Oteh blasts Reps over SEC delegation walk-out TOLA AKINMUTIMI ABUJA
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he Director-General, Securities and Exchange Commis-
Vol. 2 N0. 507
sion, Ms. Arunma Oteh, has blasted the House of Representatives’ Committee on Capital Market for throwing out SEC’s delegation from budget de-
Babalakin under EFCC surveillance in hospital
fence hearing on Tuesday. Oteh’s Communications Advisor, Mr. Obi Adindu, who spoke on behalf of the DG, described the treat-
Oshiomhole indicts police over Auchi bank robbery
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Thursday, December 6, 2012
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Our constitution enthrones mediocrity, says Sanusi ...accuses ministers of irrelevance
TOLA AKINMUTIMI ABUJA
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he Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Mallam Lamido Sanusi, yesterday said that the application of the federal character principle over merit in the appointment of ministers had enthroned a culture of mediocrity in government. He said that most of the 200 ministers appointed since 1999 could not be remembered for any achievement. Sanusi also reacted to the barrage of attacks he received from the public for canvassing massive downsizing of public sector workforce. He insisted that there were political and constitutional issues that needCONTINUED ON PAGE 2>>
Jonathan
Nigeria ranks 35th most corrupt country
...FG faults rating
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Rivers State Volleyball team celebrating winning gold at the ongoing National Sports Festival in Lagos, yesterday. PHOTO: ADEMOLA AKINLABI
Oil communities demand direct derivation payment Dangote closes Gboko cement plant
Rape victim weeps as court strikes out case against Army colonel x
P.2,32 P.12
Nollywood star, Enebeli Elebuwa, dies in Indian hospital P.3
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National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net
Oil communities demand direct derivation payment TOLA AKINMUTIMI ABUJA
O
il producing communities in the Niger Delta have demanded that the 13 per cent derivation revenue accruing to six states from the Federation Account be paid to them directly. The communities, in their letter to the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission, RMAFC, are also asking for
the setting up of a derivation board whose members shall be recommended for appointment by the President on the advice of the leaders of the oil and gas communities. The letter dated November 19, 2012 was signed by elders from six oil producing states of Edo, Ondo, Akwa Ibom, Rivers, Delta and Bayelsa states, under the aegis of Oil and Gas Communities of Nigeria. Our correspondent gath-
ered yesterday that the communities recommended that the derivation board should comprise of an executive chairman, secretary and members from the affected communities as well as a member from RMAFC. They also suggested that the position of the chairman, which will be for a four-year term, be rotated among the communities. The leaders of the communities averred that their present demand was in
line with the position of RMAFC in its submission on new revenue formula to the 6th National Assembly where it stated that 13 per cent derivation fund was not part of any state government’s consolidated revenue. Part of the letter reads: “The 13 per cent derivation fund belongs exclusively to the oil and gas producing communities which are the source of derivation. “The oil facilities, flow
L-R: Ministers: Ms. Amal Pepple (Housing); Mr. Darius Ishaku (State for Niger Delta); Princess Stella Oduah (Aviation); Sen. Bala Mohammed (FCT) and Prof. Viola Onwuliri (State, Foreign Affairs 1), at the Federal Executive Council meeting in Abuja, yesterday.
stations and others are located in the producing communities where exploration, exploitation and production are being carried out, causing monumental degradation, pollution and health hazard. “Thirteen per cent derivation fund is compensation and reparation for loss of fishing rights and loss of productive farmland. “In order to put this issue in proper perspective, a reproduction of Section 162 (2) of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 as amended thereof is imperative at this juncture. “That section provides that ‘the federation shall maintain a special account to be called the Federation Account’ into which shall be paid all revenues collected by the government of the federation except the proceeds from income tax of the personnel of the armed forces of the federation, the Nigeria Police Force, the ministry or any department of government charged with foreign affairs and the residents of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.” The aggrieved elders noted that their people be-
lieved that the 13 per cent derivation fund currently being managed by the governors in the oil and gas producing states was an aberration. “Indeed, having clearly set aside the mandatory 13 per cent derivation under the proviso to Section 162 (2) thereof, it becomes an entrenched right standing on its own. “Accordingly, it must be treated sui generis of its own kind and specially too. Thus it does not form part of any Federal Government or state government’s Consolidated Revenue Fund,” they said. It will be recalled that the RMAFC had recently supported the position of the oil communities when it called for the review of the enabling law The commission noted that the law “constitutes an encumbrance to the operations of the 13 per cent derivation principles of the Federation Accounts.” The Chairman of the RMAFC, Mr. Elias Mbam, had said this when Ijaw oil producing areas of Egbema, Gbaramatu and Ogulagha kingdoms in Delta State demanded that their share of 27 per cent of the CONTINUED ON PAGE 5>>
Our constitution enthrones mediocrity, says Sanusi CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
ed to be addressed for the country to make progress. The CBN governor spoke during the Financial Regulators Forum debate at the ongoing 18th edition of the Nigerian Economic Summit in Abuja. He said: “The constitution says that there must be a minister from every state of the federation. Let me ask you, as intelligent and as educated human beings, what is the connection between the number of states and the number of ministries at the federal level and the number of states? “We are talking about federal character, so if you have 50 states today, you must have 50 ministries, if you have a 100 states you must have 100 ministries. “So, if we create a state for the South-East since they say they want more one state, then you must have one more minister and create a ministry even if we don’t need it.
“So, because you have created one more state the Federal Government must have a minister from that state.” Sanusi explained that between 1999 till date, the nation had so many ministers many of whom Nigerians could not really remember. “We have had more than 200 ministers and how many of them can we really remember because they are so many and their jobs are so poorly defined and no one can remember them for anything they did,” the CBN governor said. He listed one of the areas in the polity that needed to be addressed urgently is the federal character principle which, he noted, had now occupied the place of merit. “These are political issues we have to address as a country. We have a constitution that makes it impossible for us to develop. “By definition, you are
required by law that the President must appoint a minister from every state. So, you have 36, and there is a system now where after the 36 again, because of the federal character you now have one per geopolitical zone so you have 42. “We cannot develop if we continue to have so much of our resources where government is spending 70 per cent of the nation’s revenue on itself and leaving 30 per cent on the people. Is that a sensible situation?” Sanusi lashed at those calling for his sack, saying that would not solve the problem. He urged Nigerians to face reality and ask themselves some pertinent questions like why no African country had adopted Nigeria’s political structure. Sanusi said: “So, if you sack the Governor of Central Bank, does it make it to become more sensible?
Does it change anything? It is not the solution; the solution is to face this reality. Now we are amending the constitution, why do we need 500 legislators? “And let’s ask ourselves why is it that no African country has adopted this political structure, only Nigeria – not even South Africa. I am a strong believer of diversity but as a country, we have taken this diversity beyond a reasonable limit. We have focused so much on diversity and have succeeded in enthroning mediocrity so long as the diversity requirement is met.” The apex bank chief restated that government cannot continue to spend 70 per cent of the nation’s revenue on itself or recurrent expenditure and commit only 30 per cent of the federal budget on millions of Nigerians and still expect that sustainable development is feasible. He addded: “These are political issues we have to
address as a country. We have a constitution that makes it impossible for us to develop. By definition, you are required by law that the President must appoint a minister from every state. “People say everything is about politics and let us go to the politics of it. For those of you who were in Warri, this is a country where we have 774 local government councils. In each council you have a chairman and a vice- chairman and maybe 10 councillors and some other aides. “Take a state like Kano, which used to be one state. But now it is Kano and Jigawa. When it was one state you have one governor and maybe nine or 10 commissioners. I went to King’s College, Lagos and Ahmadu Bello University on Kano State government scholarship. My parents didn’t pay. “I was in King’s College and the state government even paid for my rail ticket from Lagos to Kano and
back and I wasn’t the only one. “Now what do you have, that one state has become two states , two governors, two deputy governors, 40 commissioners, maybe 80 legislators and only God knows how many special advisers and assistants.” He maintained that the issue was not about the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, or Trade Union Congress, TUC, or the President or the National Assembly, but about Nigeria as a country and about deciding whether the present constitution that she has chosen makes sense. Other discussants at the forum include the Director-General, Securities and Exchange Commission, Ms. Arunmah Oteh; the Director General, National Pension Commission, Mr. Muhammad Ahmad and the Managing Director, Financial Derivatives Company Limited, Mr. Bismarck Rewane, amongst others.
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Thursday, December 6, 2012
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Movie icon, Enebeli Elebuwa, dies in Indian hospital Nollywood mourns as the 65-year-old 'Andrew' ‘checks out’ finally
Three weeks ago, pictures of Enebeli Elebuwa showed a man getting over his health challenges in an Indian hospital, but he passed on early hours of Wednesday, aged 65. NGOZI EMEDOLIBE writes.
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s the news of the death of Enebeli Elebuwa broke yesterday from complications arising from stroke, what readily came to many minds was his iconic role in a 2001 movie, Weep No More. In the film, the actor played a patient bedridden with stroke, who after series of treatments, survived and returned to his normal activities. The plot in the movie shares a lot with his real life in the past few months, save from the fact that he failed to survive. He succumbed to death at the age of 65 in an Indian hospital forcing Nollywood, friends and family to Weep More. Elebuwa, the consummate showman came to the consciousness of Nigerians in the early 80s, when he featured as Andrew in a popular commercial on the network service of the Nigerian Television Authority, NTA. His character was a young Nigerian, desperate to seek greener pastures abroad, frustrated by the dysfunctional system in the country. Ironically, he appeared a victim of the circumstances his character was running away from, considering that he was flown to India for medical treatment, 24 years (or thereabouts) after he campaigned for a better Nigeria. In death, he would be remembered as movie actor, who lived his life like a film running in a cinema. His ordeal has always had something to do with the month of November. Four years ago, on November 28, he had had a rough encounter that almost left him blind at a Mobil Filling Station in Aguda, Surulere, Lagos. It was a Fri-
Enebeli (in wheelchair)surrounded by his kinsmen in India last month
Enebeli Elebuwa on a wheelchair
Enebeli with Olu Jacobs at St Luke's Hospital, Yaba
Enebeli receiving treatment in India
day, and Enebeli Elebuwa and other motorists had queued at the petrol station to get fuel when suddenly one Onyeka Dike, a business man drove in, displacing everyone on the long queue. It led to protests and Enebeli, apparently counting on his stardom and ‘ambassador of peace’ role tried to mediate, by telling Onyeka that he was wrong. That earned him a stab on the left eye, which almost made him blind. While alive, he had described the encounter thus: “We were on a moving queue when this young man came from nowhere and wanted to jump the queue with his car, but other law-abiding motorists protested but the man refused. That was when I alighted from my car and was trying to plead with him to follow due process. But to my consternation, he started cursing and shouting my full name
and told me to get out of his sight. When I tried again to calm him down, he started abusing me and boasted that my being an actor does not mean he cannot deal with me and nothing would happen. I later got closer and asked him, if I was not old enough to be his father. I had not finished saying this when he brought out a sharp object and stabbed me in the eyes at a close range and I immediately passed out.” Some three years later, on another November morning, the actor noticed numbness on one of his limbs, and by the time he was taken to the St Luke’s Hospital in Yaba, Lagos, he was confirmed to be down with stroke. This forced him to be on admission at the hospital for two months, a period that saw many of his colleagues in the movie industry literally asking for funds to pay his bills. But there
was little improvement, prompting his movement to another health centre in Lagos, where a Pentecostal pastor, named Sign Fireman of the Perfect Christianity Ministry came into the picture, offering to help with spiritual healing. This encounter would eventually end in controversies, as pictures and videos of his encounter with the pastor at the church in Surulere, suffused online, with claims that the actor had been healed! At that point however,, the actor was lying critically ill at the Primus Medical Centre in Abuja, waiting to be referred to India for further treatment. His ordeal appeared to be getting by him, when last month pictures of the actor and his Ndokwa, Delta State kinsmen resident in New Delhi, India showed a man that was getting better, which was why the news of his death yesterday came as a surprise to many including his governor, Emmanuel Uduaghan, who sources say did not spared any resources in making sure
Nollywood star, Susan Peters visiting Enebeli in the Lagos hospital
the actor got back to acting. Richard Mofe Damijo, his colleague in the world of arts, who is also the Delta State commissioner of culture and tourism, confirmed the news came as a shock to people in the state. “I spoke to him last week and he was in great spirits and was thanking the government for taking care of him. He told me he was much better and walking with his feet. In fact we were even beginning to think of his return. He will be greatly missed.” In Nollywood, it has been a harvest of eulogies. The secretary of the Actors Guild of Nigeria, AGN, Yakubu Abubakar, said the death means a huge loss for the industry. “I have known him since our days at the NTA. He was a nice and disciplined man, who was nice to work with”. Emeka Rollas called his demise another dark day for the industry. “It is a dark day for Nollywood. I pray that his soul will rest in peace.” Segun Arinze said: “I am short of words, because I believed he would soon be with us again”. Emmanuel Oguguo captured
his emotions thus: “It is a great loss for us. We will miss his professionalism and dedication to duty. We will mis his friendship”. In death, his numerous works would actually speak for him beyond what his friends and colleagues may have said. In his career which spanned about four decades, Enebeli traversed the various platforms of artistic expression. He not only played a cursory role in the bands of late Sunny Okosun but also that of Victor Olaiya. He acted in feature celluloid films like: Oyenusi, Dinner with the Devil, and Bisi the Daughter of the River. At the advent of the home video culture, he was deeply involved as well leading to appearances in over one hundred and fifty movies. Enebeli, who hailed from Ukpane in Otagunu Local Government Area of Delta State, was married and had four children. Perhaps, his wishes for the relatives, he left behind could be captured in the title of another popular movie he featured in, Dry My Tears.
PhotoNews
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Thursday, December 6, 2012
L-R: Special Adviser to Lagos State governor on Public Health, Dr. Yewande Adesina; Senior Sales Manager, Multipro Enterprises Ltd, Mr. Jude Nzeata and Lagos State Deputy Governor, Mrs. Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, at the grand finale of the 2nd round of 2012 Maternal, Newborn and Child Health Week in Lagos, yesterday. PHOTO: BAYOOR EWUOSO
Former Director-General, Legal Aids Council, Mrs. Uju Hassan-Baba (left) handing over a fiveyear review report of the Police Duty Solicitor Scheme in Nigeria to her successor, Mrs. Joy Bob-Manuel in Abuja, yesterday. PHOTO: NAN
National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net
L-R: Head of Department (HOD), Biomedical Engineering, College of Medicine, University of Lagos, Dr. Akinniyi Osuntoki; President, Lagos University Medical Society, Dr. Chikodi Anigbogu; Chairman of the occasion, Prof. Albert Ebuehi; HOD, Radiotheraphy, LUTH, Prof. Aderemi Ajekigbe and HOD, Medical Microbiology, Prof. Folashade Ogunshola, at the 2012 Annual Scientific Conference in Lagos, yesterday.
L-R: Chief Executive Officer, OHTV, Mr. Akin Salami; Managing Director, Mnet Africa, Mrs. Biola Alabi; Nollywood star, Omotola Jolade-Ekeinde and Chief Creative Officer, IFactory, Mr. Michael Djaba, during the unveiling of Omotola: The Real Me reality TV show in Lagos, yesterday. PHOTO: YINKA ADEPARUSI
National News
FG not building N2.2bn banquet hall –Minister Faults transparency International’s corruption rating Govt plans new city to commemorate 1914 amalgamation
ROTIMI FADEYI ABUJA
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he Federal Government has denied plans to build a new Banquet Hall. The Federal Capital Territory, FCT Minister, Bala Mohammed, made the denial yesterday at a press briefing on the outcome of the Federal Executive Council, FEC, meeting, while clarifying issues surrounding the N2.2 billion Presidential Banquet Hall. Mohammed said the government was planning to build a mini multi-purpose hall near the office of the President for the hosting of Heads of State and other important dignitaries. He said: “I must say it is not a substitution or a duplication of what we already have as the main banquet hall which is not going to serve the purpose for which we are building the multi-purpose hall. “The facility is a multi-
purpose hall where the President will host his colleagues or other persons of similar importance when they visit the Presidential Villa. “The existing Banquet Hall is not user-friendly, there are so many components that are absent and we are trying to procure some things to add to the facilities that would be available in this proposed mini multi-purpose hall that would be close to the President’s office.” Mohammed added that the building of the multipurpose hall was in the FCT statutory budget. He noted that the existing Banquet Hall would still be used for the purpose of concert and other social events. Also at the briefing, the Minister of Information, Mr. Labaran Maku, disclosed government’s plan to build a new city near Abuja within FCT, which would be wholly financed by the private sector. The new city is part of
the centenary celebration of the 1914 amalgamation of the country. Maku said the city would have the necessary facilities to reflect the culture and tradition of the country. According to him, the project would be devoid of government’s involvement.
Maku also picked holes in the method used by Transparency International, TI, in rating Nigeria as the 35th corrupt nation of the world. He said both the TI report and a recent Gallup Poll which also showed that Nigeria was among
corrupt countries globally were products of interactions with Nigerians and synopsis of negative media reports. According to him, the perception of corruption in the country is a creation of both the people and the media who fail to appreciate the steps taken by the present administration to fight corruption. He said: “If there are
areas where things are not been done right, journalists should follow up.” Also speaking on the agricultural transformation agenda of the present administration, the Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Akinwunmi Adesina, said agriculture had moved from being a development programme to a business venture.
Host community shuts Shell’s flow station EMMA GBEMUDU YENAGOA
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he feud between Nembe communities in Bayelsa State and Shell Petroleum Development Company, SPDC, deepened yesterday as the indigenes said they could no longer guarantee the safety of staff of the firm in the area. The community said it had withdrawn the security provided for the company’s oil pipelines and workers in the area. The community has also
shut down one of the company’s flow stations. The Chairman, Oil and Gas Committee in Nembe, Chief Nengi James, who disclosed this at a press conference yesterday in Yenagoa, said the indigenes were prepared to resist any attempt to cow them until their demands were met. James listed their grouse to include the brazen undermining of the traditional stool of the paramount ruler of Nembe, King Edmund Dakoru, total collapse of electricity, incessant gas flaring, inadequacy of de-
velopmental commitments and unjust marginalisation of indigenes. But SPDC’s spokesman in Port Harcourt, Precious Okolobo, said in a statement that it was the company’s policy to resolve grievances through dialogue. He said: “SPDC has enjoyed longstanding cordial relationship with communities in Nembe area and jointly we have implemented projects that have helped to improve lives and develop infrastructure. “Of note is the highly successful GMoU initiative
which has seen the Nembe GMoU Cluster Board transform into a foundation.” However, James said SPDC had been exploring oil in Nembe for several years without road linking the community, coupled with the pollution of its creeks and rivers by the oil giant exploration activities. Stressing that Shell produces 120,000 barrels of crude oil per day and operates four flow stations in the area, the chairman alleged that the community had been neglected in terms of development.
National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net
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Thursday, December 6, 2012
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Oteh blasts Reps over SEC delegation walk-out CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
ment meted out to the SEC delegation by the committee as a continuation of a war of attrition against her. He told National Mirror that the action of the committee was part of “the acting of an old script written by some members of the House, of which some episodes had been witnessed in the past.” Adindu, who confirmed that the SEC team was formally invited to appear before the committee, said rather than attend to the delegation or admit that the invitation was extended in error, the committee embarrassed the team “in pursuit of the selfish agenda of some members determined to impose their will on the
country.” Recalling the genesis of the face-off between Oteh and the House of Representatives members, Adindu said what transpired at the committee level on Tuesday and their past disposition to the commission had nothing to do with realities at the stock exchange, which had been showing signs of recovery as a result of the DG’s reform drive in the capital market. The advisor added that even when the House of Representatives’ resolutions on the capital market had not enjoyed any support or endorsement of operators in the market and an independent audit carried out on Project 50 by PricewaterhouseCoopers
had absolved the DG of allegations levelled against her, the legislators remained resolute to force Oteh out in pursuit of “their parochial selfish” interest. He said: “They made a mistake by sending an invitation, which we honoured as a legally compliant corporate citizen of Nigeria and then they turned around as usual in their way to create drama out of their own error. If you have been watching, a few elements among them, people who are motivated by selfish interest, have been misrepresenting the state of the Nigerian capital market. “You will observe some positive developments in the capital market over the past two years and this is
because Oteh’s reforms on market integrity, around a stronger corporate regime, are impacting on the market. So, these people, because they are extremely selfish, they are disinterested in the importance of the market, in the welfare and well-being of Nigerians which the economic and resuscitated capital market will engender, they continue to undermine national interest as they continued to pursue their parochial selfish purpose. “You are aware that they have declared in their imperial might that they will have no dealings with the Securities and Exchange Commission until Oteh is removed as DirectorGeneral. In their imperial
arrogance, they have made that declaration. Obviously, these people are megalomaniacs and it is clear that they will stop at nothing in this their blackmail of both the executive and those that are committed to reforming the system.” A delegation of the SEC was on Tuesday ordered out of the National Assembly by the House of Representatives’ Committee on Finance. Chairman of the committee, Hon. Abdulmumin Jubril (PDP-Kano), said that the committee ordered the delegation out of the Hearing Room 028 (House Wing) in line with an ear-
Oil communities demand direct derivation payment CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2
Members of Women Arise during a programme titled: Civic education on improving legislature-constituency relations through theatre, in Lagos, yesterday.
lier resolution by the lower House to cut ties with the commission until the Director-General, Oteh, was sacked for “gross incompetence” corruption and flouting of the SEC law. “As you well know, the House of Representatives passed a resolution that we were not having anything to do with you (SEC) until our resolution on the commission is respected. So, you can please leave us now,” Jubril said. The leader of the SEC delegation, Mr. Abatcha Bulama, was ordered out of the hall by Hon. Jubril as he introduced himself and his team.
13 per cent derivation fund accruing to Delta State be paid directly to them. He noted that the existing law on the joint account had continued to hamper development of the grassroots. Mbam explained that the objective of the 13 per cent derivation from monthly allocation was that it should be used to develop oil-producing communities, suffering from the impact of environmental degradation occasioned by oil exploration in their domain. The RMAFC boss noted that the law had been a hindrance to channelling such
allocations to the rural communities directly bearing the negative impact of oil exploration in their domains “since the law confers absolute control of the fund on governors rather than local council chairmen.” Mbam, therefore, sought for an amendment to the enabling law on the joint account to allow local government councils take direct control and administration of all funds meant for them. He added that the ongoing review of the revenue allocation formula would address some of the grievances of beneficiaries of the Federation Account in a just, fair and equitable way.
Babalakin under EFCC surveillance in hospital K AYODE K ETEFE AND K ENNY ODUNUKAN
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i-Courtney Ltd has alleged that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has been detaining its Chairman, Dr. Wale Babalakin, since Tuesday, despite a pending suit at a Federal High Court in Lagos. This was disclosed in a statement by the company’s spokesman, Mr. Dipo Kehinde, which was made available to National Mirror yesterday. The company claimed that it obtained from
sources at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, LUTH, IdiAraba, Lagos, that over 20 EFCC operatives, including armed mobile policemen, besieged the hospital, where the businessman had been on admission since last week Wednesday, to arrest him, despite his precarious health. The statement added: “The EFCC operatives were, however, prevented from carrying out their mission by the management of the hospital, which denied them access to the ward where Babalakin is admitted. “After failing in their
mission, the EFCC operatives resorted to physical and psychological harassment of Babalakin by stationing several policemen and plainclothes operatives at the entrance of his ward, thereby restricting his movement, in clear contravention of the court ruling that directed the EFCC to stay all action relating to the case it has against him, pending the determination of the suit before it. “This is a new trend in judicial administration in Nigeria and it reflects desperation by EFCC to violate provisions of the law and constitution in
order to circumvent justice, and a violation of the basic human rights of the citizens. “It is noteworthy that this brings back sad memories of the days of Gen. Sani Abacha, when the rights of Nigerians were trampled upon with ease.” But the EFCC yesterday denied the allegation that its operatives stormed the LUTH to harass or arrest Babalakin. Speaking to National Mirror, the Head of the Media and Publicity Unit of the EFCC, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, debunked the claim that the commission stormed the hospital
to arrest Babalakin. Uwujaren said: “There is nothing like storming LUTH in commando fashion to effect any arrest. “EFCC does not act like that. The truth is that Babalakin is under surveillance by our men. Nobody has gone to arrest him. When you put somebody under surveillance, he may not even see those watching him. Our men are not even in uniform. “EFCC is there in consonance with a court order which directed the commission to verify his claim of being hospitalised and ascertain whether it is true. EFCC
has not done anything outside that.” Also speaking with National Mirror, the Public Relations Officer of LUTH, Mrs. Hope Nwawilo, said: “I have not been in the office for the past one week and, therefore, not in position to confirm the report.” It will be recalled that a judge of Ikeja High Court, Justice Adeniyi Onigbanjo, had during the botched arraignment of Babalakin for money laundering last Thursday, directed the EFCC to go to LUTH to verify the claim that Babalakin had been hospitalised for some undisclosed ailment.
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National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net
Why we seek power to disqualify candidates –INEC OMEIZA AJAYI ABUJA
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he Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has said that its demand for power to disqualify candidates standing for elections was in the interest of the nation’s electoral process. According to the Chief Press Secretary to the INEC Chairman, Kayode Idowu, the electoral body, as a critical stakeholder in the nation’s political pro-
cess, has rights to make its input in the ongoing attempts to review the 1999 Constitution. The commission asked that it be allowed to concentrate on its job, adding that it would not want to be drawn into any unnecessary controversy. It will be recalled some opposition parties specifically condemned the commission’s request, claiming that with such power, INEC would mar the electoral process because it would develop a proclivity
towards dictatorship as well as become a willing tool in the hand of the President, who appoints its chairman. The commission, in a document submitted to the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, who is the Chairman of the National Assembly’s Constitutional Review Committee, recommended 19 proposals, but its request for more powers to disqualify candidates standing for elections in future had drawn the ire
of some parties. But in a telephone interview with National Mirror last night, Mr. Idowu said he would not want to react to other persons’ reaction. He asked: “Why should I be reacting to their reactions” “People are free to make their suggestions known to the lawmakers even as others are also free to criticize such actions.” He said the constitution review was an opportunity for stakeholders
to make their positions known on any issue. Idowu said: “The Senate called for suggestions. We have made our suggestions. Everyone is free to make their views or sug-
gestions known. “There is a national debate going on and as a critical stakeholder in the Nigerian project, we have made our position known.”
Boko Haram plans to attack military barracks –JTF INUSA NDAHI MAIDUGURI
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he Boko Haram Islamic sect is planning to launch a massive attack on one of the military barracks in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital. In a statement made available to journalists yesterday in Maiduguri, the Joint Task Force (JTF) spokesman, Lt- Col. Sagir Musa, said information available to the security agency indicated clandestine plans by the Boko Haram sect to attack military barracks in Maiduguri, particularly the 21 Armoured Brigade popularly called Giwa barracks which has been one of the
places holding hundreds of suspected terrorists. The statement reads: “The JTF wishes to warn terrorists that such exercise will be disastrous, counter-productive as it will massively jeopardise the security of their members in military custody. “JTF wishes to use this opportunity to alert and urge the Giwa barracks host community, particularly owners of houses bordering the barracks to be watchful and quickly alert the JTF of any suspicious movement within their respective vicinity through the following JTF hot lines: 080-64174066, 070-85464012 and 08154429346.”
Senators flay uneven spread of federal roads construction Three suspected Suleja and Madalla bombers appearing at the Federal High Court in Abuja, yesterday.
PHOTO: NAN
NUT threatens to boycott NTI, MDGs’ training IJEOMA EZEIKE ABUJA
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he Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) has threatened to boycott a training programme to be organised by the National Teachers Institute (NTI)and office of Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) over disagreement bothering on unpaid allowances in the 2011 edition. NUT’s President, Michael Olukoya, spoke yesterday in Abuja shortly after the union’s National Executive Council meeting. It will be recalled that NUT and management of NTI had been embroiled in disagreement over inability of the latter to settle the outstanding allowances being owed those who participated in the 2011 edition. Olukoya also reacted on the on-going debate for local government autonomy in the country, saying the union was not against moves to make local government administrations
autonomous, but that the Joint Allocation Committee (JAC), which has been responsible for prompt payment of teachers salaries and allowances, should not be disbanded as it might stir up further unrest within the school system. He said: “There has been industrial stability in the basic education system because JAC was living up to it expectation and so should be encouraged.” He hinged the union’s resistance for the proposed training on insincerity of purpose, noting that at the last edition both agencies shortchanged teachers with N11, 500 each. Olukoya said: “NUT is aware of the clandestine move by the NTI and MDGs to shortchange our members into taking part in a training seminar, based on our resolve that until the balance of 2011 allowance is paid, no teacher in this country will take part in any training being organised by either NTI or MDG.
“You will recall that these teachers that took part in the last exercise were supposed to be paid N14,000 for a 10 day programme, these people were shortchanged, they were cheated because they were given only N2,500 the balance of N11,500 per
teacher is still outstanding. “So because of this, NUT remains resolute that we are not going to take part in anything NTI/MDG, people have been calling us on phone to lobby, but we are here to provide leadership for our members”.
FCT area councils share N2bn revenue OMEIZA AJAYI
T
he Joint Account Allocation Committee (JAAC) in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) yesterday approved the sharing of N2.071 billion among the six area councils in the FCT as revenue and Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme (SURE-P) allocations for October. This was even as the committee withheld the sum of N140.12 million being the FCT Administration’s 10 per cent Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) pending when the area councils settle their accumulated debts. The six area councils are:
Abaji, Abuja Municipal, Bwari, Gwagwalada, Kuje and Kwali. Chairperson of the Committee and Minister of State for FCT, Ms Olajumoke Akinjide, explained that the decision to withhold the FCTA’s 10 per cent IGR became necessary to enable the area councils clear their outstanding debt of N247.08 million. The area councils owed N144 million being Fadama III Counterpart Fund, N65.70 million for subsidized tractor sales under the public private partnership arrangement, N7.38 million for 2012 Buffer Stock Grains and N30 million for biometrics.
GEORGE OJI AND EMMANUEL ONANI
S
enators yesterday expressed concern over the spread of contracts for the construction and rehabilitation of federal roads across the six geo-political zones, describing the distribution as uneven and lopsided. The senators bore their minds when the Minister of Works, Mr. Mike Onolememen, appeared before the Senate Committee on Works to present his ministry’s 2012 budget performance as well as defend the 2013 appropriation. Members of the committee, who expressed dissatisfaction with the near absence of contracts for construction of federal roads in their respective constituencies included, Senators Eyinnaya Abaribe, Barnabas Gemade, Bukar Abba Ibrahim, Babafemi Ojudu, former governors Ahmed Markafi and Danjuma Goje. They noted that while some states play host to more than a dozen road
projects, others have just one or two allocated to them. For instance, members of the committee described as “unacceptable a situation where Enugu, the home state of Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu and committee chairman Ayogu Eze, have over 20 projects whereas Abia could only boast of two. Consequently, the lawmakers threatened to frustrate the passage of the ministry’s 2013 budget, unless the perceived imbalances were corrected. Senator Ibrahim questioned why the contract in his constituency was taken over by the ministry and later abandoned.
Mark
National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net
National News
Thursday, December 6, 2012
Again, long queues return to Abuja filling stations ROTIMI FADEYI AND CHIDI UGWU
W
ith about two weeks to Christmas, residents of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have again been hit by fuel scarcity leading to the return of long queues as motorists wait for fuel at major filling stations. But, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) said there is no cause for alarm as it has started loading products yesterday; adding that in no time the queues would disappear. General Manger, Media Relations Department, Group Public Affairs Division, Mr. Omar Farouk, assured our correspondent on phone that normalcy will return soon as the corporation started loading products yesterday. “We have started loading and we believe that in the next couple of days normalcy will return, we hope so,”
We have started loading –NNPC he said. Although, supply and sale of petrol in the city had been inconsistent for a long time now owing to lingering misunderstanding between major oil marketers and the Federal Government; motorists still lament the suffering they undergo trying to source fuel. Some the motorists who spoke to National Mirror said they spent hours on the queue waiting to buy the scarce product. Hamisu Ibrahim said he joined the queue at about 9.30am but still had about two kilometres to get to the station at about 1.36pm when our correspondent accosted him for comments. “I came here around 9.30 am and as you can see the line is not moving at all, this quarter to 2.00pm, yet I still have a long way to go before it gets to my turn,” he said. The development has also affected transport fares
as commercial bus operators have raised the fares citing difficulties in getting fuel as cause of the hike. A trip from Wuse to Nyanya, which was hitherto N100 is now N150 while Mararaba, which was formerly N150 is N200. Apart from the hike in transport fares, the situation has also affected traffic as parts of the roads have now been taken over by fuel queuing vehicles. A commuter, Evelyn Okoro, noted that the traffic situation occasion by the queues in the city is a cause for concern. “I boarded a bus from Wuse to Area 10; the trip that is supposed to take approximately 10 minutes took almost one hour because of the log jam at the NNPC filling station.” Meanwhile, the Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke, has assured of adequate supply of petroleum products dur-
Subsidy scam: CNPP gives Okonjo-Iweala ultimatum to produce reports OBIORA IFOH ABUJA
T
he Conference of Nigeria Political Parties (CNPP) has issued a seven-day ultimatum to the Minister of Finance and the Coordinating Minister for the Economy, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, to produce the several reports that have variously indicted notable Nigerians in the fuel subsidy scam or face the wrath of the opposition parties. CNPP said making public such reports which include that of the Price Waterhouse, Central Bank, Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, House of Representatives, among others, as stipulated in the Freedom of Information (FoI) Act have become necessary to assist in the forensic audit aimed at the recovery of the stolen subsidy fund. Chairman of CNPP, Al-
haji Abdulkadir Balarabe Musa, at a press conference in Abuja, said that it has noted the passion with which Okonjo-Iweala has been waging the war against corruption, hence its intention to assist in examining the details of the reports as “records have shown the billions wasted in the fuel subsidy scam could have been utilised to build two refineries with the capacity to refine over 500, 000 barrels per day.” CNPP said that its findings show that fuel scarcity has persisted, with its attendant toll on hapless Nigerians. “To worsen matters, Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede and his cohorts at Access Bank seem to have used the opportunity of being a judge in his own case to wage proxy war against certain corporate bodies; as evidenced with the fate of Capital Oil and Gas Ltd.
“Capital Oil and Gas facilities today are in cliffhanger because a banker who was less than transparent in his transactions with his customer has been armed by the state with undue ammunition to hack down shadow and real enemies. “Access Bank with the sledgehammer not only signalled AMCON to join in the feud it has with its customers - Capital Oil and Gas; but with scant regard to the Nigerian judiciary headed to London to obtain an order. “What is good for the Goose is good for the Gander. AMCON should note that the fuel scarcity in the country may be linked to the closure of a major downstream storage facility, in which case it may consider allowing Capital Oil to resume operation and work out the modality for payment.”
Edo guber poll free, fair, witnesses tell tribunal SEBASTINE EBHUOMHAN BENIN
E
do State Governor, Adams Oshiomhole, yesterday opened his defence with the lining up of three witnesses at the Edo State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal, with all the witnesses lend-
ing credence to a free, fair and credible re-election of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) candidate in the July 14, 2012 state governorship election. At the resumed hearing of the petition filed before the tribunal Chairman, Justice Mu’azu Pindiga, by Major-General Charles
Airhiavbere (retired), candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the election, the tribunal admitted the original voters’ cards carried by the respondents’ witnesses. The three witnesses were: Mr. Henry Idahagbon; Mrs. Helen Guobadia and Uyi Benjamin Edegbe.
ing this yuletide. Speaking with State House Correspondents yesterday, Alison-Madueke said people should not express fear of fuel scarcity during the Christmas and New Year period. According to her, the present fuel queues in petrol stations in the country were as a result of issues with labour unions in the petroleum industry as well as the verification of the fuel subsidy claims by the Ministry of Finance. “We had a slight union issue over the last few days which we are also trying to handle that created the upsurge again in the fuel queues but that is being sorted out and so it will go down again.” “Initially, the queues came out of the whole fuel subsidy issue and the fact of course that verifications of certain amounts and certain marketers claims were being made, we cannot keep calling out for transparency and accountability and pointing at corruption if we are not prepared to bear some of the hardship that will obviously come when you are trying to clean up a sector,” AlisonMadueke said.
Court awards N1m against NAFDAC for unlawful detention DENNIS AGBO ENUGU
A
Federal High Court sitting in Enugu, has awarded N1 million compensatory damages against the Director-General as well as the Director, Narcotics and Controlled Substances of the National Agency for Food Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) for unlawful detention of one Godwin Ugwu, for more than 14 days without charging him to court for mere allegation. Delivering judgment, yesterday the trial judge, Justice Dorathy Agaishi, after considering the submissions from both parties in suit No: FHC/ EN/M/348/2010, held that the fundamental human rights of the applicant, Godwin Ugwu, was violated. She therefore ruled that the applicant was entitled to some compensatory damages. Counsel to the applicant, Boniface N. Ugwu, had in their reliefs sought for an order of the court restraining NAFDAC from interfering in any manner in the applicant’s fundamental rights. A declara-
tion that the applicant is entitled to the protection of his fundamental rights as provided by Chapter IV of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and under the African Charter on Human and People’s Right. He also asked for a declaration that the arrest and detention of the applicant over a business transaction was an infringement and violation of the applicant’s fundamental rights to dignity of human person, personal liberty, freedom of movement and association as provided in sections 34, 35, 41 and 46 of the 1999 constitution. The applicant also prayed for an order of the court awarding an exemplary compensation of N5 million in favour of the applicant for the detention, unwarranted embarrassment and disturbances, in police cell Enugu. But, in the said judgment, the court held that though, the Nacrotic Act empowered NAFDAC to arrest anybody found in possession, trading or manufacturing fake and adulterated drugs, the law did not empower them to pass judgement on the offender.
Hurray!
ILAJE GRAMMAR SCHOOL ATIJERE @ 40 The entire members of ILAJE GRAMMAR SCHOOL , ATIJERE OLD STUDENTS’ ASSOCIATION heartily felicitate with our Alma Mata as she marks her 40th Anniversary (established 2nd December, 1972) Join us as we celebrate the first grammar school in the entire old Ilaje Ese/Odo local Government Council now Ilaje and Ese-Odo local Government Councils. Dates
Activities
Friday December 7, 2012
Novelty football Match Cultural Night
Time 4 – 6pm 7 – 9pm
Saturday December 8, 2012
Venue:
7
Anniversary Celebration/Fund raising/Foundation laying ceremony of a new ultra modern Assembly Hall
11am – 2pm.
School compound. Anniversary Dinner
6-9pm
Interdenominational Thanksgiving Service
9 – 11 am
Sunday December 9, 2012
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South West
Thursday, December 6, 2012
Oyo ACN members arraigned for disturbing public peace KEMI OLAITAN IBADAN
F
ive members of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in Saki West Local Government Area of Oyo State were yesterday arraigned before a Chief Magistrate’s Court over disturbance of public peace. They were arraigned in connection with Monday’s disruption of public peace in which the local government chairman, Mr. Oladapo Popoola, was prevented from entering
his office. It will be recalled that some ACN members stormed the streets on Monday, protesting what they described as imposition of the council chairman on them by Governor Abiola Ajimobi. The suspects were, however, charged with a threecount of attempted arson, willful and unlawful setting of fire in front of the council secretariat and destruction of bill board having the picture of the caretaker chairman on it. The accused persons ar-
raigned before Chief Magistrate S. Olutunde were Akinola Gbenga (a Special Adviser in the office of the Deputy Governor), Kewulere Ojuolape, Soliu Bakoja, Gani Orelope and Hon Kareem Tijani (a youth leader and former councillor.” The accused persons, represented by about eight lawyers led by Chief Olawuwo Siyanbola, pleaded not guilty to the charge preferred against them by the Prosecutor, Sergeant Sola. They were, however, granted bail in the sum of N500, 000 each with one
surety in like sum. The court room was parked full yesterday with members of the ACN, many expressing disappointment that ordinary intra-party crisis could be allowed to drag to court. Chief Magistrate Olutunde adjourned the matter till February 13, 2012. Meanwhile, three security men attached to the local government secretariat were also charged with negligence for not preventing the protesters from setting bon fires in front of the premises.
L-R: Executive Director, Metropolitan Construction Limited, Mr. Tony Fagbuaro; Sector Engineer, Office of Public Private Partnership, Lagos State, Mr. Taofeek Kelani; Managing Director, Metropolitan Construction Company Limited, Mr. Carlos Franyi and Special Adviser to Lagos State Governor on Public Private Partnership, Mr. Ayo Gbeleyi, at the inspection of the alternative road to the toll plaza 2 in Ikota, Eti-Osa Local Council Area of Lagos, yesterday.
National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net
PDP asks Oni to stop romancing with ‘disgruntled’ members KEMI OLAITAN IBADAN
T
he Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Oyo Federal Constituency yesterday asked the party’s National ViceChairman in the SouthWest, Mr. Segun Oni, to refrain from subversive acts that could jeopardize the party’s success in future elections. This was contained in a statement by the PDP leader in the constituency, Basorun Sunday Ogunlade, after a meeting of members from the four local governments of Atiba, Afijio, Oyo East and Oyo West held in Oyo town. PDP asked Oni to be cautious of his relationship with “some failed party chieftains” so as not to turn himself into a “political stooge that could stultify the much-needed peace and reconciliation”. Ogunlade said: “It is senseless and ungrateful of former Governor Adebayo Alao-Akala and Minister of State for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Ms. Jumoke Akinjide, to have colluded with Oni and recommended the dissolution of the state PDP executive to the National Working Committee (NWC), a request that was rejected in Abuja. “The reason given, which we consider irritat-
ing and unfounded, was that Senator Teslim Folarin was pocketing the party, even though godfatherism has gone into extinction in the state. “It is highly surprising because Alao-Akala was a party to the composition of the state executive. One of his boys is the Vice-Chairman and the Zonal Youth Leader is also his man. “Perhaps one should remind Oni of the contribution of the Oyo State executive to his election as the National Vice-Chairman in the South-West. “Has Oni forgotten the support he got from these delegates at the venue when members from his state (Ekiti) vehemently opposed his pronouncement after the election? “We hail the NWC for not allowing the mischief and destructive antics of disgruntled elements, who are bent on destabilising the party ahead of 2015, come to fruition.”
Oni
Subsidy fraud: Court wants Lagos Fire Service warns against spurious emergency calls nor Babatunde Fashola for the government would soon during operations. relevant documents presented M A
KENNY ODUNUKAN
J
ustice Adeniyi Onigbanjo of an Ikeja High Court in Lagos State yesterday said witness’ testimonies would be treated as hear-say if the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) refused to provide relevant documents to substantiate its allegation of oil subsidy fraud allegedly perpetrated by Mr Seun Ogunbambo, his co-accused HabilaTeckand their company, Fargo Petroleum and Gas Limited. Justice Onigbanjo reacted to an objection by the defendants’ counsel, Adebayo Adenipekun (SAN) ,who brought the attention of the court to what he describe as strange development. Adenipekun said: “My Lord the evidence of this
witness is contrary to Section 125 of the Evidence Act, which we are all abreast of. I feel very uncomfortable with a witness being led orally without tendering any document before the court. “I don’t want to be interjecting the proceeding. I think this strange method of the prosecution being objected to by me will be officially communicated to the court because I am not comfortable with this line of evidence. This is an attempt to prejudice the mind of the court.” But EFCC’s witness, Abdulrasheed Ahmed Bawa, said that the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) confirmed the registration of Fargo Petroleum and Gas Limited, but during investigation by the anti-graft agency.
URITALA
T
YINLA
he Lagos State Fire Service yesterday alleged false emergency calls by residents, even as the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) described crowd management at emergency scenes as its major challenge. Speaking when he received delegates of Southwest Emergency Management Agencies, the Director of the state Fire Service, Mr Rasaq Fadipe, said fake alerts of fire incidents had been on increase lately. He said that the development had hampered the capacity of the service to respond adequately to genuine emergencies, even as he decried incessant attacks on officials of the service by hoodlums
Fadipe said: “Lately, we have been inundated by fake emergency calls and the development is really affecting our operations and response to emergencies. “In November, 51 of the 167 calls we got were false and even among those genuine calls, callers don’t give exact description of the scene of the incident.” He commended Gover-
boosting the capacity of the service with fire-fighting equipment, saying the equipment had enhanced the response of the service to emergencies. On his part, the General Manager of LASEMA, Dr Femi Osanyintolu, said the state government had done a lot to strengthen emergency agencies. LASEMA boss, who said
begin to sanction fake callers, urged residents to stop the practice. He, however, warned that the government’s effort at preventing disasters would amount to naught if residents indulged in acts that could lead to disasters. He said LASEMA was poised to preventing and effectively managing disasters.
Stop seeking unnecessary media sympathy, Ondo LP tells ACN HAKEEM GBADAMOSI AKURE
T
he Labour Party (LP) in Ondo State yesterday called on the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) to accept its loss in the October 20 governorship election in good faith and stop seeking unnecessary media sympathy. In a statement signed by
its Publicity Secretary, Femi Okunjemiruwa, LP said: “It is ridiculous that weeks after coming a distant third in an election they so much boasted to win, the ACN in Ondo State, its governorship candidate, Rotimi Akeredolu and its jobless megaphone of falsehood are yet to come to terms with their defeat and face other serious challenges tearing apart whatever is
left of their credibility in the public domain. “We find it strange and diversionary attempts by the party to divert public attention from the ripples and open show of shame by its members and leaders who are, after one another, over the theft and misappropriation of huge funds deployed to manipulate the last governorship polls in Ondo State.”
National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net
South West
Thursday, December 6, 2012
9
Let’s fight HIV/AIDS stigma, Oyo tells residents KEMI OLAITAN IBADAN
O
yo State government yesterday charged all stakeholders in the state to join hands with it in the fight against stigmatisation of HIV/AIDS patients in the state. State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Muyiwa Gbadegesin, gave the charge yesterday in Ibadan, the state capital, during an interschools’ debate organised by the AIDS Prevention Initiative of Nigeria (APIN) in commemoration of the World AIDS Day, 2012. The commissioner, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Mr. Oluwafemi Akanmu, said the diagnosis and treatment of HIV and AIDS is free in government established health centres in the state. He said any confirmed pregnant woman with HIV and AIDS during antenatal care is treated free so as to reduce the incidence of mother-to-child transmis-
sion. The commissioner said the ministry of health in collaboration with APIN is in the process of scaling up the HIV counseling and testing services in all the 33 local government areas of the state, stressing that the ministry in collaboration with other development partners would offer free treatment at some private health centres across the state. The Satellite Coordinator of APIN, Dr. Babatunde Akinyemi, who was represented by Mrs. Bola Thompson, lauded the state government and the ministry of health for providing a favourable environment to operate in the state. At the end of the debate session, Olivet High School, Oyo, came first; Emmanuel Alayande School of Science, Ibadan, was second while Isabatudeen High School, Ibadan , came third with prizes and gift items distributed to all the participating schools.
Sanusi’s comments on economy misleading, says group SINA FADARE
T
he Coalition Against Corrupt Leaders (CACOL) has faulted the call by the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, for the sacking of 50 per cent of federal civil servants to reduce the overheads of government, describing the call as irrelevant and misleading. Chairman of the group, Comrade Debo Adeniran, who said this in Lagos yesterday noted that; “There is surely a need to cut government recurrent expenses to give room for the implementation of the capital side of the national budget, but there should be a humanistic approach to resolve this rather than rendering more people impoverished. The group noted that unemployment is the major contributor to the security challenges bedevilling the nation, adding that an idle hand is definitely a ready-made tool in the hands of mischief makers. The goup’s words: “When you push 50 per cent of federal civil servants out, where do you expect them to go,? to join the league of
the unemployed Nigerians roaming the streets so that there will be more money for Sanusi to appropriate for himself ? “So that there will be more money for corrupt politicians to fleece from government coffers! It is rather unfortunate that many Nigerian leaders do not have the interest of the hapless and the helpless masses at heart.”
L-R: Oyo State Governor, Abiola Ajimobi; France Consular General, Lagos, Mr. Francois Sastourie and Director, Alliance Francaise, Mr. Alin Croguennec, during the consular general’s courtesy call on Governor Ajimobi in Ibadan, yesterday.
Traffic law reduces accidents by 60% –LASUTH CMD MURITALA AYINLA
T
he Chief Medical Director of the Lagos State Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), Prof. David Oke, yesterday said that the enforcement of the new traffic law in the state has greatly reduced the number of accident victims received in the hospital. The consultant cardiologist also said that the enforcement of the law has reduced by 60 percent, the emergency cases received daily. Speaking when the Commissioner for Transportation, Mr. Kayode Opeifa,
Police arrest Tokyo, NURTW factional leader
O
yo State Police Command has arrested Alhaji Lateef Akinsola, a factional leader of the state chapter of the National Union of Road Transport Workers, NURTW. His arrest was made public in Ibadan yesterday in a statement issued by the state Deputy Commissioner of Police, Clement Adoda. Adoda said Akinsola, popularly known as “Tokyo,” was undergoing interrogation in respect of pending criminal cases against him and for which he was declared wanted by the police. He added that the out-
come of the investigation would determine subsequent actions to be taken by the police. Adoda, according to the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, said there was no need for the residents of the state to be apprehensive following Akinsola’s arrest. He said: “People are advised to go about their lawful businesses without any fear of molestation.” The police boss, in addition, warned disgruntled elements who may want to foment trouble or cause public disorder to think twice about their planned actions.
led other top officials of the ministry to the hospital, Oke said that emergency wards now have more bed spaces to accommodate other victims unlike before. Oke said prior to the enforcement of the law, Okada accidents’ victims dominated the expansive wards, thus making it difficult for the team of medical experts to attend to other accident victims. Corroborating him, Dr Mustapha Ibrahim, confirmed that both private and public hospitals across the state record less accidents’ victims than they used to before the enforcement of the new law. “You can hardly wait for
five minutes before you see vehicles arriving with Okada accident victims. We received minimum of 40-45 Okada victims daily, but the story is different now. We now have more bed spaces like never before. This is the beauty of the law on our part.” Ibrahim, however, warned the government not to relent in the enforcement of the law, saying subtle enforcement would automatically increase the number of patients they received. “Government must not relent, because the rate is gradually coming up again and this is not unconnected with the few that are just coming out to operate.” Meanwhile, the state
government has urged the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) and perishable food vendors at Mile 12 to leave the roadsides. This, according to the government, is to ensure the safety of lives of the people and also to ensure the free flow of traffic during this yuletide. Speaking at a stakeholders’ meeting with transport unions and perishable food vendors in the state, the General Manager, Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), Engr. Babatunde Edu and the Chairman of the Task Force on Environmental and Special Offences, Mr. Bayo Sulaimon, urged them to cooperate and obey traffic rules and regulations.
Political parties sign peace pact in Ekiti ABIODUN NEJO ADO EKITI
T
o bring about peace in the state even as political activities gather momentum, political parties in Ekiti State yesterday signed a peace pact at a stakeholders’ meeting, hammering on the need for peace to reign in the state. The meeting, which was at the instance of the state Police Commissioner, Mr. Sotonye Wakama, had the Independent National Electoral Commissioner (INEC) Resident Electoral Commissioner, Alhaji Halilu Pai; the State Security Services
Fayemi
(SSS) Director, Mr. Samuel Tamuno and other heads of security agencies in the state in attendance. Spokesman for the state Police Command, Mr. Victor Babayemi Olu, told journalists that the meeting was to guide against anything capable of disrupting the existing peace in the state. Olu said the meeting followed series of politically-
motivated violence in the state in recent times during which many people sustained varying degrees of injury. They include the recent attack on supporters of former Governor Ayodele Fayose by some political thugs. The police commissioner appealed to the party leaders to prevail on their members to stop further attack on opposing groups. He said no meaningful development could take place in a crisis-ridden environment as he urged the meeting to find a lasting solution to the recent political violence in the state.
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South East
DENNIS AGBO ENUGU
A
uthorities of the Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT), Enugu, have declared an academic emergency in the institution aimed at arresting the low quality of their graduates and improving on the performances of the students. Pro-Chancellor of the institution Dr. Chris Offiah, who spoke at an award ceremony to honour the 2012 best lecturer and best researcher in the university said the emergency
Thursday, December 6, 2012
National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net
ESUT moves to improve quality of graduates measure starts from the 2012/2013 academic year. In line with the emergency rule, Dr. Offiah said the era of selling handouts by lecturers was over just as he announced the prohibition of any form of inducement for marks, which he said will attract summary dismissal for lecturers who runs foul of the rule. Also, students whose Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) falls below 1.00 will be asked to withdraw from the university
as there will be no more ‘let my people go’ or upliftment of grades to help students graduate. The pro-chancellor further said that each student must read at least five novels per semester and write a one-page summary of each of the novels to be submitted to their head of department. His words: “This will help the student pass the vice-chancellor’s course, which is a pre-requisite to graduate from the university.”
The Vice-Chancellor of the University, Prof. Cyprian Onyeji, in a remark said the award became pertinent because of the downward trend in the quality of teaching, learning and research, blaming both teachers and students for the decline. He said the university management and the Governing Council have put measures in place to facilitate the upliftment of the standard of education in ESUT, part of which is the
establishment of the annual awards. He added that academic excellence is also being promoted and encouraged among students through the introduction of a University Scholarship Programme earned by students with CGPA of not less than 4.50 and sustained with CGPA of 4.10. In his speech, the state Commissioner for Education and Chairman of the occasion stressed the need to return the institution to
its enviable position as the best university of technology in the country. Dr. Ujam Amechi, a lecturer in the Department of Mechanical Engineering, won the award for the best researcher and was presented with a N3 million by Skye Band while Dr. (Mrs.) Abigail Alio, of the Department of Technical and Vocational Education, won the best lecturer award and was presented with a brand new KIA Sorrento car by First Bank Plc.
Robbers raid Paul University’s female hostel CHARLES OKEKE AWKA
A
group of gunmen yesterday stormed the female hostel of Paul University, Awka, robbing the students of their cash, cell phones and other valuable items. National Mirror gathered that the armed marauders forcefully gained entry into the female hostel, smashing doors and releasing warning shots into the air after jumping over the fence. It was also learnt that when they entered the hall of residence, they began robbing the students and there was confusion everywhere, as many scampered for safety. It was further gathered that at the end of the operation, the gunmen escaped with their loot, leaving the students dazed. The incident paralysed
academic activities for the day and made the management to hold a strategic security meeting, during which some crucial decisions on how to protect the school and prevent a repeat of such nightmare in the future’ were made. Already, the management of the university has assured that the incident will not happen again as efforts are being made to strengthen the campus security and engage members of the police for night patrols. Speaking to National Mirror on how the incident happened, the Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the university, Sir Ikechukwu Abana, said some armed hoodlums came in at night and ttacked the female hostel. He confirmed that some students had their phones and money stolen.
FUTO suspends bursar over disagreement on tax arrears CHRIS NJOKU OWERRI
T
he bursar of the Federal University of Technology (FUTO), Owerri, Mr. Robinson Akujobi, has been ordered to proceed on compulsory leave following a disagreement between him and the Governing Council over tax arrears owned the Imo State government. It was learnt that the bursar, who has only four months to retire from the institution, had advised the management to find ways of paying its seven years accumulated tax obligation to the state government which runs into billions of naira. But National Mirror
gathered that the school management rejected the bursar’s advice and directed him to proceed on compulsory leave. A source close to the university also told National Mirror that the state Board of Internal Revenue (BIR) had over assessed the school with its seven years tax arrears bill and were surprised at the bursar’s insistence that the school should pay what they believed was a wrong assessment. However, a source close to the bursar described his ‘suspension’ as more of a political decision, saying; “The school, being a federal institution, would not want to pay the state government which is an APGA-led administration.
L-R: Manager, Stanbic IBTC Bank, Enugu Branch, Mr. Kingsley Mba; Regional Manager, South-East, Mr. Victor Ekeocha; President, Enugu Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture, Dr. Theo Okonkwo and Director-General, Mr. Emeka Okereke, at a news conference on the forthcoming 4th Enugu Christmas Shopping Fair in Enugu, yesterday. PHOTO: NAN
Group accuses PHCN officials of extortion CHARLES OKEKE AWKA
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human rights and good governance watch group, International Society for Civil Liberties and Rule of Law (Inter Society) has accused the offices of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) in Ogidi, Onitsha and Ogbaru, all in Anambra State, of sundry acts of extortion. The group had alleged that officials of the PHCN in these key towns were extorting money from their
customers through fraudulent billing methods, commercialisation of installation and maintenance of transformers and their accessories. The PHCN officials were also accused of aiding and abetting illegal connections, creation of artificial scarcity in respect of prepaid meters and charging of N5,000 and N2,500 respectively for installation of the meter, among other allegations. These allegations by Inter Society against PHCN offices in the three com-
mercial towns were contained in a special report titled; “How Onitsha, Ogidi and Ogbaru PHCN Defraud Consumers of Billions,” which the group sent to the Minister of State for Power, Hajia Zainab Ibrahim Kuchi and Dr Sam Amadi, Chairman of the Board of National Electricity Regulatory Commission. In the report, which was made available to journalists by the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Inter Society, Comrade Emeka Umeagbalasi, the group also urged that appropriate
Court orders police to release transporter’s vehicle NWABUEZE OKONKWO ONITSHA
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Federal High Court sitting in Awka, Anambra State, presided over by Justice M. T. Salihu, has again ordered the state Commissioner of Police (CP), Mr. Ballah Nassarawa, to release a commercial vehicle belonging
to a transporter, Michael Ejim, or be charged for contempt. The court had earlier on June 22, this year ordered the CP to release the vehicle from custody, but following what was described as sheer disobedience of court order, legal counsel to the transporter, Chris Muo, filed another application for the release of the vehicle
and a committal proceeding against the respondent. In the application, the applicant drew the attention of the court to its earlier order to release the applicant’s vehicle in the custody of the CP, who is the third respondent, adding that for not obeying the order, he had to bring this committal proceeding, in the interest of justice.
Obi
sanctions be imposed on the officers found to have been involved in the contentious acts. The group said the case they are making against the Ogbaru unit, which bothers on the officers indulging in acts of commercialisation of installation and maintenance of transformers, issuance of outrageous bills to consumers, load shedding, among other acts of misconducts, were also the complaints they made against the Onitsha and Ogidi business units. The group called for an unbiased, thorough and conclusive investigation in to the alleged sharp practices of the three business units.
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South South
Thursday, December 6, 2012
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Oshiomhole indicts police over Auchi bank robbery SEBASTINE EBHUOMHAN BENIN
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do State Governor Adams Oshiomhole has called on the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mr. Mohammed Abubakar, to investigate how some armed criminals sacked both the Police Area Command and Divisional Police Station, freed inmates and held Auchi town in Edo North District hostage. The governor said that for the over three hours the criminals operated,
the police failed to respond to the challenge, resulting in the death of some security agents and law-abiding citizens. Speaking during an inspection of the First Bank Plc, Access Bank Plc, Ecobank Plc, soldiers’ quarters and police formations attacked by the bandits, Oshiomhole said there was a need for the police to do a serious soulsearching to see, really, if police personnel compromised the security of the town or not. He said: “To think
that a police station with arms could be attacked and the police could not gun down one criminal gives cause for worry. “I was not happy that the police had to park the Armoured Personnel Carrier (APC) behind the Area Commander’s office, instead of parking it at strategic location in Auchi town. It shows that the police are not using the funds given to them maximally. “I am not impressed because the APC ought to be in operation.” The fact that the APC
was packed at the back of the station and bombed there means that it was not put to maximum use, it is unacceptable. “The police should begin to account for their negligence of duty, incompetence or both. Until we begin to do that, this lamentation will continue and criminals will continue to operate and demystify the state and make us look like a collection of mushrooms that can be consumed with minimal efforts. “I believe the police will have to do investigation to
reassure us that we are safe. The fact that they can attack two police formations and do that kind of damage shows the need to revisit the role of policing and their operational order.” The governor, however, commended the Army for the bravery of the five soldiers who repelled the attack and who also killed one of the bandits that attempted to bomb a private residence that the soldiers reside in. Oshiomhole said: “The
Edo seals ITV, Independent radio over tax evasion SEBASTINE EBHUOMHAN BENIN
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L-R: State Director, State Security Service, Mr. Bakori Tukur; Acting Commissioner of Police, Mr. Mohammed Hurdi and Edo State Governor Adams Oshiomhole, during the governor’s inspection of the Police Area Command and other places attacked recently by criminals in Auchi, yesterday.
Police arrest 16 suspected cultists in Bayelsa EMMA GBEMUDU YENAGOA
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he Bayelsa State Police Command yesterday said it had arrested 16 suspected members of a secret cult. The suspects were also accused of breaching public peace. Over 50 armed policemen were mobilised to arrest the suspects. State Commissioner of Police, Kingsley Omire, made this known in Yenagoa at a security meeting with political parties ahead of the forthcoming local government election scheduled to hold on March 23, 2013. Omire said: “Historically, most of the violence in Bayelsa State is connected with acts of cultism as most cultists are connected to armed robbery, sea piracy and killings.” He said the suspected cultists were associated with cases of arson, attempted murders, rapes
and other criminal acts. The police commissioner, however, warned that the command would arrest anybody that foments trouble before, during and the election. Omire ordered policemen to arrest any hoodlum who vandalises political parties’ banners and posters, noting that such act creates breach of public peace. He added that the command would deploy four gunboats in conjunction
with the Joint Military Task force (JTF) to the waterways to monitor movement of electoral materials. Omire said: “If there is no peace, we cannot think of the future, if there is no peace, there would be no future for the entire state. “The era of killings and bloodletting is over. The police are determined to work with all political parties to ensure success of the local government poll.” Earlier, Chairman of
the Conference of Nigeria Political Parties (CNPP) in the state, Oribo Einstein, urged the police to prevent any likely violence ahead of the poll, especially in the rural communities. Einstein, however, asked the police to stop shielding wealthy politicians during elections, alleging that some political elite in the state issue orders and instructions to the police during elections.
he Edo State Government yesterday sealed the business premises of the Independent Television (ITV) and Independent Radio, one of the many businesses owned by the Esama of Benin Kingdom, Chief Gabriel Osawaru Igbinedion. Viewers of the popular TV station with headquarters in Benin woke up to the disappearance of the station’s channel in the air early in the morning, after officials of the Edo State Board of Internal Revenue stormed the station’s premises. The revenue board explained that the station was sealed up because of
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mentation Workshop, ordered the Direct Labour Agency (DLA) to complete the rehabilitation of roads in Warri and Asaba before the end of the month. He said all clinics, nursing homes and pharmacies operating illegally or below the minimum required standard would be closed down forthwith. According to him, the government has made
appreciable progress in the health sector with the state recording above the WHO standard on doctor/ hospital ratio as well as other paramedical staff ratio to the population of the state. However, he asked health workers to be more vigilant and diligent in their duties. Dr Uduaghan announced other conclu-
tax evasion. In a statement signed by the Head of Media, Edo State Board of Internal Revenue, Mr. Courage Eboigbe, the agency said it sealed off the premises of the Independent Television/Radio (ITV/Radio) because of outstanding N12 million tax liabilities. The statement reads: “Based on a subsisting court order, the Edo State Board of Internal Revenue sealed off the business premises of the Independent Television/Radio (ITV/Radio) this morning for failure to pay accumulated tax to Edo State Government from 2005 to 2010. “The outstanding tax liabilities of ITV/Radio to Edo State Government amount to N12, 882,596.43.”
‘Jonathan’s critics are impatient’ EMMA GBEMUDU YENAGOA
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ormer Bayelsa State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Azibapu Eruani, yesterday slammed critics of President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration, accusing them of impatience. Eruani said most of the critics lacked understanding of the “Federal Government’s radical ap-
Delta plans to shut illegal health facilities
he Delta State Government is to shut illegal health facilities in the state while housing units allocated to individuals but not yet occupied would be revoked. Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan, who announced this while reviewing the conclusions reached at Day One of the State Dashboard Imple-
point has been made that if you attack a military base, you will pay a huge price. For me, it is a little relief that one of the bandits was killed by the soldiers in the sense that his identity would help us to assist the security agencies in their investigations. “The security agencies are investigating and I have no reason to believe that their investigation will not lead to a positive outcome that will help us to identify these criminals.”
sions reached to include embarking on mass housing programme which already has N1.5 billion set aside for it.
Uduaghan
proaches to governance.” The former commissioner told journalists in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital, that Jonathan’s administration was on the path of providing good governance for Nigerians. Eruani, however, said that it would take time for the President to rectify the rots inherited by his administration. He said: “President Jonathan’s administration is on course and those critics should not expect him to turn night into day, it doesn’t happen that way. Nigeria had deteriorated over a long period of time and it will take time to correct the defect. “It takes someone, who is strategic in technique and approach to issues, to keep the nation focused on the path of development. And I must tell you that Nigeria cannot be turned around in four years.”
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North
Thursday, December 6, 2012
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Gowon opposes state creation, calls for Electoral College A ZA MSUE KADUNA
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ormer Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon yesterday opposed the creation of more states in the country, but called on the National Assembly to create an electoral college ahead of the 2015 general elections. He said this at a lecture tagged; “The North and Strategies for Sustainable Development,” organised by the Arewa House Centre for Historical Documentation and Research, Ahmadu Bello Uni-
versity, in Kaduna. He urged the National Assembly to end agitations for the creation of new states, saying it would only increase the cost of governance. Gowon, who spoke through the Chairman of the apex northern political organisation, the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), Alhaji Aliko Mohammed, said new states would not resolve the mammoth problems facing the nation. He said the north must come together to forge a common front for the region to enjoy progress and development.
His words: “Unless we come together, we would continue to have problems. There is no need for the creation of new states; additional states would mean additional cost of governance. I met with the Senate caucus in the north in Abuja last week and I asked them to reconsider the introduction of Electoral College in electing the President,” Gowon said. National Mirror gathered that electing the President through the Electoral College would favour the north which has 19 states and the Federal Capital
Territory against south but that it may not augur well for the region as the southerners may buy the northern delegates and make it work in their favour. A prominent northerner, who did not want his name mentioned, kicked against the idea of an electoral college, saying the north would be bought over by southerners who have money. “The north should not agitate for electoral college like in USA, because such northern delegates can be bought over by our southern brothers who have money. The north is poor, at
L-R: Minister of Housing, Ms Amal Pepple (4th left); Kano State Governor, Rabi’u Kwankwaso; (3rd right), Chairman, Senate Committee on Land, Housing and Urban Development, Senator Bukar Ibrahim; (2nd right) Hon Faruk Lawan (right) and others, during the presentation of the Governor of the Year 2012 Housing and Urban Development Award to Kwankwaso in Kano, on Tuesday. PHOTO: NAN
Explosion in Kano as terrorists attack transformer AUGUSTINE MADU-WEST KANO
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unmen in the early hours of yesterday attacked a transformer belonging to the Power Holdings Company of Nigeria (PHCN) on Zoo Road area within the Kano State capital with explosives. No lives were, however, lost in the attack which came barely 24 hours after the reported attempt on a south-bound luxury bus on Tuesday, by suspected terrorists. But the Kano State Police Command yesterday reacted to media reports on the alleged bomb attack on a south-bound luxury bus, describing it as not only mischievous but an attempt to cause panic. Eyewitness account had it that at about 7.30am yesterday on Zoo Road, two gunmen riding on a motorbike hauled an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) into a nearby transformer, which promptly exploded. However, the source told
• Police deny bomb attack on South-bound bus
our correspondent that no one was injured, when the blast occurred as there was no soul around the transformer, located at a popular junction, which leads to the residence of an ANPP top chieftain, Alhaji Abdullahi Sani Rogo, on Zoo Road. Also, the account said the gunmen shot sporadically into the air, while escaping from the scene, a situation that caused panic and confusion on Zoo Road, as residents in the area fled to different directions to avoid been caught in the cross fire. Moments after the gunmen made good their escape, according to our source, security personnel, including operatives of the Joint Task Force (JTF) arrived and immediately cordoned off the scene, preventing free human and vehicular movements. Contacted, the Public Relations Officer (PPRO) of the Kano State Police Command, Magaji Majia, who confirmed the incident, but
IG Abubakar
said no life was lost. He added that investigation into the failed bomb attack has already begun. As at the time of filing this report no arrest has been made by the police. On the south-bound bus that was attacked, reports said the bus was allegedly attacked on Kano Zaria Road at about 8.00pm on Tuesday. The bus, which has about four passengers on board was said to have been hit by a locally-made bomb causing serious damage to the bus. But denying the bomb incident in a statement, the Kano State Police Command, said what was mistaken for a bomb attack on the bus was a bust tyre that
made an unusual sound. The statement reads in part: “The Kano State Police Command wishes to inform the general public that on Tuesday, 4th December, 2012 at about 2000hrs along Zaria road by AKTH Round about, a luxurious bus carrying passengers coming into Kano City had one of its tyres busted while on motion which resulted in heavy sound. “Immediately, AntiBomb Disposal Unit of the command was deployed to the scene, the whole area was inspected and no explosive materials were recovered. Bomb experts said the sound was due to the intensity of the bust tyre which blew open the boot.” The statement added; “There was no injury to the few passengers or damage to the vehicle,” adding that the luggages were intact.” The command urged journalists to always cross-check their facts before rushing to the press.
the end of the day; we will be the one to lose out.” Addressing the conference, Kaduna State Governor, Mr. Patrick Ibrahim Yakowa, decried the spate of insecurity ravaging the north saying the situation has pursued investors who have genuine desire to develop the agriculture, mining and tourism industries in the region. Yakowa, who called on the people to discourage religious and ethnic intolerance, said the north can be great again if northerners can tap into the abundant resources that abounds in the region, adding that the conference need to proffer solution to the challenges facing the region.” Yakowa’s words: “We must give credit to Nigerians and to God that Nigeria still remains one, albeit beleaguered by towering insecurity challenges. In this difficult time, we must work assiduously to adequately address the tolerance level among our people, if we must collectively succeed.”
He added; “Nigeria, as a multicultural and multilingual nation of diverse people, with more than 250 distinct languages and ethnic groups, cannot continue to behave as a group of irreconcilable religious and ethnic nationalities, contrary to the ‘One North One People’ bequeathed to us by no other than the late Sardauna, Sir Ahmadu Bello.” Yakowa added; “We cannot sweep the issue of peace under the carpet, the north has been engulfed in insecurity, Borno, Yobe, Gombe, Bauchi, Plateau, Kaduna, Kano, Niger and Kogi states are under attack.” The conference was attended by former VicePresident, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, former governor of Kano State, Alhaji Ibrahim Shekarau, former Governor of Kebbi State, Sen. Adamu Aliero, former Minister of Police Affairs, Alhaji Adamu Maina Waziri, former Minister of the FCT, Alhaji Aliyu Modibbo Umar and others.
16-year-old girl weeps as court strikes out rape case A ZA MSUE KADUNA
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16-year-old girl (name withheld) who was allegedly raped by Lt. Col. Nzidee William, of the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA), wept yesterday as her rape case was struck out by the Magistrate’s Court for lack of jurisdiction. When the case came up for hearing yesterday at the Chief Magistrate’s Court, Barnawa, Kaduna, presided over by Sa’adatu Sambo, the accused was absent in court, but was represented by his counsel, Mr. Odogiyon Lanke, who disclosed that they had reached an out-of-court settlement with the counsel to the complainant. Lanke said, “We held a meeting and we shared with him the correct position of what happened earlier and had the privilege of the other side of the story and he offered to terminate it, and we told him we rather wish the case go to the police for investigation so that the name of the accused person can be cleared, but he insisted on terminating it today, so I am rather sur-
prised by the turnaround of the story” he said. However, counsel to the complainant, Dyagas Ezeliel, argued that there was no out-of-court settlement reached by the two parties. “We insisted that service should be effected on the Chief of Army Staff and processes should be followed, because if we are talking of settling a matter out of court, you have to make sure that you hold something at hand of what you want to do because I cannot let the accused be a freelancer. “So if the magistrate court is referring us to the high court, fine, that is still a good one but if we are settling out of court if we are able to resolve between now and that time and the family feels they are okay, we will resolve the matter out of court,” he said. Chief Magistrate Sa’adatu Sambo, in her ruling struck out the case saying; “This court will not start what it cannot finish, so the case should be taken to the high court or the Nigerian Police for proper investigation and prosecution.”
Thursday, December 6, 2012
Dissecting 13 years of opposition in democracy
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Politics
State creation: Ndigbo in uncommon unison
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Nigeria ranks 35th most corrupt country FELIX NWANERI
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lobal corruption watchdog, Transparency International (TI), has ranked Nigeria the 35th most corrupt country in the world. In a report released yesterday, Nigeria scored 27 out of a maximum 100 marks to clinch the 139th position out of the 176 countries surveyed for the report. It shared that position with Azerbaijan, Kenya, Nepal and Pakistan, while Togo, Mali, Niger and Benin fared better.
TI’s Corruption Perception Index 2011 had ranked Nigeria 143th of 183 countries, making it the 37th most corrupt country. This year’s index ranks 176 countries/territories by their perceived levels of public sector corruption, TI explained in the report. The index draws on 13 surveys covering expert assessments and surveys of business people. The Corruption Perceptions Index is the leading indicator of public sector corruption, offering a yearly snapshot of the relative degree of the corruption problem by ranking
countries from all over the globe. Two-thirds of the 176 countries ranked scored below 50, on a scale from zero (perceived to be highly corrupt) to 100 (perceived to be very clean), showing that public institutions need to be more transparent, and powerful officials more accountable. Denmark, Finland and New Zealand tie for first place with scores of 90, helped by strong access to information systems and rules governing the behaviour of those in public positions. Afghanistan, North
Korea and Somalia once again placed last. In these countries, lack of accountable leadership and effective public institutions underscore the need to take a much stronger stance against corruption. Underperformers also included the Eurozone countries most affected by the financial and economic crisis. TI has consistently warned Europe to address corruption risks in the public sector to tackle the financial crisis, calling for strengthened efforts to corruption-proof public institutions. TI described this year’s
report as an indication that “corruption is a major threat facing humanity. Corruption destroys lives and communities, and undermines countries and institutions. It generates popular anger that threatens to further destabilise societies and exacerbate violent conflicts.” It added: “Corruption is the world’s most talked about problem. The world’s leading economies should lead by example, making sure that their institutions
...FG faults TI on rating ROTIMI FADEYI ABUJA
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L-R: Oyo State governor, Abiola Ajimobi; his wife, Florence; wife of Rivers State governor, Judith Amaechi and Governor Rotimi Amaechi, while inspecting the Oral Surgery Operating Theatre at the Dental and Maxillofacial Hospital in Port Harcourt on Tuesday.
Bode George wins African Leadership award OLAJIDE OMOJOLOMOJU
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he All Africa Students Union (AASU) has picked former Deputy National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Olabode George as the winner of its 15th edition of the Africa Leadership award. George’s nomination was based on recommendations by the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) and the ratification by the executive council of AASU. Disclosing this was the Nigerian representative at AASU and Project Co-
ordinator of the award, Olufemi Lawson, who said that George was selected from among the many nominees for the 2012 award based on his commitment to youth development and his defence of democratic institutions. The award would be conferred on him on De-
cember 12, during which a distinguished leadership lecture would be delivered. AASU is a regional students organisation, headquartered in Accra, Ghana with over 54 African countries as members. Past recipients of the ASUU bi-annual Africa
Leadership Award included former Secretary General of the United Nations (UN), Kofi Anan, former President Olusegun Obasanjo, Chief Afe Babalola, a former minister from South Africa, and Nobel laureate, late Prof Wangari Maathai among others.
Respect PDP zoning formula, Aliyu tells politicians PRISCILLA DENNIS MINNA.
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overnor Muazu Babangida Aliyu of Niger State has called on politicians interested in vying for elective positions to respect the zon-
ing formula in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). “The zoning arrangement is our internal formula that must be respected. We should support it in order not overheat the polity,” he stated. The governor, who made
the call at the inauguration of the committee for the Realization of the University of Education in the state, said the actions of politicians and political office holders recently had caused unnecessary distraction in the state.
are fully transparent and their leaders are held accountable. This is crucial since their institutions play a significant role in preventing corruption from flourishing globally. “A growing outcry over corrupt governments forced several leaders from office last year, but as the dust has cleared it has become apparent that the levels of bribery, abuse of power and secret dealings are still very high in many countries.”
he Federal Government yesterday picked holes in the method used by Transparency International, TI, in rating Nigeria as the 35th corruption nation of the world. Reacting to the rating, the Minister of Information, Mr. Labaran Maku while briefing State House Correspondents at the end of the weekly Federal Executive Council (FEC) said both the TI report and a recent Gallup Poll that also showed that Nigeria was among corrupt nations globally were products of interactions with Nigerians and synopsis of negative media reports. According to the minister, the perception of corruption in the country is a creation of both the people and the media practitioners who fail to appreciate the steps taken by the present administration to fight corruption. Though he admitted that Nigeria has been bogged down by corruption for many years, he appealed that this trend cannot just be eradicated with the wave of a magic wand. Maku said: “If there are areas where things are not been done right, journalists should follow up,” he advised. He stated that govern-
ment would continue to support all efforts to fight abuses in every sector of the economy. The minster noted that the administration was taking steps to deal with corruption by employing systematic and institutional approaches that are gradual in yielding results. Maku gave the instance of the prosecution of fraudsters implicated in the fuel subsidy scam, investigation into the pension fund scandal, the geometric auditing of Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) and curbing of graft in the supply of fertiliser and seeds to farmers, as commendable efforts by government in tackling corruption. He recalled that when President Jonathan promised to curtail patronage in the oil and gas sector, thereby introducing deregulation of the sector, Nigerians became hysterical and shut down the proposal by ‘mobilising to oppose it.’ “Government has continued to take decisive measures against defaulters in the fuel subsidy scam. There are so many issues involved in dealing with corruption. When you are systematic and deliberate reform goes deeper,” Maku said. The minister further said that the president does not seat in court to imprison people, stressing that there are institutions set up for the purpose.
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Politics
Thursday, December 6, 2012
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Dissecting 13 years of opposition in democracy National Publicity Secretary of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Alhaji Lai Mohammed, recently spoke on the role of opposition in Nigeria at the Lagos State Governor’s Office Correspondents 2012 Press Week Lecture and Award Ceremony. Excerpts:
BY CONSTANTLY EXPOSING, AND ALERTING NIGERIANS TO THE EXCESSES, INCOMPETENCE, INEFFICIENCY, INEFFECTIVENESS,
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WASTAGE AND ABUSES
he title of this lecture could not have been more apt, and the timing could not have been better. The relevance of the title derives especially from the fact that Nigerians are increasingly debating how well the past 13 years of democracy has served our country, in the face of worsening living conditions; while at the same time exploring other democratic alternatives to a ruling party that has revelled more in power for the sake of power, or power-for-power sake if you like, than actually using the power they have acquired, whether through fair or foul means, to strengthen our democracy and make life more abundant for our long suffering people. On the issue of timing, this lecture comes at a time those in power have shown that they are either ignorant of the role which the opposition is expected to play in a democracy, or they are deliberately seeking to cast the opposition in bad light in order to silence it. I will say it is the second reason – that is the central government and the ruling party are deliberately seeking to silence the opposition as part of their long stated objective to emasculate the opposition to pave the way for them to rule unchallenged for the next 100 years. By the way, this is a pipe dream! In recent times, the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan has been quick to tag the regular intervention of the opposition on the burning issues of the day as insulting the President or disrespecting his office. Let me seize this opportunity to say that we at the ACN, by the Grace of God the leading opposition party in the Federal Republic of Nigeria today, have nothing but total respect for the office of the President. However, we will not be intimidated into shirking our responsibilities as the leading opposition party. Cheap tricks, like labelling any criticism of the government as an insult to the President, will not deter us from speaking for the millions of our citizens who have been short-changed by the party that has been at the helm of affairs of our dear nation since the current democratic dispensation started in 1999. This takes me to what I consider the core element of this lecture: Just what exactly is the role of the opposition in a democracy? I ask this rhetorical question because one needs to understand what the opposition is expected to do in a democracy such as ours before venturing into whether or not it has any role to play in nation building. Alfred C. Stephan, Professor of government at Columbia University in the United States, considers the role of the democratic opposition in societies such as Nigeria
...WE HAVE MADE
THEM MUCH MORE UNCOMFORTABLE IN THEIR VIOLATIONS OF THE PUBLIC TRUST Jonathan
bly); to improve parliamentary decisionmaking procedures by ensuring debate, reflection and contradiction; to scrutinise the legislative and budgetary proposals of the government; and, to ensure stability, legitimacy, accountability and transparency in the political process. Other public commentators have identified the functions of the opposition in similar or different languages. These include holding the government accountable through the promotion of responsible and reasoned debate so as to provoke national conversation and push democratic discussion to a higher level, and working with media and civil society organizations to monitor and improve public governance.
The ACN as the voice of opposition
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where authoritarianism had survived for long before the democratic transition as not only essential, but also key in deepening democracy. Prof. Stephan says by “turning vital ‘non-issues’ into issues”, and also by “creating new structures of participation, transparency and ultimately accountability’’, the opposition is indeed helping to deepen democracy. He then went ahead to list the five key functions for the democratic opposition. They are: (I) Resisting integration into the ruling regime; (2) Guarding zones of autonomy against the ruling regime; (3) Disputing the legitimacy of the ruling regime; (4) Raising the cost of authoritarian rule and (5) Creating credible democratic alternative. The functions listed above are by no means exhaustive. The democratic opposition is also expected to offer political alternatives; to articulate and promote the interest of the voters; to offer alternatives to the decisions proposed by the government and the major representatives (in the National Assem-
Although our party, the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), only emerged as the country’s leading opposition party after the last general elections in 2011, we have been playing this role much earlier than that (albeit under a different name), after the then leading opposition party, the All Nigeria’s Party (ANPP), was virtually emasculated by the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) which co-opted it into governance with some thin carrots and effectively silenced it. Therefore, at a time our party could boast of only one state (Lagos), we were the undisputed voice of the Nigerian opposition, putting the government of the day on its toes and resisting every attempt to turn Nigeria into a one-party state which the PDP has stated, time and again, as its objective. Therefore, by the time our party emerged as the leading opposition party after last year’s general elections, that role had become a part of us and performing it therefore came naturally. Let me say categorically here that in performing this role, our party, the ACN, has been guided by the highest principles, based on our recognition of the centrality of the opposition not only in ensuring the survival, deepening and expansion of democracy, but also in preserving human liberty and guaranteeing justice, particularly in a plural state and society such as Nigeria. As the 19th century two-time British Prime Minister - who was the leader of op-
position in the British parliament in the intervening period - Benjamin Disraeli, stated, “No government can long be secure without a formidable opposition.” While we will leave the effectiveness or otherwise of our role as the voice of opposition for historians and political scientists to judge, I can say here, without equivocating, that we have tried as much as humanly possible to function within the ambit of the roles I enunciated above. In other words, while we cannot claim that our role as an opposition political party in the last 13 years has led to the achievement of these targets, I can confidently state that our releases, interviews and interventions have sought to speak to all these functions of a democratic opposition – as enunciated by Prof. Stephan. In speaking truth to power in Nigeria, on many occasions, we have turned nonissues which are critical for democracy, liberty and justice, into issues. We have, through our media interventions, created the possibilities of greater participation by Nigerians in the governance of the country, while at the same time canvassing for greater transparency and accountability in the affairs of government and public institutions. Let us remind Nigerians that since 1999, our country has functioned under semi-authoritarian presidents and a semi-oppressive PDP-led Federal Government.
During this period, our public interventions have achieved the following: (I) Ensured that the opposition party is not eclipsed or incorporated by the ruling regime and ruling party. You will recall the attempt by the Jonathan administration to form the so-called Unity Government after the election, and the principled stand taken by our party not to have anything to do with it! (2) Despite the dominance of the ruling party, we have created and fortified areas of autonomy both for our party and for other forces and formations in the country (3) Despite direct and indirect threats, we have disputed the legitimacy of the ruling party in its violations of the public trust and subversion of the commonwealth. (4) By constantly exposing, and alerting Nigerians to the excesses, incompetence, inefficiency, ineffectiveness, wastage and abuses of the ruling party and its government(s), particularly at the centre, we have made them much more uncomfortable in their violations of the public trust. (5) Through our exposition and publicity of the activities and views of the opposition, we have been able to help in the creation of a credible alternative to the ruling party and regime at the centre and in most of the states. We have done these and many more in different ways. We have also acted in ways that confirm the fundamental functions of the democratic opposition in the 21st century, as identified by the European Commission for Democracy Through Law (otherwise called Venice Commission). These functions include: to offer political alternatives; to articulate and promote the interest of the voters; to offer alternatives to the decisions proposed by the government and the major representatives (in the CONTINUED ON PAGE 16
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Politics
Thursday, December 6, 2012
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State creation: Ndigbo in uncommon unison Despite all odds against the creation of new states, the people of the South-East in an unprecedented manner, appear to have closed ranks on their demand for an additional state for the zone, writes FELIX NWANERI.
T
he people of the South-East seemed to have reached an accord in their demand for an additional state to bring their zone at par with others in terms of number of states if the recent move by the leadership of the zone to harmonise various state creation agitations in the area is anything to go by. Indication to this emerged from the recent meeting of the zone’s political leaders and stakeholders in Enugu. In attendance at the meeting were Governors Peter Obi (Anambra), Rochas Okorocha (Imo), Martin Elechi (Ebonyi) and Acting governor of Enugu State, Sunday Onyebuchi. Theordore Orji (Abia) was absent. Others were former Governor Achike Udenwa of Imo State; Senator Ayogu Eze; former presidents-general of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Justice Eze Ozobu (rtd) and Dr. Dozie Ikedife; one-time Information Minister, John Nwodo and traditional rulers among others. The parley was a preliminary one to hear from state agitators within the zone, which sources said, have agreed to abide by whatever decision the governors would reach on the issue. There are close to 10 states demand that spreads across the zone at present and they include: Aba, Adada, Equity, Njaba, Orlu, Orashi, Etiti, Anim and Orimili. Okorocha, who spoke to journalists, assured that the state creation matter would be “concluded as soon as possible” and assured that the zone was on the same page in that regard. His words: “What we will ensure is that at the end of the day, the nation will be happy with our decision and the rest of Ndigbo will also be happy with us on the issue.” He added that for the first time, Ndigbo have agreed to speak with one voice, stressing the desire of the governors to sustain and maintain the cordiality in the interest of the zone. The issue had equally dominated discussions at the recent zonal public hearing on constitutional review in Enugu. Agitation for new states is not peculiar to the people of the South-East as over 50 applications have so far been received by the National Assembly Committee on Constitution Review, but theirs’ appear more pronounced since the exercise was last carried out by the late Gen. Sani Abacha regime in 1996. The argument by Ndigbo in this regard is that their area remains the only geo-political zone in the country with five states – Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu and Imo states. Other zones – the South-South, South-West, North-Central, North-East, all have six states each, while the NorthWest has seven. President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Amb. Raph Uwechue, maintains that
Obi
a sixth state in the South-East will rectify the existing anomaly in the allocation of states which had over time relegated the zone to an inferior status and chart a new course for Ndigbo in the Nigerian polity. His words: “The way forward for the South-East, which is currently allotted the least number of states among the six zones, not out of choice by the predominantly Igbo indigenes of the region, but by blatantly, if not spitefully, discriminatory imposition by former non-representative military rulers of our country, first.” But justified as their demand may be, creation of new states is a tall order as procedures to be adopted by the National Assembly according to Section 8 (i) of the 1999 Constitution, states: “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. While the legal hurdle could be addressed by the ongoing constitution amendment, opposition from the Northern part of the country poses a tough snag, which Ndigbo must brace up for. The North’s votes will dwarf that of the SouthEast any day in the National Assembly due to the inequality in the number of representatives from both sides. Governor Rabiu Kwankwanso of Kano State gave an indication to this recently, when he raised the alarm of a plot by the Constitution Review Committee to create a new state without adhering to the rules. He particularly accused the chairman of the committee and Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu (an Igbo), as the brain behind the plan. To him, the SouthEast should not have an additional state because its population is not up to that of the North-West. It is against this backdrop that some analysts who commended the resolve of the South-East to harmonise the various states demand, advised that cultural ho-
Okorocha
Uwechue
mogeneity and affinity of the area where the new state would be carved out from be accorded priority, so that Ndigbo will not fritter the opportunity as a result of the cacophony of voices so far expressed by the people of the zone. Before the Enugu meeting, there have been intensive campaigns by several groups in each of the five states of the zone for the proposed new 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. The desire of the agitators of Aba State made up of Ukwa and Ngwa ethnic nationalities is to have their area comprising of nine local government areas; Aba North, Aba South, Osisioma Ngwa, Obingwa, Isiala Ngwa North, Isiala Ngwa South, Ugwunagbo, Ukwa East and Ukwa West local government areas, carved out of the present Abia State. Those championing Aba State said similar demand was made in 1915 to the British Colonial government, 1954, 1980 and 1983 to both houses of the National Assem-
bly. They listed states marked for creation along with Aba at the time to include the present Adamawa, Jigawa, Katsina, Kogi, Taraba and Enugu states. Similarly, those behind the Adada State project out of the present Enugu State argue that of all the old provinces in the then Eastern Nigeria, Nsukka province remains the only one that has not been accorded a state status. In the same Enugu State, the people of Awgu, who have over the years cried out over marginalisation, want Equity State that will see them teaming with Aninri council (also in the present Enugu); Afikpo from Ebonyi; Okigwe, Onuimo, Orsu, Nwangele, Orlu, Oru East and West from Imo and Umunneochi from Abia. Another agitation is that for Etiti State. Its proponents want it carved out from the present Anambra, Imo and Abia states. It would include councils in Anambra like Aguata, Nnewi North and South, Orumba South and North and Ihiala, while from Imo councils like Ideato North and South, Onuimo, Orsu, Nwangele, Orlu, Nkwere, Oru East and West, Njaba, Okigwe would join alongside Isu and Umunneochi from Abia. The situation is more confusing in Imo State. A section of leaders in Imo West and Anambra South senatorial districts are pushing for the creation of Njaba State, while others are demanding for Orlu and Orashi states respectively. The proposed Njaba State, according to its promoters should be carved out of the 12 local government areas that makeup Imo West: Orlu, Orsu, Oru East, Oru West, Oguta, Ohaji/Egbema, Nkwerre, Nwangele, Isu, Njaba, Ideato North and Ideato South. They are to be joined by Ihiala Local Government Area of Anambra State. Agitators of Orlu State want only the 12 councils that make up the senatorial district to be accorded a state status. They argue that Orlu zone is the third largest city in Nigeria with an estimated population of about two million people and enormous potential to sustain itself as a state. A similar demand is that of Orashi State, although its proponents want some local government areas in Anambra and Rivers states to be added to it, as the area is a virtual geographical autonomy of its own and will abate complaints of marginalisation by the people of the area against the present governments in Rivers, Anambra and Imo states. Anim and Orimili are new demands and their agitators insist that since the then East Central State was split into Imo and Anambra states; and from Imo, Abia was carved out while Enugu was created from Anambra and out of the two (Enugu and Abia), Ebonyi later emerged, equity demands that the sixth state for the SouthEast be carved out of the present Imo and Anambra states. While the National Assembly insists that there would not be “no go areas” in the constitutional amendment, including state creation, developments in the days ahead will put to test the resolve by Ndigbo to close ranks in the bid to have another state, as many believe that uncoordinated approach of the issue in the past, is responsible for their predicament.
16
Politics
United States Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Terrence P. McCulley, recently led a delegation to Bauchi State to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the state government. ISHOLA MICHAEL, the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Isa Yuguda, writes on the visit.
Thursday, December 6, 2012
US, Bauchi partner for growth
T
uesday November 27, will remain evergreen in the chequered history of Bauchi State. Not only that it was the date the state was created but because on that date something unique happened and it has gone a long way to change the status of the state and confirmed the repeated declaration of Governor Isa Yuguda that “we may have our security challenges but I stand to be corrected that Bauchi State remains one of the safest states in this country because in Bauchi, you can still see people moving about as late as 2a.m. while security operatives are busy keeping the peace and securing lives and properties.” Before now the media had described Bauchi State as crisis prone, thereby scaring away visitors who wanted to come for one thing or the other particularly investors. But on Tuesday, November 27, all that changed with the visiting of the United States Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Terrence P. McCulley, who led other top functionaries of the American Embassy in Nigeria, particularly the head of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) funded programmes in Nigeria. McCully was in Bauchi for the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on urban water sector reform, under the Sustainable Water and Sanitation in Africa (SUWASA) programme between Bauchi State government and the USAID. Their mission was to commend the Yuguda-led administration for doing wonderfully well in the governance of the state particularly in the areas of water and
Governor Yuguda exchanging documents with Ambassador McCulley during the visit.
sanitation which has ranked the state the best in the country; a development that attracted the attention of the USAID to do more to support the administration in providing democratic dividends to the people of the North East state. The visit was unique because the U.S. delegation did not just visited and left but spent the night in Bauchi to taste the hospitality of the government and people of the state having arrived on Monday November 26 to be able to catch up with the appointment. At the end, the Ambassador could not but agree that Bauchi State indeed remains one of the safest states in the country against the general belief, especially in the media. Just as the American Ambassador and his team were praising the developmental efforts of the Yuguda-led administration, another important thing was taking place as the Presidential Committee on Flood Victims Resettlement and Rehabilitation led by Prof. Dora Akunyili went round the
state unhindered to meet some of the victims of the recent flood disaster. The team accompanied by journalists, went to the hinterland to see the real people who are suffering the effects of the disaster. Ambassador McCulley declared that he was delighted over the progress made in Bauchi with regards to all USAID flagship programmes and that the agency will soon replicate some of the successes recorded in Bauchi to other Nigerian states. He said Bauchi was one of the USAID focus states because of the quality of governance in the state, pointing out that in less than one year the milestone successes in the water reform agenda is already having a positive impact. McCulley said that USAID is particularly happy that the Bauchi State Water and Sanitation (WASA) Policy has been approved by the State Executive Council. The U.S. envoy further noted that the kind of leadership exhibited by Governor Yuguda is creating a powerful synergy between the state government and
Dissecting 13 years of opposition in democracy CONTINUED FROM 14 National Assembly); to improve parliamentary decision-making procedures by ensuring debate, reflection and contradiction; to scrutinize the legislative and budgetary proposals of the government; and, to ensure stability, legitimacy, accountability and transparency in the political process. Let me put this on record: In our position as the leading political party in Nigeria today we have been guided by the highest ideals of democratic opposition in the world.
Conclusion: On a personal note, I will say here, very humbly, that acting as the voice and face of the opposition – in my capacity as the National Publicity Secretary of the Action Congress of Nigeria – has been as demanding as it has been exciting. While many Nigerians have shown appreciation, one way or the other, for this onerous task, some others have sought to depict one as being perpetually against the government of the day. This cannot be far-
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ther from the truth. When the occasion demands it, we commend the government of the day. Let me cite the most recent example. You will recollect that the Ministry of Aviation had a running battle with some foreign airlines over the discriminatory fares they charge Nigerians, compared to Ghanaians, for example, along the same route, e.g. Lagos-London. While the controversy was raging, we issued a statement commending the ministry’s effort to ensure that Nigerians are treated with respect and dignity, rather than being fleeced by greedy foreign airlines. It is very easy to forget this. Well, I must also say that such commendations are quite few because this PDP-Federal Government gives little or nothing to cheer! Let me also use this opportunity to say that whatever we have achieved as the voice of the opposition could not have been possible without the support of all Nigerians. They have constantly kept us on our toes
as we seek to perform this role creditable. Ordinary Nigerians have called our attention to issues over which they believe we must take up the government of the day, either it is the issue of fuel subsidy, insecurity of lives and property, poor management of the economy or worsening state of infrastructure. They have given us leads, facts and figures. To us, there can be no better indication of the people’s vote of confidence in us! Finally, no opposition party can perform its role creditably without the media. They have been our partners, standing shoulder to shoulder with us all the way. They have not only supported us, they have criticized us, when necessary, and engaged us in robust debates on key issues. We are very grateful for this, which goes a long way to confirm what we have always believed, that you stand to get more from the media when you take them as a critical partner in the task of nation building, rather than merely as an instrument for the dissemination of news.
partners in Europe, commending the state government for its development efforts, which he said have already rejuvenated commitment of Yuguda towards reform. This, he said, has made Bauchi very attractive to donor partners. He also commended the Bauchi State Government for its efforts at making water available to its people as well as promoting sanitation and healthy living which he said are qualities of a good government and declared that the state was chosen based on the success recorded in the water sector. The ambassador declared that the state is the best in the country in water sector. The ambassador further commended the Yuguda-led administration for been able to provide dividends of democracy to its people in the face of the security challenges facing the North-East. He then assured that the U.S. government through USAID is ever-ready to partner with the state government in its effort to develop the state. He added that the MoU will cover the area of improved water to the people of the state as well as sanitation because, according to him, with the availability of safe water there will be improved life expectancy. McCulley assured that more U.S. interventions will come to the state in order to promote good governance. In his response, Governor Yuguda said the state is more determined to bring dividends of democracy to its citizen pointing out that the administration has created enabling environment for development partners engage in intervention programmes in the state. Yuguda said that the coming of the USAID delegation to sign the MoU was very timely because the state is ever ready to partner with development partners in order to bring good quality service delivery to the people of Bauchi. The governor further told the U.S. Ambassador that his administration has made provision of potable water to the people its topmost priority, pointing out that since 2007 when he came on board over N4 billion had been spent on various water and sanitation interventions. He said that the Gubi dam was rehabilitated with the provision of two 500 KVA generators in order to ensure that there was electricity supply in the dam 24 hours just as all the old pipes were replaced there by improving water supply to the metropolis. He also noted that over 400 towns and villages have been provided with various seizes of water schemes just as all secondary schools and general hospitals were provided with sources of good water and sanitation which he said has improved health among the people. The governor also used the occasion to further confirm that Bauchi State is not as bad as was portrayed in the media agreeing though that the state has its own share of the security challenges being experienced in the country particularly in the Northern part of the county. “With your coming to Bauchi and even spending a night here, you have proved to the entire world that indeed Bauchi is safe. The next time you come on a social visit we will take you to Yankari to feel nature at its best,” Yuguda said.
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Thursday, December 6, 2012
17
Evil of dysfunctional judiciary WHEN CRIMES PAY,
EXISTENTIAL HUMANISM
AS IT IS PRESENTLY
THE CASE, MORE AND
FRY
MORE PEOPLE WILL
NDUBUISI
GET ENLISTED INTO IT
fryndubuisi@nationalmirroronline.net (08023016709 SMS only)
T
here is a demoralizing unease about the lackluster performance of the nation’s judiciary. The courts are playing less than noble role in the concerted national drive to arrest raging insurgency and corruption in the country. The delays and manipulations that go on in the courts are a source of concern to the entire nation. It was against this background that President Goodluck Jonathan, at the swearing in ceremony of the incumbent Chief Justice of the Federation, Justice Aloma Mariam Mukhtar, called for the establishment of special courts for quick dispensation of justice. Ironically, Justice Mukhtar was not enthusiastic about the idea. Surprisingly also, the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) and some senior members of the Bar are against the idea. The President of NBA, OKey Wali, dismissed the idea as laughable, insisting that if the judiciary was well funded, factors that slow down trials would be checkmated.
I
Both Mr. Tayo Oyetibo (SAN) and Dr. Konyinsoal Ajayi (SAN), share this sentiment. However, the EFCC, INEC, and the Nigerian Navy have made very serious case for the establishment of special courts for quick trial of people involved in financial crimes, electoral offences and oil theft. The former EFCC boss, Mrs. Farida Waziri, is known to be a strong advocate of special courts, believing that it is the only way forward, if the fight to check organized crimes is expected to achieve the intended result. The debate goes on. Whatever the position of NBA and its senior members on the issue, the known truth is that the nation’s judiciary is endangered and must be rescued. This revered institution is yet to contribute and play its required role in the fight against corruption, and violent and organised crimes. The agencies that are charged with the responsibility of curbing organised crimes, have on several occasion, voiced out their frustration over
the seeming connivance of the judiciary with those intent in protecting the criminals in our midst. Discerning Nigerians believe that the slow pace of trials at the courts is a well orchestrated game between the lawyers and judges, and that it is for self aggrandizement. This line of thought has merit given the current moral crisis existing in both the nation’s Bar and Bench. It is on record that the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Mohammed Adoke, once gave indication to this development when he said at the 4th edition of the Alumni Reunion of the Nigerian Law School (NLS) ’88 class in Enugu that “corrupt practices and ethical problems are more pronounced at the Bar unlike in the past decades”. He insisted that it was time to bring the “discourse of ethics and discipline at the Bar to the front burner to purge the profession of its present decay”. This is coming from the office of one that should know the level of decay, both at the Bar and Bench. The CJN, recently at a seminar for judges and magistrates of the lower courts, expressed displeasure over the level of corruption at the courts and threatened to discipline any judicial officer caught in shady deals. It is an open secret therefore, that there is rot at the nation’s Bar and Bench. The delay and the confusion at the courts are offshoot of this ugly
development. The painful fact is that in the final analysis, it is the entire society, especially the masses and the image of the country that suffer. It is sad that none of the high profile cases, including corruption-related cases involving our ex-governors, is making any appreciable progress in the courts. The suspects are walking free in the society, enjoying their loots and attracting more political patronages. While it is imperative to equip the courts with modern gadgets and machineries, such will not go far enough in decongesting the courts. The delay in proceedings seems to be a deliberate and dubious ploy for an intended purpose. In some other climes, a case like the Cynthia Osokogu’s homicidal case would have been over by now. Here, that case may linger until it is forgotten. The truth is that since corruption and violent crimes have become endemic, we need special courts handled by experienced judges to ensure that justice is not only done, but also not delayed. When crimes pay, as it is presently the case, more and more people will get enlisted into it. We must shun personal and group interests and do what is right, which is the practice even in the advanced world, when the need arises. Prof. Ndubuisi, an attorney at Law, is of the Dept. of Philosophy, UNILAG
My recent experience with scammers
f one looks at the creative inventiveness of some Nigerians, one would certainly wonder what they would have achieved if the energies had been channeled into positive enterprises. Perhaps, it is no longer newsworthy that our society brimmed with conmen of different characters and strategies. However, a recent experience, which seems to have emanated from a script of a Nollywood producer, is worth being shared with Nigerians. I have got countless number of scam letters and other communications in the past and had always laughed and dismissed them casually. These range from urgent letters from close but “distressed friends” to phone calls from ladies, who claimed to have fallen in love with me, but all these pale into insignificance in terms of sheer audacity and ingenuity of the latest experience. I received a call around 9.30pm some days ago with number 08182209287. The caller mentioned my name with a tone of familiarity and was effusive with greetings. I was not impressed - if you write a regular column, your names and pictures would be in the public domain. But the caller said he had some important information for me. From his voice, if the man is not over 60 years of age, he must be a good ventriloquist, for his voice carried the sonic signature of old age. The man, who spoke in rich idiomatic Yoruba that brimmed with ancient proverbs and wit, gave his bizarre revelations. “My son, I don’t know you in person. But
I want you to listen carefully. Right now as I am speaking, I am inside “Iledi egbe awo” (scared grove of the initiates into awo cult), some people have brought to us your picture and name. They said we must place evil curse upon you that may lead to early death! “Let me tell you; you are a very talented person and God has destined you to be immensely successful, but the forces of darkness have frustrated the actualisation of the lofty dreams. Right now, a great breakthrough is coming your way and these forces realise there is nothing they could do to stop it this time around. They have contacted us to employ spiritual powers to kill you, so that you will not enjoy the impending great success!” That was the kernel of the man’s statement. I have deliberately cut out other parts as the man was prolix in incantatory and idiomatic speeches, which were apparently employed to elicit credibility. My first inclination was to say: “Babalawo, please don’t betray your clients, if people have paid you and your fetish cohorts to kill me, why can’t you people just go ahead?” But I checked myself, having decided to play along until I uncovered the whole extent of this new brand of fleecing. So, I asked: “What can be done, sir, to avert the said disaster?” “God bless you my son, I have just managed to persuade my colleagues, the other awo, to stay their hands. I also have a son called Kayode, who lives abroad and I don’t intend to do you any harm. But
YOU NEED TO BUY THREE PEPEYE
(DUCKS) AND SOME
OTHER INGREDIENTS.
EVERYTHING WILL BE ABOUT N15, 000 we must do something to avert the evil. You need to buy three pepeye (ducks) and some other ingredients. Everything will be about N15, 000. It must be done this night for the awo will disperse this night and it will take weeks before we meet again.” “How do I get the money to you? No bank is operating this hour of the night,” I asked. “Send MTN cards to cover the amount, I will send somebody to sell it quickly so that the rituals will begin.” “Ok Baba, let me go out and buy the cards,” I said. I switched off the phone. I was surprised the following morning when the man called again. I thought he ought to have known his game was up, but greed is a vice that often times beclouds reason. He said he was waiting for the cards. It was then I decided to fool him too! I sent him six fictitious numbers after which I called and said “Baba, I have just sent you six cards of N1, 500 each
KAYODE
KETEFE
kketefe@nationalmirroronline.net 08032147720 (SMS only)
totaling N9, 000. I will send the remaining in few minutes time”. An elated voice eagerly exploded in torrents of benedictions. “God bless, my son; please send the remaining ones quickly”. He never even mentioned anything about the deadline he had imposed the night before. Thirty minutes later, the man, in a dejected voice, called to lament that none of the numbers was “accepted.” He was wondering what went wrong. I burst into laughter and promptly sent a bombshell text message to him. “Baba onipepeye, one thousand ducks cannot save anybody. Fraud does not pay, repent from your evil ways. Farewell, Baba onipepeye, oganjo!” Send your views by mail or sms to PMB 10001, Ikoyi, or our Email: mail@ nationalmirroronline.netmirrorlagos@ 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.
18
Editorial
Thursday, December 6, 2012
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All the Facts, All the Sides A PUBLICATION OF GLOBAL MEDIA MIRROR LTD BARRISTER JIMOH IBRAHIM, OFR PUBLISHER
STEVE AYORINDE
MD/EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
YELE AKINROLABU
ED OPERATIONS
SEYI FASUGBA
DAILY EDITOR
BOLAJI TUNJI
SUNDAY EDITOR
GBEMI OLUJOBI
SATURDAY EDITOR
DOZIE OKEBALAMA
COORDINATOR, EDITORIAL BOARD
ADESOYE ADEKOYA
CONTROLLER, PRODUCTION
CALLISTUS OKE
EDITORIAL PAGE EDITOR
ISE-OLUWA IGE
ABUJA BUREAU CHIEF
KAYODE BALOGUN JNR
SM, STRATEGIC DEVELOPMENT
FRANK OBOH
HEAD, GRAPHICS
Special courts for high profile corruption cases E T CJN,
here have been several calls for the setting up of special courts to hasten the trial of high profile cases of corruption in the country. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has for long been canvassing the need for special courts to try suspects of financial crimes; the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has made a similar representation for the trial of electoral offenders; while the Nigerian Navy is also pressing for special courts to try oil thieves, for instance. In addition, President Goodluck Jonathan, at the swearing-in ceremony of the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Aloma Mukhtar, a few months back, expressed the need for special courts, given the congestion and delay in the handling of both civil and criminal proceedings by the nation’s conventional courts. But from her feeble response to Jonathan’s suggestion, it seems clear that Mukhtar does not consider the establishment of special courts as expedient. She has also done nothing in that direction, to public knowledge. Recently, the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), perhaps on reading the body language of the CJN, and in apparent response to increasing agitations for special courts, dismissed the establishment of such
courts as unnecessary. The NBA President, Okey Wali’s argument, as contained in a recent press statement, was that with enough funds at the disposal of the nation’s judiciary, “factors that slow down trials would be taken care of ”. Some senior lawyers also argue that instead of establishing special courts, an in-built mechanism capable of fast-tracking the criminal justice system should be put in place. Special courts, according to them, might worsen, instead of improving the criminal justice system in the land. It must be recognized, however, that many Nigerians think otherwise. High profile corruption, particularly in the public sector, in our considered opinion, has virtually sunk the nation. If there are crimes against humanity deserving of the declaration of a state of emergency in the country; and which require quick intervention strategies to bring culprits to book, we think corrupt practices, especially beginning from the inception of civil rule in 1999 to date, are one of them. Regrettably, too, some dishonest members of the bench and their complicit colleagues in the bar seem the greatest threat to the fight against corruption in the country. Working as an ungodly team, they make a mockery of the nation’s justice delivery system on daily basis, before
XCEPT THE
CURRENT
M UKHTAR ,
HAS A BETTER
ALTERNATIVE , WE THINK THE ESTABLISHMENT OF SPECIAL
COURTS … WILL HASTEN THE TRIAL OF
‘ SACRED
COWS ’
our very eyes and those of the international community. About three years ago, former chairman of the EFCC, Mrs. Farida Waziri, related how some of the high profile corruption cases being prosecuted by the Commission dragged on endlessly because some senior members of the bar with hollow integrity, most likely working with their cohorts in the judiciary, exploited the weaknesses of the nation’s criminal justice system by filing frivolous applications to frustrate the trial of affected suspects, especially past governors; as well as how some lawyers fraudulently obtained money from their clients in the guise of delivering same as bribe to the
Commission’s officers to ‘kill’ such cases under investigation. Waziri’s successor, the current EFCC Chairman, Ibrahim Lamorde, also alleged early in the year that some in-house lawyers and their counterparts hired by the Commission from private law firms formed the habit of deliberately creating loopholes in corruption cases to enable affected suspects flee from justice. Most of the cases have been dragging since 2008. All these embolden public sector thieves to do more harm to the system. It is, therefore, the least surprising that the NBA despises the establishment of special courts. Quite instructive, however, was the concern expressed by former CJN, Justice Dahiru Musdapher, on the need to assign some judges from the higher bench to try high profile corruption and related cases; and that such matters should be heard by the judges without any adjournment longer than 24 hours. Except the current CJN, Mukhtar, has a better alternative, we think the establishment of special courts, in addition to the former CJN’s idea of drafting senior judges to specially handle corruption cases; will hasten the trial of ‘sacred cows’, who assault the nation with unimaginable impunity while in office, and then become desperate to escape justice.
ON THIS DAY December 6, 2008 The 2008 Greek riots broke out upon the killing of a 15-year-old boy, Alexandros Grigoropoulos, by a police officer. The 2008 Greek riotsstartedonDecember6,2008,whenAlexandrosGrigoropoulos, a 15-year-old student, was killed by two policemen in Exarcheia district of central Athens. The murder resulted in large protests and demonstrations, which escalated to widespread rioting, with hundreds of rioters damaging property and engaging riot police with Molotov cocktails, stones and other objects.
December 6, 1992 The Babri Mosque in Ayodhya, India was demolished, leading to widespread riots and causing the deaths of over 1500 people. The mosque was constructed in 1527 on the orders of Babur, the first Mughal emperor of India, and was named after him. Before the 1940s, the mosque was also called Masjid-i-Janmasthan: “mosque of the birthplace”. The Babri Mosque was one of the largest mosques in Uttar Pradesh, a state in India with some 31 million Muslims .
December 6, 1977 South Africa granted independence to Bophuthatswana, although it was not recognized by any other country. Bophuthatswana (meaning “gathering of the Tswana people”), officially the Republic of Bophuthatswana was a bantustan (“homeland”; an area set aside for members of a specific ethnicity) and nominal parliamentary democracy in the northwestern region of South Africa. Its seat of government was Mmabatho.
Thursday, December 6, 2012
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19
Education Today NUC to close down varsities without governing councils 21
The debilitating condition of public universities in the country has attracted yet another criticism from the former Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Prof. Charles Soludo, who also proffers practicable solutions at a public forum recently, writes TUNBOSUN OGUNDARE.
Varsity education system has failed Nigeria – Soludo
R
ecently, the Needs Assessment Committee on public universities constituted by the Federal Government came up with shocking revelation of the debilitating state of the nation’s university education. The committee headed by the Executive- Secretary, Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), Prof. Yakubu Mahmood and with the immediate past National President of Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Prof Ukachukwu Anwuzie, as member, identified numerous challenges confronting public universities in the country. These, according to the committee’s report, range from inadequate funding, decaying infrastructure, policy inconsistency, dearth of qualified lecturers, over- staffing of unqualified workers, misplaced priority, overcrowded lecture rooms, financial and other forms of corrupt practices, to politicking. Others include poor hostel accommodation, ineffective power supply, insecurity, dearth of safe water supply and sanitary facilities, poor learning environment, poor remuneration and welfare package, lack lustre students’ attitude and lack of parental care and so on. The committee concluded that unless these problems were tackled, the nation’s public universities would remain in shambles. This situation was re-echoed penultimate Saturday by the former Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Pro. Charles Soludo, at the seventh founder’s day ceremony of American University of Nigeria (AUN), Yola, Adamawa State, where he was a keynote speaker. He spoke on: “The university, citizenship, and national development in Nigeria.” Soludo, a renowned economist, emphasised the importance of functional university education system to economic growth and development of a nation. According to him, university education occupies a prime position as drivers of development in any given economy, especially considering its major areas of focus: teaching, research and community service. Stressing that the quality of higher education would reflect on the level of development and predict its future development potentials, Soludo noted that the highest value of university education is not just about imparting knowledge on individuals but on the socialisation of
A cross section of participants at the forum.
THE HIGHEST VALUE OF UNIVERSITY EDUCATION IS NOT JUST ABOUT IMPARTING KNOWLEDGE ON INDIVIDUALS BUT ON THE SOCIALISATION OF THE KNOWLEDGE FOR CITIZENSHIP AND COMMUNITY DUTIES the knowledge for citizenship and community duties. But sadly the country’s university system is a failed one, especially in the area of contents. Soludo, decried this situation and the consequence of producing graduates that are not only unfit for serious jobs, but also lacking the consciousness to drive competition and development demanding of today’s world economy. To him, the university should not only to train high level manpower and carry out quality research, but also should be able to make significant contributions to governance, community service and other endeavours. And to achieve this, he said would require that the country redesigns the university system in such a way that its’ curricula would also support the country’s notions of development. Although, he said the international best practice was necessary, it was more important that a university develops curricula that would reflect on the country’s history, conditions and needs so as to be able to address the ‘practical socio-economic and manpower challenges facing such a country. Recalling his days of participation in various job recruitment exercises, Soludo observes that over 60 per cent of the Nigerian graduates are unemployable,
tracing this phenomenon to the inappropriateness of the curricula offered by the university and the poor quality of education imparted on them while in school. “We live in a knowledge-driven world, where human capital– in terms of a critical mass of a healthy and skilled workforce—is the most important resource of a nation as no country of the world has prospered in the long term by depending on exhaustible natural resources like Nigeria does, “ Soludo said, adding: “To compete and win in this 21stcentury and beyond, Nigerians must be more innovating and adapting to the changing world and the university is central in this knowledge-based global competition.” Unfortunately, the Nigerian university system is being by-passed by the global competition in the knowledge world. Despite the astronomical growth in the number of universities (public and private) and the rise in admissions, the critical mass of high level manpower to develop Nigeria is still much lacking. Another portent phenomenon which he identified to be ruining Nigerian public universities was the introduction of federal character and quota system rather than using merit principle to admit students or employ the
Soludo workers. Soludo, also observes that public universities are fast losing their universal appeal as each state tries to establish its own university, and each federal university in a state is part of the state’s share of the national cake. On this, he added that because the public university was being run largely as an extension of the public civil service in Nigeria, the university is now a vehicle to provide employment to indigenes of the state in which it is located. And it is increasingly difficult because of this to find a ViceChancellor of a state or federal university who is not from the state or a neighbouring state. Although, there has been upsurge in the number of universities in the country in recent times, this development does not translate to critical contributions to nation’s development. “When was the last time you heard any articulate views from the universities on important national debates except during the time of ASUU negotiations of salaries with the Federal Government?, he queried. In a developing country like ours, the motto of university education should be: “Education with development consciousnesses.” Even at that, he said, the dominant curricula of the university in terms of teaching and research should tend towards universalism with each university establishing unique identity to impart knowledge. For university education to have maximum effect on national and international development therefore, according to Soludo, the system must also network and collaborate with other institutions and organisations across cultures and geographic locations. “Unless these are done, Nigeria will continue to lag behind in the committee of nations,” he concluded.
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Education Today
AUN waives admission application fee TUNBOSUN OGUNDARE
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he American University of Nigeria, Yola, has announced the cancelation of admission application fees into the institution. The institution’s Assistant Vice- President in charge of Marketing & Recruitment, Mr. Linus Ikyurav, said the decision was to facilitate access to the university, disclosing that the development took effect from next academic session. He said by the development, the university would still be accepting online and paper-based applications. In another development, the Rwandan National Parliament has nominated American-born President of AUN to a task force establishing a new university system in Rwanda. Announcing her appointment, the Rwandan Minister of Education, Dr. Vincent Biruta, said the task force would take steps toward the realisation of the University of Rwanda by September 2013. He disclosed that Ensign’s nomination was based on her expertise and broad knowledge of developments during her stay in East Africa. Rwanda has 14 scholarship students enrolled at AUN this academic year and has promised to sponsor at least 20 every year. A statement by AUN’s spokesman, Mr. Abubakar Tahir, said Ensign would be in Rwanda mid-December to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Biruta for the scholarship students, adding that she would also give two keynote speeches: one on genocide prevention and another on transformational leadership and nation building, during the trip. Tahir noted that Ensign had lived and worked in East Africa, including Rwanda, for many years and had co-authored a seminal book, Rwanda: History and Hope, which documents the country’s rebuilding since the 1994 genocide. She has won two awards in 2011 and this year from African Leadership magazine for guiding AUN in becoming Africa’s first development university, whose goal is to educate the future leaders and problem solvers of the continent. Ensign, in accepting this new responsibility, said: “I am honoured to have been chosen for this important task force and look forward to the vigorous exchange of ideas and experience and the chance to help in the continued remarkable growth and transformation of Rwanda.”
Ensign
Thursday, December 6, 2012
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UNILAG of my dream –New VC The 11th Vice-Chancellor of the University of Lagos (UNILAG), Akoka, Prof. Rahamon Bello formally assumed office on Monday, November 12. The former Acting VC, whose emergence was occasioned by the sudden death of his predecessor, Prof. Babatunde Sofoluwe, has pledged to take the 60-year-old university to its peak of glory through investment in meaningful researches and linkages. MOJEED ALABI writes:
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he death of the university’s 10th Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Babatunde Sofoluwe, on Friday, May 11, took the institution’s community and education stakeholders by surprise. Nothing could have made the development more devastating than the late VC’s excitement when he met the press on Tuesday, May 8, to announce series of activities to celebrate the university’s golden jubilee anniversary. It was in this mourning mood that Sofoluwe’s erstwhile deputy, who was in charge of Management Services, Prof. Rahman Bello, was appointed the university’s VC in acting capacity. To Bello, taking over the role of his boss on account of death was not only discomforting but also very unfortunate. However, since life itself does not accommodate vacuum, the unassuming Professor of Chemical Engineering reluctantly assumed office. Bello’s problems became more compounded when, in less than three weeks into his appointment, the nation’s President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan announced the university’s change of name to Moshood Abiola University of Lagos (MAULAG). This was a decision that was greeted with violent protests from students, staff and other stakeholders, including alumni members. But to the responsive and very calm Bello, the flower that blooms in adversity is the rarest and the best. Barely six months into his appointment, the maturity by which he managed the ensuing crises must have informed the decision of the university’s Governing Council to formally confirm Bello as the university’s 11th substantive helmsman. The council, which rose from a meeting on Saturday, November 10, adopted the report of the Selection Board that Prof. Bello be appointed UNILAG’s VC with effect from Monday, November 12. Resuming office on the said date, Bello was ushered in by a team of pastors and imams, who offered prayers to seek for the new VC’s success in office and against misfortune within and outside the university community. As a man of dreams and ambitions, Bello told the congregation, that in the next five years when his tenure would have been rounded off, he would love to be remembered as the one that takes the university to the first position among the ivory towers on the African continent. Going through the ranking of universities by global institutions, Prof. Bello has
Bello
noted that the African chart presently dominated by South African universities were not better than UNILAG, but their presence on the web and their research outputs have accorded them such recognition. On how to achieve the vision for the university, the new VC announced the takeoff of a new research unit, which he said would be primarily responsible for coordinating group research proposals, promote end-use of research findings and attracting grants for research activities. Another major factor noted to be influencing the universities ranking is partnership of the academic institutions with notable world individuals, non-governmental organisations and world bodies and government agencies. To this end, Prof. Bello, who had his Masters and postgraduate degrees from the University of Waterloo, in Canada, has revealed that arrangements were currently ongoing to partner several institutions in China and the United States of America to enhance mutual benefits. Similarly, part of the focus of the new administration, according to Bello, would include massive rehabilitation of infrastructures, prompt issuance of transcripts and results, and making the institution more ICT-compliant. As a team player, the VC promised to work with all stakeholders in the institutions, including the students, academic and non-academic staff. He promised to reconstitute the students’ union that would serve the interest of the university. He also launched a new organ known as HOD’s forum that would be in charge of co-ordination of academic activities. In terms of funding, the university according to Bello, has just received a huge sum of three billion naira from the Tertiary Education Trust Fund. Part of the
money he said would be utilized for the construction of a new central library while about N1billion has been earmarked for the upgrade of facilities in all faculties. The VC hinted that the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) had set the necessary machinery in motion for the construction of an ultra-modern “Centre of Excellence” Project on the campus. When completed, he said the project would include an academic facility and a hostel which would be managed on a semi-commercial basis as the money generated would mainly go into its maintenance. Also, the project earlier announced by the Nigeria Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) to build a Maritime Institute on the campus is said to be taking off very soon. This project according to NIMASA was sited in the university because of its pool of intellectuals, immense contribution to national development, topography and location near the lagoon. While meeting representatives of the workers’ unions, which included the Academic Staff Unions of Universities (ASUU), Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), Non Academic Staff Union of Universities (NASU) and the National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT), Prof. Bello sought their cooperation and support and pledged the openness and sincerity of his administration. Bello, a former Commissioner for Special Duties in Ogun State, who has overseen several projects for various organisations in the country including Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas Ltd., Elf Petroleum, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, among others, has promised to take University of Lagos to the promised land and fulfill the dreams of those that planted the seed of the ivory tower.
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Education Today
Thursday, December 6, 2012
NUC will close down varsities without governing councils –Okogie Prof. Julius Okojie is the Executive-Secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC). In this interview with ISE-OLUWA IGE, GEORGE ORJI, ROTIMI FADEYI and IJEOMA EZEIKE, he speaks on illegal universities and reasons for the delay in the accreditation of engineering courses in the University of Abuja (UNIABUJA), Abuja. Excerpts Why is it taking NUC so long to accredit some courses in University of Abuja (UNIABUJA), especially in engineering fields. In 2005, the then Vice-Chancellor of the university got approval from the Senate to start new programmes which included Medicine, Vet Medicine, Engineering and Agriculture. When the university started these four new programmes and advertised for students, the National Universities Commission (NUC) wrote to them that they should take the programmes one after the other and not all of them together at a time. Ordinarily, they are supposed to write to NUC that they would want to start the four new programmes. Then it becomes the duty of NUC to do verification with a view to finding whether the school has enough infrastructure and facilities to start those programmes or not. When I became the Executive- Secretary of National Universities Commission (NUC), I decided to do programmes’ auditing. When we embarked on this, we discovered that more than 480 programmes were running illegally in Nigeria universities, which means that they did not take permission from NUC. We found out that some people actually applied but before they got response from us, they had started running the programmes illegally. What we did was that, if these students were there, already not only in UNIABUJA, but also in other universities in the country, it behooves on the NUC to find a way of resolving the issue. Then, we went to do what should have been done earlier if they had taken permission. We went to do programmes verification and some of them didn’t pass the exercise. Those ones were shut permanently. In UNIABUJA, medicine, vet medicine and Agriculture passed our assessment, but the engineering did not. So, for any reason they shouldn’t have continued at all because they were appropriately informed of the development. They know that after verification, we still have to go for accreditation. These are two different things. When you approve a programme, you will still go after three years to find out whether the programme is faring well before accrediting. In 2007/ 2008, some programmes that had passed verification exercises failed accreditation, but failing accreditation doesn’t mean a programme cannot continue. It only means new students should not be admitted for such courses until things are perfected and accreditation awarded. The institutions in such a situation would have to invite us again for re assessment. For this, we don’t force them. They invite us whenever they are ready. So for UNIABUJA, due to delay, the school went to the Minister of Education’s office to complain of the development. As a fall out of that move, the VC promised that in six months, the school would have put in place necessary
Okojie
things. Because of that, the minister set up a task force and what we did was to bring members of professional bodies to serve as members of the task force so as know where exactly the problems were. But don’t forget that not too long ago by the prompting of staff of that university; they said they wanted a visitation panel in the school. They said there was corruption allegation. Ordinarily, I would have said no and asked them to allow us to conclude with the accreditation exercise first but I didn’t do that. Because between then and now, we should have implemented what we discovered and looked at the ways to retrieve the new programmes, but because of the pressure, they went on strike. And government didn’t want to be seen that they were hiding anything from us. So they started visitation panel and for 10 weeks, we couldn’t work on those programmes because they were appearing before those panels at every sitting. For engineering courses, we are starting from scratch, we intend for them to have engineering faculty, not the way they have started, we are going to start again with verification. Once they passed the exercise, we go for accreditation and after some period, we can now start negotiating with COREN, which is the professional body for engineers on what to do about those who are there that have not graduated. Right now, they have no status because they don’t have verification report. They failed the one we did in 2007. If they pass this one, it will mean that those who are coming in
THE LIST OF ILLEGAL UNIVERSITIES IN THE COUNTRY IS
INEXHAUSTIBLE.
BUT
STUDENTS OF THOSE UNIVERSITIES ARE NOT RECOGNIZED AT LEAST BY
NUC
newly will have a brand new opportunity. We have told the VC that they should get ready for verification visit. As far I am concerned, we will be able to fix the UNIABUJA problem. We have told those students even if they leave the university, no other public university will admit them into the same class. So the best thing for them is to stay. Yes, they have wasted some years, once they go through a process, others that will come after them will enjoy it. They have expressed their anger. We are getting to the process of solving this problem and the visitation panel report will soon come out. We must also have a change of mind for those that work in the university because the school will not grow if there is no change of mind. Staff and students must begin to make the university a place of priority. Funds are not the problem. TETFUND is giving them funds, including the nine new universities. The organisation also gave
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them N2 billion to solve their problems besides the normal funding. So, if they can settle down, we need some level of stability. Yet, medicine and vet medicine will be accredited by next year March. There was a time you were quoted that 34 universities were operating illegally in the country, what exactly is the situation now? The number is more than 34. The list of illegal universities in the country is inexhaustible. But students of those universities are not recognized at least by NUC because we have our own list of accredited universities. If you graduate from any of those universities that are not on our list, you are not likely to get any government job. We have heard these illegal universities claiming of affiliating with one university or another abroad to offer Masters’ and doctoral degrees. The commission is doing everything possible to sanitise the Nigerian university system and we are up to the task. Besides publicising their names, we have sensitised communities, we have been to every state of the federation and to every governor, commissioner of police and local government council chairman on this and people now report to us to the extent that when some staffers want to train their workers, they usually write to us to know whether a university is approved, including their overseas affiliated institutions. Even the chiefs in various communities are giving us useful information. Rerecently, the commission jailed someone in Nasarawa State for five years for running illegal university. We also have an advertorial where we do our voyage of discovery to sensitise people on important issues. Between 2002 and now, many private universities have sprung up, when you were the chairman of Standing Committee on Private Universities (SCOPU), how did you find private universities faring compared with the long established public universities? Is that a fair question? Can you say that your child can compete favourably with you at your age? University of Ibadan is 62 years old while the oldest private university in the country is 11. How then can they compete? You will rather ask me whether they are developing fairly and I will say yes. Recently, we had interviews with some First Class honour graduates totaling 101. More than 400 of them qualified after the screening and 10 were from Covenant University. Most of my colleagues send their children to private universities just because they operate stable environment and their teachers are well rewarded and they also have good facilities. Some of them have all picked up within 12 years of their existence. So these schools are doing very well. In America, there are more than 6,000 universities, top of them are private ones. Let us not run our systems down, children that are going abroad to study, most of them are not going to best of institutions. Many leave Nigeria to do masters programmes abroad, even those with Third Class get schools in Britain universities. In Imo State University, there are two major problems, the one of succession of leadership and the issue of admission racketeering, what is the commission doing to address these issues? If I have my way, I will close down the CONTINUED ON PAGE 23
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Education Today
Thursday, December 6, 2012
National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net
‘Why I am back in class 17 years after leaving school’
“Though, initially I felt awkward about the whole thing. I l o o ke d back and I asked myThe Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Acek Auto Company Limited, who Mr. Okey Chigbu, was one of the 253 postgraduate students recently matriculated by self; sent me?” Babcock University, Ilishan-Remo, Ogun State. The man, who is in his 50s, said his Then I decision to enroll for a PhD programme was to quench his thirst for knowledge and buckled up and got mylater take up teaching as a profession. MOJEED ALABI writes: self more prepared. Last Wednesday, during the univer- Today, I feel more comfortable as a stuhe rarity is not in his decision to return to classrooms. In fact, sity’s third matriculation ceremony for dent and meeting my old classmate durthere are those old enough to be her postgraduate students, Chigbu was ing my first degree programme in this same class has further enhis father currently running academic not only excited, but also very proud of couraged me,” Chigbu said. programmes in one school or the other his new studentship status. The new student has Accompanied by his wife and other across the country. However, it is a strange scene to come family members, the man, who is in his pledged to use his knowlby, particularly in Nigeria, for a suc- early 50s, disclosed to National Mirror edge for the betterment of cessful businessman, who sits atop a that his decision to return to classroom, the country “as I may end multimillion-naira-worth car sales in- 17 years after his Masters of Business up taking up lecturing in vestment, not as an employee, but as the Administration programme at the Lagos any of our institutions business owner, to decide to return to State University, Ojo, was to satisfy his for the benefit of our school to share chairs and notes with his urge for knowledge and to prove to many young men and women. CEOs who, he said, prefer foreign insti- It could be my own way children’s friends and age mates. Unlike many of the nation’s wealthy tutions to Nigerian schools, that “we of giving back to the society.” In his address during the ceremony, men and women, who troop to foreign uni- must patronize the local markets in all the university’s Vice-Chancellor, Prof. versities to acquire certificates, the Man- that we do.” Asked how he feels going back to class James Kayode-Makinde, said education aging Director and Chief Executive Officer of Lagos-based Acek Auto Company to receive order and tutorials from lec- is required to salvage this nation and reLimited, Mr. Okey Chigbu, has returned turers who might be younger than his turn the country to the path of glory. Makinde, who said the university is to Babcock University, Ilishan-Remo, in employees, Chigbu said there is no room Ogun State, to pursue his doctorate degree for ego in the heart of anyone seeking prepared to offer quality education premised on the core value of spirituality, knowledge. programme in Business Adminsitration.
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Chigbu
charged the matriculating students to take their studies seriously and be committed to the efforts to rebuild Nigeria. The Dean of the institution’s postgraduate school, Prof. Ademola Tayo, who formally welcomed the new students to the school, implored them to be cooperative in their dealings with the staff of the school by following instructions and guidelines as advised.
Oyo moves to revamp ailing education sector KEMI OLAITAN IBADAN
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ducation all over the world has been regarded as the only worthwhile legacy that can be bequeathed to a child whether male or female, simply because all the other things are seen as that of the world while education is one that will be taken to the grave. Thus as part of the drive for development, most states in the country see the education of their citizens as a priority that must be tackled with all seriousness. It is in this vein that one will see the feat achieved recently by Oyo State in the performance of its candidates in the 2012 May/ June Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination (SSCE) conducted by the West African Examinations Council (WAEC). The state has moved up from its previous 34th position in 2011 to 23rd this year. Indeed, a breakdown of the results of public school students in the state between 2010 and 2012 revealed remarkable improvements in the key subjects of study in the schools. For instance in Mathematics, while the 2010 result showed students scoring 15.43 per cent, and in 2011, 13.70 per cent, in 2012, the students scored 26.57 per cent; in Physics, in 2010,
Ajimobi
the students scored 29.77 per cent , 38.9 per cent in 2011 and 53.69 per cent at the recently concluded examinations. Also, while the students scored 12.59 per cent in English Language in 2010, 20.30 per cent in 2011 and 23.00 per cent in the recently concluded examinations. While many reasons have been adduced for this performance by the students, it has however been attributed to the efforts in terms of policies and commitment put into the education sector by the present administration in the state led by Senator Abiola Ajimobi. Between May 29 last year that the administration came in and today, many things have been done to change the face of education in the state such that today things are moving up in the sector.
One of such efforts was the instructions by the state government for public schools to organize extra-mural classes for all candidates three months before the examination. The classes, which held after school hours on week days and on Saturdays, were aimed at helping students improve on their weak areas and study more for the examinations. And in lauding this, teachers in the state believed that it shows that the sector will always get better with a better commitment from the government as shown by the Ajimobi administration. The Secretary, Oyo State wing of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), Oyo State Wing, Comrade Waheed Olojede, said, “The recent students’ performance in external examinations by the WAEC and NECO is commendable and a welcome development. It has provided a reassuring position for the entire education system, promising a better tomorrow for the state, parents, teachers and for the students at large. “This development also suggests that little encouragement from all stakeholders in the state education sector will bring the state to a higher pedestal in the ranking of students’ performance in external examinations in future. I mean to say that if stakeholders, particularly gov-
ernment should bring a mark of encouragement to the teachers in terms of adequate welfare packages such as provision of necessary infrastructural materials that will bring a conducive working environment for both the teachers and the pupils.” Olojede while also urging the government to allow parents and other stakeholders play their own role in the development of education in the state, because they are the utmost beneficiaries, said the development of the sector requires the efforts of all to succeed. Also speaking on the performance, the Chairman, National Parent-Teacher Association of Nigeria (NAPTAN) in the state, Alhaji Abodun Jimoh, who commended the Ajimobi administration for the many initiatives that produced the result, said the government has demonstrated a deep interest in education, adding that parents would love to see better performance still in coming years. He stated that the Ajimobi administration did not just conduct extra classes, it has been rebuilding dilapidated structures in public schools across the state and making other investments in the sector to restore the old glory of the state. Jimoh similarly lauded Senator Ajimobi for recalling teachers who were earlier sacked for
discrepancy of age, urging him to continue to pursue policies that will lead to overall development of the state. For Senator Ajimobi, he attributed the remarkable upward movement on the ranking table to government’s efforts at changing the state of education inherited by his administration last year. While noting that even though the current position was not the state’s desired position, he maintained that his administration was determined to have the state rank as one of the first three states on the educational ranking in Nigeria, charging all stakeholders in the education sector in the state to partner with government towards improving the sector. According to him, the steady improvement recorded by the state in the WASC examinations was as a result of the massive investment of government in education and its resolve to prioritize the sector in governmental attention as the years roll by. He explained that government established extension classes and unified Mock Examination to improve the performance of students, while it had also organized in-training for teachers in the state primary and secondary schools, stating that, to date, over 5,000 teachers and 600 Principals had benefitted from the training.
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Education Today
Thursday, December 6, 2012
LearnAfrica promotes academic excellence Rewards best NECO candidates TUNBOSUN OGUNDARE
C
hizoba Obasi, Sandra Anazor, Oghenefo Ahia and Feyisayo Aina, were on Tuesday in Lagos, rewarded by Learn Africa Plc for their exemplary performance in this year’s Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination conducted by the National Examination Council (NECO). Their results were adjudged the best out of the total 1, 124, 819 candidates, who sat for the exams nationwide. While Sandra, 18, from Federal Government Girls’ College, Onitsha, Anambra State and Chizoba, 16, from Stella Maris College, Abuja, were joint-first prize winners and rewarded with N100, 000 and a lap top com-
puter each with an award plaque, Oghenefo, 17, from Brilliant Child College, Lagos and Feyisayo, 16, from Federal Government College, Ijanikin, Lagos, went home with N80, 000 and N60, 000 with an award plaque, as the first and second runnerup, respectively. They were all presented with their gifts at the awards ceremony at the head office of Learn Africa Plc in Ikeja with their proud parents and teachers in attendance. Also, Mr. Daudu Jacob, the Principal and Mathematics teacher at Stella Maris College, Abuja and Mrs. Mamah Chinelo, also the Mathematics teacher at the Federal Government Girls’ College, Onitsha, who won the recognition awards as the best SSS Teachers for mentoring the two best stu-
dents back in school went home with N100, 000 and an award plaque each. The schools that produced the award recipients were also rewarded at the ceremony for providing a platform to academic excellence. Each of the award- winning students expressed their joy over the achievement, which they said would spur them to work harder in their future undertakings. While Chizoba, who scored 6As and 3Cs in nine subjects she sat for in the exam, has secured admission to the University of Akron, Ohio, United States of America to study Chemical Engineering, Sandra with 8As and 1c, is now at University of Ibadan (UI) studying Medicine. In his address at the forum, Chairman, Learn Africa Plc, Mr. Emeke Iwere-
L-R: Miss Sandra Anazor from the Federal Government Girls’ College, Onitsha, Anambra State; Chizoba Obasi from Stella Maris College, Abuja, both first prize winners of LearnAfrica-NECO Excellence Awards and Chairman, Learn Africa Plc, Mr. Emeke Iwerebon, at the awards presentation in Lagos on Tuesday.
bon, said the company instituted the awards under the auspices of its corporate social responsibility arm- LearnAfrica Education Development Foundation- to underscore the importance of excellence in education in national development. “The initiative is also designed to encourage hard work, diligent scholarship, and healthy competition among students, teachers and schools and the company is capable of sustaining the project,” he said, adding:” This is the maiden edition and it will be on a yearly basis.” Iwerebon added that the first three students with best results in the same exam in each of the 36 states of the federation and Abuja, the federal capital territory, had earlier been rewarded under the scheme, at the state level by the company. He urged award recipients to remain focused and dedicated to their studies and other endeavours that would take them to greater heights in future. On his part, NECO Registrar’s representative, Dr. Ikechukwu Anyanwu, commended Learn Africa for organising what he described as a worthy course towards educational development in the country. He said NECO would continue to live above board in the conduct of its various exams and also ensure there was no room for miracle centres nor candidates for its exams.
College registrars tasked on service delivery TUNBOSUN OGUNDARE
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he registrars of Colleges of Education in Nigeria have been urged to awake to their responsibilities as demanded by their offices. The Executive- Secretary, National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE), Prof. Mohammed Junaid, gave this charge during this years’ Conference of Registrars of Colleges of Education in Nigeria (CORECON) held at Adeniran Ogunsanya College of Education (AOCOED), Ijanikin, Lagos, recently. Prof. Junaid, who was represented by the Acting Director of Academic Programmes of NCCE, Dr. Yunusa Abdul-Kareem, said registrars should be able
to handle administrative works professionally and also contribute significantly to the day-to- day running of their respective institutions. He noted that NCCE would continue to improve teachers’ education in the country so as to ensure that colleges of education cur-
riculum reflects national minimum standard. Delivering a paper, entitled: “Overthrow of the disciplinary powers of tertiary institutions under the Nigerian laws: ADR to the rescue,” at the forum, the host and AOCOED’s Registrar, Mr. Bola Disu,
urged his colleagues to see their offices as calling to serve. He therefore urged them to be transparent in their dealings and also improved, especially on their intellectual capability so as to be able to discharge their duties effectively.
Student wins car in ATM usage promo KUNLE A ZEEZ
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student from Niger State, Umara Ugochukwu, has won a brand new Nissan Almera car in the Verve Double Offer Promo being run by Interswitch Limited, an electronic payment processing company. Thousands of cardhold-
ers in the ongoing promo are being rewarded for the usage of their Verve chip & PIN cards as several cardholders have won other gift items, ranging from iPad notebooks, LED television sets, washing machines and DVD players. They won the prices in the monthly draw for the promo held at the Interswitch head office in La-
gos with a representative of the National Lottery Regulatory Commission, Mr. Obi Iregbu, in attendance. The annual Verve National Consumer promo tagged: “Verve Double Offer Promo,” is part of Interswitch plans to encourage more Nigerians to adopt cards as their preferred means of payment.
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‘NUC to close down varsities without governing councils’ CONTINUED FROM 21 university for a period. There is what is called governance structure. There is a proper procedure for the appointment of Vice-Chancellors, the governors are visitors. If you want to appoint a new VC, you have to advertise the vacancy and this must be done by a governing council. The governor has no right to do this. It is only the governing council, who can appoint VCs and then make recommendation to governor, who is a visitor. We have not solved the problem of Portharcourt and Gombe is still having problems. Some state universities do not even have governing councils. They operate from government house. This is not allowed. In admission racketeering, let me ask you something, if someone, who ordinarily would have gotten a job and went to tip someone before getting it, he is the one who has a problem. These people are clever thieves. They only admitted those, who ordinarily would have qualified. A fellow already has made a cut-off point and would now go and pay officer money, it means they are not taking poor students, but it is wrong procedure. When they are in doubt, they should come to NUC to ask for a way out. What is the NUC position on the lingering problems in River State University of Science and Technology? The problem needs a political solution. I have been speaking with the governor on some issues. All universities without governing councils will be closed down. NUC has the right to do so. We are a regulator. We want to get the facts out first because we have been hearing different stories. We want to start what is called forensic auditing in some of these state universities. In terms of funding and stability, state universities have to sit up. NUC don’t give license for operation of state universities; they get that through their state houses of assembly. What is NUC doing to address the proliferation of part time and distance-learning programmes by the universities in the country? There is a different between part time and distant learning that we approved for UNIABUJA, University of Ibadan, Obafemi Awolwo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, and that of Yola. We moderate those ones, but the one of part time is what we are trying to curtail because people have more part time students than those in full time studies. I can tell you there are many state universities that make more money from it, may be because they don’t get enough subventions, they now want to make more money through that. What we have resolved at now is that from now on, there will be no new admission, we are going to do forensic audit. We are going to apply a principle that if a total number of students of fully accredited programmes are 200; we are going to give them 20 per cent of those students as part time. There is this school of thought that says the dichotomy between the HND holders and B.Sc is unnecessary, can you tell us the difference? They are different programmes. One has technical orientation while the other is more research- oriented, but if you are preparing for different things, it depends on the job market. I have two brothers- in- law. One has HND while the other has PhD in Houston; the one with HND was a senior manager in Kaduna refinery while the other one is just a manager. That to tell you that some establishments, especially in the private sector, rate HND more, while when it concerns government jobs, especially administrative jobs, priority will be given to the first degree holders. But we have to change the concept. People have to be assessed based on skills. So the dichotomy is an illusion. It depends on where one is working. Sometimes ago, you couldn’t become a permanent secretary of a ministry as an engineer, but things are changing now. Why is it that a minimum entry academic qualification for university lecturers is PhD? If you want to supervise a student to have a PhD, you must have a PhD yourself and that is the ultimate. What is wrong in saying we should improve ourselves, the system is moving.
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Education Today
OOU holds inaugural lecture FEMI OYEWESO ABEOKUTA
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labisi Onabanjo University (OOU), Ago – Iwoye, Ogun State, will on Tuesday next week hold its 61st inaugural lecture as part of activities to fully integrate the newly inducted professors in the university. The lecture, with theme: “Science Education in Nigeria; Drowning but waving” will be delivered by the Dean, Faculty of Science Education of the university, Prof. Jumoke BilesanmiAwoderu. Bilesanmi-Awoderu, who also is a Professor of Science Education, is expected to proffer solutions to some of the problems bedeviling the teaching and studying of science education in Nigeria. She will also, during the forum, give the right panacea to learning and teaching of science, not only at the fundamental stage of secondary education, but also at the post-secondary levels including university.
NIIA DG commends author
National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net
Tertiary schools in Katsina threaten strike JAMES DANJUMA KATSINA
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oint Consultative Forum (JCF) of three tertiary institutions of Katsina State has given the state government from last month up to December 23, 2012 to meet its demands or be ready to face industrial action. The forum’s demands, among others, include immediate implementation of 65 year’s retirement age, Migration
(CONTEDISS 15), and release of financial benefits for staffs promoted since January, 2011, the release of promotion officers on CONPCASS/ CONTTEDISS 12 and above which are pending since July 2010 and implementation of 2012 yearly salary increment. The position of the consultative forum is contained in a notice of ultimatum addressed to the Special Adviser on Higher Education, Aliyu Haruna
Jani and made available to newsmen in the state. Chairman of the forum, Tukur Bakiyawa, its secretary, Muttaka Kurfi and treasurer, Abubakar Ammani, signed the letter while Hassan Usman Katsina Polytechnic, Katsina; College of Education, Dutsinma, and College of General and Legal Studies, Daura are the institutions concerned. The forum said it was not “satisfied with the way and manner retirement benefits
are being computed,” and that government should as a “matter of urgency address some problems” affecting the institutions for industrial harmony. It said the three problems were under-staffing in affected institutions, inadequate funding for staff development and shortage of physical facilities such as classrooms, lecture halls, and so on. The forum said it had
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A cross section of students of schools in Eti-Osa Local Council Development Area, Lagos, during a recent leadership training held in Ikoyi.
Lagos students offered leadership training MOJEED ALABI
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onsidering the rising negative influence of information communication technology on the school pupils, which many have attributed to the eroding moral values among the younger generation, it would not be ideal to leave the children alone in the hands of schools for their total training. This was the basis behind a recent effort by a Lagos-based non-governmental organisation, Life Initiative, for gathering pupils of selected five schools in Eti-Osa Local Council Development area of Lagos State together to sensitise them on the required skills and virtues to excel in life. The schools where participants were drawn included; Government Senior College, Ikoyi; Government Senior College, Maroko; Ilado Community High School, Ilado; Akande Dahunsi Memorial High School and Wahab Folawiyo Senior High School. These participants, who trooped en masse to the AstroTurf 2000 venue of the seminar in Ikoyi, had time to ask question on sa-
lient issues particularly on the challenges they face in their studies and their aspirations to reach greatness. The seminar, which was themed: “Leading with Impact Teens Seminar,” had representatives of the state’s Ministry of Education and the NGO who were on hand to share their experiences with the students and create stronger ties with them. Speaking to the pupils, the principal initiator of the NGO, Obafemi George, said to be successful in life requires that one monitor’s success’s three laws of attitude, vision and action. According to him, attitude is the number one key for success and that; “it is not what happens around you that matters, rather it is what happens within you. So you need to have a dream and see a better tomorrow.” He added that; “It is not enough to have dreams and it is not enough to set goals, you must do something about it. So you must put action to your dream as students so that Nigeria will be a better place in the nearest future.” In her contribution, the representative of the Director of School Adminis-
tration, Lagos Education District III, Odunsi Titus, pointed out to the students that it was not enough for them to listen to such inspiring words, but more important for them to run with the dreams being built in them. He, therefore, encouraged the students to study very hard and allow no time for laziness “because the resources available out there are few and only the best can really grab them at every slightest opportunity.”
presented several of its demands to government in which only two have been met, which had to do with payment of salaries of newly recruited staff and payment of balance of union dues. It said the rest were yet to be met, and that should the issues not be immediately implemented, “the forum has no alternative but to embark on an industrial action.”
Envoy lauds Amosun’s wife over students’ excursion abroad TUNBOSUN OGUNDARE
MUJAHEED L AWAL irectorGeneral, Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA), Victoria Island, Lagos, Prof. Bola Akinfeyinwa, has described “Civil service in Nigeria: Evolution and challenges,” a book written by Chief Ebun Omoyele, as a good legacy to be bequeathed on many generations to come. The book was recently presented to the public at the NIIA. According to Akinfenyinwa, the book would be useful mostly to students and scholars of history in the country, especially as it contained local contents. In his remarks at the forum, chairman of City Group, Otunba Subomi Balogun, who unveiled the books, also commended the author for a worthwhile effort, noting that “civil servants are builders of the nation and this book gives kudos to those that perspired to make Nigeria great.” On his own, the author, who had spent 25 years in civil service, said the book was his “modest contribution to knowledge as per the role of Nigerian civil service to governance.
Thursday, December 6, 2012
igerian High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, Dr. Dalhatu Tafida has commended the wife of the Governor of Ogun State, Mrs. Olufunso Amosun for embarking on programmes to uplift education sector in the state, describing the initiative as worthy of emulation by other state governors in the country. Tafida made this commendation when Mrs. Amosun led the pioneering beneficiaries of her pet project-UPLIFTing- made up of SS3 students on a courtesy call to his office in London recently. “Let me state categorically that this is the first time ever that students from Nigeria are being brought to the United Kingdom on educational merits. We have had student excursions here and there but this is the first time students who have performed excellently in their West African Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination are being brought
to the United Kingdom for the purpose of leadership training programme. Ogun State is taking the bull by the horn in preparing our youths for future leadership roles,.” Tafida remarked The envoy, in a statement from the office of Mrs. Amosun, said this type of initiative should be supported to build a virile society where values, merits and hard work are celebrated, appreciated and rewarded in order to encourage other youths to attain greater heights. He told the students to remain committed to their studies so as to be able to become relevant in future. “I want you all to see this excursion as the beginning of better things to come and I wish to join my voice with others to encourage you to aim for greater heights,” Tafida said. In her remark, Mrs. Amosun explained that the UPLIFTing the SS3 students’ initiative is a wakeup call to motivate students in Ogun State to strive and aspire to do better in their academic pursuits.
ASUP calls on FG to release White Paper on polytechnics JAMES ABRAHAM JOS
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he Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) has expressed concern over what it called delay by the Federal Government to release the White Paper on visitation panels to federal polytechnics in the country. In a communiqué issued at the end of its 72nd National Executive Council meeting held at the Federal Polytechnic Idah , Kogi State, the union also called on the relevant authorities to hasten the appointment of governing councils of federal/state polytechnic and monotechniques and to fast
track the constitution of federal government of Nigeria/ASUP re negotiation committee. The communiqué, which was signed by ASUP Chairman, Clement Selchum and National Publicity Secretary, also called on the authority concerned, to as a matter of urgency, conclude work on the review of Polytechnic Act and Scheme of Service for better polytechnic education and condemned the continuous delay in the establishment of the National Polytechnics Commission (NPC). The communiqué further condemned the negative attitudes of some state governments towards
funding of education sector in their states .The union also regrets what it called the failure of Plateau State Government to pay salaries and wages of teachers and none implementation of approved salary package for polytechnic sector, describing it as very unfortunate. While commending the Federal Ministry of Education on the appointment of Rectors for Kaduna and Mubi Federal Polytechnic from within the polytechnic sector, ASUP also frowned at the dictatorial attitude of some polytechnic rectors in the administration of TETFund grants in their institution.
National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net
with Mojeed Alabi mojeedalabi2@yahoo.co.uk or mail@mirroronline.net
MOJEED ALABI AND SIKIRU AKINOLA
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resh facts have emerged on how the management of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, in Osun State, has recovered a huge sum of N2.7 million from fraudulent sales of bed spaces allocated to some of the students of the university. After being prompted by members of the university community that some students were in the habit
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Thursday, December 6, 2012
of engaging in accommodation racketeering, the university management was said to have swung into action by setting up a network of intelligence officers who worked with support of some students. There were also said to be reports by students who were shortchanged, in the process, losing as much as N150,000. on a bed space. Each bed space in female hostels of Moremi and Akintola is said to go for as much as N170,000, while spaces in male hostels
How OAU recovered N2.7m from illegal bed space sales like Fajuyi and Awolowo halls goes for as much as N120,000 per space. Having recorded some arrests, the university was said to have set up an investigative panel, which invited the alleged culprits, including the erstwhile president of the medical students’ association on the campus, whose name was not revealed. The outcome of the investigation revealed that most of them were guilty of the crimes and were asked to cough out the monies made from
the dubious trades. The university’s Dean of Students’ Affairs, Dr. Lateefah Durosinmi, who confirmed the amount during a recent retreat for selected student leaders, said the money would be used for students’ projects. Meanwhile, the retreat, which was called to appraise the conditions to be met to achieve the return of the proscribed students’ union on the campus, had in attendance other stakeholders in the university including members of the
staff unions. In his address, the institution’s VC, Prof. Tale Omole affirmed his administration’s readiness to restore the union. “Since inception of my administration, I have been committed to restoration of the union, but I do not want to be stampeded into doing so. This is to avert a situation where the union activities will be resuscitated and then proscribed again after a short while.” This development is coming after some past
students’ leaders were said to have been arrested after presenting papers at a seminar organised by a student organisation, Education Rights Campaign. The development, National Mirror learnt, caused a stir among the students who mobilized to the students’ union building which had earlier been locked up by the authority and forced it open. They also secured the release of the arrested union leaders, including the 1989 set President of the Students’ Union, Mr. Adeola Soetan.
Covenant varsity matriculates 1,768 MOJEED ALABI
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total of 1,768 fresh students, were last week matriculated by the authorities of Covenant University (CU), Ota, in Ogun State, marking the beginning of the second decade of the institution. In what could be described as a major turnaround in the life of the university, many friends, families and parents of matriculating students turned out en masse to grace the occasion like never before, as the university’s chapel, venue of the programme was filled to the brim. The undergraduate matriculating students were 1613 while the postgraduate programmes including doctorate degrees accounted for a total of 155 students. According to the Chancellor and Founder of the Living Faith Church Worldwide, owner of the university, Bishop David Oyedepo, the university
has been built to serve a purpose of building disciplined leaders who will turn the endowments of the black race to her power and make her a bride to be courted by the world super powers. “It is on this premise that Covenant University has put in place a set of rules and regulations in its student handbook, which can be called the “University Royal Laws,” designed to help every student enjoy a successful tenure here at the university,” Oyedepo said. Meanwhile, the university’s new Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Charles Ayo, while welcoming the new students, hinted that after the first 10 years of the institution, which he said could be described as its foundation years, the next 10 years would be dedicated to pursue the desire to make the university one of the top 10 in the world. “The declaration is by no means a small order.
EKSU to beautify campus MOJEED ALABI
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n line with the vision of the present administration of Ekiti State University (EKSU), Ado-Ekiti, to make the environment of the institution comparable with what obtains in any world class institution, horticultural tools worth millions of naira have been procured for the Works and Services Department to achieve the purpose. Among the tools acquired are a tractor with slasher, hand mowers,
wheel barrows, pulmic sprayers, rakes, rain boots, cutlasses, sharpening files and herbicides. Commissioning the items, the VC, Prof. Patrick Oladipo Aina remarked that the procurement was in line with the roadmap of making the university environment clean and conducive for learning as in any world class university. According to him, cleanliness is next to Godliness. He charged the staff of the Works and Services Department to use the tools effectively to achieve the goal.
But we know, faithful is He that calleth who also will do it. Also, we know we serve a God who confirms the words of his servant and performs the counsel of his messenger. It is done in Jesus name. Amen,” Ayo prayed. Meanwhile, the immediate past Vice-Chancellor of the institution, Prof. Aize Obayan, has been appointed the Education Secretary of the church covering the two universities, 17 secondary schools and over 100 nursery and primary schools run by the church.
Members of The Redeemed Students’ Fellowship, OAU, dancing to the music of Evangelist Bola Are during a programme recently.
Students laud Omatseye’s appointment as LASU Council member the Governing Council of and Pro-Chancellor, also pointment of its Patron, SARAH OFONEDU
he Journalism Students’ Association of the Adebola Adegunwa School of Communication, Lagos State University (LASU), Ojo, have praised the decision of the Lagos State Government for appointing the Chairman of Editorial Board, The Nation Newspaper, as a member of
the university. Governor Fashola had, on Tuesday, November 27, appointed Omatseye and 11 others as the new members of the university’s Council; the decision was lauded by many, particularly members of the university community. The Council, which is to be headed by Mr. Olabode Agusto as the Chairman
ABRAHAM OLADIPUPO
UI won’t increase fees –VC
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he Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ibadan, Prof. Isaac Adewole has dispelled the rumour that the university was set to jerk up its fees, saying his administration is not thinking along that line. Adewole, who identified the reason behind the current peace on the campus as the existing cooperation between the university management and members of the community, said the institution does not have the capacity to increase tu-
ition fees as it goes against the Federal Government’s policy of free tuition fees. He said such rumour could cause another round of trouble and so urged all to always seek clarifications or clarify every information before acting on hearsay. Speaking on the relative peace on the campus, Adewole queried why people should always expect conflict between the university management and the students or even the workers. “I am usually worried
has the Chairman, Zinox Computers, Mr. Leo Stan Ekeh; former Commissioner for Health, Dr. Leke Pitan; Founder, Chrisland Group of Schools, Mrs. Ibukun Awosika, among others as members. In a congratulatory message signed by the association’s President, Ikenna Asomba, the students’ body hailed the ap-
when people complain about the peace on campus. Should there not be peace on campus? Maybe because I am also a unionist myself, so I can think ahead and anticipate what the challenges are. The same with the unions; someone said the unions are not going on strike. Why must union go on strike if what they need is being taken care of ? You want to receive your salary and it is paid; whenever there are issues and we address them, so what will be the basis for anyone to go
Sam Omatseye, describing it as a honour well deserved. While lauding the prolific author for his meritorious contributions and support to grooming and mentoring its members, the association also charged Omatseye to replicate same support to the progress of the 28-year old institution. on strike? “What I would ascribe to the current situation on campus is that it is the work of God because we have committed everything to the hand of God and the power of constructive engagement which we have embraced,” the VC stated.
Adeyemi
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Thursday, December 6, 2012
AILY SUN of November 29 committed a few infelicities: “When he was in Houston, Texas (a comma) in April, he said it publicly during our one on one (one-on-one) conversation.” “He said his policy agenda will (would) be based on his three Rs….” “It is crude tactics (a crude tactic) at its most banal.” Singular: tactic; plural: tactics. The confusion arises from the fact that it is usually used in plural form. “The contribution should be acknowledged, especially since it also results into (in) some form of dislocation for the people”. “This brings to the fore, once again, the flaws and contradictions in the present constitutional arrangement with regards to Nigeria’s fiscal federalism.” To live in truth is to serve: either as regards or with regard to TELL of October 31 takes over from DAILY Sun: “The handwriting was on the wall, but Gaddafi, in self-delusion, could not read.” Panorama: The writing (was) on the wall. “EFCC alerts over (to) impostors, parades suspects” “Gaidam’s wife dead, buried” Now the intro following this headline: “Wife of Yobe State Governor, Hajiya Zainab Gaidam, who died yesterday at an Abuja hospital, has been buried according to Islamic rites.” So, what is ‘dead’ doing here? Would she have been buried alive? The English language has a measure of illogicality, but equally has more logic, sequence and regulation. “Police arrest man over (for) wife’s death” (THE NATION Headline, October 26) “Gaddafi’s sad end as a lesson for African leaders” Midweek Politics: a lesson to (not for) African leaders The next two blunders are from National Mirror of October 25: “Most of the stakeholders are suspicious of themselves.” Language insurance: they are suspicious of one another (not themselves)! “The NTC should not follow the prece-
A ZA MSUE KADUNA
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12- year-old primary six pupil of Universal Basic Education (UBE), Romi 11, Kaduna, Emmanuel Adamu, recently lost his life in River Karatudu, a suburb of Kaduna, on his way to school. His legs slipped on the narrow wooden bridge built many years ago and fell inside the overflowing river. He was reportedly drowned before help could come his way. National Mirror gathered that three other students in the community
National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net
Writing, not handwriting, on the wall THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE HAS A MEASURE OF ILLOGICALITY, BUT EQUALLY HAS MORE LOGIC, SEQUENCE AND REGULATION dence (precedent) of the Egyptian military rulers….” (DAILY INDEPENDENT Politics, October 25) “People in the community can no longer sleep with their two eyes closed.” True reflection: their eyes shut/closed. Is there anyone with three eyes? “The decision of the governor to develop the rural areas was born (borne) out of the fact that….” (Nigerian Compass, October 24) “In times like this when it may be tempting to gloat….” Gaddafi’s tragic end: either in times like these or a time like this. “Jonathan condoles Saudi king over death of heir” This way: condole with or simply console. “New National ID Card Scheme: Another multibillion naira white elephant project?” Just white elephant. ‘Project’ is otiose. “Nigerians row over N30bn New ID Card Scheme” Weekend Feature: Nigerians rue. “Restoring confidence in (to) the judiciary” “For Ikhana: its (It’s) goodbye to football coaching” “Senator Bob’s democracy dividend to Nigeria universities” Get it right: Nigerian universities “Bayelsa: Any silver linen for Sylva” POLITICS TODAY: silver lining! “ISPON visits minister, advocates for N5bn Innovation Fund” Delete ‘for’. “Candidates in last minute move for votes” Get it right: last-minute move
“UI Alumni meets over flood disaster” (THISDAY, October 20) For how long shall we dwell on this? Alumni meet, but alumni association meets. “Lack of funds threaten (threatens) corrective heart surgery initiative at LASUTH” (Vanguard Features, October 19) “…especially with regards to the deregulation of the downstream sector of the petroleum industry (THISDAY, October 19) This way: as regards the deregulation or with regard to the deregulation. “Bizzare: Man set father’s house ablaze for touching his car’’ (Nigerian Compass Headline, October 18) Spellcheck: Bizarre and Man sets… “Banks capital adequacy ratio dips 5.92% in 2011—NDIC” (Source: as above) This way: Banks’ capital… National Mirror of October 17 disseminated two major infelicities: “The succeeding BPO partners…decided not to absolve (reabsorb) the staff whose contract expired….” “The National Assembly should investigate the role of Asian and other foreign businesses in Nigeria with a view to determine (determining) their culpability on the casualisation question and expatriate quota violation.” “No Delta State Commissioner arrested over drugs” (Delta State Government Ministry of Information Full Page Advert, THISDAY, October 17) I will arrest these Asaba officials for (not over) lexical assault and charge them with alleged drug trafficking! “Operations of the agency in Nigerian seaports over the years have successfully curtailed influx of counterfeited drugs.” Formal view: counterfeit drugs. “Chelsea grabs Nigerian teenager” (Source: as above) ‘Grab’ smacks of roughness and rudeness. The contextualization here is utterly wrong. Why not ‘Chelsea takes/goes for/decides on/
roots for…?’ “Expressway of mixed blessing” (Saturday Mirror, October 15) Living: mixed feelings (fixed idiomatic expression). “Re: Of ‘leaks’ and beer parlour gossips” (THE NATION, October 15) Knucklehead: pub gossip (not beer parlour gossips) “…that left a once-happy family of four in shambles.” (Nigerian TRIBUNE, October 15) Features: in a shambles. The next five blunders are from THISDAY of October 15: “…they are free to roam about their immediate environment and source for food themselves.” Saturday Plus: remove ‘about’ to avoid lexical disorderliness “American voters are more interested in well (a hyphen, please) articulated programs (sic) and policies as laid out in each of the political parties’ platforms.” Diaspora: on each of the political parties’ platforms. “The state of origin and ethnic considerations has (have) no place in how these candidates get elected.” THE PUNCH of October 15 circulated multifarious errors: “PFAs battle to regain contributors’ confidence” Little things that matter: contributors’ confidence. “Police smash Lagos-Cotonou car snatching syndicate” Again: car-snatching syndicate. “When we moved in here, you wouldn’t dare break a wall because you want to fix an air condition unit.” Either air-conditioning unit or air-conditioner. “…their gross breach of the trust reposed on (in) them….” “May your gentle soul continue to rest in perfect peace.” ‘Peace’ is an absolute word that does not require any adjectival embellishment. Let the soul rest in peace (stock expression). Sheer blandishments cannot amplify the feeling of bereavement!
Pupils’ death moves Yakowa to construct bridge had died inside the same river in the same way sometime last year. Emmanuel’s death, however, threw people of the community into mourning and halted academic activities, including promotional examinations in his school as many pupils feared to make use of the bridge again. National Mirror had earlier reported the unsafe manner at which Karatudu Bridge was, as not only the students, but also the traders,
Late Adamu
farmers and other residents of the community
are daily experiencing difficulties in making
use of the bridge without an alternative route. It was also gathered that the absence of a modern bridge over the river had taken huge toll on both the economic and social activities in the community, leaving residents to their fate. However, the Kaduna State Governor, Mr. Patrick Ibrahim Yakowa, has awarded the contract of the bridge to a private firm following the public outcry calling on the state government to come to their aid.
At the inauguration ceremony, witnessed by Emmanuel’s father, Mr. Joseph Adamu, who is also the Vice Chairman of Parents Teachers Association of his school and teachers, including the head, Mrs. Laraba Joseph, the governor promised to complete the bridge in due course. Mr. Adamu, who expressed sadness over the death of his first son, urged the governor to ensure that the bridge was not abandoned halfway.
Thursday, December 6, 2012
Fergie dreams ‘explosive’ Manchester 28
EVEREST ONYEWUCHI
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Late Team Osun Leader, Omotayo Yusuf
does, Rising Stars and expelled Ocean Boys as well as the six zonal coordinators were present during the meeting. “We have requested that the NFF should admit Ocean Boys to the National League as they were scapegoats of the worst 2011/2012 NPL season under Baribote,” Idoko added. Reacting to the dissolution of his board, Baribote said he was unaware
of the development, insisting that the club bosses are not working within the league’s statutes. “I am not aware of any meeting. If the clubs plan to hold an emergency meeting, I as the chairman of the league ought to be informed. And in any case, the league statutes do not support such a meeting,” he told MTNFootball.com yesterday.
... NFF wades into crisis, calls for calm AFOLABI GAMBARI
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he Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) yesterday said the latest crisis that engulfed the Nigeria Premier League required maturity from the warring parties, even as the federation has suspended the NPL’s Congress scheduled to take place in Kano today. National Mirror reported yesterday that the NFF had cleared the congress to hold as scheduled. But in a twist on Tuesday night in Abuja, however, a group of Pre-
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Sport
It is not true that I have signed for Kwara United. I wish to say that I remain loyal to Dolphins –Veteran NPL player, Isiaka Olawale
Club owners dissolve NPL board, stop congress here was confusion yesterday about today’s scheduled Nigeria Premier League (NPL) Congress in Kano as majority of club representatives made good their threat to boycott it by holding a meeting in which they purportedly dissolved the NPL board. Eighteen club representatives met at the Dennis Hotel in Wuse, Abuja from late Tuesday night till early yesterday’s morning and passed a vote of no confidence on the NPL executive board chaired by Victor Baribote. A spokesman of the club proprietors, Fan Ndubuoke, told newsmen that today’s scheduled NPL Congress in Kano had also been suspended and would hold at a later date. Ndubuoke, who is also the General Manager of Heartland FC of Owerri, Imo State said his group had itemised a number of infractions against the Baribote led NPL board, including its failure to attract a title sponsor. The group set up a six-man Interim Management Committee (IMC) made up of members from the six geo-political zones of the country to run the NPL. The committee is headed by the General Manager of Sunshine Stars of Akure, Ondo State, Mike Idoko (South-West).. Others are Alloy Chukwuemeka (North Central), Oscar Okeke (SouthEast), Tony Ogola (South-South), Sabo Babayaro (North West) and Alhaji Suleiman Chindo (North West). “The congress will no longer hold this week because a new date will be announced,” Ndubuoke announced. Chairman of the IMC, Idoko, later said that the committee had a mandate to organise a congress on or before December 10 this year in Kano. “Kano still remains the venue for the congress and it will be next week Monday or Tuesday,” Idoko said. He said that lack of transparency and accountability on the side of the Baribote-led board was part of the reasons for its dissolution. “Last season was the worst organised football season in the history of the NPL as gross misappropriation of funds, lack of title sponsorship and clubs payment of match indemnities was what we saw.” Relegated clubs like Niger Torna-
National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net
mier League club owners met and announced a vote against the NPL leadership of Victor Rumson Baribote whom they accused of gross incompetence and inefficiency. NFF General Secretary, Barrister Musa Amadu, said yesterday that the federation had scheduled what he called an emergency meeting tomorrow to seek ways of resolving the crisis that is capable of shifting the Premier League kick-off further. “There has to be sanity in the administration of the League and that has to happen sooner rather than later,” Amadu said.
Eko 2012: Team Osun mourns Leader
T
he Leader of Delegation of Team Osun to the ongoing 18th National Sports Festival in Lagos, Omotayo Yusuf, is dead. Osun State Commissioner for Sports, Mr. Stephen Balogun, confirmed the death of Yusuf yesterday, saying the Leader’s demise has dampened the morale of the state’s athletes. News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Omotayo Yusuf suddenly took ill during a Dambe match at the Abalti Barracks, Ojuelegba on Tuesday. He slumped at the venue and was rushed to the hospital where he was confirmed dead. The Osun commissioner, however, said that in spite of the incident, the athletes would strive to do their best, in memory of the late team leader. “The team leader’s death is quite demoral-
ising, but nevertheless, the athletes will rise to the occasion. They will now try their best and make sure that they do their very best so that the efforts of the team leader would not be in vain. “They will rally round and do that, but it is certainly a setback,” Balogun said. Asked to assess the performance of his contingent at the festival, he explained that the team had performed fairly well. “We have won one gold, one silver and a couple of bronze medals. I think that considering the size of Osun, I don’t think they are doing that badly. “I think that they are being stable and that’s alright for us at this stage. So, I think I can say that I am satisfied with their performance so far.”
Glo lauds Eaglets
M
ajor sponsor the Malians, the Eaglets of football in have started on a good Nigeria, Glo- note as they prepare to bacom has commended conquer Africa,” the the Golden Eaglets for statement said. The Company theretheir outstanding performance against their Ma- fore urged the team not lian opponent, leading to rest on their oars as to their qualification for the battle has just startthe African Youth Cham- ed, just as it also compionship in Morocco, mended the Manu Garba-led coaching for a job next year. In a statement re- well done. leased in Lagos yesterday, Globacom said the victory of the Eaglets over the Malian U-17 National Team in the second leg of the final qualifying match shows the determination of the team to excel and bring back the country’s lost glory in age-grade football. “Mali is known to be an emerging force in age-grade football, but with the four goals to nil aggregate victory over Garba
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Sport
National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net
Thursday, December 6, 2012
We will make history in Brazil –Falcao Radamel Falcao Garcia is, without doubt, one of football’s hottest properties at the moment. He is as ruthless in scoring for Atletico Madrid as he is for his country, Colombia. He spoke to FIFA.com
Fergie dreams ‘explosive’ Manchester derby M anchester United Manager, Sir Alex Ferguson, would be happy with a cagey draw on Sunday when the Red Devils meet Manchester City in an EPL derby. Understandably, with a three-point lead over City at the top, Fergie will be happy with a draw. “We need to come out unscathed. With so much at stake I wonder if there will be a bit of caution from both clubs,” Ferguson said yesterday as his side prepared to face a Champiions League challenge.
Alex Ferguson
“Roberto Mancini and I will both have to think deeply about our selection and tactics and there may well be an element of playing safe. “The passion of the fans can easily spill over so that tactics go out of the window as emotions take over and each side will both slide into gung-ho mood. “An early goal can also dictate the shape of the game so we could be in for a masterclass of attacking football from both teams-in which case, hold on to your hats and enjoy.”
Hulk serves quit notice
Z
enit St Petersburg star forward, Hulk, has put Europe’s biggest clubs on notice after admitting a rift with coach Luciano Spalletti as he looks forward to a January move. The Brazilian, who was a target for Chelsea, Manchester City and PSG before leaving Porto for Russia this season, says he could be forced to move if Spalletti stays. “I’m fine in St. Petersburg, and so are my
family and my son is fine. But if we do not resolve the situation with Luciano, I could leave in January and not look back any more,” the power-playing Hulk declared yesterday. “I do not know if Italy would be my destination, but anything can happen. The field is wide enough to trap anyone who seeks a move from place to place. That’s all I can say for this moment.” Europa fixtures today
Hulk
Napoli
v
PSV
Dnipro
v
AIK
Cop’hagen
v
S Bucuresti
Stuttgart
v
Molde
Bordeaux
v
Newcastle
Maritimo
v
Club Brugge
Fenerbahce
v
M’gladbach
AEL
v
Marseille
Plzen
v
Atletico
Hap Tel-Aviv
v
Academica
Udinese
v
Liverpool
Young Boys
v
A Mak’kala
Twente
v
Helsingborgs
Levante
v
Hannover
Leverkusen
v
Rosenborg.bet
Rapid
v
Metalist
Spurs
v
P’thinaikos
Maribor
v
Lazio
Ath Bilbao
v
Prague
Lyon
v
Hapoel KS
Partizan
v
Rubin
Inter
v
Neftchi
Sporting
v
Videoton
Genk
v
Basel
Would you agree with your country’s coach Jose Pekerman who said Colombia will ease to Brazil 2014 World Cup? The World Cup is the goal we’re working towards. There’s still a long way to go in the South American qualifiers, but we realise we’re in a strong position. We’ll keep striving towards our target of competing in this great competition and hope to continue in the same vein for the remainder of the qualifying campaign. How do you explain the fact that you’ve won more games on your travels than at home in these qualifiers? It shows we’ve matured and grown as a team, both home and away, something that’s enabled us to remain strong on the road and win key games. That’s always a good thing and hopefully we can continue to do that. Is the current generation comparable with players like Carlos Valderrama, Freddy Rincon and Faustino Asprilla at the last time out in France ’98 finals? We’re not looking to be compared with them. We want to make our own his-
Falcao
THE WORLD
CUP
IS THE GOAL
WE ’ RE WORK -
ING TOWARDS .
THERE’S
STILL A
LONG WAY TO GO IN THE
SOUTH
AMERICAN
QUALIFIERS
from getting the chance to compete at a FIFA World Cup? Playing at a World Cup with my national team is my principal objective, although the goal is not only to qualify and take part, but also to play a prominent part once there. I believe we have a good team, and hopefully we’ll grow and improve a great deal both individually and as a group.
tory and pave our own way, and do it with a different style of play. Hopefully we can go far without seeking to compare ourselves to the Colombian teams that have come before us. What you do remember about that tournament France ‘98 when you were just 12 years old? I remember a great deal as I watched almost the entire thing. Colombia didn’t do well in the group phase and went out. Later we had Zinedine Zidane’s crowning achievement, but it was also a World Cup in which Ronaldo and Gabriel Batistuta scored a lot of goals. What other goals are you hoping to achieve aside
Zidane
National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net
Sport
Thursday, December 6, 2012
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Eko 2012: Lagos regrets Bello’s antics YEMI OLUS
M
embers of the Lagos State table tennis team are still ruing the loss of a gold medal in the women’s team event after the results that got them to final were cancelled as one of the team’s star players, Fatimo Bello, was discovered to be under the employment of Delta State. Lagos was billed to meet Cross River in the final having beaten Delta in the semis where Bello personally put up an impressive display with a 3-1 victory
Adenuga
‘Glo Academy ‘ll boost West African football’ AFOLABI GAMBARI
E
xecutive Director, Legal, Globacom, Mrs. Gladys Talabi, has said that the Glo Soccer Academy will aid football development across the West Africa. Talabi, who made the remark in Lagos at a reception for two UEFA Grade A coaches from Manchester United Football Club, Adam Temple and Andrew Smith, said the telecommunication company had used the academy which she described as first among equals to set the pace for future progress in the sub-region. “The fact that the academy has been well received in Nigeria, Ghana and Benin Repub-
lic will spur us to do more in developing the sport,” Talabi said, adding that the mutual relationship between Globacom and Manchester United would expand the scope of the academy across Africa in the near future. The coaches described their visit to the academy as a rewarding experience, saying the camp was replete with players who had potential to achieve greatness. “Manchester United is proud to be associated with the academy and to explore all possibilities,” Temple said at the occasion. “We can assure that the last 16 players that will visit Manchester United Football School in Carrington, UK next year will be treated to different aspects of modern training that will help to sharpen their skills,” he stressed.
Nigerian tycoon to sponsor Mena to AFCON
N
igerian tycoon Dahiru Mangal will fly a 540-strong Niger contingent to next year’s AFCON, officials have specially informed MTNFootball.com Katsina-based major air transporter and businessman Mangal has agreed to make available one of his Boeing 747 planes to ferry the Mena to and from South Africa. “Mangal is a good friend of our President and he has graciously accepted to support Niger at the Nations Cup by providing us with a Boeing 747 plane that will take us to and from South Africa,” top Niger FA official Mohammed Sani told MTNFootball.com “We will fuel the chartered aircraft, otherwise he would bear the other costs. “This is a big assistance to Niger and we really appreci-
ate it. “His airline, Maxair, operates in Niger and he has several other business interests also in the country.” This sponsorship is believed would save Niger at least about 50 million Naira. Niger will be based in Port Elizabeth for the first round of matches. They are pitched against Ghana, Mali and DR Congo. For their debut at the 2012 Nations Cup in Gabon and Equatorial Guinea, Niger flew about 350 supporters. Mangal rose to national prominence during the tenure of Late Umaru Musa Yar’adua as Nigeria President. This year, his airline ferried the bulk of Nigerian pilgrims to the Holy land of Mecca for the annual Muslim pilgrimage.
over women’s singles champion, Rashidat Ogundele. Following the cancellation of the result, Delta was upgraded to play another semi final against Abia which it won and went ahead to beat Cross River 3-2 to win gold, a spot Lagos was expected to win. Technical Director of the Lagos State table tennis team, Mr. John Peters, disclosed that there was no reason to suspect Bello’s shaky allegiance as she was in Lagos in the build-up to the National Sports festival. “This was an athlete who benefitted from a monthly grant from
the state, allowances from Union Bank Sports Club where she was a player and also benefitted from a training tour to China sponsored by the Lagos State Government,” Peters said. “If eventually she gets to play again, I hope she would have learnt her lesson.” Bello was suspended from all table tennis activities for three years by the Nigeria Table Tennis Federation (NTTF) with effect from December 1, 2012. Lagos won gold in the men’s team event and the mixed doubles and added silver medal in the mixed doubles.
Football: Organisers axe Enugu IKENWA NNABUOGOR
E
nugu female football team has been disqualified from the event which enters semi-final stage today. Games’ organisers disqualified the team yesterday for fielding an ineligible player, Peace Onu, National Mirror can exclusively report. The Enugu team, which held gold prospect before the incident, was hauled before the arbitration court after it beat Akwa Ibom 2-1 in the group stage upon which the latter contested Onu’s eligibility. Onu, whose original identity, National Mirror learnt, was given as Chikodi, also plays for Ibom Angels. It was also learnt that Akwa Ibom, who qualified for the last four from same group as Enugu, had demanded just a verbal apology from Enugu team officials but were rebuffed by the latter. The Akwa Ibom team sent an official to her team in Uyo to get
all the necessary documents to back their claims and the organisers were left with no choice but to wield the hammer, leaving team Enugu to rue its
ill luck. Osun State which was hammered 5-0 by Enugu in the quarter-final will take their place in the semis scheduled to start today.
Boxing: Aiyegbeni upbraids officials ANDREW EKEJIUBA
B
oxing promoter, Chief Francis Aiyegbeni, has criticised boxing officials and referees at the ongoing National Sports Festival in Lagos, describing them as “killers of the pugilist sport”. Speaking to National Mirror at the Indoor Sports Hall of the National Stadium, Surulere, Aiyegbeni attributed the failure of sports in the country to poor officiating. “Nigeria is blessed with good boxers, but on the other hand, we have the worst referees on the continent and unless the referees engaged to officiate in boxing competitions change
their attitude, Nigeria will never make a head-way in the sport,” he observed. “A situation where a boxer knocks out his opponent several times and the referee turns around to give the victory to a loser is terribly bad. I watched Lagos and Ogun in +91kg and Imo and Osun in +81kg respectively, and I was disappointed over their judgments. “The referees are killing boxing in the country and the more officiating is based on sentiment, the more we will fail to excel.” Aiyegbeni, however, enjoined sports administrators in Nigeria to encourage correction of perceived anomalies before such become entrenched in the system.
Owanreh swims to gold IKENWA NNABUOGOR
T
Nwoye Augustine of Delta State won gold with shotput throw of 16.14m
eam Delta continued its total dominance at Eko 2012 yesterday as Otobodo Owanreh claimed gold in the final of the 400 metres individual medley in the swimming event at the Teslim Balogun Stadium. The youngster returned with time of 5 minutes, 19.12 seconds to beat Sunday Nwabuzor and Pere Dino of Delta and Akwa Ibom respectively to silver and bronze medal finish. The Delta duo showed class to outwit other contestants in the final to add two gold medals as the state continued to lead the medal table with 52 gold medals as at Wednesday morning. Owanreh had previously won gold medal in swimming to add to his individual medal haul.
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Thursday, December 6, 2012
National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net
National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net
Thursday, December 6, 2012
31
Business & Finance Main One’s pedigree as a provider of dependable and affordable broadband service places NGCOM at a vantage point to offer fast and efficient services to its customers.
We have the sea-link project; a sea-link project is basically a maritime transport infrastructure; we are looking at how we can enhance the volumes of trade that falls within the ECOWAS sub-region and even the Central African region.
Chief Executive Officer, Main One Cable Company, Funke Opeke
NEXIM BANK MANAGING DIRECTOR, ROBERTS ORYA
Group puts Nigeria’s yearly loss to smuggled shea at N345bn TOLA AKINMUTIMI ABUJA
T
he Global Share Alliance, a multi-stakeholder association committed to quality and sustainability of the Shea industry, has estimated Nigeria’s yearly losses to smuggling of exportable Shea produce to the global market at about N345billion (about $2.2 billion), a development which it says is undermining efforts to translate the benefits of Shea production to national advantage. Making the disclosure yesterday at a media briefing on the Alliance’s 6th Annual International Shea Industry Conference scheduled for March next year in Abuja, the Director General of Niger State Commodity and Export Exchange, Alhaji Mohammed Kontagora, said substantial part of the losses, which accounts for about 57 per cent of the $3.8 billion yearly share of the global shea market, were due to lack of effective monitoring of the nation’s borders by the Nigeria Customs Service and other security agencies. He, therefore, called on the Federal Government to halt the ugly trend by ensuring that the borders are effectively monitored with a view to support-
ing initiatives by the Alliance, farmers and other stakeholders to improve the quality and productivity of Shea at national and sub-regional levels. Kontangora, who stated that at least 250 trailer loads of Shea are smuggled through the Nigerian-Niger borders, said it had become imperative for government to identify with the private-sector driven efforts to improve productivity and foreign exchange earning potentials of the commodity for the country and the potential
multiplier effects on the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth rate. Earlier in her remarks, the President of the Alliance, Mrs Eugenia Akuete, said the 6th Conference in which participants from about 35 countries would be attending, disclosed that the ideas and issues slated for discussion at the forum, including information and networking, will help to expand the country’s Shea industry. “Nigeria is in unique posi-
tion to benefit from the opportunity to showcase the gains made in the shea industry over the past eight years as the host of Shea 2013. “Much of the gains made in the Shea industry directly benefit the millions of rural women that collect Shea nuts and produce hand craft Shea butter in their villages. The Shea industry has a tremendously positive impact on rural communities all over West Africa, and especially here in Nigeria.”
WITH AGENCY REPORT
N
aira firmed further against the dollar on the interbank market yesterday boosted by dollar sales by some unit of foreign banks and
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Arik Air Los-Abj: 07:15, 09:15, 10:20, 15:20, 16:20, 16:50, 18:45 (Mon-Fri/Sat/Sun) Abj-Los: 07:15, 09:40, 10:20, 12:15, 15:15, 16:15, 17:10, (Mon-Fri/Sat); 12:15, 15:15, 16:15 (Sun) Los-PH: 07:15, 11:40, 14:00, 16:10, 17:15, (Mon-Fri) 07:30, 11:40, 15:50 (Sat) 11:50, 3:50, 17:05 (Sun) Abj-PH: 07:15, 11:20, 15:30 (Mon-Fri) 07:15, 16:00 (Sat) 13:10, 16:00, (Sun) PH-Abj: 08:45, 12:50, 17:00 (Mon-Fri) 08:45, 17:30 (Sat) 14:40, 17:30 (Sun) Abj-Ben: 08:00, 12:10 (Mon-Fri/Sat) 08:55, 12:10 (Sun) Ben-Abj: 09:55, 13:30 (Mon-Fri/Sat) 10:50, 13:30 (Sun)
Aero Contractors
L-R: Chief Executive Officer, Oando Gas and Power, Mr. Bolaji Osunsanya; Program Executive, Mr. Franklin Umole and General Manager, Commercial, OKLNG, Mr. Frank Edozie, at the 8th Nigerian Gas Association International conference in Abuja recently.
Naira firms further on dollar sales by banks, oil major UDO ONYEKA
FLIGHT SCHEDULE
U.S. oil major Chevron, traders said. The local unit closed at 157.04 to the dollar on the interbank, stronger than 157.15 at Tuesday’s close. Traders said Chevron sold about $27 million to some lenders, while some units of foreign banks buying local debt for offshore investors sold ample amounts of dollars in the market, which buoyed liquidity and supported the naira. The currency of Africa’s top en-
NCAA re-issues AOC to Dana Air
34
ergy producing country has been supported by large dollar flows from energy companies selling dollars to meet month-end domestic obligations, and by offshore investors buying local debt in the past few weeks. “We see the naira appreciating further in the near term as more companies wind down their operations for the year and demand for the dollar gradually decline,” one dealer said.
On the official window, the central bank sold $80 million at 155.76 to the dollar compared $154.28 million sold on Monday at same rate. The Central Bank of Nigeria sells dollars to lenders at auctions on Mondays and Wednesdays to help keep the naira within a 3 percent band around 155 per dollar. The CBN held its benchmark interest rate at a record high 12 percent this year to ease inflation pressures and stabilise the naira.
Los-Abj: 06:50, 13:30, 16:30, 19:45 (Mon-Fri/Sat/Sun) 12:30 (Sun) 16:45 (Sat). Abj-Los: 07:30, 13:00, 19:00 (Mon-Fri/ Sat) 10:30, 14:30, 19:30 (Sun) 18.30 (Sat) Los-Ben: 07:45, 11:00, 15:30, (Mon-Fri/Sat/ Sun) 12:30 (Sun) 15:30 (Mon-Fri/Sat/Sun) Ben-Los: 09:15, 12:30, 17:00 (Mon-Fri/ Sat/Sun) 17:00 (Sat), 14:00 (Sun)
EXCHANGE RATES WAUA
234.6271
USD
155.84
CHF
159.2642
SDR
235.0535
CFA
0.2924
GBP
244.1701
EURO
191.3715
OIL / GAS FUTURES ICE BRENT
$123.39
-0.78
NYMEX
$108.45
-0.11
OPEC BASKET
$122.86
+1.16
NATURAL GAS
$2.83
-0.03
CDMA: Anxiety Innovation fails to raise revenues for outdoor as $210m bailout advertising awaits approval
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National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net
Dangote shuts Gboko cement plant STANLEY IHEDIGBO
D
angote Cement Plc has decided to shut down its four million metric tons per annum capacity Gboko Plant, as a result of a glut in the cement market. The Group Head, Corporate Communication, Dangote Group, Mr. Anthony Chiejina who confirmed this in a statement in Lagos yesterday said the move was necessitated by the glut in the market arising from the exponential increase in local production of cement and continued importation of sub-
sidized cement into the country. He disclosed that the production figure for the first 11months of the year shows increased local production level with supply now surpassing demand. Total supply of cement to the market at the end of November, according to him, when compared to the same period last year, has shown a record increase of 11.4 per cent, the highest ever. He said it was therefore disheartening to note that despite the glut in the local cement market, some cement importation, though reduced, have continued, thus calling to question the rigorous implementation of the backward integration policy,
introduced to encourage local production. Giving the reason for the choice of BCC for a temporary shutdown, Chiejina said: “With the dumping of subsidised imported cement in the South Eastern market, there is no way our Gboko Cement plant can survive. In fact, workers have been put on forced leave pending when the situation improves. “Inventory of finished products is beginning to build up at our plants. Don’t forget that projects from our investments of about N280bn in additional capacity are already on stream, with lines 3 and 4 at Ibese and line 4 at Obajana, coming on
stream early this year. Chiejina said other manufacturers are also experiencing the same problem of low sale and high inventory and called for urgent solutions to the ugly development. Besides, he advised that government should vigorously implement the provisions of the cement backward integration policy that are needed to protect local manufacturers from dumping. According to him, one potent solution is for government to consider the total ban on importation of cement in view of the fact that local production now surpasses demand for cement
and in the interim also increase duty and levy on imported cement to the maximum level. If the backward integration policy is to succeed fully, Chiejina said government should help increase demand for cement by encouraging the use of concrete roads because concrete roads are more durable and much more longer lasting. Concrete roads, he further said, will save substantial outflow of foreign exchange, while reducing imports of asphalt. He said: “Nigerians should be proud of what the cement sector has done by making the country self-sufficient and our Ibese plant is ready to start exporting as soon as we receive ECOWAS permit to hit the ground running.”
Diamond Bank launches mobile banking truck
D
L-R: Senior Research Fellow, Korea Deposit Insurance Corporation, Mr. Seungkon Oh; Director, Banking Supervision, Central Bank of Nigeria, Mrs. Tokunbo Martins; Managing Director, Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation, Mr. Ibrahim Umaru and former Managing Director, NDIC, Mr. Ganiyu Ogunleye, during the International Association of Deposit Insurers African Regional Committee Workshop in Lagos, yesterday.
Delta Air mute on proposed acquisition of in Virgin Atlantic shares OLUSEGUN KOIKI
D
elta Air Lines yesterday declined to confirm or deny its interest in the acquisition of 49 per cent shares in Virgin Atlantic Airways. During a question and answer session marking the fifth anniversary of the airline operations into Lagos, Nigeria from Atlanta Georgia, United State of America (USA), Commercial Manager, East and West Africa regions for the airline, Mr. Bobby Bryan said he did not have any information on the proposed acquisition of stake in the carrier. When pressed further, he said he could only comment on it if given the go ahead by the head company in Atlanta, Georgia. He said, “I don’t have any information on the 49 per cent stake from Delta Air Lines in Virgin Atlantic Airways. We at Delta at the moment still see
it to be a speculation and we don’t act on speculation. When I have the information, I will get across to you, but at the moment, I can’t speak on it.” An online report had earlier in the week reported that Singapore Airlines is in talks to sell its 49 per cent stake in British carrier, Virgin Atlantic, with sources saying Delta Air Lines is among the suitors keen to access Virgin’s lucrative slots at London’s Heathrow Airport. Richard Branson’s Virgin Group wants to keep its 51 per cent stake in Virgin Atlantic and work with Delta if the U.S. carrier pulls off a deal, a source familiar with Branson’s thinking added on Monday. Singapore Airlines said in a brief statement it was in talks with interested parties, but did not name them. It also cautioned the discussions might not result in a deal. Airlines like Delta have long hoped to break into London’s
capacity-constrained Heathrow airport, a lucrative hub for corporate passengers where landing slots are generally hard to acquire. Virgin Atlantic is the second-largest carrier at Heathrow after IAG’s British Airways. Delta has been considering ways to partner with Air France-KLM, which could also take a stake in Virgin Atlantic, one person familiar with the matter said. Commenting on its fifth anniversary operations to Nigeria, Bryan recalled that the airline was the first US carrier to commence non-stop flight between Lagos and US five years ago, adding that the route was hitherto closed for upward 20 years. He said that having being in Nigeria for five years, the airline was committed to the Nigerian market and would continually improve its services to its clients. He explained that in the last
iamond Bank Plc, one of the leading commercial banks in Nigeria has launched a first of its kind mobile banking truck in the country in a bid to bring banking services to the door steps of its existing and potential customers. The new service tagged, Diamond–in–Motion was launched on Monday at its corporate headquarters in Lagos by the Group Managing Director/ CEO, Dr. Alex Otti. Under the service, customers can open new accounts, pay bills, save money, use ATM as well as make cash/cheque deposits and withdrawals. Dr. Otti describes the mobile truck as “a full-fledged bank in motion.” Head, Proposition and Liabilities of Diamond Bank, Mr Olumide Akindele said the Diamond–in–Motion is part of the bank’s strategy to take banking to the customers, adding that it will afford them the convenience
and opportunity to do transactions with ease. He said the bank planned to acquire about 250 additional units of the truck for nationwide rollout as part of strategy to serve the unbanked population. Also speaking on the new service, Head Information Technology Operations, Mr Steve Obiago, described it as a moving branch fortified with the latest technology. Obiago who said the initiative was part of the bank’s strategy to drive the Central Bank of Nigeria’s cashless policy, added that it could be moved anywhere and customers would be able to utilise it in any location. He said the service was done in collaboration with service providers and it could be moved to streets, remote villages and it is fully secured for both those working in it as well as the money in transit.
FG yet to release White Paper on digital broadcasting KUNLE A ZEEZ
I
n spite of Nigeria’s plan to transit from analogue to digital broadcasting by June 17, 2015, the Federal Government is yet to release a white paper meant for the implementation of the digitalisation project. This was made known by stakeholders at a two-day Digital Dialogue Conference 2012, which kicked off in Lagos yesterday to begin awareness campaign and discussions on the digital transition plan of Nigeria by 2015. A television engineer, Mr. Edward Amana, who has been involved in major technical project on broadcasting sector in Nigeria and also in the digital broadcasting process, said it was a surprise that the govern-
ment had not released a white paper for the transition. According to him, “As I speak with you, we have not seen the white paper that provide for us, the implementation framework for the digital transition and we think with this kind of forum and opinions expressed here, government would remember how important it is to have the white papers on time in order to ensure that the 2015 deadline is met.” The Director General, National Broadcasting Commission, Mr. Yomi Bolarinwa, also confirmed the delay in the release of the white paper but explained that the government has been working, stressing that a group will soon be inaugurated by the government to drive the implementation process.
National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net
Business & Finance
Thursday, December 6, 2012
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FIRS takes tax administration drive to grassroots TOLA AKINMUTIMI ABUJA
A
pparently determined to make tax services accessible to ordinary taxpayers in the grassroots, the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), on Monday said it has concluded plans to roll out Model Taxpayer Service Units, (TPSUs) nationwide. The programme is one of the series being rolled out on a pilot basis by the Taxpayer Service Policies Processes and Programmes Department of the Standards and Compliance Group of the Service. It is designed to strengthen the existing relationship between FIRS and taxpayers. Speaking on the plan to push the frontiers of a more efficient tax services delivery to the grassroots, the Coordinating Director of the Group, Andy Ejemeyovwi said during the sensitisation workshop on Business Support Programme in Abuja that the TPSUs will be properly equipped and supported with professional tax administrators for efficient
L-R: Executive Director, Retail Banking, Keystone Bank, Mrs. Yvonne Isichei; winner, Grand Prize 18-Seater bus of the Keystone Bank Daily Awuf Promo, Hajia Hauwa Abdullahi; Acting Managing Director, Dr. Shehu Muhammad and Senior Manager, Regulation and Monitoring, National Lottery Regulatory Commission, Mr. Kayode Ojoogun, during the presentation of the prize in Abuja, yesterday. PHOTO: ROTIMI OSASONA
service delivery to taxpayers. He said: “These units will be equipped with modern facilities that are adequate to ease taxpayers’ compliance with tax obligations. They will also be manned with per-
sonnel specifically trained to provide taxpayers with technical assistance as well as appropriately address their enquiries and complaints in the tax offices. Ejemeyovwi said the need
Main One, Alcatel-Lucent renew marine maintenance contract KUNLE A ZEEZ
M
ain One Cable Company Limited and Alcatel-Lucent have renewed their marine maintenance contract for Main One’s submarine cable system connecting Portugal to Nigeria over 7,000 km and contributing to enhance overall African and international connectivity. Delivering high-speed bandwidth of 1.92 Tbit/s, the Main One cable enables cost-effective access to global information, data and markets in Western Africa. As a member of the Atlantic Private Maintenance Agree-
ment (APMA), Main One will continue to manage and maintain its network at the highest level of performance. Under the service level agreement, Alcatel-Lucent will make available its maintenance vessels, as well as experienced, fully trained, and certified specialist personnel for cable repairs. According to Main One Chief Commercial Officer, Mr. Bernard Logan, to ensure the optimal network availability for continuity and quality of communications that Main One customers demand, Main One relies on world-class technical support including stateof-the-art cable ships capable
of delivering rapid response repair services in any weather condition. “Alcatel-Lucent’s demonstrated capability and experience in all aspects of marine operations and maintenance assures and enhances the reliability of our network,” he said. Head of Alcatel-Lucent’s submarine network activity, Philippe Dumont, said, “This contract renewal further confirms Alcatel-Lucent’s leading role as marine service provider to help operators maintain their networks at the highest standards of service reliability for maximum end-user confidence.”
ActionAid seeks improved funding for agric, others TOLA AKINMUTIMI ABUJA
A
ctionAid Nigeria, a nongovernment and not-forprofit organisation committed to poverty alleviation and sustainable grassroots development, has called on the Federal and state governments nationwide to improve substantially funding allocations three critical sectors of agriculture, education and health in order to achieve the broad developmental policy objectives of yearly budgets in the country. The Country Director of the
civil society organisation, Dr Hussaini Abdu, who made the call yesterday at a forum organised to analyse the 2013 Federal Budget on the three sectors noted that despite the crucial roles they play in national development, they have continued to enjoy dwindling attention in yearly budgets and called for a radical restructuring of the budgets in a way that would optimise their contributions to the nation’s Gross Domestic Product growth rate. While commending the government on the successes recorded so far in the Agricultural Transformation Agenda (ATA) drive, the
development experts noted that the increasingly dwindling allocations to the sector since 2009 which ebbed to a mere 1.7 per cent in the 2013 proposed budget clearly contradicts the avowed commitment of the government to transform it as the mainstay of the economy. The ActionAid chief flawed education sector allocations in yearly budgets which he lamented have been consistently been inadequate to meet the growing literacy gap in the country even as substantial chunk of the budgets is wasted on frivolous expenditures that add no value to the development of the sector.
for business record keeping by business entities is becoming increasingly imperative as tax authorities and other relevant government agencies are interested in knowing their performance with a
view to providing necessary support and advice that would upturn the fortunes of the businesses. “Record books will assist companies, individuals and enterprises concerned to maintain standard records of business transactions, so as to enable them monitor business performance and trends. Accordingly, it is hoped that this platform would engender itself to the minds and hearts of participants and make the practice of record keeping a habitual practice in the cause of daily transactions” he added. The Acting Chairman of Service, Alhaji Kabir Mashi, in his opening address at the forum explained that one of the major objectives of the reform policies in FIRS is to ensure sustainability of taxpayers’ rights and obligations through provision of taxpayer education among others. The tax expert pointed out further that the ongoing reform process is characterized by the implementation of taxpayer segmentation regime following the launch of the National Tax Policy document.
ASCSN urges National Assembly to caution FG on borrowing MESHACK IDEHEN
T
he Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria (ASCSN), has called on the National Assembly and other important stakeholders in the country’s economy to urge the Federal Government to cease borrowing in order to execute projects. The association said the country’s leaders have bad track records on borrowed money for executing project, saying that the International Monetary Fund (IMF) report has reveals that for every N100 Nigeria spends as service, about N80 goes into private pockets. ASCSN’s President, Mr Bobboi Kaigama at an interactive session with journalists after the association’s National Executive Council (NEC) meeting in Lagos, said that civil servants in the country are challenging the National Assembly to be more resolute in its oversight function to stop not at merely criticising the borrowing plans of the Executive arm, but to also protect present and coming generations by forbidding new loans plans under any guise. Kaigama said the nation’s civil servants are worried that Nigeria will soon be back the bondage of mounting debts that may this time around consume the country, because from records,
Nigeria is negotiating a new debt deal of about $7.46billion. He said there is almost nothing to show that earning from daily crude oil sales is being judiciously used for the development of the country. “We also call on well-meaning Nigerians, including the labour movement to reject this loan move as keeping quiet may translate into mortgaging the future of our unborn children. “ASCSN insists on Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), both at the federal and state levels, to embrace trade union best practices and act proactively to promote industrial harmony in the system. “It is, indeed, surprising that a country that wants to be among the best 20 economies in the world by 2020 cannot guarantee basic social needs, such as electricity, potable water, and good road network, decent housing, and healthcare delivery, affordable and qualitative education, among others for its citizenry eight years to the envisaged Eldorado.” “There is no doubt that if the various government embark on massive road construction, building of housing estates, extensive agriculture farm projects, there will be lots of job opportunities for the able-bodied youth to be productively engaged,“ he said.
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Business & Finance
Thursday, December 6, 2012
NCAA re-issues AOC to Dana Air OLUSEGUN KOIKI
A
fter going through the compulsory re-certification exercise, which includes 50 hours of test flights, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) yesterday reissued Dana Air another Air Operator’s Certificate (AOC) to recommence flight operations. At a low key ceremony at the agency’s headquarters at the Murtala Mohammed Airport (MMA), Lagos, the Director-General, NCAA, Dr. Harold Demuren handed over the new AOC to the Managing Director of the airline, Mr. Jackey Hathiramani. The airline could not however confirm when it would return to air services, saying that it would return only after internal issues had been resolved. Confirming the report, the Media Assistant to the Director-General, Mr. Sam Adurogboye said
that the agency had reissued the airline with a new AOC. With the new AOC, the airline can now return to air operations since its flights were suspended on June 4, 2012 after no fewer than 163 souls both on board and on ground perished in its aircraft at the Iju-Ishaga area of Lagos on Sunday, June 3, 2012. It will be recalled that the Minister of Aviation, Princess Stella Oduah had restored the airline’s AOC in September, but the airline could not return to service immediately. Part of the NCAA regulations is that any airline that closed shop for 90 days, will have to go through a rigorous recertification exercise, which includes flying empty for 50 hours by such carrier before such could return to air services. Speaking on the issue, the Head, Corporate Communications, Dana Group, Mr. Tony Usidamen said that the airline had been reissued a new AOC.
He, however, kept mum on when the airline would eventually recommence flight operations. He explained that the resumption date could only be confirm at the management level, adding that He said, “At a ceremony at NCAA today (yesterday), we were reissued our new AOC by the Director-General of the NCAA himself. It was signed in the presence of everyone by the DG and given to our MD.” “On our resumption, the management will sit to decide on a date of resumption soon. I’m sure there are some internal preparations that we need to do before we kick off, but a date will be announced by management soon. However, a source close to the airline who does not want his name mentioned said that the airline might resume for flight operations in less than two weeks period.
National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net
NEXIM to float shipping line TORDUE SALEM ABUJA
N
igerian Export-Import Bank is to set up a shipping line to foster trade between Nigeria and sister African countries, the Managing Director of the bank disclosed yesterday. The NEXIM Bank Managign Director, Mr. Robert Orya, made the disclosure before the House of Representatives Committee on Banking and Currency while defending the bank’s 2013 budget proposal. He explained that NEXIM intended to float the shipping line for the transportation of goods to both the West and Central African sub regions. He said the bank came up with the idea because of the deplorable state of roads in the country at present.
Goldlink Insurance restructures OMOBOLA TOLU-KUSIMO
G
oldlink Insurance Plc has embarked on a restructuring programme following recent intervention in the company by the regulatory body, the National Insurance Commission (NAICOM). The interim Managing Director of the company, Mr. Gbolahan Olutayo disclosed recently in an interview with National Mirror. Olutayo said the intervention by NAICOM does not any way affect the capacity of the company to provide dependable insurance services and has indeed made them stronger. He said, “Henceforth, our cusL-R: Group Head, Business Development, Unified Payment Services Ltd, Miriam Imevbore; Country Mantomers should expect a lot from ager, West Africa, MasterCard Worldwide, Omokehinde Ojomuyide and Head of Department, Card Services, Ben Edafiadjebre, during a signing ceremony between Unified Payments and MasterCard on the us because we a have new vision, new drive and a step up in terms launch of Unified Payments Go-Live in Lagos on Tuesday. of service. “We are carrying out some re-
World Bank restates commitment to strengthen Nigeria’s statistical system TOLA AKINMUTIMI
T
he World Bank yesterday restated its commitment to assist Nigeria in strengthening her statistical system as a desirable step towards using the data as tools for improved contribution to the national transformation through evidenced-based policy formulation. Giving the assurance at the two-day Meeting of the National Consultative Committee on Statistics (NCCS) held in Calabar, Cross River State, the Bank’s Statistician in the Development Data Group, Mr Alain Gaugris, said the involvement of the Bretton Woods institution in the National Statistical System’s development agenda would through the funding sup-
port from the $10 million Statistics for Results Facility (SRF). Gaugris disclosed that the grant is targeted at capacity building at the Federal level for National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) and National Population Commission (NPoPC), adding that already implementation of the capacity building initiative has started in six pilot states of the geo-political zones of the country. He listed the states as Anambra, Bauchi, Edo, Kaduna, Niger and Ondo. The World Bank statistician explained that the objective of the three-year project which, he said, was already yielding tangible results, such as the revamped NPoPC and Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) websites and a state of the art data portal, was to initiate the im-
plementation of the National Strategy for the Development of Statistics (NSDS) by producing reliable statistics in the targeted states. He, therefore, urged the Federal and State governments, media, civil society and advocacy groups to play their roles toward development of the National Statistical System (NSS). Declaring the meeting open, Cross River State Governor, Liyel Imoke, urged members of NCCS to pay attention to the funding of statistical production in the Federal, state and local Government levels. The Statistician-General of the Federation, Dr Yemi Kale, called on the relevant stakeholders to be committed to statistical development in the country.
“There is need for NEXIM to set up a shipping line because for goods to be shipped to Tema in Ghana from Lagos, it would take not less than 60 days for the ship to arrive at its destination.” He continued: “The ship would first of all travel from Lagos to Europe before returning to Ghana.” He further stated that already, Nigerian goods were widely distributed within the West and Central African sub-regions. According to him, the bank was considering a fresh initiative where the bank would grant foreign importers of Nigerian goods to encourage them to expand their transactions in the country. Orya expressed frustration over the bank’s efforts to recover debts it is being owed across the country.
structuring and rebranding of our entire system thus, we are coming out better, finer and ready to provide the best of services. He assured policyholders and potential customers that the brand they used to know is as solid as ever. It would be recalled that NAICOM constituted a seven-man interim Board of Directors to oversee the affairs of Goldlink with effect from November 1, 2012. In a statement signed by the Head of Corporate Communications of NAICOM, Mr. Lucky Fiakpa, the constitution of the interim board was sequel to the recent resignation of members of the board of directors of the company following anomalies and misstatements discovered in the audited financial statements of the company for the year ended December 31, 2011. The interim board has been,
Fidson’s Ayebae named ‘outstanding CEO’ JOHNSON OKANLAWON
T
he Managing Director of Fidson Healthcare Plc, Dr Fidelis Ayebae has emerged Outstanding Chief Executive Officer of the Year in the Pearl Nigeria Awards. Ayebae, the founder of the leading pharmaceutical company in Nigeria, was presented with the prestigious award by the former Commissioner for Information, Sir Alex Akinyele, in recognition of his outstanding leadership qualities, astute managerial competence. A statement from the company quoted him, as saying that the ward is dedicated to every member of management and staff of the company, for their
resilience in ensuring that the company continues to grow every day, both in terms of financial performance and in our quest to adding value to the lives of Nigerians through the delivery of quality healthcare solutions to our esteemed customers. The company recorded a turnover of 39 per cent in the 2011 financial year, from N5.1bn in 2010 to N7.1bn in 2011, while net current asset also increased by 538 per cent from N312.8m in 2010 to N1.9bn in 2011. The President of Pearl Award Nigeria, Mr Tayo Orekoya noted that the award process is based on verifiable facts and figures which are also published consistently in the awards publication, the Nigerian Stock Market Annual.
National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net
Info Tech
Thursday, December 6, 2012
35
CDMA: Anxiety as $210m bailout awaits approval S takeholders are currently in accord that critical investment and merger options are needed to revive the ailing Code Division Multiple Access segment of the country’s budding telecoms sector. However, a new investment, coming as a bailout that will create a turnaround for CDMA market is now at its final stage of approval, creating a cloud of anxiety as to the possibility of the deal to sail through. The new investment, which will see three of the ailing CDMA operators, Starcomms Plc, Multi-Links and MTS Wireless coming together as merger company that will trade as Starcomms is being spearheaded by Capcom Limited, a special purpose vehicle established investment funds, hedge funds, family offices and industry partners around the world with years of commercial experience of emerging markets Starcomms shares and related transactions. Capcom consists of principal entities such as MBC, a private trust with a focus on investing in emerging markets; OldonyoLaro Estate, a private family office based in Kenya with over 40 years’ experience of investing in Africa across numerous industries; Helios Investment Partners, an Africa-focused private investment firm which manages funds in excess of $1.7billion and the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria, which acquired MTS. In effect, the investment vehicle is purchasing $210million worth of shares in Starcomms at the last quoted market price of 50 kobo, adjusted for the proposed share consolidation of 1 for 100 shares which means that the share price on relisting will be N50 The $210million investment is in the form of telecommunications assets including 100 per cent of the shares of the holding companies for MultiLinks Telecommunications Limited and MTS, being contributed by Capcom to Starcomms; and cash. Already, Capcom said it had signed binding sale and purchase agreements for the shares of the holding companies owning the CDMA business of Multi-Links and spectrum licence of MTS and these assets, according to the investors, are vital to creating a business to enable the new Starcomms to compete in the market. The $98million cash investment will be used to integrate the newly contributed assets with Starcomms and implement the turn-around business plan. Starcomms is also expected to raise additional funds from separate Rights Issue following completion of the transaction. Speaking on the investment proposal and the financial standing Starcomms Plc, which is the only company listed on the Nigerian Stock Exchange among the trio heading for the merger, the Interim Chief Executive Officer of the company, Mr. Olusola Oladokun, said Starcomms has experienced significant challenges in its business in the last two years primarily resulting from changes in the operating environment. He noted that the company is now facing a severe liquidity crisis and is unlikely to be able to survive in its current form in the absence of new capital and a credible growth strategy. On the way forward, Oladokun said the Board and management of Starcomms believes that the Capcom proposal represents the only credible route to maintain the company as a going concern. According to him, Capcom will invest $210million consisting of selected CDMA assets (MTS, Multi-links) valued at $112m and $98million in cash into Starcomms as part of the proposed transaction, adding that subsequently, Starcomms will issue shares representing 90.5 per cent of the total new share capital to Capcom in exchange for its investment. Disclosing that Capcom’s turnaround strategy for Starcomms was based on a consolidation of the CDMA market and using the increased spectrum to shift its business model to the profitable data segment, he however, pointed out that the transaction is contingent on Starcomms shareholder approval and regulatory approvals. Details of Starcomms’ financial performance, in a document released in Lagos during the week, showed that Starcomms has seen declining sales and earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation, EBITDA since third quarter of 2010.
Plans to invest $210m into the ailing Nigeria’s Code Division Multiple Access segment of the country’s telecoms sector requires endorsement of shareholders of one of the three CDMA operators involved in the deal who may either vote for or against the proposed investment, reports KUNLE AZEEZ.
Executive Vice Chairman, NCC Eugene Juwah
Johnson
BY COMBINING ADDITIONAL SPECTRUM FROM MULTI-LINKS AND MTS WITH THE EXISTING NETWORK AND SUBSCRIBER BASE OF
STARCOMMS, WE
BELIEVE WE CAN QUICKLY CREATE
NIGERIA’S LEADING
PROVIDER OF MOBILE BROADBAND THROUGH AN
INDUSTRY-LEADING
4G-LONG
TERM EVOLUTION NETWORK
Currently, there is negative EBITDA despite significantly reducing the cost base in 2011 and 2012 and the while the inability to pay major infrastructure suppliers and invest in the network has exasperated the decline in the operating performance. On the financial debt, the company has reduced outstanding financial debt from N31.9billion in Q1 2010 to N15.1billion as at Q3 2012. Meanwhile, the company said it has stopped all debt service to conserve cash, effectively going into consensual lender default and that the debt position has been comprehensively restructured going forward as part of the proposed transaction. Capcom’s Chief Executive Officer designate for the Starcomms post transaction completion, Mr. Dem Eleso, said, “By combining additional spectrum from MultiLinks and MTS with the existing network and subscriber base of Starcomms we believe we can quickly create Nigeria’s leading provider of mobile broadband through an industry-leading 4G-Long Term Evolution network.” According to him, “This can only be good news for Starcomms’ loyal customers, partners, staff and Shareholders and I and our whole team look forward to the challenge of building Nigeria’s new Broadband internet champion.” Eleso maintained that Capcom’s significant cash and asset investment as well as the additional operational and technical expertise will reposition Starcomms for future growth, adding that Capcom’s plan to establish Starcom-
ms as Nigeria’s leading 4G Broadband data provider draws on Starcomms current strengths and will make excellent use of Starcomms greatly enhanced spectrum post transaction. However, ahead of the Court-ordered Annual General Meeting slated for December 28, 2012 for existing shareholders to vote for the investment proposal, it is likely some shareholders would be indifferent to the transactions, yet their votes for the proposal remains the only move that will make the deal sail through. Already, the President, Nigerian Shareholders’ Solidarity Association, Mr. Timothy Adesiyan, has condemned the absolute share controlling stake of Capcon with a meager percent of less than 10 per cent share by existing shareholder. He also claimed that the December 8 date would avail all Starcomms’ shareholders to attend the AGM as some may need to travel for the New Year. According to him, “We, therefore, ask for a change in date to a time when shareholders would be readily available to take a decision on the investment proposal.” Meanwhile, Starcomms has assured that the transactions would be beneficial to existing Starcomms shareholders, urging them to give their support for the proposal. According to Oladokun, existing shareholders will retain value in the new Starcomms. “Capcom is investing at the current Starcomms share price and existing shareholders will be offered the opportunity to purchase new shares in Starcomms on the same terms as Capcom in a $20million Rights Issue after this transaction has been completed and received all necessary regulatory approvals.” Over the years, CDMA networks have been facing a number of challenges resulting in continual loss of customers on their networks, following their inability to compete with the bigger players in the GSM segment. For instance, latest industry data from the Nigerian Communications Commission indicated that active GSM subscriptions have over 103.6 million as at the end of September 2012, whereas CDMA susbriber base has declined consistently from around 7 million in 2009, to less than 4 million lines in September 2012. In the wake of the threatening operating environment facing the CDMA operators, the then Executive Vice Chairman of NCC, Mr. Ernest Ndukwe, had recommended merger option for CDMA operators as the way out for the ailing operators to compete more favourably in the highly competitive Nigerian telecoms market.
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Info Tech
Thursday, December 6, 2012
iDirect, TD partner to boost connectivity in Nigeria KUNLE A ZEEZ
i
Direct, a global leader in Information and Communication Technology hub infrastructure, has entered into a partnership with Technology Distributions Limited, an ICT distributor in West Africa to address the growing complexity of deploying and managing global Internet connectivity in Nigeria. Speaking on the partnership, Executive Director, Marketing, TD, Mrs. Chioma Chimere, said the company, which recently enriched its portfolio to include products from Lenovo, Samsung and Canon brings into the iDirect partnership a pedigree of innovative marketing and technical competence that has earned it the leadership of ICT products distribution beyond the Nigerian borders. She said TD, through its reseller network, spanning
across West Africa, would now stock and distribute iDirect portfolio of hubs, routers and network management software and consolidate its position as the foremost one-stop shop for ICT products. Sales Director Africa, iDirect, Mr. Cheikh Dla, explained that iDirect’s product lines integrate a wide variety of hardware, software and services seamlessly into a complete satellite communications platform. iDirect’s hardware include powerful universal satellite hubs and versatile routers to meet all requirements for scalability and durability. It also provides a comprehensive range of applicationsspecific products such as network accelerators and optimisers that enhance network performance. According to him, “The TD partnership would offer products for the ground infrastructure required to shatter the
myth surrounding the Internet. It will enable commercial and social enterprises, military establishments, governments and grassroots organizers to build satellite based networks that yield higher bandwidth efficiency with lower budgets.” He said the company also offers solutions for broadband applications that catalyse an efficient and superior bandwidth, better triple solutions voice-over IP, data, video, internet experience throughout Nigeria, Dla revealed that the choice of TD followed “a painstaking effort to find a distributor in West Africa that had the capacities to deliver the iDirect corporate objectives in the region, noting that, specifically, TD was chosen for its tradition and depth of warehousing, logistics orientation, innovative marketing, corporate governance and financial muscle.”
National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net
Tech Box LG 3D Smart TV:
First 84-inch television in Nigeria
L
G Electronics, a global leader in Consumer Electronics, has introduced into the Nigerian market the world’s first 84-inch Ultra Definition (UD) Cinema 3D Smart TV. The LG 84-inch UD TV, also known as 84LM9600, is the world’s largest Ultra High Definition TV. The sheer size of the display, which is equal to four units of 42-inch TVs, delivers an unparalleled picture resolution of 2160p which is 4 times higher than full HD. It is incredibly vivid and crisp, even when viewed from close distances. The LG 84-inch UD TV comes complete with an enhanced sound which no other TV currently offers. Its 2.2 speaker system delivers a sound output of 50W, boasting two woofers, which delivers an incredible depth and energy, bringing eye-encompassing visuals to life with exhilarating sound. General Manager, Home Entertainment division, LG Electronics, Mr. Dave Shin, said, “It is apparent that our industry is driven by innovation and Ultra Definition which is our latest invention will transform viewing experience.”
He said the introduction of the television is significant moment in TV history as the Ultra HD 4K technology will make it possible for consumers to enjoy crystal clear picture quality. The LG 84-inch UD TV offers quadruple the detail of a full HD 1080p unit, with 8 million pixels. It also uses LG Resolution Upscaler Plus hardware which delivers higher detail from the existing SD/HD external sources. It provides the most convincing 3D viewing experience currently available outside of a movie theatre. The LG 84-inch UD TV also has Smart TV ecosystem, featuring well over 1,000 applications. It comes complete with 3D glasses as well as LG’s Magic Remote, now upgraded to understand voice commands allowing users to intuitively access and navigate the Home Dashboard with ease.
Blackberry Apps World:
Providing unified billing for carriers
L-R: Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development, Mr. George Ossi; Economic Empowerment Manager, MTN Foundation, Mrs. Foyinsola Oyebola and Chairman of the occasion, Brigadier General Oladeji Adeoye, at the International Day of Persons with Disabilities sponsored by the MTN Foundation in Abuja on Monday.
Nigerians’ access to Apple products to increase KUNLE A ZEEZ
A
pple, global mobile devices manufacturer, has said access to its range of devices by Nigerians will increase with the opening of the first iStore, a one-stop shop for all Apple products at the Ikeja Mall. The iStore Ikeja iStore will make it more convenient for Nigerians to purchase Apple products and accessories. The iStore retail concept was first introduced in South Africa, where there are currently 13 stores in Johannesburg, Pretoria, Cape Town and Durban. The unique Apple destination stores offer innovative ideas regarding retail design, interactivity, customer service and support to provide an unrivaled shopping experience.
iStore’s Executive Director, Apple, Mr. Rutger-Jan van Spaandonk, said Apple was thrilled to open the first iStore in Nigeria, saying iStore’s expert team and amazing customer service were the hallmarks of iStores throughout South Africa and we will strive to deliver the same in Nigeria” He explained that iStore Ikeja Mall has been designed as a base for the Nigerian Apple community, where customers are encouraged to learn how to get the most out of their Apple products through hands-on product experiences and professional advice. “Convenient free services such as in-store tech support and product setup and demonstrations will be available from a knowledgeable team of Apple heroes. In addition to these value added services, iStore Ikeja Mall will offer free training through a
tailored programme that covers Apple hardware and software, which provide customers with the opportunity to get to know their Apple products better,” Spaandonk explained further that iStore Ikeja Mall offers Apple enthusiasts the peace of mind that they are purchasing from an official channel partner approved by Apple. According to him, “Customers are provided with the benefit that if any repair issues arise during the warranty term, the product will be repaired or replaced by an Apple Authorised Technician and there is a required level of support that is mandatory for Apple Authorised Resellers.” He said in addition to support and the standard warranty, iStore Ikeja Mall will offer an extended warranty of 1 year free of charge for all iPads.
R
esearch-in-Motion said more than 50 carriers have now implemented integrated carrier billing on the BlackBerry App World store front for their customers. The announcement marks a great milestone for RIM and a big benefit for carriers, developers, content providers, and customers. BlackBerry App World is now available in 170 markets and territories worldwide offering more than 100,000 BlackBerry smartphone apps. Integrated carrier billing enables a customer to purchase apps or digital goods on their BlackBerry smartphone, and simply and conveniently have the purchases put directly on their regular monthly bill from their carrier. Integrated carrier billing is also integrated with the BlackBerry Payment Service,
which enables developers and content providers to offer in-app purchases (such as additional levels in a game), as well as supporting one-off and recurring (subscriptionbased) purchases, without interrupting the customer’s app experience. Carrier billing services have proven to drive significant value for the whole mobile ecosystem, including carriers, developers, content providers, and customers. Aggregated data indicates that customers’ propensity to purchase apps on BlackBerry App World increases when carrier billing is offered, with an average of 75 per cent of gross sales transacted through the carrier and average carrier revenues derived from apps increased between 100 per cent300 per cent after launch. Vice President for the BlackBerry App World storefront at RIM, Mr. Ronjon Nag, said, “We’re delighted to announce that over 50 of our carrier partners are now offering integrated carrier billing to customers on BlackBerry App World.
National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net
Thursday, Decemeber 6, 2012
Brands & Marketing
37
Innovation fails to raise revenues for outdoor advertising
Since the implementation of laws regulating outdoor advertising operation and reduced spending by clients, increasing innovation and creativity is yet to get out-of-home advertising out of the woods, writes ADEDEJI ADEMIGBUJI.
W
hile advertising business continues to face the harshest economic decline in its history, indications have emerged that the innovative business approach introduced by the industry’s outdoor sub-sector is yet to improve the situation of many outdoor agencies. The agencies, after facing stiff regulations by various state advertising and signage regulatory agencies, have gotten rid of the old 40-sheet, 48-sheet, and 96-sheet plank billboards and brought innovative boards which beautify the cities with Lam Post, Wall drape, Unipols, rooftops, portraits, Scrolling truck, Trailer Scrolling, Digital Truck, backlit, scrolling boards with the latest being digital LED boards. But indications have emerged that the latest innovations have continued to push clients out of billboard space as a result of cost of constructing these billboards which are often passed on to advertisers while agency also part away with larger chunk of their income to regulators in the name of site levies and taxes. According to National Mirror investigation, most of the outdoor agencies have injected lots of funds to purchase modern billboards to make the out-ofhome advertisement still relevant in the clients marketing communication campaign plans, but the clients have instead increased their budgets for sponsorships which used to the at the
bottom of the priority list, reflecting changing trends in the industry. A recent report by Mediafacts reveals that there has been a decline in outdoor ad spend in 2011 compared to other mediums of advertising despite increase in general ad spend to all mediums. “The advertising industry has witnessed an increase of 5.3 per cent at N102.7billion spent on Above -The -Line (ATL) advertising activities (television, radio, outdoor and press) in 2011 as against the N97.5billion spent in 2010 but spending on newspaper and outdoor dropped in the year under review,” stated Mediafacts, an annual publication of MediaReach OMD, Nigeria’s most influential media independent agency. Of the N102.755bilion, television had N46billion, radio, N13.billion, outdoor, N28.1billion while N15.4billion was spent on the press. This is in spite of efforts of agencies to renovate and offer clients value and quality hoardings that could be obtained in developed countries. But the decline has generated questions as to whether the cost of innovating could stop the outdoor business from recording continual decline. Currently, the cost of a digital LED boards ranges between N150million and N160million and advertisers are finding it hard to pay huge rates charges for digital outdoor space. The Managing Director of MediaView Limited, one of the leading outdoor agencies, Mr. Tunde Adedoyin, said, “It is
IT IS NOT EVERY SITE THAT CAN ACCOMMODATE
LED. BUT BECAUSE GOVERNMENT WANTS
INCREASED REVENUE, EVERYONE KEEPS PUTTING IT EVERYWHERE DESPITE DECLINE IN OUTDOOR AD BILLINGS
true that outdoor ad spend has dropped in 2011 and 2012 first half. The fact is that the innovation is just coming up. But not all the advertising spender is able to get space on the LED boards. MTN did buy outdoor for half year of 2012. The reason they gave is that they were a sponsor of the last World Cup. As I speak, they only displayed for three months in this year,” he said. In the food and beverage sector, Adedoyin complained that Cadbury Nigeria also cuts 60 per cent hoarding while Etisalat spend 50 per cent only in Lagos where it increased its budget. “They cancelled all Unipols to buy LED,” he laments. The complaint about innovative hoardings, according to Adedoyin, has been that it forced rate to go up. But despite that, he said innovation
would continue until the industry get out of the woods. He said, “Innovation is ongoing. They are very expensive. The China LED, which will soon be made available would only cost far less but the cost of getting a LED board is N150million. Not all clients have N55million yearly to rent LED boards. But by the time China come on board to construct LED board, it will force down the cost of getting LED boards.” But the Managing Director of Grandstride outdoor agency, Mr. Banji Idowu, blamed practitioners for the decline despite increasing modern billboards. “The problem is the creation of the agencies. You will find out that sites are not increasing. The few ones are sold at exorbitant rates. To put up a LED, you need N150million to construct one. To advertise on it, if you want to stay there for a year, you will pay millions and larger per cent goes to the regulators, like state, local and federal agencies and the advertisers here discovered that alternative media could offer better exposure and target engagement. Someone at a telecom company said sponsorship used to be lowest in ad budget but now it is increasing. But it is a temporary lull, innovation is still going to pay off and LAASA has realized these problems and the cost of innovating and it is bringing down the rate,” said idowu. Regrettably, he said some practitioners have abused innovation. “Abuse is coming into innovation. It is not every site that can accommodate LED. But because government wants increased revenue, everyone keeps putting it everywhere despite decline in outdoor ad billings,” he lamented.
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Brands & Marketing
Thursday, Decemeber 6, 2012
Loya Milk unveils Don Jazzy as brand ambassador, kicks off new promo STORIES: ADEDEJI ADEMIGBUJI
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o deepen its market share with value proposition, Promasidor Nigeria, makers of quality food products, has chosen Michael Collins Ajereh also known as Don Jazzy as the face of its Loya Milk brand. At the unveiling ceremony, the company also commenced an online based promo to give consumers an opportunity to feature in a Loya TV commercial with Don Jazzy. The Commercial Director, Promasidor Nigeria, Mr. Kachi Onubogu while disclosing reasons for selecting Don Jazzy as brand ambassador for Loya Milk, said a brand ambassador will help the brand further reach its target audience. “Our choice of Don Jazzy as brand ambassador is driven by the essence of the brand and its proposition to its target audience. Loya Premium Milk is a brand with class and taste; it is a brand with distinction and excellence, a brand that constantly rewards its loyal consumers. ”
Speaking on the promo mechanics, Onubogu made known that Loya milk will begin an online promo new that will run from December 1st till December 31st. “From today, December 1st till 31st December Loya Milk will start a new promo. It is going to be an online promo. All consumer needs to do is to like us on www.facebook.com/loyamilk or log on to the promo site www.tasteyourdream.com where they will enter their details name, phone number and e-mail address. Each winner will walk away with a Samsung Galaxy S3 Smartphone, a night in an hotel and also an opportunity to be in a Loya TV commercial with Don Jazzy.” He disclosed that the brand Loya Milk is one that stands out as best in the industry and is loved by consumers. “Loya Milk is a brand that is loved and well respected by consumers. It is known to be a brand that never hesitates to give back to its consumers. It is to be recalled that in 2011, the brand rewarded its consumers with a total of N50million in a promo that lasted for about 90 days.
Known for being charitable, Don Jazzy, the new brand ambassador is a multi award-winning Nigerian record producer, singer/songwriter, and CEO of the Mavin Records label. Recently rated as the 36th ‘Most powerful celebrity in Africa’ by Forbes, he is an avid user of social networking sites with Twitter being his top. Don Jazzy has over 200, 000 followers and noted for giving birthday shout-outs to fans, airtime recharge cards, and money via Twitter. Loya is a premium milk brand on the stable of Promasidor. It’s brand promise is to deliver consistent, premium quality milk powder that assists in keeping the family strong and healthy and contains calcium, proteins and Vitamins A and D, essential for the growth of a healthy body. The high calcium milk was relaunched in October 2010 to reposition it as a premium offering in the Nigerian milk market; it is targeted at stylish and sophisticated women who seek the best in quality.
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TPT clinches Diamond Bank account Diamond Bank Plc, a leading financial institution in Nigeria has appointed TPT international as its PR agency. The agency emerged from a highly competitive pitch process that involved four of top leading PR agencies selected for the pitch. Other companies include The Quadrant Company Nigeria, Mediacraft Associates, and C&F Portal Novelli. TPT emerged the preferred based on its creative direction during the pitch and its clear interpretation of the brief. Indeed it was a very keen contest according to our sources as all the agencies gave a good account of themselves. Industry analysts have commended the management of the bank for engaging consultants in various aspects of the bank which shows that the bank is very futuristic in a country where some banks find it difficult to understand the importance of hiring professionals and this will influence its going forward as a futuristic bank. According to Adetokunbo Modupe, the founder and Chief Consultant of TPT International, this appointment offers his team the opportunity to once again partner with a futuristic and innovative bank in delivering a desirable corporate perception. The bank will definitely benefit from our rich experience in PR practice as well as our creative approach to perception management. Diamond Bank is a commercial bank, offering a full range of banking products and services in retail, corporate and investment banking. The business is based on strong, enduring relationships and is driven by innovation and leading edge technology.
Marketing Edge wins NIMN 2012 Marketing Magazine of the Year Award
L-R: General Manager, Home Entertainment Division, LG Electronics West Africa Operations, Mr. Dave Shin; Managing Director, Fouani Nigeria Limited, Mr. Mohammed Fouani, and Assistant Manager, Public Relations and Digital Marketing, LG Electronics West Africa Operations, Mr. Paul Mba, during the official launch of LG 84-inch Ultra High Definition TV in Lagos recently.
Yuletide: Jumia launches discount offer for online shoppers
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fast-growing indigenous online retailer, Jumia, has offered shoppers on its e-stores massive Christmas giveaway discount sales tagged, Superdeals promotions. According to the co-founders of Jumia, Mr. Raphael Afaedor and Mr. Tunde Kehinde, the client-tailored promotion is the company’s way of giving back to loyal clients and building enduring relationships with new clients. “In the spirit of the yuletide season, SuperDeals is one of the many ways we at Jumia.com.ng intend to show our deep appreciation to our clients. We strive continuously to provide better deals for our clients, while not compromising quality of our products. We understand we are here for them and will always find best ways to ease their retail experiences from sale to supply”, explained Afaedor.
In its few months of existence, Jumia had developed exclusive partnerships with globally renowned international and local brands through certain brand and marketing affiliations, with the ultimate goal of being the one stop shop for unbeatable deals both online and offline. Jumia brands range from electronic, computing, mobile, fashion, games and consoles, beauty products, fragrances, books through to babies’ toys and kids. With SuperDeal, customers can shop brilliant discounts of up to half prices with various give away items including electronics, computing, mobile, fashion and more, from brands like Samsung, Zara Apparel, Hewlett Packard, Kenneth Cole, from the comfort of whatever location all day long. The opportunity also provides customers with free shipping services on all items purchased.
“We know our customers like to shop, but the rigours of our volatile socio-economic environment have left many shoppers without this option. As we have reiterated over time, we are here to fill this void and make shopping a delightful experience again and again. And what better way to shop than that with lightning deals? ‘Superdeal’ is one of our many ways to say thank you to our customers”, says cofounder, Tunde Kehinde. In the New Year said, Jumia promises to bring more customer-centric offerings and deals manned by a highly skilled and hands-on team geared towards changing the concept of shopping within Nigerian shores and beyond. The online retail shop since inception has laid emphasis on improving the value, quality and experiences of the Nigerian shopper.
In recognition of its outstanding coverage of the marketing communications sector during the year, Nigeria’s foremost brands and marketing magazine, Marketing Edge, is again set to receive the Marketing Magazine of the Year Award at the 2012 National Marketing Day organised by the National Institute of Marketing of Nigeria (NIMN). NIMN, in a letter sent to the Publisher and Chief Executive Officer of Marketing Edge, Mr. John Ajayi, at the weekend, disclosed that it has concluded plans to confer the distinguished award of Marketing Magazine of the Year on the magazine at a ceremony on Wednesday, December 5, 2012 at Golden Tulip Hotel (former Durbar Hotel) in Lagos. According to the letter which was signed by Registrar/Chief Executive Officer of NIMN, Reverend Deji Olokesusi on behalf of NIMN’s President and Chairman of Council, Dr. Lugard Aimiuwu, the award is in “appreciation and recognition of your numerous contributions in developing and promoting growth of marketing reporting development whilst applying universal best practices.” Commenting on the award, the Executive Editor of Marketing Edge, Mr. Adewale Okoya, said he was delighted by the recognition from NIMN. “It is a thing of joy for a publication like ours to be so honoured for the third time in a row by the regulatory body charged with the responsibility of controlling the practise of the marketing profession in Nigeria. “Indeed, no honour can be greater than this because it means that we are living up to our mission of promoting the brand idea in Nigeria’s marketing communications environment,” he added.
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Brands & Marketing
Thursday, Decemeber 6, 2012
Guinness brands set the bar on quality beverages ADEDEJI ADEMIGBUJI
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uinness Nigeria, the nation’s leading beverage manufacturer has once again set itself apart as the brewer of quality when it comes to industry and internationally acclaimed standards. This was made clear as the company once again emerged winner of a host of Gold awards in this year’s Monde Selection Awards a recognition that was given to two of the company’s brands this year – Harp Lager and Malta Guinness. The Monde Selection is an International Institute for Quality Selections founded in 1961. The institute makes it a point of duty to qualify in different categories, the varying levels of quality of brands and products so that they are able to give the absolute assurance that the product being consumed has passed the most stringent quality tests. The Corporate Relations Director, Guinness Nigeria Plc, Mr. Sesan Sobowale, said that for the
company, quality is about consistency. “When it comes to defining quality, you must understand that it is not a one-off event but a trait that has to be proven consistently over time and it was the great Aristotle himself that said ‘quality is not an act it is a habit.’ We have, over the years consistently won this recognition amongst a wide range of our products including, Guinness Foreign Extra, Guinness Extra Smooth, Malta Guinness, Harp Lager and Satzenbrau and that is just to name a few. We are proud to behonoured again this year and it spurs us on to continue to be the best at what we do.” The Monde Institute explains that the selection process itself is quite thorough with a professional jury of experts tasting over 3000 products coming from more than 80 countries comprising of Michelin starred chefs, members of the French Culinary Academy, university lecturers, nutrition and health consultants master sommeliers amongst others. Mr. Hamilton Iyogbon, Head of Quality, Guinness Nigeria Plc added that setting the standard on
quality is part of the Guinness Nigeria DNA. “When we put out any product our watchword is quality. Every product has to get that approval stamp before it reaches our consumers and we feel particularly proud that over the years this effort has been recognised and rewarded.” Records show that in 2007, Guinness Extra Smooth and Guinness Foreign Extra won the position of Grand Gold with Harp Lager and Satzenbrau winning Gold in the same year. In 2008, the same two products won Grand Gold, along with Satzenbrau, Harp and Malta Guinness. A selection of products from the same house won a variety of Gold and Grand Gold awards again in 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012. According to Sobowale: “Our vision is to celebrate life every day everywhere and especially for Nigerians that means having quality products to celebrate with. We are aware of the high standard and expectations that our consumers expect of us and we will continue to strive to bring them the best in taste and quality.”
Former Minister of Information, Chief Alex Akinyele (left) presenting the award for ‘Outstanding CEO of the Year’ to its Managing Director, Fidson Healthcare Plc, Dr Fidelis Ayebae (right) during the Pearl Awards ceremony held in Lagos recently.
The president and his audience
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he impact of the social media cannot be underestimated. The social media platform has been one veritable platform to dissect issues ranging from socioeconomic, political religious and others. The social media brings to fore the intellectual and analytical minds of Nigerians on some issues of national importance. The last Presidential media chat was one that generated several responses on topical issues the President responded to. Several political, economical and social issues were discussed and the audience responses were spontaneous. I did not listen to the Presidential media chat but the social media platform – Facebook provided me updates. One thing I find surprising is the approach of our leaders in communicating their vision and perspective on issues. I have observed over the years that our leaders lack
requisite skills to communicate effectively. It is pathetic that they do not seem to appreciate the potent power of communication. It seems they fail to realize how they can positively influence Nigerians through their communication skills. In order to have clear direction, I want to focus mainly on the health issue of Mrs. Patience Jonathan. It was an online whistle blower that blew the lid off the information guarded by Aso Rock information managers. It is bemoaning that the Presidency could descend to the abyss after the late Yaradua’s experience. Nigerians responded to the information they received from the grapevine and reacted in same manner due to the improper information management by the government. The issue of the president‘s wife health was one that generated huge interest on the social media platform. I find it very dis-
ad VA NT AG E icon
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rs. Hannah Oyebanjo, the Principal Partner at Redwood Consulting is one of the few women leading in the Nigeria marketing communication landscape. The multi-award winning professional is one of the finest brand communication strategist, whose Midas touch has turned around ailing brands back to their healthy product circle. “As an international award winning professional, I developed and executed the strategies that turned around ailing brands, grew brand affinity and market share which generated multi-million dollar sales increases. I directed integrated marketing plans, applied creativity, astute planning and leadership to achieve corporate goals,” she said. Oyebanjo, armed with an MBA in Marketing from Delta State University, a BSc with Honours in Chemistry from Bendel State University, Ekpoma in Edo State and a Management course at Pan African University, Lagos Business School, has worked at top level managerial position. She was a Marketing Director at GSK, a leading pharmaceutical and healthcare firm; Chief Operating Officer at C &F Porter Novelli and Account Director TBWA/Concept before she moved solo with a Redwood Consulting, a new player in the Nigerian Public Relations industry and has already garnered some key clients. “We set out to passionately assist discerning and serious business-
Brand X-Ray with Ayodeji Ayopo Tel: 08023448199 E-mail: mayomipo@yahoo.com turbing as a professional the way the President addressed the issue. The news from Aso Rock was that the woman went on vacation from her tight schedule. When she arrived, she poured invectives on Nigerians for speculating her death. She stated emphatically that she was never hospitalized. It is however shocking when the President during the media chat stated contrary that she took ill and had to seek medical attention overseas. This is one costly error that the President and handlers did not realize. It may not be surprising however because there is no strategic plan of communication by the government. This has been revealed severally through the unprofessional way
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public communication is handled by the government’s town criers. My friend and professional colleague, Lara Owoeye-Wise of AIT critiqued the President’s response on her wall “Mr President, with respect to your office, you goofed when you said “she took ill” and went abroad for treatment. But press releases that emanated from your office stated that she was on vacation”. Her posting generated over 70 comments as people lamented the inconsistent communication pattern. Mr President should know that audience interest factor plays a very critical role in the communication process. The president need to know that communica-
Oyebanjo
WE SET OUT TO PASSIONATELY ASSIST DISCERNING AND SERIOUS BUSINESSES WITH WHAT WE KNOW BEST TO DO es with what we know best to do. Provide them with proven business growth ideas and customer engagement tactics that make them sleep better,” said Oyebanjo. She is a member of the Chartered Institute of Marketing, UK, Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria (APCON), the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations and National Institute of Marketing in Nigeria.
tion as a transaction focuses on the people who are communicating and the changes that take place as they communicate. The self-concept theory of how one thinks and feels about oneself in the process of communicating is also essential to become proficient. One’s self concept is based on the value one exhibits and it defines individual beliefs and attitude. If the president has taken a proper appraisal of his personality, he would have done well in communicating his minds to Nigerians. It is also important to emphasize that communication by the President and other top government functionaries should be ethical. It is devoid of lies and deception. It definitely eliminates negative perception by the audience such as in the case of the President’s wife. This rule also applies to key important public issues as Nigerians have had enough of inconsistency on the part of government information machinery.
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Global Business
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oland’s central bank cut borrowing costs for a second month to spur growth in the European Union’s biggest eastern economy, which faces the risk of its first recession in two decades. The only central bank in the 27-nation EU to raise rates this year lowered the benchmark seven-day reference rate 25 basis points to 4.25 percent yesterday, in line with the forecasts of 33 of 35 economists surveyed by Bloomberg. Two predicted a 50 basis-point decrease. The central bank will explain the decision at a news conference at 4 p.m. in Warsaw. The Narodowy Bank Polski last month cut the rate for the first time since 2009 and Governor Marek Belka announced the start of an easing cycle, adding he sees no risk of a recession for Poland. Since then, inflation slowed below the upper end of the bank’s tolerance range for the first time in almost two years and economic growth slowed to the weakest in 13 quarters, prompting analysts including Marcin Mazurek at BRE Bank SA (BRE), the local unit of Commerzbank AG, to predict a contraction. “This is a partial disappointment because of weak economic growth in the third quarter,” Dariusz Winek, chief economist at Bank Gospodarki Zywnosciowej SA, wrote in a research note. “We still think a steep fall in the inflation rate in the next few months will trigger further monetary
Thursday, December 6, 2012
Poland cuts main rate second month amid recession threat
Poland central bank governor, Marek Belka
easing.” The zloty strengthened to 4.1196 per euro yesterday in Warsaw, extending its advance to 0.3 percent on the day. The currency has
South Korea unemployment falls to 7-month low on service jobs
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outh Korea’s unemployment rate unexpectedly fell to a seven-month low on increasing numbers of self-employed workers and service-sector jobs even as Europe’s debt crisis dragged down exports. The jobless rate was at 3.1 percent in July, compared with 3.2 percent in June, Statistics Korea said yesterday in Gwacheon, south of Seoul. The median estimate in a Bloomberg News survey of 14 economists was for a rate of 3.3 percent. The outlook for the labor market is clouded by signs that Asia’s fourth-largest economy is losing steam. A decline in exports in July was the steepest since 2009 and the central bank said August. 9 that domestic demand is also weakening. “Jobs are increasing in the service sector
and the self- employed are lifting the total number of workers, but Europe’s fiscal crisis is taking a toll on company hiring,” said Sun Yoo, an economist Woori Investment & Securities Co. in Seoul. “The quality of the job market is deteriorating with more people taking non-salaried work.” The won weakened 0.3 percent to 1,133.00 per dollar at yesterday open in Seoul and the benchmark Kospi stock index was little changed. The number of employed people increased by 470,000 to 25.1 million in July, with the self-employed and public services providing 318,000 of those new jobs. The seasonally unadjusted jobless rate was also at 3.1 percent in July, compared with 3.2 percent in June, yesterday’s report showed.
Budget standoff causing economic gloom
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ravelers Cos. Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Jay Fishman said that businesses are curbing spending and hiring because United State lawmakers haven’t addressed fiscal imbalances the country faces in the next decade. “The best thing that could happen right now is a bipartisan solution” to the nation’s mounting debt and widening deficit, Fishman, said in an interview for Bloomberg Radio’s Closer Look With Arthur Levitt” to be aired next month. “The sense of gloom and despair would lift and, in fact, businesspeople would be more optimistic.” Executives including BlackRock Incorporated Laurence D. Fink and Pacific Investment Management Co.’s Mohamed El-Erian have warned that Congress’s inaction on fiscal policy will hurt economic growth in the world’s largest economy. Businesses see challenges beyond the
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Mexican President, Enrique Peña Nieto
end of this year, when the U.S. faces a so-called fiscal cliff of automatic spending cuts and tax increases, said Fishman, whose New York-based firm provides insurance coverage to almost a million companies in the country. “Most businesspeople are worried about the intermediate term,” he said.
gained 8.4 percent against the euro this year, the world’s second-best performance after the Hungarian forint. The yield on five-year government bonds rose two basis
points to 3.60 percent. Monetary easing will total 150 basis points, according to Mazurek. That’s above the market expectations even after derivatives traders boosted their bets for monetary easing following the release of the third-quarter data. They now predict a total of 123 basis points in cuts in the next 12 months compared with 100 before, according to the gap between the equivalent forward-rate agreement prices and Warsaw Interbank Offered Rate compiled by Bloomberg. Inflation slowed to 3.4 percent in October from 3.8 percent a month earlier and will “record a remarkable decline in November,” according to Jaroslaw Janecki, Warsaw-based economist at Societe Generale (GLE), who expects the rate at 2.8 percent. If confirmed by the Central Statistical Office on December. 13, it would be a two-month low. The central bank predicts consumerprice growth will decelerate to the 2.5 percent target next year, when the economy will expand 1.5 percent, the least since 2002.
Finnish economy joins Euro area in recession on investments
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inland’s economy unexpectedly joined the euro area in a recession in the third quarter as the region’s debt crisis weighed on business confidence and sapped investments. Gross domestic product contracted 0.1 percent from the prior quarter, when it shrank 1.1 percent, Statistics Finland in Helsinki said on its website today. That missed the estimates of three economist surveyed by Bloomberg for growth of 0.2 percent to 0.4 percent. On an annual basis, GDP fell 1.2 percent. “I’m afraid the final quarter is going to be even weaker,” said Pasi Kuoppamaeki, Helsinki-based chief economist at Danske Bank A/S. “It’s possible the trough will be in the first quarter.” Finland’s economy is stalling as businesses cut investments amid concern over falling demand as the 17-nation euro area struggles to contain a debt crisis now in its fourth year. Investments fell 1.1 percent from the previous quarter, with construction spending dropping 1.4 percent, and machinery and equipment investments contracting 2.5 percent. The slump in the northernmost euro economy comes as the government raises taxes and reins in spending to keep debt growth in check. The austerity is exacerbating a slump as companies such as Nokia Oyj, stainless steel-maker Rautaruukki Oyj and paper-machine manufacturer Metso Oyj have responded to declining demand with job cuts. Prime Minister Jyrki Katainen told reporters yesterday that the economic situation is “very challenging,” even as the government will stick to its austerity policies to keep borrowing costs from rising. “Creating new growth is more challenging than usual,” he said today. “We can’t take risks at the expense of our pub-
Katainen
lic finances, as we must defend our credibility.” The government has agreed on 2.3 billion euros of austerity measures next year, which will swell to 5.9 billion euros by 2016. The deficit will shrink to 1.2 percent of GDP in 2013 from 1.7 percent in 2012, the government said on September 17. The economy of the euro area shrank 0.1 percent in the third quarter after contracting 0.2 percent in the second, according to preliminary data. It had stagnated in the first three months of the year as growth eludes the single currency bloc. Growth is also slowing in Germany’s economy, Europe’s biggest. Finnish exports grew 2.4 percent and consumer spending expanded 0.8 percent from the prior three months. The increase in exports is probably due to companies delivering old orders, Kuoppamaeki said. “I’m surprised exports showed an increase,” he said. “Most statistical observations don’t support this. New orders are weak and exports are in a downward trend. Companies are probably working on older orders.”
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Thursday, December 6, 2012
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42
Capital Market
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Thursday, December 6, 2012
Vetiva to list ETF as equities gain 0.2% JOHNSON OKANLAWON
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etiva Fund Managers Limited has said that it will launch the VNSE 30 Index Securities, an Exchange Traded Fund based on the NSE 30Index. A statement from the company yesterday said the fund when listed, will be the first equity-based ETF to be listed on Exchange following the listing of the Newgold Exchange Traded Fund in 2011. The Managing Director of the investment firm, Mr. Damilola Ajayi, stated that the VNSE 30-Index Securities represents a convenient investment vehicle
for exposure to the Nigerian equities market via a single security. The Managing Director of Cordros Capital, an issuing house to the fund, Mr. Wale Agbeyangi, explained that the ETF represents yet another milestone by Vetiva in its commitment to the deepening of the Nigerian capital market via the listing of new and innovative products. Meanwhile, trading in equities closed on bullish note on the Nigerian Stock Exchange yesterday, as some investors took position on stocks. Specifically, the All Share Index gained 0.2 per cent to close at 26,435.89 points, in contrast to the decline of 0.01 per cent recroded the preceding day
to close at 26,382.54 points. Market capitalisation appreciated N17bn to close at N8.45trn, as against the decline of N595.4m recorded the preceding day to close at N8.43trn. Continental Insurance Plc led the gainers’ table with three kobo or 4.55 per cent to close at 69 kobo per share, followed by Honeywell Flour Mills Plc with nine kobo or 4.52 per cent to close at N2.08 per share. Eterna Oil Plc gained six kobo or 4.35 per cent to close at N1.44 per share, while Guaranty Trust Bank Plc appreciated by 78 kobo or 4.11 per cent to close at N19.74 per share. CAP Plc rose by N1.04 or 3.86 per cent to close at N27.98 per share. On the flip side, Forte
Oil Plc dropped 42 kobo or five per cent to close at N7.98 per share, while UTC Plc dipped by three kobo or 4.69 per cent to close at 61 kobo per share. McNicholas Nigeria Plc fell four kobo or 4.30 per cent to close at 89 kobo per share, while Ikeja Hotel Plc lost four kobo or 4.08 per cent to close at 94 kobo per share. RT Briscoe Plc shed five kobo or 3.70 per cent to close at N1.30 per share. Transaction volume in equities dropped by 3.6 per cent, as a total of 230.90 million shares valued at N2.13bn were exchanged in 4,132 deals, compared to 239.43 million shares worth N1.88bn traded in 4,004 deals the preceding day.
NSE trains brokers on new products, structures JOHNSON OKANLAWON
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he Nigerian Stock Exchange has trained stockbrokers operating on the Nigerian capital market on Exchange Traded Funds, market making, securities lending and short selling. A statement from the Exchange yesterday said the continuous professional development session for stockbrokers is in line with its mandate of building the capacity of its dealing members and the wider market participants. The statement quoted
Head, Market Operations Department of the Exchange, Mr. Ikponmwosa Obaseki, as saying that the objective of the workshop was to provide practising stockbrokers with a strong grounding in the advanced functionalities of the Automated Trading System (ATS). Others are detailed understanding of the new products trading on the Exchange such as ETFs, and new market structures such as market making, securities lending and short selling. Obaseki explained
that a detailed overview of the retail bonds market structure that is being introduced by the Exchange was provided, together with a comprehensive lecture on ethics required by practicing stockbrokers to promote market transparency and confidence. “The broad-based course also provided the audience with an opportunity to hone in their existing skills as well as interact with other stockbrokers to deepen their knowledgeof the new products and market services that have been recently introduced
to the Exchange to deepen the market and improve liquidity,” he said. He stressed that the workshop aimed at keeping participants current with up to date information relevant to their field, build their confidence and enhance the professionalism of working in the Nigerian capital market. Participants in the one-day course were taken through topics such as ‘Introduction to the New Trading Platform (X-Stream)’ and ‘Bonds (primary and secondary) Retail Trading and ETF’s.’
Eurozone shares fall on dissappointing Spanish bond sale
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uropean shares lost momentum yesterday and the euro slipped from a seven-week high as a disappointing Spanish bond sale and mixed data took the gloss off comments by China’s new leader that had boosted hopes for global economic growth. The FTSEurofirst 300 index, which has risen more than five per cent in the last two weeks, was up less than 0.1 per cent ahead of what was expected to be a slightly higher open by Wall Street, flagging badly having earlier come close to a 16-month high. A mixed batch of business and retail data showed euro zone shoppers cut back on spending by the biggest margin in six months in October, while purchasing manager figures pointed to
another quarter of recession. “The economic data pretty much confirmed the (euro zone) economy is still in a very weak state,” said Rabobank economist Elwin de Groot. “The PMIs were slightly better than expected but still below the level that signals contraction, and retail sales were also pretty dire following a bad month the previous month. It confirms the recession is deepening.” The euro had surged to a seven-week high against the dollar and a 2-1/2 month high versus the Swiss franc in early trading, but went into reverse, falling to $1.3065 as markets digested the data and a disappointing Spanish bond sale. Bond markets also re-
acted poorly to the auction, with Spanish 10year yields rising 12 basis points to 5.39 per cent and German debt futures hitting a session high. Euro zone experts still expect Madrid to request a sovereign bailout which would pave the way for the European Central Bank to buy its debt, but doubts have started to creep in again following a drop in tensions and yields in recent weeks. “Spanish yields are trading at quite tight levels so investors may be starting to get scared about whether the current level can be sustained in the near term,” said Alessandro Giansanti, a rate strategist at ING in Amsterdam. “This level of yields is implying that the Span-
ish government will ask for support in the next few months and if it doesn’t happen it’s quite likely that yields will start to move higher.” The dollar .DXY gained as the US session neared, having earlier come under pressure from expectations of new bond buying by the Federal Reserve. US stock futures pointed to a 0.1 rise on Wall Street when trading resumes. US manufacturing and employment data will be scrutinized for the impact of superstorm Sandy which shut down parts of the country’s east coast last month. The fiscal cliff talks will also be in focus after President Barack Obama stuck to his case on Tuesday for raising taxes for wealthier Americans.
Source: NSE NIBOR QUOTES 4 DECEMBER & 5 DECEMBER 2012 20.00 19.00 18.00 17.00 16.00 15.00 14.00 13.00 12.00 11.00 10.00 9.00 8.00 7.00 6.00 5.00
4 -De c -1 2
5 -De c -1 2
Source: FMDA
Market indicators All-Share Index 26,435.89 points Market capitalisation 8,446,887 trillion
Stock Updates GAINERS COMPANY
OPENING
CLOSING
CHANGE
% CHANGE
CONTINSURE
0.66
0.69
0.03
4.55
HONYFLOUR
1.99
2.08
0.09
4.52
ETERNA
1.38
1.44
0.06
4.35
GUARANTY
18.96
19.74
0.78
4.11
CAP
26.94
27.98
1.04
3.86
PZ
27.98
29.00
1.02
3.65
TRANSCORP
0.94
0.97
0.03
3.19
CADBURY
27.00
27.80
0.80
2.96
LIVESTOCK
1.45
1.48
0.03
2.07
NEM
0.51
0.52
0.01
1.96
CHANGE
% CHANGE
LOSERS COMPANY
OPENING
CLOSING
FO
8.40
7.98
0.42
-5.00
UTC
0.64
0.61
0.03
-4.69
MCNICHOLS
0.93
0.89
0.04
-4.30
IKEJAHOTEL
0.98
0.94
0.04
-4.08
RTBRISCOE
1.35
1.30
0.05
-3.70
STERLNBANK
1.54
1.49
0.05
-3.25
MANSARD
1.89
1.83
0.06
-3.17
WAPCO
58.99
57.51
1.48
-2.51
ETI
11.28
11.00
0.28
-2.48
NASCON
6.41
6.26
0.15
-2.34
Primary Market Auction TENOR
AMOUNT (N’mn)
RATE (%)
DATE
91-Day
21,838.51
14.09
6-Dec-12
182-Day
59,081.14
15.05
6-Dec-12
364 -Day
-
-
-
Open Market Operations TENOR
AMOUNT (N’mn)
RATE (%)
DATE
297 Days
7, 878.70
16.40
6-Dec-12
289-Days
12,963.25
16.39
5-Dec-12
Wholesale Dutch Auction System AMOUNT OFFERED
MARKET DEMAND
AMOUNT SOLD
DATE
$200m
N/A
$200m
5-Dec-12
$250m
N/A
$250m
6-Dec-12
National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net
Capital Market
Thursday, December 6, 2012
43
Stock exchange daily equities summary Equities as at December 5, 2012 1st Tier Securities Sector
Company name
1st Tier Securities No Of Deals
Quotation(N)
Quantity Traded
Value of Shares(N)
Sector
Company name
No Of Deals
Quotation(N)
Quantity Traded
Value of Shares(N)
44
Thursday, December 6, 2012
National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net
Cross section of the particpants writing a pre-test.
Grooming young women for leadership LEONARD OKACHIE
D
evelopment of leadership skills and qualities is an important part of a young woman’s preparation for adulthood. In line with this; Destiny Advancement Initiative [DAI] Nigeria, a Non-Governmental Organisation, recently brought together a group of young women between the ages of 15-35 on programme tagged: “Enabling Young Women for Leadership.” The ambience and serenity of Gelly Garden, Aroma, Awka, Anambra State provided the training ground for the over 50 girls selected from different schools and organisations. And to ascertain their knowledge, beliefs and attitude towards the issues to be discussed, participants were taken through the practical aspect of writing a pre-test for the lecture. Thereafter, the girls were taken through the whole gamut of leadership with lectures on: Concept and Cost of Leadership, Emotional Intelligence, Building Self Esteem, Decision-making and Critical Thinking. It was a rare opportunity for them to learn so much within the short time. Jamiu Akangbe , Team Leader ARLFoundation, in his stimulating lecture on Concept and Cost of Leadership, told participants that leadership is not only when one occupies a political position or has more money. He stressed that in their little way they can make a positive change in their environment and as women they are known to be better leaders than men. Akangbe emphasised that leadership is serviceoriented, so it is measured by impact/changes not by acquisition of wealth. He pointed that the foundation for improvement, change and progress is vision, even as he noted that a leader attracts followership through inspiration. Again, the womem were inundated with a philosophical and exciting lecture on ‘Emotional Intelligence’ by another facilitator and Team Leader Change Catalyst, Blessing Timidi Digha. She defines Emotional Intelligence as an act of being an-
gry with the right person at the right time in the right place and in the right way. She stressed that it is simply being able to control ones emotional feelings or being in charge of one’s emotion. The Executive Director, Destiny Advancement Initiative, Miss Ogechi Obi kept the tempo high with her inspiring lecture on “Building Self Esteem.”She explained that self esteem concerns the way one sees oneself, even as she told them that for one to be a leader one has to be able to know who one is, since the value one places on oneself determines how people see and addresses one. Miss Obi who was charismatic, said a leader must have high self determination and courage in approaching issues, adding, “In all, building high self esteem is a necessary skill that helps you to resist peer pressure and develop positive attributes. Positive activities produce strength while negative ones cause weaknesses. Build high self esteem for low self esteem results in lack of direction.” Moreover, the hall resonated when the special guest of honour and Women United Nigeria Chaplaincy Leader, Mrs. Chioma Okeke, and other women engaged the participant in an interactive session on “Women the best instrument for development.”They informed the participants that as women, they have enormous potentials at their disposal to influence the society positively. They urged them never to belittle themselves but rather use their feminine gender to a great advantage. The session provided a wonderful opportunity for exchange of views as the ladies bombarded the speakers with various questions and contributions on a wide range of issues about women.
Participants were full of praises for the organisers and prayed that they continue to organise more of such events. Nnaemeka Uche of St. John of God Secondary School, Awka said it a wonderful programme and urged people to support the organisers to reach out to others. Miss Ogochukwu Nwankwo of Climax Vocational Institute, Awka said: “I am happy that I attended the programme. I enjoyed myself and I was fulfilled because it was an excellent programme. I learnt a lot about leadership in this programme. For instance, I learnt that I can influence my environment positively in my own little way without waiting until I get a political office and I think this is the kind of orientation our people need. A programme like this should be encouraged to continue.” Similarly, Miss Ebele Morah, an undergraduate at Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, expressed that that there was no better time to teach young women about leadership, stressing: “Leadership principle is a must-know for every young woman. It is a principle that we can apply in every facet of our life. So I am very grateful to Ogechi and her team for coming with this wonderful concept. I pray God to bless them and replenish their pocket.” Miss Maria Onuzuluike , a representative of Catholic Youth Organisation of Nigeria (CYON), St Patrick Cathedral Parish, Awka, remarked thus: “The speakers were wonderful and the topics were carefully selected.They have exposed me to other aspects of leadership. Through this lecture I am charged to influence my environment in my own little way.I have realised that we as girls can be better leaders if only we are determined. So it is no longer the time to say it man’s world.” However, the executive director told Young &Next Generation that the organisation is geared towards “Envisioning an enabling environment where women and young people in rural communities will make an informed contribution to the development of this country.”She solicited for supported from individuals and groups in order to take the next edition of the quarterly programme to young women in the rural areas.
National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net
Young & Next Generation
Thursday, December 6, 2012
45
Oke-Ira youth holds Ankara Day
Y
ouths in Oke-Ira Central, Ojodu Local Council Development Area (LCDA) Lagos, have kickstarted its end of the year programme with Ankara Day. The programme, according to the coordinator, Azeez Jimoh, expected to wind up on Sunday, December 30, is the first of its kind, as different youth groups have decided to come together to foster unity among the young and the young at heart people in the area. The group, under the auspices of Oke-Ira Community Youths (OICY), has, as part of a month-long programme, scheduled marathon race
Expert calls for proper training of nannies
T
he founder, Afribaby, an NGO, Dr Oscar Odiboh, has called for proper training of nannies to enhance good upbringing of babies. Odiboh made the call at the fifth Afribaby pre-Christmas baby care and mother festival held at the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital, Gwagwalada. According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) the programme, which is an international baby care and mother care, will feature among other things, the care of the baby, mother and breast feeding, It will also include talks on infant mortality, as well as celebrating babies born in Africa. He said at the three-day programme that if a nanny was not properly trained it could lead to poor feeding of babies, malnutrition and even death of babies. “Some babies have lost their lives as a result of forced feeding.” The doctor also said that fathers should encourage the nursing mothers to observe six months exclusive
for December 16. The event will also feature talent hunt to discover young men and women endowed with natural gifts in singing, dancing and comedy on December 23. This will be followed by children party slated for Perfect Garden in Oke-Ira on December 26. Health takes the centre stage between December 27 and 28, where all residents of the community will be screened for malaria, diabetes, high blood pressure and HIV. The programme will climax on Sunday, December 30, with a live band on standby.
breast feeding without supplementary food. He said that fathers were fond of abandoning every duty to the mothers not minding that mothers had their babies and other things to care for. “Breast feeding of babies needs a lot of commitment. Men need to help, they need to show understanding and know that the woman is the one to prepare food among others.” According to him, African International Babycare Initiative (AFRIBABY) is a registered non governmental organisation that is concerned about all that has to do with baby care and mother care. He said this was in line with the enhancement of the government Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) four and five, 2015. “As part of our desire to bring happiness to mothers, babies and lovers of babies, we organise babies’ contest to showcase the beauty and vibrancy of African babies,” he said. Odiboh also advised mothers on how to prepare good and balanced meal for their babies, adding that poor meal could endanger the baby’s life and development. The Chief Medical Director, University of Abuja Teaching Hospital, Dr Peter Alabi in his opening speech, said that the key objective of Afribaby was to save lives.
A cross section of the participants.
Youths challenged to embrace agriculture STORIES: LEONARD OKACHIE
N
igerian youths have been advised on the need to embrace the opportunities in agriculture to stop the hunt for the unavailable white collar jobs. This was part of the reason for organising the just concluded "Cool to Farm" seminar that was held at Loves Domain Family Conference Room, Aroma Building, Ilesha Road, Akure, Ondo State recently. The seminar had no fewer than 40 Nigerian youths in attendance who are majorly undergraduates of tertiary institutions in Ondo and Ekiti states. The “Cool to Farm” workshop was put together by two youth driven organisations which are the Agro Advocacy Initiative and Agropreneur Nigeria. While speaking at the workshop, the CEO of Agro Advocacy Intiative Olusola Amusan, stressed on the challenges before them as it relates to food wastage, unemployment and increasing population. He said Nigerian youths do not have an excuse not to engage in meaningful agricultural venture and should therefore stop complaining about unavailability of jobs. Corroborating, the CEO of Agropreneur Nigeria, Olawale Ojo, took the task of showing to the youths what the agricultural value chain entails and how they can
find their place by developing skills to fit in any of the links in the value chain. The panel session featured stakeholders from key areas of the agricultural sector such as the All Farmers Association, The World Cocoa Foundation and a seasoned UNDP Consultant on poverty alleviation with over 25 years experience. These facilitators not only showed the audience that agriculture and agribusiness were the way out, but also provided practical steps and suggestions to help them get more involved in the sector. All relevant areas of the sector was touched such as research, extension, ICT, farmers organisations and the need for partnership among players in the sector. Mr. Idowu Oludare of the All Farmers Association of Nigeria Ondo State chapter proclaimed that the youth were really needed and encouraged to pick up an area of interest and grow passion for agriculture as this would be a departure from the routine of looking for white collar job. "Input supply, on- farm production, post harvest handling, export trade, research and development delivery and extension work are some of the opportunities in the cocoa production sector in Nigeria", Mr. Tope Fatunbi told the youths who were surprised that there were a lot more they could do aside going to the farm to get dirty as some of them used to think.
UN engages 2,000 youths for IT-driven opportunities KUNLE AZEEZ
U
nited Nations has kicked off a Global Youth Forum in Bali, Indonesia, where it engaged 2,000 youth delegates empowered to re-set priorities for the international body. At the forum which kicked off on last Tuesday, the UN also introduced the mPowering Mobile Platform, a five-year initiative, which brings together youth, music and mobile technology to drive 100 million actions. The youths joined forces with global artists, non profits, corporate and government leaders, to debut the mPowering Mobile Platform, a first-ever, entertainment-driven programme empowering youth with information and access to education, job and health resources, delivered directly through their
mobile phones. This announcement was made at the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) Global Youth Forum, where thousands of youth will participate in person, online and through social media to influence the UN agenda on health and reproductive rights, education, employment and civic participation. Timbaland, the platform’s first-ever Producer-In-Residence, Avicii, and Agnes Monica popularly known as Agnez Mo, will be around to support the conference and perform on December 6, 2012 (today) to close the 3-day event. According to the Executive Coordinator for ICPD Beyond 2014, Kwabena Osei-Danquah , young people, who constitute 43 per cent of the world’s population of seven billion and growing, (in some countries, such
asBrazil, Nigeria and Tanzania, the number is as high as 60 per cent) face the greatest challenge in a fast changing world. Yet, Osei-Danquah argued that the young people can be an innovative source of solutions to these challenges, if engaged and motivated. He said the mPoweringMobile Platform recognises such potential by harnessing the power of music to captivate and inspire today’s young people to take action alongside organisations that specifically work to improve global issues. “Today’s young people are not only the leaders of our future, they are our leaders today. Our world nurtures so many talented, creative, educated people. We have never been so well equipped and interconnected to respond to global challenges. We are truly part of a global community, where actions
taken in one country or region can have an immediate impact on other parts of the world,” he said. He explained that to join the initiative, youths will download a free mobile application through which they will connect with their peers around the world, share their stories, stream exclusive songs by participating artists and producers-in-residence, discover information on the issues most important to them, and explore a database of non-profit organizations in their regions to seek help or to volunteer anywhere in the world. “Over the next five years, the campaign will feature hundreds of artists at more than 40 events around the world, and will also feature a Mobile Recording Studio bus, where musical content will be created by global artists and integrated into an app in real-time,” he said.
46
Media
L EONARD O KACHIE
I
t is a season of awards for the Nigeria media. While some have already been concluded, activities are lined up in the next few days, for other annual industry award ceremonies such as the Nigerian Media Awards (NMMA), Diamond Award for Media Excellence (DAME) and Wole Soyinka Award for Investigative Reporting (WSAIR) among others. Just last Sunday, some journalists and their organisations in print and electronic media were celebrated at the 5th edition of the Celebrity Media Awards (CMA) 2012. The event organised by Media Ace and held at the Theatre Hall of Lagos Country Club, Ikeja, brought together eminent personalities in the print and electronic media, as well as Nollywood actresses such as Foluke Daramola, Halima Abubakar and others. In his welcome remark, Chief Executive, Media Ace, Olajide Ige, said the award is aimed at rewarding professional competence and innovation which practitioners of celebrity journalism have brought to bear on the profession in Nigeria and to accord journalism its pride of place. He disclosed that a total of 129 entries were submitted out of which 31 were considered worthy to be crowned. He stressed that 18 entries were thrown out for improper presentation because they were submitted without indicating the categories they were meant for. Olajide lamented the decline in the industry especially the electronic media, saying: “Before now I used to think the print segment of the Nigerian Media is the most threatened by technological invasion (i.e. online journalism). Sitting with the Awards Panel, I have been able to realise that the advent of satellite television championed by the DSTV has caused more erosion to television journalism in terms of loss of audience and programme content. “Television has the least number of entries with seven entries recorded and some were watery and lacking in content which is an indication of preference of foreign soaps, sports and other programmes to indigenous one.” Awards were won in 12 categories for print while radio and television had 16 categories. This year, the categories were broadened to include the growing number of Nigeria’s online magazines and blogs with two winners out of the five categories. At the competitive categories, National Mirror Newspapers bagged the Best Newspaper/Magazine while the Managing Director and Editor-inChief, Mr. Steve Ayorinde won Dele Giwa Prize for Best Editor(Endowed by City People Media Group). Publisher of Entertainment Express Newspapers, Mr. Mike Awoyinfa, while presenting the award to Ayorinde said: “I congratulate you; I envy you because Dele Giwa is the greatest. Keep it up.” Education reporter of The Sun Publishing Limited, Mr. Sam Oti won the Aremo Olusegun Osoba Prize For Best
Thursday, December 6, 2012
National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net
National Mirror, Channels TV, others excel at media awards
L-R: Chairman, Media International, Chief Tunde Oloyede; his wife, Bimbo and Head, Corporate Affairs, Neimeth, Mr. Okay Nwaka at the Celebrity Media Awards in Lagos, on Sunday.
Investigative News Story for 2012. The story that fetched him the ward is entitled “The Big WAEC Scandal in Enugu”, published in the May 15, 2012 edition of The Daily Sun. Kemi Ashefon of Saturday Punch was rewarded as the Best Female Editor, while Saturday Vanguard was adjudged the Weekend Newspaper of the Year. Ahmed Bulor of The Nation won the Best Movie Reporter. Publisher of E-24-7, Biodun Kupoluyi, went home with two awards as the Best Showbiz Reporter and Best Celebrity Story of the Year, while Publisher of YES International Magazine, Azuh Arinze bagged the award of the Most Interesting Celebrity Interview of the Year.National Encomium received Best Celebrity Magazine award. In television and radio categories, Channels Television, Wazobia FM, Info 99. 3FM, Cool FM, Ray Power excelled at the award night as they went home with various prizes.Channels TV won the Best News Station as well as the Most Popular Television Station, while its breakfast programme, Sunrise emerged the Most Popular Breakfast Show.Seun Okinbaloye of Channels TV received Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu Prize for Best Political Reporter (TV). Other winners included: Mate Uwatse of Info 99. 3FM (Best Personality Interview Programme on Radio); Ashofo Michael Emiejomo of Ray Power FM (Best Human Interest Story); Wazobia FM ( Best News Station, Radio); Cool FM (Best Entertainment Station, Radio);Info 99.3 FM’s Let’s Talk with Ali Baba (Most Popular Talk Show, Radio);Tochukwu Ilodigwe of Ray Power (Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu Prize for Best Political Reporter,
Radio).Oluwanisola Arashi of Lagos Traffic FM (Most Popular On Air Personality, Radio),; Tinsel (Most Popular Serial on TV); and Ray Power’s Fact File (Best Audience Participation Programme, Radio &TV). Apart from the competitive categories, some media icons who have made invaluable contributions to the development of the media and humanity were honoured with life Lifetime Achievement Awards.They include Publisher of Entertainment Express, Mr. Awoyinfa and his deputy, Dimgba Igwe; Founder and Chief Executive Officer - Channels Television,
John Momoh. Also, veteran broadcaster, Mrs. Bimbo Oloyede; Deputy Managing Director of The Sun Publishing Limted, Mr. Femi Adesina; Executive Secretary of Newspaper Proprietors Association of Nigeria (NPAN), Mr. Feyi Smith, were honoured with Babatunde Jose Distinguished Professional Medal. Sir Alex Akinyele Prize for Distinguished PR practitioner was conferred on the PR Consultant, Nigerian Breweries, Mr. Yusuf Ageni and General Manager Corporate Affairs, Zenith Bank Plc, Mr. Victor Adoji.
Wole Soyinka Awards for Investigative Reporting holds Sunday
T
he 2012 Judges’ board of the Wole Soyinka Award for Investigative Reporting (WSAIR) chaired by the Dean, Lagos State School of Communication, Professor Lai Eso, decided on six winning works, six runners-up and four commendations after three weeks of assessment and a one-day scores collation session held recently in Lagos. The winners, runners-up and commended works will be announced at a public award presentation ceremony scheduled for Sunday, December 9, 2012 at the Hubert Ogunde Hall of the Cultural Centre in Kuto, Abeokuta, Ogun State, from 2-5pm. The Ogun State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun will be the Chief Host. The winners are journalists whom the board have adjudged to demonstrate journalistic courage, individual creativity and public benefit in their report on public or corporate
corruption, human rights violation, and or, the failure of regulatory agencies. The WSCIJ-Nigeria Investigative Journalist of the Year 2012, which is the merit prize for the best outstanding work across all the categories, will also be awarded at the event. The finalists will go home with the prestigious award plaque, cash and kind prizes and certificates of commendation. Admittance to the event is open to members of the public. The Wole Soyinka Award for Investigative Reporting was first held in October, 2005 to encourage the development of an investigative tradition in the Nigerian media through rigorous scrutiny of human rights violations, regulatory failures and corruption in the public and corporate sectors of the nation’s life and has so far rewarded 43 finalists.
National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net
Media
Thursday, December 6, 2012
47
Media Abroad
The Dandy ends 75- year print run, goes digital
D Winners and organisers at the Campus Life Awards 2012, recently in Lagos.
Students charged to embrace online media STORIES: LEONARD OKACHI
J
ournalism students have been advised to apply for online journalism courses to improve their knowledge and skills in the face of globalisation. Editor of Guardian Newspaper, Mr. Martin Oloja, who was a guest lecturer at the Campus Life Award gave this advice while speaking on “The Role of the Media in Nation Rebirth.” The event, which held at the Bespoke Event Centre, Lagos with over 50 students in attendance, was in honour of late Ngozi Agbo of The Nation Newspaper, who initiated Campus Life, an 8-page weekly pull out in the newspaper. Oloja posited that the forces of globalisation has changed journalism and its effect are irreversible, stressing that there is a disconnect between the tertiary institutions and the media industry. He noted that in the developed countries, CNN, BBC, New York Times editors are
journalism lecturers, but the reverse is the case in Africa, most especially in Nigeria. Maintaining that journalism is the best profession in the world, Mr. Oloja, who was until his appointment, was the Abuja Bureau Chief confessed that most of those that are teaching journalism and mass communication are not practising it.The effect, he affirmed, is what we have in today’s news rooms. He said: “Radio, televison and newspaper are in trouble as people gets news as they occur on social news feed. Nobody wants to wait till tomorrow to get news. When you can read every news online free of charge, how will the newspaper survive? We have to rise to the challenges as the social network sites, especially twitter, are destroying investigative journalism; as news considered classified, are posted immediately they happen. “Most of the journalism schools in the West are combining it with Computer Science in order to come up with the
East Africa leads at DSTV EUTELSAT Star Awards
O
rganised by Eutelsat and MultiChoice Africa, the 2012 DStv Eutelsat Star Awards has held successfully, drawing on the popularity of last year’s first edition for high-school students from across Africa. The winners of the second edition were announced recently in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, with a spotlight on East Africa as Anthony Oyom Peter from Uganda was chosen as the winner for his essay and Eva Chemwgorem from Kenya for her poster. Anthony came out top in the Best Essay Award category
with his entry “A watchful eye from above the heavens” that impressed the judges with its creativity. This is the second year that a Ugandan student takes first place in the DStv Eutelsat Star Awards, after last year’s winner, Mary Musimire. The Best Poster Award went to Eva Chemwgorem from Kenya enttitled “Africa united through satellites”. Anthony’s prize is a trip with one of his parents to watch a live rocket launch and a visit to Eutelsat in France. Eva will also visit Eutelsat’s Paris headquarters to get a closer insight on satellite tech-
lattest digital platform. We should challenge our school authority over the old curriculum for the future to be saved as development and education go together. “Many of us may end up as freelancers as people like me may not even survive it; you may be ordered to file stories from your homes and you will be paid based on your contribution(s). That’s how it is done in the West.” Meanwhile, a youth corps member, Gerald Nwokocha, clinched The Nation Campus Life Reporter of the Year. He was earlier announced as of the Campus Politics Category by the judges led by Chairman of The Nation’s Editorial Board, Mr. Sam Omatseye. Earlier in his address of welcome, the Online Editor of The Nation Newspaper, Mr. Lekan Otufodunrin charged the students to be creative as the media profession needs people who are coming with new ideas and not what others have been doing times. nology. Awards for the runners up for Best Essay and Best Poster Awards went to Charles Finch from Swaziland and Tony Tumnsiime from Uganda who will both visit MultiChoice’s broadcast facilities in Johannesburg, South Africa. Officiating the evening was the Honourable Deputy Minister of Communications, Science and Technology, Mr January Makamba who encouraged the founding sponsors in their efforts to provide sustainable solutions to some of Africa’s social challenges and challenged the private sector to collaborate with government in order to play a meaningful role in the sustainability of communities and the furthering of education in our young minds.
esperate Dan turned digital on Tuesday as The Dandy celebrated its 75th anniversary by relaunching as an exclusive online publication. Britain's longest-running comic has embraced the web and will now be available to download online and as a smartphone and tablet app. Dundee-based publisher, DC Thompson, announced in August that the weekly children's comic would make the transition into cyberspace following dwindling sales in recent years. Coinciding with the launch, the last ever printed issue also goes on sale today. The issue features a cameo from Paul McCartney, who said in 1963 it was his ambition to appear in the comic, and a pull-out of the first issue from December 4 1937. The website will feature old favourites, Desperate Dan, Bananaman and Korky the Cat in new animated strips, featuring voice overs and sound effects. Users will also be able to play interactive games, watch videos and create and care for their very own virtual pet, the Dandy Dollop. David Bain, the comic's head of digital development said: "The Dandy is alive and well, and it's going to continue as usual it's just as of next week, it's going to be available online on a regular basis, with all the famous characters and scripts and storylines and humour, as well as games, goodies and interactivity. "It's all about fun, humour and a bit of mischief, a bit of pranking.
"We've been quite deliberate in making sure there's very little if any educational value, with the exception of reading." Ellis Watson, chief executive of DC Thompson, said: "I appreciate it's almost a deliberately naive venture into the unknown for a publisher that's been cutting down trees for 75 years, squishing them flat and smearing ink all over them. "We're not super slick, we're not Silicon Valley, but what we are is some pretty talented animators and story tellers that are really excited about seeing if we can introduce these wonderful characters to another couple of generations." Mr Ellis said he hoped that the comic would continue to attract adults who read The Dandy throughout their childhood, saying: "I'm still quite happy to sit on the train with my Financial Times, reading my comics inside." The first online issue will be free of charge, with following issues being priced at £1.49 (₤1.80). A yearly subscription for the digital comic will be £30, while access to the website will be free. During its peak circulation in the 1950s, the Dandy sold two million copies each week.This figure has dropped in recent years to around 8,000. DC Thomson said the Dandy Annual will continue to be printed and the 2013 edition is already on the shelves. The Cartoon Museum is hosting The Dandy: 75 years of Biffs, Bangs and Banana Skins exhibition until December 24.
Egyptian newspapers strike over draft constitution
E
gyptian independent and opposition newspapers refused to publish their Tuesday editions in protest against lack of press freedom in the country's draft constitution, set for a popular referendum on December 15. The move was in order to "stand up to tyranny," independent daily, Al-Tahrir said on its website. "The Egyptian Independent objects to continued restrictions on media liberties, especially after hundreds of Egyptians gave their lives for freedom," read a message on that newspaper's website, its only viewable content on Tuesday morning. Daily Al-Masry Al-Youm said the papers were "protesting against the articles on the press in the draft constitution... and reject (President Mohamed Morsi's) November
22 decree." The decree gave Morsi new sweeping powers, placing his decisions and the Islamist-dominated constituent assembly, which drafted the charter, beyond judicial oversight. The charter has raised human rights concerns, including over freedom of expression and freedom of worship for religions other than Islam, Christianity and Judaism. Activists say it opens the door to implementing a strict interpretation of Islamic law. Government newspapers, including Al-Ahram, went to print as usual on Tuesday. The constitution has become the focal point of Egypt's biggest political crisis since Islamist Morsi's election June, polarising opinion and causing mass civil unrest.
Cocktail
48
x
Thursday, December 6, 2012
FOR YOUR SUCCESS
WITH DR. DEJI FOLUTILE
Today's Tonic (57)
Stop working for a living and start working for a “giving.” –Kenneth Copeland *** Giving Is The Secret! The secret of the universe is giving. It is more blessed to give than to receive. The secret of getting what you desire is to give away what you desire. Givers never lack. The best way to truly posses something is to give it away. You can never lose by giving. Giving is what makes God, God. Humanity takes, but divinity gives. If you want to function like God and live a powerful life, find something of real value to give out every day to your fellow beings. TEL 08104942999 E-MAIL deji.folutile@gmail.com Follow me @TwitterOWOTIDE
National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net
Oddities
Russia’s leaders battered by sports injuries
F
irst, Russian President Vladimir Putin begins to hobble because of what the Kremlin describes as a sports injury. Then, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov shows up with a bandaged left wrist, again the result of a sports injury. Russia’s leaders are an athletic bunch, or at least want to be seen as such. Putin’s spokesman says the 60-year-old president pulled a muscle while practicing judo, but the lack of details about his medical condition and his evident
discomfort for much of the past three months has raised questions about the state of his health. Even less information has been released about Lavrov, who arrived at NATO headquarters in Brussels on Tuesday with his left hand and wrist wrapped in white gauze. He also had scrapes down the center of his nose and lips.
The Foreign Ministry would say only that it was a “minor sports injury.” A friend of Lavrov’s said the foreign minister has been telling people close to him that he was injured several days ago while playing soccer on an ice hockey rink that had no ice. The game was being played on concrete, and Lavrov took a tumble,
said the friend, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he felt it would be betraying a confidence. Lavrov, 62, is known to play soccer and to be an ardent fan of the Moscow club Spartak. On Monday, however, the foreign minister was with Putin on an official visit to Turkey and his hand was not bandaged.
S i ti t working Scientists ki tto predict di t next supervolcanic eruption
A
researcher descends toward the crater of an active volcano. (Discovery Channel)Could a supervolcano someday erupt in the U.S., burying most of North America in ash, dimming the sun and sending the continent into a volcanic winter? That’s the focus of the Discovery Channel’s “Volcano Time Bomb,” part of the network’s Curiosity series.
According to the U.S. Geological Survey, a supervolcano is one that possesses “a volcanic center that has had an eruption of magnitude 8 on the Volcano Explosivity Index (VEI), meaning the measured deposits for that eruption is greater than 1,000 cubic kilometres (240 cubic miles).” The show focuses on volcanic giants that loom over Portland, Se-
attle and Vancouver and comes on the heels of Hawaii’s Kilauea spilling lava into the ocean. Using computer-generated imagery, the show will take viewers inside some of these volcanoes. But the show also focuses on the latest scientific efforts by researchers who are attempting to forecast when and where the next major eruption will take place.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov is seen with a bandaged hand as he arrives for a meeting of NATO foreign ministers at NATO headquarters in Brussels on Tuesday. PHOTO: AP
Thursday, December 6, 2012
National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net
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World News
300 killed in Philippine typhoon
“Hungary does not put up with actions by such groups and individuals (neo-Nazis). Hungary has the strongest laws against such manifestations”
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PAUL ARHEWE
WITH AGENCY REPORTS
C
ongo’s M23 rebels are sending a delegation to Kampala, Uganda, to negotiate with the Congolese government today, a rebel spokesman said yesterday. The diplomatic efforts come as this eastern Congo city of 1 million returns to normal life, following two weeks of occupation by the rebels, and despite the fact that the insurgents remain just 3 kilometres (1.8 miles) away in the hills above the city. The M23 rebels — who are backed by Rwanda according to the United Nations — have threatened to retake Goma unless President Joseph Kabila’s government starts negotiations with them over conditions in the army as well as broader issues such as the constitution and need for fresh elections. “Our delegation will go to Kampala tomorrow (Thursday). But it seems that the Congolese government is not ready to comply with what we agreed when we pulled out of Goma. It does not seem the government understands that it is not up to them to decide the terms at this point,” said Bertrand Bisimwa, the spokesperson of the M23 political branch, reached by phone Wednesday. Despite the rebels’ retreat from Goma, which was a prerequisite set by the Congolese government for negotiations, the government has not yet confirmed if it will talk with the rebels. On Sunday, government spokesman Lambert
Congo’s rebels to send delegates to Uganda for negotiations Mende said Kabila would listen to M23’s grievances and then respond. “I hope for Kabila’s sake that the negotiations happen, because we have nothing to lose,” said M23 political officer Stanislas Baleke. “Next time we won’t stop at Goma, we’ll go all the way to Uvira (350 kilometres or 218 miles to the south).” In a worrying sign, the M23 rebels remained in tactical positions in the hills above Goma, saying they would retake the city if the government does not respond to their complaints.
The rebels say they are fighting for the better implementation of a March 23, 2009, peace accord, which spelled out conditions for them to be integrated into the national army. But the real reason for their rebellion is Rwanda’s desire to annex the mineral-rich mountains of eastern Congo, according to a recently published report by a U.N. group of experts. After occupying Goma for nearly two weeks, the M23 rebels pulled out of Goma over the weekend under intense international pressure, including fresh sanctions from the U.N. Security
T
he United States Consulate General in Lagos hosted two of its new officials to a welcome reception at the Consul
Hawkins
Council. They said they would retreat 20 kilometres (12 miles) outside the city, but rebel outposts can be seen in tactical positions above the city. Despite the uncertainty, the U.N. peacekeeping force is working with the Congolese government to get Goma back to normal life. “We are projecting to reopen the airport tomorrow, but we cannot guarantee 100 percent at this stage,” said Madnodje Mounoubai, spokesman of the U.N. peacekeeping mission, known as MONUSCO.
WORLD BULLETIN Egyptian leader’s opponents, supporters clash
Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi’s supporters and opponents have clashed outside the presidential palace in Cairo, pelting each other with rocks and fighting with sticks. Yesterday’s clashes began when thousands of Islamist supporters of Morsi descended on the area around the palace where some 300 of his opponents were staging a sit-in. The opposition wants Morsi to rescind decrees giving him near unrestricted powers and shelve a dispute draft constitution. Outnumbered by their attackers, the protesters were driven away from their sit-in location outside the palace’s main gate and fled to side streets.
S’African rapper gets 20 years in drag-race deaths
Congolese FARDC government soldiers being cheered as they arrive, in Goma, eastern Congo, on Monday.
US Consulate welcomes new staff to Nigeria TERH AGBEDEH
– Hungarian Foreign Minister, Janos Martonyi
General, Jeffery Hawkins’ residence in Ikoyi, Lagos, on Tuesday evening. The two officials, Dehab Ghebreab, Public Affairs Officer and Rhonda J. Watson, Public Diplomacy Officer started work in Lagos in October and September, respectively. At the ceremony that drew a cross section of distinguished Nigerians, Hawkins, while introducing the new officials, explained that public diplomacy is the people-to-people outreach that embassies and consulates around the world do. So, he stated, it is important work that the two new staff are involved in because “the real work in a diplomatic mission happens to people like Dehab and Rhonda”. He said further that he was so pleased to have them “head up the
public diplomacy team in the consulate”. He mentioned some of the programmes handled by the section to include the Fulbright Program, the Hubert Humphrey Fellowship, Education USA, as well as exchanges with American academics. The Consul General said there are about seven thousand Nigerian students in the United States at the moment and the people to meet if one were intending to study there from Nigeria would be Ghebreab and Watson. Ghebreab and Watson, whose spouses were at the reception, each said they were delighted to be in Nigeria for the posting and were willing to work with Nigerians for the common good, which work they had already started in earnest.
PHOTO: AP
This is not the first time Ghebreab is in Nigeria, she was cultural affairs officer here from 2001 to 2004. In recent time she served as public affairs officer in Liberia from 2009 to 2012, cultural affairs officer in Ghana from 2006 to 2009, public affairs officer in Zambia from 2004 to 2006 and from 1988 to 2001 she was deputy chief of the Fulbright Teacher and Administrator Exchange Program of the Department of State’s Educational and Cultural Affairs. Watson, on the other hand, attended the University of Michigan where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree, then a master of Library Science degree from the University of Maryland and a law degree from the Columbus School of Law and Catholic University. From 2008 to 2012, she served in Cotonou, Republic of Benin, as public affairs officer.
A South African judge has sentenced a hip-hop star and his co-accused to 20 years in prison for the killings of four schoolchildren in a drag-race crash. The South African Press Association reported Wednesday that Magistrate Judge Brian Nemavhidi handed down the sentences to Molemo Maarohanye, best known by his stage name Jub Jub, and Themba Tshabalala. The judge previously ruled that the men had been driving under the influence of drugs at the time of the March 8, 2010, crash. The crash in Soweto also seriously injured two other schoolchildren. Jub Jub is one of the most recognizable artists in South Africa. Thousands of high school students protested during his bail hearing in May and riots erupted when he was granted bail.
Ethiopia’s PM willing to talk to Eritrea Hailemariam Desalegn, Ethiopia’s prime minister, has said that he is willing to hold talks with neighbouring Eritrea, with whom Addis Ababa fought a border war that ended in 2000. If Desalgen follows through with Wednesday’s statement, it will be the first time a leader in Addis Ababa has held talks with Issaias Afeworki, the Eritrean president, since the end of the conflict which left at least 70,000 people dead. “If you ask me, ‘Do you want to go to Asmara and sit down and negotiate with Isaias Afwerki?’ Then, I will say yes’,” Hailemariam said in an interview with Al Jazeera to be broadcast on Saturday.
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World News
S
tunned parents searching for missing children examined a row of mud-stained bodies covered with banana leaves while survivors dried their soaked belongings on roadsides yesterday, a day after a powerful typhoon killed nearly 300 people in the
World’s tallest woman dies in China at 39
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he world’s tallest woman has died in eastern China. She was 39. Chinese state media say Yao Defen died on Nov. 13 at her home in China’s eastern province of Anhui. Guinness World Records in January 2010 had certified her as the world’s tallest living woman at 7 feet and 7 inches (233.3 centimeters). The local Xin’an Evening News did not give the cause of death but said in a report that Yao suffered from gigantism, with a tumor on her pituitary gland disrupting her levels of growth hormone. A government official in her county who gave only his surname, Liu, confirmed Yao’s death yesterday. The Xin’an newspaper said Yao learned to play basketball when young, and that she was 6 feet and 7 inches (200 centimeters) tall by the age of 15. In a Chinese-language video from three years ago, Yao expressed anguish at her unusual height. “I am very unhappy. Why am I this tall?” she said from her bed. “If I were not this tall, others would not look at me like this.”
Thursday, December 6, 2012
National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net
300 killed in Philippine typhoon southern Philippines. Officials fear more bodies may be found as rescuers reach hard-hit areas that were isolated by landslides, floods and downed communications. At least 151 people died in the worst-hit province of Compostela Valley when Typhoon Bopha lashed the region Tuesday, including 78 villagers and soldiers who perished in a flash flood that swamped two emergency shelters and a military camp, provincial spokeswoman Fe Maestre said. Disaster-response agencies reported 284 dead in the region and 14 fatali-
ties elsewhere from the typhoon, one of the strongest to hit the country this year. About 80 people survived the deluge in New Bataan with injuries, and Interior Secretary Mar Roxas, who visited the town, said 319 others remained missing. “These were whole families among the registered missing,” Roxas told the ABS-CBN TV network. “Entire families may have been washed away.” The farming town of 45,000 people was a muddy wasteland of collapsed houses and coconut and banana trees felled by Bopha’s ferocious winds.
Bodies of victims were laid on the ground for viewing by people searching for missing relatives. Some were badly mangled after being dragged by raging flood waters over rocks and other debris. A man sprayed insecticide on the remains to keep away swarms of flies. A father wept when he found the body of his child after lifting a plastic cover. A mother, meanwhile, went away in tears, unable to find her missing children. “I have three children,” she said repeatedly, flashing three fingers before a TV cameraman. Two men car-
ried the mud-caked body of an unidentified girl that was covered with coconut leaves on a makeshift stretcher made from a blanket and wooden poles. Dionisia Requinto, 43, felt lucky to have survived with her husband and their eight children after swirling flood waters surrounded their home. She said they escaped and made their way up a hill to safety, bracing themselves against boulders and fallen trees as they climbed. “The water rose so fast,” she told AP. “It was horrible. I thought it was going to be our end.”
Residents crossing a river with the body of a child retrieved from a flash flood-hit village, in southern Philippines, yesterday.
PHOTO: AP
In nearby Davao Oriental, the coastal province first struck by the typhoon as it blew from the Pacific Ocean, at least 115 people perished, mostly in three towns that were so battered that it was hard to find any buildings with roofs remaining, provincial officer Freddie Bendulo and other officials said. “We had a problem where to take the evacuees. All the evacuation centers have lost their roofs,” Davao Oriental Gov. Corazon Malanyaon said. The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies issued an urgent appeal for $4.8 million to help people directly affected by the typhoon. The sun was shining brightly for most of the day Wednesday, prompting residents to lay their soaked clothes, books and other belongings out on roadsides to dry and revealing the extent of the damage to farmland. Thousands of banana trees in one Compostela Valley plantation were toppled by the wind, the young bananas still wrapped in blue plastic covers. But as night fell, however, rain started pouring again over New Bataan, triggering panic among some residents who feared a repeat of the previous day’s flash floods. Some carried whatever belongings they could as they hurried to nearby towns or higher ground.
Abbas wants UN to block Israeli settlements plan
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n Israeli-Palestinian showdown over plans for new Jewish settlements around Jerusalem escalated yesterday. Israel pushed
the most contentious of the projects further along in the planning pipeline, and the Palestinian president said he would seek U.N. Security Council help
to block the construction. Israel is moving ahead despite mounting international condemnation of its settlement plans, some of them activated last
week in retaliation for the U.N. General Assembly’s acceptance of a state of Palestine as a non-member observer. Israel has built dozens of settlements for half a million Israelis since its 1967 capture of the West Bank, Gaza and east Jerusalem — the lands the U.N. now says make up the state of Palestine. The spread and growth of settlements has made an eventual partition, the internationally backed solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, increasingly difficult. The Palestinians are particularly concerned about plans for more than 7,500 apartments and hundreds of hotel rooms in two future settlements, known as E-1 and Givat Hamatos, on the eastern and southern edges of Jerusalem. Critics say the settlements would cut off traditionally Arab east Jeru-
salem from its West Bank hinterland and destroy hopes for a viable Palestinian state alongside Israel, with Jerusalem as a shared capital. Israel had frozen E-1 plans under pressure from successive U.S. administrations, but it revived them last week after U.N. recognition of Palestine. Actual construction would be years away. On Wednesday, an Israeli planning committee in the West Bank decided to “deposit” a plan for 3,400 homes there, meaning the project is moving one step further in the approval pipeline, although the final go-ahead for construction has not been given. Givat Hamatos, where some 4,000 apartments are planned, is also moving forward. A district planning committee is set to discuss the next approval step in mid-December.
National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net
North
Thursday, December 6, 2012
Rising cases of polio worries Borno INUSA NDAHI MAIDUGURI
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he Borno State Government yesterday expressed concern over the rising cases of polio in the state. It was learnt that cases of the disease were reported in Bayo Local Government Area of the state recently, despite the huge resources the state and donor agencies spent to tackle the menace. The Commissioner for Health, Dr. Salma Anas Kolo, who spoke at a ministerial press briefing held in Maiduguri, the state capital, urged stakeholders, particularly traditional and religious leaders, to support effort by the government to eradicate the disease. She, however, disclosed that about 16,000 people
Yakowa urges prayer for nation’s peace
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overnor Patrick Yakowa of Kaduna State yesterday appealed to the Baptist World Alliance to pray for peace and c progress of Nigeria. Yakowa made the appeal when the leaders of the Alliance from various countries, led by Mr Raimundo Barreto, paid him a visit in Kaduna. He stressed the need for prayers and “rightful acts for peace’’, which he said would herald conducive environment for development. The governor urged the Alliance to also preach peaceful co-existence, as well as intensify prayers for mutual harmony among the diverse people in the country. He reiterated the commitment of the state government and security agents towards ensuring peace, unity and development of the state. Earlier, Barreto said the delegation was on a solidarity visit to identify with its members and the government on the current security challenges in the state. He urged the government to proffer solutions that would address the nation’s security challenges. Barreto said the Alliance had over four million members from 120 countries, who were committed to peace, justice and protection of human rights.
were infected with the HIV/ AIDS virus in the state. The commissioner, therefore, called on the people to avail themselves to healthcare facilities to test their HIV status, saying the administration of Governor Kashim Shettima had provided anti-
retroviral drugs for treatment of HIV virus across the state. Kolo said the government rehabilitated 18 general hospitals and equipped them with modern facilities to enhance provision of robust healthcare services for
the people. She said that apart from the rehabilitation of the hospitals, six health facilities built in Chibok, Kala Balge and Bayo local government areas by the immediate past administration were also equipped. According to her, the
state government overhauled the Nursing and Dental Homes, as well as the Chest Hospital. The commissioner said eight new ambulances were bought and distributed to some hospitals in Marama, Konduga and Biu, among others.
Emir of Bauchi, Alhaji Rilwanu Adamu (left) and Bauchi State Deputy Governor, Alhaji Sagir Saleh, during his condolence visit to the emir over the death of his grandmother, late Hajiya Balkisu Adamu Jumba, in Bauchi, yesterday. PHOTO: NAN
Kaduna LG poll: Group asks SEICOM to sanction erring workers A ZA MSUE KADUNA
A
group under the auspices of Independent Election Monitoring Group (IEMG) yesterday called on the Kaduna State Independent Electoral Commission (SEICOM) to sanction its workers found wanting in the conduct of last Saturday’s local government poll. Addressing a press con-
ference in Kaduna, IEMG National Coordinator, Mr Festus Okoye, urged SIECOM to carry out auditing of its procedures relating to the conduct of the election. He asked the body to remain neutral by making electoral documents available to petitioners and respondents for speedy trial of aggrieved party’s petitions. Okoye said: “While we
recognise the rights of people to protest if they perceive that electoral preferences have been tampered with, we also appreciate the fact that these are very unusual times. We, therefore, urge persons and parties who are aggrieved to consider the plight of persons already traumatised by the security challenges confronting Kaduna State. “They should have faith
in the electoral process and the dispute resolution mechanism already put in place. It is by so doing that peace and stability will have a pride of place” Okoye, however, appealed to political parties to seek assistance of civil society groups and development partners in the training of their agents, saying most people being sent to election polling units as agents are thugs.
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Commissioner confirms outbreak of ‘strange disease’ in Adamawa
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he Adamawa State Commissioner for Health, Mrs. Lilian Stephen, yesterday confirmed the outbreak of “a strange disease’’ in Mubi South Local Government Area of the state. Mrs. Stephen told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Yola, the state capital, that sample had been taken to the laboratory. She, however, did not confirm whether anybody was killed or hospitalised by the strange disease. Meanwhile, five people have been reported dead and 70 others hospitalised, following the outbreak of strange disease at Saranyi village in Mubi South Local Government Area of Adamawa. Alhaji Usman Lamorde, the member representing the constituency in the state House of Assembly, made this known yesterday at the plenary of the House. Lamorde, who raised the issue under Matters of Urgent Public Importance, said no fewer than 200 people were affected with five dead, while 70 were hospitalised. He said: “Up till now, nobody knows what this disease is all about, except that my people in Nduku ward of Saranyi village are victims. “Something urgent needs to be done by the authorities concerned, to check the outbreak from further spreading.’’ Lamorde also explained that the outbreak started four days ago.
Dangote committeeformer assures flood victims of better life ‘Adamawa council chairmen’s Minister of InforPRISCILLA DENNIS MINNA
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he Ahaji Aliko Dangote-led Presidential Committee on Flood Disaster and Rehabilitation has reawakened the hope of those who lost their loved ones and property in the wake of the flood that ravaged some parts of the country recently. Dangote, who spoke during the assessments of the areas affected by the flood in about 15 local government areas in Niger State, revealed that the committee had not spent a dime from the N15 billion donation it got out of the N50 billion target it set for itself. Speaking through the
mation, Prof. Dora Akunyili, he said parts of the responsibilities of the committee was to raise funds and augment what the Federal Government provided as relief for the flood victims. Dangote, however, denied a report that some of the promises made to the flood victims might not see the light of the day, adding that there was nothing political in the formation of the committee as alleged. He said: “I want to make it clear that there is nothing political about this committee and there is nothing political about this visit and nothing whatsoever. It is a visit done with the best inten-
inauguration illegal’ OBIORA IFOH ABUJA
A Dangote
tion and we are doing the work assigned to us by Mr. President to join the government in bringing sucour to these people.” Among the items donated to the victims at Yelwa community in Lapai Local Government Area of Niger State were bags of rice, salt, cartons of indomie noodles , kegs of palm oil, packets of sugar, packets of soap, cartons of detergent and clothes.
s controversy continues to trail the conduct of November 22 local government election in Adamawa State, a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain, Umar Ardo, has described the inauguration of the council chairmen as illegal and an affront to democracy. Addressing journalists in Abuja, Ardo alleged that Governor Murtala Nyako breached the Electoral Law by swearing -in the council chairmen before the State Independent Electoral Commission (SIEC) announced the winners of the election. PDP won in all local gov-
ernments in the state, but the list of candidates submitted by Governor Nyako to SIEC generated controversy. Ardo said: “One of the most serious absurdities that I have never seen in politics in Nigeria happened in Adamawa State. The law says that candidates or political parties that are not satisfied with outcome of any election should go to tribunal. “They gave number of days, like the local government, the electoral law in Adamawa State gave 14 days after declaration of result, but do you know in Adamawa, based on this local government election, there was not even a formal declaration of result by SIEC when Nyako swore in the chairmen.”
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National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net
Thursday, December 6, 2012
Community Mirror “Infrastructural development in the country is hampered by many challenges, including the inability to mobilise long term funding for project development.” FORMER INTERIM PRESIDENT; CHIEF ERNEST SHONEKAN
NCPC holds workshop for Lagos communities
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Policemen arresting a commercial motorcyclist on Lagos Island for traffic law violatiion.
PHOTO: YINKA ADEPARUSI
Indian doctors offer free surgery to Nigerians MARCUS FATUNMOLE ABUJA
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ope has emerged for 400 Nigerians living with Poliomyelitis, as they are to undergo free corrective surgeries in the next 10 days, an exercise expected to cure and enable them live meaningful lives. It is the first-ever corrective surgery on polio undertaken by the Federal Government, even as this includes 26 Indian physicians, in partnership with Rotary International.
Poliomyelitis is a highly contagious viral infection that can lead to paralysis, breathing problems or death. Nigeria, Afghanistan and Pakistan, are the only three endemic nations with the epidemic at present, globally. Besides, 20 incubators devices for new born babies were presented to the Federal Government by the mission in Abuja. Speaking on behalf of the group, former President of Rotary International, Rajendra Saboo, said the exercise, christened India-Nigerian Rotary Polio Corrective Surgery
Project, was a further demonstration of Rotary International’s interest in Nigeria. Saboo noted that, “Having achieved good success in India in reaching out to families that had polio-stricken children and providing corrective surgeries, we were able to make such families realize the importance of immunization. It is hoped that the children so treated in Nigeria, will not only have better quality of life, but will be messengers for enhanced immunization against polio in the country. Through this mission, we are not
only thinking of the humanitarian service in which more than 400 polio afflicted children will be treated, but will have a far reaching objective of bringing awareness to the dreaded disease and helping make Nigeria polio-free,” he stressed. The exercise will hold at two centres, namely University of Abuja Teaching Hospital, Gwagwalada and Federal Medical Centre, Keffi, Nasarawa State, while the sum of N20 million is being used to mobilize beneficiaries from eight endemic states and for provision of other logistics.
Man appeals to police chiefs over bike seizure FRANCIS SUBERU
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mechanic and commercial motorcyclist, Mr. Azeez Adeniyi has appealed to the Ogun State Commissioner of Police, Ikemefuna Okoye and Assistant Inspector General of Police in Charge of Zone II, Mamman Tsafe, to prevail on police personnel at Sango Police Division to release his motorcycle; saying he had been made to suffer untold hardship since the bike was seized
from him. Azeez, who said the motorcycle was stolen on October 12, 2012, found it among the recovered items at Sango Police Division on October 15, 2012 when he went to lodge a formal complaint. But, rather than recover his bike, he was arrested and detained on suspicion that he was aiding armed robbers. Narrating his ordeal to Community Mirror, Azeez said he spent 17 days in police custody both at Sango and Ogun State Police Command Headquarters, Eleweran,
Abeokuta from where he was later released on bail. According to him; “the bike was stolen from my house on Friday evening, but I was unable to make a formal report on Saturday at Sango police station because I was indisposed. But, on Sunday, I reported the incident and they told me to come with photocopies of the document on Monday. “When I went there on Monday, I saw the stolen motorcycle and I informed the officer attending to me. He asked me to identify it among others and I did; hence, they told
me to come back the next day. “On Tuesday, they could not attend to me, but called me on Wednesday to come and collect the bike. When I got there, they ordered that I be locked up as I was supplying bikes to thieves. I was locked up for three days at Sango and later transferred to Eleweran in Abeokuta where I spent 17 days.” Azeez, said he later gathered that the bike was recovered by some vigilantes on the night it was stolen, but the robbers escaped. The police detained him thinking he was part of the robbery.
he Lagos State Chapter of National Community Policing Campaign (NCPC), an arm of the Nigeria Police that is organizing community crime sensitization and awareness in the country, is partnering the Lord’s Chosen Charismatic Renewal Ministry in a one day sensitization workshop for all the communities in Lagos state. The workshop holds on Friday, December 7, by 10: am at the Armed Forces Resettlement Centre, Oshodi by Charity Bus-Stop. Some of the dignitaries expected at the event include Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Fashola and Oba of Lagos,HRH Oba Rilwanu Akiolu. Nigeria. National Coordinator of the Campaign, Chief Dr Kingsley Ubah and AIG Zone 11 will be guest speakers and will be speaking on a deep commitment to building a safe, peaceful, stable, just crime freeNigeria. According to the Deputy National Director of Operations of NCPC, Fidelis Onyekwelu, the topic of the workshop is “Crime prevention: the eye of the people, your responsibility in national community policing campaign.”
Company donates items to flood victims EMMA GBEMUDU
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he Ebenanaowei of Kabeowei Clan, His Royal Highness, Hope Toru, has lauded the management of Vitafoam Nigeria Limited for coming to the aid of the flood ravaged community Chief Toru who made the remark when management of the company presented 100 mattresses and pillows following the devastating flood, noted that Trofani was one of the most-affected communities in the state. “The disaster is natural, we appreciate your support, your gesture will ever remain green in our minds”, noted the paramount ruler. Chief Collins Cocoadia, representative of the state governor in Sagbama LGA, who received the items lamented that over 80 percent of the inhabitants had fled following the flood and lauded Vitafoam for the gesture. Presenting the item, Mr. Chinedu Onwukwe, Vitafoam factory Manager, who expressed dismay at the level of the disaster, said the company provided the items to assist victims in the area.
National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net
Sport
Thursday, December 6, 2012
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Imhoaperamhu, Ukoh fastest man, woman YEMI OLUS
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icholas Imhoaperamhu of Rivers State yesterday emerged as the biggest revelation of the Eko 2012 National Sports Festival after beating the defending champion, Chukwuma Onyeaku (10.65), also from Rivers, to second place with a time of 10.51 secs at the mainbowl of the Teslim Balogun Stadium. The 20-year-old overcame stiff competition from his opponents to become the fastest man at the festival while Victor Ikhazobor of Edo State placed third with 10.72 secs. “The Nigerian spirit will be back at the World Championships in Moscow next year. Just watch out for me,” the overwhelmed the Edo
State born athlete said. “You can say that I am the new star Nigeria has been waiting for. All I need is just encouragement.” Meanwhile, Peace Ukoh of Ondo State emerged the fastest woman with 11.57secs after winning her semi-final heat with 11.71secs. She was followed by Margaret Benson of Delta State who placed second with 11.61 secs while Miriam Edet Bassey (Cross River) finished in 11.71secs. Aminat Olowora of Lagos State was another revelation as she raced to the 10,000m title in 34.14 secs, just a day after grabbing the 5,000m gold medal. Deborah Pam of Delta State and Janet Dung of Bauchi followed in second and third positions respectively (36:18:38 and 37:51:00).
H’ball: Rivers, Lagos in final clash SAYO OGUNDEJI Fastest man: Nicholas Iwhoaperamhu (right) of Rivers State celebrating after winning men’s 100m final
NTTF hammers another player
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he Nigeria Table Tennis Federation (NTTF) yesterday banned Bisola Asaju of Team Kwara from the ongoing 18th National Sports Festival (NSF) in Lagos and subsequent festivals for cheating. An International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) certified umpire, Ranti Lajide, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that Asaju was ineligible to participate in the festival, having featured in three past editions. Lajide, who is officiating in the table tennis event, said the NTTF had vowed to disqualify any player found violating the rules of the NSF. “The player was trying to be faster than her shadow,
but the NTTF is very particular about such persons and once we identify them, he or she is automatically disqualified,” he said. Lajide said that such a tough step would discourage others from getting involved in such, because the festival was designed for talent discovery. “We cannot allow athletes who have had their times at previous Games to deny upcoming talents from showing their skills, so we have to put a stop to it.” The NTTF had last Sunday banned a Team Lagos female player, Fatimo Bello, for three years for double registration, ruling that the player sought to represent both Lagos and Delta states.
Fastest women: Peace Ukoh of Ondo State (left) acknowledging her 100m final victory.
Anambra protests IFEANYI EDUZOR
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Lagos boxers sure of medals IFEANYI EDUZOR
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eam Lagos female boxer, Kate Peter, lived up to expectation as she entered the medal zone of the event taking place at the Gymnasium hall of National Institute for Sports, even as her male counterpart, Sango Murtala, defeated Ambrose Godwin of Benue State to qualify for the semi- final. Peter proved too strong for Folorunsho Olashile of Oyo State whom she defeated in the 69kg to book a semi-final ticket. Kate, who dominated the fight from the first round, came out stronger in the
second round to wrap up the fight which was stopped by the referee to give Olashile reprieve. Team Lagos’ Olaide Fijabi, fighting in the 64kg, also made the medal zone after he recorded a 9-2 victory over Soyelu Olusola of FCT while Dauda Azeez defeated Samuel Ejike of Nasarawa just as Joseph Otto recorded an 11-0 victory over Samuel Opagun of Benue State. In the female category, Adebayo Muriat of Lagos State subdued Ewah Jenny Archibong of Cross River State in the 51kg while Oriyomi Asisat overwhelmed Judith Frank in the 54kg class.
T
eam Lagos will today take on Rivers in the final of the female handball event. Lagos beat Ondo 33-20 while Rivers beat Plateau 25-21 to book their passages. Team Lagos captain, Bisi Oyewusi, hailed her colleagues for their efforts, saying the side had endured tougher opponents in the festival. “Our hunger for success has seen us though,” Oyewusi said. Team Borno also made it to the final in the male event after its 27 -23 victory over Sokoto at the UNILAG Sports Complex yesterday to set up a final clash with Lagos who defeated Ondo in the semi final.
Okorie Chinedu (260) of the Federal Capital Territory won gold in the men’s 400m hurdles final
Amina Olowora of Team Lagos in Cloud Nine after winning 10,000m women’s gold yesterday. PHOTOS: ADEMOLA AKINLABI
female boxer representing Anambra State, Onyinye Elom, has cried foul over her defeat by Emmanuela Bukola of Ekiti State. The boxer who fights in the 57 kg class told National Mirror shortly after her opponent was declared winner in the bout that the referee had denied her victory, even as she accused the official of illegally awarding vital points to her opponent. “It is unfortunate that the referee robbed me of victory in a fight I was supposed to win” Elom rued. “I was leading my opponent from the first round to the last but I was surprised when she was declared winner, despite protest from my coach.” Meanwhile, Special Assistant to Anambra State Governor on Sports, Arthur Egbunem, has said that the state would file a protest letter against the decision.
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Insight
Thursday, December 6, 2012
National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net
Internet fraud: How hackers, •Pastor Adeboye, Fashola’s wife raise alarm
Are you sure that your celebrity ‘friend’ on the social network you are chatting with based on his name and picture is real? NGOZI EMEDOLIBE finds out that Nigerians are being duped because of their gullibility, while the celebrities are not helping matters by opening several accounts.
F
raudsters and 419ners have devised a new means of using the social media to perpetrate their nefarious acts on the Internet. In Nigeria, the introduction of the social networks like Facebook, Linkedin, Badoo, Twoo and Twitter has given the Internet fraudsters, otherwise called ‘Yahoo-yahoo boys’ the opportunity to interact personally and intimately with their would-be victims before sweet-talking them into parting with their hard earned money. National Mirror investigation shows that the social media where people meet without knowing who they are and which is supposed to expose members to new form of socialisation has now turned into a means of carrying out fraudulent acts, like impersonating, especially celebrities. The scammers rely on the gullibility of the people, who believe almost anything that has a celebrity’s name attached to it. They use the names of famous people from the worlds of entertainment, sports, politics and even Men of God, who have made names in the society. These fraudsters hack the social media addresses/accounts of the celebrities and consequently use them to raise money, get customers and even, organise concert, from unsuspecting members of the public. In Nigeria’s case, the con men exploit the names of well known celebrities and try to get the fans of these famous persons to pay them, sometimes using bogus messages supposedly sent from someone or company wanting to give you some large amount of money, if you’ll just pay an upfront fee. The rate at which Nigerian celebrities are being impersonated lately on social media networks is so alarming. National Mirror however, found out that actors and actresses in the entertainment industry are not helping matters. Many of them have several account pages. Just a click on Facebook, for example, to search for a favourite artiste and you will be surprised how many profile accounts of the celeb that will open for viewing. It could be argued that many people bear the same name, but the fact that the pages have the same picture and almost the same profile of the celebrity, leaves little to doubt. So the scammers use the fake accounts to fleece innocent people of large amounts of money in the name and image of the genuine celebrity, and by the time the celebrity comes out to raise the alarm, it will be too late and the harm would have been done. An instance is a scam perpetrated with the name of the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Enoch Adeboye. The Man of God said that a member of his church reported to him how he had been asked by an impersonator to pay certain sum of money into a bank account for a trip to India and how the con man was keen on taking strictly cash from
unsuspecting members of the RCCG and the general public. Pastor Adeboye, who was surprised at the news, went online to find out how many Facebook accounts were in his name and shockingly saw 18 different accounts purportedly belonging to him. He was forced to issue a public disclaimer, saying, “It has come to my attention that several parties and individuals have created several Facebook pages with my name in order to make the public believe that I am connected or associated with them. The only Facebook page associated with me and my office is www. Facebook.com/pastoradeboye. All others have been created without my authorisation. I seek your assistance and help. Please help us visit the following pages and report them to Facebook for me, as you report them, report them as a duplicate or fraud.” National Mirror also found out that Nollywood actors like Ramsey Noah, Pastor Adeboye Genevive Nnaji, Desmond Elliot, D’banj and many others have several pages on different ACTORS AND ACTRESSES social networking sites, making it difficult to know the genuine ones with which to contact IN THE ENTERTAINMENT them. Only few stars like Ali Baba, Olu Jacob, INDUSTRY ARE NOT Mercy Johnson, Tunde Kelani and a few others have just one account on Facebook and HELPING MATTERS interaction with them can only take place if one knows them personally, which makes it ANY OF THEM HAVE near impossible to impersonate them. For example, to reach Don Jazzy, one SEVERAL ACCOUNT PAGES has to use his real name ‘Micheal Enebeli’ unlike 2face Idibia whose name in Facebook governor’s wife did not operate any social (both stage and birth names) are over 20 media account. “For the avoidance of doubt, and his fans would open conversations and the First Lady of Lagos State does not operate give personal details of themselves without any Facebook, Twitter or indeed any social knowing who they are chatting with, if it’s media account,” he said. He warned the thieves to desist from crime the real one or the fake. or face the consequences. “Impersonation is a Some of the actors go the extra mile of adding websites to their accounts; like Fred criminal offence punishable by law. Members Amata, whose website is very difficult to of the public should beware to avoid falling victim of fraudsters impersonating Mrs. access. Popular comedian, I Go Dye, dissociated Fashola on the Facebook or any social media himself from an account on twitter when he outlet.” As part of National Mirror’s investigation, discovered that some scammers were using his name to swindle people. He hurriedly this reporter opened an account in the name closed the cloned account and opened a new of Mercy Johnson and within two days 2, 000 users linked with the account requesting for one, @Igodye_Official. Surprisingly, the hacker had about 13, 000 friendship, not knowing she was not the real followers on twitter before the bubble burst. To person. Reacting to the new online crime targeted further reassure his fans, the comedian made a public phone call to his fans, during which at celebrities, the new president of the Actors’ he said, “I am not the one using @i_GO_DYE, Guild of Nigeria (AGN), Ibinabo Fiberisima, am not in any way connected to the person and said, “It’s very sad and these fraudsters need anybody who transacts business with the said help. It’s theft and very pathetic, that grown impostor is doing that at his or her own peril up men or women will go into such a thing. They don’t even let the people who have the and I won’t be held responsible.” There are many celebrities who scammers accounts know what they are up to; it’s very have made to cry, by using their names to sad that Nigerians can even partake in such dupe people. Early last month, the Lagos State things.” Chinedu Ikedieze, popularly known as Aki, Government disclaimed a Facebook account that was claimed to be operated by Mrs. said that the fraudsters are making it difficult for artistes to engage in interactions with Abimbola Fashola, wife of the state governor. Fashola’s media aide, Mr. Hakeem Bello, their real fans. The production manager of Mainframe insisted in a public statement that the
M
Mrs. Fashola
.
D’Banj
Productions, Jamiu Soyade, blames the parlous Nigerian economy for the fraudulent acts on the Internet. He said, “Talking about this situation, I think it’s not only in Nigeria, it’s all over the world and if one looks closely, you will see that this fraudulent acts don’t affect celebrities only, even though celebrities are mostly the target used to catch the eyes of the public. “They also use Men of God like Pastor Adeboye, but actually the problems in the country are enough to drive these people to act. The level of unemployment in this country is very high and people will do anything for a living,” Soyade said. Asked to proffer a solution, he replied, “For the celebrities, let them shut all their accounts, especially the ones they are not using and reopen others they can monitor. They have to be security conscious of their accounts, so as not to be followed up like before. But like I said it’s
National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net
Insight
Thursday, December 6, 2012
55
scammers make celebrities cry
Osita Iheme
THEY DON’T EVEN LET
Mercy Johnson
Using Kunle Afolayan as guinea pig
THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE THE ACCOUNTS KNOW
WHAT THEY ARE UP TO; IT’S VERY SAD THAT
NIGERIANS CAN EVEN PARTAKE IN SUCH THINGS a general problem and these people should be stopped.” An expert in web optimisation and information communication technology, Mr. Aderemi Ojikutu, urged the youths to desist from fraudulent acts on the Internet and get involved in rewarding activities like blogging and hosting of websites. “People who get involved in such fraudulent acts using the names of artistes are creating a bad name for this country. Apart from making their future bleak, the Internet fraud is doing the Nigeria nation no good, as our image outside the shore of this country is highly questionable. This act has to be stopped.” Experts say to combat this crime, there is need for web masters to create an Internet crime alert whereby fraudulent acts can be reported and monitored immediately they’re seen and the impostors traced just like the way telecommunication companies are insisting on the registration of sim cards. And for online users, it is recommended that before anybody enters into any kind of financial deal with someone they think they know, he should make use of the search engine to verify whoever he is doing business with, or better still, call the person if he has a personal contact number.
Kunle Afolayan
I
n the last week of October, a Facebook account was activated in the name of Nigerian filmmaker and actor, Kunle Afolayan, for the purpose of this investigative story. In order to verify the vulnerability of the average social media user to online impersonators and scammers, National Mirror sought and received the consent of the multi-award winning Afolayan to create an account in his
name while disguising as him. In three weeks of monitoring the page and uploading posts on the walls, Afolayan (in reality an undercover reporter), had received 61 friend requests and numerous inbox messages from innocuous ‘friends’ who were readily sharing personal problems with the person they believed to be Afolayan. They were in the least bit concerned about the intimate nature of information being
disclosed to another party who was only being embraced because of his celebrity brand power. Similarly, within minutes of opening and sustaining a line of conversation at any time, many of the film-maker’s ‘friends’ also wanted to exchange Blackberry pin numbers as a way of facilitating real-time interaction through the equally popular Blackberry Messenger Chat (BBM). Although a vast majority of the fictitious facebook contacts were situated in Nigeria, two of them were South African ladies. However, the Nigerian crowd were scattered around different states of the federation. In an interesting development, one of the South African ladies (names withheld), a film producer and event manager, approached Afolayan only because she was angling for opening business discussions with him on a South Africa/Nigeria collaboration. Judging from the professional tone of her message, the film director was quickly alerted and he continued the discussion in private. The lady has also been advised not to communicate with Afolayan over this facebook page any longer. Presently, the Facebook account has been suspended, but four-week period it required to survey responses (October 24 to November 24, 2012), it clearly indicates that online users have their work cut out for them detecting who the real personalities are behind the images which adorn those Facebook accounts. Unless our celebrities and societal icons take up the social responsibility of uniquely branding their Facebook accounts, making regular visits to their pages to monitor posts and reporting unauthorised multiple accounts in their name to Facebook site managers, fraudsters will flourish from conning gullible, star-struck Nigerians, harm the impersonated celebrity’s image and erode the confidence of genuine users in the beneficial aspects of social networking media.
WORLD RECORD
Largest human art figure Vol. 02 No. 507
N150
Thursday, December 6, 2012
A giant outline of a naked Aborigine man, measuring 4.2 km (2.6 miles) in length and so vast that it can only be seen from the air, appeared at Finniss Springs, near Marree, South Australia in July 1998 to become the largest ever representation of the human form.
Towards an effective disaster risk management
… Indeed, we are beginning to feel the effects. What we are already witnessing is not an aberration, but rather a ‘curtain raiser’ on the future. These events are what I call the ‘new normal’ - John Holmes
J
ohn Holmes is Under Secretary and Emergency Relief Coordinator of the UN. The quote above is taken from his speech at the International Humanitarian Aid and Development Conference and Exhibition, held in Dubai, United Arab Emirate in 2008. The thrust of that speech captures the collective global push for disaster management. Recently, I was a guest on a live programme, ‘Naija Info’ on Cool FM, Lagos and the subject explored was the recent flood disasters across Nigeria. During the programme, questions were raised about the efforts of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) in taking disaster management to the grassroots and the private sector. Other related questions
Guest Columnist
Ibrahim
Farinloye
on the roles of the country’s three tiers of government in disaster risk management, also came up. Let me say here that NEMA’s core mandate is to mobilize resources toward effective and efficient disaster prevention and mitigation, and monitoring the state of preparedness of all stakeholders towards effective disaster management. NEMA has been working on these since its establishment in 1999. The recent flood disasters have raised the consciousness of Nigerians to what NEMA has always been advocating: an all-inclusive approach to disaster risk reduction, especially the participation of the private sector. It is well acknowledged that the recent pervasive flooding has actually extensively disrupted the economic and social lives of the immediate communities affected by it. However, it is one problem from which no Nigerian is free. Disaster does not discriminate between boundaries, class or status. Though, the less privileged suffer more and have less coping capacity, it is pertinent to reiterate that disaster exposes victims to dislocation and extreme poverty, which further makes them vulnerable to other cycle of disasters. Disasters bring super industries to their knees, while governmental socioeconomic developmental giant strides could be reversed within the shortest time, thereby crippling the stability of such governments. We at NEMA have variously embarked on advocacy visits to state governors individually, and at the National Council of State’s level, to drive home the need to have effective and efficient counterpart bilateral state and local governments’ structures to complement the federal government structure, which is NEMA. Unfor-
WE HAVE TO REMEMBER THAT OUR TRESPASSES AND ASSAULTS AGAINST THE ENVIRONMENT HAVE A PAYBACK TIME tunately, most of the structures in all the states that have emergency management agencies, are merely window dressing that cannot comprehensively intervene in the event of any emergency. Many industries were affected by the recent flooding, while the small scale entrepreneurs and petty traders would, in all probability, suffer the after-effects of the on-going crises. It is important to point out that there is no amount of relief or intervention by emergency agencies or governments that can fully recompense the losses of the victims, either individuals or corporate organizations. The psychological trauma of this period may even leave a permanent scar for the rest of the victims’ lives. The chairman of Anambra/Enugu/Ebonyi states chapter of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), Dr. Chike Obidigbo, while assessing the effects of the flooding on its member, lamented that the disaster had eroded the gains of all previous years in one fell swoop. (See The Guardian of 7th October, 2012). We all have to live up to our social responsibilities by practically getting involved in disaster risk reduction to prevent future occurrences as it is the practice in the developed world. The era of only taking from the environment without giving back
to it, is gone. We have to remember that our trespasses and assaults against the environment have a payback time. Nature does not forgive, it must take its pounds of flesh. Taking the pounds of flesh will not affect the trespassers only, but those who did not know when such trespasses were committed would also suffer along. What we are currently experiencing might be the consequences of our past abuse of nature! In advocacy and awareness raising partnerships, the private sector partners take a leadership role in championing advocating for and contributing to resolving different issues. Companies can partner with governments and regulatory bodies, and participate in legitimate dialogues and collective action with other stakeholders from diverse sectors of the economy. In social investment and philanthropy partnerships, the private sector provides financial support, contributes volunteers or expertise, or makes in-kind contributions, including product donations. In core business partnerships, partners collaborate to create employment and foster entrepreneurship, contribute to economic growth, generate tax revenues, implement social, environmental or ethical standards, and provide appropriate and affordable goods and services. In Nigeria, there is need to encourage the private sector to foster a culture of disaster prevention, putting greater emphasis on allocating resources to disaster preparedness activities, such as risk assessments, early warning system and mitigation. There is the need for business outfits to integrate disaster prevention into their decision-making processes throughout the value chain. Businesses could also form partnerships towards raising awareness. Companies can partner with governments and regulatory bodies, and participate in legitimate dialogues and collective action with stakeholders from diverse sectors of the economy. To be continued Farinloye is the Public Information Officer of National Emergency Management Agency, South West Zone, Lagos
Sport Extra
T
he Confederation of African Football (CAF) yesterday announced reigning African Player of the Year and Manchester City midfielder, Yaya Toure, as one of the three candidates in the final shortlist for the 2012 edition. Toure’s compatriot and Shanghai
Glo-CAF Awards: Toure, Drogba, Song make final list
Shenhua striker, Didier Drogba, also made the list, as well as Cameroun and Barcelona midfielder, Alex Song. The list of five players released last by CAF last week include Senegal’s Demba Ba and Ghana’s Andre Ayew,
who made the final three last year. Winning this year’s edition will be a close call, although observers believe Drogba stands a better chance among the trio, after propelling Chelsea to its first ever Champions
League triumph in May. Toure and Song have not fared badly either. The winner will be announced on December 20 at the Awards Gala in Accra, Ghana.
Yaya Toure
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