Monday, October 15, 2012 by GLOBAL MEDIA MIRROR LIMITED

2013 Budget: Again, FG defends $75 oil benchmark TOLA AKINMUTIMI ABUJA

he Federal Government yesterday defended the $75 per barrel oil price

Okonjo-Iweala

Vol. 2 N0. 469

benchmark for the 2013 budget, saying an overly high price would lead to higher inflation, decline in the value of the naira, lower savings and reduced investment.

Kaduna mosque attack:

The Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi OkonjoIweala, said that government arrived at the $75 because it was below the current world market price CONTINUED ON PAGE 5>>

COUNTDOWN TO

ONDO GUBER POLL October 20, 2012

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How Mimiko plans to rig Ondo election â&#x20AC;&#x201C;Presidentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s aide Akeredolu blasts gov over Abiola P.13

Monday, October 15, 2012

Gunmen kill 25 worshippers JTF confirms bomb blast in Maiduguri

N150 AZA MSUE AND INUSA NDAHI

unmen yesterday struck again in Kaduna, invading Dogo Dawa community in Birnin Gwari Local Government Area of the state, killing 25 people, mostly Muslim worshippers returning from early morning prayers. National Mirror learnt that the incident happened in the morning when gunCONTINUED ON PAGE 2>>

Ukiri

EFCC arraigns ex-NBA leader over N35m P.5 scam Dana victim petitions Jonathan, Mark, others over compensation A submerged community in Bayelsa State during the visit of President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday.

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Senate reopens probe of pension funds Targets Customs, Immigration and Prisons

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Kaduna attack: Gunmen kill 25 worshippers CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

men suspected to be armed robbers on a revenge mission invaded the community and in the process killed the worshippers who were returning from the 5:30 a.m. prayers at mosque. The villagers also report-

edly killed two of the gunmen. National Mirror gathered that the community vigilance group had captured some armed robbers who recently attacked passengers and motorists in the area. Dogo Dawa is about

three hours drive from Kaduna city. A dependable source told National Mirror that 25 people were killed in what he described as a massacre, saying that the attack was jointly carried out with the aid of a terrorist gang.

A submerged farmland in Bayelsa State during the visit of President Goodluck Jonathan to the flooded areas in the state yesterday.

L-R: Chairman, House Committee on Environment, Hon. Uche Ekwunife; Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi; Bayelsa State Governor Seriake Dickson and President Jonathan during his visit to the flooded areas in Rivers State at the weekend.

“The vigilance group in the area is very strong; they arrested the robbers on different occasions as the robbers too promised to come back for an attack,” a source said. The source added that many villages in the state were under serious threat of possible attack, calling on the communities to defend themselves as security personnel in the state are not sufficient to be everywhere. “The gunmen started killings outside while some people ran into the bush with gunshots wound. Some of the victims were coming back from morning prayers from the mosque when the attackers followed and killed them as well. It was a massacre. “About 25 people were killed but it is likely to rise because of those injured.

Victims of flood at Mbiama camp, Ahoada LGA, during the President’s visit.

Some were injured critically and they may not survive. As I am talking to you soldiers and other security forces were mobilised there to rescue the community. “As I am talking to you, gunmen have written letters to many communities in Kaduna but how many security personnel do we have on ground? “Communities should prepare for their protections. Terrorists vowed to kill anybody who stands on their way. Anybody who assisted security agencies to fish them out they will definitely go after that person. The attack in Birnin Gwari is purely a revenge.” An eyewitness, who did not want his name mentioned, narrated how the incident happened. He said: “Sometimes ago, there were series of robbery in the area especially along the Kaduna/ Birnin Gwari highway. “Some women were even raped in the process. So, a committee was set up to help find out who were responsible and put an end to it. The committee did a good job as they were able to identify some of those responsible for the robbery and other criminal activities in the area.” The eyewitness added: “A former Hakimi in Dogo Dawa was in charge of the committee that was respon-

sible for sanitizing the area and that was why, in the last three months, there was no robbery in the area as the people were able to identify the criminals and they were being eliminated silently one after the other. “The criminals must have fled the village when they discovered that they no longer have a base there. “But this morning, the criminals came back and went to the house of the man they suspected to be responsible for identifying them, killed him and two of his children and cut the hand of his wife. “They also killed 17 other people in the village. I learnt that those people they killed were just coming from the early morning prayers. “I can confirm to you that it was not a robbery operation, but it was the criminals themselves that came for a reprisal because the people have been identifying them.” Another source said that the criminals had sent messages that they were coming to attack the village. It was learnt that the armed robbers reportedly wrote a letter to the community over their impending attack, but many villagers believed that the attack was carried out by enemies of the community not robbers. Although, security operatives have been deployed

fice (CIPPO) which was addressed during the public hearing earlier conducted during the year by the same committee. “During the Senate hearing, Nigerians witnessed through a live TV transmission the high level of persecution against the task team. “From the first day of our appearance before the Senate committee, our chairman was declared ‘wanted’ and was ordered to be arrested by the police, while the committee embarrassed and vilified him as if it is a crime to sincerely sacrifice for this country. “Senator Aloysius Etuk used the police to harass and prevent the chairman of the Pension Task Team from going to the mosque for Friday prayers, a serious breach of personal religion rights, as a Muslim. “He also asked on one occasion that the legal ad-

viser of the Task Team to be detained by the police for presenting a medical report showing that the Task Team chairman was ill. “Even during the Senate committee’s hearing in Abuja, the Senate Committee had already convicted the Task Team as guilty when the duo of Senators Etuk and Kabiru Gaya appeared on television studios and press conferences condemning the PRTT while their investigations were still going on. “That there are elements of vindictiveness because the investigation has now changed to a personality affairs as the committee demanded in writing that the chairman PRTT should present his educational qualifications, letters of appointment, and all letters of promotion for investigation. “This shows a personality attack on the person of our chairman.”

CONTINUED ON PAGE 5>>

Senate reopens probe of pension funds GEORGE OJI ABUJA

our months after the Senate adopted the report of its joint committees on establishment and public service, state and local government administration, which probed the administration of pension funds in the country, the committee has re-opened a fresh investigation into the fund. The conduct of the first exercise, which involved the alleged misappropriation of N270bn by pension officials in six years, was consequent upon a resolution passed by the Senate authorising the investigation. It took the joint committee about six months to conclude the initial exercise. While the initial exercise investigated the activities of officers of the pension office of the Head of Service of

the Federation and the police pension fund, the fresh probe is targeted at the management/administration of pensions in Customs, Immigration and Prisons Pension Office, CIPPO. Already, the probe committee, chaired by Senator Aloysius Etuk, has written individuals and institutions, intimating them of the new exercise and the days they are to appear before the committee. Meanwhile, the Chairman of the Pension Reform Task Team, PRTT, Mr. Adulrasheed Maina, and the top management of the task force, who have been invited to appear before the Senate probe committee have accused the probe panel of alleged witch-hunting and victimisation. In a petition to the Senate President David Mark, which was made available to newsmen at the weekend

in Abuja, Maina and the management staff of the PRTT said that they have since lost confidence in the ability of the Senate investigative panel to conduct an unbiased investigation. The petitioners wondered why an issue, that is the management/administration of pensions in Customs, Immigration and Prisons Pension Office that has been disposed off during the last investigation exercise has to be exhumed again. They (petitioners) also alleged undue favouritism by the Senate probe committee to protect Dr. Shuaibu Teidi Sani, former director with the pension’s board who was allegedly found to have misappropriated huge sums of money. “To our utmost surprise, the leadership of the Senate probe committee was very polite, accommodating and so friendly to Dr. Shuaibu Teidi Sani. This is a suspect

who was arrested of pension loots running into billions of naira seized from him. “Shuaibi Teidi Sani was protected by the Senate committee and given ample time to talk and present his position without interference unlike the chairman of PRTT (Maina) who was also hosed down each time he wants to explain very important point thereby making the hunter to become the hunted,” the petitioners alleged. The petition reads in part: “We have received yet another invitation dated October 3, 2012 requesting that we appear before the Senate Committee on Establishment and Public Service, State and Local Government Administration for the purpose of conducting a comprehensive investigation into the management/ administration of pensions in Customs, Immigration and Prisons Pension Of-

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Monday, October 15, 2012

Photo News

Monday, October 15, 2012

L-R: Anambra State Governor, Peter Obi; Commissioner for Planning, Prof. Chinyere Okunna and Head of DFID in Nigeria, Dr. Richard Montgomery, at the signing of the memorandum of understanding between Anambra State and DFID at the Government House in Awka, recently.

L-R: Chairman of the occasion, Prof. Joe Irukwu; Chairman, Red Star Express, Alhaji Mohammed Kogona and Chairman, Enterprise Bank Ltd, Mr. Emeka Onwuka, during the 20th anniversary of the company held in Lagos, at the weekend.

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L-R: Guest Lecturer, Dr. Abiodun Layonu; Dean, Faculty of Law, University of Ibadan, Prof. Oluyemisi Bamgbose and Chairman of the occasion, Dr. Wale Babalakin, at a public lecture in Ibadan, yesterday.

L-R: Managing Director, Dufil Prima Foods, Mr. Deepak Singhal; wife of Lagos State Governor, Dame Abimbola Fashola; 1st prize winner, Miss. Olufunmilayo Bello; Marketing Manager, Dufil Prima Foods, Mr. Tope Ashiwaju; Senator Femi Lanleyin and Director of the company, Mr. John Mastourodes, during the 2012 Indomie Heroes’ Awards in Lagos at the weekend. PHOTO: OLUFEMI AJASA

National News

Excess Crude Account to hit $10bn –Okonjo-Iweala M inister of Finance and Coordinating Minister for the Economy, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, said yesterday in Tokyo that Nigeria’s Excess Crude Account would hit $10 billion early next year. Okonjo-iweala made this known while briefing newsmen on the Nigerian economy at the annual meeting of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF). She said: “I strongly feel and I have shared with the governors, with Mr. President and vice-president who fully supports that the Excess Crude Account must be built up to $10 billion. “We should strive to do that in the next few months and we keep that as buffer.’’ According to her, if the account is built up to $10 billion and it is not touched form a while, it will serve as buffer.” The minister noted that there was the need to increase the nation’s external reserve, considering the population of the country. “Our reserves are not

huge, we are just building backup; it’s not my place, it is the monetary policy that manages it, but I have discussed with the CBN governor that we need to build up our reserve to 50 billion dollars, if we can. “That will be the desires of the fiscal authorities, so I don’t consider us with the size of the economy and population we have. “Look at Algeria, their reserve is nearly $200bn, for a country much smaller than Nigeria,’’ she said. On infrastructure, Okonjo-Iweala noted that the country needed about $10 billion yearly to tackle its infrastructural challenges, adding that Nigeria would draw from the World Bank’s loan offer with approval from the National Assembly. She noted that Nigeria would not draw from the international monetary resources at the moment to tackle the infrastructure challenges. “We are trying to put our borrowing to really direct it to infrastructure, as you know we have gone to other sources, the Word

Bank is helping us with power, so is the African Development Bank. “Those are very concessional resources. The problem we have right now is that the meetings from the World Bank; they are indicating that if we

do not pass through external borrowing plan, where we have $1.2bn, that has been approved. “They are very sympathetic to us, they will like Nigeria to use that money but if the money stays there and it’s not approved for

use, they will have to move it and give it to other countries,’’ the minister said. Okonjo-Iweala noted that the loan to be taken would be given at zero interest rate, a 40-year repayment period and 10 years of moratorium and

only 0.7 per cent commitment charge. She said that the money would be used for power, water and health care among others, adding that Nigeria could only benefit from the loan, if the National Assembly approved.

We want right done on 2013 budget, says Tambuwal HAKEEM GBADAMOSI AKURE

ouse of Representatives’ Speaker, Aminu Tambuwal has said that the leadership of the House was not against the President over the 2013 budget. He said the disagreement between the House and the executive was on the benchmark. Tambuwal spoke yesterday at Irun-Akoko in Akoko North-West Local Government Area of Ondo State while sympathising with one of the House members, Hon. Ganiyu Dauda, over the

death of his wife. He said the House was only interested in due process and wanted the executive to do the right things. The Speaker said: “We are not against the President. We are only demanding from Mr. President what is right. If he gets it right, it is for his own benefit because the credit will go to him. “We are all in government to achieve the same goal. When a co-traveller is demanding that a proper thing should be done, nobody should see that as being antagonistic. “We are not at loggerheads with the Presidency.

The Presidency has submitted the budget estimate and we are looking at it.” He pointed out that the basis of disagreement was on the benchmark, saying the House had explained its opposition to the budget implementation. Tambuwal said: “The executive wanted the budget to be implemented at $75 per barrel with deficit, but since we know that we will get up to $80 per barrel, we want it to be pegged at $80 so that we will not go and be borrowing from banks.” He noted that reducing the deficit will give entrepreneurs the opportunity to

make use of bank loan in order to develop the economy. “It is better to reduce the deficit and allow our entrepreneur the opportunity to make use of the bank loans to develop the economy. It will not be in our own interest for our leaders to be borrowing,” the Speaker said. On why the House has not treated the budget as a People Democratic Party (PDP) affair, Tambuwal said: “There is nothing like family affairs in governance. We are not here on our own. We are there to represent our people and discharge our constitutional responsibility.”

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Monday, October 15, 2012

2013 Budget: Again, FG defends $75 oil benchmark CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

and was based on moving averages of the world oil price and government’s simulations allowing for uncertainty in world oil

price movements. The statement was signed by the Senior Special Assistant (Media) to the minister, Paul Nwabiukwu.

In addition, the statement explained that government used the model to estimate five-year and 10-year moving averages of the oil price and arrived at

our the average of approximately $71/barrel, which was then rounded up to $72/barrel (the 2012 budget level), adding that “this is a standard technique com-

Vice-President Namadi Sambo (2nd right); Minister of Communications Technology, Mrs. Mobolaji Johnson (right) and others during the opening of the International Telecommunications Union Telcom World Conference in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, yesterday.

Kaduna attack: Gunmen kill 25 worshippers CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2

in the community to forestall any break down of law and order as the police were yet to make any arrest. It further gathered that the attack has sent other villagers packing for fear of uncertainty, especially in the night even as Kaduna State government is working round the clock to establish a viable security network in rural areas. The state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Olufemi Adenaike, confirmed that 24 persons were killed by the armed robbers. Addressing a press conference yesterday night, Adenaike said that four suspects were arrested by vigilance group in the area. He said: “On October 14, 2012 at about 0530hrs, a suspected gang of armed bandits, numbering about 10 stormed Dogon Dawa Village, killing 24 persons. “Information had it that few of the victims were coming back from their morning prayers while the rest were attacked in their various houses. “The command swung into action by mobilising a unit of PMF (Police Mobile Force) personnel and conventional operatives to the scene.” On what could have led to the reprisal, the Police boss said: “Some members

of vigilance group from Dogon Dawa village went to Kuyello village arrested four persons suspected to be members of a notorious gang terrorising their areas and took them down to Dogon Dawa village for questioning recently. This must have been responsible for the attack.” Also, the Defence Headquarters yesterday denied the involvement of the Nigerian Army in the attack as claimed by international cable stations. In a statement made available to National Mirror, the Director, Defence, Information, Col. M.M. Yerima, said: “Investigation revealed that the killing was a reprisal by a gang of armed robbers who lost some of their members after a recent raid of their hide out through the combined effort of the villagers and the vigilante group in that community. “The Defence Headquarters wishes to state categorically in the interest of the larger society that no member of the Nigerian Armed Forces was involved in the said attack which occurred in early hours of Sunday October 14, 2012. “We urge members of the public to go about their legitimate businesses without any fear of molestation from any quarter, and to also re-

port any breach of peace and security in the society to law enforcement agencies.” The state government has condemned in strong terms the killings of innocent citizens, saying the attack was not carried out in a mosque as being reported. Governor Patrick Yakowa’s Senior Special Assistant on Media, Mr. Reuben Buhari in a text message to National Mirror said: “The Kaduna State government totally condemn in its entirety, the despicable attack on innocent civilians today in Dogon Dawa community of Birnin Gwari Local Government by criminals, while the police will speak further on the issue.” Buhari further noted that: “The state is, however, concerned with reports being aired by Aljazeera, alleging that those who lost their lives were killed inside a mosque. This is completely not true as the Aljazeera reporter simply filed the report from Abuja based on second hand information,” he said. Meanwhile, the Joint Task Force, JTF, on Operation Restore Order, ORO, yesterday confirmed an early morning blast along Bama road in Maiduguri, Borno State. JTF spokesman, Lt.-Col. Sagir Musa, told newsmen in Maiduguri that the blast did not record any casualty.

“It is true that we had a blast along Bama road in the early hours of Sunday. The truth is that there was no casualty,” he said. Musa explained that the bomb was planted on the road in anticipation of the JTF patrol vans. “They were probably targeting our patrol vans or other civilians. But fortunately, the bomb went off without hitting any target,” the JTF spokesman explained. Musa appealed to residents of the state to be vigilant and report suspicious objects to the JTF promptly. A similar blast had, last Monday, hit a JTF patrol van on the Lagos Street claiming lives and properties worth millions of naira. Also, gunmen on Saturday shot a Ghanaian national (name withheld) at the Dandal Way-Babanlayi junction of Maiduguri metropolis at 2.45p.m. The Ghanaian national, according to an eyewitness, was shot in the arm, before he was rushed to the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital, UMTH, by some of his relations. He said: “The gunmen came on foot with a gun, and one of them fired at the Ghanaian at his fridge repair shop on Dandal Way, and fled into Hausari ward, before men of the JTF rushed to the scene at 3:35p.m. yesterday (Saturday).”

monly used by commoditydependent countries to protect them against the volatilities of oil as well as consensual position of key stakeholders.” On why government did not adopt the $80/barrel price proposed by the National Assembly, the minister said $80/barrel would be harmful to the economy for sundry reasons. “First, it would lead to an increase in liquidity, and be harmful for many of the government’s macroeconomic forecasts. Based on our estimates, inflation rates would certainly rise significantly. The exchange rate would come under severe pressure, leading to a depreciation of the Naira. “High inflation would result in higher interest rates. A combination of high inflation, interest rate and an unstable exchange rate is bad for economic planning, both for the government and for private businesses. Overall, we know that macroeconomic volatility is bad for growth. “Second, the legislature’s proposal is premised on an overly-optimistic outlook of global oil prices. The current world oil price is not based on actual economic fundamentals, but rather on uncertainties due to conflict in the Middle East. Nigeria cannot base its plan simply on the expected misfortunes of others. “Third, in our view, current global oil prices are not sustainable. There are

two reasons for this: (a) possible reduction in global oil demand, due to recession in the Eurozone, low growth in the US, and economic slowdown in China and India, (b) increased global oil supply as new discoveries in Africa and elsewhere come on stream. “In addition, with the end of the Libyan crises, approximately 1.6m barrels per day would be returned to the world market. “Fourth, the legislature’s proposal would result in much lower savings in the ECA. To be precise, it would deny the ECA of significant additional inflow. “These savings are necessary to cushion the impact on the Nigerian economy, in the event of a global economic recession or a slump in world oil prices. Recall that, in 2008, oil prices collapsed from about $147/barrel to $38/barrel in a few months. And at that time, Nigeria turned to its savings in the Excess Crude Account, rather than asking for humiliating sovereign bailouts from the IMF.” The minister said that the international investor community was closely observing fiscal developments in Nigeria, adding that in September, the two sovereign credit rating agencies – Fitch and Standard and Poors – visited Nigeria and that the country expected favourable credit ratings, following up on our prudent management of public finances.

EFCC arraigns ex-NBA leader over N35m scam ISE-OLUWA IGE ABUJA

he Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has concluded arrangement to arraign Mr. Blessing Ukiri, the immediate past First Vice-President of the Nigeria Bar Association, NBA on charges of fraud, stealing and money laundering. Ukiri, who was alleged to have converted a N35m judgement sum paid by the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, to his client, Samuel Onowighose, to his personal use, will be docked today on a three count charge before a Federal High Court

sitting in Port Harcourt, Rivers State. He was alleged to have used part of the money to acquire 150,000 units of First Bank of Nigeria Plc shares, thereby commits an offence punishable under section 14(a) of the Money Laundering Prohibition Act. Ukiri was arrested on Friday, October 12, 2012, at his office on 12, Ohaeto Street D/Line, Port Harcourt, Rivers State. The arrest followed a court order issued on Thursday, October 11, 2012, by Justice U. N. Agomoh of the Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

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FAAN lauds removal of tariff on aircraft, spare parts OLUSEGUN KOIKI

he Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, FAAN, yesterday commended the Federal Government for removing customs duties on imported aircraft and spare parts in the 2013 budget proposal submitted to the National Assembly last week. FAAN also challenged

the operating airlines to take full advantage of the gesture by investing funds, which would have been spent on paying duties to the government on training of personnel and improvement of services to their esteemed customers. The General Manager, Corporate Communications, FAAN, Mr. Yakubu Dati, said in an online statement that the removal of the tariff confirmed the

commitment of the government towards the transformation of the aviation sector. Dati recalled that since her appointment in July 2011, the Minister of Aviation, Princess Stella Oduah, had been consistently making a case for the removal of duties as part of her efforts to transform the sector. The GM said the minister’s dogged transformation efforts and aviation

roadmap were already yielding the desired results as already shown in the remodelling of 11 airports in the first phase across the country. He said: “We recall that when the minister met with the aviation industry’s players, she promised to pursue this issue and many other issues bedevilling the industry, most especially the cost of importing spare parts, which

is a major component in the operational cost of airlines. “We believe that this action would turnaround the industry and make aviation attractive to the much needed foreign investors. The ongoing remodelling and reconstruction exercise has already created a platform for the take-off of Nigeria as a major hub of investment destination in the sub-Saharan region

of Africa. “This action has indeed inspired enthusiasm in international investors who have indicated string interest in doing business in the Nigerian aviation industry during the minister’s recent road show.” Dati also urged the indigenous airlines to take full advantage of this gesture, saying that this would help in augmenting their services.

ICT stakeholders reject 2013 budget KUNLE A ZEEZ

takeholders in the Information and Communication Technology, ICT, industry have picked holes in the proposed N4.92trn budget for 2013 presented to the National Assembly by President Goodluck Jonathan, for not making provision for the sector. Though described as the fastest growing industry in the world, the stakeholders decried the absence of conscious attempt to promote local computer manufacture in the sector. Speaking with our correspondent yesterday, the Secretary General, Computer and Allied Product Dealers Association of Nigeria, Mr. John Oboro, condemned the lack of duty consideration for local original

Equipment Manufacturers, OEMs, in ICT. Oboro said over the years, the lack of duty waiver on imported Completely Knocked Down, CKD, ICT products by indigenous computer firms, in a challenging operating environment, had been a major threat hindering the industry operators from competing favourably with international brands of computers in the country. He said: “I think by now, Nigerian government should have realised the critical role ICT is playing as an enabler of economic growth and development, and as such, one would expect it to introduce duty waiver or reduce duty on CKD imported by computer firms such as Omatek, Zinox, Brian, Bet and Veda, which are local computer manufacturers in Nigeria.”

Group gives Edo flood victims free medical treatment SEBASTINE EBHUOMHAN BENIN

bout 5,000 people affected by flood in Edo State, especially women and children in the different refugee camps have received free medical treatment and health education to safeguard their lives. The medical assistance was rendered by a group of Non-Governmental Organisations, NGOs, under the aegis of Health Support Initiative HSI)/RAHI Medical Outreach in collaboration with the Edo North zone of the Nigerian Medical Association, NMA, whose members include physicians, paediatricians, gynaecologists, surgeons, dentists, public health phy-

sicians, nurses, community health workers and clinical psychologists. A statement signed by the immediate past Chairman of Edo State NMA and the Executive Director, HSI, Dr. Philip Ugbodaga, described the conditions in the various camps as not only deplorable but responsible for the death of about six people before the group stepped in. The situation encouraged the group to set up medical clinics at the camps to complement government’s effort, according to him. He said: “Before our arrival, six flood victims had died in one of the camps alone with the delivery of seven children who had had no form of immunisation whatsoever.

National Coordinator, Soroptimist International Nigeria, Mrs. Chinwe Mbah (right), donating relief materials to Executive Secretary, Anambra State Emergency Management Agency, Dr. Justine Ijezie, for the flood victims in the state, yesterday. PHOTO: NAN

Dana victim petitions Jonathan, others over compensation OLUSEGUN KOIKI

ne of those who lost their properties to the June 3, Dana plane crash in Lagos, Pastor Daniel Omowunmi, has petitioned President Goodluck Jonathan, Senate President David Mark, House of Representatives Speaker Aminu Tambuwal and Lagos State Governor Babtunde Fashola over the refusal of the airline to compensate him. In the petition written last week, Omowunmi accused the management of the airline of insensitivity towards his plight, just as he claimed N500 million compensation for the damage to his properties. He claimed that his

four plots of land, offices and residence were destroyed by the crash, adding that since then, the airline had been dillydallying with his claim and urged those in authorities to immediately intervene in the matter. Omowunmi claimed that some of his properties, which included a six-bedroom duplex, fourbedroom bungalow and two standard warehouses located at 8/10 Popoola Street, Iju-Ishaga, Lagos, were completely destroyed by the crash. The victim said before the accident, he and his family members were living in the six-bedroom duplex while the warehouses were used for commercial purposes, adding that his staff and office occupied the four-

Omowunmi

bedroom bungalow. Omowunmi also claimed that his four fish ponds, which were fully stocked before the crash, were destroyed. He explained that following a request by the management of the airline, on June 20, he, through his solicitor, Messrs Dele Adesina & Co, sent a comprehensive letter of claim to the airline, but noted that since then no step had been

taken to address the situation. Omowunmi divided the claims into three categories namely; property and items destroyed at N213.1m, fully stocked imported educational books at N250.5m and large quantity imported kitchen utensils for sale in Nigeria at N40m. He said that after the receipt of his letter of claim, a meeting was held between him and the Dana management where he was offered N500,000, which he described as insulting and thereby rejected it. Meanwhile, the Senate President while, acknowledging the petition said that the letter has been referred to the committee on Aviation Affairs for further action.

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Monday, October 15, 2012

Ekiti teachers are obstacles to education growth –Fayemi ABIODUN NEJO ADO EKITI

kiti State Governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi, yesterday said teachers in the state have remained obstacles to the plans of his administration to transform the education sector in the state. Fayemi, who said the mass failure recorded by students of the state in ex-

ternal examination was due to the incompetence of the teachers, said no amount of computer or schools’ renovation would bring about the desired change unless the teachers were worked upon. The governor spoke yesterday at a thanksgiving service at St. Patrick’s Catholic Cathedral, AdoEkiti, as part of activities marking his administra-

tion’s second year anniversary, where he presented a sketch of the results of the last West African School Certificate Examination. The results showed that only 16 per cent of the candidates from the state got a maximum of five credit passes. His words: “We have six government schools which are the only exceptions going by last results. Last year,

when 99 per cent passed at Holy Child School, just 20 per cent passed in Christ School; this year again, 99.99 per cent passed again in Holy Child School, Christ School got six per cent while Christ Girls got zero per cent. “I know no amount of computer or renovation of schools would do the work. If we do not attend to the teachers’ aspect, we are go-

ing nowhere. “We appeal to our elders to consider this situation. The teachers should exhibit a little bit of self restraint and respect, he said. The governor spoke in response to an earlier appeal by the Bishop Emeritus of Ekiti, Most Rev. Olatunde Fagun, that government should subject the teachers to training and test them based on the

Stakeholders seek improved funding of statistics’ bureau TOLA AKINMUTIMI ABUJA

roducers of statistical information, development partners and other stakeholders involved in dissemination of critical information on statistical reports in the country have urged the executive and legislative arms of government to prioritise the funding of statistical data production in their yearly budgets. This they said will actualise the medium and long term goals of sustainable national development in the country. Making the appeal at the end of their three-day workshop for journalists organised by the National Bureau of Statistics in collaboration with the United Nationals Development Programme (UNDP) at the weekend in Jos, participants at the workshop noted that since statistical data-based planning is crucial to implementation of any developmental programme, governments should create enabling funding and legal environments for quality data production and information dissemination within their domains. Specifically, the participants, who comprise over 40 journalists who were joined by economists, representatives of governments and public policy analysts to appraise the state of statistical data production in the country and how to enhance the quality, canvassed adequate funding of the NBS as well as States’ statistical bureaus and enactment of appropriate of legal instruments at subnational level in order to improve the National Statistical System.

training. The bishop emeritus had praised the government for his efforts in all aspects, including social security, roads, agriculture, education and computer for every student and the latest renovation of schools. He had said: “The governor has also consulted with people at the local government level. This is wisdom. He is here at the church on our behalf. “We should all seek enlightenment and wisdom for greater achievement in future. The governor has become a point of reference of ideal governance.” Also, Catholic Bishop Ekiti Diocese, Most Rev. Felix Ajakaiye, also urged citizens of the state to continue to pray for the administration of Governor fayemi so that the state could continue to witness peace and progress.

Orji wins Champion Icon of Democracy Award

A L-R: General Secretary, Offa Descendants Union (ODU), Hon. Dele Abodunrin; Chairman, Working Committee, 2012 Ijakadi Offa Festival, Prof. Olawoye Adegboye and Director, Kwara State Council for Arts and Culture. Mallam Yunoos Kareem, during the unveiling of the 2012 official logo of Ijakadi Offa Festival, in Ilorin at the weekend.

Kidnapping: Fate of Eghagha uncertain two weeks after SOLA ADEBAYO WARRI

he fate of the abducted Delta State Commissioner for Higher Education, Prof. Hope Eghagha, hung in the balance yesterday, two weeks after he was kidnapped by gunmen. The whereabouts of the erstwhile university don, who was abducted on Sunday, October 30, at Abavo, along Effurun-Agbor highway, could not be ascertained as at the time of filing this report yesterday. Eghagha was abducted in a deadly operation in

which his police orderly was killed by the gunmen. National Mirror learnt that a lull has been reported in the negotiation initiated by the state government with the kidnappers with a view to ensuring his early release from captivity unhurt. It will be recalled that the abductors had demanded N100 million ransom to free the commissioner. National Mirror could not ascertain how much the government was ready to cough out before press time yesterday. Findings, however, showed that disagreement over the ransom stalled

the negotiation. This development has ignited fresh fears among members of his family, friends and associates of the embattled commissioner. It was learnt that the hopes by members of the family that the commissioner would soon regain his freedom which was rekindled by the communication between him and some members of the family, last week had been dashed. National Mirror learnt that family members of the commissioner were unhappy that the deal between the government

and the hoodlums had not yielded positive results. Reliable family sources told National Mirror that no appreciable progress had been made by the negotiators appointed by the state government. One of the sources informed National Mirror that the family might be compelled to ask the government to hand-off the matter to pave the way for direct interaction with the abductors. To this end, it gathered yesterday that the family was preparing to raise the ransom demanded by the kidnappers in order to put an end to the nightmare.

Presidency, UNDP parley with editors on constitution amendment

s the National Assembly kickstarts the process of altering the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (As Amended), The Presidency in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), will tomorrow in Lagos hold a one-day dialogue with editors of the nation’s top media organ-

isations. The parley, under the auspices of the Office of the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity and the UNDP Democratic Governance for Development Project II, has as its theme: The Editor and the Constitution Amendment Process. According to a statement signed by the Special Assistant to the President

on Media, Bolaji Adebiyi, and the Communication and Reporting Advisor of the DGD Project II, Toyin Adewale-Gabriel, “The dialogue is aimed at mobilising the Nigerian editor for the task of reawakening the media to its critical responsibility of promoting public awareness and active citizen participation in the constitution amendment process.”

It stated further that about 40 editors had been invited to participate in the discussion that would involve critical stakeholders, including representatives of political parties, civil society organisations and the Minister of Information, Mr. Labaran Maku, as well as his Ministry of Justice colleague, Mr. Mohammed Adoke, SAN.

bia State Governor, Theodore Orji, has been awarded Champion newspapers 2012 Icon of Democracy Award. A statement by the Editor-in-Chief and Managing Director of Champion Newspapers Limited, Mrs. Nwadiuto Iheakanwa said the governor would be conferred with the award on October 25, 2012, at Nike Lake Resort, Enugu State. National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dr. Bamanga Tukur, would be the chairman at the award ceremony, while former Information Minister, Dr. Walter Ofonagoro, is the keynote speaker. Explaining the choice of Governor Orji for the Icon of Democracy Award which is given to those who have used their political offices to impact positively on the citizens, as well as restoring democratic ideals in our country, Mrs. Iheakanwa said in the statement: “One of the major achievements of the administration of His Excellency, Chief T. A. Orji in the state is the restoration of peace and security. “No state or nation will make meaningful progress without peace and security. Before now, Abia was noted for kidnapping and other social vices. But, we note that this unwholesome trade has become a thing of the past.”

South West

Monday, October 15, 2012

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Rep flays ‘shoddy’ Ekiti ward congresses ABIODUN NEJO ADO EKITI

National Assembly member from Ekiti State, Hon Opeyemi Bamidele, has urged the leadership of the state chapter of Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) to investigate the alleged breaching of the party’s constitution during the recent ward congresses. Bamidele, who expressed

displeasure at the manner the congresses were conducted in the 177 wards across the state, called on the Chief Jide Awe-led State Working Committee to step in urgently to save the party from collapsing. The House of Representatives member representing Ado/Irepodun/Ifelodun Federal Constituency told journalists at his Iyin-Ekiti home town that the situa-

tion made it imperative for ACN national leadership to devise mechanism to protect the party’s constitution from breaching. The lawmaker described the dissolution of wards executives across the state as abuse of the party’s constitution, when their four-year tenure had not lapsed. He said dissolution could only happen “on account of death, resignation or nomi-

nation to contest as council chairman or vice, governor or deputy, or as president or vice and having been found guilty of gross misconduct.” Bamidele, who said ACN, as a party founded on the rule of kaw, should be seen to be fair and just in all its dealings. He said: “As things stand now, the ward executives have just spent two years

and it is unconstitutional and erosion of party’s supremacy for anybody to dissolve them under any guise.” This was as the Caretaker Committee Chairman of Irepodun/Ifelodun Local Government Area, Hon Olufemi Awe, urged members, who felt aggrieved with the alleged shoddy conduct of the congresses, to lodge their complaints to

the party rather than resort to self-help. Awe, who spoke against the backdrop of the festering crisis brewing in Iyin-Ekiti owing to the disagreement that dogged the conduct of the ward congress in the town, urged the aggrieved members to either accept the outcome of the congress or seek truce through the party’s top hierarchy.

Aregbesola’s wife decries needless loss of lives on highways

L-R: Ekiti State Deputy Governor, Mrs. Funmi Olayinka; Bishop, Catholic Diocese of Ekiti State, Most Rev. Felix Ajakaye; Governor Kayode Fayemi; his wife, Bisi and the state’s Chief Judge, Justice Ayodeji Daramola, during the thanksgiving mass to commemorate the 2nd year anniversary of Fayemi’s administration held in Ado-Ekiti yesterday.

US-based Nigerian engineer, Osun partner on technology development WALE FOLARIN OSOGBO

United Statesbased Nigerian Aeronautic Engineer, Prof. John Ayinde Fabunmi, has called for the development of science and technology as basis for the nation’s advancement. Fabunmi, who made the call at the weekend during a reception held in his honour at the Osun State Government House in Osogbo, said that innovations and knowledge would go a long way in solving the nation’s socio-economic problems. According to him, innovations and knowledge have helped mankind in surmounting social, economic, infrastructural, geographical and institutional barriers that inhibit development. The aeronautic engineer, who is to help in the development of science and technology for the advancement of Osun State, will head the Building Knowledge-

based Society on Innovation, Infrastructure and Quality of Lives endowed by Governor Rauf Aregbesola at the University of Osun (UNIOSUN) during the school’s last convocation about three months ago. The state government has enlisted him to domesticate his knowledge and technical knowhow for the advancement in science and technology for productive purposes in the state. Fabunmi, who is a board member of the American Heritage Defense Corporation (AHDC), one of backbones of American security organisations, said that the best asset of a people is their ability come up with new ideas to solve problems confronting human beings in all facets of life. According to him, great nations did not get to where they are by sudden flight, but through the institutionalisation of knowledge as the basis of their existence, essence and advancement.

He noted that across the world, developed nations are still breaking new grounds in science and technology, which are the catalysts that drive them on from one stage of advancement to another. Fabunmi said: “No nation develops without the critical ingredient, which is, first and foremost, knowledge. It is the best asset a people possess. And this asset (knowledge) is the ability to come up with new ideas to solve problems confronting human race on daily basis. “I have no doubt in my mind that what the governor wants us to do can certainly be achieved. I will bring my experience of over three decades to bear on the endowment, with a few to redefining and broadening knowledge-based culture in the school and the state as a whole. “I believe, with this project, that I am not working for few people, but the benefit and enhancement of the lives of over three million people of Osun State.

I have strong conviction in the success of the project as the team I would work with at the UNIOSUN is equally determined to succeed and this has been conspicuously demonstrated with the unflinching cooperation and support I have received since my arrival.” Speaking on the occasion, Gover nor Aregbesola said the distinction between the developed nations and underdeveloped Africa was knowledge, adding that for it to advance, develop and grow, Nigeria must be prepared to tag along with these developed nations or else risk being isolated. The governor, who expressed his administration’s determination to support knowledge-based and innovation-driven initiative, said no one should be happy about the state of the country with terrible roads, lack of basic social infrastructure, collapse of productive economy and gradual close of manufacturing industries.

ife of Osun State Governor, Mrs. Sherifat Aregbesola, is concerned with the needless loss of lives on the nation’s highways. She has, therefore, urged the people to always crave for road safety information, with a view to reduce avoidable crashes on the roads. She spoke through the wife of the state Chief of Staff, Mrs. Kafaya Oyetola, at the weekend during the Youths Day celebration organised by the Osun Command of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) held in Osogbo. Mrs. Aregbesola decried the needless loss of lives, especially youths arising from lack of knowledge of roads safety information. She called on various youth organisations in the state to further expand the road safety awareness campaigns among their members. According to her, every developed society of the world has always paid particular attention to its youths and their safety, saying that part of

the focus of Governor Rauf Aregbesola’s administration is to ensure safety of lives and property of all residents. Commending the FRSC for the programme, which, according to her, was meant to guarantee appreciable future for the youths, she said that the state government had devoted great effort to ensuring that youths were well-educated and informed to serve the society. Mrs. Aregbesola noted that FRSC is one of the Nigerian institutions that have performed creditably well in discharging their mandate. She added that the FRSC’s enlightenment campaigns had improved safety on Nigeria roads, as there has been tremendous reduction in the number of crashes. The governor’s wife, therefore, charged the FRSC not to rest in its oars, but continues in giving proper orientation to the people, especially youths who will form the bulk of road users, with a view to further reducing needless casualties on the roads.

Oyo trains 5,000 workers for productivity KEMI OLAITAN IBADAN

he Oyo State Government has trained over 5,000 civil servants within and outside the country to enhance their professionalism and efficiency in the last one and half years. The state Commissioner for Establishment and Training, Mr. Lowo Obisesan, disclosed this to journalists at the weekend in Ibadan, the state capital. He said the training was meant to improve on the quality and competence of the workers so that they could compete favourably with their counterparts elsewhere. Obisesan said Governor

Abiola Ajimobi insisted on regular on-the-job training for the workers to enhance their efficiency and boost their morale. He added that the state training centre, Simeon Adebo, had been rehabilitated and provided with qualified and experienced trainers. Obisesan said: “Frankly speaking, our civil servants today are well equipped to face the challenges of their job.” On the empowerment scheme by the state government, Obisesan said 50 new buses would soon be given to some selected beneficiaries to empower them and enhance the socio-economic development of the state.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

South West

Monday, October 15, 2012

Abduction: Osun speaker’s wife hospitalised Oyo appeal tribunal upholds •Amosun vows to improve security in Ogun

WALE FOLARIN AND FEMI OYEWESO

ife of the Osun State House of Assembly Speaker, Mrs. Muibat Salaam, who regained her freedom on Saturday after being kidnapped for four days, is now recuperating at a private hospital in Osogbo, the state capital. It was learnt that the speaker’s wife was taken to the hospital after she was freed from the grips of her abductors because of the psychological trauma and pains she experienced while

the abduction saga lasted. Salaam, who was abducted in Ejigbo, Osun State last Tuesday, regained her freedom on Saturday when some vigilante men in Ilaro, Ogun State arrested some of her abductors and handed them over to the police. It was also learnt that she is also being treated for dehydration as she was said to have refused to eat throughout her stay with her abductors for fear of being poisoned. She was quoted by a family source to have said that her abductors offered her bread and La Casera drink which she rejected,

but added that she was not subjected to any physical torture. “We thank God that she is alive. She has experienced shock and psychological trauma and she was looking weak and dehydrated when she was brought to Osogbo and the family decided to take her straight to the hospital for medical treatment. Apart from that, she is okay as she was not subjected to any physical torture while her ordeal lasted,” the source said. Meanwhile, the Ogun State Governor, Ibikunle Amosun, has promised that

his administration would continue to give priority attention to security to make the state safer not only for business investments but also for lives and property of citizens. The governor gave the assurance over the weekend during an interactive session with members of the state Correspondent Chapel in his Oke-Mosan Office in Abeokuta, the state capital. Amosun, who chronicled some of the past efforts of his administration at making the state safer for people to live, also reiterated that his government would not relent in ensuring peace in the state.

NYSC workers threaten strike, give 21-day ultimatum KEMI OLAITAN IBADAN

neasy calm now pervades the National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, as its workers across the country have given the management a 21day ultimatum to improve their conditions of service or face strike. This is part of the outcome of the just-concluded meeting of the NYSC National Coordinating Committee of the Amalgamated Union of Public Corporations, Civil Service, Technical and Recreational Services Employees, AUPCTRE, which has been negotiating

with the management on the issues at stake. In a communiqué issued at the end of the meeting and made available to journalists in Ibadan yesterday, which was signed by the Chairman, Comrade Olufemi Wahab and Secretary, Comrade Isaac Maikur, the workers regretted that the NYSC Director-General, Brig.-Gen. Nnamdi OkorieAffia, refused to respond to their letters, in which they catalogued their grievances, particularly as regards their welfare. The workers’ grievances, according to the communiqué, include the ‘defective’ NYSC Conditions of Ser-

vice; the continued nonpayment of 28 days in lieu of hotel accommodation for officers on transfer; short payment of transfer claims of some officers; the slashing to 50 per cent of the passing out allow-

ances to staff during the last passing out without any previous negotiation or information; as well as the demand for an upward review of the camp allowance for subsequent orientation programmes.

PDP candidate’s election

KEMI OLAITAN IBADAN

he National and State House of Assembly Election Petitions Appeal Tribunal sitting in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, has upheld the result of the rerun election which gave victory to Hon. Jimoh Afeez of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, as the member representing Irepo/Olorunsogo/Oorelope Federal Constituency. In a unanimous judgement delivered at the weekend by Justice Chidi Nwaoma Uwa, the tribunal threw out the appeal filed by the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, candidate, Hon. Lanre Agoro, for lack of merit and also awarded N30,000 cost against him. Reacting to the judgement, Afeez said it was the end of the road for the ACN.

He also expressed appreciation to members of his party for their support, saying “our people spoke two times through the polls but the opposition chose not to hear the voice of reason. Now the judiciary, which is the bastion of hope for the common man, has spoken resoundingly in our favour. The game is up for those trying to snatch a mandate that does not belong to them. I thank the people and the judiciary.” The seat had been a subject of great interest as the court nullified the April 16, 2011 election that first elected Afeez into the House, ordering a rerun election which was also held twice in February. The ACN candidate challenged the result of the rerun election at the lower tribunal but had the case thrown out, before he then approached the appeal tribunal.

Politics behind stoppage of our allowance –Ex-militants HAKEEM GBADAMOSI AKURE

ormer militants in the coastal area of Ese-Odo Local Government Area of Ondo State have raised the alarm over the stoppage of their amnesty allowance, which they blamed on political interference. They alleged that the Special Assistant to the President on Niger Delta Affairs and Amnesty Programme, Kinsley Kuku, was behind their predicament, saying that he had politicised the amnesty programme in the area. The former militants including Sunday Tundigha, Francis Ajama, Bekewei Ajimigi, Sola Morayo, Akin Sowore and Bayo Aanifowose, said Kuku had been using the programme to score cheap political points and using it to intimidate those against his

choice of candidate for the governorship election in the state. In a statement made available to journalists in Akure and signed by Sunday Tungigha, the former militants said many insinuations had been attracted to the amnesty programme in the area ahead of the governorship election. The statement reads in part: “We are confounded to note with regret that the Special Adviser to the President on Amnesty, Kingsley Kuku, has been using the programme to score cheap political points by using it to intimidate those who are against his choice of candidate for the governorship election in the state.” But the Head of Media, Amnesty Programme, Abuja, Dan Alabrah, denied the programme had been politicised.

Osun State pilgrims, led by the executives of Osun Hajj operations to the Valley (Arafat) in preparation for the rite of standing at Mina, Saudi Arabia, at the weekend.

Engage experts to tackle flood disaster, Asiodu tells FG MURITALA AYINLA

he President of the Nigeria Conservation Foundation, NCF, Chief Philip Asiodu, has called on the Federal Government to look beyond the categorisation of the states affected by floods in the distribution of the relief funds. He also urged the government to engage experience experts in dealing with the problems and the victims.

Speaking during the 2012 Walk for Nature organised by the Lagos State Ministry of Environment in conjunction with NCF, the former Permanent Secretary said the classification of the severely affected states without proper measures to tackle the climate change and take care of the displaced Nigerians would not yield any result. He said: “I want to see so much money used effectively. It has to be done using whatever competent groups we have here and

also bringing experts from abroad who are used to flood. They must also get working because I don’t believe in announcing A and B. “How many teams have we seen arrive in Lagos, Asaba, Warri and other affected states who are providing liveable conditions for the people in refugees camps? Classification is not the matter; the matter is whatever you want to do, do it effectively and on time.” In his address, the Lagos State Governor, Babatunde

Fashola, reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to preserving the ecosystem. The governor, who spoke through his Special Adviser on Environment, Dr. Taofik Folami, added that efforts were being made to provide alternative energy in a way that would preserve the ecosystem and mitigate negative impact of climate change. He said: “The future we didn’t prepare for is now. If we fail to prepare for the next future, we may be causing avoidable disaster.”

News

Monday, October 15, 2012

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Reps probe alleged marginalisation of FCT indigenes TORDUE SALEM ABUJA

he House of Representatives has commenced investigation into allegations of improper resettlement of indigenes of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). Thirty-eight years after Abuja was designated the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and 21 years after the relocation of its indigenes, there is still an outcry of injustice from the host communities. The Gbagyi community, through its leaders, had at the weekend, submitted a seven-page petition before the House Committee on Public Petitions, following a mass protest by nude Gbagyi

women in the capital. The probe of the 1990 relocation covered inhabitants of Maitama Sabo, Maitama Tsoho, Kukwaba, Katampe and Nyikuru communities in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja carried out under the military regime of Gen. Ibrahim Babangida. The petition, dated June 5, 2012 and addressed to House Speaker, Hon. Aminu Tambuwal through Zaphaniah Jisalo, who represents Abuja Municipal/Bwari federal constituency is presently before the Uzo Azubuike-led House Committee on Public Petition. A public hearing to receive submissions and testimonies from affected inhabitants and related parties on

the relocation is fixed for October 18, 2012 at the House of Representatives complex. The petition signed by District Head of Maitama, Bulus Yerima Pada and 18 others and made available to National Mirror, stated that the Federal Government did not consult with the indigenes before the policy of reloca-

tion was approved. The communities are presently quartered in Kubwa resettlement town in the FCT. “We were verbally informed by FCDA officials in company of armed riot policemen to prepare within seven days to move or be removed.” the petition said.

The Gbagyis said they had exhausted all avenues for peace, before resorting to the current protest. “The authorities have no record about our plight and status as people that were relocated as there was no official correspondence showing our relocation to Kubwa. “The authorities of both

FCDA, FCTA and the Federal Government has continuously undermined our political, social, economic and cultural status as inhabitants of FCT and has always intimidated our communities with threat of arrest and to deal with anyone that stage any protest against the authority in respect of our plights.

Greed, politics ruined judiciary, says Sagay KAYODE KETEFE

enowned professor of law and a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Prof. Itse Sagay, has attributed the rot in the nation’s judiciary to greed by some lawyers and judges, as well as the manipulation of the third organ of government by unscrupulous politicians. Sagay, who made this disclosure in an exclusive interview with National Mirror, also suggested measures on how to revamp the judiciary and move it forward. The professor of law further said that the standard of judges the country has now could not be compared with the judges the country used to have, stressing that a chapter has closed in the annals of great jurists in

the country. Sagay’s words: “Today, There are diseases of greed for money, wealth, lack of character, lack of integrity and indifference to leaving a worthwhile legacy. All these are vices eating up our judiciary and bringing it to the level of other two levels of governments, which in my view have collapsed long ago. “Now you hear of judges taking bribe. It is just as if some of them have made up their minds that money is more important than names, character good reputation. “They want to have enough money to cater for themselves and the next four generations! They think money is better than a good name, a good judicial system, integrity, and honour; they think it is better than having a country

L-R: Chairman, Senate Committee on Establishment, Senator Dahiru Kuta; Chairman, House Committee on Public Procurement, Hon. Jumoke Okoya-Thomas; Director General, Bureau of Public Procurement, Engr. Emeka Ezeh, at the commissioning of Public Procurement Research Centre, FUTO, in Imo State, at the weekend.

properly run under the rule of law. This is a tragedy.” Using the now famous incident between the former President of the Court of Appeal, retired Justice Isa Salami and the former Chief Justice of Nigeria, retired Justice Iyorgher Katsina-Alu, as an example, Sagay further lamented the encroachment of politicking into the sacred organ, he said: “What happened in that case is that the judiciary opened its doors to vermin from outside called politicians who then crawled into the sanctuary of the judiciary and fouled it up completely.”

ASUU president condemns killing of students

he President of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Dr Nasir Fagge, yesterday described the incessant killing of students in some parts of the country as unfortunate and condemnable. Fagge told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in a telephone interview in Lagos that the union was worried and sad by the development. He said the union had directed affected institutions to investigate the incidents and that it was

waiting for the outcome before taking appropriate steps. “We have asked our members in the affected institutions to give us information, but whatever it is, it is a condemnable act. “This is part of what the union has been canvassing - that the Federal Government should fund universities adequately so that they can be in a position to provide hostel accommodation on campus for students. “With adequate funding, we can make our environ-

ment more secure,” he said. Fagge noted that the requirement for every institution was that, at least, 35 per cent of its students should be accommodated on campus. He added that ASUU was pushing for at least 50 per cent of students to be accommodated on campus. “ASUU is against having police or military on campus because of what has happened in the past. “We do not want what happened during the ‘Ali Must Go’ crisis and what happened in Zaria in the past to repeat itself.”

Jonathan’s being misled by aides –CNPP FELIX NWANERI

he Conference of Nigeria Political Parties (CNPP) has said that President Goodluck Jonathan is being deceived by some of his aides and hence the various slips and needless crisis, rocking the Presidency. The CNPP therefore urged him to drop all those who do not mean well for Nigerians from his government. Secretary-General of the CNPP, Chief Willy Ezugwu, who spoke with journalists at the weekend in Abuja, specifically mentioned the Chief of

Staff (COS) to the President, Mike Oghiadomhe, Minister for Information, Labaran Maku and the Senior Special Assistant on Publicity to the President, Doyin Okupe, as aides who needed to be immediately relieved of their appointments if the President is to have a clear sense of direction and feel the pulse of the nation. Ezugwu said it was unfortunate that the activities of the President’s COS tended to depict his principal as an introvert and uncaring leader, saying reports emanating from the Presidency as to how the office is being run suggested that 80 per

cent of the truth and facts of issues in the country were being deliberately distorted before they get to the President. His words: “Shady deals like meddlesomeness in the privatisation of NITEL and PHCN have been linked to the COS alongside wealthy individuals in the country. These practices against the Nigerian nation have only but succeeded in putting the Presidency in bad light.” On Maku and Okupe, he said their levels of sycophancy have pitched Nigerians against President Jonathan and the loss of faith that has trailed such situations.

CBN to stop selling cash to Bureaux de Change –Sanusi

he Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) governor, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, yesterday said in Tokyo that the bank would soon stop the selling of cash to bureaux de change operators. “Seventy per cent of the dollars that people buy from bureaux de change are not for transactions outside Nigeria, they move dollars from one part of the country to the other, in fact, from one

part of Abuja to another part. “In a briefcase, you can carry $100, 000, that’s N50 million. “We are coming up with policies; we are going to have to stop selling cash to bureaux de change and credit their accounts. “If you want to pay for medical bills abroad, you give hospital account; if you want to pay school fees, do transfer like everybody else; if you want to travel,

do travelers’ cheques or get money on your card.’’ He said that at the moment, the dollar was becoming Nigeria’s second national currency and this has become a source of worry to the apex bank and even to President Goodluck Jonathan. Sanusi noted that part of the reason why the bank moved to restructure the naira was to tackle the genuine need of high networth cash users.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

South South

Monday, October 15, 2012

Govt’ll build more dams to reduce flooding, says Jonathan EMMA GBEMUDU YENAGOA

orried by the adverse effects of floods in some states of the country, President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday assured that more dams would be built by the Federal Government in Upper Niger and Benue Rivers to avert a reoccurrence of the floods. The President, who spoke at the Sports Complex in Yenagoa, where some displaced persons were accommodated, commiserated with the flood victims, saying that the

last time the people of the Niger Delta, especially Bayelsa State, experienced this volume of flood was 43 years ago. President Jonathan, who also visited other floodaffected states yesterday, said the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has further registered 54, 363 Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in established camps in Bayelsa and River States. He was also in Markudi. A statement from NEMA spokesman, Yushau Shuaib, in Abuja yesterday said the agency had so far registered 35, 126 IDPs

in six affected local government areas of Bayelsa State, while 19, 237 IDPs had been registered in four affected local government councils in Rivers State as at the weekend. There was a mild drama at the Bishop Dimieri Grammar School, Yenagoa, where a large number of flood victims lamented the poor handling of the situation as they waited endlessly for President Jonathan, who was earlier scheduled to visit the relief camp riddled with inconsistencies. The victims alleged diversion of foodstuffs and other relief items and ex-

pressed concern that Governor Seriake Dickson, was yet to visit the camp to ascertain how they were faring. National Mirror spotted the Chief of Staff, Government House, Diekivie Ikiogha and Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Prof. Edmund Allison-Oguru and security agents at about 8.35am yesterday discussing with some displaced persons. It was learnt that both government officials had gone to the camp to pacify the victims before the arrival of the President to the area.

Jonathan’s words: With the 1969 flooding experience at the back of my mind, I noticed that the outlet of the water resulting into flood was from River Niger, but with the construction of Shiroro and Kainji Dams then, the outflow of water drastically reduced. Also, during my visit to flood victims in Kogi State, the governor said the bulk of the water came from River Benue and one way of reducing the flooding,

Airhiavbere seeks special tribunal for his petition SEBASTINE EBHUOMHAN BENIN

L-R: Chairman, Owan-East Local Government Area, Edo State, Alhaji Sufiyanu Igbafe, daughter of late Papa Austin Udeagwu, Mrs. Roberta Momoh and Assistant Chief Technologist, News Agency Of Nigeria (NAN), Mr. Cyprain Udeagwu during the funeral ceremony of Papa Austin Deagwu at Ogwashi-Uku community of Delta State, at the weekend. PHOTO: NAN

Floods: Activist asks FG to probe River Niger dredging FELIX NWANERI AND EMMA GBEMUDU

he Federal Government has been urged to probe the dredging of the River Niger following the ravaging floods that has left thousands of people homeless across the country. Former SecretaryGeneral of the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC), Mr. Udengs Eradiri, who made the call while handing over relief materials to some

displaced persons in Bayelsa State, said the probe has become necessary because the reasons given for the dredging of the river have been defeated by the floods. His words: “Owing to the floods that are ravaging Nigeria, one begins to wonder if there was need to dredge the River Niger in the first place. The reasons they cited then were the excess sand in the river, navigational purposes and mostly to forestall flooding that could

damage lives and property of those living along the bank of the river. “That was why over N3bn was earmarked for the project. But the question now is: where is the 10 cubic metres of sand expected to have come out from the dredging exercise? “The contractors discharged the sand they were supposed to dredge out back into the river. They deceived Nigerians and I am calling on the National Assembly to swing into action just like they did in the

fuel subsidy regime.” The youth leader also called on the lawmakers to monitor funds approved by the Federal Government for the affected states, saying they may end up in private pockets.

YENAGOA

he Federal Government has been urged to construct shore protection in coastal communities in the Niger Delta region to forestall a reoccurrence of the flooding of such communities in the future.

Chief Whip of the Bayelsa State House of Assembly, Hon. Obedient Emoto, spoke to journalists in Yenagoa, yesterday, shortly after a tour of 18 communities that suffered the disaster in Ogbia Constituency 2 in Ogbia Local Government Area of the state. The legislator cried out

that the flood situation had cut off communities from food supply and drugs, stressing that hunger, starvation and epidemics now stare the people in the face. He disclosed that a temporary relief camp was provided for the displaced people of the communities at Ologoghe community,

ot satisfied with the rulings of the Edo State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal on his petition challenging the declaration of Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) as the winner of the July 14, 2012 governorship election in Edo State, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate in the election, Major-General Charles Airhiavbere (retired) has asked the Court of Appeal to constitute a special tribunal to hear his petition. It will be recalled that the main relief sought by Airhiavbere in his petition, the allegation of nonqualification for the election, was thrown out last month by the tribunal. The ruling, according to constitutional lawyers, means that even if the petitioner successfully proves his case in the law court, he cannot become the Governor of Edo State as the respondent’s party

will be asked to replace him with another person. According to Airhiavbere’s counsel, Chief Efe Akpofure (SAN), the petitioner is now seeking an order of the Court of Appeal to set aside the tribunal’s ruling that threw out the issue of qualification while accepting to determine the issue of corrupt practices and non-compliance of the election with the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended) in paragraph 8 of the petition. Akpofure said the issue is competent before the tribunal having substantially complied with Section 138 (1) (b) of the Act. Akpofure, who therefore appealed the ruling of the tribunal on 17 grounds, argued that the tribunal erred in law when it held that the answer to the issue of whether it has jurisdiction to hear and determine the application filed by Oshiomhole, ACN and INEC (1st, 2nd and 3rd to 5th respondents respectively) before the hearing of his petition was supported by the case of PDP vs. INEC.

Sylva denies ownership of seized buildings

ormer Governor of Bayelsa State, Chief Timipre Sylva, has denied any link with the property recently seized by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

FG urged to build shore protection in communities EMMA GBEMUDU

what government plans to do is to build more dams in the Benue section.” “Presently the Federal Government is building Kashambila Dam and it will be completed in 2014. My commitment is to fast track it and by the time government builds two or three dams in the Benue section. It will reduce the level of water because dams have the primary responsibility of holding water,” the President explained.

noting that the camp had been grossly inadequate to accommodate the victims. “Many of our people are displaced; the camp at Ologoghe is grossly inadequate. Some urgent needs have to be met to save the people, including the thousands of children caught up in the flood,” he said.

Newspaper reports at the weekend said that the anti-corruption agency has seized two buildings in Abuja valued at over N1 billon belonging to the former governor. In a statement made available to National Mirror yesterday, the former governor, through his media adviser, Doife Ola, dissociates himself from the said buildings. “He knows nothing about them. In fact, he is reading about ownership of the said buildings for the first time. Since the EFCC is already in court with Sylva over charges of fraud and money laun-

dering, subjecting him to a media trial is improper. It does not serve the ends of justice. It is an exercise in political persecution. “Sylva recalls that this is not the first time he is being tried in the media. In March 2010, newspapers, relying on a so-called EFCC interim report had linked him to a fraud of over N100bn in Bayelsa State. The story then was that, in 2009, he transferred over $40 million to an offshore account. Till date, no one has come forward to provide the account details of the foreign account. Nor has he been charged on that score.

North

Monday, October 15, 2012

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Borno orders 1,000 heavy-duty tractors to boost agric B orno State Government is planning to import 1,000 heavy-duty tractors from Pakistan to harness the agricultural potential of the state. Governor Kashim Shettima made this known while speaking with journalists in Maiduguri yesterday. Shettima explained that an agreement had already

been signed between the Pakistani government and the Borno State Government for the supply of the tractors. He said: “We are just coming back from a working visit to three countries - Pakistan, Turkey and India. “The visit was aimed at exploring avenues for partnership with these countries on agricultur-

al development.” Shettima said the manufacturers of the tractors had agreed to supply them soon. “We are trying to see how we can tap from the experience of these countries to empower our people. “Our farmers are still using hoes and cutlasses when other countries are busy using advanced

technology in farming,” the governor added. Shettima said the tractors would be distributed to farmers across the state to boost agricultural production. The governor said the objective was to enhance food production and fight poverty among the people. He said: “We have realised that the best way

to tackle the current insurgency in the state is to develop agriculture and provide jobs for our unemployed youths. “We believe that once we empower the youth, the problem of the insurgency will be tackled.” Shettima said his government would also collaborate with the Chad Basin Development Au-

thority, CBDA, toward cultivating the 70,000 hectare South Chad Irrigation Scheme, SCIS, in the state. He said: “We are going to partner with the CBDA toward cultivating the 70,000 hectares of land at the SCIS. “We are going to supply fertiliser, and other implements to farmers to encourage them.”

Kwara commits over N900m to energy sector

he Kwara State Commissioner for Energy, Alhaji Tajudeen Sulu-Oloje, has said that the state government had so far spent over N900m on the energy sector. Sulu-Oloje told the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, in Ilorin yesterday that an additional sum of N400m was on the verge of being spent. The commissioner said the money had been earmarked for the construction of injection sub-station in Ilesa Baruba in Baruteen Local Government Area of the state. He said: “It is an electrification project and we are now in the rainy season. But once we enter the dry season, work will commence fully on providing electricity in these communities. “These electrification projects of the 200 communities will cut across the 16 local government areas of the state and before the end of this administration, all the projects would have been completed.’’ Sulu-Oloje added that the injection sub-station at Kwara Polytechnic area had been upgraded from 7.5MVA, to 15MVA. He said this was due to the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital, the Polytechnic, the Kwara State Television Authority and other complex buildings situated in the area. The commissioner disclosed that some of his ministry officials recently paid a visit to the Jebba Hydro-Power Generating Station. “The visit with some of the officials of the ministry was to access the condition of facilities on ground and the level of work done on the station,’’

he said. Sulu-Oloje disclosed that the state government, through the ministry, had distributed 117 transformers within the Ilorin metropolis and in various communities in the state. He said there were 877 communities without electricity in the state but that Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed had directed the ministry to pick 200 out of the affected communities for the provision of electricity. “Work will soon commence accordingly,’’ the commissioner promised. Speaking on the traffic lights, Sulu-Oloje said the contract for them was awarded to different contractors, but only the one at Taiwo-Unity junction was functioning. “Those of Maraba and Sawmill are not working, and the contractors have been notified to upgrade the lights,’’ he added. The commissioner promised that additional traffic lights would be provided at Tanke tipper garage area, Agbo-Oba Surulere, Isale Oja, and Sobi junction.

Emir of Daura, Alhaji Umar Farouk (left), receiving the Governor of Maradi, Niger Republic, Alhaji Sidi Muhammed, in Daura, yesterday. PHOTO: NAN

SEC applauds Niger over judicious use of bond PRISCILLA DENNIS MINNA

he judicious use of fund in the execution of capital projects has made it possible for the Niger State Government to secure a N30bn bond after the first N6bn it obtained from the open market. A representative of the Security and Exchange Commission, SEC, said this at a stakeholders’

meeting in Minna, the state capital. The state in 2009 first applied for N6bn bond which it spent on the execution six roads and afterward sourced another loan of N30bn to be released in instalments. Out of the second bond, N9bn has already been accessed by the state. The projects to be executed with the N9bn include the construction of

Kano shuts two private hospitals

ano State Government said it had sealed up two private hospitals in the state for inefficiency. The Public Relations Officer, PRO, of the Ministry of Health, Malam Isma’ila Gwammaja, said this in a statement. Gwammaja gave the names the two hospitals as Taimako Nursing and Maternity Home in Tiga and Rahama Nursing and Maternity in Chiromawa. The PRO said the Special Adviser to the Gover-

nor on Private Hospitals, Dr. Salisu Ibrahim, expressed dismay over the state of the hospitals. Ibrahim noted that it was worrisome to see that some private hospitals employed just one medical doctor. He said: “The present administration has placed high premium on effective health service provision and it will not condone any violation regarding effective healthcare services.” According to the News

Agency of Nigeria, NAN, the special adviser has been monitoring the state of private hospitals in the state, which led to the closure of some of the hospitals.

Gov. Kwankwaso

Birnin Gwari Road at the cost of N1.25bn, construction of the River Kaduna Bridge in Shiroro Local Government Area at N1.5bn, extension into a dual carriageway of the Bahago-Maitunbi Road at N1.6bn. Others are the construction of a new road from the eastern bypass in Minna, to Maikunkele, Bosso Local Government at N1.78bn, Kwakuti Road at N1.35bn, Rijau-Dukku Road at N1.11bn, while the handling charges for the execution of the bond would gulp N.36bn. At the stakeholders’ meeting, SEC said the state had been up right in utilising its credit facilities, noting that any state which failed in that aspect would be blacklisted and prevented from accessing funds from the open market. The representative of the commission, Mr. Dotun, explained that the open market was the best avenue to look for funds for the execution of capi-

tal projects. Also, the banks handling the two credit facilities, UBA Plc and Skye Bank Plc, told the meeting that the state government had been committed in paying back the bonds. According to them, the state had already repaid N6bn out of the N15bn bond it collected from the capital market, while the state would soon repay another N1bn. Earlier, the Commissioner for Finance and Economic Planning, Alhaji Muazu Bawa, said as a result of large number of civil servants that resulted in high wage bill in the northern part of the country, states had to resort to the capital market as allocations from the Federation Account could not meet demands on ground. He also explained that to ensure speedy transformation and development of the state, the administration of Governor Babangida Aliyu decided to collect the two credit facilities.

NIGERIA @ 52

Monday, October 15, 2012

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Politics

6th state for S’East: North plays spoiler’s game

How Mimiko plans to rig Ondo election – Kuku COUNTDOWN TO

ONDO GUBER POLL October 20, 2012

DAYS TO GO

OJO OYEWAMIDE AKURE

pecial Adviser to President Goodluck Jonathan on Niger Delta

Affairs, Kinsley Kuku, yesterday alleged that Governor Olusegun Mimiko and the Labour Party (LP) were plotting to use security agents to rig the October 20 governorship election in the state. He said all heads of the security agencies in the state had been compromised, vowing, however, to lead the people of the riverine areas of the state to resist any attempt to subvert their will. Kuku, who spoke with journalists in Akure, said:

“Today the LP has brought an Israeli team. An Israeli company is installing security gadgets in all the hilux vehicles that they have bought. They have bought so many in this state. “They plan to give some to the army; they plan to give some to the police and they plan to give some to the thugs that they are training. I am not the first person saying this. Chief Tayo Alasoadura just made a full page advertorial on it. They are training thugs.

The thugs will be sandwiched and protected by the army. They would move to places and the presence of the army will scare people away as they arrive. “The thugs will come in, take ballot boxes and move. The army will protect the thumb printing wherever they want to thumbprint them and they will bring them to INEC office in Akure and announce. This is the target they have. We have known all these and we are saying it.”

Kuku stated that the only way that the election could be credible was for the officers of the Nigerian Army not use the vehicles provided by the state government. “The Nigerian Army must resist using vehicles from the state government because whoever pays the piper dictates the tune. It must not happen. That is the only way this election will be credible. The Navy at Igbokoda, we don’t trust them. They have been compromised. They have taken so much money from the state government. Quote me. “The army has taken so much money and the army I am talking about particularly is the army barracks at Okitipupa, the navy base at Igbokoda. They have been compromised. They

meet regularly with the governor, they strategise, and they plan as if they belong to political parties. “They did it in the National Assembly election against us. They have planned it this time again. If they try it in the riverine area, we will fight them. We will make the world know that they are very biased and that they are not credible officers.” Accusing Mimiko of undermining the amnesty programme of the Federal Government by rearming former militants in the coastal areas of the state under the guise of waterway security initiative because of the forthcoming election, Kuku added: “After the election, he will abandon them.”

Akeredolu blasts gov over Abiola

T President Goodluck Jonathan, taking PDP’s candidate, Chief Olusola Oke, round during the party’s rally in Akure on Saturday.

Anti-Party: PDP expels Agbi, Adegoroye, others HAKEEM GBADAMOSI AKURE.

he Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state yesterday expelled five of its members over what the party called gross indiscipline and absolute disloyalty to the party. The expelled members as contained in a press statement made available to journalists in Akure and signed by the party’s Publicity Director, Ayo Fadaka include former ambassador to Greece, Prof. Olu Agbi, Chief Segun Adegoke, Dr. Akin Olowookere, Hon. Demola Adegoroye and Hon. Kunle Agunbiade. The party alleged

that the expelled members have been working against the progress of the party in the past one year. Fadaka said in the statement: “These people have been procured by Dr. Olusegun Mimiko to continually help him to cause balkanisation of the party and merciful enough, they command no followership and influence to damage our party. “Therefore, we declare without equivocation that they are already members of the Labour Party and only masquerade as our people only to cause confusion. “Thus any purported action they claim to undertake on behalf of the

party is of no effect and as they have ceased to be members of our party forthwith. “We want to use this opportunity to reassure the general public that there is no division in our ranks as these people are striving to portray, they are only acting the role that have been carved out for them by Mimiko who is their sponsor.” But the former ambassador to Greece, Agbi, described the expulsion as a huge joke and to be considered as the “joke of century.” He said the leadership of the party has not queried him over any anti-party offence and wondered why he will be

expelled without being found guilty. He, however, said there was nothing wrong for him supporting Mimiko’s ambition for second term, saying he will continue to support the governor because “he has done well for the state.”

he Akeredolu Campaign Organisation (ACO) has described the statement credited to Governor Olusegun Mimiko at the governorship debate in Akure that June 12 and the late M.K.O Abiola is irrelevant in the South-West integration, not only as unfortunate, but a clear demonstration that he is insensitive to the aspiration of the Yoruba nation. The Director of Media, Publicity and Strategy of ACO, Idowu Ajanaku said: “For us at ACO, this further confirms that Mimiko is not interested in working with other governors in the South-West who have become the icons of sustainable development in Africa. Apart from this, all the

members of Labour Party (LP) in the National Assembly had always opposed all the progressive moves by the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) legislators against the Yoruba agenda. “As a matter of fact during the fuel subsidy struggle when the whole of the South-West in unison opposed it, the Labour Party legislators and Mimiko government supported the anti-people policy. He, Mimiko has always been against the Yoruba people as his antecedent shows that he was the governorship candidate of the United National Congress Party (UNCP) which was one of the five parties that the late Bola Ige described as the five fingers of a leprous hand.”

Monarch calls for fasting and prayer OJO OYEWAMIDE AKURE

he Amapetu of Mahin kingdom, Oba Lawrence Omowole, yesterday called on traditional rulers in the state to be prayerful and embark on a one-day fasting for God to choose the right person that will govern the state in the

next dispensation. The royal father also charged the monarchs to pray so that the election would be violence free. Oba Omowole, who frowned at a report that he had endorsed the candidature of Governor Olusegun Mimiko, described it as a calculated attempt by some politicians in the state to

discredit his reputation. The monarch said all the three major candidates, Mimiko of the Labour Party (LP), Olusola Oke of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Oluwarotimi Akeredolu of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) were his children and that they were eminently qualified to rule the state.

Politics

Monday, October 15, 2012

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6th state for S’East: North plays spoiler’s game The quest by the South-East for an additional state to bring it at par with other geo-political zones of the country faces an uphill task, writes FELIX NWANERI.

gitation for the creation of new states is not peculiar to the people of the South-East alone. However, theirs seems more pronounced among the various sections of the country that have continued to seek additional state(s) since the exercise was last carried out by the regime of late Gen. Sani Abacha 1996. The zones’s argument in this regard is that an additional state will bring it at par with other zones of the country, as it remains the only one with five states. The South-South, South-West, North-Central and North-East have six states each, while the North-West has seven. Whereas the demand seems justifiable on the grounds that it will ensure equity, the creation of new states is however a tall order, given the procedures to be adopted by the National Assembly according to Section 8 (i) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended). The section states that “An Act of the National Assembly for the purpose of creating a new state shall only be passed if – (a) A request, supported by at least two-thirds majority of members (representing the area demanding the creation of the new state) in each of the following, namely – (i) the Senate and the House of Representatives, (ii) The House of Assembly in respect of the area, and (iii) The local government councils in respect of the area, is received by the National Assembly; (b) A proposal for the creation of the state is thereafter approved in a referendum by at least two-thirds majority of the people of the area where the demand for creation of the state originated; (c) The result of the referendum is then approved by a simple majority of all the states of the federation supported by a simple majority of members of the Houses of Assembly; and (d) The proposal is approved by a resolution passed by two-thirds majority of members of each House of the National Assembly.” Besides these “hurdles,” which could easily be taken care of by the ongoing constitutional amendment, the biggest threat to the quest by Ndigbo to have another state may turn out to be the mounting opposition from the Northern part of the country. Kano State governor, Rabiu Kwankwanso, who apparently spoke the mind of Northern political leaders on the issue recently, raised the alarm of a plot by the National Assembly Committee on Constitution Review to create a new state without adhering to the rules. He particularly accused the chairman of the committee and Deputy Senate President, Chief Ike Ekweremadu, as the brain behind the plan. The governor, against this backdrop asked the committee to lay the criteria for state creation on the table for all Nigerians to consider and weigh, saying he could not

Obi

Kwakwanso

understand why the South-East deserves an additional state when its population is not up to that of the North-West. Citing the 2006 census, Kwankwanso said the population of the North-West alone is 35.7 million compared to the 37.3 million combined population of the SouthEast and South-South. He further claimed that the population of Enugu State (3.2 million), Ekweremadu’s home state, is about one-third of Kano State’s 9.3 million. His words: “As far as we are concerned, if we have to go for a constitution amendment, all issues should be on the table. We don’t want a situation where state creation would be a matter of yes or manknow- man or I have this or I have that. Kano has 44 local government areas because we are over 9.3 million by the last census and we have the landmass. If you want to change things, let us come up with the criteria, don’t just do it under the table on the pretence that they have five states in the South-East.” Further buttressing his point, Kwankwaso said: “What is the population of the South-East? I am saying this with all sense of responsibility; I am not playing any regional or ethnic politics. If you divide Kano into three states, each state is more than Enugu State in terms of landmass, population and any criteria you can think of. So, if you want to go and create local governments in Enugu or in the East, don’t call Kano by any name. If you do, you stand the risk of getting your answer and Ekweremadu should learn from experience.” The governor’s position is however not shocking to most political leaders and analysts, particularly from the SouthEast, given the North’s recent hardline stance on virtually all critical national issues emanating from the South. They are quick to point to North’s quick rejection of the call for state police without subjecting it to serious debate as well as the onshore/offshore abrogation law, which Nothern political leaders are using to whip up fresh sentiments. A political school of thought in the South-East, however, believes that the North’s opposition to an additional state for Ndigbo may not be unconnected with the politics of the 2015 presidential elec-

tion. The suspicion of this school, stems from the renewed agitation by Ndigbo to produce the next president and more importantly, the recent endorsement of President Goodluck Jonathan for a second term by some Igbo leaders. The belief is that the Northern leaders (including Kwankwanso), who are insisting on power returning to their region, are out to pay back the South-East for “standing in their way.” But frowning at what he termed ploy by the North to “toy with the hopes and aspirations of fellow Nigerians in the guise of politics,” former governor of Abia State, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu, advised Kwankwaso to give the South- East a breather. He expressed concern that a compatriot in the like of the Kano State governor could be so mean in his assertions, saying: “Injustice to one is injustice to all. The SouthEast zone has the least number of states. Kwankwaso’s North-West got seven. I do not begrudge them. He says Kano is more populated than the former Eastern Region; that is questionable. I hope he knows that in the U.S., Wyoming with a population of less than a million is as important as California with about 30 million.” He added that nothing should be spared in giving the South-East a fair deal. His words: “We shall keep up the struggle. When President Umaru Yar’Adua died, we accepted the ‘Doctrine of necessity.’ Following Chief Moshood Abiola’s death, Nigeria bent backwards for an all-Yoruba presidential duel. Gen. Yakubu Gowon was a Lt. Colonel when he became the

THE

SOUTH-EAST

LEADERS SHOULD BRACE UP FOR A TOUGH POLITICAL BATTLE, AS THE

NORTH’S ANTAGONISM IS NOT ONE TO BE DISMISSED WITH EASE

Head of State in 1966 ahead of his seniors who agreed to work with him. If the Senate must go under the table to balance the equation, heaven will not fall.” Other notable Igbo leaders who spoke in the same vein included former governor of Anambra State, Dr Chukwuemeka Ezeife; chairman of the South East Forum (SEF), Dr. Ezekiel Izuogu and a former President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Dr Dozie Ikedife. Ezeife said: “I thought that Kwankwaso should allow sleeping dogs to lie. In 2005, at the National Political Conference, it was unanimously agreed that an extra state should be given to the South-East. Forty-two leaders were present, 39 voted for it, two against and one abstained. Izuogu argued that what the South-East lacks is land mass and not population. “I don’t think he knew what he said unless he was misquoted. In Kano State, Igbos are the second largest single group. That statement was irresponsible,” he said. Ikedife in his own reaction said the demand by Ndigbo will go a long way in addressing the imbalance in the polity. He also maintained that Kwankwaso’s position was his personal opinion which should not be taken serious by well-meaning Nigerians, while dismissing belief in some political quarters that the people of the zone are not in agreement in their demand. Many have raised fear that Ndigbo may fritter the opportunity of having a 6th state with their cacophony of voices on the issue, especially as regards where the new state would be carved out from. At the moment, there are campaigns by groups in each of the five states of the zone for the proposed state to be created from their respective areas. In Abia State, there is a demand for the creation of Aba State. Same goes for the people of the old Nsukka division in Enugu State, who want Adada State. The situation is even more confusing in Imo State, where there are demands for Orlu, Njaba and Orashi states by different groups. But their resolve on the issue was apparently demonstrated penultimate weekend, when governors of the five states of the zone rose from a closed-door meeting in Enugu and insisted that anything short of the creation of an additional state for the South-East would not be acceptable to their people. Chairman of the South-East Governors’ Forum and Anambra State governor, Peter Obi, who briefed journalists, said the inability of the country to address the current imbalance in the number of states had denied the people of the zone so much to the extent that they have remained disadvantaged in the scheme of things. “We believe in the amendment of the constitution of the country but the creation of an additional state in the South-East is not negotiable,” Obi said. The resolve of the people, notwithstanding, the South-East leaders should brace up for a tough political battle, as the North’s antagonism is not one to be dismissed with ease, given the fact that votes of the region will dwarf that of Ndigbo anyday in the National Assembly due to the inequality in the number of representatives from both sides.

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Monday, October 15, 2012

Bakassi: Extending executive absolutism too far HeartBeat

CALLISTUS

OKE

Callistusoke@nationalmirroronline.net 08054103275 (SMS ONLY)

“

Probing Mr. President’s thought process” was the title of my last piece and it was essentially an interrogation of the public policy processes of the Federal Government. The sentiments I enunciated in that article were informed by what I consider the lack of coherence in FG’s decision making processes as underscored by the unhealthy prevarications on critical policy matters that gnaw at the heart of the nation. Let me reiterate once more that “a situation where Mr. President turns 360 degrees at critical moments means either all is not well with the decision making apparatuses of the government or the President believes in following his heart”. We have witnessed Mr. President vacillating on the Bakassi conundrum. First he said he was not interested in appealing the October 10, 2002 International Court of Justice ruling which ceded Bakassi Peninsula to Cameroon. But as the October 9, 2012 deadline for appeal drew nearer, there were sustained pressures on him to appeal. The National Assembly, the critical press “

through well informed leaders and commentaries, respected opinion leaders like the Nobel Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka, and the Cross River State government and Bakassi people, kept on the pressure. Unexpectedly, President Jonathan momentarily balked, and under the weight of the sustained pressures, and appearing to be relying on the outcome of a broad based consultation with critical stakeholders, which included the Vice President, Namadi Sambo; Senate President and his deputy, Senator Ike Ekweremadu; Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Aminu Tambuwal; governors of the six South South states, and the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Mohammed Adoke, in the weekend before the October 9, 2012 deadline, he announced to a beleaguered nation that he had raised an eight-man team to advise him on the way forward. That political act had turned out to be a red herring, a smart action meant to cushion the impact of a premeditated denouement, when it eventually unfolded. Nigeria never appealed the ruling. The President knew all along that would be the final position of his government. He considered a rethink with his two hands tied behind him after he had told an international audience last month in New York that Nigeria would respect all the rulings of ICJ on international disputes, unlikely. In making that statement, he had Bakassi in mind. With this act, in addition to having a predilection for controversy, Mr. President has

MORE OFTEN THAN NOT, THE NATION’S POLICY PROCESS IS VERY EXCLUSIVE,

ELIMINATING THE INPUTS OF CRITICAL STAKEHOLDERS also become a master of double speak! Discerning Nigerians appreciate the fact that a nation’s public policy environment is buffeted by contending variables. This is why the most beneficial option is a robust engagement of all the critical stakeholders on a given policy before a final position, which forms the government’s policy, is reached. More often than not, the nation’s policy process is very exclusive, eliminating the inputs of critical stakeholders that would ensure the success of the policy outputs. This explains the back and forth movements of the government when any policy position is announced. The involvement of the stakeholders there after is in their negative reactions to such public policy. This unhealthy state is more noticeable under the Presidential system of government. The Parliamentary system thrives on consensual build. This is because government policies must first be debated in Parliament, and only when a consensus

is reached could they be ready for implementation. A government can be defeated when the needed consensus is denied it; under this situation, the Prime Minister must necessarily resign to allow a new government to be formed. President Jonathan has got away with several ill conceived policies because the Presidential system we run is not anchored on consensualism! We have an overarching President that could ignore the inputs of the federal legislators at no peril to his government. On the Bakassi issue, there was a solid National Assembly support for appeal as expressed in separate resolutions of the Senate and the House of Representatives. There was a well crystallized popular support from the Nigerian people for appeal. If the aphorism that the ‘voice of the people is the voice of God’ is true, why should President Jonathan t reat with disdain the position of Nigerians on the Bakassi issue? In a well developed democracy, such disdainful conduct of the executive arm of government is intolerable. The consequences would have been very grave on the ruling party. The PDP should have been imperiled by the poor handling of the Bakassi issue by Mr. President. The anger of the people would have made manifest by voting the party out of power at the slightest opportunity. We all know this is a tall order in our own political clime where the people are held in contempt by the ruling political class.

Presijo and noise of the political market No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back is fit for the kingdom of God - Luke 9:61 he kingdom of heaven is here on earth, precisely happiness. Joy is manifestation of heaven, and sadness symbolizes hell. The realization that heaven is first enjoyed on earth, as Jesus said, is why smart teachers are striving for their rewards right here on earth. An athlete running a 400-meter race loses when he looks back at opponents. However, it seems Presijo is not learning well from a spiritual principle that the race is neither to the swift or strong, but victory is guaranteed to those whose focus and trust is on God Almighty; not those who rely on ruinous political and economic cabals, the fair weather party caucus fiends masquerading as friends. Apparently lending his ears to the noise from the political market, Presijo is clearly beyond reasonable doubt of people outside his PDP caucus, losing focus of his vow and the mandate he got from the electorate nationwide. His refreshing vow rescued the PDP from eternal perdition. He promised to provide the elusive electricity, which ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo could not accomplish, after the power cabal successfully expropriated over $16 billion of our hard earned money, without adding one megawatt of electricity to the national grid. He also promised to make railway work, especially the jinxed East-West railway line that has been in the proverbial “plans in the pipeline” for over 40 years.

Presijio promised to revive education sector, especially decaying tertiary institutions, for which he lamented a few days ago that 60 percent of university lecturers have no doctorate degrees. The electorate voted him president on his promises, as he snatched super votes from the enclaves of the current terrorist campaigners, who vowed not to let him get PDP nomination. When he got the PDP nomination, the region’s political cabal vowed to stop him from winning the presidency. When Presijo won, the political cabal reiterated earlier vow to make the country ungovernable, which is now apparently manifesting as unprecedented political terrorism masked as religious extremism. Now, how has Presijo faired in fulfilling his vow and how has the political cabal succeeded in their vow to make the country ungovernable 17 months in the saddle? To what extent is he afraid of confronting the political and economic cabals and thereby shortchanging the electorate? A few weeks ago, he publicly confessed that terrorists have succeeded in derailing his vow to provide jobs for the restive populations, especially for the youths. Can US President Barak Obama tell Americans that the al-Qaida terrorist group has prevented him from fulfilling his election vow to provide jobs and escape being pelted with rotten tomatoes? Excuses have dogged Presijo’s vow to provide electricity, which would

ANY ELECTORAL VOW A POLITICIAN MAKES TO THE PEOPLE IS A VOW MADE TO

GOD

kick-start the nation’s economic machine to provide job opportunities and reduce criminality nationwide. Morning shows what the day offers. Presijo’s morning is not indicating that there is light at tunnel end of corruption. He vowed to hack down corruption, prevalent in the public service. True, there have been unprecedented expositions of corrupt practices. However, is mere exposition of corruption enough to deter the demons of graft? The Scripture says resist the devil and he would flee. Is Presijo resisting and tackling the demon of corruption enough for it to flee, or is he merely appeasing them by romance? It seems Aso Rock Chapel people are sleeping on duty. If not, have they reminded Presijo that it is better not to vow than to vow and say it was a mistake, lest the Almighty destroy the works of your hand and the angels get angry and slay you? Any electoral vow a politician makes to the people is a vow made to God. When the politician reneges on that vow he invites a curse and risks death. For, the voice of the people is the voice of God. Presijo has to choose between appeasing the cabal and appeasing the people of

Roadmap SONI EHI

ASUELIMEN

soniasuelimen@yahoo.com, 08023459055 (SMS ONLY)

God he vowed to provide jobs and power. Presijio, the first PHD to rule this nation, has become a beacon of hope of better governance for youths and the educated. He must not listen to the noise of the political market and the misadvice of the rotten bureaucracy and failed leaders, who will deceive him to fail so they can sneer, “see what a PHD holder has achieved”. God forbid; but that depends on complete trust in God that has supported Presijo to survive unholy plots. He must not surrender the mandate to the cabal, but totally crush them, without fear of his life, for which God is the owner. He who fears for his life will lose it and he who surrenders his life for God’s masses will save it. 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, October 15, 2012

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STEVE AYORINDE

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FRANK OBOH

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The Mubi, UNIPORT massacre

t is not quite two weeks now when, in quick succession, over 45 students were massacred in cold blood in Adamawa State; two University of Maiduguri students were also shot dead by yet-to-beidentified gunmen; followed by the cruel murder of four students of the University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT) by the Aluu Vigilantes (courtesy of the UNIPORT host community) in Rivers State. While the killings up North were considered part of the festering campaign of violence by insurgents in that part of the country, the Aluu community’s vigilante mob, in killing the four UNIPORT students, demonstrated about the worst version of savagery and wickedness reminiscent of the Hobbesian jungle. The extreme bestial endowments of the Aluu community draws attention to the unspeakable impunity and lawlessness trailing the nation; and the woeful failures the law enforcement agencies have become in guaranteeing the safety of life and property. It was no surprise, therefore, that UNIPORT students went

THE SITUATION

PROMISES TO BE MORE HOPELESS AND HORRIBLE WITH GOVERNMENT’S

CONTINUED FAILURE TO FIRMLY AND EFFECTIVELY ENFORCE THE LAW on rampage, vandalized properties, including vehicles, residential and business premises in Aluu, notwithstanding the heavy, passive presence of the police and other security agencies during the disturbances, to protest the gruesome murder of their colleagues; their main demand being that the culprits be brought to book to serve as deterrent to others. Reports last week said the police have arrested a number of suspects, including the traditional ruler of Aluu for their alleged complicity in the heartless murder incidents. Official sympathy and crocodile tears aside, however, the Mubi and Port Harcourt killings interrogate the operational effectiveness of

the nation’s security agencies, particularly the police and the State Security Service (SSS). In both incidents, for instance, the security agencies were fatally unable to intervene through prior intelligence gathering or physical presence. It has been the tradition of the police especially to keep a tab on happenings in tertiary institutions. Each of the incidents took roughly one hour to be perpetrated and in all of them, no police presence was reported until after the harm had been done. And whereas attempts have been made to link the Mubi massacre with terrorism or bloody mischief by disgruntled students, the four UNIPORT students were murdered in broad day-light in stages – they were apprehended, stripped and disgraced, brutalized with machete cuts inflicted on them, ringed with tyre, doused with petrol and set ablaze alive! In 21st century Nigeria, in this era of information technology, where news fly at jet speed? But in all of these, men of the Nigeria Police Force were nowhere to be found. It is sad that the police are

handier when it comes to the protection of government officials and top flight businessmen at the expense of ordinary Nigerians, when the primary purpose of government is the protection of the life and property of citizens and catering for their welfare. That the Mubi and the Port Harcourt incidents had to take place should prick to conscience of all the nation’s security agencies. It is their bounden duty to guard against a re-occurrence. The embarrassing bloodshed has presented another opportunity for the country to re-examine the lapses that have turned the police and other security agencies into mere ornaments whenever their services are needed most. In addition, justice, in the circumstance, can only be served by making sure that those behind the mindless killing of innocent students in Mubi, Port Harcourt, etc., are apprehended and brought to book. The situation promises to be more hopeless and horrible with government’s continued failure to firmly and effectively enforce the law.

ON THIS DAY October 15, 1990 Soviet Union leader, Mikhail Gorbachev, was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts to lessen Cold War tensions and open up his nation. Gorbachov (born March 2, 1931), is a former Soviet statesman, having served as General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union from 1985 until 1991, and as the last head of state of the Soviet Union, having served from 1988 until its dissolution in 1991.

October 15, 2003 China launched Shenzhou 5, its first manned space mission. Manned by Yang Liwei, the Shenzhou spacecraft was launched on a Long March 2F launch vehicle. There had been four previous flights of unmanned Shenzhou missions since 1999. China became the third country in the world to have independent human spaceflight capability after the Soviet Union (later, Russia) and the United States. The launch was widely heralded in the official Chinese state media.

October 15, 2011 Global protests break out in 951 cities in 82 countries. The 15 October 2011 global protests were part of a series of protests inspired by the Arab Spring, the Icelandic Revolution, the Portuguese “Geraçao a Rasca”, the Spanish “Indignants”, the Greek Protests and the Occupy movement. Global demonstrations were held on October 15 in more than 950 cities in 82 countries. The date was chosen to coincide with the five months anniversary of the first protest in Spain.

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Shell’s unending

trial

Still haunted by the ghost of its exploratory activities in the oil rich Niger Delta region, particularly the Ogoniland, the Anglo-Royal Dutch oil firm, Shell faces fresh legal tussle which analysts say if successfully prosecuted, may cost the company huge compensation cost and pave the way for thousands of other claims. By Tayo Adeleke

ast Thursday, in Netherlands, the Anglo-Dutch oil firm Shell was dragged before a civil court in the Hague by four Nigerian farmers claiming that oil spills from Shell’s installations in Nigeria ruined their livelihoods and demand compensation for damage to their land. The case which was instituted against Shell by the farmers and the Dutch arm of the environmental group, Friends of the Earth, is linked to spills in Goi, Ogoniland; Oruma in Bayelsa State and a third in Ikot Ada Udo, Akwa Ibom State and it is the first time a Dutch multinational will be docked in a civil court in the Netherlands in connection with damage caused abroad. Counsel to the plaintiffs, Channa Samkalden, told the court that Shell had failed to maintain its pipelines, clean up leaks and prevent pollution. “Shell knew for a long time that the pipeline was damaged but didn’t do anything. They could

A typical oil polution

have stopped the leaks,” she said. Fighting off what could turn out to be a potential source of numerous law suits; Shell’s lawyers told the court that it could not be held liable because most spills were caused by criminal damage, insisting that repairs were hard to carry out because of insecurity in the Niger Delta. Shell lawyer, Jan de Bie Leuveling Tjeenk told the court that sabotage and oil theft were widespread in the region. A Shell official Allard Castelein also insisted that the spills in question “were all caused by sabotage”. “I mean, there’s video evidence. There’s signed testimonies by joint investigation teams that are constituted of the local municipality, the company, the government.” In a statement, the company said: “The real tragedy of the Niger Delta is the widespread and continual criminal activity, including sabotage, theft and illegal refining, that causes the vast majority of oil spills. “It is this criminality which all organisations with an interest

in Nigeria’s future should focus their efforts on highlighting and addressing.” Shell says it has cleaned up pollution at the three locations in question and this has been certified by relevant Nigerian authorities. However, one of the plaintiffs, Friday Alfred Akpan from the village of Ikot Ada Udo, told the foreign news agency that the oil leaks in his village had badly damaged his 47 fish ponds. “Fish died as a result of the oil spill, making it difficult for me to live and put my children through school.” He insisted that he wanted compensation for the loss, and for Shell to clean up the spill. Judgment in the case, which analysts and international environmentalists say could spell further damage both to the corporate integrity of Shell and its finances, is expected to be delivered early next year. Last year, the oil giant had accepted responsibility for two devastating oil spills in Ogoniland in a suit filed by the Bodo fishing

community. The community had sued Shell in the UK, alleging that spills in 2008 and 2009 had destroyed the environment and ruined their livelihoods. Experts who studied the video footage of the spills say they could be as large as the 1989 Exxon Valdez disaster in Alaska, when 10 million gallons of oil destroyed the remote coastline. Until that case which the Bodo lawyers said they would seek hundreds of millions of dollars

in compensation for, Shell had claimed that less than 40,000 gallons were spilt in Nigeria. Martyn Day, representing the 69,000-strong community, had said that he would demand “adequate compensation immediately” for his clients, stressing that “This is one of the most devastating oil spills the world has ever seen and yet it had gone almost unnoticed until we received instructions to bring about a claim against Shell in this country

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

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

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HEAD, PRODUCTION SENIOR GRAPHIC ARTIST

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Cover

[UK],” he said. The community had put forward three sets of claims: The first claim - for at least $100 million (£61m) to clean up the area, the second one was for damages to the community land and the final one was for losses suffered by individual families. “The Bodo people are a fishing community surrounded by water. What was the source of their livelihood now cannot sustain even the smallest of fish. The spills have caused severe poverty amongst the community. Marine life has been devastated within the 2,000 hectares of the creek and the mangroves have been, without exception, destroyed,” Day had said. However, after studying the merit of the community’s argument, Shell said it accepted the spills were caused by equipment failure and not by sabotage or theft, which it said, caused most of the spills in the oil-producing Niger Delta region. It however said that it would pay compensation in accordance with Nigerian law but warned that it “could

take several months to reach a conclusion”. In fact, analysts are of the opinion that the success of the Bodo trial may have prompted the ongoing Hague trial which Shell is vehemently disputing and placing the blame on the community. However, the devastating state of the oil producing communities in the Niger Delta areas was brought to fore in the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) report which revealed that over half a century of oil operation in the region, by firms including Shell, had caused deeper damage to the Ogoniland area of the Niger Delta than earlier estimated. The 14-month long assessment was unprecedented, as the UN body team examined more than 200 locations, surveyed 122 kilometres of pipeline rights of way, reviewed more than 5,000 medical records and engaged over 23,000 people at local community meetings. Detailed soil and groundwater contamination investigations were also conducted at 69 sites, which UNEP

said ranged in size from 1,300 square metres (Barabeedom-K. dere, Gokana Local Government Area) to 79 hectares (AjeokporiAkpajo, Eleme Local Government Area). According to the report, more than 4,000 samples were analysed altogether, including water taken from 142 ground wa-

Mutiu Sunmonu, Group chair, Shell companies in Nigeria

ter monitoring wells, drilled specifically for the study and soil extracted from 780 boreholes. The report showed that pollution from over 50 years of oil operations in the region has penetrated further and deeper than many may had supposed. The report submitted to President Goodluck Jonathan in August 2011 according to analysts, represented the best available understanding of what has happened to the environment of Ogoniland, following 50 years of oil industry operations. The report indicated that the restoration of the heavily-impacted mangrove stands and swamplands would take between 25 to 30 years, positing however that through a combination of approaches, individual contaminated land areas in Ogoniland could be cleaned up in five years. The report noted that all sources of ongoing contamination must be brought to an end before the clean-up of the creeks, sediments and mangroves could begin, while recommending the establishment of three new institutions to support a comprehensive environmental restoration exercise. During the assessment, UNEP discovered that some areas, which appeared to be unaffected on the surface by oil spillage, were really severely contaminated underground and action to protect human health and reduce the risks to affected communities should be taken without delay. It held that in, at least, 10 Ogoni communities, where drinking water was contaminated with high levels of hydrocarbons, public health was seriously threatened. “In one community, at Nisisioken Ogale, in western Ogoniland, families are drinking water from wells that are contaminated with benzene- a known carcinogen-at levels over 900 times above World Health Organisation (WHO) guidelines. The site is close to a Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) pipeline,” the report stated. UNEP scientists also found an eight-centimetre layer of refined oil, floating on the groundwater which serves the wells and this was linked to an oil spill which occurred more than six years ago. The UN

agency believes that it would require the deployment of modern technology to clean up contaminated land and water, improved environmental monitoring and regulation and collaborative action between the government, the Ogoni people and the oil industry. UNEP feared that the environmental restoration of Ogoniland could prove to be the world’s most wide-ranging and long term oil clean-up exercise ever undertaken, if contaminated drinking water, land, creeks and important ecosystems, such as mangroves, were to be brought back to full, productive health. However, according to the report “restoring the livelihoods of future Ogoni generations are within reach, but the timing of these is of the essence. What is required is the swift commencement of clean-up before the pollution footprint spread any further. A transition phase is recommended to maintain the momentum and begin detailed planning.” UNEP, therefore, proposed an Ogoniland Environmental Restoration Authority which would oversee implementation of the study’s recommendations and should be set up during a Transition Phase which UNEP suggested should begin as soon as possible. It also recommended that “the authority’s activities should be funded by an Environmental Restoration Fund for Ogoniland, to be set up with an initial capital injection of $1 billion (about N153 billion) contributed by the oil industry and the government, to cover the first five years of the clean-up project.” Furthermore, the report had recommended that an Integrated Contaminated Soil Management Centre be built in Ogoniland and supported by potentially hundreds of mini treatment centres, which would treat contaminated soil and provide hundreds of job opportunities, while creating a Centre of Excellence in Environmental Restoration in Ogoniland to promote learning and benefit other communities impacted by oil contamination in the Niger Delta and elsewhere in the world. While stopping short of laying blame on particular oil companies, the UNEP report recommended reforms of environmental government regulation, monitoring and enforcement, and improved practices by the oil industry. It would be recalled that the Ogoniland environmental assessment project started during the time of former President Olusegun Obasanjo with the setting up of a presidential committee in 2005 to oversee the survey and clean-up of Ogoniland. The committee, which was headed by the Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Monsignor Matthew Hassan Kukah, was, however, constrained by the enormity of the task and recommended the involvement of the UN, a position also canvassed by Ogoni people. BC

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News

L-R: Marcelle Ayo, Senior Trade Finance Officer, International Finance Corporation (IFC), Johannesburg, SA; Olivier Buyoya, Trade Finance Officer, IFC, Johannesburg, SA; Georgina Baker, Director, Global Trade & Supply Chain Solutions, IFC; Banjo Adegbohungbe, Group Head, Global Payments, Access Bank Plc; Gboyega Songonuga, Regional Head, IFC, Johannesburg, SA and Souleymane Traore, Principal Country Officer, IFC, Accra, Ghana at the IFC 5th Annual Bank Partners meeting held in Dubai, where Access Bank Plc bagged the “Most Active GTFP Issuing Bank in Sub-Saharan Africa award 2012”

Access Bank wins IFC’s award

ccess Bank Plc has emerged the winner of this year’s International Finance Corporation’s “Most Active Issuing Bank in Sub- Saharan Africa” award under its Global Trade Finance Programme. This was announced at the fifth International Finance Corporation’s Global Trade Finance Programme Bank Partners’ Meeting held in Dubai, United Arab Emirate. The Global Trade Finance Programme has 380 member banks from 182 countries around the world. With its emergence as the winner of this award, Access Bank Plc has reinforced its exceptional capacity in trade services for the fifth year running, having clinched the IFC’s awards for “Innovation in Trade Structures” and Best GTFP Network Bank at the 2007 and 2008 meetings respectively. The recognition accorded the bank by the IFC, particularly under its Global Trade Finance Programme, is an eloquent testimony to the Bank’s expertise and excellent capacity in trade finance. Further buttressing this enviable position is the bank’s status as one of the very few banks globally to enjoy the status of being both an Issuing Bank (in Nigeria) and a Confirming Bank (in the United Kingdom). This award underscores the level of progress the bank’s investment in its trade finance capacity, competency and delivery has recorded and is an indication of the tremendous value inherent in its compelling trade finance value proposition. The bank joined the GTFP in 2006 to further extend its network of relationship with development finance

institutions and strengthen its trade finance capacity while facilitating developmental international trade between Nigerian businesses and their counterparts in other parts of the world. This intelligent corporate initiative has significantly impacted the Access Bank’s capacity and capability, and consequently positioned it effectively as one of the top four leading banks in trade finance in the Nigerian financial services landscape. Similarly, the bank has developed a collaborative and beneficial network of relationships with foreign commercial Banks, Development Finance Institutions and Export Credit Agencies covering all major trade centres of the world. Under the programme, IFC offers confirming banks partial or full guarantees covering payment risk on Banks in the emerging markets for trade related transactions. These guarantees are transaction-specific and may be evidenced by a variety of underlying instruments such as: letters of credit, trade-related promissory notes, accepted drafts, bills of exchange, guarantees, bid and performance bonds and advance payment guarantees. The guarantees are available for all private sector trade transactions that meet the IFC’s eligibility criteria. Through the GTFP Bank network, local financial institutions can establish working partnerships with a vast number of major international banks in the programme that can broaden access to finance and reduce cash collateral requirements. Analysts have described this recognition as a strong evidence of Access Bank’s industry leadership in Trade Finance and unrivalled competence in Trade Services.

L-R: Seni Adetu, Managing Director/ CEO, Guinness Nigeria Plc; Babatunde Savage, Chairman and Bismark Rewane, Non-Executive Director, at the company’s Shareholders’ Forum held in Lagos last week

NAC disburses N10.81bn loan to 30 companies

he National Automotive Council (NAC) said on Thursday that it had disbursed about N10.81 billion to 30 companies from the Automotive Development Fund (ADF) since its inception in 2004. Alhaji Aminu Jalal, the Director-General, disclosed this in Abuja when the Senate Committee on Industry paid an oversight visit to the council in Abuja The Automotive Development Fund (ADF) is a loan scheme established by the council to provide long-term funds at concessionary interest rates in the automotive industry. He said that the loan was given to the beneficiaries at 10 per cent interest rate, adding that loan requests received from 73 companies amounted to N15 billion out of which 30 companies were considered. According to him, the agency is also considering loan applications amounting to N4 billion submitted by 10 companies. Jalal noted that inadequate

Jalal

funding was hindering the development of the sub-sector. “Apart from working capital requirements, forex is needed, as currently, more than 70 per cent of the sector’s material inputs are imported. “The current interest rate charged by commercial banks makes long-term loans unattractive. ``Given this consideration, the council established the Automotive Development Fund to revive and resuscitate the auto industry and to implement the National Automotive policy.” Jalal explained that about N22 billion was collected as levy between November 1994 and May 2007 and deposited at an account at CBN, adding that the government utilised N9.865 billion of the fund. He said that from 2003, the agency succeeded in transferring the funds to the Bank of Industry under a managed fund agreement, adding that as at March 30 , 2012, the balance of the money with the bank was N17.207 billion. To ensure proper management of the fund, the President, in 2003, approved that a portion of this fund should be managed on behalf of the council by the Bank of Industry. “The funds were transferred to BOI from 2003 for lending to component parts manufacturers, Auto Assembly plants and other auxiliary services in the sector”. In her remarks, the Senate Committee Chairman on Industry, Sen Esther Usman, said that the agency would be adequately funded only after its merger with the Centre for Automotive Design Development. ``At present, there is a bill going through second reading in the Senate; it will soon be passed on to the Presidency for approval.

``As soon as that is done and the merger takes place, the next budget will improve on the fund released to the council,’’ Usman said.

Guinness shows off cutting edge brewing technology

uinness Nigeria Plc last week held its shareholders’ forum preparatory to the forthcoming Annual General Meeting scheduled for November2, 2012. The event provided a platform for dealing with sundry issues relating to the company’s financial results for the year ended June 2012 – including the issuing of scrip dividends and investments in capacity expansion. Babatunde Savage, Chairman, Guinness Nigeria plc said that the Annual General Meeting (AGM) has been the primary avenue for conducting dialogue with shareholders but the board decided to include the Shareholder Forum as well as analysts’ and institutional investors ‘presentation to allow for a more robust engagement. Savage further added that “in spite of the headwinds experienced in the market this financial year, our marketing spend actually increased by 14 per cent in the year and this is a manifestation of the confidence we have in the business and the market in the long term. Our investment in capacity has started yielding results and we are in a much better place now in relation to capacity than we’ve ever been at Guinness Nigeria”. The event included a tour of the Ogba facility, one of the three Guinness Nigeria breweries where significant investments have been made over the past couple of years to increase production capacity and warehousing

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News infrastructure. The facility is home to a state-of-the-art beer filtering system called the Beer Membrane Filter (BMF) that ensures a better quality brew. The technology is the first of its kind in Africa and in Diageo worldwide. Seni Adetu, Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Guinness Nigeria Plc said that the BMF technology is part of the agenda of innovation that will be seen from the company in the coming period. “This year in particular, we thought it appropriate to provide opportunity to see the new facilities we are putting in place in the Ogba Brewery as part of Phase 1 of our capacity expansion programme. We will also speak to our 2012 results and our strategy. We also welcome the opportunity to dialogue on any burning issue affecting the company and you, our shareholders. Everyone is aware of the innovative products that we have launched in the past year including Harp Lime, Dubic lager, Malta Guinness Low Sugar and more recently, SNAPP – but we are working on more. The technology we have invested in and the capacity we are now able to achieve have combined to put us in a great place to continue to set the pace when it comes to research and development and innovation within the industry. The future looks bright for us and I believe we have the right brands and talent mix to get to the very top of the market and deliver significant value to our shareholders.”

Lawanson

First Bank spends $15bn annually on infrastructure

irst Bank spends $15 billion dollars annually on funding infrastructure projects in Nigeria, Kehinde Lawanson, the Executive Director, Corporate Banking, has said. Addressing participants at the Nigeria/U.S. Infrastructure Conference in Washington,

DC on Thursday, Lawanson said that capital infusion through the fiscal budget to rehabilitate infrastructure, made funding difficult. Lawanson, represented by UK Eke, Executive Director, Public Sector of the bank, noted that the government had been the sole financier of road infrastructure projects. According to him, there are gaps in capacity for project development, management, operations and maintenance. He said that it was clear that the private sector participation was imperative in the transformation of the transportation sector. Lawanson explained that an enabling framework was critical to the success of Public Private Partnership {PPP} models in transportation, infrastructure, financing and development. ``There are attractive opportunities in infrastructure financing driven by a huge deficit; a strong desire by the private sector to plug the gap and an enabling regulatory framework should be provided to encourage investment. `Infrastructure financing is not business as usual. It involves a more sophisticated financing structure than typical corporate lending with bank deals,’’ he said. He stated that funding required available capital from local commercial banks and foreign pools of capital, such as pension funds. He added that current interest rate environment was not attractive, stressing that the current guidelines from the Central Bank of Nigeria was better but still posed constraints. He added that the investment required to bridge the infrastructure gap in Nigeria was enormous and beyond government’s capacity. “In alignment with Vision 20:2020, specific goals have been set for road Infrastructure. ``Part of it is to improve routine, periodic and emergency maintenance coupled with better construction design, and enhanced coordination in the construction and maintenance of road networks. ``It is also to establish a coherent national road policy, uniform regulation and road standard,’’ he said.

MasterCard offers $500m scholarship for 15,000 African youths

asterCard says it has set up a 500-million-

Reeta Roy

dollar scholarship fund for talented but economically disadvantaged young people in Africa to access quality secondary and university education. Reeta Roy, President, The MasterCard Foundation, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Accra on Thursday that about 15,000 talented young Africans would benefit from the programme. “We know that education will lead to prosperity in Africa. To sustain the continent’s progress, we must educate its future leaders and create a skilled workforce for the global economy,’’ Roy told NAN on the sideline of the Entrepreneurship in Africa Summit under way in the Ghanaian capital. She said that the foundation was partnering with some American universities and non-profit organisations to educate and develop Africa’s next generation of leaders. According to her, the scholarship will provide students with financial support for fees, uniforms, books, transportation, accommodation and stipends. Roy said that the programme would provide beneficiaries with the knowledge and leadership skills needed to engender change and contribute to economic and social progress across Africa. She further said that the students would benefit from skills training in areas relevant to employment success such as critical thinking, communications, and entrepreneurship. According to her, the beneficiaries will also receive support during their transition into secondary school, university or the workforce with mentoring,

career counseling, internships, leadership development and other life skills coaching. An integral component of the programme is the commitment from the students to give back to their communities and countries of origin, she added. View agriculture as business not tradition, Fadama Coordinator charges farmers Gideon Dandam, the state Project Coordinator, Fadama III, has advised Plateau farmers against viewing agriculture as a mere tradition inherited from ancestors. Dandam made the call on Thursday in Jos at a one-day workshop organised by the Farm Management Association of Nigeria (FAMAN). The theme of the workshop was ``Agriculture and Poverty Reduction in an Emerging Economy``. Dandam, who was represented by Sargwak Wazhi, a former Commissioner, Plateau Ministry of Agriculture and Water Resources, blamed the low productivity in the sector on people’s attitude towards agriculture. ``You (farmers) must take farming as a business that requires deep interest and attention,’’ he said. He claimed that two-thirds of farmers in Nigeria were running at a loss because they had continued to treat agriculture as a culture or a tradition. ``Many farmers are in the agriculture business operate at a loss because they see it as a vocation inherited from their forefathers. ``To them, it is simply a tradition for one to engage in farming, so such persons cannot succeed if they keep thinking this way,’’ he said. Dandam said it was high time farmers began to see

agriculture not as a tradition, but as a serious business, stressing that that was the only way to ensure success in agriculture and reduce poverty. He urged all stakeholders in the agriculture sector to assist the government by educating and enlightening the farmers on the need to take agricultural activities as a serious business. `` If we did not succeed in changing this mentality of farmers, then we should forget about agricultural transformation,’’ he said. Earlier in his address of welcome, Sunday Mancha, the state Chairman of the association, had thanked the government for taking measures to reduce poverty by improving access to agriculture equipment. Mancha said that the mandate of the association was to contribute to the development of the agricultural sector by ensuring increased food production, among others. Mancha said that the association would continue to serve as a platform to bring together both agroprofessionals and the farmers to deliberate and find practical solutions to the challenges of production, storage, processing and marketing, so as to increase farmers’ wealth.

Marketer commends FG for issuing permits to import petrol

dewumi Ilori, an oil marketer, has commended the Federal Government for issuing permits to 39 oil marketers to import petrol in the last quarter of this year. He gave the commendation in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos on Friday. NAN recalls that the Federal Government on Tuesday issued permits to 39 oil marketers to import petroleum products for the fourth quarter of 2012. Ilori, who is the Chief Executive of Metib Oil and Gas in Ibadan, said that the issuance of permits to the large number of marketers was a positive development. He said that importation of adequate petrol would reduce the lingering scarcity of the product in the country. ``The 39 companies importing petroleum products will put an end to the scarcity of petrol and make live worth living for Nigerians,” he said He said that the delay in loading petrol at the depots had contributed to the scarcity of petrol across the country.

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News “Sometime, it takes a whole week for a truck to get to load at the depot and the more time a truck stays to load, the more money the marketer pays. ``It is important to address the supply chain of petrol to filling stations, `` he said Ilori urged the Federal Government to repair the refineries so as to stop further importation of petroleum products. “It is very sad that a country, blessed with abundant oil and gas, is still importing petroleum products. ``Corruption is the major cause; we need to get our refineries working as their poor state is a source of embarrassment to us as a nation, `` he said.

Abdulsalam Mohammed, NPA, MD

94 ships expected in Lagos ports from Oct.12 to Nov. 2 -NPA

he Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) said on Friday that 94 ships were expected to arrive at the various terminals in Lagos ports between Oct. 12 and Nov. 2. The NPA’s daily publication, ``Shipping Position’’, made available to newsmen in Lagos, said that the ships contained fish, bulk wheat, rice, petroleum products, general cargo, new and used vehicles, steel products and base oil. The document indicated that 24 of the ships would come in with petroleum products such as petrol (PMS), diesel (AGO), kerosene (DPK) and aviation fuel (JET A1). It added that seven ships were already waiting to berth and discharge petroleum products at the various oil terminals. The document said that five of the ships were carrying petrol while one each would discharge kerosene and diesel. Four other ships were waiting to discharge general cargoes, rice, and corn, it said.

It listed the terminals that would receive the ships as Atlas Cove Jetty (A.C.J), Petroleum Wharf Apapa, (P.W.A), Nido Gas Basin (N.G.B), Single Bouy Mooring (S.B.M) and Bulk Oil Plant (B.O.P).

Car Hire Association bemoans low patronage at MMIA

he Airport Car Hire Association of Nigeria (ACHAN), on Friday bemoaned the low patronage of passengers at both the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) and its local terminals. The association said that the number of passengers patronising them had reduced drastically, compared to what they witnessed some months ago. Sampson David, the Chairman, ACHAN International Terminal, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Ikeja that the low patronage was due to the decrease in numbers of flights in and out of the airports. ``In the past years, the association recorded high patronage by passengers per day; but this time, we cannot boast of such patronage. ``During October, we used to record high patronage compared to other periods, but it’s not so this year,’’ he said. Bolu Akeredolu, the spokesman of the association at the local airport, said they was also witnessing low patronage at the local terminals. Akeredolu said that the low patronage was as a result of the few flight frequencies at the terminals. He said that most of the domestic flights had gone for maintenance check on their aircraft, while others were not operational. ``Most of the flights had gone for check, while others have suspended their flight operations. This situation is affecting our operation as we no longer get patronage,’’ he said. He called on the Federal Government to provide an enabling environment for investors to invest in the aviation industry.

We can’t examine imports abroad, says SON Stories by Francis Ezem

tandards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) has foreclosed any possibility of inspecting goods imported into

Odumodu

the country for now as being canvassed by many importers to reduce the delay in clearing of such consignments, saying such a practice might be contradictory to existing import policy. SON, Nigeria’s statutory agency for ensuring acceptable standards for both imported and locally made products was early in the year ordered out of the ports by the Federal Government among several other similar organisations has just fully returned to the ports to participate in the examination of imported goods. Director General of the organisation, Dr. Joseph Odumodu, who spoke at a stakeholders’ forum organised by the Nigeria Customs Service, Apapa Area 1, command, said the organisation cannot inspect imported goods abroad before their shipment, as it would contradict the ongoing Destination Inspection scheme. According to him, under the Pre-Shipment Inspection scheme, which was suspended in 2006 to pave way for the return of DI scheme after about 19 years, the organisation was inspecting imported goods offshore as was dictated by the import policy. Odumodu, who was represented by Mallam Yinusa Mohammed in reaction to the fears raised by some stakeholders over the delay in the processing of imports, disclosed that the organisation is currently reorganising its processes especially as it concerns the Standards Organisation of Nigeria Conformity Assessment Programme. The SONCAP is a mechanism designed to check influx of fake and substandard products through the seaports and land borders as well as locally made products. He had also disclosed that the origanisation is monitoring major analysis as part of measures to improve service delivery, adding that as soon as the new processes were

perfected, the organisation would arrange a forum where all the relevant stakeholders would be enlightened and sensitised. The SON-boss, who officially announced its return to the ports, also told the stakeholders that primary aim of the organisation in attending the forum was to inform stakeholders and also gather information that would also help it in the current repackaging of its processes and therefore sought the understanding of the stakeholders. ‘The government has asked us to go back to the ports for reasons best known to it, we made a presentation to the presidency and so justifiable reason for us to go back to the seaports but I want to assure you that we are not here to hinder the peoples’ progress’, he assured. ‘We were asked to leave the ports and we complied. There was a technical paper presented to the government, which indicates that we do not have the technical capacity to check all the imports in the manner that some people want us to do and so we were asked to come back’; he went on. He however claimed that the decision of the government to recall the organisation to the ports may not be unconnected with the alleged increase in the volume of fake and substandard goods that flooded the country within the few months the organisation was asked to leave the seaports. Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, acting on a Presidential directive had announced the sack of some government agencies comprising of National Agency for Food, Drug Administration and Control, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency and SON, among others from the nation’s seaports as part of efforts to make them efficient, cheaper and more userfriendly. In addition to scrapping the controversial Cargo Tracking Note, the government had also disbanded all special Customs taskforces like the Comptroller General, Area Controller taskforces and also barred other special units like the Customs Intelligence Unit, Enforcement unit from participating in cargo examination. The action of the minister followed public outcry over the menace of some operatives of these agencies who in a bid to extort money from the importers and their clearing agents seize their import documents under one flimsy excuse or the other. Many of the officers of these agencies, especially those

of SON and NAFDAC were accused of always carting away large quantities of imported goods under the guise of taking samples, most of which they will not return and for fear of being victimised, the agent or his importer will not report to the appropriate authority.

New cargo clearing procedure to check inter-personal contact-Customs

he Nigeria Customs Service had said that its decision to introduce a new procedure for procession of imported goods at the seaports, which emphasises on-line real time transactions, was designed to checkmate person-person contact, which is a major cause of delay in cargo release at the seaports. The service had recently introduced a new clearing process, which facilitates an online interface between the actors in the international trade chain including the various security agencies like the National Agency for Food, Drug Administration and Control and Standards Organisation of Nigeria, among others. Customs Area Controller in charge of Apapa Area 1 command, which is currently test running the new scheme, Mallam Mohammed Umar, who spoke in Lagos, said disclosed that the major cause of the delay in cargo clearance of goods at the ports was desire of some people to cheat. According to him, this desire is most of the time achieved when people have inter-personal contact, which fuels corruption, arguing that this new system would greatly curtail such inter-personal contact. He also disclosed that apart from curtailing inter-personal contacts, the new system also called Enhanced Cargo Exit will remove all forms of bottlenecks associated with the clearance of

Taiwo, Apapa Area Comptroller

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Monday, October 15, 2012

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News cargo at the Nigeria’s seaports, which cause delays. “The greatest challenge to smooth and efficient cargo clearance is attempts by some people to cut corners”, he noted. “For whatever reason, some people are bent on jumping the guns. This could hinder government’s 48 hour cargo clearance policy”, he regretted. “We should always have it at back of our minds that the interest of our country Nigeria far supersedes that of any group or individual”, he said. The controller, who is barely one month at the command, said that the new procedure, which is also expected to enhance security checks at ports, will incorporates other government agencies such as NDLEA, SON and NAFDAC. The Federal Executive Council had recently approved the introduction of Single Window scheme in the clearance of goods at the ports. The Single Window concept is a process of processing imports and exports at the ports using Information Technology facilities that link all the relevant stakeholders or operators in order to facilitate smooth and un-impeded documentation and release of imports and exports, which is a bigger version of the new customs procedure. Under Nigeria’s currently practices Destination Inspection scheme in which there are four service providers comprising of Cotecna, SGS, Webb Fountain and Global Scan, who provide connectivity to the Automated System for Customs Data for the purpose of processing imports. Unfortunately, many stakeholders are not connected directly to the single network, which the Single Window or the new procedure seeks to achieve. For instance, under the current dispensation, only Customs, the service providers, one or two shipping companies and terminal operators are automated and therefore are connected with one another. This development has brought about doubts as to whether Nigeria is actually ripe or has put facilities in place for this centralised system of cargo release. This is also given that most of the freight forwarding firms, some government security agencies are not yet connected.

Global CEOs back initiatives to reduce harmful use of alcohol

uilding on their longstanding commitment

Pringuet

to public health, the world’s leading producers of beer, wine and spirits have agreed to a new series of actions in five key areas that are designed to strengthen and expand existing efforts to reduce the harmful use of alcohol. Pointing out ten targeted actions over the next five years, Pierre Pringuet, Vice-Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of Pernod Ricard said it includes reducing underage drinking, via enforcement of current laws and encouraging governments to introduce and enforce minimum purchase ages, continuing to strengthen and expand marketing codes of practice that are rooted in our resolve not to engage in marketing that could encourage excessive and irresponsible consumption with a particular focus on digital marketing. According to Pringuet, the actions also include making responsible product innovations and developing easily understood symbols or equivalent words to discourage drinking and driving and consumption by pregnant women and underage youth, reducing drinking and driving by collaborating with governments and nongovernmental organizations to educate and enforce existing laws , enlisting the support of retailers to reduce harmful drinking and create ‘guiding principles of responsible beverage alcohol retailing. “I and my fellow CEOs believe that this program of actions is concrete, deliverable and, most importantly, capable of being measured and evaluated. As the CEOs of our global companies, we want to have a role in working to limit harmful drinking and intend to implement these commitments with the same passion and professionalism that we invest in all of our other business

activities and goals,” said Pringuet. The commitments will be implemented over a five-year time period beginning in 2013; a professionally qualified third party will audit the companies’ compliance throughout this time. In addition, participating companies will report to the global community on an annual basis regarding progress. The commitments build on the signatory companies’ longstanding efforts to discourage harmful drinking through initiatives and partnerships around the world, especially in low- and middle-income countries. Pernod Ricard CEO Pierre Pringuet announced the collective pledge at Global Actions: Initiatives to Reduce Harmful Drinking, an international conference hosted by the International Center for Alcohol Policy (ICAP). In addition to featuring these future commitments, the event comprehensively reported on the industry actions in support of the World Health Organization (WHO) Global Strategy to Reduce the Harmful Use of Alcohol. Marcus Grant, President of ICAP, and Mark Leverton, Director General of the Global Alcohol Producers Group (GAPG), both whom worked with the companies to develop these commitments, agreed that strengthening marketing codes in digital media and working to reduce underage drinking are two particularly important steps. “Over several years, the leadership of the world’s leading producers of beer, wine and spirits have collaborated on a number of initiatives designed to support the WHO’s focus on reducing harmful drinking and its impacts. Moving forward with a new round of programs to further address challenging issues highlights the commitments that these leading industry members are taking for continued progress in this area,” said Mark Leverton, Director General of the Global Alcohol Producers Group (GAPG). “Many of these commitments are closely tied to the core functions in how these companies operate, and are being made in addition to the many programs already underway to address critical issues in developing nations such as

drink driving, strengthening codes of responsible marketing of alcohol, and studying the health and economic impact of the production of illicit alcohol. Equally important is the commitment to rigorous standards of evaluation, which are intended to help assure that these efforts are being put in place in a timely way that meets the intended goals,’ noted Marcus Grant, President of International Center for Alcohol Policy (ICAP). The companies and CEOs making the commitments include Carlos Brito, Anheuser-Busch, InBev, Ed Shirley, Bacardi, Matt Shattock, Beam, Akiyoshi Koji, Brewers Association of Japan, Paul Varga, Brown-Forman, Jorgen Buhl Rasmussen, Carlsberg, Paul Walsh, Diageo, Jean-Francois van Boxmeer, Heineken, Yasunori Aiba, Japan Spirits & Liqueurs Makers Association, Peter Swinburn, Molson Coors, Pierre Pringuet, Pernod Ricard, Graham Mackay, SABMiller, Ashok Capoor, UB Group.

FG, States, LGs share N523bn for September

he federal, states and Local Government Councils shared N523.34 billion from the Federation account in September, the Minister of State for Finance, Yerima Ngama, said on Friday in Abuja. Ngama gave the figure at a news conference after the monthly Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) meeting. A breakdown of the figure shows that the Federal Government received N216.4 billion; states got N109.7 billion while Local Governments’ share was N84.6 billion. Also, N49.9 billion from the 13 per cent derivation fund from the sale of oil and gas was distributed to oil

Ngama

producing states. Ngama told reporters that the country’s revenue generation increased to N594.7 billion in the month of September, compared with N564.8 billion in August. He attributed the increase to rise in crude oil production, exports and increase in the international price of crude oil The minister said revenue from Value Added Tax (VAT) amounted to N60.4 billion in September higher than N54 billion recorded in August. He said N35.5 billion from the Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme (SURE-P), was distributed among the three tiers of government, in addition to the N7.6 billion refund by the NNPC. The minister gave the current balance of the Excess Crude Account (ECA) as $8.4 billion. Ngama said that N140.7 billion was lodged into the ECA in the month of September as against N124 billion the previous month. Nigeria saves money from crude oil sales above the benchmark oil price to ECA and between January and August some 1.5 trillion had been lodged into the account, according to figures from FAAC. Timothy Odah, the Ebonyi Commissioner for Finance and Chairman Commissioners Forum of FAAC, told reporters that the meeting underscored the need for states to develop their solid minerals sector to boost revenue generation. He said that many states had recorded appreciable success in the utilisation of their share of the SURE-P fund but he did not provide specific details. Odah said that the disbursement of the fund had led to an increase in provision of buses for public transportation nationwide. ``I am impressed by the way states are making use of their SURE-P distribution, especially in the provision of vehicles as we can see that there is even more traffic jams on the streets because of many vehicles,’’ he said. SURE-P was initiated early in 2012, following the partial removal of subsidy on fuel and FAAC began transferring N35.54 billion for distribution to the three tiers of government since April. The Federal Government’s share of the money is being reinvested in road construction, healthcare, public transportation and vocational training. Till date, the Federal Government has disbursed N30 billion for projects under SURE-P, according to records from the Federal Ministry of Finance BC

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Global News

Chikwanda

Zambia keeps budget Cocoa price may deficit at 4.3 per cent trigger smugglingof GDP Ghana

ambia’s government presented a $6.3 billion budget for 2013 last Friday, raising spending to fund infrastructure and underscoring its commitment to create jobs in Africa’s biggest copper producer. Finance minister Alexander Chikwanda said spending would rise slightly to 26.6 per cent of GDP from 26.5 per cent in 2012, although the budget deficit would remain unchanged at 4.3 per cent of GDP. He said the government aimed to achieve GDP growth of above seven per cent in 2013, though earlier in the year he had given a target of eight per cent annual growth over the next five years. The southern African country is one of the fastest-growing economies on the continent and the overwhelming reception for its debut $750 million Eurobond in September, which received bids of $11.9 billion, showed its appeal to foreign investors. But despite its buoyant economy, poverty and unemployment remain high among its 13 million people and President Michael Sata, who came to power a year ago, has promised a greater focus on the poor. “The budget proposed for 2013 launches Zambia on a new path of inclusive development and societal transformation, where the benefits of growth are not merely recorded in dry statistics but felt tangibly by all Zambians,” Chikwanda said in his budget speech. He said the government’s priorities in 2013 would be agriculture, tourism, manufacturing and infrastructure development, which would help it meet its target of creating at least 200,000 jobs.

hana has raised the farm gate price for cocoa this season to a level sharply higher than that in neighbouring Ivory Coast, sparking worries of heavy smuggling between the world’s two top growers this season. Ghana’s finance minister said on Friday that the government set the official purchasing price for cocoa at 3,392 cedis $1,795) per tonne for the 2012-13 season, up from 3,280 cedis per tonne last year. That is more than 25 per cent higher than the 725,000 CFA francs per tonne farm gate price set in Ivory Coast under the country’s sweeping new sector reform, which effectively ends more than a decade of liberalisation. Speaking at the launch of the new growing season, Ghana’s Finance Minister Kwabena Duffuor acknowledged that the price difference was likely to lead to smuggling and could have implications on the quality of Ghanaian beans. “With this in mind, we are expanding existing controls to safeguard our quality,” he said. “However, we must admit that we cannot entirely prevent inflows since it is price-driven.” Cocoa smuggling, which can skew official export figures and make it harder for traders to gauge real supply, spiked between Ivory Coast and Ghana

Duffuor

in 2011 during Ivory Coast’s civil war, but it has since eased. “You’ve got a big price difference that is going to entice cocoa across the border. They’ve stepped up policing at the border, but that doesn’t stop them from bringing sacks across,” said an exporter in Ivory Coast who asked not to be named. Duffuor said the increase in the country’s farm gate price which will benefit farmers and could bolster reinvestment in plantations - was being funded in part by export duties. “Government has decided to reduce its share of the 2012 export duty drastically in order to raise the producer price,” he added. He did not immediately say if other government programs supporting the cocoa industry would need to be cut.

IMF backs more time for Greece

he International Monetary Fund (IMF) head, Christine Lagarde, has backed calls for Greece to have more time to meet the targets of its bailout. She said in a BBC debate held in Tokyo that this might be better than “frontloading heavily”, or making Greece pay the most upfront. But the biggest contributor to Greece’s bailouts, Germany, rebuffed the idea. “We have to stick to what we announced,” Germany’s Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble replied. Greece has asked for two more years to meet the spending cuts demanded by its lenders, which include the eurozone countries through its bailout funds and also the IMF. Lagarde backed the calls, but Schaeuble stuck to Germany’s previous line that on the terms of the 130bneuro (£105bn; $168bn) bailout - Greece’s second since 2010 - Athens must be held to what it agreed. Germany’s Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble calls for better financial market regulation. “I think it’s even more important for sustainable growth that investors and consumers have some confidence,” he said, adding that “We have to stick to what we announced and we have to implement it step by step. I am optimistic that in one year we will have overcome the most part of the uncertainty related to Europe.” Greece has argued that it has been through five years of recession already and, with shrinking tax revenues, cannot hope to meet its targets through cuts alone. The IMF boss also took a more nuanced approached to austerity - the spending cuts demanded by lenders that have seen several heads of government in Europe ousted and violent street protests from

Lagarde

Athens to Madrid. “If people stay away from the job market, they lose hope,” Ms Lagarde said, “which is why it’s critical that while maintaining those policies of fiscal consolidation where these are needed, there is also concern for growth, so that jobs can be created. But it’s a factor of pace. You know, at which pace does it happen?” The debate came after Greece last Thursday announced that unemployment in Greece hit a record 25.1 per cent in July, with the level among young people reaching above 50 per cent. And the nation predicted its economy will shrink by 6.5 per cent this year, much more than previously estimated this year, worse than a previous estimate of 4.8 per cent in March suggested to its bailout lenders.

Zimbabwe projects 8.9 per cent growth in 2013

imbabwe’s economy is projected to grow 8.9 per cent next year if the political environment remains stable and the government lives within its expenditure targets, the finance ministry said on Friday in a pre-budget statement. Uncertainty over the date and conduct of elections due within the next year is casting a shadow over the economy given Zimbabwe’s recent history of violent and disputed polls. Finance Minister Tendai Biti is due to present the budget to parliament on November 15. In July, Biti, a senior member of Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai’s Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), slashed his 2012 growth forecast to 5.6 per cent from 9.4 per cent due to a poor harvest and a lack of donor funding and investment. The finance ministry statement said inflation, which has remained in single digits since Zimbabwe adopted foreign currencies in 2009, would average five per cent next year. Consumer inflation slowed to 3.63 per cent in August from 3.94 per cent previously. The government projects that revenues should grow to $3.8 billion next year from an expected $3.4 billion in 2012 as authorities crack down on corporate tax defaulters. After a decade of steep economic decline and

hyperinflation, Zimbabwe’s economy has been growing since the formation in early 2009 of a unity government between Tsvangirai and veteran President Robert Mugabe. In its annual review of the Zimbabwean economy, the International Monetary Fund said growth should moderate over the medium-term to average about four per cent, although poor power supply and tight liquidity conditions could pose problems. The southern African country also carries a huge debt burden that is preventing it from securing new aid. Its total external debt was estimated at $10.7 billion, or 113.5 per cent of GDP, at the end of 2011. Of this, more than half is in arrears.

Swiss Rereinsures Rwanda crop insurance programme

Swiss Re-backed microinsurance project that provides weather insurance for crops in Kenya has been expanded to Rwanda, the companies involved said on Friday. The project will offer low-cost insurance to 20,000 farmers in the southern and western provinces of Rwanda to protect them from financial losses against repeated bad weather destroying their crops. Rwanda endures a tropical temperate climate with irregular rainfall and an economy based mainly on agriculture. Micro-insurance insures low-income people against specific perils in exchange for premiums proportionate to the likelihood and cost of the risk involved. The programme, known as ‘Kilimo Salama’, which means ‘safe farming’, was launched in Kenya in 2010 by the Syngenta Foundation for Sustainable Agriculture, the ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources, One Acre Fund, SORAS Insurance in Rwanda, and Swiss Re Corporate Solutions. Over 10,000 farmers in Kenya have received payouts from the programme, a statement said. Rwandan farmers will pay an insurance premium as part of their loan repayments for fertilizer. Claims will be paid out based on data from eight weather stations, which have been installed in the Southern and Western provides. The weather stations will record weather changes and release updates on rainfall record. When the data meets the criteria for a claim, it will trigger a payout to One Acre Fund, which will compensate individual farmers or forgive their loans. BC

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Business Courage

A turnaround banker Dr. Samuel Igbayilola Adegbite is an accomplished industrialist. The Oasis Group which comprises of about five subsidiaries is a living proof of his entrepreneurial prowess. An outstanding banker, he took Wema Bank from grass to grace, ranking among the top five banks in the industry during his tenure as its Chief Executive Officer. Adegbite, OFR, a lawyer, now enjoys his retirement as Chairman of the Oasis Group Limited.

Adegbite

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By Bamidele Obafemi

r. Samuel Adegbite, 72, started his career in banking in 1960 when he joined the employment of Standard Bank of West Africa (now First Bank of Nigeria Plc) as a clerical officer. His entry into First Bank with a GCE London certificate in spite of keen competition among young Nigerians to secure jobs with financial institutions in the country at the time was regarded by Adegbite as an act of God, as he got a slot in the industry without any hassles. “Although jobs in the bank were competitive and difficult to get in those days, l got one”, he glowingly revealed. For Adegbite, securing a plum job at the age of 21 or thereabout was a delight. The opportunity to build an enviable career in banking excites him. So, he joyfully endured the huge demand and challenges that came with working in the industry especially in the hay days when technology was virtually lacking and bankers had to carry out every banking operation manually. “Usually, we closed late from work, sometimes between 8 pm and 9 pm. Also, I had to go to work on Saturday, closing officially at 2 pm. But, you couldn’t leave the office until it is about 7 pm or 8 pm because there were no computers in those days. We did not even have adding machines. It was a real problem,” he reflected. The rigours notwithstanding, Adegbite’s consolation was the fact that he was better paid than most civil servants, and that he could easily save money towards the fulfilment of his ultimate dream of studying abroad to boost his chances of getting to the peak of his career in banking. “Another point to note was the fact that ladies admired and wanted to associate with those of us that worked in the bank. By virtue of the job, we were dressed in suits and ties most of the time, which was really good”, he delightfully added. However, being a focused young man, Samuel Adegbite would not be distracted by the alluring benefits that came alongside his plum job. So, after working for three years in First Bank with a cumulative savings of 110 pounds sterling, he called it quit with banking and proceeded to the United Kingdom for his academic pursuit. That was in 1963. Interestingly, he had squeezed out time out of the highly time demanding job in the bank to grab a diploma certificate in banking which formed the foundation of his Continue on pg A8

Business Courage

educational pursuit in the United Kingdom. As he puts it, by October 1963, he moved on with his life three years after working in First Bank. “I left for the United Kingdom for the first time. It was a very interesting experience. Before leaving Nigeria, I had started studying for a diploma in banking. I simply continued my study in that direction when I got to the UK”. However, by the time Adegbite completed his programme in banking, he decided to expand his career horizon by registering for a law programme in a University. The decision to study law, according to him, was informed by his exposure to banking related laws while in the service of First Bank. Again, after his study in law, Adegbite proceeded on his knowledge acquisition spree, this time, in accounting. Meanwhile, after he finished from the law school in 1970, seven years after he left Nigeria for studies in the United Kingdom, he returned home to take a job with the erstwhile National Bank as a bank officer. But before then, he worked briefly with the government of the then Western Region for six months where he earned an annual salary of 720 Pounds Sterling. From National Bank, he moved to NAL Merchant Bank (now Sterling Bank Plc) where he was on 1,500 Pound Sterling per annum salary. But after an eight years meritorious service at NAL Merchant Bank Limited, Adegbite again decided to call it quit. However, his move this time did not bother on fat pay check but the desire to rise to the top of his career in banking. He had been invited to take up appointment as Managing Director of Wema Bank, which according to him then was in a very bad shape. “After making an impact at NAL Merchant Bank, I decided to move on. This time, my desire to rise to the top of my career in good time prompted the movement. I was invited to take up appointment as managing director of Wema Bank. It took quite some effort to convince members of my family that my decision to leave NAL Merchant Bank, where I was doing well, and join Wema, which at that time was not really doing well, was for good. That was in 1980. I tried to make them understand that all would be well and then moved to Wema Bank,” he recollected. As Adegbite rightly noted, his story in the banking sector will never be complete without mentioning the exploits at Wema Bank, the bank he virtually took out of the rubbles to rank among the top five in the industry during his reign as Chief Executive Officer between 1983 and 1998. Besides being responsible for pulling the bank out of decay occasioned by bad management and unnecessary

Monday, October 15, 2012

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Adegbite

political interference, Samuel Adegbite till date remains the longest Chief Executive that served in the bank. Turning around the fortune of Wema Bank, he confessed was not an easy task but he achieved his goals despite the secret fear which he acknowledged he had while taking on the assignment. “In fact, the first disincentive would have been my office then at Oyingbo (Lagos). The office was a ramshackle place and the environment was terrible. But I recognised an opportunity to transform the place”, he said. Perhaps, what many people did not know about Adegbite’s adventure at Wema Bank was that he had secret plans to exit the bank if things did not work the ways he had imagined. That disposition necessitated his setting up his own first personal company, Eagle Package Printing Limited as an exit option. The secret of Adegbite’s success at the bank was his ability to convince the then Western State governments who owned

100 per cent stake in the bank through the O’dua Investment Company to divest their majority shareholding in the bank. When Adegbite took on the challenge of turning around the fortune of the bank, shareholders fund was a dismal N2.8 million, the amount which was even at the time eroded by losses. He revealed that the bank was not just a victim of bad loans arising from gross mismanagement of its affairs but undue political interference as the owners then were purely from the political class. “At the time, it was owned 100 per cent by states in the South-West through Odua Investment Company. So, you can imagine the weight of political interference in managing a government institution”, he said. Notwithstanding the forces working against him, Adegbite said he was able to cope with members of the board of directors of the bank which were all politicians based on performance in a short while that he took up the challenge. “They gave respect seeing the level of

transformation, the change and knowledge displayed unlike before”, he enthused. Leveraging on goodwill derived from outstanding performance, the first step he took to reposition the bank was to advise the owners to reduce their stakes in the company to 60 per cent from the initial 100

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per cent stake, a request which was gladly obliged him. With 40 per cent equity of the bank available for public investors, Adegbite took the bank to the Nigerian Stock Exchange for listing. Again, he thought 60 per cent was too much and encouraged the board to further reduce their shareholding to only 40 per cent, which meant that a larger holding would belong to the public. That was gain achieved. “And once that was done, we were able to appoint independent directors, while the owners of the company still determined who became chairman of the board. We appointed people like Dr. Lekan Are and the late Dr. Rufus Giwa, among others. They brought fresh innovations and ideas on board and the bank was able to move on to greater challenges”. Adegbite said that matters had gone so bad that though the bank was established in 1955, it was only able to pay dividends to the shareholders for the first time ever in the transformation era which he spearheaded. Similarly, he convinced the board of directors of the bank to empower the management team to go into extensive recruitment drive for the best hands in the industry while promoting the philosophy, ‘Look after the worker, they look after the customers.’ That decision, he said, helped the bank to achieve good service delivery. At that time, Wema Bank was ranked fifth in the banking industry behind First Bank, UBA, Union, and Afribank. “There were no new generation banks at the time. We set out to achieve our goal of establishing 30 branches of the bank in Lagos – it was operation occupy Lagos with the slogan ‘Reaching for greater heights.’ We did the best we could,” he disclosed. His successes at Wema Bank notwithstanding, Samuel Adegbite still has fresh in his memory some embarrassing events which he wished had not occurred when he was at the helms of affairs of the

After making an impact at NAL Merchant Bank, I decided to move on. This time, my desire to rise to the top of my career in good time prompted the movement. I was invited to take up appointment as managing director of Wema Bank

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bank. One of the two cases has to do with a robbery attack on the Oyingbo office of the bank which he, as the CEO only heard from a radio announcement on his way to work one fateful morning. “My driver turned on the radio and it was announced that armed robbers had attacked our Oyingbo office and stole N26 million. It was a lot of money at the time, almost equivalent to billions of naira today. The robbers were said to have walked into the bank at the point when the proceeds of the day was being loaded. It was the easiest type of robbery ever. I learnt the gate was open and somebody had watched them from a height until they finished and were ready to go. It was between 4.30 to 5 am; the robbers just appeared, fired gunshots in the air, grabbed the van, and drove it away. Being the head of the bank, I had to find a way to absorb the shock and God really helped me. Even I printed copies of an article on how to cope with distress and distributed them to the members of staff through the management team. I simply put up courage, though I was badly hit inside”, he narrated. A similar bitter experience he had was when he went on vacation and came back to find out that the bank had been massively defrauded by some dubious staff in connivance with staff of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) who were supposed to be performing a regulatory function in the bank. “The second one was a fraud case that came up when I went on annual vacation. Some dubious staff colluded with some dubious CBN staff and were passing some cheques through Wema Bank. Two cheques of N86 million each were involved with which the bank’s account was erroneously credited. I returned from leave and felt everything was in order until it was detected by another officer of the bank who went to the CBN to find out if the money being credited to Wema Bank were genuine. Those CBN staff disappeared and nothing has been heard of them till today. We had to cough out the money,” he recalled. Nevertheless, Samuel Adegbite had a swell time at the bank as he later emerged Chairman Board of Directors. One thing that people who are familiar with the bank said Adegbite did right before his eventual exit from the bank was a well conceived succession plan which led to the emergence of Tunde Lemo, the current Deputy Governor of the CBN as Managing Director of Wema Bank. “We decided to have a succession plan with five persons, including Tunde Lemo. It was called the Millennium Team. That was about three years to the time I left. We hoped that one of the five would

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Monday, October 15, 2012

emerge as the future MD after me. I believed that nobody was indispensable or irreplaceable”, he narrated. A great strategist, Samuel Adegbite began to plan his exit from banking as far as 1979, 17 years after he started working as a banker. The major step he took in that direction which sparked up the entrepreneurial spirit in him which he probably inherited from his textile merchant mother was his decision to approach First Bank for a loan of N2 million to establish

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a manufacturing company in Ota, Ogun State. Adegbite disclosed that the idea of investing in package printing came through a Swiss young man married to a Nigerian who he said was vast in that line of business. This Swiss national also linked Adegbite up with relevant stakeholders in the industry with both of them agreeing to make the initiator of the idea the general manager of the company. Adegbite recalled with a sense of fulfilment that the

company (Eagle Package Printing Limited) is still doing well today, and that It currently ranks as the second in that industry. “For instance, I never knew that millions of Nigerian was smokers until we started producing for a cigarette making company”, he added. Two years after the establishment of Eagle Package Printing Limited, Adegbite having seen the benefits of choosing to stand as an entrepreneur as opposed to being a salary earner, decided to give it all it

Moreover, there is a guiding business rule which has impacted positively on the aspirations of Samuel Adegbite as a businessman. That simple rule is what he referred to as ‘Be There

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takes. The success of the printing firm spurred the establishment of Oasis Group in 1981. The group which today operates in four strategic sectors of the economy namely: manufacturing, financial services, real estate, and trading, is a leading indigenous and diversified investment holding company. The Group is made up of Oasis Insurance Plc, Oasis Capital Portfolio Limited, Eagle Package Printing Limited, Oasis Plastics Limited and Aade Industrial & Investment Company Limited. The Group is said to be committed to growing its various businesses by making long term investments in the dynamic sectors of the economy. The combined clientele base of the group’s businesses includes some of Nigeria’s best managed companies that are leaders in their industries. “The growing capacity of the subsidiaries to meet and surpass clients’ expectations has earned the Group great goodwill which will be leveraged for future ventures”, a source in the group remarked. Moreover, there is a guiding business rule which has impacted positively on the aspirations of Samuel Adegbite as a businessman. That simple rule is what he referred to as ‘Be There’. He believes that things will go wrong in your business if the owner of the business keeps a long distance from his business. That business philosophy however deprived the Ibadan- born business mogul the pleasure of socialising during his active days, both as an employee in the banking industry and as an entrepreneur. Therefore, he did not belong to any social club, being a workaholic as he confessed that he enjoyed working and reading. One way he unwinds, according to him, is by reading. But the accomplished banker and industrialist says the time is now for him to make up for what he missed in his active service days. Nevertheless, he is largely preoccupied with service to God through the Anglican Church where he is a front runner. Sources close to him said he has single-handedly built a couple of worship centres which he donated to the Church. Dr. Samuel Adegbite, Fellow of Chartered Institute of Bankers, London and Nigeria (FCIB), Chartered Institute of Secretaries and Administration (FCIS) and Nigeria Institute of Management (NIM), won laurels such as Bankers Merit Award 1994, Business Merit Award 1995 and NTA Award for Excellence 1996 and holds Honourary Degree of Doctor of Business Administration, D.B.A (Honoris Causa) from Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, LAUTECH, Ogbomosho, Oyo State. He was President of the Chartered Institute of Bankers between 1989 and 1990. BC

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ThebuddingEntrepreneurs

A jet-setting entrepreneur

He is just slightly above 30 but today, he is ranked among a handful of young and immensely successful entrepreneurs across the African continent in the Forbes Magazine “Ten Young African Millionaires to Watch’ list. His name is Ladi Delano, co-founder and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Bakrie Delano Africa (BDA), a multi-billion dollar investment company with eyes on Nigeria’s mining, oil and gas as well as agriculture. By Salami Semiu

is story is one of a restless, jet setting entrepreneur anxious to make it big even in far-away China at a very tender age. Ladi Delano, a British-Nigerian lived an entrepreneurial life from a very young age experimenting with all sorts of entrepreneurial pursuits including selling suits. At the tender age of 22 in 2004, Ladi Delano founded Solidarnosc Asia,a Chinese alcoholic beverage company that made Solid XS, a premium brand of vodka. Teaming up with marketing director, Matt Reid, he sought visibility by sponsoring performances from artists such as British DJ Pete Tong and Canadian singer Avril Lavigne, among others. The company waxed from strength to strength, launching a dining and entertainment venue, The Collection. Solid XS, the company’s flagship brand reportedly went on to snatch up about 50 per cent market share in China and three other Asian markets and distributed to over 33 cities in China, achieving over $22 million in revenue. However, with the global economic downturn, Solid XS faced troubled times and eventually had to close down as cash flow dried up and was subsequently followed by massive layoffs of staff. The company was eventually sold to a rival liquor company for over $15 million and plough the money into a new business line, real estate. However, while running Solid XS, Delano had set up a real

estate investment company called the Delano Reid Group. The company went on to raise over $80 million for real estate investments in mainland China profiting from China’s real estate economic boom. Delano has a penchant for running multiple ventures concurrently. As the real estate business continued to flourish, he along with his partner, Reid opened another frontier, this time in DRG CIN Energy and Global DRG Capital, providers of global energy solutions. Headquartered in Hong Kong and with trading facilities of more than $3 billion, the company was a player in the Asian oil trading and exploration space. Having hit the fortunes in the Far East and the realisation of the massive opportunities in Africa with its estimated one billion people, Delano in December 2011 continued his serial streak by focusing exclusively on Africa with his latest venture, Bakrie Delano Africa. This time, he partnered with an Indonesian conglomerate, the Bakrie Group under a joint venture partnership. Through the joint venture, the Bakrie Group would invest about $1 billion over five years in Bakrie Delano Africa (BDA) in areas as diverse as mining, oil and gas and agriculture. The Bakrie Group, a leading player in Asia and owns stakes in PT Bumi Resources, Asia’s largest thermal coal exporter, diversified miner PT Bumi Resources Minerals and other Indonesian firms.

Delano’s inward looking, so to say is instructive. To him, Nigeria is attractive to the Bakrie Group as an investment

Delano

Management Principles

Effective business management

business does not run itself. Strong and effective management is the key to the establishment and continued success of any business, and the level of success can depend on the kind of manager in charge. The same money, materials, machinery and people can produce dazzling success for one manager and moderate success for another. The difference can lie in the quality of the individual and the management methods used. What makes good management? Good management starts with careful planning; making decisions and setting goals; reaching objectives on time and under budget; examining the marketplace and its environment and creating opportunities that generate growth and profit for the business. As you manage your business, your confidence will grow as you deal with each issue that arises. The key is to take it one day at a time and seek help from your advisers if necessary. What are the roles of management? As a business owner, you are responsible for all aspects of the management of the business, so as manager, you may need to perform many roles, including: planning-setting short-term and long-term goals and strategies for the business; organising-working out the tasks and how they are to be scheduled and performed to achieve the business’s goals; communicating-keeping employees informed of what is happening in the business and what they are trying to achieve as a team; evaluating-assessing and analysing performance results and other data so that a basis for decisions can be made; directing-supervising and helping staff perform their duties, staffing-hiring and training staff; innovating-being flexible and prepared to look at other ways of improving business performance and risk managing-putting in place plans to control loss that may result from a crisis. To give your business the best chance of success, it is important to gain experience and knowledge whenever you can in as many of these roles as possible. Develop your management skills Successful businesses are usually managed by people who continually strive to improve their managerial skills. They avoid management traps by obtaining business experience and know-how. It is recommended that a business owner initiate a programme of self-development. In the process, you are able to get a better understanding of business in general and management responsibilities in particular. You can also learn from others who have gone before you rather than having to learn from trial and

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ThebuddingEntrepreneurs

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Personal Finance All entrepreneurs suffer periodic ups and downs and running a successful, profitable business isn’t easy. If it was, everybody would be doing it

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destination for several reasons. “Firstly, it is experiencing excellent rates of economic growth, approximately eight per cent per year, which is forecast by a wide cross-section of respected economic commentators to continue over the medium to long term. As an indigenous company, Bakrie Delano has deep rooted relationships in Nigeria too, which is a very important point. Business relationships on the ground are vital when operating in any market, especially emerging markets. The combination of these three factors: rapid economic growth, an operational track error. Watch your competitors and pick out those strategies that work well for them and learn from that. Discuss some of the issues in your business with those you trust who have experience in business or finance and listen to their advice. The skills required to be a good manager of a business change as the business grows. The managerial knowledge needed to direct a business in its infancy is different from what a business needs five years later. As a company reaches new stages in its development, the manager’s role is to adapt to the growth and development, carefully making the transition and assuming the responsibility that each role demands. Planning Planning is a critical part of successful management. Some business owners may think planning is the same as thinking ahead. They vaguely aspire to do better next year or contemplate activities they might perform when business improves. However, thinking ahead is not planning. Planning is a definite process and needs to be a major priority for a manager. It involves establishing short-term and longterm objectives and establishing processes and methods for reaching those objectives. Time management Your management tasks will include managing your business, yourself, your staff and your time. Typically, the small business owner has too much to do and too little time in which to do it. Most owners work 50 or 60 hours per week and sometimes over 70. Much of this activity may well be wasted if managers are spending more than half their time on trivial matters while vital jobs are left unattended. What makes a good management team? When you begin to establish your management team to help run your business, there are a number of qualities to consider in potential candidates. An ideal management team needs people who: are good organisers and planners-they look ahead and can pull together whatever is needed to get there; are confident-they act positively and decisively with the available facts; are empathic-they are sensitive to the needs of others; are trusting and honest-they are open and honest in dealing with others; delegate authority-they allow others to have control and freedom over some areas of the business; give feedback on performance-they tell people how they are doing and are very good teachers; are good listeners-they listen sincerely and react to what is said and foster and embrace a team environment. BC

record in particular sectors and local knowledge makes Nigeria very attractive,” he said. Getting to what may be considered a comfort zone for Delano never came easy but as he explained in a recent interview, the spirit to “keep going, keep believing and never give up,” helped him achieve his current feat. And this is what he believes Africa’s young aspiring business persons and entrepreneurs should believe in. “It’s an old saying but the phrase “Show me a man who has never failed and I’ll show you a man who has never succeeded” really resonates with me. All entrepreneurs suffer periodic ups and downs and running a successful, profitable business isn’t easy. If it was, everybody would be doing it. But this is Africa’s time and the demand levels within our own continent’s domestic economy needs satisfying. This is a huge opportunity for entrepreneurial, hard working individuals,” he said. Now, Delano’s BDA plans to spend $500 million of its $1 billion investment commitment which it entered into with the government last year on crude palm oil and rubber plantations. In achieving this, BDA says it plans to acquire plantation companies while also acquiring non Greenfield lands. Delano said that his decision to pair up with Bakrie Group was informed by the fact that he needs a group with a good track record from a country that is nearly the same as Nigeria. “In Nigeria, the major business is oil and gas, that’s why we need a partner who can diversify businesses in some primary sectors,” he said. Often referred to as an infant empire builder by some, Delano remains one of Nigeria’s glowing examples of industry, selflessness and determination. At 30, analysts already predict that this new crop of multimillionaire Diaspora entrepreneurs may be the future of Nigeria’s total economic emancipation. BC

Top Employee Firing Mistakes

hile terminating employees is one of the more unpleasant tasks that owners and managers have to carry out, it is a necessary part of doing business. If you’re not careful, however, mistakes committed during the firing process can come back to haunt you by way of legal action. Learn the most common mistakes made when giving workers the boot Lack of signed employment agreement It’s always to your advantage to have an agreement stating that the employee understands the hiring terms and the “atwill” nature of employment, meaning either the employer or the employee can terminate the employment relationship at any time.

Absence of standard written policies Whether it’s in the form of an official handbook or several pages stapled together, you should have clear policies in place so that employees know exactly what is and is not expected of them while employed. Improper appraisal documentation If someone is performing poorly or there is any indication that you may need to terminate an employee, you should keep records of warnings or discussions regarding poor performance or failure to abide by company policies. You will want documentation in the event the employee takes legal action after being terminated. Lack of legitimate job-related reason In many establishments, employers do not have to provide a reason for firing someone. However, whether you share it with the employee or not, you should always have a legitimate reason for terminating someone if you do not want to get hit with a discrimination lawsuit. Failing to prepare for termination Know what you’re going to say, and have all paperwork prepared ahead of time. If there is severance pay or anything else owed to the employee, such as vacation pay, you should have a cheque ready to give them. In addition, you need to be knowledgeable about the company policies. If you are unsure, read up on them in advance. Procrastination If you are planning to terminate someone and continue to wait for the right time, you can run into several problems. First, the employee may get wind of the situation and become disruptive, slack off completely, or begin to set up a lawsuit situation. Second, other people in the department may become aware that something is up, and morale will drop quickly. Therefore, if the decision has been made, act promptly. Lack of follow-up plan Terminating someone may be the best way to solve a problem, but the work they were responsible for will still need to be done. Be prepared to address your next course of action, which may be dividing the job among other employees, hiring someone new, or outsourcing the work. Excessive talk Too often, employers talk too much and say the wrong thing. Don’t make promises you can’t keep, such as offering to help the employee find another job, and don’t make excuses or pass the blame. Keep the conversation to a few minutes, and stick to the matter at hand. There’s nothing wrong with saying that you are sorry, but be careful regarding anything else you say. Making a slip A slip of the tongue can be a big mistake. Nobody else should know about the impending termination except those involved in the decision-making process. The individual being terminated deserves to be treated with respect and dignity, and not be embarrassed because everyone in the company knows they are being terminated. BC

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Charging your phone with the sun Operators of mobile phone charging outlets are making brisk business as a result of the erratic electricity supply in the country. Though a novel idea, exploring the sun as a viable alternative mobile phone charging system gets underway with solar battery chargers By Adejuwon Osunnuyi

hat the licensing of Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) operators in 2001 marked a new beginning for mobile business in Nigeria is like stating the obvious. Within the last 10 years, the country’s mobile telephone subscriber base has not only continued to record strong growth hitting 105.2 million as at August, the number of telephones of various sophistication has also continued to flood the country. However, just as it is believed that every good innovation comes with its attendant problems or shortcomings, the influx of mobile phones have also been challenged by the problem of battery failure. It is particularly so in Nigeria where electricity supply is erratic, the sorry situation which has continuously given the stakeholders sleepless nights, in their efforts to find lasting solutions to the problem. More often than not, instances of dead phone battery have caused tremendous problem and challenges to many, especially those who have come to rely on their mobile phones for critical transactional and data storage purposes. When your phone powers off, you are not only cut off from communicating with the outside world, but also strips you of your contact book. In certain instances, there are many people that have lost their lives because they could not reach for help when in distress. Some have lost important business opportunities. Indeed, the losses could sometimes be unimaginable. Trust Nigerians, the desperation of most phone users to permanently keep their phones

on and the epileptic public power supply has opened another source of income for phone operators who have cashed in to offer battery charging services to people that can’t afford to buy generators. Operators of mobile phone charging outlets have been smiling home as the poor electricity supply continues as they charge between N30 and N50 to charge each battery. This new business opportunity has opened a new stream of income for many phone operators. According to Maureen Aigbe, a phone operator, the persistent demand for the services informed her decision to start that line of business. “Though I’ve been in this phone call business for some time now, but I added battery charging to the services I render due to the demand by traders in the market across the road due to lack of public power supply in the area. “The rate for charging a mobile phone battery is N50. I spent about N7, 000 to build the board and fit the sockets and this aspect of the business is profitable as I make an average of N900 daily,” she said. On what it takes to start the business of charging phone batteries, Maureen said all that is needed is for the person to build a board and fit such with sockets, then buy desktop chargers and travelling chargers and the game begins. Olatunji Salawu says he went into the business to satisfy the needs of mobile phone users who want to charge their batteries and also boost his income.“I charge N50 to charge a battery and I make about N500 when there is public power supply and N1000 when there is no light,” he said.

According to him, “Business moves well when there is prolonged power outage and people who don’t own generators patronize us more because they need their batteries charged to be able to communicate and conduct their businesses.” However, the story seems to be changing. Users of mobile phones, digital cameras, PDA, MP3, MP4 and so on can now have a cause to smile as all they need to charge their phone is power from the sun. Absolutely, this is free. All you need is a solar charger. A solar charger or solar battery charger is a combination of a solar panel and a rechargeable battery pack or power pack. The device keeps your mobile phone, pda,mp3, mp4 and digital camera with 24 hours electric current from the day’s sun energy. The panel and battery can be separate or in some cases, combined into a single unit. Smaller, portable solar chargers allow anyone to recharge or power electrical devices such as cell phones, laptops and portable gaming devices. With larger and more powerful solar chargers, such as solar generators, you can even charge devices such as power tools, TVs, radios, refrigerators and a lot more. The power to run or recharge typically comes from the rechargeable battery or power pack, but some devices can be operated or recharged directly from a solar panel as well. Devices with rechargeable batteries in them are good candidates for direct solar charging. Nokia, the world leading phone maker has joined the trend as it has announced the introduction of a new portable solar charger, which it said is

Rutherfoord

a pilot product designed to test the viability of solar charging as an alternative mobile phone charging system. According to Nokia, Kenya and Nigeria provide the perfect opportunity for testing this solution, with recent World Bank reports indicating that only 16 and 51 per cent of Kenyans and Nigerians respectively had regular access to electricity between 2007 and 2011. However, mobile phone usage is pervasive in these markets, calling for alternative methods of power. “There are numerous advantages to this solution, including being able to service consumers outside of regular electricity supply, or those who need a quick charge on the go,” James Rutherfoord, Vice President

Nokia West Africa, said, adding that, “However, perhaps the greatest benefit is the cost saving achieved by being able to harness the natural resource of the sun”. Initial limited quantities of the DC-40 solar charger will be available in Nigeria at retail outlets across Ikorodu, Ibadan, Ojo/Badagry and Ijebu-Ode/ Sagamu at an estimated retail price of N2, 560 with the aim of getting feedback from the field. “Nokia prides itself on its ongoing sustainability programme to minimize power usage. This solar charger provides an extremely environmentally friendly solution that is free of CO2 emissions,” Rutherfoord, added. The technical solution, according to Nokia is a thin film

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Technotips Tips to increase Your Smartphones Battery Life

martphones are used by pretty much everyone now, though they’ve really taken off in the last few years. They all come with large brilliant displays such as WiFi, impressive cameras and super quick processors. However, because they have all these brilliant features, they in no time really drain down your battery, especially with anything more than moderate usage. Most people who have these smartphones are made to go about with battery chargers or at times with extra batteries. To a large extent, it is very obvious that most of you have similar problems with your smartphones/iPhones battery life. However, to enjoy your smartphones, here are a few quick tips on how to increase it and ensure your battery isn’t flat when you need it most. 1. Turn down the brightness This one is probably fairly obvious. Smartphones have very large displays, which are very clear and bright. However if you are browsing the web or watching a video on them, it is going to drain the battery in no time. The best thing you can do is to reduce your screen brightness in your display settings. Charging with generator

2. Turn off Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS A lot of the time you are out of range of a wireless hot spot, but your phone is constantly searching for one to connect to. If you turn your Wi-Fi off, your phone will stop looking for one that is not there. Bluetooth is also a big drain on your battery, only turn it on when you actually need it, the same goes for GPS which really sucks the life out of your battery. 3.

Kill Unneeded Apps Because smartphones are getting quicker all the time, it means that we can multitask. While this is great and practical, it also draws on your battery constantly having all these programs open and running in the background. A lot of the time you don’t know it, you actually have to exit an app properly for it to stop running, or sometimes you’ll need to download a task killer to kill them. The latest version of Android and iOS both come with built in task killers to manage this problem, but if you don’t have a task killer download one from your app store. Nokia DC-40 solar charger

panel, measuring 165mm x 237mm with a long cable and 2mm Nokia plug interface. Weighing only 93 grams, the solar charger is highly portable. The solution is incredibly simple and efficient. With one minute of charging, consumers will get approximately two minutes of talk time. The solar charger is most efficient when used in direct sunlight where the average charging time for full charge on a 1000mAh battery would be under four hours. However, the solar panel can also be used behind a glass window, but is less efficient in these conditions. Perhaps, the coming of the solar chargers might be the much needed solution most Nigerians need to keep their phones running. Testifying about the quality of the solar chargers, Autin Onani, a dealer

who said he has been selling the products for some time now noted that it is very convenient to use. “Since every house has window, to charge the panel, simply expose the shining black surface to the direction of solar ray. Mind you, it does not have to be intense sun in the case of raining day. It’s simply as long there is a daybreak reflection of light” “I have been selling solar charger for some years now. I have taken it to many states in Nigeria. What determines where I go is trade fairs. Presently, it is in many markets in Lagos State. According too him, the solar chargers not only charge phones but also laptops, MP3 and MP4 devices. “You can change the voltage output to your need e.g for phones its usually 5v, laptops are usually 9v”.

“For the solar charger for mobile phones, the price is N1,300 each while for the solar charger for laptop and other devices the price is N21,500. Maximum exposure of the laptop solar charger to the sun is 6 hours. Then the charger is fully set to serve as a multipurpose charger both for laptop and phones, one at a time thou depend on the voltage that you regulate it to.” “By that I mean if you need to charge just the laptop, you may need to set it to a less voltage for the phone which is 5v. Then, once your laptop is fully charged by our solar laptop charger there and then you can unplug it from the solar device and use directly or use the solar charger while working with your laptop till the power store up in the solar panel is drained,” he explained. BC

4. Turn Off Sync One of the greatest things about smartphones is that they are constantly feeding you new information. They could be pulling in your latest emails, news or Facebook notifications. However this means the phone is constantly working and draining down it’s battery. The best thing you can do is to turn off the automatic sync and then just sync manually when you want to. Failing that you could always see if your phone has settings to set the sync to only occur every few hours. 5. Get A Power Saver App Before I never believed in these power saver apps, but I’ve recently tried out one called Easy Battery Saver. This great little app has really improved my battery life. It has a few different modes, depending on how badly you need to save your battery life. It works basically by automatically doing all the steps I’ve outlined above and more. However it’s intelligent and does it’s best not to ruin your phones performance. It’s definitely worth having a look at if you want to improve your battery life. (This app’s for Android, but there could be similar apps available for iOS) BC

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Oboro

Stakeholders decry lack of duty waiver for local IT entrepreneurs in 2013 budget Stories Kunle Azeez

takeholders in the Information and Communication Technology industry have picked holes in the proposed N4.92 trillion budget for 2013 presented to the National Assembly by President Goodluck Jonathon, for lack of any duty waiver provision for the ICT sector. Though, described as the fastest growing industry, especially the telecoms sector, which has been described as one of the fastest growing in the world, the stakeholders lamented the absence of conscious attention to promote local computer manufacturers in the industry. Speaking with Business Courage at the weekend, the Secretary General, Computer and Allied Product Dealers Association of Nigeria, John Oboro, decried the lack of any duty consideration for local original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) in ICT. According to Oboro, over the years, the lack of duty waiver on imported Completely Knocked Down ICT products by indigenous computer firms, in a challenging operating environment, has been major threat hindering them from competing favourably with international brands of computers in the country. “I think by now, Nigerian government should have realised the critical role ICT is playing as an enabler of economic growth and development,, and as such, one would expect it to introduce duty waiver or reduced duty on CKD imported by computer firms such as Omatek, Zinox, Brian, Bet and Veda, which are local computer manufacturers in Nigeria,” he said. Oboro lamented that while there is zero per cent duty on machinery and spare parts imported for local sugar manufacturing industries; fiveyear tax holiday for investors

in sugar industry; zero per cent duty and zero per cent VAT on aircraft parts as well as zero percent duty on CKD for mass transit buses, the government has not deemed fit to introduced similar duty waiver for struggling indigenous computer manufacturers in the proposed budget. “What this means is that while our indigenous computer firms keep going doing, not expanding to create value in terms of more job creation for the teeming population, foreign brand will be making wave, selling their products in Nigeria and repatriating the profits back to their country.” Oboro also noted that though he had not gone through the budget details, “reports in national dailies have indicated that our recurrent budget is N2.4 trillion while capital project would gulp N1.54 trillion. This, I can tell you is not good for a country lacking necessary infrastructures to develop as a nation.” In his reaction, the Managing Director of Balog Technologies, makers of Brain Computer brands, Tunji Balogun, also called on the National Assembly to address the issue of duty waiver for local IT companies before passing the proposed budget into law. “It is surprising that the

Balogun

proposed 2013 budget did not make any statement to suggest that it is looking at developing indigenous computer manufacturers. Even in developed countries such as the United States, there is duty waiver for indigenous IT firms so as to strengthen them since they know the strategic position IT now occupies in their economic development,” Balogun added. He said overall, a situation where recurrent expenditure of a country almost doubles capital expenditure was not a ‘good signal’ that the leadership of such country was forwardlooking in addressing infrastructure problems, which have been breeding increased unemployment and other economic challenges over the years.

MTN targets 450 customer centres by 2013

igeria’s largest telecommunications network, MTN,

Monday, October 15, 2012

has said it would increase the number of customer care centres to 450 by the end of 2013, as part of measure to effectively handle the growing needs of its burgeoning subscribers. MTN Customer Relations Executive, Akin Braithwaite, disclosed this on the sideline of MTN Customer Week activities marked with the introduction of a special security numbers for its over 43 million mobile subscribers to shield them from identity theft. Braithwaite said the customer care centres would be developed along two verticals of Customer Service Outlets and Connect Points by increasing their numbers to 250 and 200 respectively. According to him, MTN currently had over 150 customer outlets spread across Nigeria, with plan to roll out additional 100 next year, bringing the total Customer Services outlets to 250 nationwide. Braithwaite said, in addition, MTN had decided to roll out some other outlets which to be called Connect Points. “The ConnectPoints are kiosks that we can roll out very quickly and we are planning to roll out over 200 of those, hopefully, too, in 2013. It is to ensure that we getting closer and closer as a foot traffic point to over teaming customers that we continue to grow.” According to him, “We would continue to keep rolling them out because we do see that it is a very important and crucial aspect of whatever we are doing. Right now, we have over 8,000 people that are servicing our customers.” Meanwhile, the telecoms operator said it was set to arrest identity fraud with the introduction of 16 digit security numbers that would make it impossible for hackers and scammers to clone or control subscribers’ identity with intent to commit fraud using a mobile phone line. According to Braithwaite, the security numbers are aimed at significantly improving customer experience on the MTN network by empowering customers to resolve most of their issues using a number of avenues, including telephone and the Internet. He said the newly introduced MTN Security Number, Braithwaite

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which opens the door to a world of convenience and Do It Yourself (DIY) for MTN customers, gives customers full access to MTN’s entire service channels like Walk-in centres, Customer Care Help line 180, Web Self-Service and My IVR181. Braithwaite said: “The introduction of the security numbers came out of a desire to really protect our customers from a lot of the activities of those we call the identity thieves. Those are people who just go about trying to get access to peoples’ information without authorization. “We designed this to put a halt to ease access to tour customer SIM information data. Particularly, one of the most horrendous issues was in the area of SIM Swap where people will get to swap SMI and get access to people’ bank details and other critical details. “This has come to prevent that from happening and we have rolled it out to ensure whether you are going to reach us by phone or go to our customer outlets, you will need to use the Security Number to be able to use such transactions.” He added that the security number was important, urging customers “to protect it, keep it private and not disclose it to anyone,” stressing that MTN Nigeria would not be held liable for any loss or damage resulting from the disclosure of the number to third parties. In her submission, General Manager, Corporate Communications, MTN Nigeria, Mrs. Funmi Omobegbigun, urged customers, who had registered their SIMs but had yet to receive notification of their MTN Security Number, to visit any MTN Walk-in Centre closest to them or call MTN customer care toll free line.

eCommerce: Firm begins online grocery retail, delivery

igerian electronic commerce space has gone a step further with the entry of BuyCommonThings.com, Nigeria’s number one online grocery store, delivering groceries at doorsteps at the click of a mouse on its website. The new innovation is saving shoppers time and money spent at traditional markets and supermarkets. The Chief Executive Officer of the company, Olumide Olusanya, said the company, which began commercial operation last week following months of testing, sressting his desire is to be the Jeff Bezos of Nigeria. Bezos is the founder and CEO of Amazon.com, the global number one online retailing store that has changed the way

Olusanya

the world buys books. Now, BuyCommonThings.com is changing how Nigerians buy groceries. Olusanya, a former CEO of Card Technology Limited, said BuyCommonThings.com runs on the concept of saving Nigerians money, time and stress. He said the concept was hinged on affordability, selection and customer service experience. “As an online retailing store, BuyCommonThings.com prides itself on the deft execution of this concept. Well, it is working,” he said. He disclosed that the In three months, the company had captured the attention of its target market due to its simple strategy of giving service. “The online store is making available its increasingly wide array of grocery products to an increasing number of Nigerians. Our vision is to ultimately change the way Nigerians shop for groceries the way Amazon changed the way the world shops for books,” he said. Comparing the company’s new direction to what has been happening in other developed countries, Olusanya, said the company was doing for groceries what Amazon. com did for books. “When BuyCommonThings.com spreads its tentacles around the country, Nigerians would be shopping online for groceries the way the world shops for books online. This would bring better value to customers. “One of the things the internet does is that it makes pricing very transparent so you can compare prices. It is a natural progression because e-payment is largely a financial service provision but I have always had a passion for investment management. When I look at the link from medicine, technology, e-payment, banking to investment management, I think it is a fantastic preparation for what I am doing now. “All of these are functions of pushing the edge of what is possible and disrupting that which has been taken as the norm,” he said. BC

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Reflections with Semiu Salamii 07043280449 sms only

The NCC spectrum fraud saga I

n the past few weeks, allegations bothering on frequency racketeering valued at well over N1.14 billion have being rocking the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC). The deal, which was uncovered by a national daily allegedly, involves two cases of frequency spectrum sales ‘without due process and competition law’. Said to be involved in the alleged deal was the frequency band 450 MHz occupied by the Nigerian Police which was sold to a company called Open Skys Limited and the 800 MHz digital divide band, which was sold to Smile Communications Limited. When the story became public, the commission, in a statement signed by Reuben Mouka, its Head of Media and Public Relations, debunked the story and described it as insinuations peddled by those with lack of the basic understanding of frequency allocation. The NCC explained that the frequencies allocated to Open Skys and Smile Communications are in two frequency different bands, and their allocations followed due process for similar frequencies at the commission. Besides, it stressed that contrary to insinuations, the frequency spectrum allocated to the Police by the commission remains intact and was not in any way affected by the allocation. It stated that the allocation process of the frequency to Open Skys began in 2008, following a Presidential directive to the

commission for allocation of a portion in the 450 MHz to the Nigerian Communications Satellite Limited (NIGCOMSAT), a request which it said that its board acceded to on the condition that NIGCOMSAT, being a government agency, must seek private sector partnership before qualifying for such allocation. Upon compliance and submission of the name of Open Skys, the company, NCC said, applied for the license and frequency in 2009, adding that the use of 450 MHz for commercial telecommunications was approved by the National Frequency Management Council (NFMC) on November 5, 2004. After the approval, NCC said that occupants in this band like the Police, Shell, Agip, Chevron, and some others, were relocated to specific portions of the band from where they had indiscriminately occupied. “The Nigerian Police was specifically on October 18 2005, approved to be moved to 469.375 – 469.975 MHz / 459.375 – 459.975 MHz of this spectrum. Open Skys, in which NIGCOMSAT has interest, were to pay the police for the relocation cost estimated at N350 million, which from our records, and was complied with,” NCC said. It explained further that Open Skys was thereafter invoiced for the sum of N1.141 billion, for five years to enable the re-farming of the frequency while it paid

the sum of N892.4 million as frequency fee into the Federation Account while the balance of N247.5 million later adjusted to N350 million was to cover the additional cost of replacement of the old radios belonging to the Police. Curiously, no sooner the NCC position was released than some aggrieved top executives of the commission began to sing different tune, insisting that the action was done with utter disregard to the issue of national security. Besides, they insist that the processes were devoid of transparency as the allocation did not follow the established principle of competitive bidding. Now, there are allegations that with the sales of the spectrum, the police surveillance system has been compromised and left in dire straits. Besides, there are fresh allegations that the cost which the frequency was sold was also far below the actual value it should have been sold. The 450 MHz frequency is said to worth over $50 million, but was sold for less than $6 million to Open Skys Limited, a company said to be owned mainly by Emeka Offor. If the spectrum re-allocation truly impedes the functionality of the Police surveillance as being argued by those against the sale, it can then be safely said that the entire processes was done without

given due cognisance to the daunting security challenges facing the country and the Federal Government’s recent massive investment in the security sector as a way of containing the dangerous activities of the Boko Haram sects. The government was said to have recently deployed the $470 million police national security and surveillance system in some states, particularly Abuja and Lagos. These facilities are designed to run on the controversial frequency bandwidth, the situation which many now see as a calculated attempt to block the operations of the voice communication component of the national security and further expose the country to serious dangers. Aside the disruption in the national security surveillance, which is bad enough, the fact that the country would allegedly lose over N7 billion since Open Skys paid $6 million for a facility valued at $50 million is in itself very troubling. Conversely, however, should the government chose to return the security system to another frequency, which clearly is what the NCC was trying to do, mean that the government would incur between $45 million and $200 million loss just for the equipment, and about $300 million, for the new spectrum, if 800hz is used. For whatever its worth, this is clearly not a matter that the government should handle with kids gloves. The allegations and counter allegations should be thoroughly looked into to ensure that justice is not only done, but also seen to have been done. BC

BELIEVABILITY INDEX

Oando’s new Right Issue and the challenges of unfulfilled promises By Festus Okoromadu

he move by Oando Plc to raise a total of N35 billion from the capital market through a Right Issue can best be described as a litmus test for the company’s shareholders. This is because the proposed offer will to a large degree, reveal the extent to which the shareholders believe in the vision of the company. It will also be determined by the level of satisfaction they derived from the proceeds of the previous offers. There are enough reasons to believe that the management of Oando Plc is counting on the success of its last outing in 2010 to deliver on the new proposition. A case in hand is the comment by Wale Tinubu, Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO) that the last exercise in 2010 during which the company raised N21 billion with about 28 per cent over subscription at the time of serious economic downturn. Tinubu believes that in today’s challenging conditions in the downstream sector, “we are enhancing our capital structure and reducing our debt to better position the Group to execute on its Exploration and Production growth strategy,” adding that the company will repeat what it did in 2010 and “We look forward to a similar outing and outcome with the closure of this process”. While it is true that past successful experiences are a solid foundation to build future plans, it is equally important to note that in a situation where such were based on promises, the ability to deliver could as well determine future successes. Thus, one of the key questions which Wale Tinubu and his team in Oando should be asking themselves is how faithful were they in delivering the proposed values to shareholders post 2010? How many of the promises made in 2010 were accomplished? If these could not be sincerely addressed, what then gave him the assurances that the shareholders would continue to trust him and his team? Before trying to analyse the level of performance vis-a-vis the offer proposal and fore-

cast, it is important to unveil what the fresh offering is all about. According to a statement that announced the proposed Right Issue, the N35 billion offers will constitute one of the key steps in the Group’s strategy to reinforce its balance sheet, reduce debt, strengthen its long term financing capacity and placed it in a position to better execute its upstream growth aspirations. However, in a smart move aimed at exonerating the Group from accusations of failing to deliver on previous promises and as well as new ones made in the yet to be released offer document, the statement warned prospective investors not to rely solely on such forecast and projections. “This news release contains forward-looking statements and information, which within the meaning of applicable securities laws are reasonable, it however cautioned that “undue reliance should not be placed on the forward-looking statements and information because the company can give no assurance that such statements and information will prove to be correct”. Simple as the above covert statement appears, it is definitely the most important statement which the investors must take to heart before making investment decision. And there is no doubt that shareholders who refused to adhere to such advice in the previous offer may be counting their loss by now. For instance, the share price of Oando Plc in January 2010 when it approached the market stood at N93.99 per share, thus when the offer was pegged at N70.00 per share, the assumption was that shareholders were offered a discount of N23.99 or 34.27 per cent. A discount any one would have considered fair enough. However, against investors’ expectations of continued price increase in post offer period, the share price of the equity moved southward immediately the technical suspension placed on the price was lifted on March 4, 2010. The equity lost N4.69, representing five per cent

Tinubu

on the first day of trading day. The stock then continued a downward movement till March 30, 2010 when the table turned, perhaps for smart investors who may have secured their allotment then to sell off and take their profit before it becomes too late. Data obtained from the Central Securities Clearing System Limited (CSCS) reveals that those shareholders who bought the equity at the offer price of N70.00 but fail to sell on or before July 22, 2010 did so at a loss. The situation is not better now, considering the fact that in the last one week, the share price of the equity has fluctuated between N11.60 to N13 which is a far cry from the N70 it sold in 2010. In terms of return on investment through dividend payout, Oando has not done much better. Available records reveal that contrary to its promised N3.72 per share dividend for the financial year ended December 31, 2010, the company only paid N3.00 per share. But the shareholders were compensated with a bonus issues of one new share for two held prior to the date of closing it register for the year. However, in the year 2011, despite the fact that the equity’s share price depreciated

further than the previous year, shareholders was not offered any form of reward, even though a proposal of N4.76 per share was made in the 2010 offer document. Meanwhile, there are no indications whether the promise of paying a dividend of N5.15 per share as a dividend for the 2012 financial year will become a reality. Although the company’s inability to pay dividend as promised may be perceived in some quarters as a breach, it only authenticate the reality of the caveat that comes with equity investment such as the one placed on the forward-looking statements for the upcoming offer. The truth being that even the forecast for revenue generation upon which the proposed dividend is premised fell short of projections. For instance, while it was proposed that the company will generate a turnover of N596.133 billion and N782.759 billion for the 2010 and 2011 financial year respectively, the company could only deliver N378.925 billion and N586.619 billion each. Another important issue which needs to be taken into consideration is the fact that a huge portion of the funds raised through the capital market goes into payment of debt. For instance, in 2010, a total of N14.919 billion representing 73 per cent of the N21 billion raised was devoted to settlement of debt and financial cost. The forthcoming Right Issue seem to be trailing same path, as the statement announcing the offer clearly stated this. However, the decision of the board of directors of Oando Plc to offer 3,032,157,517 ordinary shares of 50 kobo each at N12.00 per share can best be considered as a way of rewarding the shareholders for holding on even in the dark days. This is because a good number of market analysts are of the opinion that the equity is considered to be selling below its true value, coupled with the recent appreciation of the market, those who refuse to take the risk to plunge into it now that it is bottom-out may live to regret such decision in the near future. BC

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Hyundai Sonata, the power of transf I

t’s been a couple of years since the mid-size Hyundai Sonata went through such an extreme transformation that it could have been marked by a name change. The smooth, rakish, daring design makeover that the Sonata received for 2011 (in sharp contrast to the staid wallflower it had been before) still turns heads— and if imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, then the 2013 Sonata has a lot going for it, especially for its trend-setting ‘fluidic design’ emerging in rival models. That design transformation was marked by some equally extreme engineering rehabilitation that simply kicked the Sonata up into another league. With a new line-up of only direct-injection four-cylinder engines—combined with a lighter body structure—the Sonata performs as well as the V-6 versions of some mid-size sedans, all while getting up to 35 mpg in base form or up to 33 mpg highway with the upscale Turbo model. Interior/ Exterior In the not-so-distant past, the idea of a flamboyantly styled, charismatically designed Hyundai was a nonstarter, and the Sonata was a stodgy also-ran from a design standpoint. But with the introduction of an all-new Sonata and its ‘fluidic design’ theme for the 2011 model year, that all abruptly changed. And even two model years later, the 2013 Hyundai Sonata remains radically different than most other mid-size sedans, with an intriguing blend of crests and curves that set it far apart from the rather bland look of the Passat and Camry. While fluidic sculpture is used throughout Hyundai’s model line, it’s at its best in Hyundai’s sedans, where there’s lots of movement implied in the side view and the up kick of the prominent side crease. In the grille one can see some of the “wave” look of the latest Infinitis, while at the rear of the roofline and across the tail; it’s clearly homage to the Audi A6. The point at the side mirrors where five different panels join up is a noticeable wart—Hyundai did better here in applying its design ethic to the smaller Elantra—and to some people, there will be a few too many pieces of glimmering chrome bright work. Inside, the design is either cutting-edge or a little out there, depending on how you see it. There’s dramatic sculpturing across the dash and even on the steering wheel, and just as in pretty much every other new Hyundai there are angled vents that flank a big LCD screen atop the dash. But it’s functional; you’ll find an iconographic representation of a person for the cli-

mate controls and door trim that flows in well-coordinated fashion into the dash—all aspects we appreciate. We prefer the metallic trim to the wood grain on beigeinterior cars, which looks out of place in the swoopy Sonata. Performance The 2013 Hyundai Sonata offers a full roster of direct-injection four-cylinder power trains that altogether are powerful yet fuelefficient. There’s no V-6 option, but odds are you won’t miss it. On base-model Sonatas—and on most of the model line, really— is a 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine, making up to 200 horsepower. That’s mated to a six-speed automatic transmission. The manual-gearbox version has been dropped for 2013; luckily, the automatic is perfectly appropriate for the class, and is a responsive, seamless gear changer. The front-wheel-drive Sonata feels very perky with this engine and stronger than most other midsize sedans in base guise. Step up to the 2.0T model and you get a somewhat smaller 2.0-liter engine with a twin-scroll turbocharger, providing 274 horsepower. Its 269 lb-ft arrives low in the power band, which thankfully helps this engine work very well with the automatic transmission (the only way to get it) and largely skips the turbo lag completely; although it doesn’t feel as instantly responsive as a V-6, it beats some V-6 models in flat-out acceleration. This model comes with shift paddles, too, and is intended as the more economical parallel to upscale V-6 models.

The third power train option comes in the 2013 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid. With it you get a 2.4-liter four with electric motors and a lithium-polymer battery pack, plus a high threshold that lets the Sonata Hybrid run on battery power alone at highway speeds. Hyundai says this version will hit 60 mph in 9.2 seconds, well within the acceptable range for a family sedan. Unlike most full hybrids, like the Ford Fusion Hybrid or Toyota Camry Hybrid, the Sonata Hybrid uses a conventional automatic transmission to change gears. Overall, ride and handling in the 2013 Sonata are unremarkable—and adequate for most family needs. Driving enthusiasts are bound to be a little let down by the steering response, which could use some more feedback and tends to wander and need frequent adjustments on some highway surfaces. Most of the model line is damped rather firmly but sprung softly—for crisp response in the parking lot, but not at the ragged edge, on a mountain road. Also, beware that the Sonata SE gets monotube shocks and 19-inch wheels that don’t enhance handling all that much but can contribute to ride harshness. . Quality With 120 cubic feet of interior and trunk space and dimensions that place it as one of the larger mid-size sedans, the 2013 Hyundai Sonata promises—and delivers—plenty of seating comfort and family usability. Considering the Sonata’s exte-

rior size, it’s probably no surprise that there’s plenty of space for adults in back as well as in front. The back seat sits at a good angle of recline, with enough headroom for all but the tallest passengers, and there’s decent legroom. The only exception is brought about by the smoothly arcing roofline— getting in and out for some of the tallest passengers will require that to duck their head when getting in or out. Front-seat lower cushions are a bit on the firmand-flat side—they tend to look better-bolstered than they are. Trunk space is abundant; with 16.4 cubic feet, the trunk is as large as that of any rivals, practically speaking, and you can tap into more space by flipping the rear seatbacks forward. A deep centre console and glove box hide valuable goods, and there’s a nook near the audio controls for cell phones, a flat open bin in front

of it for clutter, and a bin hidden behind a flip-down lid to conceal other goods, like a radar detector. Details like coat hooks, dual power points, and eight cup holders cover the rest of the bases, whether doing the daily commute or taking the family to Wally World. Compared to other mid-size sedans, the Sonata’s ride quality tends to be quite firm; but road noise is well isolated. Those who live around a lot of potholes will probably want to steer clear of the SE model, as its monotube shocks and 19-inch wheels do add some harshness. Features Among mid-size sedan, the 2013 Hyundai Sonata is one of the lower-priced models, yet, the feature list is impressive; Bluetooth, a USB port, power accessories, a tilt/telescoping steering wheel, and cruise control are all

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Autocare

ormation

Just before you buy that used car factory, simpler for dealers, and helping to lower costs. So there are only a few package upgrades for each model. The base GLS can be upgraded with a Popular Equipment Package to include a power driver seat and alloy wheels, and for 2013, this package now also includes fog lamps and heated seats. As such, Hyundai points out that the Sonata includes many more features than a comparably priced Toyota Camry LE or Honda Accord LX Premium—at a somewhat lower price. The SE’s options include a nicely executed navigation system packaged with a sunroof. A “Dimension” speaker package is available as an upgrade. The Sonata Limited adds on a CD changer and HD Radio, and can be equipped with an Infinity 400watt audio system, bundled with the touch screen-driven navigation system and the rear view camera. The Sonata’s navigation system is particularly easy to use, with one of the more pleasant displays and interfaces. XM NavTraffic and Bluetooth streaming audio are included, as well as 8GB of flash memory for music storage. In prior model years we’ve noticed a few glitches with the sound system, dealing mostly with how it plays media from phones or iPods.

included. Paddle shifters, a sport-tuned suspension, and some slight trim differences differentiate the Sonata SE—and for 2013, heated seats have been added as standard on the SE. Both the Sonata SE and Sonata Limited have parking sensors and push-button start. The Limited also gets standard heated front and rear seats; a sunroof; a backup camera; automatic cli-

mate control; and an automatic dimming rear view mirror. A standard-sized sunroof is now included in Limited models, too, while a larger panoramic sunroof (moon roof) is offered as an option, part of a Premium Package. As with most Hyundai vehicles, there are a limited number of ways that you can equip a Sonata, and that helps in a number of ways—making it simpler at the

Fuel Economy With new models for 2013 like the Ford Fusion EcoBoost and the Chevrolet Malibu Eco, higher mileage ratings are no longer the exclusive domain of the Sonata, but in its most popular form, it remains a standout with 35 mpg highway. Add on a turbocharger to the automatic-equipped car, and the resulting Sonata 2.0T gets a rating of 22/33 mpg. BC

Toyota in fresh massive recall

o ota Motor Corp oyota Corp. is recalling 7 7.43 43 million vehicles in the U.S., Japan, Europe and elsewhere around the world for a faulty power-window switch, the latest, massive quality woes for Japan’s top automaker. The recall announced last week affects more than a dozen models produced from 2005 through 2010. The power-window switch on the driver’s side didn’t have grease applied evenly during production, causing friction in the switch and sometimes smoke, according to Toyota. No crashes or injuries have been reported related to the defect. But more than 200 problems were reported in US and a fewer number of problems were reported elsewhere, including 39 cases in Japan, Toyota spokesman Joichi Tachikawa said. Recalled in North America are the Yaris, Corolla, Matrix, Camry, RAV4, Highlander, Tundra, Sequoia and Scion models xB and xD, spanning 2.47 million vehicles. Some 460,000 vehicles are being recalled in Ja-

pan pan. The models are the Vitz, Belta, Ractis, Ist, Auris and Corolla Lumion. The Yaris, Corolla, Auris, Camry and Rav-4 are being recalled in Europe, totaling 1.39 million vehicles. The sprawling recall also applies to cars in Australia, China and elsewhere in Asia and the Middle East. Toyota has been trying to fix its reputation after a series of massive recalls of 14 million vehicles over several years. Before that, Toyota had boasted a reputation for pristine quality, centred around its super-lean production methods that empowered workers to hone in on quality control. Toyota executives have acknowledged the escalating recalls were partly caused by the company’s overly ambitious growth goals. Toyota is also suffering from a sales plunge in China where car buyers are shunning Japanese brands because of a territorial dispute over islands claimed by Japan, China and Taiwan BC

f you are thinking about purchasing a used car, you know how confusing it can be. There are so many things to consider that it can be a daunting experience. This is even truer if you are considering buying a car for the first time. There are many things to look for when purchasing a used car but one important factor is to give the car a physical check before making your final decision. Here, then, are a few general pointers on how to physically check out a used car before you buy it. * Make sure that the car is on level ground before checking it out. This is to ensure that you will be able to clearly check the tires and to see if there is anything sagging on the car. * Carefully check the paint job of the car, taking note of any rust spots, dents or scratches. Look at the sides of the car from end-on for waviness; that indicates paint work. Run your finger along the edges of the joints between panels; roughness indicates residue left from masking tape. *Check the trunk of the car to make sure it is still in good condition. It should not show any sign of rust, or water entry due to cracks or holes. Wear inside of the trunk indicates usage of the car. *Check under the hood of the car for any indication of dents, damage or rust. These can all be signs that the car was either poorly taken care of or damaged. Each fender, just inside where the hood joins, should have a decal with the VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) of the car; if it is missing, that fender was replaced. *The hoses and belts should not have cracks, but if not, the radiator hoses should not be soft. *Go inside the car and check the seats and upholstery of the car for any tears, rips, stains, or other type of damage. *Check to make sure the air-conditioning of the car is working well by turning it on to see that it works. *Check the odometer of the car for the mileage. This is important because the mileage indicates the car’s age. On the average, a normal driver will drive between 10,000 to 15,000 miles a year; however, this depends on many factors. Remember, cars age by time and mileage. Buying a 10 year old car with very low miles is not necessarily a good thing. *Test drive the car before making any final decisions. This is perhaps one of the best ways to know the condition of the car. Hence, a buyer should make all effort to do a test drive first before coming to any decisions. *Check out the car’s service history which should give you some information regarding the performances, repairs, and problems of the car. Ideally, the current owner would have kept a record of the times when the car needed servicing and should be willing to show you this information. Some cars do not have maintenance records because they maintained them at home. This should be fine as long as they can prove they maintained the car properly. There are instances where used cars are sold because of past accidents or negative experiences. *Be sure to check the brakes of the car by pressing down hard enough on the brakes to decelerate rapidly, but not enough to slide. Try this going around 30 mph in an area without traffic. You should not feel any vibration from the brake pedal, or hear any squealing or strange noises. Brakes that pulsate indicate the need for having the rotors resurfaced or replaced and new pads installed. It should not swerve; this can be caused by a bad brake calliper or worn steering components. *Inspect the engine for any sort of leaks, or corrosion. On the engine block, look for any dark brown oil stains, this will indicate that there is a leak in a gasket, and could possibly lead to an expensive repair in the future. Check the brake fluid, and reservoir to make sure it is not leaking. The belts should look new (i.e. not have cracks or signs of drying). *Remove the oil filler cap. A foam residue on the inside indicates a leaking head gasket. Forget that car. Look at the condition of the coolant in the overflow jar; filthy brown coolant means it’s never been flushed and often means a leaky head gasket. *Pull the transmission dipstick; the fluid should be pink or red. An old car may be dark but it should not look or smell burnt. It should also be full (check with the engine running). *The timing belt is the most important belt in the engine, and is also the most costly to replace. If the car is equipped with a steel timing chain, you don’t have to worry about this. *The tires should be worn evenly and they should match. Look at the surface of the tire for feathering (bad alignment). Bad alignment can be caused by worn steering/suspension components, the pothole down the street or frame damage. Also check the spare tire and compare the tread to the other tires if it is a full spare. *Never buy a frame damaged car. Check the saddle (connects the front fenders and holds the top of the radiator). It should not be welded on either side, it should be bolted in. Inspect the bolt heads at the top of the fenders inside the hood; scratch marks indicates that the fenders have been replaced or realigned (after a crash). Look for welds inside the door jambs. *If you are able, try to get under the car when it is safely raised and inspect the exhaust system or any under-body rust. Look for any black spots on the exhaust system because this can indicate leaking. This is also a good time to inspect for frame or unibody damage. BC

A20 36

Business Courage

Monday, October 15, 2012

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Institutional investors halt Oando’s bid to raise fresh funds

he desire of members of the board of directors of Oando Plc to raise N35billion through Right Issue met a brick wall last weekend due to objection by some investors who felt the company have not done enough disclosure. As part of the requirements for raising funds from the capital market, the company had fixed an extra-ordinary general meet (EGM) for Friday, October 12, 2012 to get shareholders approval to enable it go ahead with the proposed offer among other things. Our correspondent reliably gathered that the meeting which was scheduled to kick-off for 10 am some few minutes after its commencement. The chairman of the board of directors of the company, Oba Michael Gbadebo was reported to have told the shareholders that the meeting can no longer hold due to some issues raised by some shareholders. He stated that the board needed sometime to resolve the issues involved so as to allow for the smooth sailing of the offering. The chairman went on to inform the shareholders that as a responsible company, the board decided have to call off the meeting until further notice.

Oba Gbadebo, Chairman, Oando Plc

Meanwhile reports reaching us indicate that a group of institutional investors, specifically pension funds managers threatened to go to court if the company goes ahead with the offer. According to our findings the institutional investors a bitter with the manner the board and management of the company are running the affairs of the company.

They noted that the management is not disclosing enough information about its operation to the investing public. Some shareholders who spoke with our correspondent collaborated the view of the institutional investors stressing that the board need to disclose more information to the public. According to Boniface Okezie, Chairman, Progressive Shareholders Association of Nigeria (PSAN), the refusal of the board to consistently offer reliable information to the market has affected the share price of the equity negatively. He noted that the decision to halt the meeting is the right move in the right direction. Another shareholder Nonah Awoh said the action of the institutional investors will help to strengthen the market as boards and managements of quoted companies will begin to learn to do thing appropriately. Oando had proposed to issue 3,032,157,517 ordinary shares of 50kobo each at N12.00 per share on the basis of 4 new for every 3 ordinary shares held as at Friday, October 19, 2012. The offer was schedule for the fourth quarter of the current year. BC

Nigeria Attracts N1.5tr investment interest from Japan

n estimated $10 billion (about N1.58 trillion) investment, may soon be embarked upon by Japanese investors in Nigeria, following a major breakthrough recorded by the Federal Government’s team currently on investment drive in the Far East Asian countries. Specifically, about $5 billion economic projects are expected to be executed by four Japanese companies, commencing before the end of the year, while the country is expected to harvest another $5 billion from a $10 billion pool of investment being funded by Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). The investment inflow prospects emerged yesterday in Tokyo, Japan, when the Minister of Trade and Investment, Olusegun Aganga, revealed plans by the four Japanese companies to sign a pact with the Federal Government on the projects in a few days time. Vice President of JICA, Kiyoshi Kodera,

who did not immediately disclose the investment profile into Nigerian economy, said his organisation’s $10 billion is ready to be invested in foreign countries and was confident there would be an upsurge in the economic projects of Japan in Nigeria. A reliable source at JICA however, disclosed that that about $5 billion was indeed bound for Nigeria. The investment projects of the four Japanese companies are expected to cover mainly the energy, transport and manufacturing sectors. An elated Aganga, at the Nigerian Investment Forum in Tokyo yesterday affirmed that the administration has moved away from talking about the investment potentials of Nigeria to actual investment in the economy. He pointed out that investing in Nigeria was a guarantee of 167 million size market, which could be expanded to 300 million as the nation positions itself as

the hub of the West African sub-region. The Minister of Power, Darius Ishaku, urged Japanese businessmen and other foreign investors to take advantage of the current privatisation exercise in the power sector to stake interest in the industry. The Managing Director of the Bank of Industry, Evelyn Oputu pointed out that Nigeria has emerged the best kept secret by investors, given the huge profitable business prospects that abound within the economy. Ambassador of Nigeria to Japan, Godwin Agbo, had earlier revealed that over 40 firms from the Far East Asian countries are currently engaged in various economic sectors in the country. He disclosed that high level political visits between top officials of the two countries have been planned against the months ahead and was optimistic that Japanese economic projects in the country will soon witness an unprecedented growth BC

NSE index gains 3.20 per cent

t was a positive week for the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) last week as the NSE All-Share Index appreciated by 845.18 points (3.20 per cent) to close on Friday at 27,287.85 while the Market Capitalization of the listed equities increased by N 275.586 billion to close at N8.695 trillion. According to a data released by the Exchange, all but one of the NSE sectoral indices appreciated during the week. The consumer goods, banking, insurance, and NSE-Lotus II advanced by 3.89 per cent (40.14 per cent), 1.94 per cent (301.27 per cent), 7.70 per cent (61.91 per cent), 1.59 per cent (-1.80per cent), and 2.03 per cent (34.10 per cent) respectively, while the Oil and Gas depreciated by -0.34 per cent (-26.02per cent). A turnover of 2.184 billion shares

worth N17.495 billion in 27,786 deals this week, in contrast to a total of 4.759billion shares valued at N40.472 billion that exchanged hands last week in 20,364 deals. The Financial Services sector of the equities market (measured by turnover volume) accounted for 1.736 billion shares valued at N12.268 billion traded in 16,453 deals. The Consumer Goods Sector followed with 166.772 million shares valued at N3.570 billion traded in 5,443 deals. The volume in the Financial Services sector was largely driven by activity in the shares of Access Bank Plc, Zenith Bank Plc and Fidelity Bank Plc which accounted for 569.875 million shares, representing 40.02per cent, 32.82per cent and 26.09 per cent of the turnover recorded by the subsector, sector and total turnover for the week, respectively.

Also traded during the week were 2,200 units of NewGold Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) valued at N5.959 million exchanged hands in eight deals in contrast to a total of 2,900 units valued at N7.863 million transacted last week in seven deals. There were no transactions in the Federal Government Development Stocks, State/Local Government Bonds, and Corporate Bonds/Debentures sectors. Confidence Insurance Plc was delisted from the Daily official List on the 10th of October, 2012. This reduces the total listed equities to 201 and 194 listed companies. Altogether, a total of 50 stocks appreciated, 25 stocks depreciated and 123 stocks remained unchanged. When compared with the preceding week, 48 equities gained, 28 equities declined while 123 equities remained constant. BC

Emeka Ndu

C&I Leasing records 62 per cent drop in net profit By Tayo Adeleke

& I Leasing posted a turnover of N2.6 billion in the first three months of its financial year ending January 31, 2013. It represents an increase of 6.6 per cent compared to N2.4 6 billion posted in a similar period in 2011. Figures submitted by the company to the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) however showed that gross profit fell by five per cent in the review period from N738 million in 2011 to N702 million as at April 30, 2012. Profit attributable to shareholders (net profit) equally dropped from N89 million in April 2011 to N34.1 million in April 2012, representing a decline of 62 per cent while profit before tax (PBT) dipped by 58 per cent, from N129.26 million to N54.5 million. Earnings per share for the leasing company nosedived from six kobo to two kobo in 2012. Noticeably, there was increase in the company’s operational cost during the review quarter, a factor that has been attributed to the decline in bottom-line figures. Details of the company’s total cost shows direct cost increased by 12 per cent to N1.92 billion as operating expenses inched higher seven per cent to N645 million from N601.4 million in 2011. Similarly, the company’s balance sheet recorded a decline as fixed assets dropped to N561 million from N703 million while loan and borrowings moved by 0.8 per cent to N8.07 billion from N8.005 billion in 2011. Cash and Bank balances fell by 51 per cent from N456 million to N225 million while Shareholders’ funds closed at N1.95 billion, representing 1.87 per cent growth from N1.91 billion. Working capital stood at negative figure of N12.02 billion from N9.6 billion deficit recorded in 2011 while long time investment shed 19.3 per cent to close at N36.5 million from N45.17 million in 2011. Both total assets and total liabilities also inched downward in the review period. Total assets lost 0.8 per cent to close at N19.99 billion while total liabilities fell by 1.1 per cent to stand at N17.89 billion.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Business Courage

Monday, October 15, 2012

A21 37

Dangote Flour Mills reconstitutes board, appoints new CEO Stories by Tayo Adeleke

ollowing the successful completion of the execution of share sale and purchase agreement (SSPA) between Dangote Industries Limited and Tiger Brands Limited in respect of the sale of 63.35 per cent equity stake of Dangote Flour Mills (DFM) Plc, the board of the later has been reconstituted to accommodate the new core investors. A notice released by the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) last weekend shows that the board was reconstituted on Thursday, October 4, 2012 is currently made of eight members. Peter Matlare was appointed the vice chairman while Nthabiseng Segoale is now the Group Managing Director/ CEO. Other members of the board include, Aliko Dangote, who remains the chairman of the board, while Olakunle Alake, Olufunke Ighodaro, Patrick Sithole, Asue Ighodaro and Thushen Govender are directors. The profile of Segoale

shows that he graduated from University of Fort Hare in 1994 with B.Sc Agric., and Masters of Science from Cornell University, NY, USA in 1997. He started as a Technical Advisor, Product Formulation with Bokomo Feeds (subsidiary of Pioneer Foods Ltd) in 1995 and later Technical Advisor, R & D in 1997. In June 1998 he became Regional Manager, Gauteng. He is accountable for the overall performance of the business that produced animal feed for distribution in Gauteng. In January 2003 he moved to Perishable Products Export Control Board as General Manager, Operations. He is accountable for the operations of 13 offices throughout South Africa that conduct product quality inspection services on all perishable products exported. Mr. Segoale moved to Pioneer Foods, Agric Division as Executive, Agriculture Division in January 2004. In July 2007, he moved to Tiger Brands Limited as Director,

Tiger Consumer Brands (Pty) Ltd. Mr. Segoale was appointed Managing Director of Dell Foods Nigeria (Pty) Ltd (a subsidiary of Tiger Brands Ltd in July 2012). Matlare on his part is a South African, graduated from University of Plymouth (UK) in 1982 with B.Sc (Hons.) Political Science and Masters in Southern African Studies at University of York (UK) in 1983. Between 1980 and 1984 he was at Citibank South Africa. In 1996 Mr. Matlare moved to Primedia Broadcasting as Strategic Planning Director. In January 1998 he became Chief Executive Officer and later Chief Operating Officer, Entertainment & Information. In January 2001 he joined SABC as Group Chief Executive Officer. Mr. Matlare joined Vodacom South Africa in April 2005 as Executive Director Commercial and later Chief of Strategy and Business Development. He joined Tiger Brands Limited in April 2008 as Chief Executive Officer. BC

Expert predicts drop in inflation F inancial experts have said Nigeria’s inflation figure for the month of September expected to be released by the National Bureau of Statistic (NBS) on October 22 will stand at 11.03 per cent. The figure for July and August made available by NBS recently stood at 12.8 per cent and 11.70 per cent respectively. The research unit of FSDH Securities Limited said it arrived at the forecast based on the report that the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Food Price Index (FFPI) for September 2012 released on October 04, 2012. The report showed that the Index averaged 216 points in September, up 1.4 per cent from August figure on account of a spike in the global prices of dairy products, meat products and cereals, but decline in the international prices of sugar and oils tempered the level of the rise in the Index for the month of September. FSDH research noted that further analysis showed that the value of the Naira appreciated marginally against the US Dollar in the month of August by 0.01 per cent, in addition to the appreciation of 0.03 per cent in the month of July. “Consequently, the appreciation in the value of the Naira in September 2012 lowered the pass-through effects of the prices of imported consumer goods in Nigeria between the two months under review,” it said. FSDH Research also said that an analysis of the consumer

Okonjo-Iweala, Finance Minister

prices it monitored across the country in September showed the prices of beans increased by about 100 percent while prices of rice increased marginally by about 0.25 per cent. It said: “The drastic rise in the prices of beans was due to the security challenges in Maiduguri, Borno state, where beans is majorly grown in the country. Prices of tubers dropped marginally while the prices of vegetables remained fairly stable. Also, prices of educational materials increased on account of the beginning of the new academic session. “Going forward, the recent flood disaster in Kogi, Benue, Anambra, Edo, Delta, Ebonyi, Bayelsa, Edo and Imo states which destroyed a lot of farmlands may lead to food shortage and cause prices of food to go up drastically to end the year, except the Federal Government releases food

from its strategic reserves. The affected items are: rice, maize, yam, cassava, fish, cattle and vegetables. “FSDH Research is of the opinion that inflation rate (year-on-year) in the month of September 2012 should moderate downward due to the effect of positive factors mentioned above. Our estimate points to an increase of 80 basis points in CCPI to 137.7points in September which will produce an inflation rate of 11.03 per cent, 67 basis points lower than 11.70 per cent recorded in the month of August. The Composite Consumer Price Index (CCPI) would have to increase by 1.42 per cent between August and September to produce an inflation rate higher than 11.70 per cent. “Meanwhile, it is unlikely that CCPI would increase by 1.42 per cent between the two months. We note that the weight of beans in the food basket is not substantial because consumers spend more money on rice than beans. In addition, the weight of Education in the CCPI is only 3.94 per cent. Therefore, increase in the prices of these two items will not significantly impact the CCPI.” The monthly CCPI for All Items for the month of August stood at 136.6 points, a marginal increase of 0.67 per cent between July 2012 and August 2012. The CCPI 12-month average increased to 11.8 per cent in August from 11.6 per cent in July 2012 on. BC

Market Indicators for Week Ended 12-10-12 All-Share Index 27,287.85 points Market Capitalisation N8,695,110,879,762.61 Stock Updates GAINERS COMPANY

OPENING PRICE

CLOSING PRICE

CHANGE

ACADEMY

2.82

3.10

9.93

DNMEYER

1.83

2.01

9.84

REDSTAREX

3.07

3.30

7.49

CHAMPION

3.62

3.80

4.97

CCNN

6.24

6.55

4.97

LOSERS COMPANY

OPENING PRICE

CLOSING PRICE

CHANGE

DANGSUGAR

6.75

6.12

-9.33

UBN

8.50

8.01

-5.76

FCMB

3.82

3.62

-5.24

CUSTODYINS

1.55

1.47

-5.16

IBTC

7.67

7.30

-4.82

Inter-Bank Rates TENOR

RATE%(PREV) 04-Oct-2012

RATE%(CURR) 11-Oct-2012

OBB

10.1500 – 10.5000

10.2500 – 11.0000

CALL

10.2500 – 10.5000

10.2500 – 12.0000

Primary Market Auction TENOR

AMOUNT (N’mn)

91-Days

30,159

RATE (%) 13.00

10-Oct-12

DATE

182-Days

73,491

13.34

10-Oct-12

364-Days

68,185

13.39

10-Oct-12

Open Market Operation TENOR

AMOUNT (N’mn)

41-Days

50,000

13.95

RATE (%)

05-Oct-12

DATE

48-Days

50,000

13.99

05-Oct-12

55-Days

10,000

14.00

05-Oct-12

Wholesale Dutch Auction System AMOUNT OFFERED

AMOUNT SOLD

DATE

$120m

MARKET DEMAND $120m

$120m

10-Oct-12

$150m

$105m

10-Oct-12

A22 38

Business Courage

Monday, October 15, 2012

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

PZ Cussons: Grappling with liquidity challenges By Tayo Adeleke

pparently, these are not the best of times for PZ Cussons Nigeria Plc as it has engaged in a long battle with its financial performance. The company recorded a noticeable decline in all its financial performance measuring indices in the financial year ended May 2012. A review of the performance shows that revenue and profit after tax went down by 46 per cent and 55 per cent respectively. It is the fifth time in a row that the company has recorded decline both in top-line and bottom-line indices. The declining fortune, however, is taking its toll on the shareholders of the company as dividend is also thinning out. For instance, shareholders were offered N1.707 billion as dividend for the year ended May 31, 2012. It translated into 43 kobo per share which represents 38 per cent decline compared to 63 kobo per share paid in the financial year ended May 2011. Meanwhile, a cursory look into the financial books of the company showed that it is battling with huge operating cost and high interest expenses. The principal activities of PZ remains the manufacturing, distribution and selling of a wide range of consumer products and home appliances which are well known brand names throughout the country.

Business Strategy The management of PZ Cussons, in partnership with Singapore’s Wilmar is set to invest about N100 billion in oil palm plantation in the country as part of its investment strategies to reposition the country as a leading producer of palm oil and other associated produce in the world. PZ Cussons Managing Director, Christos Giannopoulos said the company’s investments over the next five to seven years would be tied to oil palm plantations that will feed the N9 billion worth refinery based in Lagos. According to him, oil palm plantation and refinery is the conglomerate’s new business line. Already, the company has acquired 30,000 hectares on land in Cross River State to pursue this investment drive. Financial Performance The company reported a 10 per cent rise in revenue to N72.2 billion (seven per cent ahead of experts’ estimate) for its audited financial year ended May 2012. The growth was attributed to successful efforts to grow market share across its various product segments. The company had embarked on a “brand innovation and

renovation” campaign across its product portfolios during the course of the financial year to gain market share whilst maintaining its position in the increasingly difficult operating environment. The difficult environment did reflect in the four per cent growth in revenues in the fourth quarter of 2012 as selling and distribution expenses rose by 14 per cent to N8 billion on the back of the company’s brand innovation and renovation campaigns. Conversely, administration expenses dipped 10 per cent to N3.3 billion, possibly reflecting the parent company’s initiatives flagged off in the last quarter aimed at optimizing the group’s supply chain in a move to maintain a competitive cost base. Following these initiatives, Chairman of PZ Cussons, Emmanuel Edozien, told shareholders at the company’s Annual General Meeting held on Thursday, September 13, 2012 that though the overall results were not in line with the company’s projections, the choice of investing in volume growth and improving cost structure during the year, had given it the confidence that would put the company on the right footing for profitable growth in the future. Capital Adequacy The huge increase in finance cost to N670.22 million for financial year ended May 2012 from N125.6 million in 2011, of which N536 million came in the last quarter, suggests that PZ Cussons resorted to extensive borrowing during the financial year, unwinding these positions on its balance sheet during reporting periods. This is a potential source of concern as the balance sheet show little strains on the working capital. Also baffling was a N427 million exceptional charges in the fourth quarter; though this was said to be related to restructuring and/or staff rationalization that arose from the implementation of supply chain optimization programme in March 2012. Profitability By and large, gross profit fell to N16.18 billion from N18.45 billion in 2011 while operating profit dropped to N5.4 billion in 2012 from N8.15 billion. Similarly, profit before tax (PBT) and profit after tax (PAT) declined by 46 per cent and 55 per cent to N4.31 billion and N2.54 billion for 2012 and put the pre-tax and net margin at 5.97 per cent and 3.52 per cent; a decline from 12.18 per cent and 8.65 per cent respectively in 2011. However, the result surpassed analysts’ projection of N3 billion and N1.3 billion

Giannopoulos

forecasts for PBT and PAT. Return on Equity which reveals how much profit a company earned in comparison to the total amount of shareholder equity moved also fell during the financial year ended May 2012. ROE stood at 6.20 per cent (lowest in five years) against 13.83 per cent, 13.70 per cent and 13.55 per cent in 2011, 2010 and 2009 respectively.

Asset Quality A review of the balance sheet of the company as at 31st May 2012 showed that inventory levels recorded an appreciable improvement from N17.5 billion to N22.4 billion, while fixed assets stood at N24.36 billion compared with N25 billion in 2011. Financial analysts also noted a steep decrease in current liabilities from N22.1 billion to N17.3 billion in 2012 (representing a 22 per cent decline) as trade debtors dipped in 2012 by 35 per cent to close at N9.7 billion from N14.85 billion. Dues from related companies also recorded a drop, from N7.44 billion to N4.8 billion, while cash and bank balances went down to N2.52 billion from N3.81 billion. However, current ratio of PZ Cussons fell within accredited standard of 2.0:1 as the figure stood at 2.32:1 from 1.99:1 in 2011. Meanwhile Quick ratio stood at 1.02:1 from 1.2:1 recorded in 2011. It implies that the company would not be able to meet its financial obligations as when due.

PZ Financial Data

2012=N=(‘Nm)

2011=N=(‘Nm)

Turnover

72,154,601

65,877,984

Cost of sales

55,973,334

47,425,476

Gross Profit

16,181,267

18,452,508

Profit Before Taxation

4,306,863

8,025,266

Profit After Taxation

2,538,846

5,697,066

Operating Profit

5,403,801

8,150,916

Shareholders fund

40,929,117

41,193,341

Interest Expenses

670,216

125,650

Current Asset

40,046,450

43,891,587

Current Liabilities

17,252,950

22,087,259

Fixed Assets

24,360,347

25,034,942

Current Assets-stocks

17,655,684

26,409,971

Trade Debtors

9,680,745

14,851,931

Trade Creditors

1,739,843

2,172,019

Sales Growth (%)

9.53

5.12

PAT Growth (%)

-55.44

7.46

Profitability Ratios

2012=N=(‘Nm)

2011=N=(‘Nm)

Return on Equity (%)

6.2

13.83

Gross profit Margin (%)

22.43

28.01

Profit Margin (%)

3.52

8.65

Pre-tax Profit Margin (%)

5.97

12.18

Current Ratio

2.32

1.99

Quick Ratio

1.02

1.2

Debtors(No of days)

48.97

82.29

Creditors(No of days)

11.35

16.72

Liquidity Ratios

However, Business Courage analysts are careful not to view these performances in isolation as they noted that the ongoing restructuring and creation of new business line in palm oil production may have caused the aforementioned. The company recorded a growth in net assets from N37.7 billion to N41.2 billion in 2011. Q1 performance The company reported a growth of 49 per cent in profit after tax for the first quarter (Q1) ended August 31, 2012, thereby raising investors’ hope for the financial year ending May 2013. The unaudited result made available to the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), showed a drop of 8.4 per cent in turnover, which fell from N15.723 billion in 2011 to N14.399 billion in 2012 but a 49 per cent rise in profit after tax from N488.303 million to N672.329 million in 2012. In the last three months of the current financial year, earnings per share closed at 17 kobo, three kobo higher than the previous year. Breakdown of the company’s balance sheet showed that fixed assets dropped by 0.43 per cent to N24.25 billion from the previous figure of N24.36 billion even as financial assets closed at N40.2 billion. Commenting on the performance, analysts at FBN Capital Limited said the increase in profit in Q1 is a positive start for the company’s 2013 financial year. Future In line with the strategic plans and direction for the ongoing financial year, the management of PZ Cussons Nigeria plc is optimistic that the company will meet its targets. The company recently invested in strengthening the supply chain and improving operational efficiency, to optimize the cost base and consumer experience. According to the management, the detergent and soap manufacturing processes were also further improved upon to drive efficiency and meet the increasing demand. However, analysts at ARM research are expecting the challenges in revenue growth for PZ to persist in financial year 2013, especially in the light of the impact of recent monetary tightening and rising tariffs on consumption. According to ARM, the former factor should weigh on the ability of distributors to lift product and the latter on consumer discretionary spending. “Therefore, going into 2013, we expect revenue to grow at five per cent a year with CAGR of seven per cent to N77 billion” ARM concluded. BC

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Business Courage A23 39

Monday, October 15, 2012

STOCKWATCH Stock Exchange weekly equities summary as at Friday, Oct 12, 2012 SECURITY

PRICE (=N=)

AGRICULTURE/AGRO-ALLIED Crop Production FTN COCOA PROCESSORS PLC NT OKOMU OIL PALM PLC. 35.70 PRESCO PLC 14.98 Fishing/Hunting/Trapping ELLAH LAKES PLC. NT Livestock/Animal Specialties LIVESTOCK FEEDS PLC. 1.56 CONGLOMERATES Diversified Industries A.G. LEVENTIS NIGERIA PLC. 1.50 CHELLARAMS PLC. NT JOHN HOLT PLC. 5.32 S C O A NIG. PLC. NT U A C N PLC. 40.50 CONSTRUCTION/REAL ESTATE Building Construction ARBICO PLC. 9.88 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. 31.00 ROADS NIG PLC. NT Real Estate Development PINNACLE POINT GROUP PLC NT UACN PROPERTY DEV 11.00 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. 3.80 GOLDEN GUINEA BREW. PLC. NT GUINNESS NIG PLC 281.60 INTERNATIONAL BREWERIES PLC. 13.19 JOS INT. BREWERIES PLC. NT NIGERIAN BREW. PLC. 142.00 PREMIER BREWERIES PLC NT Beverages--Non-Alcoholic 7-UP BOTTLING COMP. PLC. 39.00 Food Products BIG TREAT PLC NT DANGOTE FLOUR MILLS PLC 8.20 DANGOTE SUGAR REFINERY PLC 6.12 FLOUR MILLS NIG. PLC. 65.00 HONEYWELL FLOUR MILL PLC 2.68 MULTI-TREX INTEGRATED FOODS PLC NT N NIG. FLOUR MILLS PLC. 20.41 NATIONAL SALT CO. NIG. PLC 6.02 P S MANDRIDES & CO PLC. NT U T C NIG. PLC. 0.76 UNION DICON SALT PLC. NT Food Products--Diversified CADBURY NIGERIA PLC. 30.00 NESTLE NIGERIA PLC. 625.00 Household Durables BETA GLASS CO PLC. NT NIGERIAN ENAMELWARE PLC. NT VITAFOAM NIG PLC. 3.52 VONO PRODUCTS PLC. NT Personal/Household Products P Z CUSSONS NIGERIA PLC. 25.02 UNILEVER NIGERIA PLC. 43.00 Textiles/Apparel UNITED NIG. TEXTILES PLC. NT FINANCIAL SERVICES Banking ACCESS BANK PLC. 9.01 DIAMOND BANK PLC 4.79 ECOBANK TRANSNATIONAL INC. 11.95 FIDELITY BANK PLC 2.34 FIRST BANK OF NIG. PLC 17.00 FIRST CITY MONUMENT BANK PLC. 3.62 GUARANTY TRUST BANK PLC. 20.50 SKYE BANK PLC 4.05 STANBIC IBTC BANK PLC 7.30 STERLING BANK PLC. 2.00 U B A PLC 5.50 UNION BANK NIG.PLC. 8.01 UNITY BANK PLC NT WEMA BANK PLC. 0.52 ZENITH BANK PLC 18.35 Insurance Carriers, Brokers & Services AFRICAN ALLIANCE INS. COY. PLC NT AIICO INSURANCE PLC. 0.80 CONFIDENCE INSURANCE PLC NT CONSOLIDATED HALLMARK INS. PLC 0.50 CONTINENTAL REINSURANCE PLC 0.88 CORNERSTONE INS. COY. PLC. NT CUSTODIAN AND ALLIED INS. PLC 1.47 EQUITY ASSURANCE PLC. NT GOLDLINK INSURANCE PLC 0.50 GREAT NIGERIAN INSURANCE PLC NT GUINEA INSURANCE PLC. NT INTERCONTINENTAL WAPIC INS. PLC 0.60 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 1.77 MUTUAL BENEFITS ASSURANCE PLC. 0.50 N.E.M INSURANCE CO (NIG) PLC. 0.57 NIGER INSURANCE CO. PLC. 0.50 OASIS INSURANCE PLC NT PRESTIGE ASSURANCE CO. PLC. 0.50 REGENCY ALLIANCE INS. COY PLC NT SOVEREIGN TRUST INSURANCE PLC 0.50 STACO INSURANCE PLC 0.50 STANDARD ALLIANCE INS. PLC. NT UNIC INSURANCE PLC. 0.50 UNITY KAPITAL ASSURANCE PLC NT UNIVERSAL INS. COMPANY PLC 0.50 Micro Finance Banks FORTIS MICROFINANCE BANK PLC NT NPF MICROFINANCE BANK PLC NT Mortgage Carriers, Brokers &Services ABBEY BUILDING SOCIETY PLC NT 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. 0.57 HEALTHCARE Healthcare Providers EKOCORP PLC. 5.05 Medical Equipment UNION DIAGNOSTIC &CLINICAL PLC NT Medical Supplies MORISON INDUSTRIES PLC. NT Pharmaceuticals EVANS MEDICAL PLC. 1.36 FIDSON HEALTHCARE PLC 1.30 GLAXO SMITHKLINE CONSUMER PLC 39.00 MAY & BAKER NIGERIA PLC. 1.71

NOTE NT=Not Traded on 12-10-12

QUANTITY

52 WK HIGH

52 WK LOW

SHARES OUTSTANDING

EPS

MOV. (%)

NT 115 288 800 695

0.64 33.00 16.15

0.50 14.53 6.40

2 200 000 000 476 955 000 1 000 000 000

0.00 8.23 1.69

N/A 0.00 -1.96

NT 35.70 15.28

4.26

60 000 000

0.00

N/A

5 551 147

1.49

0.48

1 199 549 736

0.04

-1.27

1.58

132 800 NT 2 000 NT 1 696 244

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

8.70 N/A N/A N/A N/A

1.38 NT NT NT 40.06

51 000 NT

26.00 95.49

14.09 95.49

148 500 000 196 876 000

0.00 4.50

N/A N/A

9.88 NT

NT NT

7.97 14.46

2.46 14.46

920 573 765 125 000 000

0.00 0.00

N/A N/A

NT NT

98 008 NT

62.26 8.69

21.55 3.01

1 200 000 000 20 000 000

4.11 3.66

6.90 N/A

29.00 10.60

NT 43 501

7.28 20.15

7.28 8.82

1 375 000 000

0.00 1.66

N/A 0.73

NT 10.92

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

20 000

0.50

4 772 528 415

0.00

N/A

0.50

50 000 NT 288 229 1 096 554 NT 1 816 527 NT

4.63 0.68 255.00 7.28 3.20 122.30 0.97

2.23 0.68 186.00 5.23 1.61 72.50 0.93

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

0.00 0.03 12.04 0.07 0.00 5.21 0.00

N/A N/A 1.59 N/A N/A 1.54 N/A

3.62 NT 277.20 14.00 NT 139.85 NT

17 112

48.91

38.31

640 590 362

3.15

N/A

39.00

NT 5 000 859 8 812 635 1 028 731 16 949 139 NT 16 440 2 302 306 NT 1 064 272 NT

0.50 19.90 16.20 95.00 6.60 2.70 43.96 6.70 5.66 0.88 4.22

0.50 4.15 3.64 52.50 1.91 1.21 21.48 3.86 5.66 0.50 4.22

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

0.00 0.00 0.59 3.60 0.36 0.00 1.20 0.81 0.16 1.13 0.00

N/A -0.61 16.57 0.02 16.52 N/A N/A 1.86 N/A 8.57 N/A

NT 8.25 5.25 64.99 2.30 1.05 NT 5.91 NT 0.70 NT

2 893 658 34 833

29.20 500.00

9.15 367.83

3 129 188 160 792 656 250

1.24 21.21

8.85 1.63

27.56 615.00

NT NT 1 095 502 NT

15.58 42.66 6.75 3.67

10.03 36.19 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 3.53 N/A

NT NT 3.40 NT

218 393 3 380 207

43.50 36.45

22.07 22.56

3 176 381 636 3 783 296 250

0.51 1.32

-2.91 2.85

25.77 41.81

0.97

0.57

843 284 027

0.00

N/A

23 616 633 18 618 028 2 217 806 39 697 378 42 499 228 24 529 721 16 938 963 39 099 614 1 125 520 10 124 039 24 619 277 1 291 098 NT 127 163 39 038 936

11.10 9.27 17.05 3.20 16.12 8.30 17.81 10.17 11.38 2.91 4.40 10.07 1.92 1.75 16.70

4.76 2.01 9.97 1.14 8.50 3.04 11.64 2.73 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

5.88 33.06 8.64 25.13 9.54 14.92 1.74 24.23 0.00 25.79 17.02 -4.76 0.00 4.00 7.31

8.51 3.60 11.00 1.87 15.52 3.15 20.15 3.26 7.30 1.59 4.70 8.41 NT 0.50 17.10

NT 6 877 863 NT 100 000 1 362 057 NT 417 850 NT 600 000 NT NT 27 500 NT NT 6 503 000 NT 1 000 5 335 500 110 000 15 615 763 2 224 600 NT 114 500 NT 40 000 50 000 NT 1 000 NT 100 000

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 -9.69 N/A 9.62 N/A N/A -3.85 N/A 0.00 N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A

NT 0.68 NT 0.50 0.76 0.50 1.38 NT 0.50 NT NT 0.60 NT NT 0.50 0.50 0.50 1.96 0.50 0.52 0.50 NT 0.52 NT 0.50 0.50 NT 0.50 NT NT

NT NT

NT 2 000 95 000 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 0.50 0.50 NT

1 100 000 NT NT NT 1 010 000

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 NT

1 000

5.31

5.05

498 600 908

0.12

N/A

5.05

0.50

3 553 138 528

0.00

N/A

10.54

7.39

152 178 750

0.00

N/A

5.19

154 524 3 808 465 260 309 720 000

N/A=Not Avialable

1.45 3.20 29.65 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

14.29 14.04 2.63 6.21

1.19 1.14 38.00 1.61

SECURITY

PRICE (=N=)

NEIMETH INT PHARM PLC 1.43 NIGERIA-GERMAN CHEMICALS PLC. NT PHARMA-DEKO PLC. NT ICT Computer Based Systems COURTEVILLE BUSINESS SLN PLC 0.50 Computers and Peripherals OMATEK VENTURES PLC NT Electronic Communications Services MTECH COMMUNICATIONS PLC NT IT Services NCR (NIGERIA) PLC. 13.77 TRIPPLE GEE AND COMPANY PLC. NT Processing Systems CHAMS PLC NT E-TRANZACT INTERNATIONAL PLC NT Telecommunications Carriers STARCOMMS PLC NT Telecommunications Services IHS NIGERIA PLC PREF SHARES NT IHS PLC 2.26 MTI PLC NT INDUSTRIAL GOODS Building Materials AFRICAN PAINTS (NIGERIA) PLC. NT ASHAKA CEM PLC 19.50 BERGER PAINTS PLC 8.01 CAP PLC 27.55 CEMENT CO. OF NORTH.NIG. PLC 6.55 DANGOTE CEMENT PLC 118.50 DN MEYER PLC. 2.01 FIRST ALUMINIUM NIGERIA PLC NT IPWA PLC 0.70 LAFARGE WAPCO PLC. 57.50 PAINTS & COATINGS MANFACT.PLC NT PORTLAND PAINTS & PRDT NIG. PLC 3.29 PREMIER PAINTS PLC. NT Electronic and Electrical Products AUSTIN LAZ & COMPANY PLC NT CUTIX PLC. 2.20 NIGERIAN WIRE AND CABLE PLC. NT NIGERIAN WIRE IND. PLC NT Packaging/Containers ABPLAST PRODUCTS PLC. NT AVON CROWNCAPS & CONTAINERS 1.99 GREIF NIGERIA PLC NT NIG. BAGS MANFACT. COY PLC 1.71 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 0.62 Integrated Oil and Gas Services OANDO PLC 12.50 Petroleum &Petroleum Products Distributors AFROIL PLC NT BECO PETROLEUM PRODUCT PLC NT CONOIL PLC 20.79 ETERNA PLC. 2.28 FORTE OIL PLC. 10.20 MOBIL OIL NIG PLC. 115.00 MRS OIL NIGERIA PLC. 30.68 TOTAL NIGERIA PLC. 130.00 SERVICES Advertising AFROMEDIA PLC 0.50 Apparel Retailers LENNARDS (NIG) PLC. NT Automobile/Auto Part Retailers R T BRISCOE PLC. 1.77 Courier/Freight/Delivery RED STAR EXPRESS PLC 3.30 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 1.14 TOURIST COMPANY OF NIGERIA PLC. NT TRANSNATIONAL CORP. OF NIG.PLC 1.14 Media/Entertainment DAAR COMMUNICATIONS PLC 0.50 Printing/Publishing ACADEMY PRESS PLC. 3.10 LEARN AFRICA PLC 2.01 STUDIO PRESS (NIG) PLC. NT UNIVERSITY PRESS PLC. 4.10 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 2.16 NIG. AVIATION HANDLING COY PLC 6.00 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. (%)

2 500 NT NT

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

3.62 N/A N/A

1.38 NT NT

1 200 000

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

21 800 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 2.41

NT NT

0.50 4.97

0.50 4.04

4 620 600 000 4 200 000 000

0.00 0.00

N/A N/A

NT NT

1.47

0.50

6 878 478 096

0.00

N/A

NT 2 050 000 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 2.37 NT

NT 938 217 3 128 53 010 1 048 527 47 333 378 918 NT 500 1 228 551 NT 1 000 NT

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

2.86 9.10 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 16.42 0.00 -5.00 25.96 0.00 N/A N/A N/A 2.22 N/A N/A N/A

2.86 16.75 8.01 29.00 5.20 118.50 1.27 NT 0.70 56.25 1.95 NT NT

NT 458 900 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 -1.35 N/A N/A

NT 2.23 NT NT

NT 55 484 NT 871 732 NT NT

3.98 6.91 15.03 3.60 1.86 0.63

3.98 2.19 13.28 1.60 1.05 0.63

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

0.00 0.15 0.90 0.22 0.30 0.00

N/A N/A N/A -5.52 N/A N/A

NT 1.99 NT 1.81 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

70 000

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

10 000

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

6 114 406

1.87

0.54

6 262 701 716

0.16

1.64

0.61

2 606 176

78.97

13.95

2 262 711 568

7.47

-1.88

12.74

NT NT 41 466 328 863 123 457 16 145 1 894 130 869

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 0.53 3.17 0.00 0.00 N/A 0.00

NT NT 20.68 2.21 10.20 115.00 30.68 130.00

33 000

0.72

0.50

4 035 497 307

0.00

N/A

0.50

3.48

0.19

N/A

354 794

3.65

1.12

980 294 400

0.22

3.51

1.71

447 798 NT

3.67 6.40

2.11 3.28

589 496 310 198 819 763

0.63 0.26

-2.65 N/A

3.39 NT

101 000

1.64

0.85

865 808 912

0.20

N/A

0.50

0.75

0.50

3 211 627 907

0.01

N/A

NT 723 800 NT 8 879 437

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 -2.56 N/A -0.87

NT 1.17 NT 1.15

10 000

0.50

8 000 000 000

0.00

N/A

0.50

102 500 9 308 892 NT 3 979 687

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 -0.24

1.94 2.11 NT 4.11

81 232

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

12 000 498 039

2.78 11.75

1.54 5.15

634 000 000 1 230 468 750

0.38 0.81

N/A 1.35

2.16 5.92

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, October 15, 2012

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Monday, October 15, 2012

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Law & Justice nationalmirrorlaw@yahoo.com

“The courts should always be very cautious in not allowing technicalities to be used in perpetuating injustice.”

JUSTICE DAHIRU MUSDAPHER, FORMER CHIEF JUSTICE OF NIGERIA

Lawyers bicker over states’ identity, emblems Retired judges should take over NJC leadership –Sagay 42

Traffic law: Lawyers flay Lagos govt over destruction of motorcycles 46

Osun State Governor, Mr. Rauf Aregbesola

The constitutionality of states in the federation to carve their own identities by having separate flags, emblems and anthems has generated public discourse among lawyers. KAYODE KETEFE, Assistant Head, Judiciary examines the issue.

T 2012 IBA Conference: Nigeria lawyers and global networking 45

he question of power relations in the Nigerian federation between the Federal government and the federating states was, once again, thrown to the front burner by emergence of what has been called “state nationalism” as shown in the practice of some states creating their own logos, anthems, mottos and so on . The 10 “eccentric” states which have adopted this initiative at different times in the present dispensation, to the chagrin of the Federal Government, are, Cross River, Osun, Rivers, Ondo, Ogun, Ekiti and Kwara, Bayelsa, Oyo and Lagos. One of these states, Osun, does not even limit her self-identity, “antics” to the issues of logo and anthem alone, it went further by unofficially re-christening herself “State of Osun” This development, especially in the case of Osun, has elicited diverse reactions from different stakeholders. While a number of people

Bayelsa State Governor, Seriake Dickson

interpreted the development as an affront to Nigeria’s sovereignty, others see it as normal on the grounds that each of the states of the federation has the right to carve an identity niche for itself as a symbol of its socio-cultural, historical and demographic uniqueness. Many political analysts could not reach consensus on the propriety of this crave for unique identity by some of the states. Lawyers especially, are sharply divided over the issue. However, the umbrella body of lawyers, the Nigerian Bar Association, through its leadership, condemned the measure. This position of the NBA was made known by the immediate past president of the association. Mr. Joseph Daudu, SAN, while addressing journalists in Abuja, ahead of the 2012 NBA Annual General Conference, which held in August. Bodunrin said, “It is unconstitutional for any section of this country to break away or take any action that suggests that it wishes to secede from the Federal Republic of Nigeria. “There is no constitutional provision that

THERE IS NO

CONSTITUTIONAL PROVISION THAT ALLOWS FOR A FLAG OTHER THAN THE

NIGERIAN FLAG

allows for a flag other than the Nigerian flag, or any anthem other than the national anthem.” The controversy over Osun’s subtle manipulation of her own name has spawned the greatest of the controversy with the presidency joining in the fray. Some people even alleged that the state, by renaming itself “State of Osun”( in addition to self identity paraphernalia like logo, coat of arms etc) is planning to secede from Nigeria. It would be recalled that the Secretary to Government of the Federation, Senator Pius Anyim, recently remonstrated a lawmaker from Osun State, Mr. Ajiboye Famurewa (ACN/ Osun during a visit to his office by the House of Representatives’ Committee on the Diaspora. Famurewa had introduced himself as a member from ‘the State of Osun.’ “That is unconstitutional,” Anyim retorted with repressed anger. He added, “Let me also say that, even though in a lighter mood, that the ‘State of Osun’ issue should be a serious matter. We should not trivialise issues regarding our nationhood. Particularly, where it could be misinterpreted and where it could affect the unity of the country. “The constitutional name for each state should be upheld more particular by parliamentarians. Ordinary local politicians can try to politick with it, but not those of you who are CONTINUED ON PAGE 46

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Monday, October 15, 2012

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Retired judges should take Prof. Itse Sagay is a renowned scholar and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN). He spoke in an interview with Assistant Head, Judiciary Desk, KAYODE KETEFE, on the National Judicial Council (NJC) leadership, legal practice in Nigeria, and the country’s judiciary, 52 years after independence, among other issues. Excerpts. The nation celebrated 52 years of independence recently, would you say Nigeria has lived up to the dreams of its founding fathers? Not at all, I would rather say there has been continuous retrogression by each succeeding generation of politicians. Basically, I think what we would say is that the quality of the political actors has gone down with time. Now, we have politicians of poorer character and weak commitment who are basically there just to get what they can get out of it at the expense of the country. That is why we are not making any progress. In the First Republic, the politicians were very committed. They were men of honour, and many whom felt they owed it a duty to the people of this country to develop it and promote welfare and security of the people. That has since gone after the coup and the military came in. The lofty ideals just died away. Under the Second Republic, when we had the government of Alhaji Shehu Shagari, the commitment of politicians to governing in the interest of the nation gradually petered away and, as for now, we are in an era of total self- interest, self- indulgence and complete irresponsibility and lack of interest in leaving any meaningful legacy. Most of today’s politicians are just living from day to day and see what they can get their hands on and how they can get the loots. That is what we have now, there is nothing to celebrate. How would you rate the judiciary 52 years after the independence? The Judiciary too has been a subject of this degeneration. There has been, no doubt, a progressive setback rocking the organ. If you recall the kind of Judiciary we used to have; the one the colonial government left behind, you would see that it could not be compared with what we have now. There were great names in those days, names like J.I.C Taylor, Sir Louis Mbanefo, Sir Daddy Onyeama. More recently, we have people like Justice Kayode Eso, Chukwudifu Oputa, Andrew Obaseki, Anthony Aniagolu, Mohammed Bello, and Karibi- Whyte. These are people who established standards in our Judiciary. They delivered judgements based on sound principles and rule of law and their pronouncements are comparable to the best the Americans have ever produced in their legal history. But all that is gone now! Now, there is this disease of greed for money, wealth, lack of character, lack of integrity and indifference to leaving worthwhile legacy. All these are vices eating up our Judiciary and bringing it to the level of other two levels of governments, which, in my view, have collapsed long ago. Now you hear of judges taking bribe. It is just as if some of them have made up their minds that money is more important than names, character and good reputation. They want to have enough money to cater for themselves and the next four generations! They think money is better than a good name, a good judicial system, integrity, and honour; they think it is better than having a country properly run under the rule of law. This is a tragedy. What would you say about Justice Katsina-Alu/Ayo Salami saga? What happened in that case is that the Judiciary opened its doors to venoms from outside called politicians who then crawled into the sanctuary of the Judiciary and fouled it up completely.

Sagay

THE JUDICIARY OPENED ITS DOORS TO VENOMS FROM OUTSIDE CALLED POLITICIANS WHO THEN CRAWLED INTO THE SANCTUARY OF THE

JUDICIARY

AND FOULED IT UP COMPLETELY By recommending to politicians to suspend a judge whose judgement they were already aggrieved at, they made a mistake. Most Nigerian politicians have no respect for decency and do not fear toppling institutions that represents the best organ of government in Nigeria. The politicians just grabbed that opportunity and ended up not only messing up Justice Salami, but also messed up the Judiciary as an institution. They told the politicians how to discipline one of themselves. When they investigated and found out that the measure was not justified and they tried to retract and withdraw what they had done, it was too late. The politicians don’t have that kind of scrapples. They have got what they wanted, which is to get the man out of the way. They want to ensure that when you rig elections nothing would happen. That is exactly what is happening now. What we saw in Edo, Ondo, Ekiti and Osun States is like once in a lifetime event that is fading into history overnight. And that is one of the greatest achievements Nigeria has ever made in the areas of democracy and rule of law. The court had started instituting the culture of rule of law and credible elections through judgements and one was beginning to hope that in future, we were going to have a credible democratic system that would become a Nigerian culture. Suddenly, all those hopes had been destroyed and now, you have people rigging election and relying on 180 days provisions in the constitution. They keep delaying the cases, dragging them on with the support of tribunals. And after 180 days, these tribunals would gleefully dismiss the case, then it goes on to the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court. These two very high courts which seem to have been sadly sliding

unconsciously into a decay of dysfunctional political system would simply endorse those decisions without thinking about their consequences of their action. This means that no matter how good your case is, if I can delay it for 180 days without conclusion, then it is a sure banker that the mandate of the people had been lost, because the tribunal would dismiss it and both the Supreme Court and the Court of Appeal would endorse it. Everything is in shambles. Some people have proposed the restructuring of NJC on grounds that the CJN is too powerful, what is your view on this? It is not only that the CJN is too powerful; he is also an active participant in the whole judicial system. He is the head of the Supreme Court; he is also the Chairman of the Judicial Service Commission and so on and so forth. A man like that is still very active of course, and as we find in Katsina-Alu’s case, he is going to have issues in which his own judgement and character would come into consideration. Yet, he heads the body that is going to hear such a matter. That is absolutely untenable, it is utter madness! There is need for retired justices to be the main group composing the National Judicial Council. The Head, the Deputy Head and the largest number of people there should be retired justices. Not those who are still on the Bench who could have issues; whose conduct may come under scrutiny and then would become judges in their own cases as we have seen. How would you assess the human rights records of President Goodluck Jonathan? Well. I don’t really see anything negative about his human rights record. I think what President Jonathan has done is simply to let alone what is already there. Not to remove, not to add. He just let what is there to continue. I won’t regard him as anti-human rights or politically oppressive in anyway. If that were the only criterion for government a lot of us would have been quite happy with him. What reforms would you recommend to our extant of

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over NJC leadership –Sagay fiscal federalism? The first thing is to increase the derivation principle and percentage from 13, which it is now, to 50 which it was when we agreed as various societies and nations to come together. That is what we agreed on and that is what you would find in the 1960 Constitution, we must go back to that. What is happening now is an imposition by a few who feel too lazy to work for their own existence and want to live on the resources of others. The result of that is that these states that want to leave on other states resources have become unproductive and there is no development in those states because what they want is free handouts from other people’s resources. They have lost the work ethics; they have lost the productive drive and all they care about is free resources they have not worked for. This laziness is destroying this country as it is turning us into unproductive society while other countries that do not even have oil and gas are doing very well. Singapore and South Korea, for instance, do not have oil and they are developing almost to the level of First World countries. As for us, we are just retrogressing because of our lazy culture of simply living on oil and gas of Niger Delta and the Value Added Tax of Lagos State and one or two other resources belonging to others, instead of each state trying to generate its own resources. We have also completely abandoned true federalism. Let me emphasise this, Abuja is not the owner of oil and gas, it belongs to the Niger Delta. Abuja is not the owner of the Value Added Tax, it belongs to Lagos State. Abuja is not even the owner of what the Customs collects those belongs to Lagos, Edo etc. But what the Federal Government has done under this constitution, made by a few unthinking Nigerians, is to collect these resources owned by other parts of the country and hand them to the states which have become lazy and unproductive. Those states are just used to collecting without working. So there is a master- servant relationship between the Federal Government and the states today because the states live on the handouts which are given by the Federal Government, even though the resources themselves do not belong to the Federal Government. The proportion of academics being elevated to the rank of SAN every year is minute the compared to the number of practising lawyers, would you say this dichotomy is fair? First of all, let me state that there was a big debate and controversies on the propriety of including academics right from the onset. It was initially resisted for sometime until finally it was appreciated that by their research and publications, the academics are also advocates because it is the result of these research and publications that those who actually go to court use in their arguments. So, that was eventually admitted, that was why the academics are now being given the opportunities when about two of them are elevated to the rank every year. While I agree that the majority of those being conferred with the rank should be advocates who are involved in litigation, I think the slots being given to the academics is still too small. The academics should be given greater allocations like between three and five out of the 25. But let me say this, there is no necessity that there must be academics among the Senior Advocates every year. Only academics who have been productive should be so honoured. Don’t let us say there are slots to be filled by the academics every year and thus start to give the honour to those who have slept their years away in the university with nothing substantial to show in terms of quality publications and original researches. What they are doing have to be assessed whether or not they have made an impact in the academic which has been transmitted into the courtroom through litigation and citations. Once there are such people then it would not matter if they are up to five of them appointed in a year. Lagos State has passed a new beautification legislation

Everywhere would not only look beautiful as the Lagos State Government itself has demonstrated by the parks and gardens we have everywhere, the environment would be healthier.

WHAT IS HAPPENING NOW IS AN IMPOSITION BY A FEW WHO FEEL TOO LAZY TO WORK FOR THEIR OWN EXISTENCE AND WANT TO LIVE ON THE RESOURCES OF OTHERS called ‘ Parks and Garden Law’ which inter alia mandates landlords to beautify their houses or go to jail, what do you say to this? You see, what I find is that our people somehow complain a lot when they are being shown the right direction! How can anybody complain about planting flowers in his environment? What is so difficult about that? Even let us say the penalty for not doing it is imprisonment for a 100 years, that is a type of imprisonment that is easily avoidable. This is because all you have to do to escape it is to get some plants, do a little landscaping and plant!

But some people are uncomfortable with the practice of criminalising the breach of this law and its coercive tendencies. Do you share this view? The truth is that our people are too indisciplined. At times, they need a hard hand to nudge them on. I just thought about the case of Traffic Law, we saw the other day that even a military man drove in the BRT lane. The people would go against order and create chaos and if you are not firm, the society would degenerate, there would be chaos, and there would be anarchy. I don ‘think these Lagos State laws are draconian. They are meant to encourage us to do what is right. For me, driving against traffic is a terrible crime and we need very hard sanction to discourage people from engaging in it. Driving against traffic light is yet another crime. If you consider the lives that would be saved by these laws to the threat of the punishment, I think Lagos State laws are justifiable. But again, discretion has to be exercised in implementing it. It should not be an automatic type of application of the law as if the people are robots. There should be extenuating circumstances. For example, if your child is critically ill and you have to rush him to hospital, nobody should prosecute you for driving against the traffic. The same thing applies to a pregnant woman about to have a baby. The law should be applied with some level of discretion. How authentic is the allegation that professors do frustrate post-graduate candidates studying for Ph.D by not approving their course work and theses in our universities? I have heard about it. But you know, I have been out of the university system for quite some time. It is about 15 years now since I left. So, I may not be in the best position to speak authoritatively on that. But, well, I don’t think the allegation is valid. I was in the Council of Delta State University, Abraka. I can recollect that members of the staff were encouraged to do their Ph.D either in the university or elsewhere. I suspect that the real reasons why people spend unusually long time with their Ph.D are that they are combining it with full- time jobs. This, of course, does affect their productivity. If you are working full- time and doing research at the same time, you cannot expect to complete your programme at the same time with somebody who faces the academic full -time. Most people who have done it within three years are usually full-time. In my own case, I did my Masters and PhD within four years. Nobody can really stop you if you are productive. Why would an older academic want to stop a younger one? It does not take anything away from him. Rather it is to his own glory because he would put it in his CV how many Ph.Ds he has supervised. It is all to one’s glory. The Attorney-General of the Federation recently cast aspersions on some Senior Advocates of Nigeria, accusing them of being corrupt and lacking integrity. What do you think this portends? Yes, I think some of our colleagues have also fallen under the spell of money and they would do anything for money. You have seen the embarrassing spectacle of about five senior advocates jumping into a case before being properly briefed and announcing themselves. The result was an embarrassment. One man even came out and claimed that he was the owner of the $15 million dollars ex-governor James Ibori was said to have offered to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission. We were told that some senior advocates jumped into the case appearing for this man. I think that sort of thing is unworthy and I think the AGF was right in admonishing people who have that inclinations. Lawyers should not abandon ethics, respect and honour for filthy lucre.

Monday, October 15, 2012

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This life is vanity, empty, says Ozekhome (SAN) @ 55 ...Says his only ambition now is to strike cordial relationship with God

His Practice: Chief Ozekhome (SAN) started his professional legal practice as a Youth Corper posted to Yola, the then capital of Gongola State (now Adamawa and Taraba States). On his request, he was redeployed to the Federal Ministry of Justice, Lagos and seconded to the then National Provident Fund (now Nigerian Social Insurance and Trust Fund (NSITF), where he served as State Counsel. He simultaneously worked in the Chambers of legendary late Chief Gani Fawehinmi, on a part time basis, to ventilate his excess legal zeal. Immediately he secured his LL.M degree, Chief Ozekhome (SAN) went back to his first love, the busy and pro-masses Chambers of the Late Chief Gani Fawehinmi, to work, first as a junior counsel, later as a Senior counsel and finally rising to the highest position of Deputy Head of Chambers. This was to sharpen his advocacy skills and build a stronger platform for his fiery human rights activism and courageous defence of people’s rights.

ISE-OLUWA IGE & EMMA ONANI

BUJA--Prominent member of the inner bar, renowned constitutional lawyer, indefatigable human rights activist, silent philantropist and lawyer of the people, Chief Mike Agbedor Abu Ozekhome (SAN), the Akpakpa Vighivighi of Edoland, is 55 years old today. Ozekhome (SAN) who told National Mirror, in a chat, that he had seen it all at 55 said “this life is vanity, empty” “My wish now is to get very close to my creator and to serve him till rapture comes, so that when that happens, my family and I will quietly go back to him. This is my ambition now, because this life is vanity and it is empty.” He also spoke about various aspect of his life. His Background Chief Mike Abu Ozekhome (SAN) hails from Iviukwe town in Etsako East Local Government Area of Edo State, Nigeria. His late parents, Chief Abu Ozekhome and Madam Alimoh Abu Ozekhome were lovers of education, respected Chiefs and Community leaders, who inspired the young Mike and nurtured him with the best virtues that humanity can bestow. “My life is one of grass to grace or that of a peasant village boy to one of God-made, a colossus. I grew up in the village with my peasant parents in the rustic village of Iviukwe, near Agenebode. My parents were both farmers. In their own contemporary world, they were wellto-do as they were some of the biggest farmers in the land. They were respected community leaders. But the penury that characterise the environment I grew up was so bad that I saw television for the first time when I was in form two in secondary school. To that extent you know that you know that my environment was one of abject penury. Our secondary school teacher was always coming to define for us what television was… when someone will be speaking in Benin and we in St. Peter’s college will be seeing and hearing the person and we will say that was not possible; that must be witchcraft or wizardry,” he said. Mike (SAN) attended St. Mary’s Catholic Primary School, Iviukwe, between 19641969, St. Peter’s College, Agenebode, from 1970-1974, Baptist Academy, Lagos, in 1975 and the University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife) (1975-1980). Before settling for University of Ife, he was offered admission into three leading Nigerian Universities, namely, University of Nigeria Nsukka, to read Mass Communication, University of Ibadan, to read Political Science and the University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University), Ile-Ife, to read English language. He opted for the University of Ife to read English language but with the intention to change his course to Law. He did change his course of study from English to Law but he lost one academic year to achieve his life time ambition and passion of becoming a lawyer. Throughout his University days, he was a frontline stu-

Ozekhome

dent activist, the best debater and one time Acting Speaker of the Student’s Parliament (SRC). He graduated in flying colours with Bachelor of Laws (Honours) degree in 1980. He became a Barrister at Law in 1981 after passing the Bar examination at the Nigerian Law School, Victoria Island, Lagos and pupilage with “Peoples Lawyer”, late Chief Kanmi-Isola Osobu. By 1982, he was back to Ife to pursue his Masters Degree program in Law. He also lectured simultaneously at the same Law Faculty. Many of his students are today Judges, Senior Advocates of Nigeria, high level Diplomats, captains of Industry, and Professors. Ozekhome As Human Rights Activist Using Law as an instrument of socioeconomic engineering, he co-founded, in 1987 the Civil Liberties Organization (CLO), the first Human Rights Organisation in Nigeria. He was the pioneer Director of Legal Services and member of its Governing Board. In 1998, he co-founded the Joint Action Committee of Nigeria (JACON), with the late Chief Gani Fawehinmi. He later solely founded the Universal Defenders of Democracy (UDD), an international, non-political, non-religious and non-profit Human Rights and pro-Democracy league, having observer status with the African Commission on Human and Peoples Rights. He also founded the Democratic Rights Initiative (DRI) and Peace Initiative (PI), a peace building, conflict Resolution, Mediation, Conciliation and Arbitration Centre, since 1998. Dr Ozekhome was detained several times from 1986 by gun-toting Security Agents of the Federal government of Nigeria on account of his Human Rights and Pro-Democracy activities, especially during repressive military juntas, a reason for which he was, in 1990, glowingly acknowledged in a report made by the Lawyers Committee For Human Rights, New York,

in its 1989 and 1990 Annual Reports: “In Defence of Rights: Attacks On Lawyers and Judges”. He said his passion to fight for the voiceless, defend human rights and confront governments with anti-masses policies is innate. Hear him: “ I just noticed that I was always fighting against injustice and what I did was to size them up and fight for the weaker of the two. Of course, I was always beaten up mercilessly, with scars on my neck to show for that village life of defending the poor. I was made to learn to work very hard and to imbibe very strong principles and virtues of hard work, dedication and fear of God. I will go to the farm before going to primary school. After this I must fetch water about ten kilometers away from my house with calabash, because there were no buckets… I believe that my hard childhood and the ethos I imbibed from my parents became the defining moments of my life, as I was to carry these ones to the secondary school, universities and to my legal practice, my human rights and prodemocracy activities. His philantrophy: “I loathe with all my heart poverty and penury; that was how I grew up. I had to always go straight to the poor, the helpless, the voiceless, the beleaguered and the rejected and the oppressed. So, in my own little way, I had to set up Mike Ozekhome Foundation, which is more than twenty years now, to cater to the needs of the downtrodden, the Frantz Fanon’s wretched of the earth.” Mike Ozekhome Foundation (MOF), a wholly philanthropic and charitable organization is therefore committed to salvaging from ignorance, abject penury, hunger, disease and squalor, the down-trodden and wretched of the society and giving voice to the voiceless, hope to the hopeless and succor to the cheated, the denied and the rejected members of the society.

As a renowned constitutional lawyer, Chief Mike Ozekhome, has handled and participated in many epochal and sensational cases that have defined and shaped Nigerian Legal jurisprudence and enthroned a regime of Human Rights, Democracy and the Rule of Law. In 1986, he founded the law firm of Mike Ozekhome’s Chambers, with thriving offices in Lagos, Abuja, Benin City and Agenebode. A convenient way to behold the spectacle of a hurricane in the courtroom session is when the Akapakpa VighiVighi of Edoland, consummate constitutional lawyer and Leading Human Rights Activist, Chief Mike Agbedor Abu Ozekhome, SAN, has a date to defend his client. Other Activities: Besides his first passion, Law, Chief Ozekhome (SAN) has served in various high level capacities including three high powered Presidential Panels that helped resolve nagging national issues and shaped Nigeria’s destiny. In 2005, he was a Federal Government Nominee to the National Political Reform Conference, representing Civil Societies, a summit that helped resolve primordial national questions and charted a new vision for Nigerian. In 2009, he was appointed by the Federal Government of Nigeria to the Vision 202020 Committee, to chart a course of making Nigeria one of the twenty leading economies by the year 2020. In 2001, he chaired the Federal Government Panel that recalled many politically victimized lecturers and students during Military dictatorships. Earlier in 1994, he had been nominated by the Federal Government to serve on the Customs Reform Panel that restructured and reorganized the Nigerian Customs, the sea ports and allied maritime matters. He is married to an accomplished lawyer and gender crusader, Lady (Chief) Josephine Ozekhome, LL.M, with seven children, four boys and three girls. He is a teetotaler. He loves sports and music, reading and writing, hot argument and debates, philanthropy, travelling and nurturing pets and plants.

Law & Justice

Monday, October 15, 2012

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‘Arguments for states’ logos, anthems invalid’ CONTINUED FROM PAGE 41 to keep the country in shape and in firm stand. “I think that there is nothing like the ‘State of Osun’ in the Constitution, we have Osun State, just like any other state. And we should honour our constitution that is the foundation of the basis of patriotism in the first place. “We must have faith in our nation; we must have faith in our constitution.” The Osun State government, its cohorts and a number of popular voices, however, rose in defence of the state against Anyim’s onslaught. As the drama of self-identity unfolds, some prominent lawyers spoke on the legality of this development. A former President of the NBA, Mr. Rotimi Akeredolu SAN, said, “The suggestion that the governor of a state in a federation cannot take decisions through the House of Assembly on matters such as state flag, anthem, coat of arms, for the state within a federation and other ancillary matters must be deprecated by all those who sincerely believe in the continued existence of the polity known as Nigeria. “Lagos State had adopted its own unique emblem far back. Some states have their own emblems and other states must be allowed to follow suit. There are no treasonable acts inherent in the bid of federating states to create their own identities within a federal system.” In reference to the criticisms of Anyin over Osun State, Lagos lawyer, and human rights activist, Mr. Femi Falana, SAN said “The statement credited to him (Mr. Anyim) cannot be justified under the 1999 Constitution.” “Nowhere is it stated in the Constitution that it is illegal to refer to any particular state government as the Government of a State.” “The Constitution states Nigeria shall be a Federation consisting of States and a

Owonikoko (SAN)

Federal Capital Territory while the thirtysix states are listed in section 3(1) thereof and in the First Schedule to the Constitution. Specifically, section 3(2) of the Constitution provides that “each State of Nigeria named in the first column of Part 1 of the First Schedule to the Constitution, shall consist of the area shown opposite thereto in the second column of that schedule.” “In Part 1 of the First Schedule “the 36 States of the Federation are listed together with the local governments and the capital cities being the headquarters of the Governments of the States. “There is nowhere in our constitution that such reference is forbidden” National Mirror sought the views of some seasoned lawyers on this development and their views were also divergent. Expressing his approval for the development, Prof. Itse Sagay, (SAN), said every state has the right to create symbols of its entity, stressing that such an initiative offers no affront to Nigeria’s sovereignty. Sagay said, “The creation of logos, anthems, coat of arms etc, by some

Anyim

EVERY STATE HAS THE RIGHT TO CREATE SYMBOLS OF ITS ENTITY states, is one of the most positive manifestations of federalism we have seen in years. People seem to forget that we are a federation and not a unitary state and that each state has its own individuality, its own characteristic and its own agenda and programme of action. We need that variety and so the adoption of these insignia of identity is one of the things that define those states and give them their individual personality in the federation. They are very encouraging things; they are symbols which emphasise we are in federalism where there is a variety within a united Nigeria” Another lawyer, Mr. Abiodun Owonikoko (SAN) , said “I think to be honest, people are comparing apple 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 has 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. “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” A Lagos-based lawyer, Mr. Chijioke Ndubuisi said, “It is only the Federal Government that has power to legislate on matters bordering on coat of arms, flags etc which is within legislative list in the constitution. “What was done by both Ogoni and Bayelsa State plus other nine states amount to acts of succession which promotes separation and, therefore, unconstitutional. “It is equally submitted that true federation does not include self-government, owning flags, coat of arms and others by states in way that do not promote unity and peace and oneness of federation. “The various state Governors, who are in league of fanning the embers of secessionist tendencies, should tune down their actions to conform with spirit of unity and sovereign nation, especially at this time when the security of the nation has been seriously threatened by activities of sectarian sects”

Traffic law: Lawyers flay Lagos govt over destruction of motorcycles CAROLINE CHUKWUKA

agos State Government has come under severe criticisms by some Lagos-based lawyers for destroying 3,000 motorcycles impounded last week from commercial cyclists known as ‘Okada riders ‘in the state. The lawyers, who spoke in interviews with the National Mirror, condemned the illegal act saying that the constitution of the country did not empower the state government to destroy seized goods. The special task force enforcement agency of the state government had, last week, destroyed about 3,000 motorcycles impounded on prohibited routes in the state to demonstrate its resolve to enforce the new traffic law. Faulting the enforcement machinery of the state traffic law, Mr. Emeka Okpoko said the power of confiscation of impounded goods did not vest in the state government any right to destroy the property without recourse to due process of the law. According to the lawyer, the positive philosophical reason behind the 2012 Traf-

fic Law is appreciated. The good intention of the makers of the law to sanitize Lagos traffic system, reduce the traffic jam synonymous with Lagos roads and reduce the unnecessary accidents and consequential deaths on the Lagos roads. However, the relevant question is, notwithstanding that offenders will forfeit their vehicles to the state as unfortunately provided in that law, can that power of forfeiture be exercised without a resort to judicial proceedings? He added that, ‘’in my humble opinion, I think the answer is that the only way to enforce that law is through recourse to the court. It is the court that can hear the case, convict the offender and order the forfeiture of the vehicle to the state. Anything short of this will amount to the enforcement agents being the arresting authority, the prosecutor and the judge at the same time, contrary to the right of fair hearing as enshrined in the Constitution. Mr. Emma Ugwu, however, said that”the law is good for the people, but people abuse the law. He said the government was trying on the issue of enforcement, but those who enforce the law often abused it. He cited an example of some officials

Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola (SAN)

of the Lagos State Traffic Management Agency (LASTMA) , who are maligning the name of the agency through unscrupulous acts . He said some of the touts in the system would just lure people into committing the offence in order to get them arrested and instead of taking the offenders to the police stations; they will negotiate fines with them. Ugwu said such a situation is not good,

adding that the state government was doing its best, but the enforcement agencies abuse it” Mr. Goke Olakunleyin also spoke in similar manner that ‘’the destruction of motorcycles is not part of the law’’. He admitted that though the agency could impound, confiscate, fine, charge to court, in the event of failure to pay the fine, the judge or the magistrate in question would impose sentence on offenders such as three months jail or N50,000 fine or both. He said ‘’, if anybody goes outside that, then that is aberration and to me, that is not the tenet of the law, you don’t go outside the law when you are enforcing it. A little inch of step outside the law is arbitrariness and that is what we fought against during military dictatorship, I am sure the governor has the right intention when he made the law and would not be happy that his officials who are supposed to know better are going outside the law’’’ National Mirror leant that majority of the commercial motorcyclists took to the trade after being thrown out of employment market in factories and government offices.

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2012 IBA Conference: Nigerian lawyers and global networking GBOLAHAN GBADAMOSI

resident of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Mr. Okey Wali (SAN) led delegations of Nigerian lawyers to this year (2012)International Bar Association(IBA) Conference which took place from Sunday, September 30th to Friday, October 5th 2012, in the Convention Centre, Dublin(CCD) a city described by the IBA President, Mr. Akira Kawamura as “ a city with a great deal of history to explore, fabulous culture and folklore…..amazing landscapes to enjoy”, where new legal developments in various jurisdictions were discussed.

Opening Ceremony To confirm that the gathering of legal practitioners globally was not only for intellectual sessions, the opening ceremony started with a welcome party. It provided” a perfect opportunity of a true taste of Ireland”. The venue(Royal Dublin Society on Anglesea Road was spectacularly transformed with a wide selection of themed Irish buffet and bar stations served the finest Irish and international cuisine. No doubt, the venue created a real ‘Irish Hooley Night’. Before the relaxation evening, the conference had the former World Bank chief economist Joseph Stiglitz as this year’s keynote speaker. He said it has been five years since the beginning of the global economic depression, with little signs of recovery. Though he warned that austerity measures will not solve the global financial crisis, he recommended economic stimulus. Kawamura who was admitted to the legal profession in 1967 in Japan in an earlier interview before the conference was delighted that IBA was 65 years this year and urged lawyers to defend the jobless people or very poor people in court by way of social security. Quoting the statesman and former President, USA , J.F .Kennedy of Irish origin famous speech-‘Ask not what your country can do for you-ask what you can do for your country’, IBA President concluded by saying, “ I will say ‘ask not what IBA can do for you, ask what you can do for IBA”. Nigeria’s contributions was also enriched by the robust participation of Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Fashola (SAN), former Justice Minister, Chief Bayo Ojo (SAN), three former NBA Presidents- O.C.J Okocha(SAN) , Chief Wole Olanipekun(SAN) and Joseph Bodunrin Daudu(SAN); DirectorGeneral, Nigerian Law School, Dr. Tahir Mamman; States’ Attorneys-General , Ade Ipaye(Lagos); Worgu Boms(Rivers ), Dayo Akinlaja(Ekiti),Adewale Afolabi(Osun), Wemimo Ogunde(SAN) (Ogun) Tayo Jegede(SAN),(Ondo); Adebayo Ojo(Oyo) and Anthony Ani(Enugu).Solicitors-General of Rivers State, Rufus Godwins and his Lagos State counterpart, Lawal Pedro(SAN), former NBA General Secretaries, Dele Adesina(SAN), Rafiu Lawal-

Mr. Kawamura, IBA President

Foreign

Rabana(SAN),Ibrahim Eddy Mark, , incumbent NBA General Secretary, Muyiwa Akinboro , Emeka Obegolu, Rickey Tarfa(SAN) , Joe Kyari-Gadzama(SAN) Emeka Ngige((SAN), Secretary to State Government , Ogun State, Taiwo Adeoluwa , Legal Adviser,NBA, Sule Usman among others were also in attendance.

Media Law Session For the second year running, the issue of social media was the focus of discussion. This year the topic was ‘Reputation in the internet age’. The effects of all forms of social media(Twitter, FaceBook, BlackBerry, U-Tube etc) were raised. Justice Adegbola Adeniyi of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court, Ogunde(SAN) , Jubrin Okutepa(SAN) and Punch’s Company Secretary, Mrs. Omolara Ogunleye participated at the session.

Women and Islam Against the background of the deportation of Nigerian women by Saudi Arabian government during this year’s holy pilgrimage to Mecca, a bar activist and a Fellow, Leadership and Advocacy For Women in Africa(LAWA) Carol Ajie spoke on ‘ Women and Islam: Overcoming the challenges of Senator Yerima’s Child Marriage in Nigeria’. Ajie who spoke along with Sara Khoja and Diana Hamade both of Dubai contended that, “When women’s rights are violated and nation’s growth stunted thereby, it would hurt us more than just the people who affected it”.

Climatic Change As floods continued to ravage cities and towns in Nigeria, delegates under the aegis of African Region Forum (ARF) gathered at the Confer-

Mr. Wali, NBA President

ence Room 6, Level 3 to discuss ‘Global warming and the environment- a challenge for lawyers in Africa?’ Olanipekun and Ngige were co-session chairs while Vice-Chair ARF, Mrs. Olufunmilayo Oluyede co-ordinated effectively with Prof. Lanre Fagbohun of the Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies(NIALS) as a speaker. Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Governor Fashola led the discussion on this when he told African and world delegates about what his government has been doing to make the issue more relevant to Lagosians. The topic‘CSR in Africa-effective tool or convenient escape’ was hotly debated by Nigerians. Prior to this discussion, Lagos State Attorney –General, Ipaye had spoken on ‘ CSR, the financial industry and project financing’. Still under ARF Nigerians participated actively, in another session as chaired by Okocha titled- Whither Africa: nationalization, privatization or public –private partnerships?’ Mallam Yusuf Olaolu Ali(SAN) was another star of the conference with his robust participation in a joint session with Healthcare and Life Sciences Law Committee and the Negligence and Damages Committee. At a well attended session by Nigerians, Ali spoke on ‘ A doctor’s nightmare: protection from medical malpractice suits’. On the Professional Practice session, immediate past Lagos State At-

TWO NIGERIANS, OLUBUKOLA IJI AND JUDITH OMOYE IJEWERE WERE AMONG THE 13 PARTICIPANTS THAT RECEIVED

2012 IBA

FELLOWSHIPS

torney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Supo Shashore(SAN) while delivering his paper on ‘ How to make lawyers popular’, contended that the consequences of poor perception of lawyers in society can be dire. His words: “ The consequences of this are not just the trivia of our profession, they are the very soul and fabric of our society”. Under the Academic and Professional Development Committee, the Bar Issues Commission and the Professional Ethics Committee, Dr. Mamman was a member of the panel that discussed- ‘ Does legal education need to give higher priority to teaching ethics and professional judgment? If so, what can be the role for professional bodies and regulatory agencies in promoting such change?’ . Former First Vice-President, NBA , Mrs. Funke Adekoya(SAN) was the session chair where ‘Minimum legal training requirements ‘ was discussed. Two Nigerians, Olubukola Iji and Judith Omoye Ijewere were among the 13 participants that received 2012 IBA Fellowships upon successful completion of five International Practice Diploma modules within seven years.

Rule of Law Symposium An Iranian lawyer, Abdulfatah Soltani won this year IBA Human Rights Award. For his outstanding contribution as a legal practitioner to human rights. He is currently serving a 13-year sentence in Iran since March 4 , this year. He co-founded the Defenders of Human Rights Centre with Noble Peace winner, Ms. Shrim Ebadi. Soltani’s daughter, Maeda along with his fellow Iranian lawyer, Mahnaz Parakand received the award on his behalf from Kawamura. The award which started in 1995 was named after a British lawyer, Bernard Simmons. Two Nigerians, late Chief Gani Fawehinmi (SAN) and former President, West African Bar Association(WABA) Femi Falana won the award in 1998 and 2008 respectively . Former President, Ireland, Mary Robinson was the Guest Lecturer at this year ‘s George Seward Memorial Lecture. She spoke on the looming climatic change and called on the present generation to act fast or else future generations will not forgive us.

Gains of the conference One of the gains of the conference, according to Adesina (SAN) was that in terms of networking with global lawyers and sharing of new issues in legal development, Nigerian lawyers are benefiting, adding that, “the session on law firm management was most beneficiary.” As the participants left Dublin with its unpredictable weather, Boston, USA(the energetic and prosperous city renowned for its cultural facilities, world- class educational establishments) is warming up to host 2013 IBA conference from October 6 to 11. Mr. Gbadamosi, a lawyer and journalist just returned from the IBA Conference in Dublin.

Cocktail

Monday, October 15, 2012

FOR YOUR SUCCESS

WITH DR. DEJI FOLUTILE

Today's Tonic (22) We are never too old to learn. Current longevity studies show that the more we are committed to curiosity and learning, the longer we will live. –Robert Anthony *** Knowledge Is Power! When we are tired of learning, we are tired of living. King Solomon says a man of knowledge increases in strength. It is always a joy to me that there is no problem of man that the answer is not in one book or the other. Readers may not be leaders but almost all great leaders are readers. I am told that we will be the same as we are now in five years down the line except for the people we meet and the books we read. I am not ashamed to say that most of my greatest friends in life are the books on my shelf at home! The mind that is always learning can never grow old. It is a pity to live with those who don’t read because they will always be a clog in the wheel of progress. They won’t see what you see. Let’s read and transform our world! TEL 08104942999 E-MAIL deji.folutile@gmail.com Follow me @TwitterOWOTIDE

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Oddities

Big Bird costume sales rise

ew York stores said Big Bird costumes have been flying off the shelves since Mitt Romney dropped the “Sesame Street” character’s name in last week’s debate. Costume shops, including Halloween Adventure and Ricky’s said Big Bird costumes have been top sellers ever since the Republican presidential nominee named the character when talking about his plans to end the federal subsidy to PBS, The New York Times

reported Wednesday. Maddie Gerety, product manager for Disguise Costumes

in Poway, Calif., the officially licensed manufacturer of Sesame Street costumes, said Big

Bird costume sales have risen sharply in the past week, particularly in adult male sizes.

Mice can sing --Study

ll together now, with feeling: Mice can sing. Not just the ultrasonic serenade that the rodents use solo to attract a mate. They can sing together in a group. Scientists at Tulane University in New Orleans have discovered that when two male mice were housed together, they tune their pitch. Yes,

like a choir. A teeny choir of mice. The study is surprising, notes the Telegraph, because singing in pitch is a trait thought to be found only in the Beach Boys or, rather, “humans, bats and a handful of bird and large-mammal species.” Yes, we’re picturing a Disney movie, too. Dr. Erich Jarvis, a neurobiologist who

oversaw the study, told the Telegraph, “We are claiming that mice have limited versions of the brain and behaviour traits for vocal learning that are found in humans for learning speech and in birds for learning song.” He added that ability in mice to sing was not as advanced as in humans. (Alas, no mouse version of Justin Bieber just yet.)

Bigbird costume.

PHOTO: AP

Monday, October 15, 2012

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World News

Israeli airstrike kills senior Gaza militant

“The French language must carry democracy, human rights, pluralism, the respect of freedom of expression, every human being must be able to choose his leaders.” -FRENCH PRESIDENT, FRANCOIS HOLLANDE

Mauritanian president shot in error ...flown to Paris for surgery

PAUL ARHEWE

WITH AGENCY REPORTS

auritania’s president was flown to France for surgery yesterday after the Western ally against al Qaeda was shot by soldiers in what he said was an accident. The shooting, late on Saturday, set the coup-prone northwest African country on edge and President Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz appealed to Mauritanians to keep calm in a televised message from his hospital bed. Although Mauritania has been stable politically since Abdel Aziz seized power in 2008, it lies on the fringes of the Sahara Desert where Islamist gunmen hold increasing sway. “I want to reassure everyone about my state of health after this incident committed by error,” Abdel Aziz said from his bed. “Thanks to God, I am doing well.” He was covered in a sheet up to his neck and the extend of the wounds was not clear. Medical sources said he had been shot in the abdomen. The president had been flown to France the former colonial power - for further treat-

President Abdel Aziz

Tunisia holds elections June 2013

unisia’s ruling coalition, led by the Islamic Ennahda Movement, said yesterday it had agreed to hold presidential and parliamentary elections on June 23 with the president being chosen directly by voters. The coalition’s agreement on a date for elections and the establishment of an amended parliamentary system come after widespread criticism from the opposition that Ennahda wants to control the government and avoid elections. The Islamic Ennahda Movement won the country’s first free elections last October following the Tunisia’s revolution, which set off last year’s “Arab Spring” uprisings. The movement heads a government that also includes two secular parties, the Congress for the Republic and the Ettakatol. The ruling coalition said in a statement sent to Reuters that an agreement had been reached setting “June 23, 2013, as the date for legislative and presidential elections,” with a presidential runoff scheduled for July 7.

ment, communications minister Hamdi Ould Mahjoub told Reuters. Abdel Aziz was wounded late on Saturday when a military patrol opened fire on his convoy about 40 km (25 miles) from the capital, Nouakchott, the government said. He was driving from the town of Toueila, where he has a ranch. Officials did not say what had happened to the soldiers who had opened fire on the convoy. Mauritania launched numerous military operations on Islamist bases in neighboring Mali before a rebellion split that country in two in March, leaving much of it in the hands of heavily-armed groups linked to al Qaeda. Abdel Aziz was elected in 2009 after seizing power a year earlier in a coup that cut short the rule of Mauritania’s first democratically elected president, who had reached out to Islamists. Split between black and Arab Africa, Mauritania is bigger than Turkey but has only 3.5 million people. The largely desert country produces oil from wells offshore. Its other main export industries are mining and fishing.

Rawlings’ wife to run for Ghanaian presidency

ormer Ghanaian first lady joys broad popularity, said his would stand by the ruling party, Konadu Agyeman-Rawl- wife left the ruling NDC because would have “no consequence” on Mahama’s campaign or the ings announced on Satur- of bad governance. “The NDC leadership had simultaneous legislative polls. day she has split from the ruling “I am urging our members party that her husband founded lost its moral high ground, (and to run for president under a new was) involved in things that it to remain steadfast and not be should not have gotten into, cor- rattled by this development,” banner. The move, backed by her hus- ruption at the leadership level, Richard Quashigah said. Political observer and pollband former president Jerry etc,” he said. Agyemang-Rawlings, 63, is a ster, Ben Ephson, said he did not Rawlings, threatens to split support for incumbent John Maha- women’s rights advocate and is expect Agyeman-Rawlings to ma, who is seeking re-election believed by many to have played draw enough support to threatagainst his main opposition an influential role during her en Mahama’s bid for re-election. “...We don’t think the party rival Nana Akufo-Addo on De- husband’s rule. A leading member of the NDC will make any significant imcember 2. “I stand before you today be- said the move, which came days pact on the fortunes of the NDC cause I chose to become bolder after Rawlings announced he this December,” he said. and braver, and together we are going forward,” Agyeman-Rawlings said in a speech broadcast on the radio. She had tried to win the ruling NDC party’s nomination last year, but lost to then-President John Atta Mills, who died in July and was replaced by Mahama. Ghana, a cocoa, oil and gold producer, is one of West Africa’s most stable countries, with more than 20 years of political transitions through elections L-R: Former Ghanaian’s first lady, Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings, former following a flurry of coups. Ghanaian President Jerry Rawlings and Venezuela’s President Hugo Jerry Rawlings, who still en- Chavez in 2010. Photo: Reuters

WORLD BULLETIN

Police arrest 90 South African miners

South African police have arrested 90 people after a protest at a mine turned violent, officials say. The miners were from the Gold Fields KDC Kloof mine in Westonaria, about 45km west of Johannesburg. More than 5,000 workers reportedly staged a sit-in there to demand better pay. All 90 arrested are due to appear in court today. Police said they fired stun grenades and rubber bullets to break up the sit-in at the Westonaria police station. The crowd responded by breaking windows and causing other damage at the station, police said. Police said of those arrest, one was carrying a firearm. In a statement, police Brigadier Neville Malila said: “Public order police were called in to defuse the situation and break up the illegal gathering. “Negotiations with the group failed and rubber bullets and stunned grenades were used to defuse the situation.” The miners were arrested on charges of public violence and malicious damage to property, Malila said. Al Jazeera described the number of arrests as “extraordinary”, citing a higher figure. “They arrested the bulk of them in a group of 72 who were held on Friday night after illegal march and protest sit-in.” The protesters had arrived on buses earlier in the day to demand the release of 13 miners who were jailed on Friday afternoon. Sources told Al Jazeera that another five miners were arrested on Saturday morning. “There were 90 miners arrested in total over the course of about 24 hours. Most were charged with assault, attempted murder and suspicion as well,” our correspondent said.

One killed, one missing in S’Africa boat accident A rescue official says one man is dead and a local tour guide is missing after a boat capsized off Hout Bay near the western city of Cape Town. Craig Lambinon of the National Sea Rescue Institute said there were 38 people onboard the charter boat Miroshga on Saturday, not 41 as previously assumed, and that there was one fatality. At least 24 of the survivors were hospitalized with serious or minor injuries. It remains unclear what caused the boat to capsize near Duiker Island, which is popular with tourists hoping to see seals. Lambinon said maritime officials in South Africa were already investigating. Most of the people on the boat were foreign nationals, and the deceased man was from the United Kingdom.

World News

Monday, October, 15, 2012

srael killed a top leader of an al-Qaida-inspired Gaza group in an airstrike, the military said yesterday, a significant blow in Israel’s campaign against the shadowy fighters. Hisham Saidani was killed with his bodyguard in an airstrike in the northern Gaza Strip late Saturday, Israel’s military said. He was one of the top ideological guides for the violent, ultra-conservative Islamic movements in Gaza, known as Salafi jihadis. The Israeli military said Saidani, 43, was suspected of carrying out attacks against Egyptian and Israeli targets but provided no further information. In recent years, a number of shadowy groups that claim inspiration from al-Qaida have been on the rise in Gaza. While they are not believed to have direct links with the global terror network, the groups share the same violent anti-Western ideology and frequently borrow from its tactics. They have also clashed with the ruling Islamic militant Hamas movement. Saidani led a small group, “Tawhid wal Jihad,” or “Monotheism and Holy War,” believed responsible for killing of an Israeli civilian working along the Egyptian border last June. He was also linked to the Mujahideen Shura Council, another militant group operating in Gaza and Egypt’s neighboring Sinai desert. Followers of Saidani were respon-

Thousands rally for Pakistani girl shot by Taliban

Palestinian mourners gathering around the body of Salafi militant, Hisham Saidani during his funeral in Bureij refugee camp, central Gaza Strip Photo: AP

Israeli airstrike kills senior Gaza militant sible for kidnapping and killing Italian activist Vittorio Arrigoni in Gaza in March 2011. Saidani later denounced the act. He sought to unite the many groups of ultraconservative Salafis in Gaza, according to jihadis commenting about his death. He was widely respected by fundamentalists in Gaza and through the region. In response to Saidani’s death, alQaida’s media arm warned Israel that its “joy will not last long.”

“We fully trust our brothers that they will be capable of avenging the killing,” said a statement by the Global Islamic Media Front, a European group that supports al-Qaida and other extremist organizations. The statement underscored Saidani’s prominence among jihadis. Over the past year, Israel has been targeting Salafis with airstrikes in Gaza, seeing them as a new threat to its southern border. Last Sunday, an Israeli strike killed another Salafi.

Britain to withdraw troops from Afghanistan in 2013

ritain plans to withdraw thousands of troops from Afghanistan next year, Defence Minister Philip Hammond said yesterday, as pressure mounts to end British involvement in the costly and unpopular war. More than 430 British troops have been killed in Afghanistan

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since the U.S.-led intervention in 2001, yet stability remains elusive and violence high, while relations between Western troops and Afghan forces and civilians are increasingly frayed. Britain yesterday said it had charged five soldiers with murder as part of an investigation into

what it called an engagement with an insurgent in Afghanistan last year, and that a total of nine soldiers had been arrested in connection with the case. Some 500 British troops are to be withdrawn from Afghanistan by the end of this year, leaving around 9,000 still there.

ens of thousands rallied in Pakistan’s largest city yesterday in support of a 14-yearold girl who was shot and critically wounded by the Taliban for promoting girls’ education and criticizing the militant group. The demonstration in the southern city of Karachi was by far the largest since Malala Yousufzai and two of her classmates were shot on Oct. 9 while returning home from school in Pakistan’s northwest. The attack horrified people inside and outside Pakistan and sparked hope among some that it would prompt the government to intensify its fight against the Taliban and their allies. But protests against the shooting have been relatively small until now, usually attracting no more than a few hundred people. That response pales in comparison to the tens of thousands of people who held violent protests in Pakistan last month against a film produced in the United States that denigrated Islam’s Prophet Muhammad. Demonstrations in support of Yousufzai — and against rampant militant violence in the country in general — have also been fairly small compared with those focused on issues such as U.S. drone attacks and the NATO supply route to Afghanistan that runs through Pakistan.

Right-wing Islamic parties and organizations in Pakistan that regularly pull thousands of supporters into the streets to protest against the U.S. have less of an incentive to speak out against the Taliban, who share their desire to impose Islamic law in the country — even if they may disagree with some of the militant group’s violent tactics. Pakistan’s mainstream political parties are often also more willing to harangue the U.S. than direct their people power against Islamist militants shedding blood across the country — partly out of fear and partly because they rely on Islamist parties for electoral support. One of the exceptions is the political party that organized Sunday’s rally in Karachi, the Muttahida Quami Movement. The party’s chief, Altaf Hussain, criticized both Islamic and other mainstream political parties for failing to organize rallies to protest the attack against Yousufzai. He called the Taliban gunmen who shot the girl “beasts” and said the shooting was an attack on “the ideology of Pakistan.”

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North

Monday, October 15, 2012

Group demands Sambo’s resignation over insurgency AZA MSUE KADUNA

group known as the Democracy Dividends Development Initiatives (DDDI) at the weekend demanded the resignation of Vice President Namadi Sambo over what it called “incompetency” to assist President Goodluck Jonathan to end the insecurity confronting the region. In an e-mailed statement signed in Kaduna

by its president, Mr. Suleiman Ahmed Akasawua, the group said Jonathan’s desire to tackle the insurgency in the North “may not yield positive result with his helpless vice.” Calling on President Jonathan to replace Sambo with a more credible candidate from the North, the group urged Nigerians to support the Federal Government’s efforts aimed at developing the country. The group’s statement

reads: “We, therefore, ask Alhaji Namadi Sambo to resign his position as the Vice-President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria because it is very clear that he is a political burden not only to the North, but even to President Goodluck Jonathan’s Transformation Agenda. “President Jonathan should pick a credible person from the North who can assist him to conquer the current insecurity facing the region.

“We noticed that President Jonathan’s desire to tackle insecurity in the North may not work with Sambo as the vice-president. The late President Umaru Yar’Adua’s amnesty to Niger Delta militants was a success story because Jonathan, the then vice-president, was competent enough to do underground work. “However, in the case of the North, if VicePresident Sambo is with the people, the much talk

about insecurity will end because he knows the cultural and religious norms of the North better than President Goodluck Jonathan. “We are telling the world that the appointment of Vice President Namadi Sambo by President Goodluck Jonathan after the demised of the late President Yar’Adua was a great mistake for the North. We protested the appointment from the onset. This is because

Sambo is incompetent; he lacks political clout to assist Jonathan. “For example, Sambo lost in his Camp Road polling unit, ward and zone to Congress for Progressive Change (CPC). Sambo’s residence is just 200 meters away from his polling unit. This happened because Sambo, as vicepresident totally disconnected himself from the people, which explained why even his neighbours voted against his party.”

Ilorin Emirate Union wants Kwara Land Law repealed WOLE ADEDEJI ILORIN

L-R: House of Repsentatives Speaker, Hon. Aminu Tambuwal; Sokoto State Governor, Aliyu Wamakko and former Vice-Chancellor, University of Abuja, Prof. Nuhu Yaqub, during the wedding fatiha for Mujittaba Kware and Rliya Magatakarda Wamakko at Gidan Kara, Wamakko, Sokoto State, at the weekend.

he llorin Emirate Descendants Progressive Union (IEDPU) has demanded the abrogation of the Kwara State Land Use Act otherwise known as the Urbanisation Law. The law was put in place by the administration of former Governor Bukola Saraki, who at the time, set up a Bureau of Lands to enforce the law by acquiring marked lands. Among the alleged marked lands is the expansive Muslim praying ground in Ilorin, the state capital. But at a special public hearing at the state House of Assembly at the weekend, IEDPU wanted the law repealed “to give peace a chance”

The union made this demand in a paper it presented at the public hearing on government policy on land acquisition. IEDPU alleged that several customary lands in the state had been sold by the government using the 2009 law without informing or pay compensations to their owners. The development was condemned particularly, as it affected the the urbanization of native areas in llorin. In his defence, Director-General of the Bureau of Lands, Mr. Tope Daramola, said the bureau did not acquire any land without abiding with the laid down law on land acquisition. He denied that the bureau acquired the llorin Eid praying ground and the Emir’s palace as being speculated in some quarters.

Youths endorse Mark for 2015 Presidency Nasarawa board promises robust service delivery AZA MSUE KADUNA

group under the auspices of Arewa Youth Alliance for Democracy (AYAD) has endorsed Senate President David Mark for the 2015 presidential election. Addressing a press conference tagged: “David Mark: Time for higher national assignment,” at the weekend in Kaduna, AYAD National Coordinator, Alhaji Ahmed, described Mark as a change agent, calling on Nigerians at home and abroad to mobilise for him ahead of the poll. Muhammed said the endorsement was sign of commendation to Mark’s ability to stabilise the Senate. He recalled that Senator

Mark mediated the fuel subsidy protest and Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) protest as he (Mark) ensured that the doctrine of necessity prevented the country from collapsing when former President Umaru Yar’Adua was sick. Muhammed said: “As you work to complete your tenure in the Senate, we call on you to offer yourself for a higher national assignment. We also call on Nigerians at home and abroad to support your vision of enhancing the greatness of Nigeria. “As President of Senate, he brought stability and respect to the Senate. Through his leadership dexterity, political sagacity and maturity, he earned respect for Nigeria as a re-

sult of the smooth and commendable relation of the Senate with the executive. “As a patriotic Nigerian, he believes in the unity of the country. He never condemned the use of social media. A man versed in art of military signals communication and free flow of information will not do that, he only urged for restraint against negative deployment and tendencies in such usage. “He is pained by the needless bloodshed through the activity of the Boko Haram insurgency and craves for collective solution. He never insults Muslims or Northerners and would never do so because of his highest regards for the sanctity of life and the ideals of Islam.”

IGBAWASE UKUMBA LAFIA

he Nasarawa State Board of Internal Revenue has promised effective service delivery. The state government had, in the 2012 budget, earmarked the sum of N13.17 billion as the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) target. The board’s Acting Chairman, Alhaji Usman Okposhi, spoke with National Mirror at the weekend in Lafia, the state capital. Okposhi said that the board would meet up with the IGR target because the monthly revenue of the state had risen to an appreciable

standard. He said: “We have made steady progress in the collection of revenue for the state as we have raised the internally generated revenue base from the initial N50 million to about N450 million per month. “The N450 million we generate monthly has far overweighed the N50 million used to be generated before the administration of Governor Umaru Tanko Al-Makura administration was sworn in.” Okposhi said the board’s aim was to compete with states like Lagos and Kano in terms of internal revenue generation and even surpass them. He, however, attributed the rise in the IGR to the

role played by a revenue consulting firm, Zakari & Co. The firm was contracted by the state government to help improve on its revenue base. Okposhi commended the firm for evolving more revenue sources for the state and expressed his satisfaction with the cordial relationship existing between the revenue board and the contracted firm.

Gov. Umaru Al-Makura

Monday, October 15, 2012

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Community Mirror “I want to assure Nigerians that we have put in place a flood recovery food production plan to support farmers in the flood affected areas. ” PRESIDENT GOODLUCK JONATHAN

Spiritualist apprehended for attempted money ritual FRANCIS SUBERU

self acclaimed ‘Prayer warrior’, simply identified as Baba Ojo, was nearly lynched yesterday by an angry mob at 61, Marina, Lagos for allegedly attempting to use a middle aged woman for money rituals. The situation, which nearly degenerated into jungle justice was averted when the victim was taken to an unknown destination. It was gathered that Baba Ojo

and the woman met on Saturday night in the neighbourhood, and after, left for a hotel where some rituals were performed on her. Following this, it was alleged the woman lost her senses and started behaving abnormally, even as she managed to escape and run into the street at Ebute Ero, where her elder sister and other passersby saw and rescued her. According to the woman’s sister who pleaded anonymity, the said Baba Ojo had, on Saturday, evening, promised to take the

victim to the beach for prayers and spiritual cleansing, but rather took her to a hotel where she was made to put on a yellow garment as well as eat uncooked egg. She alleged that after eating the egg, she became unconscious till 5am on Sunday and then started behaving abnormally. On his part, Baba Ojo said he met the woman on Saturday night after she informed him of having spiritual problems, even as he promised to help her with prayers.

He said: “She asked that I pray for her, as her husband’s family members are using negative spiritual powers on her. I told her to accompany me to the beach for prayers. On getting there, we had break fast of with bread and egg and after some prayers, slept by the seashore. At 5am,she woke and demanded I take her home, even as I pleaded that she exercised some patience till full morning light, but she started shouting, so I took her in my car and was driving her home.

On reaching Ebute-Ero, she asked that I stop, after which she jumped out and ran into the street. When I could not restrain her, I called her father who then sent her sister and we began searching till 2pm when we later found her. I did not perform any rituals on her; neither did I sleep with her. The yellow garment she wore was meant for receiving some spiritual powers. I cannot explain what is happening to her, but believe that if given some palm oil and water to drink, she would be normal again”.

Group vows to address plight of street children OLUFEMI ADEOSUN ABUJA

con Global Foundation for Child Care and Human Right Defence, a Non Governmental Organisation, NGO, in conjunction with Association of Local Government in Nigeria, ALGON, has promised to provide a forum to address the plight of street children in the country. Executive Director of the organization, Hon. Ephrain Nwonu, said the forum would provide an avenue for the reclamation and rehabilitation of street children across the country who are daily exposed to vagaries of the society. He also stated that the forum would also create a platform for sensitisation of other NGOs and various others involved in child right issues, with a view to forming a synergy to take them off the streets. “The idea behind this stakeholder’s forum is to complement the efforts of government in addressing the plight of street children. We also believe that in doing so; we need to involve all stakeholders, especially those involved in local government administration. Our target is to sensitise people on the need to evolve a coordinated approach in dealing with the issue of child rights”. He said that for the administration to achieve its developmental agenda and set the country on path of peace and harmonious co-habitation, it must address the plight of thousands of teenagers on the streets. Also speaking on the forthcom-

ing conference, the Co-ordinator, National Council of Child Rights Advancement, Mr. Archibong Anderson, said the group has a short and long time project, explaining that the immediate goal is to network with the necessary stakeholders on child rights issues. Anderson, said since the ultimate goal was to put street children back into society mainstream, it was proper to form alliance with other NGOs to help the overall objective of their reclamation and rehabilitation. He said: “We have organisations that have varying skills and education centres across the country. The conference intends to bring them together with a view to sharing experiences on how best to address the plight of the numerous children on our streets.

A bus driver resisting arrest by a policeman at Oshodi bus stop, Lagos. PHOTO: TUNBOSUN OGUNDARE

Foundation to support community development initiatives MOJEED ALABI

he late Ambassador Olusola’s non-governmental organisationAfrican Refugees Foundation (AREF), has promised to mobilise and support individual and organizational initiatives aimed at protecting communities against environmental challenges of degradation and natural disasters. The Chief Executive Officer, Olujimi Olusola, said the decision was in response to the infrastructural decay and poor maintenance culture affecting

the society. According to Olujimi, the organisation would support individuals or groups with impactful proposals on how to save communities from further degradation, saying it was part of the agenda to mark the 20th anniversary coming next year. “It is unfortunate that several years after AREF collaborated with the Daily Times with sponsorship from UNDP and carried out a comprehensive research on the remote and immediate causes of flooding in Nigeria, we are yet to be out of the woods. It is of note, that having visited several states, we identified the

sources and solutions but after many years, our recommendations are yet to be implemented and the consequences are what we have now,” Jimi said. He said the problem is the overly reliance on government as this could not be sustained anywhere in the world. He, therefore, canvassed for masses-oriented initiatives such as filling potholes, planting trees, clearing drainages, among others. These initiatives would be supported through funding and adequate monitoring to achieve success. “We are not a wealthy organization, but we have goodwill

that sustains us, having been involved in many activities both within and outside Africa. Our contributions will be to use this goodwill to invite local and international partners for sponsorship but with adequate supervision and control. Because we cannot continue to look at people suffering the consequences of the loss of focus of the nation’s leadership, we feel by mobilizing the people to take up responsibility of erecting the structures that will practically address the challenges of water scarcity, flooding, diseases, poverty and insecurity, among others,” Jimi added.

Monday, October 15, 2012

Stars, teams rise and fall across Europe, Americas 54

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Sport

The thought about the new season is so exciting and I really can’t wait to get back in the groove –South African athlete, Caster Semenya

Governor’s Cup: Abinu, Shehu set for battle YEMI OLUS

Super Eagles celebrating after routing the Lone Star at the weekend in Calabar

AFCON 2013: NFF unfolds ‘Operation win cup’ AFOLABI GAMBARI

equel to the Super Eagles’ emphatic qualification for the Africa Nations Cup 2013 finals in South Africa, President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Alhaji Aminu Maigari, has said that the federation will deploy its resources to make the team win the cup. Nigeria first won the Afcon trophy as host in 1980 and would wait for 14 years before winning it again at the Tunisia 1994 finals, after which it won silver as host in 2000 before sliding to bronze in 2002, 2004, 2006 and 2010 and failed to qualify for the 2012 final which incidentally was the last in the even years as CAF ruled that the next edition would hold next year. “We will do everything to ensure that the team prepares very well to go to South Africa and lift the trophy in accordance with what President Goodluck Jonathan has tasked us to do,” an elated Maigari said yesterday. The NFF boss also commended the Golden Eaglets who defeated their Guinean counterparts 3-0 yesterday in Calabar in the first leg final round of the U-17 African Youth

Championship holding in 2013. “The result brought pleasure and I think the Eaglets will be able to clinch the AYC ticket in two weeks when they travel to Conakry,” he said, stressing, “The federation is pleased that Nigerian football is now steadily on the rise.” Meanwhile, Super Eagles coach, Stephen Keshi, has praised his wards for what he called excellent performance against the Lone Star of Liberia. “The boys where relaxed and expressed themselves and we got the most important thing which is the AFCON Results Malawi

Ghana

Botswana

Mali

Nigeria

Liberia

Uganda

Zambia

Senegal

CIV

Tunisia

S/Leone

Morocco

Mozambique

Cameroon

C/Verde

Angola

Zimbabwe

Ethiopia

Sudan

Niger

Guinea

Togo

Gabon

ticket to the Nations Cup,” Keshi said yesterday amidst speculation that he would take a short leave to visit his family in the United States before resuming to strategise for the Afcon finals scheduled for January.

bout nine Nigerians will begin intense battle for the $15, 000 and $25, 000 prize monies of Futures 1 Men and Women’s Singles respectively as the main draws of the 12th Governor’s Cup Lagos Tennis Championship begins today at the Lagos Lawn Tennis Club, Onikan. The tournament served off on Friday with qualifying matches and Nigeria’s Onyeka Mbanu, Umaru Balami, Emmanuel Idoko and Abdulmumini Babalola were handed wild cards by the Nigeria Tennis Federation (NTF) to join Shehu Lawal and Clifford Enosoregbe who got automatic tickets in the men’s category. The same gesture was accorded Fatimah Abinu, Sarah Adegoke, Adeyinka Thompson and Sarah

Ta z a f i n m a h a t r a t r a from Madagascar (Africa slot) in the women’s category. In the qualifiers decided on Sunday, Kehinde Alade upset Murphey Parker of USA 6-4,6-1 to book a ticket in the main draws, while John Otu defeated Japanese Yu Takahashi in straight sets of 6-2,6-1. The first leg ends on October 20 while the second would begin immediately with the same prize monies at stake. Russia’s Nina Bratchikova (93), who got to the second round of the Australian Open this year, is among the top players participating in the event that also has Chanel Simmonds of South Africa and Slovak Republic’s Dalila Jakupovic in the female category while the men’s event has Slovak Republic’s Kamil Capkovic, Japanese Kento Takeuchi and South Africa’s Ruan Roelofse in action.

Djokovic emerges Murray’s master

orld number two, Novak Djokovic, came back from the brink to deny number four, Andy Murray, a hat-trick of Shanghai Masters titles in a bad-tempered final yesterday. Djokovic saved five match points during the second set before pulling through 5-7 7-6 (13/11) 6-3 to claim his second tournament win in as many weeks and a measure of revenge for his US Open final defeat in the pair’s previous meeting. The Serb demolished his racket after surrendering his serve for the fourth time in the opening set, a break that handed Murray a 6-5 lead. The Scot, who had been broken three times himself to that point, duly served out the opener without alarm and took the initiative with another break for a 4-3 lead in the second set. Djokovic eventually prevailed 13-11 in a 20-minute plus breaker and, this time, it was Murray’s turn to take out his frustration on his equipment.

Novak Djokovic

Sport

Monday, October 15, 2012

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

T/tennis: Okenla-Ojeaga U-17 debuts

Barcelona’s Lionel Messi and Real Madrid’s Cristiano Ronaldo epitomize happenings in the past week

Stars, teams rise and fall across Europe, Americas FIFA.com’s latest stats review involves a tour of two continents, with derby milestones for Inter Milan’s Walter Samuel, Barcelona’s Lionel Messi and Real Madrid’s Cristiano Ronaldo, runs ended for both River Plate and Brad Friedel, and a mammoth crowd in the USA.

ixty-six thousand, four hundred and fifty-two people turned out to watch Seattle Sounders beat Portland Timbers 3-0 on Sunday, the second-largest crowd ever recorded at a stand-alone Major League Soccer match. The attendance fell just short of the record, which was set in the league’s first-ever game, when 69,255 turned out to watch Los Angeles Galaxy host New York Metro Stars at the Rose Bowl in 1996. It did, however, eclipse the Sounders’ own club record of 64,140, and leaves the Seattle outfit with an impressive average attendance of over 43,000 for the season. The biggest crowd ever to watch an MLS match was actually recorded six years ago, when 92,650 took in Chivas USA’s clash with New England. However, that game was the first part of a doubleheader, with the headline event a clash between Guadalajara and the visiting giant of Barcelona. Five hundred and fourty-seven days without a home win in Argentina’s top flight was the run that came to a welcome halt for River Plate on Sunday. Los Millonarios ended the streak in style too, putting five unanswered goals past Godoy Cruz to take their aggregate score in their last two matches to 9-0 and continue their ascent out of the relegation zone. River’s last home win had come on 9 April 2011, when Matias Almey-

da–the team’s current coach– laid on the only goal against Banfield for Mariano Pavone, a player who has since moved on twice, to Lanus and Mexico’s Cruz Azul. Among those on target in Sunday’s long-awaited sequel was Leonardo Ponzio, for whom a goal proved the perfect way to mark his 100th River appearance. Three hundred and ten consecutive Premier League appearances was the record sequence that came to an end for Brad Friedel of Tottenham Hotspurs on Sunday. The 41-year-old’s uninterrupted run had spanned almost eight years and spells at three different clubs, dating back to the end of the 2003/04 season. Though it is now at an end, it has left him well clear of his closest challengers, David James (230) and Tim Howard (190), while Gordon Strachan holds the record for an outfield player with 179. Friedel’s wasn’t the only run in north London to come to an end over the weekend. On Saturday, Olivier Giroud ended a six-match goalless run in the Premier League with a strike that helped secure Arsene Wenger’s 350th win in the English top flight. Ten Milan derbies, ten wins: that is Walter Samuel’s impressive record following Inter Milan’s 1-0 victory over their city rivals on Sunday. Better still, it was a diving header from the veteran defender himself that maintained this unblemished

record against AC Milan over the past seven years. The match also brought about another milestone for Samuel’s teammate and countryman Javier Zanetti, whose 45th appearance in the Derby della Madonnina took him beyond Giuseppe Bergomi’s club record. It was Inter’s seventh straight ‘away’ win in all competitions, while Milan was left to face up to having lost four of their opening seven league matches for the first time since 1941/42. Three consecutive Clasicos have now included goals from both Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, this after the superstar duo both found the net twice in Sunday’s 2-2 draw at Camp Nou. Ronaldo, in fact, has now scored in each of Real Madrid’s last six matches against Barcelona, setting a new benchmark and eclipsing the previous record of five set by Ivan Zamorano. Messi, for his part, now has 17 Clasico goals to his name and needs just one more to equal Alfredo Di Stefano’s record tally. The little Argentinian was also jointly responsible the last time two players scored twice in this keenly contested fixture, when he and Ruud van Nistelrooy each grabbed a brace in a 3-3 draw in 2007. Only once in the history of El Clasico has a player from either side grabbed a hat-trick, with Luis Belaunde (Madrid) and Paulino Alcantara (Barcelona) the players in question back in 1916.

ormer national table tennis player, Toyin Okenla-Ojeaga, has unfolded her plan to bankroll an Under-17 championship to contribute to unearthing talents and encouraging grassroots development. The Okenla-Ojeaga U-17 Table Tennis Championship which will be organised in conjunction with Office of Sports, Lagos State Ministry of Youth, Sports and Social Development , will see students from schools in Lagos contesting in the six-day tournament scheduled for January 21 to 26 2013 at the Mobolaji Johnson Sports Centre, Rowe Park, Yaba. According to the USA-based former table tennis star, the competition will compliment the efforts of the Lagos government at promoting and developing sports at grass-

roots level. “We want to use the tournament to inspire the young players to dream big in life,” the Bendel 1981 National Sports Festival medalist said. “This will be a yearly event competed for by the students because we also want to encourage the athletes not to neglect schools while still active,” she added. Okenla-Ojeaga described the current Director of Sports at the University of Lagos, Cecilia Arinye, as a role model for aspiring sports persons. “Despite Arinye’s immense commitment to the national team in her days, she never allowed her education to suffer and I think her story should also inspire today’s athletes to take their education serious while still active.”

Spotlight reforms for new season JAMES DANJUMA KATSINA

anagement of Katsina Spotlight club says it has embarked on reforms with a view to winning the premier league ticket for the 2012/2013 football season. Also known as Shema Boys, the club had made it to the last four in the just ended season. A statement by the Media Officer, Abubakar Moh’d, said the reform would see Spotlight poach players from clubs across the country ahead of the new season. “We also plan to establish a feeder team that will comprise 80 percent indigenous potential players that would be exposed and later graduated into the senior team,” the statement added, stressing that the club would overhaul the technical crew by

employing a new technical adviser and a chief coach. “We thank the Katsina State government for its financial support and we assure that we will work to win the premier league ticket,” the statement concluded.

Governor Shema

B’ball: Jemirota clinic gets date PRISCILLA DENNIS MINNA

lans have been concluded to dunk off the 4th Jemirota Basketball and Life Clinic in Minna, Niger State on October 20 and 30. Organisers said yesterday that the competition, organized by a United States-based NonGovernmental Organization (NGO) known as Time Out 4 Africa, would draw over 200 kids from the 25 local government councils of the state aged between 5 and 18 years. National Mirror learnt that this year’s clinic will be held in the memory late Barrister Joseph Kolo and Emmanuel Kolo who both contributed to the growth and triumphs of the annual organized by a United

State based None Governmental Organization (NGO), known as Time Out 4 Africa a united state based nonprofit sports organization. Director of the NGO, Mr. Jonathan Kolo, said the one-week clinic would feature the game’s basic skills acquisitions by the kids, including 3 on 3 competitions, free throws, 3 pointers and instructional clinic for both boys and girls, adding that the elimination rounds for all competitions will start on Thursday. “Medals and awards will be given to deserving winners and participants,” Kolo said. Meanwhile, the NGO boss has commended the Nigerian basketball team at the recent London 2012 Olympics, saying its performance has signaled a new beginning for the sport.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Sport

Monday, October 15, 2012

Battle of Liberia: How the Eagles flew

incent Enyeama: The Israel-based goalkeeper was on holidays for the better part of the one-sided game. He rose up to occasion to close up goal-bound Lone Star captain George Gebro, who was incidentally red carded for diving. Enyeama, who atoned for his disastrous outing in the first leg in Monrovia, was beaten once as the hapless Liberians got a reprieve. He had earlier denied Sekou Oliseh a chance at goal when he stretched to finger tip the ball for a corner. 5/10

IKENWA NNABUOGOR rates the Super Eagles’ performance as the Nigerians overran their Liberian foes in Calabar on Saturday.

Efe Ambrose: Apart from the opening goal the Celtic defender scored, he managed to raise his game. He was jittery especially in the first half, giving away the ball carelessly but got better as the game wore on and gradually entered the groove. He continued to combine with Victor Moses on the right as the Liberians soaked all pressure. 5/10 Elderson Echiejile: The Sporting Braga left back regained his place at left back after sitting out the first leg in Monrovia last month and proved he was not worth leaving out of the team. Played with maturity and has now shown he has come of age. He joined the attack at will and still recovered to discharge his defensive duties. But was nowhere near Sekou Oliseh, who released the pass for substitute Ronaldinho to pull one back. 7/10 Azubuike Egwuekwe: The big central defender took charge in the absence of captain Joseph Yobo, who missed the game due to injury. He proved a handful for the speedy and fit Liberian frontline spearheaded by Oliseh and matched them in everything they could muster. But he would be blamed for the lone goal the visitors scored as his marking was sloppy. 7/10. Godfrey Oboabana: Drafted to the central defence due to the absence of Yobo, to form an all home-based pair. The Sunshine Stars defender combined well with Egwuekwe to cut off the Liberians. He was jittery in the first half but was forced to up his game as the game progressed but proved he could rise to the occasion and will now look forward to moving abroad to continue his development. 6/10. Obiora Nwankwo: A completely improved Nwankwo surprised even himself with his impressive display on Saturday. He was a shadow of his himself in the first leg in Monrovia but turned a new leaf, breaking the visitors’ rhythm, distributing the ball effectively, combining well with Mikel and enjoying a superb team play. 7/10 John Obi Mikel: Certainly the best Eagle in the rainy Calabar afternoon and probably one of his best games for his country. He orchestrat-

Chelsea duo Victor Moses (l) and John Obi Mikel turned Lone Star of Liberia inside out in Calabar

ed the midfield with relative ease, set up two goals and helped himself with a goal from the spot. His vision and passes were sources of worry for the bewildered Lone Star who resorted to bringing him down in a bid to stop him. 8/10 Nosa Igiebor: Managed to assert himself in the game but largely contended with the rough marking from the visitors. But he still got a job done. He was upended by keeper Nathaniel Sherman and the resultant penalty was converted by Mikel. 6/10 Victor Moses: The Eagles’ tormentor-in-chief and the visitors’ kill joy. The only thing the visitors didn’t do well was to injure him as he consistently defied their rough tackles to post a solid performance which he capped with a brace, his first for his country. The Chelsea star, who had

plenty of time to show boat and frustrated the visitors more, will now be glad to give his all in subsequent Eagles’ games. 8/10 Ahmed Musa: The Russia-based star was too hot for Liberia who struggled with his pace, skill and trickery. He scored the second goal and provided the delightful cross which Ambrose headed in for the opener. Although he showed a bit of selfishness, he was very effective. 7/10 Emmanuel Emenike: He was the target of the cynical Liberian defenders who refused to let him play his game. He was hacked down more than any player on the pitch before he made way for Brown Ideye in the second half. He provided the assist for Musa’s goal. He received a knock and asked to be substituted. 6/10.

Subs: Ikechukwu Uche: The Eagles’ talisman surprisingly started from the bench, replaced Emenike in the second half and wasted no time in getting in the goal scoring mood. Twice he was denied a chance at goal but was third time lucky when he scored the fifth goal. He looked sharp for a brace but was not lucky. The Spain-based striker has now netted 18 times for his country. 7/10 Brown Ideye: Almost got a close but for the brilliance of Sherman. But he had little time to battle for his own share of goal. 4/10 Ogenyi Onazi: He played in the last 10 minutes and proved he was worth another chance. Would have capped his debut with a goal but chose to shoot wide. 5/10

WORLD RECORD

First documented animal execution Vol. 02 No. 469

Made in Osogbo for Nigeria

t is a common practice amongst social scientists and political philosophers that occupy themselves with the thought of how best to manage or improve their countries and world to seek and study model places that they could use as examples to embody their ideas, and to convince those that should care about what to aspire, to become. Nowhere is perfect, hence, models are hard to find. Thinkers are therefore, forced to find their models in three ways: mostly by digging into the past, sometimes by cutting and pasting pieces from various states or even by inventing their own imaginary states. History and political literature is full of such examples. Three of my favourites come from Niccolo Machiavelli, JeanJacques Rousseau and Thomas More.

N150

Monday, October 15, 2012

The capital punishment of animals dates back to at least the early medieval period, with the earliest known documented case involving a pig tried and burnt for eating a child. The trial of the infanticidal pig took place in 1266 in Fontenay-aux-Roses, France, and was overseen by the monks of St Genevieve.

ejected Lewis Hamilton has conceded his hopes of winning his second world title are now over for this year after he endured a dismal Korean GP yesterday. The 2008 Champion headed into the race facing an uphill task to win on the back of two disappointing races, but a strong third

NOTES FROM CAMBRIDGE Anthony A. Kila

anthonykila@mail.com Whilst Machiavelli is known mostly for his short digest “The Prince”, most scholars agree that his most scientific and significant work is actually “Discourses on Livy” in which he used the ancient Rome as an example of what a republic should be. Rousseau in his classic, “The Social Contract”, used Geneva as a model city where men were free. Sir More invented his own Utopia to illustrate a perfect society. As we look at the problems facing Nigeria and try to find best international practices and ideal types of solutions to offer to those in charge of affairs, one of the recurrent comments most touted is “this is Nigeria, that idea cannot work here!” Those who make such comments base it on two main elements: their knowledge of Nigeria because they live there (or their being on ground as they say in the Nigerian parlance) and the so-called peculiarity of Nigeria. It is a clear sense that people do not know where to start. Well, let us start from little things because little things matter and we can start from Osogbo. A judgement recently passed in an Osogbo Magistrate’s Court by Mr. Olusola Aluko has earned him and those involved in that case a place in Nigerian legal history, and it should be used as a reference point for individuals in their daily dealings. The case, for those that missed it, saw as defendant Mr. SB, a tailor, brought to court for taking money and failing to

IT MAY VERY WELL BE TRUE THAT WE NEED A REVOLUTION IN

NIGERIA

TO PUT THE BIG THINGS

RIGHT, BUT BEFORE AND BEYOND THAT WE NEED TO GET THESE LITTLE THINGS RIGHT.

sew a suit as agreed, that is, he breached a contract. Now, a lot of us would have seen that happen to us many times. The builder that does not show up, the plumber that delays, the house painter that spends more time than agreed and the clearing agent that disappears only to come up with reasons and explanations. In all these cases, we just accept as a fact of life or as “the Nigerian factor” and we deal with such incidents with perseverance, patience but with no consequence. I have in many occasions argued against such behaviours. Luckily for us, Mr. Adebiyi Fasoro, the client from whom Mr. SB, the tailor took money does not think breaching a contract is just a Nigerian factor. After giving the tailor N7, 000 out of the agreed N13, 000 and not seeing his suit on the agreed day and place, he took up the matter, reported it to the

police and went to court where the tailor was found guilty and sentenced to three months imprisonment for obtaining money under false pretence. One might wonder and ask if this is not too harsh on a poor tailor, in a land wherein business tycoons in collusion with politicians, auditors and other inspectors are stealing and squandering billions of naira. No. It is a matter of principle and little things matter on principle. It may very well be true that we need a revolution in Nigeria to put the big things right, but before and beyond that we need to get these little things right. Two of the essential elements of the modern state, with its development and progress, we terribly need are certainty and consequence. For us to see prosperity and peace we must be able to count on everyone respecting his/her promises and diligently doing his/her duties. Being certain that individuals, businesses and the government will play their part and being clear of what consequences that will follow if they don’t is not a political factor. It comes from private law and in particular contract law, but it goes beyond that; it is a philosophy and a way of life that makes it needless for us to seek a big lucky or charismatic lone hero. All we need is merely a country where there is the certainty that everybody will do his/her little bits. As agreed, let teachers teach, cleaners clean, coaches coach, the press report, the police protect, auditors audit and hospitals treat the sick. All we need is merely a country where everyone knows there will be some consequences for his/her actions or inactions: You can’t beg, bribe or brag your way out of anything. With the Osogbo case as a model of behavior, it is a matter of time for us all to fall in line. Today it is the tailor; tomorrow might be the turn of the politicians and their contractor friends.

Sport Extra

F1: Hamilton gives up hope on title chase on the grid had given him hope of challenging Red Bull for the victory. However, Hamilton’s race proved one setback after another. He was first passed by Fernando Alonso at the first corner and

then, around the time of the first pit stops, started struggling with both his tyres and for general performance, and later confirmed that his MP4-27 had suffered a suspension failure. “Well I guess the pressure is

now off,” he said after slipping 62 points off the title pace with just 100 remaining. “It’s tough because it’s so much work from the team, so much work from myself and all the people around,” he added. NFF President, HamiltonAminu Maigari

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