Monday, November 12, 2012 by GLOBAL MEDIA MIRROR LIMITED

Nigeria loses N434m daily as Shell, Mobil shut pipelines UDEME AKPAN

he nation’s daily oil output at the weekend dropped by over 25,000 bpd as Shell

Sunmonu

Vol. 2 N0. 489

Petroleum Development Company, SPDC, and Mobil Producing Nigeria Unlimited, MPNU, shut their pipelines due to breach and oil spill incidents respectively.

Constitution review:

Immunity clause, resource control, state police top agenda in Edo

While SPDC, the nation’s highest crude oil and gas producer, recorded a pipeline breach by oil thieves in its eastern operations, MPNU expeCONTINUED ON PAGE 5

...ends in chaos in Lagos

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Oshiomhole

Monday, November 12, 2012

NJC to decide Appeal T Court judge’s fate

N150

ISE-OLUWA IGE, K AYODE KETEFE AND EMMANUEL ONANI

...as CJN summons emergency meeting

he Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, Justice Aloma Muhktar, has summoned an emergency meeting of the National Judicial Council, NJC, to decide the fate of the embattled female judge, Justice Ifeoma Jombo-Ofo. Justice Muhktar had CONTINUED ON PAGE 2

Shettima

Boko Haram killing only ANPP leaders –Borno govt

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Subsidy scam:

EFCC to arraign seven more suspects

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L-R: Former Oyo State Governor, Dr. Omololu Olunloyo; Osun State Governor, Rauf Aregbesola; his counterpart in Ekiti, Dr. Kayode Fayemi; Speaker, House of Representatives, Hon. Aminu Tambuwal and Oyo State Governor, Abiola Ajimobi, during the burial of former Governor of Oyo State, Alhaji Lam Adesina, in Ibadan, yesterday. More on Pages 11, 14 and 50.

Jonathan, govs mourn as Lam Adesina is buried Race for 2015 too early, diversionary –PDP P.4, 10

LASTMA stops junior officers from arresting motorists

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FG invests N15bn bn on air navigationn equipment Nigeria records 40% decline in piracy figures P.A6,10

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Monday, November 12, 2012

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Boko Haram killing only ANPP leaders –Borno govt AUGUSTINE MADU-WEST AND OBIORA IFOH

he Borno State government has said that only leaders of the All Nigeria Peoples Party, ANPP, are being targeted and killed by members of the dreaded Islamic sect in their onslaught on the state. It also pointed accusing finger at the Peoples Democratic Party in the state, saying the party had so far not lost any of its members in the crisis. This is even as the state government expressed suspicion over the proposed dialogue between the Federal Government and the group, “as one cannot tell if the demand for dialogue is actually from Boko Haram or from other people who want to use the Islamic sect as an alibi. Briefing journalists in Abuja at the weekend, the Borno State Commissioner for Home Affairs and Information, Mr. Inuwa Bwala, said “the greater number of some of these things is political and that is why a great number of people being killed are all from ANPP, including killing of somebody who converted from PDP to ANPP, Gen. Mamma Shuwa. “I can continue to name names, all of them are from the ANPP. “Even if it were a coincidence, we have very serious inclinations to the effect that this thing has serious political undertones. “Politicians find in Boko Haram perfect alibi

to commit all sorts of crimes. Armed robbers find Boko Haram a perfect alibi to loot and attack banks. Businessmen who have disagreement with their business fellows find Boko Haram a perfect alibi to unleash terror on their business partners. “One cannot clearly define in this configuration which one is a Boko Haram and which one is not.” Bwala added that the hostility against the Borno State government and ANPP in the state was intent to either undermine or even dislodge them. “We want to call on such people to stop playing politics with this serious issue that we found ourselves in Borno State and come on board and give us very solution on how we can resolve these things. Our doors are open. “Even this demand for ceasefire, as much as we are very enthusiastic towards it, as much as it sound very good and as much as we want to come in, we still have our suspicion because he who comes to equity comes with a clean hands. “I agreed that those who have been named so far as possible negotiators are very credible Nigerians, but then one cannot tell that this demand is actually from Boko Haram or from some other people who want to use Boko Haram as an alibi. “Boko Haram has a modus operadi, one of which in the background of any of their conferences you see a display of Arabic

inscriptions, which is what they believe in. “And part of their principal demands has always been for the implementation of Sharia in some states even across the federation. That was missing in the last conference for ceasefire. “Boko Haram addresses in Hausa, but both the last two addresses were in English. Sometimes when we begin to read in between the lines, you find it very difficult to understand which one is really coming from the real Boko Haram or whether it is from other sources. So, doubt has already been cast on that one. “As a government, we believe in dialogue, whoever comes to us for dialogue so be it; even if it is coming from those who are not actually Boko Haram. Of course, we will embrace it because we don’t want our people to be killed any further,” Bwala added.

In its reaction, the PDP said that there is no scientific way of deciding the membership of those killed in the state as most of them are not known for carrying any party identification. In a telephone interview, the National Publicity Secretary of PDP, Olisa Metu said that the party in government in Borno State has the machinery to foment trouble, wondering why it is pointing fingers towards an opposition party. He said: “PDP believes that people have a right to life irrespective of their political affiliation. It is not known anywhere where opposition party has the capacity to foment violence. We will not join issue with the ANPP, but all we can say is that government of the said state must be bold enough to tell the truth, face the truth and reconcile itself where it may have derailed.”

Meanwhile, northern leader, Alhaji Tanko Yakasai and some southern political leaders have supported a former head of state and the presidential candidate of the Congress for Progressive Change, CPC, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, over his decision to back out from the proposed Federal Government and Boko Haram dialogue. Buhari’s decision to turn down the request by the Boko Haram sect to play the chief mediator’s role in the proposed truce has pitched him with the government which has alleged that the General’s decision was a face saving measure. It has attracted a war of words between the CPC and the Presidency with the government insisting that it was Buhari’s call for violence over alleged rigging of the last presidential election in favour of President Goodluck Jonathan and the Peoples

Democratic Party that sparked up violence, leading to loss of lives and property in the North and by implication the emergence of the Boko Haram insurgency in the region. Commenting on the rancor, Founder of the Popular Citizen Party, Chief Maxi Okwu, and one-time governorship candidate of the Action Congress of Nigeria ACN, Mr. Uche Onyeagocha, said that the General was not the issue now, stressing that it was solely the responsibility of the government to adopt the appropriate measure that would restore peace in the country. Yakasai, former presidential adviser to ex- President Shehu Shagari, noted that “normally a person’s consent is obtained before being appointed to serve in whatever capacity; where that is missing, such a person is free to decide whichever way he deemed appropriate.”

L-R: President, ECOWAS Commission, Mr. Kadre Ouedraogo; Chairman, ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, President Alassane Ouattara and President Goodluck Jonathan, during an extraordinary session in Abuja, yesterday. PHOTO: NAN

NJC to decide Appeal Court judge’s fate CONTINUED FROM 1 come under criticism for refusing to swear the judge following a petition that challenged her eligibility based on her state of origin. It was gathered yesterday that though the CJN had already got the resolution of the Senate and the position of powerful stakeholders, including top legal practitioners on the matter, she was of the view that the case against Justice Jombo-Ofo should be tabled before the NJC. The council had recommended her for the appointment in the first instance and the CJN called the

meeting for an objective position to be taken on it. An impeccable source at the Supreme Court, who did not want his name mentioned, told National Mirror that the position of the CJN was the best in view of the fact that members of the Council itself are presently divided over the matter with some supporting Justice Muhktar and others criticising her. The source, who though refused to give a specific date for the meeting said: “It is an emergency meeting of the NJC. It could be convened during the week or next. “I can tell you that with

Justice Muhktar, we are set to witness a new era in the judiciary. She does not brook any nonsense. “As an insider, I can confirm to you that everybody is sitting tight now. Lazy and corrupt judges are already afraid because they know that their days are numbered on the bench except they turn a new leaf. “If the CJN has up to four years more on the bench, she would clean the system. She is upright and her antecedent shows that she is incorruptible.” The meeting of the Council, the source added, will avail opposing

parties in the matter to state their cases for a final decision to be taken on it once and for all. Justice Jombo-Ofo was appointed a High Court judge on November 4, 1998 following her call to Bar in 1979. Although she hailed from Anambra State, she transferred her service to Abia State after marriage. She had since served as a judicial officer for many years in Abia State Sources said that about four years ago when Anambra had a vacant slot at the Court of Appeal Court bench, Justice Jombo-Ofo applied claiming

Anambra as her state of origin but could not make it to the intermediate appellate court. After she lost the bid, she allegedly filled another form, three years after, to change her state of origin to Abia and submitted it to the NJC for appointment into the Court of Appeal, having known that there existed a vacant slot for Abia at the appellate court. The NJC’s attention was not drawn to the alleged indigenship of the female judge but the Council and President Goodluck Jonathan approved her appointment. The Supreme Court

had, two weeks ago, released a list of 12 Justices for appointment into the Appeal Court, including the name of Justice Jombo-Ofo, but the CJN removed her name from the list at the eleventh hour. That was after she had allegedly confronted Justice Jombo-Ofo with the content of a petition on her state of origin. Efforts by the Abia State governor, Theodore Orji who was physically present at the ceremony to save Justice Jumbo-Ofo failed. Besides his presence at the ceremony, it was gathered that the governor had CONTINUED ON PAGE 5

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Monday, November 12, 2012

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Monday, November 12, 2012

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

L-R: Immediate past Group Managing Director, Union Bank of Nigeria Plc, Mrs. Funke Osibodu; Chief Executive Officer, Filmo Group, Fatima Wali-Abdulrahman; Chairman, Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote and Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Bank of Industry, Ms. Evelyn Oputu, during the Women in Business Ambassadors Award in Lagos, at the weekend.

President Paul Kagame of Rwanda (left) and Chief Executive Officer, Tony Elumelu Foundation, Dr. Wiebe Boer, after a meeting with the Founder, Tony Elumelu and Dr Boer to discuss the foundation’s investments and expanding programmatic work in Rwanda, in Lagos at the weekend.

L-R: Publisher of The Road Newspaper, Mallam Mohammed Barkindo; Executive Director, Independent Service Delivery Monitoring Group, Dr. Chima Amadi and Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) Corps Marshal Osita Chidoka, during the presentation of Performance Award to FRSC in Abuja, yesterday.

L-R: Pro-Chancellor, University of Ibadan, Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN); Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Isaac Adewole and Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Administration, Prof. Arinola Sanya, at the 64th Foundation Day Service of the university held in Ibadan, yesterday. PHOTO: NAN

National News

Jonathan, governors, others mourn Lam Adesina KEMI OLAITAN AND ROTIMI FADEYI

he body of former Oyo State Governor, Alhaji Lam Adesina, was committed to mother earth at his Felele, Ibadan residence yesterday, after the two rakat prayers led by the Chief Imam of Ibadanland, Sheik Suara Busari Haruna. The burial was witnessed by many dignitaries. Among the dignitaries were the National Chairman of Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Chief Bisi Akande; ACN National Leader, Senator Bola Tinubu; Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola; Ogun State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, and Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State. Others include former governors Dr. Omololu Olunloyo, Segun Osoba and Niyi Adebayo; the Aare Musulumi of Yorubaland, Alhaji Abdul Azeez

Arisekola Alao; Senators Olabiyi Durojaiye, Kamorudeen Adedibu and Ayo Adeseun; Chief Yekini Adeojo; Dr. Lekan Are and former Chief Judge of Oyo State, Justice Nurudeen Adekola. The body of the former governor was brought to his residence in a Lagos State Ambulance marked LA 156 AO8 accompanied by Governor Fashola. Delivering sermon after the burial, Sheik Haruna said the good deeds by the late Alhaji Adesina would live after him, urging all to see the world as temporary that will come to an end one day. Chief Osoba described the death as shocking, especially after eight hours that he and other ACN leaders were with him where they joked, watched football and discuss politics. He said: “His death is a great shock; Alhaji Adesina was a versatile Yoruba speaker, a committed Awoist who contributed greatly to the development

of Yorubaland.” Former Governor Adebayo Alao-Akala of Oyo State described the late Alhaji Lam Adesina as a leader who played well his own part in national development. In a statement he issued in Ibadan, Akala said though the death was not really a surprise, given the fact he had been sick for time, but he would be sorely missed. He said: “Alhaji Lam Adesina was a great leader. Being a local government chairman when he was the governor between 1999 and 2003, I can say that I knew and worked with him at a very close range. The Great Lam played his own role well and acted well his part in an attempt at ensuring the socio-political development of Oyo State, nay Nigeria. “His role at the critical moments in the chequered history of our democratic development cannot be easily forgotten. He lived a good life and though he lived up to a relative old

age, we shall sorely miss him, particularly his wide experience as a democratic politician.” The Chairman of Odu’a Investment Company Limited, Chief Sharafadeen Abiodun Alli, described former Governor Lam Adesina as a fulfilled politician, saying: “Baba Lam, in his life time, was a political icon. The vacuum created by his death cannot be filled in a long time. However, we take solace in the fact that he was fulfilled”. The former Chief of Staff also prayed for the family left behind by the late elder statesman and urged Allah to grant him Aljanaa firdaus. A group called Asiwaju Leadership Forum said the vacuum created by the death of the elder statesman cannot be filled as he built some lasting legacies for himself. The group’s Publicity Director, Sikiru Akinola, who also benefitted from the free education scheme of the late governor, said

the late Adesina, a core Awoist, “lived a virtuous life as he was principled till death snatched him from the progressive camp.” Akinola said: ‘’While we believe that every human soul will taste death sooner and later, we thank Allah for the fruitful life enjoyed by Baba. ‘’Baba left many legacies which cannot be equaled by any politician. Despite the fact that he became governor at a time the men in the khaki had bastardized the state, he still, nonetheless, within a limited time, recorded huge successes especially in the areas of education, agriculture, health and youth empowerment; teachers started using cars doing his tenure.’’ Meanwhile, President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday said he was deeply saddened by the passing away of the former governor In a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, President Jona-

than, on behalf of himself, the Federal Government and all Nigerians, extends a heartfelt condolence to Alhaji Adesina’s family, government and the people of Oyo State. The President joined Adesina’s family, relatives, associates and all who knew him in mourning the renowned educationist and political leader who devoted his entire adult life to working for the progress of his people and the nation. Jonathan believed that Adesina’s indefatigability in political struggles as well as his honesty, integrity, sincere commitment and dedication to the service of his people before and during his tenure as governor have ensured that he would be honoured and remembered by present and future generations as an exemplary leader who did his utmost best to improve the lives of his people. He prayed God to grant Adesina eternal rest.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

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Monday, November 12, 2012

Nigeria loses N434m daily as Shell, Mobil shut pipelines CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

rienced a significant spill offshore Akwa Ibom State. The nation’s output had peaked at 2.7 million in recent times and with the benchmark Bonny light crude selling for $112 last week, the daily losses amount to $2.8m or N434m. Confirming the development, Shell, in a statement made available to our correspondent yesterday said: “The Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Ltd, SPDC, has shut down the Imo River Trunkline in its eastern operations after it found several crude theft points on the facility. Production of some 25,000 barrels of oil per day is deferred.” The firm stated that it had shut in the producing stations and isolated the line on October 31 on discovering the first set of leaking points, but an additional leak from the remaining oil in the pipeline occurred about eight days later, when unknown persons installed more crude theft connections, some of which have failed. It added that: “Some six crude theft points have so far been confirmed on the 12-inch trunkline, of which three have been repaired. “There have been 26 spills in the Imo River area so far this year; 25 have been due to sabotage, spilling nearly 3,000 barrels into the environment.” CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2

written a letter to the CJN penultimate Saturday confirming the indigenship of Justice Jumbo-Ofo who had served in the Abia State Judiciary in the last 14 years and also affirmed that her name was indeed sent by the state government as one of the state’s candidates for elevation to the appellate court. But even with the full disclosure of why the CJN moved against her, the Senate and top lawyers still said that she should be sworn in if she is qualified to occupy the position and that dropping her based on the factor of indigenship would run foul of section 42 of the 1999 constitution. Notwithstanding the Senate resolution, the CJN has decided not to be guided by the advice except the decision of the NJC. Meanwhile, some se-

Spokesman of the firm, Mr. Tony Okonedo, quoted Shell’s Vice-President for HSE & Corporate Affairs, Sub-Saharan Africa, Tony Attah, as stating that: “Ground visits showed that the oil had impacted rivers and other water bodies even as we have managed to deploy containment booms and are now starting to recover spilled crude. “The evidence is clear for all to see, that crude theft is bad for Nigeria, bad for the people, bad for the environment and bad for our business.” He explained that Imo River Trunkline was part of the Trans Niger Pipeline which suffered a similar fate at Mogho when unknown persons installed two crude theft valves today (November 11), barely 24 hours after the last of such leaks were repaired at Biara, also in Ogoni land. The two crude theft valves have, therefore, been closed and the line is being reopened. Okonedo also explained that the largest number of spills in Imo River this year occurred in May and August, with six incidents in each month. Five of the spill sites have been fully cleaned and certified while cleanup activities are ongoing in the rest. But the MPNU stated that the leaking pipeline has been located while continu-

ous flow of the oil has been shut to prevent severe damage to the environment. General Manager, Public and Government Affairs of the company, Mr. Paul Arinze, said in a statement: “Mobil Producing Nigeria Unlimited, MPN, operator of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC/ MPN, Joint Venture, confirms that on November 9, an oil release occurred offshore Akwa Ibom State.” He said the source of the leak was identified and the pipeline was isolated and shutdown, adding that emergency response

personnel and equipment had been deployed. Arinze said: “Regulatory and community representatives have been notified. “MPN also arranged for representatives of Department of Petroleum Resources, DPR, National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency, NOSDRA, Akwa Ibom State Ministry of Environment and local community to overfly the area. “We regret this incident has occurred and are committed to maintaining high safety, health and environmental standards in our operations. An inves-

tigation into the cause of the release is ongoing.” In August, this year, the firm also recorded another oil spill in the area. Mobil confirmed that oiling from an unknown source was sighted along the shoreline near Ibeno, Akwa Ibom State. An emergency response team was sent to the shoreline to commence work aimed at determining the source of the spill. Community residents and fishermen reported sighting oil along the Atlantic coastline in Ibeno, an oil community where Exxon has facilities. Exx-

on also has offshore operations in the area. Meanwhile, both Exxon Mobil and the affected community have made a formal report of the spill at the Qua Iboe oil fields to relevant authorities. A community leader in the area, Obong Ukott Esenem said that the spill was noticed by fishermen from the community. “Our community has witnessed another oil spill which has taken its negative toll on the environment; three officials of NOSDRA have visited the community to assess the extent of the spill,” he said.

L-R: Spokesperson, Save Nigeria Group, Yinka Odumakin; lecturer, Carleton University, Canada, Prof. Pius Adesanmi, Mallam Nasir el-Rufai; Convener, SNG, Pastor Tunde Bakare; his wife, Layide and President, Campaign for Democracy Dr. Joe OkeiOdumakin, at the 58th birthday celebration of Pastor Bakare at Latter Rain Assembly, in Lagos, yesterday.

NJC to decide Appeal Court judge’s fate nior lawyers have criticised the action of the CJN, describing it as a discriminatory. They also advised the embattled judge to challenge the CJN’s decision in court on the grounds of unconstitutionality. The lawyers, including Chief Mike Ozekhome, SAN, Chief Gani Adetola Kazeem, SAN, Mr. Femi Falana, SAN, and a former chairman of the Ikeja branch of the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, Mr. Adebamigbe Omole, however added that the directive by the Senate, asking the CJN to swear-in the judge was merely an advice that had no force of law. They insisted that Justice Jombo-Ofo nonetheless had the right to go to court to challenge the de-

cision after she had gone through requisite procedure on the grounds that the measure was a violation of her right not to be discriminated against. Ozekhome said: “The directive of the National Assembly is merely advisory in nature. It has no legal force and therefore cannot be legally enforceable. It is not an Act of Parliament. “However, Justice Jombo-Ofo herself can go to court to enforce her fundamental right not to be discriminated against. Only she (Jombo-Ofo) has the locus to challenge the decision not to swear her in at the court. “Having said that I think the decision not to swear her in by the CJN was very wrong, very

backward, retrogressive, unjust and unconstitutional. It cannot be justified on any grounds. “In Nigeria we use patrilineal system and not matrilineal. Patrilineal system allows women to have entitlements in their husbands place. It would be very unfair to women if this practice is sustained.” Chief Adetola-Kazeem said: “The Senate can only advice; they cannot compel the Judiciary, which is another arm of government. So on this issue the Senate cannot mandate the CJN to swear-in the judge” In his reaction, Falana said: “The decision can be challenged in court because the judge had fulfilled all the procedures. The NJC had given its nod

and the President had approved it. That means the appointment is already made.” According to Omole, “The Senate’s directive is advisory, if it is not obeyed, it cannot be enforced by legal means. But the judge herself can go to court to contest the decision. “Having said that, let me state that what was done to Justice Jombo-Ofo is nothing but injustice and one did not expect such a thing from the CJN, who herself is a woman.” A Senior Advocate of Nigeria and former Attorney-General of Abia State, Chief Solo Akuma, said that the CJN’s action was misguided. Speaking with National Mirror in Abuja over the weekend, Akuma noted

that the reason adduced in the petition that stalled Justice Jombo-Ofo’s inauguration was “discriminatory”, even as he challenged the authors of the petition, whom he described as “faceless”, to come out for an open debate in defence of the “frivolous” petition. Describing the development as “an embarrassment to the nation”, the Abuja-based lawyer expressed worry that Justice Mukhtar submitted to such petition, which letter and spirit, he maintained, are against the provisions of Section 42 of the 1999 constitution, which frowns at any act of discrimination against a person on grounds of indigeneship, sex, religion or belief.

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Monday, November 12, 2012

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CONSTITUTION REVIEW

1999 Constitution is fraudulent, says Aregbesola WALE FOLARIN OSOGBO

overnor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State has said that for the country to progress, it must discard the 1999 Constitution, which he described as a fraudulent document imposed on the country by the military. The governor made the

submission at the weekend in Osogbo, the state capital, while speaking at a public hearing organised by a member of the House of Representatives representing Osogbo/Orolu/ Irepodun Federal Constituency, Hon. Lasun Yusuff. According to him, the 1999 Constitution was a making of the military and should henceforth be discountenanced for the

country to develop. Aregbesola said the 1963 Constitution was the only document that could be considered a veritable constitution which catered for all cadres of Nigerians, irrespective of gender or ethnic affiliation. The governor called for an overhaul of the constitution, saying that if the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, had the oppor-

tunity to lead the country, it would condemn the 1999 Constitution and make a better. He said: “The 1999 Constitution is not only fraudulent; it is also useless because it does not represent the interest of the masses of this country. It should therefore be discarded and the process for a new and better constitution should begin.”

Aregbesola noted that the long military rule contributed to the country’s woes, adding that the military should not be allowed to rule in any sane society that wanted development. The governor also called for the adoption of parliamentary system of government, while describing the presidential system as an expensive system of government.

Aregbesola

Kwara South demands Igbomina State WOLE ADEDEJI ILORIN

Zonal Chaiman, Peoples Democratic Party, Ajhaji Mamman Gambo (left) and Mukhtar Ahmed, the lawmaker representing Gurara/Tafa/ Suleja Federal Constituency, at the review of 1999 constitution in Suleja, Niger State, at the weekend. PHOTO: NAN

Lawmaker, emir call for LGs’ autonomy

•Ex-Nasarawa CJ decries omission of judiciary’s independence EZEKIEL TITUS AND IGBAWASE UKUMBA

s public hearing of the constitution review commenced across the country, a House of Representatives member representing Dass, Bogoro and Tafawa-Balewa constituency in Bauchi State, Hon. Yakubu Dogara, has called for local government autonomy. In the same vein, the Emir of Dass, Alhaji Usman Bilyaminu Othman, blamed politicians in the North for poverty and insecurity in the region, which he attributed to poor coordination and representation. In his comment during the exercise, Dogara said local government autonomy would ensure good governance and quality leadership to consolidate on the gains of dividends of democracy. He frowned at the decisions of the governors to initiate joint accounts which they used as a conduct pipe to siphon public

funds. According to the lawmaker, there is no way people can benefit from democracy if the local government system had no autonomy. The House of Representatives, Dogara said, was ready to support local government autonomy to pave way for speedy development at the grassroots. He, however, charged people at the grassroots to shun all forms of violence and embrace peace as a panacea for rapid development. In his contribution, Othman expressed dissatisfaction over adverse economic difficulties in the region. The emir also backed local government autonomy to stimulate speedy development of the grassroots. He, however, charged government at all levels to always create awareness before important policies were introduced. The emir charged people to use the constitution review exercise to express their views to effect social change and development.

Meanwhile, the immediate past Chief Judge of Nasarawa State, Justice Ahmed Ubangari, has expressed worry over the omission of the independence of the judicial arm of government from issues listed for alteration in the 1999 Constitution. Ubangari said this when he served as chairman of the public session on the review of the 1999 Constitution held at Lafia City Hall in Lafia, the state capital. It was jointly organised by the five members representing the state in the House of Representatives.

He said: “Despite the recognition of the judiciary in the country’s constitution as an independent body, activities of the judiciary are always being breached by other arms of government in practice thereby its status of independence is untrue.” Ubangari, however, praised the National Assembly members for their decision to involve the electorate in the review of the constitution. He said: “Their decision to involve the electorate truly made them true representatives of the people.”

JAMES DANJUMA

the call in Katsina at the weekend at the public hearing on the constitution review in Danmusa Local Government Area of Katsina State, said the presidential system was “too expensive to operate” as “too much money goes into running the system”. The former Speaker of the defunct Kaduna State House of Assembly also said that the system, de-

he people of southern part of Kwara State have called for the creation of Igbomina State along with their kindred in two local government areas of Osun State. The clamour topped the block response of the people at the House of Representatives’ public hearing on the review of the 1999 Constitution held at Omupo and Omu Aran. The requested state, as contained in their memo, would consist the present Irepodun, Ifelodun, Isin, Offa, Oyun, Ekiti, Oke Ero councils all in Kwara State as well as Ila and Ifedayo local government areas in Osun State.

Disagreement over legislature, councils’ financial autonomy CHARLES OKEKE AWKA

inancial autonomy for state Houses of Assembly and the third tier of government yesterday generated a heated debate at the Anambra Central Senatorial review of the 1999 Constitution in Awka, Anambra State. While some people called for financial autonomy for the Houses of Assembly and the local governments to make them independent, Governor Peter Obi of Anambra State and a host of other speakers at the

Scrap presidential system –Danmusa KATSINA

econd Republic Deputy Senate President, Mamman Danmusa, has called for the abrogation of the presidential system of government. He also suggested the adoption of the parliamentary system. Danmusa, who made

However, the Ekiti stock in Kwara State at the forum opposed being part of the requested state but wanted to be merged with Ekiti State as presently constituted. They argued that for over a century, they had been agitating to be in the South-West of the country and not in any way be made to be in the North. The Igbomina argued in their own memorandum that their agitation at a point in 1957 was an issue before a Minority Commission set up by the then Secretary of State for the Colonies, Sir Allan Lennox-Boyed, purposely to “ameliorate the dominant group’s marginalisation of the minorities in Nigeria”.

spite being practiced for many years, was not yielding the desired growth, development and change many Nigerians were desirous of. He said due to expensive nature of operating the system, little money was usually left for execution of capital projects, but that such situation was not the norm in the parliamentary system.

event held at the Women Development Centre cautioned against the devolution of full autonomy to these branches of government. According to the latter group, it runs contrary to the principles of federalism. Obi, who was the lead speaker at the public hearing, said it was dangerous that today in Nigeria everybody wanted to be included in the first line charge, saying that such aspirations would not work. The governor warned that with the growing demand for financial autonomy by legislators, very soon there would be no government again in the country. The representative of Anambra Central in the Senate, Dr. Chris Ngige, who was also a key speaker at the event, shed more light on the issue. He said that while the National Assembly had been enjoying financial autonomy over the years, the 36 Houses of Assembly had sent a petition to the Senate, seeking to be financially independent.

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Monday, November 12, 2012

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Monday, November 12, 2012

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

CONSTITUTION REVIEW

Immunity clause, resource control, ‘Current constitution defective’ state police top agenda in Edo A AUGUSTINE MADU-WEST KANO

SEBASTINE EBHUOMHAN BENIN

mmunity clause for President, Vice-President and governors, state police creation and resource control were among the issues which dominated the town hall meetings organised at the weekend in Edo State. The meetings were organised to aggregate public opinion on the review of the 1999 Constitution. At the Akoko-Edo Federal Constituency, where a stakeholder, Hon. Peter Appattason, addressed a well attended meeting, the

people unanimously called for the removal of immunity clause, especially for governors. Citing the conviction of former Delta State Governor, Chief James Ibori, they said such a change would discourage governors from dipping their hands into public treasuries. On the resources control, the people of the constituency said the current derivation formula should be increased from 13 per cent to 20 per cent while state government should retain 50 per cent of the people’s resources. They, however, believed

that Nigeria was not ripe for state police. Appattason assured the people that their recommendations would be submitted to the National Assembly Committee on the Review of the Constitution. On his part, the lawmaker representing Edo North Senatorial District, Senator Domingo Obende, after a tour of the six councils that make up the zone, said he was impressed by the turnout of the constituents. He expressed the confidence that “a people constitution that Nigerians have

been yearning for is achievable this time around.” At Irrua and Uromi, financial autonomy and abolition of joint account for state and local governments received overwhelming support of the people. The people recommended that any Nigerian who has spent a period of 10 years any community in the country should henceforth be regarded as an indigene of the place. They said the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) be the sole organiser of all elections in the country - be it local government poll.

House of Representatives member from Kano State, Hon. Alhassan Ado Doguwa, yesterday advanced reasons why the 7th National Assembly is determined to pursue a review of the nation’s constitution. Doguwa, who represents Tudun Wada/Doguwa Constituency, said: “The present constitution, being military made, parades a number of defects, which are part of the nation’s current socioeconomic and political problems.” The Chairman of the House Committee on Millennium Development Goals, told National Mirror in an interview that the present constitution was horridly packaged by a few people, leading to the creation of unimaginable con-

flicts in the management of the nation. He said: “Anything military must certainly have a lot of defects. The 1999 Constitution, being a product of the military in itself is defective. It is in itself undemocratic because it was a constitution produced by a component of the society that was not democratically elected. So, this in itself is enough to defeat the intention of the constitution. “You can also agree with me that the process through which the constitution was produced was rushed. When the military were trying to hand over power in a rush, they also rushed to compile the constitution. So, many considerations were not taken; so many issues were left gray, and these are the gray areas that we feel should be addressed”.

Constituency congress ends in chaos on Lagos Island

L-R: Delta State Deputy Governor, Prof. Amos Utuama; Prof. G. G. Darah and Chief Austin Ogbaburhon at the Ughelli South/ Ughelli North, Udu Federal Constituency Constitutional Review Forum at Orhuwhorun, at the weekend.

he constitutional review session in the Lagos Island Constituency 1 ended in chaos at the weekend with the police dispersing constituents to enforce order. Armed policemen led by the Adeniji Adele Divisional Police Officer, Monday Agbonika, also shot guns into the air to protect a member of the House of Representatives, Mrs. Jumoke Okoya, from likely attacks by youths who booed her.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the incident happened shortly after the exit of Senator Olorunnimbe Mamora and Hon. Hakeem Masha, a member of the Lagos State House of Assembly. Mrs. Okoya is representing the federal constituency. Agbonika declined comment on the incident. Efforts by NAN to speak to Okoya also proved abortive. She simply said: “You don’t know my area, please, please.’’

Why constitution review is necessary –Rep Aginighan wants special trust fund established MURITALA AYINLA

s Nigeria begins move to review the controversial 1999 Constitution, a lawmaker representing Ifako-Ijaiye Federal Constituency, Otunba Michael Yomi Ogunnusi, has said that the exercise would lay to rest all the problems confronting the country. Ogunnusi, who is the Deputy Chairman of the House of Representatives’ Committee on Finance, said the review would address some of the pitfalls identified in the 1999 Constitution. According to him, the House of Representatives would take careful consideration of peoples’ view in the exercise. Speaking during the pub-

Tambuwal

lic hearing on the constitution review in Lagos, Hon. Ogunnusi said the review would address issue of state creation, revenue sharing formula, creation of state police and other sensitive issues that would determine the nation’s posterity and unity. He said: “People complained that our constitution has been militarised and that it was written by a few people, that is why National Assembly deemed it fit to re-

view it. So, issue bothering on state creation, revenue allocation to local government, creation of state police and other germane issues need to be reviewed so that we can move forward as a nation.” The lawmaker said that the public would also decide whether council’s fund should be paid directly to the council or the state government. Speaking on the need to create more states, Ogunnusi said: “There is need to create more states to bring about rapid development of the country. I do not hide my feelings and opinion on the issue. I am in support of the creation of Ijebu State and I also support the creations of other states in the country. That is the best way to go. We did it in the country before and saw the difference.”

SOLA ADEBAYO WARRI

ormer Acting Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Pastor Power Aginighan, has advocated the establishment of special trust funds for the administration of the 13 per cent derivation funds accruing to the oil producing states from the Federation Account. Aginighan said the trust be set up to manage the funds on behalf of the natural resources producing areas of the benefiting states. He said: “The funds accruing to any state as derivation in respect of any natural resource shall be paid into a Trust Fund for the Natural Resources Pro-

ducing Areas in each State. “The Trust Fund shall have a Board of Trustees made up of representatives of the various Natural Resources bearing communities in each State appointed by the President upon confirmation by the Senate. “The funds accruing to each State Natural Resources Trust Fund shall be utilised for the development of the various communities from which the resources are derived based on their respective priorities.” This position was contained in a memorandum he presented at the public hearing on the review of the constitution held in Warri, Delta State. The forum was hosted by the member of the House of

Representatives (Bomadi/ Patani Federal Constituency), Mr. Nicholas Mutu. His memorandum dwelt on revenue allocation and electoral system. Aginighan suggested that the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, should not recognise executives and candidates of political parties elected without complying with the provisions of Section 85 of the Electoral Act and that INEC should proscribe political parties that do not practice fullblown internal democracy in the election of its executives and candidates for elective offices. He also canvassed that all future elections should not be held on the same day by INEC.

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National News

Monday, November 12, 2012

Nigerian varsities now centres of decadence –Fika A ZA MSUE KADUNA

ormer Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, and Head of Service, Malam Adamu Fika, has blamed government’s failure to fund education for the fallen standard of education in the country. Fika also described Nige-

rian universities as centres of ignorance, decadence and cultural retrogression. The former SGF also heaped the blame for the rot in the universities on recurrent strikes by the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, and government’s failure to live up to its financial responsibilities. He said the centres of knowledge had turned to

centres of academic corruption, sexual harassment, cultism and examination malpractices. The former chairman of the Federal Characters Commission commended the late Sardauna of Sokoto, Sir Ahmadu Bello, for his vision and administrative acumen, saying that he met one secondary school offering candidates

for WAEC in 1952 but left 53 secondary schools and over 100 teachers training colleges in 1962 when the Ahmadu Bello University, ABU, was established. He called for a 50-year plan that would lead ABU to its centenary celebration in 2062, while urging stakeholders to restore the pride of education in the country through improvement in

programmes. Speaking at the ABU 50th anniversary’s public lecture and book presentation on the “Vision and Mission of the Founding Fathers” at the weekend, Fika hailed the university for being academic and practical success with aspects of its mission accomplished. The former SGF, however, urged the management

to brace up for the challenges ahead. He said: “The university campuses in Nigeria today are no longer the home of knowledge; that secure, peaceful and conducive environment for imparting and exchange of ideas. It is slowly descending to the abyss as a house of ignorance, decadence and cultural retrogression.”

CBN to maintain tight liquidity stance –Survey UDO ONYEKA

L-R: President of Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Mr. Goodie Ibru and Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Mrs. Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, at the closing of 2012 Lagos International Trade Fair in Lagos, yesterday. PHOTO: NAN

FG terminates N6.8bn road contracts over poor performance CHIDI UGWU ABUJA

he Federal Government said it had terminated some road contracts amounting to about N6.8 billion following failure of the contractors to execute the projects according to contractual agreement. The Minister of State for Works, Ambassador Bashir Yuguda, who disclosed this during a courtesy call on the Minister of Information, Mr. Labaran Maku, at the weekend, said that Stateco Nigeria Limited and Impresit Bakolori were sacked because the levels of completion of the projects were unacceptable. According to him, the level of performance on the Panyan - Bokkos - Wamba Road in Plateau State which was awarded to Stateco Nigeria Limited at the contract sum of N5.2 billion since 2009 was unacceptable hence the government terminated the contract. He said: “We have started, in the last one year, to explore all the clauses in the contract and found the contractors have not met any. So we terminated the

contract.” Other affected contracts include the rehabilitation of the Agaie - Katcha - Baro Road in Niger State which was awarded to Impresit Bakolori in December 2009 with completion period of nine months. The minister said the Federal Government had already made an advance payment of N242,122,836,97 in line with contractual obligations, adding that no significant progress had been made after more 34 months on the project with

the grant of one extension. “In pursuant to the earlier issued notice on termination, the Federal Government has been left with no option than to terminate the rehabilitation of Agaie - Katcha - Baro Road in Niger State, contract no 6038 awarded to Impresit Bakolori,” he added. Yuguda said the contractors had no basis not to perform as they had been fully mobilised. The minister, who decried the pressure on Nigerian roads following the failure of

the railways system, noted that over 95 per cent of movement of goods and services were made by roads. He added that the capacity of Federal Roads Maintenance Agency, FERMA, had been strengthened for better performance especially as the Yuletide was drawing near. Responding, Maku commended the Ministry of Works for its action, saying that it was one of the dividends of the Good Governance Tour embarked upon by his ministry.

Obasanjo, Okonjo-Iweala, Ezekwesili for Airtel’s Night of Influence

ormer President Olusegun Obasanjo is expected to lead prominent Nigerians to the Airtel Night of Influence, a high profile gathering of Nigeria’s best and brightest, which would be headlined by famous CNN anchor, Dr. Fareed Zakaria, on November 18 in Lagos. Coordinating Minister for the Economy and Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonko-Iweala, and the immediate past Vice-President of the World Bank for Africa and Director of Bharti Airtel Group, Mrs. Kathryn Obiageli Ezekwesili, are among some pre-

eminent Nigerians also expected at the event. About six governors are also expected at the Night of Influence that would feature leading captains of industry and key players in governance, business, entertainment, education and other sectors of the economy. The Airtel Night of Influence is a high-octane networking platform provided by the leading telecommunications services provider for interaction and discourse on issues in the Nigerian and African political economy. It will hold at the Eko Hotel & Suites on Victoria

Island, Lagos. Zakaria, anchor of the political economy programme on CNN, GPS, would speak on the theme; “Africa’s Political Economy: The Challenge of Leadership.” He would bring on hand, rich insights into the continent’s economy and its interactions with the global socio-economic and political landscape. About 500 influential men and women drawn from both the private and public sectors within and outside Nigeria as well as top politicians and government officials would also attend the event.

here are indications that the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, and the Monetary Policy Committee, MPC, may retain the tight liquidity stance, amid the inching up of headline inflation. In its November urban price survey, the Financial Derivative Company, FDC, said inflation was rearing its ugly head again. “We do not expect the MPC to change the benchmark interest rate at its next meeting this November. MPC is expected to keep monetary rate (MPR) unchanged at 12 per cent, retain the cash reserve ratio (CRR) at 12 per cent of total local currency deposit liabilities and retain the net open position at 1 per cent of total foreign currency,” FDC survey added. It also said the urban in-

flation index showed prices of goods and services rose by 2.27 per cent to 13.84 per cent in October from 11.57 per cent in September. This surge in price, the report said, was mainly attributed to cost push factors and disruption from flooding. “The food basket rose by 2.84 per cent to 15.53 per cent from 12.69 per cent in September, while the nonfood basket rose marginally by 0.05 per cent to 9.84 per cent within the month,” it said. The report said prices of items in the non-food basket were unchanged except for sand, kerosene, air transport and accommodation, which increased in October as a result of scarcity of petroleum products, adding that “the possibility of easing rates in early 2013 is high if inflation remains moderated.”

Implement Ribadu’s report or face suit, SERAP warns govt

ISE-OLUWA IGE ABUJA

ing and in fact has embarrassed our country in the comity of nations. “No report anywhere in the world is perfect but the way the government has conducted itself in this case suggests that it is not politically committed to honouring the country’s international anti-corruption obligations and commitments, including the UN Convention against Corruption and the African Union Convention on Preventing and Combating Corruption to which Nigeria is a state party”.

civil society group, Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, SERAP, has called on the Federal Government to publish the report of the Petroleum Revenue Special Task Force headed by Mallam Nuhu Ribadu and punish those indicted or face legal action. The group said in a statement signed by its Executive Director, Adetokunbo Mumuni, that: “Rather than emphasising the fundamental principles highlighted and using the Ribadu report as a framework for further concrete action to combat impunity for corruption in the oil sector, the government has embarked on a widespread public campaign to rubbish the report of a task force that it voluntarily commissioned. This is hugely disappoint- Ribadu

News

N5.4bn fuel subsidy scam:

Seven more suspects for arraignment OLUFEMI ADEOSUN ABUJA

he Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, yesterday said it has concluded arrangement to arraign seven more suspects allegedly implicated by the investigation into the N5.4bn fuel subsidy fraud. According to the commission, five of the suspects involved in the fuel subsidy theft would be arraigned today before Justice Lateefa Okunnu of a Lagos High Court in Ikeja. They are to be charged on a 13-count charge bordering on intent to defraud, stealing, forgery and altering. The suspects, according to a statement from the commission included Nasaman Oil Services Limited, Mamman Nasir Ali, Christian Taylor, Oluwaseun Ogunbambo and Olabisi AbdulAfeez (still at large). The two other suspects, Rowaye Jubril and Brila Energy Limited will also be arraigned before Justice Okunnu on Tuesday, November 13, on a 13-count criminal charge of conspiracy, stealing, forgery and altering. The statement said that the two suspects allegedly obtained N963, 796, 199.85 from the Federal Government by falsely presenting the sum as subsidy accruing to them for the importation of 13, 155, 807MT or 17, 393, 767 litres of Premium Motor Spirit. It said the suspects had allegedly obtained N4, 460, 130, 797.94 from the Federal Government by falsely claiming that the sum represented subsidy accruing to them under the petroleum support fund for the importation of 61, 049,937.00 litres of Premium Motor Spirit. One of the charges read thus: “Nasaman Oil Services Ltd; Mamman Nasir Ali; Christian Taylor; Oluwaseun Ogunbambo and Olabisi Abdul-Afeez (still at large) between 2010 and 2012 in Lagos, within the Ikeja Judicial Division with intent to defraud, conspired to obtain the sum of N2, 230, 065, 398.97 from the Federal Government by falsely claiming that the sum represented subsidy accruing to Nasaman Oil Services Ltd under the petroleum support fund for the importation of 30, 524, 968.50 litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS).”

Monday, November 12, 2012

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Race for 2015 too early, diversionary, says PDP •Says party not broke OBIORA IFOH ABUJA

he ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has warned ambitious members of the party eyeing different political offices in the coming general elections in 2015 to forget their ambitions for now as it is too early, thereby diverting attention from the party’s programme of development. National Organising Secretary of the party, Abubakar Mustapha, who spoke with journalists in Abuja, over the weekend, asked members with political ambitions to tarry awhile pending when the party

will take a decision on that. Mustapha’s words: “The PDP as a party and government at the centre is not thinking of 2015 yet. What the party and indeed the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan is concerned with is how to deliver on good governance. “The party has made promises to the electorate and the party is working hard to deliver on its promises and give to the people dividends of democracy. It would therefore be premature to be talking of 2015 at this time. “At the right time, the party will take a decision as to when preparations would commence. We don’t want diversion and we

Tukur

don’t want to be diverted. Governance is a serious business. Those saddled with governance should be allowed to deliver.” He said President Jonathan has severally cautioned against heating up the polity by talking about 2015, saying “as a serious party, we are supporting Mr. President to deliver and he can only do that if he is not distracted.” Mustapha’s warning came amidst speculations that over

15 cabinet ministers are jostling to become governors in their various states. Mustapha, a former Secretary to the government of Kaduna State during the interview, debunked claims that the ruling party was broke and unable to settle its bills. He said; “Where did they get the information that the party is broke? I am not aware that the party is broke and it’s not true.” I am confirming that as the organising secretary of the party. “I have no problem carrying out my functions as finance is not a problem.” Mustapha said the new National Working Committee of the party was reviewing the administrative manual of the party with the aim of improving the condition of staff of the party.

L-R: Minister of State for Agriculture and Rural Development, Alhaji Bukar Tijani; Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina and Permanent Secretary, Mrs. Ibukun Odusote, during a meeting with Commissioners for Agriculture and Rural Development on Flood, Food Recovery and Double-up Food Production Programme in Abuja, at the weekend. PHOTO: ROTIMI OSASONA

FG invests N15bn in air navigation equipment OLUSEGUN KOIKI

he Federal Government has invested over N15 billion on various air navigation safety equipment in the country’s aviation industry in the last few years. This was the position of the Managing Director of the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), Nnamdi Udoh, in an interview with journalists yesterday. Udoh said it was absurd for anyone to think that a high-tech industry like aviation would still be operating complete obsolete equipment in this century, maintaining that the Federal Government has over the years been investing

massively on the safety and comfort of the flying public and operators in the sector. He said facilities like radar, Instrument Landing System (ILS) and Very High Omni-directional Radio Range (VOR), among others, presently in use in the country’s airspace have been upgraded over the years by the

government, assuring the people of the safety of the country’s air space. His words: “I can confirm to you here that we are operating our air navigation services with modern technology contrary to insinuations in some quarters that the agency runs on obsolete equipment.

“Facilities like the radar, Instrument Landing System (ILS), Very High Omnidirectional Radio Range (VOR) and the VHF radio system are all digital and their installations at the various airports across the country over the years have enhanced the safety of the nation’s airspace.”

UNILAG gets new Vice-Chancellor TUNBOSUN OGUNDARE

he Governing Council of the University of Lagos, (UNILAG), Akoka, has appointed Prof. Rahamon Bello, a professor of Chemical Engineering as the eleventh vice-chancellor of the university.

According to a statement by the information unit of the institution, his appointment, which is for a period of five years, will take effect from today, November 12. Prof. Bello, 64, who was the Deputy Vice-chancellor (Management Services), has been serving in the Office of the Vice-Chancellor in an

acting capacity since May 12, 2012 after the death of the former vice-chancellor, Prof. Babatunde Sofoluwe. An indigene of Ogun State, Prof. Bello graduated with First Class Honours degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University) in 1974.

ABM Global moves corporate headquarters to Lagos

il and gas servicing company, ABM Global Services Limited, has moved its corporate headquarters from the Garden city of Port Harcourt to Lagos. The company, in a release signed by its Chairman, Prince Alex Mbata, said that the company would now operate from its new corporate headquarters located in the high brow Lekki area of Lagos, while still maintaining a strong presence in Port Harcourt. “ABM Global now has its corporate head office in Lagos, while Port Harcourt will remain our operational base. The decision to move our corporate headquarters to Lagos was for strategic reasons,” the release stated in parts. Mbata, a young entrepreneur, further said that ABM Global is also diversifying its business interest to other areas such as manufacturing. He said the company would, early next year, go into the production of a wide range of products when its ultramodern multi-billion naira factory located at Naze, near Owerri , Imo State is commissioned. “ABM Global as part of our expansion is going into manufacturing and that will take off effectively when the factory we are building in Naze near Owerri becomes operational early next year. Our mission is to change the industrial face of Imo State and create job for the youths in the state.” It will be recalled that ABM Global early this year won an award as the best tubular and casing company in West Africa an award which was bestowed on the company in Ghana.

He joined the service of the University of Lagos as Assistant Lecturer in 1977 and rose to the posts of Lecturer II, Lecturer 1 and Senior Lecturer, in 1981, 1982 and 1985 respectively. He was appointed Associate Professor in 1991 and Professor of Chemical Engineering in 1998.

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Foundation to lift people with hearing impairment

Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), Starkey Hearing Foundation, is set to provide free hearing aids to over 2,000 people, who have hearing impairment in Lagos. The four-day programme slated to take place from November 15 to November 19 will hold at Campos playing field, Ajele, Lagos Island. According to a statement issued in Lagos and signed by its official, Mr. Roland Obasa, the Foundation is organising the programme in conjunction with BSA Hearing Centre, Ikeja, and another NGO, Women Protection Organisation, WOPO. Active in some other African countries, Starkey Hearing Foundation

South West

Monday, November 12, 2012

is bringing its hearing aid mission to Nigeria for the first time. It hopes to extend the programme to other parts of the country later. The trip to Lagos is part of a current tour of West African countries, which include Senegal, Liberia and Ghana. An official of the foundation, Derek Johnson, visited Nigeria last year to assess the scale of hearing impairment in the country. With BSA Hearing Centre, aural impressions of over 3000 individuals, who have hearing impairment, were taken in different parts of the country. Many of those people will be provided with hearing devices at the four-day programme.

Amosun demolishes structures to pave way for more roads FEMI OYEWESO ABEOKUTA

raders yesterday in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, poured into the streets, jubilating as Governor Ibikunle Amosun led senior public officials to supervise the demolition of illegal structures in the city. The demolition is to pave the way for the construction of another set of roads in the state capital. Amosun, in company of the Deputy Speaker of the House of Assembly, Hon. Tola Kasali, monitored the demolition to pave the way for the expansion of the two roads within Abeokuta

metropolis. The governor’s team was, however, received amid wild jubilation at Itoku market by hundreds of traders, who had gathered to witness the demolition. It was the same story at the popular Panseke/ Onikolobo/Post-Office area when the government bulldozers moved into the area. Unlike the Totoro/ItaEko/Sokori Road, the level of compliance with government’s quit order in the areas affected was very high as many traders were seen removing valuables that could be salvaged from their belongings. Addressing traders and

property owners at Panseke area of the town, Governor Amosun expressed satisfaction at the level of compliance by the people and promised that his administration would not disappoint them. The governor also promised quick and adequately compensation for those affected by the exercise. He also said assistance would be extended to shop owners to assist theme relocate to other areas. Amosun said the government would build modern shopping malls across the areas, promising that those affected with the demolition would be the first to benefit upon completion.

FIIRO tasks bakers on use of cassava flour KEMI OLAITAN IBADAN

he Federal Institute of Industrial Research (FIIRO) in Oshodi, Lagos State, has called on bread bakers across the country to increase the use of cassava flour in bread production to reduce prices. A Director in the Department of Agriculture, FIIRO, Mr. Jide Olumeko, made the call at the weekend in Ibadan at a two-day training for South-West Master Bakers on 20 per cent increase in high quality cassava flour in bread production. Olumeko, represented by FIIRO’s Desk Officer for Cassava Value Chain, M. Titus Efuntoye, said the use of cassava flour would help bread prices to fall by 65 per cent and boost foreign exchange. He said: “Government is trying to ensure food security in the country, hence the initiative. Importation of wheat is weighing heavily on government resources as we spend over N600bn annually to import wheat. “Efforts in research have discovered that we are able to substitute wheat flour with cassava flour, which has a higher nutritional value than the former due to its lower glycerin index responsible for diabetes.

He said:“I feel very proud today that I am from Ogun State, most of you have complied and we are happy that you showed understanding on this project. “In the next one year, you will not even recognise this place again. We thank everybody, particularly the property owners, we cannot have any development without a bit of pains, but the outcome will be to the benefit of everybody. “We cannot continue to live as if we are 100 years back, some of this roads have been the same since I was a young boy, we need to put in place new roads, modern shops, shopping complexes, all of these people that are affected, by the time we finished the new shopping complex, they will be the first to benefit.” At the popular Itoku market, traders, who had earlier protested against the demolition last week, trooped out to welcome the governor, while many had parked their belonging even before the exercise.

PDP supporters defect to Osun ACN today WALE FOLARIN OSOGBO

H Body of late former Oyo State Governor, Alhaji Lam Adesina, during his burial in Ibadan, yesterday.

LASTMA stops junior officers from arresting motorists MURITALA AYINLA

he Lagos State Government has initiated move to curb the aggressive enforcement of its traffic law. The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) has stopped junior officers from arresting motorists. Speaking at a public forum on the new Lagos Traffic Law organised by the Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA) at the weekend, LASTMA General Manager, Mr. Babatunde Edu, said the move was a spontaneous measure

to address complaints by the public against the aggressive behaviuor of junior officers. Edu urged members of the public to report any junior officers who victimise or harass them, saying they had been stripped of the power to arrest. Urging the members of the public not to take laws into their hands when unlawfully arrested, Edu said the officers were to render assistance to motorists in ensuring traffic laws were voluntarily obeyed. He asked members of the public to take note of the names of erring officers, insisting that junior officers had been warned not

to arrest, following the complaints of aggressive enforcement of the traffic law. He said: “You can easily identify them anywhere you find a junior officer with black epaulet on their shoulder, they cannot arrest, only the senior ones with red epaulet on their uniforms can arrest. We have stopped the junior from arresting motorist except during a joint operation. That is the extent we have gone in checkmating aggressive enforcement of the law” Edu said the state government is spending huge resources on continuous training of the officers on non-aggressive measure of

dealing with motorists. Responding to complaints on unlawful impoundment of broken vehicles on the roads, even when the driver is making frantic efforts to evacuate the faulty vehicle, Edu said LASTMA officers were expected to assist such driver.

Fashola

undreds of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) members in Osun State are expected to defect to the ruling Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) today. ACN Director of Publicity and Strategy, Mr. Kunle Oyatomi, revealed this in a statement issued at the weekend in Osogbo, the state capital. Oyatomi said the defectors would be supporting the ruling party to transform the state. He said the defectors would be warmly received by Governor Rauf Aregbesola, whose transformation policies had been adjudged excellent by them. Oyatomi said: “The transformation policies are implemented in education, agriculture, social and healthcare sectors. “This is the reason why many PDP members are now defecting to the ACN.”

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Monday, November 12, 2012

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Obi, Bianca responsible for APGA’s crisis, says Umeh DENNIS AGBO ENUGU

he National Chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, Chief Victor Umeh, has accused the Anambra State Governor, Mr. Peter Obi and widow of the former Biafran leader and Nigeria’s High Commissioner to Spain, Ambassador Bianca Ojukwu, among others, of being behind the crisis now rocking the party. Umeh specifically accused Governor Obi of refusing all entreaties by prominent Igbo leaders, including the Catholic Bishop of Awka Diocese, Most Rev. Dr. Paulinus EzeOkafor, the Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Alfred Achebe, Barrister Onyechi Ikpeazu, (SAN), Anaocha Traditional Rulers’ Council, the President of Ndigbo Lagos, Chief Chris Eze, the leadership of Odinma Anaocha, among others. The APGA national

Bianca

chairman, who made the allegation yesterday, dismissed recent media reports to the effect that he, alongside the Governor of Imo state, Rochas Okorocha, shunned a meeting initiated by Governor Obi to resolve the crisis in the party which was held in Awka, last week as not only mischievous, but was intended to tarnish his image as somebody who was impervious to having peace in the party. Umeh said rather than finding ways to re-build the party ahead of the 2015 general elections, especially the governorship election

in Anambra State by 2014, the governor has continued to engage in clandestine moves aimed at crippling the party, vowing, however, that he was ready to lay down his life to ensure that the party did not go into extinction. His words: “My attention has been drawn to newspaper publications to the effect that I shunned a peace meeting initiated by Governor Peter Obi for the purpose of resolving the crisis in APGA which was held in Awka on November 6, 2012.

“I was said to have received a text message notifying me of the meeting but that I shunned the meeting. I wish to state unequivocally that nobody sent any message to me for the purpose of attending a meeting in Awka. “On November 2, I travelled to London to attend the APGA UK chapter convention scheduled to hold on the November 3, 2012 and also to attend a meeting of the Igbo Union in Oxford for the sole purpose of celebrating Ojukwu’s birthday, I was one of the guest

speakers there. “Before my departure on November 2, there was no indication that there was going to be a meeting where issues of resolving the crisis in APGA will be discussed,” he stated. “One blackmail being launched against me was to create the impression that I don’t want peace in APGA. If Obi wanted to hold a peace meeting, is it not surprising to note that the best way to invite me to such meeting was through a text message when he knew I was out of the country. Why

didn’t he send me a letter or even call me that I was expected to attend a meeting. It was therefore clear to me that I was not wanted at the meeting, so that he will continue to launch this propaganda against me. “If there is anybody that wants peace in APGA, it is Umeh. I have never instigated any crisis in APGA. It is therefore hypocritical that the people who are instigating and sponsoring crisis in APGA are now trying to portray me as somebody who is not amenable to reconciliation.”

Anxiety mounts as Enugu governor prolongs leave

ifty days after Governor Sullivan Chime began his annual vacation, anxiety is mounting in Enugu State over his whereabouts. Many residents of the coal city, who spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) at the weekend, expressed worries that the governor was over-staying his welcome abroad, but his aides and party chieftains say there is no cause for alarm. The state Commissioner for Information, Mr. Chuks Ugwoke, said the governor took his accumulated vacation as he had not taken his annual leave since he became governor in 2007. He said the governor handed over to his deputy, Mr. Sunday Onyebuchi, who is fully in charge of the state’s administration. “Activities have been on. There is no activity of government that has slowed down, because you realise that there is an acting governor who is fully incharge. “Work is in progress at the new secretariat and on some ongoing road projects. So also with rural development, where some communities are being connected to the national grid,” he said. The commissioner said the governor would return

as soon as his vacation was over, pointing out that he had not exceeded the duration of his vacation. In his reaction, the Chairman of the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, in the state, Mr. Emeka Udeh, said the prolonged absence of the governor was unhealthy for governance. He said the governor was entitled to his vacation, but that where it became too long, the people also had the right to be worried. “It is not healthy for the state. I don’t know if the deputy governor has all the executive powers in his acting capacity. But what I want is that the state must be working,” he said. On his part, the Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP in the state, Chief Vita Abba, said there was nothing unusual about the governor’s absence. “There is nothing unusual regarding the governor’s absence. He is a governor that has been on seat for the past six years and taking a consolidated leave. “He did not abscond, he properly and formerly handed over to an acting governor who has been playing the role very well. So there is no vacuum created,” he said.

L-R: Representative of the Group General Manager, National Petroleum Investment Management Services, Mrs. Tolu Darin-Adefuwa; Vice-Chancellor, Anambra State University, Prof. Fidelis Okafor; Anambra State Governor, Peter Obi and Managing Director, Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company Ltd; Mr. Chike Onyejekwe, at the inauguration of the university’s ICT Centre at Igbariam Campus, yesterday. PHOTO: NAN

Some communities may not recover from flooding –Presidential aide OBIORA IFOH ABUJA

he Special Adviser to the President on Technical Matters, Dr. Akachukwu Nwankpo, yesterday lamented that some communities affected by the recent flooding in parts of the country would not be recovered. Over three million people, cutting across 22 states of the federation lost their property in the recent flooding that is yet to abate in some places. The presidential adviser, who spoke with journalists in Abuja, urged philanthropic individuals and organisations to quickly move in and assist the victims of the flood, stressing that nothing can be a greater display of kindness and Godly act than doing so. Nwankpo said that from

his assessment of the devastation caused by the flood, the flora and fauna and buildings in some communities were completely submerged that even after the water would have receded, several buildings would have collapsed or would have been seriously impaired. Based on what he saw of the devastation, he said he has started to mobilise indigenes of the state and their friends both within the country and in the Diaspora to lend their support to the victims, stressing that after the initial provision of relief materials, they would assist government in the resettlement, rehabilitation and reconstruction of the ruins. The special adviser said statistical figures on the 700, 000 displaced people in 60 communities which cut across six local govern-

ment areas in Anambra State were being collated with the aim of providing them with reasonable relief after the troubled times. “The magnitude of destruction is large and unexpected by anybody. If you take an aerial view of what happened in Anambra State from Asaba in Delta State, you will notice that in some communities, what you find are the leaves of the tallest trees; in few places, just the roof of some buildings, while most of the buildings have been completely submerged. “This is unknown in human history and what people should do is unknown as at now. People are desperate and do not know what to do to come back to their normal life. “However, apart from the initial food and other relief materials, we have

so far enlisted 120 volunteers as well as some NonGovernmental Organisations (NGOs) who are working in collaboration with the Anambra State government, the church and other well-meaning people to provide succour to these victims. “I have no doubt that the people of Anambra are bigger than this flood; we have men and women who have the means and contacts and I plead with them to come in and help. Some of them are already responding positively. “The only thing I am doing now is to mobilise them towards this public spirited endeavour. We are giving them the confidence, because we have enlisted the Catholic and Anglican churches in the area to be the ones on ground to actually disburse what we can mobilise from them.

Monday, November 12, 2012

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Politics

Aliyu: Riding high at 57

Ondo guber: Why we are in court – ACN OLAJIDE OMOJOLOMOJU

he Ondo State chapter of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) has said that it is in court as part of its commitment to deepen the nation’s democratic experiences, to help build the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as an enduring institution which is truly independent and committed to executing its mandate with a high sense

of responsibility and to prevent colossal rigging in the 2015 elections. The ACN, in a statement by its Director of Media, Publicity and Strategy, Idowu Ajanaku, declared that the gubernatorial election in the state, contrary to the widespread information, was marred by serious irregularities and malpractices. The statement reads in part: “It is a notorious fact that officials of the Labour Party were arrested during

the elections with thumbprinted ballot papers, there were violence against the opposition before and during the election, which significantly altered the results. “More so the LP government has been exhibiting behaviours betraying its mischievousness since after the election by various acts inimical to progress. How do you explain unprovoked attacks on traditional leaders? Why would the state government now

revive a 15 year obnoxious and moribund law so as to deprive citizens of their means of life hood in rural areas of Odigbo and other places? If Governor Olusegun Mimiko believes that he won the election freely and fairly, why has he not concentrated on how to fulfil the failed promises of the past three and half years instead of vindictiveness? Governor Mimiko surely has something to hide. Ajanaku disclosed that the ACN was in court to

expose the true position of things as regards the October 20 election to the whole world, saying that the party was in court, just as imiko went to court in 2007, when his mandate was stolen. Saying that when it finally presents its case in court, the ACN said that “the revelation that the late Prophet Ayo Babalola and Mike Tyson voted in Ondo State in 2007, will be a child play. Even sprits voted in the last governorship election! It is a notorious fact that INEC officials were arrested with over 10,000 ballot papers, the Igbeayo card and biometric registration data were all imported into the INEC registration database.” Ajanaku also revealed that the ACN was in court to expose to the whole world, “the ballot stuffing carried in the houses of political appointees, the so called elder statesmen and the desecrated Oba palaces where justice ought to be upheld; the allocation of

votes to the LP, the creation of secret units and collation centres to perpetuate electoral fraud; glaring violence, malpractices, irregularities and non compliance with the Electoral Act 2010; the falsification of voters register by INEC to ensure victory of Dr Mimiko; the connivance of some political office holders the state with security agents and INEC staff to rig the poll in favour of the LP; the ballot hijacking, ballot box stuffing and massive multiple thumb printing of ballot papers by LP agents.” Saying that it cannot keep silent in the face of “outright rape on our democracy,” the ACN said that its commitment to justice and faith in the judiciary as the last hope of the common man is unwavering, adding that it has asked the tribunal to nullify the election for “reason of corrupt practices and noncompliance with provision of the Electoral Act, 2010.”

Traffic law: Fashola solicits private sector partnership SINA FADARE Vice President Namadi Sambo (left) and former National Chairman of Peoples Democratic Party, Chief Solomon Lar, during the vice president’s tour of flood ravaged areas in Shendam, Plateau State, at the weekend. PHOTO: NAN

Tukur urges PDP govs to surpass their predecessors JOHNCHUKS ONUANYIM ABUJA.

he National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, has charged governors serving under the party’s platform to exceed the achievements of their predecessors in the office. Tukur, who made this charge at the weekend when the governor of Kwara State, Abdulfataih Ahmed paid the PDP National Working Committee a courtesy call in Abuja, said that is the only way this country can develop. Telling his visitor that the present NWC has come to surpass the achieve-

ments of the previous NWCs in party administration, Tukur said that is what every political office holder should aspire for. He likened this to a family setting; stating that every father wants his child to achieve more than he has achieved and every child also aspires to be greater than the father in achievements. This position of the PDP national chairman has not been the case in Nigerian governance as many political office holders take the country far back from where they met it. Speaking on the programmes of the present NWC, Tukur said: “We have come to do better than the previous team. We expect

every governor to do better than his predecessor as that is how the country will improve and grow”. Urging the party and its elected members to continue to satisfy the needs of the people in the areas of education, food production, security, among others, Tukur commended Ahmed on sustaining the agriculture revolution in Kwara State, saying that agriculture is one of the key interest of the PDP NWC. He told the governor: “You are making good use of the land, water and the people”. Earlier in his address, Ahmed congratulated the Tukur-led NWC, saying: “There is no substitute for

experience. We are happy to identify with you. We thank God for making you the chairman of the party. We are happy we are part of PDP. PDP has done very well in the last years given the fact that it is a party hurriedly put together.” Talking about security challenges in the country, he said, “We know that there challenges in the country but it is not peculiar to Nigeria alone”. The governor also stated that the state government was partnering with all security agencies to forestall the breakage of law and order. The governor was at the PDP Legacy house with the party State Working Committee.

he Lagos State governor, Babatunde Fashola has called on the organised private sector to support and partner with the government to ensure the sustenance of the new traffic law in the state. Fashola, represented by his deputy, Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, who made the appeal at the closing ceremony of the 2012 Lagos International Trade Fair held at the Tafawa Balewa Square, yesterday, noted that the new law was designed to ensure the safety of lives and improvement of economic activities of the state. He said that contrary to misinformation, the government did not put the law in place to force the motorcycle operators out of business, noting that Lagos, be-

ing the premium business destination in Nigeria and the West Africa sub-region cannot rely on ‘okada’ as a mode of transportation. Fashola pointed out that as a responsible government, the Lagos State government is making efforts to improve on other safe and convenient modes of public transportation and also intensifying the rehabilitation of major road infrastructures to ensure easy movement of people as well as goods and services. He added that it is the positive effect of the new traffic law that enabled the annual fair moved from the usual venue along the Badagry corridor, in view of on-going construction work along the aixs, to the Tafawa Balewa Square, with little disruption to human and vehicular movement around the new venue throughout the duration of the fair.

Politics

Monday, November 12, 2012

Aliyu: Riding high at 57

DANLADI NDAYEBO

overnor Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu (CON) and the Chief Servant of his people is 57 today. When, in May 2007, Dr Aliyu mounted the saddle, he promised in his inaugural address that he was going to be a courageous leader, more resolute than any governor the state has seen before. He said, he would provide “courageous and quality leadership,” since the destiny of any people is inextricably tied to the quality of its leadership. Five years on, no Nigerlite, I am sure, would dispute the fact that the Chief Servant has kept his word. As I said in my previous tributes to the governor, there is hardly any leader of the state who has made as much efforts to change the face of the state’s politics and socio-economic status of the Power State to the fullest like Governor Aliyu. Indeed, like I have always maintained, his first term of four years has come to represent a defining period of our state’s history. For those who know Dr Aliyu, the successes recorded so far do not come as a surprise - the man came well-groomed for the job of transforming Niger State. Between November 12, 1955 when he was born in Minna and today (November 12, 2012) when he turns 57, Governor Aliyu’s life can best be described as a lesson in resilience, hard work, diligence and steadfastness. The Talban Minna was born into a humble, and culturally rich background. He had to toil to survive from tending horses, packing the dung, going to Arabic/Islamic School and attending public schools from primary school level up to his university education. Therefore, like William Shakespeare would say, Aliyu was not born great; rather he achieved greatness by dint of hardwork and tenacity of purpose. As he celebrates his birthday today, it is not just the interesting narrative of his 57year sojourn on earth that matters, but how wide exposure and educational sophistication has made Dr. Babangida Aliyu one of the most modern minded statesmen in the country, especially with his good education in Nigeria and some of the best universi-

Aliyu

ties in the United States of America. The Niger State governor has in the last five years shown that he has knowledge, capacity, wisdom, experience and proven fairmindedness to preside over a multi-ethnic and multi-religious national community. For his administration in Niger State, everybody resident here is a Nigerlite and enjoys every amenity or provision of the government without discrimination. The concept of state of origin does not exist.

Every school child in the primary school and students in the secondary school in the state enjoys free education without discrimination. Every child up to the age of five, as well as all pregnant women and the aged, irrespective of ethnic background or religious inclination are entitled to free and quality medicare without discrimination. Also, in the last five years, the Chief Servant has stamped his seal of excellence in all the sectors of the state’s economy. His

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chosen areas of priority, namely education, health, agriculture, infrastructural development and social security have seen progressive achievements. His accomplishments have been attributed largely to prudent and judicious application of funds, visionary planning and consistency in policy implementation. Dr. Aliyu has introduced initiatives that are novel in the history of political leadership in Nigeria. An instant revelation is the Ward Development Projects which ensure that development reaches the grassroots, as every ward in the state benefits from the project. The initiative which ensures that each of the 274 wards in the state receives N1m monthly is a huge success story. Under the initiative, each ward takes full responsibility for proposing to the state government development projects that the ward consultative forum feels deserves priority attention. The implementation of projects is carried out by the people, who participate fully at all levels. The Jama’a Forum, a meet-the-peopletour, initiated and embarked upon by Governor Aliyu to meet and interact with the people one-on-one in their communities and villages has not only gained significant support but has served as instrument through which the governor relates directly with the common man. The tour is aimed at getting to know the people, their areas of need and how to address their problems as well as giving the people an opportunity to interact freely with their governor on issues bordering them. Dr. Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu of Niger State, who thinks right and acts right is a man of today in Niger State but should be elevated to act right and think right for the entire country. Let his deeds of today be his judge for the future. Here’s Happy Birthday to the Chief Servant of his people and wishing him many happy returns of today with the attendant long life and prosperity. Ndayebo is the Chief Press Secretary to Niger State Governor Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu.

Tributes to Lam Adesina, 1939 - 2012

Adesina’s modesty, legendary – Belgore

wara State ACN leader and gubernatorial candidate in the 2011 general election, Mohammed Dele Belgore, has commiserated with the government and people of Oyo State over the death of former Governor Lam Adesina. Belgore said that Pa Adesina’s “glittering sense of modesty” stood him out in an era and society dotted with corrupt and arrogant politicians. A statement by Belgore’s media aide, Rafiu Ajakaye, quoted him as saying: “We commiserate with the government and people of Oyo State on the death of the former Governor Lamidi Adesina. Pa Adesina’s death, no doubt, is a great loss to the people of Oyo, our party, the ACN and of course the entire country as it marked the exit of one of the

last men standing in the history of this young democracy and our people’s pursuit of good governance. “We however find comfort in the fact that in an era where corruption, questionable wealth and arrogant display of same stand many people out, Pa Ad-

esina would be remembered for belonging in the ranks of those who helped the course of liberty, democracy and good governance - and he did all these with glittering sense of modesty.”We pray the Almighty to grant him eternal rest and the family the fortitude to bear the huge loss.”

Lam, the death of a patriot – Babatope

ember of the PDP Board of Trustee, Chief Ebenezer Babatope, describedthe death of Lam Adesina as the death of a patriot, who lived and died for humanity. According to him, the late progressive politician was a lover of the unity of the Nigerian people. “Alhaji Lam Adesina, a great Awoist has passed to the world

beyond. He was a member of the House of Representative during the second republic,” he said. Babatope noted that the political vacuum created by Adesina would be difficult to fill because he stood for principle, forthrightness and service to humanity. “Nigeria has missed an educationist, a visionary and a fearless politician. May his soul rest in peace,” he prayed.

Nigeria has lost a vibrant voice of democracy – Atiku

ormer Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, said that with the death of former governor of Oyo State, Chief Lam Adesina, Nigeria as a country has been robbed of a vibrant voice of democracy. Atiku, who described Adesina as a reliable friend of the people, praised his virtues of selflessness to public service. In a statement, Atiku noted that despite his age, the former governor on the platform of defunct Alliance for Democracy (AD) was actively engaged in the struggle to protect Nigeria’s democracy from dictatorship. His words: ‘’Driven by a remarkable courage of conviction, Adesina was never hesitant to speak the truth to power,

despite the potential dangers of official intimidation and harassment.” The former Vice President also said that Adesina belonged to a rare generation of politicians who perceived democracy as a call to selfless service, rather than an opportunity to enrich themselves. He said that the best tribute Adesina’s admirers could pay to him was to practise his virtues of service with integrity, just as he prayed to God to grant the family of the deceased the fortitude to bear this irreparable loss, while condoling the government and the people of Oyo State over Adesina’s death.

See more tributes on page 50

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Monday, November 12, 2012

Shocking graft expose, shoddy justice capacity Roadmap SONI EHI

ASUELIMEN

soniasuelimen@yahoo.com, 08023459055 (SMS ONLY)

resident Goodluck Jonathan’s administration is on record to have recorded the biggest, in size and number, revelations on monumental and bizarre looting of public treasury in two years of tenure. Under the eight years of Babangida military regime there was massive perception of looting, but none if any was proven. Obasanjo in eight years made some convictions and a few highly placed thieves were jailed. But the exposition of massive looting that has assaulted the airwaves is sickening to say the least. From pensions fraud to fuel subsidy robbery, stock market scam and oil theft and fraud-killed banks. Babangida’s amazement, during his regime when corruption became official state policy, that Nigeria did not collapse under hefty yoke of official graft that earned us the most corrupt on earth till today, is kid wonder. What has government done to erase this stigma? Till date, Babangida has not explained how he spent or squandered $12.4 billion extra oil revenues then and no anti-graft agency is asking questions. Obasanjo had set up the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to fast track investigation of high-profile treasury loot-

ing. The agency was carved out of the Special Fraud Unit of the Police and its first chairman was Nuhu Ribadu, who performed well within the limit of capacity of the nation’s anti-graft machine. Despite the multiplicity of anti-graft agencies namely EFCC, Independent Corrupt Practices Commission, and Code of Conduct Bureau, and Tribunal to tackle public sector corruption, Police, Investment and Securities Tribunal to deal with stock market infractions, the epidemic of graft keeps winning the apparent no-contest battle. The Special Fraud Unit of the Police has been revived commendably by roadblock-stopper IGP Abubakar, and has woken to takeover its traditional role of fighting graft in all sectors and ramifications. However, EFCC under Ibrahim Lamorde appears to be napping exactly one year after he was confirmed its chairman. He had been acting for all previous chairpersons and so has no excuse of learning the ropes afresh. In effect, Lamorde has been part of EFCC administration from the outset and was expected to have hit the ground running. What ties up Lamorde’s hands or are hands self-tied, as with with predecessor Madam Farida Waziri, who was allegedly sacked for inability to trace source of funding for terrorists and failure to nail “the thief in government house” that plotted to become president, after compromising the judiciary to escape justice in Nigeria but caged in London by providence and Presijo`s refusal to protect unrepentant thieves. But for Presijo, Ibori would have been plotting for 2015 race that terrorists have kick started. Lamorde knows Nigerians are uninterested in those petty thieves

BUT FOR PRESIJO, IBORI WOULD HAVE BEEN PLOTTING FOR

2015 RACE THAT

TERRORISTS HAVE KICK STARTED and gloats about their convictions in court and the Ibrus that get bogus plea bargain to refund N190billion, with doubtful whereabouts, fueling suspicion that recovered loot has been re-looted, as Sanusi’s CBN custodian is tongue-tied. Nigerians are unimpressed that suspected ex rogue state governors are still lavishing their loot. What’s the position of ex-governor Odili who got perpetual court injunction not to be prosecuted for suspected crimes against the state, and others, who make the law an ass rode by only the rich who can afford rogue sANs? Well, Lamorde had hinted of reasons he could not perform. EFCC operatives were justice compromisers, he said. Worse still, the Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SAN) that EFCC hired at huge expense, connived with suspects and judges to truncate justice, hawking it to highest bidder. Lamorde vowed to disengage rogue SANs but mum is word one year after. You see five sand-sand SANs jostle immorally to defend a public enemy, oppressing and browbeating younger lawyers in court and protected by rogue judges. When you are compromised or overwhelmed by weak anti-graft capacity you simply sidon look.

Is EFCC alone to blame? No,! Blame stops on Presijo’s desk. Why? He is head of the most powerful of the three arms of government, controlling the former and current attorney general and minister of justice who have been accused of shielding big thieves from justice. Alooma Mukhtar, Chief Justice of Nigeria, a few weeks ago accused the Attorney General of setting roadblocks to speedy trial of big thieves.The to and fro movement case of Farouk-Otedola subsidy rogue bribe scam is evidence that Nigeria’s capacity to checkmate graft is weak or nil. Setting up special courts to try high profile corruption cases therefore may profit zero, like current toothless EFCC, unless there is a comprehensive overhaul of the justice delivery system, to identify rogue justice administrators and jail them to deter others. Appellate judiciary from high to appeal to Supreme Court is rotten, as showcased by the Salami riddle, which the judiciary head is trying to sweep under the carpet. Muhktar has been in the system like Lamorde and so has no excuse to sleep on duty, as morning shows what the day offers. Judicial activism is required to hand down maximum sentences, and clinical weeding of justice delivery system to allow only incorruptible judges remain. Presijo must not allow the AGF to use delay tactics or power to frustrate trial of protected rogues, in order not to give impression of official insincerity and dishonesty. Although Presijo takes final responsibility, public office holders should demonstrate integrity by quick performance delivery or be kicked out fast before our beloved country is over run by corruption coup d’etat.

Mobile money and the Nigerian environment OLADIPUPO OLABISI

he future they say is now. One may wonder what the next innovation would be most especially in the banking and telecommunication sectors of the economy – after Mobile Money. Apparently, Mobile Money has now become an imperative factor for financial inclusion and the key driver of funds from the informal sector to the formal/banking sector. The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) on its part has come up with plausible policies to ensure fewer cash is used by encouraging banks and other financial institutions to embrace alternative transaction channels (Internet, POS, mobile phones etc). Nonetheless, we shall be considering Mobile Money as one of the alternative channels. “Mobile Banking (also known as MBanking or embanking) is a term used for performing balance checks, account transactions, payments, credit applications and other banking transactions through a mobile device such as a mobile phones or Personal Digital Assistant (PDA). Wikipedia defines Mobile Money as payment services operated under financial regulation and performed from or via a mobile device(s). You may be right to say they are not explicit enough as they convey almost the same meaning to the customer. Put in its simplest form, Mobile Banking gives you access to your bank account details and allows you to perform most banking and non-banking transactions - balance enquiry, transfers, bill payments, purchases

THE ADVANTAGE OF MOBILE MONEY LIES IN ITS REACH TO THE LARGER POPULATION OF THE UNBANKED etc) on your mobile phone. In essence, you must have a bank account to use a mobile banking service. Conversely, Mobile Money allows you to enjoy basic banking services such as money transfers, cash withdrawals, savings, bill payments and others on your mobile phone without having to visit or open a bank account. Sequel to this, it may perhaps be concluded that mobile money is targeted primarily at the unbanked/under-banked market segments, what a great fortune that lies at the bottom of the pyramid where a significant percentage of the population remains under-banked! If this were the case, how come our mobile money campaign tends to concentrate largely at the urban cities and the banked segment? Probably to achieve a short term goal at the expense of the long-term goals or better put, pursuing shadows while leaving the substance. This if not carefully managed, may lead to the cannibalization on the usage and revenue from the already existing Mobile-Banking system which is designed primarily for the banked. Consequently, there is a vital need to redefine who the prime target is, and then the target market can be divided

into various niches based on customers’ peculiarity. In essence, the market for Mobile Money should be created from the bottom-up and not top-down, if we must actualize a total financial inclusion. Some lessons can be drawn from MPesa in Kenya and in Tanzania with over 15 million and 9 million successfully registered mobile money accounts respectively. How did they achieve this within a very short period? Remember our primary target for Mobile Money.For instance, the initial value proposition of M-Pesa in Kenya, was to give microfinance borrowers an easy means of repaying their loans to lenders via mobile phones (SMS and simple mobile applications). It was later discovered that most of the borrowers (users of M-Pesa) adopted the service for a variety of alternative uses, which gave rise to some complications between Safaricom (developers of M-Pesa) and Faulu (the partner microfinance bank). These complications led to the repositioning of M-Pesa with a different value proposition “sending money home across the country, making and receiving payments with a very limited or no involvement of banks” as opposed to the initial use by microfinance bank borrowers for loan repayment. Also the name of M-Pesa reveals it is intended for the local market hence, the brand “M-Pesa” (M for Mobile, Pesa is Swahili for money). In the Nigerian milieu, the initial campaign on mobile money would have not been unreasonable if called M-Naira/Mo-Naira, or a name that will appeal to our environment Although, the business model adopted

by M-Pesa may not totally be our benchmark considering the exceptionality of the Nigerian market but lessons can be drawn from their success It is time we returned to the drawing board to redefine our primary target for mobile money and initiate value propositions that are relevant to every segment. We need to build a substantial agent network where they are most needed and support them with well defined marketing communication tactics that will convey the necessary value propositions and enhance service/product activation. The advantage of Mobile Money lies in its reach to the larger population of the unbanked/ under-banked segment. Rivalry among mobile money operators in the Nigerian market may also lessen market penetration and as well decelerate the adoption rate of prospective mobile money users. Operators should open up their systems to allow interoperability, where Operator A, can conveniently send money to Operator B with no impediments. Receiver of such transfers can then decide to cash the money from an agent or retain the money in their mobile money accounts. Olabisi is a mobile money analyst in Lagos Send your views by mail or sms to PMB 10001, Ikoyi, or our Email: mail@ nationalmirroronline.net mirrorlagos@ yahoo.com or 08164966858 (SMS only). The Editor reserves the right to edit and reject views or photographs. Pseudonyms may be used but must be clearly marked as such.

Editorial

Monday, November 12, 2012

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Nigerian politics: How not to appreciate the US election

he deepening of democracy, sportsmanship and glamour that marked the outcome of the last Tuesday presidential election in the United States rebounded acrimoniously in Nigeria when the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and some opposition political parties traded harsh words and espoused their holier-than-thou attitudes to tackling the nation’s political rot, instead of retreating soberly to reflect on the mature politics Americans showcased to the world. It is no longer news that President Barack Hussein Obama defeated his rival, Republican Party’s Mitt Romney with a slim margin (50 percent against 48 percent) of national popular vote, compared to his virtual landslide victory over his opponent in 2008, John McCain, also of the Republican Party, whom Obama trashed with 53 percent of the votes against McCain’s 46 percent. The acrimony raked up in Nigeria by the poll is centered on the quick acceptance of defeat by Obama’s rival, Romney. The PDP while congratulating Obama, referred to opposition parties in the country (Nigeria) as ‘bad losers’. “The swift manner of congratulations and the graceful conduct of the defeated candidate (Romney) are shining examples of patriotism and submission to the overall will of the people…”, Olisa Metuh, PDP’s National

THE TRUTH OF THE NIGERIAN SITUATION, IT WOULD SEEM, IS THAT BOTH THE RULING PARTY AND THE OPPOSITION ARE AFFLICTED WITH THE

SAME VIRUS OF DO-ORDIE POLITICS Publicity Secretary reportedly said. In response, the National Publicity Secretary of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Lai Mohammed and the Publicity Secretary of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), Rotimi Fashakin said Romney easily conceded defeat because the election was free and fair. There is, perhaps, the need to draw attention to the fact that the largely acclaimed transparency, freeness and fairness of the US election did not commence last Tuesday when the presidential election was held. We recall that apart from Obama, several other candidates indicated interest to run for the primaries. In the list were John Wolfe, Jr., Randall Terry, Darcy Richardson, and Bob Ely. Others like Keith Russell Judd, Jim Rogers Vermin, Ed

Cowan Supreme, etc, appeared only on one primary ballot. Warren Mosler withdrew his candidacy prior to the Iowa Caucuses. Hillary Rodham Clinton, the US Secretary of State and others also declined to run. It is on record that despite the massive interests of heavy-weight Democrats in the presidential contest, they respected the eventual transparent choice of Obama as the party’s flagbearer. The same trend produced Romney from the Republican end. During the campaigns proper, issues canvassed revolved around the American economy, job creation, health care reform, housing and tax policies, etc., not mischief making, empty promises, elevation of ethnic and religious divisions, name-calling, or resorting to political thuggery and violence, etc. Obama’s victory in last Tuesday’s election in a country facing the worst economic downturn in the last fifty years, amid the lingering White, Black and related racial consciousness, is an indication of the choice of Americans to remain as one and face life’s challenges as one family. For America, Obama, despite all the nation’s economic downturns, remained the most realistic option in the circumstance, despite Romney’s persuasive campaign that promised a better relief. The Americans, even in

the face of their tribulations, simply stated that the devil they knew was better than the angel they did not know. Obama’s dedication to sincerely serving the American people earned him the victory. And with the openness, transparency, freeness and fairness of the process, Romney only respected the American tradition. Obama himself betrayed no arrogance, but was generous in soliciting the cooperation of the Republicans in moving America to greater heights. The truth of the Nigerian situation, it would seem, is that both the ruling party and the opposition are afflicted with the same virus of do-or-die politics, political corruption, intra-party repression and oppression, etc. It is, therefore, hypocritical for any political party in the land to pass the buck of lack of transparency, freeness or fairness of elections to its rival, since most, if not all of them appear guilty of the errant behaviours. Instead of chasing shadows, Nigerian politicians should seat back and reflect deeply on the lessons of the American poll and use same to tame their rough approach to politics and service to the nation. At 52, it is not just enough to be contented with the phrase: ‘We will get there’, without any conscious effort to get it right today.

ON THIS DAY November 12, 2011 Silvio Berlusconi resigned as the Prime Minister of Italy due, in large part, to the European sovereign debt crisis. The European sovereign debt crisis (often referred to as the Eurozone crisis) is an ongoing financial crisis that has made it difficult or impossible for some countries in the euro area to repay or re-finance their government debt without the assistance of third parties. From late 2009, fears of a sovereign debt crisis developed among investors as a result of the rising private and government debt.

November 12, 2003 Shanghai Transrapid created a new world speed record (501 kilometres per hour (311 mph)) for commercial railway systems, which remains the fastest for unmodified commercial rail vehicles. The Shanghai Maglev Train or Shanghai Transrapid is a magnetic levitation train, or maglev line that operates in Shanghai, China. It is the first commercially operated high-speed magnetic levitation line in the world and only the second Maglev line to be commercially operated.

November 12, 2001 In New York City, American Airlines Flight 587, an Airbus A300 en route to the Dominican Republic, crashed minutes after takeoff from John F. Kennedy International Airport, killing all 260 passengers on board and five on the ground. American Airlines Flight 587 was a regularly scheduled passenger flight from John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York City to Las Américas International Airport in the Dominican Republic.

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Another

debt trap By Salami Semiu

little over seven years after Nigeria exited from its huge Paris Club debt through an arrangement that saw the country paid $12 billion within three months in exchange for a whooping $18 billion write-off, the country is back fully on the debt track. Surprisingly, the same person who mid-wived the exit in 2005 under President Olusegun Obasanjo, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, is again at the forefront of the current massive debt build-up. As at the end of September this year, Nigeria’s total external debt stock had risen to $6.2 billion while domestic debt stood at $44 billion ($6.3bn). Yet, between now and 2015, the government of President Goodluck Jonathan plans to increase the debt stock by additional $9.2 billion (about N1.23tn) as espoused under the Federal Government’s 2012-2015 Medium Term External Borrowing Plan. Under the new debt plan, the government is seeking $250 million (about N39bn) from the International Development Agencies (IDA) financing, for youth employment and social support operations; $450 million (N70bn) for erosion watershed management projects; another $140 million (N22bn), for growth and employment projects; electricity and gas

improvement will get $100 million (N15.5bn); and state health programme, $50 million (N8bn). The loan proposal, which is presently before the National Assembly for consideration and approval, consists of an initial request of $7.9 billion which has been pending before the parliament and an additional $1.4 billion comprising a $300

Jonathan

Slowly but steadily, Nigeria once again walks her way up the ladder of huge debt overhang and its attendant excruciating consequences on the country and its people. Is Nigeria really treading the right path? million loan for water supply schemes in selected states, a $1 billion Euro bond and $100 million Diaspora bond which will be issued next year. Okonjo-Iweala, Nigeria’s Finance Minister and Coordinating Minister of the Economy noted that from the external borrowing plan for the years under review, the sum of $234.5 million is to be obtained

from the Islamic Development Bank (IDB) while over $765.8 million be financed iis to b d by b Chinese Chi Nexim Bank for the Zungeru 700MW hydro electric power project; $400 million for light rail, aviation and roads; $70 million for power project; and $56.61 million for national urban water sector reforms (Kaduna), while $200 million is for water resources and sanitation projects under Federal Ministry of Water Resources. She said from the $600 million provided by the World Bank for power projects, the

Federal Government is to draw the sum of $300 million for development of social housing in Abuja; $500 million for Abuja Light Rail; $200 million for agricultural development; $200 million to promote small and medium scale enterprises (SMEs) and improve capacity of the bank; $81.23 million for Zaria water project; $40 million for Nguru water supply; $40 million for Gashua water supply; $40 million for 200 bed

Business Courage A Publication of GLOBAL MEDIA MIRROR LTD BARRISTER JIMOH IBRAHIM, OFR  PUBLISHER

Ibru

SEMIU SALAMI BAMIDELE OBAFEMI ADEJUWON OSUNNUYI FESTUS OKOROMADU TAYO ADELEKE

EDITOR ASSOCIATE EDITOR STAFF WRITER STAFF WRITER SENIOR REPORTER

OLATOYE RAPHAEL SEYI OKUMODI

HEAD, PRODUCTION SENIOR GRAPHIC ARTIST

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Okonjo-Iweala

ultra modern and equipping of primary health centres in Yobe state. Also, the sum of $50 million will be set aside for a Dam water supply project in Osun state; $70 million for bilingual education for Alma Jiri educational system; $136.34 million for Zaria regional water supply; $17.32 million for four science secondary schools in Kaduna state; $44.69 million for upgrading of hospital facilities in Kaduna; $200 million for flood and waste management; $200 million for water reform; and $300 million for agricultural reform to support Program for Result (ATA) in the 36 states and FCT among others. Expectedly, since the government announced its new debt plans, anger had risen across the land, with many wondering the rationale behind amassing such a huge debt portfolio just seven years after the country broke loose from the strangulating debt burden. Those against the increasing debt stock are insisting that the country’s current debt stock remains unsustainable and would further pauperise Nigerians and bring about another season of unbridled profligacy by government officials. The argued that bulk of the previous debt that were repaid under Obasanjo’s government were either not traceable to the country or were indeed not committed to any productive venture. Goodie Ibru, President, Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), for instance, is insisting that the country’s current debt profile was not sustainable, adding that the high cost of government borrowing was not healthy for the economy. Ibru, who was par-

Lawan

ticularly peeved with the growing penchant of government in mopping up domestic fund that ought to be enjoyed by businesses for sustainable economic development said that government was borrowing at a high cost of between 14-16 per cent which is one of the highest globally. “This has reduced the attraction to lend to entrepreneurs; it is putting pressure on interest rates and increased the outflow of funds from the banking system to the government coffers. This scenario is clearly not healthy for the economy,” he said. He stressed that “Cost at which the government is borrowing is too high and creating distortions in the credit market. Private sector is being crowded out when investment in treasury bills and government bonds are more attractive than putting money in fixed deposits or lending to enterprises. High returns on government securities compound the problem of liquidity in the banking system and impede financial intermediation.” Senator Ahmed Lawan, on his part, questioned the rationale for borrowing the huge sum, when not much had come out of what was borrowed in the past. He noted that previous borrowing plan had not been adhered to, adding that there was no guarantee that the present borrowing plan would yield any result. Similar position was canvassed by Prof. Ben Ayade, who argued that there was no need borrowing money when the country could look inwards and generate funds for executing its projects. “We should not go borrowing. Because when we do that, we lose the value of the naira, we lose our own

values. There is no reason why we should go and borrow from countries that are not as rich as Nigeria,” he said. He noted for instance that, despite paying up to 75 per cent of the budgeted N570 million for a water project in Cross River State to a contractor, there was nothing on the ground to show that the project existed. However, Dr. Okonjo-Iweala assured that the loans were not only necessary for the Nigerian economy to grow but have been negotiated with multilateral institutions on highly concessionary terms. The minister said that having been involved in Nigeria’s struggle to exit the Paris Club at great pains in 2005; it would be unthinkable for her to lead an Economic Management Team that would drag Nigeria back to that unfortunate economic era when Nigeria groaned under the debt burden. According to her, Nigeria’s debt to Gross Domestic Product (GDP), ratio would remain at a sustainable level of about 18.87 per cent, even with the new loans. “We are proposing three amendments to this external borrowing plan. We have an amendment to provide for a water supply project in Rivers State to the tune of $200 million. This will be supported through the ADB (Africa Development Bank) through a concessionary loan with a 40-year maturity, 10-year moratorium and at 0.7 per cent interest rate. “We also propose to swap some of the existing loans in this plan to take them out and substitute in their place, a facility to kick start a Housing Mortgage Finance Scheme in Nigeria to the tune of about

$300 million. The final thing is for a Euro-bond issue of $1 billion. You will recall that during President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua’s administration, plans were initiated for the first Euro-Bond. “Preparation started and it was successfully floated at the beginning of January 2011. It was highly successful and was 200 per cent over subscribed. So this Euro-bond is a continuation of what was started by the previous regime and we just wanted to bring that to your attention that in addition to this borrowing plan, there is a plan for Euro-bond of a billion dollars. There is also a $100 million Diaspora bond to attract Nigerians in the Diaspora to

Ayade

bring their money back to invest in infrastructure,” she said. The minister noted that though it was a tortuous process for the country to exit the Paris and London clubs of creditors, the country must continue to borrow. Besides, she insisted that the various loans to be taken by the federal and state governments would be target- driven, adding, that the infrastructure and other needs of the country are substantial, and would gulp between $10 billion to $14 billion, equivalent of more than N1.5 trillion a year for the next three years. “If we take that from our budget, it means the totality of our capital budget. What I want us to

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Tambuwal

understand is that, we are not alone in this as needs are increasing daily. This is why nations, sometimes try to mix the budgetary resources they have with some borrowings that are productive. And that is what we need to focus on- keep the borrowing limited and whatever is borrowed must yield result,” she stated. She said that the government agreed to accept the loan offers after a thorough investigation indicated that they had “zero interest” rates, “soft terms” and a repayment period of 40 years and another 10 years of grace, noting that the offers came from multi-lateral agencies, which were different from “commercial” credit bodies like the Paris Club. She emphasised that “Nigeria has one of the lowest debts to GDP ratio in the world. Greece, Japan and others have up to 80 per cent debt to GDP ratio. In Nigeria, we are still below 20 per cent, which is a very comfortable position.” However, Ibru, like many others refused to be swayed by Okonjo-Iweala’s argument. He frown at the persistent adoption of the global benchmark of debt to GDP ratio, stressing that this principle would not be appropriate for the Nigerian economy because a major component of the GDP, which is agriculture, is not a revenue generating activity. “If this component is discounted, the ratio will be much higher than the set threshold,” he said. He argued that “N1.54 trillion earmarked for capital projects and N592 billion for debt services in the 2013 budget raise issues of prioritisation of resource allocation. Payment of contractor arrears is often relegated when the issue of the na-

tion’s debt is being discussed. Settlement of contractor arrears is as important as debt securitisation,” he said. Dr. Abraham Nwankwo, Director General, Debt Management Office, (DMO), said that after the exit from the Paris Club and London Club debts, the country’s external debt reduced drastically from over $35 billion or 41.86 per cent of GDP in 2004 to $3.55 billion or 3.7 percent of GDP in 2006. He stressed that it was at that stage that the debt management strategy shifted and focused on borrowing from the domestic sources adding that external borrowing has been mainly from concessional windows. He however assured Nigerians that the DMO would do its best to ensure that the nation does not go near the dangerous threshold again not to talk of crossing it, saying that it is also doing its best to regulate states that are allowed to go to the capital market for funds and place mechanisms in place to ensure that the funds are utilized for the purpose they are meant. Economic analysts who spoke with Business Courage last week in Lagos argued that most Nigerians are being misguided to believe that borrowing is inevitable and sacrosanct for economic growth, stressing that whatever the likely benefits derivable from the huge internal borrowing, it is bound to have negative economic consequences on the citizens. Besides, they argued that with the current debt servicing initiative of the President Jonathan’s administration, the nation is bound to accumulate more debts in view of the fact that he gave a caveat that the

nation’s debt should not go beyond 30 per cent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP). “If the administration is truly serious in its desire to reduce the national debts, the set target or ceiling will still largely constitute a burden,” said one of the experts who would not want to be mentioned. They argued that the caution by President Jonathan on debt to GDP ratio when carefully analysed shows that at the moment, the debt to GDP

Nwankwo

ratio is slightly less than 20 per cent. With latitude of 30 per cent caveat, they reasoned, the government may add up to 50 per cent of the current debt level. For now, there is so much apprehension, especially within the ranks of those who understand the implication of a mounting debt burden. The apprehension arises from the consideration that should the foreign debt be allowed to grow to the pre- Paris Club era level,

the much-talked about transformation agenda of President Goodluck Jonathan may just be a mirage. During the Paris club era when the country owed about $35 billion, the Federal Government paid as high as N100 billion yearly for debt servicing. To make matters worse at that time, the loans in which substantial amount of money was paid to service, was deployed on unproductive items. Since the Paris Club debt exit, the country has been building up its debt stock progressively. For example, as at December 31, 2006, one year after Nigeria was granted debt relief, the country’s total debt stock (domestic and foreign) stood at $17.34 billion. However, 63 months later, the total debt stock has grown by 153.75 per cent to $44 billion as at March 31, 2012. Figures provided by DMO shows that except for 2008, the Nigeria’s debt burden grew progressively from 2006 to March 2012. In 2006, 2007 and 2008, Nigeria’s debt stocks were $17.34 billion, $22.23 billion and $21.39 billion, respectively. The debt profile grew to $25.81 and $40.1 billion in 2009 and 2010, respectively galloping to $44 billion in March 2012. If the National Assembly gives approval to the new debt plan, Nigeria’s foreign debt stock will balloon to $15.8 billion; a figure which is considered to be on the high side. This, analysts say may be the beginning of a foray into another debt trap which may be devastating to the economy, not minding the “No cause for alarm” posture of the government. BC

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Santuraki

BOA disburses first set of SME loans under CBN’s NIRSAL

he first set of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) loans under the CBN’s Nigeria Incentive-Based Risk-Sharing System for Agricultural Lending (NIRSAL), has been disbursed by the Bank of Agriculture (BOA). The facilities are for cassava processing to two co-operatives using the group credit mechanism. The disbursements effectively bring on stream the actual operation of NIRSAL’s operations. NIRSAL is a credit risk guarantee and interest drawback fund programme operated by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to stimulate agricultural financing and trigger the nation’s agricultural industrialisation process. The programme which emphasises the empowerment of operators across the agriculture value-chain is designed to deploy risk-sharing instruments that will lower the risks of lending, provide technical assistance to farmers and banks, and develop a bank rating scheme that will incentivise and position banks based on their capacities to lend to the agricultural sector. Commenting on the disbursements, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of BOA, Dr Mohammed Santuraki commended the CBN for the NIRSAL initiative which he said should encourage more financial institutions to provide credit for the agricultural sector which according to him, “has suffered extreme financial starvation due to the perceived high risks associated with agricultural lending”. He added that the NIRSAL have the potential of opening up the agricultural sector to enterprising young graduates and women with interest in various segments of the agricultural value chain. The BOA Managing Director

noted that the BOA’s ability to effectively adapt to the NIRSAL loan procedures and spearhead actual disbursements in the SMEs sector within a short time is an attestation to the depth of the Bank’s experience and competence in the packaging of facilities in agricfinancing. The BOA chief observed that agric-financing is a specialised domain with peculiar characteristics which require specialised skill sets to be effectively and efficiently managed, especially for the small operators who dominate Nigerian agricultural sector. Such competencies, Santuraki said, are abundant in the BOA which he noted has been operating agricultural finance as its core business since its inception about four decades ago. The BOA boss commended the NIRSAL staff for their diligence in the processing of the applications, and acknowledges the commitment of the BOA staff who processed the applications for showcasing BOA’s professionalism and leadership in agric-financing, especially at the SMEs level.

Kehinde Lawanson, the Chairman of the association, said in Lagos that equipment leasing to the agriculture sector topped the list. According to him, the industry has also made substantial contributions to the capital formation in the nation’s economy. Such contributions, he said, were in the area of leasing assets necessary for productive ventures. He, however, expressed regret that the impact of leasing was not felt in various sectors of the economy. Lawanson argued that the situation had impacted negatively on the production of agricultural commodities. He said that the association would support ongoing efforts to transform the agricultural sector to ensure the objective was achieved. ``We are ready to partner with the government and development agencies to facilitate the provision of necessary assets and infrastructure. ``This is with the aim of ensuring a more robust activity in the agriculture sector,’’ he said, adding that the association planned to introduce agriculture leasing scheme across the country.

Aganga

Stakeholders harp on infrastructure development

Lawanson

Agric sector topped equipment leasing in 2011

he Equipment Leasing Association of Nigeria (ELAN) has valued the volume of leases in the country last year at N623 billion.

takeholders at the third Nigerian Non-oil Export Conference, Exhibition and Awards (NNECEA) have harped on products’ quality and infrastructure development to grow the non-oil sector of the country. The stakeholders’ views were contained in the communiqué issued at the end of the two-day conference with the theme ``Enhancing Nigeria’s Non-oil Export Opportunities: Strategic Imperatives`` in Abuja on Friday. In the communiqué, players in the non-oil trade sector were advised to deal with the issue of products’ quality in a holistic manner. The stakeholders called for creativity in defining products’

quality, packaging, branding and standardisation to boost the competitiveness of nonoil export businesses in the country. They said that there was the need to establish a standard planning and analysis module to make exporters’ products meet international specifications. ``Manufacturers and exporters should embrace knowledge acquisition, training and alternative production processes as well as take calculated risk and confront the global trade dynamics. “There is need for collective bargaining by exporters as well as targeting markets that offer opportunities for growth and equal terms of trade and economic sovereignty, `` they said. The communiqué urged all levels of government in Nigeria to address the issues of inadequate infrastructure such as roads, power and water supply so as to facilitate greater production of non-oil export goods. They said that more government investment in infrastructure would reduce the cost of doing business in the country. ``We will be more prudent with our resources for effective product branding and packaging if Nigeria had adequate infrastructure. ``Again, the nation will also be seen increasing investors’ confidence and thereby boosting the economy. ``It is also imperative that our trade policies are properly enforced, our bureaucracy reduced, information is readily made available and there should be increased interface between exporters and the government. ``There also is the need to bridge the gap between the state and the private sector, `` it said. The stakeholders said that with sound business ethics and application of the rule of law, Nigeria could be ``built as a collective brand``. The communiqué urged every professional to help in the rebranding of the country. ``Nigeria’s rebranding process must be reinforced by a holistic change in the culture of doing business and in all facets of our national life, `` it said.

Skills trainer advises youths to embrace skill acquisition

skills trainer in Rivers State, Ibiamangabara Nemi, has called on unskilled youths to use the opportunities offered by skill acquisition centres to improve their well being.

Amaechi

Nemi, founder of the Blissdom Resorts and Bar Skill Acquisition Centre in Rivers, made the call in Port Harcourt. She said that her centre was offering jobs to 10 best artisans after graduation, adding that the offer was one of the centre’s ways of checking unemployment in the society. Nemi said that the centre trained more than 60 students annually and was working with the guidelines provided by the National Directorate of Employment (NDE). She said that the acquisition centre was training youths on various skills like bead making, tailoring, dietary and bakery, among others. “For admission, we don’t admit by ourselves; every admission comes from NDE and after which the trainees will be sent to us for training. Exactly, this is a government-owned centre; everything here is easy and simple because it is free training. NDE has more other skill acquisition centres here in Port Harcourt and each of the centres is engaged in various skills training,” she said. A trainee, Celeb Pius, described the training as wonderful, saying that he would immediately start his own business after graduation. Pius called on the youths to embrace skill acquisition as a way of helping the government to reduce unemployment in the country. “You know, here in this country, nobody wants to diversify efforts to improve the economy; skill acquisition is the best for a growing economy. I am going to be a master of my own business when I graduate; I have not gotten the money, but I believe I will make it,” Pius said. Marry Anyanwu, another trainee, also commended the government’s efforts and urged the youths to make the best use of the programme.

NCAA assures Nigerians on air safety

he Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has said that Nigerians should not

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Demuren

entertain any fear about the security of flight operations in the country. Sam Adurogboye, the spokesman of the organisation, said in Abuja that the advice became necessary following an incident last Friday morning involving an Arik Air flight from Abuja to Lagos. He said the flight was aborted on the runway due to a technical fault, just before take–off at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja. Adurogboye gave assurance that the NCAA was on top of the situation. He told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the aircraft involved developed a fault as it was about to take-off from Abuja to Lagos. Adurogboye said it was the duty of NCAA to ensure that the passengers in the plane and other Nigerians ``are taken to their destinations safely’’. ``Our engineers are there on ground 24 hours to rectify any fault because safety is paramount to us. ``Passengers are always in a hurry particularly in Nigeria; if a plane develops a fault, it must be certified alright before passengers can be allowed to continue on their journey. Everywhere in the world, a plane has to be certified okay before it can be allowed to fly. Therefore, we urge passengers to always be patience when it is necessary,” he said. One of the passengers on board the Arik plane, who prefers anonymity, told NAN that the pilot noticed an electrical fault and taxi back to the terminal building. ``The fault was supposedly fixed but we are still waiting for the NCAA to certify the plane okay to fly. ``They said we may have to go to Lagos in another aircraft,’’ the passenger said. Ola Adebanji, the Arik Airline Head of Communication told NAN that the company was trying to get in touch with its engineers in Abuja to know what exactly went wrong.

sealed seven companies for allegedly defaulting in remitting N22 million taxes. Folasade Coker-Afolayan, the Head of the Distrain Unit of the service, disclosed this in an interview with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday in Lagos. She said that the companies were shut for not remitting personal income taxes of workers to the state government. Coker-Afolayan, who led the enforcement team, said that the state government was being owed taxes ranging from one to three years. According to her, it is unconstitutional for any company to withhold personal income taxes and was also a criminal offence for anyone to reopen sealed companies without authorisation from the government. `Ìt is unconstitutional for anyone to reopen any sealed company. `Ònly the state government can reopen such companies after they might have remitted the taxes to the government coffer,” Coker-Afolayan said. Coker-Afolayan urged the defaulters to pay their debts so as to have their companies reopened. She also advised companies to remit their taxes promptly to the government. `Ìt is better for companies to pay their taxes as at when due to avoid sanction and consequently avert loss of productivity,’’ she said. According to her, the agency’s action is derived from an order of the State High Court and in accordance with the Personal Income Tax Amendment Act of 2011. Coker-Afolayan said that the new law provided for the tax authority to apply to the court for warrant to close the premises of defaulting tax payers. She urged tax payers to cooperate with the LIRS officials to enforce relevant regulations and ensure prompt remittance of their taxes as and when due. The official also said that it was unlawful for anyone to assault tax officials while performing their duties. `Ànyone found assaulting tax officials will be dealt with accordingly,’’ she warned. NAN reports that the LIRS sealed 13 companies in

LIRS seals seven companies over N22m tax evasion

he Lagos State Internal Revenue Service (LIRS) has

Tunde Fowler

September for defaulting to remit N140 million personal income taxes to the state government.

Rong Yansong, The Chinese Economic and Commercial Counsellor in Nigeria

Chinese exhibitors lauds Nigerian market

hinese exhibitors at the just concluded Lagos International Trade Fair said they were upbeat about the prospects of the Nigerian economy and its people. In separate interviews at the weekend, the exhibitors said that Nigeria was blessed with natural resources and very resourceful people. The Chinese also expressed enthusiasm at the potentiality and viability of the Nigerian market and economy. Jianbo Chen, General Manager TTN Electric, told NAN that he was impressed with the turnout of investors and customers at the fair. ``We are attending the fair for the first time and surely we will be back next year because at our present rate of patronage, we will exceed our expectations. The Nigerian market is insatiable, and Nigerians themselves should also benefit from their market by investing most in innovative ideas that suit the Nigerian context and manufacturing,” he said. Paul Zhang, Sales Representative, Chint, another manufacturer of electrical equipment, told NAN that Nigeria needed to diversify its exports outside oil. ``This will be the only way to develop other aspects of the economy, especially the export sector, which is extremely importance for overall economic development. ``For Nigeria to prosper in international trade, and manifest the desired economic transformation, it needs to key into and exploit the market opportunities which the strategic non-oil export tends to offer,’’ he said. Maxwell Lai, sales representative of Wuxi Kipor Power Company Ltd, said Nigeria was a very big market for technological products and expressed surprise that Nigerians were not taking advantage of this huge opportunity. ``We came all the way from China to exhibit our technology and products; we won’t be here if the market is not viable and expanding

rapidly,” he said. Meanwhile, businesses from nine foreign countries participated at the fair, a shortfall of about three when compared with that of 2011. The foreign participants are China, Taiwan, Egypt, India, Indonesia, Ghana, Benin Republic, Pakistan and Japan.

Nigeria records 40 per cent decline in piracy figures By Francis Ezem

he rate of piracy attacks in Nigeria’s waters off the Gulf of Guinea has recorded an all time low, recording about 40 per cent decline when compared with the figures of the previous year. The International Maritime Bureau, global maritime security watch had earlier in the year reported that pirate attacks dropped to the lowest, since 2008, this year even as Somalia off the Coast of Arden recorded one whole month free of piracy attack. Previous report by the bureau for 2011 shows that out of a total of 439 attacks recorded globally, more than half of that were attributed to Somalia pirates in the Gulf of Aden, the Red Sea, the Arabian Sea and the Indian Ocean. Reports released by the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, Nigeria’s apex maritime regulatory organ shows that a total of 20 cases of maritime piracy attacks were recorded in the country as at September 30, 2012, down from the 33 cases recorded in 2011, which represents 39.4 per cent decline. A total of 103 cases of piracy were recorded in Nigeria in 2010.Director General of the agency, Patrick Akpobolokemi, who spoke on the reduction in maritime piracy on the nation’s waters attributed the feat to a new Public Private Partnership security arrange, in which the agency concessioned the provision of platforms to a private firm. The agency had faced a barrage of criticisms over the N16bn concession of the maritime security domain to a private firm, Global West Vessel Specialist Nigeria Limited. Under the contract, GWVSNL, will take 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 billion), for 10 years in the first instance, “under a no cure, no pay” arrangement. According to him, apart from the reduction in the frequency of pirate attacks on

Akpobolokemi

the nation’s waters, the agency has also been able to extend its anti-piracy operations to the neighbouring Republic of Benin. He disclosed that the operation code named ‘Operation Prosperity’, which commenced late last year has been sustained till date and has therefore greatly assisted the agency in curbing the menace of piracy and armed robbery at sea as well as other vices within the Republic of Benin, Togo and Ghana. It was gathered that due to this sustained anti-piracy was, the agency has arrested several vessels involved in illegal ship to ship transfer of products, unauthorised midstream discharge, oil theft and illegal oil bunkering, among others. Sources also hint that the agency due to some inherent deficiencies in the NIMASA Act, which makes it impossible for it to prosecute offenders has handed many of these suspects to relevant government agencies including the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission. The NIMASA had also noted that despite these lofty achievements, the agency is still faced with myriads of challenges, which include the bureaucratic nature of the civil service, especially in the approval of its capital projects, a development that had hampered appropriate implementation of the 2012 budget. He has also listed inadequate technical manpower and paucity of funds to enable it develop critical shipping infrastructure such as ship building and ship repair yards. Akpobolokemi had also noted that the inherent inadequacies in the NIMASA enabling Act, which makes it impossible for the agency to prosecute suspects who violate the laws of the land contitues a major constraint.

Fashola canvasses increased trade among African countries

ov. Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State has advised African countries to increase trade among themselves in order to speed up the

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Fashola

development and prosperity of the continent. Fashola, who at the 2012 Lagos Kuramo Conference in Victoria Island, said that the continent needed to look inwards for answers to some of its economic challenges. The governor noted that most African countries preferred to do business with the West and Asia, saying the situation had not really helped the economic development of the continent. ``African countries need to trade with each other in order to optimally utilise the abundant natural resources on the continent and put her on the path of prosperity. Why can’t we encourage a policy to compel African countries to trade with one another in Zambian copper, Ghanaian cocoa, Cameroonian coffee, Malian cotton and of course, Nigerian oil? Why don’t we promote the United States of Africa in trade? Why don’t we support the idea of an Afrozone? The integration of Africa in trade will, no doubt, impact positively on the economies of African countries. This is what we should be thinking about; it is good for our collective prosperity,’’ he said. Fashola said Africa was strategic to global economic development as its natural and human resources had over years, been used to drive the development of western economies. The governor said it was time for Africa to exploit its resources to develop itself, charging leaders to create the right atmosphere for development on the continent. Nobel Laureate, Prof Wole Soyinka, who chaired the conference, said the downturn in the economies of a number of developed countries should serve as an opportunity for Africa to develop its economy. He urged leaders to address some of the factors responsible for the economic woes over the years and begin to reposition the continent for greatness. Soyinka said if China was able transform its economy to become the second largest in the world, it was possible for Africa to do the same. Also speaking, Dr Dambisa

Moyo, an economist, expressed regret that Africa, with over one billion people, controlled only two per cent of the global economy. She implored African leaders to begin to look for creative ways of solving the continent’s age long challenges, saying corruption had to be confronted frontally if Africa must move forward. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Lagos Court of Arbitration, which seeks to intervene in business and contractual disputes in the West African sub-region, was also inaugurated at the conference. Babajide Ogundipe, the president of the court, said the location of the court in Nigeria, particularly Lagos, would enhance the country’s investment climate and fast track adjudication of commercial disputes. The Lagos Kuramo conference is a biennial international summit of multidisciplinary experts aimed at covering emerging legal and economic issues, address advocacy and policy required for shaping governmental decision making.

Utomi

Utomi identifies obstacles to cashless economy

rof. Pat Utomi has said that if Nigeria’s quest for a transition to a cashless economy is to succeed, the country must identify and create a coalition of beneficiaries and sell benefits of the scheme to them. Utomi stated this while delivering a pre-induction lecture of the Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria (APCON) entitled ``Communications Challenges in Nigeria’s Cashless Economy” in Lagos. He said that the fears of Nigerians arising from the loss of time from banking processes and other challenges made them resistant to the idea of a cashless economy. The professor said that the people who feared the transition to a cashless society

were, however, those who were most likely to benefit from it. According to him, if the beneficiaries are identified and dealt with, people will accept the idea. He said that Nigerians should be made to see that smaller African countries had gone cashless. Utomi noted that the key issue of communication, which the lecture dealt with, started with advertising practitioners understanding the decision making process of buyers. ``How do consumers behave? What is their motivation in consumption transactions and how does the use of cash versus cashless money exchange affect their transactions? ``It is only with a clear understanding of that, that we can structure communication that can reduce resistance to this kind of challenge that we see in the land,” he said. Utomi observed that Nigeria was about to explode economically and embracing the cashless economy would place the country at a competitive advantage that would favour its people. He said that lack of digital culture, poor banking processes in Nigeria and culture of corruption of agencies that did not give accurate reports of monetary transactions, discouraged people from imbibing the cashless economic culture. The professor cautioned that if Nigerians aborted the opportunity to make their markets more competitive by going cashless at this time, they would be doing great disservice to their children. Utomi also called on the APCON to do something about the climate change challenge which was causing flooding across the nation. Earlier, the chairman of the APCON, Laolu Akinwunmi, said that the lecture would enable Nigerians to understand why they needed to embrace the cashless culture. He said that as a people, Nigerians liked carrying cash but needed to be taught how to transit from a cash economy to a cashless one in order to boost the nation’s economic environment. According to him, the cashless economy has come to stay and it can only be improved upon as CBN moves the campaign from Lagos to other parts of Nigeria. In his speech, the Chairman, Broadcasting Organisations of Nigeria (BON), Abubakar Jijiwa, said that there had been some growth in relationship between advertisers and broadcasters. He said that advertisers needed outlets through broadcasters and broadcasters made revenue through

advertising, noting that the synergy was needed for the progress of the bodies.

FG asked to halt fuel scarcity Ladi Iliya, the National President of the Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU) of Educational and Associated Institutions, has called on the Federal Government to expedite action aimed at ending fuel scarcity. Iliya made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja last Friday, saying the persistent fuel scarcity had brought untold hardship to the people. She said government should do all in its power to end the crisis in the oil sector, stressing that ``the slightest interruption of fuel supply disrupts the various facets of the economy. ``Fuel scarcity puts a question mark on government’s competence and credibility because it is a problem that our country should never have. ``We, therefore, call on government to wake up to its responsibility by taking all necessary steps to ensure uninterrupted fuel supply without further delay.’’, Iliya said it was disheartening that Nigeria, which is the world’s sixth largest oil producing country, relied mostly on the importation of refined petroleum products for its domestic needs. The NASU boss said Nigeria’s inability to tame corruption over the years had brought untold hardship to its citizens. She said ``corruption in Nigeria is embarrassing. If the country is to develop, there must be an end to corruption in all sectors. ``It has given birth to underdevelopment, unemployment, loss of values, absence of patriotism and a total collapse of security.’’ Iliya called for a review of the criminal law, which was impeding the successful trial of corruption and financial crimes.

Commissioner wants sugarcane farmers captured in flood recovery food production plan

he Commissioner for Agriculture in Kogi, Dr Olufemi Bolarin, has appealed to the Federal Government to include sugarcane in the flood recovery food production plan of the Ministry of Agriculture. Bolarin made the appeal in

Adesina

an interview with newsmen in on Friday in Abuja. He said that sugarcane farmers in the state lost over 20,000 hectares of land to the flood and needed urgent intervention of the government. ``We have small-holder sugarcane producers and we have the confluence sugar producers who have about 20,000 hectares of land swept away. ``In as much as we welcome the Federal Governments’ intervention, we still appeal to the minister to critically look at the case of sugarcane farmers in Kogi,” he said. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Federal Government had put in place through the Ministry of Agriculture, a Flood Recovery Food Production programme for states affected by the flood. The programme is to distribute food to families affected directly by the flood and also distribute seedlings and farm inputs to farmers whose farmlands have been affected. NAN also reports that Dr Akinwunmi Adesina, the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, said that the distribution of seeds and fertilisers for the farmers affected by the floods would start in the next two weeks. Similarly, the Bauchi State Commissioner for Agriculture, Alhaji Tasiu Mohammed, said plans by the State Government were underway to manage the effect of the flood in the state. He said that rice farmlands had been affected during the flood and therefore, wheat production would replace rice production in order to avoid loss after planting. ``We cannot plant rice this season because the weather is not favourable; the flood and the harmattan will be a double loss, so we advise our farmers to plant wheat instead. ``The State Government would make available the wheat seeds to them and possibly free fertilisers or subsidised fertilisers, to encourage them,’’ he said. BC

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Monday, November 12, 2012

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Thunuguntla

Diageo strikes $2.1bn deal with Mallya’s United Spirits

iageo Plc has agreed to buy a 53.4 per cent stake in Indian liquor baron Vijay Mallya’s United Spirits Ltd for $2.1 billion, giving the world’s biggest spirits group a larger slice of a fast-growing market. The purchase, which concludes an on-again, offagain courtship that began in 2008, would be the biggest inbound Indian merger and acquisition deal since British oil firm Cairn Energy Plc sold a majority stake in its Indian business to Vedanta Resources Plc last year. The deal also comes amid increased brewery merger and acquisition activity in the Asia-Pacific region. Heineken NV won full control of the maker of Tiger beer in a S$7.9 billion ($6.46 billion) deal in September. That was preceded by SABMiller Plc’s A$11.5 billion ($11.98 billion) acquisition of Foster’s in December last year. Diageo will initially acquire a 27.4 per cent stake from the founders of United Spirits, and subscribe to new shares to be issued by the firm at 1,440 rupees ($26.42) apiece. That’s a premium of around seven per cent to the company’s close last Thursday. Diageo will then launch a mandatory open offer for an additional 26 per cent from public shareholders at the same price, giving it a majority stake in United Spirits, Diageo said in a statement on Friday. The agreement comes after months of haggling and will ramp up Diageo’s presence in the world’s largest whisky market. The deal will also help Mallya gain much-needed cash to reduce the debt borne by United Spirits and free up funds to revive his grounded Kingfisher Airlines Ltd. “Some of the Mallya group companies have been in turbulence for some time. This is his final opportunity to revive the fortune of the group,” said Jagannadham

Thunuguntla, head of research at SMC Investments and Advisors Ltd in New Delhi. Shares in Mallya-controlled companies rose after Reuters reported the deal terms earlier on Friday, citing an internal memo. Kingfisher gained 4.7 per cent, while United Spirit ended 1.3 per cent higher and United Breweries Holdings Ltd rose 3.3 per cent. By contrast, the benchmark Bombay share index close nearly one per cent lower. Under the terms of the deal, Mallya would remain as chairman of United Spirits. United Breweries will have 14.9 per cent of the current share capital in United Spirits after the deal, according to the statement. Diageo, the maker of brands including Johnnie Walker whisky, Guinness beer and Smirnoff vodka, held talks with United Spirits in 2008 that collapsed the following year. Mallya has been scrambling for nearly a year to raise funds for Kingfisher, prompting speculation that he may offload a stake in United Spirits or United Breweries Ltd, the maker of Kingfisher beer. Some analysts, however, said the deal may not be enough to revive Kingfisher Airlines. The Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation has said a fully funded turnaround for Kingfisher would cost at least $1 billion. “At this moment, Kingfisher may be a difficult cause to revive. As other UB group companies are also quite overleveraged, I think they will prioritize restructuring other group companies ahead of Kingfisher,” Thunuguntla said.

UK’s trade deficit narrows in September

ritain’s trade deficit narrowed more than expected in September, and third-quarter construction output fell by a similar amount to earlier estimates, reducing

the chance of a downward revision to quarterly GDP. Britain’s economy bounced out of recession in the third quarter, growing by one per cent, but weak economic data since then had made some analysts concerned that this growth figure could be revised lower. However, official data released last Friday showed Britain’s goods trade deficit shrank to 8.4 billion pounds in September from 10.0 billion pounds in August, and the quarterly trade gap shrank as well. Economists had forecast a September goods deficit of 8.9 billion pounds. The overall trade deficit, which includes the more buoyant trade in services, also narrowed to 2.7 billion pounds, down from 4.3 billion in August, the Office for National Statistics said. Britain’s economy exited recession in the third quarter. But manufacturing surveys have shown renewed weakness with companies reporting a drop in export orders in October as the euro zone, Britain’s largest export market, is teetering on the brink of recession. Last Friday’s figures showed exports to the European Union in the third quarter were 2.5 per cent lower than a year earlier, while exports to elsewhere in the world were 13.3 per cent higher. Falling construction output was the main drag on GDP this year, and Friday’s figures reinforced this trend, with output falling to its lowest level since 1999 in the third quarter. However, the 2.6 per cent decline is in line with the 2.5 per cent fall factored into thirdquarter GDP estimates.

Osborne, Britains Finance Minister

Worried Germany seeks study on French economy

erman Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble has asked a panel of advisers to look into reform proposals for France, concerned that weakness in the euro zone’s second largest economy could come back to haunt Germany and the broader currency bloc. Two officials, speaking

Schaeuble

on condition of anonymity, told Reuters last week that Schaeuble asked the council of economic advisers to the German government, known as the “wise men”, to consider drafting a report on what France should do. Schaeuble’s request denotes growing concern in Berlin and among private economists over the health of the euro zone’s second largest economy, which is set to miss a European Union goal for reducing its public deficit next year. “Concerns are growing given the lack of action of the French government in labour market reforms,” Lars Feld, an economist who sits on the panel, told Reuters. Although Schaeuble raised the prospect of a report on France with members of the council this week, Feld and the finance ministry made clear that the government had not submitted a formal request. The ministry declined comment on “unofficial discussions” of the minister’s affairs in general. The panel of advisers publishes an annual report on the state of the German economy, which it handed over to Chancellor Angela Merkel last Wednesday. It can also draft special reports when it sees economic imbalances developing or at the formal request of the government. Since being founded 49 years ago, the panel has published no studies on individual countries but Germany, according to its website. Its last expert opinion, the first since 1997, was published in July, following the European Union summit in June. French President, Francois Hollande, in office for roughly half a year, is under intense pressure to reform an economy that is losing competitiveness relative to its larger neighbour Germany and southern European countries that have enacted far-reaching measures in the euro crisis. Last week, in response to calls by industrialist Louis Gallois for cuts in labour charges to reverse decades of industrial decline, the

government announced it would grant 20 billion euros in annual tax credits to companies as a way of lowering labour costs. Economists said Hollande was sending the correct signal but that it may not be enough. Unlike European peers Italy and Spain, France’s borrowing costs have remained low, but investors worry its rock-bottom bond yields do not reflect the fragility of the economy. A Bank of France survey published on Friday predicted French gross domestic product will shrink 0.1 per cent in the last quarter of 2012, pushing France into a technical recession, defined as two consecutive quarters of contraction, as the third quarter is also expected to be negative. Schaeuble has been a close ally of France and has argued firm ties are key to achieving more European integration, a persistent German demand to solve the problems of the euro zone debt crisis. In August, he and his French counterpart Pierre Moscovici said they would launch a working group in order to make joint proposals on euro zone issues like fiscal and banking union. The German “wise men” panel, which also includes a woman, is not obliged to take up Schaeuble’s suggestion. One source said if it decided to do a study, it would likely do so in cooperation with a French institute, rather than on its own. However, the panel has made clear it is concerned about France’s economy. In its Wednesday report, it touched on France, saying continued stagnation was a growing worry given the recessionary trends in the euro zone as a whole and voiced doubt that savings measures would suffice to consolidate the French budget. “The biggest problem at the moment in the euro zone is no longer Greece, Spain or Italy, instead it is France, because it has not undertaken anything in order to truly re-establish its competitiveness, and is even heading in the opposite direction,” Feld said. BC

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A deft entrepreneur Chief Samuel Olaniyi Bolarinde is chairman of the board of directors of Vitafoam Nigeria Plc, Wema Bank Plc, and also sits on the board of other corporations like the UAC of Nigeria Plc, Nigeria’s foremost trading and manufacturing conglomerate. Chief Bolarinde, who served as Managing Director of Vitafoam Nigeria Plc for 19 years out of his 35 years of meritorious service in Vitafoam, is currently the single largest shareholder in the company By Bamidele Obafemi

amuel Olaniyi Bolarinde, no doubt, is a smart investor whose interests span key sectors of the Nigerian economy. An industrial chemist and a great manager of people, Bolarinde has transformed from being an employee (managing other peoples’ businesses) to becoming a leading investor in three companies in the manufacturing, banking and trading sectors of the Nigerian economy. With a 13 per cent stake in Vitafoam which makes him the single largest shareholder in the company, he virtually owns the largest foam company in Africa. Bolarinde graduated in industrial chemistry from John Daton College, Manchester, England and obtained Master of Science (Msc) in Material Engineering from the University of Surrey, United Kingdom. . He obtained a Postgraduate Diploma in Polymer Science from the same college and a Certificate

in Management from Ashridge Management College, UK. He was appointed the Managing Director and Chief Executive of Vitafoam in 1983, six years after he joined the board and served in the capacity of MD/CEO for 19 years until he retired in 2002. Bolarinde is a perfect example of how a stable career and steady investments can lead to an enviable personal financial standing. Over a course of 35 years as an employee at Vitafoam Nigeria Plc, Bolarinde was unwavering in his focus and commitment on investments and future of the foam company. In recognition and appreciation of his numerous invaluable contributions towards the growth of the company and having served in various strategic capacities including but not limited to Production Manager and Technical Director, he was appointed the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the

Bolarinde

company - a position he holds till date. Today, he is the single largest shareholder of the company. With about 13 per equity stake in Vitafoam Nigeria, Bolarinde’s gross dividend totalled N32 million in 2010, about 19

per cent increase over N27 million received he earned in 2009. Vitafoam Nigeria has maintained a stable dividend payment trend over the years, with unbroken record of 14 years, distributing 25 kobo, 30 kobo, 25 kobo and 30 kobo per share

for the 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010 respectively. Bolarinde’s high-profile led to his appointment as chairman of Wema Bank Plc in June 2010 as representative of SW8, the core investor group that Continue on pg A8

Business Courage

bought into the bank. Although he has no declared interests in shares of the bank, he is believed to hold significant influence. Besides, his emoluments as chairman of both Vitafoam Nigeria and Wema Bank ensure his nest egg continues to increase while enjoying a lush retirement. Bolarinde also sits on the board of UAC of Nigeria (UACN) Plc, arguably Nigeria’s most virile conglomerate. Companies under the UACN Group included three quoted companies- UACN, UACN Property Development Company Plc and CAP Plc. With the recent acquisition of majority shareholding in Vono Products Plc by Vitafoam Nigeria, Bolarinde’s influence became more predominant as the largest investor in the foam manufacturing business in Nigeria. In a bid to get a bigger share of the foam, mattresses and furniture market, increase value for all stakeholders and reduce operational costs, Bolarinde led the board and management team of the company to acquire a substantial shareholding in Vono Products Plc. The alliance between Vitafoam and Vono, according to a reliable source, became necessary because “in the 1960s and 70s, Vono enjoyed great patronage and tremendous market share in its core product line until about two decades ago when the fortunes of Vono pummelled due to a combination of factors, including poor management, economic downturn in the country which reduced the purchasing power of consumers and government neglect of institutions. Whilst we have the Vono name heritage to leverage on, the company has not achieved the expected market share in the trade.” On the part of Vitafoam Nigeria Plc, Bolarinde, a strategic investor and board room mogul, saw the opportunity to invest in Vono and took advantage of it. Reasons given by a reliable source, why Bolarinde took the risk of investing in the near moribund Vono Plc was that the company has superior capability in the area of furnituremaking while Vitafoam has the largest foam manufacturing and distribution network which will benefit Vono in terms of timely delivery of its products in and outside the country. Bolarinde and his team at Vitafoam are said to believe that the alliance was all about collaboration and not mergers and acquisitions. According to them, “It will involve information-sharing, developing new ideas and pooling resources together”. A top ranking officer at Vono revealed that the two companies will remain as separate entities, noting that Vitafoam has about 25 per cent investment in Vono while Vono on its

Monday, November 12, 2012

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In a bid to get a bigger share of the foam, mattresses and furniture market, increase value for all stakeholders and reduce operational costs, Bolarinde led the board and management team of the company to acquire a substantial shareholding in Vono Products Plc

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part has invested about half a million naira in the turnaround process. Besides the strategic investment in Vono Plc, Bolarinde’s business expansion strategy transcends the shores of Nigeria as he has gradually started the journey into some other West African markets. Recently, Bolarinde, in the capacity of Chairman of Vitafoam Nigeria Plc, told other shareholders of the company that the company has already commenced the construction of its foam factory in Sierra Leone. Vitafoam Sierra Leone Limited, he revealed, was able to secure a loan of $2.8 million (N448 million) from the International Finance Corporation (IFC), which had been deployed to the construction of the foam factory. According to him, the project would add greater value to shareholders’ stake, reassuring stakeholders of the commitment of the board and management to steadfastly pursue the goals of growing its business for higher profitability. Bolarinde’s foray into Sierra Leone was based on the calculation that with a population of about 5.5 million, Sierra Leone is a fast growing economy based on its mineral resources, and is now rebuilding its economy ten years after the end of a civil war that destroyed most of the country’s infrastructure. “Vitafoam’s plan to establish a flexible foam and fibre pillow processing plant there is at an advanced stage of preparation”, the immediate Managing Director of the company had revealed in an interview. Bolarinde’s Vitafoam were able to convince the IFC that the project was

viable and that they were hoping the factory in Sierra Leone will upgrade industrial activity and add to the living standards of the average Sierra Leonean.” According to the agreement between the Nigerian leading foam company and the government of Sierra Leone, Vitafoam will retain a 60 per cent controlling interest in the project with local investors picking up the remaining equity. Construction at the site, 15 miles east of Freetown, started earlier this year, and first production is expected in March 2013. Besides spreading its tentacles into other West African countries like Sierra Leone and Ghana, Vitafoam Nigeria Plc is not leaving any stones unturned in the efforts aimed at retaining its position as the leader in its industry. For in-

Bolarinde (L), visits Vice President Namadi Sambo as WEMA Bank Chairman

stance, the company is introducing big changes to the way Nigerians furnish their homes, not just through product innovation but also through the chain of Comfort Centres it is rolling out across the nation. “It is one of the ways we want to expand our market share in the country. We want to change the buying process of Nigerians—how they purchase foam and foam-related household items—so we aim to set up showrooms on high streets all over the country,” Vitafoam revealed. Vitafoam added: “Eventually every major city will have its Comfort Centre, but they are already present at six locations in the Lagos area: Warri, Ife, Abuja, Jos and Kano”. Generally, the form in Nigeria is that you go to the retailer, purchase your furniture, and then make your own arrangements to get it home. But the company through the Comfort Centres introduced the concept of a one-stop-shop, where the consumer can choose from a range of related products and have them delivered free. “It is a big step for retail, and is being enhanced by the addition of online purchasing through its

response (call/contact) centre via its website”, a source close to the company revealed. Meanwhile, Vitafoam Nigeria Plc has continued to expand its product lines by diversifying its operations though within the same industry. Subsidiaries established in recent times included Vitapur Nigeria Limited, Vitablom Nigeria Limited and Vitavisco Nigeria Plc. Vitapur Nigeria Limited, one of the subsidiaries of the Vitafoam Group, was incorporated in March 2009 as an insulation contracting company. The company specializes in Polyurethane and Polyisocyanate Rigid foam products. Its products and services include Sandwich Panels, Insulation Board, Spray Foam, Pre-cut Pipe Sections and Fish Craft. Vitapur Sandwich panels, according to the company, can be used for the constructing of cold rooms, telecom shelters, wall cladding, quick shelter deployment, office partitioning, shopping malls, etc. Vitapur Insulation Board comes in various facing depending on intended application. These insulation boards can be used as suspended ceil-

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Bolarinde (L), presenting keys of Pick-Up Van to the winner

Its commitment to quality has earned it several quality awards including the NIS Gold Certificate Award for most of its products,” he said. Bolarinde’s high-profile led to his appointment as chairman of Wema Bank Plc in June 2010 and though he is said to have no declared interests in shares of the bank, he is believed to be in the heart of SW8, the core investors that acquired a majority shareholding in Wema Bank in 2009. A year after the bank was taking over and the subsequent appointment of Bolarinde as chairman of the board, there appeared to be a positive change in the fortune of the bank which was at the brink of collapse before the intervention of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) in 2009. Commending the transformational efforts of the Bolarinde Board of Directors and the management team led by Segun Oloketuyi, shareholders of the bank at the last Annual General Meeting (AGM), said the new investors rescued their investments from going down the drains. Though shareholders were not happy that the new core investors could not pay them a dividend for the financial year ended 2010, they were glad that things were shaping up for the bank which moved out of the club of the 10 rescued banks in the period. Meanwhile the chairman had earlier told shareholders that the bank’s performance for the period ended December 2010, less than one and half year after the takeover by SW8 was driven largely by loan recovery. He noted that while the bank witnessed a significant boost in its bottom-line, it

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A boardroom icon who has traversed various terrains of the business landscape, Bolarinde is a boardroom player who also chairs the boards of Orion Shipping Company Limited and Calyx Stockbrokers Limited

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ing, building partitioning, wall, floor and roof insulation. For new buildings, it has been discovered that boards are usually used over the purlins before the roofing sheets while Vitapur Spray Foam is preferred for existing roofs. The Vitapur Fish Craft is an innovative product whose durability, rigidity and floatability properties allows a system of fish farming where naturally occurring bodies of water are utilized to rear fish in commercial quantities continuously for many years. Based on its products, the company plays vital roles in rendering services to companies in the building and construction, process, oil and gas industry as well as the agricultural and allied industries. Vitablom Nigeria Limited, another of the Vitafoam’s new subsidiaries came into existence in June 2010 and it engages in the manufacturing and sales of siliconized fibre-related products, textiles, rubber, and foam products as well. Vitablom’s authorized share capital is 20 million ordinary shares of 50 kobo each; and it is jointly owned by Jezreel Unique Investment Limited which controls 51 per cent equity holding in the company while Vitafoam Nigeria Plc holds the remaining 49 per cent. The company commenced operation on October 1, 2010; but actual production started on November 4, 2010. Another venture called Vitavisco was incorporated very recently to manufacture moulded seats for office furniture, pillows, special neck supports and the like from viscoelastic foam. This is a specialised product marketed as ‘memory foam’— it is pressure sensitive and moulds itself to the body. Yet another company will be established by the Vitafoam Group in a different part of Nigeria by the middle of next year. A source familiar with the group said investors have already been identified, and the plan was to manufacture shoe soles. Established in 1962, the company’s shares were listed on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) in 1978, and have firmly established itself as the largest supplier of flexible foam products to the Nigerian market. Notwithstanding its many successes, Bolarinde has assured shareholders of the company that management would continue to creatively expand its operations by taking advantage of new opportunities. “We will strive to remain number one in our industrial sector through value creation, unrivalled customer service, superior skills and quality of our products portfolio. The company’s vision to be the foam manufacturer of first choice was being achieved through its mission of continuously improving the products quality and providing world class after sales services.

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Monday, November 12, 2012

must be pointed out that a significant portion of the profit was accounted for by write-backs to the profit and loss account from recovered loans. But Bolarinde would not arrogate the credit to himself alone he told shareholders that the hardworking Management and Staff of Wema Bank Plc made the performance possible. “Indeed, our operational efficiency has been improving and the business should achieve operational profitability within the first half of 2011”, he said. The bank’s gross earnings for the 12-month period of 2010 was N19.93 billion compared to a gross earnings of N16.27 billion for the nine-month period to December 2009. The profit after tax rose to N16.24 billion driven largely by write-backs to the profit and loss account. The corresponding figure for the nine-month period to December 2009 was a loss of N2.09 billion.

The group gross earnings grew by 14.7 per cent increasing to N21.79 billion in the reporting period from N18.99 billion of the nine-month period to December 2009, Group’s Profit After Tax also grew from loss position of N7.53 billion to N17.46 billion translating to growth of 331.7 per cent within the same period. Bolarinde noted that It was expected that 2010 would be the last year in which the bank’s accounts would be consolidated as it moves to divest its interest in seven non-core subsidiaries and absorb the two subsidiaries whose operations are complementary to its business; namely Wema Securities and Finance Plc and Wema Homes (Savings & Loans) Limited. Bolarinde predicted that with the global recovery on course, and the banking reforms in full steam, “we expect a better business horizon with a number of opportunities for an

agile and nimble bank such as ours to take”. The chairman was optimistic that the reforms by the Central Bank in the banking sector, as well as that of the Federal Government in the power sector reforms being critical to economic advancement in the country shall bring with them a veritable bouquet of opportunities which Wema Bank was suitably positioned to benefit from. He assured shareholders that the bank’s growth will be disciplined and governed by a firm adherence to the tenets of risk management, good corporate governance and exemplary corporate social responsibility. Besides Vitafoam Nigeria Plc and Wema Bank Plc, Samuel Bolarinde, 69, has been a Director of UAC of Nigeria Plc since 2000 where he plays major roles in two committees. He is a member of Governance and Remuneration Committee and Member of Statutory Audit Committee. A boardroom icon who has traversed various terrains of the business landscape, Bolarinde is a boardroom player who also chairs the boards of Orion Shipping Company Limited and Calyx Stockbrokers Limited. He is also on the board of Consolidated Breweries Plc, Toyota Nigeria Limited, Sunlink Petroleum Limited and Alpine Investment Services. A pioneer council member of Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), Bolarinde is currently a member of council of both the Manufacturer’s Association of Nigeria(MAN) and Nigerian-Britain Association among others. He is also a Fellow of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR). BC

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10 Questions

Improper town planning bane of our d Catherine Kehinde George is a rare breed. At 19, she had become a town planner, Nigeria’s first female professional town planner. She is also the first female fellow of the Nigerian Institute of Town Planners, and first female Nigerian fellow of the Royal Town Planning Institute of Britain (RTPI). Recently, Adejuwon Osunnuyi cornered her on the sidelines of an early morning walkout where she bore her minds on varieties of issues like current status of town planning in Nigeria, issues of slums and others. Excerpts.

an you tell us about your background? I was born in Ijebu Ode on June 14, 1948 and grew up in a home full of love, care, affection and discipline. My late father was a pastor of a Christ Apostolic Church and he was the first licensed surveyor in Ijebu province and my late mother was also a retired teacher. I grew up seeing my parents caring and loving each other. I grew up with the way of the Lord. My parents taught me the efficacy of prayers and that has remained a stronghold of my life up till today. Every day I come across challenges and every day I have been able to surmount those challenges by my belief in God, my belief in prayers and my belief in myself that God has given me talents I have to use and that those talents I have to use to the glory of God. I attended St. Augustine Primary school, a missionary school which was in Ijebu Ode. After my primary school, I went to Our Lady of Apostles Secondary school, Ijebu Ode. Aside from the secondary school, where did you further your education? I finished my West African School Certificate examination at the age of 1 ‎ 5, which was quite a young age then. Actually, I didn’t have the opportunity of taking science subjects. The only science subjects that were available at Our Lady of Apostle Secondary School then were Health Science and Biology. I was more interested in surveying which was my father’s profession. But my father said it would be too strenuous for a female hence he diverted my interest to architecture. And for architecture, I would need to have science subjects like Physics, Chemistry and additional mathematics. So, my father arranged for me to go to Ijebu-Ode Grammar School which was actually a Boys’ School for the one year programme to read the science subjects. In January 1964, I enrolled for Physics, Chemistry and additional mathematics papers. There was also a special programme for those subjects to be covered within one academic year as we needed to sit for the O’ level at the end of that academic year. That brought me to December 1964 when I sat for the exams and I did excellently well. That was when my father died. Hence, my dream of going to read Architecture was dashed. My elder brother, an

engineer who was living in Ibadan, felt that I could read Town Planning at the Technical College Ibadan as it was a good alternative to architecture. So, he organised for the late forms for me and I sat for the exams at the Technical College Ibadan, which is now known as The Polytechnic Ibadan. I did very well in that exams and got admitted in January 1965 and that was how my journey into Town planning began. How was it like being a town planner at that time? Well, at that time, we had terms in the calendar year at the Technical College. So at the end of our first term exams, Ikeja Area Planning Authority, which is where the LSDPC is now, was responsible for planning the Western region part of Lagos which include Ikeja, Surulere, Agege and all that. And Lagos Executive Development Board was responsible for planning the federal part which started from Fadeyi down to Lagos Island, Ikoyi, Apapa and so on. So, the Ikeja Area Planning Authority wrote to the Technical College in Ibadan and wanted to know who came top in the class. So, because I came top in the class, my name was sent and on that merit, I won an award from Ikeja Area Planning Authority and was employed as a Town Planner in training and I started earning salary from April 1965. I was very young, as I was just 17 then. All my fees were paid for and the income I was earning was a very good one. That was how I started my working life. During the long vacation, I used to come down to Lagos to work. We were having three vacations for those three years because it was a Three-year programme. I graduated from the Technical College Ibadan in December 1967 and I immediately resumed work at Ikeja Area Planning Authority in January 1968. Are you really the first female town planner in Nigeria? Yes, I will tell you how that came about. When I graduated from the Technical College in Ibadan, which was not strictly a professional course yet, in 1972, four years after I joined the service, I was awarded another sponsorship by the federal area planning authority for a two-year professional programme at the University of Melbourne, Australia. That was a post graduate programme in

town and regional planning. I finished the programme in December 1971. And by January 1972, when I returned to Nigeria, I was fully qualified as a professional town planner. By the grace of God, that made me to become the first female professional town planner in Nigeria. I want to give thank to the Lord for making me see this year which marks my 40 years that I graduated as a professional town planner. Now, to many out there who don’t really know much about your job, what can you really say town planning profession is all about? Town planning profession is one of the professions in the construction industry. And it is a key profession. All over the world, town planning is recognized as a priority profession because it gives room to the organization of living. A town planner is trained in the art and science of planning to organize the environment and to make sure that the public good is respected at all times. What I mean by public good is that whatever a town planner does is supposed to be to in the best interest of the people. By our training, we are trained to plan out communities, either rural or urban and we are supposed to understand the culture of the people we are planning for. How would you rate the Town planning profession as currently practised? In my early days as a professional town planner, I think the profession was very young unlike other professions

which had already had their firm roots in Nigeria. We had the engineering job having a firm root, followed by architecture which also had its strong hold. They have been many years ahead of us. Somewhere along the line, before the town planning took its stronghold in Nigeria, other professions were doing the work that town planners were supposed to be doing. For instance, land surveyors had the opportunity of surveying vast land for families and somewhere along the line; they were able to do some work the town planners were supposed to be doing by assisting such land owners to study the land for planning. But now, the town planning job has taken shape and it is growing. By the time I came into the profession at a very young age as a student, the profession was still developing. But there was great respect for the profession at that time. There was public respect for planning that nobody wanted to go against the law for planning. At that time, nobody was ready to break the law. And because the law was there that you have to have an approved building plan before you commence on any development, nobody wanted to go against the law. The planning authority I was working with was in firm control of the development on ground. That is the area you referred to as development control. And that is to ensure that everything that has to do with development is done according to the plan on ground. But suddenly, there was a phenomenal growth in Lagos. The population started

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Monday, November 12, 2012

development – George

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In England, town planning is one oƒ the top rated jobs. You cannot have a town planner graduating and walking the streets looking for job. It never happened. Despite the fact that the environment is relatively well planned, there is still a great need and great recognition for town planners because they enrich the nation

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growing rapidly as people started flocking into Lagos from the rural areas, from the West African sub countries and from other states into Lagos. From what I can say personally, this is an individual observation because I have lived in Lagos for over 40 years as a professional town planner, Lagos population has grown very faster than the machinery for controlling development that they have there. As the past chairman of Lagos state ITPN, I could see that we have challenges and there are lots of things that we have to do. We should make sure we have working relationship with the government. The institute should continue to enlighten the government on what the profession does and the need to prioritise planning projects. It is not that we don’t have town planners in Nigeria, but the important thing is that, no matter how efficient the town planners are, no matter how important the plans you prepared, if those plans are not adequately funded and properly implemented, you will have chaos. What can we say are the economic values of town planning for a nation, state or community? I am a member of the Royal Town Planning Institute of Britain. I am not just a member, am a fellow. I became the first African female fellow in 1990. At least, this is an international recognition. In England, town planning is one oƒ the top rated jobs. You cannot have a town planner graduating and walking the streets looking for job. It never happened. Despite the fact that the environment is relatively well planned, there is still a great need and great recognition for town planners because the town planners enrich the nation. The town planners enrich the nation and not even themselves, because they are contributing to the wealth of the nation and to the quality of living of ‎ every single individual in that country. A town planning student in England does not even have to find any problem getting a place to do Industrial Training because all he has to do is to go to the websites and look for a job and take up the job and start working. In Nigeria, with all our environmental problems, the

town planners are on the streets writing applications and looking for jobs. Is that not ironical? After I left LSDPC in 1979, I decided to go into teaching, because I felt that the experience I had gathered while working, I needed to impart it on the academics life. So, I started teaching at the Yaba College of Technology. While I worked in the LSDPC for 14 years, I also worked as a lecturer for 14 years. I voluntarily retired in 2000 and I have worked in all areas of my profession. I have worked in the government, academics as a lecturer and now am working as a consultant. So, I have a very broad experience about the planning profession. In other climes, you find Town planners in the Police, Navy, and so on. For instance, how would the police be able to carry out surveillance if they don’t have maps? It doesn’t look like many want to go into the town planning profession. Most people seem to prefer areas like Architecture or Survey. Why is this so? Does it mean that the profession is not financially rewarding in Nigeria? Your question is important and very relevant. Like I said before, in developed countries, town planners are not poor. They live very comfortably. From the proceeds from their job, they build their houses, they go on annual vacation and they have quality top living. Here, most town planners are in government and that is very unfortunate because being in government is only a small part of planning as I told you before. Being in government is to plan for the policy of what is going to be executed and to ensure that the policies are executed by making sure that it is funded by the government whether it is federal, states or local governments. That is the job of the town planners in government. The town planners in government are supposed to be a smaller percentage of all the town planners in the profession in any country because they are there for policy formulation, implementation, funding and monitoring. The length of it, which is the biggest part of it are the town planners who are in the private sector. When I visited schools, that is,

other universities or polytechnic, to deliver lecture and asked the students who chose town planning as their first choice to raise their hands, only very few raised their hands. Most of them are reading town planning because it was their second choice, third choice or they couldn’t get opportunity to read other courses, which is very sad. But at the same time, it is a struggle that we must not give up on. It is a struggle for the progress of the nation to ensure that the situation improve by recognising the important and relevance of basic planning in our daily lives. Looking at the rates of collapsed building across the country, what can we say could be responsible and what solutions do you think are needed to avert recurrence of such disasters? It is as if I knew you are still going to talk about that. I was appointed member of the Lagos State Standing Committee on Collapsed Building in May 2000. I was on that committee for three years and I was representing the Nigerian Institute of Town Planners in that committee. And for every single building that collapsed in Lagos State, that committee had to be there as soon as the incident is reported to investigate the cause of collapse. The objective also is to eliminate building collapse in Lagos State. For every single case of collapsed structure we investigated, we realised that they were avoidable. They didn’t need to happen. And for every single case of collapse, there was material loss, loss of lives, and there were injuries. These are not necessary. So we realised that something went wrong along the line. Number one thing we realised was that developers do not obtain building approvals for their constructions and two, that even when they get the building approval in some cases, they build contrary to what was in the approval. Number three; there were no qualified professionals to supervise some of the projects. Another reason is that sometimes, substandard materials were used resulting in system failure. Another problem is that sometimes, they have approval for two-storey and they decide to build more. Mostly, we find out that such things are done over

the weekend when the officials are not around. Another problem was building in low line areas, water body, drainage channels, areas that are supposed to be salvation areas. Of course, mostly, they don’t have approval, but they just go there and say let me build my house here so that I too can have house of my own. So, we realised that we have to educate the public, because a lot of them will feign ignorance that they didn’t know. That is not an excuse. We advised the government to get to the people especially the grassroots people in electronic and print media. Then, there is this Building Collapsed Prevention Guild, a non-governmental organisation that was established last year. They are construction industry professionals. So, they are there to ensure that collapsed structure is reduced to the barest. I am a member of that guild, a combination all the professionals in the building industry. The guild is working with the government, public, as well as the artisans. What would you say is responsible for the growing slums in our society? Is it safe to say that the town planners have been negligent on their duties in preventing such? I can tell you specifically that slum is a global phenomenon. It is not only in Nigeria, but all over the world, even in the advanced countries. I have great experience in this area also. I was appointed the pioneer chairman of the Lagos State Metropolitan Development Project Urban Forum for Slum Upgrading in September 2001 and that gave me great experience to really understand about the slums in Lagos. When I was a lecturer in Yaba College of Technology, I taught design courses. And one of the courses was Urban Renewal. In 1994, I took my students on a practical tour of Otto, a slum community in Lagos. So, at Otto, we had our maps to study what was on the map and what was on the ground and we were able to draw what is called existing condition study. As a town planner, you have to draw and know what is on ground before you can be able to draw on how to improve it. So, when we got there, we spoke to the people. They asked us what we were studying and we told them we study the environment. They told us instantly, “We are not happy living in this environment, we are not literate but we know this is a slum. Please help us to tell government that we are here because we cannot afford a better accommodation. Help us to appeal to the government to upgrade this area. We are not asking them to come and demolish everywhere, but to come and give us water, drainage.” So we told them that “you too have to make life better for yourselves. Do not dump refuse in the water body, in the drain, on the road and so on. You too have to make your environment worthy to be lived in.” So the slums are there all over the world. They are in America, Australia, all over. It is a phenomenon. It is as a result of rapid urbanisation. People all over the country are just rushing to Lagos because they believe that when you get to Lagos, you will make it. But when they come, they need somewhere to stay and there are limited accommodations. When they come like that, they just have it at the back of their minds that, they would just need to work and find somewhere to lay their heads even if it’s in a shanty. That is how slums developed. BC

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National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

ing facilities and co-locating is reasonable compared to the cost of building one’s own infrastructure, hence a faster return on investment and an opportunity to focus more on core business of the companies which is providing telecoms services. Steve Evans, Etisalat Nigeria’s Chief Executive Officer believes that outsourcing tower building and management to third parties are part of major initiatives that could help operators reduce Capital and Operational expenditure (CAPEX and OPEX). Evans, while making presentations titled Operator Strategies to reduce CAPEX and OPEX in Africa, recently, noted that “Operators in the telecommunications industry are not required to own their towers in order to have effective operations. Towers can be owned and managed by third party specialist tower companies. A major advantage of this is that capital is saved and re-invested in the growth of business, network expansion and improved services”. He stated that such initiatives were to the benefit of the customer and could result in reductions of tariffs, increased coverage of networks as well as greater profitability for the operators.

A strong push for

co-location In the face of challenges brought about by a fast-growing industry, regarded as stimulant to improved quality of service and panacea to reducing rollout costs as well as providing good investment opportunities, telecommunication operators are renewing case for increased infrastructure sharing By Adejuwon Osunnuyi

t is an undeniable fact that the country’s telecommunications industry has continued to enjoy fast growth and increasing demand. However, despite the celebrated boom, the operators seem not to be excited after all. To them, irrespective of the remarkable growth experienced in the past one decade, one thing that seems to have continued to reecho is the reality of high operational cost amidst the harsh Nigerian business environment which operators say has continued to eat deep into their wallets. Over the years, challenges of multiple taxation, poor infrastructure, low capacity, erratic power supply, difficulty in getting sites for base stations, the huge capital outlay required to setup and run telecoms business in the country, have continued to be the operators lamentations. For instance, Funmi Omogbenigun, General Manager, Corporate Affairs, Corporate Services Division, MTN Nigeria Communications Limited, in an interactive session with journalists in Lagos said mobile operators are increasingly finding it difficult to roll out base stations across the country. The reason according to her is that, hardly would operators install base stations in communities across the country without encountering confrontation from the locals or government agents. For instance, she said to get a base station running, there are several approvals that operators must secure from all kinds of regulators including the Nigerian Communications

Commission (NCC), state governments, local governments and state environmental agencies. “The state government also has Town Planning Authority from where the mobile operators must get approval with its own challenges.,” she noted. Omogbenigun explained that there are situations where MTN needed to mount additional base station in an area due to increase in the number of phone users in the area but government agencies usually decline approval, given reasons that do not even conform with the NCC regulations. While the attendant huge capital and operating funds required for the running of telecoms firms in the country has been taking a serious toll on their profit margin and making it difficult for them to meet their shareholders’ expectations, the situation, according to the operators, is worsened by the significant pressure on the industry’s Average Revenue Per User, ARPU, downward pricing pressures on call rates as well as flexibility on pricing of products and services. However, for telecoms operators to continue to survive in the harsh Nigerian business environment, experts are of the opinion that, telecom companies should stop playing the number game of how much infrastructure and sites they own and start looking at ways of trimming down their capital and operating expenditure consistently while embracing efficiency and cost management in their operations. To combat this, regarded as stimulant to

improved quality of service and panacea to reducing rollout costs as well as providing good investment opportunities, Business Courage learnt that operators might now be looking in the direction of site infrastructure co-location with other telecom operators. Known as co-location, in general, although the concept is not new in Nigeria, the potential is enormous. Tower sharing “entails operators collaborating to share either the active elements (the physical network) or the passive elements of their base stations - including the physical tower structure, security, power and diesel generators - in an effort to carve out the enormous capital and operational expenditures that infrastructure rollouts demand.” In the internet world for example, a Web site or an ISP could place its network routers on the premises of the company offering switching services with other ISPs while in the GSM/Telephony world, operator could decide to share facilities/sites for cost savings reasons. Co-location is sometimes provided by

third party company that specializes in co-locations. There are two options available to operators for co-location: operator to operator agreements where an operator offers one or more operators a space in his location to share some infrastructure. While the second one is the third party where a service provider can provide a site and facilities, for example, a tower for one or more operators to mount their equipments like radios and antennas. Support for co-location in the country seems to be gathering momentum. For instance, it was not surprising when three telecommunications engineers who are currently Heads of transmission optimisation in MTN, Airtel and Etisalat were unanimous in endorsing colocation as a stimulant to improved quality and optimiser of infrastructure resources within the Nigerian Telecommunications network. Making their submission known recently at NCC’s Consultative Forum on improvement in utilisation of Microwave Frequency, they submitted that the cost of shar-

“It is incredibly important that rather than duplicate sites across the nation, it will be much more sensible if all parties are able to co-locate so that we don’t have to duplicate infrastructure. We can also save money and reduce our costs and the cost of other operators. This will also translate to reduced costs to customers,” Evans said. He said that Etisalat has already undertaken a number of major CAPEX and OPEX reduction initiatives such as co-location and hybrid power and was actively considering others like transmission sharing and sales and leaseback of towers. He also said that in the commercial arena, the company has also embarked on a number of operational efficiency initiatives such as optimizing retail outlet formats and migrating to over the air recharges for prepaid customers. “At Etisalat, our aim is to develop ways of making more efficient use of available resources to achieve the best results. For instance, we have been propounding the philosophy of co-location in Nigeria and are happy to say that we have made significant progress with one of the other major operators in the country. That has given rise to an extensive co-location agreement and a good deal for both parties and the country in general. This has also led to a reduction of resources channelled to erecting new towers and the opportunity to cover more communities and areas”.

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He highlighted tower sale and lease back as an excellent way of releasing capital to invest in core activities such as customer acquisition, management and retention as well as increasing the number of significant tower deals by African tower companies. Confirming its readiness in supporting collocation and attesting to the fact that it is beneficial to the industry, Corporate Executive, MTN Nigeria, Wale Goodluck, revealed that presently, MTN shares some of its towers with Etisalat. As a matter of fact, a number of operators have already bought into tower sale and lease back, which involve the sale of tower assets (cell sites) by telecoms companies to, and leasing them back from independent tower companies. For instance, two leading Code Division Multiple Access telcos in Nigeria, Starcomms Plc and Visafone, have been involved in a tower sale and lease back deals that run into several million dollars. Starcomms recently concluded a sale and lease back agreement involving 407 of its 557 base stations with Swap, a tower company, at the cost of N12.2 billion ($81.4m). Similarly, Visafone has recently agreed to sell and lease back 459 towers to IHS Nigeria, a telecoms infrastructure company. Though the value of the deal is not disclosed officially, experts suggest it might be in the region of $67 million. It is also gathered that Helios Towers is in tower sale and lease back talks with a number of operators in the country. At the moment, there are 11 companies with co-location licenses in Nigeria. Capital requirement is $250,000 per tower/ mast and local banks have offered to support the idea by helping to provide finance. According to a report, “Tower Sharing in the Middle East and Africa: collaborating in competition by the advisory firm Delta Partners”, co-location could save operators in both regions about R70 billion ($8.6 billion). Nigeria, Africa’s biggest telecom market, for instance, will need over 10,000 additional masts to address network expansion. These mast will cost more than $2.5 billion (N368 billion). With co-location, this high cost, experts said, will be greatly reduced. Delta Partners’ Daniel Torras see the co-location concept beyond basic tower swapping, that is, when an operator allows another to use its existing facility on a like-for-like basis. “It involves operators forming joint ventures or even separate ‘towercos’ to handle the rollout and management of network infrastructure based on existing towers owned by the operators - essentially outsourcing this function in its entirety.” Co-location is expected to

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Monday, November 12, 2012

Technotips Choosing a smart phone for business purposes

Omogbenigun

add to quick rollout of telecom operations in rural areas. “An effective way to accomplish this, and remain profitable, is to reduce the overall cost of infrastructure rollout in rural areas. (This can be done) by spreading the cost across two or more operators. It has the added effect of providing operators with a much quicker time-to-market. In the past, operators would have to spend years and hundreds of millions of dollars to establish their own networks,” says Delta Partners. The opportunities are vast for co-location. “Investment in a towerco is attractive - even in the current financial climate as it presents a unique opportunity to invest in a start-up with stable and guaranteed cash flow owing to the long-term leasing contracts signed by the operators that share the telecom towers,” says Chris Datta, also of Delta. “In fact, MTN and Vodacom are already engaged in limited site swapping, especially for remote areas. Local operators are already finding ways to share infrastructure costs successfully,” he adds. African countries where the markets are conducive to tower sharing include: Cameroon, Kenya, Nigeria and Uganda. Delta Partners believe that a tower sharing trend would soon be a widespread reality in Africa. The report advised old operators not to shy away from striking deals with new license winners. “Sharing towers in no way gives away an operator’s strategic advantage - particularly since the network has become a commodity and products and services are the only mechanisms that can differentiate one operator from another. With many stakeholders pushing for the establishment of tower-sharing agreements and towercos, investment in this sector appears to be a no-brainer for operators and private equity holders alike.” The report also made recommendations on towercos saying they should bring in outside investors who would ensure impartiality in the joint

venture and act as a broker between operators. Both future and existing towers should be included in any tower-sharing agreement, and in order to reduce operational risk, towercos should aim for a minimum of two anchor tenants per tower. But it is not surprising that most of the operators in the country might still be finding it difficult to share infrastructure. Giving a hint about this, Executive Vice-President of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Dr. Eugene Juwah while speaking at the recently concluded International Telecommunications Union (ITU) World Conference 2012, held in Dubai, said infrastructure sharing and collocation, especially in the area of fibre optic cable rollout, had been a major challenge among telecoms operators though the issue had been tackled. “Telecoms operators fear sabotage in sharing fibre cables, and would rather prefer to rollout their own cable,” he said. Explaining how the challenge was resolved, Juwah said that the commission introduced a collective ownership of fibre rollout by the operators, with an independent consortium to manage it on behalf of all the operators. Also speaking on the economic benefit of infrastructure sharing, Juwah said that it would facilitate faster infrastructure rollout, drive down the cost of telecoms services and improve service quality. While calling on telecoms operators in Nigeria, Africa and the rest of the world, to always consider developing infrastructure backhaul that would stand as backup to support the network in periods of crisis, Juwah said, “Services from mobile network operators should be backhauled in order to serve more people on the network, without the slightest experience of network congestion.” He advised telecoms operators in the African region and the entire world, to adopt the principle of convergence in telecoms, as converged technology would drive the economies of the world. BC

t’s a fast paced world and everyone is running against time (and the majority is getting pawned, already). Staying updated, getting work completed on narrowing deadlines, and trying to stay one step ahead of your peers is something that forces many to make the most of gadgets and devices, because technology is the only thing that manages to be at par with time, growing at a stupendous rate. In this time and age, old and almost antique ways of doing business will get you nowhere. Laptops, notebooks, tablet PC’s, smart phones; these devices are not just geek’s darlings anymore, if you are looking to stay above par, you’ve got to avail these gadgets, and a cleverly chosen smart-phone is something that you can count on, apart from the entertainment or connectivity but their biggest value is that they can provide so many tools and flexibility to business people and professionals. Different smart phones have different strong points, and you can’t have more than one at a time, first because smart-phones are quite on an expensive side and second because carrying two smart-phones doesn’t make any sense. So, you need to pick one that suits your requirement to get the best value. Here are some basic features that you should take into account when choosing a smart phone. 1). Write down your needs: When purchasing a smart-phone, you must have some objectives in mind, if the phone is intended to be used for outgoing or incoming calls, or some occasional listening to music, then a smart-phone is not even needed. However, if you are looking for internet surfing, working on documents or spread sheets, and the likes, that can make a good case for investing in a smart-phone. Knowing your requirements will allow you to single out the most suitable ones, otherwise you will be hampered by the plethora of so many different options. 2). Software and Apps: When purchasing a smart phone, don’t just go for the look or default features, mull over the usability as well, and various software and apps can take the utility to a different level. Do some research and look at different choices and limitations associated with different makes. For example, Apple and Black Berry smart phones require you to stick to their platform of apps, maybe you’d not entertain the idea of limiting yourself to a particular set of apps, and a more flexible Android phone might be a better option. 3). Operating System of the Smartphone If multitasking is something you’d be looking to do, then, you need a smart phone that offers that facility. Some smart phones do not allow more than one apps to be working at a time. You need to have a phone that can handle multiple instances at one time. Apart from that, speed is a great issue. Sometimes a phone may look all chic and glossy from the outside while their performance power could drive you up the wall, pulling your hair apart for being so much an ardent believer of looks. 4). Connectivity If you need full speed internet on the go, you might need to opt for WiFi options on the phone, rather than just Edge or GPRS. Wi-Fi would give you the instant connectivity and you can use your smart phone for video conferences, downloads, uploads, video streams at many places. 5). A Qwerty Keypad A Qwerty keypad has the exact same structure like a keyboard. It happens to be a great help if you are a blogger or needs to do lots of typing on your smart phone, without having to wait for alphabets to form, as it is the case with standard cell phone keypads. Qwerty Keypad will help you type full fledge posts or other documents on the go in a jiffy. 6). Weigh your options At times, even the smart phone by best known brands may fall short to deliver while a moderately rated phone will provide the exact features you are looking for in one package. It all depends on how flexible you are when it comes to weighing all available options. Discuss with your friends, especially if there are some geeks or gadget lovers, tell them your requirements, and they will often come up with a spot on recommendation. BC

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Business Courage

Telecoms tops Ad spend in 2011

elecommunications product category recorded the highest spend of N20.2 billion out of a total of N102.8 billion spent in Above- The- Line in 2011, followed by Personal Paid announcement with N8.654 billion while Entertainment, Leisure and Tourism was third in the product category with N5.976 billion. Mediafacts, an annual publication of MediaReach OMD, Nigeria’s most influential media independent agency disclosed this in its 2011 edition which was released at the weekend. It said in the telecommunications product category, MTN topped the list with N6.381 billion followed by Globacom which spent N5.704 billion while Etisalat and Airtel spent N4.255 billion and N3.439 billion respectively, adding that all the four brands topped the list of the top 20 brands in terms of ad spend last year. The publication also noted that television advertising amounted to N46.076 billion as against the N39.656 billion recorded in 2010, radio recorded N13.142 billion as against N12.807 billion spent in 2010, the print media had N15.395 billion lesser than the N16.524 spent in 2010 while outdoor expenditure was N28.142 billion, lesser than N28.562 spent in 2010. The report also noted that, Nigeria has the potential to build a prosperous economy with its large reserves of human and natural resources, adding that Nigeria witness major changes in the economic sector in 2011 some of which were the Federal Government amnesty programme that resulted in higher oil production, growth in the insurance sector and consistent growth in the telecommunication sector amongst others. Mediafacts 2011, published in one volume in English and French contains media trend information on nine West African countries

and three central African countries. This covers some of the countries where Media Reach OMD operates. Media Reach OMD is a specialist media company that provides a host of mediarelated services to advertisers and or their representatives. Its services include communications and media planning, media strategy developments and implementation buying and control services among others and its business offices are located in Nigeria, Ghana and Cameroon. Tolu Ogunkoya, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of MediaReach OMD said: “We understand that creativity is the sustainable source of differentiation and competitive advantage for ourselves and our clients. We pride ourselves on delivering innovative media solutions to our clients’ marketing challenges at the keenest possible prices.” OMD, the parent company of MediaReach OMD is one of the largest and most influential media communications specialists in the world.

Philips, LG Electronics, others face EU cartel fines

ix top electronics firms including Philips and LG Electronics face hefty European Union fines at the end of the month for fixing prices of TV cathode-ray tubes, four people with knowledge of the matter said. The sources said on Friday other companies involved in the cartel were South Korea’s Samsung SDI, French group Thomson, which was renamed Technicolor in 2010, and Japanese companies Matsushita, now known as Panasonic Corp, and Toshiba Corp. The European Commission, which raided the companies in late 2007, will announce the fines on November 28, according to a Commission document seen by Reuters and confirmed by sources. Sanctions are expected to be substantial because the cartel lasted Ogunkoya more than a decade from the late 1990s, one of the sources said. The EU executive can penalize companies up to 10 percent of their turnover for breaching EU rules. In the case of Dutch group Philips that could reach 2.26 billion euros ($2.9 billion), while for South Korea’s LG Electronics it could be 5.4 trillion won ($5.0 billion), based on their 2011 revenues. However, sanctions are not expected to hit those

Monday, November 12, 2012

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levels. The sources said Taiwanese company Chunghwa Picture Tubes alerted the EU antitrust regulators to the existence of the cartel, so will not be fined. LG Philips Display, a joint venture between Philips and LG Electronics, and MT Picture Display, a joint venture between Matsushita and Toshiba, will also be penalized, the sources said. The European Commission did not respond to a phone call or email seeking comment. Cathode ray tubes, which Mike Adenuga, Globacom Boss were also used in computer According to Globacom’s monitors, have largely been Divisional Director, Lagos and replaced by modern display South West 1, David Maji, the technologies such as LCD, prize presentation was in fulfilplasma display and organic ment of Globacom’s promise light-emitting diode. to reward subscribers on its The EU authority slapped a network. He said that the comtotal fine of 648 million euros pany decided to add two Toyota on six LCD companies which Yaris cars and five motorbikes included Chunghwa Picture as surprise prizes in response Tubes, Samsung Electronics to the demands of man y and LG Display two years ago subscribers who desire to see for taking part in a cartel. more winners emerge and get Last year, it penalized four rewarded in the promo. producers of cathode ray tubes “It is pertinent to point glass 128.74 million euros for out that we have kept faith fixing prices. with our promise to make the promo relevant and transparent. We have also rewarded many of our subscribers with life-changing prizes just as we promised. We, therefore, look forward to seeing many winners collect these exciting prizes in the weeks ahead as we hold more prize presentations in Abuja, Enugu and Lagos”, he stated. By Adejuwon Osunnuyi As they collected their prizes, the winners expressed elecommunications serimmense gratitude to Glo for vice provider, Glo gave out making them multi-millionaires cheques of N18 million each and commended the company to two of its subscribers in the for delivering on its promise ongoing “text4millions” promo to make the promo fair and while 37 others collected varitransparent. ous cash prizes ranging from N30,000 to N6 million at a special prize presentation ceremony held in Ibadan recently. Some of the winners who collected their cheques at the event include Ajoke Adetutu Shittu, a businesswoman from ITS Technologies Ltd Agege, Lagos and Abubakar through a strategic alliance Shehu, a businessman from with Capitoline, a UK-based Birnin Kebbi, Niger state who Data Centre Specialist is set to won a total of N18 million each reduce outages and encourage in weekly and monthly prizes Data Centre Energy Efficiency in the promo. The IT company had been John Igwejioke, a businessengaged aggressively in human man from Rivers state and capacity development of Data Ugwu Ernest Ikechukwu, a Centre operators, consultants pharmacist based in Jigawa and managers, involved in the state also collected cheques of design, specification and operaN6 million each at the event. tion of data centres and techniOther winners include cal rooms in Nigeria. Bala Abazu, a mechanical Data Centre (DC) outages engineer who won N210,000, are known to be high and there Serah Ajayi, a student who is a growing need to have a won N120,000, Asemota Bello next-generation data centre Chester, a businessman who with reduced complexity to won N120,000, and Dick Ugbo, serve as the needed business a retired soldier who won enabler and to deliver breakN180,000 in the promo. 32 through economic benefits. other lucky Glo subscribers General Manager – Sales also won prizes ranging from and Marketing, Kazeem KesN30,000 to N90,000 each while hinro said there is high necestwo others won brand new mosity for Data Centre owners torbikes at the event. to build competent human

Glo subscribers collect N18 million each in “text4millions” promo

Firm plans to reduce data centre outages

capacity to manage these high cost infrastructure. According to him, this would help reduce unwarranted complex operational procedures and assure world class operational management style, reduce operational waste and deliver the needed breakthrough economic benefits. Customer Relationship Manager, Queen Adaji, observed that the technology space is moving at a lightning speed, with ample room and opportunities for the technically-savvy ones and no space for the deficient. She added that Data Centre is a multibillion naira investment that cannot be left in the hands of personnel lacking deep knowledge of what is takes to manage the expensive infrastructure.

Twitter resets ‘hacked’ passwords

housands of Twitter users have received emails warning their account has been compromised by a third party. Some accounts had been compromised, but other users had received the emails after Twitter had unintentionally reset unaffected passwords, the company said. The mass email coincided with incidents involving several high-profile accounts, including at least one account belonging to the BBC. Other media organisations, such as the TechCrunch blog, reported being warned. Twitter gave no indication of the cause or source of the compromise, and would not share details of the size of the issue. In a statement, it said: “When we believe an account may have been compromised, we reset the password and send an email letting the account owner know this has happened along with information about creating a new password. This is a routine part of our processes to protect our users. “In this case, we unintentionally reset passwords of a larger number of accounts, beyond those that we believed to have been compromised. “We apologise for any inconvenience or confusion this may have caused.” Some users who received the email noticed that some of their tweets had been deleted, while others said spam links had been posted without their knowledge - a typical characteristic of a compromised account. Some users criticised Twitter’s email, suggesting it looked like a “phishing scam” - a message that impersonates an official email in an attempt to trick users into giving up personal details. BC

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Monday, November 12, 2012

Reflections with Semiu Salamii 07043280449 sms only

PhD holders as truck drivers

everally, Nigeria’s economic managers have alluded to the fact the economy is growing. They have even done everything they could, with statistics, to buttress their argument. But tried as they did, Nigerians have simply refused to buy-in and justifiably so too. If at all the economy is improving, as they struggle to make the people believe, how come no one seem to feel the impact of the growth? If truly the indices are going up, it simply implies that the perceived growth is non-inclusive. Otherwise, what is the sense in an economy in which poverty level have remained high, where joblessness has continued to grow phenomenally, where the real sector is fast going extinct and the Small and Medium Enterprises, the bastion of more prosperous economies have practically gone under? The Nigerian situation is not only pathetic, it is so sad that in this age and time, when other countries with fewer human and natural endowments have transformed into a more prosperous nations, Nigeria, a nation of over 160 million people and blessed with numerous natural resources has continue to grope in

the dark. This is the more reason why I particularly find the recent revelation about the calibre of Nigeria’s intellectuals struggling for jobs that were hitherto meant for the lowly placed rather disturbing. Dangote Group, Nigeria’s mega industrial concern had under its Graduate Executive Truck Driver scheme placed out advertisement in search of only 100 employees in that category but what did it get? Thirteen thousand people filled in their papers. That is no qualms you would say, considering the fact that Dangote group is not the only organisation involved in the scheme. What however singled out this one is the sheer number of higher degree holders that applied for the job. Of the over 13000 graduate applicants, about six of them are PhD holders, 65 MBA holders, 649 Masters Degree holders and over 8, 460 Bachelor degree holders. The attraction for most of the applicants could be the generous conditions of the employment like a monthly salary of N500, 000 and field trip allowances including the incentive to own the trucks at no interests or repayments after reaching 300,000

kilometres; which is about 140 trips from Lagos to Kano. These are incentives and opportunities that many would not like to miss but is this really the way to go? A PhD takes a minimum of 10 years after college to acquire; Masters degree between six and seven years to acquire after the Senior School Certificate Examinations (SSCE), and a Bachelor degree between four to six years; whereas a driver’s training takes not more than six months to acquire. So, why waste up to four to 10 years of higher degree training in the university if one was going to end up as a driver? Besides, could anyone in this category ever have job satisfaction? Why is it that at a time that the Federal Government is training PhD holders to teach in the universities that this sort of thing is happening? Why should people drive trucks from Lagos to Kano if the country has developed its rail transport system? Isn’t this evidence of national decay and backwardness? What type of economy are we operating in this country? High unemployment rates have devastating impacts including the fact that families that invested their fortune in

e education, in the hope that the educated w would rescue other family members, are s stuck with their unemployed young ones. It is a long frustrating process that lleaves generations of Nigerians wasting. When university graduates, especially higher degree holders, apply for jobs ordinarily meant for those who are not so educated, we should worry too about increasing unemployment rates among the uneducated. The eminent danger is that next year, more people, some from the dwindling universities, could leave their teaching positions for the Dangote offer. All what this depict is that, Nigeria is in the final stages of misapplication of its resources, particularly those who have completed high levels of education and should at least, be teaching or engaged in more productive ventures. In my mind, this is not a feat that should be celebrated by any organisation, individual or government. It is a time for serious introspection, a time when the government should embark on aggressive infrastructure development; and job creation drives to arrest this shameful and capacity destructive trend. The needs of this country in terms of serious human capacity are so enormous that we cannot afford to put these calibres of professionals behind the wheels to hawk cement, sugar and pastas. This is clearly not the way to go. BC

BELIEVABILITY INDEX

Can Beta Glass’ Q3 results drive the share price? By Festus Okoromadu

he unaudited interim financial accounts of Beta Glass Plc for the nine months ended September 30, 2012 that was released recently shows declining performance when compared with the similar period of 2011. The glassware manufacturing company appears to be getting into some deep waters in the current financial year. Not only did almost every item posted on the profit and loss account for the period declined year-on-year, those on the balance sheet did not fare better. Although, the circumstances surrounding the performance are yet to be made public, it certainly contradicts the prosperous future of the company painted earlier in the year by the chairman of the board of directors, Babtunde Oke at the 38th Annual General Meeting (AGM) held last July. At that meeting, the chairman told shareholders that the prospects in the market place for the company’s product has improved as core customers in the breweries, pharmaceutical and cosmetic industry have increased their patronage during the 2011 financial year and hoped that such will continue in the current year. He took advantage of the balance results posted during the 2011 financial and highlighted factors that led to that development giving the impression that such factors would help produce a better result for the 2012 financial year. For instance, he attributed the reduction in the cost of doing business during the year to cut in the cost of energy by the energy provider as well as better cash flow and lower capital expenditure which he said enabled the company to lower finance cost. He stressed that the refurbishment of one of the furnaces, an action that is expected to increase its life span as well as the prospect of extending export market to drive sales would raise the bar for better performance. However, the third quarter report appears to be a complete departure from the values which these achievements

ought to have delivered in 2012. Already, there are fears over whether or not the equity’s share price will continue to grow in the near future. A review of the share price of the stock shows that it started the 2012 financial year on a fair price of N12.71 per share, it remained static on this price through January till March 16, 2012 when it lost 63 kobo or 5.2 per cent to commence a southward movement until it stopped at N9.53 on September 21, 2012. Twelve days after, the equity started to appreciate again, perhaps because investors were anticipated an impressive financial performance in the third quarters which they hope would drive the share price higher before the year end. Subsequently, the price rose to N10.50. Though, not much reaction in terms of price change has happened to the stock since the result hits the market about a week ago now, some market analysts are sceptical more so as the financials continues to depreciate. Investors with analytical minds who based their investment on price appreciation are beginning to ponder if they can continue to hold on to the stock or to sell now. Worst still, a detail analysis of the result shows that key financial ratios which are considered by discerning investors prior to taking investment decision dropped southward signalling a likely depreciation of the share price of the equity in the near future. Meanwhile, the third quarter results show that turnover declined by 8.1 per cent to N8.82 billion from N9.598 billion in similar period of 2011. The cost of sales and distribution during the period skyrocketed by 79.8 per cent to N90.75 million from N50.48 million in 2011. In the same vein, cost of funds (Finance Cost) increased by 279.0 per cent yearon-year to N166.67 million from N43.98 million. Profit before tax declined by 49.2 per cent to N839.02 million compared with N1.65 billion in 2011 while bottomline, which is the portion of profit that is distributable to investors dropped by

51.1 per cent to N624.99 million from N1.28 billion, courtesy of reduction in the taxation during the period under review. According to the accounts, the sum of N214.03 million was paid as tax in the nine months of 2012 as against N372.78 million, representing a 42.6 per cent decrease. The reduction in the taxation in the third quarters of 2012 confirms Oke’s earlier assumption that the company’s tax liability for the coming year would likely be lower. He had told shareholders that the taxation for 2011 was higher due to lower capitalisation and lower capital allowances thereon. He noted that capitalization is cyclic for the glassware industry and then expressed the hope that it will reduce in the 2012 financial year. However, one important development in the account under review which is believed to have affected the financial status of the company negatively during the period was the increase in the loan portfolio of the company. The account revealed that unlike the corresponding period of the previous year when the company run its affairs without securing loans, a package totalling N2.695 billion was incurred in 2012. A breakdown of the new financial facilities shows that N1.921 billion was acquired as long facility while another N774.04 million was incurred as short term borrowings. They both no doubt have their financial obligations, implying that subsequently, more funds will be required to service these loans even when sales are declining. Although, it can be argued that corporate organisations are prone to securing loans for their operations, it will definitely be of concern to investors to know the reason for such borrowings as well as the value expected to be created from such funds. Therefore, when management goes borrowing at times when sales are declining and refuses to inform the market of the rationale for such action, analysts reasoned, gives room for speculations. And of course,

speculations can be either positive or negative and both ways they impact the share price of the equity in question. Another important factor believed to affect the pricing of equity especially from the discerning investors perspective is profitability ratio. Putting the third quarter results of Beta Glass Plc for the 2012 financial year in perspective reveals that the pendulum is swinging southwards. Gross profit margin for instance, reduced to 21.11 per cent from 26.53 per cent while profit margin dropped to 7.09 per cent from 13.31 per cent. By implication, fewer portions of revenue earnings was converted to profit during the period under review due to increased in expenses and other relevant costs. This is not a sign of good omen for the equity on the short run as investors are likely going to be more careful in demanding for it as they are not too sure of the possibility of price appreciation in the near future just as the prospect of earning dividend declines due to the dwindling profitability ratio. Following the trend of profitability ratio, investment ratio equally nosedived during the period under review, as Earnings per Share (EPS) reduced by 51.2 per cent in the comparing period to N1.25 from N2.56. The drop in EPS has been interpreted by some analysts to imply a likely reduction in dividend earning by year end. Those who hold this view based their argument on the conservative nature of the company’s board of directors in terms of dividend payment. For instance, EPS for the financial year ended December 31, 2011 amounted to N3.09, out of which the board proposed the payment of 40 kobo per share, transferring the balance of N2.69 into the reserve to beef up shareholders’ funds. However, the question which many discerning investors have continued to ask is how long will the board continue to beef up shareholders fund to the detriment of the appreciation of share price? BC

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Behind d Wheels This page is open to sponsorship

Land Rover threw out the rule book with the Evoque, but the changes to its flagship Range Rover for 2013 are more conservative By Salami Semiu

ot everyone needs to save fuel. For those who can afford an uncompromising blend of off-road performance and luxury, the Land Rover Range Rover really is in a class of one. For 2013, Land Rover is giving this brute a refresh. After the shockingly different Evoque, the company obviously felt that major changes to its flagship model would be too much. The 2013 Range Rover retains its classic boxy profile, but with a few adjustments. The front end used to be upright, but now it’s more rounded to bring the Range Rover in line with the Evoque. The formerly square headlights and taillights now have little tails, again, copied from the Evoque. The 2013 model still looks like a Range Rover, and that’s why the Evoque styling cues don’t exactly jibe with the rest of the body. The vents just below the headlights look out of place too, like they were stuck on at the last minute to make the massive front bumper seem smaller. Styling aside, the 2013 Range Rover gets several mechanical updates that should make it a more capable vehicle. The body may look the same as the 2012, but it’s completely new. Land Rover scrapped the old model’s steel monocoque for an aluminium one, which will save weight and improve fuel economy. The company says 2013 Range Rovers are 39 percent lighter than 2012s. Under the hood, the 2013 Range Rover retains the 5.0-liter naturally aspirated and supercharged V8s from the 2012 model, with the same 510 and 375 horsepower, respectively. However, both engines are hooked up to a new transmission: an eight-speed automatic replaces the old six-speed. The 2013 Range Rover sends its power to all four wheels through an electronic two-speed transfer case. It also gets a revised air suspension system, which can raise the SUV’s ride height on command for off-road driving. What sets the Range Rover apart from other luxury SUVs is its off-road prowess so, Land Rover will continue to offer its

The Land Rover revolution Terrain Response system in 2013 models. The system automatically adjusts the traction control, throttle response, and other settings based on the surface the vehicle is travelling over. All of this will be controlled from a restyled interior. Like the exterior, the 2013 Range Rover’s interior combines traditional Range Rover design elements with some bits of the Evoque. The small Land Rover’s leather-wrapped dashboard, floating touch screen, and gear knob (first seen on the Jaguar XF) will make their way into the Range Rover. The 2013 model is also more spacious, with extra 4.7-inches of rear legroom. What is it? The all-new Range Rover, which introduces an even higher level of luxury to the iconic off-roader is available with a choice of three different engines at launch, the range kicks off with two diesels – a 254bhp, 443lb ft V6 turbodiesel (196g/ km and 37.7mpg combined) and 334bhp, 516lb ft SDV8 (229g/ km and 32.5mpg) - and the supercharged 5-litre V8 petrol with 503bhp and 461lb ft of torque (322g/km and 20.5mpg). Technical highlights The big news is the new car’s all-aluminium body construction, resulting in a significant reduction in kerb weight; this peaks at a remarkable 420kg saving on the new 3-litre TDV6 version compared to the outgoing 4.4-litre TDV8 that its performance apparently equates to. Other key technical high-

lights include new ‘active roll reduction’ using an updated version of Land Rover’s ‘Dynamic Response’ system, which we first experienced when the Range Rover Sport was introduced. Stop-start is standard on the TDV6 but is not available on the other models initially. What’s it like to drive? Very different to the previous model is the short answer. The chief difference is in the steering, which feels much more direct than before, thanks to an allnew electrically powered steering rack and revised front suspension design. The sweetest steering version of all is the TDV6, thanks to it having the lightest engine (the 254bhp TDV6 is 200kg lighter overall than the new SDV8). This makes a bigger difference than you might expect because both the ride and engine refinement seem to be better on the smaller engine model too, even though Land Rover says spring rates and damping are very similar across the model range. While the TDV6 offers more than adequate performance (0-60mph 7.4sec, 130mph top speed), there’s a significant jump in perceived power when you get behind the wheel of the SDV8 that’s most noticeable when overtaking. Once up to motorway speeds though, there’s little to choose between the two diesel models in terms of quietness, with the bigger diesel turning over at a mere 1400rpm at 70mph. The 60mm wider track and lower roofline on the new car

have both helped to give it a far more agile feel through corners than any previous Range Rovers (not hard, we know) and even though the TDV6 lacks the trick new anti-roll technology, it rolls far less than we expected it to when pushed. How does it compare? With the introduction of the new version, the Range Rover is entering an even higher echelon of luxury than we’ve yet seen in this segment of the market. Previously, there has always been a whiff of ‘utilitarian’ to Land Rovers finest but that’s feeling that’s banished on this new model. The new Range Rover can compete head-on with luxury titans like the Bentley Continental GT and Rolls-Royce Ghost like never before. Anything else you need to know? It’s expensive when you compare it to the outgoing model. Ignoring the N17.8 million (£71,295) TDV6 entry model, like-for-like pricing on the V8 diesel model has increased by close to £15-20,000 compared to its predecessor. Land Rover says the average price of the new Range Rovers it already has in its order bank is close to £94,000, and on the supercharged Autobiography models it’s running at close to £120,000. So while the Range Rover has always appeared relatively good value for what it offers, it’s now priced much closer to its true competitors. Even so, we expect the new Range Rover will find a ready audience because it remains the ultimate luxury offroader but now offers remark-

ably better on-road manners than it ever did before. That’s a unique combination. Aluminium Construction The new fourth-generation Range Rover could have been a lot more goliath-like had it not been for its all-aluminium construction. This is the world’s first all-aluminium monocoque SUV, using lessons learned from the Ford P2000 concept sedan from 1999. There are some spectacular weight savings here. The body is 39 per cent lighter than the steel body on its predecessor, which results in total weight savings of up to 926 lbs., although on one of the two US. specification models, the naturally-aspirated, five-litre gasoline V-8, that figure is only 700 lbs. While the engines and most of the permanent four-wheel drive system are carried over from the old model, there are changes, including the adoption of the new ZF eight-speed automatic transmission, with steering wheel paddles to swap ratios. There’s the latest Terrain Response system, which matches driveline settings with what’s under the wheels using a series of icon indicators. The air-sprung suspension gets a total revamp to cope with what amounts to an entire complement of passengers less to carry about and the electronically assisted power steering has its software mapping configured to suit. Looks count, but it can back them up The new Range Rover is an altogether better-looking machine, with a cleaner design

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Business Courage A19 35

Monday, November 12, 2012

Behind d Wheels This page is open to sponsorship struction, the same maximum towing weight of 3.44 tons. The permanent four-wheel drive goes via a locking centre differential and optional locking rear differential. The Terrain Response system is augmented with electronic traction and safety aids including: hill-descent control, gradient release control, hill-start assist, dynamic stability control, electronic traction control and rollstability control, which pumps up the outside of the vehicle in bends to maintain stability.

and the sparkly bits like LED lamps tucked away under glass covers. Design chief, Gerry McGovern and his team have done a fine job with this big car by not over adorning it - witness the Infiniti FX if you want to see how not to do it. One of

the things the Range Rover has done traditionally better than almost any rival is driving off the road. The paper specifications look good, with a longer wheelbase, which improves approach and departure angles and, despite the lighter con-

Driving the Range Rover On the road, the Range Rover has a new-found stability, although it still ‘clambers’ slightly at speed as a consequence of its long wheel travel. Those expecting the steering precision of a Porsche Cayenne or BMW X5 will be mildly disappointed, but the Range Rover can do things they can’t. That doesn’t mean you’re be driving a wallowing, rolling luxobarge, Range Rover has a fine high-speed stability and it comes off the turns with well controlled body roll and firm suspension. It’s also a highly refined tourer, with a comfort and quietness at speed that means you climb out pretty fresh, however far you’ve driven. The all round disc brakes are excellent, too, inspiring a firsttouch confidence and with linearity that matches their stopping power. Absolutely, whether you are a new or returning Range Rover customer, you’ll be impressed with the levels of refinement, increased quality inside and smoother overall performance.BC

Chrysler recalls about 919,000 Jeep SUVs

hrysler is recalling over 919,000 Jeep Grand Cherokee and Jeep Liberty SUVs worldwide due to a potential defect that can cause their airbags to unexpectedly inflate while the vehicles are being driven. A total of 775,000 older versions of the two Jeep models will be impacted in the U.S., along with 49,000 sold in Canada, 22,000 in Mexico and the rest distributed to other global markets. Though the problem has not led to any accidents, there have been a number of minor injuries caused by the inadvertent airbag deployments. The latest recall adds to the growing tally of safety actions related to airbag safety defects. Ford, Honda and Hyundai are among the list of other makers who have been affected in recent years. The Jeep problem involves Grand Cherokees produced in the 2002 through 2004 model-years, and Liberty SUVs produced in 2002 and 2003. The problem has been linked to a defective part in the computer used to control the airbags. Under normal circumstances, airbags rely on a network of sensors that indicate when and where a collision has occurred – and on more recent models, sensors also detect the severity of a crash and where occupants are sitting in the vehicle. The Jeeps involved in the

recall may see their front or side-impact airbags inflate even if they aren’t involved in a collision. Pre-tensioning seatbelts may also be triggered. A Chrysler spokesman noted that the problem has occurred in less than three-hundreths of a percent of the Jeep Liberty and Grand Cherokee models on the road. Chrysler says it plans to notify owners by January and repairs will be made to the electrical system at no charge to consumers. Automotive manufacturers have seen a number of airbag issues pop up in recent years forcing them to recall large numbers of vehicles. In July, Hyundai recalled 220,000 Sonata sedans and Santa Fe SUVs from the 2007 to 2009 modelyears because sensors designed to protect small children in an airbag deployment might not work. The maker also recalled nearly 23,000 late-model Sonatas for a separate airbag problem. Ford announced the recall of 154,000 Fiesta models due to airbag problems last month, and the maker previously called back 1.5 million vehicles – including 1.2 million F-Series pickups – due to unexpected airbag deployments. Honda, meanwhile, has recalled over 2.5 million vehicles sold through the Honda and Acura brands because they could deploy with too much force, sending deadly shrapnel into the passenger compartment. The problem was linked to at least two deaths. BC

Autocare Five car problems you shouldn’t fix yourself

o you sometimes take things apart and then realize you have no idea how to get them back together? If these questions ring true, they’re signs that you should probably leave your car repair to a qualified professional. It’s a common issue with do-it-yourself (DIY) auto repair: you might have a rough idea of how to do the job, yet you don’t know all the details along the way—let alone what could go wrong in the process, or what to do if it does. The consequences can be much more expensive. There are cases as simple as a customer who replaced an air filter and accidentally detached a vacuum line, to many who’ve in the course of a brake job broken a sensor or set off a warning light— or those who have managed to foul out during major maintenance like timing-belt replacement. In all of these instances, the piece of the repair job they were missing—in addition to understanding what might go wrong—is the diagnosis and troubleshooting that’s part of a real mechanic’s job. In this era of networked cars and onboard diagnostics, even tasks that sound very simple could prove problematic. For instance, in some car models, you can’t simply install and connect a new power-window switch and expect it to work and in others, you will need to take it to the dealership and update the system to recognize that new component. If you have some experience turning a wrench, and you know your way under the hood of your car, it’s probably tempting to spend a little extra time on the weekend doing some of those smaller repairs. But first, you need to get familiar with the repair manual for your car and you need hands-on training. First, what can you do? In addition to replacing cabin and air filters, as well as wiper blades, there are a number of routine checks and minor maintenance items that the typical owner can perform, like checking fluids and lubricants, along with replacing belts and hoses, filters, and perhaps starters and alternators—all if nothing’s already at the point of failure. But even for the more skilled shade-tree mechanic, any job that requires extensive troubleshooting—or the potential for diagnosing other related issues along the way—is best left to the pros. Also, once there’s been a failure, overheat, or a breakdown—or a ‘check engine’ light is on, DIY is off the table. Below are five things that, unless you have a mechanics’ certification and some years of specialized training, you should definitely leave to the professionals: Timing-belt replacement For many vehicles, the timing-belt replacement that’s part of a major-maintenance visit is one of the largest repair bills you’ll end up seeing for your vehicle. And with the parts a relatively small portion, it’s tempting to try it yourself. But don’t. Transmission maintenance or repair Automatic transmissions contain thousands of small parts, precise tolerances, and narrow passageways for hydraulic fluid. It’s a smart move that leave transmission repair to specialized transmission shops, and keep maintenance like flushes and fluid changes to skilled mechanics, not to your own workshop or oilchange places. Overheating With some level of training and the right tools, cooling-system maintenance—like replacing hoses and the thermostat—is one of the more advanced repairs that a skilled home mechanic can do. But if the engine’s already overheated, forget about it—there’s just too much risk involved (your engine and thousands of money is on the line), and you need to have a proper mechanic diagnose the issue and do some damage control. Drivability problems and error codes When your car doesn’t start, or you have drivability issues like stalling, hesitating, or surging—accompanied perhaps by the ubiquitous ‘check engine’ light—DIY mechanics simply don’t have the training to diagnose and troubleshoot. Replacing suspension components Suspension pieces like struts, arms, and bushings look deceptively easy to replace, but there are plenty of ways this kind of repair can go wrong in the hands of the uninitiated. Beginners might not understand the tremendous force that’s in a compressed coil spring (when replacing struts, for instance); they might do things in the wrong order; or they might not realize that part of the suspension supports the front subframe—and the engine. It’s impractical and cost-prohibitive for a home mechanic to own some of the specialty equipment (like a wheel-alignment rack) needed to get the job done right, while labour costs aren’t all that high for typical suspension repairs, so you might as well leave them to the professionals. BC

A20 36

Business Courage

Guinness Nigeria Plc sheds profit by 29 per cent By Tayo Adeleke

rewery giant, Guinness Nigeria Plc, has announced a drop in profit to the tune of 29 per cent in the first quarter of the financial year ending June, 2013. It posted a profit after tax of N1.81 billion compared to N2.53 billion in first quarter 2012. The drop could be traced to management’s inability to grow its sales during the period, despite increase in operating expenses. It also means that the cost cutting strategies of Guinness are not working well in the review period, resulting in high cost but low profitability. Also, the company’s failure to increase sales should be an eye opener to the management that other breweries are catching up with them in term of market share expansion. The unaudited report for the review period puts turnover at N25.72 billion against N25.77 billion in 2011, representing a decline of N49.19 million. The company’s operating expenses moved up by four per cent to N8.12 billion from N7.69 billion in 2011 while interest charges stood at N755.55 million. Profit before tax dropped by 29 per cent to N2.66 billion from N3.72 billion in 2011. Earnings per share closed at 122 kobo from 171 kobo in the comparable period of 2011. Looking at the position of the company’s balance sheet for the period, it shows a mix performance. Fixed assets grew to N78.26 billion from N75.01 billion posted in the financial year ended June 2012. Total

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Ribadu committee report:

Dead on arrival

Ateru, Managing Director/CEO, Guinness Nigeria Plc

non-current assets stood at N80.88 billion while current assets grew to N36.94 billion from N30.14 billion in 2011. The company’s current liability was more than current assets in the review period. Current liabilities closed at N53.49 billion as against current assets of N36.94 billion. The company’s working capital was negative at N16.56 billion; up from N14.94 billion deficit recorded at the end of financial year ended June 2012. But shareholders’ fund stood at N40.4 billion from N38.6 billion in the comparable period. BC

Chellarams records drop in sales, profit By Festus Okoromadu

he unaudited financial account of Chellarams Plc for the second quarters ended September 30, 2012 has shown that both revenue and profit recorded a decline. The result made public through the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) last weekend shows that turnover declined to N11.39 billion as against N12.19 billion posted in the same period of 2011. The figures represent 6.58 per cent reduction in sales during the period. Similarly, profit after tax declined by 33.89 per cent to N110.02 million from N166.43 million in 2011. As a result, profit margin dropped to 0.97 per cent from 1.37 per cent while pre tax profit margin reduced to 1.28 per cent from 1.72 per cent. By implication, for every N100 generated from sales during the period under review, only 97 kobo was converted to distributable profit as against N1.37 in the comparing period of 2011. However, some analysts have attributed the depression in turnover in the second quarters of 2012 to the streamlining of the group’s subsidiaries in recent times. One of such is the closure of the bicycle manufacturing arm of the group. “This decision may have impacted negatively on turnover while increase in cost of finances led to the expanded decline in net profit”, an analysts reasoned. It will be recalled that Solomon Onafowokan, chairman, board of directors of Chellarams hinted recently that

Monday, November 12, 2012

Onafowokan

Chelltek Industries Limited, one of the group’s subsidiary will stop to operate. According to him, the company had become unprofitable due to unfavourable government policies, he made the disclosure while addressing shareholders at the 63rd annual general meeting (AGM) held in Lagos in September. “We are discounting the business of Bicycle manufacturing in Chelltek Industries Limited for now”, he stated. He stated that the company will stop operations until better protection are offered to local manufacturers by government. BC

s expected, the report of the Petroleum Revenue Special Task Force was presented to President Goodluck Jonathan last Friday amid a gale of controversy that erupted shortly after aspect of the report were leaked almost three weeks ago to Reuters, the international news agency. The leakage attributed to the Task Force chairman, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, had drawn the ire of many of the task force members who had claimed that they knew nothing of the report and that the drafting of the report was to sole handiwork of the chairman. Such claims were repeated right in the presence of Mr. President on the submission day by the deputy chairman of the task force, Mr. Steve Oronsanye, a former Head of the Civil Service of the Federation. The initial feelers that emerged just after the leakage was that the action was a “pre-emptive strive” against some forces that were bent on maintaining the status quo in the corruption ridden oil and gas sector by covering up misdeeds and shielding some powerful individuals. Let us not forget that the task force was set up by the Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke in the aftermath of the fuel subsidy probe by both the House of Representatives and the Aig-Imokhuede panel that indicted many fuel importers, government officials and independent auditors of complicity in the massive fraud that characterised the fuel import regime. Indeed questions were raised then about the moral grounds on which the minister herself stood in raising the task force, given that these shenanigans went on right under her nose. Nonetheless, the task force was given a mandate to look at the wider issues affecting oil and gas operations over the 10 year period between 2001 and 2011 and in a nutshell, examine how the government and indeed Nigerians had been short changed in terms of revenue losses, unpaid taxes, sweetheart deals and outright pillaging of national resources totalling some N7trn. What came up from the leaked report was no surprise and it underlined the very reason why a massive reform in needed in this critical sector especially the emplacement of an updated legal framework to govern the sector, which the long overdue Petroleum Industry Bill seeks to address. According to the leaked document, the committee found inconsistencies in pattern of allocation of 445,000 barrels per day to the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, and prices paid for such allocations over the 10 year period and that the government might have been short-changed to the tune of $5bn from the application of price differentials. The report further pointed out that a total of N37.5bn was due to the government from gas sales from the Bonga field operated by Shell as at 2009. It also raised eyebrows over the pricing of gas sold to the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas, NLNG, which was lower than international prices and claimed that the cumulative deficit between the international market value and what was obtained from NLNG was approximately $29bn over the 10 year period. The task force report also faulted the management of the oil block allocations and bid rounds pointing out that there

was outstanding balance of $566m unpaid in signature bonuses from the 67 licenses were awarded between 1 January 2005 and 31 December 2011 in addition to $183m outstanding on seven discretionary allocations reviewed. This is in addition to it faulting the practice of the use of oil traders in crude lifting contrary to the global trend wherein national oil companies develop their own trading arms. According to the report, the NNPC Joint Venture operations had been riddled with problem as the government had failed to allocate enough funds to meet cash call obligation standing at N459.5bn as at end of 2009 and had resulted in NNPC having to borrow money to pay its partners at considerable cost. A further review of the operations of the NNPC showed that the company and its 16 subsidiaries were in an operational deficit of about N298bn for the period and that the company was grossly underfunded while it was being owed about N27bn while the company also owed supplier about $3.6bn. In recommending solutions to these problems, Ribadu said among others that the revenue collection and accounting systems needs to be automated while, “the government will need to put in place a coherent financing solution that allows government to fund its obligation under the joint venture contract. Funding Government obligation will unlock additional capital from our JV partners which will overtime increase government revenue from the proportionate additional balance of crude oil revenues, royalties on the entire production and taxes on taxable incomes”. However, Oronsaye, who Ribadu accused of representing the interest of Addax Petroleum, which allegedly owes $1.5bn in unpaid taxes, told Jonathan that the process was “flawed” and that essentially, the report be discarded. Oronsaye and another member, Bernard Oti, according to Ribadu however did not participate at meetings and were appointed to the NNPC board while the task force was sitting and indeed tried to “bully” other members raising the issue of material conflict of interest. However, recent developments including a challenge from the Presidency to Ribadu to name those who tried to influence the committee and leakage of his letter to the Minister of Petroleum in which he admitted that some figures required reconciliation confirms what we all fear – that this report is dead on arrival. While it is unacceptable that the national oil company continues to play the role of a mere rent taker in the sector instead of being an active participant deploying skilled manpower, new technologies, strategic management and exploring frontiers well beyond our shores, the establishment that benefits from this messy arrangement does not want any reform in spite of all the posturing in the media and elsewhere. If this government was serious about reforming the oil sector, all the requirements are enshrined in the Petroleum Industry Bill (not the watered down version), which have been in the pipeline for seven years. The simple way to end the brigandage in the oil industry is to deregulate and liberalise the sector. Sell the refineries and open the NNPC to competition. After all, this is what is being done in the power sector. The rest will take care of itself. BC

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Business Courage

Monday, November 12, 2012

A21 37

Wema Bank records N10bn loss, plans N35bn capital injection By Festus Okoromadu

ema Bank Plc has announced plans to inject N35 billion fresh capital into its business by December 2012. The additional capital will enable the bank seek regulatory approval for a National Banking License. Segun Oloketuyi, Managing Director/CEO of Wema Bank disclosed this last week while presenting the bank’s financial results for 2011 to the officials of the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE). According to him, plans were at advanced stages to conclude on a N35 billion tier1 Capital raising exercise which commenced a few months ago with a firm commitment of N15 billion by a core investors already in place. “We expect to begin the process of seeking regulatory approval as soon as all necessary plans are finalized”, he stated. Segun expressed optimism that the injection of additional capital will enable the bank achieve optimal business results by driving volumes as more risk assets and investment securities are financed in the short-to-medium term. “The additional capital position will enable Wema Bank seek regulatory approval for a National Banking license to further take advantage of opportunities in other commercial hubs in the country” he stated. The bank according to him will on the long-run

Oloketuyi

maintain robust liquidity and ensure efficiency in investments whilst continuing to focus on attracting and retaining the best talents in the industry, efficient customer service delivery, support key business areas of SME banking, retail and commercial banking and the achievement of superior returns in order to become the leading retail bank in Nigeria. Speaking on the bank’s performance and plans, the CEO remarked that despite the daunting dynamics of the operating environment, the bank remains committed to scaling growth positively whilst adhering to best practice in risk-management and corporate governance and without comprising on the bank’s values of integrity, professionalism and

exceptional service. “The past three years have seen Wema Bank evolve into one of the leaders in the retail banking space through a wellstructured transformation process that has seen the implementation of sound corporate governance and risk management frameworks to further engender a stronger and more dynamic business model. We are thus confident in our resolve to translate challenges into opportunities and maximising value for all stakeholders” Meanwhile, the bank’s financial account for the year ended December 31, 2011 released to the market on Friday, shows gross earnings appreciated by 30.22 per cent to N28.39 billion from N21.80 billion in similar period of 2010. The bank however posted a loss after tax of N10.09 billion as against a profit after tax of N17.46 billion in the corresponding year. However, a growth of 9.45 per cent was recorded in total assets in 2011 whilst non-performing loans (NPL) ratio reduced significantly from 56 per cent in 2010 to 14 per cent in 2011. A statement from the bank has put the NPL for the third quarter of 2012 at 4.5 per cent, attributing it to an aggressive focus on loans books cleaner efforts and better risk management strategies applied. BC

Union Bank rakes N17.2bn profit in nine months By Festus Okoromadu

nion Bank of Nigeria (UBN) Plc has announced a profit after tax of N17.18billion for the third quarter ended September 30, 2012. When compared with a loss after tax of N59.14billion recorded in the similar period of 2011, the performance represents 123.98 per cent increase. Gross earnings during the comparing period declined by 5.88 per cent to N86.78billion as against N95.39billion

in 2011. Similarly, interest income depleted by 10.36 per cent to N66.95billion from N74.69billion. However, there was a record improvement on key performance indices which led to the posting of a positive net profit during the period. For instance, interest expenses declined by 45.24 per cent to N14.72billion as against N16.88billion in 2011, while net interest income increased by 9.24 per cent to N52.23billion

rising from N47.81billion. Operating expenses was equally cut down to N52.74billion from N81.47billion while provision for loan loss otherwise call loan expenses was put at N3.31billion as against N60.85billion. The result offers shareholders a relief as earning per share (EPS) returns to the positive. EPS for the period stood at 328kobo as against 1406kobo posted by December 31, 2011. BC

Market Indicators for Week Ended 09-11-12 All-Share Index 26,718.30 points Market Capitalisation N8,514,322,758,618.52 Stock Updates GAINERS COMPANY

ctivities on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) ended on a downward trend last Friday with the market indices dropping by 0.62 per cent. The market capitalisation lost N53 billion or 0.62 per cent to close at N8.51 trillion due to price loses. This was against the N8.57 trillion recorded on Thursday. Also, the All-Share Index depreciated by 165.84 points or 0.62 per cent to close at 26,718.30 against the 26,883.76 posted on Thursday. Market analysts attributed

the development to profittaking by some investors. Nigerian Breweries recorded the highest price loss, dropping N2.70 to close at N135.30 per share. It was trailed by Flour Mills which lost N1.98 to close at N63.02 per share. NCR lost 68kobo to close at N13.09 per share, GTBank depreciated by 60kobo to close at N20.10 while Glaxo decreased by 50kobo to close at N43 per share. Conversely, NewGold led the price gainers’ chart with N30 to close at N2, 652 per unit.

Lafarge Wapco followed with a gain of 90kobo to close at N57.51, while Berger Paints gained 40kobo to close at N8.40 per share. Unilever rose by 10kobo to close at N41.60 per share, while Livestock appreciated by 6kobo to close at N1.55 per share. The volume of shares traded dropped by 8.58 per cent as a total of 255.33 million shares worth N1.91 billion were traded in 4,076 deals. This was against 279.29 million shares valued at N2.98 billion traded in 4,478 deals on BC Thursday.

CLOSING PRICE

CHANGE

8.00

8.40

LIVESTOCK

1.49

1.55

4.03

UNITYBNK

0.51

0.53

3.92

MAYBAKER

1.56

1.62

3.85

JAPAULOIL

0.58

0.60

3.45

5.00

LOSERS COMPANY

OPENING PRICE

CLOSING PRICE

CHANGE

AIICO

0.63

0.58

-7.94

CUTIX

1.62

1.54

-4.94 -4.94

NCR

13.77

13.09

PORTPAINT

3.90

3.71

-4.87

WEMABANK

0.56

0.54

-3.57

Inter-Bank Rates TENOR

NSE market capitalisation drops by N53bn

OPENING PRICE

BERGER

RATE%(PREV) 31-Oct-2012

RATE%(CURR) 08-Nov-2012

OBB

10.5000 – 13.7500

10.2500 – 12.9300

CALL

11.0000 – 14.0000

10.5000 – 12.7500

Primary Market Auction TENOR 91-Days

AMOUNT (N’mn) 32,057.31

RATE (%) 12.75

DATE 07-Nov-12

182-Days

50,000

13.03

07-Nov-12

364-Days

47,786.39

13.05

07-Nov-12

Open Market Operation TENOR

AMOUNT (N’mn)

83-Days

50,000

RATE (%) 13.95

DATE 09-Nov-12

76-Days

50,000

13.94

09-Nov-12

84-Days

100,000

13.99

08-Nov-12

Wholesale Dutch Auction System AMOUNT OFFERED

MARKET DEMAND

AMOUNT SOLD

DATE

$50m

07-Nov-12

$50m

$29.9m

05-Nov-12

A22 38

Business Courage

Monday, November 12, 2012

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

ABC Transport: When operating cost impairs earning By Tayo Adeleke

he financial performance of ABC Transport Plc in both top and bottom line has not been encouraging in recent time as revealed in the analysis of the company’s financial data for the year ended December 30 2011. The company recorded a loss after tax of N68 million compared with a profit of N57.51 million. The results also show a downward trend in liquidity, profitability and capital adequacy ratios. ABC Transport commenced operations in road passenger transport in February 13, 1993 as an off-shoot of Rapido Ventures Limited with an authorized share capital of N1 million. The authorized and paid up share capitals have since increased to N800 million. ABC Transport is a diversified company in terms of ownership and investments. The company went through a successful initial public offer in September 2006, thereby converting the company to a public limited liability company, with over 18,000 shareholders. ABC Transport now runs an urban mass transit scheme, aimed at offering subsidized fare for public commuters in Lagos. ABC Transport, the only publiclyquoted road transport company in Nigeria, is a major haulage transporter with Lafarge-WAPCO, Nestle, Beta Glass, and United Cement Company. The company also runs City Transit Inn, a budget hotel accommodation in Abuja, tours and petty cash service.

What’s new? In response to its customers increasing demand for a medium size bus, ABC Smart Coach, has begun operations. It is a fully air-conditioned 27-seater medium coach that plies Lagos, Abuja, Port-Harcourt, Enugu and Onitsha routes. Meanwhile, in accordance with the cashless policy of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), customers of ABC Transport have opportunity to make use of the POS terminals placed in some ABC Lagos terminals. This can be done either through the use of Visa card, Master card or any other authorized debit cards. Financial Health ABC Transport Plc in its audited results for the year ended 31st December 2011 recorded a growth of 26.82 per cent in turnover over the 2010 result. Turnover increased from N4.61 billion in 2010 to N5.85 billion in 2011 representing an increase of 26.89 per cent while operating profit indicating increased operational efficiency, grew from N392.94 million in 2010 to N459.71 million in 2011 an increase of 16.99 per cent. Profit

Frank Nneji, ABC Transport MD

before tax, however, decreased by 57.63 per cent from N172.25 million in 2010 to N72.97 million in 2011 as a result of increased in financing costs, which rose from N220.68 million in 2010 to N386 million in 2011 representing an increase of 75.24 per cent. This sharp increase was occasioned by new financing obtained for investment in haulage services at Lafarge WAPCO cement plant at Ewekoro, Ogun state, which only began to stabilize towards the end of 2011. A loss after tax of N68.18 million was recorded against a profit after tax of N57.51 million recorded in 2010. This was as a result of the huge tax burden on the additional investment in ABC Financial Data

haulage resulting from the timing differences between depreciation, which is disallowed for tax purposes and capital allowances granted by the Inland Revenue. However, the management is optimistic that the huge unutilized tax allowances are expected to result in decreases in future tax liabilities and profitability as the haulage business achieves greater efficiency and adequate profits are available to absorb the unutilized allowances. Profitability Ratios Financial analysis performed on ABC financial report for year ended December 2011 showed a reduced performance as profitability measuring indices nose2011 =N=(‘N000)

2010 =N=(‘N000)

Turnover

5,849,000

4,612,000

Cost of sales

4,067,000

3,101,000

Gross Profit

1,782,000

1,511,000

Profit Before Taxation

72,969

172,256

Profit After Taxation

-68,179

57,505

Admin Expenses

1,410,000

1,186,000

Shareholders fund

1,666,000

1,764,000

Interest Expenses

387

221

Current Asset

3,491,763

2,588,841

Current Liabilities

3,281,281

1,990,324

Fixed Assets

1,455,000

1,165,000

Current Assets-stocks

3,311,789

2,449,397

Trade Debtors

229,516

182,829

Trade Creditors

262,370

140,014

Sales Growth(%)

26.82

PAT Growth (%)

-218.56

Cost of sales (growth)

31.15

Profitability Ratios Return on Equity (%)

-4.09

3.26

Gross profit Margin (%)

30.47

32.76

Profit Margin (%)

-1.17

1.25

Pretax Profit Margin (%)

1.25

3.73

Current Ratio

1.06

1.3

Quick Ratio

1.01

1.23

Debtors(No of days)

14.32

14.47

Creditors(No of days)

23.55

16.48

Liquidity Ratios

dived from the previous year’s figures. This implies that the company earns less in the review financial year. To start with, gross profit margin dropped by 2.29 basis points to closed at 30.47 per cent from 32.76 per cent in 2010 report. In a similar development, profit before tax margin was down by 2.48 basis points to 1.25 per cent from 3.73 per cent while the company posted loss margin of -1.17 per cent from 1.25 per cent in 2010. The implication of this is that, the company incurred more in the review year having recorded 101.17 per cent cost to income ratio in 2011 compared with 98.75 per cent in 2010. A cursory look at the company’s five year financial summary shows that the cost has been on high, a situation that needs urgent attention of the company management. Return on equity (ROE) which shows how much earnings attributed to shareholders decreased to a negative figure of 4.09 per cent from 3.26 per cent in 2010. Liquidity Ratios Liquidity ratios which show if companies have financial power to sustain its business operation in years to come revealed a downward trend in ABC Transport Plc financial results. A cursory look at the company’s liquidity position shows that despite recording healthy assets in the last two years, the company would not be able to meet its entire financial obligation if all its debtors were to come up once. Current ratio which expresses relationship between the current liability and current assets stood at 1.06:1 in 2011 against 1.30:1 in the previous year. This implies that ABC Transport has N1.06 of current assets to meet N1.00 of its current liability. Similarly, quick ratio which was regarded as an acid test of liquidity for a company stood at 1.01:1 in 2011, down from 1.23:1 achieved in the previous year. This shows that the company has 101 kobo of quick assets to meet N1.00 of its current liability. However, the number of day debtors takes to pay decreased

from 15 days in 2010 to 14 days. This is a sign that the quality of the company’s debtors is improving. Trade creditors also moved from 17 days to 24 days in 2011. This allows the company to extend its payment day to its creditors. Cost Management ABC Transport’s direct cost of sales increased from N3.1 billion in December 2010 to N4.07 billion in 2011, representing a growth of 31 per cent. A point worthy of note here is the difference in growth trend between the direct cost of sales and the gross income earned by the company. It will be recalled that sales grew by 27 per cent in the review year. The variance between its growth rates was not moderate and the implication of this is that, the top line growth does not translate to the bottom line earnings, because the company has not been efficient in its cost control. As a result of the backdrop of interest on borrowed funds; the company makes provision for interest charge in the review as interest charge increased significantly in the review period. An analysis of the interest on loan reveals that the company provided N387 million in 2011 against N221 million recorded in the same period of 2010, representing 75 per cent decrease. Future Being the only quoted company on the transportation sub-sector of Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), the management of the company needs to prove to the investing public in term of good performance that the sector is a place to be considered for investment. The management of the company needs to do more in terms of cost control and interest charge to bring the company back to profitability by the end of the ongoing financial year. There is also the call for business diversification, a business that is less capital intensive with modest operating cost. Meanwhile, the management is forecasting a profit before tax and profit after tax of N168.26 million and N100.96 million respectively for BC the fourth quarter ending De-

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Business Courage A23 39

Monday, November 12, 2012

STOCKWATCH Stock Exchange weekly equities summary as at Friday, Nov 9, 2012 SECURITY

PRICE (=N=)

AGRICULTURE/AGRO-ALLIED Crop Production FTN COCOA PROCESSORS PLC NT OKOMU OIL PALM PLC. 34.50 PRESCO PLC 14.00 Fishing/Hunting/Trapping ELLAH LAKES PLC. NT Livestock/Animal Specialties LIVESTOCK FEEDS PLC. 1.55 CONGLOMERATES Diversified Industries A.G. LEVENTIS NIGERIA PLC. 1.29 CHELLARAMS PLC. NT JOHN HOLT PLC. NT S C O A NIG. PLC. NT U A C N PLC. 40.22 CONSTRUCTION/REAL ESTATE Building Construction ARBICO PLC. NT 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. 30.61 ROADS NIG PLC. NT Real Estate Development PINNACLE POINT GROUP PLC NT UACN PROPERTY DEV 11.40 Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) SKYE SHELTER FUND PLC 100.00 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 265.00 INTERNATIONAL BREWERIES PLC. 12.75 JOS INT. BREWERIES PLC. NT NIGERIAN BREW. PLC. 134.30 PREMIER BREWERIES PLC NT Beverages--Non-Alcoholic 7-UP BOTTLING COMP. PLC. 40.95 Food Products BIG TREAT PLC NT DANGOTE FLOUR MILLS PLC 7.85 DANGOTE SUGAR REFINERY PLC 5.45 FLOUR MILLS NIG. PLC. 63.02 HONEYWELL FLOUR MILL PLC 2.26 MULTI-TREX INTEGRATED FOODS PLC 1.00 N NIG. FLOUR MILLS PLC. 20.41 NATIONAL SALT CO. NIG. PLC 6.05 P S MANDRIDES & CO PLC. NT U T C NIG. PLC. 0.70 UNION DICON SALT PLC. NT Food Products--Diversified CADBURY NIGERIA PLC. 24.50 NESTLE NIGERIA PLC. 632.33 Household Durables BETA GLASS CO PLC. NT NIGERIAN ENAMELWARE PLC. NT VITAFOAM NIG PLC. 3.90 VONO PRODUCTS PLC. NT Personal/Household Products P Z CUSSONS NIGERIA PLC. 27.61 UNILEVER NIGERIA PLC. 41.60 Textiles/Apparel UNITED NIG. TEXTILES PLC. NT FINANCIAL SERVICES Banking ACCESS BANK PLC. 8.66 DIAMOND BANK PLC 4.08 ECOBANK TRANSNATIONAL INC. 11.00 FIDELITY BANK PLC 2.09 FIRST BANK OF NIG. PLC 15.94 FIRST CITY MONUMENT BANK PLC. 3.22 GUARANTY TRUST BANK PLC. 20.10 SKYE BANK PLC 4.07 STANBIC IBTC BANK PLC NT STERLING BANK PLC. 1.56 U B A PLC 4.99 UNION BANK NIG.PLC. 8.00 UNITY BANK PLC 0.53 WEMA BANK PLC. 0.54 ZENITH BANK PLC 17.75 Insurance Carriers, Brokers & Services AFRICAN ALLIANCE INS. COY. PLC 0.50 AIICO INSURANCE PLC. 0.58 CONFIDENCE INSURANCE PLC NT CONSOLIDATED HALLMARK INS. PLC NT CONTINENTAL REINSURANCE PLC 0.80 CORNERSTONE INS. COY. PLC. NT CUSTODIAN AND ALLIED INS. PLC 1.29 EQUITY ASSURANCE PLC. NT GOLDLINK INSURANCE PLC NT GREAT NIGERIAN INSURANCE PLC NT GUINEA INSURANCE PLC. NT INTERCONTINENTAL WAPIC INS. PLC NT INTERNATIONAL ENERGY INS. PLC NT INVESTMENT AND ALLIED ARN. NT LASACO ASSURANCE PLC. 0.50 LAW UNION AND ROCK INS. PLC. NT LINKAGE ASSURANCE PLC 0.50 MANSARD INSURANCE PLC 1.76 MUTUAL BENEFITS ASSURANCE PLC. NT N.E.M INSURANCE CO (NIG) PLC. 0.54 NIGER INSURANCE CO. PLC. 0.50 OASIS INSURANCE PLC NT PRESTIGE ASSURANCE CO. PLC. 0.52 REGENCY ALLIANCE INS. COY PLC NT SOVEREIGN TRUST INSURANCE PLC 0.50 STACO INSURANCE PLC 0.50 STANDARD ALLIANCE INS. PLC. 0.50 UNIC INSURANCE PLC. NT UNITY KAPITAL ASSURANCE PLC NT UNIVERSAL INS. COMPANY PLC NT Micro Finance Banks FORTIS MICROFINANCE BANK PLC NT NPF MICROFINANCE BANK PLC NT Mortgage Carriers, Brokers &Services ABBEY BUILDING SOCIETY PLC 1.37 ASO SAVINGS AND LOANS PLC 0.50 RESORT SAVINGS & LOANS PLC 0.50 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. 0.50 HEALTHCARE Healthcare Providers EKOCORP PLC. NT Medical Equipment UNION DIAGNOSTIC &CLINICAL PLC 0.50 Medical Supplies MORISON INDUSTRIES PLC. NT Pharmaceuticals EVANS MEDICAL PLC. 1.32 FIDSON HEALTHCARE PLC 1.05 GLAXO SMITHKLINE CONSUMER PLC 41.89 MAY & BAKER NIGERIA PLC. 1.60

NOTE NT=Not Traded on 09-11-12

QUANTITY

52 WK HIGH

52 WK LOW

SHARES OUTSTANDING

EPS

MOV. (%)

NT 31 857 26 235

0.64 34.01 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 0.00 -3.18

0.50 34.50 14.46

4.26

60 000 000

0.00

N/A

334 330

1.70

0.48

1 199 549 736

0.04

3.33

1.50

22 000 NT NT NT 205 656

2.54 7.60 8.82 8.28 42.50

0.74 5.81 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

-4.44 N/A N/A N/A N/A

1.35 NT NT NT 39.46

NT NT

26.00 95.49

14.09 95.49

148 500 000 196 876 000

0.00 4.50

N/A N/A

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

34 882 NT

62.26 8.69

21.55 3.01

1 200 000 000 20 000 000

4.11 3.66

3.94 N/A

29.45 NT

NT 305 266

7.28 20.15

7.28 8.82

1 375 000 000

0.00 1.66

N/A -8.80

NT 12.50

2 000 000 NT

100.00 50.00

97.00 50.00

20 000 000 250 019 781

11.75 0.75

N/A N/A

100.00 NT

6 500

0.50

4 772 528 415

0.00

N/A

0.50

NT NT 89 094 68 075 NT 1 555 264 NT

4.63 0.68 265.00 12.83 3.20 138.85 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 0.76 N/A N/A 4.47 N/A

NT NT 263.00 12.90 NT 128.55 NT

64 624

48.91

38.31

640 590 362

3.15

N/A

40.95

NT 1 093 437 4 609 345 276 544 723 882 200 3 500 4 181 243 NT 3 000 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 1.00 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

0.00 0.00 0.59 3.60 0.36 0.00 1.20 0.81 0.16 1.13 0.00

N/A -4.27 0.00 -4.53 14.72 N/A N/A 0.83 N/A 0.00 N/A

NT 8.20 5.45 66.01 1.97 NT 20.41 6.00 NT 0.70 NT

40 000 000 1 233 375 004 360 000 000

1 155 042 55 091

29.20 684.00

9.15 367.83

3 129 188 160 792 656 250

1.24 21.21

-9.26 -5.62

27.00 670.00

NT NT 2 134 693 NT

15.58 42.66 6.75 3.67

10.03 34.39 3.01 2.66

63 360 000 819 000 000 300 000 001

3.90 1.61 0.54 0.00

N/A N/A -4.88 N/A

NT 34.39 4.10 NT

123 224 496 742

43.50 41.52

22.07 22.56

3 176 381 636 3 783 296 250

0.51 1.32

6.19 0.24

26.00 41.50

0.97

0.57

843 284 027

0.00

N/A

47 477 485 31 298 959 2 770 623 3 740 619 10 538 140 1 866 763 5 666 099 4 176 163 NT 5 438 106 28 402 227 354 337 16 143 993 2 766 329 14 716 856

11.10 9.27 17.05 3.20 17.01 8.30 20.30 10.17 11.38 2.91 5.21 10.07 1.92 1.75 18.20

4.76 2.01 9.97 1.14 8.50 3.04 11.64 2.73 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

-3.46 -0.97 -6.38 -2.34 0.44 -5.01 -0.20 1.50 #VALUE! -2.50 8.24 -0.12 0.00 -11.48 -0.11

8.97 4.12 11.75 2.14 15.87 3.39 20.14 4.01 7.30 1.60 4.61 8.01 0.59 0.61 17.77

12 500 000 10 328 364 NT NT 18 857 NT 49 000 NT NT NT NT NT NT NT 150 000 NT 100 104 719 NT 2 281 209 36 000 NT 1 085 315 NT 31 700 110 000 1 000 NT NT NT

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 1.31 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 0.57 N/A 3.85 N/A N/A 0.00 N/A 0.00 N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A

NT 0.69 NT 0.50 0.76 NT 1.39 NT NT NT NT 0.50 NT NT 0.50 NT 0.50 1.75 NT 0.52 0.50 NT 0.52 NT 0.50 NT 0.50 NT NT 0.50

NT NT

2 000 4 000 500 7 001 000 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

1 100 000 NT NT NT 300

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 0.50

5.31

5.05

498 600 908

0.12

N/A

100

0.50

3 553 138 528

0.00

N/A

0.50

10.54

7.39

152 178 750

0.00

N/A

200 6 486 000 13 010 245 872

1.45 3.20 39.00 5.61

0.50 0.76 19.30 1.62

486 473 856 1 500 000 000 956 701 192 980 000 000

0.19 0.27 2.41 0.21

0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00

1.32 1.05 41.89 1.60

N/A=Not Avialable

SECURITY

PRICE (=N=)

NEIMETH INT PHARM PLC 1.02 NIGERIA-GERMAN CHEMICALS PLC. NT PHARMA-DEKO PLC. 2.73 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. 13.09 TRIPPLE GEE AND COMPANY PLC. NT Processing Systems CHAMS PLC 0.50 E-TRANZACT INTERNATIONAL PLC NT Telecommunications Carriers STARCOMMS PLC NT Telecommunications Services IHS NIGERIA PLC PREF SHARES NT IHS PLC 2.25 MTI PLC NT INDUSTRIAL GOODS Building Materials AFRICAN PAINTS (NIGERIA) PLC. NT ASHAKA CEM PLC 18.00 BERGER PAINTS PLC 8.40 CAP PLC 29.84 CEMENT CO. OF NORTH.NIG. PLC 5.51 DANGOTE CEMENT PLC 122.50 DN MEYER PLC. NT FIRST ALUMINIUM NIGERIA PLC NT IPWA PLC NT LAFARGE WAPCO PLC. 57.51 PAINTS & COATINGS MANFACT.PLC 1.98 PORTLAND PAINTS & PRDT NIG. PLC 3.71 PREMIER PAINTS PLC. NT Electronic and Electrical Products AUSTIN LAZ & COMPANY PLC 2.00 CUTIX PLC. 1.54 NIGERIAN WIRE AND CABLE PLC. NT NIGERIAN WIRE IND. PLC NT Packaging/Containers ABPLAST PRODUCTS PLC. NT AVON CROWNCAPS & CONTAINERS NT BETA GLASS CO PLC. 10.50 GREIF NIGERIA PLC NT NIG. BAGS MANFACT. COY PLC 1.95 POLY PRODUCTS (NIG) PLC. NT W A GLASS IND. PLC. NT Tools and Machinery NIGERIAN ROPES PLC NT STOKVIS NIG PLC. NT NATURAL RESOURCES Chemicals B.O.C. GASES PLC. 5.69 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 0.60 Integrated Oil and Gas Services OANDO PLC 12.20 Petroleum &Petroleum Products Distributors AFROIL PLC NT BECO PETROLEUM PRODUCT PLC 0.50 CONOIL PLC 17.85 ETERNA PLC. 1.86 FORTE OIL PLC. 9.50 MOBIL OIL NIG PLC. 115.00 MRS OIL NIGERIA PLC. 29.15 TOTAL NIGERIA PLC. 125.00 SERVICES Advertising AFROMEDIA PLC 0.50 Apparel Retailers LENNARDS (NIG) PLC. NT Automobile/Auto Part Retailers R T BRISCOE PLC. 1.63 Courier/Freight/Delivery RED STAR EXPRESS PLC 3.18 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 1.03 TOURIST COMPANY OF NIGERIA PLC. NT TRANSNATIONAL CORP. OF NIG.PLC 1.00 Media/Entertainment DAAR COMMUNICATIONS PLC 0.50 Printing/Publishing ACADEMY PRESS PLC. NT LEARN AFRICA PLC 2.00 STUDIO PRESS (NIG) PLC. NT UNIVERSITY PRESS PLC. 4.57 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 2.50 NIG. AVIATION HANDLING COY PLC 5.71 ASeM CONSTRUCTION/REAL ESTATE Property Management SMART PRODUCTS NIGERIA PLC NT CONSUMER GOODS Food Products MCNICHOLS PLC 0.97 Personal/Household Products ROKANA INDUSTRIES PLC. 0.60 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. (%)

80 000 NT 1 000

1.96 12.91 4.28

0.76 8.59 3.50

1 925 717 268 153 786 012 100 000 000

0.09 0.00 0.00

0.00 N/A N/A

1.02 NT 2.73

5 000

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

196 224 NT

18.28 3.59

13.12 2.41

108 000 000 492 825 600

1.82 0.00

N/A N/A

13.77 NT

3 000 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

NT 3.84

1.47

0.50

6 878 478 096

0.00

N/A

NT 1 000 000 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 2.25 NT

NT 308 472 1 870 950 116 707 117 302 22 811 NT NT NT 775 841 200 253 000 NT

3.32 30.00 12.57 43.98 15.49 132.51 3.51 0.75 0.99 56.50 3.36 5.28 13.40

2.86 9.10 7.27 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 -0.72 -0.12 -6.55 -5.16 2.08 N/A N/A N/A 2.42 N/A N/A N/A

NT 18.13 8.41 31.93 5.81 120.00 3.45 NT 0.58 56.15 NT 4.29 NT

2 000 236 400 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 -13.48 N/A N/A

NT 1.78 NT NT

NT NT 67 559 NT 8 980 364 NT NT

3.98 6.91

3.98 2.19

25 000 000 683 974 528

0.00 0.15

N/A N/A

15.03 3.60 1.86 0.63

13.28 1.60 1.05 0.63

42 640 000 6 215 000 000 240 000 000 199 066 550

0.90 0.22 0.30 0.00

N/A 10.17 N/A N/A

NT NT 10.50 NT 1.77 NT NT

NT 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

11 786

9.20

5.70

393 120 000

0.93

0.00

5.69

NT 5 000

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

700

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 NT

1 190 537

1.87

0.54

6 262 701 716

0.16

5.26

0.57

1 128 071

78.97

13.95

2 262 711 568

7.47

9.71

11.12

NT 3 000 28 042 255 900 20 500 430 2 642 17 029

20.71 0.70 41.89 5.59 28.69 163.50 72.00 240.00

20.71 0.50 19.61 2.12 9.12 111.51 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 -9.67 -6.53 -3.94 0.00 N/A 0.00

NT NT 19.76 1.99 9.89 115.00 29.15 125.00

1 000

0.72

0.50

4 035 497 307

0.00

N/A

3.48

0.19

N/A

154 401

3.65

1.12

980 294 400

0.22

-3.55

1.69

289 005 NT

3.67 6.40

2.11 3.28

589 496 310 198 819 763

0.63 0.26

9.66 N/A

2.90 3.07

65 750

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

NT 205 270 NT 28 102 073

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 0.98 N/A 0.00

NT 1.02 NT 1.00

2 000

0.50

8 000 000 000

0.00

N/A

0.50

NT 111 620 NT 50 000

3.68 8.00 2.92 6.82

1.64 1.94 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 -5.38

NT 2.00 2.65 4.83

12 000

0.80

0.50

1 507 000 000

0.00

N/A

0.50

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

111 620 833 666

2.78 11.75

1.54 5.15

634 000 000 1 230 468 750

0.38 0.81

N/A -1.55

2.46 5.80

1.43

1.04

45 000 000

0.12

N/A

11 000

1.02

201 885 335

0.00

N/A

0.97

500

0.60

30 000 000

0.00

N/A

0.60

0.50

24 898 850

0.00

N/A

NT 500

1.88

1.63

125 005 250

0.00

N/A

NT 1.63

0.50

6 650 000

0.00

N/A

NT 20 000 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

Monday, November 12, 2012

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Monday, November 12, 2012

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Law & Justice nationalmirrorlaw@yahoo.com

“Justice will definitely fare better without the bandage of prejudice or sympathy around her eyes.”

JUSTICE CHUKWUDIFU OPUTA, RETIRED JUSTICE, SUPREME COURT OF NIGERIA

Judges as pawns in hands of executives, lawmakers

The system where the President, governors and lawmakers are empowered to appoint or remove judges at their whims in the country tend to undermine judicial integrity and security of tenure of judicial officers, writes FRANCIS FAMOROTI, Ag. Head, Judiciary.

Nigeria should practice true federalism –Owonikoko 46

Section 285 (6) constitution: S’Court rules in December 45

Jombo-Ofo: Gender issues, federal character principle 45

A cross-section of judges.

he traditional statue of justice, represents the goddess, blindfolded holding a scale in one hand and a sword in the other. This symbolism of representation of justice portrays the ideals which men have set up for the administration of justice. They require of justice that it shall be impartial, that it shall be no respecter of persons, and that it shall hold all men equal before the law. Thus, the judge, in the exercise of his judicial function, is “personification of justice’’. But in a bid to follow the dictates of their conscience in the administration of justice, some judges have been known to step on the toes of state governors, chief executives, legislators and the powers-that-be in the country. Investigation has shown that the last 13 years of democratic rule has witnessed a systematic subversion of judicial authority by the executive arm of government. The subversion took many forms, ranging from re-interpreting court orders to suit the executive, disobedience of court orders, refusal to comply with high court orders on the pretext of pending appeals, withdrawal of case files from presiding judges and selective compliance with court orders. Director of Programmes, Access to Justice (AJ), Mr. Leonard Dibia, in a paper titled ‘’Reforms to Strengthen Judicial Independence”, observed that these

THE LAST 13 YEARS OF DEMOCRATIC RULE HAS WITNESSED A SYSTEMATIC SUBVERSION OF JUDICIAL AUTHORITY inadequacies arose from a faulty foundation for judicial independence. He states that the constitution allows too much executive involvement in institutions and procedures leading to judicial appointments of judges, as well as their removal from office. Indeed, Section 153 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria establishes the National Judicial Council (NJC). The section also empowers it, amongst other things, to recommend to the State Governor, the removal from office of a Chief Judge and Judges of the State High Court, among other judicial officers, and to exercise disciplinary control over them. The State Judicial Service Commission, set up by section 197, equally has power to recommend to the NJC the removal from office of the Chief Judge of a State, Grand Kadi and Kadis of the Sharia Court of Appeal, Judges of the State High Court. Apart from the above provisions, the Constitution also contains parallel provisions in

Section 292 for the removal of judges from office. By this provision, the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), President of the Court of Appeal, Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Chief Judges of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), and the president, Customary Court of Appeal of the FCT, may be removed by the President on an address supported by two-thirds majority of the Senate, praying that he be so removed for his inability to perform the functions of his office or appointment (whether arising from infirmity of mind or of body) or for misconduct or contravention of the code of conduct. Similarly, section 292(1) (a) (!!), the Chief Judge of a State, Grand Kadi of a Sharia Court of Appeal or President of the Customary Court of Appeal of a State, may be removed by the Governor, acting on an address supported by two thirds majority of the House of Assembly of the state, praying that he be so removed for his inability to perform the functions of his office or appointment or for misconduct or contravention of the code of conduct. Other judges may be removed by the President, or as the case may be, the Governor acting on the recommendation of the NJC that the judicial officer be so removed for his inability to perform the functions of his office or appointment (whether arising from infirmity of mind or of body) or for misconduct or contravention of the code of conduct. CONTINUED ON PAGE 42

Law & Justice CONTINUED FROM PAGE 41

The inherent defects in this position were also pointed out recently by the Executive Director, AJ, Mr. Joseph Otteh. According to the group, ‘’the way the Constitution was drafted obfuscates the allocation of power to remove a State CJ. This he said, has led to problems of interpretation and confrontation between the judiciary and other arms of government.’’ The AJ boss cited two instances, the first, according to him, had taken place in September 2000, in Ebonyi State. The House of Assembly had begun proceedings to remove the state CJ, Justice Edward Isuama, when the then CJN, as the Chairman of NJC wrote, and appealed to the State House of Assembly to exercise restraint on the purported removal because the NJC was set to investigate the allegations against Justice Isuama through the Justice M.B Belgore committee. AJ noted that the State House of Assembly was not impressed by this entreaty and went ahead with its resolution to remove Justice Isuama from office, which was endorsed by the Governor. The group said despite this step, the litigation over the constitutionality of the removal lingered in court. AJ also referred to another instance between 2005 and 2006 when the Oyo State Judiciary was locked in a major judiciary crisis because the governor and State House of Assembly were torn in a dispute with the NJC over whether the purported removal of the Oyo State CJ by the governor was constitutionally valid.

Monday, November 12, 2012

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‘Despotic governors can pocket judiciary’

Justice Jinadu (rtd)

The NJC had reportedly claimed that what the governor/house of assembly had done without its involvement was a nullity, but the state government was not persuaded as it ousted the then CJ. Obviously, the state government had had a similar experience in the past when the Kolapo Ishola administration unceremoniously removed the then CJ, Justice Timothy Ayorinde. This act appears like a recurring decimal. The case of Justice Nkem Izuako, formerly of the Anambra State Judiciary, readily comes to mind. Her travails began in August 2001 when, as vacation judge, she made injunctive orders in a suit filed by the then Chairman of Idemili North Local Government of the state, Okey Mmuo Aroh and Speaker of the LG legislative council, Uche Ilobi, against members of the LG council. About eight days after the orders were made, it became clear that her orders had ruffled political feathers and disturbed

Justice Izuako

SECTION 292(1) (A) (11) OF THE CONSTITUTION IS A CORRUPT WINDOW TO REMOVE JUDGES envisaged outcome of the case. According to Justice Izuako’s account of the unfortunate development, ‘on August 30, 2001, the state Solicitor- General came to her house and told her she had been sent by the then Governor, C. Mbadinuju and the state Attorney-General that ‘’the governor was interested in seeing that the Idemili North LG Chairman who was opposing him be removed’’ Although the then state Solicitor-General denied the claim, Justice Izuako remained uncompromising on her stand despite threats to her life. She was particularly worried at the time that the then state CJ,

Justice G.U Ononiba, who ought to defend her, failed to give her adequate support and protection. Today, Justice Izuako is serving as a judge of the United Nations (UN) Dispute Tribunal. Prior to this instance, Justice Yaya Jinadu of the Lagos High Court had in 1984 resisted attempts by the Buhari/Idiagbon regime to undermine his conduct of proceedings in the court. Rather than swallowing the bitter pill of an assault on judicial integrity and independence, he courageous chose the path of honour. He opted out of the Bench and voluntarily retired on October 22, 1984. Lagos lawyer and human rights activist, Mr. Wale Ogunade, described Section 292(1) (a) (11) of the Constitution as ‘’a corrupt window to remove a judge. It can easily be used by a despotic governor to put the judiciary in his pocket.’’ He said, ‘’if the events that happened in Kogi State recently and of course, the developments during the Olusegun Obasanjo era are anything to go by when Banana peels were placed on the path of top public officers, and they fell one by one, then we need to look at the constitution holistically.’’ Ogunade said there was the need to block all these windows, otherwise ‘’we will continue to move in circles like the barber’s chair.’’ Be that as it may, the challenge before the judiciary is the preservation of its integrity and judicial independence.

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Law & Justice

Monday, November 12, 2012

Jombo-Ofo: Gender issues, federal character principle

tory”. Uche also maintained that the CJN’s position was unacceptable, adding that ‘’it is discriminatory and unconstitutional. What then is the essence of marriage? It is common knowledge that when a woman marries, she alters her status and indigeneship to that of her husband.’’ Agbaje, on the other hand, also argued that it was discriminatory and the CJN should have sworn-in Justice Jombo-Ofo

while Aturu said Mukhtar deserved to apologise to Nigerians for the embarrassment. However, fresh facts emerged over the weekend that Jombo-Ofor’s is swearing-in is being delayed for reasons beyond the state of origin issue. Indeed, a peep at the history of legal profession and judiciary shows that Justice Modupe Omo-Eboh (nee) Akingbehin, from Ondo State, was the first female judge in the country, having been appointed on November 10, 1969. She served in Sapele, Warri and Auchi and later transferred her service to Lagos State Judiciary in 1976 where she retired in March 1985. She died on February 25, 2000. Another woman of substance, Justice Rosaline Omotosho from Ogun State also made history as the first female Chief Judge in the history of judiciary in the country. Omotosho became a judge of Lagos High Court on March 6, 1978, retired as Lagos CJ on February 27, 1996 and she died on July 1, 1999. During their tenure, the discriminatory practice raised in Jombo-Ofo’s case never had a place. The implication of this is that if the provisions of Section 17 (1) (2) (a) and 3 (a) of the 1999 Constitution contained in the Fundamental Objectives and Directive Principles of State Policy are anything to go by, the country has reached a stage where the principle of federal character should cease to have a role to play in the scheme of the national development.

decision of the Imo state election petition tribunal,which was said to have “declined jurisdiction and struck out the petition” filed by the appellants(herein before the apex court).On appeal, the decision was upheld. Ahamba has,therefore,invited the seven-man panel led by Justice Walter Onnonghen to set aside the decision of the Appeal Court,invalidate section 285(6) and proceed to order the restoration of the petition at the tribunal. One of the issues he raised for determination is “whether subsection (6) of section 285 is a valid provision upon which the Tribunal could abdicate its jurisdiction to hear a competent petition...” Citing Supreme Court decision in UOR Vs LOKO (1988) 2 ,1”3 (Pt 77) 430 @ 441D,the appellants submitted that “whether an appellate court would affirm or reverse that opinion of the lower court would depend on the reason or reasons given by that lower court for the opinion so expressed.” In a preliminary objection, however,both counsel to 1st and 2nd respondents, Martin Aguda and L.M Alozie are of the view that the contentious section 285(6) is a valid provision, hence the need for the decision of the appellate court to be so upheld. This is even as they urged the court to as well decline jurisdiction over the appeal, by virtue of the clear and unambiguous provision of section 285(6). The tribunal, which was scheduled to hear the petition on merit,based on the

first order to so do by the Appeal court, was obviously constrained by the 180 days allowed. This is because when it listed the petition, in the first instance to be heard, it had just a day to the expiration of the mandatory provision. This is, perhaps, why it agreed with the respondents that it lacked the jurisdiction to further entertain the petition. Part of the ruling of the appellate court, Owerri,as delivered by Justice M. A Owoade reads:”In the instant case, the pronouncements of the Tribunal on the issue of validity of Section 285(6) of the Constitution are obiter and not being the ratio decidendi of the case, are not subject of appeal. An appeal can only be based on the ratio decidendi of a case and not on obita dicta...” In his view, Mallam Yusuf Ali, SAN, sees no conflict arising from the two sections. Rather, he sees them as “complementary”. His words:” There is no conflict at all but the sections are complementary! Section 285(6) gives meaning to “reasonable time” used in section 36(1) of the constitution.” Whichever way the verdict of the Supreme Court - expected to be handed down in December - goes, Nigeria’s jurispundence,nay the polity, will be the ultimate beneficiary. This is more so that, in the event of an invalidation of section 285(6),the ongoing efforts by the seventh National Assembly to alter certain aspects of the 1999 constitution, will be readily accommodating.

FRANCIS FAMOROTI

ith last Wednesday’s intervention of the Senate in the controversy surrounding the refusal of the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Aloma Mukhtar to swear-in Justice Ifeoma Jombo-Ofo, there is no clear signal on whether or not she will be sworn-in as a Justice of Court of Appeal. Jombo-Ofo was listed as one of the 12 justices to take oath of office last week following their elevation to the Appeal court Bench, but her inauguration was stopped due to a petition, which alleged that she was nominated for the office from Abia, her spouse’s state of origin rather than from Anambra, her home state. The petition had alluded that if she was sworn-in; she would be occupying the slot of an indigene of Abia State in the High Court. As a result, the CJN refused to swear- in Jombo-Ofo alongside others at a solemn ceremony in which the cream of the Bar and the Bench had converged to witness the oath-taking of the newly-elevated justices. But barely 24 hours after the unfortunate development, mounting criticisms trailed the CJN’s refusal to swear-in Jombo-Ofor as a Justice of the Court of Appeal. Those who criticised the CJN included, four eminent lawyers, including two Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SAN), who

Justice Omo-Eboh, first Nigerian female Judge

were unanimous that Justice Mukhtar should have dismissed the petition as being frivolous and gone ahead to swear-in Justice Jombo-Ofo, in a bid to promote the unity of the country. The lawyers, who spoke with National Mirror are, Messrs. Jibrin Okutepa (SAN), Chris Uche (SAN), Fred Agbaje and Bamidele Aturu. Okutepa regretted the action of the CJN, which he described as “discrimina-

VALIDITY OF SECTION 285(6) 1999 CONSTITUTION:

S’Court rules in December EMMANUEL ONANI ABUJA

lthough, it is trite that any law that is inconsistent with the constitution, will to the extent of that inconsistency, be rendered null and void and of no effect whatsoever. The question that arises now is: what happens where there is a noticeable conflict between two sections of the same constitution, with one provision contradicting the other? Such perceived contradiction arising from sections 285(6) of the 1999 constitution (as amended) and 36(1), is what the Supreme Court has been invited to address, in the case of Achike Udenwa and Action Congress of Nigeria(appellants) vs. Hope Uzodinma and Independent National Electoral Commission(respondents). The appellants, through their counsel, Chief Mike Ahamba(SAN),want the apex court to hold that, by virtue of the express provision of section 36(1),which borders on the compelling need for the court to accord an aggrieved party fair hearing “within a reasonable time”, section 285(6) should be declared “invalid” and nugatory for the obvious reason of conflict. While section 36(1) states that.”In the determination of his civil rights and obligations, including any question or deter-

Justice Aloma Mukhtar, Chief Justice of Nigeria

mination by or against any government or authority,a person shall be entitled to a fair hearing within a reasonable time by a court or other tribunal established by law and constituted in such manner as to secure its independence and impartiality”, section 285(6) provides thus:”An Election Tribunal shall deliver its judgment in writing within 180 days from the date of the filing of the petition”. The contentious issue arose from the

Justice Omotosho, first female CJ

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Monday, November 12, 2012

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Nigeria should practice true Mr. Abiodun Owonikoko, a human rights lawyer, cut his legal teeth in the chambers of the former President of Nigerian Bar Association, late Mr. Alao Aka- Bashorun. He became a Senior Advocate of Nigeria in 2010. He recently spoke with the Assistant Head of the Judiciary Desk, KAYODE KETEFE, on a number of legal issues of national importance. Excerpts. Nigeria has just celebrated 52 year of independence, to what extent will you say the nation is on the right track? We thank God for the lives that we still have. We should also congratulate ourselves for keeping the vision alive. The entity itself was forged out of grand compromise among the various forces that occupy the geographical state we now call Nigeria today. That said, there is a lot of regret that the initial dream of our founding fathers, grandiose as they were, enticing as conceived, has derailed to a large extent. There was a time it never used to be a matter of argument that Nigeria was a giant of Africa. In the fifties, the first television station in Africa was pioneered in Nigeria. That is even in just one of the then three regions. The tallest building in Africa then was situated in Nigeria. Our educational system compared favourably with the best in the commonwealth then, particularly our higher institutions which attracted the best that was available in the commonwealth. Take for instance, the discipline of law, when University of Ife was established, the likes of Professor of Company Law, Prof Laurence Gower, was headhunted to come and set up the Ife Faculty of Law. We went all over the world looking for the very best. Today, one can just say something has gone wrong. How will you rate the Nigerian Judiciary after 52 years of independence? Well, it would be unfair to single out just one arm of government for a dispassionate critique because of the symbiotic and interdependent relationship between the Executive, Legislative and Judiciary arms of government. This is not to talk about the supporting institution that keeps trust and confidence of the Judiciary aloft. Having given that caveat, it is perhaps easy to say that the Judiciary in Nigeria today, in a way, has given ordinary Nigerians and even some of us concerns. But by and large, I believe the Judiciary has acquitted itself well. To me, it records an above average performance. The problem is given where we need to get to, an above-average performance is not good enough. We must, therefore, continue to give the necessary support, commitment and resources that would assist in benchmarking our justice system with the best available anywhere in the world. How would you assess the human right record of President Goodluck Jonathan? I am not sure it would be fair to single out the president in assessing the human rights record of an administration. In fact, it is hardly possible in a democracy to pinpoint the head of the executive arm directly as being responsible for human rights deficiency. But to the extent that human rights involve a basket of rights ranging from the socio-economic to the cultural and that this is a country with so much power vested in the executive president, the buck must stop at the presidentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s table. In specific terms, if we take the example of a right like right to life in Nigeria today, we may ask how sacrosanct it is. Just recently, we heard the report of the Mubi killings in which over forty students were mercilessly gunned down. The examples of these are too numerous. In this kind of situation, there is a lot

Owonikoko (SAN)

NIGERIA IS AN UNDER-ACHIEVING NATION IN TERMS OF HUMAN RIGHTS AND HUMAN DEVELOPMENT INDEX to be concerned about in terms of human rights. The issue is not just that the government should not directly deprive people of their lives, it is much more important that the government should protect people from other sources that can pose a threat to citizensâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; rights and of their other rights. So when you talk of right to life, it does not appear that life has meaning any longer in Nigeria. We are all living tentatively, not knowing what tragedy may befall anyone at any time. There is danger everywhere, be it on your way to work, in an airplane or when attending a religious event. The enjoyment of all these rights collectively constitute the aggregate of what makes for quality living. That is why people normally say that there is difference between quality of life itself and the guarantee of life. What does it profit a man to live in perpetual fear of the security of his life? The fundamental objectives and directive principles of state policy which are already captured in the African Charter of Human and Peoples Rights, which Nigeria has ratified, are now observed more in their breaches than in their enjoyment. The Charter has been passed into law and yet, despite all the provisions on the socio-economic rights, we cannot prove that we are getting value for the money we get from our natural resources as far as improvement in the standards of life of our people are concerned. Again, we cannot argue too convincingly that right to decent living, which is one of the components of human rights in Nigeria is assured. In a nutshell, what is your exact assessment of the performance by this administration? Honestly, I think we are doing far below average. That is even being generous, compared to what some other countries of more meager resources are able to

achieve. Nigeria is an under-achieving nation in terms of human rights and human development index. Some states of the federation have devised their own logos and flags. Do you see this as an affront to Nigerian sovereignty? I think to be honest, people are comparing apples with oranges. Nigeria did not evolve as an organic nation. Nigeria evolved as an engineered sovereign entity. If you take the United States of America for example, you would find out that the states, which were more or less independent of each other, saw the need to come together for their greater good and so voluntarily surrendered parts of their sovereignty to a federal state and then withheld some they did not consider necessary. For that reason in America, states have their own anthems; they have their own constitutions and legislatures etc. The variety of cultures that constitute USA run their internal affairs on matters they have not surrendered to the federation. In Nigeria, that argument for states logo etc, might be valid if we are talking of the region of 1960 because, as of that time, each region had its own constitution. Each was controlling its own resources and was making contribution to a common pool in matters of national imperative like defence, foreign affairs and inter-state relation. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Today, the states cannot be said to have peculiar cultural differentiation of the former regions and the issue of having separate logos, anthems etc, should not even arise. If the truth must be told, Nigeria is overbalkanised. The diversity we need to manage is not necessarily from creating more states, it is rather going to emerge from creating structures and institutions that would allow for integration in manner that would make for competition. In those days, if Western region creates its own university, in less than a year, the Eastern region would respond and the Northern region would respond. It was a healthy competition among these regions, that was how they were able to attain rapid progress for their own people. Today, an average state government with the exception of Lagos and Port Harcourt depends on raising bonds in the capital market not on creating

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Monday, November 12, 2012

federalism –Owonikoko

the United Kingdom. That was as of that time, I have not updated my record, but that was just about nine years ago. In that report, I made the point that in that year alone, three judges were dismissed for corruption in Nigeria. That painted a graphic picture of where we were in times of judicial corruption. But it is unfortunate that it is only one or two bad eggs that have given the Nigerian Judiciary a bad and false image. Given the level of corruption that pervades the entire society, it is to be expected that it would have some impacts on the judiciary organ as well as the personnel that runs it. Of all the institutions of state, the last that should be exposed to corruption is the Judiciary, for it is the final arbiter of law and the hope of everybody, not only the common man! A situation where a Justice of the Supreme Court would feel beholden and thankful to the President of Nigeria for approving for him to go on medical checkup abroad does not bode well for a corruption-free judicial system.

infrastructural development, but to meet the recurrent expenditure of governance.

Do you support the agitation for the abolition of the rank of Senior Advocates of Nigeria? The rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria is a creation of statute. Every statute can always benefit from reform and modification as reality of how it achieves intendment of its makers plays out. If we run a democracy and the agitators for the abolition of SAN can persuade those on whom the right to amend the law devolves, then let it be. That is talking from the point of view of law. But in terms of point of view of professionalism, it is always the prerogative of every profession to develop their own in-house rules to uphold standards and constantly renew itself for relevance in the context of modern society. The moment a profession gets to a stage where there are no incentives within its own operation for people to seek excellence, or for excellence to be acknowledged, that profession will in no distant time find itself in degeneration. The problem in Nigeria today relates to falling standards in all spheres of life. I will be the first to admit that the legal profession is not an exception from that malaise. So, when the profession, like a product in market, loses its appeal for the intended consumers of the services, it will soon die. If, therefore, the profession itself has no means of identifying the best among itself to project to the clientele, then a disservice is being done to the society. It may well be that some of our senior colleagues are guilty of throwing weight around without being conscious of the perception they are giving to others. That is why some people may be asking for abolition. Ask yourself, in the days of the giants like Chief Williams, SAN, Chief G.O.K Ajayi, Dr. Mudiaga Odje, Kehinde Sofola, who would dare suggest that the SAN should be abolished? This is because these are people such that when they did a case and you were not there, you would go back to obtain the certified true copies of the case to go and study it in your own chambers. That is how my brother silk should begin to see things and concentrate on how to restore that aura, dignity and respectability that the rank demands from all of us. Sometime ago, the Attorney-General of the Federation accused some senior advocates of behaving in ways that are not commensurate the with the exalted position they occupy, what do you say to this? Given the pivotal role that the AGF plays in the appointment of SAN, when he makes that kind of statement, you should know he has done it out of a deep sense of responsibility. Don’t forget that before the present AG became an Attorney-General, he was a high- ranking member of the Privileges Committee that assesses and recommends who become a SAN. So, he has a lot of historical Capital to call upon before he came to that judgement and I think we must take it seriously. Lagos State has just introduced a new law called Parks and Gardens that mandates one to plant flowers in the perimeter of his house or pay a fine of N250,000 in the default of which the offender may go to prison for six months. What do you say to this? To criminalise infraction like failure to beautify your environment in Nigeria raises some questions. For example, does the nation have its own prison system to accommodate all the potential prisoners? The movement, these days, is a way from custodial sentence even for criminalised offences. I would expect that Lagos, having been setting the pace in the criminal justice reforms and in the administration of justice in general, should not be in haste to criminalise infraction like failure to beautify premises with custodial sentence. In fact, such a law ought to be supplemented with empowerment of people to comply. In this time, we have so many unemployed youth.

IN 2003 ALONE, THREE JUDGES WERE DISMISSED FOR CORRUPTION IN

NIGERIA

Why not gather some of this young and vibrant boys and girls and give them specialist training in horticulture practice and assign to them a number of streets and give them subvention to assist in this kind of exercise? If a house owner knows that if he engages the service of these youth, he is not going to pay the full cost (as the government has subsidised the service) he would engage them. Even if the state itself does not make any money from the project, the people would benefit. I would have thought that that would make more sense, than saying if you don’t plant flowers within the perimeter of your houses, you are going to prison. It is not enough to make law, it is also important that the law should be made to reflect people’s culture and sensitivity, otherwise the cost of enforcing the law would outweigh the benefits derivable from it. How will you rate corruption in the Nigerian Judiciary? About nine years ago I wrote a paper on corruption in the Judiciary. In the course of writing that paper, my research showed that in the last hundred years, only one single judge had been found guilty of corruption in

How do you think we can improve the Nigerian economy? Nigerian government should stop living on royalties and rents. It should start living on taxation; that is the only way you can run an efficient system. The government can still get the money it is getting from royalties and rent from proper taxation. We need to design an efficient tax system. If you say you are getting 60 per cent and the business partner should get 40 per cent by royalties. You can still get that income through tax that is when the taxation regime is restructured to make it efficient. The moment rent and royalties continue, you have created avenue for corruption, because there would be lack of transparency since the president of the country is not a businessman, he is a politician. In his efforts to understand the intricacies and complexities of the business, those who work under him would create avenue and loopholes and ensure that there are leakages. That is why the economy is distorted. Majority of what wealthy people do in Nigeria today could not be described as productive endeavour in economic terms, but access to unjustified opportunities that are linked to government power. But when, as a nation, we live on tax, there would be more transparency in the system. Secondly, we should also review the practice where state governments always go to collect money from the centre; resources should derive from the source. What is common and adjudged distributable should then go to the centre. The centre should be working for the common good. What would you cite as the secret of your success in the legal profession? I did my pupilage in the chambers of late Mr. Alao Aka- Bashorun. Aka -Bashorun sent Mr. Femi Falana to the National Youth Service Corps to request for me to be posted to his chambers right from the NYSC camp. I did my chambers attachment in his chambers and he had become fond of me since then. He was impressed with my disposition, even as a Law School attaché. So he specifically requested me to be posted to his office as an attaché. He sent Mr. Falana to request for me from the camp of the National Youth Service Corps. In my early years at the bar, whenever I went to court and my case was not going on. I would not go back to chambers immediately. I would just go the court library and bury myself, reading different kinds of law books to acquire knowledge and equip myself. Alternatively, I would go and sit down in the court of a judge, in which I had a lot of confidence, to learn more. If I entered a court today without having any case in the court, the judge, thinking I have a case before it, is going to embarrass me by saying I should call my case to be heard before others. Imagine me now telling the judge to say I just came to sit down to watch proceedings! Do you understand what I am saying?

Monday, November 12, 2012

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CHIEF AYIRIMI EMAMI AKULAGBA OF WARRI KINGDOM Adress: No1, Swiss Cotagge, Off Ubeji Road, Warri, Delta State.

Sir,

OPEN LETTER TO THE INSPECTOR GENERAL OF POLICE, IGP MOHAMMED ABUBAKAR, ON THE UGBORODO CRISIS/KILLING: A CALL FOR INVESTIGATION AND PROSECUTION OF THE PERPETRATORS AND SPONSORS. Governor of Delta State, Dr. Emmanuel Ewetan Uduaghan and His Royal Majesty, Ogiame Atuwatse 11, the Olu of Warri, had made conscious and spirited efforts to avert the bloodbath by intervening in what started as mere misunderstanding by brothers over the leadership of the community but the efforts were thwarted by some leaders of the community, especially Pa Johnson Ayomike, J.O.S. Ayomike, Mr. Moses Ajijala and others in their clique. Sir, it must be pointed that these self-styled leaders selfishly encouraged a former Chairman of Warri South West LGA and current Chairman of Itsekiri National Youth Council, Mr. David Tonwei, to disobey constituted authorities as represented by the governor and his majesty. These leaders refused to heed the advice

of the governor and our monarch that they should toe the path of honour by accepting the legally constituted leadership of the community led by Chief Thomas Ereyitomi. Rather, they canvassed and put together an illegal leadership headed by David Tonwei, whom they actively supported against the wishes of the majority of the Ugborodo people. The governor and our highly respected monarch engaged all stakeholders in Ugborodo in order to engender peace and amicably resolve the impasse but the leaders consistently incited Tonwei and his co-travellers until the Saturday November 3rd massacre of the innocent citizens, identified as Gift Bazuaye, Stephen Enase and Andrew. The gory pictures of their remains appear below:

Gift Obasuaye.

Andrew

Stephen Enafe (kurata)

Sir, I am amazed that only the military in Effurun, 3rd Battalion led by Lt. Col. Ifeanyi Otu and probably the Marine Unit of Police in Warri showed meaningful interest by visiting the scene and embark on manhunt for the perpetrators, who operated from Deghele community, also in Warri South West LGA. I am, however, worried that the Delta State Police Command pretended that it was not aware of the incident, where lives of three citizens were cut short by some hoodlums and it neither deemed it fit to visit the scene nor search for the killers of the innocent citizens to bring them to book.

Sir, I tended to assume that the perpetrators of this incident are eminent Nigerians, who enjoy the right to kill fellow citizens unquestionably. I consider them to be above the law and we should probably wait for more people to be sent to untimely graves because of their awesome powers before the police would discharge their duties. On a second thought, I believe that the police, by their actions, are deliberately encouraging those whose relations have been killed to take the laws into their hands by embarking on retaliatory actions, which in the long run, may lead to a total breakdown of law and order before justice is done in this malicious and provocative incident.

MY APPEAL: I appeal to the IGP to kindly instruct the AIG in charge of Zone 5, Benin City and the Commissioner of Police, Delta State Command, to visit the scene of the mindless killings in order to obtaining a proper briefing that will enable the police to perform their constitutional duties. I humbly appeal sir, that the killers of these innocent citizens be fished out and prosecuted, no matter their status in the society.

I write to formally intimate you about the recent mindless killings of three law abiding citizens of Ugborodo community in Warri South West Local Government Area of Delta State by a few disgruntled elements of the community and the conscious failure of the police on ground in the state to apprehend and prosecute the perpetrators, who are known members of our community. Suffice it to say that the crisis, which culminated in the incident of Saturday, November 3rd, 2012, in which some responsible Ugborodo youths were ambushed at Otumara creeks in Warri South West LGA, and thereafter killed and maimed had been actively supported and encouraged by some prominent leaders of the community, which I am a prominent citizen. Permit to humbly inform you that the Executive

Thank you sir, yours sincerely,

Chief Ayirimi Emami. Akulagba of Warri

Monday, November 12, 2012

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

World News

“We’ve done a lot but there’s a lot more to be done, to turn this bourgeois state into a truly popular state that would serve everyone, especially the poor” -ECUADOREAN PRESIDENT, RAFAEL CORREA

Ghana: Rescuers still work in collapsed building PAUL ARHEWE

WITH AGENCY REPORTS

escue workers have continued search for victims yesterday, following last week five-storey building collapse which trapped some 80 people under the rubble and killing at least 18. By Saturday, the scene was orderly and about half of the rubble had been removed. In areas that had been inspected for bodies, excavators were dropping heaps of debris into dump trucks. The loud idling of trucks and machinery drowned out the possibility of hearing voices within the rubble. Ablakwa said rescue workers aren’t relying on voices to find anyone anymore. “If anyone is in there (alive), they are very weak,” he said. Authorities still don’t know the number of people remaining inside, said Asomaning Odei-Mensah, the chief disaster control officer of the National Disaster Management Organization.

•Death toll now 18 The store management originally estimated some 55 people were inside but 79 have already been pulled out. Some are surprised the death toll is not higher given the level of destruction. Deputy health minister Robert Mettle-Nunoo told The Associated Press the rescue operation was eased by the fact that so many employees were in the same area, where they had congregated to pray. Rescue efforts were also helped by a team of 18 experts from Israel who arrived Thursday with lasers and highly-trained sniffer dogs to help locate bodies in the ruins. But by Saturday evening, not everyone had found their loved ones. Twenty-five-year-old Matilda Atantues stood behind police lines waiting for word of her sister. She said on Wednesday morning Ruth Atantues, 22, a cleaner at Melcom, left for work at 7 a.m. and never came back.

Matilda and other relatives have been to every hospital looking for Ruth, she said. After three days, Matilda was back standing in the heat on the busy thoroughfare next to the building’s ruins waiting for word. “After three days we are not ready to give up hope,” said Atantues. “It’s our hope that she is inside and OK.” Workers had congregated

did not wish to be named, said on Saturday. “Some of the bandits were wounded in the attack and others killed,” during the gun battle, he said, but could not give precise numbers. Some of the wounded officers were airlifted by plane or by helicopter to Nairobi for treatment. Osman Warfa, provincial commissioner for Rift Valley province, told Reuters news agency that 10

Kenya’s General Service Unit (GSU) police officers patrolling the scene of a raid in the Likoni area of the coastal port city of Mombasa, recently. PHOTO: REUTERS

the ground in the rubble, Darkwah heard an airconditioner whirring and moved toward it, on the way coming across a head with long hair. He sat on the air-conditioner in the dark. Like many other survivors he couldn’t telephone anyone because he had followed protocol for the prayers and left his phone at the door.

Members of the Israeli forces , right, liaising with local authorities as they assist in the Ghana relief efforts to find survivors, after a building collapsed in Accra, Ghana, on Thursday PHOTO: AP

Seven Kenyan police killed in ambush even Kenyan police officers have been killed and 21 more wounded while pursuing cattle rustlers in the north of Kenya, according to a senior police official. The attack happened near Baragoi, in a dry northern region mainly inhabited by nomad communities. “The officers were in a team pursuing stolen cattle when they were ambushed,” the official, who

for morning prayers on the ground floor of the Melcom retail store in northern Accra Wednesday morning at around 9:15 when they heard a “boom, boom, boom” and the five-storey building collapsed around them. “Next thing all I could see was darkness,” said Lawrence Darkwah from his hospital bed in Accra Saturday. While lying on

others were wounded in the northern county of Samburu in the attack. The police chief of the Rift Valley province, where the attack happened, confirmed that there had been a clash. “We had an incident involving our officers and there are casualties,” he said. Cattle theft and the ensuing clashes between rival groups claim dozens of lives every year in Kenya. It is rare, however, for police officers themselves to be attacked. Police numbers there are low and the officers are poorly equipped. The cattle herders have therefore armed themselves against attacks from rival groups. The group of rustlers police were pursuing at the time of this latest clash were already suspected of having killed 13 people and wounded three others in a previous raid on October 30.

‘Guinea’s treasury chief assassinated’

he head of Guinea’s treasury was gunned down as she was driving home in what her colleagues describe as a brazen assassination aimed at silencing an official who had launched an investigation into the disappearance of millions in state funds. The forensic doctor who examined the body of treasury chief Aissatou Boiro after she was brought to the morgue Friday night said she had two bullet wounds to the chest and died of internal bleeding. “She was hit by two bullets in the heart, and died from hemorraghing. The bullets were shot from a close distance, which makes it clear that they were intended to kill her,” said the doctor at the Ignace Deen Hospital in Conakry, who requested anonymity because he was not authorized to speak on the subject. The government issued a statement which was broadcast on state television on Saturday evening, saying that Boiro had been killed

by a group of men wearing military uniforms. Security forces have launched a manhunt to try to find and arrest the gunmen, the statement said. The shooting occurred on Friday evening in the Kipe neighbourhood of the capital, Conakry. Resident Siradiou Soiree said he was preparing a cup of tea, when he heard shooting outside. “We saw a car driving in all directions before it eventually came to a halt. We saw a woman covered in blood, apparently dead, who was being loaded into a car to be taken to the hospital,” said Soiree. Boiro was named to head the country’s treasury eight months ago by President Alpha Conde. Guinea has a long history of allowing officials to pillage its treasury. During the last years of ex-President Lansana Conte’s rule, employees of the treasury said they would routinely see the president’s convoy drive up to their building and leave with bags of cash.

WORLD BULLETIN

Strong quake hits Myanmar, 12 dead A strong earthquake of magnitude-6.8 struck northern Myanmar yesterday, collapsing a bridge and a gold mine, damaging several old Buddhist pagodas and leaving as many as 12 people feared dead. A slow release of official information left the actual extent of the damage unclear after Sunday morning’s strong quake. Myanmar has a poor official disaster response system, despite having lost upward of 140,000 people to a devastating cyclone in 2008. Myanmar’s secondbiggest city of Mandalay reported no casualties or major damage as the nearest major population center to the main quake Mandalay lies about 117 kilometers (72 miles) south of the quake’s epicenter near the town of Shwebo.

Israel to increase attacks, as Hamas joins Gaza clash Israel said it was poised to escalate attacks on the Gaza Strip yesterday following a surge of rocket and mortar salvoes by Hamas and other Palestinian factions. A missile strike wounded four Israeli troops on jeep patrol along the Gaza boundary on Saturday, triggering army shelling that killed four Palestinian civilians and, in turn, dozens of shortrange rocket launches out of Gaza that paralyzed Israel’s southern border towns. Two Gaza militants died in the ensuing Israeli air strikes. Two workers were wounded later when a plastics factory in northern Gaza Strip caught fire after it was hit by an Israeli tank shell, emergency workers said. Israel’s Iron Dome defence system knocked out a longerrange “Grad” rocket that was aimed at the southern city of Beersheba, the army said.

Politics

Monday, November 12, 2012

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Tributes to Lam Adesina, 1939 - 2012 CONTINUED FROM PAGE 14

Adesina’s death, a huge loss – Aregbesola WALE FOLARIN OSOGBO

he governor of Osun State, Rauf Aregbesola, said the death of the former governor of Oyo State and leader of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Alhaji Lamidi Adeshina will create a huge political vacuum not only in the South-West but Nigeria as a whole. Aregbesola, who made the submission in a statement issued yesterday by the state Director of Communications and Strategy, Mr. Semiu Okanlawon, also described Adesina’s death as a rude shock. He described Adesina as an astute politician of the progressive hue, administrator, a teacher of teachers, leader of men, a progressive and believer in people’s government. The statement reads in part: “Alhaji Lam Adesina was an insightful politician, bridge builder and a listening leader. He fought relentlessly with others for the democracy the country now enjoys. “Particularly, during the locust years and twilight of brutal military rule, Lam was among the political leaders, including the late Attorney General of the Federation, Chief Bola Ige, rounded up as Prisoners of War (POW) in

broad daylight in Ibadan by the government of late General Sani Abacha. “These leaders never wavered and remained undaunted until the military withdrew back to the barracks. His contributions during dark days of military spoke volumes of a leader, a freedom fighter with selfless interest. “Thus, he became the governor of Oyo State in 1999 when democracy returned. I have strong conviction that he led a meaningful

Nigeria has lost an irrepressible voice of conscience – ACN MURITALA AYINLA

he Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) has described the death of Alhaji Lam Adesina, a former governor of Oyo State, as a devastating blow to the party in particular and a big loss to the nation in general. In a statement issued in Ibadan on Sunday by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party said with the demise of Adesina, Nigeria has lost an irrepressible voice of conscience. The party said: “Lam Adesina has remained a constant fixture

His demise, a big loss to democracy – Fayemi

he governor of Ekiti State, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, has described the death of Alhaji Lamidi Adesina as a “big loss to the Nigerian democracy.” Fayemi, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Yinka Oyebode, described Adesina as “one of the heroes who fought tooth and nail for the return of democracy in 1999.” He further described Adesina as a committed Awoist who practised and defended the ideals of the late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo till he (Adesina) breathed his last. Fayemi noted that Adesina’s tenure as Oyo State governor between 1999 and 2003 on the platform of the Alliance for Democracy (AD), witnessed implementation of masses-oriented policies which positively touched the citizenry. He also stated that Adesina used his position as a member of the House of Representatives in the Second Republic to canvass the passage of laws that aided good governance and manifesto of the Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN).

life, a life worthy of emulation and has carved a niche for himself in the hallowed political chamber of Nigeria. He would be remembered for his contributions to growth and progress of his state, South-West and the country.” While expressing his condolence to the people of Oyo State, the ACN political family and Nigeria in general, the governor prayed that the Almighty Allah grants the departed soul Aljaana Firdaus.

The governor recalled that Adesina chose to be on the side of the people during the struggle for the return of civil rule, enduring several arrests and detentions. Adesina, he further stated, became a thorn in the flesh to the late Gen. Sani Abacha-led junta that he was arrested and branded a “Prisoner of War” by a former military administrator of Oyo State. His words: “Alhaji Adesina was a democrat, activist, patriot and one of the leaders of the National Democratic Coalition (NADECO) who put their lives on the line and fought the military to a standstill. “This great man remained one of the legends of the democracy we all enjoy today and he has secured his place in the hall of fame of the Nigerian democracy. “On behalf of the government and people of Ekiti State, I commiserate with members of the Adesina family, the government and people of Oyo State on the death of this icon of democracy whose legacies will continue to endure for a long time to come.”

in the nation’s body polity for over three decades, either as a newspaper columnist, member of the House of Representatives, social and political critic, prisoner of conscience, state governor, or an elder statesman. “Though deceptively meek, he was a political lion who was ferociously effective. A perfect validation of the saying that all politics is local, Lam Adesina never lost control or confidence of his people. Even during the locust years when the PDP captured the body of Oyo State politics, the soul of the people remained with the former governor.” ACN further said it was remarkable that even after he was rigged out of the state’s governorship election in 2003, he remained in his Molete residence in Ibadan, right in the midst of his people, instead of migrating to the GRA or other elitist areas of the city as many in his class would have done. “From that modest abode, he influenced political discourse and direction in Nigeria. There is no better attestation to this than the fact that he never lost touch with the ordinary people during his rich and purposeful lifetime,” the party said. ACN prayed that God will grant repose to the soul of the departed, and give his family the strength to bear their irreplaceable loss.

Adesina

He was a core progressive – Mark EMMANUEL ONANI ABUJA

enate President, Senator David Mark has commiserated with the government and people of Oyo state over the death of former Governor Lam Adesina, whom he described as a core progressive, who stood on the side of the people at all times. In a condolence message to the state governor, Abiola Ajimobi, Mark regretted that the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) chieftain died “at a time when his wealth of experience and administrative acumen were needed to navigate through the murky po-

litical waters.” According to Mark, “death is a necessary end that must come when it shall. We are however consoled that Late Adesina contributed positively to the development of the society during his life time. He left an indelible footprint on the sand of time. He left a legacy of service to the society, honesty and commitment to the ideals of nationhood.” The Senate President enjoined present leaders to emulate the selfless virtues of honesty, hard work and democratic ideals which Adesina embodied saying: “that is the sure way to keep his legacies.”

...A rude shock – Amosun

gun State governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, has expressed his condolence to the government and people of Oyo State on the death of the former governor of the state, Alhaji Lam Adesina. Amosun described the exgovernor and leader of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in Oyo State as one of the heroes of the democratic struggles in Nigeria. The governor noted that

“his death came to us all as a rude shock.” In a statement signed by his Senior Special Assistant on Media, Mrs Funmi Wakama, Senator Amosun said he joins millions of Nigerians to mourn the demise of an icon of democracy, whose tenure as governor of Oyo State was remarkable on all fronts. Amosun recalled the personal sacrifices made by late Adesina during the fight against military

dictatorship, saying: “The reserve of democracy crusaders in the country has once again been depleted.” He condoled with the family, friends and associates of the late politician as well as the leadership of the ACN in Oyo State and Nigeria, urging them to take solace in the fact that Alhaji Adesina led an exemplary life. He prayed to the almighty Allah to grant his soul Aljanah Firdaus.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Jonathan to lead guests to Oshiomhole’s inauguration SEBASTINE EBHUOMHAN BENIN

resident Goodluck Jonathan is expected to lead guests and visitors to Edo State Governor, Adams Oshiomhole’s inauguration today as he takes another oath of office as the governor of the state. Today’s ceremony is the climax of activities marking the beginning of the second term of Oshiomhole, who was re-elected on the platform of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) on July 14, this year. Apart from President Jonathan, other guests expected at the event include state governors, ministers, ambassadors and members of the diplomatic community, members of the National Assembly, judges, heads of ministries, departments and agencies, captains of industries, businessmen and women, activists, students and the media. It will be recalled that Oshiomhole won a tortuous legal battle that lasted 18 months at both the tribunal and the Appeal Court against Prof. Osehreimen Osunbor of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) before he was sworn-in on Wednesday, November 12, 2008 for his first term of four years.

Rivers may privatise management of Port Harcourt zoo CHINEDUM EMEANA PORT HARCOURT

he Rivers State government is considering the option of engaging private sector partners to manage the Port Harcourt Zoological Garden situated at the outreach of the Trans Amadi Industrial Area as part of plans to drag the zoo from its current poor state. Rivers State Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Dr. Nabbs Imegwu, who acknowledged that the zoo is not in good shape, in a telephone interview with National Mirror over the weekend, said experience has shown that outfits of that nature run fully by government often have poor records of success.

South South

Monday, November 12, 2012

Amaechi urges parents to send wards to school

ivers State Governor, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, has urged parents resident in the state to register their children at the new model schools built by his administration to ensure that they get quality education to achieve their life potentials. Amaechi spoke yesterday at the 2012 Harvest Thanksgiving Service of St. Vincent De Paul Catholic Church, Diobu, Port Harcourt. His words: “Parents, take your children to school, if you don’t send them to school, they will become nothing, so you have a responsibility to ensure they go to school to get quality education.” The governor also said that plans are underway to enact a law that would indict parents who fail to send their children to school. “We are coming out with a law that if parents fail to educate their children, we will arrest and prosecute

them according to the dictates of that law”. Governor Amaechi said government had concluded plans to build more schools in Diobu. He said efforts are also being made to acquire more land for that purpose, noting that his administration has given priority to education, health and power, as it would impact positively on the peo-

ple of the state. He also urged all residents in the state to participate actively in the activities of government. “If you live here, your children are entitled to free education and also qualify to benefit from the non-payment of school fees from primary to secondary, 20 per cent chances have been made open for non-

YENAGOA

head of the March 23 local government poll in Bayelsa State, the state electoral commission yesterday appealed to all political parties and candidates participating in the election to exhibit decorum to ensure a hitch-free election in the state. Chairman of the commission, Mr. Blessing Izagara, made this known at a meeting in Yenagoa, with all the political parties participating in the election. He said the dates for the election and other activities preceding it were carefully selected in accordance with

Dickson

you don’t have to pay, especially pregnant women”, Amaechi said. Also speaking, the Chairman of the harvest thanksgiving service and Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Hon. Otelemaba Dan Amachree, urged the congregation to see the harvest period as a season to give and receive from God.

L-R: Rev. Fr. Stephen Deedua; Hon. Golden Chioma; Speaker, Rivers State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Otelemaba Amachree and Governor Rotimi Amaechi, at the 2012 Annual Thanksgiving Service of St. Vincent De Paul Catholic Church, in Port Harcourt, yesterday.

Bayelsa to hold LG poll March 23 EMMA GBEMUDU

indigenes”, he said. On health, the governor said he would disburse more funds to properly equip the various health centres across the state to ensure no fees were paid before any medical treatment, especially pregnant women. “For the health centres, I will start funding them by December this year so they can get more drugs, and

the Electoral Act. Izagara did not disclose how much would be spent by the electoral commission in the poll. The state governor, Seriake Dickson, had at several fora, lampooned council administrations in the state that was said to be fraught with corruption, nepotism and indolence. His words: “I want to make bold to say that with your support and understanding, we were able to deliver on our first assignment which is the successful conduct of the bye-election in some councils in the state recently. “As important partners, we considered it necessary to call you here to seek your input on how we can jointly achieve a hitch-free local government council election coming up in March, 2013. “The programme of activities for the election is as follows; conduct of party primaries: November 15 to 31, 2012; campaign by political parties commences November 26 while collection of form CF001 for affidavit/

personal particulars of candidates and form CF002 for party list of candidates was slated for January 16, 2013. Others include the publication of personal particulars of candidates January 23, collection of nomination forms January 24 to 27; last day for withdrawal by candidates and replacement February 6, last day for campaign March 22, while the date of election is March 23.” Over the years, election of council chairmen and councillors in the state was always dominated by the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) owing to the poor financial base and few supporters of the opposition parties. Investigation by our correspondent revealed that the PDP was hopeful of clinching the poll in the old eight local governments in the state. There were concerns that the state government was yet to reconstitute the caretaker committees of the 32 Development Centres dissolved by the past administration three years ago.

Anenih endows UCH Geriatric Centre

ormer Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Tony Anenih, has endowed the first ever multi-million naira Geriatric Centre at the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan. Anenih said that his acceptance of the hospital management’s request to endow the centre was predicated on the conviction that “the only life worth living is the life lived in the service of God and humanity.” Chief Medical Director of UCH, Prof. Temitope Alonge, said the management of the hospital unanimously agreed at a meeting in July this year on the choice of Anenih as the endower of the centre. According to him, “At the core management meeting of the hospital held in July 2012, management unanimously agreed on the choice of Chief Tony Anenih, CFR, the Iyasele of Esanland, as the

most suitable Nigerian to endow this centre, the very first of such in Nigeria.” He said that the centre was designed to provide outpatient and in-patient services for the increasing number of geriatric clients (people aged 65 and above). Alonge said the formal commissioning of the centre, which will be christened “Chief Tony Anenih Geriatric Centre” would take place on Saturday, November 17, 2012. He said the management got the idea to endow the centre from the Minister of Health, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu, during his recent visit to the hospital. He said the minister reaffirmed the Federal Government’s drive for Public Private Partnership (PPP) in government institutions, including the endowment of government projects by well-meaning Nigerians and philanthropists.

North

Monday, November 12, 2012

Boko Haram: Monitor Onoja, kinsmen tell security agencies AZA MSUE KADUNA

ndigenes of Benue State resident in Kaduna under the auspices of Concerned Citizens of Benue State Forum, CCBSF, at the weekend called on security agencies to monitor former military Governor of Plateau and Katsina states, Brig.-Gen. Lawrence Onoja (rtd), over Boko Haram membership comment. In a communiqué issued by the forum after its emergency meeting in Kaduna and signed by its Chairman, Mr. Sunday Oibe,

CCBSF, which appealed to Nigerians to forgive their son, Onoja, described the comment as unfortunate. The forum warned the elite to stop using terrorism to gain favour from their cronies, saying the current situation needed ideas that would tackle the challenges. Onoja was quoted as saying that he would have joined the Boko Haram sect if it had not resorted to indiscriminate killings of innocent people, even as he said that the sect was fighting a just cause. The former military gov-

ernor spoke in Minna, the Niger State capital, when the Arewa Consultative Forum, ACF, submitted a report on Road Map for Peace Unity and Development of Northern Nigeria to Governor Babangida Aliyu, the chairman of the Northern States Governors’ Forum, NSGF, last week. The communiqué reads in part: “Benue State indigenes in Kaduna were shocked and dismayed over a statement credited to an elder statesman that he, Brigadier-General Lawrence Onoja (rtd), would have been a Boko Haram

member. “In the first place, we don’t believe General Onoja was quoted correctly but if the story truly came from a respected Onoja, our son, then, it is very unfortunate. “How can Onoja claim that Boko Haram is fighting a just cause? Is it just to force one’s religion down the throat of every other Nigerian, whereas the constitution provides freedom of worship? “Now, if Onoja said that killing election riggers and treasury looters only would be a just cause then where lies the place of judiciary in this country?”

L-R: Emir of Lafiagi, Alhaji Sa’adu Kawu Haliru; Kwara State Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed and a flood victim, Mallam Abdulmalik Maiyaki, during the presentation of flood relief materials at Lafiagi in Edu Local Government Area, Kwara State, at the weekend.

Gunmen kill Reps’ member’s father in Borno INUSA NDAHI MAIDUGURI

unmen suspected to be terrorists at the weekend attacked the palace of the district head of Kangar in Borno State, Alhaji Lawan Kangare, 78, and shot him dead in the presence of his wives and children. The attack took place about 7.35pm on Saturday. Kangare is the father of Hon. Isa Lawan Kangare, representing Guzamala/ Kukawa/Abadam/Mobbar Federal Constituency in the

National Assembly. The lawmaker also represented his colleagues from Borno State during Saturday’s nationwide public hearing on the review of the 1999 Constitution in Maiduguri. The Kangare district palace in Guzamala Local Government Area of Borno State is 242 kilometres north of Maiduguri, the state capital. A resident of Kangare, who witnessed the attack, said the gunmen came in five unmarked vehicles and motorcycles, chanting, “God

is great” and started firing sporadically for 20 minutes to scare away residents. According to the witness, Kangare died after the assailants fired several shots into his head and chest while the attackers fled towards Damasak, Mobbar council headquarters. He said: “We were caught unawares after the Magreb prayer at the palace, when some gunmen on motorcycles and vehicles stormed our district head’s house and killed him before his wives and children. “What have we done to

these people to warrant the killing of our local leader?” The witness alleged that the assassination of the district head was politically motivated, because no one else was killed in the attack, while the gunmen did not set ablaze the police and military outposts as well as places of worships. Kangare was buried at Kangare/Gudumbali yesterday, according to Islamic rites, amidst tight security. The state Police Public Relations Officer, Gidieon Jibrin, confirmed the incident in Maiduguri yesterday.

Aliyu, Amaechi, Alaafin get UI award today PRISCILLA DENNIS MINNA

overnor Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu of Niger State has been nominated for the Golden Jubilee Personality Award by the Institute of

African Studies of the University of Ibadan, UI. Other notable personalities that would be honoured alongside Aliyu are the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Olayiwola Adeyemi III, Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi (CON), Chief Afe

Babalola (SAN), Prof. Kwabena H. Nketia and Yemisi Adedoyin, an engineer. The award ceremony is scheduled to hold today at the Trenchard Hall of the University of Ibadan, which also coincides with Aliyu’s birthday.

A statement signed by the governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Danladi Ndayebo, said the award was in recognition of Aliyu’s outstanding contributions to the growth and development of his state and the country.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

HYPADEC will check flood disaster –Ahmed WOLE ADEDEJI ILORIN

wara State Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed has called on the Federal Government to remove official bottlenecks preventing early take off of the Hydro-Electric Producing Areas Commission, HYPADEC, to alleviate pains of flood victims in the hydro-energy producing communities. He said that the kick off of the commission would also create the ground to effectively prepare for the management of future disasters in the flood-prone areas. The governor made the call at the weekend at the palaces of Etsu Patigi, Alhaji Ibrahim Chatta Umar and Emir of Lafiagi, Alhaji Saidu Kawu Haliru, whose domains are on the banks of River Niger where the recent flood wreaked havoc. He spoke during the presentation of relief materials to victims of the flood where the two paramount rulers called for the dredging of River Niger up to Jebba to reduce devastating effects of flooding in future. The relief materials were procured from the over N340 million state and Federal Government Relief Funds to the people of Patigi and Lafiagi in Patigi and Edu local government areas of the state. Ahmed noted that the

recent flooding had thrown up a lot of challenges for the government and everyone, as fishing, farmlands and other sources of livelihood of communities along the banks of Rivers Niger and Kaduna were destroyed. He said: “When the issue of HYPADEC was mentioned as a commission to be set up to take care of those communities, it was a very welcome development. We have since been looking forward to its full take off so that communities can begin to see that they are also put into consideration and feel a sense of belonging on issues affecting their livelihood and support for them.” The relief materials included over 920 bags of rice, 850 bags of cement, 605 pieces of fishing nets, over 700 pieces of Ankara print wax for women and Guinea Brocade for men, roofing sheets, nails, among others, at separate ceremonies in the two communities. Ahmed assured the people that his administration would continue to be responsive to their aspirations and make life more comfortable for them through the provision of infrastructural facilities. He described the relief materials as first step palliatives, promising government’s continued commitment to work towards permanent rehabilitation of the victims.

Don’t stifle opposition, coalition urges Shema JAMES DANJUMA KATSINA

coalition of NonGovernmental Organisations, NGOs, based in Katsina State has called on Governor Ibrahim Shema not to smother opposition groups or parties but to be tolerant of them. The coalition said in a statement signed by its Chairman, Abubakar Saulawa, that attempt to strangle opposition in the state would harm the tenets of democracy, freedom of speech and breed anarchy. The group made reference to a series of litigations filed by the governor against the erstwhile Secretary to the State Government, SSG, Dr. Mustapha Inuwa, as an attempt to si-

lence the opposition. The coalition urged Shema to, in the name of accountability and transparency, enlighten the people on how their resources were being managed rather than resorting to court action. It frowned at the use of private legal practitioners to pursue the case against the former SSG, stressing that this amounted to the use of public resources to pursue a personal vendetta.

Shema

Monday, November 12, 2012

Musa, Ideye hit brace apiece 55

Sport

We learned a lot from the visit by the Wiliams sisters and I think this will begin to manifest soon –Nigeria Tennis Federation President, Sani Ndanusa

Friendly: Eagles in Miami without Mikel, Moses

I can lead Nigeria’s attack –Ahmed Musa

SKA Moscow and Nigeria’s striker, Ahmed Musa, has declared that he can lead the Super Eagles’ attack at next year’s Africa Cup of Nationas (AFCON) in South Africa. Musa has been moved from a winger to a centre forward by his Russian club and the results have been remarkable as he has now scored seven goals in the league as well as a goal in the cup. The first of his brace against Kuban Krasnoder on Saturday was a typical striker’s goal as he used his blistering pace to reach a long through ball before slotting past a helpless goalkeeper. “I am enjoying my new role as top striker for CSKA. It has given me a chance to score more goals. I will lead Eagles attack well if I’m asked to do so too,” Musa told MTNFootball.com. He said that his goals in Russia could also be attributed to the fact that he had fully settled down at the army team after his big-money switch from modest Dutch club, VVV Venlo. “I am also scoring goals because I have adjusted to the league in Russia and now knows what is expected of me,” he disclosed. Last month against Liberia in Calabar in the AFCON qualifier, the former Kano Pillars star was played mainly as a left winger and scored a goal.

EVEREST ONYEWUCHI

uper Eagles departed for Miami, Florida, United States of America last night for Wednesday’s international friendly match with Venezuela without Chelsea stars, Mikel Obi and Victor Moses. The team led by Nigeria Football Federation’s President, Alhaji Aminu Maigari, travelled aboard a Delta Airlines airliner from the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) Lagos. National Mirror learnt that Mikel and Moses opted out of the game at the last minute. Also, France-based central defender, Onyekachi Apam, will not be part of the match. Media Officer of the Eagles, Ben Alaiya, said yesterday that the three players gave Coach Stephen Keshi different reasons for withdrawing from the game. Mikel was said to be having family matter bothering on his future as a father. “Timberwolves player, Bright Dike, who stars in the MLS for Timberwolves FC has already been invited to play in his stead and we are sure that he will do well in the encounter, especially as he is based in the United States,” Keshi explained. Sharks FC’s Gomo Onduku, who has been among the invited 24 home-based players in the Eagles’ camp has been drafted in to replace Moses. “I have been there before and we don’t have any grudges

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Aiyegbeni happy in China

F Ahmed Musa in a action for Super Eagles

against players withdrawing from international friendlies, especially when they are compelled to do that but we want to be told on time so that we can make replacements,” Keshi added. Keshi had on Saturday released the names of nine home-based players, who will join up with the 11 foreign-based earlier picked for the game against Venezu-

ela in Miami on Wednesday. The players are captain and goalkeeper Chigozie Agbim, who recently moved from Warri Wolves to Rangers; Sunshine Stars’ skipper, Godfrey Oboabona, Benjamin Francis, Azubuike Egwueke, Solomon Kwambe, Zango Umar, Henry Uche, Sunday Mba and Rangers’ winger, Ejike Uzoenyi.

ormer Nigeria top striker, Yakubu Aiyegbeni, has hailed his first season in China as a success. Aiyegbeni, 29, joined Super League side, Guangzhou R&F, in June and scored nine goals in 14 appearances. The Nigerian’s contribution helped Guangzhou R&F finish seventh in the 16-team league which ended a couple of weeks ago. “I’ve only been there six months but it’s more like a year. People are quick to disrespect the Chinese league but when you get involved you’ll find out the football is really good,” Aiyegbeni told BBC Sport. He added, “You can’t compare with England but the Chinese players love to pass the ball around and things are getting better there.” With spells at Everton, Middlesbrough and Blackburn Rovers under his belt, the move to China saw him become the latest in a recent influx of talent in the most populous nation on earth.

Glo Golf Tour: Torgah wins in Asaba

irst leg of the maiden edition of the Globacom Golf Tour holed out yesterday at the Ibori Golf and Country Club, Asaba, with Ghanaian Vincent Torgah emerging winner of the competition. Torgah signed for a closing 74 for 292 total over four-days, winAWC Final E’Guinea

4-0

S/Africa

1-0

Nigeria

Third Place Cameroun

ning the glamorous tournament by two-shots. Tournament favourite, Emos Korblah also of Ghana, came second after grossing a four-day score of 292, losing the tournament’s top prize to Torgah. Nigeria’s Andrew Oche Odoh also gave a good account of himself. Playing four-shots off the pace going to the final, Odoh fought back for a closing 74 to finish third. A field of over 90 pros from

Nigeria and other West African countries shared the N15million on offer in Asaba. Speaking at the closing ceremony, Torgah described the competition as the beginning of great things for golf in the sub-region. While thanking the sponsor, Globacom, for lifting golf, Torgah said the support would go a long way in growing the game in Africa. The second leg of the Glo Tour serie moves to Sagamu, in Ogun from Wednesday.

Lady captain of the Ibori Golf and Country Club, Asaba, Ruth Orioko, teeing off during the Glo Golf Tour in Asaba on Saturday

Sport

Monday, November 12, 2012

Sponsorship: Ibitoye tasks Corporate Nigeria AFOLABI GAMBARI

ompanies in Nigeria have been enjoined to exploit their opportunity to uplift sports in the country or risk ceding their right to foreign companies. Award-winning sports journalist, Toyin Ibitoye, who gave the advice in a lecture tagged “The Making of a Leader” at the Excellence in Leadership Conference organised by Daystar Christian Centre in Lagos at the weekend, regretted that corporate bodies in the country had paid lip service to sponsorship. “In comparison to the huge potential in Nigeria, I think the companies have done far less than expected of them and it is no wonder that government has always taken the shine of them ironically in an age where governments are taking the back seats in many countries,” Ibitoye observed. “It’s easy for the Nigerian companies to predicate their action on the perceived corruption in sports administration but this cannot be tenable for too long as sponsorship is all about investment and no serious company will ignore such opportunity for self-boosting,” he added. The television sports analyst argued that foreign companies have embarked on what he called thorough research of the sports industry in Nigeria with a view to exploiting the inroads on offer, stressing that the financial implication could put their Nigerian counterparts on the back seat sooner than later. “I am quite aware that some companies met with the Sports Minister in London during the

ormer Nigeria women’s tennis champion, Veronica Oyibokia-Iwebema, has

Governor Fashola

LOC ready for Obudu race YEMI OLUS

he Local Organising Committe for the Obudu International Mountain Race says it will organise another hitch-free competition on November 17 when the 8th edition of the race holds at the Obudu Ranch Resort in Obudu, Cross River State. Chairman of the committee, Sir William Archibong, disclosed yesterday that his committee had concluded all arrangements for a memorable race. “Officials of the world mountain running association have started arriving for the race while elite runners will start arriving from tomorrow (today),” Archibong said. Meanwhile, Cross River State

Commissioner for Youth and Sports, Patrick Ugbe, has assured that the LOC would fulfil Governor Liyel Imoke’s charge that this year’s race should be used as a test-run for the world mountain running championships which the state is hosting in 2014. “This is more like a fresh start for us because we will observe all the rules that govern a world mountain running championships in this year’s race but we are up to the task. The WMRA believes in us and the governor has confidence in our organisational abilities,” the commissioner said. The race, sponsored by the Cross River State Government, is staged to attract tourists to the Obudu Ranch which sits on a mountain plateau at an altitude of 1, 600 metres.

Eko 2012: Obi makes facilities pledge CHARLES OKEKE AWKA

Top Nigerian athlete, Blessing Okagbare, needs comprehensive corporate support to excel

Olympic Games and the outcome of the meeting can only be imagined,” he further said. Ibitoye criticised the ambush tactic of the country’s corporate bodies, saying it had done more damage to sustainable sports de-

velopment in Nigeria. “Genuine sponsorship is seeing through athletes’ developmental process to ultimate rather than merely waiting to align with the athletes only when they are successful,” he submitted.

Tennis: ‘Players need right exposure’ YEMI OLUS

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

described the performance of domestic players as below par, saying that only the intervention of former players can rescue the game from the doldrums. Oyibokia won the annual Central Bank Tennis Championship a record eight times during her days as a player but concluded that the present generation had fallen short after watching a game between current No.1, Fatima Abinu and Sarah Adegoke at the Lagos Lawn Tennis Club. “I wasn’t impressed. From what the players demonstrated, I think we still have a long way to go,” Iwebema, who represented Nigeria at the Africa Games and Olympics in 1988, said.

She expressed confidence in the ability of former players to serve as role models for the new generation players. “The best thing to do is to bring those who know the game and are passionate, get them involved. The current crop of players need people have who have played and achieved a lot from the game so that they get the needed exposure,” the ex-Olympian counselled. “So many of my colleagues have left Nigeria because they weren’t getting the support they needed,” she lamented, stressing, “But I think we can approach the Nigeria Tennis Federation and see how we can work together.”

schools, saying investments and commitment to sports under his government had restored hope. Commissioner for Sports and Youth development, Mr. Edozie Aroh, who spoke at the occasion, commended the governor for his interest in sports development, especially the uplifting of ex-stars like Emmanuel Okala, Mary Onyali and Innocent Egbunike, among others, to role models.

nambra State Governor, Mr. Peter Obi, has assured that his administration will continue to sustain sports development in the state. Obi said the assurance was in line with the state government’s policy of developing all sectors of the economy simultaneously as stated in the Anambra Integrated Development Strategy (ANIDS). He said this at the weekend in Awka, while receiving the 2012 Unity Torch for the National Sports Festival. Recalling the state of sports in Anambra State before he became governor, Obi said it was disheartening that the pre-2006 years witnessed total collapse of sports in the state without a stadium and sporting activities in Governor Obi with the torch

Team Lagos targets squash sweep YEMI OLUS

fter naming its eightman team for the 18th National Sports Festival, the Lagos State Squash Association (LSSA) believes it has no rival in the event. LSSA Chairman, Sanya Akindele, says he is confident that the Wasiu Sanni-coached side will claim the four gold medals at stake at the sporting fiesta. According to Akindele, the maiden Classic being staged by the association will be used to assess the preparedness of Team Lagos for the NSF. Wasiu Bello will captain the team that includes Moses Durosinmi, Wale Amao and Mayowa Olorunnisola for the men’s

team, while the female team will comprise Taiwo Ebifemi, Alimot Idris, Funke Awosanya and Shade David. Coach Sanni, who said the players’ selection was based on form, assured that the medal haul was within reach. “We are set for the festival and we are hopeful that we will do well,” he said. Meanwhile, captains of the boxing and table tennis teams, Olaide Fijabi and Ayo Omotara, have assured that the squads would surpass the feat at Rivers 2011. “We are working and training vigorously to justify the government’s investment in us,” Fijabi said. “We learnt a lot from the training tour to China and we are working hard to win laurels for the state,” Omotara added.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

IKENWA NNABUOGOR

Sport

Monday, November 12, 2012

orgotten Super Eagles’ striker Sone Aluko failed to follow up on his goal scoring feat last week as he fired blank in Hull City’s 2-1 loss at Cardiff City on Saturday in the English Premier League. Aluko had hit his fifth goal of the season and expected to add his sixth but he spent the whole duration of the game on the pitch and was just good enough for his 15th game of the season. Meanwhile, his compatriot, Seyi Olofinjana, who had been sidelined for almost the better part of last season, sat out the game. The former Wolves midfielder has only played nine times for the manager Steve Bruce’s side. In France, former Golden Eaglet Simon Zenke was on target for bottom-placed AS Nancy as they capitulated 3-1 at home to Rennes on Friday. He was as usual on from start to finish but failed to save his sinking club from conceding their ninth loss this season. Zenke evened scores for his troubled side in the 50th minute after the visitors had taken a 21st minute lead. Kadunaborn Zenke, who cut his European football teeth as a teenager at Strasbourg in 2005, has now played his sixth game of the season since his summer switch from Turkish side, Samsunspor. He has also been redcarded once. Missing on the visitors’ side was Eagles returnee defender Onyekachi Apam, who was dumped on the bench for 90 minutes in the Friday night encounter. Apam, recalled into the Eagles team by coach Stephen Keshi only returned from injury that had sidelined him for the better part of last season. He has also been dropped from the Eagles’ trip to the USA for the Venezuela friendly on Wednesday. Apam has so far played two games this season. In Belgium, big Nigerian striker, Michael Uchebo, will have to wait for another time to get on the score sheet for the first time for his new club Cercle Brugge, who were held to a 2-2 draw at home against Gent. Uchebo was thrown into the fray in the 73rd minute but failed to hit the target to ensure a rare victory for his bottom-placed side, that has only managed two wins this season and deeply rooted at the bottom of the table. He has thus far appeared 11 times, staying card-free for the whole outings. Still in Belgium, former Qatar-based striker Derick Ogbu was in the thick of action for the surprise Belgian League team this season OH Leuven, who were held to a scoreless draw at home by visiting Kortrijkon on Saturday. Ogbu only spent 77 minutes on the pitch before he made way for Zimbabwean team mate Ovidy Obvious Karuru. He has so far scored four goals in 15 league appearances this season. Earlier on Friday, young Nigerian striker Imoh Ezekiel was in action for Standard Liege for just 33 minutes in their 2-1 away win at Lokeren. The 19-year old hit man, who is on the wish list of top Euro spenders, has now gone three games without scoring. He has so far netted five goals in 11 appearances for the multiple Belgian champions. He has also been yellow-carded and red-carded once apiece. In Germany, former Club Brugge striker Joseph Akpala saw only nine minutes of action for Werder Bremen who were beaten 2-1 at second-placed Schalke 04 on Saturday. Akpala, who found 90 minutes of action a

Musa, Ideye hit brace apiece, …Zenke, Uche also on target

Kalu Uche (left) being congratulated by team mate

Euro Leagues Results England Arsenal

3 –3

Fulham

Everton

2 –1

Sunderland

Reading

0 –0

Norwich

Aston Villa

2 –3

Man United

Man City

2 –1

Spurs

Newcastle

0 -1

West Ham

Chelsea

1 -1

Liverpool

Schalke

2 -1

Werder

Freiburg

0 –0

Hamburg

Bayern

2 –0

Eintracht

Augsburg

1– 3

Dortmund

Rayo

3 –2

Celta Vigo

Espanyol

0 –3

Osasuna

Zaragoza

5 –3

Deportivo

Malaga

1 –2

Sociedad

Valladolid

1 –1

Valencia

Germany

Spain

bit hard to come by since he transferred from Brugge, has so far scored once in eight outings for his new club. He has also been cautioned once. In Spain, Super Eagles midfielder Nosa Igiebor was introduced in the 83rd minute for Real Betis as they lost 2-1 at home to Granada. Igiebor, who joined Finidi George’s former club this summer from Israeli club Hapoel Tel Aviv, has struggled to command a regular shirt starting in just two of his five appearances so far this season. He’s yet to get on the score sheet as well as get a caution. In Russia, Super Eagles winger Ahmed Musa has refused to stop scoring, netting a brace in CSKA’s 3-1 away win at Kuban Krasnodar on Saturday. His brace upped his tally to seven, making him the joint

ideye brown

Ahmed Musa

fifth top scorer with Cameroun’s Samuel Eto’O in the Russian Premier League. Musa opened scoring for the league leaders in the 35th minute when he got to the end of the Russia midfielder Alan Dzagoev’s delightful pass. He scrambled in his and CSKA’s second goal in the 51st minute before Sweden international Rasmus Elm’s scorcher settled the chilly night for the Moscow side.. He has incurred the referees’ wrath once in 15 league outings thus far. Still in Russia, forgotten Super Eagles striker Victor Nsofor was on for 45 minutes for Lokomotiv Moscow who were forced to a 1-1 draw by visiting Eto’O’s Anzhi Makhachkala yesterday. Nsofor was playing his 12th league game of the season. He has also netted once and yet to incur the referees’ wrath. In Ukraine, Benin-born striker Lucky Idahor failed to hit target for Zorya, who were beaten 1-0 at Tavriya on Saturday. As usual, the former Dynamo Kiev striker was on for 90 minutes in the game that also saw one of his team mates getting the marching orders. Idahor has gone nine games without scoring since he last scored on August 19. He’s scored twice so far in 14 appearances for his new club. He has so far gone into the referees’ books once. Still in Ukraine, former Super Eagles midfielder Haruna Lukman continued his resurgence for Dynamo Kiev making two goals despite being a second half substitute in 5-0 away demolition of Metalurh Zaporizhya on Saturday. The former Monaco midfielder had just returned from Dynamo wilderness last week after seeing action last on August 13. He replaced Croatian midfielder Nico Kranjcar in the 63rd minute. He was only playing his fourth league game this season. He has also seen yellow once thus far. Still in the same game, his compatriot Brown Ideye came back to his scoring mode, netting a brace in the 5-0 win for Dynamo Kiev. Ideye, who had gone six games without scoring hit a brace in the sweet victory. Ideye struck in the 64th minute for the visitors’ third goal off a pass from Haruna. He scored again 10 minutes later before Andriy Yarmolenko capped the glorious evening with the fifth goal with just three minutes left on the clock. However, he has so far scored 10 goals to remain second on the scorer’s chart. He has played 15 times in the league thus far this season. In Turkey, Kalu Uche returned to his scoring ways, netting from the spot on the dot of 90 minutes to restore a point for newly-promoted Kasimpasa in their 1-1 draw against visiting log leaders Antalyaspor on Saturday. Uche had gone five games without scoring before he hit his sixth goal of the season. He has so far played 11 times and yet to pick a yellow or red card. Promise Isaac was in the starting line up for the visitors but failed to hit the target. He was pulled out in the 65th minute. Isaac, who has seen red once this season, was making his ninth league appearance of the season, netting thrice. Earlier on Friday, Michael Eneramo was in 90 minute action for Sivaspor who beat fifth-placed Eskiehirspor. The former Esperance hit man has now gone three games without scoring. He has so far scored four goals in 11 outings for his side.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Monday, November 12, 2012

WORLD RECORD

Fastest toilet Vol. 02 No. 489

N150

Monday, November 12, 2012

The fastest toilet is the “Bog Standard”, a motorcycle and sidecar hidden under a bathroom set consisting of bathtub, sink, and laundry bin, which can travel to a speed of 68 kmh (42.25 mph) and was presented on the set of Lo Show Dei Record, in Milan, Italy, on 10 March 2011.

Jonathan and the Ribadu report

t is unfortunate that there has been so much ignorant carping and malicious tittle-tattling about the report of the Petroleum Revenue Task Force chaired by Malam Nuhu Ribadu, both failings arising from a deliberate attempt to individualize what was actually group work, a mischievous attempt to politicize one report out of three, and to smuggle into an emergent grand web of conspiracy, elements of blackmail, mischief and outright opportunism. I should like to dispel the putrefacious stench of the fart that seems to have overtaken the subject by returning all of us to certain basics that have not changed since President Jonathan approved the setting up of committees to inquire into different aspects of the Petroleum Sector. The facts are as follows. The committees in question and the probe into the Petroleum sector were initiated by President Goodluck Jonathan to ensure transparency and accountability in the extractive industry; the goal was to

Guest Columnist

Reuben

Abati

transform the sector and raise levels of integrity accordingly. Every step that has been taken by this administration in this regard has been in fulfillment of this wellstated principle. This includes the decision to completely deregulate the downstream sector, which has now resulted in the exposure of oily deals in that sector, with consequences for the indicted persons. It also includes the launch of a concerted fight against crude oil theft and illegal payments of fuel subsidy. Zakari Mohammed of the House of Representatives talks absent-mindedly about “lack of political will” to fight corruption. He certainly doesn’t know what he is talking about. A legislative position should not confer a right to mendacity. He should know, if he had been reading the newspapers, that on the basis of both the report of the House of Representatives and the Aig Aig-Imokhuede committee report on fuel subsidy payments, persons are currently being prosecuted in the law courts by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). The Federal Government has not done anything to stop or discourage the prosecution of indicted persons. We have made the point, again and again, that in this on-going fight against corruption, there will be no “cover ups”; and no “sacred cows,” and that President Jonathan’s only interest is the people’s interest. This same President has demonstrated the political will to deal with corruption in the country’s electoral process, to both local and global acclaim. He has no reason to make compromises in other areas of national life. Interestingly,

THE TRUTH IS THAT PRESIDENT JONATHAN IS ALREADY TAKING STEPS TO ADDRESS SOME OF THE ISSUES RAISED IN THE VARIOUS REPORTS many of those who are now talking ignorantly about “political will” are beneficiaries of this administration’s commitment to the rule of law and fair play. On the specific issue of the Petroleum Revenue Task Force report, the mischiefmakers should go back to the statements made by President Jonathan, and Petroleum Minister, Diezani Alison-Madueke, on the occasion of the presentation of the report. The President’s position that the work of the Ribadu Committee, and of the two others that presented their reports on that occasion, the Idika Kalu committee on Refineries and the Dotun Sulaiman Committee on Governance, is useful and enlightening has not changed. Alison-Madueke has further echoed that position more than twice. The three committees were set up as fact-finding and advisory bodies. That fact was further underscored by the President’s mature response to the altercation that the Ribadu Committee Report generated when he said those who have issues to raise should be free to make their own

independent submissions. This shows a determination to get every possible piece of information and to accommodate all concerns. This shows a will to act. President Jonathan has not dumped any input, rather he welcomes every possible input and has no private interest in the matter. So for anyone to say that the Ribadu committee was “calculated to fail from the beginning”, is absolutely uncharitable. Indeed, for the benefit of those playing politics and doing quick business with this matter, the truth is that President Jonathan is already taking steps to address some of the issues raised in the various reports. When President Jonathan sets up committees to investigate particular issues, he does so, because he wants to address those issues. I had, before now, drawn attention to the fact that the President gave clear directives on the state of the refineries and that at least one meeting had been held since presentation of the Report on Refineries, to act specifically on the recommendations made. President Jonathan has directed that he wants the refineries fixed and steps are already being taken; deadlines have been set. That didn’t make the headlines, rather, falsehood hugged the headlines, because these days it pays to fart all over the place, and attract attention. To set the records straight, here is what happened. After the presentation of the reports by the three committees; the President directed the Minister of Petroleum Resources to take up the recommendations of the Kalu Idika Kalu committee on refineries. The committee recommended, in part, that the country’s refineries should be rehabilitated without any further delay. On November 8, the Minister and her team were at the Villa to brief the President on the state of the refineries, their current capacities, and steps that need to be taken to get them to function at optimum capacity. To be continued. Dr. Abati is Special Adviser to President Jonathan on Media and Publicity.

Sport Extra

orld number one, Rory McIlroy, felt contented yesterday after claiming the Harry Vardon trophy by topping the European Tour’s money list for the first time. A 30-foot eagle putt on the final green at the Barclays Singapore Open made the 23-year-

Golf: McIlroy wins Vardon event, achieves history old world No 1 the youngest money list winner since Sandy Lyle in 1980. But it was only when 19-yearold Italian Matteo Manassero also eagled the same hole more than two hours later that McIlroy literally erupted.

After winning the PGA Tour title, McIlroy emulated the double achieved by Luke Donald last season when Manassero beat South African Louis Oosthuizen with a 12-foot putt at the third play-off hole. “I set a number of ambitious

goals at the start of the year, and to have ticked so many of the boxes feels great,” Rory McIlroy said. “I feel so humbled to join so many fabulous names in Europe who have won the Order NFF President, Aminu Maigari of Merit,” he added. Rory McIllroy

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