Tuesday, August 14, 2012 by GLOBAL MEDIA MIRROR LIMITED

Ballot boxes: Firm accuses Jega of fraud

Multilinks, Starcomms, MTS in N31bn merger deal

We’ve not done anything wrong –INEC

EMMANUEL ONANI ABUJA

Vol. 1 2 N0. 115 425

edding Holdings Limited has accused the Chairman of the Independent

National Electoral Commission, INEC, Prof. Attahiru Jega, of conspiracy CONTINUED ON PAGE 5>>

P.4

Johnson

Tuesday, August June 7,14, 2011 2012

N150 N150

Power supply worsens

…as PHCN workers embark on strike OUR CORRESPONDENTS

he chaotic situation in the power sector has worsened as Power Holding Company of Nigeria, PHCN, workers yesterday embarked on strike. The National Union of Electricity Employees, NUEE, and Senior Staff Association of Electricity and Allied Corporations, SSAEAC, commenced the strike nationwide with blackouts and poor services already recorded in several states. The strike is targeted against the Federal Government’s ongoing privatisation of PHCN; alleged failure of government to implement

Union threatens to shut Jebba station, others FG set to probe pension fraud

CONTINUED ON PAGE 2>>

Book on Obasanjo for launch today P.9 PDP blames Aregbesola for financial recklessnesss

Go to court to prove your allegations, P.8 says ACN

Bridge linking Plateau, Nasarawa and Taraba states washed away by the flood in Plateau State, yesterday.

Fresh flood claims 28 lives in Plateau Security agents foil terrorists’ attack

Delta govt lays claim to Ibori’s $15m bribe money

P.2 P.6

News

Tuesday, August 14, 2012

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Fresh flood claims 28 lives in Plateau JAMES ABRAHAM JOS

gain, disaster struck in Plateau State on Sunday, as flood ravaged five local governments in the southern part of the state, killing at least 28 people, with scores missing and more than 1,000 houses destroyed. Our correspondent gathered that more corpses were still been discovered in villages far from the zone. Only three weeks ago, no

fewer than 45 people were killed and many declared missing after flood ravaged some communities in Jos. One person was confirmed dead a couple of days ago when flood swept through Kanam Local Government Area of the state. The local government areas mostly affected by Sunday’s disaster include Shendam, Langtang South and North, Wase Quan-Pan, among others. The flood swept through over 100 communities and also washed away the

bridge linking the zone with Lafia, the Nasarawa State capital, and Taraba State. Some residents of Langtang, whose houses were destroyed, said that it rained throughout Sunday morning in the affected areas; causing the flood to sweep away crops and displacing hundreds of people. The Transition Committee Chairman of Shendam Local Government, Hon. Kemi Nshe, told journalists that 200 hectares of farmland was affected by the

flood. The chairman, who described the incident as sad, however, advised the people to be calm, stressing that succour would come their way. The senator representing Plateau South, Hon. Victor Lar, who led newsmen for on-the-spot assessment of the affected areas yesterday, described the incident as unfortunate and assured the people that he was sensitive to their plight. Lar added that in his over 50 years of existence,

Vice-President Namadi Sambo (left) being welcomed by a Royal Protocol official at King Abdulaziz International Airport, Jeddah, for the lesser hajj in Saudi Arabia, at the weekend.

he had not witnessed such torrential rainfall that was so devastating on both human lives and farmland. He noted that the victims were undergoing serious suffering, adding that the development could engender an epidemic in the area as a result of the displacement of over 1,500 people. Lar assured the people that the federal and state governments would provide the necessary succour, stressing that he had contacted the Director-General of National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, and Federal Roads Maintenance Agency, FERMA, to access the level of destruction with a view to assisting the victims. The lawmaker also said that he had sent over 30 bags of maize to the people of Lalin village, one of the settlements affected by the flood. Also the Special Assistant to the Minister of Water Resources, Prof. Dimis Mai Lafia, who was on the entourage of the lawmaker, described the havoc as sad. He promised to liaise with the Minister of Water Resources, Mrs. Sarah Ochepe, who would also contact her counterpart in the Works Ministry for quick intervention in

rebuilding the collapsed bridge. Meanwhile, an attempt by some terrorists to attack Kwakwi village in Riyom Local Government Area of the state was yesterday foiled by the police. It was not clear whether the terrorists were members of the dreaded Boko Haram Islamic sect. National Mirror, however, learnt that the terrorists, numbering over 20, had entered the village with sophisticated weapons but the youths, who became suspicious of their movements, quickly alerted the security agents who mobilised to the area. It was gathered that the terrorists, who sensed danger, quickly took to their heels but one of them was apprehended with AK-47 rifle and 28 rounds of ammunition. The suspect was paraded yesterday at the state police headquarters in Jos. The Commissioner of Police in the state, Mr. Emmanuel Dipo Ayeni, gave details of how the suspect was arrested. He said: “Some criminals invaded Kwakwi village in Riyom Local Government Area. So, the youth mobilised to stop them from CONTINUED ON PAGE 5>>

Power supply worsens as PHCN workers embark on strike CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

agreements concerning terminal benefits for workers that may lose jobs (post-privatisation) and alleged refusal of government to carry them along in choosing potential investors in the power sector. The SSAEAC President, Mr. Bede Opara, who confirmed the action in a telephone interview yesterday, said the strike would continue until the government responded to their demands. The Vice-President of Lagos/Ogun Zone of NUEE, Mr. Mbang Ntukube, said government and PHCN management had reneged on the agreement reached earlier in May to address the workers grievances within four weeks. The strike has started to impact negatively on operations. For instance, customers who had transactions to do in Umuahia,

Abia State met the PHCN main office gate closed with security personnel guarding the premises. The NUEE council member and Abia State Chairman of the union, Mr. Kalu O. Kalu, said the union would not allow workers to return to their duty posts until they received directives from the headquarters. Investigations showed that the leadership of NUEE and SSAEAC had scheduled to meet with the Federal Government on Wednesday before communicating the next line of action to workers. The Nigerian Labour Congress, NLC, said it would also be represented at the meeting aimed at finding solution to the issues. Meanwhile, members of the NUEE at the Jebba Hydro Electric Power Station yesterday threatened that they would shut down

facilities at the station if the Federal Government failed to arrive at an acceptable settlement terms with the NLC. The umbrella union had warned the Federal Government to arrive at amicable payment terms with the electricity workers or face an industrial action. The electricity workers, during a protest at the station, alleged that the government was treating them unfairly. They added that the Minister of Power, Prof. Barth Nnaji, was not telling Nigerians the true position of things in the power sector. The protesting workers chanted solidarity songs and carried placards with the inscriptions; ‘No to transfer of service’. ‘Pay us our entitlement.’ ‘Why don’t you tell Nigerians the truth about PHCN, Barth Nnaji’? ‘Pay us ac-

cording to PHCN condition of service.’ ‘We are not against privatisation’. Chairman, Generation and Transmission, Shiroro/Kainji chapter of the union, Mr. Abiodun Balogun, said that the workers were in support of the privatisation but would not allow government to cheat them. He said that government must pay them their due entitlements, according to the PHCN service conditions. Balogun threatened that they would shut down the station if the government did not arrive at an acceptable terms with the NLC. He warned that if they were forced to shut down the Jebba Power Station, it could cripple power supply nationwide. The union leader said government should try to stop them from shutting down the power facility,

saying that the three hydro plants in the country were interlinked and could not function without all the three working together. “We want the government to know that if they did not follow due process by consulting with the labour leaders, we are not going to accept and we are not going to guarantee peace in this place. “People have worked 20 and 35 years and you want to remove them without paying them their entitlements. “We are not accepting it. For the past 14 months the PHCN national leaders had been negotiating with the government without any meaningful result. “We are not trying to frustrate the efforts of the government to ensure uninterrupted power supply to Nigerians. In fact, we are committed to ensuring better power supply for Nigerians. The truth is there

to see.” Also, the branch Chairman, Jebba Hydro Electric Plc, NUEE, Mr. Tony Ofuokwu, urged Nigerians to prevail on the government to pay them their entitlements. He urged the government to stop the alleged over-deduction of their pension, adding that the government should pay them back what had been over-deducted. General Secretary, Senior Staff Association of the union, Mr. Alaya Muftau, said the workers were responsible for the current improvement in power supply in the country. He stated that Nigerian electricity workers were maintaining the whole power stations in the country without any expatriate. The Federal Government, however, said it had set up a panel to investiCONTINUED ON PAGE 5>>

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Tuesday, August 14, 2012

Photo News

Tuesday, August 14, 2012

Akwa Ibom State Governor Godswill Akpabio (left) presenting a plaque to the Prelate of Presbyterian Church of Nigeria, Most Rev. Emele Mba Uka, during a courtesy visit to the governor in Uyo, recently.

L-R: President for Africa, Andrade Gutierrez Company, Mr. Rodrigo Da Costa Fonseca; Minister of Trade and Investment, Mr. Olusegun Aganga; Director, Nigeria/Ghana, Andrade Gutierrez Company, Mr. Amauri Pinha and Nigerian Ambassador to Brazil, Amb. Vincent Okoedion, during the visit of a Brazilian infrastructure conglomerates to the minister in Abuja, yesterday. PHOTO: ROTIMI OSASONA

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

L-R: Former Managing Director, Intercontinental Bank, Mr. Lai Alabi; Managing Partner, Aman Associates and former Chairman of the Board, UBA Plc, Chief Ferdinand Alabraba; Founder of the Tony Elumelu Foundation (TEF) and Chairman, Heirs Holdings, Mr. Tony Elumelu; Chairman, TEF Advisory Board and former Prime Minister of Pakistan, H.E. Shaukat Aziz and Advisory Board member and Founder, Africa.com, Theresa Clarke, during a TEF lecture titled: “Building a Great Agribusiness,” in Lagos at the weekend.

L-R: Chairman of the occasion, Prof. John Pepper Clark; Administrator, Grace High School, Mrs. Tokunbo Edun and Father of the day, Rev. Sam Adeyemi, at the 14th Valedictory Service of of the school in Lagos, at the weekend.

National News

Multi Links, Starcomms, MTS in N31bn merger deal KUNLE A ZEEZ

tripartite merger arrangement valued at $200m (about N31bn) is set to produce Nigeria’s first mega Code Division Multiple Access operator, National Mirror has learnt. The deal, involving three of Nigeria’s telecoms operators -Multi Links, Starcomms and MTS - is a major merger arrangement expected to create a CDMA operator that will compete favourably with the operators in the Global System for Mobile Communication segment. Sources from the Association of Telecoms Companies of Nigeria disclosed that about $200m investment had been injected by core investors into the emerging CDMA operator to be known as CAPCOM. National Mirror gathered that with the new merger arrangement, there was still hope in Nigeria’s CDMA sector. The deal has also bolstered confidence among industry stakeholders that the CDMA sector will soon stage a comeback in the

telecoms market. It will be recalled that stakeholders have been clamouring for the resurrection of the CDMA sector, which fortunes have dwindled remarkably over the past few years, especially with the growing preference of customers for GSM services. CDMA operators complained about lack of funding, which dwarfed their expansion capabilities even with the Unified License granted them by the Nigerian Communication Commission, NCC. It was learnt that only Visafone, itself a product of merger and acquisition involving Cellcom, ITN and Bourdex, can currently be said to be providing services on a serious note. Starcomms, which at a time was the bride of the industry, later went down the distressed lane. But industry analysts are of the view that with CAPCOM now in the works, there is hope that the CDMA may bounce back to its good old days. According to information gathered, the emerging company has, as its shareholders, MBC, with 53 per

cent shares; Middle East Capital Group, 25 per cent shares, while Helios Investment Partners holds 11 per cent shares. Others said to hold shares in the company include Oldonyo Laro Estate, (five per cent); Bridgehouse Capital Limited, (three per cent); Asset Management Company of Nigeria (two per cent and Private Equity Investors (one per cent). Commenting on the development, a source in ATCON said: “This development holds a good omen

for the CDMA sector in Nigeria and subscribers who dumped their land lines would dust them up and make good use of them once again.” Speaking to National Mirror yesterday, the President of National Association telecom subscriber, Mr.Deolu Ogunbanjo said while many subscribers has quit CDMA network, the new merger would give the GSM operators “a good run for their money.” He said,” From the operator point of view, the emerg-

ing mega CDMA operator will give Visafone a good fight and then another revolution in the area of competition for the GSM firms. For the subscribers, it could be a win, win situation.” In his reaction, a Telecom Engineer and Industry Analyst, Mr. Akin Akimbo, described the marriage’ of the three CDMA conflict as a welcome development. “The move is an auspicious one that is long overdue in the industry. In the case of paucity of fund and increasing competition,

the formulation of a strong merger, such as this, by putting their various infrastructures together, would position the company that will emerge from the union a robust network to roll out innovative services with wider coverage,” he said. Latest statistics from the Nigerian Communications Commission showed that CDMA networks’ combined subscribers base, which was well over 10 million three years ago, has continuously fallen to around four million subscribers.

ASUU criticises excesses of governors on state universities

he National President, Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, Dr. Nasir Fagge, said yesterday that the biggest problem facing the running of state universities is the impunity of some governors. Fagge made this known in Nsukka, Enugu State, during a press briefing after ASUU’s national executive meeting at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. He said that some governors were disregarding university laws because they viewed state institutions as

extension of their ‘personal estates.’ “The governors are manipulating the system and disregarding university laws, just to satisfy their desires. “Most governors have turned state universities into appendage of their offices and extension of personal estates,” he said. Fagge said that lecturers at the Rivers State University of Science and Technology, RSUST, had embarked on strike to protest acts of impunity being demonstrated by Governor Rotimi

Amaechi. According to him, the governor selects surrogate governing council to serve him, adding that the council, in a bid to satisfy their principal, now choose which university act to obey. “At RSUST today, it is difficult to delineate the role of a visitor, governing council and that of the ViceChancellor,” he said. He expressed regrets that Amaechi, who was a beneficiary of the rule of law, could now turn round to obliterate the implemen-

tation of university law in RSUST. He also criticised the arbitrary renaming of Federal Universities without following the laws establishing them. ASUU, he said is not in support of the recent renaming of the University of Lagos as Moshood Abiola University by the Federal Government. He said that the association did not have anything against immortalising late Moshood Abiola but government had other things to name after him.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

News

Tuesday, August 14, 2012

Power supply worsens as PHCN workers embark on strike CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2

gate the non-remittance of the pension contributions of PHCN workers by the staff union. The minister of power stated that the 25 per cent deducted from workers’ salaries over the years

were not remitted into PHCN workers’ pension accounts. Briefing State House correspondents after presenting a report on the 2012 budget performance of his ministry before President Goodluck Jona-

than, Nnaji said that the act was fraudulent. He said: “There are lot of distortions out there. The workers are not getting it, it is unfortunate that they are not getting the proper information, but I can promise you that

this week we are going to release a lot of information pertaining to the main issue which the union was quarrelling with government about. “That has to do with how much they are going to take.

L-R: Deputy Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Suleiman Fakai; Chairman, Police Service Commission, Mr. Parry Osayande and Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Mohammed Abubakar, during the decoration of newly-promoted police officers in Abuja, yesterday. PHOTO: NAN

Ballot boxes: Contractor accuses Jega of fraud CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

and fraud in the procurement of ballot boxes used in the conduct of the 2011 general election. The allegations of fraud levelled against Jega and the commission were contained in a counter-affidavit filed before a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja. The counter-affidavit is in response to a motion seeking to set aside the June 5 judgement of the court, which declared as illegal the use of the collapsible transparent ballot boxes for the 2011 general election by INEC, without due authorisation by Bedding, which has the patent right to the transparent boxes. But the Chief Press Secretary to the INEC Chairman, Mr. Kayode Idowu, told National Mirror last night that there was no truth in the allegation. “As far as INEC is concerned, there is nothing the commission has done against the spirit and letter of the law of this country. “There are laid down procedures. As such, contracts were awarded with due process. The commission went the whole hog of due process to award the contract,” he said. Idowu said the case being made by Bedding was the

same old story and that the court would act appropriately on the matter. “The case is before the court. We are waiting to hear the opinion of the court on the matter. We will know who is guilty of conspiracy and fraud,” the spokesman said. It will be recalled that Justice Adamu Bello had in the judgement barred the electoral commission from using the boxes for conducting the July 14 governorship election in Edo State or any other future elections, without seeking the approval of the patent owner, Bedding Holdings Ltd. In a counter-affidavit deposed to by the Chairman of Bedding, Chief Sylvester Odigie, Jega was alleged to have sustained the fraudulent activities of his immediate predecessor in the procurement process of additional 150,000 transparent ballot boxes used for the 2011 polls. Odigie also alleged that companies with insufficient share capital were used for selective bidding for the procurement of the multi-billion naira ballot boxes, even as he averred that Jega fraudulently misrepresented facts before the Federal Executive Coun-

cil, FEC, to get approvals for the contract, which favoured a preferred company, EMCHAI Limited. The deponent said: “INEC under the new administration of the seventh defendant (Jega), sustained the fraudulent and criminal activities of the first, second and sixth defendants under the leadership of Prof. Maurice Iwu. “Jega, on behalf and in favour of the EMCHAI, applied and caused a memo - EC (2010) 219 COPY NO. 8 dated November 15, 2010 and titled: Federal Executive Council – Contract for the supply of collapsible transparent ballot boxes for the conduct of the 2011 general elections –Memorandum by the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. “The blatant falsehood as stated in the preceding paragraph enabled EMCHAI, INEC and Jega to successfully seek and obtain the ratification of the Federal Executive Council, using the guided tools and instrumentality of officialdom, for the award of the contract for the supply of yet a new 150,000 units of the plaintiff ’s patented products at a unit cost of N13, 000.00, making the

total contract sum of N1, 950,000,000.00 without the prior consent, licence and authority of the plaintiff; which gave rise to the action leading to the judgement under reference. “To this effect, the guided tools and instrumentality of officialdom has once again been used to deceive the highest ruling body in this nation, Nigeria, to infringe on the plaintiff ’s patented products. “The fundamental and fraudulent misrepresentation of facts and information to the President caused the President to approve in error billions of naira waiver/refund of revenue due to the Federal Government. “Apart from benefitting from the aforementioned multiple waivers, the second defendant/applicant, using this approval, collected back N552m as mentioned above, being deductions of five per cent tax and five per cent VAT respectively. “The defendants carted away the plaintiff ’s money being the rightful owner of the intellectual property right which gave rise to the judgement in this action. No date has been fixed for the hearing as the court is on vacation.

“They say it is N85, 000. I cannot understand how they could say that. “Many of the people who are junior officers, some of them with WAEC qualification, are going home with N8m. “We just do not want to publish the tally sheet. Somebody, who is in the position of an assistant general manager, could go home with N28m. What we are saying is that there is a range. “The highest officer could go home with N38m. So anybody who is telling you N85,000 has a different mission. The area of difference is the following; the union wants to be paid 25 per cent of the benefit at point of severance. “That was an old policy before the 2004 Pension Reform Act. After the Act, they continued to carry on with the 25 per cent. “They collected this money without remitting the money into the account, it was just written on paper. So, the workers had nothing in their account. “That is something we have now set up a panel to investigate and we have set up a panel headed by a former auditor-general of the federation. It amounts to fraud to have that kind of thing going on.” He also noted that the new electricity tariff was not to ensure that people

pay commensurable tariff with consumption, stressing that it was designed in a way that the poor would pay less while those in urban areas would pay more. He also disclosed that his ministry had recorded 52.9 per cent performance in the 2012 budget, stressing that out of N75.4bn budgeted for capital projects, N21.5bn has been released, while the amount used was N11.4bn. However, there are indications that the labour issues may compel the Bureau of Public Enterprises, BPE, to conclude the process of privatising the firms in a few months. BPE had already stated that the preferred bidders for the 17 successor companies created from the unbundling of PHCN would be made public this year. The deadline for the shortlisted bidders for generation companies to submit their letters of credit is September 18, 2012, while October 2, 2012 is for shortlisted bidders for distribution companies. Consequently, the National Council for Privatisation’s approval will pave the way for the opening of financial bids of the shortlisted investors. Reports by: Udeme Akpan, John Uwe, Rotimi Fadeyi, Meshack Idehen and Wole Adedeji.

Fresh flood claims 28 lives in Plateau CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2

carrying out their devilish acts. “A phone call was made to the Divisional Police Officer in the area and the security agents quickly mobilised to the area and they were able to track the criminal down while the rest ran away. “We are going to dig deep into it and get to the root of this issue. We are not going to spare the accomplices of this evil intention.” The commissioner added that one person was injured during the incident and had been rushed to the hospital. The police have banned the use of Rukkuba Road Praying Ground in Jos for any activity during the forthcoming Sallah celebra-

tion. The praying ground was the scene of the bloody clash between Muslims and Christians during the 2010 Sallah celebration. The decision not to use the area was reached yesterday during a stakeholders’ meeting which was attended by Christian and Muslim leaders, security chiefs, politicians, community leaders and youth organisations. Ayeni, who spoke after the meeting held at the Police Officers’ Mess in Jos, said: “We have agreed to collaborate peacefully that this Sallah will be celebrated without any bloodshed and the peace we all desire in Plateau will continue even after the celebration.”

National News

Tuesday, August 14, 2012

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

CAN’s calls for Jonathan’s resignation misguided –Presidency OBIORA IFOH ABUJA

he Presidency has described as misguided calls by the northern chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, on President Goodluck Jonathan to resign. The northern CAN had made the call because of President Jonathan’s poor

handling of the security challenges in the country. The body also said that Jonathan had failed Nigerians and therefore should resign his office as president of Nigeria. Reacting to the issue yesterday, the Senior Special Assistant, SSA, to the President on Public Matters, Dr. Doyin Okupe, told journalists in Abuja that the “government is com-

pelled to sympathise with the Christian community in the North who have suffered incessant bloodshed. The call by northern CAN for the President to resign is, however, misguided.” Okupe said the security challenges in the country, especially in the North, were being handled with total devotion and commitment. “Since this menace started about a year ago, the

unwavering support and commitment of President Jonathan through massive deployment of resources, acquisition of hi-tech security equipment and other infrastructure have been seriously overhauled and enhanced. “It is a fact that 60 per cent of the programmed attacks of the Boko Haram are frustrated or stopped even before they happen,”

he said. Okupe appealed for understanding from the Christian community, even as he noted that the Boko Haram challenges had become very sophisticated with classifications into religious, criminal and political dimensions. He promised that the security challenges would soon be over, saying that it took the British govern-

ment more than 28 years to contain the Irish Revolutionary Army, IRA, 27 years to wipe out the Sri-Lanka Tami Rebels and over 16 years to contain the Oman Insurgency in Morocco. The SSA explained that the Nigeria Armed Forces had the capacity to contain all insurgent attacks within days. He, however, said such action would be expensive.

Assault on journalist: CP threatens to declare Prophet Okafor wanted ONUKWUBE OFOELUE

L-R: Minister of State for Power, Mr. Gius Ishaku; Minister of Power, Prof. Barth Nnaji and the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, at the briefing of State House correspondents after the 2012 budget implementation presentation to President Goodluck Jonathan in Abuja, yesterday. PHOTO: NAN

Ibori: Delta lays claim to $15m bribe money EMMANUEL ONANI ABUJA

ontroversy surrounding the $15m bribe allegedly offered the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, by former Governor James Ibori, may soon be resolved, as the Delta State Government has filed an application before a federal High Court in Abuja, seeking to claim the fund. In an application filed by the state Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Chief Charles Ajuyah (SAN), Delta State is averring that the money belongs to it, having been offered by Ibori when he held sway as governor. The motion filed on August 10 is supported by a 35-point affidavit deposed to by one Nikiru Bridget Emakpor, a legal officer in the Delta State Ministry of Justice. The affidavit contends that any money, asset or property recovered from Ibori rightly belongs to Delta State, adding that same

should be returned to it as it has always maintained its entitlement to any asset recovered from Ibori. The affidavit added that all monies, assets and properties recovered from Joshua Dariye, former Governor of Plateau State, were duly returned to the state, same as in Bayelsa State when former Governor Diepreye Alamieyeseigha was convicted. September 17 has been

fixed for arguments before Justice Gabriel Kolawole. The court had ordered a temporary forfeiture of the $15m, even as it ordered the EFCC to publish in a national daily the interim order, in order to allow prospective claimants to appear before the court to show cause within 14 days why a final order of forfeiture should not be granted in favour of the Federal Government.

The order was made via an ex parte application brought by Rotimi Jacobs, counsel to the commission.

Revolution can’t solve Nigeria’s problems, says Onu Ibori

FG to design Master Plan for infrastructure devt –Minister TOLA AKINMUTIMI ABUJA

he Federal Government will soon complete an infrastructure Master Plan which will drive new investments in projects across all sectors of the Nigerian economy. The Minister of Trade and Investment, Olusegun Aganga, disclosed the proposed initiative at a meeting with the Andrade Gutierrez, AG Group, yesterday in Abuja. He explained that the Integrated Infrastructure Master Plan, currently be-

ing worked upon by the Ministries of National Planning, Trade and Investment, and the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission, would be completed before the end of the year. Aganga said the Master Plan, when completed, would help the country to focus on attracting investors to key infrastructure projects. He said: “During the Honorary International Investment Council Meeting presided over by President Goodluck Jonathan recently, he commended each of the ministers for having very

he Lagos State Police Commissioner, Alhaji Umar Manko, yesterday asked the General Overseer, GO, of the Mountain of Liberation and Miracle Church, Ojodu-Berger, Prophet Chris Okafor, to report to the police today or be declared wanted. The prophet is being wanted by the police in connection with assault on a Lagos-based journalist with the National Mirror newspapers, Mr. Richard Eghaghe. The commissioner gave the order at the end of an interview session with the complainant, Eghaghe, and Pastor Sylvester from Okafor’s church. Sylvester is the only suspect who has so far reported to the police out of the six suspects fingered in the assault on Eghaghe. Okafor has been labelled as the prime suspect in the bizarre attack on the journalist, who was in the church to recover a N45,000

debt for copies of National Mirror newspapers supplied to the church on the prophet’s request. Okafor has been linked with other controversial cases, including a bogus kidnap saga. When detectives from the Lagos State Police Command stormed the church premises at Oshofisan Close, off Ereke Street, in Ojodu, about mid-day on August 6, following a petition by the Global Media Mirror Group, publishers of National Mirror newspapers, over the attack, the suspect was reported to have taken to his heels. A close-aide, who identified himself as Pastor Mazi, had told the police that the prophet was still being expected in the church. Not deterred, the police served letters of invitation on him and the other suspects through Mazi to report at the Oduduwa Police Command in Ikeja, for interrogation, before the end of the day, which they all ignored, apart from Sylvester.

strong and robust master plan for each of the sectors. “However, one of the decisions taken at the meeting was that it was time we put together an integrated infrastructure master plan that will bring everything together. “The idea is that once we have that master plan (which we already have, but it is just to put it together), then we will have a list of priority projects that are available for investors to come and invest in. This will make it a lot easier for all investors that are interested in infrastructure.”

OBIORA IFOH ABUJA

hough the political situation in Nigeria has degenerated, recourse to revolutionary action cannot be a solution. The National Chairman of the All Nigeria Peoples Party, ANPP, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, said this yesterday while delivering a lecture at the Institute of Security Studies in Abuja. He also dismissed fears of a repeat of Ghana’s form of revolution spearheaded by Ghana’s former Head of State, Jerry Rawlings, saying that what was needed now was for Nigerians to show interest in the

electoral system and use the instrumentality of the ballot box to effect a change in the government, if need be. Onu said the way to achieve the desired change in the polity lied with opposition parties teaming up to challenge the ruling party at the polls. He said: “The issue of the position of Ghana under former Head of State, Jerry Rawlings, is obviously different from what we have now. Using that method will not solve the problem we have at hand. It would not solve that problem. What we need now is for all of us to show interest in the political system.”

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

FG sets up intervention fund for 22 colleges SAM OLUWALANA

he Federal Government has established an intervention fund in the 2013 budget to improve workshop and laboratory facilities in the 22 federal science and technical colleges, Minister of State for Education, Mr. Ezenwo Nyesom Wike, has said. Addressing principals of federal unity colleges and principal officers of federal tertiary institutions on the “Essentials of 2013 Budget for the Federal Ministry of Education” yesterday in Abuja, Wike said by creating the interventionist fund, the Jonathan administration plans to create jobs for teeming Nigerian youths through skills acquisition. His words: “We cannot be talking about education without the aspect of job creation for our youths. This is why the Federal Government has resolved to invest in the upgrading of workshops and laboratories in the federal science and technical colleges. “The objective is to enhance the training of youths in trades to ensure that they are self reliant. All our focus will not be on paper qualification, which has led to the growth in exam-

News

Tuesday, August 14, 2012

ination malpractice. “We want to create a new generation of Nigerian youths who will be equipped to be entrepreneurs empowered to employ themselves, create jobs for others and help in reviving the economy.” He said in 2013, the Federal Government will continue with its phased rehabilitation of federal unity colleges with 20 schools from the six geopolitical zones receiving total infrastructural boost. Wike charged the officials of the ministry to focus their budgetary allocations on ar-

eas of priority to ensure that the investments of the Federal Government in the education sector are met. He challenged them to be more committed to their duties and be judicious in their use of Federal Government resources. The minister noted that any basic education or tertiary institution that frames its 2013 budget outside the approved guidelines of the ministry will have same corrected at the ministerial level, since needs assessments have been conducted at the basic and tertiary levels.

Ripples over appointment of new CEO for NEPZA JOHN UWE ABUJA

he move to appoint a new managing director for the Nigerian Export Processing Zones Authority (NEPZA) in Abuja to succeed the outgoing chief executive, Mr. Shina Agboluaje , who is expected to proceed on terminal leave by end of this month, is causing ripples within the top management of the agency. This is coming on the heels of the reports that the Minister of Trade and Investment, Dr. Olusegun Aganga, is poised to appoint

his candidate from outside the authority as the new managing director. If the minister should have his way, it will be against the Federal Government’s recent directives that appointments into chief executive positions of parastatals, government-owned companies, agencies and institutions must be done without prejudice to eligible serving officers competing for those positions with strict adherence to the principle of justice, equity and fair-play. An informed source said the workers of the authority are poised for a show-down

Chairman, National Association of Women Journalists, Lagos State chapter, Mrs. Dupe Olaoye-Osinkolu, with her members and members of the Association of Nigerian Theatre Practitioners, during a health walk as part of activities to mark NAWOJ’s Family/ Health Week in Lagos, yesterday.

with the minister should he appoint any person as the managing director of NEPZA outside the most eminently three qualified general managers. The Federal Government circular, in a statement issued and signed by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Anyim Pius Anyim, with reference Number.SGF.19/S.47/ V11/599 on June 21, 2012 and sent to all the relevant government authorities, including the Chief of Staff to the President, Head of Service of the federation, ministers, permanent secretaries, head of commissions, clerk of the National Assembly, agencies and chief executive officers of government agencies, said appointment for such positions should be from in-house. As contained in the circular, the compliance would ensure stability, continuity and improvement of staff morale, since serving officers shall be encouraged to aspire to top positions of their establishment through effective career development and succession planning. “This administration has laid emphasis on the need for openness, justice, equity and fair-play as guiding principles in the conduct of government businesses, including appointment of competent persons into government posts.

ACN asks Jonathan to NUC team begins audit of Lead City varsity sack Okupe SINA FADARE

he Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) has called on President Goodluck Jonathan, to sack his Senior Special Assistant on Public Affairs, Dr Doyin Okupe, immediately and hand him over to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for immediate prosecution over an alleged fraudulent past. ACN said this yesterday in Lagos in a press statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, quoting an online report that the newly appointed Senior Special Assistant to the President on Public Affairs, is on the list of those being investigated by Nigeria’s anti-corruption body, the EFCC, on account of a contract running

into hundreds of millions of naira obtained from the Benue State governor while serving under President Obasanjo. The online report further claimed that rather than execute the project, the senior special assistant bolted away with the N200 million mobilisation fee, which he was believed to have invested in his ill-fated political ambition. The party noted that since nobody has ever come out to deny this allegation, it was obvious why Jonathan has to engage such a “Nigeria despite his criminal background.” The party also said this should not come as a surprise to any close observer of the Jonathan administration as it only confirms the attraction the President has for appointing or retaining tainted and damaged persons with questionable character to serve in his government.”

five-man panel from the National Universities Commission (NUC) yesterday arrived at the Lead City University, Ibadan, for a one-week forensic audit of the institution. Leader of the team, Prof. Alubo Ogoh, said the exercise was to create a forum for interaction with officials of the institution as well as to conduct a forensic audit to clarify some grey areas. He said a similar exercise was being conducted concurrently in five oth-

er private universities based on the same issues. The affected universities, he said, are Joseph Ayo Babalola University, Tansian University, Madonna University, Achievers University and Obong University. Ogoh said the current exercise was different from the routine ones often carried out by the commission. “This visit is different from the routine type; we are here because there are issues on ground and we want to see how this can be cleared so that we can

move on,” he said. The Vice-Chancellor of Lead City University, Prof. Femi Osibajo, said the institution had all the requirements of a standard university, adding that all the programmes were already accredited. He added that the visit by the NUC would further show that the university was meeting up the set standard. “The NUC is allowed to do a formal visit round the premises and also interview staff, the vice-chancellor and other members of the man-

agement staff in this forensic audit mission. We don’t have any skeleton in our cupboard. “We are not saying we are perfect and we know that the visit is not a mission to crucify us but a mission to identify our strength and see where we can improve upon,” Osibajo said. NAN recalls that the NUC recently suspended the operating licences of seven private universities for allegedly violating its guidelines with regards to physical facilities and academic programmes.

Eid-el-Fitri: FG declares Monday, Tuesday public holiday OMEIZA AJAYI

he Federal Government yesterday declared Monday, August 20 and Tuesday, 21 as public

holiday to mark this year’s Eid-el-Fitri celebration. Minister of Interior, Comrade Abba Moro, made the announcement in a statement signed on his behalf by the Permanent Secretary

in the ministry, Mrs. Daniel Nwaobi. The government urged Nigerians to imbibe exemplary attributes of Islam which are love, tolerance and peaceful co-existence.

The statement further tasked Nigerians of all faiths to use the occasion of the celebration for sober reflection and pray for peace, unity and progress of the nation in its march to nationhood.

South West

Tuesday, August 14, 2012

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

PDP accuses Aregbesola of financial recklessness AYODELE OJO

he Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Osun State yesterday accused Governor Rauf Aregbesola of financial recklessness in the guise of embarking on projects it described as “mere avenues to siphon the meagre resources of the state rather than genuine concern for its development.” But, the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) has chal-

•Go to court to prove your allegations, says ACN lenged the PDP to go to court to prove its latest allegations. The PDP, in a statement made available to National Mirror by its Director of Media and Strategy, Prince Diran Odeyemi, insisted that the governor is exploiting various means, especially contract awards, to drain the resources of the state. His words: “Our findings have revealed a lot about how Osun resources are

being disbursed by Ogbeni Aregbesola, allegedly in his attempt to offset the debt incurred in the legal tussle that brought him to power and also to assist Ondo State ACN in the forthcoming election. “We have it on good authority that the sum of N6bn has been released for planting of flowers from Asejire border town of Osun State to Osogbo, the state capital and the question we want

to ask our governor is: Of what benefit is planting of flowers on a Federal Government road to the people of Osun? “When Ogbeni Aregbesola claimed to have spent N651 million on bangers alone in December, we asked questions but did not get any response. This perhaps is the reason why he is getting away with lots of nonbenefitting expenditure in the state.

L-R: Ekiti State Commissioner for Works and Transport, Mr. Sola Adebayo; Governor Kayode Fayemi and others, during the inspection of the dualisation of old Garage-Baptist-Ojumose Road, in Ado-Ekiti recently.

‘NASS may adopt state police to arrest insecurity’ KEMI OLAITAN IBADAN

ndication has emerged that the National Assembly may soon adopt the option of state police to arrest the spate of insecurity currently plaguing the country. This option, if adopted, would ensure and enhance community policing across the country. This hint was dropped yesterday by Senator Olufemi Lanlehin, who is the vice-chairman, Senate Committee on National Planning, Economic Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, while speaking with journalists. He said; “With the stage we are in now, we need community policing in Nigeria and the National Assembly is looking into state police as an option. This is because it is the people who live in an environment that can effectively checkmate the security problems in their areas. “Although, it has its own

emphasised the need for dialogue among the various nationalities in the country.

challenges, including that of political victimisation, the fact is that there is no problem that cannot be solved. We actually deserve community policing in Nigeria and the National Assembly is well disposed to it,” he said. He expressed concern that Nigerians currently face ‘very serious security challenges that if not handled carefully, might affect the soul of the nation.’

The senator while insisting that the challenges we are faced with as Nigerians ‘is not essentially religious but socio-political,’ enjoined all stakeholders from all the nooks and crannies of the country to be patient and listen to the grievances of whoever is aggrieved, no matter what it may be. “We have to deploy a lot of wisdom and a lot of ingenuity to resolve the problems”, he stated, just as he

Mark

FEMI OYEWESO

congress held penultimate Saturday in Abeokuta, had in its report, faulted the congress which produced the 29-member new state executive committee on the ground that it fail to comply with the requirements of the congress. The committee, under the Chairmanship of Mallam Ibrahim Sidi Bamali, alleged that the August 4, 2012 congress ‘lacked transparency in the process leading to the congress as well as representation from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). The recommendation of

the Bamali-led committee also doubted the authenticity of the delegates’ list, stressing that none of its members was involved in the accreditation exercise. The committee, which acknowledged the existence of factions in the state chapter of the party, however, strongly advised a revisit of the state congress to include the four known factions of Obasanjo, Senator Jubril Martins-Kuye, Otunba Gbenga Daniel as well as the Buruji Kashamu factions in line with the reconciliation agenda of the party.

he national headquarters of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) may any time from now nullify the state-wide congress held in Ogun State recently which produced Senator Dipo Odujinrin, as the state chairman along with 28 others going by the report of the committee which supervised the congress. The congress’ committee set up by the national secretariat of the party in Abuja which supervised the party

by the Director of Publicity, Research and Strategy, Mr. Kunle Oyatomi, denied all the allegations, urging the PDP to tow the path of honour by going to court. “If the Osun PDP does not proceed to court to demonstrate its credibility by proving these allegations within the next 21 days, then the PDP will stand accused of being unworthy of participating in civilised political engagements,” he said. Oyatomi said all programmes of the ACN-led government in the areas of regular and prompt payment of salaries, education, environment, road and other infrastructure, health, youths employment, welfare for elders, massive food production, pension arrears payment, provision of security to our people have been funded through creative means of the state government. “For those who may be attracted by PDP’s misinformation on the figure of the OYES members, the best way to ascertain the accurate figure of the amount being paid to them through the Automated Teller Machine (ATMs) which is the means the OYES Volunteers are paid their monthly allowances is to check the bank for the accounts”.

Oyo to rehabilitate 66 primary health centres KEMI OLAITAN IBADAN

Committee calls for fresh congress in Ogun ABEOKUTA

“Between December and today, Ogbeni Aregbesola has spent N4.7bn on decoration during the last Christmas as well as claims of feeding Muslims in the ongoing Ramadan period while another N2bn was said to have been spent in renovating the Governor’s Office, which was not part of the N1.5bn said to have been spent on reconstruction of the roundabout in front of the Government Secretariat, Abere in Osogbo.” The PDP also said Governor Aregbesola is ripping off the state of N78 million monthly through the youth empowerment programme. The party stated that: “Contrary to Ogbeni Aregbesola’s claim that he employed 20,000 youths for the ‘O-YES’ scheme, therefore paying monthly salary of N200 million, our findings have revealed that only 12, 200 youths are in the scheme and that only N122 million is being paid to the beneficiary of the scheme. “The incontrovertible analysis from this is that the sum of N78 million is being siphoned monthly on the OYES scheme alone, yet Mr. Aregbesola is creating the impression that he is prudent with resources of Osun State.” The ACN, in its reaction

yo State government yesterday said it has awarded contracts for the rehabilitation of 66 Primary Health Care Centres (PHCs) and the construction of 101 motorised solar-powered boreholes across the 33 local government councils in the state. The distribution of the projects showed that two PHCs and three boreholes are to be constructed in each of the councils. The state Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Mr. Bosun Oladele, made the disclosure in Ibadan, while briefing journalists alongside the Special Adviser to the Governor on Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), Mr. Taiwo Fawole, at the end of the weekly state executive council meeting. He said the projects, which are under the MDGs scheme and being jointly funded by the state and Fed-

eral Governments, would be completed within eight weeks from the day of commencement. He said the projects were in accordance with the vision of the Governor Abiola Ajimobi’s administration in restoring good health to the citizens and banishing water-borne and other diseases from the state. The special adviser said the projects would be a radical departure from the past, when boreholes were dysfunctional almost as soon as they were constructed, stating that some of the PHCs would be equipped, while the ownership and management of the boreholes would be the benefiting communities, to ensure sustainability of the projects. He added that water and health care are essential services needed for the wellbeing of the people at the grassroots, maintaining that the Ajimobi administration would continue to work for the good of the people of the state.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

South West

Tuesday, August 14, 2012

We’re ready for Lagos traffic law – NURTW MURITALA AYINLA

he Lagos State chapter of the National Union of Road Transport Workers, NURTW, said yesterday that it was ready to obey all aspects of the new traffic law. The union also promised to withdraw its members from the highways and embark on aggressive overhauling of its parks in accordance with government’s directive. The state Chairman of the NURTW, Chief Tajudeen Agbede, who made the pledge at a seminar for union leaders from over 80 motor parks across the state, said the union’s task force had swung into action to ensure compliance with the law. Agbede said all the mem-

bers had been briefed about the law, adding that efforts were on to sensitise motorists to the new law. He said yesterday’s seminar with the branch chairmen and secretaries was the third in a series of meetings held since the passage of the traffic law. The chairman also said the drivers in all the state branches of the NURTW would attend lectures at the Lagos State Driving Institute, LASDRI, to enhance their driving skills. He charged members to desist from flouting the law. “The law respects nobody, anyone found violating the traffic law would be left to face the music,” Agbede said. The chairman disclosed that he had personally led the sensitisation campaign to motor parks across the

Researchers bemoan upsurge in rape cases WALE FOLARIN OSOGBO

wo researchers, Prof. Oluyemisi Obilade and Dr. Mejiuni Olutoyin, have identified low conviction and lack of political will to implement laws protecting the rights of girls and women as some of the factors responsible for the surge in cases of rape in the country. The principal researchers at the Women Against Rape, Sexual Harassment and Exploitation, WARSHE, Obafemi Awolowo University, OAU, Ile-Ife, said this while addressing a press conference on the outcome of their research on incidence and dimensions of sexual violence and abuse

in Osun and Oyo states. They also blamed being alone with potential abusers as well as betrayal of trust by the rapists for sexual violence and abuse on girls and women. The researchers flayed the existing laws on sexual offences in the country, saying that the laws had not only led to extremely low convictions in the courts and gross impunity, but also to the perpetuation of sexual abuse because offenders knew that they would go scot free. They described the Child Rights Act and the Convention on Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, CEDAW, as toothless bulldogs because of lack of political will and capacity for proper implementation.

Gunmen attack Baale in Lagos TEMITOPE OGUNBANKE

he Baale of Ilaje-Bariga communities in Bariga Local Council Development Area, LCDA, of Lagos State, Chief Kayode Ayetiwa, escaped death by a whisker when gunmen attacked him. Addressing journalists yesterday in Bariga, the Baale said that three gunmen attacked him in his office about 9:45pm on Sunday. He said that the assailants fired six gunshots at him and also stabbed him. Ayetiwa also called on

the Lagos State Government and the state commissioner of police to protect him and do everything possible to arrest those behind the attack. He said: “I was in my office on Sunday night relaxing around 9:45pm when I started hearing the sound of gun but I did not take it serious. I just noticed that something bit me and I thought it was a mosquito’s bite. I stood up to see what was going on and I discovered that three people were firing gunshots at me through the block holes in front of my office. They shot at me several times but the bullets could not penetrate my body.”

state to educate his members on what the law required of them. In a 10-point instruction issued by the state chapter of NURTW, the union said activities of some members to violently extort fees from commercial motorists must

stop. “From today, every branch chairman and secretary must put their parks and garages in order and ensure that the running of their parks conforms with the expectation of the state government. Bus stop

collection of dues should be stopped or moderately done without causing confusion on highways. Park attendants should not also operate in the park by beating people,” the statement reads in part. Agbede also said that

members should also mind the public in the course of their operation, adding that places meant for the use of buses should not be converted to alcohol joints. “Be prepared to bear the consequences of breaking this law,” he warned.

L-R: Cuban calisthenics expert, Mr. Francis Rodriquez; Assistant Chief of Staff to Osun State Governor/Chairman, Osun Calisthenics Implementation Committee, Hon. Mudashir Toogun and Secretary of the committee, Comrade Wale Balogun, during a visit to the training ground of the calisthenics programme at Osogbo City Stadium, Osun State, yesterday.

Ekiti begins construction of N50m crèche

ABIODUN NEJO ADO EKITI

overnor Kayode Fayemi’s administration is building a N50m crèche aimed at laying a robust academic foundation for children between ages one and five in Ado-Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital. The governor said child education was an important aspect of education whicht must be treated

with utmost seriousness. Fayemi, who spoke yesterday at the foundation laying ceremony of the crèche tagged: Mega Early Care Education Development Centre, said the initiative was in compliance with the Universal Basic Education, UBE, law, which prescribed that each state must own a child education centre. The governor said the initiative would also increase the productivity of

nursing mothers in the state civil service, as it would be an avenue for taking care of their children rather than taking them to their respective offices. Fayemi said the government would construct the modern millennium crèche in each of the 16 local government areas of the state. He said: “This mega centre will be a centre of activities because I don’t believe that child educa-

Don’t relent, church tells Fashola SEGUN ADIO

he Cherubim and Seraphim Unification Church of Nigeria has commended Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State for the achievements recorded by his administration. In a statement issued by

its Chairman, Snr. Supt. Apostle Segun Amodu, and Secretary, Most Snr. Apostle Nathaniel Lawal, the church urged Fashola to complete his administration’s lofty programmes before his tenure ends in 2015. “We as a church group operating in Lagos, wish to join the growing lists of well wishers for our

amiable governor for thelegendary achievements he has brought to bear on the state. It is not in doubt that Governor Fashola has made the state investors’ destination not only in West Africa, but on the Africa continent,” the statement reads in part. The church, which joined in the celebration of 1,900 days in office by the

governor, urged Fashola not to allow himself to be distracted by forces of retrogression, but remain focused in his efforts to make Lagos a mega city. The church said that it was offering ceaseless prayers for the sustenance of peace in the state as well as for God’s guidance for the governor and his lieutenants.

launched at the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library. The book has already received endorsements from eminent personalities across the country. According to Prof. Akintunde Obilade of the Faculty of Law, University of Lagos, the book is lucid and inspiring, as it offers a useful contribution to the cause of national development and the promotion of Godly character.

Viewed as a book steps ahead of a mere biographical account, Prof. Akin Mabogunje said “it underscores in specific chapters the inspirational lessons to be learnt from the life of a most unusual and enigmatic leader, in a very informative and highly stimulating manner.” Duke Etiyemonu of Tourism World magazine said: “Obasanjo’s astuteness as a statesman pervades all strata of human

endeavour within and outside Nigeria as rightly captured by the erudite author.” He added that Obasanjo was a ladder through which others climbed to stardom. Etiyemonu also described the book as a wellresearched work and a valuable resource material which should be read by all and sundry. The book would be available in the market after the launch.

New book on Obasanjo for launch today ELLA OLAMIJU

minent Nigerians are expected to grace the launch tomorrow in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, of a book on former President Olusegun Obasanjo. The book, “Olusegun Obasanjo: Passing the Torch,” written by Ambassador Albert Omotayo, one time Secretary and Personal Assistant to the former president, would be

tion is a mere fancy, but an important aspect of education that can engender systematic transformation of the sector.” The Chairman of the State Universal Basic Education Board, SUBEB, Prof. Modupe Adelabu, said the centre was exclusively for children between ages one and five, adding that it would be financed with the good performance money paid into the state by UBEC in 2009.

South East

Tuesday, August 14, 2012

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

PHCN workers’ strike throws Awka into darkness A

Imo LGs dissolution: Court rules on jurisdiction Thursday CHRIS NJOKU OWERRI

CHARLES OKEKE AWKA

any homes in Awka, the Anambra State capital, have been thrown into darkness since Friday, as people could not buy cards to recharge their pre-paid meters because of the closure of the Awka office of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria, PHCN.

The office was shut indefinitely by the PHCN workers protesting over issues relating to the unbundling of the company into independent units and non-payment of their retirement benefits. Since the strike started on Friday, all the offices of the company in Awka, as well as the entrance gate have remained under lock and key. Many of the PHCN

customers, who have been going to the office every day to buy cards, have been disappointed. Two of them, who gave their names as Emma Okonkwo and Engineer Osita, told our correspondent that they now lived in darkness because of their inability to recharge their pre-paid meters. Attempts to get any of the union officials to

speak on the contentious issues which led to the strike did not succeed as they have stopped going to the office. However, some staff, seen outside the company’s premises, said they were protesting the plan to terminate appointments of many of the PHCN staff who had worked for many decades without paying their full retirement benefits.

Crime: SouthEast govs must toe Okorocha’s path –CD

Anambra task force shuts filling stations, arrests four people

NWABUEZE OKONKWO

CHARLES OKEKE

ONITSHA

ampaign for Democracy, CD, has called on governors of the South-East states to copy the method being used by Governor Rochas Okorocha to tackle the menace of kidnappers and armed robbers in Imo State. CD said burning down or demolishing houses or hotels being used as hideouts by criminals or owned by the criminals, as introduced by Okorocha, was the most effective method of fighting criminal elements in society. A statement issued yesterday in Onitsha, Anambra State, by the Chairman of South-East CD, Dede Uzor A. Uzor, and Secretary, Dr. Jerry Chukwuokolo, urged other South-East governors to demolish any established house or structure used by criminals for criminal activities in the zone. The group said Okorocha demolished the palace of a traditional ruler in Imo State when his son was arrested for kidnapping and after investigations showed that the monarch was privy to the crime his son was committing and failed to report to appropriate security agencies. The statement called on governors in the zone to send a bill to their respective Houses of Assembly for passage into law, as Okorocha did to demolish any of such established property used as criminal hideouts or used in any shade to advance the course of criminality in the state.

High Court in Owerri, yesterday adjourned sitting till Thursday to determine whether it has jurisdiction or not to hear the matter brought before it by the 27 local government chairmen challenging the dissolution of their office by the Imo State Government. Challenging the court’s competence, counsel to the state government, Niyi Akintola (SAN), urged the court not to entertain the matter since it lacked the jurisdiction in the first instance to hear the case. But counsel to the chairmen, Livy Uzokwu (SAN),

represented by Daniel Agbo, told the court that Imo State Government had committed contempt of court by going ahead to direct the Directors of Administration and General Services, DAGs, to take over the affairs of the 27 local government areas in the state while the case was still pending in court. Justice Ngozi Opara therefore adjourned to Thursday when the court will first determine the issue of jurisdiction before hearing the substantive suit. The court presided by Justice Opara last Thursday, vacated the ex parte order obtained by the former council chairmen seeking tenure elongation beyond August 8, 2012.

AWKA

Anambra State Governor Peter Obi (right) and Francis Cardinal Arinze at the requiem mass for Bishop Emmanuel Otteh, the Emeritus Bishop of Issele-Ukwu, in Onitsha, yesterday.

Jonathan’s visit: Onitsha traders count losses as govt demolishes shops, factories NWABUEZE OKONKWO ONITSHA

raders and industrialists at God’s Own Line on Atani Road in Onitsha are now counting their losses, following the demolition of their shops, offices and factories on Saturday night by those they identified as Anambra State Government officials. Conducting journalists round yesterday, some of

the victims said the government officials had arrived the area on Saturday night with bulldozers and heavyduty equipment, demolished their structures, and looted their goods and other items. The traders said the officials told them they were sent by the government to demolish the structures to keep the environment tidy as part of preparations to give President Goodluck

Jonathan a rousing reception during his August 30 state visit to Anambra State. Some of the victims, who identified themselves as Godwin Ezeike, chairman of the God’s Own Line; Emeka Udeze, managing director of Fubi Block Industry; Chief Vincent Luemobi, motor spare parts dealer, among others, said they started trading in the area in 1983 and were given a Certificate of Occupancy (C

fficials of the Anambra Sate Petroleum Committee Task Force yesterday sealed four filling stations and arrested four persons in Awka for allegedly selling Premium Motor Spirit, PMS, popularly known as petrol, above the Federal Government recommended pump price of N97 per litre. The Chairman of the

of O) in 2000 by the administration of former Governor Chinwoke Mbadinuju. Ezeike said he lost over N200m worth of goods, Udeze estimated his own loss at N50m, while Luemobi estimated his loss at N30m. The traders also said officials of the state Ministry of Lands recently surveyed the area and renewed their existing C of O after collecting millions of naira. The officials, according to the traders, gave them the assurance that their shops, offices and factories would not be tampered with.

Five teachers in trouble over illegal fees collection CHRIS NJOKU OWERRI

ive primary school teachers in Imo State have been arrested for collecting illegal fees from pupils just as the state government has abolished evening classes in all the primary schools in the state. The Executive Chairman of the State Universal Basic

Education Board, SUBEB, Dr. Uche Ejiogu, disclosed this yesterday at an interactive session with journalists in her office in Owerri. She disclosed that the five teachers and another who falsified his age were investigated by a panel set up by the board. The SUBEB chairman added that the teachers would face disciplinary mea-

sures, including summary dismissal. She said it was wrong for any teacher to collect fees from pupils since the state government was paying N25,000 per pupil. “We now move about on spot checks to preach the gospel that no pupil should pay any money even for handiwork. “The Federal Government

before now was providing free education for the primary school pupils, but our people were collecting N1,000 before Governor Rochas Okorocha came on board to stop it by abolishing the Parent-Teacher Associations, PTAs. “The people in the PTAs were not doing their job but they were using it as a conduit pipe to dupe the parents,” Dr Ejiogu said.

task force, Mr. Obi Okwudili, who led the team, backed by policemen, to monitor developments at filling stations in the state, told journalists in an interview that the government had two weeks ago warned dealers of PMS to maintain the price of N97 by using correct meters or risk arrest and prosecution. He said that the four filling stations were cheating the public. “Three of the sealed stations within Awka metropolis and another one at Amansea were caught while selling petrol to customers for N105 per litre, which was visibly displayed on their meters. Those arrested were two males believed to be managers and two female attendants of the various filling stations,” Okwudili said. The Commissioner for Special Duties, Mr. Vincent Ezenwajiaku, who supervises the petroleum committee office, advised dealers to comply with government directives. He said that those arrested would be prosecuted to serve as an example to others. However, reacting to the development, some of the dealers attributed the price hike to what they called prevailing market forces. They also blamed the Federal Government for its inability to closely monitor the major marketers who sold products at higher prices to them.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Physically-challenged persons protest over poor welfare EMMA GBEMUDU YENAGOA

t least 100 physically-challenged persons in Bayelsa State yesterday staged a peaceful protest on the streets of Yenagoa, over the stoppage of their N10, 000 monthly allowance, lack of employment and other difficulties faced by their members. They had stepped out of their homes for the protest at about 7.00 am, causing tension in the metropolis. National Mirror was reliably informed that the group had sent representation to the state government on their plight calling for dialogue, but it was allegedly treated with levity. The protesters in their wheel chairs and crutches, blocked the Mbiama-Yenagoa axis of Edepie Junction, thereby causing gridlock for over four hours, as passengers trekked along the road to their destinations. But, with the intervention of hordes of police personnel and state security outfit,”Operation Doo Akpo,” the aggrieved protesters were persuaded to leave the streets. While addressing the protesters, state Commissioner for Local Gov-

ernment and Rural Development, James Dugo, assured that government would strive to look into their complaints and address them. “The state government is a listening one. Since you are Bayelsans, the state government will not abandon you .We are calling for continued dialogue,” the governor’s aide said. In an interview with the state President of the Physically-Challenged Persons Association, Napoleon Omonya, he lamented that the N10, 000 monthly allowance paid by the former administration in the state was stopped by Governor Seriake Dickson. Omonya said the governor had promised to improve their welfare, but the reverse was the case, stressing that the state government should reintroduce the payment of their monthly allowance to ameliorate their plights. The president demanded for the employment of their members, who are jobless after graduating from tertiary institutions and also for the creation of a ministry of physicallychallenged persons, where a commissioner, special adviser and senior special assistant, would handle their affairs.

Mobil, community report oil spill in A’Ibom ficials of MPN as well as

TONY ANICHEBE UYO

obil Producing Nigeria (MPN) and members of its host communities in Ibeno, Akwa Ibom State yesterday reported an oil spill from the Qua Iboe oil fields. Zonal Director of National Oil Spills Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA), Mr. Irvin Obot, told National Mirror on telephone that the agency has received the report of the spill. “Both the community and Mobil reported that there was an oil spill, Mobil said it was a mystery spill and we have since dispatched our staff to the site. “Investigations are already underway to determine the source of the spill and a fingerprint analysis would trace the source of the oil leakage,” Obot said. It was gathered that of-

South South

Tuesday, August 14, 2012

NOSDRA have both visited the spill site and taken samples of the deposits for further analysis. The Village Head of Atia community in Ibeno council area of the state, Obong Ukott Esenem, in a response, said that the spill was noticed by fishermen from the community. “Our community have witnessed another oil spill which has taken its negative toll on the environment, three officials of NOSDRA have visited the community to access the extent of the spill. “We in the community are in a meeting with the oil firm on the development,” he said. When contacted, Public Affairs Manager at Mobil’s Qua Iboe Terminal, Mr. Akaninyene Esiere, said the oil firm was studying the situation and would issue a statement in due course.

Tension in Bayelsa as policeman kills driver EMMA GBEMUDU YENAGOA

here was tension at Swali market, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, yesterday as a trigger-happy riot policeman attached to Julius Berger construction firm shot and killed an unidentified driver of a Toyota Hilux van. National Mirror investigation revealed that the driver, an employee of Azikel Nigeria Limited, was shot on the chest at about 3.00 pm, thereby causing pandemonium in the market as people ran helterskelter for safety.

It was further gathered that the riot policeman has been arrested and was facing interrogation at the state Police Headquarters, Yenagoa. The driver was conveying three passengers in his vehicle when he met his untimely death. National Mirror was reliably informed that there was a brief argument between the late driver and the policeman, who was escorting a truck belonging to Julius Berger. An eyewitness account claimed that the policeman was angry that the driver was driving against traffic

and attempted to maneuver to beat the gridlock in the area. His words: “The driver left the queue of vehicles and attempted driving against traffic. But, he was stopped by the policeman who ordered him back to the queue. However, he could not go back because other vehicles had blocked him. “Angry at the development, the policeman opened fire on the vehicle and killed the driver instantly. Discovering that the man was dead, he tried shooting himself with the gun, but people stopped

him from committing suicide.” Contacted, Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Fidelis Odunna, confirmed the incident and described it as unfortunate. Odunna said the policeman has been arrested and detained at the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), stressing he would face prosecution. “We have arrested and detained the policeman. We are going to carry out a comprehensive investigation to know the circumstances behind the incident. He was not sent to go and kill,” he said.

L-R: Head of Personnel Management, Sapele Local Government Area, Delta State, Comrade O. Oyibo; Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan and Commissioner for Environment, Chief Frank Omare, during the governor’s inspection of the clearing and demolition of buildings blocking the natural waterways around Sapele township, yesterday.

Political jobbers behind Airhiavbere, says Edo PDP chair SEBASTINE EBHUOMHAN BENIN

he crisis rocking the Edo State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) took another turn yesterday when a group of aggrieved members of the party in Edo North District met and criticised the party for not supporting the petition of its candidate, Major-General Charles Airhiavbere (retired), at the Governorship Election Petition Tribunal for Edo State. But, the group’s anger merely drew the annoyance

of the Chairman of the party in the state, Chief Dan Osi Orbih, who, in a reaction made through his cell phone, described the aggrieved party members as not only faceless, but also a part of the crowd of political jobbers queuing behind the former military man and merely waiting to see what they could gain for the support. Chief Orbih described them as unknown party members who were out to eat as much as they could from Airhiavbere and insisted that the PDP’s earlier position that was expressed on the petition remains un-

changed. He said the party’s stand at the petition tribunal, seeking to formally strike out its name from the petition is waiting to be argued and achieved this week as anticipated. Advancing reasons for this action, Orbih said the national leadership of the PDP decided to withdraw from the petition after due consultations because it was not interested in merely pursuing a protracted electoral case in court for the fun of it. In the communiqué that was signed by some leaders of the party in Edo North,

including Chief E. O. Ojo and three others and made available to journalists in Benin City, the aggrieved leaders argued, “The justice of this case will be better served by prosecuting the case in the court of law. That we are unimpressed by the dissolvent theories and or reasons given by Chief Dan Orbih, which according to him, led to his unilateral withdrawal of PDP from the suit filed by Gen. Ehigie Airhiavbere at the Election Petition Tribunal. We consider them very untrue, unfounded, baseless and lacking in merit.”

Uduaghan orders arrest of illegal dredgers

gainst the backdrop of predictions of more rainfall and flood in some states including Delta State, Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan, has directed that Saturday this week should be observed as environmental day in Sapele, headquarters of Sapele Local Government Area. Also, the governor has ordered the immediate stoppage of illegal dredging of the River Ethiope at the site of the Sapele

Bridge, at Okirigwe. Governor Uduaghan gave the directive while inspecting ongoing clearing of natural water channels and drainage in Sapele. The governor said during the special sanitation exercise, emphasis will be on the clearing of drains. Governor Uduaghan, who said it was criminal for any government official to give approval for the building of structures on the natural water channels, further ordered that

owners of illegal structures, obstructing water channels will bear the cost of demolition. He told the Commissioner for Environment, Mr. Frank Omare, who took him round Sapele metropolis, to ensure strict compliance in addition to the presence of mobile courts to prosecute offenders. At the Diamond Beach along River Ethiope, site of the illegal dredging, the governor ordered that dredging be stopped im-

mediately as the exercise was affecting the one-kilometer 47-year-old bridge linking Okirigwe and Mosogar towns. Governor Uduaghan, who also ordered the arrest and prosecution of one Sunday Ogba, the alleged mastermind of the illegal dredging, noted that the removal of sand was causing environmental degradation and could lead to the collapse of the old bridge that was built in 1965.

North

Tuesday, August 14, 2012

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Road crashes claim 13 in Benue

HENRY IYORKASE MAKURDI

bout 13 people were feared dead yesterday in two accidents involving a car, a bus and a truck on the ever-busy Makurdi – Gboko Road in Benue State. The car, which belonged to an individual whose identity was not known at press time, had a head-on collision with the truck car-

rying cement from Benue cement factory in Gboko. A witness said the crash occurred about 9am at Wannune when the truck attempted to negotiate a sharp bend in front of the Government Secondary School when an oncoming car collided with it, killing three people instantly. The second accident, which occurred about 30 minutes later at Asukunya in the same area, involved a

bus in the fleet of the Benue State Mass Transit known as Benue Links. The bus, a witness said, swerved into the bush while trying to avert a headon collision with a vehicle trying to overtake another. The witness disclosed that 10 people lost their lives in the second accident. The General Manager of the Benue Links, Mr. John Baka, confirmed the accident involving the mass

transit bus. He said that three people died on the spot while efforts were still being intensified to evacuate other commuters who were trapped as result of the crash. The state Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Commission, FRSC, Mr. A. Buba, could not be reached but the Information Officer of the unit, Mr. Samson, told journalists

that the report of the accident had not reached the commission. In another development, the Benue State Police Command and the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, have discovered a suspected Indian hemp farm in Logo Local Government. Reacting to the discovery, the Deputy Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Alaribe Ejike, disclosed that the

Indian hemp farm was over three hectares of land. He added that the farm would soon be destroyed while the alleged owners of the farm had been apprehended by the men of his command. Observers told our correspondent that, in recent times, there had been increase in Indian hemp cultivation and consumption in the state, especially among the youth.

Stop bombings before reconciliation, cleric tells northern govs A ZA MSUE KADUNA

he Fellowship of Churches of Christ in Nigeria, popularly known as Tarrayar Ekklisiyar Krista a Nigeria, TEKAN, yesterday called on the Northern Governors’ Forum, NGF, to stop bomb attacks on churches before the inauguration of its 40-man committee on reconciliation and peace. In a telephone interview with our correspondent in Kaduna, the TEKAN President, Rev. Emmanuel Dziggau, wondered how peace would be achieved in a situation where terrorists were bombing and killing Christians. He said: “I read about the Northern Governors’ Forum’s reconciliation, healing, security and peace committee inauguration advertorial in newspapers. But I asked who are those to be healed and reconciled? Is it northerners or Christians? The governors have failed; they can’t end killings in the North and now they want to hire peo-

ple to help them? “The chief executive of a state cannot end violence in his domain with all his power and influence, but an ordinary person will end the violence for him? To us, the governors are just calling their friends to come and eat with them and not to reconcile anybody, because, first and foremost, governors should stop the bombings and killings of Christians in the North before any reconciliation.” The NGF had last month at a meeting in Abuja constituted a 40-man committee to handle issues bothering on reconciliation, healing, peace and security slated for inauguration next week. But Dziggau said: “How can you reconcile people when everybody is on the run for his life. The same governors met here in Kaduna and Abuja on different occasions but failed to end violence in the North. Christians are the people affected but where are our Northern Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, officials in that peace committee? None of them is there.”

L-R: Managing Director, Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria, Mr. Gimba Kumo, Minister of Lands,Housing and Urban Development, Ms. Amal Pepple and the Bauchi State Governor, Isa Yuguda, at the commissioning of Phase 1 of Bauchi Unity Estate at Dungal village in Bauchi, yesterday. PHOTO: NAN

Katsina slashes workers’ salary arrears from N11bn to N2.4bn JAMES DANJUMA KATSINA

atsina State Government and the organised labour have agreed to slash workers’ salary arrears from more than N11bn to N2.4bn. A committee earlier set up by the administration of Ibrahim Shehu Shema had recommended that the government should pay N11bn

as arrears to workers following implementation of the new minimum wage. But the huge amount was negotiated and N2.4bn was agreed as the final payment, with N1.5bn to be paid to workers as first instalment before the end of the week. Speaking with journalists yesterday, the Finance Commissioner, Lawal Jari, said the second instalment amounting to over N879m

would be paid before the end of October. Jari said of the total amount, N385m would be paid to junior and senior staff of the state, local government employees would get N832m, while those with the State Universal Basic Education Board, SUBEB, would get N1.2bn. The commissioner also said that the government had approved more than

N1.6bn for the payment of August salaries to its workers before the Sallah break. Jari said another N107.7m had been approved for the payment of pensions also before the Sallah break. He said the government would spend more than N6.5bn to offset the payment of arrears, salaries and pension benefits before the end of the week.

Insecurity, Olympics poor outing signs of national decline –Suswam OBIORA IFOH ABUJA

overnor Gabriel Suswam of Benue State yesterday described the growing insecurity in the country and poor outing at the just concluded 2012 London Olympics as signs of national decline. He spoke through his Special Adviser on Ethics and Religion, Mr. David Agada, at the second National Peace and Unity Conference in Abuja.

The governor said that because of insecurity, the government was now investing heavily on security gadgets at the expense of the war on poverty, diseases and unemployment. He said: “Instead of fighting our enemies which are ignorance, poverty, diseases, hunger, illiteracy, unemployment, among several others, we are fighting one another. Instead of investing our resources in provision of infrastructure and other spheres of development, we are investing in

security gadgets as well as peace efforts. “The signs of national decline are there for us to see. We are doing very badly in sports as was evident at the London Olympics 2012 and other recent international competitions. “Even, our image at the international level has plummeted and we are fast becoming a pariah nation. Life expectancy is going downwards in the country, epidemics are on the increase, and our educational calendar suffers innumer-

able hiccups. “Equally, our politics is full of violence and corruption has become an untamed monster. What kind of future are we then bequeathing to our children? How do we overcome this ugly situation?” As a way forward, Suswam pushed for a public hearing where all those aggrieved would discuss frankly to restore peace and security in Nigeria. Speaking at the event, the former Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Minister

and Chairman, National Council for Peace and Unity, Muhammed Abba-Gana, suggested that Lagos, Abia and Edo states should be emulated to tackle the issue of Boko Haram. According to him, how Lagos State was able to handle the issues of the Oodua Peoples Congress, OPC, militants and Area Boys and how Abia State tackled the Bakassi Boys should be studied and emulated to ensure peace in the country. On Edo State, he said: “There is no greater threat

Suswam

to peace, unity and security than allowing ‘un-honourable’ and unconvincing electoral victory to stand. Therefore the Edo State Governorship Election of July, 2012 is an example to uphold or emulate by all levels of government.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Tuesday, August 14, 2012

SUPER TUESDAY

14&44

National unity and rise of new ‘nation-states’

nother worrisome development is unfolding in the nation’s polity which has, of late, been bedevilled by insurgency and sectarian crisis, as the clock ticks close to the year 2015, which the United States, some years back predicted may see Nigeria’s break up. The emerging trend, in the form of separate identities for the various states of the federation through adoption of flags, coat of arms and anthems, although not as life threatening as the insurgency, particularly in the Northern part of the country, however in the view of political analysts, could rock Nigeria’s unity if left unchecked. While it is an established fact that all the states of Nigeria had their separate crests until 1975 when the military embarked on a more unitarist state policy, the resurgence of the policy at a time when echoes of secession is reverberating across the country justifies the fears. States like Lagos, Cross River, Rivers, Osun, Ondo, Ogun, Ekiti and Kwara have before now; either adopted a flag, coat of arms or anthem different from the GreenWhite-Green flag and “Arise O Compatriot” anthem that Nigeria is known for. However, the recent approval by the Bayelsa State government of its own flag, coat of arms and anthem has sparked off fresh controversies on the issue. The decision, which was taken at the 7th meeting of the State Executive Council last Monday, according to a statement signed by the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Seriake Dickson, Mr. Daniel IworisoMarkson, was in line with the vision of the founding fathers of the state and the administration’s stand on Ijaw mobilisation and integration. “This decision underscores government’s belief that this state, like any other state, is where the Ijaws, the fourth largest ethnic nationality, has as its home. Bayelsa is home to all Ijaws both at home and abroad. The emblem therefore, will help serve as a unifying force and rallying point for all our people. It says a lot about the preservation of our culture, our essential values as a people and as a race,” the statement said. The emblem to be officially unveiled soon after the bill to this regard is signed into law by Dickson; the statement further explained was not in any way aimed at undermining the country’s unity. It stated:

Politics

Impeachment threat reveals Gbajabiamila’s past

I’ve always been at receiving end in politics – Mbadinuju

Respect for national symbols including the flag and coat of arms which constitute the most symbolic representations of the ideals, power and rallying point of calls to patriotism is gradually waning among the citizenry as a result of adoption of individual identities by some state governments, writes FELIX NWANERI.

Lagos

Kwara

Osun

“The point must be made clear that the step taken by our government to announce the proposed launch of a state owned flag, anthem and coat of arm is not in any way different from what other states in the federation have done. “It is common knowledge that virtually all the states in the South-Western region such as Lagos, Oyo, Osun, Ondo, Ogun and Ekiti have since launched theirs. The most recent was the North Central state of Kwara. In the South-South, Cross River and Rivers States are the only two states in the region that have embraced this noble concept. In the case of Rivers, it was done since the 1970s. “We believe that Bayelsa State, being the only state that can be considered as

the home state of the Ijaw race, deserves even much more to blaze this trail than any other state in the federation, given its uniqueness. This much is true because of the emphasis we place on the propagation of the Ijaw ideals and what we stand for as a people, the Ijaw ideology. More importantly, as a government, we view the decision, as critical to our development and it matches our drive to project Bayelsa State as a worldclass tourist destination, the new frontier for eco-tourism and an investment haven.” A similar step by the Osun State government in April, it would be recalled, set it on a collision course with the Federal Government despite Governor Rauf Aregbesola’s explanation then that it was meant to promote the state’s culture. He was accused of plotting secession and even placed on security watch by the State Security Service (SSS). But individuals and groups like Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State who rose to his defence maintained that the adoption of symbols of recognition by states was not against the constitution. “We had a flag before Osun did. Lagos had a flag 20 years ago. It was the only state that stayed back when

the other states were balkanised. “If you come to Ekiti, we don’t sing just the national anthem; we recite our own anthem and if you come across any document from the state, you will see that it is not the Federal Government coat of arms that we have in Ekiti State. We don’t even have the Federal Government coat of arms on our documents. That is not to say that we are not a constituent part of the federal state called Nigeria. We are proud to be, but we believe that we need an identity that speaks to the core values of our state,” Fayemi argued. His argument however did not sway the South-West chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which insisted that Aregbesola plotted against the corporate existence of Nigeria and should not be handled with levity. It was against the backdrop of the attack on Aregbesola then that has prompted many to question the PDP’s silence now that Bayelsa State, under its control and at the same time the home state of President Goodluck Jonathan, has joined the fray. For those raising this poser, the Federal Government’s indifference, not only to the issue, but the generality of recent developments in the South-South geo-political zone, calls for serious concern, as they are capable of triggering ethnic nationalism if not checked. The Ogonis of Rivers State, it would be recalled, penultimate week declared selfgovernment within Nigeria, an action, a faction of the Movement for the Survival of Ogoni People (MOSOP) led by Dr. Diigbo Goodluck explained will secure their indigenous rights as well as end internal colonialism. Following suit, the people of the disputed Bakassi Peninsula, just last week declared independence from Nigeria. They went further to hoist their official flag; a Blue-White-Red flag with 11 stars on the blue colour as well as launched a radio station. Though the Federal Government has kept mum on both the Ogoni and Bakassi declaration, analysts are of the view that the issue of adoption of different symbols of identity by the states is not one to be handled with kid gloves given growing voices of secession across the country and the prevalent security situation. To these analysts, the moves could jeopardise efforts of present and successive government’s since independence to maintain Nigeria’s image of a nation of different people with one national identity. They recalled that the 30-month civil war, which CONTINUED ON PAGE 41

Politics

Tuesday, August 14, 2012

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

I’ve always been at receiving end in politics – Mbadinuju

Dr. Chinwoke Mbadinuju believes he is the most investigated governor in the history of Nigeria. The former governor of Anambra State, who has been quiet in the past nine years after losing a re-election bid in 2003, speaks with OBIORA IFOH on the account of his stewardship which has been controversial. Excerpts:

You have been in the cooler since the 2003 governorship election in Anambra State which you lost, are you relaunching yourself back to Anambra politics? I have never shunned public functions since the end of the 2003 episode, when I faced series of humiliations from the presidency and opposition in Anambra State. I thank God for all, but I decided to take a break and focus on other issues which had kept me busy even before I became the governor of Anambra in 1999. My new book was done as a guide to both past and serving governors on the need to let the public have the knowledge of how God guided them to play the leading role in the affairs of their state which is very necessary they do.

What were your sins before Abuja and the Presidency? I have always been at the receiving end in my dealings with people. There has never been any party I joined that treated me as they treated other members. Right from the time of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) primaries before the 1999 elections, the party asked all candidates to go for primaries; I contested and defeated Prof. ABC Nwosu at the PDP primaries for Anambra governorship election. We went into the election proper and I also won in 1999. It didn’t come so easy. My story has always been that of people running me down. From the beginning to this last of Igwe and his wife, it has always been my political party that has continued to run me down; the reason I do not know. My problem with Abuja and the Presidency started during the PDP presidential primaries in 1999. At the primaries, Dr. Alex Ekwueme was almost ordained the flag bearer of the party, but suddenly, IBB and his men brought in Chief Olusegun Obasanjo because they felt that he can play down on the MKO Abiola case. But I told Obasanjo then that I served Ekwueme as his Special Assistant when he was the vice president, and since he was running for the presidency, it was obvious that I won’t leave him and vote

Mbadinuju

Talking about the events of 2003; you contested the PDP primaries three times and won. What actually led to your eventual defection and running on the platform of the Alliance for Democracy (AD). Yes, prior to the 2003 general elections, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) under Chief Audu Ogbe came up with a ‘Gentleman’s agreement” that will enable all PDP governors from 1999 to 2003 to do their second term according to the constitution. But the authorities in Abuja thought otherwise in the case of Anambra State. I asked several questions: Is a governor who established peace and provided security for his people not suitable for a second term in office? Is a governor who won a gold cup; 1st position in a national competition on security not qualified for a second term? Is a governor whose party leader and president of the country once praised for infrastructural development and scored him “A” not qualified for a second term in office? Was the said party leader and president of the country right, in spite of all the evidences in my favour, worked against my second term bid? It was very clear that the process of single-handedly stopping me despite all the evidences, of my good performance and good administration was wrong and not in keeping with the rule of law, equity and due process. So, that informed my decision to run on the platform of the AD.

TUESDAY INTERVIEW

for Obasanjo. He said, well if that is the case he would even do the same thing himself. Then I thought we were been sincere to each other. The other four governors from the South-East had already switched tent to the Obasanjo camp, leaving me as the only one standing for Ekwueme. I supported Ekwueme because I served him; he was my former boss and he helped me a lot as his SA then. Then Pat Utomi came in to join me in the Ekwueme camp. So, I thought

THE PROCESS OF SINGLEHANDEDLY STOPPING ME

DESPITE ALL THE EVIDENCES, OF MY GOOD PERFORMANCE AND GOOD ADMINISTRATION WAS WRONG AND NOT IN KEEPING WITH THE RULE OF

LAW, EQUITY AND DUE PROCESS

that the issue of voting or not voting for Obasanjo had been settled because I believed that it would be unfair for me to vote against Ekwueme. I did not know that that was the beginning of my problem. You cannot step on Obasanjo’s toe without his retaliation. That is his character. From there, there were a number of relationships I had with him and each of them ended in injustice against me. As the leader of the PDP then, everything he said went for the party and I became one of his victims. When it came to the issue of second term, he made it clear that he stopped my bid, irrespective of the fact that I had won the primaries three times. Audu Ogbeh, who was the PDP chairman at that time made it clear after the third set of primaries was conducted that if the primaries were conducted 10 times, I will still win it. But that is not with Obasanjo, because he had already made up his mind that the next governor of Anambra State was going to be Andy Uba and not me. But there were series of allegations against you that made your re-election impossible. During my tenure, Anambra was only collecting N700 million a month on the average from the federal allocation, out of which I paid N583 million monthly to Anambra workers. But on record, Anambra governors after me received their allocations in billions of naira, but we made good efforts to raise fund through the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR). So, there was virtually nothing to loot from the treasury of the state. There was some kind of CONTINUED ON PAGE 44

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Tuesday, August 14, 2012

Politics

Tuesday, August 14, 2012

Okonjo-Iweala and budget 2013 framework

ASO ROCK FILE

with

Rotimi FADEYI

Clinton’s message of hope for Nigeria

any had ruled out the possibility that the United States Secretary of State, Mrs. Hilary Rodham Clinton would visit Nigeria during her trip to Africa. But the issue was put to rest last Thursday when she met with President Goodluck Jonathan, top government officials and security chiefs in the country for over four hours at the Presidential Villa. The United States President and the Secretary of State are traditionally regarded as the faces of America who initiate and influence policies that have impact on other countries of the world. The visit of Clinton also brought out the fact that America recognises the strategic importance of Nigeria as the most populous black nation in the world. Clinton was to leave the Presidential Villa to meet with heads of anti-corruption agencies and United States Embassy staff before departing the country, but the US Secretary of State ended up spending the whole of her visit at the Presidential Villa discussing issues bordering on the relationship between the U.S. and Nigeria. For Clinton, the trip to African countries was more or less a valedictory visit as she had declared that she would not come back as Secretary of State or participate in government even if Obama returns as President. She was accompanied to the Presidential Villa by U.S. Embassy officials and diplomats as well as her official security personnel in a convoy of about 12 vehicles. She waved as she alighted from her vehicle, beaming with smiles. With the warm welcome from the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Olugbenga Ashiru, Clinton and Jonathan had a private meeting on various issues including bilateral ties, the economy and security situation in the country particularly the Boko Haram insurgency. She was particularly concerned about the issue of security, economy, energy and power, corruption as well as trade and investments, mainly because of the many American interests that abound in the country. The stability of Nigeria, an oil-rich country, has become an issue of great con-

Presidential Villa’s visitors 1. United States Secretary of State, Mrs. Hilary Clinton 2. Nigerian Ambassador to the United States, Prof. Ade Adefuye 3. Governor Godswill Akpabio 4. National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd) 5. Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar 6. Former Minister of State for Information, Dasuki Nakande, 7. Former Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs and Gbong Gwom Jos, Jacob Buba Gyang 8. Protem National Secretary, Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders of Nigeria, Alhaji Sale Bayari 9. Dr. Aliyu Tilde, Alhaji Sale Hassan 10. Alhaji Sanusi Mato

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

cern to America and the rest of the world and therefore would not treat the state of insecurity posed by the Boko Haram insurgency in the country in recent times with kid gloves. She told Nigeria that her country would focus attention on possible ways it could assist in ensuring peace and stability before things get out of hand. Specifically, Clinton proposed that Nigeria should creates an “intelligence fusion cell” that would combine information from the military, spy services, police and other federal, state and local agencies. The cell would also coordinate counter-terrorism activities and serve as a contact for foreign intelligence services She also disclosed that the U.S. was ready to assist the cell with organisational expertise, training and equipment. Clinton said that the U.S. and the Obama administration is committed to the partnership it has with Nigeria, saying that it was absolutely vital to the Bi-National Commission. “We are working on economic matters, the improvement of productivity in agriculture, education and health, security, diversification of your economy and so much more. We intend to remain very supportive on your reform efforts. We were also very supportive of anti-corruption reform efforts, more transparency in the work that you and your team are also championing because we really believe that the future for Nigeria is limitless,” she said. For Jonathan, the visit was an opportunity to commend the support of Clinton to Nigeria, saying that within the period of being Secretary of State, she has raised the relationship between Nigeria and America to a high level that had not been reached before.

he issue of implementation of budgets has always cause friction between the legislature and the executive in recent past with the former accusing the other arms of government of selective implementation of the budget to the detriment of Nigerians. The 2012 budget and the process of its implementation pitched the House of Representatives and the Presidency against each other with the lawmakers threatening to impeach President Goodluck Jonathan if he fails to achieve full implementation by the end of September. For the Coordinating Minister for the Economy and Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, it would be difficult to achieve full implementation of the budget which started effectively in April, though she promised that the executive would execute the budget to the benefit of Nigerians. In order to avert possible budget crisis, the Federal Government last week unfolded the Medium Term Fiscal Expenditure Framework and Fiscal Strategy Paper for the 2013 budget with production of 2.53 million barrels of oil per day at a

L-R: United States Secretary of State, Hilary Clinton discussing with President Goodluck Jonathan during her visit to the State House.

The Boko Haram threat and Jonathan’s resignation option

he Boko Haram Islamic sect has thrown many families into grief, sorrow and pains as a result of the bombings and killings of innocent citizens and also issued threats of more deadly attacks. For the Islamic sect, the act of terrorism and killings of innocent Nigerians would not stop until President Goodluck Jonathan resigns from office, renounces his Christian faith and embraces Islam. But Jonathan has said he would not take the resignation option from the sect, rather he spoke tough that his administration would take necessary steps to combat the violent activities of Boko Haram and crush all acts of terrorism in order to uphold the sacred mandate that Nigerians gave to him during his election into office. Speaking through his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, the president said he would not resign since he has the mandate of Nigerians to remain as president, describing the condition as blackmail and rude intimi-

benchmark of $75 per barrel. The 2013 budget framework tagged, “Physical Consolidation with Growth and Job Creation” which has been approved by the Federal Executive Council (FEC) has projected expenditure of N4.929 trillion while projected revenue is N3.891 trillion. “We have been managing down the yearly domestic borrowing from N852 billion in 2011 to N744.44billion in 2012 and we are projecting N727.19 billion for the fiscal year 2013, we are gradually bringing this down,” Okonjo-Iweala said. The Minister noted that the projection of the government is to ensure that by 2015, yearly borrowing would go down to N500 billion. She also disclosed that the government would also start a sinking fund into which N25 billion would be devoted yearly while N75 billion would also be set aside to help retire a bond that would be due in February next year. According to her, the whole idea of the 2013-2015 Medium Term Expenditure Framework is to ensure that the 2013 budget is ready in September.

dation. According to Abati, it was laughable for any group in the country to hand down such a condition to a president who was elected by both Muslims and Christians in the 2011 presidential poll even when it was not in contest that he was a Christian. Abati said: “When Nigerians voted overwhelmingly for President Jonathan in the 2011 general election, they knew they were voting for a Christian. He continues to enjoy the goodwill and support of the good people of Nigeria. As president, Dr. Jonathan is the leader of both Muslims and Christians. In fact, he is the leader of persons of all faiths. “So, it amounts to sheer blackmail for any individual or group to ask the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to convert to Islam. The president cannot be intimidated by any group or individual. The President will never resign. He has the mandate of Nigerians to serve his fatherland and nobody should imagine that he will succumb to blackmail.”

Hope rises on Lagos/ Ibadan expressway

or years, the Lagos/Ibadan expressway has been in very bad shape with potholes and craters, resulting in frequent accidents and loss of lives. Considering the economic importance of the road and that it provides a link to other parts of the country, the Federal Government entered into a concession agreement with a private firm, Bi-Courtney Highway Services, to repair the road, but three years after, work is yet to commence on the road. But hope that the road would soon be repaired brightened last week as the Minister of Works, Mike Onolememen disclosed that the Federal Government would soon take a decision on the road as government has engaged the concessionaire in re-negotiation with a view to resolving the problems stalling the project. Speaking shortly after briefing President Goodluck Jonathan on the 2012 budget performance of his ministry, Onolememen said “we are engaging the concessionaire and very soon, something will be done on it.”

MORE POLITICS STORIES ON PAGES 41 - 44

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Views

Tuesday, August 14, 2012

Poverty reduction, not dollops, for our pregnant women DURING THIS DELICATE STATE, MANY ARE

PAUL

ARHEWE paul@nationalmirroronline.net 07081094311 (sms only)

ccess to antenatal services is one sure way of uncomplicated labour and childbirth for pregnant Nigerian women. With a reputation of the second highest rate of maternal death in the world, Nigerian governments would need radical reforms in their healthcare delivery system. It is within this context I situate the recent moves by the federal government to introduce monthly stipends for our pregnant women to enable them access available antenatal services and thus bolster our healthcare service delivery system. The latest United Nations estimate puts annual global deaths during pregnancy and childbirth at 287,000 out of which India accounts for 56,000 (19 percent) and Nigeria 40,000 (14 percent). Nigeria is still miles away from plugging the loopholes and obvious gaps inherent in its ill-equipped public healthcare centres. Accessing full antenatal services at our various health centres, no doubt, would bring down drastically the problem of deaths during and after pregnancy. However, findings have shown that

OVERLABOURED WHEN THEY ENGAGE IN RIGOROUS JOBS TO AUGMENT THEIR

HUSBANDS’ INCOME many pregnant women are still finding it difficult in accessing these essential services. The FG’s new policy of N5, 000 stipend to each pregnant woman for antenatal services and delivery comes to focus. The policy which is part of the Midwifery Service Scheme (MSS) to be funded from the N15 billion Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme (SURE-P). The conditions laid down before one could benefit from it, methinks, would require rigorous nationwide awareness creation else many of the pregnant women might not be able to access it out of ignorance. Under the scheme, according to Abdullahi Mohamed, the Director for Primary Health Care Development in the National Primary Health Care Development Agency, “The woman must attend antenatal clinic at least four times. For each of those antenatal visits, there is money attached to it, which is N1, 000. The woman must deliver at the facility; if she does, she is entitled to something; the woman must also

ensure that the child is fully immunised. The total package is about N5, 000”. The alarming rate of death among our expectant would-be-mothers, the US Ambassador to Nigeria had this to say of the situation: “While factors like early marriage, teenage pregnancy, low contraceptive usage, unsafe and illegal abortions contribute to the high mortality rate, poverty is a major driver to this preventable situation.” He is very correct. Many would-be-mothers shy away from available health facilities due to either the high poverty rate in the country or ignorance. The planned policy of FG might be a welcomed development. The N5, 000 may be significantly little, it would no doubt motivate many women to embrace the antenatal practice. But will this policy address the pervasive poverty in the land? Many pregnant women are malnourished due to their impoverished status. During this delicate state, many are over-laboured when they engage in rigorous jobs to augment their husbands’ income, and in extreme cases, they are actually the breadwinner of the families, when their hubbies are jobless. The situation is so messed up and complicated that government would be seen as sincere, only when the economic deficit of almost 100 million Nigerians living on less than one dollar a day is uplifted. This could only happen through aggressive poverty reduction measures. In a country where poverty is like a companion, paying pregnant women such stipends without addressing the poverty

level is tantamount to a drop of water in the ocean. My other worry is continuity and sustenance. It is no new tale that many attractive policies in time past only ended up as avenue for self aggrandizement by those who implement them. Will this be an exception? It won’t come as surprise when ‘pregnant ghosts’ suddenly turn up in all parts of the country to relegates the real pregnant women beneficiaries to the background. Some antagonists of the policy are of the view that what FG ought to do is drastically reduced the consultation delivery bills in public hospitals. For me, this argument is more feasible and realistic than the payment of allowance that would likely end up in the pockets of ‘pregnant ghosts’. How are we sure this policy won’t be another mirage of the many juicy promises SURE-P is programmed to render to Nigerians. I have foreboding fear that this one might not stand the test of time, but go the way of other government redistributive and intermediation policies. A sincere and serious government would take headlong the burgeoning and deplorable poverty status of greater number of the citizenry. Any policy geared towards sinking the embarrassing maternal mortality rate should inevitably be thoroughly and sincerely implemented. Anything short of this will result in the recurring rigmarole which has fast become a national identity. Time will definitely proof pessimists right or wrong.

Time to unbundle Nigeria MAGNUS ABE Continued from last week

his is the end of the road. Everything that can be shared has been zoned and shared. With nothing left to share, and the vast majority of our population still mired in hunger, poverty, illiteracy or half- baked education, unemployment, and anger. Our natural reaction is to believe that the reason for this is because there are corrupt leaders in charge who are not sharing things equitably enough, or that if we have our own state or local government, we will be able to get our share. The sad truth is that the poverty index in Nigeria in 1974, when we had 12 states was less than 40 percent; today with 36 states poverty is up by more than 70 percent. More unproductive states may deliver a few more dual carriage ways, loads of government houses, commissioners’ quarters, federal secretariats and other ill maintained structures of government presence, but it has clearly not delivered on the promise of a better life and greater opportunities for the broad majority of our citizens. Solution? Let us unbundle Nigeria, let us restructure the country to create more efficient units in the states with true freedom and the resources to mobil-

ise their people and plan for the future. We will then have a federal government that will be smaller, more efficient and more effective in its more limited functions as a regulator and enforcer. Taking more resources to the states creates an immediate advantage. Contrary to the fears being expressed in non- oil producing states, unbundling will not affect current revenue profiles, on the contrary, all states will get more from our oil revenues because along with the transfer of several federal functions to states will also come a massive reduction in the federal share. But more important than money is that the state will actually be given freedom to plan. If you then choose to lie about your population, it will be your choice, if you prefer to have a hundred local governments it will be your choice, if you elect to pay what the federal government pays its civil servants it will be your choice. States can actually determine their own priorities, compete, learn and cooperate with one another. States should run their own criminal justice system, build and operate their own prisons, airports etc. States should determine their own system of local government administration, accredit and brand their own education, health, and legal systems, and also license their own practitioners. The federal government will remain the guarantor of our com-

THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WILL REMAIN THE GUARANTOR OF OUR COMMON FREEDOMS ENSURING THAT NO STATE IS ALLOWED TO DISCRIMINATE AGAINST ANY

NIGERIAN WITHIN

THE REPUBLIC mon freedoms ensuring that no state is allowed to discriminate against any Nigerian within the republic. It will maintain our common defence, provide a more effective federal police that is respected as an unbiased umpire in disputes between states and within states, as it affects the fundamental rights of citizens under the federal constitution. In such a federation, states will get oil revenue, but they will realise that they either utilize every kobo prudently and productively or they will be left behind. In this race, no one will stand still once the starting shot is fired. This competition and freedom will convert our sharing federation into a productive federa-

tion that will bring out all the hidden strengths and advantages in every part and every individual. It will unleash the full energy of the sleeping giant called Nigeria. The greatest argument against giving power to the states is that it will make the governors too powerful. The governors already have power, what this change will do will be to give them real responsibility, and transfer to them the actual burdens of governance. It will humble the governors. The size of your allocation will cease to count and the number of your civil servants will cease to matter. What will count is the quality of life under your watch. To crown it, let us give every chief executive one single term of five years. Do your best or do your worst and step aside so that Nigeria can keep moving. I rest my case. Concluded Senator Abe represents Rivers South East Senatorial District in the National Assembly Send your views by mail or sms to PMB 10001, Ikoyi, or our Email: mail@ nationalmirroronline.net mirrorlagos@ yahoo.com or 08164966858 (SMS only). The Editor reserves the right to edit and reject views or photographs. Pseudonyms may be used but must be clearly marked as such.

Editorial

Tuesday, August 14, 2012

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

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

STEVE AYORINDE



MD/EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

YELE AKINROLABU



ED OPERATIONS

SEYI FASUGBA



DAILY EDITOR

BOLAJI TUNJI



SUNDAY EDITOR

GBEMI OLUJOBI



SATURDAY EDITOR

LANRE OYETADE



GENERAL 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

Subsidy fraud suspects’ prosecution and faltering steps

ublic suspicion of frantic efforts by the nation’s oil subsidy cabal to frustrate the arraignment, prosecution, and possible conviction of some indicted petroleum subsidy fraudsters, begun by the Femi Otedola versus the erstwhile chairman of the House of Representatives’ ad hoc Committee on Fuel Subsidy fund management, Rep Farouk Lawan bribe saga, climaxed lately when the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Mohammed Bello Adoke, ordered the withdrawal of the charges against some persons and oil marketing companies suspected of subsidy theft at a Lagos High Court. The AGF had earlier stalled the commencement of the trial by his absence from court when the matter first came up for mention. We recall that on the heels of allegations and counter allegations of demanding and giving part of a $3mn dollar bribe between Otedola, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Zenon Oil and Gas Limited and Rep Lawan, the Federal Government had stated that the House report could not be used to prosecute the suspects. Quite obvious, however, was the fact that the Otedola-Lawan bribery scandal diverted attention from the theft of over N1.07 trillion uncovered by the Reps. The House report, nevertheless, prompted the

purportedly ‘thorough’ investigation of the Reps findings by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), leading to the recent arraignment of some suspected persons and oil marketing companies in court. While withdrawing the case against the suspects, however, Counsel for the EFCC, Mr. Oyedepo Rotimi, said he had the instruction of the AGF to withdraw the matter. According to Rotimi, “the charges preferred against the defendants in this case were misconstrued by the prosecution and were inadvertently filed against the said defendants. A review of the prosecution’s case and the evidence available to the prosecution clearly showed that the defendants did not commit the offences for which they are charged”. Curiously, too, the Presidential Committee on Verification and Reconciliation of Fuel Subsidy Payments headed by Mr. Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, the Managing Director of Access Bank Plc, indicted 21 oil firms of fraudulent activities and sought the recovery of N382bn wrongly paid to the said firms, whereas between N1.5trn and N1.7trn were said to have been made in excess subsidy payments over the about N245bn approved for the purpose in the 2011 budget. All of these have not only intensified public suspicion of possible official cover-up and slipshod in-

THE RUMP OF THE CABAL HAS BEEN EXPOSED AND THE NATION IS STRIDENTLY DEMANDING FOR JUSTICE vestigation of the fraud for which the EFCC has legendary records. It is, indeed, particularly puzzling that the FG, which claimed it delayed the prosecution of the suspects long after the Reps came out with their damning findings because the EFCC was conducting so-called thorough investigations on the matter to ensure conviction; turned round to withdraw the case against the suspects even before the proper commencement of the trial. The nation is stunned by the stumbling block which the FG appears to now constitute to the trial of the fuel subsidy suspects. Whither then the purportedly thorough investigation conducted by the EFCC on the fraud? It may be worthwhile reminding the FG that bringing the fuel subsidy suspects to justice is a hump it cannot afford to trifle with. Whether or not the charges preferred against the defendants were misconstrued by the prosecution, the bitter truth seems to be that some unpatriotic and

mostly privileged Nigerians and oil marketing companies indulged in fuel subsidy theft to the tune of trillions of naira; and for reasons of mindless corruption and dubious subsidy fund management, Nigerians were literally punished on January 1 this year with an outstanding increase in the pump price of fuel dishonestly passed off as oil subsidy removal. The rump of the cabal has been exposed and the nation is stridently demanding for justice. The public had watched the EFCC mess up solid corruption and fraud cases which would have earned it an enviable place in the Guinness Book of Records. Not once or twice. Not even thrice. To date, many governors who looted their states dry between 1999 and 2007 are still walking tall and mouthing their presidential ambitions come 2015; in a country founded on law and order. We shudder at the crude level of impunity in the land! The FG might lose whatever remains of the shreds of public confidence in it if the trial of the fuel subsidy suspects ends up the way of past voodoo trials. This remains a test case the President Goodluck Jonathan administration must handle diligently and with all sincerity. All eyes are on the FG, the EFCC and the judiciary until justice is done; and seen to have really been done.

ON THIS DAY August 14, 2010 The first-ever Youth Olympic Games were held in Singapore. The Youth Olympic Games (YOG) is an international multi-sport event first held in Singapore from August 14 to 26, 2010. The games are held every four years in staggered summer and winter events consistent with the current Olympic Games format. The age limitation of the athletes is 14 to 18. The idea of such an event was introduced by Johann Rosenzopf from Austria in 1998.

August 14, 2007 The 2007 Kahtaniya bombings killed at least 796 people. The 2007 Yazidi communities bombings occurred at around 8pm local time on August 14, 2007, when four co-ordinated suicide bomb attacks detonated in the Yazidi towns of Qahtaniya and Jazeera (Siba Sheikh Khidir), near Mosul. Iraqi Red Crescent’s estimates said the bombs killed 796 and wounded 1,562 people, making this the Iraq War’s most deadly car bomb attack during the period of major American combat operations.

August 14, 1994 Ilich Ramírez Sánchez, also known as “Carlos the Jackal,” was captured. Ilich Ramírez Sánchez (born October 12, 1949), also known as Carlos the Jackal, is a Venezuelan currently serving a life sentence in France for the 1975 murder of two French counter-intelligence agents and an informant for the French government. While in prison, he was further convicted of attacks in France that killed 11 and injured 150 people and sentenced to an additional life term.

Pension fund is not national savings-PenOp chairman

Stakeholders differ over minister’s road show abroad 35

SUPER TUESDAY

www.nationalmirroronline.net

Tuesday, August 14, 2012

Unredeemable warrantees highlight dearth of ethics in the Nigerian marketplace Limited opportunities for Nigerian consumers to seek redress or obtain refunds for purchases of defective products or free replacement or repairs of products covered by manufacturers warrantees has left many open to crude exploitation by merchants. ELLA OLAMIJU reports on a worrisome trend.

LOCAL FLIGHT SCHEDULE Air Nigeria Los-Abj: 06:05(Mon-Sat) 07:00(Wed-Sun) 08:15(Mon-Fri/Sun) 11:05(Sun) 13:30(Sat), 14:00(Mon/Tue/Thu)14:35(Mon-Sat), 15:45(Mon-Fri) 16:30(Wed-Sun) 17:30(Wed) 18:00(Mon/Tue/Thu-Sun) Abj-Los: 08:00(Mon-Sat) 09:00(Sun) 10:25(Mon-Fri) 11:05(Sat) 12:05(Wed/ Fri/Sat)13:00(Sun) 13:50(Mon-Sun) 15:25(Sat/Sun),15:55(Mon/Tue/Thu) 17:40(Mon-Fri),18:25(Wed/Fri-Sun) 19:25(Wed) 19:55(Mon/Tue/Thur-Sun) Abj-Kano: 08:55(Wed/Fri/Sat) Abj-Sok: 10:10 (Mon-Fri/Sun) Sok-Abj: 12:00(Mon-Fri/Sun) Los-Owr: 08:40(Mon/Tue/Thu) 09:55(Wed-Fri) 11:35(Sat) 15:45(Sun) Owr-Los: 10:30(Mon/Tue/Thu) 11:45(Wed/Fri) 13:25(Sat) 17:35(Sun)

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 A shopping mall in Lagos

guarantee, when applied to a business or legal transaction, is a promise or assurance, especially when it is made in writing, that something is of specified quality, content, benefit or that it will perform satisfactorily for a given length of time. In the same vein, a warranty is an assurance by one party to the other party that specific facts or conditions are true or will happen; the other party can then rely on that assurance and seek some type of remedy if it becomes

ADVERT HOTLINES: For advert bookings and information, please contact the following:

LAGOS: 01-8446073, 08094331171, 08023133084, 08034019884 ABUJA: 08033020395, 08036321014

false. In an ideal situation, a seller or service provider should honour a warranty by making a timely refund or a replacement where fault is discovered. For example, a consumer buys an item that was discovered to be broken or missing pieces before it was even taken out of the package. This is a defective product and can be returned to the seller for refund or replacement, regardless of what the seller’s returns policy might be , unless of course the product was sold second-hand or ‘as is’ or untested, as it is usually referred to Nigeria, especially with electronic goods. Similarly, if the product fails prematurely, it may have been defective when it was sold and could then be re-

turned for a refund or replacement. If the seller dishonours the warranty, then a claim can be made by the buyer in a court of law. While the application of guarantees and warranties may be commonplace in business transactions across the world, it is gradually becoming an endangered practice in the Nigerian marketplace of today, honoured more in the breach than in the practice. The more common practice in these parts, rather, is for the seller to unload his defective goods on the unsuspecting buyer – sometimes with the full knowledge of the condition of said goods and maintaining a ‘no-refund’ policy, so that when the buyer eventu-

ally discovers the true nature of the goods and attempts to return them and reclaim his money, the seller reminds him of the norefund policy. In some cases, especially in the informal private sector, the seller attempts to help the buyer replace the defective goods with others which may or may not be of equal make or value or enlist the assistance of another seller of the same goods who would help supply them – sometimes after a great deal of trouble and loss of valuable time and even, in many cases, additional expense. This situation always places the buyers or the consumers at a great disadvantage, and allows the more unscrupulous sellers or CONTINUED ON PAGE 20

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

242.293

USD

156.5

CHF

171.2067

SDR

242.7941

CFA

0.316

GBP

247.6456

EURO

207.1434

OIL / GAS FUTURES ICE BRENT

$118.13

+0.82

$99.99

+1.32

OPEC BASKET

$116.27

+1.09

NATURAL GAS

$5.55

+2.63

NYMEX

N31bn merger deal to produce Nigeria’s mega CDMA operator

Youth unemployment: Vocational training to the rescue

Adopting alternative building materials, technologies to reduce housing deficit

Business & Finance

Tuesday, August 14, 2012

Unredeemable warrantees highlight dearth of ethics in the Nigerian marketplace service providers in the market to engage in acts which, if not exactly fraudulent, are far from ethical. A consumer Mr. Imoh Inyang narrated his experience while in the East and needed to have his shoes repaired. “The shoe-mender did such an obviously shoddy job that within a few days, the shoes went bad again, and I had to take them back. On being confronted about the poor quality of his work, the shoe-mender smiled and replied, ‘But if I did a better job than that, you wouldn’t come back anytime soon, I need you to come back often.’ Obviously his poor business instincts did not alert him to the fact that when you do a bad job, people generally avoid doing business with you if they have a better alternative” Inyang concluded. The old saying that all it takes for evil people to triumph is for good people to do nothing, holds as true for the marketplace as for the political arena, especially here in Nigeria. The first factor to blame for this disreputable business atmosphere is the lack of enforcement of consumerprotection laws, as the relevant authorities tasked with such duties are either not aware of the extent and scope of their mandate, or grossly ill-equipped to carry it out effectively, or simply unwilling to ‘rock the boats’ of the sellers engaged in this practice. Whatever the real reasons, relevant authorities at all levels will have to muster the political will to ensure compliance with consumer-protection laws and safeguards on the part of sellers and service providers. It is heartening to note the good intentions of the federal government in setting up SERVICOM, a regulatory body set up to monitor the quality of service delivery in its zones of jurisdiction and among its personnel, and to empower customers, some years back. Also commendable are the efforts of SERVICOM in executing its mandate in ensuring that sellers and service providers give their customers equal value for their money and treat them with dignity and courtesy. How well SERVICOM has been able to execute this mandate in terms of better service and overall social impact is, however, subject to debate. Another respondent, Miss Olaide Akeju had said; “To me complaining about a product in Nigeria is a waste of time because even the police man around the shop will tell you “it is not my business” except maybe you’re willing to bribe him to go with you to enforce your right so most times instead of bribing such agents to do their job you just go and buy another one considering the waste of time and the arguments. Let’s not lie to ourselves only authorised dealers observe guarantee most traders tell you “no refund of money” Observation shows that another factor to blame for the lack of reliable guarantees and warranties during transactions is the ignorance of consumers. The Consumer Protection Council of Nigeria Lagos Officer, Mrs. Ngozi Obidike highlighted this as a constraint. She said “The high level of illiteracy is a serious challenge to our consumer education programmes, we have problems with grassroots penetration because of the significant level of illiteracy

DG, NAFDAC, Paul Orhai

DG, CPC, Ifeyinwa Umenyi

IF I REPORT THE INFRINGEMENT OF MY RIGHT AS

A CONSUMER, I’M IN DOUBT IF I WILL GET JUSTICE

FROM IT, AND EVEN IF SOMETHING IS EVENTUALLY

DONE ABOUT IT, I WOULD HAVE LOST MORE MONEY AND ENERGY IN THE PROCESS in our huge population” She added that “what we do is break relevant information down in major national languages, still many are illiterate that’s why our consumer education programmes are fund intensive and funding is a big challenge” A large number if not most Nigerians do not know their rights, so they do not press demands compatible with those rights in order to get goods and services commensurate with what they paid for as a result of which they are short-changed at every turn by unscrupulous merchants and service providers. In many instances, these consumers are frustrated in their attempts at redress and make do with what they have or, worse still, take laws into their hands, with dire consequences for both parties as well as for public order. According to Mr. Supo Adeagbo, “if I report the infringement of my right as a consumer, I’m in doubt if I will get justice from it, and even if something is eventually done about it, I would have lost more money and energy in the process, look at what happens in our court cases it can be frustrating” Another factor can be termed ‘the Nigerian factor.’ Over time, as moral and societal values have gradually fallen, there has grown among the vast majority of Nigerians recognition of the scourge and scope of corruption, coupled with a benign acceptance of it as a necessary evil which oils the wheels of business, rather than a sad commentary on our standing as a civilized people. The lack of enforcement of, and compliance with, consumer-protection laws, thanks to the absence of warranties and

legal guarantees to guard the integrity of business transactions, fall neatly into the ‘dog-eat-dog’ business paradigm. The general attitude these days is, If you can get away with selling or delivering substandard goods or service to some hapless customers who either cannot tell the difference between genuine and fake, or cannot seek redress, so be it; good for you. But the perpetrators of these unethical actions ignore the fact that even now, the impact of this negative marketplace environment is far-reaching and highly toxic for the nation’s economic socio-economic profile and fortunes. Every economy, to thrive in today’s fiercely-competitive global marketplace of goods, services, information and ideas, needs a level of positive factors to sustain it along the lines of growth and prosperity. Not least of these factors is the matter of trust, reliability, or integrity among partners to an agreement or transaction. This has led a massive loss in market share for some manufacturers and their distributors and outlets across the nations such that some have packed up. On a much larger scale, the designation of Nigeria as one of the least most desirable places to do business in the world has as much to do with this lack of integrity among the cross-section of players both major and minor, as to the lack of infrastructure such as electricity and good roads. In recent years, there has been a massive flight ofcapital, industrial infrastructure and know-how from Nigeria to other African countries most notably Ghana and South Africa as a result of the negative perception of the Nigerian business environment by potential investors

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

and others, as exemplified in the tendency of sellers and service-providers in these parts to blithely renege on such rudimentary and routine business conventions as warranties and guarantees. This phenomenon is not limited to investors only; tourists and others whose purpose for visiting the country may not be strictly for business but who still spend large amounts of money during their stay. If the hospitality and leisure establishments who cater to their needs also subscribe to the ‘no-assurance-and-no-refund’ policy prevalent in the system, these tourists are never going to come back – and will certainly not encourage others to follow in their footsteps , this, over time, represents a massive loss of patronage and much-needed revenue. On the flipside of the coin, there are foreign investors and the like, who, after having overcome their initial revulsion at the unethical nature of business practice in these parts, eventually decide to ‘do as the Romans do,’and adopt even more insidious and extortionist practices than the ones that had confronted them – with even more devastating results for the local citizenry and the economy as a whole, because the bulk of their profits are usually repatriated back to their respective countries of origin, rather than re-invested in the Nigerian economy. Some years back, at a public hearing at the federal House of Representatives in Abuja, which looked into malpractices in the nation’s power sector, the top management of a multinational firm operating in Nigeria was asked if he and colleagues would dare operate in their home countries in the manner in which they operated here in Nigeria. They shook their heads vigorously and said it would be ‘unthinkable’. In other words, what is unthinkable in progressive economies elsewhere has become the norm in Nigeria. This nation will not meet its millennium development goals, or its stated goal of becoming one of the 20 largest economies in the world by the year 2020, if we keep going in a different direction from those countries we are striving to catch up with, by adopting ‘unthinkable’ business practices such as lack of guarantees and warranties in transactions. The customer is even more wary and rightly so when it comes to patronising products or personnel that have a direct impact on his health. It is no secret that even with the best efforts of the National Agency Food and Drug Law Administration and Control(NAFDAC) and the Standards Organization of Nigeria(SON), violations of standards in the production and dissemination of food and drugs are still widespread, and the discerning customer will, if he has the means, shun any items that have the potential to threaten his physical and psychological well-being. On the dire need to address the staus quo, marketing consultant Mr. Lawrence OlaOluwa stated an adverse effect ,” This state of affairs simply does not speak well for the manufacturing sub-sector of our economy and its ability to create jobs for our teeming youths as well as provide the basis for our much-vaunted industrial take-off, for our trade balance with other nations which at present is at an all time low thanks to our standing as a net importer rather than a net exporter of goods and the health of our foreign reserves and currency of exchange.”

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Business & Finance

Tuesday, August 14, 2012

Infrastructure master plan to drive new investments out soon – Aganga TOLA AKINMUTIMI

ABUJA

he Federal Government will soon come up with an infrastructure master plan that will drive new investments in projects across all sectors of the Nigerian economy. The Minister of Trade and Investment, Olusegun Aganga, disclosed this yesterday in Abuja during a meeting with the Andrade Gutierrez ( AG Group) of Brazil. The Group was led by Nigeria’s Ambassador to Brazil, Ambassador Vincent Okoedion ; AG’s President for Africa, Rodrigo da Costa Fonseca, and AG’s new Managing Director for Nigeria, Mr. Amauri Pinha. The AG Group is one of the largest infrastructure investment companies in Brazil with asset base in of $19 .23bnwhile turnover was $10.3bn. Currently, AG Group has completed over 650 completed projects in 38 countries, including the second largest hydro power plant in the world, Itaipu, in Brazil. However, Aganga noted that

L-R: Executive Director, Risk Management, UBA Plc, Mr. Emmanuel Nnorom; Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, UBA Plc, Mr. Phillips Oduoza; President Boni Yayi of Benin Republic; Managing Director, UBA, Benin, Mrs. Gwen Abiola-Oloke and Beninoise Minister for Development, Mr. Marcel de Souza, after a meeting with the UBA executives at the Presidential Palace in Cotonou, Benin Republic, yesterday.

Nigeria’s Integrated Infrastructure Master Plan, which is currently being worked upon by the Ministries of National Planning, Trade and Investment, and the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission, would be completed before the end of this

Oil hits $115, highest since May, on supply concern

il hit 115 dollars a barrel on Monday for the first time in more than three months, as concern about supplies trumped signs of weakening fuel demand. Supply of the North Sea crude underpinning the Brent crude contract was set to hit a record low. Sanctions have curbed Iranian output, while an intensification of debate in Israel on whether to go to war with Iran over its nuclear work added to concerns about disruption of Middle East supply. Brent crude rose as high as 115.11 dollars a barrel, the highest since May 4. U.S. oil rose 90 cents to 93.77 dollars. “The likelihood of some sort of intervention to stimulate economies is supporting the market,” said Christopher Bellew, an oil broker at Jefferies Bache in London. “Also the North Sea, Iran and the Middle East are still a factor.” Supply-side concerns countered forecasts of weakening oil demand, which have weighed on prices. The International Energy Agency on Friday cut its 2013 oil demand forecast by 400,000 barrels per day, citing a slowdown in global economic activity.

“We are seeing prices rise despite weak growth outlook numbers on Friday,” said Ben Le Brun, a Sydney-based market analyst at OptionsXpress. “The Israeli comments, what you see in Israeli media, is a concern. A major concern.” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Sunday that most threats to Israel’s security were dwarfed by the prospect that Iran could obtain nuclear weapons. Local media reports said that Tehran had stepped up its efforts to achieve its ambition. An increase in bets by financial investors on rising prices is reinforcing the upward trend, Commerzbank said. Speculators raised their net long positions - bets that prices will rise - in Brent for a second week, data showed on Monday. “The market is decoupling from fundamentals,” said Carsten Fritsch, an analyst at Commerzbank in Frankfurt. “Hopes of fiscal stimulus from the Federal Reserve, China and Europe are underpinning prices for oil and other commodity markets.” Brent in particular is being supported by a drop in output, sending the price of immediate supplies to a widening premium to oil for delivery later, a structure known as backwardation.

year, adding that it would help the country to focus on attracting investors for key infrastructure projects. He said,“The integrated infrastructure master plan would be worked on between the Ministry of National Planning (which will

lead the effort), the ICRC and the Ministry of Trade and Investment. Hopefully, we expect to have it before the end of this year but that doesn’t stop us from marketing other investment opportunities across Nigeria to genuine investors.”

The minister noted that the growing interest in the Nigerian economy by of foreign investors was a testimony that current efforts by the Ministry of Trade and Investment to market the investment opportunities across the world was yielding positive results. He said, “This visit by Brazilian investors clearly demonstrates that our efforts at marketing Nigeria’s investment opportunities to the world is yielding results. The AG Group is one of biggest infrastructure companies in Brazil. The fact that they have come to set up their office in Nigeria with a new Managing Director after our meeting in Brazil recently shows that our marketing efforts are working and people actually believe in the investment opportunities in Nigeria.” Okoedion said the growing interest by leading Brazilian companies to invest in Nigeria was an indication that the efforts of the Ministry of Trade and Investment in attracting investors into the country was yielding positive results.

Again, FAAN reads the riot act to Customs agents at Lagos Airport OLUSEGUN KOIKI

he Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), has once again threatened to evict at members of Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA) who presently operate at the Hajj and Cargo terminal of the Murtala Mohammed Airport, Lagos. The agency insisted that where the customs agents operate is an illegal area and would be sent packing soon to pave way for effective remodelling of the area. The General Manager, Public

Affairs, FAAN, Mr. Akin Olukunle in an exclusive interview with National Mirror over the weekend disclosed the Minister of Aviation, Princess Stella Oduah has set up a committee headed by the Managing Director of the Nigerian Airspace Management agency (NAMA), Mr. Nnamdi Udoh to search for the possibility of providing an alternative place for the operators within the airport complex. Olukunle explained that there was never a time the agents were sent packing from where they presently operate, rather, he said they were advised to relocate due to the ongoing remodeling within the airport environment.

FCMB finances N4bn power plant in Ogun State JOHNSON OKANLAWON

irst City Monument Bank Plc has partnered with Tower Power Utilities Limited in the financing of a 17.75mw capacity combined cycle gas fired power generation plant in Otta Industrial Estate, Ogun State. A statement from the bank said the N4bn financing was granted through the Bank of Industry’s N300bn Power and Aviation Intervention Fund (BOI-PAIF), which was launched in August 2009 by the Central Bank of Nigeria to facilitate investments in the country.

According to the statement, the bank refinanced TPUL’s existing non BOI-PAIF debt and has subsequently financed increased capacity from 8.75mw to 15.75MW owing to increased demand from its customers in the Otta Industrial Estate. The bank’s customers include Aluminum Rolling Mills, Kolorkote Nigeria Limited, Daraju Industries, Eagle Packaging & Printing, Euro Global and Food Distilleries, Sonhart Investments, Homan Industries Limited and Sadwanis Nigeria Limited. The bank’s Vice President and Group Head, Project and Structured Finance, Mr. Robert Grant, said that removing the

He said, “The Minister of Aviation, Princess Stella Oduah has set up a committee headed by the Managing Director of NAMA to look into the matter and the committee is still working. The issue of the agents coming back or not does not arise. They’ve not been sent packing. The only thing we did was just to advise them that we were going to work on the Hajj and Cargo terminal and they would have to vacate where they presently operate now. “However, the customs agents made a request that we should provide a temporary place for them to continue to carry out their operations.” potential users of electricity from the national grid has reduced the burden on the transmission company of Nigeria’s thus, beneficially supporting domestic users with more stable power. He explained that small scale independent power providers such as TPUL have proved to be successful “off grid” power providers and have been effectively managed by private investors under the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission’s licensing guidelines. TPUL’s Executive Director, Mr. Arun D-Sira said that the company is proud to be a partner with FCMB, in order to satisfy power demand in Otta Industrial cluster.

Business & Finance

Tuesday, August 14, 2012

FG’s GES on course as 17 states embrace scheme KUNLE A ZEEZ

o fewer than 17 states in the federation have started running the Growth Enhancement Support (GES) scheme, with another 15 gearing up to kickstart it soon. Among the states already running the scheme are; Anambra, Cross River, FCT, Osun, Oyo, Ekiti, Bauchi, Gombe and Jigawa. Others are Ebonyi, Enugu, Kogi, Ogun, Niger, Rivers, Kwara, Kaduna and Edo states. GES is a special agricultural scheme of the Federal Government aimed at delivering subsidised farm inputs and facilitating a shift from subsistence to commercial farming. The scheme, according to findings, has recorded impressive rollout success with several states already run-

ning the programme. GES, as envisioned by the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Akin Adesina, aims to deliver subsidised fertilizer to farmers; empower them to increase their yield and encourage a shift from subsistence to commercial farming based on an electronic registration and validation process. Under the GES Scheme, an accredited farmer will receive fertiliser allocation through a Personal Identification Number, PIN (a voucher number for all farm inputs comprising fertilizer and seeds- available through the GES program) sent to his or her phone. The recipient then redeems the voucher for farm inputs at subsidized rates after paying the top-up to specially appointed agrodealer. Already, over 500 redemption sites were said to have

been established where over 100,000 farmers have redeemed subsidised farm inputs with several hundreds agro-dealers also engaged under the scheme. The states that have rolled out the scheme have used GES as a platform for increased output of farm products where they have specialisation and economic advantage. In Ekiti State, the scheme rolled out with the fertilizer and seed distribution programme where each registered farmer will receive a support of N10, 500 from government. The Commissioner for Agriculture in Ekiti, Mr. Jide Arowosafe, at the rollout of the programme expressed delight at the fact that GES had commenced in the state and involved 16 locations simultaneously in all the local government areas. In Delta State, Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Mr. Misan Ukubeyinje, said that over 69,000 registered farmers in the state would benefit from the scheme.

L.R: Brand Manager, Seaman Schnapps, Mrs.Docas Dada; Area Sales Manager, West Centre, Mr. Gibson Akiojano; Larooye II, Ataoja of osogbo, Oba Jimoh Oyetunji Olanipekun; Regional Sales Manager, West, Mr. Femi Olayemi and Iyalode of Osogbo, Chief Alake Kolade, during a visit to the palace of Ataoja by Seaman team in preparation for this year Osun Osogbo Festival, yesterday.

Lagos govt urged to harmonise grey areas in Land Use Charge policy DAYO AYEYEMI

agos State Government has been urged to re-evaluate and harmonise all grey areas in the controversial Land Use Charge policy for wider acceptance by the populace. In the wake of criticism trailing the Land Use Charge in Lagos State, estate surveyors have urged the authorities to review and harmonise contentious areas in the policy to make it more acceptable to the citizens. Speaking during an interactive session with officials of the Lagos State Land Use Charge Office, members of the Nigerian

Institution of Estate Surveyors and Valuers (NIESV), Estate Agency Faculty, noted that despite the implementation of the policy, staff of local council in the state still issue tenement rate notices to areas already billed for land use charges. Apart from this, they pointed out that other irregularities inimical to the growth of the housing sector still exist in the policy. Chairman of the Estate Agency Faculty, Mr. Chudi Ubosi, explained that the interaction with the authority was to thrash some of the issues affecting their members, landlords and tenants. But the Managing Director of the Land Use office, Mr. Dele

Ibrahim, explained that the reasons for the introduction of Land Use Charge in the state was to merge all tenement rates and property tax levies to reduce multiplicity of taxes. According to him, Land Use Charge policy is a product of consultation with the professional bodies, including estate surveyors who advised government on how to prepare the enumeration form, even undertook valuation reports on some of the properties. He explained that instead of property owners getting three demand notices, government decided to combine all demand notices to one, adding that a law was passed to back it. He pointed out that rates in the country are the lowest in the world.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Sterling Bank assures on entrepreneurial development ADEDEJI ADEMIGBUJI

terling Bank has reiterated its belief in human development and wealth creation as it assured that it will continue to invest in these areas to empower the Nigerian entrepreneurs for the growth of the sectors. Speaking at the end of the Fate Foundation Series at the weekend sponsored by the bank, Mr. Shina Atilola, Group Head, Corporate Development of the bank also assured that the bank will continue to empower the Nigerian entrepreneurs to achieve their desired goals. His words: “it is the Bank’s desire to see every Nigerian youth gainfully employed and able to

make a living without looking for jobs but start their own business. Therefore, our partnership with Fate Foundation on these lecture series is to ensure that our future entrepreneurs are well empowered and position to fully understand the Nigerian business environment and how to attract the right credit”. Atilola explained further that the partnership with FATE Foundation serves as a platform to promote entrepreneurship and increase the level of SME awareness and participation across board. “It further reiterates the Bank’s commitment to continuous Corporate Social Responsibility Initiative to further promote education in the Country”, he added.

EFCC lauds registration directive for non-bank financial institutions

he Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has expressed satisfaction that the campaign by the Special Control Unit against money laundering for compliance with anti-money laundering regulations by designated non-financial institutions has received a boost with a directive by the Central Bank of Nigeria, making registration with SCUML a key Know Your Customer requirement for opening accounts for DNFIs in financial institutions. The directive contained in a circular titled: “Additional Know Your Customer Requirement in Respect of Designated Nonfinancial Businesses and Professions “, mandates all financial institutions, prior to establishing business relationships with

DNFI’s, to obtain evidence of registration with SCUML. The new requirement which takes effect from August 2, 2012, according to the circular signed by the apex bank’s director, financial policy and regulation department, also mandates all DNFBPs who are existing financial institutions customers to update their records within six (6) months from the date of the circular. The EFCC quoted the Head, SCUML, Ms Angela Nworgu as saying that the directive of the apex financial regulatory institution will enhance efforts at implementing Nigeria’s Anti-Money laundering and Combating the Financing of Terrorism (AML/ CFT) regime as it will automatically translate into more registrations and supervisory work.

Summit to spotlight rights of telecoms consumers KUNLE A ZEEZ

national summit to be organised by the National Association of Telecommunications Subscribers is set to focus on the rights of telecoms subscribers in the face of fluctuating quality of service by service providers in Nigeria. The summit, the first National Telecommunications Subscribers Summit, with the theme: ‘Nigerian Telecomm Revolution: Consumerism as the last mile challenge’, will be held in Lagos next month. The President of NATCOMS, Chief Deolu Ogunbanjo, in a statement in Lagos, said the summit’s objective was to

create an independent forum where subscribers will have firsthand knowledge about the service delivery processes of telecoms operators. He said that the event is a one-stop shop for the telecoms operators where common causes of network failure and several challenges in the industry will be examined and possible solutions proffered. Furthermore, he said the summit is meant to get subscribers input on how to address the myriad of challenges facing the industry, get them to consent to the line of actions that will be presented as a communiqué, which will be presented to the National Assembly as Action Plan for tackling the challenges of the industry.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Jobs & Career

Tuesday, August 14, 2012

Youth unemployment: Vocational, training to the rescue The inability of majority of Nigeria’s youths to secure employment has been described by many as a time bomb on which the country is sitting. Experts in job creation however are of the opinion that emphasising skill development, alongside vocational training will diffuse the bomb, writes MESHACK IDEHEN.

he medium and long term implications of global unemployment amongst youths have formed points of discussions at several forums in Nigeria and across the world. Most observers however said that very little has been done by way of proffering sustainable solutions that can curb the trend. In Nigeria, some analysts said the reality of the situation posed by mass unemployment amongst youths is driven much closer home, when thoughtful consideration is given to the myriad of challenges that are posed to the nation’s economy by the activities of some youths; chiefs of which are the unending loss of local and international investor’s confidence, and the closure of once profitable companies in many parts of the country, due to the insecurity of lives and properties in those parts. Be that as it may, experts told National Mirror the reality of the dangers posed by insecurity and other economically retrogressive actions executed by mostly youths on the economy, is of less significance when compared to the inability of Nigeria’s young population to contribute to the economy through proper application of their skills, vocation and trainings, adding that the inability poses far greater danger in the long term to the economic survival of the nation. In that regard, Registrars and Chief Executive Officers of the Chartered Institute of Personnel Management of Nigeria (CIPM), Mr. Sunday Adeyemi, and that of the Institute of Strategic Management of Nigeria (ISMN), Mr Adeyemi Mapaderun advocated the prioritisation of skill and vocational develop-

Mapaderun

ment of youths, as against the current emphasis on university education and certification. According to them, such a move will go a long way, towards helping to meet the objectives of solving permanently, the problem of unemployment amongst youths in Nigeria by producing job seekers who understand what the economy requires. Citing the example of a major conglomerate in Nigeria which has embarked on the recruitment of 2000 tertiary education level drivers for their organisation, the Immediate Past President and Chairman of Council of the Nigeria Institute of Training and Development (NITAD), Mr. Femi Kolajo, said more youths should consider the development of their inherent skills, including the skills of driving vehicles. Acknowledging that he is aware of the ultramodern trucks the company has imported in order to enhance the haulage aspect of its business and make it more effective; Kolajo went further by describing the trucks as a business unit of their own, while saying other companies, particularly those in the manufacturing sector are already engaging young graduate drivers with required skills and competence in their companies. The former NITAD president said vocations like professional driving of trucks which the Dangote Group is doing with youths, alongside other vocations and skills

Agboju

Wogu

IT WAS TIME COUNTRIES THAT ARE CONSIDERED EMERGING ECONOMIC POWERHOUSES LIKE

NIGERIA TO

CONFRONT THE SCOURGE OF YOUTH UNEMPLOYMENT, THROUGH THE

INTERVENTION OF BROAD BASED VOCATIONAL AND TECHNICAL TRAINING that may not be considered as employable skills in this climes, should be harnessed and developed in order to create more jobs and beat unemployment ratio. “Even the National Directorate of Employment (NDE),recently concluded the training of female cab drivers within and outside the Federal Capital Territory (FCT),in order to reduce unemployment, especially amongst young men and women”, he explained. On his part, Recruitment and Training Professional, Mr. Sunny Agboju, said last week declaration by the International Labour Organisation concerning the challenges global economies face over youth unemployment should not be taken lightly. Also advocating for the country’s unemployed youths to embrace the “limitless job opporturnities”that vocational and technical skills development provides, Agboju said it was time countries that are considered emerging economic powerhouses like Nigeria to confront the

scourge of youth unemployment, through the intervention of broad based vocational and technical training that is capable of industrialising the country and contributing to the nation’s Gross Domestic Product, (GDP). Specifically mentioning vocations like fittings and f ab r i c at i o n , i n t e r i o r, f ab r i c and furniture designs, agricultural initiatives amongst others, he explained that youths can between six months to two years learn a vocation, or develop a skill that can permanently take them out of the unemployment zone, if they so desire. “There are so many areas to choose from as far as obtaining vocational or technical training, or developing an inborn inherent skill or talent. Apart from the abundance of training centres all over the place, tons of materials on the internet can also make the difference between staying unemployed or being in a job”. Based on the latest ILO report, global unemployment amongst youth is on a steady

rise, with more than 75 million youths that are willing and capable of working not being able to get jobs, particularly developing nations, according to the ILO,is facing a worsening youth employment crisis. The ILO also in the report, warned nations about a “scarred” generation of young workers that is facing a dangerous mix of high unemployment, and that increased inactivity and precarious work situation and experience in developed countries, as well as persistently poverty in the developing world may push the figure of 75 million youths worldwide that are looking for work, to more than twice that number. Nevertheless, the ILO Director General, Mr. Juan Somavia, while urging nations to embark on newer initiatives through technical and vocational development programme for youths personal skill development, embracing vocational training and emphasising hands on ability can provide assistance to countries in developing coherent and coordinated interventions on youth employment. Somavia explained that the ILO is reiterating that young people are three times more likely to be unemployed than adults or established professional, and that urgent steps needed to be taken by countries in order to stave off the implosion that global youth unemployment could trigger in the coming years

Jobs & Career

Tuesday, August 14, 2012

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Labour threatens to shut down construction industry MESHACK IDEHEN

rganised labour has warned the Federal Government to be prepared to face the depression that is looming economic due to the imminent collapse and challenges that the construction industry is grappling with. Under the auspices of the two major unions in the construction industry; the National Union of Civil Engineering Construction, Furniture and Wood Workers, (NUCECFWW), and Construction and Civil Engineering, Senior Staff Association, (CCESSA), the unions said they were raising the alarm on time for the government to take action. Speaking to journalists over the weekend on behalf of the two unions, the President of CCESA, Dr. Augustine Etafo, said some workers in the industry are planning to stage a protest in Abuja in order to draw the attention of government to the plight of the workers and the companies in the sector. He said all the construction sites and locations where constructions are taking place would be shut down for a day, lamenting also that no fewer

Minister of Works, Mr. Mike Onolememen

Etafo

THE WORST PART OF IT IS THAT MOST OF THESE COMPANIES BORROWED MONEY FROM THE BANKS WITH HIGH INTEREST RATE AND THEY ARE SPENDING MILLIONS TO SERVE THE LOAN MONTHLY than 100,000 workers have been sacked by multi-national corporations, and indigenous contractors due to the refusal of govern-

ment to pay for projects already completed and certified. Speaking in the same vein, General Secretary of NUCECF-

Govt worried over low productivity in economy MESHACK IDEHEN

he Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Labour and Productivity, Dr. Tunji Olaopa, has said that the Federal Government is worried by the low productivity that has characterised the Nigerian economy, adding though that the Federal Government has put strategy in place to instil new productivity paradigm in the nation. Speaking in a statement after a seminar on instilling a new productivity paradigm in the national economy, Olaopa

said that the economy may face serious challenges if the issues surrounding low productivity in the country’s economy are not adequately addressed. He explained that the seminar is a product of the critical conversation with stakeholders in the last few months, in view of the inadequacies of the existing paradigm to strike critical balance between productivity and the overall performance of the national economy within the framework of the critical targets that must be achieved to ignite transformation of the economy. According to him, the coun-

try is grappling with the issue of low productivity in all sectors of the economy, and that the objectives of national transformation agenda cannot be actualised without addressing profoundly, the serious challenges posed by the low productivity indices in all sectors of the economy. He explained that the unpleasant situation demands a quick and holistic assessment of the vision and mandate of the ministry of labour and productivity, with a view to repositioning it to play its crucial and significant role in the new process of national growth and development.

talented Nigerian graduates who are desirous of a career in a world class environment. The process includes a highly competitive selection process, while the requirements for qualifications for the position are that the candidate must not be older than 29years as at 31st August, 2012 and should possess the following, possess 5 credits and have the willingness to work in any part of Nigeria. Furthermore, the position of a Fixed Income Broker (www.

findajobinafrica.com) located in Lagos is also up for grabs. The description for the position amongst others, expects the Broker to follow the financial news and send daily market updates, and liaise with different market participants and build strong relationships For qualifications, the incoming is expected to have a minimum of Bachelor’s Degree in Finance, Banking, Accounting, Business Management, Law, Economics and Company Secretarial

Job vacancies O n job vacancies for the week, positions for Graduate Management Trainees in a Multinational Organisation (www.ngcareers.com), are available for pickings. Targeted for bright, ambitious and talented Nigerian Graduates?, the firm believes that The Management Trainee position is an integral part of the Human Resources Development Organisation Graduate Management Development Scheme, aimed at identifying young bright, ambitious and

WW, Mr Babatude Liadi, said some of the road projects that have been abandoned due to unpaid debts to construction companies include the OshodiApapa Expressway, the Abeokuta, Lagos road-Lagos-Ibadan Express road, Kano-Maiduguri road, Abuja, Lokoja road, East west road, Kaduna eastern bypass among several others. Liadi bemoaned the situation where projects executed and certified in some states are not paid for, because the government or governors that awarded the contracts are no longer in office, and the new governors or governments would claim ignorance of the contracts. “We have cases like that everywhere. Lokoja, Abuja road has been on even before the present administration. Every year, they budget for it without money being released. The road today, is in a sorry state; the contractor has abandoned it and disengaged all the workers. In the first week of this month, Dantata Construction Company laid off almost all its workers on Kano Maiduguri road. Another construction company on the same road, laid off almost 80 percent of its workers because of unpaid money to contractors,” he la-

mented. He added that another Chinese company, CGC; which was also working in some states also have laid off hundreds of workers, saying also that the industry is under grave threat. “We need to draw the attention of the government at all levels to the crisis. We call on well meaning Nigerians who can prevail on the government to pay the contractors and save the industry from imminent collapse. “The worst part of it is that most of these companies borrowed money from the banks with high interest rate and they are spending millions to service the loan monthly. Workers have been on the receiving end and they are being laid off massively. “In other climes, we see government pulling down old structures to build new structures to create jobs in construction industry, you see government deliberately redesigning roads, public buildings and create infrastructures where they never existed to sustain jobs and create more jobs in the construction sector. But in our country, we are only not doing that, but we are also deliberately killing existing jobs. We cannot continue like this.”

Time management tips for employees

usinesses still have a reduced workforce shouldering a larger burden of work than in previous years. “Trim and lean” is still a popular mantra among small employers struggling to contain costs. •Don’t spread yourself - too thin- Trying to complete too many things in a short window of time can be an unrealistic expectation and lead to less-than-desired results. Instead, prioritise the tasks that must be completed each day. •Delegate- Delegating tasks that do not require your full attention or expertise is one of the most important aspects of effective time management. While it may seem easier to “just do it yourself”, this misconception can be overwhelming and stressful. Ef-

fectively delegating lower priority tasks frees up time to complete the more important tasks that require your full attentions and expertise. •Say No- As much as employees would like to help their fellow co-workers, there is simply no way to say “yes” to every request, while still managing your own responsibilities. Make a decision of what you must and want to do. Then say “no” to all other request. •Don’t be slave to your phone or email- There are many things that you can do to ensure that your time is not monopolised on the phone. You can have someone screen your calls, use voice mail when you don’t want to be disturbed, or schedule phone time to make and return calls. Source: Yahoojobs.com

Studies or relevant field with a minimum of 4 years relevant postqualification experience (NYSC year excluded), membership in a Chartered Financial Institution is desired Also on offer for the week from (www.findjobafrica.com), is the position of General Manager Operations based in Lagos. The job description is to provide leadership and direction in all functions of the company; formulate and execute company’s strategic plan; and establish and lead

execution of operation strategy, amongst other top responsibilities. Qualifications, apart from multiple skills, must include a bachelor’s degree from a recognised university, and at least 10-15 years of relevant experience. Strong knowledge of FMCG industry and experience in all the associated areas including general management finance, people management etc and demonstrated ability to lead crossfunctional teams and get results is also vital.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Tuesday, August 14, 2012

Real Estate & Environment dayoayeyemi@yahoo.com 08033312578

Adopting alternative building materials, technologies to reduce housing deficit

One One e off the the th e modern mo ern mod n estates estat es tat tates a es in in Abuja Ab buj uja ja

A house developed by Sanderton Ventures

For Nigeria to bridge the 16 million housing gap, there is need to change from convectional building methods to modern ones that encourage mass housing on a large scale and at cheaper rates. DAYO AYEYEMI, in this report looks at some of these modern building systems and talk to experts on the possibility of adopting them for mass housing delivery.

nywhere in the world where housing needs of the populace has been met, it has been through the use of alternative building technologies for large housing projects. In Sub-Saharan Africa, South Africa has been in the forefront of employing new technologies in the development of low income housing. With Nigeria’s housing deficit of over 16 million according to United Nation’s statistics, population growth rate of 2.5 per cent, urbanisation at 3.8 per cent coupled with high rate of environmental degradation and escalating cost of conventional materials for construction, many experts have suggested the use of alternative building materials such as Modular system building and Moladi form wall to enhance mass housing. Private organisations such as Royal Sanderton Limited and Moladi Nigeria Limited recently introduced these new technologies, enjoining government to adopt them for mass housing production. To demonstrate its sincerity, Royal Sanderton have constructed two housing estates in Lagos namely: Royal Garden at Surulere and Royal Estate at Alausa, Ikeja with the building system. Also, Moladi Limited came for demonstration in Abuja and Lagos two years ago, urging government to adopt the new technology. Although, the two firms emphasised that unless government embark on large-scale housing production, the units may not be affordable. Also, Bolyn Nigeria Limited, a manufacturer of machine for the moulding of clay bricks for housing production, said the only way to reduce the nation’s housing deficit is by embrace the use of locally made material like clay bricks.

MODULAR CONSTRUCTION ALLOWS FOR A QUICK TURNAROUND BETWEEN GROUNDBREAKING AND

OCCUPANCY, AND MOST WORK IS DONE IN THE FACTORY, SO WEATHER DELAYS,

MISSING MATERIALS AND

SUBCONTRACTOR NO-SHOWS ARE ALL BUT ELIMINATED, SAVING TIME AND MONEY Despite these plead, nothing much has been achieved by government as the nation’s housing gap continue to increase. A visit to the Nigeria Building and Road Research Institute (NBRRI ), by National Mirror in the quest to know the agency’s readiness in the area of research to help in the crusade for mass and affordable houses showed that the organisation has come up with some locally made machines for mass production of clay brick and interlocking bricks for housing production. Further investigation and interviews with stakeholders showed that the cost of the machines are on the high side at N4m per one.

However, a modular home is a house built in one or more sections in a factory, then transported and installed on a permanent foundation at the home site. Modular homes are to meet all state or national building codes of home’s final location. On how it operates, Once the main modules of the new home are constructed in the factory, complete with attached walls, floor, ceiling, wiring, plumbing and interior fixtures, they are transported to home site and placed on a permanent foundation by a crane. Modular construction allows for a quick turnaround between groundbreaking and occupancy, and most work is done in the factory, so weather delays, missing materials and subcontractor no-shows are all but eliminated, saving time and money. It has the benefits of design flexibility, quality control, energy efficiency and green building. On the other hand, Moladi technology is primarily a manufacturer of a re-useable machine made formwork system that allows walls to be cast stronger and faster. Its proponent says the principal focus is on the delivery of the “whole house”, saying a house consists of many components and the” assembly process” needs to be project managed in its entirety. That means windows, doors, roof, bath, toilet, paint, ceiling, glass and electrical hardware need to be planned ordered and supplied in order to avoid a “bottle neck” that would delay production leading to high cost. Emerging economies such as China, Brazil, South Africa and Singapore have adopted these technologies to produce high rise buildings on a large scale for their citizens. CONTINUED ON PAGE 26

Real Estate & Environment

Tuesday, August 14, 2012

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Adopting alternative building materials, technologies to reduce housing deficit CONTINUED FROM 25 Popular technologies include Structural Insulated Panels, Insulated ConcreteForms, Radiant Wall System, TimberFrame, Cob, Stabilised Mud Blocks, Straw-bale, Log, Adobe, Rammed Earth, Plastic Forms and Earth Ships. Speaking with National Mirror on how best to solve the nation’s housing problem by adopting alternative building system, Managing Director of Wisdom Consult, Mr. Godwin Emeko, described building as an integral system, saying materials are added to complement its strength when the frame is in place. He said adoption of modern building technologies and materials are not the problem but that there is need to encourage modern researches to adopt them locally. He said there is need to prioritise materials that encourage light weight. Chairman of Lagos chapter of the Nigerian Institute of Architects (NIA), Mr. Ladipo Lewis, explained that the use of alternative building materials are widely accepted abroad especially by the private sector. For Nigeria to accept some of these materials, he said the climatic condition and sociocultural issues have to be considered. He noted that modular system of building thrive when constructing houses on a large scale, saying economic of scale will set in. He said, “I think there are opportunities for innovation in building but in practical term, it has to be addressed in relation to our need. When you build on a large scale, modular system thrives but if you cannot, it becomes a problem.” He explained that government alone cannot solve the housing problem, saying there has never been anywhere in the world where government solve citizens’ housing problem. According to him,what government can do is to create an enabling environment and allow the private sector to take the lead in housing provision. “Real estate is driven by developers. Hotels and commercial projects are built by developers; they only need conducive environment and housing units will be cheaper. We don’t have developers thriving in our environment unlike other countries because of an enabling environment,” he said. He also bemoaned the operation of mortgage system in the country, stressing that accessibility to housing in the developed countries has been through a virile mortgage system. Lack of virile mortgage system, he said has been responsible for high cost of houses in the country. He said, “Poor mortgage system in the country has been a major reason new houses are not affordable as people’s purchasing power is low. Low income has limited many people from achieving their dream.” In his contribution, Chairman of the Nigerian Institution of Estate Surveyors and Valuers (NIESV), Lagos branch, Mr Sola Fatoki, stated that as far as government refuses to lead by example, it would be dif-

Moladi Plastic Formwork

Lewis

Fatoki

Minister of Housing, Ms. Ama Pepple

ficult to embrace alternative building materials or technologies. “If government has patronised local building materials by constructing its estate with them, members of the public will be encouraged to build their houses with them, but it is not so,” he said. He blamed people’s apathy towards the use of mud for housing construction, saying research had proved that houses built with clay or mud are cheaper, soundproof, durable and have capacity to withstand harsh weather. “But if you build with mud now , people will look at you as a mad man. If you go to the Federal Institute of Industrial Research, Oshodi (FIIRO),there are some locally made materials and machines that the agency has used to produce prototype buildings for people to see, but government is not patronising this agency,” he said. He further stated that if private developers and government adopt the use of modular system extensively in their estates, people would follow their example, saying that there is need to popularise the use of alternative building materials for mass housing. Renowned architect, Mr David Majekodunmi, expressed mixed reactions about

the use of alternative imported materials, he said most of them would run out of time considering the climatic condition. He stated that the best way to go is to popularise the use of locally made materials. According to him, roofing sheet that were produced by Nigerite 30 years ago were nowhere to be found now, saying it shouldn’t be so. He said, “So let’s try the use of local materials before talking of foreign ones.” Building with modular system, Majekodunmi said would be difficult to do social housing with modular system considering the economic situation in the country. He explained that it is government’s responsibility to embark social housing by incorporating corporate bodies due to huge money that will be involved. He lamented that the cost of houses in Nigeria is on the high side, wondering how a fresh graduate on N50,000 salary per month can afford to build or buy houses in 30 years. He queried, “Where are the likes of Alhaji Jakande? Can’t we have any government that can do social housing again? I know we have the resources but unfortunately, our governments are not concerned about the welfare of the people.” With the delivery of over 2.4 million sub-

sidized housing units between 1994 to 2010, South Africa’s housing deficit though significantly reduced remains sizeable at between 2.2 - 2.5 million units. To contain the rise in demand for housing, the National Housing Department (NDH) in 2004 introduced sustainability to human settlement by establishing the Breaking New Grounds (BNG), initiative. Key objectives of BNG is to eradicate all informal settlements by 2014 and to deliver low income houses (80sqm and less) within the context of integrated sustainable human settlements with all social infrastructure and amenities. To reduce cost and achieve quicker delivery, the Department of Housing encouraged the use of Alternative Building Technologies, ABT to complement conventional construction. Innovation centres were established and different ABTs were tested. Financial institutions went into partnerships with developers in ground breaking PPP arrangements providing bridging finance (US$5 billion) for projects. Two pilot projects were launched using precast insulated concrete panels and partpolystyrene bricks.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Tuesday, August 14, 2012

L London 2012: When aathletics failed to rescue Nigeria N 30

Sport

Certainly, I have enjoyed every bit of being an Olympic Ambassador. I wish to do more - England legend, David Beckham

Battle of Monrovia: Keshi recalls Martins, Emenike

Lone Star prepares for Eagles IKENWA NNABUOGOR

he Lone Star left Liberia for Malabo, Equatorial Guinea to honour a test match scheduled for tomorrow ahead of the 2013 Nations Cup qualifier fixture against Nigeria on September 9, National Mirror has learnt. The tight Lone Star’s schedule will also see the Liberians engage Malawi in yet another friendly game five days ahead of the Super Eagles game as they vow to get into further game shape for the match which will determine who heads to South Africa for Nations Cup finals. Meanwhile, the Liberia Football Association, as recommended by their technical staff, has also invited eleven overseas players for the planned FIFA match day encounter. The 48-member delegation includes the following: Nathaniel Sherman, Teah Dennis, Eddie Boakai Foday, Omega Roberts Alamadine, Theo Week Lewis, Solomon Wesseh, Alseny Keita, Zah Rahan Krangar, Sekou Jabateh Oliseh, Patrick Ronaldinho Wleh, Solomon Isaac Grimes, Eric Weeks, Mulbah Urey, Trokon Zeon, Isaac Pupo, James Soto Roberts, Sekou Dgeorges Manubah, James Koko Lomell, Abel Quioh and Musa Dargbason

IKENWA NNABUOGOR

trong indications emerged yesterday that Russiabased duo of Obafemi Martins and Emmanuel Emenike will be invited for the crucial South Africa 2013 Nations Cup qualifier against Liberia in Monrovia on September 9. Both players have got irregular call-ups to the national team since coach Stephen Keshi took over in November last year. National Mirror learnt that Martins was in Nigeria last week following the uncertainty surrounding his future at Russian club Rubin Kazan after he switched from Germany’s Bundesliga side Wolfsburg in the summer of 2011. But it is not unlikely that Emenike’s recall since October last year owed to his form that has seen him score several goals for his Russian club Spartak Moscow going into the new season. The Eagles’ attack, which has accounted for only four goals in as many games under Keshi, a situation that may have prompted the Nigeria Football Federation into sourcing ruthless strikers ahead of the Monrovia clash where Nigeria needs outright win to guarantee easy passage to the AFCON 2013 finals in South Africa. Keshi, currently in Niamey with the national team made up of home-based Eagles ahead of the international friendly tomorrow, is expected to name the squad that will face Liberia next week. Meanwhile, the speculated return of Chinabased striker Yakubu Aiyegbeni may not materialise after competent sources told National Mirror yesterday that the former Blackburn striker would not be in the party to Monrovia.

London 2012 fallout: First Bank wins award

eam Nigeria and Nigeria Olympics Committee (NOC) sponsor, First Bank of Nigeria Plc, won its second award at the London 2012 Olympic Games over the weekend for its contribution to the sports sector in Nigeria. The event, organized by the Nigeria Sports and Entertainment Village, was also supported by the Federal Ministry of Tourism and Culture and the National Orientation Agency. The Nigeria Sports and Entertainment Village activities began last Thursday with exhibition, music, dance, and other activities to showcase Nigeria as a tourist destination. Deputy High Commissioner of the Nigeria High Commission in London, Mr. Oluwatoyin Lawal, who spoke at the occasion, described Nigeria as a desirable nation, urging the citizens to portray the country positively across the world. Organisers of the award also commended First Bank for supporting Team Nigeria as well as building a stand at the African Village to sell Nigeria to the world. They, however, urged the bank not to be discouraged by our performance at the Olympic Games in its quest to invest in sports development. First Bank’s Head of Diaspora Banking, Carol Anyaegbunam, received the award on behalf of the bank.

Obafemi Martins has got Super Eagles regular blackout after this appearance att Af Afcon 2010 iin A Angola. l

Friendly: Eagles feel Niamey pitch IKENWA NNABUOGOR

uper Eagles trained yesterday in Niamey ahead of the international friendly against the Menas of Niger scheduled for the Stade Omnisport tomorrow. The Nigerian contingent had arrived in the West African nation on Sunday night aboard ASKY Airlines. National Mirror learnt that the team

would train at the match venue today to shape firm up strategy for the game expected to tune the squad for the September 9 Afcon qualifier with Liberia in Monrovia. “I expect my players to do well, notwithstanding the friendly nature of this encounter,” Keshi said yesterday. Meanwhile, Menas will be parading up to five foreign based professionals who were expected yesterday from their club sides in France for the encounter.

Interestingly, the Niger team parades about five Nigerians, prominent among whom are Katsina State-born Daouda Kamilou and Kaduna State-born defender Jimmy Bulus, both of whom featured for the Menas at the Nations Cup finals in the Gabon/Equatorial Guinea in January. Kamilou, who plies his trade at Tunisian side CS Sfaxien, is remembered for scoring against Nigeria in their 3-1 home defeat in 2007 in a Ghana 2008 Nations Cup qualifier.

Sport

Tuesday, August 14, 2012

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Ronaldo better than Messi–Bolt

amaican sprint star and world’s fastest man, Usain Bolt, yesterday stirred controversy after he declared that Real Madrid winger Cristiano Ronaldo is superior to Barcelona’s forward Lionel Messi. Bolt has been friends with Ronaldo after he gave the Portuguese sprinting lessons at Manchester United in 2009. “Without question, Cristiano is better than Messi. He is a more complete player,” Bolt declared. “Cristiano is fun and a great person,” he added.

Rodwell

Rodwell relishes City move

Carlos Tevez

Tevez gets manager’s nod

Bolt

Tit bits...

Dempsey Fulham Manager, Martin Jol, is ready to freeze out forward Clint Dempsey. Reports claimed Jol is poised to keep out Dempsey who hauled 23 goals last season from the squad for Saturday’s Premier League opener at home to Norwich. Liverpool wants to sign 29-year-old Dempsey, with Roma and Tottenham also interested, but none is willing to match Fulham’s £9m valuation of the USA international.

Alonso

Real Madrid midfielder, Xabi Alonso, has rejected new contract talks. According to reports yesterday, Alonso is seriously considering this season to be his last in Madrid. The former Liverpool playmaker is tied to Real until 2014 and although happy at the Spanish club, he also feels his stay is coming to an end.

Rodgers Liverpool Manager, Brendan Rodgers, knows he still must win over doubters amongst the Kop. The Reds open their Premier League campaign at West Brom on Saturday and Rodgers is ready for the challenge. “I do feel at home but I will never be complacent. I will come in and I’m sure the majority of supporters are still not sure about me but I will keep fighting till I get there,” Rodgers said.

anchester City Manager, Roberto Mancini, has backed striker Carlos Tevez to play a starring role for the Premier League champion after his stunning strike inspired a 3-2 win over Chelsea in the Community Shield. Tevez was in vibrant form at Villa Park on Sunday as the Argentine forward provided a glimpse of the talent that City missed for much of last season during a self-imposed exile that followed his touchline row with Mancini at Bayern Munich. The former Manchester United star returned late in the season to help City clinch their first English title for 44 years, but Mancini believes Tevez will be much fitter and more motivated this season. “Carlos worked very well. His form is better than last year. He wants to play football,” the gaffer said yesterday. “With foreign players it’s difficult. He didn’t play last year for six months. If he wants to play, he’s going to be top. “Carlos is now 100 per cent fit and this the first time in four years that we have him fit.”

‘No need for Moura, Modric’

Guardiola in Italy link

ormer Manchester United defender, Arthur Albiston, insists the Red Devils do not need Lucas Moura or Luka Modric. Sao Paulo star Lucas has chosen PSG ahead of United, while Tottenham Hotspurs playmaker Modric is set to join Real Madrid. “Unfortunately for us Darren Fletcher who played a lot of football last season is unavailable,” Albiston said yesterday. “He’s got to get his health back before he begins thinking about football. “Anderson has been out injured and he is hopefully coming back as well. Tom Cleverley is another player, he has not played a lot of football for United but he is a high quality player. “We’re hoping that he and Anderson can have a decent run injury free and Sir Alex Ferguson might not need to sign that midfield player.

verton teenager, Jack Rodwell, has described his move to Manchester as the best to happen to his career. Rodwell switched to Eastlands yesterday for a reported initial price of £18m on a five-year contract as the first new player of the summer. “I relish the opportunity of playing with some of the best players in the world and continuing my development,” Rodwell said yesterday before heading off to meet up with the England squad for the friendly against Italy tomorrow. “It will be an amazing experie n c e to make my debut in front of them if I am selected to play next weekend. “The hard work starts today as I start to help contribute to the club winning more silverware. The season has started really well with the Community Shield win.”

Madrid nears Modric capture

eal Madrid is convinced it has a deal with Tottenham Hotspurs for want-away midfielder Luka Mo-

dric. Reports in Madrid yesterday said terms had been struck between the two clubs and the only delay owed to Spurs asking for time to find a replacement for the Croat. The Modric transfer will be settled at 32 million Euros plus bonuses based on appearances and success and although Spurs Chairman, Daniel Levy had demanded 38 million Euros, he is prepared to rescind his stance. If the deal can be pulled off, it will be a coup for Real, which has seen PSG offer 45 million Euros for Modric, only for the player to reject the move as he wanted to join the Jose Mourinho-coached side. Spurs is understood to be actively lining up a replacement for the midfielder ahead of Levy rubberstamping his sale.

ormer Barcelona coach, Pep Guardiola, is house-hunting in Italy, according to latest reports linking the successful coach to AC Milan and Inter. Reports said Guardiola has elite real estate agents seeking property for him in Lake Como, the celebrity region is home to George Clooney and couple Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie. Interestingly, Milan and Inter officials have indicated interest in the youthful coach after urging him to come over. The Spaniard is expected to take a year away from football and relocate his family based in New York, despite attempts by Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich to lure him to Stamf o r d Bridge.

Oluwafemi wants Bidves payoff

AFOLABI GAMBARI

outh Africa-based Nig Oluwafemi, has insist by PSL newcomer Bi team’s shock decision to ter before playing his first gam The former Jomo Cosm Maritzburg United and Pla was told by officials at Wits es were no longer required “The coached who signe the club’s new CEO is res his plans with his own pla player told National Mirror Oluwafemi, who never Nigeria before movin deal at Jomo Cosm lar contract hurdl in South Africa–M Stars–but says h ing on possibili his latest setback “We are alrea tion,” he disclose will sort things out

Shittu pens M

IKENWA NNABUOGO

Guardiola

uper Eag has sign nPower wall. The big cen the deal on Su ly presented to the tea Shittu had a horren Rangers this past season without kicking a ball. signed to a jersey numb The former Bolton d Kenny Jackett’s majo transfer market. “I’m happy to sign to face the challenge told National Mirro the deal. “The new seaso and I’m prepared is my second com all good then. I h left off and I w great season.” Shittu, who Den on loan fr season, playe wall lost a ti the play-offs.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

gerian left wingback, Ayo ted of being compensated idvest Wits, following the rminate his contract even me. mos, Pretoria University, atinum Stars utility player s last week that his servicd, but gave no reason. ed me on was sacked and shuffling the team to suit ayers,” the Oyo State-born r yesterday. played league football in ng to South Africa for a mos in 2003, has had similes with his last two clubs Maritzburg and Platinum his agent is already workities of compensation for k. ady discussing compensaed, adding, “Hopefully we t soon.”

Millwall deal

gles defender, Danny Shittu, ned a year’s contract with Championship side, Mill-

ntral defender, who penned unday night, will be officialam later in the week. ndous spell at Queens Park n, ending the whole period He’s however yet to be aser. defender remains manager r signing in the summer

for Millwall and I’m ready es ahead,” an elated Shittu or moments after signing

on will soon get underway to give it my best shot. This ming at Millwall and it was hope to continue where he will be looking forward to a

o had first arrived in The rom Bolton in the 2010/2011 ed just nine times as Millcket to the premiership in .

Sport

Tuesday, August 14, 2012

Why I won’t hang gloves yet – James One of the most durable footballers of his generation, David James, can point to some impressive numbers when summing up his career that spanned three World Cup finals. The 42-year-old, widely regarded as knowledgeable and articulate about the game, spoke to FIFA.com How did you feel England did overall at the recent Euro 2012? I thought England did pretty well. They got a good draw against the French, who’d come into the game on a 20-odd match unbeaten run. After an important win over Sweden, they then beat Ukraine, an achievement that shouldn’t be understated, because it’s never easy to book your ticket for the next round against the host nation. After that, getting knocked out by Italy in the quarter-finals is no disgrace; far from it. After pulling on your country’s jersey for more than a decade, do you feel that the England players are put under too much pressure from the media and fans? I think so. As a player, when a fan or reporter asks you, ‘do you think you can win it?’, saying ‘no’ is simply not an option, because the entire nation believes that you can. Before the start of the tournament, Steven Gerrard was asked if he would be happy with a draw against France, and when he said ‘yes’, everyone acted surprised. For me, it was an honest answer, and that’s how it should be, in my opinion. Do you think goalkeeper Joe Hart enjoyed his first experience at a major tournament as the team’s undisputed number one? He loved it. We exchanged ged a few text messages, and I know that he really y enjoyed himself. At the last World Cup, having seen en him at close quarters in training and during friendly endly matches, I was sure that he had the quality to play at that level. When I was told that I wasn’t going ng to start the first game, my first thought was that at it was Joe who would be picked. In the end, Fabio bio Capello went for Robert Green and the rest is history, but he’s certainly shown how talented he is for quite some time now. Is Hart a relatively young keeper, eeper, by international standards? I don’t believe that age is really a factor. In my case, I made my England d debut at the age of 27 and didn’t play a competitive tive match until I was 31, which is pretty late. But I was competing with a living legend in the shape of David Seaman, and it was very tough to dislodge e him from the side. Joe is 25 and has already earned d more than 20 caps. He’s in a very good position; the he fans love him and regard him as the best goalkeeper eeper in England by far. So, has England’s goalkeeping ping situation now been settled? As I see it, the fact that Joe lacks competition is a bit of an issue. Goalkeeper is a unique position in that, iff you’re not injured or experience a huge e drop in form, it’s unusual for you to be replaced. Because of that, you need someone to keep pushing ing you so that you can maintain ain your fitness and your minddset. At the moment, clearly ly he’s the best, but within in three or four years, if a new w keeper doesn’t emerge to challenge him, it could be-come a bit of a problem. I have confidence in Jack Butland, though, who was England’s third-choice keeper at Euro 2012. I don’t

I DON’T BELIEVE THAT AGE IS REALLY A FACTOR. IN MY CASE, I MADE MY ENGLAND DEBUT AT THE AGE OF 27 AND DIDN’T PLAY A COMPETITIVE MATCH UNTIL I WAS 31, WHICH IS PRETTY LATE think it’ll be long before he starts to knock on the door of the national side. Who do you consider to be the top goalkeeper in the world? For years, Gianluigi Buffon was my favourite, but now it’s Joe Hart. I think that Gianluigi is still an extraordinary goalie, but he’s had a lot of injuries and that has caused his level to drop somewhat. He’s also not got much competition in Italy. It’s the same thing with Iker Casillas who’s won all there is to win for Spain, and now people have stopped asking if he’s still the top keeper out there. Victor Valdes and Pepe Reina are both great, but as they never get to play for Spain, it’s impossible to judge if they’re up to it or not. I’m not in any way saying that Iker hasn’t been playing well, on the contrary. A World Cup and European Championship winner, with over 130 caps–that’s impressive stuff. But what I mean is that it’s difficult to set the criteria by which you decide who the world’s best keeper currently is.

best in Europe lately? I watch a lot of European football, and I can’t think of a keeper who’s impressed me more. For example, Casillas has amazing reflexes, but he has trouble with crosses and he’s average with the ball at his feet. Buffon is excellent at stopping mid-range shots and at positioning himself, but his kicking game is not what it should be. Joe, meanwhile, is good at all these things, which makes him the most complete keeper playing at present. You’re still playing as you approach your 42nd birthday next month. Can you tell us a little bit about what the future might hold for you? I ended this past season with Bristol City and I’d like to play another year. I’m in the process of applying for my UEFA ‘A’ coaching licence, so that’s where I see my future, but I’m not quite ready to hang up my gloves yet. What motivates you to keep going at an age where most footballers have already retired? I just keep setting myself new targets. I’ve made 960 appearances, but I’d like to reach 1,000, and I’d like to play one, maybe ten, maybe 100 more matches in the Premier League–there’s always something to aim for! I really would love to taste top-flight football again, but it’s easier said than done, because there are 20 teams and hundreds of goalies. You just never know, though. What next, after that? I’ll obviously go into coaching; my main goal will be to win games, but what excites me the most is the idea of helping young players to totally fulfill their potential, to reach the top of their profession and to stay there as long as possible once they get there. There’s so much to do, but I have a lot of good ideas and am very keen to make a contribution as soon as I can.

Do you really feel that Joe Hart has been the

James

Sport

Tuesday,August 14, 2012

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

On the track with

YEMI OLUS danyella172003@yahoo.com

London 2012: When athletics failed to rescue Nigeria “A

thletics is coming up on Friday,” former Nigerian athlete, Yusuf Alli, said last

week. “I still maintain that Team Nigeria will win four medals in athletics. I don’t know their colour but I know that we will win up to four medals,” he added with confidence. So confident was Alli that athletics could always salvage the nation’s pride when other sports seemed to fall short. The table tennis quartet of Segun Toriola, Aruna Quadri, Edem Offiong and Funke Oshonaike had been sent packing from the event in the earlier rounds while canoeist, Jonathan Akinyemi, just couldn’t make it beyond the preliminaries. Two of the three boxers who represented Nigeria made an exit just after their first bouts while the weightlifters were far from the podium despite Felix Ekpo’s feat of setting an African and Commonwealth record in the 77kg category. Still, Alli and everyone looked forward to the start of the track and field events. After all, the quartet of Sunday Uti, Moses Ugbusien, Rotimi Peters and Innocent Egbunike won a bronze medal in the men’s 4x400m in 1984. The men and women’s 4x100 relay teams won silver and bronze respectively in 1992 in Barcelona while Chioma Ajunwa won the country’s first ever individual gold medal in the long jump in 1996. Both Mary Onyali and Falilat Ogunkoya won individual bronze medals in the 200m and 400m while the women’s 4x400m team also raced to silver. At the 2000 Games in Sydney, Australia, Glory Alozie posted a splendid performance to win silver in the women’s 100m hurdles few days after losing her fiancé while the men’s 4x400 squad picked a silver medal but were recently re-awarded the gold medal after a member of the gold winning American team, late Antonio Pettigrew, confessed to have been on performance enhancing drugs at the time. The men’s 4x100m and 4x400m teams won bronze in 2004 in Athens while Blessing Okagbare and the women’s 4x100 side also won bronze medals in Beijing, China in 2008. With the foregoing, no one could fault Okagbare’s ambition to excel in London, especially as she was top on the list of the hopefuls. The University of Texas El Paso gradu-ate had beaten world champion Carmelita a Jeter and Olympic champion, Shelly-Ann n Fraser-Pryce in the 100m at the Diamond d League in London barely two weeks to the e Olympics. She also had a personal best off 6.97m in the long jump which earned her the African title and upgraded her prospects. Amaechi Morton, who had one of the

world leading times in the men’s 400m hurdles and is the reigning national and African champion in the event, was another hopeful while triple jumper, Tosin Oke, was also considered as having potential to get to the podium, as the women’s 4x100 and 4x400 relay team stood a good chance to win medals, considering that 13 Olympic medals so far won by Nigeria in athletics were secured from the relays. However, an entirely different script played out in London as Nigeria failed to win a single medal, not just in athletics but in seven other sports entered for the games, making the country’s worst outing since Seoul ’88 Olympics where Nigeria also failed to win a medal. Despite running a personal best of 10.92 seconds in the semis, Okagbare finished a disappointing eight in the final of the women’s 100m, only managing a leap of 6.34m in the qualification rounds of the long jump where she finished ninth in her group and missed the final. The women’s 4x100 relay team, which she was a part of with Damola Osayomi, Gloria Asumnu and Endurance Abinuwa finished fourth in the final despite running a season’s best of 42.64. Morton ran well during the heats of his race but pulled a hamstring during the semis and was subsequently disqualified. Oke placed seventh in the final of the triple jump with a leap of 16.95m while high jumper Doreen Amata finished eighth in the qualifying rounds with a season’s best of 1.90m but missed the final. Seun Adigun didn’t make it beyond the heats in the women’s 100m hurdles. Selim Nurudeen ran a personal best of 13.51 seconds in the 110m hurdles but wasn’t fast enough to secure a place in the final. African champion in the women’s 400m hurdles Ajoke Odumosu also posted a personal best and African record of 54.40 but finished eighth in the final after stumbling over the first hurdle. Asumnu and Christy Udoh did not make it beyond the heats in the women’s 200m while their male counterpart in the same event, Noah Akwu, stood little chance of making it beyond the first round having been placed in the same heat as two-time Olympics triple sprints champion, Usain Bolt. Ogho-Oghene Egwero trailed behind the Jamaican in the heat of of the the 100m while Peter Emelieze also failed to make it beyond the f i r s t round.

For Nigeria, ria, it is a long tale of woe. But according ordin ng to former national athletics coach, ach,, Amelia Edet, a number of factors facttors contributed to the dismal dissmal outing of the athletes. tes. “We have never e ne ever had it this bad and don’t d I really r know whatt to o make of this,” Edet said.. “However, r, a large portion of what hat has happened stems ms from frrom lack of preparation. ation n. The minister of sports spo orts has been quick to say say that we will go back k to the drawing board oard d but even that would woulld not seem to work k out ou ut well as that hass al always lways been the promise. omisse. “We have ve n never made a conco onscious effort ffortt to prepare for four consecucu utive years arrs and I would uld have said this th his would teach h us us a lesson les e son n but bu ut if previous results esullts haven’t haven en’’t done don ne that, I don’t think anything ’t th hink an anyt ythiing is going to change now. going hang ge no ow.. It is i g oing to be business nesss as as usual usual and and d we will go back while other k to o sleep sl othe ot her countries begin begin preparation towards 2016.” .” Although athletics h ath hletics followers have labelled some me off the athletes, particularly the male ale sprinters, sp printers, as “tired leg”, Edet disagrees. ees. “When did M Metu or Egwero come com me on the scene that refer e th hat one would refe fe er to them as tired ed legs? le egs? After all, VeroniVeron nica Campbell-Brown l-Br lBrown has been be een e on n the the Jamaican team e m for ea f r ages. fo agess. Yet, Yet, sshe h is he still doing well. would well we l . I wo w ulld have ve agreed with that assertion sse sert rttio ion n if Mary Mary Onyali had been on n the e team m but but u that is not the case.” The former mer athlete ath thle th lete t and and first national female emalle athletics atthllet etics coach, however, conceded huge once ede ded de d thatt hug ge expectations might migh htt have h have pressurised prres e suri r sed Okagbare into nto committing commit co itti ting ng g uncomuncommon errors in in London. Lond ndon on n. “With the e speed spee ed she s e had, I expectsh ed e her to win win a medal because even in i 2008 when en we w didn’t expect much from her, she f he won wo on bronze.” In all of this this, s, Edet sees silver lining. i “Let us look k out to our special athletes in the a e Paralympic Games in i London as I think they will win medals as they do,” she subm hey usually u mitted. m

Nigeria’s brightest hope for a medal, Blessing Okagbare, competed on the track and in the jumps to no avail

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Tuesday, August 14, 2012

Real Estate & Environment

Professionals adopt new approach to reduce collapse of buildings DAYO AYEYEMI

rofessional bodies in the built environment, comprising architects, land surveyors, estate surveyors, builders, engineers, town planners and quantity surveyors came together at the weekend under the umbrella body of Building Collapse Prevention Guild (BCPG), to condemn incessant cases of collapse of buildings while adopting new pragmatic approaches to tame the menace. At the well-attended forum, the professionals blamed inability to nib building collapses in the bud solely on lack of enforcement of the National Building Code almost four years after it was signed into law. Participants, including concrete mixers, listed lack of adherence to standards and specifications, non engagement of professionals by building owners or contractors during construction process, use of sub-standards building materials and lack of capacity by government regulatory agencies to monitor construction sites, especially in Lagos State which has recorded highest cases of building collapse in the country. Justifying the coming together of built environment professionals under BCPG to jointly brief pressmen, Chairman of the Guild, Mr. Kunle Awobodu, a builder, said it has dawned on them that the problem of collapsed buildings could not be solved by rhetoric and mere promulgation of laws alone, hence, the need to evolve a practical approaches to “solve a man-made problem that has cast aspersions on the professionals in the Nigerian construction industry.” Speech read by Awobodu was jointly endorsed by Chairman of the Nigerian Institute of Architects, Lagos Chapter, Mr. Ladipo Lewis; and his counterparts from the Nigerian Institute of Building, Mr. Jelili Akinpelu; Nigerian Society of Engineer, Mr. Bola Bido; Nigerian Institute of Quantity Surveyors, Mr. Tijani Lasisi; Nigerian Institution of Surveyors, Mr. Afolabi Solesi; Nigerian Institution of Estate Surveyors and Valuers, Mr. Sola Fatoki; and President, Nigerian Institution of Structural Engineers, Mr. Busola Awojobi respectively. According to Awobodu, BCPG is a child of necessity in the quest for normalcy in Nigeria’s construction sphere, adding that the need to lay emphasis on mitigation of losses, and promotion of preemptive measures that would avert collapse of buildings aroused the initiative. Part of the pragmatic approaches, he said was that professionals in the built environment have chosen to embark on a voluntary, humanitarian and free service under the umbrella of BCPG. Justifying the stand of BCPG, he stated that having identified Lagos State as the citadel of construction activities in Nigeria, and also the state that has recorded the highest incidence of building collapse in the country, the body considered it reasonable to choose Lagos for the commence-

Members of the concrete gang

BUILDINGS THAT ARE UNLIKELY TO STAND THE TEST OF TIME, WHEN IDENTIFIED, WILL BE BROUGHT TO THE NOTICE OF THE AUTHORITIES ment of its experiment. For easy administration, he disclosed that the body has divided Lagos into various localities or cells and that names and addresses of interested persons from all the seven professional bodies have been collated. To discourage professional segregation and promote unison for better results, Awobodu stated that every cell team comprised various professionals from the built environment. “In this structure, we have zonal coordinators and team leaders. A member’s stamping ground, that is, where he or she frequents such as residence or place of work determines the cell or locality he or she belongs,” he said. He disclosed that the team works schedule would include monitoring activities that adopt persuasive and non-confrontational approach, saying the professionals would endeavour to know the construction professionals handling sites in their localities. He said, “Number of sites in each cell, type of building foundation related to soil test report and other factors will be determined and reported. “Building construction is where we derive our source of income. We intend to give back to the society through this united act of social responsibility. The greater danger lies within the sites managed solely by artisans and building owners’ representatives. Professional advices that can assist building production at such sites would be provided free of charge or a communication link will be established

between the site managers and government officials. “Buildings that are unlikely to stand the test of time, when identified, will be brought to the notice of the authorities.” Besides, he said members of the guild would partner with the executive bodies of Community Development Associations (CDAs) and Residents’ Association for greater achievements. He revealed that BCPG is already organising artisans and craftsmen in the sector by giving them better orientation and training, adding that they are expected to bring to the knowledge of the guild inappropriate activities on sites. Awobodu said concrete casting gangs have been organised by bringing them under the umbrella of BCPG, noting that studies carried out on some collapsed buildings revealed brittleness in the concrete debris. This, the chairman of BCPG said has amplified the importance of the concrete casting teams that had been neglected in the equation of solving the problem of building collapse, disclosing that members of the concrete gangs are proposing a day rally to commence zonal practical concrete training. Awobodu urged government to recognise the advantage of construction professionals’ knowledge and ubiquity and provide the necessary supports that would enable then achieve results in their voluntary and non-money making exercise. Also speaking, Lecturer at the Department of Architecture, University of Lagos, Mr. David Adio, urged the need to incorporate fellows of each profes-

sional body with vast experience in the enforcement of the National Building Code. Managing Director of Wisdom Consult, Mr. Godwin Emeko, a quantity surveyor, said mechanism should be put in place to take care of professionals that might want to compromise standards in the fight against collapse of buildings. First female town planner in Nigeria, Mrs. Catherine Kehinde George, appealed to government to bring down cost of obtaining planning approvals by making it friendly so that everybody can go to these agencies to seek relevant information. Besides, she reminded professionals at the forum of the need to carry out their jobs with due diligent to end collapse of buildings. Chairman of Nigerian Institute of Quantity Surveyors, Lagos chapter, Mr. Tijani Lasisi, while urging the need for building owners to construct their homes appropriately, he said it is necessary for them to consider the amount of money in their purse before embarking on any project to avoid compromise in term of standards. His counterpart in the Nigerian Institute of Architects, Mr. Ladipo Lewis, said that important of soil investigation should not be jettisoned when conceiving building project considering the nature of soil strata in the south western part of the country. Immediate past chairman of Nigerian Institute of Architects, Lagos chapter, Mrs. Abimbola Ajayi, blamed government lack-luster attitude toward the implementation of various recommendations as regard physical planning and building regulations form incessant collapse of building in Lagos.

Real Estate & Environment

f you happen to be a book lover or a voracious reader and you have built up quite a collection of books over the years, expert at www. homedesign.com, said home libraries will help you to organise your book collection, make it easier to find books and make reading fun and relaxing within the comforts of your home. Here are a few tips to design your home library: While building a home library, the three basic elements required are: space, shelves and books. You can either custom build a new room or choose an existing spacious room to house your books. Recessed or built-in bookshelves can provide floor-to-ceiling storage and space savings. You can also mount hanging bookshelves onto the wall or buy glass cases, which might be preferable if your collection includes antique books that you want to preserve. As your bookshelves creep up the wall, you may need a library ladder to reach them. When considering library furniture, you may want desks if you are writing and taking notes on your reading. Bookstands are also helpful for reading those big volumes that are too heavy to hold up comfortably. You can include overstuffed couches and chairs which will beckon guests to spend a few hours reading. When selecting lighting, look for a lamp that will help you see the smallest text you read. The lamp should be positioned over your shoulder, so that the light is not directly in your eyes. This way it will also help to minimize glare. Your lamp should be brighter than the rest of the room. However, all light will eventually damage books, so use it at a minimum. Finally, a good system of organisation will help you find the book you want quickly. You can also decorate bookshelves with personal items, such as photographss and souvenirs which can break up the e rows of books visually, and it would also o give you room to expand as your collection n grows.

Courtesy: www.doityourself.com

Tuesday, August 14, 2012

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

How to create a relaxing home library

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Tuesday, August 14, 2012

Real Estate & Environment

Tuesday, August 14, 2012

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

31% of ministry’s budget released utilised –Works Minister ...Commends progress of works on 3rd Mainland Bridge STORIES: DAYO ADEYEMI

inister of Works Mr. Mike Onolememen, has said that 31 percent of the 2012 budget released in the first and second quarters has been judiciously spent. The minister disclosed this during his presentation on matters arising from 2012 budget briefing at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, saying that the amount released was spent on projects, including the completion of 12 roads nationwide. Onolememen listed some of the completed roads to include dualisation of Onitsha-Owerri Expressway in Anambra State, reinstatement of Auchi-Okene highway washout in Edo State, reinstatement of Gombe-Potiskum road washout in Gombe State, construction of Eleme junction flyover in Rivers State, rehabilitation/construction of Ijebu-Igbo-AjegunleAraromi-Ife-Sekona road in Osun State among others. Out of the N143,592,745,849bn appropriated to the Federal Ministry of Works for the 2012 year, he said that only N47,462,431,157:86bn has been released so far in the first and second quarters with N44,073,708,342:70bn spent on road projects alone. He said, “This total sum released to the Federal Ministry of Works in the first and second quarter represents 31 per cent of the ministry’s annual budget. The percentage of the fund utilised from the fund released is 93 per cent.” Giving a further breakdown, the minister stated that 156 projects are in their various stages

Ongoing repairs works on Third Mainland Bridge, Lagos

of completion, while 28 highway projects are under the process of procurement for design and construction and four others already awarded during the 2012 budgetary year. Some of the 156 projects going on at different parts of Nigeria include the dualization of AbujaAbaji-Lokoja highway, dualization of Kano-Maiduguri highway, construction of Kano Western Bye pass, rehabilitation of BeninOre-Shagamu highway, rehabilitation of Apapa-Oshodi highway, rehabilitation of Onitsha-Enugu highway, rehabilitation of Onitsha-Head bridge up to Upper Iweka junction, repairs/replacement of expansion joints of the Third Mainland Bridge, dualization of Ibadan-Ilorin (Section Two: OyoOgbomosho) Highway, etc. Meanwhile the Federal Government has assured Nigerians that it

is committed to the completion of all road projects especially those that are supporting the economy in due time. Speaking in Lagos at the weekend during his monitoring visit on progress of works of the Third Mainland Bridge, the Minister of Works, Mr. Mike Onolememen, said the Federal Government has over 168 road projects ongoing, which require over N1 trillion to complete. In order to accelerate the completion of the projects, he disclosed that government is prioritising them by giving attention to road projects that are supporting the economy. And as such, he said the government is focusing major expressways such as Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Shagamu-Ore-Benin road, Okene-Abaji-Abuja road, Enugu-Onitsha road and all roads

leading to the airports and sea ports. He hinted that he was in Lagos to access physically the progress the contractor for the rehabilitation of the 3rd Mainland Bridge has made, describing the bridge as the singular longest bridge most travelled in the history of Nigeria. He said that Federal Government is giving priority to the road owing to its economic importance, noting that 83 per cent of all commercial activities originate and end in Lagos. Commenting of the level of progress achieved by the contractor, the minister noted that the physical progress has met the scheduled, assuring that the readiness of Federal Government to deliver the project before the end of November. Aside from 3rd Mainland Bridge’s rehabilitation, the minis-

LAWMA acquires additional 46 skip trucks for waste evacuation ...Engages more female drivers DAYO AYEYEMI

he fleet of waste evacuation trucks of the Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA), was further widen at the weekend as the agency acquired additional 46 new skip trucks for Lagos and its environs. Besides, LAWMA has recruited female drivers for the purpose of waste evacuation in inner streets and market places across Lagos, promising to employ more to reduce unemployment in line with Millennium Development Goals on gender equality. LAWMA had in the last three years employed female drives to drive some of its trucks from waste collection points to its transfer loading stations. Speaking to National Mirror,

one of the female drivers, Mrs. Omolara Adewale, while thanking the authority, said the job gave her joy. She disclosed that she had been doing it for three years now and had not recorded any accident. Another female driver, Mrs. Alikawari Ayuba fron Kaduna State, said the job was challenging in the sense that she had Danfo drivers and Okada riders to compete with on the roads. Ayuba said she enjoying doing the work and she is planning to high levels with it. Most of the female drivers were trained by LAWMA Speaking, Managing Director, LAWMA, Mr. Ola Oresanya, said 46 female drivers initially engaged to drive the waste evacuation trucks have shown that they can do better than their male

counterparts. He said the female drivers had recorded zero accidents with the vehicles compared to their male counterparts. Oresanya said the female drivers were trained for six months at the Lagos Drivers’ Institute before they were given the vehicles to handle, adding that the organisation was using them as model for their male counterparts. He stated that 846 waste collection vehicles belonging to LAWMA and the private sector participants in waste evacuation and management, and that the new skip trucks, which are smaller compared to the compactors, were added to the initial 45 bought last year by the state government. The newly purchased skip trucks by the state government were handed over to LAWMA

in Ogudu by the Commissioner for the Environment, Mr. Tunji Bello. He said the new skip trucks would gradually replace some of the old trucks currently being used for waste evacuation in the state, adding that 100 new trucks were being expected in the coming months. Bello said the skip trucks

Newly aquired skip trucks by LAWMA

ter said government is committed to complete all roads leading to NNPC depots and refineries, including Ejigbo and Mosimi depot roads in Lagos. He also disclosed that the Federal Executive Council (FEC), has approved the expansion and modernisation of the Murtala Mohammed International Airport road into 8 lanes will all modern road furniture. He said the groundbreaking of the road will be performed before second quarter of 2013, adding that rehabilitation of Apapa-Oshodi expressway is ongoing. The minister said the Federal Government was unhappy by the dilapidating nature of the LagosIbadan Expressway road, which he said has recorded highest numbers of carnage in recent times. For this reason, he disclosed that President Goodluck Jonathan has directed the review of the contract for the concession. He said the federal authority is talking with the concessionaire, Messrs Bi-Courtney Highway Services to see how the concession can be reviewed and that in another two weeks, the results of the discursion would be made known to members of the public. He disclosed that the contract for the rehabilitation of Ikorodu –Shagamu road has been terminated due to non performance of the contractor. He said the road has enjoyed the level of budgetary allocation in the last three years but the contractor has not been able to perform according to the terms of the agreement. He said the road will be giving top priority in 2013 budgetary year. would be suitable for evacuating waste in inner and narrow streets, and from communal pick spots where compactors could not easily get to. Bello said, “To Lagos residents, this is your tax in action. When we started our environmental revolution efforts, a lot of people doubted us, but we have been waxing stronger. We are not only interested in the highbrow areas, but everywhere in the state.”

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Aviation

Tuesday, August 14, 2012

Stakeholders differ over minister’s road show abroad

he ongoing road show by the Minister of Aviation, Princess Stella Oduah and her entourage to United States of America, Canada and China has pitched the country’s aviation stakeholders and practitioners in different tents. While a section of stakeholders believe the two weeks road show would eventually become a jamboree and predicted that it would not yield any fruitful result, others insist that the business road show abroad by the team would open the country’s aviation industry to global players and improve on its present comatose state. Oduah, alongside some officials of the ministry and some Chief Executive Officers of agencies had on Saturday, August 4, 2012 embarked on a foreign investment drive to woo foreign investors to key into the transformation and infrastructural development of the aviation sector in Nigeria. During the trip, Oduah said investors’ road shows are expected to be staged in some selected cities across China, United States of America and Canada where ‘’investment baskets’’ would be opened to reveal the huge investment potentials that abound in the Nigerian aviation industry. She said that the idea behind the roadshow is premised on the dire need to urgently tackle the huge infrastructural deficit in the sector by attracting foreign direct investment in the development of facilities and infrastructure that meet international standards and best practices. She said that Investors would particularly be wowed to key into the development of the proposed four new international airports in Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt and Kano as well as the development of aerotroplis around the major airports across the country. Speaking on the issue with National Mirror in Lagos, the President, Concerned Aviation Professionals (CAN), Capt. Tito Omaghomi condemned those who criticised the road show, saying that those condemning the business trip would not have criticized her if they were part of the delegates. Omaghomi insisted that the road show was a step in the right direction, stressing that despite the fact that the world is a global village, people still travel all over the world for business meetings for the development of their countries. He said, “What we are seeing today is truly that the world is a global village and you can get in touch through so many technological methods, but when you are there physically as a minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria with her entourage, looking for creditable investors, people will take them more seriously than putting it on the internet. “We have been told that the minister is not taking stakeholders along, but I asked the question, are they contractors? The minister is doing remodeling; they said they are not being taken along. If they are contractors, they can apply and let the minister know you are a contractor and you may be given some jobs to do. These people are just criticising this woman for nothing”. Also, an accident investigator with the former Federal Civil Aviation Authority (FCAA), Capt. Charles Asuen commended Oduah for the steps taken so far to uplift the country’s aviation sector.

Stakeholders and professionals in the Nigerian aviation industry are at loggerheads over the ongoing two weeks road show to United States, Canada and China by the Minister of Aviation, Princess Stella Oduah and her team. OLUSEGUN KOIKI writes.

Oduah

Ohunayo

WHY ARE INVESTORS PUTTING $1BN INVESTMENT IN PHILIPPINE CARRIERS DESPITE BEING A CATEGORY TWO COUNTRY? WHY IS THE LOW COST CARRIER GOING TO DOMICILE IN

GHANA? WHY IS THE CHINESE AIRLINE GOING TO SET UP A REGIONAL CARRIER IN GHANA? WHY DID AIR FRANCE CODE SHARE WITH NON-STARTERS LIKE AIR BURKINA AND AIR MALI, BUT CHOSE TO FLY TO THREE POINTS IN NIGERIA? Asuen explained that her presence in those countries would make the potential investors to discuss with the country, recalling that former president Olusegun Obasanjo did the same during his eight years reign as civilian president in 1999 to 2007. He said, “The airport environments as they are now, are below standards and they need improvement, but unfortunately, some stakeholders don’t want the woman to work. She has gone to woo investors and I see it as a right step by her. Her presence would make the potential investors to discuss with the country better. “Obasanjo did the same thing when he was the president, but nobody talked. Ironically, people are talking now about what this woman is doing. What do they want her to do? I don’t know. Personally, I will tell you that she has taken the right step and I will support the step. People should let her work and criticise less. Some people are complaining now because they no longer get contracts from the agencies as they used to. So, they are annoyed.” But Engr. Sheri Kyari of the National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers (NAAPE) sees it differently.

According to him, the contents of the road show was hidden from stakeholders and professionals in the sub-sector and wondered why it was shrouded in secrecy by the government, stressing that if the government was truly serious about wooing investors to the country, stakeholders would have had some inputs in the programme. He noted that some of the businesses being showcased to foreigners could be handled by indigenous investors if the government was open and objective about its programmes. He cited India as a viable example in the privatisation and concession programme, stressing that during the exercise, potential indigenous businessmen were carried along and participated fully in the exercise. He said, “I will continue to refer to Indian as a model; when the country wanted to commence its privatisation and concession exercise, the government simply put those people who are interested in the business opportunities in aviation together and they participated fully in the process. So, I wonder how we are so secretive about a lot of things in this country. It is sad for us and I pray they will look at what they are doing,

retrace their steps and look at national investors towards aviation opportunities. “We are watching and hope that by December, we will see those who are coming to do business in the sector because they can’t do that without having a yardstick to check and see the success of whatever programme they are working on. We seriously pray it works.” Also, the former President, Cabin Crew Association of Nigeria (CCAN), Mr. Olumide Ohunayo, likened the action of the minister to putting the cart before the horse. He insisted that the road show was unnecessary when the country was yet to feel the impact of the Dubai executive retreat embarked upon by the agencies’ heads and queried why potential investors are avoiding the country’s aviation industry like plague. Ohunayo asked the minister and her travelling team these questions, “Why are investors putting $1bn investment in Philippine carriers despite being a Category Two country? Why is the low cost carrier going to domicile in Ghana? Why is the Chinese airline going to set up a regional carrier in Ghana? Why did Air France code share with non-starters like Air Burkina and Air Mali, but chose to fly to three points in Nigeria? “It was not through glamorous road shows or by verbally assaulting respected voices, neither did they deliberately strangulate their certified carriers, but by providing an enabling environment backed by protectionist and competitive policies.” Besides, the Ag. Secretary General of the National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE), Comrade Abdulkareem Motajo said rather than embark on the road show, the minister and her team could easily sell the country online, stressing that the world had grown to become a global village. Motajo said what the country expected from the minister at this period was the implementation of the presidential committee report on the operations of domestic airlines, adding that Nigeria is at present faced with myriad security challenges. He said, “We are living in a global village now. Whatever you want to get, you can easily get them through internet. Instead of embarking on a jamboree to these countries, they can easily sell the country online. The country needs to settle insecurity, which is a serious challenge for us today and we need concentration on our internal problems. “The presidential committee on operations of domestic airlines just came out with a report, we need to sit down and look at this report and see where we need to adjust. If we don’t have good infrastructure on ground, the investors they went to woo will never come to the country. Just look at the number of people who embarked on the journey, the national Assembly, ministry officials and even agencies’ heads. It is a waste of tax payers’ money.”

Aviation

Tuesday, August 14, 2012

RwandAir launches fly, drive promotion for Nigerian travellers

ne of the newest foreign carriers flying into Nigeria, RwandAir last week announced a promotion that will enable its clients who purchase tickets from the airline to win wonderful prizes. The Director, Sales and Distribution of the airline, Mrs. Alice Katiti made the disclosure last week in Lagos during a chat with journalists. Katiti explained that the airline will hold a grand draw in the 1st week of December to coincide with the 1st anniversary of the airline in the Nigerian market to recognise winners of its prizes. She said that for every ticket purchased from Lagos to Johannesburg, the client will qualify to enter for the grand draw where he or she stands a chance to win one of the prizes on offer. The 1st prize according to her is a brand new Rio Saloon car, 2nd prize is a family holiday for four in business class and three nights’ hotel accommodation in Johannesburg while the 3rd prize winner will smile home with economy class ticket for two with two nights’ accommodation in Johannesburg. In addition to the grand priz-

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Airside shegzzy4live2000@yahoo.co.uk 08186007273

When minister, others embarked on wild goose chase abroad

O Passengers of the Med-View carrier to this year’s lesser Hajj exercise in Saudi Arabia at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos recently.

es, the clients will be entitled to enter the weekly draws where they will win prizes of tickets to RwandAir’s entire network that include Kigali, Entebbe, Nairobi, Mombasa, Dubai, Dar Es Salaam, Kilimanjaro, Mwanza, Kamembe and Gisenyi on Lake Kivu. During the promotional period, the airline is offering a bouquet of incentives including amazing fares and baggage allowance to travellers from Nigeria to Johannesburg and other selected destinations on the RwandAir network via Kigali. With only $199 economy class and $799 business class return fares on the Lagos-Jo-

hannesburg route excluding taxes, travellers from Nigeria she said can fly conveniently aboard RwandAir’s new Next Generation Boeing 737-800 aircraft with Sky Interior, the first on the African continent, adding that baggage allowance has been increased to 60 Kilogrammes or two piece concept each weighing 30 Kilogrammes in economy class and 90 Kilogrammes or three pieces each weighing 30 Kilogrammes in business class. The clients can also purchase the special business class fare of $799 excluding tax on selected routes: Lagos to Entebbe, Nairobi and Dubai.

Peacock College UK offers 100% scholarship for Nigerians

n August 4, the Minister of Aviation, Princess Stella Oduah, select officials of the ministry and some Chief Executive Officers of agencies embarked on a foreign investment drive to woo investors to key into the transformation and infrastructural development of the aviation sector in Nigeria. The minister and her entourage during the trip staged Investors’ Road Shows in some selected cities across China, the United States of America and Canada where “investment baskets” was reportedly opened to reveal the huge investment potential that abound in the Nigerian aviation industry. This foreign trip, Airside hopes will not be a wild goose chase by the minister and her

allies. Nigeria definitely is an investor haven because of its population and location in the continent, but internal crises, insecurity, bad management and policy summersaults on the part of government over the years sent away potential investors and investors from the country. Nigeria’s loss is now Ghana’s gain. Why is a UK low cost carrier setting up shop in Ghana instead of Nigeria? Airside thinks rather than going for jamboree abroad for two weeks, the government should first sanitise the home front, ensure consistency policies, win the confidence of investors both local and foreign, remove corrupt practices among government officials and create an enabling environment for investors to thrive.

Day Ore raised the alarm

n the 27th last month, the chairman of Aviation Round Table and former Director of Flight Operations of the defunct national carrier, Nigeria Airways, Capt. Dele Ore alleged that the Honourable Minister of Aviation, Princess Stella Oduah threatened his life through a phone conversation and called him various unprintable names. Ore, however, called on the presidency, the Inspector General of Police, Dr. Mohammed Abubakar and the National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki to protect his life from being abruptly terminated by the minister. But in a jiffy, the spokesman to Oduah, Mr. Joe Obi described the accusation as “malicious

and a figment of his very fertile imagination. The entirety of the Press Release is false and calculated to malign the name, image and integrity of the Hon. Minister. The author is hereby put to the strictest proof.” While Airside will not like to take side with either of the parties involved on this issue, it is pertinent to note that Ore is a man of integrity who has put in many credible decades into aviation practice in the country. Also, the honourable minister too is perceived as someone who is upright and will not do anything to diminish her office. Airside advises the two parties to fashion out a way to settle their differences in the interest of the industry.

Delta to sell economy comfort seats through Amadeus elta Air Lines and Ama- partnership demonstrates that

D General Manager, Head of Operations, Port Harcourt Aero Air, Capt. Patrick Agbonlahor and a member of staff during a press briefing in Port Harcourt recently.

eacock College, United Kingdom, a subsidiary of Nigeria-based Peacock Travels and Tours Group, is offering 100 per cent scholarship to Nigerian companies willing to send their employees abroad for short business, management and air travel-related courses. A statement signed by the college Principal, Mr. Zenon Adamek stated that the scholarship was meant to celebrate the year of the Queen’s Golden Jubilee, the Olympics Games 2012 and Nigeria’s 52nd Independence Anniversary. Adamek said the college was

established to give alternative platform for academic and allied training to the corporate world. The scholarship, he said, was meant to serve as an introductory programme for the college’s new academic programme, which starts in 2013. According to the statement, the full scholarship programme will hold for a week at the college’s facility in the UK during the month of October. The statement reads in part, “We have been part of the Queen’s Jubilee celebration as well as the Olympics. Nigeria’s

Independence is in October as well. This is why Peacock College UK is offering Chairman Scholarship, a full scholarship programme, on selected courses in October for employees in Nigerian companies. We believe the offer will allow companies in Nigeria to sample the most popular business and management courses we have on offer.” The principal explained that the courses lasting for five days would be conducted for several weeks in October, however, noted that the free tuition programme would be limited to one participant per company.

deus have announced the expansion of their commercial relationship to enable the sale of Economy Comfort, Delta’s premium economy seats offering more leg room, through Amadeus’ global distribution system. The expanded long-term agreement provides more choices for Delta customers and travel agents to access the popular Economy Comfort seating when booking travel via Amadeus. A statement from the airline’s media consultant in Lagos stated that Delta’s Vice President, Marketing Programmes and Distribution Strategy, Mr. Wayne Aaron said the airline was encouraged by the direction of the technology innovation at Amadeus while the

Delta is listening to its valued corporate and agency partners by broadening the availability of its popular Economy Comfort seating. Aaron said the partnership was part of the more than $3bn the airline is investing to improve the travel experience of its customers at all points of their journey. As part of this new agreement, Amadeus also will work with Delta on initiatives to further personalise and enhance the customer experience as Delta continues to transform the distribution of its products and services. Amadeus also will continue to distribute Delta’s branded fares as well as its economy comfort premium seats.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Insurance

Tuesday, August 14, 2012

Pension fund is not national savings-Penop chairman Mr. Dave Uduanu is the Chairman of Association of Pension Fund Operators (PenOp), the umbrella body of operators in the Nigerian pension industry. He is also the Managing Director of Pension Alliance Limited. In this interview with OMOBOLA TOLU-KUSIMO, he speaks on issues ranging from the just concluded recapitalisation exercise of Pension Fund Administrators, impact of the new capital base on the nation’s economy among other issues. How do pension operators feel about the just concluded recapitalisation exercise? The National Pension Commission, on May 31, 2011 stipulated a minimum shareholders’ fund of N1bn unimpaired by losses for PFAs and also prescribed a deadline of June, 30, 2012 for compliance. PenCom has concluded the first phase of the recapitalisation exercise. They said it would be in two phases and the first phase was to state the number of Pension Fund Administrators (PFAs), that have in principle met the new minimum capital requirement. The second phase is to carry out verification on the capital contributed by other PFAs and they disclosed the total number of PFAs now to be 18. The verification exercise is like a throwback of the banking recapitalisation days when the Nigerian Deposit and Insurance Commission (NDIC), used to do verification of capitals to ensure that they were sourced genuinely. Hence, the verification was to ensure that operators do not contravene the Anti-Money Laundering Act. I would say today, we have 18 PFAs. And we do not expect that number to reduce because we believe that a lot of the PFAs are owned by corporate institutions and individuals of high pedigree. The check is not about whether the money came in, but to ensure that there is no issue of money laundering. I can say that the Recapitalisation was seamless and there is nothing to worry about. Some PFAs were bought over by others, and there were two PFAs that were adjudged not to meet the minimum capital and they were not bought over by anyone. The law states that every PFAs should be given 28 days notice of intention to revoke their license and based on this, if nothing happens after 28 days, the licences of those who fail to satisfy the requirement of the law would be revoked. We believe that by the end of August, the approved 18 would become the conclusive list and that would draw the curtain on the consolidation. Going by the number of firms that scaled the recapitalisation hurdles, did the outcome meet operators expectation? We used to have 27 PFAs, now, we are 18. Consolidation happens in phases, while some people were expecting 10 PFAs and others 15 PFAs, people should note that the pension industry is a bit different from banking. I do not think we were expecting anything significantly lower just like other people. We need certain number of PFAs to go round the country, doing registration, canvassing for new members, because this is pension and not banking. Also, the industry is stratified, and there are 10 top PFAs and others, depending on how one looks at it. I think that consolidation would take its natural course. There would be merger and acquisitions over the next one or two years, but they would not be induced by

The pension industry now has new capital of over N18bn. How would this capital impact on the economy?

Uduanu

BY WAY OF RIVALRY, THE ONLY FINANCIAL INSTITUTION THAT IS BIGGER THAN

PFAS TODAY ARE THE BANKS. PFAS ARE NOW

THE

BIGGER INSURANCE

COMPANIES, BECAUSE THEY MANAGE BIGGER ASSETS regulation, but by competition. People would decide that rather than being alone; let me come together with one or two Pension Fund Administrator so that we would be stronger and bigger. Remember also that in the pension industry, once one crosses a certain number of assets under management, you can invest in other businesses. It all depends on the ambition of the owners of the company. The outcome is not different from what we expected. Did the two companies that were said not to meet the recapitalisation requirement make any presentation to PenOp? PenOp is an association of willing members of the industry. Whilst everybody is supposed to be a member of PenOp the association is not the regulator. So, it is not our business to deal with whether a company recapitalise or not. It is the duty of PenCom. We are not at liberty or allowed to start interfacing. What we know is that today, we have 18 PFAs, if PenCom says tomorrow, it is 19, so be it. So, members of the industry are those that have been cleared and have licenses from PenCom.

The industry’s shareholders’ fund is now more than N18bn. N1bn is the minimum for a PFA, but some PFAs have N2bn, while others have N3bn. The shareholders’ fund of PFAs is not what determines the impact of the pension in the larger economy. It is the size of the pension fund which is about N2.6trn. It is this N2.6trn that are invested in the various instruments, whether it is the money market, bond, capital market, infrastructure and others that would impact the larger society. However, Pension Fund Administrators need capital to run their business, they need capital to rent an office, employ staff and do marketing and branding activities. It is not the capital of the Pension Fund Administrators that matter; it is the size of the pension assets. As the pension assets grow, the PFAs become stronger. This is because they would have more assets to look after technically. From now on, we are going to see better services from PFAs, we would also witness recruitment of quality staff, have good offices, move outside main areas of Lagos, Abuja and Port Harcourt to other area of the country. In Pension Alliance Pensions Limited for instance, we would be opening offices in other part of the country. PFAs are been reposition to play a better role in the larger economy. By way of rivalry, the only financial institution that is bigger than the PFAs today are the banks. PFAs are now bigger insurance companies, because they manage bigger assets. So, the size of a company is not depended on its shareholders’ funds, but the assets it manages. The biggest PFAs manage about excess of N500bn, while the biggest insurance firm may be N50bn. This shows the role of PFAs in an economy. How would the increase in capital impact pension contributors? It is not the capital that the pensioners are relying on; it is the pension fund or the assets the PFAs are managing. A well capitalised Pension Fund Administrator would be able to give better service to pensioners. If an operator does not have enough capital, he would not be able to open offices across the nation. One of the emphases operators are making is to ensure that they place their service close to the retirees. This is because we know that when people retire in Lagos, they often do not stay in Lagos. The fact is that with stronger capital base, PFAs would be able to provide service very close to the retirees and that gives them assurance that their pension assets is available and they can access it any time they need it. Would there be indirect investment of pension fund in infrastructure in the future? There is a clamour for pension funds to

be invested in various sector of the economy. The stockbrokers want the pension fund to pomp –up the equity market, the housing sector wants pension funds to be used to finance housing, the ministry of power want pension to be used for power. There are all sorts of demands. We had a session two weeks ago with the capital market community and the finance minister was there. The issue was why can’t we use the pension fund to support the equity market? Our response was that pension fund is not national savings. It belongs to individuals who need it when they are 60 years and above. The first job of every PFA is the security of the pension funds. Their number one objective is to ensure that when a contributor retirees, there is money to finance the pension. However, as financial players, we know that we cannot take this money and keep them in a bank because we are afraid of losing the money. So, PenCom, therefore, came up with guidelines on how the fund should be invested. The first guideline that was issued was very conservative. It was only money market and bonds with some equities. The guideline has been reversed three times and we are going to the fourth revision. The last revision includes all sorts of instruments. There was inclusion of infrastructure, private equity, mortgage backed securities, real estate investment trust. However, there are strict guidelines as to how these things should be applied. The challenge we have, is that in Nigeria people do not care to read those guidelines before they make pronouncements. People say we want pension fund to be used for housing, the law has said we can invest in mortgage backed securities and real estate investment trust. However, there are clear guidelines that must be met before we can do that, so that the pension assets are protected. Yes we expect pension fund to be used in financing some of the deficit we see in infrastructure, but has to be used in a manner that the pension funds are secured. Specifically, on infrastructure, what we asked for is that, for us to finance infrastructure, it must be public private partnership projects and those project must have a guarantee of the Federal Government. What are the requirements for infrastructure financing? There are pre–conditions that must be met, before pension funds can be used for infrastructure. If those conditions are not in place, the fund cannot be used for infrastructure. Why it is required that the projects must be guaranteed by the federal government is because we know that one government can give someone a concession and another government would come and revoke it.

Insurance

Tuesday, August 14, 2012

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Aletor calls for more sanctions on erring insurers …Retires as Capital Express GMD

OMOBOLA TOLU-KUSIMO

ollowing the recent suspension of some erring insurance companies in the country, Group Managing Director of Capital Express Assurance Limited, Mr. Anthony Aletor has applauded the actions of the present administration of the National Insurance Commission (NAICOM), in curtailing various abuses of underwriters in the insurance industry. The Capital Express boss who spoke over the weekend at a press briefing announcing his retirement from the company and the industry in three days said more sanctions needed to be in other to sanitise the industry. According to him, the best thing that has ever happened to them in the industry is the kind of regulator they have now. He said, “I gathered that the insurance license of some companies was suspended and this is something that not many people can do. “The regulation has been wonderful and noiseless and we are seeing the best

we have ever seen. As it is now, the industry can compete with any financial regulation in the world. I am optimistic that with the strategy of the present Commissioner for Insurance, Mr. Fola Daniel, everyone will be forced to go back and do things the right way. He said the industry has not made the necessary progress because proper underwriting no longer exist, adding that there is need for NAICOM to get even stricter. He posited that insurers must begin to be conscious and responsive to the fact that shareholders can hold them and demand from them accountability and professionalism. Aletor who said he is excited over his retirement said his company believes in good corporate governance adding that the foundation for good corporate governance is sound business strategy along with competent and responsible management team. Capital Express Assurance Limited was incorporated in 2000 when it took over the life assurance arm of Perpetual Assurance Company Limited, which was then a composite insurance compa-

Aletor

ny. To strengthen the company’s capacity even further, Capital Express Assurance acquired the life arm of thirteen insurance companies during the last recapitalisation exercise in the insurance industry in 2007 The life portfolios were from Linkage Assurance Plc, NEM Insurance Plc, Central Insurance Company Limited, First Chartered Insurance Company Limited, United Trust Insurance Com-

pany Limited, GTI Insurance Company Limited, Sovereign Trust Insurance Company Limited, and Oasis Insurance Company Limited. Others include, Hallmark Insurance Company Limited, Regency Life Assurance Company Limited, NGI Insurance Company Limited, First Chartered Insurance Company Limited, as well as Golden Insurance Company Limited.

LASACO ASSURANCE donates N2m to Lagos Security Trust Fund

Ladipo-Ajayi

ASACO ASSURANCE Plc, has donated the sum of N2m to the Lagos State Security Trust Fund to further boost the security of the state. The Group Managing Director of the company, Mr Olusola Ladipo-Ajayi who disclosed this recently in Lagos said that the company places high premium on its involvement in projects that have direct bearing and impact positively on the society According to him, the donation also underscores its commitment to remain socially relevant and a good corporate citizen through a strong focus on Corporate Social Responsibility, CSR. He said CSR is strategic to the company as intends to accomplish its vi-

sion of a market leader in insurance and financial services in Nigeria thereby creating and sustaining an exceptional brand and providing long term value to our stakeholders. “LASACO brand is one that is solidly predicated on societal development and also improving the lots of the citizenry. “Security is one area that is crucial to the people and we will contribute meaningfully to safeguard lives and property. We have strong partnership with the Lagos State government as the company shares the vision of the state to engender growth and transformation in all key sectors of the economy”. Ladipo-Ajayi pledged the commitment of stakeholders to remain a so-

How policyholders frequently undermine their own coverage

ailure to admit you don’t understand your insurance Kevin Foley, a New Jersey-based independent insurance agent, says his foremost stress-inducing “bugaboo” is with insurance customers who are afraid to admit that they don’t understand their policies. Foley has a problem, he says, “When I say to you, ‘Do you understand what I’m explaining to you?’ and you say, ‘Yes,’ but your eyes tell me ‘no.’ . . . The decision you make today could be affecting you years from now, so I need you to understand what I’m saying. If you don’t understand, I’ll go over it again, that’s not a problem. . . . I don’t mind if people don’t buy the more expensive option, but I mind when they buy the cheaper option without understanding what it means.” Foley was recently asked by an auto

mechanic if he could beat the mechanic’s current auto insurance price. “I looked at it and realized I couldn’t,” Foley says. “But I told him I believed the policy needed a tuneup.” “He didn’t understand the choice he had made,” Foley says. Withholding important information The biggest stressor for many agents is insurance customers who fail to divulge important details about their situations, says David Suarez, a spokesperson for Mercury Insurance. For example, a client may fail to mention the number of household members who drive a vehicle. Some people fail to mention that their roommates occasionally drive their car. Some fail to mention that their car has expensive extras, such as custom wheels, that require additional coverage.

“The withholding of information is fairly common,” Suarez says. “It could result in the claims process being slowed down if those facts have been withheld and the insurance carrier was not aware. It makes more work for the agent, and the client is upset. It’s not good for anyone.” Not providing a backup phone number Sometimes an agent needs to reach clients quickly and they can’t be found. A major source of heart-palpitating angst among agents is failure of customers to provide them with a secondary way to reach them, such as a cellphone number or an email address. “Your policy may be in danger of lapsing,” Suarez says. “Or there may be additional information required by the carrier. Or there may be changes about to take place in your policy you need to be aware of.

cially relevant brand by embarking on projects that touch the lives of citizens as this aligns with its vision to create and add value to the stakeholders he said.

FAQs on pension scheme Who is a custodian? A Pension Fund Custodian (PFC) is a company licensed by the National Pension Commission (PenCom) to keep pension money and assets in the RSA on trust for the employee on behalf of the PFA. What is the difference between a PFA and a PFC? The PFA manages and invests the pension funds while the PFC keeps the pension funds and assets in safe custody and carries out transactions on behalf of the PFA. What are the minimum financial requirements for a PFA or PFC licence? An applicant PFA must have a minimum paid up share capital of Nl50,000,000 while an applicant PFC must have a minimum paid up capital of N2,000,000,000 and shall be a licensed financial institution with a minimum net worth of N5,000,000,000 unimpaired by losses and has total assets of N125,000,000,000 or is wholly owned by a licensed financial institution with similar financial resources. Can I move my account from one PFA to another? An employee or contributor has the freedom to move his account once a year, from one PFA to another without giving any reason(s).

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Capital Market

Tuesday, August 14, 2012

Insurance stocks rally lift equities by 0.15% JOHNSON OKANLAWON

rading in equities continued on bullish note on the Nigerian Stock Exchange yesterday, as the rally recorded mostly in insurance stocks sustained the benchmark indices. The All Share Index rose by 0.15 per cent to close at 23,273.56 points, lower than the increase by 0.25 per cent recorded on Friday to close at 23,239.03 points. Market capitalisation appreciated by N11bn to close at N7.41trn, compared to the increase by

N19bn recorded on Friday to close at N7.39trn. The insurance index led the subsector index by 0.51 per cent to close at 125.33 points, followed by consumer goods index with 0.21 per cent to close at 1,950.17 points. The banking index rose by 0.21 per cent to close at 355.54 points, while the NSE-30 index closed at 1,086.06 points, up by 0.14 per cent. Lotus Islamic index appreciated marginally by 0.004 per cent to close at 1,353.68 points, but the oil and gas index dropped by 0.02 per cent to close at 168.73 points.

UTC Plc led the gainers’ table with four kobo or five per cent to close at 84 kobo per share, followed by Union Bank Plc with 24 kobo or 4.92 per cent to close at N5.12 per share. Evans Medical Plc increased by five kobo or 4.76 per cent to close at N1.10 per share, while Vitafoam Plc gained 14 kobo or 4.75 per cent to close at N3.09 per share. Redstar Express Plc closed at N2.77 per share, up by 12 kobo or 4.53 per cent. On the flip side, Eterna Oil Plc dipped by 13 kobo or 4.85 per cent to close at N2.55 per share, while Custodian Insurance Plc

shed six kobo or 4.65 per share to close at N1.23 per share. International Breweries Plc fell 28 kobo or 4.41 per cent to close at N6.07 per share, while Livestock Plc declined by six kobo or 4.38 per cent to close at N1.31 per share. Dangote Flour Plc depreciated by 26 kobo or 3.99 per cent to close at N6.25 per share. Transaction volume in equities dipped by 2.94 per cent, as a total of 209.7 million shares worth N1.61bn were exchanged in 3,306 deals, compared to 192.7 million shares valued at N1.52bn traded in 3,406 deals on Friday.

Fidelity Bank gross income hits N51bn in H1 JOHNSON OKANLAWON

idelity Bank Plc has declared a gross income of N51.9bn for the half year ended June 30, 2012, an increase by 79 per cent when compared to N28.9bn recorded in the same period of 2011. The bank’s profit before tax rose by 160 per cent to N9.9bn in the review period, from N3.8bn recorded in the same period of 2011. According to the unaudited result presented to the Nigerian Stock Ex-

change, net interest income after impairment charge for credit losses increased by 88 per cent to N19.5bn, from N10.3bn recorded in corresponding period of 2011. Net fee and commission income grew by 30 per cent to N11.4bn in the review period, from N8.7bn in 2011 half year, while operating expenses rose by 40 per cent to N23.2bn in 2012, from N16.5bn recorded in the same period of 2011. Further analysis showed that earnings per share (annualized) increased by 160 per

cent to 52 kobo per share in the half year, from 20 kobo per share in 2011 half year. The bank’s total assets increased by 46.9 per cent from N502bn in 2011 half year to N736.9bn in 2012, while net loans and advances rose by 36 per cent to N274bn, from N201bn in 2011 half year. Total deposit from customers stood at N554bn in the half year, an increase by 61 per cent when compared to N345bn recorded in the corresponding period of 2011. Shareholders’ fund stood at N141bn in the

review period. Pre-tax return on assets increased to 2.7 per cent in 2012, from 1.5 per cent in 2011 half year, while return on equity rose to 14 per cent, from 5.8 per cent in the same period of 2011. Non performing loan ratio stood at six per cent in 2012, compared to 16 per cent in 2011 half year and 7.8 per cent as at December 31, 2011. Cost-to-income ratio dropped to 69.8 per cent in 2012, compared to 81 per cent recorded in the corresponding period of 2011.

Market liquidity to remain tight-Analysts ADEDEJI ADEMIGBUJI

he market may remain tight through this week in the absence of any major liquidity inflow, as the government is expected to sell N7bn worth of bond this week. According to analysts at DLM research, the interbank rates may not remain at the current elevated levels, but the rates may not return to the sub-20 per cent levels hitherto obtainable in the market, except when there are large cash inflows into the market.

The firm noted that the current liquidity tightening guideline may lead to a rise in savings deposit rates as banks adopt more aggressive and competitive strategies to fund their activities hitherto funded via closed windows by the monetary authorities. It said, “We are of the opinion that the cause of this spike in rates at the interbank market may run deeper than a reaction to the most recent guideline that prevents banks from participating in foreign exchange auctions throughout the term of a repo agree-

ment with apex bank. “In our view, the sudden and sharp increase in rates could be an indication of liquidity challenges within the banking sector especially in view of the large volumes of illiquid Federal Government bonds that most banks are carrying on their respective balances sheets.” The firm explained that the interbank rates hit a five-year high of 33 per cent, following the latest liquidity tightening measures by the Central Bank of Nigeria. “This is against the backdrop of the monetary authorities’ latest

guidelines on accessing the lending window and repo transactions. Prior to this, interbank rates were between 14 per cent to 16 per cent. “However, after the initial market reaction to the liquidity tightening that drove interbank rates to record highs, the average rates retreated to 27 per cent as at Friday, August 10,” the firm noted. Last week, government auctioned N32.06bn treasury bills worth of 91day and sold at the rate of 14.50 per cent, as against 13.94 per cent offered the preceding week.

Source: NSE NIBOR QUOTES 10 AUGUST & 13 AUGUST 2012 25.00 24.00 23.00 22.00 21.00 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

41128

41129

Source: FMDA

Market indicators All-Share Index 20,583.61 points Market capitalisation 6.487, trillion

Stock Updates GAINERS COMPANY

OPENING

CLOSING

CHANGE

UTC

0.80

0.84

0.04

UBN

4.88

5.12

0.24

EVANSMED

1.05

1.10

0.05

VITAFOAM

2.95

3.09

0.14

REDSTAREX

2.65

2.77

0.12

GTASSURE

1.65

1.72

0.07

DANGSUGAR

4.50

4.69

0.19

NEIMETH

0.79

0.82

0.03

PAINTCOM

2.12

2.20

0.08

ROYALEX

0.53

0.55

0.02

LOSERS COMPANY

OPENING

CLOSING

CHANGE

ETERNA

2.68

2.55

0.13

CUSTODYINS

1.29

1.23

0.06

INTBREW

6.35

6.07

0.28

LIVESTOCK

1.37

1.31

0.06

DANGFLOUR

6.51

6.25

0.26

TRANSCORP

1.05

1.01

0.04

DIAMONDBNK

2.71

2.61

0.10

WAPIC

0.55

0.53

0.02

AGLEVENT

1.14

1.10

0.04

FIDSON

0.86

0.83

0.03

Primary Market Auction TENOR

AMOUNT (N’mn)

RATE (%)

DATE

91-Day

39,276.37

15.00

9-Aug-12

182-Day

40,000.00

8.24

9-Aug-12

364 -Day

30,000.00

9.60

9-Aug-12

Open Market Operations TENOR

AMOUNT (N’mn)

RATE (%)

DATE

204-Day

20,720.00

7.42

9-Aug-12

189-Day

40,960.00

8.18

9-Aug-12

36-Day

11,919.76

15.49

9-Aug-12

Wholesale Dutch Auction System AMOUNT OFFERED

MARKET DEMAND

AMOUNT SOLD

DATE

$450,0m

$450,0

$$450,0m

8-Aug-12

$250,0m

1-Aug-12

The Capitol, seat of US ––– government $250,0m

Tuesday, August 14, 2012

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Politics

Tuesday, August 14, 2012

National unity and rise of new ‘nation-states’ CONTINUED FROM 13 claimed millions of lives, was as a result of a challenge to this “common identity.” In most countries, especially those made up of many different cleavages of people; the question of national identity has always been linked to the nation-building project which depends on unity. This oneness is often achieved through common symbols such as flags, anthems, holidays, coat of arms, passports and others to which everybody is taught to identify with as citizens. Flags and anthems particularly evoke emotions among citizens. It is in line of this that one of the most important personal and collective commitments which all Nigerians are called to make towards the realisation of the genuine renaissance of the country’s political and social development is the persistent upholding of and respect for national symbols that include the National Flag and the Coat of Arms which constitute the two most symbolic representations of the ideals, power and the rallying point of calls to patriotism and national duty as reflected in both the national anthem and the pledge. But it is uncertain how this could be attained in the light of the recent development, even as questions are also being asked of what becomes of citizenship rights which is partly responsible for the ethnic conflicts in some states of the federation. While the case of Lagos State (which belongs to club of states with own symbols) is peculiar given its cosmopolitan nature that allows residents to enjoy same privileges irrespective of states of origin, the same cannot be said of other states where indigeneship plays a greatter role in “who gets what.” Analysts are therefore of the view that the indigeneship question will hot up in the days ahead, though Cap 13 law of the Anthem, Coat of Arms and Flag Act of the Federal Republic of Nigeria makes a provision for states within the federation to have theirs. The position of the Bayelsa State government gave a clue to this regard. “This decision also underscores government’s belief that this state, like any other state, is where the Ijaws, the fourth largest ethnic nationality, has as its home. Bayelsa is home to all Ijaws both at home and abroad. The emblem therefore will help serve as a unifying force and rallying point for all our people,” it had explained. This, according to some analysts, apparently means that if it was difficult in the past for Nigerians to be accepted in states other than those of their origin when there seemed a sense of oneness, the new trend will even make it more herculean. The construction and nature of the Nigerian state which is rooted in the colonial pedigree tend towards the institutionalisation of ethnic entitlements, rights and privileges, which creates differentiated and unequal status of citizenship. It is against this backdrop that the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) cautioned the Presidency on the dangers of the Bayelsa State’s flag and anthem adoption, saying it is likely to rev up ethnic nationalism, which does not promote national unity. The ACF which spoke through its National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Anthony

Jonathan

Dickson

IN TRULY FEDERAL STATES, EACH

FEDERATING UNIT IS PERMITTED TO HAVE SUCH.

BUT

IT GENERATES CONTROVERSY IN

NIGERIA BECAUSE ...EVERY EFFORT AT THE AUTONOMY OF THE UNITS IS CRUSHED UNDER FEDERAL MIGHT Sani, said: “A few days ago, a faction of Ogoni extraction declared political autonomy and yet asked for effective representations in all Nigerian institutions. The ACF does not understand the unfolding events in the South-South which tend to rev up ethnic nationalism that are laden with fissiparous tendencies. Such attitude runs across the grain of unity.” Sani, who wondered how the Ogoni expect to be a sovereign state within a Nigerian sovereignty, said there was no difference between what the Ogonis have done with that of Bayelsa State. “Bayelsa State action tends towards the same direction, all under the watch of the President who is in a better position to put a stop to such centrifugal forces within the polity,” he said. A prominent member of the ACF and elder statesman, Alhaji Tanko Yakasai, described the development in Bayelsa State as a “challenge to President Jonathan who swore to defend the territorial integrity of the nation and its constitution.” Similarly, the Secretary General of the Conference of Nigerian Political Parties (CNPP), Chief Willy Ezugwu, who warned on the dangers of such trend, faulted the Federal Government’s silence on the issue unlike its reaction when other states not under the control of the PDP took similar steps. He said: “The Federal Government is running a sectional administration. For

Fayemi

the Ogonis, Bakassi and Bayelsa State to have their own flags, anthems and coat of arms, automatically translates to secession,” he told National Mirror. A Kaduna-based lawyer, Yahaya Mahmood (SAN), also called on the President to make known the position of his government on the issue. His words: “The Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria which remains our supreme law defines Nigeria as one indivisible and indissoluble sovereign nation. Each public officer and political office holder also took oath of allegiance to the Federal Republic of Nigeria. “It is time for President Jonathan to come out categorically to tell the nation if he wants us to remain as one united country. The President must categorically caution Dr. Diigbu Goodluck who was said to have declared the Ogoni self-government and Asari Dokubo for his threat of war. “The President must also caution the Bayelsa State governor and the state Assembly. People are beginning to think that those threatening our unity are the real people behind the real Boko Haram, which attack mosques and churches, kill Christian and Moslems. Not those being accused by Edwin Clark.” Also reacting, a constitutional lawyer, Fred Agbaje, described the action of the Bayelsa State government as an “affront on the constitution.” He added that the move could mark the beginning of secession. He queried: “When an item is not on

Aregbesola

the concurrent list, can a state legislate on it? The issue of a state flag and anthem are not issues on the concurrent list; therefore a state government cannot make a law on flags.” Former governor of old Kaduna State, Alhaji Balarabe Musa, however held a different view. He told National Mirror in an interview that a state can adopt its own anthem or flag as long as it does not pose any threat to national unity. His words: “There is no problem with states adopting symbols of identification as long as they do not undermine national security.” On the possibility of such development leading to the country’s break up, Musa said it depends on the strenght or weakness of the central government. Another constitutional lawyer and professor of Law, Itse Sagay (SAN), said the states which have adopted their own flags and anthems only expressed what they are entitled to in a true federal system of government. He said: “We are a federation and each state has the right to a certain level of autonomy and identity. The flag, the anthem and the coat of arms are merely an implementation of that right. That does not stop the state from recognising the national flag, which must fly everywhere.” His view was shared by another lawyer, Mr. Basil Ugochukwu, who said: “There is nothing to it so long as the states designing flags and composing anthems are not challenging the sovereignty of Nigeria. In fact, in truly federal states, each federating unit is permitted to have such. But it generates controversy in Nigeria because our so-called federation is far from ideal where every effort at the autonomy of the units is crushed under federal might. There is nothing under our current laws preventing states from designing flags or composing anthems. But it will be a problem if such states use those actions to question Nigeria’s sovereign status.” Whereas many may question whether the current national symbols actually convey the ideas of identity as contained in the anthem and pledge, perhaps, it is time for Nigerians to give more consideration to the various proposals for a new paradigm of governance and relationship between the tiers of the Nigerian federation now that all sorts of ethnic identities are set to be used for political purposes.

Politics

SINA FADARE examines the recent call by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) that the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila should vacate his seat against the backdrop of his past professional misconduct.

Tuesday, August 14, 2012

Impeachment threat reveals Gbajabiamila’s past THE

PARLIAMENT

he Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila may not forget in a hurry that a mere contribution on the floor of the House would open an old wound which he has been managing since he ventured into active politics. He perhaps passed through the lonely path which angels fear to tread by introducing the issue of impeachment of the President from nowhere citing Section 143 of the 1999 Constitution. The lawmaker argued that the President was culpable of gross misconduct due to his failure to implement the budget accordingly. Expectedly, Gbajabiamila’s submission took the House by surprise and majority keyed into his argument that made the House became rancorous. Ever since, life for the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) legislator from Lagos has never remained the same. Gbajabiamila’s move actually rattled the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who has the majority in the House. Unlike in the past when the House of Representatives was more or less the appendage of the executive, via the ruling party, today, the music seems to have changed likewise the dancing step. The opposition membership in the House is now 158, more than enough to initiate impeachment proceedings against the president if the need arises, especially if they work with the ‘rebels’ within the PDP who are equally dissatisfied with the manner the President had handled bills and resolutions passed by the House. Corroborating this assertion, a member of the PDP Board of Trustees, who spoke in anonymity, said that the House not only rattled the executive with that resolution, but embarrassed the party which claimed to be in charge. However, there is always a consequence for any action or inaction taken or not taking by man as nature do not harbour vacuum. The past of Gbajabiamila was dusted by the foot soldiers of President Goodluck Jonathan, who saw the hand writing on the wall that if his wings were not quickly clipped, the House may spring a surprise like it did during the time the Speaker was elected. The case of professional misconduct against the lawmaker while practising as a lawyer in the United States (U.S.) was unearthed by those sympathetic to the president. Gbajabiamila had admitted to theft of his client funds while serving as attorney in U.S. state of Georgia, though he said he was not directly involved, but one of his staff did and had to accept the responsibility. He accused the Presidency of circulating misleading reports in the media to tarnish his reputation after he had presented an impeachment motion against him.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Gbajabiamila

Saraki

SINCE THE MAN HAS BEEN PUNISHED FOR THE OFFENCE

COMMITTED...

WHY

IS THE PARTY RAISING THE DUST AGAINST HIM NOW THAT HE MOVED THE MOTION

FOR THE PRESIDENT’S IMPEACHMENT?

His words: “My attention has been drawn to various newspaper paid advertisements calculated at disparaging my person and aimed at discouraging me from discharging my responsibilities as a legislator and as the leader of the opposition in the House of Representatives. “Let me state very clearly that, yes, I was sanctioned by the Georgia Bar Disciplinary Board for professional misconduct and negligence due to an unfortunate ethical violation that took place about 10 years ago in 2003.” With this confession of Gbajabiamila, the PDP South-West said he should resign as member of the House of Representatives. The zonal publicity secretary of the party, Hon. Kayode Babade in a statement said “Since he (Gbajabiamila) has admitted that he was sanctioned by Georgia Supreme Court for professional misconduct and negligence, the most honourable thing to do is to vacate his seat in the House of Representatives.” According to the party, Gbajabiamila, a member of the ACN allegedly admitted violating Rule 1.15(I) of the Georgia Rules of Professional Conduct set forth in Bar Rule 4-102(d). The party said although he ultimately paid the $25,000 to his client in 2006, three

years after he collected the fund, his conduct violated Rule 1.15(I), which is punishable by disbarment. PDP pointed out that it was ridiculous that Gbajabiamila could be using the impeachment plot against President Jonathan as a defence for his shady past, saying; “In a saner clime, what he would have done was to vacate his seat and apologise to Nigerians.” However, in a swift reaction, the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) has described as “illogical,” the call for Gbajabiamila’s resignation. Spokesman for the CPC, Mr. Rotimi Fashakin, in a statement faulted the resignation call over the lawmaker’s indictment by Georgia Bar Disciplinary Board for professional misconduct. He wondered why the call came on the heels of a motion moved by Gbajabiamila for the commencement of impeachment proceedings against President Jonathan should he fail to implement the 2012 budget by September. The CPC faulted the PDP for calling for the head of Gbajabiamila because of the consequences of his audacity in demanding for the impeachment of President Jonathan for non-implementation of the budget. Meanwhile, there are two fundamental questions that are begging for answers on the issue at stake. If it is true that the offence committed by Gbajabiamila warranted being sent packing from the House, why did it take the PDP so long to make such a call after Gbajabiamila had spent over five years in the hallowed chamber? Why is it that it was after his submission in the House that the faceless groups emerged from nowhere that he should bow out of the House? It is recalled that when Senator Bukola Saraki moved the motion in the National Assembly that the subsidy issue should be probed in order to get to the root of the matter once and for all, hell was let loose, as he became the object of attack. The former governor of Kwara State was suddenly declared wanted by the Special

Fraud Unit of the Nigeria Police Force for allegedly defrauding a defunct Nigerian bank of almost N20 billion. This is the police which did not say anything until Saraki moved the controversial motion. This further buttressed the assertion that the cabal in the corridors of power would go to any length to deal with whosoever wanted to cross their path, particularly their business interest. Though Gbajabiamila may not necessary have in mind to send the President packing, but his observation was not only germane, but necessary if the ongoing democratic experiment is to be deepened. The presidential system of government which the country is practicing gives room for the three organs of government - legislative, executive and judiciary - to function independently and act as a check and balance to each other as spelt out in the theory of separation of powers. Political pundits argued that the PDP is paying the ACN back in its own coin, considering the high level of criticism and media hype it mounts on the PDP government each time it erred. Speaking to National Mirror on the issue, the National Publicity Secretary of the ACN, Alhaji Lai Mohammed said that the call for Gbajabiamiala’s resignation was unwarranted, noting that PDP has no basis to make such a frivolous call. Mohammed queried what the PDP has done with all the probes that are going on in the country which to a greater extent has rubbished the integrity of the ruling party. Speaking in the same vein, the spokesman of Save Nigeria Group (SNG), Mr. Yinka Odumakin said since Gbajabiamila has committed a professional misconduct and sanctioned by the parent body outside the country, the call by the PDP to vacate his seat was very unfortunate. Odumakin said: “Since the man has been punished for the offence committed and he was not convicted or sent to any jail term neither was he banned not to hold public office, then the PDP goofed to have called for him to step down from the House of Representatives.” “Where was PDP all these years that Gbajabiamila has been in the House? Why is the party raising the dust against him now that he moved the motion for the president’s impeachment?” he queried. Odumakin noted that there are a lot of burning issues in the country that require urgent attention of the ruling party, instead of wasting their time in witch-hunting somebody because he made a submission in the House of Representatives. As it is, it is unlikely if the lawmaker will heed to the PDP’s call. The trend now is that any lawmaker who has the audacity to confront the executive or those close to the Presidency should be prepared for an onslaught against his person.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Politics

Tuesday, August 14, 2012

Crisis is currently brewing in the Bayelsa State House of Assembly over allegations that the lawmakers did not attend the 43rd Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference held recently in Johannesburg, South Africa after N78 million had been collected for that purpose, writes EMMA GBEMUDU.

Bayelsa Assembly battles alleged N78m scam THE

PARLIAMENT

IF SUCH CORRUPT TENDENCIES ARE EXHIBITED BY THE

HOUSE MEMBERS,

fresh scam is rocking the Bayelsa State House of Assembly. Speaker of the House, Hon. Konbowei Benson is battling to wriggle himself out of the allegation already painting the House in a bad light. The factionalised House is allegedly enmeshed in a N78 million scandal being fund meant for a South African trip to enable all the 24 lawmakers attend the just-concluded 43rd Commonwealth Parliamentary Association Conference in Johannesburg. The event was held between June 29 and July 8. Investigations by National Mirror revealed that only three lawmakers in the Assembly actually attended the conference. It was learnt that the Speaker and some lawmakers were alleged not to have attended the conference, a situation that is generating controversy. Already, a group, Transparency and Good Governance Coalition has petitioned the Inspector-General of Police on the issue. Urging the Police to investigate the scam, the petition signed by one U.F. Mohammed, stated that Governor Seriake Dickson reportedly approved N78m and emphasised that the funds must be utilised for the conference. The group therefore, maintained that the erring lawmakers should be brought to book to enable sanity return to the House. The N78 million foreign trip scandal is a fallout of the crisis rocking the Assembly. It will be recalled that on June 4, the Speaker of the House was impeached by the Assembly over alleged gross misconduct and highhandedness. Benson had travelled on a medical trip abroad when he was removed. Some political godfathers in the state were allegedly behind the impeachment plot not known to the governor. On his return, Benson reportedly approached Dickson to intervene in the crisis to enable him regain his job of which the governor and President Goodluck Jonathan did. But investigation revealed that the Speaker was still nursing grudges against some of the lawmakers who championed his impeachment. He allegedly refused to pay these lawmakers their allowances. One of the “dissident” legislators and former Deputy Speaker of the House, Fini Angaye was said to have walked into the Speaker’s office, demanding for his outstanding allowances. Angaye banged his hand on the Speaker’s table shouting, ‘pay me my money,’ ‘pay me my money’. The enraged lawmaker vowed not to leave the Speaker’s office until his allowances were paid. But, the timely intervention of other lawmakers inside the Speaker’s office saved the situation. The fact is that there is no peace and

WHAT MORAL JUSTIFICATION DO THEY HAVE TO SACK THE FIVE COUNCIL

CHAIRMEN RECENTLY?

YOU CANNOT GIVE WHAT YOU DON’T HAVE

Dickson

Benson

unity in the Assembly. The fragmented House may be heading for another crisis, if the brewing war is not urgently nip in the bud. It was gathered that there are fresh plots to unseat Benson, who is allegedly not carrying all the members along. There are also fears that the Speaker may not survive the next plot to oust him from office. The N78 million scam, many believe may be his undoing, if the matter was not properly handled by the House. The Speaker’s ability to prove his innocence before the House is one major burden he is saddled with at the moment. It is evident that tempers are rising among some lawmakers not comfortable with Benson’s leadership style. Information available revealed that Benson and some lawmakers jetted out of the country on July 7 and arrived South Africa on the early hours of July 8. It was learnt that these lawmakers

checked into their hotel without attending the conference. Mohammed, in the petition, alleged that: “It was shocking that the lawmakers after arriving the country, informed the people that the conference which they never attended was successful and that they were better equipped to perform their functions. Unknown to Bayelsans, the Speaker and other members of the Bayelsa State House of Assembly were said not to have attended the conference, but simply converted the funds given to them for their personal use. While the conference lasted on June 29, the Speaker and members of the House were allegedly engaged in a “jamboree” in Nigeria, until July 7, 2012. But the Special Assistant to the Speaker on Media, Piriye Kiriyamo, in an interview with National Mirror, insisted that there was no financial scam in the House, stressing that he accompanied the lawmakers to South Africa where more than 17 legislators attended the conference in Johannesburg. Kiriyamo said those making the allegation were ignorant of the trip. He, however, admitted that some of the lawmakers had problems with their travelling documents which made them to arrive the conference late. He said: “I saw two-third of the lawmakers in South Africa. We had Visa problems, that was why we came late. In the first place, there was no scam. We went late. It was not our own doing. We raised the matter there. South African government said the Visa problem was due to security issues. Some people are talking out of ignorance. “It does not amount to scam. I was even told that a group petitioned the Inspector-General of Police. If they are sending any petition to the Inspector-General of Police, they should copy the State House of Assembly.” Kiriyamo said the Speaker ensured that there was zero tolerance for corruption House, coupled with his prudence in the management of resources. The media aide informed that the Speaker is a church minister and would not engage in

such dirty deals. Speaking on the issue, the state secretary of the Civil Liberties Organisation (CLO), Alagoa Morris, described the alleged N78 million scam rocking the Assembly as unfortunate and sad. Morris said: “Why must these legislators of the Bayelsa State House of Assembly decide not to attend the parliamentary training or was it that some were just deliberately schemed out of it? It is difficult to comprehend. If such corrupt tendencies are exhibited by the House members, what moral justification do they have to sack the five council chairmen recently? You cannot give what you don’t have.” He called for a proper investigation on the matter to ascertain the real situation and facts. The rights activist noted that those found culpable should either be impeached or recalled by the people, stressing that the constituents needed people with “integrity and capacity for effective representation and not bench and pocket warmers. “Like the corruption scandal rocking the National Assembly, the Bayelsa State House of Assembly should purge itself of this allegation. Unless the House is clean, how can it be effective? The House is not only expected to conduct oversight functions and facilitate the realisation of the dividends of democracy, but, also as a check on the excesses of the executive. This scam that has come to limelight must not be swept under the carpet. “This singular act of those who diverted the conference funds shows that the only motive of some people seeking political office is nothing but money and related material wealth. “It is obvious that our legislators lack the capacity to deal with issues relating to their offices and effective representation of their constituencies and people. We have had complaints in the past by legislators that among the three arms of government, the legislature is the least developed in this country, because even in military regime the other two arms still functioned,” Morris stated. In the same vein, the chairman, Bayelsa State Non-Governmental Organizations Forum (BANGOF), Godson JimDorgu, told our correspondent that the lawmakers who did not attend the parliamentary conference should be made to refund the amount collected for the trip. Meanwhile, the state government has maintained sealed lips on the scam. It is not known if a committee would be constituted to investigate the allegation. A source in the Assembly said that the officials of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) are likely to be invited to investigate the N78 million scam. She noted that lawmakers found culpable should be prosecuted to serve as a deterrent to others. “The lawmakers would not be treated as sacred cows in the anti-corruption war being championed by the Dickson administration,” she said.

Politics

Tuesday, August 14, 2012

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

I’ve always been at receiving end in politics – Mbadinuju CONTINUED FROM 14 conspiracy to keep the state allocation low to ensure that my administration was starved of fund. But with the lean resources, I was able to continue from where Dr. Chukwuemeka Ezeife stopped in the oil and gas exploration in the state. We advanced the oil process and were able to acquire the necessary licence to go into oil exploration. Who after all these efforts stopped the process and how? With the lean resources we were able to undertake and complete so many projects in the state. There was also the case of N3.5 billion money laundering allegation against you. The opposition group in the state named Anambra Peoples’ Forum (APF) kept me “busy” everyday of the four years I was in office. One of the things they did was to accuse me of the crime of money laundering and financial irregularities which the Obasanjo government obliged them and I was investigated for several months by a combined team of the Police, NDLEA, CBN and others. The investigations took them to Russia, Europe and America and they found nothing. In Europe, they found out that my only foreign account was 13 British Pounds which I left when I was a student of the University of Southampton in England. At the end of the investigation, the former president told me on phone that I should walk with my head high that nothing was found against me. He further invited me to come and collect a copy of the report and use it to clear my name, which I did. One can notice the barrage of darts thrown at me for not committing any offence during my tenure in office. The distractions of my opponents were rather too much, but I kept moving, God been on my side. No governor in office in recent times has been subjected to these criminal investigations as was done to me. There were accusations of your government not taking the welfare of workers very seriously, as well as ordering the closure of schools in the state because of strikes. I never ordered for the closure of any school in Anambra. On the orchestrated workers’ strike, could it really be said that it was only Anambra workers that went on strike? Was the strike not a nationwide issue? Were the strikes not dictated and directed from Abuja by the leadership of the NLC, led at that time by Adams Oshiomhole, the present governor of Edo State. There was nothing a governor could do when the labour leaders direct workers to go on strike. And the Anambra case was worsened by the labour leaders from Abuja who connived with people of the state who were hell-bent on seeing that we fail; they hired thugs and flogged out teachers from their classrooms. Anybody in his right mind would not close schools for any reason. But the accusation of closing the schools for one year beats my imagination. It is not that schools were not closed, but all public institutions were closed and it was an order from the labour leaders; Oshiomhole came to Anambra at that time to ensure that his orders were carried out. The first day he landed in Awka, he went to see Emeka Offor who was then the leader of Anambra Peoples Forum (my main opponent then) and they perfected their strategies to ensure that schools were closed down. I think it is unfair to say that I was the person who closed schools in the state at that time. Somebody like me, who went abroad to study on scholarship, should at least appreciate the value of education to his people. On welfare, it is on record that I cleared the three months backlog of workers salaries immediately I came in as governor in 1999. Thereafter, I commenced paying workers in Anambra State on every 27th of the month and I remain the only governor in the state’s history to pay Christmas bonus to workers in order to retain their loyalty and serve the state dutifully because I appreciated their efforts. The case of the alleged killing of the Igwes on your neck at that period was said to have stopped you from a second term in office. Yes, my critics and opposition worsened their plot and hatred of me when they came up with the death of Barrister Igwe and his wife, after so many unsuccessful attempts to nail me. Barnabas Igwe and Amaka, his wife, were mur-

dered in Onitsha on the night I was in Boston, Texas, attending the World Igbo Conference. The moment I was told of the unfortunate incident, I rushed back home and decided to set up a judicial committee to unravel the mystery of the killing. I was discussing this with the then chief judge of the state (Hon. Justice Ononiba), when a message came from the Onitsha branch of the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) that they would not appear before any committee I would set up, because I was a suspect. I thought it was a prank. As this was the position of the bar, understandable, since the slain lawyer was the chairman of Onitsha Bar, I immediately removed my immunity as governor and surrendered myself to the police for investigation of the crime, even though our constitution says no one should be prosecuted as a governor. This is because the president insisted I must be interrogated and possibly charged. I therefore yielded and obeyed the federal authority, knowing that clear conscience fears no accusation. I thus handed myself to the police. After months of investigation, during which the police interrogated me among other 13 suspects, they came out with a report on May 16, 2003 and by another report of April 2009, that I was clearly in America when the incident happened and that I could never had killed the Igwes. Only one person was indicted by the police, out of the 14 of us that were investigated. Surprisingly, if not unlawful, I was rearrested by IGP Sunday Ekhindero in 2005 as he was said to be acting from order from above, in spite of the fact that the police had exonerated and released me in 2003. They began a fresh investigation and prosecution targeted at me. No one else was ever prosecuted in that case except me because the Presidency, the conspirators and false accusers had concluded their plans to nail me and no one else to the case. The Attorney-General in Anambra State at that time courageously refused to send me for trial, insisting that there was nothing in the police report to warrant that. At that stage, neither the magistrate nor the High Court judge

could have set me free without trial. I was remanded at the Onitsha prisons. This was because a plan had already been hatched by the conspirators to kill me at Onitsha prison, when they stormed the place with a trailer load of hoodlums, searching all the corners of the prison for me. These are parts of the things I suffered for nothing in the hands of my political opponents or adversaries. They wanted a Roman mob on me but God intervened. Nobody can say one single thing I have done wrong in Anambra State that should warrant the treatment that was meted out to me by Obasanjo and his team in Abuja. Both Igwe and his wife worked for me when I was sponsored by Senator Anah to contest for the chairmanship of the NBA even though I failed in that bid. He is from Imo State and cannot contest for any election in Anambra, so why would I kill him? For what? Yes he was urging me to pay salaries after the strike and closure of schools incident, which I viewed as his personal opinion. My opponents cashed on that and killed him while I was in Boston, so as to use it as a tool to fight my second term bid. But at the end of the day, I must insist that there were people who killed the Igwe couple. The police also could have leads to track the killers. Why are they sweeping it under the carpet? There were certain government and security reports which the late President Umaru Yar’ Adua called important “leads” that would help determine who the Igwes’ killers were, but the president was not interested in opening up the matter. There was this issue that you manipulated the security situation of the state, especially your handling of the Anambra Vigilante Service (AVS). That was a calculated attempt to run us down because I believe that we should be commended for the bold steps we took to return lasting peace to the various parts of Anambra State. Before we came in, it was very difficult for people to sleep over night in certain parts of the state. It was my administration that ended the about 50 years of communal fighting in Umuleri, Aguleri and Umuoba- Anam. The Anambra Vigilante Services (AVS, aka Bakasi boys) was a blessing to the state not minding the complain from the opposition in Anambra Peoples’ Forum, which aligned themselves with Abuja to discredit the peace and security we established in the state using the AVS. The state House of Assembly debated the security bill I sent to them and passed it before I signed it into law. So the AVS was the creation of the people of the state, not just the governor’s own making. The criticism over Bakasi became worsened when I removed Chuma Nzeribe, my Special Assistant on Security, because of the unlawful manner he handled the killing of Eddie Nnawgu with his people, after which he joined the opposition in APL. Have you returned to the PDP and have you also made up with former President Obasanjo? I never left the PDP; I only went to AD to contest an election in 2003 when I was denied my ticket by the PDP. I have also visited the former president about three occasions since he left office as my elder, irrespective of the manner he treated me because as a Christian, I believe in forgiveness. In all of the visits, he confessed that I was treated badly and that from now on, he has nothing against me. He also noted that he has forgiven me if I had offended him. So, for me as a Christian who believe in the Bible way of reconciliation, I feel we have reconciled because I have done all I could do to recognise him as my elder.

I USED THE ORTHODOX WAY TO RESTORE PEACE AND SECURITY IN THE STATE AFTER THE POLICE AND OTHER MILITARY AGENCIES HAD FAILED AND WE WON PRESIDENTIAL LAURELS FOR THE EFFORTS

Do you have any regret as a governor of Anambra? I do not have anything to regret as Anambra governor because I have so many evidences to prove that I served my people in a God-fearing way, creditably and meritoriously. I used the orthodox way to restore peace and security in the state after the police and other military agencies had failed and we won presidential laurels for the efforts. With the situation in Anambra at the period I was governor, when people like Andy Uba and Emeka Offor wanted to be governor by all means, doing good was evil in the state. What I might say I regret was insufficient fund that was given to the state which could not allow us to actualise most of set-out goals.

Tuesday, August 14, 2012

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Community Mirror “What you see in Nigeria today is that we have managers and not leaders. A politician is not a leader.”

Monarch urges proactive policy on agriculture

GOVERNOR OF IMO STATE, ROCHAS OKOROCHA

Ekiti empowers widows, youths, others SAM OLUWALANA

he Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has rolled out empowerment programme for the aged, widows and youths in Ekiti State, beginning with Igede-Ekiti, Irepodun/Ifelodun Local Government and anchored by Ambassador Gbenga Olofin. Already, seven houses belonging to aged women have been renovated with new bedding, furniture and electronic materials provided, while payment of monthly stipend to them would commence next month. “Over 30 aged women, including 120 year old Jolayemi John, have benefited from the scheme, with the numbers bound to increase to 100 in the next three months. “We have also awarded scholarships to 50 students and provided funds for petty traders,” Olofin said at presentation of the materials in Igede-Ekiti . He promised to repair all the leaking roofs of houses belonging to party members to shield them from the rains, as he urged those affected to register at their various wards.

Olofin, who promised to extend the gesture to other towns in the local government said; “We are concerned with the economic liberation of our people. We don’t want others to lure them with mere pittance for votes as and this can only happen if the people are economically empowered. “What we are doing is not only for the aged. We are also focusing on indigent students, petty traders and farmers, and I’m sure that in the next few years, we would be able to say, we have taken more than 10,000 people out of poverty.” Also speaking at the event, a leader of the party in Igede-Ekiti, Evangelist Gbenga Adekunle, said the party has put the programme together to liberate people from bondage of poverty. “We are using this as a template for political and economic rescue of Ekiti State and people from the deprivation now facing them in the land,” Adekunle said. Speaking on behalf of the aged, Mrs. Eunice Sule, described the gesture as Godsent, saying; “All we can do is pray for those behind this programme and God will also meet them at the point of their needs.”

Traffic violators charged for assault OMEIZA AJAYI ABUJA

hree traffic violators are currently being prosecuted by the Federal Capital Territory Administration, FCTA, for assaulting officials of the Directorate of Road Traffic Services known as Vehicle Inspection Officers, VIO. Minister of FCT, Senator Bala Mohammed, who stated this in Abuja, added that attacking and abducting personnel of the Directorate of Road Traffic Services (DRTS) is a crime. The development came even as the FCT Road Traffic Offences Mobile Court impounded 27 vehicles for various traffic violations. According to the court, the punitive measure handed down to the offenders would serve as a deterrent to other road users to ensure drastic reduction of the perennial traffic problems in Abuja metropolis. Mohammed stated that the

vehicles were impounded as their owners have absconded for fear of prosecution, adding that they will be apprehended and made to pay for the demurrages in addition to the offences. According to him, the vehicles will be forfeited to the government in the event that the owners cannot meet up with the penalty or fines. He said since inception of his administration, the DRTS succeeded in arraigning 151 traffic offenders before the mobile court, noting that the court sat regularly from July 2 and 30 this year, at DRTS Zonal and Area Traffic Commands including Garki Area 1, AYA, Nyanya, Gwagwalada, Dei-Dei, Bwari, ONEX, Kuje Jabi, and Mabushi respectively. Mohammed also revealed that a total of 94 motorcycles were impounded during the period under review; bringing the total number impounded by his administration since commencement of the on-going operations to 9,654.

St. Augustine Primary School, Umon, Biase Local Government Area, flooded after a heavy downpour, in Cross River State. PHOTO: NAN

UNICEF to campaign against child abuse MURITALA AYINLA

s part of efforts to address cases of child abuse and spread of HIV, the Lagos State Government has pledged readiness to collaborate with the United Nations Children’s Education Fund. Speaking during a visit by the UNICEF delegate to her office, Secretary to the State Government, Dr Oluranti Adebule, said efforts are on to ensure that children of school age are returned to school. She said the state recognises the import of early education, adding that all measures will be taken to ensure that no child is deprived the right to education. Adebule said:” The partner-

ship will grow from strength to strength and I have no doubt children in Lagos have a lot to benefit from the partnership. On the issue policy advocacy, we will improve on sensitisation campaign to reduce mother to child transmission of HIV. Education of the child is very essential, that is why Lagos State is making it compulsory for all parents to give their wards early education. In her remarks, UNICEF’s Assistant Country Representative and State Chief Field Officer, Sara Beysolow Nyati, said the agency is worried about cases of child abuse in the state, in spite of several campaigns against the scourge, adding that efforts must also be made to enhance early childhood education.

Nyati said though, Lagos does not have records of high HIV/ AIDs infection, the rate of affected persons is still high and called for intensified campaign against the scourge. She said: “We are partnering with the state government on its agenda which include health, education and nutrition. We are only supporting in the area of maternal and child care, training of health workers and mobilisation people for immunisation.” Nyati who said that UNICEF would provide technical support and logistic that will improve education and health sector, commended Governor Babatunde Fashola for coming to the aid of the agency when flood damaged $3000 worth of properties.

Residents urge completion of abandoned road FRANCIS SUBERU

esidents of Oguntade Street in Iju-Ishaga area of Lagos State have appealed to the state government to complete the construction of the abandoned road in their community. The road linking Oguntade area with Gudugba through Powerline- Agbado and Tajudeen Bello Streets in Toyin Area,

had been abandoned since 2003; shortly after the contract was reawarded by the administration of former Governor, Ahmed Bola Tinubu. Community Mirror gathered that contract for the construction of the road was awarded more than 15 years ago by then Military Administrator, Colonel Raji Rasaki, and was re-awarded in 2003. According to the chairman, Oguntade North CDA, Mr.

Olanrewaju Solomon, poor road network in the area contributed to the fatality of the June 3, Dana Air crash, as fire fighters could not reach the crash site on time. Olanrewaju noted that several complaints had been made to past and present administrations in the state, ministries of works and infrastructure and those of environment over their plights on non-completion of the road without success.

Community Mirror

Tuesday, August 14, 2012

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Monarch urges proactive policy on agriculture DENNIS AGBO ENUGU

s the celebration of new yam festival begins in various communities in Igboland, the traditional ruler of Amuri, in Nkanu West Local Government Area of Enugu State, Igwe Charles Nwoye, has charged the different tiers of government to be proactive in policies that could again turn agriculture into Nigeria’s mainstay. Igwe Nwoye decried the continued neglect of the

agriculture by the various governments, saying that if not addressed, the ugly trend is capable of plunging the country into serious food crisis in the nearest future. The monarch however, wondered why government should relegate to the back ground such an important sector that once made Nigeria’s economy tick, even as he insisted that not until policy makers begin to accord agriculture the priority it deserves, the country may soon faced food crisis.

The monarch spoke at his palace during the commencement of this year’s Amuri new yam festival which he described as a special feast in the land. He said that the paying of lip service to agriculture over had really done serious harm to the growth of the nation’s economy, saying that if properly funded, the sector has potentials to transform the country. According to him, “it is quite unfortunate that because of oil and gas, those at helm of affairs have continued to remain

insensitive to issues concerning the vital sector that was the mainstay of our economy in the 60s and 70s. He therefore, called on governments to have a rethink the sad development and invest heavily in the area, since through a vibrant agricultural sector that food security could be guarantee in the country. The traditional ruler, frowned at a situation where many communities which possess the capacity to feed the entire state and beyond due to their

endowed fertile soil, do not have good access roads to evacuate their farm produce to urban centres. “Rural farmers in Amuri, have the capacity of turning Enugu State into the food basket of the South east zone ,because of the wonderful soil, yet, no government encourages the farmers with any form of incentives especially fertilizer and access roads, as is done in the Northern part of the country. I call on local, states, and Federal Government to start taking issues relating

to agriculture very seriously, because the over dependency on oil and gas has done more harm than good to the Nigerian nation,” the royal father declared. The monarch, also stressed the need to start providing irrigation facilities for farmers in the South east zone, pointing out that with such in place, farmers can afford to embark on all season farming, adding that many governments have the capacity to provide their farmers with modern farming implements.

LG to conduct free medicare for the aged ADEMU IDAKWO LOKOJA

he Chairman interim Management Committee, (CMC) in Yagba East Local Government Area of Kogi State, has concluded arrangements to embark on free medical care for the aged in the council. The Liaison Officer 1, of the local government, Hon. Shola Adebola who stated this in Lokoja,said the exercise expected to commence from August 23 to 31, will be for the old people in the rural areas and towns who have no access to medical care. He said the local government has supplied enough drugs to various clinics to cater for the health needs of the people, even as he called on traditional rulers to support the administration to enable it bring succour to the people.

A crowd at parley with the Commander, Special Task Force (STF), Plateau State, Maj.-Gen. Henry Ayoola in Jos.

Fayemi assures on capacity building ABIODUN NEJO ADO EKITI

he Governor of Ekiti State, Dr. Kayode Fayemi has said his administration’s commitment in having a mechanic village to the state capital is part of efforts to enhance artisanship, capacity building and sustainable development. Fayemi, who said the Certificate of Occupancy, C of O, for the proposed site for the village and the survey of the land had been done, expressed his eager-

ness to see it come to fruition. The governor, who spoke in Ado Ekiti with officers of the National Automotive Council, NAC, led by the Director-General, Aminu Jalal, lamented that many residents have been travelling to as far as Lagos to repair their damaged vehicles. He said National Association of Technicians and Artisans’ proposal for the establishment of the village was in line with plans of the state Ministry of Commerce and Industries

to establish same, hence, government’s interest in a Public-Private Partnership arrangement. In his remarks, the NAC boss said the constant change in automobile technology has made the establishment of a mechanic village an imperative. The DG who said the village, would house among others, a mechanic workshop, spare parts shop and relaxation centre, explained that it was planned for six states even though ten have expressed their interest.

PHOTO: NAN

Abia receives mosquito treated nets GEORGE OPARA ABIA

he Federal Government yesterday, said that it has so far distributed over 50 million mosquito treated nets across the country just as Abia State Government announced that it has paid N39 million as its counterpart fund for the freenet-against mosquito programme to fight malaria. The Minister of Health, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu said this yesterday while on a courtesy visit to the Deputy Governor of Abia state, Chief Emeka Ananaba, shortly before the commencement of the dis-

tribution of mosquito nets to the people of Abia state. According Prof. Chukwu, the programme was to be concluded in 2011 but could not because some states did not pay their operational costs. He explained each household would get two mosquito nets during the distribution. He however, disclosed that the World Health Organization, WHO, had reviewed it to three nets per household. But the Minister maintained that Abians would still be considered with the old standard of two mosquito nets per household. The minister said that the Federal Government’s

objective is not to control malaria but to eliminate it, as the nets do not only physical barrier to mosquitoes but also kills them. At the distribution venue, Umuahia North Council Headquarters, where thousands of household converged to receive the nets, the deputy governor, Chief Emeka Ananaba announced that the state has paid N39 million of its counterpart funds for the programme. Ananaba said the Governor Theodore Orji’s administration attaches priority to the health of the people, hence, it has been making huge investment in the health sector.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Oddities

Church probes reported resurrection

n Italian bishop said he is investigating a reported resurrection miracle carried out by a nun in the 1960s. The bishop of Bolzano said he is looking into whether Sister Lucia Ripamonti performed a miracle in bringing a 6-yearold girl back to life following a car crash

Cocktail

Tuesday, August 14, 2012

in 1967, ANSA reported Tuesday. The girl, Irene Zanfino, is now a mother of three children. A confirmation of the miracle would move Ripamonti a step closer to beatification, the third of four steps in the Roman Catholic Church’s canonization system.

27 pay deposit on same apartment

wo con artists collected deposits from 27 would-be renters for the same Stockholm apartment, police in the Swedish capital say. The pair was arrested at the apartment after

two people discovered they had paid for the same digs, The Local.se reported. The suspects face up to six years in prison if convicted of aggravated fraud. A police investigator

said the suspects had access to the apartment in Gardet, a Stockholm district developed in the 1930s and 1940s and known for its modern architecture. They allegedly placed ads on a

Swedish Web site similar to Craigslist and other sites and showed the apartment to those who responded. At least 27 people paid deposits of 20,000 kronor -- $2,989, police said.

Woman allegedly bit chunk of man’s ear

olice in Oklahoma said they arrested a woman who allegedly bit off a chunk of a man’s right earlobe during a fight. Broken Arrow police said Lecia Cooley, 46, was the “dominant aggressor” in the fight at a home Saturday night and officers arrived to find the male victim had a “large portion of his right earlobe missing, bruising to his

face consistent with a hard punch, and various lacerations from both the family dog and Ms. Cooley,” KOTV, Tulsa, Okla., reported Monday. The arresting officer said Cooley, who admitted to biting the man’s ear, also had small puncture wounds that apparently came from the family dog. Cooley was arrested on suspicion of maiming (mayhem).

A monkey eating a popsicle.

PHOTO: HABEEB.COM

Tuesday, August 14, 2012

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

World News “It’s never too late to get to a plan when there is an opportunity to serve” -World Food Programme Executive Director, Ertharin Cousin

Egypt’s military signals support for president PAUL ARHEWE

WITH AGENCY REPORTS

•

TV boss, journalist to be tried for insulting Morsi

gypt’s military signalled its acquiescence yesterday to the president’s surprise decision to retire the defence minister and chief of staff and seize back powers that the nation’s top generals grabbed from his office. President Mohammed Morsi’s shake-up of the military on Sunday took the nation by surprise. It transformed his image overnight from a weak leader to a savvy politician who carefully timed his move against the military brass who stripped him of significant powers days before he took office on June 30. A posting on a Facebook page known to be close to the country’s former military rulers said the changes amounted to the “natural” handing over of leadership to a younger generation. “A greeting from the heart filled with love, appreciation and respect to our leaders who passed on the banner. They will be in our eyes and hearts,” said the posting. “The armed forces is a prestigious institution with a doctrine of full discipline and commitment to legitimacy.” Egypt’s official news agency quoted an unnamed military official late Sunday as saying there has been no “negative reaction” from within the military.

President Mohamed Mursi (R) shaking hands with Egypt’s newly appointed Minister of State for Military Production Reda Mahmoud Hafez Abdel Maguid, yesterday, in Cairo. Photo: Reuters

And a day after the orders, no unusual military movements were detected anywhere across the nation. If Morsi’s decisions go unchallenged, it should end the power struggle that pitted him against the powerful military. That could mean the ushering out of six decades of de facto military rule since army officers seized power in a coup in 1952. But removing the defence minister and chief of staff does not necessarily mean that the military, Egypt’s most powerful institution, has been

defeated or that it would give up decades of perks and prestige without a fight. Meanwhile, television boss Tawfiq Okasha and newspaper journalist Islam Afifi will be tried for “incitement” and insulting Egyptian President, the prosecutor’s office said on Monday. Okasha, owner of the private channel Al-Faraeen, is accused of “incitement to murder” of the Islamist president, said Adel Saeed, a spokesman for the prosecutor general. Afifi, editor-in-chief of Al-

Dustour newspaper, is accused of having published “false information” deemed insulting to Morsi and which could also “undermine and destabilise” Egypt, he added. Okasha and Afifi must appear before the Cairo criminal court, he said. On Sunday, the prosecution imposed a travel ban on the pair, prohibiting them from travelling outside Egypt while they are being investigated for anti-Morsi remarks after complaints were lodged against them.

Mali’s interim leader re-appoints prime minister

ali’s interim president, Dioncounda Traore, has re-appointed his prime minister, giving him three days to name a new government of national unity to form a united front against rebels in the north. The West African nation has been split in two since a March 22 coup paved the way for a military advance by northern separatists and al-Qaeda-linked rebels. “[Prime Minister] Cheick Modibo Diarra was re-appointed to his post by the president of the transition Dioncounda Traore in order to form a government of national unity in the next 72 hours,” Amadou Konate, an adviser with the prime minister’s office, said on Sunday. The re-appointment was also confirmed in a statement from the presidency read on state television on Sunday night.

L-R: Mali’s interim President Dioncounda Traore is greeted by Mali’s Prime Minister Cheick Modibo Diarra upon his arrival at Bamako airport recently. Photo: Getty Images

The decision was taken after consultations held on Saturday by Traore with the country’s “civil society” including political parties and the junta that overthrew the regime of Amadou Toumani Toure before handing

over to a transition regime two weeks later. Traore and Diarra were named as part of a deal to return leadership to a civilian caretaker government. The two men have had a rocky relationship, howev-

er, and the transitional authority, crippled by political infighting, has achieved little. Diarra, an internationally renowned astrophysicist, has been under fire from much of Mali’s political class including Traore’s party who accused him of incompetence and called for his departure. They claimed he has no “strategy” no solve the problem in the vast north of the country where armed groups seized key cities in the chaos following the coup. But leaders are now trying to put up a united front to combat the rebels in the north. West Africa’s Economic Community of West African States bloc, which is pushing for the deployment of a 3,000-troop intervention force in Mali, had called upon Traroe to form a more representative government.

WORLD BULLETIN Uganda search for missing helicopters in Kenya A search is under way in Kenya for two Ugandan military helicopters which have gone missing with 10 crew members on board, Uganda’s army spokesman says in a report from the BBC. The helicopters were among four which were due to make a stop in Kenya, but only one landed in the town of Garissa. The other helicopter made an emergency landing in the Mount Kenya area and its five crew have been rescued. The aircraft were part of a contingent being sent to reinforce the African Union force in Somalia. Ugandan military spokesman Lt Col Felix Kulayigye said the Kenyan air force and other authorities were looking for two missing Mi-24 attack helicopters with the help of Ugandan officials. One Mi-17 transport helicopter made it safely to Garissa with 13 people on board, he told journalists in the Ugandan capital, Kampala.

Zambia govt arrests main opposition leader Zambia’s main opposition leader was arrested yesterday and charged with publishing false information after he claimed that ruling party youth were being trained by Sudanese militia, police said. Hakainde Hichilema, the leader of the United Party for National Development (UPND), made the statement at a press conference on June 11. He appeared briefly before a magistrate in the capital Lusaka and was released on bail of 30 million kwacha ($6,000). “I understand the charge and I deny it,” Hichilema said in court. According to the charge sheet, Hichilema’s comments were intended to cause fear and alarm to the public.

S’African policeman dies during mine union clash Five people including a police officer have been killed in clashes between unions at a South African mine operated by world no. 3 platinum producer Lonmin, the most deadly round of violence in an eight-month turf war rocking the sector. Lonmin said the situation remained “volatile” at its Western Platinum mine, 100 km (60 miles) northwest of Johannesburg. The plant was operating at reduced capacity and was under heavy police guard. “We are expecting the situation to return to calm given the level of security on site,” executive vice president Barnard Mokwena said.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

World News

Tuesday, August 14, 2012

Briefs

Swedish minister calls Saudi Arabia dictatorship state

Obama, Ryan campaign in Iowa

weden’s defence minister yesterday called Saudi Arabia a dictatorship, five months after her predecessor resigned amid controversy over Swedish plans to help the country build an arms factory. “Saudi Arabia is an authoritarian regime and an absolute monarchy, where serious human rights crimes are committed,” Defence Minister Karin Enstroem wrote in an email to Swedish news agency TT, a copy of which was given to AFP. “The (Swedish) government does not qualify countries as democracies or dictatorships, but if the only choices to describe Saudi Arabia are as a democracy or dictatorship, then Saudi Arabia has to be described as a dictatorship,” she wrote. The minister, a member of Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt’s conservative Moderate Party, had been widely criticised for refusing to describe Riyadh as a dictatorship, limiting herself, as she did on Swedish Radio earlier Monday, to calling it “a very authoritarian regime”. Foreign Minister Carl Bildt meanwhile wrote on Twitter yesterday that “I usually describe Saudi Arabia as an absolute monarchy.” Enstroem’s predecessor resigned in late March after weeks of controversy over revelations that Sweden planned to help Saudi Arabia build an arms factory. The project involved creating a shell company to handle dealings with Saudi Arabia, in order to avoid any direct links to the Swedish Defence Research Agency (FOI) and the government. Sweden has in the past sold weapons to Riyadh, but classified government documents stated that the project “pushes the boundaries of what is possible for a Swedish authority... in a dictatorship such as Saudi Arabia,” Swedish Radio said when it broke the story on March 6. Swedish prosecutors have opened a preliminary investigation into the affair. Saudi Arabia has long been Sweden’s most important trade partner in the Middle East. Swedish exports to the country totalled 12 billion kronor (1.48 billion euros, $1.8 billion) in 2011, according to the foreign ministry.

Syrian refugees washing clothes at Al Zaatri refugee camp in the Jordanian city of Mafraq on Sunday.

Iran opposes Syria’s suspension from OIC

Photo: Reuters

• Fighter jet crashes near Iraqi border

ranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi yesterday said his country opposed the expected suspension of Syria’s membership in the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation. “I’m openly against the suspension of the membership of any country, any organisation,” Salehi told reporters in Jeddah, seat of the 57-strong OIC of which allies Iran and Syria are members. “By suspending the membership, this does not mean you are moving towards resolving an issue. By this, you are erasing the issue,” he said of the 17-month Syria conflict, “Every country, especially OIC countries must join

hands to resolve this issue in such a way that will help the peace security and stability in the region,” he added on the eve of an OIC summit in Saudi Arabia. The secretary general of the OIC, Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, has told AFP that warravaged Syria will not be represented in the summit. But foreign ministers gathered Monday to prepare the meeting were expected to “announce the suspension of Syria’s membership as recommended by member states,” Ihsanoglu said. Tuesday’s summit has been called by Saudi King Abdullah who is pushing to mobilise support for Syrian rebels battling the regime of

Thai lawmaker kills his secretary

olice in Thailand say that they will charge a member of the Thai parliament with causing death by negligence for accidentally shooting his secretary dead with a submachine gun. They say that the accident happened in a restaurant on Sunday night. Senator Boonsong Kowawisarat took out a 9mm Uzi submachine gun while waiting for food, the Bangkok Post reported. He told police the gun accidentally discharged and his secretary was shot in the stomach. Police say that the shooting happened in Phrae province, northern Thailand. Police say that because Boonsong was in shock after the incident, the restaurant owner rushed the secretary to hospital where she

Medical personnel examining the victim’s body.

succumbed to gunshot wounds. Correspondents say that it is not clear whether Boonsong knew the gun was loaded before the shooting. “From our initial inquiry, the secretary’s family will not sue because they were relatives and it was an accident - he did not mean to do it,” a local police officer told

Photo: Post Today

AFP by telephone. Officials said it was also unclear why the senator was armed at the meal. Police have yet to arrest the senator - a member of the upper house of the Thai parliament - as he is protected by parliamentary privilege, the Bangkok Post reported.

Syrian President Bashar alAssad. Iran is Assad’s key supporter and has repeatedly warned against intervention in the 17-month conflict that has killed more than 21,000 people, according to monitoring groups. Meanwhile, a fighter jet has crashed in eastern Syria owing to “technical problems”, according to state media. The rebel Free Syrian Army (FSA) say they shot a military aircraft down in the same area, near the Iraqi border. Experts who examined footage from the FSA of the downed plane say its camouflage and markings are consistent with those of a Syrian air force plane. The pilot ejected and a search is now under way to find him, according to state media. The plane had been on a “routine training mission”, according to state-run news agency Sana. Anti-aircraft can be heard before the jet bursts into flames. Rebel gunners are then heard on the footage celebrating. Reports have emerged recently of anti-aircraft weapons reaching rebels in Syria. Earlier this week, photos were posted online by rebels showing them with a full surface-to-air missile system. This would pose a potential threat to the regime’s air power, correspondents say.

US President Barack Obama and Republican vice-presidential candidate Paul Ryan are set for a campaign clash in the state of Iowa. The Obama camp, which is seeking to depict the Republican running mate as an ideologue, released an online ad attacking his budget plan. Brushing aside criticism of his number two, Mitt Romney emphasised they would run on his own spending plan. Obama has a slim poll lead over Romney, three months from election day. Romney and his running mate were in Virginia, North Carolina and Ryan’s home state of Wisconsin over the weekend.

Pope’s butler, layman face trial in theft case

A Vatican judge yesterday ordered the pope’s butler and a fellow lay employee to stand trial for the alleged pilfering of documents from Pope Benedict XVI’s private apartment, in an embarrassing scandal that exposed power struggles and purported corruption at the Holy See’s highest levels. The indictment accused Paolo Gabriele, a butler arrested at the Vatican in May, of grand theft — a charge that could bring up to six years in jail, although the pope could pardon his once-trusted aide after any conviction. Gabriele was also accused of taking a check for £100,000 (about $125,000) made out to Benedict and donated by a Spanish Catholic university from the papal quarters. Gabriele’s lawyer, Carlo Fusco, told The Associated Press that the check had “by chance” ended up in a pile of the pope’s paperwork Gabriele had accumulated in his apartment. Fusco said his client “had never taken money or any other economic advantage” in his role as butler.

Norway criticises police massacre response Norwegian authorities could have prevented or interrupted the bomb and gun attacks by a farright fanatic who killed 77 people last year, a government appointed commission said yesterday. The long-awaited report into the July 22 attacks also said the domestic intelligence service could have done more to track down the gunman, but stopped short of saying it could have stopped him. Anders Behring Breivik, 33, has admitted to the bombing of the government’s headquarters in Oslo, which killed eight people and the subsequent shooting spree at a youth camp that left 69 dead, more than half of them teenagers. He is currently awaiting sentencing. While noting that the attacks “may be the most shocking and incomprehensible acts ever experienced in Norway,” the 500-page report said the bombing “could have been prevented” if already adopted security measures had been implemented more effectively.

World News

Tuesday, August 14, 2012

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Man stabs children 29 times, kills wife, three others A father stabbed six people including his wife and two young children more than 40 times because he could not face the break-up of his marriage, a court heard yesterday in United Kingdom. Damian Rzeszowski stabbed two-year-old son Kacper a total of 13 times and his daughter, Kinga, five, 16 times, the court heard. Before the children were attacked at the family home in St Helier, Jersey, Rzeszowski had set upon his father-in-law Marek Garstka, 56, stabbing him a total of nine times with such force that his spinal cord was severed and a knife lodged in his body. Solicitor General Howard Sharp, for the prosecution said Kacper, who had probably been playing with a toy car at the time, was ‘stabbed a on two separate occasions with two different kitchen knives’. His older sister ended up on the floor of the lounge, not far from her brother. Mr Sharp added that blood patterns around Mr Garstka’s body suggested he had also been attacked on two separate occasions with two different knives. Kinga’s friend, Julia De La Haye, was also stabbed 16 times, suffering seven wounds to her chest and a further nine to her back in the course of two different attacks. Mr Sharp said Rzeszowski then attacked his wife, Izabela in the two-bedroom flat’s lounge or hallway, but she was able to move and run through the flat and out into a courtyard. She then climbed in through the bathroom window and made a ‘desperate attempt’ to call the police using her father’s mobile phone. ‘The number she dialled was 997, which is the Polish emergency services’ number,’ Mr Sharp said. Her friend, Marta De La Haye, also tried to exit the flat, and although the prosecution could not say exactly where she was attacked, her DNA was found on the front door. ‘You might think she was unable to leave immediately or chose not to,’ Mr Sharp told the judge and the jurats. ‘She staggered out into the street and collapsed in front of some scaffolding outside the flat next door.’ Mrs Rzeszowska also made it out into the street but was chased by her husband and stabbed again in full view of local residents.

Damian Rzeszowski

Mrs Rzeszowski

Rzeszowski stabbed Kacper, left, a total of 13 times and his daughter Kinga, right, a total of 16 times

Neighbours tried to intervene and Rzeszowski started stabbing himself as he went back inside the flat. He slumped to the ground with a collapsed lung near where he had attacked his father-in-law. Mr Sharp described Rzeszowski, who worked as a builder before his arrest, as a ‘pressure cooker who lacks a safety valve’. ‘He has difficulties controlling his emotions and communicating his frustrations and worries,’ the Solicitor General said. ‘He has a history of violence and has been involved in somewhere between five to 10 fights since he moved to Jersey in 2005. ‘We will invite you to conclude that the defendant has violence in his character.’

On the day the killings took place Rzeszowski had drunk 180ml of whisky and Mr Sharp said he had described himself as a ‘happy drunk’ at times and a ‘violent drunk’ on others. But Mr Sharp said witnesses who knew the defendant had also described him as a ‘hard-working man’ and a ‘loving father who provided for his family’. ‘This is the case of a man who cannot face the prospect of marriage failure and decides that if the family cannot go on as it is, it must not go on at all,’ he added. Rzeszowski pleaded guilty to manslaughter through diminished responsibility in April, but the manslaughter pleas were not accepted by the Crown,

which argues the defendant was not suffering an ‘abnormality of the mind’ when the attacks took place. The Royal Court in St Helier heard that Rzeszowski’s rampage took place against a backdrop of increasing marital difficulties between himself and his wife. Solicitor General Howard Sharp, for the prosecution, told the presiding judge Sir Michael Birt and two jurats - similar to magistrates in mainland UK - who are judging the case: ‘Until around June 2011 the defendant’s day-to-day behaviour was unremarkable, but things changed in June and July. ‘What was the cause of that change? The answer is to be found in the state of the defendant’s marriage. Extended family: Mrs Rzeszowska’s fatjer Marek Garstka, 56, was Rzeszowski’s first victim and was stabbed a total of nine times ‘It had been in difficulties before the incident happened, but by this time it was under great strain.’ Mr Sharp explained that during this period Mrs Rzeszowska admitted to her husband that she had been having a two-month affair with another man and she threatened to commit suicide. After learning of his wife’s infidelity, Rzeszowski started going out drinking and had a one-night stand, before taking an overdose of pills on July 19. In an attempt to save their marriage, the couple decided to travel to Poland to visit their families. ‘However, the problems remained and the defendant visited a prostitute while he was in Poland,’ Mr Sharp said. The knife attack took place in the couple’s home in St Helier, on the day they returned from their holiday. ‘The state of their marriage was a determining factor in the defendant’s behaviour in June and July last year,’ Mr Sharp said. ‘He could not face the prospect of a failed marriage.’ Rzeszowski, who it can now be reported has been remanded in Broadmoor Hospital in Berkshire since his arrest, listened with his head bowed and eyes closed as he heard Mr Sharp describe the killings. Wearing a light blue T-shirt, he appeared to have gained weight compared with pictures taken before the incident took place. • Culled from Daily Mail

Game over, Olympic park becomes ghost town

arely 12 hours after the last firework popped over the Olympic Park last night, the centrepiece venue of the Games looked like a ghost town. There wasn’t a spectator in sight today at the Olympic Park stadium in Stratford, as athletes, visitors and VIPs began their exodus from the capital. After 16 days of non-stop sporting action on the grounds in Stratford, proceedings were officially brought to a close at last night’s closing ceremony. Instead it was the morning after the night before. Workmen and Park staff were on site to clear up

the mess from the blockbuster closing ceremony. As the excellent weather finally gave way, the workers packed away the sets and props from the closing ceremony under overcast skies as the party seemed to be well and truly over. At its 80,000 seat capacity, the stadium looked like a shell as the dust settled after last night’s spectacular. The Spice Girls, George Michael, Madness and One Direction - amongst others - wowed the packed venue until midnight last night, but there wasn’t a soul in The Olympic Park was completely empty yesterday after it opened its doors to thousands over the course of the sight yesterday. Games PHOTO: EPA

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Ramadan Special

Tuesday, August 14, 2012

You can pay Zakatul-Fitri in cash –TMC LATEEFAH IBRAHIM-ANIMASHAUN

he Muslim Congress (TMC), has called on Muslims to pay part of their Zakatul-Fitri in cash in order to fully benefit the recipients and also urged them to pay their Zakat in Ramadan as it is 70 times more rewarding. TMC urged Lagos Muslims who are willing to use monetary equivalent of foodstuff, to pay their Zakatul-fitri to do so by paying N420 for Rice, N630 for beans, 280 for maize, 280 for Guinea corn, 280 for Garri, 350 for Millet, and N420 for Wheat on each individual. This is according to 2012 Survey of Zakat & Sadaqat Foundation for Lagos residents. This was contained in a press statement signed by the Amir of the organisation, Mallam Luqman Abdur-Raheem who stated that Zakat is a compulsory

‘Imbibe Ramadan lessons’

uslims in the country particularly in Osun State have been implored to imbibe the spirit, tenets, lessons and teachings of the holy month of Ramadan. In a statement issued and signed by the Executive Secretary, Ife South local government area, Mr. Timothy Fayemi on the significance of Ramadan, he urged the Islamic faithful to continue to live with the spirit of Ramadan after the holy month and described Governor Rauf Aregbesola as embodiment of love, peace, oneness and Godliness. “Aregbesola’s characters are the hall mark of Islam. Fayemi expressed happiness over the harmonious and peaceful co-existence between the Muslims and non-Muslims in the state courtesy. The council boss used the opportunity to remind Muslims that the best way of life is the one which promotes the need to shun anything that is inimical to the dictates of Allah and his messenger, Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and sought for the cooperation of the people of the state for the present administration in Osun State, saying that the state government has been working hard in conjunction with the local government areas to uplift the state to an enviable height among its peers.

charity payable by devout Muslims annually at the rate of 2.5 per cent from taxable amount benchmarked by Islamic law at 20 Dinar (gold) or 200 Dirham (silver). “Zakat-ul-Fitr on the other hand is an obligation specifically domiciled in Ramadan. Its payment is incumbent on every free Muslim who possesses one Sa` of staple foodstuff (equivalent of 2.176 kilograms or 4.797 pounds) like dates, rice, beans or barley which is not needed as a basic food the payer’s

family for the duration of one day and night”. He said Muslims must pay Zakatul-Fitr for himself, his wife, children, and servants. “Allah mentioned Zakat along with five daily prayers in eighty-two (82) verses in the Glorious Qur’an. This year’s zakatable (taxable) amount is estimated at N586, 500 by Zakat & Sadaqah Foundation. Ibn `Umar (RA), said, “The Prophet (SAW) enjoined the payment of one Sa` of dates or one Sa` of barley as Zakat Al-Fitr on every Mus-

lim, young and old, male and female, free and slave.” (Al-Bukhari and Muslim.) Mallam Abdur Raheem stated various reasons given by scholars and that it includes helping the poor and needy take care of their needs in the month of Ramadan and also makes it possible for them to celebrate the Eid festival with other Muslims. He added that Zakat-ul-Fitr is also meant to expiate (Kaffarah) for defects and mistakes a person may have done during this blessed month of Ramadan.

Day 26

MTN connects with Muslims

A L-R: Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola; Afiz Abdul Sataar Abdul Salami; Alhaji Yaya Salami and others, during the Muri Okunola Ramadan lecture in Lagos recently.

Officials of Zakat & Sadaqat Foundation distributing clothing materials to people at Idi Araba area of Mushin Local Government in Lagos recently.

2,000 orphans get largess from JIBWIS JAMES DANJUMA KATSINA

ore than 2, 000 orphans selected from the 34 council areas of Katsina State have benefitted from food, clothes and cash donations from the Jama’atul Izalatul Bidi’ah Wa Ikamatus Sunnah (JIBWIS) group for the Ramadan fast. Chairman of the organisation, Sheik Yakubu Musa Hassan stated this yesterday at the ongoing Ramadan Tafsir at the Kandahar Jama’at Mosque in the state metropolis. He expressed gratitude to those who sacrificed their wealth for the orphans saying the door re-

mained open for all those still wishing to contribute to the welfare of the orphans. He said a similar donation being received for the Jos flood victims would soon be conveyed to the Plateau State branch of the association for distribution to the victims. He then appealed to wealthy Muslims and state government to support the programme intended to reduce poverty among the people, with call on beneficiaries to make good use of the largess. In a related development, wife of Katsina State Governor, Mrs. Fatima Shema has donated food items, drugs, cash and two Hajj seats to HIV/ AIDS victims in Funtua council area of the state. Shema made the dona-

tion under the care of Fahuz Support Group, with the distribution ceremony attracting several HIV/AIDS victims within and outside the state. Distributing the commodities, a representative of the group, Mrs. Jummai Garba called on beneficiaries not to relent in using the drugs given them for the sustenance of their health. Garba said the group is currently taking care of 130 victims on how to use the drugs supplied, and that the largesse was meant to assist them during the Ramadan period. Items donated to the HIV/AIDS victims include 250 cartons of indomie, 80 bags of rice, several bars of soaps, palm oil, groundnut oil, among other items.

s this year Ramadan fast winds up, MTN, Nigeria’s biggest telecommunication company has used the opportunity to implore Muslim subscribers to adequately make good use of the opportunity given to them through the VAS Promo package courtesy of the holy month of Ramadan. MTN, which is in the habit of connecting with its subscribers, noted that as many subscribers have been subscribing to the daily Ayat, (text AYAT to 33110) Adhan-on-Phone (text ADHAN to 33110), Daily Dua (text DUA to 33110), Daily Hadith (text HADITH to 33110), and Ramadan Mobile Radio (DIAL 4500), they should implore others and friends to do same as we approach the Laila-ulKadir (Night of Majesty). Consistent use of the Daily Dua, Ayat and Hadith during these last days of the fast would see subscribers bonding with Allah just like MTN strive hard to bond with its numerous subscribers. And in line with its brand promise of life enrichment and connecting with its subscribers, MTN’s array of services to subscribers’ of the Islamic faith since the beginning of this year’s Ramadan fast is increasing as we look forward to the emergence of the 22 winners from the opportunity. Aside offering an opportunity for 22 Muslims to win tickets to Umrah (Lesser Hajj) through the Ramadan Value Added Ser-

vice (VAS) package, faithful also have the opportunity to get Daily Ayat, Dua, Hadith after subscribing to the Ramadan VAS Promo package. The Ramadan VAS package, which is a product of the new MTN Family and Friends value offering, will see Muslim customers not only bond better at an affordable price but also have access to communicate and pray for one another during Sahur and fast breaking periods of the holy month of Ramadan. Commenting on the Ramadan package, Kola Oyeyemi, GM, Consumer Marketing, MTN, says the month of Ramadan is an important period of reflection for every Muslim, which MTN recognizes and is using to connect to its Muslim subscribers. The package enables connection with up to 10 people: 8 MTN to MTN and 2 international numbers. Alternatively, subscribers can choose 1 international number, 1 MTN to other networks. The last option features 2 MTN to other networks in addition to 8 MTN to MTN calls. Subscribers are charged no access fees and enjoy the same rate from the very first minute of the call till the last. This is unmatched by any other proposition within the market. Calls to the Family and Friends registered numbers are charged at 17k/sec. To be part of this package, Muslim subscribers are encouraged to subscribe and participate actively in the Ramadan VAS package.

North

Tuesday, August 14, 2012

Jaiz bank to raise capital base to N12bn JAMES DANJUMA KATSINA

anaging Director of Jaiz Bank, Alhaji Mustapha Moh’d Bantube, yesterday said the bank is to raise its capital base from N6bn to N12bn before the end of the year. Speaking at a Ramadan lecture organised by Imam Malik Foundation in Katsina State yesterday, Bantube said the amount will be raised through private placement. The managing director, who was represented by the bank’s Head of Corporate Affairs, Malam Abdukarim, said arrangement have been concluded for the opening of nine branches in the northern part of the country. He said the branches will be located in Kano, Katsina, Zamfara, Sokoto,

Borno and Gombe States, and that the branches would be opened within the first quarter of next year. He described the existing Kano branch of the bank as a success story in view of the patronage being enjoyed by the bank in the city, confirming that two other branches would soon be opened in the state capital. He described the Kano branch as the best, adding that several of the bank’s customers have invested huge sums of money with new customers patronising it on weekly basis. The managing director, however, appealed to Muslims in the country to patronise the bank by opening accounts, adding that; “The success of Jaiz Bank depends largely on patronage from the Muslim community.”

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

We rely on private firms to manage disasters – NEMA PRISCILLA DENNIS MINNA

he National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) yesterday said it has to rely several times on help from private organisations on issues of emergency as the nation is short of the apparatus and equipment needed to manage disasters. The Abuja Zonal Coordinator of NEMA, Mr. Isahaya Isah Chinoko, who made the disclosure at a one day stakeholders’

training and workshop in Minna, Niger State, said the nation often records grave casualty due to lack of equipment, when such situations arise. In a paper titled; “Disaster Management and Principles of Disaster Risk Reduction,” Chinoko reiterated the need for government at all levels to fund disaster management through the purchase of modern disaster management equipment so as to reduce losses usually recorded during emergen-

cies. According to him, “Government at all levels in the country should be more proactive in disaster management. We should not wait until when it happens before we start thinking of how to curtail it; that is the only way we can minimize casualty figures.” He also warned that the nation is at the moment endangered through alteration in demography, unplanned development, especially within the high risk zones, hence the need

for quick attention from all stakeholders. Speaking at the occasion, the Niger State Commissioner for Information, Alhaji Danladi Abdulhamid, said between 2007 and now, the state government has spent over N1bn on issues relating to disaster in the state. He also disclosed that part of the money was used to support victims of the Christmas Day bomb explosion at Madalla, Suleja Local Government Area of the state, among others.

Breaking of fast: Al-Makura hosts physically-challenged people IGBAWASE UKUMBA LAFIA

asarawa State Governor, Umaru Tanko Al-Makura, has hosted the physically-challenged persons in the state to the Ramadan breaking of fast. This gesture drew the crippled, blind, deaf, lepers and other class of disabled persons as they were accorded the rare opportu-

Gov. Al-Makura

nity to break their fast with the governor at the Government House. Governor Al-makura appreciated them for honouring his invitation as he assured them that his administration will always keep a special place for them as government would always consider their status. His words: “I will sustain the gesture as it is a way of giving the physically-challenged a sense of belonging.” He equally urged them to always give thanks to God and keep hope alive that there is ability in disability. He called on the people of the state to love and care for the disabled in the society, assuring that his administration will always be responsive to their plight, hence its desire to establish special schools for them.

L-R: Director-General, National Orientation Agency (NOA), Mr. Mike Omeri; National Chairperson, Women Wing Christian Association of Nigeria (WOWICAN), Princess Leah Solomon and wife of Minister of Information, Mrs. Mary Labaran Maku, during a courtesy visit by WOWICAN to NOA office in Abuja, at the weekend.

Police commissioner reads riot act to Okada riders

asarawa State Police Commissioner, Mr. Abayomi Akeremale, has warned commercial motorcyclists in the state to register their motorcycles or face the wrath of the law. In a statement in Lafia yesterday, Akeremale said the attention of the police command has been drawn to the unwholesome attitude of some commercial motorcyclists in the state, particularly in Lafia, the state capital. He said some commer-

cial motorcyclists ride recklessly without care, caution or consideration for other road users, adding that they also violated traffic rules with impunity. The police commissioner expressed concern that 90 percent of the commercial motorcycles in the state are not registered with the Nasarawa State Licensing Authority. “This ugly scenario makes it difficult for the police and other law enforcement agencies to track erring operators,” he said,

adding; “It is also impossible to trace the relations of those involved in fatal accidents.” According to the statement, the police met with the Lafia branch Chairman of the Motorcycle Transport Union of Nigeria (MTUN), Malam Kawu Mohammed, on August 9, with a view to addressing the problem. “At that meeting, we appealed to the chairman to help check the excesses of some of his members and to educate them to be more people-friendly in their at-

titude, and to obey traffic rules. “We also told the chairman that henceforth he would be held liable for any ‘Okada’ rider who used his motorcycle for unlawful purposes. “He is expected to have the full data of all his members that are registered in his office,” Akeremale said. He said that any commercial motorcyclist that failed to register with the state licensing authority would be made to face the full weight of the law.

Stakeholder advocates proactive approach to security issues DANJUMA WILLIAMS GOMBE

he Deputy Director-General in charge of operations of the Community Policing Campaign of Nigeria (CPCN), Prince Ogunmode Akinloye, has advocated for a more proactive approach by all in

tackling the security challenges confronting the nation. According to the security expert, who spoke to journalists in Gombe yesterday, with the deteriorating security situation in the country, only the cooperation of all members of the public with the security agents can

guarantee the security of lives and property of the citizenry. Akinloye said community policing remains the only remedy in tackling security challenges which many communities have failed to adopt even as he stressed that crime has grown sophisticated, but expressed optimism that

the plans of the wicked can be thwarted even before they are hatched. He said his organisation, CPCN has commenced the enlightenment and sensitisation campaign for people to take threats to security seriously by cooperating with security agents in their communities

through reporting to appropriate quarters. He said the new outfit, a non-governmental organisation, apart from promoting the unity and diversity of the country, would also encourage Nigerians on the attitude to positive living for a greater Nigeria. Akinloye, who ex-

pressed optimism that Nigeria, would come out of its security predicament as a greater and more united country, called on people to cooperate with religious and traditional rulers who are the closest to the people by identifying and reporting to them any new person in the community.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Tuesday, August 14, 2012

Features

Tuesday, August 14, 2012

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Bayelsa: Battling the evils of For years, the Federal Government has frowned at the increasing spate of piracy and illegal oil refiniries in the Niger Delta, especially in Bayelsa State, where security agencies have been battling those involved in such unwholesome business. EMMA GBEMUDU writes that, in spite of spirited efforts, oil thieves are bent on continuing with their nefarious activities.

llegal oil bunkering appears to be on the increase, even as the Joint Military Taskforce (JTF) is battling to stem this illicit trade in Bayelsa and other states of the Niger Delta. It could be described as lucrative, but a risky means of livelihood. Activities of illegal refineries, oil bunkering and pipeline vandalism in rural communities in the state are becoming alarming. This business is as old as the state and persons engaged in it have been maimed, coupled with the environmental and health hazards associated with the activities. Over the years, people involved in illegal bunkering have been treated with kid gloves by the security agencies and government. Recently, former Managing Director of Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Engr. Austin Oniwon, lamented that the organisation loses 180,000 crude oil barrels to oil thieves and criminals on a daily basis. He of illegal bunkering to hijack political power in the country. Such bunkerers encourage illegal refineries operators who vandalise oil pipelines, where they scoop crude oil and later refine them to produces diesel, petrol and kerosene. These economic saboteurs engage in these activities right inside the forests on the outskirts of the oil producing communities. The JTF operatives have raided these remote enclaves several times and setting the areas on fire. But, the oil thieves are desperate in continuing with the trade to make ends meet. Operators of illegal refineries and oil thieves are smiling to the banks, while undermining the economy of the country. Their reckless acts have polluted creeks, rivers, ponds and farmlands in many communities. Investigations revealed that some political stalwarts close to power are allegedly linked with these illegal activities in the region. Not to be left out are jobless youths and ex-militants, yet to be integrated into the Federal Government amnesty programme. The Bayelsa State Government and JTF have been having sleeplessness nights over the disturbing trend of illegal bunkering. At several forums, Governor Seriake Dickson had condemned the trend, describing it as environmental disaster to humanity. He warned that those caught must face the full wrath of the law. Against this background, the governor promised to constitute a taskforce to monitor illegal bunkering in the creeks, even as the outfit is yet to be put in place. However, the JTF is not relenting in its fight against illegal bunkering in local communities. The security agency has destroyed thousands of litres of illegal products and burnt the boats and tankers used in conveying them to illegal refineries. Investigations show that these illegal refineries are in communities in South Ijaw, Brass, Ogbia and Ekeremor local governments. Recently, more than 100 suspects engaged in illegal bunkering in Bayelsa State were arrested from October 2011 and May

An illegal refinery set ablaze by the Joint Task Force (JTF).

Drums of illegal crude

A tanker on fire after raid by the JTF.

2012 by the JTF. Some of them now are facing legal prosecution in courts. Conviction of these suspects is what many Nigerians are waiting for ,but the reverse has been the case. Regrettably, some of the suspects granted bail only to return to the creeks to resume their illegal activities. A cross section of stakeholders including former President of Ijaw Youth Council (IYC), Dr. Chris Ekio, alleged that some bad eggs in the JTF collude with illegal bunkerers in the creeks to abet the crime. They insisted that corrupt operatives should be flushed out and penalised to serve as deterrent to others in the agency. But, in a swift reaction, spokesman of JTF in the Niger Delta, Lt. Col. Onyema Nwachukwu, denied allegations that some personnel in the agency collaborate with illegal bunkerers to perpetuate the act in the creeks. Nwachukwu, described the al-

OPERATORS OF ILLEGAL REFINERIES AND OIL THIEVES ARE SMILING TO

THE BANKS, WHILE UNDERMINING THE ECONOMY OF THE COUNTRY legation as a blackmail, even as the agency is working assiduously to stamp out the activities in the Niger Delta. He stated that the agency was determined to flush out all illegal bunkering and refineries responsible for causing economic sabotage to the

federal government. In its efforts to stamp out bunkering in the region, a team of JTF officials invaded Otuogori community, in Ogbia Local Government on May 18, 2012 where it arrested six suspected oil thieves and impounded a fuel tanker that was later destroyed by the agency. Many of the villagers allegedly engaged in bunkering escaped the JTF dragnet. Last May, the security operatives arrested 25 suspected illegal bunkerers along the Akassa coast and Elekpa in Brass Local Government of Bayelsa State. Seventeen of them were arrested at Akassa , while eight were nabbed in Elekpa. A marine vessel â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;MV Tamuno Ibiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; loaded with 600,000 litres of illegally refined diesel was also impounded and burnt at sea, just as the agency also seized two barges and one tug boat loaded with illegal products at Elekpa.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Features

Tuesday, August 14, 2012

piracy and illegal oil refining

oil being refined

THIS IS DONE IN CONNIVANCE WITH OIL COMPANIES THAT SUPPLY THE TECHNICAL EXPERTISE OR INFORMATION AS TO WHEN AND WHERE ILLEGAL BUNKERING COULD BE CARRIED OUT The suspects are now cooling their feet at the headquarters of the State Security Service (SSS) in Yenagoa, as preliminary investigations on their activities continue. Parading them and the confiscated vessel at Akassa, spokesman of the JTF said the suspects were arrested by troops of 5th Battalion patrolling along the water ways. Nwachukwu said the Captain of the vessel, Edwin David, had tendered a Nigerian Navy permit to enable the vessel load products in Brass terminal, but the JTF has not been able to ascertain source of the permit. The Media Co-ordinator, said they are supposed to load at Barge Lohi at Brass terminal, but diverted to Akassa because they were involved in illegal bunkering. He said: “Our mandate is to destroy any vessel loaded with illegal products. Without mincing words, this is to send a very strong signal to those engaged in illegal bunkering and oil refining to desist from it because, “Operation Pulo Shield” ,will not spare any effort , individual or group of persons involved in this illicit activity.” Continuing, he maintained: “Of course, we have interrogated the captain

A barge with stolen crude oil on fire in the creeks.

of the vessel, as he confessed that he was supposed to load at Brass terminal. However, his boss directed him to the creeks, where he illegitimately siphoned 600,000 litres of crude oil”. On interrogation, captain of the vessel, Edwin David, claimed he was directed by his boss, Dagogo Eli, to illegally load refined products at Akassa creeks, rather than at Brass terminal. He alleged that owner of the product was Douglas of PWS Integrated Services, Port Harcourt and that it was his first time of loading illegal products in the creeks. The JTF also nabbed 46 other suspected oil thieves and impounded the marine vessel on October 23 of last year on Akassa River. The suspects were attempting to discharge illegally refined petroleum products into a vessel, ‘MV Omiesam’, with registration number, IMO 7048611. According to the JTF, the vessel had a ca-

pacity of 140 metric tonnes. In a similar incident, the security outfit last year arrested 11 suspected pipeline vandals and a native doctor, and impounded more than 172,500 litres of illegally refined petroleum products at two different locations in Igbomotoru and Nembe creeks. But, the native doctor who hails from the Southwest of Nigeria claimed he was not involved in the business, and was only hawking herbal drugs inside the large wooden boat conveying passengers and the products. According to him, when the JTF flagged stopped the boat in the river, seven of the vandals were said to have jumped into the river to evade arrest. Speaking, the Project Officer of the Environmental Rights Action (ERA), in Bayelsa State, Alagoa Morris, posited that the issue of illegal bunkering started long ago in the country. Morris, who is also state Secretary

of the Civil Liberties Organisation (CLO), however noted that the trade was then not widely known by the people. The activist regretted that some Nigerians have taken to illegal bunkering as a means of livelihood by operating in the dark. He said: “In recent times, the phenomenon has become widespread, especially in the creeks of Bayelsa State and other parts in the Niger Delta region. This is done in connivance with oil companies that supply the technical expertise or information as to when and where illegal bunkering could be carried out. Incidentally, the scenario has turned from illegal bunkering to refining of crude oil. The situation we now have in the Niger Delta is due to the near or total collapse of social institutions that sustains good governance in the society. “Governance in Nigeria is more favourable to those who disobey laws of the land and constitution of Nigeria. Law abiding citizens have no place to look for help, those bold enough take their destiny in their hands and engage in these illegal business to make ends meet, especially in the face of government inactions in delivering dividends of democracy since 1999. It was not as bad as we have it now.” While condemning illegal bunkering and local refining in the region, Morris took exception to the grave environmental problems it was causing in the Niger Delta and the fragile ecosystem. The activities of those engaged in the act cannot be justified when we take the environmental, livelihood and health implications into consideration. “The negative impact of illegal bunkering is huge on our health and livelihood. The pollution is causing greater environmental concerns. In some places, community folks can no longer fish in the rivers or swamps. Plants are equally affected, the same for farms and farmlands.” The ERA official alleged that security agents in the region were accused of aiding illegal bunkering and refining, as they collect huge sums of money from the operators. “The recent actions of the JTF against operators needs to be seriously looked into because, rather than impound vessels used for the illegal business, they destroy them through burning. This adds to an already bad situation in terms of pollution. Efforts should be made to minimize the negative effects on the environment; not to increase it. The Federal Government should encourage rather than kill local skills which the youths have been able to develop, in view of the fact that fuel shortage had always forced Nigerians to buy at higher prices. A workable framework should be worked out and implemented,” he explained. Analysts are of the opinion that if local communities in the region wage war against bunkering and illegal refineries in collaboration with the government and JTF operatives, the illicit business would die a natural death. They advised that thieves engaged in the activities should no longer be treated with kid gloves in order to check economic sabotage in Bayelsa State and the Niger Delta as a whole.

WORLD RECORD

Zero lost time – most man hours Vol. 02 No. 425

Tuesday, August 14, 2012

N150

The most zero lost time in man hours is 100,249,425 and was achieved by the Fluor Corporation (USA) in Sugar Land, Texas, USA, on 3 April 2011.

The jamboree called aviation road show R

ecently, the Aviation Ministry embarked upon what it tagged aviation road show designed to take the minister, her aides and key officials of the ministry to major capitals of the world to sell investment opportunities to foreign investors to buy-in. The road show was to take them to London, Washington, Canada, Hong Kong and other places, the minister’s spokesman said recently. Even before take-off, the road show showed signs that it was designed to fail given the controversies that have greeted the ill-timed jamboree meant to benefit the individuals who conceptualised the idea and definitely not meant to move the sector forward or enhanced the fortunes of stakeholders and investors currently in the industry. Since the move was announced, stakeholders in the industry who should know better have not shied away from condemning what they described as mere waste of time and money to junket round

TALKINGPOINT Seyi Fasugba

seyifasugba@yahoo.com 08053069514 (sms only)

the world while the problems confronting the sector remain largely unaddressed or even getting bigger than what the cosmetics approach can handle. Apart from the condemnation, one does not need a soothsayer to know that the show was indeed an exercise in futility and would not be surprised that nothing substantial would come out of the jamboree the politicians have decided to undertake in the name of scouting for investors and selling opportunities. There is no doubt that opportunities exist within the sector in the country but to what extent have they benefitted the local investors such that it can now attract those from outside? The question on the mind of stakeholders has been: of what relevance is a road show without showcasing the investors at home and has the sector and or government assisted to protect their investment? Out there, investors are very discerning and careful ones who don’t rely on sentiments in arriving at a solid decision on where their money should go. A good investment climate does not need any road show involving government officials to attract the right audience but a strategic planning of doing the right thing to get the right people interested. Even long before this jamboree which was meant to help some individuals earn estacode not deserved, we ‘ve had foreign investors who brought in their capital and did invest in the sector but, who at the end, left and vowed never to return simply due to the way politicians in government are killing investments and indirectly the economy.

IF THE ENVIRONMENT IS NOT CONDUCIVE AND CAN NOT GUARANTEED RETURNS ON INVESTMENT FOR LOCAL INVESTORS,

WHAT INCENTIVES ARE

THEREFORE AVAILABLE? Assuming that the jamboree succeeded to bring fresh and undiscerning investors, will such individuals not be interested in the infrastructure and the functionalities

of the airports and many other facilities quite below international standards? At least, I know that of the nation’s airports, Lagos and Abuja are a far cry from what should be the ideal in terms of facilities. But for MMA2 which was built and being operated by a private firm, I don’t know of any one that even the minister can showcase in the course of the road show. Out of the two runways at the Lagos Airport, one has been without landing lights and other navigational aids for years. So where are the incentives? Richard Branson with his Virgin Atlantic was here and with Virgin Nigeria, he raised the stakes in the aviation sector. In spite of business strategy that worked and still working in virtually every other country he invested, he left Nigeria with a promise never to return. The experience of operators within the sector is equally not capable of exciting others to take the risk. If the environment is not conducive and can not guaranteed returns on investment for local investors, what incentives are therefore available or are the government promising that will attract foreign investors? Rather than shift attention from the burning issues requiring attention from government, it is quite absurd to showcase the ignorance and dearth of dynamic ideas to move the sector forward in the name of road show.

No tears for Olympics flops While other athletes have medals to show for their participation at the London 2012 Olympics, as usual, Team Nigeria returned with stories to tell. Telling stories to explain the poor outing in the games in spite of expectation of Nigerians from the event, is an admission of the lack of purpose from the onset. The lamentation of the Sports Minister Bolaji Abdullahi, did not in any way, justify the lack of government’s commitment to proper training of the athletes ahead of the games. The question is; was the minister not aware that the team was a failure even before their departure for

the Olympics by reason of lack of adequate preparations. Failure to plan is a direct invitation to failure. That aptly describes the approach of the Sports Ministry to the games. It was good that the country’s contingent failed abinitio to qualify for team events in football which would have gulped public funds and also serve as avenue for politicians to embark on jamboree under the guise of government delegation. One can only hope that the lesson is learnt that you don’t pick Olympic medal without a commensurate level of planning. Therefore, no tears for the flops.

Sport Extra

World number one, Rory McIlroy, has said he felt better for proving the doubters wrong after storming to an eight-shot victory in the USPGA Championship on Sunday. The 23-year-old’s winning margin matches that of his other major win-in last year’s US Open - and beats Jack Nicklaus’s previ-

Golf: McIlroy relishes new platform ous record of seven in this event in 1970. Back at the top of the world rankings, McIlroy has quickly moved on from a mini-slump earlier this year when he missed four cuts in five events.

“I don’t think I could have answered it in any better way and to be honest, it did motivate me. I did want to go out there and prove a few people wrong,” he said yesterday. McIlroy, who left the rest for

dead in the first golf tournament to have 99 of the world’s top 100 playing in it, smiled when reminded he had just taken a record off Nicklaus. “It’s a nice achievement,” he remarked.

Rory McIllroy

Printed and Published by Global Media Mirror Ltd: Head Office: Mirror House, 155/161 Broad Street, Lagos Tel: 07027107407, Abuja Office: NICON Insurance House, Second Floor, Central Business District Area, Abuja Tel: 08070428249, Advert hotline: 01-8446073, Email: mail@nationalmirroronline.net. Editor: SEYI FASUGBA. All correspondence to PMB 10001, Marina, Lagos. Printed simultaneously in Lagos, Abuja and Ondo State. ISSN 0794-232X.