidance and tools; licensing; certification; approval; and continuous surveillance and resolution of safety concerns.

them (senators) are currently on lesser hajj (Umrah). Some are presently meeting their constituents while some others may have gone with their families on vacation,” he said. Abaribe described as blatant lie and a sinister fabrication to say that Aviation Ministry is taking the senators on overseas trip. He said: “The deployment of an outright falsehood by the authors to purport that distinguished senators of the Federal Republic of Nigeria were sponsored by

the Ministry of Aviation on overseas trip is not only denigrating, but a wicked resort to blackmail. “The story is not true. It is false but only aimed to draw the senators out and lower them in the estimation of the public where they are enjoying unprecedented respect and acclaim. “Senators are currently on holidays with their families and are not (according to the report) going to any sponsored trips by Aviation Ministry.”

he State Security Service, SSS, yesterday explained the curious coincidence in the parade of suspects last Thursday in connection with the murder of Comrade Olaitan Oyerinde and those paraded before journalists in March, as members of an Islamic group.

President Jonathan

Canadian firm set to restructure TCN UDEME A KPAN

he Federal Government has concluded plans to restructure Transmission Company of Nigeria, TCN, as part of measures to improve transmission of electricity for distribution

in the country. The restructuring is to be carried out through Manitoba Hydro International, MHI, of Canada, which has assumed duty as managing contractor of the firm. The Minister of Power, Prof. Bart Nnaji, confirmed the development through his Special As-

SSS explains curious coincidence OMEIZA AJAYI

mid growing complaints about the unhealthy traffic situation in Abuja, the Federal Government at the weekend restated its desire to complete the Abuja Light Rail by 2015. The Secretary of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT-Transport Secretariat, Mr. Jonathan Ivoke, told journalists in Abuja that the completion of the project was predicated on the newly secured loan of $500m from the Chinese Government which was approved in 2007 by the administration of the late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua. The double-track rail is expected to change the movement pattern completely and cause a huge relief to road users in the city. According to Ivoke, the administration is planning a multi-purposetransport e-ticketing for drivers and commuters of the rail, high-capacity buses and park and pay system in the city to ensure a seamless operation for the residents. He said: “We are poised to see that by 2015, there will be rail mass transit between the airport and the city centre and between Kubwa and the

city centre. This is double track. The meaning is that while some trains are going towards the airport others are coming towards the city. The transport condition of the city will change. “And we are planning that we have to quickly put in place e-ticketing in FCT, with one ticket, cashless, you can park your car along the road; you can use the up-hill train station or park and ride, ride on the high-capacity buses or ride on the rail mass transit.” Ivoke explained that the over N1bn transport subsidy in the FCT budget would be paid only to the high-capacity bus drivers and their operators whose operations were regulated both in prices and scheduled take off time. According to him, the minibus operators would not benefit from the N1bn because they operated independently and fixed arbitrary fares.

It said the semblance of clothes worn by the two sets of suspects did not detract from the different facts of the two cases adding that the suspects were dressed to make them presentable. The SSS spokesperson, Marilyn Ogar, told our correspondent in a telephone interview that while the Service would not be drawn into unnecessary

controversies by mischiefmakers, it was important to cater for the maximum well being of arrested suspects to put them in the right frame of mind and health before they were charged to court. Ogar said the SSS would not want a situation whereby a suspect dies in detention as a result of improper feeding or clothing.

sistant, Mr. Ogbuagu Anikwe. He said: “The measure is targeted at eliminating unnecessary system breakdown and other challenges. “Specifically, it aims at injecting technical and managerial capacity in line with global best practices to boost transmission on a sustainable basis to consumers. If there is improved transmission, consumers will experience improved supply as unnecessary losses would have been eliminated.” The transmission company is performing the functions of Market Operator, MO, System Operator, SO, and Transmission Service Provider, TSP. But the contractor would prepare it to perform

slightly different roles in the coming months. The Canadian firm said in a statement that: “Throughout the term of the contract, one key objective for MHI will be to reorganise TCN such that the TSP becomes a separate entity from the MO and SO, allowing it to become a privatised commercial company. “MHI expects to turn TCN into a technically and financially efficient, stable, and sustainable company; a company that will be marketdriven and capable of utilising its maximum generation capacity and then distributing the energy throughout Nigeria 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. To do this, MHI will have to focus on developing the proficiency of local personnel.”

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National News

Monday, August 6, 2012

48 firms to invest N170.5bn in Lekki Free Trade Zone STANLEY IHEDIBO

he Lekki Free Trade Zone (LFTZ) has attracted a total of $1.1bn (N170.5bn) worth of investment commitment from 48 investors, the Minister of Trade and Investment, Mr. Olusegun Aganga, has said. Aganga, who spoke based on briefings by the Managing Director of the zone, Mr. Chen Xiaoxing, noted that the LFTZ had all the features to make it one of the most successful Free Trade Zones in

Africa. He spoke during the LFTZ Investment Forum and opening ceremony of the Eko Expo 2012, in Lagos, at the weekend. Some of the top investors in the zone include Puma Energy Free Zone Enterprise, which is investing in oil and gas terminal depot construction. The company, which has already commenced construction, is investing $400 million in the zone. Others are Imad Oil and Gas FZE, which is investing $200 million; China Railway Construction Cor-

Boy, 6, dies in Ibadan road inferno KEMI OLAITAN IBADAN

ragedy struck in Ibadan yesterday as a six-year-old boy was burnt to death as he was trying to jump down from a bus which caught fire at Mufu Laninhun area of the Lagos/ Ibadan Expressway. National Mirror learnt that the boy was among the 18 passengers in a bus coming from Lagos, but which ran into a flowing fuel from an articulated lorry that had, earlier in the morning, fallen by the road side. The unidentified boy was among the four children of a mother in the bus, while the mother escaped unhurt with two of the children, one was lightly burnt while rushing out of the bus, while the last one, whose clothe caught a barrier, eventually jumped down, but into the raging fire. An eyewitness, Mr. Goke Awodele, said the articulated trailer was found around 7.30 am, to have fallen by the road side, with its side on the median of the expressway. His words: “When I woke up and came out around 7.30 this morning, I saw the fallen trailer afar off. I gathered that the fuel it was conveying had been spilling on the ground. Not quite about 30 minutes later, some people were trying to scoop the fuel; you know many of our people love free things. “Some fire fighters later arrived and chased the people away. They sprayed all the surroundings of the trailer to prevent explosion. Later, they left. “While I was inside my house, I just heard a very loud sound. Upon coming out, I saw a heavy smoke billowing from the fallen trailer, with people scampering out

of another bus few metres away. “The bus, I gathered, was coming from Lagos and because of the traffic congestion; the driver was trying to overtake other vehicles from the median side of the expressway. Its exhaust pipe scratched an iron by the side of the road and so it sparked, causing fire to ignite from under it. It was the fire that travelled on the fuel and caught the fallen trailer that made it to explode.

Aganga

poration, $50 million; and YFK Pharmaceutical FZE, $30 million, among others. Aganga said, “The Lekki Free Trade Zone is indeed the biggest of the 19 Free Trade Zones Chinese investors have presently outside

ABUJA

he Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has advised Nigerians to be wary of those using its name to extort money from job applicants in the name of assisting them to secure jobs in the organisation. The NSCDC said such jobs do not currently exist in the corps, but that the few vacancies that exist as a result of death or exit of some of its men has been filled by way of drawing from its pool of volunteer corps members in a replacement exercise it said has been concluded. Spokesman of the NSCDC, Emmanuel Okeh, also debunked insinuations that such vacancies were filled at the behest of some political moneybags in the country. “We are not recruiting. This replacement is an internal mechanism to make sure that the almost

also commend the staff and management of LFTZ for their hard work and dedication, which has helped to shape this ongoing success story.” The minister added that, in line with the determination of President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration to transform the Nigerian economy through sound and viable trade and investment policies, the Federal Government would support the Lagos State Government, the consortium of Chinese investors and other stakeholders in ensuring that the LFTZ was

developed to attain its full potential. He expressed satisfaction with the management’s drive to attract significant investment into the zone, the technology it had brought and the jobs that had been created to date. Aganga said; “In today’s world, business relationships are symbiotic in nature. While we are expected to provide a conducive environment for investors, we also expect that investments coming to the zones will create jobs for Nigerians.

Interbank rates rise to 17% as CBN tightens liquidity ADEDEJI ADEMIGBUJI WITH AGENCY REPORT

nterbank lending rates jumped last week to an average of 17 per cent from 14.08 per cent after the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, introduced further liquidity tightening measures to support the naira and stem inflationary pressures. The CBN had at its last monetary policy committee meeting on July 24 raised

We are not recruiting – Civil Defence OMEIZA AJAYI

China and it has all the features to make it one of the most successful Free Trade Zones in Africa. I have been informed by the Managing Director of the zone that about 48 investors have already committed to investing close to $1.1bn in the zone. “I, therefore salute the commitment of the major stakeholders in the LFTZ venture, the Lekki Worldwide Investment Limited, the China African Lekki Investment Limited, the Nigeria Export Processing Zones Authority, and indeed, the host community. I

100, 000 volunteers are carried along. The aim is to replace dead officers and even those who disengaged from the corps. We merely picked from the pull of volunteers. That people got letters from some highly-placed individuals in the society is not a guarantee that the NSCDC must give them jobs. Each state command is given over 30 volunteers to absorb, so it is not a recruitment exercise. “Our controller-general stands for the cause of the down-trodden and so people should not term it as foolishness. Our recruitment exercise is done by the Civil Defence, Immigration, Prison and Fire service Board, under the supervision of the Ministry of Interior, this board is also in charge of promotions, appointment and discipline. We are not recruiting and even if we will do, we do not sell forms or scratch cards and then ask people to go to the internet,” Okeh said.

the cash reserve requirement for banks to 12 per cent from eight per cent, while it also reduced the net open foreign exchange positions to one per cent from three per cent to support the naira. Also, the CBN barred banks that borrowed funds from its repo window from participating in foreign exchange auctions and lending to others on the interbank naira market. Traders told Reuters

that new rules had spurred an upward movement in debt yields, including the cost of borrowing among banks. “A new CBN policy on restriction of cash movement between repo window and interbank lending and foreign exchange auction has impacted on liquidity in the market, causing cost of funds to jump,” one dealer told Reuters. According to report, the secured open buy back,

OBB, rate jumped to 16.50 per cent, from 13.50 per cent penultimate week, 4.50 per cent points above the CBN’s 12 per cent benchmark rate, and 650 basis points above the standing deposit facility, SDF, rate. The overnight rate closed at 17 per cent, up from 14.25 per cent penultimate week, while the call money rate rose to 17.50 per cent compared with 14.50 per cent earlier recorded.

South West

Monday, August 6, 2012

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ACN warns PDP against undue criticism WALE FOLARIN OSOGBO

orried by the alleged increasing spate of criticism of the activities of the Osun State government by the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in the state has called on the people of the state to discountenance such criticisms aimed at destabilising the state. The ACN Director of Publicity, Research and

Strategy, Mr. Kunle Oyatomi, who made the call yesterday while reacting to a statement credited to the state Chairman of the PDP, Alhaji Ganiyu Olaoluwa, that the state government was sitting on the funds of local government, said the PDP lacked the moral justification to criticise the ACN government of Mr. Rauf Aregbesola, in the state. His words: “The PDP, having ruled the state for about eight years without accountability, lacks the moral justification to criticise the Areg-

besola administration that has shown transparency and accountability in all its financial transactions. “The PDP has lost relevance and was only looking for ways to destabilise the progress and development going on in the state.” Oyatomi, who quoted the state Commissioner for Finance, Economic Planning and Budget, Dr Wale Bolorunduro, as saying that the Aregbesola administration follows due process in its financial transactions said; “The PDP should not be tak-

en seriously by any rational person in the state. “This is the same party that looted the state treasury and carted away N1.5bn on free trade zone project alone, a project that was not adequately budgeted for and used N430 million to pull down a hotel building without approval or contractual agreement.” “The free trade zone scam was supposed to be a loan from local governments, but it was never approved or agreed with the local government committee. “The

PDP-led government of Olagunsoye Oyinlola, broke all the financial regulations and created fictitious stadia projects, which gulped N18bn.” Oyatomi said Governor Aregbesola has been following due process and ensures that revenues are allocated by the Joint Account Committee of the Local governments and where extra ordinary revenue is agreed to be conserved, it is conserved by them through a process backed up by the Omoluabi Conservation Fund Law of

the state, adding that the conservation fund is a subsovereignty fund to fund infrastructure and to stabilise the revenue of the councils when the revenues of the local governments fall. Oyatomi, who referred the PDP to the Omoluabi Conservation Fund Law of the state, advised the leadership of the party and their consultants in the media to be well informed about the happenings in the state before raising undue allegations against the government.

‘Why NASS is against sovereign national conference’ FEMI OYEWESO ABEOKUTA

A passenger bus burnt at the scene of an accident where a petrol tanker caught fire at Iwo Road end of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, at the weekend. PHOTO: NAN

Slow pace of work on silo worries Ekiti govt ABIODUN NEJO ADO EKITI

kiti State government has expressed worry that the slow pace of work on the 100,000 metric tonnes silo being built by the Federal Government in Ado Ekiti, the state capital, may adversely affect the state’s proposed mass grain production. Agriculture and Natural Resources Commissioner, Mr. Babajide Arowosafe, said the state government

would want the silo to be operational as it had intended to use it for storage of its mass grain production to prevent eventual wastage of the produce. Arowosafe, who spoke in Ado Ekiti, during an inspection tour of agricultural projects embarked upon by the Strategic Intervention Fund for Agriculture in the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, said the silo would have been given enough monitoring if the state government had been carried

along in the construction exercise. He said the location problem which the contractor attributed as one of the reasons for the slow pace of work on the project would have been averted by giving the Federal Government a feasibility study. Contract for the silo was awarded in 2009 and expected to have been completed within 12 months. Leader of the Strategic Intervention Fund for Agriculture, Mr. Bright Wa-

tegire, said the inspection tour was to assess the level of work done on the agriculture projects as well as strengthen the relationship between the ministry and state governments. Wategire, an assistant director in the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, expressed optimism that construction work on the silo would be completed in December this year as the team would continue to monitor the contractor to ensure its completion.

Tambuwal, governors, Tinubu for book launch

peaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Aminu Tambuwal, Governors Kayode Fayemi, Rotimi Ameachi, Rauf Aregbesola, Abiola Ajimobi and Babatunde Fashola, will tomorrow grace the launch of ‘The Nigerian Political Turf: Polity, Politics and Politicians,’ a new book by The Nation’s Group Political Editor, Mr. Bolade Omonijo. The public presentation of the book slated for the MUSON Centre, Onikan,

Lagos is to be chaired by former Lagos State governor, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu. Other governors expected at the presentation are: Ogun State Governor Ibikunle Amosun, Anambra State Governor Peter Obi, Yobe State Governor Ibrahim Gaidam, Delta State Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan, Kano State Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso and Cross River State Governor Liyel Imoke. Fayemi is to deliver a lecture entitled “The Nigerian

Political Turf: Perspective of an Active Participant”. The chief launcher is Dr. Paul Akintelure while the Chairman, Senate Committee on FCT, Senator Smart Adeyemi, is the co-launcher. A statement by the publisher, Madiba Publication, said: “As our own contribution to nation building, a lecture will be delivered by Dr. Fayemi on the topic, ‘Nigerian Polity, Politics and Politicians: The Perspective of an Active Participant.’ The thought-provoking

Tambuwal

lecture is our contribution to the search for new processes and systems to lead our dear country out of the woods.

he Primate of The Church of the Lord (Aladura) Worldwide (TCLAW), Dr. Rufus Ositelu, yesterday gave reasons why the National Assembly was against the convocation of a Sovereign National Conference (SNC) to enable the country overcome its challenges. Ositelu, who spoke with journalists at the premises of the church in OgereRemo, said true federalism remains the panacea to most of the country’s challenges, which he said include insecurity, sectarian and religious killings, infrastructural decay, unemployment as well as abject poverty currently plaguing the country. The cleric said members of the National Assembly were afraid of endorsing a sovereign national conference because

they believed doing so might unseat them as lawmakers. He said the prevailing security situation in the country is a pointer to the urgent need for the convocation of such a conference in order to keep the unity of the country. The primate also canvassed a part-time legislature for the country. “If we don’t deal drastically with corruption, it will deal drastically with us. “I hereby urge the government to guarantee sincere, true and practical fiscal federalism in all levels of government. Let us do away with mediocrity (the myopic idea of a zoning system) but rather cling unto meritocracy (a system based on merit) and be concerned more about who is disciplined, honest and God-fearing, who will be able to provide ‘good governance’ which Nigerians want irrespective of where such a person comes from.”

1, 602 elderly persons get welfare package

lderly citizens of Osun State yesterday received attention from the administration of Governor Rauf Aregbesola. Tagged Welfare Scheme (Agba Osun) for Our Senior Citizens, the programme comprises award of food and money to over 1, 602 highly vulnerable men and women across the state. The governor disclosed that about 136 elderly persons who are in need of critical medical attention had earlier been singled out for such medical care. Aregbesola said the sad condition of senior citizens did not escape his administration’s attention as many of them are hungry, many are ravaged with prevent-

able diseases while many are even homeless, saying this is outrageous and unacceptable to his government, which rode on the wings of popular mandate to power. He said the programme was established based on the fact that the aged constitute the third leg of the vulnerable group in the society, the others being children and women. The governor said it took his government some time to institute this welfare programme as government had to first embark on conducting census of the vulnerable elders across the local governments and wards in the state. It was from this census that government selected the most vulnerable, totalling 1,602, which were empowered yesterday.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

South West

Monday, August 6, 2012

Judiciary workers can’t get special pay now –Fayemi ABIODUN NEJO ADO EKITI

kiti State Governor Kayode Fayemi has appealed to judiciary workers demanding special salary scale for understanding on the inability of his administration to accede to their request. Fayemi said this was because of the shortfall of allocation from the Feder-

ation Account. He said: “We are willing to reconsider it when the situation improves, but I want to make it abundantly clear that it is the minimum wage we can offer for now.” The governor spoke at the weekend during this month’s edition of the “Meet your Governor,” programme. “There is nothing that suggests that the situation

will not improve in the future when the financial situation of the state improves. “We want the (judiciary) workers to bear with us because what the state earns is not hidden and what we pay is not hidden but I feel it is fair to spread the wealth,” he added. Fayemi also assured genuine workers in the local governments in the state that they had noth-

ing to fear about the ongoing staff audit, which he said was to sanitise the system and rid it of ghost workers. The governor, who said some council workers had been found to be drawing salaries from two or three places, disclosed that biometric registration of staff was aimed at stopping the rot. He said: “It is not about retrenchment. The agenda

is not to retrench anybody but to make them more useful and contribute meaningfully to the system. We want to nip in the bud things that negatively affect genuine council workers. “Some people believe that they just have to collect salaries from the local government without doing anything. We are doing the audit in the interest of Ekiti people. We need to know the legiti-

mate local government staff and if we find you to be fake; we will ask you in your own interest to leave the system. “I have been to an office in the local government where I found 30 people doing what two people can do. There are other places we can put them because I have asked local government chairmen to cultivate 1,000 hectares of land each.”

Osun promises early completion of Ido–Osun airport WALE FOLARIN OSOGBO

L-R: Osun State Deputy Governor, Mrs. Titi Laoye-Tomori, Madam Mopelola Alade from Olorunda Local Government, Osogbo, Governor Rauf Aregbesoal, Madam Dada Komolafe from Ilesha West Local Government, Madam Aishat Jimoh from Ede North and Commissioner for Health, Mrs. Temitope Ilori, during the inauguration of Welfare Scheme for the Elderly Persons in Osogbo, yesterday.

Ondo guber poll: PDP inaugurates campaign committee •Demands immediate release of members in police custody HAKEEM GBADAMOSI AND TORDUE SALEM

he Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has inaugurated the Campaign Committee for Mr. Olusola Oke, its Ondo State governorship candidate in the October 20 poll. A former governorship aspirant of the party, Dr. Dare Bada, is the DirectorGeneral, while former Head of Service, Mr. Alabi Isijola, is the Deputy Director-General of the Campaign Committee, which was inaugurated at the weekend. The state PDP Chairman, Hon. Ebenezer Alabi, also inaugurated a caretaker committee to steer the affairs of the party in Ondo West Local Government. Mr. Bola Ogundele heads the caretaker committee pending the conduct of congresses to choose the executives of the party. However, other members of the Campaign Committee are former Deputy Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Hon. Mayowa Akinfo-

larin, Tunde Akinola, Tony Jayeola, Albert Akinnubi, Mrs. Olayemi Ajonibode, Helen Adetula, Prince Mike Omogbehin, Rotimi Ogunleye, Dele Osakuade and Oluwole Monehin. Speaking after the inauguration, Oke said the party’s intervention in the governorship election was to arrest the drift and chart a new course for the people of the state. He added that the party

would do all within its capacity to lay a solid foundation for great Ondo State, by creating employment for the people and removing the state from the list of debtor states in the country. In his speech, Bada said the party was taking a quantum leap in its guest to be the ruling party in the state. He promised that the campaign would be scientific and would be taken to the grassroots.

Meanwhile, the PDP has called for the immediate release of four of its members in detention over a recent bloody inter-party clash in Irele town. The party appealed to President Goodluck Jonathan and the Inspector General of Police, Muhammed Abubakar, to wade into the incessant political clash in the state ahead of the October 20 governorship election.

Police quiz Ondo monarch over attempted rape HAKEEM GBADAMOSI AKURE

olice in Ondo State have interrogated the traditional ruler of Supare-Akoko in Akoko South West Local Government, Oba Kasali Adejoro Adedeji, over allegation of attempted rape levelled against him by an indigene of the town. The monarch, who reported at the Criminal Investigation Department, CID, at the weekend, was

invited by the police to give account of what happened between him and Mrs. Comfort Awogbami on May 4. The state Police Public Relations Officer, Adeniran Aremu, said the monarch was only invited for interrogation. He added the traditional ruler was not detained. Mrs. Awogbami and the monarch’s wife, Olori Sherifat Adedeji, had been arraigned before the Supare Magistrates’ Court

for engaging in public fight and conduct likely to cause breach of public peace. Mrs. Awogbami, however, petitioned the state commissioner of police, alleging bias in the handling of the case at the Divisional Police Station level. The petitioner, who was charged by the Divisional Police Officer, DPO, with affray, wrote a letter of protest to the police commissioner, seeking his intervention in the case and the allegation levelled against her.

overnor Rauf Aregbesola’s administration has promised to ensure early completion of the international airport at Ido Osun in Egbedore Local Government Area of Osun State. The Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Sunday Akere, made the pledge when he and the Commissioner for Home Affairs, Culture and Tourism, Alhaji Sikiru Aiyedun, inspected the airport site to assess the level of work done by the contractor handling the land surveying. He said the government was keen on the project and would surpass the achieve-

ments of the previous administration in transforming the state. The commissioner added that the level of work done at the airport was encouraging. Akere said the terminal point had been dug, adding that work would soon commence on the boundary to prevent plane crash. He also promised that government would soon relocate the Fulani herdsmen from the airport. Meanwhile, the state government has approved the payment of N10,000 as bursary to students of the state origin in all tertiary institutions across the country. However, medical students will be given N20,000 each.

Jonathan, hindering healthcare delivery –Ekiti NMA ABIODUN NEJO ADO EKITI

resident Goodluck Jonathan’s failure to sign the National Health Bill into law is an impediment to efficient and effective healthcare delivery in the country. The Chairman of the Ekiti State chapter of the Nigerian Medical Association, NMA, Dr. Obitade Obimakinde, and the General Secretary, Dr. Kamal Alabi, said this at the weekend. They said that the President’s decision to withhold his assent beyond 180 days after the bill had been passed by the National Assembly would also be a hindrance since it had to be re-presented before the legislature for revalidation. In a communiqué at the end of its weeklong Annual General Meeting, AGM, at the weekend, the Ekiti

Jonathan

NMA said the law was targeted at enhancing unhindered healthcare delivery to all Nigerians. It added that the law, which it described as a veritable tool for reduction of children and maternal mortality in the country, would have protected the rights of women, children and people with disabilities to affordable healthcare. The highpoint of the AGM was the election of a new executive council headed by Obimakinde to direct the affairs of the chapter.

South East

Monday, August 6, 2012

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Igbo presidency not negotiable, says Achuzie P resident-General of Igbozurume, an Igbo socio-political organisation, Col. Joe Achuzie (Rtd); yesterday said that Igbo presidency after the tenure of President Goodluck Jonathan, was not negotiable. Achuzie stated this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria NAN, in Aba, Abia State. He said that Igbozurume, as a group was being repackaged to achieve the feat, stressing that it was the same group that helped Governor Rochas Okorocha to win the Imo State gubernatorial election in 2011. Achuzie said that was also the resolution at its third National Executive/

Steering Committee meeting held in Lagos in June that Igbos should have a shot at the presidency after President Jonathan’s tenure. “It must be the turn of Igbo to occupy Aso Rock at the end of Jonathan’s tenure. “Even though Jonathan still has the right to re-contest after 2015 by virtue of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Ndigbo must not allow the chance to pass us by this time around after his tenure,” he said. Achuzie, who is also the Ikemba Ahaba, said that Ohanaeze, the apex Igbo socio-political group, has been in existence after the

civil war, but as a socio-cultural group, it has difficult for Ndigbo to come together to identify with one Igboman to be able to capture the presidency. “The last person we had was Sir Mbanefo, who tried with others to create a situation where Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe, presented himself when the military decided to give civilian the opportunity to vie for the position. “After Nnamdi Azikiwe’s attempts, no Igboman has been allowed to venture near that position, the most we have is compensating us

for assisting non-Igbo to get into that position and what they gave us was a vicepresident. “This, the present Igbozurume said no, it won’t happen again. We will not give our allegiance or support to non-Igboman anymore to lord or rule over us,’’ he said. Achuzie said that the Igbozurume members were organising themselves politically, culturally and socially to be their brothers’ keeper and to use the dynamic of ‘Igboism,’ which made Ndigbo the darling of

others, who had ascended to the presidency, to get others support too. “We say enough is enough, we will not serve other people again, let other people reciprocate the actions and attempts we have made, let them show us that the help we gave them in the past was appreciated, by supporting an Igboman to become the president of Nigeria. “And we will gladly make those group to be the vicepresident,” he said. The president-general said Igbozurume, as a body,

would not engage in partisan party politics, but will relate with any political party that has a better chance for Ndigbo to actualise their presidential ambition. “Ndigbo must decide who goes for us and should not accept the imposition of Igbo candidates by other zones. “The zoning arrangement of PDP is an internal arrangement of PDP members only, and shall not disrupt our quest for Igbo presidency after the tenure of Jonathan,” he said.

Kidnapper arrested in Enugu DENNIS AGBO ENUGU

notorious kidnapper and serial killer, who has been on the wanted list of the Enugu State police command over his alleged involvement in numerous criminal activities, has been arrested by the operatives of the anti-kidnap squad of the Enugu State police command. The suspect, who gave his name as Emmanuel Okoro, said he hails from Obeokwu Umunkiri in Obingwa Local Government Area of Abia State. Okoro, also known as JBoy, was trailed and arrested at Eleme Junction axis of Rivers State, during the weekend. The police recalled that the suspect had on June 28, 2011, allegedly participated in the kidnap of the Provost of the Federal College of Education; Eha-Amufu in Isi-Uzo Local Government Area of Enugu State, Prof. Ben Mbah, and in the process shot and killed the provost’s orderly, identified as Corporal Ikpi Arikpo. Confessing his involvement in the various crimes, Okoro said he actually took part in the kidnap of the provost and that he was the one that shot and killed the provost’s orderly during the incident. He said one of the gang members that brought them to EhaAmufu, said the orderly had identified him and that there was the need

to kill him to avoid being identified hence he shot and killed the orderly. He also said earlier in the year 2011, he led an armed robbery gang that allegedly robbed First Bank, Eha-Amufu, where a bank manager and bank security personnel were killed. He also confessed that he at times used to snatch cars and take to car stands and sell, revealing equally how he shot and killed three policemen in Rivers State. During his arrest, he was picked up with one of his gang members in the business of car snatching/stealing; Martins Okoye, who is also helping the police in their investigation. According to J-Boy, his father, one Chief Omemma Nwaogwugwu, warned him to desist from crime and criminality and that he did not listen to the warning while also pointing out that if he had listened to his father’s instructions that he would not have been in his present condition. Enugu State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Ebere Amarizu, confirmed the arrest, saying investigation was ongoing on the case.

Anambra State Governor, Mr. Peter Obi (left) and the Chairman of Idemili North Caretaker Committee, Ralph Nnabuife (right), during the sealing-off of Arthur Garden Hotel at Umusiome village, Nkpor, where four suspected kidnappers were arrested, yesterday.

Court nullifies Enugu councillorship election DENNIS AGBO ENUGU

he Enugu State local government elections petition tribunal has nullified the declaration of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) councillorship candidate for Ngwo-Asaa ward in Udi Local Government Council, Toochukwu Obodo, as the purported winner of the December 10, 2011 local government council election by the Enugu State Independent Electoral Commission (ENSIEC). The three-man election petition panel, presided

of the election; and that the purported election of the PDP candidate was not done in accordance with the provisions of the law. The APGA candidate also asked the tribunal for an order to invalidate the said election as the declared PDP candidate was not duly elected and an order compelling ENSIEC to conduct a fresh election in accordance with the provisions of the law. After months of prolonged deliberation, the tribunal resolved the matter in favour of APGA and asked ENSIEC to conduct fresh election within 30

days in the said ward. The tribunal also awarded the cost of N100, 000 against the third respondent, (ENSIEC) and N50, 000 against the 1st respondent, Toochukwu Obodo, who was the candidate of PDP. Briefing journalists after the judgment, counsel to APGA candidate, Alex Amujiogu, said the counsel to PDP candidate, Toochukwu Maduka and the two other respondents during the trial failed to prove that there was any result sheet made available for the councillorship election except for that of the chairmanship candidate.

Insecurity: Bishop urges Nigerians to be patriotic Awka

T Chime

over by its Chairman, Mr. Uche Omeje, in nullifying the purported election, granted the three prayers made by the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) candidate, Izuchukwu Eze; and asked ENSIEC to conduction fresh councillorship election in the ward within 30 days. The APGA candidate, represented by his counsel, Mr. Alex Amujiogu, told the tribunal that there was no due councillorship election in Ngwo Asaa ward as no electoral material was provided by ENSIEC on December 10, 2011, the day

he Anglican Bishop of Awka Diocese, Rt. Rev. Dr Alexander Chibuzo Ibezim, has urged Nigerians to be patriotic and prayerful, in a bid to overcome the pervading in-

security in the country. Bishop Ibezim, who spoke with journalists in Awka at the weekend, deplored the constant recourse of Nigerians at raining curses and abuses on the country. He said it was bad

enough that people are condemning the country, calling her all sorts of names and appellations, contrary to what is obtained in other countries, where the citizens are patriotic and do not tolerate castigating their country.

He advised Nigerians to be careful of what they say about the country. On the issue of insecurity, the Angican bishop admonished Nigerians to continue to pray to God and change their negative attitude, because security belongs to God.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

South South

Monday, August 6, 2012

No impeachment move against Jonathan, says Senator CHINEDUM EMEANA PORT HARCOURT

espite the threats by the National Assembly (NASS) to impeach President Goodluck Jonathan, over the slow pace of this year’s budget implementation, no concrete move has been initiated towards actualising the President’s removal. According to Senator Magnus Ngei Abe, repre-

senting Rivers East Senatorial District in the NASS; “As far as I know no article of impeachment has been drawn up against Mr. President.” Senator Abe, who spoke when he received an Award of Excellence from the Rivers State branch of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) in Port Harcourt at its 2012 Dinner and Award Nite, said the National Assembly was only concerned about the slow pace of im-

plementation of the 2012 budget. The senator said the effects of this executive infraction are all around us and are affecting the quality of lives of Nigerians. For instance, he said provision was made in the budget for the construction of the East-West Road, yet the contractor saddled with the responsibility of the project was being starved of funds. Abe said Nigerians

should be grateful to the National Assembly for drawing attention to budget implementation and other germane issues. “If funds are provided for any project, it is expected that the minister concerned should not rest until the funds are deployed for the purpose for which they are approved. We just want the budget implemented,” Abe said. Also commenting on the ongoing constitutional

amendment process, to which he urged doctors to get involved, the senator observed that the Nigerian Constitution, in its present state, does not provide effective tools for individual Nigerians to give their best, to achieve their potential because it emphasises too much on sharing the national cake. He regretted that while emphasis was placed on sharing, the constitution

does not offer any incentive to encourage additions to the national cake. Other recipients of the NMA Rivers State branch award of excellence included the River State Governor, Chibuike Amaechi, who was represented by Dr. Sampson Parker, the state health commissioner and the Rt. Hon. Otelemaba Dan-Amachree, the Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly.

Amaechi urges Christians, Muslims to live peacefully

Rubble of a collapsed three-story building at Number 4 Ekere Street in Rumubiakani, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, yesterday.

Don’t contest Oshiomhole’s victory, priest warns Airhiavbere SEBASTINE EBHUOMHAN BENIN

he Founder and spiritual head of the Divine Evangelical Prayer Ministry, Prophet Femi Samson Enweliku, yesterday warned the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate in the just concluded gubernatorial election in Edo State, Major-General Charles Ehigie Airhiavbere (retired), not to contest Governor Adams Oshiomhole’s victory in the election. Enweliku said re-elected Governor Oshiomhole, who was the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) candidate in the election was serving a divine political mandate. The spiritual leader, who also doubles as the President-General of the National Association of Prophetic Ministers (NAPM), advised Airhiavbere to immediately withdraw his petition and save himself and his party not only the huge financial costs of a legal battle at the tribunal but also the embarrassment of losing again at the tribunal and Appeal

Court as it happened with the 2007 election. He urged PDP to heed his call because Oshiomhole’s government was ordained by God Almighty. Speaking to journalists at the weekend in Benin City, the prophet maintained that there was a positive spiritual aura that surrounds Oshiomhole for which reason it will be impossible for Airhiavbere to successfully challenge and win his petition.

It will be recalled that the PDP candidate filed a petition at the Governorship Election Petition Tribunal for Edo State last Thursday, challenging the re-election of Oshiomhole on the grounds of an alleged non-qualification concerning the presentation of a Modern School Certificate, among other claims. Notably, Enweliku, who had earlier predicted that Oshiomhole would win the

Saturday, July 14, 2012 governorship election, wants Airhiavbere to concentrate his time and resources on teaming up with the winner towards replacing him in 2016, a time he predicted there will be a deep crisis in the ruling ACN, if nothing was done to prevent it. Enweliku recalled; “My prophesy remains. I told you PDP made a mistake in running against Oshiomhole in the just concluded gubernatorial election.

Controversy trails sack of 400 Chevron workers AMOUR UDEMUDE ASABA

s controversies continued to trail the sacking of over 400 Delta State citizens by the management of Chevron Oil Company Limited, the Vice-Chairman of Ugborodo Community Youth Development Council (UCYDC), Comrade Joseph Uwawah (aka Logbemi), has tasked the Delta State government to intervene in the matter before things get out of hands. It will be recalled that over 400 casual workers of

the company were allegedly sacked by Chevron at its Escravos Tank Farm in Warri South-West Local Area of the state recently. Speaking with National Mirror over the weekend in Asaba, Uwawah alleged that the workers, who had been engaged for over 11 years, were victimized as they joined NUPENG, as a formidable platform to pursue their demands after years of struggle. According to the youth leader, instead of complying with 2004/2006 Labour laws of the nation, the Public and Government Affairs Depart-

ment of Chevron insisted on the workers signing an undertaking as a condition for their re-engagement as casual workers. Uwawah while calling on the representatives of all villages and clans that makes up Ugborodo community to work together with the government to resolve the issue, alleged that after blocking the workers from entering into the Tank Farm for three months now, the company began flying people from Lagos to do the work of the disengaged workers.

hairman of the Nigerian Governor’s Forum (NGF) and Rivers State governor, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, yesterday called on Christians and Muslims in the country to continue to promote and encourage peaceful co-existence among themselves. Governor Amaechi spoke yesterday at a thanksgiving service of the third synod of the Church of Nigeria Anglican Communion in Evo Diocese, in Port Harcourt. “As the Chairman of the Nigerian Governor’s Forum (NGF) what I will preach here is that there is need for peace in the country. There is need for peace and how we go about that is for the government to sit with the citizens on how to achieve this,” he said. Governor Amaechi said the NGF will continue to preach peace and unity

Amaechi

amongst Christians and Muslims, noting, “Anybody who disturbs the Muslims from worshipping in their mosques here will be arrested. Muslims should be allowed to practice their religion, just as we (Christians) should be allowed to practice our religion anywhere, or in any part of the world,” he added. He further stressed that the church has a great role to play, especially through what the church leaders preach to their congregation.

Rights’ activist condemns killings in the North AMOUR UDEMUDE ASABA

uman rights lawyer and activist, Mr. Oghenejabor Ikimi, has condemned in its entirety, what he called the daily killings and occasional sacking of police stations in some troubled states of the north, particularly in Bornu, Plateau, Gombe, Bauchi, Yobe and Kano States. In an e-mail to National Mirror, Ikimi, who described the situation as terrible and that it does not speak well of Nigeria as a country, called for proper equipment, retraining and funding of the police to be able to combat the challenge. “I am calling on the Federal Government to

properly equip, re-train and fund the Nigeria Police so that it can discharge effectively its constitutional and statutory duties of protecting lives and property of the citizenry, as an ill-equipped, ill-trained and ill-funded police organisation like the Nigeria Police cannot protect itself, talk less of protecting the Nigerian populace.” Ikimi said a proactive and vibrant police organisation would always, as a matter of fact, be able to protect its personnel and equipment first and foremost before it can protect the lives and property of its citizenry even as the Federal Government have often cited lack of funds for its inability to adequately fund the police, he stated.

North

Monday, August 6, 2012

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Gunmen kill ex-commissioner, immigration officer in Borno INUSA NDAHI MAIDUGURI

unmen yesterday killed Alhaji Khadiri Kaza’a, a former Commissioner for Environment and Caretaker Chairman of Monguno Local Government during Governor Ali Modu Sheriff ’s administration in Borno State. The assailants invaded Kaza’a’s house located behind the railway quar-

ters, a few metres from the demolished enclave of the late leader of the Boko Haram sect, Mohammed Yusuf, in Gwoidamgari Ward of Maiduguri. The incident, it was learnt, took place around 1am. A witness, who did not want his name in print, said the gunmen demanded an unspecified amount of money from the deceased before they shot him. He added that after kill-

ing Kaza’a, the gunmen also stole his wife’s gold jewellery. The remains of the deceased were buried about 9am yesterday at the Gwange cemetery, according to Islamic rite. Also yesterday, gunmen killed one person suspected to be Bura by tribe in Galadima ward of the metropolis. The gunmen trailed the man and shot him near his house.

The Joint Task Force, JTF, spokesman, Lieutenant Colonel Sagir Musa, could not be reached, as he lost one of his brothers, Alhaji Bashir Musa Batsari, in an auto crash on Kano - Katsina Road, last week. Also, a senior officer with the Nigeria Immigration Services, NIS, Mohammed Lawan, was yesterday shot dead by gunmen at his residence in Gwange Ward of Maiduguri metropolis. He was killed before his

wife and children. The incident took place about 8am before men of the JTF rushed to the scene and condoned off the area to prevent further attacks. The state Police Public Relations Officer, Gidieon Jibrin, who confirmed the killings yesterday in Maiduguri, said Kaza’a and the immigration officer attached to the Passport Office at the Customs Area were trailed to their houses by gunmen believed to

be members of the Boko Haram sect. He said the gunmen, who disguised as errands boys, shot Kaza’a and Lawan in the chests and heads, before their family members. Jibrin said no arrests had been made, but disclosed that investigations had commenced, as information provided by some residents could assist in apprehending the assassins.

No bombardments in Maiduguri –JTF

he Joint Task Force, JTF, on Operation Restore Order, ORO has denied media reports on bombardments in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital. The JTF Field Commander, Col. Victor Ebhaleme, made the denial in an interview with journalists in Maiduguri yesterday. He said: “The issue of bombardment in Maiduguri is totally untrue, because nothing like that has happened. “I have been in charge of this operation since it began and we never had any bombardments.’’ Ebhaleme, according to the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, pointed out, however, that the JTF had embarked on massive cor-

don and search operations for hidden weapons in parts of Maiduguri city. “What happened is that the JTF had conducted cordon and search operation in search of weapons in some areas. “We conducted the operation in many areas especially near the Shehu of Borno palace, and we recovered lots of hidden arms,” he added. The JTF field commander, who declined to give the exact number of arms recovered, said that the exercise was ongoing. Ebhaleme, who also decried claims of multiple blasts in the city, stressed that the JTF was in control and appealed to the citizens to go about their lawful businesses.

Violent crisis: Benue vows to hold LG chairmen responsible HENRY IYORKASE MAKURDI

he administration of Governor Gabriel Suswam of Benue State has said that any caretaker chairman who abandoned his duty post in the event of a breakdown of law and order would be held responsible for such crisis. The Special Adviser to the governor on Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Hon. Solomon Wombo, gave the warning at the weekend during the monthly joint account meeting in Makurdi, the Benue State capital. He said it had been discovered that many chairmen usually absent from their duty posts while violence engulfed their

domains. Wombo said that any caretaker chairman found wanting during an uprising in any of the 23 local governments would be sanctioned. The special adviser said about two thirds of the caretaker chairmen carried out their functions in the state capital instead of being physically present to oversee the activities of their councils. He warned that government would no longer tolerate such habits. Several warnings in the past by the state government to the 23 caretaker chairmen to remain at their duty posts did not yield the desired result. This informed the latest warning from the special adviser.

L-R: Plateau State Governor, Jonah Jang, Commander, Special Task Force, Maj.-Gen. Henry Ayoola and Chairman, Riyom Local Government, Mr. Samuel Gyang, during the governor’s visit to the community and the family of late Sen.Gyang Dantong in Bachi village, Riyom, at the weekend. PHOTO:NAN

Security agents hunt violent protesters in Kwara WOLE ADEDEJI ILORIN

he Kwara State Government and security agents are now looking for those behind the wanton destruction of property during violent protests by commercial motorcyclists at the weekend. The Special Adviser to the governor on Transport and Utility, Alhaji Bibire Ajape, his Labour Matters’ counterpart, Comrade Bisi Fakayode, and executives of the motorcyclists’ association disclosed this yesterday at a joint press conference on the protests.

Officials of the commercial motorcyclists, led by their President, Abdulraheern Akanbi, said the association was not part of the two-day mayhem. They asked the government to go after whoever was behind the protests with a view to bringing them to book. The demonstrators were allegedly protesting the ban on their operations in selected routes in the state capital by government based on observed increase in “crimes and criminality” by motorcyclists in recent times, particularly in the highbrow areas.

The ban was to take effect last Friday. However, at the press briefing yesterday, the government said after taking a cursory look at the situation, it realised that there were 65 different associations of the commercial motorcyclists in the state under which some faceless people were hiding to perpetrate crimes. The special advisers said the government, the leadership of the motorcyclists, the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, and the Trade Union Congress, TUC, had agreed to reduce the number of the associations to seven,

while the date the ban would take effect was shifted to September 4. The government, they added, had provided interest-free loans converted to 250 units of tricycles and distributed to people to use in place of the motorcycles when the ban fully commence.

Ahmed

Trafficking: NAPTIP secures 146 convictions ADEMU IDAKWO LOKOJA

t least 146 people prosecuted by the National Agency for the Prohibition of Traffic in Persons and Other Related Matters, NAPTIP, for human trafficking-related offences have been convict-

ed this year. The NAPTIP Director of Intelligence and International Cooperation, Mr. Tsumba Terna, disclosed this in Lokoja, the Kogi State capital. Advising parents to stop sending their wards into child labour, Terna said NAPTIP was winning the

war on human trafficking gradually. According to him, male children are vulnerable to hard labour, while the girls are exposed to sexual abuse. Terna, who condemned the recent release of suspected traffickers in Kogi State by the Police without proper investigation, called

for a better understanding between NAPTIP and the security agencies to curb child abuse and human trafficking in the country. He noted that the agency was established primarily to curb or possibly eradicate the child labour and human trafficking in the country.

Monday, August 6, 2012

Patience, Turai: Things fall apart over land dispute?

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Politics

What Nigerian constitutionn needs – Abee

Alliance of parties against PDP’ll fail, says Metuh OBIORA IFOH ABUJA

he Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has advised the leadership of Nigeria’s opposition political parties to shed their personal interests as well as sectional agenda so as to realise their wish of forming an alliance that can challenge the PDP in the 2015 general elections. The party also said it is not threatened by such an alliance since it remains the only truly national political party that is deeply

committed to the continued existence of Nigeria as well as its transformation. Reacting to the ongoing merger talks among the major opposition political parties, the National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Chief Olisa Metuh said Nigerians are capable of separating the wheat from the chaff and will choose between an alliance where vaulting personal interests will ceaselessly riot and yield no support to national stability and the PDP which has remained the symbol of national unity and progress.

His words: “We hear of alliance and mergers everyday. That is not new. Let us wait for 2015. Do you think Nigerians are fools? Do you think that Nigerians do not take notice of the character and tendency of individuals and political parties? The PDP is the only party that is committed to the continued existence of Nigeria and the welfare of its people. At the appropriate time, they will decide whether to entrust their great nation to the hands of regionalists, doomsday prophets and pro-anarchists or to the

safe hands of the PDP. ” He added that though the nation is yet to reach its destination in terms of socio-political and economic development, the 13 years of PDP have made very significant contributions that have translated promises to tangible benefits in many respects. According to the statement, the PDP is the only political party with strong presence in all the 9,572 electoral wards in Nigeria and will rely on this intimidating membership as well as on credible performance to win the 2015 general

elections. “Our popularity and acceptability not being in doubt,” Metuh said. The statement stated that “in 2011 as in other previous elections, the PDP took its campaign to every nook and cranny of the country where we sold our manifesto to the people while the opposition, who only visualise victory, work less and ever ready to shout and bay for blood of innocent Nigerians when the PDP wins, campaigned only in their conclave. “The popularity of the opposition parties exits more on the pages of the

newspapers and in the imagination of their leaders. The Action Congress of Nigeria, more a tribal association, deep in clique dictatorship and deceit, has no capacity to win any election elsewhere beyond the South-West. The CPC with only one state is engrossed in hero-worship at a time collective heroism is the major propeller of democracy while the ANPP now on clinical oxygenation, has long lost bearing. So, where are the socalled opposition parties that would defeat the PDP in 2015?” Metuh asked.

Probe SSS over Oyerinde’s killers, ACN tells Presidency SINA FADARE

L-R: Vice-President Namadi Sambo with President John Mahama, when Sambo paid a condolence visit to the Ghanaian leader over the death of President John Atta Mills, in Accra last week.

Why we’re contesting Oshiomhole’s victory – PDP SEBASTINE EBHUOMHAN

he Edo State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday advanced reasons for challenging the results of the July 14 governorship election in the state, claiming that the election was marred with fraud, irregularities, rigging and manipulations. In a statement made available to National Mirror in Benin City by the Director of Publicity, Mr. Okharedia Ihimekpen, PDP argued that its petition would further deepen

democracy and the rule of law in the overall interest of the people of Edo State. He added that the party was contesting the results of the election on the following grounds: “That Governor Adams Oshiomhole was invalidly returned by the Resident Electoral Commissioner (Edo State) as duly elected, despite the fact that the election not having been conducted in compliance with the provisions of the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended); “That the Returning Officer for Edo State governorship election wrongly proceeded to declare Os-

hiomhole winner of the election by issuing him Form EC8E on the 15th day of July; That the Resident Electoral Commissioner (Edo State) also subsequently and wrongfully issued Oshiomhole with the Certificate of Return on behalf of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).” Other reasons for PDP’s recourse to the tribunal included: “That Oshiomhole was purportedly returned as the winner of the said election as he was not qualified to contest the said election for the office of the governor

of Edo State even as the party said that despite the non-revision and nonamendment of the voters’ register, amended and criminally altered, the voters’ register were used in various wards and polling units in the three senatorial districts.” PDP concluded that, “We are also contesting the relevant academic qualifications of Oshiomhole. He only tendered a Modern School Leaving Certificate without a Primary School Certificate which by the constitution does not qualify him to contest the election.”

he Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) has called on the Presidency and the National Assembly to probe the veracity of the claim by the State Security Service (SSS) that it has arrested the actual killers of Comrade Olaitan Oyerinde, an aide to Edo State Governor, Adams Oshiomhole. The ACN in a statement issued yesterday in Lagos by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, said that it was compelled to make the call following the riddle posed by two pictures carried by Sunday Mirror, which seems to show that the security agency may be recycling the same suspected criminals for different offences. The party pointed out that the three suspects in the first picture, who were paraded by the SSS on March 14 for allegedly kidnap and murder of Briton Christopher MacManus and Italian Franco Lamolinara, in Sokoto, appear to be the same as three of the suspects in the second picture, who were recently paraded by the same SSS for allegedly killing of Oyerinde.

ACN said: “Three of the suspects paraded by the SSS for killing Oyerinde appear to wear a complete replica of the same shirts worn by the suspects paraded for killing the foreigners in March. The pictures published by the newspaper are so compelling that we are forced to ask a number of questions from the SSS. “Is the agency recycling suspected criminals and deceiving the people that it is indeed solving criminal cases? Does this systemic gimmick go higher than the security agency? For how long has this game been going on? What exactly does the government know about this? And is the PDP privy to this recycling? If not, why was the party so quick to ask the ACN to apologise over the murder of Oyerinde?’’ the party queried. ACN noted that the only way the riddle can be resolved is for the government to appoint a panel of respected judicial officers to investigate the SSS, while the National Assembly must conduct a public hearing at which the suspects paraded for killing the foreigners will be placed side by side with those paraded for killing Oyerinde.

Politics

EMMANUEL ONANI writes on the raging controversy between the First Lady and wife of the president, Dame Patience Jonathan, and her predecessor, Hajia Turai Yar’Adua over a parcel of land in Abuja.

Monday, August 6, 2012

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Patience, Turai: Things fall apart over land dispute?

parcel of land sitting prominently along Shehu Shagari Way, Central Area, Abuja has pitted the First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan against her predecessor, Hajiya Turai Yar‘Adua, as both parties continue to lay claim to plot No: 1347 Cadastral Zone A00. The contentious parcel of land measures approximately 1.84 hectares and bounded by beacons numbers PB 48, PB 1596, PB 1599 and PB 6827. Available documents show that the land is duly covered by an accepted Offer of Right of Occupancy dated February 19, 2010, whereas the notice of revocation is dated November 2, 2011.

In the beginning The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCDA), was said to have granted Right of Occupancy to the former First Lady, Turai for the building of a secretariat for African First Ladies’ Peace Mission. However, the FCDA alleged that the original plan as captured in the Right of Occupancy was abandoned; it was converted to the personal use of Turai’s Non-Governmental Organisation known as Women and Youth Empowerment Foundation (WAYEF). This version was corroborated by a former minister of the FCT, Dr. Aliyu Modibbo Umar, who blamed his successor-in-office, Alhaji Adamu Aliero for issuing a new Certificate of Occupancy on the same plot. In an interview with the Hausa Service of the Voice of America last week, Umar said: “When I became Minister, I brought the idea for the building of the secretariat as a legacy the former First Lady would leave behind. I consulted the former President (late Umaru Musa Yar’ Adua) and advised him on the project and after she became the leader of the African First Ladies Mission. I told him that the NGO needed a secretariat to build an edifice just like the Women Centre built by late Maryam Babangida and the National Hospital built by Maryam Abacha. “He (Yar’ Adua) agreed and told me to look for a land. When I eventually found the land, I prepared a Certificate of Occupancy and the structural design of the proposed secretariat before I reported back to him. He appreciated the effort and directed me to meet her with the proposal. After a discussion, she accepted the idea and set up a committee which comprised of the FCTA and Foreign Affairs officials as well as Maryam Abacha, late Murtala Muhammad’s wife (Ajoke) and Patience.” But, there is another account which has it that, the Registered Trustees of WAYEF had applied and was subsequently allocated the contentious plot, upon making a payment of N184.529, 438 as statutory Right of Occupancy. This transaction was said to have been duly endorsed by the minister. WAYEF, which was given three years to develop the property based on approved building plans was said to have paid additional N76, 936,210.00, being charges for building plan. Turai’s NGO was said to have mobilised a building company, Al-Cooks Nigeria Lim-

The desputed parcel of land along Shehu Shagari Way, Central Area, Abuja.

PHOTO: ROTIMI OSASONA

subsists – Adoke approached the court with a motion on notice brought pursuant to Order 7 Rule 7 (2) of the FCT (Civil Procedure Rules 2004), where he urged the court to discharge the restraining order, saying, “the previous allocations were duly revoked and a fresh allocation made out to the African Peace Mission in overriding interest.”

The sword of Damocles

Patience

Turai

ited to site to develop the property for the sum of N13, 516,013,797.58.

marked WAYEF 1-9, the plaintiff, through their counsel, Innocent Lagi, prayed the court for, among others, “An order of interlocutory injunction restraining the defendants individually or collectively …from doing anything that adversely affect the plaintiff ’s title, rights and interests over and on the piece of land…known as plot No.1347…” In opposing the motion on notice, counsel to the 1st – 3rd defendants, F. U. Ibanga filed a counter affidavit.

The crisis point The rift that currently threatens the very foundation of the enviable relationship that existed between the families of late President Umaru Musa Yar ‘Adua and his former vice and successor, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan reared its head when the FCT Minister, Senator Bala Mohammed signed a letter of revocation of plot No. 1347, Cadatral Zone, Abuja. The “vexed” revocation notice dated November 2, 2011 according to Mohammed was done “in overriding public interest.” This development, to all intents and purposes, formed the basis of the suit No: FCT/HC/CV/2591/2011, wherein the applicant/plaintiff, The Registered Trustees of Women and Youth Empowerment Foundation dragged the minister of the FCT, Mohammed, FCDA, the Abuja Geographic Information System and the Attorney General of the Federation, Mohammed Adoke (SAN), (named as 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th defendants/applicants), before a Bwari High Court in the FCT presided over by Justice Peter O. Affen. In a motion on notice dated and filed on November 23, 2011 and supported by a 30-paragraph affidavit with nine exhibits

Ruling Ruling on the plaintiff ’s application, Justice Affen held: “Accordingly, I will and hereby record an order of interlocutory injunction restraining the defendants …from acting on the notice of revocation dated 2nd November, 2011 regarding Plot No. 1347 within Cadastral Zone A00 measuring approximately 1.84 hectares, bounded by beacons numbers PB 48, PB 1596, PB 1599 and PB 6827, and covered by an accepted Offer of Right of Occupancy dated February 19, 2010 or from taking any action or step that adversely affects the title, rights and interests over and in the said piece of land pending the determination of this suit…”

Legal roadblock As a result of the dire straits occasioned by the interlocutory order – which still

What is now dangling on the neck of the respondents like the proverbial “sword of Damocles” is the contempt proceedings, which plaintiff ’s counsel was set to initiate before the AGF initiated moves for an outof-court settlement; the oral application of which was granted by Justice Affen, who adjourned till September 24, for “report of settlement.”

Out of court talks collapse Barely two weeks after adjournment, the peace moves by Adoke collapsed like a pack of cards, as parties stuck to their guns. While Patience refused to relinquish the “choice property”, Turai on her part rejected two alternative plots of land offered her by the FCDA; one located at the Central Area District, near Akwa Ibom Lodge and the other situated along Airport Road, Wawa District. Representatives of Turai from the law firm of Adamu, Ahmed, Ibrahim & Co. predicated the rejection on the grounds that the first plot lies within a green area while the second is an un-approved layout of the city. The first is marked N0: 818 5333 Square metres, while the other marked No: 3367, measures 2.1 hectares.

Parties return to court With the collapse of talks last week, parties are expected back in court on September 24, for continuation of hearing. On resumption, it is expected that the trial judge will entertain the contempt charge, which was not taken, owing to the decision of the AGF to seek settlement of the land dispute out of court. For Patience and Turai things have fallen apart and the centre may not hold, ever again.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Politics

Monday, August 6, 2012

What Nigerian constitution needs – Abe Senator Magnus Abe is the Chairman, Senate Committee on Petroleum (Downstream). In this interview with SAM OLUWALANA, the former Secretary to Rivers State Government speaks on the constitution amendment, state police among other issues. Excerpts:

As a member of the Constitution Review Committee, which parts of the constitution do you believe need amendments? I am not speaking as a member of the constitution review committee, but as a Nigerian and a senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. The issue of constitution review is not for the committee, it is for the Nigerian people and the chairman of the committee, Senator Ike Ekweremadu has made it clear that there are no go areas. Everything that the Nigerian people think should be corrected, we should correct it and everybody understands that this constitution does not have the collective inputs of the people even though it opened with “we, the people” but the people really did not put it together. It may not be much different from what we want to do, but there is need for the country as a whole to look at the constitution and even with the benefit of our experience from independence till today to be able to say this is the kind of thing that works for us and this is the kind that does not work for us. So, here we can improve and make changes. So, the first thing we need to do is to look at our constitution, how has the constitution created a system, enable, protect or provide for the broad majority of the Nigerian people to pursue varying objectives, not just a few. You cannot have a constitution that is immune to your economy. That is not a working document because at the end of the day if the economy does not work, then the constitution will not add up. So, having looked at our present constitution, my first observation is that the constitution was drawn up without providing some injection for production into our national life. All the constitution talks about is sharing. Government will provide this, things have to be shared like this and that, but the key thing that drives the country, but the constitution does not take care of that. We need to amend the constitution that provides incentive for production and disincentive for non-production. How do you think Nigeria has fared with the past constitutions? Like I said, it is not the constitution that is the problem; it is a problem of the pattern of relationship that we have established. The 1999 Constitution is not much different from the 1979 Constitution. In fact, in a lot of ways, it is even better. The pre-military constitutions were totally different; all the regions had their own things. This present constitution has centralised so many things that the states do not have flexibility to be able to forge different path. The advantage of a federation should be that the federating units are able to grow at their own pace, being able to bring new innovation, but if everybody is doing the same thing all the time, then, the main advantage of the Nigerian federation which is the diversity of the federation, we will be lost. We should be able to run a federation in such a way that everybody is not forced to do the same thing. For example, if the Northern states do not want state police, the constitution should allow those that want it to have it. So, we should have a constitution that allows any state that wants it to do what is necessary, and also allow any state to do what is necessary in their own society. Secondly, we should have a thinner federation. The Federal Government should specialise on certain things that are key to us. The Federal Government should give the resources to the states. For example, the Federal Government can have its own prison because these are federal courts and federal laws, while the states should also have their own prisons. When I was Secretary to the Rivers State Government, I went to Port Harcourt prison and I wept because of the inhuman conditions. So, the prison should not be an exclusive federal matter.

Abe

THIS PRESENT CONSTITUTION HAS CENTRALISED SO MANY THINGS THAT THE STATES DO NOT HAVE FLEXIBILITY TO BE ABLE TO FORGE DIFFERENT

PATH.

THE ADVANTAGE OF A

FEDERATION SHOULD BE THAT THE FEDERATING UNITS ARE ABLE TO GROW AT THEIR OWN PACE There are a lot of things in the constitution that should be corrected. Look at the airport, for instance, what is the business of the Federal Government building airports and maintaining them all over the country. This doesn’t make sense. Airport is a local infrastructure. If Lagos State government is allowed to build its own airport, I am sure they will build something better than Murtala Mohammed Airport. They have the economic base to sustain it. Rivers State government can build a better airport than what you have in Port Harcourt. When you go to America, you land in Dallas which is not owned by the Federal Government; the JFK airport is not owned by the Federal Government. The airports are even owned by counties, they are not even owned by states. What the federal does is to regulate airport operations; if you don’t have this and that, we will not allow you to operate. Once you meet the checklist, you run your airport and then, the Federal Government can now keep a small staff that will be very effective because their job is clearly defined. But now, you want to clear grass in Port Harcourt airport, you have to send a memo to the minister in Abuja. What is all that rubbish? This thing is going on everywhere and it is just dragging the country back. So, if we loosen up the federation and take some of these resources that are here in Abuja and share it to the states, let people go and plan their lives. That is what I think Nigerians should look at in this process of constitution reform. Do you see the call for creation of more states realistic at this moment in time?

My own people, the Ogoni, are also asking for a state. So, I am not against any request for more states and that is why I say in this constitutional debate everything should be open. If you want state, come and make your case, convince everybody as to how that will help to make the country better. But, what I know is that in 1974, Nigeria has 12 states and the poverty level in the country at that time was below 40 per cent. Today, we have 36 states and the poverty level is over 70 per cent. Nigeria was making less money in 1974 than what she is making today. So, does that convince you that the creation of more states actually translate into a higher living standard for the people? It doesn’t. It may build more federal houses, more Houses of Assembly complexes, high court complexes, more university complexes and so on, but does that actually translate into a higher quality of life for the people? What will translate into a higher quality of life for the people is production. If those things are being built because people are paying more taxes and so the government is richer, then you know that the people themselves are already richer before the government got rich. So richer citizens mean a richer government, but in Nigeria it is other way round. A richer government does not necessarily mean richer citizens, but if the richer citizens are sustaining the government, richer citizens will mean richer government because the government will be strong enough to go to the citizens and collect its money. But the citizens are not strong enough to go to the government and collect their money. So, it is something that we look at very carefully. So, trying to create more governments without creating more revenues does not necessarily help the people the way you would imagine that it would. Are you satisfied with the cost of governance today? It is a Nigerian thing and unless we change the way we think and the way we relate with our country, this problem will persist. People will create more commissions because they believe that it means more opportunity to assist friends and families and to try to reach out because as the population grows and production is not growing, the problem will only get worse, it cannot get better. We must do something to bring back production as a basis for our daily living. If we don’t do that there is no way two million barrels of oil will keep all of us happy because we are more than two million and with the population hitting 160 million, two million barrels of oil is peanuts; it can’t solve our problem. We must compel our society to produce. How do we get the people up and make Nigeria rich? That is the challenge because now the people are sitting down looking at the government; the government should be looking at the people. What is your take on the Nigeria’s electoral system? My take is that we are the ones who make elections perfect or imperfect. It is not a problem for INEC or politicians; it is a problem for Nigerians. Having a free and fair election is not just about what you do on election day, it is about how you are brought up. In this country, we don’t see cheating the next person as wrong. When you take that behaviour and translate it into election, what do you expect? So, we need to teach our people certain values that you don’t have to win at all cost, that integrity counts for something. But in this country, we don’t reward anything except wealth and power. And how do you expect people to value anything above wealth and power? When it is election time, whether they are in the opposition or government, everybody just wants to win. Also, another problem is the reward system. If you are in another country and you contested an election and you did not win, you can still win contract. But here, winning of the election is the winning of the contract. The two are together. But if we are able to break politics away from the economy, which was the way it was before, INEC alone cannot make elections good or bad; it is the people who corrupt INEC staff. Unless we are ready to change our attitude, things will continue the way it has been and it is not well and neat for the country.

Monday, August 6, 2012

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Monday, August 6, 2012

NYSC and the ‘problematic’ PA postings HeartBeat

CALLISTUS

OKE

Callistusoke@nationalmirroronline.net 08054103275 (SMS ONLY)

ike everything Nigeria, concessional postings for children and wards of the very biggest VIPs are possible and permissible for the compulsory one year National Youth Service Corp (NYSC) scheme. For this set of people, the places of primary assignment (PA) are pre determined. You can call it a class thing, if you like. And from grapevine sources, some other privileged postings could be fixed through trade by barter, if you know what I mean. All other postings to places of primary assignments are left to chances – good luck and bad luck. By way of illustrating this third category, I got this call penultimate Thursday from a friend, a brother more appropriately, whose son is serving in Lagos State for this current exercise. Our discussion went thus: Caller: Can you fix my boy up in your organization for his PA? A week after the

orientation of the current batch of corps members, where to do his PA is uncertain. He has been told to scout for one. Response: What, your boy read geology. What value can he bring to a media house? Caller: Then help me get a secondary school that might need him. With his field of study, he can teach geography, physics etc. Response: O.K dear. Let me see what I can do. I used that weekend to look for a PA my friend’s son. It was a difficult assignment for me because my entire being reeled at the suggestion that an entire one year would be spent in a most unproductive manner. Of all the private schools I visited, the issue of accommodation and token monthly stipend were the militating factors. Some even asked me if I could accommodate him! I was still contending with this problem when another friend called to tell me that his daughter serving in Ekiti State was posted to a primary school for her PA! “This is scandalous. That the best place NYSC deemed fit to send my daughter after her university education is a primary school. She read botany and not education. What could she possibly teach?” Was his lamentation. A colleague who overheard our discussion jokingly cut in: “Let her go and teach them Twinkle, twinkle little star, How I

OF ALL THE PRIVATE SCHOOLS I VISITED, THE ISSUE OF ACCOMMODATION AND TOKEN MONTHLY STIPEND WERE THE MILITATING FACTORS wonder what you are … She does not need much training to learn saying A for apple, T for tomboy, P for pepper, to the pupils and for them to repeat after her, or to stand in front of the class swinging a cane and yelling at the pupils to recite the ‘times table’!” This suggestion caused me a fit of laughter. My friend, not knowing why I was laughing, lost his cool. He cursed everything that was NYSC, calling for its scrapping with immediate effect. He concluded by saying that for whatever altruistic reason given against the scrapping of the 39 years old scheme, what nobody will have the courage to speak up is that the scheme serves as conduit pipe for siphoning money out of the national treasury. After all, he concluded, there are precedents of unwholesome pillage of NYSC funds. Though, I dismissed his ranting as that of an angry man, I felt some concern for

him. I found it difficult to reconcile some of the recent policy on postings by the management of the Corp. I wonder how I would have felt if I were to be posted to a primary school to teach juveniles or for the same fate to befall my children. However, I recalled the first case of posting to primary school I heard. That was in 1991 and in Benue State when a first class graduate was posted to a primary school! If such fate could befall a first class brain then, why should it be an issue in 2012 that a graduate was sent to a primary school for his/her PA? As things now stand, I doubt if we have not got to the stage when corps members would be sent to private residences as security guards or as house boys and house girls, or even as butlers for their PA, on request. After all this is Nigeria, the land of where anything goes. Of all the absurdities, the most appalling one is rejection by potential hosts. Victims of such rejections are always told to go and personally look for places for PA. The desperation of getting any place at all cost makes them victims of task masters who drive them to the elastic limit of their endurance, and in the process exploit them mentally and psychologically. Some of them emerge emotional wrecks at the end of their service. I think it is time to evaluate the NYSC scheme and redesign it for greater efficiency.

The cabal and East-West rail line proposal

igeria is a graveyard of good intentions and excellent proposals. However, mere knowledge of what to do is not enough, as knowhow of farming, for example, does not automatically put food on the table unless the act of farming is done. What our bureaucracy lacks therefore, is the wisdom of doing what knowledge reveals. Wisdom is knowing what to do, and doing it. The lack of it is why 40 years after the EastWest railway line was mooted in the Second National Development Plan, it is still stuck. It is also why 100 years after British colonialists donated the linear SouthNorth rail line; the bureaucracy has not established the East-West rail line. Regrettably, local and foreign efforts to reinvent the rail transportation system have been thwarted by bureaucracy and the rail cabal that has been using a retrogressive colonial monopoly act of the sick Nigeria Railway Corporation (NRC). With so much empty government propaganda of wooing foreign investors to assist in the past 13 years of PDP central administration, one would have thought that the anti-investment Railway Act would have been amended. Indeed, efforts were made in the past eight years to repeal the anti-progress Act, but the National Assembly did not feel mobilized enough to pass the bill that would open the hinterlands, which they claim to represent, to massive transformation and economic empowerment. The lawmakers are too busy harassing Presijo to release funds for petty constituency projects which serve their personal interests. Now there is a fresh challenge for them

to redeem their image. Transportation commissioners representing 17 states in the South recently met over a proposed Lagos-Calabar rail network that would open all the 17 states in the region to massive economic development. The meeting followed an earlier South South Summit on economic integration of the BRACED states, the acronym for Bayelsa, Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Edo and Delta states. The Director General of BRACED Commission, Ambassador Joe Keshi, said last week that the three southern geopolitical zones constituted the busiest commercial belt of the country. A rail line linking them eases, cheaply and safely, the movement of bulk goods, including petroleum and agro-allied products, finished domestic and imported industrial commodities and machinery. No doubt, it would be the most commercially viable and sustainable of all the geopolitical zones. A communiqué released after the South South Summit urged FG to create an environment to encourage private sector investments in rail development in order to achieve modern transportation envisaged in the Vision 20: 20-20 aspiration. Without deleting the evil railway monopoly Act, the current 17 south states meeting will be mere deceit to misapply public funds under the false pretence of public interest. The holy Book says the righteous can do nothing when the foundation is rotten. As it is in the spiritual, so it is in the physical. A rock house cannot stand on quick sand. The 17 southern states should force

THE 17 STATE GOVERNORS WOULD WRITE THEIR NAMES IN GOLD IF THEY GET THE

EAST-WEST RAIL

SYSTEM RUNNING FG to act in their constituencies’, if not national, interest by mobilizing all their national lawmakers to reintroduce and pass the repeal of the railway monopoly act within six months. I trust Presijo will never object if the three zones put their acts together and stop genuflecting before FG instead of taking their destiny in their own hand. The Railway Act, which bares private and state government investors, was used by NRC in collaboration with road haulage cabal to kill the 20-minutes Lagos-Ibadan rail line planned by south-west governments’ Oodua Investments and the three-hour Lagos-Abuja rail line planned by a Canadian consortium, all under Obasanjo administration. I fear the proposed East-West rail line will fail unless the Railway Act is amended, not necessarily because of divergent politics, political will or inadequate funding, but largely because the road haulage cabal is still strong politically and with awesome clout. The truck and trailer cabal has been joined by the cabal of luxury bus owners who may sabotage the planned rail line to nurture their own business.

Roadmap SONI EHI

ASUELIMEN

soniasuelimen@yahoo.com, 08023459055 (SMS ONLY)

Decades ago, Brigadier General Samuel Ogbemudia, as the sole administrator of the NRC, said his life was threatened by the cabal when he tried to revive the moribund organization. It’s that bad. FG must produce a national rail policy and blueprint to guide investments and establish an independent regulatory agency, as had been proposed before. Let all tiers of government compete with domestic and foreign investors. The 17 state governors would write their names in gold if they get the EastWest rail system running. It would mean going to my village in the east or south and returning same day. Tourism potentials of the rail line would once be revived in addition to jobs creation, increased productivity and diversification of the economies of the member geopolitical zones. Send your views by mail or sms to PMB 10001, Ikoyi, or our Email: mail@ nationalmirroronline.net mirrorlagos@ yahoo.com or 08164966858 (SMS only). The Editor reserves the right to edit and reject views or photographs. Pseudonyms may be used but must be clearly marked as such.

Editorial

Monday, August 6, 2012

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

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

STEVE AYORINDE

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YELE AKINROLABU

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ED OPERATIONS

SEYI FASUGBA

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BOLAJI TUNJI

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FRANK OBOH

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HEAD, GRAPHICS

Poor budget implementation and endless controversy Continued from page 1

occasioned by dubious subsidy fund management. The SURE-P vote brings the total capital budget to about N1. 5 trillion. Quality budget implementation has been acclaimed as central to the performance of the economy of nations while the contrary leads to stunted socio-economic growth and development. There has been intense concern across the land over the alleged poor state of the nation’s economy. Apart from the National Assembly, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) had consistently drawn attention to the negative indicators in the economy, such as rebuilding the country’s Excess Crude Account which was depleted following the 2009 drop in oil prices; as well as stabilizing the exchange rate to shield the economy against fresh threats from uncertain global economic trends. Keen followers of the nation’s economy indicate that Nigeria, a country which in 1975, listed among the nations with prospects of becoming self sustaining by the year 2000, nine years later, spent $200 billion (about N3.1 trillion) on food importation in 2009. The country spent $1.34 billion in 2011 to import refined

ULTIMATELY, HOWEVER, THE BUCK ENDS ON JONATHAN’S TABLE AS THE MAN HISTORY WILL HOLD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THE OUTCOME OF HIS ADMINISTRATION’S POLICIES petroleum products. There is ravaging unemployment with roughly 40 million Nigerians without jobs; cost of doing business in the country is rated among the highest in the world while the manufacturing sector is barely thriving. The nation cannot boast of regular electricity supply while road and other critical infrastructure are likewise comatose. There are scary deficits in education, health and other social services provisioning. Now compounding the entire sorry spectacle is the problem of insecurity. Little wonder the country has been maintaining very embarrassing ranking, often placing from 140 upwards out of 169 countries on the Global Human Development Index. There seems no respite in

sight so far. When in addition to her finance port folio, Okonjo-Iweala was assigned the additional job of Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Nigerians expected a shift from the past, especially in the management of the nation’s budget which is key to redressing the monumental rot in infrastructure and social services and chart the nation’s path to meaningful socio-economic growth and development. With the realities thrown up by the 2012 budget implementation controversy and persisting poor state of the nation’s economy, however, the office of Coordinating Minister of the Economy appears questionable and not well deserved. Public impression of the minister seems to be that of a woman in love with globe-trotting and travelling; and who is hardly available to do the required ‘coordination’. Indeed, it would seem the minister, to a great extent, lost concentration and interest in her high ministerial office after her failed attempt to clinch the World Bank job. Of note is the Finance Minister’s advice that the execution of annual budgets be kept strictly within the JanuaryDecember time range. How she wants it achieved with 14 per cent

performance five months after the 2012 budget implementation commenced remains a big puzzle. A scion of the Breton Woods establishment, Okonjo-Iweala has made minimal impact on redirecting the policy path of the Jonathan government from the ways of past regimes which superintended over a feverishly corrupt public sector, fraudulent subsidy regimes, insincere deregulation policies, and choking infrastructure and social service deficits. Nigerians don’t seem impressed by the ongoing buck-passing and the threats of fire and brimstone between the executive and the legislature over the implementation of the 2012 budget. It also goes without saying that the monumental cases of fraud and bribery; as well as the insincere, selfish and lip service representation of its members have gravely eroded public confidence in the NASS. Both the executive arm of the government and the NASS should sort out their differences and ensure that budgets are properly implemented to serve the larger interest of the people. Ultimately, however, the buck ends on Jonathan’s table as the man history will hold accountable for the outcome of his administration’s policies.

ON THIS DAY August 6, 2011 A helicopter containing members of Navy SEAL 6 was shot down in Afghanistan, killing 38 people. The United States Boeing CH-47 Chinook military helicopter was shot down while transporting a quick reaction force attempting to reinforce an engaged unit of Army Rangers in Wardak province, west of Kabul, Afghanistan. The resulting crash killed all 38 people on board—25 American special operations personnel, five United States Army National Guard and Army Reserve crewmen, and others.

August 6, 2008 A military junta led by Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz staged a coup d’état in Mauritania, overthrowing President Sidi Ould Cheikh Abdallahi; following which Abdel Aziz became President of the High Council of State as part of what was described as a political transition leading to a new election. He resigned from the post in April 2009 in order to stand as a candidate in the July 2009 presidential election, which he won.

August 6, 2001 The Erwadi fire incident. About 28 mentally ill persons tied to chains were burnt to death at a faith based institution at Erwadi, Tamil Nadu, India. All the inmates were bound by chains at Moideen Badusha Mental Home in Erwadi Village in Tamil Nadu. Large number of mental homes existed in Erwadi which was famous for the dargah of Quthbus Sultan Syed Ibrahim Shaheed Valiyullah, from Madina, Saudi Arabian, who came to India to propagate Islam.

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Business Courage

Monday, August 6, 2012

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Cover

Rumpus over the

Okonjo-Iweala

Aminu Tambuwal

The legislative arm, particularly the House of Representatives, is up in arms against the executive over poor budgetary implementation in a show of supremacy which analysts insist is desirable for entrenching good governance By Tola Akinmutimi (Abuja)

o millions of Nigerians trying to eke out a living through self-help in the villages and urban slums across the country, the current fiscal or budgetary debate between the National Assembly and the Executive over the state of capital budget implementation may just be tantamount to empty sermonisation, lacking any value and substance as far as their well-being is concerned. This is especially true when it is statistically confirmed that about 97 million Nigerians, representing about 55 percent of the population, have been trapped in the poverty circle as trillions of naira of taxpayers’ money spent over the past decade to change their socioeconomic status have left them worse than they were in the post petro-dollar years of budget implementation. But then, the subject of the current controversy remains so crucial to the sustainable development of the country that only those who cannot really un-

derstand the econometrics and macroeconomic implications of the face-off would prefer to keep mum as the gladiators engage each other in another round of political muscle-flexing that is ostensibly orchestrated to score cheap political points. The Coordinating Minister for the Economy and Finance Minister, Dr. Ngozi OkonjoIweala, in what appears to be the push that opened the Hornet’s nest after the Federal Executive Council meeting two Wednesday ago, reportedly claimed that as at June 20, the capital allocation to the Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), remained at about 56 per cent, pointing out that by the end of the year, the performance would hover around 8090 per cent. Describing the performance of the budget so far as a “good progress,” the minister explained that it was not possible anywhere in the world to implement budget at the rate of 100 per cent by year end, more so, in September, which is only the

end of the third quarter of the year, adding that “the president is determined to implement the budget as much as possible. You can see that there’s no lack of efforts. By September, the National Assembly will know that a good effort has been made for the country, as we go on monthby-month review.” The Minister linked the seeming slow implementation of the budget to failure of MDAs to provide approved plans and designs for some projects thereby slowing down releases of funds for such projects. However, contrary to Dr. Okonjo-Iweala’s assertion that the budget has so far achieved 56.95 per cent, a document on budget performance submitted to the Senate Committee on Finance last week by the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation showed that a total sum of N401, 648, 460, 791 has so far been released with N324, 556, 851, 948 of that amount cash backed. According to the document, out of the figures, only N184,

848, 092, 533 had been utilized as at July 20, 2012, just as capital allocation for 2012 budget stood at N1, 519, 986, 106, 691 and only 21.35 percent of the total allocation had been cash backed while the percentage of the amount utilized from releases stood at 12.16 percent as at July 20. The document admitted that the performance of 56.95 per cent as indicated by the office of the accountant general is the percentage of amount utilized

(N184 billion) of the amount cash backed (N342 billion) as at July 20, 2012 and not of the entire capital budget. The actual utilization of N184 billion against the total capital of N1.5 trillion it said, is 12.16 percent. The House of Representatives, through the Chairman of its Committee on Media and Publicity, Zakari Mohammed, flawed the capital budget implementation figures bandied by the executive, saying that the executive is economical with

Business Courage A Publication of GLOBAL MEDIA MIRROR LTD BARRISTER JIMOH IBRAHIM, OFR PUBLISHER SEMIU SALAMI BAMIDELE OBAFEMI ADEJUWON OSUNNUYI FESTUS OKOROMADU TAYO ADELEKE

EDITOR ASSOCIATE EDITOR STAFF WRITER STAFF WRITER SENIOR REPORTER

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HEAD, PRODUCTION SENIOR GRAPHIC ARTIST

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Business Courage

Monday, August 6, 2012

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Cover

budget

Mohammed

the truth on the level of its performance so far. “It is not true that the executive arm has implemented, as at today, 56 per cent of the 2012 budget as widely reported. In truth, about 34 per cent of the budget has been implemented. What the minister admitted to as can be confirmed from her own words is that, at best government has implemented 56 per cent of the N404 billion released to MDAs. The Minister was clear in saying that, of this amount (N404 billion) only N324 billion has so far been cash backed. In other words, it is only N324 billion that is available to the MDAs for implementation of capital projects and programmes of government out of about N1.3 trillion appropriated for all capital expenditure,” Mohammed said In what appeared a major move to douse the growing tension between the two arms of government, Okonjo-Iweala who appeared before the Senate Joint Committee on Appropriation and Finance last Thursday, confirmed that the 2012 capital budget implementation was only 14 per cent and specifically disclosed that about N404 billion, representing 31 per cent of the N1.3 trillion capital budget had been released and that out of this, only about N324 billion, accounting for 24.9 per cent of the capital budget had been cashed backed.

But then, beyond the basic statistical figures of the capital budget are far more deep-rooted macroeconomic and fiscal issues that may have been guiding government’s expenditure stance, particularly with the increasing dip in revenue earnings from crude oil exports, implications of the lingering economic crisis in the global economy, the worrisome inflationary trend and the imperative of shoring up the foreign reserves as a strategic option of achieving fiscal consolidation and improved growth. The minister had on many fora organised to appraise the performance of the economy alluded to these crucial factors as amongst those that will continue to guide government’s funding of budgets given their multi-dimensional implications for sustainable growth of the economy. For instance, at the 2012 budget briefings, Okonjo-Iweala stated that the government will continue to focus on those sectors that affect the common man in areas of job creation, power and critical infrastructure development in a way that would not worsen the domestic debt profile. Capital projects remain the largest contributor to domestic debt accumulation. She said that in view of the negative implications of the rising domestic borrowing for the health of the economy, govern-

ment was determined to ensure that domestic debt profile, which currently stands at N5.96 trillion, is reduced to about N500 billion in the Medium Term by 2015. “Over the Medium Term, we aim to bring our recurrent down to about 65 per cent of the budget whilst increasing capital expenditures. Based on the above, the deficit is now N1.1 trillion or 2.85 per cent of GDP, which is within the three per cent GDP threshold set by the Fiscal Responsibility Act. Accordingly, the provision for domestic borrowing has now come down to N744 billion compared to N852 billion in the 2011 budget. This is quite a big achievement,” she said. The minister said that “this

‘

underscores the necessity to control the rising domestic debt profile which has been a source of concern and I want to use this as an occasion to also say a word on the debt. We have provisioned N559.6 billion for domestic and foreign debt service.” At another forum recently, the minister restated the need for substantial cut in government’s spending to minimise wastage and ensure that every naira spent adds commensurate value to the economy. Okonjo-Iweala, who spoke on the imperative of fiscal discipline as a strategic option of achieving improved performance of yearly budgets, harped on prioritization of capital projects in the development

All arms of government should look seriously on cutting expenditure and ensure fiscal consolidation as well as maintain a fiscal deficit level of three percent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP)

‘

David Mark

agenda of government, adding that “all arms of government should look seriously on cutting expenditure and ensure fiscal consolidation as well as maintain a fiscal deficit level of three percent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP).” Analysts have described the lingering furore as healthy for the country as it would open a new era of responsible government with the attendant results of getting real value from yearly budgetary expenditures and inclusive participation of the people in fiscal policy framework formulation and implementation. The immediate Past President of the Nigeria Institute of Management, Dr. Sally Adukwu-Bolujoko, noted that the face- off between the Legislature and Executive was a good development for public governance since it constitutes a regular feature of matured democracy and its key components of checks and balances. The management expert explained that though she did not know the indices each of the parties based their computation of the capital budget implementation on, but experiences over the years have shown that there is nothing to really show for capital budget disbursements with the high level of decayed infrastructure, particularly of roads, educational and health facilities across the country. “For instance, the Lagos-Ore- Benin and LagosIbadan roads, amongst other major highways in the country, have become death traps. Our schools and hospitals are in a state of total disrepair. There is nothing to show for years of budgetary allocations in terms of physical development and operational capacities of critical facilities that should form the hub of national development drive,” she said. According to her, consistently in this country, we have seen a pattern of recurrent budgets that go beyond 70 per cent with the capital remaining at less than 30 per cent, pointing out that this trend showed a poor structure of budgeting that does not take care of the needs of the people and consider the importance of long-term development for the country. Adukwu-Bolujoko described the development as a proof of poor vision of the nation’s leadership, since what this implies is that Nigeria has been consuming more than it cares to invest to guarantee the future

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Cover of the citizenry, particularly the children, even as life expectancy which is about 48 per cent remains one of the lowest in the world. On what seems to be the way forward, she canvassed for the professional handling of the budgeting process in order to ensure timeliness of implementation, adding that “if the budgeting process is professionalised, those who handle it will place emphasis on timely implementation and this will address substantially the problems of corruption, abandoned projects and wastages that have characterised the entire process over the past years” In his views, a leading public policy analyst, Dr. Otive Igbuzor, said the face-off between the two arms of government is a welcome development since the legislative has a responsibility of law making, representation and oversight and the executive has the responsibility of implementation, adding that in the past years, budget implementation in Nigeria has been poor. Igbuzor, who is also the Executive Director of African Centre for Leadership, Strategy and

Development, noted that “the impact of low capital budget and non-implementation of the budget is monumental on the economy. It is partly why we have economic growth without jobs; economic growth with increase in poverty. This must be reversed by co-operation, co-ordination and effective response by the legislature and executive”. He suggested that in order to avert this type of problem in the future, which he admitted has the potential of delaying the implementation process, both the legislature and the executive should be strategic in their approach. “One form of insanity is to do the same thing again and again and expect a different outcome. The way to address the challenges of execution is to put in place a proper strategy, efficient and effective operations and the right kind of people to implement. Many organizations in Nigeria whether in the public or private sector are running without strategy. Those that have strategy are not well formulated. Those that are well formulated are not thoroughly

House of Reps in session

implanted, implemented and evaluated. Many organizations do not have operational plans backed with appropriate systems and mechanisms. Unless all of these are addressed, the face off will continue”, Igbuzor advised. Speaking in a similar tone, another analyst and leading advocate of legislative prudence, Barrister Auwal Ibrahim Musa, described the current discourse on capital budget implementa-

tion as healthy for democracy since it is, for the first time, proving that the Legislature is ready to play its roles which, he believes, would improve the quality of governance and democratic dividends for millions of Nigerians. Musa, the Executive Director of the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC), a frontline civil society organisation committed to improved quality of legislations, pointed out that “these arguments over

the level of budget implementation suggest that the legislature is ready to free itself from prolonged servitude because over the years, the executive has been taking it for a ride. “Regrettably, that has left the country and the people worse off as funds that ordinarily should have been channelled and effectively monitored in capital project implementation have always been stolen or diverted to private accounts due to the legislature’s inertia and failure to play its over-sight functions role as provided for in the Constitution. “This has left us with pervasive decay in critical infrastructure like roads, power and other facilities that should serve as the driver of economic growth. The result is that we have millions of Nigerians becoming poorer and suffering by the day while those who should check corruption in governance are the ones perpetrating it. “So, I think this issue may usher in an era of checks and balances that will ultimately make the Executive sit up and also keep the people in focus in budget implementation in the years ahead”, Musa predicted. BC

News

Ekebuike

UnityKapital declares N413.6m profit By Tola Akinmutimi (Abuja)

nityKapital Assurance Plc has announced a Profit after Tax (PAT) of N413.6 million for the 2011 operational year. The result marked a new era in the company’s drive for improved performance and the direct result of its new policy tagged ‘Cautious Dynamism’

introduced last year and being championed by its Managing Director, Kins Ekebuike. With the result, UnityKapital is now poised to take the Nigerian insurance sector by storm, especially as the profit is against a negative profit of N190.234 million recorded in 2010. The company’s profit before tax of N514.2 million in 2011 as against the N6.6 million posted in the same period of 2010, showing an increase of

over 7000 per cent According to a statement issued by the management of the company, the impressive performance is expected to be consolidated upon through the ‘Cautious Dynamism’ policy, a new and improved growth strategy being implemented by the management team to add value to shareholders’ benefits and reposition the company at the leading edge of the industry “With the new Brokercentric thrust of the company, whereby the brokerage arm of the Nigerian insurance industry has become the centrepiece of marketing in the company, UnityKapital Assurance Plc has recorded a tremendous continuous increase in profitability. “This is surely going to be good news for the shareholders of the company who have waited over five years for the company to declare dividends”, the statement added. Meanwhile, the company has slated its 36th Annual General Meeting for Tuesday, 14th August, 2012 in Abuja

Tony Elumelu Foundation holds lecture

n continuation of its annual lecture series, The Tony

Elumelu

Elumelu Foundation (TEF), will on Saturday, August 11, 2012 at 4.00pm organise this year’s lecture titled “Building a Great Agribusiness.” The lecture which will be delivered by Vimal Shah, TEF Advisory Board Member and CEO of Bidco Group Ltd, Kenya, an agribusiness company operating in Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania, will hold at the Heirs Place, 1 MacGregor Road, Ikoyi, Lagos. On the same day, the Foundation will host a cocktail event to celebrate the 2012 African Markets Internship Programme (AMIP), its flagship business leadership initiative. AMIP provides strategic short-term opportunities

for business students and graduates from Africa’s top business schools as well as for students and graduates from top-tier business schools in Europe and the United States. AMIP associates are placed in fast-growing Africanowned enterprises with strong management teams. In 2012, AMIP placed students in businesses in Accra, Abuja, Dakar, Douala, Lagos, Lusaka, Kigali, and Nairobi. Prior to the lecture, the Foundation will give members of the media a chance to interact with Foundation staff as well as with AMIP associates, AMIP host business CEOs, and the first four winners (University of Jos, Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria) of the Elumelu Legacy Prize.

Onyema, NSE CEO, leads leading Nigerian companies to London Expo

s part of the effort at showcasing the potentials of the quoted companies on The Exchange to a wider world audience provided by the London Olympics, Oscar Onyema, Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) is leading 15

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Business Courage

Monday, August 6, 2012

News companies and some market operators to the African and Caribbean 2012 Business Expo taking place in London from August 4-9, 2012. The Expo which is a key business related event at the Olympics in London is organized in collaboration between Urban Inclusion and Regenfirst, along with the African and Caribbean Chamber of Commerce and Enterprise. In addition to providing participants the opportunity to exhibit their products and services, it will also make available the avenue to showcase potential investment opportunities in the country as well as correct some negative impressions about the nation. General Manager and Head of Listings Sales and Retention at the Nigerian Stock Exchange, Taba Peterside said the Exchange is extremely excited about the African and Caribbean Business Expo at a time when Africa and Nigeria in particular are attracting so much global business interest. She said that the Expo is a wonderful opportunity for The Nigerian Stock Exchange to showcase itself and a selection of its top listed companies and member stockbroking firms, stressing that it would give “our listed companies, stockbroking firms and the Central Securities Clearing System (CSCS) the opportunity to network with potential clients, investors, partners, etc.” Peterside explained that the Nigerian brand faces a number of hurdles that create issues for the products that come from there. “The first challenge is to confront and overcome the perceptions that

Onyema

exist in the minds of people outside Nigeria. The Expo will go same way in addressing the ‘brand perception’ hurdles which Nigeria confronts”.

...Confirms Awe as GM Legal and Regulatory Division

s part of efforts at beefingup its workforce to achieve its transformational agenda,

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LOCAL FLIGHT SCHEDULE Air Nigeria

the United States. She holds LL.M Degrees from Harvard Law School and The London School of Economics and Political Science, as well as an LL.B Degree from Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria.

Nigeria’s non-oil export hits N84bn in six months Stories By Francis Ezem

Awe

The Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) has appointed Tinuade Awe as General Manager (GM) Legal and Regulatory Division (LARD) effective August 1, 2012. Awe who was the Acting Head, Legal Department and Acting Secretary to the Council, will have oversight of The Broker Dealer Regulation, Surveillance, Listing Regulation, Council Secretariat and legal departments respectively. Awe joined The Exchange in August 2010 as a Special Adviser to the Interim Administrator and was retained as Acting Head of the Legal Department and Acting Secretary to the Council after the interim administration. She has a wealth of experience and a solid track record with the United Nations International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia, in The Hague, the Netherlands; the United Nations Compensation Commission in Geneva, Switzerland; and top tier law firms in Nigeria and New York. She has been involved in major regulatory initiatives, including most recently as Project Director of the CBN-SEC Joint Task Force on the Intervened Banks from April to August 2010. “Awe comes to the Exchange with significant experience gained from three continents and we look forward to benefiting from her as we reposition our legal and regulatory program”, said Oscar Onyema, CEO of The Nigerian Stock Exchange. She has over eighteen (18) years of professional experience and is a member of both the Nigerian and New York Bars. She was an attorney for seven years, with the New York office of Simpson Thacher& Bartlett, a leading law firm with global presence. At Simpson Thacher, her clients included global financial institutions and capital markets players. She also represented regulated entities in their dealings with their regulators, including the Office of the Comptroller of Currency and the Securities and Exchange Commission in

easures put in place by the Federal Government to encourage export of non-oil goods to foreign countries may have started yielding results as Nigeria’s export through Apapa Port alone records a total of N83.122bn between January and June 2012. The Federal Government in a bid to encourage the export of non-oil and other allied products as a means of earning foreign exchange introduced some incentives like the Duty Draw Back Scheme, Export Expansion Grant among several others. Statistics released by the Apapa Area 1 Command of the Nigeria Customs Service shows that a total of 452, 355 metric tonnes of agro and allied products were exported through the command between January and June, 2012. The exported goods include cocoa beans, cashew nuts, sesame seeds, ginger, hibiscus flower, gum Arabic, various processed shrimps, palm kernel cake and lead ingots. Also exported were 4.7 million square feet of processed leather, 74, 547 cases of Dettol disinfectant, 65, 420 cases of Maggi Crayfish, 29, 062 cartons of biscuits and sweets, 97, 100 bags of assorted bathrooms slippers and 1.7 million litres of ethyl alcohol; all with a market value of N83.1 million. Details of the figures show that a total of 266, 605. One metric tonnes of cocoa beans, 14, 525.69 metric tonnes of cashew nuts, 20, 513.57 metric tonnes of sesame seed, 985.29 metric tonnes of ginger, 356 metric tonnes of hibiscus flower, 12, 369 metric tonnes of gum Arabic and 1, 520.22 metric tonnes of processed leather were exported through the command in the review period. Also exported were 998.107 metric tonnes of various processed shrimps, 3, 067.7 metric tonnes of palm kernel cake, 97, 100 bags of assorted bathroom slippers, 632.14 metric tonnes of lead ingot, 288 metric tonnes of cocoa cake, 408 metric tonnes of cocoa butter, two million metric tonnes of cotton yarn and 107.47 metric tonnes of zinc ore, ash and skimming. Other exported items

Abdullahi

include 25, 535.07 metric tonnes of aluminium ingot, 33.5 metric tonnes of columbites, 451.96 metric tonnes of copper ingots, 10, 480 Milles of cigarettes, 10, 500 metric tonnes of wheat bran pellets, 657 metric tonnes of re-processed black polythene, 25 metric tonnes of tin and 555.01 metric tonnes of zircon sand; among several others. The total Free On Board value of the goods exported mainly to European and American countries has been put at $519.2 million and 17 million Pounds Sterling, which bring to a total of N83.1bn. In terms of import, the command had within the review period collected a total of N139.2bilion revenue into the Federation Account and other levies and fees for the Federal Government and its agencies. This represents a growth rate of 33 percent compared with the N104.7billion generated in the comparative period of last year. It was at the beginning of the 2012 fiscal year given a N324billion revenue target out of the N1trillion target given to the service by the government, which translates to N27billion per month. After a dismal performance in the first three months of the year, which it attributed to the uncertainties that characterised the beginning of the year such as the fuel subsidy removal and the crisis it generated, the commands revenue collection went up on a monthly basis. For instance, it collected a total of N19.7 billion in April, N24.6 billion in May and set a new record in June, collecting a whopping N36.7billion to surpassing the existing record of N25billion collected in September last year. The command had in January collected N15.4 billion, in February it collected N21.3 billion and in March it collected 21.2 billion. This brings to a total of N57.9 for the first quarter as against the targeted N81 billion on the basis of N27 billion monthly revenue

Los-Abj: 07.15, 11.40, 14.00, 16.30, 17.00, 17.20, 18.30 (Mon-Fri/Sat/Sun) 08.00, 12.40, 13.10, 20.00 (Fri) Abj-Los: 07.00, 09.30, 10.30, 11.15, 16.15, 19.15, 19.25, 19.35 (Mon-Fri/Sat/ Sun) 14.55, 15.15, 20.45 (Fri) 19.45, (Sun) 11.25, 13.35, 16.25 (Mon) Abj-Kano: 18.40 (Mon-Fri/Sun) Kano-Abj: 08.35 (Mon-Fri/Sat) Abj-Sok: 09.35 (Mon) 10.10 (Fri) 11.20, (Wed/Sun) Sok-Abj: 11.35 (Mon) 12.00 (Fri) 13.20, (Wed/Sun) Los-Owr: 14.25 (Tues-Fri/Sun), 12.40 (Mon/Sat) Owr-Los: 14.25, (Tues-Fri/Sun), 14.50 (Mon/Sat)

Arik Air Los-Abj: 07.15, 09.15, 10.20, 15.20, 16.20, 16.50, 18.45 (Mon-Fri/Sat/Sun) Abj-Los: 07.15, 09.40, 10.20, 12.15, 15.15, 16.15, 17.10, (Mon-Fri/Sat); 12.15, 15.15, 16.15 (Sun) Los-PH: 07.15, 11.40, 14.00, 16.10, 17.15, (Mon-Fri) 07.30, 11.40, 15.50 (Sat) 11.50, 3.50, 17.05 (Sun) Abj-PH: 07.15, 11.20, 15.30 (Mon-Fri) 07.15, 16.00 (Sat) 13.10, 16.00, (Sun) PH-Abj: 08.45, 12.50, 17.00 (Mon-Fri) 08.45, 17.30 (Sat) 14.40, 17.30 (Sun) Abj-Ben: 08.00, 12.10 (Mon-Fri/Sat) 08.55, 12.10 (Sun) Ben-Abj: 09.55, 13.30 (Mon-Fri/Sat) 10.50, 13.30 (Sun)

Aero Contractors Los-Abj: 06.50, 13.30, 16.30, 19.45 (Mon-Fri/Sat/Sun) 12.30 (Sun) 16.45 (Sat). Abj-Los: 07.30, 13.00, 19.00 (Mon-Fri/ Sat) 10.30, 14.30, 19.30 (Sun) 18.30 (Sat) Los-Ben: 07.45, 11.00, 15.30, (Mon-Fri/ Sat/Sun) 12.30 (Sun) 15.30 (Mon-Fri/Sat/ Sun) Ben-Los: 09.15, 12.30, 17.00 (Mon-Fri/ Sat/Sun) 17:00 (Sat), 14.00 (Sun)

Akpobolokeni

We will combat illegal arms importation into Nigeria, says NIMASA

he Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency has said that the cases of importation of illegal arms into Nigeria through the sea was assuming a worrisome dimension but assured that the agency is now properly positioned to fight the BC importers no matter how highly

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Business Courage

Monday, August 6, 2012

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

News placed. NIMASA had entered into a N16bn strategic maritime security contract with a private firm, Global West Vessel Specialist Nigeria Limited, allegedly owned by former Niger Delta militants for the supply of platforms Under the contract, GWVSNL will undertake the supply and crew the boats for the policing of the entire stretch of the Nigerian coastline from Lagos to Calabar, Cross River State, with an initial investment of $103,400,000.00 (N16 bn), for 10 years in the first instance, “under a no cure, no pay” arrangement. Director-General of the agency, who spoke at a breakfast meeting in Lagos at the weekend, raised fears over the proliferation of arms and ammunition through the nation’s coastal waters, development that requires an urgent attention. “The number of arms and ammunition coming into the country through our waters is alarming and there is need for NIMASA to know those that are responsible for them. We want to sanitise the Nigerian waters to ensure that the nation is safe from proliferation of arms and ammunition,” he warned. He warned that the agency would not fold its arms and allow economic saboteurs to flood the nation with illegal arms and ammunitions but would rather act fast in order to expose those behind these illegal importation as well as other illegalities on the nation’s territorial waters. “The policing the nation’s territorial waters is crucial to maritime administration and that is why NIMASA entered into Private-Public Partnership to ensure the safety and security of the Nigerian waterways”, he noted. According to him, it was in line with this that the agency took delivery of four units of 1,200 Horse power capacity engine boats to ensure adequate policing of the Nigerian waterways. The boats christened NIMASA Lagos, NIMASA Port Harcourt, NIMASA Warri and NIMASA Burutu were acquired by GW VSL as part of the subsisting PPP contract between the two organisations. It was gathered that the acquisition of the boats was to enable the agency fulfil its mandate of ensuring maritime security and also check the pollution of the nation’s marine environment. “We want to perform our statutory obligations, what the NIMASA Act told us to do is what we want to practice, from environment to safety, from safety to security and so on. Our mandate is to provide safe marine environment,

secure marine environment and pollution -free marine environment”, the NIMASAboss insisted. “Government alone cannot solve the problem of piracy due to the paperwork and the bureaucracy that projects of this nature are usually subjected to. An agency that is involved in search and rescue operations and other emergencies anytime anywhere must not subscribe to the civil service way of doing things, there should be some creativity”, he noted. It was also gathered that NIMASA would henceforth issue manifest to incoming vessels within seven days of their arrival as part of measures to ensure safety and security of the vessels. This new directive might not be unconnected with the rampant cases of underdeclaration and manipulation of imported cargoes on the nation’s coastal waters, a development that has caused the government huge sums of money that would have accrued to it as revenue. While commenting on the incidences of maritime piracy and sea robbery, he noted that some unscrupulous individuals give wrong impressions that suggest Nigeria under heavy attack by pirates to create a feeling of fear and tension in the minds of the people. He noted that such selfish agenda are achieved by raising false alarm to attract global body, adding that in most of those reported cases, the agency discovered that they were non- existent and that the vessels claimed to have attacked never reported to the agency and that sometimes some of the “Well, when there is no piracy attack and you say that there is piracy attack, the purpose is that you want to put Nigeria into a dangerous situation that suggests that her waters are dangerous. That is the only thing they can use as an excuse to increase the insurance by classifying as a high risk zone”, he further stated.

FG to train 100,000 cocoa farmers to boost productivity

By Tola Akinmutimi (Abuja)

he Federal Government said it had concluded plans to train 100,000 cocoa farmers in the next three years as part of current efforts to equip them with skills in the use of modern techniques to improve their productivity and earnings. Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, disclosed this at a media briefing

Adeshina

organised by his Ministry in Abuja to update farmers and other stakeholders in the Cocoa value chain on various initiatives that are being pursued by the ministry to improve cocoa cultivation in the country. Adesina, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Ezekiel Oyemomi, said the training would be carried out in conjunction with World Cocoa Foundation [WCF] based in Washington, DC. The minister explained that arrangements had been finalised for the take-off of the training for 35,000 cocoa farmers in 2012, adding that government is committed to restoring Nigeria’s past glorious era as the largest cocoa producer in the world. Adesina explained: “The Ministry with the support of the majority of stakeholders will remain focused on achieving its objectives of restoring Nigeria to its past glorious position of the largest cocoa producer in the world by faithfully implementing the robust cocoa transformation agenda. “Already, the Ministry has released eight new high yielding, fast maturing cocoa hybrids to revolutionise the cocoa sub-sector. The hybrid varieties yield five times more than the current yield of the existing varieties and mature in two years instead of five years. “These hybrids will have a very significant short and long-term effect on the cocoa industry in Nigeria”, he added. The minister availed the opportunity of the forum to fault claims by the Cocoa Farmers Association of Nigeria that the four agrochemicals listed on the Growth Enhancement Support (GES)of the Federal Government were unpopular, dangerous and harmful to cocoa trees. He pointed out that the said pesticides were screened and registered by the Cocoa Institute of Nigeria [CRIN] and the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control [NAFDAC] before they were approved for use. Therefore, he said the “complaints of the Cocoa Farmers Association of

Nigeria were distracting and destructive and capable of undermining efforts of the Federal Government towards revamping the Nigerian cocoa industry. In addition, the minister said contrary to the farmers’ insinuation, the agrochemicals met all criteria of standardised products globally, adding that “the agrochemicals are also approved by the European Union and have not been de listed by any organisation either locally or internationally.” Curiously, most of the cocoa farmers and their leaders from across the cocoaproducing states at the forum, disassociated themselves from the rumour-peddlers and lauded the government for its current efforts to reenact the glorious old days when cocoa remained a major foreign exchange earner for the country.

Odumodu

‘Adoption of ISO 26000’ll address oil spills problem in Niger Delta’ - SON

By Tola Akinmutimi (Abuja)

he Standard Organization of Nigeria, SON has formalised the adoption of the International Standards Organisation, ISO 26000 guidelines for Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and assured that that the process of guidelines, when finally adopted, would put an end to oil spillage and other environmental hazards in the Niger Delta region. Director General of SON, Dr. Joseph Odumodu, who stated this during a workshop on the Nigerian Adoption Process in Abuja, said it would no longer be business as usual for companies doing business in the country. He therefore called for cooperation between the federal and state governments “to adopt and promote the guideline and ensure that we all imbibe the tenets and principles of ISO 26000.” He said: “We know what has happened in the Niger Delta region before now, but I

can tell you that if we promote ISO 26000 and adopt it in Nigeria, it would be difficult for those kinds of things to happen again in the future”. “ISO 26000 would become a cap of the internal business process in organizations in such a way that whatever you want to do, you have to ask yourself questions like whether ‘is it good for my employees, is it good for the environment, is it good for the business ideals, is it the kind of profit that I would be proud to talk about? At the end of the day, it would be about moralization; you have to do the right thing”, he added. Odumodu explained that the aim of ISO 26000 was to show the path to be followed by providing the core subjects so that an organization willing to follow the standard shall seek to achieve Social Responsibility from its own internal mobilization. He posited that if applied, ISO 26000 would not only offer the balance among safety, economic and environmental standards, but also promote innovation, which on the long run would ensure Nigerian companies conform to global standards. In her remarks at the forum, Chief Executive Officer, ThistlePraxis Consulting Limited, Ini Onuk, recommended that organisations that indulge in sharp practices and do not meet standard in their CSR should be de-listed from Nigerian stock Exchange . She said: “After the successful completion of this adoption exercise to ensure that in the near future organisations who do not meet certain standards will be delisted or not listed on the Nigerian stock Exchange.” “We are looking at a situation like what South Africa has in the Johannesburg Stock Exchange, where they have what they call the Social Responsibility Index. So for every company that is listed in the Johannesburg Stock Exchange, they have to meet the Social Responsibility Index. “It is part of their qualification to be on the Exchange. That is what we are looking at. We are hoping that by the time we adopt this, we would adopt it as an index and part of the requirement for the Stock Exchange,” Onuk stressed She explained further that measures had also been put in place to work with the Ministry of Trade and Investment to ensure that Foreign Direct Investments (FDIs) had a human face and were made to adhere to a sustainable development policy. BC

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Business Courage

A corporate strategist He is a seasoned management and consultant with over 25 years experience in transformational engagements in strategic plan development, organization design/review, financial and performance management, human performance management and leadership development among others. Besides, he sits on the board of several corporate organisations and heads various government’s technical panels and committees across all strata of the economy. He is Adedotun Suleiman, the man who started out as a consulate attaché and walked his way up to become one of Africa’s respected change agent. By Semiu Salami

e is not into manufacturing, like many other entrepreneurs, but in the service industry where he plays, Adedotun Sulaiman has shown unparallel passion, doggedness and sincerity which have not only combined to place him at advantaged position, but have also earned him riches and respect among his peers. He studied Business Administration from the University of Lagos, where he passed out with First Class as one of the pioneer students in 1975. But that degree only provided the stepping stone for him to achieve his desire. Dotun, as he is fondly called, took his search for further academic studies to the Harvard Business School, where he obtained Management Diploma. Immediately after his sojourn in Harvard, he began his career in the Nigerian Foreign Services, where he served as an attaché at the Nigerian Embassy in Washington, United States from 1976 - 1978. Shortly after, in 1978, Dotun joined the Management Information Consulting Division of Arthur Andersen & Co. (later Andersen Consulting, now Accenture) and rose rapidly through the ranks to become a Local Partner in 1984 and a Partner in the Worldwide Firm in 1989. He took over from the founding Managing Partner,

Sulaiman

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the celebrated Dick Kramer in 1993 and remained Country Managing Partner for both Arthur Andersen, the Audit and Tax firm as well as Andersen consulting until 1999. With the complete separation of the consulting business from the Arthur Andersen Worldwide Organisation, he became the Country Managing Director of Accenture, the new name of the independent management and technology consulting arm. A creative and accomplished strategist and the lead partner on several transformational consultancy engagements, especially in the banking and oil and gas sectors, Dotun in March 2005 retired from his executive leadership of Accenture in Nigeria and took on the supporting role of NonExecutive Chairman and an 18-month contractual role to open up business growth opportunities for the firm in the rest of Africa. However, since 2005 when Sulaiman finally disengaged from Accenture after 28 eventful years, he has been actively involved in promoting and supporting start-ups and entrepreneurial stage businesses. He has also invested in many companies, such that, he is today fast becoming a boardroom icon of sort with interests in both quoted and privately owned companies. A respected strategy consultant with a penchant for crafting bold business strategy, he has often been at the forefront in the foundation of several changemaking business initiatives, for example, Interswitch Nigeria and ATM Consortium Nigeria, to mention a few. His expertise, commitment to good corporate governance and community service spirit has meritoriously placed him on the boards of directors of numerous entities, including several not-for-profit organizations. Presently, he sits on the board of many companies like Cornerstone Insurance Plc, Mouka Foam Plc, Interswitch Limited, Secure ID Nigeria Ltd, Ventures & Trusts Limited, Arian Capital Management Limited and Nextzon Business Services Ltd as chairman and he is a non-executive director in Cadbury Plc among others. Dotun is on the board of Sankore Investments, a global investment and advisory boutique with a strong focus on African markets. Sankore Investments draws on the strengths of its people and strong global partnerships to provide investment advisory services, wealth management Continue on pg A8

Business Courage

services and offer a variety of funds designed to cater for the needs of a global clientele of both individuals and institutions. Sankore’s mission is to contribute to the development of Africa by investing in sectors that provide the highest long term economic returns. This mission ensures that it constantly aim to maximize returns to its clients as well as invest in sectors that provide social benefits as well, as in the long term, social and economic benefits are intertwined. Sankore’s core values revolves around intellectual rigour; excellence; integrity and teamwork and it is named after the one of the most famous learning centres of ancient Africa - the Sankore Madrasah of Timbuktu. He is also the chairman of Arian Capital Management Limited, a licensed security dealing company which functions as broker/dealer, portfolio/fund manager. With funds under management in excess of N3.6 billion and its acclaimed deep understanding of the financial market, Sankore has consistently leveraged the unique strengths of its networks and people to provide its select client base with a broad range of investment advisory services. Another business where Dotun Sulaiman also has substantial interest and which he has deployed his vast strategic experience is Nextzon Business Services Limited. Incorporated on March 7, 2005 to carry on business as a corporate venturing and management /business advisory company, Nexton also assists businesses in operating at world class levels and is the custodian and manager of an emerging group of companies which are set up to compete favourably and exploit the commercial opportunities in their various markets. Nexton is an enterprise building company that assists its clients to build and transform their businesses for phenomenal success. Nexton’s business model involves assisting entrepreneurs and start ups in developing bankable business plans, models and strategies that will position them for phenomenal success. It also assist in raising business funds and works with its clients (typically well established organizations) to successfully and speedily enter attractive regional and international markets. Nexton also engages in the provision of business case and post-acquisition modelling and strategy development as well as assisting with overall acquisition strategies. It also

Monday, August 6, 2012

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Sulaiman (right) and Helen Ogboh of First Bank of Nigeria Plc

covers bidding assistance, due diligence and documentation as well as target sourcing and negotiations. It supports management teams with proven track record to take over businesses by working out creative funding structures and raising funds for the buyouts. The company also provides support to clients in the areas of financial control systems support/advice, operational

resource and technology platform for processing all financial transactions and performance management. Nexton’s business process design offering articulates a concrete roadmap for the efficient running of critical operations of a company and this is achieved by a thorough evaluation and understanding of the organization’s business model, its focus and its expected

performance standards along agreed indicators. The company also works with start-ups or informally managed businesses to create institutions that are ‘Built To Last’. This covers enterprise transformation, leadership development, succession planning and formalization of business management. It also engages in strategic alliances with financiers to provide funds for start ups and existing businesses seeking private investors to expand as well as partners with other professionals that compliment its services in meeting client’s

‘

needs. Nexton provides a shared business environment which covers provision of shared office space and infrastructure, shared corporate services among others, which have the effect of significantly reducing business commencement costs under an incubator arrangement. Dotun Sulaiman is the Chairman of Youth Business Initiative Nigeria (YBI), an initiative that works with young people to provide access to financial supports for those with viable business proposition but who are unable to find finance elsewhere. YBI also provide successful applicants with a volunteer business mentor and full access to the organization’s local and international business support network. This would facilitate the creation of viable youth enterprises that will provide new opportunities, foster self – confidence and contribute to sustainable economic development in Nigeria. Youth Business Initiative Nigeria is a member of the international network of Youth Business International UK, which nurtures entrepreneurship spirit in youth by providing them business mentoring and access to finance.YBI Nigeria is a notfor-profit organization initiated in March 2000 by Alero OkotieEboh Jadesimi to address the issues of youth unemployment, poverty alleviation and job creation. It seeks to promote the development of entrepreneurship among youths, enhances development of viable micro and small enterprises through provision of funding, mentorship, and hence, promotion of youth participation in economic development. He is also on the board of MoneyBoxAfrica (MBA) Limited, which was incorporated in 2007 in Nigeria with a vision to be the single largest enabler

However, since 2005 when Dotun Sulaiman finally disengaged from Accenture after 28 eventful years, he has been actively involved in promoting and supporting start-ups and entrepreneurial stage businesses

‘

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Sulaiman

‘

As Chairman of the board of Cornerstone Insurance plc, Sulaiman brought along his wealth of experience which transverse different sectors of the economy with a focus of planting a new seed of professionalism and ethical conduct in the way insurance is practised in the country

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of mobile financial services in Africa. MBA leverages ubiquity of mobile phone and telecom networks to dramatically expand delivery of financial services (savings, payments, insurances and remittances) to primarily the unbanked and under-banked masses in Nigeria. MBA’s all inclusive financial ecosystem transforms any mobile phone into an electronic wallet; enabling dealers at the remotest rural locations deliver financial services to rural dwellers with minimal start-up capital commitment. MBA provides a simple savings and payment system based on scratch cards/ePINS and can be used on any mobile phone. Subscribers can purchase MoneyBox scratch cards from any MBA shop, authorized MBA dealers and remotely save money into their bank accounts (as easy as sending an SMS), pay bills, buy insurance and transfer money to anyone with a mobile phone or bank account at anytime. Paybox solutions AG (“paybox”), the trendsetting company for mobile payment enterprise solutions, founded in 1999 is another business venture in which Dotun Sulaiman has invested both his financial and technical resources. Paybox Solutions was the first to launch massmarketable mobile payment solutions in five European markets, setting up operatorled, national mobile Payment standards in Germany and in Austria and is recognized for having the broadest mobile commerce offering worldwide. Paybox enterprise solutions are deployed across Europe, North and South America, North Africa, the Middle East and Asia. Paybox has since been acquired by Sybase 365 an SAP company. Dotun is also involved in Wireless Warehouse Ltd (WWL), a subsidiary of Kenneth & George Limited, one of Nigeria’s leading channel distributor for all network providers in the country with over N30 billion yearly turnover. The company operates both at the wholesale and retail end of the market with a total of 35 outlets located across Nigeria. Again, Ventures & Trusts Limited (V&T), a nonbank financial institution incorporated 19 years ago to exploit the opportunities in the then newly liberalised financial markets is another investment where the astute consultant is involved. V&T has distinguished itself as a diversified Venture Capital and Investment Management Company providing a broad range of financial consultancy services to high net worth

Business Courage

Monday, August 6, 2012

individuals, corporate bodies and institutions. In the last 18 years, V&T has consistently conducted its affairs with the highest sense of professionalism and an unwavering commitment to integrity and has applied funds under its management in a conservative mix of long-term inflation hedging investments, short-term securities and bank deposits. Its major focus has been the provision of both venture capital funds and financial advisory services to deserving entrepreneurs with economically and financially viable projects,

which contribute towards the development of the Nigerian economy. In 1993, as a direct result of its activities, V&T became the first Nigerian non-governmental private sector financial institution to be appointed as a Financial Intermediary of the European Investment Bank (EIB), Luxembourg. V&T’s experience in private sector finance assisted it in establishing relationships with other international financial institutions as both the International Finance Corporation (IFC) and the

German Investment and Development Company (DEG) are co-financiers of various V&T appraised projects. As a complement to its main thrust (Venture Capital), V&T also provides financial advisory services, asset based (raw materials and commodities) finance, equipment finance, commodity brokerage, fund management and tax advisory services, to existing and startup companies. V&T provides equity capital to companies at all stages of the business cycle - from startup to buyout. Its goal is to assist companies in all phases of the business growth cycles, not just during a specific round or stage of investment. V&T has been involved in providing financial advisory services and raise financing for the development of a 10 storey commercial building at Banana Island, Ikoyi, Lagos. In June 2005, V&T secured a $8.4 million debt facility for the development of the building. V&T was also involved in the development of the Palms Mall Project (an international shopping mall in Victoria Island, Lagos) and was also involved in the raising of financing for the development of an internationally managed 86-room five-star business Hotel with a total project cost of approximately $17 million. As Chairman of the board of Cornerstone Insurance

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plc, Sulaiman brought along his wealth of experience which transverse different sectors of the economy with a focus of planting a new seed of professionalism and ethical conduct in the way insurance is practised in the country. He joined in the campaign for a quality attitude in insurance transaction; consumer protection; prompt payment of claims and admirable underwriterbroker relationship. While it is obvious that some may have misunderstood his position, many who saw the need for positive change applauded his courage for the vanguard of transformation. Apart from his transformational initiatives in the corporate world, Dotun Sulaiman is also playing key role in public sector activities through his involvement in various committees and panels. He was the Chairman of a 15-man Committee of experts set up by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), to review Nigeria’s Capital Market Structure and Processes. His committee recommended farreaching measures which has been widely acclaimed and is the basis of the ongoing reform and transformation of the Nigerian capital market. He was also the chairman of the 19-member Development Committee for Information Technology Business incubation centres inaugurated by the Minister of Information Technology, Mobola Johnson to develop a sustainable framework for a domestic IT Business Incubation framework that would amongst other things, discover, nurture and unleash local talent to drive the growth of the ICT industry, facilitate the commercialization of research results as well as the acquisition and use of state -of -the-art technologies, promote domestic resource exploitation and improve the international competitiveness of the Nigerian ICT industry. He was also a member of the Committee set up by the Federal Minister of Finance to Review Nigerian Insurance Laws and Regulations as well as being a founding member of the Nigerian Economic Summit Group and member of the Summit’s Board since inception in 1993 until December 2006. A 2000 recipient of the Nigerian national honours of Member of the Order of the Federal Republic (MFR), Dotun Sulaiman is also a member of the Board of Governors of the Musical Society of Nigeria (MUSON) until December 2006 and a Trustee of the Corona Schools Trust. BC

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Monday, August 6, 2012

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

ThebuddingEntrepreneurs

A linguist turn

garment maker

Olaide Ogunmade, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Nianto Uniforms, has never worked as an employee since she graduated from the University in 1992. Though she studied English language, her love for garment making is undying. Initially, she ventured into bead making and training, but she realised early that her dreams would not be fulfilled by remaining in that venture. So, she retraced her steps back to where her real passion lies, and within four years, her dreams are gradually coming into fruition with more than twenty industrial machines in her factory and over thirty regular clients to service. By Bamidele Obafemi

laide Ogunmade, a graduate of English language from the Lagos State University can be aptly described as a born entrepreneur. This is because she never felt the urge for working either in the private or public sector to earn salary. “I never worked in my life and this is simply because I find it extremely difficult to imagine myself being caged to a place called an office to work and be paid salary,” she told Business Courage. Indeed, Ogunmade has always wanted to be free to do her things her own way, and so, when she was in the University, she started nursing the ambition of creating employment for herself and other people. Yet, this is a passion which she could not explain where it came from, as both her parents worked to earn money in their active days from both the civil service and the private sector. As an undergraduate in the university, Olaide squeezed out time to learn how to make dresses. First, she bought a small sewing machine with which she could practise on her own, and when her school was shut down for a period of about one year due to internal crisis, she decided to approach a sewing mistress on her street to ask to be trained in the art of making dress. There, she busied herself while a good number of her friends were loafing around, waiting for school to re-open. After graduation, sometime in 1996, she felt the need to upgrade her knowledge in the business of fashion designing so; she registered at Vicky Tinanny, a fashion design training institute, located then at Opebi, Ikeja, Lagos. There, she learnt more about the busi-

ness with a certificate to show for her efforts. But despite her love for making clothes, she started out with bead making and at the same time, training people on how to make money in the business of making beads into necklaces and wrist bands, especially for women. “When I started making beads, I started getting the attention of so many people who would ask me to make jewelleries for them with beads. Before long, I started to get overwhelmed with the number of orders I was getting that I started turning down some”, she said. But that joy of being in a business which apparently was booming did not last long, as Olaide suddenly realised that continuing in the business of making beads would not take her to where she wanted to be. The reality dawned on her, when on a fateful day she paid a visit to one of her mentors to share with her the progress she had made in the business of bead making. “Obviously excited by my progress in the business, I told my mentor that I now turn down orders, as I could not cope with all the orders I was getting from my clients, and I was shocked by the question my mentor asked me”. “And how much put together are all those orders. Can the money from all those orders you are getting to make beads for your customers buy you a piece of land?” she queried. And that was the turning point for Olaide, as she told Business Courage that that singular question led her back to her first love, which is making dress. Her words: “After that encounter with my mentor, as a Christian, I went to

Nianto staff at work in the factory

Ogunmade

God in prayers, asking for direction. I realised that I needed to do something different from bead making and training people on how to make beads. So, one day, I got the inspiration for me to start making uniforms, and as I was wondering how to start doing that, it dawned on me that God had already given me a mentor and my first client”. Olaide later discovered that her decision to go into bead mak-

ing at the initial stage of her entrepreneurial exploration was only a stepping stone to fulfilling her dreams in garment making, because she met both her mentor and first client through the bead making business. Olubunmi Ajayi, Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Lussano Apparels, who now mentors Nianto Uniforms in the business of garment making, was in Olaide’s office to make request for beads. “My mentor is a

wonderful woman. She has never kept anything away from me. She is always willing to reveal every secret about the trade to me. I met her when she came to my office to ask me to make beads for her, and she has been very wonderful ever since”. Incidentally too, Olaide’s first client came to attend her training in bead making when she discovered that she was planning to resign her employment in the bank to run a school business. “I only told her that l can make her uniforms, and she gave me the opportunity to showcase what l can do.

Management Principles

The ten principles of

change management Create ownership eaders of large change programmes must over perform during the transformation and be the zealots who create a critical mass among the work force in favour of change. This requires more than mere buy-in or passive agreement that the direction of change is acceptable. It demands ownership by leaders willing to accept responsibility for making change happen in all of the areas they influence or control. Ownership is often best created by involving people in identifying problems and crafting solutions. It is reinforced by incentives and rewards. These can be tangible (for example, financial compensation) or psychological (for example, camaraderie and a sense of shared destiny).

Communicate the message Too often, change leaders make the mistake of believing that others understand the issues, feel the need to change, and see the new direction as clearly as they do. The best change programmes reinforce core messages through regular, timely advice that is both inspirational and practicable. Communications flow in from the bottom and out from the top, and are targeted to provide employees the right information at the right time and to solicit their input and feedback. Often this will require over communication through multiple, redundant channels. Assess the cultural landscape Successful change programmes pick up speed and intensity as they cascade down, making it critically important that leaders understand and account for culture and behaviours at each level of the organization. Companies often make the mistake of assessing culture either too late or not at all. Thorough cultural diagnostics can assess organizational readiness to change, bring major problems to the surface, identify conflicts, and define factors that can recognize and influence sources of leadership and resistance. These diagnostics identify the core values, beliefs, behaviours, and perceptions that must be taken into account for successful change to occur. They serve as the common baseline for designing essential change elements, such as the new corporate vision, and building the infrastructure and programs needed to drive change. Address culture explicitly Once the culture is understood, it should be addressed as thoroughly as any other area in a change programme. Leaders should be explicit about the culture and underlying behaviours that will best sup-

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Business Courage A11 29

Monday, August 6, 2012

ThebuddingEntrepreneurs

And today, by the grace of God, she has remained our client, and our businesses are growing together”. From a humble beginning, Nianto Uniforms, which specialises in making uniform for corporate organisations and public sector establishments among others, have more than 30 clients on its list. At the moment, the company, which is located at Ogba in Lagos State, boasts of about 20 Industrial Machines with 20 regular staff. At the beginning, however, Olaide was the only staff of Nianto Uniforms, toiling all alone to make all the garments. Bogged down by

pressure and the realisation that the business could not thrive all alone, she decided to rest the business for a while, until after she realised that it has to run as a company to flourish. But that did not begin until March 2008. Expectedly, starting-up was not a bed of roses for Nianto Uniforms. As at the time the firm fully took off in 2008, Olaide could hardly afford to buy even regular machines. She revealed that but for financial assistance from relatives and friends; Nianto Uniforms may not have become a reality today. “I couldn’t get the fund to buy machines after l left Vicky. But fortunately, a lady was relocating from the country then, and l seized the opportunity to buy some of her machines. It was a lot of money but we borrowed money and we paid later. It was my first industrial machine. I bought and l kept it,” she said. Olaide’s husband, she confessed, has been a key sponsor of Nianto Uniforms as he helped to fast track the process of setting up the business by helping the company to acquire the necessary equipment. “When l wanted to start the uniform business, my husband sponsored me, and we were able to acquire some machines from some Chinese that were selling all sorts of fabric machines then. The funding was basically from my husband. My husband has really been supportive and he is also interested in the

port the new way of doing business, and find opportunities to model and reward those behaviours. This requires developing a baseline, defining an explicit end-state or desired culture, and devising detailed plans to make the transition. Company culture is an amalgam of shared history, explicit values and beliefs, and common attitudes and behaviours. Change programmes can involve creating a culture (in new companies or those built through multiple acquisitions), combining cultures (in mergers or acquisitions of large companies), or reinforcing cultures (in, say, long-established consumer goods or manufacturing companies). Understanding that all companies have a cultural centre — the locus of thought, activity, influence, or personal identification — is often an effective way to jump-start culture change. Prepare for the unexpected No change programme goes completely according to plan. People react in unexpected ways; areas of anticipated resistance fall away; and the external environment shifts. Effectively managing change requires continual reassessment of its impact and the organization’s willingness and ability to adopt the next wave of transformation. Speak to the individual Change is both an institutional journey and a very personal one. People spend many hours each week at work; many think of their colleagues as a second family. Individuals (or teams of individuals) need to know how their work will change, what is expected of them during and after the change programme, how they will be measured, and what success or failure will mean for them and those around them. Team leaders should be as honest and explicit as possible. People will react to what they see and hear around them, and need to be involved in the change process. Highly visible rewards, such as promotion, recognition, and bonuses, should be provided as dramatic reinforcement for embracing change. Sanction or removal of people standing in the way of change will reinforce the institution’s commitment. Most leaders contemplating change know that people matter. It is all too tempting, however, to dwell on the plans and processes, which don’t talk back and don’t respond emotionally, rather than face up to the more difficult and more critical human issues. But mastering the “soft” side of change management needn’t be a mystery. BC By John Jones and DeAnne Aguirre, both vice presidents with Booz Allen Hamilton in New York and Matthew Calderone, a Senior Associate

business. He can look at you now and tell you what size of shirt you should put on,” she said. Olaide has never borrowed from any bank, and it does not appear she is ready to look in that direction in the years ahead, as she says a grant would be more appreciated by Nianto Uniforms. Meanwhile, like many other business owners in Nigeria, Olaide’s Nianto Uniforms has many challenges confronting it. “It has not been very rosy. Our number one problem is power as you can’t run any industrial machine without electricity. All our machines are industrial except for a staff that has refused to improve on himself who has continued to use the regular sewing machine. Getting fabrics for our clients has also been a bit challenging. There was a particular fabric which required a month for us to source. This is perhaps, because, we still go to the open market to buy our fabrics for now as we have not yet attained the level of importing fabrics direct from abroad”, she confessed. But besides the challenges of power, sourcing of fabrics among others, the biggest one for the Nanto Uniform which also is peculiar to the industry in which it operates is manpower. “These tailors are wonderful people but they can be very difficult to manage”, she said. In spite of this, however, Olaide has devised the means to manage her staff for effective service delivery. She told Business Courage that her secret was to come down to the level of her workers. “What I do to keep them is coming down to their level. I take them as my own. They have free access to my office and we discuss personal issues as it regards their welfare and the company in general”. Since knowledge is germane to performance, Olaide is not leaving any stone unturned to seek fresh information that will help promote the growth of the business. She disclosed that she has gone for various refresher courses to update her knowledge. “There is one that l must attend probably by the end of August”, she disclosed. Notwithstanding the challenges militating against the growth of businesses in Nigeria, Nianto Uniforms believe they can reach the top. Her dream for the business in the next five years is to have a factory of her own and create employment for more Nigerians. Besides, she hopes to expand the scope of the business as she diversifies into events management. “In the next five years, l see myself in my own factory, which will be a three storey building. The ground floor of that building will be an Event Centre for people who need space to let for social events. We hope to have increased the number of staff in our factory to over 100 tailors with about 120 Industrial Machines to make uniforms in commercial quantity. “Sam & Sarah is our mirror, l know one day we will catch up with them and probably surpass them”, she added. BC

Personal Finance Personality types that can harm your business

he candidate interviewed for a sales position at a particular consulting firm, won the boss over with her work experience, friendof-a-friend connection and good looks. But it didn’t take long after she started working for her to prove herself a nightmare employee. She refused to write sales proposals even after she was sent to a high flying training school on the topic. She didn’t meet sales quotas and grew abrasive at any kind of feedback. Within months, she’d managed to convince an intern at the eight-person firm to quit. Company morale was suffering. Employees would gather behind closed doors to complain. What makes the situation particularly compelling was that the company specializes in personality assessment and training. However, with this particular recruit, It shows that even the most perceptive business owners can make a bad hire when they don’t pay attention to the right signs. Discussed hereunder, are three personality types that can bring down your business and how you can spot them in an interview.

The Narcissist One of the most dangerous personality types in the workplace is the narcissist but it’s quite easy to make the mistake of hiring a narcissist because they are often charismatic and radiate self-confidence. But a narcissist will manipulate others in the office, be careless about commitments, and will refuse to admit or learn from mistakes. In fact, they have some of the same personality traits as psychopaths. How to spot them: A narcissist will have a swagger, so watch a job candidate’s body language closely for signs of cockiness. When you ask candidates about their experience working in teams, do they focus exclusively on themselves or make deprecating remarks about teammates? Those are red flags that you might have a narcissist on your hands. The Social Loafer While this individual’s behaviour is far more passive than that of a narcissist, it’s this very

passivity that will drive you and your employees insane. People who are inordinately lazy when it comes to working in teams can be just as damaging to your business as narcissists. This personality type is particularly problematic in a small business where every individual counts. Social loafers let others do their work for them and take on a passive-aggressive attitude in the office. Such behaviour will create resentment in others who feel they have to pull more weight. How to spot them: You need to assess a candidate’s energy level during the job interview. To get a sense of how much energy people have, pay attention not only to what they are saying, but also to how they are saying it. You could get a prospective candidate to get a cup of coffee during the interview. It’s a subtle way to get them moving and see if they can keep up with you. The Hyper-Emotional Hire While most people can keep their emotions in check during a job interview, they may be keeping feelings of aggression under wraps. They might act charming and delightful, even if they are a monster on wheels. They know how to control that. Hyper-emotional personality types can be resistant to rules, pessimistic and whiny. This is the type of employee who slams doors and is constantly complaining. Other employees will feel the need to tiptoe around them, and all that explosive negativity can be contagious. How to spot them: Even hyper-emotional job candidates will know better than to complain during an interview. Ask them what they didn’t like about their previous job or boss and you’ll likely get a rehearsed response. But if you press them for two such examples and challenge them to be more specific, you’ll force them to have to answer on the fly. Watch for their reaction: Do they get huffy when you challenge them? Do they offer lessons learned or focus only on the negatives? BC

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Business Courage

Still moving at a

snail speed More than a year after the mobile money providers were licensed to fast track the cashless policy, operators say the service is being held down by various challenges ranging from network failures, interoperability and high tariff among others

Monday, August 6, 2012

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Highlighting infrastructure challenges such as power and telecommunications as major factors hindering deployment of PoS in Lagos, Umeano specifically identified incessant GPRS network downtime as a major huddle to be crossed in PoS deployment, saying “every voice network downtime translates to GPRS downtime.” While blaming the telecoms operators for consistent PoS downtime, he noted that NIBSS

will drive this initiative. I think we are yet to really enter the informal sector, because the bulk of adoption will come from them. Also, I can say that there are still issues with the inter-operability of networks, I mean from the telecommunications operators. The networks are not fast and cheap, as we would have wanted. But I think we are looking at that now,” she said. According to her, the Lagos initiative started on a low pace

1.2.5 per cent. One of the merchants, Francis Okeke of Bahali Stores, decried the slow start of the cashless policy but blamed it on the attitude of the uneducated who he said are more in number than the enlightened ones willing to use cards for transactions. “We are not able to use the device as often as we want because of network problems. Also, people find it difficult to operate the PoS device because there are several

had made available various technologies such as GPRS, WiFi, CDMA, DSL, LAN to ensure reliable PoS operations. On her own part, the Partner/Advisory, KPMG, Bisi Lamikanra, while condemning the insufficiency and unevenly spread of the over 80,000 PoS deployed in Lagos, added that there was also the frequent instances of PoS terminals deployed but yet to be configured and setup for use. The Executive Director, Business Development, NIBSS, Christabel Onyejekwe, lamenting the slow adoption of the cashless economy initiative in Lagos said poor awareness on the part of the operators, especially in the informal sector has been the major setback as she also identified challenges with inter-operability of networks from the telecommunications operators. According to her, the technicalities of mastering the usage of the PoS terminals and other technologies deployed are among the challenges, but stressed that “the training we are presently carrying out will help to tackle that challenge.” “There are still challenges with awareness creation that

and the adoption has not been at a faster rate even as she admitted that the challenges are obvious. “We can’t say we have recorded the required penetration looking at the population of Lagos. We started this race in August last year, but the belief is that by the time we overcome these challenges in Lagos, implementation in other parts of the country won’t really pose a major challenge,” she submitted. However, PoS merchants said that the non deployment of the PoS arises from the delay in crediting merchants’ accounts and the high tariff on transactions, stressing that a one-day transaction settlement cycle and a reduction in tariff would help the entire process., Citiserve Merchant Congress, Managing Director/CEO Eronic Stores, Prince Eroni, said the delay in having transactions cleared was frustrating their efforts at selling the policy to the ordinary man on the street. He said that the banks and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) should work towards achieving a one-day settlement cycle and further reduction of the transaction fee below the current

menus on it that are hard for even the educated customers to operate. Some customers are also afraid of fraud and in this regard, we urge the authorities to put in more effort to educate ordinary Nigerians,” he said. Chief Executive Officer of Citiserve, Lola Ogunbambi, who admitted that cases of transaction delays, communication problems, change in sales staff and preference for cash still existed, stressed that Citiserve was working hard to ensure that issues reported to it were resolved as quick as possible. She however tasked the merchants to help in educating their customers on the need to embrace the cashless policy so that they will not be left behind as the CBN is not going back on the policy. Ogunbambi highlighted security of cash, encouraging more sales, commissioning of other PoS products closer relationship with customers and their banks as some of the things the CBN seek to achieve through the cashless policy. Another merchant, Nancy Obika said the transaction fee has to be reduced further to encourage them to use the

By Adejuwon Osunnuyi

hen Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, came up with the idea of the cashless economy policy last year, it was aimed at reducing the amount of physical cash in circulation and to encourage more electronicbased transactions. Regarded as a policy that would make people use less of cash for transaction, other major reason include breaking down the traditional barriers hindering financial inclusion of millions of Nigerians into the banking sector through low-cost, secure and convenient financial services to urban, semiurban and rural areas across the country. Besides, with the high cost of printing new banks notes as a result of bad handling, the cashless policy was nonetheless seen as a right policy to address this and many other issues facing the banks and the nation’s economy. Essentially, under the policy in which its pilot scheme started in Lagos in January 2012, financial transactions are expected to be done through the use of Automated Teller Machines (ATM), Point of Sales terminals (PoS), internet banking and largely the mobile money system. The mobile money platform, a technology-driven payment system expected to capture the large number of unbanked, is essentially a payment system that allows users to make payments with their GSM phones. Under the payment system, customers can do their normal basic financial transactions on a daily basis by making payments for goods and services or by engaging in personto-person transfer directly on their GSM phones. For instance, a customer could make payment through a mobile phone after purchases have been made at a grocery store while the shop owner in turn, receives instant payment electronically. One important thing about mobile money is the fact that it thrives on agency network, thereby taking traditional banking and

its cumbersome processes in the cities to the streets in sub-urban areas where accredited mobile money agents also operate. But, more than a year that the mobile money providers in the country were licensed and approved by the CBN to commence the cashless policy, despite its acclaimed potentials to revolutionize access to financial services in the country, the system could be said not to have been all that acceptable as banks and stakeholders are discovered to still be struggling to get to catch up with challenges. According to industry watchers, the need to strengthen infrastructure and create wide-range acceptability of e-payment products and services remained a major challenge for operators and banks. For instance, while the CBN is having a target of deploying over 400,000 PoS by 2015, out of the 151,717 PoS terminals already registered on the platform of the Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement System Plc, recent revelations have shown that only 88,622 units have been deployed thus leaving the number of unused PoS terminals in the cash-less Lagos initiative at a whooping 62,095. Even at that, the figures already deployed are still faced with poor connectivity and downtime. The CBN had set a target of 2015 for the deployment of over 400,000 PoS. It also hoped to accelerate PoS density in the country to 2,247 per 100,000 people by the end of this year. According to the CBN, the PoS density per 100,000 people in Nigeria is 13; India’s is 67; Uganda, 453; Namibia, 338; Malaysia, 1,063; and South Africa, 1,063. The target for Nigeria, according to the bank, is to meet Brazil’s PoS deployment rate of 2,247 per 100,000 people by 2015. To Chidi Umeano, CBN Head of Shared Services, though registered PoS on the NIBSS platform had reached 151,717, the “gap between registered versus deployed, is mostly due to lack of capacity on the part of the PTSPs to meet the demand.”

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product. “I think that aside addressing the problem of downtime, the next thing that the regulator needs to do is to further reduce the transaction fee. That will encourage many of us to use the terminals more often,” she said. Lanre Raheem, Manager, Merchant Service, Diamond Bank Plc., said that merchants need to ensure that the cards are properly inserted, and the right Personal Identification Number (PIN) used. He advised merchants to always confirm payment through printed receipts, adding that even where customers receive debit alert, such is not a guarantee that they have paid. “If a customer tells you that he has paid because there is a debit alert in his phone, do not part with your goods. You must confirm payment through printed receipt from the PoS,” he said. The Executive Secretary and Chief Executive Officer, E-Payment Providers Association of Nigeria, Onajite Regha, said the Nigerian Interbank Settlement System has signed Service Level Agreements with MTN and Glo for the provision of dedicated data SIM cards for the PoS. “Right now, NIBSS is using more than six telecommunications companies to support the PoS terminals. There are places where GPRS connection is not practicable; in such places, we use CDMA or Internet Protocols. If there are clustered areas where network is particularly bad, NIBSS can advise the telecoms companies to either boost signals or they will provide a public IP. So, you see a lot of work is going on. “What we are pleading is for understanding on the part of the customers. The reason we are having so much public outcry is because people have not really appreciated the benefits of the cash-less society to them personally. The benefits are enormous for the country and we should be patient with the

Sanusi

Business Courage A13 31

Monday, August 6, 2012

industry. The more we demand for the use of these alternative channels, the more the telecoms companies will see a business case to invest more in data,” she said. Regha said some merchants were not yet very comfortable with alternative channels, especially the PoS as she added that the PTSPs had a responsibility to ensure that the PoS were up and running. She said, “One thing you must understand is that payment providers have made huge investments in providing alternatives to cash. So, it is also in their interest for it to succeed.” Emmanuel Okoegwale, Principal Associate, MobileMoneyAfrica, said lack of clarity over current regulation and lack of focus on the agency network remained the key obstacles. Speaking in the same vein at the just concluded cashless 2012 national conference by the Nigerian Computer Society, (NCS), stakeholders in the Nigerian Information Communications Technology expressing their fears observed that except many challenges including legislation,

lack of PoS at priority locations, poor telecommunications infrastructure, lack of user awareness, inter-operability of various platforms, diversified security threats from various sources, identity theft among others were resolved, the cashless policy may be derailed. Tope Aladenusi, Head, Information and Technology Risk and Enterprise Risk Services of Akintola Williams Deloitte said the payment channels introduced by the cashless initiative have witnessed increase in systems attacks worldwide while breaches will continue to grow. According to him, “The attacks are becoming more sophisticated. More breaches are targeted by system components. Criminals target the easiest opportunities. Nigeria must be well prepared. Let us not be in a hurry to go cashless. We have to put the house well otherwise; the fraudsters will take over the payment channels. Speaking on the vulnerability of the ATMs across the country, most ATM machines, he said were based on a Windows operating system while having a standard PC architecture which may have vulnerabilities that increases their risk exposure. Speaking on data security of customers, Chris ‘E Onyemenam, the Director General/CEO National Identity Management Commission, (NIMS) said that there was need for a reliable identity management sector to drive the cashless policy. “The security of data of banking customers is essential because of fraudsters who were prepared to also migrate to cashless. NIMS is central to the success of a cashless economy project – a secure UIDI is a precondition for financial inclusion. Deployment strategy focused on update-able database and secure identity authentication are all essential to drive the policy. In many part of Africa, mobile money services are moving from being an alternative channel to becoming the main channel for providing basic financial and payment services for the banked and unbanked. Adoption is growing at exponential rate in

East Africa and some parts of Southern Africa. Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda and Zimbabwe are new frontiers. Recent studies showed than 43 per cent of Ugandans and 24 per cent of Rwandans use mobile money services while Ecocash, a runaway success in Zimbabwe has ambitions to become the biggest bank in Zimbabwe. In Kenya, for instance, the potential of mobile phones to revolutionize access to financial services in developing countries is exemplified powerfully by the success of the Safaricom’s M-Pesa mobile money service. M-Pesa success story has focused the global attention on Kenya as the leading edge of the mobile money revolution. Currently, M-Pesa allows users to hold money in a virtual ‘stored value’ account maintained in a server by the telecoms provider and operated by users through their mobile phone. Users can deposit or withdraw cash with a local M-Pesa agent while they can then use their available balance to send money to other mobile phone users, buy airtime (for themselves or for another prepaid phone), or store money. M-Pesa’s success in Kenya is driven by mobile operator Safaricom’s ability to tap into a large domestic remittance market through its popular slogan ‘send money home’. In just over two years, it has attracted seven million subscribers. But the apparent difficulty of replicating M-Pesa’s success even in neighbouring countries, experts say, suggests that some contexts may be more receptive to such an innovation than others and Nigeria may just be one. Tayo Oviosu, Paga CEO, says the company which is one of the money providers has a target of 15 million users in three years but currently has about 128,384 users on its list. “We’re trying to be realistic about how the service will grow. We need a critical mass of agents. But we think we’ll get to a million users next year,” he said. While about 90-95 per cent of all transactions are done through agents, the number of agents that are ready to carry out the mobile money services has not also been encouraging. For instance, currently, Paga has 850 agents in 19 cities across Nigeria. but the average transaction so far has been between N3,500-N4,000 ($22-25) while the primary services used are money transfer, bill payment and airtime purchase. Most users of mobile money for now are said to be those using it to pay for Dstv monthly subscription fees and phone recharge cards. BC

MultiChoice hikes subscription rates By Adejuwon Osunnuyi

ultiChoice, Nigeria’s leading pay-Tv provider has announced a slight increment on some of its bouquets in a win-win offer that enables DStv subscribers who renew their subscription before it expires stand to pay less on the old tariffs. The new subscription fees which takes effect from September 1, 2012 include DStv family from N2,800 to N3,000; DStv Compact from N4,800 to N5,000, DStv Compact Plus from N7,000 to N7, 500 and DStv Premium, from N10,000 to N11,000. However, the company says there is no increase in prices of DStv Access which remains at N1, 500, while the Dual View Access fees and the access fee for HDPVR both remain at N1, 800. John Ugbe, Managing Director of MultiChoice, Nigeria the rate adjustment was necessitated by ongoing company’s operational and ancillary costs which include content acquisition and development, technical infrastructure, satellite lease, facilities and maintenance. Ugbe, while soliciting for DStv subscribers’ understanding emphasised that while the company is committed to keeping subscription prices low, it is forced to implement an increase in order to continue to provide quality programming, improved customer service and deliver on its promise to remain the choice pay entertainment destination on the African continent. He said that the pay-TV provider would be offering a 10 per cent special off the new subscription rates to interested subscribers who make payment before subscription expires as part of a special offer which comes into effect from October 1. According to him, this implies that each month a subscriber pays ahead of the service expiration, he gets a 10 per cent rebate on the subsequent month’s payment and this continues as long as the circle is unbroken. “We are mindful of the current economic challenges and the impact on the purchasing power given the myriad of competinfg needs. As a family-oriented company, we have proposed this deal aimed at creating a win-win situation that ensures that this increase has no negative impact on our subscribers who take up our offer. Our esteemed subscribers will have an opportunity to pay less than they were previously paying,” ugbe said.

Continue on pg A14

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Business Courage

Transition Networks partners Teledom to boost broadband enhancement Stories by Adejuwon Osunnuyi

n order to enhance the mass deployment of broadband in Nigeria, Transition Networks Inc. USA has concluded plans to work in partnership with Teledom International Limited to launch its range of transition products in the country. Transition Networks is an American company offering networking products that enable ICT Infrastructure builders, network designers and builders, systems integrators and network operators deliver and manage their networks efficiently, excellently and cost-effectively. The collaboration between the two companies will see Teledom International Limited, a leading broadband infrastructure and technology provider in Nigeria distributing world class products of Transition Networks in the Nigeria’s vibrant Information and Communications Technology market. Teledom International Limited offers to its esteemed customers conglomeration of products and services from site survey, installation, commissioning to back-up services as a matter of corporate commitment. Its products include Smart Classroom, Smart Building, Smart City, Smart Campus, Smart Government, Smart Hospital, etc. Specifically, Transition Networks offers Enterprise Network Solutions including Ethernet Switches, Routers, Fiber Modules, Media Converters and Network Management Solutions. Others are Optic Fibre Network for Data, Voice & Video; Mobile Backhaul Applications; Connectors; Access Control and Video Surveillance Systems for homeland and national security operations. The company essentially provides reliable network devices of the future applicable in Government, Education, Industry (processing, manufacturing & infrastructure),

Telecommunications, Information Technology, Banks, Electronic Media, Security, etc. Zal Admani, director of Sales, Europe, Middle East and Africa, Transition Networks, said the firm essentially provides reliable network devices of the future applicable in government, education, industry (processing, manufacturing & infrastructure), telecommunications, IT, banks, electronic media, security among others. He explained that top-level representatives of Transition Networks would be on hand to deliver product presentations and interact extensively with participants at the launch with a view to establishing business relationships of long-term mutual rewards to all parties. With over 20 years of growth and expertise in hardware manufacturing, Admani said the firm can affordably integrate the benefits of fiber optics into any data network – in any application – in any environment, adding that there are offering support for multiple protocols, any interface, and a multitude of hardware platforms. Commenting on the partnership, Dr. Emmanuel Ekuwem Chief Executive Officer, Teledom International, said the partnership would bolster improved broadband penetration with the array and supply of equipment. Ekuwem, who said there was need for full broadband deployment in the country, urged the Nigerian Communications Commission to start spreading infrastructure across the country so as to ensure even and rapid penetration. Top level representatives of Transition Networks are expected be on hand to deliver product presentations and interact extensively with participants at the launch with a view to establishing business relationships of long term mutual rewards to all parties. The integration of MILAN Technologies into Transition Networks facilitated the expansion of Transition Networks product portfolio to include a complete line of multilayer switches. The company has since added technologies such as fiber NICs, CWDM, and SFPs to further expand its offerings to customers wanting to manage and utilize the benefits of fiber optics.

Etisalat makes browsing more exciting with new Opera mini bundles

A Ekuwem

s part of its commitment to provide world class and cost-friendly services to its various subscribers across the country, Etisalat Nigeria has launched new customised

Monday, August 6, 2012

Dada

Opera Mini Bundles which will give subscribers the opportunity to enjoy super-fast browsing on their mobile phones at affordable costs. Opera Mini 7, which is a browser that compresses data and loads faster, is a firstof-its-kind to be launched in Nigeria as Etisalat Nigeria provides the special Opera Mini bundles for Etisalat subscribers. While it is accessible by over 5,000 mobile device models, the bundle comes in two variants which customers can select from, namely the Social bundle and Sports bundle and operates on the latest Opera Mini browser version 7. The Social bundle gives subscriber’s daily access to social networking sites m.facebook.com, m.twitter.com and m.naijapals.com; while the Sports bundle gives subscriber’s daily access to m.goal. com, Opera Sport - http:// sports.opera.com, and ESPN - http://m.espn.go.com all at N50 per day. Speaking on the new offerings, Chief Commercial Officer, Etisalat Nigeria, Wael Ammar said the introduction of the new service is to boost subscribers browsing experience. According to him, the bundles are a result of research and customer feedback that the native browsers on their phones are often slow and do not format pages appropriately for mobile phones, making viewing of such pages small and boring. “At Etisalat, listening to customers is a crucial part of our business which we take very seriously. We haven’t just launched the Opera Mini browser but have taken it a step further by creating data bundle plans for the convenience of our customers. We monitored the top visited sites via mobile and created data plans which will enable our subscribers enjoy all day browsing of those sites at an affordable daily fee. Based on our findings, we created the Social and Sports bundles. Our customers are in for an unparalleled experience with our 3.75G network and the Etisalat Opera Mini bundles”, he said. Director, Products and Services, Etisalat Nigeria, Lucas Dada said that for customers

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to take advantage of this service, they must first subscribe to the bundle and thereafter visit http://m.opera.com to download the browser for free. “To subscribe for the Opera Mini Social bundle, subscribers should send the word ‘Social’ to the short code 343 and to subscribe for the Opera Mini Sports bundle, subscribers should send the word ‘Sports’ to the code 343,” he explained. Subscribers who do not wish to purchase any of the bundles can simply download the Opera Mini browser at the normal data rates. Etisalat within three years has provided superb broadband internet services to customers and is still introducing more services that would enable customers enjoy interactions on the internet with their mobile devices.

Fashola opens Samsung engineering academy

s part of its goal to develop 10, 000 electronics engineers across Africa by 2015, Lagos State governor, Babatunde Fashola, SAN, has commissioned the first Samsung Engineering Academy in West Africa. The Academy, located within the premises of Government Technical College, Agidingbi, Ikeja was built by Samsung Electronics West Africa, in partnership with the Lagos Eko Secondary Education Project, a World Bank assisted initiative aimed at improving the quality of public secondary education. Speaking during the commissioning, Fashola noted that there is an urgent need to develop technical skills in students noting that existing technicians must have knowledge that are relevant to modern technology. According to him, “Upcoming technicians must be exposed to cutting edge technology if they must remain competitive. There is no doubt that a sound knowledge of modern technology is the most important resource for entrepreneurship and wealth creation for technicians. Commending Samsung for partnering with the Lagos State Government on the Academy, he stressed that the college is not only a knowledge hub but will also open up job opportunities for the people of Lagos which is in line with his administration’s drive to create jobs especially for young citizens. Also speaking at the event, the Managing Director, Samsung Electronics West Africa, Nicholas Shin said the company’s aim is to promote co-operation, innovation, wealth creation and to facilitate thought leadership in communities where they operate in

response to the real need and conditions. “Samsung Engineering Academy is our CSR initiative, undertaken in response of the need to train skilled workforce of technicians who will become service experts empowered to create wealth. Samsung as a quality serviceoriented company aims to link CSR activities to sustain our level of innovation, which can only be achieved if we invest in quality education to empower the youth”, he said. The Samsung Electronics Engineering Academy, equipped with the latest electronics, is aimed at addressing the dearth of technical and engineering skills in Nigeria by providing hands-on, technical skills training for secondary school students. Students selected will go through a year’s program in engineering skills, aligned to technical school curriculum. Upon completion of the programme, graduating students are automatically eligible for internship at Samsung’s Channel partners. Outstanding performers stand a good opportunity to work as independent service technicians or employees in the company’s retail channel outlets. They are also qualified to participate in a year-long leadership opportunity at Samsung Electronics headquarter in South Korea as part of the 100 African young leaders program. Samsung started the first phase of the academies in South Africa in March 2011. The South African Academy officially ended its pilot phase of the program as the first class of students graduated in January, 2012. In February, a second Academy was launched in Kenya. The academies are a part of the company’s global ‘Hope for Children’ initiative, which places a strategic focus on bringing attention to the worldwide need for childhood education and healthcare in an effort to improve communities worldwide. Other examples of Samsung Africa’s education initiatives include the worldfirst Solar Powered Internet School model designed to address the issue of rural connectivity, and the Samsung E-learning Centres aimed at enhancing learning and teaching through the use of modern technology. Along with the Samsung Electronics Engineering Academies, these programs are part of the company’s global ‘Hope for Children’ initiative, which places a strategic focus on bringing attention to the worldwide need for childhood education and healthcare in an effort to improve communities worldwide. BC

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Monday, August 6, 2012

Reflections with Semiu Salamii 07043280449 sms only

The new Lagos Road Traffic law

ast week Thursday, Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN), signed into law, the much talked-about Lagos Road Traffic Bill, which the government insists was enacted to curtail needless loss of lives, arising from flagrant flouting of traffic laws by Lagos motorists. The law prohibits eating, drinking, counting money, making phone calls, texting, pinging or engaging in other dangerous activities while driving. The law also prohibits trailers and heavy duty trucks, except those carrying petrol from entering the state or travelling within the state metropolis between 6a.m and 9p.m. it also outlaws operators of the commercial motorcycle, tricycle, wheel-barrow and cart pushers from operating along the Lagos-Ibadan expressway, Apapa-Oshodi Expressway, Ikorodu Road, Agege Motor Road, Funsho Williams Avenue, Eko Bridge, Third Mainland Bridge, Carter Bridge, Lagos-Badagry Expressway, Victoria Island-Lekki-Epe Expressway and all bridges. Where permitted, commercial motorcyclist can only operate between 6am and 8pm. Motorcycles of courier companies are exempted - on the provision that they must have an engine capacity of 200cc, carry prescribed number plates and identifica-

tion, be fitted with proper mail cabin and must not carry any passenger. Also, under the new law, it is henceforth an offence to sell alcoholic drinks, herbal or pharmaceutical drugs within 100 metres of a bus stop, terminus or motor park; hawk, vend or offer for sale any item of goods or services or beg or solicit for alms or engage in cleaning windscreens or any part of a vehicle on the highway or bridge. Other offences include displaying of wares on walkways, dropping or picking of passengers on fast lanes or undesignated bus-stop by commercial vehicles. Also contained in the new law is the prohibition of activities of National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) across the various motor parks in the state. While admitting that it recognises the right for NURTW members to associate, the government says it believes that the motor parks should be made easy for those who want to carry out their business of commuting in the state to do so without interference. Defaulters of the new law will be liable to a fine of N20, 000 for first offender and N30, 000 for subsequent offences or maximum of three years imprisonment or both subsequently for offenders. Defaulting trailers will be impounded and offenders will pay N50, 000 fine or imprisonment for

six months. No doubt, Lagos deserves a well regulated traffic law because of the chaotic traffic situation, but I am yet to be convinced that the present crop of law enforcers, as we have it in the Lagos State Transport Management Agency (LASTMA), officials are properly schooled to implement the law. Besides, the undue emphasis on monetary punishment may cast serious aspersion on the genuineness of the government’s action. For me, it is not enough for the government to impose monetary fine on defaulters as there are other punitive measures that when appropriately applied, would serve as deterrent to those who are incurably disposed to flouting traffic rules. In my mind, the issue of subjecting defaulters to undergo compulsory community services like sweeping of roads or other menial jobs for a specific number of timeline appears more corrective than the option of tines. Besides, for this law to be properly appreciated, the officials of LASTMA need to be properly tutored to make them more civil in approach and more importantly, ensure that they don’t turn themselves to demigods. Unless their orientations are properly re-tuned, this law would create a further avenue for corrupt ones among

them to harass motorists for the purposes of enriching themselves. I agree that the law, if carefully implemented and religiously followed by Lagosians will make citizens live better as it will make the road safer for them, improve their life expectancy and solve their environmental and public health issues. I also agree that safeguarding the citizens life and property remains a key responsibility of any responsible government and that those who are ready to live with the realities and the complexities of “Our state are welcome and those who can’t should stay away,” I will however insist that the government ensure that in an attempt to implement these rules, the incidences of justice miscarriages and unbridled brigandage by the law enforcers are adequately addressed. Part of what I also expect the government would do is to have a reasonable timeline within which the law would become operational and during this period, adequate sensitizations are carried out to ensure that Lagos motorists are properly briefed on the provisions of the new law. It is also expected that the government would consider it appropriate to put in place appropriate directional signs and ensure that traffic lights remain functional at most junctions to minimise complexities that could attend the implementation of the new Lagos Traffic law. BC

BELIEVABILITY INDEX

PZ Cussions and the burden of shrinking earnings By Festus Okoromadu

he price drop that followed the release of the audited account of PZ Cussions Nigeria Plc for the financial year ended May 31, 2012 on Tuesday, July 31, 2012 is no doubt an expression of investors’ interpretations of the impact the figures have on their investments. Although the accounts showed that the company posted profit, the equity still shed 74 kobo to close at N24.51 per share the same day the result was presented on the floors of The Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE).. The financials, which are presumed to be responsible for the negative reaction from investors, show a turnover growth of 9.5 percent to N72.155 billion compared with N65.878 billion reported in the corresponding period of 2011. But the cost of sales during the period grew more than that of turnover by 18 per cent to N55.973 billion from N47.425 billion. Subsequently, there was a decline in gross profit within the period as the figures dropped to N16.181billion in 2012 as against N18.453 billion in 2011. Furthermore, selling and distribution expenses rose by 14.2 percent to N8.024 billion from N7.024 billion in 2011. Similarly, interests paid to the banks during the period rose by 433.4 percent to N670.216 million, compared with N125.65 million in 2011. The company equally posted a loss of N426.722 million, attributed to exceptional item. Profit after tax for the 2012 financial year stood at N2.539 billion which is 55.4 per cent lower than N5.697 billion reported in the 2011 financial. However, the amount was further depleted by N128.348 million which was attributed to losses that accrued from the company’s investment in other ventures. It is worthy to note here that the figure above is an improvement when

compared with the N479.536 million recorded as loss on the same venture in 2011. Consequently, the analysis of shareholders’ return for the year under review stood at N2.41 billion as against N5.218 billion in 2011. The impact of the decline in the distributable funds in the company’s account is revealed in the tabulation of earnings per share (EPS), which shows that for the 2012 financials, the equity’s EPS dropped to 61kobo, compared with 164 kobo in the previous year. By implication, the company cannot afford to pay dividend higher than 50 kobo per share for the year under review. In view of these circumstances, it is believed in some quarters that, except the unusual happens, shareholders of the company may not be compensated for investing in company during the year under review. To further drive this perception, the board of directors of the company in the audited report submitted to the NSE failed to disclose what corporate actions it has taken concerning the account and the expected benefits to investors. For instance, the notice was silent on issues such as proposed dividend, proposed bonus, date and venue of Annual General Meetings (AGM) etc. The situation left those who had speculated on the stock and believed that dividend or bonus would drive the share price upward at least for the first two weeks after the release of the results to begin to exit immediately so as to cut whatever losses they might have to incur. However, while speculators who bought into the equity, with the expectation of making some quick gains may have burnt their fingers,, the equity still remains viable for long term investors. This is more so because of the confidence the foreign partners have in the future of the Nigerian market as

well as the value of the products the company offers to the market. Although, the competition in the market place continues to grow, the group appear not to be resting on its oars to tackle the challenges and deliver value to investors. For instance, in August 2011 while presenting account to the global investment community, Richard Harvey, the non-executive Chairman of PZ Cussions had said that, “Africa remains the group’s largest market and Nigeria, our biggest single market as we continue to operate in four categories of personal care, home care, electrical as well as food and nutrition”. He assured investors of the company’s resolve to creating more opportunities which will be converted to wealth for all stakeholders in the coming years because of their knowledge of the market in question. “Our knowledge of the African market and our strong supply chains continue to generate further opportunities for growth,” he had said then. There is no doubt that the Nigerian market is a niche market where it must do all it can to succeed. Richard said that with a growing population of 155 million people, Nigeria is Africa’s most populous country and accounts for approximately 17 per cent of the African population, stressing that the group’s operations in West Africa are the most diverse of any of its regions and global undertakings. Details of the group’s activities in 2012 reveals the continued focus of the Personal Care and Home Care unit on brand renovation across the portfolio of soaps, detergents, babycare and medicaments. The impact according to the report was a significant year on year increase in raw material costs which adversely affected margins in the first half. It was however, revealed that this began to ease during the second half as

a result of price increases and margin improvement initiatives. The Electricals unit was said to have continued to focus on the core range of fridges, freezers and air conditioners sold through the HPZ joint venture with Haier, as well as the range of generators which are separately imported. During the year, a further HT Cool World store was opened, taking the number to seven, with further stores planned in the new financial year. The report further confirmed that the construction of the palm oil refinery with Wilmar is on track, with the completion due by the end of the year, with a new consumer food ingredients brand to be launched to coincide with the start of production in early 2013. Commenting on the result, Harvey said, “Despite the external challenges, the Group remains committed to driving profitable growth through brand renovation and innovation, and through further cost reduction”. He stated that the group is working actively to reduce our cost base, stressing that, the supply chain optimisation project announced in March 2012 will significantly reduce the overhead base of our manufacturing activities”. According to the Chairman, in order to move to a variable cost model, the group intends to reduce the supply chain overhead at a number of other manufacturing facilities. This includes closing its manufacturing facilities in Ghana, with supply being moved to third parties as well as to the Group’s existing Nigerian facilities, in addition to other optimisation projects in Africa and Asia. Thus, despite the unpleasant circumstances currently trailing the 2012 financial of the PZ Cussions Nigeria, patient investors have a bright future ahead of them. BC

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Business Courage

Ajiga replaces Makanjuola as Vitafoam MD By Festus Okoromadu

ffective September 30, Olatoye Ajiga would take over the mantle of leadership of Vitafoam Nigeria Plc following the retirement of its current chief executive, Dr. Bamidele Makanjuola. “Dr. Makanjuola will be retiring from the office of the MD with effect from September 30, 2012, after years of meritorious service to the company,” according to a statement sent to The Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) by the company, last week. Ajiga, 52, is a graduate of Chemical Engineering with Second Class Upper Division from the University of Benin, Benin City, Edo State. He attended courses on Executive programs at Lagos Business School, Lagos and McDonough School of Business, Georgetown University, Washington DC, USA. He previously worked as a production manager at Bode Foam Industries Limited Ibadan, between 1987 and 1988 before joining Art-Technology Designs Limited as the company’s Chemical Engineer. In 1991, Ajiga joined Vitafoam Nigeria Plc as the company’s Production Manager and has held several other management positions at various branches of the company. In 2010, he became a non-Executive Director of Vono Products Plc, a position he held until this appointment.

Ajiga

Similarly, the board approved the appointment of Ayodele Adeniji as an Executive Director effective July 26, 2012. He has a Masters’ Degree in Chemistry from the University of Lagos as well as University of Warwick, United Kingdom in Supply Engineering and Logistics. He started as a Quality Assurance Analyst with Pharma Deko Plc in July, 1998. While at Pharma Deko Plc, he occupied several senior managerial positions. He also worked at Warwic, Coventry, United Kingdom, as an Academic Teaching Assistant in 2006. Ayodele joined Vitafoam Nigeria Plc as a Logistics Manager in 2007 and until this apBC company’s Manufacturpointment , the

By Festus Okoromadu

Kenku

chairman and the executives. Following the internal crisis and pressure from other quarters, Prof. Kenku and Mobolurin were reported to have announced their intension to retire from the board at the AGM. It will be recalled that the company posted a loss after tax of N286.537million in its financial year ended December 31, 2011 compared to N204.130 million in 2010. The loss was recorded despite growing earnings to N5.367 billion in 2011 as against N5.345 billion. During the 2011 financial year, operational and management expenses stood at N4.367 billion while a debenture interest of N496.443 million was incurred. The resulted further revealed that the group’s subsidiary equally incurred losses as a total of N136.208 million was reported to be the group’s share of loss from its associate. BC

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Budget performance woes

Crusader sacks chairman, chief executive and two others n what appears to be a reaction to the unimpressive performance of the board of directors and executive management of Crusader Nigeria Plc in recent times, the company has asked three non-executive directors including the former chairman of the board, Professor Monsur Kenku, and two others as well as the former group chief executive officer (GCEO), Olutola Mobolurin to quit. The other board members who were equally relieved of their position are Obiageli Okwesa-Doherty and Dr. Benjamin Adigun. In a letter sent to the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), the board noted that at a meeting of the board held on July 26, 2012 after the company’s 42nd Annual General Meeting which was held earlier same day, the chairman Prof. Kenku, Okwesa-Doherty and Dr. Adigun tendered their letters of resignation from the board, effective August 1, 2012. The Board however, considered and approved that Mobolurin, the hitherto GMD proceed on three months terminal leave, which commenced July 30, 2012. Similarly, the board approved the appointment of Dr. Olusegun Oso and Jonnie Wilcox into the board. Meanwhile, Business Courage was reliably informed that the board has been in crisis in recent times following the unimpressive financial performances posted by the company in the last five years. The crisis was said to have reached the climax when some group of shareholders started clamouring for the removal of the

Monday, August 6, 2012

ne of the major reasons why successive governments in the recent past have failed so woefully to impact positively on the lives of ordinary Nigerians is the proven inability to properly channel state resources in a timely and appropriate manner to those areas that actually count as we struggle to place ourselves among the comity of nations that are in the process of defeating the monster of underdevelopment. This was perhaps what the furore about the 2012 budget performance was all about that saw Mr President being threatened with impeachment by the House of Representatives if the budget was not implemented 100 per cent by September and the Coordinating Minister for the Economy and Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi OkojoIweala, being hauled before the Senate to explain exactly what was going on. While it has been suggested that the legislators are merely putting pressure on the administration to release funds quickly so that their so-called constituency projects and associated benefits will not suffer, I think the minster’s claim that the N1.3trn capital budget had been implemented by 56 per cent did not particularly help the situation While the minister has blamed the media for twisting her words concerning the level of implementation, she has since given some clarification that the 56 per cent implementation referred to cash-backed releases only. According to the figures released at the finance ministry, of the N1.3trn capital vote, N404bn or 31 per cent had been released by June; N324bn or 24 per cent is cash backed with N184bn or 56 per cent of that actually utilised. Simple arithmetic tells us that N184bn is just 13.9 per cent of N1.3trn, so it is more accurate to say that the capital budget has been implemented at that level. Referring to cash-backed releases and all that appears to be an attempt to befuddle the facts, hence the dust raised subsequently. The government has claimed that the low level of implementation is due to the fact that the N4.8trn budget was passed by the National Assembly in March and signed into law in April in addition to the due process hurdle that needs to be scaled before government money can be spent, yet Okonjo-Iweala virtually swore on Thursday that the budget will be fully implemented by the end of the year. According to her, the carry-over syndrome, where a previous year’s budget remains in effect till the first quarter of a fiscal year will stop.

Of course, the minister is hardly in a position to give this commitment since she is not in charge of all government ministries and departments. Indeed, we may need to define what actually counts as budget utilisation. Is it when the money hits the accounts of the respective MDAs? When contracts are awarded or when contractors are paid? However, the implementation of the budget is just part of the issue. It is bad enough that with the capital vote accounting for just 27 per cent of the total budget, we may just well be on the road to nowhere. Not much development can happen here with most of the national resources deployed to pay salaries of civil servants and fund the lavish lifestyles of politicians and political appointees. The real tragedy remains that even where the capital vote has been rightly appropriated the poor implementation happens mostly in the leakages in the system, which is why government contract is the easiest road to instant riches for the privileged class. What of prioritisation? Can we recall that the 2012 appropriation bill provided N1bn for food at Aso Rock Villa and N300m for the plates on which the food is to be served in addition to similar crazy sums for gardening and other inanities? As with other before it, this is a budget by the government, for the government. The N184bn so far utilised amounts to just N1,150 per Nigerian, just enough for seven concrete blocks, yet government borrowing within the domestic economy to fund overheads is spiralling out of control, reaching over N5trn at the last count . Okonjo-Iweala burden really is to restructure the budget in a way that sees the percentage of recurrent vote seriously trimmed. This can happen by pruning the government’ wage bill and blocking the loopholes which allow civil servants to raid government coffers at will and also raising government revenues substantially through more efficient taxation, for example. But the most important reforms we need to see, is the review of the revenue allocation formula in favour of the states and local government. The government at the centre has proven itself to be a drain on national resources, a behemoth going round in circles like a barber’s chair, achieving little in terms of delivering the socalled dividends of democracy while many states exist just to pay salaries of workers. We must change this way of life. This is the burden of the National Assembly. BC BC

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Business Courage A17 35

Monday, August 6, 2012

AMCON sole benefactor of UK high court judgement...Access Bank By Festus Okoromadu

he management of Access Bank Plc has stated that the N164 billion judgement claims offered in favour of the bank by a British high court last week Tuesday will be for the benefit of AMCON and not the bank as some investors may have perceived. The bank made the explanation in a notification sent to the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) last weekend. Explaining how the bank got involved in the case in question, the statement signed by Fatai Olapido, Group Head, Corporate Counsel of Access Bank stated that, “pursuant to the acquisition and subsequent merger with former Intercontinental Bank Plc (“ICB”), Access Bank Plc (“Access Bank”) assumed all interests in litigation matters involving ICB”. The statement noted that, “It is against this background that Access Bank assumed the claims instituted by ICB in 2011 against Dr. Erastus Akingbola and others, before Justice Burton of the United Kingdom High Court of Justice, Queens Bench Division Commercial Court”.

Access Bank MD, Imokhuede

According to the release, the bank would therefore like to inform the public that following AMCON’s injection of capital into ICB (now part of Access Bank) pursuant to the Scheme of Arrangement approved by the shareholders of the then ICB, and sanctioned by the Federal

High Court, AMCON made good all the losses suffered by the then ICB under Dr. Erastus Akingbola’s management. The statement explained that “it is by virtue of AMCON’s intervention that the then ICB’s huge negative net asset position was restored to zero”. On why Access Bank would not benefit from the judgement, the statement noted that, “In consideration of this intervention, AMCON became subrogated to the position of Access Bank in relation to any recoveries made by Access Bank in respect of losses that had already been made good by AMCON, (particularly losses occasioned by Dr. Erastus Akingbola)”. Accordingly, the benefits of the recent judgement of the High Court of England which found Dr. Erastus Akingbola liable for putting the funds of the then ICB to unlawful use, will when realized by Access Bank, be for the benefit of AMCON, having already made good the then ICB in respect of the losses suffered for which the judgement compensates. BC

Stanbic IBTC boosts executive capacity with two new directors By Festus Okoromadu

he duo of Obinnia Abajue and Wole Adeniji have been appointed as executive directors in Stanbic IBTC Bank Plc. Sola David-Borha, Stanbic IBTC’s Chief Executive Officer said, the appointments are geared at further strengthening the bank’s executive team as it consolidates its steady growth and expansion in the drive for peerless service to its customers. According to a release from the bank, Abajue functioned as Head of Personal and Business Banking (PBB) until the new appointment which has elevated him to the position of Executive Director, PBB, while Adeniji becomes Executive Director, Business Support. Both appointments are with immediate effect. David-Borha stated that Abajue and Adeniji will bring a strong combination of deep commercial and operational experience to the business which will further help to expand the bank’s strong service and product ranges and a reputation of putting the customer first. “I am pleased to welcome Obinnia and Wole in these very key roles in the bank”, she said, adding

that “Not only are they are the right candidates with the desired experience, their collective expertise and leadership talent will help to further hone our operational focus and customer value delivery”. According to the statement from the bank, Abajue, who was until August last year the acting Chief Executive Officer of Stanbic IBTC Pension Managers Limited, will in his new role be pivotal in reinvigorating the growth of Stanbic IBTC Bank’s retail business and further widen its product and ser-

vice offering, especially with the acquisition of a mobile payment license. The bank stated that such products are expected to enrich the bouquet of products and services to a greater number of people. Stanbic IBTC Bank is a full service bank and offers its clients a wide range of corporate, investment, wealth and personal banking products and solutions. With over 175 branches across the country and over 2,400 dedicated staff, the bank has seen rapid growth in the last few years. BC

Market Indicators for Week Ended 03-08-12 All-Share Index 23,525.15 points Market Capitalisation N7,487,032,643,341.50 Stock Updates GAINERS COMPANY

OPENING PRICE

OKOMUOIL

29.00

CLOSING PRICE 29.60

CHANGE 0.60

UNILEVER

36.00

36.45

0.45

GSK

28.11

28.50

0.39

ASHAKACEM

9.50

9.75

0.25

DANSUGAR

4.72

4.94

0.22

LOSERS COMPANY

OPENING PRICE

NEWGOLD MOBIL

CLOSING PRICE

CHANGE

2,520.00

2488.00

-32.00

125.00

118.75

-6.25

ARBICO

18.19

17.29

-0.90

BETAGLAS

10.55

10.03

-0.52

7.71

07.33

-0.38

BERGER

Inter-Bank Rates TENOR

RATE%(PREV) 26-July-2012

RATE%(CURR) 02-Aug-2012

OBB

14.0000 – 14.5000

14.5000 – 18.0000

CALL

14.0000 – 14.7500

15.5000 – 18.2500

Primary Market Auction TENOR

AMOUNT (N’mn)

RATE (%)

DATE

364-Days

60,000

15.60

26-July-12

182-Days

60,000

14.94

26-July-12

91-Days

34,889

13.95

26-July-12

Open Market Operation TENOR

AMOUNT (N’mn)

48-Days

17,315

14.10

RATE (%)

27-July-12

DATE

364-Days

60,000

15.60

26-July-12

182-Days

60,000

14.94

26-July-12

Wholesale Dutch Auction System AMOUNT OFFERED

Abajue

David-Borha

AMOUNT SOLD

DATE

$250m

MARKET DEMAND $250m

$250m

01-Aug-12

$200m

30-July-12

A18 36

Business Courage

Monday, August 6, 2012

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

STOCKWATCH Stock Exchange weekly equities summary as at Friday, August 3, 2012 SECURITY

PRICE (=N=)

AGRICULTURE/AGRO-ALLIED Crop Production FTN COCOA PROCESSORS PLC NT OKOMU OIL PALM PLC. 29.60 PRESCO PLC 15.36 Fishing/Hunting/Trapping ELLAH LAKES PLC. NT Livestock/Animal Specialties LIVESTOCK FEEDS PLC. 1.37 CONGLOMERATES Diversified Industries A.G. LEVENTIS NIGERIA PLC. 1.05 CHELLARAMS PLC. 5.81 JOHN HOLT PLC. NT S C O A NIG. PLC. NT U A C N PLC. 33.61 CONSTRUCTION/REAL ESTATE Building Construction ARBICO PLC. 17.29 CAPPA & D’ALBERTO PLC. NT Building Structure/Completion/Other COSTAIN (W A) PLC. NT G CAPPA PLC NT Non--Building/Heavy Construction JULIUS BERGER NIG. PLC. 26.25 ROADS NIG PLC. 7.21 Real Estate Development PINNACLE POINT GROUP PLC NT UACN PROPERTY DEV 9.85 Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) SKYE SHELTER FUND PLC NT UNION HOMES REAL ESTATE INV NT CONSUMER GOODS Automobiles/Auto Parts DN TYRE & RUBBER PLC 0.50 Beverages--Brewers/Distillers CHAMPION BREW. PLC. NT GOLDEN GUINEA BREW. PLC. NT GUINNESS NIG PLC 242.20 INTERNATIONAL BREWERIES PLC. 5.93 JOS INT. BREWERIES PLC. 1.61 NIGERIAN BREW. PLC. 122.30 PREMIER BREWERIES PLC NT Beverages--Non-Alcoholic 7-UP BOTTLING COMP. PLC. 40.12 Food Products BIG TREAT PLC NT DANGOTE FLOUR MILLS PLC 6.51 DANGOTE SUGAR REFINERY PLC 4.94 FLOUR MILLS NIG. PLC. 52.50 HONEYWELL FLOUR MILL PLC 1.91 MULTI-TREX INTEGRATED FOODS PLC NT N NIG. FLOUR MILLS PLC. NT NATIONAL SALT CO. NIG. PLC 4.50 P S MANDRIDES & CO PLC. NT U T C NIG. PLC. 0.67 UNION DICON SALT PLC. NT Food Products--Diversified CADBURY NIGERIA PLC. 14.90 NESTLE NIGERIA PLC. 500.00 Household Durables BETA GLASS CO PLC. 10.03 NIGERIAN ENAMELWARE PLC. NT VITAFOAM NIG PLC. 3.13 VONO PRODUCTS PLC. NT Personal/Household Products P Z CUSSONS NIGERIA PLC. 25.00 UNILEVER NIGERIA PLC. 36.45 Textiles/Apparel UNITED NIG. TEXTILES PLC. NT FINANCIAL SERVICES Banking ACCESS BANK PLC. 7.44 DIAMOND BANK PLC 2.68 ECOBANK TRANSNATIONAL INC. 10.21 FIDELITY BANK PLC 1.29 FIRST BANK OF NIG. PLC 12.00 FIRST CITY MONUMENT BANK PLC. 3.04 GUARANTY TRUST BANK PLC. 17.60 SKYE BANK PLC 2.93 STANBIC IBTC BANK PLC 6.55 STERLING BANK PLC. 1.10 U B A PLC 4.40 UNION BANK NIG.PLC. 4.41 UNITY BANK PLC 0.50 WEMA BANK PLC. 0.50 ZENITH BANK PLC 14.95 Insurance Carriers, Brokers & Services AFRICAN ALLIANCE INS. COY. PLC NT AIICO INSURANCE PLC. 0.50 CONFIDENCE INSURANCE PLC NT CONSOLIDATED HALLMARK INS. PLC 0.50 CONTINENTAL REINSURANCE PLC 0.61 CORNERSTONE INS. COY. PLC. 0.50 CUSTODIAN AND ALLIED INS. PLC 1.35 EQUITY ASSURANCE PLC. 0.50 GOLDLINK INSURANCE PLC NT GREAT NIGERIAN INSURANCE PLC NT GUINEA INSURANCE PLC. 0.50 INTERCONTINENTAL WAPIC INS. PLC NT INTERNATIONAL ENERGY INS. PLC 0.50 INVESTMENT AND ALLIED ARN. NT LASACO ASSURANCE PLC. 0.50 LAW UNION AND ROCK INS. PLC. 0.50 LINKAGE ASSURANCE PLC 0.50 MANSARD INSURANCE PLC NT MUTUAL BENEFITS ASSURANCE PLC. NT N.E.M INSURANCE CO (NIG) PLC. 0.50 NIGER INSURANCE CO. PLC. 0.51 OASIS INSURANCE PLC 0.50 PRESTIGE ASSURANCE CO. PLC. 0.50 REGENCY ALLIANCE INS. COY PLC 0.50 SOVEREIGN TRUST INSURANCE PLC 0.50 STACO INSURANCE PLC 0.50 STANDARD ALLIANCE INS. PLC. NT UNIC INSURANCE PLC. NT UNITY KAPITAL ASSURANCE PLC NT UNIVERSAL INS. COMPANY PLC 0.50 Mortgage Carriers, Brokers &Services ABBEY BUILDING SOCIETY PLC NT ASO SAVINGS AND LOANS PLC 0.50 RESORT SAVINGS & LOANS PLC NT UNION HOMES SAVINGS&LOANS PLC NT Other Financial Institutions CRUSADER ( NIG) PLC. 0.50 DEAP CAPITAL MGT & TRUST PLC NT NIG SEW. MACH. MAN. CO. PLC. NT NIGERIA ENERYGY SECTOR FUND NT ROYAL EXCHANGE PLC. 0.60 HEALTHCARE Healthcare Providers EKOCORP PLC. NT Medical Equipment UNION DIAGNOSTIC &CLINICAL PLC 0.50 Medical Supplies MORISON INDUSTRIES PLC. 7.39 Pharmaceuticals EVANS MEDICAL PLC. 1.00 FIDSON HEALTHCARE PLC 0.76 GLAXO SMITHKLINE CONSUMER PLC 28.50 MAY & BAKER NIGERIA PLC. 1.62 NEIMETH INT PHARM PLC 0.76

NOTE NT=Not Traded on 03-08-12

QUANTITY

52 WK HIGH

52 WK LOW

SHARES OUTSTANDING

EPS

MOV. (%)

NT 145 347 432 172

0.64 33.00 16.15

0.50 14.53 6.40

2 200 000 000 476 955 000 1 000 000 000

0.00 8.23 1.69

N/A -5.70 0.07

NT 31.39 15.35

4.26

60 000 000

0.00

N/A

978 845

1.49

0.48

1 199 549 736

0.04

0.00

1.37

144 800 100 100 NT NT 432 271

2.54 7.60 8.82 8.28 42.50

0.74 6.43 5.32 5.52 28.70

2 191 895 983 963 900 300 389 151 408 821 666 666 1 600 720 323

0.21 0.30 0.00 0.35 7.03

0.00 N/A N/A N/A N/A

1.05 NT 5.32 NT 33.50

98 000 NT

26.00 95.49

17.29 95.49

148 500 000 196 876 000

0.00 4.50

N/A N/A

19.14 NT

NT NT

7.97 14.46

2.46 14.46

920 573 765 125 000 000

0.00 0.00

N/A N/A

NT NT

11 714 2 500

62.26 8.69

21.55 3.01

1 200 000 000 20 000 000

4.11 3.66

-4.99 N/A

27.63 7.21

NT 23 655

7.28 20.15

7.28 8.82

1 375 000 000

0.00 1.66

N/A 0.00

NT 9.85

NT NT

100.00 50.00

97.00 50.00

20 000 000 250 019 781

11.75 0.75

N/A N/A

NT NT

51 500

0.50

4 772 528 415

0.00

N/A

NT NT 132 768 528 167 400 2 503 084 NT

4.63 0.68 255.00 7.10 3.20 122.30 0.97

2.23 0.68 186.00 5.23 1.61 72.50 0.93

900 000 000 272 160 000 1 474 925 519 2 112 914 681 562 000 000 7 562 562 340 126 000 000

0.00 0.03 12.04 0.07 0.00 5.21 0.00

N/A N/A 0.92 N/A N/A 4.53 N/A

NT NT 240.00 5.68 NT 117.00 NT

75 813

48.91

38.31

640 590 362

3.15

N/A

40.12

NT 321 917 2 085 103 432 546 239 764 NT NT 644 860 NT 219 359 NT

0.50 19.90 16.20 95.00 6.60 2.70 43.96 6.70 5.66 0.88 4.22

0.50 4.15 3.64 52.50 1.91 1.21 21.48 3.86 5.66 0.50 4.22

2 000 000 000 5 000 000 000 12 000 000 000 1 879 210 666 7 930 197 658 3 722 493 620 178 200 000 40 000 000 1 233 375 004 360 000 000

0.00 0.00 0.59 3.60 0.36 0.00 1.20 0.81 0.16 1.13 0.00

N/A 0.15 9.05 -0.57 -1.55 N/A N/A 0.00 N/A 17.54 N/A

NT 6.50 4.53 52.80 1.94 NT NT 4.50 NT 0.57 NT

6 754 190 142 464

29.20 500.00

9.15 367.83

3 129 188 160 792 656 250

1.24 21.21

0.68 0.00

14.80 500.00

120 500 NT 1 084 781 NT

15.58 42.66 6.75 3.67

10.03 36.19 3.13 2.66

63 360 000 819 000 000 300 000 001

3.90 1.61 0.54 0.00

N/A N/A -5.15 N/A

10.55 NT 3.30 2.88

423 153 3 955 950

43.50 36.45

22.07 22.56

3 176 381 636 3 783 296 250

0.51 1.32

0.00 6.99

25.00 34.07

0.97

0.57

843 284 027

0.00

N/A

1 981 057 9 795 960 3 480 049 19 608 250 20 606 478 1 013 024 43 814 902 4 008 413 9 694 209 16 206 125 15 760 964 690 986 219 190 1 994 793 8 731 730

11.10 9.27 17.05 3.20 16.12 8.30 17.60 10.17 11.38 2.91 4.40 10.07 1.92 1.75 16.70

4.76 2.01 9.97 1.14 8.50 3.04 11.64 2.88 6.40 0.97 1.64 1.96 0.50 0.50 11.70

17 888 251 479 14 475 243 105 9 873 614 567 28 974 797 023 32 632 084 358 16 271 192 202 29 146 482 209 13 219 334 676 18 750 000 000 12 563 091 545 32 334 693 693 13 509 726 273 33 675 576 085 12 821 249 880 31 396 493 790

0.63 0.00 2.61 0.19 1.37 0.60 0.59 0.39 0.54 0.43 0.01 2.20 0.00 1.34 1.41

-2.11 8.94 -0.87 -6.52 4.80 -5.00 3.41 -1.35 -6.43 -2.65 3.29 10.25 0.00 0.00 3.10

7.60 2.46 10.30 1.38 11.45 3.20 17.02 2.97 7.00 1.13 4.26 4.00 0.50 0.50 14.50

NT 477 000 NT 329 600 265 293 200 000 917 110 893 577 NT NT 1 000 000 NT 116 666 NT 80 000 76 030 1 000 000 NT NT 500 000 500 2 000 196 000 200 50 000 100 000 NT NT NT 100 371

0.50 1.01 0.64 0.50 1.20 0.50 3.51 0.50 0.69 0.50 0.50 0.80 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.61 0.50 1.93 0.50 0.66 1.11 0.50 2.35 0.50 0.52 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50

0.50 0.50 0.61 0.50 0.61 0.50 1.35 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.95 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50

20 585 000 000 7 809 391 256 211 626 000 6 000 000 000 10 372 624 157 8 820 010 363 5 100 846 808 8 847 298 420 4 549 947 000 3 827 485 380 720 000 000 5 061 804 000 6 420 427 449 28 000 000 000 7 323 313 227 3 437 330 500 4 083 713 569 10 000 000 000 7 998 705 336 5 332 830 881 5 649 693 923 5 003 506 791 2 508 315 436 6 668 750 000 5 203 757 266 6 141 087 609 8 493 173 450 2 581 733 505 13 000 000 000 16 000 000 000

0.00 0.09 0.00 0.06 0.10 0.01 0.27 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.06 0.00 0.02 0.02 0.10 0.00 0.08 0.10 0.25 0.01 0.02 0.11 0.03 0.10 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.01 0.00

N/A 0.00 N/A N/A 0.00 0.00 0.00 N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A 0.00 N/A N/A N/A 0.00 #VALUE! N/A 0.00 N/A N/A 0.00 N/A 0.00 N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A

0.50 0.50 NT NT 0.65 NT 1.49 NT NT NT NT NT 0.50 NT 0.50 0.50 0.50 1.60 0.50 0.50 0.53 NT 0.50 NT NT NT NT NT NT 0.50

NT 419 NT NT

1.51 0.50 0.50 0.99

1.33 0.50 0.50 0.50

4 200 000 000 8 679 148 676 13 175 732 404 7 812 500 000

0.03 0.10 0.00 0.00

N/A N/A N/A N/A

NT NT 0.50 NT

512 NT NT NT 108 096

0.61 2.02 0.15 552.20 0.66

0.50 2.02 0.15 555.20 0.50

3 778 005 975 1 333 333 333 5 880 000 2 500 000 3 608 657 661

0.00 0.00 0.00 12.68 0.05

N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A

0.50 NT NT NT 0.58

5.31

5.05

498 600 908

0.12

N/A

NT 0.50

100

0.50

3 553 138 528

0.00

N/A

1 500

10.54

7.39

152 178 750

0.00

N/A

282 500 670 383 2 178 943 118 968 103 673

1.45 3.20 29.65 5.61 1.96

0.50 0.76 19.30 1.62 0.76

486 473 856 1 500 000 000 956 701 192 980 000 000 1 925 717 268

0.19 0.27 2.41 0.21 0.09

-4.76 0.00 11.76 -4.14 0.00

1.05 0.76 25.50 1.69 0.76

N/A=Not Avialable

SECURITY

PRICE (=N=)

NIGERIA-GERMAN CHEMICALS PLC. NT PHARMA-DEKO PLC. NT ICT Computer Based Systems COURTEVILLE BUSINESS SLN PLC 0.50 Computers and Peripherals OMATEK VENTURES PLC NT Electronic Communications Services MTECH COMMUNICATIONS PLC NT IT Services NCR (NIGERIA) PLC. 13.12 TRIPPLE GEE AND COMPANY PLC. NT Processing Systems CHAMS PLC NT E-TRANZACT INTERNATIONAL PLC NT Telecommunications Carriers STARCOMMS PLC NT Telecommunications Services IHS NIGERIA PLC PREF SHARES NT IHS PLC NT MTI PLC NT INDUSTRIAL GOODS Building Materials AFRICAN PAINTS (NIGERIA) PLC. NT ASHAKA CEM PLC 9.75 BERGER PAINTS PLC 7.33 CAP PLC 24.12 CEMENT CO. OF NORTH.NIG. PLC 4.45 DANGOTE CEMENT PLC 118.50 DN MEYER PLC. NT FIRST ALUMINIUM NIGERIA PLC 0.50 IPWA PLC NT LAFARGE WAPCO PLC. 43.50 PAINTS & COATINGS MANFACT.PLC 2.16 PORTLAND PAINTS & PRDT NIG. PLC 3.31 PREMIER PAINTS PLC. 10.93 Electronic and Electrical Products AUSTIN LAZ & COMPANY PLC 2.00 CUTIX PLC. 1.74 NIGERIAN WIRE AND CABLE PLC. NT NIGERIAN WIRE IND. PLC NT Packaging/Containers ABPLAST PRODUCTS PLC. NT AVON CROWNCAPS & CONTAINERS 2.19 GREIF NIGERIA PLC NT NIG. BAGS MANFACT. COY PLC 1.80 POLY PRODUCTS (NIG) PLC. NT W A GLASS IND. PLC. NT Tools and Machinery NIGERIAN ROPES PLC 8.26 STOKVIS NIG PLC. NT NATURAL RESOURCES Chemicals B.O.C. GASES PLC. 5.98 Metals ALUMACO PLC NT ALUMINIUM EXTRUSION IND. PLC. 10.55 Non-Metallic Mineral Mining MULTIVERSE PLC 0.50 Paper/Forest Products HALLMARK PAPER PRODUCTS PLC. NT THOMAS WYATT NIG. PLC. NT OIL AND GAS Energy Equipment and Services JAPAUL OIL & MARITIME SER. PLC 0.64 Integrated Oil and Gas Services OANDO PLC 14.00 Petroleum &Petroleum Products Distributors AFROIL PLC NT BECO PETROLEUM PRODUCT PLC 0.50 CONOIL PLC 25.50 ETERNA PLC. 2.12 FORTE OIL PLC. 10.00 MOBIL OIL NIG PLC. 118.75 MRS OIL NIGERIA PLC. NT TOTAL NIGERIA PLC. 133.00 SERVICES Advertising AFROMEDIA PLC 0.50 Apparel Retailers LENNARDS (NIG) PLC. NT Automobile/Auto Part Retailers R T BRISCOE PLC. 1.56 Courier/Freight/Delivery RED STAR EXPRESS PLC 3.00 TRANS-NATIONWIDE EXPRESS PLC. NT Employment Solutions C & I LEASING PLC. 0.50 Hospitality TANTALIZERS PLC NT Hotels/Lodging CAPITAL HOTEL PLC NT IKEJA HOTEL PLC 1.16 TOURIST COMPANY OF NIGERIA PLC. NT TRANSNATIONAL CORP. OF NIG.PLC 1.03 Media/Entertainment DAAR COMMUNICATIONS PLC NT Printing/Publishing ACADEMY PRESS PLC. 1.64 LEARN AFRICA PLC 1.81 STUDIO PRESS (NIG) PLC. NT UNIVERSITY PRESS PLC. 4.13 Road Transportation ABC TRANSPORT PLCPLC 0.50 Specialty INTERLINKED TECHNOLOGIES PLC NT SECURE ELECTRONIC TECH.PLC NT Transport-Related Services AIRLINE SERVICES AND LOGISTICS PLC 1.81 NIG. AVIATION HANDLING COY PLC 5.82 ASeM CONSTRUCTION/REAL ESTATE Property Management SMART PRODUCTS NIGERIA PLC 1.08 CONSUMER GOODS Food Products MCNICHOLS PLC 1.02 Personal/Household Products ROKANA INDUSTRIES PLC. NT HEALTHCARE Pharmaceuticals AFRIK PHARMACEUTICALS PLC. NT INDUSTRIAL GOODS Electronic and Electrical Products NT ADSWITCH PLC. 1.63 NATURAL RESOURCES Metals W.A. ALUM. PRODUCTS PLC. NT OIL AND GAS Petroleum & Petroleum Products Distributors ANINO INTERNATIONAL PLC. NT CAPITAL OIL PLC 0.50 RAK UNITY PET. COMP. PLC. NT UNION VENTURES & PET. PLC NT SERVICES Apparel Retailers UDEOFSON GARMENT FACT. NIG PLC NT Food/Drug Retailers and Wholesalers NT JULI PLC. 2.76 ETF’s Sector ETF NEWGOLD EXCHANGE TRADED FUND 2 638.00

QUANTITY

52 WK HIGH

52 WK LOW

SHARES OUTSTANDING

EPS

MOV. (%)

NT NT

12.91 4.28

8.59 3.50

153 786 012 100 000 000

0.00 0.00

N/A N/A

NT NT

1 020 000

0.52

0.50

2 960 000 000

0.08

0.00

0.50

2 941 789 472

0.04

N/A

0.91

4 966 666 668

0.00

N/A

500 NT

18.28 3.59

13.12 2.41

108 000 000 492 825 600

1.82 0.00

N/A N/A

13.12 2.41

NT NT

0.50 4.97

0.50 4.04

4 620 600 000 4 200 000 000

0.00 0.00

N/A N/A

0.50 4.04

1.47

0.50

6 878 478 096

0.00

N/A

0.50

NT NT NT

2.25 3.50 0.50

0.00 2.46 0.50

4 400 000 000 4 893 594 400

0.00 0.00 0.00

N/A N/A N/A

NT NT NT

NT 254 140 244 833 275 322 500 839 99 009 NT 10 374 NT 118 809 500 199 600 1 000

3.32 30.00 12.57 43.98 15.49 132.51 3.51 0.75 0.99 48.05 3.36 5.28 13.40

2.86 9.10 8.06 14.50 4.20 95.00 0.93 0.50 0.91 37.00 0.52 2.27 10.93

260 000 000 2 239 453 125 217 367 585 560 000 000 1 241 548 285 15 494 019 668 242 908 200 2 109 928 275 513 696 000 3 001 600 004 792 914 256 400 000 000 75 000 000

0.00 1.60 0.15 1.76 1.83 8.01 0.00 0.00 0.00 1.74 0.16 0.39 0.00

N/A 4.84 -9.73 0.08 -0.67 -1.25 N/A N/A N/A 2.89 N/A N/A N/A

NT 9.30 8.12 24.10 4.48 120.00 NT 0.50 NT 42.28 NT 2.87 NT

500 120 437 NT NT

2.00 2.50 0.73 2.58

2.00 1.33 0.50 2.58

510 396 608 2 220 000 000 15 000 000

0.03 0.11 0.00 0.00

N/A 4.82 N/A N/A

NT 1.66 NT 2.58

NT 5 310 NT 340 817 NT NT

3.98 6.91 15.03 3.60 1.86 0.63

3.98 3.10 13.28 1.60 1.05 0.63

25 000 000 683 974 528 42 640 000 6 215 000 000 240 000 000 199 066 550

0.00 0.15 0.90 0.22 0.30 0.00

N/A N/A N/A 0.56 N/A N/A

NT NT NT 1.79 NT NT

1 550 NT

8.69 0.14

8.26 0.14

265 409 280 2 918 000

0.00 0.00

N/A N/A

NT NT

1 550

9.20

5.70

393 120 000

0.93

4.91

5.70

NT 50

7.75 12.39

7.75 10.55

75 600 000 100 000 000

0.00 0.13

N/A N/A

NT 10.55

7 500

0.50

4 058 989 226

0.00

N/A

0.50

NT NT

3.22 1.38

50 000 000 220 000 000

0.04 0.00

N/A N/A

NT 1.38

1 512 186

1.87

0.54

6 262 701 716

0.16

1.59

0.63

1 549 689

78.97

13.95

2 262 711 568

7.47

0.36

13.95

NT 10 300 139 384 323 890 263 587 241 875 NT 8 640

20.71 0.70 41.89 5.59 28.69 163.50 72.00 240.00

20.71 0.50 19.61 2.12 9.12 118.75 32.29 125.00

125 487 475 3 716 976 579 693 952 117 1 249 162 828 1 080 280 628 300 496 051 253 988 672 339 521 837

0.00 0.00 5.98 0.88 0.00 13.06 4.08 11.22

N/A N/A 0.00 -7.02 -11.43 -5.00 N/A 0.00

NT 0.50 25.50 2.28 11.29 125.00 32.29 133.00

1 600

0.72

0.50

4 035 497 307

0.00

N/A

0.50

3.48

0.19

N/A

16 000

3.65

1.12

980 294 400

0.22

4.70

1.49

957 741 NT

3.67 6.40

2.11 3.28

589 496 310 198 819 763

0.63 0.26

0.00 N/A

3.00 NT

200 000

1.64

0.85

865 808 912

0.20

N/A

0.50

0.75

0.50

3 211 627 907

0.01

N/A

0.50

NT 249 150 NT 3 595 323

8.00 2.59 4.76 1.82

3.00 1.16 4.31 0.50

1 548 780 000 2 078 796 396 1 772 884 297 25 813 998 283

0.18 0.92 0.00 0.22

N/A -10.08 N/A -1.90

NT 1.29 NT 1.05

0.50

0.48

8 000 000 000

0.00

N/A

4 017 14 163 NT 794 519

3.68 8.00 2.92 6.82

1.64 1.99 2.78 3.09

403 200 000 771 450 000 425 641 111

0.14 0.29 0.01 0.50

N/A N/A N/A -5.06

1.64 1.99 NT 4.35

1 000

0.80

0.50

1 507 000 000

0.00

N/A

NT NT

5.15 1.88

4.90 0.80

236 699 511 5 631 539 736

0.00 0.03

N/A N/A

NT NT

1 000 523 689

2.78 11.75

1.54 5.15

634 000 000 1 230 468 750

0.38 0.81

N/A -3.00

1.81 6.00

600

1.43

1.04

45 000 000

0.12

N/A

5 000

1.02

201 885 335

0.00

N/A

1.02

0.60

30 000 000

0.00

N/A

0.50

24 898 850

0.00

N/A

NT 14 000

1.88

1.63

125 005 250

0.00

N/A

NT 1.63

0.50

6 650 000

0.00

N/A

NT 10 000 NT NT

0.21 0.50 0.31 0.63

24 200 000 5 857 500 000 15 000 000 98 600 000

0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00

N/A N/A N/A N/A

NT 0.50 NT NT

NT NT 16 000

0.50

20 000 000

0.00

N/A

3.05

2.76

194 700 000

0.00

N/A

NT NT 2.76

100

2 706

2 422

0.00

2 638.00

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Business Courage A19 37

Monday, August 6, 2012

Chellarams Plc: Battling with liquidity challenges By Tayo Adeleke

hellarams Plc has consistently grown its sales over the year but at a high cost which has always drained off its profits, leaving very little for shareholders to share. In both 2009 and 2010, the company spent 86 per cent of its sales on cost, 89.2 percent in 2011 and 88 percent in 2012. That is, for every N100 generated from turnover, it costs the company N86 in 2009 and 2010, N89 in 2011 and N88 in 2012. It increased further when distribution and administrative expenses as well as finance expenses are added. Hence, the total marginal cost increased to 98.58 2012 from 98.57 in 2011. Chellarams Plc is a well known provider for both the consumer and industrial goods markets in Nigeria. Its products range from consumer goods, ingredients, vehicle, machinery and chemicals. Established in 1923, Chellarams possesses immense experience in manufacturing, distribution, sales and marketing in Nigeria. What’s new? Recently, Woolworths, a top South African retailer agreed to a multimillion dollar strategic joint venture with Chellarams Plc. Elated at the take-off of the collaborative venture, Woolworths Divisional Executive of the International division, John Fraser and the Group Managing Director of Chellarams, Aditya Chellaram, expressed optimism in the dual transaction. According to Fraser, joint ventures with local partners, such as Chellarams, is the new business model for Woolworths’ expansion plans in other African countries. “We have moved away from the franchise model we had in some African countries. It is not only a better profit model for Woolworths, but it is also better for the customers,” Fraser said. He said the joint venture was another milestone in the company’s efforts to diversify. The company also expanded its brand basket by obtaining the franchisee of KFC through one of its subsidiaries Devyani International (Nigeria) Limited. The chairman, Chellarams Group, Asiwaju Solomon Onafowokan is

optimistic that the war against the ever appreciating cost of doing business in Nigeria will soon be won, as the group is making effort to increase its internally generated power.

working capital improved greatly from negative figure of N189.62 million in 2010 to N965 million at end of financial year ended March 2012.

Performance The management of Chellarams Plc is gradually discovering solutions to its persistent high operating cost which has continued to slowdown its performance indices in recent time. Besides the fact that the company’s audited report for financial year ended March 31, 2012 confirms that a turnover of N25 billion was achieved, an improvement over the comparable figure for year 2011, the rate of increase in the company operating cost is lower than that of turnover. It would be recalled that this was not so in 2011. The company’s earnings also increased substantially in the review period. Breakdown of the audited financial year ended March 31, 2012 shows that the gross profit dropped by N475 million to N2.999 billion in 2012 from N2.52 billion in 2011 while profit before tax increase by 8.1 per cent to N361 million in 2012. Profit after tax was six per cent increase from N220 million in 2011 to N232 million. Meanwhile, the management has blamed the company’s poor performance on the ripple effect of the collapse of many financial institutions across the globe and the wide spread job losses.

Profitability Based on the analysis carried out on the company’s financial data, Chellarams profitability ratios have not been stable in the last five years. Moreover, the figures as well are not encouraging. Therefore, return on equity (ROE) which reveals how much profit a company earned in comparison to the total amount of shareholders equity found on the balance sheet stood at 7.45 per cent in 2012 compared with 7.38 per cent achieved in 2011. It was also noticed that the figure has been fluctuating in the last five years, implying that, the rate at which the company has been generating cash internally is not stable. However, both gross profit margin and pre-tax margin in 2012 stood at 12 per cent and 1.44 per cent respectively, representing a three year high for the company, mainly because cost of sales dropped

Liquidity The liquidity position of Chellerams Plc is however a source of worry to its stakeholders as the figure is deteriorating year on year. This is an area that management of the company needs to improve on. This is because, both the current and quick ratios fall short of accepted rule of thumb. The current ratio which expresses the relative relationship between current assets and current liabilities stood at 1.12:1 in 2012, compared with 1.21:1 in 2011. Akin to current ratio, quick ratio (acid -test ratio), which measures the debt-paying capability of a company also shows that the company would not be able to meet its financial obligation as when due. Quick ratios stood at 0.77:1, compared with 0.66:1 figure recorded in 2011 and

Onafowokan

1.5:1 minimum value for a company with strong assets base. Trade debtors grew from N976.4 million in 2010 to N1.3 billion in 2011 before it stood at N1.52 billion in 2012 (representing a 16.6 per cent increase). However, there was an improvement in trade creditors as the figure dropped in 2012 by 11.4 per cent to close at N1.8 billion from N2.04 billion. Further analysis shows that the company’s constrained its debtors to make payment within 22 days (debtors number of days) while it took the company 30 days to pay its creditors. Consequently,

Chellarams Financial Data

2012 =N=(‘Nm)

2011 =N=(‘Nm)

2010 =N=(‘Nm)

2009 =N=(‘Nm)

Turnover

25,000

23,351

19,418

16,146

Cost of sales

22,001

20,826

16,731

13,902

Gross Profit

2,999

2,524

2686

2,244

Profit Before Taxation

361

334

416

101

Profit After Taxation

232

220

446

-377

Admin Expenses

2,415

2,143

2,217

2,656

Shareholders fund

3,113

2,980

2,217

2,656

Current Asset

0,941

7,327

5934

5773

Current Liabilities

9,741

6,059

6054

6487

3271

3291

Fixed Assets

3,453

3,306

Current Assets-stocks

7,488

4,021

Trade Debtors

1,520

1,304

976

1232

Trade Creditors

1,804

2,035

1535

8586 -14.19

Profitability Ratios Return on Equity (%)

7.45

Gross profit Margin (%)

7.38

20.12

10.81

2.14

Profit Margin (%)

13.9

0.93

0.94

2.3

-2.33

Pre-tax Profit Margin (%)

1.44

1.43

2.14

0.63

Investment Ratios Earnings per Share(kobo)

-73

Dividend Per Share(kobo)

to 5.64 per cent, which is well below the 49 per cent recorded in 2011. Profit margin closed at 0.93 per cent in 2012 from 1.76 per cent in 2008. It shows a downward trend since 2008. Value for Investors Shareholders of Chellarams Plc have been having low returns on their investment in the recent time. A peep into the company’s three years historical dividend payout shows a cumulative average of 23 per cent, with the highest being the 33 per cent it paid in 2011. For instance, in 2010, the company paid eight kobo dividend to shareholders out of the 61 kobo it earned while 10 kobo was given to shareholders in 2012 out of 32 kobo earning per share (EPS) for the period. Assets Quality If there is any important portion of 2011 financial analysis that Chellarams Plc did fairly well, it is the reliability of its assets. This particular area has been experiencing growth in the last five years. A review of the balance sheet of the company as at 31st March 2012 showed that inventory levels improve from N3.59 billion to N6.75 billion, while fixed assets stood at N3.45 billion compared with N3.31 billion in 2011. Current assets moved from N7.733 billion in 2011 while shareholders fund moved up by 4.5 per cent to N3.11 billion from N2.98 billion in 2011. However, returns on assets (ROA) grew by 0.07 basis points to 6.72 per cent in 2012 from 6.65 percent achieved in 2011. Future Ultimately, the huge cost of operation continuously incurred by Chellarams Plc has been a major challenge facing the company as bulk of its businesses comes from distributive trade division. Having realized this, the management of Chellarams has taken a move to reduce cost associated to energy as its independent power generation initiative with some overseas investors will be commissioned soon. Also, the acquisition of its own property to meet its increasing operations, in Kano and the expansion of its operations by opening up a new branch in Maiduguri to serve the Northern part of the country. BC

Monday, August 6, 2012

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Monday, August 6, 2012

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Law & Justice nationalmirrorlaw@yahoo.com

“Mere repetition of an argument, does not improve an earlier arid, weak or completely unacceptable argument.”

JUSTICE IKECHI FRANCIS OGBUAGU, RETIRED JUSTICE OF THE SUPREME COURT.

Constitution amendment: Lawyers differ on removal of immunity clause The Bar should play bigger role in judges’ appointment –Ogunye

The retention of the provisions of immunity clause in the 1999 Constitution has remained a controversial issue against the backdrop of persistent calls for amendment of the country’s constitution. KAYODE KETEFE, Assistant Head Judiciary Desk, examines the issue. President Goodluck Jonathan

P Balarabe Musa’s impeachment saga 44

Gay marriage: California residents head for US S’Court 41

eriodic constitutional amendment is a normal part of democratic process of all modern nations. In Nigeria today, agitations have reached the loudest decibels for amendment of the extant 1999 Constitution. Almost all stakeholders in the Nigerian project have identified one area or the other that is in need of urgent reforms. In response to the yearnings of many Nigerians, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Constitution Review, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, promised earlier this year that his committee would facilitate the process of a new constitutional reform, stressing that Nigerians would be allowed to partake in the reformatory process. This promise was fulfilled on Wednesday, May 9, 2012, when the Senate published an advertisement calling for memoranda on constitutional amendment from interested members of the public. The advertisement which stipulated 50 days for submission from the date of publication was signed by Ekweremadu. Some of the controversial areas on which memoranda were invited from the members of the public included creation of more states, devolution of powers, defining role for traditional rulers recognition of the six geo-political zones in the constitution, local government, fiscal federalism, amendment of provisions relating to amendment of the constitution; and boundary adjustment. Other areas are immunity clause, Nigeria Police, Judiciary, Executive, rotation of executive offices, gender and special group, mayoral status for the Federal Capital Territory administration and residency, indi-

Senate President, David Mark

THE QUESTION ON WHETHER OR NOT TO RETAIN IMMUNITY CLAUSE HAS GENERATED INTENSE CONTROVERSY gene provision and the questions whether or not the following statutes should be removed from the constitution; Land Use Act, NYSC Act. Like the issue of fiscal federalism, and state police, the question on whether or not to retain immunity clause has generated intense controversy. The immunity clause which protects a number of public officers, viz, the President, Vice-President, governors and deputy governors from being sued or summoned to court during their terms of office is contained in Section 308 of the 1999 Constitution. The section shields the Executive from all criminal and civil prosecution, irrespective of the gravity of the offence. Accordingly, they cannot be compelled to appear in court, arrested, prosecuted or imprisoned for any offence whatsoever as long as they remain in office. The controversial Section 308 provides, “Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Constitution, but subject to Subsection (2) of this section(a) No civil or criminal proceedings shall be instituted or continued against a person to whom this section applies during his period of office; (b) A person to whom this section applies

shall not be arrested or imprisoned during that period either in pursuance of the process of any court or otherwise; and (c) No process of any court requiring or compelling the appearance of a person to whom this section applies, shall be applied for or issued: Provided that in ascertaining whether any period of limitation has expired for the purposes of any proceedings against a person to whom this section applies, no account shall be taken of his period of office.” There is no parallel provisions of our Section 308 in the constitutions of many developed countries of the world. Although the American constitution has what it calls “Privileges and Immunity Clause (US Constitution, Article IV, Section 2, Clause 1) This provision does not confer immunity on any executive office holders, rather what this clause does is to prevent states in the US federation from treating citizens of other states in a discriminatory manner concerning their basic civil rights. So what US has is the immunity of the citizens rather than immunity of the executives! The controversy of removal or retention of immunity clause has always polarised the stakeholders in Nigeria who have used compelling arguments both for and against the continual retention of the clause in our constitution. Some people claim that removal of the clause would expose the concerned executive to real or fathom litigations that would disrupt the smooth running of government. Others argue that political opponents CONTINUED ON PAGE 40

Law & Justice

Monday, August 6, 2012

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

‘Let’s retain immunity clause to protect governors, others’ CONTINUED FROM PAGE 39 may deliberately sponsor multitudes of litigation to embarrass, confuse and distract president and governors from concentrating on state affairs. On the other hand, continued retention of the clause in the constitution has been said to promote executive lawlessness and constitute an impediment to against fighting corruption. It would be recalled that it was the late Chief Gani Fawehinmi (SAN), who spearheaded the campaign for the removal of the immunity clause from the constitution on the grounds that it tended to promote corruption. In the aftermath of the alleged certificate forgery scandal involving the former governor of Lagos State, Mr. Bola Tinubu in 1999, Fawehinmi filed a suit against the Inspector General of Police and Tinubu, in which he argued that Section 308 encourages corruption and power abuse. He prayed the court to compel the IGP to investigate the scandal against Tinubu. The fundamental question that came up in the case was whether or not the police could investigate an allegation of crime that was levelled against Tinubu in the light of the governor’s immunity as enshrined in Section 308. The case moved all the way from the High Court to the Supreme Court. The apex court ruled that there was no immunity within the context of Section 308 against investigation of the public officers in question. The court however added that though the said elected officers can be investigated, they cannot be prosecuted during their terms of office. That case has become a locus classicus on the practical application of Section 308 of the 1999 Constitution. Former governors who have benefited from immunity clause and from being harassed by the Economic and Finan-

Judicature FRANCIS FAMOROTI AG. HEAD JUDICIARY

etired Supreme Court Justice, Chukwudifu Akunne Oputa is one of the brilliant jurists ever produced by the Supreme Court of Nigeria. He has been described by his colleagues and many others as the ‘Socrates of the Supreme Court while he sat on the apex court because of his penchant for quotations from Aristotle, Shakespeare and philosophical aphorisms from literature. He is a man of letters, of philosophy, of religion, a jurist, scholar and author. Even at ripe age, his sharp intellect, vast learning and wit shine through his age as he discusses issues touching the Nigerian justice system. According to a publication; Judicial Footprints , Justice Chukwudifu Oputa – His Notable Pronouncements (Supreme Court years 1984-1989) complied by George Oputa and Edited by Ayo Olanrewaju – Chukwudifu Oputa was born on September 22, 1924. Sylvester, as he was fondly called by his friends, attended the Sacred Heart School, Oguta from 1930-1936, and Christ the King

Daudu

cial Crimes Commission (EFCC), but who were made to face prosecution after losing the immunity included DiepreyeAlamieyeseigha of Bayelsa State, Ayo Fayose of Ekiti State, Joshua Dariye of Plateau State, Adebayo Alao-Akala of Oyo State and Gbenga Daniel of Ogun State. With the recent efforts to amend the constitution, the controversy surrounding the immunity clause has once again been brought to the fore. For example, Northern governors, under the aegis of Northern Governors’ Forum (NGF) on July 27, announced their opposition to the inclusion of state police and removal of immunity clause from the Nigerian constitution. The governors insisted that the removal of immunity clause would be a retrogressive rather than progressive step to consolidate the nation’s democracy. They consequently urged the National Assembly not to tamper with the clause as enshrined in Section 308 of the Constitution. On May 26, 2012, the outgoing President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Mr. Joseph Daudu SAN, while speaking during a two-day seminar on constitutional reforms in Port Harcourt, River

Ezeilo

I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE IMMUNITY CLAUSE COMPLETELY REMOVED State, tasked members of the House of Representatives Committee on Constitution Review to expunge the immunity clause from the 1999 Constitution. Daudu said: “The pertinent question is whether in the light of proven cases of corruption among some beneficiaries of the immunity clause, it is still of assistance to leave the clause in the constitution unaltered or amended. “In other words, in the face of brazen corruption and the fleeing of state treasury being perpetrated at an alarming rate by some beneficiaries of immunity, there is a clarion call for its abrogation. “There is no doubt that some beneficiaries of immunity have engaged in provable criminal acts of chronic rapacity and abuse of power leading to the loss of billions of taxpayers’ money.” National Mirror sought the views of some senior lawyers on this issue. Emeka Ngige, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, is strongly opposed to the removal of im-

munity clause. To buttress his point, he made reference to his elder brother, the former governor of Anambra State, now Senator Chris Ngige. Emeka Ngige said, “if immunity clause is allowed to go, government agents would abuse it. The governors would be unnecessarily harassed and clamped to jail at will. For instance, if there was no immunity during my brothers’ travails, former President Olusegun Obasanjo, would have jailed him in his attempt to remove him at all cost,” Dr. Joy Ngozi Ezeilo, a United Nations Special Rapporteur on Trafficking in Persons and a lecturer at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka however endorsed the view of the NBA President. Like Daudu, she advocated removal of the immunity clause from the country’s constitution. She said, “I would like to see the immunity clause completely removed, it is a provision which has been abused many times and it is defeating the reason why it was inserted. The law should not be used as an engine to promote impunity, maladministration and corruption. That is why I advocate for its removal” . In his own view, a Lagos-based lawyer, Dr. Lasun Olayinka, disagreed with Daudu and Ezeilo. He said, “you would see that despite the fact that the immunity clause has been subject to much abuse in Nigeria because of the fact that our political class are criminally-prone, the clause itself is a good conception. It was designed to protect the paramount executives from unnecessary harassment with litigations. How would the president or governors face and concentrate on the duties if they are constantly harassed by a deluge of litigations? No, I don’t support the removal of the clause, it should be retained”

Oputa, Socrates of Supreme Court College (CKC), Onitsha 1937-1940. He later attended the famous Achimota College, in the then Gold Coast (Ghana) where he obtained the B.Sc degree in Economics in 1945. It was also this same period that through the quest for hard work, he studied at home to obtain the B.A (Hons) degree in History from the University of London. He worked as a Teacher and later Administrative Officer at the Nigeria Secretariat, Lagos. Oputa’s quest for knowledge, however, spurred him on to leave this job in order to study law in England. In June 1953, his ambition of becoming a lawyer paid off. He received his LL.B (Hons) degree, and was called to the English Bar- Grays’ Inn, London on 26 November `1953. He returned to Nigeria and was in private practice for 12 years. As a legal practitioner, he appeared in virtually all the magistrate and high courts of the then Eastern Region of Nigeria, as well as the court in the Region of Cameroons. He was the leading counsel in the Harcourt Commission of Inquiry into the Oguta Chieftaincy Dispute (1958/59) among others. In 1966, he was appointed to the bench as a Judge of the High Court of Eastern Nige-

Oputa

ria. He became the first Chief Judge of Imo State in 1976. He held this position for about eight years until July 4, 1984 when he was elevated to the exalted position of a Justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria. While on the apex court bench, he manifested his profound intellect for equity and justice in his balanced judgments. In five but eventual years at the apex court, Justice Oputa delivered 267 judg-

ments, 50 of which were lead judgments. According to foreword written by Justice M.L Uwais on the book Judicial Footprints , from August 1984 to December of the same year, the jurist delivered 31 judgments. Notable among them are; Nishizawa-vJethwani (1984) 12 SC 234 and Udofia-v- The State (1984) 12 SC 139. He said Oputa’s deep sense of religion greatly enriched his style of delivering judgment. For this, Justice Mohammed Bello, former Chief Justice of Nigeria, described him as ‘Socrates of the Supreme Court. In 1985 alone, he delivered for posterity 53 judgments. Notable among them are UNILAG-v-Aigoro (1985) 1 NWLR (Pt 1/ 143; Olaniyan –v-UNILAG (1985) 2 NWLR (Pt 9). In Josiah –v-The State (1985) 1 NWLR (Pt 1 (125), this learned jurist succinctly stated: “Justice is not a one way traffic. It is not justice for the appellant only. Justice is not even only two-way traffic; it is really threeway traffic.” In 1986, there was the birth of judicial activism, where courage triumphed over might. In that year, 46 cast-iron judgments were delivered. Standing out among these is the famous case of Governor of Lagos State-v-Ojukwu (1986) 1 NWLR (Pt 18) 621.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Foreign

Law & Justice

Monday, August 6, 2012

pponents of gay marriage in the state of California have asked the US Supreme Court to uphold a ban on same-sex weddings that was ruled unconstitutional by an appeal court. According to BBC report, a panel of three judges said the ban - a 2008 state constitutional amendment known as Proposition 8 - violated the civil rights of California residents. Last May, President Barack Obama said he supported gay couples’ right to marry. Proposition 8 was approved by 52 per cent of California voters in November 2008, banning gay marriage just months after state lawmakers legalised it. But a court overturned the ban in 2010. In June 2012, the judges of the 9th US Circuit Court of Appeals upheld that judgment. Lawyers for opponents of gay marriage were widely expected to ask the Supreme Court to consider their arguments in favour of the ban. If the Supreme Court chooses not to take up the case it would mean same-sex marriages, which have been put on hold in California, could resume. “The 9th Circuit’s error, if left uncor-

Gay marriage: California residents head for US S’Court

US Supreme Court

rected, will have widespread and immediate negative consequences,” supporters of Proposition 8 wrote in their petition. “The 9th Circuit’s sweeping dismissal of the important societal interests served by the traditional definition of marriage is tantamount to a judicial death sentence

California for traditional marriage laws throughout the Circuit.” Lawyers representing two gay couples who first challenged the California ban in 2009 have said they will urge the high court to reject it.

Ugandan judicial commission decries underfunding

ith the retiring judges worsening the already bad situation of lack of judges in the judiciary, the pressure is on the Ugandan judicial Service Commission to recruit new judges as soon as possible. According to The Independent, the process of recruiting new judges is not yet even half way. The commission has not yet sent any names to the president for appointment but have only passed through the first interviews for the Supreme Court, just shortlisted the judges for the court of appeal and have not began on the high court judges. Yet there is no time as the backlog of cases increases each day with the judiciary lacking over 50 judges. The deputy chief justice Alice Bahegeine has already retired and the Chief Justice Benjamin Odoki is also following suit. But the chairperson of the commission, James Ogoola blamed the situa-

Kampala tion on the underfunding of the commission and the whole judicial sector. He says the judges are underpaid and that demoralises the people who would fill these vacancies. “Asking a lawyer who earns 1bn from just one case to take on a job in a sector where the head earns only 5m a month is like asking a rock to yield blood,” Ogoola said. The Secretary of the Commission, Kagole Kivumbi also said that the process of recruiting new judges is derailed by lack of enough money to do advertisements and investigations about the con-

Uganda’s Supreme Court

tenders. He added that the commission was using a new method of appointment which needs enough funds and enough time. Judges in the judiciary have always been appointed through consultation with the stakeholders notably the Uganda Law Society but this time the commission has gone through public advertisement. The legal and parliamentary affairs committee of parliament before which the commission was appearing pledged to lobby for the judiciary to acquire the funding and the status it deserves as a fully fledged arm of government.

The Obama administration has also asked the Supreme Court to review a number of legal challenges to a federal law known as the Defence of Marriage Act, which prevents the Federal Government from recognising same-sex marriages. As a result, legally married same-sex couples cannot file joint tax returns, receive federal survivor benefits, or access other national programmes available to married people. Last week, a judge in the state of Connecticut ruled in favour of six married gay couples and one widower who sued after they were denied access to federal benefits. District Judge Vanessa Bryant said the 1996 law violated the US Constitution’s Fifth Amendment right to equal protection. An opinion poll released by the Pew Research Centre last week also showed the gap in public support for gay marriage widening along party lines. It said 65 per cent of Democrats now support gay marriage - up from 59 per cent in April, before Mr Obama’s endorsement - while only 24 per cent of Republicans are in favour.

Pakistan

Indian Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh

Mumbai evidence not admissible in court- Pakistan tells India

he Pakistan government has formally informed India that evidence provided by New Delhi in the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks case is not admissible in a Pakistani court. According to India Today report, Pakistan’s Interior Ministry has informed the Indian government that the evidence is not admissible in the trial of seven Pakistani suspects, including Lashkar-e-Taiba commander Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi, since defence lawyers were not allowed to cross-examine Indian officials when a

Pakistani judicial commission visited Mumbai in March. In a letter sent to the Indian government the Interior Ministry cited the ruling of a Rawalpindi-based anti-terrorism court and said cross-examination of key Indian officials was needed to make the evidence admissible in Pakistan. During a hearing on July 28, the antiterrorism court did not record the statement of two Pakistani investigators who were scheduled to testify about the evidence provided by India. The judge ruled that since the evidence gathered by the Pakistani judicial commission in India had not been made part of the case, the testimony regarding the Indian evidence too should not be recorded. The evidence provided by the Indian authorities includes the confessional statement of Ajmal Kasab, the lone surviving terrorist, a CD with intercepts conversations between the attackers in Mumbai and their handlers in Pakistan, autopsy and medical reports of the dead and injured and the statements of four Indian officials. The Pakistani judicial commission had interviewed these four officials during the visit to Mumbai. However, no cross-examination was allowed under an agreement between India and Pakistan. Sources privy to the investigations by the Federal Investigation Agency said that the Interior Ministry had made it clear to India that the evidence would not have any legal value in Pakistan if the Indian officials could not be cross-examined by lawyers representing the seven accused facing trial in Pakistan.

Law & Justice

Monday, August 6, 2012

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

The Bar should play bigger role in Olajinbiti Ogunye is the Executive Director, Lawyers’ League for Human Rights (LLHR). A 1991 graduate of the University of Benin (UNIBEN), he was called to the Bar on December 16, 1992. In this interview with WALE IGBINTADE, he speaks on the seeming prevalence of corruption in the judiciary and the controversial Magistrates’ Court Law among other issues. Excerpts. Do you think ordinary citizen could still look up to the Nigerian judiciary as the last hope of common man? Only recently, the new CJN, Justice Aloma Mukhtar at the Senate confirmation hearing openly and frankly confirmed that there was corruption in the judiciary. At that apex level, there is an acknowledgment of the menace of corruption in the judiciary. But, in spite of this acknowledgement, the common man can still look up to the judiciary as his last hope. As prevalent as corruption may appears to be in the judiciary, there are still judges of integrity in the judiciary. There are still judges of conscience and we appear before such judges. They are diligent, dutiful, honourable and hard working judges. In spite of the fact that anti-corruption cases are said to languish in the judiciary without an early adjudicatory outcomes, certain anti-corruption cases are determine quickly and with expected result. People that are perceived to be corrupt are found guilty in accordance with the law and are sentenced to prison. They may be very few, but it is still the judiciary that ensured that they are punished in accordance with the law. What this means is that, regardless of the seeming prevalence of corruption in the judiciary, judiciary is still able to do justice in accordance with the law. However, what I think the judiciary need to do is what the new CJN has said should be done, that is internal cleansing. This should be done quickly. Are you comfortable with the mode of appointment judges? The entry into the judiciary needs reform. Because when you talk about internal cleansing of the judiciary, what you are saying is that those who are already judges and who are found to be bad eggs would be shown the exit door. But, wouldn’t it be better that if they are bad eggs, they don’t even get to be judges at all? It is not absolutely correct that judges only learn how to be corrupt when they become judges. Most judges who are corrupt on the Bench already before they became judges had corruptionprone characters. So, it is important to look at how they became judges in the first instance. What is the average age of judges at the entry point? I will say between 38 and 40 years. At this stage, their character and world outlook are fully formed. I am not saying there will be no cases of temptation and that some will find corruption irresistible, due to weakness of character. But, in most cases, judges who are corrupt while they were in private practice or in the ministry of justice, would have been taking bribes and compromising the cases of clients. My recommendation is that, it is very urgent that we rethink the appointment process. The Bar ought to play a bigger role in the appointment of judges. The Bar should be able to determine whether their colleagues are fit and proper persons to be appointed to the Bench, because, they know their colleagues. It would be sad indeed, if at this point we believe we have come to a situation, where we tell the common man ‘you have no last hope again’. Even, if that last hope is shaky, we must continue to encourage the common man and work diligently to ensure that the institution where that hope resides is reformed. The immediate past CJN suggested that the qualification for appointment of a justice of the Supreme Court

Ogunye

AS PREVALENT AS CORRUPTION MAY APPEARS TO BE IN THE

JUDICIARY, THERE ARE STILL JUDGES OF INTEGRITY IN THE JUDICIARY be raised from 15 years post-call experience to 25 years. What is your view? I disagree with the retired CJN, Dahiru Musdapher. When we have a problem in an institution, we must correctly diagnose the nature of the problem before proffering solution. The problem facing the judiciary is not about ignorance of the law. The three-tier levels of the judiciary allow for errors of law at the lower Bench to be corrected at the appellate level and ultimately at the Supreme Court. Therefore, people are not complaining about the quality of justice delivery. What people who are not lawyers are complaining about is the discernable corruption in the judiciary. So, if you want to cure that problem it is not by adjusting the age at which judges are appointed. Currently under the constitution, you must be 10 years at the Bar before you can be eligible for elevation or appointment to the high court. You must be 12 years at the Bar before you can be eligible for appointment to the court of appeal. You must be 15 years at the Bar before you can be eligible to be appointed to the Supreme Court. In most cases, those who are appointed to the Supreme Court are not just attaining 15 years, in most cases some of them attained 40 years at the Bar. Like Justice Oguntade for instance, before he was appointed to the Supreme Court from the Court of Appeal, he spent between 21 and 22 years at the Court of Appeal alone. So, you can’t say that he is not experienced. I am not one that will argue that we need to adjust the age upward. It doesn’t make any sense to me. I don’t share the view that the Bench should be reserved for old people whose productivity is obviously on the decline. For instance, it has not been proven that Justice Chukwudifu Oputa, Justice Kayode Eso, Justice Chukwunweike Idigbe who retired at the age of 65 years, were less productive than judges who now retire at 70 years. As a matter of fact, the things that we read in the books pointed to the fact that they are more productive that the ones we have now. And that era is aptly called the golden years of the Supreme Court. So, I don’t think that it is the age that is the problem. The correct diagnosis is that the judiciary has a problem of corruption and the problem of nepotism. The problem of seeing somebody who merit being appointed as a judge but leaving him even when he

wants to become a judge and reaching out for somebody who is politically connected but who doesn’t merit being appointed a judge. That is the problem judiciary has. There are several reform bills on administration of justice pending before the National Assembly. Do you think the lawmakers have the political will to pass them into law? The National Assembly does not have the political will to do anything. So, it is not just the bills affecting administration of justice. It behooves on stakeholders to make the National Assembly do what is right. The Nigerian Bar Association is having its Annual General Meeting, are they going to discuss these bills there? Does the office of the Attorney-General of the Federation interact with the private Bar on the need for these laws to be passed? If that is done, it would be possible for the Bar to engage the Bench and that if the bills are passed it is in the interest of effective administration of justice. And the lawyers who are in the National Assembly would be contacted and be told that they have to do what is right. They will then go to the floor of the House to mobilise their colleagues who may not appreciate the need for these bills to be passed into law. It is not enough to toss bills at the National Assembly and expect that they will fully appreciate the need to pass these laws when they are more interested in oversight functions. It is the duty of legal community that is, the Bar and the Bench, the official Bar and the private Bar to come together and ensure that the bills are passed into law. Do you think the powers of the CJN are too enormous? I believe the CJN has enormous powers in the legal profession and the powers should be streamlined. The CJN should be strip of some of the powers that CJN exercises currently. The CJN is the head of the third arm of government. Under the constitution, the CJN is the head of the Supreme Court of Nigeria, the CJN is the chairman of the National Judicial Council, the CJN is the chairman of the National Judicial Institute, the CJN is the chairman of the Federal Judicial Service Commission and the CJN is the chairman of the Legal Practitioners Privileges Committee. The problem the judiciary ran into recently over the disagreement between Justice Isa Ayo Salami and retired CJN, Katsina-Alu, brought to the fore the problem that will arise if you have a poor character or vindictive character occupying the office of CJN . Those enormous powers could be abused as indeed they were misused when Katsina- Alu was the CJN. I am sure before that time nobody was thinking that the CJN was too powerful, perhaps those who were CJN before him were fully conscious of the responsibility that that

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Law & Justice

Monday, August 6, 2012

judges’ appointment –Ogunye office carries. They were conscious of the need to exercise those enormous powers with due consideration and with discretion. I believe that the CJN ought to be stripped of some of these powers. For instance, the CJN is the chairman of the Federal Judicial Service Commission that recommends to the National Judicial Council also chaired by the CJN who is fit to be elevated from the lower Bench to the appellate level. If the CJN has a candidate and uses his position to ensure that his candidate is recommended, he would also use his position as the chair of the National Judicial Council to ensure that his recommendation is confirmed. So, there is need to think-through these powers and ensure that at the end of the day, other persons or authorities in the institution can perform such functions and powers outside the office of the CJN. Is it wrong for a retired justice to engage in consultancy services to law firms? I think the President of the Nigerian Bar Association is just crying wolves for nothing. There had been a lot of distortions in the legal profession and Chief Afe Babalola spoke on the issue not long ago. He said in their time, the practice used to be that a Senior Advocate of Nigeria will lead other juniors even in an election petition. But now, you will have one election petition and you will have 20 Senior Advocates of Nigeria. Who will be leading the rest? So, who is the senior among them? Just because they know that election petitions are lucrative, that is an anomaly. Why you are a Senior Advocate of Nigeria is that, you are regarded as a senior who is leading certain juniors, it is not expected that a Senior Advocate of Nigeria will be leading other Senior Advocates of Nigeria as they now do in courts. So, talking about judges who are retired, who are disallowed by the constitution from engaging in legal practice any longer. If anyone of them is dismissed before reaching retirement age that dismissed judicial officer cannot practice law any longer. So, how would they then get-by? Are we not aware that judges including Justices of the Supreme Court consult for international organisations? If they can do that why are you now saying they cannot consult for lawyers in election petitions and in other matters? If you believe that there is corruption in the judiciary, we should look for ways to tackle the issue. So, regardless of who is consulting for whom it would not change the colour of justice. But, to suggest that retired justices should desist from consulting because of the fear that if they do so, they are likely to manipulate the course of justice is begging the question. We know that in certain cases, judges themselves even at the appellate level invite amicus curiae (friends of the court) to come and contribute to the cases before them. That is a formal consultation. If retired judges are using the wealth of their experience and are earning money from it and they are not appearing before judges, they are merely consulting and you are saying they are taking the job of lawyers, I will say look at your association and look at what is wrong there and fix it. How do you think the conviction of James Ibori by a London court for money laundering can impact on the country‘s criminal jurisprudence? The Ibori’s case sticks out like a sore thumb and it is very embarrassing. I am sure that many judicial officers who are not permitted by the nature of their work to grant interviews have also been embarrassed by the way Ibori’s case turned out. This is because Ibori was given a clean bill of health all-through to the Supreme Court. In spite of the fact that the Magistrate who convicted James Onanefe Ibori came to court to give evidence that Ibori was the one he convicted, yet, the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court said it was not conclusively proved that the James Onanefe Ibori that was convicted was not the same Ibori, the governor of Delta State. It was an embarrassment. When adjudicatory outcomes are so far from an outcome expected by the reasonable man on the street, then there is a problem. Again, James Ibori was arraigned before a Federal High Court in Kaduna by the Nuhu Ribadu led

THE JUDGES THAT DECIDED IBORI’S CASES ARE KNOWN BUT NOW IT IS THE ENTIRE JUDICIARY THAT IS TAKING THE BLAME EFCC. A preliminary objection was filed saying that the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court on criminal matters was no longer national. It was submitted that the division of the Federal High court where the alleged offence took place was the only division that was competent to try those offences. The Federal High court threw out that preliminary objection but when the matter got to the Court of Appeal, the appellate court held that the Federal High Kaduna lacked jurisdiction to hear the matter. Before, the law that we are familiar with is that the jurisdiction of the Federal High court all over the country is one and the same. And that the divisions were merely created for administrative convenience. But, the Court of Appeal changed the law. People started wondering, was it because of Ibori that the law was changed or that people didn’t understand the law before then? As if that was not enough, when Ibori was eventually arraigned before a hurriedly created Federal High Court in Asaba, a court that sat in a building that was donated to the Federal

judiciary by the Delta State government. Justice Marcel Awokulehin came out to say that all the charges were frivolous and there was no prima facie case against Ibori. So, James Onanefe Ibori then conquered the Nigerian judiciary. He was no longer afraid of the Nigerian law because he has conquered the law. Ibori fled Nigeria to Dubai because he feared political powers and was extradited to Britain. He then became a proverbial cow that was going to England with pride without realising that he would return a conbeef. For me, as a lawyer when Ibori was convicted in England, it was a sad day for me. The judges that decided Ibori’s cases are known but now it is the entire judiciary that is taking the blame. It was Justice Oputa that once reasoned that, ‘’prove beyond reasonable doubt is not prove beyond all shred of doubt’’. But, having said that, in recent times there are politicians who were no less powerful than James Ibori that have been convicted by the Nigerian judiciary. All we need to do is to continue to pray that the tribes of those courageous judges who convicted those persons continue to increase in the Nigerian judiciary and the tribes of those judges who will fabricate doubts just to ensure that a guilty person escapes, that their tribes continue to decrease in the Nigerian judiciary. Sometimes ago you filed a suit challenging the new Magistrate Court Law. What is the situation of the suit now? The Magistrate Court’s Law 2009 generated a lot of controversy and that controversy was further heighten by the steps we took when we filed an action in court challenging that law. The action we filed led to the suspension of that law by Justice Opesanwo. Following that suspension, there was protest by the Magistrates who embarked on a strike, which was very unprecedented, because they felt that the law protected the interest of the Magistrates. At a point, there was a meeting of former Chief Judges of Lagos State, former Attorneys General, the Judicial Service Commission and Bar leaders who interfered in the matter and the matter was arbitrated. The law was combed by a committee set-up by that body and all our complaints against that law were taken care of. Our basic complaint was that the Law attempted to bifurcate the judiciary. The law attempted to bring the Magistracy under the Judicial Service Commission which by virtue of Section 153 of the constitution is part and parcel of the executive arm of government. Lagos State Judicial Service Commission was now the body designated by Magistrate Court Law as the body that should exercise supervisory control over the judiciary against what had been the norm and practice. The judiciary of a state is one body under the supervision and control of the Chief Judge. I felt the judiciary is too important to be politicised as the Lagos State government did with that law. So, we discussed the matter and a new law was then recommended.

Law & Justice

The first civilian governor of Kaduna State in the Second Republic, Alhaji Balarabe Musa was impeached while in office by the Kaduna State House of Assembly in 1981. Before his removal, he lost his bid to stop the proceedings that led to his ouster from the government house. FRANCIS FAMOROTI, Ag. Head, Judiciary writes.

Monday, August 6, 2012

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Balarabe Musa’s impeachment saga

lhaji Balarabe Musa was elected the first civilian governor of Kaduna State during Nigeria’s second Republic. He emerged governor on the platform of the then Peoples’ Redemption Party (PRP), which was a minority party in the state House of Assembly. Barely one and half years in office, Musa was confronted with impeachment threat by the National Party of Nigeria (NPN) - dominated lawmakers in the state. Specifically, some members of the state legislature had levelled allegations of gross misconduct against him and they sought to investigate these accusations by constituting a seven-man committee. The document prepared by the then state legislature was entitled:’’ Notice of Allegation of guilt of Alhaji Balarabe Musa regarding his gross misconduct in the performance of the functions of his office as the Governor of Kaduna State.’’ On May 7, 1981, the state legislature served Musa a copy of the notice and thereafter on May 31 of the same year, it resolved that the allegations be investigated by a committee of seven persons. Few days after the Investigation Committee of the state House of Assembly invited the then embattled governor to appear before its public sitting on June 10, 1981, Musa sought to enforce his fundamental rights under Section 170 (2) and (6) of 1979 Constitution . The then governor through an ex parte application approached the Kaduna State High Court and asked for an order prohibiting the state House of Assembly and its Investigating Committee from proceeding with the investigation of the allegation levelled against him. The suit filed by Musa came up for hearing before Justice V. J Chigbue of the Kaduna High Court on June 5, 1981. The judge on June 10, 1981 in his ruling granted the governor leave to file an order of prohibition but refused the application to stay the proceedings of the committee before the state House of Assembly. Aggrieved by the court’s decision to turn down his application, Musa lodged a notice of appeal before the Court of Appeal, Kaduna division. In the notice of appeal filed same June 10, 1981, the embattled governor asked for stay of proceedings of the Investigating Committee appointed by the Speaker of Kaduna State House of Assembly purportedly in pursuance to Section 170(5) of the 1979 Constitution pending the determination of the appeal lodged at the Appeal Court. Musa was represented in court by his lead counsel, Chief G.O.K Ajayi (SAN). The state House of Assembly however through its counsel, Mr. A. T Ajala filed a counter-affidavit in which the latter stated that the respondents had completed public

Musa

FAMOUS CASES sittings connected with the investigation of the gross misconduct against Musa on June 16, 1981. Besides, Ajala raised the issue that the subject matter of the case giving rise to the appeal by virtue of the provision of Section 170(10) of the 1979 Constitution, was a matter which could not be entertained or questioned in any court. The appellate court on June 29, 1981 in its ruling refused the prayer of the appellant asking for an interim stay of the proceedings of the Investigation Committee. At the conclusion of the reading of the ruling, Ajayi began his submissions on the grounds of appeal filed against the refusal of the Kaduna State High Court to halt proceedings in the matter. Arguing the appeal that the lower court misdirected itself in law, Ajayi said the trial judge was wrong to have ruled that it would ‘’ be inequitable at this stage to grant the applicant a stay of proceedings and further proceedings against the respondents.’’ He also submitted that the trial judge erred in law in wrongfully exercising his discretion to refuse a stay of proceedings in that he took into consideration irrelevant matters and failed to consider those matters which were material to a proper exercise of his judicial discretion.

Ajayi (SAN)

The panel of appellate court who heard the appeal included, Justices Adenekan Ademola, Adolphus Karibi-Whyte and Maidam. In the lead judgment delivered by Justice Ademola, the appellate court declared that there was no provision in the 1979 Constitution which state that the jurisdiction of the high court to issue prerogative orders had been taken away. The appellate court said: “Therefore, the application for prohibition in the Kaduna High Court is competent and such application would have to be considered in the light of Order 53 Rules of the Supreme Court of England 1965.’’ According to Justice Ademola, ‘’Mr. Ajayi is quite correct in his submission that the learned judge has taken into consideration matters which are irrelevant in his refusal of stay of proceedings. ‘’ The Appeal Court noted that the error made by the judge of the lower court in not explicitly deciding the matter of jurisdiction brought about the cross appeal of the respondents. Justice Ademola stated: ‘’The cross appeal raises the issue of whether the high court or any court for that matter has jurisdiction to entertain or determine any matter in relation to anything done under section 170 of the 1979 Constitution about the removal of the appellant from office as the Governor of Kaduna State. ‘’Put shortly the effect of Section 170(10) on the proceedings filed by the appellant asking for an order of prohibition directed against the committee of seven members appointed by the Speaker of the Kaduna State of Assembly investigating charges against him with the object of removing him,’’ he added. The appellate court said under Section 170 of the 1979 Constitution, popularly termed the impeachment section, ‘’the whole exercise is begun by members of the House. Even the Speaker who appoints the

MUSA EVENTUALLY FAILED IN HIS BID TO PROHIBIT THE PROCEEDINGS OF THE COMMITTEE AND HE WAS ADJUDGED GUILTY OF GROSS MISCONDUCT committee of seven persons to investigate the allegations against the Governor or his deputy must have the approval of members of the House for his nominees.’’ Ademola said, “that the obvious end that Section 170 of the 1979 Constitution was designed to serve was that the governor or his deputy could only be removed by the act and doings of the legislature and subsection 10 forbids interference with any proceedings of the house or its committee in that regards”. He stated that it followed from this premise that no court could entertain any proceedings or question the determination of the House or its committee on the issue. The appellate court said Musa’s appeal therefore failed and that of the committee of the Kaduna State House of Assembly succeeded. Although Justice Karibi-Whyte delivered a separate verdict but he concurred with the lead opinion which was also endorsed by Justice Maidam. Musa eventually failed in his bid to prohibit the proceedings of the committee and he was adjudged guilty of gross misconduct and accordingly removed from office by the House 31 years ago. He became the first civilian governor- ever to be so impeached in the country’s political history.

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Monday, August 6, 2012

Law & Justice

Monday, August 6, 2012

Senate and imperatives of Sovereign National Conference

I was fidgeting in court –Grace Adenubi

IKECHUKWU IKEJI

Adenubi

y first appearance in court was during my national youth service in Lokoja, Kogi State. My principal travelled and I have to attend court alone. I was before a Magistrate’s Court. It wasn’t easy and I was fidgeting in court. The Magistrate had to ask me to speak louder, because I wasn’t having the confidence. I made my mistakes

and I learnt from them. Shortly after that, there was an application I had to move. But, because

my principal was not available, I was sent to court to take a date but the Magistrate insisted that I must move the application. The Magistrate knew that I was a new wig, but he wanted me to learn. I had to move the application, it was not easy. After a while, I got used to the courtroom system and going to court was no longer a problem for me.

Bar Jokes

How long have I got left?

man woke up in a hospital bed and called for his doctor. He asked “Give it to me straight. How long have I got?” The physician replied that he doubted that his patient would survive the night. The man then said “Call for my lawyer.” When the lawyer arrived, the man asked for his physician to stand on one side of the

Hearing the news

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law firm receptionist answered the phone the morning after the firm’s senior partner had passed away unexpectedly. “Is Mr. Spenser there?” asked the client on the phone. “I’m very sorry, but Mr. Spenser passed away last night,” the receptionist answered. “Can anyone else help you?” The man paused for a moment, then quietly said, “no” and hung up. Ten minutes later, he called again and asked for Mr. Spenser, his ex-wife’s lawyer. The receptionist said, “You just called a few minutes ago, didn’t you? Mr. Spenser has died. I’m not making this up.” The man again hung up. Fifteen minutes later, he called a third time and asked for Mr. Spenser. The receptionist was irked by this time. “I’ve told you twice already, Mr. Spenser is dead. He is not here! Why do you keep asking for him when I say he’s dead? Don’t you understand what I’m saying?” The man replied, “I understand you perfectly. I just like hearing you say it over and over.” Culled from Funny Lawyers jokes; Comedy zone

bed, while the lawyer stood on the other. The man then laid back and closed his eyes. When he remained silent for several minutes, the physician asked what he had in mind. The man replied “Jesus died with a thief on either side, and I thought I’d check out the same way.”

A bored truck driver

bored truck driver had a nasty habit of swerving to hit attorneys he found walking along side of the highway. One day as he was driving along he came across a Nun who appeared to be having car trouble. Pulling over to offer the Nun a ride to the nearest service station, the Nun graciously thanked the driver for stopping and accepted his offer. After driving a few miles the truck driver saw an attorney walking along the highway. As was his custom, the truck driver swerved to hit the attorney but, at the last moment, remembered he had the Nun as a passenger and abruptly swerved away to avoid hitting the attorney. Surprised upon hearing a loud ‘thump’ as he passed the attorney, the truck driver peered in his rear view only to see the attorney lying injured along side of the road. “I’m so sorry Sister, I thought I missed hitting that attorney!” the truck driver pleads. “You did my son, but I got him with the door!” gleed the Nun. Culled from Gavel.Gavel.com

he major theories of law judge the validity of law either by its moral content, its effect on the society, its effectiveness or the process or legitimacy of bringing the law into being. To a large extent, legitimacy is the foundation of validity granted though that a law may be valid without having a legitimate foundation or without being legitimate. An example of the latter proposition may be seen in actions that are unconstitutional but are nonetheless valid. The National Assembly may make a law which is unconstitutional but which is valid and enforceable and remains a law until declared to the contrary by a court of law. A law is valid if its source is legitimate at least in terms of the prevailing legal order. However, legitimacy is a different proposition altogether in that it can be imposed (like under a military regime by means of a Decree) or it can be freely given by a most superior authority (like in a democracy by the people). According to Hans Kelsen, chief proponent of the Pure Theory of Law, a branch Legal Positivism, the legitimacy of every law is traceable to a basic norm which he called the Grundnorm. The Grundnorm denotes the basic norm, order, or rule that forms an underlying basis for a legal system. This theory is based on a need to find a point of origin for all law, on which basic law and the constitution can gain their legitimacy. The grundnorm itself owes its legitimacy to an identifiable sovereign. It is in the light of the foregoing that one feels the need to address the viewpoint recently expressed by the Deputy Senate President and Chairman of the National Assembly Constitution Review Committee. He made the point that a sovereign national conference was untenable since it already resides with the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria as amended. Even in the classical Benthamite legal order as well as the Austinian legal order where law is ‘what is’ as against ‘what ought to be’, it is an aberration to insinuate like the eminent Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu did that sovereignty lies in the present Nigerian Constitution. For example, in the Austinian positivism, sovereignty lies with a determinable human superior not subject to another human superior or sovereign and which must be continuous and unlimited by time or law. The 1999 Nigerian constitution is neither of the above. Since sovereignty lies with the Parliament only in a parliamentary system of government where the parliament can do all things except turn man into woman and vice versa, sovereignty in Nigeria being a Presidential system lies with the people through whom all laws must draw its legitimacy as different from validity. The distinguished Senator seemed to gloss over the fundamental and irrebutable fact that the present 1999 Constitution even as amended and as yet to be amended is in fact and indeed Decree 24

SOVEREIGNTY IN NIGERIA BEING A

PRESIDENTIAL SYSTEM LIES WITH THE PEOPLE of 1998 made by the Military junta led by General Abdusalam Abubakar. The military regime spoke for the Nigerian people without asking them their views. The regime went ahead to declare that the same constitution which the Nigerian people never made any input or contribution to was made by the same people! Assuming without conceding that the Constitution was made by the people, can we say that the people left themselves to the constitution in absolute terms without reserving some rights over the constitution? I most respectfully think not. There is no doubt that the people are still superior to the constitution. Even while succumbing to the operativeness of the 1999 constitution albeit forcefully, the people of Nigeria still reserve some “deep lying rights” which have never been ceded by them in the Constitution or otherwise to Parliament (National Assembly) or to any of the other organs of government. Senator Ekweremadu seemed to disregard these deep lying rights of the people including the right to make a constitution for themselves and not to have one made for and imposed on them by a Military Decree. It is my view that this is an inalienable right. It is a right the exercise of which is missing in the present 1999 Constitution. This is a fundamental defect which ought to first and foremost be cured before anything else. In terms of jurisprudence, the distinguished Senator and the National Assembly as a whole seemed to align with the postulations of Professor Funso Adaramola (of blessed memory) distinguished late professor of jurisprudence at the Lagos State University in asserting that sovereignty (legal sovereign in the words of Prof Adaramola) lies with the 1999 constitution of Nigeria. With profound respect, nothing can be farther from the truth than this assertion given that sovereignty ought to be the highest power in the land which the 1999 constitution is not, having derived its existence from a military Decree. In turn, the Decree, which without doubt stands superior to the constitution having given life to it, does not reflect the voice of the Nigerian people telling a lie against itself and the Nigerian people as it were while acknowledging the superiority of the people in its preamble when it said ‘we the people....do hereby make.....to ourselves the following constitution’. Is the Senator telling us then that the Decree 24 of 1998 is superior to the Nigerian sovereignty? To be continued Ikeji, Lead Advocate, Constitutional Rights Advocacy Initiative (CRAI) writes from Lagos.

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Oddities

Costa Rica fires minister over racy online video

osta Rica said on Tuesday it had dismissed a juniorlevel minister after she appeared in a video posted online wearing only her underwear and delivering flirtatious messages. Deputy Minister for Youth Karina Bolanos lost her job after a video showed her lying in bed, pointing at her breasts and inviting a man she refers to as “little one” to join her. Bolanos told cable TV network CNN en Espanol the video was made years ago and was put onto the Internet by a computer engineer who stole it and

Cocktail

Monday, August 6, 2012

was trying to extort her. Uploaded onto YouTube over the weekend, the clip quickly went viral. Costa Rica’s Ministry of Culture and Youth said in a statement on Tuesday the video and related legal issues made her position untenable. The incident is an embarrassment to President Laura Chinchilla, whose Cabinet has suffered a string of resignations since she took power two years ago. Local media said she declined to comment on the Bolanos scandal on Tuesday.

Man denied plane access over saggy-pants

man and his companion were thrown off an airliner in Chicago over the weekend after arguing with attendants over his severely sagging pants, the airline said. The Chicago Tribune said the unnamed man

was kicked off a Spirit Airlines flight, bound for Orlando, Fla., at O’Hare International Airport. The report said the man and the woman with whom he was travelling Sunday morning became “verbally abusive” and threatened physical harm

to flight attendants. His pants were “excessively low,” hanging below his buttocks, Spirit spokeswoman Misty Pinson said. The couple gathered their things and left when law enforcement arrived, but they were booked on

the next Spirit flight to Orlando. The original flight was delayed about five minutes, the Tribune said. The airline’s code requires customers to wear shoes and “adequate” clothing, Pinson said.

Wild West town for sale for $3.9 million

he real estate listing reads like a Wild West exhibit: An old gold mine, a geyser, and a supposed hideout of famed outlaws. It’s all in a middle-ofnowhere ghost town for sale three hours southeast of Salt Lake City. Listing price? $3.9 million. Woodside once bustled with about 300 residents in

the early 1900s when it was a water stop for steam engines. Now the town sits empty — of people, that is. Two free-range llamas come with the deal. There’s a geyser, too, but it no longer shoots high after being jammed by vandals. Once, the cold-water spout shot up 75 feet and was a popular tourist attraction known as the Roadside Geyser. No entry fee required.

A man (L) wearing a sagged pant.

PHOTO: FLICKR

Monday, August 6, 2012

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Community Mirror Local governments deserve autonomy –Tinubu

“I only demand that our actions must depart from the old ways and reflect unambiguously, our readiness to serve the Nigerian public.”

INSPECTOR GENERAL OF POLICE, MOHAMMED ABUBARKAR

Irate police officer storms LASTMA office MURITALA AYINLA

drama recently played out at the Iponri office of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, LASTMA, when an unidentified police man stormed the office and was shooting sporadically to forcibly release his impound-

ed vehicle. Community Mirror gathered that officials of the agency and people around took to their heels, when the irate officer stormed the place. General Manager of the agency, Engr. Babatunde Edu , said that a red Mercedes Benz with registration number JV 23KJA, was apprehended at Oy-

Police to deal with trouble makers WALE IGBINTADE

he Divisional Police Officer, DPO, of Elemoro Police Station, in Ibeju Lekki Area of Lagos State, Mr. E Edobor has enjoined people in the area to maintain peace, warning that he would deal with any group identified to be causing trouble in the community. Edobor, a Chief Superintendent of Police, CSP, gave the warning while reacting to a shooting incident at Oko-Olomi Area of Bogije. During the fracas, one person was alleged to have sustained gunshot wound while several others sustained various degrees of injuries. The DPO confirmed that three people were arrested and have made useful statements to the police, adding that investigations are still going on. Narrating his ordeal, one of the victims, Abdul Rashidi Isamail, said he was outside his house at Oko-Olomi when he heard repeated gunshots and people running helter-skelter. According to him in an attempt to flee, he noticed that three bullets had hit his right arm. Meanwhile, a Lagos based businessman, Olufemi Bakare, who is embroiled in dispute over a large tract of land in the area has condemned the shooting, alleging that it may not be unconnected with a suit pending before Justice Deborah Oluwayemi of the Lagos High Court. He lamented that despite an injunction from the court, his opponents have remained lawless, harassing and intimidating his supporters. He had in the lawsuit asked the

court to intervene in the matter and restrain the police from carrying out the alleged threat to arrest him. The claimant is also asking the court to nullify a verbal order allegedly issued by the Area Commander Area ‘J’ Police Command, Ajiwe, Lagos on April 20, 2012 as well as an undertaking said to have been forced on him to write banishing him from Oko-Olomi. He further urged the court to declare the action of the Area Commander as unconstitutional and a gross violation of his rights to freedom and personal liberty. In a 25-pragrapgh affidavit in support of the application, the claimant averred that he is a descendant of late Pa. Eleku the first settler in Oko-Olomi village and that there was no crisis in the area until recently, when a new traditional ruler was installed. He further averred that on April 20, 2012, the Area Commander allegedly invited him to the police station, where he was allegedly forced to sign an undertaking to leave Oko-Olomi in Ibeju Lekki Local Government Area of Lagos State. Bakare alleged that he signed the undertaking in order to regain his freedom on the day in question, adding that the land which he was forced to vacate belongs to his forefathers. He maintained that the action of the police was a calculated attempt by the respondents to banish him from his ancestral land. He averred that based on the undertaking, the police have been harassing him and perfected plans to arrest and detain him, even as he urged the court to intervene and restrain the police from carrying out the alleged threat.

ingbo for parking on BRT dedicated lane which is against the traffic law. The vehicle was later towed to Iponri station of the agency, where the Mercedes Benz was booked in accordance with state traffic management regulation law. It was also gathered that the unidentified suspect who latter traced the vehicle to the office, started shooting into the air indiscriminately to scare away officers and security personnel on duty and succeeded

in driving away the vehicle. He lamented that despite the effort in maintaining law and order, some persons continue to engage in illegalities and actions which are against public safety. According to him, “it is disheartening to see law enforcement agent disobeying the law and with little respect for traffic managers. All such acts of indiscipline are demonstrated all the time and which can contribute to the breakdown of law and order in the state”.

In as much as the state does not frown at the right of individuals or groups to own cars or drive within the metropolis, it should be done with respect for other road users, as law and order must be maintained at all time in respect of profession, religion or gender. Edu said the vehicle owner was identified as Solomon Awodogan of No. 10 Abolade Street, Mushin by the auto inspector and vowed he would be sanctioned accordingly to serve as a deterrent to other traffic violators.

An alleged traffic violator resisting arrest by officials of the Oyo State Traffic Maintenance Agency in Ibadan recently.

Imo sets programme for community government CHRIS NJOKU OWERRI

mo State government is set to release packages for implementation by the Community Government Council, CGC, in the areas of health, education, agriculture and ICT. The Commissioner for Information, Mr. Chinedu Offor disclosed this during an inspection tour of CGC offices in Onuimo and Okigwe local government areas. Offor, who addressed traditional rulers and Commu-

nity Liaison Officers, CLOs expressed satisfaction at the readiness of the people towards the community administration policy of Governor Rochas Okorocha and enjoined communities in the state to put in place necessary structures to enable them benefit from the projects already outlined for them. The Information boss maintained that community based government would fast-track development in rural areas and equally unlock its potentials in wealth creation. He

averred that it will drive rural agricultural programme that will in turn guarantee food security, employment and wealth creation in the State. On on-going road projects in the area, the commissioner noted that the administration embarked on aggressive road construction to provide access into every part of the state, as well as make Imo a one-city state. He assured that every road project would be completed after the rainy season and called on all to support the rescue mission agenda.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Community Mirror

Monday, August 6, 2012

Local governments deserve autonomy –Tinubu Clerics nabbed over N10million fraud MURITALA AYINLA

he national leader of Action Congress of Nigeria, (ACN), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has said that granting of full autonomy to local governments would further enhance the dividends of democracy currently enjoyed by some residents in the state. The former governor of Lagos State also disclosed that if governments at the local level are given the needed freedom to better the lots of residents, the much talked of development would take place in all the nooks and crannies. Speaking at the founda-

tion laying of a legislative house and commissioning of projects in Amuwo- Odofin Local Government, Tinubu, who was represented by his wife, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, urged the state government to empower the local governments to enable them become independent in order to fast track development. He added that local governments deserve autonomy to enable them carry out some duties required of them, saying rather than being appendages to state governments, they will be able to put smiles on the faces of people at the grass root. His words: “Local governments deserve autono-

my because they are closer to the people and state governments should empower them rather than making them being appendages.” Tinubu lauded the council chairman, Comrade Ayodele Adewale for his foresight and innovation, describing him as worthy ambassador of youths and his family. Earlier in his opening remark, Adewale described the occasion as water shed in the history of the local government, recalling that the council was in a sordid state when he took over in 2008. According to him, some of the commissioned projects included, staff chapel, mosque, purchase of Toyo-

ta saloon cars, a 30 tons tipper for essential services, opening of the Abule Ado primary health centre and re-launching of 180 street sweepers He said: “Our environment was prone to environmental hazards mainly because our roads were in a state of disrepair, educational infrastructure suffered decay, our drainages were silted, low internal generated revenue, the working environment and welfare of our staff were challenged, community relationship with the local authority was at its lowest ebb, our health centres were not functioning optimally and we were under staffed.”

FRANCIS SUBERU

wo suspects, Fatai Bamidele and Lateef Ahmed have been arrested by police officers attached to the Special Fraud Unit for allegedly swindling one Lawal Suleiman of N10million. It was gathered that the suspects who claimed to be Islamic clerics were spiritual guides to Lawal and had promised they could help concoct money rituals and in the process make him richer. They informed Lawal that they have two types of money rituals. The first

was whereby ghosts will bring him money, while the other will be through spiritual daily contributions. Lawal opted for the latter and made a deposit of N10million. Investigations revealed that Lateef, an Imam got N7.5million while Fatai took N2.5million of the money. Fatai used his own share to buy an infinity Jeep valued at N1.4million while the balance was used to complete his building in Ilorin, Kwara State. Lateef Ahmed bought Windstar Ford valued at N1.4million and used the outstanding balance to renovate his house and take care of his family needs. Assorted charms and juju were recovered from Lateef when police operatives from SFU conducted a search on his house and shrine in Ilorin.

Monday, August 6, 2012

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

World News “The will of the people will never be against the armed forces. It is with the armed forces’ help, after God, that we will protect Egypt’s interest internally and internationally.” EGYPTIAN PRESIDENT, MOHAMMED MORSI

Zambian miners kill Chinese manager during pay protest

ambian miners have killed a Chinese manager by pushing a mine trolley at him during a riot at a coal mine in the south of the country. A second Chinese was injured, as were several Zambians, during the riot on Saturday. The workers were on strike at the mine in protest against delays in implementing a new minimum wage. They were angry their wages were lower than a new minimum of $320 (£205) a month paid to shop workers. Zambia’s minister of labour has gone to the Chinese-owned Collum coal mine in Sinazongwe, 325km (200 miles) south of the capital, Lusaka. “Wu Shengzai, aged 50, has been killed by protesting workers after being hit by a trolley which was pushed towards him by the rioting miners as he ran away into the underground where he wanted to seek refugee,” Southern province police com-

Some Zambian miners

missioner Fred Mutondo told state news agency, the Zambia News and Information Services. “He died on the spot while his colleague is in hospital.” Last year, the Zambian government dropped charges against two Chinese managers accused of attempted murder after they fired on miners at the Collum mine during a pay dispute. Chinese firms own several mines in southern African countries, including coal and copper operations. Copper mining is one of Zambia’s main industries, providing nearly threequarters of the country’s exports; many of the mining companies are foreignowned, and China has invested more than $400m (£250m) in Zambia. A 2011 report by Human Rights Watch (HRW), said that, despite improvements in recent years, safety and labour conditions at Chinese mines were worse than at other foreign-owned mines.

PHOTO: UKZAMBIANS.CO.UK

WORLD BULLETIN

Gunmen kill five soldiers in Abidjan attacks

L-R: Hillary Clinton shaking hands with Malawi’s President Joyce Banda, at the State House in Lilongwe, Malawi yesterday.

Clinton lauds Malawi’s president for economic reforms PAUL ARHEWE

WITH AGENCY REPORTS

nited States Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton paid a lightning visit to Malawi yesterday to congratulate its new president, one of only two female heads of state in Africa, for pulling her impoverished country back from the economic brink after a political crisis. Clinton, who is on an African tour, landed in Malawi’s capital Lilongwe and headed directly to a meeting with President Joyce Banda, a veteran women’s rights campaigner who had been the country’s vice president and moved into the top job in April after the death of her erratic predecessor

Kurd rebels kill 22 in Turkey’s border post

urdish rebels stormed a Turkish army post on the Iraq border yesterday; triggering fighting that killed 22 people in the latest clash since Ankara launched a major offensive against the out-

lawed PKK. Prime Minister Tayypip Erdogan condemned the attack as a “dastardly” act and vowed to bring the rebels in line. Six soldiers, two village guards and 14 Kurd-

ish rebels were killed following the assault on an army post in a village in the south-eastern province of Hakkari, the local governor told the Anatolia news agency. Three of the slain rebels were women, said gov-

Bingu wa Mutharika. U.S. officials said Clinton’s five hour visit -- the first ever by a U.S. Secretary of State to the southern African country -- was a vote of confidence in Banda, who has moved swiftly to woo back international donors after years of damaging mismanagement under Mutharika. “President Banda had made critical reforms that are already improving lives and spurring economic recovery,” Clinton said in prepared remarks after meeting the 62-yearold leader, who is now Africa’s second female head of state following Liberia’s President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf. The two leaders traded compliments at Malawi’s

State House and then moved behind closed doors for talks that were an opportunity for two canny political operators to trade notes. “For a long time, we have been women and children’s activists and I have been waiting for the day when we will meet,” Banda said. Expelled from Mutharika’s Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) in 2010 after an argument about the succession, Banda retained her state position. Following Mutharika’s death from a heart attack in April, she successfully enforced her constitutional right to succession and is expected to run the country until elections scheduled for 2014.

ernor Orhan Alimoglu. Another 15 soldiers, one village guard and five civilians were wounded, according to a statement from the governor’s office cited by Anatolia. The rebels from the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) launched simultaneous assaults on three border posts but the casu-

alties occurred at a post in the village of Gecimli, the private NTV television station reported. It was the deadliest clash since June when fighting between Turkish soldiers and Kurdish rebels left 28 people dead following a similar attack on an army post in the same region.

Gunmen attacked a police station and an army position in Abidjan yesterday, killing five soldiers, Defence Minister Paul Koffi Koffi told a news agency. Three members of the armed forces were killed in an attack on a police station in the Yopougon neighbourhood and two others died in another attack on a nearby army position moments later, he said. “Six people arrived in a taxi in military fatigues, heavily armed and opened fire,” seemingly in a bid to free some people who had been arrested Saturday, Koffi said. The same group of gunmen is believed to have carried out both attacks, said the minister, but it is unclear whether the gunmen are soldiers or civilians. Though security has improved in Ivory Coast since the end of the post-electoral crisis of December 2010 to April 2011 that claimed 3,000 lives -- with a number of clashes fought in Yopougon -- ongoing political tensions continues to spark violence.

UN agrees aid flights into Sudan’s rebel held areas An agreement has been reached to allow aid to be flown into the South Kordofan and Blue Nile regions of Sudan, where hundreds of thousands of people are critically short of food. The UN, African Union and Arab League signed the deal with SPLM North rebels. But one senior rebel leader, Yassir Arman, told the BBC that the flights required Sudanese government approval. Arman said permission for aid to the two areas had been blocked by Khartoum for nearly a year. The agreement was signed in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa late on Saturday. It calls for the immediate establishment of an assessment team to produce a report on conditions in Blue Nile, and in the Nuba Mountain region of South Kordofan within two weeks.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

North

Monday, August 6, 2012

Kogi community protests commissioner’s death A DEMU IDAKWO LOKOJA

L-R:Benue State Commissioner for Culture, Mrs. Comfort Ajene and wife of the governor, Mrs. Yemisi Suswam, during the public presentation of the prize won by the Nigerian delegation to the 7th Sabah International Folklore Festival, in Malaysia, recently.

Kaduna votes N310m for victims of post-election crisis G overnor Patrick Yakowa of Kaduna State said his administration had set aside N310m to assist people whose houses were destroyed in the 2011 post-election crisis. Yakowa said the amount was approved to fulfil part of the recommendations of the Justice Mohammed Lawal Commission of Enquiry, which investigated the immediate and remote causes of the crisis. He made the remarks while breaking the Ramadan fast at the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, Kaduna State

Council Secretariat. Yakowa said that places of worship and owners of houses and property destroyed during the disturbances would be assisted as part of efforts to reconcile the people. The governor, according to the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, report, recalled that a committee had earlier been set up to reconcile the people to restore mutual trust among the citizenry. He said: “We should be proud to be Nigerians as we have both human and natural resources in the area of solid mineral

and arable land for agricultural development. “Investors are willing to come and develop these resources but there are serious security challenges facing us and we have to deal with them for peaceful coexistence.’’ Yakowa said another committee, chaired by the Deputy Governor, Alhaji Murkhtar Yero, had been set up to implement programmes with the subsidy funds expected to accrue to the state. He appealed to journalists to continue to disseminate his admin-

istration’s policies and programmes to the populace to ensure peace and tranquillity in the polity. Earlier, the Kaduna NUJ Council Chairman, Malam Yusuf Idris, had expressed satisfaction with the efforts of the Yakowa administration in alleviating the suffering of the people and project implementation in the state. The state government appointed Idris as a member of the subsidy committee constituted to implement part of the recommendations of the Lawal Commission of Enquiry.

Ministerial appointment: Group faults PDP’s opposition to Ushe’s nomination A ZA MSUE KADUNA

group known as Middle Belt Youth Forum, MBYF, at the weekend faulted Kebbi State Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Alhaji Mansur Shehu’s reported opposition to the nomination of Gen. Bitrus Boka Ushe (rtd) for ministerial appointment by President Goodluck Jonathan. The group’s National Youth Leader, Jonathan Asake, said in an email statement that the people would no longer tolerate any attempt to continue to marginalise

northern minorities on the basis of tribe or religion. He said: “The reasons advanced by the chairman of the party for unilaterally objecting to Ushe’s nomination is that he does not know the nominee in the party and that he has not contributed to the development of Kebbi State.” Asake appealed to President Jonathan to disregard the “ranting of the party chairman”, saying that his position was biased, sectional and not in the national interest. “It is very obvious that the PDP chairman

and his cohorts who are opposed to the nomination of Ushe are doing so simply because of the fact that he is a minority and a Christian from Zuru,” he added. The group, however, dismissed party membership precondition for ministerial appointment. “The late Chief Bola Ige and Mrs. Dupe Adelaja, both of whom were chieftains of the defunct Alliance for Democracy, AD, were appointed ministers in spite of the fact that they were in the opposition party. “Similarly, the late Mr. Steven Akiga and Mrs. Ngozi Okonjo-Nweala

were never known to be card-carrying members of any political party, yet they were appointed ministers of police affairs and finance respectively. “In the first place, when has the membership of a party become a precondition for ministerial appointment? The 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria only provided for each state of the federation to produce a minister, but did not in any way suggest that a person so nominated must belong to a particular political party, tribe or religion,” the youth leader added.

Wada as a result of his ill health. Although he was assigned to oversee the Ministry of Budget and Planning, the deceased could not report to office as he was said to have collapsed during a church service four days after he was screened and cleared by the state House of Assembly alongside 17 others. Efforts to speak with the state Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Ile Simon, on the protest in Ponyan community proved abortive. But sources at the Force Headquarters confirmed the protest. The source said the politician, though not arrested, was in safe custody.

he people of Ponyan community in Yagba East Local Government Area of Kogi State at the weekend paralysed social and economic activities in their village to protest the mysterious death of their son, Mr. Simon Ige Olutimayin, the state commissioner for Budget and Planning. Hundreds of youths, aged, men and women were chanting war songs and raining curses on whoever was behind Olutimayin’s death. Some aggrieved youths attempted to burnt a house belonging to one of the politicians who allegedly contested the position of commissioner with the deceased. It took the intervention of some elders in the village to calm frayed nerves, as security agents reportedly ferried the man from the community to Lokoja for safety. Olutimayin, who died during a brief illness last week at a private hospital in Lagos, could not be sworn in into office by Governor Idris Gov. Wada

NPC will partner Niger on food security – Minister’s aide PRISCILLA DENNIS MINNA

he National Planning Commission, NPC, has disclosed its readiness to enter into partnership with the Niger State Government and the Federal Ministry of Agriculture to increase food production. The Special Adviser to the National Planning Minister on Technical Matters, Mr. Dapo Oyewale, who made this known while inspecting projects in Minna, explained that the commission was unwavering in achieving the goal of the Federal Government’s national food reserve project. He said in view of this development, the NPC was funding the establishment of an agro-processing centre in Minna, Niger State in conjunction with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture. Oyewale added that the

centre would house modern rice mills. Aside the rice mills, the special adviser disclosed that other structures would be erected on a three-hectare of land provided by the government for the commencement of the project which would be of immense benefit to the people. He also noted that when completed, the agroprocessing centre would have a tractor hiring unit, a clinic, administrative blocks, information and communication centre for agricultural activities, labour lines and other support amenities. Responding, the Niger State Governor, Muazu Babangida Aliyu, who spoke through the Secretary to the State Government, Mr. Daniel Shashere, reiterated his administration’s desire to consolidate the position of the state as the food basket of the nation.

Ramadan Special

Monday, August 6, 2012

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Many Muslims are ignorant of Zakat benefits SEKINAH L AWAL

he failure of many Muslims in the area of fulfilling their obligations in terms of paying Zakat has been attributed to their ignorance of the many benefits accruing from Zakat payment. Speaking to National Mirror in a telephone interview on his way to Umrah, a university Don and Cleric, Ustaz Abdul-Hakeem Mobolaji of the Economics Department, University of Ilorin, Kwara State, said that it is not that many Nigerian Muslims are miserly but ignorant of essence and benefits of Zakat. “If we are able to remove the barrier of ignorance and fear of present and future economic insecurity due to our spiritual emptiness and wrong worldview, adequate payment of Zakat will generate a lot of funds to help the needy and the less-priviledged.” He urged Muslims to always remember the sayings of Allah (SWT) in Quran 2:268 where it was written that; “Satan threatens you with poverty and orders you to immorality, while Allah promises you

forgiveness from Him and bounty. And Allah is all-Encompassing and Knowing.” where Allah reminds us that Shaytan threatens you with poverty, however gives Allah recompenses him ten times or about 700 times, even in Q6:160. He noted that miserliness is an effect and ignorance is the cause; ignorance of Allah’s mercy, power and ability to change conditions and status of everyone. In addition, Q2:261-262 says; “He that doeth good shall have ten times as much to his credit: He that

doeth evil shall only be recompensed according to his evil: no wrong shall be done unto (any of) them. The parable of those who spend their wealth in the way of Allah is that of a grain of corn: it grows seven ears, and each ear hath a hundred grains. Allah gives manifold increase to whom He pleaseth; and Allah cares for all and He knows all things. Those who spend their wealth in the cause of Allah and follow not up their gifts with reminders of their generosity or with injury, for them their reward is with their

KADUNA

renowned Islamic Scholar, Mallam Yakubu Mustapha at the weekend called on Muslims to follow the teaching of only true religious leaders. He spoke at the 2nd Annual Ramadan Lecture organized by Muslim Media

L-R: Administrative Secretary and Executive Director, Zakat and Zadaqat Foundation (ZSF), Ma’aruf Ahmed and Imam Abdullahi Shuaib and others during the distribution of food items to the less-privileged at Idi Araba, Surulere local government, Lagos.

Publisher’s Association of Nigeria (MMPAN) entitled “Unity and Dialogue Amongst Nigerians” in Kaduna ,he said Muslims must desist from following religious leaders who think differently from others. While describing Christianity and Islam as religions of mercy and peace, he expressed confidence that if Muslims and

Christians can go back to the teachings of their holy books and follow them to the letter, there would never be religious crisis in Nigeria again. Earlier, former Federal Permanent Secretary, Dr. Hakeem Baba Ahmed urged leaders of the Muslim community in Nigeria to examine the doctrinal basis of the actions of Boko Haram.

Muazin killed by LUTH driver

he Igbehin-Adun community in Ilasamaja area of Mushin, Lagos was thrown into mournful mood at the weekend when the news of the dead of a Muazin, Jamiu Tiamiyu, a father of five was broken The late Tiamiyu was knocked down on his commercial motorcycle by a vehicle belonging to the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH). The driver of the vehicle Lanre Osho was said to have been drunk. The incident occurred around 9pm on Thursday along Ade-Oyo Street off

Day 18

‘Embrace peaceful co-existence’

‘Follow only true religious leaders’ AZA MSUE

Lord; on them shall be no fear, nor shall they grieve.” He commended Zakat and Sadaqat Foundation for usually giving out millions worth of Zakat to several beneficiaries across the country. They are given to support the economic empowerment of the lessprivileged. Interested individuals and corporate bodies can pay into ZSF Access Bank Account: 0030378184 or GTBank: 0016101110. Other areas of disbursement include healthcare, education, accommodation, debt-relief and welfare supports.

Sadiku Street, Ilasamaja, Mushin. The victims were rushed to May Hospital in Mushin but the hospital rejected and referred them to LUTH for proper urgent treatment. Tiamiyu died the following morning at LUTH from the complications of the fatal injury. According to an eyewitness, Yemi Adeleye, “the driver was reckless that night. You wonder why he was at such speed in a narrow area. We just thank God that it was not in the day when school children flock the road. The incident is better imagined.

I thought I was watching a movie with the horrible way the driver ran into the motorcyclist and his passengers. I know the victims will require miracle to be alive,” a visibly-shocked Adeleye recounted. Sulaimon Asiwaju, also commercial motorcyclists, was among the people that rushed them to hospital. “People apprehended the driver while trying to run away. We all left for LUTH where he has been placed on oxygen, his eyes were swollen and blood gushed out from various part of his body.

gun State governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, has called on Muslim faithful to lead the campaign for peaceful coexistence among Nigerians and respect for the sanctity of life, noting that “Islam does not only preach peace, it is a religion of peace.” The governor made the call during the 2012 Special Ramadan Iftar for Muslims across the

‘Do more charity’

n Abuja-based Islamic Scholar, Malam Abdulfattah Adeyemi has called on Muslims to do more charity during the months of Ramadan for Allah to replenish their purse in manifold. Adeyemi gave the advice while delivering a lecture at the annual Iftar/lecture of Obafemi Awolowo University Muslim Graduates’ Association (UNIFEMGA), Abuja Chapter. In the lecture entitled: “My House in Al-Janah”, Adeyemi reminded Muslims that any single act done in the month of Ramadan, Allah has promised to reward it in multiple of 700. He called on members to contribute towards the completion of the 30-year old OAU Central Mosque edifice under construction as any amount contributed during Ramadan would be handsomely rewarded by Allah. Adeyemi implored Muslims to assist the less privilege in the society by giving part of what Allah has given to them. Earlier in his goodwill message, Dr. AbdulWahab

Egbewole, National President of the Association commended Abuja Chapter for its laudable yearly programmes. “I take special note of this year’s topic, “My House in al-Janah” which symbolises the need for all Muslims to be reminded that their fine abode is in the hereafter. The question we should ask ourselves is what kind of house do we want to build for ourselves in Al-Jannah; a bungalow, duplex, mansion or estate? The answer to this question will determine the efforts we need to put in place, before we get there,’’ he said. Egbewole, represented by Alhaji AbdurRahman Balogun, the association’s National Public Relations Officer, appealed to Muslims to make appropriate provision before the time when opportunity will no longer be available. Chairman of the branch, Alhaji Abideen Ademola, said the association’s mission was to establish Islamic brotherhood through scholarship, Dawah and empowerment for both students and graduates alike.

state, held at the Arcade Ground, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta. He said piety, self discipline, spiritual awareness, brotherliness, love and compassion were among the cardinal teachings of Islam. “As Muslims, we must be in the vanguard of ensuring peace and sanctity of life at all times,” he said. He charged adherents of the faith to maintain the positive values and attitudes demonstrated during the month of Ramadan in subsequent months and years. “They will not only help in developing our spiritual consciousness, but are essential ingredients for our socio-economic development,” the governor said. Amosun observed that the hosting of Iftar (break of fast) was “aimed at reminding us of our obligation to our Creator and responsibility to ourselves.” In his lecture at the event, Sheikh AbdurRahman Ahmad, a revered Islamic Cleric and National Missioner of the Ansar Ud-Deen Society of Nigeria, said government must be considerate as a condition for peace. “There can’t be peace when the rich has no consideration for the poor,” he declared. He stated that Nigeria must return to hard work, fiscal federalism and fiscal responsibility. He said Islam was against violence and called for peaceful coexistence among followers of all faiths.

Monday, August 6, 2012

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Sport

I hope our poor performances at London 2012 will make us prepare adequately for Rio 2016

Williams sisters claim history

- FORMER SPORTS MINISTER, BALA KAOJE

XXXTH OLYMPIC SUMMER GAMES

London 2012

EVEREST ONYEWUCHI REPORTING

July 27 - August 12, 2012

Nigeria’s tickets in black market

igeria has joined countries whose events tickets allocated to them for the on-going London 2012 Olympic Games are selling in the black market due to official hoarding. It was discovered yesterday that tickets made for the official delegations of Nigeria, Syria and Italy were sold in the open at venues of events. Stands at venues at the beginning of the games were empty even when the organisers had declared months ago that tickets for most events had sold out, prompting the LOCOG to launch an investigation into the cause of the embarrassment. A finding revealed, however, that some of the National Olympic Committees who received the allocation had hoarded the tickets instead of disbursing them to their nationals.

Usman fails to inspire

Bolt

igeria’s hope of winning a medal in the weightlifting was dashed on Sunday as the second and final entrant in the event, Mariam Usman (+75kg) finished at the bottom of the group without any ranking. Usman lifted a weight of 129kg in the snatch but was not scored in the clean and jerk. China’s Zhou Lulu edged a dramatic heavyweight tussle with Russia’s Tatiana Kashirina to claim gold as almost all the women’s +75kg Olympic and world records were smashed. Kashirina took the initiative as she became the first woman to snatch over 150kg but Zhou hit back to equal the world best clean and jerk of 187kg. Armenia’s Hripsime Khurshudyan claimed bronze with 294kg. Usman is making a second appearance at the Olympics, having finished in fifth place overall at the 2008 games in Beijing with 265kg. Last week, her compatriot, Felix Ekpo, finished eighth overall despite breaking the African and Commonwealth records in the men’s 77kg category with a total of 331kg.

Mariam Usman

Bolt sets Olympic record, wins gold

Ogoke punches to quarterfinals Edith Ogoke (on her knees) cannot control her emotion after she defeated Azerbaijan’s Elena Vystropova in their Women’s Middle (75kg) Round of 16 match yesterday

he last Team Nigeria boxer standing at the ongoing London 2012 Games, Edith Ogoke, came out smoking yesterday, pummelling her opponent into the quarter finals. Ogoke, who had endured a tense atmosphere after watching her compatriots wobbled on the tracks on Saturday, decisioned her opponent from Azerbaijan, Vy Stropva Elena, 14-12 and is now expected to fight Russian Torlopova Nadezda today. Tough-talking Edith marched her words with the sucker punch that rattled her much taller opponent as she led

the first round 4-2. Trying to keep the Nigerian at bay with her longer reach, the Azerbaijan fighter fought back but could not contain Ogoke’s hooks that caught her napping several times. The Nigerian did not surrender her lead though, even as her opponent got some punches on target. With her beautiful moves on the canvas, Ogoke went on the offensive again but ran into difficulty before jabbing herself out of trouble. The Azerbaijan boxer narrowed the lead in the third round to 12-11 but Ogoke mustered courage to prevail.

lympics defending champion, Usain Bolt, blazed to victory in the 100m last night setting a new Olympic record at the Olympic Stadium in 9.63 seconds, ahead of training partner Yohan Blake (9.75) of Jamaica and Justin Gatlin of the USA (9.79). Tyson Gay of the USA was fourth (9.80) and Ryan Bailey of the USA was fifth (9.88). Once again Jamaica gets the better of the USA in the sprint rivalry after winning gold and bronze in the women’s 100m final on Saturday. In Beijing four years ago,, Bolt ran three races and set three world records-9.69 in the 100, 19.30 in the 200, and a third world record on the Jamaican winning 4x100 relay. The next year, at the 2009 world championships in Berlin, he lowered those marks to 9.58 in the 100 and 19.19 in the 200. And there those records have remained. In 2010, Bolt’s fastest time was 9.82. Last year, his fastest was 9.76, and he was disqualified for a false start in the 100 meters at the world championships in Daegu, South Korea.

Sport

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Monday, August 6, 2012

Medal table

XXXTH OLYMPIC SUMMER GAMES

London 2012

EVEREST ONYEWUCHI REPORTING

July 27 - August 12, 2012

Nigerian athletes protest eviction

embers of Team Nigeria who are crashing out of their events in droves at the ongoing Games have protested against the official decision that they take the next available flight back home. The first athletes sent home were the only two male boxers, Akanji Muideen Olalekan and Lawal Lukmon Olayiwola, when they exited the Games. They were followed by the table tennis players–Segun Toriola, Aruna Quadri, Olufunke Oshonaike and Edem Offiong. Since then, canoeist, Peter Akinyemi, and weightlifter Felix Ekpo as well as almost half a dozen of track and field athletes have crashed out. They are waiting to be flown home soon, but there is anger in the Team Nigeria camp. Some of the athletes who spoke with our correspondent on the condition of anonymity, vowed to resist the move to evict them from the Games Village before the Olympic Games end on August 12. “They are sending people home, for what? Who will be on parade during the closing ceremony? Is it the officials?” one asked rhetorically. It was, however, learnt that the officials took the decision to send the athletes home because there are fears that they could constitute themselves into a nuisance and distract the few whose events are yet to be decided. Interestingly, it was also learnt that the eviction could have resulted from the observation that condoms usually provided by the LOCOG for Team Nigeria finished as soon as they were replaced.

Williams sisters claim history

enus and Serena Williams made Olympic yesterday made Olympic history as they became the first pair to win the women’s doubles three times. Despite being short of their best form, they beat Andrea Hlavackova and Lucie Hradecka of Czech Republic 6-4 6-4. Serena, 30, adds the doubles title to the singles gold she won on Saturday, and last month’s Wimbledon success, becoming only the third woman to win a pair of gold medals at the same Olympics and emulating Venus in 2000 and compatriot Helen Wills Moody in 1924. The sisters first won the doubles at Sydney in 2000, did not defend their title four years later due to Serena being injured, and then won again in Beijing in 2008. Meanwhile, world number four, Andy Murray, appeared bitten literally by the Team GB gale of success as he destroyed world number one Roger Federer in straight sets of 6-2, 6-1, 6-4, yesterday to claim a deserved Olympic gold medal. It was a staggering display of excellence which must count as the finest of Murray’s career.

Venus (l) and Serena Williams celebrating yesterday.

China

USA

Great Britain

Korea

France

Italy

Kazakhstan

Germany

Russian

DPR Korea

Netherlands

Hungary

South Africa

New Zealand

Japan

Denmark

Romania

Belarus

Cuba

Jamaica

Gelana wins marathon

How Okagbare dashed Nigeria’s hope

thiopia’s Tiki Gelana won gold in the women’s marathon on the streets of London yesterday, denying the Kenyans their first Olympic crown in a Games record time of 2hr 23min 7sec. Priscah Jeptoo, part of a Kenyan contingent eyeing a medals sweep after last year’s one-two-three at the World Championships, took silver, five seconds behind Gelana while Russia’s Tatyana Petrova Arkhipova collected the bronze in 2:23:29. However, there was disappointment for Britain, with Mara Yamauchi’s Olympic marathon lasting less than 10 kilometres on the rainy streets of London. The injured Yamauchi stopped in tears on the side of the road around 9.4km into the race as she opted not to go further.

Okagbare disappointed many with her dismal run on Saturday.

igeria’s sprint queen, Blessing Okagbare, who dashed the country’s hope in the women’s 100metres final at the ongoing London 2012 Games on Saturday night, was lucky to have qualified for the final. During her semi-finals race earlier in the evening, which she ran in the third group, the then Nigerian medal hopeful left the block last and was trailing her pack until the last 20 metres, when an uncanny resurgence saw her breeze past everybody to win with 10.92. Nigerians here were almost passing out on their seats that she was not going to pick a final ticket, until she managed to turn the tide to her advantage. It was expected that her coaches should have worked on her during the about four hours wait before the final, in which she not only disgraced herself, but also disappointed every Nigerian and her fans globally. Running in Lane 6 in the final, Okagbare yet got stuck in the block, took off late and could not remedy her disadvantage in the star-studded final. The Nigerian finished last with 11.01 where Shelly Fraser-Pryce, the Jamaican, who successfully defended her Beijing 2008 title won the gold with 10.75secs. United States’ Carmela Jeter, who Okagbare defeated barely two weeks ago in the London Golden League ahead of the Olympics picked the silver medal with 10.78secs, while another Jamaican, Veronica CampbellBrown took bronze with 10.81. Once again, Okagbare exhibited the trait in Nigerian top athletes, who usually break records on the eve of major international competitions, but fizzle out on the big stage, when it matters most. Reacting to Okagbare’s failure, Director-General of the National Sports Commission (NSC), who is also the Chef de Mission to Team Nigeria, Chief Patrick Ekeji, first declined to comment, but later simply said: “She lost but the Games are not over yet.”

Gelana

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Monday, August 6, 2012

WORLD RECORD

Longest tongue current - dog Vol. 02 No. 419

N150

Monday, August 6, 2012

The longest tongue on a dog measures 11.43 cm (4.5 in) and belongs to Puggy, a male Pekingese owned by Becky Stanford (both United States). The measurement was taken at Avondale Haslet Animal Clinic, Texas, United States, on 8 May 2009, when Puggy was 9 years old.

The Olympics and Great Britain’s magic wand T ake just an English and you have a dull person, take two English and you get two dull people, take three English and you get a great nation. That is part of the story of the successful Olympic Games we are currently witnessing in London. This success, it must be said, is not a fruit of miracle or anything unforeseeable or unpredictable. The organisers worked hard and in details by planning and projecting ahead, they took into account possible problems and found solutions to them. Along the road whilst executing, there were real difficulties and imagined fears of failure, these were quickly acknowledged and promptly dealt with. The tasks and objectives in hand in every step, were quite clear and easy for all to understand, no mystifications, suspense or surprises. A lot can be learnt from that pro-

he maiden Opeifa Lagos Padfootball Championship will begin today in Agege, Surulere, Ajegunle and Ifako-Ijaiye centres. Organisers said yesterday that about 637 players would participate in the three-month competition sponsored by the Lagos State Commissioner for Transportation, Hon. Kayode Opeifa.

NOTES FROM CAMBRIDGE Anthony A. Kila

anthonykila@mail.com cess. First they had to convince the people in Britain that hosting the game was good for the country and then convince the international community that they were the best to hold the games. After winning the bid, the next objectives were to hold a great game and win as much as possible. The organizers started their journey by creating the bid’s master plan, which detailed where events would be held, what infrastructure would be built, and provided an overall budget projection for the games, showing at every step why and how. The execution was done under close scrutiny of the press and the public at large. Towards the beginning of the games, there were concerns about traffic, worries about having an overcrowded city. Security was also an issue and that manifested itself clearly with the long annoying queues travellers had to face at the airports some weeks ago. People complained, the press screamed and the Parliament intervened. No politician, public official or airport manager asked people to bear with them or live with the inconvenience; they simply rolled up their sleeves and found solutions to these problems. By the time the games started, those airports queues were gone and getting into London was even faster than before the games. During the first events of the games, TV viewers noticed that there were vacant seats in the arenas whilst people could not

THE BRITAIN OF TODAY HAS NO BIG LUCKY OR CHARISMATIC LONE HERO, IT IS MERELY A COUNTRY WHERE EVERYBODY DOES

HIS/HER LITTLE BIT AND TOGETHER THEY ACHIEVE GREAT THINGS get tickets because they were told all tickets had been sold out. A few comments and complaints on twitter, email, Facebook and blogs and the press took it up straight away and confronted the organizers and other public officials with such discontent. They all took these complaints seriously, identified the reasons for the lapses and immediately put in place measures to free up tickets for those willing to go to the games. Yes, that is the same social media that some in Nigeria will like to censure. Those in charge of the London 2012 are neither foolish nor naive, they knew to win as much possible matters a lot and their team knew very well that to win you need people that can compete and facilities for them to train in. All these require expertise, time and money. They started raising

funds from both the private and public sectors. Years before the games started, they went around the country encouraging young people to know more about sporting activities and inviting them to participate, these organizers used every method possible to identify and recruit people from schools and parks, playground and even shopping centres. The recruitment effort did not leave out those that were not capable of competing in any games or sports. A lot of emphasis was placed on volunteers and helpers of all shades and kinds; it was clear to even a simple mind that the organizers wanted this to be a game for all those that live in Britain. The result is a great safe game with a lot of victory and pride for the people of Great Britain who are happily waving their flags and cheering their boys and girls on to victory or in some cases sustaining them in times of defeat. The Britain of today is neither a country that dwells on the rhetoric of patriotism nor does it deceive itself about being humble. It is a country that realistically assesses its real strength and potentials, takes note of its weakness and what they lack; it understands its interests and carefully uses what it has to get what it needs. In Britain, those that really matter make no bones about importing expertise and material resources they do not have from elsewhere. The Britain of today has no big lucky or charismatic lone hero, it is merely a country where everybody does his/her little bit and together they achieve great things. Teachers teach, cleaners clean, coaches coach, the press reports, the police protects, auditors audit and hospitals treat the sick. Like the organizers of this so far successful Olympic Games, everyone in charge of the country knows that the only path to success is by planning, sweating and being accountable. We set the rules and we all obey it. This is not rocket science and you do not need talent to be law abiding. Others too can learn from that.

Sport Extra

Grassroots: Opeifa tourney kicks off in Lagos According to Chairman of the organizing committee, Dapo Liadi, winner of the tournament will cart home N100, 000 cash prize and oneweek trip to London. Liadi, who assured the participants of fair officiating, said facilities had been installed to ensure a

successful outing. “We have inspected all the designated venues and feel impressed,” he added. Padfootball enjoys popularity among youths in Europe and the organizers said Nigerians would embrace the trend soon. “We plan to take the game to sec-

ondary and higher schools in the state and organize more regular competitions in the near future,” Liadi submitted. The sponsor has banked on the expected success of this tournament to unfold further plans for youth develNFF President, Aminu Maigari Kayode Opeifa opment in Lagos and environ.

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